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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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 8 Offensive Line Rankings

10/27/2021

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Dallas Cowboys (Previous Rank: 1) – Bye Week
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Previous Rank: 4) – I’ve maintained all year that the Bucs have the best pass-pro offensive line regardless of what the numbers say. However, after a dominant performance against the Bears in which they allowed only four pressures, the Bucs are now number one in PA%. No player allowed more than one pressure in the game, and now the Bucs have run-blocked well for three straight games after a slow start in that area. Suddenly, Tampa is right on the Cowboys and Browns heels for the best offensive line in the NFL.
Cleveland Browns (Previous Rank: 2) – The Brown o-line hasn’t been fully intact since week four, yet they continue to be productive. They had struggled in pass pro vs. the Browns as they allowed 13 pressures on 36 pass snaps and had a PA% of 36% as a group. But they put on a dominant performance run-blocking and were able to carry the day with a backup QB and a third-string RB in the starting lineup. Wills still doesn’t look 100%, and he was the worst in the group on Thursday night allowing five pressures and struggling in the run game. The good news is Jack Conklin returned to practice Monday and should be ready to go next week.
Los Angeles Rams (Previous Rank: 5) – Brian Allen’s struggles in pass pro notwithstanding, the Rams o-line played great on Sunday. They only allowed four pressures and one sack, and all of that came from Allen. The other four starters had zeros across the board.
Washington Football Team (Previous Rank: 3) – Washington’s o-line looked like a unit missing two starters on Sunday vs. GB. They allowed a season-high 22 pressures and played their worst game of the season. It was so bad they dropped from first in team PA% to 11th. Lucas struggled in place of Cosmi, as he allowed five pressures, but the biggest surprise was Leno having his worst game of the year allowing two sacks and seven pressures. Scherff and Cosmi are currently listed as questionable, but Cosmi might be further away from coming back than Scherff. Coach Rivera suggested earlier in the week that Scherff may be available this week. Washington firing on all cylinders at full strength is a top-five caliber line, but for now, they take a hit in the rankings given last week’s performance. The Rams now rank fifth in PA%, and if there was a stat to show it, they’d probably rank first in execution and football IQ.
San Francisco 49ers (Previous Rank: 6) – You can’t blame the 49ers o-line for their offensive struggles. Even without Trent Williams in the lineup, this unit only allowed five pressures and one sack on Sunday night and ran block well enough for Mitchell to rush for 107 yards on 18 carries. Trent Williams is currently day-to-day and most likely will return to the lineup this week. The 49ers rank in the top third of the league in rush YBC/Att and are fourth in PA%. This unit has four good offensive linemen (Williams, Tomlinson, Mack, and McGlinchey), and one of them may be the best in the NFL (Williams). This group has been consistently good all year and is going steady as a top 10 line.
Arizona Cardinals (Previous Rank: 7) – Not much to say this week about this unit with them coming off a game vs. the expansion caliber Texans. I don’t think any offensive line has had a bad game against them all season. Now the Cardinals didn’t play great as they allowed eight pressures, two sacks, two TFL, and two penalties, but they were plenty good enough to get the job done.
Los Angeles Chargers (Previous Rank: 8) – Bye Week
New England Patriots (Previous Rank: 15) – The Patriots offensive line had their best game of the year, and yea it was against the Jets, but when you combine with how they’ve been playing over the past three weeks, there is cause for excitement for Pats fans who are hoping they can still salvage this season. This unit looked like the group we ranked 2nd in the preseason o-line rankings for the first time all season. Wynn had his best game of the season, Onwenu has been great since taking over at RT, Karras is yet to have a bad game since being inserted into the starting lineup, and Andrews and Mason are also playing well. The Patriots are going to continue to rise if they can keep this up.
Kansas City Chiefs (Previous Rank: 9) – The Chiefs have been a disappointment this season. While I have started to hear chatter about the offensive line underachieving, I can’t go that far. Honestly, Patrick Mahomes, the defense, and the skill players have all underachieved more than this group. They came into the season starting a completely new offensive line that included a player they traded for, another free agent pickup, and three rookies. Offensive line may be the most chemistry-dependent position in the league, and none of these guys played together before this season. Yet they had risen to 9th in our rankings last week. The raw pressure numbers for the Chiefs are high, but that is because they throw a ton. They didn’t play that great vs the Titans as they allowed four sacks, 15 pressures, and had four penalties. But overall on the year, The Chiefs have been better than most offensive lines in the NFL.
Philadelphia Eagles (Previous Rank: 10) – The Eagles were up against the best pass-rushing D-line in the NFL, and they were not that bad as a group. Jordan Mailata individually was awful in pass pro which hurt their overall numbers. He allowed seven pressures and one sack and had his worst game of the year. He was still great in the run-game though. Lane Johnson returned to the lineup after missing three games for mental health reasons and was solid. He was pulled late in the game after he got his ankle stepped on, but the Eagles say it was just as a precaution, and he should be fine for next week. The Eagles have been sort of up and down in pass pro all season, which is why they rank 20th in PA%, but they have been one of the better run-blocking teams all year with Kelce leading the way.
Tennessee Titans (Previous Rank: 13) – The Titans o-line has run-blocked well most of the season, but they played their best game in pass pro vs. the Chiefs. Now some might chalk that up to them playing the Chiefs, but the Titans are on a three-game streak of allowing less than 10 pressures and are trending up in that phase. Derrick Henry’s mediocre game was more of a testament to the Chiefs completely selling out to stop the run than poor run-blocking by the offensive line, and that is why Tannehill was able to carve them up through the air.
Indianapolis Colts (Previous Rank: 17) – Forget numbers, the big news for this unit is that Quenton Nelson was back in the lineup this week. There were some signs of rust as he allowed two pressures and had two penalties after not allowing any pressures or committing any penalties in his previous games this year but don’t expect that to last as he gets back into the flow of things. Fisher has strung together his best two games of the season and looks to finally be regaining form himself. Even Braden Smith has a chance to play for the first time since week one according to coach Reich. The Colts had been one of the most disappointing lines in the league for the first quarter of the season, but as guys get healthy, they may end up being one of the best down the stretch.
New Orleans Saints (Previous Rank: 20) – The Saints o-line has been dealing with injury all season as Erik McCoy, the starting center, was lost in week one after only five snaps. And in an ironic twist, they had all five starters back in the lineup for the first time all year, and Peat goes down with a torn pec that is likely to have him out for the rest of the year. They just can’t catch a break. The good news is Armstead was not only back in name, he looked liked his old self allowing only one pressure and performing like the best player in this group. Ramczyk appears to be trending up in pass pro after a rough start to the year, and McCoy looked good for a guy that hasn’t played since only lasting five snaps of the first game. The question for the Saints will be the guard play. Peat is gone for the year but, he wasn’t playing that well anyway. Thockmorton will be looked in as a starter for the rest of the year, and Ruiz will move back to his natural guard spot with the return of McCoy.
Baltimore Ravens (Previous Rank: 11) – The Ravens o-line struggled in their blow-out loss to the Bengals. Their struggles as a group came more in the run game. Lamar will typically be able to get rushing yards regardless of blocking because of his ability to scramble, but the quality of run-blocking can be seen in the Ravens RB numbers. They only had 29 yards on 11 carries. They weren’t bad in pass pro outside of Villanueva. He allowed eight of their 16 pressures, and it was his third disaster pass-pro game of the year. One game doesn’t negate an entire year of work in which this has been a productive run-blocking group all season, and they’ve mostly kept Lamar protected outside of Villanueva. All four other Ravens starters have PA% under five (Villanueva is at 11.7%).
Cincinnati Bengals (Previous Rank: 12) – The Bengals have been the surprise team of 2021 in the NFL. They’re tied for first in the AFC, Joe Burrow looks like he might be a future star, and Jamar Chase has best WR in the NFL potential. However, the improvement of the Bengals offensive line has gone mostly unnoticed by the national sports media. Quinton Spain is this unit’s best player and is playing at a pro-bowl caliber level this season. He is first among guards in PA and PA% (min 300 snaps) and has only allowed two pressures in the last four games. Yet despite his impressive pass pro numbers, Spain has been even better in the run game. Jonah Williams play has fallen off from the high level he was at earlier in the year, but he has still been one of the better tackles in the NFL this season. Reiff has been solid as well, and the play of these three guys has the Bengals ranked ninth in PA%. More consistent play from Hopkins and Carman could really help this offensive line get to the next level.
New York Jets (Previous Rank: 14) – A lot went terribly wrong for the Jets in their 54-13 loss to the Patriots, but the offensive line wasn’t bad. They had one of their worst run-blocking performances of the year, but it was a solid game for them mostly due to their performance in pass pro. They only allowed six pressures despite having to throw mostly the entire game. This group has been a pleasant surprise given their youth and the early loss of Mekhi Becton.
Chicago Bears (Previous Rank: 22) – There’s usually not a lot to be happy about when you lose 38-3 but the Bears should be happy about the way this offensive line has come along since the start of the season. The Bears have a credible offensive line, which is why they were the first team to have an RB rush for 100 yards vs. TB this season. Peters is playing at a high level, and they’re finally getting good guard play from Daniels and Whitehair. Sam Mustipher is the weak link, and they’ll simply have to deal with his inconsistent play. The big question in the immediate future for this group will be can they hold up at RT until Ifedi comes off IR. They started this game with Lachavious Simmons, and he was so bad they benched him in the first half in favor of Alex Bars.
Green Bay Packers (Previous Rank: 16) – The entire Packers offense right now has an average, just good enough vibe going right now, and the offensive line is included in that. They haven’t been bad, but they haven’t been good necessarily either, and the numbers. The good news is Elgton Jenkins looked a lot better in his second game back from injury and more in line with what fans should expect to see moving forward. To be fair, the Packers offensive line looked like a really solid top third of the league line earlier in the year, and then injuries hit. The loss of Josh Myers and Jenkins on top of Bakhtiari not being there started to really affect this o-line. Speaking of which, the Packers have reportedly ramped up his football activity, and while he most likely won’t play on a short week game this Thursday, he could make his first start of the year in their week nine game vs. the Chiefs.
Buffalo Bills (Previous Rank: 18) – Bye Week
Atlanta Falcons (Previous Rank: 19) – The Falcons o-line had a solid outing in their win over the Dolphins. Lindstrom continues to play well all-around, and Matthews had his third 0 pressures allowed game of the year. Hennessy had his first game of the year in which he didn’t allow a pressure, and Jason Spriggs honestly looked better than McGary (out due to Covid-19) in his first start at RT. Mayfield was the only Falcon that really struggled as he has all season. However, until the Falcons get more consistent play out of a third member of this group, I'm not overreacting to one good game vs. the Dolphins.
Seattle Seahawks (Previous Rank: 21) – Duane Brown now has the highest PA% of any Seahawks starter upfront and has allowed 15 pressures on the season after allowing four more on MNF. He also has allowed a league-high five sacks after allowing one on MNF. Brown hasn’t looked like himself since week three, and it’s really hurt this offensive line. But Kyle Fuller, who has struggled all year, had an even worse game vs. the Saints, and was a liability in both phases of the game. The Seahawks offensive line isn’t a horrible one, but it’s not a good one either.
Pittsburgh Steelers (Previous Rank: 23) – Bye Week
Jacksonville Jaguars (Previous Rank: 24) – Bye Week
Minnesota Vikings (Previous Rank: 25) – Bye Week
Denver Broncos (Previous Rank: 27) – While both Denver starting tackles struggled (combined seven pressures and two sacks allowed) vs. the Browns, the interior probably played their best game as a trio all year. Those results are likely due to the fact the majority of the Browns pressures all season have come from edge rushers because they lack quality interior rushers. The Broncos are going to have to play better more consistently upfront to be seen as anything more than a lower-tier offensive line. They are currently 25th in PA% and are still one of eight teams allowing pressure at a rate of higher than 30%.
Detroit Lions (Previous Rank: 29) – The Lions played well upfront against a good Rams defense. They only allowed eight pressures and no sacks or TFL. They’re never going to be a great pass-pro team but if they can run-block like they did vs. the Rams more consistently they may be able to win a few games this season. Sewell has also put together back-to-back strong games after struggling for weeks. Expect peaks and valleys from him all year with him being a rookie that missed all of his final year of college, but there is no denying he has all the tools needed to develop into a really good franchise tackle one day.
Carolina Panthers (Previous Rank: 26) – The Panthers offensive line was never playing at a high level at any point this season, but their play in recent weeks makes what they were doing earlier in the year seem like top 10 o-line play. They’ve allowed 15 or more pressures in four of their last five games, and it’s no coincidence that Darnold is playing his worst football of the year at the same time this group is. Nobody will mistake Cam Irving for a good LT, but the Panthers will be clamoring for his return after Brady Christensen allowed two sacks and six pressures in his absence. Panthers now rank 31st in PA%.
Las Vegas Raiders (Previous Rank: 28) – There is no getting around it, the right side of the Raiders o-line is a disaster. Leatherwood hasn’t been good at RT or RG, and Parker has only been marginally better than Leatherwood was at RT. However, the good news is Andre James played his best game of the year, and Kolton Miller is living up to his big offseason extension. Maybe the Raiders get him some help this offseason.
New York Giants (Previous Rank: 31) – The Giants o-line had another poor run-blocking game, but the Panthers defense entered week seven first in pressures on defense, and this group only allowed seven. It was one of the most surprising results of the week, especially with Andrew Thomas out of the lineup. Given how this group has looked all year, it’s hard not to chalk the performance up to being a mere blip and not a trend.
Houston Texans (Previous Rank: 30) – The pressure numbers say the Texans were good vs. Arizona, but this offensive line hasn’t been the same without Tunsil and Cannon. The offense has gotten even more vanilla than it already was in an effort to not only protect Mills, but the beat-up offensive line as well.
Miami Dolphins (Previous Rank: 32) – Sunday’s game was a step in the right direction for this offensive line. Austin Reiter made his first start of the season and looks like he will help this offensive line. Unfortunately, Austin Jackson continues to start and allow defenders to get to the QB at a high rate. He leads the NFL with 33 allowed pressures.

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Week 7 Offensive Line Rankings

10/20/2021

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Dallas Cowboys (Previous Rank: 1) – The Cowboys offensive line didn’t have a great game overall, but it was good enough, and they were strong in pass pro. Not only are they on a five-game win streak, but they have also allowed single-digit pressures five straight games as well. The Cowboys remain number one in PA%, and their pass blocking had a lot to do with Dak’s great game. Penalties were also a problem as the O-line was called for nine of them (four on Williams). Their performance overall on the season still has this group at the number one overall spot thanks to the elite play of Smith and Martin who both had great games again vs. the Patriots.
Cleveland Browns (Previous Rank: 2) – With Wirfs and Conklin out this past week it’s hard to ding the Browns, but they also did not have a bad game despite the outcome. The Browns biggest problem on offense right now is Baker. This o-line is 7th in PA% and despite having to start two backup tackles, they only allowed 10 pressures and no sacks. When healthy there is no doubt, the Browns still have an elite unit upfront.
Washington Football Team (Previous Rank: 3) – Washington was another team whose offensive line played well in a blow-out loss. This group played well in both phases. They ran for 94 yards on 19 carries (4.9 YPC) and only allowed six pressures and no sacks. All of that while missing two starters in Scherff and Cosmi. Wes Schweitzer was in for Scherff at RG, and he has looked like one of the better guards in the NFL when he’s been called on to play. Cornelius Lucas got the start for Cosmi, and he has also been impressive in limited action so far. When factoring in their depth, WSH is starting to make a case they are the best offensive line in the NFL.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Previous Rank: 4) – The Bucs offensive line is starting to hit its stride. They’ve been elite in pass pro all year but have improved in the run game and have had really solid outings run-blocking the past two weeks. They only allowed seven pressures vs. the Eagles, and had Cappa not allowed five of them, it would have been a lot less. The Bucs currently rank 3rd in PA% (16.6) and have only allowed three sacks all year.
Los Angeles Rams (Previous Rank: 5) – The Rams beat up on a bad and injured Giants team just like the Cowboys did the week before, and this group played well as expected. They slipped up and allowed two sacks but only six pressures overall so still not bad. The Rams backs also rushed for 120 yards at a 4 YPC clip. Whitworth and Havenstein both played great and have emerged as the two best players on this line and pro-bowl contenders at the NFC tackle spot. The Rams are still the least penalized offensive line with four on the year and are top 10 in allowed pressures.
San Francisco 49ers (Previous Rank: 6) – Bye Week
Arizona Cardinals (Previous Rank: 7) – The Cardinals blew out the Browns, but they were a little shaky on the edges in this game as both Humphries and Beachum allowed three pressures and a sack. The interior guys held it down, and as a group, they only allowed 9 pressures and are still top five on the year in PA%. Max Garcia has been really good in Hudson’s absence. The Cardinals ran block well in this game as the team went for nearly 150 on better than 4 YPC. If this group can play consistently well in the run game, the Cardinals are going to be even tougher to deal with on offense.
Los Angeles Chargers (Previous Rank: 10) – The Chargers got blown out 34-6, so one might think the line didn’t play well. However, they only allowed four pressures and one sack on 45 pass snaps, and all of that came from one man, Storm Norton. Norton has been bad all year and is among league leaders in most pressures allowed (24). However, the rest of the line played well, and the Chargers should rebound quickly in their next game. LA is now top 10 in PA%. In games where they can actually get rush attempts (only 11 rushes last week), they are one of the better run-blocking teams as well. Linsley, Slater, and Feiler are all playing at a high level which has propelled this unit into the top 10.
Kansas City Chiefs (Previous Rank: 8) – The Chiefs made a lineup change at RT swapping out Mike Remmers for Lucas Niang. While Remmers wasn’t overly impressive in his first start as he allowed a sack and two pressures, he wasn’t bad either. I expect him to be an upgrade long-term over Niang, and based on last season, probably should have been starting from week one at RT. Overall, they allowed a lot of pressures vs. WSH (16) and two sacks. This group did play a lot better in the 2nd half which led to the offense as a whole playing better in the 2nd half. The Chiefs offensive line we saw in the send half is a top-10 caliber group, and they’ll need to play an entire game at a high level against better teams.
Philadelphia Eagles (Previous Rank: 9) – The Eagles offensive line play was solid vs. Tampa. They held up for the most part against the most aggressive blitz-happy defense in the league. Dillard and Kelce struggled in pass pro. Dillard allowed five pressures, and Kelce allowed a sack. However, this offensive line can take pride in the fact they contributed to Philly being the first team to rush for 100 yards and over 4 YPC vs. Tampa. Philly also got good news that Lane Johnson is rejoining the team after missing three games with a personal issue. It’ll be interesting to see if the Eagles move Dillard to guard or to the bench with Johnson coming back.
Baltimore Ravens (Previous Rank: 11) – The Ravens continue to play well as a group, but some of their success on offense can merely be chalked up to the excellence and athleticism of Lamar Jackson. This group doesn’t have anyone playing at a pro-bowl level, but they’ve been successful because they don’t have anyone playing poorly. Villanueva continued his streak of up and down games in pass pro as he has been great in games two, four, and six, and not so great to awful in games one, three, and five. Bozeman struggled in pass pro vs. the Chargers, but the rest of the line was solid to very good. Zeitler and Mekai are starting to emerge as the best players in this group. However, Villanuevea looks like their most talented player at his best but has been their worst performer at his worst.
Cincinnati Bengals (Previous Rank: 14) – The Bengals offensive line has been one of the biggest surprise groups of 2021, and they had another good game vs. the Lions. They had a few bad penalties, but overall, they allowed only seven pressures and one sack. They also had one of their better run-blocking games which helped the Cincy backs rush for 125 yards on nearly 4.5 YPC. Jonah Williams had looked like he was going to be the best player in this group the majority of the season but Quinton Spain is starting to challenge him for that distinction after he played perhaps his best game of the season. He made PFF’s all-week team with a blocking grade second only to Zach Martin. Jackson Carman didn’t start the game due to an illness and when he did play, ended up having to leave the game after throwing up. Hill got his first start at RG, and while it wasn’t perfect and he made his share of mistakes, he did some good things and could push Carman for the job.
Tennessee Titans (Previous Rank: 15) – The Titans o-line was solid in the run game, but a lot of the success on Monday night was simply a result of Henry’s greatness more so than elite run-blocking. However, the Titans are starting to find their groove in pass pro as they have allowed only seven pressures in back-to-back games. Lewan had a scary moment in the game and ended up being carted off, but it looks like he’ll be ok moving forward. While Lewan has only missed one game, He’s only played one game from start to finish without having to miss snaps. They need him to stay healthy because Lamm wasn’t that good in his absence. Quessenberry, Jones, and Saffold all had good games, and between the three, they only allowed two pressures. They are emerging as the most reliable players in this unit through six games.
New York Jets (Previous Rank: 16) – Bye Week
New England Patriots (Previous Rank: 13) – It’s hard to figure out what the Pats were doing on the O-line vs. the Cowboys. Wynn and Onwenu were back active off the Covid-19 list, but neither started. However, both ended up playing. Maybe Bill wanted to reward the offensive line that started last week for their performance, but as I said in last week’s rankings, you can’t overreact to a game vs. the Texans. Albeit in only nine snaps, Wynn didn’t look good when he was out there. Onwenu did, and he ended up playing most of the game at RT taking over for Yodny Cajuste. Given how well Karras has looked at guard, my guess is Onwenu is going to be playing RT until Brown gets back as it’s been a problem all year since Brown went down early in week one. Shaq Mason could also return for their next game. David Andrews had his best game of the season, and if he can play more like that moving forward, the Pats may have something if Wynn can start playing better.
Green Bay Packers (Previous Rank: 12) – Green Bay won Sunday, but it was a struggle, and this offensive line’s inability to consistently keep Rodgers from being under pressure contributed. They allowed 12 pressures on just 30 pass snaps and Elgton Jenkins looked rusty in his first game back after returning from injury (allowed 4 pressures and a sack). Jenkins will play better as he gets back into the groove of things, and the return of Bakhtiari still looms.
Indianapolis Colts (Previous Rank: 22) – Things could be turning around for the Colts offensive line. They’ve put together back-to-back good games, and Nelson could be back for their next game vs. the 49ers. Eric Fisher had his best game of the year, Glowinski has looked better the past few weeks after a rough start to the year, and Pryor has been a significant upgrade at RT over Davenport. Kelly still leaves a lot to be desired as a run-blocker this season, but he’s better in pass pro. A potential starting five of Fisher, Nelson, Kelly, Glowinski, and Pryor suddenly looks like a group with promise.
Buffalo Bills (Previous Rank: 18) – The Bills offensive line has played better since moving ford to the bench, kicking Williams inside to guard, and starting Brown at RT. Brown has at least been serviceable in pass pro, and Williams has only allowed four pressures in his three games at G compared to the 12 he allowed in three games at T. While no player in this group has played great overall on the season, they are getting solid play from Dawkins, Williams, Morse, and Feliciano, and Dawkins has been their best player overall.
Atlanta Falcons (Previous Rank: 21) – Bye Week
New Orleans Saints (Previous Rank: 19) – Bye Week
Seattle Seahawks (Previous Rank: 20) – The Seahawks offensive line didn’t play great vs the Steelers, but a lot of offensive lines struggle vs. Pit. They allowed three sacks, eight pressures, and three TFL. Though there was some inconsistency, they blocked well enough overall to rush for 145 yards on over 5 YPC. This offensive line looks like they’ve settled into being a lower-tier middle-of-the-pack caliber group with Duane Brown’s play no longer at an elite level. Gabe Jackson is starting to look like the Seahawks best lineman in recent weeks.
Chicago Bears (Previous Rank: 17) – It was assumed the Bears had turned the corner after putting together two good games in pass-pro for the first time all year in weeks four and five. But inconsistency reared its head again as this group struggled to block a middle-of-the-road Packers pass rush. They allowed 14 pressures and two sacks with most of the damage coming from Whitehair, who allowed two sacks and three pressures, and Wilkinson, who allowed 5 pressures. The one bright spot from the game was that Jason Peters played really well. Despite being nearly 40, He’s been one of the better tackles in the NFL and could get some pro-bowl consideration if he continues to play this way.
Pittsburgh Steelers (Previous Rank: 24) – I never envisioned the Steelers offensive line being ranked this high in the rankings. However, a combination of injuries to better lines and some solid play in recent weeks has the arrow pointing up for this group. A combination of timely pass protection that fits what they're doing in the passing game and improved run-blocking has been the story for this group’s turn-around. Trai Turner is the veteran of this unit and the only player on the line with a resume worth mentioning, and he’s finally starting to play like it. He had his best game of the year allowing no sacks or pressures, and provided solid run-blocking. He’s been the best player on the line, and they need him to lead the way moving forward.
Jacksonville Jaguars (Previous Rank: 29) – The Jags got their first win of the season, and the offensive line played well. They allowed two sacks but only seven pressures, and Cam Robinson had his best game of the year. Three Jagaurs linemen didn’t allow a single pressure. The loss of Linder was felt as Shatley allowed three pressures from the C position, but overall, the Jags have to be pleased with their performance. Norwell had another strong game and is starting to look like his old self again.
Minnesota Vikings (Previous Rank: 27) – The Vikings had only had one reliable player upfront most of the year, but the arrival of Darrisaw is starting to change that. Min 2021 first-round pick got his first taste of NFL action off the bench last week and made his first start this week. It’s a small sample size, but he’s looked good so far, only allowing one pressure on 69 pass snaps. They still have a weak interior, but if Darrisaw can solidify the LT spot where Hill was their worst starter, then the Vikings could have a serviceable offensive line moving forward.
Carolina Panthers (Previous Rank: 26) – The Panthers offensive line continues to struggle in pass pro. They allowed 14 pressures and three sacks in their loss to the Vikings. It may have been the first time in sports history where a team had Michael Jordan at guard and it was a bad thing. Jordan replaced Daley at LG after he got hurt and proceeded to give up three sacks on the day.
Denver Broncos (Previous Rank: 25) – It was a disastrous game for the Broncos offensive line in their loss to the Raiders Sunday. Even with good games from Bolles and Risner, this group allowed 18 pressures and six sacks. The Raiders defensive line generates the most pressure in the NFL, but anytime an O-line allows six sacks and nearly 20 pressures it’s a bad day regardless of opponent. This line hasn’t played a good game as a whole since their week three win over the lowly Jets.
Las Vegas Raiders (Previous Rank: 31) – The Raiders offensive line played their best game of the season and amid turmoil and scandal at that. They allowed fewer than 10 pressures for the first time all season. Leatherwood finally looked like an NFL-caliber player in his second start at RG, and that’ll probably be where he plays the rest of the season.
Detroit Lions (Previous Rank: 30) – The Lions got blown out by the Bengals but the offensive line showed some improvement from the previous week. Sewell played his best game of the season (perhaps he was motivated by our criticism last week). Evan Brown is no Ragnow, but he had a solid game, and even Jonah Jackson held up in pass pro. I still don’t believe you can rely on this offensive line for consistency.
Houston Texans (Previous Rank: 23) – Injuries have left the Texans offensive line decimated, and they had their worst performance of the year vs. the Colts. With Tunsil and Cannon out, this unit just isn’t the same. The team still can’t run block, and Heck allowed four pressures at RT. Christian was solid in relief of Tunsil as he allowed no sacks or pressures. Overall, this group just lacks enough talent with those two out.
New York Giants (Previous Rank: 28) – The good news is Nate Solder had his best game of the year. Perhaps the talk of fans wanting him replaced by Peart gaining steam motivated him to play better. The bad news is Andrew Thomas got hurt again and is now on IR and will miss a minimum of three weeks. The Giants allowed 16 pressures and five sacks in their blow-out loss to the Rams, and with their only offensive lineman that has played well this season out, things could get really bad for this group.
Miami Dolphins (Previous Rank: 32) – The Dolphins had another poor showing in pass pro this week. They allowed 19 pressures, but at this point, the Dolphins coaching staff needs to take some blame. We know the Dolphins are the worst pass-blocking unit in the league, yet they insist on throwing the air out of the ball every week. The game vs. the Jags was close throughout, and they even lead at halftime, so they don’t have the trailing argument this week. It was Tua’s first game back, and they had 52 pass snaps to 18 run snaps. They lead the league in pass play % at nearly 74% and are just not doing anything to help this group out.

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