The Saints are absolutely crushing it with one of the hottest offensive starts in NFL history! J.K. Dobbins is tearing up the field, sitting pretty at the top of the rushing charts. Meanwhile, the Chargers are flexing their defensive muscles, boasting the league’s best scoring defense. The Vikings? They’re not playing around either, leading the NFL in sacks. And let’s not forget the Commanders—they’re tied for the top spot in the NFC East!
But let’s face it, the beginning of the season always brings some wild surprises. So, how do we figure out if these hot starts are the real deal or just a flash in the pan? Are they just benefiting from a few easy matchups or a small sample size? To get to the bottom of this, we need to dig into what’s really driving these crazy performances. Here are seven big shifts fueling these early successes in the NFL. Spoiler alert: most of it comes down to some serious changes in strategy and game plans!
NFL Teams Making Moves in 2024
1. New Orleans Saints (Motion/Play Action)
The New Orleans Saints have exploded offensively, racking up 91 points in just two games—tying for the fourth-most in NFL history. Quarterback Derek Carr has led the charge, scoring on each of his first 15 drives this season, a remarkable turnaround from their lackluster 2023 campaign.
Key to their success has been a significant uptick in both motion (up 38 percent) and play-action usage (up 11 percent), the highest increases in the league. This strategy has proven effective: the Saints average 7.9 yards per play with motion and 4.5 without. They average 12.5 yards per attempt when utilizing play action compared to 9.4 without it.
Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has adapted Kyle Shanahan’s innovative schemes, leading to explosive plays. Notably, two identical plays executed in Dallas showed the Saints’ use of motion, play action, and max protection to create big gains downfield.
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2. Los Angeles Chargers (Rushing)
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh has instilled a sense of physicality and intensity, and it’s showing early in the season. The Chargers boast the second-best rushing offense and the top-scoring defense in the NFL. By revamping their personnel, they have doubled their rushing total from last year—the largest increase in the league.
This season, the Chargers employ two or more running backs on 37 percent of their plays, a drastic change from just one play with two running backs last season. A standout player has been Scott Matlock, a converted defensive tackle who now plays fullback. The Chargers have run the ball on 40 of Matlock’s 45 offensive snaps, showing their unconventional yet effective strategy.
Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman previously thrived on a heavy run game in San Francisco, and they’re applying the same principles here. While this approach may not excite Justin Herbert’s fantasy owners—he has matched his career total for games under 150 passing yards already—it’s proving effective.
3. Seattle Seahawks (11 Personnel)
The Seattle Seahawks are getting creative in their 2-0 start by spreading the field and maximizing their offensive weapons around quarterback Geno Smith. Week 2 marked a historic achievement for the Seahawks, with both D.K. Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba surpassing 100 receiving yards—an NFL first for the franchise.
Under former offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, the Seahawks ranked 17th in using 11 personnel (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR). This year, they’ve jumped to seventh, facilitating a notable increase in Smith-Njigba’s playing time from 64 percent to 82 percent. With all three receivers on the field, the Seahawks average 6.7 yards per play, compared to just 3.7 when any one of them is absent.
With former Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald now at the helm, the Seahawks’ defense has improved significantly, positioning them as serious contenders in the NFC West.
4. Minnesota Vikings (Blitz)
The Minnesota Vikings have made an impressive start, leading the NFL with 11 sacks—more than any team in franchise history through two games. Contrary to expectations, their blitz rate has dropped from 50 percent last season to 33 percent this year, resulting in a more effective pass defense.
Last year, the Vikings struggled when blitzing, allowing an average of 8.0 yards per attempt. This season, they’ve excelled, showing the fourth-best natural pressure rate without the blitz, thanks to new additions like Dallas Turner and Jonathan Greenard.
With the right adjustments, including the addition of quarterback Sam Darnold, the Vikings’ defensive strategy could solidify their 2-0 start.
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5. Pittsburgh Steelers (Natural Pressure)
The Pittsburgh Steelers have joined an exclusive club, starting 2-0 despite scoring only one offensive touchdown, a feat achieved by just two other teams in Super Bowl history. Their success comes from a defense that has dialed back the blitz while still generating significant pressure, ranking in the top five for pressure rate and bottom five in blitz rate.
This strategy allows them to create pressure on opposing quarterbacks while maintaining strong coverage. Their ability to thread the needle sets them apart as they continue their strong start.
6. New York Jets (Offensive Line)
The New York Jets underwent a significant offensive line overhaul this offseason, adding starters like Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses. The results have been promising; entering Week 3, they’ve recorded the lowest pressure rate in the NFL at 20 percent, a significant drop from last season.
As 40-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers recovers from a torn Achilles, the Jets’ revamped line has become crucial for protection. While Rodgers is getting rid of the ball quickly, the line’s improvement—ranking 13th in pass block win rate—has been substantial, shifting from 30th last year.
7. Washington Commanders (No Huddle)
Under coach Kliff Kingsbury, the Washington Commanders have embraced a rapid-fire, no-huddle offense, executing 63 no-huddle plays this season—30 more than any other team. This aggressive approach has led them to fourth in the league in expected points added (EPA) per play, showing immediate results.
Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has stood out, becoming the only player in NFL history to achieve a completion rate of at least 75 percent, over 100 rushing yards, and no interceptions within his first two games. However, history reminds us that similar schemes have produced mediocre results elsewhere, so it remains to be seen if the Commanders can sustain this level of performance.
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