| If The Season Ended Today – thru Week 7 – the oddsmakers favorite to win the Super Bowl would not be in the playoffs. If The Season Ended Today In the NFC, the team that lost to the Browns sits atop the NFC NFC ConfGreen Bay North 4-1-1 3-0-1San Francisco West 5-2 5-1 Philadelphia East 5-2 4-1Tampa Bay South 5-2 3-2Seattle WC1 5-2 2-2Detroit WC2 5-2 2-1LA Rams WC3 5-2 0-2Chicago 4-2 3-2Carolina 4-3 2-1Dallas 3-3-1 2-3-1Minnesota 3-3 1-2Atlanta 3-3 2-3Washington 3-4 1-4 That’s not a typo – the Rams have already played all 5 of their AFC games. They are 4-0 against the AFC South, handing the Colts their only loss, and also won their “17th game” at Baltimore. Nothing but NFC the rest of the way, including all 4 NFC North teams. AFC ConfIndianapolis South 6-1 5-0New England East 5-2 3-2Denver West 5-2 3-2Pittsburgh North 4-2 3-1Buffalo WC1 4-2 3-1LA Chargers WC2 4-3 4-1Jacksonville WC3 4-3 2-2Kansas City 4-3 2-2Cincinnati 3-4 3-1 With the Chargers loss to the Colts, the Bills move up to WC1 while on bye and Denver takes over the AFC West lead. Here are the current odds to win the Super Bowl we referenced. As a point of reference, let’s put all the 4-3 teams in bold Kansas City Chiefs +500 Detroit Lions +700Buffalo Bills +700Green Bay Packers +800Philadelphia Eagles +950Indianapolis Colts +1200Los Angeles Rams +1400Denver Broncos +1900Baltimore Ravens +2200San Francisco 49ers +2200Los Angeles Chargers +2500Seattle Seahawks +2700Tampa Bay Buccaneers +2700New England Patriots +3500Jacksonville Jaguars +4000Dallas Cowboys +5500Chicago Bears +5500Pittsburgh Steelers +5500Washington Commanders +6000Houston Texans +6500Minnesota Vikings +7000Atlanta Falcons +7000Cincinnati Bengals +15000Cleveland Browns +30000Miami Dolphins +40000Las Vegas Raiders +40000Tennessee Titans +40000Arizona Cardinals +40000New York Giants +40000Carolina Panthers +40000New Orleans Saints +40000New York Jets +40000 The 1-5 Ravens have lower odds than the 4-2 Steelers who lead them in the AFC North by 2.5 games. – – – On a 4th down on Monday night, we saw Tampa Bay’s TE CADE OTTON stretching for a first down, with the ball very near the line to gain. Officials awarded him a plausible first down. Then, after two huddles, it was deemed by referee John Hussey without further explanation or obvious measurement that Otton was short of the yard to gain. All of this surrounding a further discussion of whether Otton had completed the requirements of a catch, had he fumbled, and could the subsequent Buccaneers recovery get them the first down. The NFL offered an explanation that basically said, because of the delay caused by the Detroit challenge, but after the review had been concluded – a replay arrived from TV that was so conclusive that the first review had erred that justice compelled the unusual intervention. Mark Butterworth, the NFL vice president of instant replay, offered an explanation. After Campbell disputed whether Otton reached the line to gain, the officials reviewed the spot. “We were trying to mirror angles together,” Butterworth said to pool reporter Nolan Bianchi. “Later in the process we received an enhanced view from broadcast that showed that when the knee was down, the ball was short of the line to gain. We were having issues with the referee’s O2O (official-to-official communication system), which is why he was brought back to the monitor. We did not show him anything on the screen at that point; it was simply to communicate to clean up the ruling on the field.” As the DB recalls the situation, ESPN went to a long break during the replay review, Hussey made the original announcement of the review – and then, because action had been stopped by ESPN’s break, ESPN’s late arriving replay re-opened a review that would have been closed with action continuing had there not been the extra time of the break. It also calls into question, just how are lines to gain now being determined. From pre-historic time, first downs were measured by a measurement with a 10-yard chain brought in from the sideline. While imperfect, a close measurement with the sticks had the fairness of a coin flip and full transparency. In 2025, the NFL announced with great fanfare the implementation of the Hawk-eye system, from the same company that transparently and electronically displays soccer offside resolutions and tennis line calls. Has there been any evidence, since the first preseason game in Canton, that Hawk-eye is being used? The replays we saw show the old-fashioned orange stake and ESPN’s yellow line both near the 41-yard marking. It also shows the ball near the 41-yard marking as Otton’s knee went down. Unless the true line to gain, as measured by Hawk-eye was further downfield, we are not sure why there wasn’t a mark and a measurement (publicly electronic or old-fashioned with a chain) to resolve coin flip style a very close play. |
| NFC NORTH |
| DETROITIt was a battle of depth Monday night between two of the best in the NFC as they strove to overcome key absences. The Lions backups in the secondary stood tall. Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com: The Lions came into Monday night’s game against the Buccaneers missing their top two safeties, their top two cornerbacks and a few other defensive backs, but turning to the next men up turned out just fine. Amik Robertson, Rock Ya-Sin, Erick Hallett, Arthur Maulet, Nick Whiteside, Thomas Harper, Loren Strickland, and Tre Flowers all saw snaps in the secondary and their work helped hold the Bucs to a season-low point total in Detroit’s 24-9 win. Maulet had an interception, Robertson forced a fumble, and Whiteside had a pair of key pass breakups while playing behind a front seven that produced four sacks of Baker Mayfield. “I told those guys, man, after the game, how proud I was of them,” Robertson said, via Benjamin Raven of MLive.com. “Every single last one of them — Whiteside, Harper, all of them. All I thought about when I was out there, man, is play for those guys. I told them, even though this maybe y’all first opportunity, show the world. We heard the noise. Those guys went out there and played their hearts out. I had no doubt in them. Let’s go out there and show everybody and not talk about it, and that’s what I felt like we did tonight.” Safety Brian Branch’s suspension will be up when the Lions return from their Week 8 bye and the team will be hoping to get some of their other missing pieces back as well. If that doesn’t happen, there won’t be any lack of confidence in the players that they will have on hand. |
| MINNESOTACharles Robinson of YahooSports.com weighs the choice between QBs CARSON WENTZ and J.J. McCARTHY: Nearly five weeks ago, when J.J. McCarthy had played one good quarter of football and seven horrendous ones, Carson Wentz had a chance. He has a good arm. He has the size and frame. And in 2023 and 2024, he had two years of quiet backup duty behind the Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford and Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes to heal his quarterback image. Now it was suddenly mid-September and Wentz was being plugged into effectively the same Minnesota Vikings offense that resurrected the career of Sam Darnold one year earlier. So of course, it was hard not to project the possibilities of where it could go. After all … Wentz did have a short stint in his career with the Philadelphia Eagles where he played at a near-MVP level. And there have been highly drafted quarterbacks whom we wrote off too early. Maybe, some thought, Wentz could take McCarthy’s starting job and run with it. Then Wentz played. And he played like Carson Wentz has most often as a starter — with some very inviting highs, balanced against far too many Mariana Trench lows. Some of them came last weekend against his former Eagles franchise, when Wentz threw a pair of costly interceptions that were very arguably the difference in Minnesota’s 28-22 loss. That has always been the thing with Wentz. He is what he is. You can win some games with him. Your offense can score. But eventually, the odds kick in and he forces the mistakes that have always undercut him and the teams that have trotted him out consistently as a starter. This is why McCarthy’s job with the Vikings is safe. It’s also why the second-year quarterback is still undeniably on the hot seat. Because now the Vikings have seen what Wentz is. They’ve ridden the roller coaster and know he’s not the answer to making the most of this season. And that means there’s only one other avenue to getting this right in 2025. It’s going to be McCarthy or bust — and all the pressure that comes with it. Of all the quarterbacks in the league on the hot seat, McCarthy might have the hottest. Not because Wentz is a threat to take over this Minnesota franchise down the stretch, but because McCarthy is on a roster built to be in a Super Bowl window right now. He needs to develop fast. Not only that, he doesn’t have the paycheck to force a 2026 commitment from the coaching staff and front office. That means he can get the Anthony Richardson treatment as soon as next season and find himself fighting for his job with a capable veteran who can turn the key on this offense right now. Just like he was as a rookie with Sam Darnold, before suffering a season-ending injury in 2024. The same Darnold who is once again playing his way into an MVP conversation this season with an entirely new cast of players around him with the Seattle Seahawks. That’s the interesting dynamic about McCarthy. Unlike some other quarterbacks who find themselves on the hot seat, he is neither highly paid nor sitting in the middle of a total rebuild. Instead, he’s highly drafted and surrounded by a team that is currently one quarterback away — and maybe some offensive line health — from competing for a Super Bowl. Through eight quarters, the results have not been encouraging. That said, we have some perspective we didn’t a month ago. The Atlanta Falcons’ defense that beat the brakes off McCarthy back in September? It turns out the Falcons are far better than we thought at the time, especially the passing defense and the pressure up front. Even the Chicago Bears’ defense that made McCarthy look like a mess for three quarters has more to offer than it appeared in September. What this means for McCarthy remains to be seen. Without a doubt, there’s ample suspicion around the league that the Vikings’ coaching staff has strung out his ankle sprain, waiting to see if Wentz reverted to his historically problematic decision-making traits. Now it has happened, and everything about what the Vikings are going to be has shifted back onto McCarthy’s shoulders. The only difference now: There’s nowhere else to go at quarterback, except where McCarthy takes the Vikings. And with this roster ready to win now, the outcome will likely shape what happens with Minnesota’s QB depth chart in 2026, too.. |
| NFC EAST |
| NEW YORK GIANTSThree writers of The Athletic take the measure of what unfolded Sunday in Denver – and find quite a bit of positives amidst the horrific collapse: What did we learn from that absolutely absurd Broncos-Giants game? Mike Jones: I know Giants fans are both heartbroken and furious that Jude McAtamney missed a PAT at the end, which meant the Broncos could win it with a field goal. They’re equally miffed that he missed one earlier in the game, which later prompted New York to go for two (and fail). But once they step back, take a deep breath and let the sting wear off, they should draw a lot of encouragement from what they saw. Yeah, the Giants blew a huge lead, but with the game on the line, their rookie quarterback appeared unfazed, leading his team downfield to score the go-ahead touchdown with 37 seconds left. Jaxson Dart is a gamer. He’s way further along in his development than a lot of people expected. Yes, his interception with 4:56 left set up the Broncos to score and eventually take the lead. But I almost blame play calling for that pick. Why aren’t you handing the ball off to Cam Skattebo to run time off the clock? Why are you slinging the ball around and risking that disastrous scenario? So, yeah, the Giants’ takeaway is clear: The future is bright, and Dart just might save Brian Daboll’s job. These Giants might not win a lot of games, but they’ll make teams sweat. As far as Denver goes … meh. Well done pulling off the comeback. But the Broncos are too inconsistent for my liking. I don’t view them as true contenders. Ted Nguyen: The Giants have been impressive. They were left for dead after losing to the Chiefs in Week 3. Vultures were swirling around Daboll. Then Dart came in and changed everything. But it’s not just about wins and losses with this Giants team. Obviously, they lost in heartbreaking fashion, but Dart is making strides every week. He got lucky, with one of his touchdown passes getting tipped right to his tight end, but for him to come into Denver and put up 32 points on one of the best defenses in the league is amazing. They might still be playing in overtime as I’m writing this, if not for that second missed extra point. Dart obviously makes amazing plays with his legs, but he’s getting better as a passer, too. He took control of the game at the line of scrimmage last week against the Eagles, and this week, he connected on several downfield passes against a defense that doesn’t give up much real estate to receivers downfield. For the Broncos, Bo Nix badly needed this comeback. The Broncos have been winning in spite of their quarterback. Let’s see if he can build on this performance next week against the Cowboys. Tim Graham: With 37 seconds left, the worst lip reader could tell that Dart was screaming to whoever would listen on the Giants’ sideline, “What a f—— game! What a f—— game!” The rookie QB wouldn’t walk off the field feeling so enthralled. It was nearly impossible for Daboll’s team, which led 19-0, to lose once, and they managed to do it twice. With less than six minutes remaining, NFL Next Gen Stats gave the Giants a 99 percent chance of winning. But in a whipsaw fourth quarter, the Giants blew that lead. Dart’s interception opened the door. So colossal was the Giants’ implosion that they needed a touchdown on their final drive — but got it, thanks to a deep-heave pass interference call at the 2-yard line. Then McAtamney missed his second extra point to give the Broncos a chance to win it with a field goal, which they did. Because the Giants are that awful. |
| PHILADELPHIAThe RB SAQUON BARKLEY of 2025 is a far cry from the All-World version of 2024. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com: A year ago, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley won the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year award, and the Eagles adding him was one of the key reasons they won the Super Bowl. This year, things are very different. Barkley is struggling through an ugly season in which he’s been one of the worst running backs in football: Of the 24 running backs who have at least 75 carries so far this season, Barkley ranks dead last in yards per carry, with 3.3. Last year, Barkley averaged 5.8 yards per carry. And yards per carry is far from the only statistic that reflects just how far Barkley has fallen this season. Last year Barkley ran for 125.3 yards per game. This year Barkley is running for 52.7 yards per game. Last year Barkley ran for a first down on 23.8 percent of his carries. This year Barkley has run for a first down on 15.0 percent of his carries. Last year Barkley ran for 2,005 yards in 16 games. This year Barkley is on pace to run for 896 yards in 17 games. Last year Barkley ran for 13 touchdowns in 16 games. This year Barkley is on pace to run for seven touchdowns in 17 games. On Sunday, the Eagles’ offense got back on track in a 28-22 win over the Vikings. But Barkley held the offense back: He managed just 44 yards on 18 carries, and on the only pass he caught he was tackled behind the line of scrimmage for a loss of two yards. It’s been that kind of year for Barkley, in which even when the Eagles are playing well, he hasn’t been a part of it. |
| NFC SOUTH |
| TAMPA BAYWR MIKE EVANS came back from one injury, only to suffer another. Jenna Laine of ESPN.com: Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans suffered a broken collarbone during Monday night’s 24-9 loss to the Detroit Lions, an injury that will sideline him for most of the remaining season, according to coach Todd Bowles. “He’ll be out mostly toward the end of the year,” Bowles said of a potential timetable for Evans to return. “We’ll see what happens.” Evans, who also sustained a concussion, was carted to the locker room in the second quarter after Lions cornerback Rock Ya-Sin tackled him on a deep pass from quarterback Baker Mayfield. Evans’ head hit the turf as he and Ya-Sin tumbled. Ya-Sin got up immediately and was uninjured. Evans was down for several seconds after the play, grimacing but motionless while Mayfield stared in disbelief. Tight end Cade Otton, running back Rachaad White and left tackle Tristan Wirfs huddled around Evans as he was being tended to by the athletic training staff, with rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka kneeling at his side. Bucs longtime defensive captain Lavonte David and Bowles walked onto the field to check on Evans while his offensive teammates returned to the huddle. Evans needed additional time and assistance before leaving the field. “I was just worried about him,” Otton told ESPN. “I didn’t really know what was going on at the time, so just letting them know that I’m there for him and that’s all you can do in that moment. … Obviously he’s the leader on the team, great teammate, great person. So just want him to have a speedy recovery.” Egbuka said Evans appeared to be unconscious when he ran up to him, “so I was just praying that he was waking up, got down on a knee and prayed with him.” He was encouraged by his teammate being in good spirits after the game. “He’s someone who’s very strong-willed, so it’s really hard to break him,” Egbuka said. “So it was very unfortunate to see that, but I know he’s in the Lord’s hands.” Monday marked Evans’ first game back since suffering a hamstring strain in Week 3. |
| NFC WEST |
| ARIZONACharles Robinson of YahooSports.com thinks it may be time for the Cardinals to move on from QB KYLER MURRAY: Kyler Murray, Arizona CardinalsThe Cardinals haven’t given any indication they’re going to bench Murray at this stage, but it can’t be overlooked that their offense played functional and competitive football the past two weeks under the stewardship of Jacoby Brissett. That’s still not going to be enough to unseat Murray, who will likely step back into his starting role after Arizona’s Week 8 bye. When healthy, Murray still has more talent than most quarterbacks in the league. But the scope of his physical limitations have materialized at this point, largely through consistent injuries both big and small. That makes the remainder of this season a referendum of sorts for him. Head coach Jonathan Gannon and general manager Monti Ossenfort were expecting to take another step in their ground-up culture build this season, with the goal being a playoff bid. Now they sit at 2-5 heading into their bye, knowing the final 10 games are going to be critical to their futures — and the future of Murray. I spent time with the brain trust in training camp and we talked about Murray. I believe that if he can’t put it together and lead the Cardinals to the playoffs in the final 10 games, all options will be on the table when it comes to the quarterback spot. That includes entertaining a trade of Murray (if a partner can be found) or releasing him as a post-June 1 move and splitting $56.4 million in dead cap. Of course, that would depend on Gannon and Ossenfort still being in place after this season and also having a quarterback plan to replace Murray. If he struggles down the stretch, gets injured again or necessitates a switch to Brissett for any reason, I think it’s more likely Murray will be gone in the next offseason rather than retained. Three years of trying to make it work with a quarterback who was inherited is a very honest attempt. It also earns Gannon and Ossenfort the right to try something different in 2026, so long as ownership is still standing behind the pair. |
| AFC WEST |
| DENVERSeconds after referee Brad Allen signaled Denver’s winning field goal Sunday, LB DRE GREENLAW’s first priority was not to celebrate. It was to accost and berate the referee. Letting off steam will now cost the Broncos his services this week. Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com: Denver Broncos linebacker Dre Greenlaw was suspended one game by the NFL for unsportsmanlike conduct toward a referee following Sunday’s win against the New York Giants, the league announced Monday. According to the NFL’s statement, Greenlaw “chased after referee Brad Allen and verbally threatened him as he tried to leave the field.” The NFL said Greenlaw violated Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1(b), which prohibits “the use of abusive, threatening or insulting language or gestures to opponents, teammates, officials, or representatives of the League.” Greenlaw has three days to appeal his suspension under the collective bargaining agreement. If he does not appeal or the suspension is upheld, he would sit out the Broncos’ practices this week and Sunday’s home game against the Dallas Cowboys. The suspension would also cost him a game check in the amount of $192,778. Sunday marked Greenlaw’s first game with Denver after he signed a three-year, $31.5 million contract in March. He did not play in the preseason or in the first six games of the regular season because of thigh injuries. Against the Giants, Greenlaw played 21 snaps and finished with six tackles and a quarterback hit as the Broncos stormed back from a 19-0 fourth-quarter deficit to win 33-32 and improve to 5-2. Broncos coach Sean Payton has consistently lauded the physicality and athleticism Greenlaw could bring to the Denver defense. Despite his injuries over the years, Greenlaw, who spent his first six seasons with San Francisco, has been one of the league’s most impactful off-ball linebackers — he has had four 80-tackle seasons and 14 career passes defensed. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| HOUSTONDown by two TDs early, the Texans got back into the game before losing in the wee hours in Seattle. And they lost WR NICO COLLINS to a concussion. Houston Texans wideout Nico Collins suffered a concussion during a 27-19 loss Monday to the Seattle Seahawks, according to coach DeMeco Ryans. “We’ll evaluate him as the week goes on,” Ryans said. In the early portion of the fourth quarter, quarterback C.J. Stroud threw a back-shoulder pass on the sideline to Collins with Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe in coverage. The Pro Bowl wideout leaped up for the pass but couldn’t secure the catch while falling to the ground, and his head struck the turf. Collins gingerly got up with medical assistance and entered the blue tent for further evaluation before being ruled out for the remainder of the game. Before the injury, he had four catches for 27 yards on 10 targets. Stroud finished the day with a touchdown and an interception with 229 passing yards as the offense scored only one touchdown. He acknowledged the impact of losing his No. 1 wideout. “I thought he played really well. I got to find a way to get him to touch the ball. I got to throw him a better ball,” Stroud said. “That’s just the bottom line. It’s going to be tough. He’s our best player on offense. He’s one of the best players in the league time and time again. We also got to find ways to get him the ball in better situations. So that starts with me trying to get us in the right looks. “Hopefully he’ll be OK and we have a short week, but if not we got to just step up in other ways, and, you know, put more on my plate hopefully and try to help us out.” The Texans’ next game is a home matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. The Texans were already without Christian Kirk (hamstring) Monday. If Collins and Kirk can’t go next week, Houston will rely on Xavier Hutchinson and the rookie duo of Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel to fill the void. |
| INDIANAPOLISAre the Colts true Super Bowl contenders? Three writers from The Athletic ponder that question and we would say two are all in: We already knew the Colts were for real. After they took apart the Chargers, should we consider them Super Bowl contenders? Tim Graham: I love these Colts. Perhaps their late owner is doing more than smiling and pulling some strings, because something cosmic might be happening here. You can envision Shane Steichen winning Coach of the Year, Jonathan Taylor contending for MVP (he’s the first Colt to score three touchdowns in three different games in the same season) and Daniel Jones claiming Comeback Player of the Year. Rookie tight end Tyler Warren has been a machine. Indy has scored at least 29 points in six of its seven games. Then there’s defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, whose crew registered 15 QB hits and six pass breakups on Justin Herbert. Crowning any AFC South team a true Super Bowl contender always feels dubious, but they are playing fabulous complementary football with gobs of confidence. Ted Nguyen: With the way that they’ve consistently scored every week, you have to consider them Super Bowl contenders. Steichen routinely gets players open with play design, and Jones is operating the offense like a machine. The biggest question with the Colts is their defense. Their pass rush is inconsistent and their lack of corner talent is concerning. Charvarius Ward was playing at a high level but he was just put on IR due to a concussion, his second of the season. Even when he’s in, they still need to find another corner to start opposite of him or for depth. GM Chris Ballard should be scouring the trade market. They can win shootouts for sure, but right now, the Chiefs look like the most complete team in the AFC. Mike Jones: The 6-1 record is impressive. The Daniel Jones revival is great theatre. The Taylor next-level surge is fantastic. Somewhere, Jim Irsay is smiling. But I’ve gotta pump the brakes on the Colts a little. They’re well-rounded, play hard and are taking care of business. But look at their schedule. They’ve beaten … who exactly? Dolphins: Trash. Broncos: Solid, but inconsistent. Titans: Trash. Raiders: Trash. Cardinals: Up and down. Chargers: Battered and flawed. They lost to the Rams, although you can argue that they should have won that one. Until we see the Colts beat another leading AFC team like the Steelers (Week 9) or Chiefs (Week 12), I’m going to consider them a playoff team, but will refrain from putting them in the Super Bowl contender category. |
| TENNESSEEWill a contender think that WR TYLER LOCKETT would upgrade their WR room? He’s available. Jason Owens of YahooSports.com: The Tennessee Titans have released wide receiver Tyler Lockett after he asked to be let go, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. An 11th-year NFL veteran, Lockett was in his first season with the Titans after 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. Lockett has played a limited role on a poor Titans offense, tallying 10 catches for 70 yards and no touchdowns across seven games. [Yahoo Sports TV is here! Watch live shows and highlights 24/7] A three-time All-Pro early in his career, Lockett could be an appealing option for a team seeking veteran wide receiver help. Per the report, Lockett would be free to sign with another team Wednesday afternoon. Lockett is listed as a starter on Tennessee’s depth chart alongside Calvin Ridley and rookie Elic Ayomanor. But his 70 receiving yards is eighth-best on the team behind four receivers, two tight ends and running back Tony Pollard. The Titans made the reported move in the second week of a new coaching regime after the dismissal of head coach Brian Callahan. The Titans promoted senior offensive assistant and former San Diego Chargers head coach Mike McCoy to interim head coach after Callahan’s dismissal. |
| AFC EAST |
| NEW YORK JETSFrank Schwab of YahooSports.com has doubts that Aaron Glenn is going to be able to pull the Jets out of their funk: New York Jets coach Aaron Glenn seemed offended when he was asked after Week 6 if he’d bench Justin Fields. In Week 7, he benched Fields at halftime. Then a day after that Glenn said that before making a decision on Fields going forward he was consulting other coaches who had been in the same situation. The entire sequence was odd and confusing, but that’s nothing new for the 2025 Jets. The Jets are the last winless team in the NFL. They’re as bad as their 0-7 record would indicate, and they seem to be getting worse every week. Fields has less than 100 passing yards in the Jets’ last two games combined, but he’s only one of the team’s problems. The Jets don’t execute anything well. They make undisciplined mistakes. There have been game-management issues. And a lot of that falls on Glenn. Glenn came from the Detroit Lions, who started 0-10-1 in Dan Campbell’s first season as a head coach. There were plenty of questions about Campbell then, and he has turned into one of the NFL’s best coaches. Glenn, who was a highly respected defensive coordinator, is a head coach for the first time and there can be an adjustment period for any rookie. There’s still time for him to turn things around. But after seven games, it’s hard to find any signs that Glenn was the right hire. He could turn into an excellent head coach, like Campbell. There’s just no tangible evidence yet. The quarterback weirdness is just the latest episode. The Jets’ offense is 30th in DVOA, which can be blamed on picking the wrong quarterback in Fields this offseason and (with Garrett Wilson out with an injury) a lack of playmakers around him. But defense is supposed to be Glenn’s specialty, the Jets do have talent on that side and they’re only 24th in defensive DVOA. A team that’s bad on both sides of the ball can’t be bad in game management, but in Week 6 against Denver the Jets oddly let the first half run out when it was already clear that there wouldn’t be many points scored in the game. Glenn admitted later he could have managed that differently. Seven games is rarely enough to make a judgment on a head coach (though it took fewer than seven games to know all about Urban Meyer and Nathaniel Hackett). Nobody should be thinking about Glenn being a one-and-done coach yet. It just hasn’t been good yet. And it’s fair to start wondering when the positive signs are coming. Seven games is rarely enough to make a judgment on a head coach (though it took fewer than seven games to know all about Urban Meyer and Nathaniel Hackett). Nobody should be thinking about Glenn being a one-and-done coach yet. It just hasn’t been good yet. And it’s fair to start wondering when the positive signs are coming. Panic meter: There are alarms, but let’s try to be patient Before we can judge Glenn, the DB would say the Jets need to have something better than Fields or Taylor throwing to WRs JOSH REYNOLDS, ALLEN LAZARD and ARIAN SMITH – which is what they have with WR GARRETT WILSON out as he was last week. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| DOUG MARTINFormer Buccaneers RB Doug Martin passed away over the weekend – after being taken into custody by Oakland (CA) police: Former NFL All-Pro running back and Boise State star Doug Martin is dead at the age of 36, his family said in a statement on Sunday. TMZ and FOX were among the media organizations to confirm the news with people close to Martin. A statement from his family provided to FOX read: “It is with great sadness to inform you all that Doug Martin passed away Saturday morning. Cause of death is currently unconfirmed. Please respect our privacy at this time.” According to the East Bay Times, Martin died while in Oakland police custody early Saturday morning. The newspaper, citing multiple sources close to the investigation, reported that police were responding to a reported home break-in just after 4.15am in East Oakland when a “brief struggle” occurred before Martin became unresponsive after being taken into custody. The Times said the incident began when officers were called to a home on the 11000 block of Ettrick Street, in a neighborhood near the Oakland Zoo. Police “simultaneously” received notice that the suspected burglar was having “a medical emergency,” according to a statement by the Oakland police department cited by the Times. A “brief struggle” ensued when officers contacted the suspected burglar, police said. The person then became unresponsive after being taken into custody, according to the department. After receiving medical aid from paramedics on scene, the person was taken to a hospital, where they later died, the Times reported. The Alameda county coroner’s office has yet to release the name of the person who died. Officers involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave, following department policy. As is customary after in-custody deaths, the matter is being investigated by the Oakland police department’s homicide unit, internal affairs bureau, the civilian-led Oakland police commission, the Community Police Review Agency and the Alameda county district attorney’s office, according to the Times. It turns out that Martin’s family had called the police on their troubled son, before he broke into a neighboring house. Ryan Gaydos of FOX News: The agent of former NFL star Doug Martin provided clarity on the circumstances around his death on Monday as he released a statement on behalf of the late player’s family. Athletes First CEO Brian Murphy said the retired running back was dealing with mental health issues in the days before authorities in California were requested to be involved by Martin’s family. Martin died on Saturday after an incident while in police custody. “Privately, Doug battled mental health challenges that profoundly impacted his personal and professional life,” the statement read. “Ultimately, mental illness proved to be the one opponent from which Doug could not run. “Following recent media reports about Doug’s untimely passing, the family wishes to clarify the circumstances. Doug’s parents were actively seeking medical assistance for him and had contacted local authorities for support. Feeling overwhelmed and disoriented, Doug fled his home during the night and entered a neighbor’s residence two doors down, where he was taken into custody by police. An investigation into what transpired as he was detained is underway.” |
| DRAFT PICKS FOR THE DOWNTRODDENDane Brugler (for the AFC) and Zack Rosenblatt (for the NFL) use the digital pages of The Athletic to provide us with the key first round pick for the eight teams bringing up the rear in their respective divisions: AFC New York Jets (AFC East)Currently in line to hold the No. 1 pick, the Jets — should they remain in that position — would have the opportunity to draft the best overall prospect in the class. But if they believe in any of these quarterbacks, that position has to be their pick. This quarterback class is tough to assess. The first-round candidates are all underclassmen, and they all have a realistic chance of returning to school. Oregon’s Dante Moore and Alabama’s Ty Simpson are essentially first-year starters; South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers is still raw in key areas and would benefit from another year in college (with his current team or elsewhere); Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is the likeliest QB to declare, but he won’t be viewed as a slam-dunk, top-overall pick prospect by every team. The Mendoza-Jets pairing, however, makes sense. The Indiana passer would give New York a quarterback with the football IQ to understand where pressures are coming from and how to attack vulnerable spots in coverage. Mendoza had an up-and-down game in the Hoosiers’ Week 7 win over Oregon, but he was nearly perfect Saturday against Michigan State, completing 85.7 percent of his passes (24 of 28) for 332 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-13 victory. Cleveland Browns (AFC North)The theme of the Browns’ 2026 draft class will be offense, offense, offense. Quarterback (again) will be at the top of the priority list, but will a highly graded passer be available when the Browns are on the clock? They’ll be hoping a few of those underclassmen quarterbacks declare to give them more options. Because of Ty Simpson’s poise and execution, I’d bet the Browns’ coaching staff would gravitate toward the Alabama signal caller — assuming Kevin Stefanski is back as head coach. Along with his smarts and intangibles, Simpson also has the athleticism that makes him a threat to extend plays, with both quick feet and quick eyes to help him find the open man without forcing throws. In a scenario that sees a thin QB class and the Browns blocked (like in 2025) from taking a quarterback in the top five, Cleveland’s focus likely would shift to offensive tackle or wide receiver. There might not be a Joe Alt-level prospect in this class, but Utah’s Spencer Fano would upgrade one of the Browns’ tackle spots immediately. And with its second first-round pick this draft (via Jacksonville), Cleveland could address wide receiver by selecting Makai Lemon, Carnell Tate or Chris Bell, depending on who’s available. Tennessee Titans (AFC South)Tennessee needs to make personnel decisions with its young quarterback, Cam Ward, in mind. And for that reason, Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson would be an interesting option in the top 10. Tyson’s ball skills and ability to create separation make him a WR1 candidate, and he was pivotal in Arizona State’s upset of Texas Tech on Saturday. The Titans have invested in their offensive line the last few years, but there is more work to do there, as well, so Miami’s Francis Mauigoa could be another possibility. If the Titans simply focus on taking the best player available, Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. would be a nice upgrade. Built more like Brandon Graham than Myles Garrett, Bain uses his first-step quickness, body leverage and natural power to be disruptive against both run and pass. Bain didn’t have a productive night Friday, but Louisville planned its offense to either run away from his side of the field or use extra blockers on rushing plays where they expected Bain to be a factor. Las Vegas Raiders (AFC West)Another team that will be in the quarterback market next offseason. If Moore and Sellers declare, they would be high-upside options — and they wouldn’t be asked to start from day one, but rather to develop behind Geno Smith until they’re ready to see the field. However, I could argue it doesn’t matter who lines up at quarterback for the Raiders unless they address their offensive line. Whether they’d ultimately play tackle or guard for Las Vegas, either Fano or Mauigoa would be an upgrade. If Las Vegas focuses on its defense, Ohio State’s Arvell Reese would look awesome in a Raiders uniform. He can play off the ball while also providing pass-rush production. — Dane Brugler NFC New York Giants (NFC East)New York needs another anchor at tackle opposite Andrew Thomas, who has blossomed into a consistent presence on the left side. The Giants could land in position to take OT1 — right now, that’s Spencer Fano, the hyper-athletic Utah tackle capable of playing either side in the NFL. With Jaxson Dart and rookie RB Cam Skattebo, the Giants have the potential to lean more into their physical run game and all the explosive play-action shots that can be created off it. In Fano (or another OT, such as Mauigoa), New York would have the opportunity to make a big improvement up front this offseason. But they may want another weapon instead. The Giants might have finally found their quarterback in Dart, which would make this whole draft thing way easier for the front office. Malik Nabers will be back next year, but the Giants still need more help at receiver — specifically, another physical presence who can work outside. Enter Tyson, who had 10 catches for 105 yards and a touchdown (his eighth of the season) Saturday against No. 7 Texas Tech. Four of Tyson’s catches came on the Sun Devils’ game-winning drive. Tyson, Tate and Lemon have been the top of the heap so far at the receiver position. Minnesota Vikings (NFC North)With Tennessee star corner Jermod McCoy (ACL) sidelined for the first half of the year, Avieon Terrell has positioned himself to push for the top cornerback spot in the ’26 class. A super-competitive player, despite being a tad undersized, Terrell (5-foot-11, 180 pounds) is constantly around the ball and has been disruptive — in both man and zone — throughout his Clemson career. McCoy (6-0, 195) could be an option, too. He’s a bigger, more explosive corner who could be a top-10 lock once he’s healthy. Reese (6-4, 240) plays linebacker, but in reality, he’s just a front-seven playmaker. With serious pass-rush ability, he offers enough speed and range to cover anything a stack linebacker might need to. The NFC North is about the trenches, and Reese would check off multiple boxes for the Vikings’ defense as a versatile disruptor with big-time potential. New Orleans Saints (NFC South)We can’t close the book on Spencer Rattler. The Saints are not a good football team, and Rattler — now in his second NFL season — has delivered some serious flashes in 2025. That said, the Saints’ QB position remains unsettled in the long term, and there could be a number of starting-level options come April. Mendoza is my QB1 at the moment, as he continues to improve for surging Indiana and head coach Curt Cignetti. He was surgical Saturday afternoon against Michigan State to help the Hoosiers stay unbeaten. Bain, like his team, had a much more forgettable game Friday night against Louisville. Still, the 6-3, 275-pounder has been the most active edge defender in the class this season. His ability to win with speed or force brings people in the door, but his power and twitch against the run keeps their attention. When he’s consistent, Bain can be a terrific player. Arizona Cardinals (NFC West)The Cardinals are one of the worst run-blocking outfits in the NFL right now. And though plenty of the critiques of Kyler Murray’s game are fair, we’ve still never really seen what he can do with a truly competent and consistent run game. Mauigoa has been a physical anchor up front for Miami since his early days, and he should be able to add pop, either at tackle or inside at guard. As with Nabers in New York, though, Marvin Harrison Jr. could use a running mate. How about Tate, a fellow Buckeye? So much attention is paid to Ohio State phenom Jeremiah Smith (who’s still only a sophomore), and rightfully so, but Tate has been outstanding this season. He went off again Saturday, catching six passes for 111 yards and two scores versus Wisconsin. — Nick Baumgardner |
