2008 Broncos: 2nd Worst Defense of DVOA Era

[Hallside]

"the second-worst defense of the DVOA era belongs to... this year's Denver Broncos."

WORST TOTAL DVOA EVER WORST DEFENSIVE DVOA EVER
2005 SF -56.6% 2008 DET 33.3%
2008 DET -47.3% 2008 DEN 26.2%
2004 SF -46.1% 2000 MIN 25.6%
2000 ARI -44.3% 2004 MIN 23.8%
2000 CLE -43.9% 2008 STL 23.3%
2003 ARI -42.8% 2000 ARI 23.1%
2008 STL -42.1% 2004 SF 22.9%
2002 ARI -41.9% 2002 DET 21.6%
1999 CLE -41.7% 1998 CIN 21.4%
2000 CIN -41.7% 1996 ATL 21.3%

http://footballoutsiders.com/dvoa-ratings/2008/final-2008-dvoa-ratings



Here's the bottom line: According to the best statistical indicator that I know of, the 2008 Denver Broncos are the second worst defense since the beginning of their database, 1995.

2nd Worst Ever. Only the 0-16 Lions were worse.

[bronco militia]

too bad no one gives a **** about the DVOA anymore

[Hallside]

too bad no one gives a **** about the DVOA anymore

I do.

[bronco militia]

I can't remembe what year it was, but the DVOA had some team ranked 1st despite losing early in the playoffs or maybe not even making the playoffs....maybe 2005? (pats)

I think most have moved on since then

[summerdenver]

Nice find. I agree that DVOA is the best statiscal indicator that we have currently. How frustating it is to see that we are also ranked #5 on offense and #31 on defense and ST. Till we were forced to play from behind repeatedly we were actually #1 on offense.

[summerdenver]

I can't remembe what year it was, but the DVOA had some team ranked 1st despite losing early in the playoffs or maybe not even making the playoffs....maybe 2005? (pats)

I think most have moved on since then

I don't think its 2005 IIRC Ind and Den were 1 and 2 that year. You were probably talking about 2006. Pats were comfortably lerading that year in Ind before Peyton played the game of his life to pull it out. Ind had the worst rated run defense that year not only according to dvoa but also per traditional ratings. They just had a incredible turn around in the playoffs which is unlikely to happen again.

DVOA is not perfect as any statistical analysis based on a sample size of 16 is very hard especially a game like football where there are lot varaibles home field, weather, injuries etc. However it is better than any other rating system we have.