Category: NFL News

Joe Burrow didn’t display much emotion when the Cincinnati Bengals failed on their two-point conversion attempt in the final minute of Thursday night’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens. 

After Burrow threw a touchdown pass to Ja’Marr Chase with 38 seconds to play to cut Baltimore’s lead to 35-34, the Bengals kept the offense on the field for a go-ahead two-point try. Burrow’s pass to Tanner Hudson fell incomplete and allowed Baltimore to hang on, albeit with some controversy.

Replays showed that two potential penalties could have been called on Baltimore. Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki was held along the goal line as he tried to run his route. And after Burrow threw the pass to Hudson, he was hit in the face mask by defensive tackle Travis Jones in a manner that typically draws a penalty. That flag wasn’t thrown either.

Burrow had every right to be frustrated, but he told reporters after the game that he doesn’t expect to get those calls.  

“I just sailed it a little bit,” Burrow said of his throw on the failed two-point attempt, via the Bengals. “We knew what situation we were in. You’re not getting those calls in that situation for the most part.”

Burrow has a history of not getting those flags in the past, which was part of the reason he reacted the way he did.

“I feel like I’ve never really gotten those calls, so I don’t really expect that,” Burrow said. “I feel like there were a couple that were close, but I don’t really expect those.” 

All Burrow could think about was the opportunity the Bengals missed. Cincinnati fell to 4-6 on the season, four games behind the Pittsburgh Steelers in the loss column for the division lead and three games behind the Ravens — who swept Cincinnati. 

The Bengals can forget about winning the AFC North, but they still have a shot at a postseason berth. The 4-6 start is still frustrating, given the seasons Burrow and Chase are…

..

[ad_2]

Read More

Why Bears defense presents tough test for Maye, Patriots offense originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye will make his fifth career NFL start Sunday against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. It could very well end up being one of his toughest tests of the season.

That’s because the Bears have a strong pass defense.

Chicago ranks No. 8 in passing yards allowed per game (191.3), No. 1 in fewest passing touchdowns allowed (five), No. 3 in opposing QB rating (77.2) and No. 5 in opposing QB completion percentage (61.8). The Bears pass rush ranks No. 11 in sacks with 23.

Here’s a look at how the Bears pass defense has performed against each quarterback it has faced entering Week 10:

!function(){“use strict”;window.addEventListener(“message”,(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(“iframe”);for(var t in a.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data[“datawrapper-height”][t]+”px”;e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();

Maye gave a scouting report of the Bears defense earlier this week.

“I think the Bears’ defense, they’re always going to be a physical defense,” Maye told reporters at his Wednesday press conference. “They’re good up front. They have some good edge guys. I feel like every D-line has got some good guys on the edge. They’re going to go after the football, we’re preaching ball security. They play a lot of zone, so I think we’re going to have to find times and zone covers, where we’ve got to find guys open and make guys make yardage after the catch.

“Then they’re going to sprinkle in some man, so win the one-on-ones. I think they’re good up front. I think (Tremaine) Edmunds in the middle is a good player. On the edge, like I said, they’ve got Montez (Sweat). They got a lockdown corner in this league that you’ve got to be mindful of. They can do a lot of different things. I think they’ve played some good defense this year. We’ve…

..

[ad_2]

Read More

Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA — Fred Johnson was seen on the sideline with a sleeve and a brace on his left leg. The Philadelphia Eagles left tackle didn’t practice, but that was the best-case scenario compared to what could have been.

Johnson injured his knee after Jacksonville Jaguars safety Andre Cisco put his helmet into the knee during Jalen Hurts’ 18-yard touchdown run in the third quarter of Sunday’s victory. Cisco received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for the hit, allowing the Eagles to advance half the distance to the goal on the extra point attempt (the Eagles went for two and failed). 

Johnson only missed one play and returned to play the rest of the game, but the injury could have been much worse. 

“Anyone know if he got fined?” Johnson asked when talking to a few reporters about how the knee injury occurred Wednesday. “If not, we need to talk to the league. It hurts.”

Johnson went into further detail on the knee injury, which could have been significantly more painful than just missing a day of practice. He thinks he’ll be able to start his fourth consecutive game at left tackle for the Eagles against the Dallas Cowboys, which also could be the final game Jordan Mailata is on injured reserve. 

“Yeah, I feel good about Sunday. It’s leaning toward that way,” Johnson said. “We got practice tomorrow. Obviously we’ll see. That hit could have been way worse than what it looked like on film. I just seen him drop and I like lifted up my leg trying like to fall over him.

“They said if my foot was planted, I could have been out for the year.”

If Johnson is unable to play on Sunday, Tyler Steen was the primary backup at left tackle. Right guard Mekhi Becton was also getting some reps over there as well. 

…

..

[ad_2]

Read More

Here’s how the NFL is shaping up at midseason in 2024. (Gregory Hodge/Yahoo Sports)

Other divisions: AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West | NFC East | NFC South | NFC West

(Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports)

Record: 7-1 (first in NFC North)

Top fantasy performer: RB Jahmyr Gibbs, 140.10 points

MVP: QB Jared Goff

Key second-half game: Dec. 15 vs. Bills

The Lions aren’t just playing football. They’re having a lot of fun out there. Headstands-in-the-end-zone kind of fun. When head coach Dan Campbell talked about biting kneecaps in 2021, this is the team he was building toward: a team that can put up 50 on every competitor they face. Jared Goff is playing high-level, MVP-caliber football right now and is spreading the ball around to everyone. Jameson Williams (when he’s actually on the field), David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta — everyone’s getting a chance. Campbell can be a bit of a wild-card sometimes, which is certainly a liability, but the Lions are the kind of team that has the ability to overcome their head coach’s occasionally questionable decision-making. And as far as liabilities go, that’s definitely preferable to having a QB who can’t hit the broadside of a barn.

(Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports)

Record: 6-2 (second in NFC North)

Top fantasy performer: QB Sam Darnold, 143.00 points

MVP: LB Andrew Van Ginkel

Key second-half game: Jan. 5 at Lions

Sam Darnold coming out in Week 1 like a fire-breathing dragon was among the most surprising things about the early NFL season. It was inevitable that Darnold’s strong start would unravel a bit, and it has, but the Vikings have been able to stand firm on their powerful defense. There’s still a lot more football to be played, but surrounding Darnold with talented players has worked. The big question is: Will it continue to work, or will Darnold’s shortcomings reappear and doom the whole operation?

(Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports)

Record: 6-3 (third in NFC North)

Top fantasy performer: QB Jordan…

..

[ad_2]

Read More

The 2024 NFL trade deadline is coming up fast, and plenty of teams have stayed busy swapping players.

The wide receiver market, in particular, has been booming. Mike Williams became the latest to be traded on Tuesday, following the deals of DeAndre Hopkins, Amari Cooper, Davante Adams and Diontae Johnson. More trades could be on the way.

Here’s a roundup of our grades for each major move:

Steelers finally get a WR, add Mike Williams

Steelers acquire: Mike WilliamsJets acquire: 2025 fifth-round pick

After months of exploring the wide receiver trade market, Pittsburgh finally got a new perimeter weapon, taking Williams off the hands of the New York Jets, who made their own splash by adding Davante Adams weeks before the deadline. The ex-Los Angeles Chargers standout will pair with George Pickens.

Grades: Steelers B-, Jets B (Full trade grades to come)

Commanders land Pro Bowl CB Marshon Lattimore

Commanders acquire: Jonathan Mingo, 2025 fifth-round pickSaints acquire: 2025 third-round pick, 2025 fourth-round pick, 2025 sixth-round pick

With an extra third-rounder in tow due to their preseason Jahan Dotson trade, Washington capitalized on New Orleans’ sudden rebuild — unofficially initiated by the team’s firing of head coach Dennis Allen — by sending a package of picks for the three-time Pro Bowl cover man.

Grades: Commanders A-, Saints B (Full trade grades to come)

Cowboys swing surprise deal for Jonathan Mingo

Cowboys acquire: Jonathan Mingo, 2025 seventh-round pickPanthers acquire: 2025 fourth-round pick

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones promised his team would be “buyers, not sellers” ahead of the deadline, and he delivered, albeit in surprising fashion, sending a fourth-rounder to Carolina for Mingo. The 23-year-old wideout is only 23, one year removed from entering as a second-round pick, but struggled to make an impact for the offensively challenged Panthers.

Grades: Cowboys D+, Panthers B…

..

[ad_2]

Read More

NFL power rankings: Where recharged 49ers sit after bye week originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

For some teams, it’s time to start booking those offseason flights to Cancún.

Yes, I’m talking to you, New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys. You can try and turn your seasons around, but the writing is on the wall.

Week 9 featured two overtime thrillers, an acrobatic play you will have to see to believe and heated divisional battles that lived up to the hype. All while the 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers watched from their couches.

Here is where San Francisco sits heading into Week 10:

32. Carolina Panthers (Last week: 32)

Record: 2-7

Bryce Young has played pretty well the last two weeks since returning as the starter and delivered late in a thrilling win. That’s great news for a young quarterback who’s had a difficult journey, but appears to have a good head on his shoulders.

31. New England Patriots (Last week: 29)

Record: 2-7

For the second straight week, a rookie quarterback delivered a clutch touchdown as time expired. Except Drake Maye’s wasn’t quite as epic. Still impressive nonetheless. Unfortunately for New England, it resulted in a tough overtime loss.

30. Tennessee Titans (Last week: 31)

Record: 2-6

Titans vs. Patriots. A very stoppable force meets a very movable object. A nice overtime win as Mason Rudolph continues to lean on Tony Pollard.

29. New York Giants (Last week: 30)

Record: 2-7

Daniel Jones finished the first half completing 4 of 6 pass attempts for ZERO yards and a touchdown. Truly incredible stuff. That touchdown also was his first passing touchdown at home in 672 days. The comeback attempt was too little too late.

28. Las Vegas Raiders (Last week: 28)

Record: 2-7

There was no elegant tanking this week, at least on the defensive side of the ball. One week closer to a top draft pick.

27. Jacksonville Jaguars (Last week: 27)

Record: 2-7

Which week will Doug Pederson be fired? There’s no doubt he will be the first. It’s only a matter of time….

..

[ad_2]

Read More

USATSI

The Las Vegas Raiders switched quarterbacks once again on Sunday, benching Gardner Minshew for Desmond Ridder in a blowout loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Now they’re making major changes to their offensive staff, firing offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, offensive line coach James Cregg and quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello hours after the club fell to 2-7 on the season

Getsy, 40, was in his first season with the team under new coach Antonio Pierce, who served as the Raiders’ interim coach for the final nine games of the 2023 campaign. 

The Raiders entered Sunday’s game against the Bengals ranked 28th in total offense, and 26th in scoring. They’ve been mired by quarterback issues all year, with Minshew and second-year signal-caller Aidan O’Connell previously splitting time under center after a prolonged summer competition. Ridder, who was just signed off the Cardinals’ practice squad in late October, finished Sunday’s loss as the quarterback, though Pierce did not commit to keeping the newcomer at the position moving forward.

Prior to joining Las Vegas, Getsy spent two seasons as the Chicago Bears offensive coordinator — a span in which he drew criticism for coaxing mercurial results out of former first-round quarterback Justin Fields. He is perhaps best known for his work with the Green Bay Packers, serving as Aaron Rodgers’ quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator from 2020-2021, when Rodgers won back-to-back NFL MVPs.

Getsy’s dismissal after just nine games makes him one of the quickest assistants to be fired in NFL history; the Arizona Cardinals previously dismissed offensive coordinator Mike McCoy after just seven games during the 2008 season.

Passing game coordinator Scott Turner is a candidate…

..

[ad_2]

Read More

Bo Nix celebrates the first touchdown catch of his career. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Add a touchdown catch to Bo Nix’s highlight reel.

The rookie Broncos quarterback got Denver on the board on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens with a goal-line grab on a trick play.

Nix took a shotgun snap with Denver facing fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line in the second quarter. He handed off to running back Javonte Williams, who then pitched the ball to Courtland Sutton.

By the time, Sutton got the ball, Nix had broken free near the goal line on the right side of the field. Sutton floated a ball over Ravens safety Marcus Williams’ hands and into those of Nix.

Nix hauled the ball and held on for the score as Williams drove him to the turf at the goal line.

The touchdown catch for the first of Nix’s career. With the score, Nix becomes the first player to secure a touchdown pass, run and catch this season. The score cut Baltimore’s lead to 10-7.

Nix has started from Week 1 after the Broncos selected him with the No. 12 pick in April’s draft. He entered Sunday’s game having completed 63.2% of his passes for 191.3 yards per game with eight touchdowns and five interceptions. He’d rushed 52 times for 259 yards with four touchdowns on the ground.

Sunday’s touchdown catch was the first catch of any kind of Nix’s NFL career.

..

[ad_2]

Read More