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š Football Five
š Football Five
- Azeez Al-ShaairĀ got away with a punch, the Bears got away with a hip-drop tackle, and the Texans got a penalty-filledĀ 19-13 win over the Bears behind four Kaāimi Fairbairn field goals.
- Aaron Rodgers is back in the win column after the Jetsā 24-17 victory over the Titans. Rodgers threw touchdowns to running backs Breece Hall and Braelon Allen, and the defense got a late red-zone stand.
- Malik Willis threw his first career touchdown in Green Bayās 16-10 win over the Colts. And thatās despite Packers center Josh Myers puking on the ball.
- The Giants lost in part because kicker Graham Gano ā who entered the game with a groin issue ā got hurt on the opening kickoff. Commanders kicker Austin Siebert, meanwhile, made a franchise-record seven field goals in the 21-18 win. Itās anĀ unprecedented way to lose for New York.
- Over in college football,Ā ColoradoĀ thumpedĀ Colorado State,Ā 28-9, and isĀ showing signs of progress, Dennis Dodd writes. It wasĀ all smiles at the press conference.
š Good morning to all, but especially to ā¦
š Good morning to all, but especially to ā¦
THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS, THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AND THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Who are these guys, and what have they done with Sam Darnold, Derek Carr and Baker Mayfield?! The Vikings, Saints and Buccaneers are all 2-0.
Letās start with Darnold and Minnesota, which surprised the 49ers,Ā 23-17. Darnold threw for 268 yards and two touchdowns ā highlighted by a 97-yarder to Justin Jefferson ā against his former team, and the Vikings sacked Brock Purdy six times and turned him over twice. The 49ers usually play games on their own terms, but the Vikings flipped that script, Cody Benjamin writes from Minneapolis.
All the better, Jefferson, who exited early with bruised quadriceps, said, āIām not seriously injured.ā
Swinging to the NFC South, the Saints are the leagueās biggest earliest surprise after a 44-19 thrashing of the Cowboys, Scorigami-style. Carr threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, but it was Alvin Kamaraās 180 total yards and four touchdowns that stole the show.Ā Paulson Adebo and Tyrann Mathieu picked off Dak Prescott.
The Saints have had 21 possessions this season and theyāve scored touchdowns on 12 of them, including each of the first five against Dallas. The offensive line has been a bright spot, Carr has taken advantage, Kamara keeps on chugging, and the secondary looks excellent. Make sure to credit new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, too, Will Brinson writes.
Not to be outdone, the Buccaneers also beat an NFC power, topping the Lions, 20-16. Mayfield threw for a touchdown and ran for another, and Christian Izien and Zyon McCollum picked off Jared Goff.
Both New Orleans and Tampa Bay are among Cody Benjaminās Week 2 winners, and both earned strong marks inĀ John Breechās weekly grades
A year ago, Darnold was a backup, Carr was struggling in his first year in New Orleans, and Mayfield was viewed as a bridge quarterback. Itās clear these three guys are having a moment right now.
š Honorable mentions
š Honorable mentions
š And not such a good morning for ā¦
š And not such a good morning for ā¦
THE CINCINNATI BENGALS, THE BALTIMORE RAVENS AND THE LOS ANGELES RAMS
Who are these guys, and what have they done with the Bengals, Ravens and Rams?! All three ā projected playoff contenders, if not Super Bowl contenders ā are 0-2.
The Bengals snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Leading 25-23 and having pinned the ChiefsĀ to fourth and 16, Daijahn Anthony committed a pass interference. Four plays later, Harrison Butker kicked the back-to-back Super Bowl champs to a 26-25 win. For all the miracles Patrick Mahomes has pulled off, this was the first time heās earned a first down on fourth and 16 or longer.
Cincinnatiās offense was better than in Week 1, but JaāMarr Chase had another quiet day ā except for when he got too loud asking for a flag and got flagged himself ā and remains disgruntled about his contract. Yikes.
The Ravens dropped a 26-23 stunner to the Raiders after leading by 10 early in the fourth quarter. Baltimore has blown four double-digit fourth-quarter leads since 2022, tied for most in the NFL, so thatās not new. ButĀ Derrick Henry hasnāt gotten going, and the new-look offensive line hasnāt been great. The defense is struggling. Even Justin Tucker is struggling.
But the āWho are these guys?ā line best applies to the Rams, who got their doors blown off, 41-10, by the Cardinals. Already without Puka Nacua and several offensive linemen, the Rams also lost Cooper Kupp (ankle). But it wasnāt just the offense. The defense allowed 489 yards, its most since 2018. Even the Sean McVay/Matthew Stafford duo canāt overcome that, and Jeff Kerr says it could be a long season.
š Not so honorable mentions
š Not so honorable mentions
š College football Week 3: Georgia survives, Arch Manning thrives, Florida State falls to 0-3
š College football Week 3: Georgia survives, Arch Manning thrives, Florida State falls to 0-3
Thereās a reason they play the games on the field, not on paper. One week after being blown out by South Carolina, Kentucky pushedĀ Georgia to the limit, with the Bulldogs ultimately staving off an upset bid, 13-12. Ahead of a gigantic showdown with Alabama (which beat Wisconsin,Ā 42-10), Georgia has legitimate concerns, David Cobb writes.
Texas, meanwhile, got a different kind of scare with Quinn Ewers suffering a strained abdomen against UTSA. It didnāt take Arch Manning long to assuage those fears. He had five touchdowns, including a 67-yard run, and Heisman oddsmakers took notice. So, too, did AP Top 25 voters: The Longhorns are atop the new AP Top 25 (and second in the Coaches Poll).
On the other end of the spectrum, Florida State ā¦ goodness. The Seminoles are 0-3 after a 20-12 loss to Memphis, making them the first preseason top-10 team to start a season with three straight losses to unranked opponents. Mike Norvell said heās evaluating everythingĀ in a postgame press conference that was, fittingly, interrupted by fire alarms. But Will Backus says the team has already punted on this season.
- Backus: āFlorida State lacks an apparent leader to pick the team up when its back is against the wall. If such a player, or even coach, existed, then the Seminoles wouldnāt be in this position. ā¦Ā This is Norvellās fifth year with the program. These problems arenāt early growing pains;Ā theyāre endemic in a culture that has spiraled out of controlĀ ā or one that doesnāt exist at all.ā
Hilariously, Florida State alreadyĀ clinched the āunderā on its projected wins.
If it makes Florida State fans feel better, things arenāt much better at Florida.
Hereās more from the weekend:
ā¾ MLB Power Rankings, standings, more
ā¾ MLB Power Rankings, standings, more
Weāre inside two weeks until the end of the MLB season, and weāre in for some high drama with these wild card races. Hereās a look at whoās vying for the top three AL Wild Card spots:
- Orioles (+4.5 games)
- Royals (+2.5)
- Twins (ā)
- Tigers (-2.5)
- Mariners (-2.5)
- Red Sox (-4.5)
And in the NL:
- Padres (+3.5)
- Diamondbacks (+2)
- Mets (ā)
- Braves (ā)
As for the best of the best, hereās the top five of Matt Snyderās Power Rankings:
- Phillies (previous: 2)
- Yankees (3)
- Brewers (4)
- Dodgers (1)
- Guardians (5)
And hereās more from the weekend:
š Aāja Wilson reaches 1,000 points; career-high 35 for Caitlin Clark
š Aāja Wilson reaches 1,000 points; career-high 35 for Caitlin Clark
The WNBA season is winding down, but its stars ā and the drama ā are ramping up. With the regular season ending Thursday, hereās whatās happening around the league:
Here are Jack Maloneyās takeaways from a busy Sunday.
šŗ What weāre watching Monday
šŗ What weāre watching Monday
š Falcons at Eagles, 8:15 p.m. on ESPN
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