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    Week 12 NFL Offense Rankings: Lions Soar, Broncos Improve, and More Heading Into Week 12

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    We are 11 weeks into the season, which gives us plenty of data for our proprietary NFL offense rankings. Where does your favorite team sit?

    As we look ahead to Week 12 of the season, where do each of the 32 teams stand in our 2024 NFL offense rankings?

    PFN’s offense rankings combine statistics such as yards per play, points per drive, turnover percentage, success rate against the run and pass, third-down conversion rate, red-zone efficiency, pressure percentage when not blitzing, and various expected points added (EPA) measures against both the run and pass. These are then weighted accordingly to produce our rankings for each season.

    Each team will be given a numerical score that we convert to a traditional letter grade. While some teams may share a letter grade, the order below is presented in order. That is to say that not all “B” grades are exactly the same — those teams reside in the same tier, but the order in which they are listed serves as an indicator as to who sits atop that specific tier.

    At the top of the board are the Baltimore Ravens, which should be a surprise to no one. Baltimore is third on the board in terms of Super Bowl odds, but when it comes to our offensive-oriented metrics, they are on a level all their own.

    We run through nearly a dozen metrics, and the Ravens rank in the 85th percentile in all but one of the categories. They are functioning at an elite level and even have room to improve as the postseason nears.

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    1) Baltimore Ravens

    All stats referenced in this article are from TruMedia unless stated otherwise.

    • Grade: A

    The 7-4 Ravens stubbed their toe last weekend in Pittsburgh, and while the distance between them and the field shrunk, Baltimore retains its top spot in our offensive power rankings, a label they remain well-positioned to hold for the remainder of the regular season.

    Baltimore leads the league in EPA per play and red-zone efficiency — not a surprise when you consider that they also have the leader in the house for Offensive Player of the Year honors in Derrick Henry finishing off drives every single week.

    Diontae Johnson has yet to work his way into this offense’s regular mix, and while that might be a work in progress, the addition of a veteran receiver to an otherwise thin group can only help.

    2) Detroit Lions

    • Grade: A

    The favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl have appeared unstoppable for the majority of the season, and it’s only getting better with time — just ask the Jacksonville Jaguars.

    Behind David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, the Detroit Lions have the third-best rushing offense in EPA, something that was expected to some degree entering 2024. Jared Goff’s excellence, sans the Week 10 outlier against the Texans, has been the surprising component of this group and has them pacing the league in points scored per drive through 11 weeks.

    Amon-Ra St. Brown is on the shortlist for best receivers in the NFL, and that elevates the floor of this offense. If Sam LaPorta, when healthy, can regain his 2023 form or Jameson Williams can develop into a consistent target earner, Detroit’s offense has the potential to give this starved fan base the postseason run they desire.

    3) Arizona Cardinals

    • Grade: B+

    The Arizona Cardinals drafted Marvin Harrison Jr. in April with the intent to make this offense a powerhouse. While the rookie has had an up-and-down season, the balance of this unit is nothing short of elite.

    The biggest mover in these rankings from last week, the Cardinals rank in the 80th percentile in yards per play, points per drive, rush success rate, and third-down avoidance through 11 weeks.

    This may not be the perfect team, but the offense gives Arizona the ability to contend with anyone in the NFL. That is evident by them rattling off four straight wins and now being labeled as the favorites to win the NFC West.

    4) Washington Commanders

    • Grade: B+

    The Hail Mary to beat the Bears will be one of the highlights of the season, but that fortunate play undershoots just how good this offense has been. Jayden Daniels is in the MVP conversation, and while the splash plays get the attention of TV shows, how about his ability to do the simple things at an elite level?

    Through 11 weeks, the Washington Commanders rank second in turnover rate, which puts this offense in position to succeed as often as any and fueling their second-place ranking in points per drive.

    The Commanders lost consecutive games (Steelers and Eagles), which could prove critical when it comes to seeding in January. But if Daniels (ribs) can round into his early-season form, there’s no reason to worry about this side of the ball in Washington.

    This isn’t a flash in the pan — the Commanders’ offense is here to stay for 2024 and for many years to come.

    5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers

    • Grade: B+

    The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have lost four straight games, but their offense isn’t to blame for the struggles. Despite a rash of injuries, Baker Mayfield continues to band-aid together a young core to put points on the board (25.3 points per game during this skid).

    For the season, Tampa Bay is the third-best unit in red-zone efficiency (scoring a touchdown on 68.4% of trips that reach the opponent’s 20-yard line) and second-best on converting third downs (50%, trailing only the Chiefs).

    Tampa Bay is expected to have Mike Evans back on the perimeter in Week 12 and is a team poised to finish the regular season in strong fashion.

    6) Buffalo Bills

    • Grade: B

    Josh Allen lost two of his primary weapons this offseason, and he hasn’t blinked even a little.

    The Buffalo Bills offense ranks fourth in both points per drive and EPA per play; impressive numbers by themselves, but even better when you consider that Buffalo has yet to get much from Amari Cooper (wrist) and is operating around recent injuries to Keon Coleman and Dalton Kincaid as well.

    James Cook (10 rushing touchdowns this season after pushing just four carries across the line in his first two seasons) and Ray Davis create a versatile backfield that gives this squad the type of versatility that defenses are having trouble handling.

    Allen has yet to truly embrace his aggressive running style that we’ve seen in the past. If he is saving that for the winter, it stands to reason that the best days are ahead for Buffalo’s offense.

    7) Kansas City Chiefs

    • Grade: B

    The Kansas City Chiefs are the target of more criticism than praise because they aren’t as explosive as our eyes want them to be. But championships aren’t won through highlight shows.

    The Andy Reid/Patrick Mahomes tandem has this offense picking up third downs at the NFL’s highest rate while ranking second in pass success rate.

    The résumé looks great, and it’s clear that the best days are ahead — particularly with Isiah Pacheco expected back this weekend. Although Kansas City seems to be walking a thin line in terms of close victories, there is no denying that this offense has put together an impressive résumé, one that looks more likely to progress than regress with time.

    Three-peat? Sportsbooks have it labeled as the most likely outcome for the 2024 season as we sit here past the halfway mark.

    8) San Francisco 49ers

    • Grade: B

    Brock Purdy is leading the second-best yards-per-play offense, an incredible accomplishment given the injuries that he had to navigate in the first half of the season.

    Christian McCaffrey made his season debut in the San Francisco 49ers’ Week 10 win. The raw numbers haven’t been overwhelming, but his usage is right where it needs to be for this team to hit its stride down the stretch.

    With McCaffrey back, that has me thinking this grade is more symbolic of a floor moving forward than an expectation.

    The 49ers were as efficient as any last season, and they appear positioned to get viable WR2 production in the absence of Brandon Aiyuk by way of Jauan Jennings, a development that has this offense positioned to improve upon this ranking as they chase a division title.

    9) Green Bay Packers

    • Grade: B-

    Jordan Love isn’t afraid to take a chance. While that creates some downside, his style of play has paid off more often than not up to this point in the season.

    The Green Bay Packers are the fourth-best yards-per-play offense, a result of the potential that Love brings and a nice team debut from Josh Jacobs (4.8 yards per carry, up from 3.5 last season with the Raiders).

    The 27th-ranked red-zone touchdown rate is dragging down Green Bay’s overall grade in the way that a slacker does during a group project and could end its season prematurely if not rectified.

    10) Cincinnati Bengals

    • Grade: B-

    The 4-7 Cincinnati Bengals might be the most explosive team in the history of the sport with such a poor record. They’ve put at least 27 points on the board in four of their past five losses, and Joe Burrow is playing as well as he ever has despite the lack of team success.

    Through 11 weeks, Cincinnati ranks sixth in pass success rate, with Burrow pacing for a career-high touchdown total. He’s been nothing short of great despite a run game that hasn’t been very supportive (27th in success rate).

    The Bengals made an effort at the trade deadline to rectify that by acquiring Khalil Herbert and his 4.8 career ypc average. Everything about this offense looks the part of a playoff team (fifth in third-down conversion rate and second in red-zone efficiency), but there are two sides of the ball, and that is what has Cincinnati struggling to find its footing.

    11) Atlanta Falcons

    • Grade: C+

    In Kirk Cousins’ first season with the franchise, the Atlanta Falcons have established themselves as one of the better offensive units in the league. Thus far, Atlanta ranks second in the league in rush success rate and ranks seventh in yards per play, versatility that makes them a real threat moving forward.

    Bijan Robinson is a special talent, and Drake London has proven to be a true alpha top target. The secondary pieces in Tyler Allgeier, Darnell Mooney, and Kyle Pitts give this unit upside to threaten the top five in our grading system, especially with the Raiders, Giants, Commanders, and Panthers to close the season.

    Everything that we wanted to be true about Cousins unlocking this roster has come to fruition.

    12) Los Angeles Rams

    • Grade: C+

    The Los Angeles Rams have had to navigate injuries to both of their star receivers and have done so in ways that were not expected this preseason.

    This season, Kyren Williams has Los Angeles’ offense ranking ninth in rush success rate. The respect he demands from opposing defenses has allowed the Rams to own the seventh-lowest sack rate despite having a statue under center.

    With both Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp operating at full strength and regularly accounting for the vast majority of this team’s receiving yards, Los Angeles has plenty of upward mobility in its quest for the division title.

    13) Minnesota Vikings

    • Grade: C+

    I’m old enough to remember when we thought that a Sam Darnold-led offense had no chance at producing average metrics, let alone threaten the top 10. The 8-2 Minnesota Vikings haven’t been an elite unit since their Week 6 bye, but they remain an efficient group that can succeed at a well-above-average rate.

    With T.J. Hockenson ramping up his activity, is it possible that Minnesota’s offense improves upon its strong marks in both red-zone efficiency (14th) and pass success rate (11th)? It’s certainly possible, especially with a relatively light schedule on tap over the next month-plus.

    The Vikings might not be as potent as what we saw early in the season, but this isn’t a New Orleans Saints situation where a cliff is coming.

    14) Philadelphia Eagles

    • Grade: C

    Can the Philadelphia Eagles peak at the perfect time instead of falling off a cliff? The highlight machine that is Saquon Barkley has opened up offensive versatility that simply didn’t exist last season and has this squad ranking second in EPA per rush attempt.

    The Eagles can produce against anyone, but if the offensive line remains a liability, the upside will be capped. Thus far, Philadelphia is the worst team at preventing pressure when not blitzed, a flaw that could undo all the good they are capable of doing.

    That said, with playmakers at every level, counting this offense out isn’t a wise move.

    15) Miami Dolphins

    • Grade: C

    Tua Tagovailoa is back in the fold and has completed 77.7% of his passes since returning. That level of efficiency has resulted in the Miami Dolphins digging out of a points-per-drive hole that was created with their QB1 sidelined (up to 23rd), especially given the play-calling tendencies.

    No offense in the league allows pressure less often when not blitzed than the Dolphins, a scheme that allows Tagovailoa to get the ball in the hands of his playmakers. De’Von Achane has looked significantly better since the return of his QB1, but when trying to project forward, the nagging wrist injury to Tyreek Hill is concerning for an offense that relies on him in a similar fashion in which the Golden State Warriors do Steph Curry.

    I don’t think there’s much debate here. Miami is the most likely team in the middle third of these rankings to elevate in a significant way as we come down the stretch of the regular season.

    16) Seattle Seahawks

    • Grade: C

    The Seattle Seahawks opened the season with three straight wins, and while they haven’t hit that form since, there have been enough sparks to remain optimistic about the offense’s potential. Geno Smith has Seattle’s offense ranking ninth in pass success rate and is in a good spot with Jaxon Smith-Njigba seemingly in the midst of a Year 2 breakout.

    Kenneth Walker III has been great at making the most of a bad situation (the Seahawks rank 30th in rush success rate despite the talents of their lead back). There are talented playmakers all over the field when Seattle comes to town, but consistency has been an issue over the past month.

    In the middle portion of these rankings, the Seahawks’ upside elevates them above the rest, even if the floor is low.

    17) New Orleans Saints

    • Grade: C-

    The New Orleans Saints were tracking toward being the second coming of the Greatest Show on Turf through two weeks. Now, them ranking 17th feels awfully optimistic.

    Alvin Kamara has overcome offensive line limitations to get New Orleans ranking seventh in rush success rate. Will that sustain as the season wears on for a 29-year-old back with over 2,000 touches on his résumé?

    Derek Carr is back to help the Saints’ passing game, but he continues to lose receivers, making their 24th-ranked pass success rate more likely than not to stick the rest of the way unless you think that Marquez Valdes-Scantling is the answer like he was in Weeks 10 and 11.

    18) Denver Broncos

    • Grade: C-

    Bo Nix is an exciting watch, but is that best when it comes to succeeding at a high level? The knock on Patrick Mahomes these days is that he leads a boring offense and — well, they never lose games.

    Nix’s athleticism has the Denver Broncos posting the fourth-lowest sack rate, but that coin has two sides. As he looks to create, things can spiral out of control in a hurry, thus resulting in Denver ranking 22nd in EPA per dropback (for what it’s worth, this ranking is trending in the right direction).

    Much like the Bears with Williams, I think there have been enough breadcrumbs laid thus far to give you long-term optimism. However, the 2024 numbers aren’t likely to spike until the Broncos get consistent play under center.

    It’s been an impressive recent run for Nix. If he can build on that, this unit will grade as an above-average one moving forward with the arrow pointing straight up for 2025.

    19) New York Jets

    • Grade: C-

    We are ranking based on what has happened, and in 2024, Aaron Rodgers isn’t cutting it. The New York Jets have struggled to reach the mid-20s in points, and you could argue that Week 10 was symbolic of rock bottom — they scored six points against a below-average Cardinals defense.

    That said, this is the 12th-best third-down offense in the NFL. That ranking could easily spike if the nonverbal communication of Rodgers and Davante Adams returns to form from their days in Green Bay.

    That’s a big if and not one that we can bank on at this point.

    20) Jacksonville Jaguars

    • Grade: C-

    The Jacksonville Jaguars have underachieved at a high level this season, and their offense, while not prohibitive, hasn’t taken the step we had projected under Trevor Lawrence.

    Through nine weeks, this was the third-worst third-down unit in the league, and the inability to sustain drives is often tied to team success. To the surprise of no one, Mac Jones has been unable to improve upon those numbers.

    Jacksonville is limping to the finish line, but not all is doom and gloom. The Jaguars have the 11th-best success rate on the ground behind their tandem of Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne Jr. The upside is limited for the remainder of this season, with Christian Kirk out for the season and Lawrence’s status TBD, but there are some breadcrumbs being laid for a better finish in 2025.

    21) Indianapolis Colts

    • Grade: C-

    The Indianapolis Colts appear committed to Anthony Richardson for the rest of 2024, not long after they committed to Joe Flacco. While it took some time, this is ultimately the right call in terms of offensive upside and future development.

    The Week 11 win over the Jets was a nice reward for going back to the second-year quarterback. But there’s no secret as to what has Indy ranking this low — the QB play has been a mess.

    Due to Richardson’s early-season struggles, the Colts’ offense ranks 28th in pass success rate, and Flacco didn’t improve it when given the opportunity.

    Josh Downs looks the part of a legitimate WR1, giving Indianapolis’ offense upward trajectory if the QB situation can get figured out. I’m not buying more 2024 stock for this offense, but if 2025 shares are available, I’m interested.

    22) Los Angeles Chargers

    • Grade: C-

    The Los Angeles Chargers are never going to grade out well for us because Jim Harbaugh doesn’t want them to. But he’s slowly opening things up, and it looks good on Justin Herbert.

    Really good.

    LA’s passing metrics have spiked a bit lately, but the design is a conservative one (lowest turnover rate) and figures to lean on its defense so long as it is having success in doing so.

    J.K. Dobbins lit up the fantasy football world during the first few weeks, but his efficiency has regressed to his career mean and has the Chargers ranked 26th in rush success rate. The game-winning score was nice in Week 11, but we are grading the unit as a whole, and while one carry is factored in, it doesn’t drive our process.

    Herbert is a well-above-average quarterback capable of moving Los Angeles up these rankings if he continues to be unleashed during the second half of this season.

    This is an offense I’m intrigued by given the recent trends and will be tracking closely moving forward. The Chargers’ strong defense can put the offense in position to succeed, and if that continues, a move inside our top 15 is certainly possible.

    23) Houston Texans

    • Grade: D+

    The C.J. Stroud brand has quickly become a safe offense, and with the league’s eighth-lowest turnover rate, that much has remained. Nico Collins was able to return in Week 11, and while the Houston Texans cruised to victory, Stroud’s average depth of throw actually took a step back, leading to questions about the upside of this unit, even with their ace receiver on the field.

    For the season, Houston allows sacks at the eighth-highest rate, a flaw that caps their upside, especially with the receiver injuries that have limited the explosive nature of the offense.

    With Joe Mixon running as hard as he ever has, the hope is that Houston hits its stride as the weather turns and finishes the year as an above-average unit.

    24) Pittsburgh Steelers

    • Grade: D+

    We are four starts into the Russell Wilson era, and the hope is that the veteran improves the 30th-ranked red-zone offense. Najee Harris is running as hard as he has at any point in his career, which gives the Pittsburgh Steelers offense the potential to move into the top half of the league by season’s end if he can shake this ankle injury.

    Pittsburgh does what Pittsburgh always does — not beat themselves under Mike Tomlin. The Steelers added Mike Williams at the trade deadline in an effort to add upside to a unit that checks the basic boxes (16th in third-down rate and fifth in turnover percentage).

    The Week 11 win against the Ravens was nice for them in regards to the standings, but their offense was largely a liability. That resulted in Pittsburgh falling a bit this week despite the positive result — they are the anti-Bengals in that regard.

    25) Dallas Cowboys

    • Grade: D

    Dak Prescott will miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury suffered in Week 9, all but ending a forgettable season. It’s a significant loss, but the Dallas Cowboys’ offense has been struggling with their starting QB.

    Through nine weeks, Dallas ranked 27th in pass success rate and 31st in red-zone touchdown rate, metrics that are trending in the wrong direction with Cooper Rush at the helm.

    CeeDee Lamb is special, but the lack of offensive balance has undone this unit. The Cowboys haven’t been able to pick up yards on the ground this season, and the lack of a secondary pass catcher to the degree that they went out and acquired Jonathan Mingo at the deadline is a problem.

    26) Chicago Bears

    • Grade: D

    I think we’ve seen enough from Caleb Williams to say that he is likely the QB of the future for the Chicago Bears, but not all growth is linear. It’s certainly been a bumpy ride.

    There have been moments, but the second-worst third-down offense is never going to grade well for us or have success at a high level. That flaw likely improves with time moving forward as Chicago’s rookie signal-caller adjusts to the speed of the pro game, but it’s been prohibitive up to this point.

    On the bright side, this is already an elite red-zone offense (ninth-best), not typically a calling card for an offense with this many moving pieces. The current grade isn’t strong, but Chicago is playing for the future, and there are some pieces in place that I think are here to stay.

    27) Carolina Panthers

    • Grade: D

    The Carolina Panthers are struggling across the board and will have to make a long-term decision on Bryce Young. He’s looked a little bit better by our QB+ metrics since returning to the starting lineup, but the overall numbers suggest that Carolina is a long way away from fielding a competitive team.

    Through 11 weeks, Carolina ranks 28th on third-down conversion rate and 32nd in EPA per dropback. I like the trio of young pass catchers on this offense, and Jonathon Brooks, poised to make his NFL debut, is promising.

    The cupboard isn’t bare, but the Panthers need to figure out how to cook properly with what they have in-house over the second half of the season.

    28) Las Vegas Raiders

    • Grade: D

    Without promise at the QB position, you’re drawing dead in the NFL these days. The Las Vegas Raiders are as good an example of that as anyone.

    Las Vegas ranks dead last in both turnover rate and rush success rate. Defenses have no reason not to be aggressive against them, especially following the Davante Adams trade.

    This offense doesn’t have a calling card, which makes moving much higher in these rankings anytime soon unlikely. Raiders fans would be wise to get a jump start on scouting the incoming QB class, as their 29th ranking in yards per play this season feels like a ceiling for the roster as currently constructed.

    29) New England Patriots

    • Grade: D-

    The New England Patriots are a unique case. Their 2024 numbers are a hot mess (27th in EPA per play and 30th in yards per play), but the Patriots’ willingness to admit as much and commit this season to developing Drake Maye is something that this fan base can get excited about.

    The rookie has taken his lumps thus far, but he’s also shown promise by way of his athleticism and processing speed. Maye is far from a finished product, and there will likely be more downs than ups over the next two months.

    But New England is making it clear that its willing to lose the battle that is 2024 with the hope of winning the war that is the next handful of seasons.

    Of the teams toward the bottom of our rankings, this is the one with the most upward mobility over the next 12 months. Given that winning big in 2024 was never in the cards for the Patriots, that trajectory makes this season a success, even given this disaster of a grade.

    30) New York Giants

    • Grade: D-

    The New York Giants have a Daniel Jones problem, and situations like that are common for the bottom feeders in this grading system year over year.

    New York’s starting quarterbacks show flashes of competence just often enough to make the franchise think they might have something. But we aim to take a step back and look at the larger picture — a picture that hasn’t looked good for years now, and one that the Giants seemingly acknowledged by naming Tommy DeVito their Week 12 starter.

    This season, the Giants are the second-worst offense in points per drive, thanks in large part to the lowest red-zone TD rate in the league.

    Malik Nabers certainly looks like a special player at a position that is growing in value across the NFL. Yet, without consistent QB play, New York’s offense will be relegated to the bottom five in our rankings for the foreseeable future.

    31) Tennessee Titans

    • Grade: D-

    The Tennessee Titans lack direction right now. Until that is rectified, there isn’t much upward mobility here.

    Will Levis returned from a shoulder injury in Week 10 and has been better by admittedly low standards since. However, he hasn’t shown the type of development to date that we entered 2024 hoping for.

    Tennessee trading away DeAndre Hopkins is a clear sign that it’s waiving the white flag in terms of short-term development.

    Do we trust this team to take the proper steps moving forward? Only time will tell on that front. But as far as 2024 is concerned, Tennessee ranks 30th in EPA per dropback and turnover rate, deficiencies that need to be addressed if this team wants to trend out of the cellar.

    32) Cleveland Browns

    • Grade: F

    It’s a shame that the American grading system can’t go lower than an “F.” This season, the Cleveland Browns are in a tier unto themselves.

    It’s almost difficult to describe how poor this profile is. While Jameis Winston is a fun watch, he’s far from a stabilizing force for an offense that currently ranks dead last in yards per play, EPA, and points per drive.

    I just ran through the optimistic outlook for the Patriots — the Browns couldn’t be more different. They are unsure of how to fix the quarterback position, the receiving corps is limited, and the running game hinges on the superhuman healing abilities of Nick Chubb.

    There was some hope this offseason that this could be a league-average unit. For 2024, that hope is gone, and I’m not sure what changes to keep me from writing a similar profile this time next season.

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