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INDIANAPOLIS -- Significant defensive improvements have given the NFC champion New York Giants a boost during their run to Super Bowl XLVI.

AFC champion New England has fared better in scoring defense than by traditional yardage measures.

Overall, however, NFC West defenses compare favorably to those for the Super Bowl participants this year.

After looking at offensive comparisons, I've put together a chart stacking up the defenses.

Among the stats standing out: The Giants and Patriots have both allowed 86.1 NFL passer ratings to their opponents; Arizona and St. Louis compare favorably in sacks per pass attempt; San Francisco, Seattle and Arizona were about the same in yards per play allowed; the Patriots allowed a high yards per pass attempt; Arizona picked off too few passes (10 all season); Arizona was best in third-down percentage allowed; and the 49ers' scoring defense was miles better than those for the other teams listed.

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INDIANAPOLIS -- The San Francisco 49ers came oh-so-close to reaching Super Bowl XLVI.

Their 20-17 defeat to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship Game, though most directly related to a special-teams turnover in overtime, reflected shortcomings on offense.

The chart shows how the 49ers and the other NFC West teams compared statistically to Super Bowl participants New England and New York.

Check out the numbers for passing yards per play. The Patriots and Giants far outrank the NFC West in that often telling category.

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The New Orleans-San Francisco divisional playoff game Saturday pits strength against strength and weakness against weakness.

I've followed up charts from an earlier item with two showing how each team's offense and defense stacks up against the other in 2011 NFL rankings.

The biggest ranking disparities between the Saints' offense and 49ers' defense favor the New Orleans passing game (setting aside fourth-down conversion rate, which suffers from small sample size).

The Saints rank first in third-down conversion rate, sacks allowed per pass attempt and passing yards per game. The 49ers' defense ranks outside the top 10 in those categories. The rankings are quite similar across most categories, however, and disparities provide only a general picture.


The second chart shows rankings for the Saints' defense and the 49ers' offense. If these units hold to form, the 49ers' Alex Smith will not suddenly start throwing interceptions. But neither will San Francisco suddenly improve its third-down conversion rate.

The 49ers' red zone offense, though ranked only 30th, scored six touchdowns in nine chances over the 49ers' last three games. The Saints' red zone defense fared well against Atlanta twice and also against Houston, but not against the rest of the league. New Orleans ranks 28th in red zone touchdown defense. The Saints allowed four touchdowns in four red zone possessions against Detroit in the playoffs and still won 45-28.

The San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints were both 13-3 this season. They will both spent Saturday afternoon at Candlestick Park in a divisional-round playoff game. Most of the similarities end there.

I've put together charts showing differences in where these teams ranked on offense and defense, with a few special-teams categories mixed in. These charts compare offenses to offenses and defenses to defenses. I'll compare offenses to defenses in a separate item.

The first chart shows where the 49ers and Saints finished in the NFL rankings for offense, sorted by spots between rankings.

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The second chart shows similar information for defenses. The rankings come from the NFL and reflect categories the league tracks through its Game Systems Information System.

The differences will come into clearer focus from a matchup standpoint in a future item. The 49ers' ability to hold the Saints to field goals instead of touchdowns is one obvious key given disparities in red zone touchdown percentage.
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The San Francisco 49ers have a 10-3 record despite ranking 31st in sacks allowed per pass, 31st in third-down conversion rate and 32nd in red zone touchdown percentage.

That No. 32 ranking in the red zone means the 49ers are looking up at the No. 31 St. Louis Rams, No. 30 Kansas City Chiefs, No. 29 Indianapolis Colts and No. 28 Cleveland Browns in that category. Those teams have combined for one more victory than the 49ers so far. They are 11-41 and have already fired one coach. They lag in most offensive categories.

The 49ers have quite a few things going for them. They rank third in time of possession, seventh in rushing yards per game and 12th in points. But to treat the team's struggles in the red zone as an outlier would ignore those No. 31 rankings in sacks allowed and on third down. It would excuse No. 26 rankings in yardage and first downs.

Overall improvement on offense will show up in the red zone as well.

Four of the top five teams in red zone percentage rank seventh or better in points. Three rank seventh or better in yards per game. Three rank first through third in passing yards per play. Three rank among the top five in fewest sacks allowed per pass. All have winning records: Green Bay (16-0), New England (10-3), the New York Jets (8-5) and Giants (7-6), and Tennessee (7-6).

The charts show where NFC West teams rank on offense and defense after Week 14.

On offense, the 49ers fell four spots in yards per pass play, six in Total QBR and two in points per game following their 21-19 defeat to Arizona. The Cardinals fell four spots in rushing yards while climbing five in passing yards. Seattle dropped five spots in red zone touchdown percentage during a 30-13 victory St. Louis. Sounds like it's time to break out a separate item looking at the Cardinals' defensive improvements.

The Seattle Seahawks improved two spots to No. 10 in points allowed per game. They ranked 25th in that category last season.

A look.

The 49ers continue to lead the NFL in fewest points allowed, but they fell one spot to No. 2 in most takeaways.

The Arizona Cardinals climbed four spots in passing yards allowed per play, four in Total QBR allowed and three in sacks per pass attempt. They dropped six spots in takeaways, beating the 49ers despite losing the turnover battle. They climbed two more spots to No. 3 in third-down conversion rate allowed.

Since Week 9, the Cardinals have improved seven spots in yards allowed, eight in yards per pass attempt allowed, six in sacks per pass attempt, five in red zone touchdown percentage allowed, 10 in passer rating allowed, seven in QBR allowed, five in takeaways and five in points allowed.

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Notes on where NFC West teams rank in various statistical categories through Week 13:

• Arizona Cardinals (won vs. Cowboys): on offense, improved four spots to 20th in yards per pass attempt, rose three spots to 27th in NFL passer rating, dropped five spots to 32nd in sacks allowed per pass play; on defense, improved four spots to 16th in sacks per pass play, rose two spots to 19th in point per game allowed, fell three spots to 22nd in takeaways.
• St. Louis Rams (lost at 49ers): on offense, dropped six spots to 27th in rushing yards per game, dropped four spots to 22nd in fewest giveaways; on defense, rose six spots to 10th in red zone touchdown percentage allowed, rose three spots to second in sacks per pass play, fell three spots to 22nd in most takeaways.
• San Francisco 49ers (won vs. Rams): on offense, rose four spots to 13th in yards per pass attempt, rose one spot to seventh in NFL passer rating, rose two spots to 19th in Total QBR, dropped five spots to 31st in red zone touchdown percentage; on defense, rose three spots to No. 4 in yards allowed per game, rose five spots to 16th in sacks per pass play.
• Seattle Seahawks (won vs. Eagles): on offense, rose five spots to 22nd in rushing yards per game, rose three spots to 24th in NFL passer rating, rose five spots to 17th in fewest giveaways; on defense, rose six spots to 11th in NFL passer rating allowed, rose nine spots to No. 4 in takeaways (they had been tied for 13th with multiple teams), rose three spots to 12th in points per game allowed.

The charts show current rankings, ordered by points per game.

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The 49ers continue to lead the NFL in fewest points allowed, no surprise after shutting out St. Louis.

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A few notes on where NFC West teams rank in various statistical categories through Week 10:

• Arizona Cardinals (won vs. Eagles): offense rose five spots to No. 20 in yards per game, rose three spots to 21st in NFL passer rating, rose two spots to No. 27 in Total QBR, rose three spots to No. 8 in red zone touchdown percentage and dropped three spots to No. 31 in sacks allowed per pass attempt; defense dropped five spots to 21st in rushing yards allowed, rose three spots to 19th in passing yards per attempt and rose five spots to fifth in third-down percentage allowed.
• St. Louis Rams (won vs. Browns): offense dropped two spots to No. 25 in yards per game, rose two spots to No. 16 in rushing yards and rose two spots to No. 28 in sacks allowed per pass attempt; defense rose eight spots to No. 17 in red zone touchdown percentage allowed and rose four spots to No. 25 in points allowed per game.
• San Francisco 49ers (won vs. Giants): offense dropped two spots to 28th in third-down conversion rate, climbed three spots to No. 20 in Total QBR and moved up one spot to No. 1 in fewest giveaways; defense rose one spot to No. 1 in most takeaways, dropped two spots to No. 11 in yards allowed, dropped four spots to No. 10 in third-down percentage, dropped three spots in NFL passer rating and two spots in QBR.
• Seattle Seahawks (won vs. Ravens): offense rose five spots to No. 20 in fewest giveaways, rose two spots to No. 27 in NFL passer rating, rose two spots to No. 26 in points per game and dropped eight spots to No. 25 in red zone touchdown percentage; defense rose three spots to No. 18 in passing yards allowed per attempt, rose seven spots to No. 15 in NFL passer rating allowed, rose three spots to No. 14 in takeaways, rose four spots to No. 18 in points allowed per game and dropped four spots to No. 31 in sacks per pass attempt.

The 49ers own six Top 10 rankings in the defensive chart. The gap between their offensive rankings in NFL passer rating and QBR has closed some, a reflection of meaningful improvement at quarterback.

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The defensive rankings, like the offensive rankings above, are ordered by points per game. Points scored and allowed on special teams are included.

The standings and our eyeballs can tell us the San Francisco 49ers are the best team in the NFC West right now.

Our weekly look at where division teams stand in various statistical categories drives home the point.

A look inside some of the numbers through Week 5:

• First: Where the 49ers rank in red zone touchdown percentage allowed, and in fewest turnovers committed (giveaways).
• Second: Where the 49ers rank in points per game allowed, and in turnovers forced.
• Third: Where the 49ers' offense ranks in NFL passer rating, and where the Seattle Seahawks' defense ranks in third-down defense.
• Fourth: Where the 49ers rank in NFL passer rating allowed and rushing yards allowed.
• Seventh: Where the 49ers rank in points per game scored, and where the St. Louis Rams rank in fewest giveaways.
• Ninth: Where the Seahawks rank in rushing yards allowed per game.
• Tenth: Where the Seahawks rank in red zone touchdown percentage on offense.

I've added a column for turnovers this week.

The defensive rankings, like the offensive rankings above, are ordered by points per game.

FORT WORTH, Texas -- How NFC West defenses measure up with those of the Super Bowl participants based on 2010 regular-season averages, ordered by yards per game:

FORT WORTH, Texas -- How NFC West offenses measure up with those of the Super Bowl participants based on 2010 regular-season averages, ordered by yards per game:

A few highlights in looking at where NFC West teams rank in various statistical categories through Week 5:

• No NFC West offense or defense ranks higher than 17th in yards allowed per game.
• The St. Louis Rams fell from fourth to 11th in points allowed per game following their 44-6 defeat at Detroit.
• Every team in the division retained its overall offensive ranking from the previous week.
• The San Francisco 49ers jumped from 15th to fourth in red zone touchdown percentage after scoring on all three chances Sunday night. The 49ers have scored touchdowns on their last five red zone trips spread across three games. The team has scored touchdowns on eight of nine over its last four games.
• The Seattle Seahawks moved up from third to second in rushing yards allowed per game.
• The 49ers climbed from 26th to 18th in third-down defense.
• Despite a strong showing on defense Sunday, the Arizona Cardinals rank 25th or worse in eight of the nine defensive categories listed. It'll take a while to overcome the statistical damage wrought during blowout defeats to Atlanta and San Diego.

The first chart shows where NFC West teams rank on offense after Week 5.

The second chart shows where NFC West teams rank on defense after Week 5.

A few things stand out when looking at where NFC West teams rank among their NFL peers in nine statistical categories I reference each week:

• The St. Louis Rams have overtaken the San Francisco 49ers as the team in the division averaging the most yards per game.
• The 49ers continue to rank 31st in points per game.
• The Rams are lagging in red zone offense. Their scoring will increase significantly once quarterback Sam Bradford and the rest of the offense become more efficient in that area of the field.
• Seattle ranks third in rushing yards allowed. The team's front seven is stouter than it has been. The ranking should remain high, barring injuries.
• The Rams' defense ranks among the NFL's top five in third-down conversion percentage, red zone conversion percentage and points allowed per game. The team ranked among the top 10 in those categories a week ago.

The first chart shows where NFC West teams rank on offense after Week 4.


The second chart shows where NFC West teams rank on defense after Week 4.

A few things stand out when looking at where NFC West teams rank among their NFL peers in nine statistical categories I reference each week:

• Seattle ranks second in third-down conversion rate on offense. Matt Hasselbeck leads the NFL in third-down completion percentage.
• The 49ers average more yards per game than any NFC West team because they topped 400 against New Orleans and piled up cheap yardage late against Kansas City, but only one team -- Carolina -- has scored fewer points.
• Third-down conversions are tougher to make on the road. The NFC West teams with the most road games so far -- San Francisco and Arizona -- have the lowest conversion rates on offense.
• Seattle ranks among the top five in fewest rushing yards allowed.
• The Rams rank among the NFL's top 10 on defense on third down, in the red zone and in points allowed.

The first chart shows where NFC West teams rank on offense after Week 3.


The second chart shows where NFC West teams rank on defense after Week 3.

The Monday night game has thrown off the schedule for a few items that generally run earlier in the week.

This is one of them.

NFL rankings for sacks allowed per pass attempt match up with my perception that pass protection hasn't been a significant limiting factor for Matt Hasselbeck in Seattle, counter to last season. The 2009 Seahawks ranked 17th at 6.73 percent; the current team ranks sixth at 3.45 percent. Hasselbeck has taken two sacks in two games (he took 32 in 14 last season).

The 49ers have also cut down on sacks from last season. They rank fifth at 2.6 percent, down from 7.58 percent last season, which ranked 23rd.

The Seahawks fell from first to 22nd from last week in third-down conversion percentage allowed. The 49ers rank fourth in total yards allowed after holding New Orleans beneath 300.

The weekly in-season rankings charts will run in a single post this season.

The offensive and defensive charts are ordered by average yards gained or allowed. That is not the most precise way to measure an offense or a defense, but if you look at the leaders at season's end, you're going to find the best units represented.

The better offenses will tend to gain lots of yards. The better defenses will tend to limit yards allowed.

Week 1 charts below. Grains of salt not included.


The Seahawks should face the 49ers' offense in Seattle more often. They've held San Francisco to two third-down conversions in 28 tries over the past two games between the teams at Qwest Field.