Are Lions Tremendous Bowl favorites? Or are they nonetheless a transfer away? Sando’s Decide Six

The Detroit Lions can’t essentially declare to be the NFL’s finest crew with the two-time defending Tremendous Bowl champion Kansas Metropolis Chiefs using a 13-game profitable streak. However after one other essential victory, this one by a 24-14 margin over the Inexperienced Bay Packers at Lambeau Area, there’s a dialog available, a minimum of.

The query is, have the Lions completed sufficient to maximise their championship possibilities after dropping elite cross rusher Aidan Hutchinson to a probable season-ending leg damage final month? They deliberate to amass 32-year-old cross rusher Za’Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns, in accordance with a Professional Soccer Speak report, they usually nonetheless may do extra earlier than the commerce deadline passes Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.

The Decide Six column leads with a take a look at the Lions as they head into the commerce deadline with a 7-1 report, finest within the NFC, with highway victories over Minnesota and Inexperienced Bay already. The total menu:

• Whether or not Lions have completed sufficient
• Peyton, Brady and … Lamar?
• Kirk Cousins and the Raiders
• Carr, Wilson and Daniel Jones
• Busting Browns’ offense myths
• 2-minute drill: Chiefs prediction

1. If Za’Darius Smith is the massive acquisition for Detroit on the deadline, have the Lions completed sufficient?

The Lions aren’t alone amongst NFC North contenders coping with a big damage. The Vikings, already taking part in with out projected beginning quarterback J.J. McCarthy, misplaced left sort out Christian Darrisaw and moved to amass Cam Robinson from Jacksonville to switch him. The Packers are dealing with uncertainty at quarterback whereas a groin damage hinders Jordan Love.

Everybody has points in November, however no different high contender this season has misplaced a participant of Hutchinson’s caliber at a premium place. Trying again over the previous couple of a long time, solely a few comparable conditions stood out the place a possible contender misplaced an elite cross rusher earlier than the deadline:

• The 2011 Houston Texans misplaced Mario Williams, who had 5 sacks within the first 5 video games earlier than touchdown on injured reserve. They’d a rookie named J.J. Watt on the roster and rode out the season, ending 10-6 and dropping within the divisional spherical.

• The 2020 Arizona Cardinals misplaced Chandler Jones, who was coming off a 19-sack season in 2019 however had just one sack by means of 5 video games of 2020. They had been 5-2 on the deadline and bought Markus Golden, who had three sacks for the Cardinals that season and 11 within the subsequent. That crew completed 8-8 and missed the playoffs.

• Additionally that season, the San Francisco 49ers misplaced Nick Bosa to a season-ending damage within the second recreation. Additionally they misplaced quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo proper earlier than the deadline, so they didn’t make a significant transfer, as an alternative buying Jordan Willis for a late-round decide swap.

The Lions are higher than any of these groups with or with out Hutchinson. They’ve extra at stake because the deadline nears.

Their potential choices match into classes.

Pipe dream/clickbait headliners:

Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders
Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals

Older vets more likely to be obtainable:

Za’Darius Smith, Browns
Jadeveon Clowney, Carolina Panthers
Preston Smith, Packers (difficult throughout the division)

Youthful gamers within the last 12 months of their offers:
Baron Browning, Denver Broncos
Azeez Olujari, New York Giants

Two gamers went off the market earlier than the common season started: Matt Judon, acquired by Atlanta from New England for a third-round decide; and Darrell Taylor, acquired by Chicago from Seattle for a sixth-rounder. The Patriots dealt Joshua Uche to the Chiefs final week.

It’s enjoyable to dream up offers like Detroit sending a number of first-round picks with, say, backup quarterback Hendon Hooker to the Raiders for Crosby, however these offers are hardly ever those that materialize in the course of the season. There nonetheless is precedent for upgrading with a cross rusher on the deadline.

Lions normal supervisor Brad Holmes was with the Los Angeles Rams when their 2018 acquisition of cross rusher Dante Fowler helped L.A. attain the Tremendous Bowl. Holmes had left the Rams for the Lions when Los Angeles landed Von Miller from the Denver Broncos on the 2021 deadline for second- and third-round picks. Miller had 9 sacks with the Rams, together with 4 of their playoff run to a Tremendous Bowl victory.

The place would Smith land on the above checklist of notable in-season pass-rush additions made by contenders over the previous couple of a long time?

“I’d fairly have him than virtually the entire above,” mentioned an evaluator who studied Smith’s efficiency in 2023 however has not watched him as intently this season. “Good participant, matches a necessity and has a contract for 2025 already.”

Hutchinson was certainly one of a form. His strain charge in 5 video games this season was 25 p.c, the very best for an out of doors cross rusher in a single season since a minimum of 2019 (minimal 150 pass-rush snaps), in accordance with Professional Soccer Focus, by way of TruMedia.

Smith’s strain charge was 16.5 p.c final season, which ranked 18th, between T.J. Watt and Chris Jones (his 5 sacks couldn’t evaluate to the mixed 29.5 for Watt and Jones). Smith’s 13.9 p.c strain charge and 5 sacks this season have come for a crew that has led on solely 19.7 p.c of performs, the fourth-lowest charge. Detroit has led on practically 65 p.c of performs, second solely to the Vikings, so the speeding conditions will probably be extra favorable in Detroit.

“Nice pickup,” a veteran offensive coach mentioned of Smith. “You would possibly solely want him to play 20 snaps a recreation.”

Detroit, with the NFL’s second-youngest snap-weighted protection behind that of the New York Giants, ranks seventh in defensive EPA per play this season, up from twenty fourth in 2023.

“(Offensive coordinator) Ben Johnson will get all of the run there, however how’s (defensive coordinator) Aaron Glenn doing, D-ing up Inexperienced Bay like that after dropping his security (Brian Department) to an ejection?” an AFC coach mentioned.

Think about how good that protection could be at present if Aaron Glenn may really see pic.twitter.com/VznNU3jVhP

— trey wingo (@wingoz) November 3, 2024

The Packers outgained Detroit 411-216 however struggled on third down (together with 4 dropped passes), bought stuffed on fourth-and-1 and suffered a decide six proper earlier than halftime, a major purpose Inexperienced Bay completed with -3.3 EPA on offense.

Massive defensive video games towards Arizona, Dallas and Tennessee account for a lot of the Lions’ No. 7 rating on protection. There isn’t a high-powered offense on the Lions’ schedule till Inexperienced Bay in Week 14, Buffalo in Week 15 and presumably San Francisco in Week 17.

As soon as the commerce for Smith — or another cross rusher — goes by means of, unleashing the brand new addition within the playoffs would be the precedence.

BetMGM nonetheless has the Chiefs because the Tremendous Bowl favorites at +425, with the Lions second at +500, adopted by the Baltimore Ravens (+600), Buffalo Payments (+800) and 49ers (+1000).

“Detroit has extra expertise than Ok.C., good teaching and is harder,” an exec from one other playoff-caliber crew mentioned, including that he thinks the Lions are the league’s finest crew.

To that time about toughness, which Kansas Metropolis just isn’t missing within the least, a defensive coach made an statement after watching parts of the Lions’ victory over the Packers.

“Have we remodeled to the place Inexperienced Bay with its well-manicured coach appears like they need to be in a dome whereas robust, red-faced Dan Campbell appears like he ought to be the one on the frozen tundra?” this coach mentioned. “As a result of the ‘rug’ crew (Lions with an indoor stadium sporting synthetic turf) was the one securely dealing with the ball within the chilly rain with 15 mph wind.”

That is simply the best way we’re constructed! pic.twitter.com/SA6XcLIc5G

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 4, 2024

The Packers have completed such job drafting and growing, most notably on the receiver place, that analysts hardly ever even point out them as a candidate to make a transfer on the deadline. Inexperienced Bay perpetually owns the NFL’s youngest roster, or near it. The Packers additionally didn’t lose Hutchinson. The Lions did.

Led by Holmes and Campbell, Detroit has constructed patiently for 5 years, trusting its potential to develop homegrown expertise whereas taking steps every season. Now high contenders, and with the NFL’s third-oldest offensive crew on a snap-weighted foundation, the urgency is constructing. The Lions time to strike could possibly be proper now.

2. What do Lamar Jackson’s Ravens have in frequent with Tom Brady’s Patriots and Peyton Manning’s Colts? Right here’s what.

The Broncos entered Week 9 ranked first in defensive EPA per play, partly due to a positive schedule, but in addition as a result of they dominated the one high-powered offense they confronted when beating a then-healthy Tampa Bay, 27-6, in Week 3.

The Ravens entered Week 9 with Jackson taking part in by means of soreness that brought on him to overlook a number of practices in the course of the week.

Baltimore 41, Denver 10?

With a whopping 20.1 offensive EPA towards Denver, the Ravens joined the 2007 New England Patriots and 2004 Indianapolis Colts, two of the nice offenses in NFL historical past, on an unique checklist. These are the one groups since 2000 to satisfy or exceed 13 offensive EPA in a minimum of six of 9 video games to begin a season, per TruMedia. These Brady-quarterbacked Patriots did it seven occasions. The Manning-quarterbacked Colts did it six occasions, identical as these Jackson-quarterbacked Ravens.

The Ravens now personal two of the 4 finest nine-game begins for offensive EPA per recreation since Jackson turned the full-time starter in 2019.

The way in which this season is taking part in out, Jackson may emerge along with his third league MVP award, whereas teammate Derrick Henry could possibly be the selection as Offensive Participant of the Yr.

Jackson leads the NFL in EPA per cross play, passer ranking, yards per try, cross completions longer than 15 yards and proportion of passes producing first downs. Henry leads the league in yards speeding, speeding touchdowns, scrimmage yards and rushes gaining a minimum of 12 yards.

Jackson accomplished 16 of 19 passes for 280 yards with three touchdowns and a most 158.3 passer ranking towards Denver. Per Professional Soccer Reference, this was his sixth profession recreation with as many or extra landing passes than incompletions in video games when he tried a minimum of 15 passes. Solely Manning (seven occasions, averaging 25.7 makes an attempt per recreation) and Drew Brees (six occasions on 27.8 common makes an attempt) have as many of those video games as Jackson, who has averaged 19.8 makes an attempt in such video games. Eight of Jackson’s 19 passes towards Denver produced positive factors longer than 15 yards. No quarterback since a minimum of 2000 has had extra positive factors of 15-plus yards on fewer makes an attempt.

There may be one concern.

Jackson had solely 4 yards speeding towards the Broncos, his second-lowest complete in 92 mixed regular-season and playoff begins. That was a mirrored image of his leg accidents, that are the largest concern, by far, for Jackson and the Ravens sustaining the success they’ve loved so far within the season.

The Cleveland Browns hit Jackson regularly and hit him laborious final week, together with within the legs. Jackson has video games towards the Bengals, Steelers, Chargers and Eagles earlier than Baltimore’s Week 14 bye. The Ravens end towards the Giants, Steelers and Texans earlier than a Week 18 rematch towards the Browns.

It’s a schedule peppered with tough defenses, which may put Jackson’s sturdiness to the take a look at.

3. The Raiders turned to former Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder out of desperation Sunday. Which brings us to the worth of Kirk Cousins and actual beginning quarterbacks basically.

The Raiders had been one of many groups that would have pushed for Cousins in free company however as an alternative invested in a less-expensive various. The Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers proceeded equally with out utilizing a excessive 2024 draft alternative for a possible franchise quarterback. Throw in Cousins’ former crew, Minnesota, and his present crew, Atlanta, and it’s attention-grabbing to see how significantly better (or worse) these groups’ offenses rank in EPA per play.

The Falcons have made the largest soar, from No. 26 final season to No. 7 by means of Week 9 this season. The Steelers have made an enormous soar for a lot much less cash, whereas the Vikings are about the place they had been final season, when Cousins began eight video games earlier than struggling a season-ending damage (the Vikings ranked eleventh in offensive EPA per play by means of eight video games final season).

This isn’t to counsel Cousins may have improved each crew as a lot as he has improved the Falcons. At his age, along with his damage historical past, taking part in indoors for a crew with stable weaponry absolutely helps his manufacturing.

As for the Raiders, who fired offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and two different assistant coaches late Sunday, I’m unsure what the report is for the variety of occasions a quarterback has been benched within the first 9 video games of a season, however Gardner Minshew should rank up there, a minimum of in current occasions, after struggling his third in-game demotion of the season throughout a 41-24 defeat at Cincinnati. The Raiders signed him to a two-year, $25 million contract in free company.

Ridder accomplished 11 of 16 passes for 74 yards and a landing in aid, which was good for him. However for a big-picture take a look at what signing an actual starting-caliber skilled quarterback can do for an offense, contemplate this wild stat:

• The Falcons are already 93 p.c of the best way towards their 2023 full-season complete for yardage when concentrating on large receivers. They’ve 1,535 yards passing to large receivers by means of Week 9 after having 1,650 all final season, when Ridder began 13 video games for them.

The Raiders have traded receiver Davante Adams, who turned disgruntled of their offense, and will probably be in search of a quarterback within the offseason.

4. Derek Carr, Russell Wilson and … Daniel Jones? How lengthy will the Giants wait?

With the Giants falling to 2-7 after a Daniel Jones misplaced fumble created the largest single-play EPA swing of this 27-22 defeat to Washington, coach Brian Daboll predictably confronted extra questions on his quarterback’s viability.

“The phrases ‘Daniel Jones’ and ‘damage assure’ are going to return up a lot this 12 months,” a 2024 Quarterback Tiers voter predicted earlier than the season.

We’re getting nearer to that time with each Giants defeat as a result of Jones’ contract carries $23 million in damage ensures for subsequent season. That’s cash the crew may keep away from paying by releasing Jones after the season, until Jones had been to undergo a severe damage in the course of the second half of this season. In that case, the crew may develop into answerable for all or a part of that cash ($12 million of it turns into totally assured firstly of the 2025 league 12 months, which is March 12).

These types of issues have, from all appearances, led different groups to bench high-priced, low-producing starters in current seasons, from Derek Carr in Las Vegas to Russell Wilson in Denver. These groups waited till Week 17 earlier than benching their starters.

Would the Giants flip to backups Drew Lock and/or Tommy DeVito sooner than that? The depth of the New York-area media market differentiates that scenario from others. Jones additionally has a lot much less profession manufacturing than Wilson and even Carr had beforehand. He has additionally suffered severe accidents extra regularly, together with final season.

Through NFL analysis, #Giants QB Daniel Jones is the primary QB since 1991 to have 0 or fewer cross yards and 1+ cross TD within the 1st half of a recreation with 5+ cross makes an attempt.

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) November 3, 2024

Reporters overlaying the Giants pressed for clues Sunday.

Did the Giants run the ball a lot early in Week 9 as a result of Daboll feared placing the ball in Jones’ fingers? A variation of the query arose at Daboll’s postgame information convention after the Giants handed solely six occasions in 22 possibilities on early downs within the first 28 minutes towards Washington. The 27.3 cross charge in these typically impartial conditions was the bottom for the Giants in 45 complete video games since Daboll turned coach.

“We felt comfy, that was the plan coming into the sport was we needed to run the ball, management the road of scrimmage. Has nothing to do with Daniel throwing it or not throwing it.”

Brian Daboll was requested once more concerning the Giants’ run-heavy gameplan within the first half: pic.twitter.com/7U97L8WU68

— Giants Movies (@SNYGiants) November 3, 2024

A kind of six early cross performs doomed Jones’ statistical line Sunday. It additionally may need doomed the Giants to their defeat. And it’ll result in continued hypothesis about Jones’ viability.

The Giants had first-and-10 from the Washington 29-yard line within the first quarter. Jones took a sack and fumbled. The Commanders took over on the Giants’ 31 and shortly scored the sport’s first landing. This single play price the Giants 8.1 EPA, the largest swing on any single sack in Week 9. (If the officers had not blown the play useless, the fumble would have been returned for a TD, making the EPA swing bigger.)

One issue working in Jones’ favor: He’s getting the ball to rookie receiver Malik Nabers, whose practically 29 p.c crew goal share ranks third within the league behind Justin Jefferson and Garrett Wilson.

5. Poor offensive manufacturing is extra palatable with out Deshaun Watson within the lineup, however let’s bust a fable about this Cleveland Browns offense: Joe Flacco was not cooking in Cleveland.

The one-week bump the Browns’ offense bought with Jameis Winston changing Watson within the lineup final week turned simply that, a one-week bump.

Winston and the Browns’ offense struggled terribly in a 27-10 dwelling defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 9.

Now looks as if time to remind ourselves that Cleveland’s offense has been persistently poor from a statistical standpoint because the Jacoby Brissett glory days of early 2022. That features the feel-good six-start run with Flacco within the lineup late final season — for which he received Comeback Participant of the Yr — when the Browns completed with -10.6 offensive EPA on a per-game common, proper consistent with the -10.4 common throughout Watson’s 19 begins.

The chart under exhibits the game-by-game breakdown throughout 2022-24 when Brissett, Watson, Flacco and Winston began. I’ve excluded six begins with P.J. Walker, Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Jeff Driskel for readability and since they had been merely spot starters.

One dangerous recreation with Winston doesn’t make a pattern. The Chargers entered Week 9 ranked second in defensive EPA per play, having handed the Chiefs their worst statistical recreation on offense this season.

Maybe this may develop into a one-off tough recreation for Winston and the Browns. However the total pattern is obvious and problematic for Cleveland, whether or not or not Watson is within the lineup.

6. Two-minute drill: Predicting a 31-17 Chiefs victory, which might prolong one streak whereas breaking one other

The Chiefs’ 13-game profitable streak is the longest in NFL historical past with out exceeding 28 factors scored at any level in the course of the streak. The opposite groups with greater than 10 of those lower-scoring victories in a row performed within the late Nineteen Twenties, when passing was so new that guidelines required quarterbacks to stay a minimum of 5 yards behind the road of scrimmage when throwing.

Whereas the Chiefs’ offense has not adhered to that long-lost rule, Kansas Metropolis does rank final in common air yards, with every cross touring solely 5.8 yards previous the road of scrimmage earlier than reaching its goal. That’s 1.9 yards under the league common and reflective of an offense that’s extremely environment friendly however not hanging worry into opponents with its vertical orientation.

Monday evening’s matchup at dwelling towards Tampa Bay places the Chiefs in prime place to not solely prolong their profitable streak to 14 video games, but in addition to lastly high 28 factors within the course of, and hit some deep passes as properly.

A Bucs protection that held the Commanders, Lions and Eagles to a mixed 50 factors on offense early within the season not appears to exist.

The Buccaneers have allowed 108 factors in three current video games towards Atlanta, Baltimore and Atlanta once more. From Weeks 5-8, Tampa Bay allowed 4 landing passes on throws touring greater than 15 yards previous the road of scrimmage, after permitting zero over the season’s first 4 weeks, per TruMedia.

What occurred to the Bucs’ protection? Coaches from different groups identified just a few issues. Cornerback Jamel Dean is out, linebacker Lavonte David isn’t as formidable as he as soon as was and there isn’t an elite cross rusher. That creates extra reliance on blitzes that, when disguised, take form from far sufficient away for quick-processing quarterbacks to decipher them in time. That helps clarify how the Falcons’ Kirk Cousins handed for 785 yards with eight touchdowns and one interception in two video games towards the Bucs.

“It units up very well for Kansas Metropolis as a result of the quarterback (Patrick Mahomes) will get the ball out, and Tampa Bay performs lots of zone, so these receivers wouldn’t have to get open towards man,” one coach mentioned. “After which Tampa received’t rating 20 factors towards Kansas Metropolis as a result of their wideouts are injured. They’ll run the ball properly, however not properly sufficient towards Kansas Metropolis’s entrance.”

All of it factors to a 31-17 kind of Chiefs victory, until the Buccaneers can discover a strategy to flip the script.

• Tremendous holdovers: Eleven present Bucs and 13 present Chiefs stay from the Tremendous Bowl between the groups following the 2020 season.

Tampa’s checklist consists of Tristan Wirfs, Lavonte David, Jordan Whitehead, Anthony Nelson, Chris Godwin, Jamel Dean, Vita Vea, Mike Evans, Antoine Winfield Jr., William Gholston and Zach Triner.

Kansas Metropolis’s checklist consists of Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Chris Jones, Tershawn Wharton, Mike Danna, Mike Pennel, Derrick Nnadi, Mecole Hardman, Harrison Butker, James Winchester, Joseph Fortson, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Lucas Niang.

(Whitehead, Pennel, Hardman and Fortson every signed offers with different groups earlier than returning.)

• Texans’ takeaways: The Houston Texans’ resolution to kick a subject aim on third-and-goal from the New York Jets’ 11-yard line whereas trailing 21-10 with 42 seconds left Thursday evening appeared curious on the floor.

Going for a landing in that scenario makes essentially the most sense for any crew making an attempt to erase an 11-point deficit with some mixture of a landing, onside-kick restoration and subject aim.

It’s a determined scenario and a largely futile one regardless.

“It’s so laborious to win these,” a veteran coach mentioned. “You’re within the North Atlantic, two miles underneath the floor within the Titanic, and by kicking on third down, you made the error of turning the escape hatch clockwise as an alternative of counter-clockwise. You’re doomed both means, actually.”

Since 2000, groups are 0-25 when trailing by Sept. 11 factors with 1:00 to 0:20 remaining and dealing with third-and-10 or longer from contained in the opponent’s 30-yard line, per TruMedia. The Texans had been the fourth crew to attempt a subject aim in these conditions. Three of the opposite 21 scored touchdowns on their third-down performs, however no crew scored greater than as soon as.

The Texans’ lack of ability to guard quarterback C.J. Stroud, who took eight sacks within the recreation, absolutely factored into the risk-reward equation. Houston did attempt an onside kick after making the sector aim attempt.

At worst, this regarded like a recreation Stroud and the Texans had been more and more desirous to get behind them.

• The Indianapolis Colts had much less time on the fourth-quarter recreation clock (33 seconds) than Houston had when Indy made a 54-yard subject aim on first-and-10 from the Minnesota 36 whereas trailing by 11 Sunday evening. The Colts’ onside attempt failed they usually misplaced, 21-13.

Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson — benched after making headlines for taking a break towards Houston final week as a result of, in his phrases, he was drained — couldn’t catch a break in the course of the broadcast Sunday evening. He occurred to be yawning when cameras confirmed him on the sideline. The sport itself mirrored higher on Richardson because the Colts set season lows in a spread of statistical classes with Flacco within the lineup.

Tonight, the Colts offense had:
— 6 factors, their lowest of the 12 months
— 0 pink zone drives, their lowest of the 12 months
— 13 first downs, their lowest of the 12 months
— 227 yards of offense, their lowest of the 12 months
— -0.35 EPA/play, their lowest of the 12 months

— Jim Ayello (@jimayello) November 4, 2024

• Arizona’s 29-9 domination of the Chicago Bears, full with a 213-69 speeding benefit for the Cardinals, affirmed just a few issues.

Chicago is a sub-average crew with victories over groups that had been struggling on the time: Tennessee within the opener, the Rams in Week 4, the Panthers and Jaguars thereafter. The Bears have misplaced to a few fairly good groups in Houston, Indianapolis and Arizona. They did practically beat Washington, however that defeat was most damaging of all, for the best way the Bears imploded in the long run.

The Bears nonetheless have their total NFC North schedule forward of them, which looks as if a foul factor, given the power of the division.

The Cardinals have now received 4 of 5, they usually’ve overwhelmed some fairly good groups: San Francisco and the Chargers, plus Miami with Tua Tagovailoa again within the lineup. They’re a Week 10 dwelling victory over the Jets from taking a 5-4 report into their bye and have already matched their win complete from final season. They’ve made progress.

• For the primary time this season, a crew received after taking part in Detroit the earlier week. That profitable crew was Tennessee, towards New England in time beyond regulation, after the Patriots performed for time beyond regulation by kicking the tying additional level with no time on the regulation clock.

• My learn on the Seahawks following their 26-20 time beyond regulation loss to the Rams is that their protection regarded significantly better, however their imaginative and prescient for taking part in offense is likely to be incompatible with their scenario at proper sort out, the place their high three choices stay injured. That scenario is probably going the No. 1 purpose Geno Smith seems to be in boom-and-bust mode, throwing the ball all around the subject with blended outcomes (three touchdowns and three interceptions Sunday).

It’s potential beginning proper sort out Abraham Lucas will return following the bye. Regardless of the case, does the youngest head coach within the NFL, the defensive-minded Mike Macdonald, have a transparent imaginative and prescient for a way his crew will play offense? Is he letting his first-year offensive coordinator, Ryan Grubb, play his personal means?

Seattle was comparatively balanced offensively within the early going Sunday, however the crew nonetheless ranks second to Cincinnati on the Prepare dinner Index with its 61 p.c cross charge on early downs within the first 28 minutes.

A Week 10 bye offers Macdonald time to evaluate such issues.

• Saquon Barkley’s reverse hurdle for the Philadelphia Eagles of their 28-23 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars was a type of performs affirming simply how completely different, how completely particular, one of the best professional athletes are usually. We are able to’t at all times inform how briskly they’re operating, however a play corresponding to this one makes clear to all that these white strains mark the boundaries for an additional planet.

THE 180 HURDLE??? DID SAQUON JUST INVENT THIS?!

📺: #JAXvsPHI on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/tYThjnbdgG

— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2024

(Picture of Dan Campbell: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Photos)