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NFL offenses have been unleashed
09:57 PM CST on Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Rick Gosselin
The NFL sent out a call for offense in 2004.
Peyton Manning, Priest Holmes, Terrell Owens and just about every other player who touches the football answered that call. Yards and points have arrived in record numbers.
The NFL ordered a crackdown on illegal defensive contact this year to open the passing lanes. The desired effect has been achieved. Offense is again king. A record nine quarterbacks are on pace for 4,000-yard passing seasons.
Manning is on track to set an NFL record for touchdown passes in a season (52). Holmes is on track to become the first player in league history to score 30 touchdowns in a season. Owens is on track to catch the most TD passes in a decade (18).
But there is a downside to all of this offense. You'd be hard-pressed to find any stout defense being played in the NFL these days south of Baltimore or west of Pittsburgh.
Seven teams have allowed 200-plus points at the midway point. If they all stay on that pace, that would tie the NFL record set in 1985 for most teams allowing 400 points in a season.
Oakland already has allowed 247 points, New Orleans 234, San Francisco 224, Kansas City 211, Indianapolis 206, St. Louis 205 and Dallas 203. If those teams can't find a way to slow down opposing offenses, they can forget about the playoffs.
That's particularly bad news for the Colts, the only team of that bunch sitting atop a division. They share the AFC South lead with Jacksonville at 5-3.
Since the advent of the 16-game schedule in 1978, 83 teams have allowed 400 points in a season. Not one has won a division title, and only the 1989 Houston Oilers managed to overcome that generosity to qualify for the postseason. They lasted one round.
The 1983 St. Louis Cardinals were the only other team to allow 400 points and still manage a winning record (8-7-1). Teams that allow points in bunches wind up playing shorter seasons.
So as talented as the Colts may be on offense, defense will dictate how deeply they play into this season. In a game last month at Kansas City, Manning passed for 472 yards and five touchdowns – and the Colts lost by 10 points. Even the best offenses can't outscore everyone every week.
The Chiefs have their own problems on defense. They have never allowed 400 points in a season – yet are on pace to allow 422. And you'd have to go back to 1962 to find the last time the Cowboys allowed 400 points in a season.
Both the Chiefs and the Cowboys were playoff teams a year ago. They won't be this year with the caliber of defense they've been playing. Both teams are 3-5.
The same can be said for the Rams, the defending NFC West champions. St. Louis is 4-4. But no D in 2004 could translate into no postseason participation.
Of the 10 teams that have allowed the fewest points in the NFL, eight have winning records and five lead divisions. Defense may not win championships every year – but it does allow you to compete for them.
E-mail rgosselin@***BANNED-URL***
MVP
Tom Brady, QB, New England
Brady does more with less than any quarterback in the NFL. His starting wideouts, Troy Brown and Deion Branch, have already missed a combined 10 games, and two of his starting offensive linemen are on injured reserve. Yet the Patriots are 7-1 and continue to rank in top five in the NFL in scoring. Credit Brady, who has thrown TD passes in all eight games this season. He does what coach Bill Belichick asks him to do on a weekly basis to win.
Runner-up: Terrell Owens, WR, Philadelphia
OFFENSIVE MVP
Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis
Manning has thrown 26 TD passes in his first eight games – more than any quarterback in league history at a season's midway point. His 2,429 passing yards also lead the league. He's the reason the Colts are 5-3 and share first place in the AFC South. Manning has thrown only four interceptions and been sacked just five times in 269 attempts this season. Five of his remaining games are indoors, so his statistics will continue to stockpile.
Runner-up: Daunte Culpepper, QB, Minnesota
DEFENSIVE MVP
Ed Reed, SS, Baltimore
Ray Lewis is the emotional leader and leading tackler of the best defense in football. But Reed is that defense's playmaker and back-breaker. He returned an interception 106 yards against Cleveland and ran a fumble 22 yards against Washington for another score. He has an NFL runner-up four interceptions.
Runner-up: Ray Lewis, MLB, Baltimore
ROOKIE
Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh
The New York Giants and San Diego Chargers made trades at the top of the 2004 draft to get their quarterbacks of choice. The Steelers remained at 11 and the best quarterback in the draft slid right to them. Roethlisberger is 6-0 as a starter and ranks fifth in the NFL in passing efficiency with a 105.2 rating. He threw two TD passes in each of his last two games, handing the Patriots and Eagles their first losses of the season.
Runner-up: Michael Clayton, WR, Tampa Bay
FREE AGENT
Duce Staley, HB, Pittsburgh
The Eagles started phasing out Staley last fall, giving away his carries to a younger, faster Brian Westbrook. Then the Eagles gave Westbrook his job in the offseason, turning Staley loose as a free agent. At 29, Staley believed he had something left. So did the Steelers, who gave him a five-year contract with a $4 million signing bonus. Staley has rushed for 100 yards in four of his seven games and ranks 10th in the NFL with 707 yards.
Runner-up: Jevon Kearse, DE, Philadelphia
COACH
Marty Schottenheimer, San Diego
Schottenheimer has coached in the NFL for 17 years and has suffered only two losing seasons. But one came in 2003 at San Diego (4-12) – and Schottenheimer was supposed to be on his way out in 2004. Instead, he's been on his way up. The Chargers have already surpassed last season's victory total and share first place in the AFC West with Denver at 6-3. His formula of run the ball and play defense works even in warm weather.
Runner-up: Jim Mora, Atlanta
ASSISTANT COACH
Dick LeBeau, Defensive coordinator, Pittsburgh
LeBeau is the godfather of the zone blitz. His return to Pittsburgh after a seven-year absence, which included a stint as head coach of the Bengals, has signaled a return to pressure on the quarterback. The Steelers lead the NFL in both sacks and run defense and rank second in overall defense. LeBeau, a former Pro Bowl cornerback at Detroit and the NFL's eighth all-time interceptor, has Pittsburgh playing a Steel Curtain defense again.
Runner-up: Larry Coyer, defensive coordinator, Denver
EXECUTIVE
Kevin Colbert, Director of football operations, Pittsburgh
After finishing 6-10 in 2003, the Steelers obviously needed help in 2004. How are these for roster upgrades – the best player in free agency (running back Duce Staley) and the best player in the draft (quarterback Ben Roethlisberger)? Colbert handles the personnel end, so give credit where credit is due. The signing of Staley and drafting of Roethlisberger have propelled the Steelers to the top of the AFC at 7-1.
Runner-up: Terry Bradway, GM, New York Jets
FIVE BEST GAMES IN THE SECOND HALF
1. Baltimore at Pittsburgh (Dec. 26)
These two AFC North rivals battled into overtime in the 2003 Sunday night national TV finale when there was nothing on the line. Dial up the intensity this time around – it could be for the division title.
2. Baltimore at Indianapolis (Dec. 19)
The Ravens have the league's best defense, allowing yards and points grudgingly. The Colts have the NFL's most talented offense, capable of scoring 40 against anyone. There also could be playoff implications in this game.
3. Green Bay at Minnesota (Dec. 24)
The NFL thought so much of this game and rivalry that it gave these two teams exclusivity – a Christmas Eve engagement on national television. Brett Favre, Randy Moss, Daunte Culpepper, Ahman Green go well with eggnog.
4. New England at NY Jets (Dec. 26)
These two teams have been knocking heads since the old AFL days. Any rivalry intensifies with the quality of competition – and these are two of the best teams in the AFC. The defending Super Bowl champions are vulnerable on the road.
5. Baltimore at New England (Nov. 28)
It doesn't matter where they play, home or road, indoors or out, the Ravens will be competitive because of their defense. This will be an entertaining chess match between Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis.
PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
A look at how our NFL selectors thought the Cowboys would fare this season:
Todd Archer: 8-8
Kevin B. Blackistone: 7-9
Dwayne Bray: 8-8
Tim Cowlishaw: 11-5 (NFC East champs)
Gerry Fraley: 7-9
Rick Gosselin: 7-9
Dale Hansen: 16-0 (NFC East champs)
Matt Mosley: 8-8
Kevin Sherrington: 10-6
Jean-Jacques Taylor: 8-8
OFFENSE
Pos. Player Team Comment
QB Peyton Manning Indianapolis NFL-high 26 TD passes
HB Priest Holmes Kansas City NFL-high 15 touchdowns
FB Lorenzo Neal San Diego NFL's best lead blocker
WR Terrell Owens Philadelphia Five 100-yard games
WR Javon Walker Green Bay 17-yard average, 7 TDs
TE Antonio Gates San Diego NFL's leading receiver
LT Willie Roaf Kansas City Best blocker on best line
RT Todd Weiner Atlanta Rare free agent worth the money
G Alan Faneca Pittsburgh NFL's No. 1 running team
G Brian Waters Kansas City A tribute to hard work
C Matt Birk Minnesota Hub of NFL's top-rated offense
DEFENSE
Pos. Player Team Comment
SE Aaron Smith Pittsburgh Anchors No. 1 run defense
WE John Abraham NY Jets NFL sack leader
DT Marcus Stroud Jacksonville Agile body inside
DT Pat Williams Buffalo Wide body inside
SLB Mike Vrabel New England Also caught a TD pass
MLB Ray Lewis Baltimore Future Hall of Famer
WLB Keith Bulluck Tennessee Can rush, cover
CB Marcus Trufant Seattle Smooth, like Mike Haynes
CB Chris McAlister Baltimore Prototypical big corner
SS Ed Reed Baltimore Four interceptions and 2 TDs
FS Brian Dawkins Philadelphia Thumper who sets a tempo
SPECIAL TEAMS
Pos. Player Team Comment
K Adam Vinatieri New England 18-of-19 on field goal tries
P Tom Tupa Washington 18 punts inside the 20
KR Terrence McGee Buffalo 2 touchdowns on returns
ST Scott McGarrahan Tennessee Leading tackler on top-10 coverage unit
09:57 PM CST on Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Rick Gosselin
The NFL sent out a call for offense in 2004.
Peyton Manning, Priest Holmes, Terrell Owens and just about every other player who touches the football answered that call. Yards and points have arrived in record numbers.
The NFL ordered a crackdown on illegal defensive contact this year to open the passing lanes. The desired effect has been achieved. Offense is again king. A record nine quarterbacks are on pace for 4,000-yard passing seasons.
Manning is on track to set an NFL record for touchdown passes in a season (52). Holmes is on track to become the first player in league history to score 30 touchdowns in a season. Owens is on track to catch the most TD passes in a decade (18).
But there is a downside to all of this offense. You'd be hard-pressed to find any stout defense being played in the NFL these days south of Baltimore or west of Pittsburgh.
Seven teams have allowed 200-plus points at the midway point. If they all stay on that pace, that would tie the NFL record set in 1985 for most teams allowing 400 points in a season.
Oakland already has allowed 247 points, New Orleans 234, San Francisco 224, Kansas City 211, Indianapolis 206, St. Louis 205 and Dallas 203. If those teams can't find a way to slow down opposing offenses, they can forget about the playoffs.
That's particularly bad news for the Colts, the only team of that bunch sitting atop a division. They share the AFC South lead with Jacksonville at 5-3.
Since the advent of the 16-game schedule in 1978, 83 teams have allowed 400 points in a season. Not one has won a division title, and only the 1989 Houston Oilers managed to overcome that generosity to qualify for the postseason. They lasted one round.
The 1983 St. Louis Cardinals were the only other team to allow 400 points and still manage a winning record (8-7-1). Teams that allow points in bunches wind up playing shorter seasons.
So as talented as the Colts may be on offense, defense will dictate how deeply they play into this season. In a game last month at Kansas City, Manning passed for 472 yards and five touchdowns – and the Colts lost by 10 points. Even the best offenses can't outscore everyone every week.
The Chiefs have their own problems on defense. They have never allowed 400 points in a season – yet are on pace to allow 422. And you'd have to go back to 1962 to find the last time the Cowboys allowed 400 points in a season.
Both the Chiefs and the Cowboys were playoff teams a year ago. They won't be this year with the caliber of defense they've been playing. Both teams are 3-5.
The same can be said for the Rams, the defending NFC West champions. St. Louis is 4-4. But no D in 2004 could translate into no postseason participation.
Of the 10 teams that have allowed the fewest points in the NFL, eight have winning records and five lead divisions. Defense may not win championships every year – but it does allow you to compete for them.
E-mail rgosselin@***BANNED-URL***
MVP
Tom Brady, QB, New England
Brady does more with less than any quarterback in the NFL. His starting wideouts, Troy Brown and Deion Branch, have already missed a combined 10 games, and two of his starting offensive linemen are on injured reserve. Yet the Patriots are 7-1 and continue to rank in top five in the NFL in scoring. Credit Brady, who has thrown TD passes in all eight games this season. He does what coach Bill Belichick asks him to do on a weekly basis to win.
Runner-up: Terrell Owens, WR, Philadelphia
OFFENSIVE MVP
Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis
Manning has thrown 26 TD passes in his first eight games – more than any quarterback in league history at a season's midway point. His 2,429 passing yards also lead the league. He's the reason the Colts are 5-3 and share first place in the AFC South. Manning has thrown only four interceptions and been sacked just five times in 269 attempts this season. Five of his remaining games are indoors, so his statistics will continue to stockpile.
Runner-up: Daunte Culpepper, QB, Minnesota
DEFENSIVE MVP
Ed Reed, SS, Baltimore
Ray Lewis is the emotional leader and leading tackler of the best defense in football. But Reed is that defense's playmaker and back-breaker. He returned an interception 106 yards against Cleveland and ran a fumble 22 yards against Washington for another score. He has an NFL runner-up four interceptions.
Runner-up: Ray Lewis, MLB, Baltimore
ROOKIE
Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh
The New York Giants and San Diego Chargers made trades at the top of the 2004 draft to get their quarterbacks of choice. The Steelers remained at 11 and the best quarterback in the draft slid right to them. Roethlisberger is 6-0 as a starter and ranks fifth in the NFL in passing efficiency with a 105.2 rating. He threw two TD passes in each of his last two games, handing the Patriots and Eagles their first losses of the season.
Runner-up: Michael Clayton, WR, Tampa Bay
FREE AGENT
Duce Staley, HB, Pittsburgh
The Eagles started phasing out Staley last fall, giving away his carries to a younger, faster Brian Westbrook. Then the Eagles gave Westbrook his job in the offseason, turning Staley loose as a free agent. At 29, Staley believed he had something left. So did the Steelers, who gave him a five-year contract with a $4 million signing bonus. Staley has rushed for 100 yards in four of his seven games and ranks 10th in the NFL with 707 yards.
Runner-up: Jevon Kearse, DE, Philadelphia
COACH
Marty Schottenheimer, San Diego
Schottenheimer has coached in the NFL for 17 years and has suffered only two losing seasons. But one came in 2003 at San Diego (4-12) – and Schottenheimer was supposed to be on his way out in 2004. Instead, he's been on his way up. The Chargers have already surpassed last season's victory total and share first place in the AFC West with Denver at 6-3. His formula of run the ball and play defense works even in warm weather.
Runner-up: Jim Mora, Atlanta
ASSISTANT COACH
Dick LeBeau, Defensive coordinator, Pittsburgh
LeBeau is the godfather of the zone blitz. His return to Pittsburgh after a seven-year absence, which included a stint as head coach of the Bengals, has signaled a return to pressure on the quarterback. The Steelers lead the NFL in both sacks and run defense and rank second in overall defense. LeBeau, a former Pro Bowl cornerback at Detroit and the NFL's eighth all-time interceptor, has Pittsburgh playing a Steel Curtain defense again.
Runner-up: Larry Coyer, defensive coordinator, Denver
EXECUTIVE
Kevin Colbert, Director of football operations, Pittsburgh
After finishing 6-10 in 2003, the Steelers obviously needed help in 2004. How are these for roster upgrades – the best player in free agency (running back Duce Staley) and the best player in the draft (quarterback Ben Roethlisberger)? Colbert handles the personnel end, so give credit where credit is due. The signing of Staley and drafting of Roethlisberger have propelled the Steelers to the top of the AFC at 7-1.
Runner-up: Terry Bradway, GM, New York Jets
FIVE BEST GAMES IN THE SECOND HALF
1. Baltimore at Pittsburgh (Dec. 26)
These two AFC North rivals battled into overtime in the 2003 Sunday night national TV finale when there was nothing on the line. Dial up the intensity this time around – it could be for the division title.
2. Baltimore at Indianapolis (Dec. 19)
The Ravens have the league's best defense, allowing yards and points grudgingly. The Colts have the NFL's most talented offense, capable of scoring 40 against anyone. There also could be playoff implications in this game.
3. Green Bay at Minnesota (Dec. 24)
The NFL thought so much of this game and rivalry that it gave these two teams exclusivity – a Christmas Eve engagement on national television. Brett Favre, Randy Moss, Daunte Culpepper, Ahman Green go well with eggnog.
4. New England at NY Jets (Dec. 26)
These two teams have been knocking heads since the old AFL days. Any rivalry intensifies with the quality of competition – and these are two of the best teams in the AFC. The defending Super Bowl champions are vulnerable on the road.
5. Baltimore at New England (Nov. 28)
It doesn't matter where they play, home or road, indoors or out, the Ravens will be competitive because of their defense. This will be an entertaining chess match between Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis.
PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
A look at how our NFL selectors thought the Cowboys would fare this season:
Todd Archer: 8-8
Kevin B. Blackistone: 7-9
Dwayne Bray: 8-8
Tim Cowlishaw: 11-5 (NFC East champs)
Gerry Fraley: 7-9
Rick Gosselin: 7-9
Dale Hansen: 16-0 (NFC East champs)
Matt Mosley: 8-8
Kevin Sherrington: 10-6
Jean-Jacques Taylor: 8-8
OFFENSE
Pos. Player Team Comment
QB Peyton Manning Indianapolis NFL-high 26 TD passes
HB Priest Holmes Kansas City NFL-high 15 touchdowns
FB Lorenzo Neal San Diego NFL's best lead blocker
WR Terrell Owens Philadelphia Five 100-yard games
WR Javon Walker Green Bay 17-yard average, 7 TDs
TE Antonio Gates San Diego NFL's leading receiver
LT Willie Roaf Kansas City Best blocker on best line
RT Todd Weiner Atlanta Rare free agent worth the money
G Alan Faneca Pittsburgh NFL's No. 1 running team
G Brian Waters Kansas City A tribute to hard work
C Matt Birk Minnesota Hub of NFL's top-rated offense
DEFENSE
Pos. Player Team Comment
SE Aaron Smith Pittsburgh Anchors No. 1 run defense
WE John Abraham NY Jets NFL sack leader
DT Marcus Stroud Jacksonville Agile body inside
DT Pat Williams Buffalo Wide body inside
SLB Mike Vrabel New England Also caught a TD pass
MLB Ray Lewis Baltimore Future Hall of Famer
WLB Keith Bulluck Tennessee Can rush, cover
CB Marcus Trufant Seattle Smooth, like Mike Haynes
CB Chris McAlister Baltimore Prototypical big corner
SS Ed Reed Baltimore Four interceptions and 2 TDs
FS Brian Dawkins Philadelphia Thumper who sets a tempo
SPECIAL TEAMS
Pos. Player Team Comment
K Adam Vinatieri New England 18-of-19 on field goal tries
P Tom Tupa Washington 18 punts inside the 20
KR Terrence McGee Buffalo 2 touchdowns on returns
ST Scott McGarrahan Tennessee Leading tackler on top-10 coverage unit