Quarterback play can be difficult to predict. A step forward in the pocket might lead to a deep completion, a run for a first down or a sack. The most consequential moments often come when a play changes after the snap—and when the quarterback has to adjust to what the defense is doing.
Several upcoming matchups offer clear examples. Green Bay’s Jordan Love will face a Minnesota defense capable of disguising its rush. Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow can use quick throws to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to challenge Pittsburgh across the field. And in Dallas, Brock Purdy may have opportunities to create on the ground, whether by escaping pressure or taking the ball near the goal line.
## Jordan Love faces a disguised Minnesota pass rush
Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores can present Green Bay with the same initial pressure look while changing which defenders actually rush. A defender Love expects to attack may drop into a passing lane, while another player gets a chance to pressure the quarterback as he moves through his reads. That uncertainty can make protection calls especially important.
The challenge could be greater if starting center Sean Rhyan remains limited or unavailable. An ankle injury kept Rhyan out against New England, and Minnesota’s ability to crowd the interior gaps would put extra pressure on Green Bay’s communication as well as its blocking.
Love has already shown that he can produce against the Vikings. He threw for 387 yards in the teams’ season opener, although he was sacked four times. The sack total is a reminder that yardage alone does not tell the whole story: Green Bay will need to protect him well enough to make its downfield passing game work.
Minnesota has recorded 29 sacks through eight games and brought down Josh Allen four times on Monday night. Love was sacked three times in Green Bay’s blowout win over New England, despite attempting only 29 passes. If the Packers can identify and handle the pressure, Love has the ability to find Christian Watson or Matthew Golden over the top. But a similar-looking rush on a later third-and-long could require him to solve a different problem.
## Joe Burrow can use quick passes to challenge Pittsburgh
Cincinnati can make Pittsburgh’s pass rush work before the Steelers get a chance to pressure Burrow. Quick throws to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins can force defenders to pursue the ball, while the receivers try to gain yards after the catch. Burrow can then look for opportunities to throw deeper when the protection gives him time.
The approach has worked against Pittsburgh before. In the teams’ first meeting, Chase and Higgins combined for 15 catches and 188 yards, while the Steelers sacked Burrow only once. Pittsburgh has recorded 26 sacks through eight games, so keeping Burrow upright remains an important part of Cincinnati’s plan.
Burrow threw for 282 yards on 37 attempts in that 30-27 loss. The rematch features two teams with 6-2 records, and a close game could again leave the ball in his hands late. Burrow has already thrown for 428 yards against Jacksonville and 462 against Tennessee, with both games keeping him involved in the offense late. Against Pittsburgh, the combination of quick completions and well-timed downfield throws could give the Bengals a way to test the defense on either side of the formation.
## Brock Purdy could hurt Dallas with his legs
Purdy has shown two different ways to make a defense pay when he runs. Against the Raiders, he gained a first down on third-and-15. Later in that game, he scored on a carry from the 1-yard line. Those plays illustrate how a quarterback can create with his legs both in open space and near the goal line.
Against Dallas, a passing play could provide an opportunity for Purdy to escape. A deeper drop may draw the rush toward him, while Christian McCaffrey’s release from the backfield could pull a linebacker away from a potential running lane. If the coverage is moving downfield and a gap opens, Purdy could take off before the defense closes in.
Near the goal line, the possibility of a handoff to McCaffrey could make it harder for defenders to focus entirely on Purdy. That hesitation might give the quarterback a chance to gain the final yard himself.
Dallas had allowed quarterbacks to gain 231 rushing yards through Week 8, the most in the league over that stretch. The Cowboys had given up only one rushing touchdown to quarterbacks, however, so a scoring run would be a separate challenge. Purdy’s season high is 40 rushing yards, which he gained on seven carries against Las Vegas. He carried the ball 10 times against Denver but finished with 29 yards, showing why a series of short runs alone may not be enough to reach 50.
A single clear lane could change the calculation. If Dallas’s rush and coverage leave space for Purdy to run, he may be able to gain significant yardage without needing a large number of carries. Near the goal line, the same threat of a run could also give him an opportunity to score.
