Tag: Turnovers

Steelers’ turnovers and injuries spell disaster in Week 16 loss to Ravens

Injuries and turnovers doomed the Steelers in Week 16, as the Ravens denied them the AFC North title with a 34-17 victory.

Hearts have shattered all throughout the Steel City. With the Pittsburgh Steelers on the cusp of clinching the AFC North, the Baltimore Ravens prevented the Black and Gold from securing the divisional title in Week 16.

The Ravens soundly defeated the Steelers 34-17, with injuries and turnovers playing a huge role throughout the Week 16 contest.

Heading into the matchup, the Pittsburgh Steelers were down several key starters on both sides of the ball: WR George Pickens, SS DeShon Elliott, DT Larry Ogunjobi, and CB Donte Jackson. Black and Gold injuries continued to pile up as the team lost starting CB Joey Porter Jr. and ST/WR Ben Skowronek during the game.

As if this wasn’t bad enough, Russell Wilson’s fumble in the red zone—when he could have easily slid to avoid the big hit—and his costly pick-six all but handed the Ravens the Week 16 victory and potentially the division.

There is little time to correct their mistakes, however, as the Pittsburgh Steelers must now turn their attention to the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day in Week 17.

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Steelers fans would never guess what’s fueling defensive takeaways

The Steelers lead the NFL in turnovers is fueled by an unexpected motivator: T-shirts handed out to defenders for creating takeaways.

With athletes in today’s sports making upwards of $50 million per year, what could possibly still motivate them? It could be a mix of motivations—like building a legacy, chasing a championship, or even something as simple as… a T-shirt? You read that right. ESPN reporter Brooke Pryor wrote an intriguing article describing how the Pittsburgh Steelers defense is motivated by earning T-shirts for creating turnovers.

Pryor explained how Steelers outside linebackers coach Denzel Martin hands out T-shirts with phrases like “The Culture” and “Takeaways” printed on the front. These shirts are awarded individually to players involved in takeaways, such as OLB Preston Smith, who recovered a fumble against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 13. Smith described how the defense is going crazy over the shirts and how this simple idea has been incredibly effective in giving players extra motivation.

With the Steelers leading the NFL with 25 turnovers, perhaps the other 31 teams should try handing out clothing items. Minkah Fitzpatrick could snag his first turnover T-shirt with an interception against Jameis Winston and the Browns in Week 14.

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Baldy’s Breakdown: Bills stacking wins using NFL best turnover differential

Baldy’s Breakdown: Bills stacking wins using NFL best turnover differential

Sean McDermott’s Buffalo Bills have continuously beaten their opponents this year by winning the turnover battle, and Sunday night in Week 13 was no different.

The Bills (10-2) forced the San Francisco 49ers (5-7) to turn the ball over three times and had no turnovers of their own in the 35-10 victory.

The Bills lead the NFL in turnover differential at +17. They are second in the league for most takeaways (24) and second in the league with the fewest giveaways (7). They are also second in fumbles recovered (11).

Add all of these components together and you can get a good picture as to why the Bills are 10-2 on the year before even mentioning the team’s points scored and points allowed.

On Sunday, the Bills did what they have been doing all year: they forced their opponent to cough up the ball. Cornerback Christian Benford recovered a fumble forced by safety Taylor Rapp, Jalen Virgil recovered a fumble forced by Cole Bishop on special teams, and pass rusher Greg Rousseau recovered a Brock Purdy fumble.

“One reason the Bills have won seven in a row, and are running away with the AFC East again, is their ability to take the ball away,” said NFL Network and Fox Sports analyst Brian Baldinger in his post-game breakdown. “They are taking it away on average two times per game. You keep doing that, you keep winning.”

Their current turnover differential (+17) is much improved from the previous two years. In 2023, the Bills posted a +2 turnover differential, and in 2022 they broke even (0).

It’s not just the defense causing turnovers that is the reason for their leap over the past two years. A big reason for the improvement is the fact that the offense, and more specifically quarterback Josh Allen, is taking care of the ball.

Last year through 12 games, Allen already had 13 interceptions. This year, he has five.

The offense had zero turnovers in Week 13, and that now makes it six games out of twelve where the Bills have not given the ball away. Last year, the Bills only had three such games over the entire year.

McDermott expressed his pleasure with Allen and the offense taking care of the ball earlier this year, saying, “He’s done a tremendous, tremendous job… he really has, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the way we’ve protected the house on offense. His level of decision-making has increased this season and been very important to our team.”

Taking care of the ball always gives you a chance to win. Add on top of the league-leading turnover differential the fact that the Bills are second in the NFL in points per game, and you can see why they are one of the favorites to win the Lombardi Trophy.

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Sean Payton reveals where Broncos need to improve

Sean Payton wants the Broncos to protect the ball on offense and stop the run on defense in the second half of the season.

Halfway through the 2024 NFL season, the Denver Broncos have a winning record (5-4), but there’s plenty of room for improvement.

During his conference call with reporters earlier this week, Broncos coach Sean Payton was asked in what areas he’d like to see the team improve in the second half of the season. Payton was forthcoming with a lengthy response.

“Great question,” Payton said. “Actually at halftime this past weekend, we were right at halftime of the season I believe. I think back to one important statistic, and that deals with the running game. The consistency of us offensively rushing the football efficiently. Our continued success that we’ve had, prior to yesterday, at defending the run is going to be vital to this team winning.

“We’re minus one right now in the turnover battle. If we’re having that discussion towards the end of the season, that’s not going to be good. So that has to be something in our favor. I start with those two things off the top of my head and understanding our margin for error relative to the giveaway-takeaway ratio.

“When your program is further along and you get to a spot — we did this study the other day and it was pretty interesting — you look at the elite teams in our history, who were the best teams at surviving minus turnovers? One of the Broncos, I think the [2015] Broncos team, was one of the teams listed. Certainly the [2022] Chiefs. These teams, they won 80% of their games when they were minus in the giveaway-takeaway. So obviously, their margin for error was much different.

“I think of the rushing game, both offensively and defensively. I think certainly our return units in the kicking game with Marvin [Mims] and what we’re trying to do from a punt-return standpoint. Then us being able to defend the run. If we’re having problems defending the run, or we’re having problems and not having the ability to blow the game down and play it on our terms, I think it’s going to be challenging for us to accomplish our goals.”

Payton’s comments essentially boiled down to stop the run on defense and protect the ball on offense. The Broncos have allowed 108.7 rushing yards per game this season. That ranks ninth-best in the NFL, but they allowed Derrick Henry to rush for 106 yards last week, and he could have had more if he stayed in the game. On the turnover front, Denver has 13 giveaways (fifth-most) this season — six interceptions and seven lost fumbles.

If the Broncos are going to make the playoffs this fall, protecting the ball and shoring up the run defense will be imperative.

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Mike Tomlin impressed by Commanders’ offense ahead of Week 10 matchup

During media availability on Tuesday, Mike Tomlin spoke highly of the team’s Week 11 opponent, the Commanders, and their offensive success.

It’s safe to say the 6-2 Pittsburgh Steelers have their work cut out for them in an extremely difficult Week 10 matchup against the 7-2 Washington Commanders.

While some coaches shudder at the idea of solving the difficult puzzle that is Washington’s offensive prowess, Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin welcomes the opportunity.

Tomlin spoke during media availability on Tuesday and praised what the Steelers’ Week 10 opponents are doing right on offense.

“They lead the NFL in rushing touchdowns,” Tomlin stated. “His [Jayden Daniels’] quarterback mobility is a component of that. They’re eleven of eleven on fourth-down conversions.” He continued to highlight what the Commanders do well, including their impressive ball security, noting that the team has only turned the ball over three times, which Tomlin called “a record of some description through nine games in the NFL.”

While Tomlin seems in awe of Washington’s offensive capabilities, make no mistake—his game planning and preparation will be exactly what the Steelers need to win in Week 10.

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Broncos coach Sean Payton gives his take on team’s fumbles

“You have to know when the ride’s over,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said of wide receivers losing fumbles.

Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton was clearly upset after wide receivers Courtland Sutton and Lil’Jordan Humphrey both lost fumbles against the Carolina Panthers last week. In a radio interview, Payton went as far as suggesting the team could “find some other receivers” who won’t fumble.

After a few days to cool down, Payton was a little more cordial on Wednesday.

“L.J.’s [fumble], there’s a point at which the ride is over,” Payton said. “You have to know that. In other words, that extra two yards that you’re fighting for, I’m looking at 30 plays that I’ve got ready to call. So you have to know when the ride’s over.

“Courtland’s was a little different, catching it real close to the [goal line]. So each one can be different, but it’s just that understanding. These guys have forced fumbles at a high rate, and so that’s an important statistic as it relates to a game like this.”

Broncos quarterback Bo Nix defended both receivers this week.

“I thought both L.J. and Court, they were tough football plays,” Nix said. “They weren’t necessarily careless with the ball, those guys (on defense) made good plays. I’m not worried about those two. They’re veterans. They handled it really well this week.

“We know it’s important. We have to eliminate them and continue to win the turnover margin. When we do that, we’re successful. We just have to find ways to continue to do it. It has to be most important.”

Going up against a 5-3 Baltimore Ravens team this week, Denver’s offense can’t afford to put the ball on the ground.

“[Y]ou try to deal with it before you have that crisis moment,” Payton said of the fumbles. “Then we coach it, ‘How are you handling the ball in traffic? Not in traffic?’ Eventually, it has to become a habit. I think it’s coaching, it’s practice and it’s technique. It’s all of those things.”

The Broncos have 12 takeaways this season (tied for ninth-most) and 12 giveaways (five interceptions and seven fumbles, a league-high). The defense’s takeaways have been canceled out by the offense’s blunders, which will come back to hurt Denver against better teams.

After a point of emphasis on protecting the ball this week, Broncos receivers will undoubtedly have two hands on the ball in traffic on Sunday.

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Raiders worst in NFL in every turnover statistic after Week 7

Every one of the primary turnover statistics has the Raiders dead last. In some cases by a wide margin.

I don’t know how rare this is, but the Raiders are sitting in quite a spot in terms of turnovers. Seven weeks in, the Raiders are the worst is every turnover statistic. Some by a wide margin.

Here are the bottom five in each of the turnover stats for this season:

Interceptions:

28. Chiefs 8
28. Packers 8
28. Titans 8
31. Panthers 9
32. Raiders 10

Gardner Minshew 8
Aidan O’Connell 2

Fumbles lost:

27. Patriots 5
27. Vikings 5
27. Broncos 5
27. Saints 5
31. Cardinals 6
31. Raiders 6

Gardner Minshew 2
Zamir White 2
Ameer Abdullah 1
Dylan Laube 1

Turnovers:

26. Packers 11
26. 49ers 11
26. Cowboys 11
26. Saints 11
30. Panthers 12
30. Titans 12
32. Raiders 16

Turnover differential

28. Eagles -6
28. Cowboys -6
28. Panthers -6
31. Titans -9
32. Raiders -13

Robert Spillane 1 INT
Tre’von Moehrig 1 INT
Nate Hobbs 1 INT

To make matters worse, they have yet to recover a single forced a fumble this season. So, they’re tied for the worst in that category as well.

These stats are why their turnover differential is twice that of the teams just two spots ahead of them.

Four times this season the Raiders have turned the ball over at least three times. Sunday against the Rams they turned it over four times. The first three turned in to touchdowns. The fourth ended the game.

Raiders hit franchise futility record, lose to Rams 20-15

It may be time to stop labeling these Raiders losses as collapses.

It may be time to stop labeling these Raiders losses as collapses. Because that would suggest they had things together and lost it. But Sunday they were still in the third quarter when they had already turned the ball over three times with the Rams scoring touchdowns off of each one.

With five minutes left in the second quarter, the Raiders held a 3-0 lead. Aidan O’Connell had left with an injured thumb and it was Gardner Minshew who led them to their first score.

It was Minshew’s third drive when he threw for Brock Bowers over the middle and it was picked off at the Vegas 47. Four plays later, the Rams were in the end zone to go up 7-3.

Next drive last five plays. Minshew was sacked as he was looking to throw, fumbled the ball and it was returned by Kam Curl for a touchdown to make it a 14-3 game.

So, in a matter of four minutes time, the game went from 3-0 Raiders to 14-3 Rams.

The Raiders managed to add a field goal to make it a 14-6 game at the half. But the third quarter, we were back to the norm. From a three-and-out, to a three-play possession in which Minshew threw behind DJ Turner and was intercepted.

They set up at the Vegas 31 after the interception and drove for another touchdown. The point after was missed so the score was 20-6.

For just the second time in the game, the Raiders mounted a drive for a score, adding a field goal to make it a 20-9 game.

The Raiders got one back late in the third quarter when Robert Spillane got a hand on a ball and Nate Hobbs picked it off and returned it to the LA 14-yard line. They added a field goal to make it a 20-12 game. In other words, a one score game.

On the ensuing drive, Matt Stafford found Tyler Johnson for a 37-yard catch and run to put the Rams in scoring position, but the Raiders defense held up and kicker Josh Karty missed the 35-yard attempt. That plus his missed PAT is the only reason this game was still at one score.

Seemingly out of nowhere, the Raiders mounted a long drive. Routinely finding Brock Bowers for receptions and getting good yards up the gut from Alexander Mattison.

A Tre Tucker end around put them in first and goal at the four-yard-line. They would get no closer. A ditched pass, near interception, and no gain on a pass to Brock Bowers brought up fourth and goal. They were ready to go for it, but DJ Glaze was flagged for a false start and they opted for a field goal instead to make it a 20-15 game with 2:46 left and all of their timeouts.

A 14-yard run by Kyren Williams on the Rams next possession would take the Rams to the 44 and the clock to the two-minute warning.

From there the Rams would get nine yards on three plays, but stayed in bounds, causing the Raiders to take all three of their timeouts.

Off the punt, the Raiders got the ball back at their own 11-yard-line with 1:39 left. They would need to go 89 yards to win it.

They would get zero.

Two passes for Tre Tucker were knocked down and then Gardner Minshew overthrew DJ Turner and was intercepted for the fourth time.

That was the fourth turnover for the Raiders in the game. With the Hobbs interception, that brings their turnover differential to -13 which ties a franchise record. The worst kind.

They have also turned the ball over at least three times in three straight games and for the fourth time this season.

The Raiders fall to 2-5 on the season. The Rams improve to 2-4.

Saints broke a season-long streak against Broncos

Forcing turnovers has been the Saints defense’s saving grace, but they didn’t intercept the quarterback for the first time this year against the Broncos:

A lot of things went wrong for the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night. Spencer Rattler struggled with ball security in the face of pressure. The running game was nonexistent. Defensively, New Orleans couldn’t stop the Denver Broncos from moving up and down the field.

Bo Nix didn’t look accurate throwing the ball outside of short throws. There was a moment where he had two uncovered receivers, and threw it in between the two of them. Despite his struggles, the Saints weren’t able intercept the rookie.

Tyrann Mathieu got close once. He had an interception fall right into his hands, but he dropped it. Other than that, there weren’t many other near-interceptions. For all of the yardage the Saints give up, turnovers have been their saving grace. For the first time this year, the Saints defense didn’t walk away with an interception.

New Orleans did get one turnover on Thursday. Willie Gay forced and recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter. But by that time, the game was already out of hand. If nothing else, the turnover streak is still alive.

Purdue is the worst team in college football in one key statistic

Purdue enters Saturday’s matchup with the Wisconsin Badgers after a rocky start to the season:

This story was updated to correct a misspelling/typo.

The Purdue Boilermakers enter Saturday’s matchup with the Wisconsin Badgers after a rocky start to the season.

Ryan Walters’ team began the year with a 49-0 win over Indiana State, signaling the program could be moving in the right direction entering his second year in charge. Three straight losses then followed. The Boilermakers fell 66-7 to Notre Dame, 38-21 to Oregon State and 28-10 to Nebraska.

That leads into Saturday. Purdue is 1-3 (0-1 Big Ten) on the season and just fired its offensive coordinator. Its offense ranks No. 106 in the nation with 21.8 points per game — a slot which drops to No. 130 in the nation if Week 1 vs. Indiana State is eliminated.

Somehow, the offense hasn’t been the team’s main issue. The Boilermakers’ defense currently ranks No. 117 in the nation with 33 points allowed per game. That side of the ball is the biggest big-picture concern as it is Walters’ specialty (he was a longtime DC at Missouri and Illinois before getting the Purdue job).

There may be many reasons for the team’s struggles on defense since Walters took over to start 2023. One statistic through four games in 2024 sums it up: Purdue is the only team out of 133 in the FBS without a single turnover forced.

The Boilermakers’ overall turnover margin of -6 (four interceptions, two fumbles lost) ranks No. 127 of 133 total teams. The most startling number is under the ‘turnovers gained’ category. It is the only team in the nation with a ‘0’ in the column.

This reality is notable as the Wisconsin Badgers enter Saturday badly in need of a victory. Purdue being unable to force turnovers is significant news for a Wisconsin offense that at times has struggled to take care of the football.

Wisconsin, on the other hand, enters Saturday with a turnover margin of -1 (six lost, five gained). Week 5’s loss to USC painted a good picture of how Wisconsin’s season has gone thus far: the Badgers capitalized on several USC turnovers in the first half and led 21-10 at halftime. Then the script flipped completely, Wisconsin gave the ball away in the second half and fell 38-21.

The Badgers and Boilermakers will kick off on Saturday at noon ET, 11 a.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.

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