The Daily Briefing Tuesday, September 16, 2025

AROUND THE NFL

If this is correct, the NFL didn’t like Philadelphia’s Tush Push being exposed: Farzin Vousoughian@Farzin21The NFL is filing copyright claims on X from any user (including those in the media) who posts video of the missed false start by the Eagles 👀 People have ALWAYS posted NFL clips on X for years. The NFL has never done this before 🤣 There are photos:  @BruceEdmundsLiterally all 6 OL are lined up Offsides.  Fix it @NFL

NFC NORTH

CHICAGOThis: @BruceIronsNFLSince this text, Tory Taylor has punted 92 times. That is the most in the NFL. @kfishbainApr 27, 2024New Bears punter Tory Taylor said he got this text from Caleb Williams: “Hey, you’re not going to punt too much here.” Related: @NickFriedellThe Bucs drafted Bucky Irving with the 125th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft — the fourth round.  Three picks before that the Bears took a punter. But at least they have kept him busy.

DETROITConor Orr of SI.com has his power rankings – and the Lions went up seven spots into the top 5 after bouncing the Bears: 5. Detroit Lions (1–1)Last week’s ranking: No. 12Last week’s result: beat Bears, 52–21This week: at Ravens The Lions came back from a down Week 1 to log the most efficient afternoon in team history. A stunning 8.8 yards per play have drastically cleared the skepticism around Ben Johnson’s replacement, John Morton. While we live in a week-to-week world held prisoner by the moment, understanding that Morton can completely undress a team run by Johnson himself—and that Lions players are rallying relentlessly around Morton—means a great deal.  The whole list is here.

MINNESOTAIt will be QBs CARSON WENTZ vs. JAKE BROWNING when the Bengals meet the Vikings this week.  Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com: .J.J. McCarthy’s star-crossed NFL career took another turn Monday when a seemingly innocuous right ankle roll was diagnosed as a high ankle sprain that will sideline him for two to four weeks, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Backup Carson Wentz, whom the Vikings signed Aug. 24, is expected to start Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to coach Kevin O’Connell. At the moment, said O’Connell, the Vikings do not believe McCarthy needs to be placed on short-term injured reserve. Undrafted rookie Max Brosmer will be Wentz’s backup. The Vikings are also likely to be without running back Aaron Jones, who has a hamstring injury, and are monitoring the status of a half-dozen other veterans who have been injured early this season. “Obviously tough news there,” O’Connell said, “so we’ve got our work cut out for us.” Of more immediate concern is McCarthy, the No. 10 pick of the 2024 draft who missed all of his rookie season because of a strained meniscus in his right knee. He has thrown only 41 passes and played only 95 snaps in his first two NFL starts, during which he compiled the league’s second-lowest QBR (20.1). At the very least, the injury will further push back the development the Vikings had committed their season to undertaking. “It is crushing,” O’Connell said, “because you just want it to be a daily process of activating every aspect of the development and learning.” O’Connell said the injury occurred late in the third quarter of a 22-6 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night. On second and 20, McCarthy scrambled for 16 yards down the left sideline before he was tackled from behind by Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss. The Vikings’ blue injury tent was occupied at the time, O’Connell said, so athletic trainers evaluated McCarthy on the sideline and eventually applied an additional level of athletic tape over his cleat. He finished the game without issue, but he reported heavy soreness to the team Monday morning. With the exception of a fourth quarter in Week 1 that produced three touchdowns in a 27-24 comeback victory over the Chicago Bears, McCarthy has largely struggled. He has thrown for 301 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions this season while also taking nine sacks, and his average of 3.35 seconds per throw — second-highest in the NFL — indicates he is holding the ball as he attempts to decipher NFL defenses. O’Connell, however, said the decision to sideline him is not based on performance. “Not at all,” O’Connell said. “In fact, it was pretty crushing this morning to hear [about the injury]. Look, for J.J., he’s in a long process, a long journey right now where there’s going to be some ups and downs. And as a team, I think our ability to play a little bit more consistent around him on the offensive side — these one-off kind of critical errors that end up being totally out of J.J.’s control — we’ve got to find a way to eliminate those and limit them in any way possible. … But no, this is a purely medical-based thing that we’re dealing with right now.” Wentz, meanwhile, is on his sixth team in as many seasons and did not go to training camp this summer. The Vikings entered camp with veteran Sam Howell behind McCarthy, but after a shaky camp, they traded Howell to the Philadelphia Eagles and reached out to Wentz. He has some experience in similar offensive schemes, having served as a backup for Sean McVay’s Los Angeles Rams in 2023, and took first-team reps last Thursday when McCarthy missed practice to join his fiancée as she gave birth to the couple’s son, Rome. “He was really impressive last week,” said O’Connell about Wentz. “Kind of stepping in, you felt the better presence in the command. He’s really smart, a guy that’s played a lot of football, and he’s been able to get himself to a place where he’s felt very comfortable these past two weeks had he needed to go in the football game. And now he’ll get a week of preparation to get ready to go play.” In addition to McCarthy and Jones, the Vikings could also be without center Ryan Kelly and left tackle Justin Skule, both of whom went into the concussion protocol Sunday night. The team is awaiting news about four other key veterans — left tackle Christian Darrisaw (knee), safety Harrison Smith (personal health issue) linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (concussion protocol) and cornerback Jeff Okudah (concussion protocol)..

NFC EAST

WASHINGTONQB JAYDEN DANIELS will be on the injury report this week.  John Keim of ESPN.com: Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered a left knee injury last Thursday, leaving his status for Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders in doubt, coach Dan Quinn confirmed Monday. Quinn did not specify what the injury was to Daniels’ knee, but sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the quarterback has a sprain. Daniels is “day-to-day,” the coach said, adding that he did not yet know what that meant for Sunday. Daniels, last season’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, injured the knee in the 27-18 loss at Green Bay. He had a large ice pack on the knee after the game and walked with a limp out of the building. A day later, he underwent an MRI that revealed no major damage, a source with knowledge of the situation said. Daniels was injured on the first play of the fourth quarter, when Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons chased Daniels to his left. As Daniels cut, safety Javon Bullard hit him on his left knee with his helmet. Quinn said Daniels must hit “all the markers” in his recovery before the Commanders return him to the field. “We know how important he is,” Quinn said. Quinn said the team wants to make sure Daniels can “absolutely be himself,” knowing that his running ability is a key aspect of his game. Daniels has thrown for 433 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for another 85 yards in two games this season. “It starts off first on the strength, the movements,” Quinn said. “Then on the field change direction, the pivoting, the moving, all of those would be the things to go. So, we’ll just take it as it goes through the week, but he’d have to see all of the steps along this week to hit those marks. The speed, the stopping, the change of direction, all of it.” If Daniels can’t play, it will be the first missed game of his career. He exited in the first quarter of a Week 7 win over the Carolina Panthers with a rib injury. He did not play in the second half of the regular-season finale against the Dallas Cowboys because of “mild leg soreness,” Quinn said at the time. Marcus Mariota would start in place of Daniels, facing one of his former teams. Mariota replaced Daniels in both of those games last season and completed 33 of 41 passes for 366 yards and four touchdowns. “We’ll take it all the way to Friday,” Quinn said, “and then have a good idea of where we’re at. … This is an elite competitor. Our confidence in him is through the roof.” Thursday’s defeat proved costly for Washington, which also lost two starters to season-ending injuries — running back Austin Ekeler (Achilles) and defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. (quad). Two other Commanders exited with groin injuries — receiver Noah Brown and tight end John Bates — and cornerback Jonathan Jones left with a hamstring injury. Quinn called Brown and Bates “long shots” for Sunday but added that he will know more later in the week. Washington placed Ekeler and Wise on injured reserve Monday and signed veteran receiver Chris Moore and defensive end Jalyn Holmes off its practice squad. Running back Chase Edmonds was added to the practice squad. Last season, the Commanders had only one starter miss as many as nine games — defensive tackle Jonathan Allen. Health played a key role in the Commanders’ 12-5 season and berth in the NFC Championship Game.

NFC SOUTH

TAMPA BAYTwo games, two game-winning drives for QB BAKER MAYFIELD and the Bucs.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com: When Buccaneers running back Rachaad White scored the game-winning touchdown with six seconds left on Monday night, it was the second come-from-behind victory for his team this season. And it was an NFL first. The 2025 Bucs are now the first team since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to score game-winning touchdowns in the final minute of their first two games, according to ESPN. In Week One, it was Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka catching a 25-yard touchdown pass from Baker Mayfield with 59 seconds left to complete a comeback win over the Falcons. The Bucs are now 2-0, with both wins on the road, and both wins on touchdowns in the final minute. This from Doug Gottleib: @GottliebShowIf Baker lost the locker room in Cleveland… maybe they should have gotten rid of the locker room, not Baker And this: @iJordanMooreBaker Mayfield has the most passing TD in the entire NFL since joining the Bucs. Baker Mayfield has the most passing touchdowns in the 4th quarter since joining the Bucs. Baker Mayfield has 12 4th quarter comebacks in his career. Baker Mayfield is an animal.

AFC WEST

KANSAS CITYThis: @FlyingOrrRashee Rice was going 119mph before crashing his Lamborghini, hitting six vehicles, injuring four people, then fleeing the scene. He’s lucky nobody died.  Bizarre behavior from a team considering Rice hasn’t shown remorse. His “remorse” was even questioned by the judge as being potentially insincere.  The Chiefs suck. KCTV5 News@KCTV5Multiple Chiefs players wore shirts in support of suspended teammate Rashee Rice prior to their home opener against the Eagles Sunday.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERSThe Monday Night performance of Chargers LB DAIYAN HENLEY – and the circumstances leading up to it – had his teammates evoking the name Michael Jordan.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com: Daiyan Henley’s performance in Monday night’s 20-9 win over the Raiders may not have the lasting historical significance of Michael Jordan’s performance in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals, but the Chargers linebacker’s teammates were invoking Jordan’s “flu game” after the win. Henley was added to the injury report with an illness on Monday and he was called questionable to be in the lineup, but began making an impact right away. He had an interception on the Raiders’ first offensive play and went on to record 10 tackles and a sack on the night. Safeties Derwin James and Tony Jefferson both called it Henley’s own “flu game” and James added that Henley is a “warrior” for fighting through how he was feeling. Henley said, via the team’s website, he felt “terrible” and “got very emotional because I was really in pain” during the second quarter. Henley fought through that pain and head coach Jim Harbaugh also sang his praises during his postgame press conference. “Had a fever, but, once he started playing, the medicine was out there,” Harbaugh said. “It was out there on the field. It was great to see him have the game that he had. He’s a rising star, superstar. Just happy for him. Played incredible, as did just about everybody on our defense.” Henley’s presence set the tone for the Chargers and his interception put them on the path to a 2-0 start to the season.– – -The Chargers won, but appear to have lost EDGE KHALIL MACK – time frame unknown.  Zachary Pereles of CBSSports.com: Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack suffered a gruesome injury in the first half of Los Angeles’ Monday Night Football AFC West showdown with the Raiders. Here’s the play in question: It’s an elbow injury for Khalil Mack. This is where it happened: pic.twitter.com/bhvHBKYMrmhttps://t.co/QSoUVuy9pE — Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 16, 2025Mack quickly headed to the medical tent, and the team initially ruled him questionable to return with an elbow injury. But just before the half he was seen without pads and his arm in a sling. Even at 34 years old, Mack has continued to be effective as a pass rusher. He had 31 sacks in his first three years as a Charger from 2021-24 — including a 17-sack 2023 — and secured his first sack of the 2025 campaign earlier in the night against Las Vegas. A nine-time Pro Bowl selection, a three time All-Pro and the 2016 Defensive Player of the Year with, coincidentally, the Raiders, Mack’s 108.5 career sacks rank 30th on the official career leaders list, which dates back to 1982. The figure also ranks fourth among active players, behind Von Miller, Cameron Jordan and Calais Campbell. Any potential lengthy absence for Mack would be a major blow to the Chargers, who moved on from fellow veteran pass rusher Joey Bosa this offseason. Bud Dupree, who had six sacks last season, would likely see a bump in playing time, as would Tuli Tuipulotu, a 2023 second-round pick who had 8.5 sacks last season. Los Angeles also fourth-round rookie Kyle Kennard and third-year pro Caleb Murphy at the outside linebacker position.

AFC NORTH

CINCINNATICoach Zac Taylor says all the right things about playing most of the rest of the season with QB JAKE BROWNING.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com: Joe Burrow is going to miss the next three months as a result of the toe injury he suffered on Sunday and the Bengals are turning to Jake Browning as their starting quarterback. Browning rallied the team to a win over the Jaguars after Burrow went down and head coach Zac Taylor said at a Monday press conference that “the guys will ride behind” the backup. Taylor noted that Browning started seven games for the team in 2023 and said that the quarterback has “earned the right to be in the spotlight.” Taylor also said that the team’s goals aren’t going to change because Burrow is out of the picture. “I feel very confident in Jake,” Taylor said. “I think Jake has proven his caliber in this league and he can help us win football games, and contend for all the things we want to contend for.” Taylor said that the team will be looking for another quarterback to go with Browning and Brett Rypien, but gave no indication that such an addition would be as anything other than depth behind the new starter in Cincinnati. They also have added two veteran QBs to their practice squad.  Patrick Andres of SI.com: Cincinnati is signing quarterbacks Sean Clifford and Mike White to its practice squad, according to a a pair of Tuesday morning reports from Tom Pelissero of NFL Network and Adam Schefter of ESPN. If confirmed, the signings will provide depth behind Jake Browning—who will step into the starting role with Burrow out due to a toe injury.

CLEVELANDThe Ravens hung 41 on the Browns Sunday, although as Andy Backstrom of YahooSports.com details, Cleveland’s defense, led by EDGE MYLES GARRETT, didn’t play all that badly: Myles Garrett requested a trade from the Cleveland Browns right before last season’s Super Bowl. Then the six-time All-Pro defensive end made his way down Radio Row, vocalizing how the Browns’ trajectory didn’t align with his immediate desire to play for a contender. A month later, Garrett reversed course and signed a four-year, $160 million deal with Cleveland. It was a deal that, at the time, made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, and it was an extension that Garrett claimed was about winning, not money. Two weeks into the 2025 season, Garrett’s Browns haven’t done any of that winning. The 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year didn’t hold back his frustration after a 41-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens Sunday. “I mean, this s*** is embarrassing,” Garrett said, via Cleveland.com. “And we’ve got to be better on defense, we’ve got to be better as a team. “They slowly chipped away. We did a solid job holding it to three when we could. And then eventually the dam broke and then they just did whatever they wanted, and we have to continue to play a 60-minute game.” Cleveland limited Baltimore to a mere 10 points, 81 yards of offense and four first downs in the first half. The Browns froze a normally overwhelming Ravens rushing attack. In fact, Baltimore’s 45 rushing yards on the day were its fewest in a single game that Lamar Jackson’s started at quarterback since he took over for Joe Flacco in 2018. Running back Derrick Henry mustered only 23 yards on 11 carries. The Ravens’ lone first-half touchdown was set up by a blocked Browns punt. In the third quarter, a Garrett sack — one of his 3.5 quarterback takedowns so far this season — played a part in the Ravens having to settle for a chip-shot field goal despite them originally reaching the 1-yard line. Baltimore’s only other points in the frame were ushered in by a 61-yard Nate Wiggins interception return that gifted Jackson and Co. with another short field. It really wasn’t until the fourth quarter that the Ravens pulled away. That’s when they scored 21 straight points. The second of their three consecutive touchdowns saw linebacker Roquan Smith record a 63-yard scoop and score. Meanwhile, the Browns’ offense struggled to find the end zone for the second week in a row. Flacco didn’t return to his Super Bowl MVP form, or anything close to it, in his Baltimore homecoming. He was replaced by rookie Dillon Gabriel in the fourth quarter. Cleveland has issues up front, highlighted by the fact that it’s averaging 3.6 yards per rushing attempt through two games. And, most notably, it still has a quarterback problem — just like it did when Garrett inked his extension with the team this past spring. But Garrett is still focusing on what he and his unit can control. “At the end of the day, [if the Ravens] don’t score, they don’t win,” he said. “We have to continue to hold them to three points or zero points whenever we can, no matter if it’s backed up. Short field, red zone, we have to hold ourselves to that standard.”

AFC EAST

MIAMIJeff Kerr of CBSSports.com has five coaches on his hot seat list.   1. Mike McDaniel (Miami Dolphins)Career record: 28-25 (fourth season)Win percentage: .528The Dolphins’ season already appears to be over after two games, as Miami is off to an 0-2 start after a blowout loss to the Colts and a close defeat at the hands of the Patriots. The players on the Dolphins had a players-only meeting after Week 1! McDaniel’s act just seems to be wearing thin in Miami heading into his fourth season. He’s 8-11 over his last two seasons and has yet to win a playoff game in his four seasons in Miami. Injuries to Tua Tagovailoa have hurt his progression as a quarterback, and the Dolphins’ star players appear to be fed up with how things are going above them. The road doesn’t get any easier for the Dolphins with the Bills in Week 3, which is the definition of a must-win game. Doesn’t seem McDaniel will survive the season, but when will he be let go? It seems a stretch to think any of the other four won’t last the season – Brian Daboll, Brian Callahan, Dave Canales and Kevin Stefanski. Would you really think any of them hold a winning hand for 2025?

NEW ENGLANDThis: @daniel_rotman15• Drake Maye is the only QB to throw 68+ times and maintain a 70%+ completion rate • Drake Maye is 1 of 2 QBs to throw 68+ times and only account for 1 Turnover Worthy Play (TWP). The other is Josh Allen Bottom Line: Drake Maye is playing very clean football

NEW YORK JETSWill QB JASON FIELDS be ready for the Buccaneers after being concussed last week?  Will Backus of CBSSports.com: New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields remains in concussion protocol as he recovers from a head injury suffered in New York’s 30-10 Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills. That means that Fields has to go through an extensive five-step process before he can even return to the field.  Fields could miss multiple days of practice — at least — as New York prepares for Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jets coach Aaron Glenn noted Monday when speaking with reporters that it would be “hard” to play Fields against Tampa Bay if he’s unable to get any meaningful reps before Friday.   “That’s just something I believe in, so, again, I don’t want to put anything on that as far as where we’re at with him until we get to that point.” Glenn said.  The injury occurred when Fields took a sack from Bills edge rusher Joey Bosa. He initially went into the medical tent and then was taken to the locker room for further evaluation. Prior to exiting the game, Fields completed just three of his 11 passes for 37 yards.  If Fields is unable to go, New York would turn to veteran Tyrod Taylor. Taylor entered against the Bills when Fields went down and threw for 56 yards and New York’s lone touchdown.  “If Justin can’t play, then Tyrod will be the guy and we have to make sure that we build a plan that is suitable for him,” Glenn said.

THIS AND THAT

PANIC METERConor Orr of SI.com looks at the 0-2 teams. The rate of reaching the postseason after an 0–2 start is roughly 11%. If you’re an NFL team, that basically means it’s effectively the bottom of the ninth inning and you’re up to bat trailing by one run. Over the past 10 years, about one team per season has reached the playoffs after losing its first two games. It’s not quite the hole that 0–3 represents, but it’s not the warm and cozy confines of 1–2. Ahh, what a fireplace and broken-in sofa that life is compared to this unpleasant reality.  Panic in these situations is relative. Some teams are just as happy going 0–2. Some teams have tried to pay their coaches extra to go 0–2. And, though we shared a historical percentage above, teams theoretically have an easier time recovering now that the schedule has expanded to 17 games and the playoff field has grown to 14. This year, we’re going to try and assign an actual score that will gauge exactly how worried a team will be based on several biomarkers. The resulting score I’ll list here is the compiled PANIC score.  The score is the composite of different categories that—I feel—contribute to the groundswell of panic.  * Closeness of the first two games* Security of the head coach* Poor play committed by rookies and/or young tentpole stars* Fan satiation over  a longer period of time and relative to this year’s specific expectations* Volume of controversial decisions, bad press conferences, and appearances that convey apathy, evident frustration or surrender We will list the league’s 10 winless teams in order of the least understandable panic to the most understandable panic.  Kansas City ChiefsPanic score: 3.5I mean, come on. On one hand, the startling nature of the Chiefs’ 0–2 start highlights just how incredible this run has been under Andy Reid. This was the inevitable settling of dust—players’ age. Outlier injuries occur all at once. Taking character risks culminates in situations where valuable players must be traded or endure suspensions. And so, we’re left with a winless team, but in actuality, Kansas City lost two close games to teams (the Chargers and Eagles) that will likely be in the playoffs or deep in the Super Bowl conversation. Reid has tenure; his explanations for various situations are largely taken at face value, à la Bill Belichick at the height of his powers. Chiefs fans, who were notably outnumbered by their Eagles counterparts in New Orleans in February, are fat and happy. And, Josh Simmons allowed no pressures or sacks in Week 2, along with the best hustle play of the year so far.  New Orleans SaintsPanic score: 4The Saints have a first-round pick at left tackle who has not surrendered any hits or sacks, and has yet to commit a penalty. Both of New Orleans’s games came down to the wire despite starting Spencer Rattler at quarterback (he’s not bad, by the way; he’s just not what you would classically consider a true long-term option at the position). The team is middle of the road in terms of drive sustenance and picks up a lot of first downs. The defense, which is not new coach Kellen Moore’s area of expertise, is good enough to have allowed a top 10 net yards per attempt average from opponents.  This team had zero expectations coming into the season, and the bar is to emerge as a good place for a quarterback to come in 2026—either via the draft, free agency or both. So far, so good.  Cleveland BrownsPanic score: 6The Browns were blown out by the Ravens on Sunday after nearly clipping the Bengals in Week 1. Working in the organization’s favor is a two-time Coach of the Year in Kevin Stefanski, and the fan base has somehow, miraculously, acclimated and accepted that its general manager dealt the entirety of its near future for Deshaun Watson.  Also helping the Browns is that linebacker Carson Schwesinger and tight end Harold Fannin Jr. look solid. At the same time, Quinshon Judkins also started his season in a promising way—albeit before we find out about any suspension stemming from a misdemeanor domestic violence and battery charge. Bundle that with Jacksonville’s early struggles in finding a sensible way to bake Travis Hunter into the game plan, and you have—again, somehow—the recipe for blind faith in the decision-makers who traded out of that pick.  Without a true answer at quarterback, it’s challenging to put Stefanski under the microscope for minute offensive decisions that, if we’re being honest, probably won’t make much of a difference anyway. The play of Dillon Gabriel, if and when it comes time to put him in, will change that.   New York JetsPanic score: 6.5Aaron Glenn and the Jets followed a spirited, arrow-up loss to the Steelers in Week 1 with a blowout loss to the Bills that outlined the gap between the two teams. By dipping his toes into the Bill Parcells waters, Aaron Glenn set himself apart from the previous job holder as a strategic advantage, but he has now set himself up for nearly weekly battles with the media. For example, You cut this guy for making a mistake but another is allowed to stay. Why? Or, Look at how tough and physical we are before the team gets absolutely mauled by James Cook in a loss that didn’t even require a Josh Allen touchdown. To me, that is the underpinning of future verbal tête-à-têtes from someone who has seen the gamut of them in that building. These back-and-forths, in which a coach rarely comes off well, are a critical ingredient in fanning the panic meter.  Working in Glenn’s favor is the fact that Armand Membou has been fantastic and Sauce Gardner is again playing like one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. Restoring their reputations is a season-long project upon which Glenn will undoubtedly be graded.  Chicago BearsPanic score: 7I like Ben Johnson, and I think he’s going to be a good head coach. I also think that Sunday’s loss to the Lions was a statement made by Detroit players who probably felt like Johnson got a lot of credit for a historically good collection of players. And when you take a job within your former team’s division, that kind of festering resentment lingers and adds to the challenge of winning games. Johnson has already ruffled Matt LaFleur—now the coach of arguably the hottest team in the NFL—and his former team. His team blew a lead to J.J. McCarthy, who proceeded to go out the following week and look unplayable against the Falcons. I’m not saying Johnson has to be best friends with the other coaches in the division, but I think he is earning some real on-the-job bruising that one hopes will heal once he gets out of the divisional slog portion of the schedule.  There is massive market pressure in Chicago, where a quarterback (selected by a GM who has just been given a long-term extension), despite any level of coaching, continues to participate in highlight-worthy gaffes that wrongly focus on his outlier talent. And Johnson has to balance that, while also artfully answering questions about a minor kicking error that likely makes him want to fire a microphone through the wall. That, or keep his cool when yet another of Chicago’s league-leading false starts is committed.  I think the “panic” element comes from Bears fans expecting more sooner. And I think Johnson did, too. This team was behaving as if it were on the brink of playoff contention this offseason, and it looks anything but now.  Carolina PanthersPanic score: 7.5The Panthers remind me a lot of the Giants. This is a team with good coaches, good offensive players, development at the quarterback position and a surrounding roster that was so incredibly bad that the decisions of personnel men a decade before are going to haunt them.  And so, what do we do? Bryce Young is still a reclamation project. Tetairoa McMillan is an exceptional offensive player performing well early in the season, though his arrival on the roster came at the expense of much-needed help for this defense. Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen both increased snap counts in Week 2. In cases such as this, I wish I could punt entirely on evaluating the situation because it’s just too early to tell.  The challenge for Dave Canales is to hang on to his badge as a rescuer of quarterbacks, which I believe in my heart he is. Young is going to have to go on a run that tamps down doubt, and the Panthers are going to have to make a crucial divisional game against the Falcons more interesting than the sportsbooks expect it to be. Then we can talk about adjusting Carolina’s score to something more commensurate with a team that needs time.   Houston TexansPanic score: 8The issue for the Texans is specifically related to the quarterback position and associated panic related to whether C.J. Stroud is going to end up being a second contract guy. In Stroud’s last five regular season games, Houston is 1–4, with the quarterback completing just above 60% of his passes and an average quarterback rating below 80. The Texans opted for a youth rebuild on the fly, trading away vested veterans such as Laremy Tunsil and separating from others like Stefon Diggs in the hopes that a more organic locker room vibe suitable to the team’s quarterback and cadre of young stars would grow.  I am all for the plan. I am also willing to acknowledge that the plan is very difficult to execute if a team expected to win the division falls way behind pace early in the season.  A 2–0 start in Indianapolis can also elevate levels of panic in Houston, making the AFC South seem a little less forgiving than it was in the two seasons when the Texans rose to prominence again under DeMeco Ryans. New York GiantsPanic score: 8.5I thought Sunday’s game against the Cowboys was an obvious example of Brian Daboll’s offensive acumen, though some head-scratching defensive plays down the stretch point to the lack of something. Certainly talent beyond the front four but also that ravenous, tank-on-empty tenacity that can close the door on a Cowboys offense and reward a historical performance from the other side of the ball. Daboll is working with the league’s worst offensive line and had to bench his left tackle after the opening drive Sunday. Yet, he still managed to prop up a game plan that produced a 450-yard, three-touchdown performance from a 36-year-old journeyman quarterback. All this while sprinkling in first-round quarterback Jaxson Dart to give him a sense of big-game vibes.  I cannot let my own personal feelings around the Giants, though, cloud what the hardened fan sees on a regular basis. While it’s hard for a coach to win without an offensive line, and while the immediate ascent of someone such as Malik Nabers gets downplayed at the expense of other more glaring issues, this team had to conduct a press conference to justify keeping the staff together and has started the season 0–2.  Tennessee TitansPanic score: 8.5In fairness to myself, drafting a quarterback with the No. 1 pick immediately creates an outsized grading scale full of irresponsible projections and a microwaved timeline of success. In the case of Tennessee, in particular, this is a franchise building a new stadium it is hoping to fill with devoted season ticket holders in the near future. I am guessing Brian Callahan is very much aware of this.  However, Callahan has already publicly whiffed on knowing a rule that could have impacted a critical challenge. Tennessee is also second-to-last in the NFL in points in the second half, which is often a statistic associated with play callers and their ability to make adjustments. So while “panic” may be the wrong word here, there is indeed “frustration.” And when there is frustration as it pertains to the development of the franchise’s most important player—whose highlights are very individual at this point and not necessarily tied into the scheme—you can certainly say that there is a right to be concerned about the future.  Working for and against Callahan is that this initial draft class looks good. The Titans have contributors dotted throughout the class, with receivers Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike, linebacker Oluwafemi Oledejo and Cam Ward all making appearances in the box score and showing up in critical moments. Perhaps only some associated with the Titans should be concerned this morning.   Miami DolphinsPanic score: 9.5I love Mike McDaniel and think that his revolution of kindness will never be fully appreciated. But if you are a command-the-boardroom CEO-type owner, a press conference after a game cannot look like this.  Already in Miami, we’ve seen sideline discontent, players-only meetings, week after week of an out-of-answers quarterback trying to salvage the moment, and we’re less than a month into the season. While panic in this case is ultimately the revelation that the team’s general manager has been drafting poorly for a decade now, the Dolphins are also battling another difficult optic: The play (or lack thereof) of 2025 draft picks compared to those who could have been drafted at No. 13. I don’t think McDaniel has to be reminded that the Colts got Tyler Warren only after the Dolphins had an opportunity but passed him up … and then brought in Darren Waller to play tight end instead. Waller still has not played a down of NFL football this season.