In the NFL, how teams win matters
There are three types of wins in the NFL, and none of them are reflective of the scoreboard. Yes, I know Bill Parcells is correct in believing a team is what their record indicates. However, hidden in the win column for anyone in the organization are variations of wins.
The first is a “dominating” win. This occurs when a team is in complete control from the start to the finish, clearly the better team. Maybe five current NFL teams can claim domination in games. It’s not an easy achievement, as it takes great players and coaching. Watching a dominating game, it’s obvious. The dominating team will win the game from the start, even though the scoreboard isn’t reflective of the domination. Dominating games can be 20-10 or 35-3. The win margin isn’t relevant. What matters here is understanding the opponent never had a chance to win. For bettors, this occurs when we watch a game and realize, our bet has no chance.
The second is the “dictating” win. This type of win takes place when the team overcomes a few mistakes, and plays poorly for moments, allowing the opponent to briefly gain some momentum, which then is taken back. This winning team dictates the course of the game, never allowing their opponent to make critical game-winning plays.
The third type of win is the “dangerous” win. A team plays poorly, yet finds a way to win, believing they are good, and just had an off day and still won. It’s dangerous because unless the team repairs their inadequacies and fixes their problems, they eventually lose a critical game.