32 NFL observations, Week 9

Another week, another 32 NFL Observations by Nathan Jahnke finding an interesting piece of information about all 32 teams after one week of football.

If you would like to make some observations of your own, you can do so with PFF Elite, where you can find several signature statistics for every offensive and defensive position in football.

AFC EAST

Buffalo Bills: Defensive end Jerry Hughes has made 13 tackles so far this season excluding sacks. All 13 have been stops, and on average the offense has gained 0 yards on those plays.

Miami Dolphins: Even though wide receiver Jarvis Landry is known as a slot receiver, he has found success lining up outside this year too. When he’s lined up on the outside, he’s had seven players miss tackles on his catches which is second-most for all wide receivers when lined up outside.

New England Patriots:  Over the last two seasons combined, running back James White has 892 yards after the catch, which is second-best for all running backs in that time.

New York Jets: Quarterback Josh McCown has an adjusted completion percentage of 85.1 percent when there is no pressure on him, which is the best rate for quarterbacks this year.

AFC NORTH

Baltimore Ravens: Running back Alex Collins has 10 carries of 15 or more yards. That is the second-most among running backs this year.

Cincinnati Bengals: On linebacker Kevin Minter’s 13 tackles, opposing offenses have gained an average of 2.8 yards. That is tied for second-best among all linebackers.

Cleveland Browns: When DeShone Kizer has run with the ball, he’s avoided getting tackled on first contact on half of his carries. That is tied for the best rate among quarterbacks in the NFL.

Pittsburgh Steelers: When Javon Hargrave lines up at nose tackle, he has 13 pressures, which is the most for all players when lined up at nose tackle.

AFC SOUTH

Houston Texans: In the fourth quarter of games, DeAndre Hopkins has 3.71 yards per route run which is the best for all wide receivers.

Indianapolis Colts: In the fourth quarter of games, Margus Hunt has one sack, three hits and six hurries on 54 pass-rushes. His 14.4 fourth quarter pass-rushing productivity is the second-best for all interior defenders.

Jacksonville Jaguars: When Marqise Lee lines up on the outside, he had 193 yards after the catch, which is the most for all wide receivers when lined up on the outside.

Tennessee Titans: This season the Titans receivers have dropped 2.94 percent of Marcus Mariota’s passes, which is the lowest-rate for a starting quarterback this year.

AFC WEST

Denver Broncos: Running back Jamaal Charles has not gone down on first contact on 39.6 percent of his carries. That is the fifth-best rate for running backs with at least 30 carries.

Kansas City Chiefs: Quarterback Alex Smith has an adjusted completion percentage of 57.1 percent on deep passes which is the best rate in the league. He also leads the league in deep passing yards and tied for the lead in deep passing touchdowns, as well as no deep interceptions.

Los Angeles Chargers: Since Week 6, tight end Hunter Henry has 2.90 yards per route run which is the best for tight ends with more than 20 routes run.

Oakland Raiders: Running back DeAndre Washington has averaged 0.33 defenders missing tackles on him per carry. That is the best rate for all running backs with at least 30 carries.

NFC EAST

Dallas Cowboys: Right guard Zack Martin has allowed a pressure on just 1.77 percent of pass blocks this season. That is the best rate for right guards so far this year.

New York Giants: When Janoris Jenkins has been targeted in the red zone, he’s allowed just one of six passes thrown his way to be caught, and that catch didn’t go for a touchdown. That is the lowest catch rate allowed among those thrown at four or more times in the redzone.

Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles defense has a combined 226 pressures, which is 53 more than any other defense. There are three teams where the Eagles have more than double the amount of pressures they have.

Washington: Running back Chris Thompson has 458 yards after the catch, which is 84 yards more than any other running back.

NFC NORTH

Chicago Bears: In Adrian Amos' last two games he has allowed four catches. Those passes went for a combined -5 yards. That is the fewest passing yards allowed by any defensive player who has allowed four or more catches in a two game stretch over the 12 years we have data for.

Detroit Lions: In the fourth quarter, cornerback Darius Slay has a playmaker index of 28.6 percent which is tied for the best among cornerbacks who have been targeted 10 or more times in the fourth quarter.

Green Bay Packers: When Kenny Clark lines up at nose tackle, he has 10 run stops which is tied for fifth-most among defenders when lined up at nose tackle.

Minnesota Vikings:  Since the start of the 2014 season, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has an adjusted completion percentage of 78.4 percent which is third best for quarterbacks with at least 1000 dropbacks in that time.

NFC SOUTH

Atlanta Falcons: Right tackle Ryan Schraeder has allowed pressure on just 3.85 percent of his pass blocks which is the third best rate for right tackles this season.

Carolina Panthers: On defensive tackle Star Lotulelei’s 10 tackles excluding sacks, the opposing offense on average gains 0.4 yards which is lowest for all interior defenders. The second best is Kawann Short at 0.8.

New Orleans Saints: When the Saints are within five yards of scoring a touchdown, quarterback Drew Brees has a perfect adjusted completion percentage. He’s completed 6-of-7 passes, five of which have gone for touchdowns. His one incompletion was intentionally thrown away.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: When opposing offenses are in the red zone, Clinton McDonald has a pass-rushing productivity of 19.1 and Chris Baker has a pass-rushing productivity of 18.7 which rank second and third, respectively for all interior defenders.

NFC WEST

Arizona Cardinals: When Chandler Jones has lined up on the defense’s right side, he has 30 pressures, which is tied for fourth-most for all edge defenders when lined up on the right.

Los Angeles Rams: This past week Andrew Whitworth didn’t allow a single pressure. It was the 49th time in his career with 20 or more pass blocks and no sacks, hits or hurries allowed. Since the start of the 2006 season, Whitworth has 14 more games without allowing a pressure than any other left tackle.

San Francisco 49ers: This past week Trent Brown played left tackle in place of an injured Joe Staley. He allowed pressure on just 3.5 percent of pass blocks. That is the fourth-best rate for all players when lined up at left tackle this season for those with at least 50 pass blocks from left tackle.

Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks as a defense have missed 36 tackles this season, which is the fewest. There are four teams who have missed more than double the number of tackles the Seahawks have missed.