NFL Week 11 matchups: An insiders' guide

Inside Steelers numbers: The line has powered a defense that’s first in the NFL with 7.9 quarterback hits per game. That pressure has helped lead to 12 fumble recoveries, three more than any other team. 

Inside Steelers roster: The NFL’s premier receiver-developing franchise has seen James Washington reel off his best stretch. Washington caught 10 passes for 159 yards over the past two games – by far the 2018 second-rounder’s best NFL stretch. QB Mason Rudolph’s former Oklahoma State teammate has shown more than sporadic deep-threat capabilities lately, and if he can keep this up, the Steelers’ trio of Washington, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Diontae Johnson will represent another piece of a decades-long receiver pipeline.

Inside Browns numbers: The defense, ranked 27th in takeaway rate (8.5 percent), needs more big plays. Cleveland ranks sixth in sack rate (8.3 percent), but it must create pressure consistently. The Browns rank 16th in pressure rate (21.4 percent). 

Inside Browns roster: Only seven players remain on the active roster from Cleveland’s 0-16 team. This made the Browns’ decision to give center J.C. Tretter a three-year extension more interesting. In March 2017, the Browns fortified their interior O-line by signing Tretter and guard Kevin Zeitler and extending guard Joel Bitonio. With GM John Dorsey’s moves up front  unsuccessful, it makes sense to keep one of predecessor Sashi Brown’s proven line pieces.

SUNDAY

Inside Falcons numbers: In Week 10, Atlanta’s defense, ranked last in sack rate, had six sacks against a Saints team ranked top-10 in fewest sacks allowed. The pressure rampage must continue against the Panthers, who have allowed the league’s eighth-highest sack rate (8.2 percent). 

Inside Falcons roster: Chopping-block candidate Dan Quinn recently relinquished defensive play-calling duties. The fifth-year coach, who assumed the play-calling role in the offseason after firing defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel, split up the responsibility between linebackers coach Jeff Ulbrich and assistant head coach Raheem Morris. While Ulbrich has helped call first- and second-down plays for weeks, Morris – the ex-Buccaneers HC – was recently reassigned to make third-down calls. The new arrangement held the Saints without a touchdown against the Falcons for the first time in 22 years.

Inside Panthers numbers: Ron Rivera’s run defense is atrocious, ranking last in yards per attempt (5.2), touchdowns (17), and EPA (-33.6). There is no excuse for that to continue against a Falcons team ranked bottom-10 in rushing yards per game (76.8), yards per attempt (3.8) and rushing touchdowns (3).

Inside Panthers roster: With Christian McCaffrey on pace for a team-record 329 carries – after he totaled 185 last season – Carolina added a more experienced backup. A week after the Panthers claimed wideout Donte Moncrief on waivers, they used the wire to nab ex-Seahawks and Bears running back Mike Davis. While the Bears gave Davis just 11 carries, he gained 512 rushing yards (4.6 per tote) with the 2018 Seahawks. The Panthers cut McCaffrey backup C.J. Anderson midway through last season, but with the MVP candidate shouldering an even bigger workload now, Davis should provide key relief.

Inside Cowboys numbers: When the run game falters, the Cowboys struggle. They are 1-3 when rushing for under 4.0 yards per carry, 4-1 when rushing for above 5.0 yards per carry. RB Ezekiel Elliott must make big plays against Matt Patricia’s run defense, which is ranked 27th in EPA (-5.2).

Inside Cowboys roster: Dallas has failed to beat quality teams with a loaded roster featuring QB Dak Prescott on a rookie deal. How will the Cowboys do once Prescott is making north of $33 million annually and WR Amari Cooper is on a top-market contract? The Cowboys’ offense leads the league in DVOA, but its defense – which feasted on bottom-tier offenses in most of its wins – has slipped to 20th. The core of what will be the Cowboys’ 2020 defense is already on the team, because of the expenses soon due. If the unit cannot ignite down the stretch, the future looks dimmer.

Inside Lions numbers: Detroit’s passing attack averaged just 5.4 net yards per pass attempt under backup Jeff Driskel, a significantly lower mark than any game injured starter Matthew Stafford has played in 2019 (his season-low 6.3). Driskel must get Marvin Jones, Kenny Golladay and Danny Amendola more involved; the trio combined for just 12 catches and 163 yards in Week 10 (season average 14 and 198). 

Inside Jaguars numbers: Nick Foles must build on his late-season performance in 2018, when he posted his best regular-season QBR (67.4) and net yards per attempt rate (6.7) since 2013. To give Foles enough time, the offensive line needs to take advantage of a matchup against a Colts defense ranked 23rd in pressure rate (19.5 percent).

Inside Jaguars roster: Since Jacksonville’s 2017 season ended just shy of Super Bowl LII, Doug Marrone is 9-16. While Minshew Mania may have been a bit exaggerated – the Jaguars’ 2019 wins having come over the Bengals, Jets, Broncos and Titans – Marrone’s switch to Foles may put his job on the line. If the team plunges toward another sub-.500 season, the former Bills boss (35-40 in five-plus seasons as a head coach) may be a Black Monday headline. Foles’ work in Marrone’s offense will bring high stakes for the sake of staff continuity.

Inside Colts numbers: The offense is anemic without injured starting QB Jacoby Brissett, scoring only 24 points in the 19 drives it has had since his knee injury against the Steelers. The Colts desperately need him back against a disruptive Jacksonville front ranked fifth in sack rate (8.8 percent) and second in pressure rate (28 percent).