Here’s how the playoff picture is shaping out through Week 5! pic.twitter.com/1roaIaEMM0
— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2019
What if, through four games, you were able to look at each team’s defining unit?
I took a stab at it, as it took until Monday night for each team to put four games in (all rankings are through the team’s fourth game of the season):
NE – 1st in passer rating allowed
BUF – 2nd in passer rating allowed
NYJ – Last in sacks allowed
MIA – Last in passer rating allowed
CLE – T-23rd in pass TD allowed
BAL – 1st in pass TD
PIT – 27th in rushing yards per attempt
CIN – Last in rushing yards per attempt
HOU – T-6th in sacks
IND – 29th in passer rating allowed
JAX – T-6th in sacks
TEN – T-6th in sacks
KC – 1st in passer rating
OAK – 26th in passer rating allowed
LAC – 3rd in pass yards
DEN – T-21st in sacks allowed
DAL – 11th in passer rating allowed
PHI – T-4th in TD passes
NYG – 22nd in passer rating allowed
WAS – 28th in passer rating allowed
GB – 4th in passer rating allowed
CHI – 2nd in rushing yards per attempt allowed
DET – T-7th in sacks allowed
MIN – T-2nd in rush TD allowed
NO – T-14th in sacks
TB – T-4th in pass TD
CAR- T-1st in sacks
ATL – T-25th in rush TD
SF – 2nd in passer rating allowed
SEA – T-14th in sacks
LA – T-2nd in rush TD
ARI – 31st in passer rating allowed
TEAMS OF THE WEEK:
NE, BAL, IND, OAKPHI, GB, NO, SF
TOP PERFORMERS:
SEA offensive line (QB Russell Wilson)CAR offensive line (QB Kyle Allen)
ARI run offense (QB Kyler Murray)
HOU pass offense (WR Will Fuller)
NO pass offense (WR Michael Thomas)
MIN pass offense (WR Adam Thielen)
OAK run defense (DT Maurice Hurst)
PHI pass offense (TE Zach Ertz)
BAL run offense (QB Lamar Jackson)
BUF pass defense (ILB Tremaine Edmunds)
NE pass offense (WR Julian Edelman)
DEN run defense (ILB AJ Johnson)
GB offensive line (QB Aaron Rodgers)
IND run defense (DE Justin Houston)
SF run offense (RB Matt Breida)
Looking ahead to Week 6
Open Dates – Buffalo, Chicago, Indianapolis, Oakland:
The Bills are off to a 4-1 start for the first time since 2011. It didn’t work out in 2011, but this season’s Bills are relying on defense, so they figure to stick around. Buffalo CB Tre’Davious White has already matched his 2018 INT total. No team has allowed fewer points in the NFC than the Bears despite a disappointing showing in London; Chicago also started 3-2 last season. Former 2013 7th round pick DT Nick Williams is off to a surprisingly strong start (4.0 sacks, the first of his career). The Colts did something they couldn’t do in the 2018 postseason: win at Arrowhead Stadium. The last time the Raiders started 8-8 was in 2011, when Oakland should have won the division but dropped the ball in December. OLB Tahir Whitehead is leading a run defense that has been much more competitive this season.
Giants at New England: I may never forgive Tampa Bay for this horrible “Danny Dimes” phenomenon. Then again, at least the squares can discuss their love for Eli Manning’s Super Bowl triumphs over the Patriots while Manning watches a rookie QB take on a New England defense that hasn’t allowed a TD pass this season. I expect New York QB Daniel Jones to find the end zone (perhaps even multiple times!), but to then also watch New England’s offense continue to get right against a horrendous Giants secondary.
Texans at Kansas City: Prepare for a game that could require 40 points to win. Two Octobers ago, Houston QB Deshaun Watson threw 5 TD passes without an INT at home against the Chiefs, and the Texans still took the L. That was with Kansas City starting QB Alex Smith. Kansas City will need QB Patrick Mahomes to bounce back from a difficult SNF home loss, but it would help if he had a run game to complement him, especially with Kansas City losing more depth on the offensive line.
49ers at Los Angeles Rams: For the third time already this season, the reeling Rams get to benefit from facing an opponent coming off the MNF game. The San Francisco 49ers need their run game to travel to Southern California. That is the only way they stay undefeated, and it will be a tall task with FB Kyle Juszczyk joining LT Joe Staley on the sideline.
Steelers at Los Angeles Chargers: This game was supposed to be a 2004 NFL Draft tribute. Instead, it’s playing like an early AFC elimination game. Perhaps it is too early to panic, but both of these teams are struggling with key injuries and have a dearth of quality wins. The Chargers should find a way to get RBs Austin Ekeler and Melvin Gordon a combined 30 touches; that tandem’s effectiveness will likely decide the game.
Lions at Green Bay: The Lions are coming off of a bye, and they will lead the NFC North with a win at Green Bay. Detroit’s success will come down to whether or not they can make QB Aaron Rodgers uncomfortable with the pass rush.