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Top 5 Passing Matchups

Cincinnati at Tennessee

Despite Joe Burrow's improved yardage stats in Week 3, there are still reasons for concern within the Bengals' passing game. Burrow's completion rate of just 53% is a notable issue, even though he started the game efficiently by completing 10 of his first 13 passes in the first quarter. However, there were some positive developments, with JaMarr Chase having his breakout game of the season, amassing 12 catches for an impressive 141 yards. Chase's efficiency was particularly noteworthy, as he caught all 12 passes on just 15 targets. In contrast, the concerns within the passing game primarily revolve around Tee Higgins, who has struggled to connect with Burrow, catching only 10 of his 28 targets this season. In the most recent game, Higgins managed just 2 receptions for 21 yards. Fortunately for the Bengals, the offensive line has shown significant improvement in 2023. Despite Burrow's mobility limitations, he has been sacked only five times in the first three games, averaging just 1.7 sacks per game. This is a notable improvement compared to last season when the team allowed an average of 2.6 sacks per game. However, the lingering question for the Bengals' offense is the timeline for Burrow's calf injury recovery and how long it will continue to affect him. It appears that he will not be at full strength in the upcoming week.

The Tennessee Titans' passing unit is on track to rank among the bottom five in the league for the 2023 season, much like their performance in 2022. The Titans have allowed an average of 300 passing yards per game through the early part of the 2023 season. In Week 3, they struggled against Deshaun Watson, allowing him to have one of his best performances as a Browns quarterback with 287 passing yards and two touchdowns while completing 82% of his passes. The primary issue for the Titans' pass defense has been weak cornerback play, particularly from Kristian Fulton. Additionally, the safeties, Kevin Byard and Amani Hooker, have faced challenges in coverage. Compounding the pass defense's struggles is the team's elite run defense, which has forced opponents to rely on passing plays 65% of the time which would be top 5 in the NFL this season. Expect this team to struggle for most of the season as while off-season acquisition Sean Murphy-Bunting has been a bright spot, there are just too many holes in this defense to rely on them until further notice.

Las Vegas at LA Chargers

Las Vegas might find themselves without Jimmy Garoppolo this week as the quarterback is currently dealing with a concussion. Despite a slow start in the Monday Night game against the Steelers, Garoppolo managed to finish the day with 324 passing yards. It appeared that Garoppolo had finally developed a solid connection with Davante Adams, as Adams saw an astonishing 20 targets from the quarterback, which was more than his total targets from the first two games combined. In this offensive scheme, the primary focus is on Adams and Jakobi Meyers, who returned after missing Week 2 and was targeted 12 times in Week 3. Outside of these two and Josh Jacobs, no other player has caught more than three receptions for the team. Notably, tight ends Austin Hooper and Michael Mayer have not played significant roles this season, and Hunter Renfrow has only seen three targets through three games. This is a stark contrast to Renfrow's 128-target season in 2021. If Garoppolo is unable to play this week, the Raiders will likely turn to Brian Hoyer to start. However, there is also a possibility they could opt for rookie Aiden O'Connell, who showed promise in the preseason. With the Raiders currently sitting at 1-2 and in need of a win against the 1-2 Chargers, they might lean toward the safer choice between the two quarterbacks. Nonetheless, if O'Connell gets the nod, he brings a gunslinger mentality that could inject some upside into this offense.

The Chargers' secondary, on the other hand, has struggled significantly, allowing an astonishing 360 yards passing per game. This is 31 yards more than the next closest team. The team decided to bench J.C. Jackson last week due to legal troubles, despite him being a key addition intended to bolster the defense when he signed a 5-year, $82 million contract with the team last season. In Jackson's place, veteran Michael Davis has had his share of struggles, and second-year Ja'Sir Taylor, who plays in the slot, has also faced challenges. Particularly worrisome for the Chargers has been their performance against elite wide receivers. Tyreek Hill torched them for 215 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Justin Jefferson amassed 149 yards and a touchdown last week. Given this trend, it seems favorable for Davante Adams, regardless of who starts at quarterback for the Raiders this week.

NY Giants vs. Seattle

If not for the epic comeback in Week 2, the Giants could easily find themselves starting the season 0-3. While they faced tough opponents in their first two losses, the 49ers and Cowboys, the combined 58-point margin of defeat highlighted their struggles. Daniel Jones and the passing offense have been the focal point of their season. Jones had a standout performance in Week 2, throwing for 327 yards with a 70% completion rate. However, in the other two games, he averaged just 120.5 passing yards per game, failed to throw any touchdowns, and threw three interceptions. One of the main issues for the Giants has been the inconsistency in their offensive line play. Footballguys Expert Matt Bitonti ranks their offensive line as the worst in the NFL. At the wide receiver position, the unit is still trying to find its identity. Darren Waller leads the team in receiving yards, but he's only averaging 44 yards per game. An intriguing player to watch is Wan'Dale Robinson, who returned from an ACL injury and played in 22% of the snaps last week after missing the first two weeks. With Darius Slayton as the leading wide receiver, averaging just 36 yards per game, and rookie Jalin Hyatt having only three targets on the season, Robinson has the opportunity to take over the underneath possession role in the coming weeks. In his last game before his ACL injury, Robinson had 13 targets.

On the other side of the ball, Seattle's young defense has failed to build on their impressive rookie seasons by Tariq Woolen and Coby Jones. The once-promising defense has quickly been exposed as a weak secondary, particularly after their performance in Week 1. Seattle's pass defense has struggled mightily this season, allowing 339 passing yards per game. This is a significant increase compared to 2022 when they allowed just 227 yards passing per game. Their struggles have come against quarterbacks like Matthew Stafford, Jared Goff, and Andy Dalton, all of whom threw for over 320 yards against the Seahawks. The primary concerns for Seattle are at the safety and cornerback positions. Quandre Diggs, a once-dominant safety, appears to have lost a step at age 30 and has looked slow and out of place. Second-year corner Coby Bryant has also struggled, reflecting his status as a fourth-round pick. Notably, the Seahawks haven't practiced as of Wednesday since their game is scheduled for Monday night. However, they are expected to welcome back Jamal Adams to the lineup, and Coby Bryant should return after missing last week due to a toe injury, though his performance remains a question mark.

Chicago vs Denver

The Bears' passing offense hit a new low in their recent game against the Kansas City Chiefs, with Justin Fields managing to throw for only 99 yards. To put this into perspective, Fields had less than 50 passing yards deep into the second half of the game. The blame for this dismal performance can be spread across the board. The offensive line shares some responsibility, as they have allowed Fields to be sacked a whopping 13 times this season. Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy's attempt to alter Fields' playing style might have contributed to the struggles, and Fields himself has struggled to build on the promising glimpses he showed in 2022. This upcoming game is crucial for both the Bears and Fields, as they face a defense that just surrendered 70 points. If the Bears fail to generate offense in this matchup, it could lead to swift changes in Chicago.

On the flip side, the Broncos defense has been one of the more disappointing units in the NFL this season. Despite investing heavily in players like Zach Allen and Frank Clark in the offseason, the Broncos' pass rush has been virtually non-existent, with neither player recording a sack so far. This lack of pressure has put tremendous stress on the secondary, which has been underwhelming aside from standout Patrick Surtain. Second-year corner Damarri Mathis, a former fourth-round draft pick, has struggled, allowing the third-most yards to opposing wide receivers this season. Even safeties Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson, expected to form one of the league's top safety duos, have had coverage difficulties, with Simmons also dealing with an injury concern. The Broncos must address these issues promptly to turn their defense around.