We’re five weeks into the season and already some players and teams have some serious issues after dreadful starts to the 2018 campaign.
Let’s break ’em down.
1. The Atlanta Falcons
So, yeah. What in the world as happened to Matt Ryan and the Falcons? A year ago they beat the Rams in a road playoff game and almost took down the Eagles in the divisional round. Now they’re 1-4 and their season is basically over in the beginning of October. Yikes. Their defense is a big reason for their struggles this year as they’ve given up 37 or more points in each of the past three game, which is not good at all.
2. Too many kickers looking like college kickers
(Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
Why are professional kickers suddenly looking like the kids who play on Saturdays, you know, the ones who can’t be depended upon to hit even the easiest of kicks? Veteran Mason Crosby was the latest kicker to have an absolutely brutal day as he missed four field goals and an extra point in Green Bay’s loss to the Lions on Sunday. The Vikings and Browns (who won Sunday courtesy of one of the ugliest field goals that you’ll ever) have already ditched the kickers they started the season with, which says a lot about the state of kickers this early in the season.
3. Roughing the passer calls
A new rule designed to protect quarterbacks has led to a number of embarrassing calls by refs this season and has infuriated both players and coaches. Clay Matthews called the league “soft” after being the victim of two brutal calls in back-to-back weeks and J.J. Watt yesterday wondered what his brother, T.J. Watt, did to deserve such a call in the Steelers win over the Falcons in Week 5. Hopefully this gets cleared up as the season progresses, because right now it’s awful.
4. The entire NFC East
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