Las Vegas Raiders Trade Rumors: 3 Moves To Make Include Trading Austin Hooper, Josh Jacobs

John Fields
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Las Vegas Raiders Trade Rumors: 3 Moves To Make Include Trading Austin Hooper, Josh Jacobs

The Las Vegas Raiders are solidly in the middle ground between buyers and sellers with a 3-4 record at this juncture of the season.

Las Vegas is coming off a disappointing loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 7 and faces a tough matchup with the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football that appears unlikely to go well. Those realities might incline the franchise more toward being sellers, though they might still be able to convince themselves to buy instead.

Either way, Raiders general manager Dave Ziegler has plenty of decisions to make between now and the Oct. 31 NFL trade deadline.

Las Vegas Raiders Trade Deadline Moves

Trade TE Austin Hooper

Regardless of whether Las Vegas ultimately decides to buy or sell at the deadline, moving Austin Hooper seems to make all too much sense if they can find a suitable trade partner.

MORE: Las Vegas Raiders Depth Chart

Hooper has provided some production this season with 10 catches for 99 yards but is not on pace to come close to most of his previous tallies. He caught 41 passes for 444 yards and two touchdowns last season with the Tennessee Titans and has been in that range over the last few years.

On top of that, the Raiders drafted what they hope to be their tight end of the future in Michael Mayer, who they selected early in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The rookie has caught 10 passes for 129 yards this season and is under contract for three more seasons, whereas Hooper is out of contract after this season.

The Cincinnati Bengals are one team that could use help at tight end, while the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills are among squads that could stand to enhance their depth at the position.

All of the circumstances surrounding Hooper ultimately add up to moving him being the most sensible option for the Raiders at this point.

Trade RB Josh Jacobs

Josh Jacobs is another player on an expiring contract for Las Vegas, and one that might command more money than the franchise is willing to pay him this offseason.

The fifth-year running back is coming off the best season of his career in 2022, when he racked up 340 carries for 1,653 yards and 12 touchdowns. He has been less than stellar so far in 2023, though, with 118 carries for just 347 yards (2.9 yards per carry) and two scores in the seven games thus far.

That lack of production would likely drive his value down some and would require a team that feels it can help him recapture the form he found last fall. His nearly $7.6 million base salary this season could also complicate matters, but acquiring teams would only be on the hook for roughly half of that figure.

If the Raiders intend to pay Jacobs this offseason, then keeping him around and hoping for a resurgence would make plenty of sense. If not, the Baltimore Ravens are one team that could certainly use some help at running back, as could the Tampa Bay Buccaneers if they decide to buy at the deadline.

One thing is clear, however — it’s time to make a decision on whether Jacobs has a long-term future with the organization or not.

Acquire Kristian Fulton, CB, Tennessee Titans

If Las Vegas ultimately decides it wants to buy at the deadline, Fulton is one player who could fill an obvious need at cornerback and help bolster the defense.

MORE: AFC West Trade Candidates

The fourth-year cornerback has been productive when available for the Tennessee Titans each of the last four seasons. Fulton is coming off perhaps his best season yet, tallying 48 tackles (35 solo), three tackles for a loss, five pass breakups, and one interception last season. He is up to 32 tackles (25 solo) and three pass breakups so far in 2023.

Fulton is in the final year of his rookie contract, which has a base salary of just over $1.3 million and would likely be easy to absorb under the salary cap. It would force the Raiders to give up capital for a player they might not be able to sign in the offseason, however.

There are any number of cornerback options potentially on the mark for Las Vegas to pursue, but Fulton is one that could make sense at the right price.

From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!

Indianapolis Colts Trade Rumors: 3 Moves To Make Include Trading Zack Moss, Julian Blackmon

John Fields
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Indianapolis Colts Trade Rumors: 3 Moves To Make Include Trading Zack Moss, Julian Blackmon

The Indianapolis Colts head into Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline at 3-5 after suffering their third straight loss in a 38-27 defeat to the New Orleans Saints.

A strong start could still incentivize the Colts to buy at the trade deadline and bolster their playoff hopes, but recent results might encourage general manager Chris Ballard to go in the other direction and ship some players elsewhere.

What are some potential moves the franchise could look to make at the deadline?

Indianapolis Colts Trade Deadline Moves

Trade RB Zack Moss

Zack Moss emerged as the featured back for the Colts earlier in the season, but the return of running back Jonathan Taylor has made Moss somewhat expendable for the franchise.

MORE: Indianapolis Colts Depth Chart

A fourth-year running back, Moss is amid the best season of his career to date. He has amassed 125 carries for 589 yards and five touchdowns in seven appearances this season and shared running back duties with Taylor on Sunday’s loss to the Saints.

Still, Moss is in the final year of his rookie contract, and it will be tough to justify paying him the kind of money he will demand this summer, given the long-term contract extension Taylor recently signed with the Colts. The three-year, $42 million deal has $26.5 million in guarantees and comes with the expectation that he will carry the load in the backfield.

Thus, getting as much value as possible for Moss at the deadline seems to be the smartest option for Indianapolis. Teams like the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, or even the Tampa Bay Buccaneers might be interested in Moss’ services at the right price.

At any rate, moving Moss seems to make all too much sense if the Colts’ asking price is not too high.

Trade S Julian Blackmon

Julian Blackmon is another player coming up on the end of his rookie deal who could make sense for Indianapolis to move on from if they are not prepared to pay him this offseason.

The fourth-year safety has largely been a productive player since being selected with a third-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He tallied 50 tackles (36 solo), two tackles for a loss, two pass breakups, and one interception returned for a touchdown last season and is up to 56 tackles (38 solo), five tackles for a loss, and three pass breakups through eight games in 2023.

Again, potentially moving on from Blackmon is largely contingent on whether he is in the franchise’s plans or not. The Los Angeles Chargers are one team that could use help at safety, as could the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Baltimore Ravens to a slightly lesser extent.

Given Blackmon’s production, it might make sense to cash out on him now if the right deal is available.

Trade WR Michael Pittman Jr.

This deal makes perhaps a bit less sense given the fact that Michael Pittman Jr. is the team’s leading receiver and potentially a nice weapon to keep around in the long term for Anthony Richardson, but his expiring contract will also force Indianapolis to make a decision.

MORE: AFC South Trade Candidates

On one hand, Pittman is up to 50 catches for 529 yards and three touchdowns through eight weeks of the season and has been a critical part of the Colts’ offense. Rookie Josh Downs and second-year player Alec Pierce have both been productive behind Pittman and have multiple years of their rookie deals remaining.

If Indianapolis has faith in those players to both be important parts of their wide receiver room for the foreseeable future, getting what value it can out of Pittman now could make sense. Teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions could stand to bolster their receiving corps at the deadline.

It’s ultimately unclear how much the Colts want to invest in Pittman, but they seem to have a pair of players behind him who better fit their timeline and, thus, could at least explore moving the veteran.

From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!

Arizona Cardinals Trade Rumors: 3 Moves To Make Include Trading Budda Baker and Kelvin Beachum

John Fields
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Arizona Cardinals Trade Rumors: 3 Moves To Make Include Trading Budda Baker and Kelvin Beachum

The Arizona Cardinals look poised to be sellers at the NFL trade deadline, particularly after falling to 1-7 with Sunday’s 31-24 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

The Cardinals have struggled to find much success this season and dealt with a plethora of issues beyond not having star quarterback Kyler Murray out there. That reality leaves Arizona general manager Monti Ossenfort with plenty of decisions to make ahead of the Oct. 31 trade deadline.

Arizona Cardinals Trade Deadline Moves

Trade OT Kelvin Beachum

If the Cardinals decide to be sellers at the deadline, which seems to be their most logical course of action at this point, Kelvin Beachum is among the players they could consider moving elsewhere.

The veteran offensive lineman is in his 12th NFL season and has made more than 140 starts over his journeyman career. Beachum started every game for Arizona last season and has been a reliable option up front for much of his career, starting 15 or more games in six of the last seven seasons.

He has seen sparing action so far this season behind left tackle D.J. Humphries but could bolster any number of teams’ offensive line rooms. The New Orleans Saints are one team that could target some help up front, as could the New York Jets, particularly after their win on Sunday.

Beachum’s reasonably priced contract at just $1.21 million in base salary for next season — and below that this year — would also make him relatively easy to acquire financially.

All of that makes him a player Arizona could potentially get some value for at the deadline.

Trade S Budda Baker

Arizona’s safety Budda Baker is another player who seems to hold more value elsewhere than with the Cardinals currently.

The veteran safety is now in his seventh NFL season, all with Arizona, and has been a Pro Bowl selection each of the last four seasons alongside an AP All-Pro nod in 2020. He racked up 111 tackles (75 solo), seven pass breakups, and two interceptions in 15 appearances last season, all starts.

MORE: Arizona Cardinals Depth Chart

Baker missed significant time earlier this season after he was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, but he returned to play last week and again Sunday after last appearing in Week 1.

Baker would command significant value on the trade market as a proven option to bolster contenders’ secondaries. Although there may not be a massive need for safeties, the Los Angeles Chargers are one potential buyer that could use help at the position, while the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens could also look to improve their depth there.

At any rate, there would likely be a market for Baker that makes him worth moving on from — if Arizona decides to do so.

Trade WR Marquise Brown

With his contract set to expire this offseason, Brown is certainly a player the Cardinals should at least consider moving at the deadline.

The fifth-year wide receiver has been a productive player since entering the league in 2019 as a first-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens. He caught 67 passes for 709 yards and three touchdowns in 12 appearances last season, including 10 starts.

Brown notched 32 catches for 383 yards and three touchdowns through seven starts in 2023 as quarterback Josh Dobbs has struggled for consistency this season in place of Kyler Murray. Brown caught six passes for 33 yards and one touchdown in Sunday’s loss to the Ravens.

A large base salary of more than $13.4 million this year, paired with the fact that this is the final season of Brown’s contract, could make him a bit more difficult to move to some teams. Still, the Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, and New York Jets are among squads in the market for help at wide receiver that could at least be interested in Brown.

Getting some value out of Brown before he hits free agency this summer, even if it means covering some of his remaining salary, would certainly be beneficial for Arizona.

From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!

What Channel Is the NFL Game Tonight? Raiders vs. Lions on Monday Night Football in Week 8

Zachary Knerr
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What Channel Is the NFL Game Tonight? Raiders vs. Lions on Monday Night Football in Week 8

With a busy weekend of NFL action winding down, it’s time for Monday Night Football to put a bow on Week 8 of the season. Who plays in the NFL game tonight? The Las Vegas Raiders head to Ford Field to take on the Detroit Lions.

Both squads enter the night suffering losses in Week 7. The Raiders, without their starting quarterback, stood no chance to Chicago Bears backup rookie QB Tyson Bagent losing 30-12. Meanwhile, the Lions looked vulnerable for the first time this season after falling to the Ravens 38-6. Will the Lions be able to get their mojo back tonight?

When and where can you watch the NFL game tonight? Here’s the Monday Night Football channel, start time, and live stream options for the game between the Raiders and Lions on Monday Night Football.

From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!

What Channel Airs the NFL Game Tonight?

ESPN and ABC continue the dual cast of Monday Night Football that was agreed upon earlier in the season. Las Vegas and Detroit will kick things off at 8:15 p.m. ET tonight. The matchups will also be available to stream on ESPN+, YouTube TV, and Hulu + Live TV. Unfortunately, there is no Manningcast this week.

Las Vegas Raiders at Detroit Lions

  • Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
  • Channel: ESPN, ABC
  • Live stream options: ESPN+, YouTubeTV, Hulu + Live TV

Week 7 was an aberration for the Lions. Heading into the matchup with the Ravens, Detroit had won their last four games by 14 or more points with the defense stifling opponents. However, Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson unleashed a fury on this Lions squad, bringing their good times to a halt. How will Detroit respond to the 32-point defeat?

Thankfully for QB Jared Goff and the offense, Detroit’s schedule couldn’t have played out better for a “get right” game this week. The Raiders are one of the worst teams in the league right now. While QB Jimmy Garoppolo has been fighting injuries this season, the offense has struggled no matter who has been under center.

After the embarrassing loss a week ago, the Lions’ offense should be due for an explosion against a Las Vegas team that can’t score all that much and a defense that’s given up points this season. Goff has done well in his time with the Lions and is a reason head coach Dan Campbell’s rebuild has gone so well so far.

MORE: NFL Prime-Time Games 2023

His stellar play has continued this season. Goff has turned the ball over on just 1.4% of plays this season. Meanwhile, the Raiders have forced turnovers on just 1.1% of plays this season, tied for the worst in the league. The Lions QB also has a passer rating of 98.8 since the 2022 season. The Raiders have allowed a passer rating of 96.6 in that time, the third-worst in the NFL.

Add in the fact that rookie RB Jahmyr Gibbs will be the lead back with David Montgomery out and the Lions should cruise to an easy victory in the NFL game tonight. While anyone can win, it would be a shock to see the Raiders pull off the upset with how lopsided this Monday Night Football matchup appears.

2023 Monday Night Football Schedule

With 10 weeks remaining in the 2023 NFL season, the postseason pushes are beginning to take shape. Just nine Monday Night Football games remain on the schedule this season. Here’s a look at the rest of the 2023 Monday Night Football matchups.

Week 9, Nov. 6

Los Angeles Chargers at New York Jets

  • Start time
    8:15 p.m. ET
  • Channel
    ESPN, ABC
  • Live stream options
    YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV

Week 10, Nov. 13

Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills

  • Start time
    8:15 p.m. ET
  • Channel
    ESPN, ABC
  • Live stream options
    YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV

Week 11, Nov. 20

Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs

  • Start time
    8:15 p.m. ET
  • Channel
    ESPN, ABC
  • Live stream options
    YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV

Week 12, Nov. 27

Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings

  • Start time
    8:15 p.m. ET
  • Channel
    ESPN, ABC
  • Live stream options
    YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV

Week 13, Dec. 4

Cincinnati Bengals at Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Start time
    8:15 p.m. ET
  • Channel
    ESPN, ABC
  • Live stream options
    YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV

Week 14, Dec. 11

Tennessee Titans at Miami Dolphins

  • Start time
    8:15 p.m. ET
  • Channel
    ESPN
  • Live stream options
    Youtube TV, Hulu + Live TV

Green Bay Packers at New York Giants

  • Start time
    8:15 p.m. ET
  • Channel
    ABC
  • Live stream options
    ESPN+, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV

Week 15, Dec. 18

Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots

  • Start time
    8:15 p.m. ET
  • Channel
    ESPN, ABC
  • Live stream options
    YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV

Week 16, Dec. 25

Baltimore Ravens at San Francisco 49ers

  • Start time
    8:15 p.m. ET
  • Channel
    ESPN, ABC
  • Live stream options
    YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV

Who Are the Raiders-Lions Announcers Tonight on MNF? Everything You Need To Know About the Broadcast

Daniel Tomaro
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Who Are the Raiders-Lions Announcers Tonight on MNF? Everything You Need To Know About the Broadcast

The Las Vegas Raiders and Detroit Lions meet on Monday Night Football to end Week 8. You can watch the game on ABC and ESPN at 8:15 p.m. ET. Both teams look to bounce back after suffering blowout road losses last week.

The Lions are seeking the club’s first home win on Monday Night Football since 2014, when Detroit defeated the New York Giants. The Lions are 16-20-1 all-time on Monday Night Football and are hosting for the first time since 2018, when they lost to the New York Jets.

Raiders-Lions Announcers for Monday Night Football

The traditional broadcast with Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Lisa Salters will be on ABC and ESPN. Peyton and Eli Manning have the week off, and there won’t be a ManningCast, the ESPN2 alternate broadcast, this week. They will be back next week for the Los Angeles Chargers against the New York Jets.

Buck and Aikman are in their 22nd season together in a broadcast booth; it’s a record-breaking season because they surpassed the legendary pair of Pat Summerall and John Madden.

MORE: NFL Prime-Time Games 2023

Aikman was 13-9 as a starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football. He completed almost 62% of his passes with 23 touchdowns and 13 interceptions during his MNF career. His 22 games are tied for the 10th-most for a quarterback on Monday Night Football, tied with Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning.

Monday Night Countdown starts at 6:00 p.m. ET on ESPN, with host Scott Van Pelt and former players Ryan Clark, Marcus Spears, and Robert Griffin III providing analysis. Michelle Beisner-Buck and NFL insider Adam Schefter are also part of the show.

Raiders Were Kings of Monday Night

There was a time when the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders were the most dominant team on Monday Night Football. The Raiders had a 29-6-1 record for the first 21 seasons of Monday Night Football from 1970 to 1990. The Miami Dolphins had the second-most wins and were 24-15-0 in that span. The Raiders’ six losses were tied for the third-fewest in the span, even though they played more than twice as many games as others with six losses.

The Oakland Raiders had a 14-game win streak on Monday nights from 1975 to 1981. During those years, the Raiders made the playoffs four times and won two Super Bowls. The team also won the franchise’s first 12 home games on Monday Night Football.

After winning two games in 1990, the Raiders went on to lose 11 of the next 15 games on Monday night and finished 6-11 on MNF during the 1990s. The Raiders head into the game against the Lions with a 43-31-1 all-time record on Monday Night Football.

From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!

NFL World Criticizes Referees After Questionable Week 8 Performances

Ryan Broyles
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NFL World Criticizes Referees After Questionable Week 8 Performances

NFL officiating is a thankless job. If NFL fans and sports commentators do not mention the referees following the game, the officials did a good job. Otherwise, if NFL referees are discussed postgame, 99.9% of the time, it is because there were critical errors, questionable calls, or questionable non-calls.

NFL referees are people, and people make mistakes. Unfortunately, on Sunday, NFL officials made a lot of them. Let’s explore the wild mishaps from the zebras in Week 8.

The Re-Spot Heard Around the World

During the Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals game, well after the play, an official moved the ball back a half-yard, and the Cardinals were marked short. It was such an odd maneuver that social media decided to chime in.

Although everyone is quick to jump on the referee-blaming bandwagon, this one had a pretty clear reasoning. According to Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, the league’s replay assistant from above made the call.

PFWA Pool Reporter and AZ Central’s Bob McManaman got a further explanation from NFL Senior Vice President of Officiating Walt Anderson:

MORE: NFL Referee Salary — How Much Do NFL Refs Make?

“Yes, this was a replay assist from the booth at the stadium. With the replay assist rule, what that allows us to do is provide officials with objective information if we end up with clear and obvious video evidence. We waited a bit because we weren’t exactly sure where the officials were going to initially spot the ball after all the players cleared, and we could see it actually spotted on the big line.

Then the replay official told the officials that the ball was clearly short, and that’s why the umpire ended up moving the ball. And obviously, with it being short on a fourth down with the new rule this year, a failed fourth-down attempt is a booth review. But since we had already assisted, we knew it was short, that’s why we didn’t stop further to review it again.”

Dramatic in the moment, but ultimately the right call. Chalk one up for the good guys with this one.

New England Patriots’ Pass Interference

Last Sunday, Miami Dolphins fans were upset about the officiating in the Miami and Philadelphia game, where the Eagles didn’t have a penalty thrown on them all game. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel commented on the situation in one of the most Mike McDaniel ways possible, with a quotable, self-teaching moment.

“I never attach any emotion to it because it already happened,” McDaniel replied. “Like, ‘Hey man, our bad,’ or, ‘Yeah, we were right.’ Like, OK. You’re just trying to be as well-versed as possible in the rules of engagement, and I have a hard time even factoring officiating into any sort of emotion that I have because you control what you can control.

“So I might as well get mad at thunder.”

This week, the Dolphins themselves may have benefited from a questionable pass interference call in the end zone.

Admittedly, there was some contact between New England Patriots defensive back J.C. Jackson and Dolphins’ receiver Tyreek Hill, but was it really enough to warrant an important, early-game pass interference penalty?

Questionable Roughing the Passer and Offsides in Pittsburgh

The Jacksonville Jaguars benefited from several penalties throughout their 20-10 road victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The officiating was so questionable that Steelers’ receiver Diontae Johnson spoke about how bad the referees were to the media, a big no-no if you want to avoid hearing from Roger Goodell and paying a league-mandated fine.

One call in particular that drew the ire of Pittsburgh coaches and fans alike was the roughing-the-passer call, where the Steelers’ defender took Trevor Lawrence down with a perfect form tackle.

The referees also called a penalty on the Steelers for lining up offsides where, in fact, it was the Jacksonville Jaguars lined up offsides. Johnson wasn’t the only player calling out the referee’s performance. Pittsburgh kicker Chris Boswell took to social media with photographic evidence showing the Jaguars were offsides.

Former vice president of officiating of the NFL and current rules analyst at FOX Sports Mike Pereira clarified that the officials botched the offsides penalty, saying, “In Pittsburgh, offside on the offensive guard? Officials are told to call that if a lineman has his head in the neutral zone on the short yardage push plays, not on field goal attempts”.

Head coach Mike Tomlin did not go as far as Johnson in his criticism of the penalty. However, during his postgame press conference, he did share his surprise.

“I didn’t get a lot of dialogue,” Tomlin said when asked whether there was an explanation given from the officials. “I hadn’t seen that called in 17 years of standing on the sidelines. Offsides, lined up offsides on a guard, on a field goal protection — it didn’t matter what they said. I’ve never seen that.”

From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!

Chargers Begin Rising to Expectations With Win Over Bears

John Fields
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Chargers Begin Rising to Expectations With Win Over Bears

The Los Angeles Chargers have performed below expectations thus far in 2023 as they got out to a rough start and took a trio of tough losses the last two weeks.

The Chargers took a step back in the right direction Sunday with a dominant 30-13 win over the Chicago Bears, improving to 3-4 and potentially giving their front office a more optimistic outlook ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline.

Was the win more indicative of Los Angeles trending in the right direction or of Chicago’s struggles?

Los Angeles Chargers Put On Season’s Best Showing

Los Angeles undoubtedly put together its most complete performance of the season Sunday as Justin Herbert was efficient, and the defense turned in a solid outing.

Herbert turned in one of his most accurate performances of the season, completing 31 of his 40 pass attempts (77.5%) for 298 yards and three touchdowns, connecting with Austin Ekeler, Donald Parham Jr., and Simi Fehoko for a score apiece.

MORE: Chargers Trade Deadline — 3 Moves Los Angeles Should Make

The Chargers scored on each of their first five possessions, spanning from the game’s second drive to nearly the midway point of the third quarter, as they scored three touchdowns and a pair of field goals to amass a 27-7 lead they would never relinquish.

That showing, combined with kicker Cameron Dicker knocking through all three of his field goal tries, made for more than enough offense as the Chargers’ defense largely stymied the Tyson Bagent-led Bears. Ja’Sir Taylor and Derwin James each had interceptions on a night where the defensive backfield got hands on several other passes, too.

The Bears also scored a garbage time touchdown with just over two minutes left in the game, making the final score look closer than the contest truly was.

The Chargers’ social media team posted a clip mocking Chicago’s performance after the game.

It’s the kind of performance Los Angeles has been looking for after six weeks of relatively disappointing showings. The Chargers barely beat the 4-4 Minnesota Vikings and 3-4 Las Vegas Raiders while losing a trio of games by three or fewer points along with a 14-point defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs.

The strength of that early schedule certainly did Los Angeles no favors, but it still has not shown itself to be the dominant force many expected it could be this season.

Perhaps the dominant win over Chicago will help the Chargers kick it into high gear in the coming weeks, with important tests against the Detroit Lions (5-2) and Baltimore Ravens (6-2) looming on the docket.

Tyson Bagent, Chicago Bears Come Back Down to Earth

On the other end of Los Angeles’ blowout win, Chicago seems to be coming back down to Earth from last week’s lopsided win over the Las Vegas Raiders.

Bagent, an undrafted rookie out of Division II’s Shepherd University, made his first career start last week in the Bears’ victory over the Raiders. His stat line was not exactly eye-popping in the contest, but he was an efficient 21-of-29 passing for 162 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.

MORE: Bears Trade Deadline — 3 Moves Chicago Should Make

He was not as effective this time around, completing 25 of 37 attempts for 232 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions, though a pass play blown dead too soon early on cost him a potential passing touchdown. Those struggles spawned from Chicago’s inability to run the ball against Los Angeles’ somewhat surprisingly stout run defense, with the Bears tallying just 73 yards on the ground, down from 173 a week ago.

Bagent undoubtedly made some poor decisions and did not execute as well as he may have hoped, but the supporting cast around him did not do enough to help earn a victory either.

His first interception came on a 3rd-and-8 play with the Chargers already up 14-0 in the early going, which led to an L.A. field goal, while the second was a little before the midway point of the fourth quarter on a 4th-and-3 play with the game all but out of reach. Both were moments where Bagent was perhaps asked to press beyond his capabilities and comfort level.

That’s ultimately on Bagent to some extent, but it’s perhaps more a product of Chicago’s inability to get stops or run the ball effectively, forcing him into those positions.

From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!

Demario Douglas Fantasy Waiver Wire: Should I Pick Up the Patriots WR This Week?

Mark Kern
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Demario Douglas Fantasy Waiver Wire: Should I Pick Up the Patriots WR This Week?

The New England Patriots lost to the Miami Dolphins, 31-17. It was a quiet day for quarterback Mac Jones, who threw for only 161 yards and two touchdowns.

Jones and the passing game have struggled all year and have been looking for different guys to give a spark. On Sunday, it was Demario Douglas who Jones looked for the most. He had only five catches for 25 yards but had the most targets.

Could Jones have a new favorite target, and if so, should fantasy football managers be ready to add him off the waiver wire?

Should Demario Douglas Be a Fantasy Waiver Wire Add in Week 9?

Douglas has become more involved in the Patriots offense recently, as he has had six and seven targets the last two weeks. While this increase is definitely a positive sign, he has had only one other game with more than three, and that was the opener against the Philadelphia Eagles.

He has put together a nice stretch, but he has not scored a touchdown this year and isn’t worth a waiver wire add.

MORE: Fantasy News Tracker

Usually, when you are looking for a waiver wire target, it is a new guy who has big-play potential on a very good offense — the type of team that can score 30-35 on any given Sunday. The Patriots do not fit that category at all.

The Patriots weren’t going up against the best defense either on Sunday against the Dolphins. When you talk about the team, you talk about the elite offense. The defense, when you look at the numbers, is an average group. The Dolphins entered this game 20th against the pass (233 yards) and have given up some big games to players.

There isn’t a single receiver in New England that should be on your roster at any point for the foreseeable future. The game against the Bills last week was a good day for the Patriots, but this offense isn’t good at all.

If you are in wide receiver trouble, go look at the waiver wire. If there are any Patriots wide receivers, leave them there. There are plenty of other options who are in much better situations:

  • On teams that have a very good offense that has a QB who is able to throw downfield with any consistency.
  • In an offense that has a running back that is able to demand the focus of the defense, allowing play-action and deep passing plays to be a part of the scheme.
  • Are filling in for an injury.

Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!

Did the Broncos Taunt Travis Kelce With a Taylor Swift Song Postgame?

Ryan Broyles
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Did the Broncos Taunt Travis Kelce With a Taylor Swift Song Postgame?

The Denver Broncos shocked the Kansas City Chiefs and the football world on Sunday afternoon when the long-suffering Broncos finally ended their losing streak against the defending Super Bowl champions with a 24-9 home victory.

To the victors go the spoils, and following the victory, the Broncos — and their fanbase — were feeling themselves, celebrating as if they had won the Super Bowl. If you have watched Denver play this year, this may have been their Super Bowl. Denver took a tongue-in-cheek jab at Kelce’s girlfriend, Taylor Swift, following the win.

Broncos Taunt Travis Kelce After Win

Following Denver’s colossal upset of the defending Super Bowl champions, the Broncos played Swift’s “Shake It Off” throughout Mile High. It is possible that playing the little diddy was a coincidence, but given the pop megastar’s relationship with the Chiefs TE Kelce, there’s a sneaking suspicion Denver was sending a not-so-subtle dig at KC.

Reigning NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes entered the contest under the weather, and his performance suffered mightily. The Chiefs signal-caller — one of the most prolific players in the NFL and one of the most careful with the football — threw two interceptions and lost a fumble in an uncharacteristic outing.

Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense showed an unusual lack of continuity all afternoon long, including the legendary Mahomes-to-Kelce combination that wasn’t clicking the way fans have come to expect.

MORE: Travis Kelce and Andy Reid Sound Off on Taylor Swift at Games

The talented TE did lead the Chiefs in both receptions and receiving yardage, but 58 yards without a score isn’t what we have come to expect from the future Hall of Famer.

The Broncos had previously dropped 16 straight games to the Chiefs, and the once AFC West bitter rivalry had become a one-sided beatdown. It has been eight years since Denver could celebrate a victory over the Chiefs; let them enjoy this one a little, eh?

What’s Wrong With the Chiefs’ Offense?

Following Sunday’s loss, Mahomes tied for the league lead in interceptions. Mahomes makes precise passes and takes care of the ball, but so far in 2023, he has been uncharacteristically wild with his passes. Is there a reason behind that?

Outside of Kelce, the Chiefs pass catchers don’t threaten defenses. Skyy Moore made a critical fourth-down drop on what would have been a TD pass and has been wildly inconsistent throughout his two-year career. Rookie receiver Rashee Rice has shown glimpses but remains a work in progress during his first season. Kadarius Toney goes invisible at times.

There’s no reason to panic. Many around the league thought the sky was falling when the Chiefs dealt receiver Tyreek Hill before the 2022 season. Mahomes went on to win league MVP without the Cheetah, and the Chiefs went on to win the Super Bowl. As long as Kansas City has Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid, they will be fine.

There’s also no reason to worry about Kansas City unless they have more results like Sunday in Mile High.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was melancholy following Sunday’s loss. Reid thought the Chiefs were close on several occasions but just missed on their opportunities. The future Hall of Fame head coach summed up the loss when speaking to the media after the game: “You miss off an inch in this league, it’s a mile.”

The Chiefs MVP signal-caller gave just due to the Broncos’ defense, stating that Denver has done a great job against them in both games this season. Mahomes accepted the blame and, like his head coach, pointed to several key missed opportunities: “We just didn’t execute.”

From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!

Jahan Dotson Fantasy Waiver Wire: Should I Pick Up the Commanders WR This Week?

Mark Kern
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Jahan Dotson Fantasy Waiver Wire: Should I Pick Up the Commanders WR This Week?

Jahan Dotson was a huge focal point of the Washington Commanders on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. He had eight catches for 108 yards and one touchdown in the 38-31 loss. He had 10 targets on the day, which was second on the team to Terry McLaurin (12).

With that in mind, should fantasy football managers add him off the waiver wire?

Should Jahan Dotson Be a Fantasy Waiver Wire Add in Week 9?

The Commanders are a very interesting team when it comes to fantasy. Some weeks, the offense looks like one of the very best in the NFL. Then, the next week, the Commanders look like a bottom-third offense. On Sunday, the offense was clicking, as quarterback Sam Howell had a monster game.

Howell went 39 of 52 for 397 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception in the loss to the Eagles. He was doing a terrific job of distributing the ball around all day, and Dotson was one of the biggest benefactors.

This is the second consecutive week that Dotson was involved in the offense, as he had five catches for 43 yards on eight targets last week. This is the exact issue that makes it tough for fantasy managers to decide on Dotson. When he is at his best, he can absolutely be a solid Flex play with WR2 potential.

He also has four games this year with six fantasy points. Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy’s offense for years has been known to spread the ball around and allow everybody to be involved. In the NFL, that is extremely appealing to players. However, for fantasy managers, it can be frustrating at times.

MORE: Fantasy News Tracker

Right now, if you have the money, add him off the waiver wire. In the best case, he is the third option in the offense and, more likely, the fourth. McLaurin is still the unquestioned No. 1 wide receiver. Besides him, Curtis Samuel and Logan Thomas are great options for Howell.

On Sunday, even Jamison Crowder was extremely involved, having seven catches for 95 yards and one touchdown.

There has to be an understanding that while he has big-time potential, there is also the potential for him to be a bust. Through eight games, he has had four good-to-great games and four duds.

When you are signing a guy off the waiver wire at this point in the season, you have to know that is the case. He is a guy who you look at and realize he won you a week. He is also a guy where you could be kicking yourself for putting him in your lineup.

Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!

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