Final grades: Report cards for all 32 NFL teams
Final grades: Report cards for all 32 NFL teams
Tag: NFL regular season
NFL planning to expand regular season to 17 games in 2021
NFL planning to expand the regular season to 17 games in 2021
The NFL is the best thing going in sports today and the league plans on providing even more games according to Ian Rapoport.
Per Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, the league is planning to expand the regular season to 17 games in 2021 — a move that would generate new revenue and could help solve some of the expected salary cap woes for teams like the Eagles and Saints.
An announcement may not come for weeks, if not months, since the NFL must first negotiate at least one new media contract in order to make the move to 17 games in 2021, per the collective bargaining agreement. But as one team source apprised of discussions said: “We’re all anticipating it’s going to happen.”
Once a new media deal is announced, the preseason would be cut to two or three games, with each team continuing to get one bye-week as the NFL extends the regular season to 18 weeks and pushes back the Super Bowl into the second week of February.
With the added game, each team would play an extra interconference matchup — AFC vs. NFC — based on divisional standings from the preceding season and on a rotating divisional basis.
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Projecting the Chargers’ safety depth chart
The Los Angeles Chargers will have a healthy Derwin James back for the 2020 regular season.
Over the past couple of weeks, I have been breaking down the depth chart at each position for the Chargers.
Today, we examine and project the safety room for Los Angeles heading into the 2020 season.
FS: Rayshawn Jenkins
The battle for the free safety job last season was between Jenkins and 2019 second-round pick Nasir Adderley. Adderley showed some immense flashes of earning the starting role. However, injuries kept him off the field, which left Jenkins as the starter.
In his first season as a full-time starter after making the transition from strong safety to the single-high role, Jenkins had an up-and-down season. Even though he led the team in interceptions (3), blown coverages and missed tackles were scattered throughout Jenkins’ campaign.
According to Pro Football Focus, among safeties that played at least 80% of their team’s snaps in 2019, Jenkins was 30th among 37 safeties with a 63.1 overall grade.
Despite the inconsistent results, Jenkins was still highly praised by the coaching staff. Earlier this offseason, coach Anthony Lynn said that he believes Jenkins will breakout in 2020.
Since Jenkins earned the trust of the coaching staff, it may seem like an uphill climb for Adderley earn snaps, but a systematical change might make it easier than originally expected.
The Chargers are expected to show more two-deep looks and man coverage and less Cover 3. This will mean that both Adderley and Jenkins would be on the field. But Jenkins will get the majority of the snaps.
According to defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, Adderley, Jenkins, along with Desmond King are candidates for the dime linebacker role, the position formerly played by Adrian Phillips, which is the sixth defensive back in dime packages.
Backup(s): Nasir Adderley
SS: Derwin James
The Chargers are getting the dynamic defender back for a full state after his sophomore season was short lived to a foot injury that he sustained prior to the regular season.
James is not only being inked as a prime Comeback Player of the Year candidate in 2020, but projected as Defensive Player of the Year.
The former Florida State product will go back to being a difference-maker on the defensive side of the ball, where he will resume his duties as a coverage player, run defender and additional blitzer.
James should see the field for nearly every snap, which will make it extremely difficult for his backups to earn playing time.
Roderic Teamer, who started in James’ absence last season, should make the roster. He will primarily serve as a special teamer, but he could earn some playing time as the dime linebacker.
The Chargers’ sixth-round pick Alohi Gilman should also be among the final 55, but nearly all of his playing time will be on special teams, where he will have to prove his worth in order to draw consideration of being on the field as a dimebacker.
Backup(s): Roderic Teamer, Alohi Gilman
5 most winnable games on Chargers’ schedule in 2020
Which teams might not pose a huge threat to the Los Angeles Chargers in 2020?
The Chargers, along with the other 31 teams in the league, have known who, when and where they will be playing this upcoming season for nearly a week now.
After the schedule was officially released, we examined the toughest matchups for Los Angeles. So now it’s time to switch gears and look at the games that are the most winnable, in no particular order.
1. at Cincinnati Bengals, Sept. 13
A new era began in Cincinnati as No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow takes over under center. Even though the Bengals landed arguably the best player in the draft and a very talented quarterback, there’s always a large possibility of experiencing growing pains, especially in their professional debut. Not to mention, he will be going up against one of the league’s best defenses. Aside from key acquisitions that include second-round pick Tee Higgins, defensive tackle D.J. Reader, safety Von Bell, cornerback Trae Waynes, the team still doesn’t possess the firepower to pose a threat.
2. vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, Nov. 1
I’m not a firm believer in tanking, but if there was a team that was prone to doing so this season, it would be the Jaguars. Rather than signing a proven veteran like Cam Newton, they’re rolling with second-year Gardner Minshew. It could be because they have their eyes on Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence. Over the course of the past year, they let go of some key players and just a month ago, running back Leonard Fournette was on the trading block. Last season, the Chargers took care of business on their home turf by the score of 42-10. I expect a similar result with the only difference being the game will be played at SoFi Stadium.
3. at Miami Dolphins, Oct. 25
It’s easy to pencil in first-round pick Tua Tagovailoa as the starting quarterback this season for the Dolphins, but there’s a possibility of him using this year to redshirt in order to let his hip completely get back to 100%. That would mean that Ryan Fitzpatrick would likely be under center. That’s not a bad thing as Fitzpatrick has proven to be serviceable in the starting role. Miami’s defense looks improved after adding cornerback Byron Jones, linebacker Kyle Van Noy and defensive end Shaq Lawson. However, the Chargers overall roster is still more superior than the Dolphins’.
4. vs. New York Jets, Oct. 18
The Jets did a nice job this offseason to build around quarterback Sam Darnold by giving him some wide receiver help with the additions of rookie Denzel Mims and veteran Breshad Perriman. Along with that, they improved their offensive line with rookie Mekhi Becton and veteran Connor McGovern. This should be the best protection that Darnold has gotten in his professional career, but it shouldn’t be expected that the unit will mesh this quickly. I could see the Chargers giving fits to New York’s reconstructed offense.
5. vs. Carolina Panthers, Sept. 27
The Panthers went into full rebuild mode this offseason with the hiring of new coach Matt Rhule and parting ways with quarterback Cam Newton and tight end Greg Olson. Replacing Newton is Teddy Bridgewater, who was acquired earlier this offseason. Carolina has enough weapons on the offensive side of the ball, led by running back Christian McCaffrey and wide receiver Robby Anderson to be competitive. However, the defensive side of the ball is young and is lacking the firepower that was possessed by Luke Kuechly before announcing his retirement.
2020 NFL Schedule: 5 best games for betting
Analyzing the 2020 NFL schedule and looking ahead to the 5 best games from a betting point of view.
The 2020 NFL schedule was released Thursday night and fans and bettors can now start circling the best games around the league in the regular season and planning their viewing schedule. We already knew Super Bowl LV is set for Sunday, Feb. 7, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., but below, we’ll look at the five best regular-season games from a betting point of view.
2020 NFL schedule notes
- The season begins Thursday, Sept. 10 at 8:20 p.m. ET with the Houston Texans visiting the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
- Thanksgiving slate (Thursday, Nov. 26): Texans at Detroit Lions (12:30 p.m. ET), Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys (4:30 p.m. ET), Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers (8:20 p.m. ET)
- Playoffs to begin the weekend of Jan. 9-10 and will include 14 teams.
- All dates remain subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic possibly delaying the start of the season.
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2020 NFL schedule: 5 best games for betting
Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs
— Week 1: Thursday, Sept. 10, 8:20 p.m. ET
Few games on the NFL schedule draw the same national appeal of the season opener each and every year. With the beginning of the 2020 NFL season offering hope to sports fans going through withdrawals amid the pandemic, this year’s opener means even more than usual.
BetMGM has already posted spreads and moneylines for each Week 1 game, giving bettors something to help them pass the time until the return of the other major sports. The Chiefs open as monster -500 favorites over the Texans (+375) while laying 9.5 points on the spread.
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Friday, May 8 at 2 a.m. ET.
Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints
— Week 16: Friday, Dec. 25, 4:30 p.m. ET
The standalone game on Christmas Day will see the Vikings and RB Dalvin Cook looking for a repeat of the wild card-round upset of the Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. With the two teams expected to be in contention for a division title this season, this game could mean even more for bettors holding onto futures tickets.
Green Bay Packers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
— Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 18, 4:25 p.m. ET
New Buccaneers QB Tom Brady will go head-to-head with Packers QB Aaron Rodgers for the first time as a member of the NFC. The Buccaneers’ schedule is flush with five primetime games, and Brady will face Saints QB Drew Brees twice as division rivals. But it’s this Sunday afternoon spot against the reigning NFC North champs which could carry the most intrigue.
Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots
— Week 16: Monday, Dec. 28, 8:15 p.m. ET
This Week 16 battle could prove to be the day Bills fans and Patriots haters have been waiting for since Brady made his first NFL start in 2001. The Bills look to finally overthrow the Pats in the AFC East and this may be their shot at clinching the division crown. Doing so on the road would likely be even sweeter for Bills Mafia.
Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens
— Week 3: Monday, Sept. 28, 8:15 p.m. ET
The only thing this matchup lacks in appeal is the fact it’s taking place so early in the season with playoff seeding in the AFC not yet on the line. The two most recent MVP winners in Ravens QB Lamar Jackson and Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes will be front and center on Monday Night Football. This game is a strong choice to feature the highest Over/Under of the entire 2020 NFL season.
Get your popcorn ready.
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