Tag: sport

As many as eight games on Sunday were decided by one score. We had the usual upsets, big plays and tight finishes – it’s the theme of this NFL season so far through nine weeks.

1) Jets pass big test against Bills

Most would have said it was a big positive for the New York Jets to even keep this one close against the Buffalo Bills, but they ended up winning the game.

Their defense was lights out. Sauce Gardner continues to impress as a rookie, as well as D.J. Reed in the secondary. They’ve also got a good pass rush, making an incredible quarterback in Josh Allen look very uncomfortable. The run game was also there, even without star rookie Breece Hall – they rushed for over 170 yards.

I’m very impressed by what the Jets are doing this season. And it was a great way for this team to bounce back after a difficult loss to the New England Patriots. They are proving they’re no fluke.

I’ve been speaking to a lot of Jets players this season and they genuinely are not surprised by where they’re at. It’s what they expected; they believed they could be this team. They’re a confident bunch.

2) Tua tops 300 yards once more

Another week in the NFL, and another game where Tua Tagovailoa throws for over 300 yards and three touchdowns, this time against the Chicago Bears. It is becoming a regular thing now for the Miami Dolphins.

They’re so hard to stop because he is so quick with his decision-making – the ball comes out of his hand so fast – and the receivers are so fast too. He is throwing the ball in under two and a half seconds, and by that time Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are already 25 yards down the field.

As a result, defenses are terrified of being beaten deep, so they give Miami a lot of the middle of the field and their offense are feasting on that.

Hill has over 1,000 yards already and we’re only nine games into the season. It’s incredible!

3) Where have you been, Joe Mixon?

When the Cincinnati Bengals went on their run to the Super Bowl last year, so much was made of the play of quarterback Joe Burrow and receiver Ja’Marr Chase, but Joe Mixon and the ground game was also a big part of that.

He has been missing for most of this season, but he arrived in a big way on Sunday with 211 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns. Yes, it was against a poor Carolina Panthers team, but I want to see if the Bengals can stick to this style going forward and more of a balanced attack?

4) Don’t let Brady hang around!

If you give even a 45-year-old Tom Brady, with no running game and no offensive line, just enough time, let him hang around, he’ll beat you.

The Los Angeles Rams continue to be hugely disappointing this season. They’ve been dreadful in the fourth quarter of games – outscored 71-10 in the final period. That’s on coaching, but also their big players not being able to close out games.

They played really soft on defense. They allowed Brady a deep pass down the middle and then he was able to work the sidelines before throwing the game-winning touchdown in the closing seconds. It was classic Brady, and a great moment in what will most probably be his last season.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been pretty awful – not terrible, but certainly bad by their standards – yet they’re in first place in the NFC South, with no one running away with that division. And weirdly, because of the respective strength of their divisions, as it stands the 4-5 Bucs aren’t in a dissimilar spot to the 6-2 Bills in terms of controlling their division and their destiny.

5) Raiders’ shocking collapse against Jags

I was really disappointed by the Las Vegas Raiders’ collapse from being 17-0 up in the second quarter to finding a way to lose that game to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

There have now been three games this season where the Raiders have led by 17 and have lost. That’s unforgivable, and it’s the sort of thing that will get head coach Josh McDaniels fired. And these NFL owners aren’t afraid to pull the trigger… we’ve seen it already this season with Matt Rhule in Carolina and most recently with Frank Reich at the Indianapolis Colts.

He’s now firmly on the hot seat, because that team simply can’t close out games. How can you run the ball for three-straight weeks with Josh Jacobs to the tune of about 200 yards per game, but then you get a 17-point lead in this game and yet you can’t run it to save your life?

Also, Davante Adams had nine catches for 146 yards and two touchdowns in the first half… and then just one grab for zero yards in the second. That is shocking!

Player of the Week: Joe Mixon

I left him out of my NFL Fantasy Football team, which absolutely destroyed me. But it has to be Mixon after his five-TD day for the Bengals.

It was a reminder that if he gets the right blocking, he is one of the best running backs in the NFL. He is going to be key for the Bengals the rest of the way.

Play of the Week: Justin Fields

I’m going with Bears quarterback Justin Fields’ 61-yard touchdown run against the Dolphins.

Not only did it keep Chicago in the contest, but it was one play of many that he made in a really entertaining game that offered hope for the future of the Bears and their fans.

Fields is an incredible talent who is going to grow as a passer. But for now, let him do his thing, let him run free. He has made the Bears one for the more entertaining teams in the NFL in recent weeks.

And I loved the clip of Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel shouting at Fields as he ran out of bounds at one point on the Miami sideline… he was basically saying, ‘please, stop it!’

Coach of the Week: Kevin O’Connell

I’m a bit conflicted about this choice, because Kevin O’Connell is an offensive-minded coach, but his Minnesota Vikings unit does tend to get bogged down at times in games.

They’ll score fast in games, then will follow it up with about six punts in a row, before then finding another way to score again.

Yet, this team are 7-1, are on a six-game winning streak and every one of those wins has been by one score. You look back to last year, and this Vikings team lost a lot of heartbreakers; this season, they’re finding a way to get over the line, and I think that is down to a coach who gives his players such confidence.

You can see their team spirit come through in the way they celebrate as a team – on the field, in the locker room and even on the plane! They had an old curmudgeon as a coach before in Mike Zimmer, who wouldn’t have allowed those sort of things.

Whatever magic formula they’ve found, it’s working, because they’ve practically assured themselves a playoff spot already at only the halfway point of the season.

On My Radar

Jeff Saturday as the new interim coach of the Colts really is a head-scratcher.

I really like Reich, but I think it was inevitable that he was going to get fired as the Colts’ season was heading south. They made a change at quarterback, fired the offensive coordinator… that was really the only logical next move.

It was textbook from owner Jim Irsay really, all the way up until the hiring of Saturday. I believe he now becomes the first head coach in the league to have never coached at NFL or college level – he has only coached high school football before.

He was an All-Pro player for the team though, and was a really good leader. During the NFL lockout of 2011, he was a key negotiator in completing the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the NFL and NFL Players’ Association. There’s obviously something about him.

But it’s one to keep an eye on, because it’s a hugely unconventional move by the Colts. I’m curious but also dubious.

Sky Sports NFL is your dedicated channel for NFL coverage through the season – featuring a host of NFL Network programming. Don’t forget to follow us on skysports.com/nfl, our Twitter account @SkySportsNFL & Sky Sports – on the go!

This week’s NFL Sunday action live on Sky Sports sees the one-loss Minnesota Vikings (7-1) travel to the Buffalo Bills (6-2), while the Green Bay Packers (3-6) are desperate for a win as they host the red-hot Dallas Cowboys (6-2) – live on Sky Sports NFL, from 6pm, Sunday

The in-form Dallas Cowboys head to Green Bay on Sunday night to face a Packers outfit in the midst of a five-game losing streak and desperate for a win.

The Week 10 games to be shown live on Sky Sports NFL have been announced, with the matchup between the Cowboys (6-2) and Aaron Rodgers’ Packers (3-6) getting underway at Lambeau Field from 9.25pm on Sunday.

Prior to that one, the Buffalo Bills (6-2), fresh from a surprise defeat to the New York Jets last weekend, have the chance to put things right against the one-loss Minnesota Vikings (7-1). This one in Buffalo kicks off at 6pm.

And before the traditional NFL Sunday double-header, the NFL lands in Germany for the very first time in its history as Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5) take on the Seattle Seahawks (6-3) at the Allianz Arena in Munich – this one exclusively live on Sky Sports NFL from 2.30pm.

Rounding off the Sunday night action, we join our friends at NBC for Football Night in America and Sunday Night Football, with Christian McCaffrey eager for another star showing for the San Francisco 49ers (4-4) as they host Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers (5-3) – kick-off is at 1.20am, early on Monday morning.

Elsewhere, the Week 10 action gets under way with the traditional Thursday night fare as the Atlanta Falcons (4-5), travel to the Carolina Panthers (2-7) in an NFC South divisional clash – watch live on Sky Sports NFL from 1.15am on Friday morning.

Then, on Monday night, Week 10 concludes with the still unbeaten Philadelphia Eagles (8-0) hosting the Washington Commanders (4-5) in another rivalry clash, this one in the NFC East. Watch live on Sky Sports NFL from 1.15am, Tuesday.

Sky Sports NFL is your dedicated channel for NFL coverage through the season – featuring a host of NFL Network programming. Don’t forget to follow us on skysports.com/nfl, our Twitter account @SkySportsNFL & Sky Sports – on the go!

The NFL trade deadline passed on Tuesday without the Packers adding a new face on offense – should fans in Green Bay be frustrated?; Houston Texans wide receiver Brandin Cooks had been among the names linked to a move to Lambeau Field

The Green Bay Packers were a team widely though to be in the market for some new additions to their flagging football team ahead of the NFL’s trade deadline, but the 4pm ET cut-off passed without a deal being done.

Packers (3-5) fans watched on as their division rivals strengthened, the NFC North-leading Minnesota Vikings (6-1) bringing in tight end T.J. Hockenson from the Detroit Lions, and the Chicago Bears (3-5) adding star receiver Chase Claypool from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It is on offense too that the Packers are most in need of help, the team themselves linked with Claypool, as well as Brandin Cooks from the Houston Texans, in the hopes of solving the league’s 26th ranked scoring offense (18.1 points per game) and 22nd in passing (217.4 passing yards per game).

Wide receiver is a position the Packers are badly lacking depth at following on from the trade of their No 1 wideout Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders in the offseason. A four-game losing streak leading into Tuesday’s trade deadline strengthen the belief that Green Bay would be forced to make a move with their playoff hopes fading.

“If you’re a Packers fan, you’ve got to really be frustrated right now,” Sky Sports’ Jeff Reinebold said on the latest Inside The Huddle podcast. “Certainly Aaron Rodgers.

“I hope somebody took away the remote control of his television and put it in a drawer.

“The Minnesota Vikings, who are hot, go out and get Hockenson, because Irv Smith is on injured reserve for six to eight weeks. They give up a second-round draft choice to get a really good tight end out of Detroit.

“You just wonder with the Packers, how serious are you about winning?”

Claypool deal a ‘fresh start’ for Steelers

Commenting further on the Claypool deal, Reinebold believes it benefits both parties, with the Bears securing their second-year quarterback Justin Fields a much-needed weapon on offense and the Steelers getting a player off their books who had become “kind of a distraction”.

The 24-year-old Claypool has topped 850 receiving yards in each of his first two seasons in the NFL, while his rookie year in 2020 saw him also tally 10 receiving touchdowns.

“Claypool; here’s a guy that in his rookie season goes off, he looks as if he’s going to be the future as wide receiver number one in Pittsburgh,” Reinebold said.

“For the Bears, it’s a great trade because they’re desperate for talent on offense. And it’s a fresh start and for the Steelers, they get rid of a guy that had become really kind of a distraction with some immature behaviour.

“I don’t think he’s a bad kid, he just needs to grow up a little bit. Hopefully he’ll help Justin Fields and the Bears.”

‘Dolphins show they’re committed to winning’

As well as the Claypool and Hockenson deals, on a hugely busy trade deadline day, the Denver Broncos traded pass rusher Bradley Chubb to the Miami Dolphins (5-3), with running back Chase Edmonds heading the other way as part of the deal. The Dolphins also added San Francisco 49ers RB Jeff Wilson Jr to their backfield.

Another pair of running backs also swapped homes, with the Indianapolis Colts moving Nyheim Hines to Bills and Zack Moss sent the other way in the deal, while the Jacksonville Jaguars traded for suspended Atlanta Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley.

With the last two Super Bowl winners, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020) and Los Angeles Rams (2021), achieving success in large part due to loading up on superstar talents such as Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford via free agency or trade, Reinebold believes teams are trying to be similarly aggressive.

“It goes back to, sadly, a guy we’ve lost; Ted Thompson, who was the general manager for a lot of years in Green Bay, was a ‘draft and develop’ guy. But I’m not sure if that philosophy works in this day and age,” Reinebold said.

“We talk about the Les Snead [Rams general manager] effect in the NFL, creating a team of superstars and continuously depending on trades, free agency and that mode, as opposed to the draft – bringing in to your football team what are proven players.

“And we say it all the time; it’s a copycat league. What’s hot is what’s hot. At the moment, that approach seems to be the way to do it in the NFL.

“Look at the Kansas City Chiefs. They shed players in the offseason, they lost Tyreek Hill and what did they do? The got JuJu Smith-Schuster, and now they’ve brought in Kadarius Toney [from the New York Giants].

“They keep their core, but they’re constantly trying to upgrade via the draft or free agency. That’s what good football teams have to do.

“And if you’re a Dolphins fan, these are heady times. They have shown they are committed to winning.”

Sky Sports NFL is your dedicated channel for NFL coverage through the season – featuring a host of NFL Network programming. Don’t forget to follow us on skysports.com/nfl, our Twitter account @SkySportsNFL & Sky Sports – on the go!

Denver Broncos claim 21-17 victory over Jacksonville Jaguars after Latavius Murray runs in late touchdown; the Jags had led 10-7 at half-time after Evan Engram’s opening touchdown; Russell Wilson finishes 18/30 for 252 yards, one touchdown and one interception

The Denver Broncos temporarily eased pressure on head coach Nathaniel Hackett as they beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 21-17 in the final London game of the season and the first outing at Wembley Stadium since 2019.

Story of the Game

Latavius Murray ran in a one-yard go-ahead touchdown with 1.43 to play after Travis Etienne had put the Jags up 17-14 with a one-yard score amid his 156-yard performance.

K’Waun Williams then crowned the win by intercepting Trevor Lawrence at the 35-yard line on the first play of the Jaguars’ ensuing drive.

Denver improved to 3-5 on the season with the much-needed victory having arrived in the UK facing scrutiny over a sputtering offense behind Russell Wilson and with trade speculation lingering over wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and star edge rusher Bradley Chubb.

Doug Pederson’s Jags meanwhile fell to 2-6 after their fifth straight defeat having led 10-7 at half-time thanks to Evan Engram’s opening touchdown and Riley Patterson’s field goal followed by Jeudy’s score.

Denver took the lead for the first time in the contest through Melvin Gordon’s one-yard touchdown run with five minutes to play in the third quarter after Wilson had connected with tight end Greg Dulcich for 38 yards amid a nine-play 98-yard drive starting at their two.

The teams then exchanged four straight three-and-outs by way of the Broncos’ second-ranked defense – also tied-first in EPA/play – and a sack from Jags No 1 overall pick Travon Walker followed by a sloppy false start penalty from Denver.

DJ Jones sacked Lawrence for a loss of seven on third-and-nine to derail the Jags’ eight-play drive with 8.51 remaining, celebrating by pretending to sip a cup of tea in an ode to his British hosts.

Penned in at his own end zone on third-and-10 with seven to play, Wilson threatened a field-flipping sucker-punch when he spotted KJ Hamler and Dulcich two-on-one downfield, only for his pass to land between the Broncos duo much to the relief of Jags defenders.

The Jags subsequently took the lead with Etienne’s one-yard touchdown run at the end of a six-play march boosted by Christian Kirk’s 25-yard reception and the second-year running back’s own run of 11.

But Wilson responded with a 47-yard toss to KJ Hamler, who followed up with a nine-yard burst before Murray burrowed through the bodies to complete the defining drive.

Wilson, having almost been intercepted on the opening throw of the game, was picked off on Denver’s next drive when Tyson Campbell jumped Courtland Sutton’s route to wrestle the ball away at the sideline.

The Jags capitalised emphatically as Lawrence floated a 22-yard strike to Engram on a corner route at the back of the end zone to cap the ensuing possession.

Jacksonville squandered an opportunity to extend their advantage as Lawrence was intercepted by Justin Simmons at the goalline having benefited from four Broncos penalties in a 13-play drive that ended pointless.

Riley Patterson’s 37-yard field goal handed the Jags a 10-0 lead after Etienne’s 49-yard burst before Jeudy scooted in on a six-yard jet-sweep touchdown to put Denver on the board with three minutes to play in the half.

Sky Sports NFL is your dedicated channel for NFL coverage throughout the season – featuring a host of NFL Network programming. Don’t forget to follow us on skysports.com/nfl, our Twitter account @SkySportsNFL & Sky Sports – on the go!