What have we realized up to now in Presen 3? FOX Sports activities’ body of workers of NFL writers joined forces to bring perception and research from across the league. 

On this weekly tale, we’ll let you know what we spotted, what we heard and what to reserve an seeing on upcoming.

It’s age for Bengals enthusiasts to fret

Simply 4 weeks are within the books, however this Bengals season is launch to spiral out of keep an eye on. They were given blown out at Tennessee on Sunday, falling 27-3 to leave to 1-3 at the season. Broad receiver Ja’Marr Chase expressed frustration later Sunday’s duel, telling newshounds, “I’m open. I’m always f***ing open.” 

A part of the problem, after all, has been Joe Burrow’s bodily obstacles. The calf factor that pressured him to leave out maximum of coaching camp has apparently impacted his talent to throw deep and his timing along with his receivers. It’s harm his effectiveness out of doors the region, which limits the probabilities for prolonged performs the Bengals were such a success at within the future.  

However Cincinnati’s problems also are concerning the ineptitude round Burrow. It’s their insufficiency of a run duel (they’d simply 72 dashing yards towards the Titans). It’s the offensive wrinkle, which gave up 9 hits and 3 sacks to the Titans, in spite of deploying a handy guide a rough passing duel. It’s the run protection (dead-last within the league coming into Sunday). It’s the bite performs allowed. Tennessee on Sunday finished go performs of 44, 38, 24 and 22 yards — and run performs of 29 and 22 yards. 

The 1-3 Bengals are in final park within the AFC North coming into Presen 5, and what they’re appearing on tape doesn’t trade in a lot optimism transferring ahead. —Ben Arthur

CMC for MVP? 

In spite of the affection and adulation Brock Purdy receives for taking the 49ers offense to every other stage, the arriving of Christian McCaffery in the course of 2022 can’t be undersold. 

The famous person working again has given Kyle Shanahan a novel weapon to manufacture round and his versatility has remodeled the 49ers offense into an unstoppable device. A part of the unit’s good fortune stems from CMC’s dynamic working abilities between the tackles and at the perimeter. He’s an extraordinary in finding as a downhill runner with A-plus eye, blast and shake. 

The 49ers have taken good thing about his abilities as an explosive inside of runner through that includes extra gap-scheme runs that let him the assault and wave at the back of a pulling linemen. As well as, the 49ers have jumbled together some off-tackle and perimeter runs that let him to get to the sides to make use of his soles, quickness and cutback talent. 

With CMC additionally growing mismatches in length as a course runner and playmaker, the 49ers’ passing duel options extra monitors, swing and choice routes that put the explosive playmaker in length in one-on-one tackling conditions. Given his shake-and-bake and wiggle, the percentages tilt in CMC’s bias when he touches the ball in length. 

In opposition to the Cardinals, the soccer global had a prospect to peer the previous All-Professional move to paintings as the center piece of the 49ers offense. McCaffrey collected 177 scrimmage yards on 27 touches with 4 rankings. The impressive duel represents the 1/3 age that he has crowned the 100-yard mark as a rusher this season. 

Given the declining price of working backs, CMC’s manufacturing and function is great in a pass-centric league. He’s the most productive runner within the league however makes contributions in such a lot of ways in which he merits to be categorized “OW” (offensive weapon) in accordance with his manufacturing as a runner-recover. If he continues to publish ridiculous numbers as the focus of the 49ers offense, he may see an extraordinary honor hooked up to his identify on the finish of the season: MVP. —Bucky Brooks

How ‘bout them Cowboys? Or who are them Cowboys?

The Dallas Cowboys have 3 of probably the most dominant wins within the NFL this season, pounding the Unutilized York Giants, Unutilized York Jets and Unutilized England Patriots through a mixed ranking of 108-13.

So how do they give an explanation for that they’re additionally the one staff to lose to the lowly Arizona Cardinals this yr?

Perhaps there’s negative logical clarification, excluding that after the Cowboys are excellent, they’re actually, actually excellent, and once they’re no longer it has the possible to be unpleasant. That gained’t peace the fears of fearful Cowboys enthusiasts, even later they beat the Patriots 38-3 on Sunday, handing Invoice Belichick the worst lack of his profession.

That most likely shouldn’t were unexpected. The Cowboys are 9-1 later losses over the final 3 seasons and the Patriots — just like the Giants and Jets — aren’t excellent. And in fact, the Cowboys didn’t play games a unpleasant duel towards the Cardinals. They misplaced as a result of one colossal explanation why.

Of their 3 wins, they dedicated a complete of 16 consequences. In opposition to the Cardinals, they dedicated 13 for 107 yards.

Regardless, it’s withered to inform a batch concerning the Cowboys (3-1) but, bearing in mind their first 4 warring parties had a mixed file of 4-10 coming into the Sunday night time duel. The true Cowboys should display up upcoming Sunday night time in San Francisco for a vastly expected duel towards the undefeated 49ers (4-0). —Ralph Vacchiano

Is it age to get Ridder the quarterback?

The most productive asset that Desmond Ridder had sooner than this pace used to be a precocious talent to keep away from the yields that may plague a tender NFL quarterback.

However later totaling simply 4 yields in his first seven NFL begins, Ridder stumbled badly with 3 in Sunday’s lopsided loss to the Jaguars in London. One early interception used to be returned for a landing, every other prepared Jacksonville up deep in Atlanta area and a past due sack-fumble ended any hope of a wild comeback.

The Falcons don’t want Ridder to be an elite quarterback in any respect — their formulation for good fortune is a fat dose of the working duel, stellar protection and simply enough quantity colossal performs to tug out related wins. They’d that during a 24-10 opening win over the still-winless Panthers, and much more impressively in rallying to overcome the Packers 25-24 a pace next. However there have been only a few positives to hold any hat on in a 20-6 loss to the Lions final pace, and Sunday in London used to be arguably worse, falling smartly at the back of a Jaguars staff that had underachieved in its first 3 video games.

So the query is that this: How lengthy will the Falcons survive Ridder no longer handiest being a median (or worse) NFL quarterback, however actively contributing to losses as he did Sunday? In the event that they be ok with their roster as an entire, possibly they’d have a greater prospect of profitable with veteran Taylor Heinicke, who went 12-11-1 as a starter in Washington over the final two years. That used to be a staff with a superior protection, so he didn’t need to be wonderful — “pretty good” may also be unusually efficient with the best enhances on a staff.

The trail forward doesn’t glance as simple. The upcoming two are at house, however the Texans have gained two instantly and simply beat the Steelers through 24; the Commanders simply took the unbeaten Eagles to extra time. You’d love to a minimum of fracture the ones two and be 3-3 once they move to Tampa on Oct. 22 for a duel that might backup reserve them within the category chase.

Some have urged the Falcons move later Ryan Tannehill, who had Arthur Smith as his offensive coordinator in Tennessee. He has a immense wage however possibly might be bought if the Titans come to a decision they’re no longer getting to compete this season. Their 27-3 win over the Bengals on Sunday for sure works towards that premise, however who is aware of the place those groups might be a age from now on the NFL industry cut-off date. (The Titans would most probably must devour a few of Tannehill’s wage to produce a industry useful for many doable industry companions.) —Greg Auman

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Brown luggage moment colossal duel since sizzling sideline ‘dialogue’ with Jalen Hurts

Perhaps all they necessary used to be a minute tricky love.

Understand that battle Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown had at the sideline a few weeks again — the “discussion,” as Brown next described it — when Nick Sirianni needed to get between the two of them to peace them unwell? Neatly, it seems Brown used to be proper. It used to be no longer “the end of the world”.

It used to be extra like a starting.

For the second one instantly pace, Brown used to be the celebrity of the Eagles’ passing assault, catching 9 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-31 extra time win over the Washington Commanders. That brings his overall to 18 catches for 306 yards and two touchdowns within the final two video games since their minute spat.

Accident? Perhaps. Hurts continues to insist he doesn’t play games favorites or produce concerted efforts to get any explicit teammate the ball.

“It’ll look different every time we step out there,” Hurts stated. “Whether a 300-yard passing game, a 300-yard rushing game, a 150-yard rushing game by D’Andre (Swift) or a DeVonta Smith day, Dallas Goedert’s day, A.J. Brown’s day — that doesn’t really matter to me.  I think winning is the only thing that matters.” —Vacchiano

It’s no longer tanking for those who don’t have a select 

The Panthers and Bears are the NFL’s final residue winless groups, due to the Vikings and Broncos getting their first wins Sunday towards Carolina and Chicago, respectively.

One thing else they’ve in regular: Chicago has either one of their 2024 first-round draft alternatives.

Who knew when the Panthers traded up from Disagree. 9 to Disagree. 1 to whisk quarterback Bryce Younger that they could be given up a Disagree. 1 total select in that offer?

Younger continues to play games a task in Carolina’s struggles — the Panthers had been within the Minnesota 30 within the 1/3 quarter Sunday, a minimum of in field for a go-ahead farmland target, when he used to be sacked and fumbled, with the Vikings recuperating the release ball and returning it for a landing.

Protective Younger has been a try for a depleted Carolina offensive wrinkle. Desiring a landing and two-point conversion to secured, Younger were given the entire solution to a first-and-goal within the ultimate mins however used to be sacked two times within the ultimate 3 performs to thwart any rally. At the earlier pressure, Carolina were given to the Minnesota 35, handiest to have every other sack finish that pressure as smartly.

Accidents have impacted either side of the ball for Carolina, with important starters absent, particularly within the secondary. That can or won’t fortify, and leisure at the time table isn’t coming quickly, with the upcoming two video games on the Lions and Dolphins.

This has the makings of an overly lengthy yr for the Panthers, with out the comfort of a elevated draft select to turn for it. —Auman

How the Expenses disrupted Tua — even with out Von Miller within the combine

The Buffalo Expenses held the Miami Dolphins to twenty issues on Sunday. And hour that wouldn’t be a standout accomplishment for many defenses, it used to be towards Miami, which scored 70 issues final pace. The Expenses offense is more likely to get the majority of the credit score. Josh Allen balled out and made positive he remained an MVP contender.

However the protection had the Dolphins annoyed all through and later the sport.

“I think the Buffalo Bills proved why they are the team that our whole division is trying to beat,” educator Mike McDaniel stated later the sport when requested about his offense.

It’s a elevated praise. And no longer a fake one. 

Right here’s the lunatic factor: They didn’t do the rest out of the regular. There wasn’t a lot in the way in which of disguises and inventive game-planning. The Expenses simply did what the Expenses generally tend to do: play games tone protection. But it surely’s a question of the way that tone protection modified issues for Miami.

“I think they just do a really good job playing the things that they play, and they play really well,” Tua Taogvailoa stated Sunday later the sport. “They pressured on the early downs in the earlier drives of the game, and then they kind of got their flow of the game. Then they started to just play what they play — play coverage, read their run fits, read their run keys and things like that. I think they’ve done a great job on that side of the ball in mitigating big plays for us offensively.”

Right here’s how the Expenses noticed it:

“We did a good job of messing up the timing, especially in the play action. You know the play action is about timing. He play-actioned and he looked at his receiver and they ain’t open. So then he held the ball a little bit,” defensive finish Leonard Floyd advised FOX Sports activities later the sport. “We did a good job of being in his face after his play-action key. That caused us to have a good game on defense.”

Tagovailoa couldn’t govern into his customary dropback development. And on this offense, it’s no longer an exaggeration to mention {that a} base out of park can botch a complete play games. McDaniel has drawn up a passing assault that will get the ball out of Tua’s hand briefly and on age. But when that timing is disrupted, Taogvailoa has to improvise. And he didn’t glance at ease. Near to each and every age he left the region, he ended up taking a quarterback accident.

“That was a huge part of it — messing up the d-line with the timing,” linebacker Terrel Bernard stated. “Getting him off his first read and getting after him in the backfield and making him move a little bit.”

They did their very best to hurry in Taogvailoa’s passing lanes so he couldn’t get off the short go. Bernard and linebacker Matt Milano are in control of marrying the go scurry to the secondary and filling gaps that Tagovailoa may need to goal. Consequently, Buffalo completed with 9 quarterback hits and 4 sacks. Floyd completed the sport with two quarterback hits. He has been an splendid stand-in for edge Von Miller, who has been on injured hold hour recuperating from an ACL shock that he suffered final Thanksgiving. Floyd defined that educator Sean McDermott has a uniquely competitive play-calling taste on protection.

“The attack mindset — the way he calls his calls is pretty much aggressive the whole game,” Floyd stated. “I like that. I believe it’s been helping my game a lot, just coming in and getting to be aggressive.”

Floyd mainly will get to pin again his ears and scurry the passer. It’s no longer a question of being concerned about protection, which is an obligation that he’s had within the future. On Sunday, he were given to chase unwell Tagovailoa. And hour the Expenses gave the impression of they may have a hollow at the protection with out Miller, they’re doing simply nice, with 9 sacks final pace and enough quantity of disruptive play games towards the NFL’s fastest passing assault this pace.

“I’m very proud,” Floyd stated. “Having Von back is going to make offenses look for even more. They’ve got (to worry about) Von. Gotta worry about Ed [Oliver]. Gotta worry about Greg Rousseau. Gotta worry about me. Gotta worry about AJ [Epenesa]. Gotta worry about Shaq [Lawson]. … We eight deep, like a basketball team.” —Henry McKenna

What needy the Dolphins protection and the way they healing it

From supremacy to base, the Buffalo Expenses outplayed the Miami Dolphins. The overall ranking made that sunlit, with a 48-20 rout through Buffalo. However the Expenses spent the sport highlighting the Dolphins’ largest disorder: cornerback.

How can that be conceivable later Miami traded for Jalen Ramsey, drafted second-rounder Cam Smith and signed detached agent veteran Eli Apple?

 Neatly, they’re all injured. To produce issues worse, launch slot cornerback Nik Needham may be at the PUP checklist hour recuperating from an achilles shock from 2022.

Consequently, the Dolphins trotted out cornerback Kader Kohou to wrinkle up throughout from Xavien Howard. And hour Kohou used to be cast within the fit in 2022 — and has an incredible tale — he didn’t appear able for an all-out struggle towards receiver Stefon Diggs, who noticed seven goals for 6 receptions, 120 yards and a landing. Diggs additionally generated some confidential yards out of Kohou, who dedicated a 43-yard defensive go interference penalty and a 15-yard pointless roughness penalty (each hour in protection on Diggs).

“I think that’s an easy finger to point,” educator Mike McDaniel stated later the sport. “I think there was a couple situations where I know Kader (Kohou) would like to have back. But at the same time, I think there’s a lot of people that weren’t executing a lot of times late in the play.”

[McKenna: Josh Allen outduels Tua Tagovailoa as reminder of who is QB king in AFC East]

It wasn’t honest to invite Kohou to spend the sport masking Diggs. And perhaps defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will have to have obvious he’d put a participant in an inconceivable condition — in particular given the truth that protection Deshon Elliott used to be out with an shock and that thrust Justin Bethel into the combo as a slot defender and protection. Bethel may celebrity on particular groups however he’s a break-in-case-of-emergency participant on protection. It appears, that’s what this used to be. So Miami needed to struggle to restrain a Josh Allen and Diggs-led passing assault with out the best body of workers. And that’s as a result of they’ve had brutal shock good fortune to begin this yr.

Unholy information, proper?

How about some excellent information?

The answer is on their roster. Ramsey, Smith, Apple and Needham can all go back this season. 

The query is how briefly the Dolphins can get their cornerbacks wholesome. Apple is coping with a concussion, which might get him again within the combine upcoming pace, and Needham can go back to follow launch this pace. Smith’s timeline is opaque, however he suffered a shoulder shock within the preseason. For Ramsey, it could be a hour, as he’s contending with a torn meniscus. He vowed to go back this yr, regardless that it’s negative positive factor.

It used to be just a little of an excellent hurricane for Miami. To stand the Expenses’ large skill with this type of colossal skill hole at nook — that’s simply sinister good fortune. The alternative excellent information is that Miami gets every other shot at Buffalo in January once they fit up in Presen 18. It’s withered to mention evidently that the Dolphins might be healthier at that time. —McKenna

Scorching begin to 2023 for Jaguars’ Josh Allen

Josh Allen led the Jaguars’ try in terrorizing Desmond Ridder in a 23-7 victory over the Falcons in London on Sunday, posting 3 sacks. His strip sack with 1:33 residue sealed a much-needed duel for the Jags, who’d dropped their earlier two contests. 

Right here’s the colossal image: Allen has now recorded two three-sacks video games in 4 weeks. With six sacks already in 2023, he’s one shy of his overall final season — completed in 17 video games. So yeah, he’s on target to earn a big-money offer this offseason from the Jaguars (or in other places). He’s taking part in in 2023 at the fifth-year choice of his rookie guarantee, which can pay him $10.892 million in assured wage.

The Disagree. 7 total select in 2019, Allen has at all times been ready to force quarterbacks — he join for 1/3 within the league with 74 pressures final season, in keeping with Nearest Gen Stats — however he has struggled turning the ones into sacks. Then hitting double-digit sacks as a rookie, he hasn’t had greater than 7 ½ in a season since. 

That’s on target to switch in 2023, which might trade in a immense spice up to the Jaguars’ protection and upside as a hopeful contender. The go scurry used to be arguably Jacksonville’s largest fear coming into this season, and it used to be non-existent for prolonged sessions Weeks 2 and three. If the staff goes to search out defensive consistency, it’s going to begin with Allen, who’s proving that he can supremacy the way in which. —Ben Arthur

DeMeco Ryans running wonders in Houston

Expectancies had been low for the Texans this season (once more). Certain, their extremely touted rookie magnificence — led through C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr., the second one and 1/3 alternatives on this yr’s draft, respectively — may flash, however nobody actually believed it might be enough quantity to produce the staff in point of fact aggressive within the shorten time period. The roster, on paper, peaceful had too many holes. It at all times felt like rebuilding Houston used to be making ready for 2024 and past.  

Right here’s what we all know via 4 weeks: we want to get started reframing our expectancies for the 2023 Texans. It is a staff provided to contend within the wide-open AFC South this season. 

It’s as a result of Stroud, who’s been one of the most very best quarterbacks within the NFL thus far this season. It’s as a result of their passing duel, which has been extra dynamic than somebody can have imagined (third-year receiver Nico Collins is recently 5th within the NFL with 428 receiving yards). It’s as a result of their protection, which has surged within the final couple weeks. 

At the vanguard of all of it is unused educator DeMeco Ryans, a former Texans celebrity, who’s laying the substructure for a unused tradition in Houston. He’s introduced important growth out of a protection that used to be one of the most worst towards the run in league historical past final yr. He’s led the staff to back-to-back wins of double digits in spite of its largest strengths  — the offensive wrinkle and secondary — being decimated because of shock. 

For the final 3 video games, the Texans have performed with out 4 launch offensive linemen (Laremy Tunsil, Kenyon Inexperienced, Juice Scruggs, Tytus Howard). Two of Houston’s very best cornerbacks, former Disagree. 3 total select Derek Stingley Jr. (injured hold) and Tavierre Thomas, also are recently sidelined. It’s early, however Ryans seems to be doing an incredible process in Houston. — Ben Arthur

Puka Nacua makes historical past – once more

It sort of feels like each and every pace Los Angeles Rams rookie receiver Puka Nacua takes the farmland he makes historical past. Sunday used to be negative exception.

Nacua hauled in 9 receptions for 163 receiving yards on 10 goals. That quantity integrated the sport winner, a 22-yard reception unwell the seam of the protection for his first NFL landing, giving Los Angeles a 29-23 extra time highway victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

“I could tell by the ball he was trying to hold me in the zone, so I was like, ‘Okay I’m not running through this,” Nacua advised newshounds concerning the ranking. “I turn around and was like, ‘Wait, there’s nobody here.’ So, I just tried to find the end zone. I saw the safety come and made a move on him.”

With 39 receptions via his first 4 video games, Nacua surpassed Anquan Boldin (30 in 2003) for probably the most receptions through an NFL participant within the first 4 video games in their professional profession because the NFL merger in 1970. Nacua is the second one participant within the Tremendous Bowl month with 100-plus receiving yards in 3 of his first 4 profession video games.

The Rams had focused Nacua most commonly in beneath protection during the first 3 video games. However towards the Colts, Nacua constantly were given release additional unwell the farmland. In line with Nearest Gen Stats, Nacua used to be focused seven instances, completing with six receptions for 143 yards and a landing on passes of 10-plus wind yards.

Coming into Presen 4, handiest 116 of Nacua’s 338 receiving yards had been on goals of 10-plus wind yards.

The Rams’ Disagree. 1 receiver, Cooper Kupp, is eligible to return off the injured checklist this pace later lacking the primary 4 video games with a hamstring shock. Then again, head educator Sean McVay peaceful expects Nacua to be a vital a part of the offense, even with the eventual go back of the staff’s very best offensive participant.

“He’s going to continue to play at a high level,” McVay advised newshounds. “I don’t see any indications of that changing. Now, we evaluate snap-in and snap out. It’s not exclusive to what we see on the stat sheet. I see the way this guy plays without the ball. I see the way he runs routes, even if he might not be part of the progression where Matthew (Stafford) ends up finding him.

“He’s performed a superior process. I feel he’s handiest gotten higher. And while you’re ready so as to add every other superior participant into the combo, it’s handiest getting to backup our offense.” —Eric D. Williams

Khalil Mack turns again the clock

A few years have passed since Khalil Mack was named an All-Pro at outside linebacker and defensive end due to his pass-rushing prowess, but his six-sack effort against the Las Vegas Raiders reminded the football world of his previous dominance.

As a power rusher with heavy hands and explosive torque, Mack has routinely bullied blockers on the edges to abuse quarterbacks in the pocket. Against the Raiders, the 2016 Defensive Player of the Year was back to his old tricks, registering a pair of forced fumbles to go with his sick sacks. Mack mauled blockers at the point of attack to put persistent pressure on Aidan O’Connell in the pocket. Moreover, he battered and bruised the rookie quarterback, resulting in a pair of turnovers that helped seal the game for the Chargers. 

Considering Mack entered Week 4 with without a sack or tackle for loss, the Chargers cannot expect the veteran to deliver a vintage performance each week. But if Mack can provide a steady presence as a complementary rusher opposite Joey Bosa, the Chargers defense could create problems for the future opponents on their schedule. —Brooks

This tale used to be compiled through:

AFC South reporter Ben Arthur (@benyarthur)
NFC South reporter Greg Auman (@gregauman)
NFL analyst Bucky Brooks (@BuckyBrooks)
AFC East reporter Henry McKenna (@McKennAnalysis)
NFC West reporter Eric D. Williams (@eric_d_williams)
NFC East reporter Ralph Vacchiano (@RalphVacchiano)
NFC North reporter Carmen Vitali (@CarmieV)

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