Offenses have been booming over the years. We have seen an increase in points and yards every single season here in the OGCFM era. We have seen records breaking time and time again. George Pickens would break many receiving records a couple of years ago. Kenny Pickett would throw 6000 passing yards that same season. Jalin Hyatt consistently puts up great numbers every season. Joe Burrow also showed great efficiency in his MVP campaign last season. And keep in mind that while these guys were putting up numbers, many others were doing the same thing. So in this league where scoring is at an all-time high and getting defensive stops has never been harder, those teams and players that struggle offensively basically eliminate themselves from true contention. If you can not score the ball. If you constantly are turning the ball over. You will not go far in this league.
So why are some of these offenses struggling? Well, we have to look at the Quarterback position, right? They get most of the praise when they win, so we have to give them most of the blame when they lose. Especially, when the Quarterbacks are not doing themselves any favors. So what Quarterbacks are really struggling? Let’s talk about it.
Jordan Love: Wow. Jordan Love comes off a season where he helped the Packers do a complete turnaround to sneak into the playoffs. At the beginning of last season, Love struggled before starting to become Rodgers-esque. Unfortunately for Love, the Packers were not willing to pay him. Fortunately for him, the Bucs sent a bag his way. Unfortunately for the Bucs though, Jordan Love looks like Love Jordan. The complete opposite of the player we saw in Green Bay. He has a 6-15 TD-INT ratio. The Bucs sit at 1-4 and the season does not look like it will end well. The Bucs would make a deal in the offseason to get Tyreek Hill, but after a season like this, I’m not so sure he will want to return. Can Jordan Love bounce back like he did toward the end of last season with the Packers? Hopefully so.
K.J. Jefferson: This is insane. K.J. Jefferson would go from MVP in his rookie season to possibly becoming one of the biggest falloffs in NFL History. I am not sure what happened. A change in coaching and he has never looked the same. Did the Raiders make a mistake in not drafting Arch Manning or Malachi Nelson? K.J. Jefferson has a 7-12 TD-INT ratio and has made some very poor decisions this season. There were reports that the Raiders were ready to compete and make the playoffs again, but they start the season at 1-3. It’s hard for me to say that Jefferson will be able to turn this season around because his bad performances have become normal. Will another bad season cause the Raiders to move on from the former MVP?
Carson Beck: Speaking of MVPs, the Lions have been sitting their former MVP (Hendon Hooker) for Beck. And although they don’t expect him to throw the ball too much with their great running game, when forced to pass he has not been great for them. The fact that Hooker has not even gotten a chance makes me question what is truly going on behind the scenes. Beck is only 22 in his second year and I do believe that he can be a great quarterback in the league. However, the Lions are in a tough division that has superstar or future superstar quarterbacks. Sanders. Milroe. Nelson. Beck has not proven that he is on any one of their levels and that is very worrisome.
Anthony Richardson: Coming out of Florida, many knew that Richardson would be a project. Being drafted by the Colts helped Richardson as Jonathan Taylor and the defense kept the pressure off the Quarterback. Many people believed that the Colts were hindering him though. In the playoffs last season, Richardson’s passing alone would carry the Colts to the AFC Championship game. But everyone knew that he would not be in a Colts jersey this season. He would eventually be traded to the Falcons. And man, it has been a disaster. He has thrown only 2 touchdowns with 9 interceptions. He has not had that many interceptions since his rookie season (11). In fact, he had a combined 4 interceptions in the last two seasons. It has been terrible. Atlanta has not been great for quarterbacks recently and it looks like Richardson will be no different.
Lamar Jackson: From the highest-paid Quarterback in the league to being a huge reason the Ravens have not even come close to a playoff birth. He has only 3 touchdowns with 9 interceptions. In the last 3 seasons, he only has one season where he has more touchdowns than interceptions. For some reason, the Ravens have tried to make him a pocket passer and it has not worked. But that is not on the Ravens. There has always been slander around his name. Many claimed that he was not a true quarterback. That he was just a runner. And sadly, he has proved them right. And in the toughest division in the league, the Ravens look like they will have another disappointing season. I believe that this will be the offseason that the Ravens move on from Jackson.
Sam Howell: I never believed in Howell. I continued to say it. I’m not sure why the Commanders did not move up in the draft to take Malachi Nelson. Howell has cost this team so many times. Playoff performances have been horrible. Take Season 3 against the Lions. Or last season against the Rams. The Commanders have a great run game and a pretty good defense, but when your quarterback continues to give the ball away, you will not win football games. The worst part is that the Commanders extended his contract last season, meaning he will be under contract for the next three seasons. Yikes.
Trevor Lawrence: Last but not least, Trevor Lawrence. Coming off an injury-riddled season, Lawrence looked to get back and lead the Jags to the playoffs. And after their first game, he looked really good. However, it has not been pretty since. He has thrown 3 touchdowns with 8 interceptions. I believe that he is not truly 100% as he says, but either way, it is really costing this team. The Jaguars are in a very tough division and need Lawrence to step up quickly. Out of all the Quarterbacks mentioned, I believe that Lawrence has the best chance of turning it around.
It is still early in the season and that means that there is still time for these Quarterbacks to improve. Who knows? One of these Quarterbacks could win MVP. It is an Any Given Sunday type of league, right? I wish all these Quarterbacks the best, but it is up to them. The Quarterback position is the hardest position. But at the end of the day, if you can’t step up, you will not be in this league very long.
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