Tom Brady Isn't Sure If Defenders Are Being Treated Fair On Roughing The Passer Calls

Yes, Tom Brady understands the irony behind his disagreements with the roughing-the-passer penalties called in Sunday's Green Bay Packers-Detroit Lions game. That won't stop him from advocating for defensive players to get some more leeway when it comes to hitting quarterbacks, though. In the most recent edition of #AskTom, Brady said that quarterbacks should take some more accountability on certain hits, adding that it comes with the territory of playing the position. "On the field, I just think there's a level of aggressiveness that the defenders need to play with in order to do their job well — whether that's rushing the passer or closing on a receiver to knock the ball off them. I just think sometimes we're calling it a little too close," Brady said. "The quarterbacks, they have every right to get rid of the ball whenever they want. The faster they get that ball out of their hands, the less likely they are to get hit. "But if they want to hold the ball, part of the understanding is that you're gonna get hit." There were a handful of penalties that Brady expressed his displeasure with when he was on the call for the Packers-Lions game on FOX. When Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes hit Packers running back Marshawn Lloyd on a pass thrown his way and was called for unnecessary roughness, Brady blurted, "Oh, come on, man." "That’s allowed 99 out of 100 … it’s a bang-bang play," Brady added of the penalty called on Barnes at the time. The one that seemed to irk Brady the most, though, was the roughing the passer that was called on Packers defensive tackle Karl Brooks for his hit on Jared Goff during the Lions' final drive. It appeared that Brooks hit Goff in a split second after he threw it. "No, my goodness, what is that? There’s no way," Brady said of the penalty on Sunday's broadcast. "Brooks on the tackle kind of makes a great play. It’s a bang-bang play. He rolls off his body; it’s a great throw by Goff, that’s definitely not roughing the passer. "You’re just ripping through the line of scrimmage to try to get the quarterback on the ground," Brady continued. "Look, I love Goff standing there in the pocket, but you just can’t tack it on 15 yards." FOX Sports NFL rules analyst Dean Blandino agreed with Brady's assessment of the penalty, saying that Brooks' hit "wasn't late." That penalty helped Detroit get deep into Green Bay territory, allowing it to kick the game-winning field goal as time expired, which led Brady to call the penalty "a little bit controversial" on #AskTom. And as Brady criticized the officiating for calling roughing the passer penalties he thought were weak, he admitted that it's easier for him to feel that way now that he's retired. "Look, I understand. I'm self-aware," Brady said as some on social media thought he was a bit hypocritical for him to call out the officiating. "I'm sitting up in that booth. It's much easier for me to say it now that I'm sitting up in the booth, but that's what my job is. I'm a broadcaster now, right? I have these types of opinions." Brady's thoughts on some controversial penalty calls weren't the only thing that went viral from his call during Sunday's Packers-Lions game. When it appeared the Lions were going to pass the ball on one of the final plays from scrimmage, Brady blurted, "Don't tell me they're going to throw this? Oh my God, they're going to throw this." The Lions ended up running the ball on the ensuing play, which allowed them to bleed some more clock before kicking the game-winning field goal. But when Brady was asked about that call and the Lions' unsuccessful fourth-down attempt from deep in their own territory on #AskTom, he still shared some anxiety he had in those moments. "At that part, I did," Brady said when asked if he ever forgets that he's on a broadcast seen by millions of people. "After a while, you start thinking, 'Am I the one that is seeing this the wrong way? Did they just go for it in a tie game on their own 20-yard line? Is that what happened with the line? And they didn't get it? Oh my God.' "When you're not in on every thought or conversation going on those coaching headsets, a lot of these times, I'm just trying to speak out loud what exactly I'm seeing." And Brady thinks that the Lions might have gotten a bit lucky in their win over the Packers. "Look, I know they're an aggressive fourth-down team, but maybe the football Gods were looking after them a little bit this last Sunday, let's be honest," Brady said.

from Latest NFL News & Videos from FOX Sports https://ift.tt/yug2RYO

NFL Trade Deadline: Is Saquon Barkley Next Star To Move? Who Execs Expect To Buy & Sell

There was once a time when the NFL trade deadline brought very little pomp and circumstance. That's no longer the case. This week has been a prime example that very few trade ideas are far-fetched. Three players with All-Pro talent have been traded in the last few days. The Indianapolis Colts traded guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers, respectively. Possibly the biggest deal of the deadline came on Thursday, though, when the Chicago Bears landed Tennessee Titans All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons for two first-round picks and a fourth-round selection. But will Simmons be the biggest name to be moved before the Nov. 10 deadline arrives? Should we expect more fireworks over the next couple of weeks? We asked those questions around the league to figure out which teams might be active and who might get moved. Here's what we learned. Ralph Vacchiano: The fire sale in Indianapolis has already begun. Expect sell-offs in Philadelphia and Los Angeles to follow soon. That’s what several NFL sources told me to expect between now and the Nov. 10 NFL trading deadline. It’s pretty clear the seasons are over for the Chargers (0-6) and Eagles (2-5), and both teams have expendable players who can bring them assets they can use when their offseason rebuilding begins. "It doesn’t sound like either team is there yet, but they will be soon. Or at least they should be," one NFL assistant general manager told me. "They’re not crazy enough to sit tight, especially with so many players on expiring deals." "Those teams have multiple tradeable players with value," another NFL executive told me. "You might see teams like the Titans or Bucs make an isolated trade. But if you’re looking for a sell-off, the Eagles and the Chargers might be it." Based on conversations with multiple executives and scouts, NFL teams are watching at least three players on each squad. For the Eagles, they are expected to at least field offers for cornerback Riq Woolen, guard Landon Dickerson and tight end Dallas Goedert, those sources told me. One scout added defensive tackle Moro Ojomo to the list, and at least two sources wondered about running back Saquon Barkley. "Woolen and Goedert are short-term rentals who can give a contender a boost at those spots down the stretch," the assistant general manager told me. "Dickerson might be more of a long-term play because he’s only 28 and has a couple of years left on his deal. I’d say the Eagles would be crazy to trade him, but it clearly looks like they’re going to rebuild their entire offensive line." As for the Chargers, the names that came up most were edge rusher Khalil Mack — whom the executive said was "old, but might be the best edge rusher to get traded in this cycle" — plus wide receiver Quentin Johnston and cornerback Donte Jackson. "The Chargers have to start from scratch in the offseason," the executive told me. "They’re not in a position to turn down offers on anybody at this point. Just get whatever picks you can get and move on." Vacchiano: The New York Giants have been waiting a long time for an opportunity like this, and many around the NFL don’t expect them to waste it. Off to a 4-2-1 start and staring at a crumbling NFC East, general manager Joe Schoen and new coach John Harbaugh could be strong buyers in the NFL trade market between now and the trade deadline. They already got things started when they traded a fifth-round pick to the Vikings for quarterback J.J. McCarthy last month to replace the injured Jaxson Dart. But with a lineup thinned by injuries — including season-ending ones to edge rusher Brian Burns and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds — there could be more deals to come. "From what I hear, they know they’ve got a really unique opportunity to pull away from a bad division, and they want to strike while they can," one NFL executive told me. "I honestly thought they were a year away, and might need to trade off a few guys for picks for the future. But here they are in first place, starting at a playoff berth. "When that’s there, you’ve got to grab it." Multiple NFL sources pointed to four areas the Giants might seek to improve: Defensive tackle, running back, edge rusher and interior offensive line. Of those, the consensus seemed to be that defensive tackle would be the Giants’ priority, unless they could add a top back — like perhaps Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor — at a reasonable price. "I’ve heard a lot of talk about them and Taylor, because Harbaugh is worried about [Cam Skattebo’s] ball security," one NFL assistant general manager told me. "I get it. It would give him his Derrick Henry (who Harbaugh coached in Baltimore). But I think JT’s going to be too expensive. "They can get a [defensive] tackle cheap. They need to shore up the middle of their run defense. They lost a lot when Burns and Edmunds went down. If they can get a big guy in the middle of that line to eat up blockers, and it only costs them a Day 3 pick, that could change everything about their defense." There is one problem for the Giants, though: They don’t have a fourth- or fifth-round pick in the 2027 draft, and may not have a seventh, which means that if they are looking at players with Day 3 pick values, they might have to get creative or hope those teams are OK with picks in 2028. And they have to be careful about overspending because they’re walking a fine line. A winning season, a division title and a playoff berth are all in reach. But nobody thinks they’re good enough to be real Super Bowl contenders. It’s still just Year 1 of the Harbaugh era, and they have to keep their future in mind. "Yeah, they don’t want to give up too many big assets — like, no first-rounders. It would be hard for them to justify trading a Day 1 or 2 pick, unless it’s something really big," the assistant general manager said. "But they have to act like contenders. "Because that’s what they are." Eric D. Williams: With less than two weeks remaining before the Nov. 10 trade deadline, the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks already took big swings to improve their teams. The 49ers brought back defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, giving up a fourth-round pick in a trade with the Indianapolis Colts. The Seahawks also made a deal with Indianapolis, improving their offensive line by giving up a 2027 third-round selection and a fifth-round pick in 2028 for All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson. "Both will pay huge dividends this season," an NFL front office executive told me. A league source told me it’s possible the Los Angeles Rams could be willing to join the arms race. It would make sense, considering that’s how Los Angeles has built championship contenders in years past, by giving up premium picks for premium players like Von Miller and Jalen Ramsey at the trade deadline. "The Rams could," a league source told me. "I would think the Chargers would look to make deals, but maybe not much to trade that would bring much back. The Cardinals less so, but they’re hard to predict. They have to be good deals." While the Rams might be tempted to dip their toes in the fray, Los Angeles has the least salary cap space of any team in the NFL. And the Rams don’t have many trade chips, with only four picks in next year’s draft. In essence, the Rams already made their big deadline acquisitions when they traded for Myle Garrett and Trent McDuffie in the offseason. Both are expected back from injury sooner rather than later, along with receiver Davante Adams before the end of the season. McVay confirmed that thought process, saying his team is more inclined to wait for frontline players to get healthy for the second half of the season. "What you look at is hopefully some of those trades will be guys getting back from injury that haven't played for us," McVay told reporters this week. "That’s the way that we look at it. Like I’ve told you in years past, you always think about it, but with the amount of guys that have not been available that are key and focal points for really both sides of the football, we look at those guys hopefully being able to return within a month. That’s where that value lies for us." Williams: For teams we did not expect to be leading the division at this point of the season, like the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns or Carolina Panthers, what happened to the Indianapolis Colts over the past year offers an important lesson of why it might be wise to pump the brakes on not pushing in all the chips. If you recall, the Colts traded two first-round picks for Sauce Gardner at the trade deadline last year after starting the season a surprising 7-2. Then quarterback Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles tear and Gardner also got hurt. The Colts cratered, losing eight of their last nine games in 2025 and were so desperate they signed 44-year-old Philip Rivers to lead the offense. Indianapolis never recovered, starting this season 2-5 and firing longtime general manager Chris Ballard last week. So, before you hope your team makes a big trade in the next couple of weeks, one league source I spoke to wants to send a reminder: not every deal for a star will work. "The Colts were a top contender last year — if Daniel didn’t get hurt, they had a real shot to win it all," a league source told me. "That was a worthwhile trade if you think Sauce is that good. Problem is, Sauce has gotten worse every year. He played his best ball as a rookie."

from Latest NFL News & Videos from FOX Sports https://ift.tt/BECjiVm

Bears Land Jeffery Simmons: Why Execs Love Deal For Chicago; Who Will Titans Trade Next?

The run-up to this year's NFL trade deadline has already brought a ton of exciting moves. But with a little less than two weeks before, we might have gotten the biggest deal we'll see this deadline season when the Chicago Bears landed All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons on Thursday. Simmons, a three-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler, is arguably one of the best players to be dealt during the season in recent memory, and what the Bears gave up to acquire him certainly suggests that. The Tennessee Titans received two first-round picks (2027 and 2028) plus a 2027 fourth-round pick for Simmons, while also giving up a 2028 fifth-round pick. The deal certainly sent shock waves across the NFL, as the 5-2 Bears gear up to make a deep postseason run in Year 2 of the Caleb Williams-Ben Johnson era. But did Chicago give up too much to land Simmons? Will Tennessee now trade anyone else after Thursday's move? We asked those questions and more around the league to see how much of an impact Simmons might make in Chicago, and what else we could expect before the Nov. 10 trade deadline. Here's what we learned. Henry McKenna: Just a few months ago, Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson told me about "unstable success," a phrase he used to describe elements of his team that were generating positive outcomes that exceeded expectations. And I can’t help but think their early defensive success falls into that bucket. Which is why the Bears went out and acquired one of the league’s most proven defensive superstars, Jeffery Simmons, in a trade with the Titans that sent two first-rounders to Tennessee. "Obviously, the Bears are all in and going for it. [Chicago] added one of the best DTs — if not the best DT in the league," one NFL executive told me. Simmons might not get much love in the national spotlight because the Titans have been woeful for years. But he has quietly made himself the most productive interior rusher in the league, leading DTs in sacks (15), tackles for loss (23), pressures (85), quick pressures (31) and pressures leading to turnovers (6) since the start of the 2025 season, per FOX Sports Research. He’s also as stout a run defender as they come, on top of being a locker room leader who will help enrich Chicago’s already-impressive culture. Best of all, the Bears will only pay him $7.9 million in 2026 — which is a ridiculous bargain. Then it jumps to $22.5 million in 2027 and $30 million in 2028, which will be outstanding value. (Though it’s likely he could return to the negotiating table at that point.) Simmons is the total package — a fully realized talent and leader — for the Bears defense. Chicago has spent the opening weeks beating up on bad defenses, which has made the Bears look like a top-10 defense (10th in points allowed per game). But there were signs that they might be beatable, especially when looking back at that Packers game, where Green Bay put up 31 points. Simmons will instantly be the biggest headache on the Bears' defense. You have to bet that coaches Matt LaFleur and Ben Johnson didn’t like the look of this trade — and how it could change the complexion of the NFC North. "Bears got a stud, great player, great dude!!!! He impacts the game," another NFL executive told me. "Frees up a defender. You better put two guys on him blocking." The Titans, meanwhile, are diving deeper into rebuilding mode, which has spanned for what feels like forever. And while it’s tempting to hold onto a player like Simmons, who makes life easier for coaches on and off the field, it makes sense to sell the 29-year-old star before the twilight of his career arrives. "He’s older than [Micah] Parsons or Sauce [Gardner], so it’s a good return," an NFL scout told me when asked about the Titans’ side of the deal. "I like them being realistic on where they are at. … I see it as a win-win for both sides." Eric D. Williams: The Chicago Bears announced they believe that they are Super Bowl contenders in the ultra-competitive NFC. Ahead of their nationally televised Monday Night Football contest at the Seattle Seahawks (who already made a big move by trading for All-Pro offensive guard Quenton Nelson), the Bears executed a blockbuster trade of their own by giving up a package that includes two first-round picks for dominant defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. The Bears, much like the team they lost to in the NFC divisional round of the playoffs last season, engineered their version of the Los Angeles Rams’ strategy of roster building by trading premium draft picks for a premium talent, according to league sources I spoke with. "Chicago clearly is shooting their shot for the Super Bowl this year," the league source told me. "They took a page out of the Rams’ playbook … F them picks." "I think it’s a great trade for Chicago," another NFL personnel executive told me, as the Bears acquired one of the league’s best defensive tackles to upgrade their defense in a chase for a deep postseason run in the NFC. While Simmons has arguably been the NFL's best defensive tackle over the last two years, he's also thrived when opposing teams have focused on stopping him. He's generated 10 pressures and three sacks when double-teamed this season, which is the most in the NFL, according to Next Gen Stats. His 101 snaps against double-teams are the second-most faced among defensive tackles this season, while he's generated 28 total pressures (most among defensive tackles), per Next Gen Stats. At 5-2, the Bears are in the most competitive division in the NFL, the NFC North, where the Green Bay Packers own the worst record at 4-3. And even if they get out of the division, the Bears will have to defeat elite teams like the San Francisco 49ers (6-1), Seahawks (4-3) and potentially a Rams team filled with talent (3-4) if they turn things around in the second half of the season. Adding a player like Simmons significantly improves a Chicago defense that gives up a league-low in yards per play (6.25) and passing yards per play (8.15). Williams: While league sources I spoke with liked the trade for Chicago, they also told me that other players could be on their way out of Nashville before the trade deadline ends in two weeks. One longtime NFL scout indicated that there’s not a lot of positive vibes emanating from Tennessee. "Titans unloading is typical for a team going nowhere," the scout told me. "Getting draft capital, but the QB is a PR nightmare and the head coach isn’t far behind him. Simmons is a frustrated veteran playing on a team lacking direction. He sees it and lives it." The underperforming Indianapolis Colts are currently directing a fire sale. And the Titans could be joining them. With No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward in his second season and under the direction of new head coach Robert Saleh, the Titans are struggling to get wins and gain footing in the AFC South. "It wouldn’t surprise me if the Titans offload some of the deals for guys who don’t figure into their long-term plans," a league source told me. "Guys like WR Calvin Ridley, LB Cody Barton and underperforming CB Alontae Taylor (who they just signed in free agency last year). Those are guys I would not be surprised to see them move on from." Titans running back Tony Pollard is another player who teams around the league are monitoring as someone who could shake free in the next two weeks and would receive interest from NFL teams like the Seattle Seahawks or the Minnesota Vikings. Both teams are looking for help by adding a top-tier running back like Pollard.

from Latest NFL News & Videos from FOX Sports https://ift.tt/zwCojvK

NFL Week 8 Betting Report: Is Lamar Back? Bettors Still Backing Bills, The Over

The marquee matchup in NFL Week 8 odds is Ravens vs. Bills — but only if Lamar Jackson returns from an ankle injury, one that has caused him to miss three games. Based on the point spread — Buffalo is a 3-point home favorite midweek — oddsmakers believe Jackson is a go for Sunday’s AFC showdown. "That’s the expectation," Caesars Sports head of football trading Joey Feazel said. "We are at Bills -3, and the line would’ve been north of Bills -7 if Jackson wasn’t playing. Probably a strong 7.5." More on that matchup, along with the unbeaten Vikings vs. the Lions on FOX, and a sharp play on a key AFC North clash, as we dive into NFL Week 8 betting nuggets. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. The Bills are 5-1 straight up (SU) and 4-2 against the spread (ATS) while coming off their bye week. The Ravens are 4-3 SU/2-5 ATS, losing two in a row, including a 35-13 Week 7 wipeout at home vs. the Bengals, despite leading 13-0 at halftime. Jackson’s return should shore up Baltimore’s woes on offense. Caesars Sports opened the Bills -3.5, and the line dipped to -3 (-121) on Tuesday night, which is where it remained Wednesday evening. "Jackson returning was already baked into that line," Feazel said. "But we’re seeing much more Bills action, even with Lamar back. It’s all one-way traffic here, Bills and Over, and I don’t expect that to change." The total is up to 54 from a 52.5 opener. Keep in mind that last season, these two teams met in the Week 1 Sunday night game. The Bills won a wild shootout 41-40, as the game smashed through the 51.5 total. There’s already sharp play on Over 52.5 and 53.5. And the public betting masses are sure to weigh in on the Over ahead of Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET kickoff. "I don’t think we’ll see much interest in the Under from the public," Feazel said. FOX has a key NFC North contest Sunday, when the Vikings (6-0 SU/5-1 ATS) visit the Lions (4-2 SU/1-4-1 ATS) at 1 p.m. ET. Minnesota is the last unbeaten team in the league, which was on no one’s bingo card. Detroit opened as a 3-point favorite at Caesars and advanced to -3.5 multiple times early in the week. On Wednesday evening, the Lions were -3.5 (even). "The Vikings are somehow undefeated. But I don’t think they’ve convinced the public that they are a dominant team," Feazel said. "We’re seeing mostly Lions action, and I don’t anticipate that changing." Professional bettor Randy McKay is already involved with Browns vs. Steelers, another 1 p.m. ET kickoff on Sunday. Surprisingly, Cleveland is 5-2 SU and ATS, mirroring Pittsburgh’s record as the two teams battle for first place in the AFC North. McKay is on the Browns +3.5. Pittsburgh is at home but had the long trip to Paris in Week 7, where they posted a 16-10 win over New Orleans. "Teams playing the next week after an international game are 0-8 ATS and 1-7 SU," McKay said, citing the recent trend for such teams. "Plus, not much has changed since the first meeting this season, which Cleveland won. I’m expecting a close game, so I favor taking the points." In Week 4, the Browns were 2.5-point home underdogs and beat the Steelers 27-24 on Andre Szmyt’s 56-yard field goal with 10 seconds left. The Chiefs (5-1 SU/3-3 ATS) suffered their first setback last week, falling at Seattle 20-3 as 3-point underdogs. That’s had an effect on early bettors for Kansas City’s trip to Denver to face the Broncos (5-2 SU and ATS). And that’s despite K.C. dominating Denver in a 31-10 Week 1 home victory. In NFL Week 8 odds, the Chiefs opened -1.5, dipped to -1 a couple of times and was at -1.5 on Wednesday evening. "The Chiefs were a public ‘dog last week and got a lot of action. And they weren’t able to get bettors to the pay window," Feazel said. "On the side [this week], it’s been mostly Broncos money. And that’s how it’s been week in and week out this season." It’s worth noting that the Broncos have had a fair degree of luck while going 5-1 SU and ATS since losing at K.C. However, as Feazel said: "They still end up winning games and covering." All that noted, Feazel said he anticipates more Chiefs betting as the 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday kickoff approaches. "It’ll be more two-way action," Feazel said, while also noting the total dipped from 41.5 to 40.5. "There was a little sharper action on Under 41.5." NFL Week 8 odds kick off Thursday with the Panthers (3-3 SU and ATS) visiting the Packers (4-3 SU and ATS), at 8:15 p.m. ET. Both are coming off losses: Green Bay fell 20-17 at Detroit but covered as a 3.5-point underdog, while Carolina got smoked by Tampa Bay 43-13 as a 3-point home favorite. Caesars opened the Packers as 3.5-point home favorites and got to Pack -4.5 Sunday night. But Green Bay then backed up and has been at -3.5 (-117) since Monday morning. "We saw some sharp action on the Panthers at +4.5 and +4," Feazel said. "But overall, we’re seeing more Packers action, and I don’t expect that to change. And that’s coupled with the Over. "We’re likely gonna need the Panthers to win outright, in a lower-scoring affair. A lot of people will have Packers moneyline in their parlays." The Bears (5-2 SU and ATS) are rolling again behind Caleb Williams. Entering the Week 8 Monday night game vs. the Seahawks, Chicago is on a 4-1 SU and ATS upswing. Seattle ended a two-game skid by stuffing Kansas City 20-3 as a 3-point home favorite in the Week 7 Sunday night game. Caesars, in turn, opened the Seahawks -3 at home vs. the Bears, and on Wednesday night, it was Seahawks -3 (-117). "It’s possible we could see this line touch 3.5. But the Bears are attracting some attention, with Caleb Williams looking good," Feazel said. "We’re seeing two-way action on the spread and the total. "I would assume this is a scenario where Bears bettors come in on the moneyline, and Seahawks bettors are on the spread. So our best case would be Seattle by one or two points."

from Latest NFL News & Videos from FOX Sports https://ift.tt/t9wf3zh

The Brilliance Behind NFL's Best WR, Jaxon Smith-Njigba; Inside NFC West Arms Race

Lumen Field (Seattle) — Tyrice Knight said the quiet part out loud. I asked the Seattle Seahawks linebacker how surprised he was to see the Kansas City Chiefs lining up rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane by himself in press coverage against the best receiver in the league: Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Knight shook his head. "They must not have been watching film," Knight told me following the Seahawks' 20-3 win over the Chiefs. "I don’t know why they left that cornerback out there like that. Maybe they had confidence in him, I don’t know. But you can’t do that with the best receiver in the league. You’ve got to give that guy some help." Facing single coverage a fair amount of the evening as Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo chose to blitz Sam Darnold 23.3% of the time (It wasn't a wise choice: Darnold finished 7 of 7 for 81 yards and a score vs. blitz, per Next Gen Stats), Smith-Njigba finished with nine receptions for 150 yards on 12 targets. He caught five of his six targets for 85 yards and a touchdown in man coverage against cornerbacks L’Jarius Sneed and Delane, according to Next Gen Stats. On a night when many expected Kenneth Walker III to strengthen his case for Offensive Player of the Year and get back at his former team, JSN instead showed why he’s the best skill-position player in football … and why the Seahawks will be proven right to let the star running back leave. "You can try your best, but JSN is going to get his," Seahawks tight end AJ Barner told me. "It was a great performance by him. That’s just what it is. Jaxon is going to get open. Sam’s going to find him. He’s just incredible. Every week he’s so consistent. It’s what we expect from Jax." Barner said a primary reason for the 24-year-old Smith-Njigba’s early success just four years into his NFL career is that he’s an old soul who shows up to work every day. His teammates follow that lead. "He’s such a talented kid, but it’s his mindset, too," Barner told me. "It’s never too big of a spotlight for him. He had 150 yards tonight, but when he shows up tomorrow, whether it’s 150 yards or 50 yards, he’s going to be the same guy. He’s going to come in and work. And he’s going to put the team before himself as well." Smith-Njigba, the league's reigning Offensive Player of the Year, is once again on a heater this season. He leads all receivers in receptions (58), receiving yards (867) and receiving touchdowns (8). If he were to do that for the entire season, Smith-Njigba would be just the fourth receiver to earn the receiving triple crown since the turn of the century. Cooper Kupp notched a triple crown with the Los Angeles Rams during the 2021 season, going on to help his team win the Super Bowl and taking home Super Bowl MVP honors. Now Smith-Njigba’s teammate in Seattle, Kupp understands the stress that he’s going through. "People are going to try and take him away, but he has the ability to stay engaged one play after the next, and when the opportunity comes to play high level football," Kupp said. "It’s really hard to stay engaged for a full game when the defense is trying to take you away. But he’s done an unbelievable job of that and making the plays when the ball comes his way." Smith-Njigba is also on pace to become the first receiver with 2,000 receiving yards. He’s the fourth player in NFL history to record 100 receiving yards in six of his team’s first seven games of a season. And Smith-Njigba has been a one-man wrecking crew for Seattle, accounting for 36% of the offense this season. One play against the Chiefs was a microcosm of Smith-Njigba’s dominance. Kansas City sent an all-out blitz late in the first half, with the Seahawks on the Chiefs’ 28-yard line. Delane had sticky press coverage on the Ohio State product on a fade ball, reaching in between Smith-Njigba’s hands to knock the ball away. But Smith-Njigba deftly anticipated the move, moving the ball to his outside left hand and palming the ball in an outstretched hand to keep it away from the rookie defender, holding it out as he went out of bounds for the touchdown. "He’s unguardable," Seahawks safety Nick Emmanori said. "And it’s pretty amazing to see. Like I’m sitting there and like, ‘Wow, this is a potential Hall of Famer.’ He’s a great receiver. Knowing that he’s getting double-teamed and they’re sending cloud [a second defender] his way, and he’s still making plays? It’s crazy. You can’t even fathom it." In what has become an annual tradition, Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider made a move to improve his team at a position of need ahead of the NFL’s trade deadline on Nov. 10 It started in Schneider’s first year as GM of the Seahawks, when he traded a fourth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills for Marshawn Lynch in 2010. This year, the Seahawks traded a third-year pick in the 2027 draft and a fifth-round pick in 2028 for Indianapolis Colts Pro Bowl offensive guard Quenton Nelson. The Seahawks had struggled to consistently get a push in the running game with Kenneth Walker III signing with Kansas City in free agency, and at times struggled to protect quarterback Sam Darnold. In Nelson, the Seahawks get an eight-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro who has one year left on his deal with a base salary of $16 million. Seattle will pay a prorated portion of that salary of nearly $10 million. Seahawks left tackle Charles Cross could miss time due to a high-ankle sprain suffered in the team’s runaway win over the Chiefs last week, so Nelson provides depth up front. Current left guard Grey Zabel is expected to move over to right guard, allowing the 30-year-old Nelson to fill in at left guard. Swing tackle Josh Jones is expected to fill in at left tackle if Cross can't go. The Seahawks are in an arms race in the NFC West with the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams added Myles Garrett, Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson and Aaron Donald in the offseason, while the 49ers brought in Mike Evans. Seattle responded to those moves by adding its own Hall of Fame-worthy player two weeks before the trade deadline in Nelson. It’s the fourth consecutive year the Seahawks have made a big trade at the deadline, including Leonard Williams in 2023, Ernest Jones IV in 2024, Rashid Shaheed in 2025 and Nelson this season. Like Lynch, all three players signed new deals to stay in Seattle, so Nelson could be a long-term player for the Seahawks. A longtime NFL scout I spoke with liked the move for Seattle, noting that Schneider and Colts interim general manager Ed Dodds, who took over for the fired Chris Ballard, worked together in Seattle. "It’s a good two-way trade," the longtime scout told me. "Seattle has needed some upfront experience, especially to help Josh Jones out as he replaces [Charles] Cross outside. Seattle has good young offensive guards, but I see it more as a run game addition than a passing game addition to protecting the QB. "Indy has moved on from a really good drafting GM in Ballard. Dodd and Schneider are both solid personnel guys who know each other from Seattle way back and trust each other. Indy should have waited until after the season to make a GM move." But as the Seahawks made their big swing, it only took a few hours before the 49ers made one of their own. They responded to the Seahawks' move for Nelson by also taking advantage of the fire sale in Indianapolis and trading back for its 2016 first-round pick: defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. The 49ers should get Nick Bosa back soon from a calf injury, and reuniting him with Buckner should improve San Francisco’s pass rush. With San Francisco heading into the bye week and the Seahawks hosting the Chicago Bears in a nationally televised game on Monday Night Football, things are heating up in the NFC West. While the AFC and NFC Wests are heating up elsewhere, Los Angeles is a different story. The Rams and Chargers have combined for just one win at SoFi Stadium this year in what was expected to be a season the two teams could meet in their home stadium with the Lombardi Trophy on the line. Instead, the two will face off in Week 8 with much less at stake: bragging rights for Los Angeles in a stadium where the Arizona Cardinals (2) have more wins so far this season than the two teams combined. The Chargers (0-6) had a bye week to try and fix an embarrassing offense led by new coordinator Mike McDaniel. Head coach Jim Harbaugh said his team spent the week trying to simplify things so star quarterback Justin Herbert can play fast and decisively heading into the second half of the season. McDaniel remains the person directing the offense — for now. The reeling Rams (3-4), meanwhile, got an important road win over the Las Vegas Raiders and will look to build on that against the Chargers. "It was the first week that we were able to have a normal week of preparation with the way that things have been situated this whole season," Rams head coach Sean McVay said about his team’s win over the Raiders last week. "I think that was beneficial and this week will represent another opportunity to do that. We have to improve and we have to have even greater urgency than last week. I know we’re capable of doing it, players and coaches alike. I’m excited to start that prep with those guys." 5. Los Angeles Rams The Rams finally emphasized running the football in a road win over the Raiders, totaling 199 yards on the ground. Kyren Williams (99) and Blake Corum (93) are the third duo in the NFL this season to each record at least 90 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in the same game (Kyle Monangai & D’Andre Swift, Week 1; Josh Allen & James Cook, Week 5). 4. Denver Broncos Broncos quarterback Bo Nix’s 62-yard rushing touchdown was the longest rushing touchdown by a QB since 2022. Nix, however, is still struggling to push the ball downfield – 64.4% of his passing yards are after the catch this season, the second-highest rate behind Jalon Daniels (65.5%), per Next Gen Stats. 3. Kansas City Chiefs The Seahawks pressured Patrick Mahomes on 39% of his passing attempts in Kansas City’s loss to Seattle. Mahomes finished 6-for-13 for 44 yards, with no touchdowns and an interception on those throws, posting a 22.6 passer rating. 2. Seattle Seahawks After earning a victory at home against the Chiefs, the Seahawks have little time to rest, hosting the modern version of Mahomes in Caleb Williams and one of the most innovative offensive minds in Bears head coach Ben Johnson, who said he wants to break the single-season NFL scoring record. 1. San Francisco 49ers The 49ers get a break during the bye week after suffering their first loss of the year on the road against the Atlanta Falcons. San Francisco needs Nick Bosa (calf) and Mike Evans (Achilles) to come out of the bye week healthy. "This is us. This is ‘The Dark Side.’ This is what we do." Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II on his defense’s dominating performance against the Chiefs.

from Latest NFL News & Videos from FOX Sports https://ift.tt/wa12BNu

Sammy’s Sportsbook Whispers: Ohio State Has A Question Mark At QB

Following up on last week’s "Sportsbook Whispers," the best betting story in college football got even better last Saturday afternoon. UCLA covered again. Make that 7-0 straight up and against the spread, and all the Bruins regular-season win totals are "Over." Whether you bet 5.5, 6 or 6.5, you’re a winner thanks to a sensational first year from head coach Bob Chesney. UCLA (7-0 ATS) and Kentucky (7-1 ATS) are the best cover teams in the country. BYU, Georgia Southern, Louisiana Tech, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma State, Oregon State and Utah are all 6-1 ATS. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Speaking of BYU, let’s pour one out for all the Cougar fans who thought Las Vegas perceived them as a top-10 team. I read over 500 social media comments — lots of them insanely disrespectful — all because I said BYU wasn’t a top-10 team and that UCF plus the points was the play. "I don’t make numbers with my feelings," Vegas oddsmaker Motoi Pearson cracked. "I had Cougs 19th before the UCF game and now they’re 21st. They’re still a really good team that can crash the College Football Playoff." The biggest question mark for me heading into the weekend is how Ohio State’s offense will look without starting quarterback Julian Sayin. A Heisman finalist last year, Sayin is out indefinitely with an arm injury, and it sounds like freshman Luke Fahey will start under center at USC. One projected look-ahead line last week was Ohio State -3. Circa Sports in Vegas opened Ohio State -7 on Sunday. "Lookaheads are lookaheads for a reason," former Las Vegas bookmaker Ed Salmons told me. "USC scored seven points last weekend. They were awful. [Jayden] Maiava threw two picks. So, you have to drop their number. "I did some more homework on Ohio State. The Fahey kid might start, but I wouldn’t be surprised if [Tavien] St. Clair finishes. He’s a better prospect and he’s a lot bigger. They’ll make the switch if Fahey isn’t playing well. "And Ohio State is just a much tougher team than USC." That doesn’t mean bettors won’t pounce on a good number. "Oh, I took some [+7] with the dog," professional bettor Slice said. "I’ll take my chances against a young quarterback laying a touchdown on the road. It’s a solid spot for USC off that loss. If they’re any good, they’ll bounce back." Salmons has given this column a winner in six of the last seven weeks. It’s amazing he hasn’t gone full tout with a 900 number at this point. "I bet UConn +3," he said. "I think they win outright. Air Force is going to be down to QB3 and this UConn team is a lot better than people think." To the NFL, the Minnesota Vikings are the last undefeated team after Kansas City and San Francisco were dealt their first losses. Just like we all thought back in September. One American sportsbook was dealing the Vikings at 40/1 to lose last. I can’t imagine there was much liability there. There is liability, though, at Caesars Sportsbook on the Las Vegas Raiders winning the Super Bowl. It would be no bueno for the house if that actually happened. "It’s our biggest liability by far," Caesars head of football Joey Feazel told me. "And there’s no reason to think it won’t remain that way going forward. We’re also pretty heavy on Brock Purdy and Joe Burrow to win NFL MVP." Finally, I shared a stat last Thursday morning about Ben Johnson’s record as a play caller in primetime games. Dating back to his days as an offensive coordinator in Detroit, Johnson has called plays in 23 primetime games. And the Bears and Lions are a combined 18-4-1 ATS. I’m aware it’s not the biggest sample size in the world and there’s always going to be a faction of people that say "Trends don’t pay the rent." Generally, I agree, but Bill Belichick always delivered against rookie quarterbacks and Patrick Mahomes has been unbelievable as an underdog. Ben Johnson is a 3-point pup Monday night in Seattle and I will be going back to the well. Here’s hoping for 19-4-1.

from Latest NFL News & Videos from FOX Sports https://ift.tt/vz4G6p7

Favorite 'Dogs: Back Northwestern Over Oregon; Ravens To Upset Bills

It's Halloween weekend and things could get very spooky on the gridiron. Here's why I'm backing a couple of underdogs this weekend. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. In 2025, Penn State was coming off a trip to the College Football Playoff semifinals the previous year and entered the season as a consensus national title contender. Then the wheels came off and never went back on, as the Nittany Lions finished the regular season 6-6. A year later, another Big Ten team, Oregon, is following a similar path. Before the season, the Ducks were picked by many to win it all. A couple of months later, right before the trick-or-treating festivities begin, they are essentially eliminated from the Playoff conversation. Now, Oregon will face a hungry Northwestern team with a ferocious ground game, one that is averaging over 200 rushing yards per game. Oregon will be without quarterback Dante Moore for the remainder of the season. I don’t expect this lifeless bunch to bounce back in what has been a nightmare season. Guessing when — and if — Ravens’ quarterback Lamar Jackson might play is a challenging proposition. But with the Ravens in last place entering November, I’ll bet on the two-time league MVP suiting up for the first time in nearly a month. While the Bills have a former MVP of their own in quarterback Josh Allen, their defense is still quite suspect. The Bills allowing 30.8 points per game (30th), alongside 386 yards per game (31st). The Ravens are 4-3. They are looking up at every other team in the AFC North and are desperate for a win on Sunday. It seems like Jackson is close to a return. And if he does, this is very much anyone’s game.

from Latest NFL News & Videos from FOX Sports https://ift.tt/T8t56Ik