The NFL has a brand new famous person quarterback, Fred Warner continues to be particular for the San Francisco 49ers, Joe Flacco is again and Christmas is right here for UK followers – it is Week 4 awards time!
Story of the day…
It may be the toughest and most defining job in soccer. Pinpointing your potential franchise quarterback and tailoring a system by which he’s teed up for fulfillment. The job safety of common managers and head coaches hinges on it, so too the instant way forward for a complete organisation.
The Carolina Panthers are as soon as extra observing quarterback purgatory after benching 2023 No 1 choose Bryce Younger, the New York Giants paid Daniel Jones with out him ever trying near the league’s elite, the Cleveland Browns gave Deshaun Watson the worst contract in NFL historical past and the Las Vegas Raiders are ready for his or her subsequent 10-year stalwart. Get it flawed, and you may be set again for years. Get it proper, everyone can breathe that little bit simpler.
The Washington Commanders have been looking for their reply at quarterback for one of the best a part of seven years for the reason that days of Kirk Cousins. From Alex Smith to Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke to Sam Howell, it has been a mix of bridge quarterbacks and ageing veterans amid years of uncertainty surrounding the crew’s route. That may be about to finish.
Jayden Daniels fortified his runaway case for Offensive Rookie of the Yr on Sunday as he spearheaded Washington to a 42-14 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. The No 2 total choose accomplished 26 of 30 passes for 233 yards, a landing and an interception, in addition to dashing for 47 yards and a rating from eight carries.
In doing so he has now accomplished 82.1 per cent of his passes throughout the primary 4 video games, surpassing Tom Brady (79.2 per cent) as a brand new NFL file for a quarterback in his first 4 profession begins.
It isn’t simply the arm expertise and the aesthetics you’re looking at in a rookie quarterback, however the psychological analysis of what a protection is exhibiting him and the benefit at which he anticipates an image unfolding. The velocity at which Daniels sees the sphere has emerged as one among his biggest belongings within the early weeks of the season, coupled with the notice to stay and slide within the pocket whereas maintaining his imaginative and prescient downfield as he goes via his progressions.
Attacking the center of the sphere often comes when the coaching wheels are taken off for any younger quarterback, however Daniels is splitting site visitors and permitting route ideas to develop whereas trusting his footwork and talent to throw off steadiness within the pocket.
When the stress does come, already he has demonstrated the conviction in his decision-making to take off on the bottom and keep away from sacks with out later relying too closely on his dashing menace on the expense of open targets. By the fourth quarter on Sunday he was purring, standing tall to unleash a perfectly-timed laser to Terry McLaurin in-keeping along with his receiver’s route break for a 10-yard landing behind the tip zone, earlier than letting rip with flawless anticipation earlier than Zach Ertz had even emerged from behind his masking defender for a profitable two-point conversion.
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Saquon or Van de Ven? Saquon Barkley goes on an unbelievable 59-yard run to arrange a landing for Philadelphia in opposition to Tampa Bay
Proof of his deep-ball contact and accuracy had arrived every week earlier on his beautiful back-shoulder fade to McLaurin for a 27-yard landing. Even earlier than then he had taken the highest off Cincinnati’s secondary with a 55-yard back-shoulder heave to McLaurin to tee up his personal four-yard dashing rating; he’s making each throw requested of him, with unwavering confidence.
Sunday was poignant for multiple purpose, Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury dismantling the Cardinals having served as head coach in Arizona from 2019 to 2022. Criticism of Kingsbury through the latter phases of his time within the desert had been a scarcity of evolution on offense because the season progressed, however for now he has put in some long-awaited oomph to a previously-stagnant Washington assault. In Daniels, he has a possible game-changer for the organisation.
Star Baker of the day
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Highlights of the Philadelphia Eagles in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The brand new sequence of The Nice British Bake Off started final week, so I do not need to hear criticism – we’re rolling with our award for Star Baker.
There was a heat reception for Tom Brady at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday because the seven-time Tremendous Bowl champion took to the published sales space, but it surely was a day that belonged to Baker Mayfield as he steered the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 33-16 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
In a chapter of Geno Smith, Jared Goff and Sam Darnold comeback tales, Mayfield’s profession resurrection has been as admirable as any after being so unfairly ousted in Cleveland. He carved open an Eagles protection that reverted to a state of disarray, finishing 30 of 47 passes for 347 yards and two touchdowns alongside a dashing rating. He torched Vic Fangio’s mushy zone protection all afternoon, delivering fast and decisive throws within the face of a nonetheless non-existent cross rush.
The ‘he is again, however by no means left’ of the day
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Highlights of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers
Was there ever a Travis Kelce downside? Nope. However is a 34-year-old tight finish slowing down a notch to be anticipated? After all. And is without doubt one of the NFL’s perennial rage-inciting chain-moving thorns warranting extra double protection to be anticipated? Duh.
The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs have by no means been involved in regards to the early season manufacturing of Travis Kelce; by now, his marketing campaign really will get stepping into January. And whereas the back-to-back champions are nonetheless successful video games, they may not care much less that their Corridor of Fame-bound stalwart is not seeing the ball a lot.
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Through the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, quarterback Patrick Mahomes collided with large receiver Rashee Rice, who’s suspected to have torn his ACL
Kelce had entered Sunday with simply eight catches from 12 targets for 69 yards via the opening three weeks, Patrick Mahomes amongst these to leap to the defence of his team-mate. He posted a season-best seven catches for 89 yards because the Chiefs floor out a 17-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, the significance of which being heightened by the serious-looking damage sustained by main receiver Rashee Rice.
No person is in tune to Mahomes and his improv side-quests greater than Kelce, neither is anyone trusted in trusted in site visitors over the center of the sphere greater than Kelce. He’s simply starting to get going inside a Chiefs offense nonetheless but to supply a whole efficiency. And but they’re 4-0.
The ‘previous is gold’ of the day
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Highlights of the Pittsburgh Steelers in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts
What 12 months are we in? The Joe Flacco comeback path lives on! A 12 months on from his staggering end to the season with the Cleveland Browns, Flacco re-entered the fold on Sunday as he changed the injured Anthony Richardson earlier than main the Indianapolis Colts to a 27-24 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The 39-year-old made an instantaneous contribution with a four-yard landing cross to Josh Downs simply moments after coming onto the sphere, earlier than ending 16 of 26 for 168 yards and two scores. He was then knowledgeable Richardson had admitted Flacco was ‘cooler than he thought’.
“His mom is eight days older than I am, so there’s no chance in the world he thinks I’m cool,” Flacco joked after the sport.
Elsewhere in Baltimore, Kyle Van Noy was the butt of the previous jokes after the 33-year-old recorded two sacks for the third straight sport to assist the Ravens in the direction of a 35-10 victory over the Buffalo Payments. The veteran linebacker is enjoying like a person possessed, Baltimore reaping the glowing rewards of his transition from protection linebacker to outright cross rusher late in his profession.
Midnight considered the day
Fred Warner continues to do absurd issues on a soccer subject. Already the NFL’s most proficient inside linebacker, the San Francisco 49ers man bolstered his early declare for Defensive Participant of the Yr as he turned a leaping interception right into a pick-six landing throughout a 30-13 win over the New England Patriots.
Warner now has two interceptions, a sack and three compelled fumbles throughout the opening 4 video games of the season, his positioning in protection, intelligence to diagnose play designs and talent to learn a quarterback’s eyes the perfect within the league. He’s the embodiment of linebacker versatility, from the ferocity with which he punches operating lanes to the agility in protection and scheme-wrecking information of route ideas. He makes protection enjoyable.
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Highlights of the New England Patriots in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers
Monday morning espresso considered the day
The NFL London video games are again! Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets fly over to face Sam Darnold’s shock package deal Minnesota Vikings at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this weekend within the first of three UK regular-season match-ups being staged throughout October.
Week Six then sees Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears meet Trevor Lawrence’s winless Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham, stay on Sky Sports activities NFL, earlier than the latter tackle the New England Patriots at Wembley Stadium on October 20 in Week Seven.
Weaved inside that comes a singular fourth London sport because the NFL Academy welcome Californian-based De La Salle to the Tuesday evening lights of Tottenham on October 8.
Christmas is right here for UK NFL followers!
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Younghoe Koo strikes a 58-yard subject objective, his longest kick in his NFL profession, to win the sport for the Atlanta Falcons in opposition to the New Orleans Saints
The ‘wet day in New York’… of the day
Chances are you’ll not see an uglier sport all season. Torrential New Jersey rain and one for the defensive purists on the market.
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix threw for simply 60 yards as Sean Payton’s facet beat Aaron Rodgers’ New York Jets 10-9, marking the fewest in a win for the franchise since 1983 and the fewest by a quarterback throughout a win (minimal 20 cross makes an attempt) since 2007, per ESPN stats. What’s extra, the rookie quarterback was minus-seven in passing yards heading into half-time.
Courtland Sutton made three catches for 60 yards, with six different receivers combining for zero yards from 9 catches between them.
Celebration of the day
That honour goes to Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole, who celebrated a 54-yard magnificence to the Cleveland Browns’ five-yard line by doing his finest ‘Neil Reynolds strolling into the fitness center’ impression.
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The Sky Sports activities NFL crew have a ‘growling’ competitors in response to Las Vegas Raiders’ punter AJ Cole celebration in opposition to the Cleveland Browns.
Weird stat of the day
Packers operating again Josh Jacobs now owns the NFL file for many profession catches with out scoring a receiving landing, his 204 receptions overtaking the 37-year file beforehand held by Gerald Riggs.
Week 5 begins on Thursday when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers face the Atlanta Falcons from 1.15am, stay on Sky Sports activities NFL within the early hours of Friday; Additionally stream with NOW.
Sky Sports activities+ has formally launched and shall be built-in into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports activities app – giving Sky Sports activities clients entry to over 50 per cent extra stay sport this 12 months at no additional value. Stream The brand new EFL season, Take a look at cricket and extra prime sport with NOW.
