Links to stories, pods and pictures to help you keep up with NFC East and the NFL in general
NFC East links
Behind the Steel Curtain
Steelers vs. Eagles: 5 questions with the enemy
Feat. Bleeding Green Nation’s Brandon Lee Gowton.
JALEN HURTS — The reality is that the Eagles have scaled back on Jalen Hurts throwing the football since their Week 5 bye. Averaging 33 attempts over his first four games, he logged six total touchdowns, seven giveaways, and an 85.7 passer rating. Averaging 21.4 attempts over his last nine games, he’s produced 23 total touchdowns, two giveaways, and a 113.7 passer rating. As you can see, he’s clearly been better as a lower volume passer. And that’s obviously been a winning formula for the Eagles.
But the Eagles’ margin for error shrinks if the passing game isn’t as viable as it reasonably should be. The Eagles arguably have the best offensive line in the NFL and the best wide receiver duo in the NFL. They have enough resources to rank higher than 17th in passing DVOA.
BRANDON GRAHAM — Losing Graham to a season-ending injury was a really big deal. And not just because he’s the heart of the team … but because he was playing at a really high level! Graham was excellent as both a run defender and as a pass rusher. Whereas the Eagles were using a four-man edge rotation when they had him, they’ve mostly shortened it down to three players in the two games since he went on injured reserve. Josh Sweat has had a good bounce-back season but he’s been kept on a relatively strict snap count since he faded late last year after playing a lot earlier on. Nolan Smith has made a leap from Year 1 to Year 2 but he still needs to improve. Rookie Jalyx Hunt wasn’t really expected to play much this year but injuries have forced him into playing time.
COOPER DEJEAN — DeJean is coming off his worst game of the season. The savvy route-running Adam Thielen got the best of him in Week 14.
Barring a tie, one of these two things will happen on Sunday:
1 – The Eagles will beat Russell Wilson for the first time EVER. They’re currently 0-6 against him.
2 – The Steelers will win in Philly for the first time in nearly 60 years, as you highlighted.
So, I guess it’s cool that history will be made either way. Though I’d say the first option is slightly more preferable.
Blogging the Boys
Position battleground (offense): Cowboys vs. Panthers head-to-head breakdown
Is the Cowboys offense better than the Panthers?
QB: Let’s compare both quarterbacks statistics here. Rush has 1,191 passing yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions. Young has 1,572 passing yards with seven touchdowns to seven interceptions. The difference between these two is Rush has matched Young’s production but in just half the amount of games. Win: Push
RB: The Cowboys defense has played much better lately and most definitely against the run. On the opposite side, the Panthers defense ranks last in rush yards allowed. That’s frightening when facing an ascending running back that is having better games each consecutive week.Win: Cowboys
WR: Lamb and Cooks are easily a bigger one-two punch than Legette and Thielen. Add in the fact that the Panthers average only 186 passing yards per game, that’s sixth-worst, and they have scored only 14 receiving touchdowns, which is only one a game. Win: Cowboys
TE: No other team in the NFL has allowed more touchdowns to the tight end position this year than the Carolina Panthers. We can just leave it there. Win: Cowboys
Pro Football Focus
2024 NFL offensive line rankings ahead of Week 15
1. Philadelphia Eagles (Up 2)
Projected Week 15 starters:
- LT Jordan Mailata
- LG Landon Dickerson
- C Cam Jurgens
- RG Mekhi Becton
- RT Lane Johnson
Philadelphia’s offensive line continues to play at a high level in pass protection. The unit surrendered just four pressures — albeit including one sack — on 27 pass plays against Carolina in Week 14. The group’s resulting 90.7 PFF pass-blocking efficiency rating placed fourth in the NFL this week.
Right guard Mekhi Becton had an excellent game against the Panthers, earning an 88.3 PFF overall grade that ranked third among guards in Week 14.
Best player: Jordan Mailata
Mailata is the only offensive tackle in the NFL this season who has earned 90.0-plus PFF grades in pass blocking and run blocking.
7. Washington Commanders (No change)
Projected Week 15 starters:
- LT Brandon Coleman
- LG Nick Allegretti
- C Tyler Biadasz
- RG Sam Cosmi
- RT Cornelius Lucas
The Washington Commanders were on a bye in Week 14.
The team’s offensive line has allowed 107 pressures — including 12 sacks — on 475 pass plays, leading to the seventh-ranked PFF pass-blocking efficiency rating (87.5) in the NFL.
Best player: Sam Cosmi
Cosmi is on pace to earn the lowest PFF grade of his career, sporting a 66.0 mark through 14 weeks.
26. Dallas Cowboys (Down 1)
Projected Week 15 starters:
- LT Chuma Edoga
- LG Tyler Smith
- C Brock Hoffman
- RG T.J. Bass
- RT Terence Steele
While center Cooper Beebe earned the highest overall grade (82.4) on the Cowboys’ offensive line, a concussion forced the rookie to depart after just 24 snaps.
Brock Hoffman, who started the game at right guard and then moved inside to center, had a solid game. His 81.7 PFF overall grade led the Cowboys’ offensive linemen who played every snap against Cincinnati.
Best player: Tyler Smith
Smith’s 87.1 PFF run-blocking grade this past week ranked fourth among guards.
31. New York Giants (Down 2)
Projected Week 15 starters:
- LT Joshua Ezeudu
- LG Aaron Stinnie
- C Greg Van Roten
- RG Jake Kubas
- RT Evan Neal
New York’s offensive line suffered two injuries in Week 14, to left guard Jon Runyan and center John Michael Schmitz Jr.
Left tackle Joshua Ezeudu allowed 10 pressures to the Saints, more than any other offensive lineman in Week 14.
Best player: Greg Van Roten
Van Roten’s 71.4 PFF pass-blocking grade in Week 14 led the Giants’ offensive linemen.
Big Blue View
Giants-Ravens 5 questions: It would be nice to be an 8-5 ‘disappointment’
Ed: The Giants have lost eight straight games. They are 2-11. They are 0-7 at home. Is there any path you can see for New York to stun the Ravens and win this game? If so, what does it look like?
Kyle: There’s always a chance for the Ravens to drop a game. They have — in my opinion — the highest ceiling of any team in the NFL, but the lowest floor of any contender. They could bumble and stumble and keep the Giants hanging around.
Scenario: Ravens struggle in the red zone and Justin Tucker’s kicking woes continue, leaving points off the board. Malik Nabers and DeVito find some openings and get into the end zone once or twice and the Ravens exchange punts or lose a turnover. Then, in the fourth, the Ravens are too late to make a pitched comeback and the Giants make a defensive play or two to win it, similar to 2022.
NFL league links
Articles
NFL.com
Niners HC Kyle Shanahan says De’Vondre Campbell refused to play Thursday, will ‘figure something out’ on LB’s future
Nine-year pro De’Vondre Campbell declined to play for the San Francisco 49ers Thursday and the linebacker might not be on the roster much longer.
Campbell refused to enter the game in the third quarter of the 49ers’ 12-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters after the game, and the veteran’s status on the team appears uncertain at best.
“I don’t know,” Shanahan said when asked if the team would release Campbell. “We’ll figure something out.”
Niners linebacker Dre Greenlaw, playing in his first game of the season after suffering an Achilles tendon injury in the Super Bowl, felt some tightness during the third quarter and exited the game. When Campbell was asked to take the field, he declined.
Shanahan said Campbell gave him no reason as to why he would not play and shortly thereafter left for the locker room.
Pro Football Focus
NFL Lockdown Report: The NFL’s best defenders at preventing separation in coverage
What is Lockdown Percentage?
This metric focuses on coverage, measuring how well a defender prevents a receiver from getting open. It excludes plays where the defender intentionally gives up space to protect the first-down marker or limit yards after the catch.
Front Office Sports
Belichick’s UNC Deal Contains Clause That Keeps NFL Speculation Alive
Bill Belichick has signed a five-year, $50 million contract to be the head coach at North Carolina. However, a unique buyout clause could fuel speculation about a return to the NFL.
Belichick’s deal is for five years through December 2029 and will pay him $10 million annually in base salary and supplement income. The first three years are guaranteed, but the final two are not, effectively making it a three-year, $30 million contract, if UNC wants out within the next 36 months.
But Belichick’s buyout terms are not exactly what you typically find in most college football coaching contracts.
If Belichick terminates the deal without cause (for example, if he wanted to leave for an NFL job) before June 1, 2025, UNC will be owed $10 million. However, that amount drops to just $1 million if Belichick leaves on or after June 1, 2025.
Pro Football Focus
2024 NFL quarterback rankings ahead of Week 15
