Around the AFC
Pour one out for Two-Way Travis: On Tuesday, former Colorado gamebreaker and Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter had season-ending surgery to repair a ligament in his knee, which could bring a swift end to his NFL career as a two-way player. It’s a shame. Hunter had just started to get going and will finish his rookie year with 28 catches for 298 yards on offense and 15 tackles on defense in seven games. But there’s little chance that his camp and the Jaguars will view two-way stardom as the best thing for his long-term health.
Joe Shiesty about to replace Joe Cool: The brief dream old-guy run in Cincinnati might be over for 40-year-old Joe Flacco, as franchise QB Joe Burrow has returned to practice after missing most of the season with turf toe. The Bengals opened Burrow’s 21-day window to return from injured reserve, meaning he could play again as soon as Sunday against the Steelers (much more likely in the following weeks, though). The Flacco trade didn’t exactly save the Bengals’ season, as they’ve gone 1-3 with Flacco starting. Still, he’s again resuscitated his career with a 102.6 quarterback rating in Cincy.
Trouble in Buffalo?: Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel didn’t exactly confirm if it was indeed him riding around Miami and trolling Buffalo fans after smacking the Bills 30-13 last week, but he certainly didn’t deny it, either. It was a terrible loss for the Bills, who look suddenly vulnerable at 6-3. Quarterback Josh Allen has been typically excellent, but Buffalo’s offense has scored 20 points or less across a 2-3 stretch in its last five games.
Around the NFC
Giants throw in the towel on Daboll: The 2-8 Giants canned fiery head coach Brian Daboll on Monday, a few short weeks after blowing a 26-8 fourth-quarter lead to the Broncos in a game that could’ve saved his job. Instead, they blew another fourth-quarter lead to Chicago this past Sunday, and Daboll’s gone. Now, with franchise rookie QB Jaxson Dart in concussion protocol, former Broncos not-so-standout Russell Wilson got benched again — this time for QB3 Jameis Winston. There hasn’t been much dub-chomping in New York this year.
Good, better, best: Speaking of Chicago: How about Dem Bears? This year’s officially for real with Chicago sitting at 6-3 and rivalling Denver in sheer fourth-quarter magic. Sophomore QB Caleb Williams has taken a step forward in sack avoidance and decision-making, and is now tied with Bo Nix for the most fourth-quarter comebacks and game-winning drives (four) of any NFL QB this season. First-year head coach Ben Johnson’s electric postgame speeches — Good, better best! Never let it rest ! — are one of the best things going in the league.
McBride needs better marriage: CSU product Trey McBride might well be the best tight end in the NFL at 61 catches for 603 yards and six touchdowns through nine games. But he’s stuck in purgatory in Arizona, where the 3-6 Cardinals have a near-Broncos-era-Wilson-level contract problem with perpetually hurt Kyler Murray. Backup Jacoby Brissett has been serviceable, but not a ceiling-raiser. McBride’s four-year, $76 million extension in April was great value for Arizona, but might be holding the Greeley native back.
Game of the Week
Seattle at L.A. Rams
Easy pick here. The NFC West is an absolute dogfight, and this game Sunday could decide the division, as the 7-2 Seahawks travel to Los Angeles to take on the 7-2 Rams. Seattle has a legitimate MVP candidate in QB Sam Darnold; the Rams have 37-year-old Matthew Stafford playing better football than at any point in his 17-year career. Plus, veteran WR Cooper Kupp will make his first return to Los Angeles as a first-year member of the Seahawks. Really good TV in the afternoon window.
Seattle 27, L.A. Rams 24
Lock of the Week
Baltimore at Cleveland
Lamar Jackson has been back the last couple of weeks, and the Ravens have survived a nightmare start to ride a three-game winning streak into a matchup with the hapless Browns. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has stuck behind rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel despite an overwhelming mountain of evidence he might be the worst starting QB in the NFL, and Colorado product Shedeur Sanders has still not seen the field. Baltimore could run the score up big-time here.
Baltimore 34, Cleveland 10
Upset of the Week
Houston at Tennessee
Why not? C.J. Stroud is out another week after suffering a concussion against the Broncos in Week 9, leaving the entirely mediocre Davis Mills to start another week as Houston heads to Tennessee. The Titans have been utterly miserable in a 1-8 start, but actually managed to hang with the Chargers last week. Rookie QB Cam Ward’s been playing better ball the last four weeks. This could send Houston into a spiral.
Tennessee 20, Houston 14
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