Bye #1 - Detroit Lions (13-3)

Fewer QBs have been more efficient than Matty Staffs this season, and the Lions high flying season reflects that. But it's the defense that has really impressed, and even surprised many. Ansah leads the league with 19 sacks, and Lewis Neal isn't far behind with 14. Darius Slay will also try to get his 10th pick this week, shattering his previous season high of 2.

Bye #2- Seattle Seahawks (13-3)

Look for the Cards to give Seattle a tougher game this time around, but no matter what, the Legion of Boom have locked up a bye. And it has been the LOB that's gotten this team where they are, along with the split backfield of Thomas Rawls and CJ Prosise. This teams lead the league in every defensive category but Average Pass Yards allowed, where they are 3rd. You're going to need to bring your top game and be mistake free against these guys. 

#3 Carolina Panthers (11-5) vs. #6 Arizona Cardinals (11-5)

The Cardinals will jump out of a tough game against Seattle, right into the thick of things in the NFC Wildcard Round. The Panthers seem the likely opponent, and the likely storyline here will be Carson Palmer vs. the Panthers secondary. Carolina carries the weight of the 32nd pass defense in the league, and Arizona is 2nd only to N.E. through the air. They'll want to pressure the QB early on, or expect Palmer to slice through a secondary that's leaked 285.5 pass yards per game.

#4 New York Giants (10-6) vs. #5 Chicago Bears (12-4)

The Giants will be truly put to the test, facing a team who would likely be the third seed if it were based on record alone. The NFC East was by far the weakest division league wide. NYG has been able to manage 150 rush yards per game, but Chicago boasts the 4th best run D in the league. Their achilles heel however has been their secondary- allowing 263 pass yards on average, good for 30th league wide. Teddy Bridgewater will determine the outcome of this game.

Bye Week - 1st Seed (16-0)

The 14-0 Raiders have clinched a bye, as well as home field advantage for as long they're in the playoffs. They've managed to put points on the board despite not having an MVP-caliber campaign from anybody in particular. Marshawn Lynch aims to return in the Divisional Round, after an upper arm fracture kept him out for 8 weeks. 

Bye Week- 2nd Seed (14-2)

There simply aren't many bad things you can say about the Jags this year. Their defense is among the best in the league, and Fournette wasted no time in establishing himself as a star in the NFL. If history repeats itself, look for Jacksonville to end Tennessee's playoff hopes next week, in a game that means everything for the Titans, and nothing for the Jags.

#3 New England Patriots (13-3) vs. #6 Indianapolis Colts (10-6)

I do believe the Colts will win out, and even then they will cross their fingers for a Jacksonville win in Week 17. When in, they'll be tasked with shutting down the most prolific offense in the league, and Tom Brady in his element. It won't be easy.

#4 Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) vs. #5 San Diego Chargers (12-4)

The Chargers will likely be put to the test in the Wildcard Round, but this is a defense that has established itself as top 5 in the league. The Steelers certainly have the pieces, but they'll have to play mistake free football to advance to the second round. Will Melvin Gordon be able to continue carrying the load of the entire team on his shoulders?

As Season 2 of LoA C.E. winds down, I wanted to take a look at the at the possible playoff matchups, the teams' history, and make a prediction on the outcome. 

AFC

3. Steelers (14-2) vs. 6. Browns (12-4)

Series: 3-2 Browns

The last matchup was a blowout in the Browns favor, but their last playoff game was much closer- Browns won 14-13.

Prediction: 24-21 Browns

4. Patriots (8-8) vs. 5. Chargers (14-2)

Series: 2-0 Chargers

San Diego has taken both matchups over New England, but both were on possession games. This will be a defensive game, to nobody's surprise. 

Prediction: 14-10 Chargers

NFC

3. 49ers (11-5) vs. 6. Panthers (9-7)

Series: 1-0 Panthers

They've only played once 30+ weeks ago, and the Panthers prevailed 16-13. If the 9ers want to get it done, it will have to be through the air. 

Prediction: 20-14 Panthers

4. Vikings (10-6) vs. 5. Lions (10-6)

Series: 3-1 Vikings

These guys know each other all too well, constantly battling for the division. It will be interesting to see how the Lions line protects the QB vs. Hunter. 

Prediction: 31-21 Vikings

2017-2018 LoA Power Rankings – Week 6

1.       Atlanta Falcons (6-0) – The reigning champs are at the top of this list because even if they haven’t necessarily been the most dominant team stats wise, they are still riding a 23 game win streak. It will likely take a loss to knock them from the top spot- their offense and defense are top 5 so far.

2.       Oakland Raiders (5-0) – Oakland has been lighting the league on fire with a top 3 offense and the best defense, points wise. Sophomore RB Jalen Richard is an early MVP candidate, but the Raiders are in one of the league’s toughest divisions.

3.       Houston Texans (4-0) – Another undefeated team whose defense has simply been impenetrable. 4^th in points allowed, 1^st in total yards allowed, 3^rd in pass yards allowed, and 1^st in rush yards allowed. Add 32 points per game on offense and you have to wonder who can beat this team.

4.       Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1) – The Steelers jump up to 4 here not only because of their explosive offense, but the efficiency has been much better this season. After posting a 1:1 TD:INT ratio last year, Big Ben is sitting at 17 TDs and only 7 picks, making himself an early bid for MVP. Their recent win over the Browns was an impressive one.

5.       San Diego Chargers (4-1) – The second best one loss team currently, giving the reigning AFC Champion Tennessee Titans their only loss on the season. Rookie QB Cornelious Wilhoite was touted as a top prospect, but 5 TDs and 7 Ints thus far leaves a lot to be desired. This offense runs through Melvin Gordon.

6.       Tennessee Titans (4-1) – Derrick Henry continues to truck over the Titans’ competition, with 11 TD’s already *rolls eyes*. Their rush attack is the best in the league, and they owe a lot of that to a young and healthy offensive line. Maybe we’ll see them return to the Super Bowl.

7.      Washington Redskins (4-1) – It’s been defense that has kept the Skins atop the power rankings, and the most recent to lose their undefeated status- top 5 in almost every category. But their offense has a lot to prove, and they are a bottom 3 pass attack in the league. In their recent game against the Falcons, not much of anything went right; they mustered only 3 points of offense

8.       Cleveland Browns (4-2) – The Browns only two losses came to #3 and # 4 on this list, and both were one possession games. They’re scoring a pedestrian 25 a game, but only giving up 14 a game, good for 5^th in the league. Look for Hundley to really hit his stride after a bumpy start, and this team becomes an instant Super Bowl contender

9.        New England Patriots (3-2) – A heartbreaking loss on a blocked field goal, as well as a one-possession loss to #5 on this list, the Patriots are proving last year was not a fluke. They have the #2 defense in the league, but aren’t top 20 in anything on the other side of the ball. We’ll see how they fare against the other division winners of the AFC.

10.      Green Bay Packers (4-1) – And Gary breaks the top 10! The Packers enter their bye week ranked top 10 for the first time in LoA History. The season started off with a huge upset over the reigning NFC North Champion Bears, and the Cheeseheads have hardly looked back since. There are some tough games on the road ahead, but many experts are pegging the Packers to make a playoff appearance.

11.      Kansas City Chiefs (4-2) – KC has the toughest schedule in the league, but it hasn’t stopped them from a strong 4-2 start. They have a top offense, through the air specifically. However, they’re giving up 130 yards per game on the ground, good for dead last.

12.      Carolina Panthers (4-2) – Carolina has their eyes on the NFC South this year, and if they can’t get that they’ll be eying up a wild card spot. They also have a top 3 most difficult schedule, but they’re still maintaining top 10 offensive and defensive stats.

13.      Baltimore Ravens (4-2) – They have the record to be top half of the league, but they’re having trouble winning their division, and even their conference games, which matter the most. And after a big season by Keith Marshall, the Ravens are now averaging 40 yards per game on the ground. Something’s fishy.

14.      Minnesota Vikings (2-3) – The Vikes started off 2-0, outscoring their opponents 64-2. Since then they’ve dropped three straight, so they’ll go into their bye week trying to figure out how to get back to that early season form.

15.      San Francisco 49ers (3-1) – The 49ers haven’t been dominant, but they’ve been winning their games. The 23^rd pass offense and 27^th rushing offense makes their record seem all but sustainable, but this is a team that made a playoff run last year, and are looking like favorites to take their division from Seattle this year.

16.      Dallas Cowboys (2-3) – After an 0-3 start, the Cowboys seemed to be destined for another year of mediocrity. However, an excellent effort from sophomore phenom Ezekiel Elliot, and rookie breakout D.J. Celestin, they’ve won 2 straight and are showing signs of life. They have some winnable games on the road ahead, look for the Cowboys, with a few new looks, to climb these standings.

17.      New Orleans Saints (2-4) – You might think the Saints are the luckiest team in the league after the blocked FG win over the Pats, but they’ve been everything but. The margins of victory in their 4 losses were 7, 1, 3, and 3. Being a couple stops or field goals away from being undefeated is a tough pill to swallow, but they can take pride in the #8 offense this year.

18.      Buffalo Bills (2-3) – Buffalo has started 4 different QBs in 5 games this season, but have somehow maintained the 4^th air attack in the LoA. Most people agree without Michael Thomas, they’d be 32^nd on this list.

19.      Detroit Lions (2-3) – It’s been an up and down season for the D, but their two wins this season come from teams way above them on this list. If they can tighten up on defense and straighten up the turnover problems, I see them as a contender for their division, which seems to be up in the air right now.

 20.     Denver Broncos (2-3) – It’s always going to be a tough season when your divisional rivals are ranked 2, 4, and 11 on this list. The pass game is working but it can be assumed they are full rebuild after moving star edge rusher Von Miller to the Steelers.

21.      Philadelphia Eagles (2-4) – The Eagles gave the 49ers their only loss so far, and Carson Wentz has been having himself quite a year. Unfortunately, the defense is really struggling, and they’re leaking yards and points.

22.      Los Angeles Rams (2-3) – The defense has been great, however the Goff/Gurley attack is off to a very slow start. The Rams lost some faces and brought on some new ones, so hopefully they can build some chemistry and take a division that could be anybody’s.

23.      Jacksonville Jaguars (2-3) – Like the Rams, they have been above average on the defensive side of the ball, much like the 16-17 Jags. However their Achilles heel continues to be their inconsistency on offense. They’ve yet to beat anyone not named the Colts, so their work is cut out for them this year.

24.      Seattle Seahawks (1-3) – Of all the 1 win teams, look for the Seahawks as the most likely candidate to bounce back. They still sport the best pass defense in the league, and let’s not forget they were one game away from the Super Bowl last year. When their offense starts to click, they’ll find themselves as a top 10 team yet again.

25.      New York Giants (1-4) – A rookie superstar at the RB position and another year of experience for the powerhouse defense has shot them up the list. However, they have been held to 3 points or less in more than half of their games this year, and only scoring double digits once. Look for Fournette to continue to carry the workload.    

26.      Indianapolis Colts (1-3) – New faces Eddie Lacy and Hunter Henry have been the bright spots for a struggling Colts team. They’ve given up league worst 38 per game, but with a game in hand on many of the other bottom teams here, perhaps they have the biggest chance to turn it around.

27.      Arizona Cardinals (1-4) – New owner has put Spring Break over football, and their record reflects that. In a tight division, a quick turnaround now could get them in the playoffs, but it’s got to happen soon.

28.      Chicago Bears (1-5) – Though 1-5, I put the Bears here because I know they can bounce back. We saw them come a shanked field goal away from the NFC Divisional Round. Maybe the blockbuster to move up to #1 on draft day hurt more than helped? Only time will tell.

29.      Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-4) – The rookie WR is having himself a year, and the Bucs have a top 10 run defense. Not a lot else is going right for them right now though- did they do too much rebuilding?

30.      Miami Dolphins (1-4) – Ryan Tannehill 3 TDs and 18 INTs. Wew.

31.      New York Jets (0-5) – The new Jet, Jameis Winston, has had a respectable start to the season with a 67% completion rate. However, they don’t have any RB over 100 yards yet, and they’re giving up 31 points per game.

32.      Cincinnati Bengals (0-6) – The tank is real.

Continuing from my previous write up, and now a week later in week 12, I wanted to go over some of the top performers on the defensive side of the ball. After all, defense wins championships, so let's take a look at some breakout players at their respective positions. EDGE will encompass 4-3 ends as well as 3-4 OLBs, while LBs will include 3-4 MLBs, and all 4-3 Linebackers. 

EDGE

1.) Danielle Hunter, MIN (97.8) - Perhaps the highest grade we'll give out all season, Hunter is all the while deserving. He leads the league in sacks (14.5), TFL (19), and FF (5). He has been the anchor of a very succesful Minnesota defense, all at the tender age of 21. His hurries on opposing QBs also lead to the Vikings being tied with the Falcons for most interceptions (35). Hunter has gone only one week without registering a sack.

Key Performance- Week 2 vs. GB

2.) Eli Harold, CLE (95.1) - He may not be second on the sacks list (9.5), but Harold has been the definition of a stat sheet stuffer. Hes 2nd in the league in TFL (15), has 2 picks, one of them going 99 yards for six, 2 FF, a safety, and 2 Touchdowns. He's moved to more of a down lineman role on his new team, so watch for the sack numbers to rise. 

Key Performance- Week 9 vs. DAL

3.) Jadeveon Clowney, HOU (94.6) - Clowney has proved all of his doubters wrong this season, as the physical freak has been a nightmare for tackles around the league. His sacks (12) are third in the league while his TFL (15) are second. He also has 4 forced fumbles. The knock on him is he shares the d-line with so many other monsters, that they perhaps deserve some of the credit for his success. Clowney will likely ignore that and continue to put up pro bowl worthy numbers. 

Key Performance- Week 1 vs. CHI

Defensive Interior

1.) JJ Watt, HOU (88.4) - Another Texans lineman, Watt transitioned to the inside of the line, and he hasn't missed a beat. 55 tackles (32 solo), 3rd in the league in TFL (14), and 2 FF for the veteran, not to mention his 8.5 sacks which are second among all interior linemen. He's a big player in the pass rush but has an even bigger role in the run stop game, which perhaps makes his pressure stats even more impressive. 

Key Performance- Week 8 vs. DET

2.) Eddie Goldman, CHI (87.9) - If you look at the sophomore Bears DT and only see 3 sacks, then you're looking at him in the wrong way. Goldman has 48 tackles, and 15 tackles for a loss, good for 2nd in the league. He also has 2 forced fumbles, as well as recovering on on his own. The Bears are a top 10 run defense this season, and Goldman is a big reason why. It's a shame he might go under the radar when pro bowl votes are cast. 

Key Performance- Week 4 vs. DET

3.) Ndamukong Suh, MIA (85.1) - Suh has been breaking out as of late, and you see it in the box scores, as he leads all interior defensive linemen with 9 sacks, up there with the elite pass rushers of the league. He also has one forced fumble on the season. However, I think you would like to see him get more involved in the Run D, where the Dolphins are bottom 10 as a team, and Suh only has 7 TFL. 

Key Performance- Week 11 vs. LA

Linebacker

1.) Ryan Shazier, PIT (96.9) - If you could make the argument that any defensive player was playing his position as dominantly as Hunter is for MIN, you'd be making that argument for Pittsburgh's Ryan Shazier. His 11 interceptions are second in the league, but his other stats show that he's more than just a ballhawk. His 11 TFL are among the top of all LBs, he's got 3 sacks, and he's been a stalwart piece of the run D with 23 solo tackles and 39 assisted. I'd be interested to see who could knock him off as DPOY out of the AFC. 

Key Performance- Week 5 vs. NYJ

2.) Alec Ogletree, LA (87.9) - Ogletree has been a key cog in LA's defense, where he's not standing out in any one category, but has been a solid contributor across the board. He has 5 interceptions on the year, but also 63 total tackles (28 solo), 1 sack, 10 TFL, and 2 FF. Look for him to keep pitching in as LA makes a playoff push. 

Key Performance- Week 3 vs. TB

3.) Jake Ryan, GB (86.8) - Much like Ogletree, the sophomore Packer LB has contributed in multiple columns of the stat sheet. His 43 solo tackles are top 5 in the league, meaning he's been a key piece of the run game. He also has 5 interceptions to pad his resume, as well as a forced fumble. While Green Bays offense has struggled to hit its stride, Ryan has stepped up to captain a top 15 defense, so he's certainly doing his part. 

Key Performance- Week 1 vs. JAX

Cornerback

1.) Richard Sherman, SEA (91.3) - Sherman is doing exactly what you would expect Sherman to do- getting interceptions. His 8 on the season put him at the top for his position. In fact, he's only had three games all year where he didn't pick the ball off. Add that to a FF, a TD, and the fact he's the heart of a SEA defense that's top 5 in every category, and you'll find it no surprise he sits at the top of this list. 

Key Performance- Week 8 vs. NO

2.) Tavon Young, BAL (90.0) - The small corner is making a huge impact in Baltimore. He's amassed 7 picks on the year, 2 of which have gone for six. He also sits at a respectable 46 tackles (31 solo), a respectable campaign for the rookie all around. 

Key Performance- Week 3 vs. JAX

3.) Eric Murray, KC (86.4) - Another rookie on the list, Murray has been all over the field this year. His 7 TFL lead his position, and he has 2.5 sacks, making him more than just a coverage guy. He also does have 4 picks and 2 FF, so perhaps the transition from safety to corner has paid off for this young man. 

Safeties

1.) Earl Thomas III, SEA (92.7) - 58 Tackles and 9 interceptions on the year, it's safe to say the Legion of Boom is alive and well. Add to that a forced fumble, fumble recovery, and a defensive TD, and you might see why the veteran has a cushioned lead at his position. 

Key Performance- Week 10 vs. NE

2.) Ricardo Allen, ATL (89.9) - The small safety has been putting up big numbers for a top defense in the league. He's racked up 6 picks, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 1 FR, and a TD so far on the year. He's been another key part of a very young defensive corps, so look for him to continue to lead the way at the ever important FS position. 

Key Performance- Week 6 vs. SEA

3.) Kevin Byard, TEN (86.6) - The Titans rookie is putting together a respectable year, with 7 picks already on the season. Add in 6 deflections and a Forced Fumble, and it's possible the kid might be getting a few nods for DROY. He's also been key in run support, where the Titans can brag about being the top run D in the league. 

Key Performance- Week 11 vs. IND

As we sit in week 11, there are some usual suspects among the league's best, but there have also been a fair share of breakout players, as well as slumping stars. My aim of this list is to take a look at some of the top performers at each position, and a breakdown of their success, using totally non-arbitrary, legitimate, PFF Grades.

Quarterback

1.) Matt Ryan, ATL (90.3) - Matt Ryan has been by far the best QB this season, sporting a very respectable 2:1 TD ratio, with 22 TDs and 11 interceptions (lowest in the league). His 73% completion percentage is also first in the league, and he's 3rd in yards (2631). 

Key Performance- Week 7 vs. SD 

2.) Teddy Bridgewater, MIN (85.6) - Number 2 definitely goes to Teddy who leads the league in touchdowns this season with 24. He is the leading force of the leagues highest scoring offense (30.0 ppg). Perhaps his most troubling stat though is his sub 60 completion percentage (59.5%). 

Key Performance- Week 10 vs. WSH

3.) Jared Goff, LA (80.4) - Rookie phenom Jared Goff closes out the top 3 through 10 weeks. He's single-handedly turned this franchise into a contender, and adding Keenan Allen should only make him better. His 12 picks are second lowest in the league, and he's got a very respectable 66% completion percentage. Factoring out drops (21), and that percentage shoots up to 72.3%. 

Key Performance- Week 9 vs. CAR

Running Back

1.) Matt Jones, WSH (92.3) - Jones gets the edge here for me because of his efficiency, as well as his ability to be a dual threat. Rushing at a 5.9 YPC clip as well as couple receiving touchdowns, as well as a 100+ receiving yards game this season, gets him to the top of this list. Take Matt Jones off of this Redskins team and they might be in a very dark place, which screams MVP to me. 

Key Performance- Week 7 vs. DET

2.) Derrick Henry, TEN (90.7) - Only second on this list because he has 30 more carries than the previous guy, Henry has been setting the league on fire in his first season as a pro. His 34 broken tackles is absolutely ridiculous, and league leading. Can the rookie notch 2,000 yards? 

Key Performance- Week 6 vs. CLE

3.) Lamar Miller, HOU (88.9) - As much as I'd like to leave Miller off the list for his 6 TD performance, you can't deny that this team might not have a win without him this year. The most impressive stat is although he has 1,137 yards, he only has one game where he's broken more than one 20+ yard run. Houston's trust in him to consistently give him the ball no matter the situation is definitely paying dividends for fantasy owners. 

Key Performance- Week 7 vs. DEN

Wide Receiver

1.) Tavon Austin, SD (90.5) - Austin is still trying to hit his stride in San Diego, but his work in LA set him far apart enough from his competition. He had a 34rec/839yds/9td split with his old team, but during his stint with the Chargers he's sitting at 10rec/189yds/0tds. His coaches ability to work him into their gameplan will determine whether he'll be on this list at the end of this season. 

Key Performance- Week 3 vs. TB

2.) Demaryius Thomas, DEN (86.3) - DT has been a force to be reckoned with so far this season. He's closing in on 1,000 yards with  56 catches already, the Broncos are going to need him to continue to carry a lot of the weight, but after getting a little too predictable, rookie QB Paxton Lynch has been giving teammate Emmanuel Sanders an equal amount of looks, which has really helped their offense. 

Key Performance- Week 2 vs. IND

3.) Desean Jackson, TB (85.8) - DJax is thriving- it's crazy what a change of scenery can do. His chemistry with sophomore QB Jameis Winston is evident, and it's led to 52 catches for 957 at this point, with only 3 drops. He'll need to continue to shine as Mike Evans fights off an injury, look for the Bucs to bounce back in a big way when they get him back too. 

Key Performance- Week 5 vs. CAR

Tight End

1.) Austin Hooper, ATL (89.3)  - The rookie out of Stanford has come out of seemingly nowhere, leading the Falcons, and near the top of the league with 49 catches. His 774 yards and 9 TD's are also tops for his position. He's become more than just a checkdown route for Matt Ryan, and as long as he stays healthy, he'll play a huge role for this Falcons team. 

Key Performance- Week 7 vs. SD

2.) Rob Gronkowski, NE (85.8)- The best TE in the league is proving to everyone why he still deserves that title. His 627 yards and 6 TDs are among the best in the league, and he's a big reason that the Patriots are in playoff contention this year. Outside of their meltdown in Pittsburgh, they haven't lost a game when Gronk has scored, which speaks for itself.

Key Performance- Week 3 vs. HOU

3.) Jason Witten, DAL (84.0) - Like a fine wine, the veteran gets better with time. His 7 TDs on the season are 2nd for the TE position, and he is averaging 12.3 YPC, which is on the high end for someone of his age, and position. He's been a safety net for rookie Dak Prescott, but at his age, it's hard to know his future beyond this season.

Key Performance- Week 5 vs. CIN

LOA: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons

The Good: Coming off a big win over the undefeated Chargers, the Falcons find themselves atop the NFC 7 games in. Matt Ryan has been the best QB in the league, they have a top offense and defense, and are operating at 95% in the red zone. You might think it's all rainbows and sunshine for the dirty birds. 

The Bad: But you'd be wrong. They have the 31st rushing attack in the league with one of the best running backs. 56 yards is abysmal, and downright embarassing. Tevin Coleman is back week 8 - look for him to start getting more touches to take some weight off Matt Ryan's shoulders.

The Ugly: Somehow, with the 6th best defense in Points Per Game (18), but 26th in yards per game (339). Their rush defense is stout, but they have to find out a way to stop the pass, or they won't make it very far in the playoffs (shocker). 

Carolina Panthers

The Good: The Panthers defense has been no joke this season. 68 rush yards per game allowed is league best, and 283 total yards per game allowed is 2nd best. Simply put, these guys are going to make you fight for every yard.

The Bad: Having the 30th passing attack in the league (187.5) when you have Cam Newton at the helm is peculiar to say the least. Perhaps losing top target Kelvin Benjamin has something to do with it. Look for tight end Greg Olsen to get more involved in Panthers' Stick Scheme. 

The Ugly: Carolina only has 10 takeaways in the season, tying them for 30th in that department. The defense has been stingy, but you'd like to see more turnovers so this offense can get rolling a little more. 

New Orleans Saints

The Good: Luke McCown is sporting the league's highest completion percentage, at 100%. He has also only thrown 1 pass for 7 yards, but who's counting?

The Bad: The Saints are sitting at -9 in turnover differential, good for 3rd worst in the league. It's not due to having the most turnovers, but they only have 8 takeaways on the season, averaging just about one per week. Not gonna cut it. 

The Ugly: Conversion, conversion, conversion. It's what the league is all about, and when the game is on the line, the Saints aren't converting. Their 60% redzone efficiency is worst in the league, and their 39% 3rd Down percentage is bottom 3. These numbers have to go up if the Saints want to be a force. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

The Good: The "good" is this owner really knows how to forcefeed a WR. Desean Jackson leads the league in 40 catches for 777 yards. Commissioners will be keeping a close eye on this one...

The Bad: The offensive line is a black hole, and not in a good way. Winston has gone down 20 times so far this season. They have to bolster their line to keep their young QB healthy. 

The Ugly: Bucs have 7 sacks on the season. This is laughable- that's one per game, and good for dead last in the league. You have to get more pressure, or even the most average pass attacks will pick you apart in this league. 

LOA: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

AFC South

Houston Texans

The Good: Lamar Miller’s recent… controversial game catapulted him and his team into the top 5 rushing attacks in the league, with is surprising given the tools at WR this squad has. They’re also scoring at a clip of 28 PPG, so offense isn’t the reason for their sub .500 record.

The Bad: Brock’s contract almost catapulted this into the ugly territory, but I have something else reserved for that. To have the receiving core the Texans has, it’s painful to see a 9 TD, 16 INT statline, with a 65 Passer Rating. Look for a struggling QB to either find his footing, or get replaced quick. His leash will be short in Houston, mark my words.

The Ugly: The Texans are bottom 3 in the league in yards given up per game. With the personnel here, albeit not the best secondary in the league, this was a big shock to me. It might be time to let Clowney do his thing on his own, and work on the leaky pass defense.

Indianapolis Colts

The Good: To no surprise, the three-headed dragon at WR is definitely doing their part this season for the Colts. 19 rec/415 yds/3 tds, 21 rec/364 yds/2 tds, and 19 rec/265 yds/2 tds for Hilton, Dorsett, and Moncrief, respectively.

The Bad: Bronson Hill? Who the hell is this clown and why is he getting the touches at RB this season? No wonder why he’s averaging 2.7 YPC and only 2 TDs on the season. This can’t be the best option.

The Ugly: Perhaps in tandem with the Bad, what is up with the O-line in Indy? They aren’t blocking well for the run, and they’ve gotten an oft-injured Andrew Luck sacked 19 times so far this season, severely limiting how often he can get it to that WR trio. There’s youth on this line, so hopefully they develop, and fast.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Good: If you showed me this defense on its own, I’d think I was looking at one of the best teams in the league. 1^st in yards given up per game, 2^nd in rush yards allowed, and top 10 in points given up. Telvin Smith is captaining one of the top defenses in the league this season so far.

The Bad: Yeldon is having an above average year on the ground, but you can’t just forget the pass games. 3 passing TDs this far into the season, on 143 attempts, is abysmal. Jags have a good, young WR core, and owner Dat Boi needs to find out a way to get them the ball more.

The Ugly: If the defense is the good, the offense is its ugly stepsister. 326 YPG is good for 30^th in the league. Defense wins championships, but you still have to put points on the board.

Tennessee Titans

The Good: This one’s a no brainer- rookie Derrick Henry has been nothing short of dominant, showing he has no interest in sharing the backfield with Demarco Murray. 800 yards and 10 TDs through 6 games, he has his eyes on rookie of the year.

The Bad: Titans made a splash when acquiring Kelvin Benjamin. He hasn’t quite made the impact many people expected, with only 3 receptions on the season. He seems a bit out of place Mariota at the helm, in the furthest thing from a vertical offense. Will the Titans soon regret this blockbuster, or will the big WR find his stride in a new scheme? Time will tell.

The Ugly: Nothing glaring here, short of the potential mismanagement of assets. Not making the most of the Benjamin trade, losing a young corner, and now I’m hearing that a rookie stud lineman is on the chopping block. Hopefully Mr. Eric knows what he’s doing here. 

LOA: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

NFC East:

Dallas Cowboys

The Good: The good is that they are 2-4 with how many yards this team has given up. It’s a peculiar case, they have 18 sacks, Jaylon Smith leads the league in tackles, but the stats just aren’t correlating with the score sheet. The law of averages says this team is playing better than what is showing on paper right now, look for a bounceback second half of the season.

The Bad: Well, I already mentioned it, but the defense. Zeke has been above average, but the defense is bottom 5 in every category.

The Ugly: Perhaps the biggest part of the team’s struggles, the Cowboys are the most penalized team in the league. 25 penalties for over 200 yards is not going to help the Boys out.

New York Giants

The Good: Despite not having one standout performer on defense this year (nobody over 2 picks, 3 sacks, 1 FF), Mr. Hogs and his Giants sport a solid, but not flashy defense, cracking the top 10 in YPG allowed.

The Bad: In the biggest shakeup of the season, OBJ packed his bags for Cleveland (yuck) to bring in a proven force on defense, Jamie Collins, and a young WR with a lot of upside, Corey Coleman. Upon becoming Giants, Collins has not become the playmaker as expected, with no interceptions, sacks, or forced fumbles. Coleman is single digits in catches.

The Ugly: Giants went out on a limb and traded for rookie QB Jacoby Brissett. He’s currently sporting an abysmal 55% completion percentage, and a 67.3 passer rating. Mr. Hogs had a vision with some pretty savvy moves, but they have not come to fruition as of yet.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Good:

The Bad: 32^nd in points per game. 32^nd in yards per game. Not a good-looking rookie campaign for Mr. Wentz in Philly.  The bright side is they are in a good spot to secure that #1 overall pick in the rookie draft.

The Ugly: OH, WAIT! Cleveland Browns, already a powerhouse, have your 1^st rounder. I know this trade wasn’t your fault, but you’re not supposed to tank and give Davey the top pick. C’mon maaaaaaaaaaan!

Washington Redskins

The Good: The Skins are my favorites out of the NFC East and I think it’s going to stay that way for a long time. They have the best rush attack in the league with Matt Jones out of the backfield, and are scoring at a clip of 29 points per game. They seem poised to push for playoffs, maybe even a bye.

The Bad: While owning the best run attack, they are also giving up 130 yards per game on the ground, good for 29^th in the league. As guys like Zeke develop, and with a lot of run heavy teams in this league, the Skins will have to patch the holes on defense.

The Ugly: Inconsistency is a good term to describe the Redskins so far. 5-2 is great, and beating a top team like the Browns is something to be proud of. But both losses came to AFC North teams, Ravens and Steelers, games that they arguably should have won, or at least put up a better effort. 

LOA: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

AFC East:

Buffalo Bills

The Good- RB Lesean McCoy is tied for 3^rd in YPC for backs with more than 50 attempts, clocking in at a stout 6.2 YPC.

The Bad- Shady only has 84 attempts on the season for some reason, while most premier backs are over 100 at this point. Teams have to play to their strengths to stay competitive.

The Ugly- The Bills are allowing 30 points and over 400 yards per game. That simply isn’t going to cut it in this league.

Miami Dolphins

The Good- The Dolphins defensive line is wreaking havoc on opposing QBs. Their 17 sacks are good for 5^th in the league, led by veterans Suh and Wake.

The Bad- With all of these sacks, the Fins peculiarly remain the only team without a forced fumble on the season.

The Ugly- The Dolphins are also giving up 30 points a game- but the silver lining here is they have had an extremely difficult schedule to start off, playing a handful of 1 or 2 loss teams. They have a tough game against the Chargers coming up as well, but the latter half of the season should be a little easier on Miami.

New England Patriots

The Good- New England’s defense is suffocating opponents this season. Their pass D is perhaps the best in the league, while some thought it to be a question mark in the offseason. They are only allowing 19 points per game. Add a top 5 rushing attack on offense into the mix, and you have a team with potential to make a deep playoff run.

The Bad- Seeing Tom Brady with more interceptions than touchdowns makes me feel physically ill.

The Ugly- Their recent game against the Steelers. Absolutely atrocious. Special teams? More like special ed.

New York Jets

The Good- Does NYJ have the dark horse for DROY? Jordan Jenkins leads all rookies with 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 touchdowns. Look for the young linebacker to continue to make an impact.

The Bad- Only two other players have more than one sack on the team, and the Jets are 1-6.

The Ugly- The Jets hover around dead last in just about every defensive category this season. They’re leaking yards and points both through the air and on the ground. Something’s got to give here.