Offensive Line Articles

Week 13 Offensive Line Rankings

11/30/2021

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New England Patriots (Previous Rank: 1) – The Patriots continue to win, and their offensive line continues to roll. They continue to move up the pass pro ranks as they are now sixth with a PA% of 19.9% thanks to another quality outing in which they only allowed five pressures. Earlier in the year, it looked like the Patriots wouldn’t have any pro-bowlers. Now they are likely to have two in Wynn and Mason, and if Onwenu was still starting, he’d probably make it as well. Also, don’t count out David Andrews. Creed Humphreys and JC Tretter are more deserving, but there’s enough time for Andrews to catch up with Tretter. This unit run-blocks well, and they’ve been the best pass-blocking unit in the NFL for almost two months. Their play is the reason an offense with one of the weakest all-around talent pools at the skill/QB positions in the NFL is now one of the hottest teams in the NFL and starting to draw Super Bowl expectations.
Dallas Cowboys (Previous Rank: 3) – The Cowboys o-line bounced back against the Raiders after a disappointing performance vs. the Chiefs. Tyron Smith was back in the lineup after missing three games, and his presence just seems to impact the entire unit. Steele struggled some in pass pro, but this unit held up well overall in pass pro, only allowing pressure at a rate of 17% and not allowing any sacks. The biggest surprise with this unit has been the quick improvement by Tyler Biadasz. He allowed 11 pressures in his first three starts, but in his last eight starts, he’s only allowed three pressures and has been one of the better pass-blocking centers in the league over the last month as he hasn’t allowed a pressure in his last four starts. Connor McGovern started his second straight game. He’s been solid, and while I’m sure the Cowboys coaching staff love the fact he hasn’t committed a penalty in those two starts, Williams is clearly the better player and should be allowed to re-enter the lineup with the hope that the benching helps him stop committing penalties. This offensive line has established they have seven legitimate starting-caliber offensive linemen, and that’s a good problem to have moving forward.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Previous Rank: 2) – The Bucs had a tough game vs. the Colts, but they pulled it out. The entire team has been dealing with injuries, but last week the injury bug hit the o-line for the first time when Ali Marpet was lost in the Giants game and ruled out for the Colts game. Then after only 10 snaps, backup guard Aaron Stinnie got injured, and Nick Leverett took over and struggled. He allowed four pressures and a sack. Despite being hampered by a third-stringer, this o-line still played well only allowing seven pressures at a rate of only 18%. They are still the best pass-blocking line, and they had one of their best run0blocking performances of the year as the team rushed for over 140 yards on 5.3 YPC.
Philadelphia Eagles (Previous Rank: 8) – The Eagles blew a chance to be in the 7th seed spot in the NFC by losing the Giants. Don’t blame the o-line though, because they had another excellent outing. Their great run-blocking paved the way for another 200-yard rushing performance, their third straight, and while they weren’t as good in pass pro. The decision-making of Jalen Hurts plagued the Eagles passing attack a lot more than pass protection issues. Kelce left the game with an injury but it isn’t considered to be severe and keep him out extended time.
Cleveland Browns (Previous Rank: 4) – Jack Conklin made his return to the lineup this week, but it only lasted 10 snaps before he left the game with a torn patellar tendon and is out for the season. Now that we know the Browns will be without Conklin the rest of the way, we’ll be judging this unit accordingly, and they haven’t been a consistent top-5 unit with Blake Hance at RT. Hance struggled in the loss vs. Baltimore and has the fourth-highest PA% of any tackle with 500 or more snaps. Wills also struggled, and he’s been up and down all year. The interior group of Bitonio, Tretter, and Teller is still the best in the league and will help sustain this unit as one of the best o-lines in the league, but with Conklin gone for the year, and Wills regressing, this isn’t the same o-line that everyone heralded as the best in the NFL last season.
Los Angeles Rams (Previous Rank: 5) – The Rams o-line played their worst game of the year coming off a bye week in a game in which they needed to win. They have now lost three straight games. The Rams gave up pressure at a rate of 33% and allowed two sacks. That makes two bad games in the last three for this unit. Even Whitworth, who was on an all-time great pace, struggled some as he allowed three pressures and a sack. Their overall body of work on the season calls for patience on overacting to downgrade this unit too much, but a bad game this Sunday vs. the Jags would cause real concern.
Los Angeles Chargers (Previous Rank: 6) – After three great games in a row from this group, they were due a bad game, and they had it vs. Denver. They allowed pressure at a rate of 31% plus two sacks and four penalties. Matt Feiler was a last-minute scratch, so he didn’t play, and that played a large role in this unit’s performance. Senio Kelemete started at LG in his place, and he allowed a team-high six pressures, one sack, and was penalized twice. This o-line should be fine moving forward with a healthy Feiler, but Schofield and Norton had been playing at a level that wasn’t sustainable for their talent level, so games like they played this week are to be expected.
New Orleans Saints (Previous Rank: 7) – The Saints o-line had been on a hot streak since coming off the bye going back to week 7 that ended last week in their loss to the Eagles. This group played even worse this week in another defeat to the Bills. They allowed pressure at a rate of 36% and allowed two sacks. The absence of Ramczyk has greatly impacted this line. Hurst has struggled in back-to-back games at RT and appears to be more comfortable on the left side. Ramczyk returned to practice this week and looks like he'll be back for the Cowboys game which should send Hurst back to LG and return this group to the level it was playing at from week seven through week 10.
Kansas City Chiefs (Previous Rank: 9) – Bye Week
Washington Football Team (Previous Rank: 11) – Despite what some might call a disappointing season, Washington finds themselves in a position in which if the playoffs started today, they’d be in. They’ve had a lot of issues, but their o-line has been one of the best position groups on the team so far, and they came through for them in their MFN win over Seattle. Washington utilized a run-heavy attack to dominate the time of possession, and while the run-blocking wasn’t outstanding, it was good enough to help keep the chains moving and keep Seattle off the field. They also held up well in pass pro only allowing eight pressures. The bad news is Wes Schweitzer left the game with an injury. There is currently no update on his status for the next game but Keith Ismael wasn’t that good in relief, so they need him back.
San Francisco 49ers (Previous Rank: 10) – The 49ers o-line has overcome the loss of McGlinchey in the run game. They had 208 yards rushing on 5.3 YPC and three TDs in their win over the Vikings. This unit hasn’t done as well in pass pro, however. They allowed pressure at a rate of nearly 47% vs. Min. and have allowed pressure at a rate of 31% in their last three games without McGlinchey. The 49er offense could struggle when they play teams that can stop their ground attack if this o-line isn’t better in pass pro.
Arizona Cardinals (Previous Rank: 12) – Bye Week
Indianapolis Colts (Previous Rank: 13) – It was the classic unstoppable force vs. the immovable object matchup for the Colts as they were one of the hottest run teams in the NFL going against the league’s best rush defense. The Colts o-line certainly didn’t dominate the Bucs upfront like they’ve done other teams, but they blocked well enough to rush for 107 yards on 5.4 YPC. This group’s problem is pass pro. After showing signs of improvement in that area in weeks five through nine, this group has regressed back to their poor pass blocking ways in their last three games. They allowed 14 pressures and three sacks vs. the Bucs. The good news is Quenton Nelson played his best game since returning from injury.
Baltimore Ravens (Previous Rank: 14) – The Ravens got an ugly win on SNF over the Browns. While their offense did struggle, it had a lot more to do with poor QB play than poor o-line play. The o-line had one of their best pass pro outings of the season only allowing pressure on 17.5% of their pass snaps. This group could’ve run-block better, but the lack of talent at the RB position is hurting this run game more than the run-blocking.
Cincinnati Bengals (Previous Rank: 15) – The Bengals o-line played well vs. Pit after back-to-back poor showings in weeks nine and 11. Cincy’s o-line only allowed five pressures, but it was even better in the run-game leading the way for nearly 200 rush yards on 5.2 YPC and three TDs. The Bengals have been one of the weaker run-blocking teams all season, so their performance vs. the Steelers was a welcomed sight. Spain remains the best of this group, but the play of Trey Hopkins lately has been impressive. He hasn’t allowed a pressure in his last three starts and is looking better in the run game as well.
Detroit Lions (Previous Rank: 18) – There’s usually not a lot of things going right for teams that don’t have a single win going into December, but the Lions offensive line has played well enough of late for them to move the ball on offense. They were solid in the run game on Thanksgiving vs. the Bears, and they provided serviceable pass protection on a small number of pass plays. Sewell continues to play well, Decker had a solid game, and Evan Brown is in the running for most improved offensive linemen with the year he’s having. He’s been starting at center since Ragnow went down in week four, and he’s done a good job. He’s only allowed four pressures all season and is second only to Rodney Hudson in PA% among centers.
Buffalo Bills (Previous Rank: 16) – The Bills dominated the Saints in the Thanksgiving primetime game, but the o-line wasn’t overly impressive. The Bills RBs were only able to rush for 2.9 YPC, and they allowed pressure at a rate of nearly 24% which is about league average. Dion Dawkins, who has been their best lineman throughout the year, really struggled allowing two sacks, five pressures, one TFL, and was penalized once. Outside of Dawkins, the protection mostly held up for Buffalo, and since Dawkins doesn’t play that poorly often, I think the Bills will continue to win game as long as they can protect Allen. This isn’t a great run blocking o-line, and that won’t change down the stretch of the season, so they’ll need to continue their trend of pass-blocking over their last three games.
Chicago Bears (Previous Rank: 17) – Given they were playing the Lions, it was quite a pedestrian performance by the Bears o-line. They were solid overall in pass pro only allowing pressure 20% of the time, but most of it came from the edges as Peters and Borom allowed a combined seven pressures. The interior only allowed two. The bigger issue was the inability of the Bears to establish the run. They only rushed for 68 yards on 2.3 YPC. On the season, this o-line has been slightly above average in pass pro allowing pressure 23.7% of the time.
Atlanta Falcons (Previous Rank: 22) – The Falcons o-line might have played their best all-around game of the year in their win over the Jags. They were dominant in both phases paving the way for nearly 150 yards and two TDs on five YPC on the ground. They were even better in pass pro as they only allowed four pressures. Atlanta is still alive for the playoffs in the NFC, and if their o-line can have more games like this one, they’ve got a chance.
Tennessee Titans (Previous Rank: 20) – I’ve got good news and bad news about this line. The good news is they’re on a hot streak in the run game as they’ve played well in that aspect in back-to-back weeks. Despite losing by 23, the Titans rushed for 270 yards. The bad news is they can’t protect Tannehill, and that’s a big problem because he’s the type of QB that needs ideal situations to thrive. They allowed pressure 38% of the time vs. NE and have fallen to 29th in pass pro with a PA% of 30.26% on the season.
New York Jets (Previous Rank: 23) – The Jets haven’t been consistently good in pass pro all year, but they had a solid outing in their win over the Texans. They only allowed seven pressures, and best of all, Duvernay-Tardif was much better in his second game with the Jets as he allowed no pressures after allowing seven the week before. Fant has been good at LT all year, Vera-Tucker is having a good rookie campaign, McGovern has improved since last season, and if Tardiff can play closer to how he did in week 12 vs. week 11 the rest of the way, the Jets o-line could finish as a top 20 line at the end of the year.
Denver Broncos (Previous Rank: 19) – The Broncos o-line has been awful in pass pro for the past two games now. They allowed pressure nearly 35% of the time vs. the Chargers. The biggest problem has been that Denver has been without both of their starting tackles in Bolles and Massie. It’s been reported that HC Vic Fangio is optimistic that both will be back next week. With both on the way back, it’s hard to put much stock in how this line has looked the past two weeks.
Minnesota Vikings (Previous Rank: 26) – It’s hard to know what to make of the Vikings. They’ve been competitive against so many good teams this year and have even beaten a few, yet when it looked like they were ready to reach out and grab the seven seed, they lost to the 49ers. The offensive line has been just as up and down as the team. What’s even weirder is the fact that this team can win when the line plays terribly as they did a week ago vs. the Packers, and lose when it plays great like it did on Sunday vs. the 49ers. The Vikings o-line played their best game of the year only allowing three pressures for the entire game.
Jacksonville Jaguars (Previous Rank: 28) – The Jags lost to Atlanta but at least their o-line played well. They had their best pass pro performance of the season only allowing five pressures at a rate of 11%. Now it helps any o-line to play the Falcons, so fans shouldn’t read too much into the performance. The biggest takeaway from this game for the Jags o-line is that Brandon Linder was back in the lineup for the first time since week five, and he looked good.
Green Bay Packers (Previous Rank: 21) – The Packers easily beat the Rams but it had more to do with their excellent defense and the brilliance of Rodgers than it did the o-line. Some in the media praised this o-line for not allowing a sack despite the injuries but that’s a low bar. They allowed 19 pressures at a rate of nearly 39%, three TFL, and were penalized three times. They also struggled run-blocking. We know Jenkins isn’t coming back, and at this point, I’ll believe Bakhtiari will play this year when I see him on the field for the first time. It’s not a knock on the packers that they struggled against a very good front with three starters out. Given their new reality, the expectations for this line moving forward needs to be drastically adjusted from what they were back in August.
Pittsburgh Steelers (Previous Rank: 25) – The Steelers got dismantled by the Bengals, and the o-line was part of the problem. They allowed pressure 27% of the time which was their second-highest mark of the season. It’s also coming off a performance the previous week in which they allowed pressure at a rate of 25% which was their second high mark of the season at that point. Dan Moore has been their worst pass-blocker all season and he struggled most on Sunday allowing five pressures. It’s becoming clearer each week, that this o-line can be exposed in pass pro when the quick passing game is taken out of the equation.
Seattle Seahawks (Previous Rank: 27) – The Seahawks have fallen apart, and so has their o-line. It’s hard to allow 13 pressures just from the interior, but this group accomplished just that in their MNF loss to Washington. Even more astonishing is the fact their starting center allowed six pressures alone. He and Kyle Fuller both were a disaster all night. I guess the good news is Brandon Shell has been respectable all year and Duane Brown seems to be playing a lot better. He’s only allowed two pressures in his last two starts.
New York Giants (Previous Rank: 29) – After back-to-back weeks of allowing pressure at a rate higher than 30%, the Giants had a good outing. They only allowed pressure 22% of the time in their win over the Eagles. Even Nate Solder played well. However, we’ll really see if this o-line is really improving or just had a lucky game next week vs. the blitz-happy Dolphins.
Las Vegas Raiders (Previous Rank: 30) – The Raiders pulled off an impressive upset win over the Cowboys on Thanksgiving, and their o-line contributed. The overall pressure numbers weren’t great, but that was more about Brandon Parker, who allowed seven pressures and a sack, struggling more than a reflection of the entire line. The other four starters all played well, including Alex Leatherwood, who played the best game of his young career.
Carolina Panthers (Previous Rank: 24) – Cam Newton took a lot of heat for his performance vs. the Dolphins, but the Panthers o-line was just as bad. They allowed pressure 46% of the time, three sacks, and were penalized four times. They didn’t do much in the run game either. It was just a poor performance all-around, and the results were one of the worst offensive performances by any team this season.
Houston Texans (Previous Rank: 31) – The Texans o-line struggled in their loss to the Jets. They allowed five sacks and 12 pressures. Most surprising was Tytus Howard, their starting LG, playing well in his first career start at LT, so at least that’s a positive.
Miami Dolphins (Previous Rank: 32) – For the first time all season, the Dolphins allowed pressure at a rate less than 20%, and they did it vs. a defense that entered the week number one in pressure generated. Considering the fact the Dolphins had allowed pressure at a rate of over 40% in the previous three games leading into this one, I’d say the Dolphins o-line performance was the most surprising of the week and one of the most surprising of the year.

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Week 12 Odds & Predictions

11/25/2021

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NFL Point spreads week 12
*Predicted winners are in bold
Predictions Record on the season: 91-73-1

Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions: CHI -3.5
Las Vegas Raiders at Dallas Cowboys: DAL -7
Buffalo Bills at New Orleans Saints: BUF -4
Tennessee Titans at New England Patriots: NE -6
New York Jets at Houston Texans: HOU -2.5
Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants: PHI -3.5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Indianapolis Colts: TB -3
Atlanta Falcons at Jacksonville Jaguars: ATL -1
Carolina Panthers at Miami Dolphins: CAR -1.5
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals: CIN -4.5 (UPSET PICK OF THE WEEK!)
Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos: LAC -2.5
Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers: SF -3
Los Angeles Rams at Green Bay Packers: GB -1
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens: BAL -3.5
Seattle Seahawks at Washington Football Team: WAS -1

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Week 12 Offensive Line Rankings

11/24/2021

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New England Patriots (Previous Rank: 4) – New number one alert. The Patriots offensive line had another dominant performance vs. the Falcons. They only allowed three pressures the entire game and were good in the run game. The Patriots rushed for 133 yards on 24 carries on run plays (5.4 YPC). This group’s overall numbers for the season might now say it, but that is because they are negatively skewed by lineups from earlier in the season when the likes of Yasir Durant, Yodny Cajuste, and Justin Herron all got starts at RT and Wynn was getting off to a slow start. However, we now have a five-game sample size of the Patriots o-line when starting Wynn, Karras, Andrews, Mason, and Onwenu or Brown at RT. In those five games, the Patriots o-line has a PA% of 7.4%. That is just a staggering number. There are individual offensive linemen who have given up a higher PA% than that, and the Bucs currently lead the league in that category at 15.6% just to put that in perspective. Considering this is the only team in the league that can say they have six offensive linemen that can play at a high level, there is no doubt that this is the best offensive line in the NFL today.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Previous Rank: 2) – The Bucs o-line had a dominant performance against a bad Giants team. They performed how you’d expect, as they put on a pass pro clinic with a PA% of 9.4%, and the only allowed sack came from backup guard Aaron Stinnie who was in for the injured Ali Marpet. There isn’t much info available about Marpet’s injury other than it’s an oblique injury, so the severity and timetable for his return is a question mark at his time. The Bucs currently have four starters with a PA% less than 4% and Wirfs has passed Tyron Smith statistically in pass pro with a PA% of 1.71%. This o-line is now 2% ahead of all other teams in PA% at 15.6% and Tampa throws at the fourth-highest rate in the NFL. They take shots down the field, Brady can’t move, and yet teams can’t consistently get pressure vs. this team because of how great this o-line is.
Dallas Cowboys (Previous Rank: 1) – The Cowboys O-line had another poor performance, their second in the past three games. Cowboys fans shouldn’t panic too much because the common denominator in those two games was that Tyron Smith didn’t play. Dallas also made a weird decision to bench Connor Williams because of penalties. While the penalties have been a problem, Williams has been one of the better guards in the league even with the penalties, yet they elected to start an inferior player in Connor McGovern, and he allowed three pressures and a sack. This group had no answer for Chris Jones, and even Zach Martin had his worst game of the year allowing three pressures and a sack as well. This group allowed a total of four sacks and had a PA% of 28% for the game. It’s still hard to hold this performance against them in the big picture knowing that Smith will be back and that Connor Williams is probably going back into the lineup. However, these rankings are also supposed to reflect what is currently happening, and right now the Cowboys are not the best offensive lineman in the NFL.
Cleveland Browns (Previous Rank: 5) – The Browns o-line has been dominant in the run-game all season, but they dropped in the rankings because of their recent performances in pass pro. Entering the Lions game, the Browns o-line had essentially allowed pressure at a rate of 30% or more in four straight games. However, vs. the Lions, they only allowed three pressures for the entire game. Because this game was against the Lions, not much should be made of it. We’ll see if they can protect better vs. the Ravens this week. But the real game-changer for this group is that Jack Conklin is scheduled to return to practice this week. With Conklin back in the lineup, the Browns will be back in the best o-line conversation.
Los Angeles Rams (Previous Rank: 3) – Bye Week
Los Angeles Chargers (Previous Rank: 6) – If you take Justin Herbert’s unusual run production out of the equation, LA had an average game rushing, and so did this o-line. However, it was their performance in pass pro that helped get the Chargers an impressive win over the Steelers on SNF. They allowed three sacks which wasn’t great, but the overall pressure number were good. They had a PA% of 16.7% for the game and have allowed pressure at a rate less than 17% in five of their last six games. I have been extremely impressed with the play of Schofield and Norton. Both are playing due to injuries to starters and were struggling initially. However, both have now played well in three straight games. Corey Linsley has been this group’s best player, but Rashawn Slater is starting to challenge for that honor. Slater is also challenging Creed Humphrey for best rookie offensive lineman. He’s got the sixth-best PA% among tackles in the NFL (min. 450 snaps).
New Orleans Saints (Previous Rank: 7) – The Saints had a rough game in pass pro vs. Philly. They had a PA% of 27.3%, but that was expected since the team was without both starting tackles. However, it’s a plus that this group was able to help the Saints rush for over five yards per carry despite being without Kamara. However, with Armstead and Ramczyk both scheduled to be back soon, there isn’t much to take away from this game from a rankings perspective.
Philadelphia Eagles (Previous Rank: 8) – The Eagles offensive line has been one of the most impressive in the NFL this season. They lost both their starting guards by week three, and arguably their best lineman, Lane Johnson, missed weeks with personal issues. Despite all of that, this offensive line has been in or just outside the top-10 of the rankings all season. This late in the season, their reserves have settled in and embraced their roles as starters moving forward, and are playing like it. The Eagles were dominant in the run game as they rushed for 242 yards at 4.8 YPC. They only allowed three pressures in pass pro and just put together a great overall performance.
Kansas City Chiefs (Previous Rank: 9) – The Chiefs got the win over a banged-up Dallas team, but the offense did not impress. The offensive line allowed three sacks and 12 pressures. However, this group is still being held back by the play-calling as they continue to show they are better at run-blocking. They rushed for 115 yards on 19 carries on designed run plays (6 YPC), and all their TDs came on the ground. The Chiefs aren’t a bad pass-blocking team by any stretch. They are currently 10th in PA% at 22.1%. However, KC ranks second behind the Eagles in rush yards before contact, and considering the QB design runs the Eagles use, I’d bet the Chiefs are first in rush yards before contact on RB designed runs.
San Francisco 49ers (Previous Rank: 10) – The 49ers offensive line is still playing well, but the loss of McGlinchey has hurt this group some. They’ve allowed pressure at a rate over 10% from the RT position in the last three games in his absence, and it’s clearly now the weak spot of this o-line. Brunskill was the weak link prior to McGlinchey’s injury, so now the entire right side of the 49ers o-line is compromised. That being said, Williams, Tomlinson, and Mack are still one of the better trios in the league and will help continue to sustain this group.
Washington Football Team (Previous Rank: 11) – The Washington o-line played well in the run game in their victory over the Panthers. They rushed for nearly 200 yards despite multiple starters leaving the game. Scherff returned a week ago, and Cosmi was back in the lineup vs. the Panthers. Unfortunately, he only lasted 28 snaps before exiting with a hip injury, and he’s questionable for their next game vs. SEA. Tyler Larsen also left with a sprained MCL. Wes Schweitzer is better player than Larsen, and if he can’t go Schweitzer would probably get the nod at C. With Roullier done for the year, it’ll be interesting to see if Schweitzer can handle the center duties. He’s probably better at guard, but he just provides more of a punch in the run game than Larsen does. A starting five of Leno, Flowers, Schweitzer, Scherff, and Cosmi could get this group back in the top-10, but we need to see it first.
Arizona Cardinals (Previous Rank: 13) – How do the Cardinals keep winning games without Kyler and Hopkins? The offensive line has played a big part. They really struggled run-blocking vs. Seattle, but they held up well in pass pro with a PA% of 18%. Their performances in pass pro without Kyler validate their ranking of 3rd in PA%. Humphries had one of his best games of the year, and his strong play has helped the Cardinals remain one of the better o-lines in the NFL.
Indianapolis Colts (Previous Rank: 15) – The Jonathan Taylor MVP chatter has start to pickup, and this o-line’s run-blocking has played a part in that. They were great up front vs. the Bills in the run game. However, this team’s ability to pass-block has been an issue all season. They didn’t throw much vs. the Bills, but they had a PA% of 37.5% for the game. That’s Miami Dolphins caliber stuff. The Colts 31.1% PA% on the year ranks 31st. Even Nelson is struggling in pass pro. The one good thing they have going in pass pro is Braden Smith, who has only allowed three pressures in the four games he’s played since returning from injury.
Baltimore Ravens (Previous Rank: 12) – The Ravens found a way to get a win without Lamar Jackson, but it wasn’t pretty, and this o-line struggled. They had a PA% over 30% and allowed three sacks and struggled run-blocking as well. This o-line hasn’t played this poorly since week three. The Ravens o-line success this season is built on them playing well as a group. However, Zeitler was their only player that really played well upfront.
Cincinnati Bengals (Previous Rank: 17) – The Bengals o-line has been up and down this year. Considering this unit was up against the best pass-rushing front four in the NFL, they didn’t play terribly. They allowed two sacks and had a PA% of 28.2% for the game. The majority of the pressure came from the tackle positions as both Williams and Reiff allowed four each. This group was effective run-blocking. While they didn’t dominate, they blocked consistently well enough for the Bengals to lean on their run game as the team had more rush attempts than pass attempts.
Buffalo Bills (Previous Rank: 18) – Despite getting blown-out by the Colts, the Bills o-line actually played well in this game. They were effective in both the run and pass game. This unit only allowed six pressures, no sacks, no TFL, and averaged 7 YPC on the ground. Things went so well for this group that even Cody Ford played well, it was his best game of the year.
Chicago Bears (Previous Rank: 16) – The Bears o-line was ok vs. the Ravens. They allowed 10 pressures and a sack, but most of their struggles in pass pro came from the tackles as Peters and Borom allowed seven of the 10 pressures combined. They currently rank 18th in PA% at 24.2%. It was a middle-of-the-pack caliber performance that is reflective of their ranking.
Detroit Lions (Previous Rank: 23) – The Lions had their best run-blocking performance of the year. They rushed for 168 yards on 7.3 YPC. The return of Taylor Decker to this group has changed things for them. Even though he wasn’t great in pass pro in this game, he’s a huge upgrade over Matt Nelson, who was one of the worst pass-blocking tackles in the NFL this season. His return has also allowed for Sewell to move back to RT. It’s a small sample size, but in his two starts at RT he didn’t allow a pressure and looks more comfortable on that side. Even Brown has also been more than serviceable replacing the injured pro-bowler Frank Ragnow. Also, big V has quietly been one of the better pass-blocking guards as he’s only allowed five pressures in his last five games. He left the game with a concussion and is questionable for the quick turnaround game on Thanksgiving.
Denver Broncos (Previous Rank: 20) – Bye Week
Tennessee Titans (Previous Rank: 22) – The Titans o-line had one of their better run-blocking performances of the year vs. HST. They had 100 yards rushing on 23 carries on designed runs, and it’s the first productive run game this team has had in over a month. Unfortunately, they weren’t as effective in pass pro and that played a role in Tannehill’s bad game. They allowed 15 pressures and a sack, and Saffold especially struggled, as he allowed seven pressures. Without Henry, the Titans are ultimately going to have to lean more on their passing game, and this offensive line isn’t built to hold up without the threat of play-action.
Green Bay Packers (Previous Rank: 14) – The Packers got devastating injury news. Elgton Jenkins tore his ACL in their victory over the Vikings and is done for the year. On top of that, we recently learned that Bakhtiari had a setback with his return and had to have a knee scope. Yosh Nijman isn’t the long-term answer at LT, and given Bakhtiari’s setback, one has to believe that even when he does return he’ll be rusty. The Packers o-line takes a hit until further notice.
Atlanta Falcons (Previous Rank: 19) – The Falcons o-line was outmatched vs. NE in every way, which typically is the result when you get shut out. ATL rushed for only 40 yards on 16 carries (2.5 YPC) and had a disastrous 44.7% PA%. They also allowed two sacks. Jake Matthews pass protection was about the only positive from this game for this group.
New York Jets (Previous Rank: 26) – In last week’s rankings, I called for the Jets to start Duvernay-Tardiff at RG. They did, and it wasn’t great. He allowed seven pressures and a sack in his debut game for the Jets. The Jets need to be patient with him because it was just his first game of the year, and he’s only been active for about a month. Overall, they did a solid job in the run game. They rushed for over 11 yards on 5 YPC. The other four guys outside of Tardiff were solid in pass pro, and Flacco was able to take advantage and have a pretty good game.
Carolina Panthers (Previous Rank: 28) – The Panthers o-line played one of their best games of the year. Everyone outside of Michael Jordan had a good game in pass pro. They also rushed for 111 yards on 5.3 YPC. It’s been back-to-back good games for this offensive line, and as Cam gets more comfortable they should be in the mix for one of the NFC wildcard spots if this o-line can continue to play well.
Pittsburgh Steelers (Previous Rank: 21) – The Steelers o-line has been up and down this season, and they were down vs. the Chargers. They might have had their worst pass pro performance of the year allowing a season-high 13 pressures and four sacks. The Steelers found themselves in a game in which they couldn’t just dink and donk in the passing game, and they got exposed. We’ve known all year the Steelers pressure numbers were somewhat inflated, and it’s games like this one that validate that. They also struggled run-blocking. The Steelers were only able to rush for 55 yards on 18 carries (3.1 YPC).
Minnesota Vikings (Previous Rank: 24) – The Vikings o-line struggled in their loss to the Packers. They were better than the numbers say in the run game but awful in pass pro. They allowed pressure at a rate of 43.6% for the game. Darrisaw especially struggled, as he allowed seven pressures and had his worst showing of the year. Mason Cole was even worse, allowing five pressures from the center position. Kirk Cousins is somehow having a great season despite this group's inability to consistently protect him all year.
Seattle Seahawks (Previous Rank: 27) – The Seattle offensive line played better than they did vs. GB but they still aren’t playing nearly well enough. They allowed pressure at a rate of 26.7% and three sacks. They were better in the run game as SEA rushed for 86 yards on 4.5 YPC. They are in the bottom five in PA% at 29.4%.
Jacksonville Jaguars (Previous Rank: 25) – The Jags o-line had one of the worst performances of week 11. They got destroyed in the run game as the JAX only rushed for 31 yards on 13 carries (2.4 YPC) when you take out Lawrence’s rush yards. They also allowed pressures at a rate of 32.3% and allowed two sacks. Cam Robinson and Andrew Norwell had good games in pass pro, but the other guys struggled, and nobody played well in the run-game.
New York Giants (Previous Rank: 29) – The Giants offense was a disaster in their loss on MNF to the Bucs, and this o-line may have played even worse than everyone thinks Daniel Jones did. This group allowed pressure on multiple occasions vs. a three-man rush which led to a PA% of 38.6% for the game along with three sacks. This group dropped nine spots in PA% off this game alone.
Las Vegas Raiders (Previous Rank: 30) – The Raiders are on the verge of falling out of the AFC playoff picture and their o-line is playing their part after yet another poor performance vs. the Bengals. They allowed pressure at a rate of 40% for the game, and even Kolton Miller struggled on Sunday. They had a rare good run-blocking game, so that’s something they may be able to build on moving forward to try and save their season on Thanksgiving vs. the Cowboys.
Houston Texans (Previous Rank: 31) – The Texans got their second win of the year despite their offensive line. The Texans o-line had one of the worst run-blocking games of the season based on the tape, and the numbers back that up as their RBs rushed for 65 yards on 32 carries (2 YPC). The good news is this offensive line didn’t allow a sack for the first time since week three.
Miami Dolphins (Previous Rank: 32) – Despite how poorly this offensive line has played, Miami has found a way to win three straight games. This game was this group’s best game in their last three, as they only allowed pressure at a rate of 37.5% compared to 42.5% last week and 48% the week before. This o-line was also solid in the run-game. However, given this group’s body of work, they are still far and away the worst offensive line in the NFL.

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2021 NFL Offensive Line Pro-Bowl Voting Guide Pt. 1

11/18/2021

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Fan voting for the NFL pro-bowl officially opened Tuesday of this week. While fans love to vote for their favorite QBs, skill players, and even defensive guys, voting for the offensive line can be tough. olinestats.com is here to help by providing a guide to voting for pro-bowl offensive linemen.

When it comes to pro-bowl voting, remember that position side doesn't matter. You can vote for all LTs for the tackle position or all RGs for the guard position or any combination that makes the most sense. So with that in mind, we'll be making our pro-bowl picks are based on the most deserving players and not necessarily by trying to make sure all five OL positions are represented. Also, I would say it's best to wait till later in the season to vote rather than when voting first starts. But if you just can't wait and want to vote now, this guide will help you out.

AFC
Tackles (3 Players)
1. Rashawn Slater - Chargers (Starter)
2. Kolton Miller - Raiders (Starter)
3. Orlando Brown - Chiefs
All the best tackles this season play in the NFC. There probably won't be a single AFC tackle to make an all-pro team. However, the way the pro-bowl works, both conferences get the same amount of players voted in, so we have to pick three AFC tackles. Technically, on a per snap basis, Michael Onwenu from the Patriots has been the best tackle in the AFC. However, with Trent Brown back in the lineup he didn't start the Patriots last game, and if he does get back into the lineup, he'll probably be used at LG so I'm disqualifying him from this conversation unless something changes with how the Patriots use him moving forward.
So With Onwenu out of the picture, the top two choices from the AFC should be Slater and Miller. Slater has been the best LT in the AFC despite being a rookie and figures to be a stalwart of the Chargers o-line for years to come. Miller has played well the majority of the season and shined on a very bad Raiders o-line in which he is the only consistently good player of the starting five. The third choice was tough and I think it's something that will come down to the end of the year. Orlando Brown, Isaih Wynn, Dion Dawkins are the top candidates for that final spot. Dawkins has been the best in pass-pro of the three, but he's been by far the worst in the run game. Wynn has been the best run-blocker, and he's been a lot better in pass pro of late, but his overall body of work in pass pro has been negatively affected by a slow start. Brown has been the best of the three in terms of a complete body of work in both phases from start to finish. He hasn't been great this season, but he's been good, and he hasn't had significant dips in his play at any point in the season. For now, I give Brown the nod, but Wynn is on pace to overtake him, and if Braden Smith keeps playing the way he has, he could deserve the nod despite the games he's missed.

Guards (3 Players)
1. Joel Bitonio - Browns (Starter)
2. Joe Thuney - Chiefs (Starter)
3. Andrew Norwell - Jaguars
Bitonio should be a given for the pro-bowl. He's been the second-best guard in the NFL this season. The other two spots are going to be tough to choose and we'll have to monitor this all season. For now, I'm rolling with Joe Thuney and Shaq Mason. Thuney has only been ok in the run game, but he's been the best pass-blocking guard in the NFL on a team that throws it a ton, so he deserves to get in. Many might say Wyatt Teller should get a spot, and while he's certainly on the shortlist as one of the best run-blocking guards in the league, his pass-blocking this season has fallen off compared to last season, and for now, that keeps him off the list. Meanwhile, Norwell has been good in the run game in his own right, and he's top 10 among guards in PA%, so he's been a lot better in pass pro than Teller. Shaq Mason, Matt Feiler, Keven Zeitler, and Quinton Spain are also AFC guards to keep an eye on for the pro-bowl as the season goes on. The AFC guard pro-bowl race is probably the most interesting of all the o-line races in the NFL.

Centers (2 Players)
1. Corey Linsley - Chargers (Starter)
2. Creed Humphrey - Chiefs
It's almost a coin flip between Linsley and Humphrey for top AFC center, and both are almost locks at this point to be in the pro-bowl. The only intrigue here is which one is going to start. I give the nod to Linsley because both have been great in the run-game, but Linsley has been better in pass pro. J.C. Tretter, David Andrews, and Bradley Bozeman would be in the running for third-best AFC center, but none of them have performed well enough to challenge Linsley or Humphrey for a pro-bowl spot.

NFC
Tackles (3 Players)
1. Tyron Smith - Cowboys (Starter)
2. Trent Williams - 49ers (Starter)
3. Andrew Whitworth - Rams
A lot of NFC tackles are playing at a pro-bowl level, but there are only three spots, so many of them aren't going to make it. Smith and Williams have arguably been the best two offensive linemen in the league this season, so unless Smith is hampered by his ankle injury the rest of the way, I don't see how those two aren't the starting tackles for the NFC. Whitworth has been the best pass-blocking tackle in the league over the last month and should be a lock to get in as well. However, Ryan Rmzchek, Elgton Jenkins, Lane Johnson, and Brian O'Neil have all played at pro-bowl levels in their own right. And while none of them are likely to make the pro-bowl you could see them on the 2nd all-pro team.

Guards (3 Players)
1. Zach Martin - Cowboys (Starter)
2. Chris Lindstrom - Falcons (Starter)
3. Ali Marpet - Buccaneers
Zach Martin has been the best guard in the NFL, and by far the best one in the NFC, so there's nothing to talk about with him. It's a competitive race for the other two spots, but I have Lindstrom and Marpet leading the way at this point. Lindstrom has been the lone good run-blocker on a bad run-blocking Falcons line while also performing as one of the better pass-blocking guards in the league with a PA% of 2.96%. Marpet has been good in pass pro most of the season as well despite struggling some last week, and has been one of the better run-blocking guards. Laken Tomlinson of the 49ers is right there with those two and could easily be swapped out for either one. Also, keep an eye on Brandon Scherff who has missed time with injury, but on a per snap basis deserves to be in this conversation. This race will be interesting as the season continues to unfold.

Centers (2 Players)
1. Jason Kelce - Eagles (Starter)
2. Chase Roullier - Washington
The NFC center race is a little more competitive than the AFC one, but Kelce and Roullier are comfortably in the driver seat's at the moment. Kelce is a premiere run-blocker, and so is Roullier. They are ranked first and second among all NFL centers in run-block win rate. Roullier has the edge for the second spot currently, but Alex Mack of the 49ers is in the mix, and still has time to close the gap. Rodney Hudson lost some of his momentum after missing time with injury, but he has been one of the most consistent pass-blocking centers in the league, and while his run-blocking hasn't been up to that level, what he's added in terms of his veteran presence and leading the league in PA% gets him an honorable mention.

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Week 11 Odds & Predictions

11/18/2021

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NFL Point spreads week 11
*Predicted winners are in bold
Predictions Record on the season: 83-66-1

New England Patriots at Atlanta Falcons: NE -7
Detroit Lions at Cleveland Browns: CLE -10
San Francisco 49ers at Jacksonville Jaguars: SF -6.5
Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills: BUF -7.5
Miami Dolphins at New York Jets: MIA -3
Washington Football Team at Carolina Panthers: CAR -3.5
Baltimore Ravens at Chicago Bears: BAL -6
New Orleans Saints at Philadelphia Eagles: PHI -1.5
Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans: TEN -10.5 (UPSET PICK OF THE WEEK)
Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings: GB -2.5
Cincinnati Bengals at Las Vegas Raiders: CIN -1
Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks: ARI -2.5
Dallas Cowboys at Kansas City Chiefs: KC -2.5
Pittsburgh Steelers at Los Angeles Chargers: LAC -5.5
New York Giants at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: TB -11

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Week 12 Offensive Line Rankings

2021 NFL Offensive Line Pro-Bowl Voting Guide Pt. 1

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