With just two teams, the Bears and Cowboys, on bye this week, we have fifteen games on the NFL slate. Here’s the key to victory for all 30 teams that play this week.
With just two teams, the Bears and Cowboys, on bye this week, we have fifteen games on the NFL slate. Here’s the key to victory for all 30 teams that play this week.
New Orleans Saints: Pressure Bo Nix
Opponent: Vs. Denver
The Saints can score, even with backup quarterback Spencer Rattler playing for the injured Derek Carr. If they can pressure Bo Nix, he will turn the ball over, leading to eay opportunities for the offense and putting a limited quarterback in Nix in tough situations.
Denver Broncos: Get Out To A Fast Start
Opponent: @ New Orleans
Last week, the Broncos fell behind the Chargers 23-0 before a furious rally. In a matchup of rookie quarterbacks, the one that gets to play from ahead is going to be at a significant advantage.
New England Patriots: Keep Drake Maye Upright
Opponent: Vs. Jacksonville (London)
The Jaguars are terrible, but they have a good pass rush bookended by Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen. They need to protect their rookie quarterback and allow him to attack downfield.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Stay Positive
Opponent: Vs. New England (London)
It’s been a terrible season for the Jacksonville Jaguars, a team with legit playoff hopes coming into the year. But, this is a game they should win, as the Patriots are terrible and have to travel across the Atlantic while the Jags have been there for over a week. Come out with the right attitude and they can get their second win.
Atlanta Falcons: Ground And Pound
Opponent: Vs. Seattle
Last week, the Falcons ran for nearly 200 yards against the Panthers, leaning on Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier. The Seahawks have one of the worst run defenses in the league, and the Falcons should commit to running the ball.
Seattle Seahawks: Stop The Run
Opponent: @ Atlanta
Just as the Falcons need to run the ball successfully against the Seahawks, Seattle will need to stop the run if it wants to pick up a road win. If Atlanta can run the ball, Kirk Cousins will be impossible to stop in play-action.
Buffalo Bills: Force Will Levis To Turn The Ball Over
Opponent: Vs. Tennessee
The Bills are huge favorites in this game, largely because Will Levis has had so many costly turnovers this year. It’s hard to see the Bills losing if they can force a turnover or two.
Tennessee Titans: Bench Will Levis
Opponent: @ Buffalo
The only win this season for the Titans was in a game where Will Levis got hurt and was replaced by Mason Rudolph. While they probably don’t have much of a chance to beat Buffalo regardless, Rudolph would give them a better chance than Levis.
Cleveland Browns: Commit To The Run
Opponent: Vs. Cincinnati
It’s been a disastrous season for the Browns, but they’re playing a team in Cincinnati that has been terrible against the run. Nick Chubb is returning from his catastrophic knee injury suffered last year, and they should use him and others to test that Bengals run defense and keep the ball out of Joe Burrow’s hands.
Cincinnati Bengals: Air It Out
Opponent: @ Browns
The Cleveland Browns have struggled mightily to score. An Explosive Bengals offense should look to be aggressive through the air early and build up a two-score lead. The Browns are not built to come from behind..
Green Bay Packers: Make CJ Stroud Uncomfortable
Opponent: Vs. Texans
If a defense lets CJ Stroud sit in the pocket and pick them apart, there are few better at it. The Packers need to pressure Stroud, disguise some coverages, and try to get him out of rhythm.
Houston Texans: Stay Balanced On Offense
Opponent: @ Green Bay
The Texans have really improved running the football compared to last season. If they stay balanced, they’re nearly impossible to stop.
Indianapolis Colts: Limit Anthony Richardson's Turnovers
Opponent: Vs. Miami
With the Dolphins starting the mediocre Tyler Huntley at quarterback, the Colts shouldn’t need a lot of points to win this game. They’re going to start Anthony Richardson, and need to make sure that he avoids costly turnovers that shorten the field for a mediocre offense.
Miami Dolphins: Get The Ball To Playmakers
Opponent: @ Indianapolis
The quarterback situation is bleak, with Tyler Huntley filling in for an injured Tua Tagovailoa. But, between Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Devon Achane, there are weapons that can create big plays and pick up yards after the catch. Hopefully, Mike McDaniel used their bye to find ways to get those three players the ball.
Minnesota Vikings: Stop The Two-Headed Monster In The Detroit Backfield
Opponent: Vs. Detroit
The Lions feature arguably the league’s best offensive line and running back duo in Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. If you don’t make them one-dimensional, forget about stopping this offense and their elite group of pass-catchers.
Detroit Lions: Pressure Sam Darnold
Opponent: @ Minnesota
The Jets got pressure on Sam Darnold two weeks ago in London, and Darnold looked shaky. The Lions are without superstar pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson, but they need to find other ways to get after Darnold and make him uncomfortable.
New York Giants: Revolve The Offense Around Malik Nabers
Opponent: Vs. Philadelphia
Prior to missing the last two weeks due to a concussion, rookie receiver Malik Nabers was the most productive wide receiver in the NFL. The Eagles don’t have a great matchup to cover him, and Daniel Jones needs to be looking his way early and often.
Philadelpha Eagles: Establish The Run Early
Opponent: @ New York Giants
When things go well for the Eagles, it’s usually because they’ve established Saquon Barkley early. Once that happens, with Devonta Smith and AJ Brown back from injury, this offense becomes really hard to stop, as Jalen Hurts is a great play-action passer
Los Angeles Rams: Finish Red Zone Trips With Touchdowns
Opponent: Vs. Raiders
With the expected return of Cooper Kupp and Sean McVay having two weeks to prepare, the Rams should be able to move the ball at will. But, they’ve been poor in the red zone in terms of scoring touchdowns, and need to get the ball in the end zone.
Las Vegas Raiders: Find Some Explosive Plays
Opponent: @ Los Angeles Rams
The Rams defense is very gettable, and has given up some big plays this year. With Davante Adams now gone, they will turn to youngsters like Tre Tucker and Brock Bowers to try to creative explosive plays in the passing game. Both are good after the catch, and can make a guy miss and get upfield in a hurry.
Washington Commanders: Avoid A Post-Loss Hangover
Opponent: Vs. Carolina
The Commanders had their four-game win streak snap despite playing well against the Ravens last week. They can’t let one loss turn into two, as that’s the only way a vastly inferior Panthers team can play with them.
Carolina Panthers: Keep Jayden Daniels In The Pocket
Opponent: @ Washington
It’s been nearly impossible to stop Jayden Daniels and the Commanders offense this year. But, it’s much easier to do so when you keep the stellar rookie in the pocket and limit his ability to create off-schedule. The Panthers have a terrible pass rush, so keeping Daniels in between the tackles should be the priority.
San Francisco 49ers: Get Aggressive On Defense
Opponent: Vs. Kansas City
Outside of Xavier Worthy’s speed, a beat-up wide receiver corps for the Chiefs shouldn’t really scare anyone. The 49ers can get aggressive on defense and try to pressure Patrick Mahomes, as the Chiefs’ receivers have not been great at separating this year against man coverage.
Kansas City Chiefs: Make Brock Purdy Play From Behind
Opponent: @ San Francisco
When Brock Purdy is playing from ahead early on, he is deadly. He’s too good at throwing off play-action to try to come back against, as you will have to sell out to stop a good run game. But, make him play from behind and become a drop-back passer, and his efficiency drops.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Hit Aaron Rodgers Early And Often
Opponent: Vs. New York Jets
It’s pretty clear that Aaron Rodgers is getting sick and tired of getting hit in the pocket due to poor pass protection. Few teams in the league can get after the passer like TJ Watt and the Pittsburgh Steelers. If they can get to Rodgers a few times early, he will be reticent to hang in the pocket as the game goes on.
New York Jets: Protect Aaron Rodgers
Opponent: @ Pittsburgh
On the flip side, the Jets have to give Aaron Rodgers time in the pocket. The Pittsburgh secondary is gettable, and with the Jets acquiring Davante Adams, they have one of the best set of weapons in the league. Those weapons don’t do much good if Rodgers has no time to throw.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Slow Down The Run
Opponent: Vs. Baltimore
Tampa Bay has been a solid run defense this year, and Vita Vea may be the league’s best interior run defender. But, the Ravens have been absolutely unstoppable on the ground this year. The only way to beat Baltimore is to not let Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry run wild.
Baltimore Ravens: Contain An Explosive Passing Game
Opponent: @ Baltimore
The Ravens have one big weakness, and that’s their ability to stop the pass. They’re 31st in pass defense, while the Buccaneers have one of the league’s most efficient passing games. The Bucs likely won’t try to run much against their stout run defense, so they’ll have to try to limit Chris Godwin and Mike Evans.
Arizona Cardinals: Get Off To A Fast Start
Opponent: Vs. Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers are a run-first team who are not built whatsoever to come back from multi-score deficits. If the Cardinals can go up two scores early, they can make the Chargers one-dimensional, and that would go a long way towards a win.
Los Angeles Chargers: Take Advantage Of A Bad Run Defense
Opponent: @ Arizona
The Cardinals might have the worst defensive line group in the NFL. They’re 29th in rush yards allowed, and the Chargers can really run the ball. Feed JK Dobbins and company, and allow your studs up front in Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater to dominate the game.