NFL Week 15 preview: These 48 stats will define the games

Week 15 of the 2020 NFL season will be defined by the Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints, but there’s plenty else to parse.

Best mismatch for Chargers: Convert and move. The Chargers are seventh on third down (44.6%) while Las Vegas is 30th defensively (50.0%).

Best mismatch for Raiders: The reverse of above. Las Vegas has an NFL-best 50.0 percent third-down conversion rate while Los Angeles is 23rd against (43.0%).

Stat to know: Las Vegas allows drives against to end in points 48.8 percent of the time, worst in football.

Best mismatch for Bills: Make it tough. Denver completes a league-low 56.9 percent of pass attempts. Play coverage and force Drew Lock — and his 13 interceptions — to throw into tight windows.

Best mismatch for Broncos: Time to analyze. Buffalo ranks 29th in hurry rate (6.8%) and T-22nd (20.2%) in pressure rate. Lock makes errors, but if he has time, he could find his talented weapons.

Stat to know: The Broncos have the best red zone defense in football, allowing a touchdown 49 percent of attempts.

Best mismatch for Panthers: Count on the kicks. The Packers are worst in punt return average (4.6) and 31st on kickoffs (18.9). Green Bay also allows the most punt return yardage on average (19.4).

Best mismatch for Packers: No worries. Carolina ranks T-26th in sacks (19) and is 27th in pressure rate (18.4%), while the Packers have the best sack rate against (2.1%) in football.

Stat to know: Green Bay is tied for the fewest turnovers (9) in football.

Best mismatch for Bears: Time for Trubisky. The Vikings rank 20th or worse in QB knockdown percentage, hurry rate and pressure rate. Mitch Trubisky should have a chance to make a play.

Best mismatch for Vikings: Get off the field. Chicago is dead last on third down (31.9%) while Minnesota’s defense ranks fifth (37.0%).

Stat to know: The Bears have the fewest rushing touchdowns (6).

Best mismatch for Lions: Stand and fire. Tennessee ranks last in pressure rate (15.5%) and sacks (14). For Matthew Stafford or Chase Daniel, this should mean comfort and time.

Best mismatch for Titans: Make them run. If Stafford can’t go, Tennessee must crowd the box and play Detroit to run, which it already struggles to do as the T-25th rushing offense (3.9 YPC).

Stat to know: The Lions have the fewest quarterback hits in the league (48).

Best mismatch for Texans: Let Deshaun Watson win. Houston averages a league-high 8.7 yards per attempt. If the Texans pull the upset, it’s because Watson is letting loose.

Best mismatch for Colts: No freebies. The Colts rank eighth in offensive turnover percentage (9.3%) while Houston’s defense is 32nd in forcing them (6.3%).

Stat to know: Houston averages 12.7 yards per completion, best in the NFL.

Best mismatch for Jaguars: Baltimore blitzes more than any team (42.2%) but ranks T-13th in hurry rate (8.8%). There will be individual matchups to test downfield.

Best mismatch for Ravens: Make a move. The Jaguars have permitted an NFL-high 1,722 yards after the catch. This plays well for Baltimore’s quick passing attack and speedy receivers.

Stat to know: Jacksonville allows a league-worst 6.3 yards per play.

Best mismatch for Patriots: Pressure. The Patriots rank first in hurry rate (15.2%) and second in pressure rate (27.4%). With Miami starting multiple rookies up front, it could be disaster.

Best mismatch for Dolphins: The perimeter. New England has the worst receivers in football, and the Dolphins can wipe them out with Xavien Howard and Byron Jones. Use the extra defenders to stuff the run.

Stat to know: New England is only one of two teams with more interceptions (14) than passing touchdowns (9).

Best mismatch for 49ers: Run that rock. Dallas allows 5.1 yards per carry, worst in the NFL. Mitigate Nick Mullens’ impact by pounding the ball.

Best mismatch for Cowboys: Make Mullens throw. Nick Mullen has been awful at ball security, leaving San Francisco with the fourth-worst interception rate (3.2%). Make him throw under pressure.

Stat to know:  The 49ers have only missed 55 tackles this season, a league-best figure.

Best mismatch for Seahawks: Don’t take advantage. Seattle’s pass defense is problematic, but Washington can’t make it pay. The Football Team ranks 30th in touchdown pass percentage (2.6%) and T-25th in yards per attempt (6.5).

Best mismatch for Football Team: Force errors. Washington has 40 sacks, T-4th most in football. Russell Wilson has been dropped 41 times T-3rd most in the league.

Stat to know: Seattle has allowed 2,363 air yards, most in the NFL.

Best mismatch for Buccaneers: No running. The Buccaneers are tops in football in allowing 3.5 yards per carry, while Atlanta is T-30th offensively with 3.7 YPC.

Best mismatch for Falcons: Take shots on the outside. Atlanta has Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. The Falcons have to test Jamil Dean and Carlton Davis, much how Kansas City did early in their encounter.

Stat to know: Tampa Bay has allowed 37.2 yards per kick return, worst in football by 8.5 yards.

Best mismatch for Jets: Please send all ideas.

Best mismatch for Rams: Good luck scoring. Los Angeles gives up an NFL-best 4.6 yards per play, while New York’s offense is last in averaging 4.7 yards per play.

Stat to know: The Jets lead the league in missed tackles with 105.

Best mismatch for Eagles: Get to Kyler Murray and Co. Philadelphia has more tackles for loss (78) and sacks (43) than anybody but Pittsburgh. Force Arizona into long down and distances.

Best mismatch for Cardinals: Philadelphia is 30th in yards (27.4) and points (1.67) per drive. Arizona’s defense is 16th in both categories and against a young quarterback, could cause mistakes as well.

Stat to know: Arizona has taken a league-worst 94 penalties.

Best mismatch for Chiefs: Get chunks. Kansas City ranks second in yards per completion (12.3) while New Orleans is 20th against (11.2). Look for Patrick Mahomes to make his plays.

Best mismatch for Saints: Stay on schedule. The Chiefs have the fewest tackles for loss (36) in the league and rank T-29th in yards per carry against (4.9). If playing, Taysom Hill can take advantage.

Stat to know: The Saints have racked up the most penalty yardage in football (843) while Kansas City has taken the second-most penalties (89).

Best mismatch for Browns: Get off the field. Cleveland’s defense has struggled, but the Giants rank 29th in points per drive (1.70) and 26th in yardage per drive (29.2). This is a chance for the Browns to make plays against a banged-up unit.

Best mismatch for Giants: Stout D. New York ranks T-4th against the rush (3.9 YPC), second in QB knockdown percentage (10.7%) and eighth in pressure rate (23.8%). Shut off the run, get to Baker Mayfield.

Stat to know: Only the Broncos are better defensively in the red zone than New York (50.0%).

Best mismatch for Steelers: Hit the quarterback. Pittsburgh is first in pressure rate (31.1%) and sacks (45) while Cincinnati has allowed the second-most sacks (46) and is 29th in sack percentage against (8.3%).

Best mismatch for Bengals: No worries for the corners. Pittsburgh averages 9.5 yards per completion, worst in the NFL. The Bengals can be aggressive with the Steelers’ receivers.

Stat to know: Pittsburgh is 12-of-17 (29.4%) defensively on fourth down, best in the league.