8. Atlanta Falcons
Points Per Game: 23.8 (13th out of 32)
Yards Per Game: 379.7 (5th out of 32)
Yards Per Play: 5.5 (15th out of 32)
Most of the attention paid to the NFC South this offseason involves the additions the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made, notably Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. We will get to them, but while the focus might be on a potential showdown between Brady and Drew Brees, do not forget about the Falcons. Matt Ryan might have seen a bit of regression in 2019, as he posted an Adjusted Net Yards per Attempt of 6.08 – his lowest mark since the 2013 season – but with Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley on the outside, and Hayden Hurst added to work the middle of the field, this can still be a dangerous offense. Especially if the newly-acquired Todd Gurley can get back to the form he displayed while in Los Angeles.
7. Seattle Seahawks
Points Per Game: 25.3 (9th out of 32)
Yards Per Game: 374.4 (8th out of 32)
Yards Per Play: 5.7 (12th out of 32)
Sure, the Seattle Seahawks do things their own way. They might have “reached” with their first two picks in the draft, selecting linebacker Jordyn Brooks in the first round and EDGE Darrell Taylor in the second, but Pete Carroll and John Schneider have their formula, and they’ll stick to it.
On the offensive side of the football they have Russell Wilson, and that honestly might be enough. In a quarterback-driven league he is one of the elite players, who can truly raise the level of play in those around him. But he does have a solid supporting cast. DK Metcalf avoided questions about a three-cone drill to become a dangerous threat on the outside, and Tyler Lockett remains a consistent option for Wilson at all levels of the field. Adding Greg Olsen will give Wilson a solid tight end option, and honestly don’t sleep on seventh-round pick Stephen Sullivan from LSU. He might have struggled to see playing time behind Thaddeus Moss after switching to tight end, but he could be a mismatch type of player in this offense.
6. San Francisco 49ers
Points Per Game: 29.9 (2nd out of 32)
Yards Per Game: 381.1 (4th out of 32)
Yards Per Play: 6.0 (5th out of 32)
The San Francisco 49ers were one of the best offenses in the game last year, as the numbers indicate, and they rode that and a stout defense all the way to Super Bowl LIV, where they were minutes away from securing a championship. But perhaps the lasting image of their season might be quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo missing Emmanuel Sanders on a vertical route for a chance to pull out the victory in the final minutes:
Jimmy Garoppolo had Emmanuel Sanders open behind the defense to give the #49ers the lead with just over a minute to go. Missed the throw, and lost the game. Average QB at best. pic.twitter.com/7jDjntFlqY
— Alex Ohári 🇭🇺🔴⚪️ (@FutureCanes) February 3, 2020
But there are reasons to believe this offense could still be great in 2020. First is the mind of Kyle Shanahan, who does so much schematically to put Garoppolo in a position to succeed. Then there is the quarterback himself. Garoppolo, particularly in the wake of that Super Bowl performance, has left some wondering if he is good enough to get the 49ers back to the pinnacle of the sport. But his quick release and accuracy are a perfect fit in Shanahan’s system, and that combination might just be enough for the 49ers to get to where they want to be.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Points Per Game: 28.6 (T-3rd out of 32)
Yards Per Game: 397.9 (3rd out of 32)
Yards Per Play: 5.9 (6th out of 32)
Last year the Tampa Bay Buccaneers put up some impressive offensive numbers, and they did it with a quarterback who threw 30 interceptions. For the season ahead? Sure they have players like Chris Godwin and Mike Evans back, as well as tight ends O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate, but they also have two big acquisitions:
Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady.
We have to wait and see what kind of form Gronk is in, but does anyone think Brady is not a massive upgrade at the quarterback position, even at this point in his career? Even if he just cuts the interceptions in half from a season ago – a likely proposition given he has never thrown 15 in a season and his most recent high of 13 was set back in 2009 – this offense will be much better than it was in 2019.
4. Dallas Cowboys
Points Per Game: 27.1 (6th out of 32)
Yards Per Game: 431.5 (1st out of 32)
Yards Per Play: 6.5 (1st out of 32)
The big debate right now concerning the Dallas Cowboys is focused on the long-term contract prospects for quarterback Dak Prescott. Here to comment on the issue is noted football fan Teddy KGB:
But Prescott is not the only reason you can expect this to be a great offense again in 2020. They are returning Ezekiel Elliott to the fold, a solid running back who can be a contributor on third downs and in the passing game. They have Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup returning as wide receivers, and Cooper in particular has been a critical part of Prescott’s success the past few seasons. To that receiver group they added CeeDee Lamb, a prospect who was in the discussion for the top WR on the board this past draft cycle. Plus they have Kellen Moore back, who showed the ability to be a great play designer and caller in his first year as their offensive coordinator. Add the pieces together, and you have a great offense in the making yet again.
3. New Orleans Saints
Points Per Game: 28.6 (T-3rd out of 32)
Yards Per Game: 373.9 (9th out of 32)
Yards Per Play: 5.9 (7th out of 32)
The New Orleans Saints suffered a surprising loss on Wild Card Weekend to the Minnesota Vikings at home, in a loss that few saw coming prior to the contest. But that should not diminish the potential of this offense heading into 2020. The Saints return Drew Brees for at least one more season, who is more “accurate high powered computer playing quarterback” than he is a human playing the position. They also return Michael Thomas, one of the game’s bright young receivers, as well as Alvin Kamara, a three-down back who is a true weapon in the passing game. But they also added Emmanuel Sanders, giving Brees another downfield threat and Sanders a true running mate. With Sean Payton pulling the strings, this offense should be high-powered yet again in 2020.
2. Baltimore Ravens
Points Per Game: 33.2 (1st out of 32)
Yards Per Game: 407.6 (2nd out of 32)
Yards Per Play: 6.1 (T-3rd out of 32)
By any number of statistics the Baltimore Ravens were one of the NFL’s most dangerous offenses in 2019. With Lamar Jackson having a breakout season – one that propelled him to an MVP Award – the Ravens finished the season with a 14-2 record and secured home-field advantage through the AFC playoffs. The stage was set for the Ravens and Jackson to clash with Kansas City and Patrick Mahomes.
Someone, however, forgot to tell the Tennessee Titans.
But Jackson and the Ravens look to be just as dangerous an offense in 2020. Jackson’s strides as a passer last season might be overlooked given what he can do as an athlete, but the QB posted an Adjusted Net Yards per Attempt of 8.19, which was fourth-best in the league, and threw for 36 touchdowns against just six interceptions.
Not bad for a receiver.
Looking ahead to 2020, in addition to Jackson their core group is back, including Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and Miles Boykin on the outside as receivers, a duo of Nick Boyle and Mark Andrews at tight end and Mark Ingram at running back. They also added potential slot receivers in Devin Duvernay and James Proche in the draft, as well as another RB in J.K. Dobbins who is a solid fit for this offense. The defenses around the league might spend the offseason trying to catch up to what the Ravens are doing offensively, but even if they do figure things out, Baltimore can still rely on Jackson himself as a difference-maker.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
Points Per Game: 28.2 (5th out of 32)
Yards Per Game: 379.2 (6th out of 32)
Yards Per Play: 6.2 (2nd out of 32)
They have Patrick Mahomes, likely the game’s most talented passer. They have Andy Reid, one of the game’s best offensive minds. They have Eric Bienemy, another of the game’s best offensive minds and someone who needs to be a head coach for the start of the 2021 NFL season. They have a group of talented skill position players including Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, Sammy Watkins and Mecole Hardman. They have a Lombardi Trophy to unveil on the season’s opening night.
To that group they added Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who Reid considers someone who might be better than what he had in Brian Westbrook.
Until they falter, this is the game’s best offense.