PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Eagles took command of the NFC East with a 26-18 victory over the Washington Commanders on Thursday night, and the game wasn’t as close as the score indicated. The Eagles outgained the Commanders 434-264 and averaged 6.2 yards per play to the Commanders’ 4.2.
Philadelphia (8-2) has a two-game lead in the loss column over Washington (7-4) with the victory, as the Eagles have won six in a row. Washington has dropped two straight after a 7-2 start, losing two games on Philadelphia in the divisional standings in five days.
Is the NFC East race over? Are the Commanders figured out? Which overreactions are truly overreactions from Thursday’s showdown and which are reality?
Eagles wrapped up NFC East with win Overreaction or reality: Overreaction
While the Eagles victory over the Commanders was impressive, this isn’t a game that determined the NFC East winner. It’s fair to say this was a “must-win” game for the Eagles in order to take control of the division, one which they have a two-game lead in the loss column with seven games to play.
The Eagles did have a commanding lead in the NFC East after Week 11 last season before they collapsed, but this team is significantly different. This isn’t about what the Eagles will or won’t do in the final seven games. The Commanders have a pretty easy schedule before they face the Eagles again in Week 16.
Washington faces Dallas and Tennessee at home before its bye week. A road game at New Orleans follows on the schedule before the rematch against Philadelphia in Week 16. Washington then finishes with a home date against Atlanta and a road game against Dallas. Four of the next five games are at home, and the next three games are against teams with losing records.
Philadelphia has road dates at Los Angeles and Baltimore, before home games against Carolina and Pittsburgh ahead of the Week 16 showdown at Washington. Because of the Commanders’ schedule, the NFC East is far from over.
Jayden Daniels, Commanders offense has been figured out Overreaction or reality: Reality
Over the last two games, the Commanders have faced two top-10 defenses in the Steelers and Eagles. The results have not been good for offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s unit. Washington has averaged only 253 yards in those two games on just 4.1 yards per play while converting 30.8% of their third downs. The biggest indicator of their struggles is the rushing yards quarterback Jayden Daniels has totaled over the last two games — only 23.
With Daniels limited running the football, that takes away the biggest strength of his game. In that two-game stretch, Daniels has completed 59.1% of his passes for 393 yards with one touchdown to one interception and a 73.9 passer rating — and that one touchdown was in the final minute Thursday with the game already decided. The Commanders lost both games.
Daniels and the Commanders will likely get things back on track against the under .500 teams they will be facing over the next few weeks, but they still have to prove themselves against the very good defenses. That’s the next step for Kingsbury and Daniels going forward.
Saquon Barkley should be a front-runner for MVP Overreaction or reality: Overreaction
Lamar Jackson does exist, which makes any case for MVP not as strong as in years past. Yet there’s no denying what Barkley has brought to this Eagles offense.
Barkley had 26 carries for 146 yards and two touchdowns (5.2 yards per carry) and two catches for 52 yards — giving him 198 yards from scrimmage on the night. Thursday was Barkley’s fourth game this season with 140-plus yards, which is the most for any running back through 10 games since Shawn Alexander in 2005 (when Alexander won MVP). Barkley leads the NFL in rushing yards (1,137) and scrimmage yards (1,347) this season, while having 738 of those rushing yards and averaging 7.2 yards per carry in the second half of games. He leads the league in both categories.
The Eagles offense, even when inconsistent, keeps moving the football because of Barkley. They are finishing games because of Barkley as well. If it wasn’t for Barkley, the Eagles wouldn’t be one of the elite teams in the NFL.
Jackson is the front runner for MVP, but Barkley has a much better case than most think. He’s not a front runner yet, but he’s getting there.
It’s possible that, come the 2027 season, the Tennessee Titans will have at least one of their nine home games be played in the late-afternoon window. A kickoff somewhere in the 3 p.m. Central hour that will conclude around dusk, depending on the time of the year.
The Titans will be breaking in what is today known as New Nissan Stadium, a $2 billion-plus project adjacent to their current digs that will make the East Bank sparkle and (very likely) eventually host a Super Bowl.
The sun will continue its usual disappearing act beneath the earth’s horizon and, at some point, the sunlight would pierce through the windows on the west side of the stadium. The rays would be strong into the new stadium. It would be hard for quarterbacks throwing to that end zone — or pass catchers looking back, depending on who has possession — to see what’s in front of them.
Would. Not will. Because the Titans will use what amounts to black-out shades on the glass so that doesn’t take place.
What the Dallas Cowboys have refused to do for more than a decade, the Tennessee Titans have already prepared to do years from now. The Titans, along with the stadium designers and engineers, did a solar analysis in developmental stages of stadium planning, determining where the sun will be every day of the year and when exactly on certain days this could pose a problem.
The solution: use the retractable shades on the accordion-like glass doors to prevent the sun from leaking onto the field.
Last Sunday afternoon, Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb couldn’t find the ball on what should have been an easy touchdown catch against the Philadelphia Eagles as he stared into the star 93 million miles away. After the game he said he was “one thousand percent” in favor of putting up shades.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones likes it the way it is. AT&T Stadium opened in 2009 with the windows like this, and they’ll be staying that way for the foreseeable future. The stadium can and does erect shades for other events like concerts, but not for the Cowboys.
“My biggest thought when we were building it was, ‘Don’t have it look like it’s not outdoors. Make it look like it’s outdoors,'” Jones said. “That stadium was built to feel like it’s outdoors when you’re indoors, and it was built to have sunlight coming in.”
Jones would go on to say the team knows where the sun will be and that playcallers like Kellen Moore have previously accounted for this.
“That really goes under the category of home-field advantage,” Jones said. “It should be an advantage to the home team, so I don’t want to adjust it for one reason because it is an advantage to us. … That’s our advantage. That should be our advantage. We get to play there more and we get to have it as an advantage. It has been an advantage for us to know where the sun is. I don’t want to change that.”
One question many have had goes to the heart of that competitive advantage. Could the Cowboys put up shades when the sun affects the home team? Or, could the Cowboys pull the shades down only when the sun’s rays are impacting the on-field play?
The answer: No.
CBS Sports obtained a copy of the NFL’s policy on stadium procedures leaguewide, and the league has already considered these questions and more.
“At 90 minutes prior to kickoff, the home club is required to notify the Referee whether the roof, wall, and/or curtains shall be open or closed,” the policy reads. “The opening or closing must be completed no later than 60 minutes prior to kickoff. (The designated position for curtains will remain unchanged for the entire game.)”
So whatever is decided at any stadium 90 minutes before is what will remain throughout the duration of the game. But there can be an exception made, and we saw that two weeks ago at State Farm Stadium.
In Week 9, the Cardinals had to close the roof during the game against the Bears because of hail in the Glendale area. This is allowed in the policy since hail is considered a “hazardous condition.” Once it’s closed, it must remain closed for the remainder of the game.
It’s impossible to imagine sunlight would be considered a hazardous condition, so any temporary shades would be permanent for an entire game.
Back to heliocentrism. Most NFL stadiums have north/south oriented fields, which is why you don’t see the sun being such a factor on the field like with the Cowboys.
The Falcons play in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a round complex with the field that is oriented east/west. But the windowed side of Atlanta’s stadium is on the east, and the Falcons aren’t waking up to play a game at 8 a.m.
U.S. Bank Stadium has a northwest/southeast orientation, but there have been no complaints about the sun by players in Minnesota. Plus, the translucent roof has a “fritting” that diffuses some of the direct light during Vikings games.
In Tennessee, the Titans determined they had to have an east/west field orientation for their future stadium. Soil testing on the available land in the developing East Bank area showed the organization there was really only one way to position the stadium. Hence, the shades.
For as long as there have been people on earth, there have been attempts to hide from the sun’s rays. Except in Jerry’s World.
This is an article version of the CBS Sports HQ AM Newsletter, the ultimate guide to every day in sports. You can sign up to get it in your inbox every weekday morning here.
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With superstars all over the field, the Eagles’ offense is almost always bound to find an answer. And even if finding it takes a while, a dominant defense can hold down the fort until it happens. Philadelphia surged past Washington, 26-18, scoring 20 points in the fourth quarter behind another monster Saquon Barkley performance.
Barkley ran for 146 yards — his fourth 140-yard rushing game this season, already tied for most in a season in franchise history — and two touchdowns and added 52 yards receiving. Barkley leads the league in yards rushing (1,137) and scrimmage yards (1,347) this season. In the fourth quarter alone, Barkley had 76 yards rushing and both of his touchdowns. It’s the second time this season he’s had at least 50 yards rushing and two touchdowns rushing in the fourth quarter. No one else has done it even once. He’s a star and a closer. There are many standouts on this defense, but let’s shout out Zach Baun (15 tackles, one tackle for loss, one pass defensed), Reed Blankenship (10 tackles, one interception) and Jalen Carter, who blew up the game-changing drive — more on that in a moment. The Eagles (8-2) have won six straight, and what a job they’ve done after a slow start. This defense was downright bad last year, but it’s been rebuilt at linebacker, cornerback and coordinator (Vic Fangio), and Barkley is showing his enormous value. Philadelphia is absolutely rolling.
👍 Honorable mentions Rico Dowdle is officially the Cowboys’ RB1. Kyler Murray has been awesome. The Lakers are in the top 10 of Colin Ward-Henninger’s NBA Power Rankings. We ranked all 30 NBA City Edition jerseys. Here’s the All-MLB team. The Rays will play their 2025 home games at Steinbrenner Field — the Yankees’ spring training stadium. Here are offseason targets for the Phillies. Christian Barmore practiced for the first time since being diagnosed with blood clots. Florida’s Urban Kalvžar is finally eligible. Lindsey Vonn is coming out of retirement. Kaleena Smith became the first high school women’s basketball player to sign an NIL deal with Adidas. 🏈 And not such a good morning for … untitled-design-2024-11-14t220505-991.png Getty Images THE WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
Two weeks ago, the Commanders were the NFL’s best feel-good story. Now, they’re losers of two straight eminently winnable games, and an offense that was shredding everyone has hit its first bump.
Thursday, things swung heavily in Philadelphia’s favor immediately after Washington, instead of attempting a field goal for a potential 13-12 lead, opted to go for it and failed. The Eagles scored 14 points in the next three and a half minutes to blow it open.
But this performance was concerning beyond one major momentum swing.
Through nine weeks, the Commanders offense had the fourth-highest success rate in the NFL at 51.5%, but that number has since fallen to 44.3%. I think Daniels is still being impacted by the rib injury he suffered in Week 7 against the Panthers. Through the first six games, he had a 71.5% completion percentage and 51 yards rushing per game. In four full games since the injury, he’s at 59.1% and 11.5, respectively. Thursday, Daniels completed just four passes to wide receivers as the offense was unable to get anything going downfield. The mini bye comes at the perfect time for Washington, which is still a strong 7-4 and has a manageable finishing stretch. Last night, though, was ugly.
👎 Not so honorable mentions LeBron James hinted at retiring sooner rather than later. Micah Parsons took a shot at the Giants for letting Barkley get to the Eagles. Deion Sanders says he won’t allow his son Shedeur go to the wrong NFL team. The Mavericks had yet another heartbreaking loss. Here’s why MLB free agency has been quiet. A former Suns employee is suing the franchise for $60 million over allegations of harassment, racial discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination. 🥊 Preview of Mike Tyson-Jake Paul; Jon Jones-Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 untitled-design-2024-11-14t221923-947.png Getty Images One of the strangest, can’t-look-but-can’t-look-away boxing matches we’ve ever seen is just hours away. Mike Tyson, 58, faces Jake Paul, 27, tonight at AT&T Stadium. Streaming on Netflix, it’s expected to be among the biggest events in the sport’s history, and Tyson slapping Paul during the final staredown only adds to the hype.
There’s a lot to digest. Tyson’s journey to this moment is truly one-of-one, as Brian Campbell explains, and while he’s the underdog, there are paths to victory, including …
Campbell: “Tyson’s peek-a-boo style is difficult to defend — Tyson will be very much considered a live dog and knockout threat in the early going. A huge part of that is his deceptive style of ducking forward behind his high guard and exploding with powerful combinations of fight-ending hooks. Even if Paul uses his muscular, 6-foot-1 frame to tie him up when he gets close, Tyson doesn’t need much space to uncork the kind of uppercuts that could be a problem for Paul.” Brent Brookhouse, meanwhile, has keys to victory for Paul.
Legends like Roy Jones Jr., Lennox Lewis, Tyson Fury, Manny Pacquiao and others have made their picks, as have our experts. Here’s more:
Brent says this is a lose/lose for Paul. Taylor vs. Serrano is well worth your time on the undercard Tomorrow, Jon Jones defends his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic to headline UFC 309. Miocic, 42, is nearing retirement, and Jones has drawn plenty of ire for refusing to fight interim champion Tom Aspinall for a variety of reasons/excuses. But this fight at New York’s Madison Square Garden still provides plenty of intrigue with arguably the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter facing one of the most accomplished heavyweights ever. Brent has best bets for the event, including …
Brookhouse: “Over 2.5 rounds (+114) — There are a lot of unknowns heading into Jones vs. Miocic beyond that Jones is a heavy favorite to get the win. I’m leaning toward Jones being more wary of Miocic’s power and all-around skillset than he was of Cyril Gane, and Miocic also being more competent on the ground than Gane if he is taken down. That should lead to the fight going past the halfway mark of Round 3.” Here’s more:
Other top fights on the card Jones would be willing to vacate his title for “super fights.” Miocic is focused amid the noise. 🏈 NFL Week 11 picks: Chiefs-Bills, Ravens-Steelers headline AFC showdowns Getty Images Week 11 has plenty more in store. Let’s start with Chiefs-Bills. Garrett Podell has an excellent preview of how Josh Allen will try to combat Steve Spagnuolo’s defense.
Though Allen said this game is no different than any other, that’s not exactly true. Patrick Mahomes is an underdog — that doesn’t happen much, and he usually wins regardless — and the Bills are getting a key contributor back while the Chiefs just lost one.
So, who wins this clash? In his best bets, Will Brinson says …
Brinson: “Bills ML (-130) — Allen is 3-1 against Mahomes before the postseason rolls around … And unlike in previous years, you can argue the Bills are the better team anyway. Buffalo’s been more dominant for most of the season, even though Kansas City has the better record. They’re a weird level of undefeated … The Bills have enough firepower to overcome this defense and find a way to win the game on Sunday.” Just before that, there’s a classic AFC North showdown between the Ravens and Steelers. Lamar Jackson can’t explain his struggles against Pittsburgh, but I think they end this weekend. Here’s what our experts think:
Pete Prisco | Will Brinson | John Breech | Tyler Sullivan | Jordan Dajani
The CBS Sports HQ AM newsletter is 19-8 after going 1-2 last week. It was our first losing week, and I certainly won’t trust the Jets or the Bears again soon. Let’s bounce back:
Ravens over Steelers 49ers over Seahawks Rams over Patriots 🏈 College football Week 12 preview, picks: Georgia bounce back? Getty Images We’ve been talking about them all week, from their dismal loss to Ole Miss to them falling out of the playoff bracket to them with their backs against the wall. Now, we’re almost there. Can the No. 12 Georgia Bulldogs beat No. 7 Tennessee? (preview) It’ll be a lot easier for Kirby Smart’s bunch if Nico Iamaleava (concussion protocol) can’t play, and the betting line indicates that may be the case, Dennis Dodd notes.
Dodd: “Ten points? At least offensively, Georgia’s in disarray. The Dawgs come into this game 15th out of 16 SEC teams in rushing. Only nine other Power Four programs have more turnovers than Georgia’s 15. Carson Beck’s decline this season is worth a documentary. … Ten points? Not unless walk-on quarterback Gaston Moore takes the field Saturday at Sanford Stadium. … Don’t be surprised if Las Vegas knows beforehand.” Tom Fornelli’s Six Pack also makes a call on the ‘Dawgs and the Vols, as well as a big one in the Big 12 between Utah and No. 17 Colorado.
Here’s more:
Big Ten picks | SEC picks Jerry Palm’s best bets PREVIEWS: No. 3 Texas at Arkansas | No. 20 Clemson at Pitt | No. 22 LSU at Florida Trevor Etienne is out. DJ Lagway is expected back. ⚽ USMNT beats Jamaica; previewing NWSL quarterfinals Getty Images In a game as bumpy as the field it was played on, the USMNT beat Jamaica, 1-0, in the first leg of their Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal. Ricardo Pepi scored in the fifth minute, and Matt Turner made a big save on a penalty kick to give Mauricio Pochettino a win in his first competitive match managing the Americans. The second leg will be played Monday night in St. Louis.
There’s plenty more great soccer over the weekend with the NWSL quarterfinals:
Saturday: Washington Spirit vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC, 12 p.m. (CBS) Sunday: Orlando Pride vs. Kansas City Current, 2:30 p.m. (ABC) The games will feature USWNT stars such as Trinity Rodman (Spirit), Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC) and international stars Marta (Pride), Barbra Banda (Pride) and Temwa Chawinga (Current). I enjoyed Pardeep Cattry’s look at how all four teams made it here and Sandra Herrera’s thoughts on which final matchup would be best.
Some of the ways the Chiefs have won this year would suggest this start is fluky. Isaiah Likely’s toe being out of bounds in Week 1. The fourth-and-16 pass interference call in Week 2. Overtime in Week 9 and a walk-off blocked field goal last Sunday.
The Chiefs have the worst scoring margin (+58) of any 9-0 start in NFL history. They are playing a lot of close games and are not exactly lighting up the scoreboard. They rank 11th in points per game (24.3), while Patrick Mahomes has 12 touchdown passes and nine interceptions.
But they aren’t simply winning because of great defense and some timely plays in other facets down the stretch of games. They are much more on offense than what you see on paper and have evolved to the point where they are methodically marching up-and-down the field on teams unlike anything we’ve ever seen in modern NFL history. Call it a product of what defenses are doing to them over the years and some injuries on offense.
On a per-drive basis, this is the most grind-it-out unit we’ve ever seen.
They are averaging the most time of possession per drive (3:22) by any team on record (data available back to 1991). Second on the list is the 2019 Ravens (3:18), who had one of the best rushing offenses of all-time. They are averaging the most plays per drive (6.8) on record (data available back to 2000). They are converting the most third and fourth downs per game (8.1) since the 2009 Dolphins They have the best conversion rate on third and fourth downs (55%) since the 2011 Saints They also lead the NFL in plays per game (67.0), third-down conversion rate (52%) and time of possession (33:01) — the last of which is the best ever by an Andy Reid team.
This is one reason the Chiefs “somehow” find ways to win time and time again. For their opponents, it’s death by a thousand cuts over 60 minutes (or more). They don’t beat themselves (second-fewest penalties and fourth-lowest rate of plays going for zero or negative yards) as they bleed the clock and jab their opponents to death down the field.
This is why the Chiefs were harder and harder to stop in last season’s Super Bowl as they wore out San Francisco’s defense late in the game. Mahomes had 59 rush yards after halftime and converted a third-and-1 and fourth-and-1 run in overtime as the 49ers looked gassed. He was the first player since the merger with 200-plus pass yards and 50-plus rush yards after halftime in a playoff game.
He’s also been the key ingredient in keeping the Chiefs’ drives alive this year. He’s averaging 8.0 yards per attempt on third down (6.8 on first or second) and has an NFL-best nine scrambles for first downs on third down in 2024. Nothing like a backbreaking Mahomes scramble on third-and-long.
Mahomes was at his best on “Monday Night Football” against the Buccaneers in Week 9, going 11-for-13 for three touchdowns on third down. Like the Super Bowl, Kansas City scored a touchdown on its first overtime possession to win that game. It finished that game with four touchdown drives of 10-plus plays, the most by any team in a game this year. And guess what, it showcased another weapon in that game who can move the chains: DeAndre Hopkins.
Kansas City’s offense is inevitable. If it was an athlete, it’d be Tim Duncan, “the Big Fundamental.” This isn’t the sexiest offense ever, but the consistency is masterful.
Add it all up, and the Chiefs rank first in the NFL in success rate this season (52%). That’s plays where they gain at least five yards on first or second down or convert on third or fourth down.
They have just 41 explosive plays this year (only the Browns and Raiders have fewer), but they’ve managed to adapt to what defenses are giving them and give it right back. You’re going to take away the home-run ball that made the Mahomes an MVP in 2018? You’re not going to blitz him, either? OK, they are going to hammer the ball between the tackles for three to four yards, mash screen plays and yards after the catch and then hit Travis Kelce on third down to keep moving the chains. Mahomes has the shortest average pass length in the NFL over the last two seasons (6.2 yards downfield).
The Chiefs have the fewest drives in the NFL this season. The results of this style of play have meant close games, but with the best closer in the sport and one the league’s best defenses, they are going to continue to win these types of games.
Kansas City has now rattled off nine straight wins when trailing by seven-plus points, the longest streak in NFL history. That’s all occurred during its franchise-record 15-game win streak overall.
Mahomes has converted on 12 of 16 drives with a chance to tie or take the lead in the fourth quarter or overtime during this stretch. That’s a ridiculous 75% success rate, adding to the best conversion rate in NFL history for a career (55%).
You have to wonder how much credit is due to the Chiefs for wearing down their opponents throughout the game versus Mahomes just playing the GOAT card.
Either way, it’s working for Kansas City. And it’s one reason why I wouldn’t be surprised to see them become the first team to ever win three straight Super Bowls.
Don’t be mistaken. This isn’t the Chiefs’ most effective offense in the Mahomes era. They led the NFL in points per drive in three of his first five seasons as a starter. But it’s the formula that gives them the best chance to win right now taking everything into account — from the makeup of their team to the defensive blueprint out there.
The difference between their offense at the start of Mahomes’ career and now is like the tortoise and the hare. Right now, slow and steady gets the job done.
All around the NFL, defenses are daring offenses to beat them like this. They know most teams can’t methodically move down the field. They are bound to shoot themselves in the foot with a penalty, turnover, missed field goal or some kind of mistake. But clearly, the Chiefs are not most teams.
So, instead of being borderline disappointed that we aren’t seeing nearly as many fireworks from the Chiefs, appreciate that Kansas City’s offense is now a movie with a slow burn setting up for a climatic finish. That finish could be chasing perfection and a third straight Lombardi Trophy.
THE NFL TODAY will be live from Buffalo on Sunday. Fans can join the crew in Lot 6 at Highmark Stadium starting at noon ET on Nov. 17.
When two teams play each other twice a year, there are a lot of opportunities for each team to come away with wins. Alas, in the Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers “rivalry,” that has simply not happened of late. Chicago hasn’t beaten Green Bay since December of 2018. The games haven’t been close, either. In the 10 matchups between the NFC North rivals, the Packers have won by an average of 12.7 points per game.
That’s why Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson really wants to get his first-ever victory against Green Bay, this Sunday.
“It would mean a lot. We’ve been getting our ass whooped for a long time now,” Johnson said in his press conference, via Marquee Sports Network. “I don’t have a win (against Green Bay), so it would mean a lot to me personally. I’m just looking forward to the matchup, again, the rivalry in itself, but they’ve got some good guys. I have a lot of respect for the head coach and what he does on that side of the ball. I’m looking forward to it.”
Johnson has been in the league since 2020, which means he’s been there for eight of the 10 losses, though he missed two of them due to injury. In his six career games against Green Bay, he has two passes defensed but has yet to come away with an interception. The Second Team All-Pro from last season has remained one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks this season, allowing a passer rating of just 46.8 on throws in his direction, per Pro Football Focus. That’s second-best among the 115 cornerbacks who have played 100-plus snaps this season.
Green Bay’s pass offense has been up and down this year as Jordan Love has struggled with injuries, but coming off the bye it should be able to kick into higher gear. Of course, Johnson is hoping that’s not the case.
Week 10 of the NFL regular season was particularly challenging for Chicago. The outcome of last week’s game resulted in the firing of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. The Bears also added safety Jaquan Brisker and cornerback Jaylon Jones to injured reserve. It was not just the NFC North franchise that was met with obstacles.
Here is the most pressing need for each team entering Week 11:
AFC North Bengals: Cornerback Cincinnati may have tipped its hand as to what it views as the biggest position of need this week. The Bengals brought in former Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard for a visit and even offered him a contract, according to reports. However, the two parties were not able to come to terms. Daxton Hill is on the injured reserve and the play of others has been volatile.
Tee Higgins and Charlie Jones have been limited by injuries this week. The reality is that Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense will likely be fine as long as Ja’Marr Chase is present, but they should not have to rely upon Chase being Superman every week.
Browns: Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was placed on injured reserve. Jordan Hicks and Mohamoud Diabate will get an extended look. Cleveland is coming off a bye, so this will be the first opportunity to see the new look roster after changes were made at the trade deadline.
The Browns had the most drops in the league last year with 39 and already have the third-most drops (22) through nine games in 2024.
Ravens: Secondary Cornerbacks Trayvon Mullen and T.J. Tampa are on injured reserve. Jalyn Armour-Davis and newly acquired Tre’Davious White are back in the fold this week, and safety Kyle Hamilton practiced as well. It is an important week for the Ravens as they take on the division rival Steelers.
Baltimore is applying pressure on 30.9% of opponent’s dropback attempts — a bottom-10 rate in the league, according to TruMedia. It does not help that the team’s leading sack producer, Kyle Van Noy, missed practice with an illness Wednesday.
Steelers: Offensive line Russell Wilson has given the offense a bit of life, but the offensive line has taken a few hits as Troy Fautanu, James Daniels and Nate Herbig are dealing with injuries. The Steelers’ pressure rate has improved but remains the fifth-worst in the league, according to TruMedia.
AFC South Colts: Offensive line The Colts offensive line is working through some injuries. Guard Will Fries and center Ryan Kelly are on injured reserve while left tackle Bernhard Raimann has not practiced this week. A lack of stability along that unit has not aided the quarterback problems.
Jaguars: Cornerback Quarterback Trevor Lawrence will miss his second straight game with a shoulder injury.
Darious Williams was a casualty of the franchise’s search for salary cap health. He was replaced by 30-year-old Ronald Darby. The team has the highest passer rating allowed (106.2), according to TruMedia. Tyson Campbell did return to the lineup recently so the hope is that the unit can gain some upward mobility during the second half of the season.
Texans: Wide receiver There is definitely a disconnect on offense this year that was not present a year ago. Wide receivers Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs were companions on injured reserve. It does seem as though Collins is tracking to pla Monday night against the Cowboys. The interior offensive line has been leaky and that is why they were linked to the position at the trade deadline.
Titans: Edge rusher The fate of Tennessee’s pass rush is in the hands of Harold Landry III and Arden Key. The unit needs to find a more consistent way to generate pressure after finishing in the bottom five in team pressure rate a year ago, per TruMedia. Key did not practice Wednesday. Depth is even more concerning. The operation is currently fourth-worst in the NFL in terms of pressure applied (29.5%).
AFC East Bills: Pass catchers Rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman did not practice Wednesday. Amari Cooper could make his awaited return, but tight end Dalton Kincaid was also held out of practice Wednesday. Curtis Samuel and Mack Hollins should be available.
Dolphins: Secondary Neither safety Jordan Poyer nor cornerback Kendall Fuller practiced Wednesday. Edge rusher Jaelan Phillips is on injured reserve and Bradley Chubb has not yet made his 2024 debut.
Miami signed multiple veteran defensive linemen to pair with Zach Sieler in an effort to rebuild a defensive line that lost Christian Wilkins this offseason. Benito Jones and Calais Campbell are the two who made it through the offseason. Campbell turned 38 years old not long ago. Miami has the lowest yards before contact rate in the league, but the worst yards after contact rate, according to TruMedia.
Jets: Wide receiver New York’s issues have less to do with who is available and more to do with what is being said and choices being made in that building. Davante Adams did not practice Wednesday. Mike Williams was traded at the deadline and Allen Lazard is on injured reserve. If Adams can not go, then it is the Garrett Wilson and Xavier Gipson show. The Jets rank second in the NFL with 23 drops, according to TruMedia.
Patriots: Offensive tackle Drake Maye has arrived in New England, but the supporting cast does him zero favors. It all starts up front with the offensive line. If that is not solidified, then the rest hardly matters. The team is allowing pressure on 41.0% of dropbacks, which is the second-highest rate in the NFL, according to TruMedia. The longest-tenured lineman, center David Andrews, was added to injured reserve. Recent draft picks Jake Andrews and Caedan Wallace are also on the list.
AFC West Broncos: Linebacker Denver’s offensive line is starting to get healthy. Linebacker Alex Singleton is on injured reserve and Drew Sanders has been slowed down by an Achilles injury. Justin Strnad and Cody Barton are in a position to start against the Falcons.
Chargers: Edge rusher One can not look at Los Angeles’ roster and make judgements on their needs solely on the names listed, because they are getting the most out of players new and old. The Chargers have a below average pass rush statistically, according to TruMedia. Khalil Mack has not practiced this week and Bud Dupree could once again be forced to take on a larger role. Dupree produced two sacks last week though.
Chiefs: Wide receiver Outside of the wide receiver position, Kansas City is in pretty good health. Hollywood Brown, Skyy Moore and Rashee Rice are all on injured reserve. Juju Smith-Schuster is working his way back. Newly acquired DeAndre Hopkins has been a revelation and that takes pressure off Xavier Worthy to do what he does best.
They also acquired pass rusher Josh Uche from the Patriots before the deadline. Cornerback is another area that they could explore upgrading.
Raiders: Wide receiver Once Davante Adams was traded to the Jets, the Raiders were thin at receiver. Jakobi Meyers should be available this week. Tre Tucker, DJ Turner, Alex Bachman, Tyreik McAllister and Ramel Keyton are the only other receivers on the roster.
Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins was added to injured reserve.
NFC North Bears: Secondary Chicago added safety Jaquan Brisker and cornerback Jaylon Jones to injured reserve this week.
Left tackle Braxton Jones and right tackle Darnell Wright were limited participants Wednesday after missing some time. Reserve offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie and offensive guard Teven Jenkins also missed practice. Jenkins’ injury did not look good when he left the game last week. There had already been protection issues before the injuries. Interior offensive lineman Ryan Bates is on the injured reserve.
Lions: Edge rusher Edge rusher is the choice for another week until Za’Darius Smith plays. The reality is that Detroit is healthy across the board right now — although Sam LaPorta did miss practice Wednesday — and there are not any obvious weak links on the roster. Marcus Davenport, Derrick Barnes, Aidan Hutchinson and John Cominsky are on injured reserve. The Lions have invested a second-round pick in Josh Paschal and need him to rise to the occasion. James Houston and Al-Quadin Muhammad are the other notable names at that spot.
Packers: Running back Relatively speaking, Green Bay is one of the healthiest teams in the NFL right now. They only have four players on the injured reserve, which is tied with the Broncos and Eagles for the least in the NFL, and only one player missed practice Wednesday. Two running backs, AJ Dillon and MarShawn Lloyd, are on injured reserve, so there is a lot of pressure on Josh Jacobs to stay healthy and produce.
Vikings: Offensive line Minnesota is allowing pressure on 37.9% of dropbacks, which is the ninth-worst rate in the NFL, according to TruMedia. Starting offensive guard Dalton Risner has been activated off injured reserve and trade acquisition Cam Robinson has replaced the injured Christian Darrisaw. As the unit plays together more, it has shown steady improvement.
NFC South Buccaneers: Wide receiver Tampa Bay is amid a much-needed bye week. Chris Godwin’s season came to an end in Week 7 against the Ravens. Mike Evans, Jalen McMillan and Sterling Shepard have all battled through varying injuries.
Falcons: Edge rusher Atlanta has the second-lowest pressure rate this season (27.5%), according to TruMedia. Matt Judon was brought in to be the solution, but it is actually Arnold Ebiketie leading the team in pass-rush win rate (10.7%) at No. 63 in the league among players with at least 150 pass-rush snaps.
Panthers: Edge rusher To the surprise of everyone, Carolina is carrying a two game win streak into the bye and Bryce Young has looked improved. Pass rusher Brian Burns was traded away at a discount this offseason, so the burden falls on Jadeveon Clowney. They have applied pressure on 24.3% of opponent’s dropbacks through 10 games, according to TruMedia. For perspective, the top of the league (Cleveland) sits at 43.3%.
Cornerback, other than Jaycee Horn, is a weakness.
Saints: Wide receiver Chris Olave recently joined Rashid Shaheed on injured reserve, which leaves an unusual cast of characters, led by Mason Tipton, at wide receiver.
All-Pro cornerback Marshon Lattimore was traded away and Paulson Adebo remains on injured reserve. Second-round pick Kool-Aid McKinstry returned to practice this week in a limited capacity as he nurses a hamstring injury. In addition to McKinstry, Alontae Taylor and Ugo Amadi are in position to start.
NFC East Commanders: Cornerback Opposing passers have had a 102.5 rating against Washington this season, which is the sixth-highest in the league, according to TruMedia. They did acquire cornerback Marshon Lattimore at the trade deadline, but he has yet to suit up due to a hamstring injury. Former first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes has made little impact, and the team also recently parted with former first-round linebacker Jamin Davis.
Cowboys: Edge rusher Edge rushers Demarcus Lawrence, Sam Williams and Marshawn Kneeland remain on injured reserve but Micah Parsons returned in Week 10. Eight Cowboys, including three cornerbacks, were held out of Thursday’s practice. The statuses of Caelen Carson, DaRon Bland and Jourdan Lewis are worth monitoring in the next few days.
Dallas’ defense has been neither effective nor disciplined as many had expected in Mike Zimmer’s first season as defensive coordinator. They are getting bullied up front in the run game.
Eagles: Interior offensive line The loss of center Jason Kelce to retirement has taken a toll on the Philadelphia offensive line. It has the highest pressure rate allowed (44.1%), according to TruMedia. Landon Dickerson and Mekhi Becton are starting at guard with Cam Jurgens sandwiched between them.
Giants: Offensive tackle The Giants are walking into a bye week with one of the worst records in football. New York has allowed pressure on 37.7% of dropbacks this season, which is a bottom-10 rate in the league, according to TruMedia. Left tackle Andrew Thomas is on injured reserve.
Brian Daboll’s team also leads the league in drops (26).
NFC West 49ers: Tight end George Kittle has been a consistent part of the San Francisco passing attack, but he missed practice Wednesday. The wide receiver group is finally coming together in the absence of Brandon Aiyuk, who is out for the rest of the season, but running back Christian McCaffrey should positively impact the pass game.
Cardinals: Edge rusher The Cardinals have the third-lowest team pressure rate applied (29.4%), according to TruMedia. Rookie defensive lineman Darius Robinson has yet to make his season debut. Defensive tackles Bilal Nichols and Justin Jones are on the injured reserve. Baron Browning was acquired from Denver, but time will tell what kind of an impact he makes on the roster.
Rams: Offensive line Interior offensive linemen Jonah Jackson and Steve Avila made their return to the lineup but offensive guard Joe Noteboom and offensive tackle Rob Havenstein have not practiced this week. The Rams continue to trend upward as they hold their ground in the NFC West while getting healthier with each passing week.
Seahawks: Tight end Tight ends Noah Fant and Brady Russell were held out of practice Wednesday. Rookie AJ Barner has seen more time and Seattle also has veteran Pharaoh Brown on the roster.
