Scoring is up in the NFL with teams combining for 44 points a game so far. Sunday's 14 games produced 693 points with 12 teams scoring more than 30.
We asked ESPN's experts to make a point about the scoring increase.
Why are teams scoring so much?
John Clayton |
Grounded running games
I don't think the high-scoring is unusual. Sometimes, in the first three or four weeks of any season, there will be a wild scoring spree like we've seen in the first two weeks. One reason this season is that most teams' running games aren't really settled in. Defenses are starting to realize that and do a little more run-blitzing. That opens up more big plays. Over the next couple of weeks, people may start to wonder why teams aren't scoring. Some of the offenses are in sync, particularly the Rams with their passing game. And some hot quarterbacks, like Mark Brunell and Kurt Warner, are putting points in the board. Scoring is still going to be tough in this league, particularly because defenses now know how to take away the run on just about any down. If that's the case, sometimes teams may end up with a few more possessions in a game, which might mean another score or two. But I won't go overboard and say it will be one of the highest-scoring seasons. | |
Merril Hoge |
Rams' influence
When teams win championships, other teams want to copy what made the championship team a success. The Rams showed that the passing game is a major focus in the league now. People want to strike quickly and attack down the field. When the Rams scored as many points as they did last year to win a Super Bowl, people feel like they have to score points like that, especially if you don't have a defense that can contain a Ram offense. In addition, the zone-blitzing schemes have forced quarterbacks to adjust and go down the field with the ball instead of trying to read all the underneath routes through all the congestion, where interceptions can take place. There is more of an emphasis on explosive plays and looking downfield. | |
Andrea Kremer |
Lack of quality defensive backs
Dominance of offense and defense is very cyclical. There are always little tweaks to the rule changes that benefit one side or the other. And clearly, the offense is dominating right now. The NFL is also a very copycat league. Teams saw how dominant the Rams offense was last year with multiple formations. And very simply, the more receivers the teams are using, there aren't enough quality defensive backs to match them. Everybody looked at the Redskins and said, "How is Darrell Green, a Hall of Famer, going to be demoted to a backup?" But the truth is that teams need three good cornerbacks. You can't just have two. With all the movement, the formations, the influx of receivers getting downfield and making big plays or the run after the catch, the matchups aren't working in favor of the defenses. With the more weapons and the more diversity that teams have, the defenses can't match up physically or personnel-wise. | |
Mark Malone |
Teams have copied Vikes, Rams
The NFL has been regarded as the greatest copycat league on the face of the earth. When teams have success with certain offensive schemes, people tend to copy them. Teams are throwing the ball more and stretching the field more, resulting in more big plays. Other offenses not only are trying to copy St. Louis from a year ago, but they are also trying to copy the '98 Vikings, who didn't make it to the Super Bowl but were considered one of the top scoring offenses in recent memory. Offenses are starting to put together schemes that are attacking down the field, and we are seeing bigger plays. The highest form of flattery is imitation; if it's successful, expect to see it copied. | |
Sean Salisbury |
Offenses ahead of defenses
Normally at this time of the year, defenses are ahead of offenses. This year there seems to be more offensive continuity and comfortability. Teams like the Colts and the Rams have the same people they had last year and play under the same offensive system. There are still a couple of situations where defenses (like Tampa Bay) are dominating offenses. But with all the offensive intricacies and specialization, the offensive players are making more plays now. | |
| |
ALSO SEE
Garber: Point is, scoring is up
|
