Andre Tippett Jerseys Stitched , it was the New England Patriots‘ defense that set the tone.For most of the season the Patriots have stuck to their principles on defense, making just enough plays to win.They were much more than that Sunday night against the Los Angeles Rams.The Patriots battered and bewildered quarterback Jared Goff and the Rams, stifling the NFL’s second-ranked scoring en route to a 13-3 Super Bowl victory.New England quarterback Tom Brady said the Patriots’ defense set the stage for a win that gave sports fans in New England another set of bragging rights over rival rooters in LA. Last October, the Boston Red Sox beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.It also sent linebackers coach Brian Flores, the Patriots’ de facto defensive coordinator this season who is expected to be named Miami Dolphins coach as early as Monday, out with a victory.“They played unbelievable,” Brady said of the Patriots’ defense. “Challenged all these plays. …. They held them.”The Rams’ 3 points equaled the fewest scored in a Super Bowl.When Goff began to find his groove late in the fourth quarter and the Rams trailing 10-3, Los Angeles drove inside New England’s 30 for just the second time in the game.The momentum proved to be short-lived.Enter safety Duron Harmon.Playing in place of Patrick Chung after he suffered an arm injury in third quarter Youth Tedy Bruschi Jerseys , Harmon combined with cornerback Stephon Gilmore to break up what would have been a touchdown pass to Brandin Cooks. Then, on the next play, Harmon pressured Goff on a blitz and forced him into a throw into coverage that was intercepted by Gilmore .“It was clutch,” Gilmore said of his interception. “I knew he was going to force it up there. Our defensive line put a lot of pressure on him and he chucked it up there and I was able to make a play.”New England’s offense took it from there, sealing the victory with a 9-play, 72-yard drive that ate up 3:05 and ended with a 41-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski.The Patriots’ defense gave Goff different looks all night and many of them seemed to confuse the 24-year-old quarterback. They routinely sent an extra deep safety on third-and-short situations and disguised their blitzes up the middle. The latter benefited linebacker Dont’a Hightower, who dropped Goff for a pair of sacks to stunt drives.New England finished with four sacks for the game.“We’ve got a special group,” Hightower said. “We were able to do a lot of different stuff and they weren’t able to pick it up. We were able to get a lot of one-on-one rushes all game and able to get up on the quarterback.”It added up to an abysmal performance by Los Angeles on third-down situations. The Rams were 0 for 6 on third down in the first half and 3 of 13 for game. New England also held Los Angeles to just 260 total yards.None of the Rams’ running backs were able to get much traction Tedy Bruschi Jerseys Stitched , either.Los Angeles, which entered the game averaging 175 rushing yards per game during the playoffs with four touchdowns, mustered just 3.4 yards per rush on third down. All-Pro running back Todd Gurley finished with 10 rushes for 35 yards. C.J. Anderson, who had 167 yards and two touchdowns through two playoff games, had seven carries for 22 yards.Cornerback Jason McCourty, who joined brother Devin McCourty after being traded to New England this offseason, also had some pivotal pass breakups.“It’s the best feeling ever,” Devin McCourty said of watching his brother. “He’s done everything right this year. He’s been an inspiration to every guy.”New England bailed Goff out early in the fourth quarter when Gilmore was called for defensive holding on Goff’s third-and-11 pass attempt Youth Steve Grogan Jerseys , giving the Rams a fresh set of downs.But the Patriots recovered, using a sack by Jonathan Jones, a holding penalty against the Rams and tackling Gurley for a loss to force a punt.Linebacker Kyle Van Noy said the team also got energy from Chung, who returned to the sideline in the fourth quarter wearing a sling.“I don’t know what kind of injury he had, but it didn’t look good,” Van Noy said. “Anytime you have a captain go down like that you feel for him, you want to step up for him.”It was the second straight impressive performance by the Pats’ defense.In the AFC championship game the Patriots held the Kansas City Chiefs, the NFL’s top-scoring offense during the regular season Steve Grogan Jerseys Stitched , scoreless in the first half. They held the Rams, which averaged 32.9 points per game during the regular season and 28 points in the playoffs, to just three points.“We ain’t stars over here,” Van Noy said. “We just come to work and keep grinding and grinding and grinding. It shows. Look at the scoreboard again. We’re champs, baby.”Patriots sign former Texans, Colts DE/LB John Simon, make two practice squad changes The New England Patriots have to make two important roster moves after placing LB Ja’Whaun Bentley and RB Rex Burkhead on the injured reserve Wednesday morning. One move was bringing back Kenjon Barner at running back. They other is apparently signing former Colts and Texans linebacker John Simon, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss and Field Yates.Simon has experience in a Patriots-type system after his time with the Texans and he should be able to find a role on the edge for New England. He’s not necessarily a one-for-one replacement for Bentley Youth John Hannah Jerseys , who was a middle linebacker, but Simon’s presence should put either Dont’a Hightower or Kyle Van Noy in the middle of the defense.Alternatively, Simon could be a back-up on the edge behind Hightower and Van Noy as Elandon Roberts takes on a larger role at middle linebacker.The Patriots move to replace Burkhead was bringing back Kenjon Barner. The Patriots running back depth chart is Sony Michel, Kenjon Barner and James White. New England needed more of a grinder because Barner and White are not particularly powerful between the tackles.The Patriots have also swapped in defensive back David Jones for wide receiver Jace Billingsley on the practice squad. Perhaps this suggests that Kenjon Barner made Billingsley redundant at practice.

have anything to do with football. Wrestlemania 35 is Sunday and it’s the WWE’s largest and grandest spectacle of the year. At this point Darryl Johnson Buffalo Bills Jersey , you..."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections NewsNotesOpinionAnalysisDiscussionPodcastNFL DraftSalary CapOpinionThe Buffalo Bills’ faces and heels in recognition of Wrestlemania weekendNew,44commentsEDTShareTweetShareShareThe Buffalo Bills’ faces and heels in recognition of Wrestlemania weekendThis Sunday a big event is happening and it doesn’t have anything to do with football. Wrestlemania 35 is Sunday and it’s the WWE’s largest and grandest spectacle of the year. At this point, you have either turned your nose up because wrestling is fake and it’s below you, or you already knew it was happening and are pumped. How does this relate to the Buffalo Bills, you jabroni? As a wrestling fan who has attended the past two Wrestlemania events, it got me thinking about who are the faces and heels for our beloved Bills.For the uninitiated, a face in wrestling is considered a good guy, while heels are the bad guys. Without further ado, here are the top faces and heels from the Buffalo Bills’ storied history. The FacesThe late ‘80s, early ‘90s BillsThis group of players and coaches was grouped together simply because the entire section would have been from this time period. The late 1980s and early to mid-1990s were unquestionably the glory years for this franchise. From the names everyone knows (Levy, Kelly, Thomas, Reed, Smith, Talley, Bennett, Tasker, Lofton, Reich, Beebe—whose successful pursuit of Leon Lett in an otherwise forgettable Super Bowl XXVII kept the Bills from suffering the big game’s worst-ever defeat) to the more unsung, yet no-less important cogs (Kenny Davis, Shane Conlan Youth Shaq Lawson Jerseys , Jeff Wright, Keith McKeller, Carlton Bailey—who preserved the Bills’ Super Bowl streak with his Pick-6 against the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game), these years brought greatness to Western New York. Thanks to the joy brought to the fan base from these teams and the fact that more than two decades later they are, arguably, even more popular with the fans than they were in their heyday, is the true definition of being a face. Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Ralph Wilson is the Vince McMahon for Buffalo. Without Wilson’s commitment to Buffalo, the Bills—and to an extent football as we know it today—wouldn’t exist today (go look what he did for the Raiders, which saved the upstart AFL). Just like McMahon, there were times the fans and media would treat Wilson as a heel, discussing his unwillingness to spend money, but overall there is no denying Wilson was a hero to Buffalonians and Bills fans around the world. Terry and Kim PegulaAfter Mr. Wilson passed away, there was a very real fear among Bills fans that someone would swoop in, buy the Bills and then move them to a larger, more profitable market. Enter the Pegulas. The owners of Buffalo’s other professional sports franchise, the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, who won the bidding for the team. The Pegulas’ commitment to Buffalo is evident (see One Buffalo) and the proverbial monkey on the back of the franchise was quickly removed when the Bills finally made the playoffs after the 2017 season. With a seemingly solid structure in place with the Pegulas, Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane, and a young quarterback with loads of potential, Terry and Kim seem poised for a long run as the top Faces of the Bills. The HeelsJon Bon JoviIt may be hard to remember now, but there was a real loathing of the music star who gave love a bad name during the bidding process for the Bills. There was a petition being circled by 12th Man Thunder to boycott Bon Jovi’s music and that stemmed from the belief that Bon Jovi had no interest in keeping the Bills in Western New York. As we all know Shaq Lawson Jerseys Stitched , Bills fans are an extremely passionate fan base and even the possibility of someone wanting to move the team results in serious venom, the true trait of a Heel. Donte WhitnerOh where to start with the former first-round pick? There was plenty of animosity toward the former Ohio State Buckeye because of his lack of high-impact plays. That alone wouldn’t have put him on this list. His tweets, however, did. Back in the summer of 2014, Whitner said that “Wonder how you Bills fans feel when the team is moved? LOL,” and “Can you say Toronto Bills?!?!?1?!”Much like Bon Jovi’s spot on this list,any mention of moving the Bills is NEVER a good idea. Bills fans can stomach a lot—just look at the support during the drought, but even the notion of not having the Bills to cheer for is something they can’t stomach. Those social media comments—especially considering he directly taunted Bills fans—coupled with his lack of production cemented Whitner’s status as a Heel for the Bills. Billy Joe HobertYou may be thinking: “Who?” This is a more personal Heel, but the reasoning is sound. For those who do remember his brief tenure with the Bills, Hobert was brought in as a free agent in 1997 following Jim Kelly’s retirement. His time with the Bills was over before the 1997 season even ended after Hobert admitted to the media he wasn’t prepared to play. Sucking or having a bad game is one thing. It happens in sports. Bills fans have grown accustomed to that type of play from the quarterback position. Admitting you weren’t prepared mentally, however, is unacceptable anywhere, particularly in a blue-collar city like Buffalo. Because of that unforgivable admission, Hobert will always be one of my most hated Bills players. Who else deserves a spot on our list? Let us know in the comments. Could better luck have led to a playoff berth?" AnalysisNotesWhat if the Buffalo Bills had won their one-score losses in 2018?New,14commentsCould better luck have led to a playoff berth?EDTShare this storyShare this on FacebookShare this on TwitterShareAll sharing optionsShareAll sharing options for:What if the Buffalo Bills had won their one-score losses in 2018?TwitterFacebookRedditPocketFlipboardEmailThe 2018 Buffalo Bills finished their season with a 6-10 record. Struggling between Nate Peterman, Derek Anderson, and rookie Josh Allen, the team suffered a host of blowouts, had a few decisive wins of its own, and went 3-3 in close, one-score games. Could a luckier season have earned them a playoff berth?While good teams win more games than bad teams (this is essentially a tautology), they mostly do this through a higher number of decisive wins (a margin of nine points or more). Successfully coming out on top in close games each year isn’t a repeatable skill (unless you’re Peyton Manning’s Indianapolis Colts) Youth Frank Gore Jerseys , so the average expectation is that a team would perform just like the Bills did, with a .500 record. If they were an outlier, expect a regression to the mean the following year.Given how the Bills played, no dramatic regression is to be expected. But let’s examine if a luckier season could’ve changed Buffalo’s fate. The team played the following close games:W 13-12 against Tennessee TitansL 13-20 against Houston TexansW 24-21 against Jacksonville JaguarsL 17-21 against Miami DolphinsL 23-27 against New York JetsW 14-13 against Detroit LionsWhat if the Bills had won all six, turning their record to 9-7? Unfortunately, no magic scenarios. The New England Patriots still owned the division with an 11-5 record. So Buffalo would be fighting for a wild card. The Los Angeles Chargers, at 12-4, locked up one of those slots. The Texans, who Buffalo now defeated, would drop from 11-5 to 10-6. That would put them into a tie with the Colts, who had held the other wildcard. Regardless of the tiebreaker scenario, though, Houston and Indy would be splitting two playoff slots, leaving the Bills on the outside looking in.In the draft, a 9-7 record would’ve slotted the Bills with the 19th overall pick. The selection there, Mississippi State defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, wouldn’t be a severe downgrade from Ed Oliver. Considered one of the top-ten talents in the class, a torn ACL (and a violent incident from his past) caused him to drop. Other available players at that spot included tight end Noah Fant and defensive end Montez Sweat.One more outcome that would change from this scenario: Sean McDermott’s coaching record. Today McDermott sits with a 15-17 regular season record, but he could’ve finished the year at 18-14. His streak of maintaining a not-losing coaching record would’ve extended through week nine’s loss to the Chicago Bears, rather than ending versus the Titans.

Despite the Packers’ 5-8-1 record https://www.thepackersfanshop.com/Davon-House-Jersey , the team has seen several individual players post excellent seasons. On Tuesday, two of those players were named to the 2019 Pro Bowl, according to Michael Cohen of Packersnews.com.Wide receiver Davante Adams and quarterback Aaron Rodgers have earned trips to Orlando this January as part of the initial round of voting. This is the second appearance in the game for Adams, who was a Pro Bowler in 2017. Rodgers has now made seven Pro Bowls, going in 2009, 2011, 2012, and each year from 2014 through 2016.Adams is among the leaders in the NFL in receiving this season, ranking fourth in receptions (100) and receiving yards (1,315) and ranking second with 12 touchdown catches. He is on pace to set the Packers’ single-season record for receptions, currently held by Sterling Sharpe with 112 in 1993 Bryan Bulaga Jersey , and is on pace for just the second season of 1,500 receiving yards in team history.Despite a down year by his standards, Rodgers still has some impressive numbers relative to the rest of the NFL. He has the lowest interception rate in the NFL at just 0.4%, and his 23:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio is at the top of the leaderboard. However, his passer rating of 97.2 is well off his career average and ranks just 14th overall in the NFL. The Packers also have three alternates on this year’s squad, and they may indeed make the team when all is said and done. Those players are left tackle David Bakhtiari, center Corey Linsley, and defensive tackle Kenny Clark.Bakhtiari has remained one of the NFL’s best left tackles in 2018 after earning second-team All-Pro honors a year ago. However, he was snubbed for a Pro Bowl nomination last season. Bakhtiari is an exemplary pass-blocker who has developed into a fine run-blocker over the length of his career, and his availability (missing just 11 snaps all season) is a critical factor.Linsley’s first Pro Bowl appearance will come in his first season under a new contract extension, which he signed just before the end of the 2017 season. A fifth-round pick from Ohio State in 2014 J'Mon Moore Color Rush Jersey , Linsley has started 68 games in his five years, and has missed just a single snap since returning from the PUP list in the eighth game of the 2016 season.Clark, a third-year player, has been a dominant force on the inside for the Packers’ defensive line all season despite personnel consistently changing around him due to injury. In 13 games, he has a career-high six sacks, giving him 10.5 sacks in his last 18 games dating back to 2017. Equally adept in anchoring against the run as he is providing an interior pass-rush, Clark is fully deserving of this honor and remains under contract for next season with a team option for 2020. Some other teams will get to make mistakes by the lake in a few years, but it seems unlikely that the city of Green Bay will get the 2022 event." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesAcme Packing Company homepageHorizontal - WhiteAcme Packing Companya Green Bay Packers communityFollow Acme Packing Company online:Follow Acme Packing Company on TwitterFollow Acme Packing Company on FacebookFollow Acme Packing Company on InstagramLog in or sign upLog InSign UpSite searchSearchSearchAcme Packing Company main menuFanpostsFanshotsSectionsPackersOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 321 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections The APC PodcastPackers Film RoomFantasy Football AdviceCDTThe odds of Green Bay hosting the 2022 NFL Draft seemed to dwindle on Wednesday afternoon, as the NFL has announced the hosts for the events in 2021 and 2023. Both of those events are headed to smaller-sized NFL markets, as Cleveland will host the 2021 Draft before Kansas City gets the event two years later.These events come on the heels of a highly successful 2019 NFL Draft, held in a smaller market in Nashville. With the 2018 Draft taking place in Arlington https://www.thepackersfanshop.com/Nick-Perry-Jersey , Texas and Las Vegas slated to host in 2020, this appears to set up an alternating schedule of big markets and small markets.With that in mind, it appears unlikely that the Green Bay Packers will be hosting the 2022 NFL Draft. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport suggested the same, saying that the expectation is that the league will indeed look for a bigger market for that year. The Packers and the city of Green Bay could still decide to put in a bid for 2022, however, and the Green Bay Press-Gazette discussed the team and the city’s possible thought processes on Tuesday.These recently-announced host cities will be the sixth and seventh new markets to host the event since the NFL moved it away from New York City after the 2014 NFL Draft. Chicago hosted two straight drafts in 2015 and 2016 before the Draft went to Philadelphia, Dallas, and Nashville in the last three years.

on the defense for the first six games of the season without Jarran Reed Nazair Jones Color Rush Jersey , but what about after the rest of the year? Reed has been one of..." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesField Gulls homepageHorizontal - WhiteField Gullsa Seattle Seahawks communityFollow Field Gulls online:Follow Field Gulls on TwitterFollow Field Gulls on FacebookLog in or sign upLog InSign UpSite searchSearchSearchField Gulls main menuFanpostsFanshotsSectionsSeahawksOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 321 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections VideosCoffee and CigarettesGame AnalysisThe Numbers GameCigar ThoughtsJarran Reed got bad news on Monday, but it probably won’t hurt him long termNew,23commentsPDTWe know that the Seattle Seahawks will be facing questions on the defense for the first six games of the season without Jarran Reed, but what about after the rest of the year? Reed has been one of the biggest topics of conversation for Seahawks fans in 2019 not because we were aware of an impending six-game ban or appeal but due to Reed’s upcoming free agency and an extension.An extension looks unlikely any time soon. How will Seattle move forward with Reed?One thing that works in Pete Carroll and John Schneider’s favor here is that Reed’s interaction with police that ultimately led us here happened two and a half years ago. That means that the Seahawks have had like 30 months to come up with a contingency plan — and it’s fair to say now that Carroll and Schneider’s moves this year indicate that they were ready. Not because they are especially deep at defensive tackle (they aren’t) but they did add six notable defensive linemen — Demarcus Christmas, Al Woods, Jamie Meder, Cassius Marsh, L.J. Collier, and Ziggy Ansah — while knocking on the doors of guys like Ahtyba Rubin.The team let Shamar Stephen walk and traded Frank Clark, but those are the only two real losses; the loss of Clark feels antithetical to a Reed suspension because you want to have as much talent on the defensive line as possible, but you don’t turn down a first and second round pick and pay a player $105 million because you’re going to be without a defensive tackle for six games. And it just may not feel like a good idea to extend Frank Clark to a deal like that months before one of his teammates is suspended six games for an incident related to domestic violence.What does this all mean for Reed’s own free agency in 2020?The suspension might seem to indicate that Reed will be easier to re-sign to a new contract, but I’m not sure that this works in Seattle’s favor. Without this suspension, Reed may have been looking at an elite-level contract for a defensive tackle: as noted last week, Grady Jarrett of the Atlanta Falcons signed a four-year, $68 million deal and it’s not hard to envision Reed topping that.Or at least, it wasn’t.The Seahawks could negotiate with Reed during the season to maybe come to an agreement that gives him security, an opportunity, and alleviates some financial obligations on the part of the team. But my immediate thought on that idea is that Reed should never and probably would never accept it. The fact is that Reed could play 10 games and by the end of the year, most have forgotten that he was ever suspended.If that becomes the case, then Reed shouldn’t expect anything less than a franchise tag, which would be around $16 million for 2020. And I still don’t think I’d expect less than a franchise tag.While with the Chicago Bears in 2016, Alshon Jeffery was suspended four games for violating the league’s PED policy. He returned 12th Fan Color Rush Jersey , played 12 games, had 52 catches for 821 yards, and became a free agent. In this case, Jeffery’s suspension did come back to bite him because the best bet on himself he found was a one-year, $14 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. In this case, you can see that the suspension did hurt Jeffery, on top of some other issues, but he still got a franchise tag-type of deal. This also meant that the Bears didn’t get the same type of compensatory credit that they would have gotten had Jeffery signed a five-year, $66 million contract instead. And that’s basically what Jeffery ended up signing:After proving to be quite valuable in Philly’s offense and that he wasn’t a lesser player post-PEDs, the Eagles gave him a four-year, $52 million extension. Jeffery was fine. The Eagles were fine. But the Bears wound up with nothing. It’s not exactly a rosy picture for Seattle’s forecast but the two situations are not exactly the same. Reed’s suspension is for something that most humans consider to be a worse offense — and this has nothing to do with the specific details in his case, only with the types of suspensions, so we don’t need to talk about the details right now, just the types of suspensions and Reed’s is worse. So many players have been hit with PED suspensions that we kind of just gloss it over and move on. Julian Edelman’s doing fine, right? There’s another comparison that’s much closer to Reed’s situation but it hasn’t concluded yet as far as the next contract goes. In 2017, Ezekiel Elliott served a six-game suspension for an incident related to domestic violence. In both cases, the NFL took a long time to make a decision and to eventually land on a six-game ban after appeal. In both cases, there weren’t any charges pressed against the player. Elliott eventually served his suspension and when he returned for a full campaign in 2018, he led the NFL in rushing yards and touches. The only debates raging around Elliott’s contract situation with the Dallas Cowboys is whether or not running backs matter. There must be internal discussions regarding the risk of signing Elliott and seeing another incident or suspension, but externally the world seems to have moved on. This must be somewhat related to the fact that there is no video evidence against Elliott like there has been for some other players around the league, and most fans are completely unaware of what the allegations actually were at the time. I imagine the same will happen for Reed since there’s no video and no charges.So I imagine that the world will move on for Jarran Reed too.At this point, Seattle’s plan might just be for Reed to serve his suspension and to observe the snaps going to his replacements Tyler Lockett Color Rush Jersey , hoping for reasons to be optimistic about a future with Poona Ford and Quinton Jefferson in the middle. If the Seahawks never planned to extend Reed, then at least they get an early preview of a Reed-less line, which is the closest thing I can find to a silver lining when you lose your best pass rusher. Then it’s just watching how Reed plays. Which doesn’t really change the expectation for 2019 at all, right? All most have been saying for the whole year before today was that the team should wait and see how Reed plays given that his 10.5-sack season was such an outlier from his first two years. If in that 10 games Reed puts up five sacks, then that likely makes him an attractive free agent, and Seattle could either extend him, tag him, or let him walk and potentially receive a good compensatory draft pick. Just like they would have before.If in that 10 games Reed struggles, then it could be the push that gives the Seahawks an opportunity to re-sign him to a one-year deal to improve his stock or a reason to not worry that much if he leaves. After going through the possibilities, I don’t think this suspension changes much for Reed’s future compensation. The information about his incident goes back over two years and as far as we know, there aren’t other incidents in that time. There will be no shortage of teams vying for his services if Reed has 5+ sacks next season. The biggest impact here will be on the first six games and without Reed, the Seahawks could be in competition for worst defensive line in the league.Last year, they opened with Clark, Reed, Tom Johnson, and Jefferson. Stephen replaced Johnson in Week 2, but Clark and Reed went on to finish with 23.5 sacks. Now that Reed is suspended and Ansah is probable to miss the start of the season, a Week 1 defensive line could feature L.J. Collier, Ford, Woods or Meder or Rubin, and perhaps Marsh or Jacob Martin or Rasheem Green. Maybe after six games we’re so excited about Collier and Ford and Martin that we’re not even thinking about Reed, but going into the season it will be one of the least-experienced Frank Clark Color Rush Jersey , least-expensive, and least-intimidating defensive lines in the NFL.The Seahawks were already in a position for 2019 to observe which young players are long-term pieces of the franchise and which ones aren’t. Reed’s absence from September 8-October 13 increases those opportunities for players looking to hang on long-term and decreases Seattle’s talent up front, but ultimately may not change much beyond that. That wasn’t really the ideal set of winners from this past weekend’s AFC and NFC Conference Championship games, was it? The two outcomes almost made me give Enemy Reaction a skip this weekend, but I said I was going to do one for each playoff round after the Seattle Seahawks were eliminated, and occasionally I’m a man of my word. We’re going to do things a bit differently this time around. As awesome as both games were (and as undesirable as both results turned out to be), I’m truncating this to focus primarily on the referees and the controversial calls and non-calls (and one correct call!) made in the fourth quarters of Rams-Saints and Patriots-Chiefs. And of course we’ll cap it off with reaction to the winning points, and bonus reactions from divisional rivals for the winning and losing sides. Let’s go!Los Angeles Rams 26 New Orleans Saints 23 (Overtime) Nope, this is totally not pass interference (20-17 NO)Ted Ginn puts the Saints in tremendous position to win the game with 43-yard catch (20-20)Nickell Robey-Coleman with a clean, totally legal hit that definitely isn’t pass interference (20-20)Bonus Reaction (in order) from....Carolina PanthersAtlanta FalconsTampa Bay BuccaneersSan Francisco 49ersSeattle SeahawksNew England PatriotsGreg Zuerlein sends the Rams to the Super Bowl (26-23 LAR Final)Bonus Reaction (in order) from....PanthersFalconsBuccaneers49ersSeahawksPatriotsRIP Saints fan’s TVNew England Patriots 37 Kansas City Chiefs 31 (Overtime) - AFC Championship Game Julian Edelman muffs punt, Chiefs recover (17-14 KC)...But the call is reversed (17-14 KC)Ball Don’t Lie! (17-14 KC)Personal foul, roughing the Brady (21-17 KC)INTERCEPTION! Chiefs are going to the Super Bo——-DAMMIT, DEE FORD! (28-24 KC)Patriots win it in overtime on Rex Burkhead touchdown (37-31 NE Final)Bonus Reactions (in order) from...Los Angeles ChargersDenver BroncosOakland RaidersMiami DolphinsNew York JetsBuffalo BillsChiefs fans react to a heartbreaking lossAnd now there’s only one game to go. February 3rd, 2002 started the Patriots dynasty when they beat the high-flying St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl 36. Will the dynasty end on February 3rd, 2019 against the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl 53? Or will they make it six Super Bowls, surpassing the San Francisco 49ers and equaling the Pittsburgh Steelers? Whatever the case, Enemy Reaction will be there, and I hope I’m chronicling the whole game and not some gross incompetence from officials.Thanks for reading and go ‘Hawks!

Big Blue View was launched Feb. 19 Mark Bavaro Jersey , 2007 — 4,319 days ago. In some way, shape, or form it is probably only a slight exaggeration to say we have somehow spent around 4,000 of those days discussing Eli Manning and his viability as quarterback of the New York Giants.Today has undoubtedly been one of those days. Just read these two posts, if you haven’t already:2019 NFL mock draft: Do Giants select a replacement for Eli Manning?Giants-Titans “Kudos & Wet Willies” review: A collective failure by the GiantsAs I have said many times, today included, the only opinions that matter are those of the Giants’ decision-makers. If you take what coach Pat Shurmur said Monday about Manning at face value http://www.giantslockerroom.com/authentic-eli-manning-jersey , it certainly sounds as if the coach is casting his ballot for keeping Manning at the Giants’ helm for a 16th year in 2019.Shurmur was asked if he wanted Manning back next season. His answer?“Yeah, I want all our players to be back. I really do. I believe experience matters, I believe that what we’re trying to learn to do -- we’ve grown two games better than we were a year ago here, we’ve got two more opportunities. When you start talking about roster-shaping down the road, you need to learn how to win again and the experience of playing through adversity. I learned some more about a lot of players yesterday, when we’re playing through a game that felt a little bit like some of the games earlier in the season.”Shurmur was asked if, as he indicated when he was first hired, he believes Manning still has “years” of productive play left. His answer?“Yes Kevin Zeitler Jersey , I do.”Finally, Shurmur was asked why he believes that. His answer?“Because I’ve seen him play good football, and I’ve seen how when we have a coordinated effort of protecting him, running the football effectively, and being able to run the ball throughout the game, it helps us. We threw the ball more than I would have liked to in the game that was really one score, but seven of those throws were two-minute before the half, and then there were 15 in the fourth quarter when we were down by 17. That skews the numbers. The important thing about yesterday in our coordinated effort was we didn’t get enough out of the runs when we chose to run the ball.”All of that certainly sounds like a coach willing to cast his lot with Manning again next season.The rest of this seasonShurmur said Manning would start this Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts“We’re going to do what we have to do this week and then we’ll go from there Womens Saquon Barkley Jersey ,” Shurmur said. “Eli playing quarterback, I think, gives us the best chance to win.”Shurmur would not commit to playing or activating rookie Kyle Lauletta in either of the final two games. Lauletta went 0-for-5 with an interception in his debut Week 14 vs the Washington Redskins.“I think Kyle’s got a bright future, but we’ve said this all along – or at least I have, and I believe it – that he’s got a long way to go in terms of doing the things necessary and although he can get in there and function, there’s a lot to learn playing quarterback in this league,” Shurmur said. “He’s got a bright future and he’s made great progress this year, and so it is what it is.” After the Giants lost to the Jets last Sunday http://www.giantslockerroom.com/authentic-b.j.-goodson-jersey , their head coach Pat Shurmur said he won’t be making any changes to the coaching staff during the team’s bye week.Given how often teams make such changes during dismal seasons, it was a natural question to ask when a team has a 2-8 record this year and a 7-19 record since Shurmur took the job ahead of the 2018 season. It was also natural to ask if they might change any responsibilities on the staff, including the identity of the offensive playcaller.Shurmur currently handles those duties and he was asked on Tuesday if he’d consider giving those up in order to focus on other ways to get his team a few more wins before the year is out. According to multiple reporters, Shurmur said he has not given any thought to making such a move this year.With no changes on the coaching front and limited work to do with the roster, the Giants will be banking on the status quo yielding better fruit over the final six weeks of the year.

The Jets looked like a new team in the 2018 opener last week against Detroit. Today they looked a lot like the sloppy team we have seen over the last few seasons. The Dolphins spoiled the home opener today at MetLife Stadium 20-12.It is one thing to lose because your opponent plays a stellar game. Jets fans know that feeling well as they share a division with the Patriots. That isn’t what happened in this game. The Dolphins were not very good in this game. They made a number of unforced errors that handed opportunities to the Jets on a silver platter. The Jets simply squandered them. A parade of turnovers James Carpenter Jerseys 2019 , drops, bad routes, missed tackles, blown coverages, and missed assignments helped Miami build a 20-0 lead at halftime and hold on for dear life during a shaky second half. Mourn below. We will have more tonight and in the days ahead. So, who are these guys?Are the New York Jets the team that looked dominant in victories over Denver and Detroit? Or, the sluggish squad that struggled through three straight losses in between?Well, probably a mix of both. But their next game against the skidding Indianapolis Colts could help provide some clarity. Or, at the very least, some consistency.“We’re trying to find that week after week,” coach Todd Bowles said Monday. “That’s the biggest thing after a game. We’ve got to make sure we carry it over to the next game, and make sure we continue to do things to get better. We’ve just got to keep our heads down and keep grinding at it.”Sounds simple enough, but it has been a challenge so far for the Jets (2-3).“We’ve got to grow up,” left tackle Kelvin Beachum said. “It’s a maturity game for us. It’s great to get a win White Buster Skrine Jerseys , but at the same time, we’ve got to keep things in perspective.”They opened the season with an impressive 48-17 win at Detroit in front of a prime-time audience on “Monday Night Football,” a rousing debut by rookie quarterback Sam Darnold.That all quickly faded with three consecutive losses 鈥?20-12 vs. Miami, 21-17 at Cleveland and 31-12 at Jacksonville 鈥?that had the season teetering on the brink of spiraling. The hot seat under Bowles suddenly got a lot warmer and some fans and media wondered when the next win might come.Out of nowhere came a 34-16 victory over the Broncos on Sunday , highlighted by Isaiah Crowell running for a franchise-record 219 yards, New York putting up 512 total yards 鈥?the most in Bowles’ four seasons 鈥?and the defense making things miserable all day for Case Keenum and Denver’s offense.So, what gives with the Jet-kyll and Hyde act?“It just starts in practice, man, just communicating and playing fast and just making plays in practice,” safety Jamal Adams said. “I strongly believe in practicing how you play. We had a great practice week and it showed (Sunday).”Andrew Luck and the Colts (1-4) are right where the Jets were coming into last week, having lost three in a row and in danger of already having their thoughts turn to next season. If New York can capitalize on the struggles of Indianapolis and build off its impressive victory and start a modest winning streak, the Jets’ season could look a lot better in a hurry.Of course, the outside panic could all start up again if the Jets have another dud of a performance after such an uplifting win.“It’s about just staying level-headed as a team,” Adams said.The players can all look to Darnold Buster Skrine Jerseys 2019 , who has somehow been the picture of cool and calm to start his NFL career.“He’s honestly like a five-year vet,” Adams said. “He stays grounded. He stays hungry.”Even as he struggled during the losing streak, Darnold found some positives and assured his coaches and teammates that his mistakes wouldn’t be repeated. And, most importantly, he’d learn from them.Perhaps even most telling is how Darnold reacted after helping lead the Jets back into the win column Sunday.“I think his demeanor stays the same, even with the lows that we had a couple weeks ago,” Beachum said. “Even with the win yesterday, he stayed the same. As a leader, as a quarterback 鈥?the starting quarterback on this team 鈥?to have that type of demeanor, especially in a market like this, is really impressive for his age.”The 21-year-old Darnold had mostly pedestrian numbers against the Broncos, going 10 of 22 for 198 yards and an interception 鈥?but with three touchdowns.He placed a perfect ball into the hands of a wide-open Robby Anderson who outraced the coverage for a 76-yard TD. Darnold later threw a ball to where only Terrelle Pryor could reach, and the Jets receiver corralled it with one hand for a 20-yard touchdown. There was also the third-and-12 throw to Jermaine Kearse for 14 yards when he zipped the pass over the defender.“I thought my feet were a lot more quiet,” Darnold said White Brian Winters Jerseys , “which means I felt like I did a better job of staying under control and taking what the defense gives me, but also taking my shot when they’re there.”Showing patience to go along with his poise can only rub off on his Jets teammates, especially as they search for consistency as a whole moving forward.“It’s really cool to be able to just kind of be me, but also when I do talk, when I do say something in the huddle, guys can kind of look at me and just believe, ‘OK, here we go,'” Darnold said. “I mean business, but at the same time, I’m just a normal dude who wants to get a win just like everyone else.”NOTES: Bowles had no immediate update on the status of defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers , who is sidelined with what the coach has called a “serious” illness. … Bowles on S Marcus Maye‘s 104-yard interception return in which he was tackled at the 1-yard line: “It looked like it was in slow motion.”___

with his team's struggles against the run — and with good reason.The Green Bay Packers ran for 163 yards and Aaron Jones scored three times on the ground in a 24-16 win over Carolina on Sunday Antonio Morrison Jersey , continuing an ugly trend for the Panthers run defense.Over the past three games, Carolina (5-4) has allowed its opponents to amass 516 yards on the ground and 10 touchdowns rushing, while averaging more than 6 yards per carry."Basically, what happened was we got gashed on a couple of plays," Rivera said. "Those are things that you just can't have happen. It's happened three weeks in a row now where we have given up a couple of big runs per game — and that really puts a lot of things into perspective, unfortunately."Rivera said coaches will be paying extra attention this week to make sure everyone is where they need to be on defense, particularly up front."As far as our defensive front is concerned Jermaine Whitehead Jersey , we are a gap control defense, which means that there is accountability," Rivera said. "When you look at the gaps and look at the scheme, are the guys where they are supposed to be?"The Panthers could catch a break this week.The Falcons have struggled all season maintaining a ground attack and rank 29th in the league in rushing, averaging just 76.8 yards per game with three TDs rushing on the season. In addition, Atlanta could be without top running back Devonta Freeman, who injured his foot in the team's win over the Saints.WHAT'S WORKINGD.J. Moore is developing into the No. 1 wide receiver the Panthers have hoped for when they selected him in the first round in 2018. Moore has had back-to-back 100-yard receiving games. He caught nine of 11 passes thrown his way for 120 yards on Sunday against the Packers Za’Darius Smith Jersey , including a clutch catch on fourth down on the team's final drive.WHAT NEEDS HELPRon Rivera's analytics study. The ninth-year coach decided to go for 2 after the Panthers cut the lead to 24-16, instead of an extra point. Carolina failed to convert, leaving them needing a touchdown and a 2-point conversion on the final drive just to get to overtime. Rivera said he went with analytics, which were based off playing on the road, facing a veteran quarterback in Aaron Rodgers and on a field that was becoming increasingly soggy with the snow falling. "I didn't go to Green Bay to hope to win," Rivera said. "I went to win."STOCK UPVeteran tight end Greg Olsen resurfaced as a potential weapon in the Panthers offense moving forward after catching eight passes for 98 yards against the Packers. Olsen may not be as fast as he once was, but he's still an excellent route runner and has exceptional hands.STOCK DOWNPanthers guard Greg Van Roten has been superb for the Panthers over the past two seasons Billy Turner Jersey , but he missed a block on the game's final play. That allowed the Packers to stop Christian McCaffrey short of the goal line. Rivera said quarterback Kyle Allen had a run-pass option on the play but chose to hand off to McCaffrey. It's the second time this season the Panthers have lost on the final play when McCaffrey failed to get into the end zone.INJUREDCarolina played without cornerback James Bradberry, who is battling a nagging groin injury. The Panthers could certainly use their No. 1 cornerback this week when they host Julio Jones and the Falcons. ... Rookie defensive end Brian Burns continues to struggle with a wrist injury that has limited his ability to use his hand.KEY NUMBER4 — Number of games remaining against teams with winning records, including two games against the Saints (7-2) and another vs. the Seahawks.NEXT STEPSThe Panthers face a Falcons team that may have found new life after upsetting the Saints in a big way on Sunday. Atlanta has won just twice but proved it will never back down to a division foe. The Falcons-Panthers games in the past have been physical affairs, and this week should be no exception. The two possible late draft picks were in Green Bay recently."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections The APC PodcastPackers Film RoomFantasy Football AdviceCDTShareTweetShareSharePackers host pre-draft visits for RB Damarea Crockett and LB Ulysees GilbertQuinn Harris-USA TODAY SportsThe Green Bay Packers need to conclude their top-30 visits for 2019 NFL Draft prospects this week, and they have reportedly brought in another pair of possible late-round draft picks or undrafted players for meetings or workouts, taking the reported number of visitors up to 21.The first new name on the list is linebacker Ulysees Gilbert III from the University of Akron. Gilbert was a three-year starter for the Zips, and he was a tackling machine as a sophomore and junior Adrian Amos Jersey , when he won first-team All-MAC honors. He posted 121 total tackles (11.5 for losses), four sacks, and three forced fumbles in 2016, then put up 140 stops (9.5 for losses), four sacks, and three interceptions in 2017. Gilbert is a smaller linebacker with excellent speed. According to Draftscout.com, he mesured in at 6-foot and 224 pounds Jimmy Graham Jersey , but ran a 4.51-second 40-yard dash and a 7.03-second 3-cone drill at Akron’s Pro Day. He also posted great explosion numbers with a 39.5-inch vertical and 10-foot-6 broad jump, leading to an RAS value of over 8. The second player is running back Damarea Crockett from Missouri. Crockett is an early entrant into the draft, whose finest season came in 2016 as a freshman. That year, he ran for over 1,000 yards and ten touchdowns while averaging 6.9 yards per carry. He missed half of his sophomore season due to injury before bouncing back in 2018 with 700 yards and seven rushing scores. The 5-foot-10, 225-pound Crockett ran a 4.50 forty at Missouri’s Pro Day while posting a 37-inch vertical.Zach Kruse of Packers Wire was first to report both visits.

It’s crazy Matt Wile Jersey , but here they are"Over the years that this site has been online, I’ve said on numerous occasions that the idea of grading an NFL Draft class less than 24 hours after the draft has been completed, and before any of the players selected, have even gotten fitted for a helmet, is pretty absurd. We have no idea how any of these young men are going to perform or how they’re going to help the Minnesota Vikings going forward.However, I do understand that draft grades are a big topic of discussion in the wake of the NFL Draft, and so I’m going to take as many of the grades as I can find and put them in one place for everyone to discuss. We’ll keep adding grades as they come in, but we should have quite a few here for your reading and discussing pleasure for now.So, with that, here are some of the grades from the draft experts around the internet.Mel Kiper, Jr., E$PN: BDan Kadar Rashod Hill Jersey , SB Nation: BChad Reuter, NFL.com: AAndy Benoit, Sports Illustrated: APro Football Focus: Below AverageThere’s more to the PFF analysis, but it’s really long, so I won’t put all of it here.Nate Davis, USA Today: BVinnie Iyer, Sporting News: B+Doug Farrar, Football Wire: B+Thor Nystrom, Rotoworld: B+Luke Easterling, Draft Wire: BNo actual analysis or anything, but the grade is there.We’ll give everyone an opportunity to grade this class themselves later on. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The buzz surrounding the Minnesota Vikings a year ago was unmistakable, after the addition of the best available quarterback to a roster that reached the NFC championship game.Even for an experience-hardened team directed by a no-nonsense coach Tom Compton Jersey , though, the widespread belief that the Vikings were poised to finally win a Super Bowl inevitably penetrated their normally narrow focus. Such infiltration was naturally for the worse, however slight, and not for the better.“You kind of have a feeling when you’re around a team that thinks about expectations or talks about it a lot in the locker room or to the media, what have you, I think that’s when you’re not playing your best football,” wide receiver Adam Thielen said. “I think teams that usually win Super Bowls or are playoff teams consistently, they’re just coming out here and busting their tail. They’re not worried about that, and I think that’s the mindset of this team.”Conveniently for coach Mike Zimmer, quarterback Kirk Cousins and everyone else in purple attempting to pivot from the 8-7-1 record in 2018, punctuated by a lackluster loss at home to division champion Chicago that kept them out of the playoffs, the Vikings have long had their best years amid lowered external expectations.Their odds to win it all are merely 13th best in the league. The Bears have the defense coming off the more dominant season Dan Bailey Jersey , and the NFC North title is in their possession. Still, there will be plenty of heat on general manager Rick Spielman, Zimmer and Cousins this fall, given the investment Vikings ownership has made in them — and the lack of postseason success on each of their resumes. They’re pushed hard against the salary cap after keeping the core of the team intact.“I hope the people on the outside say, ‘Boy, they better be good this year, or else,'” Cousins said. “I mean, is that pressure? Yeah, but we’re professionals. We’re living a dream, and we should have pressure on us, and there should be expectations. I hope we get to play here for a lot of years where people really are putting a lot on us because they expect a lot out of us Brett Jones Jersey , because we’ve shown that we can do it. That should be the goal.”Here are some key angles to the 2019 season, which begins for the Vikings at home on Sept. 8 against Atlanta:NEW LOOKKevin Stefanski has taken over as offensive coordinator, directing a scheme with significant influence from new offensive adviser Gary Kubiak that’s heavy on play-action passing and more familiar to Cousins from his time with Washington. With wide receivers Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs established as one of the NFL’s best duos, the Vikings will seek a better run-pass balance and again try to make running back Dalvin Cook a prominent weapon after his first two seasons were shortened by injuries. Rookie Irv Smith Jr. will join in frequent two-tight end formations with Kyle Rudolph, the longest-tenured offensive player on the team.BETTER BLOCKINGThe offensive line remains a concern until proven otherwise, but first-round draft pick Garrett Bradbury ought to be able to provide a reliable presence in the middle. His arrival at center allowed Pat Elflein to slide to left guard, and Josh Kline was signed to be the new right guard. Cousins could use more consistent protection, but the first priority is to re-establish the ground game. The Vikings were 25th in the NFL in yards per rush and 30th in rushing yards last year.SPECIAL DELIVERY?:The kicking game has grown increasingly unstable — and problematic — over Zimmer’s tenure, which has entered a sixth season. The Vikings have turned the long snapper role over to rookie Austin Cutting and acquired Kaare Vedvik to likely be the new punter. Dan Bailey is the incumbent kicker, but if he were to struggle, Vedvik, who spent last year on the injured list with Baltimore Ameer Abdullah Jersey , could ultimately replace him.HIGH BARROne of the most important offseason developments was the re-signing of linebacker Anthony Barr, who initially agreed to join the New York Jets before changing his mind. He couldn’t bring himself to leave a tight-knit group that finished in the top four in the league in yards allowed in each of the last three years. Barr and college buddy Eric Kendricks will start their fifth straight year together manning the middle of Zimmer’s defense.ON THE SLATEThe Vikings have a late bye in Week 12, a welcomed respite during a difficult second half of their schedule. Their last four road games (Kansas City, Dallas, Seattle, Los Angeles Chargers) are all against teams that made the playoffs last year, with a combined record of 44-20, and both trips to the West Coast are for night-time kickoffs. The upside to the tough stretch? The Packers and Bears must visit U.S. Bank Stadium over the final two weeks.

could be dealing with more than just a groin injury.Mosley played Monday night for the first time since straining his groin in the season opener http://www.patriotslockerroom.com/authentic-james-harrison-jersey , but clearly wasn't 100%. He lacked his typical burst and had just three assisted tackles in the 33-0 loss to New England."Doctors are doing a really deep dive, just trying to figure out where things are coming from," coach Adam Gase said Wednesday. "It might just be more than the groin. We're trying to figure all that stuff out."Mosley had a spectacular debut with the Jets in the season opener after signing a five-year, $85 million deal in the offseason. He had six tackles, returned an interception for a touchdown and recovered a fumble, but injured his groin in the third quarter of the 17-16 loss to Buffalo while breaking up a pass in the end zone.Gase acknowledged a few weeks ago that Mosley's injury was more significant than first thought, and the linebacker spent the past several weeks working his way back to practice. He declared last week that he was playing against New England unless he got hurt, but said after the game he was feeling effects of the injury a bit.Gase wouldn't speculate as to what else might be ailing Mosley, who did not practice Wednesday."We've just got to get with the doctors," Gase said. "Once we get all the facts of what's going on with his body, sit down and figure out what's the best thing to do going forward — where are we at? What can we do for him? How can we help him?"Rookie Blake Cashman is the team's only healthy inside linebacker. Neville Hewitt (neck) and Albert McClellan (concussion) both sat out against the Patriots. Hewitt was limited Wednesday, while McClellan remained sidelined."Anytime he's not in practice, it's not ideal," Gase said of Mosley. "Not only is he one of our better players, but a captain. We're thin right now. We're running out of bodies at linebacker."Quarterback Sam Darnold sat out team drills after having a toenail removed Tuesday. Darnold injured the nail Monday night during the game."I don't know," Gase said Isaiah Wynn Jersey , "it was pretty gross, what they were talking about."The coach added that Darnold is using padded shoes to help him feel comfortable. The team was expected to evaluate during practice whether he could participate in team drills, but Gase said he should be fine to play Sunday at Jacksonville."He's limping a little bit," Gase said. "But once we get him in his shoe and the padding and all that stuff, he should be good to go."It's the latest ailment Darnold is dealing with this season. He missed three games while recovering from mononucleosis before returning against Dallas and being selected the AFC offensive player of the week for his performance.He followed that with the worst game of his career on Monday night, going 11 of 32 for 86 yards with four interceptions, a lost fumble and a horrific 3.6 quarterback rating. Darnold also made headlines when he said while wearing a microphone on the sideline during ESPN's broadcast that he was "seeing ghosts" as he struggled against the Patriots' defense. Gase said Tuesday the organization was angry that comment made it on the air."I see a guy who's focused on this week," Gase said of Darnold. "I don't see a guy who's thinking about the last game. He's dialed into what we're doing right now."Guard Kelechi Osemele remained out of practice with a shoulder injury as his standoff with the team over whether he needs immediate surgery continues. Osemele said Wednesday he will have surgery Friday, but the team had yet to approve it.Center Ryan Kalil (elbow/shoulder), left tackle Kelvin Beachum (ankle) and running back/kick returner Trenton Cannon (foot) also did not practice.Defensive lineman Henry Anderson (shoulder), tight end Chris Herndon (hamstring), nose tackle Steve McLendon (hamstring), guard Brian Winters (shoulder/knee) and wide receivers Demaryius Thomas (hamstring) and Braxton Berrios (hamstring) were all limited. NBC will unveil a second SkyCam for Sunday night’s Super Bowl rematch between the Patriots and Falcons at Gillette Stadium that will provide views from on high.The original SkyCam used for games flies anywhere from 12 feet to 40 feet above the playing field. The high SkyCam goes from 40 to 80 feet and probably will wind up mostly right in between that height.“It gives you a bird’s-eye view of whatever it is you are trying to show,” says Fred Gaudelli, executive producer for “Sunday Night Football. “I try to give that camera assignments based on game situations, down and distance.”This is a perfect time to debut the camera Womens Danny Etling Jersey , and not just because of the classic finish these two teams provided back in February. Gaudelli is intrigued by the blocking schemes Atlanta uses and believes the high SkyCam will offer unprecedented looks at that offensive line’s work.“We can get a great look at the wide-zone scheme of blocking, how each of the linemen work in tandem, how they work like a synchronized swim team,” he says.“In passing situations, we will probably put it on Julio Jones and see the coverage New England is deploying. We then will flip it for Gronk or Brandin Cooks, do some defensive isolations. You get a great look to see how the safety reacts to the quarterback.”One application of the second SkyCam that could not only enhance the viewing experience but help with officiating is at the goal line. In last week’s Giants’ win over Denver, when the extra camera wasn’t yet available, there was a controversial call regarding whether the Broncos’ C.J. Anderson scored (see below).“In a short-yardage situation, it will be right over the line of scrimmage,” Gaudelli says of the higher SkyCam. “We have so many catches on the goal line, had that C.J. Anderson shot last week and couldn’t see the ball; this is another opportunity and hopefully it gives a better view if the ball breaks the goal line.”Gaudelli can envision it working well for other sports, but believes football is the ideal sport for two SkyCams. He plans to use the higher camera later in the season and certainly in the playoffs and for the Super Bowl.“It is a very cool angle,” he notes, “and I think it is perfectly suited.——I SCORED: Broncos running back C.J. Anderson thought he nosed the ball over the goal line on Denver’s failed fourth-and-1 play against the Giants last week, and TV replays appeared to show he had a point.The officials ruled otherwise.“They said they couldn’t see it,” said Anderson Youth Isaiah Wynn Jerseys , who accepted the blame. “If I just made it clear cut and get in the end zone and touch the back of the white line, the referee would raise his hands.”The goal-line stand proved crucial in New York’s 23-10 upset.“Next time I won’t make it so close,” Anderson said. “Next time I get to that, I’ll definitely make it clear cut and be in the end zone to celebrate with my teammates. I’m touching the back of the white line, 110 yards, I’ll be in there. Ten yards, I’m in there.”——DWIGHT CLARK DAY: The San Francisco 49ers will honor Dwight Clark at halftime of a game against the team he made his famous “Catch” against.More than 30 alumni, including Joe Montana, are expected to be on hand for “Dwight Clark Day.” The Niners will show video tributes to Clark during the game and honor him at halftime.Clark played for San Francisco from 1979-87, helping the franchise win its first two Super Bowl titles. He is most famous for “The Catch,” his leaping grab in the back of the end zone of a 6-yard TD in the final minute of a 28-27 win over Dallas in the 1981 NFC title game that launched the 49ers dynasty.Clark announced earlier this year that he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, more commonly known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease.——WAITING FOR ROSS: The Bengals expected to add receiver John Ross’ record-setting speed to their playbook this season. So far, he’s touched the ball one time in five games.The ninth overall pick hasn’t been able to stay healthy. He set a combine record by running 4.22 seconds in the 40-yard dash, and had shoulder surgery that limited him well into training camp. He twisted his left knee in the final preseason game, causing him to sit out the season opener.In the second game against Houston, he got the ball on a reverse and fumbled after a 12-yard gain. He also aggravated the knee and hasn’t been able to practice fully.“I’m just going to continue working through it Isaiah Wynn Jerseys Stitched ,” Ross said. “That’s really all I can do at this point.”The Bengals aren’t inclined to put him in for a play or two. Instead, they want him to catch up from all the missed time.“They don’t want to have guys come in for these certain things or anything,” Ross said. “It was more `learn everything and once you do, you’ll get more (chances).'”——HOME-AWAY UPDATE: Through six weeks and one game, the Raiders wild victory over the Chiefs on Thursday night, NFL results have been split 46-46 for home and road teams. Considering that weather rarely has been an issue in those games, that’s an impressive figure for visitors.The NFC South has the best road record, 7-3, followed by the AFC East at 7-5. The NFC West (5-8) and AFC South (4-7) are worst. The AFC West is 6-5, the AFC North and NFC East are 6-6, while the NFC North is 5-6.Unbeaten away from home? The Rams, whose home game Sunday is in London, Carolina and New England. All are 3-0.Winless on the road are Cleveland and San Francisco, which haven’t won anywhere, plus Tampa Bay and Indianapolis.Oh yeah, also Denver Youth Duke Dawson Jerseys , which has the strangest road mark: The Broncos have lost on their only trip, at Buffalo. They’ve played four home matches and had a bye, which means they now have three straight away games, visiting the Chargers, Chiefs and Eagles. Denver also plays four of its last six on the road.Unbeaten at home are Green Bay (3-0), Buffalo, Philadelphia and Seattle, all 2-0. Winless at home are the Niners and Browns, of course, plus the Chargers (0-3) and Giants (0-2).

ORCHARD PARK Devin Singletary NFL Jersey , N.Y. (AP)Micah Hyde doesn’t have any concerns over how many yards Buffalo’s defense is surrendering this season. So long as they’re forcing turnovers, the Bills will be fine. What the starting safety did have trouble explaining is what happens when the Bills can’t create takeaways. ”I guess, I don’t really have an answer as to how we win without getting turnovers,” Hyde said. ”I guess it comes down to the offense also not giving up the ball. From there, it’s probably just field position. But it’s tough.” A bend-but-don’t-break style of defense has played a key role in helping the Bills (5-3) match their best start during a 17-year playoff drought – the longest active streak in North America’s four major professional sports. The Bills, who host New Orleans (6-2) on Sunday, rank second in the NFL in having forced 17 turnovers (11 interceptions and six fumbles), two of which have been returned for touchdowns. The takeaways have helped the defense overcome a downward trend in which it has allowed an average of 381 yards offense over its past six games. Concerns, however, are being raised whether the Bills can consistently sustain such an opportunistic model for victory that’s been so reliant on opponents turning over the ball. ”You can win with that model. It’s been proven,” coordinator Leslie Frazier said. ”And for whatever reason, if we come up short, we have to find other ways to affect the game.” That has yet to be the case. Buffalo has forced at least two takeaways in each of its five victories. By comparison, the Bills failed to generate a turnover in two of three defeats, including a 34-21 loss to the New York Jets on Nov. 2. Not only did Buffalo lose the turnover battle by coughing up three fumbles against New York, the Bills’ defense was trampled in allowing a season-worst 194 yards rushing in a game the Jets built a 34-7 lead by scoring 27 consecutive points. Also alarming were the number of tackles the Bills missed in giving up three 20-plus-yard runs, including Bilal Powell’s 51-yard gain late in the third quarter. Linebacker Lorenzo Alexander chalked up a portion of the sloppiness to Buffalo playing on just three days’ rest. ”They outplayed us, were more physical. We didn’t tackle well, didn’t create turnovers. So we had everything kind of stack up against us,” he said. ”And the way our team is built, we’re not going to win a lot of games when that happens.” Alexander expects the defense to bounce back with the benefit of a 10-day break. Buffalo, 4-0 at home Devin Singletary NFL Draft , can’t afford a similar collapse against the Saints, who rank second in the NFL, averaging 392.5 yards of offense. ”The energy, that wasn’t us,” linebacker Preston Brown said. ”We’ve got to get back to what we’ve been doing best, get them off the field, hold them to three (points) or get takeaways.” The defense is showing signs of wilting. The Bills have already allowed 300-yards passing three times, one more than all of last season. Red zone defense is also becoming an issue. In their first five games, the Bills limited opponents to scoring five touchdowns on 15 drives inside Buffalo’s 20. Over the past three, Buffalo has allowed seven touchdowns on nine red-zone possessions. Coach Sean McDermott is more concerned about the points Buffalo is allowing than yards. ”Yardage doesn’t win games. Points are what win games,” he said. ”We’ve had some good days doing that. We’ve had some days where we’ve given up yards that have led to points,” McDermott said.”We’ve got to continue to grow, continue to build and get better.” NOTES: Starting TE Charles Clay (right knee) and CB E.J. Gaines (hamstring) practiced on a limited basis and have a chance to play Sunday. Clay has missed three games. … LT Cordy Glenn did not practice due to soreness in his left foot and ankle, which previously bothered him this offseason. … WR Zay Jones (ankle) did not practice after being hurt against the Jets. — NEW YORK (AP) — Start them right away? Ease ’em in? Have them sit a whole season?When it comes to developing young quarterbacks in the NFL, it all depends on who you talk to.Some teams think it’s best to throw rookie QBs into the fire to learn on the job. Others prefer to gradually work them into the offense. Some say it’s more beneficial to have them grab a cap and clipboard and take it all in from the sideline.“I think every position is the same,” Jets offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates said. “If someone can’t handle it mentally, then you don’t want to put them on the field, because naturally they’ll play slower and be thinking instead of reacting.”Sam Darnold clearly passed that test for New York, and the No. 3 overall pick in April was under center to start the season.“If a player shows the athletic ability, the talent and has the mental capacity to handle a gameplan and go into a game and be successful,” Bates said, “then he’s ready to play.”That doesn’t mean things have necessarily gone smoothly for the former USC star.Darnold’s 14 interceptions lead the league and have contributed to the Jets’ 3-6 start. So have his 55.0 percent completion rate and 68.3 quarterback rating Devin Singletary Buffalo Bills Jersey , which also rank among the worst in the league.Still, some point to these early struggles as crucial building blocks for the future.“I’m going to continue to learn,” Darnold said Sunday after a 13-6 loss at Miami in which he threw four INTs. “There’s always lessons to be learned.”Of the 32 quarterbacks currently listed as starters for their teams, 12 were under center in Week 1 of their first season.On the flipside, some veteran superstar QBs waited a while before they got their chances.Aaron Rodgers was stuck behind Brett Favre in Green Bay before finally starting in his fourth season. Philip Rivers didn’t start with the Chargers until his third year, when Drew Brees went to New Orleans. Even Brees didn’t get his first NFL start until his second season.Tom Brady, Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Alex Smith weren’t Day 1 starters, either.“In an ideal world, it gets to be like Drew, who had a chance to watch a little, or Tom Brady and Aaron,” said former quarterback Rich Gannon, the 2002 NFL MVP and now an analyst for CBS Sports and SiriusXM NFL Radio.Patrick Mahomes sat behind Smith in Kansas City until Week 17 as a rookie last year, and now is a leading MVP candidate as one of the NFL’s top gunslinger s with a league-leading 29 TD passes for the 8-1 Chiefs.“We knew that Patrick was very talented, but any time that an NFL team goes with a young quarterback, usually it’s a very challenging endeavor,” Chiefs owner Clark Hunt said. “Sometimes it takes time, several years, but as we’ve seen, Andy (Reid) had Patrick ready to go Week 1.”Gannon thinks the Chiefs provide the perfect blueprint.“Mahomes had a chance to watch a master of his domain for a year,” he said. “Alex Smith knew that system inside and out Color Rush Devin Singletary Jersey , has great huddle command and leadership skills. Maybe he doesn’t throw it like Mahomes does, but this is a guy who was willing to share and help him for that year, and we’re seeing the fruits of it now.“That’s the best situation you can have.”Again, that depends on who you ask.In the past three drafts, 11 quarterbacks were taken in the first round — including Darnold, Cleveland’s Baker Mayfield, Buffalo’s Josh Allen, Arizona’s Josh Rosen and Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson this year.Jackson is the only one to not yet start at least one game. Baltimore has Joe Flacco leading the huddle, but Jackson has still been used in the offense and is the Ravens‘ second-leading rusher.The Browns wanted to have Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick this year, sit and learn behind Tyrod Taylor. But like most plans in Cleveland, it backfired.Taylor got hurt in Week 3 and Mayfield was thrust into the lineup, helping the Browns rally to beat the Jets in a nationally televised game and end a 19-game winless streak. Mayfield has shown poise and promise, but lacks playmakers and is dealing with a coaching change after Hue Jackson was fired.In Buffalo, the Bills weren’t anticipating Allen starting in the second week. They were taking what coach Sean McDermott called a “calculated” approach. But after AJ McCarron was traded before the season opener and Nathan Peterman bombed in Week 1, McDermott was left with no choice but to turn to Allen.The rookie has been dealing with a sprained right elbow , and is uncertain to play Sunday against the Jets.“When you draft a quarterback like we did, there’s a part of it where you have to say, ‘Hey, he’s going to play either A, B, or C — early Youth Devin Singletary Jersey , middle, or late or next year.'” McDermott said. “You have to be OK with all of that.”The initial plan in Arizona was to have Rosen learn behind Sam Bradford. All that changed when the veteran was ineffective and benched in favor of the No. 10 overall pick.Rosen took his lumps with some turnover-filled performances. Then, Mike McCoy was fired as the Cardinals‘ offensive coordinator and Bradford was later cut — leaving the job to Rosen.“His demeanor allows him to have success,” new offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich said. “Quarterbacking in this league is hard and when things go bad, this kid tends to be fine.”But, some say too many adverse situations could end up having long-term deleterious effects on a young player.“When you put them in before they’re ready, they also get hurt: Josh Allen, Josh Rosen,” Gannon said. “The speed of the game is way too fast for them. … Or they have a bad experience, like what wound up happening with (the Jets’) Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith, or going back to Ryan Leaf (with the Chargers). They play right away before they are physically or mentally ready or maturity-level ready. They get benched and booed and maybe run out of town, the coach gets fired, and then the next thing, they’re on their third or fourth team. They think he will be a savior and he’s not ready to play.“How is that being responsible from a coach and ownership standpoint? It’s doing a tremendous disservice.”Tampa Bay’s Jameis Winston and Tennessee’ Marcus Mariota started right away after being the top two picks in 2015, but the jury’s still out on both.For those who preach patience, 25 of the 32 current QBs started a game at some point in their rookie season. And, several held on to the job from there.Quarterbacks such as the Rams’ Jared Goff (No. 1 in 2016) and the Bears’ Mitchell Trubisky (No. 2 in 2017) started and struggled as rookies, but benefited from changes in coaching staffs and philosophies and took leaps in their second seasons.So, who’s right?Well, all of the above.“There’s certainly valuable experience when you stand and watch,” McDermott said. “But we all know there’s no substitute for the experience when you’re actually behind the wheel. There’s a lot of value to that.”