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The A.F.C. playoff race solely will get an increasing number of contentious with every passing week, and groups are adjusting to verify they will maintain tempo. To that finish, the Jets reset their offense by sitting quarterback Zach Wilson and working again James Robinson. The Bengals and the Titans put their contrasting kinds on show in one other hard-fought matchup that’s changing into one of many convention’s most underrated rivalries.
The Jets’ offense can work.
Coach Robert Saleh hasn’t gone as far as to say that the second-year quarterback Zach Wilson gained’t return because the Jets’ starter, however the group’s 31-10 win over the Bears at dwelling identified the evident disconnect between Wilson and the offense’s potential.
On Sunday, Mike White accomplished 22 of 28 passes for 315 yards and three touchdowns, lacing throws to 10 totally different receivers whereas beginning instead of Wilson, who was inactive for the sport after a nightmare efficiency with simply 9 completions in opposition to the Patriots in Week 11.
When the Jets chosen Wilson No. 2 total out of Brigham Younger College in 2021, the invoice was that they have been getting a semi-athletic, strong-armed scrambler who might go off script and make massive performs down the sector. He can be a participant whose creativity and explosive performs might make up for inefficiency, à la Russell Wilson or Kyler Murray.
However regardless of the group including tight finish C.J. Uzomah and the rookie receiver Garrett Wilson within the low season, Zach Wilson hasn’t but persistently made the varieties of throws that maintain drives alive lengthy sufficient for firework performs to develop. He doesn’t work the short recreation or verify by his progressions, and that has made for a wonky slot in Mike LaFleur’s offense, which is constructed on timing and precision.
LaFleur, who beforehand labored below Kyle Shanahan, employs a scheme constructed on play-action calls and throws concentrating on the center of the sector, much like these run by correct quarterbacks like Jimmy Garoppolo and Tua Tagovailoa.
On Sunday, White highlighted what is meant to work for the Jets (7-4). The group’s first drive featured 5 quick completions earlier than White discovered Garrett Wilson on a brief nook route ultimately zone for an 8-yard rating that helped put the Jets up by 7-0.
White’s second landing, additionally to Wilson, showcased the big-play potential of the Jets’ personnel. On a first-and-10 close to midfield late within the second quarter, the Jets stacked Denzel Mims and Wilson to the correct facet and had Mims run an over path to clear the center of the sector for Wilson. White reared again and delivered the ball to Wilson proper over a linebacker. Wilson made a Bears defender miss, then zoomed to the top zone for a 54-yard rating.
That is the second straight season through which White has made a star cameo for the Jets. White, chosen within the fifth spherical by Dallas in 2018, shocked the league within the Jets’ upset win over the Bengals in his first profession begin final season. He threw 4 picks to a fierce Payments protection two weeks later. White’s massive second this season comes with a grain of salt: The Bears (3-9) began a backup quarterback of their very own, Trevor Siemian, and couldn’t generate a semblance of a cross rush.
Nonetheless, LaFleur known as performs that obtained Jets open all around the discipline and swapped within the rookie working again Zonovan Knight (14 carries, 69 yards) for James Robinson, whom the Jets acquired from Jacksonville after Breece Corridor was injured. With a little bit of accuracy and steadiness, the Jets, for as soon as, made successful look routine.
Jalen Hurts is constructing an M.V.P. case.
Coming into Week 12, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was nonetheless caught behind Kansas Metropolis’s Patrick Mahomes and Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa as Las Vegas’s favored candidates for the Most Helpful Participant Award. However in main the Eagles to a 40-33 shootout win over the Packers in Philadelphia on Sunday night time, Hurts wouldn’t enable a sluggish passing night time to cease him from having a highlight-reel efficiency.
Hurts was restricted to only 5.5 yards per passing try however utterly dismantled the Packers’ protection, ending the sport with 157 speeding yards on 17 carries. It’s the fourth-highest speeding complete for a quarterback in a recreation in the course of the common season since 2000, trailing solely the Bears’ Justin Fields’s 178-yard outing in opposition to the Dolphins in Week 9 this season and two Falcons-era Michael Vick video games.
Hurts started the festivities instantly with a 24-yard scramble on a third-and-10 on the Eagles’ first drive of the sport. With the Packers (4-8) in man protection, widespread for each protection on third down, linebacker Quay Walker tried to peel off his man to sort out Hurts on the line of scrimmage, however Hurts hit Walker with a shimmy, then did the identical to security Adrian Amos a number of yards later earlier than angling to the correct sideline to complete off the run.
Hurts additionally added some aptitude with designed runs. Each Hurts and the Eagles’ skilled, athletic offensive line enable the offense to execute runs most different groups can’t, akin to quarterback counter, which the Eagles (10-1) ran efficiently close to the crimson zone on this recreation. At 6-foot-1 and 223 kilos, Hurts not solely has the majority and power to take the punishment of these downhill carries, however the pace and burst to seek out additional yards as soon as he will get to the second degree.
That Hurts can drop a close to record-breaking speeding efficiency, whereas additionally throwing for 153 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions is a testomony to his true dual-threat capabilities. That he did it in prime time in opposition to the four-time M.V.P. Aaron Rodgers (who left the sport within the third quarter after injuring his indirect), ought to draw extra consideration to what was already a stable argument.
Bengals vs. Titans is an underrated conflict of kinds.
The cliché that kinds make fights holds specific fact at this level within the season, when temperatures drop and the stakes rise with every remaining for would-be contenders.
The bottom-and-pound Titans (7-4) hardly have something in widespread, stylistically, with the Bengals’ high-flying passing offense and that mismatched pairing as soon as once more made for a compelling bout on Sunday. Within the sequel to January’s divisional-round playoff recreation, which the Bengals gained en path to a Tremendous Bowl look, Cincinnati (7-4) got here out on high, 20-16, in Tennessee.
Taking part in behind a middling offensive line and with out receiver Ja’Marr Chase, Joe Burrow and the Bengals’ offense have been stymied for a lot of the recreation by the Titans’ bullying line of defense. As an alternative of attempting to win with pace on the sides, the Titans usually play the 269-pound Bud Dupree and the 285-pound Denico Autry, a beefy duo who can crush the pocket and condense house.
Cincinnati’s first three drives resulted in punts and Burrow took his solely sack of the day within the first quarter. Tennessee’s protection, one of many league’s greatest on third downs, held Cincinnati to only 5 of 14 conversions.
However the Bengals’ explosiveness can generally detract from how willingly the group’s personnel can regulate. The offense has virtually solely returned to shotgun formations after a rocky first two video games and might unfold the sector for brief features till a shot opens up for working again Samaje Perine or for Burrow to seek out receiver Tee Higgins.
Burrow turned to a smattering of fast throws to keep away from coping with the Titans’ cross rush altogether. Tennessee’s offense countered the Bengals’ swarming working again Derrick Henry by feeding him quick passes, considered one of which Henry busted for a 69-yard acquire earlier than being stripped on the aim line. Titans receiver Treylon Burks recovered the fumble for a landing that put the Titans up, 10-3 after the additional level, within the second quarter.
The sport went to halftime tied, 10-10, and the groups traded discipline targets within the third quarter. The Bengals’ offensive expertise solely started to win out throughout their six-play, 75-yard drive that ended to start with of the fourth quarter. Higgins introduced in two 20-plus-yard snags on the sideline, the second for a landing.
The Titans, who didn’t rating a landing in three crimson zone tries, booted a 38-yard discipline aim and have been elated to restrict the Bengals to kicking after their protection held on third-and-11 from the Tennessee 13-yard line with two minutes left. Up by 4 factors earlier than the attempt, Cincinnati, had it made the kick, would have left the Titans a bit of over a minute to attempt to tie. However defensive finish Kevin Sturdy clobbered the snapper on the sector aim try and was known as for pointless roughness, giving Cincinnati a brand new set of downs to kneel out the clock.
With expertise and elegance clashing till the bitter finish, this recreation was a pattern platter of what ought to be a hard-fought end within the A.F.C.
Justin Herbert’s load is unsustainable and not using a run recreation.
A number of the head-scratching associated to the Chargers’ middling 2022 season has fallen on the quarterback and coach mixture. Coach Brandon Staley has been a favourite of sizzling seat rumormongers and Justin Herbert, carrying a burdensome quantity of the offensive load, hasn’t had the identical magic as final season. Coming into Week 12, Los Angeles was outdoors the playoff image regardless of having spent closely within the low season.
However not less than among the bother has been the group’s lack of ability to run the ball, with accidents to the offensive line and a few intentional personnel shuffling up entrance leading to a dull speeding assault that ranks twenty ninth in yards per carry. The Chargers weren’t precisely the Nineteen Nineties Cowboys final season, however not less than they have been about a mean unit, rating seventeenth in yards per carry.
On Sunday, the Chargers (6-5) spun a little bit of the outdated magic to beat the Cardinals, 25-24, counting on Herbert to throw on all seven performs of a scoring drive within the recreation’s closing two minutes that culminated with a 1-yard landing to Austin Ekeler. Staley, as is his calling card, made the daring name to go for the 2-point conversion whereas trailing by 1, and Herbert got here by with a dart compelled inside to tight finish Gerald Everett with 15 seconds left for the win.
The Chargers’ working backs took simply 9 carries for 27 yards, an indication of each their inefficiency and the offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi’s dwindling religion within the run recreation as the sport progressed. Herbert threw 47 instances, which labored on Sunday however can’t be requested of any quarterback on a weekly foundation.
Although the win breathed new life into Los Angeles’s playoff hopes, Herbert is averaging about 42 makes an attempt per recreation, second solely to Tom Brady of Tampa Bay.
That was ok to eke out a win over the Cardinals (4-8) however the query stays as to how far Herbert can carry the Chargers and not using a floor recreation to face on. Only one recreation out of the playoffs after Sunday, Los Angeles nonetheless has to face Miami (8-3) and Tennessee (7-4) because it bids for a wild-card berth within the A.F.C. These defenses aren’t prone to enable Herbert and Staley to conjure last-minute performs out of skinny air.
Across the N.F.L.
Eagles 40, Packers 33: Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts dashed to 157 yards, a game-high that narrowly eclipsed working again Miles Sanders’s 143. Aaron Rodgers left the sport within the third quarter with an indirect damage, and the 2020 first-round decide Jordan Love got here on in aid to steer two drives that resulted in a complete of 10 factors.
Raiders 40, Seahawks 34, extra time: Raiders working again Josh Jacobs took 33 carries, brutalizing the Seahawks’ protection for 4 quarters. Jacobs topped off his efficiency with an 86-yard, game-winning landing in extra time, giving Las Vegas extra time street wins in back-to-back weeks.
Chargers 25, Cardinals 24: The Cardinals have been the marginally higher group for about 59 minutes 45 seconds. Kyler Murray went 18 of 29 for 191 yards with two passing touchdowns, one speeding rating and an interception in his return from a hamstring damage. Justin Herbert dropped again greater than 50 instances and was usually below duress however put collectively one drive on the finish, ending it off with a 2-point play to Gerald Everett to take the lead with 15 seconds left. The Cardinals had three consecutive three-and-outs within the fourth quarter to provide the Chargers the window they wanted.
Kansas Metropolis 26, Rams 10: Kansas Metropolis took a 20-3 lead into the fourth quarter in a recreation that wasn’t remotely shut. The Rams backup quarterback Bryce Perkins eked out 100 yards passing whereas taking three sacks and tossing two interceptions.
49ers 13, Saints 0: The 49ers’ protection handed the Saints their first shutout since 2001, as defensive finish Nick Bosa added one other sack, linebacker Fred Warner was a nuisance throughout the center, and security Talanoa Hufanga led the group in tackles with 9.
Commanders 19, Falcons 13: The Commanders don’t really feel like a 7-5 group, however with this win over the Falcons, that’s what they’re. Operating the ball had been Atlanta’s calling card, however Washington gained the bottom battle, 176 yards to 167, led by Brian Robinson’s 105 yards on 18 carries. The Falcons had a shot to win with a minute left, however Marcus Mariota’s cross was tipped contained in the 5-yard line and fell into the fingers of Commanders cornerback Kendall Fuller. Taylor Heinicke improved to 5-1 since changing Carson Wentz at quarterback.
Dolphins 30, Texans 15: Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had no challenge discovering Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle within the Texans’ zone-heavy protection, calling passes over runs at a couple of three-to-one ratio because the Dolphins scored 30 factors within the first half. The beginning left sort out Terron Armstead left the sport with a pectoral damage, and Miami cruised to its fifth straight win and retained management of the A.F.C. East.
Panthers 23, Broncos 10: Russell Wilson was outdueled by Sam Darnold (11 of 19 passing for 164 yards and a landing), who made his first begin of the season for Carolina. Wilson completed with simply 4.1 yards per try, and the Broncos’ lone landing got here with three minutes remaining within the fourth quarter. A profitable onside kick try gave the Broncos temporary hope, however Denver turned it over on downs and that was that.
Browns 23, Buccaneers 17, extra time: Cleveland has a bottom-10-ranked run protection, and the Bucs entered the sport useless final in speeding offense. Tampa Bay caught with its high-volume passing recreation, however was held and not using a level on its final seven possessions as Jacoby Brissett mounted a 13-point comeback to beat the Buccaneers in what is predicted to be his final begin earlier than Deshaun Watson returns from an 11-game suspension.
Jaguars 28, Ravens 27: Baltimore’s fourth quarters have been fascinating, to say the least. The Ravens entered the ultimate quarter forward, 12-10, and the 2 groups mixed to attain 33 factors within the fourth. Trevor Lawrence discovered Zay Jones and Marvin Jones on back-to-back performs and scored on a 75-yard drive with lower than 30 seconds left. Jaguars Coach Doug Pederson’s 2-point conversion try was profitable. Ravens kicker Justin Tucker almost made a 67-yarder as time expired, however in a uncommon second of mortality, he got here up quick.
Bengals 20, Titans 16: The Titans’ brutish entrance 4 and tough protection schemes put a damper on the Bengals’ offense for about three quarters earlier than Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins determined it was bounce ball time. On the opposite finish, the Titans’ offense had its recreation plan flipped on its head. Derrick Henry was held to 38 yards on 17 carries and fumbled into the top zone for his teammate Treylon Burks to get better and rating Tennessee’s solely landing of the day.
Jets 31, Bears 10: Mike White, beginning instead of Zach Wilson, carved up a awful Bears protection, discovering Garrett Wilson and Elijah Moore for 3 complete touchdowns. The Bears, alternatively, seemed completely misplaced with their backup quarterback, Trevor Siemian, who appeared to injure his indirect muscle in warm-ups.
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