3GML Voters Name Co-MVPs

For the first time in the seven-year history of the 3GML, the league has named co-MVPs.  San Francisco quarterback Justin Fields and Houston tight end Mike Gesicki will share the honor this year after leading their respective teams to division titles.

Fields, the 3rd overall pick in last spring's draft, becomes the second rookie to win the award (Todd Gurley II won it for the 3GML back in 2015).  A possible foreshadowing of things to come, Fields won the starting job at 49ers camp after one week.  Once cemented as the starter, the Ohio St. prospect took command of Kyle Shanahan's offense throwing for over 3500 yards and 22 touchdowns.  It was his legs, however, that took the San Francisco offense to the next level.  Fields rushed for 750 yards and six more touchdowns in his 15 games played.

"I'm honored.  To win this award as a rookie is unbelievable,"  Fields said.  "I have to give credit to my coaches and teammates.  I also want to thank GM CD for taking a chance on me.  Finally, I want to thank the voters.  To share the award with Mike Gesicki just reinforces what they thought of my play."

Gesicki becomes the first tight end in 3GML league history to win the award.  He made it impossible for voters to overlook his contributions to the Texans offense.  Gesicki tied the tight end receptions record held by Zach Ertz with 116 catches for the year.  Many of these catches came at crucial moments in games  including multiple on 3rd down.  When all was said and done Gesicki racked up 1289 yards and nine touchdowns.

"Wow, man.  What an honor," Gesicki said.  "When I was traded here, I knew I was heading to a young franchise and wasn't sure what to expect.  It was clear early on this team was special and headed for big things.  I want to thank my teammates and coaches for setting me up for success.  I also want to acknowledge how special it is to have a great connection with both Andy [Dalton] and Gardner [Minshew].  Most tight ends are lucky to have rapport with one guy, I had it with two."

Fields and Gesicki now get an opportunity to take their legacies to new territory, as both enter the playoffs for the first time in their careers.  Could we see a MVP showdown in Super Bowl LVI?  It's possible, but both San Francisco and Houston will only go as far as these two players take them.

Vote Breakdown:

(27 Votes): Justin Fields (San Francisco 49ers)

(27 Votes): Mike Gesicki (Houston Texans)
(24 Votes): Patrick Surtain II (Green Bay Packers)

(21 Votes): Stefon Diggs (Green Bay Packers)

(17 Votes): Quinnen Williams (Green Bay Packers)

(14 Votes): Alvin Kamara (San Francisco 49ers)

(14 Votes): Clelin Ferrell (Houston Texans)

(11 Votes): Bilal Nichols (San Francisco 49ers)

(3 Votes): Denzel Mims (Houston Texans)

(3 Votes): Devin Bush (Green Bay Packers)

2021 3GML Season - Week #18

 San Francisco 49ers @ Los Angeles Rams

LOS ANGELES - The San Francisco 49ers took care of business and walked away with the NFC West title after a 31-17 win over the Los Angeles Rams.  San Francisco (11-6, 4-2 NFC West) looked like their early season selves with a dominant run game that set up Justin Fields in the passing game.

The Rams (5-12, 1-5) looked disinterested all afternoon as their season came well short of their goals.  They finish last in a tough NFC West division.

San Francisco now the 4 Seed will host the Washington Football Team in the first round of the playoffs.

Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions

DETROIT - The Green Bay Packers finished off their regular season with a win, their 7th in a row, as they beat the Detroit Lions 38-21.  The win was meaningless for Green Bay (13-4, 6-0 NFC North) as they were firmly locked into the 3-seed heading in. 

"We talked as a team and wanted the momentum heading into the playoffs." Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. said.

The Packers who made a huge change at quarterback this offseason when the traded Aaron Rodgers to the Denver Broncos, find themselves in position to defend their title with his replacement Tua Tagovailoa.  The quest to for back to back Super Bowls begins next week when they host the Seahawks in wild card weekend.

Tennessee Titans @ Houston Texans

HOUSTON - The Texans were the last team standing after a fist fight of a game with the Tennessee Titans, winning 27-20 Sunday.  The win gave Houston (11-6, 5-1 AFC South) the division title and a home playoff game.  Once again the two quarterback system of Andy Dalton and Gardner Minshew proved successful and Dalton was hot early and the Minshew came in late and gave the Texans the lead.

"Hell of a win." Minshew said.

Now the Texans will take on 2020 MVP Aaron Rodgers and the Denver Broncos at home in the wild card round.

New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins

MIAMI - The EP Miami Dolphins era came to an end with a thud after the 'Fins dropped the finale 55-23 to the New England Patriots.  The loss was the Dolphins 6th in a row and dropped them to 5-12 on the year.  Considering the final retirement of EP this season, things will likely look much different in Miami next year.  The 3GML is forever grateful for his contributions and wishes him the best in his future endeavors.

2021 3GML Season - Week #17

 Houston Texans @ San Francisco 49ers

SAN FRANCISCO - The last regular season 3GML matchup proved to be a thrilling one as the San Francisco 49ers beat the Houston Texans 41-27.  The win for San Francisco was huge as they clinched a playoff spot, while the loss for Houston was equally large.  The Texans now play week 18 for their playoff lives.

San Francisco was excellent offensively as Justin Fields started the game 18 for 18 and finished with 305 yards passing a three touchdowns as the 49er offense could not be stopped.

For Houston, the loss is disappointing as they had hoped to clinch a playoff spot as well.  The offense moved the ball decently and a late surge got the Texans within seven in the 4th.

"We have to play better.  Period."  Coach David Shaw said.

San Francisco now plays for seeding and a potential NFC West title as they take on the Los Angeles Rams.  Houston, however, is playing for their lives as they take on the Tennessee Titans with the winner taking the AFC South title.

Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY - Green Bay won their 6th game in a row Sunday with a 34-14 victory over the visiting Minnesota Vikings.  The Packers (12-4, 5-0 NFC North) used their stifling defense combined with an efficient offense to put the Vikings (5-11, 1-4) away in this one. All Pro Dalvin Cook couldn't find daylight to run most of the day and it made the offense one dimensional.

With Cook bottled up, the Vikings turned to the air and that didn't turn out much better as Kirk Cousins threw 5 interceptions.  Patrick Surtain II continued his impressive rookie season, hauling in two of the picks.

Green Bay finishes out their season on the road against the suddenly hot Detroit Lions.

Miami Dolphins @ Tennessee Titans

TENNESSEE - The 2021 season can't end fast enough for the Miami Dolphins as they dropped their 5th game in a row, this time 27-20 to the Tennessee Titans.  Once again the Dolphins (5-11) saw the game slip away in the 4th quarter as the Titans scored late on a Ryan Tannehill to Marcus Johnson touchdown. 

The Dolphins will try to end the season on a high note next week as they take on New England Patriots at home.

2021 3GML Season - Week #16

 San Francisco 49ers @ Tennessee Titans

TENNESSEE - The San Francisco 49ers snapped their four game losing streak in unbelievable fashion, demolishing the Tennessee Titans 42-28.  Justin Fields obviously shook off the rust after his first game back last week, throwing for 351 yards and 3 touchdowns while adding a rushing touchdown to the stat sheet as well.

"Derwin [James] said it last week, we're making the playoffs." Fields said.

San Francisco hopes to keep it going next week when the host the Houston Texans.

Los Angeles Chargers @ Houston Texans

HOUSTON - The Houston Texans housed the Los Angeles Chargers 52-10 led by Andy Dalton.  Houston (10-5) came out hot and never let up.  Dalton was absolutely electric throwing for 460 yards and 6 touchdowns.  His favorite targets on the day were the massive Denzel Mims and the reliable tight end Mike Gesicki.  Mims caught 5 passes for 125 yards and 3 touchdowns, while Gesicki had 8 catches for 104 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Combined with the Tennessee loss, Houston now has a two game lead in the AFC South with two games to go.  If they can win the division title, it would be massive considering they were just holding their expansion draft 18 months ago.

Next up is a home matchup against fellow 3GML team, the San Francisco 49ers.

Cleveland Browns @ Green Bay Packers 

GREEN BAY - Green Bay kept things rolling with a 16-10 win over a tough Cleveland Browns team.   Green Bay (11-4) rode the defense this week holding a excellent offense to 10 points.  Harold Landry lead the charge with four sacks.

"This team is getting hot at the right time," Landry said. "We want to repeat as Super Bowl Champs.  Everything is still in front of us."

Green Bay stays home and takes on division rival Minnesota next week.

Miami Dolphins @ New Orleans Saints

NEW ORLEANS - The losing streak continued as the Miami Dolphins (5-10) dropped another game 35-32 to the New Orleans Saints.  Injuries have been the downfall of this Dolphins team, who at the beginning of the season were in the Super Bowl conversation.

"Every year, there is just a team that gets hit hard with injuries," Coach Hines Ward said. "This year, that team is us."

Miami will move on next week to take on the Tennessee Titans.

2021 3GML Season - Week #15

 Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars

JACKSONVILLE - The Houston Texans took care of business against division foe Jacksonville, winning 27-20.  Houston (9-5, 4-1 AFC South) keeps pace in the division race while Jacksonville (1-13, 1-4) will be competing for the number one overall pick in the draft.  

Frustrated with their season, the Jaguars fired coach Urban Meyer after the game.  The breaking point appeared to be when he challenged Houston Coach David Shaw to a bare-chested fist fight to prove his manhood.  

Houston meanwhile still needs some help to get in to the playoffs in a very crowded AFC race.  They will work to keep pace next week when they host the Los Angeles Chargers.

Green Bay Packers @ Baltimore Ravens

BALTIMORE - The Green Bay Packers erased an early 14 point deficit against the Baltimore Ravens (9-5) and emerged victorious Sunday afternoon.  Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had arguably the best game of his young career, throwing for 423 yards, 4 touchdowns and an interception.  

Green Bay (10-4) fell in a hole early after a 80 yard touchdown pass from Lamar Jackson to Hollywood Brown followed by a 78 yard Jackson touchdown run.  The Packers didn't panic and fought to stay within arms reach all game.

Entering the 4th quarter down 27-21, Tagovailoa orchestrated a long scoring drive capped by a N'Keal Harry touchdown reception, giving Green Bay their first lead of the game.  The catch was one of eight for Harry who had a breakout performance with 103 yards and two touchdowns.

Baltimore looked poised to answer and had entered deep into Green Bay territory when Lamar Jackson took off to scramble on 2nd down.  Jackson made the first man miss but wasn't ready for the second when Devin Bush leveled him forcing a fumble that safety Damontae Kazee scooped up and took back 77 yards for a touchdown.  A late field goal gave the Packers 17 points in the quarter and a 38-27 win.

Receiver Justin Jefferson was also electric catching 6 passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns on the day.

The Packers are hoping they are finding their stride as the postseason approaches and will look to stay hot next week when the Cleveland Browns come to town.

Atlanta Falcons @ San Francisco 49ers

SAN FRANCISCO - Heartbreak in the bay as the San Francisco 49ers lost on a last second field goal to the Atlanta Falcons 23-21.  What looked to be a heroic comeback after a 4th and goal touchdown pass by Justin Fields to put the Niners (8-6) up 21-20 was quickly spoiled when Matt Ryan led the Falcons down the field with 49 seconds to go.

The loss is the 49ers 4th in a row and is hard to swallow for a team that knows they are a playoff caliber football team.

"We're better than this," Safety Derwin James said. "This is bulls---.  We're getting in the playoffs.  I won't allow us to fail."

The good new for San Francisco is the NFC playoff race isn't as crowded as the AFC and they are still in the top 7 even after this loss.  The bad news is their last three games are against quality football teams; Tennessee, Houston, and the Los Angeles Rams.

New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins

MIAMI - The downward spiral continued for the Miami Dolphins (5-9, 2-3 AFC East) as they dropped their third straight game and essentially were eliminated from postseason contention.  The franchise has been reeling ever since GM EP announced his retirement from the league.  The Dolphins have been banged up and a shell of their projected selves.

Rumblings are this franchise will hit the reset button this offseason after such a disappointing 2021 campaign.

The Dolphins will head down to New Orleans next week to take on the Saints.

2021 3GML Season - Week #14

 San Francisco 49ers @ Cincinnati Bengals

CINCINNATI - The San Francisco 49ers dropped their third straight game Sunday, this time 28-14 to the Cincinnati Bengals.  San Francisco (8-5) looked out of sorts offensively all day with Justin Fields taking six sacks on the afternoon.  The Niners found themselves in 2nd or 3rd and long most of the day and didn't find the end zone until the 4th quarter.

"Terrible performance," Coach Kyle Shanahan said. "Guys will be held accountable and we will get better."

San Francisco is hoping this season isn't deja vu all over again after rushing out to a 7-1 record last year only to falter down the stretch and miss the playoffs.

The 49ers will try to snap their losing streak next week when they return home to host the Atlanta Falcons.

Seattle Seahawks @ Houston Texans

HOUSTON - The Seattle Seahawks dominated the Houston Texans 51-23 Sunday in a game where Houston was down multiple starters due to injury.  The Texans (8-5) struggled to stop the powerful Seahawks offense and couldn't move the ball enough to keep up.  It was a lop-sided affair and Houston will likely burn the tape.

Houston will look to get healthy and take advantage of an awful Jacksonville team next week.

Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY - The Green Bay Packers clinched the NFC North Division with a 29-10 win over their oldest rival, the Chicago Bears.  Green Bay (9-4, 4-0 NFC North) controlled the clock most of the game and even though it wasn't pretty offensively, took care of business.  With the loss, Chicago (3-10, 2-2) slipped into last place in the division. 

"Man, it was awesome watching Aaron [Rodgers] have this moment last year," Tua Tagovailoa said. "But for that to be me on the field this year means a lot.  We have the same goal this year, win the Super Bowl.  This is just the first step."

Green Bay will now turn its attention to seeding and will look to improve their ranking next week at the Baltimore Ravens.

2021 3GML Season - Week #13

Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans

HOUSTON - The Houston Texans pulled into a tie for first place in the AFC South after their 19-14 win over the Indianapolis Colts (4-9, 2-3 AFC South).  Houston (8-4, 3-1) dominated the time of passion as their offense put up 436 total yards of offense including 300 yards passing.

"You look at the stat sheet and we outplayed them in every facet of the game," Coach David Shaw said. "However, the only stat that matters is the final score and we didn't do a good enough job putting the football in the end zone."

Houston who looked committed to quarterback Andy Dalton during the week used a quick hook after three series and turned the keys over to Gardner Minshew.  That proved to be the right move as Minshew was electric, throwing for 287 yards and a touchdown.  

"My job is to provide a spark," Minshew said.  "I'm going 110% every time I step on the field."

The Texans are right in the thick of the AFC playoff hunt now and will turn their attention to the Seattle Seahawks next week.

San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks

SEATTLE - A furious comeback by the San Francisco 49ers fell just short as the 49ers dropped one Sunday 41-30 to the Seattle Seahawks.  Seattle (8-4, 2-2 NFC West) came out firing on all cylinders as the Russell Wilson to D.K. Metcalf combination helped the Seahawks put up 35 points in the first half.

San Francisco (8-4, 3-2) was once again down starting quarterback Justin Fields but backup Jordan Love found his grove in the second half and found a way to get the Niners back in the game.  Love ended up with 383 yards passing, 3 touchdowns, and an interception on the day.  His favorite target CeeDee Lamb had a breakout game catching 12 passes for 202 yards and 2 touchdowns.

"Doesn't matter without the win," Lamb said. "Dang, I hate the Seahawks."

San Francisco split the season series with Seattle and the two teams are deadlocked at the top of the division at 8-4.  The race should be a tight one down the stretch, but some good news is on the way as San Francisco believe Fields will be back in the lineup next week when they take on the Cincinnati Bengals.

New York Giants @ Miami Dolphins

MIAMI - The disappointing season continued for Miami (5-8) as they lost their second game of the year in overtime, this time 26-20 to the New York Giants.  The Giants (7-5) were able to hang 17 points on the Dolphins in the 4th quarter including the game tying touchdown with 27 seconds left in the game.  They won the coin flip in overtime and rode the momentum down the field to victory.

"This one stings," Coach Hines Ward said. "We are still technically in the hunt down two games with four to go."

Miami finally gets it bye next week and will look to get healthy before the home stretch.

2021 3GML Season - Week # 12

 Minnesota Vikings @ San Francisco 49ers

SAN FRANCISCO - The injuries finally caught up the the San Francisco 49ers (8-3) as they dropped their game Sunday to the Minnesota Vikings 32-30.  Minnesota (4-7) used a furious 4th quarter where they scored 19 points to put away a hot San Francisco team that was just undermanned.  The Niners were down starting quarterback Justin Fields, all pro running back Alvin Kamara, and young star receiver CeeDee Lamb in this one and it showed.

Backup quarterback Jordan Love played admirable in place of Fields, throwing for 225 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.

"No excuses," Love said. "We expect to win every time we step on the field.

Defensively, San Francisco didn't have an answer for running back Dalvin Cook who shredded the 49er defense at the worst times including a 97 yard touchdown run right before the half.

The Niners will look to get healthy and back on track next week when they take on division rival Seattle.

New York Jets @ Houston Texans

HOUSTON - The Houston Texans (7-4) held on in a nail-bitter to defeat the New York Jets 31-24.  Up 17 in the fourth quarter, things starting getting a little too close for Houston's liking when Zach Wilson found Jaylen Waddle for a 64 yard touchdown pass and followed it up a field goal a little later in the quarter to make it a one score game.  After another Houston punt, the Jets looked poised to tie things up but stalled out in the red zone sealing a Texans win.

For the Jets (3-8), Waddle was out of this world, amassing 271 yards and three touchdowns.  Nothing Houston threw at him could slow him down.

"That stings a bit,"  Coach David Shaw said. "I'm not sure how two rookies like he and Zach Wilson ended up on this roster."

For the Texans, the pass rush returned after a multi-week absence and both Clelin Ferrell and Melvin Ingram had two quarterback sacks.

"Felt good to finally get one in this uniform." Ingram said after being traded by Pittsburgh earlier in the season.

Houston currently sits in the 8th seed and just outside the playoffs if the season ended today.  They will look to continue their playoff push next week agains fellow AFC South foe Indianapolis.

Los Angeles Rams @ Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY - The Los Angeles Rams fell flat losing 30-10 to the Green Bay Packers Sunday after hyping up their all-star roster heading into the game.  The Rams, who were pre-season darlings by the media, have now fallen to 4-7 on the year and currently reside in last place in the NFC West.

It was the Packers (8-4) in this one who looked like the contender with a sharp defensive performance holding Los Angeles to 282 yards and 10 points.

"Locking in at the right time," Defensive back and team captain Casey Hayward said. "We know this defense can hang with anyone.  It's just a matter of showing it each week."

Green Bay heads into their bye week with a comfortable 3.5 game lead in the NFC North.

Carolina Panthers @ Miami Dolphins

MIAMI - The Achilles heel of the Miami Dolphins all season has been the health of their amazing wide receiver trio, Julio Jones, Allen Robinson, and Corey Davis.  It has been a rarity that all three have been on the field at the same time.  That weakness reared its ugly head three-fold Sunday with all three players missing the game due to injury. 

Miami (5-7) paid for it with a disappointing 34-3 loss to the visiting Carolina Panthers.  The Dolphins only gained 197 yards on the day and running back James Conner was their leading receiver with five catches for 31 yards.

The good news for Miami is that no one seems to be pulling away in the AFC East.  Both Buffalo and New England lost, keeping the Dolphins only one game out of the division lead with six weeks left.

The Dolphins have one more game next week against the New York Giants before they finally get their week 14 bye.

2021 3GML Season - Week #11

 Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings

MINNEAPOLIS - The Green Bay Packers got right against division rival Minnesota with a 35-0 blowout win.  The Packers (7-4, 3-0 NFC North) put some distance between them and the Vikings (3-7, 1-1) in the NFC North and put the rest of the division on notice.

Offensively, Stefon Diggs was outstanding with 12 catches for 250 yards and three touchdowns.

"Tua and I had a nice connection in practice this week," Diggs said. "We were able to just look at each other today and know what was going to be open."

Defensively, the Packers got back on track after struggling to stop Seattle last week.  The Packers defense had two interceptions (one each from Patrick Surtain and Damontae Kazee) and held Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota offense to under 250 total yards.

Green Bay has one more game next week against the Los Angeles Rams before they finally get some rest on their bye.

Houston Texans @ Tennessee Titans

TENNESSEE - The Tennessee Titans walked it off Sunday after blowing a 14 point lead late to the Houston Texans.  Down 24-10 with eight minutes left, the Texans drove down the field and scored with four minutes remaining.  On the ensuring Tennessee drive, Ryan Tannehill threw a terrible interception to Mike Hilton.

Andy Dalton used the short field and tied things up at 24 with a touchdown pass to Deshaun Jackson.  However, the Texans left 1:40 on the clock and the Titans did just enough to get within field goal range.  A 47-yarder later and the Titans walked off the field winners 27-24.

With the loss the Texans (6-4, 2-1 AFC South) ceded first place to the Titans (7-4, 3-1) in the AFC South.

"Tough loss," David Shaw said after the game. "Hard to drop division games.  The conditions were not favorable today.  Good thing we have one more against these guys at our place."

Houston gets a little easier game next week when they welcome the hapless New York Jets.

San Francisco 49ers @ Jacksonville Jaguars

JACKSONVILLE - The San Francisco 49ers (8-2) rode their dominant run game to an easy 39-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars (0-10) Sunday afternoon.  Defensive Tackle Bilal Nichols reestablished himself as Orson Charles frontrunner with a four sack performance.  Offensively, Phillip Lindsay, once again filling in for the injured Alvin Kamara, carried 30 times for 182 yards and two touchdowns.

"Good team win," Lindsay said. "We're staying hot in spite of the injuries we've sustained."

In addition to Kamara, the 49ers have been playing without edge rusher Bradley Chubb and safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson.  To make matters worse, receiver CeeDee Lamb sustained a concussion in the game and quarterback Justin Fields had to exit late after taking a hit to the ribs.

"Next man up," Coach Kyle Shanahan said. "Good teams are able to ride the storm and find ways to win.  I expect us to do just that."

San Francisco heads home to take on the Minnesota Vikings fresh off their 35-0 loss to the Packers.

Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets

NEW YORK - The Dolphins kept their postseason hopes alive with a 41-35 overtime victory over division rival New York (3-7, 0-4 AFC East).  Miami (5-6, 2-2) rode a stellar performance from Jalen Hurts (415 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INT) to victory.  The Dolphins were down both Allen Robinson and Julio Jones in this one, so Hurts turned to Corey Davis and George Kittle to keep the chains moving.

"Find ways to win," Hurts said. "That's the bottom line."

Miami will try to get back to .500 when they host the Carolina Panthers at home next week.

2021 3GML Season - Week #10

 Seattle Seahawks @ Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY - The Seattle Seahawks snapped their eight game losing streak at Lambeau Field with a thrilling 28-23 win over the Packers.  Green Bay (6-4) had an opportunity to walk off the field winners but a 4th and goal pass to N'Keal Harry was broken up by Xavien Howard and Seattle (6-3) held on.  The loss was Green Bay's third in a row and the Packers are no longer locks to run away with the division.

"We've got to get right," Stefon Diggs said.  "This team knows how to win.  We've just got to find that spark again."

The defending champion Packers are no stranger to adversity after battling back to take the NFC North title in week 17 last season after a slow start.  We'll see if they can lean on that experience to right the ship next week against the team they stole the division from in 2020; Minnesota.

Los Angeles Rams @ San Francisco 49ers

SAN FRANCISCO - Phillip Lindsay made fantasy owners happy filling in for the injured Alvin Kamara.  Lindsay led the 49ers offensive attack en route to a San Francisco 23-13 win over the visiting Los Angeles Rams.  The Colorado product rushed 25 times for 117 yards and a touchdown and kept the Rams defense on the field much longer than they wanted.

"Happy to carry the load for a week," Lindsay said. "Alvin had some heavy lifting earlier this season so I'm glad I could follow his footsteps."

San Francisco (7-2, 3-1 NFC West) is hitting their stride midway through the season in a very competitive NFC West.  As things stand, the Niners are the 2-seed in the NFC and have a one game lead over the Seattle Seahawks who they beat earlier this season.

San Francisco takes on the winless Jaguars next week.

Baltimore Ravens @ Miami Dolphins

MIAMI - The disappointing season for Miami continues as the Dolphins dropped another game, this time 31-24 to the Baltimore Ravens (6-3).  Miami (4-6) found themselves down 31-3 entering the 4th quarter before rattling off 21 points to make this one respectable.  But for a team that had Super Bowl or bust aspirations, the wheels are starting to fall off.

Miami will see if they can get things on track next week as they take on the struggling New York Jets.

2021 3GML Season - Week #9

 Arizona Cardinals @ San Francisco 49ers

SAN FRANCISCO - The San Francisco 49ers cooled off the red hot Arizona Cardinals 33-16 Sunday in Levi's Stadium.  Arizona (5-4, 2-1 NFC West) was down it's star quarterback Kyler Murray and go-to receiver DeAndre Hopkins.  San Francisco (6-2, 2-1) took advantage and used a stellar performance by Justin Fields (323 yds passing, 23 yds rushing, 2 TD) to take control of the NFC West.

The 49ers next host the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football in another NFC West contest.

Houston Texans @ Miami Dolphins

MIAMI - The Houston Texans took advantage the rudder-less Miami Dolphins, winning 31-23.  Miami (4-5) jumped out to a 10-0 lead early, but Houston came storming back and turned the tide.  The play of the game had to be a forced fumble by Benardrick McKinney on a 4th quarter kickoff that gave Houston the ball back after going up four.  The Texans (6-3) punched it in and Miami couldn't recover.

For Houston, the two headed monster of  Marlon Mack and Michael Carter dictated the flow of the game.  Mack finished with 75 yards on 14 carries with a touchdown, while Carter had 95 yards on 9 carries and a touchdown of his own.

For Miami, Jalen Hurts came back to earth on this one only throwing for 181 yards and two interceptions. However, he did rush for 118 yards and a touchdown.  DJ Reed added another interception to his league leading total, bringing him to six.

Houston rests up on their bye next week while Miami will look to get back on track hosting the Ravens on Thursday Night Football.

Green Bay Packers @ Kansas City Chiefs

KANSAS CITY - The Green Bay Packers laid their second egg in a row, getting blown out 45-22 against the potent Kansas City Chiefs.  Things started right where they left off last week in Arizona as the Pack (6-3) allowed the opening kick off to be returned 101 yards by Jerick McKinnon for a touchdown.

Kansas City (8-1) then went on to score two more touchdowns in the first quarter making it 21-0 and Green Bay never stood a chance.  The lone bright spot for Green Bay had to be running back Damien Williams rushing for 181 yards as he filled in for the injured James Robinson.

Green Bay will be happy to return home next week after four of their last five have been on the road.  They take on Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks.

2021 3GML Season - Week #8

 Green Bay Packers @ Arizona Cardinals

PHOENIX - The Green Bay Packers (6-2) forgot to show up Thursday night and found themselves on the wrong side of a 41-6 blowout against the Arizona Cardinals (5-3).  Arizona's defense gave Green Bay and its quarterback Tua Tagovailoa fits on the day.  Tagovailoa finished with just 93 yards passing and threw four interceptions.

"Have to be better," Tagovailoa said. "Unacceptable."

Kyler Murray was unstoppable most of the game, throwing for 276 yards and 2 touchdowns while rushing for 89 yards on 14 carries.

The one bright spot for the Pack was the stellar play of cornerback Patrick Surtain II who had three pass breakups and an interception.

Green Bay will look to right the ship next week in Kansas City.

Los Angeles Rams @ Houston Texans

HOUSTON - The Houston Texans (5-3) got stuck in neutral Sunday against the visiting Rams, losing 24-10.  Houston looked great on the opening drive, scoring on a Marlon Mack run to make it 7-0 early.  Things deteriorated from there will the Texans offensive line giving up six sacks to the dominant Rams defensive line.

Los Angeles (3-5) moved the ball just enough against the Texans stingy defense to keep their playoff hopes alive.

"Love this team man," wide receiver DeSean Jackson said. "I'm looking forward to being here for this run."

Houston, now losers of two straight find themselves at a crossroads.

"Well we have to win football games to accomplish our goals," David Shaw said. "I have confidence in this locker room.  We'll get this sorted out."

Houston will look to turn things around against the 4-4 Miami Dolphins next week.

Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills

BUFFALO - Miami dropped their season series against division rival Buffalo 26-21 in upstate New York Sunday.  The Dolphins (4-4, 1-2 AFC East), who have been snakebitten by injuries, were down both receivers Julio Jones and Corey Davis in this one.  As a result, the Miami offense struggled against the dominant Bills defense and only made things close at the very end.

Buffalo (3-4, 2-0) leaned heavily on receiver Devante Adams in this one as the Fresno State product picked up crucial third down after third down.

"Happy to play with a quarterback like Josh [Allen]," Adams said. "He's growing into a star in this league."

Miami, who had Super Bowl or bust aspirations to start the season, now find themselves at 4-4 and wondering about their future.  GM EP stepped away from the team after the game and is rumored to be retiring.  However, the 2021 Dolphins have his finger prints all over their makeup and the remainder of this season will still be a part of his legacy.

The Dolphins host rival Houston next week in South Beach.

San Francisco 49ers @ Chicago Bears

CHICAGO - The San Francisco 49ers held on late to down the Chicago Bears 19-14 Sunday at Soldier Field.  San Francisco (5-2) rode Justin Fields' legs to victory against a stingy Bears defense.  Fields rushed 10 times for 93 yards and a TD to keep the Niners in sole possession of first place in the NFC West.

"This team was in this exact spot last year and didn't make the playoffs," Fields said. "I'm here now to make sure that doesn't happen again."

Fields was referring the San Francisco's 7-1 start to the season last year before some untimely injuries led to a 9-6-1finish and a missed postseason.  Coach Kyle Shanahan was not concerned about last year and is looking forward.

"That was a different team," Shanahan said. "We have our goals right in front of us.  It's our job to go get them."

Chicago (1-7) struggled offensively all game under Matt Nagy's play calling.  Things changed in the 4th quarter when technical difficulties led to communication being cutoff from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.  Garoppolo called plays the remainder of the game and things got interesting with Chicago scoring to make is 19-14 with five minutes to go.  After San Francisco stalled, the Bears looked to be poised to score and win the game with little time left on the clock.  However, Kemoko Turay had other plans and sacked Garappolo in the red zone ending any real chance for a Bears victory.

San Francisco has a big divisional game next week as they host the red hot 5-3 Arizona Cardinals.

2021 3GML Season - Week #7

Atlanta Falcons at Miami Dolphins

MIAMI - With a narrow 5-point lead with just over three minutes remaining in the 4th quarter, new Miami Dolphins (4-3) head coach Hines Ward dialed up a dagger in an attempt to put the game away.

"We wanted to take a shot there," Ward said. "We were waiting for Julio's chance with one on one coverage all day and we finally saw it at the right time."

QB Jalen Hurts threw a perfect pass in the back corner of the end zone to hit the streaking Julio Jones. Forty-six yards, TD, Ball Game: 36-24.

"It's been an up and down year for sure," Hurts said. "We kind of needed that from Coach to show us that he believes in us and that we aren't here for participation trophies."

On a day where Matt Ryan carved up the Miami defense for 388 passing yards, Hurts was equally as impressive despite the team's slow start that saw them down 17-3 late in the first half. The second year signal caller finished the day 29-41 with 348 passing yards and 3 TDs. Hurts also added 64 yards on the ground. 

To setup the late Jones TD, newly acquired pass rusher Jaylon Ferguson came up with a crucial strip-sack of Ryan to completely flip momentum. 

"They play a similar scheme as Baltimore," Ferguson said. "I know my role here and I was happy to contribute right away."

Miami holds onto their lead in the AFC East for another week as they now turn their attention to a critical road test against at Buffalo next week. 

Indianapolis Colts at San Francisco 49ers

SAN FRANCISCO - The bye week was good to the San Francisco 49ers as they beat up the Indianapolis Colts 42-14.  The Niners (4-2) relied on the run game and the opened things up with play action all afternoon.  The Colts (1-6) looked flummoxed on defense as Alvin Kamara and Phillip Lindsay had their way.

Kamara obviously got healthy with the week off and carried the ball 22 times for 114 yards, while Lindsay had 111 yards and a TD on 15 touches.

"We have a formula for winning football and we all know our roles." Kamara said.

San Francisco travels to Chicago next to take on the struggling Bears.

Washington Football Team at Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY - The Green Bay Packers took care of business in a torrential downpour Sunday afternoon winning 26-6 over the Washington Football Team (4-3).  The sky dumped all day as Green Bay (6-1) amassed 408 yards of offense, 321 of which came through the air.

Tua Tagovailoa threw 48 times on the day and didn't seem to be too affected by the rain. 

"I grew up throwing in the rain in Hawaii, "Tagovailoa said. "A little colder rain here, but no problems."

On the defensive side, Casey Hayward turned the clock back four years and intercepted three of Kyle Allen's passes.

"This team can win ugly.  I like it," Hayward said.  "This group reminds me of the team that won in Buffalo in 2016."

Green Bay will look to keep things rolling next week on Thursday Night Football as they take on the Arizona Cardinals.

Houston Texans at Arizona Cardinals

PHOENIX - The Arizona Cardinals pulled out a 42-35 come from behind win over the Houston Texans in a thriller of a game.  The Cardinals (4-3) up 27-7 at one point in the first half blew their lead and found themselves trailing 35-28 late in the 4th quarter to Houston (5-2).  However, Kyler Murray and crew drove down the field for touchdowns twice in the last five minutes of the game to give the Cardinals the win.

"We've got to do a better job putting pressure on the quarterback," Coach David Shaw said after the game.

Expect GM TH to be active in finding pass rush help.  Early reports have him reaching out to Pittsburgh to see if they'd part with Melvin Ingram.

Offensively, Houston once again relied on big shot plays to Denzel Mims who has proven himself invaluable this season.  Mims had 143 of Houston's 202 yards passing on the day. 

"Doesn't matter if we didn't get the win," Mims said. "Obviously it wasn't enough."

Houston will try to regroup as it heads home to take on the Los Angeles Rams.

2021 3GML Season - Week #6

Miami Dolphins vs Jacksonville Jaguars

LONDON - The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium played host to two NFL 'also rans' as the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars squared off in the UK. Miami (3-3) looked very comfortable on the 'football' pitch despite the long flight over and overwhelmed the Jaguars 38-3.

Miami went ahead early on a DJ Reed pick-six early in the first. Reed added another INT on the day to add to his total of six on the season.

"It's just one of those things," Reed said. "You can play great all year and never take one away - This year seems to be a year where people are trying me and I'm responding well."

Wide Receiver Julio Jones returned and put on a show with 103 receiving yards and a pair of TDs. His running mate Allen Robinson also chipped in with a TD of his own.

"For me, I think I can be an X-Factor in this offense too," Robinson said. "I'm learning a lot from Julio and George (Kittle); Although we are only 3-3, I think we can make this offense special."

New Head Coach Hines Ward ran his early record to 2-1 and is quickly winning fans in the Miami locker room.

"He's the man," Jalen Hurts said. "He did it for a long time in this league and when he talks, everyone listens."

Miami will look to pick up their 4th win of the season next week as they return home to face the Atlanta Falcons. 

Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts

INDIANAPOLIS - The Houston Texans kept pace for first place in the AFC South with a win over division foe Indianapolis 28-26.  The Texans (5-1, 2-0 AFC South) were able to return to their two quarterback rotation of Andy Dalton and Gardner Minshew in this one.  As with past games this season, Dalton started and Minshew relieved.  Beat writers were speculating Minshew wouldn't play much after his poor performance last week, but the Texans and Minshew had other plans.  The backup was 9 of 11 for 126 yards, 3 touchdowns, and an interception.

"I like coming off the bench," Minshew said. "I view myself like a sixth man in the NBA or closer in baseball.  I don't care if I start as long as I'm out there playing meaningful minutes helping this team win."

The star of the game, however, had to be the Houston defense that stifled Carson Wentz and the Colts offense all day.  Indianapolis (1-5, 0-2) only rushed for 68 yards and outside of some garbage time passing yards, looked out of sorts on offense.

Of note, tight end Mike Gesicki is starting to emerge as a star for this Houston team.  Gesicki had 11 catches for 102 yards and has consistently shown he can get open.  He has already caught 43 passes for 525 yards and 5 touchdowns through his first six games. 

Houston will travel to Arizona next week to take on the Kyler Murray and the Cardinals. 

Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears

CHICAGO - The oldest rivalry in the NFL was on display Sunday as the Green Bay Packers defeated the Chicago Bears 30-16 at Soldier Field.  Green Bay (5-1, 2-0 NFC North) welcomed back quarterback Tua Tagovailoa from injured reserve and used his arm to down the formidable Chicago defense.  The Packers QB threw for 257 yards and a touchdown which was just enough to keep the Bears (1-5, 1-1) out of reach.

Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams continued his tear this season, racking up two more sacks including a forced fumble on quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo that was picked up in the endzone by Charles Omenihu for the opening points of the game.  Williams now has 13 sacks through six games and will likely be drawing more double teams moving forward.

Bad blood erupted between the teams at the end of the game when Green Bay decided to kick a field goal as time expired already up 27-16.  Chicago coach Matt Nagy was visibly upset and refused to shake Packers coach Eric Bieniemy's hand after the game.

"This is the NFL,"  Bieniemy said after the game. "I don't take my foot off the gas ever and that's the message I want our players to hear.  If they're so upset about it, maybe they should have scored more points."

Bieniemy and his aggressive Green Bay team head home next week to take on the Washington Football Team.

2021 3GML Season - Week #5

Miami Dolphins @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

TAMPA BAY - Down eight starters, the Miami Dolphins (2-3) showed some fight through three quarters but eventually fell to the overpowered Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48-23 Sunday afternoon. 

Tom Brady was unstoppable as he picked apart the depleted Miami defense.

"It was a good day, but we have lots of work to do," Brady said. "You need to take care of business at home and we did that."

Wide Receiver Allen Robinson existed as Jalen Hurts go-to player on the day with multiple highlight reel catches to keep Miami in the game early. 

"The stats are meaningless if you are losing," Robinson said. "Despite who we were missing, we still wanted to win and we couldn't get it done."

With the loss, the Dolphins fall back under .500 and will look to right their ship next week against the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

San Francisco 49ers @ Arizona Cardinals

PHOENIX - The San Francisco 49ers dropped their second game of the season 25-20 to the Arizona Cardinals (3-2, 1-1 NFC West).  The 49ers (3-2, 1-1) looked out of sync most of the game and struggled to run the ball effectively despite being the number one ranked rushing team coming into the afternoon.

Things started to unravel when Alvin Kamara fumbled late in the second quarter and Arizona recovered after a scrum. 

"I have to be better," Kamara said. "We all have to play better because we're a better team than that."

Rookie quarterback Justin Fields experienced some growing pains in this one when the run game failed to move the sticks.  Fields threw for 151 yards and an interception.  His legs, however, were effective as he rushed five times for 45 yards and a touchdown.

"I can play better," Fields said. "You won't see an outing like that from me again.  I can guarantee you that."

San Francisco will have an extra week to regroup as they have a week six bye.

New England Patriots @ Houston Texans

HOUSTON - Heartbreak in Houston.  The New England Patriots (3-2) scored on the last play of regulation to beat the Texans 24-23.  The dominant Houston offense that has been on display most of this year was nowhere to be found as Gardner Minshew struggled mightily.

Minshew missed open throws most of the afternoon and had a crippling pick-six as Houston (4-1) looked to go up at least 13 and put the game out of reach.

"It was not a glowing performance on my part," Minshew said. "I'm seeing red right now."

After a Texans field goal made it 23-17 with 1:47 left, quarterback Mac Jones marched the New England offense down the field with some crucial 4th down throws.  With no time outs and a completion to Nelson Agholor that brought the Patriots to the Houston 5 yard line, Jones was able to hurry the offense to the line and snap it as the clock hit zeros.  Kendrick Bourne beat his man to the outside of the end zone and Jones hit him to tie the game.  New England converted the extra point and Texans fans left the stadium in shock.

Houston will look to regroup next week against the Indianapolis Colts.

Green Bay Packers @ Cincinnati Bengals

CINCINNATI - Quarterback Drew Lock redeemed himself after a dismal outing last week and let the Green Bay Packers (4-1) to a 23-6 road win over the Cincinnati Bengals (4-1).  The loss was the first for Cincinnati and kept Green Bay with some breathing room atop their division.

Lock who was dangerously close to being benched in favor of Kyle Lauletta last week against the Steelers, was 23 of 31 for 235 yards and a touchdown.  

"I needed to show my teammates I wasn't going to let them down," Lock said. "Great team win."

On the defensive side of the ball, NFL sack leader Quinnen Williams added three more to his resume against Joe Burrow.

"Big plays are hard to come by in this league," Williams said. "I've learned a lot from Geno [Atkins] this last year and a half and it's really paying off playing next to the goat."

Green Bay heads to Chicago next week to take on its oldest rival the Bears.

2021 3GML Season - Week #4

 Houston Texans @ Buffalo Bills

BUFFALO - Buffalo Bills fans were left muttering a phrase they would prefer to never hear again Sunday; "Wide right."  Tyler Bass missed a field goal as time expired that would have sent the game to over time and Houston ran off the field still undefeated after a 26-23 win.

The Texans (4-0) looked dominant defensively early and held the Bills (2-2) out of the end zone.  However, Houston also struggled offensively and were unable to put Buffalo away. With the door cracked, Josh Allen and crew seized the momentum and was able to tie the game late on a 68 yard touchdown pass to Davante Adams.

Andy Dalton then ran the two-minute drill to perfection leading the team down the field and setting up a chip shot field goal for Rodrigo Blankenship to give Houston the lead with 17 seconds remaining.  Buffalo wasn't about to roll over and Allen threw a dime down the sideline to Adams giving Bass a 54 yard field goal opportunity to tie it up.  Coach David Shaw called a time out to ice the kicker and the strategy paid off.

"What a start," Shaw said.  "To get road wins over Cleveland and Buffalo shows what this team is made of."

Houston will look to keep the win streak alive next week when they host another AFC East opponent in the New England Patriots.

Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers

SAN FRANCISCO - In an instant classic, San Francisco stunned Seattle with nine seconds left on the clock as quarterback Justin Fields scrambled 40 yards to give the Niners a 34-27 victory.

After a rough start, including two interceptions, Fields managed to find CeeDee Lamb for a beautiful toe-tap touchdown putting San Francisco up 27-20 with less than two minutes in the game. Seattle answered quickly with a deep touchdown pass by Russell Wilson and before 49er fans could celebrate their lead, it was gone.

Given the ball with 44 seconds left, Fields and the offense just needed to get into field goal range for the win.  On the drive, the Seahawks committed a late hit to get San Francisco to the 40 yard line. Only needing a few more yards to give Tristan Vizcaino a shot to win it, Fields had other plans, taking off and making defender after defender miss on his way to the end zone.

“Well, I had to dig out of the hole I put us in,” Fields said. “There was no way I was going down on that run.”

The loss left Seattle (3-1, 0-1 NFC West) looking up at San Francisco (3-1, 1-0) in the division and opened the door to a chaotic fight for the crown. This may be football’s best division and we can only hope the rematch was as good as this one.

San Francisco keeps it in the division as they head south to Arizona next week.

Indianapolis Colts @ Miami Dolphins

MIAMI - The Miami Dolphins (2-2) bounced back from a tumultuous week with a resounding 41-9 thrashing of the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday morning. Late in the 3rd, with the game still in the balance, newly minted Head Coach Hines Ward elected to pass on a chip shot field goal (which would have pushed Miami's lead to 15) to opt for a 4th-and-1 attempt to go for the TD.

"I know the old mantra that this team has success under was three is sometimes better than six," Ward said. "But we are establishing a better balance moving forward between being conservative and aggressive."

James Conner gained the needed 1-yard, and then some, as he finished the play with a 4-yard touchdown run. The 5th year HB out of Pittsburgh looked rejuvenated in this game.

"We have so many weapons," Connor said. "It was easy to toss the ball around the first three weeks. But, for us, we need to still establish a ground game to open up space for our weapons in the passing game."

The Dolphins defense also played their best game of the season as they frustrated Carson Wentz all game long. Haason Reddick notched his first three sacks of the season in a breakout game for the OLB.

"This new staff had a tall task on short notice," Reddick said. "But they were smart and brought in Rob (Ryan) who knows the scheme we are best at. I think things will only go up from here."

Next week Miami faces a truly elite test as they take on Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY - The Green Bay Packers (3-1) dropped a heartbreaker 23-20 in overtime to the Pittsburgh Steelers (1-3) Sunday at Lambeau Field.  The Packers had their opportunities and looked like the better team but three lost fumbles and two interceptions by back up quarterback Drew Lock was too much to overcome.  

Green Bay looked poised to win after a Pittsburgh turnover late in the 4th gave them the ball down three on the Steelers 12 yard line.  However, the offense stalled and the Packers had to settle for overtime.  

In overtime, Pittsburgh won the toss, elected to receive, drove the length of the field and kicked a field goal.  Green Bay looked ready to answer by driving into field goal range for Jason Sanders, but he would never get the chance as Lock threw his second interception.

"Drew's got to play better.  Period," Coach Eric Bieniemy said, "There was a little voice in my ear begging me to put in Kyle [Lauletta].  If he knew the playbook better, I may have done it.  Practice is going to be interesting this week.  I need to see how Drew responds."

Green Bay's attempt to bounce back doesn't look easy as they head to Cincinnati to take on the undefeated Bengals.

2021 3GML Season - Week #3

Miami Dolphins @ Las Vegas Raiders

LAS VEGAS - After their shocking 20-23 loss to the now undefeated Las Vegas Raiders, the Miami Dolphins (1-2) opted to have what happened in Vegas stay in Vegas. 

Miami, as 7.5 point favorites, stumbled through an uninspired performance like a drunken frat boy looking for one more hand of Hold 'Em at 4:00am. Those frat boys, in their Lacoste t-shirts, open toed sandals, and puka shelled necklaces would have had more success putting points on the board than the Dolphins offense on Sunday afternoon. 

"I really have no words," Jalen Hurts said. "I don't want to be reactionary, but we need to change our mindset now or things can get bad quick."

The Miami Owner/GM, visibly upset throughout the game in the stadium, elected to take matters into his own hands after the game.

"In our first season in charge, we released our quarterback at the time, Jimmy Garoppolo, for his ridiculous display of obtuseness as he frolicked into the end zone as we were losing by double-digits," GM EP said. "Now, after this performance, we are electing to release our entire coaching staff. I mean them no ill will, but we need new direction now. This team is built to win now and I believe a change in mindset is all that is holding us back."

Rumors began swirling immediately after the press conference that the team had reached out to former Steelers Wide Receiver and current Florida International Assistant Coach Hines Ward as the team's new Head Coach. Ward, a hard nosed, lunch pail player, is also reported as having reached out to Seattle Seahawks Offensive Line Coach Keli'i Kekuewa to be his Offensive Coordinator along with controversial Baltimore Ravens Linebackers Coach Rob Ryan to become the team's Defensive Coordinator.

Ryan, who phoned into the Scott Van Pelt show after the game, was animated in his excitement to move to South Beach.

"Oh, this is going to be a damn nightmare for the other 31 teams in the NFL," Ryan said. "This team is a (expletive) Ferrari that has been driving like a (expletive) tractor plodding through a pile of (expletive)."

Miami, and their new coaching staff will look to turn their season around next week at home against the Indianapolis Colts. 

Green Bay Packers @ San Francisco 49ers

In what was definitely the game of the week, the Green Bay Packers (3-0) outlasted the San Francisco 49ers (2-1) 40-35 on Sunday Night Football.  Things looked slow early with the teams exchanging punts through the first quarter of play.  It then went from zero to sixty in the blink of an eye.

With San Francisco poised to move down the field after a Drew Lock fumble, Green Bay forced fumble of their own resulting in a Devin Bush scoop and score making in 7-0 Green Bay early.  Before the Packer offense made it back to the bench, San Francisco had answered with a Justin Fields deep touchdown pass to Tyler Boyd.

From there, the teams continued to exchange blows in what was truly a back and forth affair.  By the time the game had reached the fourth quarter, Green Bay was leading 31-28.  The Pack looked like they put the game away after a field goal and a Hunter Henry touchdown made it 40-28.  San Francisco wasn't done however, as they quickly marched down the field and scored on a Justin Fields pass to Boyd making it 40-35. James Robinson wasn't about to let the 49ers see the ball again after two tough first down runs and the game was over.

San Francisco's defense struggled in this one after a dominant two game start.  Stefon Diggs went off for 193 yards receiving and Robinson moved the chains in key moments, finishing with a 103 yards with two touchdowns.

"Yards were touch to come by tonight," Robinson said.  "That's a tough team.  We might seem them again."

San Francisco showed they can play with anyone behind Fields and MVP frontrunner Alvin Kamara.  That duo rushed for 218 yards and 2 touchdowns combined.

"We didn't do enough today," Fields said. "It's disappointing to take a L at home, but we'll look at the tape, learn, and get ready for Seattle next week."

Green Bay heads home to take on Pittsburgh while San Francisco welcomes the Seahawks for their first division game of the season.

Carolina Panthers @ Houston Texans

The Houston Texans continued their hot start with a slaughter of the Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football.  Houston (3-0) blew the game wide open early and went on to win 44-17.  With quarterback Andy Dalton sidelined with a knee injury, Gardner Minshew took advantage of his time as QB1, throwing for 392 yards, 2 touchdowns and added a rushing TD for good measure.

"We're going to enjoy this one," Minshew said. "Felt like I could have thrown the football over the mountains tonight."

Not lost in the shuffle was the dominant Texans defense.  Christian McCaffrey and the Panthers (1-2) looked out of sync on offense and struggled to move the ball.  The icing on the cake for Houston was a pick six by cornerback Kyle Fuller.

"They kicked our butts tonight," McCaffrey said. "One of the best in the league I'd say."

Houston hasn't lost a game since week 12 last season.  They'll look to keep rolling next week against Buffalo in upstate New York.

2021 3GML Season - Week #2

Buffalo Bills @ Miami Dolphins

MIAMI - The Buffalo Bills (2-0, 1-0 AFC East) humbled the Miami Dolphins (1-1, 1-1) on the road with a convincing 27-19 victory. 

Miami's Jalen Hurts came back down to Earth after his AFC Offensive Player of the Week award last week tossing a pair of costly INTs including a pick-6 in the first quarter.

"That put us behind the 8-ball early," Hurts said. "I got to take care of the ball."

Hurts finished with 328 passing yards with a TD, but was sacked 8 times on the day by a relentless Buffalo defense.

"We expect this division to go down to the wire," Sean McDermott said. "To get a win, in the division, is huge even in Week 2."

A late Julio Jones TD gave Miami fans some hope late, but the team couldn't get close enough for a realistic Hail Mary as time expired. 

"We are 1-1," Jones said. "We now need to focus on the Raiders."

Miami will now prepare to take on Jon Gruden's Las Vegas Raiders.

San Francisco 49ers @ Philadelphia Eagles

PHILADELPHIA - The San Francisco 49ers (2-0) rode their stifling defense to a 22-3 win over the Philadelphia Eagles (1-1).  The 49ers defense could do no wrong and had rookie quarterback Trey Lance seeing ghosts all day.  San Francisco sacked Lance seven times, including five from defensive lineman Bilal Nichols.

"Uh, that was awesome," Nichols said.  "I don't know if I've ever had a game like that before."

Offensively, San Francisco stuck to their game plan of healthy doses of Alvin Kamara.  Kamara carried 30 times for 163 yards and two touchdowns and was instrumental in getting the chains moving in the second half.

"Anything to help this team win," Kamara said.  "I feel like I'm more of that veteran presence on this team so I need to set the example every day."

The Niners have allowed just 10 total points through two games.  However, their defense will get a bigger test next week at home when they open against 3GML rival Green Bay.

Houston Texans @ Cleveland Browns

CLEVELAND - The Houston Texans (2-0) came back from a 10-0 deficit to dominate the Cleveland Browns (1-1) 48-30 Sunday afternoon.  Things looked bleak early when all-pro defensive end Myles Garrett sacked quarterback Andy Dalton on Houston's first two drives, forcing the Texans to punt.  Garrett gave right tackle Bobby Evans fits, forcing the Texans to make a change.  In came rookie Quinn "The Belly" Meinerz and the Houston offense never looked back.  While it looked like Meinerz had a difficult time with Garrett, he didn't allow a sack and gave his quarterback just enough time to get the ball out.

"Quinn played his butt off today," Coach David Shaw said.  "We knew he played some tackle in college and with Bryan [Bulaga] and Christian [Darrisaw] out, we needed someone to step up."

With the offense allowed to find its groove, running back Marlon Mack had perhaps the game of his career.  Mack topped the century mark on both the ground and in the air, finishing with 100 yards rushing and 102 receiving.

"They were taking our other guys out of the game so I knew the ball was going to come my way," Mack said.  "It was rough missing last year so I'm just glad I have the opportunity to prove what I can do."

Of note in this one was the Texans continued to find success with their two-quarterback system.  Both Andy Dalton and Gardner Minshew played meaningful snaps on the day.  However, Dalton took a shot to the knee and couldn't finish the game.  Early reports are he avoided major injury, but with a short week and the Carolina Panthers looming on Thursday night, odds are Minshew Mania is back.

Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY - The Detroit Lions (0-2) were outmatched 45-13 on Monday Night Football by an impressive Green Bay Packers team.  The Lions were down numerous players and just didn't have the weapons to keep up with a Packers team loaded with talent.

Green Bay (2-0) amassed over 500 yards of offense against a Lions secondary that looked confused all night.  Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was impressive, throwing for 403 yards and three touchdowns.  However, he took a hard sack from linebacker Jamie Collins in the 4th quarter and was seen wincing on the sideline.

"He took a shot to the ribs and is pretty sore," Coach Eric Bieniemy said.  "We'll see what the tests show tomorrow."

Collins was all over the place for the Lions in the losing effort but coach Dan Campbell wasn't having it.

"We lost," Campbell said.  "Jamie needs to play better if he wants to be here.  His bench press numbers were sub par this week too.  Can't have that."

When asked about his coaches comment, Collins said, "Was he watching the game?  I gave it my all.  Man, I'm calling my agent.  Green Bay seems like they have something good going on over there, maybe they'll want me."

Adam Schefter is reporting that GM SD was admiring Collins' play throughout the game.  Considering Collins' comments, could there be a move coming soon?

Green Bay looks to keep it rolling next week against the 2-0 San Francisco 49ers.

2021 3GML Season - Week #1

San Francisco 49ers @ Detroit Lions

DETROIT - The San Francisco 49ers (1-0) got their season off on the right foot in dominant fashion with a 27-7 win over the Detroit Lions (0-1) Sunday at Ford Field.  It was the first start for rookie quarterback Justin Fields and it didn't take long to see why the 49ers took him at 3rd overall in the draft.  On his first drive, Fields was electric, going 4 for 4 and scrambling for multiple first downs to keep the drive alive.  He capped it off with a rushing touchdown to put the Niners up 7-0.

From there, San Francisco used a steady dose of Alvin Kamara to run the clock and keep Detroit off the field.  Kamara was given the heaviest work load of his career, rushing 32 times for 138 yards and two touchdowns.

"I'm tired." Kamara said after the game.

The San Francisco defense also did their part forcing quarterback Jared Goff the throw three interceptions on the day.  Byron Murphy had two of those picks, including one on the opening Lions drive in the end zone.

"Feeling really confident this year.  I'm seeing the offense really well and coach has put me in a position to succeed.  You're going to see a lot more of that from me this year." Murphy said.

Of note, Detroit inexplicably asked injured tackle Taylor Decker to fill in at punter.  When asked about it, coach Dan Campbell stated Jack Fox missed arm day in the weight room.  

"Jack missed his assigned workout and we do things right here.  Taylor was willing to step up." Campbell said.

When pressed about how arm day mattered when it came to punting, Campbell said, "Bro. You don't skip arm day."

San Francisco stays on the road next week to take on the Eagles in Philadelphia.

Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots

FOXBOROUGH - The Miami Dolphins (1-0, 1-0 AFC East) outclassed the New England Patriots (0-1, 0-1) in every possible way Sunday afternoon at the home of the 6-time Super Bowl champions in the 45-24 Miami win.

Second year quarterback Jalen Hurts had a day for the ages in the romp. The Alabama and Oklahoma product finished 28-32, 488 yards, and 4TD through the air. Hurts also added 77 rushing yards and another TD.

"Like I said before, we aim to get better every day," Hurts said. "We still left some points out there today and we will keep working to get 1% better each practice."

Miami was aggressive over the past year and a half collecting offensive firepower. For a franchise that has prided itself on a 'ground-and-pound' approach, many pundits worried that the team could not commit to an air-raid approach. But with Julio Jones and Allen Robinson III producing 164 and 153 yard receiving through the air, the Dolphins offense has officially evolved.

"Jalen Hurts and the receivers were unstoppable today," Assistant GM TP said. "Mac Jones and the Patriots didn't stand a chance."

The new look Dolphins will head home next week to take on another division rival in the Buffalo Bills. 

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans

HOUSTON - The Houston Texans (1-0, 1-0 AFC South) picked right up where they left off last season, pushing their winning streak to six games with a 30-3 drubbing of the Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1, 0-1 AFC South).  While the end result of this game felt similar to how Houston finished last year, the team is quite different.  General Manager TH brought in many new faces this offseason and it was clear early they are going to have an impact.

One of those faces was Clelin Ferrell who was acquired via trade with the Las Vegas Raiders during training camp.  Ferrell was disruptive all game, finishing with four sacks, three tackles for a loss, and one forced fumble.

"Man, it feels good to be wanted.  I couldn't wait to get out of there [Las Vegas].  Appreciate the Texans for giving me a fresh start." Ferrell said after the game.

On offense, new (old) addition Brandin Cooks made his presence felt with two touchdown catches on the day.  Interestingly enough, one was from Andy Dalton and the other Gardner Minshew.  Coach David Shaw gave both quarterbacks playing time throughout the game even though Dalton was the starter.

It appeared as though Minshew had the better game of the two, going 13 of 17 for 119 yards and a touchdown with a quarterback rating of 114.5.  Dalton on the other hand was just 6 of 14 for 94 yards and a touchdown with a quarterback rating of 89.5.

When asked about the plan moving forward, Shaw was coy, simply stating, "We'll see."

Houston travels to Cleveland next week to take on the Browns.

Green Bay Packers @ New Orleans Saints

NEW ORLEANS - The Green Bay Packers (1-0) overcame a sluggish start to beat the New Orleans Saints  (0-1) 30-14.  With the offense struggling to move the ball early and the Saints up 6-3 late in the second quarter, cornerback Patrick Surtain II intercepted a Jameis Winston pass and ran it back for a touchdown to completely shift the momentum in Green Bay's favor.  

"That's it.  You just have to hang around and that big play is going to happen.  This defense kept us in the game and I was able to make a play when my team needed me." Surtain said.

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who was getting his first start for the Packers, struggled in the first half, throwing an interception and multiple incompletions.   However, Tagovailoa looked like a different man in the second half, leading Green Bay on two scoring drives (including one for 97 yards) that never gave the Saints a chance to catch up.

"Tua looked a little tight in the first half and I just told him to play his game when we talked at the half.  He loosened up a bit in the third quarter and did what we know he can do." Coach Eric Bieniemy said when asked about his quarterback's play.

Green Bay will look for a smoother start to the game on Monday Nigh Football next week against the Detroit Lions.

The 2021 3GML Season is Here!

Anticipation is at unprecedented levels for the 7th 3GML season.  For the first time in the history of the league, there is no super team or clear-cut Super Bowl favorite.  Each and every team has its strengths and its weaknesses heading into the season.  Let's take a look at how these teams stack up and give our final predictions for wins and losses.

Green Bay Packers:

Biggest Strength: Wide Receiver - Stefon Diggs, Justin Jefferson, and JuJu Smith-Schuster make a trio no defensive coordinator wants to plan for.  The Packers would be wise to run 11 personnel frequently to ensure all three playmakers are on the field at the same time.

Biggest Weakness: Tackle - Green Bay may have a big problem on its hands when it comes to protecting new starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.  Tyrell Crosby and Liam Eichenberg are currently penciled in as the starters.  Crosby has been a backup swing tackle most of his career and Eichenberg hasn't seen a regular season NFL game.  Lucas Niang could play a bit as well, but he too doesn't have a NFL game under his belt.

Record prediction: 11-6

Houston Texans:

Biggest Strength: Offensive Line - Imagine a world where you can take a reliable left tackle like Jake Mathews and play him at guard because you are set at the two tackle positions.  This is the exact scenario Houston finds itself in with Christian Darrisaw and Bryan Bulaga anchoring the edge.  Put Brandon Linder at Center and you have a team ready to dominate the trenches.

Biggest Weakness: Quarterback - Don't get us wrong, Andy Dalton and Gardner Minshew can hold their own in the league.  But in reality, the Texans have two backup quarterbacks splitting time as the starter.  The good news for Houston?  Both men won't have to do too much with the solid roster GM TH has constructed around them.

Record prediction: 10-7

Miami Dolphins:

Biggest Strength: Wide Receiver - This trio may be better than the one mentioned above in Green Bay.  Julio Jones, Allen Robinson, and Corey Davis will give the Dolphins plenty of playmakers this season.  Quarterback Jalen Hurts could roll the dice with a throw in the direction of any of these three and more often than not be rewarded.

Biggest Weakness: Cornerback - The failed physical of Stephon Gilmore spoiled Miami's blockbuster trade last week.  This puts a lot of pressure on Tre Flowers, DJ Reed, and Taron Johnson.  Miami is going to score a lot of points, but when they play teams with elite receivers, they could find themselves in a shoot out with no lockdown guy on the roster.

Record prediction: 12-5

San Francisco 49ers:

Biggest Strength: Defensive End - The duo of Brian Burns and Bradley Chubb will result in countless quarterback hurries, hits, and sacks this year.  Burns is a dark horse defensive player of the year candidate and Chubb has shown when he's healthy, he's one of the best in the game.

Biggest Weakness: Defensive Tackle - The 49ers are the youngest team in the NFL by far with an average age of 24.4 years.  The inexperience definitely contributes to question marks on this roster.  However, the defensive interior stands out among the rest.  Andrew Billings and Bilal Nichols will be tasked with dominating the interior line this season.  GM CD is hoping the two men playing on either side of them (Chubb and Burns) will relieve some pressure.

Record prediction: 9-8

Miami Strikes Out Again in CB Market: Gilmore Fails Physical

 MIAMI (FL) -- GMs voting for Miami's front office as preseason 'GM of the Year' may want a re-vote as the team announced that CB Stephon Gilmore had failed the team's physical (quad). Many Dolphins fans had been waiting for the trade to show up on the official NFL transaction wire; Now we know the reason for the delay.

"It's frustrating," Gilmore said. "To think you're getting a fresh start and then having this happen is tough. But we'll keep working." 

Although Miami seemed to be running a bit of a risk investing in a player rehabbing from an injury, Gilmore's progress back must have been slowed enough to give the team's doctors hesitation. 

A frustrated Bill Belichick did not hold back when asked about the trade this morning. 

"I think it is completely unacceptable on their end," Belichick said. "We were very clear where he was at and to void the deal over this injury is disingenuous on their part. They did the same thing with Richard (Sherman) and reacted without much foresight." 

New Dolphins head coach Brian Johnson, having to deal with another cornerback acquisition controversy, did not shy away from confrontation with the Hall of Fame coach.

"I have tons of respect for New England's coach," Johnson said. "He created the conditions for Tom Brady to lead the team to all of their Super Bowl wins; He was willing to put his ego aside and understand that without Tom, New England was just another franchise - And their results last year helped put that into perspective. We are disappointed to lose out on an opportunity to add Stephon to our team, but we also like where we are at as a defense and think we can match up with the stronger teams in the AFC like Kansas City, Baltimore, Houston, and Buffalo."

With roster cutdown day looming, it looks like Miami will start their 2021 campaign with a less-than-intimidating starting CB core of Desmond King, Taron Johnson, and Elijah Molden. We will see if this trio can hold up. 

3GML Awards Predictions

We surveyed GMs across the 3GML to get their take on who would be winning the various season-end awards after the dust settles on the 2021 season.  The predictions this year are fascinating as the four teams are closer to one another than they have ever been before.

MVP: Jalen Hurts (2 votes) 

The Dolphins have a loaded roster this season after EP went all in on talent acquisition.  However, as with most NFL teams, Miami will only go as far as their quarterback play allows.  It appears there is confidence Hurts will be able to deliver given the abundance of weapons at his disposal.  If the Dolphins are successful this season, Hurts will be deserving of the ultimate individual award.

Others receiving votes: Stefon Diggs (1 vote), George Kittle (1 vote)

Offensive Player of the Year: Stefon Diggs (3 votes)

Diggs proved quite instrumental in Green Bay's Super Bowl run last year and is one of the best receivers in the NFL.  It's one thing when Aaron Rodgers is throwing the ball your way, it's quite another when an unproven second-year quarterback (Tua Tagovailoa) is taking on that task.   Regardless, the consensus is Diggs' talent will transcend the transition to a new QB and he will find himself on the receiving end of a lot of touchdown passes.

Others receiving votes: Alvin Kamara (1 vote)

Defensive Player of the Year: Budda Baker (2 votes)

From Kyle Lauletta winner to defensive player of the year?  It looks as though the GMs of the 3GML expect big things from Baker who has matured before our eyes.  Known early in his career as a big hitter who could never make big interceptions, Baker has changed perception around the league.  The Packers like to move Baker all over the place in order to get him the best chance to blow plays up.  Multiple big-time interceptions will all but lock up this award for the 5th year safety.

Others receiving votes: Stephon Gilmore (1 vote), Brian Burns (1 vote)

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Justin Fields (4 votes)

The only unanimous selection in our poll and it makes sense.  Fields is the only rookie the 3GML to play the most important position in all of sports.  If he has success, this award will be unanimous at the end of the season too.  Reports out of 49ers camp have been positive, so much so, that GM CD traded his main competition, Teddy Bridgewater, after one week of camp.  Fields will be given every opportunity this season to show he is "the guy."

Defensive Rookie of the Year: *Tie* Azeez Ojulari (2 votes), Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2 votes)

There are a lot of potential candidates for DROY this season, more so than maybe any other year.  However, two names rose to the top when GMs were asked.  Ojulari seems like a safe pick as Houston will need him to play the majority of snaps starting week one.  A first round talent on many boards, Ojulari fell to Houston in the 2nd.  The chip on his shoulder may be enough to drive him to winning this award.  Like Ojulari, Owusu-Koramoah will be asked to play right away in the Dolphin's defense.  The rookie has already shown plenty of promise in camp and is the prototype Miami linebacker.  We know he's going to fly sideline to sideline and make numerous tackles.  If he can add a few timely turnovers to his stat sheet, the award is his.

Special Teams Player of the Year: Rodrigo Blankenship (2 votes)

The goggled-kicker from Houston was our leading vote-getter.  Blankenship was a crucial part of the Texans 5-game winning streak to end the season last year, hitting multiple game winners.  Houston will likely rely on him again as there are questions about quarterback heading into the season.  If the offense stalls on the opposition's side of the field, Blankenship will be ready.

Others receiving votes: Raheem Mostert (1 vote), Jason Sanders (1 vote)

Coach of the Year: Kyle Shanahan (2 votes)

Our GMs expect big things from Shanahan and his rookie quarterback.  He has been called the quarterback whisperer in the past, so if he can set Justin Fields up for success, San Francisco is going to win games.  Additionally, the 49ers are doing a soft reset of their roster, so if they make the playoffs with less talent than last year, Shanahan will be a big part of that success.

Others receiving votes: David Shaw (1 vote), Eric Bieniemy (1 vote)

GM of the Year: EP (3 votes)

EP is back and pushing all his chips to the center of the table (while still maintaining future draft capital no less!).  Offseason trades for Julio Jones and Stephon Gilmore were big moves GMs loved while draft picks Kwitty Paye, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, and Elijah Molden are expected to shine.  EP also stands ahead of his peers in large part to his selection of Jalen Hurts in the first-round last spring.  Opposing GMs didn't necessarily agree with where Miami selected it's quarterback, but it looks like EP was right to trust his gut.  A big year is expected for Miami due to a loaded roster and if reality matches those expectations, EP will be recognized for his efforts.

Others receiving votes: CD (1 vote)

Dolphins Acquire Stephon Gilmore

MIAMI - In a move that shows they are in it to win it, the Miami Dolphins sent safety Marcus Maye and a 1st round pick to New England to acquire former defensive player of the year Stephon Gilmore.  The move may seem surprising to some as New England sent its best corner to a division opponent, but word was the Patriots didn’t want to extend Gilmore and the Dolphins offer “blew Bill [Belichick] away.”

Miami now fills the biggest hole on their roster and look poised to make a run at a title. In his first season back after a year away, EP is showing he’s playing for the plaque. 

3GML storylines for 2021

1. Obviously the most important thing for every single team in this 3GML season is the quarterback situation. Every team has a major storyline at the most important position in team sports. The defending champion Packers moved on from 3 time Super Bowl Champion, and defending MVP, Aaron Rogers via a major trade to the Broncos. The 49ers went all in to go get the ultra talented Justin Fields in the draft, signaling a transition period for the franchise. The typically power run focused Dolphins are changing to a spread offense to cater to their young signal caller Jalen Hurts. The Texans are staying the course, going with a retreat who played well last year for them in Andy Dalton and a potential combination with the mustached star Gardner Minshew. The odds are the team that plays the quarterback position the best is going to be the team that hoists the 3GML plaque at the end of the season. This is the first year where none of the teams are favored or even likely to win a Lombardi. 

2. Another major storyline is the weaponry for all of these teams. While the quarterback situation is tenuous at best, all among the bottom quarter of the NFL, the weapons each team have can be described as dynamic. The biggest and most capable receiving corps in the NFL reigns in South Beach. The Dolphins are going all in with their appraoch this offseason, trading for superstar Julio Jones, and adding blossoming star Corey Davis to a duo that includes the best all around tight end in the NFL in George Kittle and one of the top intermediate threats in the league in Allen Robinson. This quartet forms perhaps the greatest weaponry in the NFL. If Jalen Hurts can put up big numbers in a wide open offense with these 4 targets, it’ll be obvious to the Fins’ that Hurts isn’t the guy. 

3. For the Packers, a combination of Justin Jefferson and Stefon Diggs is going to be the best route running duo in the league. Those two are impossible to defend with man coverage and therefore Tua is going to see an insane amount of zone coverage this next season. That should lead to a middle of the field feast for Hunter Henry, who resigned a big contact with the Pack this offseason. One of the bigger questions the team faces though is if JuJu is going to be that big number 3 threat he’s been the past few seasons. If he and Henry see as much zone as we think, Tua should have a ton of easy throws.That won’t be an issue, and it hasn’t been even in the real NFL. The big question is can Tua push the ball down field and fit the ball into the tight redzone windows, if he can GM SD could win his 3rd straight Super Bowl, if he can’t the Packers are going to use all their draft capital to get their guy next April.

4. How is the Justin Fields experiment going to work in the Bay Area? The 49ers offense is one of the easiest in the league to operate, running mostly half field reads and levels concepts off of play action. Fields should thrive in this type of offense as his biggest weakness is reading the field, his accuracy and athleticism has never been in quesiton though and he could dominate with the offensive scheme. If he’s prepared to be the man in San Francisco they could certainly challenge for a wild card spot. I don’t know if this team, after losing it’s two best players in Williams and Jones this offseason can win the NFC West, but the weaponry here is still quality. Tyler Boyd is one of the most consistent players in the NFL, CeeDee Lamb is an emerging star who will continue to improve, and a recent trade for James Washington adds some much needed depth. Alvin Kamara is still going to be a passing game focus as well. If Fields can play up to his level, even with rookie mistakes, the 9ers could be a factor in the NFC.

5. The Texans are in the worst long term situation at the quarterback position, going into the season with some mediocre starting options in Andy Dalton and Gardner Minshew. Dalton played fairly well for Houston last season and knows the offense, but Minshew is likely to get some reps for the Texans as well. The Texans have an excellent offensive line, and good running backs to keep the pressure off of whoever lines up behind center. The depth at the receiver and tight end position is enviable as well, with the perennial underrated Brandin Cooks, versatile Sterling Shepard, and John Smoke Brown, the Texans have a dynamic trio. The tight end position has a top 10 player in Mike Gesicki and the most reliable player at the position in the league in Kyle Rudolph. If Dalton and Minshew can play decent football, the Texans will win the AFC South, if they can’t… it’s going to be a long winter on the Gulf.

6. Outside of quarterback every single team has some issues to deal with as well. While these teams are all competitive and will be tough to beat on a week in and week out basis, each team has some achilles’ heels that may pop up and knock them out of contention.

7. The Dolphins biggest issue is definitely their lack of a top end CB option. The team seems obsessed with bringing in slow slot options and has a complete disregard of outside cornerbacks. A really good team with great outside speed like Kansas City is going to present a gigantic problem for the Fins. While the defense is beginning to take shape in a “positionless” league, their inability to matchup on the outside with physical or fast receivers could end up being their undoing. If the Fins are in the mix at the trade deadline I could see them making a big push to grab a CB1 on a losing team. If they don’t and get a poor matchup later in the season, it could cost them a plaque.

8. The 49ers lack of depth at some key positions, particularly edge rusher, could end up being a big issue. Last season they didn’t get enough pressure on a regular basis, and while the team has two exceptional young talents in Brian Burns and Bradley Chubb, they don’t have any depth behind them. They also have some issues in terms of stopping the run straight up the middle, I’m wondering if their DT’s are strong enough to hold up against the run. This lack of depth is concerning, particularly in a league (Madden) where pressuring the quarterback is such an important piece. If Burns or Chubb get hurt, the team could really struggle to get a pass rush. The team let go of inconsistent but talented Marshon Lattimore this offseason as well. Can they hold up in coverage long enough to get home as a pass rush? What happens when those two get tired, or hurt? If the 49ers are in contention, they may be buyers at the deadline for a pass rusher.

9. The Texans have excellent depth, going 2 or 3 deep at almost every position, a key piece of the second year for expansion GM TH. However, the team doesn’t have any real true 90 rated players and therefore they don’t have big time difference makers. That lack of big time players is extremely disconcerting. If they can’t have someone who can win one on one battles over and over again they are going to have to play perfect football on a week to week basis to win games. Injuries aren’t going to scare the team but the lack of superstars mean that they aren’t going to get the win or two or three that eams with stars get because they can dominate the games by themselves. Every game the Texans are going to win is going to have to be a team win, and that’s a lot of pressure on David Shaw’s coaching staff, particularly with game managers at quarterback.

10. Each team really has an x-factor that could help push them from being a good team to being a championship contender. We’ve seen that any team that makes the playoffs regardless of how complete they are can win a title. What players on each team can make these teams go from competitive to legendary?

11. For the Dolphins the team has some holes but the most insane weapons in the NFL. The most important player for this team moving forward is going to be Hassan Reddick though. Last season for the Cardinals he was dynamic and provided a serious spark as a pass rusher, in this positionless defense he’ll have to provide the same spark. Reddick needs to be a double digit sack guy for this team to be elite becuase they lack the corners to shut down teams on the back end. If Reddick can’t be an elite player, they won’t get enough pressure on defense and their corners will get smoked, he has to be a 3GML all league player or the Fins will be in shootouts all season long.

12. The Pack absolutely have to have a big season from Liam Eichenberg. The Packers lost both their starting tackles over the past two seasons and now have the most tenuous offensive tackle situation in the NFL. If Eichenberg as a rookie can’t jump in a be at least a decent player protecting Tua’s blindside, the Packers won’t have a chance to see what Tua can become. He’s the most important non quarterback on the defending Super Bowl champs and by far the most important non QB rookie in the NFL.

13. The 49ers obviously need a big season from Justin Fields, but their most important non quarterback is their arguably best overall player in Derwin James. If James is healthy he’s probably the favorite for the DPOY in the 3GML. He’s someone who can completely dominate games on the defensive side, and if he stays healthy for 14 games or more this season, he’ll likely be in the running again. In a year where the 49ers have stated they are “retooling” they have to have a playmaker who can change games in an instant, nobody fits that bill more than DJ, he’s a superstar.

14. The Texans have to have someone step up and be a dominant player for them, or they have zero chance of winning the AFC South. That said the guy they need to be great for them is actually someone fairly random, they have to get A graded play from Carlos Dunlap. That may be asking a lot but the Texans don’t have many guys who can win one on one in a pass rush situation, but Dunlap can. If he can be an 8-10 sack guy the Texans have a chance to be very solid defensively, as their secondary is deep and talented. If they can’t get pressure though they’ll expose their defense by blitzing even more frequently than normal, and they blitz the 5th most in the NFL. If Dunlap can give them a solid season and win enough one on ones, they could be dangerous defensively, if not, they could give up some big plays.