Offensive Line Articles

Week 15 Offensive Line Rankings

12/14/2021

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New England Patriots (Previous Rank: 1) – Bye Week
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Previous Rank: 2) – The Bucs o-line continues to play well after another strong performance in both phases in a big win over the Bills. They only allowed six pressures and contributed to the Bucs backs rushing for 122 yards on 5.5 YPC. Tristan Wirfs has surged into the pro-bowl and all-pro conversation as he has the best PA% of any tackle, and he’s continuing to run block well. He and Marpet are battling it out for best player in this group. The Bucs o-line as a team is also running away with the lead in PA% as they are 3% clear of the next best team.
Philadelphia Eagles (Previous Rank: 4) – Bye Week
Dallas Cowboys (Previous Rank: 3) – This unit continues to struggle in the running game. It’s almost hard to believe this is the same group that was spearheading the league's best rush attack earlier in the year. They still pass-block at a high level and remain in the top three in PA%. It would really help if Connor Williams got back in the lineup at LG, and I’ll keep saying it every week until it either happens or Connor McGovern starts to play better than Williams was playing.
Cleveland Browns (Previous Rank: 6) – The Browns o-line played one of their best pass-blocking games of the season without Conklin. They had an impressive PA% of 13% and allowed no sacks. It is a little concerning that the Browns run-game has fallen off some of late but not all of that is the fault of the o-line. Teams know Baker is hurt, and the Brown lack premium talent on the outside and are taking a stop-the-run first approach with this offense.
Los Angeles Rams (Previous Rank: 5) – The Rams were shorthanded last night, and it showed. Havenstein was out due to Covid, and Allen was out due to a knee injury. It wasn’t an awful game, but they allowed pressure at a league-average rate of 24% and gave up three sacks. Most of the allowed pressure came from the backups, so this unit shouldn’t be penalized in the rankings with their starters scheduled to return.
Kansas City Chiefs (Previous Rank: 7) – The Chiefs o-line wasn’t as impressive as one might think in a 48-9 victory. They allowed pressure 28% of the time and two sacks. They were even worse run-blocking. Take away one 51-yard run, and the Chiefs totaled 81 yards on 29 carries (2.8 YPC). The good news is Joe Thuney continued his dominance in pass pro. He allowed no pressures, and it was his fourth time in his last five starts not allowing a pressure.
Los Angeles Chargers (Previous Rank: 8) – The hit or miss right side of the Chargers o-line was mostly miss in their win over the Giants. Scofield and Norton allowed a combined eight pressures. However, the trio of Slater, Feiler, and Linsley played well, so it didn’t hamper the offense much. Expect to hear Slater and Linsley announced as pro-bowlers soon, and while Feiler probably won’t get the nod, he’s had a pro-bowl caliber season in his own right.
San Francisco 49ers (Previous Rank: 10) – The 49er o-line struggled most of the game in pass pro. They allowed two sacks and pressure over 30% of the time. Mostly all of the pressure came from the right side, as Brunskill and Compton both were bad. They both allowed a sack and a combined 10 pressures. The good news is they ran block well, which they normally do. It’s this group’s calling card, and Trent Williams is the best run-blocker in the NFL.
Indianapolis Colts (Previous Rank: 12) – Bye Week
New Orleans Saints (Previous Rank: 9) – Terron Armstead returned to the lineup in all his glory allowing no pressures. McCoy also had a good game at center. Hurst struggled again at RT and frankly has yet to play a good game at that spot. Throckmorton also struggled at LG which is where Hurst would be if Ramczyk was back. If Ramczyk comes back playing at the level he was before he got hurt, this is a top 10 offensive line. He’s missed four straight games, so until he officially comes back and plays well, this line takes a hit in the rankings.

Detroit Lions (Previous Rank: 14) – The Lions were another team hit by covid, and center Evan Brown was the player in this group impacted. Ryan McCollum got the nod in his absence and was a disaster. He allowed four pressures and a sack. The other four players all played well in pass pro. If you take out McCollum’s pressures, they only allowed pressure 12% of the time. The Lions were also effective run-blocking, especially Penei Sewell who is quietly becoming a mauler.
Buffalo Bills (Previous Rank: 15) – The Bills o-line held up well considering the number of pass snaps they played and the amount of blitz pressure they faced. They only gave up pressure 18% of the time. After a rocky start to the season, the Bills o-line has quietly become one of the better pass-blocking units in the league. They’ve allowed pressure less than 20% of pass snaps in seven of their last nine games. Dion Dawkins is on pace to have his best pass pro season and so is Ike Boettger. They continue to creep up in the team pass blocking ranks. They now rank 13th with a PA% of 23.8%.
Baltimore Ravens (Previous Rank: 16) – The Ravens o-line had a bounce-back game and played really well vs. the Browns despite the loss. They only allowed seven pressures, and most of it came from the inconsistent Villanueva who allowed four along with two sacks. However, everyone else played well, especially in the interior. The Ravens quietly have one of the better interior groups in the league with Bozeman and Zeitler both having strong seasons.
Arizona Cardinals (Previous Rank: 13) – The Cardinals o-line had been one of the most consistent pass-protecting offensive lines in this season, but they had an uncharacteristic stinker game on MNF vs. the Rams. They gave up two sacks and 27 pressures. Kyler Murray didn’t play well, but this offensive line didn’t give him much of a chance to. Given their track record this season, this game must be chalked up as nothing more than an aberration, but it was a really bad look.
Washington Football Team (Previous Rank: 11) – Washington’s o-line was a disaster against the Cowboys. They allowed three sacks and pressure nearly 40% of the time. Injuries continue to do in this offensive line. Larsen started at C, and he’s the team’s third-string center. He got hurt, and Keith Ismael had to take over. Backup RT Cornelius Lucas had one of the worst games of the week allowing 8 pressures and a sack.
Atlanta Falcons (Previous Rank: 19) – This group struggled vs. the Panthers as they allowed pressure 29% of the time and allowed three TFL. It was a very abnormal game for the Falcons o-line. Chris Lindstrom, this group’s best player, had his worst game of the season. Jalen Mayfield, who entered week 14 with the highest PA% among guards, allowed no pressures for the first time all season, and Hennessy, McGary, and Mayfield probably all outplayed Matthews and Lindstrom. It was just a complete aberration game.
Tennessee Titans (Previous Rank: 20) – Hopefully Henry returns ASAP because this o-line actually ran block well vs. the Jags despite the rushing numbers. The biggest issue with this group all season has been pass pro, and they had another weak game in that aspect as they allowed pressures on 28% of pass snaps and two sacks.
New York Jets (Previous Rank: 21) – The Jets were forced to throw practically the entire game, and this o-line responded with one of their best pass pro performances of the season. They only allowed pressure at a rate of 19% and gave up one sack. The Duvernay-Tardiff addition looks better and better each week, and quietly, George Fant has been one of the best pass-blocking tackles in the NFL this season. He ranks sixth among eligible tackles in PA% at 3.24%
Denver Broncos (Previous Rank: 22) – The Broncos o-line has put together back-to-back good games. I won’t make too much out of them playing well vs. a depleted Lions team that is already bad when everyone is available to play.
Cincinnati Bengals (Previous Rank: 18) – The Bengals o-line got it handed to them vs. the 49ers. The allowed pressure 57% of the time along with three sacks. Reiff reinjured his ankle in the first half and was replaced by Isaiah Prince who played the worst Sunday. The Bengals were a solid pass-blocking unit at the start of the year, but they’ve come crashing back to Earth. They’ve had back-to-back poor outings and now rank 21st in PA% at 25.8%.
Chicago Bears (Previous Rank: 17) – The Bears o-line had one of the worst performances of the year in the SNF game vs. the Packers. They didn’t run block well and were a disaster in pass pro. They allowed 30 pressures and two sacks. Their PA% of nearly 64% might be a season-high for any team in one game this year. Jason Peters was lost early in the game, and things went from bad to worse. His replacement was Teven Jenkins who allowed seven pressures, two sacks, and was penalized four times.
Minnesota Vikings (Previous Rank: 23) – Darrisaw’s was upgraded to questionable for the Vikings next game yesterday, which is great news because the effects of his absence were very noticeable on TNF. Oli Udoh and Mason Cole struggled most in pass pro vs. the Steelers, and both are playing out of position with Darrisaw out. The good news is Cole at least run blocks well whenever he’s been called upon to play this year, and the Vikings o-line as a whole did a good job upfront in the run game to assist Dalvin Cook in the clinic he was putting on in route to 205 yards rushing.
Pittsburgh Steelers (Previous Rank: 24) – The Steelers o-line didn’t play that well vs. the Vikings. They allowed 12 pressures and three sacks. The biggest issue is that most of the pressure came from the interior as Green and Leglue especially struggled. The good news is they did have one of their better run-blocking games of this season.
New York Giants (Previous Rank: 27) – The Giants o-line had one of their best performances of the season vs. the Chargers. Unfortunately, Mike Glennon was at QB, so it didn’t matter. They had a solid game run-blocking which led to the Giants rushing for 135 yards on 5.2 YPC. What was more impressive is they had their best pass pro game of the year only allowing pressure 14% of the time.
Green Bay Packers (Previous Rank: 25) – The Packers took full advantage of the bye week to get their offensive line of backups ready to play. It’s a testament to the Packers offensive line coach that this group was able to play as well as they did vs. a good Bears defense that ranks top five in sacks. They only allowed four pressures and one sack despite losing their fourth starting offensive lineman to injury in Billy Turner during the game. The Packers are hopeful he can return at some point this season, but it likely won’t be soon. While I want to give this group credit for their performance. However, they are now down four starters and just played poorly before the bye week. It will take more than one good game before I can buy into this group as a quality NFL line.
Jacksonville Jaguars (Previous Rank: 26) – This group can’t catch a break. Linder only last about a game and a half after returning from injury before getting hurt again. They were shut out by the Titans and while this group wasn’t awful, they weren’t good either. They only allowed 10 pressures but gave up three sacks. While they only had eight run snaps, they weren’t very good run-blocking in that small sample size which is why Urban Meyer may have elected to abandon the run game despite not being out of the game until the 4th quarter.
Seattle Seahawks (Previous Rank: 29) – The Seattle o-line played the best game they’ve played since maybe week four. It’s not a coincidence that it came vs. the Texans. It’ll take more than a blimp game against one of the league’s worst teams to start feeling optimistic about this group again.
Carolina Panthers (Previous Rank: 30) – The Panthers have been one of the worst pass pro o-lines in the NFL, but nobody struggles vs. the Falcons defense, so they had a decent game this week.
Houston Texans (Previous Rank: 31) – The Texans o-line has put together back-to-back solid games. They still have a major talent deficiency without Tunsil and Cannon, but there’s no denying they’ve started to play a little better.
Las Vegas Raiders (Previous Rank: 28) – The Raiders o-line had a rough day at the office vs. a red-hot Chiefs defense. They allowed pressure at a rate of 47% along with four sacks. Leatherwood, who has struggled most of the season, had his worst game of the year. Things were so bad that even Kolton Miller was a disaster. The only good news is Andre James had another strong game and has started to play consistently well after a rough start to the season.
Miami Dolphins (Previous Rank: 32) – Bye Week

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NFL Pro-Bowl Voting Guide Pt. 2

12/9/2021

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With pro-bowl voting set to end one week from today, it's time for another edition of the offensive line pro-bowl voting guide.

AFC
Tackles (3 Players)
1. Rashawn Slater - Chargers (Starter)
2. Kolton Miller - Raiders (Starter)
3. Isaiah Wynn - Patriots
In the part 1 pro-bowl voting guide I had Slater and Miller as the AFC starting tackles and I'm sticking with those two three weeks later. Slater has been the best tackle in the AFC this season based on full-body of work and availability and he's just a rookie. Kolton Miller has been one of the best pass-blocking tackles in the NFL. Where it gets tough is picking the third spot. Isaiah Wynn, Orlando Brown, and Braden Smith all have good cases. Wynn's improved play since week seven has helped the Patriots run off seven wins in a row and soar to the top of the AFC standings. He's been a good run blocker all season and though his overall pass pro numbers aren't great, but since week 7, Wynn has a PA% of 3.9% and has really turned things around in that aspect. His elite play and it's impact in helping the Pats win gets him the nod for the third and final spot.

Orlando Brown also has a very strong case. He was in the third spot in the last addition. His play hasn't fallen off since then, Wynn's just started playing at such a higher level. Still if Brown were to make the pro-bowl this season it would be deserving. He's been one of the best run-blocking tackles in the AFC and solid in pass pro. However, the primary job of an LT is pass protection and Brown just hasn't been consistent enough in that aspect to warrant being ahead of the three guys in front of him even with his run-blocking. Braden Smith six games since returning from injury in week 8 would be enough in my opinion to crown him the best tackle in the AFC. He's been the best run-blocking tackle in the AFC since he's returned and has a PA% of 4.1% in those six games. However, he did try to play hurt in week one and struggled which hurt his numbers a little and he's missed almost half the season. If pro-bowl voting ran through week 18 I'd bet he'd make the team, however, voting closes after week 14 and he's just missed too many games to be ahead of the other players I've mentioned.

Guards (3 Players)
1. Joel Bitonio - Browns (Starter)
2. Shaq Mason - Patriots (Starter)
3. Wyatt Teller - Browns
The AFC guard pro-bowl race is one of the most interesting in the league. Bitonio has been the best guard in the AFC all season and is now creeping closer to Zach Martin for best NFL guard. Shaq Mason is another Patriot who has raised his level of play since their win streak started. Mason was playing well in pass pro all season, but his run blocking really picked up at the start of the win streak. I gave the final spot to Wyatt Teller. Teller was just on the outside looking in during the last addition. He's been better in pass pro of late and has been arguably the best run-blocking guard in the AFC.

Joe Thuney has a strong case and you could honestly swap him and Wyatt out if you wanted. He's been elite in pass pro this season but just decent in the run game, sort of the opposite of Teller. Teller's run blocking has been more impressive than Thuney's pass blocking so he got the nod. Andrew Norwell was on the list last time but his pass blocking hasn't been as strong in recent weeks so he's fallen down some. Kevin Zeitler has been pass blocking at an elite level of late and his name deserves mentioning. It'll probably be too late for him to catch the five I've already mentioned but it's worth mentioning that he's only allowed three pressures in his last six starts.

Centers (2 Players)
1. Corey Linsley - Chargers (Starter)
2. Creed Humphrey - Chiefs
No change at the center position for the AFC as far as the two selections you should make. Linsley has been the best pass-blocking center in the NFL and one of the best in run-blocking. He's allowed no sacks and only one TFL all year to go with a 1.23 PA% that ranks second among centers. Humphrey is right behind him with a PA% of 1.37 that ranks third among centers and he's been arguably better in the run game than Linsley. It's a coin flip as to who starts but both have separated themselves from the rest of the pack.
No other center deserves to make the pro-bowl above those two, but the next best choices are David Andrews and J.C. Tretter. Tretter has the edge in pass pro and Andrews has the edge in run-blocking but they've both done well in both phases.

NFC
Tackles (3 Players)
1. Tyron Smith - Cowboys (Starter)
2. Trent Williams - 49ers (Starter)
3. Andrew Whitworth - Rams
All three selections for the NFC tackle position are the same as last time and I won't waste time doing a long spill on why. However, I will say the race for the third spot has gotten closer. Tristan Wirfs is just on the outside looking in. He's played more pass snaps than any NFC tackle and has only allowed eight pressures which is why he leads all NFL tackles in PA% at 1.43%. He was very inconsistent in the run game earlier but he's been a lot better in the second half of the season in that aspect. His teammate also has a pro-bowl case. Donovan Smith is having the best season of his career and is just a tick behind Wirfs in PA% as he ranks fifth among eligible tackles. Lane Johnson has the next strongest case. He's been arguably as good as the three I selected since returning from his hiatus. However, he wasn't playing nearly at this level in his first three games before the hiatus. Combine that with the missed games due to personal reasons and it hurts his case further.
Guards (3 Players)
1. Zach Martin - Cowboys (Starter)
2. Ali Marpet - Buccaneers (Starter)
3. Chris Lindstrom - Falcons
It's the same three names as the last addition for the NFC guards but this time in a different order. Zach Martin is a lock to be a pro-bowl starter based on reputation and his play on the field. Marpet and Lindstrom should get the next two spots. Last time I had Lindstrom starting and Marpet as the reserve and I've swapped them in this addition because Lindstrom has allowed seven pressures in his last three starts compared to Marpet who has only allowed four. They are pretty close in evaluation when looking at their performance this season in both pass pro and run-blocking. I honestly wouldn't have a problem if either of them makes it as a starter or reserve as long as they both get in because there's a gap between those two and any other NFC guard that might deserve consideration.
Centers (2 Players)
1. Jason Kelce - Eagles (Starter)
2. Alex Mack - 49ers
The NFC center position has been hurt by injuries. Frank Ragnow was on pace to be the best center in the conference but went down early. In the part 1 voting guide we had Chase Roullier as the second pro-bowl center but he's now out for the season. Kelce is the starter and he deserves it. He has stood out beyond any of the other NFC centers with his run-blocking. Ideally, a pro-bowl starting center would rank better than 18th among centers in PA%, but center is the one o-line position where run blocking should be more valued than pass-blocking. Alex Mack gets the nod at the reserve spot. He's hasn't been great at anything, but he's been good in both pass pro and in the run game and has helped the 49ers o-line have a good season.

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Week 14 Odds & Predictions

12/9/2021

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NFL Point spreads week 14
*Predicted winners are in bold
Predictions Record on the season: 109-84-1

Pittsburgh Steelers at Minnesota Vikings: MIN -3
Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs: KC -9.5
New Orleans Saints at New York Jets: NO -5.5 (UPSET PICK OF THE WEEK!)
Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans: TEN -8.5
Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns: CLE -2.5
Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers: CAR -3
Dallas Cowboys at Washington Football Team: DAL -4
Seattle Seahawks at Houston Texans: SEA -7.5
Detroit Lions at Denver Broncos: DEN -8
New York Giants at Los Angeles Chargers: LAC -10.5
San Francisco 49ers at Cincinnati Bengals: SF -1
Buffalo Bills at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: TB -3
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers: GB -12.5
Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals: ARI -3

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Week 14 Offensive Line Rankings

12/8/2021

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New England Patriots (Previous Rank: 1) – The Patriots offensive line had arguably the best performance of the season in my opinion on MNF vs. the Bills when factoring in the circumstances. NE ran 48 run-play snaps to just three pass snaps. If you watch the film, the Bills defense got to a point where they were completely selling out to stop the run with as many nine in the box at times and still could not. They rushed for 217 yards on 38 carries (5.7 YPC) on RB runs. The Pats have been one of the best rushing teams in the NFL during their win streaks despite having unproven backs and no threat of a vertical passing game. Right now, the Pats offense stars play on its o-line, and it’s the best in the NFL.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Previous Rank: 3) – Every o-line typically plays well vs. the Falcons, so this game went as expected. Tampa put on a pass-blocking clinic against an inferior defense only allowing three pressures on 52 pass snaps (5.77%). That’s one of the lowest allowed pressure rates in a game this season. Tom Brady is the greatest QB ever, and it’s going to be tough to keep this team from repeating when teams can’t get pressure on him.
Dallas Cowboys (Previous Rank: 2) – The Cowboys o-line isn’t run blocking at the level it was earlier in the year, but they are still an elite pass pro unit. They only allowed pressure 12% of the time in the Saints game, and most of that was from backup guard Connor McGovern who needs to move back to the bench in favor of Connor Williams. The Cowboys are still second in PA% at 17%, and Tyron Smith seems to be fully recovered from his ankle injury.
Philadelphia Eagles (Previous Rank: 4) – The Eagles continued their success in the run game in a win vs. the Jets. The Eagles have simply decided they are going to run it, and there’s nothing anybody can do to stop it. Their RBs rushed for 174 yards on 36 carries. They were great in pass pro as well, only allowing three pressures. This unit currently has three players playing at a pro-bowl caliber level in Kelce, Johnson, and Mailata.
Los Angeles Rams (Previous Rank: 6) – The Rams needed a bounce-back game badly, and so did this o-line, and they got it against the Jags. The Jags aren’t a good team, but they’ve proven to have a competent pass rush this season, and the Rams almost shut them out, only allowing two pressures for the game. If this o-line brings their a-game and Stafford isn’t throwing it to the other team, the Rams offense is good enough to score on anybody.
Cleveland Browns (Previous Rank: 5) – Bye Week
Kansas City Chiefs (Previous Rank: 9) – The Chiefs offense in recent weeks has been hard to figure out. Their offensive line has played at a high level much of the season and yet Mahomes has struggled of late. This unit only allowed two pressures vs. a very good Broncos defense that entered week 13 second in points allowed. Despite facing little pressure, Mahomes and the Chiefs passing game never really got rolling. The good news for KC is that you have to believe Mahomes and that talented group of skill players will figure it out at some point if this o-line continues to play well.
Los Angeles Chargers (Previous Rank: 7) – The Chargers o-line has come back to earth a bit in the last two weeks. They didn’t have a bad game vs. the Bengals, but it wasn’t a good game either. They allowed three sacks and pressure nearly 21% of the time. This group still has a quality body of work on the year and should have two pro-bowlers in Linsley and Slater.
New Orleans Saints (Previous Rank: 8) – The Saints problem right now is just availability. Armstead returned in week 12 and played will vs Buf but was out in their last game vs. Dal. Ramczyk hasn’t played since week 10. This line just isn’t the same without those two, but when they are on the field this is a top 10 unit. But both are currently listed as questionable and could return for the next game.
San Francisco 49ers (Previous Rank: 11) – The 49ers o-line played well vs. the Seahawks despite the loss. They allowed pressure less than 20% of the time and ran block better than the numbers suggest. Tom Compton hasn’t been great in pass pro, but he’s been good in the run game since taking over for the injured McGlinchey.
Washington Football Team (Previous Rank: 10) – Washington’s o-line had a good outing despite playing with only three starters. They only allowed seven pressures and were solid in the run game as well. Samuel Cosmi is now on IR and is probably done for the year, so pencil in Cornelius Lucas for the remainder of the year at RT. The good news is Wes Schweitzer is going to return at some point at center which should give them four guys they can trust. I believe a starting five of Leno Jr, Flowers, Schweitzer, Scherff, and Lucas isn’t as good as what they would’ve had with Roullier and Cosmi back when this o-line was playing at a top five level, but its good enough to give Washington a real shot to sneak into the playoffs as a wild card.
Indianapolis Colts (Previous Rank: 13) – The Colts dominated Houston 31-0, and the game went like most expected. The Colts offensive line dominated the Texans upfront to help lead the way for a 200 plus rushing yard day on 5 YPC.
Arizona Cardinals (Previous Rank: 12) – The Cardinals o-line played ok vs. the Bears. They didn’t throw a lot because they didn’t need to and most likely wanted to ease Kyler back into things. It wasn’t a great performance on the ground, but they helped get the job done as the team rushed for 137 yards on 3.9 YPC. This unit will have a tougher test next week vs. the Rams.
Detroit Lions (Previous Rank: 16) – The Lions o-line has been trending in the right direction since Decker returned to the lineup, and they had another good outing to help Detroit get its first win of the season. They only allowed pressure on 17% of pass snaps and did a good job in the run game. We expect Decker, Sewell, and even Brown to play well, but they also got good games from Jackson and big V. Typically when a team gets good o-line play from all five guys they win, and that’s what happened.
Buffalo Bills (Previous Rank: 17) – The Patriots o-line wasn’t the only group that played well in the raging winds up in Buffalo on MNF. They weren’t nearly as good run-blocking, but they had played very well in pass pro. NE has the hottest defense in the NFL, and this group only allowed pressure on 15% of pass snaps. They’ve put together three good games out of their last four and are trending in the right direction.
Baltimore Ravens (Previous Rank: 14) – The Ravens offense struggled in their loss against Pittsburgh, and the o-line wasn’t that great. The interior group played well, especially Zeitler and Bozeman. However, the tackles gave up a lot of pressure. Villanueva allowed four pressures and the combination of Patrick Mekari, who started and got injured, and Tyre Phillips allowed eight. When two of the five o-line starters are responsible for allowing 12 pressures, your QB is probably going to be under fire, and Lamar was. Lamar also ran himself into some sacks, which is why the Ravens o-line was only credited with allowing one sack despite Lamar being sacked seven times.
Chicago Bears (Previous Rank: 18) – The Bears o-line had a solid game vs. Arizona, but there’s only so much they can do to help when Andy Dalton is out there throwing four interceptions. They protected him well only allowing pressure at a rate of 20%, and they were ok in the run-game.
Cincinnati Bengals (Previous Rank: 15) – The Bengals o-line looked like they had returned to their early season form after a strong game vs. the Steelers. However, the inconsistency continues for this group after a poor showing vs. the Chargers. They allowed 17 pressures, three sacks, and committed five penalties. While some might chalk up their struggles to playing without starting RT Riley Reiff, but none of the other starters played well so that excuse won’t fly.
Atlanta Falcons (Previous Rank: 19) – The Falcons o-line played one of their best run-blocking games of the season, and it helped pave the way for 121 yards rushing on 5.3 YPC. Unfortunately, they weren’t as good in pass pro. They allowed 14 pressures and three sacks. The Falcons were a middle-of-the-pack pass pro unit earlier in the season, but they’ve slid to bottom third as they currently rank 22nd in PA% at 26%.
Tennessee Titans (Previous Rank: 20) – Bye Week
New York Jets (Previous Rank: 21) – The Jets o-line had a decent game in their loss vs. the Eagles. The biggest problem was they allowed too much pressure from the guard spots. Tardif was amid another good game before he left with an ankle injury, and Van Roten wasn’t as good playing in his place. Vera-Tucker struggled throughout the day and allowed half of the groups pressure total with six. Quietly, George Fant has been one of the better pass-blocking tackles in the NFL this season. He’s top 10 in PA% among all tackles.
Denver Broncos (Previous Rank: 22) – Garrett Bolles and Bobby Massie were back in the lineup together for the first time since week eight, and it showed. This unit played their best game since the Cowboys blow-out game back in week nine. They only allowed pressure at a rate of 18%, and a large portion of that came from Massie and Meinerz on the right side. This has been one of the more inconsistent o-lines in the NFL, but when everyone is healthy and they bring their a-game, they can play like a solid mid-tier unit.
Minnesota Vikings (Previous Rank: 23) – The Vikings were forced to do some shuffling on the o-line this week due to injuries. Both Christian Darrisaw and Rashod Hill were unavailable so Oli Udoh, who has played RG all season, made his first start of the year at LT. Mason Cole, who has primarily played center, got the start at RG. Udoh predictably had some struggles. As a matter of fact, both players on the left struggled as Ezra Cleveland allowed five pressures and Udoh allowed four and one sack.
Pittsburgh Steelers (Previous Rank: 26) – The Steelers pulled off a big upset victory over BAL to keep their playoff hopes alive, and the o-line played a big role in that. They made have played their best game of the season. They were had a solid game run-blocking but were great in pass pro. They only allowed two pressures all game, and they really stepped up in the fourth quarter.
Green Bay Packers (Previous Rank: 25) – Bye Week
Jacksonville Jaguars (Previous Rank: 24) – The Jags offensive line hurt them in their blow-out loss to the Rams. They weren’t bad in pass pro and have played better in that aspect since Linder’s return. Norwell had an uncharacteristically bad game allowing a team-high four pressures. However, it was the run-blocking that really hurt the team. The Jags only managed 61 yards on 25 carries (2.4 YPC), and this team just doesn’t have the weapons to have success with a pass-only attack vs. the Rams.
New York Giants (Previous Rank: 28) – The Giants only managed nine points in their loss to the Dolphins, but that was more a product of Mike Glennon than poor o-line play. This unit had one of their better and rarely productive run-blocking performances as their RBs rushed 91 yards on 5.4 YPC. However, they protected at slightly below league average rate of 25%, which by their standards is actually better than their season percentage of 26%. This is still a bad o-line, but Andrew Thomas continues to be a bright spot and looks like he can be a long-term answer at a position they have struggled to find answers for.
Las Vegas Raiders (Previous Rank: 29) – While Raider nation should be happy about their o-line posting a PA% of less than 20% for the first time all season, I wouldn’t read too much into it as the Washington d-line has was missing both it’s starting DEs in Chase Young and Montez Sweat.
Seattle Seahawks (Previous Rank: 27) – Seattle got the win over SF, but the o-line continues to struggle. They allowed pressure at a rate of 37% for the second week in a row and had multiple starters allow pressure individually at a rate over 10%. It’s got to be frustrating that Duane Brown is finally playing well again, and now Gabe Jackson is struggling. Those were supposed to be the best players in this group, and their sporadic play combined with underwhelming play from almost everyone else has led to Seattle being one of the worst pass-blocking lines in the NFL.
Carolina Panthers (Previous Rank: 30) – Bye Week
Houston Texans (Previous Rank: 31) – The Texans got shut out, but the o-line played a respectable game by the low standards it has set over the past two months. They didn’t allow a lot of pressure, and of the seven pressures and two sacks allowed, most of it came from one guy. Charlie Heck allowed five pressures and two sacks.
Miami Dolphins (Previous Rank: 32) – The Dolphins have had back-to-back good games in pass pro for the first time all season. The Dolphins win streak is so contagious even this porous group is starting to come along. They’re another good game away from maybe moving up a spot in the rankings.

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Week 13 Odds & Predictions

12/1/2021

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NFL Point spreads week 13
*Predicted winners are in bold
Predictions Record on the season: 98-81-1

Dallas Cowboys at New Orleans Saints: DAL -4.5
Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions: MIN -7
Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears: ARI -7.5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons: TB -10.5
Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans: IND -9.5
Philadelphia Eagles at New York Jets: PHI -6.5
Los Angeles Chargers at Cincinnati Bengals: CIN -3
New York Giants at Miami Dolphins: MIA -3
Washington Football Team at Las Vegas Raiders: LV -2.5
Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers: BAL -3.5
Jacksonville Jaguars at Los Angeles Rams: LAR -13
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks: SF -3.5 (UPSET PICK OF THE WEEK!)
Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs: KC -10
New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills: BUF -3

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Week 15 Offensive Line Rankings

NFL Pro-Bowl Voting Guide Pt. 2

Week 14 Odds & Predictions

Week 14 Offensive Line Rankings

Week 13 Odds & Predictions

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