In 2013, the San Francisco 49ers and Balitmore Ravens performed within the Tremendous Bowl. A decade later it appears we might be hurtling in the direction of the identical end result. With 15 weeks of the common season within the books there are solely two groups who’re taking part in to their potential and actually look like they need to win on a constant foundation — and the massive query is “why?”
There are a lot of actually nice groups within the league this season. You possibly can lump as many as eight totally different organizations within the NFL’s higher echelon with the Cowboys, Eagles, Payments, Chiefs, Lions and Dolphins all having the ability to declare themselves as elite abilities this yr. Nonetheless, solely San Francisco and Baltimore can say they’ve a resume that backs up being the most effective workforce within the league, with none bizarre blemishes to indicate for it.
What makes these two groups totally different? Why is the sphere struggling? Are we actually hurtling in the direction of a Tremendous Bowl XLVII rematch?
The San Francisco 49ers
Key stats:
- 1st within the NFL in passing offense
- third within the NFL in speeding offense
- 1st within the NFL in passing protection
Kyle Shanahan hasn’t simply cracked the code of the trendy NFL, he wrote it. His signature West Coast offense variant has confirmed to be unimaginable to cease within the passing sport, and with Brock Purdy beneath heart he has the good system quarterback to be an extension of his teaching on the sphere.
This various assault punctuates the standard quick-read, rhythm passing of a WCO with deep throws to shred busted protection that overcommits to stopping run-after-catch throws to the flats, or to working again Christian McCaffrey.
What actually places the 2023 Niners excessive was Shanahan’s sensible choice to rent a defensive coordinator from outdoors the group, quite than promote from inside when DeMeco Ryans was employed away by the Texans. Steve Wilks stepped into the position as 49ers’ defensive coordinator after an excellent run because the Carolina Panthers’ interim head coach a yr in the past, and he instantly used his information as a secondary genius and utilized it to the 49ers already nice roster.
The result’s a unit that’s allowed 0.6 fewer yards per reception, whereas additionally being ruthless to opposing quarterbacks — intercepting extra passes and sacking them extra typically. Wilks has lifted an already nice unit and made them even higher.
The Baltimore Ravens
Key stats:
- 1st within the NFL in yards-per-attempt allowed
- 1st within the NFL in factors allowed
- 1st within the NFL in speeding offense
It seems that Lamar Jackson may be fairly rattling good when you give him weapons. WHO KNEW?! Offensively the Ravens are the identical workforce we’ve seen for years, simply taken to the next stage. That is nonetheless the Lamar present, with Jackson main the workforce in speeding with 741 yards and 5 touchdowns to associate with his 3,000+ yards passing.
The distinction in 2023 has been Zay Flowers and Odell Beckham Jr. The 2 new additions to the assault are paying big dividends, particularly Flowers who leads the workforce in receiving yards. As a rookie he’s on tempo to be the primary WR for Baltimore since Marquise Brown in 2020 to have extra yards than tight finish Mark Andrews. This capability to stretch the sphere has diversified the Ravens’ assault and made them a extra full soccer workforce.
Defensively this workforce is fearsome as effectively. Defensive sort out Justin Madubuike has exploded in 2023 with 12.0 sacks, and when paired with Jadaveon Clowney at EDGE (7.5 sacks) creates a state of affairs the place the pocket is routinely collapsing for opposing QBs. With two sensible inside linebackers in Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen this protection is wise, organized, and will get the job finished.
What about everybody else?
The problem when taking a look at the remainder of the NFL compared with these two groups is consistency. Whereas San Francisco and Baltimore have had some bone-headed losses (the 49ers to the Vikings and the Ravens to the Steelers), they’ve been higher as a complete in profitable the video games they need to, and being aggressive in ones which might be pushes.
We are able to’t say the identical for the remainder of the higher echelon. The Dolphins are but to beat a workforce with a profitable document, the Chiefs will likely be extra susceptible than they need to till they get a greater receiver than Kadarius Toney, whereas the Cowboys, Lions, Payments and Eagles all have a behavior to lose focus and drop video games they need to win.
It leaves us with a state of affairs the place any of those groups may win within the playoffs, however proper now the one two organizations who really feel like they’re actually put collectively proper now are the Niners and Ravens.
Are we destined for a Tremendous Bowl rematch?
It’s nonetheless far too early to say. On paper these are the 2 greatest common season groups within the NFL, however we all know that doesn’t imply lots. With regards to the NFC it’s fairly troublesome to think about anybody getting previous San Francisco until they play flawless soccer and pressure some errors from the 49ers.
The AFC is a little bit of a distinct story. There’s completely a state of affairs the place the Ravens may wrestle in a shootout in opposition to both the Chiefs or Payments, however that’s assuming these groups play to their full potential — which is a little bit of a tossup.
Proper now issues look superb when you’re a fan in San Francisco or Baltimore, and when you’re not then these are the groups you wish to emulate.
