Yardbarker's NFL Week 9 game-by-game analysis, grades

COWBOYS (5-3): The Cowboys offense had no issue blocking the weak Giants defense, extending from the offensive line to the tight ends and wide receivers. Dak Prescott was not sacked a single time, and took just five hits across 35 pass attempts. On the ground, Dallas ran for 172 yards over 30 attempts, a tremendous 5.7 yards per rush. Ezekiel Elliott was very efficient, picking up a season-high nine first downs on just 23 carries. His high first-down rate of 39.1 percent (league average: 22.7 percent) helped the Cowboys put together three 75-plus yard touchdown drives. 'Monday Night Football' perfectly showcased the Dallas formula - moving the football with authority behind a dominant line.  GAME GRADE: B | NEXT: vs. Minnesota (Sun.)

GIANTS (2-7): The Giants need to get Saquon Barkley going to take some weight off of Daniel Jones' shoulders. Against a mediocre Cowboys run defense that entered the week ranked 17th in DVOA, Barkley ran for just 28 yards across 14 carries (2.0 yards per rush). Jones led the Giants with 54 rushing yards, which is a great indicator of his versatile skillset, but not something that should be happening when the team has a back as good as Barkley. Over his last four games, Barkley has run for 174 yards across 59 carries, an average of just 2.9 yards per attempt. Big Blue has two of the league's richest offensive linemen in Kevin Zeitler and Nate Solder. There is no excuse for this offense's consistent failures to set Barkley up for success. Those struggles are hurting Jones, who is not getting enough support. GAME GRADE: C- | NEXT: @ N.Y. Jets (Sun.)

PATRIOTS (8-1): Baltimore’s masterfully crafted misdirection game vexed New England’s defense, which had obviously not faced anything like this unique offense. The Patriots, who had allowed 85.3 rushing yards per game (fourth in the NFL), gave up more rushing yards Sunday (210) than they had in five years. The Pats' inability to stop a 14-play touchdown drive that took 9 minutes and 35 seconds off the clock in the fourth quarter was atypical of a Bill Belichick defense. The Patriots, however, still sit in the driver’s seat for what would be their sixth No. 1 seed this decade. They have lost seven games by double digits during their previous four Super Bowl-qualifying seasons. The second leg of this Patriot dynasty specializes in recovering from humbling defeats. GAME GRADE: D+ | NEXT: BYE | at Eagles (Sun., Nov. 17)

-- Sam Robinson

RAVENS (6-2): With Lamar Jackson showing he belongs in the MVP discussion, the Ravens made a statement at home Sunday night. As a runner, Jackson (61 yards rushing) once again showed that he has no equal in the league at QB. He often put Baltimore in position to block 11 defenders with 10 blockers. No one, including RBs, stops and starts with such abruptness and then accelerates like Jackson. He's also a vastly underrated passer and has greatly improved his ability to decipher defenses. My No. 1 QB prospect in the 2018 draft, Jackson is even more difficult to play against than I ever would have imagined. The Ravens have done an amazing job structuring their offense around his talents. GAME GRADE A + | NEXT: at Bengals (Sun.)

-- Matt Williamson

JETS (1-7): Adam Gase was the Broncos’ offensive coordinator when their Peyton Manning-led offense set numerous NFL records. That 2013 mastery fast-tracked Gase to multiple head-coaching opportunities. His latest team hit a new low Sunday, with a diminished version of Gase’s former team beating the Jets. A tanking team that entered Sunday with a league-worst 26 quarterback hits and just seven sacks (31st), the Dolphins pressured Sam Darnold throughout, hitting him nine times and sacking him thrice. The Jets also gave up a safety, on a snap-miscommunication sequence similar to the one Gase’s Broncos committed on Super Bowl XLVIII’s first play and were penalized 10 times for 105 yards. Despite Gase’s Dolphins tenure ending badly, he received an immediate second chance. But after the Jets came up short against one of the worst teams in modern NFL history, it is fair to wonder if this 1-7 start will lead to Gase being a one-and-done coach in the Big Apple. GAME GRADE: F | NEXT: vs. Giants (Sun.)

-- Sam Robinson

DOLPHINS (1-7): Many players on this deliberately overmatched Dolphins team will not be back next season, but Miami saw strides from some pass-catchers who will be part of the 2020 roster. Second-year tight end Mike Gesicki and rookie wideout Preston Williams combined for 11 receptions for 167 yards. An undrafted talent who wasn’t even the No. 1 wideout at Colorado State last season, Williams is quietly is on pace for more than 800 yards. Only one Dolphin wideout, Chris Chambers (2001), has done that. Williams’ back-shoulder grab set up his wide-open touchdown, the first of his two TD grabs, in the second quarter. As most tight ends do, Gesicki struggled as a rookie. The ex-second-rounder’s 95-yard day, featuring work over the middle and when lined up near the boundary, nearly doubles any of his other NFL showings. While Ryan Fitzpatrick may be a one-and-done Dolphin, he has helped the development of two franchise building blocks. GAME GRADE: B + | NEXT: at Colts (Sun.)

-- Sam Robinson

BUCS (2-6): After a hot start (15.5 PPG allowed over first two games), Todd Bowles' defense has allowed 33.5 PPG over its past six games. Tampa Bay couldn't stop the pass (347 yards) or run (145 yards) against Seattle. QB Russell Wilson threw for 8.8 yards per pass attempt on the shaky secondary. Run defense had been a strength for the Bucs, as they entered the game ranked No. 1 in defense DVOA, But Chris Carson rushed for 105 yards (6.6 yards per attempt). The Bucs' pass rush did a good job getting to Wilson, hitting him 11 times, but it needed to finish better. Only three of those hits resulted in sacks. That continued a season-long theme. Coming into Week 9, the Buccaneers were tied for 18th in quarterback hits but just 23rd in sacks. GAME GRADE: B- | NEXT: vs. Cardinals (Sun.)

-- Michael Nania

SEAHAWKS (7-2): Seattle won’t be a serious contender in the NFC unless it finds a way to defend the pass better. Although the Seahawks’ secondary hasn’t been great, it isn't necessarily to blame. Seattle’s team coverage grade from Pro Football Focus was 65.5 entering Week 9, good for 16^th in the league. Getting pressure has been the real problem – entering Week 9, Seattle’s team pass-rush grade on PFF was 61.1, third worst in the league, ahead of only Oakland and Miami. Mychal Kendricks leads Seattle with three sacks, and Seattle’s 15 on the season are tied for 25^th in the league. The road to the Super Bowl in the NFC likely goes through Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees, to say nothing of the unbeaten 49ers. Brees and Rodgers will pick apart any defense if given time to throw. GAME GRADE: C + | NEXT: at 49ers (Mon., Nov. 11)

-- Chris Mueller

BROWNS (2-6): The Browns don't appear to be a well-conditioned team and, wow, did that become apparent in the thin air of Denver. Cleveland convincingly won time of possession (35:30 to 24:30), the turnover battle (1-0) and committed fewer penalties (5 to 7). But as this game got into the third and fourth quarters, the pad level of Cleveland defenders kept rising and fewer tacklers got to the ball. They seemed tired. The defenders who did get to the ball-carrier struggled to bring him down. Denver's Phillip Lindsay (92 yards rushing) was stronger and faster late in the fourth quarter and closed out another Browns loss. A preseason pick by some to make the playoffs and do big things, the Browns seem lost. GAME GRADE: D | NEXT: vs. Bills (Sun.)

-- Matt Williamson

BRONCOS (3-6): In the hands of a quarterback who had thrown zero NFL passes in four seasons, the Denver passing attack’s outlook appeared bleak. But Brandon Allen was stunningly competent Sunday in the upset win. Allen threw two touchdown passes, the first a well-placed ball that allowed Courtland Sutton to outmaneuver Denzel Ward. A 2016 Jaguars sixth-round pick, Allen also showed a stronger rapport with rookie tight end Noah Fant than Joe Flacco did. In addition to Fant’s three-broken-tackle, 75-yard tour de force, the first-round tight end made two key catches for first downs on Denver’s 95-yard, third-quarter drive. Drew Lock remains likely to commandeer this job soon; the Broncos need to gain intel on their second-round pick. But Allen gave a listless offense a surprising spark, providing Denver’s young playmakers a better chance to develop in the meantime. GAME GRADE: A-minus NEXT: BYE | at Vikings (Nov. 17)

-- Sam Robinson

PACKERS (7-2): There's so much to dislike about the Packers' defense that was dominated by the Chargers, who could have scored more if they were more efficient in the red zone. (LA's Michael Badgley made four of five field goals.) By design, Green Bay’s defense is less disciplined than most NFL units are. This results in great athletes making big plays out of structure, but it also can lead to a defense that isn’t all that fundamentally sound. We saw much more of the latter than the former against the Chargers, whose offensive line is among the worst in the league. Despite that, Green Bay sacked Philip Rivers only twice. More concerning: RBs Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler. combined for 150 yards rushing and helped control the game from the start for the Bolts. Advice for the Packers defense: Reel in the freelancing. GAME GRADE: D | NEXT: vs. Panthers (Sun.)

-- Matt Williamson

CHARGERS (4-5): Los Angeles pumped the brakes on Aaron Rodgers’ MVP bid. The quarterback who had scorched the Raiders and Chiefs in his midseason AFC West tour endured one of his worst games in 12 seasons as a starter. The Chargers limited Rodgers to 161 passing yards; most of them came in garbage time. The Packers’ 184 total yards represented their worst output in a Rodgers-quarterbacked game since he encountered the 2015 Broncos defense. Los Angeles’ elite edge-rushing tandem – Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram – combined for three sacks and six QB hits, with the Bolts finding familiar situational success aligning their defensive ends on the same side. The Chargers, who allowed Tennessee's Ryan Tannehill to surpass 300 passing yards two weeks ago, held top Packers wideout Davante Adams to 5.9 yards per catch and rarely gave Rodgers open targets. Defensive efforts such as this will make the Chargers a factor in an unimpressive AFC wild-card race. GAME GRADE: A | NEXT: at Raiders (Thur.)

-- Sam Robinson

LIONS (3-4-1): Why didn't JD McKissic get the ball more? And why did Ty Johnson, clearly not as good as McKissic, get nine carries (for only 29 yards)? McKissic isn't a big-time feature back, but he clearly deserves to tote the rock more than the four times (for 32 yards) he had against the Raiders. What we saw of him was highly encouraging and clearly indicative that he should be the Detroit's lead back with Kerryon Johnson out for the season with a knee injury. McKissic ran with vigor and aggression in his limited workload. He's an explosive athlete and an excellent receiver. Let's see him more, Matt Patricia. GAME GRADE: C-minus | NEXT: at Bears (Sun.)

-- Matt Williamson

RAIDERS (4-4): This franchise has struggled to develop running backs over the past few decades, save for some standalone seasons from Napoleon Kaufman, Darren McFadden or Latavius Murray. But Josh Jacobs has solidified this position in a way the Raiders rarely see. Reaching 120 rushing yards for the third time in four games, Jacobs continues to give Oakland a reliable dimension – one that’s helped QB Derek Carr in the process. Jacobs’ 740 rushing yards eclipse Marcus Allen’s franchise record (697) for most by a rookie through eight games. Only Allen has cleared 1,300 yards in a season for the Raiders, making Jacobs’ 1,480-yard pace more interesting. Jacobs rushed for 120 yards and two touchdowns against the Lions, doing so despite the Raiders missing Pro Bowl center Rodney Hudson. The Raiders, who ranked 25th in rushing in each of the past two years, now are sixth. Their investment in the Alabama back has raised this offense’s floor. GAME GRADE: B + | NEXT: vs. Chargers (Thur.)

-- Sam Robinson

BEARS (3-5): How bad is it for the offense? Chicago had nine yards in the first half. Chicago finished with 102 passing yards and 62 yards rushing. QB Mitch Trubisky continues to be a massive liability, a shame because the Bears have a stout defense. It was on the field 40 minutes, 18 seconds, a ridiculous time-of-possession edge for the Eagles. Why the Bears don't force-feed the rock to RB David Montgomery (14 carries for 40 yards) is a mystery. He has outstanding contact balance, runs low, shows a good initial burst and has skills in the passing game. In Trubisky's six full-game appearances this season, he has not thrown for a TD in four of them. This game marked the first time since 2005 that the Bears have gone eight straight games to start the season without posting 250 passing yards in a game. GAME GRADE: C-minus | NEXT: vs. Lions (Sun.)

-- Matt Williamson

EAGLES (5-4): After a tumultuous start to the season, Philadelphia's pass defense has taken full advantage of back-to-back matchups against lesser quarterbacks. In Week 8, the Eagles held the Josh Allen-led Bills to 155 passing yards. In Week 9, they held the hapless Mitch Trubisky-led passing attack to 102 yards across 24 plays (4.3 net yards per pass attempt). The pass rush did its part, collecting three sacks and six hits. In the back end, Philadelphia locked down Allen Robinson, holding him to just one catch for six yards across five targets. (He entered the game with 526 yards receiving, the Bears' leader by far.) After their bye week, the Eagles will play Tom Brady and Russell Wilson in Weeks 11 and 12. Head coach Doug Pederson must hope the pass defense improvement carries over against much more challenging competition. GAME GRADE: B | NEXT: BYE | vs. Patriots (Sun., Nov. 17)

-- Michael Nania

VIKINGS (6-3): Surely Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer stressed to his team the importance of not allowing explosive plays in Kansas City. Well, the Vikings allowed a 40-yard touchdown reception by Tyreek Hill, Damien Williams' 91-yard touchdown run and 30- and 41-yard receptions by Hill. The NFL doesn’t work this way, but if we take those four huge gains out of the picture, Kansas City would have finished with 56 rushing yards and 119 yards through the air. It's difficult to hold the Chiefs' offense in check, but the Vikings faced journeyman Matt Moore, not injured Patrick Mahomes. This winnable game will haunt Minnesota. GAME GRADE: C +  | NEXT: at Cowboys (Sun.)

-- Matt Williamson

CHIEFS (6-3):  Tyreek Hill, the league’s premier deep threat, played the biggest role in helping an injury-riddled Chiefs team steal a victory during its Patrick Mahomes-less stretch. Hill sped past the Vikings’ upper-echelon pass defense (and Chiefs running back Damien Williams) at key points during a six-catch, 140-yard day. One sequence resulted in a 40-yard touchdown; the other involved a Matt Moore underthrow that likely would have produced a touchdown had Mahomes played. Hill also set up both the Chiefs’ tying and winning field goals, the first coming when he outmaneuvered Trae Waynes on a deep sideline connection. The Chiefs boast diverse, unparalleled capabilities when the league’s fastest player teams with its most talented quarterback. GAME GRADE: A | NEXT: at Titans (Sun.)

-- Sam Robinson

COLTS (5-3): How does a team that doesn’t do anything overly well get out to a 5-2 record? By not messing up the details. But the Colts butchered the little things against the Steelers, and it cost them. Indy fumbled four times, losing two -- including one on a safety kick. Head coach Frank Reich cost his team a timeout with an ill-advised pass-interference challenge. Brian Hoyer, subbing for an injured Jacoby Brissett, threw a backbreaking pick-six that was at least a 10-, and possibly a 14-point, swing. The kicking unit botched an extra point, and punter Rigoberto Sanchez failed to spin the laces on Adam Vinatieri’s potential go-ahead field goal with less than two minutes to play. (Vinatieri missed.) The Colts also committed seven penalties for 89 yards despite coming into the game having committed just 50, sixth-fewest in the league. It would be tempting to blame Vinatieri, who has a league-worst five missed extra points, but for a team that prides itself on discipline and hidden yardage, this was a disaster. GAME GRADE: D-minus | NEXT: vs. Dolphins (Sun.)

-- Chris Mueller

STEELERS (4-4): With injured RB James Conner out, the Steelers altered their standard approach even though Indianapolis’ run defense is among its greatest weaknesses (along with kicker). There was some power running with replacement back Trey Edmunds, who broke a 45-yard run and was generally effective. But it was the receiving skills of Jaylen Samuels, returning from a knee injury, that really fueled the offense. He is a highly unconventional running back whom Pittsburgh deploys in a variety of ways -- as an H Back, a tight end or in the slot or out wide. Samuels had 73 receiving yards on 13 catches (on 13 targets) and was instrumental in helping inexperienced QB Mason Rudolph move the chains. It can be argued that Pittsburgh didn’t use Samuels enough, especially in crucial late situations. GAME GRADE: B | NEXT: vs. Rams (Sun.)

-- Matt Williamson

TITANS (4-5): The Ryan Tannehill (two picks, four sacks) honeymoon may be over. Of course, his play wasn't the only mediocre aspect of Tennessee's loss. The Titans couldn’t stop Ron Rivera’s fourth-down gamble in the second quarter, which resulted in Christian McCaffrey 7-yard touchdown reception. They weren’t prepared for Rivera’s fake punt that stifled some early momentum in the third quarter, and they were powerless to stop McCaffrey. Tennessee’s “best” win of the season came against the below-.500 Chargers in Week 7. Nine weeks is more than enough time to come to a definitive conclusion: Regardless of who plays quarterback, the Titans aren’t very good. GAME GRADE: D | NEXT: vs. Chiefs (Sun.)

-- Chris Mueller

PANTHERS (5-3): Christian McCaffrey continues adding to his case for MVP and Offensive Player of the Year. In getting Carolina back on track following an embarrassing road loss to San Francisco, he picked up 166 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns. McCaffrey has 13 touchdowns from scrimmage, already tying his total from 2018, but it's his efficiency that makes him such an impactful player. He rushed for 6.1 yards per carry against Tennessee, his fifth game above the 6.0 mark. That ties him with Hall of Famers Jim Brown and Gale Sayers for the most such performances over the first eight games of a season (minimum 10 rush attempts per game). GAME GRADE: B+ | NEXT: at Packers (Sun.)

-- Michael Nania

REDSKINS (1-8): Against a stout defense, the Redskins kept things simple for Dwayne Haskins in his starting debut. He completed 15 of his 22 passes (144 yards), a solid 68.1 completion percentage. However, he averaged only 9.6 yards per completion (league average 11.5). Known for deep balls in college, he threw only one pass longer than 15 yards. The conservative approach limited the explosiveness of the offense. But on the positive side, it prevented Haskins from throwing interceptions against the NFL's third-rated pass defense and was a decent confidence-booster for him. Washington now has a bye week to expand the playbook for their rookie. Look for Haskins to be much more aggressive against the sputtering Jets, who lost in Week 9 to the Dolphins. Yikes! GAME GRADE: D | NEXT: BYE | vs. NY Jets (Sun., Nov. 17)

-- Michael Nania

BILLS (6-2): Lacking the most viable path to modern NFL success, the Bills have at least added help for Josh Allen. The inconsistent quarterback fumbled for the ninth time this season, but thanks to Buffalo’s defense and Devin Singletary’s re-emergence after an early season hamstring injury, the Bills subdued the Redskins. A third-round rookie, Singletary forced LeSean McCoy out of Buffalo and has reduced Frank Gore’s role. Singletary’s 23-touch, 140-yard day (and Gore’s 11-carry, 15-yard showing) revealed the dimension the Florida Atlantic product adds. Singletary aided Allen throughout, most notably in using blockers well on a 49-yard, first-quarter screen pass and bouncing a carry outside for a game-clinching touchdown in the fourth. On his career-best day, Singletary displayed an ability to create space in a way the 36-year-old Gore cannot. The Bills entered Sunday ranking 29th in pass offense DVOA; they need to thrive in multiple other facets to compensate for their second-year quarterback. They are now better equipped to do so. GAME GRADE: B+  | NEXT: at Browns (Sun.)

-- Sam Robinson

TEXANS (6-3): The defense made the most noise in its first game without injured defensive end J.J. Watt (out for season), sacking Gardner Minshew four times and harassing him into completing just 57 percent of his passes. The Texans’ offense has balance, and Deshaun Watson is being kept upright more regularly. But the degree to which the Texans will be a force in the AFC is predicated on whether the defense can find a way to thrive without its best player. After its bye week, Houston will play the Ravens, another test of its mettle without Watt. The Texans' run defense, which ranked fifth entering the Jaguars game and held Jacksonville to 74 yards, must figure a way to slow QB Lamar Jackson, who has rushed for 637 yards. GAME GRADE: A-minus | NEXT: BYE | at Ravens (Sun., Nov. 17)

-- Chris Mueller

JAGUARS (4-5): Is the book out on rookie Gardner Minshew? His matchup with the Texans represented his first repeat opponent, and Houston was ready for him. Minshew threw two interceptions after entering the game with two picks all season. His poor showing may have larger ramifications for Jacksonville. Nick Foles is set to come off injured reserve in Week 11, and the Jaguars have a bye in Week 10. Minshew (2,285 passing yards) has outperformed expectations, but Foles got $50 million guaranteed. Jacksonville has been noncommittal about its plans for the position, likely because of Minshew’s unexpected performance, but if the Jags were looking to get a return on their Foles investment, they now have an opening to do so under reasonable pretenses. The Jaguars’ remaining schedule is middling, with their opponents having a combined .442 winning percentage as of Sunday, but do they trust Minshew to navigate it? GAME GRADE: F | NEXT: BYE | at Colts (Sun. Nov. 17)

-- Chris Mueller

49ERS (8-0): Jimmy Garoppolo’s ability to carry the offense was the last remaining question about the 49ers, and he answered it emphatically against Arizona. Garoppolo threw for a career-high four touchdowns, and one of the keys to his success is Kyle Shanahan’s ability to scheme the Niners’ wide receivers open. Per NFL Next Gen Stats, Garoppolo’s aggressiveness percentage, defined as the frequency with which he makes throws into tight coverage – a defender within one yard or less of the receiver at the time of completion or incompletion – is 12.4 percent. That is the sixth-lowest number in the league after Thursday's game, and a sign that Garoppolo is making smart decisions and attempting low-danger throws. Shanahan’s ability to continue creating favorable matchups will be crucial to Garoppolo’s ongoing development, and to the Niners’ Super Bowl chances. GRADE: B NEXT: Seahawks (Mon., Nov. 11) 

-- Chris Mueller

CARDINALS (3-5-1): Arizona’s ability to build an explosive offense with Kyler Murray will hinge largely on two things: its ability to find balance with a steady running attack and its ability to give Murray a reasonable amount of time to throw. Against San Francisco, Murray’s average time from snap to throw was 2.49 seconds, per NFL Next Gen Stats, a significant drop from his season-long average of 2.65, already one of the quickest in the league. Murray has the arm talent to make plays downfield, as his 88-yard touchdown throw to Andy Isabella against the Niners proved, but that won’t matter unless the Cardinals give him better protection. Murray’s mobility means the line play doesn’t have to be ideal, but right now it is poor; despite Kliff Kingsbury’s efforts to get the ball out of Murray’s hands in a hurry, he has been sacked 29 times, third-most in the league after Thursday's game. GAME GRADE: C-plus | NEXT: at Bucs (Sun.)

BENGALS (0-8): This team has a ton of work to do to even approach respectability. But it's noteworthy that rookie Ryan Finley will take over at quarterback for veteran Andy Dalton, and it might not be long before wide receiver AJ Green (ankle), who has not played this season, returns to action. The offensive line is poor, but Jonah Williams will be back in the mix next year; while Green was out injured, Cincinnati may have found solid wide receivers in Auden Tate and Alex Erikson to go with him, Tyler Boyd and the oft-injured John Ross. Despite his poor production, Joe Mixon (101 carries for 320 yards)  is still an excellent running back. Finley, who played well in the preseason, isn’t overly gifted as a passer or athletically, but he's an efficient chain-mover who shouldn’t make a lot of mistakes once he finds his footing. So at least there is a glimmer of hope for the offense. But the defense, ranked last in the NFL entering Sunday, oh my. NEXT: vs. Ravens (Sun.)

-- Matt Williamson

FALCONS (1-7): The Falcons need more players on defense to give them hope. Atlanta is 30th in defensive DVOA and has allowed the most points per drive (2.98). The Falcons have been particularly bad at getting after the quarterback, ranking last in sack rate (2.7 percent). Head coach Dan Quinn has received solid production from his top rushers, as Adrian Clayborn, Vic Beasley, Grady Jarrett and Takkarist McKinley each have at least 15 pressures. The problem is that beyond those four, no Falcon has more than six pressures. If Quinn can get new faces to step up in the pass rush game, it would be huge ⁠— for both the future of the team and Quinn's job security. NEXT: at Saints (Sun.)

-- Michael Nania

RAMS (5-3): The Rams’ biggest issue in a crowded NFC and NFC West is their lack of identity. Los Angeles attempted the third-most passes in the league through Week 8, but Jared Goff has been mediocre at best; his passer rating is 86.8 (league average 92.0). Head coach Sean McVay doubtless wants to run the ball more successfully, but the Rams are averaging only 3.9 yards per carry as a team. Todd Gurley is at 3.9 ypg. on his own, and his battles with injury and ineffectiveness have not only hindered the Rams’ offense, but also the chances of other dynamic running backs getting guaranteed paydays. (Gurley signed a four-year deal in 2018 that included $45 million guaranteed.) Los Angeles has star power on defense, but if its offense can’t start imposing its will on the ground, the Rams will be one-and-done in the postseason – if they make it at all. NEXT: at Steelers (Sun.) 

-- Chris Mueller

SAINTS (7-1): The return of Drew Brees is huge, but what really puts the Saints over the top as a Super Bowl contender is their defense. Over the past five weeks, New Orleans has allowed just 13.4 points per game. A dominant pass rush, led by Cameron Jordan and Marcus Davenport, is the primary reason for the success. Jordan (fourth) and Davenport (11th) are among the leaders in pressures with 44 and 37, respectively. Their dominant seasons have powered the Saints' defense up to fourth in pressure rate (29.1 percent). With Brees rocking (105.6 passer rating; league average 92), this might be the NFC's most complete team. NEXT: vs. Falcons (Sun.)

-- Michael Nania