Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images The Bengals would get a big boost to their pass rush in this scenario. The Cincinnati Bengals’ pass rush is struggling. Only Trey Hendrickson is having real success. Meanwhile, the team has more than its fair share of tight ends, with Mike Gesicki, Erick All, and Tanner McLachlan being added to a core that already included Drew Sample and Tanner Hudson. ESPN NFL insider Dan Graziano has a solution: the Bengals trade Hudson and a fourth round pick to the New York Jets for pass rush specialist Haason Reddick. Here is why Graziano believes the deal “makes sense for both sides”: One of the spots on the roster where the Jets could add some depth is tight end, and the Bengals have Mike Gesicki and Drew Sample playing ahead of Hudson and also drafted two tight ends in the most recent draft. Cincinnati could use more edge rush help alongside Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard after posting the 10th-worst pass rush win rate in 2023 (37.9%). The pick probably evens out the value, and the Bengals have seemingly used some kind of Jedi mind trick to keep players productive when they’re unhappy in the final year of their contracts. And he’s right that Cincinnati would be very happy to add Reddick, who is just 29 years old but already has 58 career sacks in seven years with the Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, and Philadelphia Eagles. But the veteran edge rusher has not practiced or played for the Jets since being traded from the Eagles, as he continues to hold out for a new contract. So the Bengals would have to shell out a lot of money to get him on the field. This while they’re struggling to keep the star players already on the team. Speaking of those star players, we talked about the latest on Ja’Marr Chase and whether Joe Burrow and the Bengals can overcome the distraction to get things in order against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs: You can also listen on iTunes or using the player below:
Trading Tanner Hudson for Haason Reddick “makes sense”, says ESPN’s Dan Graziano
College football primer: Games and players to watch in Week 3
Photo by Brandon Sumrall/Getty Images Which games should Giants fans be watching this week? Good morning New York Giants fans! Happy Saturday and welcome to Week 3 of the 2024 college football season. This week we’re going to take a closer look at the SEC, and two of the most talented rosters in college football as well as one of the top receivers in the upcoming draft class. We’re also going to be featuring two games on channels we don’t normally highlight. So consider Oregon State vs. (9) Oregon (Fox, 3:30 p.m.) as an alternate game for the afternoon slot and Kentucky vs. (1) Georgia (ABC, 7:30 p.m.) as an alternate for the evening game. We’ll update if we find out where the Giants’ scouts are credentialed or where Joe Schoen is this week. Wisconsin vs. (4) Alabama Fox – noon Wisconsin isn’t as talented as they’ve been in years past, however the could provide a decent challenge for Alabama. Or at least enough of a challenge to give us decent scouting tape. There will absolutely be future NFL players on the field for both teams in this game, and on both sides of the ball. However most of the attention will be paid to the Alabama side of things. Alabama has players who are more highly regarded than quarterback Jalen Milroe at this point, however he might be the most closely watched prospect in the game. Most draft analysts agree that Carson Beck and Shedeur Sanders are at the top of the quarterback class, however the door is open for either of them to be supplanted and for other prospects to join them in the top tier at the position. Milroe improved tremendously over the course of his first year as a starter in 2023, but the NFL will need to see continued improvement to consider him to be more than a toolsy developmental prospect. In particular, Milroe will need to improve his sack avoidance and not allow as many pressures to turn into sacks. He could vault to the top of the draft if he can improve his ability to deal with pressure while remaining a dynamic downfield passer. Stepping back a bit, Alabama has a bunch of interior offensive linemen for Giants fans to watch. As usual, the best way to scout Alabama is probably to simply enjoy the game and take note of which players stand out. Players to watch Alabama Jalen Milroe (QB) Tyler Booker (LG) Parker Brailsford (OC) *red-shirt sophomore Jaeden Roberts (RG) Domani Jackson (CB) Keon Sabb (S) *red-shirt sophomore Malachi Moore (S) Wisconsin Jack Nelson (LT) Riley Mahlman (RT) Ricardo Hallman (CB) Hunter Wohler (S) (6) Missouri vs. (24) Boston College SEC Network – 12:45 p.m. I try to avoid spotlighting games that might not be available for everyone. However, the game between Mizzou and BC is one of the few between ranked opponents this week. I also want to highlight one of the top prospects in the draft. That would be Missouri receiver Luthor Burden III. Burden is on the injury report with an illness (as of this writing), but he’s definitely worth talking about when healthy. Burden is a compact (5-foot-11, 208 pounds) receiver who is one of the most dynamic threats in the country with the ball in his hands. He had a breakout year in 2023, with 1,212 yards and 9 touchdowns on 86 receptions that has drawn straight-faced comparisons to Deebo Samuel. Teams looking for an offensive weapon to provide a potentially elite run-after catch threat will likely grade Burden very highly. His quarterback, Brady Cook, could also catch the eye of NFL evaluators. He has solid size, good accuracy and the ability to make off-platform and off-schedule throws, and the athleticism to be a dangerous runner. He doesn’t have eye-popping arm strength, which could limit him in the eyes of the NFL, but he could have upside as a developmental prospect. This could be a good early test for Cook and Burden, as Boston College’s defense has been stingy and BC started their season with the surprising upset of Florida State. Prospects to watch Missouri Brady Cook (QB) Luthor Burden III (WR) Armand Membou (OL) Marcus Bryant (OL) Toriano Pride (CB) Boston College Treshaun Ward (RB) Ozzy Trapilo (OT) Donovan Ezeiruaku (edge) Wake Forest vs. (5) Ole Miss The CW Network – 6:30 p.m. Ole Miss has done a great job of working the transfer portal to quickly build a remarkably strong team. 10 of their 22 starters joined the team this year via the transfer portal, and they’ve added some of the most intriguing players at their respective position groups in the nation. Players like edge Princely Umanmielen, defensive lineman Walter Nolan, and cornerbacks Trey Amos, Isaiah Hamilton, and Louis Moore reinforced the defense. On the offensive side, receiver Antwane Wells joins 2023 transfer Tre Harris to provide a spark to the offense. This collection of talent has been a windfall for quarterback Jaxson Dart, who transferred from USC to Ole Miss when Caleb Williams arrived in 2022. Dart has been rising up draft boards thanks to a fantastic start in his new surroundings. He has solid mobility, good size (6-foot-2, 225 pounds), and a very strong arm — in addition to an NFL-ready name. Dart’s first real test likely won’t be until the October 12th game against LSU, but so far the results are hard to argue with. He’s completed 87 percent of his passes for 14.7 yards per attempt, and 6 touchdowns through two games. It’s obviously only two games, and against the likes of Furman and Middle Tennessee State, but he could become this year’s Jayden Daniels if he keeps up the pace.
Vikings Links: Are The Vikings Underrated?
Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images The Vikings are being slept on I think the Vikings are a little underrated. There is not much belief in Sam Darnold and I think that will soon change. I eepect the offense to move the ball and score some points and for the defense to make it very difficult for the 49ers. I think this game is closer than many expect and for the Vikings to actually be able to win. It is interesting that Kwesi included void years in the contracts of Sam Darnold and Aaron Jones. I could see both getting extended next year and for Darnold to be the starter again. Kwesi has done a good job getting the cap in order. He has almost all of the 2025 in-house free agents signed except for Byron Murphy and Camryn Bynum. The rest of the 2025 in-house free agents are 29 years or older and likely wont cost much if they bring them back. He might bring back Darnold and Jones though. The Vikings currently have about 66M in effective cap space for 2025. I cannot remember the last time they had that much cap space. Minnesota Vikings News and Links Niners RB Christian McCaffrey (calf/Achilles) ruled out for Sunday vs. Vikings; IR is under consideration Christian McCaffrey’s 2024 season debut will have to wait at least another week, and a stint on injured reserve is not out of the question. The San Francisco 49ers have ruled McCaffrey out for their Week 2 game at the Minnesota Vikings while he continues to work his way back from calf and Achilles tendon injuries. Head coach Kyle Shanahan added that McCaffrey had his worst day Thursday in terms of pain, and putting the star running back on injured reserve is now under consideration. 49ers rising star CB talks trash to Vikings QB Sam Darnold The Minnesota Vikings got the better of their matchup against the San Francisco 49ers in 2023. That didn’t stop 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir from talking a little smack to his former teammate and Vikings starting quarterback Sam Darnold. Lenoir after Thursday’s practice had some fun with the 49ers’ former backup quarterback during an interview in the locker room. “Me and Sam, we had this connection,” Lenoir told reporters as he raised his hands to mimic catching a football. “He liked to throw the ball to me. So, this week we’re coming. He knows it.” Lenoir continued with praise of his former teammate. “I know he’s a talented player,” Lenoir said. “He’s gonna come ready to work. I know how he prepares. He gave us great looks when he played here with us. Just taking over the scout team, he was throwing dimes, so I know it’s gonna have to be tight, sticky coverage.” Brock Purdy: Facing Vikings defense is an ‘illusion-fest’ “With Minnesota, they’re sort of an illusion-fest,” Purdy said Thursday. “They want to make it seem like they’re doing this and then post snap they’re dropping eight into every which way. They do a lot, it’s hard for us to just grasp exactly what they’re doing.” Purdy said Flores is “one of the best in the league with disguises” and he called last year’s game against the Vikings in Minnesota a “good experience.” In last year’s matchup, the Vikings blitzed Purdy on 63.6% of his dropbacks and Purdy completed 15-of-19 attempts for 192 yards with one touchdown and one interception. According to Pro Football Focus, Purdy led the NFL in passing yards (1,762), yards per attempt (10.2) and touchdowns (15) when blitzed in 2023. The yards per attempt statistic is shocking because the next highest against the blitz was C.J. Stroud at 8.7. That means Purdy was ripping passes for 10+ yards more often than not when he was blitzed. “At the end, especially, it was a tight game and everything and that place was rocking,” Purdy recalled of last year’s game in Minneapolis. “For the most part, the whole game they were like that. There’s some loyal fans that they got in Minnesota. It’s a dome so it just gets loud in there and they bring it. It’s an environment where you want to go in and try to obviously do your thing to put up points and score to create momentum and keep them away from being so loud, but it’s a great environment to play in.” 49ers QB Brock Purdy Sizes Up the Minnesota Vikings Defense Q: Obviously, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores does a lot of blitzing and different looks they like to throw at you. What do you remember about last year and how can that kind of help you this week? PURDY: “I don’t know, he does a lot of different looks and different things and makes you think that it’s going to be one thing and it can be that or go to something completely different. And so, he does a good job with that. I think one of the best in the league with just disguises in general. And so, last year we had obviously a whole game against him and got some really good looks from him and some tough situations that he puts you in, especially as a quarterback trying to make a decision and stuff. It was a good experience last year and there’s some things that I had to learn from. I had a year of film and stuff and this week of practice so we’re excited for it.” Why Shanahan believes O’Connell’s Vikings offense poses problems Kyle Shanahan is well aware that a Kevin O’Connell-led Vikings offense can cause the 49ers a headache for a second consecutive season on Sunday. During the latest episode of NBC Sports Bay Area’s “49ers Game Plan,” which debuted Friday night, Shanahan explained to Greg Papa the similarity between O’Connell’s scheme with his and Los Angeles Rams’ Sean McVay’s, and why it poses a threat. “Yeah, I think it’s similar, especially how the Rams were,” Shanahan told Papa. “I
WATCH LIVE: Lions vs. Buccaneers preview, Madden 25 simulation
Sign up for Season 2 of PODD Big things are in store for our newsletter, Pride of Detroit Direct. I’m excited to announce we’ve added Ty Schalter this season. Listen to exclusive podcasts sent directly to your inbox and read more voices from our team at Pride of Detroit by clicking below to sign up for a 7-day free trial today!
How Lions fans expect Week 2 vs. the Buccaneers to play out
Sign up for Season 2 of PODD Big things are in store for our newsletter, Pride of Detroit Direct. I’m excited to announce we’ve added Ty Schalter this season. Listen to exclusive podcasts sent directly to your inbox and read more voices from our team at Pride of Detroit by clicking below to sign up for a 7-day free trial today!
College football preview: 3 players to watch in Week 3
Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Unio / USA TODAY NETWORK Week 3 of the college football season features the sort of cross-conference matchups that make fans of the sport swoon. These unfamiliar opponents will be a great test for the college stars and NFL Draft hopefuls. Here are some prospects to watch this weekend. All listed times are Eastern. Ricardo Hallman, Cornerback, Wisconsin v. Alabama (12 PM on Fox): Ricardo Hallman was one of the most prolific ballhawks in the country last year, picking off seven passes and returning one for a touchdown. The fourth year defender is the top defender in Wisconsin’s secondary and arguably the best player on their defense. Alabama’s passing game will be a real challenged for the undersized cornerback. The Crimson Tide has serious speed at receiver and a quarterback who can hit every level of the field. A Wisconsin win feels unlikely, but Hallman can make things hard on Bama with a big game. Luther Burden III, Wide Receiver, Missouri v. Boston College (12:45 PM on SEC Network): Luther Burden III has been talked up all summer as a potential WR1 in the 2025 class. The 5’11”, 210 pound receiver is built like a running back and he plays like one too when he has the ball. He is elusive and powerful as a runner, but has the hands and route running ability to be a reliable receiver. Burden has dealt with injuries to start the year, and the hope is he will be at full strength against Boston College. The Golden Eagles are no soft match for Burden and the Tigers. He has a great chance to have a coming out party while keeping Mizzou unbeaten. Deone Walker, Defensive Tackle, Kentucky v. Georgia (7:30 PM on ABC): Kentucky defender Deone Walker is one of the coolest prospects in the country, for my money. He stands tall at 6’6” and weighs over 340 pounds. He is a massive defender and still has incredible athleticism to pair with his power. Walker had 7.5 sacks last year and could be one of the top defenders in the draft in a few months. Kentucky needs a big game from Walker going up against Georgia and their outstanding offensive line. Any hope the Wildcats have is on the shoulders of their giant lineman.
Giants-Commanders, Week 2: 5 matchups to watch
Brian Burns | Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images If the Giants win these matchups, they should win the game The New York Giants look to even their record at 1-1 Sunday against the Washington Commanders. Here are five key matchups to watch. Giants edge defenders vs. Commanders offensive tackles The Giants are banking heavily on the troika of nose tackle Dexter Lawrence and edge defenders Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux to wreak havoc in opposing backfields, covering for a young secondary that has question marks. Burns (4 tackles, 1 quarterback hit) and Thibodeaux (0 tackles, 1 quarterback hit, 1 missed tackle, and a costly personal foul penalty on third-and-16 that led to a Minnesota Vikings touchdown) did not do their parts in Week 1. Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said this week he has “got all the confidence in the world in them.” Bowen, though, knows he needs those three players to be the Giants’ defensive catalysts. “I tell them that every day. Where the resources are delegated, you got to be good. Your best players got to be good. It’s the nature of the league. Your best players got to play their best every single Sunday if you want to play good,” Bowen said. “Offense, defense, special teams, whatever it might be. With that, they do. They have to go out there and perform .. there’s expectations that come with the nature of the league.” The Commanders have questions at offensive tackle, with veteran Washington, D.C. sportswriter Rick Snider telling the ‘Valentine’s Views’ podcast that “this offensive line is still really tattered on the ends.” Washington starts 11-year veteran Cornelius Lucas at left tackle and seven-year veteran Andrew Wylie at right tackle. Rookie third-round pick Brandon Coleman also played 13 snaps at left tackle for Washington in Week 1. By no means are these guys bad players. They do, though, seem like a step down from Minnesota tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill. It will be disconcerting if Thibodeaux and Burns are not able to have an impact on Sunday’s game. Tae Banks vs. Terry McLaurin The last time the Giants played the Commanders, winning 31-19 in November of last season, Banks had some harsh words for both the Commanders front office and for McLaurin, the team’s star wide receiver. Banks, who grew up in the Baltimore area and played at the University Maryland, took a shot at the Commanders for bypassing him and drafting cornerback Emmanuel Forbes at No. 16. “They could’ve (come) and got me at 16. And they didn’t. Now I’m 2-0 against you bum ass boys. F— the Commanders. They think they slick. They finna see me two times a year until the end of my career. Two times a year. Should’ve (come) and got me.” Banks also had something to say about McLaurin after a five-catch, 43-yard day: “I’m just trying to figure out, though, did 17 play today?” Banks said on Instagram. “That’s all I wanna know. Did he play today? Did he play? I just wanna know if he played.” With Banks now the Giants’ No. 1 cornerback and likely responsible for following McLaurin whenever the Giants are in man-to-man defense, this was always going to be an interesting matchup. Banks’ words heighten the stakes for the 23-year-old. In Week 1, Banks had a 156.2 passer rating against while trying to shadow Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson, perhaps the league’s best receiver. Banks was victimized by Jefferson for a 44-yard catch and a 3-yard touchdown. “I think he keeps improving,” head coach Brian Daboll said this week when asked about Banks. “He’s done a nice job for us up to this point. We’re going to need him to. He’s going against, obviously, another good player, McLaurin, who’s a really good receiver, vertical guy. He’s been a good player for a long time. He (Banks) is a second-year player that just keeps on getting better.” Giants offensive line vs. Commanders defensive line The strength of the Washington defense, and perhaps of its entire team, is its defensive line. Daron Payne is in the midst of a four-year, $90 million contract with $46.01 million guaranteed. That is virtually identical to Dexter Lawrence’s four-year, $90 million extension that guaranteed him $46.5 million. Payne has 30.5 sacks over seven seasons, and had 11.5 in a Pro Bowl 2022 season. Jonathan Allen is a two-time Pro Bowler drafted by Washington in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He has 39.0 career sacks. Clelin Ferrell was a first-round pick by the Las Vegas Raiders in 2019. Ferrell popped up on Washington’s injury report Friday. He is questionable with a knee injury. The Giants’ revamped offensive line played better, at least in pass protection, than the five sacks taken by Daniel Jones vs. Minnesota would indicate. Pro Football Focus ranked the Giants 12th in the league in pass blocking. Where the line struggled mightily was in run blocking, with PFF grading the Giants last in the league in that category. The Giants tackles held up well. Andrew Thomas had the best PFF pass-blocking grade of any tackle in Week 1, and right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor was 27th among 65 qualifying tackles. The biggest issue was at center, where John Michael Schmitz was 26th among 32 qualifying centers in pass blocking and 29th overall. “I think they did a good job overall (against Minnesota),” Jones said. “Like every position on the field, there are things we need to clean up for sure, and I know they’ll work to do that. But I thought overall they played pretty well.” If they can make Jones comfortable in the pocket and open some holes for the Giants running backs, the Giants could have a chance for a much better offensive performance. Giants wide receivers vs. Washington defensive backs Malik Nabers, who put a scare into everyone when he reported Thursday that his knee didn’t feel right, is “good.” Coach Brian Daboll said Nabers will play Sunday, and there is “no concern” about the
Browns vs Jaguars: These 3 things will decide if Cleveland wins in Week 2
Thomas Shea-Imagn Images Browns need their offense, especially Deshaun Watson, to get fixed quick We are on to Week 2. Week 1 didn’t happen, let’s do our best to forget. The season isn’t over, it just started. Is it a must-win? To some degree. The Cleveland Browns will travel to Florida to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars. After starting at 4:25 last week, Cleveland is back to the 1 pm slate. The game will be on CBS with Chris Lewis and Jason McCourty on the call. Will the offense look better than it did last week? Not going to spend time talking about it, but the Browns offense was underwhelming as a whole last week. I found some interesting tweets regarding the offense’s performance in Week 1. Having watched this offense from W1 too many times, I would say the single thing missing—and this is pretty simplified—is confidence. Belief what they’re running is going to work. Belief in the guy next to you to do their job. They’re playing slow and hesitant and that lack of… — Jake Burns (@jake_burns18) September 12, 2024 #Browns OC Ken Dorsey: “I didn’t feel like there was a lack of effort on offense.” — Camryn Justice (@camijustice) September 12, 2024 After watching the all-22, one thing can be said is the effort wasn’t lacking (people might disagree but you are entitled to your opinion) but it seemed the offense didn’t have confidence in the scheme. Maybe it’s due to a lack of reps in preseason or maybe it’s not trusting the quarterback (we’ll get to that later) but something felt off. Is it fixable? Yes, most of the stuff that the offense struggled with is simple stuff. But can they all get together on the right page? We’ll see. Ward/Emerson/Newsome vs Kirk/BTJ/Davis Cleveland’s secondary received a lot of hype throughout the majority of training camp and they rightfully backed it up on Sunday. Despite the loss, the secondary held Dallas receivers in check and Sunday will be another test. Christian Kirk is someone that is capable of making an impact, Brian Thomas Jr has arrived, and Gabe Davis is a capable deep threat. It appears that the secondary has more confidence in themselves and it shows with how they look on the field. On Sunday, Cleveland’s cornerback trio will face another stiff test, but will they pass the test with flying colors? We shall see. All eyes on 4 (again) It appears that the entire fanbase is over Deshaun Watson at this point, and I can’t blame him. He looked bad last week, there is no denying it but during the game it looked like his mind was elsewhere. Watson revealed he was dealing with the death of his father and former teammate, and that can affect someone mentally. Could he have another performance like Sunday? Probably. Could he play well? Doubt it. It’s more about how he looks mentally that matters to me. Football is more than just a physical sport, it’s more mental if anything and playing quarterback is volatile. When your mind is right and you are locked in you can do special things. However, if you aren’t right mentally, you start overthinking and make mistakes that are preventable. Will Watson look mentally in the right place or will he look like he did last week? I am not sure, we’ll find out on Sunday.
5 keys to beating the Chiefs
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images Right this ship and head for the ‘ship! After an ugly Week 1 outing, the Cincinnati Bengals look to get back on track. Surely, the NFL schedule makers have gifted the Bengals with an easy matchup in Week 2… Nope. It’s the Kansas City Chiefs. Joe Burrow is 3-1 against Kansas City, but he’s also 0-4 in Week 2, so something’s got to give. How can the Bengals refocus and get back in the win column? Stop the Run I know, “You’re playing Patrick Mahomes, and your first key is to stop the run?” Counterintuitive, I know, but hear me out. The Patriots controlled the game last week because they could not be stopped in the run game. With Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson injured and D.J. Reader in the motor city, the Bengals’ run defense was a Sieve. The Chiefs have Isiah Pacheco, rookie Carson Steele, who looked fierce in the preseason, and a guy you may recall by the name of Samaje Perine. This trio could be a real problem if Lou Anarumo can’t figure something out. Live in 12P Tight ends Drew Sample and Erick All looked good as blockers, and both have alignment versatility. All showed a certain craftiness that allowed him to get open in college and I am dying to see how that looks in the NFL. Then there is Mike Gesicki, who provides some excitement in the pass game. Two of those three should be on the field the majority of the time. Tyler Boyd ain’t coming through that door. This is a 12 personnel team now. Find the Mismatch It’s not looking good for Tee Higgins, but that doesn’t mean the Bengals can’t exploit mismatches with the Chiefs’ defense. After all, they traded their top cornerback, but we still have Ja’Marr Chase. Whether they try to cover him with a linebacker or a defensive back, Gesicki is a walking, talking, griddying mismatch. Chase Brown also provides some mismatch potential out of the backfield. Then there is, of course, Jermaine Burton. Will the Zac Taylor put the rookie out there and see what he can do? Letting him run a couple of go routes in single coverage opposite Chase is worth a shot. Start Fast Please don’t give us any of this three-and-out on each of the first three drives biz-nass. They need to come out of the gates with a scoring drive and get some rhythm offensively. You can’t outrun the champ if you stumble off the blocks. Win the Turnover Battle The Bengals lost two fumbles last week, and without either of them, there is a good chance they will win that game. It’s a very simple equation. You want Joe Burrow to have more chances to do something with a drive than Patrick Mahomes does. Possess the football, and when you don’t, take it back.
Week 2 key matchups: Spillane faces ultimate test in Jackson
Robert Spillane | Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images Going to be a tough one as the Raiders need to play a near perfect game With both clubs dropping their season-opening matchups last week, a lot is riding on the line between the Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens. Historically, teams who begin the year 0-2 have a low probability of making the playoffs, so the Raiders will need to win the key matchups below to help keep their postseason hopes alive. Robert Spillane vs. Lamar Jackson It’s not exactly breaking news that the reigning MVP is the key to the Ravens’ offense. Jackson’s ability to make plays with his legs is what keeps defensive coordinators up at night. That was the most effective part of Baltimore’s offense against Kansas City as he totaled 16 rushing attempts for 122 yards and a touchdown. What makes the quarterback tough to defend is he’s very effective when scrambling as he left the pocket nine times and picked up 70 rushing yards last week, per Pro Football Focus, accounting for about 7.8 yards per attempt and 57.4 percent of his rushing yards. One way to defend that is to have a linebacker spy the QB, which will put a lot of weight on Spillane’s shoulders. Jackson is known for being elusive, forcing 38 missed tackles (MTF) as a runner during the regular season in 2023, 12 more than any non-running back. That figure also ranked 20th in the league regardless of position, and he managed to have four MTF last week. So, Spillane’s tackling skills will be put to the test. He didn’t have any misses against the Chargers and had just a 10.8 percent MTF rate a year ago, meaning he should be up for the challenge. Also, what can’t be forgotten is the Ravens like to call designed runs for Jackson, and he picked up 52 yards on seven carries for an average of 7.4 ypc in Week 1. Especially with the use of read options, Spillane must bring his ‘A-game’. Offensive Line vs. Nnamdi Madubuike Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesDylan Parham Nnamdi (formerly Justin) Madubuike received a nearly $100 million contract in the offseason primarily because he had a breakout campaign as a pass-rusher last year. He racked up 65 pressures during the regular season, per PFF, which tied for the fourth-most among defensive tackles, trailing only Aaron Donald, Chris Jones and Quinnen Williams. Not bad company to be in. The Chiefs have the best interior offensive line in the NFL and Madubuike still managed to get three pressures—one sack, one QB hit and a hurry—in the season opener. Part of what makes him tough to keep in check is he lines up on both sides of the center and all over the defensive line. For example, PFF charted the 2023 second-team All-Pro at six different positions in his 40 snaps last week; 15 as a right defensive tackle, 10 at left end, eight at right end, five left defensive tackle and one each as a REO and LEO. In other words, it will take the Raiders’ entire offensive line to keep him in check. The problem is Las Vegas’ line surrendered the second-most sacks (four) and fifth-most pressures (15) of any unit in Week 1 to earn the fourth-worst PFF efficiency rating (76.2). The biggest culprits were Andre James—three pressures, one sack—and Cody Whitehair—five pressures. So, if any of Las Vegas’ linemen are having a bad day on Sunday, you can take one guess who Madubuike will spend most of his time lining up across from. All five guys need to be on top of their games and help each other out to keep him away from the quarterback. Michael Mayer vs. Roquan Smith Smith has become one of the best linebackers in the league over the last several years. He has a streak of four straight All-Pro selections; earning second-team honors in 2020 and 2021 and was a first-team selection during the two previous campaigns. That’s a result of his well-rounded game, recording an 83.2 grade with 27 defensive stops in coverage and a 72.0 grade with 27 stops against the run, per PFF. However, despite coming down with an interception, Smith had a tough 2024 debut in Kansas City last week. He posted an ugly 44.7 mark against the run and was targeted six times in coverage, allowing five receptions for 69 yards and four first downs. Chiefs tight end Noah Gray gave the linebacker some trouble, catching two of two targets for receptions of 13 and 11 yards (24 yards total), according to PFF, against Smith. It’s worth noting Gray lined up as an in-line tight end on nearly 60 percent of the pass-play snaps he participated in, which should excite Mayer. Outside of one contested catch for a third-down conversion, the second-year pro wasn’t a factor as a receiver in the season opener with only two catches for three yards. But he should see more passes come his way this Sunday. Also, he was known for being a solid run blocker coming out of Notre Dame, so the Raiders will need him to step up in that department to help keep Smith away from Zamir White and Alexander Mattison.
