<![CDATA[What Makes A Playoff Team?]]>Playoff rather than superbowl, because a one off can get to the superbowl, but a one off doesn't reflect trends.

OK, we can all say that a great QB, smothering D, elite receivers and a punishing run game leads to the playoffs, and if you can get all of that together in one season, then you deserve it. But looks at the leaders in different categories, where is there a common theme?

Offense

Passing offense - 3 of the top 10 teams in total passing yards are in the playoffs:

1 New Orleans...4970
2 Arizona...........4616
3 Pittsburgh.......4603
4 San Diego.......4591
5 New England..4587
6 Atlanta............4379
7 NY Giants.......4347
8 Baltimore........4271
9 Detroit............4212
10 Jacksonville..4108
Passing offense we can fairly say is a combination of QB play and receivers. OL play factors in as well, but I don't think you'll find many people outside of ghoolie that don't care about OL play.
Rushing offense - 5 of the teams that rushed for most yards are in the playoffs (plus the Jets who are 10-6):
1 Buffalo..........2432
2 Carolina.......2282
3 Seattle.........2268
4 Minnesota....2211
5 Tampa Bay...2162
6 Kansas City...2044
7 St. Louis.......1956
8 Arizona.........1917
9 Dallas...........1890
10 NY Jets......1868

Rushing is again a product of a good OL and other smaller factors - respecting the pass, skill player blocking etc, but is generally down to the RB.

With the exception of Arizona, who are in both passing and rushing (seriously, such a good team), teams are generally either in one or the other. So, a playoff team will generally be either a top 10 running game, or a top 10 passing game. You can also basically scratch Houston and Washington, who are in the playoffs by virtue of being in such shitty divisions.

Defense

Total yards per game:

1 Denver Broncos................283.1
2 Seattle Seahawks.............291.8
3 Houston Texans...............310.2
4 New York Jets....................318.6
5 Arizona Cardinals.............321.7
6 Carolina Panthers.............322.9
7 Kansas City Chiefs...........329.3
8 Baltimore Ravens................337.4
9 New England Patriots.......339.4
10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers....340.4
7 teams from the top 10 are in the playoffs, plus the Jets again.
Turnover diff
1 Carolina...........20
2 Kansas City.....14
3 Cincinnati........11
4 Arizona..............9
5 New England....7
6 Buffalo................6
= NY Giants..........6
= NY Jets..............6
= Seattle..............6
10 Green Bay.......5
= St. Louis............5
= Minnesota .......5
= Houston...........5
And then you have turnover differential, where three of the top five teams are in the championship games (and Denver would probably be there if not for the pick-machine that Manning has become); and nine of the top (extended) 10.
So what makes a playoff team? Well, you can basically do it how you like - pass happy, run happy, but you basically must have a solid D, and a good turnover differential.
Also, Washington really sucks, comparatively; Green Bay's O is not that great (12th rushing, 25th passing); Denver/Houston's O is not so good but the monster D got them there; Arizona is probably the best team in the NFL; a great QB with no running game/D won't get you there (Rivers/Eli/Brees/Luck).
Maybe nobody but me is interested, but I thought I'd share.
]]>https://brownsboard.com/topic/39372/what-makes-a-playoff-teamRSS for NodeThu, 01 Oct 2026 00:56:42 GMTMon, 18 Jan 2016 17:25:39 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to What Makes A Playoff Team? on Wed, 20 Jan 2016 17:53:48 GMT]]>gets up asking if anyone caught that plate number.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/571326https://brownsboard.com/post/571326Wed, 20 Jan 2016 17:53:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Makes A Playoff Team? on Wed, 20 Jan 2016 17:53:08 GMT]]>and by roasted I mean rocked out of his shoes.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/571325https://brownsboard.com/post/571325Wed, 20 Jan 2016 17:53:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Makes A Playoff Team? on Wed, 20 Jan 2016 17:52:41 GMT]]>

@tour2ma said:

True, but sooner or later teams will just put someone on his nose... just no road-grader there.

Does free Bito to play RT though...

even so he's still gonna have help from at least one of the guards. When he's at guard and they line up two guys on that side and blitz someone, than he's on an island...which is when he gets roasted.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/571324https://brownsboard.com/post/571324Wed, 20 Jan 2016 17:52:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Makes A Playoff Team? on Wed, 20 Jan 2016 17:48:37 GMT]]>

@clevfan4life said:

cam might not be too bad at center in a power scheme. He'll get interior help on pass protection and on run plays he'll be able to get to the 2nd level against most defensive schemes.

True, but sooner or later teams will just put someone on his nose... just no road-grader there.

Does free Bito to play RT though...

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/571322https://brownsboard.com/post/571322Wed, 20 Jan 2016 17:48:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Makes A Playoff Team? on Wed, 20 Jan 2016 17:14:20 GMT]]>

@brownpile said:

So.. what?

All that says to me is that our talent evaluation sucks.

They could have had all 40 top picks and still screwed it up by picking the wrong guys.

Weeden/Richardson?

(but note...from that 2012 draft later Browns got The Schwartz/Travis Benjamin, John Hughe, Billy Winn.....some decent picks.

Doesn't change the fact that an O line that can protect this precious QB pick is paramount.

Without it you don't win games.

Without it, you're the Browns.

With some QBs....no amount of protection matters. They just suck. Did I say Brandon Weeden and Brady Quinn?

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/571306https://brownsboard.com/post/571306Wed, 20 Jan 2016 17:14:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Makes A Playoff Team? on Wed, 20 Jan 2016 17:10:35 GMT]]>

@clevfan4life said:

not in the slightest. The metrics guys passed on Vontaze. So yeah.

Did they? I don't know.....unless I am misinterpreting what you mean by metrics.

The reason Burfict was passed on was character. He was considered....probably rightly so, a bad apple.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/571305https://brownsboard.com/post/571305Wed, 20 Jan 2016 17:10:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Makes A Playoff Team? on Wed, 20 Jan 2016 16:25:16 GMT]]>cam might not be too bad at center in a power scheme. He'll get interior help on pass protection and on run plays he'll be able to get to the 2nd level against most defensive schemes.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/571284https://brownsboard.com/post/571284Wed, 20 Jan 2016 16:25:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Makes A Playoff Team? on Wed, 20 Jan 2016 16:04:55 GMT]]>Yes... forget Mack and hope we resign Schwartz, but remember he's a West Coast guy. I'm dropping my odds to 1 in 4. But again, I cannot see Joe being traded... especially if we invest a 1st round pick in a QB.

We'll be drafting an O-lineman somewhere this year. Depth at OT looks pretty damn good. OG looks thinner, but there are a couple of thumpers early... same for Centers. And there's always a couple sleepers.

Impending shift to a Power scheme may preclude Cam from center. Our starting three interior OL could be Paztor, Bito and Greco. Which would play center is a question. Greco would seem to have the experience edge, but I think Bito fits there best. That leaves Cam to sink or swim at RT.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/571273https://brownsboard.com/post/571273Wed, 20 Jan 2016 16:04:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Makes A Playoff Team? on Wed, 20 Jan 2016 12:50:33 GMT]]>

@bbedward said:

Our OL coach resigned for punching his girlfriend or something right?

We'll be fine, I believe we have a good unit - provided we retain everyone

I don't think we'll retain everyone though. Mack is in my mind 99% certain to leave. Schwartz is then 50/50, but if he sees Mack leave and Thomas traded, I can well imagine he would want out.

I think, though, we retain Thomas and Schwartz, and start Erving at C next year.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/571198https://brownsboard.com/post/571198Wed, 20 Jan 2016 12:50:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Makes A Playoff Team? on Wed, 20 Jan 2016 12:37:12 GMT]]>

@gftchris said:

Yep. And maybe, just maybe, JT is getting tired of that? And Mack? And the Schwartz? And everyone?

No doubt since everything I've heard says that offensive line needs time to work together. I'd say that's true with any subgroup of football players. Josh McCown he played for two years in a row in the same system. Oops.

WSS

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/571196https://brownsboard.com/post/571196Wed, 20 Jan 2016 12:37:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Makes A Playoff Team? on Wed, 20 Jan 2016 12:37:07 GMT]]>Our OL coach resigned for punching his girlfriend or something right?

We'll be fine, I believe we have a good unit - provided we retain everyone

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/571195https://brownsboard.com/post/571195Wed, 20 Jan 2016 12:37:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Makes A Playoff Team? on Wed, 20 Jan 2016 12:25:49 GMT]]>

@westside-steve said:

Hey on top of changing coaches every two years we change offensive schemes at the halfway mark too.

WSS

Yep. And maybe, just maybe, JT is getting tired of that? And Mack? And the Schwartz? And everyone?

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/571191https://brownsboard.com/post/571191Wed, 20 Jan 2016 12:25:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Makes A Playoff Team? on Wed, 20 Jan 2016 12:03:53 GMT]]>

@gftchris said:

And each is objectively pretty good, ranking from Hall of Famer, multiple pro-bowler, pro-bowl snub, top tier at position, to John Greco, who's only 'pretty good'

The inability to make them work together is not the fault of the talent evaluators.

Hey on top of changing coaches every two years we change offensive schemes at the halfway mark too.

WSS

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/571186https://brownsboard.com/post/571186Wed, 20 Jan 2016 12:03:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Makes A Playoff Team? on Wed, 20 Jan 2016 09:43:21 GMT]]>

@flyin-j said:

Yeah thats worked out well. We have 5 top 40 picks on the o line.

And each is objectively pretty good, ranking from Hall of Famer, multiple pro-bowler, pro-bowl snub, top tier at position, to John Greco, who's only 'pretty good'

The inability to make them work together is not the fault of the talent evaluators.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/571178https://brownsboard.com/post/571178Wed, 20 Jan 2016 09:43:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Makes A Playoff Team? on Wed, 20 Jan 2016 09:11:17 GMT]]>So.. what?

All that says to me is that our talent evaluation sucks.

They could have had all 40 top picks and still screwed it up by picking the wrong guys.

Doesn't change the fact that an O line that can protect this precious QB pick is paramount.

Without it you don't win games.

Without it, you're the Browns.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/571175https://brownsboard.com/post/571175Wed, 20 Jan 2016 09:11:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Makes A Playoff Team? on Wed, 20 Jan 2016 08:18:24 GMT]]>

@brownpile said:

I honestly don't understand anyone who thinks that line play is irrelevant.

The whole idea of "just get a QB" and it makes no difference who is blocking just mystifies me.

No offense is consistently good without an O line. End of story.

Defense wins football games. Always did. Unless there are significant rule changes, it always will.

And that starts with D line. In a 3-4, you better have stud LBs too.

Build from the lines up and you have a dynasty.

Build defense first and you get to playoffs sooner.

Yeah thats worked out well. We have 5 top 40 picks on the o line.]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/571172https://brownsboard.com/post/571172Wed, 20 Jan 2016 08:18:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Makes A Playoff Team? on Wed, 20 Jan 2016 08:10:43 GMT]]>I honestly don't understand anyone who thinks that line play is irrelevant.

The whole idea of "just get a QB" and it makes no difference who is blocking just mystifies me.

No offense is consistently good without an O line. End of story.

Defense wins football games. Always did. Unless there are significant rule changes, it always will.

And that starts with D line. In a 3-4, you better have stud LBs too.

Build from the lines up and you have a dynasty.

Build defense first and you get to playoffs sooner.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/571171https://brownsboard.com/post/571171Wed, 20 Jan 2016 08:10:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Makes A Playoff Team? on Wed, 20 Jan 2016 01:20:11 GMT]]>Not adding anything just wanted to say awesome thread. This is why I'm here great job.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/571121https://brownsboard.com/post/571121Wed, 20 Jan 2016 01:20:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Makes A Playoff Team? on Wed, 20 Jan 2016 00:49:10 GMT]]>An elite QB (Brady, Rodgers & Peyton 7 years ago) and enough junk to keep it moving forward, a franchise QB (Ben, Eli, Brees, Wilson, etc.) with very good players around them or just a ton of talent on both sides of the ball to disguise the fact you've got Trent Dilfer at the helm.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/571107https://brownsboard.com/post/571107Wed, 20 Jan 2016 00:49:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Makes A Playoff Team? on Wed, 20 Jan 2016 00:04:03 GMT]]>

@tour2ma said:

So... you're not a metrics guy...

not in the slightest. The metrics guys passed on Vontaze. So yeah.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/571092https://brownsboard.com/post/571092Wed, 20 Jan 2016 00:04:03 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Makes A Playoff Team? on Tue, 19 Jan 2016 23:49:55 GMT]]>

@clevfan4life said:

best talent available either O or D line. If that's Bosa it's Bosa, Tunsil etc, etc. Actually I should also include the LB'ers in the defensive trenches. If there was a LB'er rated higher than Bosa I'd be all for it. We just need to draft big strong athletic kids that can throw people around. Mean fuckers too.

So... you're not a metrics guy...

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/571089https://brownsboard.com/post/571089Tue, 19 Jan 2016 23:49:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Makes A Playoff Team? on Tue, 19 Jan 2016 22:32:46 GMT]]>

@the-gipper said:

Well, it is pretty simple: teams that lose a lot fire their coaches. Those that make the playoffs usually do not.

Does anyone foresee any of this years playoff coaches being fired? Likely not.

And 2 and out usually puts you behind the eight ball since no matter who's on the team and no matter what they can do the new regime wants their own guys. And it usually takes a while to replace everybody with your own guy. And your own guys need time to develop.. Then you get fired again.

WSS

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/571075https://brownsboard.com/post/571075Tue, 19 Jan 2016 22:32:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Makes A Playoff Team? on Tue, 19 Jan 2016 21:57:04 GMT]]>

@westside-steve said:

Well, it is pretty simple: teams that lose a lot fire their coaches. Those that make the playoffs usually do not.

Does anyone foresee any of this years playoff coaches being fired? Likely not.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/571066https://brownsboard.com/post/571066Tue, 19 Jan 2016 21:57:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Makes A Playoff Team? on Tue, 19 Jan 2016 21:19:08 GMT]]>

@tour2ma said:

Not a matter of agreeing or not, it's a matter of what metrics are out there...

What are your OL and DL metrics?

best talent available either O or D line. If that's Bosa it's Bosa, Tunsil etc, etc. Actually I should also include the LB'ers in the defensive trenches. If there was a LB'er rated higher than Bosa I'd be all for it. We just need to draft big strong athletic kids that can throw people around. Mean fuckers too.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/571057https://brownsboard.com/post/571057Tue, 19 Jan 2016 21:19:08 GMT