Tag Archive for: NFL

State of the Fins: Where Miami Dolphins stand with just 3 games left.

In the wake of Monday night’s devastating collapse against the Titans during prime time, the Miami Dolphins faced a critical crossroads heading into their next matchup against the Jets: succumb to a potential repeat of last year’s December meltdown by continuing to lose, or regroup, rebound, and return to the dominating Dolphins football seen throughout the season with a bounce back win.

 

In an impressive display of resilience, the Dolphins chose the latter path, securing a resounding 30-0 shutout victory at home against the Jets despite a significant absence of key players, including WR Tyreek Hill, CB Xavien Howard, S Jevon Holland, S Deshon Elliot, G Robert Hunt, C Connor Williams, T Isaiah Wynn, OLB Jaelan Phillips, and LB Jerome Baker.

 

Describing this performance as merely resilient would be an understatement. It was a testament to the team’s fortitude amidst a blend of crucial injuries, numerous prevailing narratives circulating throughout the NFL media, and the broader context of rebounding from their most disheartening loss of the season thus far.

 

Amidst numerous narratives, the spotlight landed on Tua Tagovailoa, Mike McDaniel, and the offense grappling with the challenge of functioning without the league-deserving MVP, Tyreek Hill.

 

Fans were banking on the Jaylen Waddle show after the hope for the Cheetah’s appearance against the Jets faded abruptly as the inactive list revealed Hill’s unexpected absence – the first game he would miss in his short Dolphins tenure.

 

8 receptions for 142 yards and a touchdown against a solid Jets secondary is what Jaylen Waddle racked up in the absence of Hill. Putting to sleep all doubts of whether he could be a reliable WR1 for the Fins, Jaylen Waddle emerged as a standout force. Simultaneously, his performance effectively buried any uncertainties surrounding the potency of this Dolphins offense without Tyreek Hill.

 

However, it would take a fool not to notice the inevitable adjustment in McDaniel’s game plan sans the Cheetah. Coach McDaniel was tasked with devising a strategy considering Hill’s potential absence. The resultant offensive game plan was notably more conservative, lacking, to an extent, the usual arial prowess, explosiveness, and chunk plays—expected when the most explosive wide receiver in football is sidelined.

 

Coach McDaniel and his staff opted to play to their strengths, adapting to the circumstances by leveraging the available resources. Despite injuries, they still possessed a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback and a decent arsenal of weapons, albeit an ailing offensive line. They crafted a game plan that was relatively conservative yet remained effective.

 

How effective was it? Well, Tua Tagovailoa’s first incompletion didn’t occur until 2:50 left in the first half, a testament to the precision and efficiency of the adapted game plan.

 

Where do the Dolphins stand with 3 games remaining?

 

The bad news? The Buffalo Bills seem to have found their groove, securing a solid two-game win streak by triumphing over the Chiefs and Cowboys. Their path ahead seems relatively smooth, facing a far less challenging schedule until their pivotal clash with the Dolphins in the regular seasons finale, potentially dictating the divisional outcome.

 

But for the Dolphins, it’s tough. —an uphill battle against one of the toughest remaining schedules in the league. The objective remains crystal clear: winning is non-negotiable. Sweeping the table against the Cowboys, Ravens, and Bills secures Miami the coveted top seed in the AFC. Yet, a stumble or two could place the AFC East crown within Buffalo’s reach.

 

In the final three weeks of the regular season, much will be learned about this team. The Dolphins are still nursing injuries to key players while facing formidable opponents. To challenge the narrative and stand tall against top-tier teams, they’ll need to operate within their strengths, fortify the formidable defense, and ride Sunday’s momentum without allowing the magnitude of the moment to overwhelm them.

Quick Takeaways from Dolphins’ Collapse vs. Titans

We’ve seen it all in December.

We saw a 9-2 team, surging and blessed after Leon Lett’s unforgettable Thanksgiving faux pas, drop its next five, giving up 45 in one and 47 in another, and losing in overtime in the clincher.

That was 1993.

We saw a 9-5 team, finally stabilized after the return of Jay Fiedler, fall apart in Minnesota (Cris Carter doesn’t catch a touchdown) and New England (when they stopped running Ricky Williams).

That was 2002.

We’ve seen too many other collapses to count.

So will this be another, following an inexplicable 28-27 home defeat against the Tennessee Titans, a 14-point underdog that made several seemingly game-sealing mistakes prior to the Dolphins’ meltdown? Will we remember this fourth loss of an otherwise entertaining and at times exceptional season, to be the beginning of another untimely end?

Will we all jump off the nearest precipice?

Tua Tagovailoa tried to reassure scarred, scared Dolphins fans that this time, at last, will be different.

“I don’t think this is the same Dolphins team that everyone thinks about,” said Tagovailoa, who played below his season standards against Tennessee. “We’ve got really good players, we’ve got really good coaches, and it’s one loss (at) home this year. It’s not like the world ends because we lost this game. We’re human, we’ll continue to get better from this. This is the NFL. No one’s perfect. So that’s that.”

But Dolphins fans are human too.

They can remember.

And that’s why they’re all spasming in fear at the thought of another massive meltdown.

Here are 5 things that need to change, for these not to be the Same Old Dolphins:

 

1. Mike McDaniel needs to stop getting so cute. The former 49ers run-game coordinator, who has worked wonders on the Dolphins’ rushing attack with almost interchangeable running backs and offensive linemen, is absurdly reluctant to run inside the red zone. When he finally did it, with the Dolphins on short fields following Titans miscues, Raheem Mostert had no trouble finding the end zone. We understand tendencies play a part in the trickery, but this team can do the Old School football thing. No need to be a genius there. McDaniel said after that he understands “I deserve to be second-guessed.” But this isn’t just the second or third or even fourth time.

 

2. Figure out the center-quarterback exchange. This is the most fundamental act in football, yet it’s been an issue all season. It was with Connor Williams, who is adept at everything else and now may be lost for the season with a knee injury. And it’s certainly been with fill-in Liam Eichenberg. Tagovailoa took responsibility for a drive-killing fumble, yet another in the red zone. But he also said it’s because he doesn’t work with Eichenberg much. This week he will. Get it fixed.

 

3. Stop feeling yourselves. We love the personality of this team, after more than a quarter-century of dull Dolphins atmospheres. We love Hard Knocks. We love the collective swagger and the creative celebrations. But as our Chris Kouffman of Three Yards Per Carry pointed out, the Dolphins have played their two worst games after arguably their two best games. They appear to handle adversity better than prosperity. Well, they have some now.

 

4. Get whole. Well, some of this is beyond their control. But it also seems like there’s some load management at work, and it’s too late for that now. Could Jevon Holland and Terron Armstead have played through nagging injuries? Perhaps. Would it have helped? Likely, especially more offensive linemen (Connor Williams) and defensive backs (De’Shon Elliot) started falling. Now Tyreek Hill has tweaked his ankle, somewhat significantly (he said he thought his ankle was “gone” when he did, and that his wife told him to “get the hell back in the game”). If he misses the game with the Jets, it would be nice to have some reinforcements return.

 

5. Get healed (emotionally). They can’t let this linger. So they might want to stay off social media, which is likely to be particularly lovely this week. McDaniel said players were looking inward, without pointing fingers. If they start the latter, with four challenging opponents upcoming (even the Jets will test them), we can start pointing back to past flameouts, and start pointing to an early, ignominious exit.

5 Takeaways from Dolphins’ 45-15 win over Washington

Despite playing away from home, the Miami Dolphins’ offense revived shades of their early-season dominance witnessed in home games. Notably, their explosive 70-point triumph over Denver in Week 3 was a standout performance. While Sunday’s victory didn’t replicate the 70-point spectacle, it showcased the Dolphins’ offensive prowess and their renewed ability to dissect defenses, a quality that had been less prominent in recent matchups.

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa saw limited action after the initial possession of the second half, primarily navigating conservative play calls centered around runs. Nevertheless, Tagovailoa managed to deliver two touchdowns, both in collaboration with Tyreek Hill, who amassed a remarkable 157 yards on just five receptions. Hill’s current pace hints at a ridiculous 2,098 yards for the season, which would be an all-time record.

 

Andrew Van Ginkel shines in the absence of Jaelan Phillips

 

When the Miami Dolphins needed a hero in the absence of the sensational Jaelan Phillips, enter Andrew Van Ginkel. Known for his earlier standout performances, Van Ginkel faced big shoes to fill in for the injured Phillips. Yet, in Sunday’s game, he stepped onto the field with sheer determination. His stats spoke volumes: 2 QB hits, 5 tackles, and a game-changing pick-6. Not to mention, he came close to blocking a punt. Van Ginkel’s impactful contributions in the Dolphins’ win reflect a ‘next man up’ mentality.

 

Did the Vic Fangio defense really hold the NFL’s leading passer to 130 passing yards?

 

Washington QB Sam Howell faced a daunting challenge against the Vic Fangio defense this time around. Despite Howell’s reputation for aerial dominance (in terms of yardage), Fangio’s formidable defensive strategy posed a considerable obstacle. Miami’s defense, notably performing at a high level in recent weeks, has had to overcome hurdles due to injuries to key players like Jaelan Phillips, Jevon Holland, and Jerome Baker. Their resilient ‘next man up’ mindset remained evident. Washington’s offense struggled to find its footing against the tenacious Fangio-led defense, failing to establish any real momentum or success during the game.

 

Tua Tagovailoa: The best QB “In the (World)?”

 

That’s what the Cheetah seemed to imply in a tweet following Sunday’s victory. Sunday’s game further bolstered Tua’s MVP candidacy. He consistently delivered on crucial third downs, notably launching a 78-yard bomb to Tyreek Hill in the first quarter. What stood out was Tua’s ability to avoid sacks throughout Sunday’s game. While credit may go to the offensive line, Tagovailoa’s adeptness at navigating the pocket, evading defenders, getting the ball out quickly, and extending plays was evident.

 

Magic number 3?

 

The Dolphins are on the verge of clinching a second consecutive postseason berth under Head Coach Mike McDaniel. With the magic number at 3 wins to clinch, the Dolphins can taste the postseason. However, their aspirations surpass mere qualification. Miami eyes the division title and a potential first-round bye, lofty yet achievable objectives. Yet, looming over them is the persistent challenge: dispelling the narrative that they struggle against top-tier opponents. As they face formidable teams like Dallas, Baltimore, and Buffalo in upcoming matchups, the Fins aim to rewrite this narrative as the conclusion of the regular season nears end.

Unease Amid Dominance: Miami’s 34-13 Victory Over Jets

On the heels of Thanksgiving, the NFL debuted its first-ever Black Friday showdown at MetLife Stadium between the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins. The holiday feast may had concluded, but the Dolphins exhibited an insatiable hunger to get back to 8-3. As soon as Miami won the coin toss and elected to defer, confidence soared among fans for good reason. The Dolphins’ defense, statistically superior to the struggling Jets’ offense in every aspect on paper, promised an advantage. This was because the Jets were starting undrafted free agent quarterback Nick Boyle who was thrown into the starting QB role after QB Zach Wilson was benched the week prior. And when the Dolphins defense forced a punt on the Jets’ first possession, Dolphins fans knew that New York’s offense would be the least of their problems throughout the game.

 

And things were going well for the Dolphins, that was until Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa threw his second pick-six of the season with under 2 minutes left in the first half when the score was 10-0. And the narrative that the only thing that could stop this Dolphins team was self-inflicted wounds resurfaced in the classic Dolphins way. Miami would go back on offense with under a minute left in the half after throwing that pick-six, in a half where they should have shut out the Jets. Nevertheless, clinging to a narrow 10-6 lead (Jets missed the PAT, lol), they fervently sought a redemptive offensive drive, with under 60 seconds in the second quarter; aiming to head into halftime without a sour taste in their mouth. 

 

It only took a couple of first downs, up to midfield, with seconds to go when Tua threw his second interception in under 60 seconds. The Jets would take over on their 49-yard line with 2 seconds left in the half.

 

And if it weren’t for the Jets being the Jets, or perhaps Jevon Holland channeling his inner Wide Receiver from his high school days in Oakland, California, the Dolphins would have carried a ‘disappointing’ 10-6 lead into halftime (at best). But Dolphins safety Jevon Holland had other plans. The Jets weren’t content with trailing merely 10-6 heading into halftime; they craved more. This led the coach of an underwhelming team, failing to meet season expectations, to resort to a Hail Mary attempt from midfield, seeking to spark some unforeseen magic.

 

And boy, did that plan backfire.

 

Tim Boyle dropped back and executed the Hail Mary, sending the ball soaring into the end zone where Holland positioned himself perfectly, waiting for the ball to descend right into the breadbasket. And from the Dolphins’ one-yard line, Jevon Holland snatched the ball and dashed 99 yards in the other direction, with the clock hitting zero seconds as he raced down the field.

 

The Dolphins entered halftime with a 17-6 lead in a defensively charged game. As some fans reveled in Miami’s longest interception return since 2002, others remained uneasy with the offense’s performance and their quarterback, who had already tallied two interceptions by halftime, a marked difference from the 2022 season where he threw only eight interceptions the entire season.

 

But in the second half, Miami’s defense took full advantage of every opportunity against the Jets’ offense. Only managing to secure a single touchdown in garbage time, the Jets struggled as the Dolphins defense flexed its muscles. With 7 sacks and 3 turnovers on the day, including one resulting in a touchdown, the Dolphins’ defensive performance clearly dictated the course of the game.

 

However, fortune favored the Dolphins only until the moment 3rd year standout LB Jaelan Phillips was carted off with an Achilles injury in the fourth quarter. Phillips, who had been delivering a season akin to an All-Pro, will be a monumental loss for the Dolphins defensive as his injury likely means he’s done for the season.

 

So perhaps it was the Phillips injury that left fans unsettled despite a double-digit win over a division rival on the road. Still, it’s worth noting that Miami outscored any other team against the Jets this season. Notably, both Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle combined for 200 yards, while running back Raheem Mostert scored two touchdowns on the ground.

 

Perhaps it’s worth extending some leniency to the Dolphins’ offense. After all, they had to contend with one of the league’s elite defenses, despite facing a Jets offense that ranks among the bottom five in the NFL.

 

However, it’s evident that there’s room for improvement. Whether it was Tyreek Hill’s dropped touchdown on fourth and 1 at the beginning of the game or Tagovailoa’s two interceptions, one of which resulted in a pick-six, these are the areas that demand refinement.

For the Dolphins to realize their deep postseason aspirations, one thing remains clear–they must address these concerns while also managing to mitigate injuries to key players.

Former Alabama quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts embrace after the Eagles win over the Dolphins.

NFL Power Rankings Week 12: Still the Eagles

Another exciting week of the NFL is in the books and it’s that time of the season where the playoff picture is starting to take its shape. 

 

After Kansas City lost at home against the Philadelphia Eagles, they lost the top spot in the AFC to the Baltimore Ravens after their win against the Bengals. 

 

What looked like a nearly flawless Kansas City team for most of the year now has some problems that need to be addressed. 

 

The Chiefs had a total of 26 drops on Monday night against the Eagles. Yes, 26. 

 

One that stuck out to everyone was on a potential game-winning touchdown where Marquez Valdes-Scantling beat his defender and dropped the ball in the endzone after a perfect ball was thrown by Patrick Mahomes. Valdes-Scantling was shown after the game slamming his helmet against the wall in frustration. 

 

But that’s not all. Kansas City has now been shutout in the second half in two-straight games. 

 

The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Bengals on Thursday Night Football by a score of 34-20. But there were some major injury concerns that came out of the game for both teams. 

 

In the early stages of the game, star tight end Mark Andrews was tackled awkwardly and injured his ankle that will probably sideline him for the rest of the year. Andrews has played a crucial role in the Ravens offense and without him, Baltimore will need guys like Odell Beckham Jr. and Zay Flowers to step up in the pass game. 

 

Looking at the Bengals, it is safe to say that their season is over after Joe Burrow tore a ligament in his right wrist that will have him out for the season. Burrow played in the first half but as the Bengals headed into the locker room during halftime, Burrow was visibly in a lot of pain and didn’t play in the second half which is why the final score wasn’t close. 

 

The Browns, Dolphins, Jaguars and Chiefs each hold 7-3 records in the AFC.  

 

Cleveland won an ugly game against the Steelers, the Jaguars finally woke up Calvin Ridley and won big against the Titans, the Dolphins’ defense stepped up in a home win against Las Vegas and the Chiefs’ loss brought them down to 7-3. 

 

Some teams that are hanging around are the Bills, Colts and Broncos who, in case you haven’t noticed, have won four games in a row. 

 

Looking at the NFC, of course the team to beat remains the Philadelphia Eagles after a huge victory on the road in Kansas City. 

 

But some teams are still lurking around for that top spot like the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys who both are playing at an elite level. 

 

Brock Purdy played lights out for San Francisco in their home victory against Tampa Bay, throwing for 333 yards and three touchdowns with an 84% completion rate. 

 

Dallas absolutely dismantled Carolina 33-10 and their defense has shown why they are the best in football. 

 

They had seven sacks, forced a fumble and pick-six in Sunday’s victory against the Panthers.

 

The Detroit Lions had a little scare against the Chicago Bears and found a way to win while the Rams and Packers are slowly creeping back in the playoff picture after big wins at home. 

 

We are in for another exciting slate of football as Thanksgiving is approaching. It’s the best time of the year for football fans.  

 

Here are my Week 12 power rankings. 

 

  1. Carolina Panthers (1 – 9) 

Last Week: 32

Result: Lost vs. Cowboys 33-10

 

  1. Arizona Cardinals (2 – 9)

Last Week: 30

Result: Lost at Texans 21-16

  1. New England Patriots (2 – 8)

Last Week: 29

Result: Bye Week

 

  1. Chicago Bears (3 – 8)

Last Week: 28

Result: Lost at Lions 31-26

 

  1. New York Giants (3 – 8)

Last Week: 31

Result: Won at Commanders 31-19

 

  1. Tennessee Titans (3 – 7)

Last Week: 25

Result: Lost at Jaguars 34-14

 

  1. Washington Commanders (4 – 7)

            Last Week: 23

Result: Lost vs. Giants 31-19

 

  1. New York Jets (4 – 6)

Last Week: 22

Result: Lost at Bills 32-6

 

  1. Atlanta Falcons (4 – 6)

Last Week: 24

Result: Bye Week 

 

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4 – 6)

Last Week: 21

Result: Lost at 49ers 27-14

 

  1. Los Angeles Chargers (4 – 6)

Last Week: 18

Result: Lost at Packers 23-20

 

  1. Green Bay Packers (4 – 6)

Last Week: 26

Result: Won vs. Chargers 23-20

 

  1. Las Vegas Raiders (5 – 6)

Last Week: 19

Result: Lost at Dolphins 20-13

 

  1. New Orleans Saints (5 – 5)

            Last Week: 20

Result: Bye Week

 

  1. Los Angeles Rams (4 – 6)

Last Week: 27

Result: Won vs. Seahawks 17-16

 

  1. Indianapolis Colts (5 – 5)

Last Week: 17

Result: Bye Week

 

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers (6 – 4)

Last Week: 14

Result: Lost at Browns 13-10

 

  1. Cincinnati Bengals (5 – 5)

Last Week: 11

Result: Lost at Ravens 34-20

 

  1. Seattle Seahawks (6 – 4)

Last Week: 13

Result: Lost at Rams 17-16

 

  1. Minnesota Vikings (6 – 5)

Last Week: 12

Result: Lost at Broncos 21-20

 

  1. Denver Broncos (5 – 5)

Last Week: 15

Result: Won vs. Vikings 21-20

 

  1. Buffalo Bills (6 – 5)

Last Week: 16

Result: Won vs. Jets 32-6

 

  1. Houston Texans (6 – 4)

Last Week: 10

Result: Won vs. Cardinals 21-16

 

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars (7 – 3)

Last Week: 9

Result: Won vs. Titans 34-14

 

  1. Cleveland Browns (7 – 3)

Last Week: 6

Result: Won vs. Steelers 13-10

 

  1. Baltimore Ravens (8 – 3)

Last Week: 7

Result: Won vs. Bengals 34-20

 

  1. San Francisco 49ers (7 – 3)

Last Week: 8

Result: Won vs. Buccaneers 27-14

 

  1. Miami Dolphins (7 – 3)

Last Week: 5

Result: Won vs. Raiders 20-13

 

  1. Detroit Lions (8 – 2)

Last Week: 3

Result: Won vs. Bears 31-26

 

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (7 – 3)

Last Week: 2

Result: Lost vs. Eagles 21-17

 

  1. Dallas Cowboys (7 – 3)

Last Week: 4

Result: Won at Panthers 33-10

 

  1. Philadelphia Eagles (9 – 1)

Last Week: 1

Result: Won at Chiefs 21-17

What are the key expectations for Carolina Panthers for season?

The Carolina Panthers entered the 2023 season with their fortunes seemingly on the upswing. They managed a 7-10 record despite giving head coach Matt Rhule the ax after a 1-4 start, subsequently going 6-6 down the stretch even with a carousel of quarterbacks taking snaps for the team. 

 

The Panthers decided to roll the dice ahead of the draft, flipping a pair of first round picks and a few other pieces to the Chicago Bears in return for the first overall pick, acquiring Heisman trophy winning quarterback Bryce Young in doing so.

 

With the talented signal caller joining a roster that was already solid, things seemed to be looking up for the Panthers: some NFL pundits were even saying that the team had a chance to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017, making them a popular pick with NC sports betting apps.

 

Instead, the Panthers promptly fell off a cliff, struggling to a 1-9 record that is the worst in the league to this point in the season. As the focus invariably turns to next season, here’s what one would hope to see out of the Panthers down the stretch.

Bryce Young, Boom or Bust?

The highly touted quarterback hasn’t lived up to expectations through the first few games of his career. It can take time for a player to develop, especially at the hardest position in the sport, but Young simply hasn’t been good enough to this point.

 

The Panthers aren’t going to punt on him yet, most likely, especially given the sorry state of the rooster and the questionable coaching that he’s receiving, but they’d certainly like to see positive development from him as the season goes on. 

 

To this point, Young has thrown for 1,683 yards, nine touchdowns and eight interceptions on 319 passing attempts. These numbers help combine for a quarterback rating of 29.9, the No. 31 mark in a league with 32 starting quarterbacks: not the type of stat line you’d expect from a first overall pick and presumptive face of a franchise.

Rebuild or Retool?

The Panthers look like they’re going to need a rebuild — one doesn’t overhaul a roster that only manages to win a game or two overnight. If Young shows that he can be the guy over the course of the rest of the season, though, the Panthers could check off the box at the game’s most important position.

In many ways, the worst place in the league for a team to be is quarterback purgatory. Having a top tier signal caller can disguise a lot of a team’s flaws, while having a putrid roster means that you’ll have a chance to swing for the fences with a high draft pick the following year. 

 

Between those extremes, though, are the quarterbacks who are just good enough to give a team hope without having quite the talent needed to win when it counts. Finding out where Young fits in will go a long way toward determining the Panthers’ fortunes moving forward. If they have their quarterback of the future, a rebuild will go a lot more smoothly than if they had to try again with a different prospect.

What to Do With Brian Burns

The 25 year old linebacker set a career high with 12.5 sacks last season, cementing his position as one of the best edge rushers in the entire league. He’s a step behind players like TJ Watt and Myles Garrett in terms of production, but with his rookie contract running out at the end of this season, Burns is going to want a new deal.

 

If he’s demanding more than the Panthers are willing to give him, they’re going to have to decide how to best proceed. Letting him walk for nothing could net them a compensatory pick in Round 3 or later of next year’s draft, which is a nice consolation prize… but likely won’t be enough to replace his production. 

 

The Panthers turned down a trade with the Los Angeles Rams, who offered two first round picks for him at last year’s trade deadline, but they probably can’t command that type of haul now given that he has disappointed this season, racking up just five sacks in nine games.

 

It may be too late for the Panthers to salvage the situation, especially if Burns wants to leave town. The fact that general manager Scott Fitterer could low-ball him after a disappointing season could make matters even worse. Finding some way to proceed without making a further mess of things will help expedite the Panthers’ rebuilding process, whether because they have a premier edge rusher on their team, or because they get suitable trade compensation for him.

Week 11 NFL Power Rankings: Cowboys Rising

What looked like a horrible slate of matchups on paper turned out to be one of the best weekends of this NFL season. 

 

Ten of the 14 games played ended up coming down to the last possession. There were a total of six game-winning field goals that included the Browns, Texans, Cardinals, Lions, Seahawks and Broncos. 

 

And then looking at the other end of the spectrum, there were a couple of games that weren’t particularly close at all. 

 

The Dallas Cowboys put on a clinic as they torched the New York Giants 49-17. Dak Prescott does not deserve the hate he receives and he really did silence the critics as he threw for 404 yards and four touchdowns. He also had a rushing touchdown. 

 

Ceedee Lamb has made a case to be one of the league’s best receivers. He had 11 catches for 151 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s win. The Cowboys are dangerous and if their offense can be consistent, watch out. 

 

Another blowout that happened in the NFL was between the 49ers and Jaguars. San Francisco beat the Jaguars 34-3 in a game that was never even close, which was very surprising. 

 

San Francisco’s addition of Chase Young was a game changer and their defensive line is not even fair at this point. The Niners had five sacks on Sunday and allowed just three points to a good Jacksonville offense. Brock Purdy finally played a good game, throwing for 296 yards and three touchdowns. After a three-game skid, it looks like the Niners have come back to life. 

 

And let’s talk about the quarterbacks that keep on turning heads week after week. C.J. Stroud and Joshua Dobbs who play for the Texans and Vikings, respectively. 

 

Stroud is not only a lock for Offensive Rookie of the Year, but he has now entered MVP territory. Of course, barring any miracles, it’s not likely that he’ll win it, but he’s been thriving in this Houston Texans offense. 

 

Houston went into Cincinnati and pulled off a 30-27 upset victory. Stroud threw for 356 yards and a touchdown. Houston’s ground game was excellent as running back Devin Singletary had 30 carries for 150 yards and a touchdown. And considering that the Bengals had won three games in a row against high quality opponents speaks volumes to how good Houston actually might be. 

 

Now for Dobbs, he is not afraid of anything thrown his way. New offense? No problem. New team? No problem. It does not matter to him and he very well could bring the Vikings into the postseason, especially with star receiver Justin Jefferson nearing his return. 

 

On Sunday against a stingy Saints defense, Dobbs threw for 268 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 44 yards and scoring on the ground. His favorite target was undoubtedly, T.J. Hockenson, who had 11 catches for 134 yards and a touchdown. 

 

If Minnesota can get their running back play in check, they can be a real dark horse in the NFC. 

 

Despite the Miami Dolphins being on a bye week, they still found a way to win. The Patriots, Jets and Bills each lost which means that Miami is sitting comfortably on top of the AFC East. 

 

The Patriots and Jets losses were sort of expected but the Buffalo Bills have really spiraled out of control. 

 

Buffalo lost at home on Monday Night Football against the Broncos 24-22 on a night where they turned the ball over four times. I’m surprised that the Broncos had to kick a game-winning field goal because the Bills were constantly shooting themselves in the foot. 

 

Just like that, Buffalo is 5-5 and if they can’t get it together, it might be time to blow it up. 

 

Here are my power rankings for Week 11. 

 

  1. Carolina Panthers (1 – 8) 

Last Week: 31

Result: Lost at Bears 16-13

 

  1. New York Giants (2 – 8)

Last Week: 30

Result: Lost at Cowboys 49-17

  1. Arizona Cardinals (2 – 8)

Last Week: 32

Result: Won vs. Falcons 25-23

 

  1. New England Patriots (2 – 8)

Last Week: 28

Result: Lost vs. Colts 10-6

 

  1. Chicago Bears (3 – 7)

Last Week: 29

Result: Won vs. Panthers 16-13

 

  1. Los Angeles Rams (3 – 6)

Last Week: 27

Result: Bye Week

 

  1. Green Bay Packers (3 – 6)

            Last Week: 26

Result: Lost at Steelers 23-19

 

  1. Tennessee Titans (3 – 6)

Last Week: 25

Result: Lost at Buccaneers 20-6

 

  1. Atlanta Falcons (4 – 6)

Last Week: 23

Result: Lost at Cardinals 25-23

 

  1. Washington Commanders (4 – 6)

Last Week: 22

Result: Lost at Seahawks 29-26

 

  1. New York Jets (4 – 5)

Last Week: 18

Result: Lost at Raiders 16-12

 

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4 – 5)

Last Week: 24

Result: Won vs. Titans 20-6

 

  1. New Orleans Saints (5 – 5)

Last Week: 16

Result: Lost at Vikings 27-19

 

  1. Las Vegas Raiders (5 – 5)

            Last Week: 20

Result: Won vs. Jets 16-12

 

  1. Los Angeles Chargers (4 – 5)

Last Week: 11

Result: Lost vs. Lions 41-38

 

  1. Indianapolis Colts (5 – 5)

Last Week: 19

Result: Won at Patriots 10-6

 

  1. Buffalo Bills (5 – 5)

Last Week: 12

Result: Lost vs. Broncos 24-22

 

  1. Denver Broncos (4 – 5)

Last Week: 21

Result: Won at Bills 24-22

 

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers (6 – 3)

Last Week: 15

Result: Won vs. Packers 23-19

 

  1. Seattle Seahawks (6 – 3)

Last Week: 14

Result: Won vs. Commanders 29-26

 

  1. Minnesota Vikings (6 – 4)

Last Week: 13

Result: Won vs. Saints 27-19

 

  1. Cincinnati Bengals (5 – 4)

Last Week: 6

Result: Lost vs. Texans 30-27

 

  1. Houston Texans (5 – 4)

Last Week: 17

Result: Won at Bengals 30-27

 

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars (6 – 3)

Last Week: 7

Result: Lost vs. 49ers 34-3

 

  1. San Francisco 49ers (6 – 3)

Last Week: 10

Result: Won at Jaguars 34-3

 

  1. Baltimore Ravens (7 – 3)

Last Week: 3

Result: Lost vs. Browns 33-31

 

  1. Cleveland Browns (6 – 3)

Last Week: 9

Result: Won at Ravens 33-31

 

  1. Miami Dolphins (6 – 3)

Last Week: 5

Result: Bye Week

 

  1. Dallas Cowboys (6 – 3)

Last Week: 8

Result: Won vs. Giants 49-17

 

  1. Detroit Lions (7 – 2)

Last Week: 4

Result: Won at Chargers 41-38

 

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (7 – 2)

Last Week: 2

Result: Bye Week

 

  1. Philadelphia Eagles (8 – 1)

Last Week: 1

Result: Bye Week

 

Best Record Eagles Continue to Rise in NFL

The 2022–23 Philadelphia Eagles surprised the world with their run to the Super Bowl. Led by former second-round pick Jalen Hurts, a vaunted defense, and one of the best wide receiving duos in the league in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia nearly brought home the second Lombardi Trophy in team history. 

 

Thanks to last season, the Eagles’ net worth is as high as ever. They’ve even added several players to help bring a championship home in 2023–24, and they’re now an NFL-best 8-1 after a win against the rival Dallas Cowboys. Here’s what you need to know. 

 

 

Eagles’ Net Worth

Philadelphia has always loved its football team. One of the oldest franchises in the league, the Eagles won three championships between 1945 and 1960 before entering a long wilderness period. Between 1961 and 1977, Philadelphia never reached the playoffs and only had a winning record twice. 

 

Aside from a surprising Super Bowl appearance in 1980, there wasn’t tremendous success between 1978 and 1993 before current owner Jeffrey Lurie bought the team in 1994. After hiring Andy Reid in 1999 and building a competitive NFL roster at the turn of the century, the Eagles’ fortunes began to change. 

 

Under Reid, the Eagles made the playoffs nine times in 14 seasons, reaching the NFC Championship game four times and the Super Bowl in 2004. Lurie had bought the team for $195 million, and as of 2023, the team’s value jumped to $5.8 billion, the 10th-most valuable team in football. That number will only continue to grow as the team adds more talent. 

 

Free Agent Signing Terrell Edmunds

The secondary that helped Philadelphia reach the Super Bowl was dealt a severe blow when safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson signed a one-year, $6.5 million contract with the Lions. They nearly lost Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay as well before signing him to a three-year, $42 million contract. 

 

Needing help in the secondary, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman signed former Steelers starting safety Terrell Edmunds, a solid player, to replace Gardner-Johnson. Edmunds logged 70 tackles last season in Pittsburg, along with two sacks. Unlike Gardner-Johnson, however, Edmunds doesn’t generate turnovers. 

 

Gardner-Johnson hauled in a league-leading six interceptions last season, while Edmunds has just five interceptions in his six seasons. 

 

 

Free Agent Signing Marcus Mariota

As the former second overall pick in the 2015 draft, Mariota spent two seasons backing up Derek Carr in Las Vegas before getting the opportunity to start again in Atlanta. The results were a mixed bag. He went 5-8 as the starter and averaged just 170 passing yards per game, the lowest number of his career. When he got benched for his rookie teammate Desmond Ridder, Mariota left the team. Head coach Arthur Smith noted that Mariota had been dealing with a knee injury but didn’t say that was why he was gone. 

 

Fast forward to 2023, and Mariota signed a one-year, $5 million deal to back up MVP candidate Jalen Hurts. While Mariota’s drama with the Falcons is surprising, he did attempt to set the record straight. Mariota looks like one of the best backup quarterbacks in the league in a new environment, perfectly equipped to fill in for Hurts if needed.

 

First-Round Draft Pick Jalen Carter

Entering the 2023 draft, Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter was a consensus top-5 draft prospect, ranked as high as #2 by sports analytics company Pro Football Focus (PFF). In fact, PFF says Carter was “neck and neck with Quinnen Williams” for the best defensive tackle prospect ever graded by the publication. However, his draft stock plummeted after he was involved in a fatal car crash celebrating Georgia’s national championship. He pleaded no contest to the charges against him for his involvement and received 12 months probation. 

 

The unfortunate circumstances allowed the Eagles to snatch him up with the ninth overall pick, with teams before Philadelphia not wanting to risk a pick on the lineman. Carter joined a defensive line that is already among the best in the league, featuring perennial Pro Bowler Fletcher Cox and star edge rushers Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat.

 

First-Round Draft Pick Nolan Smith

 

Philadelphia got another great value pick at #30, drafting linebacker Nolan Smith. The linebacker ranked #13 on PFF’s big board, but his lack of size at under 240 pounds as an edge rusher caused him to fall in the draft. Smith joined the strongest pass rush in the NFL, allowing him to occupy a backup role as he adapts to the NFL. So far this season, Smith has dealt with injuries — but will surely be a third-down pass rush specialist when healthy again. 

 

What Is Next for the Eagles?

The Eagles were already a dynamic franchise prior to 2022. Having won their first Super Bowl in 2017, Philadelphia is one of the most respected teams in the NFL. However, the improbable Super Bowl run in 2022–23 only improved the team’s net worth. Not only that, but a tremendous draft class makes one of the best defenses in football even better.

Tua Tagovailoa will miss the Dolphins' game at New England and possibly more.

NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Dolphins at #2

Another week of the NFL season can be crossed off as we enter the month of November in what seems to feel like a season that has been flying by. 

 

While some teams don’t want the season to go by, others are desperately praying to get it over with because things have not been going well at all. 

 

The Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, New York Giants, Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots, just to name a few, are teams that fall under the category of wishing there was a skip button to the end of the season. 

 

The Cardinals hold the league’s longest losing streak after they lost their fifth game in a row against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday but after starting out their season 2-1, all of a sudden, the Packers have lost four-straight games and are 2-5. Green Bay’s quarterback, Jordan Love, has really struggled trying to fill Aaron Rodgers’ shoes as he completed just 24 of his 41 passes for 229 yards and an interception in the loss to the Vikings. 

 

The Bears and Giants are dealing with quarterback injuries and are forced to play their second and even third string quarterback which, most of the time, doesn’t end well. Chicago got blown against the Chargers 30-13 and the Giants lost a heartbreaker to the Jets in an extremely ugly game for both teams. 

 

Have the Titans found their quarterback of the future? Will Levis got his first career start on Sunday and it looked like he was playing against high schoolers. The rookie out of Kentucky threw for 238 yards and four touchdowns while allowing star receiver Deandre Hopkins to finally have his best game in a Titans uniform. Hopkins had four catches for 128 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-23 win against the Falcons. 

 

Minnesota’s injury woes continue as they lost quarterback Kirk Cousins for the rest of the season due to a torn achilles he suffered against the Packers. It is absolutely devastating for Minnesota because they looked like a team that finally found their groove after beating the 49ers last week and then going into Lambeau Field and making a statement. Cousins was also having a very good year throwing for 2,331 yards and 18 touchdowns. It will be interesting to see how this Vikings team will fare going forward. 

 

The San Francisco 49ers have completely fallen off the face of the Earth. What has happened to them? They started out the year 5-0 and have now lost three games in a row. Quarterback Brock Purdy all of a sudden looks like “Mr. Irrelevant” and that Niners defense that is often highly praised has completely disappeared. Don’t look now but the Seattle Seahawks are in the lead in the NFC West division and if San Francisco doesn’t get it together, their hopes for a division title can easily get out of reach. 

And now we can talk about the fastest team on the planet. The revamped ‘Greatest Show on Turf’. The 6-2 Miami Dolphins. 

 

The Dolphins hosted the Patriots on Sunday in what some feared to be a trap game for Miami as they would face the Chiefs in their next game in Germany. But, Miami looked locked in from the get go. 

 

Tua Tagovailoa continued to make his case for the MVP as he threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle each had over 100 receiving yards. Hill had eight catches for 112 yards and a touchdown while Waddle caught seven passes for 121 yards and a touchdown. 

 

But even with all the noise offensively, the story of the day was the return of All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey. In his Dolphins debut, Ramsey recorded an interception and showed how much of an impact he can make on this defense for Miami. 

 

Oh, and Tagovailoa is 6-0 in his career against Bill Belichick. So yeah, there’s that. 

 

Below are my power rankings for Week 9.

 

  1. Arizona Cardinals (1 – 7) 

Last Week: 31

Result: Lost vs. Ravens 31-24

 

  1. Green Bay Packers (2 – 5)

Last Week: 30

Result: Lost vs. Vikings 24-10

  1. Carolina Panthers (1 – 6)

Last Week: 32

Result: Won vs. Texans 15-13

 

  1. Chicago Bears (2 – 6)

Last Week: 27

Result: Lost at Chargers 30-13

 

  1. New York Giants (2 – 6)

Last Week: 25

Result: Lost vs. Jets 13-10

 

  1. Washington Commanders (3 – 5)

Last Week: 26

Result: Lost vs. Eagles 38-31

 

  1. New England Patriots (2 – 6)

Last Week: 24

Result: Lost at Dolphins 31-17

 

  1. Indianapolis Colts (3 – 5)

            Last Week: 23

Result: Lost vs. Saints 38-27

 

  1. Los Angeles Rams (3 – 5)

Last Week: 19

Result: Lost at Cowboys 43-20

 

  1. Las Vegas Raiders (3 – 5)

Last Week: 21

Result: Lost at Lions 26-14

 

  1. Houston Texans (3 – 4)

Last Week: 16

Result: Lost at Panthers 15-13

 

  1. Tennessee Titans (3 – 4)

Last Week: 29

Result: Won vs. Falcons 28-23

 

  1. Denver Broncos (3 – 5)

Last Week: 28

Result: Won vs. Chiefs 24-9

 

  1. Atlanta Falcons (4 – 4)

Last Week: 17

Result: Lost at Titans 28-23

 

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3 – 4)

            Last Week: 18

Result: Lost at Bills 24-18

 

  1. New Orleans Saints (4 – 4)

Last Week: 22

Result: Won at Colts 38-27

 

  1. Los Angeles Chargers (3 – 4)

Last Week: 20

Result: Won vs. Bears 30-13

 

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers (4 – 3)

Last Week: 13

Result: Lost vs. Jaguars 20-10

 

  1. Minnesota Vikings (4 – 4)

Last Week: 15

Result: Won at Packers 24-10

 

  1. New York Jets (4 – 3)

Last Week: 14

Result: Won at Giants 13-10

 

  1. Cleveland Browns (4 – 3)

Last Week: 9

Result: Lost at Seahawks 24-20

 

  1. San Francisco 49ers (5 – 3)

Last Week: 5

Result: Lost vs. Bengals 31-17

 

  1. Seattle Seahawks (5 – 2)

Last Week: 12

Result: Won vs. Browns 24-20

 

  1. Buffalo Bills (5 – 3)

Last Week: 10

Result: Won vs. Buccaneers 24-18

 

  1. Cincinnati Bengals (4 – 3)

Last Week: 11

Result: Won at 49ers 31-17

 

  1. Dallas Cowboys (5 – 2)

Last Week: 8

Result: Won vs. Rams 43-20

 

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars (6 – 2)

Last Week: 6

Result: Won at Steelers 20-10

 

  1. Detroit Lions (6 – 2)

Last Week: 7

Result: Won vs. Raiders 26-14

 

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (6 – 2)

Last Week: 2

Result: Lost at Broncos 24-9

 

  1. Baltimore Ravens (6 – 2)

Last Week: 3

Result: Won at Cardinals 31-24

 

  1. Miami Dolphins (6 – 2)

Last Week: 4

Result: Won vs. Patriots 31-17

 

  1. Philadelphia Eagles (7 – 1)

Last Week: 1

Result: Won at Commanders 38-31

Week 8 NFL Power Rankings: New team at the top

Week 8 of the NFL season is already here and some teams have emerged as championship contenders while others might be headed towards the list of pretenders. 

 

Who would’ve thought that the Jacksonville Jaguars were going to start their season 5-2? They came through with a big win against the Saints on a short week and Travis Etienne has shown that he is one of the top running backs in the league. 

 

How about the teams in the AFC North? The Browns, Steelers and Ravens all came out with wins on Sunday. 

 

The Cleveland Browns have arguably the best defense in the league and put it on display after forcing four turnovers against the Colts in their 39-38 victory. Despite their problems at the quarterback position, they are off to a 4-2 start. 

 

The Steelers went on the road (not really) and beat the Rams 24-17. Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren each had rushing touchdowns and wide receiver George Pickens caught five passes for 107 yards. 

 

But the team that has emerged as a legitimate contender is the Baltimore Ravens. They put everyone in the league on notice after completely annihilating the then 5-1 Detroit Lions by a score of 38-6. It looked like Lamar Jackson was playing on easy mode as he threw for 357 yards and three touchdowns while 36 yards and a touchdown on the ground. It’ll be interesting to see how this loss will affect the Lions moving forward. Was this just a bad game or were the Ravens just too much for them to handle? They host the Raiders next week on Monday Night Football. 

 

Speaking of too much to handle, the Chiefs routed the Chargers on their home turf 31-17 to move to 6-1 on the season and it seems as if Taylor Swift’s presence is taking Travis Kelce’s game to a whole other level. The tight end had 12 catches for 179 yards and a touchdown. But also, don’t overlook Patrick Mahomes’s 424 passing yards and four touchdowns. 

 

Bill Belichick got his 300th regular season win after his Patriots beat the Bills 29-25 in a game in which the New England offense finally woke up. Mac Jones threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns while Ezekiel Elliott and Kendrick Bourne found their way into the end zone. 

 

Alright and then there are the Dolphins. Miami went on the road to Philadelphia in a prime time game with the Eagles and had trouble moving the ball early in what would turn out to be a 31-17 Eagles victory. 

 

Was the officiating lopsided? Sure. Was Miami missing starters on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball? Absolutely. But there has to be credit given to Philadelphia and the amount of talent they have on both sides of the ball. 

 

The Dolphins just couldn’t get any traction through the ground game and because Miami was missing multiple starters on their offensive line, Tua Tagovailoa had no time to throw and was sacked four times. 

 

On defense, the Dolphins couldn’t figure out how to contain Philadelphia’s receivers. 

 

A.J. Brown had a huge night with 10 catches for 137 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Dallas Goedart had five catches for 77 yards and a touchdown. Yes you can say the Dolphins were missing their best two cornerbacks in Jalen Ramsey and Xavien Howard but again, the Eagles are an elite football team. 

 

With the loss, the Dolphins fall to 5-2 and the narrative surrounding them is if they can beat good teams. Their five wins have come against the Chargers, Patriots, Broncos, Giants and Panthers who have a combined record of 8-25. Can Miami win the big games? As the season unfolds, we’ll have our answer. 

 

Below are my power rankings for Week 8. 

 

  1. Carolina Panthers (0 – 6) 

Last Week: 32

Result: Bye Week

 

  1. Arizona Cardinals (1 – 6)

Last Week: 30

Result: Lost at Seahawks 20-10

  1. Green Bay Packers (2 – 4)

Last Week: 25

Result: Lost at Broncos 19-17

 

  1. Tennessee Titans (2 – 4)

Last Week: 26

Result: Bye Week

 

  1. Denver Broncos (2 – 5)

Last Week: 28

Result: Won vs. Packers 19-17

 

  1. Chicago Bears (2 – 5)

Last Week: 29

Result: Won vs. Raiders 30-12

 

  1. Washington Commanders (3 – 4)

Last Week: 20

Result: Lost at Giants 14-7

 

  1. New York Giants (2 – 5)

            Last Week: 27

Result: Won vs. Commanders 14-7

 

  1. New England Patriots (2 – 5)

Last Week: 31

Result: Won vs. Bills 29-25

 

  1. Indianapolis Colts (3 – 4)

Last Week: 22

Result: Lost vs. Browns 39-38

 

  1. New Orleans Saints (3 – 4)

Last Week: 21

Result: Lost vs. Jaguars 31-24

 

  1. Las Vegas Raiders (2 – 4)

Last Week: 19

Result: Lost at Bears 30-12

 

  1. Los Angeles Chargers (2 – 4)

Last Week: 15

Result: Lost at Chiefs 31-17

 

  1. Los Angeles Rams (3 – 4)

            Last Week: 18

Result: Lost vs. Steelers 24-17

 

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3 – 3)

Last Week: 14

Result: Lost vs. Falcons 16-13

 

  1. Atlanta Falcons (4 – 3)

Last Week: 23

Result: Won at Buccaneers 16-13

 

  1. Houston Texans (3 – 3)

Last Week: 17

Result: Bye Week

 

  1. Minnesota Vikings (3 – 4)

Last Week: 24

Result: Won vs. 49ers 22-17

 

  1. New York Jets (3 – 3)

Last Week: 13

Result: Bye Week

 

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers (4 – 2)

Last Week: 16

Result: Won at Rams 24-17

 

  1. Seattle Seahawks (4 – 2)

Last Week: 12

Result: Won vs. Cardinals 20-10

 

  1. Cincinnati Bengals (3 – 3)

Last Week: 11

Result: Bye Week

 

  1. Buffalo Bills (4 – 3)

Last Week: 8

Result: Lost at Patriots 29-25

 

  1. Cleveland Browns (4 – 2)

Last Week: 9

Result: Won at Colts 39-38

 

  1. Dallas Cowboys (4 – 2)

Last Week: 7

Result: Bye Week

 

  1. Detroit Lions (5 – 2)

Last Week: 4

Result: Lost at Ravens 38-6

 

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars (5 – 2)

Last Week: 6

Result: Won at Saints 31-24

 

  1. San Francisco 49ers (5 – 2)

Last Week: 3

Result: Lost at Vikings 22-17

 

  1. Miami Dolphins (5 – 2)

Last Week: 1

Result: Lost at Eagles 31-17

 

  1. Baltimore Ravens (5 – 2)

Last Week: 10

Result: Won vs. Lions 38-6

 

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (6 – 1)

Last Week: 2

Result: Won vs. Chargers 31-17

 

  1. Philadelphia Eagles (6 – 1)

Last Week: 5

Result: Won vs. Dolphins 31-17