RADIO
Week 2 is here, and the NFL season is finally underway. Through one week, the Seattle Seahawks are atop the NFC West, and the AFC South went winless in Week 1 despite two of the teams playing each other. The NFL really is back when these are real storylines and not made up.
Due to a combination of bad weather, injuries, bad offenses and good defenses, scoring was down significantly from Week 1 of the 2021 season. NFL teams combined to score 673 points across 16 games compared to 768 points in Week 1 of last year. As is tradition, the defenses seem to be ahead of the offenses to start the year.
Early in the year, you need to rack up as many wins as possible while your team is still healthy and bye weeks have yet to arrive. With that in mind, your quarterback matchups become even more important to analyze which offenses are ready for success vs which ones still need a few weeks to get warmed up. Here are the three best and worst matchups for Sunday to consider when setting your lineup.
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Here Comes Trouble - QB vs. Pass Rush Matchups
Pittsburgh Steelers Defense Pass Rush vs. Mac Jones
New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones ended his rookie year on a downslope, and the bounceback has not happened yet for him or the team following their performance in Week 1. They lost by just 13 on the road to the Miami Dolphins, but it never looked particularly close. Heading into their Week 2 matchup, Jones is dealing with a back injury that isn’t expected to hold him out, but he’ll likely be limited.
On the other side of this matchup, he’ll be facing a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that made a revamped Cincinnati Bengals offensive line look like they hadn’t played a snap of football in their lives. Joe Burrow was sacked seven times on the day, and he was pressured on 21.5 percent of his dropbacks. Even with T.J. Watt out of the lineup, this Pittsburgh group has the horses to harass Mac all day.
Verdict: Sit 'Em
New York Giants Defense Pass Rush vs. Baker Mayfield
Well, Carolina Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield didn’t get the revenge he was hoping for in Week 1, and you could place a fair share of the blame at his feet. Baker had just one touchdown on the day when Robbie Anderson got behind the Browns’ defense. Against that touchdown, he was sacked four times while being under pressure on 21.9 percent of his dropbacks. He also had four fumbles on the day. While he recovered all four of them, those ball security issues can be a problem.
In Week 2, Carolina heads to face the New York Giants, who, for the first time in five years, have a record above .500 after their upset win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 1. They did so thanks to Saquon Barkley on offense along with a defense that kept Ryan Tannehill uncomfortable all day. While they only had one sack, they had four knockdowns and 11 pressures for a whopping 31.4 percent pressure rate. This Carolina offensive line is still a work in progress, and the Giants can take advantage to get after Baker.
Verdict: Sit ‘Em
Baltimore Ravens Defense Pass Rush vs. Tua Tagovailoa
One bad throw by Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa got the headlines in Week 1, but he truly performed much better than that clip would have you believe. He went 23-of-33 for 270 yards, and, if the game hadn’t been largely wrapped up, he could have put up bigger numbers. Regardless, despite the offensive line taking a step forward this offseason, it’s still a group that is leaving more to be desired.
In Week 2, Tua will be dealing with a Baltimore front that seems to constantly produce year after year no matter who they plug into the lineup. In Week 1, they had three sacks against the New York Jets, and they generated pressure on 24.2 percent of their opponent’s dropbacks. Additionally, the Dolphins' two starting tackles both missed practice on Wednesday. While Terron Armstead should play, there is no guarantee at this point.
Verdict: Sit ‘Em
Easy on Sunday Morning - QB vs. Pass Rush Matchups
Jacksonville Jaguars Defense Pass Rush vs. Matt Ryan
The Matt Ryan era for the Indianapolis Colts didn’t get off to the hottest start. They scored just three points in three quarters and needed a 17-point comeback in the fourth quarter just to send the game to overtime. One thing that wasn’t really at fault in Week 1 was the offensive line. They gave up some pressure, but they were in the bottom half of the league in knockdowns allowed. They were keeping Ryan upright more often than not.
The Colts are going for their first win in Jacksonville since September 21 of 2014. Both of these teams have come a long way since then, and the Colts are looking to seize hold of this division with other teams floundering. In Week 1, the Jaguars had just one sack of Carson Wentz, and they pressured him on just 8.9 percent of his dropbacks. This pass rush, despite high draft picks over the last few years, is still struggling to get after the quarterback.
Verdict: Start 'Em
Detroit Lions Defense Pass Rush vs. Carson Wentz
Because I’m actually recommending Carson Wentz, he’s going to forget how to play football and completely fall apart. For now, I’m going to have optimism. Despite throwing two interceptions, he helped lead his team on a game-clinching drive for his fourth touchdown of the day for over 300 yards. The offensive line played a large part in that accomplishment, as they gave up just one sack, and they allowed a pressure rate of just 8.9 percent, which was the second-best mark of the week behind only the Buffalo Bills.
The Lions had a 25.6 percent pressure rate in Week 1, but that’s inflated by the low volume of passing the Philadelphia Eagles were required to do thanks to their large lead. This Lions’ defense is still really young, and they have a lot of growing up to do before they’re striking fear into the hearts of opposing quarterbacks. Until then, most offensive lines should be up to the task of slowing this group down.
Verdict: Start ‘Em
Miami Dolphins Defense Pass Rush vs. Lamar Jackson
In Week 1, the Dolphins were playing against a Patriots offensive line that couldn’t figure out how to get out of their own way, and they still only generated two sacks and pressure on 15.2 percent of Mac’s dropbacks. This wasn’t against a particularly mobile quarterback, but it didn’t matter. Their pass rush doesn’t have a ton of teeth to it on a weekly basis.
Now, they go against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens where Lamar is out to get a huge payday, and the Ravens are trying to build towards a deep playoff run. Lamar was sacked twice in Week 1, but he was under pressure on just 11.8 percent of snaps. They’re still without Ronnie Stanley, although he has been practicing this week. Even if Stanley remains out, Jackson has the mobility to handle this pass rush.
Verdict: Start 'Em
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