Blogging About the "NFL" Through Four Weeks
Hello! Welcome, and thanks so much for being here! I wanted to get some takes off for fun as we are through four weeks of games in the NFL. So, as Dak Prescott says, “HERE WE GOOO!”
ANTHONY RICHARDSON WILL BE FINE!
As a player. I am unsure about his health in week five though. You can check on that yourself later this week. It would be to the Colts’ benefit to have a healthy Anthony Richardson instead of a hobbled one. So far, the Colts are first in yards per play on first downs with 7.1 yards, via NFL Pro. On Sunday, Flacco completed four of his nine passes on first down for 43 total yards, after Richardson completed his only two first-down passes for 32, and 28-yard gains. Richardson’s completions helped increase the Colts’ current top-five season average of 8.6 yards per pass play on first down.
Coming into the season, the obvious strength of the Colts’ offense was their run game. Currently, it ranks second in rushing yards per play on first down, averaging 6.1 yards. At the moment, he is tied with Will Levis for the most interceptions this season (6) and has the lowest completion percentage (50.6%) of qualified passers. According to Ben Baldwin’s EPA/play on rbsdm.com, Richardson ranks 24th (-.030), but QBs like Jalen Hurts (.007), and Kirk Cousins (.011), are not too far. The Colts have the seventh easiest schedule remaining based on Warren Sharp’s strength of schedule rankings. With all of those points being said, if the Colts sit Richardson for a game or two, let him run the offense at 80-100% health, they will be fine!
LEFT HAND UP, WHO ARE WE?
The Commanders! Through four weeks they are off to a 3-1 start, and their rookie quarterback, Jayden Daniels, is playing outstanding football. At the moment, he is first in QB EPA/Play (per rbsdm.com), first in completion percentage, and has only thrown one interception. As the Commanders’ 2024 second-overall pick is climbing up fans' QB rankings, they stand alone at the top of the NFC East.
So far, Daniels has elevated this offense to third in team rushing yards per game (169.3), tied with the Vikings and Lions for the third-most total touchdowns (13), and tied with the Colts and Lions with the fourth-highest yards gained per play of 6.1 yards. Meanwhile, the other side of the ball is not putting up the same success as the offense. In terms of passing defense, they are tied with the Panthers for allowing the fifth most yards per pass play and their QB pressure rate is the sixth lowest in the NFL. When teams run the ball, Washington is placing 6 or fewer defenders in the “box” at the highest rate in the NFL, which can explain why they have allowed the most run plays of 10+ yards. With all of that being said about their defense, head coach Dan Quinn will make his adjustments, regardless, I am excited about the rest of the Commanders’ season.
GOOD QUARTERBACK, BROCK PURDY
Don’t get me wrong, 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have done an incredible job building a roster that can create the type of situation where all their quarterback needs to do is to be an alright quarterback. Brock Purdy has been GREAT for the 49ers. Like Jayden Daniels, Purdy is top 5 in EPA/Play, and his 1,130 passing yards are the second highest amongst qualified passers, all while having the 15th most passing attempts. What is most interesting to me about Purdy’s first four weeks is his increase in deep throw and tight window percentages. Purdy and the 49ers offense are running the third lowest play action rate, so there is plenty of “quarterbacking” happening through four weeks.
Importantly, he’s only thrown two interceptions and has given up 10 sacks. I am not going to be the person who will say Purdy will regress to the mean, so if this can keep up, there is no reason for the 49ers to get back to the Super Bowl.
Thanks so much for being here and reading! It means a lot!
Stats via NFL Pro and rbsdm.com