Adjustments each NFC Team needs to make going into Week 3

This is part tw0 of a two piece series co-written by my good friend Gav Davis and myself. Heading into another weekend of football, there are things for every team in the NFC to work on. Lets start in the NFC East…

NFC East

1. Philadelphia Eagles: Stopping the Run

The Indianapolis Colts rushed for a total of 169 yards on the ground in their loss Sunday night to the Philadelphia Eagles.

In order for Philly to continue their success, they need to see improvement in the defense, specifically with their front seven. Opposing teams will look to keep Chip Kelly’s dynamic offense on the sideline for as long as possible.

This will be especially true for the Eagles Week three opponent, the Washington Redskins, who currently rank third in the league in rushing yards per game.

2. Washington Redskins: Team Chemistry

The biggest area of improvement will have to be development of chemistry. Since Robert Griffin III went down with an ankle injury, it will be crucial for Kirk Cousins to step in seamlessly.

Cousins looked strong against Jacksonville in relief of Griffin, but tougher tasks lay ahead including at Philadelphia and home against Seattle in two of their next three games.

3. Dallas Cowboys: Better Turnover Ratio

You have heard it once, you’ll hear it again: Dallas quarterback Tony Romo can kill his team with interceptions at the least opportune times.

Dallas needs to better job of taking care of the football, as they currently possess a negative-three turnover ratio.

Also, this turnover ratio issue does not only need fixing on Romo’s end. Running back DeMarco Murray needs to protect the ball better, as he has already coughed it up twice in only two games.

4. New York Giants: Quarterback Play

The New York Giants have shown once again that under head coach Tom Coughlin, they are not a regular season team.

Eli Manning has proven to be one of the most puzzling quarterbacks in recent memory. Manning continues to make poor decisions and throw his team under the bus, with four interceptions already.

You never know what you are going to get from him, which is why its still not out of the realm of possibility this team makes a comeback in the very weak NFC East.

NFC North

1. Chicago Bears: Lacking a Ground Game

When I say that Bears quarterback Jay Cutler has weapons to throw the ball to, that’s putting it lightly. Receivers Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, and tight end Martellus Bennett make up one of the greatest air shows in the NFL.

However, Chicago has struggled to have much of any type of ground game. Two-time Pro Bowl running back Matt Forte has struggled, averaging just 51.5 yards in his first two games.

A good run game will even help Chicago’s already stupendous passing attack with things like play action and having to stack the box anticipating the run.

2. Minnesota Vikings: Keeping Offensive Drives going

Aside from the entire, current Adrian Peterson saga, the rest of the team has issues of their own.

While able to pick up a victory against an injury ridden St. Louis Rams team, the Vikings are seven of 23 on third down. Matt Cassel and company need to find ways to keep their drives going, all the way to their opponents red zone, and quit punting all too often.

Otherwise, we could see a young man with the number five leading the purple people eaters in the not too distant future.

3. Detroit Lions: Being One-Dimensional

The Matthew Stafford-Calvin Johnson connection is one of the most lethal in the NFL right now. Stafford is also able to get the ball to Golden Tate and others.

That’s fine if you want to impress your fantasy owners, but in order to win games against tougher opponents, the running game has got to get going.

Running backs Joique Bell and Reggie Bush have yet to get going. While they were able to expose a weak New York Giants ball club through the passing attack, the Carolina Panthers proved to be far more savvy. If Bush and Bell can combine for around 125 yards or so a game, it opens up the passing attack dramatically.

4. Green Bay Packers: Get the Running Game going

While the Packers faced some of the best run defenses in the game in Seattle and New York, only getting 77 yards out of RB Eddie Lacy in two games is unacceptable.

Despite being hampered by a concussion, Lacy needs the ball to take off some pressure on QB Aaron Rodgers, who provided composure in a grueling win over the Jets.

If they can get Lacy the ball, they become one of the most dynamic offenses in the league. If not, they may be doomed to a wildcard loss.

NFC South

1. Carolina Panthers: Red Zone Woes

Of all of the wide receivers who caught a pass from Panthers quarterback Cam Newton in 2013, a grand total of zero returned to Carolina in 2014.

That being said, Carolina has struggled in the red zone, having only a scoring percentage of 42.86 percent inside of the 20. Carolina has had to settle for field goals in many situations in which a touchdown was oh so close.

Whether it be big bodied rookie wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin or veteran tight end Greg Olsen, Newton needs to been more proficient when it comes to the last 20 yards.

2. Atlanta Falcons: Inability to Generate Pass Rush

Surprisingly enough, the Atlanta Falcons have forced only two turnovers in two games and have registered no sacks.

In a conference with top quarterbacks like Drew Brees and Newton, as well as impact players like Vincent Jackson, Jimmy Graham and Doug Martin, they need to get those offenses off the field as soon as possible.

If the defense doesn’t find some sort of inspiration, there will be nothing Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan can do to save this team from missing the playoffs once again.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Staying Healthy

On paper, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers look like one of the most talented squads not only their division, but also the entire league.

However, due to a slew of injuries to big name players like running back Martin, defensive end Michael Johnson, defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, and guard Logan Mankins, Tampa has struggled in its first two outings. While Tampa must remain with the next man up mentality, they can’t afford any more injuries to the core of their team.

Although this is all much easier said than done, the Buccaneers need to make sure that injuries don’t further plague this team.

4. New Orleans Saints: Pass Defense

Despite acquiring ball hawking safety Jarius Byrd in the offseason, the Saints surrendered over 400 yards passing to Matt Ryan and company and then followed that up by being stunned by the Browns. Brian Hoyer was also able to pass efficiently against a shaky Saints secondary.

The biggest issue for this team is stopping the pass. The Saints rank last in the league in terms of passing yards allowed averaging 323.5 yards per game in two contests.

Only time will tell how they progress against weaker offenses like Minnesota and Tampa Bay coming up in the next few games.

NFC West

1. Arizona Cardinals: Establishing RB

Coming into this year, many expected Arizona Cardinals RB Andre Ellington to emerge as one of the league’s top every down backs.

Unfortunately, due to injuries to Ellington, Arizona has not had the type of dominance on the ground they had hoped for in their first few games.

Arizona has used running back Jonathan Dwyer in order to not overwork a limited Ellington, but if Ellington is able to return to Arizona and give them the dominant performances we know he is capable of, they should win. However, in light of the recent alleged domestic violence charge, Dwyer figures to be out for a while. Look for teams in the NFC West to struggle to dethrone the Cards from the top, should Ellington come back healthy.

2. Seattle Seahawks: 3rd Down Efficiency

A seven for 19 start on third downs is not exactly the kind of start you would expect from the Super Bowl champions, but that is what the Seahawks have done to start the year on offense.

The Chargers were able to come up big on third down, while the penalty issues of the Packers bailed the Seahawks out. The play of the Chargers secondary was admirable, but this is a real issue for the defending champions.

This may not be an issue right now, but come playoff time, third down efficiency is one of the more crucial statistics in the game.

3. San Francisco 49ers: Better decision making from Kaepernick

I don’t care who you talk to, the San Francisco 49ers should have beaten the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football.

Quarterback Jay Cutler had only 176 yards on the day, and the Bears won largely due to 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick throwing three interceptions and fumbling once, that gave Chicago scoring opportunities. Kaep forced a lot of passes, and as a result was picked off on two back to back drives.

Kaepernick, along with San Francisco, needs to do a better job of taking care of the football if they want to compete with the rest of the highly talented NFC.

4. St. Louis Rams: Run Defense

The more obvious answer here might be the quarterback position, but for a third string quarterback, Austin Davis has been surprisingly efficient.

For a defense that already lost Chris Long, they need to stop the run. Adrian Peterson, and Cordarrelle Patterson ran wild in Week one, while Bobby Rainey looked fantastic running for 144 yards.

If the Rams expect to win games this year, they need to shape up soon, or Marshawn Lynch and Frank Gore will steamroll them repeatedly in a division where running backs are headliners.