Checking in on the offensive line rankings for the first time in several weeks, there's been a whole lot of movements. Injuries are up this year, not only to top wide receivers around the league (most notably), but linemen too. Looking at the carnage, the NFL's Eastern divisions have been hardest hit.
No teams moreso than Dallas and Philadelphia. The Cowboys have placed both of their starting tackles, Tyron Smith and La'El Collins, on season-ending injured reserve. The Eagles placed their left tackle Andre Dillard on season-ending IR, and then lost his replacement, Jason Peters, to IR. That was after losing guard Brandon Brooks in the preseason.
The NFC East's other teams, the Giants and Washington, had flawed lines entering the season, and they've also been hit with injuries.
Two other lesser lines -- despite efforts to reshape those in the offseason -- are the Dolphins and Jets. In fact, the two Eastern Divisions' only credible lines seem to be in Buffalo and New England. The two teams who look like playoff teams. Obviously someone is going to make it from the NFC East, but it may well be a sub-.500 team.
More positively, the biggest movers up since the start of the season are the Rams, the Browns, the Bucs and the Packers. And whaddya know: those teams are a combined 15-4 on the season. Plenty of other reasons for their success, but offensive line play matters, and the Browns and Rams have been getting it this season -- and weren't a year ago.
Rankings are below, as well as the +/- change from the start of the season. Colorful table with player grades can be seen on our Facebook page.
| OFFENSIVE LINE RANKINGS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rk | Team | Aug | Oct | Chg |
| 1 | Indianapolis | 2 | 1 | +1 |
| 2 | Green Bay | 10 | 2 | +8 |
| 3 | New Orleans | 1 | 3 | -2 |
| 4 | Tennessee | 8 | 4 | +4 |
| 5 | Baltimore | 7 | 5 | +2 |
| 6 | Las Vegas | 4 | 6 | -2 |
| 7 | LA Rams | 24 | 7 | +17 |
| 8 | Tampa Bay | 16 | 8 | +8 |
| 9 | San Francisco | 5 | 9 | -4 |
| 10 | Cleveland | 20 | 10 | +10 |
| 11 | Kansas City | 14 | 11 | +3 |
| 12 | Buffalo | 13 | 12 | +1 |
| 13 | Pittsburgh | 11 | 13 | -2 |
| 14 | New England | 9 | 14 | -5 |
| 15 | Houston | 18 | 15 | +3 |
| 16 | LA Chargers | 15 | 16 | -1 |
| 17 | Atlanta | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 18 | Philadelphia | 3 | 18 | -15 |
| 19 | Minnesota | 12 | 19 | -7 |
| 20 | NY Giants | 19 | 20 | -1 |
| 21 | Seattle | 26 | 21 | +5 |
| 22 | Detroit | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| 23 | Dallas | 6 | 23 | -17 |
| 24 | Arizona | 23 | 24 | -1 |
| 25 | Chicago | 28 | 25 | +3 |
| 26 | Jacksonville | 25 | 26 | -1 |
| 27 | Denver | 21 | 27 | -6 |
| 28 | Carolina | 30 | 28 | +2 |
| 29 | Washington | 27 | 29 | -2 |
| 30 | NY Jets | 31 | 30 | +1 |
| 31 | Miami | 29 | 31 | -2 |
| 32 | Cincinnati | 32 | 32 | 0 |
--Andy Richardson