Baltimore Ravens @ Indianapolis Colts, 1:00 PM ET
The Baltimore Ravens hired former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter this offseason. Looking at the schematic tendencies of Minter's defense in Los Angeles can give us an indication of what he plans to run in Baltimore. The Chargers ran zone coverage 77 percent of the time last year, the seventh-highest rate in the league.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones was great against zone coverage last year, ranking 8th in EPA per pass and 5th in passing success rate among qualified passers. Not only that, but Minter's defense in Los Angeles ran two-safety defenses over 57 percent of the time last year, the second-highest rate in the league. Interestingly, Jones posted identical rankings against two-high, finishing 8th in EPA per pass and 5th in passing success rate.
If Minter plans to run a similar defensive scheme to the one he deployed in Los Angeles, featuring zone coverage and two-high structures, this is a good matchup on paper for Daniel Jones and this passing attack.
Cleveland Browns @ Jacksonville Jaguars, 1:00 PM ET
The Cleveland Browns completely overhauled their offensive line this offseason, signing free agents Zion Johnson, Elgton Jenkins, and Tytus Howard while drafting Spencer Fano ninth overall out of Utah, with all four expected to start. The lack of continuity and Fano's inexperience are concerning against a talented edge duo of Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker.
The offensive line will be key to the success of Cleveland's starting quarterback, Deshaun Watson, and will also be crucial to the run game. A productive run game will help keep this offense on schedule and prevent Cleveland from consistently facing obvious passing downs, which would leave the Browns vulnerable to Jacksonville's talented pass rush.
Atlanta Falcons @ Pittsburgh Steelers, 1:00 PM ET
The battle in the trenches will be something to watch in this one. This Atlanta Falcons defensive line may be the worst in the league, especially now that James Pearce Jr. will miss eight games due to a suspension and Jalon Walker will miss the entire season for a torn ACL he suffered in early August. Atlanta traded for former Chicago Bears defensive tackle Gervon Dexter, but this defensive line is undoubtedly a weak spot for Atlanta.
The Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive line has many young, talented pieces, including left tackle Troy Fautanu, left guard Mason McCormick, and center Zach Frazier. All three are entering their third year and have developed steadily. However, while talented, the group is far from elite and will be tasked with protecting Aaron Rodgers, whose mobility has significantly declined entering his final year.
Assuming Pittsburgh wants to establish the run with a high-floor running back duo of Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle, this offensive line will play a key role in the success of the rushing attack as well. Whether we see a breakout on the Atlanta defensive front or continued development from the Steelers' offensive line, either will go a long way in determining the outcome.
New York Jets @ Tennessee Titans, 1:00 PM ET
Robert Saleh, now head coach of the Tennessee Titans, will face off against his former team, the New York Jets, in an AFC matchup. While the storyline of Saleh's "revenge game" is compelling enough, how Cam Ward and this new-look Titans offense perform under new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll will be something to watch. The matchup is even more interesting given how New York's defense played last year and the man-heavy scheme they want to run.
Tennessee invested in the wide receiver group this offseason, drafting Ohio State's Carnell Tate fourth overall and signing veteran Wan'Dale Robinson. Tate and Robinson's ability to separate and their chemistry with Ward will be tested in this matchup, as the Jets ran man coverage at the fifth-highest rate in the league last year. With a mostly unproven New York secondary, Ward and these Titans weapons should have opportunities to generate explosive plays in this one.
Add us as a preferred source on Google