Week 17 Offensive Line Ranings

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Previous Rank: 2) – The Bucs o-line had one of the best performances of any o-line this season in their victory over the Panthers. Their starters shut the Panthers defense out as their starters didn’t allow a single pressure all game. The game was a blowout so some reserve players got in, and Josh Well allowed a pressure in garbage time, but the starters were simply phenomenal in this game. The Bucs are having a special season, and I can’t deny their season body of work any longer after a game like that against a really good defense that has been one of the best defenses at generating pressure in 2021. As a unit, they have a 15.3% PA% which leads the NFL by a wide margin of three percent. They are also the only team in which all five of their starting offensive linemen have a PA% less than four percent.  
2. New England Patriots (Previous Rank: 1) – The Patriots o-line played well vs. the Bills in both phases. The Patriot RBs rushed for 107 yards on 20 carries and three TDs. They were even better in pass pro as they only allowed pressure 15% of pass snaps. Unfortunately, Mac Jones was awful and unable to take advantage of this group’s performance. 
3. Philadelphia Eagles (Previous Rank: 3) – The Eagles o-line had an ok run-blocking game by the lofty standards they’ve set this season. They’re playing at such a high level that 130 yards on 4.3 YPC is sort of a mediocre game for them. However, the Eagles played one of their best pass pro games of the season. They only allowed four pressures, and all four allowed pressures came from Nate Herbig, who is technically the fifth string guard because they lost both of their starting guards for the year early in the season, and Jack Driscoll was lost for the season last week. I guess the Eagles had to run out of good guards eventually. Even with Herbig now set to start at RG for the remainder of the season, this group will be fine if Kelce, Johnson, and Mailata continue to play at a high level. Philly’s o-line is also the only group that is top three in both run and pass-block win rate. 
4. Dallas Cowboys (Previous Rank: 4) – The Cowboys o-line played their best game since the Falcons game back in week 10. They only allowed pressure 8% of pass snaps, and most of came from the three pressures allowed by Biadasz. Terence Steele started his fifth game at LT this season, and this was by far the best one as he didn’t allow any pressures. The best stat of the game from this group has to be the fact that nobody was penalized which is just the second time all season that has happened for the Cowboys o-line. 
5. Cleveland Browns (Previous Rank: 5) – There comes a point in which a unit simply can’t overcome it’s losses, and that is what happened with the Browns o-line vs. the Packers. Baker was awful, but this group allowed pressure 32% of pass snaps and four sacks, which greatly contributed to Baker’s struggles. Bitonio and Teller both played well, but they were also the only starters left in the lineup as Tretter and Wills were on the Covid list. Of their 14 allowed pressures, half came from Michael Dunn who also allowed two sacks. Tretter and Wills will be back soon, so I can’t ding this group much for this performance. 
6. Los Angeles Rams (Previous Rank: 7) – Andrew Whitworth missed the Vikings game with Covid, but this o-line didn’t miss a beat. There were a lot of moving parts for the Rams o-line in this game. LG David Edwards got the start at LT to replace Whitworth, and Coleman Shelton was in at LG in Edward’s place. However, Brian Allen left the game early with a knee injury, and Shelton was then moved to center, Edwards back to LG, and Alaric Jackson finished the game at LT. Despite all the moves, this unit had one of their better run-blocking performances of this season and only allowed pressure on 13% of pass snaps. The Rams are fourth in pass blocking with a PA% of 19.4% and are first in pass-block win rate. 
7. Los Angeles Chargers (Previous Rank: 6) – LA’s o-line played well vs. Houston. They were solid in the run game and great in pass pro. They gave up two sacks but only allowed pressure 11% of pass snaps, so that’s still a strong game from them. Slater was back after missing their week 15 game with Covid and didn’t allow any pressures. He continues to justify his pro-bowl selection as a rookie. This group is now top five in pass blocking with a PA% of 19.7%.  
8. San Francisco 49ers (Previous Rank: 8) – The 49ers lost a game they should’ve won to the Titans on TNF, but the o-line played well and did something I felt they needed to do, which is pass block well in a game where the team had to throw significantly more than they run. They had 39 pass snaps to 21 run snaps, and it was one of their best pass pro games of the year. This group has struggled some in games where the team has thrown significantly more than they’ve run, but that was not the case vs. a good Titans pass rush. We know this group can run-block, but as the playoffs approach, this team won’t go very far if this unit can’t hold up in pass pro without the threat of run.  
9. Kansas City Chiefs (Previous Rank: 9) – It was another strong performance from the Chiefs o-line as everything seems to be coming together at the right time for this offense. They were better than the numbers show in the run game and great in pass pro as they only allowed pressure 15% of pass snaps. Creed Humphrey had one of his best games of the year and may have been motivated by being this year’s biggest pro-bowl snub. The Chiefs are top five in both run and pass-block win rate and look ready to help the Chiefs make another Super Bowl run. 
10. Indianapolis Colts (Previous Rank: 10) – The Colts were missing all three interior starters upfront, and you could tell in the run game. It took Taylor 27 carries to get 108 yards (4.0 YPC), and the team as a whole averaged 3.8 YPC. Eric Fisher also left the game early dealing with multiple injuries. However, this unit still managed to hold up in pass pro despite being without four starters most of the game. Fisher’s status for next week is day-to-day but Nelson and Glowinski should be back from the covid list and Kelly should be back after missing the last three games due to injury.   
11. Detroit Lions (Previous Rank: 12) – The Lions o-line has been one of the most improved units of the second half of the season, and it continued vs. the Falcons. This group continued to trend of any offensive line will have a great day vs. the Falcons.  
12. Buffalo Bills (Previous Rank: 13) – It was a prototypical game for the Bills o-line in their win vs. the Pats. They were solid in pass pro and not so great in the run game. The Bills rush attack is so reliant on Josh Allen, and this group’s inability to consistently win in the run game is one of their biggest issues. However, the Bills or going to go as their passing game goes, and as long as they continue to pass block well this team has a chance. 
13. Washington Football Team (Previous Rank: 16) – So much went wrong for Washington in the blow-out loss to Dallas, but the o-line play was solid. They actually held up against a talented Cowboys pass rush as they only allowed pressure 17% of pass snaps and only one sack. This unit should be even better next week with Brandon Scherff activated from the Covid list. 
14. Baltimore Ravens (Previous Rank: 11) – The Ravens o-line struggled in the loss to the Bengals. The Ravens only managed 39 yards rushing on 2.4 YPC in the run game and allowed pressure 33% of pass snaps. This unit remains one of the most inconsistent in the NFL. 
15. Green Bay Packers (Previous Rank: 22) – The Packers are getting the absolute most out of the players they have available upfront. This cast of backups had another good game vs. the Browns which contributed to another good Rodgers game. Their current starting five has been one of the most effective pass-blocking units in the NFL since their bye week. 
16. Arizona Cardinals (Previous Rank: 15) – It was a mediocre overall game for the Cardinals o-line vs. the Colts. Outside of a 57-yard scamper by Kyler, Arizona didn’t have great success on the ground. They allowed pressure 23% of pass snaps which is a little above average, but it was very concerning seeing D.J. Humphries, their best o-lineman, allow six pressures. 
17. New Orleans Saints (Previous Rank: 13) – The Saints o-line continues to be a mess without Armstead and Ramczyk, and it may cost them a trip to the playoffs this season. 
18. Denver Broncos (Previous Rank: 17) – The Broncos went up against the best pass-rushing d-line in the league in terms of pressure generated and struggled. This o-line allowed two sacks and pressure on 48% of pass snaps. It didn’t help that the Broncos run game was a disaster. Their backs rushed for 8 yards on 14 carries. Whenever a team’s RBs have more carries than rush yards, the o-line probably had a bad day. 
19. New York Jets (Previous Rank: 19) – The Jets were without both starting guards vs. the Jags, but the game plan clearly was to run it until the Jags make them do something else, and they were successful. They rushed for 273 yards on 7.6 YPC. The pass-blocking wasn’t great, but it hasn’t been great all season, even at full strength. 
20. Tennessee Titans (Previous Rank: 18) – The Titans o-line had a solid game giving the quality of opponent combined with the fact they were missing two starters. Lewan is hurt again and is questionable for the next game. Saffold missed week 15 with a shoulder injury and then missed the 49er game with Covid. This group allowed two sacks and pressure at a rate of 27% which was serviceable work for a shorthanded group that even when at full strength hasn’t pass-blocked well this year. 
21. Atlanta Falcons (Previous Rank: 20) – The Falcons o-line isn’t playing well. After one of the worst pass pro performances of the year last game vs. the 49ers, they didn’t play well against a weak opponent vs. the Lions. They gave up two more sacks and pressure 30% of pass snaps, and the run-game wasn’t a factor. Hennessy has especially struggled of late and is now has the worst PA% of eligible centers at 5.18%. 
22. Minnesota Vikings (Previous Rank: 21) – The Vikings o-line struggled to protect Cousins in a game that was there for the taking against the Rams. The interior pass blocking has been a problem all season, and it was again vs. the Rams. They allowed pressure 34% of pass snaps, and 11 of the total 15 pressures came from the three interior guys. 
23. Jacksonville Jaguars (Previous Rank: 27) – The Jags o-line has played better in the past two games, albeit against very bad teams. What’s interesting is the recent play of Cam Robinson. He has only allowed two pressures in his last four starts, and two of those games were against good teams. How much of what he’s doing is a fluke? The Jags will have to decide whether or not his play down the stretch warrants a long-term extension.  
24. Cincinnati Bengals (Previous Rank: 24) – After a rough three-game stretch pass-blocking, this unit finally had a respectable outing. The only starter that played poorly was backup RT Isaiah Prince. The Bengals o-line isn’t going to be elite, but they allowed pressure about 24% of pass snaps which is league average. If they can do that in the playoffs this team might have a chance to win a playoff game. 
25. Houston Texans (Previous Rank: 28) – The Texans o-line played big vs. the Chargers, which led to a huge upset win. They only allowed pressure 10% of pass snaps, and they had one of their best run-blocking performances of the year, which resulted in 189 yards on 5.3 YPC. 
26. New York Giants (Previous Rank: 23) – The Giants wanted to play spoiler against the division-rival Eagles, who appear to be surging towards a playoff berth, but the o-line returned to their early season form after a string of good games. It didn’t help that this unit lost another RT to injury as Peart went down. Korey Cunningham came in to replace him and allowed six pressures and a sack. 
27. Seattle Seahawks (Previous Rank: 29) – The Seahawks o-line had their first good pass-blocking game against a credible defense since week six. They only allowed pressure 22% of pass snaps and one sack vs. a Bears defense that is top five in the NFL in sacks. 
28. Miami Dolphins (Previous Rank: 30) – While much is being made of the Dolphins turnaround as a team, they’re the first team ever to win and lose seven games in a row in a season, more needs to be made of the Dolphins o-line turnaround. In their first 11 games, this unit only had three games in which they allowed pressure less than 30% of pass snaps. However, in their last four games they have allowed pressure less than 30% of pass snaps. It’s one of the best 180 turnarounds we’ve seen from any position group on any team this season. 
29. Chicago Bears (Previous Rank: 25) – The month of December has been one to forget for this o-line in terms of pass pro, and it was another poor outing vs. the Seahawks in the snow. They allowed three sacks and pressure 32% of their pass snaps. 
30. Pittsburgh Steelers (Previous Rank: 26) – The Steelers were up against one of the NFL’s hottest defenses, and their o-line didn’t fare well at all. They allowed pressure on 37% of pass snaps and two sacks. The pressure stats on the year may be good, but this unit is tied for the fourth-most sacks allowed with 23, and they are ranked 31st in pass-block win rate. 
31. Las Vegas Raiders (Previous Rank: 32) – The Raiders o-line played well vs. the Broncos. Their overall PA% was dragged down by Leatherwood, who was the one starter that really struggled in pass pro as he allowed five pressures and sack. However, by Raider standards, this was a really solid game upfront for them. They even ran-block well, which allowed Josh Jacobs to rush for over 100 yards for the first time this season. However, the fact that the Raiders were unable to have a 100-yard rusher until week 16 is an indictment against this group for the year.  
32. Carolina Panthers (Previous Rank: 31) – The Panthers o-line struggled again vs. the Bucs. They allowed pressure 31% of pass snaps and three sacks. On the year, they’ve allowed the third-most sacks and they have the third-highest PA%.