We dug up the most interesting data points and player metrics in the Pro Football Focus database to identify the hidden keys on every NFL team -- from players and position groups to defensive schemes and beyond -- leaning on data from this season but also taking into account numbers from previous seasons.
Here are the secrets to success for every team:
NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West
AFC East | AFC North| AFC South | AFC West
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
Zone coverage
The Cowboys made a conscious effort this offseason to get back to the zone coverages that defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli schemes best. In 2016, Dallas ran man coverage the eighth most of any team in the NFL and was successful in it, but the team parted ways with man corners such as Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne in the offseason. Now the Cowboys are back to almost exclusively zone and have had their most success with two-deep safety coverages. On 50 snaps of coverages that feature split safeties, they've allowed only 5.6 yards per play, the fourth-best figure in the league. That number jumps up to 6.3 on all single-high safety coverages.
New York Giants
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson
Tomlinson was one of the relatively unheralded players on a loaded Alabama defense. He has played 125 snaps in the first three games and has generated the highest run-stop percentage of any rookie defensive lineman with at least 25 snaps versus the run. His 9.2 run-stop percentage would've been the second highest by any rookie defensive lineman last season as well.
Philadelphia Eagles
Midrange passing game
Carson Wentz has had his ups and downs through three games this season, but there is one area of the field that has been only ups. On 28 passes targeted between 10 and 20 yards down the field, Wentz has a passer rating of 133.5 and a completion percentage of 75.0. His 303 yards gained on such throws are the third most in the league. Wentz has struggled a bit farther down the field but has been money exploiting the zones behind the linebackers and in front of the safeties.
Washington Redskins
Running back Chris Thompson
Thompson has been in a league of his own when it comes to generating yards after the catch this season. His 216 yards post-catch are more than any other back has receiving, and his 16.6 yards after catch per reception are 2.2 more than the next closest back. Those numbers have come on 13 total receptions -- and he has broken three tackles to get them.
NFC North
Chicago Bears
Cornerback Bryce Callahan
After splitting snaps between right cornerback and the slot last season, Callahan appears to have settled into a permanent role inside. He has allowed just six completions on 12 throws into his coverage this season, and the longest of those plays went for just 9 yards. Not surprisingly, Callahan is giving up a low average of 2.0 yards after the catch, and he has yet to miss a tackle in run support or in the passing game.
Detroit Lions
Left-side edge rushers
When Kerry Hyder tore an ACL in Detroit's first preseason game, there was concern about who would provide supplementary pass-rushing productivity off the edge opposite Ezekiel Ansah. The answer appears to be virtually everyone, as the trio of Anthony Zettel, Cornelius Washington and Jeremiah Valoaga has thus far racked up 19 total pressures on 100 rushes from the left edge. All three rank among the top 20 4-3 defensive ends in pass-rush productivity from the left side, while Ansah has failed to record a pressure on any of his 11 rushes from the left (he has produced three sacks and five hurries from the right side).
Green Bay Packers
Guard Jahri Evans
Considering that both offensive tackles have missed time this season, the Packers have to be relieved to know they can rely on Evans. He has played 12,856 out of a possible 13,501 snaps in his 12-year career and has played fewer than 1,100 snaps over the course of a full season just once in his career. Evans' play has been strong this season -- he has yet to give up a sack or hit in pass protection through the first three games, a feat he had accomplished just once prior to this season.
Minnesota Vikings
Tight end Kyle Rudolph
Rudolph is best-known for his ability as a receiver, and he has delivered this season: He is one of just seven tight ends with double-digit targets and no drops. Even more impressive, though, has been his pass blocking. He leads all players at his position with 24 reps and has yielded just one pressure.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons
Linebacker De'Vondre Campbell
It was obvious at times that Campbell wasn't ready for the starting role as a rookie in 2016. His 125.9 passer rating against was the seventh highest by any linebacker. It has been a different story in 2017, however. His passer rating allowed is only 61.1, the fifth best of any linebacker. He has allowed only six catches for 64 yards on 13 targets.
Carolina Panthers
Linebacker Thomas Davis
Davis has been one of the best linebackers in the league when healthy over the course of his career, but sometimes his greatness can be overlooked with him playing with the best linebacker in the league, Luke Kuechly. Where Davis excels is in coverage, specifically limiting yards after the catch. He has been targeted 15 times this season but has allowed only two of those targets to be converted into first downs. His 4.6 yards-per-target average is silly good.
New Orleans Saints
Cornerback Marshon Lattimore
It's amazing to think that with all the passing yards the Saints have given up, they have had a legitimate No. 1 cornerback on their roster. The first two weeks of the season, with Lattimore healthy, the Saints played a total of 43 snaps of man coverage. On those plays, Lattimore was targeted only three times, allowing one catch for 6 yards. Those are obscene numbers for any corner, let alone a rookie.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Running back pass protection
Through two games, the Bucs' stable of running backs has yet to allow a single pressure. Jacquizz Rodgers (10 pass-blocking snaps), Charles Sims (11), Alan Cross (1) and Peyton Barber (2) have done their best to keep their franchise quarterback upright. Compare that to someone such as Isaiah Crowell, who, on only 19 pass-blocking snaps, has allowed four pressures, and you can see how important the position can be. Those backs are a big reason Jameis Winston hasn't been sacked a single time when blitzed this season.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals
Edge defender Markus Golden
The Cardinals made a big splash in early 2016 by trading for Chandler Jones, and though he has been a strong edge rusher for them this season -- he has 12 total pressures -- Golden has been better. He has 14 total pressures and ranks 11th among all 3-4 outside linebackers in pass-rush productivity, six spots higher than Jones. Golden has been even stronger against the run, as he has tallied seven run stops with no missed tackles, ranking seventh at the position group, once again ahead of Jones.
Los Angeles Rams
Deep-passing efficiency
One of the keys to quarterback Jared Goff's second-year turnaround has been his ability to throw with supreme accuracy on deep targets. On balls that have traveled at least 20 yards through the air, he has completed nine of 13 attempts for 304 yards and a score. His receivers and tight ends have done their part, as none of the incompletions has been dropped. Goff's 69.2 adjusted completion percentage leads the league by a wide margin, which is made even more impressive by the fact that deep tosses have accounted for 16.0 percent of his attempts, the fifth-highest mark in the league.
San Francisco 49ers
Edge defender Elvis Dumervil
Dumervil is the very definition of a situational player at this stage of his career. Forty-one of his 48 snaps this season have been pass rushes. This has been his specialty throughout his career, and 2017 has been no different. His eight total pressures rank fifth among the league's 4-3 defensive ends in pass-rush productivity.
Seattle Seahawks
Running back Chris Carson
This season has been the Year of the Rookie Running Back so far, but don't discount Carson, who almost went undrafted. Because Eddie Lacy began the season as Seattle's starting back, Carson's volume isn't high, but he has made the most of his playing time. Among backs with fewer than 40 carries this season, his nine forced missed tackles are second best, as is his total of 166 yards. Carson also ranks fourth in yards after contact with 100.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills
The play-action pass
Tyrod Taylor has been impressive again in 2017. Much of that has to do with the damage he can do on the back of the Buffalo running game with play-action passes. Taylor's passer rating when using play-action is 144.1 -- the best in the league -- while his passer rating on plays without a run fake is 84.7. Taylor has a yards-per-attempt average 4 yards higher when using play-action and is completing 78.9 percent of his passes.
Miami Dolphins
Defensive end William Hayes
A perennially underrated player, Hayes is once again excelling. But even his new team seems to under-appreciate how effective he can be. Hayes has played just 49 snaps since making his Dolphins debut in Week 2. Overall, he has played only 40.5 percent of the defensive snaps he has been available for, but he has a PFF grade of 84.2 -- good for 14th among edge defenders. He had a sack, a hit and three hurries against the Chargers before adding another hit against the Jets, earning strong grades in the running game both weeks.
New England Patriots
Defensive end Deatrich Wise
The Patriots might have finally found a high-impact edge rusher in Wise. The rookie fourth-round pick out of Arkansas has two sacks, six hits and five additional hurries through three games and added a batted pass against Houston last week. His overall PFF grade is 84.2, and his pass-rushing grade of 84.7 is the 10th-best mark among edge rushers through the first three weeks of the season.
New York Jets
Quick passing
There isn't much to like about this Jets team, but the little success they've had with their offense has been generated by getting rid of the ball quickly. Quarterback Josh McCown has the league's shortest average drop depth from center, at just 7.0 yards, and an average time to throw of just 2.25 seconds, second only to that of Oakland's Derek Carr. McCown's passer rating is 40 points higher when the ball comes out in less than 2.5 seconds than it is on passes that take longer to get off.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
Defensive tackle Michael Pierce
Pierce was a revelation as an undrafted free agent out of Samford in 2016, playing 375 snaps and finishing 28th among interior defensive linemen with an 80.5 overall grade. Stopping the run is still valuable even in a pass-heavy league, and that's where Pierce excels. His 82.0 grade against the run ranked 24th in 2016, and he's off to a similar start this season, with an 83.8 grade against the run that ranks eighth. Pierce combines with Brandon Williams to form one of the best run-stopping duos in the league.
Cincinnati Bengals
Defensive end Carl Lawson
A first-round talent who dropped to the fourth in the 2017 NFL draft, Lawson has shown why he looked dominant at times at Auburn. He's off to a torrid start with three sacks, one quarterback hit and 13 hurries, earning him a pass-rush grade of 86.6 that ranks sixth in the NFL through Week 3. Lawson's emergence has helped the Bengals pressure the quarterback at a higher rate than any other team, which is a much-needed sight after years of struggling to find a pass-rushing complement to Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap.
Cleveland Browns
Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi
The Browns have added several pieces to their defensive front in recent years, but it's rookie third-round pick Ogunjobi who is off to the best start. Ogunjobi has excelled against the run, ranking 10th in the NFL with an 83.4 grade after ranking third in FBS with a run-stopping grade of 90.8 last season at Charlotte. The rest of Cleveland's defensive line has struggled -- No. 1 overall pick Myles Garrett hasn't played yet -- but the Browns might've found a long-term cog in Ogunjobi.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Blitz attack
Classic Steelers teams are known for their ability to rush the passer, particularly with the blitz. They've regained some of that magic this season. After struggling to affect the quarterback consistently in recent years, the Steelers are pressuring QBs on 55 percent of their blitzes, the highest percentage in the league. As the Steelers continue to search for edge rushers who can win one-on-one battles, the blitz will be their best friend, as it allows them to create havoc for opposing offenses.
AFC South
Houston Texans
Defensive end Christian Covington
Covington has flashed ability in the past, but in Year 3 in the NFL, he seems to finally be living up to the potential the Texans coaching staff has seen in him. Covington graded well against the run in 2016 (76.7), but he has kicked that up a notch so far this season (82.1). He also has shown improvement as a pass-rusher through three games; he has a sack and a hurry. He has played only 50 snaps as a rotational player in Houston's front, but he has been good enough to earn more time.
Indianapolis Colts
Punter Rigoberto Sanchez
The Colts signed former Vikings punter Jeff Locke in March, but it was undrafted free agent Sanchez who won the job. He has stepped seamlessly into the shoes of retired Pat McAfee, grading well as both a punter and a kickoff specialist for the Colts. He has had only five kicks returned for a total of 21 yards through three games.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Nickel defense
The Jaguars have been in their nickel packages on 65 percent of their defensive snaps this season. They run a version with a three-man defensive line and a four-man defensive line, but when they've run their 3-3-5 look -- their most common package -- they've been markedly more productive on defense. That package has a win percentage so far of 60.0 percent, 12 percent better than that of any other personnel grouping. It's also the package that sees them blitz the most (33 percent).
Tennessee Titans
The offensive line
The Titans' offensive line was PFF's top-graded unit last season, but what they've done in shutting down formidable defensive fronts so far this year is impressive. The Seahawks generated just two total pressures last week, while the Titans rushed for 204 yards. The week before that, the Jaguars' defense -- which generated 39 total pressures in Week 1 -- found just 10 total pressures and one sack against Tennessee while the Titans again exceeded 5.0 yards per carry en route to 179 total yards on the ground. This unit is one of the best in the league.
AFC West
Denver Broncos
Center Matt Paradis
Paradis elevated his game in 2016, emerging as the No. 2-graded center in the NFL (90.4 overall). He excels in the running game, and Denver's previous zone-heavy scheme was a perfect fit for his skill set. Even with a new system this season, Paradis is off to another strong start, with a 79.1 overall grade that ranks fifth in the league. Paradis has been the Broncos' rock in the middle of the line while the team searches for consistency at offensive tackle. It looks like he'll be a long-term fixture at center.
Kansas City Chiefs
Screen game
The Chiefs' offense is as creative as any in the NFL at getting the ball into the hands of its playmakers, and the screen game is a huge part of its success. The Chiefs rely on yards after the catch to move the ball down the field by using backs and receivers in various screens, including college-type shovel passes. Quarterback Alex Smith led the NFL with 508 yards on screens last season; so far this season, he ranks third with 115. His passer rating of 136.2 on screen passes ranks second in the league as Kansas City's scheme and playmakers enhance Smith's numbers on a yearly basis.
Los Angeles Chargers
Cornerback Desmond King
Consider this more of a projection, as King has only 92 career snaps so far. But the rookie had first-round production at Iowa, and he dropped to the fifth round only because of concerns about his athleticism and ability to play man-to-man coverage. King had an excellent preseason and is off to a solid start while playing in the slot. He missed only 11 of his 176 solo tackle attempts at Iowa, so he should be a perfect fit to stick in the slot in the Chargers' zone-heavy scheme. It'll be only a matter of time before King is acknowledged as one of the steals of the 2017 draft.
Oakland Raiders
Quick pass game
Getting the ball out of the quarterback's hands quickly comes with a lot of benefits and has been a crucial part of the Raiders' early success. Quarterback Derek Carr has averaged only 2.11 seconds per dropback, the lowest in the NFL, and he has a passer rating of 107.2 on passes thrown in 2.5 seconds or less. However, passes lasting at least 2.6 seconds have translated to a passer rating of only 76.3. The quick game is a big factor in keeping Carr clean. He has been pressured on only 20.2 percent of his dropbacks, which is also the lowest in the NFL.