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.