Gabe and Josh reunited. ❤️ @gabedavisO @JoshAllenQB
📺: #JAXvsBUF — 7:30pm ET on ESPN
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/KuTJ4PEXuh
— NFL (@NFL) September 23, 2024
AROUND THE LEAGUE
All around the league, it has been a tough three weeks for the Sunshine State faithful.
Baker Mayfield and the Bucs (2-1), are the reigning ‘best team in the State’, most recent Florida-based Super Bowl champions, and are currently second place in the NFC South. In fact, this year’s Bucs looked just as formidable as last season’s playoff squad during the first two games of the season. But, those similarities became much harder to see after being humbled by a rookie-led Denver Broncos team at Raymond James Stadium.
MISFIRE THE CANNONS
Mayfield managed 163 yards on 25/33 in the defeat, with one touchdown and one interception, while being sacked seven times. The Bucs’ leading pass-catchers were third-season tight end Cade Otton, and Pro Bowler Chris Godwin, with seven and six catches, respectively, but neither surpassed 60 yards on the day. Mike Evans secured only two catches for 17 yards.
“And when we did get pressure we didn’t tackle well. And he broke a couple tackles and got out of the pocket – that was the most disappointing thing, the tackling.”
On the defensive side, the once-proud Buccaneers could stop a rookie quarterback, armed with the insight of legendary Buc-killer in Denver Head Coach Sean Payton. Bo Nix completed 25/36 passes for 216 yards. After a couple deep gains on the game-opening touchdown drive, while never being sacked and being touched just twice. Denver even got 47 rushing yards and a touchdown from their rookie quarterback. As a long-time defensive specialist, Todd Bowles’ was transparent about being woefully outreached by his former long-time division rival, and architect of New Orlean’s sole Super Bowl championship:
“They out-played us, they out-coached us, they out-hit us and they won the game,”
Thus far, Todd Bowles has yet to reclaim the success of the Bruce Arians, “Tom-pa Bay” era, but has enjoyed a period of low expectations from fans to find a path of his own to the NFC Championship, much less a Super Bowl. But this won’t last forever. Last season, the Buccaneers finished with nine wins, eight losses and a division playoff berth.
Tied for the league lead in TD passes…
Baker Mayfield 📍
📺: #DENvsTB – Sunday 1pm ET on FOX
📱: https://t.co/HkKw7uXnxV pic.twitter.com/04Ms23XVHE
— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024
STATE OF THE SPLASH BROS.
Meanwhile down in Miami, the Dolphins (1-3) are stuck at third place, behind the undefeated Bills and the perpetually irrelevant New York Jets.
With clouds of uncertainty surrounding his quarterback room, Mike McDaniel has entrusted longtime back-up Skylar Thompson to lead the way in Tua’s absence. In the interim, Tim Boyle and Hallandale High (Broward) star Tyler Huntly have arrived to help bolster the quarterback room, easing pressure on Thompson and Tua. Skylar’s Dolphins have been rhythmless thus far, but rushing Tua’s recover is worse possible decision the front office could make at this juncture. As of Fast forward to Week Three, a chest injury to designated back-up Skylar Thompson now has both of Miami’s most experienced, and system-familiar signal callers sidelined.
Injuries to Tua (injury reserve), Skylar Thompson add to troublesome list of key playmakers getting jammed up this season. Terron Armstead (Tackle), Calasis Campbell (Defensive Tackle), Grant DeBose (Wide Receiver), Robert Jones (Offensive Line), Raheem Mostert (Halfback), Jaelean Phillips (Linebacker), Malik Washington (Wide Receiver), Jeff Wilson (Halfback), and Liam Eichenberg (Offensive Tackle) all could have contributed to a better outcome than 24-3.
Despite everything else going on, Miami’s loss in Seattle, this was the lowest performance by the Dolphins under Head Coach Mike McDaniel. Specifically, 205 yards of total offense, and three total points so far. Last season saw the South Beach based franchise showcasing one of the best total offensive attacks in the league, lead by Tua Tagovailoa.
ICE COLD CATS
Jacksonville still has one of the most promising young cores in the NFL, and a recent Super Bowl winning head coach.
That said, dragging a winless record into Highmark Stadium, and visiting a jacked-up Bills Mafia, is certainly not ideal. At two-losses on the season, the Jaguars are still in the hunt for an identify this season. Monday Night Football is going to be a crucial temperature check for Doug Pederson’s rebuild in Jacksonville. It’s way too soon for conversations about hot seats, for the franchise that’s still licking its wounds from the Urban Meyer fiasco. However, the word of the day is confidence – more specifically, how does this talent-rich team regain some confidence on either side of the ball.
Doug Pederson, Press Taylor and Mike McCoy have one fundamental job tonight: make their franchise quarterback comfortable. In a season that’s still fresh, the play-calling scheme has yet to eclipse thirty points. In two games, Trevor Lawerence made the best of what he’s been given: 300+ years of offensive production, and no turnovers. But that hasn’t translated to wins, because the Jaguars haven’t converted on third down, hasn’t converted drives into points on the board, haven’t provided a pocket worth standing in, and haven’t been the best at anything good in the AFC South. As their typically, even-keeled signal caller put it, following the Jaguars’ Week 2 collapse at home, vs. the lowly Cleveland Browns:
“We suck right now.”
On the defensive side of the ball, the memories of ‘Sacksonville’ are fading fast. Defensive Coordinator Ryan Nielson is staring down the barrel of one of the NFL’s more distruptive offenses, and all the momentum that Josh Allen & Co., are rolling with right now. Long gone are the days of resident playmakers like Myles Jack, Yannick Ngakoue, and Jalen Ramsey. Now, as they face down their first real threat of an offense this season, it’s about being fundamentally sound. Which the Jaguars have not been at all. Neilson’s squad is currently ranked near the bottom of the league in rushing, and passing defensive. Monday’s showdown will test Jacksonville’s defensive on all front, as deadly weapons such as Florida State Seminole Keon Coleman will be on full display all night long.
Again, not ideal.