I understand all that, but it was a fluke yesterday. This d is predicated on sacks and turnovers. We had a minimal of both, and will not continue with that point total with those numbers. Also, with how this offense started out, averaging 23 points or more allowed won't net very many wins at all.
If you're looking for a defense that can dominate a game you've come to the wrong place, as has been in evidence the past 5 years.
I was pleasantly surprised with many aspects of the defensive play, particularly in the second half. There were a couple of plays in succession in one series in the second half where everybody in the front 7 (or 6 or 8 or whatever it was) were moving around at the snap unclear on the call. Lots of energy, aggressive, good team speed, solid tackling, plays being made. There were a few plays you'd like to excise, but it was week 1 after all.
That second half was a good ballgame between two good teams. The Packers have the habit of winning, as Lombardi would say, whereas Jacksonville does not, and that is often the difference, especially on the road.
I had not seen Bortles play last season and was quite impressed. It's too soon to anoint him one of the "elite", but he's pretty darn good. He reminds me of a young Carson Palmer.
All in all, I think this defense will be an improvement over last season's and is good enough to get to the playoffs. Some growth is possible. Is it a championship defense? Probably not, but we should remain open to surprise. The right playoff match ups and the defense not falling down and going boom in the 4th. quarter or OT might just do it.
That said, as illustrated, averaging 300 yds. passing surrendered per game in the regular season would tie the NFL record for futility and would likely be symptomatic of eventual playoff defeat.
It's still early, the record is 1-0. Shaun Hill is next; you can expect the pass yard average to drop if that's meaningful to anybody. He's been around this league a long time; he may have figured out how to limit interceptions, as evidenced against the Titans. That single accomplishment should not be a deciding factor.
Which is true. Its hard to hold down offenses these days. Even that vaunted Cards defense looked vulnerable against a GronkLess Pats team with a backup QB.
