ESPN NFL

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

EA Sports' team-by-team Excel files with in-depth player ratings made possible lots of fun exercises.

The first thing I did was combine the 32 team files into one file -- download it here or here -- with an eye toward league-wide analysis.

For example, the Madden video game makers rated players for toughness.

The chart shows the 15 NFC West players with the highest ratings for toughness. Michael Crabtree tougher than Patrick Willis? Hmmm.

I averaged these toughness ratings by team to get an idea which teams were considered toughest. The Cardinals were 17th (79.6). The Rams were 31st (77.3), ahead of only the Colts. The Chiefs tougher on average than, say, the Patriots? Hmmm again.

The five teams with the highest average toughness ratings:

1. Giants (82.6)
2. Steelers (82.4)
3. Cowboys (82.4)
4. Seahawks (81.8)
5. Chiefs(81.7)

The Seahawks, toughest team in the NFC West? Seattle also ranked third-best in the league for injury rating, odd given the team's injury problems last season.

The Cardinals posted the highest average overall rating among NFC West teams, ranking seventh with a 72.8 average.

NFC West leaders in each category listed below:

Overall rating: Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals (99)

Speed: Tye Hill, CB, Rams (97)

Acceleration: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Cardinals (97)

Strength: Marvel Smith, OL, 49ers (97)

Agility: Rodgers-Cromartie (98) and Marcus Trufant, CB, Seahawks (98)

Awareness: Fitzgerald (97)

Catching: Fitzgerald (99)

Carrying: T.J. Duckett, RB, Seahawks (86) and Tim Hightower, RB, Cardinals (86)

Throw power: Nate Davis, QB, 49ers (91)

Throw accuracy: Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seahawks (91)

Throw accuracy short: Kurt Warner, QB, Cardinals (99)

Throw accuracy mid: Warner (96)

Throw accuracy deep: Warner (84)

Play action: Hasselbeck (88)

Throw on run: Seneca Wallace, QB, Seahawks (84)

Kick power: Donnie Jones, P, Rams (98)

Kick accuracy: Andy Lee, P, 49ers (94)

Run block: Walter Jones, LT, Seahawks (94)

Pass block: Jones (93)

Tackle: Willis (99)

Jumping: Rodgers-Cromartie (99)

Return: Reggie Smith, S, 49ers (88)

Injury: Max Unger, OL, Seahawks (99)

Stamina: Willis (99) and Fitzgerald (99)

Toughness: Boldin (99)

Trucking: Steven Jackson, RB, Rams (95)

Elusiveness: Frank Gore, RB, 49ers (90)

Ball carrier vision: Steve Breaston, WR, Cardinals (93)

Stiff-arm: Jackson (97) and Beanie Wells, RB, Cardinals (97)

Spin move: Trufant (94)

Juke move: Donnie Avery, WR, Rams (96)

Impact block: Dan Kreider, FB, Cardinals (96)

Run-block strength: Jones (96)

Run-block footwork: Joe Staley, LT, 49ers (95)

Pass-block strength: Jones (95)

Pass-block footwork: Jason Smith, RT, Rams (94)

Power moves: Darnell Dockett, DT, Cardinals (93)

Finesse moves: Dockett (89)

Block shedding: Willis (99)

Pursuit: Willis (98) and Lofa Tatupu, LB, Seahawks (98) and Will Witherspoon, LB, Rams (98)

Play recognition: Tatupu (94)

Man coverage: Trufant (93)

Zone coverage: Oshiomogho Atogwe, FS, Rams (91)

Spectacular catch: Fitzgerald (99)

Catch in traffic: Fitzgerald (99) and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR, Seahawks (99)

Route running: Fitzgerald (98)

Hit power: Willis (96)

Press: Nate Clements, CB, 49ers (90)

Release: Fitzgerald (98)