Tag: NFL Week 4

How every former Wisconsin Badger performed in NFL Week 5

Jonathan Taylor’s return and more…How every Wisconsin Badger performed in NFL Week 4:

Week 4 of the 2023 NFL season is mostly complete, pending a Monday Night Football contest between the Packers and the Raiders.

Wisconsin Badger fans had a bit of interest in the action this weekend, as star running back Jonathan Taylor returned to the Indianapolis Colts’ backfield. Unfortunately, it still became the Zack Moss show despite Taylor’s healthy status.

But there were great performances from former Badgers in the league. Steelers OLB T.J. Watt continued his dominant start to the season, Dolphins OLB Andrew Van Ginkel is still turning heads in Miami and Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson looks to be a significant part of the team’s passing game.

Here is how every former Wisconsin Badger performed in NFL Week 4:

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans says Falcons QB Desmond Ridder is surrounded by playmakers

Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans acknowledges Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder is surrounded by effective skill players on offense.

The Atlanta Falcons may be on a two-game losing skid, but DeMeco Ryans is not overlooking a fellow 2-2 squad.

The Houston Texans face Atlanta Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for Week 5. Although the Texans held second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett and the Pittsburgh Steelers to 225 yards total offense last week, Ryans is not banking on the same fortune with Desmond Ridder.

“With Ridder, I think just how he’s operating the offense, still a young player who is getting comfortable,” Ryans told reporters Oct. 4. “I think he just still needs time to grow and improve, but he’s doing a really good job of putting the ball where it needs to be and getting it into his playmakers hands.”

Distribution is what has helped Ridder lead the offense. Whether rookie Bijan Robinson or Tyler Allgeier, the Falcons have options in the backfield. Downfield there are also choices with tight end Kyle Pitts and receiver Drake London, both former first-round picks.

“What they’ve done there in Atlanta is they’ve surrounded him with a ton of playmakers, so it’s not just on the quarterback, there’s a lot of playmakers he can get the ball to,” said Ryans. “Tight ends, wide receivers, the backs — a lot of dynamic playmakers that surround Ridder, and they’ve done a really good job.”

The Falcons are coming off a 23-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London in Week 4.

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Patriots’ top 10 defensive players in Week 4, per PFF grades

Ranking the Patriots’ defensive players with the top-10 PFF grades in Week 4

The New England Patriots defense was put in an impossible position in the Week 4 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Not only was the unit battered with injuries, but it was handcuffed to an offense that turned the ball over three times and consistently put them in bad field position.

It was in no way a great performance for the defense, but they also didn’t look nearly as bad as the 38-3 score indicates. In fact, it’s surprising the score didn’t get even worse with the offense giving up two defensive touchdowns to the Cowboys.

The defense also lost two of their best players with cornerback Christian Gonzalez and linebacker Matthew Judon both going down with injuries. They’ll have their work cut out for them when attempting to bounce back in Week 5 against the visiting New Orleans Saints.

Let’s take a look at the top-10 defensive players, per Pro Football Focus grades, in the loss to Dallas.

Texans DE Will Anderson cracks Pro Football Focus top-15 rookie grades through Week 4

Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson has shown his prowess through Week 4 according to Pro Football Focus’ rookie grades.

One would expect the rookie with nary an interception through his first 151 pass attempts to be among the top-15 rookies through Week 4, but beggars can’t be choosers.

At least the Houston Texans’ twin first-rounder gambit paid off in the form of defensive end Will Anderson, who has been a welcomed burst of disruption off the edge amid the team’s 2-2 start.

According to Mason Cameron from Pro Football Focus, Anderson ranks No. 13 among highest graded rookies through the first four weeks. The Alabama product has tallied a 76.7 grade using the analytics firm’s methods.

While Anderson may not be racking up the sacks, he has been making his presence felt on the edge, producing a 21% pass-rush win rate in three of his four games. A single poor showing may hold down his overall win rate, but he still ranks in the top 25 among all pass-rushers in that metric.

Anderson has generated 15 combined tackles, one tackle for loss, five quarterback hits, 1.0 sack, and a blocked field goal. The Texans have found utility for Anderson on defense with 169 such snaps and also on special teams where needed with 20.

One of the better examples of how Anderson has had an impact is across the defensive line. Fourth-year defensive end Jonathan Greenard has produced a team-high 3.0 sacks, a new personal best through the first four weeks to start a season.

Miami Dolphins running back De’von Achane topped the list with a 93.5 grade.

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Patriots’ top 10 offensive players in Week 4, per PFF grades

Who were the Patriots’ top-10 offensive players in their ugly Week 4 loss?

An offensive implosion for the ages wrecked any hope the New England Patriots ever had of upsetting an angry Dallas Cowboys team at home in Week 4.

Quarterback Mac Jones was at the center of it all with two interceptions and one lost fumble on a strip sack. The Patriots gifted the Cowboys 14 points with two of the turnovers being returned for touchdowns, while the third flipped field position and set Dallas up near the 50-yard line.

The offensive line was undisciplined and unreliable, while the rushing attack completely stalled after showing some life in Week 3 against the New York Jets.

What followed was the worse loss in NFL history by a Bill Belichick-coached team. It was a nightmare performance by the Patriots offense, and their Pro Football Focus grades reflect it.

Let’s take a look at the top-10 offensive players, per their PFF grades in Week 4.

Twitter reacts to the Seahawks’ 24-3 toppling of the Giants on Monday Night Football

Here are some of the best Twitter reactions from the Seattle Seahawks’ 24-3 win over the New York Giants on Monday Night Football.

The New York Giants react to prime time football the way Dracula does a basket of garlic bread.

The G-Men played host to the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football, but it was a 24-3 disaster that featured quarterback Daniel Jones hardly living up to his $160 million contract.

Seattle picked off Jones twice, including in the red zone for a touchdown. Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller caught three passes for 21 yards.

Cornerback Devon Witherspoon had a statement game with seven combined tackles, 2.0 sacks, two tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, a pass breakup, and an interception returned for a score. The Seahawks defense feasted on the Giants all evening.

Naturally Twitter was full of takes as a marquee franchise and Pete Carroll’s squad hooked up on Monday night. Here are some of the best reactions.

Texans LB Henry To’oTo’o earns high praise from NBC Sports’ Peter King

Houston Texans linebacker Henry To’oTo’o managed to get some high praise for his efforts in the 30-6 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 4.

While it would seem the addition of an Alabama linebacker on the Houston Texans defense would be otherwise redundant, Henry To’oTo’o proved in Week 4 why the team needed to draft him in Round 5.

To’oTo’o generated seven combined tackles, a tackle for loss, and a pass breakup in the Texans’ 30-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers at NRG Stadium.

According to Peter King from NBC Sports, To’oTo’o was one of his three defensive players of the week.

Henry To’oTo’o, linebacker, Houston. A ferocious defensive effort that smothered the Steelers for much of the day Sunday was led by this rookie fifth-round pick from Alabama. Pronounced TOE-oh-TOE-oh, by the way. His stats (seven tackles, one for loss, and a pass defended) don’t jump off the page, but you had to see his impact on the game, particularly in the third quarter. With the Steelers down 16-0 and threatening at the Houston 15-yard line on third-and-two, To’oTo’o plastered running back Jaylen Warren behind the line, and he was stopped for a two-yard loss. Pittsburgh settled for a field goal. Next series: Pittsburgh at the Houston eight, first-and-goal, and Kenny Pickett threw for George Pickens in the back of the end zone. To’oTo’o broke it up. Pittsburgh settled for a field goal. Two huge plays in the Texans’ 30-6 win.

Along with Christian Harris, another former Alabama product, the Texans have a duo of young linebackers with dynamic cohesion. Houston limited the Steelers to 225 yards total offense and 12 first downs.

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Here’s what Patriots QB Mac Jones had to say about being benched

Patriots QB Mac Jones talks about being benched by coach Bill Belichick

Just when we all thought Zappe-Mania was over, New England Patriots backup quarterback Bailey Zappe was back on the field taking regular season snaps from Mac Jones, who was benched after having arguably the worst NFL game of his career.

It felt like deja vu watching the Patriots’ quarterback carousel start up once again after Jones gave up two interceptions and a fumble—a total of three turnovers with two being returned for touchdowns.

When asked about being benched, Jones took ownership, as he always does, and directed further questions on the incident to coach Bill Belichick.

“I think just the way the game went, I mean it is what it is,” Jones said on Monday, when appearing on Jones and Mego. “For me, obviously, I didn’t play well in that game. So I got to do things better in practice. That’s where it kind of starts.”

Jones was also honest on the current state of the team as a whole. They are sitting at 1-3 with the hardest schedule in the NFL.

The team is going to need to dig deep to get out of the current hole they’ve managed to dig for themselves, but it all starts under center with the quarterback.

“You can’t play like that and feel good about it, but I do feel like we have a really good team,” said Jones. “I have a great respect for the guys in the locker room, and I just have to do a better job of playing good football. For me, that just starts with staying positive and learning what I can do better. I know I’m going to fight. I know they’re going to fight, and that’s all we can ask for.”

It won’t be a matter of waiting to see how much fight the Patriots have left with a tough New Orleans Saints team coming to town for a Week 5 visit on Sunday.

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49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga claimed he didn’t know why James Conner confronted him in testy fight

Conner was SO angry with Hufanga. There has to be another explanation.

Lost in the shuffle of the San Francisco 49ers’ 35-16 beatdown of the Arizona Cardinals Sunday was the tension between Talanoa Hufanga and James Conner.

When both teams started walking off the field in Santa Clara, a disgruntled Conner approached Hufanga and confronted him. It quickly evolved into a heated scuffle where Conner tried taking some swings at Hufanga before other 49ers and Cardinals players had to separate the two. Arizona and San Francisco are divisional rivals — which means animosity is usually built in –but this individual exchange seemed to have a little more spice to it.

There had to be something more than meets the eye here, right?

A person doesn’t usually get that furious without a good reason. Putting your hands on another human being outside of the sanctioned violence in a football context takes a lot. Well, according to Jake Hutchinson of KNBR, Hufanga claimed he didn’t know why Conner was so displeased with him.

Hmm.

 

I’m hesitant to do anything but take Hufanga’s word here. The only objective video evidence we have is Conner taking swipes at Hufanga, not the other way around, and nothing from within the game. But the way Hufanga takes a stray shot at Conner’s rushing performance of 52 yards makes me think that the two might have, at least, been disrespectfully arguing with each other all afternoon.

The 49ers and Cardinals don’t meet again until mid-December in Arizona. Stay tuned for the next episode of this budding rivalry between Hufanga and Conner. I have a feeling there’s more to come.

The Bears’ disastrous season was summed up in one hilarious before-and-after video

Nothing will sum up the Bears’ nightmare season better than this.

The Chicago Bears had everything rolling Sunday afternoon. Justin Fields was playing like a franchise quarterback. The Denver Broncos had no legitimate answers that didn’t amount to “we hope the other team makes a mistake and steps on a rake.” With just under 20 minutes to go, with a 28-7 lead, it looked like Chicago would finally capture its first win of the 2023 season. Huzzah! Onward!

Then, an inexplicable fourth-down/offsides decision by head coach Matt Eberflus ruined everything. And the Bears were staring down the barrel of a disastrous 0-4 start and a likely hot seat for everyone involved in this ongoing mess.

One of those people is general manager Ryan Poles. The CBS cameras captured the executive’s jubilation after Fields’ fourth touchdown pass, and the Bears had constructed their seemingly insurmountable lead. Below, please note the surrounding fans applauding Poles and celebrating with him. They also captured his despondency, his “hello, darkness, my old friend” reaction after the Bears got stopped on fourth-and-short in the closing moments. Also below, please note how stoic the fans are after it’s clear the Bears are on the verge of collapse.

Twitter user @_MarcusD3_ brilliantly captured the contrast between Poles and these fans’ emotions with a classic “a few moments later” SpongeBob before-and-after video. It tells you everything you need to know:

If there is one sequence that sums up the mess of the 2023 Bears to perfection, it’s this spliced clip. It is a general manager finally seeing glimpses of the team he thought he built. It is a man building up hope again after a month of drama at the team facility. It is then a man who quickly realizes that his team is still mired in the abyss and that the microscope of criticism will only zoom in further. And it is fans getting excited about potential before crashing back to reality.

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2023 Chicago Bears in less than 10 seconds.