AROUND THE NFL
Daily Briefing
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NFC NORTH
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CHICAGO
Coach Matt Nagy says that the report that he was told he is coaching his last game with the Bears tomorrow is “not accurate.” Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com:
Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy denied a report that he had been informed he would be fired after Thursday’s game against the Detroit Lions, saying he has not spoken to the team’s leadership about his job status.
“That is not accurate,” Nagy said Tuesday afternoon during a 10-minute meeting with reporters focused largely on a Patch.com report that quoted a “top source.”
Nagy said he has not spoken to owner George McCaskey, team president Ted Phillips or general manager Ryan Pace this week. The group has regularly scheduled meetings, Nagy said, but skipped it this week because of an already-short week of game preparations.
The Bears (3-7) have lost five consecutive games and are reverting to quarterback Andy Dalton this week because of a rib injury suffered by rookie Justin Fields on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. Nagy said that Fields would return to the starting role once he is healthy enough to do so.
It would be highly unusual for an NFL team to inform a coach of his imminent firing but still allow him to coach the next game. But whether Nagy will be fired later this season, or after its completion, is another question — one that he declined to address Tuesday.
When asked whether he had received assurances that he would keep his job moving forward, Nagy said: “My focus is on these players and Detroit, and that’s it. That’s my job as a head coach and a leader, is to do that. These players have been amazing. They’ve been great. You have this quick turnaround after a loss like [Sunday’s to the Ravens], and now here you go. The only thing we can do is focus on the now and do everything we can. Thursday is going to be here quickly.”
The Bears did not immediately make McCaskey, Phillips or Pace available to address the report. Asked whether he would have preferred to hear a public denial from one of them, Nagy said: “We all have our own decisions as to how we do things, and I think this whole entire time, for me and for ownership, we’ve had great communication. Again, it’s focused on Detroit. That’s what it is.”
Nagy led the Bears to a 12-4 record and a playoff appearance in his first season in 2018. The Bears finished 8-8 in 2019 and in 2020.
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GREEN BAY
Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com scrutinizes the toe injury plaguing QB AARON RODGERS:
During his most recent appearance with Pat McAfee, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said that he has “COVID toe.” We thought he was joking. Not everyone did.
The Wall Street Journal has published an entire article based on the premise that Rodgers definitely has COVID toe. It’s a real complication of the infection, but it’s a skin condition. Rodgers made it clear during the McAfee interview that he’s dealing with a bone issue, not a skin issue.
Of course, we’ve all learned that hard way that Rodgers can’t always be taken at his word. Moreover, it’s odd that he’s speaking so openly about his pinkie toe being a problem, since that essentially puts a bull’s-eye on it moving forward. (Fortunately for him, Ndamukong Suh no longer plays for the Rams.)
Still, we regarded the “COVID toe” comment as a joke, not as an acknowledgement that the current bone issue he’s dealing with in his foot is a complication of his COVID diagnosis. The Wall Street Journal took a different approach, entirely.
Here’s hoping that, when Rodgers has his weekly session with reporters on Wednesday, someone will seek and secure clarification.
As we go to press, Florio got his clarification as during his Zoom press conference Rodgers gave the media the toe (held up to the camera) and said his injury is a simple fracture.
@TomSilverstein
#Packers QB Aaron Rodgers said there is no lesions on his toes. He said he has a fractured toe. He said he expects a full apology from the Wall St. Journal. “I have a fractured toe,” he said.
@TomSilverstein
I have a fractured toe – Aaron Rodgers pulling out his bare foot to prove it #Packers
Tom Silverstein
@TomSilverstein
Rodgers said he suffered the toe injury in his ramp up workouts at home and didn’t think he had did anything serious until he got examined on Saturday. He said a surgical option has not been ruled out, possibly during the bye week. Said it’s a pain management issue.
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MINNESOTA
DE EVERSON GRIFFIN has had an incident at his home – it’s not his first. The Athletic:
Minnetrista Police said they are confident Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen is alone inside his home and safe after responding to a 911 call from his residence at about 3 a.m. Wednesday.
Griffen said on the call that someone was inside his home and that he needed help, according to police, who also said Griffen told the 911 dispatcher he had fired a weapon but that no one was hurt. Griffen posted on Instagram a video, which was later deleted, of himself holding a gun, saying people were trying to kill him and that he had purchased the gun and bullets legally.
He also posted screenshots on his Instagram account of text messages, sent to his agent Brian Murphy, asking for help, telling Murphy to call 911 and saying, “People are trying to kill me.”
Upon arrival, law enforcement officials said they did not find an intruder in the home. Law enforcement officials and Minnesota Vikings team psychologists have been in ongoing communication with Griffen, who is refusing to come out of the residence, according to police.
“At this time, law enforcement officers are confident Griffen is alone inside the home and continue to work with him to resolve the situation,” Minnetrista police said in a statement.
Coach Mike Zimmer said at a news conference that he spoke to the players earlier in the day. Zimmer said he learned of the situation early Wednesday and deferred questions to general manager Rick Spielman, who will address the situation later Wednesday.
The team issued the following statement:
“Vikings representatives and the team’s mental health professionals have been on-site at Everson Griffen’s home since early this morning and are cooperating with law enforcement. Our only concern at this time is the safety and well-being of Everson and his family. We will have further comment at the appropriate time.”
Griffen mentioned running back Dalvin Cook in a video on social media saying Cook helped Griffen purchase a gun. Cook said he didn’t know why he was mentioned in the video.
Cook said he reached out to Griffen earlier Wednesday once the news broke about the situation.
“I shot him a couple text messages, called him a couple times, but there was a lot going on around him,” Cook said. “Just trying to make sure he’s OK.”
Cook said Griffen didn’t respond to his calls or text messages.
Griffen, 33, is a Vikings veteran and four-time Pro Bowler. In September 2018, he was taken by ambulance to a hospital after two incidents prompted police involvement. During those incidents, Griffen threatened violence at the Hotel Ivy in downtown Minneapolis and made comments about people trying to kill him.
He spent four weeks undergoing mental health treatment before returning to the Vikings that season. He later revealed he lived in a sober house for the final three months of the 2018 season. He played 17 of the team’s 18 regular-season and playoff games in 2019.
This summer, the Vikings brought Griffen back on a non-guaranteed veteran minimum salary contract after a tryout during training camp. The deal came after a conversation with Zimmer, who told reporters on Aug. 23, “It seems like he’s in a good place. Hopefully he can continue to do that, and if he does he can help us.”
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NFC EAST
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DALLAS
WR CEEDEE LAMB is on the way to being de-concussed, perhaps in time for Thursday with the Raiders. The Athletic:
Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who suffered a concussion during Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs, will practice Wednesday and could play Thanksgiving vs. the Raiders, head coach Mike McCarthy said.
“He hasn’t missed a step,” McCarthy said Wednesday morning. “If he’s able to keep progressing, we see him being available” for Thursday’s 4:30 p.m. kickoff.
Lamb, 22, was selected in the first round of the 2020 draft out of Oklahoma. This season, he’s emerged as a real threat for Dak Prescott, with 50 catches for 740 yards and six touchdowns.
The 7-3 Cowboys have lost two of their last three games, but Lamb clearing concussion protocol before kickoff Thursday would be a welcome boost to the Dallas offense.
Who will step up if Lamb doesn’t clear protocol?
Jon Machota, Cowboys beat writer: Cedrick Wilson would step into the No. 2 role and Noah Brown to the No. 3 role if Lamb isn’t cleared to play. Michael Gallup, who would be their No. 1 wide receiver, would likely get the most attention from the Raiders’ defense.
With Lamb or without him, Gallup, Wilson and Brown all need to play better than they did at Kansas City. Dak Prescott wasn’t sharp in that game, but there were also too many drops by Dallas’ wide receivers. There’s plenty of motivation for the entire group to have a bounce-back performance against the Raiders.
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NEW YORK GIANTS
Coach Joe Judge could no longer stand the sight of OC Jason Garrett and his offense – and he is gone.
Waiting in the wings, Freddie Kitchens, who once before has risen in similar fashion all the way to a “permanent” head coaching gig. Chase Goodbread of NFL.com:
The New York Giants parted ways with offensive coordinator Jason Garrett on Tuesday, ending his frustrating but brief run of one-plus seasons in charge of the club’s offense.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero confirmed the news that was first reported by Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. The team later officially announced the firing. Senior offensive assistant Freddie Kitchens, the former Cleveland Browns head coach, will take over play-calling duties, NFL Network’s Kim Jones reported.
“One of the things that motivated me to accept this position was the opportunity to help rebuild the Giants into a contending team,” Garrett said, in part, in a statement he released. “We knew there would be many challenges. My expectations for our offense were much greater than what our results have been, and I accept full responsibility for that.”
Garrett was hired by Giants coach Joe Judge ahead of the 2020 season after a nine-year run as the Dallas Cowboys’ head coach.
“It’s a great system he brings with great teaching that will allow our players to go out there and play aggressively,” Judge said at the time of the hire.
That didn’t come to fruition, however, as Giants offensive problems that pre-dated Garrett only continued in 2020 and through the first 11 weeks of this season. In Monday night’s 30-10 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, things were no better as the Giants offense stumbled to the tune of 215 total yards and a 1-for-9 conversion rate on third down. Especially ugly was a third-and-2 failure in which three Giants receivers inexplicably took routes to the same spot on the field, resulting in a throwaway by quarterback Daniel Jones.
For Judge, the decision to move on from Garrett was simply about a lack of production.
“I’ll make every decision based on what’s best for the team long-term. I feel we have to be more productive as an offense,” Judge said, via team transcript. “Generally speaking, the offense’s job is to score points. I don’t believe we’re scoring enough points. It’s my job as the head coach to make sure I give our players an opportunity to go out there and make plays.”
The Giants (3-7) rank 25th in the NFL in scoring offense (18.9 points per game).
Garrett’s tenure as offensive coordinator can’t be summarized without acknowledging a spate of injuries to key players who never allowed the unit a chance to flourish as a whole. That begins with star running back Saquon Barkley, whose injuries forced him to miss 19 of 26 games in the Garrett era. Compounding Barkley’s absence this season were injuries that caused missed action for left tackle Andrew Thomas, wideout Kenny Golladay, receiver Sterling Shepard, tight end Evan Engram and receiver Darius Slayton.
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NFC WEST
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LOS ANGELES RAMS
The City of St. Louis has decided not to take the NFL to trial if the hometown St. LouisPost-Dispatch is to be believed:
A monetary settlement is nearing completion in the Rams relocation lawsuit, a source with direct knowledge of the negotiations told the Post-Dispatch late Tuesday night.
The figure of the settlement was not disclosed.
Lawyers representing Rams owner Stan Kroenke and the NFL were in St. Louis on Tuesday for a mediation session with lawyers representing the city, county and the Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority to discuss settlement possibilities. A source said lawyers were working late Tuesday night to inform all NFL owners of the deal.
Negotiations went on for hours Tuesday at a Clayton law firm as attempts to strike a deal were continued in advance of two important dates.
The first was a contempt of court hearing that would decide if multiple influential NFL owners had satisfied Circuit Court Judge Christopher McGraugh’s request to hand over detailed financial information for the pursuit of potential punitive damages against certain owners.
The second was the start of a January trial that would ask a St. Louis jury to decide if Kroenke, his fellow owners and the NFL broke Missouri law by violating the league’s relocation guidelines during the 2016 relocation of the Rams from St. Louis to Los Angeles.
The city, county and dome authority filed the civil suit against Kroenke, the Rams, the league and its owners in 2017, alleging the league broke its own relocation rules that were established decades ago to avoid antitrust liability. The suit alleged breach of contract, fraud, illegal enrichment and interference in business by the Rams and the NFL, citing significant financial loss, including but not limited to the $18 million the region spent on a task force that came up with a proposal to keep the Rams in a new riverfront stadium before Kroenke spent billions of his own money on a new stadium in Inglewood, Calif.
Pressure built on the league to reach a settlement in recent weeks as Kroenke frustrated his fellow NFL owners by expressing interest in revisiting the terms of the indemnification agreement he signed before the move. Kroenke reportedly threatened his fellow owners to settle his side of the case individually if he did not get help from them in handling the financial toll of a settlement. The decision to settle represents an about-face from the league after it downplayed the legitimacy of the lawsuit from the start.
And as we go to press – word that the deal is done for $790 million. Florio:
The NFL has resolved its remaining business in St. Louis.
With payment of $790 million, the league will settle the litigation arising from the relocation of the Rams. PFT has confirmed the amount of the deal.
The settlement occurred thanks to a mediation session that began on Tuesday. The negotiations culminated in an agreement that avoids the uncertainty of a trial, which the NFL could have lost badly. Also, St. Louis could have prevailed, but with a much smaller judgment than the payment the public entities will receive. The public entities also don’t have to wait while multiple layers of appeals are pursued.
It’s not yet known whether Rams owner Stan Kroenke will pay the full amount, or whether he managed to foist some of the responsibility onto his partners. In recent weeks, Kroenke began to lay the foundation for litigation over whether and to what extent he’ll indemnify his partners. It’s possible that they reached a global settlement with St. Louis, and that the indemnity issue will be litigated separately.
Regardless, the case will now end. Although it’s possible that a glitch or two will arise as the final documents are drawn up, it’s unlikely that the settlement will be scrapped for a full-blown trial.
We are not saying it is not a fair deal for St. Louis. But if you had a jury of non-math majors, the number could have been much, much higher.
This from lawyer Daniel Wallach:
@WALLACHLEGAL
That’s a good number Randy, but I didn’t see the urgency in settling now for that amount. The number does not go down between now and the trial date.
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AFC SOUTH
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HOUSTON
Houston has released RB PHILLIP LINDSAY per Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com:
The Texans have waived running back Phillip Lindsay, the team announced Tuesday.
He will become a free agent if he goes unclaimed by another team on waivers.
Lindsay ran for 130 yards and a touchdown in 50 attempts this season for a team that ranks 31st in Football Outsiders’ rush DVOA. Lindsay lost 3 yards on his only carry in the Texans’ 22-13 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
Lindsay was part of the group of veteran running backs whom Texans general manager Nick Caserio signed during the offseason. Houston traded Mark Ingram to the New Orleans Saints last month, leaving running backs David Johnson and Rex Burkhead on the roster. Houston has also added running back Royce Freeman.
The Texans signed Lindsay to a deal in March worth $3.25 million with $1 million guaranteed and $500,000 in incentives.
The former Pro Bowl running back became available this offseason when the Denver Broncos rescinded the RFA tender they had placed on him that would have allowed them to match any contract but would not have provided the team any compensation if he signed elsewhere.
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TENNESSEE
RB ADRIAN PETERSON’s time with the Titans has come to an end for now. Michael Baca of NFL.com:
The Tennessee Titans made a bevy of roster moves on Tuesday, including the release of a future Hall of Famer and the signing of a former Pro Bowl wide receiver.
The Titans waived running back Adrian Peterson and signed WR Golden Tate to the practice squad, the team announced.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported that it’s possible Peterson could return.
Peterson was signed by the Titans in the wake of Derrick Henry’s foot injury, which required surgery and put him on the shelf for most of the regular season.
In three games with Tennessee, Peterson compiled 82 yards off 27 carries and scored one touchdown. The 36-year-old stands fifth on the NFL’s all-time rushing list with 14,902 yards upon his release from the Titans.
Tate had remained a free agent throughout the 2021 season before signing with the Titans. The veteran WR spent last season with the New York Giants, appearing in 12 games and catching 35 balls for 388 yards and two TDs. The 33-year-old joins a banged up Titans receiving corps with Julio Jones currently on injured reserve and A.J. Brown a constant figure on the team’s injury report this season.
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AFC EAST
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NEW YORK JETS
Presumably someone will play QB for the Jets on Sunday in Houston.
Vaxxed QB MIKE WHITE seems to have taken unvaxxed QB JOE FLACCO with him into COVID jail. Luckily, QB ZACH WILSON is able to return. Jordan Dajani ofCBSSports.com:
The New York Jets will reportedly return rookie quarterback Zach Wilson to the starting lineup this week against the Houston Texans, but it sounds like they may not have much of a choice. On Tuesday, ESPN’s Field Yates reported that the Jets had placed quarterbacks Mike White and Joe Flacco on the reserve/COVID-19 list. According to Adam Schefter, White tested positive for the coronavirus while Flacco was deemed a close contact.
Per Schefter, veteran signal-caller Josh Johnson is “poised” to be promoted from the practice squad to back up Wilson on Sunday. Wilson has missed the last four games due to what was reported to be a strained PCL. The recovery timetable was reported to be 2-4 weeks, and he’s now four weeks past the injury. The Jets have gone 1-3 without Wilson in the lineup, and have started both White and Flacco.
In New York’s first game without Wilson, White led the Jets to a 34-31 upset victory over the Cincinnati Bengals while throwing for 405 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. He was injured early in the 45-30 loss to the Indianapolis Colts the next week, but returned to the starting lineup the following week and flopped. White threw for 251 yards and four interceptions in the 45-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Flacco then took over under center this past Sunday, and threw for 291 yards and two touchdowns as the Jets fell to the Miami Dolphins, 24-17.
Isn’t it supposed to be the other way around, with the unvaccinated getting sick to the peril of the compliant?
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THIS AND THAT
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HALL OF FAME SEMIFINALISTS
The Class of 2022 will come from these 26 SemiFinalists:
Seven first-year eligible players are among the 26 modern-era semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022: Anquan Boldin, Devin Hester, Andre Johnson, Robert Mathis, Steve Smith, DeMarcus Ware and Vince Wilfork.
The list of candidates for election into the Hall of Fame, which will occur early next year, also includes 17 players who were semifinalists for the Class of 2022. The 26 semifinalists will be knocked down to 15 finalists before the final voting process.
The Class of 2022 will be announced during the “NFL Honors” broadcast on Feb. 10, 2022.
Here’s the list of the 26 semifinalists (those who were among the 15 Finalists last year are in Red; the first-timers are in Black).
CB Eric Allen
DE Jared Allen
T Willie Anderson
DB Ronde Barber
WR Anquan Boldin
T Tony Boselli
S LeRoy Butler
RB Eddie George
Returner/WR Devin Hester
WR Torry Holt
WR Andre Johnson
EDGE Robert Mathis
LB Sam Mills
DL Richard Seymour
WR Steve Smith
Special teams/WR Steve Tasker
RB Fred Taylor
LB Zach Thomas
WR Hines Ward
EDGE DeMarcus Ware
RB Ricky Watters
WR Reggie Wayne
DT Vince Wilfork
LB Patrick Willis
S Darren Woodson
DT Bryant Young
Which long-time semifinalists have the best chance for induction?
Dan Pompei, NFL senior writer: Boselli is the long-time semifinalist, who appears to be a near-lock. There is no question Boselli played like a hall of famer, and he has been eligible for more than a decade. His candidacy has been held up for two reasons. The first is he played only seven years. Other players with shorter careers have become hall of famers, but most have had to wait. The second reason his candidacy was held up is there was a logjam of offensive linemen. Having Steve Hutchinson and Alan Faneca inducted in the last two classes should clear the way for Boselli.
Are there any shoo-ins for the Class of 2022?
Lindsay Jones, NFL senior writer: One of the most intriguing things about this semifinalist list is that unlike recent years, there is not a clear sure-thing first ballot player (or players). This time last year, we knew for sure that Peyton Manning and Charles Woodson would be included in the 2021 class; I don’t see a shoo-in among the first-year eligible players on this list.
That will make for a lively discussion and it could be a good thing for repeat finalists like Boselli, as my colleague Dan Pompei mentioned. But if we need to pick one from the first-year eligible group, I’m looking at DeMarcus Ware. He’s ninth on the NFL’s career sack list, with 138.5, and the comparable players around him are either already enshrined or likely will be when they become eligible. That he played much of his career in Dallas probably helps his case, as does his major role on the Broncos’ 2015 championship team.
Which players will have the most interesting arguments for induction?
Mike Sando, NFL columnist: Hester is interesting because he was an incredible game-plan consideration, arguably to a more extreme degree than other semifinalists were, but it was all within the realm of special teams, which is a smaller percentage of the plays.
We could be enshrining someone with 36 career touchdowns: 14 on punt returns, five on kick returns, 16 on pass receptions and one on a rushing play. The receiving and rushing touchdowns are not relevant here. So, really, we are talking about enshrining someone based on 19 of the most incredible, hardest-to-score touchdowns, plus what could be dozens or hundreds of times he affected field position or game strategy in a manner positive for his team, but not frequently measured by analysts.
We agree with Lindsay Jones – none of the first-year eligible screams to be inducted this year. And of last year’s Finalists, no one seems to be a lock (we disagree on Boselli with the Jacksonville-based Prisco about the seven-year OT – not that he shouldn’t be in, just that it is not a disgrace that he is not in yet).
Not a single QB on the list.
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AIKMAN RATINGS
Have the Bills fallen from the top of the Aikman Ratings after a woeful effort against the Colts? Actually, they have not – but look who is 2nd.
2021 Season Aikman Efficiency Ratings Through Week 11
—— Aikman —— —— NFL ——
Rank Record Team Comb Off Def Off Def Comb
1 6-4 Bills 175.7 93.4 82.3 5 1 6
2 7-4 Patriots 167.6 87.2 80.4 17 3 20
3 9-2 Cardinals 167.5 92.8 74.7 9 5 14
4 7-3 Buccaneers 163.2 92.4 70.8 2 8 10
5 7-3 Ravens 161.8 89.7 72.1 3 25 28
6 7-3 Cowboys 160.2 89.7 70.5 1 18 19
7 5-5 Saints 158.8 86.5 72.3 24 10 34
8 7-3 Rams 157.9 89.0 68.9 6 12 18
9 6-5 Colts 156.4 88.9 67.5 11 19 30
10 5-5 49ers 155.4 89.7 65.7 13 6 19
11 5-6 Eagles 155.3 91.9 63.4 16 13 29
12 6-4 Bengals 155.3 86.7 68.6 14 15 29
13 5-5 Vikings 152.6 91.1 61.5 7 28 35
14 8-3 Titans 152.5 85.4 67.1 15 14 29
15 5-5 Broncos 151.9 78.8 73.1 20 9 29
16 7-4 Chiefs 151.5 87.9 63.6 4 22 26
17 8-3 Packers 150.3 84.2 66.1 18 7 25
18 6-4 Chargers 150.0 90.9 59.1 8 17 25
19 5-6 Panthers 149.2 78.1 71.1 26 2 28
20 3-7 Seahawks 149.0 83.0 66.0 30 31 61
21 6-5 Browns 147.3 84.5 62.8 12 4 16
22 5-4-1 Steelers 146.1 80.8 65.3 22 23 45
23 3-7 Giants 142.0 75.2 66.8 23 26 49
24 3-7 Bears 140.1 74.9 65.2 31 11 42
25 5-5 Raiders 140.0 80.1 59.9 10 15 25
26 4-7 Dolphins 138.9 73.2 65.7 28 29 57
27 4-6 Washington 138.3 78.9 59.4 19 24 43
28 2-8 Jaguars 135.0 73.6 61.4 25 21 46
29 4-6 Falcons 132.0 74.2 57.8 29 20 49
30 2-8 Texans 131.8 69.8 62.0 32 30 62
31 0-9-1 Lions 130.0 73.9 56.1 27 27 54
32 2-8 Jets 128.5 75.0 53.5 21 32 53
NFL Average: 149.8 83.5 66.3
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POWER RANKINGS
Last year was QB TOM BRADY’s Magnus Opus – shedding Bill Belichick and taking the downtrodden Buccaneers to Super Bowl glory on his 43-year-old back.
Now, Pete Prisco says in his weekly rankings, after a year to recoup, Belichick may be writing his own epic football symphony:
Bill Belichick is the greatest NFL coach of all time, and it’s not going to be a debate at all when he finally retires.
Belichick has won more Super Bowls (six) than any other coach, but he’s also 41 victories away from tying Don Shula for the most victories in coaching history, a record that I used to think was unbreakable.
So with his resume as a backdrop, it means something when I say this year’s coaching job is one of his best, if not the best.
At 7-4, after ripping off five straight victories, Belichick’s Patriots are atop the AFC East, a spot they have owned for most of his tenure in New England, and they are in the chase for the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
If you would have said that after four weeks of the season, people would have thought you were nuts. But, in vintage Belichick fashion, he has put a slow start behind him and has his team surging at the right time.
The Patriots are up to No. 7 in my Power Rankings after dominating the Atlanta Falcons on the road last week. If not for an overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys, the streak would be at seven games. If not for a fumble inside the 10 in Week 1, they would have also defeated the Miami Dolphins. The only game where New England wasn’t in it came in a Week 3 loss to the Saints.
The Patriots are winning with a power running game, a physical, smart defense, and rookie quarterback Mac Jones taking care of the football and managing the game as he develops his game.
Watching the Patriots play defense, with all their different looks, is a coaching treat that you know has Belichick’s hands all over the game plans. The confusion they cause for opposing quarterbacks makes the whole thing work.
Getting this team to 7-4 without a star quarterback, since Jones has a long way to go to get to that, has to make Belichick privately a little proud — even if he would never admit it.
New England hasn’t exactly ripped off five victories against a tough schedule, so some will say to slow the roll. The next four games will decide how good the Patriots truly are and can be. They play home against Tennessee, at Buffalo, at Indianapolis and then home against the Bills before closing with the Jaguars and Dolphins. If they win five of those six, especially if they split with the Bills, there’s a real chance they can be the top seed in the AFC.
That would be another testament to his coaching greatness. Belichick has made his fair share of mistakes like the rest — yes, I’ve been critical of some of them — but he’s proving once again that when he’s finished there will be no doubt as to who the best of all time will be.
1 CARDINALS 9-2-0
They won two games on the road against division teams without Kyler Murray. That’s good enough to move them up to this spot. Colt McCoy played well.
2 RAMS 7-3-0
They move up on their bye week because so many teams lost around them. They face a tough one against the Packers this week.
3 PACKERS 8-3-0
They lost a road game at Minnesota in the closing seconds. The injuries have really impacted them in a big way. They still have a cushion in the division, but they will be challenged by the Rams this week.
4 TITANS 8-3-0
That had to be a major letdown as to why they lost to the Texans at home. Or was it a sign that the offense might have major issues going forward?
5 BUCCANEERS 7-3-0
In blowing out the Giants, they looked like the team we expected to see this season. The defense looked much better in that game.
6 RAVENS 7-3-0
Winning on the road without Lamar Jackson is impressive – even if it wasn’t pretty. The schedule gets a lot tougher in the coming weeks, starting this week with Cleveland.
7 PATRIOTS 7-4-0
They’ve moved to the top of the AFC East with their five-game winning streak. Now comes a tough one with the Titans.
8 CHIEFS 7-4-0
They have turned their season around, and it’s the defense that has led the way. They have been playing well on that side of the ball the past three weeks.
9 CHARGERS 6-4-0
Now that Justin Herbert is back throwing it around, they can play with anybody. The coaches wised up by getting back to featuring Herbert throwing it down the field.
10 COLTS 6-5-0
With Jonathan Taylor carrying the offense, they can be real threat come playoff time. They can run it as well as anybody and the defense is getting better.
11 BILLS 6-4-0
They are starting to look like a big disappointment if they don’t get it going. That won’t be easy at New Orleans Thursday night.
12 COWBOYS 7-3-0
They didn’t do enough on offense in the loss to the Chiefs. Dak Prescott has to be better, even without some of his best offensive players.
13 BENGALS 6-4-0
They came out of their bye with an impressive road victory against the Raiders. That’s the Bengals we saw in October, a team that can certainly be a playoff team.
14 STEELERS 5-4-1
The injuries on defense crippled them against the Chargers. The good news is the offense showed some life in the passing game.
15 BROWNS 6-5-0
They still aren’t playing well, but at 6-5 they are doing enough to stay in the playoff hunt. They face a huge division game with the Ravens this week.
16 VIKINGS 5-5-0
Beating the Packers in dramatic fashion Sunday keeps their division hopes alive, but the reality is they are likely chasing a wild-card spot. The offense can be dynamic.
17 49ERS 5-5-0
They’ve won two straight to get back on track as a possible playoff team. The schedule is brutal down the stretch, but they are playing much better.
18 EAGLES 5-6-0
By winning two straight games – only a close loss to the Chargers prevents it from being four straight – the Eagles are in the thick of the division race. Jalen Hurts is playing outstanding football right now.
19 SAINTS 5-5-0
They’ve lost three straight games to fall to 5-5. Their Thursday night game against the Bills will be a real challenge as they try to get it turned around.
20 WASHINGTON 4-6-0
Winning on the road against Carolina keeps them in the playoff chase. Taylor Heinicke is playing well.
21 PANTHERS 5-6-0
Cam Newton brought some energy, but he didn’t bring a victory. Losing to Washington is a bad loss for this group.
22 RAIDERS 5-5-0
They just don’t look like the same team we saw a month ago. Three straight losses can do that to a team as they scramble to try and right things.
23 DOLPHINS 4-7-0
They’ve won two straight games to keep their playoff hopes alive. Now they face another winnable game against Carolina at home.
24 BRONCOS 5-5-0
They come off their bye with a huge division game against the Chargers. They have to be better on offense to really make a playoff push.
25 SEAHAWKS 3-7-0
This just isn’t their season. Even getting Russell Wilson back can’t solve their issues. They are bad on defense.
26 FALCONS 4-6-0
Two straight losses has them falling out of playoff contention, as if they were really in it anyway. They have way too many holes.
27 GIANTS 3-7-0
The offensive line is so bad that it just bleeds over to the entire offense. That’s been a problem for this team for a long time.
28 BEARS 3-7-0
This season is basically over. Now comes the question of who gets fired after the season, Matt Nagy or Ryan Pace or both?
29 TEXANS 2-8-0
They showed some good things in beating the Titans on the road. That means they haven’t quit, which is a good thing for coach David Culley.
30 JAGUARS 2-8-0
So much for the progress they were making. The offense is a disaster. They can’t score points.
31 JETS 2-8-0
When Zach Wilson is ready, he needs to play. Forget about the other quarterbacks and build for the future.
32 LIONS 0-9-1
They competed at Cleveland with a backup quarterback, which is a good sign. They might play backup Tim Boyle again Thursday.
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