1. Saints
2. Colts
3. Patriots
4. Packers

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teameff

We have the #1 defense according to that chart.

We'll see how that #1 D fares this weekend.

That #1 defense has a fever.

Let's also remember this site projected the Pack would win seven games this year, and said the offense would be 15th in the league and 24th in the league on defense. I generally love statistical approaches to sport prediction, however this only shows how different the NFL is from Baseball or Basketball when it comes to the applications. It is a good tool, but in it current form most of these models are far to rigid and have not really figured out which factors are truly important in predicting a teams success.

The folks associated with that website were also singing a different tune following the preseason--and they weren't alone. I agree the stats won't tell everything--hence the words "For What It's Worth". Interpret however you wish.

That said, I ask this question (of you or others). Remove the Packers but look at the remaining top 12--is there any other team that wouldn't generally be described as "playoff-caliber"?

I don't see one.

Outside of the self-described Philadelphia love from footballoutsider's stats, DVOA has been very accurate in determining a team's success.

Examples: it predicted, within two games, our record for the past 4 seasons.

Again, for what it's worth:

#6 Packers
#7 Vikings

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teameff

Best WC playoff odds belong to Packers as well:

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/playoffodds

it appears that seven wins might be just about right, although perhaps a little on the high side.

Time to revisit...

Packers are #4 overall and #1 in Weighted DVOA (how a team is playing right now).

Looks like they were right about Philly all along, too. And the Vikings (who have been ranked around 7 or 8 nearly all season long despite their once sparkling record). And the Packers (who were still ranked 7 or 8 immediately following the loss at Tampa).

I love seeing the Vikings fall to #10 overall and #14 in Weighted DVOA. Keep it up, Vikings!

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/dvoa-rati...16-dvoa-ratings

Appearances can be...deceptive.

GB Packers losses in the past 7 weeks: 1

realitybytes posts in the past 7 weeks: 0