Russell Wilson
Enjoyable truth: the Giants returned 10 of their 11 offensive starters from final yr, regardless of ending twenty ninth in EPA per play final season. The one change got here at quarterback, with the Giants signing Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and buying and selling up within the first spherical of the draft for Jaxson Dart.
It was an odd pressure of organisational vanity: Ignore that we gained three video games! Our roster is nice! Our teaching is nice! Daniel Jones was the issue!
Week 1 suggests in any other case. Jones is now with the Colts, and carved up the Dolphins’ protection, displaying a stage of confidence in his scheme and supporting forged that vanished in New York. In the meantime, the sluggish Giants scored simply six factors in opposition to the Commanders, the fewest by any group within the opening week. Wilson appeared like the identical participant he was in Pittsburgh: able to throwing stunning deep balls however providing little else. His athleticism has eroded to the purpose the place he can now not reliably break the pocket and create performs out of construction. In opposition to the Commanders, he accomplished simply two of 12 passes when pressured and was sacked twice. And when enjoying in construction, he was indecisive and late to ship throws.
Giants head coach Brian Daboll confirmed Wilson will stay the group’s starter for week two, regardless of teasing he may make a change. However how lengthy can Daboll hold Dart out of the lineup?
Dart flashed sufficient in preseason to earn the beginning gig. Understandably, the Giants wish to work the rookie in slowly quite than throwing him to the wolves. However the group’s decision-makers are on borrowed time. Their finest probability at retaining their jobs is throwing Dart on the sphere, prepared or not, and hoping for the very best. That will not be nice for Dart’s improvement, however it’s the Giants’ finest shot at bringing a jolt to their limp offence.
Panic meter: 8/10 – get your arm prepared, Jaxson.
Miami Dolphins
The vibes have been off with the Dolphins since preseason. “It’s a terrific day,” Mike McDaniel stated a month in the past. Why? “As a result of we’re one other day nearer to demise.”
McDaniel’s shtick is already sporting skinny with the ‘Phins fanbase, and the tip of his teaching run in Miami might be just some weeks away. The explanation why isn’t simply the 33-8 scoreline by the hands of Indianapolis. It was how the Dolphins appeared. You recognize issues are depressing when Tyreek Hill is throwing his first tantrum of the season within the first quarter of the primary recreation.
McDaniel is a strolling oxymoron: when was the final time a run-game guru was handed a franchise and the grievance was that his group was not bodily sufficient? Often, these coaches are portrayed as neanderthals, out of step with the new-fangled stuff. However below McDaniel, the Dolphins have been the other: splendidly inventive however committing the cardinal sin of enjoying mushy. They’ll’t run the ball and so they can’t cease it both. Their much-ballyhooed defensive entrance continues to battle with accidents and did not strain Jones and the remade Colts offensive line. And regardless of all the professionals with Tua Tagovailoa’s recreation, he’s the least adaptable quarterback within the league. When strain arrives or the offense is out of types, he bottoms out.
The Dolphins lack the expertise to cowl up their shortfalls. McDaniel’s seat couldn’t be hotter.
Panic meter: 10/10 – time to begin scouting the 2026 draft.
Payments protection
I do know, I do know. The Payments engineered probably the most exhilarating comebacks in league historical past in opposition to the Ravens. So long as Josh Allen is standing upright, the Payments needs to be favourites to host the AFC championship recreation, significantly given the weak point of the AFC East. However exterior Allen, alarm bells needs to be ringing.
The Payments protection is a multitude. They give the impression of being small and light-weight, incapable of standing as much as a downhill speeding assault. No different group can roll out the mixed threats of Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and Zay Flowers, however what occurred to the Payments on Sunday was as a lot about their very own roster and structural flaws as Baltimore’s trifecta.
If something, it seems to be just like the Payments constructed a protection particularly to cease Kansas Metropolis in January. The scars of a number of playoff defeats will do this to a group. However there are many different threats within the postseason, and early proof suggests the Chiefs will not be the group to beat.
The Payments play extra dime defence (six defensive backs) than any group within the league, however have one of many weakest security teams. They invested closely this offseason in versatile defensive linemen, gamers who might line up inside or exterior to convey additional juice to final yr’s rickety move rush. This can be a protection that’s purported to be as versatile and fast on third down as potential. However you continue to need to get the opponents to 3rd down. And that might be a chore this yr.
Buffalo lacked the our bodies to match up with Baltimore’s heavier personnel. The Ravens picked up 199 yards, averaging 14.2 yards per play with their greater our bodies on the sphere. When the Payments caught to their most well-liked type of protection, rolling out additional defensive backs, Henry averaged 19 yards a carry.
Sean McDermott has pivoted methods at a time when the run recreation is experiencing a resurgence. Certain, in opposition to the Chiefs or Bengals, the Payments can flood the sphere with pace and be inventive up entrance to strain the pocket. However what in the event that they see Baltimore once more within the postseason, or the Chargers, or any run-centric offense? What if the sport script isn’t of their favour?
It was an issue final season, however Allen and the offense pressured opponents into pass-heavy conditions. The Payments doubled down on their method within the offseason, and now they appear misplaced matching up in opposition to the highest offenses within the AFC. Given Allen, the difficulty in all probability gained’t reveal itself till the playoffs. However the Payments want to seek out reinforcements at security and a veteran hand who might help thump in opposition to the run up entrance.
Panic meter: 7/10 – the playoffs are all that matter, and additions are wanted earlier than then.
The Chiefs typically
Talking of leaky defences, the Chiefs have issues of their very own. They have been ripped aside by Justin Herbert in Brazil. The Chargers ditched their typical run-based plan and as a substitute allowed Herbert to fling the ball everywhere in the discipline.
The Chargers uncovered faultlines throughout the Chiefs’ protection. The defensive backfield is as marketed: scrappy however missing gamers who can grasp in man protection. However the bigger concern is up entrance. Outdoors Chris Jones, the Chiefs don’t have a dependable move rusher – and Jones didn’t flip up in Week 1.
KC paid George Karlaftis $93m this offseason to be a dependable second banana, however he has by no means been greater than a stable effort rusher who feeds on the scraps of Jones’s brilliance. If Jones is under his peak, the Chiefs are in a bind.
Steve Spagnuolo is the very best defensive coordinator within the sport, however he was left chasing his tail in opposition to Herbert. The Chiefs couldn’t reliably strain with 4, so Spagnuolo upped his blitz price to attempt to manufacture disruption. However plugging extra gamers into the move rush left his secondary on islands, and Herbert devoured it up, finishing 11 of 14 passes for 178 yards and a landing in opposition to the blitz.
Spagnuolo has confirmed repeatedly that he could make a serviceable unit out of ill-fitting elements. Nonetheless, his schematic wonkery can solely drag the unit to date. Even when they method league common, it gained’t matter if the offence continues to stall. And with Rashee Rice suspended for 5 extra video games and Xavier Worthy damage, it might be a while till the Chiefs offense is up and firing.
Even dynastic groups have cycles. Throughout the glory days of the Belichick-Brady Patriots dynasty, that they had limp seasons. They might stumble into the postseason and exit early. The important thing constructing blocks can stay in place, however the ancillary items are now not as much as it, due to the wage cap, selecting on the backside of the draft order and misfiring on essential free brokers.
The Chiefs have that feeling – a franchise caught between two eras. That doesn’t imply they gained’t have a deep playoff run once more – and it’s early within the season – however they’ve extra holes to plug and inquiries to reply than at any level within the final eight years.
Panic meter: 6/10 – lose to the Eagles in Week 2, and this jumps to eight/10.
The Lions’ offensive line
The Lions ran right into a buzzsaw in Inexperienced Bay. They took on the most effective groups within the NFC, recent off the commerce for Micah Parsons, whereas changing two coordinators. Teething issues have been all the time going to be a problem. However the Packers uncovered some basic flaws when the Lions confronted the very best of the very best: they lack expertise and depth alongside each strains of scrimmage.
On the perimeter, the Lions have as a lot expertise as any group within the league. Their offensive weapons are laughably good; their secondary is full of game-breakers. However video games are gained and misplaced up entrance. The Packers bullied the Lions on each side of the ball. Aidan Hutchinson is Detroit’s solely reliable move rusher, and any hopes to offset that deficit with the blitz fell woefully quick in opposition to Jordan Love.
A extra urgent downside is the offensive line. Shedding Ben Johnson was the discuss of Detroit’s offseason. How would they cope with out the hot-shot offensive thoughts on the controls? However that discuss was all the time a little bit overstated; the lack of middle Frank Ragnow – who determined to retire on the age of 29 – was a much bigger deal. Greater than another phase of a group, the offensive line capabilities as a unit; 5 gigantic our bodies synchronising right into a cohesive bloc inside a confined space that provides little margin for error. Penei Sewell is a star at proper sort out and Taylor Decker provides the Lions a serviceable starter on the left aspect. However the concern is with the inside. The Lions have turned the within over to Graham Glasgow at middle and younger pups Christian Mahogany and Tate Ratledge at guard.
Glasgow is a restricted participant, however Mahogany and Ratledge have expertise. But the trio are lower than par with what Detroit has rolled with the final two seasons. All three are people-movers who can push defenders again off the ball. However all three even have limitations in move safety and battle to maneuver in house. With Johnson and Ragnow, the Lions had essentially the most different speeding assault within the NFL, which helped gas the league’s finest play-action recreation. With the brand new inside, they’re restricted in what they will name, and worse at what they do run. It’s going to take time to determine what the offense can main in, time they can not afford within the knife-fight of the NFC North.
Jared Goff is a wonderful quarterback when he’s sticking to the circulation of a play. However transfer him off his spot, and he falls aside. Having a stellar receiving corps is enjoyable, however it gained’t matter if Goff is feeling warmth or the Lions are unable to maneuver the ball on the bottom.
Panic meter: 5/10 – beating the Bears this Sunday is now a should.
