Washington Redskins astutely riding ground game in win streak.
LANDOVER, Md. -- The key to the Redskins' hopes of repeating as NFC East champions can be summarized by one play late in their 27-20 win over Philadelphia. It was the image of Washington running back Matt Jones charging downfield on a third-and-7, gobbling up precious yardage and consuming even more valuable seconds. The Eagles had to know that call was coming, as it was the sensible move for a team holding a one-score lead, pinned back in its own territory. That Philly surrendered a 57-yard dash at such a crucial moment tells you plenty about the Redskins' long-term potential.
Simply put, the Redskins need to run the ball the way they did against Philadelphia to be serious playoff contenders. They generated 230 yards on the ground and reminded people once again why they're currently riding a four-game winning streak.
This is still a team with enough flaws that it could implode at any moment. One of the best ways for Washington to avoid such a plight is by doing what it did on Sunday: keeping things simple and bullying opponents whenever possible.
This wasn't the same Redskins team that looked ill-prepared to defend its divisional crown when it opened the season with a 38-16 Monday night loss to Pittsburgh. This squad seemed more focused, more steady, more certain of how it needs to go about its business moving forward.
"I feel like a broken record a little bit, but it makes it easier," Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins said, when asked about the rushing success against Philadelphia. "[We] stayed at manageable distances and we were able to flip the field without even having to throw a pass a couple of times. All three running backs [Jones, Chris Thompson and Robert Kelley] contributed in important ways. And obviously, the offensive line has to pave a way and solidify the blocks, along with the tight ends and the receivers. So, great job and great play design by the coaches."
Cousins feels like he's continually talking about the importance of his run game for one simple reason: It has been the most obvious factor in this team rebounding from an 0-2 start. The Redskins have averaged 131.3 rushing yards over the last four weeks (as opposed to 68.5 in those first two losses), which has led to the team becoming more consistent in all phases. They're controlling the clock more effectively (32 minutes of possession in that win streak) and their defense also has become more dominant in the process (Washington has allowed 19.3 points per game during this four-week span, compared to 32.5 in the first two defeats).
That type of success also means Cousins can return to the form that made him so successful in the second half of last season. He started this year looking very much like a man who knew he was playing for the long-term contract he couldn't procure during the offseason. Too many of his passes were off target, the offense couldn't move consistently and he operated as if he was trying too hard to produce significant results. Now he's back to playing within himself, shrugging off costly mistakes (like the interception Eagles cornerback Malcolm Jenkins returned 64 yards for a touchdown) and giving his team opportunities to win.
It's not that Washington has a dazzling array of talent in its backfield. It's just that the 'Skins have players who can take advantage of their opportunities. Against Philadelphia, Jones gained 135 yards while Kelley and Thompson combined for 96 more on a day when Washington averaged 7 yards per carry. As Eagles head coach Doug Pederson said during his Monday press conference, "I would agree that we got our tail kicked up front this game. That's obvious."
"I think they're all good players," said Redskins head coach Jay Gruden, whose team now ranks 12th in the league with 110.3 rushing yards per game. "Chris gives you something a little different. He's one of our third-down backs, but he can do some first-down carries. Matt is a big plugger, and then the great change up is Fat Rob. He did a good job today. [He has] great vision [and] he runs through tackles. I like all three of them."
Gruden clearly is ready to ride this three-headed rushing attack for as long as he possibly can. The Redskins need that hard-nosed identity because, at the most basic level, that's how they need to define themselves. Their passing game is easily the most dynamic aspect of this team, with deep threat DeSean Jackson and tight end Jordan Reed (who didn't play on Sunday because of a concussion) being the primary playmakers. That also can be a curse, as sometimes it's been too easy for Washington to lean on that element instead of asking other players to be difference makers, as well.
It's already becoming quite apparent that style points aren't going to win the NFC East this year. The Dallas Cowboys are leading the division with a 5-1 record because rookie quarterback Dak Prescott is proving to be a capable replacement for Tony Romo and first-year running back Ezekiel Elliott is gashing defenses every week. The Eagles raced off to a hot start because their own first-year quarterback, Carson Wentz, showed his own mix of confidence and surprising savvy. The point is that these teams are making the most of what they do have, while diminishing the potential impact of their flaws.
The Redskins proved last season that their major strength is their resolve, and that once again is revealing itself this fall. When asked how his team overcame its 0-2 start, Gruden said, "It shows that they put in the work and they're resilient and we understand situational football pretty good, the importance of each down and the next down. We can overcome things that happen. You know, we gave up a kickoff return [an 86-yard touchdown by Philadelphia's Wendell Smallwood] and then an interception return back-to-back. Guys stayed resilient. Just kept working, kept grinding. That's pretty much the motto of our team right now."
The best way for this team to keep grinding is for it to continue relying on that ground attack. The Redskins are now 4-2 and their next two opponents (Detroit and Cincinnati) have struggled to stop the run all year. If Washington can do what it did against Philadelphia, it wouldn't be surprising to see that four-game win streak extend to six. That's how comfortable this team looks in its own skin at this juncture.
The Redskins also are in the perfect place to make a power move in the NFC East because they're back to flying under the radar. There is so much discussion about everyone else in the division -- from the emotional roller coaster that Odell Beckham Jr. has been riding with the Giants to the instant success of Wentz and Prescott -- that nobody has been saying much about Washington. Of course, that could all change in the coming weeks. The key is that the Redskins stick with a formula that already is paying huge dividends.
This week’s top fantasy RBs, WRs, and QB are all together in the Colonel’s Bucket.
Injuries: Eddie Lacy to miss several weeks; Big Ben out.
Eddie Lacy made headlines Sunday with his pair of hurdles in a disappointing loss to Dallas. He's back in the news Tuesday, but not for good reason. After coach Mike McCarthy said that the Packers running back would not practice Tuesday due to ankle soreness, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that Lacy could miss several weeks, not just Thursday night's game against the Bears. Rapoport added that Lacy's ailment is "more than a sprained ankle."
Lacy was a question mark before Sunday's contest, and though he showed enough strength to lift his 234-pound body over defenders not once, but twice, the wear of the game again has sidelined him indefinitely. Desperate for backfield depth, the Packers also traded for Kansas City running back Knile Davis on Tuesday morning.
The team also announced that Sam Shields (concussion) has been placed on injured reserve. NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported that the corner's concussion has not subsided as the team had first hoped.
Shields said on his Instagram that he intends to return to the field after the mandatory eight-week stint on IR.
Shields has had five concussions in his career, so team doctors are "intent on making sure he's right before he sees the field again," Garafolo added.
Other injury news we're tracking on Tuesday:
1. The Steelers have ruled out quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (knee), defensive end Cameron Heyward (hamstring) and offensive lineman Cody Wallace (knee) for Week 7. Coach Mike Tomlin said the team will monitor the statuses of Markus Wheaton (shoulder), Ryan Shazier (knee), Marcus Gilbert (ankle), Mike Mitchell (knee) and DeAngelo Williams (knee) throughout the week.
No decision has been made on whether tight end Ladarius Green will practice this week.
2. The Browns placed safety Jordan Poyer (lacerated kidney) on injured reserve Tuesday.
3. Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (thumb), guard Josh Sitton (ankle), defensive tackle Eddie Goldman (ankle), wide receiver Eddie Royal (toe) and cornerback Tracy Porter (knee) did not practice on Tuesday ahead of Chicago's Thursday night clash with Green Bay.
4. Texans cornerback Kevin Johnson's season is likely over. Coach Bill O'Brien said as much on Sirius XM NFL Radio on Tuesday after the corner underwent surgery on his broken foot.
5. The Falcons placed defensive end Derrick Shelby on injured reserve with an Achilles injury.
6. Cardinals wide receiver Jaron Brown is day-to-day with a knee injury.
7. Jets receiver Eric Decker underwent hip surgery, the team announced. The anticipated recovery time is six months. Once he is off crutches, he will have a subsequent procedure on his shoulder where the estimated recovery is eight months.
8. The Buccaneers announced that wide receiver Vincent Jackson (ACL) has been placed on injured reserve.
Packers place Sam Shields on injured reserve.
The Green Bay Packers' injury-riddled, struggling secondary won't be getting one of its veterans back anytime soon.
NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported Tuesday that corner Sam Shields is headed to injured reserve due to a concussion.
The team later confirmed the move.
Shields missed the past four games while dealing with the symptoms. Garafolo reports that Shields' symptoms have not subsided as the team originally anticipated.
The corner posted a message on his Instagram account stating that he hopes to return this season.
The team could activate Shields off IR after eight weeks. The earliest he could return is Dec. 15 at Chicago.
Shields has suffered five concussions in his career and doctors want to ensure the 28-year-old is fully recovered from the latest head injury before he steps on the field.
Buccaneers place Vincent Jackson (ACL) on IR.
A Buccaneers offense riddled with injuries will have to endure yet another. Tampa Bay placed wide receiver Vincent Jackson on injured reserve on Tuesday after the veteran suffered an ACL injury in the Bucs' win over Carolina in Week 5.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that Jackson played through an ACL injury, but received no medical attention. Rapoport adds that Jackson realized following the game that it didn't feel right. Jackson finished that game with three catches for 36 yards and will finish his fifth season in Tampa with 15 receptions for 173 yards.
"This is obviously very disappointing for me personally," Jackson said in a statement released by the team. "I had high hopes for this season because I know what we are capable of accomplishing as a team. My top priority going into every season is being out there with my teammates and helping my team any way possible. While I may not be on the field for the foreseeable future, I will be focused on beginning my rehab as soon as possible and finding ways to support my teammates in whatever way I can."
Dirk Koetter's offense is already without running backs Doug Martin and Charles Sims and wideout Cecil Shorts, whose injuries have contributed mightily to Jameis Winston's sophomore slump and the Bucs' overall offensive malaise. The loss of Winston's fourth-favorite receiving target won't derail their season, but certainly doesn't help him right Tampa's sinking ship.
Colin Kaepernick is a top QB streamer in Week 7.
Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco 49ers (3.3 percent owned)
From a fantasy perspective, Colin Kaepernick hit the ground running as the 49ers starter. Kaepernick came away with 18 fantasy points in a terrible game script for offensive success in a game where San Francisco was never competitive facing Buffalo on a long cross-country road trip. He only threw for 187 yards and a touchdown on a blown coverage. Yet, as we knew would be the case, his rushing ability kept his floor afloat with the 66 yards he chipped in on the ground.
In his second start of the 2016 season, Kaepernick and the 49ers offense will face a much better matchup when they get Tampa Bay at home. The Buccaneers pass defense checks in among the worst in the league in several efficiency metrics. The unit gives up the eighth-highest touchdown rate (5.7), the most yards per completion and ranks 23rd in Football Outsiders DVOA. That looks even worse in context when you realize that after starting the season against Matt Ryan and Carson Palmer, the Bucs played Case Keenum, rookie Paxton Lynch and Derek Anderson all in their home stadium.
Colin Kaepernick has a solid floor with his rushing ability and has access to a tangible ceiling this week in a favorable spot at home. The Bucs shouldn't completely run away from the 49ers, who play better defense at home, and Kaepernick should post a solid passing day at worst. Kaepernick is the top low-owned quarterback streamer this week. Don't be surprised if he cracks 20 fantasy points.
Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5.7 percent owned)
With Charles Sims put on injured reserve heading into the Monday night game in Week 5, Jacquizz Rodgers got the start and handled a whopping 35 touches and totaled 129 total yards against the Panthers. Both figures were career-highs for the sixth-year running back. Doug Martin is expected to return to game action this week, but he did not practice on Monday. Should Martin miss this game, Rodgers would be a must-start, but even if Martin does go he could be limited and the team would call on him to handle a portion of the touches. Regardless, Rodgers has a solid potential floor as the team's pass-catching back with Sims out of the mix and had a two-year stretch early in his Atlanta career when he caught 105 passes out of the backfield.
Whoever takes the majority of the touches for the Tampa Bay will be in a great spot despite playing across the country in San Francisco. A weak front for the 49ers has completely fallen apart with Navarro Bowman on IR. The 49ers give up the most yards per game to running backs (149) and allow the second-highest yards per carry average (5.11). LeSean McCoy just clipped them for three rushing touchdowns in Week 6.
Ty Montgomery, WR, Green Bay Packers (0.3 percent owned)
The Packers desperation trade for Knile Davis this morning, less than three days before their Thursday night game with the Bears doesn't speak to much confidence in Eddie Lacy's health. With questions in the backfield, Green Bay turned to utility Ty Montgomery. The second-year receiver played 51 percent of the team's offensive plays and lined up in the backfield on 22 of 33 snaps. He totaled six catches and 52 yards as a running back, and collected the last four for 46 as a traditional wide receiver. Montgomery is a threat in space, and he totaled 77 yards after the catch.
Using Montgomery is more of an opportunity leverage play than anything else. He's going to be on the field a good amount for the Packers with Lacy a question mark and Davante Adams (concussion) and Randall Cobb (back) both not practicing Monday. Being on the field and getting opportunities has the highest correlation to scoring fantasy points. The Bears aren't a scary pass defense. Chicago allows the eighth-highest yards per target to wide receivers (8.54), the 11th-highest yards per game (178) and sixth-highest catch rate (64.8 percent). Montgomery could once again threaten for double-digit catches in Week 6.
Pierre Garcon, WR, Washington Redskins (29 percent owned)
The public has not taken account of the changing tides in Washington's wide receiver corps. Over the last three weeks Pierre Garcon ranks first among the team's wide receivers in the following categories:
Snap share: 76 percent
Receiving yards: 172
Targets: 23
Red zone targets: five
Jordan Reed did miss the last game, but overall Pierre Garcon is the steadiest contributor in the wide receiver corps at the moment. Not only is he playable this week, but he offers a solid floor each and every contest. Garcon should be owned across all leagues.
The Lions pass defense has really started to show some cracks the last few weeks, and that culminated in allowing a 136-yard and two touchdown outburst to Kenny Britt last week. Detroit gives up a 71.9 percent catch rate to wide receivers, 9.56 yards per target and 7.9 touchdown rate. All of those efficiency metrics rank in the bottom-five of NFL pass defenses. Garcon takes 54 percent of his routes on the offensive left and should see the Lions inferior corner, Nevin Lawson, on at least a few routes. Garcon hasn't turned his growing opportunity into a big game yet, but this could be it.
C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE, Houston Texans (0.9 percent owned)
We didn't imagine that the tight end would be a central part of the Texans offense, but that's exactly what's come to pass this season. Over the last three weeks C.J. Fiedorowicz is second on the team in targets (19) and has a team-leading 185 yards and two touchdowns over that span. Additionally, he has a team-high three red zone targets and went out for 67 percent of the team's snaps. The opportunity dictates that Fiedorowicz can be a solid fill-in play during the bye weeks.
We know Denver is overall a strong defense, but they do have some holes to exploit in their middle of the field coverage. Per Next Gen Stats, the Broncos allow the most yards in the NFL to running backs and tight ends lined up in the slot with 414. Quarterbacks also have a 123.2 passer rating on the throws where they target those players. Hunter Henry just stung them for four six catches and 53 percent of his yards last Thursday when lined up in the slot, while Antonio Gates chipped in both his catches when deployed in that position. While we might not think of the big-bodied Fiedorowicz as a move tight end, he has lined up in the slot on 25 plays this year and has one of his two touchdowns from that position.
The Debrief, Week 7: Steelers' swoon arrives, Cowboys surge.
Playing without big offensive stars is a Steelers season tradition, like losing on the road to also-rans and yelling "Heeeath" after Jesse James catches.
There is a dramatic difference, however, between trying to win without Le'Veon Bell and trying to win without Ben Roethlisberger. The news could be worse following Big Ben's surgery for a torn meniscus Monday. He will miss Sunday's game against the Patriots, recover during the team's Week 8 bye and has a shot to play the following week against the Ravens.
The injury provides the Patriots a big leg up for playoff seeding in the AFC and renews hope in the rest of the AFC North during a season in which Pittsburgh should be lapping the field. The Ravens have lost three straight, while the Bengals have lost four of five. Yet, both teams could realistically be in first place by midseason.
Pittsburgh's no-show in Miami and upcoming date with Belichick could leave the Steelers 4-3 heading to Baltimore with an iffy Roethlisberger. The Bengals, meanwhile, had the most front-loaded schedule in football, one that gets far easier starting with this week's game against Cleveland.
The Steelers remain the divisional favorites, the perennial "team you don't want to face" in the playoffs. Except that postseason game almost always has the Steelers as a road team because of midseason lulls like this one.
This week's biggest winners
1) The Cowboys' title hopes: There are always a few mid-October games that shake loose those final, nasty preconceptions that have hung around since August. Dallas' thorough victory in Green Bay was one of those games, a signal to the rest of the NFC that the Cowboys are a legitimate title contender, no matter who is playing quarterback.
The Cowboys' defense isn't just putting together a nice story about overachieving; this is a frenetic-tackling crew with excellent talent in the secondary, a group that complements the Dallas offense. The rushing game is dominant enough to roll up 191 yards on a Packers' rush defense that had been playing on a historic pace entering Week 6. The passing attack, led by a fourth-round rookie playing like a top-10 veteran, was far more effective than the unit led by the two-time MVP across the field. Dak Prescott helps the Cowboys dictate each week with long early drives, and he is incredible in the two-minute drill. It's getting far easier to imagine the Cowboys using Tony Romo's injury history as a reason to keep Romo on the shelf -- and Prescott under center -- longer than expected.
2) The NFC East revival: Another Sunday, another two non-division wins for teams from the NFC East. Each team in the division is .500 or better, and the division as a whole is 11-4 when playing outside of the division, easily the best mark in the NFL. This all smells like an opportunity for broadcasters to flex into NFC East division games down the stretch. This year, we welcome it!
3) The Bills' running game: Even in Rex Ryan's wildest dreams, he couldn't have imagined averaging 212 rushing yards in new offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn's first four games. (And Rex would rank high in the Power Rankings of NFL Coaches with the Wildest, Wildest Dreams.)
The Bills are now converting third-and-22 runs by LeSean McCoy, who has been the best player on the field for four weeks running. Free rushers can't take down quarterback Tyrod Taylor on third-and-long. It's a wonderful combination of diverse power scheming and two players who can make any defender miss.
This week's biggest losers
1) The Rams' formula: After six weeks, there isn't a clear formula for how the Los Angeles Rams want to win games. They wasted a career game from quarterback Case Keenum in Detroit on Sunday in large part because the team's homegrown offensive line can't open holes on the ground. The dispiriting box score line of the week: Reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Todd Gurley and Lions fourth-string runner Zach Zenner produced matching 14-carry, 58-yard efforts.
Injuries have sapped the Rams' vaunted defensive line, and there is a steep drop-off in the secondary after cornerback Trumaine Johnson, who missed Sunday's game with an ankle injury. This team is a lot like Keenum. The Rams do their best work scrambling, but that's hard to sustain over 16 weeks.
2) Aaron Rodgers truthers: Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wrote the definitive "Something is wrong with Rodgers" piece over the weekend. In the past, we'd expect Rodgers to light up an uneven Cowboys defense and then respond with salt dripping off his words in the postgame press conference.
Instead, the Green Bay offense failed to score a touchdown until the Packers were down three scores midway through the fourth quarter. It's almost as if the offensive line is too good for Rodgers; he looks less comfortable with no pressure, a trend that has played out for more than a year. Green Bay is tied at No. 27 in yards per pass attempt, and the stale offensive approach makes us wonder if Mike McCarthy will need improvement this season if he wants to keep coaching Rodgers.
3) The Colts' morale: There are losses, and there are Losses. It gets no worse than blowing a 14-point lead with less than three minutes remaining against your biggest division rival. (That was the first 14-point loss in the final three minutes suffered by a team since the beginning of Tebowmania in Miami in 2011.)
"Dejected Andrew Luck at the Podium" has become my least-favorite weekly program of the fall television season. Luck was lower than ever Sunday night, perhaps because he played a big role in failing to close out a struggling Texans team.
Some deeply flawed squad will capture the AFC South. But Luck, who has played well overall this season, seems to be feeling the weight that comes with carrying an organization adrift. This week will provide an early test of his team's backbone: The Colts need to win in Tennessee on Sunday to avoid starting 2-5, including an 0-3 mark in the division. This is a division where every loss feels like a missed opportunity.
Storylines that deserve more attention
1) The Redskins have won four straight close games, mostly in spite of their quarterback. And they've found an identity along the way.
The team has been building toward its 230-yard rushing performance against the Eagles on Sunday. In three of Washington's four wins, Matt Jones has buried opponents late in games with his tackle-breaking style. His backup, Rob Kelley, has popped off a few long runs, too, and is averaging 6.8 yards per carry. The two men combine to weigh 460 pounds, including their impressive flowing hair. As Chris Wesseling noted on our podcast Sunday night, this is the type of offense Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan envisioned when he drafted road-grading guard Brandon Scherff fifth overall ahead of Leonard Williams in 2015.
Combine this rushing attack with a pass rushing duo in Ryan Kerrigan and Trent Murphy that has amassed 9.5 sacks and 41 total pressures according to Pro Football Focus, and this is a team that knows how to finish.
2) The NFC South is officially a defense-free zone. The three highest scoring games of the season all come from the early round-robin matchups between the Saints, Falcons and Panthers. Atlanta has the highest-ranked scoring defense in the division -- at 26th overall.
3) It took a few injuries for sixth-round pick Elandon Roberts to enter the team's starting lineup. But now it could be tough to take the rookie linebacker off the field. Roberts has played with an almost uncomfortable ferocity, tracking running backs and receivers alike like a heat-seeking missile. Two plays stand out: a goal-line stuff of Bengals back Gio Bernard this week and a snap in Week 5 where he racked Browns tackle Joe Thomas and Isaiah Crowell.
Newly minted Patriots defensive captain Dont'a Hightower has also made an enormous difference in this defense the last two weeks with his return to health. When Jamie Collins returns, Bill Belichick will have incredibly versatile options at linebacker for the league's No. 2 scoring defense.
4) The AFC West is my choice as the league's most compelling division, now that the NFC South mocks me on a weekly basis with its commitment to dreadfulness. Week 6 was critical in condensing the AFC West standings, with the two lagging teams (San Diego and Kansas City) taking out the co-leaders, Denver and Oakland. Don't be surprised if this is a four-way race deep into December.
While the Chargers' inability to close out games combines tragedy and comedy like some Vonnegut novel, I am not giving up on this team. They have oceans of talent on both sides of the ball despite all their injuries. They have been leading by an average of 6.3 points in their games, good for second in the league entering Sunday.
5) Bruce Arians is starting to recognize that his bombs-away approach isn't working this season, so it's time for the Cardinals to go Full NFC West. That must pain Arians at some level, but he knows he can win games with David Johnson, short passes to Larry Fitzgerald and more David Johnson. Arians' game plan for Monday night's 28-3 victory over the Jets was his way of admitting that Carson Palmer's deep passes, not to mention the team's protection, is no longer the strength of his team.
This offense looked more like the 2015 Chiefs than the '15 Cardinals, but it was effective: three drives of 11 plays or more that chewed up 20 combined minutes of clock. The Cardinals can win the time-of-possession battle (36:02 on Monday) and have the pass-rushing talent to win different types of games, even if Arians misses those style points.
Narratives that were busted
1) Offensive coordinator Marc Trestman wasn't the only problem for Baltimore's offense. While the team hit on two longer pass plays in the first game since Trestman was fired as offensive coordinator, quarterback Joe Flacco still threw the ball 48 times in a tight game with little efficiency. The Ravens averaged 5.1 yards per offensive play in Sunday's loss to the Giants, barely an uptick on its 29th-ranked season-long average.
Injuries are as big a problem for the Ravens as Trestman's play-calling ever was. Steve Smith, Marshal Yanda, Ronnie Stanley, Terrell Suggs, Elvis Dumervil, C.J. Mosley and Jimmy Smith -- the list of injured players reads like a "who's who" of the Ravens' roster.
2) The Dolphins can no longer be mentioned as a candidate for the worst team in the NFL. Coach Adam Gase finally found the magic number of firings and benchings (74) to wake up his squad. Don't blame Pittsburgh's 30-15 loss to Miami on Ben Roethlisberger's knee injury. The Dolphins were controlling the game from the jump because Miami's offensive line, finally healthy, pushed Pittsburgh's defense around. The Dolphins could have easily won by 30 points if not for some missed opportunities.
In a strange way, this result puts more pressure on Gase and quarterback Ryan Tannehill. We've seen what this team is capable of, even when Mario Williams only gets off the bench for 13 defensive snaps. Now the Dolphins need to back it up.
3) Cam Newton's return couldn't solve everything wrong with the Panthers. Newton was fantastic overall, but he can't play right tackle. It was another week of breakdowns in the secondary from a rookie cornerback (Zack Sanchez) and safety Tre Boston. It was another week of an absent pass rush, with Charles Johnson, Kawann Short and Kony Ealy all struggling to make an impact. It was another week where they lost on a late field goal, all the good fortune they had in close games in 2015 now going the other way.
Games in the Superdome now resemble Arena League contests. It feels crazy to fault the Panthers' offense at all, but five punts and two turnovers in 14 drives against the Saints won't cut it. Newton needed to score even more than he did in the 38-point effort.
