Nick Sirianni's curious comparison of the Eagles' 2024 and 2025 starts

Nick Sirianni's curious comparison of the Eagles' 2024 and 2025 starts originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

When we look back now at the 2024 season, the clear pivotal moment where the Eagles began to find themselves as a team was the Week 5 bye. 

The Eagles sputtered through the first month of the season, hanging on for dear life to beat the Packers by five points in the opener in São Paulo, then allowing a 70-yard touchdown drive in the final seconds to lose the home opener to a Falcons team that finished with a losing record, then winning by three points over by a Saints team that finished 5-12 , then getting blown out by 17 points in Tampa. 

They were 2-2 and nobody was thinking Super Bowl. Then the bye week came along and the Eagles figured some things out. 

They reshaped the offense around Saquon Barkley, moved Cooper DeJean into the starting lineup and became a different football team almost overnight. They went 12-1 the rest of the regular season and roared to the Super Bowl championship. 

Here we are again at Week 5 and once again the Eagles have a lot of things to figure out.

They’re 4-0 this year and not 2-2 and they’re still a month from the bye. But just like last year going into Week 5, there’s a lot of work to do.

“We’ve got to play more consistent across the board so we put together a full game,” Nick Sirianni said Monday. “I look at our first four games this year, very similar to what our first four games were last year. You know, we’ve obviously played a very hard September schedule. 

“And coming out of September last year, it was a good opportunity for us to sit and say, ‘Hey, what do we do good? What are we not doing so good?’ And figure that out and get better from it and get better every day. Well, it’s the same thing here. It’s just we have a different record right now.”

Sirianni talks all the time about how he wants his team playing its best football at the end of the year, and with the exception of the disastrous 2023 ending, they’ve done that. They went 6-1 in meaningful games to close 2021, they were 8-2 in their last 10 games heading into the Super Bowl in 2022 and they finished 16-1 last year after that 2-2 start.

When the Eagles came out of the bye they were 29th in defense and 21st in run defense, they had the 2nd-most turnovers and 5th-fewest takeaways and they had allowed the 6th-most 20-yard plays.

The rest of the regular season? They were first in defense (by more than 700 yards), fifth in run defense, they had the 2nd-fewest turnovers and 4th-most takeaways and they allowed the fewest 20-yard plays.

A total transformation. And they’re 20-1 since.

It was interesting to hear Sirianni bring up last year because although there are a lot of similarities between this team and last year’s team, he doesn’t generally reference the past.

But it does make sense, and he said he expects a similar reversal in the upcoming weeks.

“We have to have that same hunger, same humbleness that we had last year this year,” he said. “Not trying not to speak too much about different seasons, but that first month of the season you’re figuring some things out because at the end of the day, you want to continue to play better, better, better so you’re playing your best football at the end.”

It will be interesting to see where the Eagles wind up, but through Week 4 – despite a 4-0 record – they’re 27th in the NFL in offense, 24th in run defense, 19th in third-down defense, 28th in passing offense, tied for 26thin sacks, 17th in sacks allowed and 23rd in 20-yard plays.

Priorities? Getting Saquon Barkley going. Getting A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith going. Get the pass rush going. Stop giving up big plays. Improve against the run. Protect better.

“A lot of things to clean up at every position, offensively, defensively, special teams,” Sirianni said. “And that’s what (Monday) was about. (Sunday), we enjoyed it, today back to work, telling each other the truth in attempts to get better.”

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In Roob's Eagles Stats: The insanity of back-to-back 10-game winning streaks

In Roob's Eagles Stats: The insanity of back-to-back 10-game winning streaks originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Back-to-back winning streaks, winning with a shaky offense and a Nick Foles record going by the wayside.

We’ve got all the numbers you want in this week’s edition of Roob’s Eagles Stats.

1. The Eagles have won 10 consecutive games. And if that doesn’t seem like such a big deal, maybe that’s because it just happened last year. But it is a big deal because those are the only 10-game winning streaks in Eagles history. Every coach in Eagles history won 10 games exactly zero times. Sirianni has done it twice in the last 12 months. So we’ll start this week’s Roob’s Eagles Stats with a look at just exactly how rare these winning streaks are.

1A. After winning 10 straight games last year before the loss to the Commanders, the Eagles have won 10 more games in a row for back-to-back 10-game winning streaks separated by one loss. They are only the third team in NFL history to put together two 10-game winning streaks separated by one game. The first was the Curly Lambeau Packers in the late 1920s and early 1930s. They won their last game in 1928 and their first 10 in 1929 before the winning streak ended at 11 games with a scoreless tie against the Frankford Yellow Jackets in Philadelphia. They won their last two games in 1929 and their first nine in 1930 before a loss to the Chicago Cardinals at Wrigley Field. The only other team to pull off this rarity is the Andy Reid Chiefs from 2019 through 2020. They won their last nine games in 2019, including Super Bowl LIV at Joe Robbie Stadium, then their first four games in 2020 before a 40-32 loss to the Raiders at Arrowhead. They won their next 10 before a 38-21 loss to the Chargers on the final day of the season with the backups playing. 

1B. Staying on the topic of winning streaks, Nick Sirianni is only the second head coach in NFL history to lead his teams on multiple winning streaks of 10 or more games within his first five years. The only other coach to do that is legendary Hall of Famer Paul Brown with the original Cleveland Browns in the 1940s. In his first year as a head coach, 1946, the Browns won their last six games, including the AAFL Championship Game over the New York Yankees at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland, and they won their first five games in 1947 before a 13-10 loss to the Los Angeles Dons, also at Municipal Stadium. The Browns won their last three games in 1947, including another AAFL Championship Game over the Yankees – this one 14-3 at Yankee Stadium – before going 15-0 in 1948, including a third straight league title, 49-7, over the Bills, again in downtown Cleveland on the banks of Lake Erie. The winning streak ended at 18 when they opened the 1949 season with a 28-28 against the Bills at Civic Stadium in Buffalo.

1C. In all, Sirianni is the 14th NFL head coach to lead his team on multiple 10-game winning streaks. Of the other 13, nine are in the Hall of Fame, two are still coaching (Sean Payton, Andy Reid), one should be in the Hall (George Seifert) and one will be (Bill Belichick). The others? Don Shula (with both the Colts and Dolphins), Mike Ditka, Tony Dungy, Bud Grant, Bill Parcells, Chuck Noll, Joe Gibbs, Lambeau and Brown.

1D. The Eagles are now 20-1 in their last 21 games. The only team in NFL history with a better 21-game stretch was the 2003-04 Patriots, who won 21 in a row before a loss in Pittsburgh in Week 8 of the 2004 season.

2A. The Eagles are 4-0 despite averaging just 251.5 yards of offense per game. Trying to remember the last NFL team to open a season 4-0 despite averaging fewer than 260 yards per game? Well you can stop racking your brain because last time it happened was 84 years ago. The 1941 Giants averaged just 209 yards per game in wins over the Eagles, Washington, Steelers and Eagles again (Although I’m a little suspicious of the numbers, because what are the odds they allowed exactly 210 yards in three of those games? I wonder if back in 1941 there was a little guessing going on? No way to tell!).

2B. The Eagles are only the second team ever to go 4-0 despite getting outgained in each of their first four games. The 2012 Cards were outgained by one, 145, 15 and 183 yards to open the season with wins over the Seahawks, Patriots, Eagles and Dolphins. 

2C. The Eagles have been outgained by 327 yards, the 2nd-most ever by an undefeated team through four games. Those same 2012 Cards – with Kevin Kolb as their starting quarterback – went 4-0 despite being outgained by 344 yards. 

2D. The Eagles are also the first team to find their way to 4-0 despite averaging just 4.2 yards per play (they’re at 4.17). The previous low by a 4-0 team was 4.25 by the 1964 Boston Patriots.

2E. They’re also only the fourth team since sacks became an official stat in 1982 to get to 4-0 despite five or fewer sacks. The only 4-0 team with fewer sacks through four games was the 1993 Eagles, who lost eight of their next nine games. Those four sacks were recorded by Clyde Simmons (2), Seth Joyner and Keith Millard. 

2F. There’s more! The Eagles are the first team ever to average 27 points per game through Week 4 despite averaging fewer than 260 yards per game. 

2G. The Eagles are averaging just 5.02 net yards per pass play, the 3rd-lowest in history by a 4-0 team. Those 1964 Patriots averaged 4.84 and the 2003 Panthers averaged 4.58.

2H. You get the idea.

3. Sydney Brown’s 64-yard blocked punt return for a touchdown was only the 10th in Eagles history and their first since Chris Maragos blocked a punt by Ryan Allen of the Patriots and Najee Goode returned it 24 yards for a touchdown in a 35-28 win over the Patriots in 2015. The longest previous Eagles blocked punt return TD was a 27-yarder by Trey Burton – who may be better known for his role in a different touchdown – after James Casey blocked a Steve Weatherford punt in a 34-26 win over the Giants in 2014.

4. The Eagles were outgained by 176 yards Sunday. Their last three games that they’ve been outgained by at least 175 yards have been the loss to the Bucs in the 2021 regular season, the Week 4 loss to the Bucs last year and the Week 4 loss to the Bucs Sunday. The Eagles are now 10-99 in franchise history when they’re outgained by 175 or more yards. 

5. Jihaad Campbell – who was 21 years, 216 days old on Sunday – is the 2nd-youngest Eagles in the last 75 years with an interception. Kelee Ringo was 21 years, 181 days, when he picked off Tyrod Taylor on the final play of a 33-25 Eagles win in 2023. Adoree’ Jackson – who Ringo started in place of Sunday – had a 76-yard pick-6 off Jalen Hurts earlier in that game. The only younger Eagle with an INT is Jim Parmer, who was 21 years, 199 days, when he picked off Steelers quarterback Ray Evans in a 34-7 Eagles win at Forbes Field in 1948. Campbell is the second Eagle with both an interception and forced fumble within his first four career games. Jordan Hicks did that in 2015.

6A. The Eagles are only the sixth team in NFL history to open a season with four straight wins by seven or fewer points. The others are the 1922 Bears, 1988 Bengals, 1991 Bears, 1993 Eagles and 2024 Chiefs. The Eagles have outscored their four opponents by just 20 points. The last team to go 4-0 with a smaller margin of victory was the 1999 Patriots, who outscored their opponents by 19 points.  

6B. The Eagles have won five straight games decided by seven or fewer points. That ties the 5th-longest streak in NFL history. Since 2022, the Eagles are an incredible 24-6 in games decided by seven or fewer points, an .800 winning percentage. The last team to play .800 football in games decided by seven or fewer points over a four-year span was the 2006 through 2009 Colts, who were 28-7, also .800. The last team with a higher winning percentage in close games over a four-year period was the 2004 through 2007 Patriots, who were 17-4 for an .810 winning percentage. 

7A. With a 2.6 average on 18 carries against the Rams and a 2.3 average on 19 carries against the Bucs, Saquon Barkley is the first Eagle to average 2.6 or worse in consecutive games (minimum 15 carries) since Duce Staley did it three weeks in a row in 2001 (Chargers, Washington, 49ers). The only other backs to have consecutive games at 2.6 or worse are Lee Bouggess in 1970, Tom Sullivan twice in 1974, Wilbert Montgomery in 1980 and Michael Haddix in 1987. 

7B. Barkley’s 3.1 average is worst of 19 running backs with at least 50 and worst by an Eagles back through four games since LeSean McCoy was at 2.8 in 2014 and 2nd-worst in the last 42 years, since Haddix was at 2.6 four games into the 1983 season. The only other Eagles back with a lower yards-per-carry after four games: Mike Hogan in 1977 (3.0). 

8. With a 77-yard touchdown pass to Emeka Egbuka and a 72-yarder to Bucky Irving, both in the third quarter, Baker Mayfield became the fifth quarterback ever to throw two touchdowns of 70 or more yards in the same game against the Eagles. Hall of Famer Sid Luckman of the Bears did it in 1947, Earl Morrall of the Giants in 1965, Carson Palmer of the Bengals in 2014 and Ryan Fitzpatrick of the Bucs in 2018. They are the two-longest TD passes against the Eagles since Nick Sirianni became head coach. The previous long was a 70-yarder from Jordan Love to Jayden Reed in last year’s opener in São Paul. This is the first time in 78 years a quarterback has thrown multiple 70-yard touchdown passes against the Eagles in the same quarter. In 1947, Luckham threw TDs of 70 and 74 yards to Ken Kavanaugh in the second quarter of the Bears’ 40-7 win over the Eagles at Wrigley Field. Kavanaugh later became an assistant coach at Villanova. 

9. Jalen Hurts improved to 50-20 in his 70 career starts. Only eight quarterbacks have won more games through 70 starts: Ken Stabler (55), Patrick Mahomes (55), Daryle Lamonica (54), Hall of Famer Roger Staubach (52), Tom Brady (52), Lamar Jackson (52), Danny White (51) and Matt Ryan (51). Hurts has 114 touchdowns in those 70 starts – 68 passing, 46 rushing. Only five quarterbacks have generated more touchdowns in their first 70 starts: Mahomes (141), Dan Marino (126), Josh Allen (125), Aaron Rodgers (123) and Lamonica (115).

10. The Eagles are only the third team in NFL history to get to 4-0 despite averaging below 5.0 yards per play in each of their four games. The other teams are the 2006 Ravens and 2012 Cards. Last time the Eagles averaged below 5.0 yards per play in any four consecutive games was Week 8 through Week 11 of the 2000 season. Last time the Eagles won four games in a row with less than 5.0 yards per play was Week 12 through 15 in 1991. No team has ever opened a season 5-0 without averaging 5.0 yards per play at least once.

THE BONUS JALEN HURTS SECTION

Most of these Jalen Hurts interception stats appeared in my post-game 10 Instant Observations, so since I’m repeating them here I felt like they needed a separate bonus category! 

11A. With 24 more passes without an interception, Hurts extended his streak of consecutive regular-season passes without an INT to 241. He broke the franchise record of 233 set by Nick Foles in 2013. 

11B. Hurts has now gone 10 straight starts without an interception, tied for the 3rd-longest streak in NFL history. Justin Herbert had an 11-game streak last year and Tom Brady had an 11-game streak over the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Jared Goff in 2022 and 2023 and Derek Carr in 2018 also had 10-game streaks. 

11C. Since throwing four interceptions in the Eagles’ first three games last year, Hurts has thrown 360 passes over 16 regular-season games with just one interception. He’s the first quarterback in NFL history to throw at least 300 passes over a 16-game span with one or fewer interceptions.  

11D. When the season began earlier this month, Hurts ranked 15th in NFL history in career interception ratio with one every 49.7 pass attempts. With 101 attempts so far this year without an INT, he’s improved to one INT every 52.3 attempts and now ranks tied for 10th. 

12. THE RIDICULOUS BRADEN MANN STATS

Braden Mann’s 34-yard loss on the intentional safety on the final play of the game equals the biggest loss on a single play since at least 1960 (as far back as available records go for that sort of thing). Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson took a 34-yard loss on an intentional safety in a 12-10 win over the Bills in 2003 and Jets quarterback Neil O’Donnell had a 34-yard loss on an intentional safety at the end of a win over the Colts in 1997. But they both finished with more than negative-34 yards for the game. Mann’s negative -34 scrimmage yards are the fewest by an Eagle in a game since quarterback Tommy Thompson had negative-43 yards in a 27-10 loss to Washington at Shibe Park in 1946. Sacks didn’t exist yet, but when quarterbacks were tackled for a loss that couldn’t as rushing yards on his ledger. Since 1960, the fewest scrimmage yards in NFL history in a game was Jets punter Louie Aguiar’s negative-32 in a 17-12 win over the Bengals in 1993. Aguiar took an intentional safety with eight seconds left, although it didn’t end the game. Aguiar had to kick off with one second left.

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Broncos out-gained Bengals by 353 yards, largest margin in an NFL game this year

The Broncos' win over the Bengals on Monday night was even more dominant than the 28-3 final score would suggest.

The Broncos gained 512 yards of total offense, while their defense held the Bengals to 159 yards. That yardage differential of 353 total yards was the biggest yardage differential in any game this season — more than 100 yards greater than the previous biggest yardage differential of this season, which was the Bills out-gaining the Jets by 249 yards in Week Two.

Denver's 512 yards of offense was the most they've had in any game since 2014, when Peyton Manning was their starting quarterback.

Broncos quarterback Bo Nix threw for 326 yards. Bengals quarterback Jake Browning threw for 125. The Broncos' starting running back, J.K. Dobbins, had 101 rushing yards, and backup RJ Harvey added 58. The Bengals' top runner, Chase Brown, gained 40 yards, and no one else on the Bengals rushed for more than five yards.

It was one of the most dominant wins any team has put together this season, and a disaster for a Bengals team that has now lost two straight blowouts in two games without Joe Burrow.

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Just when you thought Saquon Barkley's numbers couldn't get worse, THIS happened

Just when you thought Saquon Barkley's numbers couldn't get worse, THIS happened originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

We all just keep waiting for it to get better, and here we are almost a quarter of the way through the season and it’s not getting better. 

It’s actually getting worse.

Saquon Barkley ran 19 times for 43 yards Sunday in the Eagles’ win over the Buccaneers in Tampa, an anemic 2.3 yards per carry. He’s now averaging 3.1 yards per carry this year – 2nd-worst by any Eagles back since 1991. In 2014, LeSean McCoy was at 2.8 through four games, although he finished with over 1,300 yards and a 4.2 average.

Barkley averaged 2.6 yards last Sunday in the win over the Rams, and he’s the first Eagles back in 16 years with consecutive games with at least 15 carries and a 2.6 average or worse. In 2009, Brian Westbrook averaged 1.9 and 2.0 in playoff wins over the Vikings and Giants. You have to go back to Duce Staley in 2001 to find the last time it happened in the regular season.

This is a guy who set an NFL record with over 2,500 yards last year.

What on Earth is happening here?

“That’s what happens when you have the year that we had last year and you got a year of tape,” Barkley said Sunday afternoon in the visiting locker room at Raymond James Stadium.

“We’ve got to do a better job of adjusting to that and having answers to that, and I’ve got to do a better job.

“The running game always starts with me, so I’m a big believer in that, and when the game is going (or) when it’s going bad, I own it and I said I’d be better, but the beauty of it is we’re not running the ball too great and we’re still 4-0.”

Barkley is being accountable and he’s being a sound leader and he’s being a good teammate. But these issues go way behind Saquon not running as well as last year.

The offensive line just isn’t the same. Lane Johnson has had to leave the last two games with injuries, Tyler Steen has been OK but isn’t playing up to the level that Mekhi Becton did, and Landon Dickerson is clearly hindered by injuries as well but continues to grind.

And the play calling has ranged from poor to lackluster for much of these first four games, and that certainly hasn’t done Barkley any favors.

Whatever it is, this is not the Saquon Barkley anybody expected.

“I’ve got to do a better job of getting into a flow and get into a rhythm of the game,” he said. “My focus is right now I’m not doing a great enough job on first downs and just trying to keep us in manageable downs in the second down, so I’ve got to do a better job.”

How can he play better?

“”Get more yards,” he said. “You know, if it’s a zero-yard gain, make it a three-yard gain. If it’s three yards, make it a six-yard gain. I’ve got to do a better job of that.”

This time last year, Barkley had 435 rushing yards and 6.0 yards per carry. This year, he has 237 yards and 3.1 per carry.

He still doesn’t have a run longer than 16 yards. 

“There’s a couple of runs where if I did that or if I did this, it could have been a big run,” he said Sunday. “But that’s football, and defenses that we’ve been playing have been doing a great job.”

Even with Jalen Hurts’ rushing yards, the Eagles are still at just 3.5 yards per carry going into Week 5.

They’re the first NFL team to be 4-0 despite averaging 3.5 or worse since the 2019 Patriots. It’s their worst average through four games since 2015, when their lead running backs were DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews.

Barkley said it’s hard for him to be too disappointed because the Eagles are unbeaten, one of only two 4-0 teams in the NFL. And they’re 21-3 since he got here.

“I like winning, I like winning football,” Barkley said. “I don’t know, that’s just me. I like winning football games and I don’t care what it looks like, whether it’s me rushing for 20 yards or me rushing for 200 yards. Whatever it takes. I don’t care if the score is 6-3or 36-4. We’re 4-0.”

Barkley did have four catches for a season-high 31 yards, giving him 74 scrimmage yards. So there’s that. And he scored his third touchdown on a fake tush push.

So it hasn’t been a total disaster.

But it’s been close.

“We’ve just got to continue to … find – I hate using this word – but our identity within the offense and in the run game,” Barkley said. “And that’s what the season’s for.

“We’re going to continue to get better. We’ve got guys that want to continue to get better and want to be great, and are going to continue to buy in. So just looking forward to next week.”

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Jerry Jones: I'm proud of the way the Cowboys played but sick that we didn't win

Cowboys owner and General Manager Jerry Jones said his team deserved to win for how well it played on Sunday night against the Packers.

Instead, the Cowboys and Packers tied 40-40, and Jones was disappointed to end up with a 1-2-1 record through four games, rather than 2-2.

"I'm proud of this bunch," Jones said after the game. "They competed their tails off tonight. They competed out there at the end when they were tired. I'm proud of them. I thought we played well enough to win the game. I'm sick for these players, sick for these coaches and mostly sick for our fans that we didn't bring home a win. But I am proud of the way we competed tonight."

Jones particularly wanted Dak Prescott to get a win, saying he out-played Packers quarterback Jordan Love.

"To not come out with a W for that one is unbelievable for him," Jones said of Prescott. "I thought he was the better quarterback tonight."

The Cowboys played better than most people thought they would, but the Packers' field goal as time expired took away the win Jones thought they deserved.

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Eagles notebook: Dealing with heat in Tampa, Hurts getting out of character

Eagles notebook: Dealing with heat in Tampa, Hurts getting out of character originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

It’s going to be hot in Tampa on Sunday. Really hot.

The Eagles know that because they were in Tampa to play the Buccaneers in Week 4 last year too and the heat had a definite impact on that game.

So this year, the Eagles are trying something new. They’re flying to Tampa on Friday instead of Saturday.

“Everything we do is to try (and make sure that) our process is right to give ourselves the best chance to win,” head coach Nick Sirianni said. “If your process is off, then you don’t have as much of a chance. That was part of our process when we studied some things in the offseason with the heat and everything like that. Get out there a day earlier to acclimate, one less day off the plane before you play a game. So, those are a couple things to name a few.”

The forecasted temperature on Sunday in Tampa is 91 degrees with a real-feel temp of 99. So anything the Eagles can do to help is warranted.

Several players said this week that they will spend some extra time in the sauna, getting in the steam and in the hot tub. Cam Jurgens explained it’s not about acclimating to the heat but more about getting used to sweating and sweating more efficiently as your body works to cool you.

Jordan Davis stressed the importance of hydrating and eating right all week. And he said all those long drives in training camp will help this week as they have to deal with the heat in Tampa.

As far as heading down early, not everyone is a believer that it will help. DC Vic Fangio was asked if the early flight will help and he said, “I don’t know.”

“It is too late to do anything right now for it as far as prepping for it,” Fangio said. “You don’t practice in heat one day and say you’re acclimated or take a pill and say you’re acclimated. The key will be, I mean, it’s a mindset, No. 1. No. 2, we need to not let them have 8, 10, 12 play drives on us.”

The Eagles lost to the Bucs 33-16 in Week 4 last year before rattling off 10 straight wins coming back from the bye. There’s no question that the heat hurt them a year ago.

“Just gotta go out there and play,” Jalen Hurts said. “Gotta go out there and play. I don’t want to make it more than what it is.”

Getting out of character

During the Eagles’ 33-26 win over the Rams on Sunday, the FOX broadcast caught a few glimpses of the Eagles sideline and an animated Jalen Hurts. That was notable because Hurts is usually stone-faced on the sideline as he gets ready for the next offensive series.

After the game, Hurts talked about “getting out of character” in reference to those sideline interactions.

On Wednesday, I followed up with Hurts about that comment and about how he knows when the situation dictates something different from him.

“It takes discernment,” he said. “I think it takes discernment, for one. I think secondly, I’ve come up here every preseason and told you guys that every year is going to demand a different version of myself. I’m mindful of all of those different things. 

“It’s just a matter of feeling that and hopefully with the preparation and the thought that you put in before you walk into a situation, you like to think you’re thinking right. You can experience things and you can learn from them. That was a moment, that was a moment for all of us, not just myself where we’re trying to get things going and there’s an eagerness for that.”

Hurts is a fascinating guy.

Credit to Kevin Patullo

After an awful first half offensively against the Rams, the Eagles’ passing game did a 180 in the second half to pull off a come-from-behind win.

Why did things turn around in the second half?

“We had to,” Hurts said on Wednesday.

Fair enough. The Eagles were down 19 points early in the third quarter and they needed to throw the ball to get back into the game. While Hurts has gotten a ton of credit for the turnaround, he was sure to give credit to offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo.

“We put ourselves in a position and we approached the game in a different way and you have games like that,” Hurts said. “I think as a unit, we found a way to get it going. And I give a lot of credit to KP (Kevin Patullo) in that. Give a lot of credit to KP in that. Being able to adjust and see and get us in the direction that we need to be.”

It seemed notable that Hurts gave that credit to Patullo, who has been on the receiving end of a ton of criticism from the fanbase after the Eagles’ 3-0 start because the offense hasn’t been firing on all cylinders. Perhaps this was a rabbit-eared Hurts wanting to make a statement of support for the first-year OC.

Dealing with dirty kicks

Both Tank Bigbsy and John Metchie had no luck fielding the knuckleball kickoffs from Rams kicker Joshua Karty in Week 3.

The bad news is that other teams are going to see that on tape.

The good news is that Karty’s ability to hit those kicks isn’t easily duplicated.

“Yesterday, Braden (Mann) and Jake (Elliott), all of us, we were just watching film and we had a zoomed in look at what he was doing and it’s one of those things like how do you replicate that?” special teams coordinator Michael Clay said. “Because just like anything else in the NFL, until you prove you could stop it, you’re going to see it again. From a coaching standpoint, you always look after the fact is 20/20, how do I keep getting these guys better in terms of dealing with those type of knuckle balls? It is just one of those things where you think you could prepare for as much as they possibly can.

“Then when it comes into real life, you’re still in awe of it. That ball moved four times before it hit the ground. But for us after, okay, the ball hits the ground, let’s get north and south, let’s put the pressure on them. Can we run forward? Can we break a tackle and get some positive yards instead of running east and west? Just some growth from there.”

Clay emphasized the importance of his returners getting square in front of the bouncing football just like a shortstop in baseball. He stopped short of saying he’ll have his guys watch infielders.

But Clay was a big fan of manager and former MLB player Ron Washington, who he called a heck of a fielding coach. Clay might have to be a bit of a fielding coach going forward.

“At least if it does take a big hop, it hits your shoulders and it’s going to fall straight down,” Clay said. “I can now pick it up instead of when it’s to the side. If it does take a skid right there now we’re really in a danger zone. So just trying to keep them as square as possible and keep their feet hot where they’re able to field the bouncing ball.”

No more penalties

Even after the Eagles’ miraculous win over the Rams on Sunday, it was on Nick Sirianni’s mind. The Eagles have to be more disciplined.

Through three weeks, they have already been flagged for taunting twice and have one ejection under their belt. You might think the taunting emphasis from the NFL is silly, but it’s real. And the Eagles have to do a better job of avoiding those penalties.

Sirianni said despite the new emphasis, he does have a good understanding of what will be called and what won’t be called.

“Anytime that you have a referee crew, you kind of know the penalties that they call, and you emphasize that every day,” he said. “You guys know we have a team meeting, and one of the first things we talk about is that crew’s emphasis, just teaching them the rules within that, whether it’s roughing the passer or pass interference or illegal shift, whatever it may be. So, this week we went and we will continue to do this until we fix the problem. We did the taunts. I’m not saying that this crew has a high taunt penalty rate, but we are lacking in that area right now. That’s one of the ways we’re working to fix it is just to understand that they’re calling it tighter.

“The NFL can do whatever they want to do there. It’s our job to play by the rules of how they’re calling it. Year-in, year-out there’s emphasis that the NFL puts on a certain rule. They go through their studies just like we go through our studies. ‘Hey, we’ve got to get better at this, or we’ve got to officiate this better.’ I love that. I love that they go through that process, and this is no different. It’s just a different type of penalty that we’re seeing and it’s getting called more. So, it’s our job to play within those rules, keep our composure and play within the rules of the game.”

All they do is win

The Eagles (3-0) and the Buccaneers (3-0) are two of just six remaining undefeated teams in the NFL this season. So there will be a maximum of five entering Week 5.

Dating back to last season, the Eagles have won nine games. This is the second-longest winning streak in franchise history, trailing their 10-game winning streak during last season. The loss separating these two streaks was in Washington when Jalen Hurts got injured and the Eagles lost 36-33 on a Jayden Daniels touchdown pass with six seconds left.

The last loss before that? Week 4 in Tampa. The exact same game on the schedule this weekend.

from NFL News, Scores, Fantasy Games and Highlights 2020 | Yahoo Sports https://ift.tt/nAeyJzi

Eagles-Buccaneers matchups to watch in Week 4

Eagles-Buccaneers matchups to watch in Week 4 originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Eagles (3-0) will travel to Tampa this weekend to face the Buccaneers (3-0) in a Week 4 game for the second year in a row.

Nick Sirianni is 1-4 against the Buccaneers since taking over as the Eagles head coach in 2021 and three of those losses have come at Raymond James Stadium.

Here are some key matchups to watch on Sunday:

Jalen Hurts vs. Todd Bowles’ blitzing defense

We know what this Buccaneers defense is going to do. Todd Bowles is going to blitz the heck out of Jalen Hurts.

Through the first three weeks of the season, the Bucs are seventh in the NFL in blitz rate at 35% but that’s probably going to increase this week. Bowles’ defense was third in the league in blitz rate in 2024 at 36.5% and in Week 4, they blitzed Hurts on 37.8% of his dropbacks.

Even though the Eagles have gotten better at dealing with blitzes over the last year or so, this game is going to be another test.

Here’s a look at Hurts’ numbers broken down by PFF in their Week 4 game against the Bucs in 2024:

Not blitzed: 6/10, 58 yards, 1 sack, 0 turnover worthy plays
Blitzed: 12/20, 100 yards, 1 TD, 5 sacks, 3 turnover worthy plays, 2 sacks, 1 lost fumble

There’s no doubt that if the Eagles are going to win this game, they’re going to need to find at least some success against Bowles’ blitzing defense. Hurts also has to keep an eye on Antoine Winfield Jr., who is an excellent safety. If Hurts makes a mistake, Winfield can make him pay.

Lane Johnson vs. Haason Reddick

There’s no doubt that the Eagles missed Lane Johnson when he exited Week 3’s game with a neck injury. The hope is that he’ll be back on the field in Tampa, although Fred Johnson eventually proved to be a good backup option, just like he did in 2024. Lane Johnson was a full participant in Thursday’s practice.

The Bucs obviously blitz a ton but they have some good players up front with Reddick and Yaya Diaby on the edges. Most of Reddick’s snaps come on the left side of the line, which sets up a battle against Johnson.

Since the Eagles traded Reddick to the Jets in April of 2024, Reddick’s career has not gone to plan. He held out with the Jets and eventually had just one sack in 10 games in 2024. But this season, he has one sack in three games and wants to show that he’s still a disruptive player. Now 31, Reddick had double digit sacks four stright seasons from 2020-2023.

Saquon Barkley vs. good run defense

Through three games, Saquon Barkley has 58 rushing attempts for just 194 yards and 2 touchdowns. His yards-per-carry average is down to 3.3 after he averaged 5.8 yards per carry during his 2,000-yard season in 2024.

What are the issues with the run game right now?

“I think when you look at the run game as a whole, when we line up and kind of identify what we’re trying to do, we’re getting different things this year than what we’ve gotten in the past,” Eagles OC Kevin Patullo said. “Saquon was such a big part of our offense last year. Everybody knows, ‘Hey, he’s a huge part of the offense.’ So it’s a matter of just kind of going in there and watching and seeing.

“I mean, we’ve had some good hits here and there, and we’ve been really, really close on a few to have an explosive run. I mean the touchdown that he had against Kansas City, if we were on the 50-yard line, it’s a 50-yard touchdown. I think it’s still there. It’s just been a little bit different the way it’s unfolded, and especially obviously the game the other day in the second half, we were in such a pass mode. It just didn’t happen.”

In the first three games, Barkley has made some really impressive shorter runs. His 4-yard run after a spin to move the sticks against the Rams was huge. But his longest run in three games is just 16 yards so he hasn’t been able to hit that home run yet. Barkley is seeing a stacked box on 29.3% of his runs this season, which is up from 20.6% in 2024, per NextGenStats.

The Buccaneers have a good run defense anchored by nose tackle Vita Vea. The Bucs are giving up just 84.0 rushing yards per game, which ranks sixth in the NFL and they stack the box 24.3% of the time (12th-highest rate).

Eagles DL vs. depleted Tampa OL

The Buccaneers are really banged up on their offensive line and it could be a major storyline in this game. There’s a chance they could be down 3 of 5 starting offensive linemen. They’ll definitely be without starting right guard Cody Mauch (knee) and starting right tackle Luke Goedeke (foot). And they have been without All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs (knee) for the first three games of the season.

Even if Wirfs is able to return for this game, he has missed significant time and might not be at the top of his game in his return. The Bucs were obviously holding out hope for a return by this week because they didn’t keep him on PUP or put him on IR. The Bucs moved Graham Barton from center to left tackle and then moved Ben Bredeson from left guard to center. So there have been some moving parts of this line.

Here’s the line the Bucs used in Week 3:

LT: Graham Barton
LG: Elijah Klein
C: Ben Bredeson
RG: Luke Haggard
RT Charlie Heck

The Eagles got just one sack on Matthew Stafford last week but the old veteran was getting the ball out pretty quickly. Vic Fangio said he didn’t think pressure was the issue against the Rams. 

Eagles secondary vs. Baker Mayfield

Since getting to Tampa in 2023, Baker Mayfield has saved his career. He was a Pro Bowler each of the last two seasons and has the Bucs off to a 3-0 start in 2025.

“The quarterback is playing really good,” Eagles DC Vic Fangio said this week. “He’s a scrambler. He scrambled, I think, 11 times this year for close to 120 yards already, so that’s always an issue. I’ve always liked [Buccaneers QB Baker] Mayfield. I think he’s a good quarterback. Why these teams that had him didn’t keep him, I don’t know. But GMs make mistakes, just like coaches do. I’ve always liked Mayfield. And their backs run hard and good, so they’ve got balance.”

In three games, Mayfield has completed just 61.6% of his passes but has 6 touchdowns to 0 interceptions and has already led the Bucs on three game-winning drives in three weeks.

His receivers are a bit banged up. He won’t have Mike Evans (hamstring) in this game and we’ll see if Chris Godwin (ankle) will make his 2025 debut. Godwin hasn’t played yet this season. The good news for the Bucs is that they drafted a receiver in the first round who is already looking like an absolute stud. Emeka Egbuka already has 14 catches for 181 yards and 3 touchdowns this season and is the favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Even though Mayfield hasn’t yet thrown an interception this season, he will put the ball in harm’s way. ProFootballFocus has a useful stat called “Turnover Worthy Plays” and Mayfield already has seven through three games. The only quarterback in the NFL with more is Saints QB Spencer Rattler with 8. Mayfield through three games has had a TWP on 5.4% of his passing attempts, which ranks third in the NFL among 28 quarterbacks with at least 80 dropbacks. If the Eagles get their chances on Sunday, they have to take advantage of them.

With Adoree’ Jackson’s status up in the air with a groin injury and with Jakorian Bennett on IR, there’s a chance Kelee Ringo could start against the Bucs. Expect Mayfield to target him a ton if that’s the case.

Eagles run D vs. Bucs rushing attack

The Eagles’ run defense got a little leaky in the Week 3 win over the Rams. Kyren Williams ended up with 94 yards on 20 attempts (4.7 average) and Blake Corum had 8 for 53 (6.6 average) against Fangio’s defense. The Eagles’ run D got better as the game went on but the final numbers weren’t great.

“It was, as usual, a conglomeration of things,” Fangio said. “One, we could have been in better calls. Two, we could have played what we were in better. They do a good job blocking, got to give them credit. Their backs ran good. So, it was a little bit of everything.”

The Bucs aren’t a great running team. Second-year running back Bucky Irving has 174 rushing yards and is averaging just 3.1 yards per attempt. Through three games, Irving is averaging -0.7 yards over expected per attempt, which ranks 33rd among 40 qualified backs. So there’s a chance to get-right against the Buccaneers’ standard running game.

But as Fangio mentioned, Mayfield is a threat to escape. He’s second in the NFL behind just Patrick Mahomes in scramble yards with 118 on 10 attempts this season. We saw how much trouble Mahomes gave the Eagles scrambling in the first half of Week 2, so this is something to watch closely in Week 4.

from NFL News, Scores, Fantasy Games and Highlights 2020 | Yahoo Sports https://ift.tt/jFrWtyp

Fantasy Basketball Centers 2025-26: Top 50 rankings, season outlooks, key stats

The 2025-26 NBA season is fast approaching, and what better time to break down RotoWorld’s positional rankings?

We started with guards in our first positional rankings article and pivoted to forwards. Now, it’s time to break down the top-50 big men.

In the realm of fantasy hoops, Nikola Jokic has reigned supreme as the top center and fantasy’s top player for the better part of the last five seasons. He’s been mostly untouchable thanks to his elite passing abilities and penchant for stuffing the stat sheet on a nightly basis. Third-year phenom Victor Wembanyama can get it done in a number of ways, but is he a legitimate threat to dethrone Joker as fantasy’s top center?

Here’s how we value the top 50 centers in fantasy basketball for the 2025-26 season, starting with Joker.

1. Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets

Position: C

2024-25 stats: 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.6 blocks, 2.0 three-pointers

There’s Nikola Jokic, and then there’s everyone else. Over the last five seasons, Joker has won three MVPs and arguably should have won five straight.

But we’re not here to talk about voter fatigue.

Jokic became just the third player - and first center - in NBA history to average a triple-double when he reached double figures in points, rebounds and assists during the 2024-25 campaign. Most impressively, he ranked top-5 in all three of those categories and, surprisingly, also in steals.

He became the first player in NBA history with a 30/20/20 game when he dropped 31/21/22 in an OT victory over the Suns on March 7, showcasing his monstrous upside to win fantasy managers their weeks on the back of just one game.

Simply put, Jokic is in a class of his own, and his gaudy numbers across multiple key categories keep him in the conversation as fantasy basketball’s top overall player.

2. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Positions: PF/C

2024-25 stats: 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals, 3.8 blocks, 3.1 three-pointers

Wemby is the only other center whose name can be whispered in the same breath as Joker’s. The extraterrestrial landed in 2023 with a resounding Rookie of the Year campaign, and he was even better in Year 2.

Wemby’s skillset is freakish, and his out-of-this-world contributions on the defensive end give him an elite boost in the realm of fantasy hoops. Injuries derailed a promising 2024-25 season, but availability is the only concern here.

He should be a 20/10/3 guy who averages close to five steals+blocks per contest, making him a guy who can challenge Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for fantasy’s top spot.

3. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks

Positions: PF/C

2024-25 stats: 24.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.7 blocks, 2.0 three-pointers made

Towns’ production had seen a steady decline in consecutive seasons in Minnesota, but the move to New York revitalized his career and propelled him back into the top-10 in fantasy hoops.

A perennial first-rounder, KAT’s fantasy appeal waned before his trade to the Knicks, but his value is at an all-time high. New York gave him the starting center gig, and for much of the season, he led the Association in rebounds per game.

Towns found his groove as the 1b to Jalen Brunson’s 1a on offense while chipping in serviceable defensive numbers to go with an elite effort on the glass.

Mitchell Robinson’s availability could eat into Towns’ rebounding numbers marginally, but there’s no reason to think the latter will cause a major disruption to another top-10 campaign for the Big KAT.

4. Alperen Şengün, Houston Rockets

Position: C

2024-25 stats: 19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.8 blocks, 0.3 three-pointers

Sengun is Jokic 3.0, or Domantas Sabonis 2.0, depending on how you look at it. He’s a gifted passing center, which is typically a cheat code in the realm of fantasy hoops.

The big man grabbed a career-high 10.3 rebounds per game, but he took a step back across most other statistical categories. Most notably, Sengun’s shooting percentages regressed, and he shot below 50% from the field and 70% from the charity stripe.

His defensive contributions don’t show up as gaudy numbers in the box score, and he’s not a gifted three-point shooter. Sengun is a traditional center who thrives in the paint, but he doesn’t boast elite FG% or blocks as some of his peers with a similar skillset do.

Fantasy managers drafting him will have to bank on improved efficiency and a significant step forward in assists if they hope for him to reach his ceiling.

5. Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers

Positions: PF/C

2024-25 stats: 18.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.6 blocks, 1.2 three-pointers

The reigning Defensive Player of the Year didn’t rack up blocks and steals at an elite clip like some of his contemporaries, but make no mistake about it, he is a lethal defender. Mobley finished 10th in blocks overall and 15th in steals among centers.

Mobley isn’t looked at as a premier passer in the same way that Jokic, Sengun and Sabonis are, but he’s quite an effective playmaker from his position.

He matched his career high in assists in 2024-25 while posting a new career best in the scoring department. His rebounds and defensive contributions were in line with previous seasons’ production, but he took a noticeable step forward as a shooter.

Mobley tripled his three-pointers from 0.4 to 1.2 without sacrificing efficiency. His FG% slipped to 55.7%, but it was a negligible change from the 58% he shot a season ago. Mobley also knocked down a career-best 72.5% of his shots from the charity stripe.

Strong production across the board, improved efficiency and the addition of a three-point shot propelled Mobley into the second round in 2024-25, and fantasy managers should expect the same in 2025-26.

6. Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings

Positions: PF/C

2024-25 stats: 19.1 points, 13.9 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.4 blocks, 0.9 three-pointers

Sabonis led the Association in triple-doubles during the 2023-24 campaign before ceding that title to Jokic last season. In lieu of a second straight triple-double title, he picked up the rebounding title while corralling nearly 14 boards per game.

Sabonis is an otherworldly passer at his position, and he’s consistently among the league leaders in rebounds. A lack of strong defensive contributions in the box score and absence of an outside shot have kept him out of the top-3 conversation, and there’s no reason to expect a drastic change in any of those categories in 2025-26.

7. Myles Turner, Milwaukee Bucks

Position: C

2024-25 stats: 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.8 steals, 2.0 blocks, 2.2 three-pointers

Indiana’s longest-tenured player finally departed last offseason. After nearly a decade of trade rumors and speculation, Turner will suit up for another squad in 2025-26.

Brook Lopez went west when he signed with the Clippers, and Turner will fill in the vacant center position in Milwaukee. Bobby Portis is an excellent backup, but Turner should get the lion’s share of minutes at the position.

Milwaukee’s depth chart isn’t exactly deep at any position, so fantasy managers should expect plenty of playing time, plenty of touches and strong production. Turner isn’t an adept rebounder, but he’s a perfect BroLo replacement - a center who likes to block shots and step outside for a three-pointer. Another top-50 season is on the horizon.

8. Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder

Positions: PF/C

2024-25 stats: 15.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.7 steals, 2.2 blocks, 1.4 three-pointers

Holmgren, much like Turner above, had a pretty forgettable playoff run. Fortunately for fantasy managers, only regular season stats are counted.

After missing the entirety of what would have been his rookie season due to a broken foot, Holmgren roared back with 82 games in 2023-24. Following that fully-healthy campaign, he appeared in just 32 games in 2024-25 after fracturing his hip early in the season.

Holmgren’s 2024-25 numbers were comparable to those in 2023-24 despite playing two fewer minutes. His efficiency dipped slightly, but we’ll cut him a break, as he was playing at less than 100%. He finished just inside the fourth round in per-game fantasy value, but he has first-round upside. Fantasy managers can get Holmgren at a discount on draft day and should take advantage of the value.

9. Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat

Position: C

2024-25 stats: 18.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.7 blocks, 1.0 three-pointers

For the fifth straight season, Adebayo averaged these numbers or better: 18 points, nine rebounds, three assists, one steal and 0.7 blocked shots. Consistency is key with the big man, and fantasy managers spending a mid-round selection on him will get a well-established floor. The emergence of Kel’El Ware in Miami’s double-big lineups didn’t hamper Adebayo’s production, and he should be in line for another productive season. Tyler Herro’s absence to start the season could mean more offensive looks for the big man, as he averaged 24.8 points across four games without Herro last season. The emergence of a three-point shot gives Bam’s fantasy skillset another dimension, though it did result in his first season shooting under 50% from the field.

10. Ivica Zubac, LA Clippers

Position: C

2024-25 stats: 16.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.1 blocks, 0.0 three-pointers

The force was truly strong with “Zubacca” in 2024-25 as the big man enjoyed the best statistical season of his career, posting career highs in points and rebounds and assists.

He finished 30th in per-game fantasy value and was ninth overall in total value thanks to his 80 games played.

Zubac tied for second-most 20-rebound games (5) and games with 20 points and 20 boards (4). LA’s center depth is a little better than it was a season ago thanks to the addition of Brook Lopez, but Lopez is a three-and-D center who won’t eat significantly into Zoob’s traditional role in the paint. He might not be a top-30 guy again, but he could push for top-50 numbers.

11. Nikola Vučević, Chicago Bulls

Position: C

2024-25 stats: 18.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.7 blocks, 1.8 three-pointers

Rumors of his demise are greatly exaggerated each and every season. This guy just won’t go away! Fantasy managers continue to balk at drafting him in the third through fifth rounds of fantasy drafts, as they wait for a dropoff that doesn’t seem to be coming anytime soon.

Vooch finished 47th in per-game and 12th in totals last season while appearing in 73 games. He’s been the model of consistency and durability throughout his career, and until Chicago finally moves him, there’s no reason to expect a sharp dropoff in production.

12. Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz

Position: C

2024-25 stats: 11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.6 steals, 2.4 blocks, 0.1 three-pointers

After a noticeable dip in points and boards from Year 1 to Year 2, Kessler came roaring back to life in Year 3 with career highs in both categories and his usual allotment of swats. The big man is dreadful at the free-throw line, but he offers a reliable floor thanks to his elite rebounding, FG% and blocks. He finished inside the top-50 in per-game production a season ago and should have similar output in 2025-26. The Jazz currently have veterans Jusuf Nurkic and Kevin Love backing up Kessler, but it would be shocking if either player was on the roster by the end of the season.

13. Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers

Position: C

2024-25 stats: 13.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.9 blocks, 0.0 three-pointers

Allen finished the 2024-25 campaign with a four-year low in points and five-year lows in rebounds and minutes. He swatted less than one shot per game for the first time in his career, though his FG% represents a new career best. Cleveland cut playing time for its starters across the board, choosing to share the love and trust the bench. The formula worked as the Cavs won 64 games and secured the top spot in the Eastern Conference. With Cleveland’s “anti-Thibodeau” rotation methodology and the continued ascension of Evan Mobley, don’t expect a big shift in numbers from Allen in 2025-26.

14. Kristaps Porziņģis, Atlanta Hawks

Positions: PF/C

2024-25 stats: 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.5 blocks, 2.5 three-pointers

As always, availability should be at the forefront of fantasy managers’ minds when considering Porzingis on draft day. The big man is consistently ranked in the top-30 in per-game fantasy value, and he’s got a monster ceiling to go off on any given night. The problem is his injury history and lack of games played throughout his career. KP could have some strong performances in Atlanta, but with a depth of talent in the frontcourt, the Hawks won’t rush him out on the court if he’s not at 100%. He’s a fine later-round fantasy selection with a ton of built-in risk.

15. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

Position: C

2024-25 stats: 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.9 blocks, 1.2 three-pointers

In two seasons since winning the MVP in 2022-23, Embiid has appeared in just 58 games. He was limited to just 19 last season and looked far from healthy when on the court. The knee injury that hampered him surely contributed to his sharp decline in production, and it eventually required surgery. It’s unclear if he’ll be ready for opening night, and fantasy managers taking a shot on him can’t spend an early-round pick given the massive risk. When healthy, he’s got No. 1 overall upside, but he simply can’t be trusted right now given the health concerns.

16. Mark Williams, Phoenix Suns

Position: C

2024-25 stats: 15.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.2 blocks, 0.0 three-pointers

Williams posted career highs in points, rebounds and assists last season while also knocking down a career-best 80.2% of his attempts from the charity stripe. Unfortunately, his 44 games played also represented a career high. Availability has been a glaring concern for Williams in his three years in the Association, as he’s appeared in just 106 of 246 total games. The big man was dealt to the Suns where he’ll presumably slot in as the team’s starting center. Rookie Khaman Maluach will be chomping at the bit behind him, and fantasy managers who take Williams would be wise to handcuff him with Maluach.

17. Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons

Position: C

2024-25 stats: 11.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.1 blocks, 0.0 three-pointers

Duren’s Year 3 production dipped slightly from Year 2, but that was in large part due to the three fewer minutes per game he played. His per-36 numbers were similar, indicating no significant dropoff when on the court. Duren’s points and rebounds slipped, but he set career highs in assists, steals, blocked shots and FG% (69.2). Detroit, much like Cleveland, was generous with its minutes distribution, and that trend should continue in 2025-26. Don’t expect huge minutes from Duren, but he can still be taken confidently as a late-round center option with top-75 upside.

18. Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers

Position: C

2024-25 stats: 6.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.5 steals, 1.6 blocks, 0.2 three-pointers

The lottery pick out of UConn made an immediate impact in his rookie campaign, filling in for Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams as needed and ending the season as Portland’s starting center. While his season-long numbers were solid, Clingan was even better as a starter. In 37 appearances with the first unit, the big man averaged 7.9 points, 10 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.6 steals and 2.1 blocked shots. His FG% isn’t elite, and his FT% is dreadful, but if you can stomach poor efficiency, you’ll get a 10/10 guy who can rack up defensive stats with the best of them.

19. Onyeka Okongwu, Atlanta Hawks

Positions: PF/C

2024-25 stats: 13.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.9 blocks, 0.6 three-pointers

Okongwu posted the best numbers of his career, setting new career-best marks in points, rebounds, assists, steals and triples. His 27.5 minutes per game were the most of his career, though he only started 42 of 74 games in which he played. Production hasn’t been an issue for Okongwu throughout his career. Getting on the court has been a major impediment to his growth, as the talented big man has had to play behind Clint Capela and now faces the challenge of competing with Kristaps Porzingis and a surging Jalen Johnson. The talent and skillset are there for Okongwu to be a fantasy stud, but will he get the time he needs?

20. Jakob Poeltl, Toronto Raptors

Position: C

2024-25 stats: 14.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.2 blocks, 0.0 three-pointers

Poeltl posted career highs in points, rebounds, assists, steals and minutes (29.6) in 2024-25, and his tremendous season earned him a four-year, $104 million extension in July. Set to anchor Toronto’s frontcourt for the foreseeable future, expect the big man to approach 30 minutes and rack up plenty of counting stats. The Raptors’ center depth is bereft of big-time talent, setting Poeltl up nicely to push for another career year.

21. Deandre Ayton, Los Angeles Lakers

Position: C

2024-25 stats: 14.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.0 block, 0.2 three-pointers

Ayton has been a slow and steady contributor since getting drafted first overall in 2018, but his production has never been elite. Last season saw him tie his career low in points and finish with the second-lowest rebound mark of his career. Don’t expect a bounce-back in the scoring department as he plays alongside LeBron James, Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic. Ayton should see big minutes at center for a team that’s desperately needed a quality big man, so a 10/10 season with a block and efficient FG% seems like a reasonable projection.

22. Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves

Position: C

2024-25 stats: 12.0 points, 10.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.4 blocks, 0.0 three-pointers

At this point in his career, Gobert is an unremarkable, yet serviceable, fantasy option with a low ceiling. His 12 points per game represent a 10-year low, and his 10.9 boards and 1.4 blocks are his second-lowest marks in that span. Gobert’s floor is a 10/10 average with low turnovers, high FG% and a block per game, but he’s certainly not going to thrill fantasy managers with those numbers. He’s best viewed as a late-round center option with a steady floor and limited upside.

23. Isaiah Hartenstein, Oklahoma City Thunder

Position: C

2024-25 stats: 11.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.1 blocks, 0.0 three-pointers

Hartenstein enjoyed a strong finish to the 2023-24 campaign, making the most of his extended playing time and usage due to numerous frontcourt injuries in New York. He departed after the season and got paid by OKC, showing the team’s faith in the newly-acquired big man. Hartenstein made good on OKC’s pay day, averaging career highs in points, rebounds, assists, blocked shots and minutes. Hartenstein issued the first month of the season due to injury, but he hit the ground running, playing key minutes in the frontcourt while Chet Holmgren was sidelined. Hartenstein should continue to see solid minutes alongside Holmgren, but if Holmgren doesn’t miss over half the season, the former’s production could take a hit.

24. Alexandre Sarr, Washington Wizards

Positions: PF/C

2024-25 stats: 13.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.5 blocks, 1.6 three-pointers

Sarr was effective as a rookie, showcasing his offensive versatility and defensive prowess with strong production as a three-point shooter and shot-blocker. The big man logged 27.1 minutes per game as a rookie, but he should see north of 30 minutes per game in Year 2 with even less competition for touches and playing time. Washington’s roster is one of the youngest and expected to finish with one of the worst records in the Association. The team is fully committed to its young core, of which Sarr is the centerpiece. He’s an intriguing, late-round center option in fantasy basketball drafts.

25. Nic Claxton, Brooklyn Nets

Position: C

2024-25 stats: 10.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.4 blocks, 0.1 three-pointers

Though Claxton logged 70 games last season, he played at less than 100% for much of the campaign as he battled a nagging back injury. He logged only 26.9 minutes, but court time wasn’t the main reason for his dip in production. Claxton’s per-36 numbers were lower than they were in each of the last two seasons, but there’s optimism for 2025-26. If Claxton can come into the season healthy and push for 28-30 minutes, he can be a mid-round center option with strong rebound and block numbers. He finished outside the top-120 last season, but he should be better moving forward, making him a value pick in fantasy drafts.

26. Dereck Lively II, Dallas Mavericks

Position: C

2024-25 stats: 8.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.6 blocks, 0.0 three-pointers

27. Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies

Position: C

2024-25 stats: 9.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.5 steals, 1.3 blocks, 0.3 three-pointers

28. Daniel Gafford, Dallas Mavericks

Position: C

2024-25 stats: 12.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.4 steals, 1.8 blocks, 0.0 three-pointers

29. Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks

Positions: PF/C

2024-25 stats: 13.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.5 blocks, 1.3 three-pointers

30. Yves Missi, New Orleans Pelicans

Position: C

2024-25 stats: 9.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.5 steals, 1.3 blocks, 0.0 three-pointers

31. Mitchell Robinson, New York Knicks

Position: C

2024-25 stats: 5.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.1 blocks, 0.0 three-pointers

32. Brook Lopez, LA Clippers

Position: C

2024-25 stats: 13.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.9 blocks, 1.7 three-pointers

33. Wendell Carter Jr., Orlando Magic

Position: C

2024-25 stats: 9.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.6 blocks, 0.5 three-pointers

34. Kel’El Ware, Miami Heat

Position: C

2024-25 stats: 9.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.1 blocks, 0.5 three-pointers

35. Isaiah Jackson, Indiana Pacers

Positions: PF/C

2024-25 stats: 7.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.6 blocks, 0.0 three-pointers

36. Ryan Kalkbrenner, Charlotte Hornets

Position: C

2024-25 college stats (Creighton): 19.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.5 steals, 2.7 blocks, 0.6 three-pointers

37. Derik Queen, New Orleans Pelicans

Position: C

2024-25 college stats (Maryland): 16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.1 blocks, 0.2 three-pointers

38. Jay Huff, Indiana Pacers

Position: C

2024-25 stats: 6.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.9 blocks, 1.3 three-pointers

39. Khaman Maluach, Phoenix Suns

Position: C

2024-25 college stats (Duke): 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.2 steals, 1.3 blocks, 0.1 three-pointers

40. Adem Bona, Philadelphia 76ers

Position: C

2024-25 stats: 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.4 steals, 1.2 blocks, 0.0 three-pointers

41. Jonas Valančiūnas, Denver Nuggets

Position: C

2024-25 stats: 10.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.6 blocks, 0.1 three-pointers

42. Kyle Filipowski, Utah Jazz

Positions: PF/C

2024-25 stats: 9.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.3 blocks, 1.1 three-pointers

43. Al Horford, Free Agent

Positions: PF/C

2024-25 stats: 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.9 blocks, 1.9 three-pointers

44. Moussa Diabaté, Charlotte Hornets

Positions: PF/C

2024-25 stats: 5.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.6 blocks, 0.0 three-pointers

45. Chris Boucher, Boston Celtics

Positions: PF/C

2024-25 stats: 10.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.5 blocks, 1.4 three-pointers

46. Noah Clowney, Brooklyn Nets

Positions: PF/C

2024-25 stats: 9.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.5 blocks, 1.9 three-pointers

47. Jusuf Nurkić, Utah Jazz

Position: C

2024-25 stats: 8.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.7 blocks, 0.6 three-pointers

48. Hansen Yang, Portland Trail Blazers

Position: C

2024-25 international stats (Qingdao, Chinese Basketball Association): 16.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 2.6 blocks, 0.4 three-pointers

49. Brandon Clarke, Memphis Grizzlies

Positions: PF/C

2024-25 stats: 8.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.6 blocks, 0.0 three-pointers

50. Neemias Queta, Boston Celtics

Position: C

2024-25 stats: 5.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.7 blocks, 0.0 three-pointers

from NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games https://ift.tt/fInLAZO

Kenny Clark has multiple former teammates asking to swap jerseys after Packers-Cowboys game

After Kenny Clark was traded from the Packers to the Cowboys for Micah Parsons and two first-round picks, Clark has another trade to consider when the Packers and Cowboys play on Sunday night.

Clark told reporters this week that multiple former teammates have reached out to him wanting to swap jerseys after the game. Clark will have to choose one of them and said he's leaning toward Rashan Gary over Colby Wooden.

“I know RG had asked me the first day I got traded, and then Colby called me the other day and was talking me up about it,” Clark said, via the Associated Press. “If I could get a jersey to all of them, I would. It’s going to be interesting. I’ll probably get it to RG or something, the oldest guy.”

Clark won't be swapping jerseys with Parsons, but he did say that Parsons reached out about possibly swapping stadium suites in Green Bay and Dallas.

“I thought he wanted my suite,” Clark said. “From my understanding, when he texted me, I thought he wanted mine. I was like, ‘You just gotta hit up the guy.’ I just hit up the guys here for a suite, so ...”

Most of the talk surrounding Sunday night's game in Dallas will be the homecoming for Parsons, but it's a big day for Clark as well, as he tries to prove against his old teammates that the Cowboys got some value in that trade, even before they use those first-round draft picks.

from NFL News, Scores, Fantasy Games and Highlights 2020 | Yahoo Sports https://ift.tt/1m34Wth

NFL Week 4 picks: Ravens triumph over Chiefs; Rams defeat Colts

 (Tim Hubbard / Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles Times NFL writer Sam Farmer examines the matchups and makes his predictions for Week 4 of the NFL season.

All lines and over/under numbers are according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Last week, Farmer posted a 9-7 (.563) record. Through the first three weeks of the season, he is 33-15 (.688).

Using point spreads with the scores Farmer predicted, his record against the spread in Week 3 would have been 7-9 (.438). For the season, his record against the spread is 25-23 (.521).

All times are Pacific and TV reflects broadcasts in the Los Angeles area.

Seahawks (2-1) at Cardinals (2-1)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold throws against the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 21. (Lindsey Wasson / Associated Press)

Tonight, 5:20 p.m. TV: Amazon Prime.

Line: Seahawks by 1½. O/U: 43½.

Arizona’s offense is too limited without James Conner, relying mostly on tight end Trey McBride in the passing game. Seattle’s offense is starting to click, and the Seahawks’ ability to throw downfield should give them the edge on the road.

Pick: Seahawks 24, Cardinals 17

Vikings (2-1) vs. Steelers (2-1)

Sunday, 6:30 a.m. TV: NFL Network.

Line: Vikings by 2½. O/U: 40½.

Despite playing a backup quarterback, Minnesota has been able to run effectively, and Pittsburgh has a hard time stopping the run. But Aaron Rodgers makes enough plays to lift the Steelers in Dublin, Ireland.

Pick: Steelers 24, Vikings 20

Chargers (3-0) at Giants (0-3)

Sunday, 10 a.m. TV: CBS.

Line: Chargers by 6½. O/U: 44½.

Despite injuries and an occasional slow start, the Chargers are playing great defense and Justin Herbert should be able to outplay the Giants’ limited offense. The Giants’ defense may keep it close for a while.

Pick: Chargers 27, Giants 17

Commanders (2-1) at Falcons (1-2)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. against the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 21. (Jacob Kupferman / Associated Press)

Sunday, 10 a.m. TV: NFL Ticket.

Line: Commanders by 1½. O/U: 45½.

Atlanta was embarrassed in a blowout loss and should respond with a focused effort at home. With Jayden Daniels likely sitting out and Marcus Mariota unable to win throwing, the Falcons rebound with a balanced attack.

Pick: Falcons 23, Commanders 20

Saints (0-3) at Bills (3-0)

Sunday, 10 a.m. TV: NFL Ticket.

Line: Bills by 16½. O/U: 48½.

New Orleans is playing hard but simply doesn’t have the roster talent to compete with one of the NFL’s top teams. Buffalo should win comfortably at home with an efficient performance on offense.

Pick: Bills 34, Saints 10

Browns (1-2) at Lions (2-1)

Sunday, 10 a.m. TV: NFL Ticket.

Line: Lions by 8½. O/U: 44½.

Cleveland’s defense is legit, but the Browns’ offense is practically nonexistent. Detroit’s versatility on offense should eventually wear down the Browns and produce a fairly low-scoring win.

Pick: Lions 21, Browns 10

Panthers (1-2) at Patriots (1-2)

Sunday, 10 a.m. TV: NFL Ticket.

Line: Patriots by 5½. O/U: 43½.

Drake Maye’s playmaking ability and New England’s improving defense make the Patriots a tough out. The Panthers could have a letdown after their big division win, and the Patriots grind out a close one.

Pick: Patriots 24, Panthers 21

Eagles (3-0) at Buccaneers (3-0)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts scrambles during a win over the Rams on Sept. 21. (Chris Szagola / Associated Press)

Sunday, 10 a.m. TV: NFL Ticket.

Line: Eagles by 3½. O/U: 44½.

The Eagles have the NFL’s best roster and should win a close, physical game despite Tampa Bay having recent success against them. Tampa Bay’s injuries are too much to overcome this time.

Pick: Eagles 24, Buccaneers 20

Titans (0-3) at Texans (0-3)

Sunday, 10 a.m. TV: NFL Ticket.

Line: Texans by 7½. O/U: 38½.

Houston’s defense and experience give the Texans an edge against a rookie QB, though their offensive line remains a problem. They should create enough pressure and force mistakes to collect their first win.

Pick: Texans 27, Titans 20

Colts (3-0) at Rams (2-1)

Sunday, 1:05 p.m. TV: Fox.

Line: Rams by 3½. O/U: 49½.

This figures to be one of the weekend’s best games, with a strong Indianapolis defense facing an efficient Rams attack. Matthew Stafford and the Rams’ weapons should make just enough plays at home.

Pick: Rams 28, Colts 23

Jaguars (2-1) at 49ers (3-0)

Sunday, 1:05 p.m. TV: NFL Ticket.

Line: 49ers by 3½. O/U: 46½.

San Francisco is too banged up, with Nick Bosa out and multiple offensive concerns, while Jacksonville is coming off a confidence-building win. The Jaguars find a way to pull off a close road upset.

Pick: Jaguars 21, 49ers 18

Ravens (1-2) at Chiefs (1-2)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson passes against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 14. (Nick Wass / Associated Press)

Sunday, 1:25 p.m. TV: CBS.

Line: Ravens by 2½. O/U: 48½.

Kansas City’s offense looks slow and out of sync, while Baltimore has the NFL’s most complete team on paper and Lamar Jackson is always a threat. Baltimore’s defense and ground attack will control the game.

Pick: Ravens 27, Chiefs 20

Bears (1-2) at Raiders (1-2)

Sunday, 1:25 p.m. TV: NFL Ticket.

Line: Raiders by 1½. O/U: 47½.

Caleb Williams is settling in and Chicago’s defense played well last week. With emerging weapons such as Luther Burden III, the Bears’ offense should find enough big plays to win a tight one.

Pick: Bears 24, Raiders 20

Packers (2-1) at Cowboys (1-2)

Sunday, 5:20 p.m. TV: NBC, Peacock

Line: Packers by 6½. O/U: 47½.

Micah Parsons’ return should spark Green Bay’s defense against a Cowboys team coming off an embarrassing loss. Dak Prescott will be under heavy pressure and the Packers rebound with a convincing win.

Pick: Packers 31, Cowboys 17

Jets (0-3) at Dolphins (0-3)

New York Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor passes against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 21. (Chris O'Meara / Associated Press)

Monday, 4:15 p.m. TV: ESPN

Line: Dolphins by 2½. O/U: 44½.

Tyrod Taylor provides stability and efficiency for New York’s offense, and the Jets’ defense is playing with purpose. The Dolphins’ offense has struggled to run and stay healthy, making them vulnerable in a close game.

Pick: Jets 23, Dolphins 20

Bengals (2-1) at Broncos (1-2)

Monday, 5:15 p.m. TV: ABC

Line: Broncos by 7½. O/U: 43½.

Denver is desperate and playing at home with a strong defense that should overwhelm Cincinnati’s shaky offensive line. The Broncos’ pass rush and balanced attack pave the way for a bounce-back win.

Pick: Broncos 30, Browns 17

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

from NFL News, Scores, Fantasy Games and Highlights 2020 | Yahoo Sports https://ift.tt/dgMx81A

Jared Goff recalls his "shock" when the Bears let David Montgomery leave for the Lions

Lions running back David Montgomery had 12 carries for 151 yards and two touchdowns in Monday night's win over the Ravens, and that had quarterback Jared Goff reflecting on how lucky he feels to have Montgomery for a teammate.

Montgomery played his first four seasons for the Bears before signing with the Lions in 2023, and Goff said he had been a big admirer of Montgomery's play even before becoming his teammate.

"I saw D-Mo from across the field for years in Chicago and I was shocked when they let him walk. When we landed him, I was like, 'Holy smokes, we just got one of the best backs in the league,'" Goff said.

A month after signing Montgomery, the Lions drafted Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round, investing big in another running back at a time when most NFL teams were devaluing the position. Goff thinks that has paid off in a big way for the Lions.

"You draft Gibbs and it's like, 'Wow, we have two of the best backs in the league,'" Goff said. "They feed off each other, they're both incredibly hard-working and good players. The energy they feed off each other, one of them runs well and the other one wants to run well too. They're as good as it gets."

from NFL News, Scores, Fantasy Games and Highlights 2020 | Yahoo Sports https://ift.tt/NfQmRU9

Vic Fangio hints of looming change at starting cornerback

Vic Fangio hints of looming change at starting cornerback originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Vic Fangio won’t say when it’s going to happen and he won’t say why it’s going to happen. He sounds pretty sure that it is going to happen.

At some point this season, Kelee Ringo will be a starting cornerback for the Eagles.

Ringo, the Eagles’ 4th-round pick in 2023, was the pre-camp favorite to win the second outside cornerback spot, but as the summer went on his struggles became more and more apparent, both in the preseason games and at practice.

He not only lost the battle for a starting spot to veteran Adoree’ Jackson, he found himself buried on the depth chart behind Jakorian Bennett, who didn’t even join the Eagles until a week and a half into camp.

Bennett has played 24 defensive snaps when Jackson has gotten banged up in each of the first three games, and Ringo hasn’t played a single defensive snap.

So the current cornerback hierarchy is clear: 1) Quinyon Mitchell, 2) Adoree’ Jackson, 3) Jakorian Bennett, 4) Kelee Ringo.

But that may be about to change.

“I’ve told Kelee here recently, not in the last few days but since the end of camp, he’s going to get his opportunity at some point,” Fangio said. “And he’s got to be ready.”

It’s an interesting thing to say. “Going to get.” Not “may get.”

And Fangio wouldn’t say it if he didn’t mean it.

Ringo didn’t play poorly last year when he did get opportunities. He played 179 defensive snaps and had a Pro Football Focus grade of 65.5, which ranked 60th out of 157 corners who played at least 100 defensive snaps. His 66.4 coverage grade ranked 55th out of 157.

Fangio said Ringo handled losing the cornerback competition well and has improved since training camp ended. His main role in practice as the fourth corner is running scout team, and that’s not the easiest way to impress the coaches, but Fangio said he’s seen growth from both Ringo and rookie corner Mac McWilliams the last few weeks.

Jackson was pretty bad against the Cowboys but has been better the last two weeks when he’s been able to stay on the field. But he’s 29 years old, in his ninth season and on a one-year contract. He also suffered a groin injury early in the fourth quarter and didn’t return to the game, so he may not even be available Sunday in Tampa. Either way, he’s clearly not the cornerback of the future.

Ringo just turned 23 and he’s still got that great speed and size and those long arms. We see his speed, athleticism and physicality on special teams, where he’s played a team-high 62 snaps.

It remains to be seen if he can put it all together at cornerback, but it sounds like he’s going to get a chance. And speed, athleticism and physicality are all traits that will serve him well at corner.

Fangio said he likes the way Ringo has worked since getting passed over for a starting spot. He didn’t hang his head or mope around. He just kept grinding.

“I think he’s handled it very well,” Fangio said Tuesday. “It didn’t affect his role as a special teamer, which he’s one of the top ones in the league.

“I think he knows that, eventually, he’ll get a shot, for some reason whatsoever, and he’ll be ready.”

from NFL News, Scores, Fantasy Games and Highlights 2020 | Yahoo Sports https://ift.tt/RyPios4

Chargers are first team since 2006 to start 3-0, all against division opponents

The Chargers are 3-0, and all three of their wins are against AFC West opponents. That's an unusual achievement in the NFL.

This year's Chargers are the first team since 2006 to start 3-0, all against teams in their own division. The last team to do it was the 2006 Bears, who ended up winning their division and going to the Super Bowl.

Only one other team since the NFL's 2002 realignment, the 2003 Vikings, has started 3-0 with all three games against teams in their division.

With wins over the Chiefs in Week One, the Raiders in Week Two and the Broncos in Week Three, the Chargers have a leg up on the rest of their division in both the standings and the tiebreakers. That makes the Chargers big favorites to win the division: The betting odds have the Chargers as -180 favorites to win the AFC West, followed by the Chiefs at +270, Broncos at +650 and Raiders at +3500.

The Chiefs have won the AFC West for nine consecutive years, but the Chargers are in a great position to end that streak and get a home playoff game in Los Angeles. That would be the franchise's first home playoff game since they were in San Diego in January of 2010.

from NFL News, Scores, Fantasy Games and Highlights 2020 | Yahoo Sports https://ift.tt/FtHZNoA

Jakorian Bennett survives being thrown into fire late vs. Rams

Jakorian Bennett survives being thrown into fire late vs. Rams originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Jakorian Bennett knew it was coming. He expected it.

After Adoree’ Jackson played the first 38 snaps as the Eagles’ CB2 on Sunday afternoon, he had to exit with a groin injury. So Bennett came in cold to play the final 12 defensive snaps of the Eagles’ 33-26 win.

And the Rams went right at him.

“I guess I’d do the same,” Bennett said after the win. “A backup guy comes in, well, a guy that’s a backup. Not that I’m a backup guy. A guy that’s coming in, of course you gotta try him. Might be tight. Might not be locked in. But I was locked in.”

As Quinyon Mitchell traveled with Davante Adams on Sunday, that meant that Bennett ended up in coverage on Puka Nacua for most of that final series.

In fact, on that final Rams possession, Matthew Stafford threw six passes and all six of them went Bennett’s way. Bennett gave up 3 catches for 30 yards but came up with a pass breakup on the Rams’ second-to-last offensive play before their final field goal attempt.

From the Eagles’ 33-yard line and with 18 seconds remaining, Stafford chucked up an underthrown pass to Nacua with Bennett in coverage and Bennett was able to knock it down.

“Honestly, they wanted to make the field goal attempt a little easier,” Bennett said. “They probably tried to throw every ball my way from the first one to the last one, for real. On the slant (an earlier play), I thought I was going to make a play right there but kind of threw it behind him. It was a lot. But it was good. I prepare the right way and the coaches did a good job of preparing me.”

If Bennett doesn’t make that play, maybe the Rams come out on top.

While Bennett didn’t play on defense until the fourth quarter on Sunday, he was involved on special teams and did his best to stay ready on the sideline.

“I just tried to do my due diligence before I was even thrown into the fire,” Bennett said. “Kind of play the game from the sideline, see the things that they were getting. Get thrown into a 2-minute but I practice hard, I practice the right way so it wasn’t nothing that I wasn’t prepared for. I was just out there trusting my technique, just trying to go out there and make a play.”

Bennett, 25, didn’t get to Philadelphia until August, when the Eagles traded to bring him in from the Raiders. He didn’t have enough time to beat out Jackson for the starting cornerback spot but has been the next man up. While Jackson had a rough first game, he hasn’t done enough to lose that starting spot.

That means that Bennett will likely be back on the bench when the Eagles play the Buccaneers in Tampa on Sunday. But Bennett has played defensive snaps in all three games this season, so he needs to stay ready.

“Kudos to him,” safety Reed Blankenship said. “Next-man-up mentality. That’s how we do it in the DB room, any room. Whatever happens, whatever unfortunate circumstances happen, next man up.”

from NFL News, Scores, Fantasy Games and Highlights 2020 | Yahoo Sports https://ift.tt/8AF79LI

Michael Pittman Jr.: Titans looked like they didn't want to play

An interception return for a touchdown by Colts cornerback Kenny Moore three plays into Sunday's game set the stage for an Indianapolis blowout, but the die may have been cast before the game kicked off.

Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr, who caught a touchdown during the 41-20 win, said that the Colts picked up on some body language before the game that foreshadowed what would happen once the game kicked off.

"Saw it on the pre-game intros," Pittman said, via Jeremy K. Gover. "They kinda looked a little sluggish, they were kinda walking around, nobody was really bouncing. Right then and there we all sat there and were like 'They don't want to play today.'"

Titans head coach Brian Callahan did himself no favors with his in-game decision-making on Sunday and Pittman's comments before the Titans' ninth-straight loss don't paint a pretty picture about how things are going behind the scenes either. They head to Houston to face a winless Texans team next weekend and questions about how long Callahan will continue to coach the team won't be going away if they make it 10 losses in a row.

from NFL News, Scores, Fantasy Games and Highlights 2020 | Yahoo Sports https://ift.tt/uCnGgi5

Tyquan Thornton's big night included catching a pass Patrick Mahomes didn't throw to him

Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton led the team with five catches for 71 yards and a touchdown in Sunday night's win over the Giants, including a spectacular catch at the 1-yard line that was one of the most spectacular plays of this NFL season. But after the game, Patrick Mahomes talked about a catch Thornton made a few plays before that -- on a pass that Mahomes didn't even intend for him.

Mahomes said that when he connected with Thornton for 21 yards on a third-and-6, the pass was actually intended for wide receiver Hollywood Brown. But Mahomes had Giants defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence bearing down on him and just needed to heave the ball downfield, and he didn't even know what happened until he heard the crowd, then saw the replay.

"I was throwing it to Hollywood who was open, but Tyquan was running a post," Mahomes said. "I saw Hollywood but I also saw Dexter Lawrence. I was trying to throw it to a spot and I heard the crowd reacting, and then I looked up and the guy I wasn't throwing to caught it."

A former second-round pick of the Patriots, Thornton was a disappointment in New England and got cut late last season. Kansas City picked him up on the practice squad for the end of last year and then brought him back this year, and Mahomes said he has developed a rapport with Thornton.

"He would come in, he'd get in those practices sometimes and guys were banged up at the end of the season, he'd come in and run those deeper routes, and I'd throw to him just to see what he had and you could see he had juice," Mahomes said. "Getting into OTAs and training camp, he was down there working with me in Texas, so I knew he was going to be a good football player, but he's even exceeding my expectations. He's stepping up, whenever the opportunity is provided for him."

That includes stepping up for opportunities that were meant for someone else.

from NFL News, Scores, Fantasy Games and Highlights 2020 | Yahoo Sports https://ift.tt/CiSnQt1

Denver Broncos vs. L.A. Chargers NFL game: How to watch, kickoff time, TV channel and more

L.A. Rams vs. Philadelphia Eagles NFL game: How to watch, kickoff time, TV channel and more

Chargers have a chance to make history against Broncos and be the buzz of the NFL

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) huddles with his teammates before a win over the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Sept. 15. (Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)

How did we land in this powder-blue paradise?

There’s no guarantee the Chargers will pass through the gate of golden opportunity, but this 2-0 team has sawed the lock off the latch.

With Sunday’s home opener against Denver, the Chargers have the chance to go 3-0 in the AFC West with a week to go in September. That’s unheard of. The last time this franchise opened the season with three consecutive division games was 1988, and those Chargers stumbled to a 1-2 start.

These Chargers could be 3-0 for the first time since 2001 and are heading into a softer part of their schedule.

But how did it happen? Why did the NFL set up the Chargers schedule to go Chiefs, Raiders, Broncos when that kind of rollout is so rare?

Let’s rewind the tape.

Read more:Chargers avoid worst-case scenario as Khalil Mack recovers from dislocated elbow

Why did the Kansas City game wind up in Brazil?

The league had the Chargers hosting a game in São Paulo, and because of the distance, it only made sense to make it an opener. (Just as the Rams will open next season in Australia.) The team can “protect” two home games and the league won’t touch those, so the Chargers chose Washington and Minnesota. Pittsburgh couldn’t go to Brazil, because the Steelers already have an international game in Dublin, and it couldn’t be Philadelphia, either, because the Eagles opened in Brazil last season.

The NFL wanted to follow up that Packers-Eagles matchup with something similarly spectacular, so they needed the biggest opponent to pair with the Chargers, especially with this being the first YouTube game. No one has more sizzle these days than Kansas City.

From the Chargers standpoint, they got the Chiefs on a neutral field — SoFi Stadium is pretty much a neutral field anyway — and they were making their biggest division rival fly 12-plus hours to and from. Not an ideal way for anyone to start the season.

Jim Harbaugh’s team played a tremendous game, beating the Chiefs for the first time since 2021 and putting a spotlight on quarterback Justin Herbert, who was phenomenal. Not only that, but they handed Kansas City an unimaginably long flight home to prepare for a Super Bowl rematch with Philadelphia, which they lost.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert fist bumps coach Jim Harbaugh before a win over the Raiders on Sept. 15. (Ian Maule / Getty Images)

Objective 1: Check.

The NFL would rather not have a team make a long flight back from an international game only the hit the road again the following week, but that’s what the Chargers had to do. There was a Chris Brown concert at SoFi Stadium on the Sunday of Week 2, so it worked out better to have the Chargers back on the road.

The fairest solution was to give the Chargers their shortest road trip, to Las Vegas, plus give them an extra day to prepare by making it the second half of a Monday night doubleheader. Allegiant Stadium, home of the Raiders, was in use that weekend for the Terence Crawford-Canelo Álvarez fight.

Again, Harbaugh had his team prepared and the Chargers assembled a defensive masterpiece against the Raiders, breaking up 15 passes and putting Geno Smith under near-constant pressure.

Objective 2: Check.

Read more:Chargers' masterful defensive performance carries them in win over Raiders

Now comes Denver, a club a lot of people see as one of the league’s surprise teams. There’s an interesting connection between Harbaugh and Broncos coach Sean Payton, and not just that they were born six days apart. Harbaugh, a star quarterback at Michigan, was a first-round pick of the Chicago Bears in 1987, a year when NFL players went on strike. Chicago’s replacement team was nicknamed the “Spare Bears” and Payton was the quarterback of that fill-in squad.

It was more random that the Broncos wound up being the opponent in Week 3, except that the league wanted to put the Chargers’ games against Minnesota, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia in prime time. So that limited the choices.

Nobody at The Bolt is complaining now. What looked to be a treacherous start could be a turbo boost for a franchise heading into a stretch that includes the New York Giants, Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans, who are combined 0-6. Anything can happen and fortunes of franchises can flip in an instant — oft-struggling Indianapolis is 2-0, for instance, and has yet to punt once — so looking too far in the future is foolish. But that’s what networks have to do, and there’s a lot of buzz right now that the Chargers are going to be a team to watch as we get deeper into the season.

That fits Harbaugh’s profile, too, because his teams have a history of improving in his second season.

With the new Nielsen methodology, which takes a far more comprehensive sampling of what Americans are watching, it’s increasingly important for the NFL to do well in big markets. The league has to be delighted, then, that both the Chargers and 2-0 Rams are playing so well. The only other season when both franchises were 2-0 at the same time was 2001, when the St. Louis Rams made it to the Super Bowl before losing to a young quarterback named Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

Read more:NFL Week 3 picks: Rams defeat favored Eagles; Chargers go to 3-0

Both the Rams and Chargers have outstanding quarterbacks, and interestingly, Matthew Stafford went 12 seasons in Detroit before finally winning a playoff game, in his first season with the Rams. Herbert, in his sixth season, has yet to win a playoff game.

Both teams have top-notch defenses.

It’s absurdly early to make end-of-season predictions but this much is set: SoFi Stadium will play host to its second Super Bowl next season.

Is a colossal turf war in the cards?

With that in mind, maybe the Chargers and Rams are peaking too early. They certainly hope so.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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