Inside: Risers and fallers after the preseason’s first week, Patrick Mahomes (once more) leads Sando’s new QB Tiers and Dianna’s sources stay skeptical of Shedeur Sanders.
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Preseason Week 1: Takeaways
Every Monday, we replace you on how gamers, coaches, groups and schemes are trending throughout the NFL. And with all 32 groups in preseason motion, there’s loads to cowl. We’ll begin in New York:
📈 Massive Apple quarterbacks. Each the Jets (30-10 over Inexperienced Bay) and Giants (34-25 over Buffalo) received their first preseason video games, however extra importantly, their first-team offenses led scoring drives towards proficient first-team defenses. Of their solely collection:
- The Giants’ Russell Wilson relied on brief passes and operating again Tyrone Tracy as he acquired to the Payments’ 27-yard-line earlier than penalties pressured them to accept a subject purpose. Wilson completed 6 of seven for 28 yards.
Jaxson Dart had the most promising debut of New York quarterbacks, nonetheless. This 12 months’s twenty fifth general choose by the Giants accomplished 12 of 19 passes for 154 yards with one landing, whereas exhibiting off his wheels with 24 yards on three runs. Most of his manufacturing got here towards the second-string Payments protection, however Dart nonetheless joins Wilson and Abdul Carter atop Charlotte Carrol’s checklist of Giants trending up.
📈 Preseason kickers. Final preseason, Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey hit a powerful 66-yard subject purpose that had opponents cheering. This preseason, Jaguars kicker Cam Little mentioned maintain my beer, hitting an unofficial* NFL-record subject purpose of 70 yards:
* Preseason stats don’t rely, however an exception needs to be made, of us. A parody account utilizing the kicker’s title posted this on X: “Don’t stress concerning the document. This received’t be the final 70 yarder.” Adore it. Till then, Justin Tucker’s 66-yarder stays the document to beat.
📈 Chiefs’ offensive line. The Tremendous Bowl scapegoats look a lot improved, because of impressive rookie left tackle Josh Simmons, a possible top-10 choose who fell to Kansas Metropolis on the finish of the primary spherical as a consequence of harm considerations.
Simmons arrived forward of schedule, stood out in coaching camp and impressed towards the Cardinals, posting the second-highest PFF grade amongst Chiefs starters, behind solely Mahomes. Should be good, KC followers.
📉 Packers’ offense. Penalties, drops and poor decision-making price Jordan Love’s first-team unit, which gained simply 31 yards of offense as Love completed 1 of 5 for seven yards (on two drives). Worse nonetheless, receiver Jayden Reed was noticed in a strolling boot, along with his Week 1 standing unsure.
The lone bright spot was rookie receiver Matthew Golden, who turned two third-down targets into one catch and one defensive cross interference name towards nook Sauce Gardner. “I’ve acquired loads of confidence in MG proper now,” mentioned Love.
📈 Factors in New England. Their 48-point outburst towards the Commanders was a preseason franchise document, triple final preseason’s 15-point common. As Chad Graff wrote in his Patriots inventory report, Mike Vrabel’s unofficial debut was exceptional throughout the board.
I’m already clamoring for TreVeyon Henderson to get extra touches. New England’s most explosive participant, the rookie operating again break up reps with Rhamondre Stevenson whereas taking part in two collection with Drake Maye. Henderson confirmed Jahmyr Gibbs-like burst and palms, catching three passes and taking his solely handoff 18 yards:
As for his first contact of any form, Henderson returned a kickoff 100 yards for a landing. No biggie.
📉 Factors allowed by Buffalo. Their line of defense appears solidified after a strong debut from 30-year-old edge Joey Bosa, in addition to rookie tackles T.J. Sanders and Deone Walker. All three new additions enhance the depth for a line that, regardless of missing a present famous person, could be one of many league’s finest.
Simply sufficient from J.J. McCarthy. The Vikings’ 22-year-old quarterback wasn’t good, ending simply 4 for 7 with 30 passing yards, no touchdowns and no turnovers. His accuracy is a piece in progress, notes beat reporter Alec Lewis, however McCarthy played a clean game and acquired his timing down.
A turnover-free efficiency is perhaps sufficient for the proficient Vikings, however that’s not the case in Cleveland. Over to Dianna.
What Dianna’s Listening to: Sanders nonetheless has work to do
Shedeur Sanders was the discuss of the weekend after his preseason debut for the Browns; even LeBron James took notice. However I spoke with two participant analysis sources from completely different NFL groups, each of whom nonetheless suggested warning concerning the fifth-rounder’s first professional snaps.
“He’s nonetheless not probably the most disciplined participant, one thing we noticed on his Colorado tape,” one supply mentioned. “He had some moments that had been stable and others that weren’t spectacular.”
The opposite supply agreed, noting that Sanders missed some simple throws and held onto the ball too lengthy at occasions on Friday evening. “He bailed out the again of the pocket a number of occasions, and his ball safety wasn’t the place it must be,” he mentioned. “If he’s going to take the subsequent step, he’s acquired to be taught to play on time extra constantly.”
So whereas the numbers appeared good (138 passing yards and two TDs), Sanders stays a piece in progress within the eyes of some. Nonetheless, he’s giving the Browns one thing thrilling to consider.
Again to you, Jacob.
QB Tiers: The league’s starters, ranked
Every summer time, Mike Sando’s Quarterback Tiers grant us a glance into the minds of NFL coaches and executives, who share their perspective on the highest veteran quarterbacks.
This 12 months’s 34 ranked QBs are in 5 tiers, with every coach and govt granted anonymity to candidly share their ideas. The leaders of every of the primary 4 tiers exemplify their groupings. Offered under, with one remark every from panelists:
- Tier 1: Patrick Mahomes. “Mahomes has the Brady seat now, till somebody proves in any other case.”
- Tier 2: Jayden Daniels. “I wish to see one other 12 months. Get me midway by way of that second 12 months and I’ll have a superb really feel. The defensive coordinators may have all had their shot.”
- Tier 3: Kyler Murray. “He has ‘2’ expertise however remains to be a ‘3’ to me. Is he dedicated to it? He at all times tends to tail off because the season goes on.”
- Tier 4: Russell Wilson. “What he had that was magical about him — the flexibility to create performs on the transfer — is gone.”
You’ll wish to learn the total article to see who wins the Josh Allen vs. Lamar Jackson debate.
Further Factors
🛩 Brady’s jab at Jets. I doubt Tom Brady writes his personal jokes, however he certain delivers them nicely. On the Friday-night unveiling of his 12-foot statue outside Gillette Stadium, Brady aimed this line straight at his former AFC East rivals, towards whom he went 31-8:
“This statue isn’t only for Pats followers. It’ll additionally give all of the Jets followers one thing to throw their beers at as they depart the stadium yearly. In all probability within the second quarter.”
👀 James Prepare dinner refused to play. Whereas the Payments’ operating again dressed for Saturday’s preseason sport, he by no means noticed the sector, despite head coach Sean McDermott’s wishes. The contract-related points drag on for Prepare dinner, who’s but to obtain an extension on his four-year, $5.83 million rookie contract.
🏈 The soccer goals of Marshawn Lynch got here crashing down when Russell Wilson made that fateful cross in Tremendous Bowl XLIX. An excerpt from Michael-Shawn Dugar’s new e book, “A Curated Historical past of the Legion of Growth Period,” tells the story behind that playcall.
🐻 Bear tie. A 24-24 tie in Chicago towards Miami left new head coach Ben Johnson with out his first unofficial win, however that wasn’t the main focus. “Preseason video games don’t rely, however they matter,” he mentioned. Kevin Fishbain shares the Bears’ five key takeaways from a sport with out most starters.
▶️ Friday’s most-clicked: Undrafted Buccaneers security Shilo Sanders can’t be his father, Deion — or demand the identical consideration as his youthful brother, Shedeur. As Mike Jones writes, that works for Shilo.
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(Photograph: Bryan M. Bennet, Justin Casterline / Getty Pictures)
