By Ryan O’Halloran
While the cyclical nature of the NFL this year has semi-debunked the need for a quality running game to be successful – New England (20th), Green Bay (27th), Detroit (29th) and the Giants (32nd) have relied on their passing game.
But there’s no question that turnover ratio is a key way of separating the haves and the have-no-chance teams. And it’s one thing the Redskins have to emphasize.
TOP FIVE RATIOS
- 1. San Francisco: Plus-28 (13-3, NFC West champions).
- 2. Green Bay: Plus-24 (15-1, NFC North champions).
- 3. New England: Plus-17 (13-3, AFC East champions).
- 4. Detroit: Plus-11 (10-6, NFC wild card).
- T5. Atlanta and Seattle: Plus-5 (Falcons are 10-6, NFC wild card; Seahawks went 7-9).
BOTTOM FIVE RATIOS
- T28. Pittsburgh: Minus-13 (12-4, AFC wild card).
- T28. Arizona: Minus-13 (8-8, won four OT games).
- T30. Philadelphia: Minus-14 (8-8, missed playoffs for only third time since 2000).
- T30. Redskins: Minus-14 (5-11, last in NFC East).
- 32. Tampa Bay: Minus-16 (4-12, fired coach Raheem Morris on Monday).
Among the teams with negative turnover ratios, only New Orleans, Denver and the Steelers reached the playoffs.
The Redskins finished tied for 23rd with 21 takeaways (13 interceptions, eight fumble recoveries) but 30th with 35 giveaways (24 interceptions, 11 lost fumbles).

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