The Best and Most Professional Sports Writing on Wordpress
Author: jminx94
A 2017 Fall Graduate of Western Illinois University. I majored in Sports Broadcasting and minored in Journalism. Sports are very serious to me, as they are what i'm most passionate about (history, world news and reading are steadily behind.). Still in the process of learning about other sports both nationally and internationally.
The 2023-2024 NFL regular season is over. 14 teams in two conferences (seven in each) have a chance at winning the Vince Lombardi championship trophy. For those unfamiliar with the updated playoff format, an extra team was added. That means there’s one bye week for the top seeded team in each conference and a Monday night playoff game. Everyone wants to know which three teams in the NFC advance to the divisional round, so here are the best picks come Sunday.
#7 Green Bay Packers v. #2 Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is the NFC’s best player this wildcard weekend. Although their passing game is great, Dallas’ running game needs to improve if they want to make it to the conference championship.
Dallas has won an impressive 15 straight home games (including playoffs). Dak Prescott is a worthy MVP nominee given how many analysts didn’t think the Cowboys would come close to winning the NFC East. The defense has also been one of the best in the league.
That said, Green Bay is on a roll right now. Runningback Aaron Jones’ last three games were all 100 yard performances. The Packers are 7-3 since Halloween with wins against Detroit, Kansas City and a Minnesota team that almost made the playoffs. You can bet coach Matt LaFleur will call run plays against a Dallas defense that struggles against the run. Jones being the go-to option also neutralizes pass rushers DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons.
The deciding factor will be the Cowboys receivers against Green Bay’s secondary. CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks and Martavis Bryant are better and more consistent than the trio of Corey Ballentine, Darnell Savage and Jaire Alexander. The Packers will make this close, but the home team should get a well earned win.
Prediction: Cowboys win 27-23
#6 Los Angeles Rams v. #3 Detroit Lions
Jared Goff (16, white) and Matthew Stafford face off against their former teams in what will be Detroit’s first home playoff game since 1994.
Head coach Sean McVay surprised everyone and led Los Angeles to ten wins with a bunch of rookies and new players on all three sides of the ball. Rookies Puka Nacua, Kobie Turner and Quentin Lake have elevated the play of their teammates while dominating at their positions. Detroit’s defense might have a hard time not just defending Nakua and number one team receiver Cooper Kupp, but trying to hold any leads the offense gets.
While coach McVay has been in loud stadiums before, nothing will prepare him nor any other team for how loud, festive and fun Ford Field will be in hosting Detroit’s first playoff home game since 1994. Injuries to receivers Kalif Raymond and Sam LaPorta are a valid concern but the Lions boast the best offensive line in the league and the best runningback tandem in David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. Expect Detroit to own the time of possession and keep Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford off the field as they desperately try to win their first postseason game in 33 years.
Prediction: Lions win 33-13
#5 Philadelphia Eagles v. #4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
One has to think Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts (1, green) will finally snap out of a slump and lead the Eagles to another playoff win…right?
By far the worst playoff game on paper, both Philadelphia and Tampa Bay are struggling to keep their Super Bowl hopes alive. The Eagles couldn’t beat either the Cardinals or Giants, two of the worst teams in the league, in back-to-back weeks. Philadelphia gave up at least 27 points in each game. Tampa Bay’s offense has been atrocious, putting up 22 points in the two games played after Christmas.
The one thing in the Buccaneers’ favor is their defense. The Eagles offense won’t have A.J. Brown and Philadelphia’s running game is inconsistent. Tampa Bay will have more chances with quarterback Baker Mayfield to score against what’s now one of the worst defenses in the league called by coordinator Matt Patricia.
Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele (55) and Connor Hellebuyck (37) congratulating each other over a recent home win.
After being swept against last year’s reigning Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights, head coach and long-time hockey guru Rick Bowness called out the Winnipeg Jets for a letdown performance. The big takeaway was how Winnipeg had, “no pushback” against a more physical western conference foe that’s used to having their way against the newest Canadian team.
Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff was one of the first people in the organization who listened what the respected coach had to say and made crucial offseason decisions. He started by re-signing franchise cornerstones (forward) Mark Scheifele and (goalie) Connor Hellebuyck to long-term deals. Many analysts were confused at these moves given how Winnipeg barely scraped into the postseason needing their stars to play their best. The most reasonable expectation would be for the Jets to trade either if the following seasons showed more decline and to eat the dead money from both their long-term contracts.
Cheveldayoff was just getting started. He traded former third overall pick Pierre-Luc Dubois to Los Angeles for a haul of needed depth and star players, including forwards Gabriel Vilardi and Alex Iafallo. Additional forward depth was added in free agency with the signings of Nino Neiderreiter and Vladislav Namestnikov. Former Jet Laurent Brossoit was re-signed to backup Hellebuyck for when the star needs rest.
Winnipeg began the season as a question mark for almost every sports pundit. They have the right pieces, but could Rick Bowness put everything together and get more out of a roster that’s been criticized annually for not playing defense? Well, we’re finding out not only has Bowness succeeded, but that the Jets are one of, if not the best team in the NHL.
Bowness’ Jets are so good right now that Arizona’s head coach André Tourigny said, “They’re a really good team. They’re not just a good team, they play maybe the best hockey in the NHL. They’re really stingy and poised with the puck.” The Coyotes are one of the better teams with a chance of stealing a wild-card spot due to their gritty, physical play. Yet Arizona was thrashed 6-2 at home by Bowness’ team this past Sunday.
Winnipeg has turned into one of the league’s best defensive teams while the offense is overwhelming opposing defenses. Even more eye opening is their 11-1-2 record without last year’s (their) second leading goal scorer Kyle Connor.
While it’s possible the other 29 teams find ways to figure out how to fluster the Jets, the conference and the league are on notice.
Winnipeg’s ran up 25 goals in their last six homes games, including a 4-2 beatdown on Minnesota December 30th, 2023.
Here’s the first ever NHL power rankings on jdsportscorner.com. These will show where all 32 teams objectively stand. Some teams will have tiebreakers based off of how they’d perform on a neutral site.
#32 San Jose Sharks
Coach Dave Quinn made the mistake of saying he found the winning formula once the Sharks got to 12 points in November. They have 23 by mid-January.
#31 Chicago Blackhawks
Everyone who pays attention to the NHL knew Chicago would be awful this season. The good news is that first overall pick Connor Bedard will be the league’s next superstar barring more injuries. Now the team has to build around him after their regular season ends.
#30 Ottawa Senators
Interim coach Jacques Martin is respected in Canada’s capital for how he coached and matured the mid-2000s Senators teams that went on to make a Stanley Cup finals appearance. It’s still early but he’s struggling on how to work with this team and what he can get out of captain Brady Tkachuk. Ottawa is one of two teams that hasn’t won a game since the calendar year began. This once again confirms D.J. Smith kept his job longer than he should have.
#29 Anaheim Ducks
While most analysts are focusing on trade rumors with starting goalie John Gibson (again), former third overall pick Trevor Zegras recorded four goals the first half of the season before landing on injured reserve with a broken ankle. Anaheim is ahead of three other teams for total goals this season. This team is awful and worries more about making highlight reels instead of finding ways to build up a winning culture.
#28 Columbus Blue Jackets
The Jackets have the second worst scoring defense in the league. One could counter that’s because the offense doesn’t score as much but Columbus is in the middle of the standings in scoring. In a weak Metropolitan division, management has to reassess coaching hires.
#27 Minnesota Wild
There hasn’t been a more disappointing team this season than the Wild. Firing coach Dean Evason barely made an impact after three weeks and many are left wondering if this is just a bad luck season or if a serious re-tool of the roster is needed.
#26 Buffalo Sabres
I have a lot of respect for coach Don Granato. He inherited not just an awful roster when he started coaching the Sabres, but awful situations involving players quitting on the team and Jack Eichel’s trade rumors. All took place during the COVID-19 lockdown games. However, it seems he’s not the answer for Buffalo moving forward. Give Granato credit for making the Sabres a more attractive job opening for when that happens.
#25 St. Louis Blues
It doesn’t matter what the Blues do this season. All audiences will remember how general manager Doug Armstrong’s gradual gutting of the roster led to a backstab firing of coach Craig Berube. Not only will Berube be one of the most sought after coaches in the offseason, St. Louis will have to address why they have a bottom five offense in the league with no top talent available.
#24 Montreal Canadiens
The re-build underway will take a while to complete, and it’s most visible on defense. Sam Montembeault is a solid goalie but he needs more help in front of him.
#23 Calgary Flames
Calgary is 8-4 after snapping a four game losing streak mid-December. Yet they look mediocre and there’s nothing to feel excited about. That doesn’t bode well once March arrives.
#22 Arizona Coyotes
Earlier it was mentioned Arizona is a solid team that could sneak into the playoffs. Ask anyone who’s watched the Coyotes play this season and they’ll tell you this could be the fourth best team in the central division. Coach Tourigny is doing a great job with the young roster.
#21 Seattle Kraken
General manager Ron Francis gets an A+ for picking goalie Joey Daccord in the expansion draft. The young netminder has given up four goals in four games to start 2024 and is a reason the Kraken have both won eight straight and recorded a point in twelve straight games. Daccord was left open by Ottawa because they preferred Filip Gustavsson as the starter. Well, both goalies are starting and could have decorated careers…just not in Canada’s capital.
#20 Detroit Red Wings
Anyone who follows hockey closely and knows what goes on is fully aware of what general manager Steve Yzerman’s doing. Detroit had no talent outside of captain Dylan Larkin or Tyler Bertuzzi when he was hired, even in the minor leagues. The Red Wings are a top five offensive team with a porous defense. You can bet this is what Yzerman foresaw and already knows how to fix it.
#19 Edmonton Oilers
Their resurgence could be due to interim coach Kris Knoblauch, but again the question of how far this team goes relies on team defense, especially who starts in net. Until that’s definitively answered, Edmonton will remain a middle-of-the-pack team.
#18 Pittsburgh Penguins
Sidney Crosby having more goals than Washington’s Alex Ovechkin halfway through the season is something no one expected. Even wilder is Jake Guentzel leading the Penguins in points with 45.
#17 New Jersey Devils
For those who didn’t read the regular season predictions, it’s not a surprise the Devils aren’t as hot as last year. Their 13 game winning streak was a big reason they made the playoffs. Now other eastern conference teams have a better idea of how to play coach Lindy Ruff’s young squad. Also not surprising is how porous the goaltending is, nullifying any contributions from the offense and special teams.
#16 Washington Capitals
Many are stunned the league’s second best all-time scorer having eight goals after 39 games. I am not. The injury to Nicklas Backstrom is that crippling to where Alex Ovechkin has to facilitate the offense in ways that’s not scoring a hat-trick once a week. Add in Spencer Carbery being a first year head coach still figuring out how to improve a gradually aging roster without depth and this is what you get.
#15 Tampa Bay Lightning
Here’s something more jaw-dropping than Alex Ovechkin’s lack of goal scoring: the Lightning are the fourth worst NHL team in goals against. This is with Andrei Vasilevskiy starting 20 games.
#14 New York Islanders
There’s no player in the league with more pressure than Ilya Sorokin right now. Former starting and now backup goalie Semyon Varlamov is on injured reserve, so the Islanders can’t rely on someone else outside Sorokin who gives them a good chance to win. Yet the number of losses due to blown leads continues to worry the franchise.
#13 Nashville Predators
On paper, Calgary and Nashville are almost the same. Performance-wise, the Predators find ways to win despite facing depth issues and ongoing trade talks. That’s why ownership and management matter before the games are played.
#12 Philadelphia Flyers
The hiring of John Tortorella could go down as one of the best moves in franchise history. Not even two full seasons in and the Flyers look like a team threatening to uproot the eastern conference favorites’ playoff hopes. Philadelphia isn’t there yet, but they’ve bought into Tortorella’s philosophy, barely resisting his changes. That’s a big development.
#11 Los Angeles Kings
The Kings’ seven game losing streak is a problem, but not too dire. They’ve only played 38 games and have the best defense in the league even with Pheonix Copley on injured reserve. Los Angeles needs more offense not based off the rush.
#10 Toronto Maple Leafs
This team is the litmus test for who the true championship contenders are. Toronto’s a great offensive team and has solidified roster depth, but having Martin Jones as the de facto starting goalie is a weakness only the best teams will exploit.
#9 Carolina Hurricanes
Outside of a road game in Boston, Carolina should win every game this month especially since the offense is out of a slump and the defense has stabilized.
#8 Dallas Stars
The remaining eight teams are very hard to choose in numerical order. There’s a case for all eight having any spot, and those criticizing the take that a team that’s had the most eight-goal scored games (three) should be eighth, I understand. Keep in mind that Jake Oettinger isn’t starting because of a lower body injury. Dallas also has a combined losing record against the next seven teams. That’s how hard and competitive the NHL is.
#7 New York Rangers
Names are being thrown out by pundits on who should be league MVP. Mika Zibanejad is a worthy candidate for anyone who watches New York. Yes, Artemi Panarin will be considered because he’s the team leader in points, goals and assists, but ask yourself would the Rangers have a 30% power-play if Zibanejad isn’t the most guarded or harassed player by opposing defenses? He’s that versatile.
#6 Boston Bruins
To set the record straight, even if the Bruins had the most points in the NHL right now, I wouldn’t have them as number one or two. They’re in a slump and are finally feeling the effects of no Patrice Bergeron. The schedule is going to get rocky and Linus Ullmark’s lower body injury is another challenge after last year’s record breaking regular season.
#5 Florida Panthers
As I said at the start of the 2022 season, the Paul Maurice hiring was one of, if not the best hiring for any team. After a Cinderella run to the Stanley Cup finals, the Panthers have a top three defense, a top five penalty kill, and physically wear out opponents every night to force enough power-play chances. Oh, and Matthew Tkachuk is starting to heat up.
#4 Vegas Golden Knights
I want the current champions to be higher but their scoring slump combined with the hard decisions of which goalie should start each night is a concern. They went from tied for first in the conference to trailing Vancouver by six points. Ouch.
#3 Colorado Avalanche
What Nathan MacKinnon is doing right now should earn him the Hart Trophy, even before the All-Star break. The Avalanche are playing phenomenal without captain Gabriel Landeskog, and it’s because MacKinnon is a top three player in the game.
#2 Vancouver Canucks
The firing of Bruce Boudreau was awful, but that’s forgotten because of how Rick Tocchet has finally elevated the team and brings the best out of a well constructed roster. Vancouver has the best scoring offense and their top point leader is J.T. Miller. Tocchet is the easy Jack Adams pick if the Canucks win the pacific.
#1 Winnipeg Jets
Everything coach Rick Bowness and the Jets have done this season pales in comparison to these two stats: they’ve had 31 consecutive games giving up three goals or less. Second, of their last 19 games they’ve given up two goals or less in all but one: an overtime 3-2 loss to Montreal. The last time Winnipeg gave up more than three goals was November 2nd. We’re witnessing an incredible run.
Jets coach Rick Bowness is having one of his best years as an NHL coach, bringing the team back to 2018 levels of good.
The 2023-2024 NFL regular season is over. 14 teams in two conferences (seven in each) have a chance at winning the Vince Lombardi championship trophy. For those unfamiliar with the updated playoff format, an extra team was added. That means there’s one bye week for the top seeded team in each conference and a Monday night playoff game. Everyone wants to know which three teams in the AFC advance to the divisional round, so here are the best picks come Saturday.
#5 Cleveland Browns v. #4 Houston Texans
The resurgence of Joe Flacco’s career (15, white) has many picking Cleveland to go far in the postseason. Flacco has never lost a wildcard weekend game he’s started.
This regular season matchup was a one sided game where Houston didn’t have rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud IV. The Browns did any and everything they wanted to, embarrassing the Texans until the game was out of reach. Trust Houston’s rookie duo of Stroud and head coach DeMeco Ryans to perform a lot better after re-watching the film and making adjustments.
Unfortunately for the Texans, it won’t matter. Cleveland has the better defense, offensive line and postseason quarterback in Joe Flacco, who’s never lost a wildcard game and ended his last postseason run with a championship.
Prediction: Browns win 27-20
#6 Miami Dolphins v. #3 Kansas City Chiefs
Miami’s Tyreek Hill will be the main focus of Kansas City’s hard-hitting secondary. The sub-zero temperatures and no Jaylen Waddle could be the Dolphins’ undoing.
Miami lost crucial games that could have locked up the east and a first round bye. The Dolphins didn’t win their division, so they’re awarded a first round trip to Kansas City in freezing temperatures against a well-rested Chiefs team.
While Miami is reeling from injuries, Kansas City finished top ten in passing yards and has one of the best defenses in the league. It’ll be hard for the undermanned Dolphins to play four focused quarters in one of the league’s loudest stadiums.
Prediction: Chiefs win 24-13
#7 Pittsburgh Steelers v. #2 Buffalo Bills
The AFC’s best player this wildcard round is arguably Buffalo’s Josh Allen. The Bills quarterback led a top ten offense in passing and total offense.
Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin kept his streak of not having a losing season alive thanks to starting third string quarterback Mason Rudolph the last three games of the regular season. The Steelers are rewarded by playing the second hottest team in the conference. Tomlin’s defense will be without star linebacker T.J. Watt, but free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick will return.
Buffalo’s Josh Allen has been one of the NFL’s best players since Thanksgiving, guiding the Bills from three games out of first place to decisively winning the AFC East last Sunday. Receivers Stefon Diggs, Dalton Kinkaid and Dawson Knox will face little resistance against a banged up secondary.
As writer, editor and publisher for this website, I’d like to wish you all a Happy New Year, and to a wonderful 2024.
I’ve appreciated everyone’s support since this blog has taken off. Ratings doubled in 2023, including readers from at least a dozen new countries viewing my work. I’m looking forward towards more growth this season and to see if I can break more records.
Most importantly, the feedback is always encouraged and needed. Starting this month (and soon), the first ever monthly power rankings for both the NBA and NHL will take place. These new features will join the NFL postseason game picks to encompass how busy and exciting the winter sports season is.
I hope you all enjoy January and get some goals and expectations accomplished. There will be more updates regarding connecting websites for the future.
After many weeks of waiting, teams are finally clinching playoff berths. Some teams secured their divisions and have chances at the number one playoff seed. Even more exciting are the teams that had chances to clinch and couldn’t, setting up more anticipation for the holidays. It’s time to see who or what else stood out most for week 15.
Winners: Jake Browning
Cincinnati’s backup quarterback hasn’t just won the games he’s started the past three weeks, he’s been the better passer. Jake Browning is undefeated in his three starts for the Bengals, changing the AFC playoff picture.
Many assumed after franchise star Joe Burrow was put on injured reserve with a torn ligament in his throwing wrist that Cincinnati would finish last in their division. It couldn’t be more opposite with Browning under center. He’s elevated head coach Zac Taylor’s offense, averaging 32 points per game in three needed wins against playoff hopefuls Jacksonville, Indianapolis and Minnesota.
Many AFC teams are struggling with multiple backup quarterbacks, poor offensive play-calling and holding leads in the second half of divisional games. The Bengals have dodged all three of these issues with a confident Jake Browning leading the offense. While two of their remaining three games are against divisional opponents with similar postseason hopes, Cincinnati is in a better position to lock up one of the three wild-card spots.
Jacoby Brissett’s chance to be a starter again
Washington’s loss in Los Angeles might have sealed head coach Ron Rivera’s fate, but it didn’t seal backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett’s. The eight year veteran played less than a quarter and almost stole a win against the Rams.
Brissett came in with seven minutes remaining and the Commanders down 28-7. He finished both drives completing eight of ten passes for 124 yards, two touchdowns and an almost perfect passer rating. Los Angeles squeaked out a 28-20 win.
Jacoby Brissett has been an unfortunate journeyman passer the last five years. When given the chance, he can lead teams and give them hope for a postseason run. The high number of injured quarterbacks this season will make Brissett a popular target for general managers once the offseason begins.
James Cook
It was appropriate for Bills quarterback Josh Allen to tell the press after a dominant home win against Dallas that, “the win for me was like getting an ‘A’ on a group project when you did nothing.” On offense, James Cook put most of the work in for that ‘A’.
Cook diced Dallas’ defense all four quarters Sunday. He ran 25 times for 179 yards and a touchdown. He also had two catches for 42 yards and caught Allen’s only passing touchdown. His seven yards per run took so much time off the clock, Buffalo posted the fastest final of the late afternoon games.
The Bills have needed a runningback to take pressure off Allen from constantly making big plays. James Cook is quietly less than 200 yards away from a 1,000 yard rushing season. Buffalo might have found their young, franchise runningback that can attack defenses in a dimension the team hadn’t been able to do in prior years.
Baltimore Ravens (and yes, John Harbaugh’s coaching)
The first team in the AFC to clinch a playoff spot Sunday was Baltimore. After constant criticism against head coach John Harbaugh, he’s led the Ravens to a conference best eleven wins.
Baltimore took advantage of every Jacksonville blunder Sunday night. While the Jaguars wasted four scoring opportunities, Ravens quarterback and leading MVP candidate Lamar Jackson dazzled audiences with his performance. The team has dealt with injured play-makers on both sides of the ball this season but the difference is coach Harbaugh making all the right decisions that eluded him in 2022.
The Ravens have a top five scoring offense and total defense. The offense is also top ten in time of possession and total yards per game. Both upper management and the coaches took last year’s failures seriously and made necessary upgrades to make sure there wasn’t a repeat of last year’s monthly embarrassments. Baltimore is a true, Super Bowl favorite before Christmas.
Losers: Mike Tomlin
Consistency in sports journalism is something audiences look for and hold in high regard. Just as there was harsh criticism towards John Harbaugh, so there should be for head coach Mike Tomlin.
Saturday’s loss in Indianapolis when the Steelers had a 13 point lead might be the lowest point of Pittsburgh’s season. While the offense, led by backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky started off with two easy touchdowns, nothing after went right. Despite firing unpopular coordinator Matt Canada last month, Pittsburgh’s gotten worse in almost every offensive category. Part of that is because starting quarterback Kenny Pickett’s missing time with an ankle injury. It’s believable if the Steelers’ problems were just on offense. However, star players on defense have also gone out with injuries. The defense is missing three impactful players and mostly plays better than an offense that won’t average more than 16 points a game.
A new issue creeping in is lack of discipline. The ejection of safety Damontae Kazee due to his vicious tackling of Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. adds to the growing concern of Tomlin’s management the past two months. Previously it was receiver George Pickens making media headlines with his angry tirades of not being involved in the offense. Now players on defense are getting ejected (and suspended by the league) for making dangerous plays.
Audiences who have watched the Steelers play the last few seasons will admit they’re one of the worst teams to watch almost every weekend. The organization has to consider serious changes on every level, including a head coach who’s helped re-build a roster that hasn’t won a playoff game since 2016.
Tennessee Titans
For anyone who watches a team lead by double digit points and wonder, “What’s the worst that could happen?”, Tennessee’s home loss to rival Houston (while wearing throwback jerseys of Houston’s original football team) will become a definition of what possibly could go wrong for many years.
After the Titans took a 13 point lead to start the second quarter, things went downhill. First, the Texans tied their rival late by scoring their only touchdown of the afternoon. Tennessee had led most of the game until Noah Brown caught the three yard score from Case Keenum. Rookie and possible franchise quarterback Will Levis struggled to evade defensive linemen and almost left with a serious injury. The Titans couldn’t move the ball past 19 yards on any of their second half possessions.
Things have gotten worse as not only the loss officially eliminated Tennessee from the postseason but star runningback Derrick Henry tweeted cryptic messages indicating he could move on if the organization doesn’t make necessary changes before January. Merry Christmas Titans fans.
Green Bay Packers
Heading into last Monday night, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur hadn’t lost in the month of December since his hiring in 2019. In one week, LaFleur’s lost two games against teams Green Bay was nationally favored to beat.
The Packers are in the thick of the playoff race and recently won two important games in Kansas City and Detroit. The confidence and good feelings Green Bay had after those wins are gone after being dominated against Tommy DeVito and Baker Mayfield-led offenses.
It’s easy to forget at times the Packers have one of the NFL’s youngest rosters. Audiences will wonder from a competitive viewpoint where would the team be if they focused on and won games against inferior opponents in one week. The losses sting more when looking at the close NFC North divisional standings and knowing the Packers own some tie-breakers.
Whoever decides to watch Christmas Eve’s Sunday night game
Christmas Eve is a wonderful time of year. Family, christmas carols, It’s a Wonderful Life and wrapping presents are what most people in the United States focus on before having a lovely holiday.
Any sane or rational minded person would also decide not to watch New England play Denver on Sunday night. The Patriots are trying their best to set NFL offensive standards back at least 50 years while Sean Payton either verbally grills his quarterback or whatever poor referees call penalties against his team.
The league decided not to flex New England’s win against Pittsburgh on Amazon two weeks ago and paid for it with low ratings. Perhaps we can all write to Roger Goodell (and Santa Claus! Think of the children!) to encourage more flexing of primetime games, no matter what network airs them. Two years of bad American football on Christmas is enough for one’s lifetime.
Notes: The writer, editor and publisher is officially on break with the publishing of this article. This is the last Winners and Losers for the NFL season. Wild-card weekend playoff picks will be up before January 13th.
Happy Holidays to you all. Many thanks to those who have read, liked, commented on and shared jdsportscorner.com articles this year. The first post of 2024 will contain updates of my growing writing career in the sports journalism field. May you all enjoy the rest of 2023.
Seahawks strong safety Jamal Adams is rapidly approaching Clay Bennett levels of infamy on the Seattle sports scene. Adams came to the Seahawks in an ill-conceived trade in July of 2020, a deal which included sending two first-round draft picks to the Jets. Later, Adams signed what was at the time the richest contract for a safety in NFL history. Then, the injuries began taking their toll. Next, Adams got even worse in coverage. Finally, Adams started taking out his frustrations on beat reporters’ wives on Twitter.
Needless to say, fans have had about enough of No. 33 and are desperate to get rid of him this coming offseason, no matter the cost. It would be a considerable one, though. No team will take on Adams’ contract so the only way out is to cut him. However, that move would come with over $20 million in dead money over the next two years.
It’s a steep price to pay to get rid of a three-time Pro Bowl defender who’s still highly-effective around the box. Some folks think it’s worth it, though. That includes former Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren. Speaking on 93.3 KJR radio yesterday, Holmgren said he had to release good players that were hurting the team and sometimes you have to eat the money.
Coach Holmgren on what the #Seahawks could or should do re: Jamal Adams:
“I’ve been in position where I’ve had to release good players that were hurting the team. And sometimes you just have to eat the money.”
Cutting Adams should probably be high on the team’s list of priorities once the offseason begins – but it can’t end there. Writing off Adams should be part of a larger shedding process of getting rid of burdensome contracts for veterans on the back end of Seattle’s defense. While Quandre Diggs is an excellent safety, he’s had a bad year. Soon to be 31 years old, cutting Diggs would also carry a brutal dead money penalty, but it would save $11 million in cap space for the 2024 season.
The Seahawks also have to consider a total reset at linebacker, where both Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks are about to become free agents. Wagner will always be our favorite defender in franchise history, but he’s become a liability in coverage too often and re-signing him is probably not worth the investment considering his age and the team’s situation. Brooks is much younger and may be worth re-signing after his huge step forward this year – but there’s also a case for letting him walk and starting over with a couple of linebackers on rookie contracts.
Once the dead weight at linebacker and safety has been shed, the Seahawks need to shift whatever resources they have saved towards their offensive and defensive lines – which is the biggest obstacle between them and the contenders they’ve been losing to lately. Radically upgrading both sides of the line of scrimmage is a non-negotiable prerequisite for catching up with heavyweights like the 49ers, Cowboys, Ravens and Eagles.
Then again, we feel this team’s greatest problems are not on the field but rather in the booth and on the sidelines. We have a tremendous amount of respect for what Pete Caroll has accomplished and he’s still better than average at his job. That said, he’s out of his league against two much younger head coaches within his own division and the odds of returning to the Super Bowl after a 10-year layover are extremely slim. The Seahawks likely won’t get back to the top of the mountain unless they have somebody else leading them.
The fourteenth week of the regular season eliminated teams from playoff contention and solidified division leaders. The postseason is a month away and most teams are getting ready for a higher playoff seed or the offseason. Time to break down who’s closer to wild-card weekend and who’s ready for a top five position in the draft.
Winners: David Njoku
The main story out of Cleveland after a crucial home win against Jacksonville will be the re-emergence of 38 year old quarterback Joe Flacco. A story more people should follow is tight end David Njoku being Flacco’s go-to receiver and a reason the Browns had an early double-digit lead. They never trailed Sunday afternoon.
The former first round pick had all six catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns in one half. Commentator Charles Davis said during a ten play Cleveland drive in the fourth quarter that, “the Browns offense looks different without Njoku being involved in this half” after Jacksonville narrowed down the lead.
The 38 year old Flacco has been named the starting quarterback the remainder of the season. Expect David Njoku to be the top receiving threat every game regardless of opponent.
Chicago Bears offense
Chicago’s offense has been one of the league’s better stories since the Thursday night win in Washington D.C. Quarterback Justin Fields proves every week why he should remain the face of the franchise. Even when the NFC North-leading Lions led at halftime, the Bears looked the better and more confident team.
Fields completed 19 of 33 passes for 223 yards and one touchdown for an 88.3 quarterback rating. His 12 rushes for 58 yards and another score kept Detroit’s defense off balance. The sophomore quarterback continues building chemistry with the receiving trio of D.J. Moore, Cole Kmet and Darnell Mooney, even if it’s taken longer than many expected. Now there’s solid running depth contributing rather than Justin Fields doing everything.
Credit goes to offensive coordinator Luke Getsy for having the right plan in place for gradual, regular season improvements even after wins. Getsy gets blasted in the media for strange play-calling and decisions, but Chicago is still a top three rushing team in the league and a better passing team the last two months. The Bears also end 2023 with an easier schedule. Optimism will grow heading into next season.
Zach Wilson
The former 2021 number two overall pick was re-named the starting Jets quarterback after horrid performances from Tim Boyle and Trevor Siemian. He could either make the most of the opportunity or play with no confidence. He did the former and had a career day against a Texans team 90% of the country thought would win.
Wilson left no doubt who the better quarterback and former second overall pick was in a lopsided home win against Houston. His touchdown throw to Randall Cobb gave the Jets their first lead of the game. His second to Breece Hall cemented a double-digit win.
The win builds confidence heading into the last month of the regular season. Wilson led New York to 30 points against the 12th best scoring defense led by coach of the year candidate DeMeco Ryans. If Wilson can have a few more consistent performances, there’s a chance he stays on the roster and continues learning from Aaron Rodgers when the former MVP returns.
Dallas Cowboys
Many analysts criticized Dallas for not playing their best against teams with winning records. After a thrilling Thursday night win against Seattle almost two weeks ago, the Cowboys put a beatdown on Philadelphia Sunday night.
Dallas wasted no time grabbing the early lead on their first offensive possession. Quarterback Dak Prescott was 14 of 23 for 157 yards with two passing touchdowns in the first half. The Cowboys won by 20 and held the Jalen Hurts-led offense to six points.
It’s been a polar trajectory since the Eagles beat Dallas in week nine. While Philadelphia is having issues with turnovers, health and replicating last year’s success, the Cowboys are peaking. Their undefeated record the last five games, points per game (40) and third down percentage (53%) are at least tied for first in the NFL while they’re second in yards per game with 437. Dallas now has a better record than Detroit, and Philadelphia may not win their last four games to keep the division lead. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has one of the best units in stopping opponents, forcing turnovers and pressuring quarterbacks. Unless injuries pile up, the Cowboys are the NFC’s most dangerous team outside Santa Clara.
Losers: Arthur Smith
Atlanta’s head coach Arthur Smith was hired to re-build an offense that needed new direction and fresh faces after franchise icon Matt Ryan was traded. While the Falcons are just one game under .500, Smith’s 24th ranked offense includes super-stars at runningback, tight-end and wide receiver.
The former offensive coordinator is stubbornly out-thinking himself in how to use the bastion of talent acquired in previous off-seasons. The versatile Cordarelle Patterson is averaging lows at receiving and rushing that was last seen in 2015 during his mismanagement in Minnesota. Former 2021 fifth overall pick Kyle Pitts has five touchdowns in not even three seasons. Smith believes a top receiving threat such as Pitts should be blocking for sophomore fifth round pick Tyler Allgeier. Normally, Allgeier would be a great addition for any team, but because Atlanta drafted runningback Bijan Robinson with the eighth pick in this year’s draft, that decision is slowing down an offense that scored at least 24 points the first two games of the season. Robinson averages five yards a carry and was a reason the Falcons were undefeated after week two. These talented players Smith doesn’t use often have given Atlanta enough scoring opportunities to stay in the NFC South race for months.
The Falcons’ schedule has been one of the easiest on paper. Yet coach Arthur Smith makes game-planning difficult. Since the amount of first round talent and play-makers aren’t seeing the field as much as they should, Atlanta’s upper management should make a coaching change after the regular season.
Doug Pederson
Speaking of bad coaching, Doug Pederson turned some heads when he decided the injured face of the franchise Trevor Lawrence should start in Cleveland against the NFL’s best defense. That went as many expected.
While the Browns defense didn’t injure Lawrence any worse, the Jaguars weren’t going to win with him. Lawrence threw a few touchdowns to Evan Engram, narrowing Cleveland’s lead late. It didn’t matter as the Browns sealed the win midway through the fourth quarter.
Pederson has to be careful with the health of star franchise players. It mirrors similar, poor decisions made in Philadelphia that led to his exit. Many will know next Sunday night in Jacksonville’s showdown against Baltimore if he makes similar choices.
Kansas City Chiefs
While there are fiery news headlines from the Buffalo-Kansas City game, the Chiefs offense was anything but dominant. What many expected to be a one-sided Kansas City win was filled with penalties, offensive blunders and the Chiefs sideline holding back their offensive captain from starting a fight with referees.
Many will blame the officials for calling one offsides penalty on Kansas City’s Kadarius Toney, negating a lead-changing touchdown but missing another two plays later on Buffalo’s Von Miller. That’s an easy excuse when in reality, everyone who’s watched the Chiefs offense has heard a broadcasting crew almost every week openly diss them with the view that whoever scores 20 points first will win. The latest duo to talk about this was CBS’ top pair Jim Nantz and Tony Romo when Kansas City tried taking the lead their last offensive possession.
The play-calling from offensive coordinator Matt Nagy gets worse every week (where have we heard this before?). The number of offsides, holding and false start penalties negates any offensive rhythm. According to ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt, yesterday’s offensive offsides penalty from Kadarius Toney was the first called against an Andy Reid-led team since he became a head coach. Reid has called over 25,100 plays over two decades. The two time Super Bowl winning coach has also cost the team by giving serious playing time to poor receivers such as Toney and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. It’s no wonder quarterback Patrick Mahomes II lost his cool and went after the officials even after the game ended.
D.K. Metcalf
Metcalf is one of the most talented receivers in the league. His desire to win and dominate opposing secondaries is a desired quality any team covets. Unfortunately these traits are doing more harm than good during Seattle’s four game losing streak.
It was no surprise D.K. Metcalf again got in serious trouble with the officials late in Sunday’s loss in Santa Clara. Fred Warner’s interception of Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock resulted in him having to shove Metcalf to gain more yardage. The receiver felt victimized and after both talked trash to each other, 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir decided to join in. Metcalf yanked Lenoir by the facemask and shoved him back. The receiver found another way to lose his cool after being a non-factor in a mostly competitive game.
Cornerback Charvarius Ward, who shut down D.K. Metcalf in the first meeting in Seattle, left in the first half Sunday with a groin injury. Yet Metcalf had just two catches for 52 yards and a touchdown before he was ejected.
Many cornerbacks, and now coaches have realized Seattle’s most talented offensive player will lash out and commit stupid penalties, turn physically aggressive, assault nearby defenders, or argue with teammates and coaches when he’s not the focal point of offensive gameplans or one possession games. There had been a balance on how to ease Metcalf back into a better gameplan after those losses. Now there’s a disruption on how to appease the most emotional offensive player even after a win. The coaches and organization have to figure out how to stop this from happening at least twice a month.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks (3) catches a pass for a first down as Seattle Seahawks safety Jamal Adams (33) defends in the first half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys’ 41-35 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night set a record as the most-streamed game in NFL history as well as setting a new mark as the most-watched game on Amazon Prime Video.
The previous standard for both was the Sept. 14 game between the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles.
According to Nielsen and Amazon, the game averaged 15.26 million on Prime Video and on local broadcast stations in Seattle and Dallas. That surpassed the 15.1 million that watched Vikings-Eagles.
The streaming-only number was 11.1 million on Prime Video, Twitch and NFL+. The old mark was 10.4 million.
Through 11 weeks, “Thursday Night Football” is averaging 12.58 million, a 29% increase over last season.
The first weekend of December eliminated teams from playoff contention and solidified division leaders. The postseason is near and most teams are getting ready for either the offseason or for home-field advantage. Time to break down who’s closer to wildcard weekend and who’s ready for a top five position in the draft.
Winners: De’Von Achane’s return for Miami
While the Dolphins cruised to an easy win in Washington D.C. with historical performances by receiver Tyreek Hill and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, viewers should pay attention to rookie runningback De’Von Achane’s solid performance.
Achane picked up where he left off almost two months ago, running 17 times for 73 yards and two touchdowns. He had the highest yards per rush for any Miami runner. While his two scores came in the second half of a blowout win, Achane looked comfortable easing back into a key role.
The main criticism towards the Dolphins before week one was who the main runningback threat would be when Tagovailoa wasn’t throwing deep passes to receivers. De’Von Achane appeared to be the answer before his knee injury, and most believe this will continue with five games remaining in the regular season. His health could determine how far Miami advances in the playoffs.
Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis was one of three NFL teams to win every game played in November. Sunday was a litmus test for rookie coach Shane Stechen against a division rival the Colts hadn’t swept since 2018.
It was an ugly start as the Titans led by ten at one point in the first half. Then Tennessee botched back-to-back punts leading to Indianapolis grabbing a lead. Yet the Colts allowed their rivals to stick around long enough to force overtime. Kicker Nick Folk got the lead back for the Titans but Gardner Minshew II had the last laugh, throwing a four yard touchdown to Michael Pittman Jr.
Indianapolis is tied for second in the AFC South and is one of a half dozen teams fighting for a wild-card spot. The defense is top ten in both sacks and interceptions while the offense is eighth in points per game. Refreshing ideas and schemes from a new head coach working on player development is paying off for a franchise many believed was one of the worst when the season began.
Mike Evans
There are only two receivers in NFL history who have recorded ten straight seasons with 1,000 receiving yards. They are Jerry Rice and Mike Evans. The latter is the only one to accomplish this in his first ten seasons.
Tampa’s franchise leader in career catches, receiving yards, touchdown receptions, overall touchdowns and 100-yard receiving games had another breakout game against the division rival Panthers on Sunday. His seven catches for 162 yards and a touchdown gave the Buccaneers their second lead of the day late in the third quarter. The 75 yard score dented Carolina’s hope of winning their second game of the year.
Evans’ career has been quiet despite the decade long production and how the league has eased defensive rules, giving receivers more attention and media spotlight. It’s unlikely Tampa’s all-time best receiver retires anytime soon. Mike Evans has a great chance to threaten some records of all-time great Jerry Rice and is likely to be viewed as a top three wide receiver whenever he retires.
Losers: Whoever thought the Denver Broncos were back in the playoff discussion
The Broncos had won their last five games after an awful loss in Kansas City. Many believed there was a return to relevance for Denver after their Monday night win in Buffalo a few weeks ago. Sunday was a test for head coach Sean Payton’s team to see how they’d fare against a playoff-caliber team featuring a solid defense and a great quarterback. It didn’t go well.
Quarterback Russell Wilson came up short on several possessions despite a close score. His 186 yards, three interceptions and three sacks held Denver back from closing the first place gap with Kansas City. While the Broncos defense forced Houston to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns, the offense didn’t score their first points until the last minute of the first half. The one time Denver came close to threatening a lead change was the last possession of the game. Wilson then threw his third interception to seal Houston’s seventh win.
A good number of viewers will say it’s an off-week especially when Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud IV has been one of the most exciting players this season. The rookie played hurt a good part of the game and still outplayed Wilson when it mattered most. The Broncos offense is still bottom five in the league in passing yards. The defense is last against the rush and third to last in total yards given up. It’s not like their last five wins came against healthy teams with no issues. Denver has improved but they won’t go on a postseason run.
Anyone who thought the AFC east would have more than one team in the postseason
A fun yet frustrating part of covering the NFL is how objective, pre-season predictions can be derailed around Thanksgiving. The AFC east divisional race is a perfect example of how bold or conservative predictions can get shredded by the start of December.
The Dolphins are a lock to make the playoffs unless there are season ending injuries to star players. Outside of Miami, there won’t be another team sniffing the playoffs. New England has given up an average of eight points their last three games while scoring an average of four. Predictably, those resulted in losses and the Patriots are the worst team in the conference.
New York isn’t much better. They had to make another change at quarterback after Tim Boyle floundered in a home loss to Atlanta. Like New England, the defense keeps the Jets in close games, but inept quarterback play (with Aaron Rodgers officially ruled out for the season) dooms any chance of a playoff spot.
Then there’s the .500 Bills, who have four of their remaining five games against heavy playoff favorites with better defenses. Quarterback Josh Allen is regressing and the running game is non-existent. The injuries to star defensive players like Mike Milano show Buffalo will fizzle out by Christmas.
Many fans and analysts had at least two teams from the AFC east making the postseason. It’s bizarre the division isn’t close to competitive as Miami inches closer to clinching the division. At least it makes the sport more fun and unpredictable.
Jalen Hurts
For most of the season, Eagles starting quarterback Jalen Hurts has played well. Hurts hasn’t replicated his 2022 numbers but he’s led Philadelphia to the league’s best record. Sunday’s nationally televised home thumping by San Francisco was a reality check.
Statistically, Jalen Hurts had a solid game completing 26 of 45 passes, 298 yards and one touchdown. He also ran seven times for 20 yards and an additional score. The problem was Hurts couldn’t lead the Eagles downfield consistently against a defense he had an easier time with in last year’s NFC championship game. While he was concussed late in the third quarter, Hurts looked overwhelmed and had no answers before that hit.
The performance puts a dent in his MVP chances but more importantly questions what’s been different in his style of play since the Super Bowl loss. It appears opposing defenses have caught onto his reads faster and interrupt certain routes when he least expects it. We’ll find out more next Sunday night if this remains a problem against a similar defense.
We’re officially in the second half of the NFL 2023 regular season. Some teams are rising in draft position while others inch closer to the playoffs. Postseason hopefuls want higher seeding further into November. Without further delay here are the winners and losers after week nine.
Winners: Jahan Dotson
Two weeks ago receiver Jahan Dotson faced heavy criticism for dropping a fourth down pass that would have kept Washington’s potential game-winning drive alive. Since that loss, Dotson’s stepped up and is a reason the Commanders almost won two straight games.
On Sunday, the wideout caught the game-tying touchdown against New England midway through the third quarter. Washington’s only other touchdown drive came earlier when Dotson caught two passes for 12 yards and picked up a first down. Since the loss in New York, he’s caught 12 passes for 177 yards and two scores.
Washington’s sixth ranked passing offense is most dangerous when Jahan Dotson’s the number two receiving threat opposite Terry McLaurin. Viewers have questioned his consistency against tougher defenses. Dotson’s shown progress with a rookie quarterback throwing his direction more, quieting some doubters.
Tank Dell and Noah Brown
The NFL world is dousing rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud IV with a lot of praise after Houston’s exciting home win versus Tampa Bay. While deserved, there are two new receivers flourishing and helping the rookie each week. They are fellow rookie Tank Dell and sixth year wideout Noah Brown.
Dell is the 2023 second overall pick’s favorite target. In Sunday’s win the rookie wide receiver caught six passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns, including the game winning score with ten seconds left. Tank Dell has six touchdowns, over 600 yards receiving and averages 16 yards a catch. The third round draft pick could be the number one option the rest of the season.
Veteran Noah Brown is finally on a team that gives him a chance to play more, and he’s having a breakout season. Brown caught all six passes thrown his way for 153 yards and a touchdown. His career long 75 yard score cut Houston’s deficit by four to start the third quarter. He’s averaging a career high ten yards a catch and should surpass his career high in yards before Thanksgiving.
Texans fans complained about the lack of talent at receiver last year. The fanbase should be relieved management’s found at least three good options for a young and growing offense.
Las Vegas Raiders and Antonio Pierce
The Raiders finished October on a dismal note and either fired or replaced most of the staff and roster personel. The changes came at the right time and Las Vegas is back in the playoff bubble.
While it could be an anomaly (like last year’s win for former Indianapolis interim coach Jeff Saturday), one wouldn’t know by how excited, energized and competitive the Raiders were Sunday. Interim coach and former linebacker Antonio Pierce led a rout at home against New York. Vegas’ defense made life miserable for whoever was quarterbacking the Giants (more on that later). They forced a fumble, two interceptions and recorded eight sacks. New York didn’t score until early in the fourth quarter.
On offense, rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell looked more prepared and played better in his second career start. Last year’s NFL leader in rushing yards Josh Jacobs had his best game of the season running for 98 yards and scored two touchdowns.
The Raiders have lost a lot of close games the past season and a half. Even former coach Josh McDaniels said confidence was low top to bottom. Regardless of what happens the rest of the season, expect the former Tom Coughlin coached linebacker to have an easier time leading a team that wants to win.
Losers: Arizona Cardinals
It took nine weeks for Arizona to be the worst team in the league. Many wondered how bad their loss in Cleveland would be after trading quarterback Joshua Dobbs to Minnesota. It didn’t take long to figure out.
The Cardinals were shutout in the most lopsided game for week nine. Rookie Clayton Tune made his first start and went eleven of 20 for 58 yards and two interceptions. 30 of the 58 yards came in the fourth quarter. Tune was the leading rusher with 28 yards and Marquise Brown led all receivers with 24 yards on four catches.
There was a lot to feel good about after week three’s win against Dallas. The only positive for Arizona since is the return of franchise star Kyler Murray next Sunday. Many will say the on-field production is terrible but poor roster building and the hiring of incompetant coaches could doom this team to a bottom three league ranking past this season.
Daniel Jones
Last week I wrote about how exceptional Kirk Cousins’ career has been. If one wanted to find the opposite of Cousins, look no further than Giants starting quarterback Daniel Jones. To be fair, Jones’ best season last year wasn’t just because there was a new coach. There was needed stability for both the organization and former first round pick. It’s an understatement 2023 has been anything but stable.
Many felt the four year, $160 million contract extension Daniel Jones signed in the offseason would one day backfire. Few anticipated it would start week one on Sunday night. When New York’s franchise quarterback was again pulverized by an opposing defense late Sunday afternoon, Jones hit a new low. The quarterback was sacked by Raiders defensive star Maxx Crosby at the end of the first quarter for a seven yard loss. He got up slowly and tried to start the second quarter extending New York’s possession, but fell when the play began. That play wound up being the easiest sack of defensive end Malcolm Koonce’s career.
Sports news outlets ESPN and NFL Network have confirmed Daniel Jones tore his ACL. There was a lot to build on after last season’s success with a playoff win, more scoring on offense and key additions at tight-end and receiver. Both New York and the starting quarterback they extended now have to decide what the best options are moving forward after falling back to last in the NFC east.
Bryce Young
It’s possible years from now we’ll have the debate of who’s the better, elite quarterback between Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud IV. Until that day comes, it’s safe to say the former of the two is a disappointment.
Carolina’s blowout home loss to Indianapolis began with Young’s turnovers. The 2023 number one pick threw three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns by cornerback Kenny Moore II (the first time a defensive player has recorded this in the Colts’ 70 year history). The rookie’s 173 yards passing and 48.3 quarterback rating are the tip of a dreadful performance.
The alarming part of Bryce Young’s play is his disconnect with the surrounding offensive talent and what Carolina gave up to acquire him. After week nine, the Panthers have the second worst record in the league. Yet their 2024 first round draft pick is with the Chicago Bears (who are the third worst team in the league and are favored to beat Carolina this Thursday) because they traded up in the last draft to pick Young. Carolina also traded away star receiver D.J. Moore, who’s having a career season in the Windy City and enjoys playing with quarterback Justin Fields.
Bryce Young does have a solid supporting cast of Adam Theilen, Miles Sanders, DJ Chark Jr., Chuba Hubbard and Tommy Tremble. They’ve shown in previous years there’s potential, and most are good depth players. This makes Young’s struggles in accuracy, reading defensive coverages and figuring out who’s open worse. The Panthers offense hasn’t scored more than 24 points when he starts.
It won’t get easier for either the passer or the team. The Panthers’ schedule gets harder the next few months. It’s difficult to see how they win more than one game before 2024. Young could improve, but it looks like using the first overall pick on him was a bad move.
Note: NFL’s Winners and Losers will not be published for the rest of November due to the writer, editor and publisher having personal reasons and time off. Publications will resume around the conclusion of week 13.
JD's Sportscorner 