Welcome back to Establish the Fun, where football is fun and I’m here establishing that harder than a Big Ten football game in November. It’s Week 3, and some early trends are popping up throughout the league.

Running the ball is back en vogue, throwing the ball absolutely sucks, and defenses are killing the game (except for the Carolina Panthers—sorry, try again next year). However, there are some offenses and aspects of the game that I think have been really cool throughout this first portion of the season and I hope they continue.

Let’s start in New Orleans, where the Saints are marching into the end zone.

The Saints are all about the base

If I were to tell you any NFL offense through the first two weeks of the season would set records for points in a game, who would you offer up first? The San Francisco 49ers? A solid guess, but incorrect. The Kansas City Chiefs? Also wrong. It is the New Orleans Saints, whose 91 points through two games are the most in the NFL since 2009, which saw 93 points in the first two games from … the New Orleans Saints. History repeating itself? I’m not too sure about that, but I do know that after their 44-19 demolition derby of the Dallas Cowboys in the Jerrydome almost automatically earned them a spot on this week’s ETF. So let’s dive in and see what has New Orleans feeling jazzy.

What stands out the most about watching New Orleans is how much base personnel they see from defenses. This is because they practically live out of 12 (one running back, two tight ends) and 21 (two running backs, one tight end) personnel. Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak comes from San Francisco, where the 49ers’ basketball on grass approach to offense was emphasized by how they made use of versatile, dual threat players such as RB Christian McCaffrey, WR Deebo Samuel, TE George Kittle, and FB Kyle Juszczyk. The Saints don’t have that equal firepower, but they have their own versatile bunch of players that makes it hard for teams to keep up with them when they go in their base.

And they are all about that base.

The Cowboys were the perfect team to showcase this offense against as well. As good as they are defensively, they can’t play in base because of their lack of beef up front. The Saints were able to hammer them in their base personnel, and be versatile enough to make the offense unpredictable.

On this play, the Saints are in 21 personnel, with FB Adam Prentice on the field with Kamara, TE Foster Moreau, and WRs Rashid Shaheed and Chris Olave. Dallas has to match with their base defense in order to respect their ability to run the ball. Everyone is running this four strong concept, where four guys are on the same side of a passing concept. This is to stretch the defense wide with someone in the backfield going out on a swing pass and someone basically escorting him out there as a lead blocker, then a two-man concept to the frontside and a slant on the backside. Because of the gravity of Kamara, both linebackers run in order to give them numbers. Shaheed runs a quick over the ball route and Carr hits him for nine yards. Easy, intentional offense to isolate the weak points of the Cowboys.

On the big Shaheed touchdown where Derek Carr absolutely lost his marbles, it was once again a play with the Cowboys in base personnel. This time, New Orleans was in 21 but Prentice was lined up next to Moreau as an H-back. Because of the play action, it keeps the Cowboys defense (and Micah Parsons) off balance, creating a clean enough pocket for Carr to unleash this javelin. It’s an incredible throw that beats the corner and the safety, but it’s something Carr has always had in him. This offense is just being able to get that out of him through structure and well-intentioned design.

What also impressed me about the Saints’ emphatic victory was how they went about blocking Parsons. With a tackle group that is uninspiring to say it kindly, the Saints still held Parsons to zero sacks. How they went about it was pretty interesting. On this play, the Cowboys are in their mugged front, which they use to try and isolate Parsons on a tackle, which Parsons will win about 99% of the time. The Saints opt to motion TE Juwan Johnson to Parsons’ side, then full slide their linemen to the left. This means every blocker has the man to the left of them, but instead of leaving Johnson on Parsons, they double him with RB Jamaal Williams. This doesn’t completely stop Parsons—nothing really will. But it gives Carr enough time to get this ball out and get the first down.

The other thing they did to stop Parsons was my favorite: they ran that damn ball, brother. 0.24 EPA per rush and a 41% Success Rate on the ground against Dallas, meaning they were both consistent and explosive, running on this front with zero difficulty. New Orleans attacked the edges of this defense, very similarly to a Shanahan offense in San Francisco, and allowed their linemen to get on the move. It also helps to have Alvin Kamara, a perfect fit for this offense with his vision and balance. LT Taliese Fuaga misses his block on the edge, but Prentice cleans it up. Kamara sees over-pursuit from the Cowboys LBs on this zone run, and he cuts it back to gain six yards.

They also used their own version of positionless personnel a few times that I wanted to highlight, specifically involving Shaheed. The speedy receiver goes in an end around motion here, and it draws the linebackers’ eyes just enough to get him to occupy the same gap the nose tackle is in. Kamara doesn’t even need to do much to gain yards here. By the way, that is Taysom Hill at FB, because why not.

This time, Shaheed is in the backfield, with Kamara out wide and Hill in the background. This play goes for four yards, but watch the stress it puts on the second level when it comes to communication. I’m sure Kubiak and the Saints are coming back to this one soon.

I’ve always thought the Saints had weird personnel. A bunch of guys who could fill multiple roles, but never a coordinator who could maximize them. Through two games with Klint Kubiak as the coordinator, the Saints have their own version of basketball on grass, using their versatile base personnel to isolate helpless linebackers. The Philadelphia Eagles are up next, a team that rarely lives in base and wants to hide their linebackers. How Kubiak attacks a Fangio defense will be another test early on his resume.

Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers bring Sexy Back

Every year, the Miami Heat play a game with like seven of their top 15 guys out. It is then that head coach Erik Spoelstra gains his powers, turning underrated, undrafted guys into a death star machine capable of destroying the NBA.

I’m sure Green Bay Packers’ head coach Matt LaFleur felt like Spoelstra and enjoyed every single second of Sunday’s 16-10 victory. Even without having star QB Jordan Love, the Packers handled business. How? They (wipes lone tear from eye) ran that damn ball all up and down the field. Green Bay ran for 261 yards on Sunday, at a little under five yards per carry clip. Given the volume of runs, that was incredibly impressive with a backup QB in Malik Willis starting the game. They didn’t just run it for the sake of running, however. It was creative, intentional design that helped the Packers on the ground, and it was beautiful to watch.

One of my favorite things they did on Sunday was build off of this formation and personnel grouping. The Packers are in 11 personnel, but WR Jayden Reed is in the backfield and TE Tucker Kraft in the formation. Kraft goes in motion and the Colts follow him. The Packers run counter to Josh Jacobs, but before that fake a sweep to Reed. This little spinner action freezes the Colts’ linebackers, who are slow playing everything, and it cleans up this run look a lot. WR Romeo Doubs comes in to block Kenny Moore, Kraft takes on the linebacker and it’s a smooth eight-yard gain.

Later in the game, they show this counter look again, with Reed going in that direction. But instead of Kraft pulling and taking on a linebacker, he’s essentially becoming a lead blocker for this pitch out to Reed. Matt LaFleur was running the triple option, and I LOVED IT. EDGE Kwity Paye gets left unblocked, but that’s because he has no shot of catching Reed out on the edge. Kraft blocks the corner and Reed gets a big play.

Kraft goes in motion again, but as you can see on this rep with Reed in the backfield, they actually run this spinner sweep. LaFleur had the Colts’ eyes everywhere except the right spot on Sunday, and it really aided their offensive line. RT Zach Tom gets out on the move, Dontayvion Wicks does enough on this block, and Reed is moving with the ball in his hands.

I REALLY liked this one from Green Bay. No two back look, but the Packers remain in 11 personnel with Kraft on the line of scrimmage and Reed off. Reed goes in orbit motion behind the QB and they fake that spinner and run GH Counter. HOWEVER, who’s the H on this play? None other than wide receiver Christian Watson, who follows right guard Jordan Morgan through the gap. Again, watch the eyes of the linebackers. All of the misdirection and flow going one way, and if RB Marshawn Lloyd doesn’t slip this play hits HARD. This is so much fun!

While Love will still probably be out, the Packers have to go on the road to Tennessee to take on the Titans. Tennessee is mean as hell up front, but this doesn’t mean LaFleur shouldn’t try being creative like this in the run game. I’m excited to see how this keeps up, even when Love comes back.

Keion White is the future of modern NFL defense

The Keion White breakout is upon us.

The New England Patriots’ defensive lineman played well to end the 2023 campaign for the Pats, but has completely torn it up to begin 2024. His 16.7% pressure rate is tied with Maxx Crosby for 14th in the NFL among defensive linemen with five pressures and his four sacks are second in the NFL behind Aidan Hutchinson. Along with his continued improvement in the pass rush department comes an insight into the Patriots’ defense and what it truly means to be positionless in the front seven.

Keion White lines up everywhere along the Patriots’ front seven. He’ll line up as a three-technique when the Patriots want to get into five man fronts against the run:

He’ll line up traditionally on the outside in their four man alignments:

And this year, the Pats are using him as the queen on their pressure chessboard, lining him up in the A-gap to create mismatches:

At 6’5 and 285 pounds, White is the rare player who has the strength to play inside, but the quickness to win on the outside as well. His versatility is the reason the Patriots are able to do what they do defensively.

The first thing that stands out about White is how violent he is. He has long, powerful arms and violent hands, and when he clubs you, you feel it. It’s like Paul Bunyan swinging his axe directly through a guard or tackle, and I promise you nobody wants to stay in front of that. White whooped almost everyone on the Seahawks’ front on Sunday in a variety of ways, showcasing his growth as a pass rusher. On this first sack, he’s so quick off the ball and violent with his club and rip move, he generates enough force to get the pressure and cause the sack. That brotha wears long sleeves and no tape or gloves, you know he’s coming in to kick some ass. What stands out is his ability to flatten and get to the QB instead of rushing right past him. That’s a special ability to flip the hips and finish, something White needed to do last year that he’s improved on.

Now, White is lined up at three-technique, outside the shoulder of the guard, and he uses that incredible burst and violence to make a run at the QB. Seattle is lucky Geno Smith rules, because White was bearing down on him with a quickness.

Second verse, same as the first here. White sets up the guard to the outside, and then swipes violently back across his face and forces the incompletion. Those heavy hands are like prime Deontay Wilder punches, you will get moved if he connects. Then, he shows that ability to bend again and doesn’t run past the QB.

He beats the center like a drum for his second sack, an incredibly cool rep from an incredibly cool player. Again, he uses the stutter step and catches the center leaning. This time, he swipes to his right and violently throws the center off balance, before finishing his run at the QB for the sack. Consider me bought in on the Keion White hype. Always have and always will be.

What’s even more tantalizing is that he’s expanding his repertoire of moves. A powerful pass rusher, he’s now adding elements of speed to his game, like this sick “ghost” move, where he dips under the punch of a lineman and makes him hit nothing like he’s seeing ghosts. If he can continue to add this to his game, look out.

I think more players like White are the future of the NFL schematically on defense. Changing the picture is all the rage, and while it matters on the back end, it means just as much up front. Being able to shift into four and five man fronts without taking your best guys off the field is pivotal, and the Patriots have been nailing it for the last few years. White is the biggest beneficiary of this, a player who is strong enough to hold his own at DT, but quick enough to be a credible threat on the edge. This allows defenses to walk linebackers down to the line of scrimmage, or keep adding guys into coverage, because you have versatile guys like White on the team.

New England goes to MetLife to play the New York Jets on Thursday, a primetime chance for Keion White to continue his ascent into one of the most fun players to watch on tape. He’s already there for me.

Pipila ka oras human ang Miami Dolphins star receiver nga si Tyreek Hill giposasan sa mga pulis sa gawas sa Hard Rock Stadium sa Miami niadtong Domingo, ang lima ka higayon nga All-Pro nagsaulog sa 80-yarda nga touchdown reception pinaagi sa pagbutang sa iyang mga bukton sa luyo sa iyang likod nga nag-uban ang iyang mga pulso nga daw sama sa. nagsuot ug posas.

Ang video sa insidente sa pregame usa ka bloke gikan sa estadyum nagpakita sa usa ka giposasan nga Bungtod nga naghigda sa iyang tiyan uban sa tulo ka mga pulis nga nagbarog sa iyang palibot. Gikuha siya sa dalan sa usa sa mga opisyal.

Si Hill miingon human sa pag-abli sa season sa Dolphins, 20-17 nga kadaugan batok sa Jacksonville Jaguars nga siya gibira tungod sa giingong kusog nga pagpadagan samtang nagdrayb paingon sa estadyum. Giposasan siya human sa usa ka “verbal altercation and cited for reckless driving,” matod sa mga tawo nga nakahibalo sa insidente ngadto kang Jeff Darlington sa ESPN.

Pagkahuman sa dula, gisultihan ni Hill ang mga tigbalita nga wala siya matinahuron sa mga opisyal ug wala mogamit mga bastos.

“Sa pagkakaron, naningkamot gihapon ko nga mahiusa kining tanan. … Wala pa ko kabalo unsay nahitabo,” ni Hill. “Apan gusto nakong gamiton kini nga plataporma sa pag-ingon, ‘Unsa kaha kon dili ako ang Tyreek Hill?’ Ang pinakagrabe nga sitwasyon, nahibal-an nimo?

“Lisod. Dili ko gusto nga magdala og lumba niini, apan usahay kini mahimong malisud kung buhaton nimo. Unsa kaha kung dili ako ang Tyreek Hill? Nahibal-an ni Lord kung unsa unta ang buhaton sa mga lalaki. Gusto lang nako nga masiguro nga gibuhat nako ang kanunay nga gisulti sa akong uyoan nga akong buhaton kung naa ka sa ingon nga kahimtang – ibutang ang imong mga kamot sa manibela ug paminawa lang.

Si Miami-Dade Police Department Director Stephanie V. Daniels miingon nga ang imbestigasyon sa insidente nagpadayon ug nga usa sa mga opisyal nga nalambigit gibutang sa administratibong katungdanan.

“Pagkahuman sa insidente nga naglambigit sa Tyreek Hill, gisugdan nako ang usa ka imbestigasyon sa Internal Affairs aron masiguro ang usa ka bug-os nga pagsusi sa butang. Usa sa mga opisyal nga nahilambigit sa insidente gibutang sa mga katungdanan sa administratibo samtang ang imbestigasyon gihimo, ”ingon ni Daniels sa usa ka pahayag. “Ako pasalig sa transparency ug tulubagon sa komunidad sa bisan unsang sitwasyon nga naglambigit sa akong mga opisyal.”

Ang insidente wala makababag sa performance ni Hill. Siya adunay pito ka mga kuha alang sa usa ka game-high 130 receiving yard, lakip ang 80-yard touchdown – ang pinakataas sa iyang karera. Human siya makaiskor, si Hill nagsaulog pinaagi sa pagbutang sa iyang mga kamot sa iyang luyo samtang ang kauban sa team nga si Jaylen Waddle nagpakaaron-ingnon nga giposasan siya.

Si Hill, 30, dugay nang giila nga usa sa mga elite nga tigdawat sa NFL. Napili siya sa Pro Bowl sa matag usa sa iyang walo ka mga season, nakadaog og Super Bowl kauban ang Kansas City Chiefs ug, sa miaging season, nanguna sa liga nga adunay 1,799 receiving yard ug 13 nakadawat touchdowns.

Giisip nga labing paspas nga magdudula sa NFL, si Hill naa sa balita bag-o lang alang sa dula nga paghagit sa Olympic gold medal sprinter nga si Noah Lyles sa usa ka lumba.

Ang insidente sa Domingo dili kataw-anan sa mga Dolphins. Daghang mga magdudula ang mihunong sa ilang mga awto ug mitanyag sa suporta sa Hill samtang siya gitanggong sa pulisya, ug ang depensa nga tackle nga si Calais Campbell nagsulti sa NFL Network nga gibutang usab siya sa mga posas sa dihang misulay siya sa “pag-de-eskalate” sa sitwasyon.

“Giposasan sab ko nila, ug ingon ko ‘Unsay nahitabo?’ Wala ko kasabot kung unsa ang isyu, ”miingon si Campbell. “Aron iyang ibutang ang mga posas kanako, gibati nako ang usa ka matang sa paagi.

“Apan kana aron ipakita ang among kalig-on bisan pa. Wala namo gipahunong kana. Bag-o lang kami nakabalik sa linya, nag-focus pag-usab, ug migawas didto ug nagdula og maayo nga dula sa football. Apan kana siguradong usa ka makapaikag nga paagi sa pagsugod sa usa ka dula sa bola.

Giingon ni Hill nga nagplano siya nga gamiton ang kasinatian aron mapaayo ang relasyon tali sa pulisya ug komunidad.

“Gusto nako nga magamit kini nga plataporma aron mahibal-an ang usa ka paagi sa pag-flip niini,” ingon niya, “ug himuon kini nga positibo sa akong katapusan ug Miami-Dade ug maghimo usa ka butang nga positibo alang sa komunidad.”

SÃO PAULO — “It was sloppy,” ni DeVonta Smith. Ug wala siya maghisgot bahin sa mga cocktail sa caipirinha. Wala siya maghisgot bahin sa mga kondisyon sa uma sa usa ka lugar sa soccer sa labing una nga dula sa NFL sa South America. Dili, ang lapad nga tigdawat nagsulti kung unsa ang makita samtang ang Philadelphia Eagles nag-debut sa ilang gibag-o nga sistema ubos sa offensive coordinator nga si Kellen Moore.

“Kini dili maayo,” gisubli ni Smith. “Apan maayo ang among pagtubag.”

Sa pagkatinuod, ilang gibuhat. 1-0 sila human sa ilang 34-29 nga kadaugan batok sa Green Bay Packers sa Arena Corinthians; bisan pa nga giitsa ni Cam Jurgens ang bola ngadto kang Jalen Hurts sa dihang dili pa andam ang quarterback; bisan pa sa Hurts kaduha gipugos ang football sa bug-at nga coverage sa mga pass nga miresulta sa mga pick (usa sa end zone); bisan pa sa Jurgens and Hurts mishandling sa usa ka katapusang minuto nga “Brotherly Shove” snap nga, imbis nga makuha ang piho nga kadaugan, nag-una sa usa ka field goal nga naghatag sa Green Bay Packers sa katapusang pagsulay sa posible nga pagbalik.

“Nagtrabaho kami sa mga kinks,” ingon ni Jurgens, kinsa nag-iya sa duha nga mga fumbles. “Kung mahimo nimong buhaton ang mga butang ug makakuha gihapon usa ka kadaugan, kini usa ka maayo nga pagbati.”

Giluwas ni Saquon Barkley ang ilang panit sa baboy. Milukso siya nianang kataposang nahagba nga kalit. Iyang giihap ang tulo sa upat ka mga touchdown sa Philadelphia. Nag-log siya sa 109 ka yarda sa 24 nga nagdala ug duha ka mga puntos, dugang sa duha ka mga catch, lakip ang usa ka 18-yarda nga touchdown sa usa ka maayo nga oras nga ruta sa ligid. Gikalipay niya ang general manager nga si Howie Roseman nga nakabutang siya og franchise record sa matag tuig nga paggasto sa mga running back pinaagi sa pagpirma kang Barkley sa tulo ka tuig, $37.75 million nga deal sa offseason.

Saquon Freaking Barkley#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/ZdXg8tLqB0

– Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) Septiyembre 7, 2024

“Siya adunay usa ka impyerno nga dula karong gabhiona,” miingon si Hurts. “Nalipay ko nga naa siya sa atong kiliran.”

Ang Eagles wala na mogamit og armas sama ni Barkley sukad pa ni LeSean McCoy. Ingon nga igo sama sa D’Andre Swift ug Miles Sanders nga naa sa backfield sa Philadelphia sa miaging duha ka mga season, ni ang pagdagan pabalik nakabaton sa start-stop speed o ang pagbuto nga naka-bust ni Barkley sa unahan sa depensa sa Packers sa usa ka 11-yarda nga touchdown run ug usa ka 34- yard scamper ngadto sa open field.

Sa katapusan, siya gibabagan. Si Barkley, nga nag-average og 1.35 ka yarda sa wala pa makontak sulod sa unom ka tuig sa New York Giants, sumala sa TruMedia, miingon sa training camp nga iyang gipili nga mopirma sa Eagles tungod sa makalilisang nga opensiba nga linya sa Philadelphia. Didto, sa 11 ka yarda nga iskor, usa ka dako nga bung-aw tali sa Jurgens ug sa tuo nga guwardiya nga si Mekhi Becton. Si Barkley nakahimo og usa ka kalit nga pagputol, ug ang Eagles kalit nga naglabaw sa 14-12 sa nahabilin nga 5:38 sa unang bahin.

“Gibuhat nila ang usa ka maayo kaayo nga trabaho sa pagpahimutang alang kanako,” ingon ni Barkley. “Naningkamot lang ko sa pagsunod sa akong mga lagda. Mao kana ang akong dako nga butang nga ipaambit kay, nahibal-an nimo, usahay ako makasulay sa pagbuhat og sobra. Ug dili nako kinahanglan nga adunay kana nga mentalidad, apan gipasagdan ko (ang linya sa opensiba) nga molihok. Ug kung oras na sa pagbuhat ug dugang nga mga butang, andam usab ako alang niana. ”

Naghisgot bahin sa “dugang nga mga butang,” wala gidid-an si Moore sa pag-deploy sa mga pre-snap motion nga nahimong bahin sa iyang pilosopiya. Ang coach sa Eagles nga si Nick Sirianni, kansang 2023 nga sistema mao ang labing stagnant sa NFL, miingon sayo ning semanaha nga “walay usa nga nahibal-an kung unsa ang among buhaton.” Sa akong ihap, ang Eagles migamit sa pre-snap motion sa 47.3 porsyento sa ilang mga dula batok sa Packers.

Naglakip kana sa Dallas Goedert nga nagsinyas sa wala ngadto sa usa ka swing pass diin si Goedert nakaangkon og 1 ka yarda. Kana naglakip sa Britain Covey nga mibalhin gikan sa lapad nga tuo ngadto sa lapad nga wala ug Hurts nga naigo si Goedert alang sa usa ka 4-yarda nga ganansya sa luna nga napuno ni Covey. Naglakip kini ni AJ Brown nga dali nga mitunob gikan sa slot hangtod sa unahan sa Goedert, nga gipares ni Brown batok ni Jaire Alexander. Dobleng lihok ni Brown — sa gawas, sa sulod— gibiyaan siya nga bukas sa sideline. Nasakitan si Brown sa hinay, ug ang tigdawat milabang sa sekondarya sa Packers alang sa 67-yarda nga iskor.

Ang 23.8 ka yarda ni Brown matag pagdawat (lima ka mga kuha, 119 ka yarda) mao ang iyang labing taas nga average sukad sa Semana 16 sa 2022 nga regular nga panahon. Si Hurts nakahimo sa pagpangita ni Brown sa mahinungdanong ikatulo nga mga sitwasyon diin siya nag-atubang sa usa ka bug-at nga pagdali. Sa ikatulo-ug-8 sa ikaupat nga drive sa Philadelphia (unang nagdali nga touchdown ni Barkley), gi-zip ni Hurts ang bola ngadto kang Brown alang sa 20 ka yarda nga pagkakabig sa wala pa giguba sa usa ka tigdepensa. Si Hurts maoy 6-of-7 passing sa 91 yards ug ang iyang 18-yard touchdown ngadto sa Barkley samtang nag-atubang sa Packers blitz, sumala sa TruMedia.

Usa kadto ka promisa nga timaan alang sa usa ka sistema diin ang Hurts nagdumala sa mas daghan pa sa pre-snap protection nga mga tawag ug mga ngalan diin ang usa ka receiver “init” batok sa blitz. Nasakitan gisakyan kaduha. Ang ikaduha daw nagdrowing siya sa iyang kaugalingon sa wala pa ang halftime, nga gilimitahan ang usa ka promisa nga duha ka minuto nga biyahe aron makahatag lamang og 38-yarda nga field goal ni Jake Elliott ug 19-17 nga depisit sa Packers sa break.

“Naghunahuna ko nga ang proteksyon sa pass maayo kaayo karon,” ingon ni Jurgens. “Abi nakog maayo ang among nahimo. Magtan-aw mi og salida, tan-awa kung giunsa kini. Apan maayo ang gibati didto. Naa miy mga armas sa gawas. Sa akong hunahuna gigamit gyud namo sila karon ug maayo kaayo ang among pagdula.

Ang sloppiness naggikan usab sa depensa sa Eagles.

Si Sirianni nagpabuto sa kanhi defensive coordinator nga si Sean Desai sa usa ka bahin tungod kay gitugyan sa iyang sistema ang ikaduha nga pinakadaghang passing yard sa NFL sa 2023. Ang mga Eagles naghunahuna nga ilang mapauswag ang depensa pinaagi sa pagkuha sa tiglalang sa sistema, si Vic Fangio. Apan adunay mga higayon nga dili klaro nga adunay bisan unsang pagbag-o. Si Jordan Love, kinsa nakakompleto sa 17-of-34 pass alang sa 260 yards, duha ka touchdown ug usa ka interception, mipahimulos sa dayag nga coverage bust pinaagi sa paghapak kang Jayden Reed alang sa 70-yard touchdown aron makuha ang ilang halftime lead. Ang Safety CJ Gardner-Johnson, nga gipirmahan sa libre nga ahensya aron mapaayo ang back end, nasipyat sa usa ka tackle nga makaluwas sa iskor.

Dayag, si Gardner-Johnson nakakuha og kainit gikan sa fan base sa panahon nga siya mibalik sa locker room.

“Tanan silang mga fans nga adunay pipila nga isulti. Pakuhaa kamong tanan—gawas didto ug pakig-uban kanamo. Ibutang kana sa balita, ”miingon si Garnder-Johnson. Milingi siya sa iyang wala ug nakita niya ang tag-iya sa Eagles nga si Jeffrey Lurie. “Sultihi sila, Jeffrey. Ang matag fan moingon nga makahimo sila og tackle, imbitahon namo ang tanan nga moingon nga sipsip kami sa tackling, dad-on namo sila didto uban ni AJ Brown ug tan-awon kung makahimo ba sila og tackle. Ang tanan nahibalo nga s— dili kaayo sayon.”

Mikatawa lang si Lurie.

Si Reed Blankenship, namula sa nawong apan wala mouyon, nagpadayon sa iyang interbyu human sa dula. Oo, sila adunay pipila nga mga pagkaguba sa sakup, ingon ni Blankenship. Oo, wala lang nila buhata ang “kung unsa ang among gibuhat sa praktis.” Apan sa diha nga ang Packers adunay usa ka shot aron makataas og duha ka mga puntos sa ikatulo nga kwarter, ang Blankenship midaog sa itsa ni Love ngadto sa seam alang sa usa ka game-shifting interception. Si Blankenship miingon nga iyang nakita si Love nga morag gusto niyang ilabay si Reed sa sideline, apan mibalik sa tunga-tunga sa field sa dihang giputol ni Gardner-Johnson ang maong opsyon.

“Mao nga, usa kini sa mga gipaabut nga mga higayon,” ingon ni Blankenship. “Apan dili nako mahimo kini kung wala niya buhata ang iyang trabaho sa luyo.”

Lisud nga mahibal-an dayon kung diin nahitabo ang pagkahugno sa 70-yarda nga marka ni Reed. Ang Eagles nagdula og dime, ang ilang unom ka depensa nga pakete sa likod nga gitudlo alang sa pagpasa sa mga senaryo sama sa ikatulo-ug-10. Ang second-round rookie nga si Cooper DeJean ug ang beteranong si Avonte Maddox nagpakita nga nagtabon sa mga mugbong zone sa slot. Ang Gardner-Johnson mao ang pinakalawom nga kaluwasan, apan sa pinakagamay nga nadakpan sa katingala nga si Reed nagdagan nga nag-inusara sa husto nga hash.

“Kini ang labing lisud nga dula tungod kay kini naglakip sa tanan nga 11 nga mga lalaki,” ingon ni Gardner-Johnson. “Ug kung ang tanan nga 11 wala sa parehas nga panid, mahitabo ang mga butang. Wala kana magpasabot nga ikaw ang (labing daotan) nga magdudula sa kalibutan. Kon mao kana, buhian ka unta sa tag-iya. Kinahanglan natong sabton nga kini nga dula dinhi mismo, kinahanglan natong sabton nga isip mga batan-on, karon pa lang mi maayo. Nagduwa mi ug nasabtan namo nga mahimo kaming dominante sa matag aspeto sa dula.”

Ang rookie cornerback nga si Quinyon Mitchell mipadayag sa iyang kaugalingon nga kasaligan nga starter sa iyang professional debut. Gisulayan ni Love ang No. 22 pick pinaagi sa lawom nga bola sa sayong bahin sa unang quarter, apan gihapak ni Mitchell ang bola gikan sa pagkupot ni Christian Watson. Sa ulahi, gilugwayan ni Mitchell ang iyang kaugalingon sa unahan aron ilikay ang laing Love pass duol sa mga stick.

Si Mitchell hingpit nga nagdula sa gawas nga suok, usa ka makapaikag nga kalamboan nga gikonsiderar ang debosyon ni Fangio sa tibuuk nga kampo sa pagbansay sa pag-platun sa rookie sa nickel. Si Mitchell nagdula sa gawas sa cornerback sa mga base nga pakete, dayon mibalhin sa nickel sa mga dula sa preseason. Apan ang Maddox nagsugod sa nickel batok sa Packers. Ang kahikayan mahimong dili mapadayon. Ang Maddox gipunting sa back-to-back nga mga dula ni Love, una nga nagdrowing og pass interference, dayon usa ka touchdown sa mosunod nga dula.

Ang pagkawala ni Isaiah Rodgers tingali adunay papel. Siya ang nag-una sa gawas nga cornerback sa tibuok kampo sa pagbansay sa dihang si Mitchell nagdula og nickel. Si Rodgers gihukman nga dili aktibo tungod sa kadaot sa kamot. Sa dihang gipangutana kung ang pagkawala ni Rodgers nagdula sa desisyon, si Sirianni miingon, “Kana usa gihapon ka kompetisyon nga naa kanato nga akong itago sa akong kaugalingon.” Ang Fielding Maddox sa nickel nagpatungha usab sa pangutana kung ang mga Eagles masaligon ba nga matuman ni Kelee Ringo ang plano sa dula sa cornerback sa mga pakete sa nickel.

Si Sirianni, kinsa dugang nga midawat sa iyang CEO-type nga papel sa 2024, adunay 10 ka adlaw sa pagpakunhod sa sloppiness sa wala pa ang Eagles host sa Atlanta Falcons sa Lunes, Sept. 16. Ang 43-anyos nga coach karon 4-0 sa regular- season openers.

“Naghinamhinam nga magpadayon sa pagpadayon,” ingon ni Sirianni. “Adunay kami pipila ka lisud nga mga panag-istoryahanay bahin sa kung unsa ang husto ug kung unsa ang nahimo nga sayup, apan nalipay kami sa kini nga mga lalaki ug mas maayo kami gikan sa kini nga dula.”

(Itaas nga litrato: Pedro Vilela / Getty Images)

Chicago Bears fans have a lot to look forward to in the 2024-2025 NFL season. Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has already impressed diehard Bears fans with his preseason play. The USC alum is primed and ready for a terrific season in Chicago. 

Keep reading to find out how and when to watch Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears play this season, even if you don’t have cable.

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Sling TV is the most cost-effective way to stream Caleb Williams games this season

If you don’t have cable TV that includes NBC, Fox, ABC, ESPN and NFL Network, one of the most cost-effective ways to watch the Caleb Williams play this season, and all the major sporting events happening this fall, is through a subscription to Sling TV. We suggest leveling up your coverage to the Orange + Blue with Sports Extra tier to get more NFL and college football games this fall.

The Orange + Blue plan regularly costs $60 per month, but the streamer currently offers a $25 off promotion for your first month, so you’ll pay just $35. The Orange + Blue with Sports Extra plan is $50 for your first month and $75 per month after. The Sports Extra add-on features 18 channels, including NFL Redzone, ESPNU, SEC Network, Big 10 Network and ACC Network.

The streamer is also currently offering big savings on four months of the Orange + Blue tier plus the Sports Extra plan when you prepay for the Sling TV Season Pass. The plan costs $219, reduced from $300.

Note: Because Sling TV does not carry CBS, Sling subscribers will want to add Paramount+ to their bundle.  It’s the most cost-effective way to watch every network and cable-aired NFL game this season, even with the added bundle. (Paramount+ and CBS Essentials are both subsidiaries of Paramount Global.)

Top features of Sling TV Orange + Blue plan:

• Sling TV is our top choice for streaming major sporting events like NASCAR.
• There are 52 channels to watch in total, including local NBC, Fox and ABC affiliates (where available).
• You get access to most local NFL games and nationally broadcast games at the lowest price.
• All subscription tiers include 50 hours of cloud-based DVR storage.
• You can add Golf Channel, NBA TV, NHL Network, NFL RedZone, MLB Network, Tennis Channel and more sports-oriented channels (18 in total) via Sling TV’s Sports Extras add-on.

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The Chicago Bears 2024 Regular Season NFL Schedule

The Chicago Bears play nine home games this season, including a Week 6 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars at which the Bears are the designated home team. You can watch the Bears play this season on CBS, ESPN, ABC, Fox, NBC, NFL Network and Prime Video. All times Eastern.

• Week 1: Sept. 8 vs. Tennessee Titans, Noon (Fox)
• Week 2: Sept. 15 at Houston Texans, 7:20 p.m. (NBC)
• Week 3: Sept. 22 at Indianapolis Colts, Noon (CBS)
• Week 4: Sept. 29 vs. L.A. Rams, Noon (Fox)
• Week 5: Oct. 6 vs Carolina Panthers, Noon (Fox)
• Week 6: Oct. 13 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (in London), 8:30 a.m. (NFL Network)
• Week 7: Bye
• Week 8: Oct. 27 at Washington Commanders, Noon (CBS)
• Week 9: Nov. 3 at Arizona Cardinals, 3:05 p.m. (CBS)
• Week 10: Nov. 10 vs New England Patriots, Noon (Fox)
• Week 11: Nov. 17 vs. Green Bay Packers, Noon (Fox)
• Week 12: Nov. 24 vs. Minnesota Vikings, Noon (Fox)
• Week 13: Nov.. 28 at Detroit Lions, 11:30 a.m. (CBS)
• Week 14: Dec. 8 at San Francisco 49ers, 3:25 p.m. (Fox)
• Week 15: Dec. 16 at Minnesota Vikings, 7 p.m. (ABC/ESPN+)
• Week 16: Dec. 22 vs. Detroit Lions, Noon  (Fox)
• Week 17: Dec. 26 vs Seattle Seahawks, 7:15 p.m. (Prime Video)
• Week 18: TBD at Green Bay Packers (ESPN)

Game subject to flexible scheduling in Weeks 5-17.

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Is Caleb Williams playing in the Chicago Bears game today?

Caleb Williams is scheduled to start for the Bears during Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season when the Bears host the Tennessee Titans on September 8, 2024.

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How did Caleb Williams do last game? 

Though Williams didn’t play in the Bears preseason finale against the Kansas City Chiefs, he did play in two preseason games, impressing fans and pundits alike. 

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Who won the Bears game? 

The Bears faced the Kansas City Chiefs in their preseason finale, beating the reigning Super Bowl champions 34-21.

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How to watch the 2024-5 Chicago Bears season without cable

Watch every network-aired Chicago Bears game with FuboTV

Live TV streaming service Fubo offers the same top-tier programming you can get from your local cable provider at a fraction of the price. The streamer is a sports fan’s dream considering the sheer volume of live sporting events you can watch on it.

Fubo packages include access to NFL games airing on your local CBS affiliate, Fox Sunday NFC games via “NFL on Fox,” “Sunday Night Football” on NBC, “Monday Night Football” on ABC and ESPN, and all games aired on NFL Network. There are plenty of channels for NCAA college football fans too, including SEC Network, Big Ten Network and ESPNU.

If you want to give Fubo a try, now’s a great time to do so: Fubo is currently offering $30 off your first month of any subscription tier. That means you can watch every NFL and college football game airing on network TV this week starting at just $49.99. Once you subscribe, you can begin watching immediately on your TV, phone, tablet or computer.

Top features of Fubo:

• There are no contracts with Fubo. You can cancel at any time.
• The Pro ($49.99 first month, $79.99 thereafter) tier includes over 200 channels, including channels not available on some other live TV streaming services.
• Upgrade to 4K resolution with the Elite with Sports Plus tier ($69.99 first month, $99.99 thereafter). It features 299 channels, including NFL RedZone.
• Fubo also offers live MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS and international soccer games. 
• All tiers now come with unlimited cloud-based DVR recording.
• You can watch on up to 10 screens at once with any Fubo plan.
• Stream on your TV, phone, tablet and other devices.

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Paramount+: Watch CBS-aired Chicago Bears games without cable

If you want to spend your Sunday watching the Bears play but don’t have a cable subscription, consider a subscription to Paramount+. Paramount+ gives viewers access to all CBS original content, movies and more. You can watch NFL football live on any Paramount+ subscription tier, starting at $7 per month.

A sports-lovers dream, the platform live streams NFL football games airing on CBS, NCAA college football, PGA Tour golf, professional soccer and more when you upgrade to the Paramount+ with Showtime tier (starting at $12.99 per month).

What you can stream with Paramount+: 

• All NFL games airing on CBS locally and nationally on all its subscription tiers
• On-demand CBS programming, including hit shows like “Survivor” and “NCIS”
• Paramount+ original programming like “Lawmen Bass Reaves” and “Tulsa King”
• Professional soccer, including Champions League live (with Paramount+ with Showtime)
• SEC college football games live (with Paramount+ with Showtime)

Get Paramount+ as part of Walmart+ and watch the NFL on CBS

The Walmart+ shopping subscription service includes access to the Paramount+ Essentials tier (with live NFL games airing on CBS), a $60 per year value. Walmart+ subscribers also get discounts on gasoline at Mobil and Exxon stations, access to special members-only deals (including Walmart’s holiday deals), same-day home delivery from your local store and more. Walmart+ costs $98 per year. Tap the button below to learn all the benefits of Walmart+, and to start your 30-day free trial.

Add Paramount+ to your Amazon Prime Video subscription

You can also add Paramount+ to your Prime Video subscription to access CBS-aired NFL games, plus Paramount+ originals. Add Paramount+ to your Prime Video subscription for $7.99 per month, or level up to Paramount+ with Showtime to get access to CBS-aired college football and more for $12.99 per month. Both pricing tiers come with a seven-day free trial. 

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Watch Thursday Night Football only on Amazon Prime Video

Starting in 2022, Amazon became the exclusive carrier of Thursday Night Football (TNF). This season, Prime will host Thursday Night Football in Weeks 2-17, plus the Las Vegas Raiders vs. Kansas City Chiefs game on Black Friday (Friday, Nov. 29, 2024) at 6 p.m. ET. Prime Video will also exclusively air at least one Wild Card game this season.

Amazon Prime is $14.99 per month after a 30-day free trial. In addition to NFL football, Prime members will get two-day shipping, member-exclusive Prime Day deals, and expedited shipping on Prime Deals. 

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Watch every network-aired Chicago Bears game on Hulu + Live TV

You can watch the NFL, including the NFL Network, with Hulu + Live TV. The bundle features access to 90 channels, including NBC, CBS and Fox. Unlimited DVR storage is also included. Watch every game on every network with Hulu + Live TV, plus catch live NFL preseason games, exclusive live regular season games, popular studio shows (including NFL Total Access and the Emmy-nominated show Good Morning Football) and lots more.

Hulu + Live TV comes bundled with ESPN+ and Disney+ for $77 per month after a three-day free trial.

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Watch the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football on Peacock

In addition to watching NBC-aired NFL games, Peacock subscribers can also access Peacock originals like “Love Island” and the Annette Bening thriller “Apples Never Fall,” plus live NBC-aired content with a Peacock Premium Plus subscription, and Peacock’s library of on-demand content including “The Office.”

Your best value, you can get a year of Peacock Premium (with ads) for $80, or a year of Peacock Premium Plus (mostly ad-free) for $120. Or, get a monthly subscription: Peacock Premium subscription costs $8 per month, while Peacock Premium Plus is $14 per month.

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Stream Bears games airing on ESPN on ESPN+

ESPN+ will play host to 25 NFL games this season, including one ESPN+- exclusive game on October 21, 2024, when the Arizona Cardinals host the Los Angeles Chargers. 

ESPN+ is ESPN’s subscription streaming platform, which offers coverage of some of Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark’s WNBA games, original studio shows and top-tier series that aren’t accessible on the ESPN networks. ESPN+ subscribers may purchase UFC PPV events and access the platform’s vast archive of on-demand content, including the entire 30 For 30 catalog, game replays and select ESPN films. 

ESPN+ offers exclusive live sports, original shows, and a vast library of on-demand content, including the entire 30 For 30 series and more. Here’s a sampling of what’s available on ESPN+:

• Exclusive fantasy sports tools and content from some of the sports world’s most respected voices in sports
• NFL games airing on ABC and ESPN
• Every Fight Night UFC event UFC PPV event (PPV events are subject to an additional charge)
• Soccer including EFL Championship, US Open Cup and Bundesliga.
• College sports including the Ivy League, Big Sky Conference and Atlantic A10 Conference
• MLB and the World Series
• Top-tier tennis including the Australian Open and Wimbledon
• The PGA Tour and the Masters

It is important to note that ESPN+ does not include access to the ESPN network. It is a separate sports-centric service, with separate sports programming.

An ESPN+ subscription costs $11 per month. Or save 15% when you pay annually ($110).  

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Watch every NFL game on your phone with NFL+

If you want to catch the Bears games this season, and all the other NFL games happening this preseason, check out NFL+. The premium streaming service, starting at $40 per year (or $7 per month), offers access to all NFL games happening this preseason — even out-of-market games — on all supported devices. The streaming service also offers access to NFL Network on all supported devices.

To boost your NFL experience even further, you can upgrade to NFL+ Premium with NFL RedZone and watch up to eight NFL games simultaneously.

Top features of NFL+:

• You get access to all NFL preseason games, including those that are out of market, on any supported device (including TV).
• NFL+ lets you watch stream local and primetime regular season games on your phone or tablet, but not your TV.
• It includes the NFL Network (and NFL RedZone with NFL+ Premium), so it’s a good option for those who are looking to stream football on the go.

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Watch the NFL live with a digital HDTV antenna

You can also watch NFL football on TV with an affordable indoor antenna, which pulls in local over-the-air HDTV channels such as CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox, PBS, Univision and more. Here’s the kicker: There’s no monthly charge.

For anyone living in a partially blocked-off area (those near mountains or first-floor apartments), a digital TV antenna may not pick up a good signal — or any signal at all. But for many homes, a digital TV antenna provides a seriously inexpensive way to watch sports without paying a cable company. Indoor TV antennas can also provide some much-needed TV backup if a storm knocks out your cable.

This ultra-thin, multi-directional Mohu Leaf Supreme Pro digital antenna with a 65-mile range can receive hundreds of HD TV channels, including ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, Fox, and Univision, and can filter out cellular and FM signals. It delivers a high-quality picture in 1080p HDTV and top-tier sound. The antenna comes with a 12-foot digital coax cable.

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While you watch the Bears from home, it’s a great time to stock up on the latest fan gear.  Fanatics is our first stop for the newest in fan gear. The online fan gear retailer is well stocked on the latest Caleb Williams jerseys, T-shirts, hoodies and more. There is plenty of Bears gear in stock, but you’ll want get yours before it sells out.

Tap the button below to head directly to Fanatics to see the newest Chicago Bears fan gear drop.

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When and where is Super Bowl LIX?

Super Bowl LIX is scheduled to be played on Feb. 9, 2025, at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, LA (home of the New Orleans Saints). Super Bowl LIX will air on Fox, and stream on Fubo, Sling TV and Hulu + Live TV.

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