By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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2016 turned to 2017 in January, and with it, we went from the year of the Cowboys Revival, to the rise — I mean, #RiseUp — of the Falcons.

Atlanta’s high-flying offense has been the toast of the town and the talk of the league since the Falcons dismantled Seattle and Green Bay in startling fashion in the playoffs. For those who’d watched the Falcons all year, it came as no surprise. But what about Atlanta’s defense?

Early in 2016, it was seen as a liability. Dan Quinn was brought in with a defense-first approach, but due to an infusion of youth and some injury hangups, his changes had yet to take effect on the field. Atlanta gave up 31, 28, 32 and 33 points in its first four games, but thanks to the aforementioned offensive prowess, emerged with a 3-1 mark. Come Week 5, the defense started to figure it out, shutting down Denver in a 23-16 win. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Oakland rode high through much of the 2016 season — but in the wild-card game against Houston, it all came crashing down.

An offense that was powered by gunslinger Derek Carr and leaned on a stellar offensive line looked like a shell of itself in the playoffs. Pro Bowl left tackle Donald Penn missed the first game of his career, and Carr was busy recovering from surgery to repair a broken fibula. The latter was an obvious loss, but the former’s true value only became apparent in the postseason defeat.

It can be hard to quantify how effective an offensive lineman is. Outside of pancake blocks and recorded sacks, there aren’t many metrics to statistically describe how a lineman is performing, so we often rely on reputation. Cleveland’s Joe Thomas has long been the model left tackle in the league, serving as a moving wall for the Browns‘ myriad of quarterbacks. His collection of All Pro and Pro Bowl honors serve as the example of what it means to be a franchise left tackle.

But when keying on the Raiders‘ offensive line, Penn stands out, especially against the toughest competition. Against Denver in Week 17, Penn spent much of his afternoon matched up against All World linebacker Von Miller. He didn’t wilt. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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It was like a 1960s Batman fight scene — Bam! A zone sprint up the middle. Boom! A screen to tight end Travis Kelce on the edge. Biff! Receiver Tyreek Hill on a jet sweep around the edge. Thwack! Kelce on a quick slant over the middle. And pow! Quarterback Alex Smith on the read option, scoring around the edge.

That was Kansas City’s offense in a nutshell against the Denver Broncos on Sunday night of Week 16. And really, it’s been that way for much of the season.

The Chiefs don’t air it out deep frequently, or deploy some revolutionary running scheme that leaves opposing coaches frustrated and flabbergasted. Kansas City wins with efficiency and reliable, sound execution. It comes quick, and from all angles. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Just weeks ago, we filled this space with a breakdown of why Green Bay’s defense couldn’t stop a nosebleed in the passing game. My, how times have changed.

Since surrendering truckloads of points in a three-game stretch, the Packers are in the midst of indeed running the table. Green Bay got Damarious Randall back and remedied its issues on defense, and ditched the idea of the traditional running back after injuries decimated the position and forced the Packers to deal for Knile Davis in an ill-fated attempt to acquire a stopgap. Mike McCarthy’s offense has since resorted to turning wide receiver Ty Montgomery into a running back, and while yes, it’s odd to see a player wearing No. 88 lining up in the backfield, it’s working for the Packers. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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2016 has been the year of the Cowboys, save for opening weekend, when Dallas fell to division rival New York. They received a shot at redemption on a frigid Sunday night in Week 14, but in surprising, almost stunning fashion, again came up empty-handed.

Dallas has played 13 games, and the Cowboys are 11-0 against teams not named the New York Giants. So what is so special about the Giants?

It begins — and really, ends — with disciplined defense. As other units across the league turn to exotic blitz schemes and innovative usage of personnel, New York keeps it simple and traditional because it works. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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The Oakland Raiders have spent much of the season enjoying success the franchise hasn’t seen since it last appeared in the Super Bowl, way back in 2002. Headed by quarterback Derek Carr, the revived Silver and Black is perched atop the AFC West at 10-2. But it hasn’t come without many heart-stopping moments that have likely taken years off the lives of Raider Nation.

Risk-taking coach Jack Del Rio has Oakland succeeding by gambling on many occasions and coming out a winner. Sunday of Week 13 proved to be no different, as the Raiders were forced to overcome a 24-9 deficit to secure a victory over the visiting Bills.

Things didn’t look good for Oakland early on. Buffalo took a 10-9 lead and expanded it with quickness and efficiency, turning its first two possessions of the second half into scores. A ground game powered by powerful sprints from Mike Gillislee and shifty running from LeSean McCoy had Buffalo sitting pretty with a two-touchdown advantage. But that’s when Carr and the Raiders picked up the tempo and changed the course of the game. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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At 5-6 overall, the Saints‘ season has seen its highs and lows. The one consistency that has emerged during most of New Orleans’ season is the same that has followed the Saints for much of coach Sean Payton’s tenure: New Orleans doesn’t have much of an issue putting points on the board.

That was as true as ever in Week 12 against the Rams, in a game billed as defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ return to the Superdome for the first time since he was ousted as a result of the Bountygate scandal. Surely, the Rams, with their ninth-best defense in terms of yards per game allowed, would find a way to bottle up the Saints, especially with their former defensive commander calling a game against New Orleans.

That wasn’t the case Sunday. Williams entered with a pressure-packed defensive game plan, but Drew Brees and Co. were ready for the heat. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Green Bay has, as head coach Mike McCarthy said after the Packers‘ latest loss, its “ass against the wall.” The sixth defeat on the season was the Packers‘ fourth straight, and also the second consecutive dreadful performance in the secondary.

The Packers have allowed 670 yards and seven touchdowns through the air in their last two games, surrendering 89 points to opponents in two road defeats. It’s a far cry from Packers teams of past years that put up plenty of points on offense and relied on veterans such as Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams to lock it down on defense. Instead, they’re too often left watching various defensive backs end up chasing opponents in vain or with their faces full of turf as the other team finishes in the end zone.

So what’s going on in Green Bay’s injury-riddled secondary? We took a closer look at the last two games to see just how other teams are treating the Packers like the Swiss cheese hats their fans wear in the stands. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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The showdown began with a thinly veiled, critical characterization of Atlanta’s passing game, but when it was all said and done, Philadelphia backed it up on the defensive side of the ball. The Eagles held Matt Ryan and the Falcons — the second-best offense in the league — to 15 points and just one touchdown through the air. The teacher had rounded up the schoolyard.

Julio Jones still posted a box score worth writing home about, but he was shut out of the end zone and harassed by various Philadelphia defensive backs for much of the afternoon. A look at the film shows an increased emphasis on targeting Jones that almost felt forced. The Eagles made it their mission to obligate Ryan to look elsewhere, and he struggled. Continue reading →