• A down day for Marshon Lattimore: Within the wild-card spherical, Lattimore earned the bottom grade by any participant who performed no less than 5 snaps. Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans took full benefit of the bad-blood matchup, securing six of eight targets for 84 yards and a rating when Lattimore was in protection, with Lattimore incomes only a 25.9 protection grade.
• A.J. Brown eyeing a giant day: Brown had an uncharacteristically quiet recreation, managing only one reception for 10 yards and averaging 0.42 yards per route run. He earned his lowest receiving grade of the season (57.8), a stark distinction to his dominant regular-season efficiency that noticed him put up the third-highest receiving grade amongst large receivers (91.6).
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Estimated Studying Time: 15 minutes
The NFL playoffs are all about rising to the event, however not each star shines within the highlight.
As we head into the divisional spherical, a number of key gamers will look to rebound after underwhelming performances within the wild-card spherical. Let’s have a look at who’s below strain to bounce again this weekend after incomes disappointing PFF grades within the first week of playoff motion.
CB Marshon Lattimore, Washington Commanders: 26.5
When Washington traded for Lattimore, it was with the expectation that the gifted veteran nook would enhance a struggling secondary. Nevertheless, that hasn’t fairly been the case, with Lattimore coping with a nagging hamstring harm that has restricted his appearances and manufacturing.
Within the wild-card spherical, Lattimore earned the bottom grade by any participant who performed no less than 5 snaps. Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans took full benefit of the bad-blood matchup, securing six of eight targets for 84 yards and a rating when Lattimore was in protection, with Lattimore incomes only a 25.9 protection grade.
The eighth-year cornerback finally surrendered 4.42 yards per protection snap — the worst mark by any beginning nook this previous week.
CB Cooper DeJean, Philadelphia Eagles: 34.9
The Eagles’ first-year nook has had an incredible rookie marketing campaign so far, however he stumbled drastically in his first postseason look. Tasked with holding down the slot, DeJean posted a career-low 34.2 protection grade within the wild-card spherical, permitting 1.85 yards per protection snap and a 100% open goal fee. It starkly contrasted his regular-season efficiency, the place his 77.7 slot protection grade ranked eleventh amongst qualifying slot defenders.
CB Christian Benford, Buffalo Payments: 41.4
The previous sixth-rounder has emerged as one of many league’s prime protection defenders over the previous two seasons and notably completed the common season with the fourth-highest protection grade (82.8) amongst qualifying cornerbacks. That’s what made his struggles within the wild-card spherical so stunning. He earned a 38.6 protection grade — his lowest in two seasons — whereas permitting 2.21 yards per protection goal and a 118.3 passer score on throws into his protection.
G Mekhi Becton, Philadelphia Eagles: 45.3
Becton has flashed potential on the inside of this Eagles offensive line, however consistency has been laborious to come back by. His 45.3 total grade within the wild-card spherical mirrored these struggles. In opposition to the Packers, he earned sub-50.0 grades as each a run- and pass-blocker — the primary time he’s fallen under that threshold in each areas since becoming a member of the Eagles. With the Rams’ entrance seven coming off a powerful efficiency final week, Becton should step as much as assist Philadelphia advance.
TE Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Payments: 47.7
After incomes a 70.0-plus receiving grade for the second consecutive season, it was a shock to see Kincaid battle to seek out separation within the wild-card spherical. Kincaid posted his lowest receiving grade of the yr (52.4), largely because of the Broncos’ protection technique, which incessantly noticed Patrick Surtain II matched up towards the gifted tight finish.
EDGE Josh Sweat, Philadelphia Eagles: 52.3
The Eagles’ go rush dominated the Packers’ entrance, posting a powerful 58.3% pass-rush win fee. Nevertheless, Sweat was uncharacteristically quiet on the sting, producing simply two pressures with a 6.9% win fee. His 52.3 pass-rush grade was the bottom amongst Eagles defenders within the recreation.
Philadelphia depends closely on its entrance 4 to strain the passer, so Sweat might want to step up as the standard of opposing quarterbacks ramps up within the divisional spherical.
QB C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans: 58.4
No quarterback threw for extra yards than C.J. Stroud on wild-card weekend (282), however the Texans quarterback left some performs on the sector that would have swung the sport within the Chargers’ favor. Los Angeles pressured the rookie quarterback relentlessly, producing 21 pressures and forcing him into 4 turnover-worthy performs. Stroud struggled below duress, incomes only a 32.8 passing grade below strain — the bottom of the weekend. Within the divisional spherical, anticipate Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to dial up an identical recreation plan to maintain Stroud uncomfortable.
LT Alaric Jackson, Los Angeles Rams: 58.6
The Rams’ offensive line considerably held its personal towards a Vikings go rush that generated the sixth-most pressures (314) through the common season. The unit nonetheless allowed 17 pressures, although, with Jackson being accountable for three. His 10.0% strain fee was the best amongst Rams offensive linemen. That efficiency will undoubtedly want to select up with the Eagles go rush on the schedule.
WR A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles: 60.6
Brown had an uncharacteristically quiet recreation, managing only one reception for 10 yards and averaging 0.42 yards per route run. He earned his lowest receiving grade of the season (57.8), a stark distinction to his dominant regular-season efficiency that noticed him put up the third-highest receiving grade amongst large receivers (91.6) — a career-best mark.
S Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore Ravens: 61.6
Hamilton’s significance to the Ravens’ protection is plain, together with his transition from slot defender to deep security driving vital enhancements within the unit’s effectivity. Nevertheless, his efficiency within the wild-card spherical fell in need of expectations.
In protection, Hamilton appeared a step behind on a number of performs, permitting Russell Wilson to take advantage of openings, together with a 30-yard landing go to Van Jefferson over his head. With Josh Allen and the high-powered Payments offense up subsequent, Baltimore will want Hamilton to return to type as one among their key defensive anchors.
