| Brazilian soccer players have sounded a warning about the quality of the field in Rio de Janiero for Sunday’s Dallas-Baltimore game. But the NFL says they aren’t worried “right now”: NFL field director Nick Pappas said there are “no concerns right now” about the field conditions in Rio de Janeiro for Sunday’s game between the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens. “Look, there’s the realities of managing any playing surface and then there’s also the realities of managing a grass playing surface that’s being used midseason,” Pappas told ESPN on Monday. “So it’s all about monitoring it. It’s all about having a plan in place and then being able to react to anything that maybe comes our way.” Pappas added, “So what we’ve seen in Rio is a significant amount of rainfall, a record kind of rainfall over the last six weeks. And that obviously poses challenges just from a management perspective, but nothing that we’re not capable of managing or prepared to take.” Asked if there has been any talk about moving the game, Pappas said, “No, that’s not a conversation.” Questions about the quality of the playing surface at Rio’s Maracanã Stadium started last week when professional soccer players voiced complaints about their home stadium’s grass field. “It’s unbelievable that we’re playing on a field like this,” Flamengo Football Club goalkeeper Agustín Rossi said, according to AtoZ Sports. “If you look at it, there are bumps everywhere. There’s still going to be an NFL game here during the international break. After that game, I hope the field is in better shape.” The Cowboys and Ravens are both flying in Thursday night and practicing in Brazil on Friday. Asked about the Ravens’ concern level over the field, Baltimore coach Jesse Minter said, “It’s really in the league’s hands, and I think we’ve been in contact with them. They got people there, feel pretty good about it. So both teams are going to be playing there, and we’ll be ready to roll.” |
| NFC NORTH |
| CHICAGOFrom 59 points one week amidst renewed self-generated chatter about scoring records, the Bears went to 3 against Brian Flores and the Vikings defense: @BenjaminSolakPer ESPN Research: the Bears’ 56-point differential between Week 1 and Week 2 is the fourth-biggest point differential week-over-week in NFL history, and the biggest since 1973– – -After an emotional departure on a cart with what looked like a long term injury, QB CALEB WILLIAMS might play in Week 3. Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com: There’s more positive news on the injury front for Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. According to Tom Pelissero of Netflix, Williams did not suffer a major injury to his hamstring during Sunday’s loss to the Vikings. Furthermore, the team is not ruling him out for the Week 3 matchup against the Eagles next Monday night. Williams suffered his hamstring injury as he was trying to run toward the end zone deep in opponent territory on Sunday afternoon. With rainy conditions throughout the afternoon, the grass at Soldier Field was wet. Williams was helped off the field and then carted to the locker room, but head coach Ben Johnson said he was in “good spirits” after the game. Johnson also noted his relief that Williams hadn’t suffered a knee injury. PFT reported on Sunday that the initial belief was that Williams suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strain. The quarterback completed 15-of-26 passes for 138 yards with an interception before departing the contest. He also rushed 42 yards on five carries. In two games so far this season, Williams has completed 65.5 percent of his throws for 407 yards with two touchdowns and one pick. He’s rushed for 107 yards with two TDs. |
| GREEN BAYThe Packers weren’t all that impressive in their OT win over the Jets, but they did achieve a milestone: @DraftKings20 straight seasons.Not a single 0-2 start. The Packers are the only team in the NFL that hasn’t started a season 0-2 at any point in the last 20 years 🧀 And this too: @doug_clawsonThe Packers are the 1st team to win a game in the Super Bowl era with under 200 total yards, 10+ penalties and 0 takeaways (teams were 0-38 with those numbers) |
| MINNESOTAThe Vikings have a seven-game carry over win streak after shutting down the Bears. The last four have been with four different starting quarterbacks. @doug_clawsonThe Vikings are the 1st team in NFL history (reg/post) to win 4 straight games with 4 diff starting QBs (Max Brosmer, J.J. McCarthy, Kyler Murray, Carson Wentz) They have started these QBs during their 7-game win streak McCarthyMcCarthyMcCarthyBrosmerMcCarthyMurrayWentz With their 2-0 record and imposing defense, the Vikings are now the favorites in the NFC North. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com: Heading into the season, the Vikings were a distant fourth in the betting odds to win the NFC North. A lot can change in two weeks. The Vikings are now 2-0, with both wins coming against division opponents, a game ahead of the Lions, Packers and Bears, and the new betting favorites to win the division. The Vikings’ odds are +194 to win what looks to be the NFL’s most competitive division. The Lions are next at +205, followed by the Packers at +285. Last year’s NFC North winners, the Bears, not have the longest odds, at +500, amid concerns that Caleb Williams could miss extended time with a hamstring injury. Uncertainty at quarterback in Minnesota is an issue, but the Vikings have found a way to win two weeks in a row with Carson Wentz replacing the injured Kyler Murray. The Vikings’ defense looks ferocious, and the Vikings look like a playoff team. Something few thought they’d be just a couple weeks ago.– – -The Vikings will be back to QB KYLER MURRAY on Sunday in Tampa. Bryan DeArdo of CBSSports.com: Kyler Murray has cleared concussion protocol and will start in the Vikings’ upcoming game against the Buccaneers, coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters on Monday. Murray, 29, missed Week 2 and much of Week 1 after sustaining the injury in the first quarter of Minnesota’s season opener against the Packers. He was 3-of-5 for 18 yards with an interception before leaving the game. He spent last week in the NFL’s concussion protocol. In Murray’s absence, the Vikings received solid quarterback play from veteran Carson Wentz. Wentz went 12-of-19 for 133 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions during Minnesota’s Week 1 win. This past Sunday, Wentz went 11-of-20 for 143 yards and no turnovers as the Vikings upset the Bears in a defensive duel. “We pride ourselves on taking care of the football,” Wentz said afterward. “The second you get in a bad weather game, that needs to be on the highest alert because you know going in, it’s probably not going to be a high-scoring game, so every possession matters and ending every possession with a kick is important.” Murray, a two-time Pro Bowler with the Cardinals who signed with the Vikings this offseason, will face a Buccaneers team still searching for their first win of the season. Tampa Bay lost a sloppy season opener in Cincinnati before the Browns upset them at home this past Sunday. Through two games, the Buccaneers’ defense is just 24th in the NFL in points allowed and third-down efficiency, and 22nd in passing yards allowed. The unit is fifth in rushing yards allowed and seventh in red zone efficiency. Murray will likely lean on veteran running back Aaron Jones against Tampa Bay. A former Pro Bowler, Jones ran for 105 yards on 23 carries during Sunday’s 9-3 win over the Bears. Jones was the lone bright spot for a Vikings offense that gained just 246 yards and was just 3-of-13 on third down. |
| NFC EAST |
| WASHINGTONThe Commanders are 0-2 and their QB is injured again. John Keim of ESPN.com: Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels dislocated his left elbow in Sunday’s 37-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, but coach Dan Quinn said X-rays showed no fracture. Daniels will undergo more imaging tests Monday. Quinn said he anticipates Daniels returning this season, saying “I haven’t had any reason to think otherwise.” Daniels’ feet appeared to get stepped on by left guard Chris Paul as the quarterback took the snap on a third-and-goal from the 1-yard line on the final play of the first half. Daniels started to fall down and tried to brace himself with his left hand, and his elbow bent back. He was looked at by medical personnel and surrounded by several teammates as well as coaches, including Quinn. Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota was the first player to go over to Daniels. Center Nick Allegretti said he had quickly waved for trainers to come onto the field. As he was carted off, Daniels sat up with a towel over his head. “It took the air out of us a little bit,” receiver Terry McLaurin said in a subdued locker room. “Just trying to score before half, and he went down. We know we had to get back in the locker room to make our adjustments, but no one wanted to leave the field. That’s our brother.” Quinn said he did not regret the call to go for it rather than attempt a field goal in that situation. He said they wanted to be aggressive, knowing the offensive firepower Dallas possessed. But, for Daniels’ teammates, their focus wasn’t on a playcall but rather the injury. “I tried to control my emotions,” said running back Rachaad White, a longtime friend of Daniels’, “but I had tears coming down. I feel for him.” Mariota replaced Daniels and will start until he is able to return. “Early in my career you try to suppress those feelings and emotions,” Mariota said. “But I found that you just have to kind of be vulnerable and just talk about how you feel. And in that moment, it’s just like my first inkling is just thinking about the guy. You worry, you think about his mental, you think about what he’s gone through.” Daniels emerged from the locker room after the game, his left arm in a sling, and walked to an area where he had family and friends waiting. He hugged a few of them before leaving. Teammates said Daniels spoke to some of them after the game, letting them know he’s OK. Daniels dislocated his left elbow last season in Week 9 against Seattle. He returned four weeks later but reinjured the elbow attempting to make a tackle after an interception in Week 14 at Minnesota. He did not play the rest of the season. On Sunday, Daniels cut the Commanders’ 17-3 deficit by throwing a touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs and then led Washington on the drive to end the first half. Daniels completed 11 of 17 passes for 96 yards but hurt the Cowboys on the ground as well, resembling the player who was named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2024. Daniels rushed seven times for 69 yards Sunday. Mariota completed 11 of 16 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown. “We have a lot of faith in Marcus,” McLaurin said. “We’ll keep supporting [Daniels], he’ll be around the building. It’s only Week 2; we know he’ll be back. But at the same time, we have to raise our level of play so Marcus feels our support.” Mariota said teammates can’t try to do too much. “Nobody needs to be Superman,” he said. “Nobody needs to do anything crazy.” The Monday update, confirms Mariota to start Sunday against mighty Seattle. Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com: Jayden Daniels will be sidelined for one week at the very least after his latest elbow injury. Marcus Mariota will start at quarterback in the Washington Commanders’ Week 3 game against the Seattle Seahawks, head coach Dan Quinn confirmed on Monday. Daniels underwent imaging Monday after suffering a dislocated left elbow in Sunday’s loss in Dallas and will consult with specialists in the coming days, Quinn told reporters. The third-year QB does not yet have a timeline for return, the Commanders coach added.– – -With their Week 3 meeting looming, Mike Sando of The Athletic on how the two “Washington” teams are heading in difference directions. 3. What now for the Commanders? The Seahawks, unfortunatelyThe Commanders and Seahawks both hired their head coaches in 2024. Both have made deep playoff runs under those coaches: Washington right away under Dan Quinn, Seattle last season with Mike Macdonald. Both teams have relatively new owners, and both have had to play with their backup quarterbacks. But with the possible exception of Chargers-Bills and Bengals-Steelers, no game on the NFL schedule for Week 3 features a greater differential on the mojo meter than Seahawks-Commanders in D.C. Seattle is riding a franchise-record 12-game winning streak, which includes a victory over New England in the Super Bowl last season. Washington is 2-12 over its past 14 games and reeling after quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered a dislocated elbow in his non-throwing arm for the second time in less than a year (the first came in a 38-14 loss to the Seahawks in D.C.). While the Commanders were allowing four passing touchdowns in a 37-20 defeat at Dallas, the Seahawks were holding Arizona without a completion of 10-plus yards for the first time since a 1987 strike game, when the Cardinals were still in St. Louis. Seattle got three passing TDs and a 139.1 rating from backup Drew Lock, filling in for the injured Sam Darnold, in a 31-7 win. How did these teams get here? The Commanders shockingly reached the NFC title game in Quinn’s first season and, in the estimation of execs from other teams, responded as though they were one or two players away from the next step. They acquired offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil, receiver Deebo Samuel and others, but still had an older roster without the building blocks for long-term success — unless Daniels could stay healthy and continue to ascend. That has not happened. Seattle went 10-7 in its first season under Macdonald — whom the Commanders tried to hire before settling for Quinn — and responded as though the season were a disaster. The team fired offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, traded quarterback Geno Smith and top receiver DK Metcalf, moved on from legacy receiver Tyler Lockett and leaned into Macdonald’s combination of elite scheming and accountability-driven leadership. An exec from another team saw the contrast as a reflection of Seattle general manager John Schneider’s experience. “John can tell what it’s supposed to look like,” he said. Seattle could get Darnold back in Week 3, but if Lock starts, we’ll get a fairer evaluation of where these two franchises stand nearly three years after they hired Quinn and Macdonald to lead them. The gap is wide and appears to be getting wider even though Darnold has been out, defensive chess piece Nick Emmanwori has barely played (eight snaps Sunday) and top running back Jadarian Price left the Arizona game with a chest injury (backup Emanuel Wilson, signed from Green Bay in the offseason, carried 21 times for 92 yards against the Cardinals). Fox’s Daryl Johnston called San Francisco the “class of the NFC” late in the 49ers’ victory over the Miami Dolphins. The Seahawks, who beat the 49ers by a combined margin of 54-9 in two meetings in January, might have something to say about that when San Francisco visits Seattle in Week 5. |
| NFC SOUTH |
| ATLANTAIn their third game, the Falcons will have a new quarterback on Sunday. Chris Cwik of YahooSports.com: After opening the year 0-2, the Atlanta Falcons will turn things back over to their presumed quarterback of the future. Michael Penix Jr. was named the team’s starter for its Week 3 game against the Green Bay Packers, the team announced Monday. The move comes after Penix missed the team’s first two games while recovering from ACL surgery. The move also comes after Cooper Rush was pushed into the starting role for the Falcons’ first two games of the 2026 NFL season. Rush struggled in both starts — which were made after Tua Tagovailoa went down with an oblique injury just days before the start of the regular season — completing 56.4 percent of passes and tossing a touchdown against a league-leading four interceptions in those appearances.– – -Mike Sando of The Athletic speaks for the many who are stunned that the Falcons have not one, not two, but three Primetime games coming up in the near future: The NFL’s broadcast partners spend billions to secure rights to games, lobbying hard to get marquee matchups onto their schedules. That process somehow resulted in the Falcons getting back-to-back-to-back prime-time appearances beginning Thursday night at Green Bay in Week 3. “I don’t know who is doing the advising, but someone is saying, ‘We feel like they are the up-and-coming team,’” an exec from another NFC team said. “Although they fired Raheem (Morris), they beat the Rams down the stretch and were competitive. And then you get Matt Ryan (as team president) and people think they are going to be good, before you realize, ‘Oh, s—, it’s the same stuff.’” The people making those decisions apparently were not reading along when executives across the league questioned the Falcons’ trajectory all offseason. Or when coaches and execs suggested the Saints’ Tyler Shough was a rising young quarterback to watch. Or when three of six executives picked the Saints to win the NFC South, while projecting Atlanta 15th in the NFC. Like it or not, the Falcons are headed for prime time in each of the next three weeks after scoring 16 points on offense during their 0-2 start. Flex scheduling begins in Week 5, so Atlanta’s Sunday night game against Baltimore that week could be booted to where it belongs. The Falcons managed three points against Carolina on Sunday, a week after the Panthers allowed 59. They are the second team this century, along with the 2008 Rams, to run zero plays in the red zone through the first two games of a season, per TruMedia (the Falcons do have a 23-yard touchdown, skipping the red zone). “Yeah, it sucks,” guard Chris Lindstrom said of the boos. “I understand (the fans’) frustration. They are frustrated with us.” The Saints, in contrast, have just one prime-time game all season (against the Falcons on Monday night in Week 4). New Orleans is better than Atlanta, as projected. The Saints took the Lions to overtime in Week 1, then shocked Baltimore 24-17 on Sunday. Shough’s 662 passing yards are the third-most this century for a first- or second-year QB through two weeks of a season. Only Cam Newton (2011) and Justin Herbert (2021) have had more. The signs were there before the season. “There is nothing about what they have done that I can say, ‘That makes sense,’” one exec said of the Falcons after the biggest free-agent signings were complete. It’s possible the Falcons’ offense will perk up if quarterback Michael Penix Jr. returns from injury at Green Bay in Week 3. It cannot get much worse. But betting on Penix is a bit like betting on Tua Tagovailoa: speculative. A league-high four members of the Falcons’ offense rank among the NFL’s top five in average salary per year (APY) at their position, including three who signed extensions this offseason. Another, Chris Lindstrom, ranks sixth among guards (three spots behind teammate Matthew Bergeron). No offense has scored fewer points. How did the Falcons get here? They fired coach Raheem Morris after an 8-9 finish featuring four consecutive wins to end the season. They parted with quarterback Kirk Cousins, who has been solid for the Raiders during their 2-0 start, and then added the fragile Tagovailoa to a position already featuring the fragile Penix. Tagovailoa failed to make it to Week 1 healthy. Cooper Rush struggled so much that the Falcons benched him during Sunday’s 34-3 loss. Fourth-stringer Jack Strand took over and threw a pick six on his first attempt. The NFC South got 10 total primetime games with the Saints on the short end of the breakdown. Breakdown by Team Atlanta Falcons (3): Weeks 3, 4, and 5 feature a heavy early-season national TV stretch. Carolina Panthers (3 confirmed + 1 TBD): Weeks 4, 8, 12, and a potential Week 16 Saturday spot. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3): Weeks 5, 9, and 12. New Orleans Saints (1): Week 4 Monday night rivalry game against Atlanta. The curious thing about the Falcons games is that they fall before the flex window for the most part (Week 5 with the Ravens in Atlanta is Flexible on NBC with 49ers at Seahawks, Raiders at Patriots and Vikings at Saints seeming to be worth considers (absent unknown contractual factors). Of the three Buccaneers games, two are Flexible Week 5: at Dallas Cowboys (Thursday, Oct. 8 on Amazon Prime) Week 9: at Chicago Bears (Sunday, Nov. 8 on NBC) Week 12: vs. Carolina Panthers (Monday, Nov. 30 on ESPN) |
| CAROLINAThe Bears scored 59 points in Week 1 to take a big lead in the points scored race. After two weeks, the team they defeated now leads the NFC in scoring THRU TWO WEEKS – NFC POINTS CAROLINA 71Detroit 62Chicago 62 This presuming the Giants don’t score 43 tonight. The Panthers are second in the NFL in scoring, behind only the Bills who are at 77, |
| NEW ORLEANSBill Barnwell of ESPN.com is cautiously optimistic about the Saints after Sunday’s win in Baltimore: The Saints certainly are not boring. Playing at a fast pace with fun playmakers, they were an enjoyable team to catch up on late last season after quarterback Tyler Shough settled into the starting role. And through two weeks, they’ve been one of the league’s most entertaining teams, falling just short against the Lions on the road before beating the Ravens in Baltimore’s seemingly annual September stinker of a performance. Am I being careful with my adjective choices? I am. I’m not sure if this is really a good team after two weeks. Some elements of its performance aren’t really sustainable. The Saints converted two fourth downs to extend the game against Detroit last week, including a fourth-and-12 throw to rookie Bryce Lance for 15 yards. Coach Kellen Moore’s offense followed that up by going 2-for-2 on fourth down again against Baltimore, with a pair of Shough sneaks moving the chains — including the fourth-and-goal touchdown that gave the Saints the lead. That play was controversial for multiple reasons. While it was ruled a touchdown on the field, it didn’t look on replay as if Shough made it into the end zone. Of course, that was because Roquan Smith was attempting to rip Shough’s face mask off, which would have been a penalty if spotted on the field but can’t be called on review. If the review had been able to make both calls, the Saints probably would have been better off, given that they would have gotten a new set of downs and been able to run the clock out before kicking a chip-shot field goal to win the game. It also looked like the Saints might have gotten into the end zone with their plays on second and third down, only to be called short. So, I don’t think Ravens fans can or should feel too aggrieved by the broader set of events. Shough was awful before the first play of the third quarter against the Lions. Since then, he has been brilliant, aided by some diving catches by Devaughn Vele. After throwing an interception to start the second half in Week 1, Shough is 67-of-86 (77.9%) for 727 yards (8.5 yards per attempt), five passing touchdowns, no picks and a rushing score. While the league as a whole has shifted under center, Moore has had his quarterback in the shotgun at the sixth-highest rate, running the sort of RPO-heavy scheme that might have been more in vogue a few years ago. It’s working, which is what matters most. The second-year pro is doing this despite having an inconsistent run game. Saints backs are 29th in yards per carry and 22nd in success rate so far this season, and what was expected to be a Travis Etienne Jr.-led backfield has been much more of a committee. Etienne played just 58% of the snaps in Week 1, and while that might have been a necessity on a day when the fast-paced Saints ran 90 snaps in a game that went into overtime, Etienne was splitting carries with Kendre Miller and CJ Donaldson throughout the contest. Against the Ravens, Etienne bobbled a pitch from Shough and lost 7 yards on the opening play of the second quarter. He didn’t play for most of the next drive, and at one point, the returning Alvin Kamara had 10 touches to Etienne’s two. That might have been a good idea if Kamara were productive, but those 10 touches produced a total of 17 yards. Saints backs eventually finished with 42 rushing yards on 18 carries, leaving Shough to shoulder the workload. If receiver Chris Olave is this team’s superstar on offense, the breakthrough player on defense has been Chase Young. After a knee injury seemed to waylay Young’s career in Washington and a brief stint with the 49ers didn’t impress, Young eventually settled in New Orleans as a post-hype addition. He had a solid 2024 season in a situational role, but after a free agent market didn’t develop for him in 2025, he re-signed with the Saints for three years and $51 million. Young missed the first five games of the 2025 season with a calf injury. Since then, he has been a superstar. The Ohio State product managed 10 sacks and 15 knockdowns in 12 games a year ago, quietly playing at a Pro Bowl level on an underrated Saints defense. While he didn’t have a sack in the opener against the Lions, Young did produce four quick pressures of Jared Goff. He added three more while taking Lamar Jackson down for 1.5 sacks Sunday, helping slow down a pair of drives that were already deep in Saints territory. Since returning last season, Young ranks third among all edge rushers in pass rush win rate, trailing only Nik Bonitto and Abdul Carter. His 10.0% quick pressure rate since the start of 2025 is the best of any pass rusher in the league with 300 rush attempts or more over that span. At 27, Young should be in his peak seasons. The bar for great free agent signings in New Orleans is pretty high when you consider the impact Demario Davis had after joining the franchise, but re-signing Young has been a masterstroke from an oft-maligned Saints front office. Coming away with a split on the road against the Lions and Ravens would have been a cause for celebration for the Saints before the season, and they came awfully close to starting 2-0 against projected playoff teams. Now, four of their next six games are at home, plus a trip to Paris to play the Steelers at the Stade de France. The only downside has been losing second-year left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., who was off to a rough start in 2026 before being carted off with an ankle injury against the Ravens. The NFC South looks ripe for the taking, and the Saints have been the best team in the division through two weeks. |
| TAMPA BAYTampa Bay tumbled in the second half of 2025, and it has continued for two more weeks in 2026. Greg Auman: @gregaumanBucs are 3-10 since Week 8 of last season. Only NFL teams with worse records in that span: Titans 2-11Commanders 2-11Cardinals 2-11 After Sunday’s loss to Cleveland, the Buccaneers have also now lost 11 straight against the spread. |
| AFC WEST |
| KANSAS CITYThis on the impact of RB KENNETH WALKER in his first two games with the Chiefs: @NFL_ResearcherKenneth Walker III (2026) is the only player in the last 40 seasons with 175+ scrimmage yards in each of his team’s first 2 games of a season. |
| LOS ANGELES CHARGERSThis: @OptaSTATSThe Chargers are the second team in NFL history to lose back-to-back games by double digits with both coming at home against teams that had a sub-.200 win pct the previous season. The other was the 1926 Racine Tornadoes (Oct. 10-17), who played just one more game before folding. Of course, we don’t know the sample size of how many times a team has had back-to-back home games against those sub-.200 teams. |
| AFC NORTH |
| BALTIMOREAfter blowing a bunch of leads under John Harbaugh, the Ravens couldn’t hold a lead against the Saints under Jesse Minter. This: @EvanHAbramsThis is the Ravens 11th home loss when leading by more than one possession since 2020 — the next closest team has 6 such losses. |
| CINCINNATIA key component of Cincinnati’s Week 2 success was T AMARIUS MIMS: @SyedSchemesCincinnati Bengals right tackle Amarius Mims was responsible for 0 pressures allowed on 34 pass blocking snaps against the Houston Texans, per @SumerSports |
| PITTSBURGHMike Sando of The Athletic picks apart the Steelers woeful offense: For the 18th time in his career, Aaron Rodgers has started the first two games of an NFL season. Here’s where Rodgers’ two-game production with the 2026 Steelers ranks among those 18 two-game samples following a 20-3 defeat at New England: 18th in EPA per pass play (-0.46)18th in QB EPA (-39.3; -5.6 is next-worst on that list)18th in passer rating (72.1)18th in touchdown passes (1)18th in yards per attempt (5.2)Even the Deshaun Watson-led Cleveland Browns rank higher than the Steelers in EPA per play (26th to 31st) through Week 2. The Browns scored more points on offense in their 23-19 victory over Tampa Bay on Sunday (23) than the Steelers have scored in two games (16). The much-discussed reunion between Rodgers and former Packers coach Mike McCarthy, now in his first season with Pittsburgh, has not delivered so far. Where Rodgers did deliver, spectacularly, was in his postgame evaluation of what can help get this offense going. “The best teams are player-led teams,” Rodgers said. “We have to keep taking the ownership. In a game like today, where there wasn’t a lot of flow to it, we need to be better — and it starts with me — at, like, making sure Mike (McCarthy) knows what’s working, what’s not working, (making sure) our coaches know. So we can call stuff that we feel like has a better chance.” This is prime Rodgers podium work, equating players taking ownership to players, led by him, telling coaches what plays are working. “What did you expect?” an exec from another team said. “He’s 42, can’t do it anymore. Never thought that would work, anyway.” Rodgers has been around a long time and knows much about the game, but the Steelers’ staff features: McCarthy (528 total NFL games)Offensive line coach James Campen (344)Wide receivers coach Adam Henry (256)Offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio (236)Senior offensive assistant Frank Cignetti Jr. (177) That’s 1,541 games of experience for five coaches watching the Steelers on every play, with in-game feedback and charting from the full staff, some positioned on the sideline, others high above in the press box. As for what’s working, not much. This is the worst Steelers team this century through two games in EPA per pass play; second-worst in EPA per play; and third-worst in success rate. Rodgers has been sacked 10 times to go with four fumbles (two lost) and two interceptions — with three of the four turnovers going for defensive touchdowns — over his past three games dating to last season’s 30-6 playoff defeat versus Houston. At one point Sunday, the Steelers faced a fourth-and-43 situation. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| HOUSTONQB C.J. STROUD threw for 353 yards Sunday against the Bengals, but it was almost pointless: @QBgamiStroud is the first QB in NFL history to throw for 350+ YDs and 0 INTs in a game that the team scored fewer than 10 points. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| HALL OF FAME SHAKEUPJayna Bardahl of The Athletic on the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s changes in the how the next class will be selected which go way beyond mere tinkering: The Pro Football Hall of Fame revealed its new selection committee on Thursday, a group reduced from 50 members to 28, including three non-voting members. The move comes as part of an overhaul of the enshrinement process. The selection committee previously had 32 media voters (one per NFL team), one representative from the Pro Football Writers of America and 17 at-large voters. However, the Hall announced earlier this month it was changing the selection process. The Hall revealed it would cut the committee nearly in half and scrap the market-based selector process for presenting the case for candidates associated with that market. One person who is not on the committee will now present all candidates. Former committee members who did not make the cut for the 2027 selection committee include longtime voters John McClain (Houston), Paul Domowitch (Philadelphia), Tony Grossi (Cleveland), ESPN’s Lisa Salters and Hall of Famers Tony Dungy, James Lofton and Bill Polian. Domowitch made the change in his voting status public on X, writing “It’s been fun. But the changes they’re making aren’t for the better.” McClain also wrote on X: “I’d like to thank the Hall and all the hard-working Committee members I served with for more than three decades. I salute you all. And good luck to everyone who survived the cut and still has the enormous responsibility of selecting the new class every year.” The full 2027 selection committee is listed below. Voting status will be determined annually: Jared Allen, Hall of FamerHoward Balzer, CardsWire, SiriusXM NFL RadioJarrett Bell, USA TodayDavid Birkett, Detroit Free PressVic Carucci, WGRZ-TVMike Chappell, CBS4/Fox59TVPeter Dougherty, Green Bay Press-GazetteJeff Duncan, Times-PicayuneDan Fouts, Broadcaster, Hall of FamerScott Garceau, 105.7 The Fan/WMAR-TVBob Glauber, AuthorVahe Gregorian, Kansas City StarNicki Jhabvala, Pro Football Writers of AmericaLindsay Jones, The RingerIra Kaufman, JoeBucsFan.comRoss Ketover, NFL FilmsSam Kouvaris, SamSportsLine.comJeff Legwold, ESPNRob Maaddi, Associated PressGary Myers, AuthorSal Paolantonio, Senior National Correspondent, ESPNDan Pompei, The AthleticMike Sando, The AthleticWill Shields, Hall of FamerJim Trotter, Retired, The Athletic & NFL NetworkCalvin Watkins, Dallas Morning NewsEric Williams, Sports IllustratedCharean Williams, Pro Football Talk The Hall announced several changes to its selection process in September, which it said culminated a 2 ½-year review. The 2026 Hall of Fame class notably drew attention to the selection process after Bill Belichick’s omission sparked controversy and confusion. The four main changes included: condensing the selection committee; eliminating the senior category for players retired at least 25 years; enshrining between three and seven candidates each year from a 15-person pool (13 players, one coach and one contributor); scrapping the system that tasked the market-based selector to present the case for candidates associated with that market. The Hall said it hoped the new rules would curtail “unintended biases” in three areas: disparate presentation skills among selectors; team markets from which selectors hail; and the pressure to enshrine candidates before they transitioned from modern-era (retired between five and 25 years) to senior status. Vahe Gregorian, who publicly explained that he did not vote for Bill Belichick, made the cut. Bardahl doesn’t mention Rich Gosselin departing, but he was considered perhaps the most conscientious and astute of the selectors (albeit he is long retired from formal journalism). Clark Judge is another in the same category. Some interesting thoughts on what’s going on from Mike Sando, who made the cut: The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s latest changes make it harder for coaches to earn enshrinement, which means there’s a chance Bill Belichick could miss again. The Pro Football Hall of Fame has reduced its 50-person selection committee to 25 selectors, plus three rotating alternates. My thoughts as one of the 28 on the newly reconfigured committee: • Coaches face longer odds: The new structure forces coaches (and contributors) to compete directly against all players. This has long been a losing proposition for coaches and contributors. That’s why the Hall created special lanes for coaches beginning in 2020, enabling Bill Cowher, Jimmy Johnson, Tom Flores and Dick Vermeil to earn enshrinement over a three-year period. Those coaches would have little shot under the current setup. We know this because only six coaches earned enshrinement competing against players following Don Shula’s 1997 enshrinement through 2019 (Tony Dungy, Bill Parcells, John Madden, Hank Stram, George Allen and Marv Levy). Belichick’s resume is such that he should earn enshrinement anyway, but the changes being implemented now reduce the chances for coaches and contributors overall, unless selectors change their mindsets (more on that in the next bullet point). • The best change: For the first time in its history, the Hall will not have one selector associated with each NFL market. This is a welcome attempt to steer the typical selector’s mindset away from “trying to get my guy in” toward the broader mission, which is electing the best candidates. Under the previous setup, the selector representing an individual market was responsible for delivering that candidate’s presentation to the full committee. The result was that selectors became hyperfocused on advocacy for their assigned candidates. In some cases, selectors grew close to candidates and their families. The presentations they delivered to the full committee were designed to counter or gloss over reasons the candidate might not be worthy. Instead, selectors became invested in their candidates’ fates, doing whatever they could to help the cause. A selector’s standing in his or her market, and among the associated team, could rise or fall based on that selector’s ability to deliver the goods. Candidates seeking enshrinement learned to lobby the representative associated with their markets. Selectors are now liberated from those market-specific duties. Some might stick with their provincial mindsets, especially in the short term. But I think the new structure will work against this longer term. • Biggest concerns: At worst, the Hall is swerving all over the road whenever someone in the back seat screams loudly enough. A couple of years ago, amid public criticism from Deion Sanders and others that too many so-so candidates were earning enshrinement, the Hall changed the process to make enshrinement more difficult. This year, after enough voters prioritized senior candidates to cost Belichick enshrinement, the Hall eliminated the senior category. The Hall can do a better job explaining itself. • No pattern: I see no rhyme or reason behind who was or was not retained on the committee. That was presumably by design, to diminish the idea that certain members were removed for specific reasons (specifically, the controversial omission of Belichick from the 2026 class). To my knowledge, the Hall did not consult with individual committee members as part of its process in adopting the latest changes (there have been full-committee Zoom calls to discuss various concerns). I never heard from anyone at the Hall regarding the latest changes until receiving a call on Sept. 10 asking if I’d like to continue serving for an 18th consecutive year. I’m looking forward to continuing without focusing so much on Seattle-centric candidates. |
