We at the moment are one-sixth of the best way by way of the 2024 NFL common season, and we’ve discovered loads over these final three weeks. For instance, Sam Darnold and Andy Dalton have established themselves as the very best quarterbacks within the NFL, whereas the Pittsburgh Steelers could also be Super Bowl contenders. All quips apart, this yr has been stuffed with surprises, and it is tough to decipher between what are simply gradual begins, and who in actuality are unhealthy groups.
There are many inquiries to ponder following the primary 48 video games of the season, which is strictly what we are going to do under.
Which 3-0 crew has essentially the most query marks?
A spherical of applause for our 5 3-0 groups: The Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota Vikings and Steelers. All 5 of those groups cannot be reliable contenders, so which one has essentially the most query marks?
Absolutely many would label the Steelers as potential frauds since Justin Fields has loads of doubters. However what in regards to the Seahawks?
Credit score must be given to Mike Macdonald for being the primary Seahawks coach to ever begin 3-0 in his first season with the crew. He is clearly turned the protection round, as Seattle ranks second in whole protection (248.7 yards per recreation), first in cross protection (132.3 passing yards per recreation) and fourth in scoring protection (14.3 factors per recreation). However I nonetheless have some questions on the subject of Seattle.
Who’ve the Seahawks performed? They opened up the season with a six-point win over rookie Bo Nix and his Denver Broncos. Nix set an NFL report for the fewest passing yards in a recreation with 25+ completions, as a result of Denver could not push the ball down the sector. In Week 2, the Seahawks wanted time beyond regulation to defeat the New England Patriots, though DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba had exceptional outings with 246 mixed receiving yards. Then in Week 3, Seattle predictably blew out Skylar Thompson’s Miami Dolphins.
The identical criticism is relevant to the Steelers, as their schedule hasn’t been too robust both. However they did defeat Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons on the highway of their season opener. It is also price mentioning each the Seahawks and Steelers are dropping the conflict of attrition — coping with a number of accidents to starters on each side of the ball. However Mike Tomlin has a fame for getting essentially the most out of his crew, making it to at the very least .500 and into the postseason.
How good is Seattle truly? We’ll uncover some clues this Monday evening, once they journey to Detroit to play the Lions.
The 1-2 crew to look at
There are a number of notable groups which are 1-2, together with the San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys. However the 1-2 crew you need to control are the Los Angeles Rams.
The Rams are coming off of a dramatic comeback victory over the rival 49ers, scoring 13 unanswered factors within the fourth quarter to win, 27-24. They really trailed 21-7 within the third quarter. Beforehand, the 49ers have been 50-0 beneath Kyle Shanahan with a 14-point lead within the second half. The Rams additionally had 101 straight losses when trailing by 14 factors within the second half. The takeaway from this recreation will probably be “Brock Purdy cannot win with out his full solid of characters,” however why cannot or not it’s, “Wow, the Rams are extremely resilient?” In any case, the 49ers led for all however two seconds on Sunday.
The Rams have been ravaged by injuries, and pulled off this wild comeback with out a number of starters equivalent to Steve Avila, Jonah Jackson and Joe Noteboom on the offensive line, and Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua at vast receiver. Tutu Atwell stepped up for Matthew Stafford with 93 yards receiving on 4 catches, Kyren Williams accounted for 116 whole yards and three touchdowns, whereas the protection received the turnover battle 1-0. With all the accidents, Los Angeles was been compelled to regulate its recreation plan. Sean McVay even went to 12 personnel — which was in all probability visually jarring for followers.
Defensively, the Rams did permit 425 yards of whole offense whereas Jauan Jennings morphed into Jerry Rice, however there are causes to be optimistic about Chris Shula’s unit. For one, you hope the eventual returns of John Johnson III and Darious Williams will assist the Rams shore up the secondary, however this younger defensive entrance has been spectacular.
Kobie Turner, Byron Young, Jared Verse, Bobby Brown III and Braden Fiske all contributed on Sunday. Turner led this group of 5 with 5 tackles, Younger recorded the Rams’ lone sack to associate with two tackles for loss and a compelled fumble, Verse and Brown had 4 tackles apiece whereas Fiske recovered the fumble compelled by Younger, and had a clutch sort out on third down late within the fourth quarter to drive a 49ers punt, establishing the Rams’ game-winning drive.
If this younger protection can proceed to enhance, particularly on the subject of defending the cross, and the Rams return a number of starters on each side of the ball, may they be a sleeper crew? Possibly a squad that makes an enormous push after the midway level of the yr? They’ve an opportunity to get to .500 vs. the Chicago Bears this week.
One other “win” the Rams registered Sunday was that they by some means escaped Week 3 with out struggling one other important harm. For those who’re a Rams follower, you already know that is notable.
May one other younger QB to be benched?
We noticed our first quarterback benched simply two video games into the common season, because the Carolina Panthers shelved the signal-caller they mortgaged the longer term for simply two years in the past. What’s unbelievable is that the lowly Panthers instantly benefitted from the quarterback change, defeating the Las Vegas Raiders 36-22 whereas Dalton grew to become the primary quarterback this season to throw for 300 yards and three touchdowns in a single recreation.
The choice to bench Bryce Young was the proper one, and should you watched any Panthers soccer over the primary couple weeks, you understood that. There comes a degree the place you simply have to sit down a younger participant as a result of there’s a clear-cut disconnect, and the offense could be higher run by a veteran. I am not closing the e-book on Younger’s NFL profession, however with the place the Panthers have been coming into Week 3, it was 100% evident one thing needed to be executed.
We do not have one other clear “Bryce Younger” state of affairs within the NFL, however is there one other younger quarterback who could possibly be benched earlier than season’s finish? Let’s take a fast journey all the way down to the AFC South for a second and check out two second-year signal-callers.
After an explosive season opener through which he accounted for 212 passing yards and two touchdowns on simply 9 completions, Anthony Richardson has struggled for the Indianapolis Colts. Final week towards the Bears, the previous No. 4 total decide accomplished 10 of 20 passes for 167 yards and two interceptions. He threw some passes that prime college coaches would chew their quarterbacks out over.
Richardson grew to become the third quarterback since 2000 to finish beneath 50% of his passes and throw six interceptions in a crew’s first three video games of a season. The final was Ryan Leaf in 2000. However, Richardson additionally has two extra 40-yard completions than some other NFL quarterback with 5.
There could also be some soccer followers on the market questioning if Shane Steichen is contemplating benching Richardson. I do not suppose that is going to occur. Actually, I believe benching Richardson flies within the face of logic.
That is an extremely younger quarterback who can be extremely inexperienced. Richardson made six begins in highschool, 13 in faculty after which simply 4 in his first skilled season. What he wants is reps, and he’s lastly getting these. Regardless of the gradual begin, Richardson nonetheless has a really excessive ceiling. This is not a case like Carolina, the place Dave Canales needed to make a transfer to maintain the locker room intact.
The optimism surrounding the Tennessee Titans coming into 2024 was palpable. Followers declared this offseason as essentially the most thrilling in franchise historical past, whereas others tabbed Will Levis as a Fantasy football sleeper. Effectively, Tennessee’s season has been an absolute catastrophe to date.
The Titans pissed away a 17-point result in the Bears in Week 1, fell to the New York Jets in Week 2 after main at halftime after which have been blown out by the quarterback they threw away for a seventh-round decide lower than a month in the past on their dwelling discipline in Week 3. On Monday, Titans coach Brian Callahan was requested in regards to the No. 1 factor he has to repair to begin successful soccer video games. “Not turning the ball over. That is clear as could be,” he responded.
The Titans rank useless final in turnover differential at -7. Levis has turned the ball over eight occasions this season (most within the NFL) and has registered a number of turnovers in all three video games. He threw away the Bears recreation with one of many worst decide sixes you will ever see, had a bizarre, diving backward cross fumble within the crimson zone on third-and-goal vs. the Jets after which threw a decide six vs. the Green Bay Packers to go down double digits within the first quarter on Sunday.
Levis entered this season as the possible future face of the franchise, but when issues preserve going the best way they’re, Tennessee may go to Mason Rudolph. Nevertheless, if a quarterback change have been to occur, I am not anticipating it quickly. The Titans have the Tua-less Dolphins this week, then the early bye week to reset. The Titans have their first divisional recreation in Week 6 vs. the Colts, then the Payments per week later adopted by the Lions to wrap up October. That is a reasonably robust stretch.
Levis is a quarterback who may rebound as he grows in Callahan’s scheme. But when he continues to make game-defining errors that flip him right into a weekly meme, coaches often do not stand for that.
Who’s the actual favourite within the NFC South?
Week 3 was disastrous for the NFC South — except you are the Panthers. The New Orleans Saints offense fell aside after a historic begin, scoring simply 12 factors at dwelling towards the Philadelphia Eagles, whereas Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been completely embarrassed by the beforehand winless Broncos. As for the Falcons, they put up a battle towards Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in prime time earlier than a few offensive line accidents turned the tide.
So, who’s the actual favourite within the NFC South? The Buccaneers have received the division three straight years, whereas the Saints received it 4 straight years earlier than the Bucs began their streak. I will take a special crew to win this division for the primary time in eight years: The Falcons.
Present odds to win NFC South (Caesars Sportsbook)
|
Saints |
+145 |
|
Falcons |
+185 |
|
Buccaneers |
+255 |
|
Panthers |
+2000 |
The Kirk Cousins period obtained off to a gradual begin towards the Steelers in Week 1, however Atlanta bounced again beneath the Philadelphia lights with an unbelievable game-winning drive in Week 2. It regarded like we have been in for an upset this previous Sunday evening when the Falcons hosted the Chiefs, however Kaleb McGary and Drew Dalman happening with injures within the first half opened the door for Chris Jones and Co. to wreak havoc on Cousins. The Chiefs walked away with a 22-17 victory after a 9-3 second-half run.
There’s nonetheless purpose to be optimistic in regards to the Falcons. Their first three video games have all been determined by one rating, and it is a new teaching employees working with a brand new quarterback and loads of different new gamers. Ray-Ray McCloud III and Darnell Mooney have already flashed as speedy cross catchers, and we all know what Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts and Drake London are able to. Then, defensively, Jessie Bates III and Justin Simmons are a dynamic duo at security with Raheem Morris on the helm. Well being goes to be paramount — particularly on the offensive line.
Who ought to the Dolphins begin at QB?
The Dolphins will probably be with out Tua Tagovailoa for at the very least the following three video games, which after all drastically impacts Miami’s offense. Mike McDaniel began Skylar Thompson towards the Seahawks, however is he actually the most suitable choice?
Miami is 1-5 with out Tagovailoa, and Tyreek Hill hasn’t scored a landing in these six video games. He is additionally reached 100 receiving yards simply as soon as. Thompson is 1-2 as a starter, has thrown zero touchdowns and is averaging 116 passing yards per recreation.
Whether or not Thompson is wholesome or not, Miami ought to begin Tyler Huntley. The Dolphins signed the previous Professional Bowl quarterback per week in the past off the Ravens apply squad, and his dual-threat capability would add one other factor to an offense that already boasts velocity. The one downside is that Huntley simply obtained to South Seaside, so it isn’t like he is had ample time to grasp the offense. However I imagine he may probably spark this crew, and preserve it in rivalry.
