We know that passing production is up -- quarterbacks are throwing for more yards and touchdowns than ever before. Defenses are responding by getting after the quarterback (or having more success getting after the quarterback) than ever before. Not only are passing numbers up, but so are sacks.
NFL teams tend to average 36-37 sacks per season, and that's been fairly consistent over the past decade. Since 2003, defenses have averaged 34, 37, 36, 34, 32, 34, 33, 35, 37 and 36 sacks.
This year, at the halfway point, NFL defenses are on pace to average 42 sacks, up 16 percent from previous seasons. There are 10 teams on pace for more than 50 sacks, and 22 teams on pace for at least 40. A year ago, only three teams had 50 sacks, and only 8 teams had more than 40. Some teams will fall off the pace they're currently setting (Kansas City probably won't get 64 sacks), but the NFL average still seem set to finish north of 40 for the first time in 20 years (it reached 40 back in 1992).
The table below shows the projected total sacks for each team based on what they achieved in their first eight games.
Team | 2013 sacks (pace) | |
---|---|---|
Kansas City | 64 | |
Cleveland Browns | 56 | |
Buffalo Bills | 52 | |
New England Patriots | 52 | |
St. Louis Rams | 52 | |
Seattle Seahawks | 52 | |
New York Jets | 48 | |
Cincinnati Bengals | 50 | |
Dallas Cowboys | 40 | |
Philadelphia Eagles | 34 | |
Baltimore Ravens | 56 | |
New Orleans Saints | 52 | |
Miami Dolphins | 50 | |
Green Bay Packers | 48 | |
Oakland Raiders | 46 | |
Arizona Cardinals | 46 | |
Carolina Panthers | 46 | |
Denver Broncos | 44 | |
Indianapolis Colts | 44 | |
Tennessee Titans | 44 | |
Washington | 42 | |
San Diego Chargers | 40 | |
Houston Texans | 40 | |
Atlanta Falcons | 36 | |
Minnesota Vikings | 34 | |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 34 | |
San Francisco 49ers | 34 | |
Chicago Bears | 28 | |
Detroit Lions | 26 | |
Pittsburgh Steelers | 26 | |
Jacksonville Jaguars | 22 | |
New York Giants | 20 |
--Andy Richardson