Tag: winning

5 keys to Packers beating Cardinals in Week 6

Five keys to the Packers beating the Cardinals at Lambeau Field in Week 6.

The Green Bay Packers (3-2) will host the up and down Arizona Cardinals (2-3) on Sunday at Lambeau Field.

The Cardinals lost one-score games to the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions. They blew out the Los Angeles Rams but got blown out by the Washington Commanders. Last week, the Cardinals fell behind 23-10 at halftime but then scored 14 straight points in the second half to stun the San Francisco 49ers on the road.

The Packers are about to host a team capable of great stretches but also one that is struggling to find consistency through the first five weeks.

Here are five keys to the Packers beating the Cardinals in Week 6:

Force Kyler to play from pocket

Kyler Murray has been one of the best quarterbacks in football when playing off-schedule this season. Of his seven touchdown passes, six have come when he’s held the ball for 2.5 seconds or more. Small but athletic, Murray is terrific at escaping the pocket, buying time and throwing the ball on the run. The Packers must force Murray to be a more traditional quarterback and play primarily from the pocket. Rushing contain to condense the pocket may not be as disruptive, but it will prevent opportunities for Murray to create explosive plays off schedule. When the ball comes out in under 2.5 seconds, Murray is averaging only 5.4 yards per attempt.

Dominate the line of scrimmage on offense

The Cardinals are one of the worst pass-rushing teams in football entering Week 6, with an overall pressure rate of 25.7 percent ranking second-worst in the NFL, per Next Gen Stats. Arizona is also giving up 4.6 yards per rush and almost 150 rushing yards per game. This is an opportunity for the Packers offensive to impose their will. Establishing the run early and protecting Jordan Love on run action passing attempts will be vital. Sunday could be one of Love’s most comfortable games in the pocket, opening up the possibility of the high efficiency game the Packers have been seeking in the passing game.

Rally and tackle

The Packers must tackle far more effectively than the 49ers last week. Cardinals running back James Conner forced 10 total missed tackles, and the 49ers finished with 15 total misses. Conner has been especially menacing with the ball in his hands — he’s forced 19 misses in the run game and eight more as a receiver. Tackling hasn’t been a big issue for the Packers this season, but Conner will test their ability to rally to the ball and finish plays. Throw in the running ability of Kyler Murray, and the Packers must tackle well on Sunday to limit the Cardinals offense.

Get into manageable third downs

The Packers converted only one third down last week, mostly because the offense was consistently facing third-and-long. The goal this week must be to stay on schedule. That means avoiding penalties and negative plays on first and second downs. The Cardinals rank 30th in third down defense, so it’s possible for the Packers to create long, sustained drives if third downs are manageable. The Commanders went 9-for-12 on third downs against the Cardinals in Week 4 because they ran the ball effectively on early downs and could then sting Arizona’s defense with play-action looks.

Follow the formula

The Packers do two things consistently so far in 2024: create explosive plays and generate takeaways. Both are hugely important to winning football games. Can the Packers create scoring opportunities with big gains, both in the pass and run game? And will the defense create the chaos required to turn the ball over, particularly in the passing game? Last week, the Packers turned the game completely around with a pair of takeaways and Tucker Kraft’s 66-yard touchdown catch. Even when things aren’t going perfectly, the Packers get on track with an explosive play or takeaway.

5 keys to Packers beating Rams in Week 5

Five keys to the Packers beating the Rams in Los Angeles in Week 5.

The Green Bay Packers (2-2) are headed back on the road to play the struggling Los Angeles Rams (1-3) on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.

Matt LaFleur’s team will attempt to bounce back from last week’s disappointing defeat to the Minnesota Vikings and beat an NFC opponent for the first time this season (0-2).

The Rams are a big comeback win over the 49ers away from a winless start. Through four weeks, Sean McVay’s team has a point differential of -40, which ranks second worst in the NFC and fourth worst overall. And the Rams just lost on the road to the Chicago Bears.

Still, the combination of McVay and Matthew Stafford make the Rams dangerous every week.

Here are five keys to the Packers beating the Rams in Week 5:

Contain Rams pass rush

The Rams no longer have future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald, but the defensive front is still a formidable one. First-round pick Jared Verse looks like a future star, Byron Young had over 50 pressures as an edge rusher last season and both Kobie Turner and rookie Braden Fiske are flashing disruptive ability from the interior. Verse is the top threat. As Matt LaFleur said Thursday, he’s big, athletic and relentless. Left tackle Rasheed Walker will have his hands full, but the rest of the Packers offensive line — one of the best in the NFL so far at protecting the passer — must also be good on Sunday. Jordan Love and the Packers weapons in the passing game will have opportunities to pick apart a shaky secondary if the quarterback is protected.

Bottle up Kyren

The Rams are still settling in along the offensive line after injuries and unexpected absences decimated the unit to start the 2024 season. While struggling overall to protect the passer, the Rams have been able to run the ball at times this season. Kyren Williams has a rushing success rate of almost 54 percent, an NFL-high five rushing touchdowns and 20 runs gaining first downs, which ranks third. The Rams are third overall in run-block win rate at ESPN. The Packers are better down-to-down against the run this season, but Saquon Barkley, Jonathan Taylor and Aaron Jones all rushed for 90 or more yards against Jeff Hafley’s group through four weeks.

Time to power up the pass rush

No excuses this week for the Packers pass-rush. The Rams offensive line, while improving as players return, has struggled to protect the quarterback this season, and Matthew Stafford is no threat to tuck the ball and escape the pocket. While the Packers aren’t expected to have Devonte Wyatt available, and Kenny Clark is still dealing with a lingering toe injury, this is an opportunity for the four-man pass-rush to get back on track. Stafford has been under pressure on roughly 35 percent of his dropbacks in 2024, and the veteran quarterback has really struggled from disrupted pockets (47.2 completion percentage, four turnover-worthy plays, per PFF). Even without his top receiving weapons, Stafford is an efficient and dangerous passer if he’s protected. Pressure is a must on Sunday.

Going deep

This ties into protecting the quarterback, but the Packers could feast in the deep passing game on Sunday. According to Next Gen Stats, the Rams have allowed the most touchdown passes and the highest EPA per play on passes thrown over 20 yards in the air this season. Cornerbacks Tre’Davious White and Quentin Lake have a combined depth of target average of almost 14 yards against their coverage, highlighting how often teams are willing to attack in the intermediate to deep areas against the Rams. Jordan Love is not afraid to hunt big plays down the field. Even without Christian Watson this week, the Packers — who lead the NFL in explosive plays — could do damage in the downfield passing game on Sunday.

Win situationally

The Rams rank in the bottom half of the NFL on third down and in the red zone on both offense and defense. Two stick out: the Rams are allowing 50 percent conversions on third down as a defense, which ranks 30th. And the Rams have scored touchdowns on just seven of 17 trips inside the red zone, ranking 29th at 41.2 percent. Can the Packers extend drives on third down and keep the Rams out of the end zone in the scoring area? This might also be a chance for the Packers to get right in the red zone — the Rams have allowed nine touchdowns on 15 chances this season. Exerting dominance situationally is one pathway for the Packers to get out of Los Angeles with a win.

5 keys to Packers beating Vikings in Week 4

Five keys to the Packers beating the undefeated Vikings at Lambeau Field in Week 4.

The Green Bay Packers will attempt to do what hasn’t been done to start the 2024 season: beat the Minnesota Vikings. Kevin O’Connell’s team is 3-0 to open the year, with big wins over the San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans. Now, the Packers — who have won back-to-back games with a backup quarterback under center — will welcome the Vikings to Lambeau Field for the first NFC North matchup of the season.

The Vikings have been dynamic on offense and disruptive on defense.

Can Matt LaFleur’s team crack the Norse code on Sunday?

Here are five keys to the Packers beating the Vikings in Week 4:

Interior pressure on Darnold

The Vikings have two excellent offensive tackles in Christian Darrisaw on the left side and Brian O’Neil on the right side. The question marks for the Vikings offensive line are on the inside, particularly at center and right guard. Garrett Bradbury and Ed Ingram have allowed 20 combined pressures in three games. Can Devonte Wyatt, Kenny Clark and the rest of the Packers interior rushers take advantage? Don’t be surprised if the Packers send A-gap blitzes and use stunts inside to stress the interior blockers in obvious passing situations. The Packers must consistently disrupt Darnold and collapse the interior of the pocket to keep the Vikings passing game in check.

Jaire vs. J.J.

The biggest matchup of the game. Jaire Alexander could and likely will shadow Justin Jefferson, arguably the best receiver in football. Can Alexander keep Jefferson from taking over the game in big spots? The Vikings passing game is diverse, and Darnold has done a nice job distributing the football to a variety of targets, so Jefferson isn’t the only threat. But he’s the biggest one by far, and Alexander — who struggled with A.J. Brown in the opener but who is also coming off his best game of the season last week — must play at an All-Pro level. The Packers can’t let Jefferson beat them.

Beating the blitz

(Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

This matters regardless of who is playing quarterback for the Packers. Brian Flores is blitzing at a top five percentage once again this season, and it’s possible no defensive coordinator throws a wider range of blitzes at an offense than the Vikings. If Malik Willis starts, Flores will want to speed up his decision-making from the pocket. If Jordan Love starts, Flores will want to test his movement in the pocket. Expect to see blitzes from Harrison Smith, Josh Metellus, Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace from the second level, so Matt LaFleur must have pre-snap answers available to his quarterbacks. Also, this will be a big spot for Josh Jacobs and Emanuel Wilson, who will likely be asked to pick up all the various blitzes coming from the Vikings on Sunday.

Run game test

The Packers have used a complex run game to help Malik Willis stay on schedule and unlock big-play opportunities during the last two weeks. Can the Packers stay productive on the ground against one of the NFL’s best run defenses to start 2024? Sunday could go sideways in a hurry if the Packers can’t run on early downs and get stuck in obvious passing situations against Brian Flores. Once again, it shouldn’t matter who is playing quarterback. The Packers need a diverse run game that utilizes misdirection to attack an aggressive defensive front and avoid tricky third-and-long scenarios.

Explosive plays, turnovers

The Packers’ winning formula is fairly simple: Create explosive plays on offense and generate turnovers on defense. It’s a winning blueprint for Sunday, too. The Packers offense hasn’t been great down to down, but the sheer number of explosive plays — Green Bay leads the NFL through three weeks — have provided more than enough scoring opportunities. The explosive plays in the run game have been consistent, and more could be expected (or available) in the passing game if Jordan Love returns Sunday. Defensively, turning pressure into takeaways will be key. Forcing Sam Darnold into a bad decision or two could provide the difference in the game. Darnold has been excellent under pressure this season, but no quarterback can consistently avoid turnovers in disrupted pockets.

Samaje Perine says Chiefs ‘do a lot of winning’ during locker room interview

Samaje Perine told the media that the #Chiefs “do a lot of winning” during a recent locker room interview.

After the preseason, the Kansas City Chiefs acquired running back Samaje Perine to shore up the depth in their backfield.

A seasoned veteran, Perine gained 693 yards on 53 carries and 50 receptions during his time with the Denver Broncos last season and could be a boon for Kansas City’s offense if he can replicate his 2023 performance this year.

Perine was interviewed in the locker room on Monday and shared details about the process of signing with the club and how he feels joining the reigning Super Bowl champions.

Sports Radio 810 WHB shared this video of his comments in a post to Twitter:

https://twitter.com/SportsRadio810/status/1830672454647181506

Though he is expected to suit up for the Chiefs in their Week 1 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, it remains unclear how much of a role Perine will play in Andy Reid’s offense.

Stay tuned to see if he gets any carries during his debut in Kansas City.

 

5 keys to Packers beating Raiders in Week 5

Five keys to the Packers beating the Raiders on Monday Night Football in Week 5.

The Green Bay Packers will attempt to go into the bye week at 3-2 when they take on the struggling Las Vegas Raiders (1-3) on Monday night at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Can the Packers bounce back on offense, contain the Raiders’ star power and leave Sin City with a big primetime win?

Here are the five biggest keys to beating the Raiders in Week 5:

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce knows he’s underpaid, but maintains preference for winning

In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, #Chiefs TE Travis Kelce provided insight into the internal debate that is being paid your worth and winning in the NFL.

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Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce has consistently produced as one of the league’s best pass-catchers, yet his salary has never really reflected it. Yes, he’s been paid atop his position group, but Kelce’s average per year doesn’t even reach half of what the top receivers in the NFL now make annually.

In a recent feature from Vanity Fair’s Tom Kludt, Kelce peeled back the curtains on the internal debate that often plays out regarding his pay.

“My managers and agents love to tell me how underpaid I am,” Kelce told Kludt. “Any time I talk about wanting more money, they’re just like, ‘Why don’t you go to the Chiefs and ask them?’”

Kelce has previously indicated that he intends to play his entire career in Kansas City. We also now know that he wants to keep playing in the NFL “until the wheels fall off.” He’s helped the team out financially, restructuring his deal at times to help with salary cap space, and receiving an advance on pay in return.

The 33-year-old remains grounded knowing that he’s in a great situation and playing for a winning team, yet everywhere he turns, there seems to be a reminder that he could be and probably should be earning more.

“When I saw Tyreek (Hill) go and get 30 (million) a year, in the back of my head, I was like, man, that’s two to three times what I’m making right now,” Kelce said. “I’m like, the free market looks like fun until you go somewhere and you don’t win. I love winning. I love the situation I’m in.”

Despite his love for winning, Kelce can’t help but feel at times that he’s being taken advantage of — perhaps not by the team but by the greater system in play in the NFL. It’s like the debates centered around the franchise tag and players who play the OLB and DE positions. When your value is attached to a specific position designation, is it truly fair when you consistently exceed the norm for that position?

“You see how much more money you could be making and, yeah, it hits you in the gut a little bit,” Kelce said. “It makes you think you’re being taken advantage of.”

Upsetting the system could spell trouble for Kelce. Maybe he gets what he believes his play and production are worth, but perhaps it comes at the cost of playing in Kansas City and for a winning team.

Right now, his priorities are clear. He loves what he does and where he’s doing it.

“I don’t know if I really pressed the gas if I would get what I’m quote-unquote worth,” Kelce said. “But I know I enjoy coming to that building every single day.”

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The top 10 winningest active college football coaches

These coaches have the most wins of any college football coach still on the sidelines today.

Everyone sees the fame and money that comes with being a college football head coach, but nobody sees the countless hours and dedication that goes into it. From building the right staff around you, recruiting the right players, and then actually winning the games it is much easier said than done. Even with all of the work, there is no promise that you will build a winning program or have a successful career.

In a profession that is filled with constant turnover and new hires, very few coaches can ever achieve that level of winning, let alone sustain it. This is what makes all of the guys who have made this list so impressive is that they’ve never dropped the intensity and never settled for mediocrity. The SEC is as strong as it has ever been in terms of coaching, and in 2023, there will be two new faces.

Below are the 10 college football coaches with the most active wins.

No. 11 Notre Dame outlasts North Carolina: 5 Instant Takeaways

It never seems to be as easy as you’d like for Notre Dame but it’s another win and 7-1 on the year. What is your biggest takeaway from Saturday’s win?

Notre Dame’s offense seemed to have taken a step over their last two games entering Saturday’s date with North Carolina, as it again rolled to a 44-point scoring output in a 44-34 victory.

The win, highlighted by Kyren Williams heroics on one of the best runs you’ll see, moved Notre Dame to 7-1 on the year as they enter November likely ranked in the nation’s top-10 and a likely favorite in all of their remaining four games.

Here are five instant takeaways from Notre Dame’s 44-34 win over the Tar Heels:

How the Atlanta Braves won the NL pennant for the first time in 22 years

No one thought they’d be here … but they’re the last team standing in the National League. Here’s how the Atlanta Braves got to their first World Series in 22 years.

No one thought they’d be here … but they’re the last team standing in the National League. Here’s how the Atlanta Braves got to their first World Series in 22 years.