The BES Report An Innovative Look at NFL Team Performance
After nine weeks, the BES is still holding steady at 64.4 percent accuracy in predicting straight-up game outcomes. The record now stands at 65-36 (.644) after a 10-4 showing in Week 9.
This week’s rankings unveil the Bengals (8-0) as the new No. 1 team in the BES. This ends a five-week reign by the Patriots (8-0) who previously held the position since Week 4. The Bengals were already closing in on the Patriots in our Week 8 rankings. A dominant divisional victory over the Browns (2-7) in Week 9 gave them the momentum needed to finally seize the top spot.
Also in the Top-5 we find a major head-scratcher with the Saints (4-5) at No. 4. The BES seems influenced by the Saints recent body of work where they’ve compiled a 4-2 record in their last six games. That stretch includes with pivotal wins over the Falcons (6-3), Giants (5-4) and Colts (4-5), all of whom ranked higher than the Saints at the time.
The Eagles (5-4) have joined the ranks of the Top-10 after amassing wins over the Giants, Saints, Jets (5-3) and Cowboys (2-6) in recent weeks. The Eagles play their next two games at home, welcoming the Dolphins (3-5) in Week 10 and the Buccaneers (3-5) in Week 11. Both games should provide the Eagles opportunities to seize control of the NFC East pending the outcome of Giants Week-10 confrontation with the Patriots.
Elsewhere, we find the Packers (6-2) teetering on the edge of the Top-10 at No. 9 after consecutive losses to the Broncos (7-1) and Panthers (8-0) in Week 8 and Week 9 respectively. During that span, the Packers offense struggled, causing them to fall from No. 2 to No. 9 in BES Offense.
In BES Defense we have a new No. 1 unit with the Rams (4-4) registering an impressive score of 3.02 to lead all teams. Their defense and rookie halfback Todd Gurley have carried them into the BES Top-10. However, unless their offense, currently ranked 29th in the BES, improves significantly they’ll find it difficult to hold their position at No. 7 in BES Overall.
