[October 21, 2023]
Las Vegas Raiders (3-3) at Chicago Bears (1-5): Here come the
backups. Tyson Bagent, a Division II product, went from undrafted
underdog to backup to his first career start in a matter of months.
Bagent's cameo in the second half last week included two turnovers
and a TD run. He draws a difficult matchup in the Raiders, who have
won two in a row but still haven't scored more than 21 points this
season. That's a credit to a defense with dynamic edge rushers, led
by Maxx Crosby. With 25 sacks allowed in six games, protecting
Bagent is a worry. The Raiders, too, send a backup to do the
starting QB work on Sunday with Jimmy Garoppolo (back) out. Las
Vegas leaned on Josh Jacobs last week, but he's averaging just 2.9
yards per carry this season.
Cleveland Browns (3-2) at Indianapolis Colts (3-3): Gardner Minshew
and the Colts were blasted at Jacksonville (37-20) last week and run
into the NFL's No. 1 defense in Week 7. Defensive coordinator Jim
Schwartz has the Browns on a historic track: only two teams in NFL
history have allowed fewer than the 1,002 yards Cleveland gave up
through five games. The Browns enter with a last-second win over
previously undefeated San Francisco behind backup PJ Walker last
week, and could add reinforcements. The Browns could have Deshaun
Watson (shoulder) back in the lineup while working through
inconsistency prolonged by multiple offensive line injuries. The
Browns have only eight offensive touchdowns (the Colts have 14).
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Oct/21/images/ads/current/countryfinancial_lda_PPP_2023.png)
Buffalo Bills (4-2) at New England Patriots (1-5): The Bills share
the NFL lead with 24 sacks and have won the past three meetings by
not allowing Mac Jones and New England time to get comfortable in
the pocket. Bills QB Josh Allen thrives in this matchup, with 11 TDs
and no INTs in four games at Gillette Stadium. He'll be trying to
get WR Stefon Diggs over 100 yards for the fifth consecutive game,
but New England has held most No. 1 receivers in check. The Patriots
are pressing offensively while averaging 12 points per game. Jones
is averaging less than 200 passing yards per game. Bill Belichick
could become the third coach in NFL history with 300 regular-season
victories (Don Shula, 328; George Halas, 318).
Washington Commanders (3-3) at N.Y. Giants (1-5): Commanders QB Sam
Howell hasn't thrown an interception in three road games and
Washington is in the midst of four division games in six weeks.
Keeping him upright is the worry in Washington. The Commanders ended
a three-game losing streak last week when Howell threw three
touchdown passes in a 24-16 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. But
Howell was sacked five times for the third straight game after the
Bills tortured him with nine sacks on Sept. 24. The second-year pro
has taken care of the ball in most games, but he's taken 34 sacks in
all, leading the league by six. Giants QB Daniel Jones is second in
the NFL with 28 sacks over just five games. Jones injured his neck
in Week 5 and missed last week's 14-9 loss to the Bills. He's
expected to play Sunday.
Detroit Lions (5-1) at Baltimore Ravens (4-2): The Lions roll into a
matchup of North division leaders on a four-game winning streak --
all by double-digit margins. QB Jared Goff accounted for 13
touchdowns (11 TD passes) in the first six games, crashing the MVP
conversation. Detroit may have to rely on its passing game again at
Baltimore. RB David Montgomery departed in the first half last week
with a rib injury and didn't practice this week, opening the door
for rookie first-round pick Jahmyr Gibbs to start after he missed
the past two games with a hamstring strain. Baltimore leads the AFC
North due to a stout defense that has allowed 260.8 yards per game,
the second fewest in the league. The Ravens rank fourth in the
league in points allowed at 15.2 per game, and they have recorded 24
sacks, tying them for the league lead with the Bills.
Atlanta Falcons (3-3) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2): First place in
the NFC South is on the line and Atlanta is vying to prove it can
win on the road. The Falcons' last division road win was in 2021.
Tampa Bay has struggled to run the football consistently all season
long, and the Falcons are 11th in the NFL in run defense (99.0 yards
per game). That puts pressure on QB Baker Mayfield to make the
offense go, but the Buccaneers' stout defense is highly capable of
turning a game. Falcons QB Desmond Ridder, coming off of a three-INT
game in a loss to the Commanders, stares down a stout Bucs' defense
that ranks eighth in scoring defense (17.6 points per game), seventh
in rush defense (83.8 yards per game) and 14th in total defense
(330.8 yards per game).
[to top of second column] |
![](../images/ads/current/graue_lda_4_2021.png)
Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) at L.A. Rams (3-3): The
Rams are a bit of an unknown without rookie RB Kyren Williams, who
is out with an ankle injury suffered while posting a career-best 158
yards rushing last week. QB Matthew Stafford is now set to hand off
to rookie Zach Evans, a sixth-round draft pick out of Ole Miss, and
work to get the ball in the hands of WRs Cooper Kupp and standout
rookie Puka Nacua. Evans should get a chance to prove his worth.
Pittsburgh's defense allows 143.8 rushing yards per game and the
Steelers are scuffling offensively. Even with RB Najee Harris, the
Steelers' rushing attack is 28th in the NFL (80.4 yards per game)
and the passing offense ranks 27th (187.8 yards).
Arizona Cardinals (1-5) at Seattle Seahawks (3-2):
The wheels fell off for the Cardinals during a victory lap
celebrating an upset of the Dallas Cowboys. Arizona has lost its
past three games, outscored 51-12 in the second half, and injuries
are making a major dent. The Cardinals allowed 20 unanswered points
to the host Los Angeles Rams last Sunday in a 26-9 defeat. Seattle
gets its first close-up with QB Joshua Dobbs, who is keeping the
spot warm while Kyler Murray (knee) continues his recovery from a
2022 knee injury. The Seahawks suffered a 17-13 loss at Cincinnati
last week that snapped their three-game winning streak. Geno Smith
threw for 326 yards but the Seahawks failed to score on four of
their trips to the red zone. RB Kenneth Walker III remains a
stabilizer for the offense and has 15 TD runs in 20 career games.
Green Bay Packers (2-3) at Denver Broncos (1-5): The Broncos are
minus-6 in turnover margin and allowing 33.3 points per game, the
kind of stats that have visitors salivating to stroll into Colorado.
Denver is 0-3 at home and off to its worst start since 1994. QB
Russell Wilson passed for a season-low 95 yards, two interceptions
and one touchdown in a 19-8 loss to the host Kansas City Chiefs on
Oct. 12. It marked the second straight game and third of the season
in which Wilson threw for less than 200 yards. Green Bay enters off
of its bye week after a Monday night loss to the Raiders and needs a
win to avoid a three-game losing streak with four of the Packers'
next six games at home. The Packers badly missed running back Aaron
Jones, limited to just 14 carries in parts of two games due to a
hamstring injury, and are optimistic the three-time 1,000-yard
rusher will play this week.
L.A. Chargers (2-3) at Kansas City Chiefs (5-1): The Chiefs try to
stretch their winning streak to six while the Chargers are eager to
shake a three-game losing streak to Kansas City and shrug off their
third loss by three or fewer points this season. The Chargers lost a
20-17 home game to the Cowboys last week in the return of RB Austin
Ekeler, a key cog in the offense who has a strong resume against
Kansas City that includes a TD in four of the past five meetings.
The Chiefs are relying on an improved pass defense to limit
opponents to 14.7 points per game. TE Travis Kelce had three TD
catches in the last meeting with the Chargers.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Oct/21/images/ads/current/peasley_lda_PPP_2023.png)
Miami Dolphins (5-1) at Philadelphia Eagles (5-1): Brisk fall
weather, at least for Florida folks, awaits the Dolphins on Sunday
night with the forecast calling for temps in the 40s and plenty of
wind. Mother Nature might be the only thing capable of slowing down
the Miami offense at its current rate, averaging nearly 500 yards
and 38 points per game. By far the best run defense the Dolphins
have seen, the Eagles surrender 65.8 rushing yards per game while
Miami has averaged 181.8 yards on the ground to date. QB Jalen Hurts
gets his first NFL close-up with former Alabama teammate Tua
Tagovailoa, who displaced Hurts with the Crimson Tide, and might
show up angry after the Eagles' first loss of the season last week.
He has 24 total touchdowns in 10 career home starts. Injuries could
be a detrimental factor for the Eagles, who hit midweek with an
extensive list of contributors iffy for Sunday.
--Field Level Media
[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Oct/21/images/ads/current/ldn_sda_NILA_012823.png) |