NFL defenses are absolutely throwing down right now, unleashing a record-shattering 51% blitz rate against under-center passes through the first three weeks of the season. This isn’t just a bump, folks, this is the highest the league has seen since TruMedia started tracking blitz rates way back in 2006, and it’s turning the offensive game on its head.
The “Ethical Football” Comeback and Its Unforeseen Fallout
Remember when everyone thought the NFL was just going to be a shotgun, RPO world after that crazy Rams-Chiefs shootout in 2018? Well, guess what: the league said, “Nah, we’re going under center now.” And they really meant it. Through Week 3, the under-center rate has shot up to 42.0%, which is a number we haven’t touched since 2013. You dig deeper, and on early downs, like first and second, it’s an even crazier 49.6% from under center, also the highest since 2013. The kicker? Teams are actually succeeding with it, boasting a 47.4% success rate under center, the highest in that same period, just edging out 2025’s 46.9%. It’s like offenses decided to return to what some are calling “ethical football,” but defenses are already making them pay for it.
Defenses Go Full Aggression, Unleashing Chaos
So, how are defenses countering this sudden blast from the past? They’re going with pure aggression, baby! As longtime college defensive coordinator Don Brown once said, you gotta “solve your problems with aggression,” and NFL defensive coordinators are absolutely taking notes. That 51% blitz rate against *all* under-center passes isn’t just a random number, it’s a strategic nuclear option. They’re sending linebackers, they’re sending cornerbacks, basically anyone they can to blow up those condensed formations and especially those outside zone runs. This isn’t just about getting after the quarterback, it’s about causing pure, unadulterated chaos in the backfield.
Why the blitz obsession against under-center, though? It all starts with the run game. Teams are hammering away with the outside zone, making it almost 40% of their designed rushes this season. That’s the highest since TruMedia started tracking it in 2016! With outside zone, linemen block an *area*, not a specific guy. If nobody’s in their area, they’re off to the second level. And when offenses condense those formations, shrinking the average width to 22.67 yards (almost six yards shorter than in 2016), they can mask their play-action and make every run look identical. But defenses are wise to it. By sending blitzers from depth, they force those offensive lines to react faster, stress their eyes, and create defenders in “unaccounted-for zones.” When a run happens under center, the offensive line has to fire off much faster than in shotgun. And linebackers, who usually have to respect the mesh point in shotgun run scenarios, are freed up to fly. It’s a pure schematic battle, and right now, defenses have the upper hand.
This constant cat-and-mouse game between offense and defense is what makes the NFL so addicting. Offenses have gone retro, and defenses have responded with a sledgehammer. The league’s still young, but this trend is undeniable. What are offenses gonna do next to counter this defensive onslaught? That’s the million-dollar question for the weeks ahead.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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