In The Trenches: Third Quarter Review - AFC
November 30th, 2002
Week 12 has come and gone in the NFL - it's time for the playoff push! Which teams are keeping it together on the offensive and defensive lines - and which are collapsing? Who is in a good position, injury-wise, among the big men up front? The answers to these questions can be found in the team by team capsules below. At the end of the article, I'll highlight the biggest gainers and decliners from the last four weeks performances.
Buffalo Bills
The Bills' offensive line held steady in the third quarter of the season - their 96.4 yards rushing per game (25th) was a mere .4 less than where they sat as a team four weeks ago. They actually increased their yards per carry slightly, to 4.3 yards per carry (14th in the NFL), and reduced the number of sacks they allowed to 8 (38 this season, 30th in the NFL), after getting hit for 17 in the second quarter of the season.
Their defense remains lackluster - they allow 131 yards per game on the ground heading into the late-season (26th in the NFL), up 6 yards on the average since the half-way point. Their 4.3 yards per carry allowed ranks 18th in the league, a slight .1 yard improvement over the past four weeks, and they added only 3 sacks in 4 weeks to rank 22nd in the league with 22.
Linebacker Brandon Spoon is on IR, but otherwise the Bills' units remain healthy thus far in the season. They recently acquired the injured DE Marcus Jones - he went directly onto IR, but that doesn't constitute a loss for the team (and may be a big plus next year).
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins remain very strong in the rushing phase of the game - they average 139.8 yards per game rushing at this point, 6th in the NFL. The per carry average remains strong, 4.2 yards per tote (16th in the NFL), a slight .1 yard decline. They are 3rd in the NFL allowing only 16 sacks (but did allow 9 in the last four weeks - Ray Lucas took 4 in his first start).
The Miami defense is actually improving (scary thought, considering how good they already were), and now ranks 2nd in the NFL allowing only 89.5 yards per game (an improvement of 3.5 yards per game) and holding opposing rushers to 3.6 yards per carry (2nd in the NFL), an improvement of .1 yard per tote in this category. They have really knocked opposing quarterbacks around recently, adding 14 sacks in the last four weeks to total 31 (5th in the NFL).
Offensive tackle Brent Smith is on IR, and LB Twan Russell joined him there since the halfway point.
New England Patriots
The Patriots line held steady as one of the league's sub-par units in the third quarter, garnering 95.6 yards per game on the ground (28th in the NFL), 3.8 yards per carry on average (23rd in the NFL) and allowing 25 sacks, 9 more over the past four weeks (18th in the NFL). The yards per game increased slightly from the halfway point (+4.6 yards per game), but the per carry average declined .2.
The defense is still very porous, allowing 126.5 yards per game (24th in the league), but that is an improvement over the halfway point, when they averaged 142 yards per game (-15.5 yards per game). The 4.6 yards per carry allowed is 25th in the NFL. The Patriots do sack opposing passers often, notching 28 total this season (8th in the NFL), 11 of those coming over the past four weeks.
Guard Steve Neal landed on IR for the Pats early in the season, but there are no new additions recently.
New York Jets
The Jets really got their rushing attack going in the past four weeks (Curtis Martin went over 100 yards (twice) for the first time this year). They improved their average yards per game by 26.6 yards, to 104.6 (20th in the NFL), held steady at 3.8 yards per carry (23rd in the NFL) and allowed only 5 more sacks to total 24 (16th in the league).
The Jets' defensive unit also stiffened significantly, dropping their season average in yards allowed per game to 126.5 (down 30.5 yards from 157 at the halfway point) which is out of the cellar, 24th in the NFL. They do allow 4.9 yards per carry on average, though, and have only 17 sacks this season (30th in the league), so it's not all roses in New York - but the Jets are a much better team heading into the final stretch than they were beginning the first quarter - when they were allowing 185 yards per game on the ground!
G Dave Szott came off IR recently, and no other linemen were added to the list, so the Jets also got healthier as a unit (rare for this stage of an NFL season).
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens' line is run blocking respectably at this point in the season, averaging 109.1 yards per game (16th in the league) an improvement of 8.1 yards per game to the average over the past four weeks. The yards per carry jumped .3 yards, to 4.2 yards per carry on average (16th). However, they gave up 19 additional sacks in the last four weeks, dropping to 28th in the league in this category.
The defense stayed stout against the rush, even without Michael McCrary and Ray Lewis for the majority of games, and currently ranks 13th in the league allowing 109.2 yards per game, a slight drop from 103 at the halfway point. They are 5th in the NFL allowing 3.8 yards per rush (an improvement of .2 yards over the last four weeks), and have 22 sacks this season (22nd), 6 more in the last four weeks.
Ray Lewis (shoulder) is gone for the season, and Michael McCrary has been unable to play with a knee injury. DE Marques Douglas is on IR.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals lose, but it's not because of Corey Dillon. The team ranks 17th in the NFL averaging 107.3 yards per game (a slight drop of 3.7 yards on the average over the last four weeks), and gain 4.1 yards per carry (19th in the NFL), a slight .2 yard drop over the past four weeks. The team has allowed only 25 sacks (18th in the NFL), and only 5 over the past four weeks.
The defense is one of the reasons the Bengals keep losing. They are 31st in the league averaging 139.3 yards per game allowed (a slight 2.4 yards per game improvement over the last four weeks). They are 32nd in the NFL with only 13 sacks (+5 since halfway), and are 22nd in the NFL in yards per carry, at 4.4 (no change).
OT's Richmond Webb (torn left pectoral muscle) and Jamain Stephens (torn left rotator cuff) are on IR, and over the past four weeks DT Oliver Gibson (torn left Achilles), and LB's Armegis Spearman (ankle) and Steve Foley (shoulder) were added to IR.
Cleveland Browns
Cleveland climbed back out of the NFL's sub-basement to average 86.7 yards per game at the three-quarters mark - an improvement to the average of 11.4 yards per game (still 31st in the league, though). They are 26th averaging 3.7 yards per carry (+ .2 since the half-way point) and are 9th in the NFL allowing only 20 sacks (+5 over the past four weeks).
The defense stiffened somewhat, dropping their yards allowed per game to 125.7 (9.3 yard improvement), which ranks 22nd in the NFL. Their 4.3 yards per carry average is 18th in the league (.2 improvement from the halfway point), and are 26th in the league with 20 sacks (only 4 more over the past four weeks).
Defensive end Felipe Claybrooks (knee) and linebacker Jamir Miller (Achilles) are on IR.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers held their own over the past four weeks, and now rank 10th in the NFL in rushing yards per game at 125 per contest, 16th averaging 4.2 yards per carry, and are 6th in sacks allowed at 19. Those numbers are 2 yards per game better, .1 yards per carry worse, and 6 more than at the halfway point, respectively. A good rushing attack, without question.
The defense remains a top unit, allowing only 90.7 rushing yards per game (3rd in the NFL), 2.3 more than at the halfway point. They average only 3.9 yards allowed per carry (.1 yard improvement over halfway), and have 28 sacks this season (8th in the NFL), 8 more than four weeks ago.
Center Jeff Hartings (knee) went onto the IR in the past four weeks (a big loss to the O-line) and LB John Fiala joins him there (knee).
Houston Texans
The Texans remain one of the worst pass blocking teams in the history of the NFL, allowing 58 sacks � of the way through the season (+14 over the past four weeks) - 32nd ranked, by far. Their rushing attack is anemic, averaging 95.9 yards per game (27th in the NFL), a drop of 5.1 yards per game over the past four weeks - and their 3.4 yards per carry ties them with the Bears for worst in the league.
The defense remained sub-par in the past four weeks, now averaging 128.6 yards per game (a 6.6 yards per game increase), and allowing 4.3 yards per carry (18th in the NFL), a .1 increase. They have 27 sacks, 15th in the league (7 more over the past four weeks).
G Ryan Schau (toe) joined OT Tonny Boselli on the IR in the last four weeks.
Indianapolis Colts
The Colt's offensive line rediscovered it's game in the third quarter, limiting opponents to only 5 more sacks (total 19, 7th in the league) of Peyton Manning. They improved their yards per game average by 8.4 yards per game, to 96.5 (24th in the NFL), and remained steady at 3.6 yards per rush (28th in the league).
The defense also improved somewhat in the third quarter, allowing 132.3 yards per game on average (an improvement of 15.1 yards per game over the halfway point) - 30th in the league, but better than 147.4. Teams still get plenty of real estate per carry, 4.7 yards per rush (27th in the NFL), .1 yard improvement. They added 10 sacks in the last four games, to rank 22nd in the NFL with 22 sacks total.
No linemen are currently reported on IR.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonvilles' offensive line held steady in it's performance run blocking, averaging 135.6 yards per game at the � point of the season (a 3.4 yard per game decline), and averaging a robust 4.6 yards per carry (5th in the NFL). However, they are not pass blocking well, now ranking 21st in the league with 26 sacks.
The defense continues to sack the opposing quarterbacks often, now totaling 28 (+12 over the past four weeks), averages 119.4 yards per game surrendered on the ground (18th in the league), an improvement of 5.6 yards per game, and held steady at 4.1 yards per carry (14th in the league).
Offensive tackle Maurice Williams (broken right leg), defensive end Tony Brackens (knee surgery), defensive lineman Tim Morabito (groin), offensive tackle Chris Ziemann (torn left ACL) and guard Derrick Chambers (neck) are on injured reserve, and OT Zach Wiegert joined them over the past four weeks due to a knee injury.
Tennessee Titans
Tennessee continues to improve in the rushing phase of the game, now averaging 103.5 yards per game (a 13.5 yards per game increase), 21st in the NFL. They still manage only 3.5 yards per carry (29th in the NFL), but didn't lose ground here, at least. They are 2nd in the NFL with only 15 sacks allowed (only 2 more over the past four weeks).
The Titan's defense clamped back down in the last four weeks, improving their yards per game allowed to 101 (9th in the NFL) from the half-way mark of 115 yards per game. They are 14th in yards per carry, averaging 4.1 yards per tote (a .3 improvement over the past four weeks), and are 8th in the league with 28 sacks (12 more in the last four games).
Defensive tackle Kris Kocurek (shoulder) is the lone lineman on IR.
Denver Broncos
The Broncos remain a top run-blocking unit, averaging 132.9 yards per game this season (a slight 1.1 yard per game decline from half-way), and average 4.6 yards per carry (5th best in the NFL). They have allowed 30 sacks this season, though, 25th in the NFL (+7 over the past four weeks).
The defense remains excellent. 1st in the NFL allowing 72.7 yards per game (a 1.3 improvement over the half-way point in the season), are 1st in yards per carry at 3.4 per attempt (a .1 improvement in the last four weeks), and have 28 sacks this season (+8 over the past four weeks).
Center Tom Nalen (knee) is the lone Bronco lineman on IR.
Kansas City Chiefs
Priest Holmes has the best run-blocking line in football. They are currently ranked 2nd in the league with 154.5 yards per game on average (a slight 5.1 yards per carry decline), 2nd in yards per carry at 5.3 (a .1 improvement over half-way) and they only gave up 6 more sacks the last four weeks to total 19 (7th in the NFL).
The defense really dropped the ball in the past four weeks, though. They are now allowing 125.7 yards per game, a 11.7 yard decline over the past four weeks (22nd in the NFL), are allowing 5.0 yards per carry on average at the � mark (+ .6, over half a yard more than 4 weeks ago), and have only 18 sacks this season (29th in the NFL) - only 6 more than at the half-way point.
Defensive tackle Ryan Sims (elbow) and defensive end Jabbar Threats (shoulder) were already on IR, and OL Willie Jones (neck) joined them in the past four weeks.
Oakland Raiders
The Raider's rushing attack continued a slow decline in the third quarter, now averaging 102.3 yards per game (23rd in the NFL), a decline of 2.4 yards per game. The Raiders still gain over 4 yards per carry (4.4, 11th in the league), but lost .5 yards per carry on the average over the last four weeks. The line only allowed 4 more sacks, though, to total 21 this season (10th in the league).
The defense halted it's downward spiral, and is now ranked 8th in the NFL allowing 100.9 yards per game (.8 yards per game increase). They allow 4.0 yards per carry (11th in the NFL) an improvement of .1 since the half-way point. They are 8th in the league with 28 sacks (+10 in the last four weeks).
DE Tony Bryant is sidelined indefinitely with a neck injury.
San Diego Chargers
The Charger's rushing attack is in decline, and has dropped 25.3 yards per game from their average in the third quarter, to rank 7th in the NFL with 136.4 yards per game. They still are in the top ten in yards per carry at 4.6 (down .2). They are great at protecting Drew Brees, only 14 sacks allowed all season (+6 the last four weeks), 1st in the NFL.
The defense has really fallen down the charts - they were top five in all three categories four weeks ago - and are now allowing 104.1 yards per game (26.5 yards per game decline), allow 4.2 yards per carry - a jump of .6 to the average (17th in the NFL), and have only 4 more sacks than at the halfway point, to total 26 (16th in the NFL).
C Corey Raymer (Achilles), DE Al Fontenot (biceps) and DT Doug Sims (ankle) are on injured reserve, two big blows to the defensive front.
Gainers and Decliners
The biggest gainers heading into the playoff stretch run on offense are Tennessee, Indianapolis, and the New York Jets. Tennessee and New York also head the list of most improved on the defensive front, along with the awesome Miami squad. The losers on offense over the past four weeks are San Diego, Jacksonville, and Baltimore. Two defenses make the third quarter's hall of shame - San Diego and Kansas City.
Next Week: Third Quarter NFC Review
Mark Wimer
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