/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73575118/2170620509.0.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1 "Eagles Film Analysis: Offense takeaways from the win over the Packers")
Photo by Wagner Meier/Getty Images The Eagles beat the Packers and now we get to break down a victory! It doesn’t get any better than this. It’s been a while. Let’s get it. Offense Seeing as I write these in chronological order, we have to start with a negative. You can’t sugarcoat this one. It’s just a disaster. Jalen Hurts is trying to force it on 3rd and long, and there isn’t a window to complete this throw, especially if you can’t step up in the pocket and throw it with real velocity. You rarely see this type of throw from Hurts, so I hope it is a one-off. He’s better than this. While focusing on the negatives, shall we talk about Hurts now? I don’t think he played well at all. He made some outstanding plays, but I expect that from him at this stage of his career. I think he’s an outstanding quarterback and will be extremely unhappy with some of his decisions in this game. I’m not panicking, but we must admit that this was not his best performance. Weirdly, I still come away from the game feeling pretty good about Hurts because he showed some real improvement in areas he struggled with last year. We will get to that later! Moving on from Hurts, I can’t fully explain how happy I was watching Saquon Barkley’s film. He was awesome. I think he was even better on the All22 than he was watching live. His footwork and explosiveness was flat-out ridiculous at times. The interior offensive line also had a fantastic run-blocking game. Cam Jurgens and Mekhi Becton had some incredible blocks, and Jurgens, in particular, showed some real strength. I feel so optimistic about Becton after this game because he looked natural playing as an offensive guard. He did not look like a tackle playing guard. And he is absolutely enormous! At this point, I could become a starting offensive lineman if I went to Stoutland University. Landon Dickerson’s block here is also awesome. This run was from the pistol, and it’s worth noting that the Eagles under center run game was not good in this game, and that’s something to keep an eye on over time. I still think Kellen Moore will want this offense to get better from under center as the season progresses. Oh my goodness. I have so much to say about this play! I have too much to say in this article, so I will break this play down later in the week when I can really get into it. It’s a double post-wheel concept with Dallas Goedert running a shallow cross and Barkley releasing through the B gap on the wheel route. Combine all that with a pulling guard in order to distract the Packers’ linebacker and some motion to make the Packers have to react post-snap, and you have a hell of a play. Whilst the play call is incredible, it’s still a fantastic play from Hurts and Barkley. I don’t think many running backs could make this catch and get both feet down. This is such a beautiful touchdown. I love it! The Packers’ defensive gameplan was bizarre in this one because they never sent an all-out blitz. I was waiting for a Cover 0 blitz, but the Packers never did it! However, the Packers did send some 5-man blitzes, and the Eagles handled them well. Hurts was decisive every time the Packers sent pressure, and he got the ball out quickly and on time. This was one of many examples where Kellen Moore gave Hurts answers to pressure and Hurts was decisive. I hope Brian Johnson was watching because the Eagles could have done with these answers to pressure last year. It’s simple but effective! The Eagles are blessed to have many weapons, and teams should be scared to blitz them because they have so many different weapons that can create yards after the catch. This is a great decision by Hurts, but it’s still a fantastic play by AJ Brown, who is capable of making defenders look silly one-on-one. I was starting to enjoy this offensive performance by this point. It was extremely obvious that this was Kellen Moore’s offense, and motion would be a big part of it. This simple call uses motion to stress the defense horizontally and AJ Brown as a decoy to stretch them vertically. This is easy money for Hurts, and it’s a fantastic design by Moore. There was a lot of talk about motion last year, and I started to speculate whether the lack of motion was due to Hurts not being a fan of motion. I was clearly wrong. Hurts was decisive on plays with motion, and it didn’t seem to cause him any problems in terms of processing the defense post-snap.I’m looking forward to seeing the Eagles build on this performance and continue to use motion to create some easy throws for Hurts. Cam Jurgens is a strong man. He had multiple reps in this game where he was just flat-out moving defenders. Look at the strength on show here! This is an absurd rep. I expected Cam Jurgens to be good in the pin-pull run game where he can get out in space (Jason Kelce style), and he did this very well. But I expected that! I did not expect him to be so strong on standard run plays like this. This gives the Eagles’ offense another element where they can just bully defenses when running down the middle. It’s another fantastic play by Barkley, who makes the linebacker look stupid and walks it into the end zone. Have I mentioned how excited I am by this Eagles’ running game?! I’ve mentioned a few players but haven’t given AJ Brown enough credit. The guy is a freak. What I loved about Kellen Moore’s offense this week was that he didn’t get ‘too’ creative. Many scheme guys online have never liked the Eagles’ offense because it was
Eagles Film Analysis: Offense takeaways from the win over the Packers
Giants roster moves: New punt returner signed after Gunner Olszewski injury
Ihmir Smith-Marsette | Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images Giants sign former Carolina Panther returner Ihmir Smith-Marsette The New York Giants made a series of roster moves on Monday, most notably signing wide receiver/kick returner Ihmir Smith-Marsette to replace the injured Gunner Olszewski. The Giants placed linebacker/special teamer Carter Coughlin (pectoral) on practice squad/injured. Coughlin was replaced on the practice squad by linebacker/special teamer Curtis Bolton, who was dropped from the 53-man roster on Friday. When Olszewski, who had been dealing with a groin injury since Week 2 of the preseason, was unable to play on Sunday, the Giants were forced to use Darius Slayton to return punts. That did not work out well as Slayton muffed a punt. Olszewski is expected to be sidelined for weeks, per coach Brian Daboll. That necessitated signing another returner. The Giants, per Daboll, held a workout on Monday. They signed Smith-Marsette after that. Smith-Marsette, 25, was a fifth-round by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2021 NFL Draft. He has already played for the Vikings, Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs, and Carolina Panthers. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Smith-Marsette has 14 receptions in 33 career regular season games. More significant, though, is his return experience. Playing for the Panthers in 2023, Smith-Marsette returned punts for the first time in his NFL career. He had 37 returns for an average of 8.7 yards per return, including a 79-yard touchdown return. Smith-Marsette also has limited kickoff return experience, having returned six kickoffs in his career for an average of 20.0 yards per return. A native of Newark, N.J., Smith-Marsette helped Weequahic High School claim the 2016 state championship with a 12-0 record. He went on to play at Iowa, where his 28.7-yard career average on kickoff returns ranked second all-time in the Big Ten. The Giants have not placed Olszewski on injured reserve as of this writing. Even with the Smith-Marsette signing, there is one opening on the 53-man roster. So, there are more moves likely to come this week.
PFF grades: Matthew Stafford had a bottom 10 QB performance in Week 1
Photo by Amy Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images Yes, the offensive line graded as poorly as it looked The first Pro Football Focus (PFF) game grades of the season are in for the Los Angeles Rams. LA fell to the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football at Ford Field after a similar result in last year’s wildcard round. We know that injuries had the offensive line in shambles for the Rams, and the offense overall was stop-and-go as a result. The defense was energetic and aggressive early, but they faded down the stretch and allowed Detroit to lean into the running game and close out overtime with a 70-yard game-winning drive. Who were the top performers on each side of the ball in this game? There were also a few interesting notes that I noticed in the grades and advanced metrics that were worth including. Top five grades on offense: 1 – Jordan Whittington, WR: 72.9 Whittington played only two snaps, including an end around for a touchdown that was reversed by an AJ Arcuri holding penalty. PFF does include plays negated by penalty in their grading. Whittington could figure into a more significant role if Puka Nacua is out for an extended period. We have a Jordan Whittington block in the big leagues pic.twitter.com/2nARJXmmMF — Nash (@NashTalksTexas) September 9, 2024 1 – Ronnie Rivers, RB: 72.9 Rivers was on the field for seven snaps, earning LA’s best rushing grade at 71.4. He created 2.50 yards after contact while Kyren Williams managed 2.33. Final Rams RB snaps: Kyren Williams – 67 (91%)Ronnie Rivers – 7Blake Corum – 0 — Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) September 9, 2024 3 – Cooper Kupp, WR: 71.2 Stafford looked in Kupp’s direction 21 times while handing the receiver another two carries. That’s probably too many touches for the veteran at this stage in his career, but you have to marvel at his 14 catches, 120 total yards, and a touchdown. Kupp created 42 yards after the catch. His average depth of target (ADOT) at 7.4 is on the low side, but is probably attributable to the offensive line struggles. WHAT A PLAY! : @SNFonNBC | #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/mwb7mRq36y — Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) September 9, 2024 4 – Tyler Johnson, WR: 69.7 Johnson caught five passes for 79 yards, including his breakaway 63-yard sprint. He finished with 64 yards after contact and posted a pass blocking grade of 69.5—which is important considering how the Rams sometimes ask receivers to contribute to this facet and hold up against defensive ends. GO AHEAD @T_muhneyy10! : @SNFonNBC | #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/BkVLwnjIwz — Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) September 9, 2024 5 – Demarcus Robinson, WR: 68.4 LA’s third receiver finished with four catches for 42 yards. His best play came when Stafford extended out of the pocket with his legs and found Robinson out of structure. The two have a knack for such plays, and this is a continuation from late last season. Other notes on offense: Prior to the New York Jets taking on the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football, Matthew Stafford finished the opening weekend as the 22nd rated passer. That means he turned in a bottom 10 performance against his former team with a grade of just 51.8. The most concerning stat was that Stafford committed three turnover-worthy plays while not earning a single big-time throw. Matthew Stafford gets PICKED OFF in the end zone His first INT against his former team (via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/XjVGI5Kt47 — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 9, 2024 This game wasn’t exactly filled with top quarterbacking as Jared Goff managed a poor grade of 43.2. He had zero big-time throws and two turnover-worthy plays. And yes, the offensive line fared just as poorly as you’d expect. AJ Acuri, elevated from the practice squad and filling in for Alaric Jackson’s backup in Joe Noteboom, somehow had a pass blocking grade of 1.9 and an overall offensive grade of 25.9. Warren McClendon wasn’t much better at right tackle and had a pass blocking grade of 33.8. Joe Noteboom played 27 snaps at left tackle before suffering an ankle injury. His pass blocking grade was 7.2. Beaux Limmer, Steve Avila, Kevin Dotson, and Jonah Jackson were all in the 58.9 to 62.7 range for offensive grades. Stafford was pressured on 18 of his 51 dropbacks (35%), and it’s nearly impossible to play quarterback or function as an offense at that rate. Only Deshaun Watson, Bo Nix, and Daniel Jones were under duress more times this weekend. Top five grades on defense: 1 – John Johnson, DB: 91.5 Johnson led LA with an elite coverage grade of 90.2. He was targeted five times in coverage and allowed four receptions and 30 yards with a passer rating of just 52.1. His most impressive play came in coverage on Amon-Ra St. Brown where he collided with the receiver to take the ball away and give the Rams much-needed momentum around the midpoint of the fourth quarter. Johnson played 38 of 61 snaps, and it will be worth monitoring how he figures into the rotation moving forward. Kamren Curl played all 61 snaps. Rookie Kamren Kinchens played five. Quentin Lake also played every snap with 23 at safety and the rest in the slot. John Johnson III with the INT for the @RamsNFL! : #LARvsDET on NBC/Peacock : Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/xiGxPcVtII — NFL (@NFL) September 9, 2024 2 – Cobie Durant, CB: 82.7 It was positive seeing Durant have a strong game after struggling in his second season following a transition from the outside to slot corner. He played every snap in this game on the outside allowing two catches on three targets for 14 yards, a pass break-up (dropped INT), and a passer rating of 77.1. cobie durant almost picks off jared goff pic.twitter.com/SLfziupmlv — ◇ (@HOODH3RO) September 9, 2024 3 – Jared Verse, OLB: 75.5 LA’s first round pick led the team with six total pressures. The Rams had 15 in this game and the next closest
Ravens PFF grades: 7 worst performers on defense in Week 1 loss to the Chiefs
Ravens PFF grades: 7 worst performers on defense in Week 1 loss to the Chiefs glenn erby The Ravens are 0-1 and preparing for the Raiders after a disappointing but hard-fought 27-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday. Baltimore was solid on defense but couldn’t make enough plays to slow Patrick Mahomes, and Zach Orr’s unit fell victim to multiple explosive plays from rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy. The PFF grades are in, and we’re analyzing the seven highest-graded players on defense for Baltimore. 1 LB Malik Harrison BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Linebacker Malik Harrison #40 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on before playing against the Houston Texans at M&T Bank Stadium on September 10, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) PFF grade vs. Chiefs: 28.4 2 Roquan Smith KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – SEPTEMBER 05: Roquan Smith #0 of the Baltimore Ravens has a late hit on quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on September 05, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) PFF grade vs. Chiefs: 29.4 3 DE Broderick Washington Sep 5, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) scrambles from Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Broderick Washington (96) during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images PFF grade vs. Chiefs: 39.7 4 LB Trenton Simpson KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – SEPTEMBER 05: Justin Watson #84 of the Kansas City Chiefs is tackled by Trenton Simpson #23 of the Baltimore Ravens during the third quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on September 05, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) PFF grade vs. Chiefs: 46.1 5 DB Marcus Williams KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – SEPTEMBER 05: Rashee Rice #4 of the Kansas City Chiefs rushes against Marcus Williams #32 of the Baltimore Ravens during the third quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on September 05, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) PFF grade vs. Chiefs: 48.4 6 DB Kyle Hamilton LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 15: Kyle Hamilton of Baltimore Ravens looks on during the NFL match between Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 15, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Vincent Mignott/DeFodi Images via Getty Images) PFF grade vs. Chiefs: 49.7 7 LB Tavius Robinson Sep 5, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) runs the ball as Baltimore Ravens linebacker Tavius Robinson (95) chases during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images PFF grade vs.Chiefs: 57.9
Why the Ja’Marr Chase contract talks with Bengals broke down
Cara Owsley / USA TODAY NETWORK The Bengals’ offer would have surpassed Justin Jefferson’s deal, but Ja’Marr Chase wanted more. In the hours leading up to the Cincinnati Bengals’ Week 1 loss to the New England Patriots, the team was still actively working to get a contract extension done with superstar wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. A deal ultimately didn’t come to fruition, and we now have some details on where talks fell apart. On his podcast, NFL Spotlight, The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov detailed what prevented the team and Chase from committing long-term. “They tried Friday night. They even tried on Saturday into Saturday night, and they continued into Sunday morning, actually,” said Meirov. “They could not bridge the gap. It just was not happening. There were numbers they couldn’t figure out. There was a cash-flow issue. There was a years issue. The APY (average salary per year) was fine. It would have surpassed Justin Jefferson, but everything else was not there.” Meirov also added that the average annual value of the contract was in the $36 million range, which Chase’s camp was fine with, but they struggled with other aspects of the deal and ultimately were not able to close the gap. When Meirov mentioned a “years issue,” he does not give much more detail, but it is safe to assume the Bengals wanted a four-year extension, while Chase likely only wanted a three-year deal. A shorter deal allows Chase to hit the open market a year sooner to take advantage of a salary cap that will only increase. The Bengals likely wanted an additional year of security with Chase locked in at a rate that will almost certainly be much lower than what receivers are making four to five years from now. “Cash-flow” issues could relate to guarantees, signing bonuses, or (as has been widely speculated) the Bengals’ actual cash fluidity. With the season now underway, it looks increasingly likely that Chase will play this season under his fourth year on a rookie contract and that the two sides will return to the table next offseason. Follow our Twitter page and like our Facebook page to get the latest Cincinnati Bengals news, views, and other fun stuff. And Who Dey!
Giants-Vikings: 5 plays that led to Giants’ collapse
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Let’s take one more look For the second consecutive season, the New York Giants failed to score a touchdown in Week 1, as Big Blue was dominated, 28-6, by the Sam Darnold-led Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Darnold carved through the Giants, finishing the game 19 of 24 for 208 yards with a pair of touchdowns and a Darius Muasau interception. He started 10 of 10 for 136 yards with a touchdown. The Giants did not pressure Darnold. Man coverage was a liability and the defense’s zone coverage had holes, especially outside the numbers. There were issues throughout the Giants’ defense, after they started with a big Dexter Lawrence sack and an Andru Phillips forced fumble. The offense, however, was equally as offensive as the defense. Daniel Jones finished the game 22 of 42 for 186 yards with two interceptions. His timing was off, his accuracy was erratic, and he was uncomfortable all game. The offensive line surrendered five sacks, but some of those were on Jones. Brian Flores out-coached Brian Daboll throughout the game. It was — yet another — incredibly disheartening performance against a presumably beatable opponent. Positive takeaways have too frequently proven evasive for this New York Giants team; here are the five plays that elucidate that sad reality: Play 1: Van Ginkel for six The Giants were showing little to no life on offense all game. After a devastating defensive possession to open the second half (detailed in “Play 2”), Shane Bowen’s defense forced a three-and-out where Minnesota used two timeouts. A little momentum, maybe? Probably not. Oh boy. Daniel Jones is picked off by Andrew Van Ginkel and he takes it for a pick-6. Things are not going well for the G-Men. It’s 28-3 Minnesota.pic.twitter.com/OHAeG81Wx0 — Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 8, 2024 The Giants receive the football and try a quick pass to Wan’Dale Robinson (17) who was behind the back-receiver motioned behind a QUAD formation. The Vikings’ Andrew Van Ginkel (43) read the play with ease and intercepted the pass for a walk in touchdown, putting the Giants down 28-6. Play 2: Nailor in the coffin The Giants were down 14-3 at half-time with the Vikings set to receive the football. The Giants’ defense showed life, and forced a third-and-long checkdown that would have resulted in a punt, but Kayvon Thibodeaux was called for a face-mask while he was pass-rushing. Aaron Jones rushed for 31 yards on the next two plays. The third play was a Jalen Nailor touchdown that was effectively the nail in the coffin for the delusions still possessed by some Giants’ fans about a comeback. Came out swinging in the 2nd half.@jalennailor : @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/W1Rznq8oEj — Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 8, 2024 Great play call by Kevin O’Connell to use Justin Jefferson (18) as a fast-three to the field with a post (No. 1)/ wheel (No. 2) combination that forced Cor’Dale Flott (28) to bite hard on the Jefferson fake. Nailor (83) easily secure the touchdown and the Giants fall behind 21-3, which seems insurmountable with this iteration of the team. Play 3: Jones’ second interception Desperate, the Giants go for the points while down 22 points early in the fourth quarter: Harrison Smith grabs his 35th career INT for the @Vikings! : #MINvsNYG on FOX : https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/ot14OmYRGq — NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024 The Giants run a scissors concept to the field with a post/fade to the boundary. Jones targets Darius Slayton (86) on the post. I understand what went through Jones’ head. The underneath defender bailed to curl-flat from the line of scrimmage, which presented a throwing window behind him (the underneath defender). Josh Metellus (44) also bailed from the line of scrimmage to a middle-hook with the safety Harrison Smith (22) high and outside of Slayton. Jones attempted to put the ball back-shoulder to Slayton, away from Metellus, who started moving toward Slayton. However, he put the ball too far inside. Smith waited patiently for Jones to throw and then jumped outside the hip of Slayton for the pick. Play 4: 11 plays, 99 yards The star receiver wasn’t called upon a ton in the game. He caught four of six targets for 59 yards with this touchdown below: Way too easy for Justin Jefferson pic.twitter.com/HZzuRkPcWW — vikesinsider (@vikesinsider) September 8, 2024 Jefferson beat Tae Banks (3) inside in the one-on-one matchup and Darnold did an excellent job optimally placing the football for his star receiver. The outside jab foot by Jefferson got Banks to slightly close himself off to the inside, which was just enough time for Darnold to find Jefferson. This touchdown concluded an 11-play, 99-yard drive. Yes, after an elite specail teams’ punt coverage play, Sam Darnold still managed to score a touchdown. The Jefferson play below was the catalyst to the drive: It doesn’t matter who’s throwing the ball to Justin Jefferson pic.twitter.com/vVSKZthHkH — Kyle Yates (@KyleYNFL) September 8, 2024 Jefferson secures this 44 yard catch on second-and-twelve. He stemmed inside and broke outward away from the underneath defender and the deep safety. And, to his credit, that’s a beautiful pass by Darnold. Jordon Addison had a pair of outside-the-numbers consecutive catches that totaled 29 yards to help set up the Jefferson touchdown above. Play 5: Containing Aaron Jones… …was something the Giants struggled to do. Jones rushed 14 times for 94 yards (6.7 YPC) with one touchdown. New York missed tackles, lost contain, and looked poor overall against the former Green Bay Packers’ back. He out-paced Nick McCloud (44) to the outside on his early three-yard touchdown scamper: Aaron Jones is going to have a BIG year in the Vikings offense led by Kevin O’Connell pic.twitter.com/L1RfyeSYCg — vikesinsider (@vikesinsider) September 8, 2024 Neither the offense or defense seemed capable to compete against the Vikings. This could be a long season for the Giants.
Minnesota Vikings News and Links: Jordan Addison Dealing with “Pretty Significant Soreness” in Right Ankle
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images It’s uncertain how much time, if any, he’ll miss The sound you hear coming out of Eagan is a measured, but relieved sigh as head coach Kevin O’Connell noted Monday that Jordan Addison has “pretty significant soreness” in his ankle, but it sounds as though it’s structurally sound. Jordan Addison has “pretty significant soreness” in his injured ankle, per Kevin O’Connell. Vikings will be “smart” with Addison, he said, but also know he healed quickly from his previous ankle injury during training camp. — Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) September 9, 2024 The Vikings will exercise caution with Addison, but it’s worth noting that while he had an injured ankle in training camp — this time, it’s the right ankle. It was ol’ lefty this summer. Over at ESPN.com, Bill Barnwell has a massive breakdown of the week that was — or has been, anyway — and gives quite a bit of love to Sam Darnold, who was brilliant on Sunday. NFL Week 1 surprise wins, losses, players: Lessons from Sunday Barnwell makes a note of the fact that Darnold returned to his old stomping grounds — figuratively more so than literally, as he played for the Jets — and did the stomping, breaking down an array of big-time throws the former third-overall pick made in a convincing win over the Giants. #Vikings always were THE best situation for a young or veteran QB of those that had major QB turnover this season. It’s only one week, I know, but Darnold benefitting from a great teaching program/supporting cast for QB’s in Minnesota — Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) September 9, 2024 Minnesota Vikings News and Links At Purple Insider, Matthew Coller — who was in New Jersey to cover the game — has a full breakdown of what the Vikings did to create a strong support system around Darnold to find the best version of himself. In Darnold’s winning debut, Vikings find a blueprint for supporting him I like unconventional analysis like this, where it’s easy to look at what an individual player does rather than what happens around them to make them do what they did. Highly recommended reading here. Over at Pro Football Talk, Mike Florio and Chris Simms dug into their bag of tricks to break down not only the quarterback the Vikings stymied on Sunday, but the one that got away as Kirk Cousins’ debut with the Falcons led to a slightly better day than Daniel Jones’ had, but not markedly so. NFL Week 1 worry meter: NYG’s Jones, ATL’s Cousins Simms seems to downplay Jones’ issues, saying one interception was “only on a screen pass” (Andrew Van Ginkel’s) while Harrison Smith’s was late and the game was already over. And while I suppose that’s technically true with the Smith interception being the fifth play of the fourth quarter when the score was already as it finished (28-6), I still think the timing is a bit less relevant than the fact that Smith baited him into throwing a pretty ugly interception at that part of the field. And beyond that, if he somehow threw a touchdown there, the Giants would have been within two scores with more than 13 minutes left. I’m not a fan of this analysis. Cousins’ Falcons literally got kicked to death — but he was bad in his debut, and perhaps not nearly healthy enough to be out there. His already questionable mobility is in doubt after his Achilles injury, and being a sitting duck isn’t good for anyone back there. Both Simms and Florio teased the idea of looking at Michael Penix Jr., but didn’t really come out and say it. The video also rolls into a Simms love-fest for Darnold, so that’s fun. Over on his Substack newsletter, Judd Zulgad drops some thoughts on Minnesota’s impressive win on Sunday. Zulgad’s 4 thoughts on Vikings’ victory over Giants Zulgad notes the run/pass balance struck on Monday, as well as one thing I hadn’t thought about that helped this team be mentally tough on Sunday — a tough training camp. The Vikings fumbled on their first offensive drive — something that happened all too often last season, especially early — and still managed to put the screws to a severely outclassed Giants team. Finally, over at Zone Coverage, site founder Tom Schreier posits that the team did enough in free agency to keep this team afloat as it continues down the path of a retool as opposed to a total rebuild. The Vikings Did Enough In Free Agency To Avoid A Lost Season Schreier’s point is well taken. The Vikings addressed needs at almost every level of the team — quarterback with Darnold, running back with Aaron Jones, up front with Jonathan Greenard, in the middle of the defense with Andrew Van Ginkel and Blake Cashman and even in the defensive backfield with Stephon Gilmore. None of the signings were considered flashy at the time, but each will play or have played a pretty significant role on how this team navigates a transition year. In the news Former Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. worked out for the Patriots on Monday, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 of Houston. Smith was in camp with the Chiefs but was cut and not signed by anyone to their practice squad or otherwise. Darius Slayton is in the concussion protocol following Sunday’s game against the Vikings, reports Patricia Traina of New York Giants on S.I. Despite a brutal Week 1 performance, Brian Daboll has already said Daniel Jones is starting next week against Washington. However, it can’t be great that it’s already a discussion, right? Here’s how some former Vikings fared in Week 1 (please comment any I miss so I can add them): Eric Wilson had four total tackles and two tackles for loss in Green Bay’s loss to the Eagles; Kirk Cousins completed 16-of-26 passes for 155 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions in Atlanta’s loss to Pittsburgh, while Mike Hughes
Bills at Dolphins odds: Thursday Night Football opening line for Week 2
Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images An AFC East grudge match takes center stage on Thursday Night Football in Week 2 as the Miami Dolphins host the Buffalo Bills. The Miami Dolphins are coming off their Week 1 comeback win over the Jacksonville Jaguars and immediately have to begin preparations for a Thursday Night Football meeting with the Buffalo Bills. A division rivalry game is always a tough game—add in only four days of rest, recuperation, and preparation, and it gets even tougher. The good news for Miami is that they were at home in Week 1 and are home for this Week 2 meeting, limiting travel time. The bad news is that the Bills have won the last four meetings, including a playoff contest, and have won 13 of the last 15 meetings. This could be an early-season uphill battle for the Dolphins. However, the oddsmakers at FanDuel sportsbook do not necessarily see it that way. They have the Dolphins favored by 2.5 points as of Monday afternoon. The line initially opened with Miami only favored by 1.5 points, so the early betting has moved the line even more in Miami’s favor. The Dolphins are -132 on the moneyline for a straight-up win while the Bills are +112. The point total for the game is set at 49.5. Is that line accurate? Does it surprise you that the Bills are not favored given how well they have done against the Dolphins in recent years? Will Miami be able to cover the 2.5-point spread and come out of this game with a 2-0 start to the season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Detroit Lions’ podium/lectern rotation is the silliest team saga
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!
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25611960/2170874617.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1 "Fantasy Football ‘24: Waiver Wire, Week 2 Edition")
Fantasy Football ‘24: Waiver Wire, Week 2 Edition
Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season is almost in the books! Thankfully, after the Jordan Love injury on Friday night there weren’t too many significant injuries on Sunday. But as is the case every week in fantasy, several big-name players came up snake eyes in Week 1 (I see you, Joe Burrow, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Drake London, Marvin Harrison, Jr., Travis Kelce, and Mark Andrews managers). It’s natural that the biggest overreactions of the entire season come after Week 1. No, all hope is not lost, no matter what happened. And if you had a bad opening week, it’s natural to look at your league’s free agent (FA) pool to see if there might be players available who can improve your roster. I’m here to help. Working the Waiver Wire is an important component of success in season-long fantasy football. Some might say it’s as important as the draft. A few key elements of the Waiver Wire experience vary by league, such as league size (the smaller the league, the better the FA pool), bench size (ditto), availability of an IR spot, and how waivers are processed. Some leagues remain in the Fantasy Dark Ages and use priority waivers. If that’s you, it’s time to be like the cool kids and change to a Free Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB) system for next year. If your league uses FAAB, one thing to bear in mind is that your dollars are worth a little more right now. Why? Because any player you acquire now might be with you for 13 or 14 more weeks before your playoffs start. With each passing week, that number goes down, but you’re using the same dollars. I’m not arguing that you should blow your entire budget now, and saving money for later in the season has benefits. My take: Unlike last year, which featured Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams emerging right away, the Free Agent crop this week is below average for Week 2 pickups. The Process: Each week, I try to identify the top Waiver Wire targets and evaluate the short- and long-term prospects of those players. I also do my best to reveal which players who are coming off a big week are fool’s gold. Finally, I look at streamers who might help you in a pinch (this is usually more important during Bye weeks). Note that I’m writing this column BEFORE the Monday night game. Some players discussed won’t be available in your league. I try to list players who are available in more than 50% of leagues. But what does that even mean? A 10-team league with six bench spots will have a much larger FA pool than a 14-team league with eight. Most leagues fall somewhere in between. This isn’t “one size fits all.” By way of example, I’m not going to discuss J.K. Dobbins, Brian Thomas, Jr., or Rasheed Shaheed because they each should’ve been drafted in the vast majority of leagues. I’ve got Dobbins on more than half of my rosters! If any of these guys are available in your league, make them priority adds. Let’s take a look at what’s available this week. WEEK 2 BYES: NONE Baker has found a home with the BucsPhoto by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images Week 2 Waiver Wire Quarterback: Baker Mayfield. Mayfield won’t be available in Superflex leagues, but he should be out there in plenty of 1-QB leagues. He finished as a Top-10 quarterback last season, and is off to a scorching start in 2024. If you read my Week 1 Preview last week, you know he was my top QB sleeper for Week 1. He won’t get to play many defenses as bad as the Commanders, and obviously that very favorable matchup is part of why he went off with four TD passes, but he’s been on a heater going back to midway through last season. He’s got the weapons to put up big numbers, and he’d be a top priority for me if I needed a fill-in for Love. He’s a good add to your roster in any case. Matthew Stafford. Stafford is another quarterback to consider if you need help at the position. He’s always going to be slinging it in Sean McVay’s creative offense and has solid receiving weapons at his disposal, even if Puka Nacua (knee) ends up missing time. He has Top-10 QB potential. Justin Fields. A big discussion this off-season was if and when Fields might take over for Russell Wilson in Pittsburgh. It happened immediately, due to a calf injury that sidelined Wilson for the opener at Atlanta. Fields didn’t exactly light it up at the Falcons, but his rushing prowess makes him a valuable fantasy asset any time he’s going to play. The timeline of Wilson’s return isn’t clear, and the Steelers did win on the road with Fields under center. He’s worth a roster spot. No, I cannot in good conscience recommend Malik Willis. Just, no. If you want a shaky QB with good weapons, Sam Darnold is a better choice. He’s rostered in the majority of Superflex leagues though, and I wouldn’t bother rostering him in 1-QB leagues unless you’re desperate. Want people in your league to say “wow, that savvy manager is thinking ahead?” If you’re in a Superflex, have the space, and want a stash with upside, consider either Michael Penix, Jr. or Jameis Winston, based on what we saw in Week 1. Warning: Tank on the move!Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images Running Back: Tank Bigsby. Bigsby struggled as a rookie, but he had a great camp and appears to be in line for a bigger role in 2024. He and Travis Etienne each had 12 carries in Jacksonville’s loss to Miami, and he gained a lot more yards while Etienne lost a costly fumble. He’s a good add for depth to your RB corps. Zach Charbonnet. Kenneth Walker is the clear No. 1 for the Seahawks, with Charbonnet slotted in for some third down and change-of-pace
