Believe it or not, running backs can still be MVPs on the field or in the entire league.
The AFC-leading Colts (5-1) visit the Chargers (4-2) with a league-leading 194 points. That’s a record through six weeks, topping Peyton Manning’s 2007 Colts team. This year’s starting Colts center, 2024 fourth-round pick Tanor Bortolini, who replaced Ryan Kelly when he signed with the Vikings, has started all six games and is Pro Football Focus’ fourth-best run-blocking center. Kelly, meanwhile, is on injured reserve after suffering the fourth and fifth career concussions three weeks apart this season.
Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz injured his left shoulder on this play against Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger on Oct. 5. (Adam Bettcher/The Associated Press)
Quarterbacks who play like Carson Wentz did at the end of the Browns game keep playing. How long? Until they don’t play like that and, oh yeah, learn to slide when they’re supposed to slide!
The Bears are tied for the best turnover differential (plus-8) and rank second in takeaways (12). They are riding a three-game streak with three or more takeaways. Couple that with Caleb Williams throwing only eight picks in 721 career attempts over 23 games, and that’s the start of a recipe that just might get Da Bears out of the Da Basement for the first time since 2021.
Question for Vikings CB Byron Murphy Jr.
Q As a former Cardinal, did Arizona coach Jonathan Gannon cross the line while chewing out and making contact with running back Emari Demercado on the sideline after Demercado became the second NFL player in two weeks to flip the ball away short of the goal-line, turning what should have been a long touchdown into a touchback when the ball went through the back of the end zone?
A “I definitely saw that. I don’t think that was too far. I think that’s just coaching. Obviously, it was a coaching point the running back knows for sure he messed up on. We all watch film. We know what happened the week before [with Colts receiver Adonai Mitchell] and what not to do. In my high school days, coaches were cussing us out, doing everything. It settled down some in college, but, to me, that’s still just coaching.”