RAMS ARE LONE
UNBEATEN
It was again quite the week around the NFL, highlighted by a
number of comebacks and some near record-setting performances. And what a night
at Foxborough.
Aren’t things getting interesting around the National
Football League?
The week started at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New
Jersey when the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles pushed around
the New York Giants on Thursday evening. It moved to Sunday afternoon and in
places such as Houston, Cincinnati and London, England – where the Seattle
Seahawks and Oakland Raiders renewed acquaintances. And there was quite the
showdown in Foxborough between a pair of Super Bowl contenders.
Meanwhile, there was some unscheduled extra football in
South Florida between the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins. That means there’s
now been six weeks of action in NFL 2018 and at least one overtime game on each
occasion. And as usual, there was some movement in these always-intriguing
power rankings.
32: ARIZONA CARDINALS 1-5
Last week: L,
27-17 at MIN
Last rank: 32nd
Recap: Off their
first win of the season, Steve Wilks’ Cardinals made their way to the Twin
Cities to take on a Vikings’ squad that was stung at home by the Buffalo Bills
in Week 3. A fourth-quarter touchdown run by David Johnson was the team’s only
offensive visit to the end zone on Sunday as the Arizona offense managed only
269 total yards in the game. The club was limited to only 61 yards on the
ground while rookie quarterback Josh Rosen was sacked four times. He did manage
to throw for 240 yards but also committed one of the team’s turnovers on the
afternoon. The Cards have scored a mere 82 points during their 1-5 start.
Next Week: It’s a
short week for the Cards, who host the Denver Broncos on Thursday night. The
teams have met 10 times in the past and Big Red has only won one of those
encounters (8-1-1). That came at Arizona in 2010, when the club administered a
43-13 whooping on the Men from Mile High.
Playoff hopes:
The on-the-job training continues for Rosen and the Arizona offensive unit,
which was limited to fewer than 300 total yards and reached the end zone just
once against the Vikings. And the lack of support has already taken its toll on
the Cardinals’ defense. An already long year continues.
31: OAKLAND RAIDERS 1-5
Last week: L, 27-3 vs SEA (London)
Last rank: 31st
Recap: The Silver and Black made the trek across
both the United States and the Atlantic Ocean to square off with the Seattle
Seahawks at Wembley Stadium in London. The Raiders allowed at least 20 points
in each of their first five games and watched their latest foe take a 14-0 lead
early in the second quarter on the way to another rough effort from Paul
Guenther’s defensive unit. Oakland allowed 369 total yards (155 on the ground)
and allowed the ‘Hawks to convert 9-of-13 on third down. While quarterback
Derek Carr wasn’t intercepted for only the second time in six games this year,
he was sacked a half-dozen times and lost a pair of fumbles.
Next Week: The Raiders are off for a week after
they return from London. They get back to action in Week 8 when Andrew Luck and
the Indianapolis Colts visit the Bay Area. And that game is followed four days
later with a short trip to face the 49ers on a Thursday night in San Francisco.
Playoff hopes: Talk about a team headed in the
wrong direction? The Oakland offense laid a big egg overseas and the team just
doesn’t have enough defense to make up for problems on the other side of the
football. This was the Raiders’ most disappointing performance of the season
and that’s saying something.
30: NEW YORK GIANTS 1-5
Last week: L, 34-13 vs PHI
Last rank: 26th
Recap: Pat Shurmur’s squad didn’t have a lot of
time to get over that heartbreaking loss at Carolina as the Giants hosted the
defending Super Bowl champion Eagles on Thursday night. Quarterback Eli Manning
had his issues and spent the evening with the Philadelphia defense in his face,
sacked four times and hit on a total of 13 occasions. Rookie running back
Saquon Barkley had another big performance (222 yards from scrimmage and the
team’s only touchdown) but Big Blue simply couldn’t keep up with a Birds’
attack that seemed to get stronger as the game unfolded. The team’s lack of
talent in the trenches is a major concern.
Next Week: Big Blue is the national spotlight
for the second straight week as the struggling Giants make their way south to
Atlanta to take on the battered Falcons on Monday Night Football. The teams
last met in 2015, with Dan Quinn’s club coming away with a 24-20 win at MetLife
Stadium.
Playoff hopes: Six games into this latest season
and the Giants look like a team in search of a lot of answers. Manning has
certainly seen better days but the team’s offensive line has become quite the
liability. And New York’s defense has its own set of issues, especially when it
comes to stopping the run.
29: INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 1-5
Last week: L, 42-34 at NYJ
Last rank: 30th
Recap: Frank Reich’s squad, losers of three
straight games, had some extra time to prepare for their fourth road game in
six weeks as the Colts invaded MetLife Stadium for a date with the Jets. And
the team spent the afternoon shooting itself in the hoof as Indianapolis turned
over the football four times, three of those interceptions by quarterback
Andrew Luck – who simply didn’t get a lot of help from his pass-catchers.
Running back Milton Mack was a bright spot, running for 89 yards on 12 carries.
And Luck did throw for 301 yards and four scores while not being sacked. But
make it three consecutive contests in which the Colts allowed at least 37
points.
Next Week: The Colts return home to face the
Buffalo Bills, a team they haven’t hosted since Luck’s rookie season in 2012. A
year ago in snowy Orchard Park (Week 14), Indianapolis fell short in overtime,
13-7. These one-time AFC East rivals meet for only the seventh time since 2003.
Playoff hopes: The team got some pieces back
this week but there’s still a lack of talent on this roster overall. It’s
simply not ready to challenge for a postseason berth. Of course, no team is
exactly pulling away in the AFC South so there’s always hope. But the Colts
need a lot more talented bodies if they’re going to make a run.
28: SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 1-4
Last week: MNF at GB
Last rank: 28th
Recap: Kyle Shanahan’s club self-destructed last
Sunday at home against the Cardinals and the team looked to rebound on the road
against the struggling Green Bay Packers. That would be easier said than done
for a club that had high expectations entering the season but struggled early,
even with quarterback Jim Garoppolo healthy. Even minus their star
signal-caller, the 49ers have found a way to score some points. But the team
has made its share of mistakes. Over the past two games, Shanahan’s team has
turned over the ball a combined seven times in losses to the Chargers and
Cardinals. And the team has only three takeaways during its 1-4 start.
Next Week: The site of the game hasn’t changed
but the time certainly has. The 49ers were originally scheduled to host the
division-leading Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night. But the game was flexed and
now Shanahan’s team will kick things off things earlier that day. The teams
have split their two-game set three of the past four seasons.
Playoff hopes: Down their starting quarterback
and with a defensive unit that has lacked big-play ability, there would have to
be a dramatic reversal of fortune for this club to avoid another losing
campaign. Unfortunately, these Niners have certainly had their share of bad
luck when it comes to injuries.
27: CLEVELAND BROWNS 2-3-1
Last week: L, 38-14 vs LAC
Last rank: 23rd
Recap: The Browns, off a third overtime game in
five weeks, were back at home for the second straight Sunday and prepared to
take on a Los Angeles Chargers’ team loaded with plenty of offensive talent.
And defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ unit got a steady dose of running
back Melvin Gordon as the Bolts racked up 246 yards on the ground on the
afternoon. Cleveland’s pass rush came up with only one sack of Philip Rivers
and the Browns, who entered the week with a NFL-best 15 takeaways, forced only
one turnover. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles’ pass rush got to Baker Mayfield five
times and forced him into a pair of interceptions.
Next Week: The Browns travel for the first time
in three weeks looking to end that 23-game road losing streak that dates back
to 2015. They take on the Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in a battle of
former Heisman trophy winner in Cleveland’s Baker Mayfield (‘17) and Tampa
Bay’s Jameis Winston (‘13).
Playoff hopes: After playing five straight games
decided by four or fewer points (or in the tie with the Steelers, 0 points),
the Browns were simply overwhelmed by a very talented Chargers’ squad. It was a
slight step backwards for Hue Jackson’s club, which suddenly finds itself all
alone in the AFC North basement.
26: DENVER BRONCOS 2-4
Last week: L, 23-20 vs LAR
Last rank: 29th
Recap: The Broncos took a three-game skid into a
home showdown with the 5-0 Los Angeles Rams. And while the team dropped its
fourth consecutive game, the combination of playing the NFC’s lone undefeated
team tough and the dreadful performance of a few other teams is the reason
Vance Joseph’s club actually moved up a few spots in these rankings. Still, the
Denver defense was gashed on the ground for a second consecutive week. After
allowing the New York Jets to run for 232 yards last Sunday, the Rams rolled up
270 yards rushing – 208 by Los Angeles’ running back Todd Gurley. Von Miller
and company managed five sacks but that was one of only a few positives.
Next Week: It’s another matchup with an NFC West
club as Joseph’s squad heads to the desert for a Thursday night affair with the
Arizona Cardinals. Denver owns an 8-1-1 lifetime record in this interconference
series. But that one loss came the last time the Broncos visited Arizona
(43-13) back in 2010.
Playoff hopes: Quarterback Case Keenum and the
Broncos’ offense just isn’t talented enough to overcome the play of a Denver
defensive unit that is allowing other teams to control the football. As for the
postseason, the team stands with a 1-3 record in the conference, including a
home divisional loss to the Chiefs.
25: BUFFALO BILLS 2-4
Last week: L, 20-13 at HOU
Last rank: 27th
Recap: Following a miserable 0-2 start that saw
the team allow a combined 78 points in losses to the Ravens and Chargers, Sean
McDermott’s club had an opportunity to get back to the .500 mark. The Bills
made their first trip to Houston since 2014 and this was a physical contest in
which both quarterbacks took their share of hits. And injured rookie
signal-caller Josh Allen would wind up giving way to Nathan Peterman, the
latter serving up a pair of fourth-quarter interception – including a pick-six
with 1:23 that proved to be the difference in the game. Buffalo’s defense
limited the Texans to 216 total yards, racked up seven sacks and forced three
turnovers in the losing effort.
Next Week: The Bills are showing they can get
after the quarterback. And that could be very bad news for Andrew Luck and the
Indianapolis Colts, who host this series for the first time since 2012. A year
ago in a blizzard at Orchard Park (Week 14), McDermott’s team came away with a
13-7 overtime victory.
Playoff hopes: Buffalo’s offense continues to be
an issue and this unit has scored only six touchdowns in as many games. The
offensive line is playing a bit better and the running game has been more
productive. But there’s simply no balance and the failure to move the ball
consistently is hurting the defense as well.
24: DETROIT LIONS 2-3
Last week: OFF
Last rank: 25th
Recap: It’s been an interesting start to an NFL
head coaching career for Matt Patricia. The Lions looked horrendous in a Week 1
Monday night loss to the visiting New York Jets. But the club has split its
last four games, defeating the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers in
the process. Quarterback Matthew Stafford has rebounded after that prime time
disaster, throwing nine touchdown passes and only one pick in the team’s last
four games. The ground game looks better these days thanks to the combination
of rookie Kerryon Johnson and veteran LeGarrette Blount. But Patricia’s defense
has still been spotty, despite a pass rush that has produced 17 sacks in five
games.
Next Week: Patricia certainly knows a little
something about the Miami Dolphins having spent so many years with the
Patriots. When the team returns to the playing field in Week 7, the Lions will
make their first trip to South Florida since 2010. That season, Detroit came up
with a 34-27 victory over the ‘Fins.
Playoff hopes: It’s obviously still very early
and Patricia’s intriguing Lions are hanging around in the bunched-up NFC North.
When they get back from their time off, there’s a stretch of three road games
in four Sundays – highlighted by back-to-back visits to Minnesota and to
Chicago, respectively, in Weeks 9-10.
23: TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 2-3
Last week: L, 34-29 at ATL
Last rank: 19th
Recap: Dirk Koetter’s club had two weeks to get
its act together after consecutive losses to the Steelers and Bears in which
opposing quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger (3) and Mitch Trubisky (6) combined to
throw nine touchdown passes. But after taking a 6-0 lead in the first quarter
at Atlanta, Falcons’ quarterback Matt Ryan began to pick apart his old head
coach Mike Smith’s defensive unit and wound up throwing for 354 yards and three
scores without an interception. Jameis Winston had his ups and downs. He and
the team made a run in the second half and had an opportunity to pull off a
major comeback. But the club lost its fourth straight in this series.
Next Week: The Bucs play host to the Cleveland
Browns for the first time since 2010. It’s just the 10th meeting between the
clubs in a series that dates back to 1976, Tampa’s initial season in the NFL
and when they resided in the AFC West. In their last meeting, the Browns
prevailed at Cleveland, 22-17, four years ago.
Playoff hopes: From truly magical to somewhat
comical, at least when it comes to the defensive side of the ball. Simply put,
the Buccaneers can’t stop anyone these days – especially through the air. A
second divisional road win would have been nice. But Koetter’s club had two
weeks to prepare for the Falcons and came up short.
22: DALLAS COWBOYS 3-3
Last week: W, 40-7 vs JAC
Last rank: 22nd
Recap: Head coach Jason Garrett was feeling the
heat this week from any number of directions following his lack of aggressive
play-calling during overtime in an eventual loss to the Houston Texans (see
ESPN’s Todd
Archer). But winning cures an awful lot of things and it will be
interesting to hear the narrative this week as the team made surprisingly easy
work of the reigning AFC South champions. Quarterback Dak Prescott threw for
183 yards and a pair of touchdowns and also added 82 yards and a score on the
ground. He was sacked three times and put the ball on the turf twice but got
both back as the Cowboys played turnover-free football.
Next Week: Regardless of the record, there are
few rivalries in this league that stir the emotions of Cowboys vs. Redskins.
Dallas has had Washington’s number as of late, winning four straight and eight
of the last 10 meetings. The teams meet at FedExField, where the Cowboys have
won five consecutive games dating back to 2013.
Playoff hopes: A 33-point win will do wonders
for a team’s confidence. But so far this season, the Cowboys have been one team
at home (3-0) and another on the road (0-3). If they are to be a legitimate
playoff contender they need to break that habit sooner than later. And a
victory at Washington would be a huge first step.
21: NEW YORK JETS 3-3
Last week: W, 42-34 vs IND
Last rank: 24th
Recap: Todd Bowles’ squad ended a three-game
losing streak a week via a rout of the Denver Broncos. Now the Jets were back
at home for a second straight Sunday ready to take on Andrew Luck and the
slumping Indianapolis Colts. New York was back to playing opportunistic
football as it scooped up three errant passes by quarterback Andrew Luck –
including a 17-yard interception return for a score by cornerback Morris
Claiborne just 12 seconds into the game. Rookie signal-caller Sam Darnold hit
on 80 percent of his passes for 280 yards and two scores (1 interception) and a
balanced offense produced 36 running plays and 32 passing plays.
Next Week: For the third consecutive Sunday, the
Green and White are at home and this week will play host to the Vikings. It’s
the teams’ first meeting since 2014, when the Purple Gang knocked off the Jets
in Minneapolis, 30-24, in overtime. The win snapped Minnesota’s seven-game
losing streak in this series.
Playoff hopes: Back-to-back home wins over
Denver and Indianapolis suddenly has the team back to .500. Darnold has proven
his resiliency and while he continues to make his share of mistakes, he has
also responded with more than his share of big plays. But this club will only
go as far as a ball-hawking defense can take it.
20: HOUSTON TEXANS 3-3
Last week: W, 20-13 vs BUF
Last rank: 21st
Recap: Thanks to consecutive overtime victories
over the Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys, a Houston Texans’ team that
opened the season 0-3 had a chance to get back to .500 if the club could knock
off the visiting Buffalo Bills. Quarterback Deshaun Watson was hurting after
last Sunday night’s overtime win over the Cowboys and against the Bills, he was
sacked seven times and turned over the football on three occasions. But Bill
O’Brien’s resilient club also came away with three takeaways, including a
28-yard interception return by cornerback Johnathan Joseph with 1:23 to play at
the expense of Buffalo quarterback Nathan Peterman.
Next Week: The Texans look to get back on track
in the series that they had recently dominated. But a year ago, the season
started with a 29-7 home loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars and things got worse
later that season courtesy of a 45-7 setback in Week 15. Prior to ‘17. Houston
owned a six-game winning streak in the series.
Playoff hopes: What a difference a few weeks
makes. The Texans have come away with a pair of hard-earned home victories the
last two Sunday and in the process, no other club in the division has won a
game over the same time span. There’s suddenly a three-way tie in the AFC South
with plenty of football remaining.
19: TENNESSEE TITANS 3-3
Last week: L, 21-0 vs BAL
Last rank: 11th
Recap: Five games into the season, the Titans’
offense has been in neutral. And this unit figured to have its issues with the
Baltimore Ravens’ impressive defense coming to Nashville. That proved to be an
understatement as Matt LaFleur’s managed only 106 total yards and was a
horrendous 1-of-10 on third down. Tennessee ran only 40 offensive plays to the
Ravens’ 72 and had the football for just 22:26. When Marcus Mariota did have
his hands on the pigskin, he and the ball wound up on the ground as he finished
with 15 pass attempts while being sacked 11 times. This is a Titans’ attack
very much headed in the wrong direction.
Next Week: Mike Vrabel’s club has another
formidable task ahead of it when it travels to Wembley Stadium at London,
England to face Philip Rivers and the Los Angeles Chargers. The teams square
off for the second time in three years, the latest a 45-35 win by the Bolts at
San Diego in 2016.
Playoff hopes: After four games, the Titans were
earning a lot of attention thanks to a road win at Jacksonville followed by an
overtime victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles. But the team
hasn’t won or scored a touchdown the last two weeks and it’s hard to pinpoint
the exact reason for the issues.
18: SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 3-3
Last week: W, 27-3 at OAK (London)
Last rank: 20th
Recap: It would be quite the road trip for Pete
Carroll’s team as the Seahawks made the long trip from the Pacific Northwest to
London, England, to face the Oakland Raiders at Wembley Stadium. A week ago,
Seattle’s running game came up with 190 yards in a losing effort to the Rams.
On Sunday against the Silver and Black, it was Chris Carson and a slew of
Seattle runners that rolled up 155 yards on the ground courtesy of 37 attempts.
On the other side of the ball, a steady pass rush sacked Raiders’ quarterback
Derek Carr six times and forced him into a pair of lost fumbles. The ‘Hawks
limited Oakland to a paltry 185 total yards in a comfortable win.
Next Week: Carroll’s club gets a week off
following its long trip to England. The team returns to action in Week 8 in the
Motor City to face the Detroit Lions. Including a playoff meeting between the
clubs at Seattle in 2016, the Seahawks have taken five of the last six games in
this series dating back to ‘03.
Playoff hopes: While the Seahawks still trail
the undefeated Los Angeles Rams by three games in the NFC West and have already
lost to Sean McVay’s team this season, the rest of the conference is pretty
bunched up these days and a team that has rebounded to win three of its last
four games is still very much in the playoff picture.
17: ATLANTA FALCONS 2-4
Last week: W, 34-29 vs TB
Last rank: 18th
Recap: Losers of three straight games in which
the team surrendered an incredible 121 points in setbacks to the Saints,
Bengals and Steelers. The division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers were in town, a
team Dan Quinn’s squad had taken three straight from entering Sunday. After
falling behind early 6-0, the Falcons came out swinging and built a 24-13 lead
at intermission. Matt Ryan threw for 354 yards and three scores and while wide
receiver Julio Jones still hasn’t scored a touchdown this season, he was target
14 times in this contest and hauled in 10 passes for an important 143 yards.
There were some anxious moments at the end but the team snapped a three-game
losing streak.
Next Week: Once again, the injury-riddled
Falcons aren’t traveling as they take on Eli Manning and the New York Giants in
a Monday night tilt at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It’s the fifth home game in seven
weeks for the Quinn’s club, which then takes its midseason vacation in Week 8.
Playoff hopes: Holding serve at home against the
rival Buccaneers was essential if Atlanta had any hopes of getting back into
the NFC South race. There’s a little extra time to get ready for the visiting
Giants and Quinn and company need to build on this win as the playoff-test
Falcons try to climb back to respectability.
16: MIAMI DOLPHINS 4-2
Last week: W, 31-28 vs CHI (OT)
Last rank: 17th
Recap: Reeling after consecutive road losses to
the Patriots and Bengals, Adam Gase’s club returned to South Florida to take on
the rejuvenated Chicago Bears, winners of three straight and with two weeks to
prepare for this reunion of sorts. But it was backup quarterback Brock Osweiler
at the helm of the Miami offense and he led the team to a 7-0 first-quarter
lead. The Dolphins would fall behind 21-10 in the third quarter but the
much-maligned signal-caller had quite the afternoon as he overcame a pair of
picks by throwing for 380 yards and three scores, including fourth-quarter
strikes to wideout Albert Wilson. And ageless Frank Gore ran for 101 yards.
Next Week: For the second straight Sunday, the
Dolphins are at home against an NFC North foe as they host the intriguing Detroit
Lions for the first time since 2010. That game resulted in 34-27 loss, as did
the last time the clubs met four years ago at Ford Field, the Lions coming away
with a 20-16 victory.
Playoff hopes: Just when it looked like the sky
was falling a bit for Gase’s club the Dolphins gathered themselves and came
away with a huge comeback win. There has to be some concern on the part of the
head coach as his club has allowed a combined 93 points the last three weeks.
But the ‘Fins are more than just hanging around.
15: LOS ANGELES CHARGERS 4-2
Last week: W, 38-14 at CLE
Last rank: 16th
Recap: A year ago, it took the Chargers five
games to break into the win column. Now Anthony Lynn’s team arrived in
Cleveland with a 3-2 record and off two consecutive victories. The Bolts drew
first blood less than five minutes into the game and never trailed as running
back Melvin Gordon finished the afternoon with 132 yards rushing and three
touchdowns on 18 carries – part of a Los Angeles’ ground attack that rolled the
Browns’ formidable defense for 246 yards. The Chargers’ pass rush got to
Cleveland rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield five times and picked off the young
signal-caller twice. The team has scored at least 23 points in each of their
six games in ’18.
Next Week: After a Sunday tilt at Cleveland, the
Chargers return home…well, sort of. Lynn and company are the host team next
week at London’s Wembley Stadium vs. the Tennessee Titans. It shapes up as a
very intriguing game within the conference, especially for a Bolts’ team
looking for its first playoff berth since 2013.
Playoff hopes: This was a team that won nine of
its final 12 games a year ago and is now off to a 4-2 start. Lynn’s team is
suddenly riding a three-game winning streak and has a different look to it at
the moment in terms of confidence. There are still a few issues but the arrow
is pointing up for these Bolts.
14: PITTSBURGH STEELERS 3-2-1
Last week: W, 28-21 at CIN
Last rank: 15th
Recap: Including that crazy wild card playoff
win at Cincinnati in 2015, the Steelers took a six-game winning streak over the
Bengals into this important AFC North showdown. Mike Tomlin’s team punted on
its first two possessions of the game and would eventually fall behind, 7-0, in
what was a back-and-forth affair that featured plenty of big moments by both
clubs. But quarterback Ben Roethlisberger stepped to the forefront with his
team down by one point with 1:18 to play. He orchestrated a seven play, 77-yard
touchdown drive in 68 seconds and wideout Antonio Brown turned a short pass
into the game-winning score with 10 seconds to play.
Next Week: The Black and Gold is off before
returning to action at home In Week 8 as they host the Cleveland Browns. It’s a
rematch from the teams’ opening game this season, one that went five quarter
and resulted in a 21-21 tie. The Steelers have prevailed in 14 consecutive home
games in this series dating back to 2004.
Playoff hopes: Six games into the season and the
Steelers are finally back above .500 for the first time this season. More importantly,
the club made up for that home loss to the Ravens with a road win at
Cincinnati. It’s been a wild start to 2018 for the defending AFC North
champions and who knows what the next two weeks have in store.
13: WASHINGTON
REDSKINS 3-2
Last week: W, 23-17 vs CAR
Last rank: 14th
Recap: Jay Gruden’s club was coming off a short
week following that lopsided Monday night setback at New Orleans. And the
Redskins had dropped five straight to the Carolina Panthers dating back to ‘09.
But Washington got out of the gates fast with a pair of first-quarter touchdown
passes from Alex Smith to Vernon Davis and Paul Richardson, respectively, and
would wind up taking an early 14-0 lead. The club would settle for three field
goals the rest of the afternoon but that was still enough to hold off a
Carolina team that made things interesting in the fourth quarter. It was a huge
bounce back win and put the club back atop the NFC East…for now.
Next Week: Home field advantage hasn’t meant
much lately when it comes to the Redskins and their annual visit from the
Dallas Cowboys. These long-time rivals clash again and Washington not only
looks to end a four-game losing streak in the series, they’ve dropped five
straight games on their own turf to Jason Garrett’s club.
Playoff hopes: Five games into the season and
the Redskins have alternated wins and losses to date. But now things start to
get interesting as six of the team’s final 11 outings will come against their
NFC East rivals. The home date with the Cowboys is followed by a road game
against the Giants. The ‘Skins were 1-5 vs. division foes in 2017.
12: GREEN BAY PACKERS 2-2-1
Last week: MNF vs SF
Last rank: 12th
Recap: Mike McCarthy’s team sits at .500 after
five weeks and in the team’s most recent loss, the Packers dug themselves a
24-0 halftime hole thanks to some horrific special teams play and a couple of
lost fumbles by veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. In any case, it’s been an
uneven performance to date by a club expected to rebound after the franchise’s
first losing season since 2008. Injuries, eight turnovers in five contests (4
by Rodgers) and shaky offensive line play are just some of the problems to
date. The Green Bay defense has been better at times, especially in the
secondary, but consistency is lacking to date.
Next Week: Following their Monday night tilt
with the 49ers, McCarthy’s team has an off week. But the Packers have quite the
stretch when they return to action, playing four of their next five games on
the road. It all starts with a visit to Los Angeles to face the Rams, followed
by a prime time tilt with the Patriots at Foxborough.
Playoff hopes: Five games into the season and
the Packers are 1-1-1 vs. their divisional foes. But McCarthy’s squad has won
only once in its last four outings and after this Monday night title with the
visiting San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay has six of its final 10 games on the
road. Are their tougher times ahead?
11: BALTIMORE RAVENS 4-2
Last week: W, 21-0 at TEN
Last rank: 13th
Recap: Neither John Harbaugh’s Ravens nor the
Tennessee Titans managed to score a touchdown in Week 5 as these one-time
divisional foes clashed in Nashville. And Baltimore made sure that wouldn’t
happen again when it came to their team as Marty Mornhinweg’s running attack
got 123 yards on 35 carries while quarterback Joe Flacco dropped back 37 times
and wasn’t sacked. The results were three touchdowns, two by running back Alex
Collins, and 381 total yards. On the other side of the ball, third-year outside
linebacker Za’Darius Smith had three of the team’s 11 sacks – one short of the
NFL record (12).
Next Week: Harbaugh’s club faces its first
interconference foe of the season when they welcome the well-rested New Orleans
Saints to Baltimore for the first time since 2010. The Ravens own a 5-1 lifetime
record in this series dating back to 1996, including three straight victories
since ‘06.
Playoff hopes: This was a huge bounce back win
for a club that has been erratic, especially on the offensive side of the
football. Harbaugh’s defense has been playing lights out ever since being
humbled at Cincinnati in Week 2. It’s the kind of unit that could pave a way
for a return to the postseason.
10: JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 3-3
Last week: L, 40-7 at DAL
Last rank: 5th
Recap: Jaguars’ quarterback Blake Bortles looked
to rebound after a five-turnover performance at Arrowhead Stadium. But it
wouldn’t be easy as the Jaguars took on one of the better defensive units in
the league at Dallas. And it’s safe to say that Doug Marrone’s squad ran into a
buzz saw at Arlington as quarterback Blake Bortles had one of the team’s two
turnovers while the Jacksonville offense managed only 204 yards and one trip to
the end zone on 47 plays. But it was the Jaguars’ defense that really took it
on the chin as the team had no answers for a Cowboys’ attack that rolled up 206
yards on the ground and 378 total yards.
Next Week: The winners of the AFC South the past
three seasons collide at Jacksonville. A year ago, the Jaguars captured the top
spot by dethroning the Houston Texans, division winners in both 2015 and ‘16.
Last season, the Jaguars handled Bill O’Brien’s team twice – by a combined
74-14 score.
Playoff hopes: Thanks to consecutive losses in
which the team allowed a combined 70 points to the Chiefs and Cowboys, the
Jaguars, Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans are suddenly all atop the AFC
South. Bortles’ play is certainly an issue, but the Jacksonville defense needs
to do a little soul searching in a hurry.
9: CAROLINA PANTHERS 3-2
Last week: L, 23-17 at WAS
Last rank: 9th
Recap: Carolina’s defensive unit continues to
have its issues against the pass and allowed Redskins’ quarterback Alex Smith
to have his way in the first quarter on Sunday as Ron Rivera’s club would
eventually fall behind, 17-0, late in the second quarter. The Panthers would
wind up committing three costly turnovers, two of those by rookie wide receiver
D.J. Moore. The team’s running game also had its issues, limited to 81 yards in
only 18 attempts. Cam Newton threw for 275 yards and two scores (1
interception), led the club with 43 yards on the ground. But his one
interception wound up in the hands of former teammate Josh Norman.
Next Week: A year ago in Charlotte (Week 6), the
eventual Super Bowl champion Eagles came away with 28-23 Thursday night win
over Rivera’s club. Now Carolina gets to return the favor at Philadelphia as
the teams square off for the first time in the City of Brotherly Love since
2014.
Playoff hopes: It’s been a somewhat predictable
showing for the this team so far as the Panthers haven’t lost at home while
coming up short in road losses to the Falcons and Redskins. Rivera’s
unpredictable team still has five games remaining with their NFC South
neighbors, including all three at Charlotte.
8: MINNESOTA VIKINGS 3-2-1
Last week: W, 27-17 vs ARI
Last rank: 8th
Recap: Last week’s two-point victory at
Philadelphia was the Vikings’ first win since opening weekend. Now the
defending NFC North champions looked to raise their record above .500. But Mike
Zimmer’s club had to be wary of an Arizona Cardinals’ squad that forced five
turnovers at San Francisco in Week 5. Quarterback Kirk Cousins was sacked four
times and had both of his team’s turnovers. But the Minnesota offense rolled up
411 total yards, an impressive 195 on the ground thanks mainly to veteran
Latavius Murray (155-1 TD). And wideout Adam Thielen (123) totaled at least 100
receiving yards for the sixth consecutive game.
Next Week: Zimmer’s club heads to MetLife
Stadium to collide with Sam Darnold and the New York Jets. The teams have met
10 times previously and New York has prevailed eight times, including all five
meetings on the Jets’ home field(s). But the Vikings came away with a 30-24 OT
win at Minnesota in 2014 when the clubs last met.
Playoff hopes: Zimmer’s club got a little help
from the Ryan Tannehill-less Dolphins on Sunday when they knocked off the Bears
in overtime. More importantly, the Vikings have won consecutive games for the
first time in 2018. Can the Purple Gang put together a streak similar to ‘17,
when they rolled off eight straight midseason victories?
7: CHICAGO BEARS 3-2
Last week: L, 31-28 at MIA (OT)
Last rank: 6th
Recap: With two weeks for defensive wizard Vic
Fangio to prepare for former colleague Adam Gase (the duo were the Bears’
offensive and defensive coordinators, respectively, in 2015 with the Bears),
Chicago looked to make it four straight wins on the season. And with the
Dolphins forced to go with backup quarterback Brock Osweiler, you would think
that Khalil Mack and company would have the upper hand. But the Bears’ outside
linebacker was limited to two tackles on the afternoon and Fangio’s pass rush
finished with zero sacks. Nagy’s club would squander a 21-10 third quarter lead
in an overtime loss that saw them allow a whopping 541 total yards.
Next Week: It is a second consecutive AFC East
opponent for the Bears, who return from South Florida and a date with the
Dolphins to clash with the reigning AFC champion New England Patriots. Chicago
has dropped four straight in this series dating back to ‘02, the latest a 51-23
setback four years ago at Foxborough.
Playoff hopes: For the second time this year,
the vaunted Chicago defense squandered a double-digit lead in the second half.
It was the kind of loss that the team was able to rebound from earlier this
year. With the other three teams in the NFC North close on their heels, the
Bears don’t have much time to feel sorry for themselves.
6: CINCINNATI BENGALS 4-2
Last week: L, 28-21 vs PIT
Last rank: 7th
Recap: Marvin Lewis’ club was all alone in first
place in the AFC North entering Week 6 and looked to end a six-game overall
losing streak (including postseason) to the rival Pittsburgh Steelers. And
things were looking good with less than two minutes to play when running back
Joe Mixon scored from four yards out and the PAT gave the Bengals a 21-20 lead
with 1:18 left on the clock. But the Cincinnati defense, which was bludgeoned
for 481 total yards by game’s end, allowed Ben Roethlisberger, Juju
Smith-Schuster and Antonio Brown to make the big plays in crunch time. Including
playoffs, the Bengals are 2-17 at home against the Steelers dating back to
2002.
Next Week: It is prime time for the Bengals once
again as the team’s Week 7 clash at Kansas City was moved to NBC’s Sunday Night
Football. Cincinnati has prevailed in the last four meetings between the clubs
dating back to 2008, including a 28-6 win in ‘12 in the Bengals’ last
appearance at Arrowhead Stadium.
Playoff hopes: The team must shake off this
disappointment rather quickly with the prime time clash with the explosive
Chiefs on the horizon. The Bengals’ defense didn’t sack Roethlisberger on
Sunday and the club is going to need to rev up the pass rush if they are to
fend off the other contenders in the conference.
5: PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 3-3
Last week: W, 34-13 at NYG
Last rank: 10th
Recap: Last Monday, the reeling Birds placed
running back Jay Ajayi on injured reserve (torn ACL). Add in a two-game losing
streak and a short week (albeit short trip) to East Rutherford to face the
struggling Giants and Doug Pederson’s club was looking to get back to the .500
mark. It was the fourth start of the season for quarterback Carson Wentz and he
finally appeared to be comfortable. He finished the evening throwing for 278
yards and three scores and the team played turnover-free football. And the
Philadelphia defense kept the heat on Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning
throughout the evening, sacking the veteran signal-caller four times.
Next Week: The Birds get a few extra days to
prepare for their next foes they take on the formidable Carolina Panthers at
Lincoln Financial Field. A year ago at Carolina (Week 6), Wentz and his
teammates came away with it impressive 28-23 prime time victory. It’s the
teams’ fifth meeting in seven seasons dating back to 2012.
Playoff hopes: Pederson’s club righted the ship
against the Giants…at least for now. And getting a divisional road win is
always a good thing. The club has some extra time to prepare for a two-game
stretch against a pair of ’17 playoff teams in the Panthers and Jaguars. Can
the Eagles put together back-to-back victories?
4: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 4-2
Last week: W, 43-40 vs KC
Last rank: 4th
Recap: Winners of two straight games in which
the team scored exactly 38 points in each contest, the well-rested Patriots
hosted the 5-0 Kansas City Chiefs in prime time. The reigning conference
champions spent the first half spent the first half moving the football up and
down the field and reaching the end zone while buckling down in the red zone
when the Chiefs had possession. The results were a 24-9 halftime advantage but
things got really interesting in the second half. But when it was all said and
done, New England’s experience via Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski came up big
down the stretch and Stephen Gostkowski nailed the game winner at the gun.
Next Week: The road has not been kind to
Belichick’s team this season as the Patriots were handed double digit losses at
Jacksonville (31-20) and Detroit (26-10). Now the club makes its first
appearance in the Windy City since 2010 to take on that savage Chicago Bears’
defense. The Pats have won the last four meetings dating back to ‘02.
Playoff hopes: The club’s shaky start has now
long been forgotten as the team has now strung together three straight wins and
scored at least 38 points in each of those contests. But the Patriots now play
four of their next five contests away from home and this year’s version of the
club has not fared well on the road to date.
3: NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 4-1
Last week: OFF
Last rank: 3rd
Recap: The team’s opening-game home loss to the
Buccaneers is now but a distant memory as Sean Payton’s club has reeled off
four consecutive wins entering the club’s off week. New Orleans is averaging
exactly 36 points per contest and the club has picked up where it left off in
terms of scoring balance. One year after totaling 23 touchdowns both on the
ground and through the air, the Saints have 10 rushing TDs and 11 scoring
passes from quarterback Drew Brees, who is completing an astounding 77.9 of his
throws and has yet to throw an interception. But the jury is still out on
Dennis Allen’s defensive unit, which has been hot and cold early on.
Next Week: The Saints will have two weeks to
prepare for Ravens’ coordinator Don Martindale’s defense as the club makes its
first appearance at Baltimore since 2010. When last these teams squared off in
‘14, Harbaugh’s team came away with 34-27 Monday night win at the Superdome.
Playoff hopes: At 4-1, the team is off to its
best start since opening 5-0 in 2013. Of course, that season resulted in a
playoff berth but not a division title. And the Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay
Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons will certainly still have a say when it comes to
the NFC South title. It’s quite the quartet.
2: KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 5-1
Last week: L, 43-40 at NE
Last rank: 2nd
Recap: It was a Sunday night showdown in
Foxborough as Andy Reid’s undefeated club took on the New England Patriots, a
team the Chiefs handled a year ago at New England. Second-year quarterback
Patrick Mahomes didn’t throw a touchdown pass in last week’s win over the
Jaguars and he and his team spent the first half in Foxborough settling for
three field goal on the way to a 24-9 deficit at intermission. Eventually the
AFC West leaders would take a lead in the second half but with the game knotted
at 40-all with 3:03 to play, the Chiefs never saw the football again and went
down to their first defeat of 2018, giving up exactly 500 total yards by
night’s end.
Next Week: Thanks to the first flexed game of
the season, the Chiefs will be back on Sunday night for a second straight week
as they host the improved Cincinnati Bengals. The teams last met in 2015 when
Reid’s team came up short at Paul Brown Stadium, 36-21. The Bengals have won
four straight in the series dating back to ’08.
Playoff hopes: It’s hard to fathom the Chiefs
not being in the postseason for a fourth consecutive year. But keep in mind
that Reid and Co. have had a habit of fading after strong starts. The Kansas
City defense continues to be a liability unless it can come up with takeaways.
Will Reid’s team rebound next week?
1: LOS ANGELES RAMS 6-0
Last week: W, 23-20 at DEN
Last rank: 1st
Recap: Sean McVay’s team still hadn’t lost a
game and had scored at least 33 points in each of their first five outings this
year as the Rams hit the road for the second consecutive week. They faced a
Denver Broncos’ team apparently headed in the opposite directions, losers of
three consecutive contests. The Los Angeles’ passing game was kept in check as
Jared Goff was sacked five times, threw for only 201 yards without a score
while being picked off once. But Todd Gurley came up big once again, totaling
28 carries for 208 yards and two touchdowns as the Rams’ ground attack rolled
up an impressive 270 yards by afternoon’s end.
Next Week: The Rams were originally scheduled to
visit the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night. Instead, the game has been
flexed out of prime time and the clubs will clash at 4:25 PM ET. As for the
teams’ most recent meetings, the clubs have split their two-game set three of
the past four seasons.
Playoff hopes: The team has been pressed the
last two weeks, especially on the road at Seattle and at Denver. But McVay’s
squad responded in a very big way and remains the NFC’s only undefeated team.
And a win next Sunday in what will be a third straight road game would give
this squad a perfect 3-0 record within the division.
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