Week 4 in the NFL has ended and when week 5 begins there are five 4-0 teams and four 0-4 teams; with only 16 games in the season this would mean a quarter of the season is completed.
Week 4 in the NFL has ended and when week 5 begins there are five 4-0 teams and four 0-4 teams; with only 16 games in the season this would mean a quarter of the season is completed.
At this point in the season there is picture being painted about which teams will make the playoffs and those teams that need some serious work; some of that might happen during the season – probably a firing.
About 80% of the teams in the NFL will make the playoffs, these teams are elite with a unique balance of offense, defense, special teams and coaching; these teams are mostly lead by an elite quarterback that will score at will.
Quarterbacks like Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning all have won a Super Bowl ring, Brady has three, the other 2 Alex Smith and Russell Wilson probably find themselves in the most unique balanced teams and are on the move to becoming elite.
Smith’s and Wilson’s teams, Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks respectively, rely heavily on coaching whereas teams like the New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots and Denver Broncos, not so much, these teams are built around their elite quarterbacks that serves as an “on the field coach,” that will move their offense up and down the field, chewing up precious clock time and wearing out the opposing defense giving the enemy less chances to score and putting more pressure on the offense.
Most importantly these quarterbacks are the team’s leaders and that swagger will trickle down to other players that make a winning combination of offense, defense and special teams. Elite teams will average 4 touchdowns and 3 field goals per game which amounts to 37 points per game while average teams score about 24 point and those 0-4 teams will score an average of 14 points.
The 0-4 teams are lack-luster and dismal at best; they fail to put consistent scoring drives together, even though they may win a game from time to time they probably faced another below average team for the win.
However, there is a light at the end of tunnel, the coveted number one first round draft pick; where they could get that next Dan Marino, John Elway, Andrew Luck or even Russell Wilson; however Tom Brady wasn’t selected until the 6th round in the 2000 NFL Draft and Cam Newton hasn’t really had a winning season either, and he was selected first in the 2011 NFL Draft. Touché!
In any event these 0-4 have no chance in reaching the playoffs, only the 1992 San Diego Chargers were able to accomplish such a rare feat. For these teams the season is pretty much over, it’s time for the General Manager to start thinking about that beloved first round draft pick and the CEO will try to figure out how to retain season ticket holders.
There also might be a few terminations of coaches and players get the pink slip while the team goes into rebuild mode regardless if the GM wants to admit it or not, as he is counting his beans for his high priced free agents, draft picks, trade options, and how to stay within the salary cap; as it is his job to keep the owner of the team happy. So Steelers, Jaguars, Giants and Buccaneers fans you are in for a long season, 13 weeks of it and then the offseason where most of this activity takes place.
Writer: Stephan Chong
Photo: Brian Hoyer (SKYSPORTS)
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