[LuckE2Bhere]

I think Terry's point has some validity... notwithstanding the noted shortcomings (like most attempts to capture a multi-faceted competition in a box score).

The key point that I often see ignored when folks often praise a high-scoring or big-yardage-producing offense (while typically criticising the same team's defense) is what I think of as the "self-fulfilling" element of each. For example:

I was very impressed with Jared Goff, for the portion of the game I was able to watch, but he did throw a couple of picks that were returned.  Those are points for which C.al's defense obviously can't be blamed, but they are also free "redos" for the offense, which gets to come right back out on the field to play a tiring defense (I think C.al ended-up possessing the ball for virtually the entire 3rd quarter, and it wasn't because they were excuting a "ball control offense").  Not only did they get more possessions as a result, but the yardage opportunity was effectively increased, because they were "moved back" (and given the ball again with a fresh First Down) by virtue of the ensuing kick-off/return.

As I've suggested in previous posts, sometimes, this dynamic plays against a defense when an offense is "too efficient" (and/or the opponent's defense is porous), because the high/rapidly-scoring offense gives the other offense the ball so many times that it's almost like they're turning it over to them.  Think LMU basketball, back in the Hank Gathers days.

To be clear, I thought Goff did very well (overall) and should only get better, but as CompSci87 noted, it's point-differential that matters, and you can lead yourself to a lot of false conclusions by focusing too intently on what the box score seems to be telling you (or extrapolating one game into perpetuity).

[LuckE2Bhere]

I think Terry's point has some validity... notwithstanding the noted shortcomings (like most attempts to capture a multi-faceted competition in a box score).

The key point that I often see ignored when folks often praise a high-scoring or big-yardage-producing offense (while typically criticising the same team's defense) is what I think of as the "self-fulfilling" element of each. For example:

I was very impressed with Jared Goff, for the portion of the game I was able to watch, but he did throw a couple of picks that were returned.  Those are points for which C.al's defense obviously can't be blamed, but they are also free "redos" for the offense, which gets to come right back out on the field to play a tiring defense (I think C.al ended-up possessing the ball for virtually the entire 3rd quarter, and it wasn't because they were excuting a "ball control offense").  Not only did they get more possessions as a result, but the yardage opportunity was effectively increased, because they were "moved back" (and given the ball again with a fresh First Down) by virtue of the ensuing kick-off/return.

As I've suggested in previous posts, sometimes, this dynamic plays against a defense when an offense is "too efficient" (and/or the opponent's defense is porous), because the high/rapidly-scoring offense gives the other offense the ball so many times that it's almost like they're turning it over to them.  Think LMU basketball, back in the Hank Gathers days.

To be clear, I thought Goff did very well (overall) and should only get better, but as CompSci87 noted, it's point-differential that matters, and you can lead yourself to a lot of false conclusions by focusing too intently on what the box score seems to be telling you (or extrapolating one game into perpetuity).