Premature Evaluation: The Four Best and Worst Team Performances in NFLX week #1
There are still two Monday night games left to be played, but I’m not expecting any blowouts in Jersey or Miami tonight, so color me surprised if this list needs to be revised when the final two games of NFLX week #1 are put to bed.
Strongest Team Performances #1: Baltimore Ravens
When your non-starting quarterbacks combine to throw for over 300 yards versus a top 10 of a year ago pass defense, you’ve probably had a pretty good day, offensively. When your starter adds 100 passing yards of his own, it’s even notably better. And when you layer 100 rushing yards on top of that versus a top ten rush defense of a year ago, to end up with 500 net yards for the game, you’ve had a distinctly fabulous offensive day. When your name is the “Baltimore Ravens” and you’ve done just that, the collective jaw of humanity hits the floor and remains there long enough to endanger half of the small flying bug population of the world. The Ravens, obviously, are a team known for being competitive because of their defense. Preseason, regular season, training camp – this may be the first time the Ravens have put up 500 yards of offense in a day in the history of the franchise (don’t correct me if I’m wrong). 15 different players had a reception, as the Ravens continued to throw the ball even with the lead. This is a team that needs to take a look at it’s depth at the offensive skill positions in the preseason. After the 80 offensive plays they ran in this game they’re halfway into the flightsuits and looking for a conveniently parked battleship in the harbor to hang the “Mission Accomplished” banner from.
The offense came alive in such an amazing fashion as to pale Peter Frampton’s wan 70’s effort in comparison – but how did their defense do? Zero points surrendered, 3.8 yards per play allowed, all while keeping the virginity of their 30 yard line intact for the entire game.
Worst Team Performances #1: Washington Redskins (flip the script on the above paragraphs and add a couple of turnovers)
Softcore Zornography takes it hard from Harbaugh’s hardcore, uh, Baltimauling.
Strongest Team Performances #2: Oakland Raiders
While the Ravens are known for at least playing one side of the line of scrimmage in dominating fashion, the Raiders have, traditionally, had their strengths aligned perpendicularly to the line of scrimmage – on the sideline benches, where their best players usually end up sitting disgruntled before moping their way off of the team. Fortunately, the Raiders didn’t have to rely much on their starters to crush the Cowboys in this game. Indeed, Tony Romo led a touchdown drive that gave the Cowboys a 7-3 1st quarter lead. After that, it was all Raiders versus a mostly disinterested Cowboys’ defense.
The Raiders’ offense gets above average grades for both the passing and running games, averaging 7.4 yards per pass play, and 6.8 yards per carry. Like the Ravens, they needed to take a look at their WR depth, and what do you know, they also had 15 players with a reception. Also like the Ravens, they continued to throw the pigskin with a good lead throughout the game. Clearly the Raiders are optimistic about their run game with McFadden, Fargas and Bush, so the preseason is the time to try and get JaMarcus and the receivers reading from the same book, let alone the same page. J-Russ had a good 6 for 9 day, and the cast-off QBs behind him, Frye and Gradkowski, also had good days, with each throwing a touchdown versus no interceptions. Yes, the Cowboys didn’t play their starting cornerbacks at all, but this game doesn’t speak well for their defensive depth.
Defensively, the Raiders didn’t dominate like the Ravens, hence their spot at #2 for the week, but they had a decent day, holding the Cowboys to below (regular season) league average in yards per play, though they were aided in doing so by limiting Cowboy’s rookie QB McGee’s 9 pass attempts to 34 yards. Versus Romo and Kitna they weren’t so hot, but they did pick Kitna once.
Maybe that week #17 drubbing of the Bucs last year wasn’t a fluke after all. Did I love the Raiders getting around 14 points that game? Uh…yup.
Worst Team Performances #2: Dallas Cowboys (I guess they’re saving up all their preseason energy for the home opener in the Billion Dollar stadium. Too bad, I still think they lose to the Titans).
Another -2 turnover team bites the dust. This was a “respect the market special,” as the opening line favored the Cowboys, who then closed as near 3 point dogs in a game where they would’ve needed to be 19 point dogs to have covered the spread.
Strongest Team Performances #3: Green Bay Packers
New 3-4 defense installed over the offseason? No problem, shut out your opponent first NFLX game. Five career regular season pass attempts by all QBs behind Aaron Rodgers on the depth chart? No problem, have Rodgers play the first two series and score touchdowns both drives. Need to protect that 14 point 1st quarter lead after Rodgers leaves the game? No problem, run the ball a whopping 47 times for an astonishing 4.9 yards per carry. That’s like inviting the opposing team into the huddle and cramming it down their throats even after you’ve told them what’s coming. The curative for any NFL football problem is, apparently, the Cleveland Browns.
Worst Team Performances #3: Cleveland Browns (noticing a pattern here?)
I’m not sure it can be said that the Cleveland Browns as an organization did anything right during the offseason. Their best receiving option, K. Winslow? Gone. Belichick protégé already let go from a head coaching position hired as new head coach? Check. A bevy of mediocre veterans added to a non-playoff bound team? Fail. Anderson is playing himself out of the QB race, Quinn wins by default.
Strongest Team Performances #4: Detroit Lions (Finally something surprising on this list)
The Lions didn’t cover the spread – heck, they only led about 2 or 3 total minutes of this game, but when you look at the numbers they really outperformed the Falcons. They had excellent play from all three of their quarterbacks, one an overseasoned vet, one a top draft pick, and one a backup’s backup. They had a great day running the ball, though if you take away QB Stanton’s 59 rush yards on 4 carries, it was merely a good day. Big ups to OC Scott Linehan for a great offensive day without one of the best receivers in the league, Calvin Johnson, even being available for them.
Defensively, the Lions did better than the final score would indicate. The Lions gave up 7 on the pick 6 of Stafford that started the 2nd half. That leaves the defense responsible for 19 points. They gave up the one big TD run to Turner in the first quarter, but allowed no other runs of more than 9 yards for the rest of the game. They gave up no passing touchdowns and held the Falcons to 4.3 yards per pass, well below average. Yes, 75% of their pass plays came against non-starting caliber quarterbacks, but that’s still pretty impressive. Also, they allowed no receptions longer than 15 yards. Heck, some big play receivers average 15yards a reception (think Devery Henderson averaging 24.8 yards per catch last year).
I don’t care if the Detroit Lions end up being nothing but preseason princesses again this year, they got off to a good start this year, not bad for a franchise that needs to take several big steps before they can even find the staircase that leads to success.
Worst Team Performances #4: Atlanta Falcons
A below average performance for a playoff team versus a rebuilding 0-16 team, even by preseason standards. Even if they would’ve won the game they would have wound up on this list. Watching the game, their blitzes looked predictable, and they had horrible coverage on the screen plays and QB scrambles that penalized their surprisingly aggressive yet bland defensive effort. Not only will defensive depth be a problem for this team, starting personnel will be a problem as well. I won’t be surprised if Ryan and the Falcons put up weaker offensive numbers this year, while their defense continues to be mediocre at best.
That wraps it up for NFLX week #1. I’m off to root for my favorite teams getting underway in the Monday night games, whoever they happen to be this week, lol.
Strongest Team Performances #1: Baltimore Ravens
When your non-starting quarterbacks combine to throw for over 300 yards versus a top 10 of a year ago pass defense, you’ve probably had a pretty good day, offensively. When your starter adds 100 passing yards of his own, it’s even notably better. And when you layer 100 rushing yards on top of that versus a top ten rush defense of a year ago, to end up with 500 net yards for the game, you’ve had a distinctly fabulous offensive day. When your name is the “Baltimore Ravens” and you’ve done just that, the collective jaw of humanity hits the floor and remains there long enough to endanger half of the small flying bug population of the world. The Ravens, obviously, are a team known for being competitive because of their defense. Preseason, regular season, training camp – this may be the first time the Ravens have put up 500 yards of offense in a day in the history of the franchise (don’t correct me if I’m wrong). 15 different players had a reception, as the Ravens continued to throw the ball even with the lead. This is a team that needs to take a look at it’s depth at the offensive skill positions in the preseason. After the 80 offensive plays they ran in this game they’re halfway into the flightsuits and looking for a conveniently parked battleship in the harbor to hang the “Mission Accomplished” banner from.
The offense came alive in such an amazing fashion as to pale Peter Frampton’s wan 70’s effort in comparison – but how did their defense do? Zero points surrendered, 3.8 yards per play allowed, all while keeping the virginity of their 30 yard line intact for the entire game.
Worst Team Performances #1: Washington Redskins (flip the script on the above paragraphs and add a couple of turnovers)
Softcore Zornography takes it hard from Harbaugh’s hardcore, uh, Baltimauling.
Strongest Team Performances #2: Oakland Raiders
While the Ravens are known for at least playing one side of the line of scrimmage in dominating fashion, the Raiders have, traditionally, had their strengths aligned perpendicularly to the line of scrimmage – on the sideline benches, where their best players usually end up sitting disgruntled before moping their way off of the team. Fortunately, the Raiders didn’t have to rely much on their starters to crush the Cowboys in this game. Indeed, Tony Romo led a touchdown drive that gave the Cowboys a 7-3 1st quarter lead. After that, it was all Raiders versus a mostly disinterested Cowboys’ defense.
The Raiders’ offense gets above average grades for both the passing and running games, averaging 7.4 yards per pass play, and 6.8 yards per carry. Like the Ravens, they needed to take a look at their WR depth, and what do you know, they also had 15 players with a reception. Also like the Ravens, they continued to throw the pigskin with a good lead throughout the game. Clearly the Raiders are optimistic about their run game with McFadden, Fargas and Bush, so the preseason is the time to try and get JaMarcus and the receivers reading from the same book, let alone the same page. J-Russ had a good 6 for 9 day, and the cast-off QBs behind him, Frye and Gradkowski, also had good days, with each throwing a touchdown versus no interceptions. Yes, the Cowboys didn’t play their starting cornerbacks at all, but this game doesn’t speak well for their defensive depth.
Defensively, the Raiders didn’t dominate like the Ravens, hence their spot at #2 for the week, but they had a decent day, holding the Cowboys to below (regular season) league average in yards per play, though they were aided in doing so by limiting Cowboy’s rookie QB McGee’s 9 pass attempts to 34 yards. Versus Romo and Kitna they weren’t so hot, but they did pick Kitna once.
Maybe that week #17 drubbing of the Bucs last year wasn’t a fluke after all. Did I love the Raiders getting around 14 points that game? Uh…yup.
Worst Team Performances #2: Dallas Cowboys (I guess they’re saving up all their preseason energy for the home opener in the Billion Dollar stadium. Too bad, I still think they lose to the Titans).
Another -2 turnover team bites the dust. This was a “respect the market special,” as the opening line favored the Cowboys, who then closed as near 3 point dogs in a game where they would’ve needed to be 19 point dogs to have covered the spread.
Strongest Team Performances #3: Green Bay Packers
New 3-4 defense installed over the offseason? No problem, shut out your opponent first NFLX game. Five career regular season pass attempts by all QBs behind Aaron Rodgers on the depth chart? No problem, have Rodgers play the first two series and score touchdowns both drives. Need to protect that 14 point 1st quarter lead after Rodgers leaves the game? No problem, run the ball a whopping 47 times for an astonishing 4.9 yards per carry. That’s like inviting the opposing team into the huddle and cramming it down their throats even after you’ve told them what’s coming. The curative for any NFL football problem is, apparently, the Cleveland Browns.
Worst Team Performances #3: Cleveland Browns (noticing a pattern here?)
I’m not sure it can be said that the Cleveland Browns as an organization did anything right during the offseason. Their best receiving option, K. Winslow? Gone. Belichick protégé already let go from a head coaching position hired as new head coach? Check. A bevy of mediocre veterans added to a non-playoff bound team? Fail. Anderson is playing himself out of the QB race, Quinn wins by default.
Strongest Team Performances #4: Detroit Lions (Finally something surprising on this list)
The Lions didn’t cover the spread – heck, they only led about 2 or 3 total minutes of this game, but when you look at the numbers they really outperformed the Falcons. They had excellent play from all three of their quarterbacks, one an overseasoned vet, one a top draft pick, and one a backup’s backup. They had a great day running the ball, though if you take away QB Stanton’s 59 rush yards on 4 carries, it was merely a good day. Big ups to OC Scott Linehan for a great offensive day without one of the best receivers in the league, Calvin Johnson, even being available for them.
Defensively, the Lions did better than the final score would indicate. The Lions gave up 7 on the pick 6 of Stafford that started the 2nd half. That leaves the defense responsible for 19 points. They gave up the one big TD run to Turner in the first quarter, but allowed no other runs of more than 9 yards for the rest of the game. They gave up no passing touchdowns and held the Falcons to 4.3 yards per pass, well below average. Yes, 75% of their pass plays came against non-starting caliber quarterbacks, but that’s still pretty impressive. Also, they allowed no receptions longer than 15 yards. Heck, some big play receivers average 15yards a reception (think Devery Henderson averaging 24.8 yards per catch last year).
I don’t care if the Detroit Lions end up being nothing but preseason princesses again this year, they got off to a good start this year, not bad for a franchise that needs to take several big steps before they can even find the staircase that leads to success.
Worst Team Performances #4: Atlanta Falcons
A below average performance for a playoff team versus a rebuilding 0-16 team, even by preseason standards. Even if they would’ve won the game they would have wound up on this list. Watching the game, their blitzes looked predictable, and they had horrible coverage on the screen plays and QB scrambles that penalized their surprisingly aggressive yet bland defensive effort. Not only will defensive depth be a problem for this team, starting personnel will be a problem as well. I won’t be surprised if Ryan and the Falcons put up weaker offensive numbers this year, while their defense continues to be mediocre at best.
That wraps it up for NFLX week #1. I’m off to root for my favorite teams getting underway in the Monday night games, whoever they happen to be this week, lol.
