Tag: Sports Illustrated

Florida at Tennessee among most watchable matchups in Week 7

This weekend’s clash between the Vols and Gators is one of the most watchable college football games in Week 7.

The Southeastern Conference showdown between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville is only a day away and the big game between two long-time rivals is expected to be a good one.

Sports Illustrated editor Zach Koons put together his college football watchability rankings ahead of the matchup, listing the eight games on the Week 7 slate that offer the best gridiron action. The Orange and Blue’s road tangle with the Vols came in at No. 8.

“This game slips out of honorable mention territory, not so much because of it being pleasant on the eyes but because of the state of the programs involved,” Koons begins. “Tennessee is coming off of a colossal letdown on the road against Arkansas. Florida has pieced together back-to-back wins to stave off, at least temporarily, the anticipated firing of Billy Napier.

“But the Gators could give their third-year coach his biggest defense yet against termination in Knoxville,” he continues. “The Vols may still rank in the top five in the country in total offense (fifth) and defense (second), but moving the ball in the first half against Arkansas was a struggle. If Napier and the Gators’ defense can play like it did last week against UCF, then there’s a blueprint to send this Tennessee program into panic mode.”

Koons also notes the key matchup in this SEC affair: Florida’s pass rush vs. Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava.

“The Gators’ defensive front has been inconsistent this year, but still ranks 24th in the country with 2.4 sacks per game and completely stifled the Golden Knights with five last weekend. Iamaleava, an early Heisman Trophy contender, had his worst game (17-for-29 for 158 yards and no scores) of the season against a Razorbacks defense that sacked him four times. If Florida can’t get after the Tennessee freshman, this could turn into a lopsided track meet.”

Florida at Tennessee game details

Kickoff for the Gators-Volunteers game is slated for 7 p.m. ET and the SEC action will be broadcast on ESPN.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Chargers remain steady in NFL power rankings after bye week

Find out where the Chargers stand in the national eye after Week 5

The Chargers are gearing up to endure 13 straight regular games after having last week off.

After their bye, let’s see where Los Angeles stands in NFL power rankings:

USA Today: 18 (Previous: 17)

“Don’t know how rejuvenated a battered group will be following its bye. We do know Denver has been a house of horrors for the Bolts, who have dropped 10 of 11 in the Mile High City.”

NFL: 19 (Previous: 18)

“Early bye weeks might earn groans from teams when the schedules are released, but this one seemed to fall at an opportune time for the Chargers, given all their injuries. Justin Herbert definitely needed the time off to rest his ankle. The offensive line missed both starting tackles in Week 4. The defense missed Joey Bosa. Even the special teams coverage units were down several contributors. Now the Chargers must go on the road for three of the next four games, with a tough matchup against the Saints tucked in the middle. Two straight losses after the 2-0 start isn’t likely how Jim Harbaugh imagined things going, but everything the Chargers want to accomplish remains ahead of them. This defense has far surpassed what last year’s unit did during any four-game stretch last season, and the Bolts should be a little more effective offensively with some better health.”

ESPN: 18 (Previous: 18)

Fantasy surprise: QB Justin Herbert

“Because of the running focus of coach Jim Harbaugh-led teams, Herbert having less gaudy passing stats was somewhat expected. Still, his numbers are worse than anticipated. He has thrown for 578 yards this season, his fewest in any four-game span in a season in his career. His previous low was 785 yards from Weeks 11 to 14 last season. Some of the struggles could be related to a high right ankle sprain from Week 2, but Herbert is attempting just 22.7 passes per game. Before this season, he averaged 39.1 passes per game.

CBS Sports: 20 (Previous: 20)

“They battled through a bunch of major injuries before their bye, but some of those players are expected back this week against Denver. Quarterback Justin Herbert probably needed the bye as much as anybody to help heal his injured ankle.”

Sports Illustrated: 15 (Previous: 14)

“At the bye, the Chargers are 25th in EPA per play and 22nd in rushing EPA per play. Justin Herbert is 26th in EPA and completion percentage over expectation composite. While everyone will assume this is a negative, I’m trying to illustrate how much growth there still can be from this team over the back end of its season. If the team holds up injury-wise, there is no reason to believe they won’t be in a good spot by Thanksgiving. Up until that point, L.A.’s schedule breaks more fortuitously than almost any other team in the NFL.”

Bleacher Report: 20 (Previous: 19)

“…The Chargers still have some issues—the offense struggled last week with Justin Herbert nursing a high ankle sprain. But the team’s bye week came at the perfect time for the team’s injured signal-caller. And while a healthy Chargers team may not be a serious threat to the Chiefs in the AFC West, the Chargers have at least shown the potential to be a tough out for opponents.”

Chargers continue to fall in NFL power rankings after loss to Chiefs

Find out where the Chargers stand in the national eye after Week 4

The Chargers lost to the Chiefs in Week 4, 17-10.

After coming up short, let’s see what national analysts think of Los Angeles:

USA Today: 17 (Previous: 16)

“No player wants a Week 5 bye, but the Bolts might also wind up reaping the benefits given their rampant injuries. And better rest up with only one home game between now and Nov. 10.”

NFL: 18 (Previous: 14)

“To what degree should we hold a close loss against this team? Despite not having Joey Bosa, Rashawn Slater, Joe Alt or Derwin James, and with Justin Herbert hobbled, the Chargers were in a position to seize control late against the Chiefs. As for the negatives, the Bolts were neutered offensively after the opening drive, failing to finish off their only two promising possessions of the second half by missing a long field-goal try and turning it over on downs at the Kansas City 3-yard line. Herbert struggled after a hot start. The offensive line was overwhelmed much of the day, erasing the run game. And the receivers only made a few plays of note. So L.A. still fell, even with Jesse Minter’s defense turning in a whale of a performance. The Chargers can rally from this after a well-timed Week 5 bye, but they’re noticeably lacking in big-play pop right now.”

ESPN: 18 (Previous: 15)

Biggest issue on defense: Absent stars

“The Chargers have been one of the NFL’s best defenses, allowing the fewest points per game through four weeks (12.5). Still, this defense has been without two of its best players. Outside linebacker Joey Bosa (hip) has played just 16 snaps since Week 1 and missed Week 4. The NFL suspended safety Derwin James Jr. against the Chiefs after he was flagged for unnecessary roughness for a helmet-to-helmet hit in Week 3. With these players back, the Chargers’ defense would be an even more formidable unit.”

CBS Sports: 20 (Previous: 14)

“They blew a 10-point lead in losing to the Chiefs to fall to 2-2. Justin Herbert and the passing game just don’t look crisp.”

Sports Illustrated: 14 (Previous: 15)

“Jim Harbaugh is testing the limits of his tough-guy offensive game plan strategy and, for the second straight week, J.K. Dobbins was unable to run through a defense. The Steelers and the Chiefs are not the Sun Belt and Harbaugh is gathering information as he goes. There’s no doubt this is a team that can finish the season with a winning record but the question becomes: what does it look like?”

Bleacher Report: 19 (Previous: 14)

“…Jim Harbaugh’s physical brand of football doesn’t work when injuries upend the starting lineup,” he said. “This past weekend, the Chargers didn’t have either of their starting offensive tackles. On the other side of the ball, Joey Bosa wasn’t available, either. Los Angeles battled the Kansas City Chiefs, but what became brutally obvious as the game progressed was that the Chargers don’t have the depth or overall talent to compete when obstacles are in their path. Once healthy, the Chargers will be better. But they can’t set the tone when key pieces are missing.”

Defense has Vikings in top 5 of NFL analyst’s latest power rankings

Thanks to a sweltering defense led by defensive coordinator Brian Flores, the Minnesota Vikings have entered the top 5 of new power rankings

It’s not a stretch to say not many — maybe no one — saw a 3-0 start to the season coming for the Minnesota Vikings. Many could have predicted an opening-week victory over the New York Giants. But if you had told someone that the Vikings would go on to defeat the San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans back-to-back, they likely would have laughed at you.

The Vikings’ hot start to the season has a lot to do with another unexpected aspect of the season: high-quality play from quarterback Sam Darnold. Darnold has come in and taken to head coach Kevin O’Connell’s offense quickly and, in turn, has experienced some of the most success he’s seen in his career.

How well the defense is performing shouldn’t be surprising to anyone. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores has worked wonders with this team’s defense and has them becoming the bane of offensive coordinator’s existence. While their performance may not be surprising, just how good they’re playing shouldn’t be taken for granted.

That defensive performance has the Vikings breaking into the top 5 of the latest power rankings from Sports Illustrated’s NFL analyst Conor Orr. Orr has a glowing review of Flores and what he’s doing with the 2024 Minnesota Vikings defense, saying:

What has been masterful about Brian Flores’s defensive performances to me is that, like some of the other Bill Belichick disciples who have left New England only to commit the same sins—loading up on former Patriots, paying them big money and trying to run the same defense—Flores has loaded up on former Dolphins and Patriots. However, he has taken those players and plugged them into a whirlwind defensively that is zigging while the rest of the NFL is sitting in Cover 2 and praying for no big plays (sorry gang, Andy Dalton is back and that’s not gonna happen). While it’s harder to maintain a great offense than a great defense, and at some point the referees and the league will step in to goose scoring, we need to take note of how wonderful and maddening this defense has been over the course of three games.

Two former Dolphins — edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel and linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill — were instrumental in the Vikings’ upset victory over the Texans on Saturday. Van Ginkel, the Vikings’ leading tackler on the day, was all over the field for the Vikings’ defense, making tackles at every level, including getting one sack on Texans’ quarterback C.J. Stroud.

Grugier-Hill stepped in on short notice to fill in for an injured Ivan Pace, Jr. and made several key plays for the defense. In the first quarter, Grugier-Hill came down with a huge interception after defensive tackle Harrison Phillips tipped the Stroud pass, ending Stroud’s NFL-leading consecutive passes without an interception streak.

It was a dominating performance all around, and that has been the case all season long for the Vikings, as it was to close out the season in 2023. The Vikings defense kept Minnesota in a number of games that they probably had no right being in, and kept the team in the playoff race for far longer than they should have been given the injuries and offensive struggles they experienced.

Now that the offense has at least somewhat caught up to the defense, the Vikings could be a dangerous team from now on.

Chargers fall to middle of the pack in NFL power rankings after loss to Steelers

Find out where the Chargers stand in the national eye after Week 3

The Chargers lost to the Steelers in Week 3, 20-10.

After coming up short, let’s see what national analysts think of Los Angeles:

USA Today: 16 (Previous: 14)

“Bad week for Team Harbaugh. With QB Justin Herbert and both starting offensive tackles injured and S Derwin James now suspended, can the Bolts just opt for a two-week bye rather than host K.C. – to whom they’ve lost five in a row – this Sunday?”

NFL: 14 (Previous: 7)

“When the Chargers intercepted Justin Fields midway through the third quarter, it put them in position to take control of the game, similar to how they leaned on the Raiders late in the Week 1 victory. But the Bolts went three-and-out, with Justin Herbert leaving the game due to injury, and it was all Steelers after that. They scored 10 points on their next two drives and bled out the final five minutes of clock to seal it. Los Angeles obviously can’t afford to lose Herbert for an extended period of time, so it was good news that his ankle ailment turned out to be about as positive as it probably could have been. The problem is that three other key Chargers left the game with injuries: edge menace Joey Bosa and offensive tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt. Taylor Heinicke was sacked three times in five dropbacks, which obviously isn’t a sustainable rate if he needs to step into the starting lineup for Herbert. It’s a bit of a scary time for the Chargers heading into a matchup with the Chiefs, but the early bye in Week 5 might end up being a blessing, allowing the Bolts to get their health in order.”

ESPN: 15 (Previous: 8)

Biggest issue on offense: Injuries to stars

Quarterback Justin Herbert (ankle) and offensive tackles Rashawn Slater (pectoral) and Joe Alt (MCL sprain) all left Sunday’s loss to the Steelers because of injuries. Those are perhaps the Chargers’ three most important offensive players, and without them, L.A. will have trouble running an effective offense. Herbert left in a walking boot, and receivers Joshua Palmer(elbow/calf) and DJ Chark Jr. (hip) are also nursing injuries that kept them out of Sunday’s loss. Now five Chargers offensive starters have lingering injuries heading into Week 4.

CBS Sports: 14 (Previous: 9)

“Losing Justin Herbert ended their chances against the Steelers. If he misses time with that ankle injury, they have major problems that their power offense can’t fix.”

Sports Illustrated: 15 (Previous: 12)

“I have no idea where to slot this team but it was instructive to see what happens to this iteration of a Jim Harbaugh team when they’re pushed back and unable to run the ball. Just 2.9 yards per carry for J.K. Dobbins meant that some of the buffer previously afforded to Justin Herbert evaporated. Without Herbert, this team quickly becomes extremely one-dimensional. Joe Alt was also knocked out in this one and will miss next week’s game against the Chiefs. I have a feeling that, during this eventual settling period, we will see Los Angeles find its home between Nos. 16 and 19 on this list with regularity.”

Bleacher Report: 14 (Previous: 13)

“…Jim Harbaugh has certainly put his stamp on this year’s Chargers team. While L.A. fell to 2-1 on Sunday, it continues to show that it’s going to play a tough, physical brand on both sides of the ball. It’s a formula that can make the Chargers competitive, regardless of the opponent or venue. However, injuries—which seem like a perennial issue in L.A.—are already a potential problem. Justin Herbert, Rashawn Slater, Joe Alt and Joey Bosa all left with injuries against Pittsburgh, and if any of them miss significant time, the Chargers will be in trouble.”

Chargers soar in NFL power rankings after win over Panthers

Find out where the Chargers stand in the national eye after Week 2

The Chargers came away with a win in Week 2, defeating the Panthers, 26-3.

After picking up the victory, let’s see what national analysts think of Los Angeles:

USA Today: 14 (Previous: 18)

“The schedule’s been Charmin soft yet conducive to launching redemption tours for RB J.K. Dobbins, WR Quentin Johnston and OLB Joey Bosa. The Bolts are half the equation to a .500 start from the Harbaugh brothers in 2024.”

NFL: 7 (Previous: 12)

“Among the signs that things are different under Jim Harbaugh: The team has allowed 13 points through two games and has run the ball three times for every two passes attempted. On the first part, playing the Raiders and Panthers has a little something to do with that, but there’s no question the defense is playing a different brand of ball than it has in some time. To the second point, recent iterations of the Chargers’ offense had it at an inverse pass-run ratio, often putting way too much on Justin Herbert’s plate and not taking advantage of the team’s strength on the offensive line. This squad might not be special in many ways, but it’s absolutely maximizing its strengths and minimizing its likely weaknesses. That’s been a big part of the 2-0 start. Now, with the unbeaten Steelers and Chiefs on deck, we’ll find out how good this Bolts team really is.”

ESPN: 8 (Previous: 17)

Most important backup/role player: LB Tuli Tuipulotu

“Tuipulotu had an impactful 2023 season, finishing seventh among rookies in sacks (4.5). The second-round pick is behind one of the league’s best edge rusher pairings in Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa, but both players are aging and Bosa hasn’t played an entire season since 2021. The Chargers already rotate Tuipulotu significantly; he had the third-most snaps at edge (27) in Sunday’s win over the Panthers. He ensures there’s little drop-off when Bosa or Mack aren’t on the field, and he’s essential to a defense trying to rebound from being among the worst in the NFL last season.”

CBS Sports: 9 (Previous: 11)

“At 2-0, Jim Harbaugh has this team playing a physical brand of football. They better keep it that way with a trip to face the Steelers this week.”

Sports Illustrated: 12 (Previous: 15)

“Pittsburgh and Kansas City are next, two teams that should help us answer the major question attached to this team: who are these guys? J.K. Dobbins has been the heartwarming story of this season, but so has the fact that the Chargers are carving teams up with one of the lowest run block win rates in the NFL (and, much to the chagrin of previous Chargers regimes, the best run stop win rate in the NFL).”

Bleacher Report: 13 (Previous: 19)

“…Jim Harbaugh is doing it again. The man simply knows how to coach. The Chargers are off to a 2-0 start despite a lingering foot injury to Herbert and questions about the squad’s roster makeup. Certain surprises on offense are allowing the Chargers to be explosive despite major question marks at the skill positions entering the season. Let’s not forget: The Chargers moved on from Austin Ekeler, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams this offseason. Dobbins leads the NFL in rushing with 266 yards at a staggering 9.9 yards per carry. Also, Johnston showed signs of real progress Sunday with two touchdown grabs against the Panthers.”

Where Chargers rank in NFL power rankings after win over Raiders

Find out where the Chargers stand in the national eye after Week 1

The Chargers came away with a win in the first game of the 2024 regular season, defeating the Raiders, 22-10.

After picking up the victory, let’s see what national analysts think of Los Angeles:

USA Today: 18

“Suffocating defense, relentless run game, physical fronts. HC Jim Harbaugh’s new team debuted as advertised. (And just wait until QB Justin Herbert gets to be a bigger part of the attack after passing for a meager 144 yards Sunday.)”

NFL: 12

“Ye of little faith, chiding me on social media for my unbridled belief in Jim Harbaugh and the new-blood Chargers! (Don’t worry — your chances to roast me come further down.) Get used to this kind of final score — 22-10 — because I think this is how the Chargers are going to try to (and likely have to) win games this season. The 10 part — as in the work the defense did — is a nice change of pace in Chargers country after last season, although the Raiders and their lackluster offense were part of that equation. There’s still some tidying needed in the Bolts’ secondary, and I fear the lack of weapons for Justin Herbert, but the encouraging debut of J.K. Dobbins and a hard-earned win made for a solid launching pad for the Harbaugh era.”

ESPN: 17

Best newcomer performance: RB J.K. Dobbins

“Dobbins, who signed a one-year deal with Los Angeles this offseason, broke free for two long runs (41 and 61 yards) that turned the game around for the Chargers’ stalling offense. He finished with 135 yards and one touchdown, the most yards by a Chargers RB in a season opener. Dobbins probably would have had more yards, but he was caught from behind and tackled by Raiders defenders on both big gains. Dobbins was disappointed about that postgame, saying he needed to get in shape.”

CBS Sports: 18

“Jim Harbaugh will fix this team, but it might not happen this year. They will be physical and tough to beat on a weekly basis, but watch out next season.”

Sports Illustrated: 15

“This wasn’t a flawless victory for the Chargers but it was the first step in a long process that will prolong Justin Herbert’s career and save his inner assassin for only the dire moments. Being steeped in the college game is invaluable for coaches who have an eye for allowing quarterbacks to do less and get more at the same time.”

Bleacher Report: 19

“…Now, one win over a Raiders team that looked, um, ungood in Week 1 does not fix all the issues the Chargers have. But the team has some momentum heading into next week’s trip to Carolina to face the hapless Panthers. A 2-0 record heading into a Week 3 trip to Pittsburgh would be a nice start to the Harbaugh era.”

SI offers Week 1 takeaways from Florida’s home loss to Miami

Billy Napier is not going to last much longer in Gainesville if Saturday’s performance is any indication.

Things did not go the way the Gator Nation had hoped in college football’s Week 1 as the No. 19 Miami Hurricanes blew through the Swamp with a 41-17 victory that had Florida feeling rather embarrassed.

[autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] came into his third season with the Orange and Blue on probably the hottest seat in the nation and the lackluster effort demonstrated by his squad only further fanned those flames. Sports Illustrated’s Mike McDaniel composed his takeaways from Saturday’s action and agreed strongly that the Gators head coach is sitting on a chair made of lava.

“No. 19 Miami walked into The Swamp with transfer quarterback Cam Ward and looked every bit the part of an ACC title contender. Ward threw for 385 yards and three touchdowns, as the Hurricanes rolled over Florida 41–17,” McDaniel begins.

“But as impressive as the victory was for Miami—a team that appears to be the class of an underwhelming ACC—this game signals more about the state of Florida’s program than anything else,” he continues.

“Through two seasons (and one game) of the Billy Napier era, the tenure has been nothing short of an unmitigated disaster. The Gators posted a 6–7 record in Napier’s first season, and followed that up that with a 5–7 record in 2023.”

What really seems to sting is the success seen by the regime that receded Napier, which came to a tumultuous end and kicked off three straight seasons without a winning record.

“Napier’s predecessor, [autotag]Dan Mullen[/autotag], took Florida to New Year’s Six bowl games in each of his first three seasons, but was fired at the first sign of trouble in Year 4 due to uneven recruiting, athletic department politics and an underwhelming on-field product in 2021,” McDaniel notes.

“Three years later, the Gators appear worse off for it. After an 0–1 start, Florida now must navigate one of the toughest schedules in college football to try to make a bowl game in Napier’s third season.”

But wait, it gets worse. Napier’s bloated contract might come back to bite the Gators in an age where money is everything in college football.

“As if things weren’t bleak enough in Gainesville, Napier’s buyout is $26 million, making for a tricky situation for a program that deserves better,” he concludes.

The Gators will get a chance to regroup against the Samford Bulldogs next weekend before opening the 2024 Southeastern Conference schedule the following Saturday against the Texas A&M Aggies.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Sports Illustrated’s Super Bowl pick should make Detroit fans very happy

Sports Illustrated’s Super Bowl pick should make Detroit fans very happy

The Detroit Lions have come a long way. Before Dan Campbell became head coach, the Lions had some glimmer of hope but not always a huge wave of expectations. Then, entering the 2023 season, Campbell’s Lions looked to have the talent to really start making some noise in the NFC. They won their first division title since winning the old NFC Central in 1993 and reached the NFC Championship Game before falling short of the Super Bowl.

Now, entering 2024, expectations are sky high in the Motor City. Many pundits see the Lions as the top threat to the San Francisco 49ers in the conference. And in the case of Sports Illustrated, they won’t just overtake the 49ers, they’re going to go all the way.

The long-standing magazine released their 2024 football preview and the Lions are front and center as the cover story, with quarterback Jared Goff, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and offensive tackle Penei Sewell on the cover photo.

SI’s Conor Orr and Greg Bishop also made their picks for Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans and believe Campbell and company bring the Lombardi Trophy to Detroit for the first time in franchise history. It would mark Detroit’s first NFL championship since 1957.

“I think you just get a feel for some of these teams,” Orr said in an interview with the Detroit Free Press. “You know, how complete they look, how well coached they are, but the Lions just seem to have every kind of biomarker of a successful team. I mean, they look like the most complete team in football right now.”

Hope has never been higher for the Lions than it will be for the 2024 season. Time will tell if the Lions can pull off what was once thought of as impossible.

Report: New Orleans Saints have an offer on the table for Alvin Kamara

SI’s Albert Breer reports the New Orleans Saints have an offer on the table for Alvin Kamara. Just how far apart are the two sides from cutting a deal?

Many New Orleans Saints fans have been waiting to hear these words. SI.com’s Albert Breer reported that the team has an offer for running back Alvin Kamara on the negotiating table. It’s been previously reported that the two sides aren’t close on a number, but the front office at least has made it known that they’re willing to play ball.

This comes days after Saints general manager Mickey Loomis joined Sirius XM NFL Radio and explained he was optimistic a new deal would be completed. The 29-year-old Kamara has said he wants to play for New Orleans for the rest of his career, and Loomis has expressed that the feeling is mutual. Despite seeking a new deal, Kamara has not missed any training camp practices. 

It makes sense that Kamara is seeking a new deal. He’s likely looking for more long-term security than he’ll get on his current contract, which has no guaranteed money remaining after this year. While he is signed through 2025, New Orleans could save a significant amount of money if he’s released. He doesn’t want to become a salary cap casualty.

There’s a lot of hype surrounding Kamara and the potential resurgence he could find with the Saints’ new offensive staff. Many fans are excited to see what he can do in Klint Kubiak’s system. A running back with the receiving skills of the former Tennessee Volunteer working in an offense better suited to his strengths has the NFL community anticipating a bounce-back year for Kamara. 

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]