The whole total team score is too simplistic to put to use. The issue is that teams that would be rated similarly could have vastly different strengths and weaknesses, i.e a strong run team like the 49ers vs. strong pass team like the Pats, same thing with defense. So in that regard numbers simply wouldn't tell you who is better. A strong run D will have an easier time against a run heavy offense vs pass heavy offense. You would have to look at the match ups to get a better view of who would win. This is why the NFL is the way it is, it seems like every week we get a new Best NFL team to only get beat the next week, then that team gets crowned only to lose next week. If the point of the score system is that a team with a better score gets more wins and is better, then wildcard teams would never win championships but the simple fact that 4 have won superbowls in the past 12 years kinda dispels that logic.


Why mention ball control but ignore 3 and outs? It is the defensive equivalent to a ball control offense.
A defense that can do this would give an offense more opportunities to score, better field position, in other words it would make a offense look better than it actually is. Also a ball control offense is only good when you don't get behind while 3 and outs are always welcomed. Not to say that "Defense wins games", but it does, so does offense and ST.