NFL Fallout Week 3: The Patriots Are Battling More Than A Super Bowl Hangover

No one was comparing Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye to Bill Belichick and Tom Brady just yet — not even after the New England Patriots HC-QB duo went to the Super Bowl in their first year together. But Pats fans were feeling pretty good about their future. The franchise seemed set for a sustained run of success. It turns out that last year, when Vrabel was the Coach of the Year and Maye was nearly the league MVP, were the good old days — already gone, and maybe soon to be forgotten. Because as good as last year was, that’s how bad this year has been. And the way Maye and the 1-2 Patriots are going, their Super Bowl hangover might linger through the fall. Yes, it's almost time to write off the 2026 Patriots, who suffered a humiliating 35-6 loss in Jacksonville on Sunday. Maye, in particular, has been awful this season. He was just 14 of 25 for 199 yards and two interceptions against the Jaguars. Those are basically his season averages through three games, as he's passed for less than 600 yards and thrown just one touchdown pass with six interceptions. That puts him among the worst quarterbacks in football, one year after he was easily one of the best. And he’s not alone in his ineptitude. Vrabel appears to have no answers for a team with no running game, no pass rush, no consistency, no spark. Maybe the world should have seen this coming. When Vrabel should’ve been focused on the NFL draft and laying the groundwork for another Super Bowl run, he was embroiled in personal scandal with NFL insider Dianna Russini this offseason, which included a marriage counseling retreat. That was a bad way to prepare for a season in which his Pats were already facing a big jump in strength of schedule. Still, they should have been good enough to at least not embarrass themselves in the face of stiffer competition. But what they really couldn’t have seen coming was Maye's regression. The third-year pro looks lost at times on the field. He’s made some incredibly bad decisions. Both his interceptions against the Jaguars were to well-covered receivers who didn't have much of a chance to make the catch. That included one in the end zone where Maye threw on the run, off his back foot and right into the defender’s hands. A year ago, when Maye threw 31 touchdown passes and just eight interceptions, he made few decisions like these. He played with poise and remained accurate, even when his offensive line had him under duress. But through three games this year, he’s just been alarmingly ineffective. And he’s getting no help from an anemic rushing attack. On Sunday, New England's defense couldn't get off the field on third downs and was worn down by its own offense repeatedly putting it back on the field. That all falls on Vrabel and his coaching staff. They’d surely argue that his distraction-filled offseason had nothing to do with the Pats' current problems, but with each stumble, that gets harder to believe. Coming out of the Super Bowl, albeit a lopsided loss to the Seahawks, I believed they were just getting started on a long run of contention. It feels premature to suggest their title window could already be closing, but it might be too late for them to reverse course in 2026. Their Waterloo may come this Sunday in Buffalo — a last chance to stop the Bills from turning the AFC East race into a rout. Because after that, even while playing in a division with the Dolphins and the Jets, the Patriots’ schedule is too unforgiving to assume they'll fix their myriad issues on the field enough to even be in the wild-card hunt. And that’s shocking, really, because a mere eight months ago there were legitimate reasons to believe that New England was perhaps building another dynasty. The calendar still says September, and the Pats already look like last year's AFC title was a fluke. After three straight years of seemingly knocking on the door of Super Bowl contention, that door has now slammed shut in the face of the Houston Texans. And soon they’re going to have to grapple with a very difficult problem concerning their quarterback: C.J. Stroud isn't good enough to lead them to a title. Right now, this era in Texans football is going to be remembered as a waste. Never mind that they had three trips to the playoffs and three playoff wins in the past three seasons. The bigger picture is they had the best defense in football last season, and maybe the best in the league since DeMeco Ryans became the coach in 2023. And somehow it just wasn’t enough. Stroud, who was sensational as a rookie in 2023, has been average, at best, ever since. On Sunday, he became a game manager against a Colts defense that had given up a ridiculous 1,029 yards through its first two games. He was just 16 for 27 for 167 yards and a touchdown in the Texans' 19-17 loss. He’s thrown just three touchdown passes this season. The Texans started 0-3 last year, too, but their defense was good enough to drag them to the playoffs. This year’s defense is still good, but hasn’t quite shown the same level of dominance. That means that to pull out of this tailspin, the Texans will need to see the dynamic version of Stroud that has been missing the past two-plus years. Absent that, they’ll head into the offseason wondering if they made a mistake even picking up his fifth-year option, which will pay him $25.9 million in 2027. Given his talent and potential, it was probably worth the relatively low price. But it’s going to be hard to argue Stroud is worth a lucrative, long-term commitment when contract talks resume after the season. It wouldn't surprise me if the front office was already studying what might be a loaded quarterback draft class. The quarterback situation in Minnesota is bordering on miserable. Kyler Murray, in his first game back from a concussion Sunday, looked like a shell of his former self. Carson Wentz was barely serviceable, not even reaching 300 total yards in Murray’s near-two-game absence. And J.J. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in 2024, can’t get on the field. So, how are the Vikings 3-0? It’s a combination of some impressive defensive play (and scheming by Vikings DC Brian Flores) and O’Connell coaxing just enough offense out of his underwhelming unit. On Sunday, they beat the reeling Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-16 despite just 168 passing yards from Murray, 78 team rushing yards, and just two catches from top receiver Justin Jefferson before he left with an ankle injury. Minnesota pulled off another improbable win by generating six sacks and constant pressure, plus a pair of interceptions inside the final 100 seconds to officially end the game. Such success is probably unsustainable if the Vikings can’t get more out of their offense. But the way Flores’ defense is playing, they might not need much. If O’Connell can turn Murray into anything close to what he was in Arizona, maybe work some of the magic he conjured up with Sam Darnold two years ago, this becomes a dangerous team. Right now, the Vikings are probably a notch below the three contenders in the NFC West, and maybe even the Philadelphia Eagles. But don’t count out O’Connell, who might be the early front-runner for NFL Coach of the Year and has gotten the most out of middling QBs in the past. The Cleveland Browns were supposed to be one of the worst teams in football, especially after trading away All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett. And Deshaun Watson was universally considered a well-deserved disaster waiting to happen at quarterback. But it turns out, maybe Todd Monken wasn’t completely delusional with the confidence he showed heading into his first NFL head coaching job. Because after their 21-18 win over the Panthers on Sunday, the Browns are 2-1, and it would be foolish to dismiss them as a punchline anymore. They still have issues, particularly at quarterback. Watson wasn’t good at all for the first three quarters against Carolina (10 of 21, 67 yards), before he engineered the game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter and won it with his third touchdown pass. But the embattled QB is surrounded by a host of young talent (RB Quinshon Jenkins, TE Harold Fanin, WR Denzel Boston, DL Jared Verse, LB Carson Schwesinger and more) and a coach who has put them in the right places to succeed against back-to-back NFC South teams. Maybe it won’t last. And maybe at some point this season Cleveland will be better off giving Shedeur Sanders another look. But don’t dismiss these wins as a fluke. And don’t pretend like there was anyone outside of Monken’s office who thought the Browns were capable of a 2-1 start. Fernando Mendoza figured to be one of the most exciting rookies to watch this season, once the Las Vegas Raiders drafted him in April with the No. 1 overall pick. Now it’s not clear if we’ll even get a chance to watch him this season at all. The way Kirk Cousins is playing for the Raiders right now, the wait for Mendoza could be an unexpectedly long one. The 38-year-old Cousins has given the undermanned Raiders exactly what they need: relatively solid and stable play at the most important position. Cousins has thrown nine touchdown passes and just three interceptions. He threw 10 all of last year (in eight starts) and led the NFL in interceptions in 2024. Stunningly, he's been the anchor to Las Vegas' 3-0 start. Now, the Raiders' schedule has been suspect — they’ve beaten the 0-3 Dolphins, the 0-3 Dolphins and now the 1-2 Saints. But two of those wins came as road underdogs. Over the next eight weeks, they'll play Kansas City, Buffalo, the Rams, San Francisco, Seattle and Denver, so maybe the bubble is about to burst. But Cousins' presence has at least given the Raiders a chance to get better, and maybe to even stay on the fringe of the playoff chase for a little while. As long as he’s doing that, there’s no rush for coach Klint Kubiak to turn things over to Mendoza. The kid can learn plenty by standing on the sidelines, watching the veteran lead the team, adopt good habits and build a strong culture. That’ll make it easier for Mendoza when he does finally play. In other words, there’s no reason to rush the rookie. The Raiders’ future can wait. In NFL Fallout, Ralph Vacchiano breaks down the impact of the biggest events every Sunday.

from Latest NFL News & Videos from FOX Sports https://ift.tt/rEWZ0Kg

Ravens' Tyler Loop Hits Ronaldo's ‘Siu’ After Walk-Off FG To Beat Cowboys In Brazil

One of soccer's most iconic celebrations showed up at the Maracanã on Sunday, courtesy of an NFL kicker. Baltimore Ravens kicker Tyler Loop made a 56-yard field goal as time expired Sunday to beat the Dallas Cowboys 34-31, then celebrated with Cristiano Ronaldo's "Siu" as the crowd at Maracanã Stadium repeated it back to him. The "Siu" is Ronaldo's trademark goal celebration, in which he jumps, spins in the air and lands with his feet wide and his arms at his sides while shouting "Siuuu," a stretched-out version of the Spanish word for "yes." Loop said teammate Ryan Eckley had suggested a soccer-style knee slide after a big kick. He went with the "Siu" instead. With about three minutes left, Loop said, teammate Nick Moore told him, "We're gonna do something epic to win this game." "Our number was called, and Nick (Moore) and Ryan and the guys up front, they all did their job, so I can do mine," Loop said. "I'm so proud of this team." Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey made a 23-yard field goal to tie the game at 31 with seven seconds left. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson then completed a 27-yard pass to Zay Flowers and called a timeout with one second remaining, which set up Loop's kick. The game was the NFL's third in Brazil and its first in Rio de Janeiro, and the announced crowd was 72,792. It was the first American football game played at Maracanã. The kick came after a miss in last season's finale. Loop missed a 44-yard field goal that would have sent the Ravens to the playoffs, and Baltimore lost 26-24 to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He said the team responded to difficulty this season. "One thing we talked about was being on one accord," Loop said. "There was adversity, and then we went and responded, and we delivered, and it was awesome." He said the bond with teammates is what he values most about the sport. "That's the most special thing about this sport, the fellowship and the togetherness that you can build with those guys," Loop said. "It's a blast to see all this come through a lot of adversity between last season and now."

from Latest NFL News & Videos from FOX Sports https://ift.tt/6OBfpa4

2026 NFL Odds Week 4: Lines, Spreads, Results For All 16 Games

All that remains in Week 3 is a Monday Night Football matchup between the Eagles and Bears, before Week 4 kicks off with a Thursday tilt between the Steelers and Browns. Here are the lines for every Week 4 matchup at bet365 Sportsbook as of Sept. 27. 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. Spread: Steelers -2.5Moneyline: Steelers -150, Browns +125O/U: 38.5 Spread: Colts -3.5Moneyline: Colts -200, Commanders +165O/U: 47.5 Spread: Giants -2.5Moneyline: Giants -135, Cardinals +115O/U: 43.5 Spread: Texans -1.5Moneyline: Texans -130, Cowboys +110O/U: 46.5 Spread: TBDMoneyline: TBDO/U: TBD Spread: Bengals -2.5Moneyline: Bengals -140, Jaguars +120O/U: 49.5 Spread: Rams -2.5Moneyline: Rams -150, Eagles +125O/U: 45.5 Spread: Bills -6.5Moneyline: Bills -310, Patriots +250O/U: 48.5 Spread: Bears -2.5Moneyline: Bears -160, Jets +135O/U: 42.5 Spread: Ravens -11.5Moneyline: Ravens -750, Titans +525O/U: 43.5 Spread: Vikings -10.5Moneyline: Vikings -700, Dolphins +500O/U: 42.5 Spread: 49ers -2.5Moneyline: 49ers -160, Broncos +135O/U: 45.5 Spread: Chiefs -5.5Moneyline: Chiefs -250, Raiders +205O/U: 45.5 Spread: Seahakws -6.5Moneyline: Seahawks -310, Chargers +250O/U: 44.5 Spread: Lions -2.5Moneyline: Lions -155, Panthers +130O/U: 46.5 Spread: Saints -2.5Moneyline: Saints -155, Falcons +130O/U: 46.5

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

The Two-Way Impact: How Backup QBs Alter Offensive And Defensive Game Plans

No longer just clipboard holders, high-priced backup quarterbacks are now viewed as essential season insurance policies. It’s not just about having a backup plan, but it’s the sheer volume of starting quarterbacks going down. Just two weeks into this season, six teams have already been forced to turn to backups due to injury. Replacing a starting quarterback isn't just an offensive issue. It completely changes how the defense plays. On "FOX NFL Kickoff," analysts Charles Woodson and Julian Edelman broke down how a quarterback change forces both sides of the ball to adjust. Woodson focused on the predatory mindset of a defense facing an unproven passer. "From a defensive standpoint, you’re licking your chops because you’re thinking to yourself that this guy doesn’t have the time on task that the regular guy does," Woodson said. "He doesn’t work with the ones. As a defense, you’re throwing the entire kitchen sink at the backup because you think you can get him rattled." However, Woodson pointed out that the message on the backup's team is completely different. He revealed what players and coaches should be telling their QB2. "You tell him, ‘Hey man, we got your back,’" Woodson said. "'Don’t turn the ball over, we’ll be fine.' That’s the situation today with Seattle and Washington. For the past couple of weeks, [the Seahawks] had Drew Lock. He came in and held it down." Edelman, on the other hand, pointed to the surge of energy a backup can bring to an offense, focusing on how having the right player under center can motivate an entire locker room. He pointed to Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. as a prime example. "Penix comes back from injury and what happens? The Atlanta Falcons look like a completely different football team," Edelman said. "I mean we were talking about Atlanta potentially losing to a college football team before Week 3. It looked really bad." The return of Penix not only shows the impact of a difference-making quarterback, but Edelman thinks his return is bigger than we think. He went so far as to say the Falcons could now win the NFC South. That's how much a quarterback means to his team. "The NFL is so week-to-week," Edelman said. "It’s so unbelievable. We were writing these guys off for dead and now they could potentially win the [NFC] South because the run game travels and that offensive line travels. It’s going to be really interesting."

from Latest NFL News & Videos from FOX Sports https://ift.tt/D1msjY5

Will Hill's Parlay Of The Week: Ravens In Brazil, Unders In College Football Slate

It’s the weekend and everybody loves to bet a little to win a lot. Every Friday I’ll pick my five favorite bets and try to turn a little coffee money into a nice juicy ribeye. Let’s take a look at the parlay for this week, which comes out to +1198 at DraftKings Sportsbook. Wagering 10 bucks on this would land you $129.80. 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. Oklahoma has an upper echelon defense that may be able to keep this game against Georgia somewhat competitive, but can Oklahoma cook up anything on offense? Their trip to Michigan two weeks ago generated just 10 points and under 300 yards of offense. I think they struggle to crack double digits here on the road in a hostile environment. Iowa visits Michigan this week in what should be a low-scoring, field position type of game. If Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood can avoid turnovers, Iowa will have a hard time generating big plays against a stout Wolverine defense that has won games 17-10 and 13-12 already this season. Expect a similar rock-fight here. USC head coach Lincoln Riley does something unconventional. When USC wins the coin toss, USC often chooses to take the ball first, while most coaches defer. It’s likely here that USC starts with the ball, and that is very valuable when betting on only the first quarter. You have to use an alternate line on this one, but with a five-leg parlay, the payout will still be really juicy if we can get it in the win column. Heavy wind and rain are expected in the northeast this weekend, and I think both teams will be conservative on offense in the early portion of this game. The Ravens travel to Brazil to take on the Cowboys this Sunday. For all of the talk prior to the season around how the Cowboys would be improved defensively, we have yet to see the results to prove it. Dallas has given up nearly 400 yards of offense and almost six yards per play in each of its first two games. I like the Ravens to win a shootout.

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

2026 NFL, College Football Odds: Best Bets For Ole Miss-Florida, Chargers-Bills

If Ohio’s third-string quarterback didn’t take the Bobcats down the field for a touchdown in the final minute against South Alabama, we would’ve gone a perfect 5-0 last week. Them’s the breaks sometimes. We know you’re here for informed wagers and I assure you I vet everything through multiple handicappers, oddsmakers and betting buddies who know what they’re doing. Those that do well in this racket know the "how, what and why" and that’s always my goal. Also, this will never be the place for a million picks or five-team parlays. These will always be the wagers I love the most and ones that I’m betting with my own money. Let’s go to work. 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. (2026 Record: 7-6-1, +0.4 units) Talk about a tough spot for Clemson. The Tigers travel all the way across the country on a short week to face a feisty Cal squad with a very talented quarterback. Sophomore Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (JKS for short) is an electric playmaker with a rocket arm and I think he’ll have a big day against the Clemson secondary. Give me the points. This one won’t be a beauty pageant. I might not even watch it. You’ve got two strong defensive lines and two really conservative head coaches. Don’t be surprised when one of these guys punts from the opponent’s 40 or kicks a field goal on 4th and 2. Also, Iowa always does a good job limiting mobile quarterbacks and I don’t expect that to change. As retired Vegas bookmaker Ed Salmons told me earlier this week, "the line is telling you who’s going to cover this game." It is interesting how the public didn’t want to bet Ole Miss last week at home, but now people are lining up to bet on them in The Swamp. This Gators defense is much improved and I know Jon Sumrall wasn’t happy with the team’s 16 penalties last week. Rather than lay three, I’m drinking juice on the moneyline. This is Penn State’s first real test of the season. No offense to Marshall, Temple and Buffalo, but Wisconsin provides the toughest test in the trenches and the Badgers might have found something at quarterback with Old Dominion QB Colton Joseph. Wise guys historically love fading Matt Campbell as a double-digit favorite and those 10 points look extra enticing considering the total is only 44. A 7-0 Wisconsin start would be lovely. You’ll probably hate this one, but I’m all over the Chargers here. After being a trendy offseason dark horse pick for the sixth straight year, Los Angeles lost its first two games as a touchdown favorite. And it’s been ugly. So there’s very little appetite to bet the Bolts. As somebody who hasn’t been burned yet, this underrated underdog role is perfect. Jim Harbaugh will empty the playbook and I think desperation works in our favor. Speaking of teams that are 0-2 SU and against the spread (ATS), meet the Buccaneers. Fresh off a loss to the lowly Cleveland Browns, the Bucs are now home underdogs against Minnesota. And naturally, the Vikings are super popular after beating the Bears last Sunday. I probably trust Baker Mayfield more than I should in this spot, but the Buccaneers have plenty of talent on the outside to circumvent all the blitzes Brian Flores will dial up.

from Latest NFL News & Videos from FOX Sports https://ift.tt/hgCKrJ3

Justin Herbert Isn't Fully To Blame For Chargers' Woes, But He Can Learn From Josh Allen

I made the grave mistake of defending Justin Herbert on social media this week and sparked another unbearable debate on the Chargers quarterback. I probably should have known that nothing I would say would change the minds of those who think he’s overrated. The back-and-forth between the two sides has become repetitive. Herbert backers will point to his film and expansive skill set, while his detractors will keep asking why all that talent hasn’t produced more wins and better stats, with neither side willing to cede any ground. With the Chargers at 0-2 and staring down an unforgiving gauntlet of contenders that starts with Sunday’s game against the Bills, their season is pretty much chalked. So, Herbert will likely go another season without notching that elusive playoff win, and the football world will keep debating whether he’s worth all the hype. I’m firmly on the pro-Herbert side of the debate, but I’m willing to admit there are holes in his game that have contributed to L.A.’s disappointing start. With Herbert facing off against Bills star Josh Allen this weekend, the contrast between their games will put his biggest weakness on full display. The Bills quarterback is a daring playmaker whose cavalier approach is highly effective and sometimes reckless. But no matter how many mistakes Allen makes, he keeps Buffalo’s offense at the top of the NFL’s efficiency charts and in title contention. Herbert’s style of play may lead to fewer mistakes, but it hasn't led to more consistency for his offense or more success for his team. Herbert can be a bit robotic, following the script his offensive coordinator lays out, even when the situation calls for a little improvisation. It’s not that Herbert is bad when playing out of structure; he just doesn’t do it nearly enough for a guy of his ability. He’s 6-foot-6 and can outrun defensive linemen and most linebackers. He doesn’t lose any arm strength on the run and doesn’t need much time or space to get a throw off. Take this play from last year’s win over the Broncos. Herbert shrugs off 285-pound defensive lineman Zach Allen, escapes the pocket, and quickly flips his hips to get a throw off with edge rusher Nik Bonitto right in his lap. Oh, and it’s a perfectly placed, 30-yard dot that beats tight coverage. That’s a play that only two other quarterbacks in this league can make: Allen and Patrick Mahomes. We just don’t see him make those plays nearly as often as those two. It’s not like Herbert is trying and failing to make them, though. And that’s why it can be frustrating to watch Herbert dutifully go through his progression, hoping one of his receivers will pop open (they usually don’t), and his protection will hold up (it usually doesn’t). So, while he can be a victim of his circumstances — and his mediocre statistical production is a product of his offensive environment — Herbert is choosing to play on hard mode more than he needs to. Herbert taps into the play-making mindset when he’s forced to. That throw against the Broncos is a good example. Here’s another from last Sunday’s loss to the Raiders. The play call is a dud that leaves Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby unblocked, with Herbert’s play-fake putting him directly in the path of the all-World pass rusher. Herbert coolly side-steps to create space and hits tight end Oronde Gadsden II for a touchdown. If I could make one change to Herbert’s game, I'd rewire his brain so he'd play more like Allen and approach every dropback as if there’s an unblocked defender in his face – it wouldn’t require much imagination behind that offensive line – and to play every drive like the Chargers are down 10 in crunch time. It would lead to more mistakes, sure, but like Allen, Herbert is talented enough that the good would easily outweigh the bad. With the Chargers in complete disarray, the need for Herbert to break out of his shell is stronger than ever. More than anything, he should be more aggressive in hunting play-making opportunities earlier in games before it’s too late. In each of the first two weeks, Herbert played well when the game was still hanging in the balance. Per Next Gen Stats, he’s averaging 8.3 yards per attempt and 0.12 (expected points added) EPA per dropback when L.A.’s win probability is greater than 25%. Pro Football Focus has him graded as the fifth-best quarterback in the league outside the fourth quarter this season. Things have fallen apart in garbage time, though. When the Chargers have a win probability under 25%, Herbert's yards-per-attempt average drops to 5.0 and his EPA average plummets to -0.66. Those 17 dropbacks haven’t really affected the results of those games, but they have done significant damage to his stat line and how his performance over two weeks has been perceived. That’s why it’s difficult for Herbert truthers like me to fully blame him for the 0-2 start. He’s played well outside of garbage time. But over the last two weeks, it's become clear he needs to play even better – like the superstar quarterbacks in Kansas City and Buffalo – to overcome a crappy offensive environment and keep the game from reaching garbage time in the first place. I’ll concede that point to the anti-Herbert crowd. But if they’re holding him to Mahomes and Allen standards, they might think more highly of Herbert than I do.

from Latest NFL News & Videos from FOX Sports https://ift.tt/2eMRrdQ