This game has shown that every single negative trend they have shown in the past two years is still ever prevalent and maybe even more so.
A: Offensive line and offense in general - nothing needs to be said about this.
B: Lack of running game - coincides with the incompetence of offensive line
C: Never ending amounts of 3 and out's in the first half of games. It's like Russ only ever wants to win by being the hero to save the game in the 3rd and 4th.
D: Defense inability to get off the field on 3rd downs, especially in key moments. Regardless of what the offense did, it is not about them. Yes, the defense stays on the field for a long time, but that's not just because of the offense. If you get off the field on 3rd down once or twice more earlier in the game instead of giving up first downs, that adds up. So yes, the offense does not help them but in the end the defense job is to get off on 3rd down and this team is not good at doing that.
I don't need to mention officiating because that varies from game to game. It was objectively terrible and in favor of the home team, however, it did not effect the final outcome, just maybe the score of it.
Until this team can find consistency again, they are not contenders. You can say it's week 1 all you want but no, this has been a 2 year trend of all these problems and this game has clearly shown they have not fixed these issues.
A: Offensive line and offense in general - nothing needs to be said about this.
B: Lack of running game - coincides with the incompetence of offensive line
C: Never ending amounts of 3 and out's in the first half of games. It's like Russ only ever wants to win by being the hero to save the game in the 3rd and 4th.
D: Defense inability to get off the field on 3rd downs, especially in key moments. Regardless of what the offense did, it is not about them. Yes, the defense stays on the field for a long time, but that's not just because of the offense. If you get off the field on 3rd down once or twice more earlier in the game instead of giving up first downs, that adds up. So yes, the offense does not help them but in the end the defense job is to get off on 3rd down and this team is not good at doing that.
I don't need to mention officiating because that varies from game to game. It was objectively terrible and in favor of the home team, however, it did not effect the final outcome, just maybe the score of it.
Until this team can find consistency again, they are not contenders. You can say it's week 1 all you want but no, this has been a 2 year trend of all these problems and this game has clearly shown they have not fixed these issues.