At Pro Football Focus, we are first and foremost about evaluating players. Typically, the 32 Observations will find some interesting statistic about how an individual player is doing, but this week we’re going to change things up. It takes a team full of players to succeed, so this week we’ll look at how defenses are doing, and in what situations they are, or are not, playing well.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills: The Bills have had opposing quarterbacks throw away 17 passes, which is the most in the league.
Miami Dolphins: As a team, the Dolphins have a Pass Rushing Productivity of 27.6, which is the second-highest in the league
New England Patriots: One of the Patriots' biggest weaknesses has been defending against the deep pass. On 63 opposing attempts, they have allowed 28 completions for 878 yards, nine touchdowns and seven interceptions. Each of those numbers leads the league.
New York Jets: The Jets have allowed 24 yards on 17 quarterback designed runs or scrambles, which is the lowest amount, and rate, in the league.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens: While there was a time where teams would be afraid to run against the Ravens, those days might be over. Opponents have run against Baltimore 80 times in the first quarter, 82 times in the third quarter and 91 in the third quarter, all of which lead the league.
Cincinnati Bengals: Although the Bengals have allowed 32-yard runs on two separate occasions, they are just one of six teams to not allow a run beyond 32 yards.
Cleveland Browns: On 12.9% of the plays where the Browns blitz they end up getting a sack, which is the highest rate in the league.
Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers have been the best team at defending against intermediate passes (passes where the ball is in the air for 10-20 yards). On 75 attempts, they’ve allowed just 32 completions for 529 yards. That is the lowest completion percentage at 32%, the lowest yards per attempt at 7.1, and the fewest touchdowns at one.
AFC South
Houston Texans: The Texans have batted 5.6% of their opponents pass attempts, which is nearly three times more frequent than the league average of 1.9%.
Indianapolis Colts: The Colts have allowed an average time to throw of 2.5 seconds, which is the lowest in the league.
Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars have brought pressure on 24.5% of their opponent’s drop-backs, which is the lowest rate in the league.
Tennessee Titans: There have been 92 plays where the Titans have brought pressure in 2.5 seconds from the snap or less, which is third-most in the league.
AFC West
Denver Broncos: The Broncos have brought pressure on 37.1% of their opponent’s drop-backs, which is the highest rate in the league.
Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs have allowed 10.1 yards per attempt on passes to the middle of the field, which is the highest rate in the league. They also have allowed touchdowns on 8.7% of plays where the opposition throws to the middle, which is the highest rate in the league and more than double the league average.
Oakland Raiders: While the Raiders have brought pressure on 114 plays this season, which is below average, they have had a league-low 11 sacks. That is a sack on 9.6% of their pressures, which is the lowest rate in the league.
San Diego Chargers: The Chargers have had opponents run against them in the red zone just 15 times this season, which is the lowest in the league, and much lower than the league average of 39. On those 15 runs, opponents have 37 yards and two touchdowns.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys have allowed 3.1 yards per rushing attempt when the opponent’s running backs have run outside of the tackles, which is the lowest rate in the league.
New York Giants: The Giants have allowed an average time to throw of 2.9 seconds, which is the highest in the league.
Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles have allowed 3.1 yards per rushing attempt when the opponent tried running in the gaps directly to the right or left of the center, which is the lowest rate in the league.
Washington Redskins: The Redskins have allowed 366 rushing yards when opponents run to the offense's left/defense's right, which is the lowest amount in the league.
NFC North
Chicago Bears: The Bears have allowed just 4.1 yards after the catch per catch, which is the lowest rate in the league.
Detroit Lions: Of the 15 times an opposing receiver has run a go route against the Lions and he was the target of the pass, there have only been three completions for 80 yards to the receivers, compared to two interceptions. The completions and yards allowed are the fewest.
Green Bay Packers: On 26.0% of the plays the Packers get pressure on the quarterback, they end up sacking him, which is the highest rate in the league.
Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings have allowed 215 yards to opposing quarterbacks on scrambles and designed quarterback runs, which is the most in the league.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons have averaged allowing 3.1 yards after contact per rushing attempt, which is the second-highest in the league.
Carolina Panthers: The Panthers have missed 57 tackles in the run game alone, which is 10 more than any other team.
New Orleans Saints: The Saints have allowed 9.3 passing yards per drop-back when they blitz, which is the highest rate allowed in the league.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Buccaneers have allowed just 2.7 yards per carry when the opponents run between the tackles, which is more than half a yard less than any other team.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals get a sack or hit on the opposing quarterback on 19.8% of their drop-backs, which is the highest rate in the league.
St. Louis Rams: On 49.5% of run plays against the Rams, they hold opponents to 2 yards or less, which is the third-best rate in the league.
San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers have been the best team at defending against deep passes. Of the 35 pass attempts against them of 20 or more yards in the air, they have allowed just six to be completed, compared to three interceptions.
Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks allow just 5.4 passing yards per drop-back on plays in which they blitz, which is the lowest yards average allowed in the league.
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