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Tyreek Hill says he did not remove his helmet in celebration | Pro Football Talk
“The referees are human beings,” Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said. “They missed it. I told them that he took his helmet off. They missed that one. Those refs, they did an outstanding job. I thought they called a really good game. It was very competitive on both sides, but they missed that one.”
Hill, though, said he did not purposely remove his helmet, but that it started coming off as he hit the ground.
“I promise you I did not take my helmet off,” Hill said, via Adam Teicher of ESPN.
That being said, if Patricia is fired, chances are that current OC Darrell Bevell would be the interim head coach for the remainder of the season, and Lions ownership would then hire a new HC in the offseason.
Eric Bieniemy, offensive coordinator, Kansas City Chiefs
Undoubtedly the biggest snub of last year’s cycle, Bieniemy, the offensive coordinator of the best offense in football, has returned in that same role this year. Here is a coach who has had his hands on the development of Patrick Mahomes, who sits at the Andy Reid altar and, at times, calls plays. He interviewed with the Panthers and Giants, among others, at the end of the 2020 cycle. There is a belief that this will be a make-or-break year for Bieniemy’s candidacy. Will Andy Reid’s Super Bowl credentials add more heft to his impressive résumé?
Protocol snafu allows Chiefs fan, who later tested COVID-19 positive, in Arrowhead I KSHB-TV
There was a lapse in protocol when a fan who later was reported to be COVID-19 positive was allowed into a suite at the Kansas City Chiefs home opener, according to the Kansas City, Missouri, Health Department.
Fans are required to have a negative test prior to sitting in a suite, the department said.
The Kansas City Chiefs said in statement that they are aware the “individual apparently violated the suite testing protocol that is in place.”
Around the NFL
Broncos QB Drew Lock expects MRI after injuring throwing shoulder in loss to Steelers | NFL.com
Quarterback Drew Lock injured his shoulder in the Broncos’ 26-21 loss to the Steelers on Sunday early in the game and did not return. Lock suffered the injury when he was sacked by Pittsburgh’s Bud Dupree, resulting in a fumble and a turnover for Denver in the first quarter.
The second-year QB, sporting a sling after the game, told reporters his arm felt funny when trying to throw after the takedown. Lock added that he still doesn’t know much about the injury but is “optimistic.”
“We’ll probably do an MRI on it,” he said. “... And yes, because it’s my throwing arm, there’s a little bit more caution in there.”
Jeff Driskel replaced Lock, gaining a first down on a completion to Jerry Jeudy before the Broncos stalled, punting late in the first quarter.
Ravens unleash deep backfield in convincing win vs. Texans | NFL.com
Baltimore’s 33-16 win over the Houston Texans was an illustration of how much the Ravens are evolving as an offense. They gained 230 yards on the ground, with an assortment of runners making significant contributions. That attack wore down Houston’s defense and gave the Ravens their second win of the season. It also told us Jackson won’t have to do nearly as much heavy lifting as he did during his MVP campaign last year.
These Ravens still want to slug it out. The difference now is that their defense is stronger, their quarterback is more mature and — after going 14-2 in 2019 and losing in the Divisional Round of the playoffs — they have a clear determination to finish what they start.
“It’s a new year and we’re trying to create a new identity,” running back Mark Ingram said. “We were able to run the ball (effectively), and we feel like we have the best backfield in the league. We just want to run hard and have the league put respect on our names.”
Tom Brady bounces back; ‘outstanding’ in first win with Buccaneers | ESPN.com
One week after Tom Brady threw two interceptions in a losing debut with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he led four touchdown drives — two that came off turnovers — to hold off the Carolina Panthers 31-17 on Sunday for his first Buccaneers win at Raymond James Stadium.
Brady completed 23 of 35 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown to improve to 1-1 in NFC South play. Brady is now 49-13 (.790) since 2001 coming off a loss, second only to Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.
“I think he has a pretty good history of that,” Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians said of Brady’s bounce-back performance. “This game should never have got as close as it did. We let ‘em back in. But I thought he played outstanding. His leadership on the sideline was great, and he put us in the right play [on] a number of different audibles. He played really, really well.”
Giants RB Saquon Barkley (ACL) likely out for season | NFL.com
Barkley sustained a knee injury in the first half of the Giants’ 17-13 defeat to the Bears and did not return. Based on manual tests and initial diagnosis, Barkley suffered an ACL tear, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. Barkley will have an MRI, but the belief is Barkley is out for the season, Rapoport added.
The sensational running back was helped off the field on the first play of the second quarter. Barkley ripped off his helmet, writhing in pain on the Bears sideline, grabbing at his right knee after a six-yard run to open the quarter. Teammates helped the running back across to the field to the Giants bench. Barkley couldn’t put pressure on his right leg.
The RB was carted to the locker room. Barkley punched the cart as he was driven off, indicating the severity of the injury. The team stated that Barkley had been taken in for X-rays on his knee and would undergo further testing Monday.
Nick Bosa, Jimmy Garoppolo, Raheem Mostert exit with injuries vs. Jets | NFL.com
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa was carted off in their 31-13 win over the New York Jets in the first quarter with a knee injury. The team quickly ruled him out for the remainder of the contest, which was far from done with seeing significant Niners injuries.
Niners coach Kyle Shanahan said after the game that Bosa likely tore his ACL and will undergo more tests.
The injury woes did not stop there for San Francisco.
Niners starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo played the entire first half while hobbled with an ankle injury before being ruled out at the start of the second half with San Francisco leading 21-3. Nick Mullens entered the game in place of Garoppolo.
Shanahan said that Jimmy G has a high-ankle sprain, meaning Mullens is the favorite to start next week at the New York Giants.
Starting running back Raheem Mostert was also ruled out with a knee injury at half. Mostert is believed to have suffered a mild MCL sprain, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, but will have tests Monday to produce a time table for his recovery.
Referees focusing on ‘clear and obvious’ calls as penalties drop | NFL.com
There were 181 offensive and defensive penalties, the second-fewest in Week 1 since the NFL expanded to 32 teams in 2002, according to NFL Network research. The 84 offensive penalties and 647 offensive penalty yards were the fewest since 2002. Meanwhile, as Anderson notes, the 97 defensive penalties were the third-most since 2002 and the 1,187 defensive penalty yards were the most ever. For a good reason.
Total penalties (penalties plus those that were declined) are at 200 through Week 1 (12.5 per game). Last year was 309 (19.3 per game).
The reality is, offensive and defensive penalties in Week 1 have increased steadily over the past few years, from 197 in 2016 to 249 in 2019. Now, back to 181. It’s a small sample size, of course, but still important.
Anderson was asked if the numbers are what he wanted.
“That’s not as important as what the NFL likes and what the audience likes,” Anderson said. “People want to see penalties that need to be called, not penalties that are ticky tack.”
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Chiefs-Chargers: three big takeaways from Week 2
Pass protection, pass protection, pass protection
Every year, there is a game that perfectly showcases how difficult it can be to be an offensive tackle for the league’s best player — Patrick Mahomes. For much of the night, the Chiefs pass protection’ was breaking down on the edge over and over again.
Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz both looked to bite off more than they could chew trying to handle Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa one on one. It’s certainly worth monitoring after such a quick passing attack against the Houston Texans in Week 1 and now a shaky performance from the two tackles in pass protection for the second week in a row.
Part of the issue does fall onto Mahomes, who tends to drop back, then drift backward even farther. It makes blocking to specific points — depending on the drop steps and depth — very difficult. The Chargers know this about the Chiefs and Mahomes, so their defensive ends took very deep, very direct pass-rush angles knowing they didn’t have to worry about creating the space to loop up into the pocket behind the quarterback.
A tweet to make you think
There might have been even more to like about how the Chiefs used Edwards-Helaire in Week 2 than Week 1, despite the big difference in production. He had the six catches and eight targets, yes, but he also had a 25-yard-downfield catch called back by penalty in a key spot.
— mark folkloretta (@CTowersCBS) September 21, 2020
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