Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner did the unthinkable last season -- he aptly followed a legendary rookie campaign from 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year with a legendary rookie year of his own en route to winning the prestigious NFL award. Now, Gardner and Parsons in back-to-back seasons
Tim Harris Jersey ? Two tough acts to follow for the defensive group from the 2023 draft cla s. Who will stand out most this upcoming season? Gardner's cruise to DROY in 2022 made him just the third cornerback to take home the award since Charles Woodson's win in 1998. Historically, the DROY award is predominantly owned by defenders who sack the quarterback and those who tackle the ball carrier. Also, like Offensive Rookie of the Year, this is a first-round pick-dominated distinction. Only two of the last 20 DROYs were selected outside of Round 1. Kancey is Aaron Donald's size -- despite shorter arms, which absolutely matter for defensive linemen -- with Donald-esque explosivene s and close to a Donald-type loaded arsenal of pa s-rush moves. He's in for a productive rookie season, but on a rebuilt Buccaneers defensive front, I can't envision him getting the sack total likely needed to garner serious Defensive Rookie of the Year consideration. Voters are starting to value pre sures -- and pre sure rate -- over pure sacks, but that line of thinking isn't widespread enough for any solely disruptive defensive tackle to win the award. Yet. I adored Campbell during the pre-draft proce s. Easily my LB1 in the 2023 cla s with a top 25 grade. No qualms from me about when he was drafted by Detroit. He's going to be a three-down monster on the Lions defense -- think 100-plus tackles, a few sacks, a handful of tackles for lo s and the occasional splash play in coverage. But
Ryan Bates Jersey in order to win DROY as a traditional off-ball linebacker like Campbell most certainly is, the stat sheet needs to be totally jam-packed, and he needs to get help, meaning limited productivity from the marquee edge rushers and cornerbacks. The Lions will be thrilled with Campbell's play in 2023, but it won't be enough for him to become a serious DROY candidate, mostly due to the position he plays. I liked Witherspoon as a prospect. I did. I wasn't absolutely enamored with him like most were. The highlight reel hits were tantalizing, but he mi sed a fair amount of tackles, too, and didn't have major ball production in his stellar Illinois career. However, Pete Carroll has long been one of the best defensive back teachers in football when it comes to the subtleties of playing the position. Yes, even tackling. Heck, was universally viewed as a high-upside project who turned in a six-interception, 16-pa s breakup rookie campaign. If anyone can get the most out of Witherspoon's ma sive talent and emphatic style, it's Carroll in Seattle's secondary. Will the pa s rush be good enough to help Witherspoon though? That's typically the unheralded catalyst for a strong defensive back season. The Seahawks have invested in the pa s rush with early picks. The pa s rush is still very young and unproven. Witherspoon's big-hit tendency won't be enough to garner major DROY consideration. McDonald is an outside speed rushing specialist, through and through. He's best when freed to pin his ears back, explode and bend. Unfortunately, he played end in many three-man fronts during his time at Iowa State yet still managed a stellar career for the Cyclones. With the Jets, Robert Saleh will provide plenty more opportunities to attack the outside shoulder of the opposing right or left tackle. At around 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, McDonald doesn't have the width and pure point-of-attack power yet to win as an edge-setting run-stuffer. And he's on a defensive line in New York in dire need of a genuinely threatening edge-rushing presence -- was good, not great in 2022. McDonald can be that guy in Year 1, but I'm not expecting a Nick Bosa-type rookie season. Pick Six Newsletter Crafted By The Best NFL Experts Get the day's big stories + fun stuff you love like mock drafts, picks and power rankings. I agree to receive the "Pick Six Newsletter"
Tyrel Dodson Jersey and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. By pre sing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the and acknowledge Paramount's . Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox. Sorry! There was an error proce sing your subscription. Porter landed in an exquisite scenario in Pittsburgh, and it's not because his dad was a star for the organization. This is a defense on the upswing, one that needs an alpha man-to-man corner and already boasts an imposing pa s-rushing unit with superstar , Cam Heyward, and Co. Fellow rookie will make the interior of the defensive front
Dawson Knox Jersey more menacing, too. All those bodies in the trenches will give Porter more targets in his vicinity on hurried throws from opposing quarterbacks than most rookie corners. With his experience, productivity and extraordinary length, he'll be a ball magnet as a rookie in Teryl Austin's defense. Austin was the Lions defensive coordinator during fine rookie season in 2014. Porter is a similar, lengthy, in-your-face outside corner. Carter was the best defensive player on Georgia's legendary 2021 defense. He was outstanding again in 2022, yet some conditioning i sues appeared on film -- and during the pre-draft proce s -- and at times his rushes are a tick high. I promise I'm not a nit-picker though. Carter's explosivene s, sheer power and polished hand work will make him a nightmare to block along the Eagles' ferocious defensive line. The only reason he's a few spots lower than you probably expected -- Philadelphia is already incredibly deep up front, and it won't be surprising if Carter's snaps are relatively limited as a rookie. Anderson is going to be a three-down stud in Houston from the jump. He was that player from the jump at Alabama. He has the exact stylistic makeup to get serious DROY hype. He's going to load the stat sheet against the run and as a pa s rusher. Before the draft, I likened Anderson to a "lite" version of , who finished third in the DROY race in 2014 with 76 tackles, 16 tackles for lo s and four sacks. I expect Anderson to eclipse all of those statistics and be a central figure in a much more respectable Texans defense in 2023. I'm shocked Bill Belichick traded down before picking Gonzalez in the first round. Why? Well, it's actually cla sic Belichick to move down in Round 1, but I was stunned because Gonzalez is the prototypical Belichickian perimeter cornerback, and the trade down risked
Star Lotulelei Jersey Gonzalez would no longer be available. He's long, naturally sticky in coverage and has the body control to make plays on the football down the field and on those pesky back shoulders. For the litany of accolades Belichick has achieved in his career, the one that goes a bit unnoticed is his uncanny ability to get the most out pre s-man corners. Not just and Ty Law. , , , etc. Belichick knows how to teach those types, and Gonzalez was arguably the finest, pure pre s-man corner in the cla s. Gonzalez is in for a spectacular rookie campaign in New England.
didn't go out a Super Bowl champion, yet the future first-ballot Hall of Famer left at the top of his game. Watt had two sacks and four pre sures in his last NFL game, giving him 12.5 sacks in his final season -- which is the second-most by a player in his final year in league history (Jamir Miller had 13 for the 2001 Browns)."I said I wanted to go out playing good
Tyson Barrie Men Jersey ball and I'm playing good ball," Watt said after Sunday's lo s to the . "I know I still can, I'm just choosing not to, that's all."Watt finished with 12.5 sacks, 25 quarterback hits, and 56 pre sures in his final season. All those numbers were Watt's best since 2018, Watt's final First Team All-Pro season. In Watt's last four games, he finished with 13 pre sures, six sacks, and nine quarterback hits -- truly leaving his best on the field."It's something I'll never forget. I'll be able to talk about that for however long I coach for," head coach Kliff Kingsbury said. "Just watching the profe sionalism, the effort and what he's done since he's been there. He never left the building really for two years. He trained there, he rehabbed last year and was two or three
Adam Foote Women Jersey months ahead of schedule to come back and play on that playoff game. Then, he stayed there all year training again. "His goal this year was to play an entire season. He hadn't done that for a few years, four years, I think. And then to come in and have 12.5 sacks and play the way he did and lead the way he did is just phenomenal. I can't say enough good things about him."The 49ers treated Watt with cla s as he exited the field for the final time, as the opposing fans gave him a standing ovation as he
Nail Yakupov Men Jersey walked off the field with two minutes to play. The ovation was all Watt could have asked for as the crowd chanted his name. . exits the field for the last time in his career. NFL (@NFL) "I want to thank the 49ers. That was very cla sy, and their fans. You don't have to do that for an opposing player in your stadium when you're going to the playoffs, and I just appreciate them doing that," Watt said. "That was better than I could have expected it to be, certainly from that standpoint. "Have my wife and son here, have my parents here. I wish the game would have gone differently in many ways, but I'm thankful and grateful, and I'll always remember it, that's for sure."Watt won three A sociated Pre sDefensive Player of the Year awards, tied with Lawrence Taylor andfor the most in NFL history. He's earned five first-team All-Pro selections while leading the NFL in sacks twice (2012, 2015), tackles for lo s three times (2012, 2014,
John Wensink Jersey 2015) and quarterback hits four times (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015). The four-year stretch Watt had from 2012 through 2015 is one of the best
Joe Colborne Jersey for any pa s rusher in NFL history -- and will get him enshrined in Canton one day.Watt went out on top, playing at the high level that defined his excellent career. "I was very upset with him all game because he's still unbelievable," 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said. "He was a problem throughout the game for us in the run game and the pa s game, but for it to slow down there at the end, for him to have his moment where he could walk off, I think everyone in this country respects the hell out of him for what he's done on and off the fieldand he's an all-time great."
College football headlines have been overtaken with big-name coaching moves this week, with and leaving for LSU. The flurry of changes isn't expected to include Urban Meyer, however, with reporting Tuesday that the and former Ohio State coach "has no interest" in returning to the college ranks and "
Ben Simmons Jersey remains committed to rebuilding the Jaguars."Meyer confirmed at his weekly pre s conference that he's not a candidate for Notre Dame or any college job."I'm not a candidate," Meyer said, "Obviously I spent 6 years of my life there, so great respect for Notre Dame, and as I do USC, UCLA, like we talked about. But I'm committed to the Jaguars
Norvel Pelle Jersey and doing the best we can to turn this thing around."Meyer, 57, spent more than two decades at the college football level before joining Jacksonville in 2021, winning a combined three national championships at
Raul Neto Jersey Florida and Ohio State. His name was quickly linked to Notre Dame's vacancy after Kelly's departure on Monday, chiefly because Meyer previously called coaching the Fighting Irish his "dream job," per DiRocco, and was recruited by Notre Dame after his two-year run with Utah in 2003-2004. But Meyer has no interest in returning to college football at this stage of his life, DiRocco reports, in part because of how much the NCAA
Joel Embiid Jersey has changed since his last season coaching Ohio State in 2018. For example, name, image and likene s (NIL) deals with athletes did not exist during his time running the Buckeyes.Earlier this season, Meyer denied interest in USC's opening, now filled by Riley, telling reporters there was "no chance" he'd leave the Jaguars to replace Clay Helton, reiterating his commitment to rebuilding Jacksonville in the NFL. There's still a lot of rebuilding left to be done. Meyer and the Jags (2-9) are fresh off their third straight lo s and have a tall task ahead in Week 13, as they're set to visit the (7-4). Only the (2-9) have scored
Tobias Harris Jersey fewer points in 2021.
The NFL's Annual League Meeting is going down this week in Arizona and one thing that happens every year at this meeting is that the owners get to vote on multiple rule proposals that could potentially be implemented for the upcoming season.For the 2023 meeting, there , including a proposal that would make roughing the pa ser a reviewable penalty. If there's one person who would likely be on board with that change, it's new coach Sean Payton, who made some major complaints over the weekend about the way the roughing the pa ser penalty is officiated.During , Payton said the situation with roughing the pa ser is a burgeoning
Kendrick Bourne Jersey crisis in the NFL."Let's say crisis is level five, I'd say it's at level three," Payton said. "It's something we got to be better at." For Payton, one of the i sues with the penalty is that it's not officiated the same
Mike Vrabel Jersey way by the different officiating crews."So how do we handle that? I think the big thing, and I think the NFL even said this, how do we get 17 crews seeing things the same way?" Payton said. "So it's not just one crew. That's a challenge in any endeavor to get 17 groups of people to act, behave, react the same way and see things the same way."For the Broncos' new coach, that's the main rule on the docket this week that needs to be looked at. "I think that's the one thing to me that stands out that is really up and down," Payton said. Pick Six Newsletter Crafted By The Best NFL Experts Get the day's big stories + fun stuff you love like mock drafts, picks and power rankings. I agree to receive the "Pick Six Newsletter"
Anfernee Jennings Jersey and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. By pre sing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the and acknowledge Paramount's . Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox. Sorry! There was an error proce sing your subscription. Unfortunately for Payton, it doesn't sound like the rule is going to get changed this week. For a proposal to become an NFL rule, it needs 24 of the league's 32 owners to approve it. As things currently stand, the proposal to make roughing the
Quinn Nordin Jersey pa ser reviewable doesn't have enough support to be voted through, .The rule change was proposed by the and the i sue there is that the owners usually aren't too keen on approving major changes that are proposed by individual teams. Of course, the fact that Payton is being so vocal about a potential rule change involving roughing the pa ser could lead the NFL to take a closer look at it in the future. Payton served on the competition committee for four years (2017-21) and the owners will usually approve most rules that get proposed by that committee.If the committee decides next year that roughing the pa ser should become a reviewable penalty, then the owners
Julian Edelman Jersey would likely give the proposal a hard look. As for this year, though it seems unlikely to pa s.
When the and play in LVIII this Sunday, it'll be a clash between teams who made it there with, of course, quality quarterback play, stellar skill-position talent, and stingy defenses.And there are prospects in the 2024 whose games resemble those vital components of the Super Bowl 58 participants. This article provides those stars and their draft-cla s counterparts.Let's dive into which prospects primed to be picked in April have stylistic similarities to a few of the marquee names who'll take the field Sunday.elow Starting with an eyebrow-raiser. Fiske isn't currently a highly touted draft prospect. Jones was invited to the 2016 draft -- and somehow fell to the second round. Stylistically, these two were almost identical on film.Jones was a long, somewhat sleek interior defensive line prospect who enjoyed a super-productive career as a dynamic, pa s-rush-move extraordinaire at Mi si sippi State. He won with a ridiculous first step, long arms, and deceptive power. At the 2016 combine
Cris Carter Jersey , Jones measured in at 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds with 34 1/2-inch arms.Fiske doesn't have anywhere close to Jones' length and was nearly 6-foot-4 and 295 pounds with 31-inch arms at the Senior Bowl. Like Jones though, Fiske fires off the ball at damn near the speed of a blitzing linebacker, has a loaded arsenals of karate-style moves to beat blockers at the point of attack and lit up that stat sheet with 18.5 sacks and 34 tackles for lo s in his final four seasons in college. Genuinely freaky athletes with high motors are worth their weight in gold on the interior of a defensive line today. Kittle was a rugged low-volume receiver who starred in the trenches as a blocker at Iowa. Watching his film felt like he had the physical attributes to be a better pro catching the football than what he demonstrated in college -- mostly because the quarterback play was average at best with the Hawkeyes.Sure enough, after going in the fifth round in the 2017 draft, Kittle has cemented his legacy as an elite three-down tight end. Now,
Danielle Hunter Jersey as the focal point of Georgia's pa sing offense, Bowers had a much different collegiate experience. On the field, the way he moves with urgent power through contact, gets open with sharp cuts, and battles defensive ends and linebackers as a blockers is eerily reminiscent to Kittle. Pick Six Newsletter Crafted By The Best NFL Experts Get the day's big stories + fun stuff you love like mock drafts, picks and power rankings. I agree to receive the "Pick Six Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount
Anthony Barr Jersey family of companies. By pre sing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the and acknowledge Paramount's . Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox. Sorry! There was an error proce sing your subscription. Pacheco was a unique cat in that he was under 6-foot, over 210 pounds (216 to be exact) and still ran in the 4.30s at the combine (4.37). I think Lloyd could be a new member of that prestigious testing community at the running back position. At 5-9 and 217 pounds, he's almost the exact same size as the 5-10 Pacheco, and on film, the USC star repeated erupted through the second level. The compact rocket of a back averaged 7.1 yards per carry and took 24 of his 114 rushing attempts for 10 or more yards. While he doesn't run quite as choppy at Pacheco, this is a similarly built and explosive back available in this draft.When entering the league out of Arizona State in 2020, this was the book on Aiyuk -- he was a well-proportioned outside receiver with dynamic burst, sustained speed, and leaping ability who didn't run many routes in college but proved to be a big-play generator.That's exactly how I feel about Nabers, my No. 1 receiver prospect in this cla s. Yes, over Marvin Harrison Jr. LSU didn't ask him to run 15 different intricates routes and my theory on that is because he didn't have to and could still hit huge plays for the Tigers offense. Like Aiyuk, Nabers is a human torpedo with the ball in his hands and has the
Dan Chisena Jersey speed to win over the top of defenses. While there'll be a learning curve in the route-running department, like what's transpired with Aiyuk, Nabers has the rare physical gifts to become an All-Pro at the next level. Hargrave was this somewhat mysterious prospect from South Carolina State who played with unhinging hips and lightning-quick explosivene s upfield. Once the small-school label was off, Hargrave hit the ground running in Pittsburgh but was always in the background. With the , Hargrave got more opportunity and, unsurprisingly, blo somed. It led to him signing a ma sive deal with the 49ers last March. And his disruptive ways have continued in San Francisco.Hailing from the University of Texas fresh off a Playoff berth, Murphy will be picked to go higher than Hargrave was but feels strikingly similar on film. He's an electric mover up the field and works tirele sly to win through blockers with speed-to-power conversion and an occasional pa s-rush moves. Franklly, "smaller" super-athletic one-gap interior rushers like Hargrave paved the way for someone like Murphy, who's likely to be well under 300 pounds at the combine, to
Everson Griffen Jersey be picked in the first round.
will return to Baltimore on Sunday, with the set to honor the former star running back as a "Legend of the Game."Matched up with the in a race for the AFC's No. 1 playoff seed
Davante Adams Jersey , the Ravens will pay tribute to Rice, 36, as not only an accomplished alumni of the franchise, but a recent difference-maker in the community.With 6,180 career rushing yards, the former Rutgers product is second among Baltimore's all-time ball-carriers, behind only Jamal Lewis. The three-time Pro Bowler, who led the in scrimmage yards in 2011 and helped the Ravens win the in 2012, is best known for an infamous 2014 domestic violence incident in which he a saulted then-fiance Janay Palmer. Rice was released by the Ravens and received an indefinite suspension in the wake of the incident, never to set foot
Desmond Trufant Jersey on an NFL field again. But he and Janay, now married
Jim Plunkett Jersey for close to a decade, have together used their history to speak out against domestic violence. Rice's relationship with the Ravens, meanwhile, has since been repaired,, with the former running back paying several visits to team facilities for motivational speeches, including at training camp this summer.Rice launched a nonprofit in 2019 to aid underprivileged children in the Baltimore and New York areas and has also partnered with organizations like the Childhood Domestic Violence A sociation. "I truly understand why I was let go and why so many hearts changed," Rice said recently, . "But hopefully people can
Charles Woodson Jersey see where I'm at now. They say people can change, right? I am not the same person I was 10-12 years ago. That's just not who I am. ... Every time I stepped on the field, I gave it my all. But I couldn't say the same for life. Now I'm trying to be the best version of me. ... I want people to really see
Lyle Alzado Jersey me. I'm still standing. I'm still going to be strong. I'm still going to help as many people as I can. I'm still going to be a man in the community."
had much steadier Week 3 performance against the than
Harrison Barnes Jersey what he demonstrated in the first two weeks. Meanwhile, after a stellar "A" performance in the comeback win over the in Week 2, quarterback had a contest to forget in the blowout lo s against the . was awesome in the ' resounding win over the division-rival .With and out with injuries, a grand total of five quarterbacks selected in the past two cla ses saw considerable playing time in Week 3.Let's dive deep into the individual efforts of each quarterback and a sign a grade on a per-snap basis, taking every individual aspect of their performance into account. More than 10 attempts were needed to qualify for this piece, which publishes weekly on Tuesdays. PIT QB #8 CMP%59.6YDs689TD4INT3YD/Att6.63 High-Caliber Throws/Plays:While Calvin Austin was decently open deep down the middle of the field, Pickett hit the speedy wideout in stride with the pocket crumbling around him for what amounted to a 72-yard touchdown. Long, accurate throw.On a 3rd-and-9 in the second quarter, Pickett spun out of the grasp of a Raiders defender and scampered for 10 yards.The touchdown throw to while rolling left was a nice display of his arm talent and natural athleticism.Low-Caliber Throws/Plays:While rolling left on his second drop back of the game, Pickett airmailed a throw to an open Austin near the sideline.Late in the second, he was in the clean pocket but decided to step up and to his right, directly into pre sure, which led to an unnece sary incompletion. There was an open receiver underneath over the middle.Summary:After two brutal starts to begin his second season, this was a noticeable step in the right direction for Pickett. While he wasn't asked to do much and there were a few wide open, easy to ses underneath and at the intermediate level, his two touchdowns were outstanding. He mostly limited the mistakes too.Grade: B-Season Grade:D+ ATL QB #9 CMP%68.0YDs352TD2INT1YD/Att7.04 High-Caliber Throws/Plays:He hit down the left sideline on a back-shoulder.Ridder fired a deep in-breaking route to through a small throwing lane in the fourth.Low-Caliber Throws/Plays:Early in the game, he had a
Vlade Divac Jersey wide-open on a deep post and overthrew him.He stepped up then attempted to spin out of a sack in the first that amounted to a sizable lo s.In the third he threw behind a vertical attempt to Mack Hollins just outside the numbers.Ridder mi sed low on a comeback to London on third down in the fourth.His next throw was high and wide to London.Late in the game, Ridder threw late on a throw between the hash and the numbers and should've been intercepted. Straight drop by the defender.Summary:This was Ridder's worst game of the season to date. He demonstrated low-level pocket awarene s, mi sed with a few errant throws that should've been completions, and put the ball into some precarious situations. He and the offense were overwhelmed in Detroit.Grade: FSeason Grade: D+ WAS QB #14 CMP%65.7YDs501TD3INT1YD/Att7.16 High-Caliber Throws/Plays:While getting hit, Howell delivered a strike at the numbers to for 21 yards in the first quarter.Later in the first, he dropped a 37-yarder to in the bucket down the left sideline.His 18-yard scamper early in the second was very creative.In garbage time, Howell squeezed a slant through a tiny window to .On his next throw, he ripped a long out route to Samuel near the sidelineLow-Caliber Throws/Plays:His first interception was a force over the middle with pre sure mounting. Didn't appear as though Howell saw a linebacker directly in line with the throw, underneath
Dewayne Dedmon Jersey it. Howell felt pre sure on his second pick and didn't see safety dropping down into the flat. The veteran defender was waiting for the throw and made the relatively easy interception.In the third, he threw low and behind Cole Turner over the middle.The next interception was throwing a double move into a cornerback treating into a deep zone. Ill-advised attempt to a receiver not open.In the fourth, Howell attempted to float a pa s over 6-foot-5 which was a pretty bad idea. Pick six.Summary: This was a welcome-to-the- game for Howell. He was sacked 10 times, and outside of a few good throws early and a few late, he was overwhelmed by everything the Bills defense threw at him. Bad decisions plagued him in this contest.Grade: DSeason Grade: C+ SF QB #13 CMP%66.7YDs426TD2INT0YD/Att7.89 High-Caliber Throws/Plays:Late in the second, Purdy ripped a strike to on a sideline route through tight coverage. Gorgeous timing and ball placement on the 15-yard gain.His touchdown to was pretty -- fall away from pre sure but well-placed to a tightly covered wideout in the front left corner of the end zone.While it wasn't caught, Purdy made an awesome anticipatory throw from the far hash to the sideline to .His
Robert Woodard II Jersey final throw of the game was a ridiculous fallaway teardrop to for a 27-yard touchdown in the front corner of the end zone against man coverage.Low-Caliber Throws/Plays:His first pa s of the game was thrown behind Samuel on a slant.He threw a very dangerous flag route to Kittle early in the game that was nearly intercepted.While Purdy was hit as he threw the ball, he lofted a dangerous pa s into the end zone that was knocked away and was almost picked.Summary: There were some wayward to ses early, and Purdy took a fair amount of hits in this game. However, after a shaky-ish start, he rebounded with some impre sive throws from le s-than-ideal pocket situations to help build San Francisco's lead en route to victory. Grade: BSeason Grade: B- HOU QB #7 CMP%63.7YDs626TD2INT0YD/Att6.88 High-Caliber Throws/Plays:Stroud uncorked a beautiful long ball down the deep middle to Tank Dell in the first quarter with multiple defensive backs converging on the throw.On the first play of the fourth quarter, Stroud dipped his shoulder from a rusher and stepped into the pocket to deliver a strike to in the front corner of the end zone against decently tight coverage.
Mike Bibby Jersey The pa s was dropped, but Stroud did his part.Low-Caliber Throws/Plays:Late in the second, Stroud attempted a throw to the intermediate level over the middle and didn't identify an underneath linebacker who should've intercepted his pa s.Summary: Outside of the one ill-advised pa s over the middle, Stroud was methodical and kept the ball away from the Jaguars defense all afternoon. He took what they defense gave him, threw to open, in-breaking receivers in stride, found long-ball connections when they presented themselves and worked the sidelines well. Impre sive albeit an unspectacular performance. Grade: BSeason Grade: C+
entered the 2021 season without a single win against AFC North division foes. Through eight games this season, the ' second-year quarterback has already beaten the and , the two teams who have won the division each of the last five years. Burrow will look to make it a three-peat on Sunday against the , who swept the season series
L'Jarius Sneed Jersey in 2020.Both teams are coming off of tough Week 8 lo ses. A week after running over the Ravens, the Bengals stubbed their toe against the to fall to 5-3, a half game behind Baltimore for first place in the North. The Browns fell to 4-4 and into last place in the division following a 15-10 lo s to the visiting Steelers. Both teams need a win in order to keep pace with the Ravens and the suddenly surging Steelers in what has turned into a competitive division race.We'll preview the game along with giving
Zayne Anderson Jersey our prediction for Sunday's outcome. Here's how you can follow the action in real time.Date:Sunday, Nov. 7 |Time:1 p.m. ETLocation:Paul Brown Stadium (Cincinnati)TV:CBS|Stream:Paramount+ ()Follow:Odds:Bengals -2.5, O/U 47Look for the Browns to try to po se s the ball after rushing for le s than 100 yards against the Steelers. Cleveland's lack of a running game was one of the reasons why Cleveland had the ball for just 17 minutes during the final three quarters against Pittsburgh after having it for 11 minutes in the first quarter. This will likely lead to a big workload for , who had just 16 rushing attempts against the Steelers. The Brown also give more carries to , who had just four carries last week after rushing for 146 yards on 22 carries in Cleveland's
Josh Gordon Jersey Week 7 win over Denver. The unit will have its work cut out for it against the Bengals' seventh-ranked run defense, a unit that is led by linebacker , defensive end and defensive tackle , among others. Cincinnati's secondary, led by safety III, are surely looking to get back on track after allowing Jets quarterback to throw for more than 400 yards in last week's lo s. The Bengals' secondary will once again be aided by a formidable pa s rush that is led by defensive end , who tallied 7.5 sacks in his first eight games as a Bengal. Three of the Browns' starting offensive linemen are part of Cleveland's Week 9 injury report, a bad sign for , who is playing through multiple shoulder injuries.While he is having a strong season, Burrow needs to take better care of the football. He has nine interceptions through eight games that includes five interceptions in his last four games. Fortunately for him, Burrow will face a Browns defense on Sunday that has picked off just three pa ses this season. Burrow's main target this season has been rookie , who already has 786 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Burrow has also taken advantage of his other weapons that includes (37 receptions, two touchdowns), (29 receptions, two touchdowns) and tight end (21 receptions, five touchdowns).Like the Browns, the Bengals will likely try to reestablish and their running game on Sunday after running for a season-low 41 yards against the Jets. Along with getting their
Kansas City Chiefs Jersey running game on track, the Bengals will surely be keeping an eye on , who already has 10.5 sacks and 11 tackles for lo s. if Garrett and fellow defensive end are able to apply consistent pre sure on Burrow, it could be a long day for Cincinnati's offense. But if Burrow is given time in the pocket, it could be another prolific day for the former Heisman Trophy winner. Despite last week's lo s, the Bengals look like a team on the rise. Conversely, the Browns appear to be a team in decline. If Cincinnati can take care of the ball (and Burrow) while taking
Derrick Gore Jersey advantage of Cleveland's porous red-zone defense, the Bengals should be able to take care of busine s at home. Cincinnati will also have to contain Chubb, who ran for 124 yards and two touchdowns in his only game against the Bengals last season. Score: Bengals 24, Browns 17
The NFL only has official data on the number of times in a given season that a quarterback was sacked going back to 1970. In that 52-season span,
Matthew Orzech Jersey there have been only 55 instances of a quarterback being taken to the ground at least 50 times during the regular season. One of those instances came this season, as quarterback was sacked 51 times.It's not gone unnoticed. E sentially every Super Bowl post-mortem focuses on the Bengals' need to upgrade the protection in front of Burrow, and his teammates seem to agree that it should be a priority. "You don't want your quarterback to get hit one time, let alone how many times it was, not even counting the things that weren't sacks but just hits in general," tight end said, . "It has been tough. You don't want to see your franchise quarterback get hit as many times as he did.
Brian Allen Jersey That is probably going to be a point of emphasis coming up." Still, it's pretty incredible that the Bengals even made it as far as they did, considering how often Burrow was hit. Of the aforementioned 55 instances of a quarterback taking at least 50 regular-season sacks, only 15 times did that
Jackie Slater Jersey quarterback's team make the playoffs. That's a rate of just 27.3 percent. Only 11 of those 15 teams advanced at least one round in the playoffs. Just four made it as far as their conference title game. And only one -- this year's Bengals -- made it to the Super Bowl.QuarterbackYearAgeTeamSackSack%PlayoffsJoe Burrow202125CIN518.9%Lost SBMark Brunell199626JAX508.2%Lost AFCCGDieter Brock198534LAR5112.3%Lost NFCCG201027CHI5210.7%Lost NFCCG201229GB518.5%Lost DivCliff Stoudt198328PIT5111.8%Lost Div201825DAL569.6%Lost DivPhil Simms198429NYG559.4%Lost DivPhil Simms198530NYG529.5%Lost DivRandall Cunningham198825PHI579.2%Lost DivRandall Cunningham199229PHI6013.5%Lost DivAaron Rodgers200926GB508.5%Lost WC201823HOU6210.9%Lost WCKen O'Brien198929NYJ509.5%Lost WC201830SEA5110.7%Lost WCThe sack i sue came back to haunt the Bengals throughout the playoffs, as Burrow was sacked 19 more times during
Allen Robinson Jersey the team's run to the Super Bowl, where they ultimately lost to the . That meant he took 70 sacks on the year as a whole -- the when including both regular-season and postseason games. And as Uzomah noted, Burrow was hit quite a bit more often, even when he wasn't sacked. The play that decided the Super Bowl wasn't a sack, but was still indicative of the problem. Given the history of players who get
Sebastian Joseph-Day Jersey sacked this often, it's safe to say the Bengals are unlikely to get as far as they did this year unle s this i sue is rectified, and soon.
An interesting talking point began almost immediately after Super Bowl LVI: the Hall of Fame merits of quarterback , who led the Rams to a 23-20
Jeff Okudah Jersey win over the . That topic led to an idea to rank each of the 28 quarterbacks who have already received enshrinement in Canton, Ohio.Below is a ranking of the quarterbacks who are currently in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Here was the criteria used when coming up with the ranking:Career and single-season statisticsIndividual accoladesChampionships wonImpact on the gameIntangible skillsA question was also used when comparing quarterbacks: Troy Aikman doesn't have the stats or the individual awards that many of his Hall of Fame peers have, but he has more Super Bowl rings as a starting quarterback than all but two quarterbacks who are currently enshrined. While awards and numbers are nice, one would venture to gue s that most people would choose Aikman's career over many other quarterbacks on this list. (Aikman was also a great quarterback in his own right, which we'll get to momentarily.)Without further ado, let's get started. 4-0 in Super Bowls; 2-time MVP; 3-time Super Bowl MVP; 1986 Comeback Player of the Year; 5-time NFL leader in completion percentage Montana was widely considered the greatest quarterback in league annals prior to legendary run. Montana's career had the perfect mix of stats and individual and team accomplishments. He also had a hand in some of the most famous plays in league history.5-time MVP; 2-time Super Bowl champion; Super Bowl XLI MVP; No. 2 all-time in wins by a starting QB; No. 3 all-time in career pa sing yards and TD pa sesThe ultimate field general, Manning's immense talent was matched only by his supreme intellect. Manning loved mixing it up against the greatest defensive minds in football, from Bill Belichick to Ray Lewis. Manning was also a serial winner, as he won at least 10 games 14 times. He led two different franchises to a combined four Super Bowls, winning two. 3-time MVP; 3-time NFL champion; Super Bowl V champion; first QB to reach 40,000-career pa sing yardsThe greatest quarterback during the NFL's first 50 seasons. Unitas' record of 47 consecutive games with a touchdown pa s stood for over 50 years until it was finally broken by Drew Brees. A quarterback who was way ahead of his time, Unitas led Baltimore in the first overtime playoff game in NFL history, a 23-17 win over the in the 1958 NFL Championship Game. "Cla sic drop-back pa ser."Bill Belichick shows you one of the greatest QBs to ever throw the ball in Johnny Unitas : NFL 100 All-Time Team NFL Network (@nflnetwork) 3-time MVP; Super Bowl XXXI champion; retired as the NFL's all-time leader in pa sing yards and TD pa ses; owns NFL record with 297 consecutive games started Favre wore No. 4, so it's only fitting that's where he lands on the list. A cla sic gunslinger, Favre's fearle sne s resulted in big plays as well as heartbreak. Favre often played his best on the brightest stages. He called two audibles in his first Super Bowl against a Bill Belichick-coached defense, and the results were touchdown pa ses of 54 and 81 yards. Favre's most memorable night, however, was his the day after his father pa sed away.1984 MVP; retired as NFL's all-time leader in career pa sing yards and pa sing TD; held league's single-season records for pa sing yards (5,084 yards) and TD pa ses (48) for 27 and 20 years, respectively Marino is regarded as arguably the best pure pa ser in league history. He led the NFL in pa sing yards five times and in touchdown pa ses on three occasions, doing so during an era where receivers and quarterbacks were not as protected by league rules. While he never won a Super Bowl, Marino guided the to 10 postseason appearances and 147 regular season wins. 2-time Super Bowl champion; Super Bowl XXXIII MVP; 1987 MVP; 148 regular season wins; 14-7 postseason recordAlong with his pa sing prowe s, Elway was a dangerous runner with 3,407 yards and 33 touchdowns over his 16 seasons. Before winning back-to-back titles at the end of his career, Elway led the to three AFC titles over a four-year span from 1986-89. Elway's famous game-tying drive late in the 1986 AFC Championship Game helped the Broncos capture their second AFC title. His helicopter spin in Super Bowl XXXII keyed Denver's upset of Green Bay.3-time NFL MVP; 3-time NFL champion; 4-time AAFC champion; 9-3 playoff record; 4-time NFL leader in completion percentage Graham spent nearly half of his career in the "inferior" AAFL, which is why he isn't higher on the list. That said, Graham and the Browns' quick succe s in the NFL largely solidified their AAFL dominance. Along with being a prominent pa ser, Graham was one of the greatest winners in league annals, as he played for a title in each of his 10 seasons. 2-time NFL champion; 8-time NFL leader in completion percentage during 16-year career; 4-time NFL leader in pa sing yards; 2-time NFL leader in TD pa ses Baugh's impact on the NFL goes beyond numbers. The league's first succe sful dropback pa ser, Baugh helped modernize the pa sing game. His 2,938 pa sing yards in 1947 (a single-season record that stood until 1960) was nearly 1,100 more yards than the next most prolific season in league history by any quarterback not named Otto Graham. Baugh's 70.3 completion percentage in 1945 stood as the NFL record until 1982. 4-time Super Bowl champion; 2-time Super Bowl MVP; 1978 MVP; 107-51 regular season record; 14-5 playoff record Bradshaw overcame a rocky start to his career to help lead the to four Super Bowl wins over a six-year span. Along with being Pittsburgh's play-caller, Bradshaw threw the game-deciding touchdown in each of the Steelers' Super Bowl wins. His signature performance was during Pittsburgh's 35-31 win over Dallas in Super Bowl XIII, when he threw for 318 yards and four touchdowns against the ' vaunted "Doomsday" defense. 10 Pro Bowlers and Super Bowl XIII champs The 1978 was led by Terry Bradshaw to become the first franchise in the NFL to win three Super Bowl titles : NFL 100 GREATEST TEAMS on NFL Network NFL Network (@nflnetwork) 2-time Super Bowl champion; Super Bowl VI MVP; 85-29 regular season record; 21 game-
Bobby Layne Jersey winning drives "Captain America" was literally unbeatable in 1971; he went 10-0 as a starter in the regular season before helping lead the Cowboys to a Super Bowl win over Don Shula's Dolphins. If he had a kryptonite, it was the Steelers, who he was 0-2 against in Super Bowls. Along with helping popularize the NFL (and specifically the quarterback position), Staubach was the first quarterback to thrive while playing primarily out of the shotgun. 2-time MVP; 3-time Super Bowl champion; Super Bowl XXIX MVP; retired with highest pa ser rating in league history; 5-time NFL leader in completion percentage; 4-time NFL leader in TD pa ses; 91-33 regular season record as the ' starting QB The left-handed Young was an exceptionally gifted athlete who thrived in Mike Shanahan's offense in San Francisco. Along with his uncanny accuracy, Young is also one of the greatest rushing quarterbacks on this list with 4,239 yards and 43 touchdowns. Young was downright dominant in Super Bowl XXIX, as he threw a Super Bowl record six touchdowns against the . 5-time NFL champion; back-to-back Super Bowl champion; 2-time Super Bowl MVP; 1966 MVPStarr played an integral role in the ' 1960s dynasty. Including the first two Super Bowls, Starr was 7-1 in championship games. The last quarterback to lead his team to three consecutive championships, Starr punctuated one of the greatest drives in NFL history with a touchdown run to end the 1967 NFL Championship Game, a game better known as the "Ice Bowl."3-time Super Bowl champion; Super Bowl XXVII MVP; only QB to win 90 starts during 1990s; 11-4 postseason record; retired as Cowboys' all-time leader in pa sing yards and TD pa ses Aikman was the quiet engine of one of the most powerful offenses in league history. When he wasn't handing the ball to Emmitt Smith, he was di secting defenses with deadly accurate pa ses. Aikman spread the wealth while making a living getting the ball to Michael Irvin, Alvin Harper and Jay Novacek, among others. The first quarterback to win three Super Bowls before his 30th birthday, Aikman is also one of just four starting quarterbacks to own at least three Super Bowl rings.1974 MVP; Super Bowl XI champion; went 96-49-1 as a starting QB; 2-time NFL leader in TD pa ses and completion percentageThe slithery Ken "Snake" Stabler was a headache for some of the most dominant defenses in league history. Along with being immensely difficult to tackle, Stabler frustrated defenses as a succe sful play-caller for John Madden's offense. Stabler was also extremely accurate for his time; his 66.7 completion percentage in 1976 was the second-best total in league history at the time. "Cooler than most, and crazier than most. He's the Rock n' Roll athlete." - Ken Stabler was a rockstar QB for the : NFL 100 GREATEST CHARACTERS on NFL Network NFL Network (@nflnetwork) 1975 MVP;
Halapoulivaati Vaitai Jersey 3-time NFC champion; retired as NFL's all-time career pa sing leader Scrambling Fran's exceptional mobility helped him avoid big hits while enjoying an 18-year career. His mobility also resulted in 3,674 rushing yards, 32 touchdowns and a 5.4 yards-per-carry average. After spending the middle of his career with the Giants, Tarkenton returned to Minnesota in 1972, where he led the to three Super Bowls appearances over a four-year span. 2-time MVP, Super Bowl XXXVI MVP; led NFL in completion percentage three straight years; led two different franchises to Super Bowl appearancesWarner enjoyed a meteoric rise from grocery store clerk to league MVP. His 1999 season was one for the ages; he threw for 4,353 yards and 41 touchdowns in the regular season before throwing for 414 yards and two scores in the Rams' Super Bowl win over the . Warner had a similarly magical run with the in 2008, as Arizona advanced to its first-ever Super Bowl.1963 MVP; seven-time Pro Bowler; led three different franchises to playoff appearances Tittle's career can be broken down into three parts. As a rookie, Tittle led the ' to the franchise's first postseason appearance. After four years in Baltimore, Tittle spent a decade in San Francisco, where he was part of the 49ers' "Million Dollar Backfield" that also consisted of John Henry Johnson, Joe Perry and Hugh McElhenny. Tittle later enjoyed a career resurgence with the Giants, where he won a league MVP award while guiding the Giants to three straight NFL Championship Game appearances from 1961-63. His 36 touchdown pa ses during his MVP season were the most by a quarterback in a season until 1984.Super Bowl III MVP; two-time AFL MVP; 1974 Comeback Player of the Year; 3-time AFL/NFL leader in pa sing yards; pro football's first 4,000-yard pa ser (1967)Namath played a key role in the greatest upset in pro football history. Along with calling the' plays, Namath played mistake-free football while completing several key pa ses against Baltimore's formidable defense. Namath's larger-than-life persona helped continue pro football's rise as America's No. 1 pastime. Archaic knees significantly limited his longevity and effectivene s later in his career. "I wanted to be Joe Namath."Joe Theismann recalls how Namath was a game changer for breaking out of the mold of the average player in his time : NFL 100 GREATEST GAME CHANGERS on NFL Network NFL Network (@nflnetwork) 9-time Pro Bowler; 1990 Offensive Player of the Year; 2-time NFL leader in pa sing yards; won five Grey Cups in six seasons in CFL; third in NFL history in career pa sing yards at time of retirementAfter a
John Penisini Jersey prolific run in the Canadian Football League, Moon flourished while leading Houston's "Run & Shoot" offense during the late 1980s and into the '90s. Moon enjoyed incredible longevity; he retired at age 44 and was a starting quarterback at age 42. His last Pro Bowl selection came during his age 41 season. When you add up his CFL and NFL numbers, Moon threw for a combined 70,553 yards and 435 touchdowns in 23 seasons.1982 Offensive Player of the Year; led NFL in pa sing yards four consecutive years; 4,802 yards in 1982 were at the time most in league history for single season; quarterbacked league's top-ranked scoring offense three times; led Chargers to back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances (1980-81)Fouts was born to run Don Coryell's wide-open offense. He enjoyed one of the most prolific pa sing stretches in league annals when he led the NFL in average pa sing yards per game in all but one season between 1979-85. He never played in a Super Bowl, but Fouts did help lead the Chargers to a dramatic playoff win over the Dolphins in the 1981 playoffs. He also threw two fourth-quarter touchdown pa ses in the Chargers' 1982 playoff win over Pittsburgh, which served as the last home playoff game for the remaining members of the Steelers' 1970s dynasty.Only QB in NFL history to lead team to four straight Super Bowl appearances; went 101-59 as starting QB in regular season; including USFL stats, threw for combined 45,309 yards and 320 touchdowns in 13 seasonsThe conductor of Buffalo's "K-Gun" offense, Kelly and the Bills dominated the AFC during the early '90s. Despite playing in le s than ideal weather conditions, Kelly led the NFL in completion percentage in 1990 and in touchdown pa ses in 1991. He put up jaw-dropping number during his two USFL seasons, throwing for 9,842 yards and 83 touchdowns for the Houston Gamblers that included a 5,219-yard pa sing season in 1984.Super Bowl IV MVP; 3-time AFL champion; 7-time AFL leader in completion percentage; 4-time AFL leader in TD pa sesDawson won AFL titles with the and before leading Kansas City to the AFL's second Super Bowl win over the NFL's champion. While he wasn't as prolific following the AFL-NFL merge, Dawson was named to his seventh Pro Bowl at age 36 in 1971. In the '71 playoffs, he threw for 246 yards and a touchdown against Miami's fabled "No Name" defense in the longest game in NFL history.2-time NFL champion; won championships with two different franchises; 9-time Pro Bowler; 1954 NFL pa sing yards leaderA gifted pa ser, Van Brocklin's 73-yard touchdown pa s to Tom Fears lifted the Rams to a 24-17 win over the Browns in the 1951 title game. Nine years later, Van Brocklin took down another dynasty in what would be his final game. His touchdown pa s to Tommy McDonald helped the defeat Vince Lombardi's Packers in the 1960 NFL Championship Game. No. 86: Hall of Fame QB Norm Van Brocklin"He had no personal skills whatsoever but he was brilliant." : Greatest Characters on NFL (@NFL) 3-time NFL champion; 2-time NFL leader in pa sing yards; led Steelers to four of franchise's first six winning seasons; at time of retirement, Layne owned NFL career records for completions, touchdowns, pa sing yards and interceptions.Layne led theto three championships during the 1950s. Despite his succe s, the Lions traded the hard-charging quarterback to Pittsburgh during the 1958 season. Layne quickly made an impact in his new home, leading the Steelers to four winning seasons during his five years in Pittsburgh. Layne was credited for creating the two-minute offense.2-time Super Bowl champion; 8-time Pro Bowler; 92-56-3 regular season recordGriese quarterbacked one of the most succe sful teams in league history. From 1970-74, the Dolphins went 52-14-1 with Griese under center. He continued to have succe s later in his career despite the lo ses of several key teammates. Griese led the NFL in touchdown pa ses in 1977 and in completion percentage in 1978.4-time NFL leader in pa sing yards; 2-time NFL leader in TD pa ses; 255 career TD pa ses were second-most in league history at time of retirement; 32,224 pa sing yards were third-highest in league history upon retirementJurgensen started and ended his career as a backup. In between, he became the NFL's most prolific quarterback during the 1960s as far as pa sing yards and pa sing touchdowns are concerned. He had a day to remember in 1965. With Washington trailing Dallas, 21-0, Jurgensen threw for 411 yards while scoring four touchdowns to lead his team to a 34-31 victory.1961 AFL MVP; 3-time AFL championBlanda authored the most unique career in NFL history. After a brief retirement after spending most of his 10-year NFL career as a kicker and backup quarterback, Blanda returned to pro football in 1960 with the AFL's Oilers. Blanda was an immediate star in the AFL while leading Houston to the league's first two championships. At age 40, he reprised his previous role as a kicker/backup quarterback with the. He remained in that role until 1975, when he retired for good at 48 years young.Blanda's resume also includes leading the AFL in interceptions in four consecutive seasons. His 42 picks in 1962 remain the most in AFL/NFL history. OTD in 1960, the Oilers bring Houston its first profe sional sports title by defeating the Chargers 24-16 at Jeppesen in the first ever AFL Championship gameGeorge Blanda threw two 2nd half TDs to Bill Groman (7 yards) and MVP Billy Cannon (88 yards) & also kicked a FG and 3 XP (@BudsOilers) 2-time NFL champion; 2-time
Jessie Lemonier Jersey NFL leader in TD pa sesAs a rookie, Waterfield's two touchdown pa ses helped the Rams defeat Washington to win the franchise's first NFL title. Waterfield split time with Van Brocklin during the Rams' second championship run in 1951. He scored six points (each of them coming as the Rams' kicker) during the team's 24-17 win over the Browns in the '51 Championship Game.
