CFZ Interesting trend in the NFL with scoring

[kskboys]

It’s only 3 games into a long season, but there’s an interesting trend in the NFL: Scoring is WAY down. This last week, the 20.3 points per game by teams was the lowest for a Week 3 since 2009 and the fourth lowest for any week in the past 5 seasons.

Even the league’s top QBs are struggling. Pat Mahomes, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers- winners of four of the last five MVP awards have all struggled in the first 3 games. Last week, their teams had a paltry 43 points combined. That's the fewest points scored in the 57 weeks those top QBs have all started. The previous low was 55 in Week 15 of the 2018 season.

Brady’s Bucs have yet to score 20 points in a game this year. Rodgers packers are averaging 16.5 points a game. Several games this week were just awful from an offensive standpoint- especially the 11-10 doze bowl between the niners and broncos Sun night. Just brutal.

We knew going into this season the Cowboys might struggle on offense at the start with so many new faces. So why is this a pattern league wide?
Here are some theories:

• Fewer teams playing starters in ps games- making the start of the season inherently sloppy. Most teams no longer risk playing their QBs and other key skill people.
• Defenses are better at the start of each season- coming out of training camp, defenses are almost always ahead of the offense.
• Defenses getting away with more holding and grabbing in the passing game- we saw this Sun against NYG with several holds and PI not being called. Reminded me of the 70s defenses.
• Parity- after 3 games, there are only two teams that are undefeated- Mia and Filly. Are there just fewer good teams this year?

The good news for the Cowboys in all this is two fold- 1. The Cowboys have a bonafide good defense and 2. The NFL appears to be much more wide open this year. It may be a year where a champion could spring from a team who gets hot late in the season- maybe a 10-7 type team?

Who knows? It’s still early. But interesting how offenses are struggling league wide.

My theory:

Basically, NFL GMs are finally starting to realize that the only way to stop big O's is the pass rush, and a complete pass rush, both inside and out. Teams are starting to stack up on edge rushers and slashing or bull rushing DT's. Collapse the pocket and all QB's will have problems.

My bigger question is what took them so long?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[big dog cowboy]

No one plays in the preseason any more.

The Cowboys looked like they were playing a preseason game against TB.

 

[kskboys]

It’s none of the above

the nfl has transitioned to a shell defense. The same defense that Dak can’t beat is giving other qbs trouble as well. defenses are forcing teams to run the ball and they’re playing 7 in coverage. That’s why scoring is down.

I find this idea to be of merit!!!!

There are huge weaknesses in running pass happy O's against NFL quality D's. DCs have figured this out.

 

[MapleLeaf]

It’s only 3 games into a long season, but there’s an interesting trend in the NFL: Scoring is WAY down.

Who knows? It’s still early. But interesting how offenses are struggling league wide.

I have another premise for you to consider.

2022 is still part of an ongoing experiment teams and coaches are taking to a new wrinkle in the league...the 17 game season.

Why so many starters sitting down during pre-season? Why so many teams protecting players with the PS and other engineered moves.

These may possibly all be spillover effects of trying to find the magic formula for surviving and getting to the playoffs in a 17 game season.

How do you get a Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers through a 17 game season. How do you manage the Tyron Smiths and Jason Peters of the league with a 17 game season looming?

If you are a wild card team its a 21 game season to the SuperBowl. What does this mean, and how do you manage it from the pre-season to the regular season to have the most optimize results?

 

[john van brocklin]

It’s only 3 games into a long season, but there’s an interesting trend in the NFL: Scoring is WAY down. This last week, the 20.3 points per game by teams was the lowest for a Week 3 since 2009 and the fourth lowest for any week in the past 5 seasons.

Even the league’s top QBs are struggling. Pat Mahomes, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers- winners of four of the last five MVP awards have all struggled in the first 3 games. Last week, their teams had a paltry 43 points combined. That's the fewest points scored in the 57 weeks those top QBs have all started. The previous low was 55 in Week 15 of the 2018 season.

Brady’s Bucs have yet to score 20 points in a game this year. Rodgers packers are averaging 16.5 points a game. Several games this week were just awful from an offensive standpoint- especially the 11-10 doze bowl between the niners and broncos Sun night. Just brutal.

We knew going into this season the Cowboys might struggle on offense at the start with so many new faces. So why is this a pattern league wide?
Here are some theories:

• Fewer teams playing starters in ps games- making the start of the season inherently sloppy. Most teams no longer risk playing their QBs and other key skill people.
• Defenses are better at the start of each season- coming out of training camp, defenses are almost always ahead of the offense.
• Defenses getting away with more holding and grabbing in the passing game- we saw this Sun against NYG with several holds and PI not being called. Reminded me of the 70s defenses.
• Parity- after 3 games, there are only two teams that are undefeated- Mia and Filly. Are there just fewer good teams this year?

The good news for the Cowboys in all this is two fold- 1. The Cowboys have a bonafide good defense and 2. The NFL appears to be much more wide open this year. It may be a year where a champion could spring from a team who gets hot late in the season- maybe a 10-7 type team?

Who knows? It’s still early. But interesting how offenses are struggling league wide.

Interesting Post Bob, Thanks for sharing.
Can't believe the NFL wont address this.
They want high scoring, exciting, offensive games.
Good for the ratings.

 

[gimmesix]

• Defenses getting away with more holding and grabbing in the passing game- we saw this Sun against NYG with several holds and PI not being called. Reminded me of the 70s defenses.

The league announced this summer that illegal contact was going to be a point of emphasis, so I thought we would see those calls increase dramatically. Instead, we're seeing officials not going along with the league's game plan.

 

[conner01]

It’s only 3 games into a long season, but there’s an interesting trend in the NFL: Scoring is WAY down. This last week, the 20.3 points per game by teams was the lowest for a Week 3 since 2009 and the fourth lowest for any week in the past 5 seasons.

Even the league’s top QBs are struggling. Pat Mahomes, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers- winners of four of the last five MVP awards have all struggled in the first 3 games. Last week, their teams had a paltry 43 points combined. That's the fewest points scored in the 57 weeks those top QBs have all started. The previous low was 55 in Week 15 of the 2018 season.

Brady’s Bucs have yet to score 20 points in a game this year. Rodgers packers are averaging 16.5 points a game. Several games this week were just awful from an offensive standpoint- especially the 11-10 doze bowl between the niners and broncos Sun night. Just brutal.

We knew going into this season the Cowboys might struggle on offense at the start with so many new faces. So why is this a pattern league wide?
Here are some theories:

• Fewer teams playing starters in ps games- making the start of the season inherently sloppy. Most teams no longer risk playing their QBs and other key skill people.
• Defenses are better at the start of each season- coming out of training camp, defenses are almost always ahead of the offense.
• Defenses getting away with more holding and grabbing in the passing game- we saw this Sun against NYG with several holds and PI not being called. Reminded me of the 70s defenses.
• Parity- after 3 games, there are only two teams that are undefeated- Mia and Filly. Are there just fewer good teams this year?

The good news for the Cowboys in all this is two fold- 1. The Cowboys have a bonafide good defense and 2. The NFL appears to be much more wide open this year. It may be a year where a champion could spring from a team who gets hot late in the season- maybe a 10-7 type team?

Who knows? It’s still early. But interesting how offenses are struggling league wide.

Parity, injuries to many teams, more investment in defense and some teams getting back to running
But it won’t last

 

[aikemirv]

“He was a bold man that first ate an oyster.”
-Jonathan Swift

Probably just hungry!

 

[Bobhaze]

One other reason this scoring drop is happening is the way NFL defenses are deploying their safeties deeper. Teams got tired of watching Mahomes, Rodgers and Brady throw dimes all over- especially deep passes.

Defenses now are even letting teams run the ball more easily. The idea is to keep everything in front of you. Force offenses to go 75 yds in 12-15 plays in small dinks and dunks. Once you’re inside the red zone, it’s easier to defend the smaller area.

 

[Vanilla2]

Gonna be exciting to see what pro offense rule changes come out of this

 

[NickZepp]

The quarterback position in the NFL has never been this bad.

It's comically terrible. All of last year's QB first-round picks look like scrubs. They don't teach quarterbacks in college anymore to play the position like is required in the NFL.

That's not ever been the point of college though. Heck in the 70s most of the top college teams ran wishbone offenses for far more points than the NFL could muster at that time.

 

[noshame]

Looks like they're letting lots of contact. AKA muggings

 

[Doomsday101]

That's not ever been the point of college though. Heck in the 70s most of the top college teams ran wishbone offenses for far more points than the NFL could muster at that time.

True teams like Nebraska loved it and as long as you have a defense it works great but when they would fall behind they did not have the passing game to keep themselves in the game.

 

[Shane612]

It’s only 3 games into a long season, but there’s an interesting trend in the NFL: Scoring is WAY down. This last week, the 20.3 points per game by teams was the lowest for a Week 3 since 2009 and the fourth lowest for any week in the past 5 seasons.

Even the league’s top QBs are struggling. Pat Mahomes, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers- winners of four of the last five MVP awards have all struggled in the first 3 games. Last week, their teams had a paltry 43 points combined. That's the fewest points scored in the 57 weeks those top QBs have all started. The previous low was 55 in Week 15 of the 2018 season.

Brady’s Bucs have yet to score 20 points in a game this year. Rodgers packers are averaging 16.5 points a game. Several games this week were just awful from an offensive standpoint- especially the 11-10 doze bowl between the niners and broncos Sun night. Just brutal.

We knew going into this season the Cowboys might struggle on offense at the start with so many new faces. So why is this a pattern league wide?
Here are some theories:

• Fewer teams playing starters in ps games- making the start of the season inherently sloppy. Most teams no longer risk playing their QBs and other key skill people.
• Defenses are better at the start of each season- coming out of training camp, defenses are almost always ahead of the offense.
• Defenses getting away with more holding and grabbing in the passing game- we saw this Sun against NYG with several holds and PI not being called. Reminded me of the 70s defenses.
• Parity- after 3 games, there are only two teams that are undefeated- Mia and Filly. Are there just fewer good teams this year?

The good news for the Cowboys in all this is two fold- 1. The Cowboys have a bonafide good defense and 2. The NFL appears to be much more wide open this year. It may be a year where a champion could spring from a team who gets hot late in the season- maybe a 10-7 type team?

Who knows? It’s still early. But interesting how offenses are struggling league wide.

Grrrreeeeate!
I hope it continues.

 

[Screw The Hall]

It’s only 3 games into a long season, but there’s an interesting trend in the NFL: Scoring is WAY down. This last week, the 20.3 points per game by teams was the lowest for a Week 3 since 2009 and the fourth lowest for any week in the past 5 seasons.

Even the league’s top QBs are struggling. Pat Mahomes, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers- winners of four of the last five MVP awards have all struggled in the first 3 games. Last week, their teams had a paltry 43 points combined. That's the fewest points scored in the 57 weeks those top QBs have all started. The previous low was 55 in Week 15 of the 2018 season.

Brady’s Bucs have yet to score 20 points in a game this year. Rodgers packers are averaging 16.5 points a game. Several games this week were just awful from an offensive standpoint- especially the 11-10 doze bowl between the niners and broncos Sun night. Just brutal.

We knew going into this season the Cowboys might struggle on offense at the start with so many new faces. So why is this a pattern league wide?
Here are some theories:

• Fewer teams playing starters in ps games- making the start of the season inherently sloppy. Most teams no longer risk playing their QBs and other key skill people.
• Defenses are better at the start of each season- coming out of training camp, defenses are almost always ahead of the offense.
• Defenses getting away with more holding and grabbing in the passing game- we saw this Sun against NYG with several holds and PI not being called. Reminded me of the 70s defenses.
• Parity- after 3 games, there are only two teams that are undefeated- Mia and Filly. Are there just fewer good teams this year?

The good news for the Cowboys in all this is two fold- 1. The Cowboys have a bonafide good defense and 2. The NFL appears to be much more wide open this year. It may be a year where a champion could spring from a team who gets hot late in the season- maybe a 10-7 type team?

Who knows? It’s still early. But interesting how offenses are struggling league wide.

Welcome to shell coverage taking over the NFL. Run the ball effectively and then go play action off of it is the remedy.

 

[Zekeats]

Yeah preseason is a walk in the park and most of those too QBs lost their number 1 wr. Give it a couple weeks I’m sure the brains at the top will get scoring going more too with a couple flags here and there

 

[silvernblu]

You look at the targets these guys lost during the off season as well as in season. Hill in KC, Devante Adams in GB, Brady of course dealing with guys in and out of the lineup

Brady, Gisele.

 

[CowboyRoy]

It’s only 3 games into a long season, but there’s an interesting trend in the NFL: Scoring is WAY down. This last week, the 20.3 points per game by teams was the lowest for a Week 3 since 2009 and the fourth lowest for any week in the past 5 seasons.

Even the league’s top QBs are struggling. Pat Mahomes, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers- winners of four of the last five MVP awards have all struggled in the first 3 games. Last week, their teams had a paltry 43 points combined. That's the fewest points scored in the 57 weeks those top QBs have all started. The previous low was 55 in Week 15 of the 2018 season.

Brady’s Bucs have yet to score 20 points in a game this year. Rodgers packers are averaging 16.5 points a game. Several games this week were just awful from an offensive standpoint- especially the 11-10 doze bowl between the niners and broncos Sun night. Just brutal.

We knew going into this season the Cowboys might struggle on offense at the start with so many new faces. So why is this a pattern league wide?
Here are some theories:

• Fewer teams playing starters in ps games- making the start of the season inherently sloppy. Most teams no longer risk playing their QBs and other key skill people.
• Defenses are better at the start of each season- coming out of training camp, defenses are almost always ahead of the offense.
• Defenses getting away with more holding and grabbing in the passing game- we saw this Sun against NYG with several holds and PI not being called. Reminded me of the 70s defenses.
• Parity- after 3 games, there are only two teams that are undefeated- Mia and Filly. Are there just fewer good teams this year?

The good news for the Cowboys in all this is two fold- 1. The Cowboys have a bonafide good defense and 2. The NFL appears to be much more wide open this year. It may be a year where a champion could spring from a team who gets hot late in the season- maybe a 10-7 type team?

Who knows? It’s still early. But interesting how offenses are struggling league wide.

Heres a theory.......................................Teams paying great QB's huge money cant afford to surround them with great skill position talent. I know you can put Mahomes and Rogers in that category. Maybe that is adding to it.

Personally I bet scoring this week will be way up and even things out.

 

[Ranching]

It’s only 3 games into a long season, but there’s an interesting trend in the NFL: Scoring is WAY down. This last week, the 20.3 points per game by teams was the lowest for a Week 3 since 2009 and the fourth lowest for any week in the past 5 seasons.

Even the league’s top QBs are struggling. Pat Mahomes, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers- winners of four of the last five MVP awards have all struggled in the first 3 games. Last week, their teams had a paltry 43 points combined. That's the fewest points scored in the 57 weeks those top QBs have all started. The previous low was 55 in Week 15 of the 2018 season.

Brady’s Bucs have yet to score 20 points in a game this year. Rodgers packers are averaging 16.5 points a game. Several games this week were just awful from an offensive standpoint- especially the 11-10 doze bowl between the niners and broncos Sun night. Just brutal.

We knew going into this season the Cowboys might struggle on offense at the start with so many new faces. So why is this a pattern league wide?
Here are some theories:

• Fewer teams playing starters in ps games- making the start of the season inherently sloppy. Most teams no longer risk playing their QBs and other key skill people.
• Defenses are better at the start of each season- coming out of training camp, defenses are almost always ahead of the offense.
• Defenses getting away with more holding and grabbing in the passing game- we saw this Sun against NYG with several holds and PI not being called. Reminded me of the 70s defenses.
• Parity- after 3 games, there are only two teams that are undefeated- Mia and Filly. Are there just fewer good teams this year?

The good news for the Cowboys in all this is two fold- 1. The Cowboys have a bonafide good defense and 2. The NFL appears to be much more wide open this year. It may be a year where a champion could spring from a team who gets hot late in the season- maybe a 10-7 type team?

Who knows? It’s still early. But interesting how offenses are struggling league wide.

Defense is always ahead of the offense early on....especially, now that most starters don't even play preseason games.

 

[Clarke82]

It’s only 3 games into a long season, but there’s an interesting trend in the NFL: Scoring is WAY down. This last week, the 20.3 points per game by teams was the lowest for a Week 3 since 2009 and the fourth lowest for any week in the past 5 seasons.

Even the league’s top QBs are struggling. Pat Mahomes, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers- winners of four of the last five MVP awards have all struggled in the first 3 games. Last week, their teams had a paltry 43 points combined. That's the fewest points scored in the 57 weeks those top QBs have all started. The previous low was 55 in Week 15 of the 2018 season.

Brady’s Bucs have yet to score 20 points in a game this year. Rodgers packers are averaging 16.5 points a game. Several games this week were just awful from an offensive standpoint- especially the 11-10 doze bowl between the niners and broncos Sun night. Just brutal.

We knew going into this season the Cowboys might struggle on offense at the start with so many new faces. So why is this a pattern league wide?
Here are some theories:

• Fewer teams playing starters in ps games- making the start of the season inherently sloppy. Most teams no longer risk playing their QBs and other key skill people.
• Defenses are better at the start of each season- coming out of training camp, defenses are almost always ahead of the offense.
• Defenses getting away with more holding and grabbing in the passing game- we saw this Sun against NYG with several holds and PI not being called. Reminded me of the 70s defenses.
• Parity- after 3 games, there are only two teams that are undefeated- Mia and Filly. Are there just fewer good teams this year?

The good news for the Cowboys in all this is two fold- 1. The Cowboys have a bonafide good defense and 2. The NFL appears to be much more wide open this year. It may be a year where a champion could spring from a team who gets hot late in the season- maybe a 10-7 type team?

Who knows? It’s still early. But interesting how offenses are struggling league wide.

I don't know the reason although any or all of your suppositions are plausible.

I understand that I'm in the minority but, I love this style of football.

I enjoy the low scoring defensive games because, every play matters and could be the play that means everything.

High scoring, basketball on grass games don't do it for me.

I'm not interested in Fantasy Football so high scoring games to me aren't real football.

I don't know how long it will last but, I couldn't be happier about it.