Depending on your point of view, the Packers are either an early-season disappointment or playing right on schedule.
For a team with a lot of young players, the most generous preseason prediction was that the Packers, getting used to life without Aaron Rodgers, would falter in the first few weeks of the season, work out their problems by the halfway point, and ramp up in the final weeks. That strategy, however, was predicated on two assumptions: that the offense would show flashes and that the defense would eventually begin to improve. Neither has taken place.
The fact that Matt LaFleur’s offense could now be implemented unaltered by Green Bay after they traded Aaron Rodgers for Jordan Love added to the excitement surrounding the switch. In terms of EPA per play, a gauge of the team’s efficiency on the field, the Packers are ranked 12th. However, that figure only tells part of the story. The offense of the Packers seems clumsy, and they rank among the worst in the league during the first half of games. Love is hitting virtually nothing over the middle of the field, an area that LaFleur’s offense is intended to expose, and the young team has made mistakes as was to be expected. Additionally, the run game has disappeared.
Deeper defense-related issues are raised. Joe Barry, the defensive coordinator, is still getting little output from a group that is full of elite players and early draft picks. They are so boringly passive, especially in a league where defenses are enjoying a blitz-fueled comeback.
Aaron Schatz’s calculations indicate that the Packers have about a 26% chance of making it to the postseason, primarily because they have a chance to sneak into a wildcard spot in a weak NFC. Ultimately speaking, though, the second half of the season is dedicated to determining whether Love is the long-term quarterback solution or not.
Not even a brand-new, explosive offense has stopped the Chargers from dominating this season. The same problems that have dogged Brandon Staley’s team for three years have continued, and they have already lost three games by a single score. Poor defense. Careless errors. haphazard turnovers.
Staley’s defense appears to be a sieve once more. Only a historically dismal Denver defense is behind the Chargers in terms of EPA per play, where they are ranked 31st. Staley is still able to provide unique, excellent gameplans. That’s cute for a few seasons. But that’s not nearly good enough for a defensive guru in year three.
The Chargers’ season-long hopes are pinned to Justin Herbert’s arm. Kellen Moore has revitalized the team’s offensive. After seven weeks, the Chargers have surpassed all five teams in offensive output and have executed the greatest percentage of explosive plays (13%) since Herbert’s time. However, with Mike Williams off the field, the Chargers offense has occasionally been shaky despite the flashy stats. Herbert and company were laying scorching lava across the league prior to Williams’ injury that ended his season. Things have been more of a grind without Williams.
Herbert is limited in what more he can get out of the attack. The defense now has to uphold its half of the bargain. Furthermore, what proof do we have that Staley’s group is able to turn on the light?
The Chargers are most likely the team from the two-win group that advances to the postseason. They can win at least six games in the next eight weeks thanks to their comparatively lenient schedule. The goal, however, was not to sneek into the playoffs. The objective was to win it all. The Chargers are far from being legitimate AFC contenders with their current defense.
Thankfully, the long-awaited dismantling of the Titans has started, and it appears that they are now making plans for the future. Last week, they dealt away Kevin Byard, the safety. DeAndre Hopkins, Derrick Henry, Dan Brunskill, Ryan Tannehill, and Denico Autry might have followed Byard out the door by the time the trade deadline has passed.
That’s a wise decision in an AFC that is overcrowded. However, it implies that they won’t likely string together a series of wins in the second half of the season to elude elimination from the postseason.
Lastly, guess who turned up for the 2023 celebration?
For the majority of the season, the Patriots have appeared lifeless. However, they practiced what they had preached all offseason against the Bills. They played strong, astute defense, maintained drives, and ran the ball well. The Patriots could win four of their next six games, including at home against the Commanders and Colts, at the Dolphins, at the Giants, at home against the Chargers, and at the Steelers, if they can match their performance from the game against Buffalo.
Even so, you can’t really rely on New England on a weekly basis. Injuries have plagued what was supposed to be one of the best defenses in the league. Who knows if this revival of Ezekiel Elliott is genuine? Which Mac Jones is scheduled to appear in Week
The Patriots are a skilled enough team to keep games close. But it will be too late to make up for the early-season deficit at this point.Conclusion: Lose games they ought to win, win games they ought to lose, and skip the playoffs
The Patriots are a skilled enough team to keep games close. But it will be too late to make up for the early-season deficit at this point.
Ignore the playoffs; the Bears are merely trying to survive. The Bears coaching staff and Justin Fields’ only chance to stay in their positions is to remain competitive the remainder of the season.
The victory over the Raiders last week was a heartwarming tale. Tyson Bagent, who appears more like a line cook at Waffle House than a starting quarterback in the NFL, did a fantastic job filling in for Fields. However, the fundamental issues that have bedeviled the Bears for the past eighteen months still exist: the offense lacks creativity and talent, and the defense lacks a reliable pass rush.
Conclusion: Win games they should; lose games they should;
The NFL is a peculiar league. The expansion of a franchise is not always a straight line. The Giants from last year were competitive despite their lack of talent. They managed to win the playoffs by riding their erratic offense and ferocious defense together.Although they have improved in talent from last year, the Giants have struggled for much of the season. The defense has given New York a lifeline over the last two weeks by regaining some of its 2022 form. However, it’s difficult to see the Giants emerging from an early-season slump given their flimsy offensive line and overall lack of offensive consistency.
It’s a small wonder that Denver has managed to be semi-competitive this season considering how appallingly bad their defense has played. Despite holding the Chiefs to just 19 points, Denver has suffered two one-score losses. However, the Broncos have little chance of winning the remaining games. There is a lot on their remaining schedule. Hiring Sean Payton wasn’t going to be a magic bullet, and the team is facing a rebuild in one of the league’s most competitive divisions exactly where it was when it signed the coach this offseason.
On Sunday afternoon, the Kansas City Chiefs (6-1) take on the Denver Broncos (2-5) at Empower Field at Mile High in an attempt to maintain their perfect record in AFC West play. The Chiefs hold a three-game advantage over the remaining teams in their division. Although a loss here wouldn’t have a significant impact on their chances of winning the division, Patrick Mahomes is determined to keep his winning streak against the Broncos alive this weekend.
Despite the fact that Mahomes is having one of his worst statistical seasons to date, the team has not lost many games. Their 6-1 record is comparable to the team’s performance in 2020 and 2018 when Mahomes
Conversely, Denver is simply searching for any glimmer of hope for the future.Last week, the team defeated Green Bay handily, and considering their lackluster performance in the first six weeks, the defense appeared remarkably strong.
Does this imply that the group is improving upon last season? Most likely not. The Broncos defeated Green Bay by a two-point margin, but it required their finest defensive performance of the season. It won’t be so simple to stop Kansas City’s offense. They did, after all, defeat the Broncos earlier in the season—a 19-8 victory on Thursday Night Football during Week 6. But that match was played at Arrowhead. Maybe a home game will provide the Broncos with the advantage they need to take
