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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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Sifting through 2011 regular-season rankings for NFC West teams on offense and defense:

• 49ers' winning formula: San Francisco ranked eighth in rushing yards, eighth in NFL passer rating, first in fewest giveaways, fourth in yards allowed, first in rushing yards allowed, first in takeaways, second in points allowed and among the top five on defense for passer rating and QBR. That added up to/reflected a 13-3 record. The team ranked only 30th in red zone offense, but that percentage was trending up. The 49ers scored six touchdowns in nine red zone possessions over their final three games. They had scored five in 23 previous red zone possessions over a seven-game period.
• Seahawks' defensive improvement. Seattle's No. 9 ranking in yards allowed was its highest since the 1997 team ranked eighth. The Seahawks also ranked seventh in points allowed while finishing in the top 10 in a few other categories. The Seahawks allowed 5,315 yards, a figure that has fallen every year since peaking at 6,048 during the 2008 season. Seattle was somewhat better in third-down percentage and actually slipped in red zone percentage, but the team curtailed big plays and red zone opportunities. Seattle ranked second only to Pittsburgh in fewest pass plays of 20-plus yards allowed. The Seahawks were 31st in that category last season. The total fell from 63 to 40.
• Cardinals' situational defense. Arizona ranked first in third-down defense and second in red zone defense. The yardage rankings lagged in part because the Cardinals allowed 58 pass plays of at least 20 yards, fifth-most in the NFL. Arizona also lost the turnover battle too frequently. The Cardinals ranked 28th in fewest giveaways and 26th in most takeaways. Continued development of the pass-rush would help force more turnovers.
• Rams not worst against run. St. Louis went through much of the season allowing more rushing yards per game than any team in the league. They avoided a No. 32 ranking, however, when Tampa Bay allowed 251 yards to Atlanta in Week 17. That left the Bucs ranked last. The Rams' offense scored too few points, allowing opponents to lean on their ground games. St. Louis' opponents carried the ball 509 times, most in a Rams season since 1981. This was the third time in four seasons and the eighth time since 1940 that St. Louis' opponents had 500-plus carries, according to Pro Football Reference.

Now, on to the charts ...

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The second chart, like the first, is ordered by points per game.

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The San Francisco 49ers maintained the NFL's top-ranked rush defense in yards allowed despite Marshawn Lynch's 107-yard game against them Saturday.

They have allowed 250 fewer yards on the ground than second-ranked Baltimore. This would be San Francisco's first No. 1 ranking against the run since 1995.

The charts reveal updated rankings across 10 categories. The 49ers' defense moved up three spots to No. 2 in Total QBR allowed. Teams with higher QBR scores than their opponents have gone 47-1 over the past three weeks.

San Francisco and Seattle continue to rank among the NFL's top five in fewest points allowed. But the Seahawks are only 25th in sacks per pass attempt, an indication they need to upgrade personnel in that area.

Having NFC West games Monday and Saturday created a few challenges in gathering the team statistical rankings posted each week.

The charts show where NFC West teams rank as of Friday. Rankings for Total QBR were through Monday.

The charts are ordered by points per game scored and allowed.

A look.

The NFC West now has two teams ranked among the top eight in fewest yards allowed, and two teams ranked among the top six in fewest points allowed.

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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 12:

• Arizona Cardinals (won at Rams): on offense, rose nine spots to 19th in rushing yards per game; on defense, rose four spots to 20th in rushing yards allowed per game, rose four spots to No. 19 in Total QBR against
• St. Louis Rams (lost vs. Cardinals): on offense, dropped three spots to 21st in rushing yards per game; on defense, remained 32nd in rushing yards allowed, rose three spots to 16th in yards per pass attempt allowed, rose eight spots to 19th in takeaways, rose five spots to 18th in NFL passer rating allowed.
• San Francisco 49ers (lost at Ravens): on offense, dropped six spots to 26th in yards per game and eight spots to 29th in sacks allowed per pass attempt; on defense, fell two spots to 21st in sacks per pass attempt, fell four spots to 10th in Total QBR against.
• Seattle Seahawks (lost vs. Redskins): on offense, rose four spots to 28th in sacks allowed per pass attempt; on defense, fell three spots to 11th in rushing yards allowed, fell three spots to 16th in passing yards per attempt allowed, three spots to 14th in Total QBR against and three spots to 25th in sacks per pass attempt.

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

The 49ers continue to lead the NFL in fewest points allowed despite suffering their second defeat of the season in Week 12.

A few notes on where NFC West teams rank in various statistical categories through Week 11:

• Arizona Cardinals (lost vs. 49ers): on defense, fell three spots in rushing yards allowed per game, fell four spots in sacks per pass attempt, rose three spots in red zone touchdown percentage allowed; on offense, fell five spots in yards per game, fell six spots in NFL passer rating, dropped nine spots in fewest giveaways.
• St. Louis Rams (lost vs. Seahawks): on defense, rose five spots in sacks per pass attempt; on offense, dropped five spots in yards per game and seven spots in fewest giveaways.
• San Francisco 49ers (won vs. Cardinals): on defense, rose three spots in yards per game allowed, rose five spots in passing yards allowed per play, rose five spots in third-down percentage allowed, rose four spots in NFL passer rating against; on offense, rose five spots in yards per game, rose four spots in sacks allowed per pass attempt, dropped four spots in red zone touchdown percentage.
• Seattle Seahawks (won vs. Rams): on defense, rose four spots in yards allowed per game, rose four spots in rushing yards allowed per game, rose five spots in passing yards allowed per play, rose six spots in sacks per pass attempt, rose 10 spots in Total QBR allowed, rose four spots in point per game allowed; on offense, dropped three spots in sacks allowed per pass attempt, rose six spots in red zone touchdown percentage, rose three spots in Total QBR.

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

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The NFC West now has two of the top eight teams and two of the bottom nine teams in rushing yards allowed per game. The Cardinals' ranking for NFL passer rating allowed is considerably higher this week than what I had posted in past weeks. I'm looking into why that is so. The ranking should not have changed much.

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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.

A few notes on where NFC West teams rank in various statistical categories through Week 9:

• Arizona Cardinals (won vs. Rams): dropped five spots in yards per game and four spots in yards per pass attempt; improved seven spots in third-down defense and six spots in point per game allowed.
• St. Louis Rams (lost vs. Cardinals): improved five spots in yards per game on offense; jumped six spots in yards per game allowed.
• San Francisco 49ers (won vs. Redskins): dropped three spots in yards per game and six spots in red zone touchdown percentage on offense; dropped six spots in sacks per pass attempt on defense; climbed five spots in Total QBR allowed.
• Seattle Seahawks (lost vs. Cowboys): dropped five spots in NFL passer rating and six spots in fewest giveaways; dropped two spots in rushing yards allowed per game, four spots in sacks per pass attempt, four in NFL passer rating allowed and four in Total QBR allowed; also dropped four in points per game allowed.

The 49ers have to feel good about ranking first against the run and first in points allowed. They have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 30 games, the longest active streak.

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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.

A few notes on where NFC West teams rank in various statistical categories through Week 8:

• Arizona Cardinals (lost at Baltimore): moved up four spots to No. 24 in yards allowed per pass attempt.
• St. Louis Rams (won vs. Saints): moved up one spot to 31st in points per game scored; jumped eight spots to No. 15 in sacks per pass attempt on defense.
• San Francisco 49ers (won vs. Browns): moved up one spot to 10th in yards allowed per game; moved up one spot to No. 1 in points allowed per game; moved up one spot to No. 1 in rushing yards allowed per game.
• Seattle Seahawks (lost vs. Bengals): dropped five spots to 15th in red zone touchdown percentage offense; dropped seven spots to No. 23 in sacks per pass attempt on defense; fell seven spots to No. 18 in points allowed, a figure reflecting two more return touchdowns (the Seahawks allowed two against San Francisco in the opener as well).

The gap between where the 49ers rank in NFL passer rating and Total QBR stands out. I think it reflects well on the coaching staff for getting efficient play from Alex Smith without leaning on him to carry the team.


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

A few notes on where NFC West teams rank in various statistical categories through Week 7:

• Arizona Cardinals: dropped from 19th to 28th in points per game allowed; dropped from 19th to 27th in NFL passer rating allowed after Ben Roethlisberger passed for 361 yards and three touchdowns in the Pittsburgh Steelers' 32-20 victory at University of Phoenix Stadium.
• St. Louis Rams: already ranked near the bottom in nearly every category, and that did not change.
• San Francisco 49ers: remained among leaders in several categories after not playing in Week 7.
• Seattle Seahawks: moved up 10 spots to No. 11 in points allowed per game after their 6-3 defeat to the Cleveland Browns; dropped from fifth to 13th in third-down conversion rate allowed after the Browns converted 50 percent; dropped from 17th to 24th in NFL passer rating and from 21st to 29th in Total QBR after Charlie Whitehurst completed 12 of 30 passes for 97 yards.

I have not been listing yards per carry allowed, but noticed that Seattle continues to lead the NFL in that category. The Seahawks allowed 141 yards to the Browns, but only 3.2 per attempt.

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

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A few notes on where NFC West teams rank in various statistical categories through Week 6:

• San Francisco 49ers: moved up seven spots to No. 5 in rushing offense; moved down from first to fourth in fewest giveaways; moved up nine spots to eighth in yards per pass attempt allowed; moved up seven spots to fourth in third-down defense; moved up two spots to No. 2 in rushing yards allowed.
• St. Louis Rams: moved up six spots to 25th in yards per game; moved down five spots to No. 19 in red zone offense; moved down nine spots to 20th in yards per pass attempt allowed; moved down six spots to No. 23 in passer rating allowed.

Arizona and Seattle did not play, but the Seahawks, like the 49ers, crept up two spots in rushing yards allowed per game. Seattle now ranks seventh in that category.

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