{"id":419823,"date":"2025-10-04T16:08:13","date_gmt":"2025-10-04T16:08:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/419823\/"},"modified":"2025-10-04T16:08:13","modified_gmt":"2025-10-04T16:08:13","slug":"wft-news-washington-commanders-news-links-105","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/419823\/","title":{"rendered":"WFT News: Washington Commanders News Links"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jayden Daniels will play with a knee brace but no restrictions. Can he protect himself?<\/a><\/p>\n

Leading up to the 2024 NFL draft, Daniels\u2019 college pressure-to-sack rate of 24.5 percent was a significant talking point and concern. Yes, he was a rare athlete who could hang with the top pocket passers and also break away for a touchdown run. But could he avoid the unnecessary hits? Could he stay aggressive without being reckless? And could Washington\u2019s O-line, which had been in flux for multiple seasons, keep him upright?<\/p>\n

Daniels soundly answered some of those questions last season, dropping his pressure-to-sack rate to 19.7 percent, according to Pro Football Focus. His ability to escape the pocket under pressure and get the ball out quickly with anticipatory throws masked some of the Commanders\u2019 deficiencies up front while extending drives or creating points.<\/p>\n

In the last two games, with Paul and Wylie at left and right guard, respectively, and Marcus Mariota at quarterback, the O-line allowed only 10 pressures.<\/p>\n

Sunday\u2019s game against the Chargers will be Daniels\u2019 first with the rearranged front five. But the group could undergo another change soon, when right guard Sam Cosmi is activated from the physically unable to perform list.<\/p>\n

The Commanders have said they\u2019ve placed no restrictions on Daniels as he returns. No play count and no mandates on how to play.<\/p>\n

Both the Washington Commanders and the Los Angeles Chargers are coming off brutal losses, although their Week 4 results exposed different issues in each team\u2019s game play. Washington\u2019s defense had trouble stopping Atlanta on all fronts, allowing the Falcons\u2019 offense 435 total yards (307 passing\/128 rushing) and 6.8 yards per play. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. had his way, finishing with a 76.9% pass completion rating, throwing for 313 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Atlanta\u2019s tandem running backs in Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier rushed for a combined 33 carries and 126 yards, with Robinson picking up an additional 106 yards on four receptions.<\/p>\n

The Chargers, on the other hand, are facing offensive line injuries that are starting to permeate the team\u2019s offensive productivity. Los Angeles\u2019 O-line was down three starters in Rashawn Slater (Achilles), Joe Alt (high ankle sprain) and Mekhi Becton (concussion) against the New York defense Sunday afternoon and it showed. The Commanders could see new faces protecting quarterback Justin Herbert, as the team reportedly signed offensive lineman Michael Dunn<\/a> to the practice squad.<\/p>\n

The offensive line currently ranks No. 26 in the league in pass block win rate (55%)<\/a>, allowing the Giants six sacks and 22 pressures on Herbert. He was pressured on 45.8% of dropbacks,<\/a> with New York\u2019s edge rushers Abdul Carter, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux combining for 10 hits and 20 overall pressures on Herbert<\/a>. Herbert also had a 56.1% passer completion for 203 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions \u2013 both of which the Giants capitalized off of with a field goal and touchdown, respectively, for a total of 12 points earned off of takeaways.<\/p>\n

The Chargers No. 3-overall ranked defense<\/a> will be something the Commanders\u2019 offense will have to challenge through the air. Washington is expected to have starting quarterback Jayden Daniels back under center, as well as right guard Sam Cosmi designated to return from Injured Reserve. Although he might not suit up for Sunday\u2019s game, Cosmi\u2019s 21-day practice window being opened is a sign he will be back soon after suffering an ACL injury during the team\u2019s 2024 postseason run.<\/p>\n

Washington Post (paywall)<\/p>\n

How can you get better at tackling if you don\u2019t practice tackling?<\/a><\/p>\n

To protect players from injury, NFL coaches almost never allow full-blown tackling in practice during the season, no matter how many tackles their teams miss on game day. And therein lies a familiar football paradox: How can a team improve tackling without, you know, actually tackling?<\/p>\n

The tackling miscues were frequent and glaring in Washington\u2019s 34-27 loss to the Atlanta Falcons<\/a> on Sunday. In between miscommunications in coverage and a general inability to pressure opposing quarterback Michael Penix Jr., the team missed tackles in bunches, often on crucial plays.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd if you hit double digits between defense and special teams, that is too many,\u201d Quinn said Monday. \u201c\u2026 Yeah, we were not pleased with our tackling performance. And yes, there is plenty you can do to work on that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Whitt explained that the concern with live tackling in practice isn\u2019t so much about the players involved in the actual tackles. It\u2019s the legs of all the players nearby, who could be rolled into.<\/p>\n

Instead, coaches will sometimes call for a \u201cthud\u201d tempo during practices in full pads, where defenders are allowed to square up for a tackle as long as they make direct eye contact with their target and collide without actually taking him to the ground. During the season, defenders usually do no more than tap. A linebacker or defensive back will sprint up to a ballcarrier in tackling position, then stop or step past him.<\/p>\n

Kinlaw explained that he missed three tackles because he was lunging at Falcons running backs, rather than taking the extra few steps to close the space.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe always talk about getting the body in position and finishing in a bending position,\u201d Whitt said. \u201cA lot of times, people just come in and tag you. That\u2019s not good enough. You have to bend at the end and finish, as if you are making that tackle.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh no, you can get better,\u201d Miller said.<\/p>\n

Safety Quan Martin explained that the act of physically bringing someone to the ground is just one final piece of a lengthier process. There\u2019s the angle one takes toward the ballcarrier, and the proper way to close down space depending on their body positioning. There\u2019s eye placement and tracking. Pad level. Foot placement, particularly with the foot closest to the ballcarrier, and establishing a strong base from which to launch.<\/p>\n

Commanders QB Jayden Daniels to start Week 5 at Chargers<\/a><\/p>\n

The Commanders\u2019 offense fared well with backup Marcus Mariota<\/a>, scoring a combined 61 points from scrimmage. In his four games in relief of Daniels over the past two seasons, Mariota has thrown for a combined 729 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s played about as well as you can play,\u201d offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said. \u201cThey\u2019re different styles and Jayden is a unique talent, the way he plays, moves, throws. He\u2019s generational so any time you get him back out there it\u2019s going to lift up your team.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniels said it was difficult to miss two games. He said he could have played two weeks ago but \u201cI don\u2019t make those calls.\u201d He wasn\u2019t medically cleared to play until Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Daniels said he\u2019s not going to alter his style after getting hit in his knee on a fourth-quarter scramble vs. Green Bay Packers<\/a> in Week 2.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got to be smart, live to see another down,\u201d he said. \u201cBut just know if the game is on the line, I\u2019m going to do whatever it takes to win.\u201d<\/p>\n

Percy Butler : Cleared to play against Bolts<\/a><\/p>\n

Butler (hip) does not carry an injury designation into Sunday\u2019s game against the Chargers. Butler has been cleared to return from a one-game absence due to a hip injury he sustained against the Raiders in Week 3. The 2022 fourth-rounder has primarily served on special teams this season and has logged four tackles (three solo) across three games.<\/p>\n

Von Miller\u2019s role will be integral for the Commanders in Week 5<\/a><\/p>\n

He\u2019s no longer simply dusting tackles with pure speed around the edge, but the nuance, timing, and ability to read a set are still there. If he gets Pipkins leaning or opens up his hips too early, Miller can convert speed into leverage and flatten the angle to quarterback Justin Herbert.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s another layer that matters more than people acknowledge: location and history.<\/p>\n

SoFi Stadium is the site of one of the defining stretches of Miller\u2019s career. After being traded to the Los Angeles Rams and helping fuel their 2021 Super Bowl run, he carved out a legacy that still resonates. Being back on that field taps into something that isn\u2019t quantifiable but often shows up on Sundays, especially for elite competitors. Even last year, his return trips to familiar settings sparked some of his most frenetic snaps.<\/p>\n

That same spark flashed again in Week 3 against the Las Vegas Raiders. His body language, tempo off the snap, and urgency finishing plays looked different \u2014 like someone tapping back into an old rivalry from his Denver Broncos days.<\/p>\n

His eyes lit up a bit more, the energy shifted, and it was clear the stage brought something out of him. Facing another AFC West opponent this week, in a stadium tied to one of his most significant career highs, creates a similar emotional and competitive runway.<\/p>\n

The Chargers\u2019 offensive line is still settling. New pieces, shifting chemistry, and an offense trying to protect Herbert without compromising explosiveness all create stress points. If the Commanders can generate even modest interior disruption, Miller could feast on isolated matchups outside.<\/p>\n

His 1.5 sacks so far show he\u2019s cashing in when given the window. Against Pipkins, one or two of those moments are all he needs to wreck a late-game possession.<\/p>\n

In all, Washington doesn\u2019t need Miller to have a vintage 10-pressure afternoon. They need one timely sack, one drive-stopping hit, or one forced adjustment in protection that frees up someone else. That\u2019ll make a massive difference<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Everybody was wrong about the Commanders\u2019 defense<\/a><\/p>\n

Over the offseason, the consensus was that Washington would feature a strong cornerback room and linebacking corps, but the defensive front was a concern. Through four games, it\u2019s been the exact opposite.<\/p>\n

The pass-rush has been solid, and the Commanders haven\u2019t been gashed by opposing running backs the way they were last year. At least, not until Bijan Robinson had his way in Week 4.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, Bobby Wagner\u2019s limitations have become more apparent with age. Frankie Luvu was concerningly invisible until Week 4. In the defensive backfield, it\u2019s been even worse<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Marshon Lattimore trade appears to be a bust. Young players such as Mike Sainristil and Quan Martin have underperformed after strong finishes to the 2024 season. Jonathan Jones and Will Harris will both miss extended time with injuries, leaving Washington\u2019s depth extremely thin. Second-round rookie corner Trey Amos has at least shown some promise.<\/p>\n

Adjusting to a new normal doesn\u2019t happen overnight<\/p>\n

To everyone who penciled in the Commanders as one of the NFL\u2019s top regression candidates for 2025, get your victory laps in while you can.<\/p>\n

The fact of the matter is that when a team is supposedly disappointing 2-2 after four weeks, with both losses closer than both wins, winning is now the standard. That hasn\u2019t changed.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a reality that Commanders fans should get used to: for the bulk of the past 25 years, a Dan Snyder-shaped black cloud has hovered over the franchise. Even on the rare occasion that the team managed to stumble into a decent season, everybody knew that true forward momentum was nearly impossible to come by, given the organizational dysfunction that ran from the top down.<\/p>\n

Now, it\u2019s the opposite.<\/p>\n

The Commanders are building a new culture that should promote sustained success over time, and they have the right people \u2014 Daniels, head coach Dan Quinn, general manager Adam Peters, and majority owner Josh Harris \u2014 in all the most crucial positions. However, the higher the expectations, the tougher it is to meet them.<\/p>\n

After being ahead of schedule last season, Washington\u2019s patience is being tested by the harsh reality of this adjustment<\/a>. The only way forward is through.<\/p>\n

Jacory Croskey-Merritt on Rookie of the Week award & loss to Falcons with Deebo | Cleats & Convos<\/p>\n

Deebo Samuel Sr. on Commanders, Jayden Daniels & Chargers + Russ Grimm on the Hogs | Next Man Up<\/p>\n

Washington Commanders vs. Los Angeles Chargers Preview & Prediction | PFF<\/p>\n

Broncos vs Eagles Week 5: Keys to the Game<\/a><\/p>\n

Surprisingly, the Eagles have taken a huge nose dive with their rushing attack this season. Right now they are managing just 113 yards per game on the ground, and over their four games their rushing yards have decreased week over week. They failed to break 90-rushing-yard mark against the Rams and the Bucs. Saquon Barkley is averaging less than 60 yards a game and has just 3.1 yards per carry. Two of their seven TD\u2019s have unsurprisingly come from the Tush Push at the one-yard line, and three of their rushing TD\u2019s were scored in the first week of the season.<\/p>\n

Most of their success on the year came in their season opener against the Cowboys, and since then things have only been slowing down. The Broncos have to keep Barkley contained, and they\u2019ve done a good job against opposing RB\u2019s this year. They have the 11th-best rushing defense, giving up 99 yards per game, and their defense has racked up 19 TFL\u2019s over the first four games. Their front seven has been sniffing out all sorts of runs.<\/p>\n

And I have plenty confidence in this defensive secondary to stifle the already poor passing attack the Eagles have (second-worst in the league at just 138 yards per game), so if they can take away the only thing that is really working for this Eagles offense, then they\u2019re in business.<\/p>\n

Three reasons why the Eagles offense has been out of sync<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s really hard to reconcile how they can be so miserably out of sync in one half and then incredibly in rhythm in another.<\/p>\n

Some of the biggest issues:<\/p>\n

1) Haven\u2019t been able to get the run game going. Saquon Barkley looks as good as ever to me. But the blocking hasn\u2019t been there for him. And not just because of OL issues but because they\u2019ve been trying to run out of heavy packages and it just hasn\u2019t been working. It\u2019s weird because you\u2019d think they\u2019d want to spread the defense out with 11 personnel more often.<\/p>\n

2) Play design. People like to harp on \u201cplay-calling\u201d but it\u2019s hard to say this structure of this offense is adequately maximizing the talent. This isn\u2019t to say that offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo is blameless; he\u2019s part of the problem, too. But he\u2019s not the only one designing the offense. The Eagles doing less with more on offense has been a common issue throughout the Nick Sirianni era.<\/p>\n

3) Offensive approach. After the Eagles\u2019 Week 3 win that was nearly a loss, both Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown touched on how the Eagles are playing not to lose instead of being more aggressive in trying to win. The Eagles limiting turnovers has worked well for them … but it feels like it can go to the extreme of neutering the offense too much. There has to be a better balance of taking care of the football and taking shots down the field to create more explosive plays.<\/p>\n

New York Giants host tryout for wide receivers, quarterbacks<\/a><\/p>\n

The New York Giants worked out four wide receivers and a pair of quarterbacks on Friday, according to the league\u2019s transactions wire.<\/p>\n

The wide receivers who worked out were:<\/p>\n

Rakim JarrettBrandon JohnsonSamori ToureMike Woods<\/p>\n

The quarterbacks who worked out were:<\/p>\n

Seth HeniganTanner Mordecai<\/p>\n

The Giants have two roster spots to fill with wide receiver Malik Nabers having gone on IR with a torn ACL and edge defender Tomon Fox having been waived.<\/p>\n

Jarrett, a 6-foot, 192-pound 24-year-old out of Maryland, caught 13 passes over the last two seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after going undrafted. He was recently released from the Pittsburgh Steelers\u2019 practice squad.<\/p>\n

Johnson is a 6-2, 195-pound 27-year-old. He was a member of the Denver Broncos in 2022 and 2023, and was with the Steelers in 2024. Johnson has 26 career receptions, 19 of those in 2023 for Denver.<\/p>\n

Toure, a 6-1, 195-pound 26-year-old, was a seventh-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in 2022. He caught 13 passes for the Packers in 2022 and 2023. He was released by the Chicago Bears at the end of the preseason.<\/p>\n

Woods is a 6-1, 204-pound 25-year-old who was a sixth-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2022. Woods was on Cleveland\u2019s active roster in 2022 and 2024 and has 12 receptions in 15 career games.<\/p>\n

If you are going to work out wide receiver you, of course, need quarterbacks to throw them the ball.<\/p>\n

Interview with the Enemy: New York Giants<\/a><\/p>\n

NJ: Jaxson Dart was linked to New Orleans throughout the entire draft process\u2014do the vibes around the team suggest they\u2019ve found their franchise QB of the future, and how would you grade his debut performance?<\/p>\n

EV: It is far too early to know the answer for sure. Dart, though, has done nothing to make the organization think it was a mistake to trade up into the first round to get him in the draft. He has swag, he has grit, he has toughness, he can lead, he\u2019s smart, he can make plays with his arm and with his feet.<\/p>\n

He has a lot to learn and there will be growing pains. But, as I wrote this week<\/a> Dart has given the Giants and their fans hope. I will say this\u2014I think the Saints made a mistake by not selecting him at No. 9.<\/p>\n

I would give Dart\u2019s debut a B+. Not perfect, but he provided energy, didn\u2019t turn the ball over and the Giants beat an undefeated team.<\/p>\n

NJ: Following the devastating news that former LSU standout Malik Nabers will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL, how confident are you in the depth of the Giants\u2019 receiving corps heading into Week 5?<\/p>\n

EV: No matter whether I am confident or not, Nabers is not a player you replace. You put another guy out there and do the best you can. As Dart said Sunday, Nabers is \u201cone of one.\u201d<\/p>\n

3 things to watch for in Chargers-Commanders – LAC will have a patchwork OL this week<\/a><\/p>\n

How will the Chargers construct their offensive line for Sunday?<\/p>\n

When the Chargers began their prep for the Commanders this week, the \u201cstarting\u201d offensive line for Wednesday\u2019s practice was (from left to right): Jamaree Salyer, Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, Foster Sarell, and Trey Pipkins. This was with Mekhi Becton being limited in the yellow \u201cworking through something\u201d jersey.<\/p>\n

On Thursday, Austin Deculus was back at left tackle while Salyer switched back to right guard. Becton was limited once again in the yellow jersey, but was more involved in individual drills.<\/p>\n

On Friday, Becton finally shed the yellow jersey but remains questionable for Sunday due to needed one more hurdle to cross to get out of the concussion protocol.<\/p>\n

If Becton cannot go then the Chargers will likely roll with one of the two main groups we saw on Wednesday and Thursday. In my opinion, I think you have to put Salyer at left tackle after the day Deculus had against the Giants. Can\u2019t afford a repeat performance. That would mean Sarell gets the start at right guard. Not ideal, but I feel the best with that lineup this close to game day.<\/p>\n

Can the Chargers defense find a way to slow down Jayden Daniels\u2019 scrambling ability?<\/p>\n

In his first career start, Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart scrambled for 54 yards on 10 carries, including a 15-yard touchdown on New York\u2019s first drive of the game. The Chargers defense did find a way to limit his scrambling much better in the second half, but in such a close finish, the damage was already done by the time they figured it out.<\/p>\n

This could end up being a big game for linebacker Daiyan Henley as the main spy for Daniels. I\u2019m not sure what happened against the Giants (Henley did NOT have a great time out there) but this is an excellent opportunity to get back on track for what looked like an All-Pro level season in the first two games of the schedule.<\/p>\n

Pete Carroll has coached 295 regular-season games. On Sunday against the Colts, the first-year Raiders coach risks an outcome that has happened to him only twice before.<\/p>\n

A four-game losing streak.<\/p>\n

Carroll has coached the Jets, Patriots, Seahawks, and now the Raiders. Nineteen total seasons as a head coach. And he has lost four in a row in 1994 with the Jets (the losing streak reached five) and four in a row in 2023 with the Seahawks.<\/p>\n

The 3-1 Colts are favored by seven points.<\/p>\n

After beating the Patriots to open the season, the Raiders have lost to the Chargers, Commanders, and Bears.<\/p>\n

If the streak reaches four, there\u2019s a good chance the Raiders won\u2019t match Carroll\u2019s career-long losing streak of five. Next Sunday, the winless Titans come to town.<\/p>\n

NFL Wants to Play on a Record Fifth Continent<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you are going to be global, you have to do it beyond Europe, and beyond the Americas. You need to reach into other areas and territories,\u201d Goodell said at the Leaders in Sports conference Thursday. \u201cAnd next year we\u2019re going to Australia. We have plans to go to Asia shortly thereafter.\u201d<\/p>\n

When the Rams host a to-be-determined opponent in Melbourne<\/a> next season, it will mark the fourth continent on which the NFL has played a regular-season game, following the league\u2019s debut in South America last year and its longstanding presence in Europe. Asia has been casually mentioned by Goodell and other league executives<\/a> in recent years, but no specific timeline, cities, or countries under consideration have been given.<\/p>\n

If the NFL reaches its goal of playing 16 international games<\/a> per season\u2014up from a record seven this season<\/a>\u2014a contest in Asia would seem to be nearly guaranteed. That expanded slate abroad could come just as the league ramps up to an 18-game regular season, should negotiations with the NFL Players Association lead to that.<\/p>\n

The NFL will likely increase its international schedule to eight\u2014the maximum currently allowed\u2014next year with a return to Mexico, which Goodell confirmed will happen (Aztec Stadium in Mexico City has been unavailable while undergoing renovations ahead of the 2026 FIFA men\u2019s World Cup). The NFL is making its debut in Spain this season, with a game in Madrid, and debuting in Berlin, the third German city to host a game.<\/p>\n

Japan and South Korea are currently the only Asian countries part of the Global Markets Program (the Rams are the only team with rights in those territories).<\/p>\n

NFL Week 5 picks: Broncos over Eagles and Commanders over Chargers among upset predictions<\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Why Dan picked the Giants: Both teams are struggling to find their way, and no result would surprise me in this one. The Giants seem closer to having a sense of how to win, though. They beat<\/a> one of the most impressive squads of the early going in 2025, pummeling a weakened Chargers offensive line for 21 pressures, the most of any team in Week 4. New York notched its first victory of the season last week despite losing its best offensive player<\/a> early on in its quarterback\u2019s first career start<\/a>. I respect the Saints\u2019 scrappiness, but I\u2019ve yet to see them show the resiliency the Giants displayed against the Bolts. Jaxson Dart has injected new life into the offense, and the combination of Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Dexter Lawrence and Kayvon Thibodeaux is a lot for any offensive line to handle, especially a banged-up one like New Orleans has at the moment. Sunday will present an excellent chance for Saints QB Spencer Rattler to earn his first career win (0-10 as a starter) a week after Dart nailed it on his first try. Rattler\u2019s played better than his record would indicate, but I need to see him log a W before I can truly believe.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Why Gennaro picked the Cowboys: Lost in all the drama that continually envelopes Jerry Jones\u2019 content machine\/football team: Dak Prescott is still a pretty damn good quarterback. The MVP runner-up in 2023, Prescott became the highest-paid player in NFL history<\/a> just prior to last year\u2019s kickoff. But the 60 Million Dollar Man\u2019s 2024 campaign started slowly and ended prematurely, with a crippling hamstring injury sidelining him for the final nine games. Subsequently, Prescott received little fanfare entering this season. It kinda felt like everyone forgot about Dak. Clearly, though, the 32-year-old can still sling it, as evidenced by his league-high 1,119 passing yards in September. He\u2019s been efficient, too, completing nearly 73 percent of his throws while accumulating the best Pro Football Focus grade among full-time starting signal-callers. And in this past Sunday night\u2019s 40-40 tie<\/a> with Green Bay, Prescott found his comfort zone with George Pickens, connecting with the new toy eight times for 134 yards and two touchdowns. All of this spells trouble for a Jets defense that\u2019s transitioning — slowly — to Aaron Glenn\u2019s aggressive press-man scheme. New York ranks in the bottom five in points allowed, defensive EPA\/per play and QB pressures, per Next Gen Stats. Granted, Dallas\u2019 D has been equally porous, but I\u2019m not as confident in Justin Fields making that unit pay. Cowboys DC Matt Eberflus is quite familiar with the quarterback\u2019s game, having been his head coach for two years in Chicago. Lastly, Dallas\u2019 two defeats have come in the two games where the Cowboys lost the turnover battle. In related news, the Jets are the only team without a single takeaway this season.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Why Tom picked the Broncos: I originally had a whole blurb laid out explaining why the Broncos should be perfectly poised to finally knock Philly down a peg but ultimately won\u2019t — until I talked myself into actually believing in Denver. Don\u2019t worry: I\u2019m not just getting carried away by Bo Nix and Co.\u2018s decisive prime-time win<\/a> over the flailing Bengals, or all the soapy drama<\/a> swirling around A.J. Brown. What ultimately persuaded me to take a chance on the Broncos here was their defensive prowess. They\u2019ve allowed a passer rating of 78.4, sixth-lowest in the NFL, with the best pressure rate (48.1%) and the sixth-lowest EPA allowed per carry (-0.16). The Eagles\u2019 offense, meanwhile, have failed to crack 300 total yards in the past three weeks, generating fewer than 100 rushing yards in each of their past two games — the only time they fell below that rushing total last season was in Week 18, when most of the starters were resting up for their Super Bowl run. Granted, the Eagles\u2019 defense is just as much of a force, and I don\u2019t feel great about rolling with Nix and Sean Payton to get their first road win of the season in Philadelphia, but I\u2019m going to go out on a limb here and say Philly\u2019s offense finally falls into a hole it can\u2019t climb out of.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Why Brooke picked the Chargers: After missing two weeks with a knee injury, Jayden Daniels is back<\/a> to lead a Washington offense that has yet to hit its stride in 2025. It\u2019ll be a tough ask for everything to suddenly click in Daniels\u2019 return, though, as the Commanders face a Chargers D that ranks top five in scoring (17.8 PPG, fourth), total (270 YPG, third) and pass defense (158.8 pass YPG, fifth). How Daniels moves in the pocket — and how much he uses his legs — will likely tell this tale. Since 2024, he has the second-most carries and rush yards among QBs and his 12.9 scramble percentage is the highest among signal-callers (min. 250 pass attempts). If his movement is at all limited, it could be a long day. On the flip side, Justin Herbert will be without Joe Alt, one of the NFL\u2019s best pass-blocking left tackles this season. That could be an issue against Dan Quinn\u2019s defense, which has generated the third-highest pressure rate (45.4%) through four weeks. Pressured on 42.7 percent of his dropbacks (fifth-highest in the NFL), Herbert hasn\u2019t been great in such situations, completing 21 of his 55 pass attempts for 286 yards, two TDs, two INTs and a 52.5 passer rating. Yet, if Herbert\u2019s pocket stays mostly clean, expect him to find his playmakers downfield — an area of weakness for Washington. I see this being a back-and-forth affair with the home team making just enough timely plays to get back in the win column.<\/p>\n

Is it time to stick a fork in the Ravens?<\/a><\/p>\n

After entering this season with a world of hype, the Baltimore Ravens stunningly find themselves at an early crossroads. Arguably possessing the most talented roster in the AFC, the back-to-back AFC North champions sit at 1-3 and look nothing like a team poised to bathe in a confetti shower at the end of Super Bowl LX.<\/p>\n

Though the Ravens can climb back into the playoff race after a dismal start, it\u2019s an uphill battle, to say the least. In prior seasons going back to 1990, 252 teams started at 1-3, with just 35 (13.9%) ultimately making the postseason. Only one — the 2001 New England Patriots, led by an upstart quarterback named Tom Brady — won a Super Bowl.<\/p>\n

To get back on track, Baltimore needs to fix a putrid defense, rediscover its offensive identity and rehabilitate a collection of banged-up Pro Bowlers, including quarterback Lamar Jackson (hamstring), who\u2019s already been ruled out<\/a> of this week\u2019s game against Houston. Moreover, the Ravens need to rediscover their confidence and swagger after losing to three league heavyweights (Buffalo, Detroit and Kansas City) in a series of marquee matchups that exposed their warts as a purported Super Bowl contender. While the losses have put the Ravens squarely behind the eight ball, the lessons learned from those setbacks ultimately could make John Harbaugh\u2019s squad a more formidable opponent in the tournament — IF they make the necessary corrections to maximize the talent on hand.<\/p>\n

Studying the All-22 coaches film from Baltimore\u2019s three losses, the defensive woes jump off the screen. Baltimore is surrendering big plays at an alarming rate, with miscommunication, poor execution and shoddy tackling leading to too many explosives on the perimeter. As a result, the Ravens have given up at least 37 points in each of their losses. They rank near the bottom of the league in total defense (31st), pass defense (31st) and rush defense (27th).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Jayden Daniels will play with a knee brace but no restrictions. Can he protect himself? Leading up to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":419824,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2074],"tags":[223,254,2554,4180,224,7,6,52437],"class_list":{"0":"post-419823","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-atlanta-falcons","8":"tag-atlanta","9":"tag-atlanta-falcons","10":"tag-atlantafalcons","11":"tag-daily-slop","12":"tag-falcons","13":"tag-football","14":"tag-nfl","15":"tag-open-threads"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/115316765870027944","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/419823","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=419823"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/419823\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/419824"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=419823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=419823"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=419823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}