It was a low-scoring first week, and we shouldn’t be surprised. Defenses tend to be ahead at this time of year, with offenses needing more time to jell and get their timing down. That’s generally how it tends to play out.
I’ve got all the scores for the last 15 years. If you look at the lowest-scoring weeks since 2003, they are dominated by opening weeks. I’ve got them in bold, and there are 9 Week 1 slates among the lowest 42 – over three times as many as you would expect.
To account for byes, I’m listing games not by “weeks” but by “game” (so there are 16 games in each block). So if a team has a bye in Week 4, it’s Week 5 game would show up in Week 4. But you get the idea – Weeks 1 and 2 are definitely shown by Game 1 and Game 2, and “Game 15 and Game 16” (which hardly show up here) are in fact Weeks 15-16.
| LOWEST-SCORING WEEKS SINCE 2003 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Week | Avg |
| 2006 | Game 1 | 17.3 |
| 2005 | Game 2 | 17.7 |
| 2005 | Game 12 | 18.0 |
| 2003 | Game 8 | 18.0 |
| 2006 | Game 10 | 18.1 |
| 2014 | Game 14 | 18.2 |
| 2010 | Game 1 | 18.3 |
| 2006 | Game 2 | 18.4 |
| 2007 | Game 14 | 18.5 |
| 2003 | Game 16 | 18.8 |
| 2006 | Game 8 | 18.8 |
| 2005 | Game 14 | 18.8 |
| 2003 | Game 10 | 18.8 |
| 2010 | Game 16 | 18.9 |
| 2014 | Game 10 | 18.9 |
| 2004 | Game 2 | 18.9 |
| 2007 | Game 1 | 19.0 |
| 2003 | Game 3 | 19.0 |
| 2005 | Game 7 | 19.1 |
| 2003 | Game 6 | 19.1 |
| 2004 | Game 10 | 19.2 |
| 2005 | Game 1 | 19.2 |
| 2006 | Game 15 | 19.2 |
| 2005 | Game 13 | 19.3 |
| 2004 | Game 1 | 19.4 |
| 2004 | Game 3 | 19.4 |
| 2003 | Game 13 | 19.5 |
| 2004 | Game 4 | 19.5 |
| 2011 | Game 6 | 19.5 |
| 2009 | Game 3 | 19.7 |
| 2008 | Game 13 | 19.8 |
| 2011 | Game 9 | 19.8 |
| 2016 | Game 13 | 19.9 |
| 2006 | Game 5 | 20.0 |
| 2008 | Game 1 | 20.0 |
| 2015 | Game 13 | 20.0 |
| 2008 | Game 14 | 20.0 |
| 2009 | Game 13 | 20.1 |
| 2003 | Game 1 | 20.2 |
| 2009 | Game 11 | 20.2 |
| 2017 | • Game 1 | 20.2 |
| 2009 | Game 1 | 20.3 |
If, on the other hand, you’re looking for high scores, you are advised to wait until later in the year. Of the highest-scoring 47 weeks since 2003, only two came in Week 1.
| HIGHEST-SCORING WEEKS SINCE 2003 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Week | Avg |
| 2013 | Game 13 | 26.8 |
| 2010 | Game 9 | 26.8 |
| 2013 | Game 14 | 26.4 |
| 2014 | Game 4 | 26.2 |
| 2008 | Game 11 | 26.2 |
| 2015 | Game 8 | 25.8 |
| 2016 | Game 15 | 25.8 |
| 2014 | Game 8 | 25.1 |
| 2016 | Game 9 | 25.0 |
| 2015 | Game 14 | 24.8 |
| 2015 | Game 6 | 24.8 |
| 2012 | Game 1 | 24.7 |
| 2005 | Game 6 | 24.7 |
| 2007 | Game 16 | 24.6 |
| 2004 | Game 12 | 24.6 |
| 2016 | Game 8 | 24.4 |
| 2010 | Game 14 | 24.3 |
| 2013 | Game 5 | 24.3 |
| 2015 | Game 3 | 24.2 |
| 2014 | Game 12 | 24.0 |
| 2013 | Game 9 | 24.0 |
| 2012 | Game 10 | 23.9 |
| 2003 | Game 5 | 23.9 |
| 2006 | Game 6 | 23.9 |
| 2014 | Game 5 | 23.9 |
| 2015 | Game 2 | 23.9 |
| 2009 | Game 4 | 23.9 |
| 2008 | Game 4 | 23.9 |
| 2015 | Game 5 | 23.9 |
| 2013 | Game 11 | 23.8 |
| 2015 | Game 12 | 23.8 |
| 2011 | Game 16 | 23.7 |
| 2012 | Game 2 | 23.7 |
| 2011 | Game 4 | 23.7 |
| 2008 | Game 3 | 23.6 |
| 2013 | Game 8 | 23.6 |
| 2011 | Game 1 | 23.5 |
| 2007 | Game 12 | 23.5 |
| 2010 | Game 15 | 23.5 |
| 2014 | Game 9 | 23.5 |
| 2016 | Game 3 | 23.5 |
| 2007 | Game 3 | 23.5 |
| 2011 | Game 2 | 23.4 |
—Ian Allan