Tag: 2020 NFL Regular Season

Week 1 inactives: Seattle Seahawks at Atlanta Falcons

The inactive players for the Seattle Seahawks and the Atlanta Falcons, who are set to square off Week 1 of the NFL regular season.

The Seattle Seahawks traveled to Atlanta to face the Falcons Week of the NFL regular season.

Seattle initially only had two players on the injury report on Friday – offensive tackle Cedric Ogbuehi, who was ruled out with a pec injury, and wide receiver Phillip Dorsett II, listed as questionable with a sore foot. Both are inactive for the Seahawks against the Falcons.

On Saturday afternoon, however, the Seahawks added a third player to the list – tackle Jamarco Jones – who was designated as questionable to play on Sunday due to an undisclosed illness. Jones is also inactive for Seattle.

Seattle promoted tackle Chad Wheeler from the practice squad to the active roster to ensure depth on game day.

With just under 90 minutes to kick-off, here’s a look at the inactive players for both the Seahawks and the Falcons.

Kick-off is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. PT from Mercedes Benz Stadium. Here’s everything you need to know to catch the action Week 1.

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How have Chargers fared against Cam Newton in the past?

The Chargers haven’t had a lot of success against Cam Newton.

The Patriots signed quarterback Cam Newton on Sunday, setting up a Week 13 matchup against the Chargers.

While Newton will have to fend off Jarrett Stidham for the starting job, it’s more than likely that he will be the starter that late in the season, especially if New England is in playoff contention.

In our game-by-game predictions, we pegged Los Angeles to come out victorious in their bout against the Patriots. But it will now be a tougher task with Newton under center.

The Bolts have faced Newton twice, and they dropped both of those contests.

In 2012, which was Newton’s second season in the NFL, he led the Panthers to a 31-7 victory. He threw for 19-of-33 passing and two touchdowns.

Four seasons later, Carolina won the game by the score of 26-18. But he didn’t have as much individual success as he only managed 10-of-27 passing for a touchdown and interception, as well as 37 yards on eight carries.

Much of Newton’s success in 2020 will depend on his health. While he’s been the MVP of the league and has won a Super Bowl, Newton was hampered by a foot injury that kept him off the field last season.

The former Auburn product will also be facing the most superior Chargers defense that he has come across yet.

Seahawks assign drafted and undrafted rookies their jersey numbers

The Seahawks have assigned their drafted and undrafted rookies their jersey numbers – here’s a look at who’s wearing what number this summer.

The Seattle Seahawks have assigned their rookies their jersey numbers ahead of the 2020 NFL regular season.

Here’s a look a who will be wearing each number this summer as they compete to make the 53-man roster.

2020 Drafted Rookies

LB Jordyn Brooks 56
DE Darrell Taylor 58
G Damien Lewis 68
TE Colby Parkinson 84
RB DeeJay Dallas 31
DE Alton Robinson 98
WR Freddie Swain 18
WR Stephen Sullivan 87

2020 Undrafted Rookies

DT Josh Avery 63
RB Patrick Carr 39
OT Tommy Champion 79
WR Seth Dawkins 13
WR Aaron Fuller 2
QB Anthony Gordon 6
CB Gavin Heslop 9
RB Anthony Jones 36
DT Cedrick Lattimore 75
TE Tyler Mabry 85
DE Eli Mencer 43
FS Chris Miller 33
FS Josh Norwood 41
CB Debione Renfro 38
CB Kemah Siverand 8
DE Marcus Webb 48
TE Dominick Wood-Anderson 46
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Nate Davis of USA TODAY predicts Seahawks finish 2020 with 9-7 record

Nate Davis of USA TODAY Sports predicts the Seattle Seahawks will finish the 2020 NFL regular season with a 9-7 record.

Seattle Seahawks fans have long taken issue with USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis and his power rankings and predictions and now it looks like the 12s will have yet another reason to express their displeasure.

In his most reason piece, Davis has the Seahawks finishing the 2020 NFL regular season with a paltry9-7 record.

“Their 11-5 showing in 2019 was rather fluky given they outscored the opposition by a collective 7 points,” Davis writes. “Seattle must now overcome the apparent loss of DE Jadeveon Clowney, hope its top two running backs (Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny) recover from serious injuries and pray QB Russell Wilson once again masks a subpar offensive line. Four 1 p.m. kickoffs on the East Coast won’t help, nor does a travel itinerary that includes a league-high 29,000+ miles.”

Of note, Davis has the Seahawks’ biggest rival – the 49ers – easily winning the NFC West with an impressive 12-4 finish to put Seattle at No. 2 in the division at the end of the season.

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Bengals’ Joe Burrow-Chargers’ Derwin James among top individual matchups

Joe Burrow’s professional debut won’t be a gimme.

The Chargers are set to open up the regular season on the road against the Bengals.

The headline of this matchup will be rookie quarterback Joe Burrow making his professional debut.

However, there’s no guarantee that Burrow’s welcome party will be all sunshine and rainbows as he will be facing one of the league’s best defenses, led by safety Derwin James.

NFL Media’s Chris Wesseling composed a list of the top individual matchups in the 2020 regular season, and leading the group is the bout between Burrow and James.

Welcome to the NFL, Heisman hero. Here’s a matchup against a sneaky loaded defense featuring a versatile defensive back with Troy Polamalu’s timing on blitzes. OK, I’m bending the rules. As much fun as it might be to watch James stalking fresh quarterback prey, the headliner is Burrow vs. Justin Herbert in a clash of putative franchise saviors. This is a measuring-stick matchup not only for the two high draft picks but also for each of the superstar-starved fanbases.

Drafted with the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, Burrow took college football by storm, throwing for 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns and only six interceptions, while leading LSU to a National Championship over Clemson in the title game.

Burrow’s phenomenal stint with the Tigers showcased that he is capable of taking care of business against the top defenses at the Division 1 level, but can he continue his dominance against NFL defenses, especially one of the most superior, in his rookie season?

James, the do-it-all defender, won’t make it easy for him as he will be over the field – lining up across from his targets and will look to be in his face when blitzing off the edge.

But it won’t just be James doing all the work. There are pieces at all three levels, including the new additions of cornerback Chris Harris Jr., linebacker Kenneth Murray and defensive tackle Linval Joseph, that will be eager to make Burrow’s professional debut an unwelcoming one.

NFL owners vote to approve expanded 14-team playoff format

The NFL’s anticipated playoff expansion officially passed.

NFL team owners approved a plan to expand the playoffs to 14 teams, starting with the 2020 season.

During a conference call to discuss league business after the annual meetings were canceled due to the new coronavirus, the owners also awarded one of those extra games to CBS and one to NBC. Three-fourths of the 32 owners needed to approve the change, and the vote was unanimous.

Only the teams with the best record in the AFC and NFC will get a bye under the new format. In the past, the top two teams in each conference skipped wild card weekend. The seventh seed will play No. 2, the sixth will play No. 3 and the fifth will be at the fourth seed for wild card games.

Three games are set for Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 9-10 — pending the NFL schedule going forward as planned. The schedule likely will be released on May 9.

This marks the first time in 30 years the NFL has expanded the playoffs. They last did it in 1990, going from 10 playoff teams to 12.

Chargers make assortment of coaching changes

The Los Angeles Chargers will have some new coaches in the 2020 regular season.

The Los Angeles Chargers made a handful of changes to the coaching staff on Tuesday.

After taking over as the offensive coordinator halfway through the 2019 regular season, Shane Steichen earned the right to be retained in the same role heading into the 2020 campaign.

Former offensive line coach Pat Meyer departed to Carolina to take the same position for the Panthers. Replacing him will be James Campen. Serving as the assistant offensive line coach will be David Diaz-Infante. Former assistant offensive line coach Mark Ridgley will coach the running backs.

Alfredo Roberts, who was the running backs coach last season, will now take over as the tight ends coach. Former tight ends coach Rip Scherer is now a senior assistant coach.

Former quality control coach Addison Lynch will now be the assistant defensive backs coach. Ryan, the son of defensive backs coach Ron Milus, takes over as the defensive quality control coach.