Giants pummel NFL's top-ranked run defense
Week 11 Recap: The Giants offensive line had what may have been the most impressive performance of the season against the Ravens. The Ravens came into Week 11 with the top-ranked run defense, allowing just 65.4 yards per game. All the Giants' line did was bust open running lanes from the get-go, as the offense ran for 207 yards on 33 carries (6.3 yards per catch). The line added to the incredible performance by allowing just one sack in 23 pass attempts. It is obvious that no matter who the opponent, the Giants will continue to stick with the running game, and likely, continue to have the top rushing offense in the league.
Up Next: at Arizona. The Cardinals are good against the run, allowing 89.8 yards per game, but as stated above, no matter who the opponent, the Giants will pound the ball on the ground. The only potential issue, is if the Cardinals' offense can turn the game into a shootout, the Giants may be forced to pass more often.
Rams lose two starting linemen to injuries
Week 11 Recap: The Rams' offensive line struggled in a loss to the 49ers, but may have suffered much bigger losses. Starting left tackle Orlando Pace suffered a knee injury and he'll miss two-to-four weeks, while guard Richie Incognito suffered a shoulder injury. The offense was actually productive in the running game, gaining 126 yards on 23 carries (5.5 yards per catch), which is even more impressive considering that it was done without starting running back Steven Jackson. Although the unit allowed four sacks, quarterback Marc Bulger did throw 53 times and with the injuries, we can't completely blame the offensive line.
Up Next: vs. Chicago. The Bears' defense will likely come to town with something to prove, after being run over by the Packers in Week 11. Without pace, the Rams' line experiences a significant drop-off in talent, while the potential loss of Incognito will only make matters worse. Running back Steven Jackson has already been ruled out for Week 12, which makes a bad matchup even more difficult.
Bengals lose two starting linemen to injuries
Week 11 Recap: Aside from having a horrible performance against the Eagles, the Bengals lost starting left tackle Levi Jones to a knee injury and starting right guard Andrew Whitworth to a badly sprained ankle. Jones returned later after Whitworth went down, and the extent of his knee injury is not yet known. The line had little success on the ground, as the offense ran for 56 yards on 30 carries (1.9 yards per catch). Pass protection was abysmal, as the unit allowed eight sacks in 44 pass attempts.
Up Next: at Pittsburgh (Thursday night). In a nutshell, this is the worst thing the Bengals could see "Up Next" on their schedule. The Steelers lead the league in run defense (68.9 yards per game) and also lead the league in sacks (36). This is a major mismatch in favor of the Pittsburgh defense, in a game that could turn ugly very early.
Packers pound the Bears
Week 11 Recap: A week after shutting down the powerful Titans rushing offense, the Bears' defense was bowled over by the Packers in Week 11. The line led the way on the ground, as the offense gained 200 yards on 38 carries (5.3 yards per catch), which included running back Ryan Grant's breakout performance of 145 yards and a touchdown. Pass protection was flawless, as the unit did not allow a sack in 33 pass attempts. It was, by far, the best performance of the season for the Packers' offensive line, which has underperformed to this point. Look for the unit to build off its Week 11 performance and continue to improve.
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Up Next: at New Orleans (Monday night). The Saints' defense allows 111 rushing yards per game, and have a below average pass rush (18 sacks). Look for the Packers' offensive line to have another strong performance, with the question being, can the Packers offense play well enough to keep pace with the Saints' high-powered offense?
Eagles disappointing in tie with Bengals
Week 11 Recap: The Eagles' offensive line had a disappointing performance in the Week 11 tie with the Bengals. The Bengals, who had been allowing 138.1 yards per game on the ground, held the Eagles' running game to just 68 yards on 18 carries (3.8 yards per catch). Pass protection was very good, albeit against a horrible Bengals pass rush, as the unit allowed just two sacks in 58 pass attempts. The Eagles' offense sputtered all game long and running back Brian Westbrook was bottled up throughout the day.
Up Next: at Baltimore. The Eagles go from one end of the spectrum to the other in Week 12, as they get the formerly top ranked run defense of the Ravens (that was run over by the Giants in Week 11). The Baltimore defense, at home and coming off of an embarrassing performance will likely have a major rebound performance, which does not make for a favorable matchup for the Eagles' offensive line, or the offense in general.
Corey Bertram is a writer for RotoWire. For more infomation, check out rotowire.com
