NFL Analysis
1/11/24
11 min read
Super Wild Card Weekend NFL Offensive Line Rankings
It’s that time of year. The days are short, the so-called skill position players are wearing long sleeves, and the loser packs up their locker stalls and say their goodbyes. It’s time for playoff football.
It’s a common football mantra repeated by coaches at all levels of the game across the country; if you win the line of scrimmage, you’ll win the game. The teams that have made it into the tournament this year are proof positive of that. Many of the teams that ranked highly at the season’s midway mark are the same teams still alive today.
With the stakes raised and the margins reduced, even the slightest advantage where the big men roam can flip a game on its head and change the fate of a franchise.
Note: Below you’ll find those rankings with notes on the things that show up on the film that helped slot each team where they are.
Key injuries take into account players who are on IR or are projected to miss time in the playoffs as of writing.
Pre-Playoff OL Rankings
1. Philadelphia Eagles 
Midseason Ranking (Among Playoff Teams): 1 (1)
| LT: Jordan Mailata | LG: Landon Dickerson | C: Jason Kelce | RG: Cam Jurgens | RT: Lane Johnson |
Key Injuries: None
During the last few seasons, the Philadelphia Eagles have boasted the top offensive front in the league. Even during the team’s struggles in the last month, you still see the traits that have earned them that distinction show up.
The physicality, the athleticism and the mindset to finish through the echo of the whistle are all present on film. The biggest difference is that against some of the top-tier defensive fronts, it has been a little more back and forth than we’re used to seeing. That highlights just how dominant this front has been.
The Eagles are still capable of playing that dominating brand of football regardless of their opponent, and that is enough to maintain the top spot.
2. Detroit Lions
Midseason Ranking (Among Playoff Teams): 2 (2)
| LT: Taylor Decker | LG: Jonah Jackson | C: Frank Ragnow | RG: Graham Glasgow | RT: Penei Sewell |
Key Injuries: Matt Nelson
The Detroit Lions carry the stereotypical personality of their city — a tough, gritty, no-frills squad. While that applies to the entire team, it goes doubly so for the offensive line. They play well as a unit, identifying and passing off stunts at a high level, giving their quarterback time to make plays in the passing game.
In addition, the Lions’ offensive line is also the engine of one of the league’s most effective rushing attacks. You’ll see them mixing it up and resetting the line of scrimmage in the trenches.
It’s the movement skills on top of this physicality that sets Detroit apart though, something that really flashes when they pull or get out in front of screens. Making those open field blocks helps to spring those big, game-changing plays, which is fitting for a game-changing offensive line.
3. Baltimore Ravens
Midseason Ranking (Among Playoff Teams): 4 (3)
| LT: Ronnie Stanley | LG: John Simpson | C: Tyler Linderbaum | RG: Kevin Zietler | RT: Morgan Moses |
Key Injuries: None
The Baltimore Ravens offensive line doesn’t just want to block you, they want to go through you. They align with tight splits and play good power football, moving as one.
While these are traits you expect out of a team that runs the ball well - and they do, the Ravens also do a good job of staying nimble and protecting the quarterback.
Should they be forced to deal with any injuries during the playoffs, they have the depth to hold up. Baltimore will leave you feeling the game the next morning.
4. Dallas Cowboys
Midseason Ranking (Among Playoff Teams): 6 (6)
| LT: Tyron Smith | LG: Tyler Smith | C: Tyler Biadasz | RG: Zack Martin | RT: Terence Steele |
Key Injuries: None
The Dallas Cowboys prioritized the offensive line for a number of years in Jerry Jones’ world, and it’s paid off for them. The Cowboys have been among the league’s top-tier units for at least 10-15 years, if not more.
It is more of a veteran group these days, but it’s a unit that has helped Dallas’ offense finish the season on a tear. It’s a physically strong group that, once they get inside a defender's frame, you can count that defender out of the play.
The Cowboys might not be the league standard like a few years back, but they’re still not far off and have firmly placed themselves in the top tier heading into the playoffs.
5. Buffalo Bills
Midseason Ranking (Among Playoff Teams): 13 (10)
| LT: Dion Dawkins | LG: David Edwards | C: Mitch Morse | RG: O’Cyrus Torrence | RT: Spencer Brown |
Key Injuries: None
The Buffalo Bills’ offensive line took a step forward this year and has done a good job of getting to its blocks. However, the Bills are not the type of front that will wear down, punish and break a defense’s will.
In pass protection, the combination of their blocking and the quarterback’s legs kept him upright better than any other team in football. Still, there’s a weakness there. It comes when being forced into a one-on-one in the interior.
Those interior players work well as a unit, but if a defense can isolate one of them, that is the matchup they’ll be looking for.
6. Kansas City Chiefs
Midseason Ranking (Among Playoff Teams): 5
| LT: Donovan Smith | LG: Joe Thuney | C: Creed Humphrey | RG: Trey Smith | RT: Jawaan Taylor |
Key Injuries: Prince Tega Wanogho
While the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense hasn’t looked quite the same this year, they’ve gotten solid performance from its offensive line. Their franchise signal-caller has been kept upright at one of the best rates in the NFL.
While the Chiefs were bottom 10 in rushing volume this regular season, they generated a solid push and rushing lanes. The interior offensive line has been better than the tackles. Still, the biggest drawback for this front is they constantly put their offense behind the sticks due to penalties, often in crucial situations.
The Chiefs’ offensive line averaged more than two penalties a game (37 on the season), in large part because of Jawaan Taylor. He paced the NFL with 16 penalties. Getting in those unfavorable situations kills drives, and the types of teams you face in the playoffs can make you pay for it.
7. Cleveland Browns
Midseason Ranking (Among Playoff Teams): 3 (3)
| LT: Geron Christian | LG: Joel Bitonio | C: Ethan Pocic | RG: Wyatt Teller | RT: James Hudson |
Key Injuries: Jack Conklin, Jedrick Wills, Dawand Jones, Michael Dunn
Coming into the season, it was clear the Cleveland Browns would have a strong offensive line. They had continuity within a group that had proven it before. While that remains true on the interior, they’ve suffered a bevy of injuries at tackle, burning through their top three guys.
Despite this, they’ve performed well, allowing QB Joe Flacco to go through his career renaissance. That said, it’s rare to see them trust the tackles enough to leave them on an island. They utilize chips, three- and four-man surfaces and reduced receiver splits to help muddy the rushing lanes for opposing pass rushers.
All things considered, the Browns are still good. We expect them to be competitive in the playoffs, but this isn’t an elite unit in its current configuration.
8. San Francisco 49ers
Midseason Ranking (Among Playoff Teams): 11 (9)
| LT: Trent Williams | LG: Aaron Banks | C: Jake Brendel | RG: Spencer Burford | RT: Colton McKivitz |
Key Injuries: None
Outside of one of the premier left tackles in today’s game, Trent Williams, the San Francisco 49ers aren’t the most physical team up front. They do run the Kyle Shanahan zone scheme well, getting defenders to move quickly laterally and allowing their talented skill-position players to hit a lane.
We are concerned about the interior in pass protection, specifically the backside player with the 1-on-1 when they run turn protection, as that tends to be a weak spot. They do get help from the quarterback, who is good at throwing on time and can extend the play when needed.
San Francisco’s offensive line executes well within its scheme and environment, a fact that must be respected. Coordinators aren’t losing sleep over this group as a whole. It’s the skill positions that make this team go.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Midseason Ranking (Among Playoff Teams): 8 (7)
| LT: Tristan Wirfs | LG: Aaron Stinnie | C: Robert Hainsey | RG: Cody Mauch | RT: Luke Goedeke |
Key Injuries: Ryan Jensen
Losing a Pro Bowl center in Ryan Jensen mere days before the start of the season was a major blow to a Tampa Bay Buccaneers front with many question marks. After all, the center is responsible for the communication on the line and the exchange with the quarterback.
Despite the uncertainty, Tampa Bay called for the next man up and has been chugging along since. The Buccaneers move well, which allows them to excel in blitz pick up. Also, this group’s effort pops off the screen.
The one area they’ve struggled is in creating consistent rushing lanes, but the NFL is a passing league these days, meaning their strength in pass pro is more relevant.
10. Miami Dolphins
Midseason Ranking (Among Playoff Teams): 10 (8)
| LT: Terron Armstead | LG: Robert Jones | C: Liam Eichenberg | RG: Robert Hunt | RT: Austin Jackson |
Key Injuries: Isaiah Wynn, Connor Williams
The offense in South Beach has been explosive on the ground and through the air. All of this starts up front, with the Miami Dolphins’ offensive line creating the creases needed to hit those big plays.
While their improvement year over year was critical to the Dolphins’ offensive success, they’re still not the type of elite unit that will have its way with the upper-echelon defensive fronts.
11. Green Bay Packers
Midseason Ranking (Among Playoff Teams): 19 (12)
| LT: Rasheed Walker | LG: Elgton Jenkins | C: Josh Myers | RG: Jon Runyan | RT: Zach Tom |
Key Injuries: David Bakhtiari
The Green Bay Packers' offensive line fits in somewhere around league average. It can take advantage of weaker defenses but is handled by stronger ones while trading blows against teams in between.
It is a more power football-type group that wants to get its hands on defenders and maul them. However, the Packers are a bit lumbering which can impact their ability to get on those blocks, especially at the second level and beyond.
12. Los Angeles Rams
Midseason Ranking (Among Playoff Teams): 30 (14)
| LT: Joe Noteboom | LG: Steve Avila | C: Brian Allen | RG: Kevin Dotson | RT: Rob Havenstein |
Key Injuries: None
The Los Angeles Rams' offensive line has turned it around considerably since the midseason, in part due to some minor shuffling in their lineup. Still, it’s an inconsistent group that doesn’t always show up with its “A” game, which won’t cut it in the playoffs.
Fortunately for the Rams, they do block for a quarterback who is good at staying on time and staying on schedule, which makes the offensive line’s job easier.
13. Houston Texans
Midseason Ranking (Among Playoff Teams): 15 (11)
| LT: Laremy Tunsil | LG: Juice Scruggs | C: Michael Deiter | RG: Shaq Mason | RT: Charlie Heck |
Key Injuries: Kendrick Green, Tytus Howard, Jarrett Patterson
The biggest disappointment with the Houston Texans offensive line is we didn’t get to see them as the roster was constructed in the offseason. The Texans dealt with injuries all season long, giving their depth an opportunity to get more experience.
That said, in this business, you have to prove it week in and week out; the next man up has to step in and provide value.
Ultimately, the Texans just haven’t provided the push to create lanes in the ground game and had probable Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud put on his back too often.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers
Midseason Ranking (Among Playoff Teams): 27 (13)
| LT: Dan Moore Jr. | LG: Isaac Seumalo | C: Mason Cole | RG: James Daniels | RT: Broderick Jones |
Key Injuries: None
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive line did take steps forward during the season and looked better than last year.
That said, somebody had to be last out of the final 14 teams standing, and Pittsburgh’s offensive line play can probably be described as adequate at best.
