This Skins Stat Says A Lot About Us

[CultBrennan59]

Alright so I've always noticed how we always seem to lose games closely. So I went through the years from 2002-2011 (10 seasons) and I considered close losses to be by one possesion (aka a max of 8 points or less). So I counted the number of 8 point losses we've had over ten years compared to all the other teams in the NFL. The results I found were pretty interesting/Somewhat shocking/somewhat surprising:

The number 1 team who loses the most 'Close' games in the NFL since 02:

1. Redskins 60 close losses the past 10 years; thats an average of 6 close losses a season.
2. (Tie) Detroit and Cleveland w/ 53 close losses.
3. Cincinnatti with 47

Teams with the fewest close losses:

1. New England with 19
2. Indy with 26
3. NY Giants 28

This tells me that we are a great team that can't seem to finish games. We know how to be competitive, but we just don't have that extra push from either our players or our coaches or both.

If you think about it, if we got half, 3/4, or all of those close loss games to wins, we'd be a playoff team most years.

Discuss!

[los panda]

that's the difference between good teams and bad teams, good teams find a way to win the close ones. that's all

[SmootSmack]

Good research. It's dangerous because it gives us the continuous feeling of "we're thiiiis close" I think that mentality has changed a bit, but what do I know

[RGIII]

Not sure if you proofread your post Cult' but, shouldn't it have read "we are NOT a great team"? Those other teams (DET, CIN, and CLE) are just as bad during that span.

[los panda]

don't knitpick, cincinnatti should be 4

[MTK]

so close yet so far away

[Bishop Hammer]

Originally Posted by los panda

that's the difference between good teams and bad teams, good teams find a way to win the close ones. that's all

Pretty much. I'd rather be in the category with NE, NY, Indy. Teams that consistently make the playoffs and won a superbowl recently.

[Chico23231]

Originally Posted by CultBrennan59

Alright so I've always noticed how we always seem to lose games closely. So I went through the years from 2002-2011 (10 seasons) and I considered close losses to be by one possesion (aka a max of 8 points or less). So I counted the number of 8 point losses we've had over ten years compared to all the other teams in the NFL. The results I found were pretty interesting/Somewhat shocking/somewhat surprising:

The number 1 team who loses the most 'Close' games in the NFL since 02:

1. Redskins 60 close losses the past 10 years; thats an average of 6 close losses a season.
2. (Tie) Detroit and Cleveland w/ 53 close losses.
3. Cincinnatti with 47

Teams with the fewest close losses:

1. New England with 19
2. Indy with 26
3. NY Giants 28

This tells me that we are a great team that can't seem to finish games. We know how to be competitive, but we just don't have that extra push from either our players or our coaches or both.

If you think about it, if we got half, 3/4, or all of those close loss games to wins, we'd be a playoff team most years.

Discuss!

Man that is some good stuff. Its a total mentality thing of being able to finish games. wow, best stat of the year, great job. We gotta change the mentality, I hate to say it, but we still need to turn over some guys on the roster I think. Gotta be strong.

[los panda]

not sure where to find this stat, but we seem younger than when shanny came to town.

i think the base is young and strong, and we have THE crown jewel, we just need some more solid pieces.

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Good research. It's dangerous because it gives us the continuous feeling of "we're thiiiis close" I think that mentality has changed a bit, but what do I know

Changed to what?

Edit: and among whom? Coaches? Players?

[That Guy]

so the average is what? 37 or so? meaning we're losing at least 2 more games a year than we should. that's kind of damning in a way.

losing close ones and taking penalties is at least partially coaching, though i think that some of those years our D was keeping us in games we had no business being in too.

[KLHJ2]

I have never doubted that we have lost more close games than we should have. I feel however that this stat prooves that we have never been that good.
Ultimately, you want to be a team that is rarely in a close game and knows how to win by more than a touchdown and PAT or 2 point conversion. When they do get into close games then you want them to win. If you are playing everyone close then you aren't a very good team. There have to be weeks when you separate yourself from the competition. When you have the weeks that you cannot separate then you find a way to win the close one. All this stat tells me is that the team is good enough to compete but lacks what it takes to be a true contender.

[Mechanix544]

Originally Posted by The Goat

Changed to what?

Edit: and among whom? Coaches? Players?

Maybe he is referring to the sunshiny feeling and the whole "attitude" of Redskins park thing. He refers to it alot, so much so Im beginning to think all of our front office and players walk around with rainbow brite shirts and slap bracelets with the word "positive" on it.

He also might be saying that the thought we are this close has come and gone, and we now know with shanahan, no plan is THE plan. Maybe he did come here for a quick retirement fund BOOSTER!

[Mechanix544]

This means absolutely nothing, btw. Look at the teams at the top, the best in the league over that span, and look at the teams on the bottom, the worst. Its a damning figure, not one to take and try to squeeze optimism out of. Anytime you are compared with the Clevelands and Detroits of the NFL, thats usually not a good thing, no matter how the shanahan apologists (or anyone) want to spin it.

[REDSKINS4ever]

That's an irritating stat. It's also aggravating. To have 2 wiinning seasons during that time span is also annoying. Oftentimes you can find the reasons on the offensive side of the ball as being poor QB play or sight too many turnovers. On defense it could be allowing the opposing offense to convert on too many 3rd downs or allowing too much yardage.