We’re now two weeks into the NFL season, not even to the eighth pole, a small part of the 18-week battle of attrition that we call an NFL season. But even with so little of the 2025 season now completed, it’s still fun to have at least some tangible all-22 film to review and datapoints to pore over.
And with two weeks now behind us, and every 2-0 team and its fan base staring (or at least taking a side glance) at the statistical likelihood of making the playoffs, I too looked at some stats. Yes, there’s the gigantic red sign blasting “SMALL SAMPLE SIZE” that hangs over most of these numbers. But for each NFL team that has started 2-0 this season, I went into TruMedia’s database and found a number that I think either is pertinent to their success so far, or something they will need to do to continue their success.
Advertisement
Buffalo Bills: 25%
That’s Joey Bosa’s pressure rate so far in his first season in Buffalo, per Next Gen Stats. Bosa has been an instant impact player for a defense that has typically loved to use a deep defensive line, but has never quite had that “closer” to bring it all home. Bosa has already provided some key plays for the Bills this season, with some of his biggest not even happening as a pass rusher. (Bosa forced a fumble on Justin Fields in Week 2.)
The Bills’ defense has already faced injuries to key starters, including slot dynamo Taron Johnson, linebacker Matt Milano and defensive tackle Ed Oliver, the latter two of whom will miss Thursday’s tilt against the Miami Dolphins. But their biggest question mark remains with their safeties; I think offenses will continue to find ways to have success against those middle area and back end spots.
Advertisement
The Bills continue to find ways to shred defenses, whether it’s the run game (with Josh Allen’s ostrich-like scrambles thrown in) or Allen targeting a wide swath of pass catchers at his disposal. So I don’t have as many questions for them, other than maybe whether their offensive line’s ridiculous run of good health can continue. Even with a defense that might yield explosives throughout the year, Bosa and the Bills’ defensive line, a unit set to receive reinforcements in a few weeks when Michael Hoecht and Larry Ogunjobi return from suspension, can help provide big plays to match its high-scoring brethren.
Los Angeles Chargers: 82%
That’s how many of Justin Herbert’s pass attempts have been targeted at wide receivers this season, a number that easily paces the league (Lamar Jackson is in second with a 75% rate). It would be a historically high number. Going back to 2002, Derek Anderson’s 2010 season (with the Cardinals? My memory has zero recollection of this season) holds the record for quarterbacks with 300 or more pass attempts with 77.1% of his pass attempts going to Larry Fitzgerald and friends.
The Chargers’ wide receiver trio of Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston and Keenan Allen have a great synergy working together, with a nice mix of speed and craftiness mixed between the three along with the ability to attack all three levels of the field. And Herbert has shown absolute faith in McConkey and Allen, with Johnston continuing to earn more trust on top of some positive performances to start the year. Herbert has never targeted wide receivers more than 63.8% of the time in his career, but with how well everything is going so far, I see him crushing that number because while the Chargers’ run game is still finding its way, offensive coordinator Greg Roman and head coach Jim Harbaugh are fully leaning into their Hadouken-firing quarterback; the Chargers’ 37.6% designed run rate would be well below the 2014 49ers’ rate of 41.7%, the previous low from a Harbaugh/Roman offense.
Advertisement
Cincinnati Bengals: 5.6
That’s how many yards per play the Bengals averaged in 2023 with Jake Browning as their starting quarterback.
That’s also the same yards per play the Bengals have averaged with Joe Burrow as their starting quarterback since 2021 (excluding his injured rookie season).
Now there is way more to these numbers, especially opponents and how the Bengals accomplished moving the ball. (Browning has a dropback success rate of 45.6% during his starts, which is a fine mark, though Burrow’s is 48.2% since 2021, a healthy clip better.) But the Bengals are still able to operate with Browning under center. Hell, he just helped lead the Bengals to victory this past weekend against the Jacksonville Jaguars, albeit with a few turnovers thrown in there.
Advertisement
It’s another frustrating season for Burrow and the Bengals, especially with a defense that lacks any sort of bite to it. But at least Browning, and his ability to operate with play action and from under center, can help blend aspects of this offense to keep the Bengals’ heads above water as they deal with another unlucky bite of the injury bug to their star quarterback.
I guess more attention can be spent on the development of rookie edge Shemar Stewart, because this defense desperately needs help.
Indianapolis Colts: 5.3
That’s the average third-down yardage distance for the Colts’ offense through two games. Indianapolis has been hyper efficient this season, with Jonathan Taylor looking simply excellent on the ground and Daniel Jones making smart decisions and throwing some footballs that had me double-checking his jersey number after I saw them.
Advertisement
The Colts’ pass catchers are all playing confidently with Jones and continue to make plays when they get opportunities. Josh Downs is a maestro in the slot and absolute terror in man coverage situations. Alec Pierce has added layers to his game and is becoming more than just a downfield dunk artist. Michael Pittman Jr. is as steady as ever and AD Mitchell has already looked more consistent than at any point last season. Head coach Shane Steichen is already creating designer plays for rookie tight end Tyler Warren and he’s delivering on his opportunities.
The Colts’ defense is also playing inspired football under new coordinator Lou Anarumo. Cam Bynum looks like a steadying force that has solidified the back end and has helped unlock fellow safety Nick Cross. It’s not all perfect; Xavien Howard is a walking target for quarterbacks in the passing game and center Tanor Bortolini is still a work in progress. But all in all, the vibes are great right now in Indianapolis.
Philadelphia Eagles: 2
That’s how many explosive passes (gains of 16 yards or more) the Eagles have so far this year. One big play in each game this year that jolted everyone awake in between another Saquon Barkley run, underneath throw and Jalen Hurts scramble. (His 17.2% scramble rate so far easily leads the league.)
Advertisement
I fully trust the Eagles’ run game behind Barkley, that offensive line and OL coach Jeff Stoutland. But this offense needs explosive passes to give itself breathing room. Otherwise defenses will start bringing the safety into the box and daring the Eagles with one-on-one coverage on the outside on DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown.
Offenses can find ways to gain explosives on underneath throws that can go for catch-and-run opportunities, especially those with dynamic pass catchers like the Eagles have. But the Eagles aren’t really doing much after the catch, ranking 31st in yards after catch per completion at 3.4 yards. Hurts has attempted only five passes past over 10 air yards this season, with none coming between 10 and 20 air yards (aka the intermediate part of the field that leads to the juiciest explosive play opportunities).
New Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo definitely seems to be finding his way as a play-caller, with the offense already having heavy tendencies when the Eagles are in the shotgun (pass) or under center (run). Figuring out ways to pop open the top of the defense, or perhaps earning Hurts’ trust to push the ball a bit, will make everyone’s life easier on this team. Otherwise this offense can start feeling even tighter.
San Francisco 49ers: 25.8%/66.7%
The first number: the 49ers’ rushing success rate allowed for the 31 designed run snaps they’ve faced this season when rookie first-round edge defender Mykel Williams has been on the field.
Advertisement
The second number: the 49ers’ rushing success rate allowed for the 21 designed run snaps they’ve faced this season when Williams has not been on the field.
While there are a litany of other factors that impact on and off splits, especially on sample sizes this small, you can feel Williams’ presence already.
The 49ers haven’t allowed an explosive run with Williams on the field so far this season. His length and power already help control the point of attack and cave in blockers.
He is not the only 49ers rookie to make an impact this season. While the offense’s health report has seemed to add names on an hourly basis (although there’s a chance that Brock Purdy may return Sunday against the Cardinals), 49ers fans can take solace in how strong some of their young players look so far.
Advertisement
Third-round slot defender Upton Stout is a sawed-off Human Suplex Machine akin to the wrestler Taz. Defensive lineman Alfred Collins had some nice moments against the Saints. And on the offensive side, seventh-round selection Connor Colby was pressed into action at left guard because of injuries and has looked already like a solid starter in both the run and pass game. If the 49ers can hold off the injury bug just for a little bit until reinforcements arrive, this type of draft class can be season- and franchise-altering.
Arizona Cardinals: 29.5%
That’s the Cardinals’ rushing success rate this season, which ranks 30th. It’s a bafflingly low number for a team that prides itself on trotting out James Conner and several tight ends (the Cardinals rank first in 13 personnel rate and eighth in 12 personnel rate) and bullying defenses for dozens of plays each week.
While Kyler Murray’s play, Trey McBride’s fantasy numbers and Marvin Harrison Jr.’s usage (just relax, they’re working on it) grab most of the national attention when discussing the Cardinals, their run game being efficient is paramount to them returning to the playoffs this season. Whether Conner needs to cede more carries to Trey Benson or the offensive line is still adjusting under a new offensive line coach in Justin Frye, this run game needs to start getting its groove back.
Advertisement
Los Angeles Rams: 47.4%
That’s Davante Adams’ target share against man coverage this season. On the nine targets Adams has received from Matthew Stafford so far against man coverage, he has five receptions for five first downs (with the gains going for 19, 26, 16, 3 and 24 yards).
This is exactly why the Rams brought Adams in. Because while Puka Nacua and Stafford dissected zone coverages last year — Stafford ranked second in dropback success rate among all QBs last year against zone coverages, per Next Gen Stats — the Rams’ passing game hit a wall against man coverage (Stafford was 25th in dropback success rate) and teams were able to focus their attention to Nacua.
Advertisement
Adams was fifth in successful targets per route in 2024, behind only A.J. Brown, Drake London, Mike Evans and Ladd McConkey, despite playing in less-than-ideal situations in Las Vegas and New York. And his impact has been immediately felt in Los Angeles. Stafford ranks sixth in success rate against man coverage this year.
Nacua eats up the rest of the targets against man coverage (35%), but is still the main focus whenever the Rams face zone coverages (42.9% target share, with 14 receptions on 15 targets going for nine first downs and nearly 5 yards per route run). In games against the Eagles last year, Philadelphia opted for more man coverage than its typical rate, including a rate of 44% in the playoff matchup, nearly double its 23.8% rate against all other teams that season. Sunday should be a fun rematch between Vic Fangio and Sean McVay and Stafford, plus Adams vs. several new faces on the Eagles’ defense.
Green Bay Packers: 50.9%
That’s the rate Jordan Love’s throws travel 10 or more air yards this season. The average air yards of Love’s targets through two weeks sits at a hysterical 13.3 air yards. While Micah Parsons has helped put the Packers’ defense into the potentially elite category, Love is playing excellent in his own right as he constantly unpins the grenade and launches throws, with his young pass catchers constantly sprinting down the field and Love challenging defenses to cover every single blade of grass. Even the ones 60 yards away.
Advertisement
The speed of rookie first-round draft pick Matthew Golden has helped create space underneath for Love to attack, giving his offense bigger voids and more space after the catch, something you may have noticed when Tucker “The Warlord” Kraft rumbled down the field on the Washington Commanders last Thursday night.
The Packers look like the best team in the NFL through the first part of September. And the explosives that this team constantly hunts on both sides of the field is the reason why.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 45.1%
That’s how often Baker Mayfield has been under pressure so far this season, ranking 30th among NFL offenses. The combination of franchise tackle Tristan Wirfs not playing and one of those games being against the Texans’ tenacious front is part of the reason for this. But while Wirfs might return, that number might not get any better with right tackle Luke Goedeke set to miss time with a foot injury and right guard Cody Mauch missing the rest of the season with a knee injury. The Buccaneers’ offense has still been mostly fine this year, but it definitely hasn’t reached the highs it was hitting last season, which mostly can be attributed to so many players already missing time and working in a new offensive play-caller in Josh Grizzard.
Advertisement
Mayfield’s numbers, like most quarterbacks, take a hit when under pressure. He can start to force throws and is more prone to becoming a runner when under duress. The Buccaneers’ skill players are still strong, with Bucky Irving and Rachaad White leading the backfield, and rookie Emeka Egbuka already playing like a good starter right out of the gate alongside Mike Evans. But the offensive line had become the strength of this entire team. With two starters now out, and a third just coming back from injury, it will be interesting to see how Mayfield and Grizzard navigate the onslaught of injuries up front.
