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Worst players at every position from Week 14

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Even in Week 14, we’re seeing good players struggle. Some of the following are making their first appearance on this list — one is even considered one of the best at his position in the league. It just goes to show that every player can have a bad week. We just make sure that everyone who struggles gets recognition for it on the PFF's Worst Team of the Week.

(Editor's note: Changes might be made following our review process and once Monday Night Football games have been analyzed and graded.)

Quarterback: Matthew Stafford, Lions (-4.8)

After a few good games, Stafford fell back down to his start of the season form yesterday, finishing with the worst pass grade among QBs. He played decently when not faced with any pressure, throwing for 206 yards on a 73 percent completion rate and two touchdowns to one interception. But when under pressure, he went just 3-for-9 for 39 yards and multiple bad throws.

Running back: Devonta Freeman, Falcons (-4.1)

It’s a far cry from the Freeman we saw at the start of the season. He finished with just 40 yards on 12 attempts yesterday, but even worse was the mere 13 yards gained after contact. He also had a -1.1 blocking grade. He still hasn’t scored a rushing touchdown since Week 6. It was not a great day for the Falcons as a whole, but especially Freeman.

Fullback: Jamize Olawale, Raiders (-1.3)

Olawale graded just slightly below average in run blocking, thanks to a couple of bad blocks. But overall it was a good week for fullbacks

Tight end: Troy Niklas, Cardinals (-4.0)

Nicklas only ran five pass routes and wasn’t targeted, which is to be expected from a blocking tight end. But his -3.2 run blocking grade is definitely not. He allowed multiple run stops and disruptive plays, and was generally unable to make any positive plays in the run game.

Wide receivers: Dez Bryant, Cowboys (-3.1) and Amari Cooper, Raiders (-2.8)

Bryant is making a rare appearance on this list, as he’s long been one of the best receivers in the league. But yesterday he struggled, catching just one pass on six targets. Three of those incompletions were dropped passes. He gained nine yards. Cooper was targeted seven times, and didn’t make a single reception. He dropped two passes and also took a bad block in the back penalty.

Tackles: Michael Schofield, Broncos (-7.0) and Chris Hairston, Chargers (-4.3)

No surprise that a Broncos tackle made this list after yesterday’s performance. Schofield has brutal in pass blocking, going mostly against OLB Khalil Mack. Schofield allowed three sacks, two hits and one other pressure. He finished with the lowest pass block grade among tackles. Hairston allowed two sacks and two pressures, and also had a slightly below average game blocking the run.

Guards: John Miller, Bills (-9.0) and Ryan Jensen, Ravens (-5.2)

Miller wasn’t good in pass protection, allowing a hit and five other pressures, but he struggled even more in run blocking. He allowed a couple of run stops, a ton of disruptive plays, and took two holding penalties. Jensen was slightly better at both, allowing just two hits and a pressure, and finishing with just a -2.6 run block grade, much less than Miller’s -4.9.

Center: Andy Gallik, Titans (-5.6)

Almost all of Gallik’s grade came from a poor pass protection performance. No sacks allowed, but a hit and six hurries, leading to a -5.5 pass block grade, the worst among all centers by a lot.


Each week we put forward a hybrid defense that features two edge rushers (4-3 defensive ends or 3-4 outside linebackers), three players on the “interior” of the defensive line (3-4 defensive ends or defensive tackles) and two linebackers (all inside linebackers and 4-3 outside linebackers).

Defensive interior – ends: Sharrif Floyd, Vikings (-4.0) and Jarvis Jenkins, Bears (-3.3)

Floyd didn’t get a single stop in his game, nor did he record a single pressure. He had very few positive disruptive plays in the run game, and generally looked invisible on the field. Jenkins at least had two QB hits, but he didn’t record even a single tackle, missing on his only attempt at one.

Defensive interior – tackle: Mike Purcell, Niners (-4.0)

Purcell had zero pressures, which isn’t a huge deal for a nose tackle. But he had only one tackle and zero stops in the run game, which is a big deal. He rarely made his presence felt, frequently being blocked out of plays against a run game that was very successful.

Edge rushers: Jared Odrick, Jaguars (-4.3) and Howard Jones, Buccaneers (-4.1)

Odrick rushed the passer 46 times, and finished with just two QB hurries. Not a good day rushing the passer. He also failed to record even a tackle, so not great against the run either. Jones was slightly better, getting three hurries in just 38 pass rushes. He also failed to record a tackle in the run game.

Linebackers: Preston Brown, Bills (-7.8) and NaVorro Bowman, 49ers (-6.0)

Brown had a very rough go of things in the run game, finishing with a -6.4 grade there. He didn’t miss a tackle, but that’s because he rarely even had a chance to make one. He made just one stop, and was constantly blocked at the second level out of plays, unable to even get involved. Bowman struggled against the run, making just four stops on 42 rushing plays. He also had a rough time in coverage, allowing five-of-six passes targeted at him to be completed for 60 yards. He also missed a tackle on the day.

Cornerbacks: Jalil Brown, Colts (-4.4) and Kyle Fuller, Bears (-3.7)

Brown allowed four receptions on six targets, for 58 yards and a touchdown. He also missed two tackles on the day and failed to record a single defensive stop. Fuller also allowed four catches, on five targets, for 66 yards. But he had an interception, and was generally in better coverage. It was Fuller’s run defense grade of -3.3 that really brought him down, thanks to two missed tackles and a few times of losing outside contain.

Safeties: Quintin Demps, Texans (-4.5) and Kyshoen Jarrett, Washington (-3.4)

Demps struggled in coverage, allowing a touchdown and finishing with a -2.4 grade, thanks to a few other poor plays nullified by an unrelated penalty. He also had six tackle attempts in the game, and missed four of them. Jarrett was slightly below average in coverage, with a -1.1 grade there. But he missed three tackles on the day, which really contributed to his making of this team.

Kicker: Josh Lambo, Chargers

Josh Lambo missed a 42-yard field goal and forced just one touchback on two kickoffs and that was enough to make this list. There was not a lot to choose from this week for kickers.

Punter: Shane Lechler, Texans

Lechler had seven punts that averaged just 45.1 yards. Only one of those punts was inside the twenty, and four of them were returned. He did not have very good location on most of them either.

Returner: Cody Davis, Rams

Davis had one punt return, which he muffed, and then returned for just four yards. Again, there were not a lot of bad returners to pick out this week.

 

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