Week 14 DVOA Preview: Eagles Back on Top
In a not-so-surprising development, the 12-1 Philadelphia Eagles have risen to the top of the pre-Monday Night Football DVOA rankings on the strength of their 48-22 Week 14 trouncing of the New York Giants.
The Eagles offense ranks second in DVOA, having scored 123 points and netted a remarkable 1,390 yards in the last three games. The Eagles now rank third in yards per game (392.0) and yards per play (5.93), second in first downs per game (23.5), fourth in third-down conversions (46.4%) and second in red zone touchdown rate (72.9%) for the 2022 season.
The Eagles defense, meanwhile, has climbed to seventh in DVOA. In terms of raw numbers, they are second in the NFL in (fewest) yards allowed per game (297.0), lead the NFL in net yards per play (4.75), rank first in interception rate (3.5%), ninth in third-down conversion rate allowed (37.6%) and eighth in red zone touchdowns allowed (52.4%). As for the Eagles special teams ... how about that offense and defense? Kidding! They rank a respectable 17th overall, though they may be in the market for a new punter.
Jalen Hurts is now third in the NFL behind Tua Tagovailoa and Patrick Mahomes with 8.1 yards per attempt and tied for fifth in the NFL with 22 touchdown passes while also entering MNF ninth in the league in rushing yards with 686 and sixth with 10 rushing touchdowns.
The 10-3 Buffalo Bills fell to second place in DVOA with a tight 20-12 victory over the New York Jets. The Bills remain in the top five in all three DVOA categories and could climb back to No. 1 depending on what happens with opponent adjustments after the Patriots play Monday night.
The 9-4 San Francisco 49ers leapt into third place with their 35-7 blowout of the 6-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 49ers' offensive DVOA rose from 4.8% to 8.1% despite (or because of) rookie quarterback Brock Purdy, climbing from 14th to 10th.
The 10-3 Dallas Cowboys, meanwhile, tumbled into fourth place with a narrow 27-23 escape against the 1-11-1 Houston Texans. The Texans actually led 23-20 and had the ball on the Cowboys' one-yard line after a Dak Prescott interception with 4:11 to play. The Cowboys' top-ranked defense provided a goal-line stop to set up a 98-yard game-winning touchdown drive. Still: DVOA was unimpressed by the Cowboys playing down to the NFL's worst team on a day when the Eagles, Bills and 49ers took down tougher foes with much less trouble.
