The John Harbaugh era got off to a rousing start last night with the New York Giants defeating the division rival Dallas Cowboys 28-20 at a raucous MetLife Stadium. (When was the last time "raucous" and "MetLife" appeared in the same sentence about a Giants game?) Let's see what the **** ysts at Pro Football Focus thought of the individual player performances.
Focusing first on the passing, Jaxson Dart's 23 of 29, 230-yard, 3 TD, 0 INT performance was given a grade of…65.8, smack in the middle of their "average" range. I'm sure fans will take Dart's highly efficient game, as evidenced by his excellent 134.2 NFL passer rating last night, every week. PFF, though, grades on degree of difficulty and taking care of the ball. Dart didn't have any interceptions, but in PFF's eyes he had two turnover-worthy plays, which they see as being just as bad. He also did not have any "big-time," throws, i.e., **** placed accurately into tight windows and especially those that go deep downfield for explosive plays. Dart only threw three **** beyond 20 yards and only completed one. To quote Seinfeld, "Not that there's anything wrong with that," but that's what PFF values. Dart did what he had to do to win the game. In the long run, he'll have to show that he can hurt opposing defenses deep on a consistent basis, but for one game the short-range passing game was just fine.
Let's look at the effect of pressure:
Dart was an amazing 19 of 22 when kept clean, including all three of his TD passes. When pressured he was 4 of 7 for 57 yards, but both of his TWPs came under pressure.
Moving on to the pass blocking:

#night

If you look at Deshaun Watson's final numbers from Cleveland's 34-10 loss to Jacksonville on Sunday, you might be able to talk yourself into some positives.
After all, Watson was 16-of-22 for 205 yards with a touchdown and an interception — good for 9.3 yards per attempt and a 97.7 passer rating.
But if you watched the game, you'd know 46 of those yards came on a garbage-time touchdown to Denzel Boston against the Jaguars' backups. You would've seen Watson fire an interception to end Cleveland's first drive, almost throw another to end the second, and then get strip-sacked on the third. You would understand that most — if not all — of Jacksonville's five sacks on Watson happened because he was dropping so far back that the offensive line couldn't form a cohesive pocket. You might've been baffled by how often he was trying to change a call at the line of scrimmage too late in the play clock.
Cleveland's first drive had gotten off to a solid start, with the team moving the ball before Watson's interception. After that, the unit was off the rails with no sense of rhythm.
But Watson said postgame that the pick didn't rattle him.

#interception

The way I'd frame the Philadelphia Eagles' Week 1 win over the Washington Commanders? I'd say it's a performance to build on.
The offense as a collective clearly needs to be better. They only managed 10 first downs on Sunday … the fewest of any team in the league so far.
Maybe Sean Mannion's group can get it going against the Tennessee ****** ans? The Eagles are entering Week 2 as seven-point road favorites, according to FanDuel.
This after the ****** ans, now coached by Robert Saleh, lost to the New York Jets by a final score of 23 to 10. Geno Smith completed 19 of 24 attempts for 215 yards and a 104 passer rating. The Jets' top two running backs combined for 142 rushing yards and one touchdown on 32 carries (4.4 average).
Until we actually see the Eagles prove they can block better, it might be hard to fully believe it. But you have to feel good about Jalen Hurts' ability to make plays for this team after watching what he did against the Commanders. You also have to like Vic Fangio's chances of being able to stifle the ****** ans' offense, which managed a mere 195 yards yesterday. That's 123 fewer yards than the Eagles managed to muster in Week 1.

#Eagles #team

AUBURN — Byrum Brown's first home game with Auburn football was already seeing an impressive performance from the quarterback. Then he caught a touchdown pass.
Brown shook a three-interception performance from Week 1 and delivered 319 yards of total offense and three scores in a 43-8 win against Southern Miss on Saturday, Sept. 12. His final touchdown saw him tumble over the goal line on fourth-and-3, after wide receiver Christian Neptune found him wide-open for a 5-yard completion.
RECAP, HIGHLIGHTS: Auburn football handles Southern Miss for blowout win
It was Brown's first reception in two seasons and the fourth reception of his career, but that's an uncommon occurrence for a passer on the Plains. The last time an Auburn quarterback caught a touchdown pass was in 2012, when Kiehl Frazier did so against Lousiana-Monroe.
Run. Pass. Catch. 🤜🫷
What can't he do?!

📺 SECNetwork pic.twitter.com/acZDjtyWQI

#auburn #first

Fans will get to see two of the better defenses in the NFL face off in Jacksonville as the Browns fly in to face the Jags in week one. It also happens to be the first game back since October of 2024 for Deshaun Watson, a player who has found immense success over the course of his career vs. the Jaguars.
First though, let's discuss this vaunted Cleveland defense. If not for their putrid offense, this might have been the best unit in the NFL last season. The Browns led the NFL by allowing just 22.6 yards per drive, ranked fourth in yards per play (4.8), and fifth in pressure rate (38.1%).
They also happened to lead the league with 117 tackles for loss on the season.
It's no secret that much of that success can be attributed to one Myles Garrett, but don't overlook who Cleveland got in return for this generation's best pass-rusher. Jared Verse knows how to rush the passer. Since 2024, Verse ranks only behind the previously mentioned Myles Garrett and the Jaguars' very own Josh Hines-Allen in pressures with 157 to his name.
In the secondary, the Browns have a familiar face at cornerback in Tyson Campbell. Following the trade, Campbell actually put together a solid season, allowing a 51% completion rate and eight PBUs. His teammate Denzel Ward also allowed a completion rate under 60%. This is a tough team to find success through the air against, allowing just 167 passing yards per game.

#season #rate

I want to start by first giving credit the owner of this site, Mike Rutherford. I promise I'm not being a brown noser as I want to give Mike credit for calling exactly how this game would go. All week he said that he imagined this game would get off to an annoying start and it would take at least the first quarter for the team to wake up. I don't like giving flowers to others, but that's exactly how the game went.
The offense sputtered on their first drive, in what really should have been an opening 3-and-out, saved by a questionable roughing the passer penalty. And Villonva had no trouble marching down the field on easy screen and dump passes.
But even after Lincoln Kienholz's back-to-back misses to Jaleel Skinner, Kienholz found him on the next drive for a sensational TD by the big guy. This was, of course, after he had scampered for his second rushing touchdown of the season.
JALEEL SKINNER TO THE 🏠 LouisvilleFB pic.twitter.com/VXrtPgmXWb
But what followed was the most frustrating and disappointing part of the game when Villanova scored 2 plays later on a 65-yard strike by Pat McQuaide. I should mention that McQuaide played a great game as he went 18/31 for 166 yards and a touchdown.

#game #first #mike #start

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may be walking directly into one of Joe Burrow's strengths when they face the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1.
Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles has long relied on pressure, with Tampa Bay blitzing on 37.7% of its defensive snaps during his tenure, the third-highest rate in the NFL, via Sports Illustrated's Joe Goodberry.
That method could be dangerous against Burrow.
"Joe Burrow dices up the blitz. He always has, but last season, Burrow completed 71.4% of his passes against the blitz at 8.3 yards per attempt and had a passer rating of 122.6 passer rating," Goodberry wrote.
Six of his eight touchdowns against extra rushers came on throws released in under 2.5 seconds.

#week

The Baltimore Ravens will begin the Jesse Minter era against an Indianapolis Colts team that scored 466 points and fielded a top-10 offense last season.
Here are five legitimate concerns entering Sunday's opener.
Taylor rushed for 1,585 yards and 18 touchdowns. Baltimore ranked 10th against the run, but its rebuilt defensive front must prove it can contain one of the league's most explosive backs.
Jovaughn Gwyn is scheduled to start at center, with rookie Vega Ioane at right guard. Their first **** ignment comes against DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart.
Jones completed 68% of his passes, averaged 8.1 yards per attempt, and produced a 100.2 passer rating. Before his injury, he operated Shane Steichen's offense with timing and confidence.

#colts #here

The Los Angeles Rams time in Melbourne, Australia was short-lived and that might be for the best as LA suffered a 27-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Night (Friday morning for others). Some might question the Rams decision to fly in the day before the game, although that did not seem to be a significant influence on the outcome in my opinion. Why did the Rams lose? Well here are 4 takeaways from Los Angeles's week one loss to their division rivals.
After picking off a Brock Purdy pass, Stafford turned the ball back over to the San Francisco 49ers on 3rd & 10 from the SF 35. Instead of taking his underneath option (Terrance Ferguson), Stafford tried to force a pass on a deep corner to Puka Nacua. The ball was underthrown; giving SF momentum and taking 3 points off the board for LA. Had the Rams kicked the field goal on 4th down, they would have had a 10-3 lead.
The other self-inflicted mistake was the turnover on downs with 3:46 left in the 3rd quarter. The Rams could not punch the ball in the endzone from 2nd, 3rd, and 4th & Goal (all within the 3 yard line). The latter being 4th & 1/2 yard. Those are simply must-have situations when down 10.
The Rams allowed 30 rushing attempts for 174 yards (5.8 yards per carry). The Rams won't beat a Kyle Shanahan offense with that type of formula. No, it wasn't because Aaron Donald was inactive. The Rams simply did not win the trenches getting pushed off the ball. Chris Shula will need to take a deep look at how to counter the 49ers usage of chips on his edge players as Myles Garrett was a non-factor in rushing the passer but also in defending the run.
The Rams offense was one of the best in 2025 because they were constantly in favorable down & distances. In this game against the 49ers, their 3rd down distances were: 5 yards, 2 yards, 6 yards, 10 yards, 13 yards, 1 yard, 2 yards, 15 yards, and 10 yards. The only true conversion was on 3rd & 2 via a Kyren Williams run. The other conversion was via defensive pass interference call late in the game.

#ball #game #pass #francisco

Miami QB Darian Mensah puts up more video game numbers in rout of Florida A&M originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Darian Mensah can almost literally do no wrong.
Miami's electric quarterback completed 14 of 15 passes for 252 yards and three touchowns -- all in the first half -- in the Hurricanes' 77-7 win over Florida A&M on Thursday night.
That's a passer rating of 300.5, only slightly higher than the 257.3 rating he posted in his season opener. He completed 27 of 30 passes for 401 yards and five touchdowns in a 45-6 win over Stanford last week.
That means through two games, the Duke transfer has completed 41 of 45 passes for 653 yards with eight touchdowns and no interceptions.

#mensah #Florida #sporting #touchdowns

As the newest member of the Minnesota Timberwolves, young swingman Jonathan ******* inga couldn't be more excited about his basketball future. After a difficult parting with the Warriors, ******* inga had some tough decisions to make this summer, but he would say it worked out for the best with a two-year, $12.4 million deal to join Anthony Edwards and his rising young team.
Thursday evening marked ******* inga's introductory press conference with the organization, where he answered all sorts of questions relating to his free-agent process and expectations for the future. Notably, he also spoke about teaming up with LaMelo Ball, someone he called his best passing teammate ever (yes, even over Curry).
"I think his ability to pass the ball, I was watching him work out yesterday and I was watching him and the way he can pass the ball, it's incredible," said ******* inga. "I've played with so many point guards in my career, but I've never played with anybody that can pass as good as LaMelo. I'm looking forward to it; I'm excited."
In ******* inga's defense, Ball is famously skilled offensively with career averages of 20.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 7.3 ******* ists, 1.4 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game on 41.8% shooting. While he often likes to get flashy with the ball, he's undeniably elite as a playmaker and passer, opening up the floor for teammates and adding a layer of flexibility to the rotation.
To claim that Ball is a better passer than Curry might sound like blasphemy, but the stats back it up. Curry averages 24.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.3 ******* ists, 1.5 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game for his career, falling short of even Ball's passing numbers. More so than LaMelo, Curry is much more of a scorer, and he's always had teammates to help him run the offense.

#lamelo #pass

Week 1 of the college football season is officially under wraps. And as always, the action that played out on Saturday will have a major impact on who is playing in the future on Sunday, as several prominent 2027 NFL Draft prospects saw their draft value rise or fall depending on their performances. Let's take a look at which notable prospects performed the best this past weekend.
Jadan Baugh is already high on many people's radar as he enters the coming year after a season that saw him accumulate 1,170 yards. And he looked like he didn't miss a beat in Florida's win over Florida Atlantic in Week 1 – he managed 160 yards and three touchdowns on just 14 carries, good for an 11.4-yard-per-carry average. He also earned a whopping 130 of those yards after contact and forced nine missed tackles.
Rutgers may have suffered one of the most embarrassing losses of the week to UMass, but Duff established himself as a premier wide receiver in the upcoming draft. He hauled in nine receptions for 196 yards and three touchdowns, averaging over 21 yards per catch on 17 targets with zero drops.
Mensah helped lead the Hurricanes to a dominant victory in Week 1, and he did so in an efficient fashion. He went 27-for-30 passing for 400 yards and five touchdowns, completing 90 percent of his passes. He was the highest-graded passer of the week according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Which 2027 NFL Draft prospects performed the best in Week 1?

#week #season

Texas A&M made quite the statement in Week 1 of the 2026 college football season, shutting out Missouri State 50-0 thanks to an elite defensive effort, limiting the Bears to a pedestrian 67 total yards, while starting quarterback Marcel Reed was highly impressive, completing 20/31 for 233 yards and 2 touchdowns
This game was simply a tune-up before the Aggies embark on their first nine-game SEC schedule, which includes a brutal road stretch in the second half of the season. However, Texas A&M will host Arizona State for an early Saturday afternoon kickoff, one day after the 25th anniversary of 9/11.
Last Saturday, Arizona State defeated Morgan State 70-7 behind former Kentucky quarterback Cutter Boley, who threw for a career-high and program-record 387 yards and 6 touchdowns, which, no matter the opponent, is extremely impressive. During his final season with the Wildcats, Boley wasn't highly regarded as a passer, but he always had the potential to improve.
While three Arizona State wide receivers recorded over 100 yards, transfer WR Omarion Miller looks like the biggest threat to the Aggie secondary after reeling in 8 receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown, looking like the Sun Devils' No. 1 receiver. Texas A&M never faced Boley during his time at Kentucky, but you can be sure Mike Elko and DC Lyle Hemphill are well aware of his breakout performance.
While Boley's improved accuracy and touch were impressive, several of his touchdown passes were off short passes or screens, while Morgan State's secondary was, well, very, very bad. Facing Texas A&M's deep cornerback and safety rotation will be his biggest challenge yet while playing inside what should be a near-sold-out Kyle Field.

#texas #saturday

It wasn't an easy day for the Oregon Ducks on Saturday, as they battled back from a 17-7 deficit to the Boise State Broncos to take the lead, only for the Broncos to respond and twice tie the game in the second half. But in the end, the Ducks mustered up a 34-27 victory, preserving a 1-0 record heading into next week.
Oregon's Week 2 opponent, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, didn't have an easy go of it either in Week 1 — but the difference is that while they fell behind early, they never found a way to come back, losing 24-10 to the Tulsa Golden Hurricane on the road. Not only are the Golden Hurricane a Group of Six team in the American Athletic Conference (AAC), but they reside in Oklahoma and are considered the "little brother" to the Cowboys and Oklahoma Sooners.
Little brother no more, as Tulsa has now beaten Oklahoma State in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 1950's.
It was a stunning result, as Oklahoma State was favored by two touchdowns coming in and had received top-25 buzz after hiring North Texas head coach Eric Morris, who brought along quarterback Drew Mestemaker (the nation's leading passer in 2025), running back Caleb Hawkins and wide receiver Wyatt Young from the Mean Green — plus 63 other transfers, overhauling a roster that won just a single game last season.
With the trio of Mestemaker, Hawkins and Young that powered college football's top scoring offense at North Texas in 2025, their Week 2 matchup against Oregon in Stillwater was cooking up to be a highly-anticipated game between two explosive offenses. But the Cowboys were anything but explosive against the Golden Hurricane, producing just 10 points and four turnovers, with Mestemaker accounting for three (two interceptions, one lost fumble) himself.

#hurricane

If Washington is going to succeed, Demond Williams needs to have a high usage rate as both a passer and runner. He is at his best when he's on the move, and the Huskies are as well. That's my primary takeaway from Washington's frustrating, but earned, season-opening Apple Cup victory.
On the one hand, Washington's performance for most of the afternoon was frustrating because it looked as lethargic as it had at times in the previous two seasons. On the other hand, if you watched other Week 1 games, there were a handful of victorious teams that looked stuck in the mud. None of which battled their in-state rival.
There's a reason Nick Saban referred to headlines as rat poison. Washington was highly regarded throughout the offseason. It kicked off the season with a shiny No. 17 next to its name and is led by a quarterback who many believe could be a Heisman Trophy finalist. Overall, the consensus is that Washington is the popular pick to be 2027's sleeper team. Those elements added to the discomfort of UW's slow start.
Though it eventually gave up a touchdown in the fourth quarter, Washington's defense was sensational. It shot itself in the foot by picking up unnecessary penalties, but overall it was dominant. Defensive backs Jeron Jones and Alex McLaughlin both logged interceptions while Isaiah Ward forced a fumble, then recovered it. Washington would've had four takeaways, but Rylon Dillard-Allen picked up a questionable targeting penalty after thumping Wazzu quarterback Caden Pinnick.
Speaking of penalties, UW must be better in that area, without question. Washington racked up 130 penalty yards to Wazzu's 50. Washington had 12 fewer penalty yards than Pinnick had passing.

#washington #frustrating #season #quarterback

Patrick Surtain II spoke with reporters at the Broncos' facility this week about the version of Patrick Mahomes that Denver will meet at Arrowhead Stadium on Sept. 14, two days short of nine months after the Chiefs quarterback had surgery on his left knee.
Mahomes tore the ACL and LCL in that knee on Dec. 14 against the Chargers, taken down from behind on a scramble, and had surgery two days later in Dallas with Dr. Dan Cooper. He was initially told the recovery would run nine months. He has not missed a practice since being cleared for football work in July, and for the first time in his career he did not appear in a preseason game.
Feb 4, 2023; Paradise, NV, USA; AFC conterback Patrick Surtain II of the Denver Broncos (2) during Pro Bowl Games practice at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
"It's really tough to tell 'cause coming off an injury like that, it's pretty tough, but I don't expect nothing less for him to be himself," Surtain said. "I mean, obviously they might change the scheme up for him a little bit, not allow him to run as much, but like you said, to be more of a pocket passer, which he's good at, so, it's still Patrick Mahomes at the end of the day, so, we still gotta prepare and study for him like the years past, so, we'll be ready."
Mahomes carried 64 times for 422 yards in 14 games last season, and the play that ended his year came on a scramble outside the pocket. Andy Reid has not said publicly how much of that usage he intends to keep, and Surtain named the likely adjustment before Kansas City described one.

#patrick #Broncos #denver

With seven days to go before the Green Bay Packers take on the Minnesota Vikings in the 2026 regular season opener at U.S. Bank Stadium, here are seven things for Packers fans to know about Kevin O'Connell's team entering 2026:
Unlike last season, the Packers won't be facing J.J. McCarthy or Max Brosmer in the season opener. The Vikings are turning a new page at quarterback, starting former No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray to open the 2026 season. Murray is 0-2 as a starter in his career against the Packers. At his best, Murray is a playmaker at quarterback who can extend plays or create explosive gains with his legs. But Murray hasn't led a team to a winning record as a starter since 2021, and his career passer rating is 92.2. Last season, Murray played in only five games, and he hasn't appeared in a regular season game since Oct. 5 of 2025. Can he provide a higher baseline of play at quarterback in Minnesota, and is he more than just another stopgap?
Kevin O'Connell on Kyler Murray: "I think he's demonstrated what he's capable of, both the experience he has playing at a high level in this league, but also his experience now of coming in here being challenged. And I think he's shown enough to really project with the right prerequisite now of work for a starter leading into a camp that we can get the rhythm, the timing, we can get the mastery of our system and this year's system, regardless of what we've done in previous years, what we're going to look like, how we're going to play. There's different things and nuances that we're going to fit to what our players, Kyler included, do the best. And in my opinion, he's got the skill set and the abilities, not only just from a standpoint of accuracy, but his ability to affect the game with his athleticism."
A bit of a surprise before Week 1: Harrison Smith is coming out of retirement to re-join the Vikings for a 15th NFL season. A versatile veteran who knows Brian Flores' system inside and out, Smith provides an experienced veteran who can get everyone on the same page pre-snap and play from multiple alignments post-snap. While he wasn't in Minnesota for training camp, it's likely Smith will be ready to contribute right away in Week 1. The Packers will have to wait another year to face the post-Smith Vikings.
The Vikings traded away top pass-rusher Jonathan Greenard, leaving a hole on the edge of Brian Flores' defense. He was a menacing rusher who made the Pro Bowl in 2024, but Greenard dealt with lingering injuries in 2025 and is now playing for the Eagles. Who will take over his role? Dallas Turner, a 2024 first-round pick, is now expected to be the go-to pass-rusher in Minnesota. Expect to see plenty of battles between Turner and 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan next Sunday. Last season, Turner produced 8.0 sacks and 15 quarterback hits. Is he ready for a breakout season in Year 3? Andrew Van Ginkel is another productive player on the edge, and the Vikings also added veteran Kyle Van Noy to t

The North Texas Mean Green were ransacked by the transfer portal harder than almost any other college football program. After losing head coach Eric Morris to Oklahoma State, North Texas lost nearly the entirety of its production from a 12-2 team, including the nation's leading passer Drew Mestemaker and rushing touchdowns leader Caleb Hawkins.
Head coach Neal Brown, formerly of Troy and West Virginia, was tasked with reassembling a roster in Denton, TX. North Texas was one of two FBS teams returning zero starters, and instead, it brought 70 newcomers in attempt to recapture the magic of 2025.
However, the newcomer laden roster faced the ultimate test out of the gate. North Texas' first challenge was a road matchup at Indiana, immediately after the Hoosiers their 2025 National Championship banner. Indiana hadn't lost a game since 2024, and the Hoosiers' FBS-best 16-game win streak extended to 17 against the Mean Green. The reigning champions left no question in a 52-16 domination in Bloomington, IN.
Indiana made efficient work of North Texas, scoring seven touchdowns and notching one field goal on nine total possessions. TCU transfer quarterback Josh Hoover, called upon to replace Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, collected more touchdowns (4) than incompletions (3) in a 13-of-16, 231-yard passing performance. Wide receiver Charlie Becker recorded a team-high 64 receiving yards and two touchowns in the Hoosiers' third-straight season opener win under Curt Cignetti.
North Texas also debuted a transfer quarterback, bringing UCF transfer Tayven Jackson to campus this offseason. But before spending 2025 as UCF's primary starter, Jackson played two seasons at Indiana and logged six starts. Saturday marked a homecoming for the Greenwood, IN native, who registered 192 passing yards on a 22-of-28 showing. Jackson briefly exited the game with a lower-body injury, causing East Carolina transfer Chaston Ditta to take over, but he ultimately returned and finished the day for the Mean Green.

#north #texas #indiana

Once again, Nick Caserio made another under the radar, savvy move to bolder the roster.
Chris Braswell was a five-star recruit out of high school but had to wait his turn behind a star-star-studed Alabama roster. Braswell replaced Will Anderson Jr. at Alabama as the Jack linebacker in their 3-4 front and didn't disappoint. His impressive eight sacks and 10 tackles for loss were second on the team behind Dallas Turner who went 17th overall to the Vikings in 2024.
He was a redshirt junior when he entered the draft after only one year of true production at Alabama. The NFL Stock Exchange podcast had him rated as the fourth and sixth defensive end in the 2024 class. They noted "how raw of a player" he was and that he is built exceptionally well, but lacked a "pass rush plan" and could only rush with power. A 'toolsy" prospect with an Alabama pedigree, NFL stars have been made of much worse material.
Peering back into my own draft ****** ysis from 2o24, I noted that his pass rush ability was "simple" rather than nuanced. It didn't shine off the tape like his counterpart Turner did. I thought he set the edge well, was asked to contain, but wasn't the money-maker on defense. He would go on to be selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round.
The limitations mentioned came true. His lack of a plan and limited bag of tricks made him easy to predict in the pass rush. At 6'3", 250 pounds, he's a thick and powerful edge but never earned a start in two seasons with Tampa Bay. A lack of production immediately soured his relationship with the coaching staff. It's not as though the Bucs were great at rushing the passer either, Yaya Diaby led the team with seven sacks. His ineffectiveness lead to the team selecting Ruben Bain in the first round of this year's draft.

#alabama #made #star

The Chicago Bears have received plenty of hype and praise for their offensive unit coming into the 2026 season, the third year for quarterback Caleb Williams and his second being paired with head coach Ben Johnson.
The team showed their focus on youth investment this offseason when they traded veteran DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills, handing the keys to the offense to Rome Odunze, Luther Burden, and tight end Colston Loveland. Those three pieces, along with their rising quarterback and veteran running back D'Andre Swift are all grouped as the core to Chicago's success in 2026, and there are some who believe that the Bears offense could make history.
Recently, CBS Sports released their bold predictions for the 2026 season, and they believe that Chicago has the makings to set a new standard for offense, with a 4,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard rusher, and three 1,000-yard receivers.

#Chicago #season #quarterback #believe

There's few things more excruciating for a fantasy football manager than watching one of your players waste away on a bad offense. Whether it's poor play-calling, offensive line play or an incompetent quarterback, even the best receivers and running backs can struggle to break through because of their circumstances.
We've already identified the teams to avoid in fantasy for that reason, and now it's the flip side of that coin. Here are five teams worth targeting in 2026 fantasy football drafts, as they could produce enough offensive fireworks to have several players worth rostering.
The Chargers brought in OC Mike McDaniel to revitalize their offense after he did wonders with Tua Tagovailoa in Miami. Tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt are now healthy as well, so it's full speed ahead for Justin Herbert, running back Omarion Hampton and receivers Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston. I'm targeting Johnston late in all my drafts, as he's the Chargers' undisputed deep threat with Herbert one of the NFL's best deep passers. Johnston is a steal at his current ADP.
Dallas has the NFL's most fearsome wide receiver duo in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, plus a surgically accurate quarterback in Dak Prescott. Javonte Williams is also coming off a career year as the team's lead running back, and his powerful style should continue to be a perfect complement to the high-flying pass game. All four players are worth targeting, but tight end Jake Ferguson is a fade at his current ADP as his game is touchdown-reliant and lacks the verticality of, say, Isaiah Likely or Juwan Johnson.
Ben Johnson has a case to be the NFL's brightest offensive mind, so it's wise to load up on Bears in drafts. D'Andre Swift is a perfect RB2 if you go WR heavy early. Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III have a big chance to outplay their ADP if Caleb Williams can take the leap many are expecting. And as for the tight end skyrocketing up draft boards, Colston Loveland has a chance for a Travis Kelce-type season if he can stay healthy and build off the momentum he had late last season.

#johnston

Progress isn't linear for NFL players. Some enter the league as stars. Many more need time to develop after jumping from the college ranks to test themselves against some of the world's best athletes.
That makes it difficult to tell which talented players are ready to break out and which will leave vast reserves of potential untapped. But every team has at least one candidate ready to take things to the next level and establish themselves. For some, that will be a rookie or two who can handle the leap to playing on Sundays. Others will see veterans emerge from depth roles into surefire starting positions. And some starters will rise to Pro Bowl or All-Pro levels, serving as a foundation for a Super Bowl contender.
Who fits that bill for every team in the NFL? Let's break it down, running through the list in alphabetical order.
Jeremiyah Love is the obvious answer, but Arizona's running back depth may prevent him from having the same kind of impact he had at Notre Dame. The Cardinals' passing defense, however, ranked just 26th in expected points added (EPA) allowed in 2025.
Burke wasn't part of the problem; he worked his way into the starting lineup and recorded a 78.4 passer rating allowed in coverage. If he can showcase steady growth after an overlooked rookie campaign, he could wind up with Pro Bowl hype.

#team #rookie #depth #starting

Colorado QB depth chart: Can Julian Lewis, Zach Wilson's brother end post-Shedeur struggles? originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
When Colorado won nine games in 2024, its most in a season since 2016 and its first bowl-game appearance since 2020, it wasn't just because of two-way star Travis Hunter. Elite quarterback play guided the Buffaloes' offense.
While Shedeur Sanders' NFL career has been rocky thus far, he was undoubtedly one of the best passers in the country throughout his final season in Boulder, completing 74% of his passes for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns. Since then, however, Deion Sanders hasn't found stability at the quarterback position.
Colorado won just four games in 2025 as starting quarterback Kaidon Salter threw seven interceptions. With Salter now gone, however, Sanders has some intriguing passers around for 2026, led by a former top recruit.
Here's a look at Colorado's new quarterback room entering the 2026 season.

#Colorado #since #season #games

NFL QB pressure index 2026: Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert among QBs with most to prove originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Being an NFL quarterback means constant pressure to succeed.
Every game, from Week 1 onward, will be used as data by fans to measure how good a passer and their team is. With a few bad outings, injury issues, or a failure to live up to high expectations, in the blink of an eye, a starter may become a backup — there are only 32 QB1 spots to go around.
A case can be made that every NFL quarterback has some kind of pressure to succeed in the 2026 season. Even Sam Darnold, fresh off a Super Bowl victory, may be out to prove his 2025 was no fluke. But some quarterbacks have more riding on the upcoming season than others.
Here's a ranking of the nine quarterbacks facing the most pressure to succeed in 2026.

#sporting

Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love believes he will be allowed to be more aggressive throwing the ball this season.
SOURCE: Rob Demovsky - ESPN.com
Why it Matters: The Packers have been a run-heavy offense throughout Love's tenure, but with Josh Jacobs' future with the team uncertain, this could be the year the offense opens up a bit. Love remains a QB2 for now, but he has the weapons to put up bigger numbers if given a chance to spread his wings as a passer.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Packers QB Jordan Love hoping to throw more

#love #jordan #offense

It's finally a game week for the defending ACC champion Duke Blue Devils, who open their season against the reigning American Conference champions, Tulane. After seven months of offseason tweaks and offensive retooling, here's how each offensive coordinator arrived at this moment and what to expect from each attack in Week 1.
Jonathan Brewer, Duke
Brewer came over with head coach Manny Diaz in December of 2023 and previously served under him as a senior offensive quality control coach from 2020-2021 at Miami. Last year under Brewer was historic for the Blue Devil offense as the unit set the program record for touchdowns scored (63), points scored (484), and pass efficiency (152.53). The group was the first in school history to have a 3,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard receiver, and 1,000-yard rusher.
The obvious hurdle Brewer and this offense will have to overcome is the churn at quarterback. Darian Mensah was one of the best QB's in all of college football a season ago, which was a massive part of Duke's success offensively.
This season, the Blue Devils will trot out San Jose State transfer Walker Eget, who has some huge shoes to fill but has a great deal of experience as a Division I starter. Brewer has been known to do great work with QB's throughout his career, so it's certainly possible that Eget will come out firing on all cylinders versus Tulane.

#brewer

A mom of five was convicted last week of delinquency of a minor. Her offense: allowing her 5-year-old son to walk about a half-mile by himself in their gated community.
Until very recently, Karyann Parkinson lived in leafy Williamsburg, Virginia. She and her husband, Dallin, moved there from Utah so Parkinson could attend William and Mary Law School.
In June, when Parkinson was preparing for the bar—and also happened to be eight months pregnant with her fifth child—she and her then-youngest, Sam, went for a bike ride, as they often do. They stopped for her son's favorite activity: collecting goose feathers from the path near their community pond. When they got home, he asked if he could walk back and get some more.
Parkinson said yes. It's a short walk, along a sidewalk separated from the street by 10 feet of grass. Sam would have to cross two streets with crosswalks, which she'd seen him do safely hundreds of times—including six times that morning, she says. Off he went while she made lunch.
A passerby saw Sam and alerted security. One of the community's security guards escorted the boy back and gave Parkinson an earful. Pretty soon there were three cop cars, just as many cops, a security vehicle, and two Child Protective Services (CPS) workers at Parkinson's door.

#went #until #karyann

For the first time since last year's regional semifinal, Satellite and Merritt Island volleyball squared off with the two teams now in different classes.
The Mustangs, coming off two defeats in Clearwater, bounced back against red-hot Satellite with a four-set win on Sept. 1 winning 25-19, 9-25, 25-17, 25-19.
"Definitely happy with the way we came out, especially not having one of our outsides. That was difficult, but I knew the team would step up and not be rattled by it," Merritt Island head coach Angie Patrick said. "The second set, I just don't know. I knew we just needed to get out of the set and we would recover and be OK. I'm proud of the way we finished. Satellite played amazing so it was a really good match."
After controlling the first set, the second set completely fell apart for Merritt Island scoring a season-low 9 points. The Mustangs were able to regroup and find another gear to bring home the victory.
"Reece (Loggins) is so consistent. She's like our safety blanket. Amazing passer and just had a couple bad passes and the rest of the team just really didn't respond to help her out," Patrick said. "It was one error after the next. We were like that's totally not us. We're going to press the reset ***** on and we're going to turn the switch on. That's what we did."

#island

Fantasy Football draft season is in full swing. Those with teams are perusing rosters and stats to see what players are worth selecting. The quarterback position creates a great divide. Many believe it pays to wait because there won't be that big of a difference over the course of a season. Those who have selected Josh Allen in recent years would beg to disagree. What quarterbacks are worth a pick and when? And for leagues that go with a team quarterback, will look at the overall picture.
Jacoby Brissett and his QB room is worthy of a mid-to-late round pick. The Cardinals have a wealth of receivers, starting with Michael Wilson and TE Trey McBride. Those two alone will catch a ton of footballs and should find the end zone.
Lord, no. Hard pass.
So, Lamar Jackson is going to be more of a pocket passer? Does that mean the days of his 1,000-yard rushing seasons are finito? If so, he goes from a high pick to a mid-rounder. The question is whether Jackson can keep his mind on throwing the football and not take off.
Josh Allen is a must pick even at age 30. He can deliver points with his arm and legs.

#Football

Tennessee football legend Peyton Manning awarded four UT freshmen with the latest installment of his namesake scholarship and he was on campus to honor the recipients on Aug. 31.
Hector Centeno-Lopez, Breanna Gonzalez, Olamide Olakunle and Mikayla Schumpert, the 2026 Peyton Manning Scholars, earned their four-year award and a spot in the selective Haslam Leadership Scholarship program through a rigorous selection process that sought "academically successful incoming Vols who exemplify service, leadership and integrity," UT said in a school release.
"The growth of this program remains a point of pride for me," Manning said. "This is just the beginning of the positive mark these students will leave on their community and this university. I hope they will leave UT with the same passion for this special place that I have."
Manning is still the most prolific passer in UT football history, having thrown for 11,201 yards over four seasons from 1994-97. The first overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, Manning won a Super Bowl with both the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.
He endowed the scholarship when he graduated from UT in 1998 and it has been awarded to 69 students in the 29 years since. This year's four Manning Scholars all have diverse academic and career interests but are bonded by a "desire to lead and leave UT better than they found it," according to UT.

#manning #scholars