As we head towards the end of September in the NFL season, certain teams are coming out of the gate stronger than others. Fans know that there is a long way to go, but a formidable beginning to a season can help set teams up for meaningful games a few months down the road.
What is Happening In Denver?
In the NFL, winning is all that matters at the end of the day. As we sit here at the conclusion of Week 3, the Broncos’ record sits at 2-1, and they are in as good a position as a lot of teams in the AFC West and in the conference.
However, the eye test regarding the effectiveness of Denver’s offense has left a lot to be desired. The franchise traded away a lot, and has invested a plethora of money in quarterback Russell Wilson. It is still early, but his presence has yet to ignite an offense that is full of talented weapons. At this juncture, he’s only really established a connection with wide receiver Courtland Sutton, and the ability to sustain drives will need to greatly improve.
They were fortunate to defeat the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night, but have the advantage of winning during such a turbulent offensive period.
Early Season Home Field Advantage For Miami
One of the NFL’s most common themes is the home field advantage teams have in cold weather cities. When the calendar flips to November, December, and January, playing a road game in Buffalo, Green Bay, New England or Pittsburgh, for example, can be a difficult chore when dealing with the elements in that part of the year.
While wind chill factors and snow will eventually come into play this year as well, it must also be noted that the early part of the season can favor warm weather teams when they play at home. Such was the case on Sunday in Miami, as the Dolphins snuck by the Buffalo Bills to win their third straight game.
There were a lot of players who struggled playing in the 90 degree heat in South Florida on Sunday, but the most impactful player who dealt with cramps was Bills superstar Stefon Diggs. He had to leave the game on multiple occasions to rehydrate, including during Buffalo’s final possession.
The Improved Jacksonville Jaguars
It is not an exaggeration to say that the Jaguars had one of the worst coached teams in NFL history last season under Urban Meyer. There wasn’t too much that went right down in Jacksonville, and the franchise cut bait with Meyer before the regular season ended.
There is a mixed set of opinions on the coaching ability of Doug Pederson, but he serves as a significant upgrade over what Jacksonville had last year. That professionalism and preparation has showed itself, especially during the team’s Week 3 blowout win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has played much better football this season, and is reminding people why he was the consensus first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
