NFL Week 9: Key Matchups and Stats to Watch

The Denver Broncos will need to keep the Baltimore Ravens' powerful run game in check. The Ravens' explosive runs account for 19% of their total rushing yards, making them one of the top teams in the league. The Broncos, however, are no pushovers. They've been solid against the run, allowing just 11% of their opponents' rushing attempts to go for 10 or more yards. In the New York Jets vs. Houston Texans game, the Jets are stacking the box with eight or more defenders on 32% of their snaps, the second-highest rate in the NFL. The Texans' run game has had mixed results against stacked boxes, but Joe Mixon has been a standout, averaging 3. 3 yards after contact per attempt. Jake Ferguson of the Dallas Cowboys has been a force at tight end, leading the league with 23 missed tackles forced. His performance last week against San Francisco was particularly notable, with a season-high three missed tackles. Kyle Pitts of the Miami Dolphins had a breakout game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, recording the second-highest yards after catch total of the week with 54. He's on pace for a career-high in yards after the catch per reception, averaging 6. 9 yards. The matchup between the Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots will feature a strong battle in the trenches. The Bills average 2. 8 yards before contact per designed rush, the highest rate in the league. However, the Patriots' defense has been giving up just 0. 9 yards before contact per carry on designed runs, the third-lowest mark. The Raiders' offense has struggled with big plays this season, ranking third-lowest in the NFL with just 19 plays gaining 20 or more yards. They'll face a tough test against the Cincinnati Bengals, who have given up only 20 such plays. Jameis Winston gave the Cleveland Browns' passing game a significant boost in Week 8, throwing for over 300 yards with a passer rating of 100. 0 or higher. He was particularly effective on horizontal lead throws, completing 12 out of 15 for 163 yards and a touchdown. However, the Chargers present a challenge in this area, with one of the best defenses against horizontal lead throws in the league. Rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey has been a standout for the Los Angeles Chargers, excelling against man coverage with 194 receiving yards. He'll face a tough matchup against Denzel Ward, who has forced eight incompletions in man coverage, the second-most in the NFL. The Tennessee Titans have a rookie top-10 pick in J. C. Latham, who has been a bright spot on their offensive line. He'll have a tough test against the Patriots' Keion White, who has 27 pressures and an 84. 3 pass-rush grade, seventh-best among edge rushers. The Arizona Cardinals will look to confuse rookie quarterback Caleb Williams with their disguised coverages. Williams has struggled against these, with a 56. 3 PFF passing grade and a 4. 3% turnover-worthy play rate. The Jacksonville Jaguars have had strong production from their play-action game, ranking second in the NFL with 9. 5 yards per play. However, they'll face a tough challenge against the Philadelphia Eagles, who also rank second in the league, allowing just 5. 0 yards per play against play action. The Green Bay Packers' pass rush has benefited from their use of stunts, pressuring the quarterback on 43% of dropbacks with stunts compared to 28% without. The Packers rank third in the NFL with a 65% contested catch rate. The Los Angeles Rams have improved their pass protection since Week 5, allowing just 13 pressures over the last two weeks. However, the Seattle Seahawks are coming off their least productive pass-rushing performance of the season against the Bills. Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings has been a force against single-high safety coverages, leading the NFL with 446 receiving yards and 12 receptions of 15 or more yards. The Colts have been aggressive with their passing offense, leading the league with an 11. 3 average depth of target. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' running backs have been a big part of their passing game, ranking first among RB groups with 54 receptions and 491 receiving yards. They'll face a tough defense in the Kansas City Chiefs, who rank third-best against RBs in coverage.