What happened: Tomlin spoke at halftime of the Cowboys-Giants Sunday night game in his new role as NBC's Football Night in America analyst after 25 seasons coaching. He said today's camps lean on 7-on-7 skill work with fewer padded sessions, leaving defenders short on shedding blocks and tackling.
Why it matters: Tomlin's read frames the outburst as a preparation gap that should narrow once defenders bank live tackling reps. That early window rewards teams that can strike before opposing units catch up.
By the numbers: 50.1 combined points per game entering Sunday night, the highest Week 1 average since the 1970 merger. Sunday alone was the top Week 1 Sunday since the merger. Chicago's 59-37 win at Carolina set the Week 1 single-game scoring mark, hitting 89 points with four minutes left before a final touchdown.
What to watch: Week 2 scoring will show whether defenses start closing the gap with a full week of live film and tackling.