NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Evolve into a garbage dump?

 

Rams hold Bears’ offense with a TD, intercept Nick Foles twice in 24-10 win



The Los Angeles Rams intercepted Nick Foles twice and held the offense of the Chicago Bears to just a lone field goal as they cruised to a 24-10 victory on Monday night.

Jalen Ramsey intercepted Foles with just over three minutes left to play to end any hope of a late comeback for the Bears.

Bears safety Eddie Jackson had picked up a Robert Woods fumble and returned it for an 8-yard touchdown to cut the Los Angeles lead to 24-10 with 7:30 left to play. It was the only trip into the end zone on the night for Chicago.

The Bears Offense had four straight drives end essentially in turnovers with two drives being ended inside the Rams’ 10-yard line. Foles was intercepted by safety Taylor Rapp in the end zone to thwart a scoring opportunity midway through the third quarter. Chicago then had two straight drives end in failed fourth down conversions, including a sack of Foles on fourth-and-goal from the Rams’ 4-yard line. Foles was then intercepted by Ramsey as the offense just couldn’t put points on the board.

Jared Goff completed 23 of 33 passes for 219 yards with a pair of touchdown passes to Josh Reynolds and Gerald Everett. Malcolm Brown also scored on a 1-yard run for Los Angeles.

Foles completed 28 of 40 passes for 261 yards with the two interceptions for Chicago. Allen Robinson caught four passes for 70 yards but left the game in the fourth quarter to be evaluated for a concussion.

Punter Johnny Hekker was one of the stars of the evening for the Rams as all five punts were downed inside the Chicago 10-yard line.

Reynolds’ 4-yard touchdown gave the Rams a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter.

Cairo Santos converted a 42-yard field goal that served as Chicago’s only offensive points of the night. Samuel Solman’s 22-yard field goal pushed the L.A. lead to 10-3 at halftime.

Brown’s 1-yard touchdown run extended the Rams lead to 17-3 in the third quarter. After Rapp’s interception of Foles, the Rams would drive for another score with Everett catching a 12-yard touchdown as Los Angeles grabbed a 24-3 lead.

NBC

 

Chris Godwin out at least one game with broken finger



The Buccaneers will be without a key part of their passing game on Monday night against the Giants.

Bucs wide receiver Chris Godwin suffered a broken left index finger and had surgery to repair it, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. He suffered the injury while catching a touchdown pass against the Raiders.

The Bucs hope the injury will heal quickly enough that Godwin could return for the next game, a big NFC South showdown against the Saints.

Godwin has already missed three games this season but is still tied with Mike Evans for the team lead, with 25 catches. When healthy Godwin is playing well this season, catching 86.2 percent of the passes thrown to him for 9.6 yards per target.

NBC

 

Panthers designate Christian McCaffrey for return



The Panthers have taken another step toward getting running back Christian McCaffrey back in the lineup.

McCaffrey was designated for return from injured reserve on Tuesday. The move opens a 21-day window for McCaffrey to practice with the team before they’d be faced with a decision to activate him or shut him down for the year.

McCaffrey, who has been out since Week 2 with an ankle injury, was at Monday’s walkthrough in a red, non-contact jersey. Reporters at the open portion of Tuesday’s session report that he was sporting the same jersey before switching to a regular one.

It was reported to be a long shot that McCaffrey will play when the Panthers meet the Falcons on Thursday night. The change in status may have better implications for his chances of playing against the Chiefs in Week 9, although the next couple of days could change the immediate outlook.

NBC

 

The career of former Top 10 pick Eli Apple has hit another setback.

The Panthers released Apple today, according to Myles Simmons of the team’s website.

A cornerback who was selected 10th overall in the 2016 NFL draft, Apple did not play well with the Giants and was traded during his third season. He fared a little better with the Saints in 2018 and 2019 and signed with the Panthers this year.

Apple has only played in two games this season, including on Sunday against the Saints, when he apparently didn’t play well enough to convince the Panthers to keep him around.

The 25-year-old Apple will now become a free agent.

 

Cowboys trade Everson Griffen to Lions



The Cowboys put out word that they were willing to trade defensive end Everson Griffen, and the Lions bit.

Griffen has been traded from the Cowboys to the Lions for a conditional sixth-round draft pick, according to multiple reports.

Although the Cowboys are still in the NFC East race, they may be thinking it’s time to focus more on next year after their two disastrous showings since losing Dak Prescott for the season.

The Lions have won two in a row and at 3-3 may think Griffen can help them make a push for the playoffs.

Detroit will owe Griffen $1.76 million in salary for the rest of the year, plus $187,500 for each game in which Griffen is on the active roster.

Griffen was a four-time Pro Bowler with the Vikings before signing with the Cowboys this year. He has 2.5 sacks in 2020.

NBC

 

Cowboys will trade or cut Dontari Poe, Daryl Worley



The Cowboys are continuing to get rid of under-performing veteran players on their under-performing defense.

Yesterday the Cowboys traded defensive end Everson Griffen to the Lions, and today Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports that the Cowboys have informed defensive tackle Dontari Poe and cornerback Daryl Worley they’ll be released if they can’t be traded today.

Dallas’s defense has been a disaster this season, with many calls for coordinator Mike Nolan to lose his job. But these moves suggest that the Cowboys think the problem is the players not executing, rather than the game plan.

Poe has played 53 percent of the Cowboys’ defensive snaps this season, the most of any defensive tackle on the team. Worley has played 52 percent of the Cowboys’ defensive snaps, third-most of any cornerback on the team.

NBC

 

Stephon Gilmore reportedly put his house on the market according to one of the local Boston sports radio stations.
If true the Pats are punting on this season. So who wants the reigning defensive player of the year and what do you think he would bring back? He's signed for this year and next at a reasonable number.

https://www.radio.com/weei/sports/p...-market?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

Ths Steelers can't afford him but I can dream.

 

Vikings ought to kick the tires. Heavily in need of defensive help and they have asset's.

 

That's certainly an area of need for the Seahawks. Good move if they don't give up too much.

 

NBC is running an article that says, Belichick doesnt know anything about moving Gilmore.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.c...-anything-about-stephon-gilmore-trade-rumors/

Could be Belichick Belichicking too...

 

Gilmore is now thinking “Buffalo ain’t all that bad, after all”.

 

No doubt about it. Always seems like there’s smoke around the Pats. Makes sense dealing Gilmore though, especially if they lose on Sunday.

 

Depending on the game on Sunday it could make sense

 

May the better team win, Matty. Buffalo has some rough edges, and they still haven’t shown that they’re capable of a statement win.

For the Buffalo Bills there are no games bigger - no games more important - than the New England Patriots.

Almost as a side note, Buffalo could use Gilmore.

 

Season is on the line for NE. A loss may help make the choice easier moving forward. Not sure what happened to Cam there, Corona seems to have given him a noodle arm that can’t throw to the right side of the field.

im wondering what Gilmore would bring back. Older than Ramsey but less expensive and signed for an additional year. Maybe a 1st and mid round pick?
If Gilmore goes I’d think Thuney would follow.

 

Buccaneers will use more four-receiver sets to accommodate Antonio Brown



The Buccaneers have plenty of good receivers. So what will they do with receiver Antonio Brown on the team?

It’s simple. They’ll put more receivers on the field.

Appearing last night on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians said the offense will find a way to get Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and Scotty Miller and Brown available to Tom Brady at the same time.

“We started introducing a more four-wideout-package, so we could have all those guys on the field,” Arians said in reference to his team’s top four receivers, via JoeBucsFan.com.

That’s good for Brown and the other receivers. It’s not so good for the tight ends and running backs, since with four receivers, five offensive linemen, and a quarterback, there’s only one spot left.

And there continues to be only one football. Which will be the most interesting thing to watch once Brown makes his debut for the Buccaneers in Week Nine against the Saints, on Sunday Night Football. Especially since Brown has so much money tied to catching passes (at least 45), gaining yards (at least 650), and scoring touchdowns (at least six).

NBC

 

Gilmore is only due 7.5M next year in the final year of his deal. He could bring Belichick a nice draft pick if he deals him.