First NFL posting.

Ranking in the NFL isn't nearly as important as in college, but I still like it more.  Especially now since the Browns actually are interesting, statistically speaking.  We'll have to talk about that in a bit.  But for the moment consider the current power ranks I have after week six.

				OFFENSE RANK	DEFENSE RANK		RECORD	SS
1	DENVER			1	10		4-1-0	4
2	SAN DIEGO			4	8		5-1-0	28
3	BALTIMORE			11	3		4-2-0	18
4	ARIZONA			15	4		4-1-0	3
5	SEATTLE			5	6		3-2-0	1
6	DALLAS			7	5		5-1-0	20
7	DETROIT			23	1		4-2-0	29
8	SAN FRANCISCO			14	2		4-2-0	7
9	INDIANAPOLIS			2	19		4-2-0	10
10	GREEN BAY			6	17		4-2-0	18
11	CINCINNATI			8	14		3-1-1	15
12	NEW ENGLAND			12	11		4-2-0	27
13	KANSAS CITY			10	12		2-3-0	6
14	CLEVELAND			3	23		3-2-0	25
15	PHILADELPHIA			21	13		5-1-0	32
16	HOUSTON			24	9		3-3-0	24
17	CHICAGO			13	18		3-3-0	23
18	CAROLINA			9	26		3-2-1	9
19	BUFFALO			22	7		3-3-0	5
20	MIAMI			17	20		2-3-0	17
21	NY GIANTS			18	22		3-3-0	13
22	NEW ORLEANS			16	25		2-3-0	26
23	PITTSBURGH			26	15		3-3-0	22
24	TENNESSEE			25	21		2-4-0	7
25	MINNESOTA			30	16		2-4-0	21
26	ATLANTA			19	31		2-4-0	31
27	WASHINGTON			20	28		1-5-0	11
28	TAMPA BAY			29	29		1-5-0	29
29	NY JETS			31	24		1-5-0	2
30	ST LOUIS			27	27		1-4-0	14
31	OAKLAND			28	32		0-5-0	12
32	JACKSONVILLE			32	30		0-6-0	16

To nobody's' surprise Denver comes out on top.  Cincinnati started the season in that position, but have slipped with two less than convincing performances.  San Diego is also not so shocking, but I'm certain noone would have Baltimore in at three right now. But they have the spot based on a solid defense and an efficient offense.  Plus they are winning.

Now the really interesting part.  Cleveland's offense shows up at number three overall.  Not to bad I must say.  And higher that even I would have guessed.  Given the level of incredulity on most of your faces, I must take a moment to explain that number in a little  more detail.

The offense category is comprised of a handful of stats.  Most often in the media the pundits will look at one, Total Offensive Yards, and determine the best squad from that one measly data point.  This is the entire reason why I started this hobby.

So for this exercise we look at six categories.  Record, Total Offensive Points, Total Offensive Touchdowns, Total Offensive Yards, Turnovers Committed, and Allowing Opposing Defense to Score.  It is a sliding scale and not all data is weighted the same.  This weighting is where the subjectivity comes into play.  I find that total yards isn't the best indicator of success in the NFL.  Offensive Touchdowns and Turnovers seem to have the highest co-relation with winning.  So they are weighted heavily.  The Browns are third in Offensive TDs and first in committing turnovers (ie the least with two).  In the other categories Offensive scoring they are ninth, in total yards they are eleventh, and also first in allowing opposing defenses to score (which has a smaller weight).

So based on my biases, the Browns are doing well indeed.  They move the ball well (but not great), and they put it into the endzone more often than not and they take care of the ball.  This to me is the first half of the recipe to winning games.  Now if they can work on the defense....