We have updated the Defense vs Position to reflect the 2015 season only. This should provide a more accurate look into the match ups each week moving forward. Our rankings still may be slightly skewed from others you see around the internet, and this is because we believe our numbers are likely more accurate. We are using a relative strength instead of absolute strength.
To illustrate this, here is a listing of team defenses this year vs the run
http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?archive=false&conference=null&role=OPP&offensiveStatisticCategory=null&defensiveStatisticCategory=RUSHING&season=2015&seasonType=REG&tabSeq=2&qualified=false&Submit=Go
You will see the Dolphins, Browns, Saints, Chargers and Packers as the 5 worst Defenses vs the Run. These are absolute numbers, based on the yards given up per game by each of those teams. These numbers do not take into account the teams that they faced.
To come up with our relative ranks, we compare the stats given up vs what the offensive team normally does. For example, If a team normally rushes 130 yards pergame, but the defense only allowed 120, they actually held the team to under their average. While 120 would be a poor absolute number, in terms of relative strength it is not as bad.
We compile stats in this manner for each category and each position and come up with the relative strength for each team, and then we rank those in order. So based on schedule, we rank the worst 5 rushing defenses as: Browns, Vikings, Lions, Dolphins, Titans.
Full disclosure: I am a Miami Dolphins fan :-)
To illustrate this, here is a listing of team defenses this year vs the run
http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?archive=false&conference=null&role=OPP&offensiveStatisticCategory=null&defensiveStatisticCategory=RUSHING&season=2015&seasonType=REG&tabSeq=2&qualified=false&Submit=Go
You will see the Dolphins, Browns, Saints, Chargers and Packers as the 5 worst Defenses vs the Run. These are absolute numbers, based on the yards given up per game by each of those teams. These numbers do not take into account the teams that they faced.
To come up with our relative ranks, we compare the stats given up vs what the offensive team normally does. For example, If a team normally rushes 130 yards pergame, but the defense only allowed 120, they actually held the team to under their average. While 120 would be a poor absolute number, in terms of relative strength it is not as bad.
We compile stats in this manner for each category and each position and come up with the relative strength for each team, and then we rank those in order. So based on schedule, we rank the worst 5 rushing defenses as: Browns, Vikings, Lions, Dolphins, Titans.
Full disclosure: I am a Miami Dolphins fan :-)