Good Morning!Although the work week was short for some White Tom Compton Jersey , it still feels like time is dragging until the Vikings vs. Bears game.I’ll be working on gameday, but I’m going to start hoarding remotes so I can switch a couple of the TV’s over the game....hopefully it’s the not the last game for the Vikings this season.In the meantime while we’re waiting for the next Vikings game to start we’ll continue with our news and links full of beer recommendations, nap strategies, crock pot and smoker recipes. Have another cup of coffee and drop by for some fan wisdom, snark and a virtual egg scramble. With that, let’s do this beat the Bears!Around the DN since our last thread:The front page writers have a spot where you can keep up with all the Vikings-Bears news.Analysis of a slow start: Vikings vs. Lions by Wludford.Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings: Final injury reports for both teams by Chris.Eric has his weekly preview article, this week Vikings vs. Bears Week 17: Binary.Norse Code Podcast Episode 266: Feats of Strength hosted by Arif and James (with guest Lorin Cox)Chris talks about the Bears/Vikings with Shawn & Maya in the Morning.Since SB Nation doesn’t provide automatic comment counts anymore, we geeks have a fanpost you can comment your total on for the year to see how many comments you’ll have in 2019, plus if you commented your total last year you can figure it out....math is required.Vikings news from other sources:At Vikings.com HC Mike Zimmer on the need for a fast start on both sides of the ball, the Bears deceptive secondary White Trae Waynes Jersey , importance of turnovers.CB Mike Hughes met with the media on Friday to provide an update on his rehab from his knee injury that occurred last October.WR Stefon Diggs on offensive lulls, Rudolph’s Hail Mary catch, Cousins approach to big games.At 1500espn Matthew Coller ponders how the Vikings will slow down Khalil Mack. Also from Matthew, Dalvin Cook’s time has arrived.NFC North Roundup:At Windy City Gridiron Bears vs. Vikings: TV schedule, NFC Playoff scenarios, previews, and more.Bears vs. Vikings Three keys to the game.From Pride of Detroit What went wrong with the Green Bay Packers? A schadenfreude investigation. When the Packers lose, we all win.Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia wants Matthew Stafford back in 2019.Over at Acme Packing CompanyPackers-Lions Preview: Film shows Green Bay can succeed in the passing game.Friday Packers Musings: The Packers could use another Cullen Jenkins at DE in 2019.League news: Consistent with the weekend news and links I’ll post league news in the comments.We come to today’s media selection: Led Zeppelin - The Immigrant SongAgain, we all know the rules, but in case someone is new:-No discussion of politics or religion-No feeding of the trolls-This isn’t a male version of The View Youth Harrison Smith Jersey , so leave the gender hatred at the door-Keep the bad language to a minimum (using the spoiler tags, if you must)-Speaking of which, if discussing a newer show or movie, please use spoiler tags-No pictures that could get someone fired or in serious trouble with their employer-If you can’t disagree in a civil manner, feel free to go away-While navigating the open thread, just assume it’s sarcasm.With that, the beer light is on and the bar is open. Belly up & tie one on. Don’t forget to tip your waitress, try the shrimp and grits and as always, Welcome Aboard and Skol Vikings! A mediocre start won't force the Philadelphia Eagles to make personnel changes.Coach Doug Pederson reiterated his confidence in his staff and players as the defending Super Bowl champions get ready for an NFC championship game rematch against the Vikings."The sky is not falling. The sun came up today. We're 2-2," Pederson said Wednesday. "We're still in good position Youth Stefon Diggs Jersey , control our own destiny. A lot of football ahead of us and there is no panic."As coaches we prepare our players and we prepare them extremely well. We have confidence in all our guys moving forward, and so with that, we just continue to coach and get our guys ready for Sunday."The secondary has struggled in a pair of road losses, including a 26-23 defeat at Tennessee in overtime. The Eagles blew a 17-3 lead midway through the third quarter, allowing Marcus Mariota to rally the Titans.Cornerback Jalen Mills had a tough time and fellow starter Ronald Darby also has had lapses. But defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is sticking with Mills, a third-year pro who started 18 games last season, as an outside cornerback, and leaving second-year pro Sidney Jones in the slot."One of the reasons we had a big parade on Broad Street was Jalen Mills," Schwartz said Tuesday. "There have been inconsistencies all around, but it's our job to help him through that. It's his job to get out of that White Eric Kendricks Jersey , and I'm firmly behind Jalen Mills. That guy's played a lot of good football for us, and he epitomizes a lot of things we're about defensively: toughness, competitiveness and ability to bounce back. And I'm confident he will."Veteran safety Corey Graham made an egregious mistake on fourth-and-15 on the final drive against Tennessee, looking away and allowing a receiver to get behind him for a catch to extend the drive. Graham played every snap in his first start filling in for Rodney McLeod, who had knee surgery. Rookie cornerback Avonte Maddox worked in at safety and Schwartz indicated he could see more time."Avonte gives us great range, he's quick, he's a smart player," Schwartz said. "He's just a little bit inexperienced and each rep he gets he will get better for us."Pederson defers defensive decisions to Schwartz."He's the expert on the defensive side," Pederson said. "He and I have conversations throughout the week. We talk about scheme. We'll talk about personnel, how we're using different defensive packages Kirk Cousins Jersey , how we attack a particular offense. We're constantly talking about things like that even during the game. I listen, and quite frankly, I don't say a whole lot unless I have to. He's in charge there and he's done a great job. His scheme is sound and we just continue to coach our players and get them prepared."Notes: DE Derek Barnett (shoulder), RB Corey Clement (quadricep), DT Fletcher Cox (ankle), WR Alshon Jeffery (chest) and RB Darren Sproles (hamstring) missed practice. LT Jason Peters (quadricep) was limited. ... Sproles has missed three straight games and Clement sat out one.

In the four years since their last Super Bowl Authentic Isaiah Wynn Jersey , the New England Patriots re-invented themselves, particularly on offense. Instead of the spread, the team was carried by the two tight end set featuring Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. What did not chance since 2007, was the success of the offense. While the 2007 squad had arguably the best offensive unit of all time, the 2011 version was pretty formidable in its own right.The Patriots, after starting the year 5-3, went on an eight game winning streak before entering the playoffs as the conference’s number one seed. In the first game, the team dismantled the Denver Broncos before facing the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round.New England won the game 23-20 — thanks to a Sterling Moore strip and a missed field goal — but Rob Gronkowski, straight off the statistically most dominant season a receiving tight end has ever had up to that point, injured his ankle. The injury would clearly affect the Patriots’ most dangerous weapon two weeks later.Super Bowl XLVI: New York Giants vs. New England PatriotsDate: February 5, 2012Stadium: LucasOil Stadium, Indianapolis INFinal Score: New York Giants 21, New England Patriots 17Super Bowl XLVI started in the worst possible way for New England. After forcing a Giants punt, the Patriots began their first possession on their own 6-yard line. On their very first offensive play of the game, however, Tom Brady was flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone Limited Danny Etling Jersey , resulting in a safety and a 2-0 Giants lead.Things would get even worse before the first quarter was over. First, a Brandon Spikes fumble recovery was called back due to a penalty for having 12 men on the field. Two plays later, Eli Manning found Victor Cruz for a 2-yard touchdown to give New York a 9-0 lead. The Patriots finally got some momentum on their next drive, which ended with a 29-yard Stephen Gostkowski field goal to make it a 9-3 game early in the second quarter.The Patriots would close out the first half tying the longest touchdown drive in Super Bowl history. The team went 96 yards in four minutes to take a 10-9 lead thanks to a 4-yard Tom Brady touchdown pass to Danny Woodhead.New England would open the second half with another touchdown drive: Tom Brady connected with Aaron Hernandez to extend the Patriots’ lead to 17-9. However, it would be the last time the team scored in Super Bowl XLVI.After two Giants’ field goals, the teams headed into the fourth quarter at 17-15 in New England’s favor. On the second play of the quarter, Tom Brady threw an interception intended for Gronkowski, who was bothered by an ankle injury and finished the game with only two catches and 26 receiving yards (working mostly as a decoy). Due to the Giants’ inability to turn the turnover into points, the Patriots got the ball back with 9:24 left in the game and a chance to potentially expand their lead. However, the drive stalled at the Giants’ 44-yard line with less than three minutes to go.Just like four years earlier, the defense had a chance to stop the Giants late in the game. Just like four years earlier, the Giants marched down the field to score a game-winning touchdown. For the second time in a four-year span, the Patriots lost a Super Bowl to the Giants — once again getting close, but not close enough, to the elusive fourth ring.They had a good chance to get it in 2006, but collapsed in the AFC Championship Game. They had shots at it in 2007 and 2011 Sony Michel Jersey Salute to Service , but lost the Super Bowl each time. It would take three more seasons for them to get another chance to earn it. On Sunday, the New England Patriots will finally enter the NFL playoffs when they host the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium. To further analyze this week’s matchup and find out how New England can duplicate its success, let’s take a look at some of the advanced stats heading into the game (courtesy of SB Nation’s Bill Connelly; for his methodology please click here).Patriots offense vs Chargers defenseNormal down and distance in the open fieldPatriots offense (l.) vs Chargers defense (r.)The first statistic we’re looking at today already shows a common theme: New England and Los Angeles are rather evenly matched up, no matter which units square off. In regard to the battle between the Patriots offense and the Chargers defense in the open field, we can see that both teams are faring well when it comes to success rate — gaining 50% of necessary yardage on first down, 70% on second down, and 100% on third and fourth down — but are inconsistent when it comes to big plays and on third down.Backed Up Situations Near the Goal LinePatriots offense (l.) vs Chargers defense (r.)New England’s offensive success rate when backed up near its own goal line is nothing to write home about — but still better than what the Chargers defense is doing in such situations, except when it comes to turnovers. Speaking of which: the Patriots had one of them this season, a tipped interception in week one. Otherwise they have taken care of the football very well when starting in unfavorable field position.Red ZonePatriots offense (l.) vs Chargers defense (r.)This will be a key area for the Patriots on Sunday. After going just 1-of-4 inside the Chargers’ 20-yard line when the two teams last met, Tom Brady and company have to improve in order to put themselves in the best position to be successful. While L.A. holds the advantage when it comes to goal line success rate, New England’s offense is the better unit at moving the football between the 11 and 20. It should be a fun battle to watch — and one that might decide the overall outcome of the game.Third DownsPatriots offense (l.) vs Chargers defense (r.)The Chargers defense and Patriots offense are also relative statistical equals when it comes to third down. Both units perform well in third-and-long situations with more to seven yards to gain, while Los Angeles holds the edge on third-and-mediums (from two to six yards out). New England, on the other hand, should be favored when looking at third-and-short situations. Last year’s battle, by the way, went just like this year’s numbers would suggest: both teams won at times leading to a 47% success rate (9 of 19) for the Patriots.Blitz SituationsPatriots offense (l.) vs Chargers defense (r.)New England is generally solid when playing from behind the sticks Duke Dawson Jersey , but the Chargers’ offense still holds the statistical edge in overall success rate and big-play rate. When it comes to sacks in so-called blitz situations — 1st and 18 or more, 2nd and 14 or more, and 3rd and 3 or more — the Patriots have been the better team so far this season, despite Los Angeles fielding standout pass rushers Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa.Patriots defense vs Chargers offenseNormal down and distance in the open fieldPatriots defense (l.) vs Chargers offense (r.)Led by standout quarterback Philip Rivers, the Chargers offense has been successful in the open field through its first 17 games. It moves the football well as evidenced by its 48.5% success rate, produces big plays and keeps drives alive on third down — and with the exception of the first category enters the game on Sunday holding an advantage over New England’s defense.Backed Up Situations Near the Goal LinePatriots defense (l.) vs Chargers offense (r.)New England’s defense and Los Angeles’ offense are again rather evenly matched up when it comes to backed-up situations. Both teams are below their open field success rates and generally middle-of-the-pack. However, all it takes is one big play to make a difference — and now would be a good time for the Patriots to register their first turnover inside the opposing 10-yard line this season.Red ZonePatriots defense (l.) vs Chargers offense (r.)The Patriots are no defensive world-beaters in the red zone, but they are generally performing well — something that can only partially be said for the Chargers offense: the unit is solid when it comes to moving the football between the 11 and 20 and when it comes to limiting giveaways, but other than that has been rather underwhelming. If New England can live up to its statistical advantage in this part of the field, it would tremendously improve the team’s odds of coming away victoriously.Third DownsPatriots defense (l.) vs Chargers offense (r.)Another somewhat even battle is the one between the Patriots’ third down defense and the Chargers’ third down offense. New England holds a slight edge in two categories — third-and-long and third-and-short — while L.A. has been the better team this year on third-and-medium. Getting off the field will be a key for Brian Flores’ group, something it was able to do fairly well last year when it was still coordinated by Matt Patricia: the unit allowed just 3 of 10 third downs to be converted (33%).Blitz SituationsPatriots defense (l.) vs Chargers offense (r.)The Chargers defense is not the only unit on the team to perform well when finding itself in so-called blitz downs. The offense has also found success, even when having to play from behind the sticks. With New England ranking in the bottom half of the NFL’s teams in such situations, we can already predict that counting L.A. out will not be in the cards on Sunday.All in all, the Patriots and Chargers are for a reason both in the divisional playoff round: they are performing generally well in the advanced statistical categories outlined above. Consequently, they will meet eye-to-eye in two days which in turn could lead to a close affair. The current odds — New England is favored by 4 points — reflect this. Will the game actually live up to what the bookmakers say? The numbers point to “yes.”

Surge or Static: You had one job! “YOU HAD ONE JOB!”That’s the statement I found myself saying far too often Sunday evening as I watched a number of Chargers players fall short of http://www.chargersfootballauthentics.com/keenan-allen-jersey-authentic , you know, the most expected of expectations.While the score ended up being 38-28, it honestly felt much closer to 68-28 than reality.I guess when touchdowns come as easy as they did for the Chiefs, you can’t help but get washed away in the tidal wave of scores put up by the dynamic quarterback-receiver duo of Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill.And while the final boxscore painted a different picture, fans likely left the stands that night with a terrible drowning feeling.In the first game of the 2018 season, with expectations as high as they’ve ever been, a pair of receivers in what was deemed “the best wideout group in the NFL” fell short of even the lowest of standards.On the flip-side, a pairing from the running back room enjoyed an outing that was about as pleasantly productive as it was efficient.As we meander over to the defensive side of the ball, fans and analysts alike got to see a highly-touted rookie vault over his expectation bar while a veteran continued to show no signs of progression in the weakest part of his collective skill-set.Although I don’t believe anyone expected this match-up to be “smooth sailing”, I don’t think many expected a number of over-sized mackerel to fly up and wallop them in the face, either.Some of you might also be wondering, “Why is Michael incorporating so many water-themed metaphors and similes?” Well, I don’t have an answer you, to be honest. It’s just “flowing” so well.....Alright, I’m done. I promise.Welcome, my friends Womens Mike Pouncey Jersey , to the very first regular season edition of Surge or Static!SURGEDRBs Melvin Gordon/Austin EkelerFinally, finally, finally, the Chargers found a way move the ball effectively on the ground against a team they should have. In recent years, whenever the team has gone up against a dismal run defense, they’ve always found a way to make that weakness look like a strength. Like clockwork.In Sunday’s match-up against a Chiefs defense suddenly lacking in star-power, Gordon and Ekeler both found plenty of space to work with as they combined for one of the best rushing performances over the last several years. The two backs were wildly complimentary of each other as the offense never skipped a beat, regardless of who was in the backfield.Gordon got the lion’s share of the work, collecting 15 carries to Ekeler’s five. However, the latter was much more prolific, averaging 7.8 yards per carry to Gordon’s 4.3.As the game quickly got out of hand, Gordon and Ekeler were forced to abandon the ground for work through the air as the duo got absolutely pelted with targets while the Chargers played catch-up.The backfield received 18 total targets in this game which they turned into 14 catches for 189 yards and a touchdown. The score was an absolute beauty from quarterback Philip Rivers as he threw a perfect pass to Ekeler in the back corner of the endzone.In all, Gordon and Ekeler combined for 292 total yards from scrimmage and the lone touchdown.I don’t about you guys, but that’s pretty #good.Without tight end Hunter Henry in this offense, this is exactly the direction offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt needs to take this offense.S Derwin JamesThe long wait to watch James in a regular season game came and went and fans walked away with plenty of warm, fuzzy feelings. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF) Youth Desmond King Jersey , James was the team’s third-highest graded defender with a 70.0. If you watch him closely, you might think that’s a fairly pedestrian grade when juxtaposed with the film, but the tape doesn’t lie.James’ final line against the Chiefs included three tackles, the only sack for the Chargers on Sunday, and two pass deflections.One of those pass deflections came in the end zone on a full-extension swat by James just two plays before he corralled Mahomes for his first career sack.Sean Taylor comparisons aside, fans should be extremely excited about James going forward, especially with the Buffalo Bills up next on the slate.StaticWRs Tyrell Williams/Travis BenjaminAfter an offseason chalk-full of praise about the Chargers’ wide receivers, they ended up being one of the most disappointing groups in the league on Sunday. According to PFF, Rivers left the weekend tied with two other quarterbacks after having four of his passes dropped.Three of those four passes were dropped by Williams (1) and Benjamin (2), with both dropping a pass in the endzone. That is very no bueno.Although Tyrell caught himself a touchdown, he finished with only two catches for eight measly yards. Benjamin, after dropped two long balls, finished with a single catch for a single yard.I don’t know how Rivers managed to stick by his “no cursing” policy after seeing his receivers metaphorically kick him in the nether-regions repeatedly.The only positive takeaway from their pitiful week one performance: we may see a lot more Mike Williams going forward after he took advantage of his limited snaps.LB Kyle EmanuelI’m not sure how to go about this section of the piece.I mean, I’ve been spouting out my thoughts on Emanuel for the last several years and, to my non-surprise, not a single thing has changed.In week 1 of 2016 when the Chargers visited Arrowhead Stadium Youth Drew Kaser Jersey , Emanuel showed his true colors in coverage as he was routinely exploited by Andy Reid as the malicious head coach forced him to chase running backs Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West all over the field, for his own sick amusement.At that point, two years ago, I started calling for the benching of Emanuel, at least, in that role he was being asked to play. Emanuel is a decent defender of the run, but he has proved to be as inept as anyone when asked to cover another football player.Not a receiver or running back. A football player. When Emanuel can’t cover a 5-foot-10, 245-pound fullback on a wheel route, it’s time he starts figuring out how to make the bench as comfy as possible.I mean, come on. Reid just came out and referred to Sherman as “a sausage with hands.”YOU GOT SCORED ON BY A PLAYER THAT WAS CALLED “A SAUSAGE WITH HANDS?!”Emanuel, meet bench.To no one’s surprise at all, Emanuel received PFF’s lowest grade for a linebacker in coverage. I’m just tired of repeating myself at this point.Who else do you guys think surged forward with their play on Sunday? Who do you think stayed static, or even took some steps back? Let’s talk about it.Los Angeles Chargers Daily Links: Hunter Henry is running in a knee brace Travis Benjamin, Chargers don't believe case of drops contagious - Eric Williams"For me, it's my first time going back since I left there," Lynn said. "I know a lot of people in Buffalo and in the city and in the organization. But I'm going back to play a football game and hopefully win the football game http://www.chargersfootballauthentics.com/kyzir-white-jersey-authentic , so I can't let that distract me."No Nathan Peterman? No problem, as Chargers prepare for rookie Josh Allen - Eric Williams"It doesn't matter who they've got back there," Perryman said of the Buffalo Bills. "It's another week, another team. I get to redeem myself from last week and try to go 1-0 this week."Week 1: Chargers' Rookie Review - Thomas HerdIt’s only right to start of with the team’s first round draft pick. It didn’t take too long for the Florida State product to show the fans what to expect. Early in the 2nd quarter, James made two influential plays. The first, a touchdown saving pass break up, diving in front of speedy receiver De’Anthony Thomas and making a play on the ball. Two plays later, on third down, James displayed another aspect of his game. Lined up on the edge, he chased around the back end to get to, and take down QB Patrick Mahomes. His explosiveness was on full show.Grading all 32 first rounders after Week 1 - Mark ChichesterJames was a bright spot for the Chargers defense during his team’s Week 1 defeat to the Chiefs. He was targeted three times in coverage, allowed just one catch for one yard, and he also added a pass break up in the end zone and a sack from a third-down blitz.Chargers TE Hunter Henry runs with knee brace four months after ACL tear – Jack Wang“He looked real good,” Coach Anthony Lynn said. “He did some start-and-stop stuff, a little bit of change of direction. It’s just so soon. It was amazing how he looked today. 鈥?He’s been doing some stuff on the side all along, but today Womens Isaac Rochell Jersey , he kind of took it to another level.”AFC West Notes: Bolts, Holton, Henderson - Sam RobinsonJoey Bosa‘s official diagnosis is a bone bruise on his left foot, Eric Williams of ESPN.com tweets. The Chargers defensive end is not expected to need surgery, with rest and rehab being the current plan to get the stalwart pass rusher back on the field. He’s not expected to play against the Bills on Sunday, and Anthony Lynn wouldn’t be surprised if he missed more games.Joey Bosa Officially Ruled Out Week 2 vs. Bills with Foot Injury - Kyle NewportBosa missed last week's season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs with a bone bruise. While he played in all 16 games last year, he was hampered by injury as a rookie in 2016 as well, missing the first four games of his career as the result of a hamstring injury.Ranking the 6 former Chargers eligible for the 2019 Hall of Fame - Travis WakemanBut that doesn’t mean we can’t put together a fun little list, right? Here, I will look at each of the former Chargers eligible for enshrinement and consider their entire bodies of work throughout their careers. From there, we’ll form our own selection process and determine which of these six men has the best chance to reach Canton next year.Social Media Information:BFTB Facebook Page: Click here to like our pageBFTB Twitter: Follow @BFTB_ChargersThe Lightning Round Twitter: Follow @Lightning_RoundThe Lightning Round Facebook: Click here to like our pageBFTB Manager: Richard Wade: Follow @RichardWade Custom San Francisco 49ers Jerseys

The last time the Saints and Vikings hooked up Authentic DeMario Davis Jersey , folks in Minnesota were toasting Stefon Diggs with steins of Surly, and people in Louisiana were crying in their gumbo.They get together again in prime time, a nice treat to finish off a Sunday with several intriguing matchups.New Orleans sure hopes there's no second Minneapolis Miracle."This is not a revenge game," Drew Brees insists, referring to the playoff loss in January. "It's a different season. These are new teams, even though there's a lot of similar personnel. It's a new season, new team, new mindset. So listen, it's a very good opponent that we are playing on 'Sunday Night Football' at their place. It is a tough environment (and) a tough place to play. We understand we're going to need our best game, our best execution to win."The Saints (5-1) have been doing a lot of winning since they were upset by Tampa Bay in their opener. Last week they won against a playoff-caliber team at Baltimore. Now they get the Vikings (4-2-1), who have been spotty but lead the NFC North and are 14-3 at home vs. New Orleans.The Vikings might feel equipped enough to get into a shootout with Brees, but when you listen to their coach, Mike Zimmer, who has a defensive background, he knows his side will be tested. It's uncertain if the Vikings will have end Everson Griffen available as he returns from dealing with mental issues that sidelined him for almost six weeks."I think as the game goes on, Brees gets a much better feel of what the defense is trying to do throughout the course of the ballgame with him," Zimmer says."A guy like him who has seen everything 鈥?he sees everything anyway 鈥?but he's seen so many different looks that he can kind of decipher things quickly on the move. I think that's part of it, and he's got good players, too. Michael Thomas is good, (Alvin) Kamara is good, (Mike) Ingram is good. They have a lot of good players."The weekend began Thursday night with Houston's 42-23 home victory over the Miami Dolphins. Deshaun Watson matched his career high with five touchdown passes to lead the Texans to their fifth straight victory after opening 0-3. Miami has lost two straight to drop to 4-4.Off are Dallas (3-4), Tennessee (3-4) Authentic Drew Brees Jersey , Atlanta (3-4) and the Los Angeles Chargers (5-2).Green Bay (3-2-1) at Los Angeles Rams (7-0)Talk about shootouts, this has the makings of one.Green Bay comes off a bye, which means Aaron Rodgers is healthier and could have more targets to connect with. Still, the Packers rank fourth in passing and A-Rod has 332.8 yards passing per game and 12 touchdowns, one pick.But the Packers opened as the biggest underdog of his career. That's because the NFL's only unbeaten team has been unstoppable with the ball and pretty stingy without it.Oh yeah, the Packers don't cover particularly well in the secondary.Running back Todd Gurley leads the NFL with 88 points, 686 yards rushing, 144 carries and 956 yards from scrimmage. DE Aaron Donald co-leads with eight sacks, comes off four sacks, six tackles for loss against San Francisco.Denver (3-4) at Kansas City (6-1)The Chiefs have won six in a row in this series and, like the Rams, have a dynamic, versatile offense. But they also rank last in yardage allowed on defense, so Denver might not be totally overmatched.Chiefs coach Andy Reid won his 200th game last week vs. Cincinnati. Reid would tie Dan Reeves for eighth in NFL history with another victory. To get it, he will rely on second-year QB Patrick Mahomes, who leads the NFL in TD passes (22) and 25-yard-plus completions (26). He has a franchise-record six consecutive 300-yard passing games.Baltimore (4-3) at Carolina (4-2)Carolina exhibited its resilience and staying power by rallying from 17 points down in the fourth quarter at Philadelphia last week. It was the largest comeback in franchise history, and now the Panthers are home, where they've won eight straight.The challenge is huge against Baltimore, which fell at home by one point to New Orleans when Justin Tucker 鈥?only the league's career kicking leader 鈥?missed an extra point for the first time. That final-seconds miscue shouldn't camouflage that the Ravens lead the league in defense. Baltimore has allowed 101 points, lowest total through seven games since coach John Harbaugh took over in 2008. The Ravens have allowed the fewest yards (280.6 per game) and fewest points (14.4).Seattle (3-3) at Detroit (3-3)Two teams that started ugly and have begun to look a lot more attractive.Seattle has gone physical with the run game and on defense and, despite being in retooling mode, seems ready to challenge for a wild-card playoff berth. Pete Carroll's bunch protects the ball http://www.neworleanssaintsteamonline.com/vonn-bell-jersey , too, with only six giveaways.The Seahawks are playing for the first time since the death of owner Paul Allen.Detroit seems to have discovered a running game: Rookie Kerryon Johnson ran for a career-high 158 yards at Miami last week. But Seattle's D is stingy on the ground.Philadelphia (3-4) vs. Jacksonville (3-4) at LondonTwo teams beginning to look ugly, particularly the Jaguars, who had locker-room discord after last week's loss to Houston that included QB Blake Bortles getting benched. Coach Doug Marrone is sticking with Bortles for now and there was a players-only meeting Monday in hopes of clearing the air. This is the sixth straight year Jacksonville is playing a home game in London.Following their collapse against Carolina, the Eagles probably welcomed getting far out of town. It's their first trip to London for a game.The Eagles lead the NFL in time of possession, averaging more than 33 minutes. But with Jacksonville's secondary undermanned, Carson Wentz could look to the air. He has thrown 173 consecutive passes without an interception.New England (5-2) at Buffalo (2-5), Monday nightESPN must have liked the idea of the Bills, coming off their first playoff berth since before ESPN was created 鈥?well, not quite 鈥?against Tom Brady and the Patriots.Instead, this could be a classic rout. Consider these numbers:鈥擳he Patriots are 31-4 in the past 35 meetings.鈥擝rady holds the NFL career wins record by a quarterback against one opponent with a 28-3 record.鈥擭ew England is 7-0 in night games against the Bills.鈥擳he Patriots have scored 21 or more points in the first half in each of the past four games this season to match a franchise-best streak, and the Bills have allowed 24 or more points in the first half three times.Cleveland (2-4-1) at Pittsburgh (3-2-1)Another lopsided rivalry, though this game has some cachet because the Browns tend to play the Steelers tough before losing. They tied to open the season.The Steelers come off a bye. They have won the past 14 meetings at Heinz Field; Cleveland's last victory in Pittsburgh came in October 2003. Plus, the Browns have lost 24 straight road games, two shy of the NFL record owned by the Lions (2007-10). And the Browns are 6-32-1 overall against Pittsburgh since 1999, when Cleveland re-entered the NFL.The Browns lead the NFL with 20 takeaways, but they have scored only 31 points off those turnovers.Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger is 22-2-1 all-time against the Browns and unbeaten at home. He's an Ohio native.Washington (4-2) at New York Giants (1-6)The New York tabloids already are projecting which college quarterback the Giants will draft after they finish near the bottom of the standings for a second successive season. Maybe if they had anyone who could pass protect, the conversation wouldn't be so tilted against Eli Manning, who barely has time to look downfield as he sets up to throw.In comes surprise NFC East leader Washington, which ranks fifth in defense and has one of the top candidates for Comeback Player of the Year in Adrian Peterson. The veteran has 95-plus yards rushing in four of six games.Tampa Bay (3-3) at Cincinnati (4-3)It's natural to wonder about the Bengals' psyche after Cincinnati again blew a lead at home to Pittsburgh, then got hammered in Kansas City. The Bengals took the second-most-lopsided loss in coach Marvin Lewis' 16 seasons with that 45-10 debacle at the Chiefs. They had only one drive longer than 50 yards and a season-low 239 yards gained.Tampa stopped a three-game skid as dramatically as possible. Chandler Catanzaro made a 59-yard FG 鈥?the longest in OT since 1974 鈥?for a 26-23 win over the Browns.The Buccaneers lead the NFL in total yards per game (449.5) and yards passing per game (364).New York Jets (3-4) at Chicago (3-3)A few weeks ago, the Bears sure were representing the city of big shoulders well http://www.neworleanssaintsteamonline.com/tyeler-davison-jersey , reviving talk of the Monsters of the Midway on defense, looking like a burgeoning power on offense. Then came a pair of losses and the Bears plummeted from the top of the NFC North to the bottom.Chicago led the league with 18 sacks through the first four games. The Bears have one since. Star Khalil Mack has no sacks in the past two games while being limited by an ankle injury, after getting five in the first four outings.Jets first-rounder Sam Darnold is learning how difficult a rookie QB's life can be. He's coming off his worst game as a pro with three interceptions. The No. 3 overall draft pick leads the league with 10 interceptions to go with one of the NFL's worst completion rates (56.1 percent) and passer ratings (74.3).Indianapolis (2-5) at Oakland (1-5)The teardown of the roster continues in Oakland, where Jon Gruden dealt his top receiver, Amari Cooper, to Dallas.Indianapolis QB Andrew Luck seeks his fifth straight game with at least three TD passes. Luck has 15 TDs in his past four games. Oakland is last in the league with seven sacks.Kicker Adam Vinatieri needs five points to break Morten Andersen's NFL career scoring record (2,544 points) but is plagued by an injured groin.San Francisco (1-6) at Arizona (1-6)The Cardinals have won eight of the past nine in this series, including three weeks ago.San Francisco is minus-15 in turnover margin, worst in the NFL.Arizona fired offensive coordinator Mike McCoy this week, replacing him with QBs coach Byron Leftwich. Star WR Larry Fitzgerald needs 135 yards to pass Terrell Owens into second place in NFL career yards receiving. While Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan stressed that New Orleans doesn't fear going on the road in the playoffs, he readily acknowledged the advantages of staying in the Superdome.New Orleans (12-2) can lock up the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs with a victory over visiting Pittsburgh (8-5-1) on Sunday."That would be huge," said Jordan, referencing what he calls "dome-field advantage."The Saints did fine on the road this season, going 7-1. They won't finish any better in the Superdome, where they are 5-1 with two regular-season home games left. But New Orleans' offense generally has been better at home, where Drew Brees' pre-snap instructions 鈥?and center Max Unger's line calls 鈥?are easier for teammates to hear. The Saints have averaged about 38 points at home, but their road scoring average dipped about nine points below that after three straight road games in which they were held to 28 or less in each game and to 12 or fewer points twice."It's been almost a month since we've been at the dome, so it'll be nice to be back in there," Brees said. "Obviously we've got a lot going for us right now 鈥?a lot at stake."In reality, the Saints don't have that much riding on Sunday's game 鈥?certainly not as much as the Steelers, who could still win the AFC North but haven't clinched a playoff berth yet. New Orleans already has won a second straight NFC South crown and will finish as a top seed even if it splits its next two games. But from the standpoint of offensive production, playoff history and promoting optimal health Authentic Patrick Robinson Jersey , the Saints know they'd be best served by beating Pittsburgh.In franchise history, the Saints are 1-7 in playoff games away from the Superdome. Since coach Sean Payton and Brees arrived in 2006, the Saints have not lost any of their five home playoff games. The one season they won the Super Bowl, they were the NFC's No. 1 seed.In fact, no Super Bowl participant has won a single road playoff game since the 2012 Baltimore Ravens won at Denver and New England en route to their title-winning tilt with San Francisco in New Orleans.Meanwhile, key Saints players could get as much as two weeks rest 鈥?the regular-season finale and the playoff bye 鈥?if New Orleans wins this week."Rest is much needed to get our bodies right," Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore said. "Take a week, or two (off) if we clinch it this week. Hopefully rest the starters for the last game."The Steelers can't worry about rest 鈥?not even after improving their postseason outlook with a victory over New England last week."We just want to get into the playoffs," quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. "It doesn't matter how you get in, we just want to get in. Obviously, the first and second seed you would like, but I don't think we can get that now. So, let's just find a way to get in."Some other prominent story lines surround the Steelers' visit to the Superdome:BOWING UPDespite a significant slowdown offensively during their past three games, the Saints went 2-1 during that stretch because of strong defensive play.New Orleans, which struggled defensively early this season, has not allowed any of its past six opponents to score more than 17 points and has held two teams to less than 10."The offense was really getting us through the games at the beginning of the season and the roles flipped," Lattimore said. "Nobody pointed fingers. We just got the job done. That's the biggest thing, just playing as a team."JAYSAM'S JOURNEYSteelers rookie running back Jaylen Samuels will start his third straight game in place of injured Pro Bowler James Conner, who is hobbled by a sprained left ankle.Samuels, a fifth-round pick, lit up New England for 172 total yards. Not bad for a player who was asked to work out as a tight end at the NFL combine. The going could get considerably tougher against New Orleans, which leads the league in rush defense (79.1 yards per game).RESPECTBrees is the third high-profile quarterback the Steelers have faced in four weeks http://www.neworleanssaintsteamonline.com/thomas-morstead-jersey , joining New England's Tom Brady and Philip Rivers of the Los Angeles Chargers. Roethlisberger, who only knows Brees casually from run-ins at the Pro Bowl, isn't sure Brees has gotten enough credit for his record-setting career."He's incredibly athletic ... and a tireless worker," Roethlisberger said. "Not really known for a huge arm, but can pretty much make any throw. I have a lot of respect for that guy."JORDAN'S JUDGMENTJordan, the Saints' sacks leader, sounded incredulous when a media member referred to Roethlisberger as a "future Hall-of-Fame quarterback" during an interview in New Orleans' locker room.Grimacing and turning his head sharply, Jordan said: "It that true? Really? In this era? You'd put him at like a top three of this era? Top five of this era?"Jordan listed Brees, New England's Tom Brady, Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers, the Los Angeles Chargers' Philip Rivers, the retired Peyton Manning and the Giants' Eli Manning as QB's he'd place above Roethlisberger.This season, Roethlisberger's 4,462 yards rank second behind only Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes in the NFL.Jordan, a first-time All Pro last season, has 12 sacks to go with 17 tackles for losses, a forced fumble and fumble recovery.AP Sports Writer Will Graves in Pittsburgh contributed. 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Week 5 Patriots vs Colts: 8 winners and 3 losers from New England’s 38-24 win against Indianapolis Just four days after their blowout win over the Miami Dolphins Josh Gordon Jersey , the New England Patriots blew out the Indianapolis Colts. While yesterday’s the game was at times a sloppier one than Sunday’s it again saw a high-powered Patriots team that displayed its enormous potential. With that in mind let’s take a look at some of the standouts from Sunday.Winner: WR Julian EdelmanComing off a four-game suspension on top of a year missed due to a torn ACL, Julian Edelman looked as fluid and dangerous a players as ever. The veteran was quickly thrown into the fire, and registered two catches on the contest’s opening possession. Overall, he finished with seven catches for 57 yards and two punt returns for 20 yards. It was a vintage Edelman performance.Winner: RB James WhiteIn his Fan Notes from the Patriots’ win over Miami, Alec Shane wrote that James White “may be the most important player on this offense not named Tom Brady”. Yesterday, he again showed why this does not sound like an exaggeration – especially in the passing game. Serving as a safety net receiver, the first-year team captain finished with a team-high 10 catches for 77 yards and one touchdown.Winner: RB Sony MichelFollowing an impressive performance against the Dolphins, Sony Michel had another very good game and became the first Patriots rookie running back to have back-to-back 95-yard rushing performances since Robert Edwards in 1998. Michel played a big role in the Patriots’ offense and finished with 110 yards from scrimmage: he had 98 rushing yards on 18 carries and also caught a 12-yard pass. The standout play of his night was a 34-yard touchdown run that essentially iced the game in New England’s favor.Losers: WR Chris Hogan & TE Rob GronkowskiWhile Chris Hogan and Rob Gronkowski did not have bad games per se, the two pass catchers made two of the Patriots’ worst plays of the night. In the third quarter, Hogan let a short pass go through his hands for an interception. On the very next drive, Gronkowski was hit after catching a 20-yard pass that would have set up goal-to-go and lost the ball.Both times, New England was in scoring range but came away empty due to the receivers not being able to hold onto the football.Winner: QB Tom BradyWith Julian Edelman – a wide receiver with whom he shares a well-documented connection – back in the lineup, Tom Brady looked more calm than he did at times through the first four weeks of the season. All in all, the 41-year old played a great game: Brady was accurate and made great decisions, and the two turnovers on his stat sheet were also not his fault. Overall, he finished the night with 34 pass completions on 44 attempts for 341 yards, three touchdowns and two picks. He also scored on a quarterback sneak at set a new record for different touchdown recipients.Winner: The Pass protectionJulian Edelman and James White and their outstanding abilities to get open quickly played a part in it, but the Patriots’ pass protection in general was again outstanding yesterday. Going against a team that entered the game with 17.0 sacks on its r茅sum茅 Authentic Phillip Dorsett Jersey Salute to Service , New England’s blockers up front were able to keep Tom Brady clean. The unit did not give up a single sack and allowed just three quarterback hits.Winner: SS Patrick ChungDuring the Patriots’s back-to-back losses in Jacksonville and Detroit, the absence of Patrick Chung undoubtably hurt the team’s defense. Yesterday, he again showed why he is such an important player for the unit against both the pass and the run: The veteran finished the day with 11 tackles, a split-sack, and an interception late in the first half. Furthermore, he was his usual physical and emotional self and also had one of the best celebrations in recent memory.Loser: FS Devin McCourtyPatrick Chung and Duron Harmon had solid overall outings against the Colts, but fellow safety Devin McCourty was far more inconsistent. While the veteran forced and recovered a fumble in the third quarter, he also was in coverage on two touchdown passes – and nearly gave up a third that was ruled short of the goal line upon review. Even though his open field tackling and vision appeared to be as good as always, his positioning was at times suspect.Winner: CB Jason McCourtyThe other McCourty brother, Jason, had a better game yesterday. Serving as the starting perimeter cornerback opposite Stephon Gilmore yet again, the first-year Patriot provided good downfield coverage, was physical as a bump-and-run defender, and made one of the game’s biggest plays when he broke up a pass that popped up into the air and the arms of fellow cornerback Jonathan Jones.Winner: WR Josh GordonJosh Gordon had a quiet first half and saw his lone target fall incomplete. In the second half, however, he showed why he has the potential to be a difference maker for the Patriots: while his numbers did not stand out, Gordon made two tough catches – one of which a momentum-swinging 34-yard reception during which he out-jumped two defenders to come down with the football.Putting Sony Michel’s performance into context following the Patriots’ loss in Detroit It may be sagging a bit, but the sky isn’t falling in Foxborough.Collecting back-to-back double digit losses for the first time since a forgettable 2002 season certainly stings a bit — and it should. Tallying just 209 yards and 10 points on 47 plays against a Detroit defense — a unit that Limited Danny Shelton Jersey , in the previous two weeks, allowed a combined 78 points to the Jets and 49ers, and was without its best pass rusher on Sunday — fails to inspire even a modicum of confidence. There is no shortage of deserved criticism that could (and will) be doled out following a debacle like Sunday night’s performance at Ford Field. The Patriots were thoroughly lambasted in the trenches on both sides of the football, the oft-chastised wide receiver group lived up to its lackluster billing, and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels — clearly hampered by a combination of the first two — resorted to a conservative, timid plan of attack.One place where blame should not be placed, however, is with first round pick Sony Michel. When discarding Tom Brady’s quick two-yard first down plunge on New England's first drive of the third quarter, Michel was handed the football on each of the team’s 14 scheduled run plays until their final drive, where James White received four carries while the clock was being extinguished. The former Georgia Bulldog accumulated just 50 yards on the ground, and he corralled just one of his two catchable targets for a loss of a yard while dropping the other to set up a third-and-long situation on a critical third quarter drive.Training wheelsGiven that Sunday night’s contest was essentially Michel’s second “preseason” game after the rookie went under the knife in the first week of August to relieve some swelling in a knee, it should come as no surprise that McDaniels has been intent on keeping things extremely simple for him. But that simplicity is coming at the behest of making any attempt to disguise what the offense is running.Of Michel’s 33 snaps (36 before penalties) over the first two weeks, he was handed the football on the ground 23 times and targeted in the passing game five times. That’s an 85% touch rate. What’s even more peculiar is the fact that, of those 33 plays, just one was run out of 11-personnel (one RB, one TE, three WRs), meaning the rookie is having to learn and adapt to NFL game speed with limited space to operate as the Patriots’ 12 Jason McCourty Jersey , 21, and 22-personnel packages and formations continue drawing stacked-box after stacked-box. Here’s the breakdown of the packages the Patriots have used with Sony Michel on the field, and their corresponding yardage per play:21-personnel (w/ James Develin): 13 plays (39.39% of Michel’s snaps) — 4.0 yards per play12-personnel: 11 plays — 33% of Michel’s snaps — 3.64 yards per play22-personnel (w/ James Develin): 5 plays — 15.15% of Michel’s snaps — 1.6 yards per play13-personnel: 2 plays — 6.06% of Michel’s snaps — 3.5 yards per play11-personnel: 1 play — 3.03% of Michel’s snaps — 3 yards21-personnel (w/ two RBs): 1 play — 3.03% of Michel’s snaps — -1 yardWhy McDaniels would be telegraphing the offense’s intentions with such regularity? It very well could be that, given the lack of dynamic outside personnel, and coupled with a continually nicked-up Rex Burkhead, the Patriots see no reason to take the “training wheels” off their rookie ball carrier until the offense has a chance to develop further — a process that is now seemingly reliant on the performances of new addition Josh Gordon a veteran Julian Edelman.Drive killersWhere Michel garnered the most unwarranted criticism on Sunday evening was in the short yardage department. Down by two scores in the second quarter, the offense had two drives stall on third-and-one carries that yielded a total loss of three yards, forcing a punt and a field goal try from just inside the red zone.The first run stuff, courtesy of former Patriot Ricky Jean Francois:The second run stuff on third and one came after a three-yard run by Michel that could’ve developed further, but Dwayne Allen failed to lay a finger on his assignment, Tavon Wilson, and the offense was forced into a third down. The Patriots immediately hurried to the line and snapped it again, this time running off tackle right: Tough to fault the running back, or the play call, when all that needs to happen for a first down to be gained is for Dwayne Allen to not get completely worked over by a safety he outweighs by roughly 50 pounds. Credit also needs to be given to Matt Patricia’s defense, as they were completely prepared for a hurry up maneuver than the Patriots have been catching teams flat-footed with for years.TraitsAlthough Sony Michel is being tasked with (and should continue to be) filling much of the void left behind by Dion Lewis, there should not be any confusion about how different his style and skill set is. It’s also important to take into account just how much information Michel is having to process and react to at the moment. There are few places where the term “life comes at you fast” is more applicable than in the NFL, and when considering the aforementioned context Troy Niklas Jersey , Michel is appears to be right on track in the progress department.The key aspect to monitor with rookies early on who are assimilating to the chaos of the NFL game is whether or not they are carrying over the positive traits from college that got them drafted. For Sony Michel, according to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, a few of those traits include:Flashing acceleration to climb past linebackers and onto safeties quicklyHas good burst after cutsUnderstands the art of setting up lead blockers and pulling guardsDecisive runner who rarely takes unnecessary losses by trying to be the heroExcellent in blitz pickupFrom the small sample size we’ve seen from Michel so far, he has flashed signs of most of these traits.Of course, there are certainly areas where a learning curve has presented itself — particularly in the passing game. According to Zierlein, the rookie was “serviceable as pass catcher, but (had) issues catching it cleanly” at Georgia. With so much happening early on in Michel’s transition to the NFL, and him having missed out on so much critical time in camp that could’ve led to an increased chemistry with Tom Brady and other offensive personnel, it’s understandable that his performance out of the backfield in the passing attack has been the slowest component to develop. But given the fact that he caught 64 passes for 621 yards and six touchdowns during his four years in Athens,GA, there’s no doubt that skill set is there. The Patriots will (if they haven’t already) swiftly move past Sunday night’s objectionable display. As their process of continual roster development and schematic refinement rolls onward through the final days of September and into the season’s defining stretch, it’s clear that when it comes to rookie Sony Michel and his future role as a dynamic play maker in their attack, they’ve really just scratched the surface.Follow Brian Phillips on Twitter @BPhillips_SB

The New England Patriots play the Green Bay Packers for Sunday Night Football Limited Danny Etling Jersey , but there’s plenty of action to take place ahead of the game! We have our pregame show and Patriots rooting guide below.Pregame ShowPatriots Rooting Guide1:00 PM ETJets at Dolphins: The Patriots will root for the Jets to win on the road to make both teams 4-5 on the year. It will set the Dolphins back in the divisional record category and Miami has a stronger overall team with greater veteran presence. A Jets win would give the Patriots a strong hold in the division.Bears at Bills: The Bills are out of the playoff picture so I think it would actually benefit the Patriots for Buffalo to win this game to 1) boost the Patriots strength of schedule and strength of victory; and 2) sabotage the Bills draft position. Go Buffalo! Go all the way to 6-10 and a pick outside of the top 10!Chiefs at Browns: The Patriots want the Browns to pull off the upset. Pretty simple.Steelers at Ravens: Root for a tie! Honestly, though, probably root for Baltimore to win this one to further complicate the AFC North. The Steelers would fall to 4-3-1 Sony Michel Jersey Salute to Service , with Baltimore 5-4. Any additional mess in the AFC North benefits the Patriots in the conference rankings.Lions at Vikings: This game doesn’t really matter to the Patriots. Might as well root for Matt Patricia, LeGarrette Blount, and the Lions.Falcons at Washington: This game doesn’t matter at all to the Patriots.4:05 PM ETTexans at Broncos: Do you believe in the Jacksonville Jaguars? If so Duke Dawson Jersey , root for the Texans to win to stay atop the division. If not, root for the Broncos to win to give the Patriots some extra space ahead of the suddenly-hot Houston Texans.Chargers at Seahawks: Root for Seattle. The Los Angeles Chargers are arguably the third-best team in the AFC and it would benefit the Patriots to see some holes poked in their success for scouting reasons. 4:25 PM ETRams at Saints: This is going to be a gooooooood game. It doesn’t affect the Patriots, but might as well root for New Orleans to hand Los Angeles their first loss of the season.Use this as the open thread for discussion. A two-game losing streak in December jeopardized New England’s eight-year run of first-round byes. A two-game winning streak to end the season secured a ninth straight week off before the start of the team’s playoff run.And the Patriots made the most of it. They emerge from their two-week break at nearly full strength.Only one player has an injury designation for Sunday’s game against the Chargers: Defensive end Deatrich Wise is questionable with an ankle injury.Wise was limited in practice all week. Only one other player had a less-then-full practice in the days preceding the divisional round game against the Chargers. Tight end Dwayne Allen was limited by a knee injury on Wednesday. (Allen exited the injury report on Thursday.)If the Chargers become the first visiting team all season long to win at Gillette Stadium Authentic James Harrison Jersey , the Patriots may have reasons for the end result. Their health entering the game won’t be one of them.