• Jalen Ramsey has nonetheless been a great run defender: This season, Ramsey’s 82.2 run-defense grade this season ranks thirteenth amongst qualifying cornerbacks.
• Khalil Shakir vs. Amik Robertson within the slot will probably be key to observe: Shakir ranks second within the NFL with 521 receiving yards from the slot, whereas Robertson has given up the third-most receiving yards to gamers lined up within the slot with 321 yards permitted.
• Unlock your edge with a PFF+ subscription: Get full entry to all our in-season fantasy instruments, together with weekly rankings, WR/CB matchup charts, weekly projections, the Begin-Sit Optimizer and extra. Join now!
Estimated studying time: 9 minutes
For 17 years, PFF has constructed essentially the most detailed soccer database on this planet, analyzing each participant on each play throughout the NFL, school soccer and past. Trusted by all 32 NFL groups and numerous others, PFF gives the information that helps uncover the actual story behind each recreation.
Forward of NFL Week 14, our media workforce has dived deep into the numbers to ship key insights for each NFL matchup, highlighting the hidden storylines and standout performances that form every recreation.
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LAR@SF | DAL@CAR | KC@CLE |
Los Angeles Rams @ San Francisco 49ers
One matchup to control is when the Rams have the ball on third-and-7-plus-yard- conditions, as they’ve struggled to transform on this spot. Los Angeles’ 15% conversion fee ranks third-worst. Conversely, the 49ers have allowed the very best conversion fee on third-and-long at a 34% clip this season. San Francisco’s protection has allowed open targets to receivers at a 59% fee in these conditions as nicely.
Stopping George Kittle is a precedence for the Rams protection, contemplating San Francisco’s All-Professional tight finish is coming off his season excessive in receiving yards. Over the past 5 video games in opposition to San Francisco relationship again to the start of the 2021 season, the Rams have discovered a approach to restrict Kittle in comparison with prior historical past.
To begin his profession in opposition to Los Angeles from 2017-20, Kittle hauled in 39 receptions for 646 yards (92 per recreation), with 4 landing grabs, 427 yards after the catch and 15 explosive catches of 15 or extra yards. In trying on the 5 video games since 2021, Kittle has mustered 18 receptions for 153 yards (31 per recreation) and 74 yards after the catch with two touchdowns and three explosive receptions.
Dallas Cowboys @ Carolina Panthers
Rico Dowdle continues to string collectively good video games together with his 329 dashing yards since Week 12, the second-most behind Saquon Barkley. Dowdle is incomes yards after contact, creating explosive run performs within the course of. His 241 yards after contact over the identical timeframe additionally trails solely Barkley, as Dowdle’s 4.1 yards after contact per try during the last three weeks is nice sufficient for fifth-best on the operating again place.
Now in his eighth season, proper sort out Taylor Moton continues to play an essential position in Carolina’s offense as a move protector. Moton’s present streak of 823 pass-blocking snaps with out permitting a sack is the longest amongst all offensive lineman, which dates again to Week 6 of the 2023 season.
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs @ Cleveland Browns
Patrick Mahomes’ 90.1 passing grade on third down this season is the very best amongst all quarterbacks, and his 148 dropbacks with no turnover-worthy play are essentially the most. The following-nearest quarterback with no turnover-worthy play on the cash down is Spencer Rattler with 31.
On the opposite aspect, cornerback Denzel Ward has performed disruptive protection all season, together with his 17 pressured incompletions main all gamers. That additionally marks a single-season excessive for the Browns’ seventh-year nook.
Miami Dolphins @ Houston Texans
All through his profession, Jalen Ramsey has supplied run help for every workforce he’s performed on. This season, Ramsey’s 82.2 run-defense grade this season ranks thirteenth amongst qualifying cornerbacks. The Dolphins will want all fingers on deck slowing down Texans operating again Joe Mixon, who’s having an enormous yr dashing. His 599 yards after contact are the Twelfth-most at his place.
If Houston has hopes of getting stress on Tua Tagovailoa this week, the Texans will want to take action realizing he enters this week with the quickest common time to throw at 2.29 seconds. The Texans rank thirteenth total in common time to stress at 2.5 seconds. Additionally they slot twenty first as a workforce with a 12.1% stress fee on throws 2.3 seconds or much less.
New York Jets @ Jacksonville Jaguars
In his first full season as a starter, linebacker Jamien Sherwood has been nothing wanting a dependable participant in all sides of play; his 75.8 total grade is the Twelfth-best on the linebacker place. Notably, Sherwood has flashed in opposition to the run, together with his 49 run stops the second-most at linebacker.
As a workforce, Jacksonville ranks final with simply 39% of contested targets caught amongst all of its pass-catchers. Conversely, the Jets enter this week with the eighth-highest fee of contested targets in protection at 18%. In flip, this might present the Jaguars with extra alternatives to both enhance their contested catch fee — or maybe sink to a decrease fee.
Washington Commanders @ New Orleans Saints
The Commanders offense is beginning to expertise the second-half slide that has plagued Kliff Kingsbury-led offenses prior to now. Within the first 9 weeks of the season, the Commanders’ 6.5 common yards per play ranked second within the NFL solely behind the Ravens. Nevertheless, since Week 10, they’ve dropped to nineteenth within the league at a mean of 5.1 yards per play.
Permitting yards after the catch has been a weak spot for the Saints protection this season. On common, New Orleans has permitted 6.3 yards after the catch per completion, the third-highest within the league — solely in entrance of the Cowboys and Browns.
Baltimore Ravens @ New York Giants
Sunday may very well be an unimaginable day for the Ravens’ juggernaut dashing assault. The Giants rush protection ranks thirtieth in dashing yards per try allowed and have surrendered the very best 10-plus-yard rush fee (15.6%). On the season, Lamar Jackson’s 6.1 yards per carry ranks third amongst rushers with 50-plus makes an attempt this season, whereas Derrick Henry’s 5.9 yards per carry sits fifth.
If the Ravens are capable of proceed their dashing dominance, the Giants should move their approach again into the sport. No matter who the quarterback is, the Giants have struggled to take action this season. Their 5.77 passing yards per try and their 74.7 workforce passer score each rank final within the league.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Tennessee Titans
Trey Hendrickson has been on a tear for the Bengals protection this season. His 65 complete pressures are essentially the most within the NFL, and his 21.8% pass-rush win fee ranks third solely behind Myles Garrett and Aidan Hutchinson.
The Titans have struggled to maintain opposing offenses out of the top zone in red-zone conditions this season. They’ve allowed a landing on 64.4% of such drives, which ranks twenty eighth within the NFL. This week, Tennessee attracts a Bengals offense that has scored a landing on 69% of red-zone drives, the second-highest fee within the NFL.
New England Patriots @ Arizona Cardinals
Drake Maye has discovered extra success going up in opposition to man protection than zone protection thus far in his rookie season. Amongst 32 qualifying quarterbacks, his 108.9 passer score in opposition to man protection ranks seventh-best, whereas his 80.5 passer score in opposition to zone protection ranks fifth-lowest. He’s prone to face extra zone in opposition to a Cardinals protection that’s taking part in zone protection on 75% of protection snaps, which ranks sixth-highest amongst defenses.
James Conner has been one of many hardest gamers to sort out as a runner or receiver, however the Patriots can have pretty much as good an opportunity as any to get him down cleanly. Alongside Josh Jacobs, Conner leads the league with 72 complete missed tackles pressured on runs and receptions. In the meantime, the Patriots sit subsequent to the Steelers with the fewest missed tackles on protection at 83.
Indianapolis Colts @ Denver Broncos
Since Week 11, Anthony Richardson‘s 82.9 PFF passing grade ranks eighth amongst 32 qualifying quarterbacks, whereas his 7.7% big-time throw fee sits fifth in that very same timeframe.
Colts pass-catchers should win the contested catch battle in opposition to this Broncos secondary. The Broncos have contested a goal on 25.6% of makes an attempt, the second-highest fee within the league behind solely the Chargers.
Buffalo Payments @ Detroit Lions
Lions slot nook Amik Robertson can have his fingers full with Khalil Shakir, who has emerged as one of many league’s most efficient slot receivers. Shakir ranks second within the NFL with 521 receiving yards from the slot, whereas Robertson has given up the third-most receiving yards to gamers lined up within the slot with 321 yards permitted.
Jared Goff leads the NFL with 164 play-action dropbacks, and he has been extremely productive on these throws with 1,580 passing yards — 259 greater than the next-best quarterback — and 12 passing touchdowns (second-most). However the Payments have executed a great job defending play motion this season with solely 7.1 yards per try allowed — which ranks second-best.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert has been profitable going vertical this season with 55 move makes an attempt and 656 passing yards focusing on vertical routes, each rating second amongst quarterbacks. His 91.2 passing grade on such throws additionally sits fifth-best. The Buccaneers have given up a 126.3 passer score when focused by vertical routes, which is the third-highest mark amongst defenses.
Each Rachaad White and Bucky Irving are huge elements within the Buccaneers passing recreation, particularly with their run-after-catch potential. White ranks fourth on the place with 419 yards after catch, and Irving is tied for seventh with 391. Nevertheless, the Chargers are the very best protection within the NFL at limiting yards after catch, permitting a league-best 4.7 yards after the catch per reception.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Philadelphia Eagles
Pittsburgh has restricted quarterbacks from scrambling to the tune of simply 31 dashing yards on scrambles this season. The following-closest workforce is the Dolphins, who’ve permitted 110 scramble dashing yards. Jalen Hurts will take a look at the Steelers on runs, as his 323 yards dashing on scrambles are the third-most in 2024.
The success of the Eagles’ operating recreation with the addition of Saquon Barkley has additionally helped Hurts with play motion in comparison with final season. Hurts’ 79.4 passer score on play motion in 2023 ranked twenty ninth amongst 32 qualifying quarterbacks. This yr, he’s vaulted his passer score on play motion to 116.5, which ranks ninth.
Inexperienced Bay Packers @ Seattle Seahawks
Zach Charbonnet had a breakout efficiency in Week 14 in opposition to the Cardinals with a career-high 134 dashing yards, 125 of which got here after contact. His 125 dashing yards after contact had been the third-most by any participant in a recreation this season. For the Packers protection, 77% of the dashing yards they’ve given up have come after contact, the third-highest mark amongst defenses.
Jordan Love’s potential to evade sacks underneath stress is considered one of his finest traits. On 119 pressured dropbacks, he has taken 11 sacks, compiling solely a 9% pressure-to-sack ratio that ranks third-best amongst qualifying quarterbacks. The Seahawks rank prime 10 with a powerful 36% stress fee, however they’ve solely been capable of convert 17% of their pressures into sacks — which is the fourth-lowest mark amongst defenses.
Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings
Sam Darnold was almost excellent throwing outdoors the numbers in opposition to the Falcons in Week 14, finishing 10-of-11 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns. On the season, his 17 passing touchdowns on makes an attempt outdoors the numbers ranks tied for first amongst quarterbacks. But the Bears have solely given up 5 passing touchdowns on makes an attempt outdoors the numbers, fewer than some other protection.
Caleb Williams noticed a season-high 23 blitzes when he confronted the Vikings protection in Week 12, however he dealt with the aggression nicely, finishing 75% of his passes in opposition to the blitz for 192 yards and two touchdowns. His 92.3 passing grade in opposition to the blitz in Week 12 continues to be the second-highest by any quarterback in opposition to the blitz in a recreation this season (minimal 10 dropbacks). Moreover, the 143.9 passer score the Vikings allowed in protection whereas blitzing the Bears is the very best they’ve given up in any recreation this yr.
Atlanta Falcons @ Las Vegas Raiders
Drake London has been utilizing his measurement to his benefit, co-leading the NFL (alongside Terry McLaurin) with 20 complete contested catches. The Raiders don’t hand over contested catches simply, although, solely permitting a 41% catch fee on contested targets — which ranks second-best amongst defenses.
Brock Bowers will get focused wanting the first-down marker very often, however he does a great job at turning these targets into optimistic performs. He leads your entire NFL with 79 targets wanting the sticks and 24 receiving conversions on these targets. That is an space the Falcons might be attacked, as they’ve given up a conversion on 24% of targets confronted wanting the sticks — which is the fifth-highest mark amongst defenses.
