Unser Chat » The Cardinals rank dead last in all offensive

The Saints have gotten a glimpse of an eventual future without Drew Brees. And it looks better than expected. It looks better than expected because Teddy Bridgewater is becoming the guy he was supposed to be in 2016 (he told PFT on Sunday that his knee is better than it was before that devastating fluke of a non-contact injury) Marshon Lattimore Saint Jersey , and because the Saints’ success since 2006 has had something to do with coach Sean Payton.Payton already has entered the coach of the year conversation for his ability to take the Saints to wins over the Seahawks in Seattle and the Cowboys and Buccaneers at home, one after another after another. In that post-game conversation with PFT, Bridgewater praised Payton for understanding the positioning of all 22 players on the field and how to exploit the openings that necessarily exist in any defense. Against the Seahawks, who take away the deep ball, shorter passes were more effective, so that’s what they did. Against the Bucs, Bridgewater explained that Payton understood that the defense would be more aggressive, allowing the Saints to take some shots. Payton dialed up the right plays at the right time, and with the ability of Bridgewater and his teammates to execute the plays, it worked.It needs to keep working, but maybe not for much longer. As PFT reported on Sunday, the current target for Brees’ return is Week Eight against the Cardinals. If Bridgewater and Payton can keep racking up wins, the Saints will be in great position to make another run deep into the playoffs. And whenever the 2019 season ends, things could get very interesting. With both Brees and Bridgewater due to become free agents in 2020, the Saints may have to choose between them. Keep Brees, and someone else may offer Bridgewater a starting job. Keep Bridgewater, and risk seeing Brees finish his career elsewhere.However it plays out, this problem falls squarely into the “good problem to have” category, especially since the architect of the offense and ultimate leader of the team recently signed a five-year extension. There is no way anyone outside of Tampa or Chicago would have predicted the Bucs and Bears would both be first-place teams when they square off in Week 4.Sure, it’s still plenty early in the schedule. Yet there’s no denying both teams are ahead of schedule.Although the Buccaneers (2-1) come off a 30-27 home loss to Pittsburgh last Monday night, their offense behind backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has been dynamic. Fitzpatrick started the three games that starter Jameis Winston was suspended and made a strong argument for keeping the job. Fitz leads the NFL with 1,230 yards passing and is second with 11 TD passes. He’s the only player in league history to throw for 400-plus yards in three consecutive games.Winston certainly has been impressed and promises not to make any waves.“It’s about the team’s success. I’m not a selfish player, it’s about our team Womens Michael Thomas Jersey ,” Winston said. “We’re out here doing big things, and we’ve got to continue doing that.”Chicago (2-1) is doing big things on defense. The trade with Oakland for Khalil Mack has made a huge impact in the Windy City, making up for a mediocre offense.Mack is tied for the league lead with four sacks, with at least one in each game, and leads the NFL with three forced fumbles.“What he has done is completely elevated everybody else on defense,” coach Matt Nagy said. “When that happens, that’s rare, to have one guy affect a team like that.”Week 4 began with Jared Goff throwing for 465 yards and five touchdowns and getting a perfect quarterback rating in a 38-31 victory over Minnesota. The Rams are 4-0, while the Vikings are 1-2-1 and haven’t won since opening day.On byes are Carolina and Washington.Baltimore (2-1) at Pittsburgh (1-1-1)Classic NFL matchup, Part I.The Steelers have won nine straight games on Sunday nights, twice over the Ravens. But Baltimore has a rekindled offense, with Joe Flacco off to a sizzling start, helped by a trio of new receivers. Newcomer Michael Crabtree leads the Ravens with 15 catches and needs six to reach 600 for his career.Pittsburgh likely gets back top blocker David DeCastro for Ben Roethlisberger, whos is 21-3 in regular-season prime-time games at home, throwing for 55 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. Roethlisberger has thrown a TD pass in 45 straight home games, the third-longest streak in NFL history.If this comes down to kicking, Baltimore has a huge edge. The Ravens’ Justin Tucker has hit eight straight field goals from 50-plus yards and owns the best FG percentage (90.0) in NFL history. Pittsburgh’s Chris Boswell has hit just one of four field goals; the three misses match his entire 2017 total.Kansas City (3-0) at Denver (2-1), Monday nightClassic NFL matchup, Part II.Another prime-time showcase worth watching, this is a series of streaks. The Chiefs have taken five straight following seven straight losses. The offense is a buzzsaw: Kansas City is the third NFL team to score 38 or more points in its first three games (2007 Patriots, who were 16-0; 1967 Colts, who went 11-1-2).Patrick Mahomes has established an NFL record with 13 TDs through three games and zero interceptions to lead the league with a 137.4 passer rating. The second-year QB credits the depth of talent around him.“Guys everywhere,” Mahomes said. “Knowing that I have those weapons Womens Drew Brees Jersey , whenever someone has to get a break — we say if you’re tired, get a break, because I know I can trust the next guy coming in.”The Chiefs can be scored on, though, and Denver had the NFL’s third-ranked rushing game with rookies Royce Freeman and Phillip Lindsay, the first undrafted player to eclipse 100 scrimmage yards in his first two NFL games.Plus, linebacker Von Miller , tied for the league lead with four sacks, is a Chiefs nemesis: Miller has eight sacks, 11 tackles for loss against Kansas City.Miami (3-0) at New England (1-2)Classic NFL matchup, Part III.Yes, the Patriots have so dominated the AFC East that we forget there are other teams in the division. This is the one team Tom Brady has fallen to the most, 10 times. Of course, he has beaten the Dolphins 21 times.Indeed, the last time the Dolphins won at New England was 2008, when Brady was sidelined by a knee injury.Miami already has seven interceptions; it had nine all of last season.Meanwhile, the Patriots have struggled to find any consistency. They ranks 25th on offense — other than Rob Gronkowski, Brady has little comfort with any receivers — and 28th on defense. Bill Belichick was outcoached by his former defensive coordinator, Matt Patricia, last Sunday night.But the Patriots have started slowly before and then become unstoppable.Philadelphia (2-1) at Tennessee (2-1)Philly likes playing AFC South squads: The Eagles have won seven straight games against them, the team’s longest active winning streak against any division.This could come down to the running game, particularly if Titans QB Marcus Mariota still is struggling with a right elbow injury that has affected his grip. The Eagles rank first in run defense after finishing first last season and also lead the NFL in time of possession (36:03).Cleveland (1-1-1) at Oakland (0-3)There are good vibes by Lake Erie and bad ones in the Bay Area.The Browns got their first win in 18 games by beating the Jets, and top overall draft choice Baker Mayfield led the way to take over as starting quarterback. Their defense has been relatively stout Michael Thomas Jersey White , led by the No. pick in the 2017 draft, Myles Garrett.Oakland’s decision to trade its best player, Mack, and then the 0-3 start has worn thin any luster on Jon Gruden’s return. The Raiders are last in the NFL with three sacks, and tied for last with one takeaway. They have been outscored 37-3 in fourth quarters and are the second team in the last 20 years to start 0-3 when leading all three at halftime.Detroit (1-2) at Dallas (1-2)The Lions got off the schneid with that surprisingly dominant win against New England. They have the top-rated passing offense, but they also are a sieve against the run on defense.With Dallas struggling so much throwing the ball, look for RB Ezekiel Elliott to be very busy in this one. Elliott is tied with the 49ers‘ Matt Breida for the NFL rushing lead with 274 yards.San Francisco (1-2) at Los Angeles Chargers (1-2)Injuries probably have ruined the 49ers’ season. After giving Jimmy Garoppolo his big payday, they will be without him for the remainder of this year after he tore his ACL against KC. C.J. Beathard, who was in over his head last year in going 1-5, steps in.The Chargers have won the past four meetings and have a dangerous offense behind QB Philip Rivers and a ramped-up running game. Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler form the only pair of running backs on the same team with 250 or more scrimmage yards this season.Cincinnati (2-1) at Atlanta (1-2)Injuries are beginning to ruin the Falcons‘ season, too. They lost free safety Ricardo Allen with a torn Achilles tendon and he joins starters Keanu Neal (knee), a strong safety, and linebacker Deion Jones on the sidelines. Jones underwent foot surgery and is out until at least Nov. 18.Plus, defensive ends Takkarist McKinley and Derrick Shelby are nursing groin injuries.This is Cincinnati’s third road game already, and Atlanta’s third successive home game. The Bengals come in without starting RB Joe Mixon (knee), but are stunningly successful in the red zone. They have points on their last 29 times inside the 20-yard line (21 TDs, 8 FGs), the longest active streak in the NFL.Buffalo (1-2) at Green Bay (1-1-1)On a high after their stunning win at Minnesota as 16 ½-point underdogs, the Bills get another NFC North trip. Hey, it’s always good to do those in September.Buffalo’s rookie quarterback Josh Allen wasn’t intimidated by Minnesota’s staunch and physical defense. Green Bay’s doesn’t come close to resembling that group, and standout runner LeSean McCoy (ribs) vows he will be back.Aaron Rodgers figures to throw a bunch this week, with Davante Adams now his top target.New York Jets (1-2) at Jacksonville (2-1)Coming off a loss that easily could linger, and with safety Jamal Adams saying the Jets weren’t prepared for Mayfield when he replaced Tyrod Taylor in Cleveland’s victory https://www.thesaintslockerroom.com/authentic-tre_quan-smith-jersey , New York takes on ticked-off Jacksonville.The Jets have won four straight in this series, but those games were mostly against weak Jaguars teams. After the Jags struggled so much vs. Tennessee, they could take it out on rookie Sam Darnold with a sack-happy defense. And Darnold displayed happy feet against the Browns.New Orleans (2-1) at New York Giants (1-2)If Eli Manning gets protection, the Giants are competitive. That happened in last week’s win at Houston, and the Saints have been disappointing defending the pass.The excitement level ramps up in the running game as Giants rookie Saquon Barkley and the Saints’ Alvin Kamara, last year’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, face off. Also intriguing: Saints WR Michael Thomas leads the league with 38 catches and 398 yards receiving. His catch total is an NFL best in a team’s first three games. New York’s Odell Beckham Jr. has a respectable 24 receptions, even if that pales compared to Thomas.Seattle (1-2) at Arizona (0-3)Two teams with messed-up offenses, although the Seahawks look like an indomitable force compared to Arizona.The Cardinals rank dead last in all offensive categories and have scored a total of 20 points. Now, rookie Josh Rosen will start, and while Seattle’s defense no longer has legion-like boom, it can be tricky and ranks eighth against the pass.A win will tie Pete Carroll with Mike Holmgren for the most coaching victories in Seattle history (90).Houston (0-3) at Indianapolis (1-2)Houston probably is the most disappointing team in the NFL, having gotten back J.J. Watt, Whitney Mercilus and Deshaun Watson for injury, yet not winning at all. Indeed, the Texans‘ last victory came in November 2017.They rarely fare well with Indy, which has a 25-7 edge in the series. The Colts’ next win will be No. 300 since moving from Baltimore to Indianapolis in 1984.Adam Vinatieri needs one field goal to break Morten Andersen’s NFL record (565). Vinatieri also needs three field-goal attempts to pass Gary Anderson (672) for second all-time, and one game played to pass George Blanda (340) for No. 4.Can’t kick about that.___