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Offense is the story at NFL's midpoint

Scoring is way up halfway through a season in which some surprising teams and players rank among the NFL's best.

By DARRELL FRY, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published November 8, 2002

Now that every NFL team has reached at least the halfway point of its season, it's time to take a look at the best and worst of the first half. It has been a season unlike any in a long time. Offenses have gone wild, creating a slew of high-scoring games, controversial plays and thrilling overtime finishes.

Through Week 8, games averaged 44.4 points, highest in 38 years and four points higher than at the same point last season, according to the league.

Teams are piling up more yardage (a combined 661 per game) and more touchdowns (592 through Week 8) than last season and are scoring more on special teams (10 kickoff returns for touchdowns through Week 8, most in that span since the league began tracking it in 1978).

That has led to a lot of exciting games. More than half (53 percent, to be exact) of the games through Week 8 were decided by eight points or fewer.

"Man, you look around, offenses are going crazy," Chiefs receiver Johnnie Morton told the Sporting News. "Offensive coaches must be hitting it a little harder."

Here's a look at the highlights and lowlights of the first half:

BEST TEAM: The Raiders and Chargers were the early favorites, but now it's the Packers (7-1). They have won six in a row and hold the league's best record. Not since their 1996 Super Bowl trip have they started this strong.

If there's a knock on them, it's their strength of schedule. Except for early wins over the Falcons and Panthers, every team the Packers have beaten has been mediocre or bad (Detroit, Chicago, Washington), on a downward slide (New England) or missing a key starter (Miami).

Still, as the Packers will tell you, they can only play the teams on their schedule. Any lingering doubts will be erased if they win upcoming games against Tampa Bay (7-2), Buffalo (5-4) and San Francisco (6-2).

Said defensive tackle Billy Lyon: "If we get homefield advantage, there's no question we should win the Super Bowl."

BEST PLAYER: It's a tie between Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe and Chiefs running back Priest Holmes.

After losing his starting job in New England last season, Bledsoe has re-emerged as one of the league's best pure passers. With a league-leading 2,802 passing yards, he is on pace to become the second player to reach 5,000 in a season (Dan Marino had 5,084 in 1984).

He has posted two of the biggest passing days so far, 463 yards against Minnesota and 417 against the Raiders. He is a big reason the Bills have nearly doubled their win total from last season, when they were 3-13.

Holmes, the league rushing leader last season, is making another run at the rushing title with a league-leading 857 yards. More impressive, he has 15 touchdowns, including two receiving, easily the most in the league.

MOST SURPRISING TEAM: The Chargers (6-2). This was a 5-11 team a season ago that had to adjust to a new coach (Marty Schottenheimer) and a new starting quarterback (second-year pro Drew Brees). Yet, they instantly have become the class of the AFC and are tied for first in the West with the Broncos (6-2).

Who knew their defense would be so good? They are fourth in the league against the run and 11th in points allowed.

MOST DISAPPOINTING TEAM: You could argue for the Rams (3-5), but the prize goes to the Bears (2-6). After going 13-3 a season ago, they are tied for last in the NFC North. What's worse, they're headed in the wrong direction, losing their past six.

In their defense, the Bears have been crippled by injuries, most notably to starting quarterback Jim Miller (elbow and shoulder), who missed two games and still is not 100 percent. Still, it's hard to believe the Bears have become this bad.

TEAM TO WATCH IN THE SECOND HALF: The Saints (6-2). Though they might not be the league's best team, they have slayed several top teams (Bucs, Packers, Steelers and 49ers) to pace the tough NFC South.

The Bucs probably will make a strong run at the division title, but expect the Saints to hang on, if only because of their easy schedule the rest of the way. They have only two winning teams (Tampa Bay and Atlanta) among their remaining opponents.

Look out for the Steelers (5-3), who also have only two winning teams (Atlanta and Tampa Bay) left to play.

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