The Biggest Question Remaining for Every NFL Team at Season's Quarter Mark
The first quarter of the 2020 NFL season is now complete. But with 13 weeks to go, the overall picture is just starting to take shape.
That doesn't mean everything has come into focus, though.
While we're beginning to get an idea of which teams are contenders—six remain undefeated—and which are not, there's a lot of football left to be played. Questions remain about each team, regardless of where they sit in the standings at the moment.
Here, we'll examine the biggest question looming over each franchise and what it means moving forward.
Arizona Cardinals: Are Turnovers Going to Be an Issue for Murray?
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After starting out 2-0, the Arizona Cardinals have dropped each of their last two games. Turnovers from quarterback Kyler Murray have been part of the issue, as he tossed three interceptions in Week 3 and lost a fumble in Week 4.
Murray now has six turnovers in four games.
Arizona needs to figure out whether this is going to be a constant problem with Murray, and if so, how to address it. A surge in turnovers sunk Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield in his second season, and it could do the same to Murray.
While Arizona otherwise appears to have improved, it won't push for the playoffs if Murray turns the ball over multiple times per game. The Cardinals should find out just how much responsibility lies with Murray against bad New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys defenses in the next two weeks.
Atlanta Falcons: Is It Time to Blow Everything Up?
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After another embarrassing loss on Monday night, the Atlanta Falcons have fallen to 0-4 and appear to be going nowhere in 2020.
"Knowing where we are at, it's certainly not the start that any of us envisioned or wanted," head coach Dan Quinn said, per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Atlanta should be 2-2 right now instead of winless, but two blown double-digit fourth-quarter leads changed the course of the season. If the Falcons fall to the Carolina Panthers in Week 5, they can essentially be written out of the NFC South race.
The burning question is whether Atlanta is headed toward a full-on rebuild. It's hard to imagine head coach Dan Quinn sticking around for another season if the team stays on this trajectory. It's fair to wonder if 35-year-old quarterback Matt Ryan and 31-year-old wideout Julio Jones could also be on the way out.
If the Falcons don't start picking up some wins, it soon might be time to blow things up and start over.
Baltimore Ravens: Is the Offense Capable of Playing from Behind?
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The Baltimore Ravens offense looked virtually unstoppable in the team's three wins this season. But it looked hapless in the Week 3 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, which is not an aberration.
Baltimore fell to 0-5 with Lamar Jackson at quarterback in games in which it has trailed by at least 10 points. Jackson's inability to mount comebacks is a legitimate concern.
"A scout told me last week that he still wasn't all-in on Lamar Jackson because he thinks that Lamar is a great quarterback when they're front-runners," Dan Patrick said in Monday's edition of the Dan Patrick Show. "... He wants to see him be down 10 points, two touchdowns and come back and win those games."
The Ravens cannot get an answer to this question until they're down by double-digits again. If they don't get the opportunity to mount a comeback before the end of the regular season, they could have serious confidence issues should they get down big in the playoffs.
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Buffalo Bills: How Long Can Josh Allen Keep This Up?
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has been on a tear to start the 2020 season. He's passed for 1,326 yards with 12 touchdowns and only one interception. He's also rushed for 83 yards and three more scores, is an early MVP candidate and has Buffalo sitting at 4-0.
The question is whether Allen can keep up this level of play or if he's due to regress. He's completing 70.9 percent of his passes after failing to reach 59 percent in either of his first two seasons.
If the first month of the season wasn't a mirage and Allen will be this type of quarterback moving forward, it'll be time to consider Buffalo a legitimate title contender.
The Bills soon should get an answer on whether this version of Allen is here to stay, as tough games against the undefeated Tennessee Titans and Kansas City Chiefs are looming.
Carolina Panthers: Can the Defense Continue Making Strides?
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The Carolina Panthers have won two games in a row and have gotten back into the NFC South race thanks in large part to their new-look defense. The Panthers allowed only 16 points in their Week 3 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, and they gave up 21 points and fewer than 300 yards in last week's victory over Arizona.
If the Panthers continue to make strides on that side of the ball, they could stay relevant in the division and be a potential playoff team.
Offensive coordinator Joe Brady, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and the rest of the Carolina offense has proved to be surprisingly effective. Carolina has topped 300 yards in every game this season and has reached 21 points in three out of four contests.
The Panthers should find out where their defense stands in Week 5 against the Falcons and their high-powered passing attack.
Chicago Bears: Is the Head Coach a Bigger Problem Than the Quarterback?
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Last season, quarterback Mitchell Trubisky struggled with accuracy and consistency as the Chicago Bears stumbled to an 8-8 record. After nearly three weeks of more subpar play this year, head coach Matt Nagy decided to make a quarterback change.
Nick Foles took over for Trubisky in Week 3 and led a comeback against the meltdown-prone Falcons. But on Sunday, he threw for 249 yards with a touchdown and an interception as the Bears mustered a mere 11 points against the Indianapolis Colts.
Chicago will presumably stick with Foles for the immediate future, but it's fair to wonder whether quarterback play is the biggest issue with Chicago's offense. The biggest constant over the last few seasons has been Nagy as the decision-maker and the play-caller.
If Foles continues to yield the same results as Trubisky, it might be time for the Bears to start considering whether a change at head coach would be more beneficial than another switch under center.
Cincinnati Bengals: Can They Protect Joe Burrow?
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Cincinnati Bengals rookie quarterback Joe Burrow has looked the part of a future NFL star through the first month of the season. The LSU product has thrown for 1,121 yards with six touchdowns and only two interceptions, and he has rushed for 75 yards and another score.
Unfortunately, Burrow has also been sacked 15 times in four games. That puts him on pace to take 60 sacks in his rookie campaign.
While the Bengals surrendered only one sack against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 4, there are legitimate concerns about their ability to protect their new franchise quarterback. The last thing the Bengals can afford is repeated punishment forcing Burrow into early retirement, a la Andrew Luck.
Burrow's protection will be tested in Week 5 against a Ravens defense that has averaged three sacks in games against quarterbacks not named Patrick Mahomes.
Cleveland Browns: Can Baker Mayfield Deliver a Win If He Has To?
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The Cleveland Browns are a surprising 3-1 after rumbling for more than 300 rushing yards against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4. Their league-best ground attack (204.5 yards per game) has helped them rattle off three wins in a row and has allowed quarterback Baker Mayfield to be an efficient game-manager instead of the offensive centerpiece.
Since falling into pass mode in Week 1 against Baltimore, Mayfield has completed 67.1 percent of his passes for 540 yards with six touchdowns and one interception. Against the Ravens, however, he completed only 53.8 percent of his passes for 189 yards with a touchdown, an interception and a lowly passer rating of 65.0.
That begs the question of whether the Browns count on Mayfield to deliver a win when the running game isn't working or isn't an option.
Based on what we saw from the Oklahoma product last year and in Week 1, the answer would appear to be "no." However, as Mayfield continues to gain confidence in Kevin Stefanski's offense, he might return to the form we saw from him as a rookie.
Mayfield might be forced to prove himself this week against the Indianapolis Colts' fourth-ranked run defense.
Dallas Cowboys: Can They Find Some Semblance of a Defense?
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The Cowboys sit at 1-3 and rank last in scoring defense at 36.5 points allowed per game. They're one onside kick away from being 0-4 and one of the laughingstocks of the NFL, but head coach Mike McCarthy insists it isn't due to a lack of effort.
"We don't have an effort issue," McCarthy said, per Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Star-Telegram. "If we had an effort issue, that game would have been over in the middle of the third quarter."
If it isn't an effort issue, then the Cowboys are facing a lack of defensive talent, which is a major problem. Teams can become more motivated, but they're rarely going to get a significant talent jump in-season. And if the Cowboys cannot improve their defense, they're going nowhere this year.
Despite averaging 31.5 points per game, the Cowboys probably should be 0-4. They're in the position where even an occasional offensive misstep might cost them games.
At least Dallas will get a chance to rebound this week against the struggling New York Giants.
Denver Broncos: Are They Still All-In on Drew Lock?
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Denver Broncos second-year quarterback Drew Lock suffered a shoulder injury in Week 2 and has missed the last two games. He's "50-50" to start in Week 5, according to Ryan O'Halloran of the Denver Post. Sitting at 1-3 and coming off a win with Brett Rypien under center, the Broncos have little reason to rush Lock back prematurely.
The question moving forward is whether Denver should remain committed to Lock as the long-term starter or consider targeting a prospect like Trevor Lawrence or Trey Lance. The Broncos need to see what they have in Lock, but with injuries to players like Courtland Sutton and Phillip Lindsay, they won't get an ideal snapshot.
If the losses continue to mount for Denver, the franchise will be in a tough position. Will it try to rebound and get some wins, or will it go into tank mode and target a new quarterback prospect, essentially giving up on Lock in the process?
We'll likely find out in the next few weeks where this team is headed in 2020, as the Broncos play the New England Patriots this week and the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7.
Detroit Lions: How Long Will They Stick with Matt Patricia?
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When the Detroit Lions hired Matt Patricia as head coach in February 2018, the thought was that the Super Bowl-winning defensive play-caller would build a championship-caliber defense in Detroit. Not only has that not happened, but the Lions' defense has been a joke for most of his tenure.
This season, Detroit ranks 29th in points allowed. It has blown 11 fourth-quarter leads under Patricia and now sits at 1-3 on the season. The Lions have blown five straight double-digit leads, according to ESPN's Michael Rothstein, which is an NFL record.
Patricia is now 10-25-1 in Detroit. According to him, the Lions are still in the rebuilding process.
"When I came to Detroit, there was a lot of work to do," he told reporters. "That's what I'm trying to do."
However, the Lions were 9-7 in each of the two seasons before they hired Patricia. If anything, he's made more work for them, and it's fair to wonder when they'll decide to continue the building process without him.
Green Bay Packers: How Big of a Liability Is the Run Defense?
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Offensively, the Green Bay Packers are leaving little to be desired. Despite dealing with injuries to receivers Davante Adams and Allen Lazard, they rank fourth in rushing, fourth in passing, second in total yards and first in scoring.
In short, this might be a better offense than the Packers had while going 13-3 a year ago.
Green Bay hasn't been bad defensively, either, ranking 12th in yards and 18th in points allowed. The one concerns with this team right now is its run defense, as the Packers rank ninth against the run but 23rd in yards per carry allowed (4.8).
While the Packers run defense hasn't been heavily tested yet—opposing teams have attempted only 22 rushes per game—it could potentially be a liability against run-heavy teams with the patience to stick with the ground game. Fans who watched the Packers get dominated by the San Francisco 49ers twice in 2019 could be particularly concerned with this potential problem.
A Week 9 matchup with the Niners could go a long way toward assuaging those concerns.
Houston Texans: Is a Full Rebuild on the Horizon?
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After winning the AFC South in 2019, the Houston Texans became the first team to make a coaching change in 2020. They fired head coach and general manager Bill O'Brien on Monday after an 0-4 start and are set to go with Romeo Crennel as the interim head coach.
The Texans now have to figure out if the 2020 season is salvageable or if more dramatic changes should be on the horizon. While it's certainly fair to blame O'Brien the head coach for the team's struggles, O'Brien's roster-building approach has also been an issue.
Dating back to last year, O'Brien has traded away Jadeveon Clowney and DeAndre Hopkins, paid heavily for offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and acquired running back David Johnson, wideout Brandin Cooks and receiver Randall Cobb. These moves have created a roster that ranks 29th in scoring and 27th in points allowed.
Houston has its centerpiece in place with franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson, but it might have to blow the rest of the roster up following the 2020 season.
Indianapolis Colts: Is There Enough Pass-Catching Power on the Roster?
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The Indianapolis Colts have won three games in a row, thanks in large part to a strong running game and some efficient play from quarterback Philip Rivers. However, they do not have a potent passing attack—it ranks 18th in yardage—which could be a major issue if the Colts find themselves having to mount a significant comeback later in the season.
One of the biggest issues with the passing game is the lack of reliable wide receivers. T.Y. Hilton has struggled—he has only 13 catches and 162 yards on 22 targets—which leaves the team without any semblance of a legitimate No. 1 receiver.
Rookie wideout Michael Pittman Jr. recently joined second-year receiver Parris Campbell on injured reserve.
While the Colts have an elite receiving back in Nyheim Hines and quality tight ends in Jack Doyle and Mo Alie-Cox, they could struggle to win games where they have to score in a hurry. They'll be tested in Week 5, as attacking the Browns and their fifth-ranked run defense will be best accomplished through the passing game.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Is Tanking Inevitable?
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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew II said before the season that tanking wasn't on the table.
"I know if we're tanking, coach Marrone, Dave Caldwell and [I] are probably going to be out of jobs," Minshew told reporters. So I know us three and a lot of those other guys in the locker room are not going to let that crap happen."
It briefly looked like Minshew and the Jaguars would be competitive, too. They upset the Colts in Week 1 and nearly upset the Tennessee Titans in Week 2. However, the Miami Dolphins and the Bengals have blown them out in consecutive weeks, which begs the question of whether the organization stripped away enough talent to make tanking inevitable.
The Jaguars released or traded Calais Campbell, Yannick Ngakoue, Ronnie Harrison, A.J. Bouye and Leonard Fournette over the summer. While the players who remain are playing hard for now, Jacksonville may not have enough talent to string together more than a few wins this season.
If that's the case and the players know tanking is inevitable, the players eventually may stop putting forth their best effort on the field.
Kansas City Chiefs: Will the Run Defense Prove Costly?
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Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs offense has been virtually unstoppable this season. At some point, though, an opponent might be able to slow it by keeping it off the field.
The Los Angeles Chargers nearly accomplished that feat in Week 2 by racking up nearly 40 minutes of possession time and keeping Mahomes out of a rhythm. The New England Patriots also played keep-away for most of the first half in their loss Monday night before falling apart late.
The Chiefs have gotten out to an early lead often enough that this hasn't been a significant issue. However, Kansas City's run defense is looming as a possible liability. The Chiefs rank 28th in rushing yards allowed and have given up 5.3 yards per carry, second-most in the NFL.
Kansas City did tighten up its run defense during the postseason last year after ranking 26th in the regular season. However, there's no guarantee that it will be able to do so for a second consecutive year.
Las Vegas Raiders: Is There Enough Defense to Spark a Playoff Run?
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As is the case with the Chiefs, run defense has been a liability for the Las Vegas Raiders. Unfortunately, so has pass defense, overall defense and the pass rush.
Las Vegas ranks 25th against the run, 24th in scoring defense, has only two interceptions on the year and has produced a mere four sacks. Unsurprisingly, the Raiders have also lost two in a row and could be in trouble as it relates to the playoff race.
While Las Vegas' new-look offense has been effective—it ranks 10th in scoring—its defense is a massive problem. For one, the Raiders have to compete with the potent Chiefs offense twice this season, including in Week 5. The Raiders also have games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Browns within the next few weeks.
If the Raiders cannot improve their defense, they could go from a respectable 2-2 record to 2-7 in a hurry. Getting into the postseason from that point would be a monumental challenge.
Los Angeles Chargers: Is This Already Justin Herbert's Team?
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Rookie quarterback Justin Herbert has played well during his three-game stretch as the Los Angeles Chargers' starter. He has thrown for 931 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions while completing 72.0 percent of his passes, good for a 102.2 passer rating.
However, the Chargers "are adamant" that Tyrod Taylor will take back over as the starter when he's healthy enough to return, according to CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora.
Before switching back to Taylor, the Chargers need to seriously consider whether this is already Herbert's team as far as his teammates are concerned. While no player wants to see a teammate lose his job due to an injury, they also want a lineup that gives their team the best chance to win.
Herbert has done nothing to suggest that he isn't Los Angeles' best option. If the Chargers return to Taylor, they could risk alienating a segment of their roster.
The Chargers are also sitting at 1-3 and are quickly falling far behind in the AFC playoff race. They could be looking at a lost season within the next few weeks, at which point it would make sense to get an extended look at Herbert anyway.
Los Angeles Rams: Is This Running Game for Real?
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When the Los Angeles Rams parted ways with Todd Gurley in the offseason, it left them with the challenge of rebuilding their running game virtually from scratch. No back on the roster had been a long-term starter before, and many assumed rookie second-round pick Cam Akers would be the next go-to guy.
Instead, it's been second-year man Darrell Henderson and longtime backup Malcolm Brown leading the charge, and running hasn't been an issue for Los Angeles. The Rams rank seventh in rushing, while Henderson and Brown are averaging 5.2 and 4.0 yards per carry, respectively.
The question is whether this running success is a mirage or the real deal. L.A. should find out soon enough as it faces the stout defensive fronts of the Washington Football Team and the San Francisco 49ers in back-to-back weeks.
If the Rams rushing attack is indeed legit, this team will likely return to the playoffs after missing out in 2019.
Miami Dolphins: When Will They Make a Quarterback Switch?
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The Miami Dolphins always planned to ride veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick early in the 2020 season. The Dolphins will again go with Fitzpatrick in Week 5 despite their 1-3 start to the season, and rookie Tua Tagovailoa's 2019 hip injury "remains a factor" in that decision, according to ESPN's Cameron Wolfe.
However, Miami must be wondering when it will be time to see what it has in Tagovailoa.
While Fitzpatrick hasn't been awful, he isn't taking the Dolphins to the playoffs this season. The question is whether Miami should allow Tagovailoa to sit for his entire rookie year or find a soft spot in the schedule during which to insert him.
One spot to consider is Week 10. The Dolphins host the lowly New York Jets that week, then have their bye, then have another date with the Jets and then a home game against the Bengals.
If the Alabama product isn't in the starting lineup by the bye, there's a good chance that fans won't see him until 2021. And if that's what Miami views as the prudent course of action, that's fair.
Minnesota Vikings: Can This Defense Rebound Before the Season Is Lost?
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The Minnesota Vikings may have just saved their season with a Week 4 win over the Houston Texans. However, the Vikings trail both the Packers and the Bears in the NFC North, and they aren't going to be relevant if they cannot start stringing together some victories.
To do so, Minnesota needs to get improved play out of its defense. The Vikings currently rank 24th against the run, 29th against the pass, 29th overall and 26th in points allowed.
Kirk Cousins, rookie wideout Justin Jefferson and the rest of the Minnesota offense has shown growth in the last few weeks. However, it isn't going to fully offset a defense that has more closely resembled a pool skimmer than the Purple People Eaters during the first month of the season.
If Minnesota doesn't make a dramatic defensive turnaround against the Seattle Seahawks and the Falcons over the next two weeks, it could be sitting at 1-5 heading into its Week 7 bye.
New England Patriots: Is Cam Newton More Than a 1-Year Experiment?
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If we've learned anything about the New England Patriots over the first month of the season, it's that they look like a playoff team with Cam Newton under center and an also-ran without him. The Patriots mustered only 10 points against the Chiefs with the combination of Brian Hoyer and Jarrett Stidham under center.
There's a chance that Newton will return from the reserve/COVID-19 list soon. According to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, New England is holding out hope that he'll be back for Week 5.
The question moving forward is whether Newton can be New England's quarterback for more than just this season. He's shown plenty of glimpses of the Pro Bowl version of himself, but he's also playing on a one-year deal, which means that New England has a tough decision looming at the end of the season.
Newton didn't get the opportunity to prove himself against the Chiefs, but he should have opportunities against the Bills and the San Francisco 49ers in Weeks 7 and 8. If he performs well there, the Patriots might have to start considering making a long-term investment in him.
New Orleans Saints: Can They Improve Their Scoring Defense?
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Even with No. 1 receiver Michael Thomas sidelined for the past three weeks, the New Orleans Saints rank fifth in scoring offense through the first month. The ability of Drew Brees and Co. to score points shouldn't be a question moving forward.
The question is whether the Saints can get enough defense to outlast some of the better teams the NFC has to offer. New Orleans sits at 2-2 because of a defense that ranks sixth overall but 25th in points allowed.
That defense cost the Saints a quality win over the Packers by allowing Green Bay to come from behind and win late. That game should be proof enough that the Saints cannot expect to simply win a track meet against quality opponents.
Unfortunately, New Orleans' defense won't get another opportunity to test itself against a top-tier offense until it visits the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 9. If the Saints can hold off Tom Brady and the Bucs for a second time, they should have confidence in their defense that they can carry into the postseason.
New York Giants: Have They Seen Enough of Daniel Jones?
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New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones has only 16 career starts under his belt. While one season isn't long enough to fairly judge a young quarterback, the Giants have to ask themselves whether they've seen enough to decide on his future.
Sitting at 0-4 with the league's most anemic scoring offense, the Giants could end up with one of the top picks in the 2021 draft. That would give them a shot at Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields or Trey Lance, but they'd have to treat Jones like the Cardinals treated 2018 No. 10 overall pick Josh Rosen and move on.
Jones has a ton of physical upside, but he seems to have regressed in 2020. He's tossed five interceptions to go with two touchdowns and has a lowly passer rating of 68.3.
Jones also doesn't seem to have fixed his fumbling issue, as he has three in four games (two lost). He had 18 fumbles (11 lost) in 2019.
The Giants must spend the next 12 games determining whether Jones is worth keeping or if they should go after another quarterback in April.
New York Jets: Is There Any Reason to Keep Adam Gase?
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The New York Jets are 0-4, they're averaging 16.3 points per game and they just surrendered 37 points at home to a third-string quarterback. To make matters worse, quarterback Sam Darnold has not developed into a reliable signal-caller.
It's clear that the Jets are going nowhere this season with Adam Gase as their head coach. Therefore, it's fair to wonder why they're keeping him in the position.
The short answer is that the Jets may not feel as though they have an adequate interim option in-house. However, getting rid of Gase might give the Jets their best opportunity to evaluate Darnold and the rest of the roster over the final 12 weeks.
The deeper answer is that the Jets may fear that by replacing Gase with, say, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, they may stumble into too many wins to get a crack at a top quarterback in next year's draft.
Philadelphia Eagles: What's Wrong with Carson Wentz?
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The Philadelphia Eagles finally got into the win column in Week 4 with an upset victory over the 49ers. Thanks to that and their Week 3 tie with the Bengals, the Eagles are somehow in first place in the NFC East.
That's a promising development after a rocky first few weeks, but it doesn't ease concerns about quarterback Carson Wentz. He looks nothing like the MVP candidate he was three short seasons ago.
"I have a very hard time even coming up with something that seems like a good explanation for what’s happening with him," former Eagles executive Joe Banner told Paul Domowitch of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
While Wentz played well enough to win in Week 4, he threw yet another interception. He now has a league-high seven interceptions on the season to go with only four touchdown passes and a rating of 66.9.
If he cannot turn things around in a hurry, the Eagles are going to be in trouble. Philadelphia's next two games are against the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers and the 3-1 Ravens.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Will Ben Roethlisberger Last the Season?
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Will 38-year-old quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and his surgically repaired throwing elbow last 13 straight weeks at or near 100 percent? That's the biggest question facing the Steelers now that an impromptu scheduling change moved their bye week to Week 4.
Roethlisberger has played extremely well to this point, throwing for 777 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception. His play has had a clear impact on the offense too, as the Steelers rank 12th in scoring after ranking 27th a year ago.
If Roethlisberger regresses, starts showing his age or gets injured again, Pittsburgh could be in trouble.
The Steelers did not significantly improve their quarterback depth in the offseason, adding former backup Joshua Dobbs to one of last year's starters, Mason Rudolph. Big Ben's ability to stay on the field is arguably this team's biggest X-factor from here on out.
San Francisco 49ers: Is There Enough Depth to Get to the Postseason?
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Injuries have been a theme across the NFL in 2020, and no team has been decimated by key injuries more than the San Francisco 49ers.
The Niners have already lost Solomon Thomas and Nick Bosa for the season. Richard Sherman is on injured reserve. They've played games without Jimmy Garoppolo, George Kittle, Raheem Mostert and Deebo Samuel.
The 49ers' depth has been tested, and it will continue to be tested for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, San Francisco might not have enough depth to spark a deep playoff run.
San Francisco has already fallen behind in the NFC West at 2-2, and it has a brutal upcoming schedule. The 49ers host the Dolphins this week then face the Rams, Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Packers, Saints, Rams and Bills in succession. That would be a tough road even if San Francisco was at 100 percent.
The 49ers should find out in the next few weeks if they have enough depth to be relevant in the NFC this season or if injuries plus a Super Bowl hangover will be too much to overcome.
Seattle Seahawks: How Big of a Liability Is That Pass Defense?
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The Seahawks could be one of the top teams in the NFC this season. They have an early MVP candidate in quarterback Russell Wilson and an offense that ranks third in yardage and second in points scored.
However, Seattle also has a defense that has allowed an average of 401 passing yards, the most in the NFL. That's a potentially serious problem if Seattle doesn't score 35 points every single week.
While poor pass defense hasn't yet resulted in a loss, it could cost the Seahawks down the stretch. They face some quality quarterbacks in the next few weeks, like Kirk Cousins in Week 5, Kyler Murray in Week 7 and Josh Allen in Week 9.
More importantly, poor pass defense could be a fatal flaw in the postseason. While Wilson rarely has bad days, a few slip-ups from him could derail the Seahawks in a playoff shootout.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: How Much Better Can the Offense Get?
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After a few rocky weeks to start the season, quarterback Tom Brady is finally starting to settle in with head coach Bruce Arians and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense. He's posted a passer rating of at least 115 in each of his past two games and has thrown eight touchdowns with one interception during that span.
The Buccaneers now have to wonder whether the last two games were a fluke, the ceiling for Brady or a sign of better things to come. If Brady and pass-catchers like Mike Evans and Scotty Miller can continue building chemistry, Tampa might become one of the most potent teams in the NFC.
If they experience more growing pains, though, the Bucs could be in trouble. It won't help that starting tight end O.J. Howard is now out for the year with a ruptured Achilles.
Tampa will be tested against a stout Chicago defense in Week 5 and the Packers in Week 6.
Tennessee Titans: Could the Run Defense Doom Them?
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The Tennessee Titans made it to the AFC title game in 2019 thanks in large part to their running game. Tennessee pounded opponents with Derrick Henry, limiting pressure on quarterback Ryan Tannehill and keeping opposing offenses off the field.
While Tennessee is 3-0 to start this season, it is in danger of having opponents use this run-heavy strategy against it.
The Titans have not been good against the run. They've allowed an average of 166 rushing yards, fourth-most in the NFL. No team has allowed more than the 5.8 yards per carry allowed by Tennessee.
The Titans should get a good glimpse of how much of a liability their run defense could be in Week 5 when they host the Bills and dual-threat quarterback Josh Allen. They also face strong running teams—and potential AFC playoff rivals—such as the Colts, Browns and Ravens in the second half of the season.
Washington Football Team: How Long of a Leash Does Dwayne Haskins Have?
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After quarterback Dwayne Haskins crumbled against the Browns in Week 3, head coach Ron Rivera questioned whether it was fair for the Washington Football Team to continue putting up with his poor play.
"There were a lot of guys that put their heart out on the field, and truthfully, they deserve better," Rivera told reporters.
Haskins responded in Week 4, completing over 71 percent of his passes and racking up 314 passing yards in a losing effort. However, he didn't throw a touchdown and produced only 17 points. That won't get it done against a potent team like Baltimore.
The question now becomes how long of a leash is Rivera willing to give Haskins. The Football Team is 1-3 and still a factor in the downtrodden NFC East. However, Washington cannot afford to exchange wins for signs of growth if it hopes to be relevant in the division.
Washington has to decide whether its priority is to be relevant or to get one last lengthy look at Haskins before potentially pursuing another signal-caller in the draft. If relevance is on the table, then it could only be a matter of time before Washington makes a quarterback change in-season.
Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference.
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