Author: jminx94

Week eight was a fun and wild end to October. There are some surprising teams in first place while some playoff seasoned teams are getting worse. The first two months of the season were anything but dull. It’s time to break down the week eight winners and losers before Halloween.

Winners: De’Andre Hopkins

De’Andre Hopkins was the best wide receiver in the NFL from the late 2010s to 2020. Injuries lowered his production the last two years but he still has good games once in a while. Sunday was a reminder of how great he is when healthy.

Hopkins caught four passes for 128 yards and three touchdowns in a dominant Titans home win. Tennessee traded for the former All-Pro to make deep field plays and give other receivers favorable one-on-one matchups. While there’s still a lot of time for Hopkins, the receivers and quarterbacks to be on the same page every game, things worked out Sunday in a much needed victory.

New Orleans Saints offense

One of the biggest topics this season has been genuine confusion of New Orleans amassing a large number of yards every week but struggling to score. Leading up to Sunday’s game in Indianapolis, head coach Dennis Allen said, “It’s time for the offensive growing pains to be over.” The Saints had their highest scoring game of the season Sunday.

It almost got away from New Orleans in the second quarter, but quarterbacks Taysom Hill and Derek Carr led touchdown drives to give the Saints the lead at halftime. Second half scores from Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill cemented the Saints’ second double-digit win of the year.

New Orleans is tied for first in the NFC South and back to .500 after eight weeks. They have two more games before their bye week against opponents who struggle to score. If the Saints want to remain in the playoff and divisional title races, they have to replicate Sunday’s production.

A.J. Brown

Anyone who’s watched the NFL should agree Tennessee trading away number one receiver A.J. Brown to Philadelphia last season was one of the worst moves in franchise history. It’s also one of the biggest wins for Eagles general manager Howie Roseman. Brown isn’t just an elite receiver since the trade, he’s making league history.

No receiver in the NFL’s 104 years ever recorded six straight games of 125 receiving yards or more until Brown’s performance Sunday. His eight catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns helped Philadelphia complete their sweep of division rival Washington.

Many wide receivers don’t get MVP consideration but A.J. Brown should. Whenever he’s targeted or becomes the featured player in the Eagles offense, Philadelphia dominates their opponents. He’s averaging close to 16 yards a catch and is on pace for a 2,000 yard season after eight games. The Eagles have more playmakers on offense but no one is close to Brown’s level.

Gus Edwards

Speaking of potent offenses, the Ravens had one of the best this month. Baltimore’s dominant win last week was led by quarterback Lamar Jackson. Sunday it was with Gus Edwards.

Edwards became the first Raven runningback to score three touchdowns in a game since 2019. His four yards per carry guaranteed a Baltimore win on the road. He also has over 400 rushing yards after the first half of the season.

The Ravens needed a runningback who can take some of the workload and pressure off quarterback Lamar Jackson while staying healthy. Gus Edwards is a versatile player who makes defenses second guess what will happen next. As he improves, so should Baltimore’s offense.

Losers: Kirk Cousins

Quarterback Kirk Cousins has been under scrutiny almost his entire NFL career. Regardless of the original expectations, Cousins has made the most of his opportunities. Some of his best play has been this month getting Minnesota out of a winless start (that he was part of). Unfortunately for Cousins, his year is over after getting the Vikings’ back to .500 with their fourth win in the last five games.

Minnesota’s offense dominated the Packers defense. The Vikings were without star receiver Justin Jefferson, but you wouldn’t know it the way Cousins torched Green Bay for 274 yards, two touchdowns and a 122.2 passer rating.

Cousins tore his Achilles tendon at the start of the fourth quarter, instantly ending his rollercoaster season. While 2023 isn’t duplicating last year’s run, Minnesota’s offensive captain will continue to hear how average he is at best despite a fascinating career.

The Kansas City Chiefs offense without Eric Bieniemy

Many viewers are wondering why the defending Super Bowl champions look anemic on offense. There’s a belief that a lack of talent at the receiver position is the main issue. Take a deeper look. The offense is missing the creativity of former coordinator Eric Bieniemy since he left for Washington.

Kansas City’s performance was so bad even Sunday Night Football’s color commentator Cris Collinsworth remarked, “the Chiefs had more punts than points.” Their 15 game winning streak against the Broncos was snapped when Denver scored ten points in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs had no answer outside of three Harrison Butker field goals.

It’s fair to say Kansas City’s turnovers are the main reason they lost the game but it’s more than stats. Head coach Andy Reid said the team is making mistakes they haven’t made before. The Chiefs had won eight straight games when trailing after three quarters. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes II didn’t throw a touchdown for the first time in 29 games. Kansas City had multiple drives end because of turnovers or not making the right play to get a touchdown. While funny and basic to read, that’s what made the Chiefs dangerous with Bieniemy calling the plays. Kansas City was rarely out of a game because of their former coordinator’s creativity.

It might surprise people that after eight games, the Chiefs offense ranks third in passing yards, but has scored more than 30 points twice halfway through the season. At some point, the offensive coordinator has to provide solutions.

San Francisco 49ers

What makes the NFL so fun (and also maddening) is how things can change any given week. Everyone knew on October seventh San Francisco was the best and most complete team in the league. After Sunday, the 49ers could be in panic mode.

San Francisco lost their third straight game and like last Monday night, it wasn’t close. The alarming issue is how the offense and defense has regressed in two weeks. Quarterback Brock Purdy struggles to read the field and averages three turnovers in each of the last three games. Outside of the weekly Christian McCaffrey touchdown, the running game is non-existent.

There’s controversy on defense with coordinator Steve Wilks’ play-calling. Last Monday night Wilks called terrible blitz plays and had to apologize for it. On Sunday, the secondary was shredded by Bengals receivers Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd. Then there’s top pass rusher Nick Bosa, who held out for a contract extension in September. He has three and a half sacks in his last 13 games (regular and postseason). The nosedive on defense prompted a response from head coach Kyle Shanahan regarding how long he’ll stay in the weekly meetings.

The wildest part of the downturn is San Francisco’s drop out of first place. Seattle found a way to beat Cleveland (the team that delivered the 49ers’ first loss of the season) at home with a rising defense and balanced offense. Both teams play each other in three weeks but the Seahawks look like the most complete team in the division and have their issues figured out. No one expected that when October began.

The hype on Tyson Bagent

Most backup quarterbacks aren’t the face of the franchise because, well, they’re backups. However there are many Bears fans who somehow think and believe Tyson Bagent is better than starter Justin Fields. Sunday night was a reminder why Bagent has been the backup even when Fields struggles.

The Bears were blown out by the Chargers on Sunday night. While Justin Herbert had his best game of the season, Bagent struggled on all but two possessions. His 25 of 37 for 232 yards, two interceptions and 62 quarterback rating reassured viewers he is not the answer moving forward.

Starter Justin Fields is as good a passer as he is a runner. Bagent isn’t a runner or someone who likes to get hit while staying in the pocket. He did run a few times…for minus-one yard. While Bagent had a few starts for a brief NFL career, that will be it. At least he got to play some games.

The western conference boasts back-to-back NBA championship teams. Most of the 15 franchises made major moves this offseason by trades, free agency and the draft. Many people will focus on how stacked the Pacific division is and how every team could make the playoffs. The champion Denver Nuggets will have a tough task in their quest to repeat, and teams like Memphis could take the next step in longer playoff runs.

That’s a lot to process, so let’s turn the attention to which eight teams have the best chances of making the western conference playoffs.

Denver Nuggets

The reigning champs will make the playoffs unless injuries pile up. Pencil them in for a high seed.

Phoenix Suns

Phoenix traded for Bradley Beal to facilitate better offensive possessions with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Jusuf Nurkic. This will be one of the most dangerous teams in the league.

Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies couldn’t stay out of the news for negative reasons last spring. It led to a decisive first round exit against the Lakers. General manager Zach Kleiman needed to make some changes so he traded with Boston for Marcus Smart. Smart’s presence alone should balance the rowdy locker room personalities while being a nag on the court. This is still the best team in the Southwest division and Memphis will be one of the best teams in the league when (or if) Ja Morant comes back from suspension.

Los Angeles Clippers

Health is the big concern with the Clippers but having Russell Westbrook play point-guard more is a plus. Westbrook’s consistent energies give coach Tyronn Lue relief if neither Paul George or Kawhi Leonard play at some point. Forward depth such as Terance Mann, Robert Covington and Nicholas Batum helps long-term.

Los Angeles Lakers

The health of LeBron James and Anthony Davis will be a factor of how high Los Angeles places for the postseason. The guard duo of D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves helps the Lakers look like a good choice even if injuries become a problem. Bench players like Rui Hachimura, Taurean Prince and Cam Reddish ease pressure off two or three players doing most of the scoring every night.

Golden State Warriors

Many believe Golden State is coming to the end of the line with their core franchise veterans. This is the season Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody need step into their desired roles and score when both Klay Thompson and Steph Curry rest on the bench. The return of Gary Payton II and signing Chris Paul could make the Warriors harder to eliminate when the postseason approaches.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Minnesota has the talent to dominate a lot of teams and they need to do it consistently this year with how much money they’ve spent on Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns. Both players need to drive to the basket while the guard tandem of Mike Conley and Anthony Edwards lead the offense. There are multiple teams in the west that could step up but they don’t have depth like the Timberwolves.

Sacramento Kings

I’m unsure if Sacramento can replicate last year’s miracle postseason appearance, but there are several factors that give them the nod. The last spot will face competition with Dallas and New Orleans. The Mavericks aren’t giving Luka Doncic the desired help and the Pelicans can’t stay healthy even with stellar coaching. That leaves the Kings as the best option with coach Mike Brown having De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis and Harrison Barnes as the team’s core.

Play-in losing teams: New Orleans Pelicans and Dallas Mavericks

2022-2023 Western conference prediction record: 6-4

As October ends there’s a separation of which teams are closer to clinching playoff seeds and which ones will have a high draft pick. Coaching plays a part in who advances or goes home. A lot stood out in week seven’s action, so it’s time for the winners and losers.

Winners: D’Onta Foreman

While Chicago started a rookie quarterback, veteran runningback D’Onta Foreman provided stability on offense and made sure the Bears had an easy win.

Foreman ran 16 times for 89 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught three passes for 31 yards and one more score to give the Bears 18 points. He provided enough points alone for Chicago’s victory, and his three touchdowns were the first three scores for the Bears.

Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy said at the end of September that Chicago’s offense was slowly improving and would soon show progress. It’s been mostly true since the blow-out loss in Kansas City. Foreman being the lead runningback is a reason the offense keeps improving.

Lamar Jackson

Many had Detroit going into Baltimore and scoring a lot of points on the Ravens. Well, someone put up a lot of numbers on offense but it wasn’t anyone on the Lions.

Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson looked like his former MVP self. He completed 21 of 27 passes for three touchdowns and a 155.8 passer rating. He also ran nine times for 36 yards and an additional score.

The most important part of Sunday’s win for the Ravens was how well the receivers looked when Jackson looked comfortable. There have been concerns about how there wasn’t progress with the new receivers and old habits (i.e. Jackson creating most plays by running the ball) still being the focus of the offense. Three of Baltimore’s new receivers had at least four catches for 45 yards. Detroit’s defense is also hard to constantly throw against and score on. It’s possible Sunday was the turning point for Baltimore’s offense for the rest of the regular season.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers went into late Sunday afternoon knowing two division rivals won important early games and one was on a bye. They needed to leave Los Angeles with a win to stay alive in the AFC North race against a surprisingly good Rams team. Pittsburgh wound up having one of their most complete games of the season.

Sophomore quarterback Kenny Pickett threw for 231 yards and a 97.1 quarterback rating while the offense scored three rushing touchdowns (Pickett ran for one of them). Receiver George Pickens had five catches for 107 yards on eight targets. Diontae Johnson had no rust in his first game back from injured reserve with five catches for 79 yards. This was one of the few games where the Steelers offense looked balanced and comfortable.

The defense contributed by intercepting Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford once and sacking him twice. Once they negated rookie receiver Puka Nacua’s contributions, it became hard for the Rams to move the ball downfield. Outside of an eight point scoring drive in the second half, head coach Sean McVay had no answers against the T.J. Watt-led defense. This was the best outcome for Pittsburgh coming out of a bye.

Tyrod Taylor

The Giants have fielded a bottom three offense since September. Franchise starting quarterback Daniel Jones might not be the full problem but he sure doesn’t have solutions. Since Jones is out with a neck injury, the offense looks better with Tyrod Taylor under center.

New York didn’t score much again in their second win of the season but there’s progress and hope for the Giants when Taylor leads. He finally got major offseason addition Darren Waller involved in the offense, completing seven of eight passes to him for 98 yards and a touchdown. Taylor also kept plays alive by using his legs, running eight times for 25 yards.

It’s taken seven weeks for New York to score a touchdown in either the first quarter or first half of any game this season. Both times it’s happened with Tyrod Taylor starting at quarterback. The Giants will win more games the more he plays.

Losers: Darrell Baker Jr.

American football is a team sport consisting of eleven players on each side making sure to either score or defend every part of the field. Usually when a team loses, it’s for a multitude of reasons. Rarely is it on one player in critical moments. Unfortunately for Indianapolis cornerback Darrell Baker Jr., he’s a big reason the Colts lost Sunday.

Most defensive players take penalties at some point in their career but to have two penalties in a row when the opponent is close to scoring a game-winning touchdown is a bad look. Baker first committed a correctly called illegal contact penalty. That gave Cleveland’s offense not just a first down and extended possession, but negated a turnover Indianapolis forced that would’ve sealed a five point win.

The following play was a questionable pass interference penalty that was called due to how Baker Jr. couldn’t let go of the receiver he covered. That error gave the Browns one yard to go and four tries to get the lead, which of course they did.

It’s gutting to lose a game with those mistakes. It’s also a lesson that all it takes is for one player to negate a lead and cost a team a win.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense

Well, the feel-good start of the season for Tampa Bay is over. After heading into the bye week at 3-1, the Buccaneers are at .500 and haven’t scored 20 total points in their last two games.

Atlanta’s sophomore quarterback Desmond Ritter tried losing Sunday’s game in Tampa Bay with his three lost fumbles. The Buccaneers struggled on offense minus one perfect scoring pass from quarterback Baker Mayfield to Mike Evans. Outside of that throw, Mayfield threw 41 passes for 235 yards and the leading receiver was Chris Godwin with 66 yards.

The running game has been worse. While Rachaad White averaged two and a half yards per carry, Tampa’s a bottom five team in the league running the ball. The offense heavily relies on deep passes downfield and not enough on long, steady drives.

If there’s any positives from back-to-back losses, it’s how great the defense plays. Offensive coordinator Dave Canales has to find long-term solutions moving forward.

Brandon Staley

There’s no team looking more mis-managed and out-coached than the Chargers. Even if Los Angeles finds a way to win, they make it difficult and the mistakes stand out more than the positives.

The Chargers blew so many chances Sunday it’s a wonder they kept their loss in Kansas City close for over three quarters. Kansas City’s number one receiver is tight-end Travis Kelce and he gashed Los Angeles’ defense for 179 yards. Staley was brought in to fix the defense and has the right players to make it one of the best units in the league, but it’s gotten worse since his hiring.

It’s bewildering when their offense does well or has an average performance and the opposition can go down the field and either tie or take leads at ease. Los Angeles’ offense did well in the first half but broke down and struggled in the second half. Turning the ball over on long drives cemented a bitter loss to a division rival. A roster that was constructed to be one of the best in not just the conference but in the division has gradually fallen apart with a head coach who couldn’t even win a playoff game with a 27 point lead.

The Miami Dolphins hype train

Miami’s a fun team to watch most of the time because of their high-paced, super fast offense. They’re pretty good compared to most of the other 31 NFL franchises. However, they aren’t great and Sunday night showed it.

While they weren’t fully healthy on the offensive line and at runningback, Philadelphia came ready to play and were relentless on every side of the ball. The Dolphins had no answer for Eagles receiver A.J. Brown, and Vic Fangio’s defense gave up a score on all but one possession. Both teams entered Sunday night’s game each with one loss.

It’s not like Miami didn’t try. They rushed at Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts most of the night, but the difference is both coaching and the Eagles’ veteran mindset. The Dolphins aren’t there yet and it has shown when they’ve played postseason-ready teams (like their division rival Buffalo Bills). For Miami to be considered elite in the NFL, they have to beat teams that are favored for the conference championship or the Super Bowl.

It’s been two years since a team in the east has taken home a championship. In response, the top teams added more stars and roster depth. The conference still has a high number of teams that can make deep playoff runs similar to last years. Cleveland is close to a breakout season. Chicago and Miami desperately want a championship. Boston, Milwaukee and Philadelphia view anything less than a finals appearance a failure. It’ll be a fun and competitive regular season.

It’s time to break down which eight teams in the eastern conference have the best chance of getting into the playoffs.

Milwaukee Bucks

Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton will be one of the league’s best trios. Plus they have a new coach in Adrian Griffin. Milwaukee could be the best team in the league this season.

Boston Celtics

The Celtics added roster depth by trading for Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. Boston needed a point guard who can play lock-down defense and a younger center who specializes in scoring. They’re the clear number two in the east.

Miami Heat

The Heat may have a season similar to 2021. In that year, the roster was the same as 2020’s when they went to the Finals, but Miami played tired most of the season. A strong second half should get them into the playoffs.

Cleveland Cavaliers

The best team in the central division not named Milwaukee. Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell are a great guard duo while Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and Max Straus keep maturing. One of the more deeper and funner teams.

Atlanta Hawks

The biggest upgrade for Atlanta was the late season hiring of Quin Snyder in early 2023. The Hawks played better despite an early postseason exit. Expect a consistent winning culture and continued growth led by a calmer voice on the bench.

Philadelphia 76ers

Their main issue right now is when James Harden will play (if he ever does) once the season starts. It’s possible Philadelphia trades him back to Houston since he doesn’t want to be involved with the team. Distraction aside, P.J. Tucker, Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris and reigning MVP Joel Embiid will make sure the Sixers punch their playoff ticket.

New York Knicks

The top six teams are seen as locks to make the postseason barring injuries. New York is a solid seventh option due to coach Tom Thibodeau installing the play-hard attitude into his team. There’s also a good amount of talent with Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle as the cornerstones. The signing of Donte DiVincenzo might be one of the most underrated additions this offseason.

Chicago Bulls

The Pacers, Wizards, Pistons, Nets and Hornets won’t be playoff contenders this season. That leaves Chicago, Orlando and Toronto as the remaining three options. Orlando is still a young team that’s close to a breakout season out and surprising many viewers. Toronto could be sellers at the trade deadline. The Bulls have the most talent and best coach of all three teams listed, and this should be enough to get them into the playoffs. They will need better efforts from Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu and Dalen Terry for that to happen.

Play-in losing teams: Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors

2022-2023 Eastern conference prediction record: 8-2

Week six was full of eye-opening play and revealed who is closer to being playoff-bound. On the opposite end, some teams are close to preparing for the offseason. Time to break down who or what won or lost the week.

Winners: Brian Flores and the Minnesota Vikings defense

It’s been a while since Minnesota’s defense shut down an offense. The hiring of Brian Flores at defensive coordinator meant there would be significant progress even in September. While it’s taken more time than expected, the Vikings defense finally had a good game.

Before knocking out Bears quarterback Justin Fields early in the third quarter, Minnesota gave up six points in the first half. They forced two Chicago passers to each throw one interception. The defense had two sacks and scored a touchdown on a fumble scoop and run in the middle of the third quarter. Despite giving up a late rushing touchdown to rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent, there was no doubt who would win.

It’s been a bad luck season for Minnesota. They needed a break and to see some improvement on defense with the offense missing star receiver Justin Jefferson for a month. While they won’t win next Monday night, the defense having one good game in October builds confidence.

Sam Howell

No one was embarrassed in a week five loss like the Commanders were, especially quarterback Sam Howell. He’s been sacked 32 times this season (before Sunday) prompting concerns about his health. While he was sacked twice Sunday, Howell rebounded from that awful Thursday game.

He gave Washington their second lead change of the day in Atlanta and never trailed after the second quarter. His touchdown throws to Antonio Gibson and Curtis Samuel left no doubt which team had the better offense. Howell’s last scoring pass to Brian Robinson sealed the win.

It’s been a wild second year for Howell but he’s managed setbacks well and elevated his play when the Commanders needed it. If he limits turnovers and keeps progressing with on-field reads, Washington can make a case for the playoffs.

Los Angeles Rams

While many viewers didn’t know if Rams head coach Sean McVay would coach Sunday’s game, it didn’t impact Los Angeles’ gameplan. Despite a low-scoring first half against Arizona, the Rams had a second half surge scoring 20 points and gave up zero to their division rivals.

It started with quarterback Matthew Stafford finding star receiver Cooper Kupp open for a 13 yard touchdown pass. An additional scoring run by Kyren Williams and two field goals by Brett Maher gave Los Angeles their second win of the season.

While the defense intercepted and sacked Cardinals quarterback Joshua Dobbs once, Arizona had just one possession that went over two minutes in the second half. It ended in an interception by Christian Rozeboom. On special teams, kicker Brett Maher made all four of his field goal attempts and both extra points, cementing the 17 point win.

The best gift of the day came prior when division rivals Seattle and San Francisco lost to AFC North teams in Ohio. Los Angeles was stuck in third place since late September and needs every win possible to stay alive in the division race. Staying further away from last and having the second place tie-breaker with Seattle was a great way to enter week seven.

Jim Schwartz

Many viewers didn’t think Cleveland could beat San Francisco or stay within one score most of the game. The Browns did the unthinkable by not just beating the 49ers, but made sophomore quarterback Brock Purdy play like a late seventh round pick. Purdy (more on him later) had the worst full game of his career throwing for 125 yards, a touchdown and an interception, and post a 55.3 quarterback rating.

Cleveland’s defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz had a difficult task in fixing the secondary and improving the play of the front seven. On Sunday he schemed four defensive linemen and an outside linebacker, neutralizing a good part of San Francisco’s offensive line. The 49ers rely a lot on scheme blocking. This leaves and widens holes when guards or tackles are pulled to go play another angle. Very few adjustments were made when Browns pass rushers entered an open backfield even with a runningback to get past. Even the center couldn’t get a grasp of what plays the middle linebackers disguised. Purdy had a hard time creating or even changing plays and faced constant pressure whenever he found an open receiver. The interception and two sacks also slowed down San Francisco’s offense in the second half.

This was the third time in two months Schwartz’s defense limited a team to under 220 yards of total offense. That’s the third fewest number of yards they’ve given up in any game played the last five weeks.

Many questions remain about the Browns scoring 20 or more points the remainder of their schedule but it might be around 20 due to how the defense suffocates opposing offenses. It’s difficult to find a weakness in their improved play.

Losers: Brock Purdy

In fairness to the second year quarterback, if this was his worst performance then it’ll take everything to beat him. Despite losing playmakers Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel to injuries, San Francisco almost won. Many will say Jake Moody should have made the 41 yard field goal attempt at the end of the game but until that drive, Purdy had six possessions in the second half where he struggled even throwing for a yard.

Only one 49er second half possession ended with points. That one was an eight yard touchdown run after Browns quarterback P.J. Walker’s interception to Deommodore Lenoir was returned to Cleveland’s eight yard line. Purdy’s other five combined ended in two completions for eleven yards on eleven pass attempts, an interception and two sacks. San Francisco had one passing yard the third quarter. That’s on him for not playing better.

Brock Purdy has positively surprised everyone since he became the starting quarterback late in 2022. He’ll obviously improve, but now opposing defenses will replicate how to make him feel uncomfortable.

Indianapolis Colts

What a nightmare weekend for Indianapolis. First came the news franchise quarterback Anthony Richardson might end his season with right shoulder surgery. Then came a 37-20 shelling by their division rival Jaguars.

The Colts had a three point lead heading into the second quarter. Jacksonville turned the game around and walloped head coach Shane Steichen’s team 31-3 the next two quarters. Indianapolis didn’t get their next score until the beginning of the fourth quarter. It was too late for a comeback.

This will be a harder week for Steichen and the team. Richardson is the franchise star and creates plays no other quarterback in the division can, but his health is a concern. The Colts need better receivers and the offensive line is getting worse. Indianapolis have many issues to address and it’s only October. Yikes.

Jalen Hurts

It was a tale of two halves for Philadelphia. The Eagles had a great first half and entered the third quarter leading by eleven. They lost the game by six and didn’t score the second half. A good part of the loss is on quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Hurts is a fantastic player and a reason Philadelphia is considered one of the best two teams in the NFC, but he was mediocre at best Sunday. Two of his three interceptions were in the second half. The second one resulted in an eight yard touchdown run by Breece Hall to give New York their first and only lead of the game. The Eagles’ possession after that score resulted in Hurts completing one pass for two yards on four attempts.

Almost every great player that’s made the Super Bowl has a mediocre game the following season. The loss stings a bit more knowing the other remaining undefeated team in the conference lost a few hours earlier. Philadelphia could have entered week seven with the top spot in the NFC. They might regret this loss before their showdown against San Francisco.

Tra Blake

Usually officials don’t end up in this category but what was referee Tra Blake thinking not calling a second defensive pass interference at the last play of the Giants’ drive in Buffalo? This could impact both teams’ playoff and draft positions later in the year.

Week five in the NFL had a lot of thrills, surprises and hair-pulling moments. Audiences are finding out which teams could be contenders and which ones could be one and done if they reach the playoffs. Despite a lot of storylines off the field with some coaches and players, Sunday’s games revealed what to expect from next week to even next year.

Winners: David Montgomery

Before week one, many viewers wondered why the Lions got rid of runningback duo Jamaal Williams and D’Andre Swift for David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. Those moves by general manager Brad Holmes are paying off.

Montgomery had another dominant performance, running 19 times for 109 yards and one touchdown. His almost six yards a carry was a big reason Detroit had an easy home win against the winless Panthers. The FOX broadcast informed audiences he’s the first Lions player to have a rushing touchdown in each of his first four games in franchise history.

The Lions have a lot of playmakers on offense who get a lot of attention due to how the NFL loves teams that throw the ball, but David Montgomery might have more value for the franchise. The offensive line is at their best when he runs and embodies the aggression head coach Dan Campbell looks for in the offense. However Detroit wins, there’s a good chance Montgomery’s leading the charge.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars left week three with an embarrassing home loss to Houston, a team many believed they’d beat by double digits. After two weeks in Europe, Jacksonville’s the top team in the AFC South.

The Jaguars know London well and play every game as a home advantage. Most viewers weren’t surprised they dominated Atlanta last week, but not many expected an all-out defensive assault against Buffalo Sunday (due to the game being in Europe, times of when audiences tuned in could range from late Sunday night to early Sunday morning). The Bills’ first mistake was arriving Friday afternoon. It led to slow and disorganized play versus a team that trained the past six days. Jacksonville entered the second quarter with an eleven point lead.

While quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the offense did turn the ball over at times, Buffalo’s offense was stumped by the Josh Allen-led Jaguars defense. 13 of the Bills’ 20 points came within the last four minutes of play when Jacksonville sealed the win.

Even better news for the Jaguars is the two week chaos from the rest of their division. Colts rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson may have a serious injury in his throwing shoulder. Tennessee is inconsistent on offense and the Texans are under .500 again. If Jacksonville wants to capture the division title, they have to be the most consistent team. Coming back to the U.S. after two straight wins in London is a great starting point.

Nathaniel Hackett

There wasn’t a more criticized head coach or coordinator in 2022 than Nathaniel Hackett. Many believed the tandem of Hackett and Russell Wilson would counter Kansas City’s dominance. It was so bad that Hackett’s successor Sean Payton called it, “one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL.” Payton will be eating those words all week after a home loss to Hackett’s Jets.

There was no doubt Sunday afternoon New York had the better offense. Runningback Breece Hall ran 22 times for 177 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Zach Wilson had another solid performance, building more confidence as a possible franchise starting quarterback. While the Jets offense couldn’t finish drives in the endzone, the team played hard for the new offensive coordinator who’s had to adapt week-to-week.

The biggest feel-good with the win is Hackett’s vindication after last season’s debacle in Denver. New coach Sean Payton is faring worse than his predecessor. The offense is just as anemic as it was in 2022. The defense is non-existent and Payton is a polarizing figure with his players. It’s possible when 2024 approaches, most will want the Walton family to implement a full re-build by giving everyone in the organization the boot.

Losers: Mac Jones

Head coach Bill Belichick will deservedly be the main topic whenever New England comes up in conversation this week. The bigger glare is the play of quarterback Mac Jones. The third year signal caller has led the Patriots to a damning three points in their last two games.

Jones followed up week four’s horrid performance with a home shutout loss to a reeling Saints team. His interception to Tyrann Mathieu was returned for a touchdown mid-way through the first quarter and New Orleans only added to the lead. While his 110 passing yards in three quarters is terrible, it isn’t stressed enough how awful his leadership and knowledge of the offense is.

Many want to say New England doesn’t have the same levels of talent as their division rivals but that’s an hollow excuse because Jones was a coveted quarterback in the 2021 NFL draft. His carelessness and indifference to extend offensive possessions leaves one to wonder when Belichick will have to bench him.

Arizona Cardinals

Cincinnati went into State Farm Stadium Sunday with one win and Tyler Boyd as the number two receiver behind Ja’Marr Chase. Arizona was favored to leave week five with their second win of the season. Well, the Cardinals are in the losers section, so you know how that turned out.

Arizona’s terrible defensive coverages led to a career day for Chase, who had 15 catches for 192 yards and three touchdowns. Two of the three were scored in the second half and the Cardinals never got the lead back after Chase’s second touchdown.

On offense, enough mistakes were made to seal the Bengals’ second win of the season. Down four late in the third quarter, Arizona’s offense went for it on 4th & 1 to extend their drive and try to score a touchdown. Quarterback Joshua Dobbs was stuffed for a one yard loss and the Bengals got the ball back. The ensuing possession was a nine minute, 15 play drive that gave Ja’Marr Chase his third and final scoring catch of the day and cemented Cincinnati’s win. Dobbs also through an interception to Cam Taylor-Britt that was returned for a touchdown.

The Cardinals are a feisty team that want to win, but they’re in trouble of being eliminated from playoff contention early because the rest of the NFC west has more veteran coaches and deeper talent. Being last in a division where everyone else has at least two wins can damage a team’s confidence. That’s why losing by 14 to a team averaging 12 points a game was the worst case scenario for Arizona.

Mike McCarthy and the Dallas Cowboys

Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy went into Sunday night hoping his team would go blow-for-blow with San Francisco. That didn’t happen.

The Cowboys trailed by double digits most of the game. Their defense was reckless and gave up three critical penalties in the first half that ended two 49er touchdowns. Linebacker Leighton Vander Esch left with an injury and pass-rushing phenom Micah Parsons was held to four tackles and one hurry.

The offense gave up four turnovers, three of which were interceptions by quarterback Dak Prescott. The 49ers dominated on all three sides of the ball and coach Mike McCarthy had no answers from start to finish.

The Cowboys previously played four teams that are far away from playoff contention and the press has gone bananas over the results. Viewers branded Parsons as the second coming of defensive great Lawrence Taylor and are comparing the defense to the 2000s Ravens. The first postseason heavyweight Dallas faced thrashed them for 60 minutes. They looked leaderless in the second half and showed national audiences they don’t have enough determination to make a deep playoff run. Until Mike McCarthy can lead this team to a quality win against a Super Bowl contending favorite, this team is stuck at good, but not great. That’s not what the Super Bowl winning coach was brought in for.

What an exciting week four. A team that scored 70 points last week gave up 48 for their first loss of the season, Bill Belichick suffered his worst coaching loss since 2003 and two teams in the NFC are still undefeated. The first Sunday of October delivered with a bang much like week one in September. Here’s what stood out on Sunday.

Winners: Derrick Henry

Tennessee’s offense was either really good or really bad in September. After a week three thrashing many presumed another struggle was in store for the Titans. Not only did they light up the scoreboard, their best player steamrolled Cincinnati’s defense to a one-sided victory.

League mauling runningback Derrick Henry ran 22 times for 122 yards and a touchdown. The five and a half yards per carry gave Tennessee ten more minutes of possession in the game. Henry even threw a touchdown near the end of the first half that cemented a three score lead.

Many viewers wondered what was preventing the Titans from getting the elite runningback fully involved in the offense most of last month. It’s possible the coaching staff wanted to see how the rest of the offense would start the regular season. Regardless, Derrick Henry is 1,400 yards away from having the all-time rushing record in franchise history. If the Titans want to win the AFC South, they have to center him as the lead player.

Buffalo Bills

The reigning AFC east champions had to hear all week how the Dolphins were the superior team, how Miami was a reincarnated or second-coming of The Greatest Show on Turf, and how unstoppable coach Mike McDaniel was in his game preparation. They destroyed that narrative Sunday and left no doubt who’s atop the division.

The Bills blew out the Dolphins by 28 points. It’s the first time in NFL history a team that scored 70 or more points the week prior lost a game. It started with quarterback Josh Allen, who threw for the same number of touchdowns as he had incompletions (four). Three went to trusted wideout Stefon Diggs, the first one breaking the second tie of the afternoon and kept Buffalo in the lead the rest of the game. His six catches for 122 yards reminded viewers that the Allen-to-Diggs combination is still one of the best in the league.

While the offense did whatever it wanted against the Dolphins defense (more on them later), the Bills defense made quarterback Tua Tagovailoa look average. They sacked him four times, intercepted him once and forced four Miami fumbles. Six of Miami’s eight penalties were on offense and contributed in possessions fizzling out.

Last but not least, one of the best stories was safety Damar Hamlin playing for the first time since his scary, near-death collapse last December. He didn’t show up on the stat sheet but his presence helped the team and gave the home atmosphere a lot of energy. Everything went right for Buffalo as they’re first in the east.

Todd Bowles

Regardless of where Tampa Bay finished in the standings, everyone tuned into the NFL knew this was a pivotal year for Todd Bowles’ career. In his second stint as a head coach, Bowles had to prove it wasn’t just Tom Brady leading the team to wins and the playoffs.

Bowles is acing this test with one fourth of the season done. The Buccaneers throttled a stout Saints team in New Orleans. Former number one pick Baker Mayfield is surprisingly the best quarterback in the NFC south and the defense smothers opposing offenses. Tampa Bay’s defense averaged one turnover a quarter and didn’t give up a touchdown after last Monday night’s embarrassment on national television. To have a quick turnaround and perform that well speaks to how disciplined and mentally prepared the team is. The early bye will help them plan ahead the next few weeks.

Khalil Mack

Los Angeles entered Sunday without outside linebacker Joey Bosa. That meant his counterpart Khalil Mack had more pressure to perform well against a Raiders offense that can trouble opposing defenses. Mack might have left Sunday as the best defensive player on any team in week four.

The outside linebacker’s six sacks paralyzed Las Vegas’ offense and was a big reason the Chargers pulled out the win. He made easy work of an offensive line that had a numbers advantage and made sure the Raiders had less than 80 yards rushing. Los Angeles has a lot to fix on defense, but a pass rusher they invested in came up big and is a reason the team is back to .500.

Losers: Vic Fangio and the Miami Dolphins defense

When the Dolphins brought in the most accomplished and respected defensive coordinator in the NFL, they probably weren’t expecting the defense to give up almost 30 points per game four weeks into the season.

Many want to point out Miami is close to unstoppable on offense (they rank first in overall pass, rush and net yards per game), but there will be days when the unit looks average and it’s up to the defense to step up. As mentioned above, opposing quarterback Josh Allen had as many touchdown passes as incompletions. Unlike in the previous three games, the defense didn’t force a turnover, and veteran receiver Stefon Diggs dominated the secondary.

An injury to newly acquired cornerback Jalen Ramsey is a valid reason on why the defense isn’t playing well. It doesn’t help starting strong safety DeShon Elliott is also injured. That leaves backup Brandon Jones and second year free safety Jevon Holland scrambling and playing terrible. Outside of the secondary, most of the headline players on the defensive front were lackluster at best. Linebackers Emmanuel Ogbah and Bradley Chubb combined for three total tackles. Minus Andrew van Ginkel’s two sacks, Buffalo did whatever they wanted to when the game was close.

Fangio was brought in to fix a lot of the defensive problems that were exposed last year. Few positives have shown after one month. The Dolphins play Philadelphia and Kansas City in two of their next five games before the week ten bye. There must be solutions if they want to get closer to being one of the leagues complete teams.

Carolina Panthers

Most viewers know the Bears are winless after four weeks. The only other team in the same position is Carolina. Neither team could win a game this month.

For the Panthers, it’s worse knowing Chicago owns their upcoming first round draft pick. If the draft started today, the Bears would have the first and second overall picks.

Depending on who you talk to, the team’s play might be more of a concern. Carolina’s best game was a ten point loss led by journeyman quarterback Andy Dalton. First overall pick Bryce Young and the offense averaged ten points a game in the remaining three losses, and the recent one Sunday was worse when the team they lost to at home was also winless.

It’s also true that after last season, many knew in and outside the organization that the offense lacked a lot of talent and is in a slow re-build. However it would help to see more contributions out of an offense that has four good receivers, a savvy veteran runningback and a rookie quarterback who’s the new face of the franchise.

Brett Maher

While the Rams are back to .500, it shouldn’t have taken overtime to get the win. Many people forget special teams is an important phase of the game that can determine wins and losses. Los Angeles came close to losing Sunday because of their kicker.

Brett Maher made three field goals of 40+ yards when the Rams led by double digits but struggled when Indianapolis cut the deficit. His miss on 40 yards to start the fourth quarter gave the Colts life and led a resurgence that took the game to overtime.

While Los Angeles was fortunate to score a touchdown and win the game, kickers have a slim margin of error many overlook. Maher won’t be the last one this happens to either.

Las Vegas Raiders

Analysts and pundits have fully criticized the remaining winless teams heading into Sunday for good reasons. One team that’s shocking everyone with their dysfunction is Las Vegas.

It was obvious this past week alone that multiple players on the Raiders don’t like nor want current coaches to keep their jobs. The worst case being veteran defensive end Chandler Jones going on multiple rants in the past month(!) hurling expletives and sinister language, saying he wanted the head coach and general manager fired, disliked the current coaching staff, and wanted to leave the team.

That’s just the tip of the bad news iceberg. Star players Davante Adams and Josh Jacobs have made it known they don’t want to stay on a team trying to figure out what to do because they want to win now and not be part of another roster re-build. Starting quarterback Jimmy Garappolo didn’t play Sunday’s game in Los Angeles due to concussion protocol. The offensive line didn’t double-team the only pass-rushing threat the Chargers had and it resulted in giving up six sacks in their rookie quarterback’s debut. If that wasn’t bad enough, a fight almost erupted when Las Vegas defensive lineman Jerry Tillery tackled Justin Herbert out of bounds.

The Raiders are last in running the football and head coach Josh McDaniels can’t contain the ever-growing chaos with each loss. Chicago and Denver are fiascos but something bigger is brewing in Sin City.

The western conference is in euphoria. Ever since the 2021 embarrassment of no team from the central or pacific divisions going to the Stanley Cup Finals, the past two champions have been from the west. Many viewers wonder if the Golden Knights can become the third team to win back-to-back titles in the last ten years. Unlike the Avalanche last season, Vegas isn’t dealing with waves of injuries, especially to their captain. Yet there will be competition and pushback from teams such as Minnesota, Colorado and Seattle. The Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars have a lot to prove after their embarrassing playoff exits. Outside of these six teams, it’s a race to clinch the bottom two seeds in the conference. A team like Nashville could break out and do damage to whoever clinches the first or second seed, possibly throwing the playoffs into doubt. It’s time to break down which four teams in each division can make the push to the postseason for 2023-24.

Pacific

Vegas Golden Knights

The current Stanley Cup champions have one of the best rosters, coaching staffs, wills, and management in the league. They also added some skill players like Max Comtois in free agency. Don’t be surprised if they come close to a back-to-back title run.

Edmonton Oilers

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will drag this corpse of a team into the postseason as long as there are eight spots open. What happens next is anyone’s guess.

Seattle Kraken

The difference between the Kraken’s playoff run last year and New Jersey’s are the number of older, skilled postseason veterans who compose the core of either team. Ron Francis’ construction of the youngest franchise in the league will be more fun to watch once younger players like Matty Beniers grow more comfortable into leadership roles. For now, Seattle must return to playing better defense while retaining their offensive scoring barrages.

Los Angeles Kings

I’m not truly sold on Los Angeles returning to the postseason but the remaining four teams in the division are either re-building or have no idea what to do with their available talent. The Kings adding Cam Talbot and Pierre-Luc Dubois while retaining Kevin Fiala, Vladislav Gavrikov and Viktor Arvidsson assure them a lower seed come May.

Central

Minnesota Wild

A goalie controversy is brewing but the roster is getting closer to a deep postseason run. One of the few western teams that has everything in their favor and no excuses.

Colorado Avalanche

Colorado was plagued by injuries last season and somehow won the division. Good luck to the rest of the central.

Dallas Stars

Keep an eye on how well the defense does the first half of the season especially goalie Jake Oettinger. They won’t replicate last season’s success but players such as Joe Pavelski, Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen make the Stars a popular third option behind the Avalanche and Wild.

Nashville Predators

It’s hard to choose the fourth team. Arizona and Chicago are absolute non-factors while St. Louis doesn’t have the depth and Winnipeg could be sellers by the trade deadline. The default option is the Nashville Predators.

The signings of Ryan O’Reilly and Gustav Nyquist should elevate the top two lines’ performances on offense and special teams. Despite these positive additions and determined mindsets, new general manager Barry Trotz will have a lot to figure out throughout the season.

2022-2023 Western conference playoff predictions record: 4-4

What a fun offseason. The Atlantic and Metropolitan divisions are back after another summer of free agency. The eastern conference hasn’t had a Stanley Cup champion since Tampa Bay’s back-to-back title run in 2021. No one outside the Sunshine State has even won the conference finals since the decade started. Most teams out west look a bit weaker while Metropolitan teams like the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins made trades to bolster their rosters and re-signed important depth players. The Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes are more determined to finish what they started in last year’s postseason. Then there are new teams such as Detroit and New Jersey with long-term playoff potential that will cause havoc while their young cores learn what it takes to win.

It’s time to break down which four teams in each division can make the push back to or surprise a lot of people in making the 2022-23 playoffs.

Atlantic

Toronto Maple Leafs

Take the drama and whining out of the offseason, the Leafs finally won a playoff series and continued improving the roster this summer. The additions of Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi and Ryan Reeves while re-signing Auston Matthews brings Toronto a lot more grit and physical play while retaining top scorers. Questions on goaltending will arise most of the season but the Leafs will make the playoffs.

Florida Panthers

Another team with question marks on goaltending and team defense but loaded with physical play and scoring depth. The Panthers have better coaching and will be targeted after their Cinderella run to the championship round. There could be a slow start but Paul Maurice-led teams usually find rhythm when the calendar year changes. Florida will be one of the toughest teams to eliminate. Many would like a fun sequel to last year’s title run.

Tampa Bay Lightning

There are many questions and concerns about Tampa Bay’s depth from defense, goalie and forward after last year’s first round exit. Captain Steven Stamkos opened an uncomfortable chapter with wanting a contract extension and now Andrei Vasilevskiy will miss two months with a lower body injury. While Buffalo and Ottawa could step up and steal a playoff spot if the Lightning falter or fall apart this season, don’t count on it. Coach Jon Cooper is a top three leader behind the bench and will find solutions barring an avalanche of injuries.

Detroit Red Wings

It’s possible Boston learns from last year’s first round implosion after having the best regular season ever in NHL history. However, the roster depth (five centers, eleven forwards and eight defensemen) says that could be a difficult process in addition to Brad Marchand being the new captain.

Detroit is in the best position with a bastion of first round picks still in the minor leagues if the roster succumbs to injuries. General manager Steve Yzerman realized last season that scoring and veteran presence alone wasn’t enough to contend for the playoffs. Additional premier defensemen, a solid goalie tandem and the right veterans for third line depth while complimenting the younger stars were the needed and right moves. The Red Wings took last season’s lessons against the Ottawa Senators well and now have the upgrades necessary to clinch a lower playoff seed.

Metropolitan

Carolina Hurricanes

Unless the Pittsburgh Penguins have a franchise record breaking season, there’s no excuse for Carolina to not win the Metropolitan nor conference title. They have everything an NHL team covets for a deep postseason run.

New York Rangers

The Rangers retained almost all of last year’s championship caliber roster but swapped out coach Gerard Gallant for Peter Laviolette after an embarrassing first round exit to New Jersey. The offense should overwhelm opponents early and often while the defense holds firm. This will be a hard team to eliminate once the postseason starts.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh did a hard evaluation after two embarrassing losses to Columbus and Chicago knocked them out of the playoffs and drastically changed the NHL playoff picture. After firing the general manager duo of Ron Hextall and Brian Burke, the Penguins signed needed depth players Rem Pitlick, Lars Eller and Vinnie Hinostroza. Then the franchise went for the biggest name of the summer, acquiring Erik Karlsson from the San Jose Sharks in a three team trade. Swapping out Casey DeSmith for Alex Nedeljkovic is a risky move given Tristan Jarry’s injuries the past few seasons, but one that might pay off once the new additions bolster the offense and special teams.

New York Islanders

Philadelphia and Columbus won’t be anywhere near the playoff race once the 2024 calendar year starts. Washington is on the decline and New Jersey will have a rude awakening from the rest of the league after last year’s unexpected success. The Islanders stand out as the most competent of the five teams remaining and should clinch a bottom seed minimum.

A big plus for New York is the full health of the roster to start October. Last year the slow start forced general manager Lou Lamoriello to trade for additional talent before January 2023. Bo Horvat, Julien Gauthier and Pierre Engvall should start the regular season strong and with little pressure compared to last year.

2022-2023 Eastern conference playoff predictions record: 5-3

The last Sunday of September featured a number of pivotal games. Most divisions are slowly showing which teams will stand out as playoff favorites before Halloween. While a lot of wins and plays stood out, some were more eye-opening than others. Here are this weeks winners and losers.

Winners: The runningback duo of De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert

The Dolphins posted the second highest offensive yards total in NFL history and the most in the 21st century. 375 of the 726 yards and eight of Miami’s ten touchdowns came from the duo De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert.

The rookie Achane played two snaps in two games heading into Sunday. In the third round pick’s debut start, he averaged 11.3 yards per carry, ran for 200 yards and two scores. He also caught four passes for 30 yards and two additional touchdowns in Miami’s highest scoring game in franchise history and the first 70 point game for the NFL in the 21st century. The rookie could be a big part of head coach Mike McDaniel’s game plan further into the regular season and gives the Dolphins another weapon on offense.

Former 49er runningback Raheem Mostert had one of his best games since heading to the east coast. While Mostert didn’t have 100 yards rushing, he scored four straight touchdowns in two quarters. He’s proven to be an every down playmaker who needs to be accounted for and makes opposing defenses question what to do next.

There were valid concerns about Miami’s running game heading into 2023. McDaniel loves when the receivers put up high numbers on opposing defenses but adding another dimension of attack makes the Dolphins one of, if not the best team in the NFL. This will be a hard team to beat all four quarters any weekend.

Indianapolis Colts

The AFC South is the NFL’s worst division after September and that’s a sigh of relief for Indianapolis. New head coach Shane Steichen didn’t have top five overall pick Anthony Richardson start in Baltimore Sunday and many assumed this would result in a double digit loss. Instead, Steichen got his second NFL win and the Colts are in sole possession of first place and over .500 in the south.

Indianapolis’ defense played what could be one of their best games of the season. After giving up an opening drive rushing score to Lamar Jackson, the Colts defense gave up only one more touchdown (ironically to Jackson later in the second quarter) while forcing less than 200 passing yards. On offense, the Colts did just enough to steal a win in overtime. Backup quarterback Gardner Minshew II threw a touchdown to Zach Moss and kicker Matt Gay made all five of his field goal attempts including the game winning kick.

It’s a big victory considering all four AFC South teams have at least one win after September. Many viewers still believe Indianapolis is one of the worst teams in the league, but they could give the division fits if they play simple and pick up a few wins the next two months.

DeShaun Watson

Cleveland entered Sunday at .500 with constant questions about the regression of their new franchise quarterback. DeShaun Watson hadn’t played a great game in almost three years. The $230 million playmaker needed to carry the offense to a win.

Watson finally stepped up and completed 27 of his 33 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns. The first one gave Cleveland their second and last lead change of the day.

He’s been criticized for mediocre play (especially the previous Monday night) after having so much time not on the field and having to learn head coach Kevin Stefanski’s playbook with his teammates. The Browns didn’t pay him a lot of money to game manage and take a backseat to a featured runningback. He took command Sunday and got the major receivers involved. Watson should’ve had a third touchdown pass if the referee didn’t rule Amari Cooper out-of-bounds incorrectly. Hopefully this continues for most of October.

DeMeco Ryans and C.J. Stroud

Indianapolis wasn’t the only winner in the AFC South Sunday. The rookie head coach and quarterback duo of DeMeco Ryans and C.J. Stroud got a big win against their division rivals in Jacksonville.

Houston started hot and never trailed. The Jaguars didn’t score until the third quarter and while they came close multiple times, Ryans kept the team focused and Stroud led the offense on a 68 yard touchdown drive to seal up their first win of the season.

The Texans are surprisingly a top five passing team in the NFL. This is an eye opening stat most analysts aren’t talking about heading into October. While it will be harder for them to win more than one game the next few months, there’s a bright future in Houston with the new head coach and franchise quarterback duo.

Losers: Sam Howell

The fifth round sophomore quarterback began the season with two miraculous wins. Sunday he faced the veteran Buffalo Bills defense and it got ugly fast.

Every time Washington’s offense had a deep drive, Sam Howell found a way to turn the ball over. He threw four interceptions and posted a 41.5 quarterback rating. The Commanders didn’t score until Joey Slye’s 51 yard field goal with 50 seconds remaining in the game. Buffalo won 37-3.

There are plenty of games left for Howell to continue his growth versus hard opponents, but Sunday was a reminder for the young starter it’s not an easy league.

New Orleans Saints

At the end of the third quarter, New Orleans led Green Bay in Lambeau Field 17-0. New starting quarterback Derek Carr had a solid first half but had to leave due to a shoulder injury middle of the third quarter. While that demoralized the offense, the defense cratered and the Saints lost their first game of the season.

New Orleans’ offense has started slow in all three games despite improvements made, and while they’ve won two of three games, it shouldn’t be a struggle. The loss showed audiences how thin the margin of victory is week-to-week for Dennis Allen’s team. Minus Green Bay downing the ball the last possession, the Saints’ defense was stuck on the field for over 12 minutes in the last quarter. It’s not a surprise the Packers came back to score 18 unanswered points. The final sign of New Orleans’ defeat was a missed field goal on their last possession. There were enough mistakes on all three sides of the ball to cost the Saints a win.

Sean Payton and Russell Wilson

History will remember everything Miami did right in their 70-20 win versus Denver. Yet many should keep in mind the Dolphins’ success was mostly due to the Broncos quitting after an early double digit deficit.

Two defensive neutral zone infraction penalties on two separate Miami scoring drives, an offensive pass interference penalty to wipe out a touchdown and an illegal shift penalty that wiped away another score (in the same quarter!) were big reasons why Denver lost by 50. The Broncos are the second most penalized team in the NFL (26, Green Bay has the most with 27) and have a team captain making reckless head-to-head tackles on at least one receiver each game.

Considering Sean Payton said former head coach Nathaniel Hackett had, “One of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL.” last year, one would think the offense would be better. The team’s best receiver lost two fumbles that led to 14 Dolphin points. Quarterback Russell Wilson was intercepted at the line of scrimmage by linebacker Emmanuel Ogbah. That led to another Miami touchdown. The offense converted three of their twelve third downs and special teams had all but six of Denver’s points.

If there’s ever a defining moment in the Russell Wilson era it was Sunday. While Wilson and the Broncos were in the final minutes of the most embarrassing game of the 21st century, the Seattle Seahawks celebrated the ten year anniversary of their championship season. Most of the 2013 Seahawks roster was in attendance to celebrate, mingle with fans, raise the 12th Man flag and give proper tributes to former starting quarterback and backup to Wilson, Tarvaris Jackson. When most of the former offensive line that protected Russell Wilson for years got to reminisce career highlights, 31 year old starting left tackle Garrett Bowles (who infamously told Wilson he’d never be hit again in Denver), made national headlines after the lopsided loss by saying, “I feel like <redacted>. I’m tired of losing man. I’ve been here for seven years and all I’ve done is lost. It’s frustrating.”

The NFL for not flexing terrible primetime games

When the NFL finally made flexing games in the first half of the regular season a reality, one would have thought they’d start implementing the change by week three or four. They have yet to do so.

It would’ve helped since America didn’t want the Chicago Bears v. Kansas City Chiefs as the game of the week. Many would’ve been spared watching the Josh McDaniels-led Raiders disappoint on Sunday night. Almost every viewer of the sport would love to see NBC flex the Chiefs-Jets showdown this upcoming Sunday night due to the lopsided differences in offensive talent (after Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles).

The NFL can be slow implementing new rules and for good reasons. This is one rule that if not acted on quick can show a massive difference in viewership and revenue. Here’s hoping we get more flexing for competitive games featuring playoff favorite teams.