All of that has put an air of uncertainty surrounding the possibility of their recent form dominating during the 2023 season. After enduring a bitterly disappointing loss to the Carolina Panthers, analysts and fans are scratching their heads and wondering what’s gone so terribly wrong on this Eagles’ team. Quarterback Jordan Love averaged an astoundingly low 1.6 air yards per attempt. This one stat goes to show how putrid the offensive struggles have been for this team. It’s hard to see the bright side after this loss with so many critical games following this one. In that one particular matchup against those Buffalo Bills, Mahomes posted his career-low completion percentage of 44.1% over 142 games.
During the game against the Bills, James Cook III showcased his skills with an impressive 114 yards on 27 carries, effectively challenging the Chiefs’ defense. Those Bills are getting a lot of criticism these days. Even ESPN’s Benjamin Solak is here to remind you that no, they’re not the best team in the AFC. Standout moments from the week included Brandon Aubrey’s remarkable 68-yard field goal attempt and Cam Little’s record-setting kick of the same distance.
Packers’ Offensive Challenges
Jordan Love’s struggles defending the deep ball have been a point of contention in and of themselves. Only 12.8% of his throws have gone 20-plus yards in the air this season. This alarming stat begs the question: what’s wrong with the Packers’ offensive approach and their ability to take advantage of threats deep down the field?
In fact, Head Coach Matt LaFleur admitted that it becomes hard to execute during games when opponents sit back and play soft zones. He stated, “I think we all — and I’m talking about myself as much as anybody — when we get into these types of games where it’s just about consistent execution … you can’t chase the big play.“
The Packers’ struggles to run the ball have been highlighted by LaFleur, who remarked, “You got to be able to run the football. I think that’s been a little bit of an issue, at times.” This formula of an ineffective air attack and uneven ground game has really compounded their struggles.
Defensive Performances Under Scrutiny
As the Packers offense continues to struggle, the rest of the league is finding a new gear in clutch situations. The Chiefs’ defense has already gone through some serious gauntlets. In Week 16, running back Zamir White ended up being a significant obstacle as well, piling up 100 rushing yards on them. This strange trend begs the question about the state of the team’s defense and whether or not they’ll be able to handle elite offensive threats.
As for the Chiefs, their biggest positive was Jacoby Brissett’s excellent outing. He made his case with an otherworldly passer rating of 115.1 last week, showing he’s developed into an able QB2 you can plug into the lineup. Daniel Jones’ recent stats paint a picture of a player who is really struggling. He logged a sack-to-pressure rate of 23.27% over six seasons prior to 2025, and his expected points added (EPA) per dropback is -0.81 when pressured over the past two weeks.
The Future of Team Dynamics
And with increasing pressure to fix underachieving teams, firings can be in the air. Jerry Jones hinted at potential trades, stating, “We certainly have made a trade, and we may make a couple more trades before that deadline.” This quote certainly captures the desperation that teams have been faced with as the season continues to drag on.
In all of that uncertainty, players such as Will Levis and Anthony Richardson Sr have emerged as once in a generation talents. Since the start of the season, they’ve repeatedly thrown more passes of 20-plus air yards than any other quarterback. If history is any guide, their performances are a sign of things to come as the NFL embraces a new era of dynamic quarterback play.
Unfortunate mismanagement put down the players it was supposed to build up. At the same time, injuries have wreaked havoc on availability up and down the league. Tucker Kraft tore his ACL, and he is out for the rest of the season. Shakir’s injury only adds more complexity to team dynamics.
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