W-L                 Conf

1  Kansas City       West         4-1                   2-0

2  Miami                 East          4-1                   3-1

3  Pittsburgh          North        3-2                   3-1

4  Jacksonville       South        3-2                   2-2

5  Indianapolis       WC1         3-2                  3-1

6  Baltimore           WC2         3-2                  3-2

7  Buffalo               WC3         3-2                   2-2

8  Cleveland                           2-2                   2-2

9  LA Chargers                       2-2                   1-2

There are 5 teams at 2-3 below the 2-2 teams, making the AFC a jumbled mess.

Once you get past Kansas City and Miami, who look at this juncture to be the class of the conference, no one else feels like a juggernaut.

And in the NFC, you have the two unbeatens.

1  San Francisco    West        5-0                   4-0

2  Philadelphia        East         5-0                   4-0

3  Detroit                 North       4-1                   3-1

4  Tampa Bay         South       3-1                   3-1

5  Seattle                WC1        3-1                   3-1

6  Atlanta                WC2        3-2                   2-1

7  Dallas                 WC3        3-2                   1-2

8  New Orleans                       3-2                   1-2

9  Green Bay                          2-3                   2-2

10 LA Rams                            2-3                   1-2

11 Washington                       2-3                   1-2

Surprised to see Atlanta ahead of the mighty Cowboys in the standings?  We were.

New Orleans is only team with winning record in NFL not currently in the playoffs.

There are 7 teams in the NFL with 1 or fewer victories – and 5 are in the NFC with the two in the AFC being coached by Super Bowl-winning coaches.

MINNESOTA

That’s a bad hamstring – and the Vikings chances of climbing out of their 1-4 hole are further diminished.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson will miss at least four games with a hamstring injury.

The Vikings plan to put Jefferson on injured reserve, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Under NFL rules, that would mean Jefferson will miss at least the Vikings’ next four games, against the Bears, 49ers, Packers and Falcons. The earliest he could return would be November 12 against the Saints.

Jefferson is the NFL’s reigning Offensive Player of the Year, and his injury is a huge blow to the Vikings, who at 1-4 are in desperate need of a quick turnaround that now looks unlikely to happen.

The 24-year-old Jefferson is currently in the fourth year of his rookie contract. He’s scheduled to make $19.7 million next year on his fifth-year option season, but he’ll want to get a lucrative long-term deal instead of playing out his fifth year. He has played well enough to earn a deal that makes him the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver, and he’ll have to hope this injury isn’t serious enough to change that.

Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell has indicated the amount of time Jefferson misses will be determined by how well he responds to treatment.

DALLAS

DC Dan Quinn vows no after effects from getting beaten down by the mighty 49ers offense.  Kevin Patra of NFL.com:

The Dallas Cowboys defense entered Sunday night allowing 41 total points through the first four weeks. Dan Quinn’s D gave up 42 in Sunday night’s blowout loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

“I’m bummed,” Quinn said, via the team’s official website. “You get your ass kicked, you only have a couple choices in the fight. You can pout about it or get back up and get rocking again. And I certainly know that’s what we’re gonna do.”

In the first four weeks, the Cowboys’ defense allowed 10.3 points per game, 259.8 yards per game, 2.5 takeaways per game, and a 55.2 passer rating (all top-2 in the NFL). Sunday, Kyle Shanahan’s crew crushed them for 42 points, 421 yards, one giveaway, and a 143.8 passer rating.

If Sunday’s matchup was a measuring-stick game for the Cowboys, they failed the test miserably.

Luckily for Dallas, it’s one game out of 17.

“There’s no finger pointing with our group,” Quinn said. “In fact, the fingers are being pointed in the direction that they need to — let’s work on this, let’s work on that. I admire that about our group. I’ve been on other teams where there was finger pointing and blame, but that’s not this group.

“Extremely disappointed, but I also know what we’re made of, and we’re not gonna let this game beat us twice.”

The Cowboys face the Los Angeles Chargers next Monday night and will try to wash the bitter taste out of the mouth against former Dallas offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.

“We’ve got a very good Chargers team on the way, and we’ve got plenty of things to work out to get rocking again,” Quinn said. “So, yeah, we’re bummed. We wanted a really good kick-ass performance for our guys, but it didn’t go that way.”

But the Pokes are dealing with a key defensive injury.  Todd Archer of ESPN.com:

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch could miss four to six weeks because of a neck strain suffered in Sunday’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers, according to multiple sources.

Coach Mike McCarthy said Vander Esch is likely headed to injured reserve, which means he would miss at least the next four games. After next week’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Cowboys have their bye, which could put Vander Esch’s return at Nov. 19 at the Carolina Panthers or as late as Nov. 30 against the Seattle Seahawks.

He has a history of neck issues, missing seven games in 2019 and undergoing surgery after the season. He missed the final three games of last season with a neck injury. He suffered this injury with 13:59 left in the fourth quarter when he was pushed from behind and collided with Micah Parsons’ leg.

X-rays taken at the stadium were negative, and Vander Esch had an MRI and other tests performed Monday.

“High caution is in place here,” McCarthy said.

The Cowboys entered the season inexperienced and thin at linebacker. Rookie DeMarvion Overshown suffered a torn ACL in the preseason, which moved Markquese Bell from safety to linebacker. Second-year linebacker Damone Clark is playing through a shoulder injury. In the past two games, the Cowboys elevated linebacker Malik Jefferson from the practice squad, and last week they added Mikel Jones to the practice squad, but both were mostly special teams roles.

McCarthy said the Cowboys are exploring the possibility of adding a veteran.

“In our personnel meeting we touched on some potential opportunities,” McCarthy said, “but we just want to make sure we have all of the information before we head down that road.”

Because defensive coordinator Dan Quinn interchanges linebackers and safeties, they can make up for some of the loss. Safeties Jayron Kearse and Malik Hooker each can take over as the defensive playcaller in Vander Esch’s absence. The Cowboys lost cornerback Trevon Diggs for the season to a torn ACL in a practice after two games.

– – –

Jori Epstein of YahooSports.com with the comments of owner Jerry Jones:

Jerry Jones knew something needed to change.

“One of the first things I ask myself in any situation,” the Dallas Cowboys team owner and general said Tuesday morning on Dallas radio station 105.3 The Fan, is “can we do some things different than we did against the 49ers?

“The answer is yes we can. We certainly can make adjustments and will make those adjustments.”

Strategies, route running, deep balls, inside zone runs and defending the quick game dot Jones’ list of improvement after his team fell 42-10 to the San Francisco 49ers on “Sunday Night Football.”

Changes at quarterback, head coach or play-caller? Jones sharply denounced those options.

“We should recognize that we had a very bad outing and that San Francisco had a very good outing,” he said. “We should recognize that and call it what it is and not mislead ourselves.

“But as far as sitting here saying we should completely change the towels here, that’s not even in the cards. And it’s really ridiculous.”

Ridiculous, Jones believes, to suggest that the West Coast-inspired offense head coach Mike McCarthy has implemented isn’t working for the Cowboys after a game in which they had eight first downs compared to the 49ers’ 25. Dallas turned the ball over four times via three Dak Prescott interceptions and one fumble by running back Tony Pollard. The team averaged just three yards per carry, while no pass-catcher hit 50 yards.

But Jones pointed to the 49ers’ effectiveness in the quick game as a reminder that the scheme can, in fact, work when executed well. He was defensive about his play-caller, citing predecessor Kellen Moore when he was not asked about Moore.

“Have we gotten this team, since Kellen Moore left, in a place that can do better than what we did against the 49ers? You bet we did,” Jones said. “Should we change, at this juncture, back to where we were at this time last year? No, we should not.

“You couldn’t do it if you wanted to — reinvent your offense at this time.”

In 3-2 start, has Cowboys offense showed what it needs to?

The Cowboys have compiled three blowout wins alongside losses to the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers. Their 26.8 points per game ranks eighth in the league through five weeks. But there’s a reason those numbers diverge from the Cowboys’ 17th-ranked total yardage per game, Dallas’ 4.95 yards per play still lower at 21st. Only four teams have fared worse in the red zone than the Cowboys — and that’s when they get there, which against the 49ers they did not.

Dallas’ defense has scored three touchdowns and special teams still a fourth. The Cowboys have also generated 11 takeaways (second-most in league), which have helped set up kicker Brandon Aubrey’s 10.4 points per game.

In short: The Cowboys have produced, but their offense has faltered in important scoring situations. And with record-setting viewership tuned into their Northern California trip, that was blatant.

Jones described the outing as “very disappointing” and “a stunner” but stopped short of suggesting deeper issues would spiral from the loss. He believes his team has sufficient personnel, coaching and scheme to go the distance.

“Dak Prescott is a quarterback who can get us to the Super Bowl,” he said. “That’s the way that’s going to be. We have other quarterbacks on the roster and players certainly if something should happen to Dak.

“But I want to be real clear: Dak’s very capable of making this team be where we want it to go.”

When asked if McCarthy would consider ceding play calling to offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, Jones gave his shortest answer of a 20-plus minute interview: “No. In any way, no.”

The question will only simmer further as the Cowboys prepare for a Monday night visit to the Los Angeles Chargers, where Moore now coordinates a Justin Herbert-led attack that ranks seventh in scoring, fifth in overall offense and sixth in passing. Questions about the highest-profile positions in football — head coach and quarterback — will continue even if the Cowboys make it to the playoffs, should they not advance to at least the NFC Championship. San Francisco has squashed that goal each of the last two postseasons.

Sunday night, the Niners looked ready to eliminate the Cowboys again.

“The results are very obvious: We haven’t won a Super Bowl,” Jones said. “We’ve had good games over the years. And we’ve had some bad games. Do you know any team that hasn’t had that happen to them?”

“Let me be very firm: I completely believe we have the quarterback that can take us where we want to go. Do we have the coaching staff on both sides of the ball? We certainly do. Did Sunday reflect that? No.

“We did view this game as a game that would tell us where we are. And nobody likes where we are. (But) what I’m asking our mirrors and asking ourselves is: Can we be different, can we play different, can we play potentially different against a team the caliber of San Francisco?

“I feel strongly the answer is yes on all fronts.”

PHILADELPHIA

Are the Eagles postseason good – or are they like the Vikings and Giants last year, a team with a good record from winning the coin flips?  Jori Epstein of YahooSports.com:

For the fifth time this season, an NFL opponent has failed to taint the Philadelphia Eagles’ perfect record.

But for the fourth time this season, they sure came close.

The Eagles outlasted the Los Angeles Rams 23-14 thanks to another dual-threat showcase from quarterback Jalen Hurts. The Rams continued to claw throughout the game, their performance highlighted by the 2023 debut of wide receiver Cooper Kupp after a hamstring injury and an impressive toe-dragging end zone interception from cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon.

But while the Rams kept things interesting — the margin always within single digits and also within one possession for more than 55 minutes — the Eagles only trailed for 32 seconds on the day.

This has become a classic Eagles formula, Philly winning its previous four games by a one-score margin and this one by nine points. So it’s worth asking: Is the Eagles’ close-game victory trend impressive or concerning?

Fans of the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants may vote the latter after seeing the mirages their own teams created last season.

Minnesota pulled off an astounding 11 of their 13 wins last season by eight points or less while the Giants’ 10 wins (including playoffs) featured nine decided by a one-possession margin. A glance at each group’s 1-4 records this season should serve as a warning of regression in a game of variability. Lucky breaks are tough to predict, and the Vikings and Giants — while deserving credit for how they capitalized — are seeing that they weren’t as close to contending as their playoff berths suggested.

The Vikings are again competitive this season. All five of their games have been decided by one score. The problem: They’ve lost four of those. The Giants have lost in more decisive fashion, in part due to injuries.

Many front office members around the league aren’t surprised that the law of averages is hitting each team. But a closer look suggests the Eagles need not fear the same regression.

How Jalen Hurts, Eagles impressed vs. Rams

It’s true that the Eagles’ results resemble the Giants and Vikings a year ago. Their processes, however, diverge.

The Vikings and Giants developed reputations as good football teams because they won one-score games. The Eagles, in contrast, are winning one-score games because they’re good.

They’re sustaining the success that brought them to the Super Bowl stage last February. They’re shutting down opposing rushing attacks and bullying defenses — yes, even Rams All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald this week! — with their offensive line that’s considered the league’s best. Philadelphia is empowering quarterback Jalen Hurts to embrace his dual-threat attack in ways that routinely outwit and outplay opponents.

Hurts completed 25-of-38 passes for 303 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He distributed the ball well, helping receiver A.J. Brown, tight end Dallas Goedert and running back D’Andre Swift to each collect more than 100 yards from scrimmage against the Rams. And Hurts wasn’t afraid to use his legs, impressive in a showdown with Donald on the opposite side of the Great Wall of Philadelphia, Hurts’ vision a match for the instincts with which Donald has long terrorized the NFL. Hurts finished the day with 72 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.

Just twice on Sunday did the Eagles really have reason for a blood-pressure spike.

The first came with 32 seconds left in the first half, after a stretch when quarterback Matthew Stafford had found Kupp for 95 yards in just two quarters. As the Rams faced third-and-10 from the 22-yard line, they opted for a change-up. Standout rookie receiver Puka Nacua beat Eagles veteran corner James Bradberry on a back-shoulder fade for a go-ahead touchdown.

The Rams were set to get the ball to start the second half, a chance to further gain momentum.

Instead, the Eagles moved in a physical style that seemed to goad the Rams to overplay. With the help of Hurts’ legs, Brown’s arms and Rams penalties from a horse collar tackle and defensive pass interference, the Eagles cobbled together a four-play, 75-yard scoring drive to enter the half up 17-14.

The Rams never scored again. Put another way: The Eagles defense shut out Stafford, Kupp, Nacua and friends in the second half.

Los Angeles’ brightest moment of the second half was Witherspoon’s interception. On first-and-10 from the 20, Hurts targeted Brown on a back-shoulder fade that Hurts seemed to hope would hit Brown in front of the end zone. Instead, Witherspoon tracked Brown with savvy and secured the catch, and the in-bounds contact, to give the Rams a chance.

The Eagles’ defense nearly returned the favor with an apparent interception. That was overturned on review. Even so, Philadelphia allowed the Rams just one first down before forcing a punt.

This recipe can translate to more than a Week 5 win.

What close-score games do and don’t mean

When Rams head coach Sean McVay and Stafford spoke after the game about the need to improve execution and complementary football, a listener could be forgiven for dismissing the comments as cliché.

But the Eagles’ steady ability to do both things powered this win just like it has powered much of the Eagles’ success in the Hurts era. They demonstrated complementary football when the offense scored to spell the defense from the Nacua touchdown allowed. They demonstrated complementary football when the defense stopped the Rams to avoid points off the turnover-gifted possession.

They executed on third down, converting 13-of-18 (72%) compared to the Rams’ 6-of-14 (42.8%). Suddenly, the Rams had nearly 16 minutes less to mount an attack.

The formula can translate to postseason success — even if it doesn’t translate to blowouts.

Close games have long been an NFL trademark, and especially in the last two postseasons. Seventeen of the last two years’ 26 playoff games have been decided by one score, including both Super Bowls and three of four conference championship games.

Understanding what to do when holding a slight lead or needing a boost is imperative. The Eagles are adept at bleeding the clock when they’re up and responding when they’re down.

And the damage that one-score-win mirages is doing to the Vikings and Giants isn’t a risk for the Eagles. Minnesota and New York each tried to patch up rather than retool their rosters after their first-year head coaches racked up above-expectation win counts. Each returned a quarterback who was considered closer to average than top-tier.

Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni already proved he could improve the Eagles from a four-win team before he arrived a nine-win team his first year and then a 14-win group that advanced to the Super Bowl last season. Hurts already was in the MVP conversation last year until his injury, a conversation he only continues to look fit for. And perhaps as notable: The Eagles have created a legacy of elite offensive line play in an era where teams struggle.

The Eagles will likely win a game by double digits this season. And they probably will lose at some point this regular season, too. In the meantime, their close wins continue to build mental strength and a resilient culture that will aid them in the postseason.

The rest of the NFC should beware.

CAROLINA

So who decided to trade up and draft QB BRYCE YOUNG?  Anthony Rizzuti of USA Today:

As Carolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich said on Monday—some NFL owners are hands-off and some NFL owners are very much hands-on. And it’s evident, even before Reich came to Charlotte, that his team’s owner definitely falls in the latter category.

On Monday, Reich was asked about owner David Tepper’s temperature in the midst of a disappointing 0-5 start to his tenure. What he said wasn’t all that surprising, but still quite interesting.

“Talk to him every week, multiple times. Usually talk either Monday or Tuesday after a game,” he replied. “And he’s super competitive. Wants to bring a winner to the Carolinas. He wants it now. Wants it now. And pushes me and pushes us to that end. He wants to do whatever it takes and turn over every stone. Turn it as much as he has to to produce winning football. So, I appreciate those conversations—they’re always very challenging. He’s a super-competitive person. He’s not gonna sit idly by.”

Reich later added the following:

“There’s different philosophies in ownership. Some owners kinda stay away and don’t engage a whole lot. Other owners do. And his philosophy is he’s gonna engage.”

That, thanks from an assist from Michael Rimmer on Twitter, prompted ESPN NFL reporter Stephen Holder to post this:

@HolderStephen

This was painful to watch because it isn’t the first time I’ve heard him say this.

It’s an open secret in the league that the owner heavily influenced the QB choice, which is never ideal.

@HolderStephen

Talked to Reich at the owners meetings and told him I think I knew which QB he wanted. I said Stroud bc he embodied everything Frank has ever told me he wanted in a QB (accuracy, size, poise, etc). 🤷🏾‍♂️

After acquiring the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 draft this past spring, the Panthers sent a massive contingent to attend the pro days for each of the top quarterback prospects. Tepper and his wife Nicole, the chief administrative officer of the team, were part of the group.

The selection, of course, was ultimately Bryce Young—who has experienced some struggles over the course of the five-game losing streak. He’s completed 63.9 percent of his throws for 750 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions over four starts.

No. 2 overall pick and Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, who may have been the second option for Carolina, has gotten off to a much more successful start than his fellow draftee. He’s tossed for 1,461 yards, seven scores and no picks, and already has an Offensive Rookie of the Month award to show for it.

ARIZONA

An injury update from RB JAMES CONNER from The Athletic:

Arizona Cardinals running back James Connor is expected to miss several weeks after sustaining a knee injury in the team’s Week 5 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, according to multiple reports. Here’s what you need to know:

Conner’s last carry in Week 5 came in the second quarter where he scampered for a 35-yard run. He finished the game with six carries for 46 yards.

He’s rushed for 364 yards on 5.4 yards per carry and two touchdowns this season.

Emari Demercado replaced Conner in the lineup against the Bengals. He rushed for 45 yards on 10 carries, including an 11-yard touchdown run.

Cardinals offense loses a major factor

This is a significant blow for the Cardinals because they just don’t have many offensive weapons. Leading receiver Hollywood Brown has been steady and rookie receiver Michael Wilson has had nice moments, but no one outside of Conner has been a threat each week. Tight end Zach Ertz, recovering from major knee surgery, is a possibility but he has not yet looked like himself.

The NFL’s eighth-leading rusher, Conner was the team’s motor. The offense started with him. He will not be easy to replace. – Doug Haller, Arizona writer

Backstory

Conner was coming off consecutive solid performances in Weeks 3 and 4 with a combined 204 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Conner, 28, picked up his second Pro Bowl selection in 2021 after leading the Cardinals with 15 rushing touchdowns. He’s tallied 4,200 rushing yards and 46 touchdowns in his career with the Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

SAN FRANCISCO

Michael Irvin is among those who think that QB BROCK PURDY and Coach Kyle Shanahan are a perfect match.

While appearing on Undisputed on Monday, NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin revealed his opinion on Purdy, saying he’s an MVP candidate.

“Playing the quarterback position is all about effectiveness and I have yet to see anyone I would take in that San Francisco offense over Brock Purdy. Now if you ask me, is he an MVP? Absolutely.

“I would take him over any quarterback on that team and in that system including the quarterback we have in Kansas City right now in Patrick Mahomes. Brock Purdy with Kyle Shanahan is the perfect fit.”

And Sam Monson of ProFootballFocus.com sees Purdy growing before our eyes:

On Sunday Night Football against the Dallas Cowboys, Brock Purdy was — for the first time — the player who has been described since he won the San Francisco 49ers‘ starting quarterback job: a spectacular passer able to deliver big-time throws one after another without making mistakes.

When you pair that with a 49ers offense that’s already rolling with the best scheme in the league, as well as with an unrivaled array of playmaking weaponry, you get a unit that can put more points on the Dallas defense in one game than four previous opponents did combined.

The Brock Purdy dynamic was not made for the modern world that lacks nuance. As soon as he broke out in 2022, lines were drawn and you had to decide whether he was the next Tom Brady or a complete construct of Kyle Shanahan — the next Nick Mullens.

The truth always lay somewhere in between. Purdy’s performances were never quite as good as the overall numbers, but his biggest strengths tended to kick in exactly when Shanahan’s plays ran out of answers, so the combination was always more potent than the sum of the parts.

Everything may have changed against the Cowboys, though. Purdy was dealing. He made three big-time throws against Dallas, which matched his season total in five starts and two more relief outings as a rookie. In all games put together heading into Sunday Night Football, Purdy had only nine big-time throws, or a rate of 2.5%. His rate was four times that in this game, with an average depth of target 9.0 yards downfield.

LAS VEGAS

Raider rusher MAXX CROSBY sometimes gets left off the list of elite rushers that always included Joey Bosa, Micah Parsons, Myles Garrett, etc.  Maybe he should be there.

Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby was doing a postgame interview with Lisa Salters of ESPN on Monday night when they were interrupted by Packers special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia.

Bisaccia was once the Raiders’ interim head coach and he wrapped Crosby up in a warm embrace while Salters waited to speak to one of the stars of the Raiders’ 17-13 home win. It was one of the few times that anyone from the Packers was able to interfere with Crosby’s plans over the course of the evening.

Crosby had a sack, four tackles for loss, and four overall pressures of Jordan Love to help spoil the night for quarterback and the Packers as a whole. He told Salters that “this is what I was born to do” and said later that he has his sights on doing even more in the future.

“More is required,” Crosby said, via Vic Tafur of TheAthletic.com. “I want to be the best in the league, and next week I have to be even better.”

The Raiders offense remains a work in progress as they haven’t hit 20 points yet this season, so getting even more from Crosby would be a welcome development for a Raiders team trying to get to the right side of .500.

MIAMI

The amazing Dolphins offense just got slower.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

NFL defenses have had a hard time slowing Dolphins rookie running back De’Von Achane down in recent weeks, but it looks like Miami’s upcoming opponents won’t have to come up with a plan for dealing with him.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Achane is set to miss multiple weeks because of a knee injury. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said at his Monday press conference that Achane was being evaluated by doctors, but there was no sign of an injury while he was running for 151 yards and a touchdown against the Giants on Sunday.

Schefter adds that Achane will get another opinion on the injury Tuesday and that will determine whether or not he goes on injured reserve.

Raheem Mostert will be in line for more work with Achane out of action. The Dolphins could also activate Jeff Wilson from injured reserve this week in order to add more depth to the backfield.

NEW ENGLAND

Pete Prisco would fire the Patriots GM, not the coach:

When somebody asks me whether Bill Belichick should be fired as coach of the New England Patriots if his team were to go 2-15 or 3-14, I just laugh out loud. One of those right-in-your-face type of laughs.

The notion of firing him is absurd. Bill Belichick, the coach, is arguably the best to ever do it, one of the all-time greats if he isn’t the top guy. So forget about any talk of firing Belichick, the coach.

But let’s talk about firing Belichick, the GM. That guy should be in trouble. That guy should be fired.

I won’t laugh one bit if anybody makes that suggestion.

Bill Belichick, head coach, is being ruined by Bill Belichick, general manager.

Look at his roster.

The Patriots are 1-4 and have been blown out the past two weeks in games they didn’t even compete on either side of the ball. First it was a horrible loss to the Cowboys on the road, but then they followed that up with a 34-0 shutout home loss to the New Orleans Saints. In the past two weeks, the Patriots have been outscored 72-3. They have lost three games at home. The offense is averaging 11 points per game. Quarterback Mac Jones, Belichick’s hand-picked successor to Tom Brady and a first-round pick, has been benched each of the past two games.

The offensive line can’t block. The skill people don’t scare anybody. The defense has some talent, but the two top players — rookie corner Christian Gonzalez and pass rusher Matt Judon — didn’t play Sunday.

It used to be Belichick, the genius coach, could scheme around limited talent and missing players. That isn’t the case anymore.

The talent void is deep.

The GM ruined it for the coach.

The Patriots are down to 29th in my Power Rankings this week, but you could also easily make a claim they are the league’s worst team. I just happen to think Carolina, which hasn’t won yet, has earned the bottom spot, with Denver and the Giants down there as well.

New England stinks. Badly. But it isn’t because of the coach. He can still get it done.

That general manager? He has to go. The coach has to know that, even if he probably wouldn’t admit it.

Tom Brady isn’t coming to the rescue. Then again, they did wait until the sixth round to pick him. Maybe the GM was lucky once to truly make it all possible. If so, the luck has run out and the coach is paying the price, but it’s absurd to say it could cost the coach his job.

– – –

It looks like QB MAC JONES gets another start.  Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com:

In the aftermath of Sunday’s 34-0 blowout loss to the Saints, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said the club will “start all over” to get things on the right track.

Whatever that entails, it apparently won’t be replacing starting quarterback Mac Jones.

Offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien told reporters in his Tuesday press conference that he’s anticipating Jones will be the starter this week when New England takes on Las Vegas.

Jones has played poorly in the last two games, with the Patriots being outscored by a combined 72-3 by the Cowboys and Saints. He’s completed 24-of-43 passes for 260 yards with four interceptions and two lost fumbles in the two contests.

O’Brien was asked if there might be a benefit to benching Jones for a proverbial mental break.

“There’s no time for mental breaks,” O’Brien said, via Zack Cox of NESN. “Those are on your days off, I guess, you can take a little mental break. It’s the grind of the season. In order to be in this league as a coach, as a player, as anybody in this league, you have to be mentally tough. There’s a grind that goes to the league. It’s a 17-week grind, and we all have to be mentally tough.

“The sun came up today. We’re going to practice today, and we’re going to get after it and be fundamentally sound today and see what happens tomorrow. One day at a time.”

Overall this year, Jones has completed 62.5 percent of his throws for 1,008 yards with five touchdowns and six picks. He’s averaging just 6.0 yards per attempt with a 74.2 passer rating.

“It’s not about one guy,” O’Brien said, “but as the quarterback you’re going to shoulder a lot of that, and he understands that. He’s working hard. He’s in here early, in here [Monday] trying to think about things to do better.

“We had a good fundamental meeting right here about half an hour ago. We’re ready to go for practice [Tuesday], take things one day at a time, and try to dig ourselves out of it.”

THIS AND THAT

BANDWAGONS WORTH JUMPING ON OR ABANDONING

Per Jeffri Chadiha of NFL.com:

Bandwagons worth riding on:

Cincinnati Bengals  2-3

The Bengals will be fine: It certainly didn’t seem that way a week ago. Quarterback Joe Burrow was playing on one leg, throwing 2-yard passes and taking shot after brutal shot from defenders in a blowout loss to Tennessee. That wasn’t the same dude who showed up in Arizona. Whatever Burrow was doing to help heal his lingering calf strain made a huge difference, as he went 36-of-46 for 317 yards and three touchdowns in Sunday’s win over the Cardinals. More importantly, he looked like his old self, whether that was moving in the pocket or scrambling when opportunities arose. It helps that Burrow can throw to a star like Ja’Marr Chase — who produced 192 yards and three touchdowns on a franchise-record 15 receptions — but this was about the Bengals getting back to who they are. Even with wide receiver Tee Higgins sidelined by a rib injury, the offense was explosive — and the message was sent. Cincy should be back in the conversation about championship contenders as long as Burrow doesn’t have any more setbacks.

Justin Fields  Chicago Bears · QB

Justin Fields is growing up: It would be one thing if Fields had one good game after all the talk about him developing as a passer. He’s now produced two outstanding efforts in consecutive weeks, the latter of which earned the Bears their first win of the season (a 40-20 victory over Washington). Fields generated 526 passing yards, three touchdown passes and four interceptions in his first three starts. He’s thrown for 617 yards with eight touchdowns and one interception in his last two. Fields also has become more accurate over the last couple weeks, completing 67.2 percent of his passes after connecting at a 58 percent clip over the first three games. It really does look like he’s committed to everything he said in that heavily publicized press conference he gave three weeks ago when he vowed to be less robotic in his play. Those words may have sparked controversy, but you can’t argue with the results. Fields is feasting on that highly anticipated chemistry with wide receiver D.J. Moore, and the 1-4 Bears have something to feel good about in what’s been an otherwise-brutal season to date.

Jacksonville Jaguars   3-2

Jacksonville is still the safest bet in the AFC South: It’s so enticing to take the Colts at this stage, but it would be great if they could keep rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson healthy. He’s already been banged up in three games, missed the bulk of two with a concussion, and now comes Monday morning’s news via NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport: The rookie QB is out at least a month with a Grade 3 AC joint sprain that sent him to the sideline in Sunday’s win over Tennessee. Jacksonville, on the other hand, is trending in the right direction in this division after two consecutive victories in London, including a 25-20 win over Buffalo. The Jaguars are finding more rhythm on offense behind quarterback Trevor Lawrence, and their defense showed up big against a Bills attack that had been averaging nearly 35 points per game. Jacksonville was especially successful at harassing Bills quarterback Josh Allen in the pocket, something other defenses hadn’t been able to do over the previous three weeks. There are still legitimate questions about an offensive line that has endured injuries, inconsistency and a four-game suspension to left tackle Cam Robinson, but there’s time to resolve the unit’s issues. No other team in this division has the Jags’ talent or their recent success rate in big games. That puts them in the driver’s seat to repeat as AFC South champs.

Time to hit the eject button on:

Sean Payton’s chances of immediately creating a winning culture in Denver: That hope went out the window after the Broncos dropped their first two games of the season and then surrendered 70 points in a Week 3 loss to Miami. The one thing the Broncos were supposed to be able to count on when Payton replaced Nathaniel Hackett as Denver’s head coach was a defense that had been pretty stout over the past few years. Instead, that unit has deteriorated, and the Broncos are already dumping talent. They traded edge rusher Randy Gregory, a high-priced free-agent acquisition in 2022, to the 49ers. There are reports that another pass rusher signed this offseason, Frank Clark, could be jettisoned as well. Of course, none of these moves should detract from the real issue here, which is that Payton showed up as a savior and realized that there’s far more work to be done here than any of us knew. Yes, Russell Wilson has played better. But you don’t get credit for quarterback whispering when your team is 1-4 and you just got beat by a Jets coaching staff that you openly belittled over the summer.

The notion that Bill Belichick is still on his game: Belichick is the greatest coach the league has ever seen, but you’d never know it by watching New England these days. The Patriots are 1-4 and have lost their last two games by a combined score of 72-3. To make matters worse, New Orleans — one of the most underwhelming offensive teams in the league — just hung 34 points on New England in a shutout win in Foxborough. It’s easy to point the finger at quarterback Mac Jones and all his limitations, but this runs way deeper than that. This is about Belichick spending too much time as head coach and general manager and nobody in the organization having the clout to tell him that things have veered way out of control. This team has had a talent problem on offense since Tom Brady walked out the door following the 2019 season. It’s just taken four years to realize that all of Belichick’s brilliance can’t overcome that type of challenge.

The Giants thinking this season could be as encouraging as 2022: No team in the league has been embarrassed more than the Giants have this year. They’ve played on prime time three times and scored all of 15 points. You want to know what they’ve given up in those contests? Ninety-four points. The consensus was New York overachieved last season when Brian Daboll won Coach of the Year honors for his ability to guide the team into the playoffs. It was just hard to discern how little Daboll had to work with until this season ensued. The Giants have an overpaid quarterback with obvious limitations, a struggling offensive line, an already-injured star running back who spent an offseason fighting for a lucrative contract extension that didn’t come (and will do so again next offseason) and a defense that can’t slow anybody down. The saddest part of all: These highly flawed G-Men still have to play 12 more games. Look, there was ample reason to assume the Giants might take a step back after their success last season. We just didn’t know that step could put them in position to pick first overall in next year’s draft.

GRADING THE 2023 FIRST ROUNDERS

These are from Dalton Wasserman of ProFootballFocus.  We’ve re-arranged some things (you can read his much longer take here):

Rookie Grade

1     PHILADELPHIA: DI JALEN CARTER (9^th pick)                                  91.8

2     NEW ENGLAND: CB CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ (17^th pick)                 80.8

3     SEATTLE: CB DEVON WITHERSPOON (5^th pick)                             79.7

4     ATLANTA: RB BIJAN ROBINSON (8^th pick)                                       76.2

5     HOUSTON: QB C.J. STROUD (2^nd pick)                                            75.3

6     HOUSTON: EDGE WILL ANDERSON JR. (3^rd pick)                          74.8

7     BALTIMORE: WR ZAY FLOWERS (22^nd pick)                                   71.7

8     CHICAGO:: OT DARNELL WRIGHT (10^th pick)                                 69.9

9     TENNESSEE: OG PETER SKORONSKI (11^th pick)                           67.6

10    PITTSBURGH: OT BRODERICK JONES (14^th pick)                         65.5

11    MINNESOTA: WR JORDAN ADDISON (23^rd pick)                            65.1

12    GREEN BAY: EDGE LUKAS VAN NESS (13^th pick)                         62.4

13    DETROIT: RB JAHMYR GIBBS (12^th pick)                                        62.1

14    NEW YORK GIANTS: CB DEONTE BANKS (24^th pick)                    61.8

15    NEW YORK JETS: EDGE WILL MCDONALD IV (15^th pick)             61.4

16    KANSAS CITY: EDGE FELIX ANUDIKE-UZOMAH (31^st pick)         60.7

17    LA CHARGERS: WR QUENTIN JOHNSTON (21^st pick)                  60.3

18    TAMPA BAY: DI CALIJAH KANCEY (19^th pick)                                59.2

19    BUFFALO: TE DALTON KINCAID (25^th pick)                                   56.6

20    ARIZONA: OL PARIS JOHNSON JR.(6^th pick)                                 55.9

21    CINCINNATI: EDGE MYLES MURPHY (28^th pick)                           54.9

22    JACKSONVILLE: OT ANTON HARRISON (27^th pick)                      53.0

23    INDIANAPOLIS: QB ANTHONY RICHARDSON (4^th pick)               52.2

24    SEATTLE: WR JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA (20^th pick)                          50.3

25    CAROLINA: QB BRYCE YOUNG (1^st pick)                                      48.4

26    NEW ORLEANS: DI BRYAN BRESEE (29^th pick)                            47.7

27    DETROIT: LB JACK CAMPBELL (18^th pick)                                    46.3

28    PHILADELPHIA: EDGE NOLAN SMITH (30^th pick)                         45.9

29    DALLAS: DI MAZI SMITH (26^th pick)                                               43.8

30     LAS VEGAS: EDGE TYREE WILSON (7^th pick)                            38.0

31     WASHINGTON: CB EMMANUEL FORBES (16^th pick)                  37.0

2024 DRAFT

Some thoughts on next year’s draft class from various ESPN.com experts:

NFL draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr., Matt Miller, Jordan Reid and Steve Muench answered big draft-related questions coming out of the weekend’s slate, including which prospects have made the biggest moves up draft boards this season, and which ones need a big second half. Miller picked out prospects rising after Saturday’s action, and Reid identified players currently flying under the radar who could get a draft stock boost with more high-level play. Muench broke down a key highlight that is making him go back to the tape for more evaluation, and Kiper turned the page to Week 7 with three things to watch for next weekend. Finally, our analysts emptied their notebooks with everything they saw and heard over this past weekend.

Who’s the biggest riser on your board since preseason not named Shedeur Sanders?

Kiper: Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington. I’ll go with a prospect I just moved way up on my Big Board because he has been dominant this season. At 6-foot-4, 317 pounds, Fautanu drives defenders off the ball in the run game and doesn’t let any rushers past him in the pass game. He has allowed just one sack in 19 career starts. Fautanu plays left tackle for the Huskies, but I have him as my top-ranked guard — though he absolutely could end up at one of the tackle spots in the NFL. I just think he can be a plug-and-play starting guard at the next level. He’s No. 12 on my updated Big Board, and I had a Day 2 grade on him heading into the season.

Miller: Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois. That’s a great answer, Mel, but I’m going to look to the defensive line here. I had the chance to see Newton in person against Kansas in early September, and his ability to penetrate gaps and make plays in the pass game left me stunned. Even in losses, he has often been the best player on the field. I came into the season questioning Newton’s 2022 production (38 pressures, 5.5 sacks), but he’s repeating it this year (14 pressures, 2.5 sacks in six games). The 6-foot-2, 295-pound senior is dominating with quickness off the snap and mobility in space. The season started with him ranked as a mid-Round 2 prospect, but after seeing him in person and evaluating some more tape, he’s my No. 1 defensive tackle and No. 10 overall player for 2024.

Reid: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State. He quickly made his presence felt, catching three touchdowns in the season-opener against LSU — and he now has six through five games. A big-body target at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, he has plenty of contested catch ability. Coleman still needs to show more as a route runner, but he has strong hands and is a clear go-to target in the red zone. After not even being in my top five at the position in the preseason, Coleman is now WR3 on my board behind Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. and LSU’s Malik Nabers. The top half of Round 1 isn’t out of the question if he continues on this trajectory.

Muench: Mekhi Wingo, DT, LSU. I would have said Texas running back Jonathon Brooks here — he went from off the radar to a potential top-50 player — but I just talked about him last Monday. So I’ll instead take this chance to give a player in the trenches some love. Wingo is doing an excellent job of shooting his hands, holding his ground and locating the ball carrier, with 21 tackles and 1.5 sacks. He’s a better run-defender than pass-rusher, but at 6-foot-1 and 295 pounds, he’s quick and has active hands. I was wowed by a highlight in the Arkansas game in late September, when Wingo ran over an offensive tackle rushing off the edge. He has gone from a Day 3 grade in August to early-third-round status now.

Which prospect are you watching most closely over the rest of the season?

Miller: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina. Maye reminded us why he’s considered a top prospect with a dominant performance against Syracuse on Saturday, but the 2023 season has been up-and-down for him, with turnovers (four interceptions) and inconsistent ball placement showing up far too often. I’m a believer in Maye — there’s still an outside shot he’ll challenge Caleb Williams for the top QB spot in the class — and the 6-foot-4 signal-caller could be an even better pro than prospect. But I want to see it consistently. His three-touchdown, 442-yard showing against Syracuse was a nice reminder of who Maye can be, but no prospect will get more of my attention over the next two months.

Reid: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington. Through five games, Penix has 1,999 passing yards, 16 touchdown throws and two interceptions in the up-tempo Washington scheme that stretches the field vertically. He has been sacked just three times and pressured on 40 of 198 dropbacks this season, so we haven’t seen him under much duress. There are still questions about how he’ll handle pressure in his face at the next level, when he is forced to move off his spots in the pocket. The Huskies are entering a crucial stretch of conference games that includes matchups against Oregon (this weekend), USC and Utah, and we could get some answers there. Multiple scouts still view Penix (6-foot-3, 213 pounds) as a fringe third- or fourth-round pick, but a strong performance in the second half could catapult his draft stock into early-round discussions.

Muench: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan. Let’s keep the quarterbacks rolling here. McCarthy (6-foot-3, 202 pounds) has been outstanding outside of the Bowling Green game (three interceptions), and the tape is better than the overall stats — which is why he’s QB3 on my board and a potential first-round pick. That said, his efficiency dipped substantially over the second half of the 2022 season, and his toughest challenges this year lie ahead. Michigan’s average margin of victory has been 30.7 points, and McCarthy is tied for 88th in the FBS in passing attempts (125). So the rest of the slate should give a better idea of his pro projection. Can McCarthy continue to perform at a high level at Penn State, against Ohio State and during a potential College Football Playoff appearance?

Kiper: Chris Braswell, OLB, Alabama. Everyone is going with QBs here, huh? I’ll go in a different direction with a defender who plays a premium position. Braswell, a five-star recruit in the 2020 class, has seized his opportunity this season, with 4.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss. That’s more sacks than he had in his career coming into the season (7.5). He ranks fifth in the FBS in quarterback pressures with 19, too, which is one more than teammate Dallas Turner, who is in the top 10 in my Big Board. Can Braswell keep this up? We know NFL teams are always looking for pass-rushers, and I’ve heard the 6-foot-3, 255-pounder is going to test extremely well at the combine. With what he has put on tape in six games, he has a chance to rise further than his second-round grade.

Miller’s draft risers from Week 6

Isaiah Davis, RB, South Dakota State

With a 197-yard, two-touchdown game against Illinois State on Saturday, the 6-foot-1, 220-pound senior made a move up my board. Davis is a powerful downhill runner who rushed for 1,451 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. He is one of the best senior running backs in the nation and is heating up with back-to-back 100-yard rushing games. In a loaded group of RBs expected to enter the 2024 draft class, he’ll need more big games to stand out, but Davis is a solid midround prospect with some Dameon Pierce vibes to his running style.

T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas

Sweat was remarkable as both an anchor and penetrator for the Longhorns’ defensive line against Oklahoma on Saturday. He reminds me of Javon Hargrave with his awesome movement ability at 362 pounds. Big men shouldn’t be able to run down ball carriers like he does. NFL teams will value his strength and bulk against the run (seven run stops in six games), but Sweat also gives a huge upfield push, and his effort is fantastic. He has a solid Round 2 grade on my board.

Dallas Turner, DE, Alabama

Turner has been dominant since taking over the Will Anderson Jr. role in the Alabama defense, adding 6.5 sacks to his résumé through six games. No other pass-rusher has shown his level of burst off the edge and ability to truly bend the corner this season. The 6-foot-4, 242-pound Turner previously was competing with Jared Verse and Chop Robinson as the class’ top edge rusher, but he’s now in a tier of his own. I’ll be bumping him up into the top five overall.

Reid’s draft sleepers to keep an eye on

Justin Eboigbe, DT, Alabama

A season-ending neck injury limited him to only four games in 2022, but Eboigbe has quickly returned to form this season. At 6-foot-5 and 292 pounds, the fifth-year senior has been an anchor in the middle of the Crimson Tide defense. He’s known for his reliability as a run defender, but his pass-rush ability has taken a significant leap. Eboigbe had 2.5 career sacks in four seasons entering the season but has that many in six games this year, including 1.5 against Texas A&M. He wasn’t really on the draft radar because of the injury questions, but Eboigbe has now entered the Day 3 picture.

Kris Abrams-Draine, CB, Missouri

Some scouts were surprised to see Abrams-Draine return to school, but he has only built off what he showed last season. Entering this past weekend, he had allowed a 23.5% completion percentage on passes into his coverage, tied for the 12th-best mark in the country. The 5-foot-11, 178-pound corner has displayed all-around ability through six games, both on the outside and as a nickel. He has three interceptions on the season and broke up a few passes against LSU on Saturday. Seen as an early-to-mid-Day 3 pick coming into the season, Abrams-Draine is now getting mentioned among third- and fourth-round prospects by scouts.

Erick All, TE, Iowa

Another Iowa tight end?! There haven’t been many bright spots on the Hawkeyes’ offense this year, but All has quickly become a go-to target in the passing game, with touchdown catches in back-to-back games. Iowa had just six completions against Purdue on Saturday, but five of them went to All, as he finished with 97 yards and a score. In a tight end class that lacks depth behind Georgia’s Brock Bowers and Texas’ Ja’Tavion Sanders, All is inserting himself into the second tier. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Michigan transfer was a Day 3 prospect entering the season, and while he’s still realistically in that range, scouts are starting to take notice. He could quickly rise with more strong play.