The New England Patriots have been the NFL’s best team on fourth down through five weeks, converting 7 of 8 attempts for an 87.5% success rate. They converted both of their tries against Seattle in Week 1, against Buffalo in Week 4 and against Las Vegas on Sunday, and their only miss came in the Week 3 loss at Jacksonville.
Minnesota is the only team that hasn’t failed on fourth down, going 3 for 3, but the 5-0 Vikings have rarely needed to try. New Orleans has the most conversions in the league, 9 of 12, after going 3 of 4 in the Week 4 loss to Atlanta and 2 of 3 in Sunday’s home loss to Minnesota.
Best fourth-down conversion rates after Week 5
| Rank | Team | Record | Conversions | Attempts | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota Vikings | 5-0 | 3 | 3 | 100.0% |
| 2 | New England Patriots | 3-2 | 7 | 8 | 87.5% |
| 3 | New Orleans Saints | 1-4 | 9 | 12 | 75.0% |
| T4 | Buffalo Bills | 4-1 | 3 | 4 | 75.0% |
| T4 | Cincinnati Bengals | 3-2 | 3 | 4 | 75.0% |
| T4 | New York Giants | 3-1-1 | 3 | 4 | 75.0% |
| T4 | New York Jets | 2-3 | 3 | 4 | 75.0% |
| T8 | Detroit Lions | 3-2 | 8 | 11 | 72.7% |
| T8 | Indianapolis Colts | 2-3 | 8 | 11 | 72.7% |
| 10 | Arizona Cardinals | 1-4 | 5 | 7 | 71.4% |
Ties in the table are broken by attempts, so New England’s 7 of 8 ranks ahead of four teams at 3 of 4. Detroit and Indianapolis are both 8 of 11, at 72.7%.
Chicago has gone for it more than anyone, 15 times, and has converted eight. The Bears were 2 of 3 in three straight games before going 2 of 5 in Sunday’s 31-7 loss at Green Bay. Across the league, teams have converted 116 of 215 fourth-down attempts, or 54.0%.
Lowest fourth-down conversion rates after Week 5
| Rank | Team | Record | Conversions | Attempts | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T27 | Houston Texans | 1-4 | 2 | 7 | 28.6% |
| T27 | Miami Dolphins | 0-5 | 2 | 7 | 28.6% |
| T27 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1-4 | 2 | 7 | 28.6% |
| 30 | Los Angeles Chargers | 0-5 | 2 | 8 | 25.0% |
| 31 | Baltimore Ravens | 4-1 | 1 | 4 | 25.0% |
| 32 | Philadelphia Eagles | 2-3 | 2 | 9 | 22.2% |
Philadelphia is last at 2 of 9 (22.2%). The Eagles went 0 for 2 against Chicago in Week 3, 1 of 4 against the Rams in Week 4 and 0 for 2 against Jacksonville on Sunday. Baltimore is 1 of 4 despite a 4-1 record, and the 0-5 Chargers are 2 of 8.
San Francisco has gone for it only twice, the fewest in the league, and is 5-0 anyway. Figures cover the regular season through Week 5 and do not include Thursday night’s Seahawks-Broncos game.
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