The San Francisco 49ers are still the NFL’s best offense on third down and in the red zone after Week 6. They have converted 34 of 66 third downs, 51.5%, and scored touchdowns on 17 of their 20 trips inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, 85.0%. It is the only team in the top three of both lists.
San Francisco went 7 of 14 on third down and 3 of 4 in the red zone in Monday night’s 23–17 win over Washington. Both rates dipped slightly from Week 5, when the 49ers were at 51.9% on third down and 87.5% in the red zone, but they held first place in both.
The rest of the league went the other way in the red zone. Teams scored touchdowns on 53 of 99 red-zone trips in Week 6, 53.5%, the lowest rate of any week this season. Through six weeks the league rate is 59.9% (366 of 611), down from 61.1% after Week 5. Third-down conversions were at 38.9% for the week and 39.3% for the season.
Third-down offense leaders after Week 6
| Rank | Team | G | 3rd-down conv. | 3rd-down % | Rank after Wk 5 | Red-zone TD/trips | Red-zone TD % | Red-zone rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | 6 | 34/66 | 51.5% | 1 | 17/20 | 85.0% | 1 |
| 2 | Cincinnati | 5 | 33/66 | 50.0% | 2 | 9/17 | 52.9% | 20 |
| 3 | Jacksonville | 6 | 35/73 | 47.9% | 5 | 12/18 | 66.7% | 10 |
| 4 | Buffalo | 6 | 30/63 | 47.6% | 3 | 18/26 | 69.2% | 7 |
| 5 | Dallas | 6 | 34/72 | 47.2% | 4 | 17/22 | 77.3% | 4 |
| 6 | Chicago | 6 | 40/88 | 45.5% | 10 | 13/26 | 50.0% | 22 |
| 7 | LA Rams | 6 | 33/75 | 44.0% | 7 | 15/24 | 62.5% | 12 |
| 8 | New Orleans | 6 | 37/87 | 42.5% | 6 | 16/19 | 84.2% | 2 |
| 9 | Las Vegas | 6 | 33/78 | 42.3% | 14 | 12/23 | 52.2% | 21 |
| 10 | NY Giants | 6 | 35/84 | 41.7% | 8 | 11/18 | 61.1% | 13 |
| 11 | Kansas City | 5 | 25/60 | 41.7% | 9 | 13/23 | 56.5% | 17 |
| 12 | Miami | 5 | 26/63 | 41.3% | 12 | 6/13 | 46.2% | 31 |
Cincinnati, on a bye in Week 6, stays second on third down at 50.0% (33 of 66). Jacksonville went 7 of 12 in its 34–31 loss to Houston at Wembley and moved from fifth to third at 47.9%. Buffalo (47.6%) and Dallas (47.2%) slipped a spot each, and Chicago climbed from 10th to sixth at 45.5% after converting 9 of 17 in its 31–23 win at Atlanta.
Green Bay had the biggest third-down game of the week. The Packers converted 11 of 18 in their 23–13 win over Dallas, tying Philadelphia’s 11 at Tennessee in Week 2 for the most third-down conversions by a team in one game this season. Green Bay had converted 16 in its first five games combined and was last in the league at 27.6%. It is now 24th at 35.5%.
Cleveland is now last on third down at 30.8% (24 of 78), just behind Washington (30.9%) and Denver (31.6%). The Browns went 5 of 16 in their 13–10 win over Baltimore.
Red-zone touchdown rate: top eight and bottom five
| Rank | Team | TD/trips | TD % | Rank after Wk 5 | Week 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | 17/20 | 85.0% | 1 | 3-4 |
| 2 | New Orleans | 16/19 | 84.2% | 3 | 3-3 |
| 3 | Detroit | 17/22 | 77.3% | 4 | bye |
| 4 | Dallas | 17/22 | 77.3% | 2 | 2-4 |
| 5 | Atlanta | 12/16 | 75.0% | 7 | 3-3 |
| 6 | Baltimore | 15/21 | 71.4% | 5 | 1-2 |
| 7 | Buffalo | 18/26 | 69.2% | 6 | 3-5 |
| 8 | Philadelphia | 11/16 | 68.8% | 12 | 2-2 |
| 28 | Tampa Bay | 9/19 | 47.4% | 27 | 1-2 |
| 29 | Tennessee | 7/15 | 46.7% | 28 | 1-2 |
| 30 | Cleveland | 6/13 | 46.2% | 31 | 1-2 |
| 31 | Miami | 6/13 | 46.2% | 30 | bye |
| 32 | NY Jets | 6/16 | 37.5% | 29 | 0-3 |
New Orleans closed most of the gap on San Francisco. The Saints scored touchdowns on all three of their red-zone trips in the 34–27 win over the New York Giants and are second at 84.2% (16 of 19), up from third. Dallas, second after Week 5 at 83.3%, went 2 of 4 at Green Bay and fell to fourth at 77.3%, tied with Detroit.
Arizona went the other way. The Cardinals reached the red zone five times against the Los Angeles Rams and did not score a touchdown on any of them, the most red-zone trips without a touchdown by any team in a game this season. They still won 18–16 on six field goals by Chad Ryland, but their red-zone rate fell from 61.1% to 47.8%, 27th in the league.
The New York Jets are last at 37.5% (6 of 16) after going 0 for 3 in a 26–19 loss at New England. They have not scored a red-zone touchdown in their last three games, 0 for 7 since Week 4. Chicago, last after Week 5 at 42.9%, scored on 4 of 5 trips at Atlanta and is now 22nd at 50.0%. The Chargers went 0 for 3 in their 22–6 loss at Kansas City and dropped from 15th to 26th.
The best defenses on third down and in the red zone
| Team | Opp. 3rd-down conv. | Opp. 3rd-down % | Rank | Opp. red-zone TD/trips | Opp. red-zone TD % | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 14/63 | 22.2% | 1 | 3/12 | 25.0% | 1 |
| Chicago | 16/62 | 25.8% | 2 | 10/15 | 66.7% | 22 |
| Seattle | 23/82 | 28.0% | 3 | 11/14 | 78.6% | 30 |
| Indianapolis | 21/69 | 30.4% | 4 | 11/18 | 61.1% | 17 |
| LA Chargers | 23/74 | 31.1% | 5 | 12/25 | 48.0% | 6 |
| Pittsburgh | 26/80 | 32.5% | 6 | 5/10 | 50.0% | 11 |
Minnesota, which was on a bye, still leads both defensive categories. The Vikings have allowed 14 conversions on 63 third downs, 22.2%, and three touchdowns on 12 red-zone trips, 25.0%. Chicago is second on third down at 25.8% after holding Atlanta to 3 of 12, and Seattle is third at 28.0%.
Kansas City moved into second in red-zone defense. The Chiefs kept the Chargers out of the end zone on all three of their trips and have allowed four touchdowns on 12 red-zone trips, 33.3%, in five games.
Where opponents have had the most success
| Team | Category | Allowed | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | third down | 41/75 | 54.7% |
| Miami | third down | 30/58 | 51.7% |
| Detroit | third down | 36/71 | 50.7% |
| Washington | red zone | 18/22 | 81.8% |
| Detroit | red zone | 17/21 | 81.0% |
| Seattle | red zone | 11/14 | 78.6% |
Dallas has the league’s worst third-down defense at 54.7% after Green Bay’s 11 of 18. Washington has allowed touchdowns on 18 of 22 red-zone trips, 81.8%, the worst rate in the league, and gave up three touchdowns on four trips at San Francisco.
Week 7 matchups to watch
| Game | Kickoff (ET) | Cairo time | Efficiency angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England at Chicago | Thu, Oct. 22, 8:15 p.m. | Fri 03:15 | Bears allow 25.8% on third down (2nd); Patriots convert 40.5% (13th) |
| Pittsburgh vs. New Orleans (Paris) | Sun, Oct. 25, 9:30 a.m. | Sun 16:30 | Saints 84.2% in red zone (2nd); Steelers have allowed 10 red-zone trips, the fewest |
| San Francisco at Atlanta | Sun, 1:00 p.m. | Sun 20:00 | 49ers lead both offensive categories; Falcons allow 42.7% on third down (10th-worst) |
| Indianapolis at Minnesota | Sun, 1:00 p.m. | Sun 20:00 | Vikings lead both defensive categories; Colts convert 37.3% on third down |
| Green Bay at Detroit | Sun, 4:25 p.m. | Sun 23:25 | Lions allow 50.7% on third down (3rd-worst); Packers 35.5% offense |
| Kansas City at Seattle | Sun, 8:20 p.m. | Mon 03:20 | Chiefs allow 33.3% in red zone (2nd-best); Seahawks score 57.1% |
| Dallas at Philadelphia | Mon, 8:15 p.m. | Tue 03:15 | Cowboys 47.2% offense on third down, 54.7% allowed (worst) |
The 49ers play at Atlanta on Sunday. The Falcons are fifth in red-zone offense at 75.0% (12 of 16) and scored touchdowns on all three of their trips against Chicago in Week 6.
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