Articles: American Football

Kenneth Walker has given Patrick Mahomes something Maxx Crosby cannot ignore. Kansas City enters Las Vegas with the NFL’s leading rusher and a play-action game suddenly carrying consequences. Walker has 360 yards at 5.5 per carry, enough production to make the handoff credible before Mahomes pulls the ball back. That fraction of hesitation is Crosby’s […]

Philadelphia has six days to fix what Los Angeles can attack immediately. Jalen Hurts was sacked five times Monday night in Chicago. The Eagles managed seven points. Now a Rams defensive front built to collapse the pocket arrives in Philadelphia. At the same time, the Eagles’ first Week 4 injury report adds another problem: reserve […]

Drake Maye has thrown six interceptions in three games. Buffalo now gets to ask him questions from behind an offensive line being rebuilt during the exam. Starting guard Greg Van Roten is on injured reserve. Right tackle Morgan Moses missed Wednesday with a foot injury. Maye himself is listed with a right shoulder issue, although […]

Jeremiah Smith is the obvious problem for Iowa. The less obvious problem is what happens everywhere else while the Hawkeyes try to solve him. Smith enters Kinnick Stadium with 617 receiving yards through four games, and Ryan Day acknowledged this week that Ohio State will throw his way even through double coverage. Iowa now faces […]

Virginia Tech has built its offense around Jeffrey Overton Jr.’s legs and Ethan Grunkemeyer’s clean decisions. Pitt arrives precisely where that arrangement becomes uncomfortable. Starting left tackle Justin Terry is out for several weeks. Right guard Montavious Cunningham is expected back, but Virginia Tech has already been moving pieces at left tackle, where Brody Meadows […]

Tulsa can reach quarterbacks. Tayven Jackson has given opponents remarkably few opportunities to reach him. That collision carries Thursday night’s American Conference opener. The Golden Hurricane arrive with 13 sacks, an American-leading 3.25 per game, and Thomas Davis already has four. North Texas counters with an offense averaging 516 yards while Jackson has completed 74.2% […]

Cleveland spent Sunday making the quarterback uncomfortable. Aaron Rodgers gets the encore four days later. The Browns pressured Carolina on 26 of 50 dropbacks, a 52% rate, while Mason Graham generated two sacks and the defensive front repeatedly shortened the quarterback’s clock. Pittsburgh arrives after its offense finally found points against Cincinnati, but Thursday offers […]

Chicago finally knows Tyson Bagent can play. That is not the same thing as spending the week preparing him to play. Caleb Williams is out with the hamstring injury that kept him from every practice. Bagent spent much of the week in concussion protocol before returning fully Saturday and receiving independent clearance Sunday. In their […]

Puka Nacua is unlikely to play Sunday night. Sean McVay’s response may force Denver to count tight ends instead of receivers. Nacua is doubtful after missing all three practices with groin soreness. That removes, barring a late change, one of Matthew Stafford’s primary ways of stressing coverage. But Vance Joseph has already identified the alternative […]

Dallas spent the week preparing for two runners who can turn one hesitation into six points. Then four defenders disappeared from the equation. Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, cornerback Cobie Durant and safeties Malik Hooker and P.J. Locke are out against Baltimore. Rookie Jaishawn Barham takes the defensive green dot, placing the communication of a reshuffled unit […]