The ‘Harbowl’ is upon us, with the Ravens (7-4) heading back to Los Angeles for a second straight year to face the resurgent Chargers (8-3). It’ll be the first meeting between the brothers since the 2013 Super Bowl, in which the Ravens won 34-31. With the Week 12 slate of games set to begin in just hours, here’s your TV watch guide via 506 Sports.
NFL TV broadcast map for Week 12 slate of games
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73738567/2185273499.0.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1 "Minnesota Vikings News and Links: Time To Go Bear Hunting!")
Minnesota Vikings News and Links: Time To Go Bear Hunting!
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images Should be a good game this week. I am hoping that the offense is even more efficient and that the defense is able to contain Caleb Williams when he scrambles. I think the team should be able to take care of business. What do you think? Minnesota Vikings News and Links Vikings at Bears Week 12 Game Preview 1. Facing No. 1 overall pick Let’s play two truths and a lie. Caleb Williams has been sacked on an opponent’s blitz 18 times in 2024. Williams leads first-year quarterbacks in touchdown passes. Williams is responsible for 73.3% of Chicago’s total yards, the third-highest share by a rookie in NFL history. The middle statement is false. Denver’s Bo Nix (14 touchdown passes) and Washington’s Jayden Daniels (10) rank ahead of Williams (9), who’s 23rd in the NFL, and tied with No. 3 pick Drake Maye. (Note: Maye has made four fewer starts). In 10 games, Williams has clipped 61.8% of his throws for 2,016 yards and rushed 49 times for 306. He recently produced the strangest stat: Williams is the first quarterback per Elias with 20-plus attempts, without a touchdown or interception in four straight contests. His last TD pass was Oct. 13, before the Bears went on bye in Week 7. Nevertheless, Williams’ skill set makes him a threat to move the chains on any down. Three areas where the Minnesota Vikings must improve to keep winning We know the Vikings are capable of playing with the Lions; their narrow missed opportunity in a 31-29 home loss a month ago is ample evidence of that. This Vikings team is pretty clearly better than the 2022 team that was also 8-2 at this juncture. But if they’re going to have any shot at surpassing Detroit in the NFC North or making a run in the playoffs in a couple months, they’ll have to play a lot better than they have lately. “I know that it would probably be really fun for us to just steamroll the NFL every single week,” Kevin O’Connell said on Sunday. “It’s just not the way it’s gonna go, which also provides a lot of opportunity to grow and get better … and just constantly chase that progression, knowing that we’re a good football team. Through 10 games, we’ve won eight of ‘em. We’ve got the right mindset. But I do believe, hopefully our best football is ahead of us.” 1. Running the football The Vikings really struggled to run the ball effectively in O’Connell’s first two seasons as head coach. It was easy to point to Dalvin Cook in 2022 and Alexander Mattison in 2023 and say they needed better play at the running back position, which is why they were so excited about going out and getting Aaron Jones this offseason. But despite having some success earlier this year, that operation hasn’t been particularly smooth in recent weeks. 2. Giving up chunks to opposing passing games The Vikings’ defense has been absolutely incredible this season. There’s really no other way to put it. They lead the league in defensive DVOA and opponent EPA per play, they’re fourth in scoring defense, they’re tied for the league lead in takeaways, and they’re tied for third in sacks. Brian Flores’ group had five more sacks and a game-sealing interception against the Titans, and Minnesota has given up just 26 total points on defense over the last three weeks. 3. Turnovers The Vikings certainly took care of the football on Sunday much better than they did in the two previous games, but they still opened the afternoon with a fumble on a toss play on their first possession. That one, which falls on Jones to catch, allowed the Titans to take an early 3-0 lead. It was the 17th giveaway of the season for the Vikings, the fifth-most in the league. It’s also the second time that specific type of play has happened; Ty Chandler failed to corral a toss in the London game in Week 5. “We’ve gotta execute tossing the football,” O’Connell said. “Whosever fault it was, whoever takes the ultimate minus on the sheet, it’s catastrophic. We’ve had two of them early on in games and it can’t happen.” Matthew Coller: Battle of the builds takes center stage in Vikings-Bears In 2022, the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears both underwent complete overhauls of their organizational leadership. The Vikings hired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah as general manager and Kevin O’Connell as head coach while the Bears brought in GM Ryan Poles and HC Matt Eberflus. The two teams had different lines of thinking about where to go from there. The Vikings ownership, forever against the idea of tanking, set sail on a “competitive rebuild,” in which they would attempt to do the near impossible in pro sports today: Retool on the fly. The first leg of the competitive rebuild was 2022. That part was almost all competitive and no rebuild. They reworked contracts and stuck with veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins along with fellow veteran players like Adam Thielen and Dalvin Cook, bringing back Patrick Peterson and adding Za’Darius Smith. They took advantage of an NFC North where two other teams were tanking and won 13 games, many of which were barn burners. Meanwhile, the Bears sold off everything and took a nose dive. They went all the way to the bottom, losing to the Vikings on the last day of the season to secure the No. 1 overall pick and then traded it for a king’s ransom to the Carolina Panthers. A robbery for the ages, so it would turn out. At that moment, you would have said: Advantage Poles. You definitely would have said it again in 2023 when it became evident that the Panthers were going to gift wrap the No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams for Chicago. Poles by a million. However, while the Bears were starting to use their cap space on things like acquiring and extending Montez Sweat, the
Come to our first ever PODcast LIVE recording to close out Movember
BIG NEWS! The PODcast is going LIVE! Come catch our first ever live recording December 4th! Details here: Every year, we try to find new ways to expand the Pride of Detroit community, and this season, we’re doing something we’ve never done before! On Wednesday, December 4, we will be recording a mega-episode of the PODcast LIVE in front of an audience at The Magic Stick at the historic Majestic Theater in downtown Detroit, and you can be a part of it. BUY TICKETS HERE Tickets get you entry to the show and pizza! We’ll have some of the Pride of Detroit analysts and podcasters you’ve gotten to know over the years, perhaps a special guest or two, a live Q&A session, and some big giveaways in a huge night of fun and Detroit Lions analysis, as we gear up for that Thursday night game against the Green Bay Packers. Additionally, this event will serve as the final day of our Movember charity campaign, supporting men’s health at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will go directly to the charity campaign and we’ll continue to fundraise during the entirety of the show. Here’s everything you need to know to be a part of this historic Pride of Detroit event: What: Live Pride of Detroit podcast recording to benefit the UM Rogel Cancer CenterWhen: Wednesday, December 4 — 7-9 p.m. ET — doors open at 6:30 p.m. ETWhere: The Magic Stick at the Majestic Theater — 4120 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201Who: The full PODcast staff plus other special guestsTickets: You can purchase tickets hereHow much: $15 (plus $8 service charge)Age: 18 and up are welcome (there will be alcohol for sale) Donate: If you can’t come to the event but still want to give to the cause, you can donate directly to our charity campaign here. Space is limited, so don’t wait to reserve your spot now!
Explosive runs have continued to plague the New York Giants’ defense
Photo by Mario Hommes/DeFodi Images via Getty Images Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen searching for answers In the NFL every play matters. That’s why New York Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen has been spending a lot of his time trying to figure out why his defense continues to give up four of five explosive runs every week. “The explosive runs is an area we’ve got to improve. And it’s three to four runs a game. And then you’ve got another 20, 22 that you feel pretty good about,” Bowen said on Thursday. “So we’ve got to do a good job finding ways to eliminate those. “Making sure we’re tackling. Making sure we’re fitting things appropriately. Playing with fundamentals. Being where we’re supposed to be. Getting off blocks.” The Giants are last in the NFL, allowing 5.3 yards per rushing attempt. They have also given up the most 20+ yard runs (15) and 40+ yard runs (4), per NFL.com. Bowen and the Giants apparently use a different measure to judge what qualifies as an explosive run. “As you go back and watch [the first 10 games] I think there were 33 running back ones that were explosive. Which is too many,” Bowen said. “And really that’s what’s setting us back behind everything. So I mean just the percentages. Over 85% of the snaps you feel pretty good. “It’s 2.5 per rush. Whatever. That’s really good run defense. “And then you get these explosive in there and it just kind of escalates everything. So, we’ve got to make sure we do a good job of eliminating those and minimizing those. Right? “Like we might give up a 10-, 12-yarder but let’s not turn that thing into 25 or 30.” Putting 3 into 2 With the expected return of Kayvon Thibodeaux this from his fractured wrist, the Giants now have Thibodeaux, Brian Burns, and Azeez Ojulari — who has five sacks in the five games Thibodeaux has missed — for two spots. “It’s a good problem to have,” Bowen said. “Obviously with Azeez coming on and the impact he’s been able to have for us he’s earned the opportunity to play. It’s really good to be getting Kayvon back out there. “Seeing him going back through it. Kind of see where it progresses with him this week. See where we’re at come Sunday. But optimistic with him. And we’ll see where it goes. But it’s a good problem to have.” Those missing takeaways The Giants, stunningly, have not had an interception since Week 1. None of their defensive backs have one, with linebacker Darius Muasau having the team’s only interception. Usually, a combination of a good pass rush — the Giants are second in the league in sacks with 36 — and a heavy reliance on zone defense would be a recipe for interceptions. That hasn’t been the case for the Giants this year. “I wish I had an explanation because then I could probably have a solution,” Bowen said. “I think we just got to make them when we have chances. There’s a couple that we haven’t made when we’ve had some chances to get them.” One thing Bowen would like to see is his pass rushers place more emphasis on separating the quarterback from the ball when the opportunity arises. “I think the one that’s glaring to me is with all the sack production and the pressure production not being able to get [the ball] off the quarterback,” Bowen said. “Quarterbacks are the number one fumblers in the NFL year after year after year. When you get opportunities to get it [the ball] off them and you’re back there making sure we don’t miss opportunities to get off the quarterback because we’ve missed a handful.”
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73738746/2182730702.0.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1 "The Linc – Madden adds Saquon Barkley’s reverse hurdle to the game")
The Linc – Madden adds Saquon Barkley’s reverse hurdle to the game
Photo by Elsa/Getty Images Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links … Saquon Barkley’s reverse hurdle hits newest Madden 25 update – ESPN A move that looked like it could be pulled off only in a video game is officially in the game. EA Sports has added Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley’s iconic hurdle to Madden 25 in its latest update. The Eagles running back pulled off the filthy feat during Philadelphia’s 28-23 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 3. In the second quarter, Barkley caught a pass, executed a spin, then launched himself in the air to avoid Jaguars defensive back Jarrian Jones for an easy candidate for highlight of the year. EA has dubbed the move the “spin hurdle” and announced the addition Wednesday. Eagles-Rams Game Preview: 5 questions and answers with the Week 12 enemy – BGN The Philadelphia Eagles are traveling to SoFi Stadium this weekend to take on the Los Angeles Rams. It’s a sneaky important game for the Birds. In order to preview this Week 12 battle, I reached out to our enemies over at Turf Show Times. The ebullient Evan Craig kindly took the time to answer my questions about this upcoming tilt. Let’s take a look at the answers. [For my answers about the Eagles, check out TST.] Rams-Eagles Q&A: How can LA challenge Vic Fangio’s ‘legit’ defense? – Turf Show Times The Los Angeles Rams will be out for revenge in Week 12 with the Philadelphia Eagles venturing to SoFi Stadium on Sunday Night Football. Philadelphia defeated LA 23-14 during the 2023 campaign thanks to Jalen Hurts’ 375 total yards. This season, Hurts has additional help from Saquon Barkley, who is racing into the MVP conversation. First-year defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has also gotten his unit to play at an “elite” level. Brandon Lee Gowton from SB Nation’s Eagles blog Bleeding Green Nation joins us ahead of SNF to share his thoughts on Barkley, Fangio and more. Mailbag: Can the Eagles’ passing attack under Jalen Hurts catch up to the run game? – PhillyVoice Hurts has been up and down this season. Early on he was being careless with the football, which led to some turnovers. That improved significantly. More recently he’s been holding onto the ball for an eternity and taking too many sacks. But ultimately, he’s still 7th among quarterbacks in EPA per play. If you’re a glass half full person, there’s so much potential for the Eagles’ offense to be elite if the passing game can catch up to the run game a bit, which it is capable of given the weapons at Hurts’ disposal. But certainly, if the Eagles are going to make it back to the Super Bowl, Hurts is still a ways away from what he was in 2022. Game Review – PHI 26, WAS 18 – Iggles Blitz Jordan Davis was credited with 3 tackles against the Commanders. Big deal, right? DTs should not be judged by the stat sheet. Davis played well and helped to limit the WAS run game. They were limited to 28-93, with 18 of those yards coming on one run. Davis came up huge on the sequence that resulted in the 4th down stop. Spadaro: Lane Johnson remains a pillar of power at the right tackle position – PE.com This is Season 12 for right tackle Lane Johnson, so accept apologies if you have heard this many, many times previously: the best at his position in the NFL continues to win on every snap of the football every week of this 2024 season. The question is not in any way about Johnson’s status in the NFL, it’s more of a question of how he continues to play at such a high level. Every game. Every season. And it really comes down to this for the Eagles’ first-round pick in 2013, a player who has earned four All-Pro selections and has been picked for the Pro Bowl five times: He’s just better than everyone else because he has the combination of great size, great athleticism, great work ethic, football IQ, and coachability. “On top of the fact that he’s so talented and so quick, he uses the technique that he’s been taught, and it’s all over the film,” Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach Jeff Stoutland said. “Not only is he physically freakish, he’s technically sound. Together with those two things, I don’t know who’s better.” Inside the Eagles’ plan to have a healthy Jalen Hurts for the playoffs – NBCSP Hurts didn’t get into detail on the strengthening routine he was given over the past week, but the Eagles were off from last Friday – the day after the Washington game – until they returned to the NovaCare Complex for practice on Wednesday. Hurts used the bye week to focus on the mental side of the game, and it’s paid off with a very efficient six-week stretch, a six-game winning streak that’s put the Eagles at the top of the NFC East. He used the mini-bye to focus on the physical side of the game. The Eagles anticipate Hurts being a full participant in practice Thursday and Friday, and he’ll make his 33rd consecutive start Sunday night in Inglewood, when the Eagles face the Rams in a national TV game at SoFi Stadium. That 33-game streak will be the longest by an Eagles quarterback since Donovan McNabb started 48 straight from late in 1999 to the middle of 2002. “It’s a long season, and it’s just kind of crazy how it’s played out, because we’ve had this early bye week and then we’ve had this time here,” Hurts said. NFL Week 12 Preview: Schedule, storylines and matchups to watch – PFF Storyline of the game: Eagles poised amid win streak. Philadelphia has ascended to the upper echelon of the NFC off of the back of an impressive six-game win streak. Over that span, the Eagles possess top-four units in EPA per play on both sides of the
Eagles rookie storylines for the Rams game
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images The rise of Jalyx Hunt? As the season rolls along, Philly’s rookies are making a greater and greater impact. Here is what to look for in the Eagles’ showdown with the Rams. The rookie defensive backs take on the Rams dynamic receivers The Rams have one of the best receiving duos in the league with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. When they’re healthy, the Los Angeles passing game is very, very dangerous. Luckily, the Eagles have two excellent rookie cornerbacks to match up. Cooper DeJean will probably see a ton of Kupp in the slot while Mitchell will see both receivers lined up outside. Slowing these two will be crucial to get the Eagles their ninth win of the season. Is Jalyx Hunt due for a breakout game? Bryce Huff will likely be out for multiple games after getting wrist surgery. While Huff wasn’t playing a ton of snaps, this does create more opportunities for Philly’s promising young pass rusher. We got a peek at Hunt’s ability in the Cowboys game and he flashed. Now he has a chance to show even more as the Eagles must go deeper into their pass rush rotation.
Eagles Reacts Survey: How confident are you heading into Week 11?
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images Take our survey, and talk about it in the comments! Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Philadelphia Eagles fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. Please take our survey
Giants trade up for QB Shedeur Sanders in Matt Miller mock draft
Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images Would the Giants bring Sanders to New York? The Draft Process has begun for the New York Giants. We had already started shifting our attention to the draft when the Giants fell to 2-8 on the season. But by benching Daniel Jones and reportedly making him QB4 in practice, it’s clear that the Giants are moving on at the most important position. So now pretty much every mock draft that comes out between now and April will likely feature a passer for Big Blue. That’s the case for the mock draft released by ESPN’s Matt Miller on Thursday morning. In his draft, the Giants are picking at third overall, but he projects them trading up to first overall. Projected trade: Giants move up for a QBI have the Giants going big to fix their quarterback situation, giving Jacksonville their second- and third-round picks in 2025, plus a 2026 second-rounder, to move up from No. 3. It gets New York out in front of Cleveland, which could also be looking at the QB class, and crucially doesn’t involve any future first-round picks. And the Jaguars, meanwhile, collect valuable draft capital to restock a roster in desperate need of repair. 1. New York Giants (via projected trade with 2-9 JAX) Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado The Giants would be going all-in for what they hope will be their quarterback of the future, as it seems as if the Daniel Jones era is coming to a close. He was recently benched, and with no more guaranteed money on his deal, the Giants can easily move on. Sanders is the best quarterback in the 2025 class, bringing pinpoint accuracy (72.9% completion percentage), toughness in the pocket and playmaking ability that the Giants’ offense has lacked. His ability to see the field and get the ball out with a fast release makes him ready to play right away. Sanders is similar to C.J. Stroud in his ability to put the ball on his receivers. And like Stroud, Sanders isn’t a runner by trade but moves very well in the pocket and can be a rushing threat when needed; he has run for four touchdowns in each of the past two seasons. The Giants could pair the uber-accurate Sanders with 2024 first-round receiver Malik Nabers to give themselves a chance in the NFC East. Raptor’s thoughts I want to preface this by saying that I haven’t done a deep dive on any of this year’s quarterbacks yet. That said, I would have some definite apprehension with this pick. Back in April, I was explicit in my fear that if the Giants elected to reenact 2018 and punt on the quarterback position in favor of adding a playmaker, they could be forced to select a worse quarterback the following year and potentially have to trade valuable capital to do so. Again, I haven’t done deep dives, but if I had to stack this and last year’s quarterback classes, Shedeur would be QB7 for me. His arm isn’t impressive and lags behind each of the top six quarterbacks from last year (as well as much of this year’s QB class). Likewise, he often appears awkward when forced to scramble or run, and I don’t find his field vision nearly as impressive as J.J. McCarthy’s. He can lose track of defenders in space (such as in his Pick 6 against Nebraska) and he shows some concerning indecision when his reads are muddied. That, I think, contributes heavily to his high pressure-to-sack rate*, as he can hold the ball when his initial read is covered or if the defense makes an unexpected rotation. *Note: Pressure-to-sack rate is NOT dependent on offensive line play, but is a measure of how well quarterbacks respond to pressure. That isn’t to say that Sanders is a bad prospect. He has upside and flashes the ability to make some impressive throws to the intermediate area of the field. Miller may have visions of C.J. Stroud or Joe Burrow when he watches Sanders, but I don’t. I would view his best-case scenario to be in the “Jared Goff/Tua Tagovailoa” universe. IF this came to pass, I would be moving up for Cam Ward. I believe Ward is a better, smoother athlete than Ward, he has more arm strength, better field vision, and the ability to generate big plays both in and outside of the structure of the offense. I also appreciate that he started his career by walking on to FCS level Incarnate Word and has put in the work to improve his game as a passer to get to where he is. That isn’t to say that Shedeur hasn’t put in work — far from it. However, I consider year-over-year improvement to be an important metric and part of the reason why I was high on both Dak Prescott and Jalen Hurts coming out. Ward isn’t without risk, and needs to learn that sometimes discretion is the better part of valor. What’s fun to watch at the collegiate level can be damning at the NFL level, and Ward will need to learn to temper his aggressiveness without dulling the edge that’s carried him to where he is. As for the trade up from third overall to first overall … I don’t love the Giants trading their entire Day 2, but I also don’t hate it if the the quarterback pans out. That, I suppose, is the mark of a good compromise. I don’t believe that the Giants’ roster is nearly as bereft of talent as some (many?) others do. I obviously want the Giants to acquire as much talent as possible, and Day 2 picks are valuable. But adding a quarterback who can allow the coaches to fully open the playbook and the rest of the players on the team to play up to their full potential is worth the price.
Indianapolis Colts 2025 NFL Mock Draft: Colts add depth to their secondary on Day 2
As of now, the Colts are slated to pick 15th overall in the draft. However, if Richardson struggles down the stretch, they could move up in the order, potentially putting them in play for another quarterback selection. Indianapolis Colts 2025 NFL Mock Draft: Colts add depth to their secondary on Day 2 2YHFBJC BLOOMINGTON, IN – NOVEMBER 09: Michigan Wolverines TE Colston Loveland (18) runs a route during a college football game between the Michigan Wolverines and Indiana Hoosiers on November 9, 2024 at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, IN (Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images) By Gordon McGuinness Posted Nov 21, 2024 11:41 am EST • TE Colston Loveland in Round 1: Loveland has elevated his game to new heights in 2024, earning an 88.9 PFF receiving grade. He’s averaging an impressive 2.84 yards per route run this season and has dropped just 3.6% of the catchable targets thrown his way. • The Colts take two defensive backs on Day 2: USC’s Kamari Ramsey and Kansas’ Mello Dotson would add depth to the secondary. • Draft and trade for yourself: Try PFF’s Mock Draft Simulator — trade picks and players and mock for your favorite NFL team. Estimated reading time: 3 minutes The 2024 campaign has been unusual for the Indianapolis Colts, with second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson benched and then reinstated as the starter in the same season. As of now, the Colts are slated to pick 15th overall in the draft. However, if Richardson struggles down the stretch, they could move up in the order, potentially putting them in play for another quarterback selection. Here’s how we would draft for the Colts based on their current position. Round 1 (15): TE Colston Loveland, Michigan Loveland has elevated his game to new heights in 2024, earning an 88.9 PFF receiving grade. He’s averaging an impressive 2.84 yards per route run this season and has dropped just 3.6% of the catchable targets thrown his way. Subscribe to PFF+ to unlock the world’s most advanced football database! Round 2 (47): S Kamari Ramsey, USC Ramsey has earned a career-high 86.9 PFF coverage grade over the first 12 weeks of the season. He has already set a personal best with 17 defensive stops — three more than in any other season of his career. Round 3 (79): CB Mello Dotson, Kansas Mello Dotson is thriving in his fifth collegiate season, as he has put up an 87.7 PFF coverage grade in 2024. On the field for 352 snaps in coverage, he has allowed a reception on just 53.4% of the 58 passes thrown into his coverage.
Rams struggles versus mobile QB’s & what they mean against Jalen Hurts
Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images Rams defense is improving, but ugly games versus Kyler Murray, Brock Purdy still in rearview The Los Angeles Rams defense has markedly improved since the start of the season, though one remaining question about this unit is whether they’ve truly moved past their earlier struggles against mobile quarterbacks. Rams missed tackle problem is improving One key element of the defense’s turnaround was cutting down on missed tackles. It doesn’t take a numbers person to know that LA is getting better on this front, and it’s raised the floor for the defense overall: Week 1 at Detroit Lions: 10 misses; loss Week 2 at Arizona Cardinals: 21; loss Week 3 vs San Francisco 49ers: 27; win Week 4 at Chicago Bears: 10; loss Week 5 vs Green Bay Packers : 11; loss Week 7 vs Las Vegas Raiders: 7; win Week 8 vs Minnesota Vikings: 2; win Week 9 at Seattle Seahawks: 14; win Week 10 vs Miami Dolphins: 10; loss Week 11 at New England Patriots: 7; win The missed tackle figures on defense also coincide with rookie phenom Jared Verse’s improvement in this same facet. We saw over the first part of the season that Verse was winning his pass rushing reps, but he just couldn’t finish with sacks. He has 3.5 sacks over the last four games, so that trend is changing. Will tackling issues persist with mobile QB’s? It’s probably no coincidence that the Rams’ two-worst tackling performances came against two of the better mobile quarterbacks in the NFL in 2024: Kyler Murray and Brock Purdy. LA allowed 41 points to Arizona and 24 to San Francisco in those games. Kyler Murray teaching both Rams rookies Jared Verse and Braden Fiske that this isn’t the ACC. Verse whiffs twice and Fiske gets juked into an epic power slide pic.twitter.com/gCRYkDRHq8 — Bo Brack (@BoBrack) September 18, 2024 The unfortunate news for LA is that Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles are coming to town for Week 12. Strictly as a passer, Hurts is nothing to write home about. He’s average to below average in most measures, including Pro Football Focus (PFF) passing grades which would rank him 23rd of 27 signal callers with more than 227 dropbacks. But on the ground, Hurts has the third-best rushing grade of this QB crop at 88.8. This trails only Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills and Drake Maye of the New England Patriots, who the Rams saw this past weekend. Hurts averages nearly two-full yards after contact on his rushing attempts and has forced 13 missed tackles, both according to PFF. Jalen Hurts with his 2nd rushing TD of the day! : #PHIvsDAL on CBS/Paramount+ : https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/g1Xt51UqYx — NFL (@NFL) November 10, 2024 Is Rams’ improvement real? With LA missing only seven tackles against Maye and the Patriots in their most recent game, it’s fair to conclude that they may be improving since their early season matchups against Murray and Purdy. There are also reasons that suggest the game against New England posed different circumstances, that Maye’s poor supporting cast and an offense that lacked talent at receiver and along the offensive line wasn’t the same type of challenge for this Rams defense. We’ll get our answer this upcoming Sunday night whether the Rams have truly made improvement in the missed tackling department against these running quarterbacks. Hurts poses a unique problem for the LA defense, both on the ground and through the air. With Los Angeles at .500 on the season, they could really use a win to make the NFC West divisional race and NFC playoff picture interesting. Can they get the job done at home versus Philly?
