Sunday Moment 6 introduced Lamar Jackson’s Ravens outlasting Jayden Daniels’ Commanders, initiation debuts from now not one however two rookie quarterbacks, and any other rookie QB proceeding to climb rapid.
SLAYYYYYYYY
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— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 13, 2024
The Athletic NFL writers Tim Graham, Mike Jones and Ted Nguyen percentage their ideas on all of those storylines and extra.
Are we dwelling thru any other Lamar Jackson MVP season?
Jones: Jackson is a perennial MVP candidate. He makes the Ravens reputable contenders within the AFC each and every season, and this future can be negative other. So, sure, if Baltimore finally ends up with one of the most lead seeds of their convention and appear to be Tremendous Bowl contenders, we surely may just see him repeat as MVP. However, I can say, the addition of Derrick Henry to the offense to whiten Jackson’s speeding load may just recommended him to lose some votes. (I’d additionally nonetheless like to look the Ravens determine upload any other receiving blackmail earlier than the business time limit to build that offense much more explosive). On the other hand, if the addition of guns like Henry and others interprets right into a deep playoff run and a long-craved Tremendous Bowl victory, Jackson would readily business that for any other MVP award.
Graham: In all probability the principle explanation why Jackson received the MVP ultimate future over Josh Allen used to be that Baltimore didn’t swoon, age many people questioned what came about to Buffalo’s offense neatly into November. Allen began this season afire, incomes AFC Offensive Participant of the Week, however back-to-back losses through which he had to be scraped off the turf a pair occasions allowed Jackson again within the race. Baltimore’s offense is a wagon. Allen doesn’t have any one like Derrick Henry to backup elevate the weight, however Jackson seemed intergalactic towards the streaking Commanders on Sunday. A while later lighting fixtures up Cincinnati, he threw simply six incomplete passes age rolling up 323 yards within the breeze and a TD, and speeding 8 occasions for 40 yards earlier than killing out the clock. Your go, Josh.
Nguyen: Jackson is surely one of the most entrance runners. He’s been remarkably environment friendly this season, throwing 9 touchdowns to just one interception. He additionally is likely one of the maximum fertile runners within the league, amongst quarterbacks and working backs (it does harm Jackson’s MVP statline that Derrick Henry has hawked a couple of of his touchdowns on the objective fold). The Ravens appear to be they’ll end as a lead seed within the AFC they usually’ll have one of the most lead offenses. Stats, wins, and a lead offense are normally the makings of an MVP marketing campaign.
How will we view the Chicago Bears later six video games? Is that this a NFC North contender, wild-card contender, or crew that’s simply beating up on not-particularly-strong warring parties?
Graham: I didn’t come right here, lookin’ for hassle. I simply got here to place those Bears on muffle. They’ve been outstanding the date 3 weeks, however let’s now not disregard the rarity of resistance. The ones warring parties (Rams, Panthers, Jaguars) had a blended 3-13 file (heading into the Panthers’ 4:25 p.m. ET recreation towards the popular Falcons). All 3 groups ranked some of the bottom-four in issues allowed, age the Rams and Jaguars owned the weakest defenses in yards allowed in keeping with play games. I’ll wish to see the Bears travel off towards an NFC North rival earlier than I’m satisfied they may be able to win the category, and that take a look at received’t come for any other pace. That mentioned, Caleb Williams has been a to look at, coming a pair inches clear of a five-touchdown efficiency. He’s exploiting unedited NFL defenders — don’t snatch that as a right with any rookie — and development self belief at a essential week in his and his group’s construction.
Jones: The Bears surely will have to draw encouragement from the secure journey that Caleb Williams and the offense have exhibited those ultimate 3 video games. Chicago offensive coordinator Shane Waldron in spite of everything discovered {that a} secure speeding assault is a tender quarterback’s best possible buddy — the Bears are averaging 137 speeding yards in keeping with recreation all the way through this win streak, and with some power eased off of his shoulders Williams has had his best possible 3 video games of the season. The offensive fold additionally has performed higher. That being mentioned, I don’t see the Bears as contenders for the NFC North name. Wild Card contender? It’s nonetheless a minute early to mention that as neatly. It’s remarkable to notice that those ultimate 3 defenses Chicago confronted ranked some of the worst within the league. However this used to be the stretch the Bears had to in finding themselves. The actual take a look at will are available mid-November when the Bears face Inexperienced Bay, Minnesota and Detroit in consecutive weeks. In the event that they emerge from that having received two of 3, next we will be able to view them as contenders for a playoff berth.
Nguyen: Probably the most remarkable factor for the Bears is that Caleb Williams has made secure enhancements in each and every unmarried recreation. In fact, it does backup taking part in the 3 worst defenses within the league consecutively (Rams, Panthers, Jaguars), however you’ll be able to see him getting extra relaxed going thru his progressions and the use of his optic to govern the protection. Towards the Jaguars on Sunday, his ft have been tranquility and he threw a few dimes into tight home windows to Keenan Allen for touchdowns. Williams is giving a preview of what he may well be with higher move coverage. Thankfully for the Bears, they’ll have a bye while adopted by way of video games towards two extra vulnerable defenses (Commanders and Cardinals). The hope is that he makes use of those video games to create his self belief for after within the season, when he’ll have a murderers row in entrance of him initiation in Moment 10. The Bears protection has additionally been exceptional and can store them in video games even if Williams will inevitably aim, as all learners do.
Next Sunday’s efficiency, and bearing in mind the status with regards to supporting solid, are you in bias or towards the Patriots’ choice to travel to Drake Maye now?
Nguyen: I used to be towards it since the Patriots’ offensive fold is likely one of the worst — if now not the worst — pass-blocking traces within the league, and we’ve viewable such a lot of younger quarterbacks change into shell-shocked later taking part in in the back of unholy offensive traces. Maye additionally had to refine his footwork and it’s crisp to try this while you repeatedly must throw away your again bottom. On the other hand, Maye used to be remarkable on Sunday, and his talent as a runner used to be bulky for the Patriots. Untouched England by no means truly threatened the Texans, so he were given extra vanilla seems on protection. Maye is clearly a bundle extra athletic than Jacoby Brissett so I perceive the will to start out him, however expectantly he doesn’t assemble unholy behavior in the back of this fold.
Graham: The Patriots’ 2024 marketing campaign constantly has been a crisp reboot, they usually should keep on with that plan. Regardless of how prone the Dolphins and Jets glance, the Patriots can’t get okey-doked into reducing corners simply because, in the event that they squint, they may be able to believe some longshot trail to the postseason. Maye is the day, now not Jacoby Brissett. The one explanation why to not get started Maye by way of now could be if his condition have been in peril, and even supposing the Texans sacked him 4 occasions (Will Anderson were given him three times) and accident him 5 alternative occasions, Maye seemed the section in spite of a menagerie of most commonly pedestrian playmakers. His best possible spotlight used to be his first NFL landing, a ravishing, 40-yard accident to Kayshon Boutte. Sure, he dedicated 3 yields, however Maye handed for 243 yards and 3 TDs and, minus Rhamondre Stevenson, led the Patriots with 38 speeding yards. A admirable first begin to create off of.
Jones: Maye did some just right issues on Sunday. He recorded 3 landing passes and helped the Patriots rating a season-high 21 issues. (Unhappy when 21 issues is a season majestic, and Jacoby Brissett had most effective two landing passes general in 5 begins.) My factor with switching to Maye used to be, I didn’t trust the verdict to provide him his first get started towards a difficult Texans protection. The suffering Dolphins ultimate while or the woeful Jaguars upcoming while would had been extra favorable statuses for a tender quarterback than going towards a playoff squad like Houston. Maye threw two interceptions and misplaced a fumble. He additionally used to be sacked 4 occasions. So, it used to be a coarse moment, even supposing there have been some dazzling spots. The Patriots’ issues run some distance deeper than quarterback. They may be able to’t give protection to any quarterback, and the fold additionally struggled to pave the way in which for a fertile speeding assault. Untouched England’s protection additionally has a bundle of problems. So, if the Patriots was at Maye believing he would alternate the fortunes in their season, they have been kidding themselves. In the event that they switched as a result of they determine they’re now not going any place and would get advantages upcoming future from Maye getting as many recreation reps as conceivable this season, next this used to be the go to build.
Talking of rookie quarterbacks, do you suppose the Saints have one thing in Spencer Rattler?
Graham: Rattler used to be a bundle of a laugh to look at. For a fifth-round pick out, he acquitted himself neatly in spite of falling aside a little towards the tip with a couple of fourth-quarter interceptions. (For the file, Baker Mayfield used to be picked off 3 times Sunday earlier than Rattler threw his first as a professional.) Rattler used to be solid enough quantity to backup the Saints triumph over a 17-point insufficiency at first of the second one quarter with 20 instantly issues towards an always-tricky Todd Bowles protection; Untouched Orleans sooner or later held a 27-24 govern deep into the 3rd quarter. Derek Carr residue the starter when wholesome, however the Saints would possibly have their quarterback of the day with the correct construction plan.
Nguyen: Rattler flashed characteristics which might be crisp to show age taking part in for a unholy South Carolina crew, like deep-ball aggression and region toughness. The ones characteristics flashed in his debut, however there used to be difference to conquer towards an unique Todd Bowles protection. Chris Olave, his best possible receiver, used to be additionally harm early within the recreation and didn’t go back. Additionally, the Saints are lacking some offensive-line starters, so move coverage used to be a subject. I believe we don’t just about have enough quantity of a pattern measurement to build any actual judgment on Rattler, however he did some encouraging issues on Sunday.
Jones: I do suppose the Saints have one thing in Rattler, their fifth-round pick of South Carolina, who all the way through his early days at Oklahoma used to be considered as a day first-round pick out. Complete disclosure: Considered one of my daring predictions getting into the season used to be that Rattler would finally end up taking Derek Carr’s process this season. So, Rattler appearing oath like he did Sunday doesn’t miracle me. He will have to be capable to backup the Saints stay aggressive for the upcoming 3 to 4 weeks age Carr is sidelined if his coaches stay mischievous along with his workload and don’t put difference on his plate. His inexperience may just additionally motive Untouched Orleans to come back up cut right here and there, so we simply have to attend and notice how this performs out earlier than we begin discussing whether or not the Saints will have to stick to Rattler over a wholesome Carr. The larger worry is the Saints’ protection, which surrendered 600 yards and 50 issues and allowed the Bucs to transform 6 of 10 3rd downs. It doesn’t subject who performs quarterback — the Saints protection has to place up some resistance.
(Lead picture: Patrick Smith / Getty Photographs)
