All eight of the remaining teams in the 2024 NFL playoffs have one commonality — they possess a capable receiver … at tight end.
Over the past decade, the NFL finally welcomed analytics, and clubs collectively realized throwing was the most efficient way to move the football. Because of that, GMs prioritized not only having one, or two, but three quality wideouts.
The latest plan to stay ahead of the curve — and in this case, the “curve” can be equated simply to “opposing defenses” — team-builders and offensive coordinators have leaned into “12 personnel,” a two-tight end, one-running back, two-receiver grouping that traditionally has hinted at a run play.
In the 2023 regular season, there were 1,271 more 12 personnel plays in the NFL than the 2018 regular season. Huge disparity.
And while the history of the NFL cannot be told without the tight end — heck, it predates the wide receiver — there are just more athletically capable large human beings now at the position that blurs the line between wideout and running back.
The eight teams left in the playoffs have many of them.
Of course, Chiefs star Travis Kelce remains the headliner. George Kittle of the 49ers is also elite. So is Mark Andrews. Dalton Schultz has proven his ascension in Dallas was no fluke this season with the Texans.
Then there’s a group of youngsters — Lions first-year pro Sam LaPorta has rocked in Detroit. Dalton Kincaid has become an integral piece to the Bills pass game. After Andrews went down in November, second-year tight end Isaiah Likely moved up the target-pecking order in Baltimore and has thrived.
For the Packers, it’s two rookies, Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave. And even Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton finished the regular season second on Tampa Bay in receiving touchdowns with four. He had eight snags for 89 yards in the wild-card win over the Eagles.
Here’s how those 10…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2024-nfl-playoffs-all-eight-divisional-round-teams-have-this-one-thing-in-common/
Author : Chris Trapasso
Publish date : 2024-01-18 12:59:52
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