NFL News Updates

Author: nfltalk

  • One thing we learned in NFL Week 5: Dak Prescott fails to seize moment, Brock Purdy may be elite

    One thing we learned in NFL Week 5: Dak Prescott fails to seize moment, Brock Purdy may be elite

    The elite teams are starting to be established through Week 5 of the NFL season, starting with the San Francisco 49ers thumping the Dallas Cowboys on the national stage. The Miami Dolphins continue to have a record-setting offense, while the Philadelphia Eagles quietly remain unbeaten and the Detroit Lions are a silent 4-1. 

    The league is starting to feel out which teams are also going to be competing for a playoff spot. The Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, and Pittsburgh Steelers fall into that category. The AFC North is as unpredictable as ever, as the Baltimore Ravens failed to size command of the division in their collapse against Pittsburgh. 

    Through the Week 5 slate of games, here’s what we learned from each team. Some trending patterns ensued for several teams: 

    Jalen Thompson injury hurt (pun intended): Not having Budda Baker already creates a massive hole in the Cardinals’ secondary. When Thompson injured his hamstring in the second quarter and was ruled out, the Cardinals had K’Von Wallace, Andre Chachere, and Joey Blount step up to the plate at safety. Wallace did intercept Joe Burrow in the third quarter, but no Thompson or Baker was evident when Ja’Marr Chase was lighting up the Arizona secondary. The three players combined to allow Burrow to go 5 of 6 for 107 yards with a touchdown and interception (118.8 rating). For the Cardinals sake, hopefully Thompson isn’t out long. 

    Play-action sparked Desmond Ridder: Teams have to be on their toes playing the Falcons because of Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, not paying much respect to Ridder and his throwing ability. Arthur Smith threw in a curveball to help Ridder out, using play-action to get him to move the ball downfield. Ridder was 10 of 11 on play-action passes for 163 yards with a 118.8 passer rating, part of a performance which saw him throw for 329 yards and a touchdown (111.2 rating). Ridder was just 6 of…

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  • 26.1 million viewed Cowboys-49ers

    26.1 million viewed Cowboys-49ers

    For a blowout, Cowboys-49ers still delivered.

    Sunday night’s game, per NBC, generated an audience of 26.1 million viewers. It’s lower than last Sunday’s 27 million for Chiefs-Jets, but that was a much closer game.

    This week’s game was a laugher, a disaster. Non-competitive, in all respects. Not as close as 42-10 would suggest.

    It shows that the Cowboys still deliver, even when they’re not delivering. And it shows that certain rivalries will always move the needle.

    The Cowboys and 49ers will be in prime-time again, soon. Dallas plays the Chargers next Monday night, and San Francisco visits Minnesota the following Monday night.

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  • University of Washington seeks to dismiss lawsuit filed by Oregon State, Washington State against Pac-12

    University of Washington seeks to dismiss lawsuit filed by Oregon State, Washington State against Pac-12

    USATSI

    The University of Washington is attempting to intervene in a lawsuit previously filed by Oregon State and Washington State against the Pac-12 and commissioner George Kliavkoff. The motion, filed in the Whitman County Superior Court on Monday not far from the Washington State campus, seeks to dismiss the complaint brought forth by the Pac-12’s remaining two schools.

    At stake in the legal battle is control of conference decision making between now and Aug. 1, 2024, by which point 10 universities will have departed the Pac-12 for various other power conferences. 

    “UW has a significant stake in opposing WSU and OSU’s claims and preventing the Court from granting the relief requested,” the motion states. “True, UW is leaving the Conference after the 2023-24 academic year. But, in the meantime, UW remains a member of the Conference, and board participation and voting power affects the experience of UW’s athletics teams and student-athletes for the 2023-24 academic year as well as UW’s bargained-for contractual rights and financial interest.”

    The nine other Pac-12 schools departing the conference filed a brief in support of the motion. Mediation between Oregon State and Washington State and the 10 departing members is ongoing, but the remaining “Pac-2” programs wish to proceed with their case. 

    “Our court filings show how our schools are in full compliance with the Pac-12 Bylaws, which prohibit a member from leaving the conference before August 2024 but allow schools to announce a withdrawal that will…

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  • Overreactions, reality checks for NFL Week 5: Dolphins better than ‘Greatest Show on Turf’? Belichick done?

    Overreactions, reality checks for NFL Week 5: Dolphins better than ‘Greatest Show on Turf’? Belichick done?

    Week 5 of the NFL season was filled with excitement across the board. The Pittsburgh Steelers had a thrilling victory over the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars stunned the Buffalo Bills, while the Miami Dolphins continued their offensive blitzkrieg on the league. Oh, and the San Francisco 49ers crushed the Dallas Cowboys. 

    Ja’Marr Chase and A.J. Brown shined while De’Von Achane and Zack Moss flashed again. Joe Burrow finally looked like Joe Burrow as well. 

    As the Sunday games wrapped up in Week 5, there were plenty of overreactions to go around. Which are overreactions and which are reality? 

    The Cowboys are paper tigers

    Overreaction or reality: Reality

    The same script persists. The Cowboys blew out bad football teams like the Giants and Patriots and lost to a team they shouldn’t in the Cardinals through their first four games of the season. The 49ers were the real test to prove how good Dallas was among the NFC hierarchy. 

    Instead, the Cowboys put up a complete dud. Dak Prescott threw three interceptions against a 49ers defense that has his number (has 21 in his last 19 games played including postseason) and the defense allowed 42 points, having no answer for Brock Purdy (four touchdowns).

    The Cowboys defense dominated Daniel Jones, Zach Wilson and Mac Jones (Josh Dobbs was the other quarterback they faced in that stretch). Facing Purdy, they allowed four touchdowns and a 142.0 passer rating.

    The combined record of the first four opponents Dallas faced was 5-15, outscoring opponents 124-41. The 49ers were 5-0 and the Cowboys were outscored 42-10. They allowed more points to the 49ers than they did the previous four games. 

    Of course, the Cowboys won’t be ultimately judged until January. Through five games, the Cowboys are still paper tigers. 

    This is Bill Belichick’s last season coaching the Patriots

    Overreaction or reality: Reality

    Belichick should be…

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  • QB Deacon Hill and Iowa won Saturday’s game in hilarious fashion

    QB Deacon Hill and Iowa won Saturday’s game in hilarious fashion

    Welcome to Iowa Week, arguably my favorite week of the year. The Wisconsin Badgers enter at 4-1 (2-0 Big Ten) and in the driver’s seat in the Big Ten West.

    Iowa enters at 5-1 (2-1 Big Ten) with a cupcake schedule left for the rest of the year. It should go without saying that Saturday’s game will decide the 2023 Big Ten West.

    Related: Big Ten Power Rankings after Week 6: Wisconsin continues to rise

    If you’ve followed Iowa at all this season, you’re likely aware of the Drive to 325 — where offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz must average 25 points per game in order to keep his job. Yes, Brian Ferentz who happens to be the head coach’s son.

    The progress on that quest is not great, to say the least. The Hawkeyes average 21.8 points per game through six weeks, including a few average offensive games (by their standards) against some of the worst competition in the country.

    Here’s a stat that can define the Hawkeyes’ season: Iowa is undefeated this season when it scores a point — the one loss being a 31-0 beatdown at Penn State. It has found a way to still win football games despite its offense maybe being just as bad as last year’s unit.

    On Saturday, that win was a 20-14 triumph over Purdue. And I have a terrific anecdote from the contest:

    Hawkeyes quarterback Deacon Hill finished the contest 6/21 passing for 110 yards, one touchdown, one interception and a QBR of 2.0 (meaning only 2% of the time will that performance lead to a win). Of his six completions, five went to tight end Erick All and one went to running back Kaleb Johnson.

    That means Iowa, a team that includes wide receivers on the field when running offense, has now completed only 20 passes to wideouts this season. That averages out to 3.33 per game.

    For context, Army runs a triple-option. Yet Army has completed 34 passes to wide receivers.

    But…

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  • Cowboys’ loss to 49ers was humbling, but it is one game

    Cowboys’ loss to 49ers was humbling, but it is one game

    The Cowboys turned in a terrible performance in Sunday night’s 42-10 loss to the 49ers, and Dallas coach Mike McCarthy tried to put that in perspective after the game.

    “The biggest thing is for us to be accountable. It was clearly humbling, but it is one game,” McCarthy said. “Start with me, I didn’t do a good job tonight.”

    McCarthy said the Cowboys need to sit down and watch the tape and figure out exactly what went wrong, in all three phases of the game.

    “We will clearly acknowledge it. I’m not a burn the tape guy. I think that’s a crock of shit,” he said. “They played extremely well and we did not.”

    The Cowboys have now won three games by scores of 40-0, 30-10 and 38-3, and lost two games by scores of 28-16 and 42-10.

    “It’s been a wide range of performance. As wide a range as I can ever recall in a five-week period,” McCarthy said.

    Now McCarthy needs to get to work to see how his team can get some consistency, starting next Monday night against the Chargers.

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  • Cowboys vs. 49ers: Dallas set to have preferred starting five OL for first time since 2021 postseason

    Cowboys vs. 49ers: Dallas set to have preferred starting five OL for first time since 2021 postseason

    The Dallas Cowboys have been shuffling the deck along their offensive line since the start of the 2022 season. They haven’t had their “best five” starting offensive linemen on the field together since their 23-17 2021 NFC Wild Card Round loss against the San Francisco 49ers. Their offensive line from left-to-right that day featured Pro Bowl tackle Tyron Smith, guard Connor Williams, Pro Bowl center Tyler Biadasz, All-Pro right guard Zack Martin and tackle La’el Collins.

    Entering their 2023 “Sunday Night Football” matchup with a team that has eliminated them from the postseason in each of the last two years, the Cowboys suffered a 19-12 loss in the NFC Divisional Round in 2022, Dallas will finally have their preferred starting offensive combination: Eight-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time First-Team All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith at left tackle, Tyler Smith — the team’s first-round pick in 2022 — at left guard, Pro Bowler Tyer Biadasz at center, eight-time Pro Bowler and six-time First-Team All-Pro  Zack Martin at right guard and Terence Steele at right tackle. Tyron Smith (knee) and Martin (thigh), who didn’t practice Wednesday but did participate fully in practice on Thursday and Friday are active for Week 5, securing Dallas’ ideal offensive front. 

    The team’s inactives are former 49ers quarterback Trey Lance (emergency third QB), safety Israel Mukuamu, rookie cornerback Eric Scott, offensive lineman Asim Richards, wide receiver Jallen Brooks, tight end Peyton Hendershot and rookie defensive lineman Viliami Fehoko. Backup running back Rico Dowdle, who didn’t practice Wednesday while dealing with a hip injury, is active tonight after fully practicing on Thursday and Friday. 

    Tyler Smith missed the first two weeks of the 2023 season with a hamstring injury. Tyron Smith has missed the last two weeks against the Arizona Cardinals and the New England Patriots with a knee…

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  • College football odds, lines, Week 7 schedule: USC an underdog at Notre Dame, Washington favored vs. Oregon

    College football odds, lines, Week 7 schedule: USC an underdog at Notre Dame, Washington favored vs. Oregon

    Week 6 has come and gone, and it feels like the intensity has been turned up a notch on the 2023 season. We saw Oklahoma take down Texas to remain undefeated and let the Horns know they aren’t all the way back yet. In the SEC, Alabama reminded the rest of the division that it’s still the team to beat out West with a win over Texas A&M, while Georgia finally woke up and had its most dominant performance of the season, routing Kentucky.

    Week 7 looks poised to make even more noise, as we have four matchups between ranked teams, including an enormous showdown in the Pac-12. No. 7 Washington hosts No. 8 Oregon in a battle of undefeated top-10 teams. While that’s the headliner, it’s one of three big games involving Pac-12 teams, as No. 15 Oregon State will host No. 18 UCLA, and No. 10 USC puts its unbeaten record on the line with a road game against reeling No. 21 Notre Dame.

    What do the oddsmakers think will happen? Let’s find out with an early look at the Week 7 lines.

    Odds via SportsLine consensus

    No. 8 Oregon at No. 7 Washington (-3): There’s a fun new wrinkle on this matchup in 2023, and I’m not talking about how both schools will be in the Big Ten next season. After residing in the Pac-12 North, there are no longer divisions in the Pac-12 and that means that this could be the first of two meetings we see this season between two of the most impressive teams we’ve seen in the 2023 season. Michael Penix and the Washington Huskies have one of the most explosive offenses in the country, but to this point, Oregon has been the more complete team and has a more impressive resume overall. However, it’s never easy to go into Husky Stadium, and it’s even more imposing when it feels like you’ll have to score at least 35 points to have a chance.

    No….

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