Rise up, NFL pass rushers.
Take a bow, all you defensive backs.
After a battered, humiliating start, defenses have taken the league back from the quarterbacks.
In the season’s first week, every Kyle Orton, Rex Grossman and Kevin Kolb threw for at least 300 yards. There were a record 14 quarterbacks who reached the single- game milestone.
Cam Newton, in his first NFL game, and Chad Henne were among the four quarterbacks who opened the season throwing for at least 400 yards.
Tom Brady passed for 517.
In Week 11, only four quarterbacks reached 300 yards. There hasn’t been one 400-yard passer since Week 5, a drought of six weeks and counting.
“What that tells me,” Broncos veteran safety Brian Dawkins said, “is that after giving up all those points and yards, defensive coordinators were getting worried about their jobs and started doing something about it.”
While the fantasy passing stats have declined, interceptions are up. Way up. There were 39 interceptions last week compared with just 24 in Week 1.
So while 300-yard passing games are down 71.4 percent from Weeks 1 to 11, interceptions have soared 62.5 percent. The drop in passing, by the way, has not coincided with an increase in rushing. There were seven 100-yard rushers in Week 1, Week 10 and Week 11.
And don’t blame the weather. For the most part, conditions have remained ideal for passing.
“There was an old famous coach who once said there are three things that happen when you throw,” Broncos coach John Fox said, “and they’re all bad.”
Coach, Woody Hayes said only two of the three were bad. “I’m changing it,” Fox said, laughing.
Spoken like a coach, who in a Week 10 win at Kansas City oversaw an offense that had 55 running plays and only eight pass attempts.
“I think what you’re seeing is it takes time for defenses to come together,” Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey said. “Defense is so much about communication. It’s about being on the same page, and it takes a while.”
As NFL players were locked out, the prevailing thought was the game would be sloppy this season. The timing between quarterbacks and receivers would be off. The pitchers (defense) were supposed to be ahead of the hitters (offense).
It was a thought without wisdom. Quarterbacks bombarded defenses through the air through the first four weeks, when there were 44 300-yard passing games.
There have been just 37 300-yard passing games in the seven-plus weeks since. Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers was the only 300-yard passer on Thanksgiving.
The primary culprit has been the middlin’ quarterback.
I started a Tuesday Morning Quarterback online series this year in which each week I rank each quarterback.
In the early weeks, quarterbacks were playing at such a high level, it was difficult squeezing all the quality passers into the top 20.
As the season went along, two enormous gaps developed. The first separated Rodgers and whoever is in the No. 2 slot, usually either Brady or Drew Brees.
The second divide shifted seismically from 20 to 25 quality quarterbacks through Week 4, to no more than 12 who are playing at a high level now.
Since Tim Tebow took charge in late October, he has thrown just one interception and averaged 126 yards passing. In that same period, the Broncos led the NFL with 208.0 yards rushing per game. And the Broncos have gone 4-1.
“I look at it like investments,” Fox said. “You can invest in the high risk and when you do well, great. You can throw it around, but that can come with a penalty and that’s interceptions. There’s been a proven formula that’s worked over time.”
Spotlight
QB recession
Something funny happened as the NFL was on its way to a record-setting passing season. Interceptions went from 24 in Week 1 to 39 in Week 11, while 300-yard passing games went from 14 in Week 1 to four in Week 11:
300-yard
Week Games Int. games
1 16 24 *14
2 16 33 9
3 16 34 11
4 16 32 10
5 13 28 6
6 13 24 6
7 13 30 3
8 13 23 5
9 14 24 5
10 16 36 7
11 14 *39 4
*NFL highs
Eye on Caleb Hanie, QB, Bears
When: Final six games of the season starting today against the Raiders in Oakland.
What’s up: With starting QB Jay Cutler expected to miss the rest of the regular season with a broken right thumb that required surgery last week, Hanie will guide the Bears from their current 7-3 record toward the playoffs.
Background: Born in Dallas and raised in Forney, Texas, Hanie played four years at Colorado State, the last two as a starter. He played well in his two games against the Colorado Buffaloes, winning 14-10 as a junior and losing 31-28 in overtime as a senior. He was a combined 40-of-50 passes (80 percent) against the Buffs for 462 yards with four TDs and one interception. Using the NFL system, that computes to a 123.1 rating. Undrafted when he signed with the Bears in 2008, the 6-foot-2 Hanie has been a four-year backup who has mopped up in four regular-season games. He replaced an injured Cutler in the NFC championship game in January and played well, completing 13-of-20 for 153 yards and a touchdown, although he also threw two interceptions.
Klis’ take: Although the Bears tried to get Kyle Orton off waivers, I believe they will go 3-3 with Hanie and make the playoffs. He scared the Packers in the conference championship last year. He entered the game in the third quarter trailing 14-0. The Bears lost 21-14. He did throw an interception that was returned for a touchdown by defensive tackle B.J. Raji. Hanie has to take care of the ball, but with a terrific running back in Matt Forte, a terrific defense led by Brian Urlacher, and terrific special teams led by Devin Hester and Robbie Gould, the Bears don’t need much from their quarterback. Even Cutler averaged a pedestrian 222 yards passing during their current five-game winning streak.
On the hot seat
Repairing his image?
Who: Matt Leinart, quarterback, Houston Texans
When: 11 a.m. today at 3-7 Jacksonville
Why: In his sixth season, this is likely Leinart’s last chance to prove he’s an NFL-caliber starter. He is handed a 7-3 Texans team that should win the AFC South going away. Funny week for the top three QBs in the 2006 draft. Vince Young (the third pick) started ahead of Michael Vick. Leinart (10th) starts the rest of the season ahead of the injured Matt Schaub. And Jay Cutler (11th) is likely out for the regular season after surgery to repair a broken thumb.
THREE UP
1. Seahawks: In last victories — against St. Louis and Baltimore — averaged 10:01 advantage in time of possession. RB Marshawn Lynch had 59 carries, 197 yards, 2 TDs.
2. Raiders: In last two wins — against San Diego and Minnesota — had 8:21 advantage in time of possession. 3. Cowboys: WR Laurent Robinson has seven TD catches in last five games. RB DeMarco Murray averaging 22.3 carries, 108.5 yards during four-game winning streak.
THREE DOWN
1. Bengals: QB Andy Dalton threw five picks in last two losses to Steelers and Ravens. RB Cedric Benson had just 98 yards on 30 carries (3.3).
2. Giants: Without Ahmad Bradshaw, leading rusher Brandon Jacobs had 76 yards on 30 carries (2.5) in two losses.
3. Lions: QB Matthew Stafford has thrown nine interceptions in last three games, losing twice. Star DT Ndamukong Suh is headed for certain suspension.
Mike Klis
covers the NFL: Contact 303-954-1055, mklis@denverpost.com or Twitter@mikeklis
