Through two weeks of the NFL preseason, there have been lots of stories hitting the internet. I have been taking these stories in, and working hard in the background to do something not done before on the internet.
What I have come up with is the listing of weekly team statistics. Sure, that has been done before, but the sites that keep track of these stats overwrite the previous week. By the end of this season, I will have the statistics for all 17 weeks for all 32 teams in total offense, passing offense, rushing offense, total defense, passing defense, and rushing defense.
These stats will also be in sortable tables, also something new here at NFL-EN.
Back in June, I wrote an article on the Detroit Lions defense, and how I thought they could be a pleasant surprise in 2012 for Lions fans. The basis of that article was the Lions defense from 2011, and where they were ranked before injuries hit the secondary.
I rapidly found out that information I needed for this article wasn't there. Where were the Lions ranked in passing defense in week two? Passing yards allowed per game?
Well, that is going to get corrected this season.
While keeping track of the statistics for this preseason, one thing that jumped out at me was the Detroit Lions and the Maurice Jones-Drew story.
Maurice Jones-Drew lead the NFL in rushing last season, and while he has two years remaining on his contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars, is currently holding out for a bigger contract. He has indicated that he is open to a trade.
Lions fans jumped all over this news.
After an off-season that lead to a two game suspension for Lions running back Mikel Leshoure to start the season, and with Jahvid Best not yet cleared for contact, I can understand where the fans are coming from with their opinions.
This is a Lions team that finished 29th in average yards per carry, 29th in total rushing yards and rushing yards per game, and 31st in rushing attempts in the 2011 regular season.
After two weeks of preseason football, the Lions are 3rd in rushing yards, second in rushing yards per game, and 1st in average yards per carry, all without Jahvid Best and Mikel Leshoure. I gotta say, that jumped out at me.
Preseason Week Two Rushing Offense
| Rank |
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| Team | Att | Att/G | Yds | Avg | Yds/G | TD | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 66 | 33.0 | 378 | 5.7 | 189.0 | 1 | 0 |
| Detroit Lions | 60 | 30.0 | 364 | 6.1 | 182.0 | 2 | 2 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 71 | 35.5 | 363 | 5.1 | 181.5 | 2 | 1 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 62 | 31.0 | 326 | 5.3 | 163.0 | 2 | 2 |
| Tennessee Titans | 60 | 30.0 | 301 | 5.0 | 150.5 | 3 | 0 |
| Houston Texans | 66 | 33.0 | 293 | 4.4 | 146.5 | 1 | 1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 75 | 37.5 | 277 | 3.7 | 138.5 | 0 | 1 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 82 | 27.3 | 392 | 4.8 | 130.7 | 4 | 2 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 62 | 31.0 | 245 | 4.0 | 122.5 | 3 | 2 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 46 | 23.0 | 242 | 5.3 | 121.0 | 0 | 1 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 59 | 29.5 | 240 | 4.1 | 120.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cleveland Browns | 70 | 35.0 | 237 | 3.4 | 118.5 | 3 | 1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 41 | 20.5 | 218 | 5.3 | 109.0 | 1 | 1 |
| Washington Redskins | 63 | 31.5 | 209 | 3.3 | 104.5 | 0 | 2 |
| Carolina Panthers | 50 | 25.0 | 207 | 4.1 | 103.5 | 2 | 1 |
| Oakland Raiders | 61 | 30.5 | 202 | 3.3 | 101.0 | 1 | 2 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 56 | 28.0 | 201 | 3.6 | 100.5 | 4 | 1 |
| Denver Broncos | 52 | 26 | 194 | 3.7 | 97.0 | 3 | 3 |
| St. Louis Rams | 55 | 27.5 | 190 | 3.5 | 95.0 | 2 | 1 |
| New England Patriots | 60 | 30.0 | 186 | 3.1 | 93.0 | 0 | 0 |
| New York Giants | 58 | 29.0 | 184 | 3.2 | 92.0 | 1 | 0 |
| New Orleans Saints | 83 | 27.7 | 274 | 3.3 | 91.3 | 1 | 1 |
| New York Jets | 51 | 25.5 | 181 | 3.5 | 90.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 61 | 30.5 | 180 | 3.0 | 90.0 | 2 | 1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 43 | 21.5 | 168 | 3.9 | 84.0 | 1 | 1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 63 | 31.5 | 168 | 2.7 | 84.0 | 2 | 0 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 39 | 19.5 | 152 | 3.9 | 76.0 | 1 | 1 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 41 | 20.5 | 135 | 3.3 | 67.5 | 1 | 1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 55 | 27.5 | 121 | 2.2 | 60.5 | 3 | 3 |
| Green Bay Packers | 40 | 20.0 | 120 | 3.0 | 60.0 | 1 | 1 |
| Chicago Bears | 43 | 21.5 | 118 | 2.7 | 59.0 | 2 | 2 |
| Miami Dolphins | 27 | 13.5 | 80 | 3.0 | 40.0 | 1 | 0 |
I know, it's the preseason. Some of these yards on the ground are coming against rookies and second and third team defenders. I'm still surprised.
Mikel Leshoure will get his first carries in the NFL against the Oakland Raiders Saturday night, in at Oakland. Can the Lions run the rock in 2012?
Maurice Jones-Drew has not demanded to be traded, just said he was open to that idea. Yesterday, he also stated that he would prefer to stay with the Jaguars.
Stay tuned...
It's also surprising to see the Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins, and Atlanta Falcons near the bottom of this list.
To see all the statistics from the preseason so far, just hold the mouse over the Pages tab at the top, then click on Weekly Team Statistics.
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