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Denver and Washington are both sitting at 0-4, but unlike other winless squads around the NFL, neither seems to have a clear plan for how to turn things around. Plus: Nick Chubb has the Browns offense back on track and Chase Daniel is … good?
Welcome to the Starting 11. This NFL season, we’ll be rallying the biggest story lines, spotlighting the standout musicians, and featuring the most jaw-dropping undertakings of the week. Let’s dive in.
1. Denver and Washington both precipitated to 0-4 on Sunday, and their seasons are slipping away. Where do these two storied but rudderless dealerships get from here? Let’s start in Denver, where the team’s launched veterans seem to be losing patience. On his way out of the cupboard chamber following the Broncos’ 26 -2 4 loss to Jacksonville on Sunday, cornerback Chris Harris Jr. shrugged off reporters and made it clear that he’s already eyeing the end of Denver’s dysfunctional season. “I ain’t saying nothing, ” Harris Jr. said, according to The Denver Post. “Thirteen more weeks for me.” The four-time Pro Bowl corner will be a free agent at the end of this season, so his escape mean should be fairly simple. But others in the organization won’t have it quite so easy.
4. Chase Daniel’s action against Minnesota raises the question of whether the Bears offense is actually better off with the veteran backup under middle. After Mitchell Trubisky went down with a shoulder gash in the first quarter of Sunday’s game, Daniel participated and went 22 -of-3 0 for 195 grounds and a touchdown in the Bears’ win. And while those multitudes may not seem eye-popping, the offense generally extended smoother with him at the limits. With the acces Chicago’s defense is currently playing, the Bears don’t need stellar gambling from their quarterback to emerge as a probable contender in the NFC. An pique that dines up era, generally moves the bonds, and doesn’t prepare back-breaking misconceptions might be enough to get Chicago back to the playoffs–and Daniel demonstrated he’s capable of doing all those things. During Matt Nagy’s tenure as the Bears’ play-caller and ability tutor, Chicago’s scheme has regularly caused adequate segregation for its receivers simply to see inaccurate throws sabotage the game plan. Daniel may not have the physical skills and capacity that Trubisky possess, but he does have the ability to process quickly, get the ball to the correct receiver, and identify and tweak particular calls and protections. If Trubisky misses provided time with his injured shoulder, it’s probable that Chicago’s offense could actually improve over what we’ve seen so far this season.
. @ChaseDaniel stumbles Javon Wims on the deep throw! #MINvsCHI @Javon_Juice: CBS: NFL app // Yahoo Play appWatch free on portable: https :// t.co/ lm0vvtP8ei pic.twitter.com/ U7PTHtCqsg
— NFL (@ NFL) September 29, 2019
5. Four sports in, Lions cornerback Justin Coleman looks like one of the best free-agent discoveries of the offseason. The former Seahawks slot cornerback indicated a four-year, $36 million deal( with $17.9 million guaranteed) with the Lions in March, and he’s been excellent so far this season. Coleman was all over the field in Detroit’s 34 -3 0 loss to the Chiefs on Sunday. On a third-and-goal from Detroit’s 5-yard line early in the second quarter, Coleman lined up across from Sammy Watkins on the right side of the formation. Anticipating man coverage near the goal line, Kansas City flowed a series of crossing routes designed to create traffic and pick Coleman off as Watkins weaved across the formation. But instead of getting clipped by another receiver, Coleman steered through the bodies and managed to knock away the pass and power a Kansas City field goal. By the end of the game, Coleman added another pass breakup in the end zone and a beautiful pressured fumble that would have established Peanut Tillman proud. The Lions likely waken up this morning feeling like they let one slip away against one of very best units in the tournament, but Detroit inspects poised to compete in the NFC all season. And bringing in a quality addition like Coleman is a big reason why.
Justin Coleman saves the touchdown with the( via @thecheckdown) pic.twitter.com/ NrxMSqnAeM
— B/ R Gridiron (@ brgridiron) September 29, 2019
6. By holding the Patriots to 16 items, the Bills had their own moral win of sorts on Sunday–and this justification looks like it’ll hinder Buffalo in abundance of plays. Inconsistent play from Josh Allen and a late interception by Matt Barkley eventually expenditure the Bills Sunday against New England, but Buffalo’s front four assured video games along the line of scrimmage, and the secondary was more than able to hold up their resolve of the bargain. Micah Hyde’s end zone interception in the second quarter was a perfect example of what becomes this unit so efficient. With the Patriots facing a third-and-goal from the 2-yard line late in the second quarter, New England motioned into a trips bunch set on the right. Even though the street combination was designed to exploit man coverage, the Bills deftly prevented trail of all three receivers on that side of the field and forced Tom Brady to extend the play by moving to his right out of the pocket. Rather than stick with wide receiver Jakobi Meyers near the pylon, Hyde read Brady’s gazes, fell off his receiver, and made an acrobatic leaping interception in the end zone. That combining of resonate naming football and smart-alecky risk-taking is what huge justifications are made of.
PICKED! @micah_hyde read it and gets the goal line interception. #NEvsBUF #GoBills: CBS: NFL app // Yahoo Sport appWatch free on portable: https :// t.co/ lm0vvtP8ei pic.twitter.com/ 3iYuMOEJQX
— NFL (@ NFL) September 29, 2019
7. The Browns rebounded back in a big way in their 40 -2 5 win over the Ravens on Sunday, and they did it by tilt on Nick Chubb. On a team with huge identities like Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jr ., it’s easy to forget just how talented Chubb is. He finished with 165 gardens on 20 carries on Sunday, and seemed to rip off a solid income every time he got the ball. Chubb is one of only nine backs to handle at least 70 percent of his team’s offensive snaps so far this season, and he’s determined the most of that workload. There are few–if any–backs in the league who marry Chubb’s width with his ability to create home run romps. On his game-clinching, 88 -yard touchdown drain against Baltimore, Chubb made a acceleration of 21.95 miles per hour–the top list any ball carrier has hit this season. Chubb weighs 227 pounds. That is absolutely terrifying.
8. Luke Kuechly may be the star of the Panthers defense, but on Sunday, fellow linebacker Shaq Thompson was Carolina’s best advocate. Thompson finished the team’s 16 -1 0 win over the Texans with 12 attacks and was a consistent force against the running. Two specific participates impart just how many behaviors he impacted this activity. On a second-and-1 2 midway through the first fourth, Thompson made right guard Greg Mancz with a vicious sorority move directly after the click, hurled into the backfield, and dropped Deshaun Watson for a 7-yard loss. Later, with the Texans trailing 13 -1 0 and facing a third-and-1 9 from their own 16 -yard line, Houston sent running back Duke Johnson on a rotation itinerary down the left sideline. But Thompson, the 230 -pound linebacker, had no trouble checking Johnson 20 gardens down the field and smacking the pass harmlessly to the turf. There is perhaps more eras during Cam Newton’s extended absence that the Panthers “re going to have to” win ugly, and they proved on Sunday that they’re capable of doing just that.
9. This week’s line play moment that become me smacked rewind: Khalil Mack is at it again. Mack has been absolutely ridiculous for Chicago this season. He’s already forced four fumbles and tallied 4.5 sackings in four recreations. It feels like he’s good for one turnover per sport, and he another on Sunday. Mack’s ability to win with power originates it tempting to forget just how adaptable he can be around the edge. On this strip sacking against the Vikings, Mack troughs his shoulder to the point that left tackle Riley Reiff has nothing to block. His balance–which allowed him to keep his feet while stooping that far–combined with the explosion to finish off the participate is part of what represents him such a special musician.
#Bears — OLB Khalil Mack. Dips under the LT, closes with speed to the QB. Get the ball out. @NFLMatchup @DickersonESPN pic.twitter.com/ dAodfNvjW2
— Matt Bowen (@ MattBowen4 1) September 30, 2019
10. This week in NFL musicians, they’re absolutely nothing like us, Part 1: Jadeveon Clowney somehow racetracks a deflected pass, enclosures it with one handwriting, and teleports 25 grounds in the end zone.
JADEVEON CLOWNEY PICK-6! @clownejd #SEAvsAZ: FOX: NFL app // Yahoo Sports appWatch free on mobile: https :// t.co/ lm0vvtP8ei pic.twitter.com/ xDCzPsAjtW
— NFL (@ NFL) September 29, 2019
11. This week in NFL musicians, they’re absolutely nothing like us, Part 2: How Travis Kelce thought to do this mid-play will never make sense to me.
Travis Kelce catch it and sloped it to Shady! #KCvsDET #ChiefsKingdom @tkelce @cutondime25: FOX: NFL app // Yahoo Sport appWatch free on portable: https :// t.co/ lm0vvtP8ei pic.twitter.com/ lPhASpXYIN
— NFL (@ NFL) September 29, 2019
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