Dan Pizzuta
@danpizzuta.bsky.social
NFL writer | Most recently: The 33rd Team | FO/FTN Almanac | danpizzuta@gmail.com | snapsandstats.ghost.io
A fourth down decision ball don't lie?
January 4, 2026 at 3:39 AM
A fourth down decision ball don't lie?
There has been one deep pass in this game, but the quarterbacks are a combined 8/9 on intermediate passes, per NGS
January 4, 2026 at 3:27 AM
There has been one deep pass in this game, but the quarterbacks are a combined 8/9 on intermediate passes, per NGS
Purdy has been hit seven times already which is just one off from his season high, Week 1 against Seattle
January 4, 2026 at 2:46 AM
Purdy has been hit seven times already which is just one off from his season high, Week 1 against Seattle
Brock Purdy ended that first half with a 1.8-yard aDOT and 1.5-yard average depth of completion. Absolutely nowhere to go.
January 4, 2026 at 2:28 AM
Brock Purdy ended that first half with a 1.8-yard aDOT and 1.5-yard average depth of completion. Absolutely nowhere to go.
SF came with a late press on JSN and that completely froze Darnold when he went to look for him on that first down sack.
January 4, 2026 at 2:23 AM
SF came with a late press on JSN and that completely froze Darnold when he went to look for him on that first down sack.
Feels that way because the successful runs have been incredible. On non-stuffed runs, the Seahawks have average 9.0 ypc, 0.46 EPA per play, and a 63.6% success rate.
But Seattle is still susceptible to allow a stuffed run.
But Seattle is still susceptible to allow a stuffed run.
I thought it would be higher tbh
January 4, 2026 at 2:11 AM
Feels that way because the successful runs have been incredible. On non-stuffed runs, the Seahawks have average 9.0 ypc, 0.46 EPA per play, and a 63.6% success rate.
But Seattle is still susceptible to allow a stuffed run.
But Seattle is still susceptible to allow a stuffed run.
The Seahawks currently have a 50% rushing success rate. The 49ers are at 0%.
January 4, 2026 at 2:05 AM
The Seahawks currently have a 50% rushing success rate. The 49ers are at 0%.
Don't let anyone convince you Riq Woolen isn't good
January 4, 2026 at 1:57 AM
Don't let anyone convince you Riq Woolen isn't good
The guys who believe they would be the best at drawing up at play to gain a yard continually decline to try it
January 4, 2026 at 1:38 AM
The guys who believe they would be the best at drawing up at play to gain a yard continually decline to try it
It's amazing that Sam Darnold has gotten his team to play for a No. 1 seed in Week 18 in each of the past two seasons... just as amazing that there has been zero confidence in him in coming through those games in each of the past two seasons.
Sam Darnold completely mystfying play thats costs his team points counter: 1
(the first down turndown/sack)
(the first down turndown/sack)
January 4, 2026 at 1:22 AM
It's amazing that Sam Darnold has gotten his team to play for a No. 1 seed in Week 18 in each of the past two seasons... just as amazing that there has been zero confidence in him in coming through those games in each of the past two seasons.
Reposted by Dan Pizzuta
Hi friends -- I'll be on our Playbook altcast of tonight's Seahawks-49ers game as a decision analyst!
It's on the ESPN app, will have an All-22 view of the field, and will feature Field Yates, Domonique Foxworth and Tim Hasselbeck breaking down the Xs and Os. It'll be fun, come watch!
It's on the ESPN app, will have an All-22 view of the field, and will feature Field Yates, Domonique Foxworth and Tim Hasselbeck breaking down the Xs and Os. It'll be fun, come watch!
January 3, 2026 at 6:05 PM
Hi friends -- I'll be on our Playbook altcast of tonight's Seahawks-49ers game as a decision analyst!
It's on the ESPN app, will have an All-22 view of the field, and will feature Field Yates, Domonique Foxworth and Tim Hasselbeck breaking down the Xs and Os. It'll be fun, come watch!
It's on the ESPN app, will have an All-22 view of the field, and will feature Field Yates, Domonique Foxworth and Tim Hasselbeck breaking down the Xs and Os. It'll be fun, come watch!
“The Giants are going to cast a wide net in their coaching search”
*example list includes every coaching candidate with previous Giants connections and Mike McCarthy*
*example list includes every coaching candidate with previous Giants connections and Mike McCarthy*
January 2, 2026 at 10:02 PM
“The Giants are going to cast a wide net in their coaching search”
*example list includes every coaching candidate with previous Giants connections and Mike McCarthy*
*example list includes every coaching candidate with previous Giants connections and Mike McCarthy*
Reposted by Dan Pizzuta
Podcast friends:
We're less than a week out from The Athletic Football Show LIVE at Lincoln Hall in Chicago.
January 7th, doors at 6:30.
There are only a few tickets left, and we'd love to see you there.
Handing out some awards, Q&A, meet-and-greet. Gonna be a good time.
We're less than a week out from The Athletic Football Show LIVE at Lincoln Hall in Chicago.
January 7th, doors at 6:30.
There are only a few tickets left, and we'd love to see you there.
Handing out some awards, Q&A, meet-and-greet. Gonna be a good time.
January 2, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Podcast friends:
We're less than a week out from The Athletic Football Show LIVE at Lincoln Hall in Chicago.
January 7th, doors at 6:30.
There are only a few tickets left, and we'd love to see you there.
Handing out some awards, Q&A, meet-and-greet. Gonna be a good time.
We're less than a week out from The Athletic Football Show LIVE at Lincoln Hall in Chicago.
January 7th, doors at 6:30.
There are only a few tickets left, and we'd love to see you there.
Handing out some awards, Q&A, meet-and-greet. Gonna be a good time.
Correct. Maye leads the league in comp% while having the highest aDOT.
On plays with a pass or sack, no rushing, Maye leads the league in EPA per play.
On sacks, Maye has the seventh-best EPA/play and loses the fewest yards per play.
Any issues with Maye aren't from playing scared.
On plays with a pass or sack, no rushing, Maye leads the league in EPA per play.
On sacks, Maye has the seventh-best EPA/play and loses the fewest yards per play.
Any issues with Maye aren't from playing scared.
I struggle to believe they're watching the games... Maye had this exact issue last year when there wasn't statistics to protect, he just is still learning how to navigate the pocket well and what to do to stay on time.
Meanwhile he is *the* most aggressive and accurate downfield passer:
Meanwhile he is *the* most aggressive and accurate downfield passer:
December 30, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Correct. Maye leads the league in comp% while having the highest aDOT.
On plays with a pass or sack, no rushing, Maye leads the league in EPA per play.
On sacks, Maye has the seventh-best EPA/play and loses the fewest yards per play.
Any issues with Maye aren't from playing scared.
On plays with a pass or sack, no rushing, Maye leads the league in EPA per play.
On sacks, Maye has the seventh-best EPA/play and loses the fewest yards per play.
Any issues with Maye aren't from playing scared.
I like to enjoy the end-of-season awards because it reflects how we view and talk about the season — we can see it evolve throughout the years — but man, the way some people try to view and talk about them is incomprehensible
I swear the NFL MVP discourse gets dumber and angrier every year
December 30, 2025 at 10:37 PM
I like to enjoy the end-of-season awards because it reflects how we view and talk about the season — we can see it evolve throughout the years — but man, the way some people try to view and talk about them is incomprehensible
Trevon Diggs was the least targeted cornerback on a per-snap basis among this group and still ranked 94th in adjusted yards allowed per coverage snap
Through Week 17 update
Top 30 cornerbacks in adjusted yards allowed per coverage snap (bumped min. to 150, 117 qualified CBs)
charting: PFF
adj yards formula: p-f-r
Top 30 cornerbacks in adjusted yards allowed per coverage snap (bumped min. to 150, 117 qualified CBs)
charting: PFF
adj yards formula: p-f-r
December 30, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Trevon Diggs was the least targeted cornerback on a per-snap basis among this group and still ranked 94th in adjusted yards allowed per coverage snap
Through Week 17 update
Top 30 cornerbacks in adjusted yards allowed per coverage snap (bumped min. to 150, 117 qualified CBs)
charting: PFF
adj yards formula: p-f-r
Top 30 cornerbacks in adjusted yards allowed per coverage snap (bumped min. to 150, 117 qualified CBs)
charting: PFF
adj yards formula: p-f-r
December 30, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Through Week 17 update
Top 30 cornerbacks in adjusted yards allowed per coverage snap (bumped min. to 150, 117 qualified CBs)
charting: PFF
adj yards formula: p-f-r
Top 30 cornerbacks in adjusted yards allowed per coverage snap (bumped min. to 150, 117 qualified CBs)
charting: PFF
adj yards formula: p-f-r
WHAT AN INSANE PUKA CATCH
December 30, 2025 at 4:08 AM
WHAT AN INSANE PUKA CATCH
Golden Tate, king of the touchdown taunt
December 30, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Golden Tate, king of the touchdown taunt
The Buccaneers have allowed 38% of returns to get past the 35, the second-highest rate in the league behind the 49ers at 40%.
Opponents starting on the 32 on returned kicks, so might not be the worst idea to sacrifice three yards.
Opponents starting on the 32 on returned kicks, so might not be the worst idea to sacrifice three yards.
December 29, 2025 at 10:43 PM
The Buccaneers have allowed 38% of returns to get past the 35, the second-highest rate in the league behind the 49ers at 40%.
Opponents starting on the 32 on returned kicks, so might not be the worst idea to sacrifice three yards.
Opponents starting on the 32 on returned kicks, so might not be the worst idea to sacrifice three yards.
Need Stafford to outscore Puka by 19 points to take this and I do not trust the Falcons to help me
We meet again @dannybkelly.bsky.social
December 29, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Need Stafford to outscore Puka by 19 points to take this and I do not trust the Falcons to help me
Another NGS stat that isn't named the best. It's Tight Window Throw%, not quite "aggressiveness." There's a mix of quarterback style (Dak is always going to have one of the highest rates), but good offenses that often scheme people open will be lower.
Also higher aDOT typically = less separation.
Also higher aDOT typically = less separation.
Some predictable names among the least aggressive QBs of 2025 (Bryce, Goff, Tua, Mahomes) but Caleb as the least aggressive is pretty surprising.
I guess that could be part of Ben Johnson’s (successful) formula though.
I guess that could be part of Ben Johnson’s (successful) formula though.
December 29, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Another NGS stat that isn't named the best. It's Tight Window Throw%, not quite "aggressiveness." There's a mix of quarterback style (Dak is always going to have one of the highest rates), but good offenses that often scheme people open will be lower.
Also higher aDOT typically = less separation.
Also higher aDOT typically = less separation.
The Buccaneers have the same record as the Dolphins after losing to them today and will still play for a division title on Saturday. That’s gross.
December 29, 2025 at 5:16 AM
The Buccaneers have the same record as the Dolphins after losing to them today and will still play for a division title on Saturday. That’s gross.
Both of these offenses weaponizing motion all game
December 29, 2025 at 4:33 AM
Both of these offenses weaponizing motion all game
I just want one Progressive commercial when the backup fucks up worse.
December 29, 2025 at 3:44 AM
I just want one Progressive commercial when the backup fucks up worse.