Another coaching carousel is nearly upon us.  Bill Belichick recently punted on the uncertainty o...

Another coaching carousel is nearly upon us.Bill Belichick recently punted on the uncertainty of the upcoming NFL cycle with a stunning move to take the top job at North Carolina. The Patriots legend was no lock to land another pro job this time around, but he at least figured to be a contender for a few openings.How does the coaching landscape stack up with one big fish already off the board? Let's take a look at the top candidates.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Ben Johnson</h3>Any team in the market for a new head coach will be lining up for a chance to speak to Johnson. This won't be a typical process, though. The Lions offensive coordinator will be vetting prospective employers as much as they'll be vetting him. After withdrawing from the Commanders' search last year, there are probably only so many jobs for which he'd take an interview. The well-oiled machine he's built in Detroit has earned him that type of status, a rarity among prospective first-time head coaches.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761314/Offensive_EPA.jpg?ts=1734548499" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761314/Offensive_EPA.jpg?ts=1734548499 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761314/Offensive_EPA.jpg?ts=1734548499 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761314/Offensive_EPA.jpg?ts=1734548499 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761314/Offensive_EPA.jpg?ts=1734548499 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761314/Offensive_EPA.jpg?ts=1734548499 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> </figcaption></figure>The Lions boast the NFL's highest-scoring offense across the last three seasons under Johnson's leadership. The unit also ranks second in total EPA, third in pass EPA, and fourth in rush EPA over that stretch, according to TruMedia. The masterful way in which he's married the run and pass games within the offense gives Johnson a legitimate case as the most important figure in the Lions' ascent from basement-dweller to bona fide powerhouse. Handing him the keys to your organization gives you hope of replicating that success.<h3>Mike Vrabel</h3>Here's hoping you didn't forget about Vrabel - NFL teams certainly didn't. The former Titans head coach has been a consultant on the Browns' staff this season. That may seem a little odd, but it's pretty clear that he's merely been keeping himself busy while waiting for the next head coaching cycle. It'd be an enormous upset if Vrabel didn't land a job this offseason after interviewing for a few openings following his dismissal last January.Vrabel posted a 54-45 record with the Titans, leading his team to three straight playoff appearances from 2019-2021. That track record becomes all the more impressive when you consider the rosters he was working with. His leadership was seemingly a driving factor in Tennessee consistently playing above its talent level, and his hard-nosed mentality resulted in top-seven production in rush EPA on both offense and defense during his tenure. Vrabel is an ideal candidate for any team seeking a true program-builder. His second crack at a head coaching job could yield even better results with a franchise quarterback.<h3>Brian Flores</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745905/cropped_GettyImages-2172743051.jpg?ts=1726775487" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745905/w220xh124_GettyImages-2172743051.jpg?ts=1726775487 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745905/w320xh180_GettyImages-2172743051.jpg?ts=1726775487 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745905/w640xh360_GettyImages-2172743051.jpg?ts=1726775487 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745905/w768xh432_GettyImages-2172743051.jpg?ts=1726775487 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745905/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2172743051.jpg?ts=1726775487 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Stephen Maturen / Getty</figcaption></figure>Flores might be your guy if you like the idea of giving opposing quarterbacks nightmares ahead of game day. The Vikings defensive coordinator is leading the charge at a time when defenses have started to adjust to offensive innovation and find ways to dictate games themselves. Minnesota's defense currently ranks second in both EPA/play and turnovers. With all due respect to the Vikings roster, this isn't a matter of defense winning on sheer talent. Flores' scheme is downright diabolical.Minnesota has a league-high 37.2% blitz rate, but frequency is only a small part of the story. It's also a matter of disguise and creativity. The Vikings defense has led the NFL in alignments with five-plus man fronts for each of the past two years under Flores, according to Next Gen Stats. They've dropped players into coverage out of those looks at a 52.3% clip this season, also the highest rate league-wide. In other words, Minnesota is stacking the line in exotic looks, and quarterbacks have no idea who's going where until the ball is snapped.The chaotic results speak for themselves. Flores deserves credit both for cooking up this system and being able to teach it in a way that allows players to consistently execute at a high level. He's simply one of the best coaches in football.<h3>Jesse Minter</h3>Minter was the most important hire for Jim Harbaugh's staff. Unfortunately for the Chargers head coach, he may not be sticking around for long. The former Michigan defensive coordinator has found immediate success at the NFL level. Los Angeles' defense has skyrocketed to No. 7 in total EPA after finishing last season as a bottom-five unit.It should also be noted that the ascent came after salary-cap issues prevented the Chargers from doing any major roster reconstruction last offseason. The sky is the limit for Minter's defense when he gets the chance to bring in a collection of players that fit his scheme. Some teams may be scared off by the fact that he only has one season as an NFL coordinator under his belt. The smarter ones will know this may be their only chance to get him. Minter will be the Mike Macdonald of this cycle.<h3>Kliff Kingsbury</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/751497/cropped_GettyImages-2176736992.jpg?ts=1729790530" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/751497/w220xh124_GettyImages-2176736992.jpg?ts=1729790530 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/751497/w320xh180_GettyImages-2176736992.jpg?ts=1729790530 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/751497/w640xh360_GettyImages-2176736992.jpg?ts=1729790530 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/751497/w768xh432_GettyImages-2176736992.jpg?ts=1729790530 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/751497/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2176736992.jpg?ts=1729790530 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Giving Kingsbury another shot as a head coach might feel like playing with fire. A 28-37-1 record with the Cardinals was a major disappointment, and it's not like he was a huge success in college, either. Kingsbury also posted a sub-.500 mark across six seasons at Texas Tech. But quarterback development is everything in today's NFL, and it sure seems like he's got some magic in that space.Owners will be encouraged by what Kingsbury has done with Jayden Daniels in Washington despite a largely mediocre supporting cast. A QB-friendly system has aided the Heisman Trophy winner's adjustment to the NFL level and helped him put together the sixth-best rookie season by EPA/play since 2000. Kingsbury is also still only 45 years old, so one can make the case that his first NFL head coaching opportunity came too early. A second chance could yield far better results, assuming he's learned from previous missteps.<h3>Liam Coen</h3>Coen is taking the Bucs' offense to another level in his first season as an NFL coordinator. Dave Canales earned the Panthers' head coaching job by leading Tampa Bay's offense to a No. 7-ranked finish in pass EPA last season. Coen's offense ranks No. 6 in that regard thus far despite losing Chris Godwin for the year in October.But that's only part of the appeal. The 2023 Bucs finished 30th in rush EPA under Canales, averaging a league-worst 3.4 yards per carry. The run game has flipped the script under Coen, jumping up to sixth in rush EPA this year while averaging 5.2 yards per attempt, the second-best mark league-wide. Coen, who previously spent time on Sean McVay's staff in Los Angeles, can probably expect to receive interview requests for almost all of this year's job openings. The Bucs could be looking for an offensive coordinator for the third time in as many years.<h3>Aaron Glenn</h3>Overseeing a productive unit is typically more than enough to get you consideration for head coaching interviews. Doing so while clearly elevating the roster makes you a legitimately strong candidate.The Lions aren't exactly short on talent, but some brutal injury luck has picked apart the defense throughout this season. Detroit still ranks eighth in defensive EPA despite the mounting losses. Glenn's unique ability to prepare his defense has allowed new players to seamlessly step into prominent roles, in some cases immediately after joining the team off the street. It's worth finding out if he can translate that into building a program of his own as a head coach.<h3>Todd Monken</h3>Monken's name seemingly hasn't generated much excitement on the coaching carousel. Perhaps that has something to do with the fact that first-timers tend to be on the younger side. At 58, he'd be the NFL's seventh-oldest head coach. The numbers are begging you to not overthink this one, though. Monken's arrival as the offensive coordinator last season has helped make the Ravens' passing game a juggernaut.<figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Season</th>
<th>EPA/dropback rank</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>2020</td>
<td>20th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2021</td>
<td>19th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2022</td>
<td>26th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2023</td>
<td>9th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2024</td>
<td>1st</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure>Lamar Jackson is a factor here, of course, but Monken's reputation as one of the league's best play designers is independent of his star quarterback. You won't find many offensive minds who do a better job of putting their players in a position to succeed. A deep playoff run will only help his chances.<h3>Joe Brady</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761355/cropped_GettyImages-2187989165.jpg?ts=1734569943" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761355/w220xh124_GettyImages-2187989165.jpg?ts=1734569943 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761355/w320xh180_GettyImages-2187989165.jpg?ts=1734569943 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761355/w640xh360_GettyImages-2187989165.jpg?ts=1734569943 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761355/w768xh432_GettyImages-2187989165.jpg?ts=1734569943 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761355/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2187989165.jpg?ts=1734569943 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Bryan Bennett / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>What a ride it's been for Brady. A rough tenure as the Panthers' offensive coordinator from 2020-21 seemed to create the impression that his success at LSU was more about Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Justin Jefferson than anything else. It was an understandable assumption, and one he may be fighting again with Josh Allen as his quarterback in Buffalo. Allen is a cheat code, to be sure, but Brady isn't merely along for the ride.Brady's designs and play-calling skills have been crucial for Buffalo's ability to sustain offensive production in a year where so many were expecting regression. The passing game has been a force despite significant workloads for some veteran journeymen receivers, and the Bills rank third in rush EPA for the second straight year. Brady could be an especially interesting option if Burrow and Chase are in the market for a new coach in Cincinnati.<h3>Vance Joseph</h3>Joseph is a fascinating candidate in this cycle. His first opportunity as a head coach didn't end well as he posted an 11-21 record with the Broncos from 2017-18. But how can you ignore what he's done in his return to the organization as a coordinator? Joseph has led Denver's defense all the way back from the embarrassment of last year's 70-point game to become one of the league's best units.The Broncos currently rank first in total EPA, pass EPA, and rush EPA. Aside from Patrick Surtain, he's not exactly working with a host of established stars, either. You'd be hard-pressed to identify a more impressive individual coaching job over the last year. Joseph may be in the process of earning another chance in a lead role.Other names to watchDrew Petzing, Cardinals OC Kellen Moore, Eagles OC Bobby Slowik, Texans OC Ejiro Evero, Panthers DC Steve Spagnuolo, Chiefs DC

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Top NFL head coaching candidates after Belichick joins UNC

Michael Penix Jr. going to the Falcons with the No. 8 pick in this year's draft was an all-time s...

Michael Penix Jr. going to the Falcons with the No. 8 pick in this year's draft was an all-time shocker. Nobody saw it coming, and for good reason.The widespread confusion wasn't a knock on the Washington product - quarterbacks with that kind of talent are almost always worth taking in the top half of the first round. But Atlanta had made a major splash by signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180-million deal six weeks prior. That kind of commitment makes it difficult to get value out of a rookie quarterback in the short term ... or so we thought.It took all of 14 games for the Falcons to admit they made a monumental mistake with the Cousins deal. They've now benched the veteran signal-caller after a particularly dreadful stretch of play, clearing the way for Penix to step in sooner than expected. Having a talented young passer waiting in the wings could prove to be a stroke of genius.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Falcons squandered a comfortable lead atop the NFC South by dropping four straight games prior to Monday night. Cousins served up eight interceptions without throwing a single touchdown over that span. He was similarly bad in prime time against the Raiders, recording a season-low 122 yards as Atlanta managed all of 15 points while sweating out a win.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761188/cropped_GettyImages-2190440146.jpg?ts=1734539707" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761188/w220xh124_GettyImages-2190440146.jpg?ts=1734539707 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761188/w320xh180_GettyImages-2190440146.jpg?ts=1734539707 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761188/w640xh360_GettyImages-2190440146.jpg?ts=1734539707 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761188/w768xh432_GettyImages-2190440146.jpg?ts=1734539707 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761188/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2190440146.jpg?ts=1734539707 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Ian Maule / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Penix will have to work through some growing pains in his first real NFL action, as is the case for any rookie quarterback. But it's difficult to imagine those struggles will be more damaging than the incumbent's recent negative plays. Cousins ranks 30th among qualified passers in EPA/dropback over the last six weeks, according to TruMedia; only Anthony Richardson and Drew Lock have been worse.Cousins was never known for his movement skills, but he's lost any semblance of mobility after last year's Achilles injury. The 36-year-old entered this week having stayed within the pocket on an astounding 99.4% of dropbacks, according to Next Gen Stats. That leads all quarterbacks this season and is the second-highest mark since at least 2018. The statuesque nature of his game at this stage is also the likely explanation for his career-low 13.1% play-action rate.The Falcons seemingly found a way to work around those limitations after a concerning season opener, but Cousins' fading arm strength also became an issue as the season continued. He's struggling to drive the ball and connect on some of the throws that were once a pivotal part of his game, ranking 33rd in PFF's big-time throw rate.That drop-off, by extension, appears to be affecting his confidence when it comes to letting it rip in rhythm. All of this has made him uncharacteristically uncomfortable working through progressions, leading to the kind of poor decisions he's previously been able to minimize. Cousins leads the league with a career-worst 16 interceptions and is tied with Richardson for PFF's third-worst turnover-worthy play rate.Penix, by comparison, plays with supreme confidence in his arm talent. The vertical game was his calling card at the helm of a prolific offense at Washington. Few quarterbacks in the league today can so effortlessly push the ball downfield with good placement and accuracy. And while he doesn't profile as a huge threat in the run game, he's certainly more capable of extending plays than this version of Cousins.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yIfL72tR4fA?si=lu-JJ710RmQ2Qr76" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>The clear upgrade in terms of physical gifts, along with a more aggressive play style, has the potential to provide an immediate boost for an Atlanta offense that desperately needs a spark. Even if Penix isn't elevating his teammates at this early stage, the Falcons could do damage with a QB who isn't dragging down a group of skill-position players as talented as Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts.Atlanta's closing stretch of games against the Giants, Commanders, and Panthers gives Penix an opportunity to come flying out of the gate and keep the Falcons alive in the NFC South race.None of this changes the Falcons' disastrous decision to dish out $100 million in guarantees to an aging quarterback coming off a major injury. Cutting Cousins this offseason will leave the team with $65 million in dead money, according to <a href="https://overthecap.com/salary-cap/atlanta-falcons">Over the Cap</a> - an unfortunate reality that will wash out some of the value of having Penix on a rookie contract.But the spectacular failure of that move should alter the overwhelmingly negative way we viewed Atlanta's draft-day stunner. Instead of a Cousins flop sending the Falcons back to the drawing board with no obvious fallback plan, the staff simply moves up the timeline for a player it already saw as the future.At the very least, having Penix in-house sounds a whole lot better than wading into the murky waters of the 2025 QB class. Don't sleep on his chances of keeping the Falcons in the mix this season, either.

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The Falcons drafting Penix doesn't look so bad now

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their si...

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.<h3>Choose your fighter</h3>This MVP race is as good as it gets.In one corner you have Josh Allen. He's been spectacular throughout the year, taking his game to even greater heights from seasons past, but his recent form has been particularly special.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>A season-high 362 passing yards led Buffalo to a statement win over the Super Bowl-favorite Detroit Lions this week. With another two scores each through the air and on the ground, the Bills quarterback accounted for 10 total touchdowns in an unfathomable two-week stretch. In the middle of fantasy playoffs, too.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Josh Allen in Week 14: 51.88 fantasy points Josh Allen in Week 15: 41.28 fantasy points He's the first QB in NFL history with back-to-back games of 40+ fantasy points.— Field Yates (@FieldYates) <a href="https://twitter.com/FieldYates/status/1868485481723511156?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>And then there's Lamar Jackson. Don't let previous MVP honors allow you to take what he's done this season for granted. Sunday's win over the Giants saw the Ravens star post his second five-score game of the season. He's now thrown 34 touchdowns and just three interceptions on the year.Jackson is the NFL's runaway leader by EPA/dropback at 0.33, which is tied with for the eighth-best season from a quarterback since 2000 (minimum 300 pass attempts), according to TruMedia.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760838/Screenshot_2024-12-15_at_9.51.26_PM.jpg?ts=1734317528" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760838/Screenshot_2024-12-15_at_9.51.26_PM.jpg?ts=1734317528 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760838/Screenshot_2024-12-15_at_9.51.26_PM.jpg?ts=1734317528 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760838/Screenshot_2024-12-15_at_9.51.26_PM.jpg?ts=1734317528 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760838/Screenshot_2024-12-15_at_9.51.26_PM.jpg?ts=1734317528 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760838/Screenshot_2024-12-15_at_9.51.26_PM.jpg?ts=1734317528 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> </figcaption></figure>Allen's signature wins have come against the Chiefs and Lions, the top seeds in each conference. Jackson has more losses on his resume, but that record could look a whole lot different if not for some bizarre kicker issues in Baltimore. His signature win was a blowout over Allen and the Bills in Week 4.If you want to focus on narratives, and really dig into the "value" aspect of the conversation, Allen is probably your guy. This was supposed to be a reset year for a Bills team that had to do more subtracting than adding because of salary cap issues. The state of the receiving corps certainly reflected that prior to the Amari Cooper trade. But these Bills might have their best chance yet at a Super Bowl because Allen had no interest in anyone's expectations.Those who see this more so as an award meant to honor the best player, no matter what it's called, may find themselves backing Baltimore's quarterback. The numbers are that good. The arrival of Derrick Henry has helped the offense, to be sure, but Jackson has also managed to equal his 2019 unanimous MVP season despite the Ravens defense ranking 24th in scoring, their lowest since 1996.You really can't go wrong, and it'll be fascinating to see if Allen or Jackson can truly separate themselves over the last three weeks of the season. As things currently stand, it seems as if we could be headed for the closest vote in recent memory.<h3>What drama?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760790/cropped_GettyImages-2190119259.jpg?ts=1734307596" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760790/w220xh124_GettyImages-2190119259.jpg?ts=1734307596 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760790/w320xh180_GettyImages-2190119259.jpg?ts=1734307596 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760790/w640xh360_GettyImages-2190119259.jpg?ts=1734307596 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760790/w768xh432_GettyImages-2190119259.jpg?ts=1734307596 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760790/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2190119259.jpg?ts=1734307596 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mitchell Leff / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>It had to be an exhausting week in Philadelphia.A rough performance from Jalen Hurts against the Panthers raised some legitimate concerns about the state of the Eagles' passing game. Several postgame quotes created the impression of some perhaps not-so-legitimate drama between the team's most important players.The Eagles knew they had to send a message in a big game against the Steelers. They did exactly that.Hurts was fantastic in a commanding win, completing 25 of 32 passes for 290 yards and two touchdowns, adding another 45 yards and one score on the ground. More important than the numbers, though, he was comfortable and decisive at the controls of the offense - a far cry from his 108-yard day a week prior.The bounce-back effort saw Hurts post his second-most EPA/dropback in a game this season, according to TruMedia. Considering his season high came against a Bengals defense that has been virtually non-existent, we'll go ahead and chalk this one up as his best game of the year.Philly will have to string together multiple such performances to truly silence the doubters heading into the playoffs, but this was an incredibly promising example of what the offense can (and should) be on a weekly basis. It simply has far too much talent across the board, including at quarterback, to be sweating out games against basement-dwellers like the Panthers.The Eagles consistently pairing this kind of passing attack with a record-chasing ground game would give them every opportunity to get back to the Super Bowl. And with injuries continuing to pile up on the Lions defense, it could very well make them Philly the team to beat in the NFC.<h3>Quick slants</h3>Too bold<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760810/cropped_GettyImages-2190132078.jpg?ts=1734310179" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760810/w220xh124_GettyImages-2190132078.jpg?ts=1734310179 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760810/w320xh180_GettyImages-2190132078.jpg?ts=1734310179 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760810/w640xh360_GettyImages-2190132078.jpg?ts=1734310179 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760810/w768xh432_GettyImages-2190132078.jpg?ts=1734310179 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760810/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2190132078.jpg?ts=1734310179 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mike Mulholland / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>You're never going to catch me criticizing Dan Campbell's fourth-down decision-making - some of which, as we saw last week, even goes beyond what analytics recommend. But that's part of what makes the Lions so good. Overaggressiveness in other areas can be a different story. The Detroit head coach made the stunning decision to try for an onside kick trailing by 10 with 12 minutes left against the Bills. Granted, the defense wasn't having much luck getting Josh Allen off the field. But with so much time remaining, turning to a play that was successful on three of 45 attempts league-wide coming into this week can't be the answer. Find a way to get a stop and save the desperation for when you truly have no other choice.In-Evans-ableIt seemed likely heading into this week that Mike Evans' streak of 1,000-yard seasons would finally come to an end. The Bucs wide receiver clearly has other ideas. Evans was the star of Sunday's statement victory over the Chargers, recording two touchdowns and a season-high 159 receiving yards. The monster performance puts him just 251 yards shy of 1,000 with three games to play. Accomplishing the feat for an 11th consecutive season to start his career would further cement Evans' legacy as one of the most consistent, yet somehow underrated, playmakers of this generation.Rams in driver's seatSeattle falling to Green Bay on Sunday night pushes the Rams to the top of the NFC West by way of a head-to-head tiebreaker. The Seahawks will have an opportunity to even that up, and potentially pull back ahead, when the two teams meet in the regular-season finale. But it'll be an uphill battle to remain within striking distance until then. Geno Smith's status is up in the air after leaving Sunday night's game with a knee injury. That's not ideal with the 11-2 Vikings in town next week and a Thursday night trip to Chicago on tap just days later. The Rams, meanwhile, have games against the Jets and Cardinals before hosting Seattle in Week 18. This division could be wrapped up before that meeting if Smith is forced to miss time.Pickens the keyThe Steelers' offense was able to work around the absence of George Pickens in last week's win over the Browns. That was far too much to ask in a matchup with the Eagles. Russell Wilson posting a season-low 128 passing yards, including just eight completions to wide receivers, drives home the importance of Pickens to this offense. An already thin group of pass-catchers becomes arguably the worst in football without its top target. So while the Steelers would love to get him back as soon as possible, they should focus on making sure he's fully healthy for the playoffs. This passing game doesn't stand a chance without him.Davante's still got itThe Jets are bad. Awful, even. A win over the Jaguars does little to change that. But we can still appreciate elite players when we see them. Davante Adams continues to show he belongs in that category. The veteran wideout took the game into his own hands this week, racking up nine catches for a season-high 198 yards and two touchdowns. It's easy to criticize the Jets' process in giving up draft capital amid a disastrous season, but it's not difficult to understand what they were trying to accomplish in reigniting the Adams-Aaron Rodgers connection. This all sets the stage for a fascinating offseason storyline. Adams is probably too expensive for the Jets to justify bringing back during a rebuild. And he likely wouldn't want to be back with Rodgers on his way out, anyway. A contending team is going to have a chance to add a future Hall of Famer who still has what it takes to put them over the top.The party's over<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759060/cropped_GettyImages-2185796078.jpg?ts=1733427678" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759060/w220xh124_GettyImages-2185796078.jpg?ts=1733427678 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759060/w320xh180_GettyImages-2185796078.jpg?ts=1733427678 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759060/w640xh360_GettyImages-2185796078.jpg?ts=1733427678 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759060/w768xh432_GettyImages-2185796078.jpg?ts=1733427678 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759060/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2185796078.jpg?ts=1733427678 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jason Miller / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>The Browns' offense enjoying a significant bump in production (and fun) with Jameis Winston taking over for Deshaun Watson predictably created this idea that Winston could be brought back as the starter next year. Cleveland can't go back to Watson, no matter how much he's getting paid, but Winston can't be the move, either. Another three interceptions in Sunday's loss to the Chiefs gives him 12 in just seven starts. This time, the turnovers were enough to get him benched. While it's true that Winston's ability and willingness to push the ball downfield has unlocked an element that was previously missing from the Browns' offense, it's probably also true that a lot of passers could have done the same - many without averaging nearly two interceptions per game. Cleveland needs to capitalize on its favorable draft position and take a chance on a young quarterback. That might be the only way out of the cap nightmare created by the Watson blunder.Finding a way to loseBo Nix did everything he could to hand the Colts a win, but they simply would not be denied in their efforts to give this game away. There were plenty of Anthony Richardson mistakes - a far too common occurrence during a rocky sophomore season. Then there was Jonathan Taylor dropping the ball before the end zone on a long run that would have given Indy a 19-7 lead. Michael Pittman's fumble promptly wasted Nix's third interception of the day. And then the cherry on top: an all-time trick-play disaster that saw the Broncos step in front of a double-pass attempt and run it all the way back to ice the game. A win would have given the Colts a chance to sneak into the playoffs. Instead, an embarrassing loss effectively ends their season.OROY claritySpeaking of Nix, we can all agree to ease up on the Offensive Rookie of the Year hype now, right? If a quarterback is taking home this award at season's end, it should probably be Jayden Daniels, who is posting the sixth-most EPA/dropback from a rookie QB since 2000, according to TruMedia. Nix is tied for 31st with names like Mike Glennon and Brandon Weeden. If voters are willing to open their minds beyond one position, Brock Bowers and Brian Thomas Jr. are incredibly deserving candidates. Either way, excitement for the arrival of a young passer doesn't need to slip into egregious quarterback bias in award season.Curtains for Levis?Will Levis under center has created some brief moments of excitement in Tennessee. Unfortunately for the Titans, those glimmers have been completely overshadowed by some baffling mistakes. Levis was particularly bad this week against a dreadful Bengals defense, serving up three interceptions and a fumble before getting benched for Mason Rudolph. The Titans can't afford to go into another season hoping he'll finally put it all together. They'll have an opportunity to land a quarterback with an early pick in this year's draft, and taking another swing is the only way to potentially get this organization headed back in the right direction.Stingley soaringDerek Stingley Jr. continues to be a bright spot in an up-and-down season in Houston. The Texans cornerback has taken the next step toward elite status in his third year after joining the club as the No. 3 overall pick. He was the key to putting away a crucial win over the Dolphins this week, notching a pair of fourth-quarter interceptions on passes intended for Tyreek Hill. Stingley doesn't yet get the same national attention as fellow 2022 first-rounder Sauce Gardner, but he should be right there with the Jets star in looking to reset the cornerback market. Both will top Patrick Surtain's record-setting deal sooner than later.<h3>Stat of the week</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Lamar Jackson has 2 games with 5+ pass TD and 0 INT this season. The only two seasons a player had more were Tom Brady’s 2007 MVP season and Jackson’s 2019 MVP season (each had 3 such games). <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RavensFlock?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RavensFlock</a> <a href="https://t.co/kxFyea3LJR">https://t.co/kxFyea3LJR</a>— Tony Holzman-Escareno (@FrontOfficeNFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/FrontOfficeNFL/status/1868401740506353733?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2024</a>
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Key takeaways and analysis from Week 15 in the NFL

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.<h3>Don't let them get hot</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759684/cropped_GettyImages-2188931217.jpg?ts=1733703486" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759684/w220xh124_GettyImages-2188931217.jpg?ts=1733703486 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759684/w320xh180_GettyImages-2188931217.jpg?ts=1733703486 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759684/w640xh360_GettyImages-2188931217.jpg?ts=1733703486 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759684/w768xh432_GettyImages-2188931217.jpg?ts=1733703486 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759684/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2188931217.jpg?ts=1733703486 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Katelyn Mulcahy / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Nobody will want to see the Rams in the playoffs.It's been an up-and-down year to this point, with L.A. seeming varying levels of contender and pretender depending on the week. But the aura of a sneaky dark horse has remained throughout. Sunday's shootout win over the Bills is evidence of that sky-high ceiling.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Josh Allen bolstered his MVP case by throwing for 342 yards, running for another 82, and becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to have three passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns in one game. Somehow, that wasn't enough.The Rams' offense, as we saw this week, can be just as good when healthy and firing on all cylinders. Matthew Stafford was nearly perfect while throwing for a season-high 320 yards and two touchdowns. An 11-of-15 rate on third downs sums up the consistency with which the veteran quarterback found Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp on key plays throughout the day.Now 7-6, the Rams may still seem like a long shot to get into the postseason. Don't get too caught up in their 33% playoff odds, though. L.A. is still in control of its own destiny in the NFC West. Having already secured a win over the first-place Seahawks, who hold a one-game division lead, the Rams can take the tiebreaker with a win in the regular-season finale.It may take a perfect finish with the Seahawks also peaking, but that's well within the realm of possibility if these are the Rams we get going forward. This team knows as well as anyone that making a run is all about getting hot at the right time.<h3>Zero regrets</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759720/cropped_GettyImages-2188918417.jpg?ts=1733714456" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759720/w220xh124_GettyImages-2188918417.jpg?ts=1733714456 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759720/w320xh180_GettyImages-2188918417.jpg?ts=1733714456 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759720/w640xh360_GettyImages-2188918417.jpg?ts=1733714456 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759720/w768xh432_GettyImages-2188918417.jpg?ts=1733714456 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759720/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2188918417.jpg?ts=1733714456 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Stephen Maturen / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Kirk Cousins returning to Minnesota could have been the ultimate revenge game. There's nothing quite like showing your old team that they made a mistake by letting you go.Unfortunately for the Falcons quarterback, that's simply not the case here. The Vikings getting their 11th win of the season - a feat accomplished just once in six years with Cousins - validates the decision-making process almost as much as the eye test.Cousins, who joined Atlanta on a four-year, $160-million deal in March, looks like a shell of his former self. While a 344-yard day might seem impressive on the stat sheet, another two interceptions gives him eight during the Falcons' four-game losing streak. He's the first quarterback since Brett Favre in 2005 to throw that many picks while being held without a touchdown over a four-game stretch of regular-season play, according to <a href="https://x.com/marcraimondi/status/1865888645166907869">ESPN Stats and Info</a>.Sam Darnold, meanwhile, continues to outplay the one-year, $10-million contract he signed to replace Cousins in Minnesota. Turnovers and sacks have been problematic at times, but his performance against Atlanta was the perfect example of what this offense can be when he does avoid the negative plays. Darnold completed 22 of 28 passes on the day, throwing for 347 yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions. He's the first Vikings quarterback to post a five-score game since Daunte Culpepper in 2004.Going from Cousins to Darnold is the primary reason why so many in the football world considered the Vikings to be the clear underdog in an ultra-competitive NFC North. The Falcons were seen as a likely contender after their aggressive move to address the quarterback position. As always, nobody knows anything.Cousins flopping in Atlanta while his former team only gets better should serve as a cautionary tale for teams weighing the possibility of paying an aging quarterback coming off a major injury. The best deals are often the ones you don't make.<h3>Quick slants</h3>An extremely Chiefs winThe Chiefs secured their ninth straight AFC West title with a 19-17 victory over the Chargers on Sunday night. That now means 10 of 12 wins this season have been of the one-score variety. That's never been a sustainable model for success, but these are the Chiefs we're talking about. They've kind of perfected it.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
the chiefs offense is 1st in EPA/play and 1st in success rate on late downs this season in "got to have it" situations, they're usually going to get it— Tej Seth (@tejfbanalytics) <a href="https://twitter.com/tejfbanalytics/status/1865974256401527127?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>The non-Chiefs fans of the world are presumably desperate to see this team fail in the playoffs. That wishful thinking, combined with the fact that they've had to eke out wins like this, will lead to some predictions of their demise. We should know better by now, though, shouldn't we? This isn't a matter of getting lucky. The Chiefs are just that good when it matters most.Eagles starting slowA win is a win. In that sense, there's little reason to overthink the Eagles needing to sweat out their game against the Panthers. But this habit of stumbling out of the gate is not going to fly in the playoffs. A scoreless opening 15 minutes against the NFL's No. 32 scoring defense leaves the Eagles stuck on 17 first-quarter points this year. If that seems bad, it's because it is. It's the worst total in the league. Philly has all the pieces to win a Super Bowl, but these slow starts can't continue. Jumping ahead and then leaning on the run game throughout is the clear recipe for success with this offense. Being forced to play from behind and go pass-heavy against better opponents could lead to more postseason disappointment.Key coaching blundersJosh Allen's heroic efforts may not have been wasted were it not for two curious decisions late in the fourth quarter. First, Sean McDermott opted to accept a holding call that gave the Rams a second (albeit longer) chance on third down in Bills territory while ahead by three points. Maybe the Rams go for it on fourth-and-6 and convert, as they did on the eventual fourth-and-5 after an 11-yard gain on the third-down repeat. But giving them two shots at it seemed misguided either way. Then, with the Bills at the goal line trailing by two scores, a first-down QB sneak stopped short led to McDermott calling a timeout with 1:02 to play. Wasting a timeout in that spot effectively gave Buffalo no time to get the ball back after an unsuccessful onside kick. Game management doesn't need to be this difficult.Bad teams stay bad<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759576/cropped_GettyImages-2188893146.jpg?ts=1733684855" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759576/w220xh124_GettyImages-2188893146.jpg?ts=1733684855 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759576/w320xh180_GettyImages-2188893146.jpg?ts=1733684855 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759576/w640xh360_GettyImages-2188893146.jpg?ts=1733684855 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759576/w768xh432_GettyImages-2188893146.jpg?ts=1733684855 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759576/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2188893146.jpg?ts=1733684855 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Megan Briggs / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>This should have been the week the Jets finally got back in the win column. Aaron Rodgers had recorded his first 300-yard game in 35 outings when they had the Dolphins on the ropes late in the fourth quarter. But there's always time for this team to make another inexcusable mistake. Davante Adams allowing himself to be pushed out of bounds after a third-down back-shoulder catch stopped the clock at 52 seconds. The Jets would have been able to run the clock almost all the way down before their go-ahead field goal if he had gone down in the field of play, as Miami was out of timeouts. Instead, the Dolphins were gifted enough time to march down the field and answer with a game-tying kick. An eight-play touchdown drive in overtime ensured the Jets wouldn't see the ball again, dropping them to 3-10 on the season and officially knocking them out of playoff contention for the 14th straight year.Too little, too lateThe 49ers team we saw this week looked a lot like the one that was competing for Super Bowls for the better part of the past five years. Injuries haven't done them any favors, to be sure, but where has this been all season? It took all of two quarters for the 49ers to put away the Bears on Sunday afternoon. San Francisco entered halftime up 24-0 on the scoreboard and 320-4 in the yardage battle. The second half was similarly one-sided en route to a 38-13 final. This team has everything it needs to make some noise in the playoffs, but it'd take a miracle to get there. At 6-7, running the table likely wouldn't even be enough.Myth busted?Anyone hoping the Bears would get the "fired coach boost" from dumping Matt Eberflus is going to be disappointed. Chicago was a familiar brand of bad in the first game with Thomas Brown as the interim coach, barely putting up a fight in San Francisco. The Bears are going to need a full reset with a new staff to get this thing back on track. They'll have to hope the job is every bit as attractive as they think it is in the upcoming coaching cycle. This team can't afford to make another mistake in that spot.A costly winIn-game tanking isn't a real thing in the NFL, so nobody should be surprised to see bottom-feeders going all out for wins. There's no reason for players and coaches to play for draft position. That being said, Sunday's win over Tennessee was still less than ideal looking to the future in Jacksonville. The Jaguars getting their third victory of the season tentatively sees them fall from No. 1 to No. 5 in the projected 2025 draft order. An early run on quarterbacks could push another coveted player down the board, but the real value in Jacksonville getting the top pick would be shopping it to a QB-needy team. Stockpiling assets to rebuild the organization would be a lot more valuable than a meaningless win in December.A two-horse race?Jacksonville's victory leaves the Raiders and Giants as the NFL's only two-win teams through 14 weeks. Las Vegas currently holds the No. 1 pick based on the strength-of-schedule tiebreaker, but it's close enough that it could flip back and forth down the stretch. And we probably shouldn't be counting on one of these teams to get a win to create some separation. The Raiders figure to be starting Desmond Ridder for the last four weeks after losing Aidan O'Connell to a knee injury in Sunday's loss to the Bucs. The Giants, meanwhile, have proved that it doesn't matter which of their signal-callers is under center - points are tough to come by. These teams desperately need to get it right with their opportunity to draft a new quarterback.<h3>Stat of the week</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Entering today, teams with at least six touchdowns and zero giveaways in a game were 245-0 in the Super Bowl era (including playoffs) The Bills are the first to do so in a loss— Dante Koplowitz-Fleming (@DanteKopFlem) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanteKopFlem/status/1865918713016574003?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2024</a>
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Key takeaways and analysis from Week 14 in the NFL

It's time to settle the running backs debate once and for all.  Our own Scott Stinson argued over...

It's time to settle the running backs debate once and for all.Our own Scott Stinson argued over the weekend that Saquon Barkley's monster production in Philadelphia <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3141113" href="https://thescore.com/news/3141113">should have limited impact</a> on how we see players at the position. Stinson makes a strong case, and one that'll be supported by much of the football community. I'm here to argue the opposite.Nobody denies scheme and supporting cast provide a necessary baseline for run-game success. That's never going to change. But this season is proving that true difference-makers can still maximize those factors in pushing an offense over the top. The value of a star running back couldn't be more clear.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Take the Eagles, for example. Barkley hasn't put himself on pace to break Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record by merely having a few holes opened up for him. Philly's offensive foundation is more potent than anything he had with the Giants, to be sure, but Barkley's ability to create extra yards with vision, burst, and elusiveness is making the Eagles a threat to score from anywhere on the field.An ever-evolving advanced data set even gives us the numbers to back it up: Barkley currently leads the league with 452 rushing yards over expected, adding nearly two yards per carry for Phily's offense, according to Next Gen Stats.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Rushing yards over expected" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-psWRJ" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/psWRJ/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="331" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure>Josh Jacobs, the other star runner who landed a big-money deal to join a new team this offseason, is elevating an excellent run game in Green Bay. He forced a league-best 15 missed tackles in a Week 12 win over the 49ers, and his nine games of 50-plus yards after contact currently ranks tied for second.The Ravens signing Derrick Henry isn't quite the same case of a bold organization being vindicated, as he settled for a two-year, $16-million contract in free agency. But his continued dominance after joining Baltimore should leave numerous teams - hello, Cowboys - embarrassed over their unwillingness to pay up.Arguments in favor of careful spending at running back would be logical if the market was exploding like it is at other positions. Multiple guaranteed years of receiver-type money would be a risky proposition for high-volume players who don't typically have long careers. But that's simply not what's happening in today's NFL.The running back market has stagnated and overcorrected so much since the infamous Todd Gurley and Le'Veon Bell deals that proven game-changers like Barkley and Jacobs can be signed for under $13 million per year - less than 5% of the 2024 salary cap.A quick look at other names pulling in that kind of money this year paints the picture of a new market inefficiency:<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Offseason signings for RB money" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-AAAEi" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/AAAEi/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="239" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure>Go ahead and pinch pennies if replacement-level production is all you want out of your ball carriers. It's certainly easy enough to find running backs who can get production the system provides.But the only teams left looking silly this year are the ones who didn't bother to keep their superstars from walking out the door. The Giants, Raiders, and Titans are each unsurprisingly posting negative team rush yards over expected.The Eagles, Packers, and Ravens - the three league leaders in that category - understood that true difference-makers at the position raise the offense's ceiling. It's no coincidence they all enter the stretch run with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations.Pay good players. It doesn't need to be any more complicated than that.

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Counterpoint: Saquon's dominance disproves narratives about RB value

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.<h3>Russ cookin'</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758330/cropped_GettyImages-2187738369.jpg?ts=1733085217" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758330/w220xh124_GettyImages-2187738369.jpg?ts=1733085217 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758330/w320xh180_GettyImages-2187738369.jpg?ts=1733085217 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758330/w640xh360_GettyImages-2187738369.jpg?ts=1733085217 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758330/w768xh432_GettyImages-2187738369.jpg?ts=1733085217 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758330/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2187738369.jpg?ts=1733085217 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Andy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Your eyes do not deceive you.The Steelers are 9-3 and already well on their way to the playoffs, no longer the scrappy but ultimately unserious contender of years past. The key to it all: Russell Wilson turning back the clock.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Wilson put together his best performance of the season Sunday afternoon in Cincinnati, completing 29 of 38 passes for 414 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. That sets a new Steelers record for passing yards in a game against the Bengals and also marks the second-best total of Wilson's career.It doesn't look pretty at times, as there are still some signs of an aging passer. I've admittedly been skeptical of the sustainability of a quarterback that leans so heavily on deep balls down the sideline while largely ignoring the middle of the field. But even that may now be changing.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Russell Wilson set a personal record today: 261 yards on throws between the numbers <a href="https://t.co/dXvxW4WCb1">pic.twitter.com/dXvxW4WCb1</a>— Theo Ash (@TheoAshNFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheoAshNFL/status/1863332594848264452?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Nobody saw this kind of resurgence coming when Wilson was released by Denver in the offseason. The Broncos were so desperate to move on that a fully guaranteed salary of nearly $38 million was no obstacle. In most cases, that would tell you all you need to know about a player's future prospects.Instead, it's proving to be yet another important reminder that fit and situation matter. Wilson was weighing down Sean Payton's offense. Now, in a situation more willing to build around what he does best, he's elevating his surroundings.The Steelers have a fascinating decision to make in the offseason ahead. Wilson will be looking to get paid after dazzling on a league-minimum deal, and Pittsburgh may have no choice but to do whatever it takes to keep him around. Assessing the value of a 36-year-old quarterback is going to be difficult, but that's a problem for another day.Wilson giving the Steelers a chance against anyone they'll meet in January is all that matters right now.<h3>Cousins falling apart</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758410/cropped_GettyImages-2187252716.jpg?ts=1733101151" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758410/w220xh124_GettyImages-2187252716.jpg?ts=1733101151 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758410/w320xh180_GettyImages-2187252716.jpg?ts=1733101151 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758410/w640xh360_GettyImages-2187252716.jpg?ts=1733101151 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758410/w768xh432_GettyImages-2187252716.jpg?ts=1733101151 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758410/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2187252716.jpg?ts=1733101151 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</figcaption></figure>The Falcons are in trouble.Three straight losses have seen a comfortable lead atop the NFC South effectively disappear. While the head-to-head tiebreaker still puts Atlanta in front of Tampa Bay, it's starting to feel like that won't matter by the end of the season.Unfortunately for the Falcons, the player who was supposed to put them over the top has been the driving force in the stunning collapse. Kirk Cousins hasn't managed a single touchdown during the three-game skid. His four interceptions Sunday against the Chargers may well have been the difference in the 17-13 home defeat.The recent struggles represent another twist in what's been a roller-coaster season for the $180-million free-agent addition. Early concerns about his ability to return to form after last year's Achilles injury were quickly dispelled with a promising 6-2 stretch. But the last few weeks have looked a lot more like his dreadful opener.Cousins playing at this level is naturally going to lead to some questions about a potential quarterback change. If Michael Penix Jr. was worth the No. 8 pick in the draft, surely he's worth a look when your season is on the ropes. No matter what the team decides, it's starting to seem like it was a mistake to dish out $100 million in guarantees to a 36-year-old coming off a major injury.The Falcons would take $65 million in dead money against the cap to move on from Cousins after this season, according to Over The Cap. Already having his replacement in house is a plus, but the long-term ramifications of that misguided deal could wash out much of the value that comes with a rookie quarterback contract.<h3>The Tucker dilemma</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758413/cropped_GettyImages-2187768120.jpg?ts=1733101386" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758413/w220xh124_GettyImages-2187768120.jpg?ts=1733101386 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758413/w320xh180_GettyImages-2187768120.jpg?ts=1733101386 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758413/w640xh360_GettyImages-2187768120.jpg?ts=1733101386 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758413/w768xh432_GettyImages-2187768120.jpg?ts=1733101386 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758413/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2187768120.jpg?ts=1733101386 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Greg Fiume / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>The Ravens may soon have an uncomfortable decision to make.Justin Tucker has been the best kicker in football for most of his Hall of Fame career. Baltimore never had to think twice about sending him onto the field, no matter how long the try. That's no longer the case.Another pair of missed field goals in Sunday's loss to the Eagles, along with a shanked extra point, make this situation too alarming to ignore. Tucker has now missed eight field goals on the season, already the worst total of his career. His 70.4% conversion rate is the lowest of any kicker with more than 15 attempts this season.It's tough to say whether Tucker is past his prime or simply working through a case of the yips. He's still only 35, which isn't exactly old by kicker standards. Maybe he gets it back at some point. But do the Ravens really have time to wait and find out?As things currently stand, he's costing them games. Tucker's pair of misses were ultimately the difference in a recent two-point loss to the Steelers, and that was again the case in a heavyweight matchup with the Eagles. The Ravens would probably be 10-3 and sitting pretty atop the AFC North were it not for a few of those misfires. Instead, they're 8-5 and facing the prospect of playing all playoff games on the road.Parting ways with Tucker in the middle of the season would likely be a controversial move both within and outside the organization. Ideally he gets back on track after the bye and saves the team from having to make any such decision. But time is running out.The Ravens can't afford to be doing this in the playoffs.<h3>Quick slants</h3>Circle the wagonsIs there anyone having more fun than the Bills right now? More specifically, is there anyone having more fun than Josh Allen? The superstar quarterback looked right at home in the snowy Buffalo conditions on Sunday night, doing what he does best to all but end the 49ers' playoff hopes. In case you missed it, his backyard football style gave us one of the coolest plays you will ever see.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
"Amari Cooper to Josh Allen for the TD!" is a new one 😂 📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SFvsBUF?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SFvsBUF</a> on NBC/Peacock 📱: Stream on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLPlus?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFLPlus</a> <a href="https://t.co/scnnIT0NOL">pic.twitter.com/scnnIT0NOL</a>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1863421709275247030?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Allen gets credit for both a passing touchdown and a receiving touchdown on this one. I'm not sure how much sense that makes, but it's incredible so we'll allow it. Unless that's what cost you your fantasy matchup this week. In that case, I am very sorry. The important point: the Bills are unbelievably fun. And good. I may not take them over the Ravens or Chiefs on paper, but what does that matter? The Chiefs better not let the Bills get that No. 1 seed, because I don't know that anyone is beating this team in Buffalo right now.Bengals are cookedThe possibility of the Bengals running the table and sneaking into the playoffs, however unlikely, was juicy. I held out hope as long as I could, for no reason other than the potential entertainment. But it's officially time to move on. Sunday's loss to the Steelers drops Cincinnati to an unfathomable 4-8 mark on the year, making it all but impossible to chase down a wild-card spot. More than the reality of the standings, though, this week's defeat was another reminder that there's only so much an offense can do, no matter how elite. Cincinnati is now 0-7 against teams .500 or better despite scoring a league-leading 30.3 points per game in such matchups, according to <a href="https://x.com/FrontOfficeNFL/status/1863353439683752076">NFL research</a>. We'd be looking at a completely different team if the defense could get the occasional stop. That simply hasn't happened this year.Bryce does it againA promising performance against the Chiefs was evidently no mirage. Bryce Young is legitimately taking steps toward becoming the type of player the Panthers thought they were getting in last year's draft. The former No. 1 pick was equally as impressive in Sunday's loss to the Bucs, throwing for 298 yards and one touchdown while adding another on the ground. The 25-yard strike to help force overtime in the final minute was another flash of the confidence and playmaking ability we saw at Alabama. He's stepping up under pressure and delivering on the move. While concern about Young's slow start was well-warranted, we ought to exercise a little more patience with these young passers. The Panthers managed to do so, and they may yet end up with a franchise quarterback as a result.Back in rhythmPanic about the Kliff Cliff can officially be put on hold, at least for one week. The Commanders came through with something of a statement performance amid growing concern about Kliff Kingsbury offenses in the second half of the season, tying a season high with 42 points against the Titans. I know what you're thinking. The Titans? But don't lump this defense in with the chaos we see on the other side of the ball. Tennessee entered this week ranked second in total yards allowed and ninth against the run. The Commanders were able to get the run game back on track anyway, racking up 267 yards and three scores on the ground. Jayden Daniels also added three passing touchdowns while completing 25 of 30 attempts. Is Kingsbury finally making adjustments?Matchup proof<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758386/cropped_GettyImages-2187758595.jpg?ts=1733097947" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758386/w220xh124_GettyImages-2187758595.jpg?ts=1733097947 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758386/w320xh180_GettyImages-2187758595.jpg?ts=1733097947 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758386/w640xh360_GettyImages-2187758595.jpg?ts=1733097947 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758386/w768xh432_GettyImages-2187758595.jpg?ts=1733097947 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758386/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2187758595.jpg?ts=1733097947 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Patrick Smith / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>It seemed like the Eagles were going to need a big game out of Jalen Hurts to get a win in Baltimore. The Ravens' defense entered this week ranked third in EPA/rush and 27th in EPA/pass, according to TruMedia. Philly couldn't quite take advantage of a leaky pass defense, though, so it quickly became another Saquon Barkley game. Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that he was up to the task. The star running back recorded 107 yards on the day, the best individual total against the Ravens' defense this season. The highlight was a physical 25-yard score to effectively put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter. Barkley's eighth 100-yard game of the season keeps him on pace to break Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record. He's making the best non-QB MVP case we've seen since Adrian Peterson.Feed himThe Vikings came away with yet another win Sunday against the Cardinals, so nobody in Minnesota is going to have too many complaints. But the passing game is leaving something to be desired. Might the answer be as simple as feeding the best receiver in football? Justin Jefferson now has 100 targets on the year, so it's not like we're talking about an egregious lack of usage. But he's also received double-digit targets only once this year after doing so in seven of his 10 games in 2023. It's probably no coincidence that he's now gone six straight games without finding the end zone and has topped the 100-yard mark only three times on the year. The overall production remains strong, and the Vikings are winning, but these victories probably wouldn't be so stressful if the ball was in Jefferson's hands more often. Postseason success will probably depend on it, too.A comedy of errorsAre you the type of football fan who enjoys a little chaos every now and then? If so, please do yourself a favor and rewatch Sunday's game between the Seahawks and Jets. Seattle came away with the win despite coughing up the ball on two different kick returns and turning it over on downs after an excruciating eight-play sequence inside New York's 5-yard line. The key play: a 92-yard pick-6 from Seahawks star Leonard Williams in his return to New York. The unlikely revenge-game score set a new record for longest touchdown by a defensive lineman and, more importantly, kept the Jets from going up 28-7 midway through the second quarter. New York didn't manage a single point from then on, giving Geno Smith the opportunity to complete his own revenge game with a go-ahead TD drive in the fourth quarter. A true masterpiece all around.A rising starWe already covered the Falcons' angle of Sunday's game against the Chargers - it was undeniably bad. But don't overlook the unit that forced Cousins into all those turnovers. The Chargers had a bottom-five defense in EPA/play last season, according to TruMedia. Jesse Minter's arrival as Jim Harbaugh's defensive coordinator is paying immediate dividends, as L.A. has flown all the way up to the top four in that category in 2024. Minter won't get as much fanfare as names like Bill Belichick, Mike Vrabel, or Ben Johnson in the upcoming coaching cycle, but a smart organization is going to scoop him up while it still has the chance.<h3>Stat of the week</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This is 21st straight season the Steelers will finish without a losing record (2004-2024), tying the Cowboys (1965-1985) for longest streak in NFL history. Mike Tomlin gets 18th straight year with non-losing record too.— Daniel Valente (@StatsGuyDaniel) <a href="https://twitter.com/StatsGuyDaniel/status/1863336509014728893?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2024</a>
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Key takeaways and analysis from Week 13 in the NFL

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.<h3>It's OK to pay RBs</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757178/cropped_GettyImages-2186721684.jpg?ts=1732507857" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757178/w220xh124_GettyImages-2186721684.jpg?ts=1732507857 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757178/w320xh180_GettyImages-2186721684.jpg?ts=1732507857 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757178/w640xh360_GettyImages-2186721684.jpg?ts=1732507857 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757178/w768xh432_GettyImages-2186721684.jpg?ts=1732507857 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757178/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2186721684.jpg?ts=1732507857 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>A running back getting anything resembling a big-money contract inevitably creates a stir in today's anti-RB world. Does it really have to be this way, though? Make all the position-value arguments you want - good football players are good football players.Saquon Barkley, most notably, has been spectacular after joining the Eagles on a three-year, $37.75-million deal in free agency. His franchise-record 255-yard effort against the Rams on Sunday night puts him up to 1,392 rushing yards on the year, already setting a new career high after 11 games.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The blazing start also has Barkley on a 17-game pace for 2,151 rushing yards, which would break the single-season record set by Eric Dickerson in 1984. He's in the mix to be the first running back to take home MVP honors since Adrian Peterson in 2012.Josh Jacobs, who landed in Green Bay on a four-year, $48-million deal, has been an important addition to the Packers' offense amid an up-and-down season for Jordan Love. Jacobs put together his most productive game yet in Sunday's win over the 49ers, running for 106 yards and three touchdowns. His 15 missed tackles on the day represent the most of any ball carrier in a game this season, according to Next Gen Stats.And then there's Derrick Henry, who had to settle for a two-year, $16-million deal to join the Ravens. The future Hall of Famer enters Monday night with 1,185 rushing yards, putting him second between Barkley and Jacobs among the NFL's leading rushers. Remember when Jerry Jones claimed the Cowboys simply couldn't afford Henry in free agency?Yes, average running backs can produce at a decently high level by getting what's blocked for them as part of a good system. If you've got a great supporting cast, you can absolutely get away with hoping to hit on some late-round picks at running back. But these special players can, and will, take your offense to another level.At a time when the premier free agents at the position are pulling in less than $13 million, how is this even still a discussion?Don't be like the Giants - pay good players.<h3>Not again, Kliff</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757180/cropped_GettyImages-2184858497.jpg?ts=1732507995" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757180/w220xh124_GettyImages-2184858497.jpg?ts=1732507995 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757180/w320xh180_GettyImages-2184858497.jpg?ts=1732507995 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757180/w640xh360_GettyImages-2184858497.jpg?ts=1732507995 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757180/w768xh432_GettyImages-2184858497.jpg?ts=1732507995 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757180/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2184858497.jpg?ts=1732507995 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Scott Taetsch / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>It was only fair to exercise a little bit of patience before declaring that Kliff Kingsbury's offense was once again falling off a ... cliff in the second half of the season.I, for one, shrugged off last week's performance in Philadelphia as a matter of Washington being overwhelmed by an objectively more talented Eagles team. There's no such excuse available this time around.Sunday's game against a horrific Cowboys defense should have been the perfect get-right spot for the Commanders' offense. While the final score may seem like an indication of an improved effort on that side of the ball, it's more so a reflection of some all-time wackiness in the fourth quarter. A few late explosives do little to mask the stench that emanated from that unit throughout the rest of the day.<figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Week</th>
<th>Offensive EPA</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1-9</td>
<td>11.0 (avg)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>-4.08</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td>-4.83</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12</td>
<td>-5.73</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure>(EPA model via TruMedia)Maybe a second-half drop-off was inevitable for this offense, as it's tough to sustain a high-level passing game with one reliable threat at receiver, and the shortcomings on the offensive line don't help, either. But it seemed like a strong run game, at the very least, could keep things humming down the stretch.Jayden Daniels was the only player to put up respectable rushing numbers against a Cowboys defense that entered this week a distant last in rush EPA. Commanders running backs averaged 3.3 yards per carry on the day.Kingsbury is going to need to buck this career-long trend and make some adjustments if Washington is going to hold onto its playoff spot and make any noise in January. Doing so will probably be the key to his chances of getting another head coaching job, too.<h3>No room for error</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757149/cropped_GettyImages-2186691253.jpg?ts=1732493609" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757149/w220xh124_GettyImages-2186691253.jpg?ts=1732493609 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757149/w320xh180_GettyImages-2186691253.jpg?ts=1732493609 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757149/w640xh360_GettyImages-2186691253.jpg?ts=1732493609 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757149/w768xh432_GettyImages-2186691253.jpg?ts=1732493609 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757149/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2186691253.jpg?ts=1732493609 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>The 49ers never stood much of a chance this week in Green Bay. A long list of injury absences, including Brock Purdy, Trent Williams, and Nick Bosa, was always going to be too much to overcome against this kind of opponent.In that sense, there's not a whole lot we can take away from this result. San Francisco still has all the pieces it needs for another playoff run, assuming key players are back on the field down the stretch. Time is running out, though.Sunday's defeat drops the 49ers to 5-6 with six games to play. That means it could take a perfect finish to get them back to the playoffs. At worst, they'll need to go 5-1 in their remaining games. That's a big enough ask when you consider their inconsistent level of play to this point, but it feels nearly impossible when factoring in the remaining schedule.<figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Week</th>
<th>Opponent</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
<td>@ Bills</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14</td>
<td>vs. Bears</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15</td>
<td>vs. Rams</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16</td>
<td>@ Dolphins</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17</td>
<td>vs. Lions</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18</td>
<td>@ Cardinals</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure>Difficult matchups with the Bills and Lions, alone, may be enough to keep San Francisco out of the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Add in a few other challenging opponents, including the pair of remaining NFC West games, and the 49ers own the NFL's fifth-toughest remaining schedule.A down year may be tolerable for most teams, but it's important to remember the window for this core was already closing. Williams is in the late stages of his career as one of the best left tackles we've ever seen, and a looming extension for Purdy is drastically going to change how the roster can be constructed.The 49ers may have missed their best chance to win a Super Bowl with this star-studded team.<h3>Quick slants</h3>Patience is key<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757107/cropped_GettyImages-2186661968.jpg?ts=1732508105" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757107/w220xh124_GettyImages-2186661968.jpg?ts=1732508105 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757107/w320xh180_GettyImages-2186661968.jpg?ts=1732508105 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757107/w640xh360_GettyImages-2186661968.jpg?ts=1732508105 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757107/w768xh432_GettyImages-2186661968.jpg?ts=1732508105 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757107/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2186661968.jpg?ts=1732508105 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Matt Kelley / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>It seems Bryce Young may have benefitted from the opportunity to take a step back and reset. The 2023 No. 1 pick has now started four games since making his return to the field after over a month on the sideline, with each appearance more encouraging than the last. Young was the primary factor in the Panthers giving the Chiefs a scare this week. He was blitzed on a season-high 40% of his dropbacks on the day, completing 11 of 14 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown in those opportunities, according to Next Gen Stats. He also went 9 of 16 for 165 yards on attempts of 10-plus air yards. The Panthers could have completely thrown in the towel when Young didn't look the part early in Year 2. They deserve credit for taking their time and turning away trade inquiries they received at the deadline. Young still has a chance to emerge as a true franchise quarterback, even if it takes longer than many would have liked.Texans in troubleThe Texans were supposed to take the next step and emerge as a Super Bowl contender this season. Instead, they've mastered the art of finding ways to lose. C.J. Stroud is making the kind of mistakes nobody expected after a spectacular rookie season, and some untimely big plays are washing out some otherwise strong defensive performances. We saw it in Week 10 against the Lions, where the Texans somehow fell short despite intercepting Jared Goff five times. Bewildering football was again an issue this week, as Houston fell to a dreadful Titans team despite getting to Will Levis for eight sacks and taking an interception back for a touchdown. Houston is going to cruise to another AFC South title, but it's getting tough to expect much beyond that. Upgrading the offensive line to better support Stroud's development is a must looking ahead to the offseason.Back in businessTua Tagovailoa will forever be battling the "system quarterback" label. That's just the unfortunate reality of being surrounded by dynamic weapons in a QB-friendly scheme. But this isn't an offense that can be run by anyone you throw out there. This season has given us all the evidence we need on that front. The Dolphins were embarrassing to watch in Tua's absence. In the five games since his return, Miami's offense is tied with Detroit and Baltimore for the second-most EPA/play. A tough test awaits Thursday night in Green Bay. If the Dolphins can make it four straight wins, we should probably start having a conversation about whether this team has what it takes to sneak into the playoffs.Silver lining<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757181/cropped_GettyImages-2186665685.jpg?ts=1732508247" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757181/w220xh124_GettyImages-2186665685.jpg?ts=1732508247 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757181/w320xh180_GettyImages-2186665685.jpg?ts=1732508247 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757181/w640xh360_GettyImages-2186665685.jpg?ts=1732508247 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757181/w768xh432_GettyImages-2186665685.jpg?ts=1732508247 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757181/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2186665685.jpg?ts=1732508247 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Luke Hales / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Another heartbreaking defeat marks five straight losses for the Bears, all but ensuring that Chicago will miss out on the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season. That's a particularly disappointing outcome after a favorable schedule helped the Bears jump out to a 4-2 start. But we're well past the point where wins and losses are determining success for this team. This year is all about the development of Caleb Williams, and Bears fans should be thrilled that everything appears to be back on track in that department. The change at offensive coordinator led to some immediate results last week, and Williams followed that up with a season-best performance against a tough Minnesota defense on Sunday. A few big-time throws, including a sensational heave on the run, offer an important reminder of his ceiling - there aren't many quarterbacks with his physical gifts. The right coaching hires could lead to a lot of fun next season in Chicago.Levis roller coasterWill Levis is a fascinating watch. That can be a compliment or a critique. In his case, it depends on the snap. Sunday's game in Houston was mostly good. He completed 18 of 24 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns, making plenty of big plays against a stout Texans defense. He also took eight sacks and almost gave the game away with another brutal pick-6. The negative plays are almost certainly enough to have the Titans looking elsewhere at quarterback, but he also clearly still has some upside. The Titans getting a win to tentatively move outside the top-five picks probably helps his chances of sticking around beyond this year.Seahawks' defense steps upThe Seahawks are still searching for consistency on defense, but the flashes of brilliance have been incredibly impressive. Sunday's game against the Cardinals represented the unit's best performance to date, holding Arizona to a pair of field goals and pulling away for good with a second-half pick-6. This is exactly why Mike Macdonald was one of the top candidates in last year's coaching cycle. Give him an offseason to bring in more players to fit his defensive scheme, and we could see many more results like this. The future is bright in Seattle.Draft order check-inA cluster of two-win teams has been reduced as the Titans and Browns each picked up their third victory of the season this week. That now leaves the Jaguars, Giants, and Raiders as the front-runners for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. A tough finishing schedule, along with the move to start Tommy DeVito, may well make the Giants the current favorite. But a Week 16 Toilet Bowl between the Jaguars and Raiders will be a pivotal moment looking ahead to April.<h3>Stat of the week</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Saquon Barkley now has more rushing yards (255) than the entire Giants offense gained through the run *and* the pass (245) on Sunday.— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) <a href="https://twitter.com/billbarnwell/status/1860903367293231204?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2024</a>
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Key takeaways and analysis from Week 12 in the NFL

Most teams will only ever go as far as their quarterback takes them. That's the reality of today'...

Most teams will only ever go as far as their quarterback takes them. That's the reality of today's game, like it or not.The upcoming 2024 stretch run offers the perfect opportunity to check in on the state of NFL QB play, perhaps offering some hints as to which teams truly have what it takes to contend.<h3>Mahomes tier 🐐</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="The Mahomes tier" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-Rs7oi" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Rs7oi/6/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="115" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure>Sure, there are probably a few QBs who've outplayed Patrick Mahomes so far this season. But we're still talking about one of the best to ever do it. Can we truly take any ranking seriously if the Chiefs superstar isn't alone at the top? Rival QBs may put up better numbers for stretches here and there, but we all know who we're taking to win us a game. Mahomes is in a class of his own until that changes, and don't count on it happening any time soon.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>MVP talents 🤩</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="MVP talents" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-o28WC" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/o28WC/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="158" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure>Lamar Jackson's the best player in football to this point in the season, making him the most-deserving candidate for a third career MVP award. Josh Allen isn't far behind, though, and his ability to consistently take his game to another level in the biggest moments is as close as it gets to Mahomes. Joe Burrow won't get any MVP love unless he drags the Bengals all the way back from their 4-7 start, but he's playing the best football of his career. Meanwhile, Justin Herbert has always been an elite talent and he'll finally start getting respect now that he has some semblance of stability around him. The NFL's top five QBs all playing in the same conference creates quite the gauntlet for AFC teams.<h3>Proven studs 😎</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Proven studs" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-gDQXJ" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/gDQXJ/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="183" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure>The guys in this group fall short of the truly elite category for one reason or another, though you can't ask for much more from your QBs. Matthew Stafford's continued an incredible level of play into his age-36 season and is forever a shining example of how to tear apart a defense working exclusively from the pocket. Jared Goff's supporting cast will get the majority of the credit in Detroit, but the Lions aren't the team they've become without the nine-year veteran under center.Houston's offensive line issues aren't going to fool us into thinking C.J. Stroud is no longer the QB we saw as a rookie last year, and Jordan Love's big-play prowess far outweighs his turnover issues, even if he does veer into Brett Favre territory more than you'd like. Kyler Murray is once again becoming a nightmare to defend after returning from a 2022 knee injury.<h3>Middle class 👍</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="The middle class" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-LEK89" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/LEK89/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="233" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure>You can win with these guys, and most teams with QBs in this group are doing so (*glares at Jaguars*). Geno Smith's ability to put the Seahawks on his back no matter how often his offensive line gets him beat up means he belongs alongside the other proven studs, though the consistency isn't quite there. Jalen Hurts does more than enough for the Eagles to win, but the supporting cast handles much of the heavy lifting in Philly. Improving Hurts' ability to see plays through from the pocket would make that offense unstoppable.Tua Tagovailoa and Brock Purdy are both high-level point guards in star-studded offenses, but aren't quite the ceiling-raisers we see in the tiers above. The same can be said about Kirk Cousins and Baker Mayfield, who routinely exceed expectations while also leaving us wanting more. Trevor Lawrence still has the upside to be a tier or two higher than this, but we can't ignore what we've seen over the past calendar year. A rough situation in Jacksonville has led to some unfortunate regression.<h3>Exciting rookies 📈</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Exciting rookies" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-efWJa" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/efWJa/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="158" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure>We're getting close to having enough exposure to this group to start slotting them into other tiers, but keeping them together still feels right for the time being. All four give their teams reason to be optimistic for the future, at the very least. Jayden Daniels is the runaway favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year and his arrival's pushed the Commanders into immediate playoff contention.Caleb Williams finds himself in a tough situation with the Bears' offense, but we've seen more than enough flashes to be confident he'll be a great NFL QB. Drake Maye's been balling out before the Patriots even get the chance to build a competent offense around him, while Bo Nix has quietly taken steps toward mastering Sean Payton's offense as a rookie. This crop already has the makings of an elite QB class, and that's before we get to see another pair of first-rounders in Michael Penix Jr. and J.J. McCarthy.<h3>Veteran stopgaps 🤷</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Stopgap veterans" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-9TxEv" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/9TxEv/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="133" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure>Russell Wilson not cracking the middle class after his hot Pittsburgh start is bound to be controversial, but let's try to look at this rationally. He certainly throws a beautiful deep ball down the sidelines, and the Steelers - unlike the Broncos the two years prior - truly don't need (or ask) him to do much else. But the results could look very different if that changes. Wilson's still the kind of limited veteran you don't want to commit to long term, so the stopgap label is more than fair. The same goes for Derek Carr and Sam Darnold, who started the year strong only to fade back. These are QBs you can win with in the right situation. That's been the case for both the Steelers and Vikings, to this point. <h3>Washed 🚨</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Washed alert" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-wCJkF" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/wCJkF/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="83" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure>We had much hope for Aaron Rodgers heading into this year. Who didn't? Sure, a 40-year-old coming off a torn Achilles could have been viewed as a recipe for disaster, but it seemed like basic above-average QB play was all the Jets needed to take off, and surely a legendary Rodgers could provide it. But it was too much to ask, and Rodgers looks nothing like the QB he was in Green Bay. Not only has he lost the mobility that was so pivotal to his game, but he's also now misfiring on in-rhythm throws he used to hit in his sleep. Rodgers needs a much better situation to squeeze even one more year out of his Hall of Fame career. His days of elevating his team are long gone.<h3>Give them time 🤞</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Give them time" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-S75oI" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/S75oI/3/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="153" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure>Anthony Richardson's the more interesting name in this category, as a unique set of physical gifts gives him a ceiling in line with some of the league's true superstars. Experience may be all he needs to sort out some of his accuracy and decision-making issues, and early polish displayed in terms of pocket management is incredibly promising to that end. The Colts should be encouraged by what he showed after a two-week benching.Bryce Young's probably still a long shot to become a high-level starter. He entered the league as an all-time size outlier and his early struggles seemingly confirmed that the issue was going to be a major problem for him in the NFL. Much like Richardson, though, Young made some major improvements after spending a few games on the sidelines - there's still a reason he was the consensus 2023 No. 1 pick despite valid stature concerns. The Panthers should be careful to not panic and give Young every opportunity to make good on his potential. It could still pay off with some patience.<h3>Tank watch 😬</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Tank watch" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-ZFzY9" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/ZFzY9/3/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="215" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure>Things are bleak for any team stuck starting one of these guys, whether due to injury, poor decision-making, or the benching of a supposed franchise QB (Giants and Daniel Jones). But there's bright side here. All five of these teams are in the running for a top pick in next year's draft and playing these QBs isn't going to hurt their chances. While there's still some hope for Will Levis as a long-term starter, it's fading quickly, and the Titans (along with the other four teams) will be hard-pressed to pass on a top QB prospect in April, even if it's a down year for the position.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/29114458/related

Ranking NFL QBs heading into the stretch run

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.<h3>Allen is that dude</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755942/cropped_GettyImages-2185295959.jpg?ts=1731889629" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755942/w220xh124_GettyImages-2185295959.jpg?ts=1731889629 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755942/w320xh180_GettyImages-2185295959.jpg?ts=1731889629 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755942/w640xh360_GettyImages-2185295959.jpg?ts=1731889629 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755942/w768xh432_GettyImages-2185295959.jpg?ts=1731889629 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755942/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2185295959.jpg?ts=1731889629 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Timothy T Ludwig / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>It was only two weeks ago when we talked about Lamar Jackson as the clear front-runner for this year's MVP award. That should probably remain the case, but it's becoming clear that his top competition isn't going to let him run away with it.That top competition is Josh Allen. The Bills quarterback had another signature moment in a big spot Sunday afternoon, helping his team hand the rival Chiefs their first loss of the season. The win moves Buffalo to 9-2, just one game back of Kansas City for the AFC's No. 1 seed.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>I was, admittedly, among the many who weren't all that high on the Bills heading into this campaign. In retrospect, it looks like a bad take, but there was plenty of reason to think this might be a transition year in Buffalo. The coaching staff deserves all the credit in the world for guiding the defense through major personnel losses on the back end. A productive run game, along with the addition of Amari Cooper, has helped the offense work past some shortcomings at receiver.But none of that is as important as the factor that, above all else, will make this team a Super Bowl contender year after year: having one of the two best quarterbacks on the planet.Allen's development into the player he is after an Anthony Richardson-like start to his career doesn't get nearly enough attention. He has as much arm talent as any quarterback in league history and is a nightmare to defend as a runner. As we saw against the Chiefs, the biggest moments are when Allen does his best work. He throws on the Superman cape and refuses to be denied.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
On 4th &amp; 2 with 2:27 left in regulation, Josh Allen dropped back before breaking off a 26-yard TD run. Allen had just a 1.2% chance of scoring a touchdown once he tucked the ball to run. It was Allen's first scramble TD run against the Chiefs in his career. Powered by <a href="https://twitter.com/awscloud?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@awscloud</a> <a href="https://t.co/xGduuXq6Bb">pic.twitter.com/xGduuXq6Bb</a>— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) <a href="https://twitter.com/NextGenStats/status/1858306931460649092?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>This level of inevitability, always coming through and elevating everyone around him, is as close as it gets to Patrick Mahomes. Allen now has four wins over the Chiefs signal-caller, the most of any opponent. Sunday's 30-point output was also the most Kansas City has given up since Oct. 3, 2022, against Tom Brady.Allen will be considered a tier below his biggest rival until he can translate the regular-season success into the playoffs, but that may only be a matter of time.The Bills know they can hang with the champs, and they have everything they need to get a Lombardi Trophy of their own this year.<h3>Chargers are here</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755998/cropped_GettyImages-2185317341.jpg?ts=1731906512" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755998/w220xh124_GettyImages-2185317341.jpg?ts=1731906512 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755998/w320xh180_GettyImages-2185317341.jpg?ts=1731906512 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755998/w640xh360_GettyImages-2185317341.jpg?ts=1731906512 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755998/w768xh432_GettyImages-2185317341.jpg?ts=1731906512 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755998/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2185317341.jpg?ts=1731906512 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Jim Harbaugh is building something special.The Chargers head coach would've been forgiven if he needed a year or two to get things in order after inheriting a mess from Brandon Staley. That's certainly what the majority of the football world was expecting.But this team doesn't care about our timelines. A big win over the Bengals on Sunday night should eliminate any remaining doubt about the speed with which the Chargers could turn things around and emerge as a legitimate threat in the AFC. They're already here.The immediate ascent on defense, in particular, has been incredible. Jesse Minter's arrival as defensive coordinator has helped this group go from 28th in EPA/play in 2023 to third this season, according to TruMedia.The offense has required a little patience, as the Chargers started the year with a more traditional run-heavy approach. That'll always be a part of Harbaugh's philosophy, but the coaching staff has slowly begun to open things up for their superstar quarterback, and we saw the result Sunday night.It was one big-time throw after another for Justin Herbert, providing an important reminder of how spectacular he can be with some semblance of stability around him. And it's only going to get better.The Chargers looking this good and effectively being locked into a playoff spot in the first season of this new regime bodes extremely well for what's to come. Think about what this team might look like when the front office gets the chance to add a few more weapons alongside its top-five quarterback. Or when the defense can improve its talent in the secondary.Harbaugh may soon have another powerhouse program.<h3>Quick slants</h3>The real best chance to win<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755877/cropped_GettyImages-2185281591.jpg?ts=1731906571" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755877/w220xh124_GettyImages-2185281591.jpg?ts=1731906571 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755877/w320xh180_GettyImages-2185281591.jpg?ts=1731906571 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755877/w640xh360_GettyImages-2185281591.jpg?ts=1731906571 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755877/w768xh432_GettyImages-2185281591.jpg?ts=1731906571 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755877/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2185281591.jpg?ts=1731906571 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Al Bello / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Anthony Richardson's performance upon returning to the lineup this week was an example of why his future is still so bright. Richardson played the best game of his young career in leading the Colts to a crucial win over the Jets, making his presence felt as a runner and passer. The sophomore quarterback was much improved in the accuracy department, in particular, going an impressive 9 of 12 for 185 yards on passes traveling 10-plus yards downfield, according to <a data-in-app-uri="" href="">Next Gen Stats</a>. There will continue to be ups and downs, but this is why you let a player like this work through the issues. The upside is undeniable.Nix heating upThe Broncos selecting Bo Nix with the No. 12 pick in this year's draft was largely met with skepticism. Don't look now, but the rookie quarterback is on track to make the doubters look silly. Sean Payton deserves a lot of credit, as the play designs in this offense routinely have receivers running free in rhythm. But make no mistake, Nix is getting better every week. His continued ascent culminated in a 38-6 drubbing of the Falcons this week, with Nix recording his first 300-yard game and posting the most dropback EPA (23.3) of any rookie quarterback this season, according to TruMedia. It should be noted that this production is also coming before Denver truly has the opportunity to load up on playmakers around him.Addition by subtractionThe Bears came up short this week, as a blocked kick extended their losing streak against the Packers in heartbreaking fashion. However, the result is secondary to Chicago's offensive improvements. The decision to have Thomas Brown take over as offensive coordinator for Shane Waldron provided immediate results. Most notably, Caleb Williams looked a lot more comfortable in the pocket. He was seemingly given more answers to get rid of the ball in rhythm and had no hesitation about taking off to scramble when things broke down. This is how you set your young quarterback up for success with a struggling offensive line. Better late than never.Unfamiliar territoryJustin Tucker wasn't going to be able to do it forever, and it was only a matter of time before the best kicker in NFL history started to fall off. Unfortunately for the Ravens, it seems to be happening at a time when they have a legitimate chance to go on a Super Bowl run. Tucker's pair of missed field goals made the difference in Sunday's two-point loss to the Steelers. That makes it six misses on the year, one short of his career worst. Baltimore can't afford to leave that many points on the field against teams it could meet in the AFC playoffs.Dolphins still alive<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755891/cropped_GettyImages-2185265375.jpg?ts=1731881883" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755891/w220xh124_GettyImages-2185265375.jpg?ts=1731881883 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755891/w320xh180_GettyImages-2185265375.jpg?ts=1731881883 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755891/w640xh360_GettyImages-2185265375.jpg?ts=1731881883 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755891/w768xh432_GettyImages-2185265375.jpg?ts=1731881883 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755891/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2185265375.jpg?ts=1731881883 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Rich Storry / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Miami's offense has quietly gotten back on track since Tua Tagovailoa's return. The Dolphins put up a season-high 34 points in Sunday's win over the Raiders, with a short end-of-half possession in the second quarter being the only one that didn't end in a score. This team's still a long shot for the playoffs at 4-6, but the offense returning to this level of play at least gives it an opportunity to run off some wins down the stretch. A finishing schedule that includes two games against the Jets and matchups with the Patriots and Browns also helps their chances.Bowers already eliteDon't let the sad state of the Raiders cause you to overlook the instant superstar production from their first-round pick. Brock Bowers was at it again Sunday in Miami, recording 13 receptions for 126 yards and one touchdown. The monster performance set a new single-game record for catches by a rookie tight end and already puts him up to 70 on the year. That's second only to Ja'Marr Chase among all pass catchers this season. Jayden Daniels remains the front-runner for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, and deservedly so, but Bowers has been equally impressive. His rare combination of route-running skills and playmaking ability after the catch is already making him one of the best tight ends in the game.Making it look easyThe Lions had to find a different way to get it done last week, winning despite five interceptions from Jared Goff. A matchup with the Jaguars defense provided the perfect opportunity to get things back on track this week. Goff was nearly perfect, completing 24 of 29 passes for 412 yards and four touchdowns. Detroit also put up 196 rushing yards in the 52-6 rout. The club's 645 yards of total offense are the most league-wide this season, and Sunday's yardage differential (plus-475) is the biggest margin in a game since 1979. The Jaguars may qualify as a helpless opponent, but there's no denying that this Lions offense is a wagon.Leaving the door openThe Falcons know how to punish those who dare to believe. Following up last week's loss to the Saints with a blowout defeat in Denver suddenly has Atlanta sitting at 6-5 and at risk of surrendering its stranglehold on the division. Earning a tiebreaker over Tampa Bay by sweeping the season series gives the Falcons a bit of room for error, but it's fading fast. December games against the Chargers, Vikings, and Commanders will present a major challenge if the recent run of play continues. The Bucs, who may have Mike Evans back in the lineup next week, finish the year with the second-easiest schedule in football. The NFC South is still very much up for grabs.NFC West madnessGeno Smith didn't have any interest in letting his team fall out of the playoff race. The Seahawks quarterback took over late in Sunday's game against the 49ers, capping an 80-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown scamper with seconds to play. Smith's heroics allowed Seattle to improve to 5-5. Equally as important, the result dropped the 49ers to 5-5. With the Rams also sitting at 5-5, creating a three-way tie one game back of the first-place Cardinals, the NFC West is shaping up for a fascinating finish. All four have looked like playoff teams at one point or another. Can at least one find some consistency down the stretch?<h3>Stat of the week</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Winning % as Jets starting QB: Zach Wilson .364 Sam Darnold .342 Aaron Rodgers .273— Steve Palazzolo (@StevePalazzolo_) <a href="https://twitter.com/StevePalazzolo_/status/1858256527766790330?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/29084564/related

Key takeaways and analysis from Week 11 in the NFL

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.<h3>All they do is win</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754634/cropped_GettyImages-2184051743.jpg?ts=1731271652" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754634/w220xh124_GettyImages-2184051743.jpg?ts=1731271652 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754634/w320xh180_GettyImages-2184051743.jpg?ts=1731271652 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754634/w640xh360_GettyImages-2184051743.jpg?ts=1731271652 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754634/w768xh432_GettyImages-2184051743.jpg?ts=1731271652 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754634/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2184051743.jpg?ts=1731271652 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jamie Squire / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>The Chiefs are inevitable.We've known this to be true for years, but it somehow doesn't get any easier to believe. They're just built different.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Broncos did everything right. Vance Joseph's defense was once again swarming. Denver put Patrick Mahomes under pressure on 40.8% of dropbacks, the highest rate he's faced since Week 8 of last season, according to Next Gen Stats. The result: Kansas City was limited to a season-low 16 points.The Broncos' offense did its part, too. Bo Nix wasn't spectacular, but he avoided catastrophic mistakes and made a few big passes. Trailing by two, getting the offense in position for a 35-yard field-goal try as time expired should've been enough for the win. But this is the Chiefs we're talking about.The coaching prowess and seemingly infectious knack for making big plays also extends to Dave Toub's special teams unit. An incredible surge off the left side saw the Chiefs break through for the game-winning block, keeping their undefeated run alive in thrilling fashion.Squeaking by Denver marks Kansas City's seventh one-score victory this season. Leaning so heavily on tightly contested wins has typically been both unsustainable and a surefire sign of impending regression. But that's for all of the normal teams.Is anyone really betting against the Chiefs finishing the perfect season? This team doesn't know anything other than winning. The Patriots vibes are real.<h3>Tomlin, too</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754643/cropped_GettyImages-2184038643.jpg?ts=1731273850" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754643/w220xh124_GettyImages-2184038643.jpg?ts=1731273850 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754643/w320xh180_GettyImages-2184038643.jpg?ts=1731273850 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754643/w640xh360_GettyImages-2184038643.jpg?ts=1731273850 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754643/w768xh432_GettyImages-2184038643.jpg?ts=1731273850 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754643/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2184038643.jpg?ts=1731273850 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Patrick Smith / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Speaking of teams that always find a way, how about those Steelers?Sunday's game in Washington marked Pittsburgh's first real test with Russell Wilson at the helm. Sure, beating two bad New York clubs at home was fun, but it's not quite the same measuring stick as playing one of the league's hottest teams on the road.To the surprise of no one who's ever watched a Mike Tomlin-coached team, the Steelers were up to the task.Wilson's limitations showed up at various times throughout the day. The Commanders' consistent pressure highlighted his lack of pocket presence and improv skills at this point in his career. And we're long past a point where we should be expecting him to ever make use of the middle of the field.But here's the thing: It doesn't much matter in Pittsburgh. It might be different in other situations, as was the case for the last two years in Denver. But as a team that understands its identity - running the ball and playing good defense - all the Steelers need from Russ is the one thing he still does best. And does he ever still throw a beautiful deep ball.This is exactly why Mike Williams was the perfect addition at the trade deadline. He's not a complement to George Pickens in the traditional sense - they're both dominant ball-winners who can stretch the field on the boundary. But Williams torching the Commanders for the go-ahead 32-yard TD late in the fourth quarter offered a glimpse of the good things to come.Tomlin has been proven right by turning to Wilson as his starter. More importantly, though, he knows exactly how to win with him: lean all the way into the things Russ does best. There's a reason Tomlin has never had a losing season in the NFL.Now 7-2, Pittsburgh's floor seems to be an AFC wild-card spot. Next week's game against the Ravens will tell us a lot about the team's ceiling.<h3>Time for change</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754647/cropped_GettyImages-2184059233.jpg?ts=1731301339" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754647/w220xh124_GettyImages-2184059233.jpg?ts=1731301339 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754647/w320xh180_GettyImages-2184059233.jpg?ts=1731301339 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754647/w640xh360_GettyImages-2184059233.jpg?ts=1731301339 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754647/w768xh432_GettyImages-2184059233.jpg?ts=1731301339 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754647/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2184059233.jpg?ts=1731301339 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Michael Reaves / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>There's nothing left to see in Chicago, folks.Some teams don't like to fire coaches during the season - it's admittedly a pretty rough look. And if you want to be optimistic, the Bears are only one game below .500.But that won't pass the smell test for anyone who's had the misfortune of watching this team. More importantly, delaying the inevitable won't do your young quarterback any favors.The changes should, of course, start at offensive coordinator immediately. Shane Waldron has been a disaster hire, and things are only getting worse. Chicago has been the worst offense in football in the three games since a schedule-assisted win streak, and it's not even close.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754742/Screenshot_2024-11-10_at_10.11.05_PM.jpg?ts=1731294698" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754742/Screenshot_2024-11-10_at_10.11.05_PM.jpg?ts=1731294698 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754742/Screenshot_2024-11-10_at_10.11.05_PM.jpg?ts=1731294698 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754742/Screenshot_2024-11-10_at_10.11.05_PM.jpg?ts=1731294698 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754742/Screenshot_2024-11-10_at_10.11.05_PM.jpg?ts=1731294698 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754742/Screenshot_2024-11-10_at_10.11.05_PM.jpg?ts=1731294698 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Offensive EPA, Weeks 8-10 (via TruMedia) </figcaption></figure>Caleb Williams hasn't thrown a touchdown since Oct. 13 in London. While the hope with any superstar prospect is that he shows the ability to elevate his surroundings, it's tough to feel like he has much of a chance in this rapidly deteriorating situation. The offensive line is a mess, and the scheme has shown no ability to mask those deficiencies.Matt Eberflus will probably avoid getting shown the door until the end of the season, but what does that accomplish? Waldron was Eberflus' second offensive coordinator hire, and he's somehow been even worse than Luke Getsy. Eberflus will get credit for his defense, but that unit has given up 526 rushing yards over the last three games.The issues clearly start at the top. A 19-3 home loss to a team like the Patriots offers a great opportunity to make a change and try to avoid a truly damaging experience for this roster's most important player.Sitting back and watching a young team get worse every week isn't an option.<h3>Quick slants</h3>Team of destiny<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754761/cropped_GettyImages-2184094072.jpg?ts=1731299574" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754761/w220xh124_GettyImages-2184094072.jpg?ts=1731299574 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754761/w320xh180_GettyImages-2184094072.jpg?ts=1731299574 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754761/w640xh360_GettyImages-2184094072.jpg?ts=1731299574 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754761/w768xh432_GettyImages-2184094072.jpg?ts=1731299574 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754761/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2184094072.jpg?ts=1731299574 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Alex Slitz / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Detroit was the team that could do no wrong for the last six games. Jared Goff threw 22 incompletions over that stretch, while the Lions put up 26 touchdowns. That's not the team we saw Sunday night against the Texans. With the run game bottled up and the offense almost exclusively in his hands, Goff's decision-making crumbled. His five interceptions were the most since Jameis Winston in 2019. Yet the Lions managed to stay in it and win anyway. That makes Goff just the third QB this century (Matt Ryan - 2012, Tony Romo - 2007) to win a game while throwing five picks. If that isn't enough for a fellow contender to put away this squad, it's tough to imagine many teams being able to hang with them in far less wacky games. The Lions are the team to beat in the NFC, and they're probably the Chiefs' biggest obstacle to a three-peat.It's so overThe Jets were already cooked heading into this week, so it's not like we're breaking new ground here. But the result in Arizona leaves no doubt whatsoever. Faced with an opportunity to build off a big win over Houston and at least keep hope alive for a miraculous second half, New York put forth its most pathetic effort yet. The offense managed all of two field goals, while the defense was routinely picked apart en route to a 31-6 loss. The Jets are a bad football team with a 41-year-old quarterback who'll account for $49 million in dead money in 2025 with a release or retirement, according to Over The Cap. They'll get a few wins with a favorable schedule down the stretch, but at what cost? Any victory from here does little more than push them out of position to draft a new quarterback. That'd be an oddly fitting cherry on top of a wildly disappointing Aaron Rodgers era in New York.Cardinals deserve respectDiving into the sad state of the Jets is a necessity, but that's not to say their issues were the only story in Sunday's game. The Cardinals have quietly emerged as one of the most enjoyable teams in football. Kyler Murray looks more and more like his old self with every passing week, and his connection with Marvin Harrison Jr. is slowly becoming what we'd all hoped heading into the season. The defense, meanwhile, hasn't allowed a touchdown in three straight home games. That marks the first time the Cardinals have accomplished that feat <a href="https://x.com/CardsMarkD/status/1855764306241147199">since</a> 1926. This is a frisky team that nobody will want to meet in January. Give them another year to build the roster, and we could be looking at a nice window for contention.Baker did everything he couldThe Bucs ultimately came up short in their bid to shock the 49ers in Christian McCaffrey's return. But while a pedestrian stat line from Baker Mayfield won't turn heads, it should be noted that the box score doesn't do justice to his crunch-time efforts. The Bucs quarterback willed the offense down the field on a late game-tying field-goal drive, with the highlight being a truly heroic effort to hold off Nick Bosa on fourth down and deliver a strike to move the chains.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BAKER &amp; RACHAAD KEEP IT ALIVE 🤯 📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SFvsTB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SFvsTB</a> on FOX <a href="https://t.co/9tQ4uwNm6s">pic.twitter.com/9tQ4uwNm6s</a>— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Buccaneers/status/1855713182188183741?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>An injury-ravaged offense is bound to look better with Mike Evans' expected return after next week's bye, at which point Mayfield will start getting some love for his impressive level of play. But a 4-6 record means the Bucs may have to be perfect from here on out to give themselves a chance at the playoffs.We're done here<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754608/cropped_GettyImages-2183361380.jpg?ts=1731263250" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754608/w220xh124_GettyImages-2183361380.jpg?ts=1731263250 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754608/w320xh180_GettyImages-2183361380.jpg?ts=1731263250 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754608/w640xh360_GettyImages-2183361380.jpg?ts=1731263250 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754608/w768xh432_GettyImages-2183361380.jpg?ts=1731263250 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754608/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2183361380.jpg?ts=1731263250 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> DeFodi Images / DeFodi Images / Getty</figcaption></figure>It's tough to watch Daniel Jones play football. That's nothing new for the majority of us. Don't be surprised if the Giants finally decide they've seen enough, too. Another frustrating day from Jones in Germany was ultimately the difference in an embarrassing loss to the Panthers. The Giants, now 2-8, have nothing to lose by seeing if Drew Lock can provide a spark under center. There's also no reason for them to risk an injury that could lock Jones in for another $23 million in guarantees, according to Over The Cap. The decision seems obvious, but we could probably say that about a lot of things the Giants have done wrong over the years.McCarthy's injury looms largeAny MVP talk surrounding Sam Darnold was always a little excessive, but the early-season hype was well-warranted. The veteran quarterback had been playing better than anyone could've expected and was a key factor in Minnesota's 5-0 start. While the Vikings may still be headed for a playoff berth, the quarterback play has taken a turn for the worse. Darnold nearly gave away Sunday's game against the Jaguars, coughing up three interceptions to the NFL's worst defense by EPA/pass. His decision-making is becoming a real problem, but the preseason injury to rookie first-rounder J.J. McCarthy means the Vikings have no choice but to ride this out. Their ceiling will depend on how hot (or not) Darnold is in January. That's a dangerous game to play.tHe BeSt ChAnCe To WiNI hate to bring this up again (no I don't), but it needs to be said. The Colts explained the strange move to bench Anthony Richardson by going to an old Coach Speak staple: Joe Flacco gives them the best chance to win. Two weeks later, how's that working out for them? Flacco turned the ball over four times in Sunday's loss to the Bills, Indy's second straight defeat. For those keeping score at home, Richardson has never turned the ball over that many times in a game. The sophomore quarterback undoubtedly has a lot to clean up. Taking a seat after only 10 starts and watching from the sideline as a 39-year-old quarterback serves up turnovers probably won't help him do that. Play the kid.The fired-coach boost?It's real. It has to be. What other explanation could there possibly be for this version of the Saints beating a legitimately good Falcons team? (Ignore the fact that Younghoe Koo missed three field goals in the three-point loss.) We should all choose to believe that dumping your head coach, assuming said head coach wasn't well-liked in the locker room, inevitably results in an emotions-driven one-game uptick in performance. There are at least five teams in the league right now who could justify testing the theory for us. Take your pick.<h3>Stat of the week</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Per <a href="https://twitter.com/NextGenStats?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NextGenStats</a>, Russell Wilson ranks 6th in total EPA gained on throws of 20+ yards. He has played 3 games.— Robert Mays (@robertmays) <a href="https://twitter.com/robertmays/status/1855732714395128214?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Quote of the week</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Darren Rizzi said he clogged the toilet in the head coach’s locker room when he got to the stadium today and thought “this is going to be a crappy day.”— Katherine Terrell (@Kat_Terrell) <a href="https://twitter.com/Kat_Terrell/status/1855724979209535728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>

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Key takeaways and analysis from Week 10 in the NFL

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.<h3>MV3?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753361/cropped_GettyImages-2182079139.jpg?ts=1730675827" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753361/w220xh124_GettyImages-2182079139.jpg?ts=1730675827 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753361/w320xh180_GettyImages-2182079139.jpg?ts=1730675827 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753361/w640xh360_GettyImages-2182079139.jpg?ts=1730675827 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753361/w768xh432_GettyImages-2182079139.jpg?ts=1730675827 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753361/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2182079139.jpg?ts=1730675827 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> AAron Ontiveroz / Denver Post / Getty</figcaption></figure>The MVP race isn't much of a race at all as we pass the season's unofficial halfway mark.A few candidates are making interesting cases, including some pleasant surprises, like Jared Goff and Jayden Daniels. But Lamar Jackson remains in a tier of his own. It's not every day you see a two-time MVP taking his game to another level and playing the best football of his career.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>This week's matchup against Denver's top-ranked defense by EPA/play had the appearance of an intriguing test heading into the game. But it took all of two quarters to confirm that it would simply be another day at the office for the Ravens' offense. Jackson was in complete control, throwing three touchdowns while completing 16 of 19 passes for 280 yards and a ridiculous 14.7 yards per attempt.Lamar has been especially spectacular over the last five weeks, leading the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns during that span. He also tops all quarterbacks in EPA/dropback through nine games. The only comparable starts in league history are from some of the best QB seasons we've ever seen.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753412/Screenshot_2024-11-03_at_10.05.13_PM.jpg?ts=1730689563" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753412/Screenshot_2024-11-03_at_10.05.13_PM.jpg?ts=1730689563 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753412/Screenshot_2024-11-03_at_10.05.13_PM.jpg?ts=1730689563 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753412/Screenshot_2024-11-03_at_10.05.13_PM.jpg?ts=1730689563 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753412/Screenshot_2024-11-03_at_10.05.13_PM.jpg?ts=1730689563 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753412/Screenshot_2024-11-03_at_10.05.13_PM.jpg?ts=1730689563 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">via TruMedia </figcaption></figure>There's still plenty of time, and we've seen MVP front-runners fall off before, but Jackson is well on his way to becoming only the seventh player in NFL history to win the award three times. Matching Tom Brady's career total by his age-27 season would be one heck of an achievement for a perennially under-appreciated player.In many ways, Jackson's legacy as one of the best players of this generation is already locked in. The fact that he only keeps getting better bodes extremely well for his chances of getting over the hump in the playoffs sooner rather than later.Could this finally be the year?<h3>As bleak as it gets</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753365/cropped_GettyImages-2182710173.jpg?ts=1730677115" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753365/w220xh124_GettyImages-2182710173.jpg?ts=1730677115 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753365/w320xh180_GettyImages-2182710173.jpg?ts=1730677115 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753365/w640xh360_GettyImages-2182710173.jpg?ts=1730677115 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753365/w768xh432_GettyImages-2182710173.jpg?ts=1730677115 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753365/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2182710173.jpg?ts=1730677115 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Grant Halverson / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Do you find yourself down in the dumps about the state of your favorite team? Are you wondering how it could get any worse? Try being the Saints.Sunday's result in Carolina made it seven straight losses after an exciting and ultimately misleading 2-0 start. Injuries have been a factor in this skid, but falling to this version of the Panthers in Derek Carr's return to the lineup is just about as bad as it gets. The worst part - there's no way out.Some truly reckless salary-cap management dating back to the Sean Payton era has put this organization in an unfathomable position when it comes to roster building. New Orleans is already $61 million over the projected salary cap for next season, according to Over The Cap.It's become something of a yearly tradition for the Saints. You'll hear people claim the salary cap isn't real, suggesting that teams move money around to get under the cap all the time. But long-term negligence eventually catches up to you, and that's what the Saints are experiencing right now.Contractual obligations have been pushed to the future so regularly that cutting big-name players doesn't even create salary-cap space at this point. The only way for the Saints to get under the cap, which is a must before the start of every new league year, is to restructure contracts and push even more money to the future. That means doubling and tripling down on commitments to players you may not even want around.It's going to take several years for this organization to clean up the mess it created for itself. So, while you can certainly call for personnel changes, like the seemingly inevitable firing of Dennis Allen, it's fair to wonder which top coaching candidate will sign up for this.The Saints could be headed for a long spell in the basement.Editor's note: The Saints reportedly <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3117627" href="https://thescore.com/news/3117627">fired</a> Dennis Allen on Monday.<h3>What did you expect?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753398/cropped_GettyImages-2181619181.jpg?ts=1730682609" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753398/w220xh124_GettyImages-2181619181.jpg?ts=1730682609 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753398/w320xh180_GettyImages-2181619181.jpg?ts=1730682609 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753398/w640xh360_GettyImages-2181619181.jpg?ts=1730682609 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753398/w768xh432_GettyImages-2181619181.jpg?ts=1730682609 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753398/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2181619181.jpg?ts=1730682609 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jack Gorman / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>The Colts made the curious decision to bench Anthony Richardson in favor of Joe Flacco heading into Sunday night's game against the Vikings.I wrote about the move earlier in the week, laying out the apparently controversial <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3112912" href="https://thescore.com/news/3112912">case against turning to Flacco</a>. While I understand many were tired of watching Richardson complete less than 50% of his passes and eager to make a big deal about him tapping out for a play, the potential payoff wasn't worth sitting a player who needs reps to develop. That's exactly what we saw play out on national TV.Is Flacco going to complete more passes? Sure. He put up a much improved and not at all similar 59.2% rate this week. He also chipped in an interception while leading Indy's offense to a pair of field goals. In total, the Colts posted a season-low negative-0.35 EPA/play on offense, according to <a href="https://x.com/minakimes/status/1853290154930123106">ESPN's Mina Kimes</a>.None of this is meant to blast Flacco. He is what he is at this point in his career: an extremely fine QB who's ideally no more than your backup. And it's worth mentioning that the Vikings' defense presents a difficult matchup for any opponent.Even if Richardson wasn't completing enough passes, his athleticism could have been useful on designed runs and as a means of dealing with Minnesota's pressure packages. Instead, we all have to pretend that Richardson will learn something watching from the sideline as a 39-year-old veteran plays mediocre football.The Colts sit at 4-5 heading into a meeting with the Bills, further illustrating that there really isn't anything to be gained from playing a marginally better passer if it comes at the expense of the player who's supposed to represent your future. Realistically, this team isn't going anywhere this season. At best, Indy is probably looking at a one-and-done appearance in the wild-card round. Is maximizing that limited potential more important than seeing things through with a supremely talented 22-year-old quarterback?Smart teams should be calling the Colts before Tuesday's trade deadline to see how genuine they are about their belief in Richardson. The handling of this situation calls that into question.<h3>Quick slants</h3>Look how far they've come<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753388/cropped_GettyImages-2182102734.jpg?ts=1730681063" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753388/w220xh124_GettyImages-2182102734.jpg?ts=1730681063 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753388/w320xh180_GettyImages-2182102734.jpg?ts=1730681063 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753388/w640xh360_GettyImages-2182102734.jpg?ts=1730681063 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753388/w768xh432_GettyImages-2182102734.jpg?ts=1730681063 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753388/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2182102734.jpg?ts=1730681063 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Remember when Detroit rolling into Green Bay pretty much guaranteed a win for the home side? Times certainly have changed. Another outstanding effort by the Lions gave them their third straight road win in Green Bay, the first time they've accomplished that feat since 1988. Maybe it's a different game without the rain, or if a groin injury doesn't hobble Jordan Love. But don't be so sure. Detroit's offense isn't making mistakes right now. Jared Goff has thrown just 24 incompletions during the team's six-game win streak. The Lions' offense has 28 touchdowns over that stretch. This is the most complete team in football right now and should be everyone's favorite to come out of the NFC.Commanders keep getting betterIt may be hard to believe, but this Commanders team is absolutely for real. It's not just the offense, either. Washington's defense didn't get off to the best of starts this season, ranking a distant last place in EPA/play over the first three weeks, according to TruMedia. That same group is tied for seventh over the six weeks since. Dan Quinn may not have seemed like the most spectacular hire, but the results speak for themselves. The efficiency of this turnaround should provide hope for all the other sad-sack franchises in the game today. Making the right hire at head coach and hitting on your QB pick in the draft can be all you need to get rolling.More of the sameSomething had to give. Chicago's offense entered this week ranked 29th in pressures allowed, while Arizona's defense was 30th in defensive pressure rate. But anyone who's spent any time watching the Bears this season can probably guess how this one shook out. Even the favorable matchup in Arizona wasn't enough to get the protection plan sorted out, as Caleb Williams was again under constant duress.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Wow. <a href="https://twitter.com/NextGenStats?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NextGenStats</a> says *16* different Cardinals got a pressure against the Bears this Sunday. Most individual players to get a pressure for a defense since 2018. Cardinals walked into the game with a 26.6% pressure rate and pressured Caleb on 46% of dropbacks— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenjaminSolak/status/1853235409989284086?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>As if you needed another reason to doubt the competence of this coaching staff, Williams remained in the game throughout the 29-9 loss and limped off the field after getting banged up on the final play. The Bears must make major changes to avoid wasting one of the league's brightest young talents.Herbert ballingThe Chargers leaning so heavily on the run game isn't going to get Justin Herbert as much recognition as he deserves, so we'll attempt to make up for it here. Finally afforded some stability with a new coaching staff, Herbert is unsurprisingly playing at an All-Pro level. There are multiple throws in every Chargers game, no matter what the final stats say, that offer a reminder of his standing among the NFL's best. Give the Chargers an offseason to add weapons around him, and the elite-level production will likely follow. At that point, there will be little argument against his case as one of the top-five quarterbacks in the game today.Rams building something<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753430/cropped_GettyImages-2182727152.jpg?ts=1730696786" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753430/w220xh124_GettyImages-2182727152.jpg?ts=1730696786 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753430/w320xh180_GettyImages-2182727152.jpg?ts=1730696786 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753430/w640xh360_GettyImages-2182727152.jpg?ts=1730696786 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753430/w768xh432_GettyImages-2182727152.jpg?ts=1730696786 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753430/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2182727152.jpg?ts=1730696786 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Steph Chambers / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>You've already seen high praise for the Rams' drafting prowess in this space, but it's worth rehashing after this week. This was supposed to be a rough year for Los Angeles' defense. How could we expect anything different after an already thin group lost an all-time great? The rapid growth of this Rams defense, led by Defensive Rookie of the Year favorite Jared Verse, has been one of the best stories of this season. And Sunday's effort may be the unit's most impressive yet, as L.A. got to Geno Smith for seven sacks and three interceptions before coming up with a huge fourth-down stop in overtime. The defense's knack for making big plays will allow the Rams to compete if the offensive skill players stay healthy.Not quite readyA 5-3 start made the Broncos one of the NFL's most pleasant surprises over the season's first month. They may challenge for a playoff spot down the stretch, but this week's result suggests the hot start was at least a little bit inflated by a favorable schedule. The defensive magic ran out against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, with Denver giving up points on seven straight drives from the middle of the first quarter on. And this isn't the kind of offense that'll stand much of a chance in a shootout. Sean Payton has the Broncos heading in the right direction, but it's going to take some time.Deadline shaping up nicelyThe argument for pushing back the NFL trade deadline has always been that a few extra weeks could help teams better understand how they stack up for the stretch run. There should be no uncertainty on that front this year. Through nine weeks, there are already 11 teams with at least six wins. On the other end of the spectrum, nine clubs have two victories. There's a real opportunity for the trade market to pick up in a big way before Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.A surprise trade candidate?Recent trades involving the biggest names available at receiver have the potential to impact the excitement of deadline day. But can we be sure that the crystal-clear divide between contenders and pretenders won't lead to a surprise deal or two? It's a long shot, but what about Tyreek Hill? The Dolphins are pretty much cooked at 2-6, and their offense doesn't have the same juice as years past. Hill hasn't managed anything close to his typical impact, even when Tua Tagovailoa has been on the field. Could a Dolphins team that needs to reset the roster and the cap situation potentially be open to an offer while Hill's value is still in the neighborhood of a premium draft pick? He could be the one player the Chiefs are willing to go all-out to get.<h3>Stat of the week</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Most losses as starting QB thru: 4 seasons: David Carr 43 5 seasons: David Carr 53 6 seasons: David Carr 56 7 seasons: Derek Carr 63 8 seasons: Derek Carr 70 9 seasons: Derek Carr 79 10 seasons: Derek Carr 87 11 seasons: Derek Carr and Archie Manning 91— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshDubowAP/status/1853189055342948761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>

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Key takeaways and analysis from Week 9 in the NFL

It took 10 games for the Colts to decide they've seen enough of Anthony Richardson. At least for ...

It took 10 games for the Colts to decide they've seen enough of Anthony Richardson. At least for now. Indianapolis responded to the sophomore quarterback's latest stinker - a 10-for-32 showing in a narrow loss to the Texans - by announcing Joe Flacco is <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3112869" href="https://thescore.com/news/3112869">taking over</a> as the starter "going forward." This probably isn't a brief reset, in other words.On one hand, it's easy to see why the Colts felt the need to make a change. Richardson's completing a putrid 44.4% of his passes across six starts this season, the worst rate from a QB with 100-plus pass attempts since Josh Freeman in 2013. Jacoby Brissett holds the second-lowest mark in the league this season at 59.1%.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Indy's offense operated at a much more consistent level in Flacco's three appearances this year, with the 17-year veteran completing passes at a 65.7% clip while posting a 7-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Richardson's thrown only four touchdowns to seven picks in comparison.That's the rationale. And clear as it may be, none of it justifies the move. Not when you're trying to build a sustained winner.It's tough to imagine the ceiling for the 2024 Colts with a 39-year-old Flacco being any higher than abbreviated playoff appearance. If all of this leads to a Wild Card Weekend beatdown in Buffalo or Baltimore, what exactly is accomplished in the long view? Another playoff participation <a href="https://www.thescore.com/nfl/news/779605">banner</a>?The Colts should have understood better than anyone that Richardson would need time to realize his potential. Remember, we're talking about a QB prospect who made the jump to the NFL after only 13 starts in college. Unicorn-like physical skills were more than enough to make Indy overlook his lack of experience, but live reps were always going to be essential to help him work through accuracy, timing, and decision-making issues.He can't be expected to do that watching from the sidelines, and Flacco stepping into the starting role means there likely won't be any first-team practice reps for Richardson, either.The Colts will continue to say they believe in Richardson and that sending him to the bench doesn't mean they're giving up on him. Maybe that's true. But benching him after 10 games has the potential to sabotage his development.If you're willing to look beyond the numbers and truly assess what we're seeing on Sundays, all the raw traits of a high-level quarterback are still readily apparent. Richardson's arm talent remains as good as it gets. His pocket management is miles better than most passers with such limited experience. He also has the athleticism to create outside of structure, an essential skill for top QB play in today's game.Truth is, we're probably not even having this discussion if Richardson's receivers didn't let him down on several occasions against Houston when he was accurate with the ball. Instead, he pulled himself from the game for a quick breather - a quarterback faux pas he surely won't make again - and that ends up seeming like a factor in his benching.If you can't get past the disappointing stats, fair enough. They're very bad! But it's worth remembering that there's another quarterback - in this very same mold, no less - who overcame an oddly similar start to become one of the best on the planet:<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752666/Screenshot_2024-10-30_at_4.58.52_PM.jpg?ts=1730321973" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752666/Screenshot_2024-10-30_at_4.58.52_PM.jpg?ts=1730321973 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752666/Screenshot_2024-10-30_at_4.58.52_PM.jpg?ts=1730321973 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752666/Screenshot_2024-10-30_at_4.58.52_PM.jpg?ts=1730321973 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752666/Screenshot_2024-10-30_at_4.58.52_PM.jpg?ts=1730321973 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752666/Screenshot_2024-10-30_at_4.58.52_PM.jpg?ts=1730321973 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> </figcaption></figure>(Stats source: <a href="https://www.trumedianetworks.com/">TruMedia</a>)I'm not saying Richardson will ever be Josh Allen. The Bills star is the exception and not the rule when it comes to players going from early-career disaster to certified elite QB. Those are unfair expectations to put on anyone.But Richardson's path to success was always going to look a lot like Allen's. While there are plenty of examples of young passers who clearly didn't have it from the jump, forcing their teams to pivot in short order, Richardson doesn't yet fall into that category. Not by a long shot.Teams should be more willing to weather early struggles if a QB demonstrates the traits of a true difference-maker, unrefined as they may be. The long-term payoff is the reason you draft these players where you do.We've seen that play out over the last five years with the Bills, who've become a perennial Super Bowl contender on the back of an elite quarterback. Meanwhile, the Colts seem intent on showing us how things could have turned out if Buffalo gave up when times weren't so great.There's no use taking a home-run swing if you're not committed to seeing it through.

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Why the Colts benching Richardson doesn't make any sense

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.<h3>It's beyond over</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752039/cropped_GettyImages-2181382608.jpg?ts=1730059735" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752039/w220xh124_GettyImages-2181382608.jpg?ts=1730059735 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752039/w320xh180_GettyImages-2181382608.jpg?ts=1730059735 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752039/w640xh360_GettyImages-2181382608.jpg?ts=1730059735 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752039/w768xh432_GettyImages-2181382608.jpg?ts=1730059735 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752039/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2181382608.jpg?ts=1730059735 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Adam Glanzman / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>The Jets are cooked.Regrettably, I was expecting this to be the week that they finally took off. The reason: Well, how could they not?<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>We'd seen flashes from the offense at times, and it was only fair to assume that the old Aaron Rodgers-Davante Adams connection would ramp up after a second week of practice together. And surely the defense would feast on the Patriots' offense.One way or another, this was supposed to be the ultimate get-right spot. As it turns out, the Jets are never to be overestimated - there's always room for them to disappoint you.A stunning loss in New England drops New York to an unfathomable 2-6 mark on the season. While the most optimistic onlookers *raises hand* left the door open for this team to overcome a 2-5 start, it no longer seems wise to cling on to any such hope.We're now at a point where the Jets may be one loss away from bowing out of the playoff race completely. And if that defeat comes next week, in a tough matchup with the Texans, we should probably start having a real conversation about what this team should do at the Nov. 5 trade deadline.Turning into a seller just three weeks after making a desperation trade for Adams would, of course, be a rough look. But that shouldn't stop the Jets from salvaging this mess and doing the right thing for their future.Then again, perhaps we shouldn't be expecting too much on that front. Doing all the wrong things is kind of their brand at this point.<h3>Browns a new team</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752032/cropped_GettyImages-2181375145.jpg?ts=1730058727" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752032/w220xh124_GettyImages-2181375145.jpg?ts=1730058727 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752032/w320xh180_GettyImages-2181375145.jpg?ts=1730058727 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752032/w640xh360_GettyImages-2181375145.jpg?ts=1730058727 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752032/w768xh432_GettyImages-2181375145.jpg?ts=1730058727 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752032/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2181375145.jpg?ts=1730058727 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jason Miller / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Jameis Winston will never be confused for a high-end NFL quarterback. Limited to just three starts over the last two years, league evaluators had effectively decided he's little more than a high-end QB2.The former No. 1 pick deserves all the credit in the world for his performance in a big win against the Ravens this week. But the fact that inserting him into the starting lineup was all the Browns needed to look like a completely different team tells you everything you need to know.Deshaun Watson, prior to his season-ending injury, wasn't just a low-end starter. He was an unplayable and borderline unrosterable quarterback. But the Browns were stuck trotting him out there week after week in an attempt to justify the worst trade and worst contract in NFL history.Were it not for the financial commitments and presumed pressure from the top of the organization, Watson likely would have been benched weeks ago. Because as we saw last year when Joe Flacco stepped in for five games down the stretch, this offense is ready-made to succeed so long as the quarterback doesn't drag it down.Winston, making his first start since September 2022, put up 334 passing yards against Baltimore. That easily clears Watson's most productive day in a Browns uniform. Winston's total of three touchdowns was matched by Watson just once in his 19 starts. Winston also posted a 0.29 EPA/dropback, more than doubling Watson's best mark in Cleveland, according to <a href="https://x.com/austingayle_/status/1850635773110018275">Austin Gayle of The Ringer</a>.Winston isn't going to be perfect - we saw several turnover-worthy plays against the Browns that could easily end up going the other way in future games. But you can deal with the occasional giveaway if you actually have a quarterback capable of running the offense the way it's designed and pushing the ball downfield.The Browns had that with Flacco last year, and they have it again with Winston. The instant success of a veteran castoff drives home just how bad the quarterback situation was in between.<h3>Richardson struggling</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752049/cropped_GettyImages-2181394403.jpg?ts=1730063872" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752049/w220xh124_GettyImages-2181394403.jpg?ts=1730063872 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752049/w320xh180_GettyImages-2181394403.jpg?ts=1730063872 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752049/w640xh360_GettyImages-2181394403.jpg?ts=1730063872 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752049/w768xh432_GettyImages-2181394403.jpg?ts=1730063872 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752049/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2181394403.jpg?ts=1730063872 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jack Gorman / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>The Colts have a problem.Anthony Richardson is not a good quarterback right now. In fact, one could reasonably argue that he's currently the worst starter in football.The 2023 No. 4 pick had himself another disastrous day against the Texans, completing just 10 of 32 attempts for 175 yards and one touchdown, one interception, and one lost fumble. He also took five sacks against Houston's ferocious pass rush.On the season, Richardson is now connecting on a ghastly 44.4% of his passes. That puts him at 50% through his first 10 starts in the NFL. Completion percentage isn't everything, and it's still early, but these aren't the names you want to be associated with at any point in your career:<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Anthony Richardson ranks 222nd in completion rate (50%) among the 225 QBs with 250+ dropbacks since the year 2000... bad company <a href="https://t.co/uKaom1rVjW">pic.twitter.com/uKaom1rVjW</a>— Austin Gayle (@austingayle_) <a href="https://twitter.com/austingayle_/status/1850645803678740907?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>I want to be clear: I am nowhere near ready to consider giving up on Richardson as an NFL quarterback. He was low on experience coming into the league, and making good on his sky-high potential was always going to be about getting reps. The floor may now appear lower than anyone was hoping, but the ceiling is still high if the Colts can remain patient.It's also worth noting that Josh Allen's first 10 career games looked a lot like Richardson's: A lot of bad misses, a lot of terrible decisions, and some questions about whether he'd ever put it all together. Allen may be the exception rather than the rule when it comes to quarterback development, but that's the upside you're chasing when you draft one with physical tools like this.Unfortunately for Richardson, he didn't do himself any favors this week when he pulled himself out of the game for a third-and-long play because he needed a breather. That won't help his case for keeping the starting job when we have plenty of evidence that suggests the offense operates better with Flacco under center.<h3>Quick slants</h3>Hail Mary magic<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752068/cropped_GettyImages-2181403137.jpg?ts=1730068553" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752068/w220xh124_GettyImages-2181403137.jpg?ts=1730068553 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752068/w320xh180_GettyImages-2181403137.jpg?ts=1730068553 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752068/w640xh360_GettyImages-2181403137.jpg?ts=1730068553 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752068/w768xh432_GettyImages-2181403137.jpg?ts=1730068553 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752068/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2181403137.jpg?ts=1730068553 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Greg Fiume / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Jayden Daniels continues to amaze. The Commanders seemed dead in the water after a late touchdown put the Bears up by three points with 25 seconds to play. And they would have been were it not for the runaway favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Daniels put all elements of his unique skill set to use for a stunning walk-off Hail Mary, buying time in the backfield before unloading a deep ball 60-plus yards to the end zone. It wasn't his best outing of the year, but Daniels battled through last week's rib injury and shook off some big hits to throw for 326 yards while running for another 52. The Commanders are suddenly must-watch TV, and it's all because of their superstar rookie.Bears get what they deserveBatting down the Hail Mary was all the Bears needed to move to 5-2. Even with a win, though, it was going to be difficult to come out of this week feeling good about the state of this offense. Caleb Williams was under pressure on a career-high 51.6% of his dropbacks, according to Next Gen Stats. The continued difficulties in pass protection contributed significantly to the No. 1 pick completing just 10 of 24 passes for 131 yards against a Washington defense that entered this week ranked 26th in EPA/pass. A concerning trend of poor play-calling reached a peak when a third-and-goal handoff to backup lineman Doug Kramer was fumbled. The Bears are headed in the right direction, but it really feels like the offensive coaching staff will hold them back in the short term.A special (teams) performanceThe Lions went into halftime of Sunday's contest against the Titans having accumulated 9 net passing yards. Typically, that would be a surefire sign of a team getting blown out. In this case, the Lions held a 35-14 lead. It was a similar story in the second half. Jared Goff finished the day with a season-low 85 yards while the Lions cruised to a 52-14 win. The run game continued to produce at a high level, and a few turnovers gave Detroit some incredibly short fields. But the real story was a truly ridiculous showing on special teams. Khalil Dorsey got things started with a 72-yard kick return early in the second quarter. Kalif Raymond ripped off a 64-yard punt return two possessions later and then took one back 90 yards for a score after halftime. In total, Detroit finished the day with 262 return yards. The unit's 196 yards over expected is the most in a game since at least 2018, according to Next Gen Stats.Falcons own the NFC SouthIt's not easy to trust the Falcons. After years of torture, with an all-time Super Bowl collapse providing the lowlight, their own fans will probably be the last ones to buy in. But this team is slowly rounding into the form we all hoped to see after an aggressive offseason headlined by the move to bring in Kirk Cousins. The offense has now put up 30-plus points in three of its last four games. The Falcons may only be sitting at 5-3, but sweeping the Bucs with Sunday's win officially puts them in the driver's seat in the NFC South. Assuming they keep trending in the right direction and potentially make a deadline move to address the defensive front, there's no reason this team can't compete with the best of the NFC in January. A home playoff game would go a long way toward a deep run.Any way you want it<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752023/cropped_GettyImages-2181380724.jpg?ts=1730057524" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752023/w220xh124_GettyImages-2181380724.jpg?ts=1730057524 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752023/w320xh180_GettyImages-2181380724.jpg?ts=1730057524 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752023/w640xh360_GettyImages-2181380724.jpg?ts=1730057524 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752023/w768xh432_GettyImages-2181380724.jpg?ts=1730057524 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/752023/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2181380724.jpg?ts=1730057524 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mike Carlson / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>A matchup with the Jaguars' league-worst pass defense by EPA figured to set the stage for a monster game from Jordan Love. It wasn't quite working out that way early, and the Packers' star quarterback ended up sidelined with a groin injury for most of the second half. As we've seen from Green Bay throughout this season, though, this team is about much more than a high-powered passing attack. The defense did its part with another pair of turnovers, already eclipsing last year's total with 19 on the season. The run game also came through to close things out, as it did during Love's early-season absence, with Josh Jacobs recording 127 yards and two touchdowns. Love's health is essential for this team to reach its ceiling, but the fact that the Packers don't exclusively rely on their star quarterback bodes extremely well for their chances of going deep into the playoffs.Dolphins' offense back?Tua Tagovailoa was decently efficient in his first game since Week 2, completing 28 of 38 passes for 234 yards and one touchdown. More than his individual stats could show, though, it was clear that his presence was the key to unlocking a supremely talented cast of offensive playmakers. Tyreek Hill and De'Von Achane both had productive days, and a 27-point showing against the Cardinals marks Miami's best scoring output of the season. The offense performing at this level makes the Dolphins a playoff-caliber team, but the road back to contention may prove too difficult from here. A narrow loss to Arizona drops Miami to 2-5 with the division-leading Bills up next.Eagles heating upThe Eagles' offense has been the target of some fairly consistent criticism in this space; all of which, I'll note, has been deserved. While I'm certainly not going to walk it back after one game against one of the league's worst defenses in Cincinnati, it would be silly to ignore the possibility that this could be the start of a long-awaited turnaround. Jalen Hurts played as well as he has at any point in the last calendar year, completing 16 of 20 passes for 236 yards and a touchdown while adding another 37 yards and three scores on the ground. Granted, the total passing numbers may not be what you expect from a $255-million quarterback. But with a dominant run game, and a defense that looks better every week, taking care of the ball while hitting on the occasional big play to your superstar receivers is really all this team needs. Upcoming contests against the Jaguars, Cowboys, Commanders, and Rams give the offense a real opportunity to take off.Tight ends steal the showPassing numbers may be down, but tight ends weren't going to let that get in the way of them enjoying their special day. National Tight Ends Day was celebrated this year with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3110309" href="https://thescore.com/news/3110309">a number of big performances</a> around the league. Fourteen different tight ends found the end zone at least once Sunday. In total, the 16 scores sets a new record for the honorary holiday. There were also five tight ends who didn't record touchdowns but still led their teams in either catches or yards.<h3>Stat of the week</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This is crazy: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jets?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Jets</a> had 0 turnovers, held the Patriots to 247 yards -- and still lost. They're the first team to lose a game in which they did not turn the ball over and held their opponent under 250 yards since Week 3 of 2012. In 2012, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers lost,…— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) <a href="https://twitter.com/RichCimini/status/1850659296587227165?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2024</a>
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Key takeaways and analysis from Week 8 in the NFL

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.<h3>Saquon revenge game</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/750808/cropped_GettyImages-2179827497.jpg?ts=1729455263" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/750808/w220xh124_GettyImages-2179827497.jpg?ts=1729455263 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/750808/w320xh180_GettyImages-2179827497.jpg?ts=1729455263 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/750808/w640xh360_GettyImages-2179827497.jpg?ts=1729455263 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/750808/w768xh432_GettyImages-2179827497.jpg?ts=1729455263 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/750808/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2179827497.jpg?ts=1729455263 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Luke Hales / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>John Mara knew this was coming.The Giants owner provided the most memorable scene from the offseason edition of HBO's "Hard Knocks" when he told GM Joe Schoen that he'd "have a tough time sleeping" if Saquon Barkley were to sign with the Eagles. Barkley indeed bolted for Philly when New York foolishly allowed him to test the free-agent market, and it's worked out pretty much exactly how everyone expected.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The former No. 2 overall pick continued his incredible start this week with the ultimate revenge game in his first trip back to the Meadowlands, gashing the Giants for 176 rushing yards en route to a 28-3 blowout.Barkley's lone score on the day saw him pull even with the entire Giants team in total touchdowns scored at MetLife Stadium this year. He's now up to 658 rushing yards on the season, setting a new Eagles record for the first six games of a campaign. For what it's worth, it would be a Giants record, too.New York's botched situation with Barkley goes all the way back to when he was first scheduled to become a free agent in 2023. The Giants talked themselves into Daniel Jones as a franchise quarterback on the heels of a 15-touchdown season and a one-off playoff appearance. As a result, he got the long-term deal while Barkley had to settle for the franchise tag.It didn't take long for everyone to realize that the Jones extension was a terrible mistake. While this year has certainly been better than 2023, Jones averaging 4.7 yards per pass attempt in the same game that Barkley rushed for 10.4 pretty much sums it up.The Giants thought they were being smart by not committing big money to a running back. In reality, it's just the latest in a long line of poor decisions from this front office. Barkley dominating with a division rival appropriately ensures they won't soon forget it.<h3>Jets still the Jets</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/750917/cropped_GettyImages-2179855340.jpg?ts=1729480650" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/750917/w220xh124_GettyImages-2179855340.jpg?ts=1729480650 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/750917/w320xh180_GettyImages-2179855340.jpg?ts=1729480650 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/750917/w640xh360_GettyImages-2179855340.jpg?ts=1729480650 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/750917/w768xh432_GettyImages-2179855340.jpg?ts=1729480650 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/750917/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2179855340.jpg?ts=1729480650 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Joe Sargent / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Adding a superstar receiver in the middle of the season doesn't make all your problems go away. The Jets found that out the hard way when a week of good vibes concluded with a crushing loss in Pittsburgh on Sunday night.Davante Adams was held to three catches for 30 yards despite stepping into a full workload five days after the blockbuster trade from Las Vegas. It's likely only a matter of time before he and Rodgers tap into the connection they had all those years in Green Bay, and the Jets' offense may well take off as a result. But this team's issues always went well beyond the receiving corps.The disappointing loss marks the fourth time already this season that the run game has put up less than 70 yards. A costly interception off a brutal deflection from Garrett Wilson, meanwhile, adds to the growing list of miscues. The defense still has dominant flashes, but allowing Russell Wilson to lead the Steelers to their highest point total since 2021 is a rough look.The Jets have the talent to turn this thing around, and some of the schematic changes we've seen since last week's offensive coordinator change are promising. There's no longer any room for error, though.A 2-5 record means New York probably needs to win eight of its last 10 games to make the playoffs. That's a pretty big ask for the best of teams, let alone one whose only victories have come against the Titans and Patriots.<h3>Goff is dealing</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749825/cropped_GettyImages-2178266012.jpg?ts=1728861279" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749825/w220xh124_GettyImages-2178266012.jpg?ts=1728861279 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749825/w320xh180_GettyImages-2178266012.jpg?ts=1728861279 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749825/w640xh360_GettyImages-2178266012.jpg?ts=1728861279 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749825/w768xh432_GettyImages-2178266012.jpg?ts=1728861279 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749825/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2178266012.jpg?ts=1728861279 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Ron Jenkins / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>How many quarterback are playing better than Jared Goff right now?Sunday's game against the Vikings figured to be the ultimate test for a juggernaut Lions offense. Detroit had hit its stride with back-to-back 40-point games, but this wasn't the Cowboys. Minnesota's defense is unlike any other in football this season.Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores predictably continued to dial up blitzes to get as much pressure on Jared Goff as possible. That was the best way to defend him in years past. Perhaps that's not the case anymore.Goff was blitzed on 55.2% of his dropbacks this week, according to Next Gen Stats. That mark eclipses his previous season high by more than 12%. He completed 13 of 15 pass attempts in those situations this week, throwing for 163 yards and one score.Part of the Lions' success against the blitz will always be an outstanding scheme having built-in answers for pressure packages. The other part, and the more significant one on this day, is Goff delivering under duress. Next Gen Stats had the Lions quarterback facing a season-high 51.7% pressure rate against the Vikings, going 10 of 11 for 164 yards and connecting on each of his two scores on the day.The Lions' defense certainly has some questions to answer, particularly in the wake of a major injury to Aidan Hutchinson. Even an aggressive trade deadline won't be enough to replace a surefire Defensive Player of the Year candidate. But the defense only has to do so much when the offense is capable of lighting up the scoreboard against even the best of opponents.Goff's continued growth, a rarity for a player on the other side of 30, is a leading factor in that dominance. At a time when a number of big-money quarterback deals aren't looking so hot, the Lions shouldn't have a single regret about paying their leader under center.<h3>Quick slants</h3>Fortune favors the bold<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/750892/cropped_GettyImages-2179872999.jpg?ts=1729474598" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/750892/w220xh124_GettyImages-2179872999.jpg?ts=1729474598 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/750892/w320xh180_GettyImages-2179872999.jpg?ts=1729474598 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/750892/w640xh360_GettyImages-2179872999.jpg?ts=1729474598 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/750892/w768xh432_GettyImages-2179872999.jpg?ts=1729474598 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/750892/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2179872999.jpg?ts=1729474598 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Joe Sargent / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Mike Tomlin benching Justin Fields in favor of Russell Wilson after a 4-2 start seemed ridiculous. Fields hadn't been spectacular, but there was also no reason to believe Wilson would magically recapture a level of play he hasn't enjoyed since 2021. Well, Wilson's 264 passing yards and three total touchdowns were all the Steelers needed to stun the Jets on national TV. He's still a limited version of his former self, and there'll be some not-so-fun moments in the weeks to come. But if Wilson's ability to loft up moon balls for George Pickens is all this offense needs to complement an always-stout defense, as was the case Sunday night, we should probably all agree to never doubt Tomlin again.Amari's instant impactThe Bills made a much-needed addition to the offense this week by acquiring Amari Cooper from the Browns. It seemed like the perfect fit, with the veteran wideout potentially providing Josh Allen with an established route-runner who can consistently win in one-on-one situations. Early signs suggest he'll be exactly that. Cooper made a fantastic first impression in Buffalo's win over Tennessee, turning a relatively light workload into four catches for 66 yards and one touchdown. It'll take a few weeks for him to fully get up to speed on the offense and get in sync with Allen. When that time comes, he may well help push the Bills' offense over the top.Chiefs trade incoming?The Chiefs are the NFL's lone undefeated team after taking care of business Sunday in San Francisco. As if there was any doubt, Patrick Mahomes is proving capable of elevating the offense no matter the supporting cast. After an offseason spent bolstering the receiving corps, though, it's tough to believe that the two-time defending champs are going to settle for this. Mahomes threw for 154 yards and two interceptions against the 49ers. That puts him up to eight picks to go with just six touchdowns. You have to think a veteran target like DeAndre Hopkins or Diontae Johnson (or both) could help this offense get back to where it needs to be.A true gunslingerJordan Love drew a lot of Aaron Rodgers comparisons in the early stages of his time as the Packers' starter. The more logical comp may be the legendary quarterback who came before. Love's combination of arm talent, unique playmaking traits, and inconsistent decision-making is oddly reminiscent of Brett Favre. To be clear, that's mostly a compliment. Love can connect on throws that many simply couldn't dream of making. It won't always work, and the overall decision-making isn't quite where you'd like - another two interceptions this week gives him eight in five games. But it's just not as much of an issue when the positive plays raise the offense's ceiling as his do. Love once again overcame the turnover issues to outduel C.J. Stroud and push the Packers to 5-2.Rams building it right<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/609387/cropped_GettyImages-1611207735.jpg?ts=1704231401" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/609387/w220xh124_GettyImages-1611207735.jpg?ts=1704231401 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/609387/w320xh180_GettyImages-1611207735.jpg?ts=1704231401 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/609387/w640xh360_GettyImages-1611207735.jpg?ts=1704231401 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/609387/w768xh432_GettyImages-1611207735.jpg?ts=1704231401 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/609387/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1611207735.jpg?ts=1704231401 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>The versatility of the Rams' front office is truly incredible. It wasn't long ago that this team, dead set on doing everything it could to load up and chase a Super Bowl, became the leader of the "F them picks" movement. Draft selections were merely assets that could help them land established talents. Now that they've accomplished the ultimate goal, the Rams have pivoted to a more traditional draft-and-develop approach. And they're pretty damn good at that, too. First-round edge rusher Jared Verse posted nine pressures in Sunday's win over the Raiders, and he now leads all rookies with 29 this season, according to <a href="https://x.com/NextGenStats/status/1848142047456403627">Next Gen Stats</a>. Rams second-round pick Braden Fiske is second with 17. Adding a duo like this alongside Kobie Turner and Byron Young, another pair of hits from the 2023 draft, is masterful work in pivoting after the retirement of Aaron Donald.A quiet superstarThe majority of football fans could take 10 guesses and not even come close to picking out the NFL's current sack leader. Unless you're a Giants fan, that is. Dexter Lawrence got to Jalen Hurts twice in Sunday's game against the Eagles, giving him nine on the season. That's right, a nose tackle best known for his dominance against the run is on an early pace to challenge the single-season sack record. In reality, Lawrence has been an impactful pass-rusher for several years running. But an improved Giants defensive front, headlined by the offseason addition of Brian Burns, is freeing him up to feast. Lawrence is worthy of a spot on everyone's first-half Defensive Player of the Year ballots.Dolphins flounderingThe majority of us have probably been shrugging off the Dolphins' offensive ineptitude as a predictable outcome in the absence of their star quarterback. That's certainly the main factor here, but it's time we ramp up the expectations a little bit. Far less talented teams, and seemingly less regarded coaching staffs, have managed far less monumental dropoffs when turning to their backup quarterback. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle each had one catch on a combined four targets in Sunday's loss to the Colts. That's just not going to fly, no matter the quarterback situation. Mike McDaniel's reputation as an offensive guru is taking some serious hits this season. Could he be on the hot seat if this team doesn't take off after Tua Tagovailoa's impending return?They are who we thought they wereCarolina benching Bryce Young early this season was absolutely the right move. The 2023 No. 1 pick was somehow getting worse, and it was only fair to the rest of the organization to see if the team fared better with Andy Dalton. The veteran quarterback provided a spark, but it was ultimately short-lived. Now, after a 40-7 loss to Marcus Mariota and the Commanders, it seems like we're right back where we started. So why did it take until the end of the fourth quarter to get Young in the game? Great question. If the Panthers are so done with him that he can't even get significant reps in a game that was over by halftime, it's probably time for both sides to move on.Pierce does it again<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746473/cropped_GettyImages-2171720145.jpg?ts=1727052127" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746473/w220xh124_GettyImages-2171720145.jpg?ts=1727052127 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746473/w320xh180_GettyImages-2171720145.jpg?ts=1727052127 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746473/w640xh360_GettyImages-2171720145.jpg?ts=1727052127 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746473/w768xh432_GettyImages-2171720145.jpg?ts=1727052127 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746473/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2171720145.jpg?ts=1727052127 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Brandon Sloter / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Antonio Pierce got a special shoutout in this space back in Week 1 for making one of the worst fourth-down decisions you'll ever see in a loss to the Chargers. Back in the same building for a matchup with the Rams, the Raiders head coach was at it again. Trailing by eight with less than three minutes to play, Las Vegas sent out the field-goal team on fourth and goal from the 9-yard line. Pierce's trust in his defense was rewarded, as the Raiders got the ball back for a potential game-winning drive. But he got exactly what he bargained for trusting his offense to drive all the way down the field again. It took all of three plays for Gardner Minshew to throw his third interception, sealing the loss and dropping Las Vegas to 2-5. Pierce is quickly trending toward being a one-and-done head coach.<h3>Stat of the week</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Fun fact: Since Brian Flores joined the Vikings, his defense has only allowed an offense to score 30 points 4 times in 23 games. 3 of those 30-point games belong to the Lions.— Erik Schlitt (@erikschlitt) <a href="https://twitter.com/erikschlitt/status/1848105359166304586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2024</a>
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Key takeaways and analysis from Week 7 in the NFL

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.<h3>Caleb is here</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749734/cropped_GettyImages-2178224148.jpg?ts=1728836906" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749734/w220xh124_GettyImages-2178224148.jpg?ts=1728836906 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749734/w320xh180_GettyImages-2178224148.jpg?ts=1728836906 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749734/w640xh360_GettyImages-2178224148.jpg?ts=1728836906 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749734/w768xh432_GettyImages-2178224148.jpg?ts=1728836906 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749734/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2178224148.jpg?ts=1728836906 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Harry Murphy / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Let's take things back a few weeks.Chicago's offense started the year in a bad place. Naturally (irrationally), some began to wonder whether Caleb Williams would live up to the hype. Surely, with all the big-name talent at receiver, it was all the young quarterback's fault.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Jayden Daniels, meanwhile, was off to a flying start in Washington. Early returns from the top two picks resulted in wild comparisons to Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud. Looking back at the 2023 quarterback class, of course, it's pretty clear that the Panthers made a mistake in passing on Stroud in favor of Young.Fortunately, it didn't take long for any such parallels to be squashed.The Bears have begun to take off offensively over the last few weeks, culminating in an emphatic arrival for Williams on Sunday morning in London. The USC product looked comfortable as ever dicing up the Jaguars defense, completing 23 of 29 passes for 226 yards and four touchdowns. The arm talent is every bit as advertised. His feel for the game, particularly when it comes to extending plays, is sublime. The athleticism is unique, too.If you want to write this off as the Bears hitting an easy part of the schedule, fair enough. A three-game stretch against the Rams, Panthers, and Jaguars is a dream for a young quarterback. But anyone who's watched the games can understand this isn't some sort of fake breakout, even if there are some ups and downs to follow.Everyone in Chicago should be confident that they made the right decision at the top of this year's draft. Williams is going to be the best quarterback in the class, and he's got all the traits of a top-five passer, too.<h3>Jayden does it again</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749850/cropped_GettyImages-2178258717.jpg?ts=1728874503" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749850/w220xh124_GettyImages-2178258717.jpg?ts=1728874503 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749850/w320xh180_GettyImages-2178258717.jpg?ts=1728874503 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749850/w640xh360_GettyImages-2178258717.jpg?ts=1728874503 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749850/w768xh432_GettyImages-2178258717.jpg?ts=1728874503 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749850/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2178258717.jpg?ts=1728874503 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Patrick Smith / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Let's be clear. Any praise for Caleb Williams, or pushback on the idea that the Bears picked the wrong quarterback, is no slight toward Jayden Daniels. How could anyone have anything negative to say after the way he's started his career?Sunday's road matchup against the Ravens marked Daniels' biggest test yet, and nobody would have faulted him for stumbling against an exotic Baltimore defense while trying to go shot for shot with Lamar Jackson. The result may not seem spectacular - the Commanders dropped a game for the first time since Week 1 - but this week's performance was arguably his most impressive yet.Daniels was in complete control against everything Baltimore threw at him, completing 24 of 35 passes for a season-high 269 yards and two touchdowns. His 22 rushing yards represent his lowest total of the year, but his athleticism was a huge factor when it came to extending plays.That pass-oriented approach to scrambling has been a pleasant surprise early in his pro career. He's also attacking the middle of the field more than he ever did at LSU, which makes for two major areas of concern as a prospect that he's addressed almost immediately.Washington's defensive shortcomings - exploited for 484 yards this week - probably put a ceiling on what this team can accomplish this season. A lack of depth at receiver isn't helping matters, either. But this season is already well on its way to exceeding expectations. And that's all because of the quarterback.The future is bright because the Commanders' big swing is looking like a home run.<h3>Cowboys down bad</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749839/cropped_GettyImages-2171029818.jpg?ts=1728865304" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749839/w220xh124_GettyImages-2171029818.jpg?ts=1728865304 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749839/w320xh180_GettyImages-2171029818.jpg?ts=1728865304 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749839/w640xh360_GettyImages-2171029818.jpg?ts=1728865304 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749839/w768xh432_GettyImages-2171029818.jpg?ts=1728865304 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749839/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2171029818.jpg?ts=1728865304 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Diamond Images / Diamond Images / Getty</figcaption></figure>Jerry Jones did not have a happy birthday.Dallas had an opportunity to make a statement this week against Detroit after an uninspiring 3-2 start. Even if they didn't win, going toe to toe with a team like the Lions would prove that the Cowboys still belong in the conversation with the class of the NFC.As it turns out, they don't. The Cowboys were thoroughly embarrassed on their home field, falling back to .500 with a 47-9 loss.The defense has completely fallen off a cliff under Mike Zimmer. One could point to the injury absences of Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence as a key factor against a stout Detroit offensive front. But what was the excuse against the Saints and Ravens?Things aren't going much better offensively. While Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb continue to operate as one of the league's premier duos, there's only so much they can do by themselves. The playmaking depth beyond the two superstars is virtually nonexistent.It would appear that the need to open the wallet for extensions has left ownership feeling unable (or unwilling) to make meaningful additions at these clear spots of need. Jones said last month that the team simply couldn't afford Derrick Henry in free agency. Stephen Jones then ended all speculation about the Cowboys being a potential suitor for disgruntled Raiders wideout Davante Adams, saying the team is not interested.The salary cap is clearly a legitimate factor in these decisions - nobody wants to end up kicking the can down the road year after year like the Saints. But it doesn't have to be one way or the other. There are always ways to get creative if you're truly trying to win.Feigning helplessness doesn't fly as America's Team.<h3>Quick slants</h3>Ben Johnson cooking<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749851/cropped_GettyImages-2178264702.jpg?ts=1728874707" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749851/w220xh124_GettyImages-2178264702.jpg?ts=1728874707 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749851/w320xh180_GettyImages-2178264702.jpg?ts=1728874707 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749851/w640xh360_GettyImages-2178264702.jpg?ts=1728874707 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749851/w768xh432_GettyImages-2178264702.jpg?ts=1728874707 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749851/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2178264702.jpg?ts=1728874707 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Ron Jenkins / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Good offenses have either top talent or an outstanding scheme. Great ones have both. The Lions were unstoppable in a 47-9 blowout win over the Cowboys, their second straight 40-point effort. It was one explosive play after another for Detroit, highlighted by a 52-yard trick-play touchdown to Sam LaPorta. To put Johnson's schematic genius into perspective, the big play marked the young tight end's seventh touchdown on an open target with 3-plus yards of separation since 2023, according to Next Gen Stats. Also tied atop the leaderboard: Lions teammate Amon-Ra St. Brown. The Lions are a legitimate Super Bowl contender, and Johnson should be the most coveted name in the upcoming coaching carousel.Eagles not out of the woodsThe Eagles desperately needed a win coming out of the bye. Mission accomplished on that front, but was this really a game that made anyone feel any better about the direction of this team? Returns from A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith were supposed to help this offense take off. While a few big plays did make a difference in the end, the offense in general still looks broken. The defense, meanwhile, holds the honor of allowing Deshaun Watson to post his best QB rating of the season. Nick Sirianni jawing at fans after barely beating the Browns sums up everything that's wrong with the Eagles right now - the vibes are just dreadful. It's tough to see much changing without new leadership.Maye provides hopeAnyone who had concerns about the Patriots throwing Drake Maye to the wolves is likely feeling at least slightly vindicated. The No. 2 pick was under siege all day against Houston's league-best pass rush - not exactly the way you want to introduce the future of your franchise to the NFL level. But there were still plenty of flashes that offered a reminder of why that future is now so bright. Maye weathered the storm, toughing out four sacks and a pair of interceptions to start his career with a three-touchdown effort. His arm talent and poise under pressure were particularly impressive. The Patriots have to do everything they can to make sure the current situation doesn't negatively impact his development, but he's going to learn a lot more on the field than he could on the sidelines.Chargers quietly goodYou probably won't hear a whole lot about the Chargers this season - a run-heavy team that lacks receiver talent simply isn't going to garner a lot of attention in today's game. It's long past time that we start recognizing Jim Harbaugh's club as a playoff contender, though. Sunday's win over the red-hot Broncos moved Los Angeles to 3-2 ahead of a four-game stretch against the Cardinals, Saints, Browns, and Titans. Anything can happen in this league, so we shouldn't get too carried away, but this well-coached team should take care of business in each of those winnable games. The defense continued its steady play with two takeaways this week, and the Chargers have still served up only two turnovers of their own, tied for the league's lowest total.Packers offense taking off<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749852/cropped_GettyImages-2178243654.jpg?ts=1728874918" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749852/w220xh124_GettyImages-2178243654.jpg?ts=1728874918 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749852/w320xh180_GettyImages-2178243654.jpg?ts=1728874918 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749852/w640xh360_GettyImages-2178243654.jpg?ts=1728874918 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749852/w768xh432_GettyImages-2178243654.jpg?ts=1728874918 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/749852/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2178243654.jpg?ts=1728874918 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Patrick McDermott / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>This was the vision in Green Bay. While some were likely sleeping on this offense's potential due to a relative lack of household names, this is one of the league's best collections of young skill-position talent. Jordan Love's 22 completions in Sunday's win over the Cardinals were split between nine different receivers. The Packers also leaned heavily on the ground game, with seven different ball-carriers getting involved to the tune of 38 rush attempts. The "everyone eats" approach will pose an issue to fantasy football managers itching for high-volume playmakers, but the Packers couldn't possibly care less. With Matt LaFleur on the controls, a unit with this many options is a nightmare to defend.Bucs drop 51I'll be honest: I still have no idea what to think about the Bucs. Maybe the issue is that the defense, which entered this week ranked 24th in EPA/play, isn't nearly as good as we've grown accustomed to seeing under Todd Bowles. But you can only have so many reservations when this team overcomes three turnovers to still hang 51 points on a division rival. Baker Mayfield is playing the best football of his career. The run game is doing its part, too - Bucky Irving has forced his way onto the field early, and Sean Tucker capitalized on his opportunity this week with 136 yards and a score against the Saints. Tampa Bay should be right there with Atlanta in the battle for the NFC South, and it shouldn't surprise anyone if they come out on top.A crushing blowAidan Hutchinson is facing a long-term absence after going down with a broken tibia in Sunday's win over the Cowboys. It's a truly devastating loss for a Lions team setting its sights on a Super Bowl run. Hutchinson was in the process of establishing himself among the NFL's elite pass-rushers, entering this week leading the league in sacks and ranked seventh in pressures. He'd been doing a lot of the heavy lifting for an otherwise average Lions pass rush, arguably making him the team's most valuable player. Might the front office be forced to turn to the trade market? Jadeveon Clowney and Za'Darius Smith, for example, couldn't replace Hutchinson's production alone, but the Lions may have to do something to avoid having the defense take too much of a step back.Get comfortable, RussJustin Fields certainly isn't perfect. He still has a long way to go as a passer, and it seems likely that he'll never truly make good on his first-round pedigree. But it's also true that he's made some major improvements since his time in Chicago, and that's been more than enough for Pittsburgh to win games. While a now-healthy Russell Wilson is lurking - and the former Super Bowl champ was considered the starter all offseason - the Steelers would be out of their minds to make a change now. That could push Wilson to pursue an exit. I'm not sure the Steelers should care. Fields is doing just as much as this late-career version of Wilson can as a passer. Factor in the value he brings as a runner, and it's not even a discussion. It's time to silence the weekly discussion points and name Fields the permanent starter.<h3>Stat of the week</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Eagle has landed. The Bears have scored five offensive touchdowns in back-to-back games for the first time since 1956, per <a href="https://twitter.com/Stathead?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@stathead</a>.— Mark Potash (@MarkPotash) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkPotash/status/1845495862773866881?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2024</a>
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Key takeaways and analysis from Week 6 in the NFL

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.<h3>Game of the year</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748856/cropped_GettyImages-2177124214.jpg?ts=1728275824" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748856/w220xh124_GettyImages-2177124214.jpg?ts=1728275824 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748856/w320xh180_GettyImages-2177124214.jpg?ts=1728275824 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748856/w640xh360_GettyImages-2177124214.jpg?ts=1728275824 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748856/w768xh432_GettyImages-2177124214.jpg?ts=1728275824 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748856/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2177124214.jpg?ts=1728275824 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Andy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>If the defensive resurgence isn't quite your thing, the Ravens-Bengals contest had to be refreshing.This AFC North shootout was an important reminder that, although defenses often hold the upper hand in today's NFL, there's still only so much you can do to stop overwhelming offensive talent.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Baltimore and Cincinnati traded one punch after another, combining for 79 points and 962 yards, including 716 passing yards. Starting with the last possession of the first half, the two sides rattled off seven straight touchdown drives.We'll get into the Bengals later, as there's a lot to like despite the result. But for the Ravens, it was particularly promising to come away with another big win in a completely different type of game. After back-to-back weeks in which Baltimore leaned on a dominant rushing attack to take down top opponents, this matchup lended itself more to the passing game.Lamar Jackson was more than up to the task, going shot for shot with Joe Burrow to throw for 348 yards and four touchdowns. Derrick Henry got his opportunity to take over in overtime, ripping off a 51-yard run to set up the game-winning field goal.The Ravens team we've seen over the last three weeks is very much a front-runner in the AFC. The Bengals have some work to do in the standings, but they can hang with anyone. It's only right that the second matchup between these offensive juggernauts gets a primetime slot in early November. If we're lucky, we'll get a third matchup in January, too.<h3>Desperate times</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748717/cropped_GettyImages-2176218343.jpg?ts=1728232871" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748717/w220xh124_GettyImages-2176218343.jpg?ts=1728232871 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748717/w320xh180_GettyImages-2176218343.jpg?ts=1728232871 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748717/w640xh360_GettyImages-2176218343.jpg?ts=1728232871 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748717/w768xh432_GettyImages-2176218343.jpg?ts=1728232871 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748717/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2176218343.jpg?ts=1728232871 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> DeFodi Images / DeFodi Images / Getty</figcaption></figure>Joe Douglas has some calls to make.The Jets are sitting at a disappointing 2-3 after a trip to London, and, while there's no shame in losing to this version of the Vikings, it's probably time to sound the alarm about the state of the offense.Aaron Rodgers has been unable to build upon the flashes of vintage play we saw in the opening weeks. His 4.5 yards per attempt against Minnesota marks his lowest output since November 2019, and some questionable decisions led to three costly interceptions. It's clear to even the most casual observers that the 40-year-old veteran is simply not on the same page as his receivers.Rodgers is presumably pounding the table for a Davante Adams trade to bring in an infusion of playmaking talent and familiarity. The Jets are thought to be the preferred destination for the disgruntled Raiders receiver, and it may simply be a matter of the two sides reaching an agreement in the coming days.Adams alone won't solve all of the Jets' problems, as poor game plans are a staple of Nathaniel Hackett offenses. But if you've come this far in building a small window for contention, why hold back over a future Day 2 pick?Douglas has to get this done, no matter the price. It may be his only hope at salvaging the Rodgers era in New York.<h3>Enough is enough</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748791/cropped_GettyImages-2177109816.jpg?ts=1728248181" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748791/w220xh124_GettyImages-2177109816.jpg?ts=1728248181 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748791/w320xh180_GettyImages-2177109816.jpg?ts=1728248181 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748791/w640xh360_GettyImages-2177109816.jpg?ts=1728248181 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748791/w768xh432_GettyImages-2177109816.jpg?ts=1728248181 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748791/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2177109816.jpg?ts=1728248181 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Patrick Smith / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>It's easy to understand why the Browns aren't willing to bench Deshaun Watson. While Cleveland's quarterback play has been astonishingly miserable, he's still due a fully guaranteed $92 million across 2025 and 2026, meaning ownership has a vested interest in finding a way to make it work.But what about when it becomes undeniably clear that there is no hope for any such outcome?After an unfathomably bad first two years in Cleveland, Watson is somehow getting worse. The former Pro Bowler looked completely lost against a Washington defense that entered this week ranked 31st in EPA/play, completing 15 of 28 passes for only 125 yards while taking seven sacks.The latest in a long line of horrific outings caps an opening five-week stretch that is among the worst we've seen since the turn of the century.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Bottom-10 EPA per dropback averages in Weeks 1-5 in any season since at least 2000: 750. AJ Feeley (-.27) 751. Ryan Leaf (-.27) 752. Kyle Boller (-.28) 753. Deshaun Watson (-.30)** 754. Chris Simms (-.31) 755. Will Levis (-.34)** 756. Kordell Stewart (-.37) 757. Jamarcus Russell…— Austin Gayle (@austingayle_) <a href="https://twitter.com/austingayle_/status/1843111360009555995?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Remember, this is a Browns team that went to the playoffs with Joe Flacco under center down the stretch last year. There's more than enough talent and coaching chops to get this team in the postseason mix with average quarterback play. Cleveland is being weighed down by a $230-million passer who no longer belongs.No matter how you slice it, the investment made in Watson is going absolutely nowhere. It's time for ownership to admit as much, do right by the rest of the organization, and turn to a quarterback who gives them a chance on game day.Jameis Winston, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, whoever. Anyone but Watson.<h3>Quick slants</h3>Commanders are for real<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748761/cropped_GettyImages-2177123881.jpg?ts=1728246714" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748761/w220xh124_GettyImages-2177123881.jpg?ts=1728246714 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748761/w320xh180_GettyImages-2177123881.jpg?ts=1728246714 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748761/w640xh360_GettyImages-2177123881.jpg?ts=1728246714 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748761/w768xh432_GettyImages-2177123881.jpg?ts=1728246714 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748761/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2177123881.jpg?ts=1728246714 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Patrick Smith / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>I was going to wait until after this week before buying in on the Commanders, even if that was arguably a little conservative. All signs pointed to Cleveland's defense being an interesting test for Washington's offense. The Browns did present some challenges for Jayden Daniels, holding him to a season-low 56% completion rate, but the overall results remain impressive. Daniels threw for 238 yards at 9.5 yards per attempt while adding another 82 yards in the run game. The No. 2 pick looks more comfortable with every passing week, and he's already showing major improvements over the player he was at the end of his LSU career. The Commanders have a young superstar under center, and they're emerging as an immediate playoff threat as a result.Caleb heating upNone of us were actually panicking about Caleb Williams, were we? A slow start from the No. 1 pick is, of course, bound to lead to some irrational takes, and you can multiply those takes by a thousand when the player selected one spot later dominates out of the gate. But a four-game sample is basically nothing for a rookie quarterback, and Williams' struggles were always overstated. The early flashes of brilliance turned into consistent high-level play in Sunday's win over the Panthers. Williams was in complete control throughout the game, completing 20 of 29 passes for 304 yards and two scores. His comfort at this stage, despite the offensive system doing him no favors, is an incredibly promising sign for the future.Bills need a trade, tooJosh Allen finished Sunday's loss to the Texans connecting on just 9 of 30 passes. A 30% completion rate is the lowest mark for a quarterback with at least 30 attempts in the last 30 years, according to ESPN Stats and Info. It wasn't Allen's best game, but this is also a symptom of some major personnel issues. The Bills, whose target leader at receiver was Mack Hollins, simply don't have a player capable of winning in one-on-one situations on the outside. Buffalo could really use the route-running prowess of Browns wideout Amari Cooper. Considering its salary-cap issues, a league-minimum base salary might make him the perfect trade-deadline target.Flacco again?No, your eyes do not deceive you. For the second time in as many years, Joe Flacco stepped in as a starter and provided a clear upgrade in quarterback play, as the 39-year-old veteran nearly led the Colts to a win over the Jaguars with 359 passing yards and three touchdowns. To be clear, Anthony Richardson should - and will - remain the starter when healthy. The Colts' future depends on his development, and he needs reps to make good on his potential. But there sure are a few other teams who could use Flacco as QB1. We're looking at you, Browns.Don't give up on BengalsA heartbreaking loss to the Ravens drops the Bengals to 1-4 on the season. For most teams, climbing out a hole this deep is impossible. It may well prove too difficult for Cincinnati, too. But don't rule this team out yet. The offense finally appears to be hitting its stride. Joe Burrow lit up the Baltimore defense for 392 yards and five touchdowns, and Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins each accounted for two scores. Though the end result wasn't what they wanted, narrow losses to the Chiefs and Ravens showed how close this team still is to the AFC's elite. There's no reason the Bengals can't be 5-4 after an upcoming stretch of games against the Giants, Browns, Eagles, and Raiders.Surtain for DPOY?<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748831/cropped_GettyImages-2176275383.jpg?ts=1728259389" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748831/w220xh124_GettyImages-2176275383.jpg?ts=1728259389 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748831/w320xh180_GettyImages-2176275383.jpg?ts=1728259389 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748831/w640xh360_GettyImages-2176275383.jpg?ts=1728259389 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748831/w768xh432_GettyImages-2176275383.jpg?ts=1728259389 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/748831/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2176275383.jpg?ts=1728259389 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Cooper Neill / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>It's not easy to earn Defensive Player of the Year honors as a cornerback - Stephon Gilmore (2019) and Charles Woodson (2009) are the only two to win the prestigious award since Deion Sanders in 1994. But it's time we consider factors beyond raw statistical production. Patrick Surtain Jr. is the best cornerback in the game right now, and his lockdown presence is leading the way for a resurgent Broncos defense. He single-handedly flipped momentum with a 100-yard pick-6 in Sunday's win over the Raiders, one of his two interceptions on the day. If Denver ends up as a competitive team with a largely anemic offense, Surtain should absolutely be in the mix for any award that recognizes his immense value.Gannon building somethingThe Cardinals are officially frisky, folks. Results probably won't be consistent for a while - this roster simply doesn't have the talent to maintain a high level of play on a weekly basis. But it's clear that second-year head coach Jonathan Gannon has the team heading in the right direction. Gannon's defense came up big in Sunday's win over the 49ers, tallying three takeaways and a turnover on downs to shut out the San Francisco offense in the second half. That provided the offense all the support it needed to stage a comeback and secure a 24-23 win. Give this organization another offseason to build and we could be talking about a legitimate playoff contender. In the meantime, the Cardinals are a team nobody can overlook.Bigsby's breakout partyTravis Etienne's spot atop the Jaguars' running back depth chart may not be safe. Tank Bigsby was in line for an expanded workload after turning seven carries into 90 yards last week, and he did not disappoint with the increase in volume. The second-year back took 13 attempts for 101 yards and two touchdowns in a win over the Colts, outproducing Etienne's 17 yards on six carries. Etienne remains the preferred option as a receiver out of the backfield - he had a season-high six catches this week - but Bigsby is quickly proving to be the more effective option in the run game.Kraft a budding starJust when you thought a young Packers offense couldn't get any more exciting, it seems like there's a future star at the tight end position. Kraft's uptick in pass-game usage started last week, when he turned nine targets into six catches for 53 yards and a score, and he followed that up with four catches for 88 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's win over the Rams. Both touchdowns, including a spectacular 66-yarder, showed off his unique ability after the catch. Kraft is well on his way to being a consistent playmaker for one of the league's most explosive offenses. Don't waste any more time if he's somehow still on the waiver wire in your fantasy leagues.Tracy's arrivalTyrone Tracy Jr. received a major opportunity this week when Devin Singletary was ruled out with a groin injury. The fifth-round rookie was a key contributor in a stunning win over the Seahawks, taking 18 carries for 129 yards. Tracy was thought of as a work in progress coming out of Purdue, as it was assumed a former receiver who was still so new to the position would need time to find his footing at the NFL level. So much for that. Tracy is going to be tough to keep off the field.<h3>Stat of the week</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Derrick Henry is the 3rd player age 30+ with 500+ rush yards and 5+ rush TD in the first 5 games of a season. He joins Curtis Martin and Priest Holmes (both in 2004). <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RavensFlock?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RavensFlock</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NFLPlus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFLPlus</a>— Tony Holzman-Escareno (@FrontOfficeNFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/FrontOfficeNFL/status/1843026926551945634?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 6, 2024</a>
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https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/28598765/related

Key takeaways and analysis from Week 5 in the NFL

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.<h3>Eagles in trouble</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747659/cropped_GettyImages-2174721281.jpg?ts=1727666166" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747659/w220xh124_GettyImages-2174721281.jpg?ts=1727666166 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747659/w320xh180_GettyImages-2174721281.jpg?ts=1727666166 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747659/w640xh360_GettyImages-2174721281.jpg?ts=1727666166 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747659/w768xh432_GettyImages-2174721281.jpg?ts=1727666166 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747659/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2174721281.jpg?ts=1727666166 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>It might be time to smash the panic button in Philadelphia.The Eagles made the questionable decision to retain Nick Sirianni after last season's collapse, opting instead to make changes at both offensive and defensive coordinator. Their schemes may look a little different four games into the season, but the results are every bit as frustrating.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Kellen Moore's offensive system, crucially, hasn't had the intended effect with Jalen Hurts. If you want to chalk up Sunday's loss to the Bucs as a matter of the Eagles being without their star receivers, go for it. But how long are we going to make excuses for a quarterback making $51 million per season?Hurts has continued to regress since Philly's Super Bowl heartbreak, and he's now coughed up 27 turnovers in his last 22 games. Leaning on the run game would help, but that can be hard to do if the offense is so consistently putting the team in an early hole.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Eagles 1st quarter stats through 4 games: 347 yards, 20 points allowed 161 yards, 0 points for This is a sign of a poorly coached, unprepared team.— Brenden Deeg (@BrendenDeeg_) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrendenDeeg_/status/1840483121776517319?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>The defense hasn't been any better despite replacing Sean Desai with Vic Fangio, entering this week's action ranked 24th in EPA/play. Baker Mayfield marched the Bucs' offense up and down the field throughout the day Sunday, throwing for 347 yards and two touchdowns, while the run game accounted for 111 yards and another pair of scores.This team's issues run far deeper than who's calling plays on each side of the ball. And although Nick Sirianni likely receives a little too much criticism for a coach who has a 36-19 record and a Super Bowl appearance over the last four years, it's fair to assume that the problems start at the top.At this point, it'd be an upset if Sirianni is still coaching the Eagles next season. The real question is whether ownership is forced to correct its offseason mistake and make a move in the coming weeks. There's no reason for a team with this much talent to be this objectively bad.<h3>Vikings roll on offense, too</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747549/cropped_GettyImages-2175507272.jpg?ts=1727636180" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747549/w220xh124_GettyImages-2175507272.jpg?ts=1727636180 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747549/w320xh180_GettyImages-2175507272.jpg?ts=1727636180 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747549/w640xh360_GettyImages-2175507272.jpg?ts=1727636180 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747549/w768xh432_GettyImages-2175507272.jpg?ts=1727636180 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747549/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2175507272.jpg?ts=1727636180 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Much of this space last week was dedicated to Brian Flores and a truly diabolical Vikings defense. That group once again did its part with four turnovers in Sunday's win over the Packers, but the offense gets the spotlight this time around.Four games in, it's becoming clear that this isn't just another one of Sam Darnold's short-lived hot streaks. The former first-round pick put together his best game yet in helping the Vikings to a 4-0 start, completing 20-of-28 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns. That puts him up to 11 passing scores on the year, good for the top spot among league leaders.Darnold will still make the occasional mistake - another interception this week makes it three on the season. But an outstanding supporting cast and some schematic genius from Kevin O'Connell make this a completely different situation than previous stops that saw him labeled a bust. His natural abilities as a passer can shine through when he just has to be the point guard.Assuming this continues, the Vikings will have some fascinating decisions to make at season's end. Darnold will be due an enormous raise after playing on a one-year, $10-million contract, and it's only a matter of time until first-round pick J.J. McCarthy takes over as the starter. But those are discussions for another day.The Vikings are playing an elite brand of complementary football, and there's no reason they can't sustain this right through to January. Enjoy this for what it is - it's not often that a total afterthought team blows away expectations to emerge as a legitimate Super Bowl contender.<h3>Chiefs to the trade market?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747660/cropped_GettyImages-2174768718.jpg?ts=1727666511" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747660/w220xh124_GettyImages-2174768718.jpg?ts=1727666511 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747660/w320xh180_GettyImages-2174768718.jpg?ts=1727666511 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747660/w640xh360_GettyImages-2174768718.jpg?ts=1727666511 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747660/w768xh432_GettyImages-2174768718.jpg?ts=1727666511 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747660/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2174768718.jpg?ts=1727666511 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times / Getty</figcaption></figure>The Chiefs offense was dealt a devastating blow this week when Rashee Rice suffered what's feared to be a torn ACL.Already without free-agent addition Hollywood Brown for at least the rest of the regular season, Kansas City had been struggling to take the expected steps in the passing game. Rice also being ruled out for the year would push first-round rookie Xavier Worthy to the top of the depth chart, moving the Chiefs dangerously close to the same type of paper-thin receiving corps that plagued the offense for much of last season.The Chiefs proved they could win under such circumstances, so nobody is going to be counting them out - they're already off to a 4-0 start despite the scoring difficulties. But is Andy Reid really going to be content to grind out wins in the same way he was forced to do last year?Don't be surprised if the Chiefs respond to the injuries at receiver by attempting to kickstart the trade market well in advance of the Nov. 5 deadline. Davante Adams is the obvious target for any contender in need of a pass-catcher, but prying him away from a division rival could be nearly impossible.As things currently stand, the Titans seem like one of the only teams clearly headed for seller status. DeAndre Hopkins, anyone?<h3>Quick slants</h3>Ravens, Henry take flight<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747656/cropped_GettyImages-2175548504.jpg?ts=1727664953" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747656/w220xh124_GettyImages-2175548504.jpg?ts=1727664953 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747656/w320xh180_GettyImages-2175548504.jpg?ts=1727664953 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747656/w640xh360_GettyImages-2175548504.jpg?ts=1727664953 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747656/w768xh432_GettyImages-2175548504.jpg?ts=1727664953 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747656/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2175548504.jpg?ts=1727664953 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Greg Fiume / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>It seems like it's become something of an annual tradition to wonder whether Derrick Henry will drop off. Once again, it'd appear that the answer is a resounding no. Henry built upon last week's 151-yard performance by destroying the Bills with 199 yards Sunday night. It's no coincidence that these were Baltimore's best two games of the year. The four-time Pro Bowler now leads the league with 480 rushing yards. If the Ravens have found a formula to integrate Henry into the offense and work everything else off that, including the contributions of the reigning MVP, the rest of the AFC could be in trouble.Daniels on a superstar trajectoryJayden Daniels entered the league facing some legitimate questions about how his game will translate. One month in, he's well on his way to making doubters look silly. The Commanders quarterback continues to outplay No. 1 pick Caleb Williams, making himself the clear front-runner for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. Another near-flawless day in Washington's 42-14 win over Arizona brings his completion rate to an incredible 82.1%, a new NFL record through a player's first four games. Daniels has been comfortable in the pocket, he's making decisive decisions with the ball, and he's using his athleticism to both make plays as a runner and create more opportunities for himself as a passer. Things are finally looking up for 3-1 Washington.Same old JetsA few vintage flashes from Aaron Rodgers early in the season have created the impression that it's only a matter of time before the Jets' offense holds up its end of the bargain. That may well be where things are headed in time, but it'll remain a work in progress early on. The Jets' offense was particularly disappointing in Sunday's shocking loss to the Broncos, managing just nine points to waste a defensive effort that held Bo Nix to 60 passing yards overall and minus-7 in the first half. The offensive line has to be better if New York is going to make the most of its skill-position talent. Rodgers taking five sacks and Breece Hall averaging 0.4 yards per carry looked too much like the anemic Jets offense that's supposed to be a thing of the past.Falcons finding their strideIt turns out the mass panic surrounding the Falcons after a rough season opener was a little bit of an overreaction. In fairness, how else were we supposed to interpret Kirk Cousins, coming off a torn Achilles, spending all of Week 1 as a stationary shotgun-only passer? Looking back, though, it seems like that was nothing more than an effort to reacclimate the veteran quarterback to live action. In the three games since, the Falcons' offense has taken some meaningful steps toward becoming the unit we all expected. A big win over the Eagles got their season going back in the right direction, they had every opportunity to beat the Chiefs in Week 3, and Sunday's victory over the Saints confirmed this team is a legitimate contender for an NFC South title. Let's see if the ascent continues in the weeks ahead.Love's good outweighs the badJordan Love is back in action just three weeks after going down with a sprained MCL in the season opener. His return featured some not-so-great moments, with a trio of interceptions likely making the difference in a two-point loss, but rust doesn't exactly help matters against an outstanding Vikings defense. Rather than harp on the mistakes, though, it'd be wise to focus on the outstanding plays he did make. Love's 389 passing yards and four touchdowns was far and away the most productive day any quarterback has managed against Brian Flores' defense this year. The Packers would love to be better than 2-2, but Love bringing them back into this game after going down 28-0 was an important reminder of this team's firepower with its star quarterback healthy.Richardson banged up<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747528/cropped_GettyImages-2175499730.jpg?ts=1727632997" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747528/w220xh124_GettyImages-2175499730.jpg?ts=1727632997 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747528/w320xh180_GettyImages-2175499730.jpg?ts=1727632997 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747528/w640xh360_GettyImages-2175499730.jpg?ts=1727632997 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747528/w768xh432_GettyImages-2175499730.jpg?ts=1727632997 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747528/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2175499730.jpg?ts=1727632997 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Andy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Anthony Richardson was forced to leave Sunday's win over the Colts with a hip issue. It appears as though he avoided any sort of major injury, but the events leading to his exit should bring up a familiar conversation. Richardson initially picked up the injury taking unnecessary contact at the end of a scramble. He then reinjured himself just one play after initially returning because an awkward slide decision exposed him to another hit. Injuries are an unavoidable part of the game, but Richardson has to do a better job of protecting himself. He'll never get the development reps he needs if he's constantly in and out of games.Broncos can play defense?What a difference a year can make. At this point in the 2023 season, it felt as though Vance Joseph wouldn't be long for Denver - it's tough to survive giving up 70 points in an NFL game. But Sean Payton stood by his defensive coordinator, and the unit slowly got better from that point forward. The progress has continued well into the 2024 campaign, with Sunday's effort against the Jets marking the culmination of the methodical turnaround. Denver's defense entered the week ranked sixth in EPA/play. That standing should be on the rise after the Broncos held the Jets to nine points, got to Aaron Rodgers for five sacks, and completely bottled up the run game. This team won't contend until it can get more out of Bo Nix, but a defense of this caliber can alleviate a lot of the pressure on the young quarterback.Progress in ChicagoThere may yet be hope for the Bears' offense. After averaging just 72.7 rushing yards per game over the first three weeks of the season, Chicago broke through with 131 yards and a pair of scores in Sunday's win over the Rams. A brutal L.A. run defense surely contributed to the successful day on the ground, but the week-to-week difference in execution on the part of the Bears' offense was still incredibly promising. D'Andre Swift putting together more performances like his 93-yard effort this week would go a long way toward assisting Caleb Williams in the early stages of his development.Bucs make statementOffseason hype for the Falcons may yet prove justified, but it's starting to seem foolish that any such discussion completely overlooked the Bucs. There have been some inconsistencies thus far, including a major letdown in last week's loss to the Broncos, but we have every reason to believe that this team will be right in the mix at the end of the season. Baker Mayfield continues to prove that 2023 was no fluke, and he's truly found a home in Tampa Bay. While a three-year, $100-million deal may have seemed a little rich for some, he'll be more than worth the price tag if he's throwing for 347 yards and two scores as he did in a massive win over the Eagles.Money well spentThe Packers spending big in free agency isn't exactly a common occurrence. But they identified some key players who were deserving of the money in this year's class, and early indications suggest they were absolutely correct. Xavier McKinney, most notably, has proven more than worthy of his top-four annual average salary at the safety position. He's been the driving force for an opportunistic defense, coming away with an interception in each of the first four games of the season. The Giants letting McKinney and Saquon Barkley walk away for nothing in the same offseason is a rough look.It's gonna be MayeThe Patriots can't delay this much longer, can they? Drake Maye is almost certainly the better option at quarterback right now - head coach Jerod Mayo even admitted that the No. 3 pick outplayed veteran Jacoby Brissett in the preseason. If the idea was to keep him under wraps for a difficult opening stretch of the schedule, fair enough. But back-to-back games against the Jets' and 49ers' defenses are now in the rearview mirror. Next week's home matchup with a beat-up Dolphins team could be the ideal opportunity to get Maye his first start. There's only so much you can learn watching from the sidelines.<h3>Stat of the week</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The GREATEST STAT, EVER. Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos holds the record for the fewest passing yards in a winning NFL game with a minimum of 20 pass attempts, with 60 yards in a 10-9 win.— ThatsGoodSports (@BrandonPerna) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrandonPerna/status/1840516899508994177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2024</a>
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Key takeaways and analysis from Week 4 in the NFL

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.<h3>Flores in his own tier</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746502/cropped_GettyImages-2172743043.jpg?ts=1727060790" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746502/w220xh124_GettyImages-2172743043.jpg?ts=1727060790 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746502/w320xh180_GettyImages-2172743043.jpg?ts=1727060790 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746502/w640xh360_GettyImages-2172743043.jpg?ts=1727060790 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746502/w768xh432_GettyImages-2172743043.jpg?ts=1727060790 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746502/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2172743043.jpg?ts=1727060790 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Stephen Maturen / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Don't let quarterback bias distract you from the real story in Minnesota.The Vikings' offense is doing its part with Sam Darnold under center, to be sure, and Kevin O'Connell's system will always give Minnesota a chance to put points on the board. But this team's ceiling is being lifted by everything that's happening on the other side of the ball.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>It was easy enough to shrug off a 28-6 win in the opener - the Giants have trouble scoring no matter the opponent. Frustrating Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers' offense en route to a Week 2 upset was a different story, though. And the encore in a blowout win over the Texans this week marked the best work yet from defensive coordinator Brian Flores.The stunning 34-7 result marked the Texans' second-lowest scoring effort of the C.J. Stroud era, with the star quarterback managing just 215 passing yards while serving up two interceptions and taking four sacks.Flores' knack for disguising coverages and dialing up exotic blitz packages is proving to be a nightmare matchup for even the best of opponents. Brock Purdy was highly complimentary of the scheme talking to Flores after last week's game, and Stroud may have had similar feelings.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
CJ Stroud just walked to the sideline, took his helmet off, sat on the bench and put his head in his hands.— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) <a href="https://twitter.com/alec_lewis/status/1837929221299359947?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>The Vikings, just like everyone expected, are one of five remaining undefeated teams. While they may not have the kind of star power to match many of their opponents on paper, this kind of coaching will allow them to hang with just about anyone straight through to January.At that time, we'll start hearing Flores' name right there alongside Bill Belichick and Mike Vrabel among the most coveted head coaching candidates around the league. He's setting the standard for the NFL's defensive resurgence.<h3>Andy Dalton?!</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746487/cropped_GettyImages-2173811039.jpg?ts=1727058245" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746487/w220xh124_GettyImages-2173811039.jpg?ts=1727058245 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746487/w320xh180_GettyImages-2173811039.jpg?ts=1727058245 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746487/w640xh360_GettyImages-2173811039.jpg?ts=1727058245 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746487/w768xh432_GettyImages-2173811039.jpg?ts=1727058245 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746487/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2173811039.jpg?ts=1727058245 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Ian Maule / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Carolina's decision to bench Bryce Young sparked an interesting conversation last week. While the former No. 1 pick surely deserved blame for how his career had begun, it was also fair to wonder whether the state of the Panthers ever gave him much of a chance.One game later, it no longer seems like there's much to discuss on that front.Turning to 36-year-old veteran Andy Dalton was somehow all the Panthers needed to look like a completely different team. A 36-22 win over the Raiders, Carolina's highest-scoring output since 2022, saw the Panthers produce more points than Young's last four starts combined.Dalton's performance wasn't only impressive in relation to his sophomore counterpart, though. He became the first quarterback league-wide to put up 300-plus yards and three-plus touchdowns in a single game this season.It's possible that the offense comes crashing back down to earth in the coming weeks - Dalton is not going to emerge as a consistently high-level passer at this point in his career. But to see the unit enjoy that much improvement by simply benching its young franchise quarterback in favor of an aging journeyman is staggering.While the organization was reportedly planning to go back to Young after a few weeks on the bench, it's tough to see how that would be possible if the team is this much better without him. The Panthers shouldn't hesitate to entertain trade offers for Young and get some sort of middling value in return while they still can.Dalton, believe it or not, provides the best option for laying the foundation of what this program hopes to be under the leadership of Dave Canales. The rest of the team deserves to start out on that journey.<h3>Rams grind one out</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746505/cropped_GettyImages-2173811744.jpg?ts=1727060924" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746505/w220xh124_GettyImages-2173811744.jpg?ts=1727060924 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746505/w320xh180_GettyImages-2173811744.jpg?ts=1727060924 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746505/w640xh360_GettyImages-2173811744.jpg?ts=1727060924 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746505/w768xh432_GettyImages-2173811744.jpg?ts=1727060924 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746505/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2173811744.jpg?ts=1727060924 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Wins don't get much more impressive than that, folks.Nobody was giving the Rams a chance in Sunday's game against the 49ers, and understandably so. Injuries had absolutely ravaged this roster over the first two weeks, leaving Los Angeles without Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, and three starters on the offensive line.The 49ers had their share of injury issues heading into this matchup, to be fair, but the Rams' bad luck had seemingly threatened to end their season before it could even begin.To their credit, the Rams had no interest in throwing in the towel. Matthew Stafford and Kyren Williams responded every time the 49ers seemed poised to put the game away. The defense came up with a huge fourth-quarter stop after a 10-point comeback, and a clutch punt return from Xavier Smith put the offense in position to win it at the end.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Rams’ win probability was as low as 3.2% with 4:14 remaining in the fourth quarter in their comeback win over the 49ers. Matthew Stafford led the Rams on two scoring drives in the final three minutes, with both drives leading to points in under a minute.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SFvsLA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SFvsLA</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/RamsNFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RamsNFL</a> <a href="https://t.co/KM3XvcNQIE">pic.twitter.com/KM3XvcNQIE</a>— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) <a href="https://twitter.com/NextGenStats/status/1838004005014052885?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>It'll continue to be tough sledding for as long as the Rams are without some of their most important offensive pieces, but this win was a reminder that this team has the depth and coaching to be scrappy while they wait for their stars to return.Next week's matchup with the Bears provides an opportunity to get back to .500. If the Rams can start getting some of their key players back in the weeks that follow, there's no reason this team can't hit its stride at the right time and make some noise down the stretch.<h3>Quick slants</h3>Nabers already a superstar<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746344/cropped_GettyImages-2173260927.jpg?ts=1727061001" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746344/w220xh124_GettyImages-2173260927.jpg?ts=1727061001 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746344/w320xh180_GettyImages-2173260927.jpg?ts=1727061001 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746344/w640xh360_GettyImages-2173260927.jpg?ts=1727061001 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746344/w768xh432_GettyImages-2173260927.jpg?ts=1727061001 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746344/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2173260927.jpg?ts=1727061001 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> G Fiume / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>The Giants passing on a rare opportunity to draft a quarterback will always be a questionable move. It's hard to be too upset with the decision when you end up with a player like Malik Nabers, though. The No. 6 overall pick was the best playmaker on the field in Sunday's win over the Browns. His pair of scores made him the first receiver in NFL history to start his career with 20-plus receptions and three-plus touchdowns over his first three games. Nabers will be one of the best in the game for a long time.Willis outplays LevisAnother week, another impressive Packers win. Malik Willis once again played a key role in place of the injured Jordan Love, this time accounting for 275 total yards and two touchdowns against his former team. Going into Tennessee and so thoroughly outplaying Will Levis, the player drafted to replace him after just one year, is the revenge game of all revenge games. Matt LaFleur putting him in a position to succeed, and Willis getting the job done when called upon, has the Packers poised to take off with Love's impending return.Concern for CowboysThere's no shame in falling to a desperate (and good) Ravens team, even if it did drop the Cowboys to 1-2. But Mike Zimmer's defense is a major concern. After giving up 190 yards on the ground in a blowout loss to the Saints, Dallas yielded an astounding 274 rushing yards to Baltimore. This group has the playmakers to create turnovers in passing situations, but it won't matter much if opponents can easily keep their offense on schedule with a dominant run game. Something has to change soon.Refs still at itA fun afternoon matchup between the Lions and Cardinals could've looked a whole lot different were it not for an inexcusable blunder from the officiating crew. Arizona appeared poised to take a late first-half lead on a wild pick-6 until the play was blown dead for the two-minute warning. The broadcast replay clearly showed that the clock was at 2:01 at the time of the snap. Credit to the Cardinals for hanging tough and keeping it close, but this was yet another game-changing error from the officials.Richardson struggles<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746354/cropped_GettyImages-2173764189.jpg?ts=1727061112" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746354/w220xh124_GettyImages-2173764189.jpg?ts=1727061112 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746354/w320xh180_GettyImages-2173764189.jpg?ts=1727061112 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746354/w640xh360_GettyImages-2173764189.jpg?ts=1727061112 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746354/w768xh432_GettyImages-2173764189.jpg?ts=1727061112 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746354/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2173764189.jpg?ts=1727061112 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Justin Casterline / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>It's been a rough two weeks for Anthony Richardson after a highlight-reel opener. The Colts quarterback was especially bad in Sunday's win over the Bears, with strange misses and poor decisions culminating in a 10-for-20 day with 167 yards and two interceptions. Don't panic just yet, though: Richardson's path to stardom was always going to look a lot like Josh Allen's. Maybe it doesn't work in the end, but the flashes of brilliance still hint at unicorn-type upside. Patience is key here.Some things never changeAllow the Raiders to provide your latest reminder about overreacting to early-season results. An upset win last week in Baltimore was certainly a fun story, and it seemed possible that the offense was turning a corner. But nobody who's paid any attention to this team over the last two decades took it as a surefire sign of progress. Following that up with an embarrassing home loss to the Panthers, of all teams, is peak Raiders football. It's tough to be surprised by the letdown game, and that's kind of the problem.Jennings rises to occasionThe 49ers may not have come away with the victory against the Rams, but it wasn't because no one could step up for their injured playmakers. Jauan Jennings was spectacular as the second option in San Francisco's passing game, racking up 11 catches for 175 yards and three touchdowns. He'll slide back into a low-volume, third-down specialist role when Deebo Samuel and George Kittle get healthy, but this kind of depth is huge for a beat-up 49ers offense.Tucker passing the torchJustin Tucker has now missed a field goal in each of the first three games. He may be on the downswing of his career after a pair of seasons in which his conversion rate fell well below his lofty career averages. If you're wondering who might take his place as the league's undisputed top kicker, all you had to do was look across the field Sunday afternoon in Dallas. Brandon Aubrey has built upon a sensational debut season with a perfect start in 2024, including a 65-yarder against the Ravens. The ease with which he connects from distance is oddly reminiscent of Tucker in his prime.<h3>Stat of the week</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Leaguewide PFF passing grade against the blitz 2019: 73.2 2020: 81.3 2021: 75.3 2022: 71.4 2023: 72.6 2024: 59.5— Steve Palazzolo (@StevePalazzolo_) <a href="https://twitter.com/StevePalazzolo_/status/1838059451011465319?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2024</a>
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https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/28444924/related

Key takeaways and analysis from Week 3 in the NFL

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.<h3>Nobody knows anything</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745294/cropped_GettyImages-2172194215.jpg?ts=1726431483" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745294/w220xh124_GettyImages-2172194215.jpg?ts=1726431483 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745294/w320xh180_GettyImages-2172194215.jpg?ts=1726431483 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745294/w640xh360_GettyImages-2172194215.jpg?ts=1726431483 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745294/w768xh432_GettyImages-2172194215.jpg?ts=1726431483 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745294/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2172194215.jpg?ts=1726431483 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Sam Hodde / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>A lot of pessimism surrounded the Saints heading into this season, and it's not difficult to understand why.A horrific cap situation once again gave them no choice but to run it back with a seemingly mediocre roster, and it seemed possible, if not probable, that an unproven offensive line would undermine anything the Saints tried to accomplish with a new scheme. Not exactly the most inspiring situation.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Yet here we are two weeks into the season, and New Orleans is the most interesting story in the league. The blowout win over the Panthers in Week 1 flew under the radar for obvious reasons, but it's impossible to overlook the Saints' similarly dominant effort against the Cowboys this week.New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is doing some phenomenal work scheming up big plays, and Derek Carr looks more comfortable than we've seen him at any other point in his 11-year pro career. He's thrown for five touchdowns through two games, leading the league with well over 11 yards per attempt.Crucially, the Saints have also put together an efficient run game despite the offensive line's perceived shortcomings. Alvin Kamara's four-touchdown day included 115 yards and three scores on the ground. His 5.6 yards per carry (in a very small sample) would be his most efficient mark since his rookie campaign in 2017.While we probably can't lump the Saints in with the NFC's other contenders just yet, their offensive resurgence, along with their always steady defense, makes them worth watching over the next few weeks. If New Orleans can keep performing at anything close to this level through an upcoming schedule that includes the Eagles and Chiefs, the hype train will be full steam ahead.<h3>LaFleur puts on a clinic</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745412/cropped_GettyImages-2172272066.jpg?ts=1726459233" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745412/w220xh124_GettyImages-2172272066.jpg?ts=1726459233 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745412/w320xh180_GettyImages-2172272066.jpg?ts=1726459233 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745412/w640xh360_GettyImages-2172272066.jpg?ts=1726459233 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745412/w768xh432_GettyImages-2172272066.jpg?ts=1726459233 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745412/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2172272066.jpg?ts=1726459233 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>We all had the same thought when Jordan Love went down in Brazil; a star quarterback missing even a few weeks can derail a whole season in today's NFL. Matt LaFleur, however, wasn't interested in that scenario.The Packers head coach needed all of one week to successfully shift his team's offensive identity, putting together one of the best and most creative coaching jobs you'll see all season in Sunday's win over the Colts.While Malik Willis deserves credit for the way he handled his role in a big spot, the game plan was clear from the beginning: The Packers were going to run the ball in every possible manner, and it didn't really matter if Indy knew it was coming.Josh Jacobs led the way with 32 carries for 151 yards, and Green Bay got significant contributions from five other ball carriers, including Willis and breakout receiver Jayden Reed. In total, the Packers finished the day with 53 carries for 261 yards, their most since 2003.Succeeding under these circumstances should be appreciated. LaFleur has long been one of the game's best play-callers, and his status probably deserves another bump after his display of genius this week.This type of malleability, plus an opportunistic defense, will put the Packers in position to steal some wins until Love gets back. Once he returns, this period of run-game experimentation will keep paying off by giving the offense more ways to attack opponents. The Packers are very much alive.<h3>Fields needs to start</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745397/cropped_GettyImages-2172230974.jpg?ts=1726452391" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745397/w220xh124_GettyImages-2172230974.jpg?ts=1726452391 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745397/w320xh180_GettyImages-2172230974.jpg?ts=1726452391 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745397/w640xh360_GettyImages-2172230974.jpg?ts=1726452391 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745397/w768xh432_GettyImages-2172230974.jpg?ts=1726452391 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745397/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2172230974.jpg?ts=1726452391 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Justin Edmonds / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>The Steelers' offense has been anything but spectacular over the first two games of the season. They've managed 31 points in a pair of narrow victories, with Justin Fields throwing for just 273 yards and one touchdown.That may not look like the kind of production that should earn him the full-time starting job after Russell Wilson gets healthy, but this isn't a normal situation.Remember: Pittsburgh's commitment to Wilson is about as negligible as it gets for starting quarterbacks in today's NFL. He's on the books for a veteran's minimum salary this year - which was only possible because he was so disastrous with the Broncos that they moved on despite owing him a fully guaranteed $39 million this season. He never should have been expected to make a huge impact in this offense.In the best-case scenario, this post-post-prime version of Wilson would be able to avoid negative plays, take care of the ball, and not lose games while Pittsburgh's defense wins them. Look beyond the counting stats and that's exactly what Fields is doing while adding a bit of upside as a runner.Don't mess with success. And who knows? Perhaps Fields has more upside to unlock as he continues to grow within this offense. That seems a whole lot better than hoping an aging Wilson can somehow rediscover a level of play we haven't seen in four years.<h3>Quick slants</h3>Caleb getting no help<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745413/cropped_GettyImages-2172276453.jpg?ts=1726459346" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745413/w220xh124_GettyImages-2172276453.jpg?ts=1726459346 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745413/w320xh180_GettyImages-2172276453.jpg?ts=1726459346 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745413/w640xh360_GettyImages-2172276453.jpg?ts=1726459346 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745413/w768xh432_GettyImages-2172276453.jpg?ts=1726459346 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745413/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2172276453.jpg?ts=1726459346 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Alex Slitz / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>The popular idea that the Bears were a dream spot for a No. 1 pick at quarterback focused a little too much on the receiver group. Offensive line and scheme are also significant factors, and neither is doing much to set Caleb Williams up for early success. Chicago's front five was completely overmatched Sunday night in Houston, giving up seven sacks in a frustrating defeat. It was tough to watch the Bears keep trotting out the same basic protection plan only for their young quarterback to continue taking a beating from a ferocious Texans pass-rush. Something has to change if Williams is going to get on the right path as a rookie.Bengals deserved betterCincinnati is 0-2, but not all losses are created equal. Last week's defeat at the hands of the Patriots was cause for concern. This week's loss to the Chiefs, meanwhile, can arguably be considered a moral victory. The Bengals issued an important reminder that, if any team is built to beat Kansas City, they're it. Lou Anarumo's defense continued to give Andy Reid problems, and Joe Burrow was a late pass-interference call away from moving to 4-1 against Patrick Mahomes. The Bengals instead find themselves in a less-than-ideal hole to start the season, but they'll feel a lot better heading into next week after going shot for shot with the champs.Harbaugh cookingThe Chargers are 2-0 for the first time since 2012. Early-season wins over the Raiders and Panthers may not be enough for everyone to buy in just yet, but it sure seems like Jim Harbaugh is providing the kind of stability that has evaded this organization for well over a decade. J.K. Dobbins' sensational start continued this week with another 131 yards, and the Chargers even got two touchdowns out of Quentin Johnston. Keep an extra-close eye on the defense - new coordinator Jesse Minter has quickly brought this group up to speed on his Ravens/Michigan-style system. This team has a real chance to make some noise in the AFC playoff picture.wHaT's HiS tOp SpEeD?If you spend any time on Football Twitter, you're painfully aware that the discussion around Marvin Harrison Jr. following his dud of a debut focused on the No. 4 pick's top recorded speed being a paltry 16.7 mph. Some wondered whether Harrison, who declined to work out for teams leading up to the draft, was much slower than anyone had realized. Thankfully, it didn't take him long to dismantle that narrative in his second game. Harrison exploded for 130 yards and two long touchdowns in the first quarter alone as the Cardinals blew out the Rams. This generational draft prospect is going to be just fine.Kyler is back<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745350/cropped_GettyImages-2172226611.jpg?ts=1726440685" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745350/w220xh124_GettyImages-2172226611.jpg?ts=1726440685 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745350/w320xh180_GettyImages-2172226611.jpg?ts=1726440685 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745350/w640xh360_GettyImages-2172226611.jpg?ts=1726440685 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745350/w768xh432_GettyImages-2172226611.jpg?ts=1726440685 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/745350/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2172226611.jpg?ts=1726440685 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Speaking of the Cardinals, I'm pleased to inform you that Kyler Murray is extremely back. The former first overall pick had to ease his way back into action last year after recovering from a major knee injury, but after a complete offseason allowed him to return to full strength, he looks exactly like the electric quarterback we saw before he got hurt. Murray was back to making video game-like plays in Sunday's win over the Rams: He threw for 266 yards, ran for 59, and became the only quarterback this week to pass for three touchdowns. It may take some time for the Cardinals to emerge as consistent contenders, but they should be very fun to watch in the meantime.Hutch taking offAidan Hutchinson is the official way-too-early favorite for Defensive Player of the Year. The Lions edge rusher was unblockable Sunday afternoon against the Buccaneers, racking up 4.5 sacks to put him at 5.5 through two games. Hutchinson took a significant step toward elite status with 11.5 sacks as a sophomore last season, and this early dominance suggests he's lifting his game to yet another level. The Lions will have to budget for yet another market-setting contract - and they'll happily pay up.Vikings here to competeThe Vikings aren't NFC North afterthoughts. While they may lack the star power of their division rivals, this seems like a club that will defy expectations and work its way right into the mix by December. Brian Flores' defense can be a pesky matchup for even the best offenses in football, as six sacks and two turnovers from that group were key to this week's upset of the 49ers. But don't sleep on the offense either. Sam Darnold is proving more than capable of working around the occasional mistake to keep Kevin O'Connell's offense running at a more than acceptable level. His 97-yard touchdown strike to Justin Jefferson was a reminder of the talent that once made him a first-round pick.Seahawks ready to flySqueaking by Denver and New England for a pair of wins to start the season may not seem all that exciting. Look a little closer at Seattle's offense, though, and this thing is just about ready to take off. Geno Smith looked extremely comfortable in his second game in the Seahawks' new system, putting the team on his back with one big-time throw after another against the Patriots. Jaxon Smith-Njigba appears to be ready for a breakout too, as the second-year receiver tallied a team-high 12 catches for 117 yards on the day. Big plays were the selling point of Ryan Grubb's offense coming over from the University of Washington, and that's what we'll get when this group truly hits its stride. That unit working in tandem with a Mike Macdonald defense makes for an especially exciting pairing.Daniels has to protect himselfJayden Daniels has 26 rushing attempts through two games. That puts the Commanders rookie on an early 17-game pace for 221, which would shatter Lamar Jackson's quarterback record of 176. Some of those runs have been by design, while many have been scrambles under pressure. Either way, this volume isn't sustainable. Daniels has always been far too reckless about contact for a player of his size. The No. 2 overall pick getting banged up a bit in Sunday's win over the Giants, a game where he also took five sacks, should encourage the Commanders to do a better job of protecting him than they have so far. The team's future depends on it.<h3>Stat of the week</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence has now lost seven straight starts, the longest active streak in the NFL. He has gone 294 days since his last victory as a starter (Houston Nov. 26, 2023), which is longer than drought between his last college victory and first NFL victory (289 days).— Michael DiRocco (@ESPNdirocco) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNdirocco/status/1835448280639021358?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Quote of the week</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
LaFleur: “I asked Malik why he didn’t throw it on that third down and he told me Josh threw up on the ball.”— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) <a href="https://twitter.com/mattschneidman/status/1835415770903499163?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2024</a>
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https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/28362736/related

Key takeaways and analysis from Week 2 in the NFL

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.<h3>Bears win anyway</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744307/cropped_GettyImages-2170848039.jpg?ts=1725852964" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744307/w220xh124_GettyImages-2170848039.jpg?ts=1725852964 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744307/w320xh180_GettyImages-2170848039.jpg?ts=1725852964 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744307/w640xh360_GettyImages-2170848039.jpg?ts=1725852964 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744307/w768xh432_GettyImages-2170848039.jpg?ts=1725852964 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744307/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2170848039.jpg?ts=1725852964 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>This is how you support a rookie quarterback, folks.Caleb Williams wasn't exactly spectacular in his long-awaited NFL debut, throwing for just 93 yards and failing to lead a single touchdown drive.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>In almost any other situation, a Week 1 dud from a No. 1 pick at quarterback would set Monday morning talk shows ablaze. Thankfully, we'll instead be discussing how this Bears team doesn't need its rookie signal-caller to be perfect.The special teams unit got Chicago in the end zone for the first time after a blocked punt in the third quarter, and the defense capped an outstanding performance with Tyrique Stevenson's go-ahead pick-6 in the fourth quarter.If you wanted to see more from a signal-caller who generated this much hype, you probably aren't alone. But remember: the transition from college to the NFL isn't seamless for most signal-callers. Sunday's result makes Williams the first quarterback since 2002 to win his debut after being selected No. 1 overall.The fact that the Bears were able to lift him up, rather than counting on him to single-handedly carry the franchise from the jump, should be considered promising for his chances at easing his way into the professional game. It's only a matter of time before his rare abilities become a factor as part of this team's impressive foundation.<h3>Richardson worth the wait</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744305/cropped_GettyImages-2168194116.jpg?ts=1725852899" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744305/w220xh124_GettyImages-2168194116.jpg?ts=1725852899 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744305/w320xh180_GettyImages-2168194116.jpg?ts=1725852899 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744305/w640xh360_GettyImages-2168194116.jpg?ts=1725852899 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744305/w768xh432_GettyImages-2168194116.jpg?ts=1725852899 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744305/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2168194116.jpg?ts=1725852899 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</figcaption></figure>Anthony Richardson was a fascinating draft prospect. Some evaluators were scared off by perceived (and overblown) accuracy issues at Florida. Others were mesmerized by the upside that came with unicorn-like athletic gifts.Doubters may feel vindicated by his 9-of-19 completion rate in the Colts' season opener. The believers, meanwhile, will point to the incredible 11.2 yards per attempt and, well, everything they saw with their eyes. If you're not in the latter category, now may be a good time to join.Richardson made the <a href="https://x.com/Colts/status/1832832736748327323">play of the week</a> early in Sunday's loss to the Texans, unloading under pressure for a monster touchdown strike to Alec Pierce. The 65.3 air yards on the pass represented the third-longest throw tracked by NextGenStats, according to <a href="https://twitter.com/BenjaminSolak/status/1832832962746040530">Benjamin Solak of ESPN</a>.His rare arm talent was also on display on <a href="https://x.com/Colts/status/1832863946098765969">this</a> impressive tight-window touchdown throw to Ashton Dulin.There are bound to be some ups and downs in the early stages of Richardson's game - nobody's denying that. And, if completion percentage is your definition of good quarterback play, perhaps you'll never truly respect his style.But it's these flashes - along with his dynamic abilities as a runner - that separate the good signal-callers from the great ones in today's game. If you want a difference-maker, you should be chasing this kind of upside. The Colts were bold enough to do it, and they may have a future MVP candidate as a result.<h3>No way out</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744306/cropped_GettyImages-2170884050.jpg?ts=1725852918" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744306/w220xh124_GettyImages-2170884050.jpg?ts=1725852918 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744306/w320xh180_GettyImages-2170884050.jpg?ts=1725852918 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744306/w640xh360_GettyImages-2170884050.jpg?ts=1725852918 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744306/w768xh432_GettyImages-2170884050.jpg?ts=1725852918 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744306/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2170884050.jpg?ts=1725852918 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Nick Cammett / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Hope springs eternal with every new NFL season, so it's no surprise that we were all forced to entertain the possibility that, by some miracle, Deshaun Watson would once again become a capable starting quarterback.While Watson's playing time has been sporadic since he joined the Browns in 2022, this season marks his third in Kevin Stefanski's system. Not only has he failed to progress in that time, but one could argue that fading arm talent is actually making him worse.Accuracy was a major issue for Watson in Sunday's loss to the Cowboys. He completed just 24 of 45 passes for 3.8 yards per attempt while also adding a pair of interceptions and taking six sacks. In any other situation, he'd soon find himself either on the bench or cut. But a truly unfathomable contract situation essentially gives the Browns no such option.A quarterback with two fully guaranteed $46-million salaries left on his deal is not going to be sitting on the sidelines. The Browns would take a dead-money hit of $173 million to move on from Watson before the 2025 season, so that almost certainly keeps him around for next year's $72.9 million cap hit, too.There's simply nothing Cleveland can do other than wait out this albatross of a contract and learn from what may be the worst trade and contract in NFL history. Pairing two mistakes of that magnitude together completely wasted an opportunity for a long-suffering organization to build a sustained competitor.<h3>New kickoff</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744308/cropped_GettyImages-2170458676.jpg?ts=1725853015" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744308/w220xh124_GettyImages-2170458676.jpg?ts=1725853015 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744308/w320xh180_GettyImages-2170458676.jpg?ts=1725853015 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744308/w640xh360_GettyImages-2170458676.jpg?ts=1725853015 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744308/w768xh432_GettyImages-2170458676.jpg?ts=1725853015 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744308/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2170458676.jpg?ts=1725853015 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Aaron M. Sprecher / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>It didn't take long for the dynamic kickoff to give us some excitement: Cardinals veteran DeeJay Dallas made history with his 96-yard score early on Sunday afternoon. The first touchdown will be what generates headlines in the coming days, but the real story is that the new format is trending toward being a bit of a letdown.Well under 40% of kickoffs so far this week have been returned. That may represent a higher rate than last season, but it's nowhere near the 70% we saw when teams were feeling out the new rules in the preseason.The probable reason: touchbacks bringing the ball out to the 30-yard line don't do enough to incentivize kickoff teams to keep it in the field of play.If return teams are already going to be bringing kicks back to that range when they get the opportunity, and at least pose the risk of ripping off an even longer return, it's only fair to assume that more and more kickoff teams will be content to send the ball through the end zone.Moving the touchback out to at least the 35-yard line could change the equation, but the league has suggested that any such change likely wouldn't be implemented during the season.So while all football fans should be happy with the player safety benefits of the dynamic kickoff, we may be a few further changes away from teams truly embracing it from a strategy standpoint.<h3>Quick slants</h3>Rough start for Cousins<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744310/cropped_GettyImages-2170257925.jpg?ts=1725854120" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744310/w220xh124_GettyImages-2170257925.jpg?ts=1725854120 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744310/w320xh180_GettyImages-2170257925.jpg?ts=1725854120 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744310/w640xh360_GettyImages-2170257925.jpg?ts=1725854120 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744310/w768xh432_GettyImages-2170257925.jpg?ts=1725854120 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744310/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2170257925.jpg?ts=1725854120 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</figcaption></figure>Kirk Cousins didn't have the expected impact in his Falcons debut, throwing for just 155 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in a loss to the Steelers. It'll likely take some time for him to settle back in after working his way back from last year's Achilles tear, but the schedule isn't going to do him any favors. Atlanta could be looking at a disastrous 0-3 to start the season with prime-time games against the Eagles and Chiefs coming up over the next two weeks. While that may not be insurmountable in the NFC South, the Falcons would have little room for error from that point forward.Bengals (don't) do it againA stunning season-opening loss to the Patriots now makes the Bengals 1-10 in the first two weeks of the season under Zac Taylor. As we've seen in recent seasons, early stumbles are no reason to count this team out. But how does this keep happening? It's hard not to think that the offense would have been better prepared to hit the ground running if Ja'Marr Chase wasn't in and out of practice due to a contract standoff. The Bengals' front office seems dead set on outclassing the Cowboys in the business of needlessly delaying inevitable extensions.New year, same PanthersLast year couldn't have gone much worse for the Panthers, so it was easy to feel like they might be heading back in the right direction after a productive offseason. And maybe they are. It's tough to draw conclusions based on one game. But opening the season with a 47-10 loss to the Saints feels like a whole lot more of the same. The offense remained feckless, with Bryce Young posting a 10.7 QBR that would have been his second-worst output last year. Things didn't go any better on the other side of the ball, as Carolina couldn't force a punt until the Saints were pulling starters in garbage time. It might be another long year for Panthers fans.Marv's breakout delayedThe Cardinals' offense had some good moments in Sunday's loss to the Bills, but the lack of involvement for Marvin Harrison Jr. was rather jarring. The highly touted receiver had one catch for four yards on three targets in his NFL debut. If you were one of those fantasy managers drafting him as a top-10 receiver, don't get discouraged by a slow start. Justin Jefferson had two catches in his NFL debut before going on to finish his rookie year with 1,400 yards. The Cardinals are well aware of what they have in Harrison, so it shouldn't be long before he gets involved in a big way.DJ's disaster game<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744218/cropped_GettyImages-2170861938.jpg?ts=1725828224" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744218/w220xh124_GettyImages-2170861938.jpg?ts=1725828224 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744218/w320xh180_GettyImages-2170861938.jpg?ts=1725828224 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744218/w640xh360_GettyImages-2170861938.jpg?ts=1725828224 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744218/w768xh432_GettyImages-2170861938.jpg?ts=1725828224 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/744218/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2170861938.jpg?ts=1725828224 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mitchell Leff / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Football fans got a unique behind-the-scenes look at the Giants' roster-building process when the team was featured in the first-ever offseason edition of Hard Knocks. There's something extra mystifying about seeing a team talk itself into another year of Daniel Jones only to immediately end up looking delusional. Jones averaged 4.4 yards per attempt in Sunday's loss to the Vikings, posting a minus-17.3% completion percentage above expectation, according to Next Gen Stats. He also threw two interceptions and took five sacks, garnering merciless boos from the home crowd. The silver lining for Giants fans is that they may be in the poll position for the No. 1 pick and a new quarterback next spring.Mixon rejuvenatedIt seems the football world was sleeping on the Texans' offseason addition of Joe Mixon. The veteran back was a workhorse in his Texans debut, taking 30 carries for 159 yards, his highest total since 2021. The Texans' offense is tough enough to stop with C.J. Stroud on the doorstep of elite QB status and Stefon Diggs joining a dynamic receiving corps. A meaningful upgrade to last year's run game (26th EPA/play, 27th success rate) could send this offense through the roof.Dobbins is hereJ.K. Dobbins being forced to settle for a one-year, $1.6-million contract with the Chargers is already looking a little silly. The former Ravens second-round pick seemingly needed less than one game to pass Gus Edwards on the depth chart, spearheading a power run game with 135 yards and one touchdown on just 10 carries. Dobbins has always had top-10 running back potential, but poor injury luck consistently held him back in Baltimore. Now healthy, he could be in for a massive year as the lead back on an offense that is going to run the ball no matter what.All-time terrible decisionAntonio Pierce's first game as the Raiders' full-time head coach gave us one of the worst fourth-down decisions you'll ever see in a professional football game. Facing 4th-and-1 from the Chargers' 43-yard line, trailing 16-10 with 7:15 to play, Pierce opted to send in the punt team. The Chargers promptly put together an eight-play, 92-yard touchdown drive to put the game out of reach and seal Jim Harbaugh's first win. NFL coaching staffs have limitless resources - there is no excuse for being this bad at fourth-down calls. And yet here we are, in the year 2024, still talking about decisions that any teenage football fan could get right based on their Madden experience.<h3>Stat of the week</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Since signing a four-year, $160 million contract with Giants before last season, Daniel Jones has thrown more TD passes to the opposition (3 pick 6s) than to his own team (2 TD passes)— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshDubowAP/status/1832974858705330347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>

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Key takeaways and analysis from Week 1 in the NFL

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