Broncos line has its best performance of the season.
Week 13 Recap: The Broncos' offensive line has quietly been one of the best in the NFL this season, and in Week 13, the line had its best performance to date. The line paved the way to 127 rushing yards on 25 carries (5.1 yards per carry), against a Jets defense that is ranked fourth against the run. Pass protection was flawless, as the unit did not allow a sack in 43 pass attempts, which is more impressive when you consider that New York's defense entered Week 13 with 35 sacks (fifth most) on the season.
Up Next: vs. Kansas City. The Chiefs have the fewest sacks in the NFL (6), and the Broncos' line is tied with the Titans for fewest sacks allowed (7), which bodes well for quarterback Jay Cutler. The Chiefs also struggle against the run (163.7 yards per game) and the pass (231.3 yards per game), so anything short of a high-scoring game with a lot of yardage, will be a disappointment for the Denver offense.
Titans roll over hapless Lions
Week 13 Recap: The Titans headed into Thanksgiving Day and took full advantage of a struggling Detroit run defense. The Tennessee offense racked up 292 yards rushing on 46 carries (6.3 yards per carry), which included dual 100-yard games from Chris Johnson and LenDale White. Pass protection was acceptable, as the unit allowed just one sack in 19 pass attempts.
Up Next: vs. Cleveland. On paper, another great matchup for the Titans' offensive line, as the Browns' defense struggles against the run, allowing 141.3 yards per game. Cleveland also has the third fewest sacks in the league this season (15), so the Titans' line should have little trouble with pass protection. Upgrade all Titans for Week 14, based on the favorable matchup.
Eagles line finally shows up
Week 13 Recap: The Eagles' offensive line, which has not lived up to preseason expectations, had a huge performance in a big win over the Cardinals. Run blocking was superb, as the offense racked up 185 yards on 40 carries (4.6 yards per carry). Pass protection was nearly flawless, as the unit allowed one sack in 39 pass attempts. The line's performance helped running back Brian Westbrook score a season-high four touchdowns(two rushing, two receiving).
Up Next: at N.Y. Giants. The Giants' defense poses a tough matchup for the Eagles' offensive line. The Giants are tough against the run (85.4 yards per game) and have allowed just seven scores on the ground this season. New York also has the fourth most sacks (36) in the league, so the Eagles will be tested in their ability to protect quarterback Donovan McNabb.
Seahawks struggle against the Cowboys
Week 13 Recap: The Seahawks' offensive line struggled mightily in a blowout loss to the Cowboys. The running game, which was abandoned due to the score of the game, gained 80 yards on 23 carries (3.5 yards per carry). The line's real issues came with handling the Dallas pass rush, as the unit allowed seven sacks in 38 pass attempts. The Cowboys' pass defense also contributed to the high sack total, limiting the Seahawks' offense to just 5.4 yards per pass completion.
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Up Next: vs. New England. The cross-country trip should be taken into account for this game, as the Patriots head from the east coast to the west. The Patriots' defense is coming off a bad performance against the Steelers in Week 13, but they continue to have an average ranking in overall defense. The Patriots have allowed just seven rushing touchdowns this season, which limits the scoring potential for the Seahawks' running game.
Browns have worst performance of the season
Week 13 Recap: The Browns' offensive line had played better than the team's record indicates -- at least until Week 13. The line struggled to create openings in the running game, sputtering for 101 yards on 32 carries (3.2 yards per carry). The line also had its worst performance of the season in pass protection, allowing three sacks in 29 pass attempts (the line allowed just 12 sacks in the previous 11 games).
Up Next: at Tennessee. This is a difficult matchup for the Browns' offensive line, made even worse by the fact that the Browns will be starting third-string quarterback Ken Dorsey against the Titans. Tennessee's defense is tough against the run, allowing 97.2 yards per game, but they have allowed 12 rushing touchdowns on the season. To make matters worse, the Titans rank fourth in pass defense (184.6 yards per game) and have the sixth-most sacks (34) in the league, making for a potentially long day for the Cleveland passing game.
Corey Bertram is a writer for RotoWire. For more information, check out rotowire.com.
