NFL quarterbacks are under more pressure than ever from rushers. Why?

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According to a report by Arif Hasan in The Guardian, the Baltimore Ravens are preparing to start their fourth quarterback of the year, Jacoby Brissett, against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday, due to injuries to Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley and Joe Fagnano. This puts them close to the NFL record of five starting quarterbacks in a single season. Statistics show that through nine weeks, quarterbacks have been hit on 15.1% of their dropbacks, the highest since hits were first logged in 2006. Pro Football Focus (PFF) has measured the pressure rate at 36.1%, the highest in their dataset. While some attribute the trend to declining offensive line play or increased blitzing, data indicates that pass-block and pass-rush win rates have not significantly changed. The primary answer lies in time spent in the pocket: quarterbacks are holding onto the ball longer than ever, with the average time to throw reaching a record 2.83 seconds. Additionally, defenses are successfully deterring deep shots through expanded two-high coverage schemes.