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Next Gen Stats
Next Gen Stats: Compelling figures that could shape Week 7
In Week 7's Next Gen Stats Photo Essay, NFL Research's Joseph Ferraiola dissects the numbers behind the most intriguing storylines of the season thus far.
NOTE: All stats were current heading into Thursday Night Football in Week 7.

Ryan Tannehill has used play-action on 34.8 percent of his dropbacks this season (third-highest rate in the NFL) and has been quite efficient on such passes, averaging 10.5 yards per attempt (second-most). The Steelers' defense has been the most effective unit at pressuring opposing QBs thus far in 2020 (42.6%, highest rate in the NFL), mainly because of their high blitz rate (43.1%, third). Pittsburgh also has two of the fastest edge rushers at getting off the ball in T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree. Watt (0.61 seconds) and Dupree (0.70 seconds) rank first and fourth, respectively, in get-off time this season among edge rushers with 100-plus pass rushes. Tannehill has gotten the ball out quickly on play-action versus blitzes (2.65 seconds, third-fastest rate in the NFL), completing 10 of 18 passes for 112 yards, three touchdowns, zero interceptions and a 113.9 passer rating on such attempts. But the Steelers have pressured the opposing QB on 52.9 percent of play-action dropbacks this season, a figure 21.4 percentage points higher than the next closest team (Tampa Bay).

After leading the NFL with +314 rushing yards over expected (RYOE) in 2019, Derrick Henry got off to a slow start in Weeks 1 through 5 of this season. Henry gained 374 rushing yards in those first five weeks, despite being expected to gain 435. His -61 RYOE in that span was the second-worst figure in the NFL among running backs. But Henry righted the ship in Week 6 against the Texans, gaining +113 rushing yards over expected, the most by any RB in a game since 2019. He has a difficult matchup this week versus the Steelers, as they've allowed -0.87 RYOE per attempt this season, the second-best mark in NFL.

Tom Brady is fitting in nicely with Bruce Arians in Tampa Bay. Brady has averaged 8.9 air yards per attempt, his most since 2017. The 43-year-old has been particularly effective at targeting go routes down the field. Brady's attempted to hit a go route on 10.8 percent of passes this season and has thrown five touchdown passes on such throws (tied for second most in the NFL). He's been especially fond of targeting Mike Evans on go routes; the three-time Pro Bowler has caught four of six targets on go routes for 84 yards and two scores.

The matchup between the Bears and Rams features two of the most fearsome pass rushers in the NFL over the last five seasons. Aaron Donald and Khalil Mack are ranked first (301) and third (238), respectively, since 2016 in QB pressures. Donald is the only player since Next Gen Stats began player tracking to record 300-plus QB pressures and has 62 more than the next-closest player, Von Miller. Donald and Mack have also made their pressures count, causing 16 (most) and 13 (fourth-most) turnovers on pressures in that span, respectively.

Ben Roethlisberger is posting his fastest time to throw (2.33 seconds), fewest air yards per attempt (7.2) and lowest pressure rate (16.3%) in the last five seasons. Despite that, Big Ben has thrown deep passes at a top-10 rate (12.1%). His main target on these downfield shots has been rookie WR Chase Claypool, who has caught four of nine deep targets for 183 yards and two touchdowns. (All other Steelers receivers have caught just two of 11 deep targets for 56 yards and two scores.)

Jimmy Garoppolo has attempted a quick pass (delivered in under 2.5 seconds) on 45.5 percent of passes this season (14th-highest in the NFL) and has been much more efficient on quick passes than ones with a time to throw of 2.5-plus seconds. He's averaging 9.3 yards per attempt with a 128.7 passer rating on quick passes, both of which are tops in the NFL. On passes with a time to throw of 2.5-plus seconds, Garoppolo has averaged just 5.8 yards per attempt with a 74.2 passer rating.