Lamar Jackson and Baltimore Ravens Tremendous Bowl dream on the point of collapse – is there time for a comeback?

Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens are teetering on the sting of their season being over, Aaron Rodgers is ready to face the Inexperienced Bay Packers for the primary time since his exit and Tyler Warren is feasting as considered one of soccer’s most fun tight ends. We sit up for NFL Sunday…

Editor’s observe…

We’re in last-chance saloon territory.

The clocks return this weekend, that means an earlier kickoff time of 5pm within the UK for Saturday’s first slate of video games. How John Harbaugh and the Ravens would love to show again time and begin this season yet again.

Baltimore picked the worst time to break down. The powers above picked the cruellest of moments by which to strike Lamar Jackson and far of the Ravens offense down with harm. Derrick Henry picked an unlucky second by which to unveil that he’s, the truth is, human, and Zach Orr has been handed the nastiest of conditions by which to show his long-term defensive coordinator credentials.

Ask many, together with this author, and the Ravens had entered the season as a powerful favorite to mount a Tremendous Bowl cost. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs had seemingly been stripped of invincibility by method a dismantling by the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles at Tremendous Bowl LIX, a dynasty cycle deemed to be at its finish as Andy Reid’s facet dropped their first two video games of the marketing campaign amid an almighty battle to maneuver the ball as one of many extra painful-to-watch, non-factor offenses within the league.

It will barge open a ‘lastly their time’ door for Jackson’s Ravens and reigning MVP Josh Allen’s Buffalo Payments. The Chiefs have ruled the AFC as winner in 5 of seven Convention Championship video games since 2018; a altering of the guard felt inevitable. Not fairly.

The Ravens enter Sunday’s recreation in opposition to a momentum-building Chicago Bears 1-5 and staring on the prospect of a wasted 12 months. Jackson returned to the apply discipline, albeit on a restricted foundation, for the primary time since September 28 on Wednesday having missed the final two defeats with a hamstring harm, with Cooper Rush struggling in his place at quarterback. There had been the hope he would return in time for Week Eight following his crew’s bye, although his standing stays unconfirmed.

Baltimore are 4-12 when lacking Jackson since he turned starter. The offense has managed only a mixed 33 factors within the three video games he hasn’t each began and completed this 12 months. Orr’s injury-shredded protection, which has been lacking the likes of defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike and linebacker Roquan Smith, in the meantime ranks third worst within the league in complete factors allowed and worst in scoring.

Their stoop has arrived throughout a wide-open playoff race by which no crew seems prepared to guide from the entrance; even Allen’s Payments have dropped two straight video games in opposition to the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons having been ominously dominant throughout a 4-0 begin, whereas Joe Burrow’s harm might depart the Cincinnati Bengals taking part in too-little-too-late catchup, as was the case final season.

The exception, after all, is the Indianapolis Colts because the 6-1 story of the season behind a reborn Daniel Jones and MVP-challenging Jonathan Taylor. In distinction to others, Shane Steichen’s facet picked a reasonably useful time to stun soccer.

With Baltimore’s issues and Burrow’s absence in Cincinnati has additionally come alternative for Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers to take management of the AFC North.

And guess who determined to get up once more? That man Mahomes and people Chiefs, who’re trending upwards by means of a reignited offense and a quarterback decided to remind the league he stays the perfect participant in his place. I imply, Mahomes faked a pretend snap and fooled each participant on the sector besides Rashee Rice with a no-look cross in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders final Sunday, having out-classed the Detroit Lions per week prior; 15 is feeling himself once more.

You (our one reader) could keep in mind just a few weeks in the past we welcomed a dose of chippy pettiness throughout the league, be it AJ Brown’s complaints or Micah Parsons lamenting Jerry Jones ghosting him. The disagreement continued this week as Russell Wilson and Sean Payton took intention at each other, Jets proprietor Woody Johnson pinned the blame for his crew’s newest embarrassing marketing campaign on quarterback Justin Fields and hot-seat Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel underlined his hope to ‘not throw 10 interceptions’ whereas asserting under-fire Tua Tagovailoa would begin once more on Sunday; speak about a coach who is aware of his time is coming to an finish.

Elsewhere this weekend, Sky Sports activities NFL shall be represented in Lawrence, Kansas as a part of a particular faculty soccer expertise gearing as much as subsequent September’s historic recreation between Kansas and Arizona State at Wembley Stadium. Hold an eye fixed out for an perception into our journey as soccer continues to develop across the globe.

Enjoyable reality, the son of Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, Tate Nagy, is at the moment a freshman large receiver and kick returner for Kansas.

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Benedict’s Stats nook

Sky Sports activities statistician – and Buffalo Payments fan – Benedict Bermange breaks down a few of the key stats heading into Sunday…

• DeAndre Hopkins wants seven receptions to turn out to be the second-youngest participant in NFL historical past to achieve 1,000 receptions, solely behind Larry Fitzgerald
• Mark Andrews wants 74 receiving yards to cross Derrick Mason’s complete of 6,092 receiving yards and turn out to be the all-time franchise chief for the Ravens
• Along with his subsequent recreation with each a speeding and passing landing, Josh Allen would turn out to be the all-time chief with 46 such video games, breaking his tie with Cam Newton
• If the Steelers beat the Packers, Aaron Rodgers would be part of Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Tom Brady as the one Quarterbacks to win in opposition to 32 totally different NFL groups as a beginning quarterback
• Caleb Williams has solely been sacked 1.83 instances per recreation in 2025 after taking 4.00 per recreation in 2024, the third-largest lower by any participant from one season to the following within the final 20 years
• Christian McCaffrey wants 18 receiving yards to turn out to be simply the fifth participant in NFL historical past with a minimum of 5,000 speeding and 5,000 receiving yards, following Marshall Faulk, Lenny Moore, Marcus Allen and Tiki Barber

What to look out for on Sunday

Chicago Bears @ Baltimore Ravens – KO 5pm, Sky Sports activities NFL

“The Bears don’t completely suck for the first time in forever, not COMPLETELY,” stated a girl beside me on a connecting flight from Chicago to Kansas Metropolis. Honest level. The wedding between Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson has been brewing properly in latest weeks throughout a four-game profitable streak, the previous No 1 decide knocking off the No 2 decide of his class in Jayden Daniels having been trumped by his counterpart in the course of the respective rookie unveilings. Inside Chicago’s success has been the position of operating again D’Andre Swift, who has 233 speeding yards and a landing alongside 81 receiving yards and a rating in two video games for the reason that Week 5 bye. Each younger quarterback wants a complementary run recreation.

Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith is poised to return from harm to face his former crew as a key to spring Swift. However all eyes stay on Baltimore’s scenario below middle as they await information on Jackson’s availability in opposition to a crew main the NFL with 16 takeaways, together with a minimum of three in every of the final 4 video games. Cooper Rush has tossed 4 picks within the final two outings; the Ravens can not afford to harm themselves at this stage, with the playoffs swiftly getting away from them.

San Francisco 49ers @ Houston Texans – KO 5pm, Sky Sports activities+

Care to take a fast scan on the leaders in receiving yards this season and you could end up double-taking on the title in No 8 – Christian McCaffrey. The 49ers operating again is as much as 516 receiving yards and 465 speeding yards this season in his comeback from lacking 13 video games final 12 months. He’s on the right track for a second season of 1,000 speeding and 1,000 receiving yards, having achieved the feat in 2019 with the Carolina Panthers. He additionally leads the NFL in scrimmage yards, having performed so throughout each the 2019 and 2023 campaigns.

Whereas Houston proceed to boast one of the potent defenses in soccer, CJ Stroud finds himself on the middle of a stuttering assault sitting eleventh worst in complete yards and Twelfth-worst in scoring. Head coach DeMeco Ryans insisted this week he didn’t plan to make a change at offensive coordinator, however time could possibly be operating out for Nick Caley, marred by a porous offensive line that had at all times regarded a significant concern coming into the 12 months.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints – KO 8pm, Sky Sports activities+ (stream)

It looms as an fascinating week for an in any other case uninteresting season so far as narrative-inspectors are involved in the case of the New Orleans Saints. The NFL commerce deadline is approaching on November 4, and whereas Alvin Kamara has evidently made need to remain put clear, large receivers Rashid Shaheed and Chris Olave have emerged as potential commerce choices for playoff contenders in search of reinforcements on the skin. Kellen Moore at all times had his work lower out for him in quarterback purgatory in New Orleans; dropping two of his star weapons will not assist. With that stated, the small-volume spectacular-privvy deep menace of Shaheed on a contender is kind of the tantalising thought. He’s a wonderful throwback.

An MVP-contending Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield this week stated he ‘hates’ the Saints whereas suggesting they didn’t play ‘clear’ soccer. Mayfield has been sacked eight instances and thrown seven interceptions in 5 video games in opposition to New Orleans, who lead the head-to-head collection 40-27 whereas profitable simply one of many final six conferences between the groups.

Dallas Cowboys @ Denver Broncos – KO 8.25pm, Sky Sports activities NFL & Half Fundamental Occasion

For all of the scrutiny Jerry Jones faces for his wheeling and dealing at instances, he and Brian Schottenheimer have seemingly discovered a solution to final season’s debilitating run recreation woes within the type of Javonte Williams, who returns to Denver for the primary time since his offseason departure. Williams enters the week second within the NFL with 592 speeding yards with a tied-third-most six speeding touchdowns. He options as a part of a firing Cowboys offense ranked first in complete yards behind Dak Prescott, second in passing yards, and a receiving trio of George Pickens, CeeDee Lamb and Jake Ferguson. Dallas, although, have misplaced seven straight to Denver since 1998.

Bo Nix and his Broncos offense have some rights to flawed having required 33-point fourth-quarter heroics and a missed additional level from Jude MacTamney to overturn a 19-0 deficit and scrape previous Jaxson Dart’s Giants final weekend. It got here per week on from submitting to Jets mediocrity to outlive an upset in opposition to a New York Jets crew that completed had led 11-10 in a efficiency that resulted in them posting -10 web passing yards.

Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis Colts – KO 8.25pm, Sky Sports activities+

Titans quarterback Cam Ward is about to come across one of many harder acid checks of his psychological processing and discipline prognosis that he’ll face throughout his rookie marketing campaign within the NFL. On Sunday he meets Mad Scientist Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who has weaponised security duo Nick Cross and Cam Bynum as characteristic cogs to his disguised coverages and simulated pressures amid his unit’s ascent as one of many stingiest scoring defenses within the league. Cross underlined his rise in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers final week with a shocking one-handed finish zone interception, resisting temptation to chunk on the nook route and swivelling his hopes completely to leap the route of Quinton Johnston on the crosser.

However, after all, the story of the season for the Colts is a high-flying offense, by which rookie tight finish Tyler Warren has turn out to be a defining cog to Shane Steichen’s finely-balanced assault as a pass-catching menace, highly effective yards-after-catch chain-mover and completed blocker who has performed nearly each position on offense.

Inexperienced Bay Packers @ Pittsburgh Steelers – KO 12.20am Monday morning, Sky Sports activities NFL & Fundamental Occasion

By now, and for so long as soccer has recognized Aaron Rodgers, it is not too exhausting to think about the ironic ‘that is the way you wish to play it?’ nod and smile because the Inexperienced Bay Packers drafted his successor Jordan Love within the first spherical of the 2020 NFL Draft. The four-time MVP quarterback did not count on it, and nor did we, as Love’s arrival in the end spelled the start of the top for Rodgers at Lambeau Subject.

After two turbulent years as a part of a devastatingly flawed New York Jets experiment, flashes of Rodgers magic have resurfaced sporadically over the primary half of his maiden marketing campaign with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now the 41-year-old will get his first shot at taking down Inexperienced Bay, who proceed to hop between the looks of a juggernaut contender and an untrustworthy image of inconsistency since blowing away the Detroit Lions in Week One. It is going to be Rodgers’ first recreation in opposition to his outdated crew after spending 18 years with Inexperienced Bay, the place he stated this week he’ll return to retire when the day comes.

Information across the league

• Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson returned to apply on Wednesday for the primary time since September 28
• Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has been dominated out of Monday’s recreation in opposition to the Chiefs attributable to a hamstring pressure, with Marcus Mariota primed to start out
• The Raiders have advised star edge rusher Maxx Crosby he will not be traded forward of the league deadline on November 4, with Crosby additionally reportedly not all in favour of a commerce
• Defensive finish Brandon Graham is finalising a deal to return out of retirement and re-sign with the Eagles
• The Titans granted Tyler Lockett his request to be launched, leaving the veteran large receiver free to signal with one other crew
• The Giants lower Irish kicker Jude McAtamney after his essential additional level misses in Sunday’s 33-32 defeat to the Broncos
• Buccaneers large receiver Mike Evans is ready to overlook many of the the rest of the season after struggling a damaged clavicle
• The NFL have moved the 2026 Professional Bowl Video games to Tremendous Bowl LX within the Bay Space

Who stated what?

Broncos HC Sean Payton on going through Giants QB Jaxson Dart as an alternative of recently-benched Russell Wilson: “I was talking to John Mara not too long ago and I said, ‘We were hoping that change would’ve happened long after our game.”

Wilson’s response: “Classless… but not surprised… Didn’t realise you’re still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the media.”

Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb on the Dallas offense: “This one is the best one I’ve been on, and I’ve been on some great ones. It’s just the way that we can move around these pieces, these players, and everybody everywhere. We can line up faster than any. It’s tough.”

Jets proprietor Woody Johnson blames QB Justin Fields, not HC Aaron Glenn, for crew’s struggles: “It looks like he (Glenn) is turning around parts of it. You know, it’s hard when you have a quarterback with a rating that we’ve got. He has ability, but something is just not jiving. But if you look at any head coach with a quarterback like that, you’re going to see similar results across the league. You have to play consistently at that position, and that’s what we’re going to try to do.”

Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel on QB Tua Tagovailoa: As Tua and I’ve at all times operated, I believe there’s zero uncertainty with Tua on my conviction in him and my perception in him. I believe we’re each very, very desperate to be higher at our jobs, and we’re each very dedicated and trusting in one another to reply to what’s needed for the crew to do higher.”

Important Studying

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NFL 2025 professional predictions: Who will win the Tremendous Bowl?

Because the 2025 NFL season will get below method, the Sky Sports activities NFL crew make their picks – from their MVP favourites to their Tremendous Bowl matchups…

Watch the 2025 NFL season reside on Sky Sports activities, together with each London and European recreation in addition to each minute of the playoffs and Tremendous Bowl LX; Get Sky Sports activities or stream with no contract on NOW.