Digital Sports Desk

Online Destination for the Best in Boston Sports

NFL Previews

NFL Sunday: 1pm Game Previews

by

New Orleans Saints (2-10) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Buccaneers -8.5, Total 41.5
Series Rewind: The Bucs have won six of the [ast seven meetings, including a 23-3 win in the Big Easy in Week 8. New Orleans outgained Tampa Bay 275-212 yards but turned it over four times.

Embed from Getty Images

The Saints have scored fewer than 20 points in 10 of 12 games, while the Buccaneers have scored at least 20 in 10 of 12 games. New Orleans’ only road victory so far came at Carolina in Week 10. Tampa Bay’s two home losses were to division leaders Philadelphia by six points and New England by five. Saints running back Alvin Kamara needs 52 receiving yards to become the fifth player in NFL history with 5,000-plus rushing and 5,000-plus receiving yards. New Orleans rookie Tyler Shough has thrown two TD passes in each of his last two road starts. Counterpart Baker Mayfield tossed a career-high 41 touchdowns last season but still has not reached 20 (19). He got some good news this week with star wideout Mike Evans returning to practice, although his game return is up in the air. Bucky Irving has rushed for 170 yards and two TDs in two games against the Saints.

Indianapolis Colts (8-4) at Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Colts -1.5, Total 46.5
Series Rewind: The Colts snapped a three-game losing streak in the series with a 26-23 overtime victory in Week 18 last season. The teams will square off again in Indianapolis in Week 17.

The AFC South co-leaders are heading in opposite directions, with the Colts dropping three of their last four and the Jaguars on a three-game winning streak. Indianapolis has the NFL’s No. 2 scoring offense (29.8 points per game) but Jacksonville has kept two of its last three opponents (Titans, Chargers) out of the end zone. The marquee matchup pits the Jaguars’ top-ranked run defense (82.4 yards per game) against Colts star Jonathan Taylor, who leads the NFL in rushing yards (1,282) and touchdowns (15). Taylor set a career high with 253 rushing yards against Jacksonville in 2021. Indianapolis receiver Michael Pittman has TDs in five of his last six road games. Jags QB Trevor Lawrence owns a 5-2 record against the Colts but is only 3-10 as a starter for his career during the month of December. DE Josh Hines-Allen has collected a sack in each of his last three games against Indy.

Tennessee Titans (1-11) at Cleveland Browns (3-9)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Browns -3.5, Total 33.5
Series Rewind: This is just the third meeting between these AFC teams in the 21st century, with Cleveland winning 27-3 at home in 2023 and 41-35 in Nashville in 2020.

Browns star Myles Garrett’s pursuit of the NFL single-season sacks record continues against Titans rookie Cam Ward, who has been sacked more times (48) for a greater loss of yards (362) than any other quarterback in the league. With 19 sacks, Garrett needs four to break the mark shared by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt. Tennessee is on a seven-game losing streak and headed toward its second consecutive No. 1 overall draft pick (Ward in 2025), while Cleveland can eclipse last season’s win total with a victory on Sunday. Titans running back Tony Pollard has gained at least 50 yards from scrimmage in four of his five road games this season. Browns rookie Quinshon Judkins leads all first-year players with 758 rushing yards. Fellow NFL newbie Shedeur Sanders makes his third start and is looking for his first victory in front of the home fans in Cleveland, although he will likely be without right tackle Jack Conklin (concussion).

Seattle Seahawks (9-3) at Atlanta Falcons (4-8)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Seahawks -6.5, Total 44.5
Series Rewind: This marks the second straight year these teams will face off in Atlanta. Seattle won 34-14 last October and has won three of the past four to extend its series lead to 13-9.

The Seahawks have won six of their past seven games heading into Atlanta. They’re one win away from matching last year’s win total and on track for the playoffs in Mike Macdonald’s second season as head coach. However, that hasn’t afforded them any sort of cushion in the NFC West. The Seahawks are tied atop the division with the Los Angeles Rams (actually behind on head-to-head tiebreaker) and only a half-game up on San Francisco at 9-4. Sam Darnold has largely carried over the success he found a season ago in Minnesota. He threw for a season-low 128 yards last week. The defense rose to the occasion, pitching its first shutout since 2015 in a 26-0 win over the Vikings. The defense will get another boost in the near future with Pro Bowl S Julian Love and DT Jarran Reed returning to practice this week after stints on IR. The Falcons are on the verge of missing the playoffs for the eighth straight year after last week’s loss to the Jets. Atlanta is the inverse of Seattle, losing six of its last seven games since a 3-2 start. Kirk Cousins will make his third consecutive start in place of Michael Penix Jr., who is out for the season with a partially torn ACL. Cousins has thrown for 433 total yards, three touchdowns and an interception in his first two starts. It appears he’ll be without star receiver Drake London (knee) for the third time in as many starts, as he hasn’t been practicing this week.

Cincinnati Bengals (4-8) at Buffalo Bills (8-4)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Bills -5.5, Total 53.5
Series Rewind: This will be the first time these teams have faced off in Buffalo since the Bengals won an AFC Divisional Round playoff game 27-10 in January 2023. Cincinnati has won the past two in the series to level it at 17-all.

While the Bengals’ playoff chances remain fairly low, don’t tell that to quarterback Joe Burrow. He returned from turf toe surgery last Thursday, anchoring a 32-14 win at Baltimore as he threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns. Now Burrow enters the portion of the season where he thrives, boasting a 13-3 career NFL record in December/January games. With five games left to play, Cincinnati is two games back of Pittsburgh and Baltimore, tied atop the division at 6-6. Receiver Ja’Marr Chase benefited greatly from getting his quarterback back, recording his fourth 100-yard game in the last seven with 110 yards on seven catches. The Bengals may also get No. 2 receiver Tee Higgins back this week. He missed last week with a concussion but practiced fully on Thursday as he looks to clear concussion protocol. The Bills’ top-ranked pass defense (163.2 yards per game) will challenge Cincinnati’s star-laden passing attack. Buffalo has been hard to get a read on the last few weeks, alternating between wins over division-leading teams and losses to teams at or below .500 at the time of the game over the last four games. Last time out, Buffalo outscored Pittsburgh 23-0 in the second half to come away with a 26-7 road win to remain two games back of the New England Patriots in the AFC East. Bills QB Josh Allen also has a claim to being Mr. December. He’s 12-1 in the month over the last three years. But it’s Buffalo’s run game (league-leading 155.7 yards per game) that has been sparking the offense this season. James Cook III had 177 scrimmage yards last week and ranks second in the NFL in rushing yards (1,228).

Washington Commanders (3-9) at Minnesota Vikings (4-8)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Vikings -1.5, Total 42.5
Series Rewind: Minnesota has won the last three games in this series — the last of which was played in 2022 — to claim a 15-13 all-time lead over Washington.

While the Vikings haven’t gotten what they wanted out of second-year QB J.J. McCarthy this season, they were shown he’s the best option at the moment last week when rookie Max Brosmer threw four interceptions in a 26-0 loss to Seattle while McCarthy was in concussion protocol. McCarthy cleared the protocol Thursday and is set to return after a one-game absence this weekend. With Minnesota clinging to very slim playoff chances, the rest of the season is likely about building McCarthy’s confidence entering 2026 after he’s thrown six touchdowns and 10 interceptions in his first six career starts this season. A Washington defense that ranks 30th in the league in passing yards allowed (254.9 per game) and 28th in scoring defense (26.9 points per game) could be just what McCarthy needs. The Commanders, losers of seven straight games since a 3-2 start, are even closer to the brink of playoff elimination after overtime losses their last two times out vs. Miami and Denver. Washington coach Dan Quinn is not being as upfront about Jayden Daniels’ status this week. He said at the start of the week that he had not been cleared for contact after missing the past three games with a dislocated left elbow, although he was listed as a full practice participant Thursday. A decision on whether Daniels will be able to return was delayed until the end of the week. If he’s out, Marcus Mariota will make his seventh start of the season. He had a season-high 294 passing yards last week and has nine touchdowns to six interceptions this season.

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6) at Baltimore Ravens (6-6)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Ravens -5.5, Total 43.5
Series Rewind: The Steelers have won eight of the past 10 regular-season meetings but the Ravens posted a 28-14 victory in last season’s AFC divisional round when Derrick Henry rushed for 186 yards and two touchdowns.

The two teams share the AFC North lead after traveling much different paths. Pittsburgh was fast out of the gates with a 4-1 start before losing five of their past seven games. Baltimore started 1-5 and rattled off five straight wins (four after Lamar Jackson’s return from injury) before being soundly beaten 32-14 by the Cincinnati Bengals on Thanksgiving. Jackson, a two-time NFL MVP, threw one interception and lost two fumbles as the Ravens uncharacteristically committed five turnovers. Henry is 69 yards away from becoming the fourth player in NFL history with at least 1,000 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in seven different seasons. LaDainian Tomlinson did it a record eight times while Emmitt Smith and Adrian Peterson each did it seven times. Meanwhile, the Steelers were roughed up 26-7 at home by the Buffalo Bills last Sunday. Pittsburgh gained a season-low 166 yards and allowed a season-worst 249 rushing yards. Four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers is hindered by a broken left wrist and had his worst day of the season against the Bills — 10-of-21 passing for a season-low 117 yards. Longtime coach Mike Tomlin is beginning to feel some heat, and Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger suggested it might be time for the coach and team to part ways after the season.

Miami Dolphins (5-7) at New York Jets (3-9)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Dolphins -3, Total 40.5
Series Rewind: The Jets have lost five of the past six meetings with the Dolphins, but New York won two of the last three in the series at home by a combined 35 points.

The Dolphins bust out their cold-weather gear for what is forecast to be a frigid Sunday afternoon on the plastic grass at MetLife Stadium. Given Miami’s history in freezing temperatures and below, the strategy shift to place the offensive plan in the hands of RB De’Von Achane (1,404 yards, 10 total TDs) might help the Dolphins break through. He’s averaging 5.6 yards per carry and has five-plus receptions in four of the past five games. The Jets are not likely thrilled to see the Achane train roll into the station. He went over 100 yards from scrimmage in each of their past three games. Weather is less likely to modify the conservative offense of the Jets. New York has shuffled the deck since a Week 4 loss to the Dolphins, inserting Tyrod Taylor as the starting quarterback and trading away defensive anchors Quinnen Williams (to Dallas) and Sauce Gardner (to the Colts). Adonai Mitchell led the team with eight receptions for 102 yards last week, and Taylor accounted for two TDs while leading the Jets to a 27-24 win over the Falcons.

-Field Level Media

NFL: Week 9’s Late Game Previews

by

Jacksonville Jaguars (4-3) at Las Vegas Raiders (2-5)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Jaguars -3, Total 44.5
Series Rewind: The Raiders won 19-14 last season in their first matchup in Las Vegas since the team’s relocation. Jacksonville leads the all-time series 6-5, last beating the Raiders in 2016.

Jacksonville is hoping the bye week it just concluded can be a reset of sorts for the final 10 games of the regular season. After jumping out to its first 4-1 start since 2007, the Jaguars limped into their bye week with a home loss to Seattle followed by an uncompetitive 35-7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in London. The Jaguars could be limited at receiver against the Raiders, with Brian Thomas Jr. (shoulder) and Tim Patrick (groin) both limited in the first two practices. Two-way sensation Travis Hunter Jr. (knee) was also limited in Thursday’s practice after he had no designation on Wednesday. Las Vegas, also coming out of a bye, will be playing its first game since co-owner Carol Davis, The First Lady of Raider Nation, passed away on Oct. 24 at the age of 93. The offense, shut out the last time out by Kansas City, should get a spark with the return of All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers, who will return after missing the last three games and been out of the starting lineup since Week 1 with a knee injury. Standout defensive end Maxx Crosby (back) didn’t practice Wednesday and was limited Thursday.

Embed from Getty Images

New Orleans Saints (1-7) at Los Angeles Rams (5-2)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Rams -14.5, Total 43.5
Series Rewind: Los Angeles leads the all-time series 45-35 and has won four of the last five games against the Saints, including each of the last two years.

After throwing for five touchdowns last time out vs. Jacksonville in London, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford remains tied for the NFL lead in touchdown passes (17) coming out of the team’s bye week. He did that without leading receiver Puka Nacua, who missed the game with an ankle injury, but it appears that will be just a one-game absence as Nacua was a full participant in Thursday’s practice. That’s timely for Los Angeles, which remains in a tightly contested NFC West race, with three of the four teams either 5-2 or 5-3. New Orleans made a quarterback change midway through last week’s 23-3 home loss to Tampa Bay, bringing rookie Tyler Shough off the bench. After completing 17 of 30 passes for 128 yards and an interception, Shough’s first start will be a steep challenge against a Los Angeles team which ranks third in scoring defense (16.7 points per game), second in sacks (26) and eighth in takeaways (10). It remains to be seen if Shough will have either of his top two running backs available, as both Alvin Kamara and Devin Neal have been limited in practice with ankle injuries.

Kansas City Chiefs (5-3) at Buffalo Bills (5-2)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Chiefs -1.5, Total 52.5
Series Rewind: Josh Allen’s Bills are 4-1 in the regular season vs. Patrick Mahomes, but Mahomes’ Chiefs are 4-0 vs. Allen in the postseason. Their teams have won a combined 14 division titles since 2016.

Kansas City has won three straight and five of six since an 0-2 start to the season. Buffalo snapped a two-game slide with a 40-9 pounding of the Panthers last weekend. Mahomes is looking for his fourth straight game with three or more touchdown passes, while Allen is looking for his sixth straight game at home with two or more TD passes and a 100-plus passer rating. Mahomes actually leads the two quarterbacks in rushing, 280-261, although Allen holds a 5-4 edge in rushing TDs. Chiefs star Travis Kelce needs 26 yards to become the fourth tight end in NFL history with 500-plus yards in 12 seasons. Bills running back James Cook is coming off a career-high 216-yard game against the Panthers and has scored at least one rushing TD in seven of his last eight home games. Kansas City is the only team that has not lost a fumble this season.

Seattle Seahawks (5-2) at Washington Commanders (3-5)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Seahawks -3, Total 47.5
Series Rewind: The last four regular-season meetings (since 2017) were all decided by five or fewer points, with each side winning once at home and once on the road.

The Seahawks are 3-0 away from home this season and have won nine straight road games under second-year coach Mike Macdonald, while the Commanders are 9-3 at home under second-year coach Dan Quinn. Future Seahawks Ring of Honor member Bobby Wagner is in his second season with Washington and is the only NFL player with eight or more tackles in eight games this season. Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba is trying to become the first WR since 2018 (Adam Thielen) with 100-plus receiving yards and a TD in four straight games. Commanders fans are excited about the expected return of quarterback Jayden Daniels, who has thrown for at least 200 yards and two TDs in three straight prime-time games. Counterpart Sam Darnold threw four TD passes in his only previous appearance against Washington (2019 with the Jets). The Seahawks are 2-0 under the lights so far this season and the Commanders are 0-3.

–Field Level Media

NFL: Week 9 Previews

by

Atlanta Falcons (3-4) at New England Patriots (6-2)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Patriots -5.5, Total 44.5
Series Rewind: New England has won its last seven games against Atlanta and leads the all-time series 10-6. The Patriots have won the last two regular-season games since rallying from down 28-3 to beat the Falcons in overtime of Super Bowl LI.

Embed from Getty Images

The Patriots are riding high on their longest winning streak in four years entering this week’s game. Drake Maye has thrown 10 touchdowns to one interception over New England’s five-game winning streak, playing his way into the MVP conversation in his second season. He’s been helped by the league’s fourth-best scoring defense (18.3 points per game) and having this level of offensive success despite the fact that the Patriots still don’t have a 300-yard rusher this season. The Falcons are feeling low after last week’s 34-10 home loss to Miami when QB Michael Penix Jr. was sidelined due to a bone bruise in his left knee. It was the team’s second straight loss coming out of its bye week. Penix and leading receiver Drake London (hip) have both been limited through the team’s first two practices of the week. Atlanta coach Raheem Morris labeled them as “day-to-day” while Penix said he’s trending in the right direction. That’s badly needed for an offense which has generated 20 points the last two weeks.

Indianapolis Colts (7-1) at Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Colts -3, Total 50.5
Series Rewind: The Colts have won the past two meetings after Pittsburgh prevailed in the previous eight matchups.

Colts running back Jonathan Taylor might be the best overall player in the league. Taylor has scored three touchdowns four separate times this season and leads the NFL with 850 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground. He has 14 total touchdowns, giving him a chance to challenge the total touchdowns record of 31 set by then-San Diego Chargers great LaDainian Tomlinson in 2006. Taylor’s touchdown count is more than the grand total of four different teams and is tied with another. Indianapolis has topped 30 points in each of the past four games and quarterback Daniel Jones is excelling with 2,062 passing yards, 13 touchdowns through the air and three interceptions. Pittsburgh is looking to rebound after back-to-back setbacks against the Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers. Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers lost 35-25 to his former club (the Packers) while completing 24 of 36 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns. The Pittsburgh defense featuring stars such as outside linebacker T.J. Watt and defensive tackle Cam Heyward has allowed more than 30 points in consecutive games and four times overall. The Steelers sustained a huge blow when safety DeShon Elliott was carted off with a hyperextended left knee against Green Bay and later placed on injured reserve. Pittsburgh traded for New England safety Kyle Dugger on Wednesday to help soften the loss.

Los Angeles Chargers (5-3) at Tennessee Titans (1-7)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Chargers -9.5, Total 43.5
Series Rewind: The Chargers have won four of the past six meetings, including last season’s 27-17 home triumph.

The Chargers looked great at the outset of the season with three straight victories and were dominant while crushing the Minnesota Vikings 37-10 last week. But in between, they lost three of four games so who knows which team makes up the real Chargers. Quarterback Justin Herbert has thrown three touchdown passes in back-to-back games and is tied for third with 16 scoring passes. He also leads the league with 2,140 passing yards. Unsung Kimani Vidal has saved the running back position by rushing for 117 yards against the Vikings, 11 days after collecting 124 against the Miami Dolphins. He became the starter after injuries to Najee Harris (Achilles) and rookie Omarion Hampton (hamstring). This is the first of four straight home games for the Titans but that gift from the schedule makers isn’t going to vault Tennessee into the playoffs. The Titans have a bunch of injuries to deal with and rookie quarterback Cam Ward is experiencing weekly growing pains while surrounded by minimal talent. However, interim coach Mike McCoy surely would like to deliver some payback against the organization that fired him following the 2016 campaign after four seasons. Star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (4.5 sacks), the best overall player on the squad, is in danger of missing his second straight game. Simmons (hamstring) sat out last week and hasn’t practiced yet this week.

Minnesota Vikings (3-4) at Detroit Lions (5-2)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Lions -8.5, Total 48.5
Series Rewind: The Lions buried the Vikings, 31-9, in the regular-season finale last season to win the NFC North title. Detroit took six of the past seven games in the series.

A QB carousel the Vikings appeared to have resolved last season with Sam Darnold has spun once more with J.J. McCarthy returning to the QB1 role and Carson Wentz hitting injured reserve. McCarthy was hurt in this second career start but has practiced for two weeks to prove his health while recovering from a high ankle sprain. This is his first division game since a miraculous comeback for Minnesota at Chicago in Week 1. Keeping up with the Lions might require another gear. Chief concerns for the Vikings start with protecting McCarthy. Starting tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill are banged up and lead blocker C.J. Ham (hand) was limited all week. Building a wall in front of McCarthy could spare him an unceremonious introduction to Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. Hutchinson has three sacks and five tackles for loss in two games in Detroit against the Vikings. If he has time to throw, McCarthy can dial up Justin Jefferson, who has 72 catches and averages 120.6 yards per game in 10 career meetings with Detroit. Lions QB Jared Goff thrives in this matchup, too. In 10 career games, he averages 288.4 passing yards with 18 TDs, five INTs and a 105.1 passer rating.

Denver Broncos (6-2) at Houston Texans (3-4)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Texans -1.5, Total 40.5
Series Rewind: Houston recorded a 22-17 home victory last season after the Broncos won four of the previous five matchups.

Both teams have excelled on the defensive side this season so a low-scoring contest won’t be a surprise. The Texans lead the league in scoring defense (14.7) and total defense (266.9) and Denver ranks fifth in both categories – 18.9 and 281.4, respectively. Houston has allowed more than 20 points just once this season and features star pass rushers in Will Anderson (five sacks) and Danielle Hunter (four) as well as standout cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (two interceptions). Denver has allowed 17 or fewer points on four occasions but has got the offense cranked up during its current five-game winning streak. The Broncos scored 33 fourth-quarter points to rally past the New York Giants by one point two weeks ago and torched the Dallas Cowboys 44-24 last week. Denver quarterback Bo Nix threw four touchdown passes for the third time in his two-year career in the win over Dallas. The bad news is that cornerback Patrick Surtain II (pectoral) was hurt against the Cowboys and could miss multiple games. Surtain is the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw is back after a one-game suspension for berating referee Brad Allen after the comeback win over New York. Houston will get back Nico Collins (concussion) after a one-game absence while fellow wideout Christian Kirk (hamstring) might be back after missing two games. Collins topped 1,000 receiving yards in each of the past two seasons.

Chicago Bears (4-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (3-5)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Bears -3, Total 50.5

Series Rewind: Chicago has three consecutive wins over the Bengals. The last meeting (September 2021) featured 27 total fourth-quarter points; the Bears won 20-17, sacked Joe Burrow five times and intercepted three passes.

Cincinnati’s run defense is the worst in the league, yielding 151.9 yards per game. The Bears are determined to attack weaknesses, which could mean more of rookie seventh-rounder Kyle Monangai in an expanded role. D’Andre Swift has been fighting a groin injury. Head coach Ben Johnson noted the importance of setting up a defense with success on the ground to ease the burden and simplify the pre-snap process for the skill-position group. Caleb Williams has 11 touchdowns and three interceptions in his past eight road games. The Bengals are thriving on downfield throws since Joe Flacco jumped into the lineup. Flacco is dealing with a shoulder injury but has pushed to play. WR Ja’Marr Chase had 12 catches for 91 yards last week and leads the league in catches. He has 38 receptions in his past three games, tied for the most in a three-game span in league history. Even if Flacco makes the start, there is a chance he won’t be able to finish the game given the severity of his shoulder (AC injury) issue. Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson has a QB sack in each of his three career games against the Bears. He’s still dealing with a hip injury suffered at Green Bay on Oct. 12.

San Francisco 49ers (5-3) at New York Giants (2-6)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: 49ers -2.5, Total 48.5
Series Rewind: San Francisco has won three of the last four meetings to take a 22-21 lead in the series, including a 4-4 split in the playoffs. New York won both NFC Championship clashes (1990 and 2011 seasons).

Both teams are 2-3 in their last five games, the 49ers following a 3-0 start and the Giants after an 0-3 start. It could be a big day for 49ers star Christian McCaffrey, as the Giants are giving up a league-high 5.7 yards per carry and have allowed 10 rushing touchdowns this season. Niners coach Kyle Shanahan said he can’t name a starting quarterback until he sees how Brock Purdy’s troublesome toe fares in practice this week, but here’s one interesting stat of note: Mac Jones is 0-5 against NFC East opponents in his career and Purdy is 6-0. Whoever starts better keep both eyes on Giants linebacker Brian Burns, who has sacks in seven of his past eight games. New York rookie Jaxson Dart has won both of his home starts so far (versus the Chargers and Eagles) but won’t have sparkplug running back Cam Skattebo, handing the ball instead to erstwhile starter Tyrone Tracy Jr.

Carolina Panthers (4-4) at Green Bay Packers (5-1-1)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel Odds: Packers -13.5, Total 43.5
Series Rewind: Green Bay beat the Panthers on Christmas Eve at Carolina in 2023, 30-13, and the Packers have won three in a row in the series.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said it’s fair to view TE Tucker Kraft as the team’s No. 1 receiver after his 7-143-2 performance last week in QB Jordan Love’s 10th career game with three TD passes. Kraft has a TD catch in three home games in a row and the Panthers are committed to the ground game to prevent engaging in a shootout at Lambeau. Carolina’s wide receivers gain only 3.2 yards after the reception this season, forcing the offensive line to create push for the tandem of Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard on early downs. Dowdle has 364 rushing yards on first down since Week 5, which is the most in the league. Shifting away from ball control always sparks the Packers’ potent pass rush featuring Micah Parsons and Rashan Gary, who have combined for 14 sacks. The Packers have given up on six points in the first quarter and leads the NFL with an average of 7.3 points allowed in the first half in 2025.

Jacksonville Jaguars (4-3) at Las Vegas Raiders (2-5)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Jaguars -3, Total 44.5
Series Rewind: The Raiders won 19-14 last season in their first matchup in Las Vegas since the team’s relocation. Jacksonville leads the all-time series 6-5, last beating the Raiders in 2016.

Jacksonville is hoping the bye week it just concluded can be a reset of sorts for the final 10 games of the regular season. After jumping out to its first 4-1 start since 2007, the Jaguars limped into their bye week with a home loss to Seattle followed by an uncompetitive 35-7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in London. The Jaguars could be limited at receiver against the Raiders, with Brian Thomas Jr. (shoulder) and Tim Patrick (groin) both limited in the first two practices. Two-way sensation Travis Hunter Jr. (knee) was also limited in Thursday’s practice after he had no designation on Wednesday. Las Vegas, also coming out of a bye, will be playing its first game since co-owner Carol Davis, The First Lady of Raider Nation, passed away on Oct. 24 at the age of 93. The offense, shut out the last time out by Kansas City, should get a spark with the return of All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers, who will return after missing the last three games and been out of the starting lineup since Week 1 with a knee injury. Standout defensive end Maxx Crosby (back) didn’t practice Wednesday and was limited Thursday.

New Orleans Saints (1-7) at Los Angeles Rams (5-2)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Rams -14.5, Total 43.5
Series Rewind: Los Angeles leads the all-time series 45-35 and has won four of the last five games against the Saints, including each of the last two years.

After throwing for five touchdowns last time out vs. Jacksonville in London, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford remains tied for the NFL lead in touchdown passes (17) coming out of the team’s bye week. He did that without leading receiver Puka Nacua, who missed the game with an ankle injury, but it appears that will be just a one-game absence as Nacua was a full participant in Thursday’s practice. That’s timely for Los Angeles, which remains in a tightly contested NFC West race, with three of the four teams either 5-2 or 5-3. New Orleans made a quarterback change midway through last week’s 23-3 home loss to Tampa Bay, bringing rookie Tyler Shough off the bench. After completing 17 of 30 passes for 128 yards and an interception, Shough’s first start will be a steep challenge against a Los Angeles team which ranks third in scoring defense (16.7 points per game), second in sacks (26) and eighth in takeaways (10). It remains to be seen if Shough will have either of his top two running backs available, as both Alvin Kamara and Devin Neal have been limited in practice with ankle injuries.

Kansas City Chiefs (5-3) at Buffalo Bills (5-2)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Chiefs -1.5, Total 52.5
Series Rewind: Josh Allen’s Bills are 4-1 in the regular season vs. Patrick Mahomes, but Mahomes’ Chiefs are 4-0 vs. Allen in the postseason. Their teams have won a combined 14 division titles since 2016.

Kansas City has won three straight and five of six since an 0-2 start to the season. Buffalo snapped a two-game slide with a 40-9 pounding of the Panthers last weekend. Mahomes is looking for his fourth straight game with three or more touchdown passes, while Allen is looking for his sixth straight game at home with two or more TD passes and a 100-plus passer rating. Mahomes actually leads the two quarterbacks in rushing, 280-261, although Allen holds a 5-4 edge in rushing TDs. Chiefs star Travis Kelce needs 26 yards to become the fourth tight end in NFL history with 500-plus yards in 12 seasons. Bills running back James Cook is coming off a career-high 216-yard game against the Panthers and has scored at least one rushing TD in seven of his last eight home games. Kansas City is the only team that has not lost a fumble this season.

Seattle Seahawks (5-2) at Washington Commanders (3-5)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Seahawks -3, Total 47.5
Series Rewind: The last four regular-season meetings (since 2017) were all decided by five or fewer points, with each side winning once at home and once on the road.

The Seahawks are 3-0 away from home this season and have won nine straight road games under second-year coach Mike Macdonald, while the Commanders are 9-3 at home under second-year coach Dan Quinn. Future Seahawks Ring of Honor member Bobby Wagner is in his second season with Washington and is the only NFL player with eight or more tackles in eight games this season. Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba is trying to become the first WR since 2018 (Adam Thielen) with 100-plus receiving yards and a TD in four straight games. Commanders fans are excited about the expected return of quarterback Jayden Daniels, who has thrown for at least 200 yards and two TDs in three straight prime-time games. Counterpart Sam Darnold threw four TD passes in his only previous appearance against Washington (2019 with the Jets). The Seahawks are 2-0 under the lights so far this season and the Commanders are 0-3.

–Field Level Media

NFL: Week 13 Previews

by

NFL – Week 13 Previews

Indianapolis Colts (6-5) at Tennessee Titans (4-7)
The Colts presently occupy the seventh and final playoff spot in the AFC. That’s a big credit to the running game, including Zack Moss, who’ll start with Jonathan Taylor (thumb) on the shelf again. Moss has rushed for a team-high 672 yards and five touchdowns on 141 carries — all career highs. His best game came in a 23-16 win against Tennessee on Oct. 8, gashing the Titans for 165 yards and two scores on 23 attempts. The Titans are mathematically alive for a wild-card spot but probably need to win out. The Titans were able to snap a three-game skid last week, edging Carolina 17-10 as Derrick Henry ran for two touchdowns. He’s averaging 107.8 rushing yards in home games this season.

Embed from Getty Images

Los Angeles Chargers (4-7) at New England Patriots (2-9)
The Patriots have won the past six meetings with the Chargers, but that might be the only streak New England wants to discuss these days. Mac Jones is being benched in favor of Bailey Zappe (2-0 career as a starter), with the Patriots seeking a spark offensively. New England is putting up 13.5 points per game and has a turnover margin of minus-8. The Chargers’ situation isn’t nearly as dire, but Los Angeles is starting to see its playoff hopes fade. Since back-to-back wins over the Bears and Jets, the Chargers have dropped three straight games, including last Sunday’s 20-10 setback against the Baltimore Ravens.

Detroit Lions (8-3) at New Orleans Saints (5-6)
Quarterback Jared Goff spent part of Wednesday running through ball security drills, and he wasn’t alone. The Lions lost three fumbles with one takeaway in a 29-22 home loss to the Packers on Thanksgiving Day, four days after struggling to a 31-26 victory over Chicago, when Goff was picked off three times. The Saints are tied for fourth in the NFL with 20 takeaways. But New Orleans is trying to move past a 24-15 loss at Atlanta last week and has its own issues in the red zone. The Saints were stifled by the Falcons last week, reaching the red zone five times without scoring a touchdown. While the Saints netted five field goals, two of the possessions inside the 20 ended in turnovers, including a game-changing pick-6 thrown by Derek Carr.

Atlanta Falcons (5-6) at New York Jets (4-7)
All the Jets want for Christmas is their No. 1 QB, but Aaron Rodgers might be weeks — or months — away from taking his next snap. It’s up to Tim Boyle to move the Jets toward the playoffs to keep Rodgers’ return this season in play. Boyle hit RB Breece Hall for a career-high seven catches last week. Atlanta’s record may not look much better than that of the Jets, but the Falcons are leading the NFC South after beating the New Orleans Saints 24-15 last Sunday. Atlanta is 3-0 against division competition and 2-6 against all other teams. Desmond Ridder took back starting quarterback duties last week after a two-week benching and completed 13 of 21 passes for 168 yards, a touchdown and two picks — including one near the Saints’ goal line.

Arizona Cardinals (2-10) at Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4)
Arizona arrives in full rebuilding mode, armed with the second-worst record in the NFL, and brings James Conner for a reunion with his old team after he missed more than a month with injuries. He has rushed for 526 yards on 104 attempts in eight games. The Cardinals were ripped by their own coach for their effort following last week’s 37-14 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams. They’ll need extra effort to contain Steelers pass rusher T.J. Watt, who is tied for the league lead in sacks with 13.5. The Steelers are leaning heavily on Watt and their defense to contend for a wild-card spot in the AFC and are currently second in the North division, 1 1/2 games behind the Baltimore Ravens.

Miami Dolphins (8-3) at Washington Commanders (4-8)
What in the world is Ron Rivera planning to do with the Miami Dolphins’ offensive machine after being blasted for an average of 38 points in the past two games? Dallas whipped Washington 45-10 last week, resulting in Rivera firing defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio. The Dolphins average 30.8 points per game and the Commanders only hope might be matching Miami’s scoring output. Washington can move the ball. Sam Howell leads the NFL in completions (323) and passing yards (3,339) through the first 12 weeks of the season. The issue for the Commanders has been protecting Howell in the pocket. He’s on pace to shatter the NFL single-season record for times sacked.

Denver Broncos (6-5) at Houston Texans (6-5)
Don’t look now, but the Broncos are tied for the NFL’s longest winning streak at five games as they go head-to-head with potential wild-card competition in Houston. QB Russell Wilson’s next TD pass would push him past Dan Marino for second-most in his first 12 seasons (Marino had 328). The Texans are thrilled with the development of their own franchise quarterback, C.J. Stroud. He’s second in the NFL in passing yards and is the only rookie with four consecutive 300-yard games.

Carolina Panthers (1-10) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7)
For the second December in a row, the Buccaneers play the Panthers with an interim head coach at the helm in Carolina. Chris Tabor jumped into the head-coaching role Monday when Frank Reich was fired. The Buccaneers aren’t exactly in a groove, but they’re still squarely in the hunt for the division title behind a reclamation project well known to the Panthers, Baker Mayfield. The Buccaneers get two swings at the Panthers in the next five weeks, the second one being the Jan. 7 finale. Mayfield began last season with Carolina and lasted seven games, with the team posting a 1-6 record, before he was released.

Cleveland Browns (7-4) at Los Angeles Rams (5-6)
If you had Joe Flacco starting for the Browns on your bingo card, we need visual evidence. That’s the potential reality for Cleveland with Dorian Thompson-Robinson (concussion) iffy, setting up a matchup of 38-year-old Flacco and 35-year-old Matthew Stafford in L.A. The Browns (7-4) hold the No. 6 seed in the AFC, one game clear of the seventh-seeded Indianapolis Colts. In last Sunday’s 37-14 win against the Arizona Cardinals, Stafford passed for 229 yards and a season-best four touchdowns — two each to Kyren Williams and tight end Tyler Higbee. Williams has been the team’s top playmaker as a rookie despite missing four games with an ankle injury.

San Francisco 49ers (8-3) at Philadelphia Eagles (10-1)
The Eagles can clinch a playoff berth this weekend, a significant statement considering they are the sole team in position to secure a postseason spot with five weeks remaining in the regular season. In a return to the scene of last season’s NFC Championship Game, the 49ers are back to purring with Brock Purdy at quarterback, logging three consecutive wins to erase a three-game losing streak. Their last visit was marred by an elbow injury to Purdy as the Eagles cruised to the 31-7 win that elevated them into the Super Bowl. Come Sunday, Purdy is healthy and teammate Christian McCaffrey is flourishing, while Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is once again enjoying a solid season. Philadelphia owns the best record in the NFL after posting four straight comeback wins and recording five consecutive overall wins. San Francisco leads the NFC West after winning its past three games. Purdy was injured eight minutes into the playoff loss last season. He leads the NFL with a 70.2 completion percentage and benefits from McCaffrey, who leads the NFL in rushing yards and touchdowns (16).

Kansas City Chiefs (8-3) at Green Bay Packers (5-6)
Kansas City has put plenty of pressure on opposing teams this season. The Chiefs, who lead the AFC West by two games over the Broncos, won Jordan Love’s debut NFL start in November 2021, 13-7. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes passed for 298 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Running back Isiah Pacheco scored twice on the ground, and Rashee Rice and Justin Watson notched one touchdown reception apiece. TE Travis Kelce has at least six catches in eight of his past nine games. The trip to northern Wisconsin will carry special meaning for Kansas City coach Andy Reid. He started his NFL coaching career in Green Bay, where he worked from 1992-98 as a tight ends coach, an assistant offensive line coach and eventually a quarterbacks coach. Brett Favre and the Packers won the Super Bowl during the 1996 season with Reid on the staff.

 

NFL: Week 12 Previews

by

NEW ORLEANS – With Thanksgiving Day in the rearview, it’s “Winning Time” in the NFL is a team wants to remain relevant in a parity-driven league with plenty of football left to play. Here are the weekend previews for November 26:

NFL Week 12 Capsules

Falcons (4-6) vs. Saints (5-5): Desmond Ridder is back as QB1 for Atlanta, which is desperately trying to pull itself out of a three-game losing streak. Ridder will be up against a New Orleans defense without Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore, who was placed on injured reserve on Saturday due to an ankle injury. The NFC South has been the league’s weakest division, evident by the Saints’ status as the top team, but New Orleans could slip in the standings with a loss on Sunday.

Bengals (5-5) vs. Steelers (6-4): With star quarterback Joe Burrow set to undergo season-ending wrist surgery, Cincinnati is turning to Jake Browning under center. Browning has appeared in just two NFL games (zero starts), but the Bengals have faith in him, and he’ll be facing a Pittsburgh defense allowing the 10th-most passing yards per game in the NFL (239.9). Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (hamstring) has already been ruled out for the game, too. The Steelers’ offense is also in flux, as offensive coordinator Matt Canada was fired on Tuesday.

Texans (6-4) vs. Jaguars (7-3): Houston has already beaten Jacksonville once this season, and another win would give the Texans first place in the AFC South. C.J. Stroud has the Houston offense rolling and has emerged as the clear frontrunner to win Rookie of the Year. He has formed a strong connection with fellow rookie Tank Dell, who has 20 catches for 319 yards and four touchdowns over the last three weeks. Don’t sleep on the Jaguars, though, as they’ve won six of their past seven games since their loss to the Texans on Sept. 24.

Colts (5-5) vs. Buccaneers (4-6): Although it sits two games under .500, Tampa Bay still has a shot to make the playoffs, but its offense has been scuffling. The Buccaneers have scored just 34 points over their past two games and will be looking to break through against a stout defense that held the Panthers to 13 points on Nov. 5 before suffocating the Patriots in a 10-6 victory on Nov. 12. Indianapolis linebacker Zaire Franklin has been a monster, posting the third-most tackles (117) in the league.

Giants (3-8) vs. Patriots (2-8): The days of New York and New England meeting in the Super Bowl are long gone, to say the least. The only team averaging fewer points per game than the Patriots (14.1) happens to be the Giants (13.5). New England coach Bill Belichick hasn’t even named a starting quarterback yet, and he’s essentially picking between the lesser of two evils with Mac Jones (2,031 passing yards, 10 TDs, 10 interceptions) and Bailey Zappe (104 yards, 0 TDs, one interception). For the Giants, Daniel Jones’ torn ACL has opened the door for Tommy DeVito, who could have New York playing inspired football after throwing for three touchdowns in a 31-19 victory over the Commanders last week.

Titans (3-7) vs. Panthers (1-9): Could this be the week Tennessee running back Derrick Henry turns back the clock? Henry has carried the ball 21 times for just 62 yards in the past two weeks combined, but he might be able to find some relief against a Carolina defense surrendering 129.4 rushing yards per game. Carolina’s secondary is also in disarray, as cornerbacks Jaycee Horn (hamstring) and C.J. Henderson (concussion) are doubtful and safety Sam Franklin Jr. (quadriceps) is questionable.

Cardinals (2-9) vs. Rams (4-6): Los Angeles snapped a three-game skid on the heels of its defense last week, as the Rams held the Seahawks to just 87 yards in the second half. Now Los Angeles will try its best to contain Arizona, which has yet to get the desired results from Kyler Murray from his first two games. Murray has thrown for 463 yards, one touchdown and two picks, but he should have some space to operate against a Rams defense that has just five interceptions and 21 sacks this season.

Broncos (5-5) vs. Browns (7-3): Perhaps no team has battled adversity better than Cleveland. The Browns are without starting quarterback Deshaun Watson and star running back Nick Chubb for the season, but Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Jerome Ford are doing just enough to back one of the best defenses in the league. However, Denver has rattled off four straight wins, and Russell Wilson has thrown seven TDs without an interception during that stretch.

Kansas City Chiefs (7-3) at Las Vegas Raiders (5-6): Sunday begins a stretch of three straight home games for the Raiders, who carry a four-game winning streak at Allegiant Stadium since losing to Pittsburgh in their home opener in Week 3. “That Black Hole has to be real,” Raiders interim coach Antonio Pierce said. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs have won five of the six meetings between the division rivals since the Raiders relocated to Las Vegas. They’re vowing to stay positive after being held scoreless in the second half of its 21-17 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles in a Super Bowl LVII rematch.

Buffalo Bills (6-5) at Philadelphia Eagles (9-1): A.J. Brown and Jalen Hurts had an animated chat on the sidelines after a botched play led to a Chiefs interception in the second quarter last week. In spite of Brown’s one catch for 8 yards, the Eagles still won and stand a league-best 9-1. Like Brown, Stefon Diggs has been kept under wraps this month after topping 100 receiving yards in five of Buffalo’s first six games. The Bills didn’t need a big game from Diggs to smother the New York Jets last week and snap a two-game skid, but he could hold the key to torching an Eagles secondary that ranks 28th with 248.1 passing yards allowed per game.

Baltimore Ravens (8-3) at Los Angeles Chargers (4-6): Lamar Jackson is dealing with a left ankle injury sustained in the Ravens’ last game Nov. 16, but he wasn’t on the injury report this week and insists the ankle will be fine against the Chargers. Jackson won’t have top target Mark Andrews, as the tight end underwent ankle surgery this week. Still, the Ravens have won five of six as they run into a Chargers squad that keeps finding new ways to lose close games. Los Angeles has lost five games by three points or fewer this season, including last week’s 23-20 defeat at Green Bay.

Chicago Bears (3-8) at Minnesota Vikings (6-5): Minnesota’s five-game winning streak may have ended last week in a 21-20 loss at Denver, but the Vikings saved their season with that streak, which began with a 19-13 win at Chicago. The biggest question this week is whether folk-hero quarterback Joshua Dobbs will get to team up with star wideout Justin Jefferson for the first time. Jefferson (hamstring) is listed as questionable; he’s been out from Week 6 on, before Kirk Cousins was lost for the season and Dobbs was acquired. Meanwhile, Justin Fields said the Bears are “better than what we put on tape” in the first meeting with Minnesota, but Chicago must evaluate whether to stick with Fields long-term as the team is about to earn two high draft picks this spring.

–Field Level Media

NFL: Week Two | Game Previews

by

NFL Previews: Week Two

(Staff and Wire Service Report)

Green Bay at Atlanta: GB QB Jordan Love enjoyed life on the road in the opener — three TD passes in a 38-20 win over the Bears — and matches up with Desmond Ridder at Atlanta in his encore performance. The Packers’ traveling party might look a little different due to injuries. RB Aaron Jones, WR Christian Watson and LB Quay Walker (concussion) were all iffy late in the week. Ridder ran a no-risk offense to notch a win over the Panthers. The Falcons are more grind than glitter, but flashy rookie RB Bijan Robinson has Green Bay’s attention as part of a tandem with RB Tyler Allgeier (two TDs in Week 1).

Las Vegas at Buffalo: LV WR Jakobi Meyers caught a pair of TD passes last week but was in concussion protocol as the Raiders got ready for the angry Bills, who dropped their opener to the Jets in overtime thanks to four turnovers. Las Vegas enjoyed the debut of Jimmy Garoppolo, who is 4-1 all-time against the AFC East. The Bills are accustomed to seeing a more comfortable Josh Allen at home. He had 21 TDs (one rushing) in home games in 2022 (Lions QB Jared Goff led the NFL with 23). Allen admitted he was careless with the deep ball, leading to three interceptions in Week 1. He’ll continue to look for WR Stefon Diggs, who had 6-115 in his last game against the Raiders. Las Vegas looks to balance its offense with RB Josh Jacobs. Still getting into gear after skipping the preseason due to his contract status, he extended his active streak in Week 1 to 26 games with 50-plus yards from scrimmage.

Baltimore at Cincinnati: Cincinnati is looking to bounce back from a 24-3 loss to the host Browns in Week 1. Facing Myles Garrett and an intense Cleveland pass rush in the rain, Joe Burrow and the Bengals could never get the offense in gear, recording just 142 yards of total offense. Burrow had 82 passing yards. The Ravens beat the visiting Texans 25-9 in their home opener, sacking C.J. Stroud five times and holding Houston to just 268 yards of total offense. The Bengals are trying to avoid a repeat of last year’s 0-2 start before winning 12 of their final 14 games to end the regular season and capture their second straight AFC North title. The Bengals also started 0-3 in the division before turning things around. Baltimore is banged-up and has already lost starting RB J.K. Dobbins for the 2023 season, due to an injured Achilles’ heel.

Seattle at Detroit: Lions QB Jared Goff has gone 359 straight pass attempts without getting picked off. That is the third-longest streak in NFL history behind only Aaron Rodgers (402) and Tom Brady (399). Detroit (1-0) missed the 2022 playoffs thanks in part to a shootout loss to the Seahawks. Seattle beat the Lions 51-29 late in the 2021 season and left Detroit last season with a 48-45 triumph. Blocking — and personnel up front — are top-level concerns for the Seahawks. Neither starting offensive tackle is expected to be available due to injury. That’s tough news when contending with Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson, who had eight hurries of Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes in the opener.

Indianapolis at Houston: Top draft picks and QBs of the future Anthony Richardson (Colts) and C.J. Stroud (Texans) tangle for the first of what is likely many division meetings with the losing team dropping to 0-2. These teams tied under different circumstances to open the 2022 season and made coaching changes in the offseason. Each coach preached this week about the importance of avoiding dangerous hits. The Ravens sacked Stroud five times, tied for the third-highest total from Week 1. Richardson absorbed four sacks plus additional blows while scrambling for 40 yards and a touchdown, but left the game on the final drive after being blasted trying to run for another TD inside the 5.

Kansas City at Jacksonville: The Jaguars and Chiefs meet for the third time in less than a year, with Jacksonville looking for its first win over Kansas City since 2009. The Chiefs beat Jacksonville in the divisional playoffs in Kansas City in January. Kansas City expects to be closer to full strength than Week 1, with DT Chris Jones (contract-related) and TE Travis Kelce (knee) absent. Both are shooting to play. Jacksonville used a 14-point flurry in 1:05 in the fourth quarter to separate from the Colts last week. WR Calvin Ridley had 101 yards and a TD in his first game with the Jaguars. In QB Patrick Mahomes’ only game at Jacksonville, he posted 378 yards and three TD passes, and the Jaguars have never held him under 300 yards in three career meetings.

L.A. Chargers at Tennessee: Titans QB Ryan Tannehill said the offense couldn’t be much worse than it was in a 17-16 loss to the Saints last week. And, well, even if the Chargers don’t say so — allowing 17 pass plays of 15-plus yards to the Dolphins represents a special tier of defensive incompetence. Dinged up WR DeAndre Hopkins (ankle) and Tannehill haven’t had much time to get on the same page. RB Derrick Henry is the constant for Tennessee and posted his 43rd career game with 100-plus yards from scrimmage. The Chargers prepped for Week 2 largely without RB Austin Ekeler (ankle) and top pass rusher Joey Bosa (hamstring). Joshua Kelley picked up the slack with 91 rushing yards last week and QB Justin Herbert has an enviable assortment of weapons that now includes massive rookie WR Quentin Johnston.

Chicago at Tampa Bay: All of the new toys in the Bears’ offense were barely unwrapped in an 18-point loss to the Packers. Justin Fields promises a more aggressive approach pushing the ball downfield to No. 1 WR DJ Moore and Darnell Mooney. Tampa Bay had three takeaways at Minnesota and survived a 150-yard game from Justin Jefferson to beat the Vikings thanks to Baker Mayfield’s two TD passes. Mayfield claims he decoded the Minnesota defensive signals and showed serious grit playing through a shoulder injury. WR Mike Evans caught a TD pass to put the contract drama with the Bucs in the rearview mirror, and he caught three TDs in his last meeting with the Bears. Chicago’s coverage adjustments include finding a replacement for CB Kyler Gordon, who landed on IR with a broken hand.

N.Y. Giants at Arizona: In a league defined by close games — there were eight in Week 1 decided by one score — the Cardinals and Giants fared very differently in 2022. The Giants were 8-4-1 in one-score games and finished with a 9-7-1 record last season. They qualified for the playoffs and saw Brian Daboll in his first season be named NFL Coach of the Year. The Cardinals sustained a debilitating stretch of injuries and were 2-6 in one-score games in 2022. That resulted in a 4-13 record and the firing of head coach Kliff Kingsbury. Neither team fared well in Week 1. The Giants were shut out 40-0 in the largest such loss in the history of their rivalry with the Cowboys and Arizona managed a meager 210 yards in a 20-16 loss to the Commanders. Both teams have health concerns, including Giants LT Andrew Thomas (hamstring) and TE Darren Waller (hamstring).

San Francisco at L.A. Rams: One of the unexpected Week 1 showings was delivered on the road by the Rams’ defense at Seattle, smothering the Seahawks to limit the favored division foe to 14 yards of total offense in the second half. Now they look to beat the 49ers in the regular season for the first time since 2018. Brock Purdy showed no ill effects from offseason elbow surgery, guiding a 30-7 win over the Steelers to improve to 6-0 as a starter in the regular season. Purdy makes his first start against the Rams, who became all too familiar with RB Christian McCaffrey (149 total yards, 2 TDs) in Week 8 last year. Los Angeles hopes to be able to introduce rookie WR Puka Nacua to the 49ers after he had 10 receptions for 119 yards in his debut last week. Nacua was added to the injury report Thursday with an oblique injury.

N.Y. Jets at Dallas: Defense spared the Jets in an overtime thriller with the Bills as the coaching staff scrambles to shake off the emotional toll of losing Aaron Rodgers for the season while feverishly working to ready Zach Wilson. Jets coach Robert Saleh continues to refer to his “championship defense” and the heart of that unit, All-Pro DT Quinnen Williams, could have QB Dak Prescott perspiring considering the Cowboys’ starting guards missed practice time with injuries this week. The Dallas offense barely broke a sweat in Week 1, smacking the Giants 40-0 with touchdowns from their defense and special teams. Pass protection is a worry for New York. The Cowboys had seven sacks against the Giants and LB Micah Parsons had 15 in 2022. Dallas won its final eight home games last season but has lost three consecutive games to the Jets.

Washington at Denver: Denver WR Jerry Jeudy plans to play for the Broncos, who needed a dose of good news on the injury front after a training camp marred by bad breaks. QB Russell Wilson was efficient — 79.4 percent completions, 2 TD passes — in his first game with Sean Payton as head coach but Denver had only six offensive possessions in a loss to the Raiders. Washington’s defense held the Cardinals under 250 total yards and more of the same might be needed as QB Sam Howell makes his first career road start and third overall. The home team in this matchup has won five meetings in a row and Washington coach Ron Rivera has never defeated the Broncos, including a Super Bowl 50 loss when he coached the Panthers. Denver’s rebuilt offensive line gets a test from the Washington D-line comprised almost entirely of first-round picks with Chase Young (neck) back on the practice field and expected to play.

Miami at New England: Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins put up video-game numbers in the Week 1 victory over the Chargers — 466 yards, three TDs — with WR Tyreek Hill hauling in 11-215-2. Tagovailoa wasn’t intercepted in three starts vs. AFC East opponents in 2022. The Patriots have lost four of the past five games with the Dolphins but saw positive signs from their passing game in Bill O’Brien’s return to the play-calling role. QB Mac Jones has two or more TD passes in four consecutive games and boosted his TD-to-INT ratio to 9-1 in his past six home starts with a strong effort against the Eagles last week. Neither team was able to gain consistent traction in the running game last week and the Patriots are fighting multiple injuries to starters up front. It’s reunion day for multiple players. Former Dolphins in New England include WR DeVante Parker, TE Mike Gesicki and DT Davon Godchaux. Current Patriots with Miami ties are OL Isaiah Wynn, WR Braxton Berrios, CB Justin Bethel and DE Chase Winovich.