This article is from Scoop City, The Athletic’s daily NFL newsletter. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox.
Today, we’re covering how the NFL ruined plans by flexing tonight’s game, plus this season’s nine most improved defensive players (three Broncos!). But first, the latest look inside the constantly astounding New York Jets:
Woody Johnson’s Jets: ‘Most dysfunctional place imaginable’
This year’s Jets were built to win now. Instead, they will miss the playoffs for a 14th consecutive season. At 4-10, they already have as many losses as they did last year (when QBs Zach Wilson, Trevor Siemian and Tim Boyle split 16 starts). Given they still have to play the Rams, Bills and Dolphins, this preseason contender could finish as a bottom-five team.
But what happened off the field is just as bad. The franchise fired head coach Robert Saleh five games in, then GM Joe Douglas six weeks later. After a Week 4 loss, it was suggested that Rodgers be benched. Suggested by whom?
And who is the root of the franchise’s problems? Same answer to both: owner Woody Johnson. After reading today’s attention-grabbing report by Zack Rosenblatt, Michael Silver and Dianna Russini (who’ll be back in this newsletter tomorrow) on the Jets’ dysfunction, three anecdotes raised my eyebrows:
- A trade with Denver for Jerry Jeudy fell apart because the receiver’s rating in EA Sports’ Madden game was too low. What?!
- More than 20 people in and around the franchise anonymously described Johnson as “an over-involved, impulsive owner,” with one former player describing the organization as “the most dysfunctional place imaginable.” Oof.
- When the Jets moved Zach Wilson, Denver asked for the final pick of the draft (257th overall). Johnson instead pushed to trade the 256th pick — which the Jets also owned — so New York could select “Mr. Irrelevant.” The Broncos happily took the earlier pick, using it on guard Nick Gargiulo, who is on their active roster. The Jets’ “Mr. Irrelevant”? They released safety Jaylen Key from their practice squad in October. 🙃
Plenty more juicy details in the full story, which you can read here. It’s so dramatic, it made me feel bad for Aaron Rodgers.
Speaking of him, Netflix released their docuseries, “Aaron Rodgers: Enigma,” on Tuesday. It gives the controversial quarterback an opportunity to share his side of the story, and includes a detailed look into his ayahausca ceremonies. You can watch the trailer here. As if we needed more Jets content.
The All-Improvement Defense
Let’s shift to a positive: this year’s most improved defensive players at each position, after we put together a lineup on offense yesterday. Plenty of faces from 9-5 Denver:
DE: Zach Allen, Broncos. The sole constant on Denver’s defensive line last season, the sixth-year pro has benefitted from the addition of John Franklin-Myers. Allen’s playing like an All-Pro, recording 61 pressures (sixth-most), which also makes for the highest pressure rate of his career, while boasting a total EPA that leads all defensive linemen (after finishing last season ranked 200th out of 239).
DT: Poona Ford, Chargers. After the Chargers signed him to a vet-minimum contract, he’s become one of the league’s most impactful signings. The 5-11, 310-pounder is an asset in the run and pass game, recording career highs in sacks and QB hits while allowing DC Jesse Minter to use light boxes at the league’s highest rate. Ford was the team’s highest-graded player last weekend, per PFF.
OLB: Nik Bonitto, Broncos. He started just five games in his first two seasons, but — after gaining the starting role after Week 2 — is arguably the NFL’s most improved defender. He has 11.5 sacks (third-most), two forced fumbles and two touchdowns, including the one below. He should even be in the running for Defensive Player of the Year.
ILB: Zack Baun, Eagles. Watch any Philly game and you’ll hear his name often. The fifth-year pro’s 134 tackles rank third in the NFL, and his four forced fumbles are tied for second. He has nine tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, plus an interception. At his position, his PFF coverage grade ranks No. 1, and his overall grade ranks behind only Fred Warner’s. Before this year, the former Saint had never started more than six games.
FS: Kerby Joseph, Lions. The third-year pro is tied for the NFL lead with seven interceptions, has the league’s highest PFF grade at safety (90.8, up from 56.5 last season) and became the first at his position to record at least 14 interceptions through three seasons since Hall of Famer Ed Reed. Joseph and Brian Branch — age 24 and 23, respectively — are on the verge of becoming the best duo in the league for years to come.
SS: Jeremy Chinn, Commanders. After two forgettable years in Carolina, he has steadily improved through the season and is impressing as a tackler (second on the team with 93 tackles, behind only Bobby Wagner) while remaining solid in coverage. (After suffering a concussion on Sunday, Chinn was seen at practice earlier this week. Washington could also see star DT Jonathan Allen miraculously return.)
CB1: Derek Stingley Jr., Texans. Despite seeing a career-high 78 targets, the former No. 3 pick has allowed just 362 yards on a completion rate of 44.9 percent. He has five interceptions, 10 pass breakups and a career-high 42 tackles.
CB2: Riley Moss, Broncos. From a third-round rookie who played just 25 defensive snaps to the clear No. 2 in Denver, Moss is impressing opposite Patrick Surtain II. PFF’s highest-graded corner in Week 3, he has held his own despite seeing 75 targets (ninth-most). On Tuesday, he practiced for the first time since his Week 12 MCL injury.
NB: Garrett Williams, Cardinals. He’s nearly doubled his snap count from last season, seen his PFF grade jump from 56.7 to 79.1, allowed just 277 yards in his direct coverage and picked off two passes. His coverage grade ranks fifth among all corners. In more good news for the Cardinals, Williams will partner with star safety Budda Baker for the foreseeable future, as the 28-year-old Baker got a three-year extension worth $54 million earlier this week.
Thursday, Flexed 🔬: Fallout from a $13.2 billion bet
“It was just the biggest bummer,” a Chargers fan told The Athletic after her favorite team’s matchup against the Broncos — initially scheduled for this Sunday at 1 p.m. local time — was flexed to tonight. Half her group could no longer attend.
Why could this happen? After ratings underwhelmed in the first year of Amazon Prime Video’s 11-year, $13.2 billion streaming deal for “Thursday Night Football,” NFL owners voted to change scheduling procedures. Part of the accepted proposal allowed for games to move to Thursdays on just 28 days’ notice from the league office.
But you know what it’s like to make plans. Changing the schedule just four weeks out makes life difficult for everyone. Giants owner John Mara understood the impact:
“At some point, can we please give some consideration to the people who are coming to our games? People make plans to go to these games weeks and months in advance. To say, ‘Sorry, folks, that game you were planning on taking your kids to Sunday at 1, now it’s on Thursday night.’ What are we thinking about?”
Thankfully, the ability to flex games from Sunday afternoon to Thursday night was based on a resolution that ends after this season. For the sake of fans everywhere, hopefully it never returns.
For more: The Athletic’s story on the fallout from the league’s first TNF flex is worth your time. As for the game itself …
Broncos-Chargers implications
Tonight at 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video, the 9-5 Broncos are 2.5-point underdogs visiting the 8-6 Chargers. It’s a matchup with significant playoff implications. Let’s explore both:
- If the Chargers win, their record will tie with Denver’s, and L.A. will have the tiebreaker. A win could even clinch Jim Harbaugh a playoff berth if the Dolphins (6-8) and Colts (6-8) lose or tie this weekend. Remaining schedule: Patriots (3-11) and Raiders (2-12).
- If the Broncos win, they’ll clinch their first berth since their Super Bowl-winning season in 2015, while the Chargers would see their playoff odds drop to 72 percent, per the New York Times’ simulator. Denver could lose and still clinch a spot, if the Dolphins, Colts and Bengals (6-8) also lose or tie. Remaining schedule: Bengals and Chiefs (13-1).
Stream this game on Fubo. Try for free.
For more: Read the full list of NFL Week 16 playoff scenarios.
Yesterday’s most-clicked: NFL Week 15 best and worst coaching decisions.
📫 Enjoyed this read? Sign up here to receive The Athletic’s free daily NFL newsletter in your inbox, and check out The Athletic’s other newsletters.
(Photo: Justin K. Aller, Thearon W. Henderson/ Getty Images)
Leave a Reply