Go here for this week's Rushing Matchups.

Top 5 Passing Matchups

Philadelphia at Baltimore

The Eagles continue their dominant run behind the dual-threat brilliance of Jalen Hurts. Over the past two months, few quarterbacks have been as efficient, with Hurts completing 71% of his passes for a stellar 9.2 yards per attempt since Week 7. While his recent production has come against a soft schedule of pass defenses, that trend continues this weekend in a highly favorable matchup. Hurts wasn't asked to do much in last week's easy win over the Rams thanks to Saquon Barkley's elite rushing performance, but even in games with unfavorable game scripts, he's consistently shown the ability to create big plays with both his arm and legs. A.J. Brown remains the focal point of Hurts' passing attack, commanding nearly a third of the targets and averaging an elite 13.0 yards per target and 91 yards per game. Brown's role doesn't change much, regardless of DeVonta Smith's availability. Smith missed Week 12 with a hamstring issue and is questionable again this week. If Smith sits, tight end Dallas Goedert could step into an expanded role. Goedert has been quiet since returning from injury but showed his ceiling earlier in the season with a massive Week 3 performance (10 catches, 170 yards) when Brown was limited.

The Ravens' pass defense has shown improvement on paper, holding three of their last four opponents under 225 passing yards. However, the context paints a different picture. Two of those games were against the run-heavy Broncos and Steelers, while last week's win over the Chargers featured several drops and pass interference penalties that masked defensive vulnerabilities. Baltimore's secondary remains a liability, especially when opponents can neutralize their pass rush, which ranks fifth in sacks but only 28th in hurry rate. Top cornerback Marlon Humphrey remains a standout, but the rest of the unit is inconsistent. Brandon Stephens continues to struggle, and rookie Nate Wiggins has been wildly up-and-down. Safety Marcus Williams, once a dependable force, has been benched due to recent poor performance as he was replaced by Ar'Darius Washington. These issues leave Baltimore's defense vulnerable, especially against a deep and explosive Eagles offense. With Hurts playing at an elite level and supported by weapons like Brown, Goedert, and potentially Smith, the Eagles are well-equipped to exploit the Ravens' secondary mismatches and continue their offensive surge.

Houston at Jacksonville

The 2024 season has been challenging for C.J. Stroud, who has yet to take a significant step forward in his sophomore campaign. Through 12 games, he has surpassed 250 passing yards only five times, reflecting inconsistencies both in his play and within the Texans' offense. A key factor has been the instability of his supporting cast, as injuries have sidelined some of his top receiving options at various points. However, there are reasons for optimism heading into Week 13. Nico Collins returned to form last week, catching five passes for 92 yards, including a 56-yard one-on-one deep-ball win. Tank Dell, who had been in a slump for much of the season, also contributed 72 yards, indicating he may be rounding into form. Perhaps most crucially, Stroud should benefit from significantly less defensive pressure this week against the Jaguars. Jacksonville ranks 31st in pressure rate, offering Stroud a reprieve from the constant harassment that has plagued him this year. Many of his mistakes have come under duress, and the lack of pressure should allow him more time to read the field and connect with his talented, though inconsistent, receiving corps. This could help the Texans stabilize their passing attack and take advantage of Jacksonville's weaknesses.

The Jaguars' pass defense has been one of the worst in the league all season and is coming off a disastrous Week 11 performance. Detroit shredded them for 449 yards and four touchdowns on 27-of-33 passing, underscoring their struggles. Jacksonville has allowed an average of 290 passing yards per game, and seven quarterbacks have thrown multiple touchdowns against them. Even in games where opponents haven't needed to throw often, efficiency has remained high. Injuries and underwhelming performances in the secondary have compounded Jacksonville's issues. While Tyson Campbell has returned from injury and played well, rookie Jarrian Jones has been a liability in the slot, and safety Andre Cisco continues to struggle in downfield coverage. Tight ends have especially exploited this group, averaging 18.3 PPR points per game over the last six weeks. This lack of cohesion and depth in the secondary leaves the Jaguars vulnerable, particularly when their pass rush fails to disrupt the quarterback.

LA Rams at New Orleans

The Rams disappointed in their Sunday night loss to the Eagles, with Matthew Stafford delivering a solid stat line but struggling to keep up with the Eagles in the second half due to being sacked five times. Despite the recent stumble, Stafford has been one of the league's most effective passers over the last two months. He had thrown for 260+ yards in five of his previous six games, operating within a relatively high-volume offense that emphasizes getting its playmakers involved. The offense runs through Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, two elite slot receivers who excel at methodically moving the chains. While neither is a true deep threat, Nacua has shown flashes of explosiveness when given the chance. Stafford's production remains somewhat touchdown-dependent as most non-mobile quarterbacks are, but this matchup against the Saints should offer him ample opportunities to find the end zone.

Once a hallmark of the team's success, the Saints' pass defense has fallen into disarray. After finishing 2023 ranked ninth in pass defense, allowing just 222 yards per game, they've plummeted to 29th this year, surrendering 271 yards per game. Opponents have topped 300 yards against this secondary in six of their 11 games, with another posting 279 yards and yet another held back only by garbage time. This defense, clearly in a rebuilding phase under a new coaching staff, has already shed Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore and lost Paulson Adebo for the season. The remaining secondary hasn't held up well. Alontae Taylor, the top cover man still standing, has regressed significantly in 2024, frequently beaten on deep routes. Last month, Ladd McConkey burned him for a 60-yard touchdown, and Jerry Jeudy followed suit last week with an 89-yard score. The slot has been equally problematic, as tight ends like David Njoku (9 catches for 81 yards) and Ja'Tavion Sanders (4 catches for 87 yards) have exploited soft coverage up the seams. This aggressive but undermanned unit takes risks but lacks the talent to recover, making them vulnerable to methodical, high-volume passing attacks like the Rams'.