Points per game over the last 40 years

[ArgoRavi]

1974 36.93
1975 43.05
1976 41.94
1977 40.93
1978 42.75
1979 40.22
1980 46.47
1981 48.55
1982 51.88 (the elimination of the tight end is complete with everyone playing two slotbacks instead and the run-and-shoot emerges in Toronto)
1983 51.61
1984 50.67
1985 45.36 (a drop in the level of quarterbacking, especially in the east where Ken Hobart was MOP and Condredge Holloway was injured)
1986 47.90
1987 53.07 (the rise of some good, young QBs such as Renfroe, Austin, Burgess, Dunigan, and Allen. The # of teams in the league reduced from 9 to 8)
1988 50.28
1989 54.57
1990 61.86 (the peak years of offence are '91 and '92 with outstanding quarterbacking being the key. Doug Flutie is "lights out" during the 1991 season)
1991 64.15
1992 57.39
1993 55.25 (the beginning of U.S. expansion)
1994 57.19
1995 53.61 (the final season with American-based teams)
1996 50.96
1997 53.01 (the final year for Doug Flutie and the number of teams is once again reduced from 9 to 8)
1998 49.76 (concern over the seeming dearth of promising, young QBs arises)
1999 50.10
2000 57.68 (Anthony Calvillo emerges as a bona fide star QB in Montreal and Henry Burris lights up the scoreboard in Regina)
2001 48.29 (Calvillo misses much of the second half of this season with an injury. Dave Dickenson and Burris have both left for the NFL)
2002 51.22 (rookie Ricky Ray emerges in Edmonton and the Ottawa Renegades make their debut)
2003 52.68
2004 53.06
2005 53.90 (the final year for the Ottawa Renegades)
2006 46.67 (blocking rules are tightened on kick returns for this season resulting in fewer good returns; concern over quality of QBs returns)
2007 49.11 (Kerry Joseph is MOP and only QB to start every regular season and post-season game for his team)
2008 56.24 (Calvillo and Burris lead the return of the offences. Stubler's defence peters out in Toronto finally)
2009 51.26
2010 52.92
2011 50.28
2012 51.81
2013 52.40 (despite so many injuries to quarterbacks, offensive coordinators do an excellent job preparing backups and general managers and scouts do an excellent job of finding quality quarterbacks)
2014 45.48 (rosters expanded by two players; penalties increased substantially with much of that increase happening on offence and special teams plays)
2015 49.19 (scoring was up almost 4 points per game with new illegal contact, convert and punting rules in effect; a CFL record 27 different QBs started games this season)
2016 52.91 (offences returned this season as QB injuries were greatly reduced; of the five starting western QBs, only Darian Durant missed a couple of starts this season but the rest stayed healthy for the entire season)
2017 53.09 (highest scoring season since 2008; few QB injuries this season contributed to dynamic offensive play around the league)
2018 50.84
2019 49.49
2020 No season due to COVID pandemic
2021 43.10 (lowest scoring season since 1979)
2022 50.44
2023 50.75

[ArgoRavi]

Despite so many injuries at the QB position this year, the number of points per game this season actually went up slightly from last season (52.40 vs. 51.81). The average number of points scored per game over the last 40 seasons is 50.67 although this is not entirely accurate as I have only taken all of the totals in the post above and divided them by 40 rather than taking the total number of points scored and dividing it by the total number of games played. I don't imagine that the 50.67 number is too far off though. BTW, 1974 was the first season when eastern and western teams played the same number of games and blocking was allowed on kick returns.

It really is amazing to see the low point totals in the 1970s and I would wager a guess that those totals weren't any higher prior to that time. As Paul Woods has pointed out, there are fewer plays from scrimmage being run today than ever and yet offences seem to be making the most of the plays that they do run. It is interesting to see all of the ebbs and flows over the years which I have commented on. The early 1980s seem to be a turning point in how the Canadian game was played with a rise in passing with the Argos' run-and-shoot offence being particularly influential as Paul mentions in his book. Also, I would suggest that the 51 to 54 point per game range is the "sweet spot" for the CFL where there is enough offence being produced to excite fans but defences can and do still assert themselves.

[jerrym]

The number of new qbs who showed some promise for the future this year makes me think that we could be entering a new cycle of outstanding CFL qbs. Even though some will never live up to their early promise, such a bevy of potential could still produce quite a few good qbs. The development of such qbs does seem to run in cycles where a number of outstanding qbs come on the scene within a year or two of each other followed by periods when few new first stringers develop, perhaps in part due to veterans reducing their opportunities to shine.

[paulwoods13]

Excellent data, Ravi.

[ArgoRavi]

So far in 2014, scoring is down to 45.35 points per game after 17 games this season. In other words, we are seeing one TD less per game so far this season compared to 2013.

[ArgoRavi]

After 32 games, scoring is at 45.69 points per game. If scoring continues at this pace, we will have the lowest points per game average since 1985. The East Division struggled that season as well and that is the one obvious similarity between 2014 and 1985.

IIRC, we had increases in roster size in both '98 and '06 when scoring decreased significantly and we just had another roster size increase this year.

[ArgoRavi]

After a very low scoring weekend in Week 14, the league had a much more wide open Week 15. After 15 weeks and 61 games, the average number of points per game being scored is at 45.74 which means that the league is once again tracking for its lowest scoring season since 1985.

Of interest to Argos fans is that Argos games have been averaging just under 54 points per game as the offence is scoring close to 26 and a quarter points per game while the defence is giving up almost 27 and a half points per game.

[Will]

I think the 1985 season was quite similar to 2014 in terms of the transition teams were going through at QB. I believe the only consistency from 1984 to 1985 was that Roy Dewalt started for the Lions and Tom Clements was starting for the Blue Bombers. The Eastern Division had an unstable/inconsistent group of QB's where J.C Watts (Ottawa) was the leading passer with 2,975 yards. Condredge Holloway would've probably got more, but he was injured. You also had unstable QB's in Joe Barnes (Calgary) and whoever was starting in Saskatchewan at the time. Matt Dunigan was also developing as a QB for Edmonton and his passing stats were not quite as high as they would become. You see the instability at QB in 2014 with injuries and new QB's developing as well.

[ArgoRavi]

Heading into the final two weeks of the regular season, the points per game in the league has climbed to over the 46 point mark (46.04) which means that the league is on pace for its lowest scoring season since 1985. Also, Steve Simmons has an interesting comparison between the CFL and NFL regarding this statistic:

OFFENCE EQUAL IN CFL AND NFL
Myth: There is more offence and more scoring in the CFL than the NFL. Maybe once upon a time that was a true. It isn’t anymore. The No. 1 offensive team in the CFL, the Calgary Stampeders average 29 points a game and 375 yards of offence. The No. 1 offensive team in the NFL, the Indianapolis Colts, average 31 points a game, 452 yards of offence.
Where the CFL has it over the NFL is in the return game — on kickoffs, punts and missed field goals. There is almost no kickoff return game in the NFL anymore.
But on offence alone, in terms of total yardage, nine NFL teams move the ball for more yards than do the Stampeders.
And it’s not just this season. Last year, Calgary led the CFL with 383 yards of offence per game. Seven NFL teams had more — including Peyton Manning’s Denver Broncos, who put up 457 yards of offence per game. There are more four- and five-receiver sets in the NFL than ever before — a clear copy of what the CFL has been doing for years.
What is close: The average scoring per team in the NFL and CFL is almost identical at 23 points per game this season and the worst teams, Ottawa in the CFL, Oakland and Jacksonville in the NFL, average just over 15 a game.

http://www.torontosun.com/2014/10/25...adian-athletes

[paulwoods13]

The trend of increasing offence in the NFL and decreasing offence in the CFL has been evident (and increasing in magnitude) for several seasons. In the 1980s and most of the 1990s there was no question the CFL was higher-scoring, with passing a much more important part of the game. That is no longer the case and has not been for the better part of a decade, at least. The NFL is now full of high-powered, pass-oriented offences, and some NFL teams manage to run more offensive plays per game than CFL teams do, despite the fact that they have a 40-second clock and ours is a 20-second clock. IMO the CFL could regain its offensive dominance if it would fix the current clock rules -- i.e. go back to what we used to have -- but there is no way that will happen because the games would be four hours long. The difference is all the commercial breaks -- there are way more than there were 30 years ago, and unfortunately that is never going to change.

[ArgoRavi]

Here is a listing of the number of points per game per team for the NFL since 1922: http://www.pro-football-reference.co...FL/scoring.htm

It seems like the high water mark for the NFL is about 46 points per game which is where they are at now and where the CFL has dropped to this season. However, if you look at the CFL since the early 1980s, the league tends to be in the low to mid 50s more often than not in points per game which means that we usually see the equivalent of a TD per game more in the CFL than the NFL. I suspect that this year is a blip for the CFL and that we will see scoring return to somewhat more normal levels over the next year or two.

[paulwoods13]

I suspect that this year is a blip for the CFL and that we will see scoring return to somewhat more normal levels over the next year or two.

I hope you are right, Ravi, but I really, really doubt it. Cdn football has become a game heavily influenced by coaching, defensive strategy and situation substitution. Plus many of the QBs, backs and receivers who in the past would have come to Canada are staying, and playing, in the NFL. Twenty-five years ago Drew Brees, Russell Wilson and Cam Newton, to name just three, would almost certainly have ended up in the CFL. I just don't see anything this year or in recent years to convince me that the downward-offence trend is going to change.

[ArgoRavi]

I hope you are right, Ravi, but I really, really doubt it. Cdn football has become a game heavily influenced by coaching, defensive strategy and situation substitution. Plus many of the QBs, backs and receivers who in the past would have come to Canada are staying, and playing, in the NFL. Twenty-five years ago Drew Brees, Russell Wilson and Cam Newton, to name just three, would almost certainly have ended up in the CFL. I just don't see anything this year or in recent years to convince me that the downward-offence trend is going to change.

I am reluctant to call one year a trend though. The league had a similar drop-off in '06 when roster sizes increased and blocking rules, for one season, became more restrictive on punt and kick returns. If we look at the post-U.S. expansion era (1996 to this year), scoring has been consistently in the 50-54 point range with only a few exceptions. Scoring was at 52.40 points only last season.

As I look at the numbers again, I am hesitant to blame expansion as scoring actually rose by 3 points per game from '01 to '02 when the Ottawa Renegades came into the league. What does concern me is that we do seem to be seeing somewhat more conservative play-calling and a little less creativity than we once did which can both be attributed to the reasons that you provided above, Paul.

When was the last time that we saw a team "take a shot" on second and less than a yard? We used to see that frequently enough not long ago but I am not sure that I have seen it even once this season. I am also concerned, on almost a weekly basis, by poor clock management at the end of the half/game. Ron Lancaster would roll over in his grave if he could see the clock management that exists in the league today. It seems like QBs cannot do anything until they have heard it in the earpiece in their helmet. No QBs call their own plays anymore either. I watched the NFL Network documentary on Doug Flutie last night and started to wonder about what Flutie would think about the Canadian game today as it is quite a bit different with respect to the leeway afforded QBs than it was when he played.

[AngeloV]

I hope you are right, Ravi, but I really, really doubt it. Cdn football has become a game heavily influenced by coaching,

This is so true, Paul. Looks here as though the CFL has copied the NFL in his regard. CFL coaching staffs used to consist of the HC and maybe 5 or 6 assistants. Now every team is in double digits as far as number of coaches.

[ArgoRavi]

CFL games this year averaged 45.48 points per game which is the lowest scoring season since 1985 when 45.36 points per game were scored. Hopefully we will see scoring increase next season and get back up over the 50 point mark within the next year or two.

[ArgoRavi]

CFL games this year averaged 45.48 points per game which is the lowest scoring season since 1985 when 45.36 points per game were scored. Hopefully we will see scoring increase next season and get back up over the 50 point mark within the next year or two.

So far this season, after 20 games, scoring is at 50.4 points per game and we have certainly seen more exciting games this season than we did a year ago. Hopefully that trend will continue for the rest of the season.

[ArgoRavi]

Found an interesting article from 1974 when CFL games averaged only 36.93 points per game and Frank Clair came up with some suggestions on how this could be improved (you actually have to scan over on that same page from the Russ Jackson article to see it): https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19740912&id=DAwyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=u6EFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2547,3023498&hl=en

[ArgoRavi]

Well, we are at pretty much the halfway point of the season - 40 of 81 games have been played this year - and scoring has increased to just a shade under 50 points per game. We are presently at 49.88 points per game. If the Riders had been able to score a TD late in today's game when they were first and goal at the Ottawa 1 yard line, we would indeed be over that magical 50 point mark. We have certainly seen better offensive play this year than last year, more excitement and fewer penalties as the season has progressed. Keep in mind the quantity of starting QBs who have missed games so far this season as well.

[AngeloV]

Well, we are at pretty much the halfway point of the season - 40 of 81 games have been played this year - and scoring has increased to just a shade under 50 points per game. We are presently at 49.88 points per game. If the Riders had been able to score a TD late in today's game when they were first and goal at the Ottawa 1 yard line, we would indeed be over that magical 50 point mark. We have certainly seen better offensive play this year than last year, more excitement and fewer penalties as the season has progressed. Keep in mind the quantity of starting QBs who have missed games so far this season as well.

I have been happy with the level of play this year but I think you also need to factor in a record pace of defensive TD's when it comes to points per game. Offense isn't quite there yet, but I am also impressed with the play from the many young QB's in the league thus far...including Brett Smith, who has been way better than I thought he would be.

[Gill The Thrill]

Found an interesting article from 1974 when CFL games averaged only 36.93 points per game and Frank Clair came up with some suggestions on how this could be improved (you actually have to scan over on that same page from the Russ Jackson article to see it): https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19740912&id=DAwyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=u6EFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2547,3023498&hl=en

Thank God they never adopted any of those suggestions by Frank Clair from that 1974 article...that would have been ridiculous. 8 yds to get a first down, or go to 4 downs for 12 yds to get a first. Could you imagine what a Canadian Football Field would look like today. Possible stripes between 4 or 6 yds....lol. Could you imagine the equipment companies having to make exclusive 8 or 12 yd chains for Canadian Football. I'm glad there was a strong sense of Canadiana to keep the game the way it mostly was...Conversely, I'm glad we didn't go over the top and respected the football tradition and not change the unit of measurement to metres after Canada went to metric. That would've been just as ridiculous.