Walder: Five key stat trends that could determine Week 3 winners

runaway 2024/09/22 07:40


Through two weeks, the Eagles' edge rush has been disappointing. Philadelphia ranks 27th in sack rate (4.4% of opponent dropbacks) and 30th in pressure rate (23.5%). The tandem of Sweat and Huff that many thought would be disruptive to opposing QBs has been anything but that. The duo has combined for just three pressures.


Saints rookie Taliese Fuaga has a 96% pass block win rate -- ninth among tackles -- and while Trevor Penning is still below average in the category (44th at 83%), he has improved. Plus, the heavy rate of play-action in the Klint Kubiak offense makes life easier for New Orleans' pass protection. So if Philadelphia is going to disrupt the Saints' hot streak to begin the season, Sweat and Huff are going to need to deliver more on Sunday.


Will Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. finally have a huge game?


A quick look at the box scores would make Pittman's first two games look lackluster: seven receptions, 52 yards and zero touchdowns between the two contests. But look a little deeper and you'll see the signs of a player whose production should explode. He has a 33% target rate (fifth best among wide receivers) and 13.6 air yards per target, a massive jump from the 7.6 he posted in the same category a year ago.


It's a matter of when, not if, for Pittman's big game. Will it be against the Bears in Week 3? The only thing that gives me pause is Chicago cornerback Jaylon Johnson -- who has the lowest yards per coverage snap allowed (0.3) in the league among outside corners with at least 50 coverage snaps, per NFL Next Gen Stats. But Johnson also didn't follow a single receiver in either of the Bears' first two games, so that still leaves plenty of room for a huge performance from Pittman on Sunday -- especially since Tyrique Stevenson is being targeted 26% of the time and is allowing a massive 2.0 yards per coverage snap.

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