Fastest Paced Games
#1 – Los Angeles Rams at New Orleans Saints
This game is projected to be the fastest-paced game of the remaining games left on the slate by a pretty good amount, as it has the second-fastest average of neutral seconds per snap (26.8). The Rams are 9th seconds/snap in Pass Percentage Plus Pass Rate Over Expected (59.4%) and 7th in Pass Percentage (60.7%).
The Saints are above league average in seconds/snap (26.7) and plays/game (60.9). The two teams both allow nearly seven yards per passing play, which is near the bottom of the league defensively. Not surprisingly, with having defenses giving it up like that, both teams have favorable matchups across all skill positions (QB, RB, WR, TE) in this one. This game has the 2nd highest O/U point total at 49.0.
#2 – Philadelphia Eagles at Baltimore Ravens
This game has the makings of an offensive smorgasbord, with the highest O/U game total at 51.5 and two of the best offenses in football. The Eagles are 7th in points per game (26.9) and 3rd in yards per game (389.1), while the Ravens are 2nd in points per game (30.3) and 1st yards per game (426.7). The Eagles do run the most plays per game (64.5) and the 3rd most Non-Two Minute No Huddle Percentage (26%) and project to run the most plays this week (65.5). They have twenty-four more plays of twenty or more yards than their opponents, the widest margin in the league, and 12 TDs outside the red zone.
The Ravens have run the 10th most plays this year (735) and have the highest implied point total on the slate (27.25). They lead the league in the rate of offensive plays to gain ten or more yards (25%) and twenty or more yards (8.2%). This game has the best combined passing matchups percentage of +61.1% (passing offense DVOA vs. passing defense DVOA). These teams are #1 (Eagles) and #2 (Ravens) in rushing yard differential vs. their opponents and they don’t turn the ball over, both are in the top 10 in the league in fewest turnovers.
#3 – Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals
These two teams have the fourth-fastest average of neutral seconds per snap (27.2). The Steelers are first in the league in plays run per game (64.5) and run the fifth-most non-two-minute No-Huddle Percentage (18.6%). The project for the third-most plays this week (64.2).
The Bengals are 11th in plays run per game (61.4), numero uno in Pass Percentage Plus Pass Rate Over Expected (70.2%) and 5th in Pass Percentage (63.5). This game has the 4th highest O/U game total at 47.5.
Slowest Paced Games
- San Francisco 49ers at Buffalo Bills
- Tampa Bay Bucs at Carolina Panthers