Issues are getting very fascinating within the often-overlooked NFC South, because the Bucs bounced again in an enormous means in opposition to Philly, and the Falcons stole an in depth one in opposition to New Orleans.
Can he kick it?
YES KOO CAN
FOX | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/eMlvhWUiLq
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) September 29, 2024
In the meantime, in Indianapolis, it was identical to the outdated days: Joe Flacco going in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Athletic NFL writers Mike Jones, Ted Nguyen and Saad Yousuf share their ideas on all of those storylines and extra.
True or false: The Colts are extra of a menace to win the AFC South this season with Joe Flacco than with Anthony Richardson.
Jones: Anthony Richardson continues to be creating. Sure, he has nice bodily presents, however as a result of he solely performed 4 video games final yr, he’s nonetheless very a lot a rookie. Flacco has seen and carried out all of it, and he does deliver a veteran presence and poise that may assist a workforce win video games. Whereas Richarson, who leads the NFL with six interceptions, is the longer term, Flacco does give the Colts the perfect probability to win proper now. However that doesn’t imply he ought to take over. We have now to see what’s occurring with Richardson’s well being, and the Colts can have a troublesome resolution to make. The one means Richardson goes to develop is by taking part in and studying from errors. Do you wish to hamper that improvement by benching him to go together with Flacco when in actuality, this workforce isn’t constructed to overhaul any of the elite AFC groups?
Nguyen: For now, Flacco does give them a bonus. If Richardson is harm and might’t run as a lot, it limits what the offense might do. Flacco is healthier than fairly a couple of starters within the league proper now. (He could be the perfect quarterback in Sunday’s Browns-Raiders recreation.) Nonetheless, if Richardson is wholesome, there’s no query he must be the starter in my thoughts. He wants these repetitions with so little expertise total as a starter. Richardson made a few ridiculous throws in his brief time on this recreation earlier than he was harm, providing you with a glimpse of what he can develop into as a passer. Plenty of his accuracy points come right down to his footwork, which he must work on in stay motion.
Yousuf: There are a couple of caveats to work by means of with this query. It’s true that Joe Flacco offers the Colts a greater probability on the AFC South crown than a restricted Anthony Richardson. Nonetheless, if Richardson is wholesome, his distinctive bodily skills are a match for the cerebral edge Flacco possesses. With all of that being mentioned, neither quarterback offers the Colts a major sufficient edge to the place they develop into favorites within the division, particularly with the Texans sneaking out one other win on Sunday and prone to hold bettering because the season progresses. Above all, profitable the division isn’t the tip aim. If the Colts are going to make a run at being contenders within the AFC sooner or later, it will likely be attributable to Richardson creating, and that may solely occur with recreation reps.
How do you dimension up the NFC South after 4 weeks — who’s the favourite?
Nguyen: The NFC South is so shut. Every of the highest three groups all do sure issues at a excessive stage however all have some regarding weaknesses. Every have above-average quarterback play however none has an elite one. Baker Mayfield is taking part in on the highest stage however he’s nonetheless vulnerable to holding onto the ball and the premature making a detrimental play — he has the second-highest sack fee within the league amongst quarterbacks with 100 makes an attempt. Derek Carr began the season scorching however we’re seeing a few of the outdated unhealthy habits beginning to present up (instance: throwing wanting the sticks on cash downs). Kirk Cousins has stretches of robust play however his incapacity to maneuver is a hindrance. I’ll give Mayfield and the Buccaneers the sting due to their consistency. Tampa has an aggressive protection that’s difficult for opposing quarterbacks to take care of and although the offense is streaky, they will rating in bunches with their strong passing recreation.
Yousuf: On paper it’s a three-team race to the highest, however I’m a little bit hesitant to place the Saints in that group alongside the Buccaneers and Falcons. New Orleans is 2-2 however one win was in opposition to the Carolina Panthers, who would be the worst workforce within the NFL, and the opposite was in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys, which was spectacular (particularly for the best way they dominated that recreation), however the Cowboys appear to be a middling workforce themselves by means of 4 weeks. For the Saints to lose to the Eagles, who simply acquired walloped by the Bucs and look misplaced because the second half of final season, doesn’t encourage a whole lot of confidence. Actually, it appears like a two-team race the Bucs and Falcons, with the Bucs getting the sting as a result of they’ve the perfect quarterback play within the division.
Jones: It’s an intriguing division — properly, for 3 of the groups, anyway. The Buccaneers are the perfect workforce of the bunch. Tampa boasts a well-rounded offense led by a really comfy Baker Mayfield (347 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and a dashing landing within the win over Philadelphia), and a protection able to making game-changing performs (two takeaways and 6 sacks in opposition to the Eagles). The Falcons and Saints have potential, however are nonetheless understanding some kinks and have but to completely obtain the extent of consistency vital to really contend. However it’s going to be fascinating to see how the season progresses for every of them. The Falcons, who bounced again from final week’s loss to Kansas Metropolis, are most likely the division’s second-best workforce proper now as their win over the Saints would recommend. However the margin could be very slim between these two.
Is there something wanting a training change that may get the Jaguars again on observe after yet one more loss?
Yousuf: Except for their blowout loss to the Payments final Monday night time, the Jaguars misplaced their different three video games by three, 5 and 4 factors, together with a heartbreaking last-minute loss to the Texans on Sunday. When the difficulty is with the pinnacle coach, you usually begin to see lopsided outcomes and a scarcity of buy-in from the workforce. That isn’t the case with the Jaguars proper now, so I don’t know the way a lot transferring on from Doug Pederson mid-season would assist — to not point out there isn’t an ideal choice to take over on the employees. The largest query for the Jaguars is how they will get Trevor Lawrence on observe to stay as much as his potential (and now, his contract). It’s troubling that working with Pederson hasn’t introduced the perfect out of Lawrence.
Nguyen: I’m unsure if the Jaguars can get again on observe. Perhaps they will get a little bit increase with a brand new voice, however firing Pederson isn’t going to resolve their inconsistent offense. Additionally, taking part in in a aggressive recreation after a blowout in opposition to a contender reveals the workforce hasn’t stop on Pederson. Is there anybody on employees you wish to take over at this level? I’m additionally unsure who is asking performs for the Jaguars, however the final time that their offense appeared good, Pederson was unquestionably the primary play caller. Going again to that mannequin may be the one means Pederson saves his job.
Jones: I’m not so positive {that a} teaching change would spark a turnaround for the Jaguars. The underachieving methods of this workforce and of quarterback Trevor Lawrence (18-for-33 for 169 yards, two touchdowns Sunday) actually are perplexing. However I’m not satisfied that Pederson is the issue. He’s coach, however there’s positively a disconnect someplace. I do surprise if Pederson must make a change at offensive coordinator, or on the very least take again play-calling duties from Press Taylor. However that won’t repair a protection that ranks among the many worst within the league. The Jaguars actually must be higher than 0-4. I simply don’t suppose there’s a fast repair right here.
(High photograph: Justin Casterline / Getty Pictures)
