The Jameis Winston revel in reached heights by no means perceivable sooner than with the Cleveland Browns’ loss to the Denver Broncos on Monday night time. The Browns aren’t your conventional 3-9 group, which the Pittsburgh Steelers already know smartly.
Must the first-place Steelers be on disenchanted alert once more in Hour 14? Our writers Mike Sando, Zak Keefer and Jeff Howe cope with the query in The Athletic’s roundtable previewing Hour 14’s extra slate.
Our writers additionally contemplate if it’s too past due within the season for a group amid a playoff push to throw a rookie quarterback within the hearth. It’s the controversy in Atlanta because the Falcons and Kirk Cousins (at Vikings) proceed to fall with the rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. Raiders) emerging.
Learn extra under for what else is on our writers’ minds this date.
As Monday night time confirmed, you by no means know what you’ll eject from the Jameis Winston revel in. Must Pittsburgh be on disenchanted alert vs. the Browns on Sunday?
Keefer: Completely. For starters, they misplaced to this similar Browns group in Hour 12, and it’s disagree invisible around the league that Cleveland’s offense is a lot more potent with Winston below middle than Deshaun Watson. Perhaps Winston’s devotion to rid himself of the pick-sixes will paintings, as a result of with out the ones killer errors, he’s unlocked one thing within the Browns’ passing sport. For starters, take a look at what Jerry Jeudy’s doing (he’s 8th within the league in EPA in step with reception). Additionally, with Winston at QB, the Browns have had their 3 maximum fruitful days on offense this season.
Howe: The Steelers would wish to have temporary amnesia in the event that they aren’t on disenchanted alert for the reason that Browns beat them two weeks in the past in one of the vital funnest video games of the season. The Browns are taking part in significantly better on offense with Winston, matching to the way in which the advance to Joe Flacco sparked the offense in 2023. You’ll be able to inform the Browns are taking part in dehydrated for his or her mentor and quarterback, and so they’d love not anything greater than to comb their competitors all the way through an differently misplaced season. The Browns would possibly not be capable to are expecting what they’ll eject from Winston each and every sport, however the effects had been way more predictable and a complete dozen much less a success previous this season when they might foresee the consequences.
Sando: Sure, as it’s a divisional sport and Pittsburgh already misplaced to the Browns lately. The Mike Tomlin-era Steelers are 19-4 in opposition to the Browns when Cleveland had a dropping file getting into the sport. The file is 4-2 since 2019 and 0-1 this season.
The Jaguars meet the Titans with out Trevor Lawrence, who, generation sliding, suffered a concussion on a collision by means of Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair utmost date. There was some debate over whether or not Lawrence began his slide too past due. Is there any benefit to that perception? May you envision the league ever addressing “fake” QB slides going forward?
Keefer: I’m no longer purchasing that. Lawrence began to slip when he noticed the defender drawing near, giving himself up at the play games. Al-Shaair leveled the quarterback with a forearm to the higher a part of Lawrence’s shoulder habitat and his neck. It was once past due. It was once grimy. It was once useless. And it’s no longer the 1st future this season Shaair’s been criticized for a past due collision on a QB. I do suppose, if quarterbacks get started faking slides to book the play games alive, the league will step in. However this was once no longer that.
Howe: Lawrence slid nearest than critics will have appreciated to deliver to maximise his alternative to get a primary indisposed, however that doesn’t include an viewable invitation for a defender to founding himself with a elbow to the pinnacle segment. After slides in most cases include some degree of touch from the protection, and the officers generally tend to do a reliable process of figuring out which of the ones hits are incidental and which others get up to the extent of a penalty. If quarterbacks get started an inclination of doing the pretend slide, a la Kenny Pickett at Pitt, the league will have to completely put an stop to it. The nearest factor we’ve perceivable to that, a minimum of with regards to any semblance of regularity, will be the QBs who make the most of a couple of too much yards related the boundary, however I’m no longer positive how which may be objectively enforced.
Sando: The primary mentor I spoke with in regards to the Lawrence collision identified instantly that he idea Lawrence slid past due. There may be benefit to the perception. Texans GM Nick Caserio speaking out so forcefully in defense of Al-Shaair does elevate the likelihood some within the NFL may push for clarifications/adjustments. However for the reason that league would in lieu have critics complaining about too many protections for quarterbacks than no longer enough quantity protections for them, I feel it’ll pluck examples extra blatant than the only involving Lawrence for the league to deal with “fake” slides.
The Bears and 49ers meet on Sunday. Who could be the most productive have compatibility because the upcoming Bears head mentor? What will have to be on the height of the 49ers’ offseason to-do listing, will have to they pass over the playoffs?
Keefer: Can they get Ben Johnson? If Kevin Warren is correct — and that is the most productive process of the NFL’s approaching hiring cycle — nearest this franchise must do the whole thing it might probably to trap the Lions’ offensive coordinator all the way down to Chicago. Not anything is extra paramount than Caleb Williams’ construction, and the rookie’s proven enough quantity pledge this season, regardless of the new chaos atmosphere the group, that with the proper mentor he can grow to be a celeb on this league. The worn Chicago regimes would get this mistaken. Perhaps this pace they in truth get it proper.
As for the 49ers, regardless of what some pundits are announcing, I don’t suppose a full-on rebuild is vital. There’s difference ability. Brock Purdy is younger. Christian McCaffrey shall be again upcoming season. This pace was once plagued by means of a daft current of accidents, and almost definitely the lingering results of utmost pace’s gutting Tremendous Bowl loss. The roster wishes some tweaks, and wishes some formative years, however there are too many pitch construction blocks to advance on from.
Howe: They will have to prioritize offensive consistency for Williams, so there will have to be apprehension over a defensive-minded mentor who may lose his offensive coordinator each couple years. Thomas Brown will deserve a major glance if the Bears play games higher indisposed the stretch, and the Bears will have to additionally herald Ben Johnson, Zac Robinson and Liam Coen for interviews. With the Niners, it’s been a couple of years working now the place rival executives miracle on the top-end ability however stay cautious over their intensity, which is why they run into those problems when their stars advance indisposed. They aren’t giving out sinister guarantees to their stars, however there’s an trauma possibility concerned that’s been coming to a head. Similar with the Trey Lance decide. Certain, they in the end figured it out at quarterback, however they’d be in a significantly better spot at the moment in the event that they collision at the trio of first-round selections that it value to draft Lance. This may be a logical future to advance on from veterans who’re at the again 9 and toughen intensity during the draft.
GO DEEPER
Thomas Brown’s probabilities to stick? Industry for a mentor? Bears mailbag, plus Hour 14 selections
Sando: How amusing would it not be if the Bears made a run at Deion Sanders? I’m pondering out of doors the field with an optical towards the alternative coaches on this category. Dan Campbell is one in every of a type, an oversized character. Kevin O’Connell and Matt LaFleur are extra standard and each are flourishing. Professor High would right away assemble the Bears related. And generation maximum high-profile coaches would wish extra body of workers/organizational keep an eye on than Chicago seems prepared to handover, Sanders may no longer. He may herald some veteran NFL coaches and shake up the category. Is any individual with me?
Would Colorado Buffaloes head mentor Deion Sanders be a have compatibility for the Chicago Bears? (Ron Chenoy / Imagn Photographs)
The Bucs (vs. Raiders), Cardinals (vs. Seahawks) and Rams (vs. Expenses) are all 6-6 and almost definitely wish to win their respective sections to assemble the playoffs. Which group will have to be feeling maximum assured at the moment?
Keefer: I love Tampa Bay’s probabilities within the NFC South merely for the reason that Falcons really feel like frauds. Atlanta’s been so wildly inconsistent this season, and Kirk Cousins is amid one of the vital worst slumps of his occupation. The Bucs, in the meantime, received’t see a group with a profitable file the remains of the steady season.
Howe: If the Bucs take charge of trade, they will have to win 4 in their utmost 5 video games and pluck the NFC South. Their defensive inconsistencies are relating to as it’s difficult to tear off a profitable streak like that, however their time table is probably the most accommodating in comparison to the Seahawks and Cardinals. The NFC West is totally unpredictable and has been nice-looking a lot all season. The one factor I believe assured about is the Niners received’t win the category, so you may as smartly print their championship T-shirts now.
Sando: Tampa Bay is the group for me as smartly. It’s wonderful to me the Bucs misplaced two times to the Falcons, however they did, and that’s why they’re on this place. The Athletic’s type places the Bucs’ playoff probabilities at 54 p.c, in comparison to 35 p.c for Arizona and 26 p.c for the Rams. That feels about proper to me.
Our writers accept as true with Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to finally end up on height within the NFC South with the Atlanta Falcons suffering. (Elsa / Getty Photographs)
The Falcons are at the street vs. the Vikings. Throwing a rookie QB into the hearth in opposition to a Brian Flores protection turns out ill-advised. However will have to the Falcons imagine forming Michael Penix Jr. over Kirk Cousins at some time this season if issues worsen?
Keefer: Sure. If Cousins continues to attempt — his 3rd interception Sunday in opposition to the Chargers was once one of the vital worst ones I’ve perceivable a starter throw all pace — the Falcons wish to imagine giving Penix a probability. The category remains to be inside achieve, and should you persist with a starter who’s killing drives and costing the group video games, you’re doing a disservice to the storagefacility room. Avid gamers know. Avid gamers listen. They only need the fellow who’ll give them the most productive probability to win on Sundays. Penix performed a dozen of video games in faculty; it’s completely conceivable he may step in and provides this offense a spark.
Howe: I’ve been advised Penix has been lighting fixtures it up in apply, so a transfer could be correct in the event that they felt like making the advance. In no way would I get started Penix in opposition to the Vikings, however the extra video games in opposition to the Raiders, Giants, Commanders and Panthers could be interesting. However this resolution wouldn’t be made in a vacuum. If the Falcons advance with Penix generation they’re nonetheless in rivalry and he performs decently enough quantity, I don’t see how they might book Cousins in 2025. And it’s truthful to imagine Cousins shall be higher upcoming season as soon as he’s absolutely healed from the torn Achilles. But when the Falcons transfer to Penix after they’re out of rivalry and he performs OK, even though it’s just for the regular-season finale, Cousins received’t have any room for error with the fan bottom in 2025. The more secure play games is to stay with Cousins. But when the Falcons imagine transferring to Penix would spark the storagefacility room and boost up his probabilities to begin in Hour 1 upcoming season, such an competitive advance will be the right kind play games.
Sando: The Falcons will have to play games Penix for the general 4 video games if Cousins performs poorly and/or the group loses at Minnesota. They’ll have an too much era to get Penix able as a result of they observe their sport at Minnesota with a Monday night time seek advice from to Las Vegas in Hour 15. Atlanta nearest finishes with the Giants, Commanders and Panthers. Getting some revel in for Penix within the being lacking superb expectancies turns out like a good suggestion. Getting Cousins to the offseason with out some other trauma additionally has worth.
(Picture: Brooke Sutton / Getty Photographs)
