UPGRADES
Tampa Bay up 9 slots
This upgrade is based on left tackle Donovan Smith's return to the lineup prior to the Week 16 home loss to Houston. Smith is still managing ankle and knee injuries and has been limited in practice prior to this week's divisional home game against Atlanta. Smith is likely to play and his length will be necessary against Falcons' defensive edge rusher Vic Beasley Jr. They are not especially flashy but the Buccaneers' offensive line has moved up to the mid-tier in the latest rankings.
Cincinnati up 7 slots
Right guard John Miller re-joined his teammates at practice this week after missing the game at Miami while in the league's concussion protocol. Miller is a load at the point of attack, and the coaches prefer his bulk in the lineup over Billy Price. Miller and the Bengals' offensive line grade as a solid mid-tier unit. They have a favorable matchup this week on the road against a reeling Cleveland Browns' defensive front seven.
DOWNGRADES
Pittsburgh down 8 slots
Center Maurkice Pouncey was carted off from the loss in New York with a knee injury. Pouncey has been ruled out for the season finale against Baltimore (his 4th missed game of the season) and will be targeting a 2020 return. B.J. Finney will have one more start to build up his resume prior to (most likely) entering the free-agent market. Even without Pouncey, the Steelers' offensive line still grades as a mid-tier unit and could actually produce against a Ravens' defensive front likely to be resting many starters prior to the playoffs.
NY Giants down 5 slots
Right tackle Mike Remmers was removed from the game against Washington and has been in the league's concussion protocol this week. Nick Gates (a rookie out of Nebraska) replaced the veteran Remmers in the game and would make his third start of his career against a highly motivated Philadelphia defensive front. The coaches like Gates, who has played better than many rookies. But still, this weekend will still be a stern test for Gase and the Giants' offensive line.
Oakland down 5 slots
Left guard Richie Incognito missed last week's win at Los Angeles with an ankle injury, leaving Denzelle Good to get the start. Incognito has not practiced this week. While right guard Gabe Jackson and center Rodney Hudson are also listed as questionable, Incognito appears to be the least likely of the three to see action this weekend at Denver. With right tackle Trent Scott already on the injured reserve, the Raiders' offensive line grades below the league average.
San Francisco down 4 slots
Right guard Mike Person missed last week's win over the Los Angeles Rams with a neck injury, and he appears unlikely to be ready to go for this week at Seattle. Rookie Daniel Brunskill from San Diego State will make his 8th start of the season, and he has been excellent in relief for most of the season. Brunskill has seen most of his time at tackle and it will be interesting to see if the transition to guard will be as easy as everyone says it should be.
Seattle down 19 slots
Left tackle Duane Brown sustained a knee injury Week 15 at Carolina which required surgical repair of his meniscus. This is a two-to-three week recovery, which would allow Brown to return for the playoffs (should the Seahawks make it) Brown was replaced last week by Jamarco Jones, who usually plays guard. Jones struggled, and he is also listed on the injury report with a shoulder injury. Right guard Mike Iupati (neck), center Joey Hunt (leg), and guard Ethan Pocic (core) are all questionable but included in the rankings. All of these injuries could spell trouble this weekend against a tough San Francisco defensive front seven, who are playing for the 1 seed.
Denver down 9 slots
Right tackles JaWuan James (knee) and Elijah Wilkinson (ankle) are both unlikely to play this weekend against Oakland. Jake Rodgers (a 28-year-old journeyman from Eastern Washington) saw almost 80% of the snaps last week against Detroit and is in line to get another start before the year closes. With Ronald Leary (concussion) still out, the Broncos' offensive line falls to the low-tier of the latest rankings. While the model regards injuries as bad news, it should be noted the line actually has been performing well of late.
OTHER NEWS
- AZ - RG Justin Pugh (back) was limited in practice on Thursday, but is expected to play against Los Angeles (N).
- CLE - RT Chris Hubbard (Knee) and C J.C. Tretter (knee) have been limited in practice this week but both are still included in the ranks.
- DAL - RG Xavier Su'a-Filo was carted off last week with ankle and knee injuries. His season is likely over. Joe Looney (who started all 16 games last season due to Travis Frederick's illness) will get the start this weekend at Washington.
- IND - RG Quenton Nelson left last week's game with a concussion but has been seen at practice. Nelson could tough it out and try to help his team avoid a losing season at Jacksonville.
- JAX - C Brandon Linder is listed on the injury report with a knee issue but will likely play this weekend against Indianapolis.
- LAC - LT Russell Okung is likely out again with a groin injury, leaving the highly unreliable Trey Pipkins to replace him at Kansas City.
- LAR - LT Andrew Whitworth is nursing a quad injury. While his team has nothing to play for (and have announced they will rest key players), Whitworth looks to sign another contract in free agency and could be motivated to show his wares against Arizona. '
- NE - RT Marcus Cannon is dealing with an ankle injury but is expected to play against Miami.
- NO - RG Larry Warford (Knee) and LG Andrus Peat (Forearm) could return from injury this week at Carolina. The Saints are playing for a first-round bye.
FULL RANKINGS
|
Rank
|
Team
|
Old
|
Diff
|
Score
|
Overall Grade
|
Run Grade
|
Pass Grade
|
Cohesion
|
Notes
|
|
1
|
New Orleans
|
1
|
0
|
35.63
|
A++
|
A+
|
A+
|
4
|
RG Larry Warford (Knee) and LG Andrus Peat (Forearm) could return from injury.
|
|
2
|
Kansas City
|
4
|
2
|
33.4
|
A+
|
A
|
A+
|
5
|
|
|
3
|
Dallas
|
3
|
0
|
33.18
|
A+
|
A+
|
A
|
4
|
RG X. Su'a-Filo to IR (broken leg), Joe Looney to replace.
|
|
4
|
Indianapolis
|
5
|
1
|
33.03
|
A+
|
A+
|
A
|
5
|
Monitor LG Quenton Nelson (concussion - practicing, still in ranks).
|
|
5
|
Green Bay
|
6
|
1
|
32.68
|
A
|
A-
|
A+
|
5
|
|
|
6
|
Philadelphia
|
7
|
1
|
32.65
|
A
|
A+
|
A-
|
4.5
|
RT Lane Johnson likely out again (Ankle - Halapoulivaati Vaitai to replace).
|
|
7
|
Tennessee
|
8
|
1
|
32.05
|
A
|
A+
|
A-
|
5
|
|
|
8
|
Atlanta
|
9
|
1
|
32.05
|
A
|
A+
|
A-
|
4.5
|
|
|
9
|
Baltimore
|
10
|
1
|
31.83
|
A-
|
A
|
B+
|
5
|
|
|
10
|
Pittsburgh
|
2
|
-8
|
30.83
|
A-
|
A
|
B+
|
4.5
|
C Maurkice Pouncey (knee) likely out, B.J. Finney to replace.
|
|
11
|
Buffalo
|
12
|
1
|
30.45
|
B+
|
A-
|
B+
|
5
|
RT Ty Nsekhe week-to-week with ankle sprain (Cody Ford replaced).
|
|
12
|
Jacksonville
|
13
|
1
|
30.43
|
B+
|
A-
|
B+
|
4.5
|
Monitor C Brandon Linder's status (Knee - still in ranks).
|
|
13
|
LA Rams
|
14
|
1
|
30.28
|
B+
|
B+
|
B+
|
4.5
|
Monitor LT Andrew Whitworth's status (Quad - still in ranks).
|
|
14
|
Carolina
|
15
|
1
|
30.28
|
B+
|
A-
|
B
|
4
|
|
|
15
|
Cleveland
|
16
|
1
|
30.18
|
B
|
B+
|
B-
|
5
|
Monitor status of RT Chris Hubbard (Knee) and C J.C. Tretter (knee) - both are still in ranks.
|
|
16
|
Arizona
|
17
|
1
|
30.15
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
5
|
Monitor status of RG Justin Pugh (Back - still in ranks)
|
|
17
|
Minnesota
|
20
|
3
|
30.03
|
B
|
B+
|
B-
|
5
|
|
|
18
|
Cincinnati
|
25
|
7
|
29.93
|
B-
|
B
|
C+
|
4.5
|
RG John Miller returns to lineup (Billy Price to bench).
|
|
19
|
Tampa Bay
|
28
|
9
|
29.93
|
B-
|
C+
|
B
|
5
|
Assuming LT Donovan Smith (ankle/knee) returns to lineup (Josh Wells to bench).
|
|
20
|
NY Jets
|
22
|
2
|
29.78
|
C+
|
B-
|
C
|
5
|
|
|
21
|
New England
|
24
|
3
|
29.75
|
C+
|
C+
|
C+
|
4.5
|
Monitor RT Marcus Cannon's status (Ankle - still in ranks).
|
|
22
|
Chicago
|
26
|
4
|
29.68
|
C+
|
B-
|
C
|
4
|
RT Bobby Massie week-to-week with ankle sprain (Cornelius Lucas replaced).
|
|
23
|
NY Giants
|
18
|
-5
|
29.65
|
C+
|
C+
|
C+
|
4.5
|
RT Mike Remmers ruled out (Concussion), Nick Gates to replace.
|
|
24
|
Oakland
|
19
|
-5
|
29.63
|
C+
|
B-
|
C
|
4
|
LG Richie Incognito missed Week 16 (Denzelle Good replaced).
|
|
25
|
San Francisco
|
21
|
-4
|
29.53
|
C
|
C
|
C
|
4
|
RG Mike Person likely out (neck), Daniel Brunskill to replace.
|
|
26
|
Washington
|
27
|
1
|
29.44
|
C
|
C
|
C
|
4
|
|
|
27
|
Houston
|
29
|
2
|
29.18
|
C-
|
C-
|
C-
|
4.5
|
|
|
28
|
LA Chargers
|
30
|
2
|
29.05
|
C-
|
D+
|
C
|
4.5
|
LT Russell Okung likely out with groin injury (Trey Pipkins to replace).
|
|
29
|
Detroit
|
31
|
2
|
28.8
|
C-
|
C+
|
C-
|
4
|
RT Rick Wagner missed three games with a knee injury (Tyrell Crosby replaced).
|
|
30
|
Seattle
|
11
|
-19
|
28.53
|
C-
|
C
|
D+
|
4
|
LT Duane Brown (knee surgery) out, but monitor status of G Mike Iupati (neck), C Joey Hunt (leg), G Ethan Pocic (core) and T Jamarco Jones (shoulder).
|
|
31
|
Miami
|
32
|
1
|
28.28
|
D+
|
D+
|
D+
|
4
|
|
|
32
|
Denver
|
23
|
-9
|
28.25
|
D+
|
C-
|
D
|
4.5
|
RT Ja'Wuan James (knee) and Elijah Wilkinson (ankle) likely out, Jake Rodgers to replace. RG Ron Leary likely out again with concussion (Austin Schlottsman replaced).
|
If you have a question about a player, team or matchup not specifically talked about in this article, please feel free to contact the author via Twitter.