The Patriots want to extend their win streak and maintain their undefeated away record, but they'll likely be without some key contributors on offense, which will already be in for a tough day against a very dominant Tampa defensive line. Although they faced the league's best defense just two weeks ago vs. the Browns, the Bucs are not going to be any easier.
To the naked eye, when a quarterback takes a lot of sacks, the offensive line gets the brunt of the blame. The one black mark on the New England Patriots' six-game winning streak has been Drake Maye taking sacks, as the second-year passer has been sacked 15 times over the last 11 quarters. That certainly isn't sustainable for a team looking to surprise the NFL landscape by winning the AFC East, which the Patriots have an excellent chance of doing.
In fact, the former second-round pick has been a trade target since the preseason, although the Falcons haven't shown any desire to trade him up to this point. Fowler notes that Atlanta's front office will listen to offers on any players, leading the reporter to believe Ebiketie could be had for the right price. Ebiketie appeared to be a foundational piece as recently as last season.
When he was signed by the New York Jets before the 2022 season, Jacob Martin told the New York Post, "I'm a total football player." That statement came five months after former NFL scout Daniel Kelly had essentially eviscerated the four-year veteran on Sports Illustrated. In his story, Kelly referred to Martin as one of the worst run defenders he had ever seen at the defensive end spot.
The old question of "What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?" could not be better to describe the Dallas Cowboys week eight matchup versus the Denver Broncos. Through seven weeks, the Cowboys offense ranks second in EPA/play, ninth in success rate, third in dropback EPA, and fifth in rush EPA. In the same time frame, the Broncos defense ranks fourth in EPA/play, first in success rate, third in dropback EPA, and 17th in rush EPA.
While this matchup is worth monitoring, the one between Dak Prescott and Denver's pass rush could be more important. The Broncos are the best pass rushing unit in the league right now. They lead the NFL in sacks (34), QB hits (65), QB pressures (125), and QB pressure percentage (47.2). Keeping Prescott clean an upright in the pocket could be paramount to success in Week 8.
The 49ers are among the teams interested in trading for Hendrickson, though Cincinnati is reportedly not interested in moving him. Other expected suitors include the Colts, Eagles, and Cowboys, per Sportskeeda's Tony Pauline. Hendrickson is owed $9.8MM for the rest of the season if traded after Week 8 ($8.9MM if after Week 9, per OverTheCap), and the Bengals will likely want an acquiring team to pick up all of his remaining salary.
The New England Patriots' defense is clearly a strong unit, as they rank in the top ten in points allowed per game. Their run defense has been particularly impressive, as the additions of Milton Williams and Harold Landry have helped support the defensive line. Rookie Joshua Farmer and free agent Khyiris Tonga have also gotten plenty of opportunities, and the unit holds teams to less than 84 yards on the ground per game. No rusher has eclipsed 50 yards against them this season.
Bailey has been a force off the edge this season, and he leads the FBS with a 24.6% pressure rate to go along with 8.5 sacks, which are tied for first. He is a constant disruptor who can win with speed or power. And with Micah Parsons now in Green Bay, the Cowboys need a potent pass-rushing presence outside, which Bailey could provide. Dallas' 11 sacks are tied for 22nd in the NFL, and that defense is giving up 6.2 yards per play, which ranks 30th.
After the NFL Draft in April, Giants coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen often used one word to describe their picks: toughness. Daboll said it was something the Giants coveted in free agency, too. Fast-forward six months, and it's starting to manifest more since Jaxson Dart became the starting quarterback. Consider Thursday night's 34-17 win over the Eagles.
New York Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen's game plan is not only fluid but open to suggestions. That's a good thing for Big Blue's defense, as multiple requests to ramp up the pressure from head coach Brian Daboll and defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence helped the Giants preserve an upset 34-17 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night at MetLife Stadium. We have to be aggressive, Daboll said. I told Shane to be aggressive. Don't hold anything in your holster. Go after them. It worked.
The New England Patriots' defense overall had a solid game against Carolina. One player who's beginning to assert himself and is getting back into top form is defensive lineman Christian Barmore. While his stats are not earth-shattering, Barmore is starting to make a difference on the defensive line, along with his teammate, Milton Williams. The defensive line is generating solid pressure on opposing quarterbacks, led by edge rushers Harold Landry III, K'Lavon Chaisson, and defensive tackles Barmore and Milton Williams, the top free agent signee.
For the Cowboys, home offers both comfort and pressure. Their lone victory came at AT&T Stadium, but the offense remains shorthanded. CeeDee Lamb is out, and Dak Prescott will again lean on tight end Jake Ferguson and a rotating cast of receivers while navigating a line missing key backups Tyler Booker and Cooper Beebe.
Are edge rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter in for a huge day against the Titans? In short: Oh yes. The Texans rank third in pass rush win rate this season (49%), while the Titans are below average in pass block win rate (57%). Star rushers Anderson and Hunter both rank in the top 10 in pass rush win rate at edge and each have multiple sacks on the season, despite the fact that Houston is winless.
