NFL Sunday awards: Tom Brady’s Detroit dream, a Dallas Cowboys nightmare and Drake Maye’s New England Patriots bow

Tom Brady’s quarterback fantasy, recent pleasure for the New England Patriots, London tea events and Tampa Bay regulation companies – it is Week Six awards time within the NFL!

Story of the day

In 2018, Rob Gronkowski threatened to retire if the New England Patriots went via with a deal that may have seen him traded to the Detroit Lions. In 2020, I spoke to the agent of an NFL Draft-bound faculty prospect who admitted he was dreading the prospect of his participant “ending up in a dead market like Detroit”. On Sunday evening, seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady stated he would “love to be quarterback” of the present Detroit Lions staff.

“When I look at this offense, it reminds me of what great offense should be in the NFL,” he stated from the published sales space throughout the Lions’ 47-9 rout of the Dallas Cowboys.

The discourse in Detroit has reworked dramatically, a franchise so usually related to its grit within the face of hardship evolving into one of many NFL’s slickest, most modern and explosive new contenders behind a frontrunner in Dan Campbell, who defies the trendy rejection of a rah-rah tradition whereas hanging the right steadiness between fraternal coronary heart and elite teaching. For so lengthy it may need been the Lions that have been susceptible to ridicule; the tables turned as they humiliated a Cowboys staff teetering in direction of capitulation. Isn’t it all the time?

The magnificence of getting the NFL’s greatest-ever participant on commentary is the perception into the fan behind the pocket-sliding coverage-deciphering genius, Brady left in awe on the sight of the reverse flea flicker that may unleash tight finish Sam LaPorta for a 52-yard landing: “UNREAL,” he exclaimed.

When a recreation has already been gained lengthy earlier than the clock reaches zero, coaches are inclined to tuck away their funkiest play-calls for extra urgent conditions later within the season, holding their powder dry for instances of want. Ben Johnson thought in any other case, as an alternative unloading brainchild after brainchild of his personal Frankenstein-esque ‘IT’S ALIVE!’ ideas you think about him scribbling-and-erasing, scribbling-and-erasing on the whiteboard at 4am within the morning because the in a single day cleaner on the Lions facility shakes their head in ‘this once more?!’ dismay whereas strolling previous his workplace door with the hoover.

As a lot was epitomised by his sassy “Really?!” as a hook-and-ladder landing to offensive deal with Penei Sewell was scratched off after a penalty on middle Frank Ragnow for being an ineligible man downfield. Jameson Williams was then denied a landing two performs later as a result of move interference towards Jahmyr Gibbs earlier than the Lions settled for a area purpose, leaving Johnson shaking his head on the sideline. The Lions have been main 40-9, by the way in which. Johnson needed violence.

In the identical recreation he focused left deal with Taylor Decker ultimately zone, earlier than rubbing salt within the wound on the dying by letting fellow offensive deal with Dan Skipper run routes as a receiver. Seriously, he lined up on the skin. Offensive linemen throughout the nation roared within the title of revolution; for this reason they do cardio.

It was a clinic in Johnson tomfoolery, inside which he sprinkled the form of genius structure and execution that may couple a fast snap with a journeys formation to place the Cowboys secondary in a blender on Williams’ 37-yard landing; he’s smarter than you. Enjoy him whilst you can, Lions followers.

The Lions additionally occur to have the neatest defender on most fields at their disposal as they snigger within the face of all groups responsible of overthinking on Brian Branch. You do not overthink a Brian Branch, significantly a Brian Branch vouched for by a defensive backs guru like Nick Saban. Branch accounted for each of Dak Prescott’s interceptions on the day, the most effective being a masterclass in play analysis as he lurked ahead to erase the flat choice earlier than bailing into the top zone and snagging a move meant for CeeDee Lamb. The artwork of masking two routes in a single.

Not sufficient may be stated concerning the Lions. The much less stated concerning the Cowboys, the higher.

The unforgivable penalty of the day

There are penalties, and there are penalties that depart you questioning whether or not these are the best groups, gamers and footballing minds on the planet. It was catastrophe after catastrophe for the Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham as they suffered a 35-16 defeat to the Chicago Bears, falling to their fifth loss on the 12 months whereas giving up 4 landing passes and a list of off-script magic to Caleb Williams.

Nothing summed up their day and their season fairly just like the penalty for having 12 males on the sphere that may flip third-and-eight into third-and-three for the Bears, who moved the chains earlier than capping the drive with Keenan Allen’s three-yard landing catch to take a 28-10 lead in the beginning of the fourth quarter. The Jags surrendered three of their eight whole penalties on the drive, whereas undoing the earlier possession that had given them hope via Gabe Davis’ landing.

Pre-snap penalties are inexcusable at the most effective of instances, however on this case it was extra damning proof of negligent preparation and a harmful dip in focus for a staff combating to maintain its season alive and a training employees perched on a seat as sizzling as any within the league. Adversity within the type of penalties and miscues is one factor, permitting it to snowball so commonly is a recipe for ugly soccer. Doug Pederson and Trevor Lawrence each acknowledged as a lot of their post-game press convention.

The Jaguars should now spend per week collectively in London earlier than Sunday’s assembly with the New England Patriots at Wembley Stadium. Makes for an attention-grabbing flight house…

Tea get together of the day

On a fast facet notice, this one goes to the Bears. Kyler Gordon was distinctive earlier than his harm, Elijah Hicks delivered defining performs, D’Andre Swift was unstoppable and Caleb Williams produced the moments of outer-pocket magic that had been billed upon his arrival.

The ‘could possibly be a regulation agency’ of the day

Tucker Irving: Tampa Bay’s reply to Pearson Specter (sorry, Louis Litt). The Buccaneers leaned on their law-firm-named backfield tandem to torch the New Orleans Saints on the way in which to a 51-27 win over their NFC South division rivals on Sunday.

Tucker reeled off a breakout efficiency within the absence of the injured Rachaad White as he ran the ball 14 instances for 136 yards and a landing whereas making three catches for 56 yards and a rating, having spent the opening 5 weeks totally on particular groups after going undrafted out of Syracuse in 2023. Irving, in the meantime, contributed 14 carries for 81 yards and a landing, together with a tackle-breaking stiff-arming field-crossing 31-yard indignant run, on the finish of which he confirmed his softer facet by hoisting up the Saints employees member he had by chance knocked over along with his momentum. And for those who could not love Baker Mayfield any extra, the Bucs quarterback joined in as a blocker throughout Irving’s tear.

Tampa posted a franchise-record 594 yards of offense on the day, 277 of which got here on the bottom whereas Mayfield tossed 4 landing passes.

The ‘I’ve seen you on Netflix!’ of the day

There is loads to unpack concerning the profession of Spencer Rattler. He cut up opinion as one of many stars of Netflix’s present ‘QB1’, earlier than heading to Oklahoma to play with quarterback whisperer Lincoln Riley solely to lose his beginning spot to Caleb Williams. Rattler spent two seasons at South Carolina earlier than being drafted by the Saints throughout the fifth spherical earlier this 12 months, having seen Williams head to Chicago because the No 1 general choose. For all that may be stated of Williams and the problem of dealing with hovering expectations, Rattler has needed to shoulder his personal rollercoaster of projections and setbacks below a public highlight.

On Sunday he made his NFL bow within the absence of Derek Carr, finishing 22 of 40 passes for 243 yards one landing and two interceptions whereas speeding for 27 yards. His scoring strike was a precision-perfect bullet to Bub Means on a shallow nook route, whereas among the many most enjoyable indicators for Saints followers can have been Klint Kubiak’s want and willingness to let his athleticism unfastened with off-platform throws outdoors of the pocket. Life may be exhausting with a Vita Vea-shaped polar bear searching you down, however Rattler had spectacular moments on debut.

The ‘How Maye I enable you?’ of the day

From one rookie quarterback to a different, the New England Patriots skilled their first flutter of optimism below middle within the final 4 years as No 3 general choose Drake Maye got here in for his first begin instead of Jacoby Brissett in his facet’s 41-21 defeat to the Houston Texans. I had been apprehensive over the choice to start out Maye behind a porous offensive line and towards DeMeco Ryans’ Texans protection, for which Will Anderson Jr had three sacks on the day; Jerod Mayo wouldn’t have been improper to sit down Maye for a lot of his rookie 12 months till there have been extra stable foundations in place, however Sunday was a glimpse that the franchise could have discovered a needle-mover.

Maye completed 20 of 33 for 243 yards, three touchdowns (greater than Brissett had thrown all 12 months) and two interceptions, whereas additionally speeding for 38 yards from 5 carries. His first profession landing move was an exquisitely weighted 40-yard slam dunk to Kayshon Boutte on a sideline fade route, marking the longest landing move in air yards by a Patriots quarterback for the reason that 2022 season.

“I gave him a little word,” stated Texans quarterback CJ Stroud. “Tried to just give him a little words of encouragement (after the game). I thought he played really solid. Definitely feel like he’ll get better and better as he keeps going.”

Demario Douglas sang the praises of Maye, as did Kendrick Bourne amid the awkward part for any rebuilding staff when large receivers may be susceptible to disapproval at their lack of use by a bridge quarterback.

Midnight considered the day

We say it 12 months on 12 months. The environment at NFL London video games continues to get higher and higher, but it surely has gone up a notch once more in 2024. Minnesota Vikings followers have been phenomenal final week as their staff rallied to victory over Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets, and on Sunday it felt like we have been at Soldier Field as Chicago Bears followers travelled over of their hundreds to see Williams out-duel Trevor Lawrence.

I spoke to a number of members of the British media in attendance, and all agreed it was among the many finest noise ranges heard at a London recreation, marking a becoming strategy to have fun the tenth regular-season matchup staged at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the place I really feel like I’ve lived for the previous two weeks. It is an honour to have these video games over annually, much more so when the travelling fanbase deal with you to a style of life again house. Safe travels, Bears followers!

Monday morning espresso considered the day

With Halloween approaching, it’s the time of 12 months when friendship teams and {couples} alike start to plot their outfits for costume events. Joker and Harley Quinn? The Jamaican bobsleigh staff from Cool Runnings? The Spice Girls? The KVWN Channel 4 News Team from Anchorman?

How about Derrick Henry operating behind blocking fullback Patrick Ricard as essentially the most horrifying backfield aesthetic within the NFL? Almost 550lbs of imply, bone-crunching rock-carries, with a sprinkling of pick-your-poison Lamar Jackson athleticism to mess together with your head that little bit extra.

Henry options on this column each single week, and I don’t count on that to alter. He carried the ball 24 instances for 132 yards and two touchdowns for the Baltimore Ravens of their 30-23 win over the Washington Commanders, restoring his place on the prime of the speeding chart with 704 yards and eight touchdowns within the floor – THROUGH SIX GAMES.

The ‘not from this world’ of the day

Myles Garrett deserves higher inside this Cleveland Browns staff. That they proceed to waste their staff with Deshaun Watson at quarterback is unjust to the mutant that continues to battle for each play on protection.

Garrett hurdled a grown man earlier than sticking up his monumental hand to dam a Philadelphia Eagles area purpose try on Sunday, Rodney McLeod choosing up the unfastened ball and operating it again for a landing.

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