NORTHBROOK, Ill. (STATS) – Week after week, Indianapolis relies heavily on Peyton Manning and the passing game, and the Colts’ offensive line regularly steps up to the challenge to give the Pro Bowl quarterback ample protection.
In a 31-26 win over Oakland on Sunday, however, the Colts’ running game had a second straight solid performance, helping keep the Raiders’ defense honest and put even less pressure on Manning and the line. Benefiting from facing a defense that had to respect Indianapolis’ suddenly strong ground game, the Colts graded out with a Week 16-best 103.3 in the New York Life Protection Index.
The New York Life Protection Index is a proprietary formula created by STATS LLC which measures pass protection by using metrics such as length of passes, penalties by offensive lineman, sacks allowed and quarterback hurries and knockdowns.
With Indianapolis rushing for a season-best 191 yards Sunday, the Colts didn’t have to focus as much on pass protection. Manning wasn’t sacked and got knocked down only once while attempting 30 passes, his second-fewest of the season. That provided a relatively light day for Indianapolis’ line, as Manning attempts an average of 42.5 per game.
The Colts rank first overall on the season at 91.1 in the NYLPI and have finished first or second in the rankings in five of the last six weeks. Manning has been sacked just three times in that span and Indianapolis has allowed a league-low 15 sacks on the season.
“I think the guys up front are communicating very well,” coach Jim Caldwell said. “They have finally gotten to the point where you have roughly the same group that has played together for a fairly decent length of time, and so I think you are starting to see some of the benefits of that.”
Although the Colts have three of the top five rankings on the season in the NYLPI and five of the 13 rankings of 100 or better, not one Indianapolis offensive lineman was named to the Pro Bowl on Tuesday.
The Jets had an AFC-high two offensive linemen make the Pro Bowl, and they finished second in the NYLPI in Week 16 with a season-best 99.3 in Sunday’s 38-34 loss to Chicago.
Pro Bowl center Nick Mangold and tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson prevented Mark Sanchez from being sacked and only allowed their quarterback to be knocked down once. This performance against the Bears came after the Jets, who are 10th overall on the season at 69.1 in the NYLPI, allowed just one sack in a 22-17 win over Pittsburgh in Week 15.
“If you look at Pittsburgh, they had no sacks (one sack). If you look at Chicago, never had a sack,” New York coach Rex Ryan said. “Those are two of the best pass-rushing teams in the league.”
Minnesota’s pass-rush has been a major disappointment all season – entering Week 16 with the fourth-fewest sacks in the NFL after leading the league a year ago – but it completely overpowered Philadelphia’s offensive line in the Eagles’ 24-14 loss to the Vikings on Tuesday night.
Philadelphia, which graded out with a 30.1, had virtually no success in protecting Pro Bowl quarterback Michael Vick, who was sacked six times, hurried on seven occasions and knocked down 10 times.
Carolina’s offensive line had the worst performance of Week 16, however, grading out with a minus 6.5 in last Thursday’s 27-3 loss to the Steelers. Jimmy Clausen was sacked four times, hurried four times and knocked down five times, while passing for 72 yards – only 30 in the air before a catch.
“What doesn’t kill him is going to make him stronger,” said NFC Pro Bowl offensive tackle Jordan Gross. “It’s going to be one of those two.”
The Panthers have the NFL’s second-worst NYLPI on the season at 39.4, just ahead of the NFC North champion Bears at 33.4.
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