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FOX Sports actions’ NFL experts provide the excellent takeaways from every Sunday game in Week 9 and what they imply for every personnel going forward.
Lions : It’s decent: The Lions are the fully personnel in the NFC and would possibly perchance well well peaceable very successfully be the fully personnel in the league. It’s comical, for a personnel playing in its first outside game of the season, Detroit with out a doubt did now not appear to agree with any ache dealing with the downpour on Sunday. Quarterback Jared Goff over again posted an insane completion percentage, despite the climate, and the Lions confirmed they’re fully able to difficult the ball on the floor with both David Sir Bernard Law and Jahmyr Gibbs. In all likelihood most spectacular is that the protection used to be in a position to withstand the ejection of Brian Division for a helmet-to-helmet hit and multiple accidents. There would possibly perchance be now not anything else going unsuitable for the Lions, and with the assumption that head coach Dan Campbell has instilled in them, there horny would now not seem like any stopping Detroit, length.
Tom Brady breaks down the Lions’ dominant pick up over the Packers Packers : In preference to the Lions, it used to be the Packers who had been slipping and sliding around Lambeau Arena. They had been extraordinarily productive offensively, but a pair of expensive errors, including but but another desperation pick-six by Jordan Bask in, intended a 10-level loss to the kings of the NFC North at home. Bask in is clearly now not real, and he’ll now agree with time for his groin harm to heal as Inexperienced Bay heads on its bye. This personnel is peaceable one to ache in the NFC, nonetheless it wants to gain more healthy on its off week. Have to Bask in gain his leisure and heart Josh Myers return from his wrist harm, the Packers would possibly perchance well well peaceable be horny truthful down the stretch, even with with out a doubt one of many toughest remaining schedules in the league. — Carmen Vitali
Cowboys : Things agree with long gone from injurious to worse for the Cowboys. There had been the disciplinary complications of Ezekiel Elliott that kept him from boarding the flight to Atlanta on prime of the accidents to Micah Parsons and DaRon Bland. They had been already going into a have to-pick up game hobbled and on Sunday, that harm checklist horny now entails Dak Prescott, who left the sport in the fourth quarter with a hamstring harm, and CeeDee Lamb, who banged up his real shoulder. And there goes the Cowboys’ total offense most often horny in time to gain Philadelphia subsequent week. The vibes are injurious. The accidents are injurious. Right here’s rapid becoming a fully lost season for the now 3-5 Cowboys.
Falcons : Atlanta is pulling away from the NFC South pack on the shoulders of Kirk Cousins, who threw for three touchdowns in opposition to the Cowboys. He picked apart an ailing Dallas protection and looked firmly in protect a watch on of his original personnel. Who knew Cousins, who suffered his Achilles harm weeks later than Aaron Rodgers final season, would return to originate essential sooner (and better) than the man the Jets went all-in on? The Falcons agree with hundreds of versatility offensively, and their protection below Raheem Morris is doing ample, despite now not being in a position to gain stress to keep their lives. That can want to enhance because the season goes on if the Falcons are seeking to agree with any form of postseason viability, but for now, Cousins has this personnel rolling. — Carmen Vitali
Commanders : The addition of a cell QB tackle Jayden Daniels has in actuality sparked the Washington speeding assault, which has surprisingly change into with out a doubt one of many fully in the NFL. And it is now not all Daniels, neither is it all Brian Robinson, who missed the sport on Sunday with a hamstring harm. With Austin Ekeler (11 carries, 42 yards), the Commanders rolled over the Giants for 151 speeding yards. Yes, having Daniels as a extreme threat to bustle retains the protection off balance. But don’t fail to identify the stable play of the Washington offensive line, which used to be speculated to be a glaring weak spot this season. As a replacement, it is becoming a energy.
Giants : It’s miles time for the Giants to bench quarterback Daniel Jones. Their offensive mess is now not all his fault, but at this level, he’s now not serving to them out. And since he clearly has no future with the personnel anymore, they would perchance as successfully give backup Drew Lock a gain out about. Head coach Brian Daboll temporarily made that swap per week ago seeking a “spark.” Now it is time to give Lock a chubby week of prep and glance if he can jolt the offense subsequent week in Germany in opposition to the Carolina Panthers. It’s the top snug feature, real before the bye week. Jones (20-of-26, 174 yards) wasn’t grisly. He did throw two landing passes. But one used to be most often in rubbish time and those had been his first in four video games. The passing game has no energy. The Giants’ season is over. It’s miles time to transfer on. — Ralph Vacchiano
Patriots : Drake Maye has it, other folks. He is effortlessly franchise-quarterback self-discipline subject. He confirmed flashes in his first three starts, but what he did Sunday confirms it — though it came in a further time loss in which he had three giveaways. His 5-yard, game-tying landing circulation on the close of regulation while getting taken down used to be his first principal-time 2nd in the NFL. And he’s a legit twin-threat quarterback, too. He had a profession-high 95 speeding yards on seven carries Sunday. The No. 3 total pick is now not as bodily imposing as Josh Allen, and certainly now not as elusive or slippery as Lamar Jackson, but he moves his 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame successfully — successfully ample to where it is perfect for there to be more designed runs in the playbook for him. If he continues to produce as Contemporary England hopes, he’ll be a handful for defensive coordinators in the years to near.
Drake Maye finds Rhamondre Stevenson in the close zone to force OT Titans : This Titans season peaceable is now not going any place, but their protection would possibly perchance well agree with horny taken the 1st step to becoming big. The unit had a season-high three takeaways in its 20-17 victory. Tennessee had horny three on the 300 and sixty five days entering Sunday, with out a doubt one of many few issues retaining it attend. The Titans’ 52-14 loss final week apart (a loss in which particular teams used to be a important perpetrator), Tennessee has been legit in points allowed and a first-rate-three personnel in yards allowed. The subject has been taking the ball away and turning in principal stops in principal moments. If they start up doing that consistently, the Titans are all of sudden a essential more aggressive personnel down the stretch, no subject how the offense appears to be like to be — although playing deep into January peaceable appears to be like unreasonable. — Ben Arthur
Raiders : Is there an NFL personnel with much less skills at quarterback and working attend than Las Vegas? The three-headed monster of Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell and Desmond Ridder has blended for eight landing passes in nine video games, and there would possibly perchance well well be much less skills in the bustle game, which by no manner offset the free-agent lack of Josh Jacobs. The Raiders would possibly perchance well well peaceable now not exchange a rare elite circulation-rusher tackle Maxx Crosby, but in need of him and rookie tight close Brock Bowers, they’d enact successfully to jettison spare parts to gain draft picks where they can. Receiver Jakobi Meyers? Linebacker Robert Spillane? Tackler Kolton Miller? Design shut what that that you just would possibly perchance well well also gain. After a 2-2 start up, that is 5 straight losses, and any spark they had from Antonio Pierce hasn’t been considered in a while.
Bengals : You did now not write off the Bengals at 1-4, did you? Cincinnati has now obtained three of four, and Joe Burrow is having a gain out about tackle traditional Joe Burrow, throwing for five touchdowns in Sunday’s pick up over the Raiders. The Bengals’ four wins are in opposition to the Panthers, Giants, Browns and Raiders — now not exactly Murderers’ Row — but they’re now 4-5 and extremely essential in playoff competition. Toddle Brown had his fully game of the season, speeding for 120 yards, and the protection is rounding into originate as successfully, albeit in opposition to lesser opponents. Getting a pick up Thursday night at Baltimore would possibly perchance well well be big to validate their midseason turnaround, but even with a loss there, don’t depend these Bengals out of the wild-card lunge. — Greg Auman
Broncos : Their protection would possibly perchance well well gain them to the playoffs, but Bo Nix appears to be like to be tackle the motive they are going to lose in the first round. This loss to the Ravens used to be a reminder of that. The Denver protection had a truly execrable day in opposition to Lamar Jackson, which is in a position to’t happen. The Broncos’ recipe for fulfillment revolves around defensive dominance. Creep, Lamar is particular. But it is now not tackle the Ravens boast the fully dominant QB in the AFC. Lamar, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes — there is now not any beating any of them with out an excellent protection and an spectacular initiating quarterback. To Nix’s credit, he has progressed after throwing four interceptions in the first two weeks. In opposition to the Ravens, he threw his first pick since then. But that is the worst the Ravens were in years, and Nix looked a puny bit tackle a Mac Jones or a Kenny Pickett. Except we glance an big jump in Nix’s construction, he’s limiting the Broncos’ upside.
Ravens : Let’s focus on about GM Eric DeCosta, who would possibly perchance well well peaceable be in the conversation for Govt of the 300 and sixty five days. The protection is now not a masterpiece, however the offense is unbelievable. DeCosta elected to inform in historical Derrick Henry, who has delivered on the hype. Henry is a reminder that working backs subject. He makes Baltimore unbeatable when it has a lead. DeCosta additionally made the complex solution to swap out a handful of offensive line starters, and the unit has discovered the top solution to impact issues work. But that has enabled the personnel to withhold including talent gamers. Zay Plant life and Rashod Bateman are a serviceable circulation-catching community when paired with tight ends Isaiah Probably and Label Andrews. But DeCosta did now not settle for serviceable at wideout. After seeing final week that the receiver room can even be a lethal flaw, DeCosta traded for Diontae Johnson, who would possibly perchance well well be the more or much less share that tips the scale in the AFC Championship. — Henry McKenna
Dolphins : There used to be hundreds of hope that the return of Tua Tagovailoa would ignite the dormant Miami offense, but what the Dolphins in actuality prefer is the return of Tyreek Hill. Yes, he’s playing, and yes he had four catches for 80 yards on Sunday, but he’s now not the principal-play, explosive threat that he used to be final season when he used to be the fully receiver in football. This used to be Hill’s 2nd game with 80 yards or more all season prolonged. He hasn’t topped 100 since opening day. He averaged 106 yards per game final season. This season he’s averaging 56. The Dolphins offense is constructed on stagger and principal, explosive plays, and in addition they peaceable agree with that skill. But Hill used to be their chief in those departments. They want to gain him going to agree with any shot in the 2nd half.
Bills : It shall be laborious to vote in opposition to Josh Allen for MVP if he retains playing tackle he did on Sunday with a rather unimpressive core of receivers. It wasn’t an big game, but he went 25-of-39 for 235 yards by spreading the ball around to eight gamers while his prime receiver, Amari Cooper, sat out with an harm. Allen did throw an interception to transfer with his three landing passes, nonetheless it used to be fully his 2nd of the 300 and sixty five days. He would possibly perchance well well now not gain hundreds of praise for his total performance, but gain out about at his supporting solid. He is the one who retains getting them in feature to determine up video games, and in addition they’re fully working away with the AFC East. — Ralph Vacchiano
Saints : Is that this the close for Dennis Allen? Seven straight losses, the most modern to a one-pick up personnel that hasn’t shown essential lifestyles all season — does that enact the trick? For a personnel that has mortgaged future cap to rob a gain out about at to determine up now for years, this would possibly perchance well be the time to have a look at ahead for as soon as. The exchange closing date is Tuesday, and it is laborious to explain the Saints as anything else but sellers. Their cap self-discipline makes some gamers laborious to deal, but as soon as you happen to would possibly perchance well very successfully shed wage in preference to horny pushing cap hits down the avenue, that’s a path to eventual cap health. For one, corner Marshon Lattimore would possibly perchance well agree with played his final game. Sunday’s loss sinful a big game from Alvin Kamara, who matched his profession high with 155 speeding yards, but there wasn’t essential else in the Saints’ favor. Right here’s a pivotal subsequent few days.
Panthers : For Carolina fans, that is what that that you just would possibly perchance well agree with got been in a position to glance from Bryce Young for a 300 and sixty five days and a half. Nothing extraordinary, but a stable, all-around game and a big drive to determine up a tight ballgame in entrance of the home fans. A Third-and-10 conversion to rookie Xavier Legette, then a circulation-interference penalty to self-discipline up Chuba Hubbard’s trot-ahead landing. The Panthers agree with had so puny to cheer about up to now 300 and sixty five days or two, but this used to be a division pick up to agree with fun. And as wild as it is to notify, they would perchance now not be the worst personnel in the NFC South this season. Objective the same, in the occasion that they can gain a pick for Hubbard or Jadeveon Clowney or (it is laborious to notify this with a straight face) Miles Sanders, they’re at an advantage with picks difficult forward. — Greg Auman
Chargers : Who says the Bolts are a working personnel? For the third straight game, Justin Herbert threw for a minimum of 279 passing yards and dialed up explosive plays in the passing game. On Sunday in an emphatic avenue pick up over the Browns, he threw for 2 touchdowns and achieved 13 passes in a row at one level. Alongside with Herbert’s principal numbers, the Chargers played opportunistically on protection, forcing three Jameis Winston interceptions. At 5-3, L.A. appears to be like to be tackle a personnel that would possibly perchance well well impact some noise in the postseason.
Browns : Per week after a principal pick up over Baltimore, Cleveland returned to having a gain out about tackle a broken and undisciplined personnel that would possibly perchance be making vacation plans in a number of weeks. Jameis Winston, who threw for 334 yards in final week’s pick up over the Ravens, came attend all of the blueprint in which down to earth in a humbling loss to the Chargers. He had the three picks, took six sacks — he used to be below duress hundreds of the sport from a circulation stagger led by Tuli Tuipulotu and Khalil Mack — and had a 50.5 QB rating. But it used to be what else the Browns did that used to be more referring to: They gave up two prolonged touchdowns because of busted coverages in the secondary, allowed a prolonged punt return and had a field procedure blocked. All that makes final week seem tackle an aberration for Cleveland. — Eric D. Williams
Bears : Coach Matt Eberflus appears to be like to be wholly overwhelmed, and it is showing on all sides of the ball. Obviously, final week, it used to be Chicago’s incapacity to protect the Hail Mary. But the Bears did now not appear to shake that off. On Sunday, they looked tackle a personnel with broken self belief. The protection appears to be like to be incapable of making tackles. Their circulation protection used to be truthful — presumably even horny. But their entire incapacity to shut the bustle made all the pieces else inappropriate. It would possibly perchance well perchance perchance be too essential to expect a rookie to bail out the protection, but presumably the No. 1 total pick would possibly perchance well well enact it? Perchance? Well, no, that’s now not happening. Quarterback Caleb Williams appears to be like to be tackle he can fully impact a play out of construction. And while I believed that would possibly perchance well well recuperate, it hasn’t. He is (rightfully) petrified of his offensive line and he’s struggling to face in the pocket. The teaching team hasn’t discovered the top solution to aid him — including the answer to transfer away him in the sport in the fourth quarter in a lopsided game. It looked tackle Williams limped off after a hit in the closing seconds.
Cardinals : The Cardinals tried and did now not heart their offense around rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. They had been spotty with Kyler Murray spreading the ball around to their horny-but-now not-transcendent circulation-catchers. But this week, they had been implausible when building their offense around their working game, averaging 6.3 yards per lift. Murray threw the ball fully 20 cases. The passing game used to be merely an adjunct to what James Conner, Emari Demercado and Trey Benson did on the floor. Four of the Cardinals’ closing eight video games are in opposition to NFC West teams. If they’ve their identity discovered, it is the top time. Because they would perchance shut the door on the faltering division. — Henry McKenna
Jaguars : For as essential focus on as there is about this doubtlessly being the closing days of the Doug Pederson skills in Jacksonville, his personnel hasn’t lost the will to fight. Sunday’s game in actuality would possibly perchance well well peaceable’ve been over when the Eagles went up 22-0 at home. But the Jags scored 16 straight in 14 seconds of game time in the third quarter to self-discipline up the shut attain. The showing, despite the disappointing attain and squandering a would-be game-a success drive, shows that Pederson hasn’t lost the locker room. I originate now not think these Jags agree with the flexibility to flip their season around tackle the 2022 personnel did. They are what they’re by nine video games. But they are going to trot down swinging, with a skill to impact every game shut.
Eagles : I could notify it now: The Eagles are destined for but another early playoff exit this season. This game used to be manner nearer than it wished to be on chronicle of Reduce Sirianni designate Philadelphia nine points — two failed fourth-down attempts within the Jaguars’ 25, and three failed two-level attempts. Sirianni is important to embrace aggressiveness, but there is a particular level where it crosses into foolishness — and that is the reason where Philadelphia lived on Sunday. Sirianni’s blunders are the more or much less teaching decisions that can designate the Eagles in tight video games in opposition to horny teams slow in the 300 and sixty five days, even with as essential skills as they’ve. In a league with so essential parity, specifically this 300 and sixty five days, teaching can even be an X-component — and that has the doable to be Philly’s downfall. — Ben Arthur
Rams: Whereas it took an acrobatic extra time landing catch by Demarcus Robinson, horny tackle final 300 and sixty five days, Sean McVay’s Rams labored attend from an early season fight into playoff competition. Los Angeles has obtained three in a row to gain attend to .500 at 4-4, the most modern a near-from-on the attend of victory in which the Rams scored 17 straight points in the 2nd half on the avenue in opposition to the Seahawks. With out No. 1 receiver Puka Nacua, who used to be ejected for throwing a punch in the first half, the Rams leaned on their protection to to find a technique to determine up. Namely, rookie edge rushers Braden Fiske and Jared Verse had been a two-man wrecking crew, as they accomplished with a blended three sacks and 15 quarterback pressures.
Seahawks: Mike Macdonald’s squad over again struggled to play dapper football, which led to his personnel’s fourth straight home loss this season. And it starts with quarterback Geno Smith, who threw three interceptions, including two with Seattle in the crimson zone in the fourth quarter. Rams safety Kamren Kinchens hauled in two of those, including one returned a franchise-chronicle 103 yards for a rating. Smith and heart Connor Williams additionally mishandled two shotgun snaps; Smith used to be sacked seven cases. Sam Howell any individual? Whereas Smith struggled, 2nd-300 and sixty five days receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba stepped up with DK Metcalf out, which bodes successfully for Seattle’s offense correct by the 2nd half of the season. — Eric D. Williams
Colts: Starting for the first time rather then benched starter Anthony Richardson, 39-300 and sixty five days-aged designate-caller Joe Flacco used to be stable, but now not spectacular. Flacco didn’t flip the ball over, but he additionally didn’t impact many splash plays because the Colts struggled to consistently transfer the football in opposition to an aggressive Minnesota protection. Genuinely, the fully landing Indianapolis tallied used to be a defensive rating. Whereas head coach Shane Steichen stated Flacco is the starter difficult forward, to this level the swap at quarterback hasn’t exactly jump-started an offense averaging horny 19 points a game.
Vikings: Minnesota overcame three Sam Darnold turnovers and snapped a two-game dropping dash with a pick up at home. The Vikings had been led by defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ dominant unit, retaining the Colts to 227 entire yards and 3 of 11 on third down. At 6-2 total, Minnesota is horny a game on the attend of the fully personnel in the NFC in the Detroit Lions, who lead the NFC North at 7-1. The Vikings already lost a complex game to Detroit two weeks ago. But with upcoming video games in opposition to the Jaguars, Titans and Bears, the Vikings agree with a possibility to stack some wins and presumably catch the streaking Lions. These three teams agree with a blended 8-17 chronicle. — Eric D. Williams
The next writers contributed to this chronicle: Ben Arthur ( @benyarthur ); Greg Auman ( @gregauman ); Henry McKenna ( @McKennAnalysis ); Eric D. Williams ( @eric_d_williams ); Ralph Vacchiano ( @RalphVacchiano ); Carmen Vitali ( @CarmieV )
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