PFF Grades - Week 17

[Plankton]

OFFENSE
Jalen Brooks - 75.3 (13 snaps) - 84.9 run blocking grade, 100.0 tunnel fighting grade
Brandin Cooks - 74.3 (42 snaps)
Terence Steele - 70.9 (62 snaps) - 71.4 run blocking grade, 65.7 pass blocking grade
Chuma Edoga - 66.9 (30 snaps) - 57.3 run blocking grade, 81.5 pass blocking grade
Jalen Tolbert - 63.7 (42 snaps) - 31.0 run blocking grade
Rico Dowdle - 62.0 (41 snaps) - 29.0 pass blocking grade
Jonathan Mingo - 58.8 (30 snaps)
Hunter Luepke - 58.4 (14 snaps) - 53.7 run blocking grade, 75.4 pass blocking grade
Ezekiel Elliott - 58.3 (10 snaps) - 68.5 pass blocking grade
Tyler Smith - 57.8 (59 snaps) - 62.9 run blocking grade, 61.2 pass blocking grade
Ryan Flournoy - 57.0 (13 snaps)
KaVontae Turpin - 57.0 (33 snaps)
Tyler Guyton - 56.6 (32 snaps) - 40.9 run blocking grade, 79.8 pass blocking grade
Brock Hoffman - 55.7 (62 snaps) - 56.8 run blocking grade, 48.5 pass blocking grade
Luke Schoonmaker - 55.3 (21 snaps) - 59.9 run blocking grade, 70.2 pass blocking grade
Cooper Beebe - 53.4 (62 snaps) - 50.8 run blocking grade, 63.3 pass blocking grade
Cooper Rush - 51.3 (59 snaps)
Jake Ferguson - 47.2 (42 snaps) - 63.5 run blocking grade, 68.8 pass blocking grade, 44.4 passing game grade

DEFENSE
Malik Hooker - 78.5 (61 snaps) - 84.2 tackling grade, 68.9 coverage grade
DaRon Bland - 78.4 (64 snaps) - 79.8 tackling grade, 74.3 coverage grade
Eric Kendricks - 75.7 (65 snaps) - 61.9 tackling grade, 84.4 coverage grade, 62.2 run defense grade
Linval Joseph - 74.9 (18 snaps) - 68.3 tackling grade, 74.1 run defense grade
Donovan Wilson - 67.2 (45 snaps) - 33.2 tackling grade, 64.9 coverage grade
Chauncey Golston - 65.0 (55 snaps) - 73.1 tackling grade, 67.5 run defense grade
Juanyeh Thomas - 61.0 (18 snaps) - 76.8 tackling grade, 62.9 coverage grade
Jourdan Lewis - 60.3 (62 snaps) - 59.1 tackling grade, 69.7 coverage grade
Carlos Watkins - 57.2 (16 snaps) - 68.4 tackling grade, 59.1 run defense grade
Osa Odighizuwa - 56.8 (49 snaps) - 69.5 tackling grade, 65.3 pass rush grade
Carl Lawson - 56.8 (16 snaps) - 69.2 tackling grade, 51.6 pass rush grade
Marist Liufau - 54.4 (62 snaps) - 46.0 tackling grade, 42.3 coverage grade, 75.3 pass rush grade
Micah Parsons - 49.0 (46 snaps) - 72.8 tackling grade, 64.0 pass rush grade, 59.2 run defense grade
Andrew Booth - 38.7 (57 snaps) - 79.0 tackling grade, 29.2 coverage grade - surprised that his grade was this high
Marshawn Kneeland - 37.3 (27 snaps) - 23.2 tackling grade, 38.8 run defense grade, 54.1 pass rush grade
Mazi Smith - 35.6 (38 snaps) - 70.0 tackling grade, 38.3 run defense grade

 

[JPM]

Mazi bringing up the rear, again.

 

[maryquality]

With both Steele and Edoga getting the highest grades of all the 0-lineman, I feel like I'm in the upside down!!

 

[Kingofholland]

With both Steele and Edoga getting the highest grades of all the 0-lineman, I feel like I'm in the upside down!!

I thought the whole offensive line played well and probably better than their PFF grades. Cooper Rush was sacked, once late in the 4th on a slide down? There were some nice running lanes for Dowdle too. I know the Cowboys didn't score many points, but thought the offensive line did their job.

 

[goshann]

I thought the whole offensive line played well and probably better than their PFF grades. Cooper Rush was sacked, once late in the 4th on a slide down? There were some nice running lanes for Dowdle too. I know the Cowboys didn't score many points, but thought the offensive line did their job.

Agree.
FYI Steele is rated 43rd out of 78 tackles this year. His best year (prior to injury) he was rated 23rd out of 81 tackles.
Run blocking Steele is 77.4, which is 15th out of all tackles. Overall, Steele is rated as our 2nd best OL in 2025, behind Tyler Smith who is rated 18th out of 75 guards with a total offensive rating of 74.1. After a poor start, Steele has actually ended up having a *decent* season.

By comparison Guyton is rated 72 out of 78 tackles and is only at 49.8 run blocking. Edoga rates out pretty similar (slightly better).

 

[StarGazer1]

Mazi bringing up the rear, again.

When you finish behind Andrew Booth, you know you sucked.

 

[RonnieT24]

When you finish behind Andrew Booth, you know you sucked.

This to me was one of Mazi's best games. He was in the backfield seemingly all day and had more tackles than I can recall in any game prior. How they came up with this grade is completely beyond me.

 

[stiletto]

Ferguson hit a wall literally and figuratively this year. No bueno.

 

[StarGazer1]

This to me was one of Mazi's best games. He was in the backfield seemingly all day and had more tackles than I can recall in any game prior. How they came up with this grade is completely beyond me.

I think Gainwell ran in to Mazi and fell down. I saw Mazi getting shoved around like a schoolgirl several times.

 

[RonnieT24]

I think Gainwell ran in to Mazi and fell down. I saw Mazi getting shoved around like a schoolgirl several times.

I will have to go rewatch because that's not what I saw. Maybe in the 4th quarter after the Eagles had seized control and the whole defense wore down they got beat up more? Up until about midway through the third they were doing a pretty good job against the run but the offense not holding up their end got them beaten down I guess.

 

[RS12]

Mazi bringing up the rear, again.

He played like rear too.

 

[Zekeats]

This team sucks and it really sucks up front were it all matters.

 

[mardwin]

Mazi bringing up the rear, again.

The guy is useless, gets pushed around by a single guard.

 

[Swagger]

OFFENSE
Jalen Brooks - 75.3 (13 snaps) - 84.9 run blocking grade, 100.0 tunnel fighting grade
Brandin Cooks - 74.3 (42 snaps)
Terence Steele - 70.9 (62 snaps) - 71.4 run blocking grade, 65.7 pass blocking grade
Chuma Edoga - 66.9 (30 snaps) - 57.3 run blocking grade, 81.5 pass blocking grade
Jalen Tolbert - 63.7 (42 snaps) - 31.0 run blocking grade
Rico Dowdle - 62.0 (41 snaps) - 29.0 pass blocking grade
Jonathan Mingo - 58.8 (30 snaps)
Hunter Luepke - 58.4 (14 snaps) - 53.7 run blocking grade, 75.4 pass blocking grade
Ezekiel Elliott - 58.3 (10 snaps) - 68.5 pass blocking grade
Tyler Smith - 57.8 (59 snaps) - 62.9 run blocking grade, 61.2 pass blocking grade
Ryan Flournoy - 57.0 (13 snaps)
KaVontae Turpin - 57.0 (33 snaps)
Tyler Guyton - 56.6 (32 snaps) - 40.9 run blocking grade, 79.8 pass blocking grade
Brock Hoffman - 55.7 (62 snaps) - 56.8 run blocking grade, 48.5 pass blocking grade
Luke Schoonmaker - 55.3 (21 snaps) - 59.9 run blocking grade, 70.2 pass blocking grade
Cooper Beebe - 53.4 (62 snaps) - 50.8 run blocking grade, 63.3 pass blocking grade
Cooper Rush - 51.3 (59 snaps)
Jake Ferguson - 47.2 (42 snaps) - 63.5 run blocking grade, 68.8 pass blocking grade, 44.4 passing game grade

DEFENSE
Malik Hooker - 78.5 (61 snaps) - 84.2 tackling grade, 68.9 coverage grade
DaRon Bland - 78.4 (64 snaps) - 79.8 tackling grade, 74.3 coverage grade
Eric Kendricks - 75.7 (65 snaps) - 61.9 tackling grade, 84.4 coverage grade, 62.2 run defense grade
Linval Joseph - 74.9 (18 snaps) - 68.3 tackling grade, 74.1 run defense grade
Donovan Wilson - 67.2 (45 snaps) - 33.2 tackling grade, 64.9 coverage grade
Chauncey Golston - 65.0 (55 snaps) - 73.1 tackling grade, 67.5 run defense grade
Juanyeh Thomas - 61.0 (18 snaps) - 76.8 tackling grade, 62.9 coverage grade
Jourdan Lewis - 60.3 (62 snaps) - 59.1 tackling grade, 69.7 coverage grade
Carlos Watkins - 57.2 (16 snaps) - 68.4 tackling grade, 59.1 run defense grade
Osa Odighizuwa - 56.8 (49 snaps) - 69.5 tackling grade, 65.3 pass rush grade
Carl Lawson - 56.8 (16 snaps) - 69.2 tackling grade, 51.6 pass rush grade
Marist Liufau - 54.4 (62 snaps) - 46.0 tackling grade, 42.3 coverage grade, 75.3 pass rush grade
Micah Parsons - 49.0 (46 snaps) - 72.8 tackling grade, 64.0 pass rush grade, 59.2 run defense grade
Andrew Booth - 38.7 (57 snaps) - 79.0 tackling grade, 29.2 coverage grade - surprised that his grade was this high
Marshawn Kneeland - 37.3 (27 snaps) - 23.2 tackling grade, 38.8 run defense grade, 54.1 pass rush grade
Mazi Smith - 35.6 (38 snaps) - 70.0 tackling grade, 38.3 run defense grade

Mazi Smith. The gift that keeps on giving.

 

[thunderpimp91]

Agree.
FYI Steele is rated 43rd out of 78 tackles this year. His best year (prior to injury) he was rated 23rd out of 81 tackles.
Run blocking Steele is 77.4, which is 15th out of all tackles. Overall, Steele is rated as our 2nd best OL in 2025, behind Tyler Smith who is rated 18th out of 75 guards with a total offensive rating of 74.1. After a poor start, Steele has actually ended up having a *decent* season.

By comparison Guyton is rated 72 out of 78 tackles and is only at 49.8 run blocking. Edoga rates out pretty similar (slightly better).

Agreed. I think fans have made up their minds on Steele and with the addition of some cap relief from releasing him no one wants to hear it, but hes actually had a decent year overall despite being a total liability in pass protection at times. I doubt he gets cut at this point unless Jerry intends on going OT early in the draft.

 

[Mr_437]

Ferguson hit a wall literally and figuratively this year. No bueno.

Tough year, knee injury then coming back from that to get a scary concussion, yeah Ferg needs this season over just as much as anybody.

Agreed. I think fans have made up their minds on Steele and with the addition of some cap relief from releasing him no one wants to hear it, but hes actually had a decent year overall despite being a total liability in pass protection at times. I doubt he gets cut at this point unless Jerry intends on going OT early in the draft.

Steele is an example playing a scheme that helps your personnel, it's no surprise once MM started calling run plays and letting this OL attack defenders be aggressive Steele and the entire OL started playing better. Most these guys are run blockers, so let them run block.

 

[Creeper]

This to me was one of Mazi's best games. He was in the backfield seemingly all day and had more tackles than I can recall in any game prior. How they came up with this grade is completely beyond me.

He had 2 solo and 1 assist. But I agree, from what I saw he was not that bad. I am curious how they judge DTs.

 

[thunderpimp91]

The Mazi grade stuck out to me as well. I'm going back and watching his snaps, only through the first half so far. He has some solid plays mixed in, but overall its not good. I will say you see where he is working on getting better, but also his struggles are obvious:

• He is doing a nice job using his hand to create separation, this clearly looks like a point of emphasis the coaching staff has had for him
• He looks a lot better reading the blocks in front of him as the year goes on
  • He seems to be doing a better job of trying to put himself in the right spots based on whats happening in front of him, but he just isnt getting there consistently.
• His pass rush moves may have actually regressed over where he was a year ago, a lot of that could be the weight difference
• Looks lazy at at times - Pad level gets high, rounding off stunts, blown off the ball during an RPO

Q1
5:28 - Quick pass play, no rush from Mazi - No grade
5:25 - Play action, Mazi washed down on the PA. If it were a run he was driven out too far by the double team to have any positive impact. Minus
2:48 - Run up the middle, very good hand usage by Mazi and he created separation to shed the OL and get in on the tackle. Plus
2:17 - Outside zone run, decent job of holding ground, a little slow to find the ball carrier - No grade
1:44 - Run to LT, Mazi gets doubled and walled off and driven back around 3 yards - Minus
Q2
12:49 - Pass, zero rush from Mazi - Minus
12:15 - Pass, Dline is slanting to strong side, Mazi rounds off his stunt and doesnt offer any attempt at a pass rush move aside from a failed bull rush - Minus
8:16 - Inside zone run, Entire defense is late getting set, Mazi driven out of the play - Minus
7:35 - Pass, No rush from Mazi just hand fighting - Minus
6:30 - Outside run, DL slants to opposite side of the run, Mazi tries to go backdoor A gap and gets stuffed. Not a great play by Mazi, but the play call also put him in a no win position - No grade
5:53 - Outside zone, Good job by Mazi of reading the play and moving with the LOS, but needs to move flatter to not open the cutback lane, he ends the play 5 yards off the LOS - minus
4:17 - Pass, looks like bad effort from Mazi, looks like an RPO by Philly so the OL is in a semi pass set and Mazi still gets push off the LOS - Minus
4:13 - Pass, best rush moves yet from Mazi but he still doesnt generate any pressure, he did at least get to the edge of the G to shut off any running lane for the QB - No grade
3:38 - Middle zone run, Mazi easily driven out of the play, really nice job to the DEs to crash down or else this could have been a bigger gain - Minus
3:15 - Tush push, penalty - no play
2:48 - counter to LG, decent recovery by Mazi, but he initially gets blown off the ball creating a gap - Minus
2:07 - Pass - another slant by the DL, better footwork this time, but gets stonewalled by the C at first contact. Looks like he may have had position for a club and rip move early but has no feel for pass rush moves other that just the bullrush - Minus
:09 - Tush Push - Stuffed - Plus
:02 - Tush push - High pad level, mazi blown off the ball - minus

 

[Creeper]

The Mazi grade stuck out to me as well. I'm going back and watching his snaps, only through the first half so far. He has some solid plays mixed in, but overall its not good. I will say you see where he is working on getting better, but also his struggles are obvious:

• He is doing a nice job using his hand to create separation, this clearly looks like a point of emphasis the coaching staff has had for him
• He looks a lot better reading the blocks in front of him as the year goes on
  • He seems to be doing a better job of trying to put himself in the right spots based on whats happening in front of him, but he just isnt getting there consistently.
• His pass rush moves may have actually regressed over where he was a year ago, a lot of that could be the weight difference
• Looks lazy at at times - Pad level gets high, rounding off stunts, blown off the ball during an RPO

Q1
5:28 - Quick pass play, no rush from Mazi - No grade
5:25 - Play action, Mazi washed down on the PA. If it were a run he was driven out too far by the double team to have any positive impact. Minus
2:48 - Run up the middle, very good hand usage by Mazi and he created separation to shed the OL and get in on the tackle. Plus
2:17 - Outside zone run, decent job of holding ground, a little slow to find the ball carrier - No grade
1:44 - Run to LT, Mazi gets doubled and walled off and driven back around 3 yards - Minus
Q2
12:49 - Pass, zero rush from Mazi - Minus
12:15 - Pass, Dline is slanting to strong side, Mazi rounds off his stunt and doesnt offer any attempt at a pass rush move aside from a failed bull rush - Minus
8:16 - Inside zone run, Entire defense is late getting set, Mazi driven out of the play - Minus
7:35 - Pass, No rush from Mazi just hand fighting - Minus
6:30 - Outside run, DL slants to opposite side of the run, Mazi tries to go backdoor A gap and gets stuffed. Not a great play by Mazi, but the play call also put him in a no win position - No grade
5:53 - Outside zone, Good job by Mazi of reading the play and moving with the LOS, but needs to move flatter to not open the cutback lane, he ends the play 5 yards off the LOS - minus
4:17 - Pass, looks like bad effort from Mazi, looks like an RPO by Philly so the OL is in a semi pass set and Mazi still gets push off the LOS - Minus
4:13 - Pass, best rush moves yet from Mazi but he still doesnt generate any pressure, he did at least get to the edge of the G to shut off any running lane for the QB - No grade
3:38 - Middle zone run, Mazi easily driven out of the play, really nice job to the DEs to crash down or else this could have been a bigger gain - Minus
3:15 - Tush push, penalty - no play
2:48 - counter to LG, decent recovery by Mazi, but he initially gets blown off the ball creating a gap - Minus
2:07 - Pass - another slant by the DL, better footwork this time, but gets stonewalled by the C at first contact. Looks like he may have had position for a club and rip move early but has no feel for pass rush moves other that just the bullrush - Minus
:09 - Tush Push - Stuffed - Plus
:02 - Tush push - High pad level, mazi blown off the ball - minus

Good analysis.

I would not be too concerned about getting pushed around by double teams. That happens to the best DTs in the league sometimes. But I totally agree that he plays too high at times. I think he relies too much on his physical strength and not enough on leverage. He also struggles shedding blocks quick enough.

But the one high hope I have for Mazi is that he is greatly improved over last year. He still has a long way to go be if he improves again going into next year he may actually be a solid player. It is up to him how hard he works at it.

 

[Plankton]

Good analysis.

I would not be too concerned about getting pushed around by double teams. That happens to the best DTs in the league sometimes. But I totally agree that he plays too high at times. I think he relies too much on his physical strength and not enough on leverage. He also struggles shedding blocks quick enough.

But the one high hope I have for Mazi is that he is greatly improved over last year. He still has a long way to go be if he improves again going into next year he may actually be a solid player. It is up to him how hard he works at it.

I think he needs to improve his conditioning. His issues with playing too high are completely tied to that. I'm not sure that he will ever be the most instinctive player, and he will have some issues where he gets washed out because he can't find the ball, but unless he improves his conditioning, he won't be able to consistently string good plays together across a series.