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  • NFL Draft: Denzel Boston Scouting Report

    NFL Draft: Denzel Boston Scouting Report

    Below is an excerpt from Washington WR Denzel Boston’s scouting report on The SIS NFL Draft Website.

    Click here to read the full report and ratings from Jordan Edwards, as well as statistical analysis from our R&D team.

    Overview

    Boston is a big-bodied receiver with smooth athleticism who can be a ball-winner in contested catch situations with strong hands and a physical frame.

    Overall

    Denzel Boston is a big-bodied WR in the pro-style Washington Huskies offense. He is primarily used as the X receiver on the perimeter, but can reduce down into the slot to create advantageous matchups with his size. Washington’s head coach, Jedd Fisch, has an NFL background, and was able to utilize Boston’s skill set in a way that can translate effectively to the next level. He suffered an ankle injury later in the 2025 season, but didn’t cause him to miss any games. He also had surgery for a sports hernia in the offseason, prior to the start of the 2025 season. He is a big-bodied wide receiver with good length and physicality to his frame. He is a smooth athlete who moves very well for his size and has excellent body control to match. He lacks elite explosiveness and quick-twitch movements, but still is a good athlete at his size. He is a competitive player who battled through injury to stay on the field in the latter part of the season, and will compete as an in-line blocker in the run game.

    Pass Game

    Boston has the skill set desired for a typical X receiver in an NFL offense. His size and frame create a natural advantage against most cornerbacks he will face. While he can evade the presence of press-man coverage at the LOS, players who can match his physicality can stifle him at the line. He displays a reliable release package that can set up his routes. At the catch point, he shows strong hands to attack and pluck the ball out of the air. He shows the concentration to catch while on the move and turn up field to create YAC opportunities. He displays a diverse route tree who can excel as a deep threat and on in-breaking routes too. An area of improvement is generating more explosion out of his breaks to create a little more separation. He is also a reliable receiver in contested catch situations. His balance, play strength, and strong hands allow him to attack the ball in traffic. His balance and body control allow him to stay grounded as a route runner and not get knocked off his path. He also shows savvy and IQ as a route runner, whether it is settling down in space or throwing a quick stutter or shoulder fake to create small pockets of separation downfield. He can track the ball vertically and has shown to adjust well to off-target throws and can secure the ball cleanly. Even though he is a good athlete, the lack of elite explosion can limit the separation he can create on a consistent basis. This can also translate over to his ability to extend plays after the catch. He isn’t a negative in this area, but there is more to be desired as a creator after the catch.

    Run Game

    In the run game, Boston is as competitive as a blocker that you can ask for. He can do the typical stalk blocking that most receivers are asked to do, but he can be useful as an in-line blocker to generate explosive runs. He can be used in the slot with reduced splits and work to the second level, and he has even shown the ability to pin and seal edges at the POA on runs out the perimeter.

    Last Word

    Boston projects to be an outside X receiver at the next level with his size, athleticism, and ball skills. While he isn’t a truly explosive receiving threat, his skill set translates well for his role in an NFL offense. His route tree and usage in college should allow him to ease into a role at the next level having already run pro-style concepts. His athleticism, body control, and contested catch reliability can help him carve out a role as a No. 2 option in an offense as a big-bodied receiving threat. On 3rd downs, he can win as the lone WR on a side of a formation, and can be a mismatch in the slot in both the run and pass game. He also has special teams ability having competed in the area consistently throughout his collegiate career and even returned a punt for a TD this season.

    Click here to read the full report and ratings from Jordan Edwards, as well as statistical analysis from our R&D team.

  • NFL Draft: Fernando Mendoza Scouting Report

    NFL Draft: Fernando Mendoza Scouting Report

    Below is an excerpt from Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza’s scouting report on The SIS NFL Draft Website.

    Click here to read the full report and ratings from Ben Hrkach, as well as statistical analysis from our R&D team.

    Overview

    Mendoza is an experienced quarterback with good height that can make every throw on the field and plays with a consistent confidence that bleeds into his teammates, and though he lacks big-time arm strength or athleticism, he can lead a team to a championship at the next level.

    Overall

    Fernando Mendoza is the quarterback in Indiana’s shotgun offense that utilizes play-action, designed rollouts, and requires its playcaller to make copious pre-snap reads. He played in Cal’s spread offense for the 3 years prior. After redshirting as a freshman and a few end-of-game snaps in Week 1 of 2023, Mendoza seized the starting role in Week 6. He proceeded to lead the Bears for the next 17 games before an illness forced him to miss the final 2 in 2024. Mendoza then transferred to Indiana, where he started all 16 games in 2025. Mendoza plays with a consistent confidence that shows in his mental and physical resilience. He is a sufficient athlete with good height and a wiry frame, but he is ready and willing to sacrifice himself and he will pick up critical yardage on the ground.

    Pass Game

    As a passer, Mendoza’s greatest skills are on display prior to the snap. He makes shrewd reads and rarely puts his offense into a bad play. Diagnosing the defense and finding his key are two things that come naturally to Mendoza and it is clear that he spends an abundant amount of time on that during mid-week preparation. Mendoza stands tall in the pocket after the snap as his eyes assess the opposition. While he does a good job of looking off defenders, Mendoza is not adept at multiple progressions. He was rarely burdened with more than a half-field read and the majority of his explosive plays came via single-route concepts. On these, he uses pre-snap diagnosis and his ability to deftly run play-action to force a single defender into conflict and then take advantage of their mistakes.

    As a thrower, Mendoza’s snappy three-quarter delivery allows him to get the ball out in a hurry and that, along with his poise and cognitive acumen, make him a fit for an up-tempo offense that incorporates RPO concepts. When Mendoza is able to comfortably set his feet and go to his read, he can make all of the NFL throws. With natural touch and tempo, receivers don’t break stride and they are put in a position to pick up YAC in a hurry. Seam routes and back-shoulder throws are his preference, as he immediately identifies defenders out of phase and can place the ball in their blind spot.

    In the pocket, Mendoza is sufficient at feeling the pressure and manipulating his space. Once he does sense pressure, he prefers to escape the pocket and look downfield for a broken play opportunity. When he does try to stand and deliver, he will frequently short-stride his throwing motion or fade away from the throw. As a result, Mendoza does not get proper zip on the ball and his off-platform throws often fall short or hang in the air. When he gets outside of the pocket and attempts to reset his platform, his upper and lower halves are not always in sync and he is often caught flat-footed trying to push the ball to his target. This is when he can get careless with the ball, as his supreme confidence and ability to will his team to victory veil the danger in his decisions.

    Run Game

    Mendoza is a tough, savvy runner that plays with guile and finds critical yards when the play breaks down. He is not the most fleet of foot and he will get tracked down quickly at the next level, but he has a sense for when to take off and absorbs contact. His mesh point ball handling is sufficient and his ability to take advantage of straying defenders gives him some upside as a designed runner, but most of his rushing prowess in the NFL will come from scrambles when he needs to find a few yards for his team.

    Last Word

    Overall, Mendoza is a quarterback prospect that will bring all the intangibles and cognitive abilities required to lead an NFL team to the ultimate goal. Along with those bankable skills, Mendoza has good size, good ball placement, and enough athleticism to prevent him from becoming a statue. Though he does not have the arm strength for an offense that relies on vertical throws, he is tailor-made for today’s wide-zone dominant offenses that ask their QBs to diagnose the defense pre-snap, shift into an advantageous call, make every play-fake look exactly the same, and capitalize on what the defense gives you.

    Click here to read the full report and ratings from Ben Hrkach, as well as statistical analysis from our R&D team.

  • NFL Draft: Jeremiyah Love Scouting Report

    NFL Draft: Jeremiyah Love Scouting Report

    Below is an excerpt from Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love’s scouting report on The SIS NFL Draft Website.

    Click here to read the full report and ratings from Jeremy Percy, as well as statistical analysis from our R&D team.

    Overview

    Love is a well-rounded and explosively athletic running back with a solid build, true game-breaking threat every time he touches the ball, and the skill set to play every down. He figures to make an immediate impact at the next level.

    Overall

    Jeremiyah Love plays running back in Notre Dame’s balanced offense that featured both zone and gap-run schemes. Love spent all 3 years of his collegiate career at Notre Dame and started 29 of the 41 games he played in over that time. He injured his knee in the 2024 season finale, but still competed in the College Football Playoff without missing any time. Love also competed in track and field in high school; he excelled at long jump and was the Missouri state champion in the 100m dash. He is a solidly-built athlete who is a bit high-cut and lean in his lower body with a game-breaking speed and explosion abilities. Love has a great motor and runs with tenacity and toughness to fight for extra yards and fall forward through contact.

    Pass Game

    Love’s skill set does not dip at all in the pass game. He has smooth and reliable hands out of the backfield and can be trusted to make plays on all 3 downs. Love lined up in the slot occasionally at Notre Dame and even showed good route running ability, which makes him a matchup nightmare against linebackers and safeties. He is also a very solid pass protector, both in technique and strength. He does a great job of squaring blitzers up to hit him in the chest and rarely loses ground to power rushes due to his strong lower body. Love’s ability in the pass game makes him a true three-down threat out of the backfield with the added flexibility of playing in the slot.

    Run Game

    Love is a big-play threat every time he touches the ball in the run game. He has good vision overall but occasionally lacks patience when running between the tackle and gets too eager to bounce the ball outside rather than wait for blocks to develop. He also is not the quickest in short areas when cutting back in zone or making defenders miss in the hole. Once he breaks through the line, however, Love’s weaknesses are very few and far between. He has elite long speed and has the potential to score anytime he sees the open field. Love has a gliding running style and a good ability to read and leverage space while being elusive in the open field. He has very good contact balance and excels at keeping his feet when he is not hit squarely and picking up big chunks after contact. Love is not the most powerful back who will consistently run through defenders and is not ultra effective on the goal line, but has enough power to finish off runs with attitude and fall forward consistently. He has excellent ball security and has fumbled only once on 450 touches in his college career.

    Last Word

    Love is a well-rounded back with elite playmaking ability who poses a threat to score every time he touches the ball. He is scheme versatile and can thrive both in zone and gap schemes. While he still has some room left on his frame to add bulk if he desires, he has the build and ability to get vertical between the tackles and bounce outside for big gains. Love has a great skill set to be a three-down back and be trusted both as a receiver and in pass protection on 3rd downs. Despite his ability, Love does not have a lot of tread on his tires for a running back and will enter the league with fresh legs and no major injury history. He should not be used on special teams often, but he can also be a gamebreaking option as a kick returner if his team needs a spark in high stakes situations.

  • NFL Draft: Mansoor Delane Scouting Report

    NFL Draft: Mansoor Delane Scouting Report

    Below is an excerpt from LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane’s scouting report on The SIS NFL Draft Website.

    Click here to read the full report and ratings from Max Nuscher, as well as statistical analysis from our R&D team.

    Overview

    Delane is a scheme-versatile corner who has the reactive athleticism, ball skills, and fluid hip mobility to be a starting corner on Day 1 of his NFL career.

    Overall

    Mansoor Delane is a starting outside corner in LSU’s base defense that mixes in a good amount of man and zone coverages. He can play both on the boundary or field side of the formation and can reduce down into the slot. He spent 3 seasons at Virginia Tech before spending his senior season at LSU. He also has some experience at safety, especially during the 2023 season at Virginia Tech. He has been a consistent 3-year starter across both programs. He has been relatively healthy during his career but did play through an abdominal issue for most of the 2025 season that only forced him to miss 1 game. A former high school wrestler, Mansoor plays with a tenacious attitude and displays good body control and all his movements look like they require minimal effort.

    Pass Game

    Delane excels in press man coverage where he keeps receivers guessing, delaying their releases off the LOS. Sometimes he will jam and sometimes he will just sit and mirror. He has quiet feet off the snap and plays with a high level of comfort and tempo. He will struggle early against the bigger bodied receivers, as he does need to get stronger to handle them. His reactive athleticism allows him to start and stop on a dime. His quickness and instincts allow him to excel in off-man coverage as well. His low pad level and fluid hips allow him to close on underneath routes and his leverage allows him to stay on top of routes vertically if receivers eat up his cushion. His speed to recover is sufficient to good, but he lacks that next gear to stay attached moving across the field.

    In zone coverage, he has tremendous FBI to identify route concepts as well as where his fellow defenders are. He knows when to break off receivers and look for the next receiver in his zone, constantly beating receivers to their spot on underneath routes. He is good at going through the receiver at the catch point without drawing flags, and he can locate the ball whipping his head around to make plays on the deep routes. His transition quickness allows him to break on the ball in a timely manner, and while he has good on-ball production he does lack some length to be consistently disruptive at the catch point.

    Run Game

    Delane loves to come downhill and attack the run, due to his history of being a safety in high school. He consistently fights off stalk blocks and when he can’t fight them off, he will run right through them. He is a good open-field tackler who isn’t afraid to throw his body into anyone and show why he was trusted as a safety for a few games in his collegiate career.

    Last Word

    Delane projects as a starting cornerback with the coverage versatility to play in a variety of defensive schemes. He has the comfort and skillset to play in both press and off-man coverages, while having the instincts to play in zone coverage as well. On 3rd downs, he can play both on the outside or in the slot to match up against the best receivers an offense has to offer. He has the speed and mental toughness to play on special teams and could excel as a gunner or jammer on punt/return units.

  • NFL Draft: Arvell Reese Scouting Report

    NFL Draft: Arvell Reese Scouting Report

    Photo: Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire

    Below is an excerpt from Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese’s scouting report on The SIS NFL Draft Website.

    Click here to read the full report and ratings from Jared Maslin, as well as statistical analysis from our R&D team.

    Overview

    Reese is a highly explosive and athletic front-7 defender who projects to be a full-time edge at the next level with his explosiveness, range, and physical play temperament.

    Overall

    Arvell Reese is a versatile linebacker for the talent-laden Ohio State defense. Former NFL head coach and defensive coordinator, Matt Patricia, was able to utilize his versatility and weaponize his strengths as a player in a variety of roles. He primarily aligned as a traditional off-ball linebacker, but also saw a solid amount of snaps aligned as an edge. He also spent the majority of his time playing in coverage, rather than rushing the passer. He is still relatively inexperienced as a 3-year player and 1-year starter. He displays a physically imposing frame with tremendous length and he has room to keep filling out his frame as he moves to the next level. He also displays high-end athletic traits, with a unique blend of explosiveness and fluidity. He plays with a high motor that is on full display as a run and chase defender, and is a physical competitor in the trenches.

    Pass Game

    Reese has the physical and athletic profile to be a full-time pass rusher at the next level. He has an explosive first step from a 2-point stance, gaining ground to close cushion and threaten with pure speed off the edge. He also has the physical strength and raw power to collapse the pocket and knock back blockers. These abilities create a high floor as a pass rusher who can develop a go-to speed-to-power move. Where he is currently lacking as a rusher is having a consistent plan and arsenal of moves at his disposal, having only rushed the passer about one-quarter of the time on his snaps against the pass. He has the length and quickness to develop hand counters to disengage from blocks, but this will take time with more experience gained as a full-time edge.

    He displays a high-end motor as a pursuit player, continuing to fight and strain the finish plays either in or out of the pocket. He also has experience as a moveable piece along the front to align in the A or B gap to use in stunts, drop in coverage, or even be a spy, which he excels at. He spent the majority of his snaps against the pass in coverage, primarily patrolling the hook/curl to flat areas of the field. He has the range and athleticism to cover backs and tight ends in man coverage and has sufficient instincts and feel in zone coverage. His high-cut frame can limit some change of direction quickness, which can limit his overall usage as a coverage defender at the next level.

    Run Game

    Reese’s physicality and play strength allow him to be a stout run defender either as an EDGE or off-ball linebacker at the next level. When aligned on the edge he showed the ability to dominate blockers at the POA and lock out to find the ball. He physically overwhelms tight ends and has consistently set the edge against tackles too. Off the ball, he still displays that physicality to stack and shed blocks with violence and explosion through his upper body. Even with his taller frame, he was able to maneuver through the trash to locate and attack the ball. He was a strong and reliable tackler who can engulf ballcarriers with his length and strength. His range and pursuit speed are also on display as a run defender, showing the ability to chase down plays from the back side as an edge defender, or beat a block to the perimeter as an off-ball player.

    Last Word

    While Reese has the versatility to play multiple roles, he projects to be a full-time edge at the next level with his blend of physicality and athleticism. He would fit best as a true stand-up edge, as he has zero snaps with his hand in the ground as a rusher. He will be a high-level run defender with his violent and explosive upper body, but will require time to round out his total pass rush ability. On 3rd down, he can rush the passer off the edge or be used as a moveable piece in stunts or as a QB spy with his high-level pursuit ability. He can also serve a role on special teams with his play strength and competitive toughness.

  • Stat of the Week: The Super Bowl Pass Catchers

    Stat of the Week: The Super Bowl Pass Catchers

    Photo: Rich Von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire

    If you’re a subscriber to this newsletter, you know that one of the strengths of what Sports Info Solutions does with baseball data is that we’re able to separate out different aspects of a player’s skill.

    With a stat like Defensive Runs Saved, we’re able to tell you who the best players are in different components, like turning double plays, pitch framing, or deterring baserunners with their outfield arm.

    We can do this in football too, and since Super Bowl LX is the hottest story in sports at the moment, let’s do that using the two teams playing in that game and show some of what they’re best at.

    The Patriots and Seahawks rank second and third, respectively, in overall Receiving Total Points.

    Most Receiving Total Points – 2025 Season

    Team

    Receiving Total Points

    1. Lions

    120

    2. Patriots

    118

    3. Seahawks

    102

    4. Rams

    101

    5. 49ers

    97

    6. Cardinals

    90

    7. Cowboys

    86

    8. Bengals

    80

    9. Bills

    80

    10. Colts

    78

    What does that mean?

    Total Points is our all-encompassing player value stat, which can be used to evaluate any player at any position for every play he was involved in this season. Just as Defensive Runs Saved doesn’t only work off run-saving plays, Total Points does not equate to actual points (it’s not the number of points you got from touchdowns). It’s its own measure of value (learn more about it here). For players, this roughly corresponds to the amount of points on the scoreboard that these players were worth.

    For pass catchers, we separate the skills involved in making a reception from everything else that happens. A pass catcher gets credits and debits based on how they perform compared to an expectation.

    They get evaluated on how well they earn targets and how well they catch the ball and gain yards after the catch based on the route, coverage, throw accuracy, and how much space they had at the catch point.

    There are also adjustments based on the quality of the blocking, as blown blocks will prevent an offense from operating at full capacity.

    The Seahawks and Patriots receivers have performed the best in the NFL by our measures. On a Receiving Total Points Per-Play basis, the Seahawks and Patriots rank first and second, respectively.

    Puka Nacua of the Rams was the NFL’s leader in 2025, earning 63 Receiving Total Points. Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba earned 43 Receiving Total Points, which ranked third overall. Stefon Diggs of the Patriots ranked sixth and his teammate, Hunter Henry, ranked 10th.

    Here were the top 10 players in Receiving Total Points in 2025.

    Player

    Team

    Receiving Total Points

    1. Puka Nacua

    Rams

    63

    2. Trey McBride

    Cardinals

    52

    3. Jaxon Smith-Njigba

    Seahawks

    43

    4. Bijan Robinson

    Falcons

    39

    5. Ja’Marr Chase

    Bengals

    38

    6. Stefon Diggs

    Patriots

    36

    7. Amon-Ra St. Brown

    Lions

    36

    8. George Pickens

    Cowboys

    35

    9. Justin Jefferson

    Vikings

    32

    10. Hunter Henry

    Patriots

    31

    Where Smith-Njigba separated himself from everyone (except Nacua) was on receptions of passes thrown at least 15 yards downfield. He caught 28 of 44 passes of that length, with the 64% completion percentage ranking third-best among the 40 players that had the most targets.

    Diggs differentiated himself on shorter passes. He had the third-most Receiving Total Points on passes thrown 0 to 5 yards downfield, catching 44 of 49 targets, which gave him the best reception percentage among the 50 players that had the most targets (90%).

    Henry worked more in-between compared to what Diggs and Smith-Njigba did. He had 18 of his 31 Receiving Total Points on passes thrown 5 to 15 yards downfield, and he was a high-end performer on throws that distance specifically on third and fourth down, which has prominent value within the Total Points model.

    The Patriots have five players who rank in the top 100 in Receiving Total Points, so there’s considerable depth in terms of receiving skills (the list: Diggs, Henry, No. 51 Demario Douglas, No. 67 Kayshon Boutte, and No. 93 Rhamondre Stevenson) . The Seahawks are a little more top heavy with three players ranking in the top 31 (Smith-Njigba, No. 29 AJ Barner, and No. 31 Cooper Kupp).

    You’re going to hear a lot about the skills of the two quarterbacks the next 10 days and Drake Maye and Sam Darnold certainly are worthy of recognition. But completing a pass is a two-person deal and the guys doing the receiving for both teams have really put the work in this year and should be noted as well.

  • Just How Great Is This Denver Broncos Pass Rush?

    Just How Great Is This Denver Broncos Pass Rush?

    The 2025 Denver Broncos defense are doing things their own way. Different from what Tom Jackson, Randy Gradishar, Lyle Alzado, and the “Orange Crush Defense” of the 70’s did by suffocating opposing run games. Different from what Demarcus Ware, Von Miller, Aqib Talib, Chris Harris Jr. and the “No Fly Defense” did by locking up opposing passing attacks.

    How they are getting it done is getting to the quarterback at a historic rate. Their 68 sacks in the regular season rank 5th all time and only behind the 2022 Philadelphia Eagles this century. Their 44% pressure rate is T-2nd in the NFL since 2021.

    Denver Broncos – Overall Pass Rush Tendencies

    Usage (Rank) Success (Rank)
    3-Man Rush 5% (10th) 27% (7th)
    4-Man Rush 63% (30th) 40% (1st)
    Blitz 32% (3rd) 45% (9th)

    From a tendency perspective, one can see that they prefer to bring the blitz, doing so at the 3rd-highest rate in the league. However, what makes them different is that they like to bring the heat on early downs, specifically at a 34% clip that is the 2nd-highest in the league. This has resulted in the 6th-lowest success rate allowed. On late downs, they blitz only 28% of the time and are successful at the 19th-best rate.

    No matter what the circumstance, the Broncos are having success with the four-man rush. On early downs, they utilize the four-man rush at the second-lowest rate but are doing so at the most successful rate in the league. The usage increases to the 12th-highest on late downs, but remains incredibly successful at the 2nd-highest success rate.

    Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph is dialing up the right mix of bringing pressure and letting his four man front get to work. This keeps them unpredictable at the right times, keeping offenses on their toes when sorting out protection schemes.

    This coordinated, team-based effort differs from deploying all-world pass rushers like the Myles Garretts and Aidan Hutchinsons of the world, but this front is still loaded with talent that rivals these two.

    Nik Bonitto is the first name that comes to mind when you think of pure talent on this Broncos pass rush. His 74 pressures rank him 7th in the league and he has been able to bring down quarterbacks 14 times, good for 5th.

    What is even more impressive is that he has a Pressure Above Expectation Rate at 5.6%, meaning he is getting to the quarterback more than average when factoring things like alignment, down, yards to go, etc. This rate is good for the 4th best in the league.

    His go-to bull rush (73 snaps) has generated 1 sack on a 11.4% pressure rate, but his speed move is much more effective. On 71 snaps, he has generated 6.5 of his sacks on a 32% pressure rate. His quickness and bend around the edge certainly make this his most effective move.

    His edge mate Jonathon Cooper has had a solid season with 8 sacks on 49 pressures and a 0.4% Pressure Rate Above Expectation. He is another speed and speed-to-power extraordinaire, as 7 of his sacks have come on these moves.

    So Bonitto and Cooper have been good, but to be one of the best pass rush units of the century, there has to be more, right? Right indeed.

    The interior push that the Broncos are getting is next level. Zach Allen, John Franklin-Myers, and D.J. Jones all rank in the Top 25 in Pressure Rate Above Expectation for interior defensive linemen as well.

    Denver Broncos Interior Defensive Linemen – League-Leading Totals

    Stat Total
    Pressures 139
    Sacks 25
    Pressure Rate 21%

    Zach Allen is having the best year of his career and it’s not close. His 65 pressures are tied for the most with Jeffery Simmons and his 7 sacks are good for 7th among interior defensive linemen. What might be the most impressive part of Allen’s game is his pass rush repertoire, where he has registered a half sack or more on 8 different moves! The all-around pass rusher is on the AP All-Pro First Team and is hunting more quarterbacks deeper into the playoffs.

    Nose tackle D.J. Jones may have only 3 sacks, but he leads interior defensive linemen in Pressure Rate Above Expectation at 6.6%. This is also the 3rd highest since 2020, with Dexter Lawrence’s 2022 and 2023 campaigns resulting in a higher rate. 

    John Franklin-Myers is 3rd in sacks with 7.5 and 7th in pressures with 45. He has been able to generate pressures with a bull rush, swipe, stunt-loop, and rip moves primarily, boasting a pressure rate above 10% for each of them.

    So as we head into Conference Championship Sunday, will the Patriots be able to handle this pass rush? They rank 2nd in Pass Blocking Total Points and are middle of the road in pressure percentage allowed at 37.5%. Over the course of the playoffs, Drake Maye has relinquished 3 fumbles and has been prone to do so all year. 

    The Broncos pass rush, even with all of the pressures and sacks they have generated, have forced only 5 fumbles and recovered 2 of them. With a backup quarterback, adding to those numbers could do them wonders in looking to find their way to Santa Clara.

  • 2025 SIS NFL All-Pro Team

    2025 SIS NFL All-Pro Team

    Sports Info Solutions, a leader in the football analytics space, is pleased to announce its 2025 NFL All-Pro Teams. 

    The teams were selected using a combination of advanced stats and the eye test, with emphasis placed upon SIS’ player value stat, Total Points.

    Total Points attempts to capture everything that happens during play. It’s based on the work of our Data Scouts, who watch and chart every play of every game, and our Research & Development team. Value for successful and failed plays is divvied up among all players on the field based on what happened (for a comprehensive explanation on Total Points, click here).

    Here are the 2025 Sports Info Solutions All-Pro Teams:

    1st-Team Offense
    Position Player Team
    Quarterback Matthew Stafford Rams
    Running Back Bijan Robinson Falcons
    Wide Receiver Puka Nacua Rams
    Wide Receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba Seahawks
    Wide Receiver Ja’Marr Chase Bengals
    Tight End Trey McBride Cardinals
    Tackle Darnell Wright Bears
    Tackle Penei Sewell Lions
    Guard Joe Thuney Bears
    Guard David Edwards Bills
    Center Zach Frazier Steelers

     

    Quarterback: Matthew Stafford, Rams

    Matthew Stafford was on another level in 2025. He led the NFL in passing yards (4,707) and passing touchdowns (46). Among all QBs with at least 250 attempts, he had the highest touchdown rate (7.7%), was 3rd in IQR (109.2), and tied for the 3rd-lowest interception rate (1.3%) all while tying for the deepest average throw depth (9.0 yards). It’s not a surprise he’s the front runner for the MVP and has led the Rams back into the playoffs. -Nathan

    Running Back: Bijan Robinson, Falcons

    Bijan Robinson cemented himself as the best all-around running back in the NFL this season. He finished 4th in the NFL in rushing yards with 1,478 and was 2nd in receiving yards among all running backs with 820. He finished the season with an outstanding 81 Total Points which was 40 more points than the next two running backs. What also makes Robinson special is his ability to make defenders miss. He led all running backs with a 29% broken and missed tackle rate on rushing attempts (minimum 100 carries). -Jordan

    Wide Receiver: Puka Nacua, Rams

    Puka Nacua put together another incredible season, leading the NFL with 129 receptions and finishing 2nd with 1,715 receiving yards. He led the league in receiving first downs (80) as well as 20+ yard receptions (27).  Nacua led all receivers with 22 broken tackles on his receptions, plus an additional 6 missed tackles just for good measure. His Receiver Rating of 128 led all NFL wide receivers with at least 50 targets, and his 76 Total Points were the 2nd-most of any non-QB in the NFL. Finally, he won our NFC Player of the Week four times this season, the most of anybody. -Jeff

    Wide Receiver: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks

    Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the NFL in receiving yards with 1,793 in 2025. What’s most impressive, is he had only one drop on the season. You have to go all the way down to Dalton Schultz, who was 38th in receiving yards with 777, to find someone with only a single drop. Additionally, Smith-Njigba’s 43 Receiving Total Points and 31 Points Above Average both ranked 2nd among all NFL WRs. -Nathan

    Wide Receiver: Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals

    Ja’Marr Chase stacked another phenomenal season to his NFL career, even with juggling multiple QB’s for the Bengals in 2025. He led the NFL in targets with 186, and was 2nd in receptions among WR’s with 125. He also finished 2nd in YAC (649) and defensive pass interferences drawn (9) among WRs. He finished tied 3rd in Total Points among all WRs with 40. -Jordan

    Tight End: Trey McBride, Cardinals

    Trey McBride had a historically good season on his way to setting the single-season, tight end reception record (126) and doing it within the first 16 games. His 1,239 receiving yards were over 300 yards better than the next-best tight end. His 25 broken and missed tackles forced were tops among tight ends as were his 63 first downs. Unsurprisingly, his 56 Total Points were the most among tight ends and 20 better than second place. -Jeff

    Tackle: Darnell Wright, Bears

    Darnell Wright had a fantastic 2025 season, leading all tackles in Total Points with 42. He was an iron man in his own right, having logged over 1,000 total snaps this season, which only 11 other tackles in the NFL were able to do. He also had a 2.4% blown block rate, and is one of only two tackles in the 2025 season to log over 1,000 total snaps and have a blown block rate below 2.5%. He was also an elite pass protector, who led all tackles in Pass Block Total Points with 23. -Jordan

    Tackle: Penei Sewell, Lions

    Penei Sewell having an All-Pro season is nothing new, but this was arguably the best season of his career. Some of the deficiencies he’s had in pass protection in recent years have been overlooked due to how good the Lions OL has been. However, in 2025, that wasn’t the case. Sewell had to be good, and he was. His 1.7% blown block rate was best among all NFL tackles who played at least 500 snaps with a 2.3% rate in pass pro and a miniscule 0.8% as a run blocker. His 22 Total Points as a pass blocker ranked 2nd among all tackles, and was the best ranking of his career. -Nathan

    Guard: Joe Thuney, Bears

    Joe Thuney was a major contributor to the Bears offensive improvements from last season. He led NFL guards with 44 Total Points and 15 Total Points Above Average. He was one of only two offensive linemen to earn at least Total Points as both a run blocker and as a pass blocker, Zach Frazier being the other. Thuney’s 1.1% blown block rate was the best among NFL guards as was his 0.9% blown block rate on runs (minimum 500 snaps). -Jeff

    Guard: David Edwards, Bills

    David Edwards earned the competitive second guard spot due to his reliability and impact. He was second among NFL guards in Total Points (40) and Total Points Above Average (13). His 1.5% blown block rate was tied-3rd among guards as he helped pave the way for the best rushing offense in the NFL this season. -Jeff

    Center: Zach Frazier, Steelers

    Zach Frazier had a fantastic second season in his NFL career, ranking 1st in Total Points among centers with 43. He was balanced in both the pass and run game, finishing 2nd  in Pass Block Total Points and 1st in Run Block Total Points among centers. He also finished with an outstanding 1% total blown block rate which ranked 2nd among all centers (minimum 500 snaps). -Jordan

     

    1st-Team Defense
    Position Player Team
    Defensive Tackle Jeffery Simmons Titans
    Defensive Tackle Quinnen Williams Cowboys
    Edge Will Anderson Jr. Texans
    Edge Myles Garrett Browns
    Linebacker Jack Campbell Lions
    Linebacker Devin Bush Browns
    Cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. Texans
    Cornerback Pat Surtain II Broncos
    Safety Kevin Byard III Bears
    Safety Talanoa Hufanga Broncos
    Defensive Back Cooper DeJean Eagles

     

    Defensive Tackle: Jeffery Simmons, Titans

    While the Titans struggled for much of the 2025 season, the defense, led by Jeffery Simmons, was a bright spot. Simmons’ 69 Total Points blew all other defensive tackles out of the water (Chris Jones was 2nd with 42). He led all DTs in sacks with 11 and pressures with 63, which ranked 13th in the entire league, no matter the position. His 15.5% pressure rate also led all DTs with at least double-digit pressures. -Nathan

    Defensive Tackle: Quinnen Williams, Cowboys

    Quinnen Williams had a fantastic season for both the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys, having been traded midseason. He finished the season ranked 3rd in Total Points among defensive tackles with 40. He also ranked at the top of Run Defense Total Points among defensive tackles with 24. While he only had 2.5 sacks this season, he finished 4th in total pressures among defensive tackles with 49. -Jordan

    Edge: Will Anderson Jr., Texans

    Will Anderson Jr. has gotten better each year and he ended this season tied for 1st among edge players with 70 Total Points. He was 2nd in the NFL in pressures (94) on his way to gathering 12 sacks. His pressure rate of 23% was 2nd-best in the NFL (minimum 100 pass rushes) as was his 57 Pass Rushing Total Points. He did not slack off against the run either, finishing 4th in the NFL with 22 tackles for loss. Anderson showed why the Texans traded up to draft him, and he may have had his first Defensive Player of the Year trophy if it were not for the player below… -Jeff

    Edge: Myles Garrett, Browns

    It was a record setting year for the future Hall of Famer, Myles Garrett. He broke the single-season sack record with 23 total sacks, a mark Michael Strahan had for 24 years (though it took Garrett a 17th game to set the mark). He finished the season with a 5% sack rate on his pass rush snaps, which led all defenders (minimum 30 pressures). He also finished 3rd among defensive ends in Pass Rush Points Saved with 55 and 4th in total pressures with 83. -Jordan

    Linebacker: Jack Campbell, Lions

    The defensive leader in Total Points in 2025 was Jack Campbell, who amassed 74. Not only did that lead all defensive players, it was 17 points higher than Devin Bush’s 57 for 2nd among LBs. He also wasn’t one-dimensional. He filled up the stat sheet to the tune of 168 tackles, 5 sacks, 19 pressures, and 3 forced fumbles. His 32 Total Points against the run were most among all LBs, and his 42 Total Points in the pass game ranked 3rd. -Nathan

    Linebacker: Devin Bush, Browns

    Devin Bush may not get the same love as some of the other Browns defenders, but he was excellent this season. His 57 Total Points and 28 Total Points Above Average were both 2nd-best among linebackers. He was one of only two linebackers to earn 35+ Pass Defense Total Points and 20+ Run Defense Total Points, along with Campbell. Bush had a pair of pick-sixes this year, including a 97-yard return in the final week of the season. -Jeff

    Cornerback: Derek Stingley Jr., Texans

    Derek Stingley Jr. had another fantastic season as one of the primary defenders on a star-studded Texans defense. He led all cornerbacks in Total Points Saved with 42 on 60 total targets. He finished the season with 4 interceptions and 11 pass breakups. He also finished the season with a 61.4 Passer Rating Against, which ranked 17th-lowest among cornerbacks with at least 25 targets. -Jordan

    Cornerback: Pat Surtain II, Broncos

    The Pat Surtain effect was in full force in Denver during the 2025 season. Surtain saw 62 targets come his way, tied for 19th-most in the league. However, Riley Moss, his teammate and opposite corner, saw 103 targets, 15 more than anyone else in the league. His 38 Total Points in pass coverage and 21 Points Above Average were both 2nd-best behind Stingley. Additionally, among the 100 CBs to see at least 25 targets, his 56.1 Passer Rating Against was 12th-best. -Nathan

    Safety: Kevin Byard III, Bears

    Kevin Byard III led the NFL with 7 interceptions this season as part of a much-improved Bears defense. He led NFL safeties in Total Points (56), Coverage Total Points (32), Points Above Average (22), and was tied for the lead in Run Defense Total Points as well (24). His all-around play helped the Bears reach the postseason and solidified Byard as a ball hawk. -Jeff

    Safety: Talanoa Hufanga, Broncos

    One of the most balanced safeties in the league, Talanoa Hufanga’s 54 Total Points ranked 2nd among all safeties, 30 of which came against the pass and 24 against the run. His 13 Points Above Average in the run game were tops among all safeties. Hufanga secured over 100 total tackles, 8 of them came for a loss, and his 9.4% broken and missed tackle rate ranked in the top 25% of all safeties with at least 25 solo tackles. -Nathan

    Defensive Back: Cooper DeJean, Eagles

    Cooper DeJean was part of a great defensive back tandem in Philadelphia this season. Despite being targeted 60 times in coverage, he did not allow a touchdown as the primary defender. His 14 passes defensed were 4th-best among all defenders, and he snagged an additional 2 interceptions. He was 4th among cornerbacks in Total Points (48) and Coverage Total Points (37). -Jeff

    1st-Team Specialists
    Position Player Team
    Kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn Texans
    Punter Ryan Rehkow Bengals
    Returner Chimere Dike Titans

    Kicker: Ka’imi Fairbairn, Texans

    Ka’imi Fairbairn led all kickers in Total Points with 25 this season. He also finished the season 44-of-48 on field goal attempts, with a 91.7 FG%, which led all kickers in the NFL. He additionally finished 28-of-28 on extra point attempts. -Jordan

    Punter: Ryan Rehkow, Bengals

    Ryan Rehkow finished with the 4th-highest punting average of 50.5 and pinned 28 punts inside the 20. Underappreciated aspects of the punting game also favor Rehkow with only 4 punts going out of bounds and 10 punts being downed by his own team. These factors helped him lead all punters in both Total Points (20) and Points Above Average (11). -Jeff

    Returner: Chimere Dike, Titans

    Chimere Dike burst onto the scene as the primary returner for Tennessee in 2025 on both kick and punt returns. As a kick returner, all he did was secure the 2nd-most return yards in the entire league, 1,562 on 62 returns. As a punt returner, his 394 yards were good for 3rd-most, plus he added three returns for touchdowns, including a 90-yarder that tied for the longest punt return of the season. -Nathan

    —

    Below, you can find our All-Pro 2nd Teams which include big names like Drake Maye, Jahmyr Gibbs, Garrett Bolles, Creed Humphrey, Chris Jones, Aidan Hutchinson, Quinyon Mitchell, and Kyle Hamilton.

    2nd-Team Offense
    Position Player Team
    Quarterback Drake Maye Patriots
    Running Back Jahmyr Gibbs Lions
    Wide Receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown Lions
    Wide Receiver George Pickens Cowboys
    Wide Receiver Stefon Diggs Patriots
    Tight End Hunter Henry Patriots
    Tackle Garrett Bolles Broncos
    Tackle Dion Dawkins Bills
    Guard Peter Skoronski Titans
    Guard Tyler Smith Cowboys
    Center Creed Humphrey Chiefs

     

    The 2nd-Team Offense featured some big-time names that could’ve easily found their way onto the top team. Drake Maye had an incredible year for New England, leading the Patriots back to the playoffs. His 113.5 Passer Rating and 139.6 EPA gained were best in the league among QBs with at least 250 attempts. 

    Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown both had stellar seasons once again in Detroit. A two-time SIS NFC Player of the Week winner, Gibbs’ 25% broken and missed tackle rate as a runner ranked 2nd among RBs with at least 100 carries, and St. Brown’s 11 receiving touchdowns were 2nd in the NFL. Finally, Creed Humphrey continued his dominance in the middle of the Chiefs offensive line, leading all offensive linemen with at least 500 snaps with a 0.8% blown block rate overall and 0.4% rate in pass pro. -Nathan

     

    2nd-Team Defense
    Position Player Team
    Defensive Tackle Chris Jones Chiefs
    Defensive Tackle Derrick Brown Panthers
    Edge Aidan Hutchinson Lions
    Edge Danielle Hunter Texans
    Linebacker Carson Schwesinger Browns
    Linebacker Devin Lloyd Jaguars
    Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell Eagles
    Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir 49ers
    Safety Jaylinn Hawkins Patriots
    Safety Kyle Hamilton Ravens
    Defensive Back Jamel Dean Buccaneers

     

    The 2nd-Team Defense features some phenomenal individual seasons, who almost made the cut for 1st Team honors. The defensive line is highlighted by Aidan Hutchinson, who led all defenders in the league with 99 total pressures. Chris Jones stacked another great season to his Hall of Fame career, finishing 2nd in Total Points Saved among defensive tackles with 35. 

    Carson Schwesinger is one  of only two rookies to make either the 1st or 2nd Team selections, finishing 3rd in Total Points among all linebackers. Devin Lloyd also finished the season leading all off-ball linebackers with 47 Pass Defense Total Points. Patriots safety Jaylinn Hawkins also had a fantastic season, leading all safeties with 33 Pass Defense Total Points. -Jordan

     

    2nd-Team Specialists
    Position Player Team
    Kicker Will Reichard Vikings
    Punter Tommy Townsend Texans
    Returner Isaiah Williams Jets

    The 2nd-Team Specialists all have worthy cases to be on the 1st Team. Will Reichard hit 33-of-35 field goals this season, with both misses coming from 50+ yards. He went 11-of-13 on 50+ yard field goals. Tommy Townsend had 30 punts inside the 20 with only 5 touchbacks to highlight his precision.

    Finally, Isaiah Williams was a rare bright spot for the Jets with two punt return touchdowns to go along with the 2nd-best kickoff return average in the NFL (minimum 20 kickoff returns). -Jeff

     

    Honorable Mentions
    Position Player Team
    Quarterback Bo Nix Broncos
    Running Back De’Von Achane Dolphins
    Wide Receiver Zay Flowers Ravens
    Tight End Tucker Kraft Packers
    Tight End Tyler Warren Colts
    Guard Damien Lewis Panthers
    Defensive Tackle Jalen Redmond Vikings
    Defensive Tackle Tommy Togiai Texans
    Edge Josh Hines-Allen Jaguars
    Edge Maxx Crosby Raiders
    Linebacker Ernest Jones IV Seahawks
    Cornerback Christian Benford Bills
    Cornerback Nahshon Wright Bears
    Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. Buccaneers
    Kicker Cam Little Jaguars
    Punter Daniel Whelan Packers

     

    We want to highlight some of the close calls and honorable mentions who didn’t quite make the cut, but were very much in the running.

    Bo Nix led all quarterbacks in Total Points with an outstanding 142 points. De’Von Achane was tied with 2nd Team selection Jahmyr Gibbs with 41 Total Points. Tucker Kraft was well on his way to having a career year and giving Trey McBride a run for 1st Team honors before suffering a season-ending knee injury. He only played in 8 games in 2025, but still finished 3rd in Receiving Total Points among all TE’s with 27. 

    Maxx Crosby also had another great season, finishing with 35 Run Defense Total Points, which led all defenders regardless of position in the NFL, proving again he is one of, if not, the best run defenders in the league. -Jordan

    The Lions and Texans tied for the most picks with 5 selections apiece across the two teams. The Patriots weren’t far behind with 4 selections of their own.

    Stats and ranks accurate as of 1/13/2026

  • Optimistic and Pessimistic Takeaways for the Seahawks and Rams After Week 16

    Optimistic and Pessimistic Takeaways for the Seahawks and Rams After Week 16

    Photo: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire

    Arguably the biggest game of the year so far took place last Thursday night and it did not disappoint. History was made, with us witnessing the first NFL game to end with a walk-off 2-point conversion. The Seattle Seahawks got their revenge and defeated the Los Angeles Rams 38-37, gaining the inside track to representing the NFC as the first seed in the process. 

    The Rams will be kicking themselves for letting go of the game that was all but theirs, but all is not lost. They should still feel confident in their chances come January, backed by the fact that they rank 1st overall in our team Total Points metric.* 

    *For a refresher, here is our primer on Total Points.

    The Seahawks came into the match ranking 2nd themselves, and the two bouts between them so far have further emphasized how neck and neck the two clubs are, well summarized by this stat. 

    Let’s take a deeper look into why each team should and shouldn’t feel confident about its chances to win it all.

     

    Why the Seahawks can win the Super Bowl: Improving rushing attack, special teams advantage

    In my previous article, I covered why the Seahawks should still feel like they’re in the mix due to their defense but in order to truly contend, they will need to answer questions about both their running and passing games, especially against elite defenses in high-stakes moments. 

    While they still have more to prove to completely quell those concerns, especially in their passing attack, their showing last Thursday was a step in the right direction. 

    The Seahawks entered the game with the 2nd worst rushing EPA per attempt in the league. Given that placement, it may seem odd that they ranked 14th in rushing Total Points per attempt, but that can be explained by them ranking as the worst run blocking unit in the same metric. 

    They arguably had their best rushing performance of the season so far, gaining 171 yards on 25 carries, with two of those resulting in touchdowns. The numbers matched what our eyes were telling us, improving across the board:

    Rushing EPA/A Rushing TP/A Run Blocking TP/A
    Weeks 1-15 -0.10 0.05 0.15
    Week 16 0.24 0.27 0.25

    Seattle must continue to demonstrate that it can punish opposing defenses on the ground and take pressure off Sam Darnold and the receiving corps. Teams that end up lifting the Lombardi trophy are often the best at problem solving and have other pitches to go to when their fastball is compromised, so to speak.  

    An area they have already proven to be among the league’s elite throughout the season is special teams. The Seahawks rank 6th in special teams Total Points per play, backing up that ranking with top 5 rankings in both punt and kickoff average return yards. 

    The momentum-shifting punt return touchdown by Rashid Shaheed upped Seattle’s combined punt and kick return touchdown total to three, tied for most in the league. They also have three combined punt and field goal blocks, again tied for most in the league, showcasing their penchant for making plays in all phases of special teams.

     

    Why not the Seahawks: Passing questions remain, turnovers

    To Sam Darnold’s credit, he demonstrated that he could deliver when the team needed him to and win a game with massive stakes, particularly against a team who has given him the most trouble the past couple of seasons. 

    For the last half of the fourth and overtime, Darnold went 8 for 11 (excluding a spike) for 91 yards and two touchdowns, in addition to completing two 2-point conversions. At least for one game, he was able to get the proverbial monkey off of his back. 

    For the first three-and-a-half quarters however, things didn’t seem that way, with Chris Shula and his defense seemingly flummoxing Darnold at every turn and forcing two back-breaking picks, both with disguised coverages. 

    I noted previously that up through Week 11, the Seahawks had a negative passing EPA for the season when facing dime personnel (6+ defensive backs). Things were more of the same last Thursday, with them posting a 10% success rate and -13 EPA against dime (-5 EPA against nickel as well).

    There is still time for Darnold and the Seahawks to establish whether they can perform consistently when in obvious passing down situations, but for now things don’t look fixed.

    In addition to the two aforementioned interceptions, Cooper Kupp also lost a fumble to his former team, bringing Seattle’s turnover total up to 26, second-most in the league. Denver, San Francisco, and Seattle are the only teams over .500 with a negative turnover differential. 

    Teams who have lost the turnover battle are a combined 41-143-1 so far in the 2025 season.  Needless to say, the Seahawks need to turn things around in that department to give themselves the best chance come January.

     

    Why the Rams can win the Super Bowl: Complete team on offense

    In a lot of ways, the Rams are who the Seahawks want to become on offense. They are 1st in offensive team Total Points per play, in large part due to having top 5 players at both quarterback and wide receiver in Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua. 

    Even having to face an elite defense, Stafford lit up the Seahawks, throwing for 457 yards and three touchdowns with no picks. Nacua accounted for 12 of those completions, racking up a ludicrous 225 yards and two touchdowns. 

    If that wasn’t enough, they also employ the receiving touchdowns leader, Davante Adams, though it may take a while for him to return to form, as detailed in this piece by Alex Vigderman.

    The passing attack is counterbalanced by a solid run game led by Kyren Williams and Blake Corum, ranking 3rd in rushing success rate and 4th lowest in percentage of runs hit at the line. 

    Since Week 9, the midway point of the season, among tailbacks, Williams ranks 1st in rushing EPA per attempt and 11th in Total Points per play, while Corum ranks 12th and 6th in those same categories respectively. 

    Their offensive line is nothing to sneeze at either, ranking 3rd in blocking Total Points per play. They have the 4th lowest blown block percentage in the league and rank 2nd and 4th in sack and pressure percentage allowed, respectively. The Seahawks couldn’t bring Stafford down even once. 

    Over the full season, both the Rams and Seahawks are among the best teams in keeping the quarterback clean (and doing so without spamming quick game).

    Scatterplot of blown block rate and pressure rate allowed, with a slight trend between them. The Seahawks and Rams are in the bottom-left (good) end.

    * Bottom left is best

     

    Why not the Rams: Defensive slippage, special teams mistakes

    Honestly a bit of a nitpick here, as I would consider the Rams to employ a good defense. But no team is perfect and they are no exception. 

    The Rams are quietly 19th in run defense Total Points per play. They have allowed over 120 rushing yards in four of their past six games, and two of those four have resulted in losses, including Thursday night. 

    Against play action, they came into the game ranked T-7th-worst in EPA allowed per dropback, 8th-worst in boom percentage allowed, and 2nd-worst in bust percentage forced (where boom plays gain the offense 1 EPA or more and bust plays lose the offense 1 EPA or more). The Seahawks exploited this, with Darnold completing 10 of 13 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns when in play action. 

    If opposing teams can establish their attacks on the ground and make hay with play action, the Rams have shown themselves to be susceptible. 

    A not-so-quiet underperforming phase of their team that reared its head in this game is special teams, and this proved to be the straw that broke the camel’s back with the firing of their special teams coordinator, Chase Blackburn. 

    The Rams rank 23rd in special teams Total Points per play. Special team blunders played a crucial role in three of their four losses this season, which include allowing two blocked field goals—one of which was returned for the game-deciding touchdown—against the Eagles, allowing a blocked extra point against the 49ers, and then giving up the punt return touchdown to the Seahawks.

    Final Words

    The Seahawks should be feeling great after wrestling away control of the NFC, but they know the job is not finished. They have questions they will need to continue to address through the end of the regular season and into the playoffs. 

    On the other side, even though they lost, the Rams have a solid argument for being the NFC’s best and most complete team. Their questions may prove to be more easily addressable as well. 

    Both the Seahawks and the Rams are top five teams by almost any overall measure of team quality. They are evenly matched through two, and there is a decent chance the two will meet again for a third and final match. 

    The winner may well represent the NFC in Santa Clara. Which of the two will come out victorious? I, for one, can’t wait to find out.  

  • 2025 SIS College Football All-American Team

    2025 SIS College Football All-American Team

    It’s time once again to announce our SIS College Football All-American Team. We used our all-encompassing player value stat, Total Points, along with other metrics and our scouting work as leading references in putting together our selections.

    A brief explanation of Total Points:

    Total Points takes nearly everything that SIS measures about a play and uses it to evaluate each player on a scale that allows you to compare them more easily. It’s always useful to be able to understand the different ways in which players can be valuable. Does he break a lot of tackles? Does he get a lot of yards after the catch? Does he make the best out of a poor offensive line? Does he get more pressures than expected? Does he break up a lot of passes? Total Points offers the opportunity to take all of those elements and get a quick picture of how well a player is performing overall.

    You can learn more about Total Points and the statistics referenced within this piece here.

    Here are our selections:

    1st Team Offense

    Position Name School
    QB Diego Pavia Vanderbilt
    RB Jeremiyah Love Notre Dame
    RB Antwan Raymond Rutgers
    WR Malachi Toney Miami-FL
    WR Chris Brazzell II Tennessee
    TE Eli Stowers Vanderbilt
    T Spencer Fano Utah
    T Francis Mauigoa Miami-FL
    G Keylan Rutledge Georgia Tech
    G Tanoa Togiai Utah
    C Logan Jones Iowa

    Heisman Finalist, Diego Pavia headlines our All-American Team as he ranked first among all QBs in Total Points with 142. He also led all QBs in Total Points per Snap and was top-3 in Passing Total Points. He is joined by his long time teammate, Eli Stowers, who led all tight ends in Receiving Total Points. 

    Rutgers RB Antwan Raymond earned 78 Total Points, which led the position and also holds a 34% Broken/Missed Tackle Rate, which led all RBs (minimum 150 carries). Jeremiyah Love, another Heisman Finalist, makes our First Team after earning 64 Total Points, which ranked top-5 among all RBs. 

    Miami-FL wide receiver Malachi Toney is the lone true freshman to make the SIS All-American First Team. He led the position with 45 Total Points, and he is electric with the ball in his hands, ranking in the top-5 in YAC and Broken/Missed Tackle Rate per Reception. He is joined by Tennessee’s Chris Brazzell II, who led the SEC in Receiving Total Points. 

    Utah’s Spencer Fano and Tanoa Togiai headline the First Team offensive line as they led all players in Power-4 conferences in Total Points for their positions. Miami-FL tackle Francis Mauigoa ranked first in Pass Blocking Total Points for his position, and also had a 1.0% Blown Block Rate, third among all tackles (minimum 500 snaps) with Spencer Fano occupying second at a 0.9% Blown Block Rate. 

    Georgia Tech’s Keylan Rutledge led all guards in the ACC in Total Points and finished in the top-10 among FBS guards with a 0.8% Blown Block Rate. Meanwhile, Iowa’s Logan Jones rounds out the offensive line with 37 Total Points, which ranked first among all centers. 

    1st Team Defense

    Position Name School
    DT Kayden McDonald Ohio State
    DT Tyler Onyedim Texas A&M
    EDGE Caden Curry Ohio State
    EDGE David Bailey Texas Tech
    LB Mac Harris South Florida
    LB Rasheem Biles Pittsburgh
    LB Jacob Rodriguez Texas Tech
    CB Chris Johnson San Diego State
    CB Mansoor Delane LSU
    S Caleb Downs Ohio State
    S AJ Haulcy LSU

    Kayden McDonald and Caden Curry dominated the line of scrimmage for the No. 1 defense in the FBS this year and both were first among FBS DTs and DEs respectively in Total Points, Total Points per Snap, Total Points Above Average, and Total Points per Snap Above Average. Tyler Onyedim was right behind McDonald at second in all four categories and was a menace against the run. David Bailey was relentless against the pass, finishing second in the FBS in both sacks and pressures.

    Mac Harris made his presence felt all over the field, both in base stats; 5+ sacks, TFLs, and turnovers, and advanced stats; 13+ Total Points as a pass rusher, in coverage, and against the run. Rasheem Biles made up one-half of a dynamic LB duo at Pitt and finished with an astounding 43 Total Points above average, which led all FBS defenders. Jacob Rodriguez was one of the easier choices on the team as the do-it-all ‘backer had double-digit TFLs and PBUs, 7 FF, and 4 INTs.

    Chris Johnson caused issues all season for quarterbacks who wanted to test him. He had more PBUs (9 passes defensed + 4 INTs) than completions allowed (12). Mansoor Delane took a massive step after transferring to LSU and also had more PBUs (10 passes defensed + 2 INTs) than completions allowed (9). AJ Haulcy punished QBs who tried to avoid Delane and snagged 3 INTs of his own, not to mention 20+ Run Defense Total Points and Coverage Total Points. The final spot goes to Caleb Downs who truly does it all for Ohio State, allowing just nine completions on the year while also making plays in the backfield.

    1st Team Specialists

    Position Name School
    K Tate Sandell Oklahoma
    P Ryan Eckley Michigan State
    Returner Kaden Wetjen Iowa

    Tate Sandell was 23-of-24 on the season, but it was not just chip shots, as he went 8-of-9 on 40-49 yard kicks and a staggering 7-of-7 on 50+ yarders, not to mention perfect on extra points. Ryan Eckley had a punting average north of 48 yards to go with 20 punts inside the 20, 10 inside the 10, and only 1 touchback.

    One of the most electric players in college football, Kaden Wejen is a nightmare for opponents in the open field. He had a punt return average above 28 with 3 TDs and a kick return average above 30 yards per return with another return TD. He was simply unreal.

    2nd Team Offense

    Position Name School
    QB Brendan Sorsby Cincinnati
    RB Caleb Hawkins North Texas
    RB Kewan Lacy Ole Miss
    WR Jackson Harris Hawaii
    WR Duce Robinson Florida State
    TE Dallen Bentley Utah
    T Caleb Lomu Utah
    T Dorion Strawn Texas State
    G Fernando Carmona Jr. Arkansas
    G Emmanuel Pregnon Oregon
    C Iapani Laloulu Oregon

    The 2nd Team QB was a tough choice, but Brendan Sorsby was a major driver of the Cincinnati offense. He was responsible for over 3,300 offensive yards and 36 TDs coupled with a Top-3 FBS QB rank in both Total Points and Total Points per Snap. True freshman sensation Caleb Hawkins had nearly 1,600 scrimmage yards to go along with 26 TDs, and was second among FBS RBs in Total Points. Kewan Lacy was a major reason Ole Miss made the CFP after his 1,400-yard, 20-TD season.

    Duce Robinson had over 1,000 yards receiving this season, but he also drew 8 defensive pass interference calls, which resulted in another 141 penalty yards, highlighting value not found in the box score. Jackson Harris gained 37% of his yards after the catch while forcing 13 failed tackles (10 missed tackles + 3 broken tackles), which resulted in Harris finishing first among FBS WRs in Receiving Total Points. A versatile player, Dallen Bentley was the only FBS TE this season to earn 15+ Total Points as both a receiver and as a blocker.

    Dorion Strawn and Caleb Lomu bookend the offensive line after both finishing Top-3 among FBS tackles in Total Points with Strawn leading all tackles. Lomu had a 1.4% Blown Block Rate on all plays while Strawn had a 1.0% Blown Block Rate as a run blocker. On the interior, Fernando Carmona Jr., Emmanuel Pregnon, and Iapani Laloulu all were extremely reliable this season. Laloulu led the Oregon OL with a miniscule 0.6% Blown Block Rate, and his teammate Pregnon was not far behind at 1.0%. Carmona Jr. excelled as a pass blocker where he had a Blown Block rate of just 1.1%.

    2nd Team Defense

    Position Name School
    DT Bear Alexander Oregon
    DT AJ Holmes Jr. Texas Tech
    EDGE John Henry Daley Utah
    EDGE Zion Young Missouri
    LB Shad Banks Jr. UTSA
    LB Harold Perkins Jr. LSU
    CB Colton Hood Tennessee
    CB Leonard Moore Notre Dame
    CB Keith Abney II Arizona State
    S Jerome Carter Old Dominion
    S Robert Fitzgerald Northwestern

    Oregon’s Bear Alexander anchors the interior defensive line as one of the best run defenders in the country, ranking 3rd in Run Defense Total Points. Meanwhile, Texas Tech’s AJ Holmes Jr. finished top-5 in Total Points and top-10 in Pass Rush Total Points for defensive tackles.

    Utah’s John Henry Daley was second in Total Points and first in Pass Rush Total Points among all defensive ends. He finished the season with a 19.3% Pressure Rate, which is top-5 for his position (minimum 25 Pressures). Missouri’s Zion Young also ranked in the top-5 for defensive ends for Pass Rush Total Points, which also tops the SEC. 

    UTSA’s Shad Banks Jr. was elite in pass coverage this season, ranking first in Total Points among LBs with 27 Total Points, while also being tied for third nationally with 3 INTs. LSU’s versatile LB Harold Perkins Jr. also finished the season  tied for third nationally with 3 INTs as well as being the SEC leader in Total Points for the position. 

    Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore headlines the secondary after finishing the season with 38 Pass Coverage Total Points, which ranks second nationally and grabbing 5 INTs as well. He is joined by Arizona State’s Keith Abney II and Tennessee’s Colton Hood, who each ranked in the top-6 in both Total Points and Pass Coverage Total Points for the position. Neither allowed a TD when targeted as the primary defender this season. 

    Northwestern’s Robert Fitzgerald led all safeties in Total Points with 65 and was an elite run defender on the backend, amassing 43 Run Defense Total Points, which ranked second for the position. He is joined by Old Dominion’s Jerome Carter, who led the G5 safeties in Total Points, with 52. His 36 Pass Defense Total Points places him 6th nationally, helped by 4 INTs this season. 

    2nd Team Specialists

    Position Name School
    K Kansei Matsuzawa Hawaii
    P Angus Davies Tulsa
    Returner Vicari Swain South Carolina

    South Carolina’s Vicari Swain had a punt return average over 15 yards and returned 3 for TDs, establishing himself as one of the most electric playmakers in the country. Hawaii’s Kansei Matsuzawa was fantastic this season finishing 25-of-26 on FG attempts, including 11of-11 over 40 yards, and was perfect on 37 extra point attempts. Tulsa punter Angus Davies led the AAC in Total Points for punters with 14. He held the second longest punt of the season at 80 yards, had a net average over 41 yards, and 21 of his 47 punts landing inside the 20 yard line without a single touchback. 

    *All stats as of 12/3