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MNF

NFL Monday Night Football: Preview

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MIAMI GARDENS – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Pittsburgh Steelers and visiting Miami Dolphins each are working to improve their chances of making the playoffs as they prepare to clash on Monday night. The Dolphins (6-7) are riding a four-game winning streak and need to extend that run to keep their slim playoff hopes intact.

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The Steelers (7-6) hold first place in the AFC North and are ahead of the Ravens by a half-game after ending a two-game losing skid with a 27-22 win at Baltimore last week. Pittsburgh also faces pressure to keep winning since its best route to the postseason is to win the division.

ODDS AND TRENDS
Pittsburgh is a consensus 3.0-point favorite, essentially due to being at home where the game-time temperature is expected to be in the teens. The Steelers have been backed by 62% of the spread-line money at BetRivers, where Pittsburgh’s -180 moneyline to win the game outright has drawn 83% of the money.

The 42.0 total points line has seen the Over backed by 67% of the total bets while the Under has drawn 76% of the money. Each of the Steelers’ past eight home games against AFC teams have gone Under the total points line, according to the book.

KEY STAT
Pittsburgh has won 22 of its past 23 Monday night home games.

PLAYER PROPS
–Dolphins RB De’Von Achane 80+ Rushing Yards (-128 at DraftKings): Achane will play after leaving last week’s win over the Jets with a rib injury. He had already rushed for 92 yards in a game Miami controlled easily, and Achane enters with 1,126 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the ground this season. This has been the most popular player prop at the book, perhaps in part due to the Steelers’ defense being charged with an NFL-high 65 broken tackles this season. A higher potential payout is available with Achane at +124 to rush for at least 90 yards, which he has done in four consecutive games.

–Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers Under 0.5 INTs (-129 at BetRivers): Rodgers has not thrown an interception in his past six home games and was not picked off in his past three games overall. Pittsburgh figures to have a run-heavy approach in frigid conditions and when Rodgers does go to the air, he will be attacking a Miami defense that has produced just seven interceptions this season.

INSIDE EDGE
Rodgers has completed just 57.4% of his passes thrown over the middle of the field this season, the fifth-worst mark among qualified quarterbacks, according to Inside Edge’s Remarkable engine. By comparison, he completed 70.7% of such passes last season.

INJURY REPORT
Steelers star linebacker T.J. Watt is out after undergoing surgery for a collapsed lung sustained at the team practice facility last Wednesday.

Pittsburgh has multiple players either dealing with injuries or in concussion protocol. Offensive lineman Andrus Peat (concussion) and cornerback James Pierre (calf) will not play Monday. Running back Jaylen Warren was a late addition to the injury report on Monday morning and, like defensive lineman Derrick Harmon (knee), is considered questionable. Wide receivers DK Metcalf (rest) and Ben Skowronek (hand), as well as tight end Darnell Washington (concussion), were limited in practice Saturday.

Dolphins cornerback Elijah Campbell (ankle/knee) was listed as doubtful to face Pittsburgh. Offensive lineman Andrew Meyer (tricep), the only other limited participant in Saturday’s practice, was questionable.

THEY SAID IT
–“The good news is that how he makes a living is avoiding tacklers. And that’s what he’ll have to do. The bumps and bruises in the National Football League — if you don’t have something in December, you’re probably playing football wrong.” –Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel on Achane’s rib injury.

PREDICTION
The Dolphins have picked themselves up off the mat this season, but quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is 0-5 all-time in games where the temperature is below 40 degrees at kickoff. Miami’s 27th-ranked run defense, which allows an average of 131.9 yards per game on the ground, will see a heavy dose of Warren and Kenneth Gainwell as Pittsburgh plays the field position game while capitalizing on a few Tagovailoa mistakes. –Steelers 23, Dolphins 20

–Field Level Media

Sophomore Hijinx

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FOXBORO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Drake Maye completed 24 of 31 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns, and Marcus Jones returned a punt for a score as the New England Patriots extended their winning streak to 10 games by beating the New York Giants 33-15 on Monday night in Massachusetts.

Kicker Andy Borregales added four field goals for the Patriots (11-2).

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New England tight end Hunter Henry caught four passes for a team-high 73 yards. The Patriots had a 395-239 advantage in total offense.

New York quarterback Jaxson Dart returned from a concussion and completed 17 of 24 passes for 139 yards and one touchdown. Devin Singletary led the Giants’ rushing attack with 67 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.

New York (2-11) has lost its last seven games.

The Patriots jumped out to a 17-0 lead after one quarter and led 30-7 at halftime. It remained 30-7 entering the fourth.

After Borregales opened the scoring by kicking a 22-yard field goal on New England’s opening drive, Jones returned a punt 94 yards for a touchdown that helped stretch the lead to 10-0.

Maye’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Kayshon Boutte, plus a Borregales PAT, gave New England a 17-0 advantage with one minute remaining in the first quarter.

The Giants scored on a 30-yard pass from Dart to Darius Slayton with 12:46 left in the second quarter, but New England answered when Maye connected with Kyle Williams for a 33-yard touch.

Borregales extended New England’s lead to 27-7 by making a 30-yard field goal with 1:48 remaining in the first half, and he made it 30-7 with a 28-yard field goal on the final play of the half.

Singletary scored on a 22-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter. It was 30-15 after Dart completed a pass to Slayton for the two-point conversion.

Borregales finalized the scoring on a 23-yard field goal with 2:14 to play.

–Field Level Media

NFL: Monday Night Football Preview

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Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys – 8:15pm EST

DALLAS – (Staff Report) – In the Week 9 Monday Night Football matchup, the Dallas Cowboys will host the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium. Both teams are looking to turn their seasons around, and this game features a high-powered Cowboys offense going against a struggling Cowboys defense.
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Team Opponent Time (ET) Channel Location
Dallas Cowboys Arizona Cardinals 8:15 p.m. ABC/ESPN AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
Team Status and Key Players
Dallas Cowboys (3-4-1)
  • Strengths: The Cowboys have one of the most explosive and productive passing offenses in the league, led by quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver George Pickens, with a formidable supporting cast. The offense ranks second in points per game and yards per game. Running back Javonte Williams has also been a touchdown machine this season.
  • Weaknesses: The Dallas defense has been a major liability, ranking second-to-last in both points and yards allowed. This has resulted in several high-scoring games for the Cowboys this season.
  • Outlook: Despite a lethal passing game, the Cowboys are currently outside the playoff picture in the NFC. They will need their offense to outscore opponents, and their defense to make some key stops, to turn their season around.
Arizona Cardinals (2-5)
  • Quarterback: Starting quarterback Kyler Murray (foot) is not expected to play, with Jacoby Brissett slated to start in his place.
  • Injuries: Running back Trey Benson is also dealing with an injury.
  • Challenges: The Cardinals’ offense has been inconsistent, and they are currently on a five-game losing streak. They have struggled on the road this season.
  • Opportunities: The Cardinals have a favorable matchup against the Cowboys’ vulnerable secondary, which could allow their offense to find a rhythm.
Matchup Insights
  • Offensive Battle: With the Cowboys boasting a top-tier offense and a subpar defense, this game has the makings of a high-scoring shootout.
  • Kyler Murray’s Absence: The Cardinals will be without their starting quarterback, Kyler Murray, for the third straight game. Jacoby Brissett will start for Arizona.
  • History: The Cardinals have had success against the Cowboys recently, winning seven of the last eight matchups between the two teams.
  • Betting: The Cowboys are favored in this contest. The game has a high total points line, indicating an expectation of a lot of scoring.
Bottom Line
This game will be a battle of opposing forces. The Cowboys’ explosive offense will face a Cardinals defense that is coming off a bye week. The outcome will likely hinge on whether Dallas’s offense can overcome its defensive deficiencies and whether Jacoby Brissett and the Cardinals’ offense can exploit the Cowboys’ porous defense.

NFL: Monday Night Football

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Detroit Lions (1-1) at Baltimore Ravens (1-1)
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Ravens -5.5, Total 52.5

Series Rewind: It’s “Monday Night Football” so you know Lamar Jackson is excited about stepping on the field. The Baltimore quarterback has dazzled on Monday nights throughout his career and has 22 passing touchdowns without being intercepted in nine Monday night appearances.

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Jackson has twice thrown five touchdown passes and also had four touchdowns through the air when he set the franchise record of 442 passing yards against the Indianapolis Colts in 2021. There should be a lot of points scored in this matchup. The Ravens lead the NFL in scoring average (40.5) and have reached the 40-point mark in both of their games. Detroit ranks third in scoring (32.5) and is coming off a 52-21 whipping of the Chicago Bears in Week 2. Lions quarterback Jared Goff matched his career best of five passing touchdowns while hitting 23 of 28 throws for 334 yards. It was the fifth career start with his team scoring at least 50 points, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (five) for the fourth-most five-TD passing games since 1950, behind Tom Brady (eight starts), Drew Brees (six) and Len Dawson (six). Detroit wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown has caught 13 passes for 160 yards and is tied for the NFL lead with three touchdown receptions. The Lions are seeking to end a five-game skid against Baltimore.

–Field Level Media

NFL: Monday Night Football Previews

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MINNEAPOLIS – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Chicago Bears didn’t get much of a bounce from interim coach Thomas Brown.

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Brown replaced the fired Matt Eberflus the day after Thanksgiving but instead of a spark, the Bears went to San Francisco and got pummeled by the 49ers.

Minnesota (11-2) welcomes Chicago as the Bears’ losing streak stands at seven games entering Monday night’s divisional matchup against the red-hot Vikings.

A six-game winning streak has the Vikings on the heels of the Eagles and Lions in the race for NFC homefield. Minnesota is in the playoffs, clinching a spot with the Seahawks’ loss on Sunday night. Most recently, the Vikings racked up 42 points at home against Atlanta in Week 14.

There aren’t too many venues that can get louder than the U.S. Bank Stadium when the Vikings are playing well.

Look for Minnesota to jump out to a fast start against a Bears team with a first-year quarterback and a coaching staff that’s clearly in a state of flux at this point of the year.

–It’s the coaching, stupid
The Bears’ decision to fire a head coach in midseason for the first time in franchise history indicates just how dire matters had become at Halas Hall.

Eberflus left them with no choice after his in-game blunder against the Lions on Thanksgiving Day, which was laid bare for the whole world to see.

With 36 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and Chicago trailing 23-20 on Detroit’s 41-yard line, Eberflus opted not to call a timeout on third down following a sack to his quarterback Caleb Williams.

Instead, the Bears wasted 30 seconds trying to get organized at the line of scrimmage, throwing an incomplete pass as time expired. Thus, they were unable to attempt a game-tying 58-yard field goal.

After the game, Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen seemed to not so subtly blame the coaching staff directly, telling reporters, “We did enough as players to win this game.”

In other words, the players were the ones who held up their end of the bargain.

Unfortunately, the debacle against the Lions was just another example of Eberflus being completely beyond his depth as a head coach this season.

Two weeks before the loss to the Lions, the Bears had a chance for a game-winning field goal against the Packers, but instead of running another play to make the kick shorter, Eberflus ran 27 seconds off the clock only for Green Bay to block a 46-yarder.

–Prop pick: Vikings pass-catchers
Jordan Addison lit up the Chicago secondary in the first meeting Nov. 24 with eight catches for 162 yards and a touchdown and then went for 8-133-3 against the Falcons last week.

The Bears might shake things up with Eberflus no longer calling defensive shots, but Chicago sits in the same pick-your-poison predicament with Justin Jefferson opposite Addison. Tight end T.J. Hockenson also had seven receptions against the Bears last month and had 11 catches for 100 yards and a touchdown in two games in this matchup last season.

Quarterback Sam Darnold spreads the wealth in this one with Jefferson and Addison recording six receptions apiece and Addison over 60 yards.

Prop: Two bets parlayed: Addison six-plus receptions, Addison 60-plus receiving yards (+248 FanDuel)

–Bears’ coaches are ill-prepared
Before the Bears canned Eberflus, he fired his offensive coordinator, Shane Waldron. Last season, he fired offensive coordinator Luke Getsy.

Thomas Brown, who took over for Waldron as coordinator, is now the interim head coach.

While the Bears’ performance on the field certainly warranted some change, this revolving door of coordinators and head coaches isn’t particularly beneficial for their rookie quarterback.

There are legitimate concerns about their coaching staff’s ability to prepare midweek and devise a plan in the early stages of a game.

Of all 32 teams, the Bears average the third-fewest points in the first half, 7.4, and when they’re on the road, that average drops to 4.7.

Given their coaching carousel and staff members being elevated into new positions to fill a void, one can only wonder if there’s a lack of quality due to inexperience.

And with the Bears yet to cover the first-half spread in all six road games this season, it’s difficult to see them turning the tide on Monday night against a quality Vikings team.

Best bet: Vikings 1H -3.5 (-115 DraftKings)

– Field Level Media

MNF: Ravens End Chargers Win Streak

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INGLEWOOD – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson accounted for three touchdowns and his teammate Derrick Henry rushed for 140 yards on 24 carries to help the Baltimore Ravens record a 30-23 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night in the “Harbaugh Bowl” in California.Calif.

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Justice Hill added a long scoring run and Rashod Bateman caught a touchdown pass to help Baltimore coach John Harbaugh improve to 3-0 against younger brother Jim, the coach of the Chargers.

Jackson completed 16 of 22 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for a touchdown for Baltimore (8-4), which won for the eighth time in 10 games. Mark Andrews caught a touchdown pass and converted a stunning fourth-down gamble for the Ravens.

Justin Herbert was 21 of 36 for 218 yards and rushed for a score for the Chargers (7-4), who had a four-game winning streak snapped. Cameron Dicker kicked three field goals for Los Angeles.

John and Jim Harbaugh exchanged a quick handshake and hug after the contest.

The big meeting between the brothers was Baltimore’s 34-31 win over Jim’s San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl following the 2012 regular season. The other meeting was on Thanksgiving Day in 2011 when the host Ravens won a 16-6 decision.

Baltimore star linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring) sat out the Monday contest.

Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins (knee), a former Baltimore player, exited in the first half. He gained 40 yards on six carries and had three catches for 19 yards.

The Ravens took a 23-16 lead when Jackson hit Andrews on an 8-yard touchdown pass with 12:32 left in the game. The two-point conversion pass failed.

Baltimore added on when Hill exploded for a 51-yard scoring run to make it a 14-point margin with 7:24 remaining.

Gus Edwards ran in from the 1 for the Chargers with 46 seconds left, and the Ravens recovered the ensuing onside kick to seal it.

Baltimore overcame a 10-point second-quarter deficit to lead 14-13 at halftime.

The Ravens got on the board with Jackson’s 10-yard run with 7:48 left in the half.

After the two-minute warning, Baltimore lined up to go for it on fourth-and-1 from its own 16-yard line. Andrews, the tight end, lined up behind center and took the snap and gained 2 yards for a first down.

The gamble paid off when Jackson tossed a 40-yard touchdown pass to Bateman to give the Ravens a 14-10 lead with 24 seconds left. The drive covered 93 yards on eight plays.

Dicker booted a 52-yard field goal as time expired in the half.

The Chargers scored the first 10 points on Herbert’s 5-yard run in the opening quarter and Dicker’s 42-yard field goal with 11:26 left in the second quarter.

–Field Level Media

MNF: Dolphins End Three Game Skid

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INGLEWOOD – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa passed for 207 yards with a touchdown as the visiting Dolphins ended a three-game losing streak with a 23-15 victory Monday night over the Los Angeles Rams in California.

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Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill had a second-half touchdown reception for the Dolphins (3-6) after he was questionable to play with a wrist injury. Jason Sanders made three field goals, including a 50-yarder with 2:38 remaining to seal the victory. Miami’s defense recorded four sacks.

Tagovailoa was 20-of-28 passing with an interception, while improving to 1-2 since returning from concussion protocol in Week 8. De’Von Achane ran for a team-best 37 yards and had five receptions for 15 yards.

Matthew Stafford was 32-of-46 passing for 293 yards, but did not throw for a touchdown with one interception, the sixth consecutive game he threw a pick.

Puka Nacua had nine receptions for 98 yards and Cooper Kupp had seven catches for 80 yards as the Rams (4-5) saw their three-game winning streak come to an end. Rookie Joshua Karty made five field goals for Los Angeles, including a career best from 55 yards.

After Karty missed a 57-yard field-goal attempt on the opening drive of the second half, the Dolphins responded with a six-play, 53-yard drive that ended with Hill’s 1-yard TD reception from Tagovailoa for a 17-6 lead.

The Rams had 133 yards of offense in the fourth quarter but were only able to come away with three Karty field goals.

Sanders made a 37-yard field goal with 9:07 remaining before his boot from 50 yards gave Miami a 23-12 lead with less than three minutes on the clock.

The Dolphins took the opening drive of the game 70 yards in five plays with Malik Washington scoring on a 19-yard end around for a 7-0 lead. A defensive tussle immediately ensued.

After Sanders’ 50-yard field goal in the second quarter gave Miami a 10-0 lead, the Rams finally scored on a 34-yard field goal from Karty with 5:46 remaining in the second quarter. His make from 55 yards got Los Angeles within 10-6 on the final play of the first half.

–Field Level Media

NFL Monday Night Football Preview

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Miami Dolphins at Los Angeles Rams

Week 10 in the NFL wraps up on Monday night with the Rams rolling out the red carpet for the Miami Dolphins. Although the Dolphins are 2-6 with three consecutive losses, Miami is far more competitive than the record indicates since starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa returned from a four-game hiatus on injured reserve with a concussion.

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Miami narrowly lost twice since Tagovailoa stepped back into the start job. The Dolphins dropped a one-point decision to Arizona and were also beaten by Buffalo by a field goal margin.

As for the Rams (4-4), they’ll look to keep their playoff hopes alive by extending their winning streak to four games and keeping their noses up with the rest of the pack in the NFC West. Given both teams’ firepower on offense when healthy, this matchup looks tailor-made to produce a high-scoring affair.

–Dolphins’ offense energized with Tagovailoa’s return The Dolphins scored 27 points in back-to-back games with Tagovailoa returning to rescue a group putting up less than two touchdowns per game without him. His presence alone tends to have a calming effect on the offense based on his accuracy and ability to put the ball exactly where he wants it to go. Tagovailoa completed 69.3 percent of his passes last season and is up to 72.7 percent this season. The Dolphins are more likely to remain on schedule with Tagovailoa, who has the fifth-highest success rate among quarterbacks with a minimum of 140 plays. When you’re picking up the necessary yardage on early downs, you’ll have more flexibility with your playcalling.

In their last two games, the Dolphins converted 65.2 percent of their third-down opportunities and 6-for-8 in touchdown conversions inside the red zone. While the offense can sometimes resemble a slow grind, the Dolphins’ efficiency under Tagovailoa makes them a real threat to opposing defenses.

We’re eyeing the over on Tagovailoa completions — set at 21.5 at DraftKings, ESPN Bet and FanDuel — given his high-percentage horizontal route connections with wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle and the additional threat of running back De’Von Achane. Tagovailoa was 25 of 28 (89.3 percent) at Buffalo last week and 28 of 38 in his first game back from IR.

–Pass defense a mutual concern Los Angeles had its share of injury woes, with wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua combining to miss seven games. Both players are now back with the team to significantly boost the Rams offense. The passing game is vital for the Rams because they struggle to run the ball, ranking 31st in yards per carry (3.8). As a result, it’s no surprise that Los Angeles has the ninth-highest pass play rate at 58.68 percent.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford should be eager for his chance to face this Dolphins defense. According to the FTN Fantasy Defense-adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA) metric, Miami ranks 27th against the pass.

However, the Rams’ pass defense is only one spot better. Pro Football Focus offers a similar view. It has the Dolphins 26th in pass coverage while grading the Rams as the third worst in this category. Hence, we play the points.

This total opened at 47.5 and was bet up as high as 49.5 before we began to see a little bit of buyback. It’s now settling at 49 at most sportsbooks.

As of this morning, 48.5 was still available at FanDuel. In a perfect scenario — or close to perfect health for both teams — this number would probably be closer to 52. Do not pass: take the value and run with it.

Best bet: over 48.5 points (-115 at FanDuel)

-Field Level Media

NFL MNF: Bills at J-E-T-S

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EAST RUTHERFORD – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Underwhelming might suffice as a five-game summary of the New York Jets through five games of the 2024 regular season. Even so, the Jets can move into first place in the AFC East with a win on Monday night against the Bills.

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A 2-3 start resulted in Jets owner Woody Johnson firing head coach Robert Saleh and promoting Jeff Ulbrich, the Jets’ defensive coordinator, to take the reins as the interim coach. Ulbrich demoted offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, stripping his play-calling duties to hand the responsibility to quarterbacks coach Todd Downing.

It might not take long to determine if the changes are akin to putting lipstick on a pig, given how much deference the offensive coaching staff gives Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Can Buffalo’s offense get back on track?

The Bills had a much better start to their campaign. They rattled off three straight wins but have now lost back-to-back games.

In hindsight, Buffalo might have benefited from a soft schedule, as its three wins (Cardinals, Dolphins, and Jaguars) came against sub-.500 teams, with a combined record of 5-12.

Defensively, those opponents rank 25th or lower in FTN Fantasy’s comprehensive Defense-adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA) metric.

Offensively, Bills quarterback Josh Allen is coming off a 9-for-30 (131 passing yards) performance on the road against the Houston Texans.

Allen and his receivers weren’t on the same page. He has the fourth-highest percentage (19.5%) of “bad throws” that don’t include spikes or throwaways. Buffalo receivers have the second-highest percentage of dropped passes per attempt (7.8%).

Things won’t get any easier against a Jets secondary that Pro Football Focus ranks first in pass coverage with an 86.5 grade.

Rodgers deserves blame for the Jets’ dysfunction

Trading for Rodgers also meant the Jets essentially would give him the keys to the franchise.

Even before his arrival, Saleh signed Hackett as the offensive coordinator, given his strong relationship and perhaps even friendship with Rodgers since working together in Green Bay.

Some think Rodgers was even working behind the scenes, prodding the Jets to sign wide receiver Allen Lazard, a former Packers teammate.

We know that Rodgers definitely played a part in the Jets signing another former teammate in wide receiver Randall Cobb.

Thus, Rodgers has been the puppet master, pulling the strings for quite some time now.

There are even reports that Rodgers contacted the Jets owner after learning that Saleh was considering firing Hackett as the coordinator.

The dismissal completely blindsided Saleh, which suggests that something must have changed radically over a short period of time for the Jets front office to make such a decision.

Interestingly, the first thing the Jets’ new play-caller addressed when meeting the media was the Jets’ rushing attack.

“First of all, this team does have a strong run game. We just haven’t seen it come to fruition consistently enough,” Downing said. “Secondly, I think there become times where you can find people pressing a little bit because there’s an expectation for production and when it’s not met, you can feel a sense of urgency.”

There was no mention of his underperforming quarterback, who ranks 25th in Total QBR.

Unless Downing is brave enough to add dramatic wrinkles, we’re bracing for more of the same: the Jets’ stagnant offense relying on a dominant defense.

–By Field Level Media

KC Chiefs Remain Unbeaten; Carr Hurt

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KANSAS CITY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Kareem Hunt and Xavier Worthy of Kansas City rushed for touchdowns, Harrison Butker kicked four field goals, Patrick Mahomes passed for 331 yards and the host Chiefs defeated the New Orleans Saints 26-13 on Monday night.

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JuJu Smith-Schuster caught seven passes for 130 yards and Travis Kelce made nine receptions for 70 yards to help the Chiefs (5-0) overcome the absence of injured wide receivers Hollywood Brown and Rashee Rice.

Hunt rushed for 102 yards, while Mahomes completed 28 of 39 passes with one interception.

New Orleans quarterback Derek Carr completed 18 of 28 passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns with one interception before leaving the game because of an oblique injury in the fourth quarter.

Rashid Shaheed finished with four catches for 86 yards and a touchdown, but the Saints (2-3) lost their third consecutive game.

The Chiefs had an opportunity to extend their 16-7 halftime lead on the first possession of the third quarter, but Butker’s 51-yard field goal hit the right upright and caromed wide.

Kansas City drove to the New Orleans 2-yard line on its next possession, but a Mahomes pass was intercepted in the end zone by defensive tackle Khalen Saunders, who returned to the New Orleans 35. Both teams went scoreless in the third quarter.

On the second play of the fourth quarter Carr threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Foster Moreau, pulling New Orleans within 16-13. Blake Grupe’s extra-point kick was no good.

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The Chiefs needed just five plays to answer as Mahomes connected with Smith-Schuster for a 50-yard gain and Kelce received a direct snap and handed to Worthy for a 3-yard touchdown run and a 23-13 lead.

Butker’s 38-yard field goal completed the scoring with 3:03 remaining.

On Kansas City’s first possession, Hunt ran 5 yards for a touchdown that gave the hosts a 7-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Chiefs increased the lead on a 26-yard field goal from Butker before Carr threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to Shaheed to pull New Orleans within 10-7.

Kansas City overcame a second-and-34 on its way to a 34-yard Butker field goal, and the kicker added a 28-yarder to increase the lead to nine points entering halftime.

–Field Level Media