| We are still taking votes and will have the results tomorrow – in what order would you draft the seven quarterbacks taken in the 2024 draft for your generic team: Original orderCaleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Michael Penix, Jr., J.J. McCarthy, Bo Nix, Spencer Rattler – – -Advice from Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com: It’s overreaction week in the NFL, but remember that one week does not make a season — yet you’d sure think it does based on some of the comments being made the past few days. Among them: The Kansas City Chiefs are done. The Detroit Lions can’t overcome the loss of their two coordinators. Bo Nix and Drake Maye will have sophomore slumps. Aaron Rodgers has the Steelers with a Super Bowl look. The Raiders are back. Let’s slow the roll. Please. It’s one game. While we live in an era of immediate reactions, let’s try not to get caught up in the outrageous. Yes, the Chiefs looked bad in losing to the Los Angeles Chargers last Friday, but maybe the Chargers are just a damn good team. There are reasons for concern, but the Chiefs will be a playoff team. Book it. The Lions lost at Green Bay against a good Packers team, so let’s not panic after one game. Same for the rest of the sensationalized one-game reactions. I always say you can’t truly gauge where a season is heading until mid-October. So hold off on any bold proclamations just yet. As for my Power Rankings, the Philadelphia Eagles stay in the top spot with the Buffalo Bills at No. 2 and the Packers in the third spot. The Chiefs fall down to the eighth spot as they face a big Week 2 game against the Eagles at home. Starting 0-2 would actually be cause for concern. For now, though, let Week 1 marinate a bit before we call the Chiefs done, the Lions finished and the Raiders back. One game does not make a season. We have Prisco’s rankings below. |
| NFC NORTH |
| CHICAGOWelcome to Chicago, Ben Johnson! We wrote the above before we saw the lead from Jon Greenberg of The Athletic: Welcome to Chicago, Ben Johnson. You were hired eight months ago, but Monday night was your initiation into the Chicago Bears Experience. And man, your first game as head coach had it all. Patchy grass, a blown lead, a pregame statement about a new stadium that doesn’t exist yet, kicking miscues, airmailed throws, plenty of penalties, fans booing the team off the field as time expired and, of course, an appearance by the 1985 Bears. The Bears’ 27-24 loss to Minnesota wasn’t inexplicable or unbelievable. It was explicable. It was believable. There was magic in the air at Soldier Field. As in the Bears had the game in hand and then, poof, a W turned into an L. “I think you certainly feel it when you’re on the sideline there,” Johnson said. “You got it moving, got it going, then all of a sudden it starts going backwards.” Momentum might not be real, but as Johnson said, collectively, everyone in the stadium, from the VIPs to the elevator operators, knew what was happening in the fourth quarter as local boy J.J. McCarthy rallied the Vikings from a 17-6 deficit and the Bears didn’t have an answer. One minute, the Bears are up, and the next, tight end Cole Kmet is in front of his locker trying to figure out what to say about another loss. “I’ve actually had my fair share of opening day wins,” Kmet said. “And down the road, they end up not meaning as much as you think they do. So hopefully that’s the case with this one.” The Bears won their season opener at home last year, for instance, and a few more games at Soldier Field before everything went to holy hell. They’ve now lost six straight at home. Just because the Bears have a new coach in Johnson doesn’t mean a team that has won 15 games in the last three years combined is going to turn into the 2024 Detroit Lions overnight. Give the Bears a month or two before you write them off. “This is the start,” Williams said, “but definitely not the end.” The start of the Johnson era was a thing of beauty. The first drive was economical, almost surgical. Williams went 6-for-6 and was in rhythm. On third-and-5 from the Vikings’ 30, he scrambled right and zipped a pass up the sideline to Rome Odunze. It was the kind of throw that got him drafted No. 1. On third-and-6 from the 9, Williams ran it in himself. Despite starting all 17 games last season, this was somehow his first rushing touchdown. But then things went back to the old, tired normal. The Bears wouldn’t score another touchdown until they were down 10 points with 2 minutes, 2 seconds left in the game and Williams found Odunze alone in the end zone on a nifty play from the 1-yard line. Chicago led 10-6 at the half and was up 17-6 early in the third quarter after cornerback Nahshon Wright intercepted McCarthy’s underthrown pass to Justin Jefferson and raced for a 74-yard touchdown. The fourth quarter began with Bears kicker Cairo Santos missing a 50-yard field goal, and it quickly went downhill from there. Behind a now-calm McCarthy, Minnesota kept scoring and the Bears couldn’t muster any response on either side of the ball. The defense looked gassed and the offense looked lost. The lights were bright for “Monday Night Football,” and they exposed the Bears. “In those moments it doesn’t necessarily come down to somebody doing anything outstanding,” said Williams, who completed his first 10 passes but finished 21-for-35 for 210 yards and one touchdown. “It doesn’t come down to anybody doing anything out of character. It comes down to being able to go out there and be together, all 11 on the field doing our job at one time as soon as the ball is snapped.” The run game is supposed to be a strength of Johnson’s offense, but it didn’t show up on Monday. Williams led the team with 58 rushing yards, while D’Andre Swift (17 carries for 53 yards) found himself running into a wall of Vikings defenders for most of the night. “The running game, I didn’t feel the rhythm as I was calling it,” Johnson said. “There was some good, some not quite so good. Didn’t seem like we were all on the same page the whole time. Like I said, that’s a reflection of me as much as anything else.” Penalties (12 for 127 yards) just killed the Bears’ chances. And while some of the flags looked questionable, the operational failures on display were the same kind of errors that plagued the team in training camp. In the locker room, the players bemoaned their lack of discipline. “That’s kind of the game of football itself, who can be more disciplined throughout the course of the game, and we just weren’t in those scenarios,” Kmet said. After their opening drive for a touchdown — which they didn’t do one time last season — their drives went: punt, turnover on downs, punt, field goal, punt, punt, missed field goal, punt, punt, touchdown, end of game. Johnson’s arrival was supposed to be the start of a new narrative for the Bears, but instead it read like just another chapter in the same sad story. |
| GREEN BAYTed Nguyen of The Athletic seems to think the Packers great defensive performance against Detroit was not a one off. Is the Green Bay Packers defense for real?After the trade for Micah Parsons, Green Bay’s pass rush immediately became one of the most dangerous in the league, with each of the other Packers pass rushers pushed down into complementary roles. The question was how they would hold up in run defense. The Dallas Cowboys wanted Kenny Clark in the trade to bolster their run defense, so the Packers lost some beef up front. Dallas also pushed the narrative that Parsons’ freelancing was a huge deterrent to their run defense. They would be tested against the Detroit Lions, one of the best rushing offenses of the last few years. Detroit’s offensive line is in flux, having to replace center Frank Ragnow, but they still should have an upper-echelon run game. The Packers completely shut the door on the Lions’ run game Sunday. In terms of rushing success rate (22.7 percent), this was the Lions’ worst game since 2023. They finished with 46 yards rushing on 22 attempts (2.1 yards per attempt). The Packers defensive line was stout. They were two-gapping with physicality, keeping their linebackers clean and making the picture messy for Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Second-year linebacker Edgerrin Cooper looks like he’s ascended to the top tier of his position. He was fitting the run inside, chasing perimeter plays down and finishing tackles with physicality. Linebacker Quay Walker was not to be outdone and had a strong game as well. When runs did get past the first level, the secondary came up, taking good angles, and were willing tacklers. This Packers defense is a well-coached unit. It can rush four, and defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley can scheme up disruption with the best of them. The corners didn’t get tested much, and how well they play will determine the ceiling for this unit. The spine of this defense is rock solid, though. This should be at least a top-10 unit, and Hafley will be getting head coach interviews this offseason. |
| NFC EAST |
| NEW YORK GIANTSA significant foot injury for LB MICAH McFADDEN per Jordan Ranaan of ESPN.com: New York Giants starting linebacker Micah McFadden will have foot surgery and will miss “significant time,” a source confirmed to ESPN. McFadden is likely to return at some point this season, the source said. McFadden was injured Sunday while making a tackle on Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels. His right leg was placed in an air cast, and he was taken off the field on a cart. He was replaced Sunday by second-year linebacker Darius Muasau, who will step into a bigger role in McFadden’s absence. On Sunday, the Commanders immediately took advantage when Muasau replaced McFadden as Daniels found tight end Zach Ertz matched against Muasau for a touchdown on the next play. The Giants originally selected McFadden in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft. He became a full-time starter in 2023. McFadden had started 14 games each of the previous two seasons. He racked up over 100 tackles each of those years, including a career-high 107 last season. His rookie contract is set to expire at the end of the season. |
| PHILADELPHIAThe NFL decided that DT JALEN CARTER’s spitting was worthy of a one-game suspension. But it also decided that missing the Cowboys game was that suspension, so he will allowed to perform against the Chiefs Sunday. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com: Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter will not be suspended for this week’s game against the Chiefs after spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott on Thursday night. But he hasn’t avoided losing a paycheck, or having a suspension placed in his permanent record. As PFT predicted, Carter was fined $57,222 for the incident, which got him ejected before he played a single snap of the season opener. Carter’s fine is his full weekly paycheck, and he didn’t play at all in the game, so the NFL is terming Carter’s punishment a one-game unpaid suspension — a suspension that has already been served. Carter’s agent Drew Rosenhaus told Adam Schefter of ESPN that Carter will not appeal and is getting ready to play against the Chiefs on Sunday. “After talking to the Eagles, the NFL and the NFLPA, Jalen has decided not to appeal and focus on the Chiefs game,” Rosenhaus said. Rosenhaus also told Schefter that the Eagles will not attempt to void any of Carter’s guaranteed money or force him to forfeit any of his signing bonus, as can happen when players are suspended. Carter is one of the Eagles’ best players, and they need him to get on the field and stay on the field. He’ll play for the first time this season in Sunday’s Super Bowl rematch. Mike Florio with more of the intricacies of the deal. The crafting of a suspension, without a suspension, of Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter got the process to the right place. Carter didn’t play, but got paid, in Week 1. In Week 2, he’ll play but not get paid. There was one other wrinkle that needed to be addressed, however. A suspension allows the Eagles to void Carter’s remaining guarantees in his first-round rookie deal. Per a source with knowledge of the discussions, the Eagles agreed not to do that. It doesn’t really matter, given that voiding guarantees is a precursor to cutting the player. The Eagles won’t be cutting Carter (unless, of course, Carter suddenly loses his abilities and/or becomes a general and overall pain in Philly’s butt). He’s in the third year of his contract, and he’s on track to get a new deal after the 2025 season. The decision not to void Carter’s guarantees doesn’t mean there will be no internal discipline. On Monday, coach Nick Sirianni made it clear that, whatever the team does to Carter for getting ejected before taking a single snap will be kept confidential. “I’m going to keep everything that I do with him private, regardless of if you see it on Sunday or not,” Sirianni told reporters. “Everything, every conversation, whether it’s a personal conversation, a disciplinary thing, all those things will always be handled privately. I just think that’s the way to go about doing team business and when you’re doing things with a football team.” Does that mean Carter will be benched for part of Sunday’s game at Kansas City? It could. But Sirianni won’t announce it in advance. And, apparently, he won’t disclose the connection between, for instance, Carter’s actions and Carter missing a series or two after the fact. It will either happen, or it won’t. And, yes, the Eagles have good reason to punish a player who harmed the team’s interests by making himself unavailable. Even if, in the end, it didn’t keep the Eagles from winning the game. Actually, if anyone should be upset about the ejection, it’s should be anyone who made a legal wager with an NFL-affiliated sportsbook on the Eagles minus-8.5. Without Carter, the Eagles won the game but didn’t beat the spread. With Carter, the Eagles very well may have covered.– – -Coach Nick Sirianni does plan on passing to WRs A.J. BROWN and DAVONTA SMITH eventually. The Eagles got the win in their season opener against the Cowboys last Thursday, but they were far from explosive during the 24–20 victory. Part of that was due to the lack of impact from wide receivers A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith in the passing game. Brown and Smith combined on four receptions for just 24 yards in the game. Brown, who has previously referred to “passing” as an area in which the Eagles offense can improve, was held to one catch for eight yards. Not only did Brown catch just one pass, but he surprisingly was not targeted until the final minutes of the game. Prior to Thursday’s game, Brown had never been targeted fewer than four times in a game he didn’t leave early. “There’s no secret about it, we always want to get the ball to six [Smith] and 11 [Brown] and we’re always trying to, so we will do an even better job as coaches trying to make sure that happens. That obviously starts with me, but what I do think that we were on offense was very efficient,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni told reporters on Monday. “The ball was moving forward consistently. We didn’t have a lot of negative plays. I believe we had one sack, not a lot of penalties on offense, and the ball moved forward, and so we were efficient.” Overall, the Eagles top skill position players saw their contributions limited. Even running back Saquon Barkley rushed for only 60 yards while averaging 3.3 yards per carry. For much of the evening, the offense ran through Jalen Hurts making plays with his legs or getting the ball to Jahan Dotson and tight end Dallas Goedert. Though Brown wasn’t able to make a significant impact in the box score, Sirianni did praise his blocking and “mental toughness” to come through with an important catch at the end of the game on his first target. “That’s why A.J.’s special because even in a game like that, he does things without the ball to help us win and he makes a play in a critical moment,” Sirianni said. “Great throw by Jalen and great route and catch by A.J. and made a play in a critical moment to help us win the football game.” The Eagles certainly want to get Brown the ball more, and they should have the opportunity to do so going up against the Chiefs on Sunday. The Chiefs allowed four different Chargers pass-catchers to record 50 or more yards in their first game of the season, and three Chargers brought in at least five receptions. The Eagles had a middling total of 302 yards against Dallas, with only 108 coming from stars Barkley (84 total – 60 rush, 24 rec), Brown and Smith. Other rushers had 98 (mainly Hurts 62) and the rest of the passing game produced 96. |
| AFC WEST |
| DENVERWe’re not sure this was included in yesterday’s story about the Broncos new stadium, but Zac Stevens emphasizes an amazing element. No Taxpayer Money will be used. @ZacStevensDNVRThis is remarkable: Over the last decade, nine NFL stadiums have been built/are being built and have used $6.5 billion in public funding. That’s an average of $726 million per stadium in public funding and taxes. The Walton-Penner ownership group is privately funding the ENTIRE stadium, meaning no new taxes and saving Denver residents nearly a billion dollars. Fantastic ownership. They are buying the land, including some owned by the local water utility. And pay all the costs incurred by Denver Water resulting from closing some buildings. “Making room for a new Broncos stadium while keeping Denver Water whole has been the subject of intense discussion and negotiation between the Broncos and Denver Water for many months,” Denver Water said in a statement. The utility finished construction on a new headquarters near Burnham Yard in 2019. The headquarters, known as its Administration Building, will stay on the site. But the utility will need to sell land and move buildings on the southern end of its campus. “Buildings that currently house Denver Water’s operations and maintenance, distribution, trades, fleet, meter shop, warehouse and health clinic workers will need to be relocated,” Denver Water stated. The Broncos have agreed to pay “all costs necessary to fund Denver Water’s relocation, including, but not limited to, new property acquisitions, site preparation and construction. Funds from water rates will not be used,” according to Denver Water. The cost of moving Denver Water’s facilities isn’t yet clear. They’ve already made moves on sites at 40th Avenue and Clayton Street in North Denver, as well as at two smaller properties near the current and planned stadium sites. The City will incur some costs for improving the roads around the site. The infrastructure spending proposal includes nearly $90 million to remove part of the 8th Avenue viaduct, turning it into a surface street through the old railyard. The proposal also includes another $50 million for repairs, reconfiguration and a design for a future replacement of the 6th Avenue bridge, which also crosses the railyard. City officials note that both bridges are in bad shape and would need work anyway |
| LOS ANGELES CHARGERSSomething to keep an eye on – QB JUSTIN HERBERT was targeting wide receivers abundantly in Brazil, and successfully. Nate Tice of CBSSports.com: As Nate Tice of Yahoo Sports noted, Herbert targeted wide receivers on over 82% of his throws in Week 1’s win over the Chiefs, the highest rate in a game in his career. His wide receivers, in turn, came through, something that hasn’t always been the case. Quentin Johnston reeled in five of seven targets for 79 yards and a pair of touchdowns. I liked how Los Angeles used him as a horizontal speedster, something he really should be used as. Watch him burn across the field on his pair of touchdown catches. Then you have Keenan Allen, who is back like he never left: seven catches, 68 yards and a touchdown. Six of his seven targets went for a first down (the other was on third and 25). And I can’t believe I’m mentioning Ladd McConkey third, but here we are. He is excellent: six receptions for 74 yards, with three receptions from out wide, two from the slot and even one lined up as a tight end! |
| AFC NORTH |
| BALTIMOREClearly, RB DERRICK HENRY is a Hall of Famer. A stat from NFLonCBS: @NFLonCBSMost rushing yards in the NFL …since 2025: Henry (169)…since 2024: Henry (2,090)…since 2023: Henry (3,257)…since 2022: Henry (4,795)…since 2021: Henry (5,732)…since 2020: Henry (7,759)…since 2019: Henry (9,299)…since 2018: Henry (10,358)…since 2017: Henry (11,102)…since 2016: Henry (11,592) Derrick Henry joined the NFL in 2016. |
| CLEVELANDOut of all the opponents against which they could have chosen to celebrate 30 years in Baltimore, the Ravens chose the Browns. Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealeris not amused. Talk about rubbing their Dawg snouts in it. With the Browns visiting M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday, the Ravens will celebrate 30 years since former Browns owner Art Modell crushed the hearts of Browns fans and moved the team to Baltimore. It was a dark and horrible time in Browns history, and the Ravens will commemorate it Sunday before and during the AFC North matchup with the new iteration of the team that fled to Baltimore in 1996. It’s a curious decision by a team that had its own beloved championship team, the Baltimore Colts, ripped out of the city in 1984 in the dark of night by then-owner Bob Irsay and moved to Indianapolis. Baltimore, which had watched the Colts win four NFL championships and a Super Bowl, had to wait 12 long years for a new team, and was only too happy to welcome Cleveland’s once-dominant, storied franchise as its own. Celebrating 30 years of football in Baltimore is completely understandable, but to do it with the Browns in town is a bridge too far. Yes, it’s their home opener, but Ravens fans certainly would’ve understood if they waited a few weeks and marked the occasion without reminding Browns fans of that painful episode and three long years without football. When Modell first moved the team to Baltimore, no one knew if or when the NFL would return to Cleveland. Baltimore fans don’t need to feel sorry for Browns fans just because the same thing happened to them, but someone should’ve questioned the timing of this celebration and perhaps pumped the brakes on it. Instead, the Ravens will roll out special pregame recognitions celebrating the Browns’ move to Baltimore, and a halftime show featuring many Ravens Legends, a Marching Ravens performance and a dramatic mixed-reality show on the RavensVision video boards. Additionally, all fans attending the game will receive a Ravens Forevermore 30th season flag. Ironically, the Ravens will also honor the members of the 1975 Baltimore Colts – known as the Miracle on 33rd Street – to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their first of three consecutive AFC East titles. Baltimore’s starting defense will be introduced out of the tunnel, while the 1975 Baltimore Colts Legends form a gauntlet for the Ravens to run through. Browns Hall of Fame tight end Ozzie Newsome, the two-time Super Bowl winning GM the Ravens and current executive vice president of player personnel, will be honored before kickoff as Sunday’s Legend of the Game. He’ll be flanked by his first two draft picks in 1996 – Pro Football Hall of Famers Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis. The Ravens will also recognize the key players involved in bringing the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore as honorary captains: John Moag (former executive director of the Maryland Stadium Authority), Parris Glendening (former Maryland governor), Kurt Schmoke (former Baltimore City mayor) and John Modell, who will represent the Modell family, including his late father and original Ravens owner, Art, and brother, David. Browns fans are also sure to be subject to a montage of the move on the game’s telecast. No one expected Baltimore to turn down an NFL franchise just because hundreds of thousands of Clevelanders were devastated, but celebrating it Sunday with the Browns in town seems insensitive. Maybe it’s because I have such vivid memories of so many Browns fans refusing to leave the Stadium after that last game in 1995, and watching them sob while center Steve Everitt went around hugging them and crying. Baltimore cheered while Cleveland wept, and Sunday seems an inappropriate time to trigger those memories. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| HOUSTONHouston’s poor pass protection – and the reactions of QB C.J. STROUD – are a concern to Nate Tice of CBSSports.com: C.J. Stroud and the Texans still can’t handle pressureThis offseason, I wrote about how badly C.J. Stroud and the Texans needed to improve against pressure and provided reasons for hope and skepticism that it would happen. Through one week, skepticism is winning. Stroud took three sacks and was pressured on more than 41% of his dropbacks. Entering “Monday Night Football,” the Texans had Pro Football Focus’ fourth-worst pass blocking grade. Lest you think it’s all on the line, Stroud’s bad habit of ceding ground when he’s in trouble remains; he lost 37 yards on the three sacks he took. Last year, his 7.8 yards lost per sack was the fourth-highest mark in the NFL. Of course, it’s hard to escape when your tackles simply crumble like this. |
| AFC EAST |
| MIAMIWould the Chiefs, or any other team, really want to take this player of declining ability and ever-growing conflict off the hands of the Dolphins? ESPN.com: Tyreek Hill’s estranged wife has alleged in court filings that he committed domestic violence, which the Miami Dolphins receiver has vehemently denied. According to documents obtained by TMZ, Keeta Vaccaro alleges eight separate incidents of domestic violence in filings related to the couple’s divorce case. Hill’s attorney said in a statement Monday that the allegations are part of a “shakedown,” adding that they are “an attempt to generate bad media coverage” for Hill. According to TMZ, Vaccaro alleges that the first incident occurred in January 2024, about two months after her marriage to Hill. Hill has not been criminally charged, and it was unclear as of Tuesday morning whether law enforcement was investigating Vaccaro’s allegations. Vaccaro filed a petition for divorce on April 8, one day after police reported a domestic dispute between her and Hill. Hill is in the second year of a restructured three-year, $90 million contract with the Dolphins. The five-time All-Pro player has been at the center of numerous off-field incidents since joining the Dolphins in 2022, including being detained by police last September after being stopped for speeding and reckless driving. The exchange with Miami-Dade police occurred hours before the Dolphins 2024 season opener just outside Hard Rock Stadium. Hill, 31, also was in a physical altercation with a Haulover Marina employee in June 2023, and a separate lawsuit alleges he broke a social media influencer’s leg that same month. |
| NEW ENGLANDOne game and the bloom is off the rose for QB DRAKE MAYE. Karen Guregian ofYahooSports.com: One game into his second season, and Drake Maye has already hit a crossroads. The Patriots quarterback looked unsettled and unsure of what he was doing during Sunday’s 20-13 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Don’t let his 30 completions for 287 yards fool you. He sailed passes, failing to connect with open receivers. He forced passes, one to Stefon Diggs that was intercepted at a pivotal point in the game. Even as a runner, Maye didn’t seem right. There was nothing natural about him or his performance. A lot is riding on Maye making a Year 2 leap, and progressing into the type of quarterback to help bring the Patriots back to prominence. Only, he looked far from making that jump on Sunday. Is there too much on his plate? Too much swirling around in his head to be effective? Mike Vrabel’s answer to that question Monday was telling. “I think we have to evaluate that. We have to find out, is there something there? Or, we’ve just got to figure out what our guys do best and do that,” Vrabel said. “Because if you do that, then you have to be really good, as opposed to trying to scheme or get into the right situation. “Again, we just make sure that we’re giving him answers by trying not to give him too much. I think that’s always the balance and the fine line.” It’s not exactly comforting to hear the head coach admit to assessing if some adjustments were needed to help Maye after just one game. But it is, what it is. Already, there are questions about whether Maye has the bandwidth to handle all of the responsibilities with a Josh McDaniels’ offense. There were signs of difficulty during the preseason, but nothing as dramatic as Sunday’s outing from Maye. Ultimately, the Patriots need to figure out if they’re doing more harm, than good, with all they’ve put on the young quarterback. Or if it’s something Maye simply needs to work through and will resolve with time. It seems fairly obvious they have to help him settle down, and take some of the weight off his shoulders. If they deem the offense needs to be more Drake-friendly, tailoring it more toward his athletic skillset, then McDaniels needs to make the necessary fixes. He needs to shape the offense toward Maye’s strengths, as opposed to molding Maye to the offense. And, listening to Vrabel, they will consider what Maye does best, evaluate the problems, and go from there. They may find out Maye’s hesitancy and lack of comfort is more a product of a shaky offensive line, and lack of talent, along with adapting to the new offense. They may believe Maye will eventually blossom if they stay the course. Or, they may discover the 2024 third overall pick simply isn’t capable of what’s required in McDaniels offense. Of course, the Patriots have other problems to fix with the defense, special teams, run game, etc. It’s not all Maye. There’s plenty to go around. But he’s the leader of the offense, and watching him in the season opener, something’s not right. If his first read wasn’t there, it was panic time, especially in the second half. Maye wasn’t seeing the field. He wasn’t seeing open receivers down the field. Instead, he’d take off and run, going a few yards before hitting the deck in a slide – something he’s been coached to do, instead of trying for extra yards. The whole process just looked awkward. Maye’s fundamentals and mechanics – most notably his footwork – also isn’t up to par. That part is largely on him, and working to correct the physical issues. During his weekly radio appearance on “WEEI Afternoons,” Maye, however, dismissed the notion of having too much on his plate. He didn’t agree he was juggling too many balls given the new offense, and the expectations for the quarterback in that offense. “I wouldn’t say that,” Maye said. “At the end of the day, playing quarterback in the NFL can be a lot on your plate no matter what team you play for. … I think I’m ready for it and I think I’ll get more and more comfortable each week as I play in this offense.” Of course, there was zero chance Maye would acknowledge being overwhelmed by anything. But by saying he’d get more comfortable each week with the offense, he’s tacitly admitting he’s not quite there yet. While Maye did make some good throws, if the first-read was there, it fell apart if that first option wasn’t there. “I think in everything that we do, we always want to be competitive and do it the right way,” Vrabel said. “But then, there just can’t be any sort of block that keeps us from just going and playing the game and knowing that it’s not going to look great at times, but it’s going to be making a play.” Right now, Maye is blocked. There’s too much flashing through his mind when it comes to the offense. Instead of playing freely, and confidently, Maye is stuck in processing hell. It’s up to the Patriots to clear the cobwebs. |
| NEW YORK JETSThe Jets have jettisoned fumbling WR XAVIER GIPSON per ESPN: The New York Jets are cutting Xavier Gipson after his costly kick return fumble during Sunday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, a source confirmed to ESPN on Wednesday. After the Steelers had cut the Jets’ lead to 26-24 in the fourth quarter, Kenneth Gainwell forced Gipson to fumble the kickoff — the game’s first turnover. Aaron Rodgers took advantage two plays later, throwing an 18-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Austin III to put the Steelers up 31-26 with 14:07 left. The Steelers ultimately won 34-32 on a 60-yard Chris Boswell field goal. “Man, we can’t have turnovers,” Jets coach Aaron Glenn said Sunday. “We can’t do it. We have to be a more disciplined team. … That’s something that will be addressed. You will not be on the field with this team if you’re going to cause us to lose games.” Gipson had joined the Jets as an unrestricted free agent in 2023. A wide receiver, he had totaled 27 receptions for 268 yards and one touchdown in his career. He played only on special teams in Sunday’s loss. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| NFL AWARD PREDICTIONSFrom a panel of NFL execs assembled by Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. The Chargers are well represented, the Chiefs not so much: What’s certain: Championships require individual brilliance from star players. That’s where we come in, asking executives and scouts to sort out who will be holding the hardware when the 2025 season ends. From MVP to rookie of the year and top coach, few of the major awards offer clear consensus, which leaves room for a few surprises. MVP: Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore RavensWinning a third MVP would put Jackson in an exclusive club of quarterbacks: Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Brett Favre, Johnny Unitas. He nearly pulled off the feat last season, but Buffalo’s Josh Allen outdistanced him in the voting, which is fitting because Allen had 424 total yards (30 rushing) and four total touchdowns (two rushing) Sunday vs. Jackson’s Ravens at home. Jackson had three touchdowns (one rushing) of his own, along with 209 passing yards on 19 attempts — 27 fewer than Allen — and 70 rushing yards. Although Allen made a compelling opening case to go back-to-back — “he’s the ultimate difference-maker,” an NFL personnel evaluator noted postgame — Jackson figures to be in the race because of a few factors: His dual-threat ability typically keeps his touchdown total high, he consistently wins games (.736 career win percentage) and he limits turnovers, averaging one interception roughly every third game since 2024. And he’s coming off his first 4,000-yard passing season, a good sign for his relationship with offensive coordinator Todd Monken. “His supporting cast is really good, and he’s improving from the pocket,” an AFC executive said. “Playing better in the big games in January will always be the thing with him, but I feel like that’s a matter of time.” His multiple turnovers in last season’s divisional-round loss to Buffalo still sting, but when it comes to the regular season, Jackson’s an elite producer. Also receiving votes: Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills), Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs), Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals), Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders) Offensive Player of the Year: Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington CommandersThis award belongs mostly to non-quarterbacks. Since Patrick Mahomes won in 2018, a receiver or running back has taken home the past six OPOY awards. But league personnel find themselves wanting to find a spot for Daniels when it comes to individual accolades. Some are hesitant to put him firmly in the MVP market, which Allen, Jackson and Mahomes have cornered since 2022. But an important criterion for such voting is how a player elevates his team and instills belief. Not many are doing that like Daniels of late. “Combining the throwing talent with running ability plus adding another underneath RAC weapon [Deebo Samuel] will keep him in the conversation,” an AFC executive said. “I think you could have made the argument for him last year for MVP given how he turned that thing around and how well he played. I’m banking on another Year 2 jump.” Daniels’ understated impact was on display Sunday against the Giants at home. In a performance with modest passing numbers (19-of-30, 233 yards, one touchdown), Daniels completed at least two passes to five receivers, including seven for 77 yards to Samuel on a team-high 10 targets. Also receiving votes: Derrick Henry (Baltimore Ravens), Mahomes, Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles), Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles), Ja’Marr Chase (Cincinnati Bengals), Burrow, Jahmyr Gibbs (Detroit Lions) Defensive Player of the Year: Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland BrownsDenver cornerback Pat Surtain II is firmly in this conversation again after winning the award in 2024. He pushed Garrett in the voting. Denver’s defense is among the league’s best, and Surtain is the catalyst, a true lockdown corner. But pass rushers tend to dominate this award, and no pass rusher is more menacing right now than Garrett. Atop the Bengals’ scouting report Sunday was neutralizing Garrett, who still managed 2 sacks, 4 tackles for loss and 3 quarterback hits. Garrett’s relentless motor has him hurtling toward a fifth consecutive season with at least 14 sacks. Last season, Garrett led the NFL in tackles for loss (22) on his way to back-to-back All-Pro nods. “He’s the ultimate game-plan wrecker,” an NFC personnel evaluator said. “He’s still in his prime [29], so he should have at least a few years of dominant production,” an NFC personnel evaluator said. “One thing that hurts him is the Browns could be playing from behind a lot. But that hasn’t stopped him before.” Also receiving votes: Surtain, Micah Parsons (Green Bay Packers), Travon Walker (Jacksonville Jaguars) Offensive Rookie of the Year: Omarion Hampton, RB, Los Angeles ChargersSeveral rookies have a strong case, resulting in a lack of consensus among the voters. At least seven players among the top 40 picks received at least one vote. Evaluators project a big year for Colts tight end Tyler Warren, who pushed for the top spot. But Hampton has a few things going for him. HIs offensive coordinator is Greg Roman, whose love for the run game runs deep. Najee Harris sat out all of camp because of an eye issue, and though he’s back, Hampton is well-positioned as a primary back, resulting in 17 touches for 61 yards in his Week 1 debut vs. Kansas City. “He’s on a team that’s had playoff success and is going to run the football,” an AFC scout said. “He’s a perfect back for that offense. Ashton Jeanty is a good player, but I’m not sure the Raiders will be good enough.” Also, many evaluators say they believe Emeka Egbuka is destined to drive award-season conversations in the future. He received several votes alongside Warren, and those were before his two-touchdown debut in Atlanta. Also receiving votes: Tyler Warren (Indianapolis Colts), Emeka Egbuka (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Travis Hunter (Jacksonville Jaguars), TreVeyon Henderson (New England Patriots), Ashton Jeanty (Las Vegas Raiders), Matthew Golden (Green Bay Packers), RJ Harvey (Denver Broncos) Defensive Rookie of the Year: Abdul Carter, OLB, New York GiantsMicah Parsons burst onto the NFL scene in 2021 as a feared pass rusher out of Penn State. Carter has a chance to replicate his fellow Nittany Lion’s impact in the NFC East, the division that Parsons, a former Dallas Cowboy, once dominated. Carter’s pass-rush prowess was on display during the preseason, and with a deep Giants defensive line that features Dexter Lawrence II and Brian Burns, Carter should get his share of one-on-one matchups. “He can be an All-Pro in the relatively near future,” an NFL personnel evaluator said. “It’s all set up for him.” Carter’s half-sack debut Sunday vs. Washington belies his true impact. He was constantly applying pressure on the pocket with an array of pass moves and Gumby-like bends off the edge. Although the voting for offensive rookie of the year was close, Carter dominated the DPOY discussion, earning more than 50% of the votes. Also receiving votes: Kenneth Grant (Miami Dolphins), Jordan Burch (Arizona Cardinals), Jalon Walker (Atlanta Falcons), Malaki Starks (Baltimore Ravens), Will Johnson (Cardinals) Comeback Player of the Year: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Minnesota VikingsSeveral star players more accomplished than McCarthy are returning from significant injury and are in line to make a run at the comeback award. But McCarthy enters his first year starting in an ideal situation to maximize his skill set. The Vikings are a playoff contender and believe they can build a Super Bowl-caliber roster with a starting quarterback under the low-cost rookie wage scale. McCarthy also benefits from sitting and watching behind the scenes for a year because of his season-ending knee injury suffered in the 2024 preseason. Also, any young quarterback should hope to have a top-flight wide receiver (Justin Jefferson) and tight end (T.J. Hockenson) the way McCarthy does. “[Kevin] O’Connell will get the best out of him, and he’s got enough talent around him where he doesn’t have to do it all,” an AFC executive said. “They should support him with a strong running game.” McCarthy already was the pick before Monday night’s win over Chicago, but his three-touchdown second half (two passing, one rushing) to erase an 11-point deficit punctuated his case. Also receiving votes: Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys), Aidan Hutchinson (Detroit Lions) Breakout player: Ricky Pearsall, WR, San Francisco 49ersThis category is tricky because of the threshold for what classifies as a “breakout.” Two players who received multiple votes here are New York’s Malik Nabers and Jacksonville’s Brian Thomas Jr., who already broke out as rookies in 2024 with 1,200-plus receiving yards each. So, we asked voters for change-of-pace options, players who are set up for Year 2 or 3 success. Pearsall emerged, coming off a 108-yard season debut in Seattle. The former first-round pick’s rookie campaign was derailed by a gunshot wound to the chest from an attempted robbery in August 2024. He also has dealt with hamstring issues and a shoulder subluxation. “I am high on Ricky and he should see plenty of targets — he has to prove he can stay healthy, though,” an NFC exec said. Pearsall figures to be a primary target for Brock Purdy through the first half of 2025. Jauan Jennings sat out most of camp and is dealing with a shoulder injury, and tight end George Kittle just went on injured reserve because of a hamstring issue. Also receiving votes: Bo Nix (Denver Broncos), Calijah Kancey (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Tyler Guyton (Dallas Cowboys), Riley Moss (Broncos), Calen Bullock (Houston Texans) Coach of the Year: Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles ChargersThe Chiefs are sitting on nine consecutive AFC West titles. The Chargers showed Friday night why that streak could be in jeopardy. Harbaugh has changed the equation in Los Angeles, which is 12-6 since he took over. After last week’s win over Kansas City in Sao Paulo, Harbaugh is 6-0 in Week 1 dating to his San Francisco days. “He has a team that can win the West, which would be an accomplishment,” an NFC executive said. “He has that team playing with an edge “ Evaluators noted that the offense appears to be evolving in Roman’s second year as playcaller. Justin Herbert was a crisp 25-of-34 for 318 yards, three passing touchdowns and 32 rushing yards. Last season, Herbert averaged fewer than 30 passing attempts per game since Los Angeles leaned heavily on the run. The Chargers were unafraid to pass the ball late in the game and with the lead Thursday night. That shows Harbaugh’s ability to adapt. Harbaugh has won everywhere he has been, so the momentum he has built in Los Angeles should be no surprise. Also receiving votes: Mike Macdonald (Seattle Seahawks), Mike Vrabel (New England Patriots), Brian Schottenheimer (Dallas Cowboys) |
| PETE PRISCO’s RANKINGSOur biggest puzzle with Prisco here – nothing but nice things to say about the Cowboys and they drop four spots: 1 Eagles They picked up right where they left off last year. The offense will be tough to stop, but they face a tough one at Kansas City this week. 1-0 2 Bills They rallied to beat the Ravens, but the defense has to be better. The run defense has been an issue for a long time — and it needs to be fixed. 1-0 3 Packers +1The defense showed up in a big way against the Lions. And it wasn’t just Micah Parsons, either. They looked the part of a Super Bowl contender. 1-0 4 Buccaneers +2They started slowly, but did some good things in the second half. They do need to run the ball better than they did against the Falcons. 1-0 5 Ravens This team’s identity has always been defense, yet that unit let them down against the Bills. The pass rush has to be better. 0-1 6 Commanders +2They looked dominant in the blowout of the Giants. But now they get to face the Packers on the road, a big step up in talent. 1-0 7 Chargers +9Justin Herbert was outstanding in beating the Chiefs, which serves notice to the rest of the AFC that this team might be a Super Bowl contender. Jim Harbaugh can flat out coach. 1-0 8 Chiefs -5The defense has to be a concern after the Chargers loss. Now here comes the Eagles offense. Steve Spagnuolo has to get it going. 0-1 9 49ers It wasn’t pretty in beating Seattle, but good teams find a way to win those games on the road. Injuries could be an issue this week. 1-0 10 Broncos Bo Nix didn’t look good in the victory over the Titans. Is that just a one game thing, or the start of a sophomore slump? 1-0 11 Lions -4They looked out of sync on offense against Green Bay. The change in coordinators seemed to show up in the loss to the Packers. 0-1 12 Bengals -1The defense actually won a game against the Browns. That’s a step in the right direction for a team that has to be better on that side of the ball. 1-0 13 Rams The defense impressed in the victory over the Texans. The offense didn’t do a lot, but Matt Stafford started and finished the game with his bad back, which was a good thing. 1-0 14 Vikings Quarterback J.J. McCarthy bounced back after a bad start against the Bears, which is a great sign for the season. The defense also came alive. 1-0 15 Jaguars +2They ran the ball, the defense took it away and Trevor Lawrence looked comfortable in beating Carolina. It was a good first game for new coach Liam Coen. 1-0 16 Cowboys -4They showed well in the loss to the Eagles. If only CeeDee Lamb had caught the ball. But they have to be pleased with what they saw in that game. 0-1 17 Steelers +1Aaron Rodgers was fantastic in his first start for the Steelers. That’s a great sign for the rest of the season. 18 Colts +8Daniel Jones was outstanding in his first start for the Colts. They certainly made the right decision in picking him to start. The defense also looked much improved. 1-0 19 Texans -4The offense didn’t do much against the Rams with the offensive line again a problem. That unit has to be better for C.J. Stroud. 0-1 20 Cardinals Winning on the road is always a good thing, but they made it interesting on the road against the Saints. Kyler Murray was good, but the line has to be better in front of him. 1-0 21 Bears -2 They looked like two different teams against the Vikings. They blew a double-digit lead at home, which will be tough to get over. The defensive injuries were too much. 0-1 22 Falcons -1 It might be time for a new kicker. They can’t hang their season on the right leg of Younghoe Koo can they? Michael Penix Jr. looked good in his season debut. 0-1 23 Raiders +5Pete Carroll and Geno Smith got off to a good start with the road victory against the Patriots. They might be fun to watch on offense with Chip Kelly running things. 1-0 24 Seahawks -2The good news in the loss to the 49ers was the defense played well. The bad news is Sam Darnold threw for 150 yards and no touchdown passes. 0-1 25 Jets -2The defense had a rough day against Aaron Rodgers. They did do some good things on offense, which is a good sign. 0-1 26 Patriots -2The Mike Vrabel era didn’t get off to a great start in losing at home to the Raiders. Drake Maye has to be better. 0-1 27 Browns +3The defense did its part against the Bengals, but the offense didn’t score enough. The kicker didn’t help, either. 0-1 28 Dolphins -3Their play in the blowout loss to the Colts was awful. The seat under Mike McDaniel is torrid now. 0-1 29 Giants The sooner they get to Jaxson Dart, the better off they will be. Russell Wilson isn’t the answer. 0-1 30 Titans +1 They played a solid defensive game in the loss to the Broncos. But they didn’t get enough from Cameron Ward in his first NFL start, even if it was a tough place to open a career. 0-1 31 Panthers -4So much for the preseason hype about Bryce Young and the offense. He looked like early 2024 Young against the Jaguars, which is not a good thing. 0-1 32 Saints They showed some fight against the Cardinals and had their chances at the end. Playing close in games has to be what this season is about for this team. 0-1 |
| THE BEST DRAFT CLASSES?After one week, Mike Renner of CBSSports.com identifies the early contenders for best draft classes. While most agree you shouldn’t evaluate a draft class until three years out, I say hogwash. These men are playing football right now and I want to know who’s making an impact! Week 1 obviously isn’t going to be the end all be all for their careers, but it does give us a good feel for which rookie classes are value adds this season. These are the five draft classes that stood out as making outsized contributions compared to where they were selected last April. Note: While players like Abdul Carter, Armand Membou, Tyler Warren and others were undeniably awesome over the weekend, this exercise leaned on teams with multiple impact rookies from picks that were harder to hit on. 1. BrownsThe Browns sent the NFL airwaves on fire from draft day all through training camp with their moves. In a humorous twist of irony, it was none of the players who dominated sports talk radio making an impact. We saw neither Shedeur Sanders nor Dillon Gabriel, and their top pick in Mason Graham, who they got instead of the oft-rumored Travis Hunter, was just okay in his debut. No, it was the unheralded positions making outsized impacts for the Browns out the gate. Linebacker Carson Schwesinger, tight end Harold Fannin Jr., and running back Dylan Sampson looked like dudes. That’s a second-, third-, and fourth-rounder, respectively, showing out. Fannin was to me the most intriguing on rewatch because of how frequently Joe Flacco was looking his way. He’s an undersized, hybrid tight end who can create space on his own and after the catch. His seven catches and nine targets were second-most of any tight end in the league in Week 1. Sampson also was a major factor as a receiver hauling in all eight of his targets for 64 yards with three broken tackles after the catch. There wasn’t much space for anyone running behind the Browns’ banged-up offensive line, but Sampson showed a willingness to fight for tough yards there as well. Even when Quinshon Judkins comes back, don’t expect Sampson to cede the starting role to the higher-drafted rookie. 2. FalconsThe Falcons were searching for a big-time impact from this rookie class when they traded away a future first-rounder to go up and get James Pearce Jr.. It wasn’t either of their first-rounders, though, who were the headliner here. No, it’s the late third-rounder in safety Xavier Watts. Watts looked like he was back at Notre Dame reading routes well before they happened and seemingly always finding a way to be in the right place at the right time. Adding him next to Jessie Bates III will make opposing quarterbacks think twice about attacking downfield all season. Of course, it didn’t stop there as the Falcons had three other major contributors defensively in Pearce (23 snaps), Jalon Walker (26 snaps), and Billy Bowman Jr. (47 snaps). The two first-rounders were eased in and while their athleticism flashed, you could still see the relative inexperience on tape. 3. BuccaneersOne of the worst kept secrets in training camp was how good first-rounder Emeka Egbuka looked already and that translated immediately with four catches for 67 yards and two scores including the game winner. While he was exactly what they needed in the slot offensively, third-rounder Jacob Parrish was exactly what they needed in the slot defensively. He took over the mantle for Tykee Smith and might even be an upgrade. His physicality around the line of scrimmage was all over his tape as he shut down screens and wide runs. Parrish’s three targets resulted in a grand total of 2 yards. The Bucs defense looks like it’s taken a step forward this year. 4. CardinalsWhile third-round rookie Jordan Burch had a couple of nice pass-rushing reps, the Cardinals make this list because of second-round corner Will Johnson. He was not only the best rookie corner over the weekend, he put up one of the best performances of any corner in the league. He was targeted seven times and allowed four catches for 32 yards with two pass-breakups, according to PFF. I was especially impressed with him in press coverage against the speedsters in New Orleans. Johnson’s speed was a concern pre-draft, but it never showed up as he jostled the Saints wideouts throughout their routes. That’s a skill set the Cardinals didn’t have at corner last season and will be put to good use. 5. EaglesIt seems like the Eagles are somehow always on this list and their most recent draft is no exception. Everyone raved about the fit of Jihaad Campbell in Vic Fangio’s defense when he was drafted and it came to fruition last Thursday. The flexibility he provides their defense is invaluable. It’s like they cloned Zack Baun. He can go from dropping down to the line of scrimmage and setting the edge one play to running to the deep middle in Tampa 2 the next and not looking out of place. He had a forced fumble and a pass-breakup in his very first start. Andrew Mukuba deserves some praise too as the second-rounder also got the starting nod in Week 1. He finished with four tackles without a miss and only allowed 5 yards in coverage. Bshulkes doesn’t have the Bears on the list: @BShulkesColston Loveland (pick 10) & Luther Burden (pick 39): 3 catches – 9 yards. Ozzy Trapilo (pick 56): bench Shemar Turner (pick 62): Inactive Ruben Hyppolite (pick 132): 3 tackles Zah Frazier: inactive Luke Newman bench Kyle Monangai: 0 carries (1 hold, declined) Need more. |
