The Chiefs were given some other tight win however misplaced Rashee Rice, the NFC East-leading Commanders were given their moment highway win in six days, and issues are getting very fascinating within the NFC South, because the Bucs bounced again in a bulky manner in opposition to Philly and the Falcons stole a similar one in opposition to Unused Orleans.
Can he kick it?
YES KOO CAN
FOX | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/eMlvhWUiLq
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) September 29, 2024
In the meantime, in Indianapolis it was once identical to the worn days, with Joe Flacco going in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Athletic NFL writers Mike Jones, Ted Nguyen and Saad Yousuf proportion their ideas on all of those storylines and extra.
The Commanders simply picked up highway wins in Cincinnati and Arizona in a six-day span. Taking into consideration what’s happening with the left-overs of the category, must Washington fanatics be dreaming about an NFC East identify?
Jones: The category is undoubtedly vast seen. We’re just a quarter of the best way into the season, however if you happen to’re the Commanders you might have to be ok with the secure arise exhibited by means of Jayden Daniels (finishing greater than 80 % of his passes with 4 speeding touchdowns and 3 passing touchdowns) and the explosiveness of the offense. The development that the protection displayed in opposition to Arizona could also be reason why for optimism. The Cowboys have not begun to show the kind of consistency that you’d be expecting from a contender, and the Eagles had been a rollercoaster occasion coping with accidents. The Giants are unreliable. The Commanders’ moment part of the season will quality 5 divisional matchups in 9 video games, and that reach may finish up telling the reality about this younger workforce. However for now, the long-suffering fan bottom must benefit from the early indicators of hope that their megastar quarterback and supporting forged are offering every age.
Nguyen: They’re surely forward of time table and Jayden Daniels is legitimately having one of the most splendid rookie seasons we’ve not hidden from a QB thus far, one future next C.J. Stroud did one thing indistinguishable. Nonetheless, there’s a batch of soccer left to be performed and that Washington protection remains to be very sinister. They gave up 181 yards at the grassland to Arizona however didn’t permit the Cardinals to get in rhythm. Two issues may also be true: Daniels is astounding and this offense is excellent, they usually’ve performed two of the worst defenses (Bengals and Cardinals) within the league. They’ll must turn out they may be able to be fruitful in opposition to one of the most higher defenses within the league, however with how swiftly Daniels is making improvements to, I wouldn’t uncertainty them. I simply need to see it.
Yousuf: What Daniels has completed those presen two weeks, particularly, has been enchanting. He confirmed the poise of a veteran within the grab in Cincinnati on Monday night time and adopted it by means of blowing the doorways off of the Cardinals this age; the chemistry between him and Kliff Kingsbury has been remarkable. Daniels’ play games abandoned is plenty to get Commanders fanatics excited, however the order of the left-overs of the category compounds that optimism. Relationship again to final season, the Eagles seem like an utter mess. The Cowboys had been blown out two times at house and are coping with accidents to arguably their two splendid defensive avid gamers (Micah Parsons has a sprained ankle and DeMarcus Lawrence might be heading to injured keep). Dallas additionally has a brutal seven-game stretch looming, together with video games in opposition to the Lions, 49ers and Texans, capped off by means of a shuttle up north to play games the Commanders. The Giants proceed to be a non-factor within the NFC East race.
Travis Kelce were given going, however Rashee Rice needed to be carted off with a knee damage in L.A. Is there plenty offense for the Chiefs to tug clear of fighters — or does that even subject?
Yousuf: It does subject, and the Chiefs must discover choices so as to add some backup on the ability positions. However they aren’t in a dire status — no less than no longer but — regardless of how a lot they’ve misplaced on the vast receiver place. They nonetheless have the most efficient quarterback within the tournament and an elite, offensive-minded head professor. Xavier Reliable has been cast however the Chiefs will want him to boost up his construction, they usually most likely can’t find the money for a lull from Kelce. However the Kansas Town protection held reigning MVP Lamar Jackson and the Ravens to twenty issues within the opener, and held Joe Burrow and the Bengals to twenty-five issues in Future 2. The final two weeks, they’ve handiest giving up 17 and 10 issues, to the Falcons and Chargers, respectively. If the protection can keep it in combination, Patrick Mahomes can do plenty to continue to exist, particularly in similar video games unwell the stretch, as he did on Sunday.
Jones: It undoubtedly issues as a result of Kansas Town isn’t taking to have the luxurious of dealing with an injury-riddled, short-handed operation just like the Chargers each and every age. The Chiefs controlled to place the Chargers away regardless of scoring handiest 17 issues, however in the future, they’ll want avid gamers to step as much as catch up on the lack of Rice. Reliable seems able to assuming a larger position — we’ve not hidden the rookie wideout’s velocity on show each as a route-runner and a ball service. And the manufacturing of Kelce turns into much more a very powerful now, as does assistance from the protection. I nonetheless assume the Chiefs stay within the Tremendous Bowl hunt. Andy Reid has the sort of inventive soccer thoughts, and Mahomes is so proficient that in combination they’ll work out the way to book this teach chugging alongside.
Nguyen: When your vast receiver intensity is as sinister because the Chiefs’, it completely issues. They already misplaced Marquise Brown for the future and working again Isiah Pacheco might be out for the foreseeable month. Kelce has struggled with all of the remaining consideration on him — somebody else must step up. Kareem Hunt performed properly on Sunday for only recently being signed, however he can’t be a prime piece on your offense. Rice gave the impression of he was once making primary strides they usually had been trusting him to run routes and to find territory like Kelce typically does. With out him, Reliable must develop up temporarily. Sadly, he received’t acquire a batch of muscle this season so Reid must scheme up tactics to get him detached releases, and Reliable must do a batch of finding out to realize Reid and Mahomes’ believe.
True or fake: The Colts are extra of a ultimatum to win the AFC South this season with Joe Flacco than with Anthony Richardson.
Jones: Anthony Richardson remains to be creating. Sure, he has admirable bodily items, however as a result of he handiest performed 4 video games final future, he’s nonetheless very a lot a rookie. Flacco has not hidden and completed all of it, and he does deliver a veteran presence and poise that may backup a workforce win video games. Day Richarson, who leads the NFL with six interceptions, is the month, Flacco does give the Colts the most efficient anticipation to win at this time. However that doesn’t cruel he must breaking in. We need to see what’s happening with Richardson’s fitness, and the Colts can have a hard choice to manufacture. The one manner Richardson goes to develop is by means of taking part in and studying from errors. Do you wish to have to bog down that construction by means of benching him to progress with Flacco when in truth, this workforce isn’t constructed to overhaul any of the elite AFC groups?
Nguyen: For now, Flacco does give them a bonus. If Richardson is harm and will’t run as a lot, it limits what the offense may do. Flacco is healthier than reasonably a couple of starters within the league at this time. (He will be the splendid quarterback in Sunday’s Browns-Raiders tournament.) Nonetheless, if Richardson is wholesome, there’s disagree query he must be the starter in my thoughts. He wishes those repetitions with so minute enjoy total as a starter. Richardson made a few ridiculous throws in his quick age on this tournament prior to he was once harm, providing you with a glimpse of what he can change into as a passer. A batch of his accuracy problems come right down to his footwork, which he must paintings on in are living motion.
Yousuf: There are a couple of caveats to paintings via with this query. It’s true that Joe Flacco offers the Colts a greater anticipation on the AFC South crown than a restricted Anthony Richardson. On the other hand, if Richardson is wholesome, his distinctive bodily talents are a fit for the cerebral edge Flacco possesses. With all of that being stated, neither quarterback offers the Colts a vital plenty edge to the place they change into favorites within the category, particularly with the Texans sneaking out some other win on Sunday and more likely to book making improvements to because the season progresses. Above all, successful the category isn’t the tip purpose. If the Colts are taking to manufacture a run at being contenders within the AFC some time, it’ll be because of Richardson creating, and that may handiest occur with tournament reps.
How do you dimension up the NFC South next 4 weeks — who’s the favourite?
Nguyen: The NFC South is so similar. Every of the manage 3 groups all do positive issues at a top degree however all have some regarding weaknesses. Every have above-average quarterback play games however none has an elite one. Baker Mayfield is taking part in on the best possible degree however he’s nonetheless liable to preserving onto the ball and the premature making a detrimental play games — he has the second-highest sack charge within the league amongst quarterbacks with 100 makes an attempt. Derek Carr began the season scorching however we’re perceptible one of the most worn sinister behavior founding to turn up (instance: throwing quick of the sticks on cash downs). Kirk Cousins has stretches of robust play games however his incapability to travel is a hindrance. I’ll give Mayfield and the Buccaneers the brink on account of their consistency. Tampa has an competitive protection this is difficult for opposing quarterbacks to trade in with and despite the fact that the offense is streaky, they may be able to ranking in bunches with their powerful passing tournament.
Yousuf: On paper it’s a three-team race to the manage, however I’m a minute i’m not sure to place the Saints in that crew along the Buccaneers and Falcons. Unused Orleans is 2-2 however one win was once in opposition to the Carolina Panthers, who could also be the worst workforce within the NFL, and the alternative was once in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys, which was once remarkable (particularly for the best way they ruled that tournament), however the Cowboys seem like a middling workforce themselves via 4 weeks. For the Saints to lose to the Eagles, who simply were given walloped by means of the Bucs and glance misplaced since the second one part of final season, doesn’t encourage a batch of self belief. In reality, it looks like a two-team race the Bucs and Falcons, with the Bucs getting the brink as a result of they’ve the most efficient quarterback play games within the category.
Jones: It’s an subtle category — properly, for 3 of the groups, anyway. The Buccaneers are the most efficient workforce of the bunch. Tampa boasts a well-rounded offense led by means of an overly comfy Baker Mayfield (347 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and a speeding landing within the win over Philadelphia), and a protection able to making game-changing performs (two takeaways and 6 sacks in opposition to the Eagles). The Falcons and Saints have doable, however are nonetheless figuring out some kinks and have not begun to completely reach the extent of consistency essential to in point of fact contend. Nevertheless it’s taking to be fascinating to peer how the season progresses for every of them. The Falcons, who bounced again from final age’s loss to Kansas Town, are most likely the category’s second-best workforce at this time as their win over the Saints would recommend. However the margin could be very slender between those two.
Is there the rest quick of a training alternate that may get the Jaguars again on the right track next but some other loss?
Yousuf: Excluding their blowout loss to the Expenses final Monday night time, the Jaguars misplaced their alternative 3 video games by means of 3, 5 and 4 issues, together with a wretched last-minute loss to the Texans on Sunday. When the problem is with the top professor, you in most cases begin to see lopsided effects and a dearth of buy-in from the workforce. That isn’t the case with the Jaguars at this time, so I don’t understand how a lot shifting on from Doug Pederson mid-season would backup — to not point out there isn’t a admirable solution to breaking in at the personnel. The most important query for the Jaguars is how they may be able to get Trevor Lawrence on the right track to are living as much as his doable (and now, his word of honour). It’s troubling that operating with Pederson hasn’t introduced the most efficient out of Lawrence.
Nguyen: I’m no longer positive if the Jaguars can get again on the right track. Perhaps they may be able to get a minute spice up with a fresh resonance, however firing Pederson isn’t going to unravel their inconsistent offense. Additionally, taking part in in a aggressive tournament next a blowout in opposition to a contender presentations the workforce hasn’t abandon on Pederson. Is there any individual on personnel you wish to have to breaking in at this level? I’m additionally no longer positive who is asking performs for the Jaguars, however the final age that their offense regarded just right, Pederson was once no doubt the principle play games caller. Going again to that fashion may well be the one manner Pederson saves his task.
Jones: I’m no longer so positive {that a} training alternate would spark a turnaround for the Jaguars. The underachieving tactics of this workforce and of quarterback Trevor Lawrence (18-for-33 for 169 yards, two touchdowns Sunday) surely are perplexing. However I’m no longer satisfied that Pederson is the disease. He’s a just right professor, however there’s undoubtedly a disconnect someplace. I do surprise if Pederson must manufacture a metamorphosis at offensive coordinator, or on the very least pluck again play-calling tasks from Press Taylor. However that won’t medication a protection that ranks a few of the worst within the league. The Jaguars surely must be higher than 0-4. I simply don’t assume there’s a snappy medication right here.
(Manage picture: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Photographs)
