Some Lousy NFL Offenses After Week 1

Some Lousy NFL Offenses After Week 1
by Mike Neri

September is a time for NFL teams to work out the kinks. But let's face it: some teams looked dreadful in Week 1. Kansas City (0-1 SU/ATS) had a 0-4 SU/ATS preseason and has new looks everywhere after trading TE Tony Gonzalez.

They have a new coach in Todd Haley), a new General Manager and a new starting QB in Matt Cassell, though he has yet to play since injuring a knee in August. He is a game time decision. The Chiefs lost 38-24 at Baltimore with QB Brodie Croyle, keeping it close, but don't be fooled: They were outgained by a whopping 501-188 yards!

Remember that they cleaned house in the offseason, trading TE Tony Gonzalez and even firing offensive coordinator Chan Gailey just two weeks ago! After rushing for more than 2,000 yards in nine of the 12 previous seasons, the Chiefs were well below that the last two years and are off to another slow start this year.

The Chiefs had trouble with the running game in the preseason, except when they played against the Rams and their backup defenders. That's why the running-game results weren't shocking to Larry Johnson, who gained just 20 yards in 11 carries in the opener. Note to the GM: Big Larry Johnson has no offensive line to work with.

Haley designed a conservative game plan for the Chiefs: Ten of the Chiefs' first 12 first-down plays were runs. And guess who comes to town: the Raiders! The Raiders, who acquired Pro Bowl defensive lineman Richard Seymour in a preseason trade with New England, allowed just 77 rushing yards in last week's loss to San Diego. They are still a weak all-around team, it seems, though the defense looked pretty good in the opener.

The offense, though, looked as bad as last year, when they finished 29th in total offense. This year's Chiefs gave up 198 rushing yards to the Ravens in their opener, so the game plan will find BOTH teams likely running the football. If you like to play totals, that doesn't shape up as an offensive shootout. Oakland is 5-1 ATS the last 6 at KC.

And speaking of bad, what the hell happened to the Texans? They had the No. 3 offense in the NFL last season, yet were shut down at home by the Jets, an embarrassing 24-7 defeat. A team with QB Matt Schaub (15 TDs, 10 INTs in 2008), RB Steve Slaton (1,282 yards as a rookie) and WR Andre Johnson (1,575 yards) should not be shut down, especially at home. Sleepwalking? Or outcoached? They play at Tennessee Sunday - good luck improving the offense!

The Cincinnati Bengals were hoping to steal a win in Week 1 against a bad Denver team. Instead, they lost a shocker, 12-7, on a tipped 87-yard TD with only 11 seconds left. With quarterback Carson Palmer back after missing 12 games last season and three games this preseason because of injuries, as well as a deep receiving corps, the Bengals' offense was expected to be primed for a return to the level it enjoyed in 2005-06.

But Sunday's game showed it has a long way to go. And it doesn't get any easier against a Green Bay defense that has new looks: an attacking 3-4 defense under a new DC. In their first year in a 3-4 scheme, the Packers are getting plenty of pressure on quarterbacks and produced four interceptions in a 21-15 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday. Green Bay is 4-0 ATS the last 4 meetings.
 

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