Last year the Lions finished 30th with a QB Rating allowed of 102.7
[jwplayer rzKgNnfu-ThvAeFxT]
No pass defense has been worse than the Detroit Lions over the last four weeks. That much is plainly obvious to anyone who has watched the toothless pass rush and soft coverage that has allowed opponents to throw the ball almost at will.
Thanks to NFL Inside Edge, we have graphic representation of just how bad it’s been of late.
The Lions have allowed a QB Rating of 128.7 since Week 7, handily the worst mark in the league. It’s 13.3 rating points worse than the 31st-ranked Oakland Raiders.
For the season, the Lions have allowed a 100.0 QB Rating, which is 23rd. Atlanta is currently 32nd on the year at 113.2. Note that the Falcons have improved of late; they are not in the bottom five from the last four weeks.
One area where the Lions have fallen off: takeaways. They do not have an interception since Justin Coleman picked off Aaron Rodgers back in the Week 6 loss to the Packers.
The Lions’ worst-ever QB Rating allowed for a full season came in the winless 2008 campaign, when Detroit allowed a league-worst 110.8. The records on Team Rankings only date back to 2003, but that Lions figure is the worst-ever. And the current Lions are on pace to shatter it with their abysmal pass defense of late.
Prosecutors argued that Yazeed’s “extensive history of violent criminal offenses” was enough for the no bond.
(Editor’s note: This story first published at the Montgomery Advertiser, part of the USA TODAY Network.)
A Lee County judge has ruled Ibraheem Yazeed, charged in 19-year-old Aniah Blanchard’s disappearance, to be held without bond.
According to court records filed Tuesday morning, prosecutors argued that Yazeed’s “extensive history of violent criminal offenses,” the fact he was on bond at the time of Blanchard’s alleged kidnapping and that he fled to Escambia County, Fla., as evidence for the no bond.
District Judge Russell Bush agreed, according to the order.
In the same filing, Bush also ruled that “the parties and any potential witnesses” in the case are “prohibited from making any statements to members of the media, or directly discussing their involvement in this case or any current or future trial proceedings with members of the media.”
Yazeed, 29, was captured late Thursday evening after he was named a person of interest and a warrant was issued on a charge of first-degree kidnapping. He was the last person seen with Blanchard on the night she disappeared, according to an arrest affidavit.
Yazeed, at a hearing Friday, waived extradition, clearing the way for him to be transported back to Alabama immediately.
Yazeed’s charging documents said blood “indicative of someone suffering a life-threatening injury” was discovered in the passenger’s side of Aniah Blanchard’s vehicle.
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Days after Blanchard was last seen, her black, Honda CR-V was recovered at a Montgomery apartment complex.There was damage to the passenger side that her family said was not present prior to that day. Police confirmed they suspect foul play based on evidence recovered inside the vehicle.
Yazeed was allegedly seen by a witness “forcing Blanchard into a vehicle against her will and then leaving with her in the vehicle” from an Auburn convenience station, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit, filed for a first-degree kidnapping charge, states the blood evidence was tested by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences and confirmed to be Blanchard’s.
There may be more people involved in Blanchard’s disappearance, Auburn police Chief Paul Register said Thursday. Police initially said Yazeed was seen leaving the convenience store in a Lincoln Town car, though Blanchard’s car was driven back to Montgomery.
“We do anticipate other arrests, so we do thing there’s a likelihood someone else is involved in this case and we hope to bring that person to justice as well,” he said.
Aniah Blanchard, the stepdaughter of UFC heavyweight Walt Harris, was last seen Oct. 23.
Yazeed has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 2011 when he was charged with two counts of first-degree robbery, according to court records. Those charges were ultimately dismissed by a grand jury, as were two attempted murder charges levied against Yazeed the next year after he allegedly tried to hit two police officers with a vehicle.
In 2013, Yazeed was charged with possession of marijuana, crack cocaine, a pistol without a permit, drug paraphernalia and attempting to elude law enforcement during two separate incidents. He was indicted on those charges in 2015, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced in two separate hearings. The same judge, former Circuit Judge Williams Shashy, sentenced him to serve 13 months in prison during each hearing. Those sentences were suspended, and he never stepped foot in a prison.
In 2017, Yazeed was charged with aggravated assault, battery of a police officer, possession of marijuana and fleeing police in Johnson County, Kansas. He was found not guilty of the battery and assault charges. A Judge in 2018 sentenced him to serve 16 months in prison, but he was released shortly after his sentencing being credited with 8 months while he awaited trial.
Less than a year later, back in Montgomery, Yazeed was then charged with two counts of kidnapping, two counts of robbery, attempted murder and possession of marijuana after two men were beaten inside a hotel room in January. One victim was nearly beaten to death, according to court records.
Yazeed was released on a $295,000 bond the day after his arrest in connection to the January incident and has been free since. A judge revoked his bond in the cases once a warrant was issued against Yazeed in connection to Blanchard’s disappearance.
Here’s an updated look at the NFC playoff picture going into Week 11.
Losing to the Packers did serious damage to the Panthers’ playoff hopes for 2019. The loss dropped their season record to 5-4 and their chances of making the postseason to just 18 percent.
Here’s an updated look at the NFC playoff picture going into Week 11.
Playoff teams
1. San Francisco 49ers (8-1)
2. Green Bay Packers (8-2)
3. New Orleans Saints (7-2)
4. Dallas Cowboys (5-4)
5. Seattle Seahawks (8-2)
6. Minnesota Vikings (7-3)
Still in the race
7. Los Angeles Rams (5-4)
8. Philadelphia Eagles (5-4)
9. Carolina Panthers (5-4)
There’s not much room for error, here. Earlier in the season, the Panthers pulled off a four-game winning streak. They may need another one in order to land a wild card spot.
Carolina’s next four opponents are the Falcons, Saints, Redskins and the Falcons again. Atlanta is just 2-7 this season and Washington (1-8) might just be the worst team in the conference. If the Panthers can find a way to upset New Orleans, winning four in a row is certainly possible.
The Tennessee Titans (5-5) shocked many analysts with a thrilling 35-32 win over the Kansas City Chiefs (6-4) last week in Nissan Stadium.
The Tennessee Titans (5-5) shocked many analysts with a thrilling 35-32 win over the Kansas City Chiefs (6-4) last week in Nissan Stadium.
The team had answers on offense, and came up with the big plays they needed in all three phases of the game to secure the victory and even out their record against one of the NFL’s best teams.
Because of this, it’s not a surprise the team jumped significantly in the NFL power rankings of multiple networks.
The Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar ranked the Titans at No. 16 in this week’s edition — ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers and behind the Philadelphia Eagles.
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Here’s what he had to say about his placement of the team on the list.
“Don’t look now, but the Titans, once left at death’s door for the 2019 season, are starting to look a little frisky,” he wrote. “They certainly were in their 35-32 win over the Chiefs, which included a four-play, 61-yard winning drive that took less than a minute off the clock and continued to redefine Ryan Tannehill’s legacy as an NFL quarterback. Tannehill started the drive with a 18-yard scramble, nearly hit A.J. Brown on a deep throw down the left side, and then hit on a tight-window deep throw to tight end Anthony Firkser and the game-winner to receiver Adam Humphries.”
Farrar also made note of the stellar performances of running back Derrick Henry and quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
“Running back Derrick Henry was the real star of the day with his 188 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries, but this is a team that has not had a functional quarterback since Marcus Mariota became a shell of his former self over the past couple seasons,” he wrote. “Perhaps Mariota can experience a Tannehill-like rebirth with another team in 2020. Right now, it’s Tannehill’s story that’s one of the most surprising of this season.”
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The Titans will face the division rival Jacksonville Jaguars next at 3:05 p.m. CT in Nissan Stadium on Nov. 24 after the bye week.
Previewing Sunday’s Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers sports betting odds and lines, with Week 11 NFL matchup analysis and picks.
The Atlanta Falcons (2-7) play a second straight NFC South rivalry game in Week 11 when they visit the Carolina Panthers (5-4) Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at Bank of America Stadium. We analyze the Falcons-Panthers odds and sports betting lines, while providing sports betting tips and advice on this matchup.
Falcons at Panthers: Week 11 preview, betting trends and notes
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The Falcons returned from their bye at 1-7 and beat the New Orleans Saints 26-9 in a dominant road effort this past Sunday.
The Falcons have won the last three and six of the last seven head-to-head meetings dating back to Dec. 27, 2015.
Carolina ranks seventh in the NFL with 131.4 team rushing yards per game. Atlanta ranks 29th and is now without starting RB Devonta Freeman for at least two weeks due to a foot sprain.
Only nine teams allow more total yards per game than the Falcons at 371.8. Three teams allow more points per game than the 28.8 given up by Atlanta.
The Falcons have no interceptions and have surrendered 17 passing touchdowns since Week 3. The Panthers have averaged 1.57 INTs per game since Week 3.
The Panthers allow a league-high 83.3% completion rate on opponent passes in the red zone.
Falcons at Panthers: Key injuries
Falcons TE Autin Hooper (knee) joins Freeman on the sideline. CB Desmond Trufant (toe) is questionable after sitting again in Week 10. Backup RB Ito Smith (neck) is out for the season.
Panthers DB James Bradberry (groin) sat out Week 10. DL Kawann Short (shoulder) and QB Cam Newton (foot) are out for the year.
Falcons at Panthers: Odds, betting lines and prediction
The Panthers are 2-2 straight up at home while the Falcons improved to 1-4 as the visitors with last week’s road win. While Atlanta is without two key pieces of the offense, it still has red-zone threats in WRs Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. Back the FALCONS (+210) to keep it rolling following last week’s emotional win.
New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Falcons to win would return a profit of $21.
The FALCONS are also a fine play on the spread of +5.5 at -110 odds to lose by five or fewer points, or win outright. They’re just 3-6 against the spread and fail to cover by an average of 4.5 points, but the Panthers are just 2-2 ATS at home and Atlanta has dominated this matchup.
Grab the OVER 50.5 (-110) with key defensive injuries. Carolina is 6-3 against the Over/Under while Atlanta is 3-6. The Falcons have a neutral differential against the totals through nine games with the Panthers plus-4.4 against the projections.
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