Look at that! The Atlanta Falcons held the Oakland Raiders to ten yards passing and now they are a Top 10 passing defenses! If you don't start your New Orleans Saints because of this, let me introduce you to the phrase "Lies, damned lies and statistics." If the Falcons had been just average (218 PYA), they'd rank 26th overall. Start your Saints. And no, I didn't miss the irony that I used stats to make other stats look like the complete opposite.
As a matter of fact, the leaders in PYA are often proof of the ldls adage. Worried about Bernard Berrian against the #2 ranked Packers' pass defense? Only if the Pack could stop the run!
Steve Smith against the Raiders' 8th ranked PYA? Don't be. Both the Green Bay Packers and the Oakland Raiders have proven to be inept against the run, so teams run rather than throw.
Players to consider sitting though are the ones facing both a top-ranked PYA and RYA. The New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers qualify this week. Apparently, Colts' WR Reggie Wayne will not break out of his weeks' long funk nor will Eagles' rookie DeSean Jackson rebound from his 20-yard effort against the Seahawks.
Ten Best Pass Defenses:
| Rank | Team | PYA | Vs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tampa Bay | 125.3 | BYE |
| 2 | Green Bay | 154 | @MIN |
| 3 | NY Giants | 158 | @PHI |
| 4 | Dallas | 159 | BYE |
| 5 | Pittsburgh | 162.7 | IND |
| 6 | Washington | 170.3 | BYE |
| 7 | Atlanta | 177.3 | NO |
| 8 | Oakland | 186.7 | CAR |
| 9 | Houston | 188.3 | BAL |
| 10 | Philadelphia | 193.3 | NYG |
| 11 | Jacksonville | 193.7 | @DET |