Titans vs. Jaguars: NFL Week 14 Picks and Game Predictions

Welcome to the week 14 Official NFL Power Rankings! With circus catches and beatdowns alongside great games, there was plenty to discuss even before a MNF Scorigami that might already be airing on ESPN classic. 32/32 Reporting

#	Team	Δ	Record	Comment
1.	Chiefs	--	12-1	The Dolphins gave the Chiefs all they could handle in the first quarter of Sunday's game, but the Chiefs once again proved that when they are focused, they are the most dangerous team in the NFL. Travis Kelce, the NFL's leading receiver currently, had another monster game showing why he's a future hall of famer. However, after having five 10+ point wins in the first eight weeks of the season, the Chiefs last five wins have all been won by one score. Will this trend ultimately matter come playoff time? It's hard to argue with results, as the Chiefs 12-1 record is the best record through 13 games in franchise history. The ultimate barometer for the Chiefs is this week as they travel to play the Saints, hopefully with Drew Brees. Many questions will be answered in this clash of two top five teams.
2.	Packers	+2	10-3	There always seems to be one Lions-Packer game a year that ends up being some kind of adventure. Rodgers and Adams were as good as ever but the Lions kept on lingering throughout the game. Mason "Silver Fox" Crosby nailed an insurance 58 yard field goal with 3:30 to play and made a touchdown-saving tackle on the immediate kickoff. Aside from Crosby, the special teams really leave a lot to be desired, especially after the hands team almost allowed a onside kick recovery (c'mon y'all I don't need Bostic flashbacks). Packers officially won the division game and are now the projected 1 seed, which is pretty neat ngl. Onto a Saturday game I guess?
3.	Bills	+2	10-3	For a team that was searching desperately in 2019 for a signature win, the 2020 Bills have found them everywhere they turn. This team has had one of the toughest schedules in the league, but except for a couple games they've shown up every time they've had to. This is the second-best team in the conference. The Bills bandwagons are circling now. Josh Allen's extending his baseball glove-sized hand. He says "get in nerds, we're goin' to the Super Bowl."
4.	Saints	-1	10-3	This loss = Hurts. Dennis Allen seemingly had no answers for the rookie QB and then Miles Sanders piled on as well. "All the things we didn't want to allow happen, happened in that game." This was Sean Payton's post-game assessment and it's fair. Taysom Hill had an acceptable statline but it hides how sloppy he looked on the field. The defense struggled with its assignment to contain Hurts and keep him from getting outside the pocket - a worrying sign considering the next QB on the schedule.
5.	Steelers	-3	11-2	The Steelers schedule has been insane. 6 days between NYG and DEN. 14 days between HOU and PHI. 10 days between JAX and BAL. But with that BAL game, the Steelers played them, WFT and BUF in 12 days. 3 games in 12 days. The team is out of LBs and OL. This has been a challenging season for everyone, but this is unprecedented. The Steelers have 8 days until CIN, then 6 days until IND. 10 out of 16 games played with an irregular schedule? You can argue the drops are kicking their ass, but this schedule has been brutal. No wonder they've lost 2 straight.
6.	Rams	--	9-4	Imagine only scoring 3 points in a game.
7.	Colts	+1	9-4	Kenny Moore is a player underrated by national media but massively valuable to the Colts. GM Chris Ballard made re-signing him a priority after his breakout 2018 season. Moore has been a reliable performer throughout his tenure as a Colt and added an exclamation point with his insane one-handed interception on Sunday.
8.	Titans	+1	9-4	Derrick Henry had his second 200+ yard 2 TD game against the Jaguars on Sunday. The performance made Henry the 7th player to rush for 1,500+ yards and 14+ TDs through 13 games.
9.	Seahawks	+1	9-4	Nothing cures ~~suicidal thoughts~~ losing like playing the Jets, baby. Sunday was never much of a game, as it was all Seahawks all day. Russell Wilson threw for 4 touchdowns, Jamal Adams broke the single season sack record for defensive backs, and Geno Smith got to play a full quarter against the team that drafted him. What a way to get over a bad loss to the Giants. Up next the Seahawks will take on their final NFC East opponent of the season; Football Team.
10.	Ravens	+2	8-5	This ranker is a brown man, writing about how Lamar Jackson lost 20 pounds dropping some brown, dropping a TD to Brown, to go ahead against the Browns. They go for two. So in response, K-hunt ties the game, 42-42. In response, the Llama sets up the GOAT to nail a 54-yarder, 16th game winner of his career! To say nothing else of the game -- 9 total fucking rushing touchdowns, tying a record held since two defunct teams played each other before anyone on reddit was born... and Jackson runs for a MNF QB record 124 yards -- but still gets all the clutch plays done with his arm, with this middling group of receivers. The even greater news amidst all this is that the schedule doesn't look so bad in the closing stretch, and inspired play like this past Monday from the offense will ease the burden of the Ravens' gradually depleting secondary. Best wishes to Trace McSorely who made an extremely commendable effort to set them up for Lamar's return.
11.	Browns	-4	9-4	Did you bet the over? The Browns and Ravens combined for 89 points in an absolute rollercoaster of a game. While they did not win, the Browns have shown they are contenders. With two games to go a real shot at the playoffs is on the table. The Browns will face the Giants in another prime time game.
12.	Buccaneers	-1	8-5	The Buccaneers pulled off a 26-14 win over the Vikings, bringing their playoff chances to 94%. Vikes kicker Dan Bailey channeled his inner Gary Anderson to win the Bucs' game ball on an 0/3 kicking performance with an additional missed XP. Rookie Antoine Winfield Jr. played a disruptive game against his dad's former team and is looking like he has the potential to be one of the league's next great safeties. With only interim coaches to close out the remaining three games of the season, the Bucs should have smooth sailing into the Wild Card round.
13.	Dolphins	--	8-5	There are no consolation prizes in the NFL, but a single score loss to the best team in the league while the backup waterboy is lining up in the slot is about as close to a one as you'll ever get. While he was able to pull off the win, even Patrick Mahomes couldn't keep this ball-hawking defense from getting a hold of the ball, often. And at some point, if people don't start talking about Xavien Howard in the DPOY conversation, he's just going to go intercept the damned award himself. Hopefully, the long, long list of injured Dolphins get well soon.
14.	Cardinals	+1	7-6	A monster day from Haason Reddick and the defense finally put the Cardinals back on the winning track. Breaking a franchise record with 5 sacks was one thing, but getting all the turnovers was huge. Hopefully the offense feeds off of it and has a good week in preparing for a big game with Philly that has huge playoff implications. It will take a complete team effort to beat Philly with Jalen Hurts starting fresh of a win against the Saints.
15.	Raiders	-1	7-6	The Raiders looked really bad against the Colts, just like they have for the better part of the last 6 weeks. Luckily Gruden finally made the call to fire Pauly G, something fans have been calling for for the past 2 seasons. Only time will tell if it's too little, too late. Every game from here on out is a must win if the Raiders want to make the playoffs.
16.	Washington FT	+3	6-7	Washington is finding ways to win instead of finding ways to lose. The offense was not able to score a TD so the defense went ahead and spotted them 14 points. Chase Young notches his first TD and continues to prove his worth as the 2nd overall pick as a game wrecker.
17.	Vikings	--	6-7	Dalvin Cook became the first back to rush for over 100 yards against the Bucs in over 20 games, but the Vikings were unable to convert long drives into points as Dan Bailey went 0/4 on field goals and extra points. Couple that with some questionable officiating, the Vikings' banged up front seven generating zero pressure on Tom Brady and plenty of self-inflicted wounds and it all adds up to a real tough loss that knocks the Vikings down from wild card favorites to playoff long shots.
18.	Bears	+5	6-7	The Bears finally snapped their six-game losing streak by rolling over the Texans without much difficulty. Trubisky attempted one throw longer than 20 yards.
19.	Patriots	-3	6-7	Los Angeles, is a land of contrasts - In a span of four days the Patriots' hopes for a postseason were revived and then unceremoniously squashed. Run Defense, Offensive Line, Cam and the Receivers, There just are too many holes to cover up with week to week coaching, this team needs some reworking over the offseason. The Pats end the season with the division as always, lets hope to fuck someone’s season or seeding up. And also the Jets.
20.	49ers	-2	5-8	The 49ers defense did their job, holding the Washington offense to a total of 9 points, but the offense had two takeaways brought back for touchdowns and could not recover. The team looks to right the ship this week against the Cowboys.
21.	Broncos	+5	5-8	Drew Lock put up the third-highest passer rating in team history — behind a couple guys you may know. In the battle of 4-8's, the Broncos somehow managed to not blow a sizeable fourth-quarter lead and emerge victorious. Winning the game but losing The Hunt for a Better Draft Pick. Will the team remain in purgatory? Stay tuned.
22.	Giants	-2	5-8	It’s a real joy to watch the rest of the teams in the up-for-grabs NFC East secure wins, with one being against a top-5 team, all while watching your team play so poorly they start setting franchise records. At least we can say the hype was fun while it lasted, right?
23.	Falcons	-1	4-9	Outplayed by a team whose most impressive win is a tossup between the Bengals, Jaguars, and Jets? Check. Outcoached by special teams ace Anthony Lynn? Check. Ten point lead blown, two interceptions with under five minutes left, double check. Good thing age is just a number for the 32nd youngest team in the league.
24.	Panthers	-3	4-9	I'm not sure where the Panthers go from here. Coach Rhule has said that he isn't going to do the team and fans a disservice by beginning to evaluate players, which means that we're going to see more of Teddy Bridgewater (who is 0-7 in one score games this season) crumble at the end of the game. Playing at Lambeau in primetime in December is one of the hardest things a team can do, and it's not going to be an easy test for the Panthers, who so far have shown that they can't win close games, nor can they defend the pass (23rd in passing defense). It's going to be tough sledding, but hopefully Jeremy Chinn can continue his torrid pace and run his way into DROY.
25.	Eagles	+3	4-8-1	Jalen Hurts delivered the spark the Eagles needed to upset the Saints and spread 'quarterback controversy' all over the city of brotherly love. While the season remains a disappointment, the dual running threat of Hurts and Sanders could be interesting to watch going forward, and the NFC Least remains wide-open with 2 divisional games left on the 2020 menu.
26.	Lions	-1	5-8	Even with a loss, Interim HC Darrell Bevell showed that his Lions are here to compete. This game was never out of hands, and the Lions kept it close the entire time. There are still plenty of woes on Defense, but the Offense continued to ball out as expected. With two TD's coming from the run game (Swift and Kerryon), there is already something to look forward to next year. Lately the team has been able to trust the run on short yardage and redzone carries and it has helped the team with consistency in the red zone. Unfortunately, Aaron Rodgers is a QB that can carve up a weak secondary... so that didn't go great. There's around a 1% chance of the Lions getting a playoff spot, not unheard of, but it'll be tough if Stafford's injury progresses and we lose him for the season. #DefendTheDen
27.	Chargers	--	4-9	First of all, props to Falcons Twitter for this gem before the game, and it played out exactly as expected. Both teams did their best to try giving it away at the end, but the Chargers ended up on the winning side this time around. The Chargers had their hiccups again but there were improvements across the board; Justin Herbert's 81.8% completion percentage is his highest of the season, the defense came away with 3 INTs, and special teams probably had their best day. The Chargers get a short week before a Thursday Night tilt in Las Vegas.
28.	Texans	-4	4-9	The Texans are lucky that Paxton is the Texas AG, otherwise they would have had the biggest blowout loss in the state this past week.
29.	Cowboys	--	4-9	The Red Rifle won his revenge game, the defense forced multiple turnovers, and the Bengals were held to 3.4 yards per carry. All that, and the Cowboys still come out of the week with a top 5 draft pick. Honestly, Sunday couldn't have gone better. Now, the only question is whether this was the team turning the corner and the beginning of a strong finish to the season, or this was just a perfect moment of the Cowboys finding a shittier team with serious injuries issues and just doing what should happen in that scenario.
30.	Bengals	--	2-10-1	Giovani Bernard hadn't fumbled since 2013 before his 1st quarter fumble on Sunday. So what does he get for his troubles? A spot on the bench thanks to Zac Taylor. Giovani was one of the only veterans who spoke out in behalf of Taylor and the current coaches when multiple articles were released with "sources" saying that Taylor had lost the locker room last month. You have to question the benching for multiple reasons as the directionless Bengals continue to flounder to blowout losses. Just another reason why this should be Zac Taylor's last season as head coach in Cincinnati.
31.	Jaguars	--	1-12	This one felt more as expected. Perhaps it was in former GM Dave Caldwell's plans— no, wait, hear me out. Adjusting tinfoil hat; Based on the moves taken this offseason to seemingly dump talent from the Jaguars in attempt to amass more draft picks, perhaps the former front office of the Jaguars were banking on this season not being played, due to pandemic reasons. Sure, this may sound farfetched, but I'd like to hear a more reasonable explanation for fielding such a disaster as this team, this season.
32.	Jets	--	0-13	The Jets have now scored on 7 consecutive opening drives, the longest streak in the NFL. After climbing to an early 3-0 lead, I watched Peter Sawkins make an excellent cranachan custard slice on The Great British Bake Off.

Official r/NFL Week 11 Power Rankings

Welcome to the week 11 Official NFL Power Rankings! It was an eventful weekend, all that fans (of most teams) could reasonably ask for. Whose top 15 are upside down? Is any team more PFF than substance? Happy 2 million, Discuss! 31/32 reporting

#	Team	Δ	Record	Comment
1.	Steelers	+1	10-0	Going into Thanksgiving after a solid win against the hopeless Jaguars, if the Steelers win vs the Ravens, they're in. That's right, if they beat Baltimore, the Steelers clinch a playoff spot by Week 11. Meanwhile, the Ravens know their back is against the wall after losing a tough one against the Titans and being outside of the cutoff line for the postseason. A loss against the Steelers takes their playoff odds down to 50-50, while a hot Browns team beating the same reeling Jaguars team brings their playoff chances to 75%. Expect the Ravens take their frustrations out on the Steelers in what will be both teams biggest test this season. The Ravens are desperate now and that makes them even more dangerous. Even more dangerous if they have the beerbug. If the game is postponed, disregard all of this.
2.	Chiefs	-1	9-1	The Chiefs have some soul searching to do on defense after another abysmal performance against the Raiders. Unlike the first matchup against the Raiders, the Chiefs offense was able to bail out poor performances from the defense and special teams this time thanks to the usual suspects on offense. Travis Kelce continued his otherworldly year. Tyreek Hill was as great as always. Patrick Mahomes made a game-winning drive with only 1:43 look way too easy. Even if the Chiefs defense has off days the Chiefs are always going to be competitive due to those 3 guys. They might have to lean on them, even more, when the Chiefs go to Tampa Bay next week.
3.	Saints	+1	8-2
4.	Rams	+6	7-3	Jordan Fuller is the superior 199th pick.
5.	Packers	-2	7-3	"MVS giveth, MVS taketh away"
6.	Colts	+7	7-3	The Colts drive to close the game after stopping the Packers on a late 4th and 1 was the most poorly executed drive this ranker has ever seen. It's a testament to this team's heart and talent that they still pulled out a W after that debacle. Sunday's game was one of the biggest in recent Indy football and the Colts look to surge into the back stretch of the season.
7.	Seahawks	+5	7-3	The Seahawks defense won the game on a Carlos Dunlap sack on a three man rush against Kyler Murray. This team is provocative.... gets the people goin. And the fans are here for it (RIP blood pressure). A long break between Thursday night and the game Monday night should mean the returns of Chris Carson, Shaquil Griffin, and Ethan Pocic. After a bit of a slump, the Seahawks next 4 opponents consist of the NFC East (minus the Cowboys) and the Jets. It's all comin' together, baby.
8.	Bills	--	7-3	The Dolphins, Patriots, and Jets all lost this week, which is about as good of a bye week as the Bills can ask for. This has been a very weird season with a lot of flukey wins and losses. Despite losing to them (and getting their teeth kicked in by one), it’s hard to say the Bills are objectively worse than Arizona or Tennessee. A Hail Mary ended one, and there was a whole string of strange, confusing events leading up to the other that made it a tough game to prepare for. This isn’t to say Buffalo didn’t deserve these losses, but in such an up-and-down year around the whole league, 7-3 feels pretty damn good. Now, it’s time to make the final push for the division.
9.	Buccaneers	-4	7-4	He was excessively loyal to his coordinators. No matter their follies, no matter the incompetence on full display, and no matter the need for change, he insisted they continue in their duties. He refused to step in to call plays until it was too late, and by that point, the writing was already on the wall for his job. This of course references former Buccaneers Head Coach Dirk Koetter. The parallels are there in the present, and after last night's Rams game (which included a rollout from Tom Cement Shoes Brady), OC Byron Leftwich has little confidence from Bucs fans. They better wake up, because Patrick Mahomes is next.
10.	Titans	+4	7-3	The Titans were able to once again slow the Ravens offense enough to keep pace through the first three quarters and set up an eleven-point fourth quarter to take the game to overtime. In overtime, Derrick Henry became the first player in NFL history to score a second walk off touchdown in the same season.
11.	Ravens	-5	6-4	This ranker would opt to write a blurb, but Greg Roman forced him to write a message to Hollywood instead. Can the Steelers be beaten without a DL? What about with two running backs on the COVID list? Asking for a friend.
12.	Cardinals	-5	6-4	Leading the league in penalties (now 9 more than the next most penalized team) was bound to factor into a loss at some point. The offensive line also had their worst game of the season as Seattle's pass defense looked elite. Hopefully the teak used the extended time to work on some things and Murray's shoulder had enough time to heal. Sunday's game against the up and down Patriots will be absolutely critical.
13.	Raiders	--	6-4	Bad officiating, bad defense, and scoring 30+ points and losing. Sunday night was exactly what you expect when you watch a Raiders game. The bright side for Raiders fans, they dominated KC on the road and barely scraped out a win after coming off a bye in Vegas. The Raiders can beat any team in the league, unfortunately their defense makes it so any team can beat them as well.
14.	Browns	+1	7-3	The Browns are just two wins away from the first winning season since 2007 and third winning season in TWENTY YEARS. The Browns will face the struggling Jaguars next week.
15.	Dolphins	-6	6-4	After a few weeks of glorious hope, Dolphins fans are welcomed back to the standard mood. Though the team's future still looks bright, this game was a hard reminder that the team is not yet all the way complete, and still has some glaring holes. Now the Dolphins travel to the winless Jets to see if they pull off the easy win, or if the long history of odd games in this rivalry continues.
16.	Bears	+2	5-5	The bye week featured the most watchable performance from the Bears' offense all season.
17.	Panthers	+3	4-7	The first shutout in five years was exactly what P.J. "Matty Ice" Walker and his two end zone interceptions needed. Even if this game was somehow closer than the end result, the defense really stepped up. A perfect 52 yard bomb to DJ Moore deserves specific recognition, as well as Brian Burns' overall game film.
18.	49ers	+1	4-6	Bye Week- Hopefully it allows enough time to get players off the Covid list.
19.	Vikings	-3	4-6	Dalvin Cook leads the league in rushing touchdowns, Adam Thielen leads the league in receiving touchdowns, Justin Jefferson is on pace to break Randy Moss's rookie receiving record, Kirk Cousins ranks 6th in PFF grade... and yet none of it matters because half of the Vikings' defense is on IR.
20.	Patriots	-3	4-6	Pass protection and defensive secondary struggled. Run game disappeared in the second half. lost Rex. Not Good!
21.	Broncos	+4	4-6	Tua learned a very important lesson on Sunday. No matter how good your team is, no matter how hapless the Broncos appear to be, the power of Mile High bullshit will break you. Despite having an awful start after game after game of awful offensive play, the Broncos strung together just enough yardage to complement an amazing defensive performance to squeak out a win. Ultimately meaningless except for one point — Vic Fangio has now won as many games as Vance Joseph.
22.	Chargers	+1	3-7	This game had all of the hallmarks of Chargers football: inconsistent and mistake-prone offense, a defense that only lasts 30 minutes, and incompetent special teams play. However, the Chargers hung on to win the game, probably because the other team was the Jets. Keenan Allen had a career day, as his 16 receptions in a game is a franchise record. The Herbert-Allen connection continues to grow stronger and will hopefully be a focal point of the offense for years to come. The Chargers will don the navy unis again in a cross-country tilt against the Bills next week.
23.	Falcons	-1	3-7	Thank you @Saints for the opportunity to realize a top ten draft/pick. And thank you to the fans and the city of Atlanta for putting up with the Falcons...
24.	Texans	+4	3-7	Every win against the Pats feels like a gift, even when they're as garbage as they are this year. Seeing Bill Belichick scowl at his team's loss never fails to brighten the spirits of all other football fans.
25.	Lions	-4	4-6	The offense was actually terrible. This Lions team is a shell of the offensive strength it had last year. After being shut out by an XFL QB, Patricia's seat must be scorching. Technically still in the playoff hunt, but unless the Lions blowout the Texans on thanksgiving.... don't count on it.
26.	Giants	+1	3-7	If you're going to have a Covid outbreak you might as well do it on your bye week. Here's hoping everyone makes a quick recovery and limits the spread to family members. The NFC East now has an entire division of 3-win teams, which means this dumpster fire of a division is more up for grabs than it's been all year. Big Blue heads to Cincinnati to take on the Burrow-less Bengals next.
27.	Washington FT	+2	3-7	And here we are. Come Thanksgiving, The Washington Football Team and Dallas Cowboys will battle it out for 1st place in the NFC LEAST. The winner standing tall at checks notes 4-7... This division is a toss up and we're really looking at a 5-11 or 6-10 team hosting a wildcard playoff game.
28.	Eagles	-2	3-6-1	Real talk. Carson Wentz is among the worst, if not the absolute worst, starting quarterback currently in the NFL. Doug Pederson's magic from the 2017 season is dead and buried in a 50 foot deep hole in the Vet graveyard. Jason Peters is the worst overall player in the entire league. It is time for Doug to give up playcalling to someone with an iota of common sense. It is time to bench Wentz in favor of Jalen Hurts, if only to keep Wentz healthy for next season. It is time for Eagles' fans to accept the fact that being 1st in a division while 3-6-1 is not a "positive takeaway."
29.	Cowboys	+1	3-7	Winners? For the first time in a while, Cowboys fans feel hope.
30.	Bengals	-6	2-7-1	The Bengals were never going to make the playoffs in 2020, they only had one goal for a successful season, keep Joe Burrow healthy. The front office and coaching staff failed to do that. Because Mike Brown won't step down or move aside, the changes need to start with Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin, Head Coach Zac Taylor, Offensive Coordinator Brian Callahan, and offensive line coach Jim Turner. All four have contributed towards the catastrophic failure that is the Bengals in 2020 and need to be let go. For the remainder of the season the only goal is to land a top three pick and draft Penei Sewell.
31.	Jaguars	--	1-9	It was not a trap game. It was, however, Shad Khan's 100th loss since buying the Jaguars. That doesn't count for much, but... no. No it's all just terrible. Send help.
32.	Jets	--	0-10	The Jets have become the first team to be eliminated from playoff contention, considerably hurting their chances at making the playoffs.

McClain's Mailbag: Can Texans, Deshaun Watson work it out?

Just about all of you are weighing in on the Deshaun Watson controversy and the hiring of the new head coach. I expect Watson, or his people, to make an official trade demand soon, and we’ll see where it goes from there. They can trade him or let him sit out, if it comes to that. I hope it doesn’t get James Harden ugly.
If you’re venting and don’t ask for an answer, I’ll just run your comment.
The Watson controversy could drag on for a long time. Meanwhile, general manager Nick Caserio is getting closer to recommending a new coach to Cal McNair, who’ll sign off on it.
There’s a good chance the next head could be a coordinator in the AFC Championship Game — Buffalo defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier or Kansas City offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. I think Indianapolis defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus is a strong candidate, too.
Q: Does anybody really know what’s going on with Watson? No doubt he is a tremendous talent and I have always gotten the impression a stand-up guy. All the news/ESPN hype aside why hasn’t he stated his position. What the news is reporting is second- or third-hand information. I don’t believe in Twitter, etc., to communicate in a situation like this. The owner, GM and Watson needs to sit down and talk. If there is a problem or issue, lay it out on the table. They all need to man up. If Watson doesn’t want to be a Texan after they gave him the contract and money, Watson needs to move on. McNair owns the club, you may not agree with how everything is done but he is the owneboss. I hope Watson decides he wants to be a Texan, but that is his call. If not he is a distraction and remember there is no I in team. — Bill B.
A: Sitting down and talking makes too much sense, Bill. So far, Watson hasn’t said what he wants. It’s all come from unnamed sources close to Watson.
Q: The rhetoric around Deshaun displeasure seems to be escalating. My personal opinion is that Deshaun shows a lot of audacity demanding that the owner of the company he works for must consult with him on who he hires to be his boss. Any other industry and he would be in the parking lot with a pink slip in his hand. But then I'm an old guy and not in tune with today’s youth. My question is in regard to his contract. If he stays mad and won't play and demands a trade are the Texans obligated to trade him, or can they not pay him for showing up for work and hold him accountable for the length of the contract? — Eric R.
A: Times have changed, Eric. Some agents and players in the NFL want it to be like the NBA, where the agents and players control so much, like who goes where. If Watson sits, he doesn’t get paid. If he sits out the season, he loses credit for the season and has to start over in 2022. He can do like James Harden and make it so ugly they have to trade him, but I can’t imagine Watson doing what Harden did. That’s not the Deshaun I’ve covered since the day he was drafted.
Q: Does McNair’s decision to keep Easterby send the message to Deshaun (and the others in the locker room that consider Jack toxic) that Easterby is more valuable to the Texans organization than Deshaun. Cal called the Easterby criticism “unjustified.” I get it — it’s unjustified, to Cal. But isn’t it totally justified to 85 to 90 of the locker room (if the Sports Illustrated article and interviews are accurate). — David M.
A: I don’t know what the other players think. Charles Omenihu said at a charity event this week he didn’t have a problem with Easterby. Brandin Cooks, who met Easterby at New England, has praised him, too. What McNair is saying is that nobody is going to tell him to hire or fire, like the owner of most businesses I know.
Q: I know you keep reassuring everyone Watson isn’t going anywhere, but the situation seems to be escalating. The Texans are finding more and interesting ways to keep the fans churned up. It is like a tempest in a teapot. One issue you touched on is will the Texans be able to attract the right candidate if they don’t get this Watson situation fixed. McNair seems to be willing to win the battle at the cost of the war. I am so disgusted with that organization for being so out of touch. One question about Easterby. Is it his ties to OB or is he doing things in the organization to create divisiveness? I can’t understand how somebody can be this polarizing to so many people within the organization and so popular with management. None of this makes sense! — Randy S.
A: You’re right about it not making sense, Randy. I think players and fans believe every bad decision OB made was also made by Easterby. I know many don’t like that Easterby has his fingerprints on so many parts of the organization rather than staying in his lane like he did with the Patriots. But McNair has given him that authority, and Easterby answers to only one person.
Q: I don’t really understand what Easterby did that was so offensive to Watson and Andre Johnson. It’s like the teacher going to the superintendent and telling him to fire the principal. But in this case, Easterby doesn’t directly work with Watson. You’ve been at the Chronicle a long time and are highly respected, but you don’t tell the publisher what to do or you wouldn't be there much longer. — Joe T.
A: You’ve got that right, Joe, but times are different today. Players and agents want control. The Texans negotiated a contract in good faith for $156 million, and they don’t want to trade Watson. They’ve done nothing but praise him to the high heavens. But if Watson is determined to get traded, it’s going to deteriorate. McNair apologized to Watson for the miscommunications on the Caserio hire. McNair and Caserio assured everyone they’d keep Watson updated on the coaching search. ESPN reported Sunday that Watson won’t return their calls. If that’s the case, how does he keep up with their coaching search?
Q: Why do people not like Easterby? Evidently McNair is one of the few who support him. Watson deserves to have some input. We wasted too many years with O’Brien. — Carole R.
A: I’m not exactly sure why they don’t like him, Carole, other than his close association with OB, being part of a total collapse in a disastrous season, having Watson and Andre Johnson taking public shots at him. Nobody has detailed what they don’t like.
Q: Watson's feud. Another employee that wants to be boss. And a rich one at that. Really never heard about Easterby until lately. Let's not forget that Cal McNair let O'Brien take over. O'Brien along with McNair, will never be forgiven here in Houston for giving Hopkins away. Hiring a coach means more to your readers/fans than anything a guy like Caserio could. You've been here. You know as much as anyone, maybe more. Can anyone point McNair in the right direction? Let's see. Caserio has been here a week! Please continue to keep us aware. — Lyn B.
A: Caserio has been in personnel for 19 of his 21 years in the NFL, Lyn. There was no personnel director more deserving of getting a chance to become personnel director than Caserio. It’s going to take a lot of work, starting with the new coach and his staff.
Q: Once again I enjoyed your Mailbag this week. Under one of the Chronicle pictures of Deshaun Watson in said he was unhappy with his lack of involvement in searches for GM and coach. How can he be unhappy when his paycheck hits the bank each week. Someone should remind him that he was hired to be the QB, not the GM or coach. And I do mean sit him down for a little owner-to-QB session and remind him who signs those paychecks since he wants to talk to McNair so badly. Sounds like another entitlement issue to me. Quite frankly, I think he gets too much credit and week after week he makes his share of mistakes that contribute to losses. Not sure why the masses are willing to look beyond that. How could the Texans give him any more than they have already? As far as his no-trade clause, the backup quarterback position might just show him a bit of humility or appreciation for where he is and what he has. Time for someone to put these prima donnas in their place. With a good GM and a good coach in place the Texans can do better without him as the starting QB. Let him watch a few Texan wins from the bench for awhile and let’s see how much input he thinks he should have in GM and head coach hires. — Will W.
A: Will, Watson won’t be sitting on the bench. If he’s here, he’s starting. If he’s not, he’s starting somewhere else.
Q: I am a Chronicle subscriber, have read your column for years. I read how the Texans re-did Andre's contract. Then he was an assistant (or similar) in recent years. I understand Andre taking up for Deshaun but I do not understand such sharpness being tweeted out. That seems completely unlike the Andre that the public knows. How was Andre so wronged? — Ed K.
A: He wasn’t wronged, Ed. I think when he suggested that Watson stand his ground and then ripped Easterby, he was telling us what he thinks.
Q: Watson not happy? Let's kiss his butt to make him happy. Last time I checked he was an employee, not a part owner. Many employees are not happy with certain things in their workplace, but they get over it. Show him the door. — Gene C.
Q: OK, it’s crunch time. My opinion, hiring Bieniemy or possibly Frazier is the only thing that keeps Watson. — Scott M.
A: I’m guessing it’s got to be more than that, Scott.
Q: I think I’ve finally reached my tipping point. That is saying a lot after a year like 2020. The Harden situation was surprisingly easier. I’m a die-hard Rockets and basketball fan. I’ve had season tickets or have been buying tickets since 1991. And yet when it comes to Harden, good riddance. Take it somewhere else. Watson is a whole different deal. While the old-school part of me laughs a little at the Gen Y and Gen X demands and attitudes, that train has left the station. When you give a “kid” $100-200 million it’s hard to expect the maturity or experience of someone in their more developed years. That said, how could McNair let this get so bad? Not sure what to believe in this world of blogger news, but where there is smoke, there is fire. I guess as long as Cal believes we will keep buying tickets and watching on TV then he too can do what he wants. I will say if Watson goes, I will be remorsefully selling my PSLs at first opportunity. Even if our new GM pulled of a Herschel Walker-like trade. I believe in loyalty. It’s important in life. But there is nothing Easterby can be providing that outweighs the damage that seems well documented in and out of the organization. It’s just unbelievable to me and frankly bums me out. I handled the Astros. I’m OK with the Rockets. I’ve accepted the mask. I’ve accepted the election. I just can’t get my head around the situation with Watson. — Keith C.
A: I imagine many of us feel like you do, Keith.
Q: By the way, I’m tired of the sophomoric name-calling in many of your e-mails. You should be able to make your point without stooping to name-calling, right? Thank you. — Mike A.
A: The e-mails have been better this week, Mike. Thank everyone for ditching the name-calling. I’ve deleted several e-mails because I don’t want to take the time to edit out the name-calling.
Q: Congratulations on the Cal McNair interview about Easterby. National media giving you credit for it as well. The news about McNair being so entrenched was nauseating at best but at least it provides certainty. Let's hope the players can convince Caserio to wall him off from them so he isn't a distraction. I sincerely hope fans are allowed in the stadium next year so they can provide direct feedback to McNair and his boss. I can think of no other situation in American business when a subordinate has withstood this much hostility and venom. Maybe in a cult, but not a business. How terribly unfortunate. Thanks for being the messenger. — Ray M.
A: Thanks very much, Ray.
Q: I read your articles and watch your videos. Cal McNair apologized for his actions or communications that created mistrust. Few hours after that Deshaun Watson puts another cryptic tweet about 2 and 10. Why does such a smart player and good person put out such tweets that hurt the reputation of the team and ownership? Is he misguided? Wish tweets could be used to spread positivity, awareness on social issues instead of riling public opinion against team ownership. Why is it hard for players to sort out differences directly as grown-up adults instead of washing dirty linen in public? I want Deshaun to stay in Houston but these cryptic tweets and media leaks (anonymous sources) are beginning to damage his reputation as well. — Jeevan R.
A: It’s a new era, Jeevan. That’s just the way a lot of people operate today. One-on-one communication seems to be a thing of the past.
Q: If Easterby was such a help to the organization here are some suggested comments McNair might have made:

You know we could not have pulled off the trading of Hopkins without his help, this was a really successful moment for our franchise, he advised O'Brian perfectly on this trade.
Why would people question the decision to keep Easterby, after all who would listen to Andre or Watson, they were just players and you can never get enough advice for someone who has been in New England
Our new GM needed to have friends around to support his decision making and Easterby is that guy
Why should I listen to a quarterback or a retired wideout when choosing a GM, after all I have Easterly to advise me, let Watson vacation in Cabo
Andre simply has not gotten to know "Jackie" like I have.
You will see when our team advised by my close buddy Jack Easterby chooses our head coach. No I do not think a quarterback of a losing team should have any say, why would I think of that? After all he is not Elway or Manning or even Blanda. You will see Easterby's worth when we choose the new coach.

Sorry David Barron is retiring, you now have to be the old wise owl. — Don H.
A: We’re all sorry Barron is retiring, Don. He leaves a huge hole in our sports coverage and will be missed by so many of us.
Q: On the coaching search by Texans, this year it seems the new slogan for teams looking for the HC is a leader of men. In a football world of Alphas, not all coaches and players are Alphas. Bill O'Brien wasn't necessarily an Alpha. Mike Vrabel was an Alpha, as evidenced by the many complimentary comments from Texan players during Vrabel's time here. It's been no surprise to me that the Titans have excelled under Vrabel's stewardship. He's supported by a good GM who has had some recently productive drafts. I won't be surprised when the Titans go Super Bowling. How does an NFL owner or GM identify that Alpha quality in a HC candidate? — Roy S.
A: It’s pretty easy to identify, Roy, if you know what you're doing, have a lot of experience in the NFL and have a lot of contacts to investigate candidates’ strengths and weaknesses.
Q: It seems like almost everybody has agreed that Watson will be traded. I don’t think Caserio will do that, but what do you think it takes for Watson and the Texans to get their relationship back on track? And do you think this has hurt the search for a new HC? Med venlig hilsen. — Kristian S.
A: I don’t think it’s hurt the search, Kristian. There are only 32 of these jobs in the world, and they’re coveted by so many. Not to mention the new coach will probably get about $5 mil a year — lots more than an assistant coach. Med venlig hilsen to you, too.
Q: If Watson does not trust Easterby, and Caserio has said that they have a long-term relationship, don't you think it's just better for them to part ways? Get someone who wants to be here and can buy in to what Caserio is building, otherwise there will always be some kind of drama. Watson seems to be a great guy, but he wants to be at a place where he feels like he's respected, clearly he feels that he has not been, right or wrong! I don't care how much money you make, nobody wants to go to work looking over their shoulder every day. Sounds like a clean break is needed. I'd hate to see him go, but hey they traded Olajuwon! — Robert T.
A: Why would Watson have to look over his shoulder every day, Robert? Perhaps they will make a clean break. Perhaps it’ll get real ugly like Harden. Or maybe they can work it out if Watson wants to work it out.
Q: With Cal "running” things, Texans deserve what they get. But the fans don’t deserve this crap. Jack Easterby is now a known problem — nationwide — but Cal can’t see it. Respected SI writers go on for pages about his crap. Cal: unjustified and we own it in the building. It's beyond reproach that the building is an abject disaster. Did Cal say why he is retaining JE? Did he say why, when it's jeopardizing the team, Deshaun, the fans, etc; was he asked to address and respond to the litany of the events outlined in the SI article? Was he asked if 20 percent of that is true, all is probably true, Why is JE being retained? Did he answer why he is being retained when, according to O’Brien, he was intimately involved in all the horrendous decisions since he arrived? If he wasn’t asked these things, then why not?? These are the questions that 90 plus percent of Texans fans deserve answers to. And last, was he asked why, in view of all of the press and backlash, locally and nationwide, he hasn’t had a press conference so that he can field questions from a variety, not just insiders? Cal is damn lucky he’s here in Houston, and not another city where the media and fans demand performance and are exacting in their review. See Philly! Firing a pretty damn good coach who Texans ought to consider, but JE won’t approve, so no chance. Not to mention not even interviewing Saleh and asking for Bieniemy 2 weeks late. The ticket holders should boycott! Once Cal’s cash train comes to a grinding halt, maybe things will change. — Steve C.
A: Steve, I guess you missed McNair answering every question the media had about Easterby on the Zoom call with the media. I guess you missed what’s been reported over and over: It’s Caserio’s search and hire. As soon as he got here for his first day on the job, he notified the league he wanted to interview five coaches, including Bieniemy. And I guess you’ve missed all those times it’s been written, broadcast and tweeted: McNair says Easterby is here because the owner thinks he does a good job. No other explanation is necessary.
Q: Shades of the Houston Oilers. Reminds me of the yesterdays when Bud Adams didn't know what he was doing. McNair standing up for a man that was totally bamboozled and steamrolled by Bill O'Brien is a joke. It just tells me that the owner doesn't have a clue about football management. Mr. McNair seems to be a good man, and a man that knows how to make money. But his personnel skills are lacking. By standing up for Easterby, he has endorsed the failures of the past 5 years under O'Brien. The man that dismantled the Texans and left them non-competitive. But Deshaun knows Easterby is zero help. Why didn't Deshaun say something before or after he signed his huge contract? Why did J.J. Watt wait so long to speak out? Easterby was there to listen to them. I predict the Texans will continue to lose for the next 5 years. New coach? Who wants this job? Texans will have to beg to get a coach. Interviews mostly with retreads Jim Caldwell, Marvin Lewis? Are you kidding me? Losers. Watt will be gone to a potential championship team like Green Bay. The Texans will not beat the Jaguars again. You will see what real coaching does. Watson will remain unhappy and frustrated fans will still buy tickets, based on a sales pitch. Easterby will get it done. Seen it all before. Thank God I don't have season tickets with a seat license. — Kelley J.
A: I disagree about failure for the last five years with OB. Winning four division titles in five years and two playoff games isn’t failure. Let’s be fair. The Texans have interviewed eight candidates, including five who’ve never been a head coach. By the way, some other retreads who’d been fired: Bill Belichick, Pete Carroll, Tony Dungy, Marty Schottenheimer, Dan Reeves, Andy Reid, Jon Gruden and Gary Kubiak, just to name a few.
Q: I'm from Boston and subscribe to Texas Sports Nation to read your stuff. We had a sportscaster named Bob Lobel who would show highlights of former players and say, "why can't we get guys like that." I hope Nick and Easterby (who reminds me of Rasputin and I'm glad he's Houston's problem) ship him (Watson) to New England. Stranger things have happened. More likely the Jets for Darnold and great picks. — Vic L.
A: Vic, what do you have to offer for Watson to go to the Patriots to work with Belichick and Josh McDaniels.
Q: I’m sure I’m not telling you anything you don’t know, but in my view, regardless of how his role evolved, a critical part of Easterby’s position was to maintain a good relationship with players. Most of all, the team leaders such as Deshaun Watson. If he has not done this, he has failed at a significant part of his job. Just like with any other job, I don’t really think it matters what the reasons are. He has obviously failed at it. Personally I try to form my opinions from the information I have available to me. There is a lot of information out there regarding Deshaun Watson, from his childhood, to college, to NFL. He does not appear to be someone to me that is unreasonable or difficult to deal with. If he was, then maybe this breakdown with Easterby would be excusable. I think where there is smoke, there is fire. And there is just too much smoke around players having problems with Easterby. So, in my opinion, McNair keeping him around may not be the easy way out, but it also may not be the right decision. I just don’t think it should have been that hard for Easterby to maintain those relationships. Sometimes in life if situations degrade then it just needs to be changed, regardless of the perspectives of those involved. — David G.
A: David, Easterby’s job has nothing to do with his relationship with players. That was at New England. He’s the executive vice president of football operations who works closely with the GM who has final say on all football decisions.
Q: McNair’s every word, action and decision show he is simply not intelligent enough to be an NFL owner. The smartest thing Cal McNair could do is find someone smart enough to operate the Texans football franchise and step out of the way. Maybe that person is Nick Caserio? Maybe that is the new real question? — Deanne N.
A: The idea, Deanne, is for Caserio to hire the coach to be the face of the franchise, and McNair and Easterby slip into the background.
Q: Texans fans badly need to understand the what and why the Texans have completely fallen apart since the playoff game last year against Kansas City. While Bill O’Brien had not won a Super Bowl, he had considerable success and seemed on the brink of winning the big one. The crazy trades, the demise of any defense, all this attention of Jack Easterby, etc. What does he do that is good or bad? It appears that with the passing of Bob McNair, things have deteriorated greatly. The Chronicle needs some in-depth reporting on the matter to the benefit of those paying the tab. No diatribe from the two columnists, please. — Charles M.
A: Charles, if I had a dollar for every time I’ve written about the demise of the Texans dating back to the second quarter of the Kansas City playoff game I could buy out Cal McNair.
Q: I take it you watched the Bills vs Baltimore playoff game. The Bills beat Lamar Jackson badly. That drops the stock of Balt's OC. They couldn't do that against Watson. That game only made Watson more priceless. There's not another QB in the NFL capable of the DW4 heroic plays. But what does Houston gain by declaring him untradeable? If the D can't improve substantially during his contract, he's going to leave Houston when it expires. Doesn't it make more sense to ask for a king’s ransom now? Hypothetically speaking, if Houston were to trade him, where does Chicago rank as a trade partner? All things considered, can Houston rebound defensively and compete for the AFC crown next year? — Juan B.
A: Watson has a no-trade clause. I doubt seriously he’d agree to be traded to the Bears. I don’t think the Texans can compete for the AFC crown next season, Juan. If they trade Watson, they’ll compete for the first pick in the draft.
Q: What would happen if J.J. Watt and Deshaun Watson both say they don’t want to play for the Texans as long as Easterby is in the building? What would happen if the Texans hire a coach that Deshaun Watson isn’t happy with? Easterby knows that he is toxic amongst the best players on the team and Cal knows that. What if Watson says I’m not coming unless Easterby is gone or if J.J. Watt says I’m not coming back to camp unless Easterby is gone? I feel bad for Caserio. — Glen K.
A: I feel bad for Caserio, too, Glen. He’s waited 20 years for a chance to become a GM and he starts with this mess.
Q: Hard to imagine the hold Easterby has on McNair. His background purportedly was as a character coach when he was brought in. Instead he has apparently done only one thing right — ingratiating himself with McNair and Caserio. It’s hard to imagine we may lose an unbelievable talent like Watson because of a character like Easterby. His skill set was supposed to be building team chemistry. He has done a tremendous job of doing the exact opposite. It sounds like players see him for what he is, a poser. Amazing! Casserio could salvage everything by calling Bieniemy and offering him the job immediately. Watching KC’s offense and the higher level creativity is just too good to pass on. Or we can take the safe route, dawdle and get stuck with whomever is left and have that as an excuse. Fortunately, it will probably be a defensive coach and we will need a great D without Deshaun here. — Mike D.
Q: I am a daily reader. I just got through reading the Sports Illustrated article online about Easterby. I'm trying to figure out other than the fact that he prays, what is the specific issue. Maybe everybody's avoiding coming right out and saying it due to a legal liability, but I have been unable to find anything other than vague references to the fact that Easterby's being here has somehow caused the Texans to play terribly. I also have not seen anything in the media that says a billionaire has to run his business according to public opinion which may not even represent the majority. I'm not a defender of either person, it just seems that there's a lot of smoke and not the whole lot of specific fire. No one wants to lose so maybe that's the biggest thing. Why Deshaun Watson at 25 thinks he should be able to dictate to the people who pay him a hundred and fifty million dollars is still a puzzle to me. According to SI online when asked why Caserio wasn't on their list, Korn Ferry said they knew that he was already on the Texans list so they did not add his name. I have not seen this detail in any local media, which seems to make the issue of Caserio not being on Korn Ferry list something that we should think about. — Charles W.
A: Charles, I don’t give a damn about Korn Ferry. Jed Hughes recommended they hire Brian Schottenheimer as their head coach, and he was fired by Seattle. A search firm is paid to compile information and make recommendations. This was the third time the Texans tried to interview Caserio dating back to 2017 when they had to replace Rick Smith. Caserio is one of the most respected personnel men in the NFL. That’s not debatable. Who gives a hoot if he was on the Korn Ferry list?
Q: I have no insight into the operation of a football organization. My Ph.D. is in management and have a very good understanding of organizations outside of football. I don't understand the upset QB and I am guessing many of his supporters. Let me frame my question. The CEO runs the company. His/her direct reports are probably VP's, then there are managers and report to them are various staff. I was once a college president. If a hot shot staff member had demanded that he/she be part of the selection of a VP or their direct boss I would tell them they have no business selecting senior members of my staff and I would guess that other CEO's would tell the staff member the same thing or would no longer have a job. Here is my question. Why does Watson think he should be in or hiring Caserio or the next head coach? — Rudy S.
A: That’s the way it is in just about every business, Rudy, but not the business of sports.
Q: I have not written to a newspaper writer in my 71 years on this earth, but I am highly disappointed in what is going on with the Texans. I have been a season ticket holder since 2003 and have stood by the team each year be it good or bad. Deshaun Watson has lost my respect as a player and a person. He has lowered himself to acting like a spoiled NBA player. He is paid to play football not manage the team. People are down on Jack Easterby but no reasons have been put forth for their dissatisfaction. So what is the story? The McNair family owns the franchise and funds it so that makes them the boss. I would like to see Deshaun play for the Texans but what he is doing right now is destructive and stirring up trouble for the team, fans and ticket holders. This kind of behavior is going to drive away ticket holders. A sad season ticket holder. — Jo Ann C.
A: Many feel as you do, Jo Ann. Unfortunately, times are different. Agents and players have a lot more power than they used to.
Q: It’s sad that a premier QB is now executive management. He should do his job and improve like not throw 1 interception ever again. So now we’ve established no one’s perfect, lets address coaching. Texans hired great GM, let him do his job. — Stephen G.
A: I agree, Stephen, to let Caserio do what he was hired to do.
Q: I'm heartened by last week's Mailbag participants whose concerns I shared about religion and hiring within the Texans organization. And thank you for your enlightening information in that regard. Should Deshaun Watson (or anyone) have been angered that Bieniemy wasn't interviewed before Caserio was hired to search for a coach? That confusion seems like an easy thing to smooth over. If not and Watson leaves, the organization would no longer be qualified to represent the great city of Houston. Especially after the excellent season Watson had. I'm not sure which he needed less, the support of a running game or Bill O'Brien calling plays. Am I wrong in thinking if Jamey Rootes resigns, as he was rumored to want to after all the reported GM hiring chaos, it means all that reported chaos is true? In which case, aside from Watson leaving, Rootes departing would also be a strong indictment of Cal McNair's management. If the Texans hire a defensive coordinator as head coach, does that mean Tim Kelly has a chance to stay on? — Tim K.
A: I should point out, Tim, that you’re not the Tim Kelly. I’ve said all along I thought it was a waste of time to interview a candidate before the GM was hired. Caserio is running the search, and McNair will sign off on his recommendation. I think Kelly has a chance to stay no matter who they hire. Watson wants him, and he helped Watson have his best season.
Q: What value does Jack Easterby bring to the Texans organization? How much value does this man hold if keeping him around could cost the team the one thing an NFL team needs to succeed - a transcendent quarterback. With the SI articles, it's clear there's something rotten in NRG. You keep saying Watson won't be traded, but every day that goes by is a day that the possibility increases. Firing Easterby would be the beginning of mending fences. I don't think McNair and Caserio are willing to do it. Houston seems to have got lucky to be able to interview Eric Bieniemy due to the bad press about the lack of Black coaches being hired this offseason. Although there's a limited number of these jobs, it seems to be less desirable with Easterby in the building. Can you just explain, what does that man do? If it's to provide comfort, it ain't working. It would be better the Texans bring in rescue puppies and kittens in to pet once a week. — Louis E.
A: His job isn’t to provide comfort, Louis. He’s the executive vice president of football operations. He does things on the football side to help the GM, who has final say. Easterby’s involved in everything on the football side and some things on the business side.
Q: Instead of being a reporter, how about being the GM of the Texans for a day. Granted you aren’t able to interview the coaching prospects or D4, but if you had the chance to pull the strings what would you do for coach, QB and other positions you feel need to be addressed. — Mike P.
A: I’d bring in the two or three finalists for in-person interviews. Then, I’d make my recommendation to McNair. After he signs off on it, the coach would be hired. The coach and I would sit down and figure out a way to get Watson to communicate with us. We’d offer to fly to where he is for some one-on-one communication. I might even bring my OC, Tim Kelly, along since Watson was adamant he wanted to keep Kelly as the play-caller.
Q: You have certainly added logs on them. Marketing fire to help Caserio maintain the less than stellar historical glow of the burdened mid market Texans! Honestly, in my 35 years living my life in Texas, which I continue to celebrate; for the life of my I still wonder how we get mid market and Houston disproved as in the same sentence! Stay strong John! — Bob B.
Q: The history of the Texans success is directly related to their players injuries each season. Recognition of this should be the team’s primary goal for its future. Miami coach Don Shula installed a program to prevent player injuries, and that likely played significantly in their success. If ever a team needed such a program, it's the Houston Texans. — Don S.

NFL Week 11 Predictions Thread (2020 Season)

NFL Week 13 Predictions Thread (2020 Season)

NFL midseason awards

Winner		Loser	Comments
Seahawks	over	Cardinals	We start of with a great matchup. The Cardinals won a thriller in the first meeting and are coming off an emotional Hail Mary victory last week. Wilson needs to clean up the turnovers after throwing for seven INTs the last four weeks. Seattle gets the rematch, but it's close.
Browns	over	Eagles	The Browns had the return of Chubb last week that ignited the running game. Chubb and Hunt work against the Eagles' 26th-ranked run D, even if Wentz makes it interesting.
Saints	over	Falcons	Always a close matchup, regardless of records. Brees will be out, so Winston will probably be starting, with a dash of Taysom throughout. The Falcons rank 31st against the pass. It's another chance for Kamara and Thomas to shine, with a little bit of Cook and Callaway thrown in.
Bengals	over	Washington	Clash of No. 1 picks. Smith has back-to-back 300-yd games, but Washington lost by a FG both times. This will be a showcase for the top two picks in last year's draft with Burrow and Young. Burrow leads a last-minute victory for Cincinnati.
Lions	over	Panthers	Big cat matchup. Not sure which trend to take with the Lions Detroit is 2-4 ATS as an underdog, but they are 3-2 S/U in one-score games. Teddy's status is uncertain, and I think the Lions will to get back to .500.
Steelers	over	Jaguars	The Jaguars are double-digit underdogs for the second straight week, but the difference will be an aggressive Steelers' defense that will force Luton into turnovers. Pittsburgh improves to 10-0 behind Big Ben, who continues to spread the wealth to a his receivers.
Ravens	over	Titans	Tough pick to make. The Titans throttled the Ravens in the playoffs last season behind Henry, and the Ravens have to answer after a SNF flop last week. Jackson delivers here, but it won't be easy.
Patriots	over	Texans	The Patriots have won back-to-back games and could make a second-half push. Newton hasn't thrown an INT in three games, and if that trend continues New England will stay in the hunt.
Dolphins	over	Broncos	So yeah, this is us now picking the Dolphins every week. Miami has the second-longest winning streak in the NFL at five games, and Tua is playing efficient, mistake-free football. He gives Elway another glimpse at what a true franchise QB can do.
Chargers	over	Jets	The Chargers are struck in a three-game losing streak, and they have given up 29 points or more in six straight games. If the Jets were going to get that first victory, then this might be the spot. Rookie Herbert won't let it happen.
Packers	over	Colts	Another great matchup. The Packers opened as the favorites, but the line shifted to Indy. Rivers is 1-3 as a starter against the Packers, but he averages 372 YPG in those. Rodgers matches that in a fourth-quarter thriller.
Vikings	over	Cowboys	The Cowboys had a bye week to figure out the latest QB plan, but the bigger issue will be slowing down Cook on the road. Minnesota continues to push back into the playoff picture with yet another victory.
Chiefs	over	Raiders	The Chiefs were double-digit favorites ahead of their first matchup, and the Raiders sprung a 40-32 upset. Vegas is playing like a playoff team, but the Chiefs learned their lesson. KC won't forget about the running game this time around, but the Raiders will make them earn it.
Buccaneers	over	Rams	A close one. The Rams have been favored in their last six games, so it's rare chance to play underdog. Tampa is 5-0 when it scores 30 points or more, so L.A.'s best bet would be if this doesn't turn into a shootout.

Winner		Loser	Comments
Saints	over	Falcons	The Saints thrashed the Falcons two weeks ago in Taysom's first start. This will be trickier on the road after the Falcons stopped the run well against the Raiders and Ryan will provide more offensive resistance. The problem is, the Saints' passing game and defense will continue to come through when needed and has too much at stake with the #1 seed to let up against their archrivals.
Bears	over	Lions	The Lions fired Patricia, and the Bears might also soon be done with Nagy. There should be some motivation of the players to play harder on both sides with their respective fading seasons at stake. Crazy things tend to happen when both teams are mediocre.
Titans	over	Browns	The Browns and Titans both want to run the ball well to control the clock and set up favorable play-action passing opportunities for Baker and Tannehill. This becomes more of a grinding battle between Chubb and Henry with a few big pass plays to the talented receivers against weak secondaries. Trust Henry and Tannehill a little more at home.
Dolphins	over	Bengals	The Bengals played over their heads last week and also got a special teams TD against the Giants. Whether it's more of Fitzpatrick or Tua, there will be a limited burden on Miami's QBs. Look for the Dolphins to grind this out with whoever's running the ball with a few pass plays to score enough.
Vikings	over	Jaguars	The Vikings had two fluky fumbles go for TDs from the Panthers, making the game much closer than it should have been. The Jaguars simply cannot stop the Vikings' playmakers for Cousins, led by Cook and Jefferson. The Vikings' D will contain any looming threat of a Glennon comeback.
Raiders	over	Jets	The Raiders will try this again after falling flat against the Falcons. The Jets also can contain their running game, but look for Carr to get refocused in spreading the ball around downfield with fewer mistakes. The Jets continue to show less life with Gase and Darnold, so it's hard to expect them to get off the mat with Gruden pushing his team to play a lot better.
Colts	over	Texans	The Colts are becoming a hard team to predict each week. They took enough defensive hits last week to roll over against the Titans. This week, they should go back to establishing the run well against a weak Texans front to ease the pressure on Rivers. Their secondary and linebackers can contain Watson's deep passing and scrambling just enough to avoid the upset.
Cardinals	over	Rams	The Rams' D is rolling. The Cardinals' offense slowed down with Murray's bad shoulder. But I can trust Murray to rebound at home over Goff and his boom-or-bust nature to be better on the road. L.A. will try to use Donald and Ramsey to rattle Murray and shut down Hopkins. The Cardinals get it done with reliable running and short passing game.
Seahawks	over	Giants	The Seahawks will likely face McCoy instead of Jones. That gives their defense and running game a chance to take care of business at home, where they have yet to lose this season. Willson will play off the run well as usual with shots downfield away from Bradberry. The Giants will see the run contained and won't have enough firepower to keep up.
Packers	over	Eagles	The Eagles are coming off a short week as they try to salvage a second straight NFC East title. Their success in the running game and throwing to their backs will keep them hanging around, but eventually Rodgers will easily outduel Wentz to ensure the Packers get a win at Lambeau Field.
Patriots	over	Chargers	The Patriots travel cross country to try and breathe life into their playoff hopes. Look for them to grind the game out with Cam and their traditional running game and lean more on their defensive playcalling for Herbert.
Chiefs	over	Broncos	The Broncos hope to have a QB in Week 13, but it doesn't really matter when the best QB in the league, is playing on the other side. Lock will be eager to get back in there in his home state, but he'll be taking major lumps against an aggressive pass rush playing with a big lead.
Steelers	over	Washington	The Steelers are coming off a short week having played Wedsnesday. Washington has had a long week to recover since Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, Washington's offense doesn't match up well against the Steelers' run-stopping and pass-rushing defense up front. Big Ben will be very comfortable getting the ball out and spreading it around, while Smith won't have that kind of time.
Bills	over	49ers	San Fran is finally playing some good football, sweeping the Rams and showing they are not out of the fight. They'll get after Allen after stifling the run, but the bills QB will make just enough plays to pull off a road win on the west coast.
Ravens	over	Cowboys	The Cowboys will have a long layoff from Thanksgiving playing this game four days later than expected. The Ravens will hope to have enough healthy bodies to resemble their best self. It's hard to think Harbaugh will get out-coached by the mess McCarthy is operating in Dallas. Baltimore will lean much on its running game and defense here.

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We have made it through the first eight weeks of the 2020 season and it’s time to hand out some trophies (not literally of course, since we have to wait until the year is over). I already did this when I predicted the entire season about a week before we kicked things off and a lot of the candidates I mentioned back then, you will here again, but at the same time, some guys have kind of come out of nowhere. For some of these categories, three names were enough, while for a few others I mentioned two more notables. So who have been my MVP, Defensive Player and Coach of the Year, among others, for the first half of the season? Plus, at the bottom I added my All-Pro teams at this point.
Also make sure to check out my detailed recap of NFL week eight.

Most Valuable Player:

I think three candidates have kind of separated themselves from the rest of the pack in this MVP discussion and the guy I have at the top has been there all season long, because no other player has been more valuable to his team and their success.

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1. Russell Wilson
I have always said Wilson is one of the premiere quarterbacks in the NFL and that the only thing holding him back from quite putting up the same numbers other MVP candidates have produced is his own coaching staff and the conservative he plays in. Well, this year Brian Schottenheimer & company have finally listened to Seahawks fans screaming to “let Russ cook” and he has been smoking hot. Russ is top three in completion percentage (71.5%) and yards per attempt (8.4) and yards per game (307.3), leads NFL with a passer rating of 120.8 and 26 touchdown passes, which makes up for more than one TD every 10th attempt – also an NFL-best mark. And the crazy part is that his team has needed him to be that explosive, since Seattle’s defense has given up an average of 460.9 yards per game – easily the most of any team in the league. The Seahawks themselves are scoring an NFL-best 34.3 points per game and their season-low(!) 27 points came in a matchup, where he led one of his two game-winning drives on the season (versus Minnesota). He is also the only quarterback with multiple starts to not have lost a fumble all season long. The only blemish on Wilson’s resume and the Hawks lone loss came at Arizona in a Sunday Night game, where their quarterback threw three of his six interceptions on the year and that was his only performance that he had a passer rating below 100 in. However in that game, he lit up the Cardinals with the deep ball and made some incredible plays throughout the night. And if you break down the three picks he threw, two of them came by defenders who had to cover a ton of ground and no quarterback would have anticipated them to even be a factor, while on that third one D.K. slowed down for a back-shoulder throw The Seahawks put 35 points on the Patriots, 31 against the Dolphins number-one scoring defense and just now 37 against San Francisco – and it could easily been more if the came wasn’t completely out of hand in the fourth quarter.

2. Patrick Mahomes
I know Mahomes has five TD passes less than Russ despite having played one more game, but he also only has one interception on the year – and that one came when he pushed it downfield on a 4th & long towards the end of the Chiefs’ only loss on the season. He is also behind only Wilson in quarterback rating (115.0) and first in QBR (86.8), with the latter thanks to what he has done taking off when nothing is there, which he has really gotten great at once he sees 2-man or other favorable situations. Of the 34 times he has taken off, nine have resulted in first downs and he finished in the end-zone twice. Of course this is still about Mahomes and Kansas City trashing opposing teams with all those weapons in the passing game. With defenses playing a lot more soft coverage against the Chiefs, Mahomes has taken advantage underneath with those short completions, while still finding ways to allow his receivers to uncover on secondary routes and getting the ball to them from all different angles. So his intended air yards may not be overly impressive, because of all the screens and stuff they draw up, and he might “only” be sixth in yards per attempt, but Pat is still tied for first with 31 passes of 20+ yards. He absolutely picked apart the Ravens defense in that huge Monday Night showdown, which tried every coverage and blitz package imaginable and the quarterback had an answer for all of them, completing some throws nobody in the league could make. The Chiefs’ season-low in points (23) came at the Chargers, when he certainly didn’t start out great, but still found a way to lead a comeback and win in overtime. And even in their only loss of the season against the Raiders, it was the opposing offense converting a sneak on fourth down, that denied Mahomes a chance to finish their late push.

3. Aaron Rodgers
When you look at Rodgers’ most impressive statistic for his career it is his ridiculous touchdown-to-interception ratio of 4.47, which is a full point better than the next-closest guy (Russell Wilson) and twice as good as anybody that hasn’t played in the 2010’s. Well, right now he has the second-best rate for this season, behind only Patrick Mahomes at 20-2, and those two picks came in his only bad game at Tampa Bay. I’m not going to sugercoat this in any way – after going up 10-0 and once that pass-rush from the Bucs was unleashed, he could not get anything going. With that being said, he has been phenomenal in the six other contests, having throw less than 3 TDs in only of them and his lowest QB rating being at 107.6, with both of those thing coming against Detroit in week two, when the Packers just didn’t need him to crazy and still put up 42 points, as Aaron Jones got loose on multiple occasions. And Rodgers had not fumbled until that very last play we saw from him, as he was stripped from behind while trying to launch a Hail Mary at the end of the Vikings game. By the way, he was incredible in that loss as well, as the only two times the offense was stopped, Equanimeous St. Brown had consecutive passes go off his hands and then the refs for no apparent reason picked up the flag on a blatant pass interference against Robert Tonyan inside the red-zone. Rodgers leads the league with seven completions of 40+ yards and right now Drew Lock is the only starter in the league with a higher mark in yards beyond the sticks (0.9) – which when you look at the rest of the numbers isn’t always an endorsement for the second-year QB, as Lock has three more INTs on 100 less attempts. And outside of Davante Adams – who has missed some time – Rodgers hasn’t really been able to rely on any of his receivers, as they are tied for the most passes dropped at 18, even though the other two QBs with that number have played one more game than Green Bay.

Notables: Josh Allen & Tom Brady

Offensive Player of the Year:

Of course, you could name the same three candidates from the MVP section here, but I tried to mix things up a little and give you three other names worthy of the award. And that includes only one quarterback.

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1. Alvin Kamara
I know that this award is often given to quarterbacks as well and it looks odd that Kamara is 16th in the league in rushing (431 yards), but he is averaging five yards per carry and he is also second to only DeAndre Hopkins among all players with 55 catches for an additional 556 yards through the air – so just over 10 yards per grab. Right now he is on pace for 2256 scrimmage yards on right around 20 touches a week, while he would also easily break the NFL record for receiving yards for a running back (1271 over 1191 from Charley Taylor in 1966). And he leads the league not only in scrimmage yards but also percentage of his offense’s yardage (36.5%), while being tied for first with 12 plays of 20+ yards on the season. While he has caught a couple of key wheel routes and can win as a downfield receiver, so far 94.5(!) percent of his receiving yards have come after the catch, constantly bailing out his quarterback by making something happen after checkdowns and ripping off big gains in the screen game. I mean against the Packers he caught 13 of 14 targets for 139 yards and he was the only reason they were in that game in the first place. The explosiveness, the contact balance and the ability get six or seven yards when there should be only three is unmatched. Kamara has scored reached the end-zone seven times and his only fumble, he recovered himself again. He is by far the best player on this Saints offense and the team overall and in the absence of Michael Thomas, he has been asked to shoulder the load for them. Since his lowest output in the season-opener, Kamara has not been held under 119 scrimmage yards in any other week.

2. Kyler Murray
While Murray is only 16th among current starters in passing yards per game, only Russell Wilson and by about half a yard Justin Herbert have put up more combined passing and rushing yards at 326.3 a week. Right now, only Joe Burrow and Matt Ryan have been responsible for more combined first downs and touchdowns, and those two have played a full matchup more than the Cardinals and both just won their second games of the season, while Kyler is doing it in service of a 5-2 team, which outside of his own production has averaged less than 100 rushing yards on a weekly basis. As a runner, he leads all NFL players (with double-digit carries) in yards per attempt at 6.7 and 35 of his 65 carries led to first downs or touchdowns (seven TDs). I would not call Arizona’s passing game overly explosive, as Kyler is barely in the top 20 in yards per attempt (7.3), 20+ yard throws (21) and average yards to the sticks (-0.9), but a lot of that has to do with what Kliff Kingsbury wants to do with his Air Raid-based offense, while his QB is tied for second with six throws of 40+ yards and already has an 80-yarder on his resume. Plus, with that guy at the helm, they have the potential to get as hot as pretty much any team out there. Kyler had one really bad game against the Lions, in which Detroit used a lot of different coverages that had them all over the Cardinals route patterns, but #1 has been outstanding the rest of the year and I don’t come away from a lot of games thinking that a lot of his production was served up by the play-calling. I said a couple of weeks that Deshaun Watson is the most elusive quarterback in the league, but nobody is quicker at evading defenders and keeping himself upright. We all love Russell Wilson and his ability to extend plays, but just compare these numbers – Russ has been pressured 79 times and he’s been hit or sacked on 50 of those, Kyler on the other has been pressured 44 times (significantly less due to more of a horizontal passing attack), but he’s only been sacked nine times and taken five more hits (14 total). And Kyler already outdueled Russ on Sunday Night of week seven.

3. Derrick Henry
King Henry is once again holding the crown for the league’s rushing leader at this moment. His 775 rushing yards are 123 more than any other player in the league, and while that is in correlation with handling the most carries of all RBs, he still averaging 4.8 yards per attempt, despite being asked to grind away games for the Titans. Right around 30 percent of his touches has resulted in a first down or touchdown (43 total first downs and eight TDs) and about 58 percent of his total yardage has come after contact. Nobody wants to tackle King Henry, because he can plow through 300-pounder defensive linemen at the point of attack and throw DBs around like ragdolls, when he gets around the edge (looking at you, Josh Norman), but at the same time, once he gets rolling, he is as fast as any player on the field, which we saw already when he ripped of an NFL-long 94-yarder against the Texans a couple of weeks ago. The difference between Henry and some of the other franchise backs is that he doesn’t contribute a whole lot in the passing game outside of a few screens (10 catches for 81 yards), but nobody takes on a bigger load than this guy and he really sets the table for everything the Titans do, with the heavy play-action and bootlegs. Usually this guy really starts rolling over the second half of the season, but he has been dominant right from the start this year. When you look at the three games Henry didn’t put 112+ yards on the ground, in two of them the opposing defense totally sold out against the run and Ryan Tannehill completed 75 percent of his passes with seven TDs and no picks, while the team scored 33 and 42 points respectively, and the other one came against the Steelers’ dominant defensive front. On the other hand, he also has the most scrimmage yards in a game all season, when he destroyed the Texans for 264 yards and took over that one overtime drive, to win it.

Notables: The three MVP candidates

Defensive Player of the Year:

I think there is pretty clear top three in this one as well and I can honestly see an argument for each one of them to be the pick, but I have stuck my selection (and bet) of a guy I believed would come back even hungrier in 2020.

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1. Myles Garrett
This was my preseason pick for Defensive Player of the Year and similar to Russell Wilson’s MVP campaign, I have been riding this all season long. Myles Garrett is tied for a league-high nine sacks and only two players have hit the opposing quarterback more overall than him. The only two games he didn’t record a sack (the season-opener at Baltimore and this past week against the Raiders), the opposing team ran the ball on 56 and 65 percent respectively and somehow all those sacks he has put up have come in big moments – a strip on Joe Burrow to set up the offense at the Bengals 1-yard line after they were just stopped on fourth down in an eight-point game, another against Washington after the Browns finally extended the lead to more than one score, stripping Dak Prescott when the game was tied at 14 and set off a 27-0 run, setting the offense up in field goal range for their first points in the rematch with Cincinnati and while it won’t be found on the stats sheet, he also directly forced a safety on a throw-away by Philip Rivers to make it a two-score game against the Colts. The only other player that has forced four fumbles just like Myles is Ravens DB Marlon Humphrey, who has become a Peanut Punch specialist – and Garrett has also recovered a couple of those himself, with both of them directly setting up touchdown for the offense from short distance. Plus, he is excellent run-defender, who can yank blockers to the side and makes tackles around the line scrimmage, with only one miss on the season. Myles has grown so much with his technique as a pass-rusher, while obviously having that incredible combination of length and athleticism, but also might have gotten “looser” in his movement and how he can torque his body different ways. And the Browns are now using him as a mismatch against guards on passing downs quite a bit.

2. Aaron Donald
Just like he has been the last five years or so, Aaron Donald is right up there with the favorite for Defensive Player of the Year and I would not be surprised at all if he won his third trophy at the end of the season. Donald is tied with Myles Garrett for the league-lead in sacks at nine and he is top five in total pressures (22) and QB hits (13), despite offensive lines sliding his way constantly. We have literally seen this man get triple-teamed and lift All-Pro offensive linemen off their feet, but only T.J. Watt has a higher pass-rush win percentage according to Pro Football Focus (25%). This guy is the only player with a four-sack performance this season and not only does he obviously contribute in a major way himself, but because of the way he gives his teammates one-on-one’s consistently, his Rams only have three other teams in front of them in terms of sacks as unit (26), despite not having a lot of names that you would recognize, outside a questionable former first-rounder in Leonard Floyd. And I just mentioned the only two players with more forced fumbles than Donald (Garrett and Humphrey), who has three himself. He has also recorded seven tackles for loss and only missed one of his 26 tackling attempts. The crazy part with his game is that for all the numbers you can actually see, there’s about twice as many plays he makes that don’t show up anywhere in the records. The only reason I don’t have him at number one is that he has four games without a full sack and that Garrett has been a little more consistent at coming up with those real game-changing plays. Still, AD is clearly right up there.

3. T.J. Watt
And then this guy is as complete an edge defender as we have in the league. Watt can set the edge at the point of attack, he can chase ball-carriers down from behind as the unblocked man at the line and this past Sunday against Baltimore, we saw him take both guys at times on those read-option plays. Of his 25 tackles on the season, 12 have resulted in lost yardage, which is tied with teammate Vince Williams for a league-high. As a pass-rusher, Watt is “only” tied for fourth with 6.5 sacks, but his 21 hits on opposing QBs is four more than any other player in the league and the 27 total pressure are three more than the next-closest guy as well, while PFF has him tagged with the highest pass-rush win rate in correlation with that (27%). And he headlines the most destructive pass-rush in the league, as the Steelers defense leads the league with 30 sacks and easily has the highest pressure percentage of any unit out there at a whopping 35.0 percent. Watt has also batted down three passes and picked one off. He can do your classic flat drops or carry guys out of the backfield at times, but he can also stand up and move around the line to blitz from different angles or act as a spy at times. He surprisingly has yet to force a fumble this season, but I can remember right now on the very first play he was on the field against the Titans, a good 20 quarterbacks would have lost the ball in that moment with Watt swiping at it, and since he led the league in that category last season, I have no doubt he will rack up a few of those FFs still.

Offensive Rookie of the Year:

This award has two quarterbacks battling it out at the top right now, with one young star receivers and a couple of running backs – one picked in the first round and the other going undrafted – who are also in the running.

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1. Justin Herbert
I get that coaches always try to protect their young quarterbacks and want to give them time to learn from the sidelines, but I hope everybody gets that Herbert and Tyrod Taylor aren’t even close to each other. And I have always liked Tyrod as a bridge-starter or game-manager type, but this rookie QB has taken this offense to a completely different level. When you just look at the schedule, you see that the two QBs have the same amount of wins on the season (only one for Herbert against the Jaguars), but in the season-opener the Chargers only put up 16 points against the Bengals, who have given up 28.2 per week from that point on, and L.A. has scored 27.2 points a game since then. It is not Herbert’s fault that his defense has let him down in the second half of games and allowed big comebacks. He took Patrick Mahomes & company to overtime, had his team up 24-7 against the Bucs before a fumble a minute until halftime started turning things around, he outplayed Drew Brees at the Superdome and was inches away in overtime from pulling off a game-tying or -winning drives and before the Bolts defense allowed an epic collapse last Sunday, they were dominating the Broncos 24-3 midway through the third quarter. The way Herbert has opened up the offense with the deep ball is incredible, with two 70+ TDs on the resume already, and he makes the whole field available, after they were very limited before. Among current starters, Herbert is third in passing yards per game (303.3) and second in combined touchdowns per game (3.0), while also being top ten in completion percentage, yards per attempt, quarterback rating and QBR. He is on pace to throw for 4550 yards and 38 touchdowns to go with about 350 rushing yards and five more TDs on the ground, over the course of a 15-game season. Those numbers would shatter all rookie records.

2. Joe Burrow
No other team has thrown the ball more than the Bengals (330 pass attempts) and their quarterback leads the league with 221 completions on the season (67% completion percentage). With 11 touchdowns compared to five interceptions, that ratio doesn’t look overly impressive, but he has set up a lot of short rushing TDs, while Cincinnati barely cracks 100 rushing yards per game as a team and only one other squad averages less yards per carry (3.7). Until this past weekend, Burrow was tied with Carson Wentz for the most-sacked quarterbacks in the league, but thanks to a non-existent pass-rush for the Titans, in large part due to the spread-based passing attack the Bengals bring to the table, a clean week has the Bengals QB at “only” 28 sacks so far. However, he has been under the fire all season long, being tied for third with 79 total pressures, despite only eight quarterbacks spending less time in the pocket. And Burrow has yet to complete less than 60 percent of his passes in any game. I know the Bengals were blown out in that one Ravens game, but do we realize that was their only loss by more than one score? They tied the Eagles in a game where Burrow was sacked eight times and hit every other snap, they scored 30+ in their two matchups with the Browns, they were up 21-0 against the Colts in the second quarter and just this past Sunday they beat the recently 5-1 Titans by double-digits. And I would argue their rookie quarterback is by far the biggest reason for it. They are already guaranteed a better record this year than last season, as we are halfway through the season – and they are getting better every week. This guy is the future in Cincinnati. Now they just need to protect him and get that defense going.

3. Justin Jefferson
I know that Odell Beckham Jr. was the only wide receiver to be named Offensive Rookie of the Year in the last ten years and I wouldn’t put anybody on the same level as that historic season, but since then this is the most impressive start we have seen for a rookie receiver. Through seven games, Jefferson has caught 31 of his 40 targets for 563 yards and three touchdowns. That puts him 12th among all receivers in yards per game, while having recorded a league-high 14.1 yards per target and 22 of his 31 grabs has resulted in a fresh set of downs. After a rather slow start, with five catches for 70 yards through the first two weeks, Jefferson came onto the scene with 71-yarder against the Titans and now already has three games of 100+ receiving yards, while only having played 74 percent of the snaps on the season. Jefferson has only dropped one pass and not fumbled once, while Kirk Cousins when targeting the rookie receiver, has a passer rating of over 100 despite having thrown four picks and I wouldn’t put a single one of those on the receiver definitely, as on a couple of them there was a linebacker dropping underneath a deep crosser that Cousins stared down the whole way, a badly underthrown pass into a tight window and on another one he and the rookie wideout clearly weren’t on the same page in terms of the route he was supposed to run. Through eight weeks, Jefferson is Pro Football Focus has the second-highest grade among all NFL receivers. I have always been a fan of Adam Thielen and he is Cousins’ favorite target, but to determine who opposing teams believe is more dangerous, all I have to do is watch the Packers put Jaire Alexander on the first-year man for almost the whole game last week.

Notables: James Robinson & Clyde Edwards-Helaire

Defensive Rookie of the Year:

For the defensive side of the ball, this rookie selection was a little tougher, because there are a few guys that have filled the stat sheet across the board, but you don’t have those typical front-runners with a lot of sacks or interceptions, which usually take home the honors.

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1. Antoine Winfield Jr.
When I look at who I believe is the best pro player among all defensive rookies already, I would say this is the name that comes to mind. Tampa Bay’s defensive scheme isn’t simple. They ran a lot of different coverages, they can blitz anybody and there are a lot of rules that you have to understand as a member of that unit. Winfield has come in and looked him he belonged from the first time he touched the field. The rookie safety has played 515 of 522 snaps on defense and he shows up quite a bit in the box score. He has recorded 31 solo tackles and only two misses all season long, showing off what a dependable tackler he is in space. He has intercepted a passe and broken up four more, plus he has forced fumble. And call it P.I. or not, he denied a two-point conversion to potentially tie the game this past Monday Night against the Giants. To go with that, he has asked to blitz 29 times in Todd Bowles’ pressure-heavy scheme, resulting in two sacks and three extra hits on the quarterbacks. What made me a big fan of Winfield coming out of Minnesota was the versatility he presents and the fact he played so much bigger than his size would indicate. The Bucs coaching staff has utilized a lot around the line of scrimmage a lot and I love how he drives on routes in quarters coverage. He gas been “credited” with giving up just over 200 yards and two touchdowns, to go with a passer rating of 114.4 in coverage, but I think about half of that production came on two plays in the Chargers game, once with him ending up as the closest defender on a deep bomb, when the other safety should have actually opened up and then on a scramble drill play, where Keenan Allen uncovered late against him.

2. Patrick Queen
Baltimore has a rich tradition of middle linebackers, but not so much when it comes to LSU players, with Ozzie Newsome as an Alabama alumn not having drafted a single Tigers player in over 20 years as the Ravens GM. This year, with Eric DeCosta calling the shots, they wanted to bring in a dynamic player to put in the middle of their defense and when Patrick Queen surprisingly was still on the board when they were making their first-round pick this past April, it didn’t matter which college he came from. Queen was immediately put in the starting lineup and he has been filling up the stat sheet from the start. In seven games, he has recorded 48 combined tackles, four of them for loss, two sacks to go with five more QB hits, two fumbles forced and recovered, including a long scoop-and-score. His speed at the second level to string guys out to the sideline or get to the quarterback on delayed blitzes has been a big reason this defense has gone to a higher level in 2020. Of course, he is still a first-year player and not perfect. Queen has already missed 11 tackles and there have been some moments where the rookie seemed a little confused. Two that come to mind right away – the Chiefs running that double-swing fake before throwing the TE screen over the middle, where they had Queen’s head spinning and then last week against the Steelers, where I’m pretty sure he should have covered tight-end Eric Ebron in man, but thought he had the back and that allowed Ebron to easily score on a shallow crosser from 18 yards out. He is learning and we have already seen moments, where he just sees it and goes, shutting down plays before they can even get going, while he obviously has a knack for the ball.

3. Jeremy Chinn
One of the small-school prospects I loved in this most recent draft was this 6’3”, 220-pound safety from Southern Illinois, who put up ridiculous numbers at the scouting combine and showed incredible potential on film. So far, he has put up 38 solo tackles – most by any rookie in the league, has intercepted one pass and broken up another five. Chinn has been all over the field, with his ability to cover ground and erase angles for the ball-carrier. One of the two or three negatives I had about him and why I had him around the top 50 and not even higher was the ability to process information post-snap, to not just have his talent take him to the ball, but also the anticipation and identification of certain keys to react quickly. I believe Matt Rhule, defensive coordinator Phil Snow and that entire staff has done an outstanding job of simplifying Chinn’s assignments and just letting him around and make plays. Once he sees something happening in front of him, he can get there as fast as pretty much any player in the league and the Panthers have allowed that talent to flourish. The biggest issue for him are the ten missed tackles so far, but he’ll clean that up as well. Through eight weeks, Chinn has played 96 percent of the defensive snaps and been a fixture on the punt team as well, where he had a huge first-down run against the Falcons in last week’s Thursday Night game on a fake. As he gets more comfortable in the system, I expect him to become a bigger part of the pass-rush, because his closing speed as a blitzer is just absurd.

Notables: Jaylon Johnson & Julian Blackmon

Comeback Player of the Year:

As I say every year when making my preseason picks, this is the most vague award of the list, because there are so many different ways you can look at it – players who were hurt for most/all of last season, guys who had a few off-years and then those who were out of the league altogether.

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1. Ben Roethlisberger
Roethlisberger is completing 67.9 percent of his passes and while he is only 25th in passing yards per game (232.6), a lot of that has to do with being part of a 7-0 team with the best defense in the league and trying to run down the clock late in games a lot of times. Big Ben has been really steady for Pittsburgh, not having completed less than 63 percent of his passes yet for a total of 15 touchdowns compared to only four interceptions, with five games that didn’t include any turnovers from him. Of those four picks, one came on a wobbling 50-50 pass, where Juju immediately called for pass interference, one came in the end-zone on the final play before halftime and another was batted up by a defensive lineman right into the hands of a linebacker. The Steelers are tied for third with converting 49.5 percent of their third downs and even though their run game is about average, they control the clock primarily with the short passing game, where their quarterback gets everybody involved. And when his team has needed him most Big Ben has come through, with two go-ahead touchdown drives in fourth quarters and taking over on crucial drives, with no-huddle attacks and almost exclusively going in the shotgun to spread it around. In the battle of unbeatens at Tennessee, the Steelers were up 24-7 at halftime, with Roethlisberger converting all four third downs with nine or more yards to go. This past Sunday in Baltimore in a huge AFC North clash with the Ravens, the Steelers offense could not get anything done for the first half plus, with Lamar Jackson gifting his opponents 14 points directly off turnovers, but when Pittsburgh needed to a couple of touchdowns to go ahead, their quarterback came through, as they threw the ball on 15 of those 18 plays and the three runs resulted in -1 yard (+ a touchdown). To do this after a season-ending elbow injury on his throwing arm last year is impressive.

2. Jason Verrett
For this one we have to go all the way back to like 2015 and even before that. Jason Verrett was a first-team All-American selection in 2013 and then a first-round pick for the Chargers coming out of TCU. After showing a ton of potential in an injury-riddled rookie campaign, he became a Pro Bowler in his second season with three interceptions and 12 more passes deflected, including a pick-six. The next two years, he only played a combined five games with consecutive ACL injuries and then missed all of 2018 with a torn Achilles. His bad injury luck would follow him to San Francisco however, as he would go on IR with an ankle injury shortly after signing with the 49ers last year. Now, finally in 2020 he is back on the field and balling out. Verrett had a big interception in the end-zone against the Rams a couple of weeks ago and three PBUs the rest of the season, having started the last six games. However, it is the more advanced stats about what the veteran corner has done in coverage that are really impressive. On 25 targets, he has given up just 123 yards and no touchdowns. Plus, he is a highly dependable tackler, having only missed one attempt all season and holding opposing receivers to just 32 yards after the catch. The 49ers had major issues with their corners for large stretches of the season, as Richard Sherman has been on IR since week one and the with Emmanuel Moseley also missing some time, those other guys on the boundary have gotten roasted in some of their matchups. Not with Verrett. He has easily been a top ten player at his position so far and I don’t know how you can take him out of the starting lineup, once they have Sherm and Moseley back together.

3. Aldon Smith
I thought long and hard about putting Rob Gronkowski here, because after Gronk look like his feet were stuck in mud early on, he and Tom Brady are not operating at a really high level again, and it almost seems like the big tight-end got his confidence back. However, I decided to go with somebody who was not one but five(!) years out of the league and as we all know, this award is a lot about the stories of these players. When Aldon Smith was drafted in 2011, it was immediately between him and Von Miller as the best young edge rusher in the league, and Smith out-produced the Broncos All-Pro with 14 and 19.5 sacks in his first two years, before he entered a rehabilitation center midway through 2013 season, when he has on path for another one of those years. The two following seasons, he looked like a shell of himself in San Francisco and then Oakland, as his mind clearly wasn’t right, with several off-the-field issues leading two suspensions that cost him the 2016 and ’17 seasons. Now, all the way in 2020, he is back with the Dallas Cowboys and especially early on he looked like a dominant player on the edge. Smith is now at five sacks on the season, with three of those coming against the Seahawks, as he was the only defensive player that kept his team in the game, with additional hits on the quarterbacks. To go with that, he has made some nice tackles in the run game, fighting off blocks and getting hands on the ball-carrier. He has cooled off a little bit these last few weeks, but the lack of production is more a product of how bad the Cowboys defense has been as a whole and long much they’ve been on the field. If he was on a team right now, that allowed him to rush in obvious passing situation, he could potentially be in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation.

Notables: Rob Gronkowski & Alex Smith

Play of the Year:

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1. D.K. Metcalf chase-down tackle on Budda Baker after the INT
One of the greatest hustle plays you will ever see and it started a meme fest on the internet.

2. Derrick Henry 94-yard touchdown run vs. Texans
The combination of speed and power is freakish for this dude. He tore Houston a new one.

3. Odell Beckham Jr. going 60 yards on the reverse vs. Cowboys
Of couese bad effort and angles by the Dallas defense, but this looked like Giants Odell.

All-Pro teams:

Since this is not about building a team or anything like that, I just went to the most used personnel sets for either side of the ball – 11 personnel and nickel defense – and filled up those spots with who I believe have been the best players at those positions. So there is differentiating between left and right tackle, 4-3 defensive end and 3-4 were put together as “EDGE” and there are just any two stand-up linebackers inserted.

Offense:

LT David Bakhtiari
LG Quenton Nelson
C Corey Linsley
RG Wyatt Teller
RT Duane Brown
Second team: Laremy Tunsil, Michael Onwenu, Jason Kelce, Gabe Jackson & Ryan Ramczyk

WR DeAndre Hopkins
WR D.K. Metcalf
WR Davante Adams
TE Travis Kelce
Second team: Calvin Ridley, Stefon Diggs, Justin Jefferson & George Kittle

QB Russell Wilson
RB Alvin Kamara
Second team: Patrick Mahomes & Derrick Henry

Defense:

DE Myles Garrett
DT Aaron Donald
DT Chris Jones
DE T.J. Watt
Second team: Khalil Mack, Jeffery Simmons, Cam Heyward & Calais Campbell

LB Fred Warner
LB Lavonte David
Second team: Darius Leonard & K.J. Wright

CB Kyle Fuller
CB Jaire Alexander
NB Marlon Humphrey
Second team: James Bradberry, Jalen Ramsey & Jason Verrett

FS Minkah Fitzpatrick
SS Budda Baker
Second team: Jessie Bates & Antoine Winfield

Coach of the Year in the comments!!

If you enjoyed this content, I would really appreciate if you could visit the original piece - https://halilsrealfootballtalk.com/2020/11/05/nfl-2020-midseason-awards/
Also make sure you check out my detailed recap of the NFL's week eight on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXx87t1Dcvk

NFL Draft week 10 Mock Draft 2 round w/ Explanations

The order is based on Tankathon with no trades.
1.) NY Jets- Trevor Lawrence-QB
It really doesn’t matter who is picking here T Law goes 1st. This guy is the best QB prospect since Andrew Luck and has been playing against the top tier competition since he was a freshman. Also, those golden locks are more marketable than Luck’s thick beard ever was so he should do well in NY
2.) Jacksonville Jaguars-Justin Fields-QB
Minshew Mania is finally subsiding and as Duval County comes out of their haze of jean shorts and 80s inspired mustaches they see Fields ready to take the reins. Fields is coming out of the very QB friendly offense in Ohio State where he was given ample opportunity to show off his arm, decision making, and athleticism. Fields will have to have to adjust to a pro offense but his football IQ and progression ability seems higher than the last few QBs out of Columbus so he should be fine.
3.) Washington Football Team-Penei Sewell-OT
The Washington Football Team has a lot of holes to fill on offense including QB, LT, and WR. With top prospects on the board at each position they opt for the generational talent in the trenches and keep moving. Kyle Smith loves going BPA in the trenches, see WFTs DL for proof, and will have his mouth watering to grab the heir to Trent Williams’ throne. Also, I think Rivera has faith in his QB room at the moment to hold the reins for a year or two while a developmental guy is brought in in rounds 2/3. Sewell is a “cant miss” prospect and should anchor that LT position for 5-10 years and could develop further as he is just 20 years old.
4.) Dallas Cowboys-Patrick Surtain II-CB
At this point I think Dallas would be looking to trade out with a team that has fallen in love with Parsons, Chase, or Rousseau to get more picks and retool that entire defense. But, in the “No Trade” universe Jerry stands pat and takes the best player on the board at a position of need in Surtain. Surtain is a true shutdown corner in the making with NFL lineage, his biggest weakness is tackling but if your Corner is doing a ton of that there are other issues to deal with.
5.) LA Chargers- Gregory Rousseau-EDGE
The Chargers came into the draft hoping that Sewell would fall to them and if he didn’t then they would likely trade out. But, we’re in the no trade universe so the Chargers look at their big board and decide to pick the best pass rusher available in Rousseau. The Miami product opted out of the 2020 season but there is good tape on him from the year prior and an athleticism that is hard to pass up. Also, Rousseau replaces Melvin Ingram for a much cheaper price than the UFA would ask for.
6.) Miami Dolphins via HOU- Micah Parsons-LB
Brian Flores would be sprinting to the podium to make this pick himself if Parsons is still on the board. Miami has a hole in the middle of their 3-4 and Parsons could be the dynamic playmaker to take the defense to a new level. The Penn State product is a fantastic athlete with good if not great instinct at the position. Additionally Parsons can be moved all around the defense with the ability to play at Edge rusher as well.
7.) Cincinnati Bengals-Ja’Marr Chase-WR
The Bengals have needs across the offensive line but cannot pass up the opportunity to reunite Joey B with his favorite target at the next level and get an elite talent in the process. Chase has the ability and Size to be a true number 1 at the next level and should pair nicely with Tee Higgins as the replacement for AJ Green.
8.) NY Giants- Kwity Paye-EDGE/DL
Credit given where credit is due, Joe Judge has transformed the defense in New York. But his fantastic defense is missing one key component, a strong pass rusher on the edge. Enter Kwity Paye who can set the edge with a solid combination of size and speed but also kick inside with his 277 Lb frame. Paye is a slight reach at the number 8 pick but it is hard to find Edge rushers with his potential if the Giants had waited until their second pick to grab one.
9.) Carolina Panthers-Kyle Pitts-TE
A moment of silence for the LBs that will face the Panthers this year. Pitts represents a matchup nightmare on most teams, with the Panthers though it goes to another level. Pitts takes some of the focus off of CMC while making it near impossible to be doubled because of the shifty running back, meaning he creates better matchups for one of the best weapons in the league. Pitts is an athlete who runs a wide receiver route tree at 6’5” 240 with soft hands and a willingness to block not much else you could want at his position.
10.) Atlanta Falcons-Caleb Farley-CB
Atlanta is stuck between a rebuild and a win now mentality because of Matt Ryan. The franchise QB has 3 years left on his contract and no easy out, cutting Ryan this year would incur $85 million in dead cap. So, because of that the Falcons fill a hole at Corner with Farley who should start from day one. Farley is a former WR who is presses well and plays the ball outstandingly, the only concerns might be zone concepts at the next level.
11.) Denver Broncos- Dylan Moses-LB
Although Broncos fans may want to see Drew Lock’s replacement picked here, John Elway keeps the faith and gives his guy another year. Instead he turns to the defense who is sorely lacking a leader in the middle of the field and picks Dylan Moses. Moses is the MLB in Alabama and should fit in to a similar role at the next level with a solid frame and good playmaking ability, his only weakness is that he is caught sometimes trying too hard rather than taking what the offense gives him.
12.) San Francisco 49rs-Zach Wilson-QB
The Niners are ready to move on from Jimmy G, and have a team friendly cut available. Also, Shanahan is known for having a QB friendly offense so it should be easier for a rookie QB to grasp and hit the ground running in San Fran. Wilson is the best combination of Pro Ready and Talent left on the board, despite running a spread offense in college, Wilson is seen on tape going through progressions and looking off Safeties already and has a cannon for an arm. The issues with Wilson come in his mechanics as he doesn’t set his feet as often as he should but this is coachable.
13.) Detroit Lions- DeVonta Smith-WR
The Lions have their top 3 WRs going into free agency this offseason and it is unlikely they retain all three. Also, The Lions still have Matt Stafford for one more year at least before a team friendly cut is available. To maximize the year Stafford has left along with setting the table for the next Franchise QB the Lions get a weapon with elite potential and shift the focus to defense for the next few rounds.
14.) Minnesota Vikings-Wyatt Davis-IOL
The Vikings would really love to move on from Kirk Cousins, in this “No Trade” world they can’t without cutting him which would incur 50 million in dead cap over two years. So like the Falcons their hand is forced to fill a need, fortunately for the Vikings, their biggest need is IOL and they get their pick of the top IOL prospects in this draft. Davis is an outstanding guard with few weaknesses and NFL bloodlines, he should start right away.
15.) New England Patriots-Jaylen Waddle-WR
For most other franchises with the Patriots pick/needs I would have mocked a QB here but this franchise is in the unique position of having a GOAT Head Coach/GM who is trying to win one more ring before retirement. Because of this I see the Pats picking a weapon who can help them immediately while grabbing a veteran like Jimmy G or sticking with Cam. Waddle represents the potential number 1 they have been missing since an aging Randy Moss walked into the practice facility. The WR has speed that would make Lightning McQueen jealous and sure hands. Waddles only issue is that he needs to expand the route tree.
16.) Chicago Bears- Alex Leatherwood-OL
The Bears are a strangely built team, on one hand they don’t have a QB of the future so they are primed for a rebuild. On the other hand they have lots of money and veteran talent tied up in the next year. This makes me think they are gunning for a playoff run this next year and if that doesn’t work out then clean house. Meaning, they pass on a QB that they need going forward and grab Leatherwood who should play immediately at LT should they move on from Leno or at one of the guard positions if they don’t.
17.) Cleveland Browns- Carlos Basham Jr.-EDGE
The Browns has a good offense that should compete in the AFC North going forward, their defense on the other hand could use some tuning up. Given the QBs in the division the easiest way to upgrade your defense is to grab someone who specializes in the pass rush. Basham Jr has all the skills right now to be a productive pass rusher while also being versatile enough to play the 5 tech in running situations. Basham’s only shortcoming as a prospect is that his athleticism doesn’t impress and may limit the potential he has as a top level pass rusher.
18.) Tennessee Titans- Joseph Ossai-EDGE
Tennessee tried to paper over their pass rush problems through the offseason with the pickup of Vic Beasley which did not work out. There is clearly a hole in the Edge/OLB role of that 3-4 which Ossai could really grow into. Ossai is a very raw prospect with lots of potential and positional flexibility, projections show him as a WLB or pure EDGE rusher. A 3-4 OLB would be a perfect mix of the two roles and should allow the athletic prospect to flourish
19.) Philadelphia Eagles-Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah-LB
Due to the absolute suck fest that is the NFC East this year, the Eagles earn a playoff birth that they are promptly defeated during and their reward is a much crappier draft pick than their team warrants. Luckily for them a top prospect is still available at a position of need. Owusu-Koramoah would slot in the WLB position from day one and should be an upgrade on everyone on the roster while providing a necessary amount of athleticism in a division which includes Barkley, Elliot, and Gibson
20.) Arizona Cardinals- Pat Freiermuth-TE
Kyler Murray looks good enough early on that he may not need a security blanket like most QBs his age but the Cards give him one anyways. Similar to the situation that Kyle Pitts walked into, Freiermuth is going into an absolutely stacked receiver group in Arizona and will operate in the middle to ensure single coverage to Nuk, Fitz, and Kirk. Freiermuth is more of a traditional TE, think Gronk style of play, but should still create matchups to take advantage of due to his sheer Size, Speed, and Physicality.
21.) NY Jets via SEA- Rashod Bateman-WR
The Jets are a team that has lots of needs and should probably go with BPA through the first few rounds. Although there are some good corners on the board, the prospect of giving their new Franchise QB a favorite target is tantalizing. Ultimately they pick Bateman as a receiver opposite Crowder and Mims. Bateman should step right in as a red zone threat while catching contested balls and having some sneaky YAC ability. The only drawback to his game is that he plays like a traditional possession receiver while lacking the size to pull it off at times
22.) Miami Dolphins- Rondale Moore-WR
The Dolphins get a WR to pair with DeVante Parker and make Tua’s life just a bit easier in Miami. Moore is coming out of Perdue with some impressive tape under his belt albeit while being a touch undersized at 5’9” 175. Moore will slip right into the slot and can be a threat after the catch on slants and bubble routes or a deep threat on the seam route.
23.) Indianapolis Colts-Mac Jones-QB
Honestly this pick heavily is impacted by Philip Rivers’ potential retirement. If Rivers decided to come back after this year I could see the Colts taking a shot on Trey Lance essentially redshirting him and letting him learn from Old Man Rivers. However, I bet that Rivers will retire and in this case leading the Colts to the playoffs in the process. The Colts will still need a QB but is going to need someone who can start reliably on day one, of the three major QB prospects left Mac Jones is the most pro ready prospect and has faced a high level of competition while taking over for Tua last year and this year facing the whole of the SEC. Lastly, I don’t see the Colts trading for a QB/Signing one because they got recently burnt on Jacoby Brissett.
24.) Baltimore Ravens- Creed Humphrey-IOL
The Ravens have a fantastic defense with the only hole being at the FS position after the Earl Thomas incident(s) and the Ngakoue trade. I see Ngakoue staying in Baltimore if the money can be figured out so the holes that need to be addressed are the FS and on Offense. At this pick, the isn’t a lot of value at the Safety and WR positions so in the “No Trade” universe the Ravens solidify the interior offensive line with the best IOL on the board at the moment. Humphrey was a consistent starter at a top level program in Oklahoma, called plays at Center and should have the football IQ and athleticism to move to G if necessary at the next level
25.) Jaguars via LAR-Samuel Cosmi
The Jaguars have their QB of the future and get some insurance protection in the same round with Cosmi. Cosmi has lots of starting experience at a top tier college program and still has room to grow at only 21. Could add some weight to his frame but as is he is extremely athletic and has the capability of a mauling tackle who can hold down his position.
26.) Las Vegas Raiders- Marvin Wilson-DT
The Raiders need help all along the DL and could take one of the Edge rushers that are left but ultimately the one of the top DTs is still on the board in Wilson. Gruden has good starters with Hankins and Collins but they are both UFAs and have little depth behind them currently. Wilson gives the organization flexibility at either technique if either of the starters go down injured or aren’t signed and has lots of potential if he can develop a secondary rushing move.
27.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Christian Darrisaw-OT
At this point the name of the game is protect the old GOAT. Darrisaw has been starting games in a top five conference since 2016 and has been impressive every step of the way. Darrisaw has a nice frame and could put a few Lbs on as he transitions to the next level but needs to keep control of his footwork while doing so.
28.) Buffalo Bills- Shaun Wade-CB
The Bills need someone who can hold down the spot opposite of Tre’Davious White for the long term so they wait through the draft and Wade falls into their lap. In many mocks Wade is off the board earlier than this and for good reason. Wade played at Ohio State who is lauded for their DB development with several first rounders under their belt. Wade specifically has the ability to play both inside and outside while being an aggressive cover man.
29.) Green Bay Packers-Terrace Marshall Jr.-WR
The Packers are in a weird spot coming into this draft, while they are still successful the Pack have an aging Aaron Rodgers to keep happy but also drafted Jordan Love last year around this spot. Honestly if Green Bay decided to fill holes on Defense with this pick Aaron Rodgers could try to skip town. To keep the Hall of Famer happy the Packers finally get him a first round weapon in Marshall who has been climbing up boards lately while showing out for LSU. Marshall is a hulking possession receiver who rarely drops a pass while being athletic enough to create separation. Rodgers and Devonte Adams will be thrilled to have another high ceiling skill guy in the locker room
30.) Kansas City Chiefs-Trey Smith-IOL
With question marks surrounding the return of Austin Reiter from Free Agency and Kelechi Osemele from returning to the medical field during COVID the Chiefs take a safe pick in grabbing Trey Smith to insure the protection of their Star assets. Smith should slot right in to the starting lineup should one or both of them not return and the offense wouldn’t skip a beat.
31.) New Orleans Saints- Jevon Holland-S
With Trey Lance on the board Sean Payton passes?!? Yes, this is due mostly to two factors: Cap Crunch & Coaching Context. From a Cap Crunch perspective, the Saints currently have over $275 Million in expected expenditures under the cap and will need to fill holes in the secondary as there are 6 UFAs including their starting SS. Also, financially the Saints are invested heavily in the QB position with $36 Million headed Brees’ way and $16 Mil headed to Taysom Hill. Secondly, from a coaching perspective I am unsure if Sean Payton is enthusiastic about starting over again with a rookie. For evidence I point to the multiple high profile backups like Bridgewater and Winston. I think Payton much prefers experience in the league especially with a team built for a Super Bowl run. I think Lance would not meet the expectations of the shoes he would need to fill right away for the money being spent in other positions. Holland, would come in likely start at SS and fill in at slot CB when necessary and patch up the back end for a team poised to win a Championship.
32.) Pittsburg Steelers-Travis Etienne-RB
The Steelers are in a bit of a Cap Crunch next year, they have $200 million in current expenditures and only $6 million in cap to carry over from year to year with projected cap space potentially not growing due to COVID. Some of their UFAs include Juju Smith-Schuster, James Conner, Alejandro Villanueva, & Bud Dupree to name a few. In this situation the Steelers decide to let the RB go and get his replacement in the draft. Etienne will come in day one as the starter and bring a shocking combination of speed and size to the running back position that should bring more explosiveness to the Steelers Offense.
Round 2
33.) NY Jets- Quincy Roche-EDGE
The Jets only have one edge rusher for their 3-4 defense under contract for 2021. Given that edge rushers are typically going for top dollar in free agency I suspect they fill the need here for a starter with Roche. The Miami product is probably best suited for the 3-4 edge role as he is a touch undersized for the 5 tech that a 4-3 DE needs to play on occasion. Roche has really good hips and athletic potential, will need to put on some weight and learn how to cover in the next level.
34.) Jacksonville Jaguars- Christian Barmore-DT
The Jaguars need a space eater in the middle of their defense and Barmore is a 6’5” tackle with great technique to hold up blockers and bring double teams on. This is a good matach and the Jags get value here, although Barmore does have a relative rawness to him due to a lack of snaps at Alabama
35.) Dallas Cowboys- Hamsah Nasirildeen-S
The Cowboys need help at both safety positions and move to get Nasirildeen. The Florida State prospect projects to an in the box safety who plays fast and physical in the run and can hold his own in the pass. Nasirildeen slipped due to an ACL injury he sustained in the past along with some questions about his ball skills
36.) LA Chargers- Liam Eichenberg-OT
The Chargers finally get their QB some protection in the second with Eichenberg. Eichenberg should slot right into the LT spot and has very few issues besides fixing his footwork.
37.) Miami via HOU- Jayson Oweh-EDGE
Miami has a need at 3-4 edge rusher which they select Oweh to fill. Oweh has gobs of potential and athleticism but is very raw. Oweh was third string all of last year and has shown in 2020 to be weak against the run. If Oweh can refine his tech and be placed in a system centered around pass rush he can be great.
38.) Washington Football Team- Trey Lance-QB
REMINDER THIS IS A NO TRADE DRAFT, TREY LANCE WILL CERTAINLY BE GONE BEFORE THE END OF THE FIRST ROUND IN A DRAFT WITH TRADES. With that out of the way, Lance falls to the WFT in the second and all of the sudden Washington has a Franchise QB and LT in the same draft. Of course there are the caveats that make other teams pass on him: his arm is huge but so is the bust potential. Trey Lance could be the next Josh Allen IF he is able to get his footwork under control, learn to hang in the pocket, learn NFL progressions, and stop staring down receivers. But WFT has Kyle Allen or Alex Smith to start the season with and could redshirt Lance until they are out of playoff contention. They are under little to no pressure to “win now” like the Bears, Saints, and Colts are and thus the risk is mitigated exponentially especially with picking Lance in the 2nd
39.) Cincinnati Bengals-Dillon Radunz-OT
How weird is it that the NDSU guys go back to back in this draft? Despite the obvious questionable competition in college Radunz did dominate in pass pro with NFL caliber size and technique. However, he lacks the punch/first step necessary in the run game with consistency and has an issue with getting out of his stance at times. Bengals care about the pass pro more at the moment so they grab him.
40.) Carolina Panthers- Jaycee Horn-CB
The Panthers Defense is much more formidable unit than they were than just one short year ago but they still need some talent in the secondary. Jaycee Horn should be able to fix this while bringing length and SEC experience. He could see some issues with fluidity or double moves but coaching should fix this at the next level.
41.) NY Giants- Rashawn Slater-OL
The Giants selected two tackles last year in an effort to keep Danny Dimes from being strip sacked last year but it hasn’t quite fixed the issue so far. To bring in some more young help, they take Rashawn Slater. Slater has played RT in the Big Ten for years and is well regarded for his Pass Pro and has the frame that could kick in to OG. The positional flexibility that he brings makes up for some stiffness in his stance for the Giants and they take him.
42.) Denver Broncos-Trevon Moehrig-S
The Broncos continue to help their defense by adding Moehrig to their back end in replacement of Justin Simmons. Moehrig is the best FS available in the draft and excels in the single high coverage where he can play center field and take the deepest man over the middle. Although Moehrig does have a tackling issue, it shouldn’t be a huge issue as the single high safety shouldn’t be making tackles
43.) Atlanta Falcons-Tyson Campbell-CB
Falcons decide to double dip at corner because the cupboard is bare right now. They take one half of the Georgia duo that is turning heads at the moment and go for Tyson Campbell. Campbell is a bit longer and can put more size on his frame with fewer weaknesses. Campbell needs to produce a bit more in the next level but his perceived lack of stats could be due to QBs throwing away from him in college.
44.) San Francisco 49rs-Eric Stokes-CB
The Niners are in a similar situation with their CBs as Atlanta except a bit worse as there are none under contract for next year. They take the other half of the Georgia duo, Eric Stokes. Stokes has a similar experience and coverage qualities as Campbell but has iffy ball playing skills and is an inch shorter and a step slower.
45.) Jacksonville via MIN-Asante Samuel Jr.-CB
Jacksonville sees CBs go back to back and decide to grab one to replace DJ Hayden. Asante Samuel is a fantastic off the ball cover man and has NFL lineage that should provide him some guidance going forward. Samuel Jr is undersized and will likely struggle in press but if he winds up in the slot or playing in a zone scheme he should do well.
46.) New England Patriots- Brevin Jordan-TE
New England loves their TEs and pick up another athletic guy to fill the position with Jordan. Jordan is a natural athlete who likes to get down and dirty in the trenches when asked. The route tree is very much in question for Jordan and will likely have to be developed.
47.) Detroit Lions- Jay Tufele-DT
The Lions run a hybrid defense similar to the Patriots due to Matt Patricia, in those successful hybrid defenses there is usually DTs that can shade in the 1 and 3 techs. Jay Tufele can be that DT for the Lions having filled a similar role at USC. Tufele has a problem with consistency from rep to rep which does worry me but with proper coaching it could be stomped out.
48.) Chicago Bears-Kyle Trask-QB
The Bears filled their biggest need on the OL and still had a highly rated QB fall into their laps in the 2nd round. Without many other glaring needs on their roster to fill they take Trask with the thought that he sits behind Foles through the rest of his contract. Trask is very raw as a prospect and just got his first taste of starting at the QB position ever while at Florida. If he can develop behind the starter he could turn into a good but not great QB.
49.) Tennessee Titans-Derion Kendrick-CB
Kendrick is new to playing CB, he’s only been playing there for two years, but is incredibly gifted. His ball skills are top tier and man coverage is sticky but he will have to learn proper technique for coverage on double moves and get better at zone coverage to develop into a game changer at the next level.
50.) Cleveland Browns-Nick Bolton-LB
Bolton is a thumping old school LB who blitzes well and plays downhill getting to the ball. The Browns could fit him in at WLB or MLB and he could start throughout the season and will energize the side. The largest drawback to Bolton’s game is that he lacks fluidity, once he is headed to a gap or engages a lineman he gets stuck in it.
51.) Philadelphia Eagles-Chris Olave-WR
Olave is a fluid route runner who is able to run a nearly full tree right off the bat. His athleticism isn’t terrifying any defenses but Olave is a crafty WR who should get going right away. The Eagles can place him into the slot and let him take advantage of the space created by Alshon Jeffery and Jalen Reagor
52.) Seattle Seahawks-Paulson Adebo-CB
The Seahawks use their first draft pick of the 2021 draft to upgrade their secondary by taking the west coast CB Adebo. Adebo is a prototypical outside corner and has the length that Pete Caroll loves combined with solid cover technique and pressing ability. Although he can get lost in zone or washed out in the middle of the field
53.) Miami Dolphins-Najee Harris-RB
During this selection, Miami moves on from Matt Breida and fills a need at RB. Harris will be in the same backfield as Tua once again and will have to prove that he can continue to be a productive runner without the gaps that an Alabama offensive line is capable of creating
54.) Indianapolis Colts-Amon-Ra St. Brown-WR
The Colts got their QB in the first so they give him someone to throw to in the second. Brown is 6’1” with good size and speed, although the route running is question this combination of Size, Speed, and Separation is hard to ignore.
55.) Baltimore Ravens-Patrick Jones II-EDGE
Without a ton of WR names that jump off the board at the moment, Baltimore decides to stash some talent at edge rusher with Patrick Jones II. Jones has moments where he looks like an athletic sack artist and others where he looks pedestrian. If Baltimore can coach him up to come up with secondary pass rushing moves and winning more contested match ups he could be a good pickup.
56.) Arizona Cardinals- Israel Mukuamu-CB
The board does not fall well for the Cards as there was a surge of CBs taken in the second rounds and they end up reaching for one of their bigger needs with Mukuamu. However, they do get an athletic 6’4” SEC starter for their troubles.
57.) Las Vegas Raiders-Chazz Surratt-LB
Chazz Surratt is even a perfect LB name and has the attitude to fit, Surratt is seen flying around the field on tape. Surratt converted from QB in college and is new to the position so he’ll bring to the field and different football perspective on defense as well which is unique. Although the downside to Surratt’s game is over pursuit and over running the play, if the D coordinator can teach the guy some control he can be really productive.
58.) LA Rams-Jalen Mayfield-OT
The Rams were one pick away from Surratt who would’ve fit fantastically into their system but instead come away with a tackle to protect Jared Goff and take over for Whitworth. Initially Mayfield will likely kick inside to guard but after a year or two of experience in the NFL should be able to protect on the edge, this transition is perfect as he struggled in college on the edge so it would mitigate one of his largest weakness at the moment.
59.) Buffalo Bills-Josh Myers-IOL
Josh Myers played C for the offensive lines which protected Justin Fields cleanly and helped JK Dobbins break out. For a Center he is mobile but doesn’t exhibit extraordinary finishing ability or football IQ. However, he should fight for a starting spot due to his pulling ability next to Mitch Morse in Buffalo
60.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Jordan Davis-NT
Jordan Davis is the typical 2 gap huge nose tackle that modern defenses undervalue but sit at the heart of a good 3-4. Davis has the size and ability to command double teams while stuffing the run. However, he can be inconsistent and has film that shows him as easy to move, coaches will likely hammer on the basics of leverage to correct. Also his move provides depth for Vita Vea and cover for Suh leaving
61.) Green Bay Packers-Jaylen Twyman-DT
Now that Rodgers is happy the Pack can get to work on retooling the defense starting with Twyman. Twyman is a 3 tech which specializes in solid pass rushing and could be perfect for the move to DE in a 3-4. Although Twyman has issues in the run game, mainly being washed out at times, he would be taking less double teams and working against a guards outside shoulder.
62.) Kansas City Chiefs-Kadarius Toney-WR
Andy Reid and co. get another wideout who plays more like a weapon and will likely utilize him in an incredibly fluid way. Also, Toney could take the pressure off of Tyreek Hill in the return game as well.
63.) New Orleans Saints-Aidan Hutchinson-Edge
A 4-3 DE with good tape and average athleticism, could provide good depth at the 5 technique behind Cam Jordan and Marcus Davenport.
64.) Pittsburgh Steelers-Daniel Faalele-OL
An absolutely MASSIVE OL measuring in at 6’8” and 400 pounds, Faalele can move that weight well enough to play tackle but likely projects better to guard. If he can prove that he can play the edge with good technique then he could be an athletic freak and a steal but if he has to kick inside he should be able to manhandle DTs.

titans jaguars pick against the spread video

Titans-Jaguars Recent Rivalry Tennessee is 6-1 SU, 5-2 ATS over the last seven meetings with Jacksonville. In September, in the first meeting between these teams this season, the Titans popped out to a 14-0 lead, allowed the Jags to tie it up at 30-30 midway through the fourth quarter, and won 33 30 but couldn’t cover as seven-point favorites. The Titans have covered the bookmakers spread in 5 of their 12 games, the Jaguars in 6, only winning once this season. Tennessee Titans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Monday, December 13 th , 2020 – 1 ... Against the Spread (ATS) Pick. The Jaguars may be riding a 10-game losing streak, but this is a team that has been rewarding spread backers since the calendar hit November. Jacksonville lost in ... The Jaguars and the Titans have played against each other 48 times heading into Thursday’s battle. The Titans hold the advantage in this rivalry with a 28-20 record. The two teams played in September of this year and the Titans won that game 9 to 6. Tennessee has won 5 of the last 6 games in this series and the last 3 straight meetings. The Titans are 14-9 against the Jaguars at home and ... The Titans crushed the Browns 43-13 on the road in Week 1 but lost 19-17 against the Colts at home last Sunday while the Jaguars dropped back-to-back games against the Chiefs and Texans. The Titans will face off against the Jaguars, who have lost 11 straight games since a Week 1 upset of the Colts. Can the Jaguars find a way to stay competitive against their nemesis in running back Derrick Henry? Tennessee Titans. Tennessee had won two straight games before last week’s 41-35 loss at home to Cleveland. The Titans’ offense has been scalding hot, with consecutive point totals ... Jaguars vs. Titans Pick Against the Spread 11/24/19. by Jay Horne Nov 21, 2019 nfl. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-6 SU, 5-5 ATS) vs. Tennessee Titans (5-5 SU, 5-5 ATS) NFL Week 12 Date/Time: Sunday November 24th, 2019. 4:05PM (EST) Where: Nissan Stadium Nashville, T.N. TV: CBS. Point Spread: JAX +3/TEN -3 Over/Under Total: 41.5. In Nick Foles’ first game back behind center in Jacksonville ... The Titans, meanwhile, are 14-3 (12-4-1 against the spread) in their past 17 games in Nashville’s Nissan Stadium, which includes going 10-1 straight up and 7-3-1 against the spread as a home ... SportsLine expert R.J. White has gone 200-155 on against-the-spread picks since the start of 2017 and is 18-10 in his last 28 Titans picks. See which side of the spread he likes over at SportsLine. 2. The Tennessee Titans (8-4) travel to face the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-11) in an AFC South battle between first and last-place teams. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. ET Sunday at TIAA Bank Field. Below, we preview the Titans-Jaguars betting odds and lines and make our NFL picks and predictions.. Titans at Jaguars: Betting odds, spread and lines

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Jacksonville Jaguars Tennessee Titans AFC West Denver Broncos Kansas City Chiefs ... NFL WEEK 13 ATS PICKS PREDICTIONS 2017 AGAINST THE SPREAD PARLAYS - Duration: 4:02. 1life 2live 1,438 views. 0:54 Houston Texans @ Tampa Bay Bucaneers2:49 Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots 6:35 Los Angeles Rams @ San Francisco 49ers 9:29 Pittsburgh Steelers @ New... 1:31 Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks 3:26 Arizona Cardinals @ Cincinatti Bengals 5:05 Atlanta Falcons @ Houston Texans 7:14 Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Or... NFL Week 6 Picks 2019. Let me know who you got in the comment section below and make sure you hit that subscribe button for more weekly NFL picks all season ... Baltimore Ravens @ Kansas City Chiefs 1:05 New York Jets @ New England Patriots 2:58 Cincinatti Bengals @ Buffalo Bills 5:19 Oakland Raiders @ Minnesota Viki... JAX JAGUARS +3.5 o43.5 +158 TEN TITANS -3.5 u43.5 -177-----Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans THUR Oct 27th CBS Since the start of the 2014 season, the Jaguars and Titans have combined for a ... For more visit: http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2013/10/1... NFL picks against the spread for Tennessee Titans vs. Seattle Seahawks 2013, Week 6. 0:44 Buffalo Bills @ Houston Texans 5:34 Tennessee Titans @ New England Patriots 11:26 Minnesota Vikings @ New Orleans Saints 14:56 Seattle Seahawks @ Philad... Will Brinson is joined by Pete Prisco and R.J. White for Week 7 gambling advice, covering all 13 games on Sunday and Monday. The guys discuss Patriots-Jets (4:30), Raiders-Packers (7:05), 49ers ...