How to buy Buffalo Bills vs. Arizona Cardinals 2024 NFL Week 1 tickets Nick Wojton The start of the Buffalo Bills’ regular season is just a few days away. The Bills and Arizona Cardinals will kickoff their respective seasons with a Week-1 matchup in Orchard Park, NY on Sept. 8 2024 at 1 p.m. This Week 1 intra-conference matchup will feature two hyper-mobile quarterbacks in Josh Allen and Kyler Murray. Limited tickets remain for the season opener in Buffalo. SHOP: Buffalo Bills vs. Arizona Cardinals tickets The Bills are the defending AFC East champions, but after another disappointing loss against the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs and an offseason that saw star receiver Stefon Diggs traded away, there is trepidation in Buffalo. Arizona is looking to rise from the cellar to the crowded top of a division that features three teams who finished last season above .500 and the defending NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers. A road win against Buffalo to begin the season would be just what the doctor ordered for Cardinals fans. Will the Bills are Cards start the season with a win? Tickets are available from $135. Shop Bills vs. Cardinals Week 1 tickets We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. Bills Wire operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
How to buy Buffalo Bills vs. Arizona Cardinals 2024 NFL Week 1 tickets
Vikes Views: What is your Prediction for the Vikings Season?
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports This year is very hard to judge for me. I can’t tell if I am optimistic because the pass rushers look improved and CBs might be alright or if I am pessimistic because the DL is weak and Darnold might not magically improve. I usually lean optimistic on my record predictions. I nailed the 13-4 prediction in 2022. I was fairly optimistic last year with my 11-6 Prediction. That might have been spot on if Kirk didn’t go down. I will write my prediction this week, but would love to hear everyone’s thoughts. Let me know what you think in the comments. Reasons for Hope – Improved Pass Rush, Improved CBs, Kevin O’Connell without Kirk Cousins Reasons for Doom – Sam Darnold is who they think he is, Defensive Line, Interior OL, Injuries, Strong Divisional Opponents, Tough Opening Schedule, Early Bye Week 1 – at Giants Week 2 – 49ers Week 3 – Texans Week 4 – at Packers Week 5 – Jets in London Week 6 – Bye Week 7 – Lions Week 8 – at Rams Week 9 – Colts Week 10 – at Jaguars Week 11 – at Titans Week 12 – at Bears Week 13 – Cardinals Week 14 – Falcons Week 15 – Bears Week 16 – at Seahawks Week 17 – Packers Week 18 – at Lions
Everything we learned from Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel during Today’s Press Conference | 9/2
Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images Miami Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel spoke with the media first time since his contract extension as the team prepares for Week 1 vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Miami Dolphins kick off the 2024 NFL Season in six days as the team faces the Jacksonville Jaguars at Hard Rock Stadium. Head Coach Mike McDaniel met with the media briefly to give his thoughts on his recent contract extension, Miami’s 2024 team captains, injury news, a look ahead at the Jaguars, and everything in between. Here’s everything we learned from Mike McDaniel’s 9/2 Press Conference. Mike McDaniel on his new contract extension “Congratulations goes to the organization. There are a lot of people that lift you up to give you an opportunity to be a head coach, but for that program to sustain (success), I see that as each and every person involved. So I see that as an accomplishment for the entire organization.” McDaniel said he had dinner with Ross a few weeks ago to discuss the contract negotiation and finished his steak. He continued: “For me, I haven’t really thought twice about it afterward from the regard of, I guess I’ve had a ton of reasons to approach every day with everything I have, and giving myself to everyone as best I can. I guess this is another reason to be motivated to attack each and every day to your fullest… I probably have some more reasons to do what i’ve been tending to do since i got on grounds here.” McDaniel on Miami’s eight captains and what it meant to those players: “Really good players. I think, off the top of my head, 28 Pro Bowls. BOOM, how about that!? Fast facts. I think you have guys that not only have respect and regard from their teammates, but they’ve earned their stripes from the league… I think the National Football League, the opinions of your peers, and there’s nothing that can have a stronger attachment towards you if you’re a player. It’s as important as the name on the back of your jersey. With our particular unit, I think it was cool to see the amount of conviction the team had for the individuals across the board.” McDaniel on what it meant for David Long to be named a captain: “There were a lot of captain-worthy leaders, and I could tell by how the award winners were received; it meant a great deal because it was a very high honor on this team. “He tried to play it cool in front of all his teammates. I’m convinced he and a couple of other fellow captains probably had an emotional moment behind closed doors. But that’s just me guessing because I know how much this game means to David Long. This was a very cool orchestration to let him know how much regard his teammates hold for him. It was a very cool moment to be a part of.” McDaniel on Jacksonville’s defensive front “How they come off the ball. How they play with consistent technique and fundamentals and their relentless strain… I think that’s pretty obvious from the minimal game tape we’ve watched, but that’s been a paramount part of their D-line. They are a very talented group playing hard together. McDaniel says both Tavon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen are very good players, and the Dolphins have worked this off-season to improve their protection. “It’s a very timely matchup…any time you have speed with depth rushers on the EDGE, they can really expand your pocket. And if you’re not tied together with your launch point or where your blockers are, you can have players get EDGEd pretty quickly & that’s tough… they’re a good group to start with because they’re super talented, and if you’re not on your game, you’ll be exposed. And that’s something you need to be used to in the NFL when protecting the passer because you do not get a week off against #elite pass rushers. McDaniel on Aaron Brewer and Benito Jones: “You’re going to see them participate in practice this week.” He says the Dolphins believe Brewer can play center with the laceration on his hand. McDaniel says he feels good about the starting o-line and the contingencies they have in place if players can’t go… “my crystal ball is broken.” McDaniel says both Waddle and Hill will be practicing today. “No setbacks to relay — as of yet — so they’ll be out on the field today. McDaniel on Chop Robinson’s growth: “We ask a lot from EDGE defenders in our defense. We ask them not only to be a primary importance in the run game, but pass game as well. I think understanding the box you have to play in as a pass-rusher is huge… gone are the days of looping… typically, you have to really tighten that angle because QBs don’t drop back as far, as well as different keys about how to play the game within the game. Different stance keys that diagnose run or pass, situational awareness, all these things, he doesn’t waste a day out on the field. Which is good news for us because he’s talented, and we expect him to contribute… he attacks each practice the way a veteran would where you try to get something out of it and add to the tools of your game.” McDaniel on Jaguars rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas: “Super talented of player that has a unique combination of being a down-the-field third-level receiver that can track & make plays while also having the route-running skills to do the underneath stuff..you see a very talented individual that can take his game as far as he can take it… We will be well aware of where he is on the field because we did a lot of work on him. McDaniel on how the running back room will play out during a game: “Just to give individuals opportunities and to let that shape
Ifeatu Melifonwu’s Week 1 status ‘unsure,’ remaining injured players ‘good’ to go
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images On Monday, Dan Campbell noted the majority of injured Lions players would be “good” to play in Week 1, with only the status of a couple players still up in the air. It’s officially Week 1 of the 2024 NFL regular season and during Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell’s time with the media on Monday, he provided updates on the players dealing with injuries. Fortunately, the news is mostly good, as the majority of injured players are expected to play in this Sunday’s game, with only defensive back Ifeatu Melifonwu’s—and likely defensive tackle DJ Reader’s—status being in flux. Melifonwu is currently dealing with an Achilles injury, and according to Campbell, it’s been something that has been lingering for some time, and the the healing process is “slow moving.” Campbell has previously mentioned that Melifonwu didn’t have a clear recovery timeline established, and the team needed to take its time and deal with things as they come. On Monday, Campbell said the plan was to test Melifonwu out later in the day, but they still are not sure how far along he is in the recovery process. “Yeah, Iffy [Melifonwu] will be the only one right now who’s still not sure, still not sure on him,” Campbell said. “We’re going to try to get him moving around a little bit today and tomorrow and see where he’s at. Everybody else we’re good.” While Campbell said the remaining injured players were good, it’s worth pointing out he was likely not including Reader in this group because Campbell had previously told the media the bulking nose tackle likely wouldn’t be ready until Week 2 — though he did leave the door open just a bit. “I would love to say we’re targeting that (Week 1). We’re just going to take it as it comes,” Campbell said of Reader ahead of cutdowns. “We’d always said, long term, that we were kinda shooting for (Week 2 vs.) Tampa [Bay]. Look, our eyes are open, and we’re going to pay close attention and see how he does, how he feels, and kinda go from there if it’s sooner.” While it’s possible Reader could come back early, it’s worth noting that when discussing the defensive tackle depth for Week 1, Campbell identified Alim McNeill, Levi Onwuzurike, Josh Paschal, and Mekhi Wingo as players they needed to count on this week. This further points to Reader still targeting Week 2 as a potential return to game action. The injured Lions players expected to be ready include starters Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta, Kevin Zeitler, Carlton Davis, and Terrion Arnold, as well as Malcolm Rodriguez and Ennis Rakestraw, all of whom returned to practice over a week ago. The Lions’ official injury report is due out on Wednesday, and we will provide a more detailed update once practice participation levels have been released.
Dan Campbell thankful Aaron Donald is gone, but knows Rams DL filled with youth
Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK Dan Campbell is glad they won’t have to tirelessly game plan for Aaron Donald this week, but knows the Rams young DL will present its own problems. For the first time in a decade, the Los Angeles Rams be without future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald. The eight-time Defensive Player of the Year opted to retire this offseason, leaving a massive hole along the defensive line that, quite simply, cannot be replaced by one man. For Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell, that’s a major relief. Between his time with the Lions and Saints, Campbell has had to help game plan against Donald six total times. And as he explained during his Monday morning press conference, it’s an exhausting job to account for Donald. “You needed to know where he was at, at all times, really on all downs,” Campbell said. “It was a constantly—you were shifting and motioning just for him, and you’re damn near doing it every play.” But the Rams have been proactive in planning for Donald’s exit. Last year they drafted Kobie Turner with a third-round pick, and he rewarded their investment with an impressive 9.0 sacks—most of any NFL rookie in 2023. They doubled down this offseason, drafting edge defender Jared Verse in the first round and defensive tackle Braden Fiske in the second. “It’s nice not to have to necessarily worry about (Donald), but the guys they have over there are young and hungry, high-motor,” Campbell said. “Man, they’ve got an influx of youth that’s pretty damn talented.” Detroit, of course, is relatively well-equipped to handle the Rams’ defensive front. Many expect them to have the best offensive line in football, and even with Donald last year, the Rams struggled to generate pressure in the Wild Card game against the Lions. While Jared Goff did take three sacks, the Rams didn’t do much else to disrupt his day. Goff finished 22-of-27 for 277 yards, a touchdown, and a 121.8 passer rating. Still, every new season presents new surprises. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned from Campbell’s first three seasons, he’s going to have the team ready for the Rams’ young defensive front, even if it’s without Donald.
How much can Giants expect from Adoree’ Jackson vs. Vikings?
Adoree’ Jackson | Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images Jackson uncertain how many snaps he will be able to play in Week 1 Although it took until roughly a week before the beginning of the regular season, cornerback Adoree’ Jackson said Monday “I never thought the door was closed” to return the New York Giants. “No animosity, no feelings, no ill intentions on, I think, on my end,” Jackson said. “And then when I came in and saw everybody, it was like being at a family reunion.” Now that he is back, signing jut days before the regular-season opener against the Minnesota Vikings, how much can the 28-year-old legitimately expect to play on Sunday? Jackson admitted he “might be gassed” if he tried to play a full game. “I wouldn’t put a number of snaps how I can play right now,” he said. “We’re going to see this week, getting ramped up and working on my condition and seeing what I need.” Jackson said he has always focused on being prepared to play Week 1. “I know football shape is going to be a lot different from what I’ve been doing,” Jackson said. “But I always kept my mind set, focused on being ready to go Week 1.” Daboll wasn’t certain how much Jackson would be able to play Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. Head coach Brian Daboll admitted Monday he wasn’t certain what to expect from Jackson right away. “We’ve got to get him out here and ramp him up and see where he’s at,” Daboll said. “We’ll take it day by day, see where he’s at and how much to play him, how much not to play him. “By the end of the week, we’ll determine what we’re going to do relative to roster, play time, all those type of things,” Daboll said. “You try to make it as competitive as you can make it. And we’ll play the guys we think give us the best chance.” Jackson said having been coached previously by Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen will help him make up for lost time. “Being able to know Shane and some of the things that he did when I was in Tennessee with him, understanding some of the verbiage may have changed, but easy for me to wire my mind onto how to compartmentalize what these defenses may be and some of the calls, so I think that’s helpful,” Jackson said. Cor’Dale Flott and Nick McCloud had been competing for the starting cornerback opposite Tae Banks that had been Jackson’s last season. In the end, the Giants decided to go back to Jackson. “Like we’ve always said, we’ll try to improve the team any way we can,” Daboll said. “Obviously, we’ve had a relationship with Adoree’. Shane has had a relationship with Adoree’. “He looked good in the workout and got something done. So, happy to have him aboard.” Jackson admitted that “I didn’t play to my best” last season. Daboll did say Jackson could “potentially” return punts if Gunner Olszewski (ankle) is not healthy enough. “Whatever may be needed,” Jackson said. “Any way to help this team.” Jackson will not wear the No. 22 he had his first three seasons, with rookie Dru Phillips now in that jersey. “Actually, it’s funny. Dru had asked me, did I want it back?,” Jackson said. “And I’m like, nah, you can keep it. I saw him making some plays in it. So I’m like, you got it. You look good in it.” Roster move The Giants announced a roster move on Monday, signing veteran FB/TE Jakob Johnson to the practice squad and released wide receiver Miles Boykin.
The 2024 Eagles have to get their mojo back
Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images The Eagles’ Camp Wonderland broke last week emitting stirring, and amazing tales of how good Jalen Hurts looked, and how the defense will be tighter under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, and how the offense will hum under new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, and how no opposing defense stands a chance to stop the Eagles’ explosive offense. The Eagles actually should be good this season, among the best teams in the NFC, behind the defending NFC champion San Francisco 49ers, and NFC North powerhouses Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers. The one glaring problem still facing this team, aside from a dubious pass rush, is finding the intimidating quality they had for the last few years. That needs to be reestablished. Late last season, opposing teams were more wary of the Eagles’ frothing, fervent fanbase than they were the talent—and the attitude—on the field. Guess what, not much has changed, aside from the additions of Fangio and Moore off the field, and the glaring departures of future Eagle Hall of Famers Fletcher Cox and Jason Kelce on the field. The 2024 Eagles are a team that will need to separate itself from the 2023 team “that quit” last season. There is no other way around it, when faced with adversity, the coaching staff shriveled up, with head coach Nick Sirianni being partly to blame, as did the players themselves. They quit. The eye test blatantly showed that. Players were literally running into each other. Wasted timeouts came because the right personnel were not on the field. You had players holding their hands up in bewilderment questioning what to do on national TV. The cumulative record of the six teams the Eagles played in their 1-6 fall was 52-50 (which includes playing the New York Giants twice). Their 1-6 downfall marked a span in which they were outscored 214-132 (by an average of 11.7 points per game), while getting outgained 2,729 to 2,293, giving up an average of 389.8 yards a game and outgained by an average of 62.2 yards a game. The Eagles had the worst defense in the NFL the final month of last season. The defense gave up the second-highest amount of passing touchdowns in the NFL, only behind Washington (39 to the Eagles’ 35). For the season, the Eagles were 30th in the NFL in opponent red zone scoring percentage (TDs only) at 66.1%, and were No. 31 in passing defense, allowing an average of 252.7 yards a game. They were 30th in scoring defense (25.2) and allowed 51 touchdowns, the third-highest total in the NFL, behind only Washington (59) and Arizona (54). For a team that landed 11-7 overall, the Eagles became only the fourth double-digit winning team in NFL history to finish with a minus-point differential, at minus-18 (442/460) overall behind of the 2021 Las Vegas Raiders, who finished 10-8 with a minus-72 point differential (393/465), and the minus-34 difference posted by the 2023 Pittsburgh Steelers (321/355) that went 10-8. The Eagles finished ahead of the minus-10 differential by the 13-5 Minnesota Vikings (448/458) in 2022. Enough with the rehash. Were the 10-1 version of the 2023 Eagles more lucky than good? Can Cam Jurgens replace future NFL Hall of Famer Kelce this season? Did the Eagles take a large risk in basically replacing Haason Reddick, who along with Myles Garrett are the only two players with double-digit sacks in each of the last four seasons, with free agent Bryce Huff, who will be playing every down for the first time in his pro career? Left tackle Jordan Mailata, right tackle Lane Johnson and left guard Landon Dickerson are proven quality NFL linemen—the backbone of this team. Can Jurgens and frequently injured new right guard Mekhi Becton, a New York Jets’ castoff, uphold the Eagles’ stability on the offensive line for a whole season? There is only so much Jeff Stoutland can do. Defensively, Cox was the hammer opposing teams had to game plan for. Can Jalen Carter serve that role? Will he be good enough to play an entire season at a high level (we think he will), though how much help will he get from the make-or-break year former first-rounder Jordan Davis faces this fall? The Eagles have the best collection of offensive skill position players in their history. No past group comes close to Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, Dallas Goedert, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Who protects Hurts? Where do the holes develop for Barkley with Kelce not calling the line adjustments? The scary part is like last year, this team is built more to outscore the opposition than to stop it. It is a team in need of an attitude overhaul. That will have to come from Sirianni. For all the kumbayas that sprouted during the Eagles’ Camp Wonderland this summer, the 2024 Eagles need to make former Dallas Cowboys’ great and NFL Hall of Famer Troy Aikman recant the words he uttered with 10:44 left to play in their 32-9 playoff loss to Tampa Bay, when he told the nation that the Eagles were a … “a defeated team and they were when they came in. And there’s been no life to this group really throughout the entire ball game.” Being labeled “quitters” is a grime that does not easily rinse off. The 2024 Eagles have to get their mojo back.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73558898/2167821049.0.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1 "The Linc – List of NFL bold predictions includes one for Saquon Barkley")
The Linc – List of NFL bold predictions includes one for Saquon Barkley
Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links … Bold predictions for all 32 NFL teams in 2024 – PFFPhiladelphia Eagles: SAQUON BARKLEY LEADS THE LEAGUE IN RUSHING. Newly acquired running back Saquon Barkley‘s current career high for rushing yards in a single season is 1,312, which we saw him amass back in 2022. Now playing behind the Eagles’ offensive line, I not only expect him to have his best season yet but I am predicting he will lead the league in rushing. Christian McCaffrey led the league in 2023 with 1,459, which is realistic for Barkley to eclipse if he can stay healthy. Philadelphia’s offensive line has earned PFF overall grades above 80.0 in each of the past three seasons. Ten bold NFL 2024 season predictions: Packers win NFC North, but Caleb Williams for MVP? – The Athletic Eagles rebound and contend for NFC supremacy. After an impressive 2022 campaign and painful loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII, the Philadelphia Eagles never managed to recapture the magic in 2023. They opened the year 10-1, but things never felt quite right. Late in the season, Nick Sirianni’s squad collapsed. Those shortcomings have lit a fire under the Eagles’ young core players on both sides of the ball. The offseason hiring of Kellen Moore as offensive coordinator, plus the free-agent signing of former New York Giants rival Saquon Barkley, will help quarterback Jalen Hurts and his unit rebound in impressive fashion. Meanwhile, new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio should have a similar impact on a unit anchored by talented young linemen Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter and rookie defensive backs Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. The Birds will reclaim their perch atop the NFC East and return to Super Bowl contention. NFL team previews 2024: Predictions, rankings, depth charts – ESPN+ Bold prediction for 2024: Jalen Carter will record 10-plus sacks, which is well beyond what my sack projections say. Last season the top three defensive tackles in “pass rush get off” — the time to cross the line of scrimmage when pass rushing — were Chris Jones, Carter and Aaron Donald, in that order. Carter has elite potential. Vic Fangio Defense 101: Part 4 – Runs Fits and Pressure Looks – BGN Fangio’s most common ‘blitz’ is known as a fire zone. There are many different ways of running a fire zone blitz, but the ‘standard fire zone’ will have three deep and three under coverage. This means three defenders are responsible for a deep 1⁄3 and three defenders are responsible for an underneath 1⁄3. Here’s a nice diagram from Shawn Syed. You can see that although it’s three deep, the safety may carry a receiver vertically because of the match rules. Remember, four verticals should never outnumber Fangio’s 3 deep defenders. Eagles vs. Packers: Five matchups to watch – PhillyVoice 5) Jalen Hurts (and Kellen Moore) vs. Packers DC Jeff Hafley. In the Eagles’ regular season finale last season the Eagles faced Wink Martindale and the horrid New York Giants, and there was no mystery to what the Giants were going to try to do to the Eagles defensively. They were going to blitz Jalen Hurts, early and often. The Eagles were wholly unprepared for it, as Hurts looked to extend plays by running out of the pocket and away from blitzes, trying to buy time for vertical routes to develop down the field before eventually throwing the ball away. As usual, there were no hot routes or other mechanisms to allow Hurts to beat the blitz by getting the ball out quickly. Against Todd Bowles and the Bucs in the playoffs, once again it was crystal clear that the Eagles were going to see a lot of blitzes, and sure enough, they did, with similarly bad results. A week ago, The Athletic’s Mike Sando published his yearly (excellent) “QB Tiers” article, and unsurprisingly Hurts’ ability to handle the blitz was broached. ”The word is out there, if you run zero blitz against Hurts, or show zero and back everyone out, he will panic,” one coach said. “That has to change. They lose Jason Kelce, who handled the protections, basically did everything, and you bring in a coordinator who likes to drop back. It will be interesting.” As noted above, the Packers’ defensive coordinator last year was Joe Barry. He was replaced this offseason by Jeff Hafley, formerly the head coach at Boston College. Hafley has a reputation for employing an exotic blitz package, though he doesn’t necessarily blitz in bulk. Heading into 2024, guess what! Defensive coordinators are going to blitz Hurts and the Eagles’ offense until they prove that they can consistently beat it, and that’ll very likely begin Week 1 against the Packers. ‘Brains and preparation’: How Kellen Moore’s teaching talent can galvanize the Eagles offense and Jalen Hurts – Inquirer The offensive coordinator excels at keeping the elements of the offense “simple without being simplistic,” Covey explained. In the big picture, the plays are still intricate, but Moore boils the read progression down to something of a hypothesis. If the defense is showing a particular coverage or pressure look, then the offense narrows in on its precise answer and eliminates the other options. “It’s like letting Jalen [Hurts] have an easy pattern of thought, easier reads, still complicated plays and stuff, but you simplify the read progression,” Covey said. “If they do this thing, you cancel out every other thought, because you know exactly what we’re gonna do. “Even as a receiver, you have a read progression. OK, if I see this guy here, I know exactly what they’re doing. If he’s not, then this.” Moore has labeled each play with the read progression. This helps the receivers with their timing and allows them to understand where the ball is likely going depending on the coverage. By doing this, Covey said that Moore is putting an emphasis on ensuring that the quarterback and the receivers are on
Rams introduced three major questions a week before regular season
Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images An optimistic and pessimistic take on the major Rams storylines ahead of Week 1 Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams uncharacteristically made headlines and introduced three major questions just one week before they open the regular season against the Detroit Lions. First, LA traded former team captain and starting linebacker Ernest Jones to the Tennessee Titans in what amounted to a mid-round draft pick swap. The Rams didn’t make that move out of motivation to accumulate draft capital—they wanted to dump Jones now. Then, there were two interesting takeaways later in the week when McVay met with reporters: Steve Avila will move back to left guard and abandon his transition to center, and Kyren Williams will be the team’s primary punt returner to start the year. Now, five weeks from now if the Rams are faring well we’ll never look back and reflect on these questions. But if LA is slow out of the gates and has a disappointing start to the season, there’s a good chance we’ll come back to these questions as a starting point of where things initially went wrong. Time will tell whether these moves were ill-fated or smart in the long run. For now, I’ll offer an optimistic and pessimistic take for each of these major storylines. Steve Avila moves back to LG; Jonah Jackson takes over at center Optimistic take: Beaux Limmer’s preseason breakout was strong enough that he pushed for first-string reps at center. Avila, as a result, cross-trained at his former position of left guard and was visibly more effective there than he was at center. Jackson recovered from injury in time to prepare before the opener, but based on his free agent contract he has to be among the five starting linemen. Pessimistic take: While there’s no fair way to measure it, we can only read between the lines and assume that Avila had a poor training camp while moving inside to center. Jackson recovering from his injury just a couple of weeks before the opener didn’t leave the team much time to experiment with alternatives, so they had to commit to him as the starter now in order to develop sufficient chemistry along the OL by the time the season starts. Proposed move to center significantly lowers Jonah Jackson’s value https://t.co/UAjfdDrL6J pic.twitter.com/zPeo3qWbDZ — TurfShowTimes (@TurfShowTimes) September 1, 2024 Ernest Jones traded to the Titans Optimistic take: Jones was a flawed linebacker, but then again there are only a couple of linebackers in the current NFL that don’t have significant holes in their game: Fred Warner and Roquan Smith round out that short list. The Rams knew Jones wasn’t at Warner and Smith’s level despite Jones asking for a contract that paid him in the same realm, and ultimately their partnership was unlikely to extend beyond 2024. The team may be able to offset Jones’ absence with some combination of extra safeties, Christian Rozeboom, Jake Hummel, Troy Reeder, and Omar Speights. Pessimistic take: Jones’ contract demands ended up in a rare lose-lose situation where the Rams were concerned about his frustrations bleeding into the locker room and possibly setting difficult precedence for the future. While it seems like a fair idea to let a player finish out the last year of his contract and move on in the offseason, that may be easier said than done. Kyren Williams named LA’s punt returner “Mostly it was Coach McVay’s decision…it was something that he came to me about early on about in training camp…it’s the Coach’s decision…”@RamsNFL RB #KyrenWilliams on the announcement that he’ll be returning punts this season.#NFL #Rams @Kyrenwilliams23 pic.twitter.com/hE6VaAYPoc — Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) August 30, 2024 Optimistic take: The Rams know the more that Williams has the ball in his hands, the better off the team is. We saw Cooper Kupp returning punts during the prime of his career, and Los Angeles isn’t known to invest in special teams positions. Williams is probably being asked to fair catch and field the ball cleanly unless he sees an opening, so the physical toll he’ll take in this expanded role could be minimal. Pessimistic take: We can’t lose sight of Williams’ 2023 breakout being a surprise. Coming out of Notre Dame, draft analysts had concerns about the back’s athleticism and long speed. Perhaps a strong campaign last year was more attributable to a strong offensive line than a breakout individual performance by Williams. The addition of Blake Corum looms large, especially considering Corum was selected two rounds earlier, has better college pedigree, and a strong athletic profile. Could Williams taking over as the punt returner be an effort by the Rams to keep him involved because his role could be diminished in 2024?
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Top Ravens vs Chiefs Betting Sites Caesars Sportsbook 🏈 $1,000 First Bet on Caesars BetMGM 🏈 Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets Back if Your First Bet Loses Fanatics Sportsbook 🏈 Bet & Get up to $1,000 in Bonus Bets bet365 🏈 First-Bet Safety Net up to $1,000 or Bet $5, Get $200 In Bonus Bets ESPN BET 🏈 $1,000 First-Bet Reset DraftKings 🏈 Bet $5, Get $250 In Bonus Bets Instantly FanDuel 🏈 Bet $5 Get $200 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose Best Ravens vs Chiefs Betting Promos: Caesars Sportsbook You can make a first bet up to $1,000 on Caesars when you sign up with the Caesars Sportsbook promo code SBWIRE1000. New customers who make a minimum deposit of $10 and make a qualifying first bet within their first 30 days of membership will get the amount of their first wager up to $1,000 returned to them in the form of a bonus bet, if that first bet loses. That bonus bet is good for 14 days and there are no odds restrictions when using the bonus bet. Best Ravens vs Chiefs Betting Promos: BetMGM First-time users can sign up with the BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE to receive a first-bet offer that pays back a losing first bet up to $1,500 with matching bonus bets. If your first bet is from $50 to $1,500, you will receive five bonus bets, each at 20% of your wager; if it is $49 or less, you will receive a single bonus bet equal to the amount of your original wager. You’ll have up to seven days to play the bonus bets. Best Ravens vs Chiefs Betting Promos: Fanatics Sportsbook The Fanatics Sportsbook promo unlocks a unique offer that awards new users with up to $1,000 in bonus bets – up to $100 a day for each of your first 10 days after signing up with Fanatics Sportsbook. Just make a qualifying wager (your first bet of the day at odds of -200 or better) of up to $100 each day and you will receive a matching bonus bet, regardless of the outcome of your bet. Bonus bets expire in seven days. Best Ravens vs Chiefs Betting Promos: bet365 The bet365 bonus code SBKWIRE lets new bettors choose between two welcome offers: Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets or First Bet Safety Net up to $1,000. The bet-&-get deal gives you $200 in bonus bets as soon as you make a first bet of $5 or more – regardless of the outcome of that bet. The safety net pays back a losing first bet with up to $1,000 in five matching bonus bets, each at 20% of your opening wager. Best Ravens vs Chiefs Betting Promos: FanDuel The FanDuel promo code gives new users $200 in bonus bets if they sign up, make a minimum first deposit of $5 and make a $5 moneyline wager on any market on the FanDuel app. Users will receive their $200 in bonus bets within 72 hours after their initial wager settles – win or lose. These bonus bets can be broken up any way you like – you can make a single $200 bet, 40 $5 bets or anything else. And you’ll have 7 days to use them. Best Ravens vs Chiefs Betting Promos: DraftKings The DraftKings promo code provides new users with $250 in bonus bets instantly after they register for a new account, make a minimum deposit of $5 and then a first wager of $5 or more. You’ll score 10 $25 bonus bets regardless of the outcome of your first bet. You will have seven days to play the 20 bonus bets before they expire. Ravens vs Chiefs Odds & Betting Preview The Ravens are looking to return to the big game for the first time in 12 seasons. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is coming off his second MVP season, but another playoff disappointment. With the addition of running back Derrick Henry and a healthy group of receivers, the Ravens remain one of the top teams in the league. NFL odds for the NFL Kickoff game between the Chiefs and Ravens include standard spread, moneyline and totals odds as well as NFL prop bets and NFL parlays. Kansas City continues to have one of the top offenses in the NFL behind All-Pro quarterback Patrick Mahomes and superstar tight end Travis Kelce. The Chiefs have won three Super Bowls in the past five years and advanced as far as the AFC Championship games six consecutive years.
