Defense not dead yet in NFL

The obituary was written prematurely.

Though it is more of a rebound than a resurrection, there is hope yet for the wicked stepchild of NFL football.

Contrary to popular belief, defense is not dead yet in the NFL.

In a league where you cannot hit the quarterback high or low, cannot hit anyone with any part of your helmet, cannot touch a receiver (allegedly) more than five yards down the field, where teams play on mostly excellent playing surfaces and where eight teams now play in controlled environments, offense is the rage in the NFL. That is especially true of the passing game in the new age version of the NFL.

After all, the schemers seemed have dreamed up countless ways to cream opposing team defenses.

How can you stop anyone?

Drew Brees is having another record-setting year. Patrick Mahomes is putting up video game numbers. Philip Rivers is not far behind. Even Cam Newton is completing close to 70 percent of his passes.

This past weekend in the NFL, two quarterbacks in the league threw for 300 yards or more and one of those was Jared Goff of the Rams, who had a poor evening in a shocking home loss to Philadelphia.

The other was Philip Rivers of the Chargers in a 29-28 win over Kansas City. Of course, he overcame two interceptions.

Aaron Rodgers saw his streak of 402 consecutive passes without an interception come to an end. The potent Rams have suddenly become somewhat impotent, a turnover machine. Tom Brady only put up 10 points.

Kody Kessler threw for a miniscule 55 yards for Jacksonville. Marcus Mariota threw for a paltry 88 yards and Tennessee won. Ryan Tannehill went for just 108 yards. Jeff Driskell passed for 130 yards and his Bengals still won. Lamar Jackson accounted for 131 yards in the air and Baltimore was victorious. Josh Rosen of Arizona went for 132 yards.

Even Mahomes, who has put up astronomical numbers weekly, threw for a modest 243 yards for the Chiefs in their loss to the Chargers. You know about the “slump” Brees is in over the course of his last three games.

How dramatic is the sudden shift from offense to defense?

Consider the fact that 17 of 32 NFL teams scored 20 points or fewer this past weekend.

Defense is still being played in the NFL.

In games this past weekend, Baltimore won scoring 20 points while Pittsburgh and Tennessee won with 17 points. Washington totaled 16 points and was victorious. Buffalo scored just 14 and won. Indianapolis shutout Dallas.

The defensive schemers have teamed up to help each other with ways to combat the Saints, Rams, Rodgers, Brady and company. Once someone comes up with the proper recipe, the copy-cat syndrome takes full effect.

While opponents have slowed down the Saints lately, the Saints have slowed down opponents, not allowing more than 17 points in five straight games. In fact, opponents have scored just 74 points in their last six games against the Saints. New Orleans has 14 takeaways, 28 sacks and 49 quarterback hits in that stretch. The Saints have pitched four second half shutouts in their last six games. They are not alone.

Perhaps defensive coordinators are catching up with their offensive counterparts. Maybe injuries have entered into the equation. Then, there is the change in weather from warmer to colder.

Whatever the case, we can hold off on inscribing the tombstone of defense in the NFL. Traditionalists can be proud of it.

If I would have told you four weeks ago that the weakest part of or the biggest concern for the New Orleans Saints was offense, you would have laughed me out of town. It is no laughing matter. There are concerns with the lack of efficient play at wide receiver, Brees not being as sharp and injuries to the offensive line.

A return to the friendly confines of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome will certainly help. Perhaps a return by Ted Ginn, Jr. will help jump-start things.

That said, when your kicking game is elite (see Wil Lutz, Thomas Morstead and Alvin Kamara) and your defense is playing at an extremely high level, your offense simply needs to be efficient.

It is nice to be talking about outstanding defense and the New Orleans Saints in the same sentence. It is nice to be talking about defense and the NFL in the same sentence, given the league’s clear desire for less violent play, fewer hits and rules totally determined to spur offenses to success on a continual basis.