The Broncos and Jets play in London this week. Denver is favored and rightly so, but Justin Fields' scrambling does present something of a wildcard element. But he will need to prepare to take some hits.
Denver's defense has 21 sacks, which is 5 more than any other team through five games. A year ago it had 63 sacks, which was 9 more than any other team. They're good, and they're facing the most sack-prone quarterback in the league.
Fields thus far has taken "only" 10 sacks, but he's also only played three and a half games. So he's not far off his career averages in that area, which is about half a sack worse than every other quarterback who's started at least half the time since he entered the league.
Table shows all quarterbacks to start at least half the games since 2021, when Fields was a rookie with Chicago, sorted by sacks per start. Fields is up at 3.4, with the 2nd-worst passers (Ryan Tannehill and Russell Wilson) at 3.0. Search tools at pro-football-reference.com used in compiling this table.
QUARTERBACKS TAKING SACKS, 2021-PRESENT | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | GS | TD | Int | Sk | Sk/G |
Justin Fields | 48 | 49 | 31 | 161 | 3.4 |
Ryan Tannehill | 37 | 38 | 27 | 112 | 3.0 |
Russell Wilson | 58 | 86 | 33 | 174 | 3.0 |
Joe Burrow | 61 | 129 | 41 | 169 | 2.8 |
C.J. Stroud | 37 | 51 | 20 | 102 | 2.8 |
Geno Smith | 57 | 82 | 45 | 156 | 2.7 |
Daniel Jones | 48 | 41 | 27 | 129 | 2.7 |
Baker Mayfield | 63 | 106 | 48 | 168 | 2.7 |
Sam Darnold | 40 | 62 | 32 | 105 | 2.6 |
Jalen Hurts | 67 | 86 | 35 | 153 | 2.3 |
Lamar Jackson | 61 | 108 | 32 | 139 | 2.3 |
Justin Herbert | 69 | 114 | 39 | 155 | 2.2 |
Kyler Murray | 55 | 75 | 36 | 120 | 2.2 |
Kirk Cousins | 55 | 98 | 42 | 119 | 2.2 |
Aaron Rodgers | 55 | 99 | 30 | 112 | 2.0 |
Matthew Stafford | 62 | 106 | 46 | 126 | 2.0 |
Dak Prescott | 58 | 117 | 45 | 117 | 2.0 |
Mac Jones | 52 | 60 | 45 | 103 | 2.0 |
Brock Purdy | 38 | 68 | 31 | 72 | 1.9 |
Trevor Lawrence | 65 | 75 | 51 | 118 | 1.8 |
Jared Goff | 70 | 127 | 41 | 127 | 1.8 |
Derek Carr | 59 | 87 | 41 | 106 | 1.8 |
Tua Tagovailoa | 58 | 99 | 43 | 102 | 1.8 |
Patrick Mahomes | 71 | 139 | 52 | 124 | 1.7 |
Jordan Love | 37 | 68 | 26 | 55 | 1.5 |
Josh Allen | 72 | 137 | 55 | 105 | 1.5 |
I'm aware that the Denver defense is not available in any fantasy leagues. But for those of you in gambling friendly states, check the sack over-under for the Broncos. Pretty good chance they'll go over it this week.
--Andy Richardson