As the NFL season approaches its midpoint, analysts and fans alike are turning their attention to predictions about playoff races, standout players, and shifts in team dynamics. With new crackdowns in play, a plethora of breakout performances and some unexpected duds, the league scene is changing quickly. Here’s what we learned from experts, who looked back on the performances of major players and painted a picture of the division-race landscape.
Jeremy Fowler is the gold standard of NFL reporting. Now as senior national writer for ESPN, he provides the best context and connections to understand all that’s happening around the league. From standout individuals to collective displays of dominance, there were some truly jaw dropping showings from players and teams alike. Plus, market forces created surprising waves that may influence this season and beyond.
Player Performances and Rising Stars
Kenneth Walker III continues to make waves in the league, currently ranking 23rd in rushing attempts. The dynamic, old school back looks like a different player with the extraordinary tutelage of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. His perspective has been key in helping to unlock Walker’s full potential. In advance of Walker’s progress, one AFC executive showed Walker’s efforts a great deal of faith, saying,
“He keeps getting better. He has an excellent OC [Josh McDaniels] who will get every drop out of that offense. And Vrabes [Mike Vrabel] has them playing good team football. I’m not quite ready to pass the torch now.”
This statement reflects Walker’s promising trajectory and the overall effectiveness of the Titans’ offensive game plan under McDaniels’ leadership.
Aside from Walker, the other breakout star has been Jonathan Taylor. An NFL coordinator noted,
“[Taylor is] playing like a Hall of Famer right now.”
This assessment emphasizes Taylor’s exceptional skills and impact on the field, further solidifying his status among the league’s elite running backs.
With the addition of Jaxon Smith-Njigba, they have an elite potential No. Today he’s still leading the league in receiving yards despite being on bye already. It’s his innate ability to make plays with regularity that has made him a critical piece for his team. By comparison, Christian James Cook has received similar accolades for being the biggest cog in his club’s offensive approach. Evaluators have noted that the team is at its best when they focus on running their offense through Cook.
Division Races Heating Up
The tight division races have the pennant races looking fierce as teams position early in to this calendar year. After their impressive upset over Miami two weeks ago, the Baltimore Ravens seem to be rolling with a 3-5 record. The odd thing is how uncharacteristic this victory is for a team that’s muddled at fourth place but still retains a division very much within their control.
The Titans have been outscored this season by an abysmal -120 point differential. This shocking number is by far the worst in the NFL. This stat paints a clear picture of their incompetence on both sides of the ball. It goes beyond that though, asking serious questions about their future competitiveness.
The Jets are the talk of the football world. Jordan Reid has gone as far as to clown Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, saying he’s the Hoosiers’ future No. 1 overall selection. As they look ahead to the 2023 draft, they are focused on identifying and then drafting a franchise quarterback. This decision might profoundly impact their future.
Evaluators have been more positive on the other teams in the division. An AFC scout stated,
“They will be right there and might be able to win that division, but I need to see more consistency.”
This feeling sums up the mystery about many of the playoff hopefuls as they try to set themselves apart as legitimate threats for a run in the postseason.
Challenges Faced by Teams
With teams feeling the burdens of the midseason grind, issues have cropped up that we couldn’t have anticipated. The Cleveland Browns, at the moment, are doing their media round on tight end Harold Fannin Jr. His contributions have been impressive given the context of their super innovative offensive scheme. Doubts persist as to whether they can keep up that pace for a full season.
Houston’s Marks, a part-time player as a freshman, didn’t take long to leave his stamp on the game. He’s got only 214 rushing yards on 57 carries. His reduced usage calls into question the effectiveness of the rest of the team’s rushing attack and how it would fare against better defenses.
Additionally, Dante Moore and LaNorris Sellers are believed to be viable options for QB-needy teams at the top of Round 1 in the upcoming draft. Their likely addition to the league would instantly shake up the competitive balance of the NFL as teams scramble to improve their QB rooms.
This point illustrates just how important offensive line play is to QB success and to team success as a whole.
“It’s really the offensive line that’s been holding them back. If they can get settled down there, you can see what [C.J. Stroud] can do.”
This insight speaks volumes about how crucial offensive line performance is for quarterback success and overall team performance.
Leave a Reply