For several years now, the NFL has made no secret of the fact that it has enacted regulations that deliberately favor the offense. However, we’re more than a quarter of the way through the season and offensive production hasn’t been as lackluster for a long time, making the spectacle painful at times.
Defensive players can no longer hit an unprotected player like they used to. Quarterbacks are often overprotected by officials who throw the handkerchief as soon as they are hit a split second after it is drawn. Once a receiver fails to catch a pass, he complains to the referees and a defensive back is expected to be penalized for interference.
However, everything indicates that the defense is still trying to regain its rights in attack. The trend seems to have been emerging since last year and at the beginning of the season several of the announced setbacks turned into defensive duels.
However, there’s nothing wrong with a good old, hard-fought game without a lot of points. The purist in me is not at all offended by this. Write it down before you throw tomatoes at me! The fact is that the show suffers for the vast majority of the public.
A miserable week
Over the last two weeks, Josh Allen and the Bills have scored a total of 34 points. Getty Images via AFP
Last week was particularly bad for this purpose. Teams in action averaged 18.4 points, the lowest total since Week 15 in 2014 (18.2 points).
Want data that paints an even more powerful picture? There are only two teams, the Dolphins (of course!) and the Jaguars, that have scored at least 27 points. This has not been seen since 1995.
In total, 23 teams were limited to 20 points or less, which has not been the case since the league expanded to 32 teams in 2002.
Some will say that the show is saved because the vast majority of games shown are close until the end. There’s no other way to put it, as since last weekend 10 of 15 games have been decided by differences of eight points or less.
Yes, the end of games can be very exciting, but when there are only a few points, it’s not the entire game that keeps the fan on the edge of their seats, but just the last few minutes.
Falling
If it was just a week there would be no reason to be surprised, but the trend is clear. Teams are averaging 21.7 points per game this season, their lowest total since 2017.
There were 1,237 offensive touchdowns recorded last season, the lowest total in six years, despite having one more game on the schedule.
Even the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes are not immune. They have already won games twice this season without scoring 20 points. In his five previous seasons as a starter, Mahomes had only experienced this scenario three times.
How can this decrease in attacks be explained? The NFL is cyclical and all signs point to defenses adapting to increased aerial attacks with multiple receivers on the field.
According to Sharp Football Analysis, formations with five or more defensive backs were used in 63.3% of games last season to combat this. This is unique!
In recent years, several coaches have expressed that it is becoming increasingly difficult to find quality offensive players in the NFL. The result is that the defense is making sacks on 6.41% of plays, a rate that continues to rise.
Despite all of these observations, the NFL is not suffering in the slightest. Television ratings remain astronomical, leaving all other sports far behind, in a different stratosphere. This suggests that no attention will be paid to the declining points for the time being unless the consumer speaks up.
MY PREDICTION FOR THURSDAY: Jaguars 20 Saints 16
THE NFL IN BRIEF…
Flag football at the Olympics
AFP
This week it was announced that flag football will make its debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Although the discipline is different from NFL football, some players are beginning to express interest in participating, including Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill. Alumni, including former star tight end Rob Gronkowski, have also expressed a desire to represent the United States. The IOC and the American Olympic Committee have not commented on this possibility. The NFL, which would see this as another chance to shine globally, says it is waiting to see what happens next.
Another chance for Julio
Getty Images via AFP
Veteran wide receiver Julio Jones continues to be loved despite being 33 years old. The Eagles signed him this week and while he has shown obvious signs of slowing and physical frailty over the past three years, the move makes sense. After AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith, the Eagles are pathetic at wide receiver. They can’t talk about depth with Olamide Zaccheaus and Britain Covey. However, you should know that Jones only played in 29 games in three years for the Falcons, Titans and Buccaneers and that he only gained 29.9 yards per game last season in Tampa.
Big news for the Dolphins
Getty Images via AFP
After suffering a serious knee injury during training camp, Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey is slowly inching closer to returning to action. Ramsey was signed by the Rams for a third-round pick in March and has started playing again. On Wednesday he trains with his teammates. That means the Dolphins have 21 days to decide whether to put him back in the lineup. He won’t be in uniform Sunday night against the Eagles, but the news is encouraging.