The month of October is beginning to close to its finish and the times are getting shorter. With fall in full swing, the NFL is beginning to determine which groups are going to be consumers and sellers for the commerce deadline in a couple of weeks — primarily based on the outcomes on the sphere.
The early Sunday slate did not have a lot drama, however the late video games saved the day. The Miami Dolphins have been blown out by the Cleveland Browns and the New York Jets misplaced once more. The Los Angeles Rams seem like Super Bowl contenders whereas the Philadelphia Eagles went again to their profitable methods. The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs additionally look the a part of a title crew (once more).
Loads of storylines imply loads of overreactions. Which of them have benefit and that are really overreactions? The early video games offered the punch.
Brian Daboll ought to lose his job over Giants collapse
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
Someway, the Giants misplaced to the Broncos. Someway it occurred. The Broncos have been trailing 19-0 coming into the fourth quarter, and scored 33 factors within the last quarter-hour! The Giants have been up 26-8 with six minutes to go, and nonetheless allowed 25 factors and misplaced!
This is without doubt one of the most unimaginable comebacks in NFL historical past, as Bo Nix mixed for 4 touchdowns within the fourth quarter. The Broncos had 291 yards of offense within the fourth quarter, making this one of many all-time collapses in NFL historical past — and the Giants took the lead within the last minute!
Daboll is an offensive coach, however he employed defensive coordinator Shane Bowen. He additionally employs Jude McAtamney, who missed two further factors on this one. The Giants simply have a shedding tradition below Daboll, and that was on full show on this epic meltdown.
Jaxson Dart should not save Daboll as a result of he is a great quarterback. If something, that is another excuse to maneuver on.
Commanders are the worst crew within the NFC East
Overreaction or actuality: Overreaction
It is a product of getting the oldest roster within the NFL and a protection that is ranked twenty seventh in yards per recreation in twenty third in factors allowed per recreation. The Commanders protection was horrendous in opposition to the cowboys, as CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens dominated an overmatched secondary in a Dallas blowout.
The Cowboys could have probably the most explosive offense in soccer, however that does not take away from the narrative. If Jayden Daniels, who left with an injured hamstring, is out an prolonged time frame, the Commanders could end final on this division. They do not have an opportunity on the playoffs with out Daniels, particularly since Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel simply cannot keep wholesome.
That is an previous crew that gained loads of video games on the buzzer final yr. That recipe is difficult to maintain and the expertise stage is exhibiting. The Eagles and Cowboys are higher than the Commanders, and the Giants could also be higher, too, with Jaxson Dart as quarterback.
Washington will most likely miss the playoffs and end with a shedding document.
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
McCaffrey is the rationale why the 49ers are 5-2, having his greatest efficiency of the season in Sunday’s win over the Falcons. He hd 31 touches for 201 scrimmage (129 dashing, 72 receiving) and two touchdowns — carrying the 49ers offense in opposition to the Falcons. The 49ers offense has been run by means of McCaffrey, who has an NFL-high 185 touches by means of seven video games (26.4 per recreation).
The 49ers have used McCaffrey to their benefit, however additionally they have risked harm to an oft-injured operating again. McCaffrey is on tempo for 449 touches this season — a career-high by 46 touches! They cannot sustain overusing McCaffrey, can they?
San Francisco does not use the playmakers it has at large receiver sufficient, despite the fact that Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings, and Kendrick Bourne can play. George Kittle can also be again, however the 49ers used him as a blocker for McCaffrey on Sunday as a substitute of within the passing recreation.
Utilizing McCaffrey this a lot wins video games, however how a lot can San Francisco threat him? If McCaffrey will get injured from overuse, the 49ers’ Super Bowl hopes are dashed. That is the harm they cannot afford to have, so San Francisco wants to begin preserving McCaffrey.
Colts are one of the best crew within the AFC
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
Proper now, this is not a debate. The Colts have one of the best document within the convention at 6-1 and steamrolled the Chargers in a battle of division leaders heading into Week 7. Indianapolis jumped out to a 23-3 lead and by no means appeared again, fully outmatching Los Angeles.
Jonathan Taylor rushed for 3 touchdowns and does not even want to hold Daniel Jones, who threw for 2 scores himself and completed with a 113.4 passer ranking. The Colts appeared like their season could possibly be heading for catastrophe going to Jones in August, however as a substitute have emerged as one of the best crew within the convention by means of seven weeks.
Indianapolis has the No. 2 offense in yards per recreation (380.3), No. 1 in yards per play (6.4), and No. 1 in offensive factors per recreation (32.1). That is arguably one of the best offense within the NFL, because the Colts look like cruising to the AFC South title.
Are the Colts Super Bowl contenders? That will probably be decided when the schedule will get more durable, however they’re one of the best crew within the AFC by means of seven weeks.
Tua Tagovailoa’s time with the Dolphins is over
Overreaction or actuality: Overreaction
There’s little rationalization for a way poor Tua Tagovailoa was on Sunday in opposition to the Browns protection, because the Dolphins QB appeared fully overmatched till he was faraway from the sport for Quinn Ewers. He was 12 of 23 for 100 yards with three interceptions and a 24.1 passer ranking, the third Dolphins quarterback since 1970 with three interceptions in back-to-back video games — and the primary since Dan Marino in 1986.
The Dolphins could not get something going offensively, as Tagovailoa averaged 4.3 yards per try. Tagovailoa has 11 touchdowns to 10 interceptions and is averaging 6.4 yards per try with an 82.8 ranking. He is struggled with out Tyreek Hill and a poor offensive line.
With out Hill, Tagovailoa has six interceptions and a 69.2 ranking in three video games. Maybe the Dolphins are considering a change is required, which might imply the top of Tagovailoa in Miami. Whereas that is not seemingly the case, the Dolphins shifting on could also be within the dialog — but it surely’s too quickly to maneuver on (and Tagovailoa has three years left on his $1212.4 million extension).
The Dolphins will not bench Tagovailoa and eat that cash, giving him a chance to rebound with a brand new coach in place first.
Cowl 32: Jets formally on 0-17 watch after Justin Fields benching, plus video games balls and gaffes from Week 7
Tyler Sullivan
Eagles have their offense mounted
Overreaction or actuality: Overreaction
The Eagles offense took a big step in the correct path on Sunday, as Jalen Hurts and the passing offense had their greatest recreation in years. Hurts completed 19 of 23 for 326 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions, posting a 158.3 passer ranking in opposition to the NFL’s No. 1 go protection.
Hurts went 4 of 4 for 189 yards on throws of 25-plus air yards, because the Eagles lastly obtained the deep ball going. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith every had two catches on these throws and mixed for 54 yards after the catch. Hurts was 9 of 12 for 284 yards and three touchdowns on passes of 10-plus air yards — good for a 156.3 ranking and 23.7 yards per try. On third and fourth down, Hurts went 7 of 8 for 145 yards and a landing (158.3 ranking). Within the second half, he was 10 of 12 for 240 yards and two touchdowns.
The offense is again proper? The run recreation nonetheless struggled, having simply 23 carries for 45 yards (2.0 yards per carry) as Saquon Barkley completed with solely 44 yards and a couple of.4 yards per carry. Barkley has 369 yards dashing by means of seven video games and is averaging 3.3 yards per carry. The communication is not there up entrance and Barkley has struggled to have large positive factors.
If the go offense can get the operating recreation going, the Eagles will probably be harmful. The unit wasn’t good on Sunday, however this was a step in the correct path.
Overreaction or actuality: Overreaction
There’s so much to criticize about Trevor Lawrence’s efficiency on Sunday, as he completed simply 23 of 48 for 296 yards with a landing and nil interceptions (74.7 ranking) in Jacksonville’s blowout loss. Lawrence’s numbers ought to have been worse, as he was 7 of 12 for 111 yards and a landing within the fourth quarter — when the Jaguars have been down 4 scores.
Lawrence struggles to get the ball to his receivers, as Travis Hunter and Brian Thomas Jr. have been open a number of instances all through the afternoon. When he forces the ball to Thomas, Hunter is open — and vice versa. Hunter ought to be considerably higher on offense, however Lawrence’s inconsistent play at quarterback holds him again.
Whereas Lawrence hasn’t performed like a No. 1 choose in his 5 years, does that imply he is a bust? Not essentially, as Lawrence has already been by means of three play callers, three head coaches, and an unstable group in his 5 seasons. He is nonetheless studying Grant Udinski’s offense, however the early returns have not been promising.
Lawrence is a beginning quarterback within the league and he’ll have an extended profession, however he isn’t elite. Calling Lawrence good is a attain too, however that does not imply he is a bust.
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
Patrick Mahomes has been on hearth in latest weeks, and solely obtained his greatest wideout again in Rashee Rice after the large receiver completed serving his six-game suspension. All Rice did in his first recreation again was have two touchdowns, as Mahomes completed 26 of 35 for 266 yards with three touchdowns and nil interceptions (126.6 ranking) in a shutout of the Raiders.
Rice was focused 10 instances by Mahomes in his debut, as Mahomes had a 117.5 passer ranking when throwing to him. Mahomes has been sizzling of late, finishing 71.3% of his passes for 1,131 yards with 11 touchdowns to at least one interception and a 117.2 passer ranking over his final 4 video games — MVP-type numbers.
The Chiefs are 4-3 and making their run on the AFC West after an 0-2 begin, and Mahomes has been the driving power. If Mahomes maintain taking part in like this, he’ll win the MVP because the Chiefs make a run on the Super Bowl once more. With Rice again, Mahomes’ play will solely enhance.
Drake Maye is having greatest season for QB in Patriots historical past
Overreaction or actuality: Overreaction
Drake Maye had one other unimaginable efficiency in Sunday’s win over the Titans, ending 21 of 23 for 222 yards with two touchdowns and nil interceptions for a 135.9 passer ranking — setting a Patriots single-game document by finishing 91.3% of his passes.
This season, Maye has made his personal MVP case because the Patriots lead the AFC East at 5-2. He is accomplished 75.2% of his passes for 1,744 yards with 12 touchdowns and two interceptions for a 116.4 passer ranking. He has the third-highest completion proportion by means of seven video games in NFL historical past (75.2%) and his 116.4 ranking is the very best for any Patriots participant since Tom Brady in 2007.
Is that this one of the best season ever by a Patriots quarterback? No, but it surely’s within the dialog. Brady threw 50 touchdowns and had a 117.2 passer ranking in 2007, because the Patriots went 16-0 within the common season. He led the NFL in completion proportion (68.6%), passing yards (4,806), passing touchdowns (50), and passer ranking (117.2) — one of many best seasons by a quarterback ever.
For Maye to even be within the dialog is spectacular. If the Patriots did not have Brady for 20 years, this may be one of the best yr for any quarterback in franchise historical past. Bear in mind, Maye is simply in his second yr.
Matthew Stafford is a first-ballot Corridor of Fame quarterback
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
One other recreation for Matthew Stafford, one other standout efficiency. Stafford was dominant in opposition to the Jaguars protection in London, setting an international-game document with 5 landing passes within the convincing Rams victory. He completed 21 of 33 for 182 yards and 5 landing passes with zero interceptions — a 117.7 passer ranking.
Stafford is having one among his greatest seasons at age 37, having 17 landing passes to simply two interceptions by means of seven video games. He was main the NFL in passing yards coming into Week 7 and his touchdown-to-interception ratio is 32 landing passes to simply three interceptions over his final 16 video games began (together with playoffs).
Already with a Tremendous Bowl championship (and probably the most landing passes in a season with 60, together with postseason), Stafford is ninth all time in passing yards (61,675) and ninth in passing touchdowns (394). Because the numbers maintain going up and the wins maintain coming with Los Angeles, Stafford has solidified his Corridor of Fame case. He could also be a first-ballot Corridor of Famer as properly.
