Dameshek reveals the outcome of EVERY Week 2 game:
Jets' Brandon Marshall: Darrelle Revis still best CB.
One of the more unexpected developments in New York this season has been the supposed decline of superstar cornerback Darrelle Revis.
On Thursday night, he surrendered an 84-yard touchdown to Olympic sprinter Marquise Goodwin, which caused the chorus of Revis watchers (including our own Dan Hanzus) to emerge from the brush with their binoculars.
It's too early in the season to assume anything, but Revis' own teammates are certainly coming to his defense.
"I stand in front of the world and say Darrelle Revis is the best cornerback in this league," Brandon Marshall said after the 37-31 win in Buffalo. "That's what I say, that's what I say. That's how you support your teammate. He's a first-five ballot Hall of Famer.
"OK, he gave up some big plays last week, that's going to happen. Regardless of how he's playing right now. He's still the best, he's still the best. He had a hand injury the whole offseason, he didn't get a chance to be out there with us ... so he's still getting in shape. He's still getting ready. And you'll see this guy back to Revis Island, shutting down people in a couple weeks."
Last week, Revis surrendered a majority of A.J. Green's monstrous 12-catch, 180-yard afternoon which re-ignited a version of the same conversation we were having toward the end of last season.
Before the Bengals game, Jets defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers tried to help set the stage. He said that Revis would have help against Green and hinted at a much more all-hands-on-deck approach heading into 2016.
"It won't be just Revis, it will be a lot of people," Rodgers said a week ago, via ESPN.com. "A.J. is a tremendous player. We've got to have 11 sets of eyes, knowing where he is. ... It's not necessarily a one-on-one matchup."
With 10 days of rest before the team heads to Kansas City, it will be a good chance for everyone to hit the reset button on this. Asking a 31-year-old corner with 10 hard years on his resume already to be a premiere No. 1 shutdown corner is silly, especially as Revis evolves into the second stage of his career. While he's always thrived with preparation, his success will come more form anticipatory movements than sheer strength and speed. It's the way Charles Woodson did it. It's the way Champ Bailey did it.
Revis is just dealing with the same sort of pivot those great corners did in a larger market -- and with the incessant trumpeting of former coach Rex Ryan in his past, which continues to unfairly inflate expectations.
One of the more unexpected developments in New York this season has been the supposed decline of superstar cornerback Darrelle Revis.
On Thursday night, he surrendered an 84-yard touchdown to Olympic sprinter Marquise Goodwin, which caused the chorus of Revis watchers (including our own Dan Hanzus) to emerge from the brush with their binoculars.
It's too early in the season to assume anything, but Revis' own teammates are certainly coming to his defense.
"I stand in front of the world and say Darrelle Revis is the best cornerback in this league," Brandon Marshall said after the 37-31 win in Buffalo. "That's what I say, that's what I say. That's how you support your teammate. He's a first-five ballot Hall of Famer.
"OK, he gave up some big plays last week, that's going to happen. Regardless of how he's playing right now. He's still the best, he's still the best. He had a hand injury the whole offseason, he didn't get a chance to be out there with us ... so he's still getting in shape. He's still getting ready. And you'll see this guy back to Revis Island, shutting down people in a couple weeks."
Last week, Revis surrendered a majority of A.J. Green's monstrous 12-catch, 180-yard afternoon which re-ignited a version of the same conversation we were having toward the end of last season.
Before the Bengals game, Jets defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers tried to help set the stage. He said that Revis would have help against Green and hinted at a much more all-hands-on-deck approach heading into 2016.
"It won't be just Revis, it will be a lot of people," Rodgers said a week ago, via ESPN.com. "A.J. is a tremendous player. We've got to have 11 sets of eyes, knowing where he is. ... It's not necessarily a one-on-one matchup."
With 10 days of rest before the team heads to Kansas City, it will be a good chance for everyone to hit the reset button on this. Asking a 31-year-old corner with 10 hard years on his resume already to be a premiere No. 1 shutdown corner is silly, especially as Revis evolves into the second stage of his career. While he's always thrived with preparation, his success will come more form anticipatory movements than sheer strength and speed. It's the way Charles Woodson did it. It's the way Champ Bailey did it.
Revis is just dealing with the same sort of pivot those great corners did in a larger market -- and with the incessant trumpeting of former coach Rex Ryan in his past, which continues to unfairly inflate expectations.
Matthew Stafford's rise; will rookie Carson Wentz build on debut?
Matthew Stafford has been viewed as a franchise quarterback since the Detroit Lions selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, but for much of his career, turnover woes, inconsistent passing efficiency and gambling ways prevented the eighth-year pro from passing the velvet ropes into the VIP section of the elite quarterback club. After watching Stafford perform at an MVP level since the middle of the 2015 season, it might be time to grant the Lions' QB1 a golden ticket for an elusive membership. Now, I know some will suggest that I'm a prisoner of the moment, with Stafford coming off a spectacular performance against Indianapolis (31 of 39 passing for 340 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions) that showcased his impressive arm talent, but I believe his vastly improved football IQ, management skills and leadership ability have put him on the verge of joining the ranks of the elite.
Over the last nine games, Stafford has completed 71.1 percent of his passes, averaged 279.9 passing yards and compiled a 22:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Most impressively, he posted a 112.5 passer rating and guided the Lions to a 7-2 record over that span. Those are remarkable numbers for any quarterback, particularly one adjusting to a new play-caller on the sideline.
That's why Lions offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter -- promoted to the role after Joe Lombardi was fired last October -- deserves a ton of credit for helping Stafford reach his potential as a franchise quarterback, by crafting an offense that features more short and intermediate throws. In addition, the Lions have used a "share the wealth" approach that's placed an emphasis on getting the ball into the hands of the first open receiver instead of a designated No. 1 option on the perimeter. With Calvin Johnson no longer on the field to command double- and triple-teams, the Lions' "small ball" attack allows Stafford to stretch the field horizontally to exploit the underneath areas of coverage.
Golden Tate has shown flashes of thriving as the focal point for the Lions' aerial attack in the past (see: Tate's 2014 performance when Johnson was sidelined with an injury), but he is more of a "catch-and-run" specialist than a route runner. Thus, he gets his touches on an assortment of on-the-move plays (bubble screens and crossing routes) that allow him to get the ball on the run to take advantage of his explosive skills as a former punt returner. Marvin Jones is a polished route runner with a deceptive game that keeps defenders on their toes. He uses a handful of slick releases and stems that allow him to separate from defenders at the top of his routes.
While neither player is a superstar on Johnson's level or considered a true WR1, they are high-level WR2s capable of wreaking havoc in a system that plays to their individual and collective strengths. Not to mention, the Lions have an athletic tight end (Eric Ebron) with the speed to cruise down the seam on vertical routes. With a deep middle threat to clear out the linebackers and safeties, Jones and Tate are free to roam underneath on a variety of inside routes (digs, curls and shallow crossers) between the numbers. In addition, the Lions have a big-bodied chain mover (Anquan Boldin) to target on option routes or "now" screens to chew up yardage on high-completion-percentage throws.
Stafford simply needs to patiently wait for his primary targets to come open and deliver an accurate throw through a clean window. I know this sounds like Football 101, but the great quarterbacks avoid risky throws by opting for the more open receiver at every turn. This greatly reduces the chances of an interception on a tip or overthrow, which increases the team's odds of winning, due to the impact of turnover margin on outcomes in the NFL.
This brings me back to Stafford and how much he has improved as a game manager. Since his arrival in the league, the quarterback has played with a gunslinger mentality. He frequently eschewed the easy throw in favor of the high-risk, high-reward option that could result in the big play. When it worked out for Stafford, he was able to ring up fantasy football-like numbers that earned him Pro Bowl honors. But the ball didn't always bounce his way, and his mistakes would frequently put the Lions in the hole.
That's why the skeptics wondered if he ever would reach his potential as a franchise quarterback. He didn't appear to have the patience or awareness to dial back his game or become a singles hitter from the pocket. That's definitely changed since the middle of last season. Stafford has not only shown more restraint when it comes to "hero throws," but he has started to fall in love with the checkdown. The veteran passer has started to get the ball to his running backs in the flat or over the middle on leak-outs when his primary receiver or vertical threat is taken away by the coverage. By targeting the running back when the underneath defenders have dropped deep to take away the intermediate and deep routes, Stafford has been able to keep the Lions in manageable situations on second and third down.
Looking at the All-22 Coaches Film of the Lions' past nine games, I don't think it is a coincidence that Stafford has started taking the checkdown with Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick on the field. Each player is an extraordinary weapon out of the backfield, exhibiting outstanding hands and route-running ability in space. With few linebackers possessing the quickness, agility and burst to stay with Abdullah or Riddick in space, Stafford has started to target his backs with tremendous success.
Against Indianapolis in Week 1, the Lions relied heavily on their backs to win their individual matchups on the perimeter. According to NFL Media's research team, Stafford finished the game completing 10 out of 10 passes to Abdullah and Riddick. Those throws accounted for nearly one-third of his completions and passing yards.
Most importantly, those easy completions get the quarterback into a rhythm and increase his confidence as a playmaker from the pocket. Considering how jump shooters react when they knock down a few layups early in a game, Stafford's commitment to the checkdown makes him a more dangerous player for the Lions.
When I think of Stafford's growth as a franchise quarterback, it reminds me a little of Brett Favre's rise right before he collected three straight MVP awards in the mid-1990s. The Hall of Fame inductee played with a gunslinger's mentality but relied heavily on his WR1 (Sterling Sharpe) during his first few seasons in Green Bay. He would target Sharpe on nearly every play, and his tendency to lock onto his first option prevented Favre from exhausting all of the options available on each route. Although Sharpe put up ridiculous numbers (the three-time All-Pro notched back-to-back 100-catch seasons and narrowly missed making it three straight during that span) as the focal point of the passing game, the one-dimensional attack made the Packers' offense easier to defend in the postseason. In addition, the presence of a dominant player with a strong personality made it hard for Favre to step into the leadership role.
That's why I believe Stafford's game could benefit from the loss of Calvin Johnson. Without Megatron as the Lions' WR1, Stafford will be forced to throw the ball to the team's other playmakers, and the diversity will make it harder to defend the team's passing game. Most importantly, Stafford will have every opportunity to fill the team's leadership void as the team captain and put his stamp on the squad as a vocal leader. Stafford gave us a glimpse of his leadership skills when he barked at Jones for failing to get out of bounds on a catch-and-run play at the end of regulation. Some will take issue with the quarterback grandstanding a bit in an exchange with one of his receivers, but he showed outstanding situational awareness, and his ability to relay his message to Jones is a positive development for a quarterback looking to put his stamp on the team.
At a time when some evaluators suggest the NFL has a quarterback problem, Stafford's growth as a game manager, leader and playmaker should inch him closer to elite status at the game's most important position.
Matthew Stafford has been viewed as a franchise quarterback since the Detroit Lions selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, but for much of his career, turnover woes, inconsistent passing efficiency and gambling ways prevented the eighth-year pro from passing the velvet ropes into the VIP section of the elite quarterback club. After watching Stafford perform at an MVP level since the middle of the 2015 season, it might be time to grant the Lions' QB1 a golden ticket for an elusive membership. Now, I know some will suggest that I'm a prisoner of the moment, with Stafford coming off a spectacular performance against Indianapolis (31 of 39 passing for 340 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions) that showcased his impressive arm talent, but I believe his vastly improved football IQ, management skills and leadership ability have put him on the verge of joining the ranks of the elite.
Over the last nine games, Stafford has completed 71.1 percent of his passes, averaged 279.9 passing yards and compiled a 22:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Most impressively, he posted a 112.5 passer rating and guided the Lions to a 7-2 record over that span. Those are remarkable numbers for any quarterback, particularly one adjusting to a new play-caller on the sideline.
That's why Lions offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter -- promoted to the role after Joe Lombardi was fired last October -- deserves a ton of credit for helping Stafford reach his potential as a franchise quarterback, by crafting an offense that features more short and intermediate throws. In addition, the Lions have used a "share the wealth" approach that's placed an emphasis on getting the ball into the hands of the first open receiver instead of a designated No. 1 option on the perimeter. With Calvin Johnson no longer on the field to command double- and triple-teams, the Lions' "small ball" attack allows Stafford to stretch the field horizontally to exploit the underneath areas of coverage.
Golden Tate has shown flashes of thriving as the focal point for the Lions' aerial attack in the past (see: Tate's 2014 performance when Johnson was sidelined with an injury), but he is more of a "catch-and-run" specialist than a route runner. Thus, he gets his touches on an assortment of on-the-move plays (bubble screens and crossing routes) that allow him to get the ball on the run to take advantage of his explosive skills as a former punt returner. Marvin Jones is a polished route runner with a deceptive game that keeps defenders on their toes. He uses a handful of slick releases and stems that allow him to separate from defenders at the top of his routes.
While neither player is a superstar on Johnson's level or considered a true WR1, they are high-level WR2s capable of wreaking havoc in a system that plays to their individual and collective strengths. Not to mention, the Lions have an athletic tight end (Eric Ebron) with the speed to cruise down the seam on vertical routes. With a deep middle threat to clear out the linebackers and safeties, Jones and Tate are free to roam underneath on a variety of inside routes (digs, curls and shallow crossers) between the numbers. In addition, the Lions have a big-bodied chain mover (Anquan Boldin) to target on option routes or "now" screens to chew up yardage on high-completion-percentage throws.
Stafford simply needs to patiently wait for his primary targets to come open and deliver an accurate throw through a clean window. I know this sounds like Football 101, but the great quarterbacks avoid risky throws by opting for the more open receiver at every turn. This greatly reduces the chances of an interception on a tip or overthrow, which increases the team's odds of winning, due to the impact of turnover margin on outcomes in the NFL.
This brings me back to Stafford and how much he has improved as a game manager. Since his arrival in the league, the quarterback has played with a gunslinger mentality. He frequently eschewed the easy throw in favor of the high-risk, high-reward option that could result in the big play. When it worked out for Stafford, he was able to ring up fantasy football-like numbers that earned him Pro Bowl honors. But the ball didn't always bounce his way, and his mistakes would frequently put the Lions in the hole.
That's why the skeptics wondered if he ever would reach his potential as a franchise quarterback. He didn't appear to have the patience or awareness to dial back his game or become a singles hitter from the pocket. That's definitely changed since the middle of last season. Stafford has not only shown more restraint when it comes to "hero throws," but he has started to fall in love with the checkdown. The veteran passer has started to get the ball to his running backs in the flat or over the middle on leak-outs when his primary receiver or vertical threat is taken away by the coverage. By targeting the running back when the underneath defenders have dropped deep to take away the intermediate and deep routes, Stafford has been able to keep the Lions in manageable situations on second and third down.
Looking at the All-22 Coaches Film of the Lions' past nine games, I don't think it is a coincidence that Stafford has started taking the checkdown with Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick on the field. Each player is an extraordinary weapon out of the backfield, exhibiting outstanding hands and route-running ability in space. With few linebackers possessing the quickness, agility and burst to stay with Abdullah or Riddick in space, Stafford has started to target his backs with tremendous success.
Against Indianapolis in Week 1, the Lions relied heavily on their backs to win their individual matchups on the perimeter. According to NFL Media's research team, Stafford finished the game completing 10 out of 10 passes to Abdullah and Riddick. Those throws accounted for nearly one-third of his completions and passing yards.
Most importantly, those easy completions get the quarterback into a rhythm and increase his confidence as a playmaker from the pocket. Considering how jump shooters react when they knock down a few layups early in a game, Stafford's commitment to the checkdown makes him a more dangerous player for the Lions.
When I think of Stafford's growth as a franchise quarterback, it reminds me a little of Brett Favre's rise right before he collected three straight MVP awards in the mid-1990s. The Hall of Fame inductee played with a gunslinger's mentality but relied heavily on his WR1 (Sterling Sharpe) during his first few seasons in Green Bay. He would target Sharpe on nearly every play, and his tendency to lock onto his first option prevented Favre from exhausting all of the options available on each route. Although Sharpe put up ridiculous numbers (the three-time All-Pro notched back-to-back 100-catch seasons and narrowly missed making it three straight during that span) as the focal point of the passing game, the one-dimensional attack made the Packers' offense easier to defend in the postseason. In addition, the presence of a dominant player with a strong personality made it hard for Favre to step into the leadership role.
That's why I believe Stafford's game could benefit from the loss of Calvin Johnson. Without Megatron as the Lions' WR1, Stafford will be forced to throw the ball to the team's other playmakers, and the diversity will make it harder to defend the team's passing game. Most importantly, Stafford will have every opportunity to fill the team's leadership void as the team captain and put his stamp on the squad as a vocal leader. Stafford gave us a glimpse of his leadership skills when he barked at Jones for failing to get out of bounds on a catch-and-run play at the end of regulation. Some will take issue with the quarterback grandstanding a bit in an exchange with one of his receivers, but he showed outstanding situational awareness, and his ability to relay his message to Jones is a positive development for a quarterback looking to put his stamp on the team.
At a time when some evaluators suggest the NFL has a quarterback problem, Stafford's growth as a game manager, leader and playmaker should inch him closer to elite status at the game's most important position.
ASK THE LEAGUE: Should Josh Norman consistently cover WR1s?
The Twitter-verse has been on fire since the "Monday Night Football" showdown between the Washington Redskins and Pittsburgh Steelers. Players, analysts and fans have been debating Josh Norman's value as a CB1 after the Redskins refused to assign their brand new Pro Bowl corner to Antonio Brown despite his status as one of the premier cover corners in the game. With so much debate about the $15 million man, I thought I would reach out to my scouting buddies to see how they would use the highest-paid corner in the game. Here's my question and their responses:
Should Josh Norman cover the opponent's top receiver each week?
NFC scout: "Yes, but I think it depends on if the head coach and front office want to expose their mistake ... They gave Revis money to a guy who played a lot of zone and had a mean pass rush."
AFC pro personnel director: "If I'm paying that kind of money, you're shutting one side of the field down. ... The problem occurs when you have to follow a guy around who can line up anywhere on the field. You can get some bad matchups for the rest of your guys."
AFC senior personnel executive: "I think he should, but I also believe the coordinator could put him on the No. 2 receiver and play Cover 2 over the top of the No. 1 receiver or double the No. 1 all day. Surely, a $15 million corner can shut down a No. 2. ... I don't know if I would've had him match AB, because he can struggle against small receivers with good quickness. I think he might've had some problems, because he doesn't have great reactionary quickness or recovery speed."
AFC pro scouting director: "Ideally, I would want to match him up with the top receiver. It's as simple as the coaches adjusting their scheme to fit their personnel, but there are some other things to consider. ... If you lock him up with the No. 1 receiver and he aligns in the slot, is your normal slot corner comfortable playing on the outside? Do your coaches have the kind of flexibility in their scheme or philosophy? If not, you're paying a lot of money to a 'one-sided' cover corner. ... That's how mistakes are made in free agency."
NFC pro personnel director: "When you claim to be the best, you should cover the opponent's top guy, especially if the guy on the other side [Bashaud Breeland] is struggling."
MY TAKE
I knew that Josh Norman was a polarizing figure amongst his peers, but I was surprised at how NFL executives responded to the question. I walked away from these conversations feeling that few evaluators view Norman as a premier guy, and they question whether he is an ideal fit as a CB1 in a man-to-man scheme. Moreover, I had several scouts express serious concerns about his age, athleticism and discipline as an elite corner. One of the NFC scouts told me that his "freelancing ways" almost put him in jeopardy (of losing a roster spot) as a young player, and he wondered how well he would fare in a system that required him to cover for extended periods without a ferocious pass rush forcing errant passes from the pocket.
I also thought it was interesting how several guys mentioned the challenges of having the CB1 "travel" with the opponent's top receiver. While it is not a novel concept to have the top corner snuff out the opponent's No. 1 receiver, it forces several players to adjust and embrace different responsibilities. That's why some coaches resist the urge to match up their CB1s with the opponent's WR1. Although you're able to take away a top weapon, the uncertainty created by guys playing unfamiliar spots creates big-play chances for the opponent. Thus, the team is better served to play its corners on designated sides and allow the 11 defenders to do what they do best on the field.
Overall, I believe the Redskins are in a tough spot when attempting to figure out what to do with Norman on the perimeter. Despite the dissenting opinions of my scouting colleagues, Norman has played well as a pro and shown he's capable of neutralizing top receivers when allowed to travel with them all over the field (see: Julio Jones in 2014-15, Dez Bryant in 2015 and Demaryius Thomas in Super Bowl 50). He will challenge premier receivers with his feisty ways, and his bump-and-run skills are very effective when he utilizes the proper technique at the line of scrimmage. Now, I do believe he is ideally suited to play in a zone-based defense, because it allows him to clue the quarterback (read the quarterback's eyes) and pattern-read (a tactic in which the defender keys and diagnoses route concepts to determine where the ball is expected to be thrown). In addition, I also know that he plays at his best when allowed to freelance a bit or take chances in coverage. As long as he communicates with his teammates and they are willing to compensate for his gambling ways (for instance, the safety could cheat to Norman's side when he is expected to jump a route, etc.), I believe he should be allowed to take some calculated risks based on his pregame film study. This is something the great cover corners have always done, and Norman's resume should afford the Redskins that luxury.
As far as Norman's athletic limitations and speed deficiencies, I agree with my colleagues on their assessment of his skills. He is not a world-class athlete on the perimeter and does struggle with shifty receivers with explosive quickness, but he has worked around those flaws to hold up against some of the best players in the game. In fact, Norman fared well in his limited reps with Antonio Brown in Week 1 and didn't look overwhelmed when facing Sammy Watkins in a preseason battle that appeared to have some regular-season intensity. I know that's not exactly enough information to make a determination on whether Norman should travel or not, but it is a glimpse of his potential impact as a CB1 in the Redskins' scheme. Whether he stays on the left side or eventually flip-flops based on matchups, Norman is good enough to hold down his side with little help from a safety. I just don't know if it ever will be worth the $15 million a year that the Redskins are shelling out for his services.
The Twitter-verse has been on fire since the "Monday Night Football" showdown between the Washington Redskins and Pittsburgh Steelers. Players, analysts and fans have been debating Josh Norman's value as a CB1 after the Redskins refused to assign their brand new Pro Bowl corner to Antonio Brown despite his status as one of the premier cover corners in the game. With so much debate about the $15 million man, I thought I would reach out to my scouting buddies to see how they would use the highest-paid corner in the game. Here's my question and their responses:
Should Josh Norman cover the opponent's top receiver each week?
NFC scout: "Yes, but I think it depends on if the head coach and front office want to expose their mistake ... They gave Revis money to a guy who played a lot of zone and had a mean pass rush."
AFC pro personnel director: "If I'm paying that kind of money, you're shutting one side of the field down. ... The problem occurs when you have to follow a guy around who can line up anywhere on the field. You can get some bad matchups for the rest of your guys."
AFC senior personnel executive: "I think he should, but I also believe the coordinator could put him on the No. 2 receiver and play Cover 2 over the top of the No. 1 receiver or double the No. 1 all day. Surely, a $15 million corner can shut down a No. 2. ... I don't know if I would've had him match AB, because he can struggle against small receivers with good quickness. I think he might've had some problems, because he doesn't have great reactionary quickness or recovery speed."
AFC pro scouting director: "Ideally, I would want to match him up with the top receiver. It's as simple as the coaches adjusting their scheme to fit their personnel, but there are some other things to consider. ... If you lock him up with the No. 1 receiver and he aligns in the slot, is your normal slot corner comfortable playing on the outside? Do your coaches have the kind of flexibility in their scheme or philosophy? If not, you're paying a lot of money to a 'one-sided' cover corner. ... That's how mistakes are made in free agency."
NFC pro personnel director: "When you claim to be the best, you should cover the opponent's top guy, especially if the guy on the other side [Bashaud Breeland] is struggling."
MY TAKE
I knew that Josh Norman was a polarizing figure amongst his peers, but I was surprised at how NFL executives responded to the question. I walked away from these conversations feeling that few evaluators view Norman as a premier guy, and they question whether he is an ideal fit as a CB1 in a man-to-man scheme. Moreover, I had several scouts express serious concerns about his age, athleticism and discipline as an elite corner. One of the NFC scouts told me that his "freelancing ways" almost put him in jeopardy (of losing a roster spot) as a young player, and he wondered how well he would fare in a system that required him to cover for extended periods without a ferocious pass rush forcing errant passes from the pocket.
I also thought it was interesting how several guys mentioned the challenges of having the CB1 "travel" with the opponent's top receiver. While it is not a novel concept to have the top corner snuff out the opponent's No. 1 receiver, it forces several players to adjust and embrace different responsibilities. That's why some coaches resist the urge to match up their CB1s with the opponent's WR1. Although you're able to take away a top weapon, the uncertainty created by guys playing unfamiliar spots creates big-play chances for the opponent. Thus, the team is better served to play its corners on designated sides and allow the 11 defenders to do what they do best on the field.
Overall, I believe the Redskins are in a tough spot when attempting to figure out what to do with Norman on the perimeter. Despite the dissenting opinions of my scouting colleagues, Norman has played well as a pro and shown he's capable of neutralizing top receivers when allowed to travel with them all over the field (see: Julio Jones in 2014-15, Dez Bryant in 2015 and Demaryius Thomas in Super Bowl 50). He will challenge premier receivers with his feisty ways, and his bump-and-run skills are very effective when he utilizes the proper technique at the line of scrimmage. Now, I do believe he is ideally suited to play in a zone-based defense, because it allows him to clue the quarterback (read the quarterback's eyes) and pattern-read (a tactic in which the defender keys and diagnoses route concepts to determine where the ball is expected to be thrown). In addition, I also know that he plays at his best when allowed to freelance a bit or take chances in coverage. As long as he communicates with his teammates and they are willing to compensate for his gambling ways (for instance, the safety could cheat to Norman's side when he is expected to jump a route, etc.), I believe he should be allowed to take some calculated risks based on his pregame film study. This is something the great cover corners have always done, and Norman's resume should afford the Redskins that luxury.
As far as Norman's athletic limitations and speed deficiencies, I agree with my colleagues on their assessment of his skills. He is not a world-class athlete on the perimeter and does struggle with shifty receivers with explosive quickness, but he has worked around those flaws to hold up against some of the best players in the game. In fact, Norman fared well in his limited reps with Antonio Brown in Week 1 and didn't look overwhelmed when facing Sammy Watkins in a preseason battle that appeared to have some regular-season intensity. I know that's not exactly enough information to make a determination on whether Norman should travel or not, but it is a glimpse of his potential impact as a CB1 in the Redskins' scheme. Whether he stays on the left side or eventually flip-flops based on matchups, Norman is good enough to hold down his side with little help from a safety. I just don't know if it ever will be worth the $15 million a year that the Redskins are shelling out for his services.
EXTRA POINTS: Play it safe or go for two?
Oakland Raiders coach Jack Del Rio shook up the football world last Sunday when he elected to go for a two-point conversion to beat the New Orleans Saints instead of kicking for an extra point to go into overtime. Conventional wisdom normally prevails in the NFL, and conventional wisdom would've had most coaches sending out their kicker for the traditional PAT (point after touchdown) with the game hanging in the balance. However, Del Rio's shrewd move should be the norm if coaches are really paying attention to the analytical data available at their disposal.
Last season, the NFL moved the extra-point kick back, and kickers converted 94.2 percent of their PATs from the 15-yard line after making 99.3 percent of kicks from the 2-yard line the season before. The kick is no longer the "gimme" it had been in the past. We've seen a number of kickers shank these tries, with the missing point coming back to haunt their team in the end. That's why I expected more teams to go for two this season, with teams converting 47.9 percent of their two-pointers in 2015. Considering a 47.9 percent conversion rate on two-point attempts trumps the point production of point-after kicks in 2015, it only makes sense to put the ball in the hands of your most important player (quarterback) with the game on the line.
I know that thought makes traditionalists squeamish, but most coaches view their franchise quarterback as the best player on the squad. Giving him a chance to win the game from the 2-yard line should put the odds in his favor. Think about it this way: If you had only one play left to win or lose a game, would you rather have your kicker control your destiny or place it in the hands of your QB1?
That's why teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers (quarterbacked by Ben Roethlisberger) and Green Bay Packers (Aaron Rodgers) openly discussed being more aggressive with two-point attempts during the offseason. Their quarterbacks are not only MVP-caliber players, but they have the athleticism and impromptu wizardry to make unscripted plays when things break down. Thus, they enhance the team's conversion chances when they have the ball in their hands with the game on the line. Considering the fact that 75 percent (71 of 94) of the two-point tries in 2015 were attempted through the air, it appears that most coaches prefer to trust their quarterbacks to make the play when the game is on the line, especially if they are mobile playmakers with strong arms.
Looking at the numbers from Week 1, I don't think it's a coincidence that the Oakland Raiders (behind Derek Carr), Tennessee Titans (Marcus Mariota), Indianapolis Colts (Andrew Luck) and Atlanta Falcons (Matt Ryan) aggressively went after extra points with quality quarterbacks under center. Each quarterback has a strong command of his respective offense, and most are athletic enough to create big-play opportunities with their arm or legs. Thus, teams are able to incorporate some movement-based passes and misdirection plays in their two-point playbook.
Speaking of two-point plays, I think it is important to acknowledge that teams are changing how they prepare their game plans to account for more two-point attempts. In the past, teams would typically have one or two two-point plays on the call sheet on game day. The offense would practice those plays on Friday as part of their red-zone period, but they'd rarely spend a lot of time on those plays, because they occurred so infrequently.
Now, teams are spending considerably more time and thought on their two-point packages. The Steelers, for instance, used a drill called "Seven Shots" to start out each practice during OTAs and training camp practices. The drill places the ball at the two-yard line, with the 1s on offense versus the 1s on defense for a series of plays. This provides the offense with more repetitions in this critical area of the game, allowing the team to be better prepared than its opponents on two-point plays. In addition, it allows the offensive coordinator to increase the volume of plays used in two-point situations to prevent opponents from snuffing out the play with the game on the line.
Considering the Steelers converted eight of 11 two-point attempts in 2015 and the Raiders won their 2016 opener largely due to two successful two-point conversions (in three attempts), I think more teams should spend time on their two-point packages to take advantage of the math equation that some teams are overlooking on game day.
Oakland Raiders coach Jack Del Rio shook up the football world last Sunday when he elected to go for a two-point conversion to beat the New Orleans Saints instead of kicking for an extra point to go into overtime. Conventional wisdom normally prevails in the NFL, and conventional wisdom would've had most coaches sending out their kicker for the traditional PAT (point after touchdown) with the game hanging in the balance. However, Del Rio's shrewd move should be the norm if coaches are really paying attention to the analytical data available at their disposal.
Last season, the NFL moved the extra-point kick back, and kickers converted 94.2 percent of their PATs from the 15-yard line after making 99.3 percent of kicks from the 2-yard line the season before. The kick is no longer the "gimme" it had been in the past. We've seen a number of kickers shank these tries, with the missing point coming back to haunt their team in the end. That's why I expected more teams to go for two this season, with teams converting 47.9 percent of their two-pointers in 2015. Considering a 47.9 percent conversion rate on two-point attempts trumps the point production of point-after kicks in 2015, it only makes sense to put the ball in the hands of your most important player (quarterback) with the game on the line.
I know that thought makes traditionalists squeamish, but most coaches view their franchise quarterback as the best player on the squad. Giving him a chance to win the game from the 2-yard line should put the odds in his favor. Think about it this way: If you had only one play left to win or lose a game, would you rather have your kicker control your destiny or place it in the hands of your QB1?
That's why teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers (quarterbacked by Ben Roethlisberger) and Green Bay Packers (Aaron Rodgers) openly discussed being more aggressive with two-point attempts during the offseason. Their quarterbacks are not only MVP-caliber players, but they have the athleticism and impromptu wizardry to make unscripted plays when things break down. Thus, they enhance the team's conversion chances when they have the ball in their hands with the game on the line. Considering the fact that 75 percent (71 of 94) of the two-point tries in 2015 were attempted through the air, it appears that most coaches prefer to trust their quarterbacks to make the play when the game is on the line, especially if they are mobile playmakers with strong arms.
Looking at the numbers from Week 1, I don't think it's a coincidence that the Oakland Raiders (behind Derek Carr), Tennessee Titans (Marcus Mariota), Indianapolis Colts (Andrew Luck) and Atlanta Falcons (Matt Ryan) aggressively went after extra points with quality quarterbacks under center. Each quarterback has a strong command of his respective offense, and most are athletic enough to create big-play opportunities with their arm or legs. Thus, teams are able to incorporate some movement-based passes and misdirection plays in their two-point playbook.
Speaking of two-point plays, I think it is important to acknowledge that teams are changing how they prepare their game plans to account for more two-point attempts. In the past, teams would typically have one or two two-point plays on the call sheet on game day. The offense would practice those plays on Friday as part of their red-zone period, but they'd rarely spend a lot of time on those plays, because they occurred so infrequently.
Now, teams are spending considerably more time and thought on their two-point packages. The Steelers, for instance, used a drill called "Seven Shots" to start out each practice during OTAs and training camp practices. The drill places the ball at the two-yard line, with the 1s on offense versus the 1s on defense for a series of plays. This provides the offense with more repetitions in this critical area of the game, allowing the team to be better prepared than its opponents on two-point plays. In addition, it allows the offensive coordinator to increase the volume of plays used in two-point situations to prevent opponents from snuffing out the play with the game on the line.
Considering the Steelers converted eight of 11 two-point attempts in 2015 and the Raiders won their 2016 opener largely due to two successful two-point conversions (in three attempts), I think more teams should spend time on their two-point packages to take advantage of the math equation that some teams are overlooking on game day.
NEXT-GEN STATS: Is Carson Wentz the real deal or a one-game wonder?
That's the question every general manager and scout must consider after watching the second overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft light it up in his debut performance despite missing most of the preseason with a rib injury. Wentz completed 22 of 37 passes for 278 yards and a pair of scores for the Eagles in their Week 1 win over the Browns. He finished the night with a 101.0 passer rating and looked like a potential star at the position.
Now, I know it's only one game, and we shouldn't give the rookie a gold jacket based on his spectacular play against a weak Browns defense, but Wentz's numbers stand up well against the debuts of other top picks in recent history. Take a look at how some recent top-five quarterbacks performed in their first career starts:
Carson Wentz (2016): won game; completed 22 of 37 passes for 278 passing yards with a 2:0 TD-to-INT ratio and a 101.0 passer rating.
Jameis Winston (2015): lost game; completed 16 of 33 passes for 210 yards with a 2:2 TD-to-INT ratio and a 64.0 passer rating.
Marcus Mariota (2015): won game; completed 13 of 15 passes for 209 yards with a 4:0 TD-to-INT ratio and a 158.3 passer rating.
Andrew Luck (2012): lost game; completed 23 of 45 passes for 309 yards with a 1:3 TD-to-INT ratio and a 52.9 passer rating.
Robert Griffin III (2012): won game; completed 19 of 26 passes for 320 yards with a 2:0 TD-to-INT ratio and a 139.9 passer rating.
Cam Newton (2011): lost game; completed 24 of 37 passes for 422 yards with a 2:1 TD-to-INT ratio and a 110.4 passer rating.
Based on the numbers, it nearly impossible to determine whether Wentz will go on to become an elite quarterback after one game, but I found it interesting that his stats were nearly identical to Cam Newton's production in his 2011 debut against the Arizona Cardinals. I've always believed Wentz's game mirrored the reigning MVP's playing style, and he could make a similar impact on the league as a big-bodied, dual-threat playmaker.
Looking back at my scouting report on Wentz prior to the draft, I viewed the 6-foot-5, 237-pounder as a big, strong-armed passer with exceptional arm talent. I thought he was not only capable of making every throw in the book with zip, velocity and precision, but he also flashed a feathery touch on deep balls along the boundary. Regarding his running ability, I loved Wentz's combination of size and speed on the perimeter. He excelled executing zone reads and designed quarterback runs, particularly down in the red zone, where "plus-1" concepts -- quarterback runs to negate the defense's numerical advantage at the point of attack -- give the offense an added dimension.
Considering Wentz's high football IQ and his mastery of complex passing concepts due to his experience directing a pro-style offense at North Dakota State, I thought he would have a solid track to success despite playing against a lower level of competition as a collegian. Now, I'll be the first to admit that I thought it would take him some time to figure it all out (the Eagles planned to give Wentz a redshirt year as a rookie while he sat behind a couple of veterans), but the rookie was thrust into the starting lineup when the team traded Sam Bradford to the Minnesota Vikings for a couple of top picks.
I've been around the NFL long enough to know that plans quickly change, and most top-five draft picks, particularly quarterbacks, crack the starting lineup at some point during their rookie seasons. But I didn't expect to see Wentz stepping onto the field with the "ones" in Week 1 after sitting out the majority of the preseason with an injury. Despite showing impressive flashes in limited action, Wentz hadn't played enough preseason snaps to get a full grasp of his readiness, and I wondered how Eagles coach Doug Pederson would craft a game plan around the rookie to help him succeed in the season opener.
In my experience, most coaches opt for a conservative approach when breaking in a rookie starter. Teams will feature quick throws and simple isolation or combination patterns to make it easy for the quarterback to find an open receiver against any coverage. Coaches will also script a series of plays around the strengths of their young passer to make sure that he quickly finds his comfort zone on the field.
Against the Browns, the Eagles crafted a beautiful game plan that highlighted Wentz's strengths as a downfield passer. From seams and go-routes along the hashes or sidelines to sail routes (deep speed outs) and deep overs (deep crossing routes), the Eagles featured a number of vertical routes that allowed the rookie to push the ball down the field off play-action or on the move. To my surprise, the high-risk, high-reward approach better suited the rookie's talents. According to Next Gen stats, Wentz completed 9 of 11 passes (81.8 percent) that traveled 10 or more yards in the air, with 15.6 yards per attempt and a perfect 158.3 passer rating on those passes.
(He connected on 13 of 26 passes that traveled 10 yards in the air or less, with 3.8 yards per attempt and a 60.7 passer rating on those throws.)
That's ridiculous production from any quarterback, particularly a rookie making his first start after limited preseason work. As I studied the All-22 Coaches Film, I was blown away by Wentz's touch, timing and accuracy on his deep throws. He dropped the ball over the receiver's outside shoulder on most throws, which allowed them to keep the defender on their hip while securing the catch.
Let's take a closer look at video of Wentz's first touchdown pass on Sunday. The Eagles are aligned in an empty formation, with Jordan Matthews in the slot. The team is running a smash-seams concept, with the outside guys instructed to run hitches and the slot receivers running fade routes from their inside position. Against man coverage, the inside fade gives the quarterback a bigger box to target in the front corner of the end zone. This definitely makes the throw easier, but Wentz's superb ball placement made it nearly impossible for the Browns to defend the play:
Later in the game, the Eagles dialed it up on a fade route to Nelson Agholor down the boundary, as you can see in the video below. The second-year pro must escape press coverage at the line, but he can't get pushed too far to the sideline, because it shrinks the target area for the quarterback. Agholor quickly whips Pro Bowler Joe Haden at the line and fights to "stack" (receiver works to get directly in front of the defensive back while running down the field) the veteran corner as he heads down the field. Wentz throws a teardrop over the young pass catcher's outside shoulder for a score:
Wentz's debut performance has created a buzz in the scouting community. Evaluators wonder if the young passer can build upon his strong performance to energize an Eagles offense that is more systematic than star-driven. After looking at the numbers and the All-22 Coaches Film, I not only believe he will continue to shine as a deep ball passer, but his accuracy and efficiency will improve on the quick-rhythm throws that are the foundation of the Eagles' passing game. If he quickly masters the "catch-and-fire" throws in the game plan, the Eagles might've landed a budding superstar at the top of the draft.
That's the question every general manager and scout must consider after watching the second overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft light it up in his debut performance despite missing most of the preseason with a rib injury. Wentz completed 22 of 37 passes for 278 yards and a pair of scores for the Eagles in their Week 1 win over the Browns. He finished the night with a 101.0 passer rating and looked like a potential star at the position.
Now, I know it's only one game, and we shouldn't give the rookie a gold jacket based on his spectacular play against a weak Browns defense, but Wentz's numbers stand up well against the debuts of other top picks in recent history. Take a look at how some recent top-five quarterbacks performed in their first career starts:
Carson Wentz (2016): won game; completed 22 of 37 passes for 278 passing yards with a 2:0 TD-to-INT ratio and a 101.0 passer rating.
Jameis Winston (2015): lost game; completed 16 of 33 passes for 210 yards with a 2:2 TD-to-INT ratio and a 64.0 passer rating.
Marcus Mariota (2015): won game; completed 13 of 15 passes for 209 yards with a 4:0 TD-to-INT ratio and a 158.3 passer rating.
Andrew Luck (2012): lost game; completed 23 of 45 passes for 309 yards with a 1:3 TD-to-INT ratio and a 52.9 passer rating.
Robert Griffin III (2012): won game; completed 19 of 26 passes for 320 yards with a 2:0 TD-to-INT ratio and a 139.9 passer rating.
Cam Newton (2011): lost game; completed 24 of 37 passes for 422 yards with a 2:1 TD-to-INT ratio and a 110.4 passer rating.
Based on the numbers, it nearly impossible to determine whether Wentz will go on to become an elite quarterback after one game, but I found it interesting that his stats were nearly identical to Cam Newton's production in his 2011 debut against the Arizona Cardinals. I've always believed Wentz's game mirrored the reigning MVP's playing style, and he could make a similar impact on the league as a big-bodied, dual-threat playmaker.
Looking back at my scouting report on Wentz prior to the draft, I viewed the 6-foot-5, 237-pounder as a big, strong-armed passer with exceptional arm talent. I thought he was not only capable of making every throw in the book with zip, velocity and precision, but he also flashed a feathery touch on deep balls along the boundary. Regarding his running ability, I loved Wentz's combination of size and speed on the perimeter. He excelled executing zone reads and designed quarterback runs, particularly down in the red zone, where "plus-1" concepts -- quarterback runs to negate the defense's numerical advantage at the point of attack -- give the offense an added dimension.
Considering Wentz's high football IQ and his mastery of complex passing concepts due to his experience directing a pro-style offense at North Dakota State, I thought he would have a solid track to success despite playing against a lower level of competition as a collegian. Now, I'll be the first to admit that I thought it would take him some time to figure it all out (the Eagles planned to give Wentz a redshirt year as a rookie while he sat behind a couple of veterans), but the rookie was thrust into the starting lineup when the team traded Sam Bradford to the Minnesota Vikings for a couple of top picks.
I've been around the NFL long enough to know that plans quickly change, and most top-five draft picks, particularly quarterbacks, crack the starting lineup at some point during their rookie seasons. But I didn't expect to see Wentz stepping onto the field with the "ones" in Week 1 after sitting out the majority of the preseason with an injury. Despite showing impressive flashes in limited action, Wentz hadn't played enough preseason snaps to get a full grasp of his readiness, and I wondered how Eagles coach Doug Pederson would craft a game plan around the rookie to help him succeed in the season opener.
In my experience, most coaches opt for a conservative approach when breaking in a rookie starter. Teams will feature quick throws and simple isolation or combination patterns to make it easy for the quarterback to find an open receiver against any coverage. Coaches will also script a series of plays around the strengths of their young passer to make sure that he quickly finds his comfort zone on the field.
Against the Browns, the Eagles crafted a beautiful game plan that highlighted Wentz's strengths as a downfield passer. From seams and go-routes along the hashes or sidelines to sail routes (deep speed outs) and deep overs (deep crossing routes), the Eagles featured a number of vertical routes that allowed the rookie to push the ball down the field off play-action or on the move. To my surprise, the high-risk, high-reward approach better suited the rookie's talents. According to Next Gen stats, Wentz completed 9 of 11 passes (81.8 percent) that traveled 10 or more yards in the air, with 15.6 yards per attempt and a perfect 158.3 passer rating on those passes.
(He connected on 13 of 26 passes that traveled 10 yards in the air or less, with 3.8 yards per attempt and a 60.7 passer rating on those throws.)
That's ridiculous production from any quarterback, particularly a rookie making his first start after limited preseason work. As I studied the All-22 Coaches Film, I was blown away by Wentz's touch, timing and accuracy on his deep throws. He dropped the ball over the receiver's outside shoulder on most throws, which allowed them to keep the defender on their hip while securing the catch.
Let's take a closer look at video of Wentz's first touchdown pass on Sunday. The Eagles are aligned in an empty formation, with Jordan Matthews in the slot. The team is running a smash-seams concept, with the outside guys instructed to run hitches and the slot receivers running fade routes from their inside position. Against man coverage, the inside fade gives the quarterback a bigger box to target in the front corner of the end zone. This definitely makes the throw easier, but Wentz's superb ball placement made it nearly impossible for the Browns to defend the play:
Later in the game, the Eagles dialed it up on a fade route to Nelson Agholor down the boundary, as you can see in the video below. The second-year pro must escape press coverage at the line, but he can't get pushed too far to the sideline, because it shrinks the target area for the quarterback. Agholor quickly whips Pro Bowler Joe Haden at the line and fights to "stack" (receiver works to get directly in front of the defensive back while running down the field) the veteran corner as he heads down the field. Wentz throws a teardrop over the young pass catcher's outside shoulder for a score:
Wentz's debut performance has created a buzz in the scouting community. Evaluators wonder if the young passer can build upon his strong performance to energize an Eagles offense that is more systematic than star-driven. After looking at the numbers and the All-22 Coaches Film, I not only believe he will continue to shine as a deep ball passer, but his accuracy and efficiency will improve on the quick-rhythm throws that are the foundation of the Eagles' passing game. If he quickly masters the "catch-and-fire" throws in the game plan, the Eagles might've landed a budding superstar at the top of the draft.
Preview: San Francisco at Carolina
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
The Carolina Panthers didn’t lose a game until Week 16 last season, but they’re already in the unfamiliar position of trying to bounce back from a defeat. The Panthers hope to shake off their season-opening loss at Denver when they host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
Carolina won its first 15 games a year ago and reached the Super Bowl before falling to the Broncos, who rallied in the fourth quarter for a 21-20 win in the rematch to open the 2016 campaign. “We didn’t do everything we needed to do to give ourselves a chance to win,” Panthers coach Ron Rivera told reporters. “I know our guys have all taken it very personal.” The 49ers turned in a dominant performance on Monday night, blanking Los Angeles 28-0, and are trying to start 2-0 for the first time since 2012. The Panthers have won four straight regular-season meetings, but San Francisco captured a playoff game in Charlotte in their most recent clash in 2013.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Panthers -13.5. O/U: 45.5
ABOUT THE 49ERS (1-0): Quarterback Blaine Gabbert had a solid debut in Kelly’s offense, completing 22-of-35 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown while adding 43 rushing yards. Carlos Hyde registered 88 yards and two touchdowns on the ground as the 49ers rolled up 150 rushing yards – fifth-most in the league in Week 1. The dominant defensive effort – holding the Rams to 185 total yards in a shutout – will be difficult to duplicate against a far more dangerous Carolina team.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (0-1): Carolina picked up where it left off last season with a powerful running game against Denver, racking up 157 yards on the ground. The Panthers didn’t do as much damage through the air, but reigning MVP Cam Newton has re-established his rapport with Kelvin Benjamin, who made six catches for 91 yards in his first game after missing all of last season. Carolina’s defense was outstanding for three quarters and limited the Broncos to 307 total yards – 159 passing – but the evening was spoiled by surrendering 14 fourth-quarter points.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Newton recorded passing and rushing touchdowns against Denver, his NFL-record 32nd career game with at least one of each.
2. Gabbert has thrown a touchdown pass in 12 straight games dating to 2013.
3. Carolina RB Jonathan Stewart, who rushed for 64 yards on 15 carries last week, has been limited by an ankle injury but is expected to be ready for Sunday.
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
The Carolina Panthers didn’t lose a game until Week 16 last season, but they’re already in the unfamiliar position of trying to bounce back from a defeat. The Panthers hope to shake off their season-opening loss at Denver when they host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
Carolina won its first 15 games a year ago and reached the Super Bowl before falling to the Broncos, who rallied in the fourth quarter for a 21-20 win in the rematch to open the 2016 campaign. “We didn’t do everything we needed to do to give ourselves a chance to win,” Panthers coach Ron Rivera told reporters. “I know our guys have all taken it very personal.” The 49ers turned in a dominant performance on Monday night, blanking Los Angeles 28-0, and are trying to start 2-0 for the first time since 2012. The Panthers have won four straight regular-season meetings, but San Francisco captured a playoff game in Charlotte in their most recent clash in 2013.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Panthers -13.5. O/U: 45.5
ABOUT THE 49ERS (1-0): Quarterback Blaine Gabbert had a solid debut in Kelly’s offense, completing 22-of-35 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown while adding 43 rushing yards. Carlos Hyde registered 88 yards and two touchdowns on the ground as the 49ers rolled up 150 rushing yards – fifth-most in the league in Week 1. The dominant defensive effort – holding the Rams to 185 total yards in a shutout – will be difficult to duplicate against a far more dangerous Carolina team.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (0-1): Carolina picked up where it left off last season with a powerful running game against Denver, racking up 157 yards on the ground. The Panthers didn’t do as much damage through the air, but reigning MVP Cam Newton has re-established his rapport with Kelvin Benjamin, who made six catches for 91 yards in his first game after missing all of last season. Carolina’s defense was outstanding for three quarters and limited the Broncos to 307 total yards – 159 passing – but the evening was spoiled by surrendering 14 fourth-quarter points.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Newton recorded passing and rushing touchdowns against Denver, his NFL-record 32nd career game with at least one of each.
2. Gabbert has thrown a touchdown pass in 12 straight games dating to 2013.
3. Carolina RB Jonathan Stewart, who rushed for 64 yards on 15 carries last week, has been limited by an ankle injury but is expected to be ready for Sunday.
Preview: Baltimore at Cleveland
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
Just a week into the season and the Cleveland Browns' best-laid plans have gone awry after losing quarterback Robert Griffin III to a broken bone in his throwing shoulder. The Browns will go back to Josh McCown under center for Sunday's home opener when they host the Baltimore Ravens and their stingy defense which allowed just seven points in its season-opening win over Buffalo.
Griffin suffered the injury late in last week's loss to Philadelphia and was placed on injured reserve. While initial reports estimated he could return in three to four weeks, they've since been altered to eight weeks and his entire season is in jeopardy, leaving the gig to McCown, who is 2-17 as a starter over the past two seasons. The Ravens limited the Bills to 160 yards of offense in their 13-7 victory and were led by cornerback Shareece Wright, who tallied 11 tackles and sacked Tyrod Taylor twice. After missing the latter part of 2015 with a knee injury, Joe Flacco passed for 258 yards in his return to the lineup, including a 66-yard TD pass to newcomer Mike Wallace that proved to be the game-winner.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Ravens -6.5. O/U: 42.5.
ABOUT THE RAVENS (1-0): Baltimore did little offensively but its suffocating defense even had former defensive coordinator and current Buffalo head coach Rex Ryan gushing. "I'm probably one of the coaches that'll give credit to the opponent because they deserve it," Ryan said. "They got after us." Wide receiver Breshad Perriman made his NFL debut against the Bills and made a highlight-reel grab of 35 yards while veteran Steve Smith caught five balls in his return to the squad, but the Ravens got little from their backfield as the tandem of Justin Forsett and Terrance West combined for 73 yards on 22 carries. Baltimore's defense limited the Bills to 65 yards on the ground and 95 net yards through the air.
ABOUT THE BROWNS (0-1): Griffin promised to be more careful with his penchant for dangerous scrambling as he tried to resurrect his once-promising career in Cleveland but he was injured on a violent hit while running out of his own end zone with his team well out of the game in the fourth quarter. McCown, 37, is back in a familiar spot, having replaced Johnny Manziel with the Browns last season in fairly efficient fashion, throwing for an average of 263.6 passing yards with 12 touchdowns and four interceptions in eight starts last year. He also torched the Ravens for a team-record 457 yards last season in a 33-30 overtime win in Week 5 while completing 36 of 51 passes.
EXTRA POINTS
1. RB Isaiah Crowell carried 12 times last week for 62 yards and the Browns' only touchdown.
2. The Ravens split carries between Forsett and West last week and the duo should fare well against the Browns, who have allowed 134.9 yards rushing per game since 2014, the most in the NFL over that span.
3. Perriman is nursing a shoulder injury but is expected to play while LB Elvis Dumervil is doubtful (foot).
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
Just a week into the season and the Cleveland Browns' best-laid plans have gone awry after losing quarterback Robert Griffin III to a broken bone in his throwing shoulder. The Browns will go back to Josh McCown under center for Sunday's home opener when they host the Baltimore Ravens and their stingy defense which allowed just seven points in its season-opening win over Buffalo.
Griffin suffered the injury late in last week's loss to Philadelphia and was placed on injured reserve. While initial reports estimated he could return in three to four weeks, they've since been altered to eight weeks and his entire season is in jeopardy, leaving the gig to McCown, who is 2-17 as a starter over the past two seasons. The Ravens limited the Bills to 160 yards of offense in their 13-7 victory and were led by cornerback Shareece Wright, who tallied 11 tackles and sacked Tyrod Taylor twice. After missing the latter part of 2015 with a knee injury, Joe Flacco passed for 258 yards in his return to the lineup, including a 66-yard TD pass to newcomer Mike Wallace that proved to be the game-winner.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Ravens -6.5. O/U: 42.5.
ABOUT THE RAVENS (1-0): Baltimore did little offensively but its suffocating defense even had former defensive coordinator and current Buffalo head coach Rex Ryan gushing. "I'm probably one of the coaches that'll give credit to the opponent because they deserve it," Ryan said. "They got after us." Wide receiver Breshad Perriman made his NFL debut against the Bills and made a highlight-reel grab of 35 yards while veteran Steve Smith caught five balls in his return to the squad, but the Ravens got little from their backfield as the tandem of Justin Forsett and Terrance West combined for 73 yards on 22 carries. Baltimore's defense limited the Bills to 65 yards on the ground and 95 net yards through the air.
ABOUT THE BROWNS (0-1): Griffin promised to be more careful with his penchant for dangerous scrambling as he tried to resurrect his once-promising career in Cleveland but he was injured on a violent hit while running out of his own end zone with his team well out of the game in the fourth quarter. McCown, 37, is back in a familiar spot, having replaced Johnny Manziel with the Browns last season in fairly efficient fashion, throwing for an average of 263.6 passing yards with 12 touchdowns and four interceptions in eight starts last year. He also torched the Ravens for a team-record 457 yards last season in a 33-30 overtime win in Week 5 while completing 36 of 51 passes.
EXTRA POINTS
1. RB Isaiah Crowell carried 12 times last week for 62 yards and the Browns' only touchdown.
2. The Ravens split carries between Forsett and West last week and the duo should fare well against the Browns, who have allowed 134.9 yards rushing per game since 2014, the most in the NFL over that span.
3. Perriman is nursing a shoulder injury but is expected to play while LB Elvis Dumervil is doubtful (foot).
Preview: Tennessee at Detroit
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Life after Calvin Johnson began well for the Detroit Lions, who look to build off a wild victory over Indianapolis when they face the Tennessee Titans in their home opener on Sunday. With Johnson enjoying his recent retirement by participating on ABC's "Dancing With The Stars", Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford utilized eight different receivers while going 31-of-39 for 340 yards and three touchdowns in a season-opening 39-35 road triumph over the Colts.
The Lions' running game also produced admirably, with Ameer Abdullah (12 rushes, 63 yards) and Theo Reddick combining for 108 yards on 19 carries. Tennessee has the ability to snuff Detroit's rushing attack, however, as it limited Minnesota star Adrian Peterson to 31 yards on 19 carries in its season-opening 25-16 loss at home. The Titans' defense did a solid job, shutting out the Vikings in the first half and allowing four field goals in the second, but failed to record a sack or force a turnover. Tennessee has won its last four meetings with Detroit, including a 44-41 overtime victory at home on Sept. 23, 2012.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Lions -6. O/U: 47
ABOUT THE TITANS (0-1): Newly acquired running back DeMarco Murray did not produce on the ground last week, gaining just 42 yards on 13 carries and committing a costly fumble that was returned for a touchdown, but he did catch five passes for 35 yards and a pair of scores. First-round pick Derrick Henry had an NFL debut to forget, as he rushed just five times for three yards, although he hauled in two passes for 41 yards. Tennessee will be expecting big things from tight end Delanie Walker, who made only three catches for 42 yards in the season opener but has recorded 33 receptions for 433 yards and four touchdowns in his last five road games.
ABOUT THE LIONS (1-0): Tennessee will have to keep a close eye on both Abdullah and Reddick as they also were dangerous out of the backfield last week, with each making a touchdown catch while combining for 104 yards on 10 receptions. Tight end Eric Ebron will need to be watched as well after hauling in a scoring pass for his second straight game last week. Veteran Anquan Boldin hopes to be more active against the Titans after making only three catches for 35 yards in his Lions' debut.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Stafford is averaging 295.2 passing yards in 24 career games against AFC teams.
2. Tennessee LB Brian Orakpo is three sacks shy of 50 for his career.
3. Detroit P Sam Martin was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after averaging 58.8 yards on four punts in the opener.
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Life after Calvin Johnson began well for the Detroit Lions, who look to build off a wild victory over Indianapolis when they face the Tennessee Titans in their home opener on Sunday. With Johnson enjoying his recent retirement by participating on ABC's "Dancing With The Stars", Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford utilized eight different receivers while going 31-of-39 for 340 yards and three touchdowns in a season-opening 39-35 road triumph over the Colts.
The Lions' running game also produced admirably, with Ameer Abdullah (12 rushes, 63 yards) and Theo Reddick combining for 108 yards on 19 carries. Tennessee has the ability to snuff Detroit's rushing attack, however, as it limited Minnesota star Adrian Peterson to 31 yards on 19 carries in its season-opening 25-16 loss at home. The Titans' defense did a solid job, shutting out the Vikings in the first half and allowing four field goals in the second, but failed to record a sack or force a turnover. Tennessee has won its last four meetings with Detroit, including a 44-41 overtime victory at home on Sept. 23, 2012.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Lions -6. O/U: 47
ABOUT THE TITANS (0-1): Newly acquired running back DeMarco Murray did not produce on the ground last week, gaining just 42 yards on 13 carries and committing a costly fumble that was returned for a touchdown, but he did catch five passes for 35 yards and a pair of scores. First-round pick Derrick Henry had an NFL debut to forget, as he rushed just five times for three yards, although he hauled in two passes for 41 yards. Tennessee will be expecting big things from tight end Delanie Walker, who made only three catches for 42 yards in the season opener but has recorded 33 receptions for 433 yards and four touchdowns in his last five road games.
ABOUT THE LIONS (1-0): Tennessee will have to keep a close eye on both Abdullah and Reddick as they also were dangerous out of the backfield last week, with each making a touchdown catch while combining for 104 yards on 10 receptions. Tight end Eric Ebron will need to be watched as well after hauling in a scoring pass for his second straight game last week. Veteran Anquan Boldin hopes to be more active against the Titans after making only three catches for 35 yards in his Lions' debut.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Stafford is averaging 295.2 passing yards in 24 career games against AFC teams.
2. Tennessee LB Brian Orakpo is three sacks shy of 50 for his career.
3. Detroit P Sam Martin was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after averaging 58.8 yards on four punts in the opener.
Preview: Kansas City at Houston
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
The Kansas City Chiefs placed disappointing bookends on the Houston Texans’ season a year ago, and they hope to dish out another round when they travel to Houston on Sunday. The Chiefs handed the Texans a 27-20 home loss in Week 1 last year and ended their season with a 30-0 drubbing in the wild-card round.
These aren’t the same Texans, though, particularly on offense, where Brock Osweiler has taken over under center, handing off to newcomer Lamar Miller, and rookie receiver Will Fuller looks to be a dangerous complement to star DeAndre Hopkins. “Yeah, they’re a different team,” Kansas City coach Andy Reid told reporters. “They looked sharp on Sunday. I mean, that’s a good football team.” While Houston was beating Chicago 23-14 to open the season, Kansas City dug itself a 21-point hold before rallying to beat San Diego 33-27 in overtime. The Chiefs have won 11 consecutive regular-season games dating to last season.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Houston -2.5. O/U: 43.
ABOUT THE CHIEFS (1-0): Kansas City came out of Week 1 with a number of nagging injuries to key offensive players, as quarterback Alex Smith (elbow), running back Spencer Ware (toe) and receiver Jeremy Maclin (concussion) all have been limited in practice. All are expected to play, however, and hope to duplicate last week’s impressive effort, as they rolled up 413 total yards against the Chargers. The defense stiffened in the second half against San Diego but surrendered an alarming 155 rushing yards and will have its hands full with Miller.
ABOUT THE TEXANS (1-0): Osweiler’s Houston debut was solid, if unspectacular, as he went 22-for-35 for 231 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Miller (106 rushing yards) and Fuller (five catches, 107 yards, TD) certainly overshadowed him, as the Texans showed signs of boasting a dynamic offense. The defense also got off to a strong start, holding the Bears to 258 total yards, but will face a more dangerous offensive unit this week.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Reid is 5-0 all-time against Houston and Smith is 4-0 as a starter against the Texans, including last year’s playoff win.
2. Texans LB Whitney Mercilus, who had three sacks in the playoff matchup last season, recorded two in Week 1.
3. Ware rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown while setting career highs for catches (seven) and receiving yards (129) last week, allowing the Chiefs to be conservative about bringing back star RB Jamaal Charles, who is recovering from last year’s season-ending ACL injury.
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
The Kansas City Chiefs placed disappointing bookends on the Houston Texans’ season a year ago, and they hope to dish out another round when they travel to Houston on Sunday. The Chiefs handed the Texans a 27-20 home loss in Week 1 last year and ended their season with a 30-0 drubbing in the wild-card round.
These aren’t the same Texans, though, particularly on offense, where Brock Osweiler has taken over under center, handing off to newcomer Lamar Miller, and rookie receiver Will Fuller looks to be a dangerous complement to star DeAndre Hopkins. “Yeah, they’re a different team,” Kansas City coach Andy Reid told reporters. “They looked sharp on Sunday. I mean, that’s a good football team.” While Houston was beating Chicago 23-14 to open the season, Kansas City dug itself a 21-point hold before rallying to beat San Diego 33-27 in overtime. The Chiefs have won 11 consecutive regular-season games dating to last season.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Houston -2.5. O/U: 43.
ABOUT THE CHIEFS (1-0): Kansas City came out of Week 1 with a number of nagging injuries to key offensive players, as quarterback Alex Smith (elbow), running back Spencer Ware (toe) and receiver Jeremy Maclin (concussion) all have been limited in practice. All are expected to play, however, and hope to duplicate last week’s impressive effort, as they rolled up 413 total yards against the Chargers. The defense stiffened in the second half against San Diego but surrendered an alarming 155 rushing yards and will have its hands full with Miller.
ABOUT THE TEXANS (1-0): Osweiler’s Houston debut was solid, if unspectacular, as he went 22-for-35 for 231 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Miller (106 rushing yards) and Fuller (five catches, 107 yards, TD) certainly overshadowed him, as the Texans showed signs of boasting a dynamic offense. The defense also got off to a strong start, holding the Bears to 258 total yards, but will face a more dangerous offensive unit this week.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Reid is 5-0 all-time against Houston and Smith is 4-0 as a starter against the Texans, including last year’s playoff win.
2. Texans LB Whitney Mercilus, who had three sacks in the playoff matchup last season, recorded two in Week 1.
3. Ware rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown while setting career highs for catches (seven) and receiving yards (129) last week, allowing the Chiefs to be conservative about bringing back star RB Jamaal Charles, who is recovering from last year’s season-ending ACL injury.
Preview: Miami at New England
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
No Tom Brady? No problem. At least that was the case after one game for the New England Patriots and replacement quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who will make the first home start of his career when the Miami Dolphins visit Gillette Stadium on Sunday in a matchup of longtime AFC East Division rivals.
The Patriots are coming off an impressive road win at Arizona in their season opener despite the absence of Brady, who is serving a four-game suspension for his involvement in Deflategate. New England will not be resting on the laurels as it prepares to host the Dolphins, who cost the Patriots home-field advantage in the postseason with a 20-10 victory in the 2015 regular-season finale, a performance that coach Bill Belichick described as "sickening." Miami is coming off a sickening defeat of its own, surrendering the winning touchdown with 31 seconds to play in a 12-10 setback at Seattle, and looks to even its record by exploiting the inexperienced Garoppolo. "We have to make sure we go in there and get him rattled," Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh said of the third-year quarterback."Get him moving around, get him off his spot and make him uncomfortable."
TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Patriots -6.5. O/U: 42.5
ABOUT THE DOLPHINS (0-1): Miami was held to 214 total yards and 11 first downs at Seattle, numbers that should have been much better if wideout Kenny Stills did not drop a wide-open 71-yard touchdown pass with no defender in sight. Ryan Tannehill, who threw for 186 yards and led an 86-yard touchdown drive with just over four minutes to play, should get back one of his prime targets, as second-year wide receiver DeVante Parker (hamstring) practiced again after missing the opener. However, defensive end Mario Williams remained sidelined with a concussion and will likely be missing from a unit that limited the Patriots to 196 total yards in Miami on Jan. 3.
ABOUT THE PATRIOTS (1-0): Garoppolo's numbers weren't spectacular but he was poised and efficient in finishing 24-for-33 for 264 yards and a touchdown, particularly considering he was without stud tight end Rob Gronkowski, who was extremely limited in practice Thursday due to a hamstring injury. Garoppolo spread the ball around to six players, with Julian Edelman leading the way with seven catches for 66 yards and newcomer Chris Hogan adding three receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown in his New England debut. The Patriots could be missing a vital component on defense after linebacker Dont'a Hightower missed practice again Thursday after getting hurt in Week 1.
EXTRA POINTS
1. The Patriots have won seven straight home games against Miami.
2. Tannehill has thrown for at least 300 yards in the last three meetings versus New England.
3. The Patriots have won 26 of their last 28 at Gillette Stadium, including playoffs.
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
No Tom Brady? No problem. At least that was the case after one game for the New England Patriots and replacement quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who will make the first home start of his career when the Miami Dolphins visit Gillette Stadium on Sunday in a matchup of longtime AFC East Division rivals.
The Patriots are coming off an impressive road win at Arizona in their season opener despite the absence of Brady, who is serving a four-game suspension for his involvement in Deflategate. New England will not be resting on the laurels as it prepares to host the Dolphins, who cost the Patriots home-field advantage in the postseason with a 20-10 victory in the 2015 regular-season finale, a performance that coach Bill Belichick described as "sickening." Miami is coming off a sickening defeat of its own, surrendering the winning touchdown with 31 seconds to play in a 12-10 setback at Seattle, and looks to even its record by exploiting the inexperienced Garoppolo. "We have to make sure we go in there and get him rattled," Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh said of the third-year quarterback."Get him moving around, get him off his spot and make him uncomfortable."
TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Patriots -6.5. O/U: 42.5
ABOUT THE DOLPHINS (0-1): Miami was held to 214 total yards and 11 first downs at Seattle, numbers that should have been much better if wideout Kenny Stills did not drop a wide-open 71-yard touchdown pass with no defender in sight. Ryan Tannehill, who threw for 186 yards and led an 86-yard touchdown drive with just over four minutes to play, should get back one of his prime targets, as second-year wide receiver DeVante Parker (hamstring) practiced again after missing the opener. However, defensive end Mario Williams remained sidelined with a concussion and will likely be missing from a unit that limited the Patriots to 196 total yards in Miami on Jan. 3.
ABOUT THE PATRIOTS (1-0): Garoppolo's numbers weren't spectacular but he was poised and efficient in finishing 24-for-33 for 264 yards and a touchdown, particularly considering he was without stud tight end Rob Gronkowski, who was extremely limited in practice Thursday due to a hamstring injury. Garoppolo spread the ball around to six players, with Julian Edelman leading the way with seven catches for 66 yards and newcomer Chris Hogan adding three receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown in his New England debut. The Patriots could be missing a vital component on defense after linebacker Dont'a Hightower missed practice again Thursday after getting hurt in Week 1.
EXTRA POINTS
1. The Patriots have won seven straight home games against Miami.
2. Tannehill has thrown for at least 300 yards in the last three meetings versus New England.
3. The Patriots have won 26 of their last 28 at Gillette Stadium, including playoffs.
Preview: New Orleans at N.Y. Giants
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
The New Orleans Saints and New York Giants gave the scoreboard operator a workout and fantasy football owners a thrill with high-octane offense in their explosive matchup last season. Drew Brees and the visiting Saints look for more of the same on Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium as they attempt to rebound from a season-opening loss.
Brees threw for 505 yards and seven touchdowns in a 52-49 track meet-style victory over the Giants on Nov. 1 and followed in those footsteps with 423 yards passing and four scores in a 35-34 setback to Oakland on Sunday. New Orleans amassed a league-best 507 yards of total offense, with Brandon Cooks reeling in two touchdown receptions versus the Raiders to match both his and Willie Snead's total in the last meeting with New York. Eli Manning threw for 350 yards and a career-best six touchdowns against the Saints, but his three scores last Sunday was enough to lift the Giants to a slim 20-19 triumph over Dallas. Odell Beckham was limited to just four catches for 73 yards in that contest, but corralled three touchdown passes versus the Saints last season to go along with eight receptions for 120 yards.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Giants -4.5. O/U: 52.5
ABOUT THE SAINTS (0-1): While Cooks and Snead garnered the majority of the attention, tight end Coby Fleener was limited to just one catch for four yards in his debut despite playing on 56 of the team's 69 offensive snaps. On the other side of the ball, New Orleans finds itself short-handed as the loss of top cornerback Delvin Breaux (broken fibula) elevates second-year P.J. Williams and undrafted rookies De'Vante Harris and Ken Crawley at the position. Williams showed bravado in welcoming the challenge of facing Beckham, Victor Cruz and rookie Sterling Shepard by saying, "We're looking forward to getting challenged by those guys."
ABOUT THE GIANTS (1-0): New York received early dividends last week after investing $141 million to bolster its defensive line, notably holding prized rookie Ezekiel Elliott to just 51 yards rushing behind Dallas' highly touted offensive line. "We were physical and heavy-handed at the line of scrimmage,” coach Ben McAdoo said of defensive ends Olivier Vernon and Jason Pierre-Paul along with tackles Damon Harrison and Johnathan Hankins. Pierre-Paul has recorded at least six tackles in two games versus New Orleans while Vernon had five and a sack in his last encounter against the Saints while playing with Miami.
EXTRA POINTS
1. New York RB Rashad Jennings rushed for 75 yards last week and faces a defense that allowed 167 on the ground last week.
2. Shifty RB Travaris Cadet is expected to get more involved in the passing game after the Saints released C.J. Spiller on Tuesday.
3. Giants K Josh Brown will return to the field after serving a one-game suspension stemming from a domestic violence arrest last year.
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
The New Orleans Saints and New York Giants gave the scoreboard operator a workout and fantasy football owners a thrill with high-octane offense in their explosive matchup last season. Drew Brees and the visiting Saints look for more of the same on Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium as they attempt to rebound from a season-opening loss.
Brees threw for 505 yards and seven touchdowns in a 52-49 track meet-style victory over the Giants on Nov. 1 and followed in those footsteps with 423 yards passing and four scores in a 35-34 setback to Oakland on Sunday. New Orleans amassed a league-best 507 yards of total offense, with Brandon Cooks reeling in two touchdown receptions versus the Raiders to match both his and Willie Snead's total in the last meeting with New York. Eli Manning threw for 350 yards and a career-best six touchdowns against the Saints, but his three scores last Sunday was enough to lift the Giants to a slim 20-19 triumph over Dallas. Odell Beckham was limited to just four catches for 73 yards in that contest, but corralled three touchdown passes versus the Saints last season to go along with eight receptions for 120 yards.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Giants -4.5. O/U: 52.5
ABOUT THE SAINTS (0-1): While Cooks and Snead garnered the majority of the attention, tight end Coby Fleener was limited to just one catch for four yards in his debut despite playing on 56 of the team's 69 offensive snaps. On the other side of the ball, New Orleans finds itself short-handed as the loss of top cornerback Delvin Breaux (broken fibula) elevates second-year P.J. Williams and undrafted rookies De'Vante Harris and Ken Crawley at the position. Williams showed bravado in welcoming the challenge of facing Beckham, Victor Cruz and rookie Sterling Shepard by saying, "We're looking forward to getting challenged by those guys."
ABOUT THE GIANTS (1-0): New York received early dividends last week after investing $141 million to bolster its defensive line, notably holding prized rookie Ezekiel Elliott to just 51 yards rushing behind Dallas' highly touted offensive line. "We were physical and heavy-handed at the line of scrimmage,” coach Ben McAdoo said of defensive ends Olivier Vernon and Jason Pierre-Paul along with tackles Damon Harrison and Johnathan Hankins. Pierre-Paul has recorded at least six tackles in two games versus New Orleans while Vernon had five and a sack in his last encounter against the Saints while playing with Miami.
EXTRA POINTS
1. New York RB Rashad Jennings rushed for 75 yards last week and faces a defense that allowed 167 on the ground last week.
2. Shifty RB Travaris Cadet is expected to get more involved in the passing game after the Saints released C.J. Spiller on Tuesday.
3. Giants K Josh Brown will return to the field after serving a one-game suspension stemming from a domestic violence arrest last year.
Preview: Cincinnati at Pittsburgh
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
A disastrous defeat at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers in January was the latest chapter in the Cincinnati Bengals' ever-growing book of postseason shortcomings. Eight months removed from their fourth-quarter meltdown, the Bengals have a chance to exact a measure of revenge on Sunday afternoon when they invade Heinz Field to visit their bitter AFC North rivals.
Jeremy Hill's fumble opened the door and safety Adam Jones and mercurial linebacker Vontaze Burfict committed egregious 15-yard penalties to provide the opportunity for the Steelers to slam it in the Bengals' face with a game-winning field goal in that wild-card contest. Burfict, who is serving a three-game suspension and will miss Sunday's tilt, ratcheted up the hatred in the series by pulling down Le'Veon Bell on a play that ended his season. Hill will play on Sunday and found the end zone for the eighth time in nine contests in Cincinnati's 23-22 season-opening victory over the New York Jets last week. With Bell serving a three-game ban, DeAngelo Williams earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors by rushing for 143 yards and two scores in Pittsburgh's 38-16 triumph over Washington on Monday.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Steelers -3. O/U: 48.5
ABOUT THE BENGALS (1-0): Andy Dalton, who missed last season's wild-card contest after fracturing his thumb versus Pittsburgh in Week 14, overcame seven sacks to throw for 366 yards against the Jets. Trusted target A.J. Green reeled in 12 receptions for 180 yards for a touchdown last week and has found the end zone in each of his last three meetings with Pittsburgh. Selected in the first and second rounds of the 2011 draft, Green and Dalton comprise the most productive wide receiver-quarterback duo in its first five seasons with 395 completions for 5,789 yards, while the tandem's 40 touchdowns are tied with Miami's Mark Clayton and Dan Marino from 1983-87, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
ABOUT THE STEELERS (1-0): Speaking of quarterback-wide receiver tandems, Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown are as potent as they come as the former threw for three touchdowns versus the Redskins and connected eight times for 126 yards and two scores with the latter. Roethlisberger owns a 19-7 record versus Cincinnati with an 87.5 quarterback rating and 34 touchdowns and Brown has reeled in 36 receptions for 498 yards and two scores in his last five encounters with the Bengals. The two have been on the receiving end of big hits by the Bengals -- most notably Burfict -- but Roethlisberger dismissed the notion of retaliation, "That's not who we are. It's a physical football game and a physical division," he said. "That's what we expect, a physical football game - clean."
EXTRA POINTS
1. Pittsburgh LB Ryan Shazier, who had an interception last week, recorded 13 tackles and two forced fumbles in the wild-card game versus Cincinnati.
2. The Bengals mustered just 57 yards on the ground in their season opener and will face a Steelers club that yielded just 55 last week.
3. Cincinnati DT Geno Atkins has collected six sacks in the past eight meetings and Pittsburgh DE Cameron Heyward has four in his last five.
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
A disastrous defeat at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers in January was the latest chapter in the Cincinnati Bengals' ever-growing book of postseason shortcomings. Eight months removed from their fourth-quarter meltdown, the Bengals have a chance to exact a measure of revenge on Sunday afternoon when they invade Heinz Field to visit their bitter AFC North rivals.
Jeremy Hill's fumble opened the door and safety Adam Jones and mercurial linebacker Vontaze Burfict committed egregious 15-yard penalties to provide the opportunity for the Steelers to slam it in the Bengals' face with a game-winning field goal in that wild-card contest. Burfict, who is serving a three-game suspension and will miss Sunday's tilt, ratcheted up the hatred in the series by pulling down Le'Veon Bell on a play that ended his season. Hill will play on Sunday and found the end zone for the eighth time in nine contests in Cincinnati's 23-22 season-opening victory over the New York Jets last week. With Bell serving a three-game ban, DeAngelo Williams earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors by rushing for 143 yards and two scores in Pittsburgh's 38-16 triumph over Washington on Monday.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Steelers -3. O/U: 48.5
ABOUT THE BENGALS (1-0): Andy Dalton, who missed last season's wild-card contest after fracturing his thumb versus Pittsburgh in Week 14, overcame seven sacks to throw for 366 yards against the Jets. Trusted target A.J. Green reeled in 12 receptions for 180 yards for a touchdown last week and has found the end zone in each of his last three meetings with Pittsburgh. Selected in the first and second rounds of the 2011 draft, Green and Dalton comprise the most productive wide receiver-quarterback duo in its first five seasons with 395 completions for 5,789 yards, while the tandem's 40 touchdowns are tied with Miami's Mark Clayton and Dan Marino from 1983-87, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
ABOUT THE STEELERS (1-0): Speaking of quarterback-wide receiver tandems, Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown are as potent as they come as the former threw for three touchdowns versus the Redskins and connected eight times for 126 yards and two scores with the latter. Roethlisberger owns a 19-7 record versus Cincinnati with an 87.5 quarterback rating and 34 touchdowns and Brown has reeled in 36 receptions for 498 yards and two scores in his last five encounters with the Bengals. The two have been on the receiving end of big hits by the Bengals -- most notably Burfict -- but Roethlisberger dismissed the notion of retaliation, "That's not who we are. It's a physical football game and a physical division," he said. "That's what we expect, a physical football game - clean."
EXTRA POINTS
1. Pittsburgh LB Ryan Shazier, who had an interception last week, recorded 13 tackles and two forced fumbles in the wild-card game versus Cincinnati.
2. The Bengals mustered just 57 yards on the ground in their season opener and will face a Steelers club that yielded just 55 last week.
3. Cincinnati DT Geno Atkins has collected six sacks in the past eight meetings and Pittsburgh DE Cameron Heyward has four in his last five.
Preview: Dallas at Washington
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland
Coach Jay Gruden is willing to double down on the Washington Redskins heading into Sunday's home opener against the Dallas Cowboys at FedEx Field despite seeing his team mail in a lackluster performance in its season opener. Gruden was left holding his chips at the table on Monday as his upgraded defense was downgraded by the high-octane offense of Pittsburgh in a 38-16 setback.
"We were 6-2 at home (in 2015). It's important because winning on the road isn't easy," Washington coach Jay Gruden said. "Obviously, winning at home isn't easy either, but it's an important game for a lot of reasons. It's a division game, it's the Cowboys and it's a home game -- that's a trifecta right there for you." Dallas is looking to prevent an 0-2 start both overall and within the division after dropping a 20-19 decision versus the New York Giants on Sunday. "I didn't start where I wanted to start, but you've got to start somewhere," fourth overall pick Ezekiel Elliott said after mustering 51 yards on 20 carries. "All I can do is, I can't worry about how I played the last game, all I can do is focus on getting better every week and going out there and performing this weekend." Elliott and former Redskin Alfred Morris were limited to just 86 yards on 27 combined carries in the opener, but could get be in line to get untracked after DeAngelo Williams whipped Washington for 143 yards and two scores on Monday.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Redskins -2.5 O/U: 45
ABOUT THE COWBOYS (0-1): Rookie Dak Prescott played it close to the vest by throwing for 227 yards without an interception or sack in his debut, with Jason Witten reeling in a team-high nine receptions. The veteran tight end traditionally has been an issue for the Redskins, including 11 catches and a touchdown in last season's series. Cole Beasley added eight receptions - five of which went for first downs - for 65 yards, but the diminutive wideout dropped a potential touchdown pass from Prescott on Dallas' first drive versus New York.
ABOUT THE REDSKINS (0-1): Josh Norman has taken considerable heat this week after Washington elected to keep its prized offseason acquisition away from covering Steelers electric wideout Antonio Brown (eight catches, 126 yards, two TDs). "All this talk about this guy matchups with this guy, who really frickin' cares?" said Norman, who was signed to a five-year, $75 million deal. "Come out with a W and win the game. That's hogwash. That's what people talk about. Of course we want to go up against each other because our competitive egos are through the roof." Speaking of egos, few are bigger than that of Cowboys wideout Dez Bryant, who was limited to one catch in the opener and had that same total when matched up against the then-Carolina Panthers cornerback in a meeting last season.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Washington QB Kirk Cousins threw for 329 yards in the season opener and torched Dallas with three touchdown passes in a 34-23 victory on Jan. 3.
2. Cowboys CB Orlando Scandrick expects to play on Sunday despite being plagued by a strained hamstring in Week 1.
3. The Redskins re-signed veteran DE Cullen Jenkins on Tuesday after releasing him among their final cuts.
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland
Coach Jay Gruden is willing to double down on the Washington Redskins heading into Sunday's home opener against the Dallas Cowboys at FedEx Field despite seeing his team mail in a lackluster performance in its season opener. Gruden was left holding his chips at the table on Monday as his upgraded defense was downgraded by the high-octane offense of Pittsburgh in a 38-16 setback.
"We were 6-2 at home (in 2015). It's important because winning on the road isn't easy," Washington coach Jay Gruden said. "Obviously, winning at home isn't easy either, but it's an important game for a lot of reasons. It's a division game, it's the Cowboys and it's a home game -- that's a trifecta right there for you." Dallas is looking to prevent an 0-2 start both overall and within the division after dropping a 20-19 decision versus the New York Giants on Sunday. "I didn't start where I wanted to start, but you've got to start somewhere," fourth overall pick Ezekiel Elliott said after mustering 51 yards on 20 carries. "All I can do is, I can't worry about how I played the last game, all I can do is focus on getting better every week and going out there and performing this weekend." Elliott and former Redskin Alfred Morris were limited to just 86 yards on 27 combined carries in the opener, but could get be in line to get untracked after DeAngelo Williams whipped Washington for 143 yards and two scores on Monday.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Redskins -2.5 O/U: 45
ABOUT THE COWBOYS (0-1): Rookie Dak Prescott played it close to the vest by throwing for 227 yards without an interception or sack in his debut, with Jason Witten reeling in a team-high nine receptions. The veteran tight end traditionally has been an issue for the Redskins, including 11 catches and a touchdown in last season's series. Cole Beasley added eight receptions - five of which went for first downs - for 65 yards, but the diminutive wideout dropped a potential touchdown pass from Prescott on Dallas' first drive versus New York.
ABOUT THE REDSKINS (0-1): Josh Norman has taken considerable heat this week after Washington elected to keep its prized offseason acquisition away from covering Steelers electric wideout Antonio Brown (eight catches, 126 yards, two TDs). "All this talk about this guy matchups with this guy, who really frickin' cares?" said Norman, who was signed to a five-year, $75 million deal. "Come out with a W and win the game. That's hogwash. That's what people talk about. Of course we want to go up against each other because our competitive egos are through the roof." Speaking of egos, few are bigger than that of Cowboys wideout Dez Bryant, who was limited to one catch in the opener and had that same total when matched up against the then-Carolina Panthers cornerback in a meeting last season.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Washington QB Kirk Cousins threw for 329 yards in the season opener and torched Dallas with three touchdown passes in a 34-23 victory on Jan. 3.
2. Cowboys CB Orlando Scandrick expects to play on Sunday despite being plagued by a strained hamstring in Week 1.
3. The Redskins re-signed veteran DE Cullen Jenkins on Tuesday after releasing him among their final cuts.
Preview: Tampa Bay at Arizona
When: 4:05 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
The Arizona Cardinals were counting on taking a big step forward this season and were not pleased about suffering a tight loss at home in Week 1. The Cardinals attempt to quickly erase the memory of that performance when they host the rising Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
Arizona coach Bruce Arians was critical of several members of his team and specific units after a 23-21 loss to a depleted New England squad that was missing Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. "You have to come for 60 minutes against whoever you play, or you’re not going to come out victorious," veteran wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald told reporters after the setback. "It’s that simple. But it’s Week 1. We have 15 regular-season games to go. We’ve got to stay with the process. It’s a recipe that’s proven for success." The Buccaneers had lower preseason expectations than the Cardinals but are adjusting the outlook up after a win over Atlanta and a dynamic performance from second-year quarterback Jameis Winston in Week 1. First-year coach Dirk Koetter, who served as offensive coordinator in Winston's 2015 rookie campaign, is allowing his young quarterback more freedom in the offense.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Cardinals -6.5. O/U: 50
ABOUT THE BUCCANEERS (1-0): Winston was named the NFC's Offensive Player of the Week for his 281-yard, four-TD performance in the opener, after which he credited Koetter for pressing with a no-huddle offense and allowing the players to make plays. "That guy, he has a unique ability to make (plays),'' Koetter told reporters. "He's going to make some plays you don't expect him to make, he's going to miss some plays that I'm going, 'Jameis, you've got to make that play.' And he's the same all the time. He's focused on winning, he's focusing on leading our team and he's tough as nails.'' It helps that Winston also has plenty of weapons with which to work, and he threw his four TD passes to four different receivers in Week 1.
ABOUT THE CARDINALS (0-1): Carson Palmer's cache of weapons was not as impressive in Week 1, and the wide receivers were singled out by Arians. "The communication is sometimes, 'I've got my guy beat. I'm supposed to run a short route, but I beat him, so I throw my hand up and I get in somebody else's reception area because he's throwing it to somebody else,'" Arians told reporters of the receiving corps, other than Fitzgerald. "Just little things like that." The Cardinals missed a 47-yard field-goal attempt at the end of regulation that would have won the game due in part to a low snap but will stick with rookie long snapper Kameron Canaday moving forward.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Cardinals DT Frostee Rucker suffered an MCL injury in Week 1 and will miss the next 2-3 weeks.
2. Tampa Bay signed veteran RB Jacquizz Rodgers to a one-year contract.
3. Arizona claimed CB Tharold Simon off waivers from Seattle and waived LB Lamar Louis.
When: 4:05 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
The Arizona Cardinals were counting on taking a big step forward this season and were not pleased about suffering a tight loss at home in Week 1. The Cardinals attempt to quickly erase the memory of that performance when they host the rising Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
Arizona coach Bruce Arians was critical of several members of his team and specific units after a 23-21 loss to a depleted New England squad that was missing Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. "You have to come for 60 minutes against whoever you play, or you’re not going to come out victorious," veteran wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald told reporters after the setback. "It’s that simple. But it’s Week 1. We have 15 regular-season games to go. We’ve got to stay with the process. It’s a recipe that’s proven for success." The Buccaneers had lower preseason expectations than the Cardinals but are adjusting the outlook up after a win over Atlanta and a dynamic performance from second-year quarterback Jameis Winston in Week 1. First-year coach Dirk Koetter, who served as offensive coordinator in Winston's 2015 rookie campaign, is allowing his young quarterback more freedom in the offense.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Cardinals -6.5. O/U: 50
ABOUT THE BUCCANEERS (1-0): Winston was named the NFC's Offensive Player of the Week for his 281-yard, four-TD performance in the opener, after which he credited Koetter for pressing with a no-huddle offense and allowing the players to make plays. "That guy, he has a unique ability to make (plays),'' Koetter told reporters. "He's going to make some plays you don't expect him to make, he's going to miss some plays that I'm going, 'Jameis, you've got to make that play.' And he's the same all the time. He's focused on winning, he's focusing on leading our team and he's tough as nails.'' It helps that Winston also has plenty of weapons with which to work, and he threw his four TD passes to four different receivers in Week 1.
ABOUT THE CARDINALS (0-1): Carson Palmer's cache of weapons was not as impressive in Week 1, and the wide receivers were singled out by Arians. "The communication is sometimes, 'I've got my guy beat. I'm supposed to run a short route, but I beat him, so I throw my hand up and I get in somebody else's reception area because he's throwing it to somebody else,'" Arians told reporters of the receiving corps, other than Fitzgerald. "Just little things like that." The Cardinals missed a 47-yard field-goal attempt at the end of regulation that would have won the game due in part to a low snap but will stick with rookie long snapper Kameron Canaday moving forward.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Cardinals DT Frostee Rucker suffered an MCL injury in Week 1 and will miss the next 2-3 weeks.
2. Tampa Bay signed veteran RB Jacquizz Rodgers to a one-year contract.
3. Arizona claimed CB Tharold Simon off waivers from Seattle and waived LB Lamar Louis.
Preview: Seattle at Los Angeles
When: 4:05 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
Returning to the city where splashy Hollywood premieres are a staple, the Los Angeles Rams have a tall task in front of them following a spectacular flop in their season debut. The Rams, who relocated from St. Louis in the offseason, will play their first home game in Los Angeles since 1994 when they host the NFC West rival Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
Los Angeles turned in an embarrassing offensive performance on Monday Night Football, managing 185 yards of total offense while getting blanked by the San Francisco 49ers 28-0. "That wasn't what we expected, certainly not what I expected for the first game back in L.A.," said Rams coach Jeff Fisher, who received a three-year contract extension on Thursday. "We have some work to do obviously." Seattle also had its struggles on the offensive side of the ball, but quarterback Russell Wilson drove the team 75 yards for the winning touchdown pass with 31 seconds to play in a win over Miami. The Seahawks finished three games ahead of the Rams a year ago, but lost both regular-season matchups -- 34-31 at St. Louis in overtime in Week 1 and 23-17 at home in Week 16.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Seahawks -7. O/U: 38
ABOUT THE SEAHAWKS (1-0): Seattle had concerns over the health of Wilson, who reportedly suffered a fairly significant ankle injury in Week 1 but pronounced himself good to go. "They (the medical staff) are kind of shocked that it's doing this well, really not any swelling at all or anything like that because I got on it right away and have been hammering it right away," said Wilson, who threw for 258 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Christine Michael rushed for a team-high 66 yards against the Dolphins, but Thomas Rawls will start Sunday after rushing for 32 yards on 12 carries. Doug Baldwin, who scored a career-high 14 touchdowns last season, had nine catches for 92 yards and a score while Seattle's defense held Miami to 11 first downs and 214 total yards.
ABOUT THE RAMS (0-1): With No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff watching from the sideline in street clothes, Case Keenum threw for 130 yards and a pair of interceptions as Los Angeles punted 10 times and had two turnovers on its first 12 possessions. "It's not something that I'll go out and think about, but this team deserves better plays from its quarterback and I intend on doing that," Keenum said. Meanwhile, star running back Todd Gurley managed only 47 yards on 17 carries for Los Angeles, which ranked dead last in the league last season with an average of 175.3 yards passing per game. Gurley missed the season opener a year ago but rushed for 83 yards and a score at Seattle.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Wilson has thrown a touchdown pass in 17 straight games.
2. Rams DT Aaron Donald, who was ejected in Week 1, has four sacks in four games versus Seattle.
3. Baldwin has had at least seven receptions in his last three games versus the Rams.
When: 4:05 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
Returning to the city where splashy Hollywood premieres are a staple, the Los Angeles Rams have a tall task in front of them following a spectacular flop in their season debut. The Rams, who relocated from St. Louis in the offseason, will play their first home game in Los Angeles since 1994 when they host the NFC West rival Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
Los Angeles turned in an embarrassing offensive performance on Monday Night Football, managing 185 yards of total offense while getting blanked by the San Francisco 49ers 28-0. "That wasn't what we expected, certainly not what I expected for the first game back in L.A.," said Rams coach Jeff Fisher, who received a three-year contract extension on Thursday. "We have some work to do obviously." Seattle also had its struggles on the offensive side of the ball, but quarterback Russell Wilson drove the team 75 yards for the winning touchdown pass with 31 seconds to play in a win over Miami. The Seahawks finished three games ahead of the Rams a year ago, but lost both regular-season matchups -- 34-31 at St. Louis in overtime in Week 1 and 23-17 at home in Week 16.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Seahawks -7. O/U: 38
ABOUT THE SEAHAWKS (1-0): Seattle had concerns over the health of Wilson, who reportedly suffered a fairly significant ankle injury in Week 1 but pronounced himself good to go. "They (the medical staff) are kind of shocked that it's doing this well, really not any swelling at all or anything like that because I got on it right away and have been hammering it right away," said Wilson, who threw for 258 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Christine Michael rushed for a team-high 66 yards against the Dolphins, but Thomas Rawls will start Sunday after rushing for 32 yards on 12 carries. Doug Baldwin, who scored a career-high 14 touchdowns last season, had nine catches for 92 yards and a score while Seattle's defense held Miami to 11 first downs and 214 total yards.
ABOUT THE RAMS (0-1): With No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff watching from the sideline in street clothes, Case Keenum threw for 130 yards and a pair of interceptions as Los Angeles punted 10 times and had two turnovers on its first 12 possessions. "It's not something that I'll go out and think about, but this team deserves better plays from its quarterback and I intend on doing that," Keenum said. Meanwhile, star running back Todd Gurley managed only 47 yards on 17 carries for Los Angeles, which ranked dead last in the league last season with an average of 175.3 yards passing per game. Gurley missed the season opener a year ago but rushed for 83 yards and a score at Seattle.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Wilson has thrown a touchdown pass in 17 straight games.
2. Rams DT Aaron Donald, who was ejected in Week 1, has four sacks in four games versus Seattle.
3. Baldwin has had at least seven receptions in his last three games versus the Rams.
Preview: Indianapolis at Denver
When: 4:25 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: Sports Authority Field, Denver, Colorado
The battle of Peyton Manning's former teams will take place on Sunday, when the defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos host the Indianapolis Colts. Both teams feature quarterbacks that replaced Manning, though the Colts' Andrew Luck has had a little more time to escape the long shadow of the future Hall-of-Famer.
Luck never seemed to have trouble getting over the mental hurdle of replacing Manning and will need to just-as-smoothly overcome the idea of facing a Broncos' pass rush that hit him so hard in a Week 9 loss last season, it resulted in a lacerated kidney. Denver's pass rush was in the spotlight again after a 21-20 win over Carolina on opening night that left Cam Newton on the ground after several hard hits and caused the NFL to hand out fines to safety Darian Stewart and linebacker Brandon Marshall. "I'd say they play hard and like any good defense, any good offense," Luck told reporters of the Broncos. "Like any good football team, you want to toe that line of aggression. They are certainly a tough, physical defense. Sometimes you get hit in the head, a flag comes out or it doesn't come out. I don't worry too much about it." Luck was sacked twice by Detroit on Sunday but threw four touchdown passes in the 39-35 loss.
TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Broncos -6. O/U: 46
ABOUT THE COLTS (0-1): Indianapolis suffered a crushing defeat in Week 1, grabbing a 35-34 lead on Luck's TD pass to Jack Doyle with 37 seconds left, only to watch the Lions march down the field and kick a go-ahead field goal with four seconds to play before closing it out with a safety. The Colts have a lengthy list of injuries on defense but are not using that as an excuse. "We always talk about how this is an offensive team," safety Mike Adams told ESPN.com. "As a defense, we were saying, 'Let's take that out of their hands. Let us be a defensive team.' We failed. There's no panic, believe it."
ABOUT THE BRONCOS (1-0): Trevor Siemian beat out Mark Sanchez in training camp for the right to replace Manning and was solid in Week 1 with 178 passing yards and a touchdown while guiding the team back from a 10-point halftime deficit. "The thing I think I'm most impressed with is just watching him operate the group, first time out, first start in the NFL,’’ Broncos coach Gary Kubiak told reporters. “We didn't have to waste a timeout; we didn't get a call wrong. He handled the operation really well. ... So, I think his poise was a big step in the right direction." Siemian got plenty of help from running back C.J. Anderson, who rushed for a TD and hauled in a scoring pass.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas is questionable due to a hip injury.
2. Colts CB Vontae Davis (ankle), S T.J. Green (knee) and CB Patrick Robinson (concussion) did not participate in practice on Wednesday and are week-to-week.
3. Indianapolis CB Darius Butler (ankle) and DT Henry Anderson (knee), both of whom sat out Week 1, practiced on Wednesday.
When: 4:25 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2016
Where: Sports Authority Field, Denver, Colorado
The battle of Peyton Manning's former teams will take place on Sunday, when the defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos host the Indianapolis Colts. Both teams feature quarterbacks that replaced Manning, though the Colts' Andrew Luck has had a little more time to escape the long shadow of the future Hall-of-Famer.
Luck never seemed to have trouble getting over the mental hurdle of replacing Manning and will need to just-as-smoothly overcome the idea of facing a Broncos' pass rush that hit him so hard in a Week 9 loss last season, it resulted in a lacerated kidney. Denver's pass rush was in the spotlight again after a 21-20 win over Carolina on opening night that left Cam Newton on the ground after several hard hits and caused the NFL to hand out fines to safety Darian Stewart and linebacker Brandon Marshall. "I'd say they play hard and like any good defense, any good offense," Luck told reporters of the Broncos. "Like any good football team, you want to toe that line of aggression. They are certainly a tough, physical defense. Sometimes you get hit in the head, a flag comes out or it doesn't come out. I don't worry too much about it." Luck was sacked twice by Detroit on Sunday but threw four touchdown passes in the 39-35 loss.
TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Broncos -6. O/U: 46
ABOUT THE COLTS (0-1): Indianapolis suffered a crushing defeat in Week 1, grabbing a 35-34 lead on Luck's TD pass to Jack Doyle with 37 seconds left, only to watch the Lions march down the field and kick a go-ahead field goal with four seconds to play before closing it out with a safety. The Colts have a lengthy list of injuries on defense but are not using that as an excuse. "We always talk about how this is an offensive team," safety Mike Adams told ESPN.com. "As a defense, we were saying, 'Let's take that out of their hands. Let us be a defensive team.' We failed. There's no panic, believe it."
ABOUT THE BRONCOS (1-0): Trevor Siemian beat out Mark Sanchez in training camp for the right to replace Manning and was solid in Week 1 with 178 passing yards and a touchdown while guiding the team back from a 10-point halftime deficit. "The thing I think I'm most impressed with is just watching him operate the group, first time out, first start in the NFL,’’ Broncos coach Gary Kubiak told reporters. “We didn't have to waste a timeout; we didn't get a call wrong. He handled the operation really well. ... So, I think his poise was a big step in the right direction." Siemian got plenty of help from running back C.J. Anderson, who rushed for a TD and hauled in a scoring pass.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas is questionable due to a hip injury.
2. Colts CB Vontae Davis (ankle), S T.J. Green (knee) and CB Patrick Robinson (concussion) did not participate in practice on Wednesday and are week-to-week.
3. Indianapolis CB Darius Butler (ankle) and DT Henry Anderson (knee), both of whom sat out Week 1, practiced on Wednesday.
