Regarding The Dolphins #2 Ranking In Number Of Red Zone Possessions

[nyashfan]

This is a follow-up to Hayden's musings regarding the Dolphins woeful red zone efficiency despite being ranked #2 in the number of red zone possessions. And then it made me wonder whether another stat belies that offensive ranking.

If a team scores a TD on a play in which the line of scrimmage lies outside of the red zone, is that team credited with a red zone possession? If not, then it accentuates even more the progress made by the Dolphins offense in moving the ball; if so, then it underscores the inability of the Dolphins offense to generate big plays and easy scores. And if teams receive credit for a red zone possession when a scoring play emanates from outside the red zone, then those teams presumably are credited with an "automatic" red zone conversion, which helps inflate the red zone efficiency of other teams.

Now before you assume that such long scoring plays do not count as red zone possessions, compare the number of red zone possessions with the number of 1st downs. According to the NFL rulebook, a team is credited with a 1st down any time it scores an offensive touchdown, no matter the original line of scrimmage. So if it's 3rd and 7 from the opponents' 25 yard line and a team scores a TD, they are credited with a 1st down conversion "en passant", and it makes sense to me that such a scenario should also qualify as a red zone possession and conversion as well.

Apologies in advance if this question is pedantic, but the answer could shed light on the correct interpretation of the Dolphins red zone successes and failures.

 

[ATL_PHIN_FAN]

A TD from outside the RZ does not count toward RZ stats any more than a field goal does. Nice that you are reasoning things out, though. :brewskis:

 

[Fins1971]

The Dolphins have 20 Red Zone TD's and only 1 TD outside the red zone on offense.
The defense has scored 3 TD's

And we are #1 at red zone possessions at 4.8 per game.

20 of 43 on the year.

 

[nyashfan]

Thanks for the clarification. That's what I suspected as this definition provides a true apples-to-apples comparison among all 32 teams as other teams' red zone successes are not being inflated because of their propensity to generate more dynamic scoring plays.

So the Dolphins red zone woes are real and are costing them wins, which is unfortunate. Obviously Tannehill would greatly benefit from a bona fide red zone target and the loss of Moreno also has had a huge negative impact.

A TD from outside the RZ does not count toward RZ stats any more than a field goal does. Nice that you are reasoning things out, though. :brewskis: