Here's this week's Roob's Eagles Stats: Proceed at your own risk

Here's this week's Roob's Eagles Stats: Proceed at your own risk originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

OK so I do this weekly Eagles stats piece and even when they lose I try to load it up with enough positive stats to keep things fun. Nobody wants to read 10 negative stats.

But this game? The Eagles had no interceptions, no sacks, no big performances on offense, nothing notable at all from a stats perspective.

This was a big fat giant steaming pile of blech.

So we’re stuck with a weekly Roob’s Stats that is really just going to emphasize how bad the Eagles played Monday night. Sorry, but it’s all I got. I can make stats say almost anything. But I can’t make them say the Eagles played well. Not this week.

1. How is it possible to play three entire football games without forcing a turnover? That’s where the Eagles are. This is the first time in franchise history the Eagles have opened a season without a takeaway in their first three games. They’re only the 16^th NFL team to ever achieve that dubious distinction. Of the first 15, only two reached the playoffs – the 1979 Broncos and 2004 Rams. There have been four previous seasons where the Eagles only forced one turnover through Week 3 – 1996, 1998, 2020 and 2021. This is also only the fourth time the Eagles haven’t intercepted a pass through Week 3. That also happened in 1998, 2020 and 2021. The Eagles have now gone 13 consecutive games without multiple interceptions, the 6^th-longest streak in franchise history and the 4^th-longest current streak in the NFL. They haven’t had a three-interception game since 2022, and their streak of 65 consecutive games without more than two INTs is by far the longest in franchise history. The next-longest streak is 34 games over the 2019 through 2021 seasons. The 65-game streak is 13^th-longest in NFL history. Last time the Eagles picked off three passes in a game was Week 6 of the 2022 season, when C.J. Gardner-Johnson had two and Slay had one off Cooper Rush in a 26-17 win over the Cowboys at the Linc. The Eagles are 1-27-1 in their last 29 games when they’re minus-three or worse in turnover differential. The Eagles are also only the fifth team with no takeaways and three or fewer sacks through Week 3 since sacks became an official stat in 1982. The four others: The 2002 Bengals, 2013 Steelers, 2019 Broncos and 2023 Giants. None of them made the playoffs.

2. OK, here’s something somewhat positive: With his 2^nd-quarter touchdown run, Jalen Hurts increased his career total including postseason to 64 rushing TDs, 3^rd-most in NFL history among quarterbacks behind only Josh Allen (85) and Cam Newton (75). He now trails Hall of Famer Steve Van Buren by only five for the all-time Eagles record. Van Buren rushed for 69 TDs from 1944 through 1951.

3. The Eagles have allowed 132, 122 and 128 rushing yards in their three games so far. This is the first time they’ve allowed 120 or more rushing yards in each of their first three games since 1986, when they began the season allowing 159 in Washington, 244 in Chicago and 203 vs. the Broncos in Buddy Ryan’s first three games as an NFL head coach. The Panthers and Cowboys are the only other teams that have allowed 120 rushing yards in each game this year. Overall, the Eagles are 25^th in rush defense.

4. Jalen Hurts continued a bizarre trend that’s seen him play some of the worst football of his career on Monday nights. Hurts is now 5-7 in 12 career starts on Monday night with 10 touchdown passes, 16 interceptions and a 77.1 passer rating. Compare that to Hurts on Sundays: 53-22 record with 102 touchdown passes, 28 interceptions and a 97.0 passer rating. So he’s thrown only 12 more interceptions on Sundays than Mondays. His 77.1 MNF passer rating ranks 65^th out of 86 quarterbacks who’ve thrown at least 100 passes on Monday nights over the last 25 years. Conversely, his 97.0 Sunday passer rating ranks 13^th of 102 QBs who’ve thrown at least 1,000 passes on Sunday over the past 25 years. Among active quarterbacks, Hurts’ MNF rating of 77.1 is 27^th of 33 QBs, ahead of only C.J. Stroud, Andy Dalton, Daniel Jones, Kyler Murray, Jordan Love and Sam Darnold. 

5. Speaking of Dalton, he became the first Eagles quarterback to throw an interception on his only pass attempt of a game since Vince Young in Washington in 2011. Young entered the game briefly when Michael Vick got hurt. Several Eagles have done that on trick plays over the years, most recently Jake Elliott against the Vikings in 2019. But only six other Eagles QBs have ever done that: Bill Mackrides vs. the Lions in 1951, Bobby Thomason vs. the Browns in 1957, King Hill vs. the Cowboys in 1961, John Reaves in Washington in 1974, Matt Cavanaugh in Denver in 1989 and Koy Detmer in Dallas in 2000. Quite a group right there.

6. At 38 years, 334 days, Dalton also became the oldest player in Eagles history to throw an interception. The previous oldest was Jeff Garcia, who was 36 years, 304 days when he threw his second and final interception of the 2006 season in Dallas. This was the first game in Eagles history where a quarterback 38 or older threw at least one pass for each team.

7. Case Keenum became the 10^th quarterback 38 or older all-time to beat the Eagles in a meaningful game and the sixth to do it with a passer rating of at least 110. The only other QBs 38 or older to beat the Eagles and fashion a passer rating of 110 or higher: Jim Hart in 1983, Warren Moon in 1998, Drew Brees in 2018, Ben Roethlisberger in 2020 and Brady in 2022.

8. Even though Makai Lemon is tied for 172^nd in the NFL with eight touches, he shares the NFL lead with four plays with negative-three yards or less. Half of Lemon’s four touches have lost at least three yards, at least one in each game. The only other players with four plays of minus-three yards or worse are Bucky Irving and Chase Brown, Sydney’s brother, who have 59 and 53 touches. Lemon is the first Eagle with four plays in any season losing at least three yards since Miles Sanders in 2019.

9. The Eagles somehow have just 47 first downs through three games, their fewest in 27 years. In 1999, in Andy Reid’s first year as a head coach and with Doug Pederson at quarterback, they managed just 33 first downs in their first three games. Their 15 rushing first downs are their fewest since 2015, when they had 14 after three games in Chip Kelly’s ill-fated final season as head coach. 

10. The Eagles are one of the worst 2^nd-half teams in football. They’ve been outgained by 563-334 in the second half – an average of 188-111 – and outscored 40-20. Only three AFC teams – the Dolphins (14 points), Steelers (13 points) and Patriots (9 points) – have scored fewer points than the Eagles after halftime. This is the first time since 1999 they’ve been outscored by 20 or more points in the second half through Week 3. In 1999, they were outscored 32-0 through three games – 19-0 after halftime by the Cards, 6-0 by the Bucs and 7-0 by the Bills.

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Case Keenum’s epic Bears performance in first start since 2023 comes with ‘special’ family twist

Case Keenum put on a show in his first start in three years in the Bears’ 27-7 win over the Eagles, which included the 38-year-old scoring his first rushing touchdown since 2019. 

The veteran quarterback finished the game with 24 completed passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for six yards, including the fourth-quarter TD when he called his own number on third-and-goal and dove into the end zone. 

The effort by Keenum helped the Bears win their second game of the season, and it was the first time he had three total touchdowns in a game since the 2019 season opener, coincidentally against the Eagles during his time with Washington. 

To make the performance even more memorable, the “Monday Night Football” showdown was the first time Keenum was able to play in front of his two young kids. 

Chicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum (11) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half at Soldier Field in Chicago, Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

CASE KEENUM CALLED HIS OWN NUMBER

(via @ChicagoBears)pic.twitter.com/dzDdM9sYMv

— ESPN (@espn) September 29, 2026

“Hopefully they stayed up. Hopefully they didn’t fall asleep over there. We kept it exciting for them,” he told ESPN’s Laura Rutledge after the game. “I’m going to have fun watching the game with them tomorrow on the couch, or probably just Bluey. They probably won’t want to watch it again. They’ll be like, ‘We saw it one time already, dad.’ 

Chicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum celebrates the team’s win after an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Chicago, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

“It’s so special. I love my family, my wife Kimberly. She’s been here the whole ride. I wouldn’t be here without her either.” 

The start had been Keenum’s first in 1,009 days since he was a member of the Texans and started in a 36-22 loss to the Browns on Christmas Eve 2023. 

"It was so much fun. I'm going to remember this night forever. This is incredible."

QB Case Keenum speaks with @notthefakeSVP after getting the start in the Bears' 27-7 win vs. the Eagles pic.twitter.com/un38CXvy2U

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 29, 2026

Keenum found himself back in the starter’s role following the Week 2 injury to Caleb Williams during the Bears’ 9-3 loss to the Vikings. He suffered a hamstring injury during the fourth quarter of the game. 

“It was so much fun,” Keenum said on ESPN’s postgame show. “I’m going to remember this night forever. This is incredible.”

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Giants holding onto ‘some hope’ Brian Burns’ injury isn’t latest nightmare

New York Giants linebacker Brian Burns (0) is checked on by trainers after he is injured during the second half of a game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026.

One week after losing their quarterback to a season-ending knee injury, the Giants are hoping the same fate doesn’t await their best defensive player. 

Outside linebacker Brian Burns, who played on a sprained left ankle, suffered what is feared to be a major right knee injury Sunday during a 12-7 victory against the Titans. 

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“There is some hope there,” head coach John Harbaugh said, “but we won’t know until we see the MRI.” 

Of course, the Giants had initial hope that Dart’s injury was week to week too, until next-day imaging showed that he had damage to his MCL, PCL and meniscus. 

Dr. David Chao, the former Chargers team physician and founder of SICscore.com, is worried about a season-ending ACL, based on video. 

Burns didn’t practice all week but gutted through his 36th straight start in as many games with the Giants in a third-down pass rush specialist role. 

Injured players often favor the other side of their body to compensate, and Burns’ knee buckled when he was blocked. He writhed in pain on the turf and had to be carried off without putting weight on his leg by teammates Aaron Stinnie and Andrew Thomas, who came off the sideline to check on him. 

“Everybody knows what Burns means to the team, so I’m hoping it’s nothing too bad,” pass rusher Abdul Carter said. “Keeping him in my prayers.” 

New York Giants linebacker Brian Burns (0) is checked on by trainers after he is injured during the second half of a game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

How many major injuries can the Giants withstand? 

“We’re going to take as many hits as necessary to keep on going,” safety Jevón Holland said. “Next man up. That’s how we practice. Guys go down and everybody feels bad for them, but we know that they would want us to continue moving forward.” 

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It was the first time that the Giants won a game with fewer than 300 yards of offense and zero touchdowns since Nov. 14, 1976. 

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Odell Beckham Jr. played six offensive snaps, per Pro Football Focus. He was targeted once on an incompletion. 

There was an “O-B-J” chant from the stands early in the fourth quarter. 

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New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) is knocked back after colliding with quarterback Jameis Winston (19) on a hand off during the first half of a game against the Tennessee Titans at MetLife Stadium. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Cam Skattebo’s 7-yard loss on a direct snap included a moment when it looked like he might throw the ball to Jameis Winston in the back of the end zone. 

“That wasn’t part of it,” Harbaugh said. “I saw what you saw, and I thought to myself, ‘He’s not going to throw that, is he?’ Because there was no throw involved in that play. So, that was not our finest moment, for sure.”

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Winston dedicated the win to QB Jaxson Dart, who wears No. 6. 

“Win this game for Jaxson,” Winston said. “Twelve points, 6 x 2, this one’s for you.” 

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The Giants played without CB Deonte Banks and S Tyler Nubin, who were inactive while dealing with calf injuries. Colton Hood and Ar’Darius Washington started instead. 

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RB Devin Singletary was a healthy scratch for the first time, just two weeks after his Week 1 touchdown. Najee Harris had nine carries for 52 yards in his spot. 

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FB Patrick Ricard suffered a lacerated nose “all the way through, like deep,” Harbaugh said.

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Justin Herbert could pass to his brother as Chargers elevate tight end Patrick Herbert

The Herbert brothers could have a special moment today in Buffalo.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert's little brother, tight end Patrick Herbert, has been elevated from the Chargers' practice squad to the active roster. That means the Herberts are set to play together today against the Bills.

When the Chargers added Patrick to their practice squad just before the start of this season, it made the Herberts teammates for the first time since they were at Oregon in 2019. Patrick barely played as a true freshman that year, and Justin never threw him a pass.

The 25-year-old Patrick, who is three years younger than Justin, signed with the Jaguars as an undrafted free agent last year and spent the season on their practice squad. He remained with the Jaguars throughout this offseason.

Patrick spent six seasons at Oregon, playing there from 2019 through 2024. As a freshman he got on the field for two games, while Justin was leading the Ducks to a 12-2 record that culminated in winning the Rose Bowl. During his college career, Patrick caught 31 passes for 388 yards and four touchdowns.

If Justin throws a pass to Patrick today, it is believed that it would be the first time in NFL history that a player passed to his brother.

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A 63-point plunge in fan confidence and a split on Jayden Daniels’ season - survey results

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 20: Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders warms up before a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Most weeks of the year, and every week of the season for several years now, Hogs Haven runs Reacts surveys, and I write an article breaking down the results. Because I’m writing about what Hogs Haven readers have said in a collective sense, I rely heavily on the comments section to inform what I write. The collective opinion expressed in the survey may not always match my own, but I try to offer an honest peek into the reasons behind the numbers as best I can make sense of them.

This week, I want to take a slightly different approach to analyzing the survey results, as you’ll see in the article below.

This week, we asked two questions, which is our norm during the regular season.

Question 1: Fan confidence

The first question asked, as it does every week of the season (at least until early December), whether you are confident in the team’s direction.

From our first survey to our second—before and after the opener in Philadelphia—confidence actually climbed from 70% to 83%. That early surge seemed based entirely on the “quality” of the loss: Washington went on the road against an elite Eagles team, pushed them to the brink in a 24-22 nail-biter, and looked competitive throughout. The general feeling was that the outcome turned on a handful of fixable execution errors.

This week, however, confidence collapsed to just 20%.

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A 37-20 loss in Dallas will do that to a fan base. The defense looked disjointed, the secondary surrendered big plays through the air, and the interior offensive line struggled in short-yardage spots. To make matters worse, franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered another dislocation to his left elbow on the final play of the first half.

Ron's teams went 7-9, 7-10, & 8-8-1 in his first three years here. His QBs were Smith, Haskins (RIP), Heinicke, Wentz, & Kyle Allen. He didn't have Jayden Daniels and his teams those first years never went through a 2-12 stretch. You take 5 from AP/DQ, they've been outdone by RR.

— Oz (@OBtoojiveforyou) September 23, 2026

Sitting at 0-2 overall and 0-2 in the NFC East with the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks arriving in Landover for the home opener, fans are not, to put it mildly, feeling optimistic.

Question 2: Jayden Daniels’ 2026 outlook

The second question in our survey asked whether you believe Jayden Daniels’ 2026 season came to an end with his injury in Dallas.

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In a roughly 60:40 split, the majority of survey respondents — who voted in the poll before any update or decision was announced by the team — believed that Jayden would return to the field at some point this season.

Again, voting took place early in the week before we had much official word from the team. On Friday, GM Adam Peters gave an update on his weekly radio appearance, and later in the day, head coach Dan Quinn provided confirmation on Daniels’ status.

It turns out that the 59% of fans who expected Jayden to return this season were right, at least, according to both AP and DQ, though the exact timing of his return remains up in the air aside from the fact that he is not being placed on IR at the moment.

The significance of not being put on injured reserve

As you are probably aware, players who are on IR must miss at least 4 games. For Daniels, a stint on IR would have meant Weeks 3 to 6, followed by a bye in Week 7, with a return allowed no earlier than Week 8 at home against the Eagles.

The fact that he is not being put on IR signals that the team expects him to return to play earlier, meaning in Week 4, 5 or 6, against the Colts in London, Giants in Landover, or the 49ers in San Francisco.

Yes, London remains on the table. Just have to wait/see. https://t.co/yWNXYRay4V

— John Keim (@john_keim) September 25, 2026

The Noah Brown lesson

Of course, we all remember WR Noah Brown, who, last season, was injured in the Week 2 game vs the Packers. He was not immediately placed on IR, indicating that the team expected him to return by the Week 6 game in mid-October. Instead, when that mid-October date arrived, Brown was not activated, instead being put on IR on October 15th and staying there until early December.

So, while it is clear that Adam Peters, Dan Quinn and Jayden himself all expect or hope for his return to play sometime in October, the example of Noah Brown from last season reminds us that return from injury is an uncertain process.

In any event, one thing is clear — the team, like the majority of our survey respondents — expect Jayden to be back as captain and quarterback in the coming weeks.

Commanders fans: Make your pick in the SB Nation app!

Take Reacts surveys, create Commanders polls, and see how your answers compare with fellow Hogs Haven fans. Then discuss the results with the Burgundy and Gold community.

Download the SB Nation app on iOS or Android.

An experiment: Mapping 740+ comments with AI

As I noted at the top, I try to integrate the thoughts of survey respondents into these weekly articles. This week, I faced both a challenge and an interesting opportunity.

The survey article generated over 210 comments on Tuesday and Wednesday. Meanwhile, Monday’s All aTwitter post had drawn more than 530 comments following the Dallas game and covering much of the same territory. Across just 72 hours, this community posted roughly three-quarters of a million words dissecting the state of the franchise in the context of Daniels’ (re)injury.

Rather than cherry-picking 4 or 5 comments and calling it a day, I decided to try something different. Having read so much about how Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing work flows around the world, I figured I could ‘opt in’ and make the revolution work for me. I fed all 530+ comments from Monday’s All aTwitter and all 210+ comments from the Reacts thread into Gemini, asking it to summarize the arguments and track how community sentiment evolved as the week progressed.

I know there is plenty of justifiable skepticism across the internet about AI content replacing human writers. Rest assured, I am not handing over my keyboard, but as an analytical tool for mapping community psychology, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to integrate some of the latest technology into my decidedly low-tech writing.

What follows in the italicized block below is the AI-generated synthesis of your comments across both threads:

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The community breakdown (generated via Comment Text Analysis)

1. Immediate aftermath: The Monday vent (All aTwitter)

Following the Dallas game, comments reflected acute shock, in-game tactical frustration, and heated debate over Daniels:

• The Daniels status debate: Discussion split between a minority urging Daniels to get fitted with a brace and return immediately to protect his developmental momentum (LionRoars1987 citing Kurt Warner) and a strong majority rejecting that path, citing re-injury risk and pain. Debate also sparked over whether awkwardly planting an arm is a recurring durability issue or an unavoidable fluke.
• In-game frustrations: Sharp criticism focused on end-of-half clock management—specifically Daniels trying to make a play rather than taking an easy field goal—leaving the team down 7 rather than 4. Commenters tallied missed opportunities and called out interior offensive line failures in short-yardage spots under center.
• Front office & staff: Sweeping criticism emerged regarding GM Adam Peters’ three-year roster build, pointing to depth issues along the offensive line and in the secondary. Commenters vented about Dan Quinn’s game management, with a few floating early speculation about offensive coordinator David Blough.

2. Midweek realism: The Reacts survey thread

By Tuesday and Wednesday, comments shifted from raw emotional venting to a structured, polarized audit of the rebuild:

• Orthopedic Consensus vs. Long-Term Health: Discussion matured into medical analysis, citing Tommy John timelines and joint stability. A significant contingent argued for shutting Daniels down for season-ending corrective surgery to safeguard his future rather than rushing him back in a brace to chase an 0-2 season. Durability concerns grew more explicit regarding his frame and fall mechanics.
• On GM Adam Peters: A deep ideological divide emerged. Poster Rook6980 mounted a multi-paragraph, probabilistic defense of Adam Peters, pointing out the barren baseline left by Ron Rivera and calculating the mathematical reality of turning over 20+ starters. Skeptics pushed back, arguing three offseasons should yield better depth, with a few radical commenters proposing a total fire-sale of older assets (Terry McLaurin, Laremy Tunsil, Daron Payne) to bottom out for high draft picks.
• Coaching accountability: Skepticism around Dan Quinn hardened, with posters pointing to historical trends and staff cohesion, balanced against older fans expressing “rebuild fatigue” over the prospect of another coaching reset.

3. The 48-hour transition

The progression from Monday to Wednesday tracked a clear shift from acute trauma to structural diagnosis:

• From panic to medicine: Daniels discourse shifted from in-game blame to long-term orthopedic preservation.
• From venting to roster economics: Frustration moved from single-game blown plays to deep debates over draft hit rates and multi-year rebuild baselines.
• From shared agony to in-fighting: The collective commiseration of Monday gave way to internal friction midweek over unverified injury leaks and community pessimism.

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Perspective: Separating the pain from the process

Reading that Gemini-generated synthesis confirms what many of us felt all week: when a season starts 0-2 and the franchise quarterback gets hurt, emotional balance sheets quickly run into the red. But stepping back from the immediate pain of what happened in the Dallas game allows for a less emotional look at where the team stands. Let’s take a look at the key thematic outcomes of those quarter-million words:

• On the Daniels Decision: Comments from fans show that they believe that if surgical stabilization were required to protect Daniels’ non-throwing elbow for the next decade (and apparently he believes, after consultation with doctors that it isn’t), he would need to be shut down without hesitation. The team should not risk a chronic, career-altering joint issue behind a transitional offensive line to salvage a handful of wins in a retooling year. At the same time, fans point out that everyone should avoid seeing an awkward fall on the field and labeling a young passer “brittle.” Dislocating an elbow while trying to maintain footing is a freakish event that does not signal an inability to handle the NFL game.
• On the Rebuild Timeline: The debate between posters like Rook6980 and the Peters skeptics gets to the heart of roster-building economics. When Adam Peters took over, this roster was effectively devoid of cheap, drafted starter depth. Rebuilding an entire two-deep roster through the draft takes three to four full cycles. Tearing it down further by trading anchors like McLaurin, Tunsil, or Payne accomplishes little except accelerating dead money onto the cap and stripping away the protection Daniels needs when he is healthy.
• On Coaching Stability: Washington lived on the three-year coaching carousel for more than a quarter of a century. Dan Quinn and his defensive staff face legitimate schematic questions after two rough divisional outings, but calling for staff overhauls two games into the season merely guarantees another multi-year identity reset.

National sentiment

In addition to our blog-based survey, SB Nation also sends out email surveys to those who register to participate.

In this week’s national survey, fans of all 32 teams were asked to identify which 0-2 team is most likely to make the playoffs. Without Jayden Daniels to lean on, sentiment for the Commanders was extremely muted.

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Fans across the league were also asked which one, in the rash of recent quarterback injuries, would hurt his team’s playoff chances the most. I’m, frankly, a bit surprised that 31% of fans nationally thought that Washington had any playoff chances to hurt.

Looking ahead to Week 3

We all know that the schedule maker didn’t do Washington any favors in the first quarter of the 2026 season (though there is relief in the second half). After opening with two division games on the road, when Washington finally comes back to Landover for the season home opener, they face the defending champion Seattle Seahawks at Northwest Stadium on Sunday. Unsurprisingly, FanDuel currently lists Seattle as heavy road favorites.

• Point Spread: Seattle -7
• Game Total (Over/Under): 40.5 points

With Marcus Mariota getting the nod under center, Sunday’s home opener is an early gut check for the Commanders. The fan base is understandably bruised, but seasons turn on how organizations weather turbulent stretches. This is another opportunity for a re-made roster and coaching staff to show that they won’t be defined by a couple of road losses and some bad injury luck.

Kickoff against the Seahawks is at 1:00 PM on Sunday. Buckle up. It should be an eventful afternoon!

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Bijan Robinson and Drake London had a historic night, with 194 yards each

Falcons running back Bijan Robinson and wide receiver Drake London ran wild at Lambeau Field on Thursday night.

Robinson had 194 rushing yards and London had 194 receiving yards as the Falcons crushed the Packers 35-14.

Via Josh Dubow of the Associated Press, London and Robinson are the first teammates each with more than 150 yards from scrimmage in a road game at Lambeau Field. They're also the fist teammates each with 190 or more yards from scrimmage in a road game in 50 years: It was last accomplished by Rams running back Lawrence McCutcheon and wide receiver Ron Jessie at Miami in 1976.

Robinson and London have now played together in three games when they both had 150 or more yards from scrimmage. They're the first pair of teammates in NFL history to top 150 yards in the same game three times.

Robinson, who also had two catches for 19 yards, totaled 213 yards from scrimmage. He's the first player to top 200 yards from scrimmage in a game this season, and he has an NFL-high 467 yards from scrimmage this season. He's averaging 155.7 yards from scrimmage through three games.

In the first two weeks of the season, the Falcons' quarterback play was so bad with Cooper Rush getting benched for Jack Strand that it was easy to overlook what dynamic playmakers the Falcons have. If the now-healthy Michael Penix can just execute his job competently and get the ball to those playmakers consistently, the Falcons' offense is going to be a real threat for the rest of the season.

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Patriots vs. Jaguars series history ahead of Week 3

The New England Patriots are back on the road in Week 3, taking on the Jaguars in Jacksonville. The two teams have played in some memorable games over the years, but in total will meet for only the 16th time between the regular season and playoffs.

Let’s take a look back at the first 15 of those games now.

Patriots vs. Jaguars series history

Overall history: The Jaguars entered the NFL in 1995, and as noted above have faced off against the Patriots on 15 occasions so far. Of those, five have come in the playoffs, including a pair of AFC Championship Games: the first in 1996 was won by the Patriots 20-6, as was the second, a 24-20 victory in 2017. New England also won a divisional game in 2007 (31-20) and a wild card game in 2005 (28-3). Jacksonville’s lone playoff victory came in the 1998 wild card round (25-10). In the regular season, the Patriots hold an 8-2 advantage. All three of their losses in the series so far have come in Jacksonville, where the teams are an even 3-3.

First game: The Patriots hosted the Jaguars at Foxboro Stadium in Week 4 of the 1996 season. Three Adam Vinatieri field goals as well as touchdowns scored by Ben Coates and Curtis Martin allowed head coach Bill Parcells’ team to take a 22-0 lead in the first half, but the Jaguars fought back and scored on a Hail Mary just before halftime. Momentum shifted drastically from that point on, with the visitors erasing their deficit and nearly stealing a win. However, a Drew Bledsoe pick-six off a bobbled pass was called back by penalty and another Jaguars Hail Mary was caught inside the 1-yard line as time expired. In overtime, Bledsoe led his team down the field and the rookie Vinatieri kicked the game-winner from 40 yards out to secure a 28-25 win. | Highlights

Most memorable game: Coming off a 35-point outing in the 2017 divisional round, the Patriots offense struggled against arguably the NFL’s best defense in the ensuing AFC title game. It did not help that Tom Brady had injured his hand in practice leading up to the game, nor that Rob Gronkowski exited in the first half with a concussion, but Jacksonville gave New England all sorts of fits early. Ultimately, however, a 20-10 lead was not enough for the visitors to punch their Super Bowl ticket. Brady and Danny Amendola took over in the fourth quarter, after all, combining for two touchdowns. The Jaguars’ last-gasp effort to come back ended with Stephon Gilmore making an acrobatic pass breakup on 4th-and-14. | Highlights

Most recent game: Drake Maye’s second career start back in 2024 saw him take on the Jaguars at London’s Wembley Stadium. Even though the Patriots jumped to an early 10-0 lead, the game quickly went south for the team from that point on: Jacksonville joined 25 consecutive points between the second and third quarters, including a 96-yard punt return touchdown. A fourth quarter TD from Maye to K.J. Osborn did little to change the eventual outcome, and New England losing the game with a final score of 32-16. | Highlights

The Patriots will take on the Jaguars at Jacksonville’s EverBank Stadium on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. Both teams own identical 1-1 records entering the contest.

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New Orleans Pelicans season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

The New Orleans Pelicans enter the 2026-27 NBA season as perhaps the league's most confounding team. A year after trading a future first-round pick to move up and draft Derik Queen, the Pelicans largely stood pat this offseason after another disappointing record that left them outside the Western Conference postseason picture. The franchise has won just two playoff series since coming to New Orleans in 2002.

There will have to be significant internal improvements for that to change under former Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley. The Pelicans were relatively healthy last season, with stars Trey Murphy III, Saddiq Bey and Zion Williamson each playing at least 62 games. New Orleans is also hoping for a more productive version of guard Dejounte Murray after he played in just 14 games following his return from a torn Achilles.

Yet Murphy, Bey and Murray have also been mentioned in trade rumors. Pelicans executive VP for basketball operations Joe Dumars has thus far resisted a full-fledged rebuild. How the first portion of this season goes should dictate what direction New Orleans takes around the trade deadline. Then again, many expected the Pelicans to recalibrate after last season went south, and they brought back their core.

Here's a breakdown of the New Orleans Pelicans' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS SCHEDULE: Dates, times and opponents for 2026-27 season

New Orleans Pelicans offseason review

• Record last season: 26-56 (11th in Western Conference)
• Playoff finish: Did not qualify
• Coach: Jamahl Mosley (1st season)
• 2026-27 title odds: +75000 (per BetMGM)
• Projected record: 34-48
• Offseason grade: D

Key roster additions

• G Benedict Mathurin (free agent signing)
• G Jason Pierre Jr. (No. 58 pick in 2026 NBA Draft)
• F Trendon Watford (free agent signing)

Key roster losses

• G Jordan Hawkins (trade)
• F Micah Peavy (trade)
• F/C Kevon Looney (free agent)

Biggest question entering training camp

Do the Pelicans' veterans fit with their youth?

• The Pelicans won more games late last season when they played veterans at the expense of first-round picks Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen for a stretch, but it also amplified concerns about the team's roster construction. One confusing offseason later, it's still unclear how Fears fits into the front office's plans after the recent signing of Mathurin, or whether Queen and Williamson can play on the floor together.

Projected starting lineup and rotation

Starters

• G Dejounte Murray
• G Saddiq Bey
• G/F Trey Murphy III
• F Herb Jones
• F Zion Williamson

Rotation players

• G Benedict Mathurin
• G Jeremiah Fears
• G Jordan Poole
• F/C Derik Queen
• C Yves Missi

What to expect in 2026-27 season

The Pelicans have enough intriguing talent to compete for a Western Conference play-in berth if the roster is intact for the entire season. But the same was true a year ago when this odd mix of developing young players and veterans without a defined role stumbled to one of the league's worst records. If Williamson isn't capable of being the franchise centerpiece New Orleans envisioned, the Pelicans seem more likely to break this core up than contend for the postseason.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New Orleans Pelicans season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

Information in this article was imported automatically into a template written and reviewed by a USA TODAY Sports editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Stars of the Game: Ja’Marr Chase and the Bengals defense shine in Houston

HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 20: Ja'marr Chase #1 of the Cincinnati Bengals catches a touchdown pass against the Houston Texans during the second quarter of the game at NRG Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Joe Burrow, Zac Taylor, and Dan Pitcher made it clear throughout the week after the Bengals’ Week 1 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Week 2 game at the Houston Texans: they needed to do a better job getting the ball to Ja’Marr Chase. After just two receptions for 12 yards, one of which went for -4 yards, the tone was set heading into Houston; Chase would get the ball early and often.

The best part of the week between Weeks 1 and 2 is that Chase said all the right things. He kept his head down and just went about his business. Chase let his actions speak louder than his words, and whoa, did his actions speak volumes on Saturday. 

Here is a look at our stars of the game from the Bengals’ 20-6 win over the Houston Texans.

1. Ja’Marr Chase: 7 rec., 75 yds, 2 TD

Chase had three receptions in the first quarter on Sunday, making his presence felt. The Bengals established him early, setting him up for big plays later in the game and a catch that will forever be on his highlight reel and in his future Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement video.

Chase’s 32-yard touchdown reception was a kill shot. Joe Burrow had just hit Tee Higgins for a 23-yard reception on 3rd&4 to get to the Texans’ 32-yard line. Now, it was 1st&10. The Texans had just flubbed a 34-yard field goal attempt and gotten stopped on 4th&Inches. They were on their heels. Burrow sensed that, and he went for the home run play. 

Good lord, Chase’s catch is incredible. It’s so many things woven into one: body control, concentration, and footwork. Not to mention, it came against Derek Stingley Jr., one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. 

But Chase wasn’t done there. On his second touchdown, it’s classic Burrow and Chase. Ja’Marr Chase knows what Joe Burrow will do when he’s out of the pocket. As soon as Burrow waved his thumb in the direction he wanted Chase to go, Chase sprinted to the right side of the end zone and hauled in a back-breaking 18-yard touchdown to put the Bengals up 17-3. It was very reminiscent of Burrow to Chase on a scramble drill against San Francisco in 2021 and against Philadelphia in 2024. This time, though, the play came in a Bengals win.

There was no need to worry about Chase after Week 1. He was in a great headspace despite small numbers, and now he’s coming off a terrific performance going into an AFC North game at Pittsburgh.

2. Dexter Lawrence: 3 TKL, 1 TFL,1 QBH

Dexter Lawrence single-handedly changed the game on Sunday in Houston. Lawrence only needed three tackles and one tackle for loss on the stat sheet because he does so many other things to impact the game.

That said, Lawrence’s fourth-down stop on David Montgomery in the second quarter is why the Bengals traded for him. It’s that kind of play, stuffing a run on fourth and TWO INCHES to completely swing the momentum of the game. The Bengals needed a stud and beast in the middle of their defense to make plays like that to swing games when they are on their heels. That’s who Lawrence is. He’s the undisputed leader of the Bengals’ defense, the guy in the center up front who sets the tone.

Lawrence’s fourth-down stop is his first big, game-changing play as a Bengal. It won’t be the last time you see him make a play like that this season.

3. Joe Burrow: 20/31, 207 yds, 2 TD, 105.2 Passer Rating

Back tightness, Houston’s defense, clunky offense at times? None of it mattered for Joe Burrow on Sunday, who diced up the Texans and played a clean game despite taking five sacks.

This is one of my favorite Joe Burrow games in his career. Given the week leading up to the game and the opponent, Burrow displayed a calm and toughness that made him one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks in 2021 and 2022. 

There’s no question Burrow is still one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks. Yes, he hasn’t posted prolific numbers yet this season. However, he’s still been productive through two games. Burrow only needed to throw for 207 yards on Sunday for the Bengals to have success against Houston, or, as he said, he only needed to be “incredibly average.” 

Here is one way to interpret that quote: this is Burrow’s floor, and that’s been good enough for the Bengals to win their first two games of the season. Just wait till Burrow starts putting up elite numbers on offense.

4. Demetrius Knight Jr.: 12 TKL, 1 QBH

Knight led the Bengals in tackles on Sunday, and it was one of the first times in his young career I thought he looked like he belonged on an NFL field as a linebacker. He finally looks like a guy who can rally to the ball, take the right angle for a tackle, and knows where the ball is going.

If Knight is leading the Bengals in tackles in a game, that’s really good for this revived Bengals’ defense. He was awesome on Sunday, and this is a performance he can build on.

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Malik Nabers, Brian Burns hoping to avoid the worst with their Giants injuries

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, left, walks off the field with wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams in Inglewood, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Malik Nabers is headed for an MRI and Brian Burns is headed for a waiting game.

Nabers popped his own dislocated shoulder back into the socket in the first quarter, and Brian Burns suffered a low-ankle sprain in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, bookending the Giants’ nightmare 28-6 loss to the Rams on Monday that included the loss of quarterback Jaxson Dart to a likely sprained MCL.

“I pulled it back in and started feeling a little bit of strength back,” Nabers said. “We were without Jaxson, and I didn’t want to give the team another loss, so I went back in.”

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, left, walks off the field with wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams in Inglewood, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. AP Photo/Caroline Brehman

Nabers was injured when he crashed to the ground after an incompletion from Jameis Winston. In his second game back from a 2025 season-ending torn ACL, he finished with one catch for 1 yard and is “knocking dust off to see what he can do with this new knee.”

Burns was in the game with the score out of hand when his left ankle was rolled on. He put no weight on it as he walked off the field with the help of two others and then gingerly walked back to the locker room and into the showers.

“It wasn’t as bad as it felt, so that’s a plus,” Burns said. “It’s getting stiff. It eases my mind to know it’s not nothing serious.”

The Giants had a cross-country red-eye flight and then a short turnaround to Sunday’s game against the Titans. Will Burns be available?

“I’ve dealt with this before,” Burns said. “It all depends on how fast you can get the swelling and inflammation down. I’m going to do everything possible to get as tamed as I can. The recovery process starts now, so it will be ice and compression until we get back to the facility and try to stay off it, keep it elevated.”

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Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs beat Colts in overtime thriller after bizarre sequence nearly cost them game

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs thought they had beaten the Indianapolis Colts on a bizarre fumble in overtime Sunday night. 

The Colts ended up with a chance to win instead, yet chose to play for a tie. 

And once again, Patrick Mahomes and the rest of his crew made an opposing team pay for giving them one last chance. 

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, left, and running back Kenneth Walker III (9) walk off the field after an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. AP Photo/Colin E. Braley

After the Chiefs and Colts traded field goals in the extra session, Mahomes followed a couple of strong runs by Kenneth Walker III by finding his running back for a long completion, setting up Harrison Butker’s 40-yard field goal as time expired and lifting the Chiefs to a 33-30 victory — the second straight year they’ve beaten Indianapolis on a field goal in overtime. 

“I mean, I think guys were resilient, and we just strained to finish,” Mahomes said. “It wasn’t always pretty. There were times we didn’t execute at a high level. But guys continued to fight and continued to push and we found a way at the end.” 

Mahomes finished with 382 yards passing and three touchdowns, Walker rumbled for 117 yards, and tight end Travis Kelce looked like a younger version of himself, catching nine balls for 101 yards and a score as the Chiefs improved to 2-0 on the season. 

It took a little longer than they first thought. 

Butker had kicked a 31-yard field goal in overtime to give them the lead, and the Colts (0-2) responded on their possession by having Jones throw deep to Laquon Treadwell, who had beaten L’Jarius Snead. Treadwell appeared to be bobbling the ball as he hit the ground, got up after he had completed the catch, had the ball popped loose and watched as the Chiefs pounced on it. 

The play was ruled a fumble on the field, but the officials reviewed it and determined Treadwell was down by contact. That gave the Colts a chance to score a go-ahead touchdown, but three plays left them facing fourth-and-8 and a decision. 

Angles From The Laquon Treadwell Catch And Then Fumble

Does He Really Catch This? Is It Really A Fumble? Does He Have Possession? Is The Game Over? What Is Happening? pic.twitter.com/j2WKGkTNPQ

— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) September 21, 2026

“Had a play called. Had to love the look to run it there,” Colts coach Shane Steichen said. “We took the delay and kicked the field goal.” 

Turned out to be the wrong decision. 

The Chiefs still had 3:11 to play in the extra session when they got the ball back, and they handed off to Walker on three straight plays to reach midfield. As the Colts began to stack the line of scrimmage to stop him, Mahomes threw a nifty pass to his running back, and he turned it into a 22-yard gain that set up Butker’s winning kick. 

“We had worked throughout the week dropping it over the top,” Mahomes said. “They were in a pressure look. We were able to change the play. You get the ball in his hands, Rashee (Rice) did a great job of blocking on the perimeter. That got us in field goal range.” 

Got them the win, too. 

Laquon Treadwell of the Indianapolis Colts catches a pass against L’jarius Sneed of the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, Sunday, September 20, 2026. Getty Images

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (13) loses possession of the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs during overtime at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. Treadwell was ruled down on contact on the play. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

“Overall we fought like crazy,” Steichen said, “but it wasn’t good enough. And then they find a way to make a play at the end.” 

The Colts didn’t look a whole lot better on defense after a disastrous Week 1 performance against Baltimore that they had chalked up to communication problems. They tried to solve the issue by having linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither relay the plays rather than safety Cam Bynum, but the tweak didn’t seem to make a whole lot of difference as Kansas City marched up and down the field. 

Each of the Chiefs’ first four drives would have produced points had Butker not missed a 51-yard field goal try. 

Yet the Colts were able to match Mahomes and Co. blow-for-blow over the first 30 minutes. Tyler Warren had three catches and a touchdown, Josh Downs picked apart a secondary missing safety Chamarri Conner for a second straight game, and Taylor had 75 of his rushing yards — the highlight a 24-yard touchdown scamper that gave Indianapolis a 20-17 lead at the break. 

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker (7) kicks a field goal in overtime to win the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, Sunday, September 20, 2026. Getty Images

The Chiefs allowed Denver to run for just 61 yards total in their 31-10 win last week. 

“We did some good things. Thought the run game was good. Moved the ball. I thought we were pushing,” Jones said. 

Kansas City finally slowed the Colts’ offense by refusing to give them the ball. The Chiefs held it for all but 2:22 of the third quarter, getting a go-ahead TD pass to Jalen Royals and setting up Butker’s field goal to start the fourth. 

Indianapolis answered with an 8 1/2-minute drive that Taylor finished with his second TD run to tie it at 27l with 5:37 to go. 

Neither offense could produce points down the stretch, though, leaving the game to be decided in overtime. 

“It was great that the guys competed for four quarters,” Reid said. “You’re going to have this. The parity in this league is crazy. You’re going to have some once-score games. You have to bear down and and our guys did that.”

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Los Angeles Clippers season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

Coach Tyronn Lue and the Los Angeles Clippers could struggle to make a significant run during the 2026-27 season.

The organization has fallen from playoff contention to a team likely dropping near the bottom of the Western Conference as a result of its offseason.

The NBA announced disciplinary action against the team on Sept. 2 after an external law firm completed enough of its investigation and shared its findings with league commissioner Adam Silver.

The Clippers were fined $30 million and were told to forfeit five first-round draft picks (2029–2033). Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and two of the team’s executives were also suspended.

The Clippers also used the offseason to create a younger roster. The team traded Kawhi Leonard, who is 35 years old, and moved on from Nicolas Batum (37) in free agency while adding players such as Brandon Ingram (29) and Gradey Dick (22). The Clippers were one of the oldest teams in the league, with an average age of 33.2 years last season.

The team will have signs of inexperience, but it could create an opportunity for players such as first-round pick Keaton Wagler to get significant playing time early and often.

Here's a breakdown of the Los Angeles Clippers' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS SCHEDULE: Dates, times and opponents for 2026-27 season

Los Angeles Clippers offseason review

• Record last season: 42-40 (9th in Western Conference)
• Playoff finish: Did not qualify
• Coach: Tyronn Lue (seventh season)
• 2026-27 title odds: +75000 (per BetMGM)
• Projected record : 31-51
• Offseason grade : C+

Key roster additions

• G Keaton Wagler (draft pick)
• F Baba Miller (draft pick)
• F Rui Hachimura (free agency)
• G Max Strus (traded)
• F Nick Martinelli (traded)
• F Johni Broome (traded)

Key roster losses

• F Kawhi Leonard (traded)
• F Nicolas Batum (free agency)
• G Bogdan Bogdanović (free agency)
• F/C John Collins (free agency)

Biggest question entering training camp

Who will step up as the Clippers' top player?

• The Clippers traded Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors, officially ending a chapter in the organization's history. The Clippers will start the season without a bona fide star player and MVP contender on its roster. Newly acquired Brandon Ingram will have an opportunity to fill the role, but he will have to show he can be durable, which was something that worked against Leonard at times as well. Leonard did play 65 or more games in two of the last three seasons, but was limited to just 37 games played during the 2024-25 season. Ingram did take a step forward, playing in 77 games for the Raptors last season, just two games shy of his career-high during his rookie season. The forward was limited to just 18 games played with the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2024-25 season.

Projected starting lineup and rotation

Starters

• G Darius Garland
• G Keaton Wagler
• F Brandon Ingram
• F Rui Hachimura
• C Brook Lopez

Rotation players

• C Yanic Konan Niederhauser
• C Isaiah Jackson
• G Kris Dunn
• G Max Strus
• G Bradley Beal
• G Gradey Dick
• G Kobe Sanders
• F Derrick Jones Jr.
• F Jordan Miller
• F Baba Miller

What to expect in 2026-27 season

Expectations won’t be high for the Clippers for the upcoming season. The Clippers already took a step back with a 42-40 record last season after making the playoffs in 2025. The Clippers are likely to take another step back. The team is projected to win just 31 games this season.

The team had championship expectations after acquiring Leonard and Paul George in 2019. Both players are now back in the Eastern Conference, while Los Angeles will battle for a chance at the play-in tournament.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Los Angeles Clippers season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

Information in this article was imported automatically into a template written and reviewed by a USA TODAY Sports editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Golden Nuggets: Game day

San Francisco 49ers running back Roger Craig (33) hurdles over defenders during Super Bowl XIX, a 38-16 victory over the Miami Dolphins on January 20, 1985, at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California. (Photo by Paul Fine/Getty Images)

I can’t wait to see how Connor Colby and Jake Brendel handle the Miami Dolphins defensive line, how the 49ers secondary takes care of the Dolphins offense, and whether the 49ers throttle up or down. It’s natural to let your guard down, being in their position, so we will learn a lot about this team today. I have high expectations. They earned it with their performance ten days ago. Let’s get this win and let’s get out with minimal injuries. Go Niners! 

How the 49ers are readjusting after weeklong Australia trip
“Perry, the team’s vice president of player health and performance, and his staff provided players with instructions on how much water to drink on the plane, how long to stay up before falling asleep and when to wake up.

Right tackle Colton McKivitz said the objective was to stay up for a couple of hours (an easy enough task with so much adrenaline still pumping from the game), go to sleep in their lie-flat seats, and then wake up for the final few hours of the flight.

McKivitz estimated he slept for about seven hours. Running back Christian McCaffrey said he was out for about 13 hours, which was about the same as rookie defensive tackle Gracen Halton. Defensive end Nick Bosa was in the same range.

“I actually felt it worse on the way back,” Bosa said. “Going out, you just kind of power through a few hours and then go to bed early and then just stay on a little earlier wake-up is what I did. And then when I came back, it’s been kind of hard to get to bed, but [Tuesday] night I got to bed nice and early.”

Kawakami: Why do the 49ers suffer so many injuries? Here’s my grand unifying theory (paywall)
“Shanahan and John Lynch seek out players who never want to come off the field, which is good for team spirit and fighting through tougher times but sometimes bad for the health of those players.

I don’t think Shanahan and Lynch have ever told an injured player to keep going no matter what. I just believe that they seek out hardy souls who run to contact and don’t want to let down their teammates. Which happen to be character traits of players who will try to ignore more reasonable medical advice.

Should Stribling have been kept off the field on Thursday after he initially hurt his ankle? Yes. But he wanted to keep going. The 49ers’ doctors allowed it; there’s always risk of worsening an injury and it’s always a judgment call.

But if Stribling didn’t want to go back in, he wouldn’t have gone back in. And the 49ers have built this roster — and won a lot of games — with players who want to go back in…

….they gather hard-nosed players, they charge through practice, they play games full-tilt, and they believe that tough players sometimes can make it back into the lineup faster than anyone else expected.

This stuff resonates in an NFL locker room. When you trust the players, the players trust you. Plus, sometimes it really pays off. Why else would the 49ers have brought George Kittle and Nick Bosa with them to Australia and to play in Week 1 after both had only recently returned to practice?

Or how could Shanahan and Lynch know that this group of players would respond well to flying out to Australia a week early, blow out the Rams, and understand what it takes to be ready for the Dolphins on Sunday?

The 49ers put a lot of trust in their players. Sometimes they put too much trust in their recovery powers; there are benefits and there are consequences for this. But the 49ers would rather keep that level of faith than players who deserve no faith at all.”

Eddy Pineiro will kick for 49ers against the Dolphins
“According to Matt Maiocco, the team did not sign either one, which means they’re confident Eddy Pineiro is no longer sick and will be available for Sunday’s home opener against the Miami Dolphins.

Pineiro didn’t practice all week due to an illness. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Friday the team would work out kickers ahead of the game. It was unclear whether that move was preventive. Turns out, that’s exactly what happened.”

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Eagles at Titans predictions for Week 2 of 2026 NFL season

Eagles at Titans predictions for Week 2 of 2026 NFL season originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Eagles (1-0) are traveling to Nashville to play the Tennessee Titans (0-1) at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Here are our predictions:

Reuben Frank (1-0)

The schedule is going to get much harder starting next week when the Eagles begin a stretch against the Bears in Chicago, the Rams at the Linc and the Jaguars in London. So getting the lowly Titans in Week 2 is perfect timing for the Eagles, who should – and better – get out of Nashville 2-0. This is a terrible Titans team that opened the season with a two-touchdown home loss to a Jets team that hadn’t won a road game by two touchdowns in three years. Perfect chance for the Eagles to fix what didn’t go well in their opener – pass rush, running game, pass protection, run defense – against a team they should dominate. The Titans are 9-36 in their last 45 games and the Eagles need to take advantage of this opportunity and blow this team out and get themselves to 2-0 before things get tougher. 

Eagles 30, Titans 17

Dave Zangaro (1-0)

The Eagles are big road favorites this weekend and they need to go down to Nashville and take care of business. This is one of those games the Eagles need to win and it would be nice if they didn’t let an inferior team hang around. If they have two too-close-for-comfort wins, they’d be 2-0 but there would probably be some serious questions about this team going forward.

With that said, I don’t think this game is going to be particularly close. The Titans just lost to the Jets by two touchdowns and are coming off a three-win season in 2025. I really don’t think they’re going to be much better in 2026. Cam Ward is talented but hasn’t been able to put it together and as nice as it probably was for him to get the No. 4 overall pick, Carnell Tate, in the building, it’s not going to change this team overnight. Their overall weapons aren’t great and that offensive line might not be able to hold up against the Eagles’ DL. I know, I know. We said that last week, but this is another opportunity for the Eagles’ pass rush to thrive.

On the other side of the ball, the Eagles will have to help out the interior of their line as they face All-Pro Jeffery Simmons. But a healthy Drew Kendall gives the Eagles a much better shot than a clearly hampered Landon Dickerson. As long as Simmons doesn’t wreck the game, the Eagles should be able to move the football on the ground and through the air.

Eagles 24, Titans 10

Barrett Brooks (1-0)

I’m looking for run production on the offensive side of the ball. There were times when I saw the new scheme take an L because it is so new to the line. The new run scheme is based heavily on zone blocking. I like to call it track blocking. The Eagles’ O-line has previously been in a man blocking scheme. Now they must block a space and when someone enters the space, latch on and block that defender. I know it was disappointing in Week 1, but I see how good this scheme can be for the offense. There are little adjustments and tweaks that will lead to great runs and make the play-action game a viable option. 

The defense at times looked amazing. I know everyone is harping on the sack production, but the defensive ends actually had a better game than statistics showed. I believe the edge rushers were told to stay in their rush lanes and mush Rush QB Jayden Daniels. He is such a good scrambler that the ends would have to rush through the OTs, instead of trying to beat them around the hump. The ends had to collapse around the QB and keep Daniels in the pocket.

I said all that to say: the Eagles should manhandle the Titans. The Titans are in the middle of a rebuild. The Eagles are still in position to go deep into the playoffs. They must not play to the level of any of their opponents. The Eagles must set the gold standard from this point forward. 

Eagles 31, Titans 12

Mike Mulhern (1-0)

The Eagles have never won in their three previous trips to Nashville, and it’ll be a scorcher on Sunday with near-100 degree temperatures. Thankfully, they face a Titans team lacking in talent that just got run over by the Jets. The brain trust of Robert Saleh and Brian Daboll led a pair of New York football franchises into the ground, then went out and acquired all the former Jets and Giants they could. That’s not exactly a recipe for success. 

In the end, it comes down to 2025 first overall pick Cam Ward. It’s been a disappointing start to his career. He was the 40th-rated passer as a rookie and matched that 80.2 rating in their Week 1 loss. He’s also lacked the flashes of “wow” moments fans can cling to for hope. Vic Fangio’s defense should feast on the young signal caller.

Expect an improved run game with the injured Landon Dickerson being replaced in the starting lineup by (presumably) Drew Kendall. The Eagles shouldn’t need Jalen Hurts to save them this Sunday. He can simply “play QB” and they should walk away with an easy win.

Eagles 27, Titans 13

Ashlyn Sullivan (1-0)

I don’t think this game is as much of a cakewalk as everyone thinks it is. I could see the Eagles offense especially coming out slow and this being a closer game than we imagined, at least in the first half. The one strength of the Titans matches up with the biggest weakness the Eagles have right now: the uncertainty on the offensive line with guard Landon Dickerson being placed on IR. Titans interior defensive lineman Jeffrey Simmons is one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL, and pairing with John Franklin-Myers makes for a pretty tough matchup for the Eagles guards this week. I think this will be a big game for the Eagles defensive line and they will find the pass rush that was lacking last week. Titans quarterback Cam Ward will put the ball in danger and take some sacks — he was sacked three times alone last week. I think the Eagles offense eventually finds its footing in the second half and the Eagles advance to 2-0 on the season. 

Eagles 31, Titans 14

Ryan Fowler (1-0)

Week 2 in Nashville is the definition of a trap game. For the Eagles, a massive Week 3 showdown looms with the Chicago Bears, but the focus this week will be to not glance too far over the horizon at what’s next. Instead, it’s about handling business in the form of a Titans team that struggled mightily on either side of the ball against the Jets in Week 1.

On offense, I expect Philadelphia to execute at a high level as a unit this week. I’d like to see some more screen game and targets for Makai Lemon beyond the line of scrimmage, but this is the game where Sean Mannion’s group should control the clock with the ground game before taking their shots downfield. The operation wasn’t perfect against Washington, but this is a chance to grow as a unit, open up the playbook a bit, and take care of business early. An underwhelming front seven (8 total pressures in Week 1) and a weak secondary for Tennessee sets the stage for what should be a nice day for all involved with limited push to stop the run and a lack of juice off the edge on passing downs. 

For Vic Fangio’s group, go hunt this week. Multiple sacks on the first series, force a few turnovers, heck, score a touchdown on defense. That’s my expectation for this group in Week 2. Cam Ward has all the arm talent to make every throw in the book, but his mechanics and process under center along with the correlating surroundings and structure of the offense was flat out ugly to open the year. There’s perimeter talent present in Wan’Dale Robinson and 2026 first-round WR Carnell Tate (Ohio State), but I just don’t see a path here where Ward and the Titans threaten this Eagles defense other than a few plays here and there and a possible late score in garbage time. Combine the fact that Ward is a primary pocket passer and nothing like we saw last week with Jayden Daniels’ ability to extend plays, and I expect a massive week for Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Jalyx Hunt — whose seven pressures against Washington ranked 5th-most among all defenders in Week 1. 

Eagles 24, Titans 3

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Ex-Kentucky staffer Brandon Weems becomes NBA GM

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 6: Brandon Weems, Maverick Carter, Keith Dambrot, & LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers poses for a photo during the game on April 6, 2024 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

John Calipari’s deep NBA connections are the open secret to his legendary recruiting success. Need proof? Look no further than the 44 of his college players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft.

However, the assistants who have grinded alongside him haven’t always replicated that success when taking the reins themselves. Historically, the 11 Calipari assistants who moved on to Division I head coaching jobs have scraped together a combined record of 1,491–1,522.

But one former Kentucky staffer is breaking the mold by bypassing the college coaching route entirely. According to an official release from NBA.com, Brandon Weems has been promoted to general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Weems cut his teeth in Lexington, landing his first coaching job with Kentucky. He quickly climbed the ladder to become the program’s assistant director of basketball operations, serving as a vital behind-the-scenes piece of the Wildcats’ 2012 national championship run.

His rise in Cleveland’s front office is backed by hard results. Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman praised the move, stating, “He has been instrumental in our player evaluation and roster-building processes, has a deep understanding of our culture, and has grown into a tremendous leader.”

Adding another cool layer to the promotion, Weems was actually a high school teammate of Akron’s own LeBron James. The King would leave Cleveland only to return and bring an NBA title home to Cleveland in 2016.

Now, Weems is tasked with helping construct another championship roster for that same franchise, this time building around Donovan Mitchell.

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Sean McVay: Myles Garrett is like Wolverine, healing fast, but we won't rush him back

Rams coach Sean McVay says defensive end Myles Garrett's knee surgery was successful, but it's too soon to tell when Garrett will be back on the field.

"It went good, he's feeling good, you already see he had crutches yesterday and then he was walking without crutches today. He's like Wolverine, healing fast," McVay said.

That doesn't necessarily mean Garrett will be back on the field on October 18 for the Rams' Week 6 game against the Cardinals, which is the earliest he's eligible to return from injured reserve.

"I'm reluctant to put a timeline on it," McVay said. "We know that he's going to miss those four weeks at a minimum. We're not going to rush him back. We want to make sure he's feeling good, he's able to get on the practice field, do all the things that are necessary for him to perform at a level that he's been accustomed to. I'll keep you guys posted as we have updates, as we go."

Garrett did next to nothing in the Rams' Week 1 loss to the 49ers and can't play for the next four weeks, so the Rams will be about one-third of the way through the season before they get any meaningful contributions for him. That wasn't the plan when they traded for him, but the Rams' top priority is having him ready late in the season and in the playoffs, and McVay sounds confident that will happen.

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Rams’ Sean McVay wants no part of playing in Australia ‘ever again’

Rams coach Sean McVay, quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Davante Adams.

Sean McVay would like to remove Australia from the Rams’ travel itinerary.

Possibly forever.

The Rams coach was discussing putting the 27-7 loss to the 49ers in Melbourne behind his team when he offered a suggestion that probably will not make it into the franchise’s international marketing materials.

“We’re not playing in Australia ever again, I hope,” McVay said. “Not because it wasn’t a great atmosphere, that’ll get taken out of context.”

Los Angeles head coach Sean McVay (front) and his assistant coaches look on during the second half of the Rams’ Week 1 loss to the 49ers on Sept. 10, 2026 at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

He saw the headline coming and supplied it anyway.

Half serious and fully aware of how the comment would travel, McVay sounded like a man who enjoyed the hospitality considerably more than the football.

There is one small complication with his proposed travel policy: Australia is part of the Rams’ international marketing territory.

The people responsible for growing the franchise’s presence there might have thoughts about abandoning the continent after one loss.

McVay’s vote has been recorded. It might not carry the room.

What he really wanted was some distance from a game the Rams would prefer not to revisit.

Preferably with assistance from Hollywood.

“That game is so far. … It’s almost like you try to do the ‘Men in Black’ thing where you say, ‘Hey, I don’t remember what happened. That was so long ago,’” McVay said.

Matthew Stafford looks to pass during the Rams’ Week 1 blowout loss to the 49ers in Melbourne, Australia. AFP via Getty Images

Unfortunately, the NFL does not issue memory-erasing devices alongside its game film.

The Rams will have to settle for playing better.

With the Giants coming to SoFi Stadium on Monday night, McVay emphasized preparation, concentration and bringing an edge to the next challenge.

His players, meanwhile, were not treating the trip as an explanation that needed to follow them home.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford offered a straightforward assessment of any lingering effects.

Davante Adams makes a catch over San Francisco cornerback Jack Jones during the first half of the Rams’ Week 1 blowout loss to the 49ers in Melbourne, Australia. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

“Not too bad, not too bad,” Stafford said. “Obviously, the travel was what it was. But no, I feel ready to rock and roll.”

Receiver Davante Adams was even more direct about separating the flight from the football.

“We can sit here and try to make excuses and say it’s because of the flight all we want. But at the end of the day, I didn’t feel tired. I didn’t feel crazy fatigued in the game and I felt good enough to go out there and put what we’ve typically put on tape,” Adams said. “We can make excuses all we want, but they played better than we did and that’s what I attribute that to more than the flight.”

So the Rams are moving forward, with their quarterback feeling ready and their receiver declining to blame the airline.

Their coach would simply prefer that the next flight come with fewer time zones.

And no return ticket to Melbourne.

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Countdown to Practice #3: Paul McNeil

P2 to the rim! | Credit: NC State Men’s Basketball

Welcome to the Preseason – Basketball practice officially starts in 3 days, September 21^st.  

Before last season, BTP posters were saying, “I can’t remember who’s on the team this season.” We’re here to help!

We’re counting down the 10 days to the beginning of practice ’26-‘27 by taking another look at this season’s roster, focusing on the 10 players most likely to make an impact. This article is about Coach Gainey’s biggest win of the offseason; despite being outbid by other schools, Paul McNeil has returned to the NC State Wolfpack.

Basketball News

• Generally the weight gains reflect what we have already been told – EXCEPT WILKINS
• Finally we have Jurkovic’s weight, and he’s a little taller than we thought
• Smartly, McNeil added an inch to boost his NBA resume
• Whitty got busted

Predicted breakdown of minutes per player:

#2 Paul McNeil

This will be Paul’s third season on the Wolfpack team, and his third (and most expensive!) coaching staff. Paul will be forever loved by fans for sticking with the program through the coaching changes, just as much as for setting the program record for most made 3PT shots in a season and having a 47/10 double-double in last season’s Heritage game. It’s becoming less common that players of his ability stick around 3 seasons, so we probably won’t get another.

• Ht / Wt:6’5” / 190
• Position: Guard
• PPG / RPG / APG:13.8 ppg / 3.6 rpg / 0.8 apg
• Shooting: 43.3% / 42.7% (105-246) / 82.4%

’25-’26 season Highs:

• Points: 47 points, double digits 23 games, 20+ 8 games
• Double-Doubles: 1
• Rebounds: 10

Strength

• Usage – Probably exactly what you want for his role as designated marksman
• True Shooting % – Excellent
• Assist %  / A/TO – A designated catch & shoot guy is not expected to pass much, but when he does, he’s very good at getting it to the right guy.

Weakness

• No surprise, overall Paul is not a strong defender
• Block % – He ranks in the 59^th percentile, but if you compare only to other guards he ranks very well, the 83^rd percentile.

Strength

• Three-point percentage – obviously

Weakness

• Doesn’t take a lot of shots inside the arc, and doesn’t pick up shooting fouls

Patrick Stacy

“Only player in history to make that volume of 3’s [last season] with that accuracy”

Coach Gainey

“Paul is coachable, I’m excited about the things he is doing with the ball, excited about the things he is doing on defense, he’s taken his leadership role very seriously. “

Expectations – Wolfpack nation LOVES Paul. He’s come back twice, and we’re told he turned down a big offer to move to Baton Rouge. But even the biggest fans (including me), have always had a few concerns:

Concern: Size – Paul has always been skinny, and we all wondered how that impacted the fact that he doesn’t often successfully drive to the basket. In pictures from the offseason workouts, Paul’s recently added muscle definition is very impressive.

Concern: One-dimensional offense – As noted above, Paul seldom takes it to the rim. Obviously, a big part of that is his role in the offense. But to be a well-rounded NBA player, he probably needs to increase the perception that he can beat you from 3PT and he’s a threat take it to the rim, as well. Last season only 23.9% of his made shots were inside the arc. But he did dunk it 4 times (4/4, 100%) and made 25 of what Torvik calls ‘Close 2PT’ shots. ( at 62.5%) A few steps further away his shooting percentage drops to 24.2%. Coach Gainey’s comments (above) on what he is doing with the ball, are encouraging.

Concern: Defense – (You can’t be a ‘3 & D guy’ if you can’t ‘D’ – Confucius) Last season he ranked 10^th on the Wolfpack in DPBM (Defensive box plus/minus) at -0.1. That means the opponent’s offense does better when he is ON the court than off. He beat out only teammates Jerry Deng, Jordan Snell, and Colt Langdon in that metric. Not good company, Robert.

I believe this will be Paul’s best season, but I don’t see him breaking his 3PT record. With the Wolfpack having 3 or 4 very good (38% +) 3PT shooters on the court at all times, the team might set a 3PT record as a whole, but the made shots should be distributed across more players. The floor spacing this team will cause should allow Paul, Hammond and Adams room to attack the rim. Defensively, I believe in Coach Gainey. He’s talked about Paul’s “coachability”. I believe Paul’s improvement on defense, as well as the entire team’s, will be the single most significant improvement by the Wolfpack this season positively reflecting on this season’s coaching staff versus the previous. However, there’s a caveat. It will not be immediate. Hopefully we’ll see the individual defensive effort there out of the gate, but it’s going to take time to become a really good defensive team.

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