This Sunday has a big game feel to it. Sure, the Bills just defeated the Cowboys on Thanksgiving, with the National Spotlight firmly on them, but there is something special about this game against Baltimore.
This Sunday has a big game feel to it. Sure, the Bills just defeated the Cowboys on Thanksgiving, with the national spotlight firmly on them, but there is something special about this game against the Ravens.
How do you gameplan for a team of the caliber and level that the Ravens are playing at right now? It’s not as easy as it would seem. The Ravens offense is unique, and it’s key piece, the sophomore sensation Lamar Jackson, is having an MVP-caliber season. His speed, combined with his growing passing ability, and the offensive units ability to sell fake out plays, has stumped the best defensive coordinators across the NFL, including one of the greatest minds in pro football history, Bill Belichick.
The challenge is one that the Bills are certainly up for, and another opportunity to prove that they’re for real. The coordinators and players have their work cut out for them. In this episode, podcast hosts Matt and Jeremy examine what they believe that the Bills have to do to try and slow down one of the fastest offenses running in the NFL.
With four picks in the top 40 of the draft, you’d figure the Raiders would be the most likely team to have multiple rookies at the top of the rankings. However, one of the rookies Daniel Jeremiah puts in the top five was not among those Raiders selected in the top 40. Here are his top five rookies and his thoughts on Josh Jacobs and Maxx Crosby:
2. Josh Jacobs, Oakland Raiders
Jacobs has surpassed the 1,000-yard mark and looks to be getting stronger as the season winds down. I love his contact balance between the tackles.
5. Maxx Crosby, Oakland Raiders
Crosby, a fourth-round selection, has been the best value pick in the entire draft. He uses his length and athleticism to generate consistent pressure in the passing game.
As they say; one of these things is not like the others. That would be Maxx Crosby. He is the only rookie in the top five who was not a first-round pick. He was selected at pick 106 in the 4th round. And he currently leads the team with 7.5 sacks and only Josh Allen (9.0) and Nick Bosa (8.0) have more. among rookies.
Jared Goff expects the Rams to continue running the ball the way they have in recent weeks.
The Rams have put more of an emphasis on the running game in two of the last three weeks. They leaned heavily on Todd Gurley against the Bears in Week 11, running the ball 30 times with their tailbacks. Last week against the Cardinals, they handed it to their backs 29 times – partly due to the lopsided score and their need to milk the clock late.
Todd Gurley has been more of a focal point of the offense lately, too, which wasn’t the case earlier in the season when he wasn’t getting the ball much. Sean McVay chalked it up to him “not being an idiot” anymore, suggesting he was wrong for not utilizing Gurley more before.
Whatever the case may be, Jared Goff is happy to see the running game back at the forefront.
“He’s being hard on himself. I think we all want to get Todd involved as much as possible,” Goff said Wednesday. “I think these last couple of weeks we’ve seen that and good things tend to happen. He’s a great player for us and we want to give him the ball.”
When Gurley is running it well, the offense is more consistent and balanced. They don’t have to rely so heavily on Goff’s arm, which hasn’t led to good things this season. He benefits from an established ground game, too, saying it helps “a bunch.”
“Any time that you can run the ball well, you want to be able to open up the play-action and open up the dropback,” he said. “Our offense is built that way where if we run the ball well on first down, we get into second-and-manageable, we can do the stuff we want to do and stay ahead of the chains. I think you’ve seen in the past, when we’re operating at a high level is when we’re doing that and we need to continue to do it.”
The offensive line deserves some credit for the running game’s improvement, blocking better up front. This is something Goff pointed out, crediting “all 11” on the offensive side of the ball for getting the ship righted last week against Arizona.
He expects the Rams to continue running the ball the way they have and balancing out the offense. He and the coaches know what a player Gurley is, and using him to their advantage is something he hopes will continue.
“I think we just want to continue to establish the run, for sure,” he said. “I think that’s definitely part of what we want to do – always has been, always will be. He’s a big part of that and as long as he’s playing running back for us, I expect that to be the case. He’s doing a good job and I think he’s excited for it.”
It’s Week 14 of the NFL season, which kicks off on Thursday with Dallas Cowboys playing the Chicago Bears, so it’s time for our weekly look at the point spreads in order to help you win some money.
Last week, Charles Curtis went 12-4 in Week 13 picks(95-93 overall) and Steven Ruiz went 8-8 (98-90 overall). We now go to each of them for comments before their picks.
Charles: Oh. Oh boy. OH BOY. HERE WE GO! THE LATE SEASON RUN HAS BEGUN! LET’S GOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
Steven: Oh damn. Time to stop messing around. We need a big week and I like the spreads.
NOTE: The Lions and Vikings game was off the board as of Thursday morning.
Cowboys at Bears (+2.5)
Charles: Cowboys
Let’s see: the Bears have won three of their last four, with two wins over the Lions with Jeff Driskel and David Blough under center, and defeated the Giants. Even with “weird things happen on Thursday,” I’m pretty confident in Dallas winning this game by three.
Steven: Cowboys
I’ve lost a lot hypothetical money betting on the Cowboys this season, but this is a must-win for Dallas, which is clearly the better team. Mitch Trubisky played better on Thanksgiving but he won’t be afforded the same amount of time by the Cowboys’ pass rush.
Ravens at Bills (+5.5)
Charles: Ravens
This is a tougher spread than it looks. The Bills can be feisty and it’s cold in Buffalo in December. But I think the Ravens’ defense is up to the task of stopping Josh Allen.
Steven: Ravens
If any team is capable of slowing down this Ravens rushing attack, I think it’s the Bills. The problem: I don’t think any team is capable of slowing down this Ravens rushing attack.
Panthers at Falcons (-2.5)
Charles: Panthers
I can’t tell if this is a “WIN ONE FOR RIVERBOAT RON!” game but I don’t have confidence in backing the Falcons, even at home.
Steven: Falcons
A total shot in the dark. I have not idea what to expect from the Panthers after losing their coach midway through the week. But that can’t be good for game-planning.
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Bengals at Browns (-8.5)
Charles: Bengals
Just like last week: I know the Bengals are terrible but I seriously don’t think I can be confident in the Browns and all those points.
Steven: Bengals
The Bengals defense has been sneaky good in recent weeks and should be able to keep this one close enough to cover. Also, Baker Mayfield’s hand isn’t 100%. Take the points.
Broncos at Texans (-7.5)
Charles: Broncos
Hey, Drew Lock looked decent! I’ll say Denver loses and covers here.
Steven: Texans
Drew Lock’s first road game? Yeah, we’ll see at least two turnovers from the rookie in Houston.
Colts at Buccaneers (-3.5)
Charles: Colts
What!? No way. Indy is still better than being this much of a road underdog, and the Bucs aren’t good enough to cover more than a field goal.
Steven: Buccaneers
I’m done with this Colts team. Especially with most of Jacoby Brissett’s top targets out with various injuries. The Bucs offense is rolling and I doubt Indy can keep up.
Dolphins at Jets (-5.5)
Charles: Dolphins
You know the drill. Don’t doubt the Fins. They’re playing better as of late, and the Jets just lost to the NFL’s last remaining winless team.
Steven: Dolphins
Never trusting an Adam Gase team after last week’s debacle in Cincinnati. The Dolphins look like a competent football team. We can’t say the same about the Jets.
49ers at Saints (-2.5)
Charles: Saints
A potential NFC Championship game preview! This is impossible to pick but I can see this one ending at like 27-24 for the home squad with a Wil Lutz kick winning it.
Steven: Saints
We’re going to find out a lot about both of these teams on Sunday. I really want to see how Drew Brees performs against a top defense. I think he’ll play well and lead New Orleans to a win.
Redskins at Packers (-12.5)
Charles: Packers
I know the Redskins have won the last two weeks, but the Packers aren’t the Lions and inconsistent Panthers.
Steven: Packers
Nearly went with Washington, but there’s no reason to overthink this with the Packers playing at a home.
The Chargers are the unluckiest team in football. They have a positive point differential but are still somehow 8-4. A little regression to the mean will be enough for them to cover against Garnder Minshew, who struggled the last time we saw him start against a decent defense.
Chiefs at Patriots (-2.5)
Charles: Patriots
I honestly don’t know how they do it (15 passes to James White?) but the Pats will win this game at home.
Steven: Chiefs
The Patriots are done. Well, not DONE done, but they can no longer compete with the AFC’s best teams, as we’ve seen in games against Baltimore and Houston. Give me the points.
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Steelers at Cardinals (+2.5)
Charles: Steelers
Am I really buying into the Duck Dynasty? You bet I am.
Steven: Cardinals
I am not buying into the Duck Dynasty. There has been a lot of money to made betting against mediocre quarterbacks this season.
Titans at Raiders (+2.5)
Charles: Titans
What the heck is this spread? Tennessee looks like a playoff team with Ryan Tannehill under center (file that under sentences I never thought I’d write) and the Raiders are in a bit of a spiral.
Steven: Titans
The Raiders have been great at home all season, but the Titans should be able to carve up that defense and last week’s loss in Kansas City may have buried Oakland for good.
Seahawks at Rams (+2.5)
Charles: Seahawks
I’m also not buying this one. The Seahawks are clearly the better team and probably deserve something more like minus-3.5 here.
Steven: Rams
This is probably a dumb pick, but Sean McVay seems to have Pete Carroll’s number and we know how well Aaron Donald plays against Russell Wilson. I’m calling an upset.
Giants at Eagles (-8.5)
Charles: Eagles
I’m writing this just as the Eli Manning news is breaking, so of course I’m going to bet against him. Remember this fact we learned earlier this year?
Incredible: @betonline_ag released the effect each starting QB has on the point spread (yes it's complicated; this is an average).
Aaron Rodgers is the highest, the line would drop 7.5 pts if his backup had to play.
“Eli Manning is starting” is all I needed to hear.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
Kliff Kingsbury says a combination of the two players will take over for the playing time Tramaine Brock used to get.
The Arizona Cardinals made a somewhat surprising move early in the week when they waived veteran cornerback Tramaine Brock. Brock wasn’t necessarily the reason why the Cardinals have struggled with their pass defense but the team felt it needed to go a different direction over the final month of the season.
“Tramaine gave us some good games and was injured,” Kliff Kingsbury told reporters in Monday. “We’re going to play some younger players. We’re always looking to turn over the roster and improve, so that’s how it came about.”
Those younger players are Chris Jones and Kevin Peterson. Jones began the season on the roster and got playing time early on. He was released and spent time on the practice squad until recently.
Peterson was acquired via a waiver claim before the season began. He took over Jones’ spot during Patrick Peterson’s suspension and has played little other than on special teams since Peterson’s return.
Kingsbury said that the playing time created by Brock’s departure would be “a combination of both” guys.
While Pro Football Focus numbers state that Brock was the team’s highest-graded cornerback in coverage, clearly there were other problems. Kingsbury said his release “wasn’t a one-game type of situation.”
Patrick Peterson and Byron Murphy typically play every snap during games. Kevin Peterson and Jones are expected now to split the snaps at third cornerback. Both will play outside cornerback. Murphy now slides inside to the slot when the Cardinals are in nickel.
From what we have seen from both this season, Jones is a more physical cornerback and a willing tackler. Peterson has made more plays on the football and seems to be superior in coverage but is not physical and doesn’t give the Cardinals much in run support.
They are giving up more than 50 passing yards more per game since his return and more points overall.
The Arizona Cardinals have struggled on defense all season in 2019. When the season began, it was expected, especially during the first six games when cornerback Patrick Peterson was out with a suspension.
However, the pass defense has not improved since his return. In fact, since he returned to the starting lineup, the pass defense has gotten worse statistically.
Here are the numbers:
In games 1-6, the Cardinals allowed an opponent completion percentage of 71%, 281.2 net passing yards per game and 16 touchdowns. Overall, they allowed 171 points.
In games 7-12, opponents have completed 71.5% of their passes for an average of 338.3 net passing yards per game and 15 touchdowns. They have given up 180 points in those six games.
It isn’t fair to say that Peterson is the reason why the defense has gotten worse. However, a player of Peterson’s caliber should mean that his return would improve things.
It hasn’t.
In fact, the fact that Kliff Kingsbury has said that Peterson has been “a work in progress” is concerning. A supposed future Hall of Famer should not be going through some of the struggles he has gone through.
Peterson being on the field should mean the defense is better. So far this season, the defense has gotten worse since his return.
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When the NFL schedule-makers originally gave us this Cowboys-Bears Thursday Night Football game to kick off Week 14 they must have smiled, knowing what a treat this should be, especially so late into the season.
And boy is it a treat, but for far different reasons than those that must have gone into this decision last April when the schedules were finalized.
The Bears and Cowboys entered this season with high hopes. Mitch Trubisky came in getting some MVP talk. Dak Prescott and the Cowboys came in with the thoughts of being one of the favorites in the NFC.
Now, however, both teams are 6-6 and enter tonight’s game at Soldier Field with far more questions and concerns than any of us could have imagined back when the season kicked off.
This game tonight could be the type of laughable mess that will have everyone who doesn’t have a dog in this fight giggling in their living rooms for many different reasons.
First, “Jerry Jones Watch” is going to be a thing of beauty. The Cowboys have lost two straight games, including an ugly loss at home to the Bills on Thanksgiving. Every little thing that goes against the Cowboys tonight will have FOX Sports producers queuing up the camera that’s locked in on Jones’ suite. Great ready for some magical Jones reactions moments.
Second, Jason Garrett’s employment status has been the main topic of discussion in Dallas ever since he opted to kick a field goal against New England two weeks ago. Now he gets to go out on another nationally televised game and have all of his moves scrutinized at a maximum level. There will be an opportunity for him to screw up and if he does… Twitter will be on fire.
Third, Trubisky has another shot to win back some fans… or totally throw his career in Chicago away. What fun! The No. 2 pick for the 2018 NFL Draft has struggled mightily in his second season. However, he is coming off his best game of the season in last week’s win over the Detroit Lions on Turkey Day. But now the lights will be on the QB and if he slides back and has a woeful performance against the Cowboys the boo birds are going to be reigning down inside Soldier Field.
Fourth, if the Cowboys lose the NFC East becomes even more of a dumpster fire. They’re currently in first with a 6-6 record, followed by the Eagles, losers of three straight, at 5-7. This once storied division is a joke right now and that joke could get even more laughs if the Cowboys lose this game or, better yet, are blown out of it.
Fifth, both teams are 6-6 and while the Bears’ playoff hopes are very slim, this game is a must-win for both teams. The Cowboys do get some help being in the NFC East but still, a third straight loss would be crushing for a club that looked really darn good in the first few weeks of the season. The Bears, who expected to contend this year, just want to keep things still slightly alive. So one of these teams is gonna be really sad at the final whistle.
Kick back and enjoy the show. It should be a fun one.
Wednesday’s big winners: P.K. Subban and Lindsey Vonn.
(Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
My colleague and friend, Mike Sykes, said it best when he wrote: “Nothing says “I love you” quite like allowing your fiancee to fire off hockey pucks at you.” Subban and Vonn, who are happily engaged, did just that in Bryant Park in NYC. What a date night for these two. Vonn has some moves, too.
Quick hits: Angry USC fans… Fantasy football advice… Tiger trolls Thomas… And more!
Every week, injuries and other factors force us to shuffle our positional unit rankings. Once again this week, when the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Arizona Cardinals, they will do it minus several key players. You will notice right away from this list, the defense carries this team in a major way.
Here is the gallery of our Week 14 positional unit rankings.
To paraphrase Lightning McQueen, Henry Ruggs III is speed.
There may be no player in the 2020 draft class as fast as Ruggs, who ran an absurd 4.25 40-yard dash at his junior Pro Day in March. He accelerates off the ball with impressive quickness, he has insane acceleration out of his breaks and has the deep speed to outrun practically every defender in the nation on a vertical route.
The wide out is a genuine threat to beat John Ross’ 4.22 time at the Combine. His athleticism translates well after the catch, as he has good lateral quickness and the ability to make defenders miss in the open field. With a 17.6 career yards-per-reception average and 24 touchdowns in three seasons as of this writing, he is a proven deep threat with big-play potential.
Ruggs is far from just a speed receiver, though. He has shown flashes of nuance in his route tree through sinking his hips into his cuts and showing off body control when flipping his hips or making tough adjustments to the ball. He has natural ball skills and can track down balls at a high level. Ruggs is also a tough runner after the catch, showing off impressive contact balance and determination for a receiver with his frame.
Weaknesses
Though he’ll beat defenders with speed, don’t expect Ruggs to physically overwhelm anybody at the next level.
Listed at 190 pounds, Ruggs has a pretty skinny frame and doesn’t possess top-end length. He has yet to prove that he can separate from press-man coverage very well, and he is far from the most physical receiver in jump-ball situations. He could benefit from bulking up a bit and working on his hand techniques to sharpen up his releases. Though he has shown some potential in stemming his routes, he could stand to be a bit more consistent in that regard, as well.
Ruggs’ lack of top-end production isn’t a major concern, considering he’s had to fight for touches with teammates Jerry Jeudy, Devonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle and Calvin Ridley at wide receiver. Still, Ruggs never topped 1,000 yards in a single season and has never finished higher than third on his team in receiving yards. There could be a tiny bit of concern attached to selecting him as a No. 1 target in the pros.
Bottom Line
Speed kills in today’s NFL, and Ruggs has that in spades.
The dynamic playmaker is an athletic mismatch for just about any cornerback, and he has shown he has more tools in his skill set than the average speedy receiver. Even in a stacked receiver class like this one, Ruggs belongs firmly in first-round conversation.
Hodgins had a breakout season in 2019. He finished the year with 86 catches, 1,171 yards and an impressive 13 touchdowns for the in 2019. He first broke out onto the national radar last season when he caught 59 passes for 876 yards and five touchdowns. Simply put, Hodgins has gotten better with each passing year. His performance saw him named to the 2019 Biletnikoff Award watch list and to the 2019 preseason All-Pac-12 second team.
“Being a man of faith, this decision has taken a lot of prayer and trust in God,” Hodgins said in his statement. “I have fallen in love with Oregon State these past three years, and I will always cherish the relationships I have created here.”
His decision comes as no surprise, as Hodgins put up some eye popping numbers this season. Hodgins is one of the most impressive physical specimens in a class loaded with talent at the position. His 6-foot-2, 220-pound frame and impressive athleticism has piqued the interest of draft analysts and NFL teams alike. His play strength, speed and vision as a ball carrier after the catch project him as a dangerous threat at the next level.
Hodgins is a big receiver that understands how to use his length to his advantage. His continued improvement, physical tools and upside will likely make for an interesting conversation around league circles come April.
