The 2024-25 NFL season is underway and we can evaluate NFL offenses based on production and talent level.
Last year’s numbers will have an impact – at least to some degree. Yet we will also employ NFL draft selections, free agents that have been added or lost as well as the results of early-season games.
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The Ravens have a ground game that no other team can equal at this point. They have the game’s most destructive running back in Derrick Henry and no quarterback can top Lamar Jackson when he decides to run with the ball.
The Ravens have a dynamic offensive line led by left tackle Ronnie Stanley and center Tyler Linderbaum. The Baltimore blockers excel in short-yardage situations and can open big holes that lead to massive running plays.
The Eagles needed a boost in this area in the offseason, and that’s the primary reason they signed Saquon Barkley away from the division rival Giants. Barkley is an excellent combination of power and speed, and he can also provide a boost when he is involved in the passing game.
Jalen Hurts is not the fastest quarterback in the league, but he has substantial skills when he decides to run with the ball. He is virtually unstoppable in 3rd-and-1 or 4th-and-1 situations.
The change in the coaching staff has done great things for the Commanders in the 2024 season. The team is responding very well to head coach Dan Quinn, and he has taken full advantage of the running skills of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.
He appears to be a top-tier leader with excellent skills, and his running complements that of primary running back Brian Robinson. The Commanders have been able to build a consistent offense, largely because of their elite running attack.
The Lions have moved into the top spot in the NFC during the first half of the regular season, and while much of the credit goes to quarterback Jared Goff because of his accurate passing, the ground game is dynamic.
Head coach Dan Campbell has full confidence in the combination of David Montrgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. Montgomery is a solid running back who is going to make most of his yards between the tackles, while the speedy and dynamic Gibbs has home-run skills.
The Steelers still have an old-school mentality, because they want to punish their opponents with a hard-hitting ground game as well as their nasty defense. Mike Tomlin has the kind of running back in Najee Harris who can hammer away at opponents for 60 minutes.
Harris is at his best when the Steelers have the lead in the fourth quarter. That’s when the pounding reaches a crescendo and opposing defenses are left to lick their wounds.
The Lions may not have the most physically gifted passing game in the league, but when it comes to execution, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has put together an outstanding unit.
The key element is the accuracy of quarterback Jared Goff and his ability to read defenses. He makes excellent decisions with the ball and he can spot the weak spot in the defense. He gets the ball out of his hands quickly and he has developed a great rapport with star wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown.
The Seahawks have excellent talent throughout their lineup and this team should improve as the season progresses if the main participants can stay healthy.
Quarterback Geno Smith has grown into a solid leader who has the arm strength and accuracy to hit big plays consistently. The wide receiver trio of D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba complement each other well and can tear up opposing defenses.
The Chiefs have gone through something of an offensive downturn the past two seasons, but don’t think for a minute that Patrick Mahomes has lost anything. He excels when the game is on the line in the fourth quarter, and he has more creativity at the position than any other quarterback in the NFL.
The Chiefs don’t have the top-level receiving crew that they did in the past and Travis Kelce may not dominate the way he once did, but he will make the plays on third down and when the game has reached its crucial point. Injuries have also hurt the Kansas City offense, but Xavier Worthy and Justin Watson are capable of working well with Mahomes.
The Cowboys need a huge performance from Dak Prescott and the passing game because the rest of the team appears to have slipped. If the defense doesn’t show improvement, it will be up to the offense to carry the load.
Prescott reads defenses well and he has one of the most explosive receivers in the league in CeeDee Lamb. Those two can light up the scoreboard on a regular basis and tight end Jake Ferguson is also a key contributor..
The Bills are tired of coming close to dominating in the AFC but falling short against teams like the Chiefs, Ravens and Bengals. Josh Allen is as physically gifted as any quarterback in the game. He combines arm strength, courage and a willingness to carry the team on his shoulders.
The Bills don’t have a lot of big-name receivers at this point, but Allen doesn’t view that as a problem. He is developing a strong working relationship with wideouts Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir along with versatile tight end Dalton Kincaid.
The Ravens have a lot of options for fantasy football. Of course, it starts with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, and those two heavyweights are likely to be involved in a high percentage of scoring plays. However, tight end Mark Andrews, speedy wideout Zay Flowers and fellow receiver Rashod Bateman and tight end Isaiah Likely are all capable of getting into the endzone and lighting things up for John Harbaugh and fantasy owners.
The Lions have a number of weapons who are going to score on a regular basis. Wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown excels at diagnosing the weakness in the defense and exploiting it. Jameson Williams has game-changing speed and it is clear that quarterback Jared Goff is going to get the ball to both of them. Tight end Sam LaPorta is a key weapon in the red zone. The ground game is also dangerous with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Gibbs is the faster of the two, while Montgomery is extremely versatile.
The Packers have transitioned extremely well to the Jordan Love era. It seems that the Packers knew when to take the football away from Aaron Rodgers and give it to Love. He has a big arm, delivers it to his receivers in rhythm and is quite accurate. He has a group of solid receivers in Jayden Reed, Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs who are all capable of lighting up the scoreboard. Running back Josh Jacobs may not be as explosive as former Packer Aaron Jones, but he is tough to bring down and he is dependable.
The Seahawks are a very tough team to defend because first-year head coach Mike Macdonald has several excellent weapons who can quickly change a game in his team’s favor. The key may be running back Kenneth Walker III. If he breaks loose for a couple of early runs it will make the passing game much more effective. Geno Smith has the arm and know-how at this point in his career, and he has three strong receivers in D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Metcalf and Lockett are known commodities and Smith-Njigba could be ready to join the elite players at the position.
The Eagles have certainly shown they are capable of putting impactful point totals on the board, and Jalen Hurts is a consistent leader who excels at scoring short-yardage touchdowns and delivering on target passes to A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert. Brown and Smith are explosive when they receive the ball and both are difficult to bring down after the catch. The other key factor for the Eagles is running back Saquon Barkley. The former Giant is motivated to put big numbers on the board for a team capable of going deep in the playoffs.`.
There are multiple factors that go into the assessment of NFL offensive units. Obviously, teams with superstar players at the skill positions are going to attract attention in fantasy football drafts and highlight shows. However, over the course of a 17-game regular season and well into the postseason, balanced offenses and those teams that have the best offensive lines are the ones that will be most successful.
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Jackson is one of the best players in the NFL and he is on pace to win his third MVP Award based on his start this season. Previously there were questions about Jackson’s ability to throw the ball from the pocket, but those questions have been answered clearly. He excels in all areas.
In addition to his throwing ability, Jackson remains one of the most dangerous running quarterbacks in the league. The fact that he shares the ground game responsibilities with Derrick Henry gives the Ravens an advantage over nearly every team they will face.
Mahomes is the best quarterback in the NFL.While he no longer is putting up remarkable statistics, he maintains that position because he makes the key plays that allow his team to win in the fourth quarter.
Mahomes has proven himself time after time, and he combines his ability in clutch situations with a remarkable creativity that few quarterbacks have ever been able to match. He has remarkable on-field courage and confidence.
The Vikings know they can go as far as their best offensive player can take them. While it’s folly to say that a wide receiver can get the job done by himself – he needs solid quarterback play and excellent blocking from the offensive line – Jefferson can make plays that other receivers can’t.
He is a spectacular route runner with elite hands and body control. Jefferson’s ability to get both feet inbounds on a challenging reception makes him a game-changing superstar.
A case can be made that Derrick Henry ranks with the best running backs who have ever played the game. He is a remarkably powerful running back at 6-2 and 247 pounds, but that doesn’t come close to telling the full story.
While he can run over linebackers and some defensive linemen, he can also run away from smaller defensive backs. He has remarkable speed for his size, and can break long plays once he gets to the second level.
Prescott is the key to the Cowboys season, and it is especially true in 2024 because their defensive issues have risen to the surface. If the Cowboys are not going to outscore opponents, they are not going to win many games.
Prescott has shown he can handle the pressure of playing quarterback for one of the most visible sports franchises in the world and he can excel due to his arm strength, accuracy and playmaking ability. The pressure on Prescott has never been higher.
There have not been many opponents who have been able to get the best of the Kansas City Chiefs in key situations, but Burrow has been successful in that area. He understands what it takes to win in the NFL, and he clearly has the arm talent and athleticism to come through in the most important games.
However, Burrow has had injury problems that have thrown him off course and the Bengals have regularly had to play catch-up after a slow start to the season.
Lamb is one of those receivers who wants the ball in every crucial situation. He has shown that once he gets started in a game with his first big reception he gets on a major roll. It is difficult for any defensive back – even the best in the game – to slow him down.
Lamb has excellent speed and he can string moves together. He is the receiver that Prescott looks for in key situations. Even if he is double-covered Lamb can make game-changing plays.
The Bengals have a fighting chance in most games because they have a game-changing quarterback in Joe Burrow. He has excellent working relationships with Chase and Tee Higgins. The fact that Burrow can go to either man is vital, but it is Chase who has the ability to impact the game more favorably.
Chase has size, strength and excellent run after the catch skills, and he clearly wants the ball when the game is on the line..
The Lions have risen to the top of the heap in the NFC, and the team is playing with complete confidence at this point. Goff was a solid quarterback when the Lions acquired him from the Los Angeles Rams, but he is a much better leader and signal caller at this point in his career.
His accuracy is his top measurable, but there is much more to his game. He will deliver his best throws when the game is on the line..
The Eagles have been near the top of the NFC for several years, and they have had the kind of offense that could outscore opponents when the game is on the line. Quarterback Jalen Hurts has certainly exceeded expectations, but he has the receivers that can simply take over. A.J. Brown is the team’s best pass catcher.
Brown wants the ball when the game is on the line, and he has proven that he can be at his best in that situation. He is coming off a season in which he caught 106 passes for 1,456 yards with 7 touchdowns.He has exceeded 1,000 receiving yards in 4 of his 5 previous seasons.
The Seattle Seahawks have built a dynamic offense and that is the key to their playoff chances. The Seahawks have three outstanding wide receivers including DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The key to making it all work is the quarterback. Smith has certainly learned hard lessons throughout his NFL career, and now he has the teammates to take full advantage of it.
Smith has the arm strength and the ability to read defenses. As long as he can get the ball away quickly enough, Smith is a game-changing quarterback for the Seahawks.
The 1994 San Francisco 49ers were an unusual team. They had long been serious contenders in the NFL, riding the transition from the Bill Walsh era to George Seifert.
The thought among many experts was that the Niners might be as good or better on defense than they had ever been, but the offense would take a hit. That thought turned out to be ridiculous.
The Niners had turned their offense over to Steve Young, and in his fourth year as the team’s primary quarterback, Young had become one of the greatest quarterbacks in the NFL. The left hander who had replaced Joe Montana was a master at his position.
He completed 324 of 461 passes for 3,969 yards. He led the league with both his 70.3 completion percentage and 35 touchdowns. He also got the job done when he had to run with the ball, gaining 293 yards, averaging 5.1 yards per carry and scoring 7 touchdowns.
However, the Niners’ primary ball carrier was Ricky Watters and he ran for 877 yards and 6 scores. He benefited from the superior blocking of fullback William Floyd, who excelled at opening holes for Watters and keeping pass rushers off of Young.
The ground game was solid, but it was the air attack that was special. Jerry Rice caught 112 passes for 1,499 yards and 13 touchdowns and the Niners also had John Taylor, perhaps the greatest No. 2 wideout the NFL has ever seen. If that wasn’t enough, tight Brent Jones caught 49-670-9.
The Niners led the league in scoring with 505 points, averaging 31.6 points per game, and their offense picked it up further in the postseason. They scored 44 points in the divisional playoff win over the Chicago Bears before defeating the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys 38-28.
They saved their best for last, rolling to a 49-26 triumph over the San Diego Chargers in the Super Bowl. It was a brilliant offensive performance for one of the most explosive teams in NFL history.
The 2007 New England Patriots are one of the most unique teams in NFL history. The Patriots made a run at the 1972 Miami Dolphins, as they were undefeated through 16 regular season games and earned two victories over the Jacksonville Jaguars and San Diego Chargers in the postseason.
They were less than one quarter away from completing their undefeated season when the New York Giants scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and pulled off a 17-14 upset.
Heartbreak for head coach Bill Belichick, quarterback Tom Brady and the rest of the Patriots.
However, it was a brilliant offensive season as the Patriots scored 589 points and averaged 36.8 points per game.
Brady had remarkable numbers, completing 398 of 578 passes for 4,806 yards with 50 touchdown passes and just 8 interceptions. He completed 68.9 percent of his passes.
Randy Moss was brilliant for the Patriots, catching 98 passes for 1,493 yards with an amazing 23 TD catches. Wes Welker was also brilliant, catching 112-1,175-8.
It was one of the greatest offensive performances ever, but the Pats were shocked in the Super Bowl and left with one of the most painful defeats in NFL history.
Much like the 2007 Patriots, the 2013 Denver Broncos fell short in the Super Bowl when they went up against the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl. However, until that game, the Broncos were an offensive machine.
The Broncos rolled to a 13-3 record in winning the AFC West. They also beat the Chargers and the Patriots in order to earn their spot in the Super Bowl. They scored 606 points, averaging a robust 37.9 points per game.
The Broncos were led by veteran quarterback Peyton Manning, who was still a dynamic performer at the age of 37 after coming over from the Indianapolis Colts. Manning completed 450 of 659 passes for 5,477 yards with 55 TDs and 10 interceptions.
The Broncos had one of the greatest receiving crews of all-time. The foursome of Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Wes Welker and tight end Julius Thomas combined for 47 TD receptions, and each of those players caught at least 10 scoring passes.
Bill Walsh’s San Francisco 49ers set a standard for performance in 1984 that has rarely been seen. The Niners went 15-1 in the regular season and rolled to the Super Bowl title. They beat the New York Giants and Chicago Bears in the NFC playoffs before overpowering the Miami Dolphins 38-16 in the Super Bowl.
Joe Montana was on top of his game, completing 279 of 432 passes for 3,630 yards with 28 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions.
Running back Wendell Tyler ran for 1,262 yards with 7 touchdowns while averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Roger Craig added 649 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns while catching 71 passes for 675 yards and 3 more scores.
Freddie Solomon caught 40-737-10 and fellow receiver Dwight Clark caught 52-880-6. The Niners were one of the most versatile and dangerous offensive teams, and they dominated throughout the 1984 season.
The 2011 Green Bay Packers dominated during their 15-1 regular season, but they suffered a monumental upset to the New York Giants in the divisional playoffs. They scored 560 points during their 15-1 regular season and they averaged 35.0 points per game.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was at his best, completing 343 of 502 passes for 4,643 yards with 45 TD passes and 6 interceptions. Rodgers had a remarkable connection with wideout Jordy Nelson, who caught 68-1,253-15. Greg Jennings added 67 receptions for 949 yards and 9 TDs.
Few teams have ever been able to score like the 2011 Packers, but they could not win the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
When it comes to winning in the NFL, most observers certainly focus on quarterback play and the creativity of head coaches and offensive coordinators. While those aspects are clearly quite important, there are other areas that tend to get overlooked.
Offensive line play is quite vital to any team’s overall success. A quarterback who can get away from the pass rush can make big plays on the run, but if the offensive line is not playing consistently, the quarterback will eventually get caught and take hard hits.
A strong left tackle and a sharp center are the main building blocks for the line, and those are the key positions. An offensive line usually needs time to jell, and it can take 2-3 seasons to build a consistent offensive line.
A dominant offensive line is often the key to building a winning running game as well as giving the quarterback time to build a rapport with his receivers.
There are multiple ways to measure NFL offenses. The first is the most obvious and it is by the points scored on an every-week basis. If an offense is moving the ball between the 20s and not reaching the end zone, it is deficient. Points scored is the most important category, and a team’s ability to maintain that consistency inside the red zone is vital and leads to victories.
Offensive teams are also ranked by yards gained. A team that can move the ball consistently, kick field goals and keep the ball away from opponents is also doing the job fairly well. A team can win games in that manner, but not as consistently as one that can find the end zone on an every-week basis.
The final factor is maintaining possession and not turning the ball over. Teams that can protect the ball and win the field position battle can stay in the game. High-risk offenses that turn the ball over in their own territory put their defense in a brutal position. No NFL team can consistently win when it loses the turnover battle and puts the defense in a deep hole.
The most important offensive stats follow in this order:
The Baltimore Ravens have the best running game in the NFL in 2024. They have the best running back in Derrick Henry and also have the best running quarterback in Lamar Jackson. These two options are combined with a sensational offensive line and a head coach in John Harbaugh who wants to establish the run..
The Cleveland Browns have demonstrated the least productive ground game in the NFL.This has largely been a function of poor quarterback play as Deshaun Watson’s lack of accuracy allows opposing defenses to load up against the run. The midseason Achilles injury suffered by Watson coincides with the return of running back Nick Chubb, so there is a chance for that ground game to improve.
The Seattle Seahawks have the top passing game based on yardage gained through the middle of the 2024 season. Quarterback Geno Smith has three game-changing wide receivers in D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and the Seahawks move the ball well through the air..
The Tennessee Titans have struggled to move the ball through the air and have the worst passing game in the NFL. Will Levis has turned the ball over at crucial moments and has delivered very poor play under center.
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