Here’s this week’s instalment of Thirty Thirties on Thursday, an around-the-horn NFL column.
That is, exactly 30 words — fast, fun, feisty, informative — to update you on each of the league’s 30 teams not playing Thursday night.
Week 5’s then:
AFC
BENGALS: Coach Zac Taylor said pass protection has improved because linemen and backs are far better at communicating, and passing off assignments … Cincinnati ranks fourth in stopping the run.
BILLS: ILB Tremaine Edmunds has a hamstring issue … Buffalo’s defence ranks first in sacks per pass play … Stefon Diggs is tied with Tyreek Hill for most catches (31).
BRONCOS: vs. the Colts Thursday night.
BROWNS: DE Myles Garrett returned to practice, nine days after his car crash … QB Jacoby Brissett said it’s “critical” the team gets WR Amari Cooper involved more. Ya think?!
CHARGERS: Justin Herbert is No. 1 in yards (1,250) and, per PFF, clean-pocket passer rating (123.5). With messed-up ribs … WR Josh Palmer of Brampton, Ont., was limited Wednesday (ankle).
CHIEFS: Rank 11th in rushing. Coach Andy Reid on dazzling rooking Isiah Pacheco, who now gets snaps along with Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jerick McKinnon: “He’s growing right before our eyes.”
COLTS: at the Broncos Thursday night.
DOLPHINS: Coach Mike McDaniel on Teddy Bridgewater, who’ll QB in place of concussed Tua Tagovailoa vs. the Jets: “He owns the playbook. Knows exactly what to do in every situation.”
JAGUARS: Only a seven-point favourite, at home, vs. the Texans? This seems like a slam-dunk vs. the spread. Take the Jaguars, and probably take the over on 43.5 total-points line too.
JETS: First four games were against AFC North teams. They went 2-2. No AFC North team has a better record than that. Conclusion? Jets are tied for the division lead!
PATRIOTS: QB Mac Jones (ankle) was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice. With Brian Hoyer concussed, Bailey Zappe likely starts vs. Detroit … Pats D? Seventh worst vs. the run.
RAIDERS: Derek Carr has 199 career TD throws … Vegas ranks 14th offensively in both passing and rushing. Balanced? Yes. Good? Nope … Andy Reid with K.C.: 15-3 vs. Raiders.
RAVENS: Longest run of the year so far in the AFC? Lamar Jackson’s 79-yarder vs. Miami … Longest pass play so far? Jackson’s 75-yarder to Rashod Bateman, also vs. Miami.
STEELERS: Why Mike Tomlin benched Mitchell Trubisky for rookie Kenny Pickett as QB starter: “To score more points” … Three injured DB starters didn’t practise Wednesday; two other CBs limited.
TEXANS: Jerry Hughes, 34, is tied for fifth in sacks (4.0) … CB Derek Stingley wore a shoulder brace Wednesday but “should be good to go,” coach Lovie Smith said.
TITANS: Safety Amani Hooker (concussion) might return Sunday … OLB Bud Dupree (hip) didn’t practise Wednesday … Ryan Tannehill threw for 34 whole yards in the second half at Indy.
NFC
BEARS: Justin Fields trails all four-game starters with just 34 completions; next lowest is Marcus Mariota with 57 … Defensively it’s as bad. Chicago is last in stopping the run.
BUCCANEERS: Tom Brady missed Wednesday’s practice with injuries to his right shoulder and a throwing finger … Smurf WR Cole Beasley retired … At least ever-injured WR Julio Jones practised.
CARDINALS: Have won 10 of their last 11 away games. Head-scratcher … Kyler Murray’s 173 completions lead NFL … Rookie OLB Jesse Luketa of Ottawa didn’t dress at Carolina.
COMMANDERS: They outrushed the Cowboys 142-62 but somehow lost rather meekly at Dallas. Reason? Execution errors and, especially, penalties (a Week 4 high of 11). Ergo, consecutive loss No. 3.
COWBOYS: QB Cooper Rush is 3-0 and has yet to be intercepted … Safety Jayron Kearse practised fully Wednesday for the first time since spraining a knee in the opener.
EAGLES: LT Jordan Mailata had to pop a shoulder back into its socket Sunday, but the injury is minor and he told reporters he has a chance to play Sunday.
FALCONS: Hey, at 2-2 they’re tied atop the NFC South with the Bucs. And the Bucs are 0-2 at home … Marcus Mariota has thrown three TD passes, four picks.
49ers: Nick Bosa leads the NFL, by far, in individual QB pressures with 30, per PFF … Niners defence is holding foes to an NFL-lowest 3.8 yards on first downs.
GIANTS: QB Daniel Jones (ankle) literally ran around making throws in positional warmups on Wednesday, so expect him to start vs. Pack … WR Kenny Golladay (sprained knee) is out.
LIONS: Opponents are converting NFL-worst 53% of third downs … New England’s offensive pay-caller? Matt Patricia, Detroit’s disastrous previous head coach. It’d be mighty painful to lose to that jamoke.
PACKERS: Their first game in England … RB Aaron Jones is averaging 6.8 yards per carry. Give him the ball more! It ain’t heavy, as the late John McKay noted.
PANTHERS: Here’s a new one. Coach Matt Rhule describes poorly performing QB Baker Mayfield as “elite-ly resilient.” Too much experience there? … Impact safety Jeremy Chinn (hamstring) is on IR.
RAMS: OL bright spot? Alaric Jackson of Windsor, Ont. — after three games at a new position, RG — reportedly has allowed just four pressures in 119 pass-pro drops.
SAINTS: Jameis Winston isn’t practising. “I want to get him healthy,” coach Dennis Allen said. Fine, but Saints are last in turnover differential (-7) and Andy Dalton wasn’t picked Sunday.
SEAHAWKS: Just wow. Geno Smith’s 77.3 is the highest completion percentage through four games in NFL history. He’s also averaging 259 yards per game, and has been sacked only six times.
VIKINGS: Bears can’t stop the run and Minnesota loves to run. Why not, with Dalvin Cook? Also considering Chicago’s anemic offence, why are the Vikes favoured only by 7.5 points?
John Kryk writes a weekly newsletter on NFL matters. That’s where you can first see his straight-up picks each week. You can have the newsletter automatically dropped into your email inbox on Wednesdays simply by signing up — for free — at https://torontosun.com/newsletters/
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