32 Observations

As the playoffs have progressed and the number of still-breathing teams has dwindled, we’ve offered more and more observations about each that remained. Our focus has again narrowed, for the final time this season.

In this Super Bowl XLVI edition of the 32 Observations, the Patriots and Giants rightly get all of the attention as we tack on another 16 quick statistical looks at each. Mentioning both stars and role players, it’s a good mix as we continue the countdown to kickoff.

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It was just about a month ago that the Pro Bowl teams were announced, and the theme of the 32 teams 32 observations was players who made the Pro Bowl. Now that the game is upon us we’re offering a second edition of the 32/32 with a Pro Bowl theme.

Some teams will not be represented at the Pro Bowl for various reasons–selected players missing due to injury, out because of the Super Bowl, none selected in the first place, etc.. In order to keep with the 32 observations theme, some teams here will have two players discussed, essentially bringing us to our first ever 26 teams, 32 observations.

Here are 32 of the players that will be playing on Sunday and an interesting data bit about them.

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Well, we’re down to just four teams, but we’re not done observing them.

Instead we will be examining those that remain in even greater detail and looking at some players you may not have heard of before. This time around in the 32 Teams, 32 Observations (now rather the 4/32), we dig deep to give you eight looks for each team playing on Sunday.

Read on for another round of database nuggets as you prepare for Championship weekend.

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Now that we’re fully into the playoffs, doing the normal 32 Teams, 32 Observations just wasn’t going to make much sense, but–not wanting you to feel cheated–we’ve got something for you.

With just the eight teams still alive, we offer our first ever Eight Teams, 32 Observations piece as we zero-in on those still in the hunt while conducting the weekly data dig.

Below you’ll find four interesting bits for each of this weekend’s participants, adding to the mountain of pre-game talking points and, hopefully, giving you at least one more thing you didn’t know about your favorite playoff team.

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It went by fast, but another regular season is in the books which means this is the last regular edition of 32 Teams, 32 Observations.

There are a lot more possibilities of what to do with the numbers now that they’re final for the season, so this week there is no theme–we’ll simply look at 32 different statistics that were unique to the 2011 season. Join me for a trip around the league as I scour our database for noteworthy highlights for each NFL team.

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Every year the Pro Bowl team is announced, there are a number of players that probably shouldn’t be going to the “All Star” game, and plenty that deserved to go but will (or won’t) be watching from home.

This year when the team was announced, I went on a tweeting rampage (@PFF_NateJahnke) with my thoughts. We’ll stick with the Pro Bowl team in this week’s 32 Teams, 32 Observations, by giving you some information you might not know about the men selected to the Pro Bowl rosters. Some numbers support the picks, others say why that player might not be the best choice … and others might just be interesting to me.

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For the past few months in the 32 Teams, 32 Observations, I’ve looked at the positive side of things. We’ve seen players who have improved, players deserving of their first Pro Bowl, and those who made my own All-Pro Team. There are some numbers, though, that you just don’t want to see. But, want to or not, each side of the coin must be considered in order to find reasonable explanations for how each player’s–and each team’s–season has gone.

Here are 32 numbers that teams need to do something about.

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It’s that time of year again. I’m not talking about the playoffs or the holidays, but the time where the Pro Bowl team is soon to be announced.

While the game might be one of the least-watched of the year, and we might seriously disagree on how the players are selected, it is still an honor for the players, and it’s even more-so an honor for those who are going to the Pro Bowl for the first time.

Here are 32 players that we think could end up making their first Pro Bowl, as well as an interesting statistical bit about them.

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Sometimes the best players aren’t always the ones on the field.

It could be because a team wants to play the player that they gave a big contract to, give a high draft pick a chance, or a number of other reasons, we typically run across a large handful of players that we’d like to see more of.

Here are interesting notes about 32 of the men that have been playing well in limited roles. It would be great to see them on the field more to find out what they could do with extended time. (Their current snap totals are listed in parentheses.)

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It was Thanksgiving less than a week ago, the time to give thanks. Just because everyone is now looking towards the holidays of December doesn’t mean that NFL teams don’t still have reason to be thankful.

Each year some players improve on their previous seasons, and teams should be happy when they see some of that happening. In this week’s 32 Teams, 32 Observations, we’ll look at some statistical bits for defensive players on each team that are enjoying an upswing in 2011.

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