11 Outrageous Next Gen Stats entering Week 15

1. Dak Prescott, George Pickens, and CeeDee Lamb vs man coverage

We brought this to attention last week, but with Week 14 in the books, it deserved a revisit. Dak Prescott continues to lead the NFL in passing yards against man coverage (1,274) this season. The Cowboys’ all-time leading passer is the only quarterback with at least 1,000 such yards this season. The top two leaders in receiving yards against man coverage are Prescott’s two favorite pass catchers: George Pickens (515) and CeeDee Lamb (410 – despite missing almost four games). In fact, the only quarterback with more passing yards vs man than Pickens and Lamb have combined receiving yards is Jordan Love (987).

2. Justin Herbert under pressure

Justin Herbert willed his team to a win against the defending Super Bowl champions in Week 14. Herbert faced the highest pressure percentage (68.3) by any quarterback in a game this season. It was the third highest faced by any quarterback in the Next Gen Stats era and the highest in a win (minimum 25 attempts). He’s faced the most total pressures (224) and quick pressures (94) in the NFL this season; no other quarterback has faced even 200 total pressures. Herbert has also taken the most hits (106) and the third-most sacks (45) in the NFL this season.

NGS definition: Quick Pressure (under 2.5 seconds)

3. Drake Maye under pressure

Drake Maye turned 23 on August 30, but he’s handled himself like a seasoned veteran in his sophomore campaign. Maye leads the NFL with 1,085 passing yards and nine touchdowns under pressure this season. Maye is one of two quarterbacks with 100+ passer rating under pressure since 2020 (Dak Prescott, 107.1 in 2024). The only player to average more passing yards per attempt under pressure than Maye this season (8.8) was Joe Burrow (9.0) in 2021, who led the Bengals to a Super Bowl LVI appearance in his second season.

4. Christian McCaffrey’s route diversity

Christian McCaffrey is on pace to become the first player in NFL to have at 1,000 rush yards and receiving yards in the same season multiple times. One of the greatest dual-threat backs in NFL history, CMC leads the NFL with 201 yards on angle routes and 227 yards on out routes—the only player to lead the league in yards on multiple routes this season. He also has 209 yards on flat routes, making him one of only two players with 200-plus receiving yards on three different routes this season. The other is the NFL’s leading receiver, Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Go, Post, Slant).

5. Jameson Williams Route Speed

Jameson Williams has used his speed to average 17.8 yards per reception, the highest among 69 players with at least 40 receptions this season. Williams has averaged 15.45 MPH on routes this season, the fastest route runner in the NFL (minimum 150 routes). He leads the NFL with 72 routes reaching 18 MPH and is second with 11 routes reaching at least 20 MPH. Williams has used that speed to become the most productive receiver on crossing routes in the NFL, pacing the league with 290 yards on crossers this season—over 100 yards more than the next-closest player.

6. The Rams Dominant Defensive Line

The Rams' defensive line has been a force in 2025. Byron Young ranks in the top five in the NFL with 11.0 sacks, while teammate Jared Verse ranks eighth with 53 pressures. Braden Fiske (32) and Kobie Turner (36) each rank in the league's top ten for pressures among defensive tackles. Young and Verse each have four turnovers caused by pressure this season, tied for the most in the NFL (Will Anderson Jr., Aidan Hutchinson, Josh Hines-Allen, Montez Sweat). Going back to the start of 2024, Young leads the NFL in the metric with nine; Verse is second with eight.

7. De’Von Achane's Elusiveness

De'Von Achane unsurprisingly makes another appearance in this series. Achane has continued to do the most with his opportunities. Achane leads the NFL in yards per carry (5.8) entering Week 15 despite having the fifth most run stuffs this season. Achane is the lone player in the top five in both rush yards after contact (855, good for fourth) and receiving yards after the catch (475, also fourth) this season, while also being the only player with at least 50 forced missed tackles on runs and 20 forced missed tackles on catches.

NGS definition: Run Stuff (gains of 0 or negative yards)

8. Seahawks stellar coverage

The Seahawks defensive line has rightfully received a lot of the praise in Seattle. However, the coverage players have also done their part on the backend. Sixty-six players have been targeted 20-plus times in man coverage this season. Riq Woolen has allowed the lowest completion percentage (25.0) among them, while Josh Jobe has allowed the second-lowest passer rating (45.3). Almost 200 players have been targeted 20-plus times in zone coverage this season. Two-time Pro Bowler Devon Witherspoon has allowed the fewest yards per target (4.1), while converted corner turned safety Coby Bryant has allowed the third-lowest passer rating (38.3) behind only Derek Stingley Jr. and Jamel Dean. Drake Thomas has allowed the lowest yards per target (4.4) among linebackers, while Ernest Jones is tied for the second-most interceptions in zone coverage with four.

9. Shedeur Sanders on quick or in rhythm passes

Shedeur Sanders became the first Browns quarterback to post at least 300 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown in a single game since Hall of Famer Otto Graham in 1950. Sanders has been efficient when he’s avoided holding onto the ball; he's averaged 9.9 passing yards per attempt when throwing quick or in rhythm (under 4.0 seconds time to throw), the highest in the NFL since his starting debut in Week 12 (minimum 50 attempts). His 120.3 passer rating on throws under 4.0 seconds only trails Jordan Love (123.9), and Sanders has done this despite facing the highest pressure percentage (44.8) on such throws over that span. Here is the split from Weeks 12-14:

· Under 4 seconds TTT: 46 completions, 66 attempts (69.7 comp pct), 653 pass yards, 9.9 yards per attempt, 5 pass touchdowns, 1 interception, 120.3 passer rating (+2.3 completion percentage over expected)

· 4+ seconds TTT: 4 completions, 21 attempts (19.0 comp pct), 69  pass yards, 3.3 yards per attempt, 0 pass touchdowns, 1 interception, 20.9  passer rating (-16.7 completion percentage over expected)

NGS definition: Quick Pass (under 2.5 seconds)

NGS definition: In Rhythm (2.5-4 seconds)

NGS definition: Extended (4+ seconds)

10. Abdul Carter outside the box score

Browsing Abdul Carter box scores can be misleading. The third overall pick of this year’s NFL Draft has 1.5 sacks and 13 quarterback hits this season; however, Next Gen Stats has painted a clearer picture of Carter’s impact. The rookie has a 20.7 pressure rate after facing a double team, the highest in the NFL by almost five percentage points (Danielle Hunter, 15.8; minimum 25 double teams). Additionally, Carter has 28 quick pressures this season. The list of players with more would all be Defensive Player of the Year candidates if Myles Garrett didn’t exist: Micah Parsons (34), Nik Bonitto (34), and Will Anderson Jr. (32).

NGS definition: Quick Pressure (under 2.5 seconds)

11. 44-Year-Old Philip Rivers under pressure

Philip Rivers signed with the Colts on December 10, making a comeback while his name is on the Hall of Fame ballot. The 44-year-old ranks seventh in pass yards (63,440) and sixth in pass touchdowns (421) all-time. Many are worried about his mobility re-entering the NFL, especially with the Seahawks and Texans pass rushes left on the schedule. The last time he was on an NFL field, Rivers handled playing under duress quite well; he led the league with 8.4 passing yards per attempts and a 97.3 passer rating under pressure in previously final NFL season (2020).