2023-4 NFL Pro Football (Pls, no other sports - thx!)

Paladin1950 said:
Dallas Cowboys 40, New York Giants 0. :giggle:(y):giggle:
Football is the only sport where my favorite team isn't from New York. The Jets are my 2nd favorite, But I have been die hard Cowboys fan since the 1970's. Always love seeing the Cowboys beat the Giants, Eagles, & Washington!
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Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...so I guess that you think that the cowbums are going to the Superbowl....there's a little team in San Fran that might disrupt that dream....I HATE THE DIRTY dallas cowbums!!!
 

Tempsontime65 said:
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...so I guess that you think that the cowbums are going to the Superbowl....there's a little team in San Fran that might disrupt that dream....I HATE THE DIRTY dallas cowbums!!!
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Oh are we a little jealous 49er or Giant fan? Eagles or Washington? All losers. Really name calling? Reminds me of being in 8th grade and listening to little immature boys calling teams and players they don't like, childish names.
 
What are the Jets doing? Do you think Aaron Rodgers was seriously hurt in the first possession of their game against the Bill's?

Or did Rodgers join the Jets simply as a draw to insure seasons tickets holders would renew this year but with no intention of playing this season?
 
OldFeller said:
What are the Jets doing? Do you think Aaron Rodgers was seriously hurt in the first possession of their game against the Bill's?

Or did Rodgers join the Jets simply as a draw to insure seasons tickets holders would renew this year but with no intention of playing this season?
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I feel bad for him, since he is done for the season. Wonder if that is the end for him in the NFL?
 
Let's remember that the Jets did win the game without Rogers which has to give them confidence that they can do this. If they lost it would have been a psychological letdown and might have ended up haunting them the rest of the season. Give them a week to adjust their play calling with Rogers out, and who knows?
 
NFL Week 2 Predictions: Our Picks Against the Spread
NY Times Sept. 14, 2023

Six months of anticipation for the Jets dissolved when Aaron Rodgers tore his left Achilles’ tendon 3+ minutes into Monday night’s game. But the surprising victory over the division-rival Bills revealed strengths — and Buffalo weaknesses — that could be interesting to watch play out the rest of the way.

Week 2 should provide more intrigue as Lamar Jackson explores a newly built Ravens offense against the Bengals, who last week signed QB Joe Burrow to a dizzying contract extension. The Lions bring momentum into their matchup against the Seahawks that includes their shocking win over the Chiefs last week. On the other end of the spectrum, the Steelers and Giants can’t be as bad as they were in the drubbings they took last week, can they?

Finding out whether teams are as good as their preseason hype, or as bad as their Week 1 showings, is the fun part.

Thursday’s Game: Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles, 8:15 p.m., Amazon Prime Video ONLY
A short turnaround should be beneficial for both the Vikings (0-1) and the Eagles (1-0) as they look to rebound from sloppy Week 1 performances. Though the Eagles defeated the Patriots, 25-20, Philly allowed three sacks of Jalen Hurts, who also lost a fumble late in Q4. He’ll have a rougher go of things without lead RB Kenneth Gainwell, who is expected to miss the game with a rib injury.

The Vikings had three turnovers in the first half of last week’s 20-17 loss to the Buccaneers. Receiver Justin Jefferson is likely to line up against CB Darius Slay, which could limit his effectiveness, but the Eagles D could be stretched thin with CB James Bradberry (concussion) and safety Reed Blankenship (ribs) both ruled out.

Minnesota’s D is more likely the weak link, tasked with guarding receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Expect the Eagles to start the season 2-0. Pick: Eagles

Sunday Games
Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m., CBS
This early AFC North matchup has Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson and Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow, both signing lucrative contract extensions this year.

Burrow’s core unit remained intact from last season, but his Bengals (0-1) looked sloppy against a Cleveland Browns team he’s never beaten. He’s got the edge in the head-to-head career matchup, 3-2, against Baltimore, but hasn’t gone up against the Ravens’ (1-0) revamped offense, led by new OC Todd Monken with new receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Zay Flowers. The game should be close. Pick: Browns

KC Chiefs at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m., CBS
Jacksonville threatened but failed to oust KC in the 2022 divisional round of AFC playoffs. Last week, with TE Travis Kelce (knee) and DL Chris Jones (contract holdout) absent, the Chiefs (0-1) suffered an upset loss to the Lions. Both players are back on the field on Sunday.

The Jaguars (1-0) looked impressive last week because of QB Trevor Lawrence and receiver Calvin Ridley, who caught eight passes for 101 yds and a TD in his first game back with Jacksonville after a gambling suspension. But if KC has those core pieces back it’s hard to pick against the reigning SB champion. Pick: Chiefs

Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m., Fox
After the Lions (1-0) upset the Chiefs in the season opener, Detroit safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson donned a blue ski mask in the locker room and screamed, “This ain’t the same Detroit.” He has since called for fans to copy his look for the home opener. The formerly bottom-dwelling Lions are favorites against the Seahawks (0-1), who made the playoffs last season. But this ain’t the same Seattle, either. In Week 1, the Seahawks looked inept against the Rams, producing just 180 total yds on offense and one viral meme of QB Geno Smith facing the Los Angeles pass rush.

More uncharacteristic for a Pete Carroll-led team, Seattle’s defense allowed 334 yds in the air. A similar showing would net a loss against the Lions, as Jared Goff connected with seven different targets against KC. Detroit should win this one at home, but expect Carroll to make adjustments, which could keep the score closer than the spread. Pick: Lions

Washington Commanders at Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m., CBS
Though the Broncos (0-1) came away from Week 1 with a close loss to the division-rival Raiders, improvements under Coach Sean Payton were obvious. Russell Wilson tossed two TDs without an interception, and the offense functioned well. There’s hope Denver could build on that success against the Commanders (1-0), whose defense is expected to be without DL Chase Young (neck). Wilson could see a cleaner passing pocket without Young involved in the pass rush. Coach Ron Rivera said this week that Washington will have to show some patience with the second-year QB Sam Howell, who will make his third NFL start, but it is unlikely that the Broncos’ defense will be so kind. Pick: Broncos

GBay Packers at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m., Fox
Aaron Jones had 127 all-purpose yds and two TDs — one receiving, one rushing — on just 11 touches against the Bears to help usher in the Jordan Love era for the Packers (1-0). The young QB’s poise (he threw three TDs without an interception Sunday) may get tested against the Falcons with Jones’s status potentially in question because of a hamstring injury.

The GBay defense, though, registered four sacks against Chicago, and that pass rush could rattle Atlanta’s second-year QB, Desmond Ridder, who threw for just 115 yds against Carolina in Week 1. The Falcons’ passing game should toil again, but don’t expect a Packers defense that was 28th against the run in 2022 to contain the rookie top-10 pick Bijan Robinson. Pick: Packers

Las Vegas Raiders at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m., CBS
Four careless turnovers from Josh Allen doomed the Bills (0-1) against the Jets’ formidable defense. He can rebound against the Raiders (1-0), who face uncertainty over the playing status of two key contributors. DL Chandler Jones was away from the team last week amid a conflict with staff that trickled out in a since-deleted social media rant, and it is unclear if he will play this week. The team’s #2 receiver, Jakobi Meyers, entered concussion protocol and could be out this Sunday. If Allen is more precise and varies his downfield looks to Stefon Diggs, the Bills could run away with this one. Pick: Bills

Los Angeles Chargers at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m., CBS
It’s Coach Brandon Staley’s third season with the Chargers (0-1), one which has so far been characterized by poor defense and a lack of situational awareness. Last week, the Chargers allowed the Dolphins to amass more than 500 total yds, and a pass-interference penalty from CB J.C. Jackson gave Miami a chance to kick a field goal before halftime, points that proved to be the difference in a 36-34 loss.

Against the Titans (0-1), they’ll face a far less potent offense, but one that nevertheless boasts Derrick Henry, one of the best RBs of this era. Henry saw a diminished workload (63 yds on 15 carries) last week in a loss to the Saints, but could feast against the Chargers’ weak linebacker corps. Pick: Chargers

Chicago Bears at TBay Buccaneers, 1 p.m., Fox
The Bears proved their optimism in Justin Fields’s development back in April, trading down in the draft to select OL Darnell Wright in the first round rather than a QB. That optimism was dampened as Fields opened his Y2 by passing for just one TD and getting sacked 4x a loss to the Packers.

Things should go better against the Buccaneers (1-0), considered to have one of the worst rosters in the league. TBay allowed more than 300 passing yds in Week 1 against the Vikings, but may be swaggering behind the better-than-expected performance of QB Baker Mayfield. Fields over-relied on his legs last season, in part because of a deficient receiving group but this year is bolstered by D.J. Moore and a healthy Darnell Mooney. Biggest rumblings around the Bears (0-1) center on whether Coach Matt Eberflus will bench receiver Chase Claypool for a paltry effort last week. If the Buccaneers’ defense can contain Fields’s runs, he could leave TBay frustrated. Pick: Buccaneers

Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans, 1 p.m., CBS
Both of these AFC South teams are led by rookie QBs selected within the first five picks of this year’s draft, but the Colts’ Anthony Richardson has more options than Texans QB C.J. Stroud, even with RB Jonathan Taylor still on IR as he recovers from off-season ankle surgery. Richardson posed a rushing threat of his own in his NFL debut for the Colts (0-1), rushing for 40 yds and throwing for 223 in a loss to the Jaguars.

The Texans (0-1) have a feisty defense and first-year HC DeMeco Ryans showed he was willing to bet on Stroud on fourth down. But Houston scored just 9 points against the Ravens and let Stroud, a pocket passer, take four sacks. The Colts are the safer bet. Pick: Colts

SF 49ers at Los Angeles Rams, 4:05 p.m., Fox
Once viewed as one of the best modern rivalries in the NFL, the series between the Rams and the 49ers devolved into a one-sided affair last season as Los Angeles struggled with injuries and the departure of key free agents. Despite Week 1 wins, the two teams are still on very different trajectories. The 49ers (1-0) are aiming at a Super Bowl appearance while the Rams (1-0) are figuring out a rebuild as the top receiver Cooper Kupp remains on IR with a hamstring injury. Pick: 49ers

Giants at Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 p.m., Fox
The Cardinals (0-1) have one of the least talented rosters in the league, a relief for a Giants team coming off a 40-point thumping. Daniel Jones, who was sacked seven times(!) against Dallas, and the Giants should fare better in Arizona.

Giants TE Darren Waller and rookie receiver Jalin Hyatt should have a better showcase against a Cardinals defensive backfield that features a rookie CB, Kei’Trel Clark. First-year Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon said this week that he’s sticking with QB Joshua Dobbs, but that isn’t a big endorsement as the backup is untested rookie fifth-round pick Clayton Tune. Pick: Giants

Jets at Dallas Cowboys, 4:25 p.m., CBS
Oddsmakers shifted this line aggressively in favor of the Cowboys (1-0), movement that considers the Jets’ major absence (Aaron Rodgers) as much as the Jets’ present weakness (the unchanged OL). The Cowboys’ defensive front, led by Micah Parsons, sacked Daniel Jones seven times on Sunday night, and could see similar success chasing down Zach Wilson. The Jets’ lone hope to keep this one close rests (again) with its elite defense, which could jar the ball from the Cowboys’ turnover-prone QB, Dak Prescott. Pick: Cowboys

Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots, 8:20 p.m., NBC
The Patriots (0-1) played a tight game last week, holding the Eagles to 0-3 on third downs in the fourth quarter. Whether that defensive stand owed to improvements to New England, or to Philadelphia’s sloppiness is a question that the Dolphins receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle should answer on Sunday. Miami (1-0) amassed over 500 yds of offense last week with Tua Tagovailoa completing seven passes of 20+ yds. Pick: Dolphins

Monday’s Matchups
New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers, 7:15 p.m., ESPN
The Carolina rookie QB Bryce Young threw for only 146 yds against a lesser Falcons defense and should be stymied by the Saints’ mean secondary. QB Derek Carr put up 305 passing yds in Week 1 and should show better connections with receivers Chris Olave and Michael Thomas against the Panthers (0-1), who will be without their best cornerback, Jaycee Horn (hamstring). Pick: Saints

Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:15 p.m., ESPN
The Steelers (0-1) took a beating at home from the 49ers last week and signs aren’t looking good for a rebound in Week 2. Pittsburgh’s best receiver, Diontae Johnson, could miss at least four weeks with a hamstring injury, giving the second-year QB Kenny Pickett one less option against a Browns defense that features Myles Garrett and which contained one of the best offenses in the league last week. Pick: Browns
 
Bears fans are starting to turn against Justin Fields, which I think is a shame. I've watched him and to me he seems like a product of good talent harmed by bad coaching. There are very few HCs who really put an emphasis on a good QB coach, or who are capable of being a good QB developer themselves.

Over the decades I've seen too many young QBs who were put in situations where they couldn't succeed. They either develop bad habits or end up injured trying to do too much without the right support. Think Andrew Luck - easily a HoF talent, but never had a decent OL protecting him. I salute him for retiring young because Colts mgmt was never going to surround him with enough quality to win.

Anyway, I was thinking about this because of this article from The Athletic/NYTimes. This is an excerpt re the Bears and Fields:

NFL’s best and worst Week 2 coaching decisions: Luke Getsy hinders Justin Fields
The Athletic on Week 2 results (excerpt):

DISLIKES:

Whatever the Chicago Bears are doing with Justin Fields
Two things could be true: Justin Fields is struggling and there is no staff doing a worse job of supporting its young quarterback. It took six weeks last year for offensive coordinator Luke Getsy to start committing to calling designed rushes for Fields. From weeks 7 to 16, the Bears averaged 2.16 points per drive (12th in the NFL). They’ve abandoned that strategy this season for some reason.

According to TruMedia, the Bears have called only two designed rushes (not including sneaks and kneeldowns) for Fields. That figure doesn’t include simple zone-read plays in which Fields has an option to keep, but the Bears have to have many, many more ways for Fields to run the ball. With Fields struggling, the option should be heavily featured.

There also have been several plays in which receivers are running in the same area with terrible spacing. It’s hard to tell what the purpose is of some of Getsy’s designs. If that wasn’t bad enough, they also put Fields in a position to fail on his fourth-quarter pick six.

Earlier in the game, Getsy called two successful running back screens. After a drive in which Fields led the offense to a touchdown with downfield throws, the Bears got the ball back, down by three, on their own 12-yard line after a defensive offside. Getsy called a running back screen to the right, but it was negated by an offensive pass interference penalty.

Backed up on their 6-yard line, Getsy called the same screen to the same side. Edge linebacker Shaquil Barrett recognized the screen and dropped back to intercept the pass. There was no room for Fields to ground the ball, and because he was backed up in his own end zone, he needed to get rid of the pass and couldn’t take a sack. It was an impossible situation for the young quarterback and an absolutely terrible decision by Getsy. Fields is to blame for some of the Bears’ struggles, but it’s hard to see any young quarterback developing in this situation.
 
Paladin1950 said:
Oh are we a little jealous 49er or Giant fan? Eagles or Washington? All losers. Really name calling? Reminds me of being in 8th grade and listening to little immature boys calling teams and players they don't like, childish names.
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Not childish...I just hate the Cowbums..it tickles me that every season the [so-called]experts pick Dallas for the big dance, when they can't get pass the first round.. oh and yes I'm a Commanders fan so you can understand the hatred, it goes way back...it's called a rivalry.. look it up.. oh we'll see you all on Thanksgiving.. bring your A-game!!!
 
Sadly, the NYT no longer has a sports staff, and its replacement, The Athletic, uses a different format I don't care for. However, WaPo does a good quick summary of the week's upcoming NFL games, so I'll be using that going forward.

The one key thing about every NFL Week 4 game
Washington Post September 28, 2023

Best Match-up Week 4: The Buffalo Bills have faced nothing like the 2023 Miami Dolphins offense, which has been killing opponents with speed. Coupled with Tua Tagovailoa’s quick release and accuracy, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane made life miserable for the Denver Broncos, who were on the wrong end of a 70-20 score.

Now the Miami speed machine faces a defense that has allowed 16, 10, and 3 points and held opponents under 300 yards in its first three games, with Coach Sean McDermott doing the defensive play-calling. But the New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders and Washington Commanders are a far cry from the Dolphins, who’ve evolved in how they use their speedy players.

“It seems like they added to it this offseason, right?” McDermott said. “... Tua is throwing the ball extremely well. And their schematics are almost revolutionary in what they do. Coach [Mike] McDaniel is very creative and does a lot of things to get you out of position on defense.”

Here are some interesting facts about each Week 4 matchup: (All times ET)

Thursday
Lions (2-1) at Packers (2-1), 8:15 p.m., Amazon Prime: Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love has passed for a touchdown in each of his four career starts. He’ll face a Detroit defense that has given up seven touchdowns — four on passes.

Sunday

Falcons (2-1) at Jaguars (1-2), 9:30 a.m., ESPN Plus: Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson, the eighth overall pick in the draft, leads all NFL running backs with 14 receptions and all rookie running backs with 315 yards from scrimmage. His Falcons are set to face the Jaguars in London.

Dolphins (3-0) at Bills (2-1), 1 p.m. CBS: Buffalo is 9-1 in the last 10 games between the teams, with Miami’s last victory in Buffalo coming when Tua Tagovailoa was a high school senior in Honolulu. The Dolphins haven’t been 4-0 since 1995.

Vikings (0-3) at Panthers (0-3), 1 p.m., Fox: Minnesota receiver Justin Jefferson (with 457 yards receiving in the first three games) can become the fourth player since 2000 (joining Isaac Bruce, Randy Moss and Adam Thielen) with 100 or more receiving yards in each of his team’s first four games.

Broncos (0-3) at Bears (0-3), 1 p.m., CBS: Denver has won two of the teams’ last three meetings, but the overall series is tied at 8-8 and both defenses are a little demoralized after Denver gave up 70 points and Chicago 41 last week.

Ravens (2-1) at Browns (2-1), 1 p.m., CBS: All of Baltimore’s AFC North road games will be played over the first 29 days of its season, which isn’t going to ease the sting of the Ravens’ mounting injury list.

Steelers (2-1) at Texans (1-2), 1 p.m., CBS: C.J. Stroud, Houston’s second-overall pick in the NFL draft, is the first rookie in NFL history to throw for 900 yards and four touchdowns without an interception.

Rams (1-2) at Colts (2-1), 1 p.m. Fox: With Gardner Minshew mostly at quarterback, Indianapolis is the AFC South leader with two straight road wins, including an OT victory over the AFC North’s Ravens.

Buccaneers (2-1) at Saints (2-1), 1 p.m., Fox: Defense has been the story in the teams’ last three meetings, with the winners’ average score being 15.

Commanders (2-1) at Eagles (3-0), 1 p.m., Fox: Washington begins and ends the month of October with NFC East games against Philadelphia in a critical stretch of the schedule. Philly hopes to become the first NFL team to start 4-0 or better after losing the previous season’s Super Bowl.

Bengals (1-2) at Titans (1-2), 1 p.m., Fox: Tennessee’s defense has held opposing offenses under 100 rushing yards for nine consecutive games, the longest active streak in the league, and hasn’t allowed an opposing player to reach the 100-yard rushing mark in 19 consecutive games.

Raiders (1-2) at Chargers (1-2), 4:05 p.m., CBS: Davante Adams needs 41 receiving yards to reach 10,000 and 11 touchdowns to pass the Raiders’ Tim Brown in career receiving touchdowns and rank ninth on the NFL’s all-time list.

Patriots (1-2) at Cowboys (2-1), 4:25 p.m., Fox: Micah Parsons drew lofty comparisons to Lawrence Taylor from Bill Belichick, who coached LT in New York, but Parsons’s only game against New England (2021) was one of just two games all season in which he had neither a sack nor a quarterback hit.

Cardinals (1-2) at 49ers (3-0), 4:25 p.m., Fox: Arizona had seven plays of at least 20 yards, and Greg Dortch had a 19-yard punt return against Dallas. San Francisco has won 13 consecutive regular season games dating to Week 8 of 2022 — the longest active streak in the NFL.

Chiefs (2-1) at Jets (1-2), 8:20 p.m., NBC: Keep an eye on Jawaan Taylor in this prime-time game. The Kansas City right tackle has been flagged seven times in the past two games (after his presnap depth and subsequent jump at the snap became a national topic in the NFL season opener). Andy Reid called out what he deems to be uneven application of the rule. “They’ve got an eye on him, and they better keep an eye on everybody else, too, because it’s to the point of being ridiculous.”

Monday
Seahawks (2-1) at Giants (1-2), 8:15 p.m., ABC, ESPN: Here are the Giants’ scoring totals in the season’s first 12 quarters: 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 14, 17, 3, 3, 6, 0. 'Enuf said.
 
Steelers (2-1) at Texans (1-2), 1 p.m., CBS: C.J. Stroud, Houston’s second-overall pick in the NFL draft, is the first rookie in NFL history to throw for 900 yards and four touchdowns without an interception.
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Don't know if this kid is for real yet, but he sure is fun to watch ... put on a clinic yesterday against Pittsburgh.

His warm-up before games is unique. He throws around a basketball in practice...
C.J.-Stroud-throw-basketball.jpg
 
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What we learned in NFL Week 4: Contending Bills, slumping Steelers and a rookie QB shines
NY Times Oct 1, 2023 (note: does not include Monday Nite Football Seahawks vs Giants)

Sunday felt like a statement: the Bills rolled the Dolphins, 48-20, in a game that wasn’t close after halftime. Forty minutes after one of the finest afternoons of his successful, seven-year tenure in Buffalo, Bills coach Sean McDermott sat at the postgame dais and praised his team’s preparation and performance. Then he singled out two players specifically, the two that had spearheaded a 28-point demolition of the hottest team in football in the biggest game of the week. “It’s a team win, but your star players have to play at star levels in these games,” McDermott said.

A week after lighting up the Broncos for 70 points, Miami was humbled, thoroughly and convincingly, by the team it is still chasing in the AFC East. This was the Bills flexing their muscle, reminding the rest of the league how formidable they can be when they’re at their best. On Sunday, they were.

After this one, the Bills (3-1) belong in the conversation among the league’s elite, two of which remain unbeaten after Sunday: Philadelphia edged Washington in overtime, and San Francisco finished off Arizona to join them at 4-0. The 49ers also became the first team since the 2013 Broncos to score 30 or more points in seven consecutive games (San Francisco’s streak dates back to Week 16 of last season).

Meanwhile, the Cowboys, another NFC contender, looked whole again after a stunning loss to Arizona last week. They dismantled the Patriots, 38-3, New England’s worst loss in the Bill Belichick era. It was the Cowboys’ third win by 20 or more points in four games this season.

Here’s what we learned from the afternoon slate of games in Week 4:

Josh Allen and the Bills make a (very loud) statement
The marquee game of the NFL’s fourth weekend featured the hottest offense in football — fresh off a historic, 70-point eruption seven days prior — and the division rival they can’t seem to beat, at least not when it matters most. The story stayed the same Sunday, serving up two stark reminders: The Dolphins still haven’t proven they can get the best of the Bills, and Buffalo absolutely, unequivocally remains a Super Bowl contender.

Forget their Week 1 loss to the Jets. As evidenced by the Bills’ 48-20 throttling of the Dolphins, they look like a completely different team now, one that can win it all come February. On a warm, sun-splashed day in western New York, the Bills put together a stunningly complete performance. This was Allen at his MVP-worthy best. Same for Diggs. Same for McDermott, who showered the Dolphins’ high-powered offense with praise all week, then owned Miami for three hours Sunday afternoon, badly outcoaching Mike McDaniel in the process.

The Bills scored on four of their first five drives, forced two turnovers and sacked Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa four times. “A humbling,” both Tagovailoa and receiver Tyreek Hill called it — and they’re right. A week after torching the Broncos, Miami came back to earth. The Dolphins have now lost 10 of 11 to the Bills and haven’t won in Buffalo since 2016.

How long ago was that for the franchise? It was Adam Gase’s first year as coach.

C.J. Stroud isn’t coming — he’s here
A rookie passer is coming into his own in Houston, making all those who doubted him and knocked him and picked him apart during the draft process look foolish. C.J. Stroud has arrived — earlier than plenty believed he would. And his quick ascent has helped the Texans rip off a pair of convincing victories, placing them squarely in the AFC South race. Houston is 2-2 for the first time since 2019, and you can add Stroud’s name to the Offensive Rookie of the Year conversation, if not place it right at the top. He’s been that good.

Stroud — the No. 2 pick in April’s draft behind Bryce Young — has thrown for 1,212 yards over his first four games, second-most in league history, trailing only what the Panthers’ Cam Newton did in 2011. Stroud passed Andrew Luck (1,208) on Sunday. His deliberate dissection of the Steelers’ defense netted 306 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-6 win. And this comes a week after the Texans rolled the Jaguars, 37-17.

He’s been accurate, composed in the pocket, creative when he needs to be — among the chief concerns he faced ahead of April’s draft. Throw those knocks out the window now. Stroud has tossed six touchdowns and no interceptions in his last three starts for a passer rating of 111.3. He’s been excellent.

Beyond the QB, first-year coach DeMeco Ryans is building something in Houston. Stroud’s at the heart of the Texans’ turnaround, but Ryans’ impact is showing up all over the field, especially on a defense that’s been terrific two weeks in a row. On Sunday, the Texans didn’t allow the Steelers to cross midfield until the second half.

“This is what I envisioned Texans football looking like,” Ryans told his team in a raucous locker room. “We got greatness in this room. Let’s keep going.”

Bears on pace to pick 1-2 next spring
If you know a Bears fan, give them a hug. It’s been a rough month. It’s been a rough decade, really. Sunday was especially cruel, even for a perpetually tormented fan base that’s lived through a soap opera of a season four weeks in.

Chicago played some inspired football Sunday against the Broncos, racing to a three-touchdown lead after halftime. They benched Chase Claypool. They watched Justin Fields throw for four touchdowns before the third quarter was over (he finished with the first 300-yard game of his career). They led 28-7. Finally, it seemed, Chicago had found something.

Then they turned into the Bears again. Denver scored 24 in a row to escape with a 31-28 victory and avoid the embarrassment that would’ve come with a loss.

The Bears’ losing streak now stands at 14, dating back to last season. It’s the longest in the team’s history, which began in 1920. The good news, if you’re looking for it: Chicago now stands to hold the top two picks in next April’s draft. On top of their own pick, they also own Carolina’s by virtue of last year’s trade. The Panthers are the league’s only other winless team.

Awful Sundays for two AFC North contenders
Early on, it was easy to dismiss, or even excuse, the Bengals’ bumbling start. The franchise quarterback was out for most of the preseason. The offense needed time to jell. The season-opening loss in Cleveland came in sloppy conditions against a stifling defense. They’ve climbed from this type of hole before.

But a full month in, it’s getting harder. As Bill Parcells once quipped, “You are what your record says you are.” Cincinnati — a perennial AFC contender and trendy Super Bowl pick this season — is a struggling football team with a quarterback who’s not 100 percent.

The Bengals were pounded by 24 points Sunday in Tennessee, mustering a measly field goal before allowing 27 unanswered. Joe Burrow, fighting through a nagging calf injury, doesn’t look right, and so far, that feels like the story of Cincinnati’s season. The Bengals are 1-3 and had to eke out a 19-16 victory against the Rams for their only win. “This is not acceptable,” frustrated Bengals coach Zac Taylor said, rightly adding that his team was beaten in every way Sunday in Nashville.

Burrow managed just 165 passing yards (67 of which went to Ja’Marr Chase). The Bengals went 2 for 11 on third downs and were outgained 400-211. “I always feel like we are in it,” Burrow said, and he’s earned the right to say that. But, so far, there’s little tangible evidence this is going to turn. Instead, Sunday felt like a sizable step back.

Another AFC North contender — or supposed contender — also looked utterly awful Sunday. For the Steelers, start with some biting postgame comments from a fed-up Mike Tomlin. Asked if there will be any changes following his team’s 30-6 loss in Houston, Pittsburgh’s coach was both abrupt and honest. “Hell yeah, there’s going to be changes,” Tomlin said.

What those changes exactly look like will play out over the coming days and weeks. But a month in, the Steelers’ offense has been objectively bad. That unit has scored four total touchdowns in four games and is averaging just 10.5 points, among the worst in the league. Second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett has not progressed as hoped (his QBR ranks 29th of 32 starters thus far), and the fan base has grown tired of offensive coordinator Matt Canada. On Sunday, Houston’s defense limited Pickett to just 15 completions and 115 yards, intercepting him once.

Something to keep in mind, however: Pittsburgh has never had a losing season under Tomlin during his 17-year tenure.

Rookie QBs: 5 starts, 1 win
Sunday saw five different rookie quarterbacks start, and only Stroud came away with a victory. The Colts’ Anthony Richardson — the fourth pick last spring— returned from a concussion, which kept him out of last week’s win in Baltimore. Indianapolis fell in overtime to the Rams, 29-23, after scoring 23 consecutive points to force the extra period. (Of note, at least one game across the league has gone to overtime each of the four weeks so far this season. That’s only happened five times in NFL history.)

Young’s Panthers dropped a fourth consecutive game to start the year, 21-13 to Minnesota. The top pick is still searching for his first NFL win.

Additionally, a pair of fifth-round selections, taken five spots apart in April, got the first starts of their career. Neither went particularly well. In a bit of a surprise move, the Raiders chose Aidan O’Connell to step in for Jimmy Garoppolo (concussion), over veteran backup Brian Hoyer. O’Connell finished 24 of 39 for 238 yards and an interception in a 24-17 loss to the Chargers, who’ve now won two straight after a concerning 0-2 start.

And for a pivotal, early-season matchup against the Ravens, the Browns gave the start to Dorian Thompson-Robinson while Deshaun Watson recovered from an injury to his throwing shoulder. Thompson-Robinson finished 19 of 36 for 121 yards and three interceptions, and the Browns were never competitive in a 28-3 loss to the Ravens, who are 3-1 and in front in the AFC North. Watson is expected to return for Cleveland next week.
 
I don't follow the Buffalo Bills even though I live in Buffalo,NY
I thought it was stupid for the team to leave for London on Thurs fly through the night arriving Fri morning
It didn't give the team enough time to adjust to time difference,its probably one of the reasons they lost
They should of left Weds
 
Week 6 Power Rankings - Pt 1 of 2

NFL Power Rankings Week 6: Lions, Jaguars on the rise, plus rookie check-in
The Athletic/NY Times Oct 10, 2023
It’s already Week 6 in the NFL. Some things are clear. The SF 49ers are very good. The Miami Dolphins are very fast (and probably very good). And some things are not clear. Two of the most highly respected coaches in the league in the last two decades find themselves near the bottom of this week’s Power Rankings. And the KC Chiefs look out of sorts on offense despite winning.

In the “Becoming Clear” category is how each team’s additions are affecting outcomes this year. For that reason, we’re doing a rookie check-in this week, although we’ve taken the liberty of expanding the category to “notable new guy” when warranted.

1. SF 49ers (5-0)
(Last week: 1)
Sunday: Beat Dallas Cowboys 42-10
Should we do Sam Darnold here? SF beat Dallas so badly Sunday night that Darnold got into the game, but no, this section is just going to be a 49ers appreciation post since the Niners don’t have any newcomers making a significant impact. Being the best team in the NFL in mid-October is not the goal, but Brock Purdy’s 123.1 passer rating would be the highest for any QB in a season since at least 2000, according to TruMedia, and there’s no indication SF will slow down.

Up next: at Cleveland Browns, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

2. Philadelphia Eagles (5-0)
(Last week: 2)
Sunday: Beat Los Angeles Rams 23-14
After coming within four points of a Super Bowl, the Eagles added two of the most productive new guys in the offseason. Defensive lineman Jalen Carter, the No. 9 pick, is tied for seventh in the league with 23 QB pressures. D’Andre Swift, acquired in an offseason trade from Detroit, has 361 rushing yds in the last three weeks. Save the arguments about whether the Tush Push is a football play. Dominating the lines of scrimmage is the essence of football, and that’s what Philly is doing.

Up next: at NY Jets, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

3. Miami Dolphins (4-1)
(Last week: 4)
Sunday: Beat NY Giants 31-16
Miami might have missed on second-round cornerback Cam Smith, but the Dolphins made up for it with third-round pick De’Von Achane. After totaling 5 yds in the first two games of the season, the rookie RB leads the NFL with 455 rushing yds in the last three weeks. He’s averaging 12.3 yds per carry in that time and has two of the three fastest speeds in the NFL this year (21.93 mph and 21.76 mph), according to NextGen Stats.

Up next: vs. Carolina Panthers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

4. Detroit Lions (4-1)
(Last week: 7)
Sunday: Beat Carolina Panthers 42-24
Second-round TE Sam LaPorta is one of the best rookies in the league and a big reason the Lions are fourth in the league in scoring (29.6). LaPorta leads all TEs with 25 catches for 289 yds. Throw in the fact that RB Jahmyr Gibbs has shown flashes and second-round safety Brian Branch might be a star, and Detroit is in the running for the best draft of 2023, not to mention the third-best team in the NFC.

Up next: at TBay Buccaneers, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

5. KC Chiefs (4-1)
(Last week: 5)
Sunday: Beat Minnesota Vikings 27-20
It seems weird to say, but the Chiefs, who are a surprising ninth in the league in scoring (25.6 ppg), could use some help, and they aren’t getting much of it from this draft class. Second-round pick Rashee Rice is second on the team in catches with 17 but has only 173 yds. First-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah has four QB hurries and half a sack.

Up next: vs. Denver Broncos, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET

6. Buffalo Bills (3-2)
(Last week: 3)
Sunday: Lost to Jacksonville Jaguars 25-20
TE Dalton Kincaid, selected 25th, hasn’t exactly transformed the Buffalo offense. Kincaid has been on the field for more than 60 percent of the Bills’ snaps but has barely topped 100 receiving yds for the season (17 catches, 118 yds). Buffalo isn’t getting much out of the rest of its six-man draft class either. The Bills are getting a pass this week for losing in London to a team that spent the week there, but they need a bounce-back game quickly.

Up next: vs. NY Giants, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET

7. Dallas Cowboys (3-2)
(Last week: 6)
Sunday: Lost to SF 49ers 42-10
Saying anything bad feels like piling on after Sunday night, after which Dallas has to turn in its contender card, but this year’s draft class doesn’t suggest there’s help on the way. First-round pick Mazi Smith has played only about 25 percent of the snaps and has four tackles on the defensive line. Second-round TE Luke Schoonmaker has one catch for 1 yard.

Up next: vs. Los Angeles Chargers, Monday. 8:15 p.m. ET

8. Seattle Seahawks (3-1)
(Last week: 9)
Sunday: Bye
Cornerback Devon Witherspoon was a surprise at No. 5 in the draft. Guess we should have given Pete Carroll the benefit of the doubt about drafting defensive backs. Witherspoon was the NFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 4, has one interception, two sacks and a nasty attitude the Seahawks love. WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, 20th, is off to a slow start due in part — but only in part — to a wrist injury. He has 12 catches for 62 yds.

Up next: at Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

9. TBay Buccaneers (3-1)
(Last week: 10)
Sunday: Bye
The 2023 draft class has been fine, and second-round offensive tackle Cody Mauch is starting, but the best addition by far has been QB Baker Mayfield. The former No. 1 pick looked destined to end his career as a backup. Now he’s top 10 in the league in passer rating (101.9) with seven TDs versus two interceptions, and the Bucs are infatuated. TBay general manager Jason Licht called him “a dude” on Peter Schrager’s podcast last week. Crushes on Mayfield have flamed out fast in the past, but the Buccaneers lead the division at the moment.

Up next: vs. Detroit Lions, Sunday, 4:25 ET

10. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2)
(Last week: 16)
Sunday: Beat Buffalo Bills 25-20
WR Calvin Ridley (22 catches, 333 yds) has helped after being acquired in a trade with the Falcons, but the draft class hasn’t provided much. Jacksonville drafted 13 players in the offseason. First-rounder Anton Harrison is starting at right tackle, but second-round TE Brenton Strange (two catches, 7 yds) and third-round RB Tank Bigsby (41 yds on 15 carries) haven’t blossomed yet.

Up next: vs. Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

11. Baltimore Ravens (3-2)
(Last week: 8)
Sunday: Lost to Pittsburgh Steelers 17-10
WR Zay Flowers, the No. 22 pick, is third among all rookies with 317 receiving yds, and he’s carrying a huge chunk of the Ravens’ passing game. He’s 11th in the league in team target percentage (28.6 percent), according to TruMedia. In the “new guy” category, WR Odell Beckham Jr. has a lot fewer catches (seven) than he had offseason headlines during his free agency.

Up next: at Tennessee Titans, Sunday in London, 9:30 a.m. ET

12. New Orleans Saints (3-2)
(Last week: 19)
Sunday: Beat New England Patriots 34-0
The Saints took two defensive players in the top 40, but defensive linemen Bryan Bresee and Isaiah Foskey have combined for only 15 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks. Neither has played more than half of New Orleans’ snaps. But how about the old guy? WR Michael Thomas, who hasn’t had more than 450 receiving yds in a season since 2019, is New Orleans’ leading receiver with 284 yds already.

Up next: at Houston Texans, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

13. Los Angeles Chargers (2-2)
(Last week: 11)
Sunday: Bye
If (when?) Brandon Staley gets fired, this draft class will be thrown into the list of reasons. Not high, but it’ll be there. First-round WR Quentin Johnston, 4.49 speed at 6-foot-4, has six catches for 44 yds. Fourth-round receiver Derius Davis, 4.36 speed, has four catches for 24 yds. Second-round defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu is the only rookie contributing.

Up next: vs. Dallas Cowboys, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET

14. Los Angeles Rams (2-3)
(Last week: 12)
Sunday: Lost to Philadelphia Eagles 23-14
WR Puka Nacua is the King of All Rookies. After being taken with pick No. 177 out of BYU, Nacua is second in the league with 572 receiving yds. Davante Adams and A.J. Brown are the only players in the league who have a higher team target percentage than Nacua’s 32.5, according to TruMedia. He had more catches and yds in his first four games than any player in NFL history, and he had seven catches for 71 yds Sunday with Cooper Kupp back in the lineup.

15. Indianapolis Colts (3-2)
(Last week: 13)
Sunday: Beat Tennessee Titans 23-16
QB Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 pick, has been great. When he has been on the field. He’s averaging 6.9 yds per attempt and has three TDs versus one interception. He’s also second on the team in rushing (25 carries, 136 yds). The problem is he left Sunday’s game with a shoulder injury and now hasn’t finished three of his four starts because of injury. Early reports say he could miss a month. Third-round WR Josh Downs has quietly been good. He had six catches for 97 yds Sunday and has 23 for 255 this season.

Up next: at Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, 1 p.m.
 
Week 6 Power Rankings - Pt 1 of 2
NFL Power Rankings Week 6: Lions, Jaguars on the rise, plus rookie check-in
The Athletic/NY Times Oct 10, 2023

16. Cleveland Browns (2-2)
(Last week: 15)
Sunday: Bye
The downside (or let’s say one of the downsides) of trading away almost everything for Deshaun Watson is the Browns didn’t pick until the third round this year. Still, they got some value. Fifth-round QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson was competent in fill-in duty for the injured Watson in Week 4, and fourth-rounder Dawand Jones is starting at tackle.

Up next: vs. SF 49ers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

17. Atlanta Falcons (3-2)
(Last week: 22)
Sunday: Beat Houston Texans 21-19
RB Bijan Robinson, the No. 8 pick, has made Atlanta’s offense better and more fun. Robinson is the second-leading rookie rusher (364 yds on 67 carries) and is tied for the team lead in receptions (21). He also leads the NFC in plays that make you want to rewind your television. He had another one Sunday when he caught a TD pass behind his back. Second-round pick Matthew Bergeron has been the Day 1 starter at left guard.

Up next: vs. Washington Commanders, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

18. Houston Texans (2-3)
(Last week: 14)
Sunday: Lost to Atlanta Falcons 21-19
Remember how much trouble Lovie Smith caused last year when he led Houston to a Week 18 victory and cost the team the No. 1 pick? Turns out he did the Texans a favor. If Houston had the first pick, it might have taken the wrong QB. Picking No. 2, it got the right one. C.J. Stroud set the NFL record for attempts to start a career without an interception (186) on Sunday, and he’s third in the league in passing yds (1,461) and has seven TD passes. Throw in linebacker Will Anderson and WR Tank Dell (who suffered a concussion Sunday), and the Texans are on the rise despite Sunday’s loss.

Up next: vs. New Orleans Saints, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

19. Cincinnati Bengals (2-3)
(Last week: 26)
Sunday: Beat Arizona Cardinals 34-20
Second-round cornerback DJ Turner is the only member of the rookie class who is contributing much, but nobody in Cincinnati cares after the way Joe Burrow looked Sunday. The Bengals QB was 36-for-46 for 317 yds and three TDs, all of which went to Ja’Marr Chase, who had 15 catches. Combine this result with Pittsburgh knocking off Baltimore, and Cincinnati believes it has survived an early swoon.

Up next: vs. Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, 1 p.m.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2)
(Last week: 23)
Sunday: Beat Baltimore Ravens 17-10
None of the Steelers’ seven draft picks has played more than half the snaps this season. The closest is mammoth TE Darnell Washington, but he’s basically been a sixth offensive lineman. Washington has only one catch this season. Sunday’s win against Baltimore, which came on the strength of second-year George Pickens’ 130 receiving yds, might have saved the season.

Up next: Bye

21. Minnesota Vikings (1-4)
(Last week: 17)
Sunday: Lost to KC Chiefs 27-20
WR Jordan Addison has been what the Vikings drafted him to be, a solid second option behind Justin Jefferson. Addison has 19 catches for 249 yds. Third-round cornerback Mekhi Blackmon is starting to show some flashes. He’s had nine tackles in the last two games he’s played and was active against the Chiefs on Sunday.

Up next: at Chicago Bears, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

22. Las Vegas Raiders (2-3)
(Last week: 25)
Monday: Beat GBay Packers 17-13
The bad news for the Raiders, beyond being 2-3, is that No. 7 pick Tyree Wilson and No. 35 pick Michael Mayer have made little impact on the team. Wilson has only five tackles and no sacks, and Mayer has three catches for 41 yds. The good news is Las Vegas may have salvaged something from the draft with a pair of fourth-rounders in cornerback Jakorian Bennett and QB Aidan O’Connell. Bennett was playing more than 80 percent of the defensive snaps before being inactive Monday night with a hamstring injury. O’Connell was 24-for-39 for 238 yds in fill-in duty for Jimmy Garoppolo against the Chargers on Oct. 1.

Up next: vs. New England Patriots, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

23. GBay Packers (2-3)
(Last week: 18)
Monday: Lost to Las Vegas Raiders 17-13
First-round pick Lukas Van Ness has started slowly (eight tackles and one sack), but there’s plenty of depth in the GBay draft class. Second-rounders Luke Musgrave (TE) and Jayden Reed (WR) have combined for 31 catches and 369 yds, and fifth-round WR Dontayvion Wicks has added seven catches for 95 yds.

Up next: Bye

24. Tennessee Titans (2-3)
(Last week: 20)
Sunday: Lost to Indianapolis Colts 23-16
The splashiest addition of the offseason, WR DeAndre Hopkins (who was added through free agency) is 15th in the NFL with 356 yds on 26 catches. First-round pick Peter Skoronski won the starting left guard job in Week 1, but he missed three games after an emergency appendectomy before returning Sunday. Third-round RB Tyjae Spears has 156 yds on 27 carries, but second-round QB Will Levis has been a disappointment thus far, failing to push Ryan Tannehill for the starting job and slipping to third team at times.

Up next: vs. Baltimore Ravens, Sunday in London, 9:30 a.m. ET

25. Arizona Cardinals (1-4)
(Last week: 24)
Sunday: Lost to Cincinnati Bengals 34-20
QB Joshua Dobbs, acquired in a “who cares?” trade from the Browns on Aug. 24, has six TDs versus two interceptions and is 17th in the NFL in passer rating (90.8), which is better than Dak Prescott, Derek Carr, Deshaun Watson and Matthew Stafford among others. Throw in the fact that No. 6 pick Paris Johnson has played every snap at tackle and that Arizona has six picks in the first three rounds next year, and the Cardinals are in good shape for the future.

Up next: at Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

26. NY Jets (2-3)
(Last week: 28)
Sunday: Beat Denver Broncos 31-21
The new guy of the day in NY is first-year offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who was made a team captain before the game and given a game ball after the game Sunday because the Jets got some measure of revenge against Broncos head coach Sean Payton, who belittled Hackett in the offseason. The whole thing was proof that NY will come up with anything to find a reason to smile. A reason to frown? First-round pick Will McDonald (No. 15) has played fewer than 15 percent of the snaps on the defensive line.

Up next: vs. Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

27. Chicago Bears (1-4)
(Last week: 32)
Thursday: Beat Washington Commanders 40-20
There’s DJ Moore. The WR Chicago got as part of the package for the No. 1 pick that became Bryce Young for Carolina had eight catches for 230 yds Thursday against Washington. He had 300 in the first four games of the season. Not coincidentally, Justin Fields had four TD passes and a 125.3 passer rating. The two best single-game passer ratings of Fields’ career have come in the last two weeks. Rookie first-round offensive tackle Darnell Wright has played every snap and showed some promise.

Up next: vs. Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

28. Washington Commanders (2-3)
(Last week: 21)
Thursday: Lost to Chicago Bears 40-20
With the season starting to go south, new Washington owner Josh Harris surely is starting to think about cleaning house in the Commanders football offices. Coach Ron Rivera entered the season on shaky ground, and the 2023 draft class isn’t doing general manager Martin Mayhew any favors. First-round cornerback Emmanuel Forbes was benched Thursday night after being torched by DJ Moore, and no one else in the class has made much impact.

Up next: at Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, 1 p.m.

29. NY Giants (1-4)
(Last week: 29)
Sunday: Lost to Miami Dolphins 31-16
The Giants lost again, but if you’re looking for a bright spot, at least they are remembering that Darren Waller is on the team. The TE signed a three-year, $51 million deal in the offseason but has been conspicuously absent from the passing game at times. Sunday, he had a season-high eight catches for 86 yds, and he’s now the only Giant with more than 200 scrimmage yds this season (23 catches, 239 yds).

Up next: at Buffalo Bills, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET

30. New England Patriots (1-4)
(Last week: 27)
Sunday: Lost to New Orleans Saints 34-0
It’s not New England’s fault that Christian Gonzalez got hurt. The No. 17 pick at cornerback was the real deal before his shoulder injury. The rest of this mess is the Patriots’ fault. New England’s minus-76 point differential is the second worst in the league, and talk of Bill Belichick being pushed out the door suddenly doesn’t seem crazy.

Up next: at Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

31. Denver Broncos (1-4)
(Last week: 31)
Sunday: Lost to NY Jets 31-21
The Broncos used their first pick of the 2023 draft on Oklahoma WR Marvin Mims (No. 63), so why aren’t they using him more? Mims, who had one catch for 4 yds on Sunday, is playing only about one-third of the offensive snaps, but he’s second in the NFL in yds per target (20.5), according to TruMedia. Maybe he should have more than 12 targets this season?

Up next: at KC Chiefs, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET

32. Carolina Panthers (0-5)
(Last week: 30)
Sunday: Lost to Detroit Lions 42-20
It’s not fair to be worried about Bryce Young’s long-term future, but here we are. Young is last among qualifying QBs in yds per attempt (5.2) and has almost as many interceptions (four) as TDs (five). His passer rating (77) ranks 29th in the league, and the Panthers look headed for the worst record in the NFL. The problem is they sent next year’s first-round pick to Chicago as part of the trade that allowed them to draft Young.

Up next: at Miami Dolphins, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
 
I just discovered that my Walmart + grocery delivery service gives me free access to something called paramountplus so my laptop is queued up for today's game.
 
WEEK 9: All TV times Eastern (*Note select prime time games subject to change).

Thursday, Nov. 2
Tennessee Titans at Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:15 p.m. (Prime Video)

Sunday, Nov. 5
Miami Dolphins vs. Kansas City Chiefs(Frankfurt), 9:30 a.m. (NFL Network)

Minnesota Vikings at Atlanta Falcons, 1p.m. (FOX)

Seattle Seahawks at Baltimore Ravens, 1p.m. (CBS)

Arizona Cardinals at Cleveland Browns,1 p.m. (CBS)

Los Angeles Rams at Green Bay Packers,1 p.m. (FOX)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Houston Texans,1 p.m. (CBS)

Washington Commanders at New England Patriots, 1 p.m. (FOX)

Chicago Bears at New Orleans Saints, 1p.m. (CBS)

Indianapolis Colts at Carolina Panthers, 4:05 p.m. (CBS)

New York Giants at Las Vegas Raiders,4:25 p.m. (FOX)

Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles,4:25 p.m. (FOX)

Buffalo Bills at Cincinnati Bengals, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)*

Monday, Nov. 6
Los Angeles Chargers at New York Jets,8:15 p.m. (ESPN)

Bye week: Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers
 
Remember how much trouble Lovie Smith caused last year when he led Houston to a Week 18 victory and cost the team the No. 1 pick? Turns out he did the Texans a favor. If Houston had the first pick, it might have taken the wrong QB. Picking No. 2, it got the right one. C.J. Stroud set the NFL record for attempts to start a career without an interception (186) on Sunday, and he’s third in the league in passing yds (1,461) and has seven TD passes. Throw in linebacker Will Anderson and WR Tank Dell (who suffered a concussion Sunday), and the Texans are on the rise despite Sunday’s loss.
Click to expand...

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Houston Texans,1 p.m. (CBS)
Click to expand...


^^ Was the best football game around here in YEARS!! .... and yes .. "thank you" Lovie Smith for costing the Texans the first draft pick this year.

What an amazing ride Houston is on with CJ Stroud -- he is breaking rookie records all over the place, with a very banged up support team.
Yesterday, he was playing with the 4th string center, and the team lost their kicker to injury, so a running back filled in.
 
Last couple of mins. of the Cowboys/Eagles game was really good! One more play & Dallas might have won?
 


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