The Kansas City Chiefs trading up to select Patrick Mahomes back in the 2017 NFL Draft is arguably the best decision in franchise history, as the move finally landed the team an all-world quarterback it had been needing for decades. Stories about how current general manager Brett Veach played a critical role in the picking of Mahomes are well known, but Mahomes recently shed some brand-new light on the proce s as well.On a new episode of the , Mahomes joined his Chiefs teammate and the Philadelphia Eagles' star offensive lineman to discu s a multitude of topics. Among them was how Mahomes ended up in Kansas City and, as it turns out, there was an unsung hero who helped make the union happen. Quarterbacks coach Matt Nagy gave Mahomes
Michael Hutchinson Jersey the answers to Andy Reid's pre-draft visit test, and Mahomes explained the entire thing in full."The first day that I met coach Reid was at the facility we have the meetings, the top-30 visits," Mahomes said. "That was the first time I really met him. At that time, there was no time limit, so I was in there for like five hours.
Winnipeg Jets Jersey He's just going through plays. I'm going to just give you all the inside scoop. Matt Nagy, who's our quarterbacks coach now, was our offensive coordinator then. He really liked me, so he gave me the plays they were going to go over the night before. So coach Reid's finding out here live on the podcast."So, of course, I crushed the meeting. I stayed up all night studying those plays. The rest was history, man. I met coach Reid, he went over the plays, we went and had some lunch. He had a couple of cheeseburgers and then we went back and I looked back on the board and I had seen that I was a guru, in a sense, because I knew every single play and every check."Scroll to ContinueThose top-30 visits, of course, don't guarantee that a team is dead-set on a player. Oftentimes, they're used to complete scouting profiles or help decide where (or whether) a player should slot in
Patrik Laine Jersey on that respective club's draft board. In Mahomes's case, however, that initial meeting with Reid all but ensured that Kansas City was thoroughly impre sed with the former Texas Tech standout. With some a sistance from Nagy, Mahomes made a tremendous first impre sion.Once Mahomes had endeared himself to the Chiefs organization, the next step was for Kansas City to figure out how to get him in the draft. The feeling of interest was mutual, but Mahomes admitted on the podcast that other teams were also fans of his and were considering adding him into the fold early on. In the days and weeks before the draft, Mahomes went from feeling that he'd be a late first-round pick to a potential top-half selection. That ended up being the case, although Mahomes
Nikolaj Ehlers Jersey and his camp played a notable role in making the trade-up from pick No. 27 to 10 happen. The rest is history."I kind of gave a little inside info to the Chiefs and was like 'Hey, if y'all let me go 12 or below, I'm going to get drafted by someone else.' So I gave the Chiefs a little bit of info on that because I wanted to be here. I don't know who was at 12 that time, but I knew right around there was where I was going to get drafted. My agent talked to Brett
Shawn Matthias Jersey Veach and the Chiefs' staff. I remember at about pick nine or 10, Veach sent my agent a little picture of a Red Raider with the 'Guns Up,' so I knew the Chiefs were drafting me."Read More:
Contrasting Green Day, the
Blake Wheeler Jersey Buffalo Bills would prefer to wake up when September starts.Buffalo starters' reps were kept at a minimum in the team's 2022 preseason finale on Friday night, The game's kickoff was delayed by about a half-hour due to lightning in the Charlotte area. While one could accurately describe the Bills' preseason endeavors, particularly those on offense, as electric, the lightning proved to be Friday's most dangerous Charlotte visitor.Bills Central has the major takeaways from Friday's finale...Punt, Pa s, and KickIf Friday featured Matt Barkley's final hours in Buffalo, he went out on an eventful note: as the team continues to deal with the Matt Araiza allegations, Barkley was called upon to punt four times in Friday's contest (the punter released a statement during the game and did not play). Despite no punts to his collegiate and profe sional name, he performed admirably in Araiza's place with a 40-yard average on four attempts. The
Ben Chiarot Jersey second boot of that tally was a 53-yarder that set Carolina up inside its own 10.In his regular duties, Barkley made one last attempt at retaining his backup quarterback job from Case Keenum, going 9-of-13 for 100 yards.Scroll to ContinueIn Their Defense...While Buffalo kept almost all of their starters on the bench, the second-teamers held their own against a Carolina offense that opted to use most of its top men, including
Dustin Byfuglien Jersey quarterback Baker Mayfield, for a considerable portion of the first half. They forced the Panthers into a three-and-out on their first po se sion (highlighted by Kaiir Elam's third-down coverage on Rashard Higgins on third down) and salvaged what they could from Barkley's first 33-yard punt later on.On that second drive, Carlos Basham's offsides penalty on fourth down at the Bills' 15 gave Carolina a fresh set of downs, which they used to score on fourth-and-goal. But Buffalo can certainly be inspired by the defensive depth on display. Elam looks NFL-ready while Shaq Lawson and Baylon Spector capped off strong summer slates.Running Down a DreamRaheem Blackshear earned a majority of offensive duties on Friday with the starters hurt and Duke Johnson forced to leave the game with an ankle injury. The undrafted rookie and preseason folk hero picked up 69 total yards on 15 touches (including 47 on 13 ground attempts). Fellow freshman free agent Neil Pau'u was the top receiver of a modest aerial game with 46 yards on four receptions.In the veteran fringe front, Isaiah Hodgins tied for the team lead with four
Tobias Enstrom Jersey receptions, earning 19 yards.Ouch!In addition to Johnson's brief departure, some of the Bills depth options were lost to injuries. Cornerback Cam Lewis (nose) required x-rays while Tanner Gentry was diagnosed with a knee/hamstring i sue.That was nothing, however, to their hosts' brutal luck: Carolina lost Josh Allen's fellow 2018 draft cla smate Sam Darnold to an ankle injury as well as primary leg Zane Gonzalez to a groin ailment. Each had to be carted to the locker room.Up NextThe next time the Bills play, it'll be for real, as the team will be part of the NFL's 2022-23 kickoff celebration on Sept. 8 against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium (8:20 p.m. ET,
Winnipeg Jets Jersey NBC).
Las Vegas Raiders center Andre James was taken to the hospital from SoFi Stadium following Sundays lo s to the Los Angeles Chargers.Paul Gutierrez reported that he was
Nick Van Exel Jersey , when James left SoFi Stadium in an ambulance.He was wearing sungla ses and smiling in the locker room before he left.Gutierrez also noted that the team says James
Robert Horry Jersey is being evaluated for a concu sion.The injury happened after Joey Bosa dove on Derek Carrs fumble on the last offensive play of the game for the Silver
Luol Deng Jersey and Black.Scroll to ContinueThe offensive line was already struggling to protect Carr. He had five sacks and nine quarterback hits against the rebuilt Chargers defense.If James is out for a prolonged
Shaquille O'Neal Jersey period of time, that makes things a little bit more tough and rough for the Silver and Black offensive line.Raider Nation will be hoping that James concu sion is nothing major and the starting center doesnt mi s any games this season.
Jerry West Jersey Want to talk about this? Want to air your opinion about all things Las Vegas Raiders? Maybe you like to talk about other sports that aren't Silver and Black related? We got your back.
Before the season started, the hype predicted the to have five or six wins by this point. However, the Broncos lost multiple games that were viewed as 'gimmes' and sit with a 3-5 record at the bye.The hype from fans, media, and even the Broncos themselves, has fallen flat, exclusively on the offensive side of the ball. While Denver's defense continues to be a great unit, as has been the case for years, the offense is still underperforming.It hasn't been all bad from the Broncos' offense, nor has the defense been all good, especially on an individual level. As we evaluate the Broncos at the bye, that's what these grades reflect.Every play is graded based on the players' performance on the snap in question. So a great play by the defense overall might not reflect as swimmingly for certain individuals involved.Before jumping into the grades, a quick word about the qualifications for these bye-week grades.The 150-snap mark was the cutoff for the bye week grades on both sides of the ball. This cutoff kept a lot of players off this list.The
Luol Deng Jersey only other exceptions are players no longer with the team (Bradley Chubb), or players who have not played since Week 5's lo s to the . The respective grades of these players wouldn't have changed with no action since the Broncos' mini-bye week.In the end, only 14 players on offense and 13 on defense made the qualifiers for the bye week grades. So, without further ado, let us jump into it.Ru sell Wilson | QB | Grade: 50.5There have been some excellent moments from Wilson thus far, but he has lacked the consistency you would expect from a veteran quarterback of his caliber. His pre- and post-snap reads have been all over the place, with many plays seeing him lock onto his receiver and not looking the coverage off. That, along with his slow pacing through his reads, has led to many mi sed open receivers and pre sures.If the Broncos want to make a late playoff push over the final nine games, they need Wilson to play at a higher level more consistently.Melvin Gordon | RB | Grade: 49.8Fumbles were the i sue for Gordon to start the season, and it has hurt the Broncos' trust in him. Since his last fumble in Week 4, he has
Julius Randle Jersey carried the ball 38 times for 124 yards for a measly 3.3 yards per attempt.The Broncos have been unable to get their run game going, and it isn't just because of poor blocking from the offensive line.Courtland Sutton | WR | Grade: 54.3The season started hot for Sutton, with grades of 60-plus in each of the Broncos' first four weeks. Since then, he was barely over 50 for Weeks 5 and 6 and below 50 in the past two games.What is the difference?It is hard to say for sure, but watching his tape, his effort hasn't been what it was to start the season, especially as a blocker. You can generally rely on Sutton for blocking and making tough catches, but not of late.Jerry Jeudy | WR | Grade: 56.7With no grades above 60 for the first six weeks, Jeudy was off to a really poor start this year. While he made a
Jamaal Wilkes Jersey handful of big plays, they were marred by drops and terrible blocking attempts.However, things improved over the last two weeks, and while it hasn't always been pretty, Jeudy has been effective.KJ Hamler | WR | Grade: 73.8Hamler is showing why he is a quality receiver even when he isn't getting used. His speed has been hard for defenses to match, though there have been more mi sed opportunities than succe sful ones and that isn't on Hamler.One thing you love to see with Hamler is that he gives everything he has no matter what he is asked, including as a blocker.Eric Tomlinson | TE | Grade: 50.2Tomlinson was brought in as a blocking tight end, which has been rough for most of his snaps. Neverthele s, he has cemented himself as the No. 2 tight end simply because he has been the best blocker for the Broncos this season, though that isn't saying much.Eric Saubert | TE | Grade: 54.6Saubert was the highest-graded tight end over the first eight weeks, but that is because of what he did as a receiver more than as a blocker. This has led to him hardly being used since rookie Greg Dulcich, who didn't play enough snaps to qualify, came back from injury.Garett Bolles | OT | Grade: 65.1Before he went down, Bolles was the Broncos' best-performing offensive lineman, and his injury has definitely hurt the unit. While it wasn't always pretty for Bolles, including an uptick in penalties, he often got the job done.The question is, will he be on the Broncos' roster for the 2023 season, or will the Broncos be looking for a new left tackle?Cameron Fleming | OT | Grade: 66.3Fleming was a pleasant surprise this season as he was the starter at right tackle, where he played pretty well. When Bolles got hurt, he was quickly transitioned to left tackle, where he again played well.None of Fleming's
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jersey tape has been great, and his i sues have been on display multiple times, but he's been effective and vastly outperformed expectations.Billy Turner | OT | Grade: 52.6It took a while to get Turner on the field, but he eventually took over at right tackle and has been fine since. There are i sues in pa s protection, which were expected, as he has struggled there consistently in his career.Turner's play as a run blocker has been solid, but there have been some uncommon mistakes on his end that you don't see on his past tape.Dalton Risner | IOL | Grade: 42.7Risner has been a significant problem on the O-line, and while a change at center in Week 8 helped some, it didn't turn Risner isn't a great player, just a little le s bad. With him set to be a free agent after this season, he needs to turn his play around to boost
Dennis Rodman Jersey his value for a big contract from another team.Quinn Meinerz | IOL | Grade: 55.7Meinerz got hurt in Week 1 and then mi sed the next four games. When he re-entered the starting lineup, his play matched the hype he received throughout the offseason.However, after that first game back, his play has gone downhill, and hopefully, that gets corrected for the back nine.Graham Glasgow | IOL | Grade: 61.8Glasgow entered the starting lineup at right guard and played decently, with his play improving each game. It wasn't great by any means, but solid enough.When Meinerz was back, Glasgow took a seat before stepping in at center in Week 8. In his limited action at center, Glasgow played well and looked natural there, despite having some communication i sues, which is understandable.Lloyd Cushenberry | IOL | Grade: 36.1Unfortunately, it took an injury for it to happen, but Cushenberry needed to be benched. He was the Broncos' worst offensive lineman, and it wasn't particularly close.However, after he went down, the play improved because there was more the Broncos could do
The seemed to be headed toward upset territory against the as the fourth quarter got underway at AT&T Stadium on Sunday night. But oh how quickly things can change. After leading 21-19 following a touchdown by Indianapolis late in the third quarter, the Cowboys put together a And in the proce s, the Cowboys showed they could do what fellow Super Bowl contenders like the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs couldn't by
Jesse Puljujarvi Jersey closing out their inferior competition in dominant fashion.The Colts' first win of the season came in Week
Bill Ranford Jersey 3, as Indy pulled off a 20-17 upset over star quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. Similar to Dallas' situation on Sunday, the Chiefs entered the fourth quarter locked in a one-po se sion game against a team they were expected to handle with relative ease. But instead, the Colts scored the first points of the fourth quarter on a game-winning touchdown from rookie receiver Alec Pierce. He gave Cowboys fans a bit of a scare when his third-quarter touchdown on Sunday brought the Colts within two points. The Eagles likely view their meeting with the Colts much differently than Kansas City since it resulted in a 17-16 win for Philadelphia in Week 11. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts scrambled into the end zone for a go-ahead touchdown with about a minute left to secure a tight
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Jersey win.It says a lot that the Eagles, who maintain a league-best 11-1 record, were able to pull off a win despite trailing 13-3 headed into the fourth quarter. But in a similar situation, the Cowboys were able to breeze to a win against the same Colts while the Eagles struggled in a season-low scoring effort.Scroll to ContinueWhat does it all mean? Maybe not much, at least depending on
Edmonton Oilers Jersey how you look at it. Every game in the NFL is certainly different, and judging other team's results against the same opponent doesn't always tell the story. But the Cowboys showed they can put their foot on their opponent's throat late in the game. And since it came in a blowout against a Colts team that had proven it could fight for an upset win, Dallas fans should have an
Zack Kassian Jersey added sense of confidence headed into a Week 14 matchup with the Houston Texans.
There is a lot of football left to be played for the 2021 NFL Draft cla s, but 20 games into their careers, it seems one thing has become abundantly clear: the group has a QB1, and it is exactly who it was always supposed to be.Three games into the 2022 season, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence has shown every sign of the second-year leap that many hoped and predicted he would flash under head coach Doug Pederson.While many of the quarterbacks from the same cla s have floundered to start the season, Lawrence has taken a noticeable and undeniable step forward. Lawrence's play has clearly improved as the Jaguars' offense has
Jordan Eberle Jersey produced 28 points per game -- almost twice as many as last year's 14.9 points per game.The Jaguars scored 20 points or more in five games last year. This year, they have done so in all three games, largely because of Lawrence's improvement. Their fewest points scored in a game -- 22 points in Week 1 vs. Washington -
Ryan Smyth Jersey - would have the third-highest scoring effort of all of 2021. Their 38 points against the Chargers on Sunday are 12 more points than the Jaguars scored in their best offensive game a year ago.There are numerous reasons for this rapid improvement, ranging from an upgrade in personnel at wide receiver, tight end, offensive line, and running back, as well as what Pederson and his coaching staff have brought to the offense.But the biggest reason the Jaguars are 2-1 and firmly having their arrow pointing up is Lawrence, who has begun to separate himself from his fellow second-year pa sers.Starting all 17 games in Jacksonville's 3-14 campaign last year, Lawrence completed 59.6% of his pa ses for 3,641 yards (6.0 yards per attempt) for 12 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, which included a lengthy period where Lawrence didn't throw a touchdown pa s.Among last year's rookie pa sers, Lawrence finished No. 3 in completion %, No. 2 in pa sing yards, No. 3 in touchdowns, No. 1 in interceptions, No. 6 in touchdown %, No. 5 in quarterback rating, No. 1 in sack %, No. 6 in yards per attempt, and No. 6 in adjusted yards per attempt.Scroll to ContinueSo far this year? Quite the contrast.In three games this year, Lawrence has completed 69.4% of his pa ses (No. 7 among all pa sers) for 772 yards (No. 13 among all pa sers) and six touchdowns (tied for No. 5 among all pa sers), and one interception (tied for fewest among all starters). He has six touchdowns in three games after just 12 in 17 last year, on pace to crush that mark by Week 6 this season.And in comparison to Lawrence's fellow second-year pa sers, the contrasts have been stark. When a team takes a quarterback at No. 1 overall, they need to hope they are not just taking the best player in the cla
Bill Ranford Jersey s, but also the best pa ser; picking the second- or third-best quarterback in the cla s with the top pick in the group is a tough pill to swallow and can set back a team.Luckily for the Jaguars, it appears they
Andrew Ference Jersey have avoided such a situation. With four other second-year pa sers throwing at least 30 pa ses in 2022, none have come close to Lawrence. Meanwhile, Trey Lance and Zach Wilson have suffered through injuries, with Wilson's keeping him off the field for the first three weeks and Lance's causing him to mi s the final 15 games of the season.Trevor LawrenceMac JonesJustin FieldsDavis MillsTrey LanceCompletion %69.4%66%51.1%57.9%48.4Y/A7.08.16.66.26.06AY/A7.636.203.495.914.81ANY/A7.365.511.735.114.24TDs62230INTs15421TD %5.4%2.1%4.4%2.8%0.0%INT %0.9%5.2%8.9%1.9%3.2%QB Rating103.176.250.077.755.0Sack %1.77%4.9018.18%6.14%6.06%DYARNo. 4No. 22No. 32No. 28N/ADVOANo. 3No. 21No. 32No. 28N/AEPA/PlayNo. 5No. 20No. 32No. 31No. 29CPOENo. 2No. 14No. 31No. 30No. 31The numbers don't just show Lawrence slightly ahead of his fellow second-year pa sers; it shows him playing a different sport completely. And unle s Wilson lights the league on fire upon his return, which his rookie year suggests is unlikely, then the debate is over.The Jaguars have the top quarterback from the 2021 cla s. The question now is how much further Lawrence
Ben Scrivens Jersey can rise in overall rankings. After a year where he was consenciously judged as one of the worst pa sers, Lawrence has rebounded in 2022 and the tape and metrics show that, through three games, he has been one of the 10 best quarterbacks in the NFL's first month.Perhaps Lawrence slows down, but his improvement from Week 1 to Week 2 to Week 3 suggests he will only get better. And with a restocked offensive roster and Pederson at his side, it appears the sky is truly the limit for Lawrence.
Chris Petersen arrived in Seattle in 2013 from Boise State with a coaching reputation known for offensive deception, having memorably toppled heavily favored Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl with a Statue of Liberty play in overtime seven years earlier.Yet in his six seasons in charge of the University of Washington football team, Petersen largely played the game
Allen Iverson Jersey straight-up.There were few gimmicks or frills, just fundamental football, though in his final Husky coaching appearance at the 2019 Las Vegas Bowl Petersen permitted himself to call a final trick play with running back Richard Newton lobbing a touchdown pa s against Boise State.Now comes the Kalen DeBoer and Ryan Grubb offensive show from Fresno State, which stands to be as creative and unconventional as any out there, keeping opposing defensive coordinators on their toes at all times.In the week that media members were permitted to watch fall camp practices, the Huskies showed off double reverses, wide-receiver pa ses
Ish Smith Jersey and a variety of fly sweeps coming from many directions with a host of different ball carriers just to get warmed up. The new staff has taken a particular interest in unleashing the speedy little Giles Jackson this fall in multiple ways."We will throw a lot of stuff out there," said Grubb, DeBoer's trusted offensive coordinator from Fresno State. "I think over the years we've always had that element in there."So true.Last season, Fresno State wide receiver Jalen Cropper completed 1 of 2 pa ses for a 51-yard touchdown and ran the ball 19 times for 76 yards and 2 more scores.Like we said, this was Cropper the pa s-catcher throwing and running nearly every week.No Fresno State play was more intricate
Reggie Jackson Jersey last season than the double-reverse, flea-flicker that DeBoer's Mountain West team pulled off against San Jose State.The ball started out with former Husky quarterback Jake Haener flipping the ball to Cropper, changed hands twice more and ended up in Cropper's hands again for a 29-yard touchdown reception. It was highly complex yet totally entertaining."I love this new offense, man," said Newton, the veteran UW back. "They put us out wide and let us run routes like receivers."Scroll to ContinueHusky fans have never been more excited to show up and watch a UW offense in action than when legendary quarterback Sonny Sixkiller was at the controls from 1970 to 1972. He threw the ball all over the field and put it into as many different hands as po sible, with tight ends often running the ball.In the space of 12 months, the Jim Owens-coached program went from a ground-based, grind-it-out Wishbone offense thatdidn't work and resulted in a 1-9 season to yards and points galore from the let-it-fly Sixkiller with plenty of wrinkles mixed in, returning to the UW to a winning atmosphere.This could be the outcome for the Huskies once again in transcending from Jimmy Lake's ill-fated pro-style
Andre Drummond Jersey offense that fooled few people a year ago to the DeBoer/Grubb fireworks display.Several players have gone so far as to call Grubb an offensive genius and a mastermind."It's so fun, man," wide receiver Jalen McMillan, who stands to run the ball some. "It's vertical. It's attacking. You definitely want to play in this offense if you're a wide receiver."However, Grubb was quick to point out that the idea behind pulling a flimflam on someone is to pick your spots rather consider it a regular directive on Saturdays."I think there's a wisdom, too,
Ersan Ilyasova Jersey to understand the defense you're facing and some defenses are pretty darn well-coached," Grubb said. "Plays like that typically are predicated on somebody not doing their job or not staying home and things like that. When you see that, you want to attack and be aggre sive, and we'll do that."It's got to be there. You don't want to force it in a big moment."That's the trick, is to do it when no one's looking.
Bills
Terry Mills Jersey continue to show why they deserve to be AFC favorites October 31 ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) No one can accuse the Buffalo Bills of padding their record with weak opponents this season.A year after taking advantage of a schedule in which they went 7-2 against teams parading out quarterbacks with 16 or fewer starts, the Bills have earned the right to be leading the AFC at 6-1.The two-time defending AFC East champs have knocked off four teams who won their respective divisions last year, including the defending Super Bowl champion Rams. As for the caliber of quarterbacks the Bills have defeated, consider this: Their four-game winning streak features victories against the NFLs past four MVP winners in (2018), Baltimores Lamar Jackson (2019), and Green Bays Aaron Rodgers (2020 and 21).The Bills, by no means, have been flawle s. They withered in the south Florida heat by squandering a fourth-quarter lead in a 21-19 lo s to Miami last month. on Sunday night, the Josh Allen-led offense followed an efficient first half in building a 24-7 lead by e sentially taking its foot off the gas. Rather then secure the win, Allen threw interceptions on consecutive fourth-quarter po se sions in allowing the Packers to threaten to pull within one score before Mason Crosbys 55-yard field goal attempt sputtered wide left in the final minute.Allen was disappointed in himself by calling the two interceptions stupid mistakes.Its a tough feeling to go into that. Again, some bad decisions on my part, Allen said.Buffalos defense has its own i sues to clean up after allowing season highs in yards against (398), yards rushing (208) and letting the Packers convert 50% of their third-down chances (6 of 12).Whats telling, however, is how the the Bills have played complementary football in getting key plays in clutch moments to match their best start through seven games since 1993.Allen has already engineered two game-winning drives in the final two minutes in beating Baltimore and Kansas City after failing to do so once last season. And the defense has forced key fourth-quarter turnovers in wins over Baltimore, Kansas City and Green Bay,
Reggie Jackson Jersey with linebacker Matt Milano picking off Rodgers tipped pa s from Green Bays 47 with 12:29 left, and a play after Allen threw his first of two interceptions.These are the types of performances that should embolden the confidence of a team that entered the season with Super Bowl aspirations, and enters a second-half stretch in which
Grant Long Jersey the Bills have five games left against division opponents, and showdowns against Minnesota (6-1) on Nov. 13 and the defending AFC champion Cincinnati (4-3) on Jan. 2.Prized offseason addition was pleased but not surprised to be informed of Allen being unhappy with his performance following a win.Thats Josh. Hes a true competitor. He wants to be perfect each and every time that he goes out there. And he did enough to win for us today, he said, before suggesting Allen and everyone else shouldnt be too hard on themselves.Were kind of spoiled, Miller said, referring to three of Buffalos wins decided by 21 or more points. You just want to put your foot on guys' necks and go 40 points every game. But the reality of it is, you just want to get the win.So far, so good.WHATS WORKINGThe Allen to Stefon Diggs connection. Diggs ran up the right sideline and burst past cornerback Rasul Douglas before curling back to be in perfect position to catch Allens 26-yard touchdown pa s for a 14-0 lead. Allen e sentially threw the ball to a spot in trusting Diggs ability to get there for his seventh TD of the season.WHAT NEEDS HELPRun defense. The Bills were late making adjustments against the run in anticipating the Packers would turn to the pa sing attack in the second half. Green Bay, however, mostly stuck to the ground in the final two quarters in which it gained 115 yards rushing.STOCK UPDT Tim Settle. Overshadowed by Miller and DT Ed Oliver, the offseason free-agent addition continued his solid start to the season with his first sack of the year and tipping Rodgers pa s, which led to Milanos interception. STOCK DOWNWR Gabe Davis. Buffalos No. 2 receiver had an off day while managing just two catches on seven targets for 35 yards.INJURIESS Jordan Poyer's status is uncertain after
Andre Drummond Jersey he hurt his elbow in the fourth quarter. ... Milano sustained an oblique injury. ... Coach Sean McDermott announced the team from the physically unable to perform list this week, though it's uncertain if he'll play at the New York Jets on Sunday.KEY NUMBER6-0 The Bills' record coming off a bye under McDermott. Only two other NFL coaches have had a more succe sful start to their careers following bye weeks: Andy Reid was 13-0 and Don Shula 7-0.NEXT STEPSA trip to the Meadowlands for Buffalos first of two meetings against the Jets (5-3). The Bills have won each of their past four meetings.___AP NFL: hub/nfl and AP_NFL in this topic Buffalo Bills National Football League Lamar Jackson Ed Oliver Jordan Poyer Rasul Douglas Von Miller Matt Milano Aaron Rodgers Stefon Diggs Mason Crosby Green Bay Packers Buffalo Bills Spain or Morocco? World Cup pa sions blur in Spanish exclave The World Cup knockout game between Spain and Morocco will bring millions of fans on both sides of the Strait of Gibraltar together around screens in bars and living rooms to see w... 49 MINS AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS Believe the hype, Bellingham is lighting up the World Cup Jordan Henderson knew exactly who to thank after opening the scoring in Englands 3-0 win against Senegal 1 HOUR AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS Mbapp is bringing soccer to a new dimension at World Cup Cristiano Ronaldos precision 1 HOUR AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS Poland finds its
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Steelers defense coming up short against quality opponents November 21 PITTSBURGH (AP) Mike Tomlin chooses his words carefully and intentionally. There's a reason over the summer that he used dominant to describe what he expected out of the Pittsburgh Steelers defense in 2022.It was equal parts challenge and choice. With elite players at all three levels in their prime from defensive end Cam Heyward to outside linebacker T.J. Watt to safety Minkah Fitzpatrick Pittsburgh began the season with every expectation that 2021, when the unit finished dead last in the NFL against the run among other i sues, was an anomaly.A torn left pectoral Watt sustained in Week 1 followed by a series of injuries that briefly decimated the secondary scuttled any shot at early season momentum. Yet on Sunday, the unit faltered despite being e sentially at full health following Fitzpatrick's return just eight days after an appendectomy.Yes, Watt added to his career highlight reel with that set up a field goal. Yet the havoc the Steelers
Zach Parise Jersey wreaked against Cincinnati in the opener never materialized as Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow e sentially did whatever he wanted in Pittsburgh's defense was outplayed, outsmarted
Chris Stewart Jersey and outworked on a day one of the NFL's worst offenses showed for a half anyway tangible signs of progre s.They had a good game plan for us, clearly, Watt said. They were able to move the ball down the field. We weren't able to hold them to field goals and help out our offense.It may be asking too much of any defense in the NFL to consistently hold opponents under 20 points. Yet it's the bargain the Steelers were forced to make in the offseason following Ben Roethlisberger's retirement., Cincinnati and all put up at least 35 points against Pittsburgh. Even the managed 24 while winning at Acrisure Stadium in early October.We have to be a defense that adjusts, Heyward said. If (the opponent) does one thing, they can't keep going back to the well."Time is running out for Pittsburgh to make something of 2022. While the schedule lightens up considerably down the stretch, the way the Steelers struggle to play complementary football meaning both the offense and the defense are competent on the same day it's fair to wonder if it's time to start thinking about 2023.WHAT'S WORKINGThe running game seems to be gaining traction. Najee Harris ran for 90 yards on 20 carries, including a 19-yard sprint around left end that Harris punctuated by at the goal line. It helped that the offensive line was able to generate some push and that Harris identified where the holes were instead of just lowering his head and going blindly forward, as has been his habit at times.WHAT NEEDS HELPThe coaches meeting at halftime. It wasn't just the defense that had i sues over the final two quarters. The offense had one first down on its first seven po se sions after the break as a 20-17
Eric Staal Jersey lead slipped away.STOCK UPThe chemistry between Pickett, rookie wide receiver George Pickens and tight end Pat Freiermuth. Pickett targeted them a combined 18 times (12 for Freiermuth, six for Pickens). Pickett's best play of the day was hanging in the pocket and absorbing a hit while to Pickens.STOCK DOWNThe chemistry between Pickett and Diontae Johnson. The Steelers signed Johnson to a $36-million contract extension over the summer and he has largely become an afterthought. Johnson isn't doing much when he gets the ball he's averaging just 8.9 yards per reception but he's also not getting it that much. Johnson has been targeted 10 times or le s in five straight games, the first time that's happened since the start of 2020.INJURIESBackup running back Jaylen Warren (hamstring), reserve wide receiver Miles Boykin (oblique) and center Mason Cole (foot) went down against the Bengals. Their status for next week's visit to Indianapolis is uncertain. Fitzpatrick played all 66 snaps barely a week removed from his appendectomy.KEY NUMBER216 The number of players in the NFL who have caught at least one touchdown pa s this season, a list that includes Jets QB Zach Wilson and Texans TE Teagan Quitoriano. Johnson is not one of them.NEXT STEPSThe Steelers travel to
Jason Zucker Jersey offensively challenged Indianapolis next Monday night. Pittsburgh has dominated the series of late. The Colts offer a chance to get better, but a lo s would put the franchise's streak of 18 straight non-losing seasons in serious jeopardy.___AP NFL: hub/nfl and AP_NFL in this topic Pittsburgh Steelers National Football League Teagan Micah Mason Cole T.J. Watt Miles Boykin Minkah Fitzpatrick Zach Wilson Joe Burrow Pat Freiermuth Diontae Johnson Je sie Bates III Pittsburgh Steelers Cincinnati Bengals Spain or Morocco? World Cup pa sions blur in Spanish exclave The World Cup knockout game between Spain and Morocco will bring millions of fans on both sides of the Strait of Gibraltar together around screens in bars and living rooms to see w... 18 MINS AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS Believe the hype, Bellingham is lighting up the World Cup Jordan Henderson knew exactly who to thank after opening the scoring in Englands 3-0 win against Senegal 49 MINS AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS Mbapp is bringing soccer to a new dimension at World Cup Cristiano Ronaldos
Thomas Vanek Jersey precision 1 HOUR AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS Poland finds its true level at World Cup, beaten by the best Poland heads home from the World Cup as the latest team unable to resist an inspired Kylian Mbapp 1 HOUR AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS World Cup fans find booze at hotels, Qatar's 1 liquor store Qatar's strict rules regarding alcohol have drawn attention as it hosts the World Cup 3 HOURS AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Jason Zucker Jersey Chargers injury report looks fairly similar to last week's with the one new addition of defensive lineman Austin Johnson, who participated in full capacity on Wednesday despite dealing with a shoulder injury.Quarterback Justin Herbert, wide receiver Keenan Allen, cornerback J.C. Jackson, center Corey Linsley and tight end Donald Parham Jr. were all limited in practice. During the viewing portion open to the media, Herbert didnt throw a pa s as the team completed the individual phase.Were going to try and get into a new rhythm, but I do think that it is still
Chris Stewart Jersey in that day-to-day, because were still at the beginning of it," Staley said of Herbert's status. "But, I think, as much rest as we can, with him maximizing his walk-through opportunities."Then, making sure that he gets enough game reps. Those game reps will probably increase,
Thomas Vanek Jersey as long as he is feeling OK. Were still in that phase of figuring it out. I think that were in a much better place than we were last week."The Texans had 12 players listed on their first injury report of the week.LimitedWR Keenan Allen (hamstring)QB Justin Herbert (ribs)CB J.C. Jackson (ankle)C Corey Linsley (knee)TE Donald Parham Jr. (hamstring
Nino Niederreiter Jersey )FullDL Austin Johnson (shoulder)Scroll to ContinueDid not participateDL Maliek Collins (knee)WR Brandin Cooks (rest)OL Austin Deculus (ankle)DL Kurt Hinish (foot)DL Jerry Hughes (rest)TE Brevin Jordan (ankle)LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin (back)LimitedLB Blake Cashman (hip)RB Dameon Pierce (hip)DB M.J. Stewart (hip
Eric Staal Jersey )DB Isaac Yiadom (thigh)FullTE Pharaoh Brown (shoulder)More from Charger Report
