| If The Season Ended Today: NFC W-L ConfDetroit North 5-1 5-1Washington East 5-2 3-1Seattle West 4-3 1-3Atlanta South 4-3 4-1Minnesota WC1 5-1 3-1Green Bay WC2 5-2 2-2Chicago WC3 4-2 2-0 Philadelphia 4-2 3-2Tampa Bay 4-3 4-1Dallas 3-3 1-2Arizona 3-4 2-3San Francisco 3-4 1-3 The Lions are the new kings of the NFC with the other 3 NFC North teams all in the playoffs. Who had Washington in the 2nd seed about 40% of the way through the season? With their loss to Kansas City, the 49ers fell from the 4th spot to 12th. AFC W-L ConfKansas City West 6-0 3-0 Houston South 5-2 4-0 Baltimore North 5-2 2-2Buffalo East 5-2 4-2Pittsburgh WC1 5-2 4-1 Indianapolis WC2 4-3 2-2Denver WC3 4-3 2-2LA Chargers 3-3 2-2Cincinnati 3-4 1-3 All four division leaders won last week in the AFC. Indianapolis and Denver slid ahead of the Chargers for the last two Wild Card spots. The AFC has 7 teams with 1 or 2 wins, the NFC has just 4. |
| NFC NORTH |
| DETROITAnother year, another suspension for WR JAMESON WILLIAMS. Ryan Young ofYahooSports.com: Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams is facing a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy, according to ESPN’s Eric Woodyard. It’s unclear what Williams did to violate the policy, but he told ESPN that he has “no choice but to take it on the chin.” The league has yet to announce the suspension, though it sounds like Williams won’t appeal. Once it’s official, he will be eligible to return for the Lions’ matchup with the Houston Texans on Nov. 10. Williams has 361 yards and three touchdowns, both of which are career-highs, on 17 catches this season. Williams is averaging 21.2 yards per reception, which is the second-best in the league behind only Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce. He is also second on the team in receiving yards and touchdowns behind Amon-Ra St. Brown. The Lions first selected Williams with the No. 12 pick out of Alabama in the 2022 NFL Draft. The 23-year-old had one catch and lost 4 yards in the Lions’ 31-29 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Williams was also suspended four games last year for betting on non-NFL games in 2022. He was initially suspended six games before the suspension was reduced after the league tweaked its gambling rules and punishments. Williams missed the first 11 games of his rookie season while recovering from an ACL injury he sustained in college, so he’s yet to play a full season in his NFL career.– – -Another day, another NFL writer starting to think you might spell MVP “G-O-F-F” this year. Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com: The numbers are gaudy, historic in fact. The film is easy on the eyes. The timing is perfect, the accuracy outstanding. So why is there a hesitancy by some, from media personalities to sportsbooks, to say that Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff is a true NFL MVP candidate? Sure, Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson is the leader, but don’t be foolish and not think Goff is a challenger. Goff has been on a tear the past four games, taking the Lions to the top of the NFC North and up to No. 2 in my power rankings this week. When the Los Angeles Rams traded Goff to the Lions in 2021, their thinking was he wasn’t good enough to win a Super Bowl. Many thought the Lions acquired him to keep the seat warm for a rookie they would soon draft. That idea has been put to rest in a big way since the Lions gave him a mega-deal this offseason, and he’s rolling up stats that are eye-opening. The Lions are 5-1 and again surging on offense as they push for a Super Bowl, as they currently have the third-best odds to hoist the Lombardi Trophy, according to Fanduel Sportsbook. They are doing it mostly because of Goff. He carved up the Minnesota Vikings’ vaunted blitz defense Sunday in their dramatic 31-29 victory to the tune of 280 yards and two touchdowns with a passer rating of 140. That rating made him the only player in league history to have four consecutive games with a completion percentage of 80% and a passer rating of 140 or better. In the past four games, he has a completion percentage of 83.5, the highest ever for a quarterback over a four-game span. He’s also only the second quarterback, joining Peyton Manning, to throw for 1,000 yards and complete 80% of his passes in a four-game span. He also has helped the Lions score more offensive touchdowns (18) than he’s thrown incompletions (16) in those four games. Credit goes to the Lions offensive staff, especially coordinator Ben Johnson, since they have made it easy on Goff. But Goff has really taken to the offense, and his ability to stand in and make throws has been on display over the past month. Without Aidan Hutchinson to create havoc on defense, there will be even more pressure on Goff and the offense to go out and score each and every week. The Lions are second in the league in scoring at 30.1 points per game. They might need to get that even higher if they don’t make a move for a pass rusher to replace the injured Hutchinson. It’s hard to see the offense slowing down. If it stays this way, Goff will stay an MVP candidate and just might throw the Lions all the way to winning it all. Not bad for a guy the Rams didn’t think could do just that. |
| NFC EAST |
| DALLASOne week ago, Jerry Jones was threatening to fire his radio hosts. Today, everyone made nice. Mike Florio: Last Tuesday, Cowboys owner and G.M. Jerry Jones got miffed at the morning show on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas. To the point where he essentially threatened to have the hosts fired. This Tuesday, Jerry was back. Right out of the gates, he addressed the elephant in the studio. “I don’t have anything to say about last week,” Jones said. “I’m surprised that last week got the attention it got.” I’m not. Jerry seemed to be genuinely upset. It wasn’t a joke or a bit. He was pissed, plain and simple. And he flexed his monetary muscle a little bit to remind the hosts and everyone else who’s boss. While he never apologized (then again, being obscenely rich means never having to say you’re sorry), Jones seemed to be a little contrite, at least as it relates to the purpose of speaking to the fans via a popular local media outlet. He called doing the twice-weekly radio spots “a privilege,” and he acknowledged that he expects to get many of the questions he receives. Given the incredible Monday night performance from Ravens running back Derrick Henry, Jones answered (again) the failure to pursue Henry before he could be asked, calling it a “get in your ass-type of question.” He explained that the issues with the Cowboys go “beyond whether we have Derrick Henry or not.” Henry, per Jerry, might not have the same impact in Dallas than he’s having on the Ravens. Jones said the Cowboys’ issues are more about “holding your blocks” and “not making mistakes” and having receivers “running through tough man-to-man coverage.” About not “designing bad plays” or “designing bad concepts.” He said that there are some “execution” issues. And, at some level, it’s about talent — even though the man in charge of the talent on the Cowboys said (surprise) he really likes the team’s talent. “Derrick Henry didn’t fit because principally of managing the cap,” Jones eventually said, “and in anticipation of the players that we were going to sign weeks later or in anticipation of the players we’re going to be signing in the future.” That explanation continues to principally be a load of crap. The Cowboys misjudged the amount of gas he still has in the tank. They failed to envision the impact he could have, on any offense. And now they’re suffering the consequences for it. What Derrick Henry can do is universal to football. The ability to blow through holes and hit hyperdrive carries massive value. The Cowboys didn’t think he had it. And they didn’t want to pay for whatever he had left. That’s fine. The Cowboys weren’t alone in striking out on Henry. The fact that Jones brought the topic up this week without being asked about it, however, proves that the topic really has, to use his phrasing, gotten in his ass. The best news for the radio hosts is that, this week, they managed to avoid getting in his ass. |
| PHILADELPHIASomeone was mic’d up when RB SAQUON BARKLEY, with 176 yards rushing already, was approached by Coach Nick Sirianni on the bench: @SharpFootballTeam over everything from Saquon… Sirianni: You’re 13 yards away from your career high. I would love for you to get that Saquon: It’s all good Sirianni: Are you sure? I’m gonna take out all the starters Saquon: I’d rather see the young boys eat |
| NFC SOUTH |
| CAROLINAWR DIONTAE JOHNSON doesn’t sound inclined to re-up with the Panthers. Could he move to another team prior to November 5. The Carolina Panthers dropped to 1-6 on the season with a 40-7 defeat at the hands of the largely Jayden Daniels-less Washington Commanders on Sunday. It was the latest in what has been a demoralizing season for Carolina, which has been outscored 148-61 over the last month. Now, it appears some frustrations are boiling over inside the locker room. Following this latest loss to Washington, Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson, who caught one of his three targets for 17 yards in Week 7, expressed his displeasure with the team’s effort. “Frustrated, but I can’t play every position on the field and make every play,” Johnson told reporters, via The Athletic. “Everybody’s got to do their job when it comes down to it. Yeah, it’s tough, but I just tell myself to keep going regardless.” On top of being shut out through the first three quarters and managing just 180 yards of total offense, Carolina’s defense had no answer for the Commanders, who were largely quarterbacked by backup Marcus Mariota following an early rib injury to Daniels. Washington piled up 421 total yards of offense and 26 first downs en route to 40 points. For Johnson, the wideout began his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers before being traded to the Panthers this offseason. Prior to this season, the pass catcher had been a part of teams that had no greater than eight losses in a given season, and he’s now on track to endure that midway through his first campaign with Carolina. Given the team’s struggles and the fact that Johnson is slated to be a free agent at the end of this season, it does make one wonder whether or not he could be dealt before the Nov. 5 trade deadline. If the Panthers do elect to trade Johnson, here are a handful of potential landing spots. Kansas City ChiefsThis is an obvious pairing. The Chiefs have been on the outside looking as big-name receivers like Amari Cooper and Davante Adams have been dealt, and there remains a clear need to improve the pass-catching talent around Patrick Mahomes. That need only grew following the season-ending injury to Rashee Rice, and Johnson could be an ideal rental as they look to win a third straight Super Bowl. Johnson entered this season with a base salary of just $7 million. New England PatriotsA 1-6 team after Week 7 really shouldn’t be looked at as buyers at the trade deadline, but there’s a case to be made here for the Patriots to get in on Johnson. Drake Maye has flashed in his first two starts, but it’s remarkably clear that the roster around him isn’t good, which includes the wide receiver position. If New England looks at Johnson as a long-term piece to pair with Maye, it might make sense to acquire him now with the intent to re-sign him beyond 2024. That would pave the way for New England to land a former All-Pro receiver who likely wouldn’t be chomping at the bit to sign with them as a free agent this offseason. New Orleans SaintsNew Orleans has been sniffing around available receivers dating back to the summer, but hasn’t been able to strike a deal yet. With Rashid Shaheed reportedly suffering a season-ending knee injury and Chris Olave missing time due to a concussion, the need to add to the receiver room has only increased. San Francisco 49ersIt looks like the 49ers may have lost Brandon Aiyuk to a season-ending knee injury. Couple that latest injury with running back Christian McCaffrey still sidelined, along with pass catchers Deebo Samuel and George Kittle getting dinged up at times this season, and San Francisco could use a jolt on offense. They are firmly in a Super Bowl window, so general manager John Lynch should be doing everything in his power to maximize this 2024 club. That now includes adding another receiver like Johnson to steady the ship for Brock Purdy. |
| NEW ORLEANSLate last week there were four candidates to start at QB Sunday at the Chargers. On Monday, the Saints were down to two. ESPN.com’s Katherine Terrell: @Kat_TerrellDennis Allen said Derek Carr had a throwing session today, will have another tomorrow and they’ll see where he’s at. Allen said the plan is to stick with Spencer Rattler at QB if Carr doesn’t play. He again said he feels like Rattler has played well when he has protection. Allen said they need to eliminate some of the rookie mistakes from Rattler but he sees a lot of good from him. |
| TAMPA BAYOn Monday, the Buccaneers defense was gouged repeatedly by the Ravens, Tampa Bay’s offense misfired just enough and both WRs went down, one needlessly in the eyes of some. Charean Williams of ESPN.com: Bucs wide receiver Chris Godwin will be out indefinitely, probably for the season, after dislocating his ankle in Monday’s loss to the Ravens. Coach Todd Bowles revealed the bad news, saying “it doesn’t look good,” while answering questions about why Godwin was even in the game with 41 seconds left. “You could say [he shouldn’t have been in the game], because he got hurt. We don’t second guess,” Bowles said. “We got our guys, and we’re playing everybody we’ve got. It’s unfortunate he got hurt and we feel bad about that. But he’s a football player and he wanted to be in the game just like Baker [Mayfield] and everyone else wanted to be in the game.” The Bucs trailed by 10 points with less than a minute remaining when Godwin caught a pass from Mayfield before being tackled by Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith. It was obvious the star receiver could not get up and was in significant pain. ESPN declined to show a replay of the gruesome injury. “Chris is a hell of a player, and he’s a hell of a human being, even more so than that,” Bowles said. “But there’s not much you can say. We feel bad for him. Unfortunately, they’re not going to cancel the games. We’ve got to step up and move on, but our hearts are heavy.” The Bucs lost their other star receiver, Mike Evans, in the first half when he dropped a touchdown pass while aggravating his hamstring on a tackle by Ravens defensive back Brandon Stephens. Godwin, who becomes a free agent in the offseason, entered the game with 43 catches for 511 yards and five touchdowns before catching seven passes for 65 yards against the Ravens. |
| NFC WEST |
| ARIZONARB JAMES CONNER led by word and deed on Monday. Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com: On Sunday night, during the Arizona Cardinals’ team meeting ahead of Monday night’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers, running back James Conner got up in front of his teammates and coaches and began to talk about maximizing the opportunity that awaited them. It worked. Behind Conner’s 152 all-purpose yards, the Cardinals rebounded from an embarrassing 21-point loss a week ago in Green Bay with a 17-15 win over the Chargers on “Monday Night Football” thanks to a last-second 32-yard field goal by kicker Chad Ryland. “I thought he was lights out,” coach Jonathan Gannon said of Conner. “There were a lot of times he is getting 4 yards and it should be probably 1 or 2. Conner’s hope was to inspire a team in flux that was at a breaking point. A loss would’ve dropped the Cardinals to 2-5, but a win brought them to 3-4 and put them in a tie for second in the NFC West. He conveyed to his teammates that being 2-4, as they were heading into the game, was just a moment in time, Gannon explained. His message Sunday night was simple yet powerful. “Just telling them push all their chips in for this week, that we still on a mission, to tell the guys don’t take nothing for granted, and just play good football,” Conner said. “Push all your chips in to this week, give it all you got. “We got some guys on the team who out for the season, who wish they could be out there and just play hard. So, yeah, just told them to play hard and push all their chips and just get a victory for this week.” That’s what Arizona did. Conner ran for 101 yards Monday, his third 100-yard game of the season, and caught two passes for 51 yards, including a 33-yard gain in the fourth quarter that set up the winning field goal. His 152 scrimmage yards and 7.2 yards per touch were both season highs. In the process, Conner became the first player to eclipse 100 yards against the Chargers. He also forced a fumble after quarterback Kyler Murray threw an early interception to Chargers defensive lineman Teair Tart. Michael Wilson recovered, and Arizona kept the ball with a fresh set of downs. “Not a lot of volume, but the substance behind it and what he’s preaching. … When you get up there and you pour your heart out, guys feel it,” Cardinals QB Kyler Murray said of James Conner’s message to the team Sunday night. Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesWhen the typically reserved Conner talks, Murray said it carries added weight. “Not a lot of volume, but the substance behind it and what he’s preaching, anybody for that matter,” Murray said, “when you get up there and you pour your heart out, guys feel it.” Conner chose this week to address the team because of way the season has unfolded. Arizona has been on a roller coaster of a journey thus far, nearly winning every other game. As one of Arizona’s captains, Conner said he needed to “rally the troops.” |
| LOS ANGELES RAMSThe Rams expect the return of WR COOPER KUPP this week. Stu Jackson ofTheRams.com: Following the Rams’ 20-15 win over the Raiders on Sunday, Rams head coach Sean McVay said he expects wide receiver Cooper Kupp (ankle) to return next week for Thursday Night Football against the Vikings (5:15 p.m. PT, Amazon Prime Video). Kupp was listed as questionable leading into Sunday’s game and was ultimately made inactive after going through a pregame workout. McVay had said Friday that he would be making a decision on whether Kupp played in Week 7 closer to the game. “He was close (to playing against the Raiders), but ultimately, you guys heard me talk about it throughout the course of the week, it was about return performance, not necessarily return to play,” McVay said after Los Angeles’ 20-15 win over Las Vegas. “And hopefully Thursday will represent that for us.” Kupp recorded 18 catches for 147 yards and one touchdown prior to sustaining an ankle sprain against the Cardinals in Week 2 that has sidelined him for the Rams’ last four games. In seven-plus seasons with Los Angeles, he’s recorded 585 receptions for 7,213 yards and 52 touchdowns while starting in 80 of 94 games played. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford postgame said he’s not only excited to have Kupp back, but excited for Kupp to be returning as well. “He loves football, he’s missing being out there, so I’m excited for him, excited for our offense,” Stafford said. “He’s a great player, and those guys are tough to to come by, so when you get them back, it’s always a great thing. I think it’s great for that (wide receiver) room, too, just having his presence around guys. Love being around him and working with him.” |
| SAN FRANCISCOAfter playing on Sunday, WR DEEBO SAMUEL went directly to the hospital with pneumonia. Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com: What’s more, the illness that limited wideout Deebo Samuel to four snaps against the Chiefs is technically a form of pneumonia, according to Shanahan. Samuel has some fluid buildup in his lungs and remains in a local hospital after checking in Sunday night. “I think it started acting up in the middle of the night Saturday night or early Sunday morning and then it just kind of evolved as the day went,” Shanahan said of Samuel. “Once we found out he had the fluid in his lungs and stuff after the game, then I believe they sent him over there.” Shanahan said there’s no timeline yet for when Samuel could return, though that should clarify over the next few days. |
| AFC WEST |
| KANSAS CITYThe Chiefs defense took a hit while beating the 49ers. Matt Connor ofArrowheadAddict.com: The list of injuries keeps growing for both the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers in a tough, defensive battle in Week 7. The latest player to leave due to an injury is Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson, who went down in the third quarter with an undisclosed injury. Watson was taken to the Chiefs locker room for further evaluation from the team’s medical and training staff thereafter, so updates should be forthcoming. We’ll keep you updated here. The Chiefs have already watched wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster leave the game with a hamstring injury, while the 49ers have lost wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel due to a leg injury and illness, respectively. Watson has been a lights-out defender for the Chiefs at cornerback this season, which has made all the difference for a unit that was forced to move on from the reliable play of L’Jarius Sneed. The Chiefs traded Sneed to the Tennessee Titans this offseason in exchange for a third-round choice and the deal opened up a vacuum for someone to step up. Watson has done so admirably. Without Watson, the Chiefs inserted Nazeeh Johnson into the lineup and the team is relatively deep at corner—although Watson’s play will definitely be missed. Joshua Williams is also a player to watch who could rotate in, as is Nic Jones and Christian Roland Wallace. A former seventh-round choice in the 2022 NFL Draft, Watson has grown into a dependable starter for the Chiefs’ secondary in his third NFL season. So far this year, he has 29 total tackles and 6 pass deflections for Steve Spagnuolo’s defense. |
| LAS VEGASWith QB AIDAN O’CONNELL headed to IR, the Raiders have plucked QB DESMOND RIDDER off Arizona’s practice squad. Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com: The Las Vegas Raiders are signing quarterback Desmond Ridder, a former third-round draft pick, off the Arizona Cardinals practice squad, a source confirmed to ESPN on Monday. Ridder, who has an 8-9 record in 19 career games with the Atlanta Falcons, joins the Raiders after starter Aidan O’Connell broke the thumb on his right (passing) hand in the first quarter of Sunday’s loss at the Los Angeles Rams. O’Connell had replaced a benched Gardner Minshew last week but is expected to miss four to six weeks, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Minshew, after throwing three interceptions and losing a fumble that was returned for a touchdown against the Rams, is tied for the league lead with 10 turnovers, along with Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis. The Raiders also have undrafted rookie quarterback Carter Bradley on the practice squad. |
| LOS ANGELES CHARGERSLast night, the Chargers became the fifth team this season, second this week, to kick 5 or more field goals without scoring a touchdown in their 17-15 loss at Arizona. The others: Commanders, 7, Week 2, W 21-18 vs NYGSteelers, 6, Week 1, W 18-10 at ATLRaiders, 5, Week 7, L 15-20 at LARGiants, 5, Week 4, L 15-20 vs DAL The Titans (5) and 49ers (6) have won games with 5+ FGs while also scoring a pair of TDs. More thoughts from Kris Rhim of ESPN.com: Should the Chargers look to trade for a wide receiver? Monday was quarterback Justin Herbert’s best game of the season, but he finished without any passing touchdowns. He was close on a 41-yard pass to wide receiver Jalen Reagor, but Reagor fumbled the ball into the end zone, which resulted in a turnover. Receivers Joshua Palmer and Ladd McConkey made plays throughout the game, but still the Chargers don’t appear to have a legitimate No. 1 receiver and could look to make a move as the trade deadline nears. Most surprising performance: Will Dissly. With tight end Hayden Hurst out with an injury, Dissly became Herbert’s favorite target Monday night. It resulted in Dissly had having one of the best receiving nights of his career. Dissly led the team in targets (11), receptions (8) and receiving yards (81). |
| AFC NORTH |
| BALTIMOREAs ESPN’s Joe Buck and Troy Aikman pointed out, all QB LAMAR JACKSON has to do is get to the Super Bowl. The rest should be easy. Mike Florio: He did it again. For the twenty-third time in 24 career games against NFC teams, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson emerged with a win. That’s a 23-1 record in interconference play. (Here’s the full list, prior to last night’s 41-31 win at Tampa.) It’s not a fluke. As Devin McCourty explained on Tuesday’s PFT Live, defensive players who see Jackson only once every four years (or so) aren’t used to what he can do. They’re not ready for it until they see it. And they can’t figure out on the fly how to slow him down. Last night, it took a little while for Laman to get going. And then it got going, in a very big way. Five touchdown passes. Fifty-two rushing yards. Orchestrating an offense that racked up 508 yards. He’ll get a chance to push his record to 24-1 in Week 13 against the Eagles. Two weeks later, the record could move to 25-1 against the Giants — the only NFC team to beat him. The real question is whether Lamar will finally face an NFC team in January. If/when he does, history will be firmly on his side. Jackson has yet to face (and therefore beat), the Bears and Packers. The win on Monday night was his 3rd over Tampa Bay. Everyone else in the NFC, he has either beaten once or twice.- – -It’s early, but Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com notices that RB DERRICK HENRY is on a trajectory for 2,000 and beyond: Ravens running back Derrick Henry had another big game on Monday night, rushing 15 times for 169 yards, and he’s on pace for a single-season yardage total that no running back in NFL history has touched. Through seven games, Henry has 873 rushing yards. That puts him on pace for 2,120 yards in 17 games, which would set a new single-season record for rushing yardage. The current record of 2,105 yards was set by Eric Dickerson in 1984, in a 16-game season. Henry can also become the first player in NFL history to have two 2,000-yard seasons. Henry ran for 2,027 yards for the Titans in 2020. Henry will turn 31 years old this season, and last year he looked at times like he had lost a step. But he’s playing as well as he ever has now, and the Ravens are very pleased with their high-profile free agent signing.– – -Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com: Are the Ravens the NFL’s best team? The Ravens certainly looked like it in another statement game. While the Chiefs remain the NFL’s only undefeated team, the Ravens have won five straight games, including Monday’s win over the NFC South-leading Buccaneers. During this win streak, Baltimore (5-2) has beaten three current division leaders — Tampa Bay, Buffalo and Washington — by a combined score of 106-64. Baltimore remains the most dangerous offense in the league with quarterback Lamar Jackson (five TD passes) and running back Derrick Henry (169 yards rushing). Jackson appears poised to make a strong run for a third Most Valuable Player award. Eye-popping stat: The long pass returned for quarterback Lamar Jackson. His 49-yard touchdown pass to Rashod Bateman in the third quarter was the third touchdown pass of Jackson’s seven-year career that traveled at least 45 yards in the air and his first in two years. Bateman becomes the first Raven player with multiple receptions of at least 30 yards downfield in a single game since John Brown in 2018. |
| CLEVELANDA Browns stat: With UCLA’s 35 points, the Cleveland Browns are now the only team in the combined NCAA, NFL, and UFL to score no more than 20 points in any game this season. | Omni Sports Cleveland has plucked QB BAILEY ZAPPE off the KC practice squad. This from The Athletic: The Browns are signing Bailey Zappe off the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad this week, a team source confirmed Tuesday, as Cleveland faces multiple injuries in its quarterback room. NFL Network first reported the move, which came after an MRI confirmed Monday that starting quarterback Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon rupture during the team’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who was promoted to the team’s backup before the game and replaced Watson on Sunday, later exited the contest after suffering a finger injury in the fourth quarter. Jameis Winston, the team’s emergency QB on Sunday, finished the game. Winston went 5-of-11 passing for 67 yards and a touchdown on the final drive of the 21-14 loss. Zappe, 25, appeared in 14 games, starting in eight, for the New England Patriots across the 2022 and 2023 seasons. The Patriots waived him in August and he immediately signed with the Chiefs. Zappe threw for 2,053 yards with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in New England. His best performance as a pro came against Cleveland, when he passed for 309 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-15 Patriots win on Oct. 16, 2022. The Browns (1-6) host the Baltimore Ravens (5-2) on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. How will Cleveland use Zappe?Browns coach Kevin Stefanski wouldn’t commit to Winston as the starting quarterback for now, but Thompson-Robinson has an injured middle finger on his throwing hand. Whether the Browns need an emergency option or an immediate No. 2, Zappe makes sense given his experience and the lack of true free agents. There’s always a quarterback emergency in Cleveland, and now, Zappe must learn the offense quickly in case he has to play. — Zac Jackson, Browns beat writer Meanwhile, Jim Trotter, also of The Athletic looks at QB DESHAUN WATSON: It’s interesting how quickly life comes at you. My plan entering Sunday’s NFL games was to address Deshaun Watson’s explanation for why he and the Cleveland Browns offense have been so awful this season. Speaking to local reporters, Watson mentioned the varied defensive schemes they’ve faced, the changes in pass-game concepts installed by new offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and staff, and the difficulties of building cohesion when multiple front-line players are in and out of the lineup. While all true, he overlooked or intentionally omitted an extremely important factor. It goes by the name of karma. I get why Watson and the Browns wouldn’t want to focus on that part of the equation. However, it’s hard to not believe cosmic forces have been working to balance the scales of justice after Cleveland signed Watson to a ground-breaking, guaranteed $230 million contract in 2022 despite more than two dozen women accusing him of sexual assault or inappropriate conduct during massage sessions. That he received only an 11-game suspension and the Browns structured the contract to protect as much of his money as possible while sidelined could have been a bridge too far even in a league where talent has always held greater importance than character. As I watched him flounder on the field the last two-plus seasons, going from transcendent star to someone struggling to make basic throws, I kept thinking about the scene in The Color Purple where Whoopi Goldberg’s character stands up to her abusive husband and declares before leaving him: “Until you do right by me, everything you think about is gonna crumble.” And then Sunday happened. Watson took a two-step drop from the shotgun, planted his right foot and went down untouched as he attempted to run. Replays appeared to show he ruptured his Achilles’ tendon, ending his season and possibly his career in Cleveland. My immediate reaction was empathy. How could it not be? Seeing Watson carted off the field, towel over his head, tears being wiped from his eyes — it was a powerful and emotional image. I wished him a full and swift recovery in that moment. But I’d be lying if I said I also did not think of Ashley Solis and the tears she wiped away two years ago while recounting her traumatic encounter with Watson. The passage of time makes it easier to forget the “60 Minutes” interview she did as the first woman to publicly accuse Watson of misconduct. She was visibly shaken in a way that likely does not allow the pain to disappear fully behind the confidential settlement she and the other women signed. Maybe I’m overly sensitive because I’m the father of two daughters. I can’t imagine either of them being put in that type of situation. Moving on would be easier if Watson had taken accountability and admitted wrongdoing rather than saying on separate occasions that he had “no regrets” about his behavior. After all, forgiveness is often easier to locate when it’s preceded by accountability. But apologizing “to all of the women that I have impacted in this situation” is not the same as saying my actions were wrong. The difference may be subtle, but also significant — unless you happen to be Jimmy and Dee Haslam, who own the Browns. They have consistently shown they’re willing to put winning — or the chase for victory — ahead of character. They signed running back Kareem Hunt several months after the Kansas City Chiefs released him for kicking and shoving a woman, actions that were caught on videotape. They also allowed defensive tackle Michael Hall to be on the practice field one day after he was arrested and booked on a first-degree misdemeanor domestic violence charge. And they went all-in on Watson, sending three first-round picks to the Houston Texans to acquire the young star, then handing him a fully guaranteed contract that rankled fellow owners because of its unprecedented nature. The draft picks and money were viewed as acts of desperation by an organization that has had 35 starting quarterbacks since returning to Cleveland in 1999. Watson was supposed to erase the ghosts of Tim Couch, Brady Quinn, Brandon Weeden, Johnny Manziel and Baker Mayfield, first-round draft choices who failed to make an impact at the position, but it now appears he will go down as the worst of the group, costing the franchise more draft capital, money and credibility than any of the others. Watson has more losses (10) than victories (nine) in his 19 starts and has averaged just one touchdown pass per game. That is not the type of ratio befitting a ground-breaking contract. Entering Sunday, the Browns, who are now 1-6, were the first team in more than two decades to open a season by failing to record at least 300 yards of offense or score at least 19 points. They ranked last in yards per play, last in total yards and 30th among 32 teams in points and passing yards. There were times in his first four seasons in Houston when Watson put up 18 points in a quarter. He was the rising tide that could lift lesser talent. But that player never surfaced in Cleveland, where he had more offensive playmakers than he did in Houston. Why not? I’d argue it involves more than any of the reasons he has given. In 2020, Watson wrote a book entitled “Pass It On” and devoted one chapter to “haters” and “doubters.” He was referencing outsiders’ opinions about his ability to return from injury, but it also could apply to his approach to dealing with the fallout from the sexual misconduct allegations. “It was an emotional time,” he said of the aftermath of a knee injury, “but I was determined not to get caught up in that emotion. Keeping my focus clear and calm reinforced my commitment to do what was necessary.” That sounds a lot like his answer last summer to returning from a shoulder injury. He said: “I think, honestly, it’s really just blocking out all the bull—-. It was tough coming in two years ago, different environment, different team, different all that. So you come in and your character’s been mentioned this way and then kind of flips on you and the biggest thing, you’re trying to get people to like you or improve. But now it’s like, at the end of the day, it’s two years in and if you don’t like me or you have your own opinions, then, yeah, it is what it is. So, I think blocking out all the noise and focusing on me and focusing on what I need to do to be the best Deshaun Watson I could be for myself, my family and my teammates.” Here’s the issue for him: Compartmentalizing your approach to physical rehab is not the same as compartmentalizing your approach to reputational rehab. The latter is tougher, in my opinion, because it never leaves you when you fail to take accountability. Watson’s words imply that he is still being viewed through the prism of the allegations from two years ago. It’s clear he has not compartmentalized it. Those who know Watson have told me there’s a soft underbelly to the hard exterior he tries to put up. If the Browns are smart, they will plot an exit strategy from Watson. The marriage has not worked, as fans continue to remind the organization. The sarcastic cheers they showered Watson with as he was carted off the field were as telling as they were classless. My guess is, Watson will come to realize soon enough that he also is ready for a change. But the idea of parting ways is much simpler than the execution. There is the matter of his contract, under which the Browns still owe him more than $170 million through 2028. His cap hit in each of the next two years is nearly $73 million, according to Over The Cap, so releasing him would significantly impact the team’s ability to put together a quality roster. It would signal the start of a teardown, which might not sit well with talented veterans who want a legitimate chance to chase a championship in their waning years. The Browns did themselves no favors in the offseason by failing to sign a credible backup. It’s still mystifying that they failed to bring back Joe Flacco, who led them to the playoffs over the final month of last season after Watson was sidelined with a shoulder injury. They now find themselves resting their hopes on rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson, whom the organization is high on, or the oft-traveled Jameis Winston. Neither is particularly appealing, and yet somehow it seems fitting if this is the beginning of the end for the Watson experiment. |
| PITTSBURGHFrank Schwab of YahooSports.com: For Mike Tomlin, the easy decision would have been sticking with Justin Fields. The Pittsburgh Steelers were 4-2. Most head coaches mindlessly stick with the status quo when they’re winning games. By now we should understand, Tomlin is a good coach for a reason. Tomlin went to Russell Wilson, and Wilson played well while the Steelers set season highs in yards and points against an allegedly talented New York Jets defense. They’re 5-2 and while that’s a surprise, the foundation for the Steelers is solid as always. The Steelers still have to battle a tough remaining schedule, though that looks a bit easier now with the Cleveland Browns falling apart. We should assume that Tomlin will hit the right buttons and the Steelers aren’t going anywhere this season. That shouldn’t be a surprise by now. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| INDIANAPOLISIn this instance, Sunday against the Dolphins, QB ANTHONY RICHARDSON did what QB JOE FLACCO cannot – carry the Colts to victory with his legs. Stephen Holder ofESPN.com: With 3:36 remaining in a close game on Sunday and his team facing a third-and-4, Indianapolis Colts coach Shane Steichen could have called a quick throw or a reliable run play for one his backs. He settled on neither option. Steichen kept the ball in his quarterback’s hands, calling a power run to the right for Anthony Richardson. Some timely blocking and Richardson’s quickness and hard running allowed him to burst through a hole for eight yards and a clutch first down. After being tackled, Richardson got up and made a dramatic first-down signal, to the delight of the home crowd. “Just trying to get the energy going in the stadium,” he said. Less than two minutes later, the Colts added a field goal that helped ice a 16-10 win over the Miami Dolphins. “It was huge,” Steichen said. All told, Richardson, the Colts’ second-year quarterback, ran the ball a career-high 14 times. At least seven of those were designed runs as opposed to scrambles. And much to the Colts’ relief, Richardson appeared to emerge unscathed. That’s crucial as the Colts, winners of four of their last five, travel to play the Houston Texans on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS). That cannot be considered a certainty given Richardson’s injury history during his short career. He returned to the lineup on Sunday after missing two games with an oblique injury that was the result of a hit he took while scrambling in the open field in a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. That comes after the season-ending shoulder injury Richardson sustained last season on a quarterback run — one that sidelined him for 12 games. It all has made the topic of Richardson running the football a delicate subject for the Colts. But something became more apparent on Sunday: Richardson’s running ability was a huge factor in the Colts’ decision to draft him. To shy away from it — especially on a day when the passing game was struggling mightily — would have been detrimental. Instead, Steichen leaned into his quarterback’s unique skill set. And results followed. “I’m here because I’m me,” Richardson said. “I think I’m one of one, honestly. Not many people can do what I do.” Left tackle Bernhard Raimann took note of Richardson’s impact and the lingering effect of his powerful runs. “It gets everybody fired up,” he said. “We’ve known this ever since he got here, which just shows up on the field over and over again. He cares so much about this team, about winning football games. “Anthony is going to make the most out of it, even if he has a tiny gap to squeeze through. He’s going to make it and he’s going to give it his all.” Yardage was hard to come by for the Colts on Sunday. The Colts’ 284 yards were their second-fewest of the season. Richardson, facing a flurry of blitzes, was under constant pressure and completed just 10 of 24 passes for 129 yards. Richardson faced pressure on 60% of his dropbacks. But, notably, he was not sacked despite seeing an extra rusher on 16 of his 29 dropbacks. That’s a season high for blitzes faced by the Colts, but Richardson navigated it skillfully because of his ability to escape and, when needed, scramble. “I think it’s his strength, and his size to get out of those tough situations and, like I said, it was huge,” Steichen said of his 6-4, 244-pound quarterback. “You got a few of them [Sunday] to avoid some very bad plays. So, credit to him and his ability to get out of those things and avoid those situations.” Richardson had a team-high 56 yards on 14 carries for an average of 4.0 yards per carry. But his presence had an important overall effect on the offense that might have been less obvious. It was no coincidence the Colts had a season-high 155 rushing yards against Miami, despite playing a third straight game without standout running back Jonathan Taylor. The threat Richardson poses as a runner impacts defenses differently than a more stationary quarterback. Of course, an NFL quarterback cannot make a living by being primarily a runner. Richardson did not have an efficient day as a passer and admitted it. But Steichen emphasized that much of the blame for that should be directed at his playcalling and gameplanning. Steichen also said the Dolphins’ coverage presented issues for Richardson. “There wasn’t a lot of stuff open, to be honest,” the coach said. “So, that’s on me.” Said Richardson: “Whatever they did, they did a great job. They were dialing it up. We were trying to adjust, but they just kept bringing it.” But when the Dolphins did, the Colts had an answer: Richardson. The Colts can’t and won’t avoid using his running ability because it’s too important to their success. “My arm and my legs,” he said, “are a great part of this offense. |
| AFC EAST |
| NEW ENGLANDBill Belichick with more on his successor calling the Patriots “soft” after Sunday’s loss to Jacksonville: @SavageSports_Bill Belichick taking another shot at Jerod Mayo. Wow. @JimGrayOfficial “Hey coach have you ever had a soft team?” BB: “I think when you criticize your team publicly like that, it doesn’t always go over well…ultimately I always felt that when the team played bad, that was my responsibility” |
| NEW YORK JETSWe saw this as a meme on X/Twitter from SavageSports: 4-3 Jets record in Zach Wilson starts in 20232-5 Jets record in Aaron Rodgers starts in 2024 |
