Tag: NFL

First half highlights and analysis: Seahawks trail Jets 21-16

First half highlights and analysis: Seahawks trail Jets 21-16

The Seattle Seahawks have literally never played in a normal game, and this adage continues into Week 13 against the New York Jets. It has been a bizarre, sloppy, and explosive affair between these two teams. What started to look like another defensive battle quickly devolved.

New York found the end zone first, but Leonard Williams blocked the PAT. Little would we know, it was only the start of horrendous special teams play.

On the ensuing kick off, Seattle’s return man Dee Williams fumbled the ball. Williams has been a liability in the return game all season long, and it reared its ugly head once more, as his muffed return was recovered by New York at Seattle’s 27-yard line. The Jets quickly found the end zone for the second time today four plays later to extend their lead to 14-0 thanks to a successful two-point conversion.

The Seahawks were finally able to answer, as they engineered a 10-play, 83 yard touchdown drive. Seattle was backed up further than they should, as Laviska Shenault fumbled the kick off, but was able to recover it. Geno Smith found rookie AJ Barner for the touchdown.

Well, Seattle’s momentum was quickly robbed as Jets running back Kene Nwangwu returned the ball 99-yards for a touchdown to go up 21-7. Unfortunately, the special teams disasterclass would continue…. as after the touchdown, Laviska Shenault fumbled again. Only this time, New York would recover at Seattle’s 38-yard line.

Just to quickly recap, here is what the Seahawks special teams situation has been in the first half alone.

However, I wonder if the Jets social media admin might regret tweeting out “Football is fun!” because six plays later, quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ pass was picked off by defensive lineman Leonard Williams, who promptly returned the ball 91-yards.

The Seahawks’ special teams woes continued, as the PAT attempt was blocked, keeping the score 21-13. However, Jason Myers did have redemption as he nailed a 54-yard field goal to cut the lead to 21-16, which is where it lasted into halftime. Myers’ field goal was his seventh from 50+ yards in a single season, breaking his own Seahawks franchise record he set last year.

New York will get the ball to start the second half. Be sure to follow @TheSeahawksWire and @KoleMusgrove23 on Twitter for more live updates, analysis and highlights!

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Watch: Seahawks’ Leonard Williams intercepts Aaron Rodgers for a TD

Watch: Seahawks DE Leonard Williams intercepts Aaron Rodgers for a TD

It has been a wild and wacky Week 13 game between the Seattle Seahawks and New York Jets, filled with plenty of explosive plays and bafflingly awful special teams.

Seattle’s kick off and kick off return teams have been absurdly awful in the first half, fumbling three times (losing two of them) and allowing a 99-yard touchdown return. After the second fumble, New York had the ball at Seattle’s 38-yard line and made it all the way to the nine. But that is where it ended, courtesy of Leonard “Big Cat” Williams.

Unfortunately, the Seahawks could not take full advantage of the “thicc-six” as they had yet another PAT attempt blocked. The touchdown cut the Jets lead to 21-13 midway through the second quarter.

Be sure to follow @TheSeahawksWire and @KoleMusgrove23 for more highlights, analysis and updates during the game.

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Officials gift Bengals a pick-six after missed call on George Pickens

Officials missed a blatant penalty in Week 13 as Bengals CB Cam Taylor-Britt grabbed George Pickens’ helmet, setting up a pick-six.

Officials made their presence felt early in Week 13’s contest between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals. While much of the discussion leading up to the game centered on the necessity for the Black and Gold offense to score early and often to keep pace with Cincinnati’s threatening offense, the black-and-white-striped referees heavily influenced the contest within the first five minutes.

With 11:56 remaining in the first quarter, Bengals CB Cam Taylor-Britt pulled on Steelers WR George Pickens‘ helmet, knocking the wide receiver to the ground and positioning himself for a routine pick-six.

The referees missed this obvious penalty, which could have been flagged as illegal contact, holding, or illegal hands to the face. This allowed the dangerous Bengals team to seize all the momentum. Pickens would ultimately score a touchdown on a later Pittsburgh drive, giving his team a much-needed breath of life on offense.

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LT Cam Robinson to play for Vikings

The Vikings will have left tackle Cam Robinson in the lineup against the Cardinals in Week 13.

The Minnesota Vikings will have their full starting offensive line playing against the Arizona Cardinals. Left tackle Cam Robinson, who left last week’s game with a foot injury and was questionable to play this week on the final injury report, was not part of the Vikings’ inactive list.

Who was on the Vikings’ inactive list?

Vikings Week 13 inactive list

  • QB Brett Rypien
  • S Jay Ward
  • CB Dwight McGlothern
  • DL Levi Drake Rodriguez
  • OL Michael Jurgens
  • OL Ed Ingram
  • TE Josh Oliver

Oliver and Ward were ruled out this week on the final injury report.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Seahawks Week 13 inactives: 7 players will not suit up

Seahawks Week 13 inactives: 7 players will not suit up

The Seattle Seahawks are less than two hours away from their cross-conference road showdown against the New York Jets. Seattle needs a win to stay in first place, as they control their own destiny from here on out. New York may be on their last gasp, but they still have a stingy defense that could play spoiler if the Hawks are not careful.

The good news for Seattle is the team is relatively healthy. Only two players were listed as QUESTIONABLE for this weekend: tight end Brady Russell and safety AJ Finley. The bad news is Finley is inactive this weekend, but Russell isn’t! Meaning Russell will be in his first game after missing the last two. The Seahawks clearly prepared for a potential absence of Finely, as they elevated safety Ty Okada from the practice squad on Saturday.

Other notable inactive for Seattle is quarterback Jaren Hall, who was also elevated from the practice squad to the active 53-man roster.

The full inactive list from both teams can be seen below.

Seahawks Inactives:

  • CB Nehemiah Pritchett
  • S AJ Finley
  • FS Jerrick Reed II
  • LB Trevis Gipson
  • WR Dareke Young
  • DE Mike Morris
  • QB Jaren Hall

Jets Inactives:

  • RB Israel Abanikanda
  • OL Jake Hanson
  • OL Max Mitchell
  • LB CJ Mosley
  • CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse
  • EDGE Braiden McGregor

Be sure to follow @TheSeahawksWire and @KoleMusgrove23 on Twitter during the game for more live updates, analysis and highlights!

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Darius Robinson to make NFL debut; Jalen Thompson returns to lineup

The Cardinals released their inactive list and Robinson was not on it for the first time since returning to the team from injured reserve.

Arizona Cardinals fans will finally get to see the NFL debut of first-round pick defensive lineman Darius Robinson. The team released its inactive list 90 minutes before kickoff against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 13 and he was not included for the first time.

Robinson, who started the season on injured reserve with a calf injury, has been working for weeks since being activated. He has had two full weeks of practice.

The Cardinals have a plan for his usage. With him being active, defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga will not dress.

Returning to the lineup after missing two games with an ankle injury is safety Jalen Thompson.

Here are the Cardinals’ inactive players for Week 13:

Cardinals Week 13 inactive list

  • OLB Julian Okwara
  • OL Christian Jones
  • TE Travis Vokolek
  • WR Xavier Weaver
  • DL Khyiris Tonga

Okwara has fallen out of the rotation since the acquisition of Baron Browning. Jones, Vokolek and Weaver have been regularly inactive.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

The Seahawks love playing at MetLife Stadium

The Seahawks love playing at MetLife Stadium

The Seattle Seahawks are once again returning to MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands to face a New York team. Interestingly, this time it will not be the Giants, but instead the Jets. It will be the first time the Seahawks have played the Jets on their home turf.

Well, maybe I shouldn’t be calling MetLife “home turf” for the New York teams, because it has turned into a home-away-from home for the Seahawks. Ever since MetLife Stadium first opened its doors in 2010, Seattle has known nothing but victory on this turf. Whether the opponents are wearing blue, green or even orange, the Seahawks reign supreme in the Meadowlands.

It’s never a bad time to take a trip down memory lane, so let us do just that, shall we? Here are all six wins the Seahawks have earned at MetLife Stadium:

  • Oct. 9th, 2011 – Seahawks 36, Giants 25
  • Dec.15th, 2013 – Seahawks 23, Giants 0
  • Feb. 2nd, 2014 – Seahawks 43, Broncos 8 (Super Bowl XLVIII)
  • Oct. 2nd, 2016 – Seahawks 27, Jets 17
  • Oct. 22nd, 2017 – Seahawks 24, Giants 7
  • Oct. 2nd, 2023 – Seahawks 24, Giants 3

As you can see, Sunday will mark only the second time Seattle has traveled to New York/New Jersey for a road game against the Jets. Interestingly enough, the Jets have traveled to Lumen Field twice since the 2016 season, both being dominant Seahawks victories as well.

Why do Rams kickers seem to regress under special teams coach Chase Blackburn?

Joshua Karty is the latest kicker to struggle with the Rams under special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn

It has been no secret for Rams fans that the team has suffered from inconsistent kicking performances since the hiring of special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn.

Having gone through three kickers in two years, the prevalent problems of missed field goals and extra points have somehow plagued every player who inherits the starting job. When looking at Brett Maher, Lucas Haversik, and Joshua Karty, you have three kickers with three different backgrounds and experience levels. Yet, as Rams, all three kickers have had a field goal make percentage between 73.9-76.2%.

However, it is not a case of the Rams signing kickers with that percentage.  Maher was effective in the year before he joined the Rams. During his 2023 season in Los Angeles, Maher’s FG accuracy was 73.9% with two missed extra points in 15 attempts. He was also 10-of-17 from 40 yards and beyond.

In 2022 with the Dallas Cowboys, Maher’s FG accuracy was 90% with three missed extra points in 50 attempts. He was 15-for-18 from 40-plus yards. Maher was coached by former Rams STC John Fassel during that season.

Lucas Havrisik was an inconsistent kicker throughout his collegiate career and he has yet to play a game in the NFL outside of his stint with the Rams so Blackburn wasn’t entirely to blame in 2023. But Karty’s performances in 2024 have changed that narrative.

Karty has only made 76.2% of his field goal attempts with two extra points missed and a 5-for-8 mark from 40-plus yards. Considering he’s supposed to be getting better coaching in the NFL, Karty should have better numbers from his days in college but they are in fact worse.

In 2023 as a member of the Stanford Cardinal, Karty made 85.2% of his field goals and was 11-for-14 from 40+ yards. The problem appears to be Blackburn.

Until the Rams fix whatever issues Blackburn is causing, whoever is kicking the ball will be subject to the same failures as before. It seems cruel to say but not being able to retain John Fassel in 2019 seems even more frustrating when the former Rams special teams coordinator has turned Brandon Aubrey into an All-Pro.

Staff predictions for Chargers vs. Falcons

Find out who the Chargers Wire staff is picking between Los Angeles and Atlanta in Week 13.

The Los Angeles Chargers kick off Week 13 against the Atlanta Falcons.

Who is going to come out victorious?

Here is a look at the predictions from each of our writers at Chargers Wire:

Gavino:

The Chargers look to bounce back after losing to the Ravens last Monday. Los Angeles enters this game on a short week, while the Falcons come into this one well-rested after their bye. Offensively for the Bolts, I expect Justin Herbert to shred a Falcons defense that has struggled against the pass. On the other side of the ball, I see Jesse Minter’s unit getting back on track after surrendering 57 points combined in the last two weeks. Kirk Cousins is not on the same level as Joe Burrow or Lamar Jackson. Bijan Robinson is also no Derrick Henry. Chargers 27, Falcons 21

Alex K:

Atlanta’s defense doesn’t have the resources to compete with Justin Herbert and Ladd McConkey if both come out sharp, but the Falcons offense is getting healthier and has been effective moving the ball this season. Expect a fairly high-scoring affair that the Chargers can pull out with some key plays on special teams. Chargers 30, Falcons 23

Is Alex Highsmith playing today? Injury updates for the Steelers’ EDGE

Pittsburgh Steelers pass-rusher Alex Highsmith is still dealing with an ankle injury. Here are the latest updates.

In the fourth quarter of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 10 victory over the Washington Commanders, pass-rusher Alex Highsmith sustained a left ankle injury. While pressuring quarterback Jayden Daniels, Highsmith stepped on Daniels’ foot, causing his ankle to twist awkwardly. He fell to the ground in pain and required assistance leaving the field. Post-game, Highsmith was seen using crutches, indicating the injury’s severity.

This setback follows Highsmith’s earlier three-game absence due to a groin injury. In his absence, the Steelers plan to rely on Nick Herbig and recently acquired Preston Smith to fill the void.

Alex Highsmith injury update

There was a glimmer of hope that Highsmith would be back on the field this Sunday after participating in Thursday and Friday practice, though in a limited capacity.

“We got Alex Highsmith leaning in on a return,” Tomlin said in his Tuesday press conference. “We’ll let his participation and the quality of that participation be our guide in terms of whether he gets back in or what degree he gets back in.”

Unfortunately, what Tomlin saw wasn’t quality enough, and Highsmith was ruled out for the third consecutive game.

How long will Alex Highsmith be out?

It appears Highsmith is inching closer to playing. Barring a setback, expect him to be ready for Pittsburgh’s Week 14 matchup with the Cleveland Browns at Acrisure Stadium.

Steelers outside linebacker depth chart

Pittsburgh struggled mightily to contain Cleveland in their Week 12 loss. Getting Highsmith back should be huge, but expect healthy doses of Herbig and Smith in the meantime.

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