2018: Five [Opfer's Take]aways from NFL Week 5

Five Takeaways

5. Ward > Chubb
Remember when everyone ripped the Browns for passing on DE Bradley Chubb at No. 4 to select CB Denzel Ward in this past year’s Draft?

Through five weeks, Ward has silenced the critics, helping solidify Cleveland’s secondary (and defense). The first-year pro out of Ohio State is tied for first in the league in interceptions (3), while adding a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and six pass break-ups.

Ward's blocked FG attempt helped spark Cleveland's 2nd win of the season (USAtoday). 

On Sunday, Ward was the catalyst on two huge plays – intercepting a Joe Flacco pass inside the five and blocking a Justin Tucker kick before half, preventing the Ravens from scoring (at least six points).

We’re only past the quarter point of the season, but Ward has to be the early favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Something that has only been accomplished one other time in franchise history (Chip Banks, 1982).

4. Don’t stop believing

Not highly recruited, wide receiver Adam Thielen earned a $500 scholarship to Minnesota State-Mankato (D-II). Not invited to the combine in 2014, he went undrafted. After earning an invite to the Vikings rookie camp that same year, Thielen never stopped working at his craft. And after playing mostly special teams his first two seasons, he burst onto the scene in 2016 as a slot receiver, catching 69 passes for 967 yards and five touchdowns. Enter 2018, and all that work is paying dividends, becoming the first player in the Super Bowl era to record 100+ receiving yards in each of his team’s first five games of a season (NFLResearch). A reminder that you don’t have to be drafted to become great.

3. Optimism rising

Five weeks in, the Browns season has been nothing short of an unpredictable roller coaster, with three of their five games going to overtime and all five having been decided by four points or less (three by 3, one by 4, & one tie). Yet for the first time in (what feels like) forever, they have fielded a legitimate NFL team that is competing with the best of them.

In the midst of doubling their win total from the last two seasons combined, the Browns:

Have recorded a league-leading 14 takeaways – one more than all of last season.

Rank second in the league in sacks with 21 (had 34 all of last season).

Lead the league in rushing with 723 yards (144.6 per game) & running plays of 10+ yards (23).

Are undefeated at home (2-0-1).

If it weren’t for a special teams unit that has struggled all season, the Browns very well could be 5-0. Regardless, after a big victory over the Ravens on Sunday, they are in the thick of things in the AFC at 2-2-1. Playoffs (insert Jim Mora voice)?

Let’s not get carried away just yet.

2. Rookie QBs showcased

Every year when the Draft rolls around, it’s about the quarterback.

Who will be the next franchise signal caller to turn around an organization? Who can step in from day one and improve those around him? Who has the attributes to excel at the next level?

In a quarterback-driven league, it’s a debate that never ends. This season, the draft process revolved around Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, and Josh Rosen (all four were taken in the top 10).

On Sunday, all four started and all four won – the first time in the Super Bowl era that starting rookie QBs went 4-0 in the same week (Elias). 

Turning around a franchise isn’t easy, but so far these four are making an impact.

1. Hats off to a legend

For 18 seasons, Drew Brees has embodied the artistry of the quarterback position.

Coming out of Purdue, he was overlooked because of his height.

In San Diego, he was given only a 25-percent chance to resume his career after he dislocated his shoulder, suffered a 360-degree tear of his labrum and a 50-percent tear of his rotator cuff (a one-in-500 injury). The Chargers released him.

He turned all that adversity into motivation to beat the odds. And after being cleared by doctors, the Saints gave him a chance.

The rest is history.

Brees reacts to becoming the NFL's all-time leading passer (USAtoday). 

On Monday night, he broke the all-time record for passing yards in a career – topping Peyton Manning’s 71,940 – in the midst of dominating the Redskins, 43-19.

In the midst of the celebration, he told his kids, "you can accomplish anything in life you're willing to work for."

Brees has done just that as he now stands alone in passing yards (72,103), completions, and completion percentage and is fourth on the all-time passing touchdowns list (which he will soon overtake).

Congrats to a class-act and a New Orleans legend.   

2018: Five [Opfer's Take]aways from NFL Week 4

Five takeaways

5. Where’s the technology?

How is it that we live in a generation exploding with technological resources and yet we still haven’t found a way to use it on the football field?

Could the NFL not use the same technology used in tennis? Hec, soccer already utilizes it as a goal-line technology.

After numerous amounts of bad calls in recent years, I'm starting to wonder if it's time for America's most popular sport to follow suit (with goal-line and first down technology). 

4. AFC Sleeper

Everyone wants to talk about the exciting Chiefs and rightfully so, with first-year starter Pat Mahomes leading a red-hot offense (36.3 PPG). But there’s another team up north that’s looking the part of an AFC contender: the Baltimore Ravens. Sitting at 3-1, John Harbaugh’s squad quietly fields both a top-10 offense (9^th) and defense (5^th), while averaging 30.8 points per game (5^th). Not to mention having the best special teams weapon in the game in kicker Justin Tucker. It’s early, but the Ravens are flocking in the right direction.

3. Khalil Mack > Oakland

What was Oakland thinking?! Not only was Khalil Mack the Raiders best player, but he instantly made the defense better.

Mack is dominating in Chicago and the pillar of their top-ranked D (CBS Chicago).

That’s exactly what he’s doing in his new garb. The two-time First Team All-Pro is off to a roaring start in the windy city, recording a sack and a forced fumble in all four games this season (the first to record both in four straight since Robert Mathis in 2005, ESPN Stats & Info). He has as many sacks – five – as the entire Raiders team combined. And his presence has helped Chicago to a 3-1 start behind a top-10 defense that ranks first in sacks with 18.

Meanwhile, the Raiders rank 28^th in defense and are tied for last in sacks. Ouch.

2. Greatest show on turf (grass) 2.0

The 1999 (through 2001) Rams were appropriately dubbed the ‘greatest show on turf’ thanks to their record-breaking offense led by QB Kurt Warner and innovative OC Mike Martz. Almost 20 years later, the 2018 Rams (albeit in Los Angeles) are becoming their own version, with QB Jared Goff and head coach Sean McVay. Through four games, the Rams are averaging 35 points per game (‘99 Rams averaged 32.8) behind an offense loaded with playmakers. And it’s McVay’s creativity that’s making the offense that much harder to account for.

Jared Goff's 5 TDs on Thursday led the Rams to a 4-0 start (SBnation).

Now, it's just a matter of whether the 2018 version can accomplish what that famed '99 team did: win the Super Bowl. 

1. Offense, offense, and well… more offense

What’s more impressive: a high-powered offense or a lock-down defense? In today’s game, it’d have to be the latter considering they are few and far between.

What’s more exciting: a high-powered offense or a lock-down defense? For the consumer, it’s the former and it’s not even close, as instant satisfaction in terms of points is the best way to keep one’s attention.

Through the first quarter of the season, offenses are reaching new heights as 12 teams are averaging at least 25 points, with five averaging 30 or more (compared to the end of last season when only eight were at 25 or more and zero at 30 or more).

The most eye-popping stat… the number of times a QB threw for 400 yards the past four seasons: 2014 – 11, 2015 – 10, 2016 – 12, 2017 – 8. Enter 2018, and there has already been 12 instances through just 63 games.

And let’s not forget, week 2 set an NFL record for highest cumulative QB passer rating (102.6) for a single week in league history (Gil Brandt).

The NFL is catering to the offense (with so many infractions going against defenses) more than ever before and the results are showing, especially in the passing game.