They Came In Like Roaring Like Lions But Left Quiet Like A Mouse

By Mark Halpern

Yesterday the Lions squared off against the Colts and what looked like a promising start only to fizzle like a campfire. The Lions started many first-stringers except those of Goff and Swift and Hockenson. The lions have felt that Goff has had enough time in the preseason to get ready. By my account, he has thrown in one game. Not to stay, he won’t come firing out in week one and perform as he did in Los Angeles.

The Lions started 4th-year veteran Tim Boyle to get him some action, and he was pretty accurate during this game, going 7/9 for 53 yards and a touchdown but did have a costly fumble in the opening drive. Quinton Cephus was the recipient of the pass. As for the running game, not much to talk about as Jamar Jefferson lead the way with 43 yards on 11 carries.

David Blough came in and was below average, throwing for 117 yards and an interception. Mind you, none of the first team receivers nor the second tier were in, but when this is your last week, and you are vying for a sport, you must take every advantage in front of you and do what you can with it.

The Lion’s defense looked like the kittens they are. They were only able to put up one sack, a few quarterback pressures, and only one take away which came during mop-up duty. This team better start getting their act together because in 2 weeks, the season starts, and if they play like this, then 0-17 could happen. I expect Goff to work out some issues, and we all hope that Swift is ready for the season.

The Colts know who their starting core is on the other side of the ball, and they didn’t want to risk an injury to a first-stringer starter. Some players made their cases on why they should remain on the team. Running back Deon Jackson ran for 81 yards on ten carries and a touchdown. We know Carson Wentz is in line to start but, Jacob Eason has had a quiet preseason but pretty much a flawless one. If Wentz shows that he hasn’t fully recovered or is plain awful, they have a competent backup, unlike some other teams in the NFL.
Cut down week begins next week for all the teams to hit 53 members. I will give a rundown of the depth chart in the next segment and give my predictions for the year.

Preseason Finale-At Home : WFT vs. Baltimore

By Dan Ryans

WASHINGTON–It’s another edition of “Battle of the Beltway” as the Washington Football Team enters the third and final game of the preseason at home against the Baltimore Ravens. Not that it matters much to WFT, but the Ravens have won 19 straight preseason games,m and it’ll be cool to see Washington end that streak. Coach Ron Rivera has stressed more quality of play than getting wins during these tune-ups. The Washington players, however, are more intrigued about this streak. Some were asked about ending the 19-game winning streak for Baltimore. A notable response came from defensive star Chase Young. He smiled, answering that question to the media earlier this week. “Yeah, we’ve heard about it,” Young said. He certainly wants to end that streak, and it’ll be interesting to see if they’ll get the job done. 

In order to beat the Ravens, Washington will have to play its starters for most of the game. Throughout the history of the NFL preseason, the third game would feature most of the reps for the all starters, but that was when preseason was four games.  Coach Rivera made it clear that we will see Washington’s first team in action on Saturday. We just don’t know how much they’ll play. After all, you don’t want to risk any possible injuries with the season opener two weeks out. At the very least, it’ll be nice to see Washington’s offense go out and have a better performance than they did last week against Cincinnati. Ryan Fitzpatrick did not have his finest moment against the Bengals number ones. If he’s going to be the starter for Week 1, he has to prove his leadership of this offense. Otherwise, WFT might as well start Taylor Heinicke. 

This game will also give us another chance to see undrafted rookie RB Jaret Patterson, who has been the MVP of this preseason for the Washington Football Team. More first-team reps in this matchup will only benefit him at this point. He has received nothing but praise from his teammates and his head coach. Another standout game would only solidify his spot on the 53-man roster. 

Sammis Reyes is back after missing a week with a concussion. He will certainly get a lot of time out there and prove that he deserves a spot on the final roster.

Giants Final Preseason Game

By Jeff Knapp

This Sunday, the 0-2 Giants will play their final preseason game of the year against the 2-0 New England Patriots. According to Joe Judge, Giants fans will see Daniel Jones take the field for the entire 1st half of the game. Still, the rest of the starters are expected to remain out in preparation for their September 12th opener against Denver Broncos.

Although the starters are not playing this Sunday, some rookies will not take the field due to injury. Between now and opening day, the Giants and fans alike will keep an eye on those who are injured in one way or another. Those to keep an eye on our Saquon Barkley, who received the most work of his training camp. There will also be close attention to Kyle Rudolph, 1st round pick Kadarius Toney, who is still dealing with the effects of COVID, CB Adoree Jackson, Kenny Golladay, Shane Lemieux, John Ross, and other 2021 draftees, Elerson Smith, Azeez Ojulari, and Aaron Robinson.

Going into the game, Joe Judge will probably look at how the young guys on the O-Line handle and pass rush from the Patriots will and how our pass rush will look due to injury and young, unproven talent.
Following this week’s game, the Giants and the rest of the league will then cut their rosters from 85 players to the 53-man roster.

Titans Preseason Finale

By Bill Murphy

Nashville -Well, after a 34-3 victory last week against the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Bucs, The Titans are starting their final week of the preseason on a chaotic note. On Thursday, it had been reported that nine players and coaches have either tested positive for Covid 19 or have been placed into Covid 19 protocol, including head coach Mike Vrabel and quarterback Ryan Tannehill. As a result, Tannehill will not start again, and Offensive coordinator Todd Downing will be taking the clipboard with the assistance of defensive coordinator Shane Bowen for tonight’s game against the Chicago Bears.

With Tannehill on the bench, the backup QB fight between Matt Barkley and Logan Woodside will reach the finale. Tonight plans that Barkley will start and will rotate with Woodside. Both of them have had impressive performances over the preseason games. Logan Woodside has thrown for a total of 17 completions out of 23 attempts,128 yds, and two touchdowns, while Barkley has thrown 17 completions out of 24 attempts, 169 yards, and three touchdowns. We will get a bigger picture of who will be the #2 to Tannehill after tonight’s game.

As it has been the last two weeks, there will again be a very backup-heavy game. Alongside Tannehill, there will be no AJ Brown, Julio Jones, and Derrick Henry as they are both recovering from injuries. Brown is expected to be playing week one against Los Angles, while Jones participated in limited practice this week. That means it will be up to Cameron Baston and Mason Kensey to carry the team receiving game this week while Mehki Sargeant will be covering the running game.

A strong point of this team has been the defense, who have held opponents to 406 yards, eight sacks, three interceptions, no touchdowns, and two field goals. This week, the defense will have a bit of a challenge as they will be facing Chicago’s new quarterback, first-round draft pick Justin Fields from Ohio State. They need to cover and pressure Fields throughout the game.

An Important point to remember in this last preseason game is that this is the last game before the roster gets reduced from 80 to 53. So whoever plays tonight better play like it is his last game because it just might be as cut down day is on Tuesday. So who will be Tannehill’s backup? That question and many others will be answered after tonight’s game between the Titans and Bears at 7 pm eastern time.

The Rams head to Denver for final preseason game

By Zakary Haines

LOS ANGELES- As the preseason is coming to a close, coaches are getting one final look at their players before the final cuts come in. Tonight’s game is critical for many players, as the Rams must cut down from 80 players to 53. The last four players cut include running back Raymond Calais (who had foot surgery), defensive back Paris Ford, tight end Kyle Markway, and quarterback Delvin Hodges. With that in mind, here are the groups to watch out for in tonight’s game against the Denver Broncos.

Running Backs: With the trade of Sony Michel, it looks like the Rams have reignited the competition for the number one running back spot. With Cam Akers out for the season with a torn Achilles and Darrell Henderson Jr. not performing well during the preseason. This leaves an open competition for Otis Anderson, Jake Funk, and Xavier Jones to land a spot on the Rams’ final roster. Funk led the team in rushing yards against the Raiders last week. Expect there to be more run plays to help determine who will make the cut. 

Inside Linebackers: This group has been spared any cuts as the coaching staff tries to see the best fit. That could change come next week. This game will be essential to show who will come up big for the Rams’ defense. That includes tackles for loss, filling gaps, and stopping the other team’s running game. Kenny Young and Troy Reeder are expected to be the starters, but that has not stopped Travin Howard from making his mark. As for Micah Kiser, this will be their last chance to prove he belongs on the team.

Wide Receivers: Another group that has been unaffected by roster cuts until now is the wide receivers. Most starters have been identified, such as Robert Woods, Connor Kupp, and Desean Jackson. As for other receivers, this game is a “prove it” game. Some of the top performers so far have been JJ Koski, Trishton Jackson, and Jeremaih Haydel. As for the rest of the depth chart, that will be determined in today’s game. Expect the routes to be more complicated, and players expected to push the yards after catching even further.

If there was ever a time to shine, this is it. This third and final preseason contest can make or break some players’ NFL careers, so it is important to leave it all out there on the field. The Rams will need to tighten up their roster, and some players are not making this an easy task. Another late-night kickoff is set for 9:05 pm est in Denver. The final roster cuts are to be done by Tuesday, August 31st at 4 pm est.

Dallas vs Jacksonville Gunslinger Edition

By Mark Halpern

Well, last week, we witnessed another Dallas preseason loss to the hands of the Texans. When it comes to the preseason, I don’t care about the wins or losses. This time is used to narrow down your team to 53 players. This time is coming, and this upcoming game with Jacksonville will be interesting.

The Cowboys know who their number 1 gunslinger is this season, and that is Dak Prescott. However, who is going to handle the backup spot and possible 3rd string? Garrett Gilbert, Cooper Rush, and Ben DeNucci will all have time to show off their skills. This week the first-string offense except for Cee Dee Lamb {Covid Protocol} Dak Prescott {No Need to Injure} and Zeke Elliot {Being cautious} will play at least a quarter. This will give whoever starts this game a slight advantage. Also, the Jacksonville defense first-stringers will be in making a challenge on whoever takes that first snap. Before last week Garrett Gilbert was the clear frontrunner but, Cooper Rush gave the offense a rush of excitement, throwing for two TDS. This leaves poor Ben DeNucci to most likely get mop-up duty against 2nd and possibly 3rd stringers if he gets a chance. In the end, I believe that DeNucci will be cut but will join the practice squad.

As for the Dallas defense, most of the Cowboy’s first stringers will play a quarter to a half except for Demarcus Lawrence {injury. Will be ready for week 1} and Malik Hooker {Covid Protocol}. The Dallas secondary feels good to go, and they have named their defense strategy “The No-Fly Zone.” I like it, it’s new, and I love to hear that they will be roaming and looking for those Picks. The Dallas Linebacker core of Jaylon Smith, Leighton Vander Esch, and Keanu Neal has been rated in the top five crews in football; however, Micha Parsons and Jabril Cox have been performing at an unreal rate and could challenge for more time than they were expecting to get. I am excited to see Malik Hooker this season. He has been a coach to most of the secondary since he was a leader in the locker room. Jacksonville will go with their first-string offense for the first half, and this is an ideal scenario for the Dallas defense to get a good challenge put in front of them. If there are a few squeaky cogs in the system, they will be fixed very quickly.
This Cowboys offense and defense really can be something special. Just this past Monday, Dak Prescott has been given the all-clear to re ramp up his workouts to be prepared to take on the Buccaneers in two weeks. Once that is released in the upcoming week, I will have a complete rundown of the Dallas depth chart.

New York Jets Final Preseason

By Eric Ford

Well, I am hopeful…….. Till again, week 1. Zach Wilson, all I got to say is WOW and save some for later. Let us talk about Zach Wilson. An outstanding game he had. He went 9/11, 128 yards, and two touchdowns. Even in the pocket, he looked good. The throws did not seem forced, and I feel he still has much more to offer at quarterback. My only tip for Coach Salah is, let him rest. Do not play him this game against the Eagles. Let him learn from the bench and watch the offense. The running game was pretty good as well. Micheal Carter rushed for ten carries and 52 yards. I have a feeling he will be a 3rd down back. Corey Davis had four receptions for 70 yards and Tyler Kroft with two receptions for 36 yards and two touchdowns. The offense looks like they were moving. The defense did not look like a problem. My only struggle is the pass defense, but I am not too concerned. If this game was only a tiny snippet of what’s to come to the rest of the season, I have a reason to be excited.

Side note before we talk about this coming game. Carl Lawson is on the injured reserve with a torn Achilles. He will be out for the rest of the year. This is sad news, but something that gave me hope was that Coach Salah and General Manager Joe Douglas were actively looking for replacements through free agency or trades. As a fan, I love to see the GM invested in the team with the right players to make it work.
Now the last preseason game against the Eagles. This is the game where the bench players get to show out and prove why they are needed to be on the team. We do not need to put in our starters. They have proved themselves in the last couple of weeks. This is when the bench players get to show out to either stay on the team or at least practice squad. The score does not even matter, playout and have fun.

Jacksonville Jaguars Preseason Week 2 post-game

By: Noah Trombley

The second game for the Jaguars this preseason is in the books and it was an interesting time for Jaguars fans filled with moments of terror and some more downs unfortunately.

The moment of terror came when rookie phenom quarterback Trevor Lawrence took off out of the pocket on a 3rd and 8 play in the second quarter and lunged for the first down, getting smacked by three saints players in the process. Thankfully Lawrence would be able to get up after the play was over and continue the drive but the young QB is gonna have to learn that his value to the Jaguars is in his arm talent and he needs to learn to slide to protect himself when he does take off a few times. Besides that however there was a lot to like from the rookie quarterback. He went 14/23 for 113 yards and continued to show poise and awareness in the pocket. 

However there was one massive player injury this week that hurts one of the few bright spots coming into this season. Rookie running back, and teammate at Clemson with Lawrence, Travis Etienne will miss the entire 2021 season after being placed on IR with a left foot lisfranc injury, meaning the bones or ligaments in the middle of his foot have been torn or broken. This is a huge blow to what would’ve been a stacked running back duo of Etienne and James Robinson who last year went over 1000 rushing yards. Etienne’s power combined with Robinson’s speed would’ve made them a hard duo to contend with and could’ve taken some pressure off of Lawrence to do so much during games. Robinson will need to repeat what he did last year in order for the Jaguars to have a good running attack and account for Etienne’s absence. If he can then the Jaguars should still be a very dynamic team offensively and could put up some points throughout the season. 

The King Of New York

By Michael Rifkin

On Friday, Henrik Lundqvist announced his retirement from hockey at the age of 39. The New York Rangers selected Lundqvist in the seventh round of the 2000 NHL draft (205th overall). Before the 2020 season, the Rangers, the only franchise Lundqvist had played for, bought out his contract, and he signed a one-year contract with the Washington Capitals, and didn’t play for them due to heart issues and underwent open-heart surgery.

Lundqvist retires with 459 sixth all-time wins, 2.43 Goals Against Average, and .918 Save Percentage, and 64 shutouts. Lundqvist had 61 wins in the playoffs with a 2.30 Goals Against Average, a .921 save percentage, and ten shutouts. Lundqvist was at his best in win or go home game 7s. In his eight-game 7s, Lundqvist went 6-2 with a 1.11 Goals Against Average, and a .961 save percentage. The craziest part of these numbers is that Lundqvist never allowed more than two goals in game 7s. The Rangers went to three conference finals with Lundqvist and one Stanley Cup Final, where they lost to the Los Angeles Kings in 5 games. In what might have been the best stretch of Henrik’s career, the Rangers trailed the Pittsburgh Penguins 3 games to 1 in the 2014 Eastern Conference Semifinals. In games 5-7, Lundqvist stopped 102 of 105 shots en route to a comeback for the ages. Over those three games, the team was outshot 105-84. In 2011-12 Lundqvist went 39-18-5 with a 1.97 Goals Against Average, a .930 save percentage, and eight shutouts, which led him to win the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goalie and for ten consecutive seasons finished in the top 6 in voting.

Henrik embraced the fans as much as they embraced him. When he makes a big save, you can hear Madison Square Garden faithful chant his name. One day Henrik will go into the Hockey Hall of Fame. The Rangers organization announced quickly on Friday that during this upcoming season, they will retire the number 30 in honor of Lundqvist, the franchise’s all-time leader in wins, in a ceremony that no doubt will be fit for a KING.

Buccaneers Preseason Recap #2

By Robert Mills

ORLANDO, FL – Well, that was a result nobody expected. The Buccaneers looked outmatched and outmanned early on in a 34 to 3 blowout loss to the titans. This now sets the Bucs at 0-2 for preseason and, worse yet, 0-2 at home. I guess we should all tell ourselves, for now, this is still preseason, and making the assumption more starters would play this game was a false statement. Tom Brady did not make an appearance, Joe Tryon got more playtime, and the only O-Lineman to play for the Bucs that will even see playing time in the regular season was Alex Cappa. Let’s break down this game a bit and what we should see moving forward.

Backups reigned supreme yet again in this game, unfortunately not in a perfect way. We got to see fewer projected starters for the regular season in this game and more 3rd strings and potential cut players. This includes players like CB Dee Delaney, CB Chris Wilcox, and RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn, who could be said are “fighting for a spot” to remain from being on the cut list come time for the regular season. Dee Delaney specifically had a rather rough outing missing some key tackles, though that was just one tick in a long list of issues the Buccaneers had this game. Shawn Vaughn also struggled greatly, averaging 2 yards per carry on nine attempts for 18 yards overall. The silver lining to the backup struggles was getting to see a lot more Kyle Trask. I was pleased to say I was wrong about how they planned to use him for preseason, and he had an okay outing again for this game (13/26, 131 yards, two ints, one fumble). The stats don’t tell the whole story as both of his interceptions were off-tipped passes, and a brilliant pass to the tight end late in the 3rd quarter resulted in a fumble and returned for a TD for the Titans.

Finding the silver linings in this game would be getting to see more TE O.J Howard (24 yards, three rec.) as he is still limited coming back from his back injury that occurred back in early August. Good to see him coming back as he played an essential role in the 2020 super bowl run. And once again, LB Joe Tryon will be talked about in this game. He was able to take 22 snaps for this game, and one of those snaps, he put some impressive moves on the OLB Dillon Radunz of the Titans and sack Matt Barkley in the dying seconds of the first half pushed titans out of field goal range. However, that was a short-lived celebration as the Titans made the 58-yard field goal.

It’s safe to say nobody wants to remember this game. We will see how the Buccaneers plan to creatively use their backups and 3rd stringers for their 3rd and final preseason game against the Texans Saturday at 7 pm in Houston. I want to predict more starters will play, but I was wrong last week, and it’s hard to say what they plan to do.