2024 3GML Season - Week 8

Texans Drop Second Straight as Colts Roll 29-13, Defense Struggles Lead to Staff Shake-Up

HOUSTON, TX (AP) — The Houston Texans’ struggles continued at home, as they fell to the Indianapolis Colts 29-13 in a game that highlighted their ongoing offensive and defensive woes. Anthony Richardson, who entered with one of the lowest completion rates by a quarterback in the past 30 years, found little resistance, leading Indianapolis with 236 passing yards, a touchdown, and an additional 73 yards on the ground.

Houston’s offense, meanwhile, remained stagnant for a third straight game, managing just 257 total yards. Quarterback Drake Maye and his receiving corps were out of sync, unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities or find any rhythm as the Colts’ defense held firm. The Texans struggled to move the ball efficiently, falling behind early and never recovering.

In a decisive post-game move, Texans GM TH announced the firing of defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, expressing frustrations with the defense’s lackluster performance. “At some point, we needed a defense that could stop somebody,” TH said. “We may as well have sent out a welcome mat.”

Glenn’s defense struggled to contain Richardson, who consistently extended drives with both his arm and legs, putting Houston on the back foot throughout the contest. The Texans’ third straight lackluster performance has left questions about their path forward on both sides of the ball.

With Glenn’s departure, the Texans hope a fresh defensive strategy can help them regain their footing as they look ahead to a crucial midseason stretch. For now, they sit at 5-3, eager to reverse their fortunes as the playoff race tightens.

Packers Edge Jaguars 27-24 in Overtime Thriller After Doug Pederson’s Risky Call Backfires

JACKSONVILLE, FL (AP) — In a game packed with wild momentum shifts and unexpected calls, the Green Bay Packers emerged victorious with a 27-24 overtime win against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Packers’ defense got the day started with a bang as Carl Granderson scooped up a sack fumble and took it 68 yards to the house. However, Green Bay’s offense then stalled out, struggling to maintain drives as Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby dominated on the ground, racking up 108 yards and two touchdowns to give Jacksonville a 17-7 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

But just when the Jaguars appeared in control, the game took a chaotic turn. Green Bay’s offense came to life in the final frame, clawing back to within seven points. With the Packers down 24-17 and the Jaguars driving, Bigsby broke off a huge gain to set Jacksonville up deep in Green Bay territory. On fourth down, with 27-yard chip-shot field goal that would have made it a two-score game, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson made a baffling decision to go for it instead.

“We figured, uh, you know, the time on the clock was ticking and...well, sometimes the best defense is...you just, uh, keep moving forward, right?” Pederson said postgame, laughing nervously. “Field goals are fine, sure, but you gotta...take chances, you know?”

Green Bay’s defense held firm, stuffing the Jaguars on fourth down and giving Tua Tagovailoa one last chance to tie the game. Tagovailoa led a quick scoring drive, capped by a touchdown pass to Rome Odunze to send the game to overtime.

Afterward, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur tried to hold back laughter when asked about Pederson’s decision. “Look, I’m all for gutsy calls, but that one… I actually pinched myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.  Maybe he's not very good with numbers?” LaFleur joked with a grin.

In OT, both teams traded punts twice, unable to break the deadlock, until Tagovailoa found his top target Justin Jefferson for a 74-yard bomb, putting the Packers in range for the game-winning field goal. The Packers’ victory lifted them to 6-2 in thrilling fashion, while Jacksonville’s bold but costly gamble leaves Pederson with a few questions to answer heading into the season’s second half.

49ers Edge Cowboys 13-9 in Defensive Showdown in Santa Clara

SANTA CLARA, CA (AP) — In a low-scoring, grind-it-out battle, the San Francisco 49ers came away with a 13-9 victory over the Dallas Cowboys at home, powered by solid defense and a key touchdown run from Jamaal Williams.

Quarterback Jordan Love kept the 49ers’ offense moving with 291 yards through the air, though he couldn't find the end zone as the Cowboys' defense limited the Niners’ red-zone opportunities. The game’s only touchdown came courtesy of a hard-nosed 12-yard rush by Williams, who battled through several defenders to cross the goal line in the second quarter, putting San Francisco up 10-3.

Both defenses stood tall, forcing their opponents to settle for field goals on otherwise promising drives. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott faced constant pressure from the 49ers’ front, while the secondary held up well, highlighted by an interception from star safety Derwin James, halting one of Dallas's few threats.

The win puts the 49ers at 6-2, keeping pace in a tight NFC race. Head coach Kyle Shanahan credited his team’s resilience, saying, “It wasn’t the prettiest game, but that’s football sometimes. You grind it out, make the plays you need, and find a way to win.”

Chargers Dominate Saints in 41-16 Rout at Home

LOS ANGELES, CA (AP) — The Los Angeles Chargers took control early and never looked back, defeating the New Orleans Saints 41-16 in an impressive performance that saw big contributions from backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett and a stellar defensive start. Brissett, filling in seamlessly for the injured Will Levis, threw for 257 yards and three touchdowns, keeping the Chargers in rhythm throughout.

Running back Najee Harris put on a clinic with 130 rushing yards, providing a strong ground game that kept the Saints defense on its heels. Wide receiver DeVonta Smith shined as well, catching eight passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns, keeping New Orleans scrambling to keep up with the Chargers’ well-rounded attack.

On defense, the Chargers set the tone on the Saints' first drive, with rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell picking off backup quarterback Josh Dobbs for a 31-yard pick-six, putting the Chargers up early and igniting the home crowd. From there, Los Angeles never relinquished control, keeping Dobbs under pressure and forcing New Orleans into a series of stalled drives.

Chargers head coach Bobby Slowik praised his team’s efforts, especially the contributions from players stepping into bigger roles: “Jacoby came in, kept his composure, and executed perfectly. Everyone stepped up today, and it’s great to see our depth showing on both sides of the ball.”

The win brings the Chargers to 5-2 as they continue to pursue a playoff berth, proving that even with their starting quarterback sidelined, they’re still a force to be reckoned with.

2024 3GML Season - Week 7

Chiefs Dominate 49ers 37-7 as Mahomes Shines, San Francisco Stumbles

SANTA CLARA, CA (AP) — Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs made a statement on Sunday, dismantling the San Francisco 49ers 37-7 in a game that was all but over by halftime. Mahomes carved up the 49ers’ defense, throwing for 397 yards and three touchdowns, leading Kansas City (3-3) to a commanding road victory.

“This was about execution, and Patrick was in control from the first drive,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said. “We found a rhythm early, and the whole team fed off it.”

The Chiefs’ wideout Xavier Worthy played a pivotal role, catching two of Mahomes’ touchdown passes and racking up 125 yards. His 48-yard score in the second quarter stretched Kansas City’s lead to 17-0 and silenced the home crowd.

Jordan Love struggled to find his footing for San Francisco, managing 233 yards, a late touchdown, and three costly interceptions. The 49ers (5-2) went scoreless through three quarters, with their lone touchdown coming in the fourth when the game was already well out of reach.

“We just couldn’t get things going offensively, and that’s on all of us,” 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan admitted. “Kansas City’s defense brought the heat, and we didn’t respond well enough.”

Kansas City’s pass rush consistently pressured Love, forcing hurried throws that led to turnovers and short fields. Two of Love's interceptions led to Kansas City scores, deepening San Francisco's deficit and quelling any hope of a comeback.

With the loss, the 49ers fall to 5-2 but remain atop the NFC West. They’ll look to bounce back next week, while the Chiefs’ dominant display solidifies their reputation as an AFC contender.

Packers Top Texans 27-8, Control Game Start to Finish at Lambeau

GREEN BAY, WI (AP) — In a showdown of 3GML rivals, GM SD’s Green Bay Packers defended their home turf with authority, defeating GM TH’s Houston Texans 27-8. The Packers (5-2) dominated time of possession and stifled Houston’s offense until the fourth quarter, moving comfortably to a fourth win on the season.

Green Bay leaned on their steady run game, with David Montgomery pacing the offense with 77 rushing yards and a touchdown. Montgomery’s performance not only sealed the game but kept him atop the NFL’s rushing leaderboard. “It’s about being physical and wearing teams down,” Montgomery said. “We’re winning with consistency, and that’s the plan every week.”

Quarterback Drake Maye struggled to find rhythm for Houston (5-2), managing just 184 yards through the air. Maye’s lone touchdown pass came in the fourth quarter, long after the game was out of reach. His lone interception, picked off by Packers cornerback Martin Emerson Jr., halted Houston’s most promising early drive.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur praised his team’s discipline and control. “We wanted to dominate the clock and keep the ball out of Maye’s hands. The guys executed that game plan to perfection,” LaFleur said.

Green Bay’s defense, led by Emerson Jr. and a relentless pass rush, stymied Houston’s offensive hopes, pressuring Maye into hurried decisions and limiting opportunities downfield. The Texans only managed to reach the end zone in the fourth quarter, well after the Packers’ 27-point lead was secured.

With the win, the Packers improve to 5-2, while Houston falls to 5-2, searching for more consistency as they head into the second half of the season.

Kyler Murray's Last-Second Heroics Stun Chargers, Cardinals Win 17-16

GLENDALE, AZ (AP) — Despite controlling the game from the outset, the Los Angeles Chargers were handed a heartbreaking 17-16 loss by the Arizona Cardinals on a last-second scramble by Kyler Murray. Down by six, Murray got the ball with 1:45 left on the clock and led the Cardinals on a nail-biting drive, capping it with a 4th-and-goal touchdown run as time expired.

Without starting quarterback Will Levis, the Chargers (4-2) turned to veteran Jacoby Brissett, who managed the offense well and gave Los Angeles an early lead. Yet, questionable play-calling in the final minutes saw the Chargers repeatedly pass instead of running down the clock, allowing Murray one last opportunity to stage his game-winning drive.

“We had the game in our hands and didn’t finish,” said Chargers head coach Bobby Slowik. “That’s on me, on us as a team. We didn’t close out the way we needed to.”

Brissett, stepping in under center, kept Arizona’s defense off-balance for most of the afternoon but couldn't seal the game late. Los Angeles leaned heavily on the passing game, even in moments when a ground approach might have secured the victory.

The Chargers’ aggressive strategy ultimately allowed Arizona (1-6) the chance to complete their late comeback, with Murray delivering when it counted most. His final drive, punctuated by accurate passing and strategic scrambles, culminated in the game-winning score that left Arizona fans in jubilation.

The loss drops the Chargers to 4-2 as they look to bounce back with Levis potentially returning in Week 8, while the Cardinals take a much-needed victory to energize their struggling season.

2024 3GML Season - Week 6

Packers Overcome LaFleur’s Risky Decisions to Edge Cardinals 14-11

GREEN BAY (AP) — Despite a series of questionable fourth-down calls by head coach Matt LaFleur, the Green Bay Packers held on for a narrow 14-11 victory over the winless Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Green Bay (4-2) leaned on its defense and the running of David Montgomery, who finished with 109 yards and two touchdowns, to escape with the win.

LaFleur’s aggressive decisions left points on the board, as the Packers went for it on fourth down three times instead of attempting field goals. All three attempts failed, putting extra pressure on the defense to keep Arizona (0-6) from capitalizing.

“We’ve got to play fearless,” LaFleur said when asked about the decisions. “We’re not going to second-guess ourselves. The process was right, even if the result didn’t go our way.”

The Packers' defense rose to the occasion, led by Kylie White’s two timely interceptions, which helped stifle Arizona’s offense. White’s first pick set up Montgomery’s opening touchdown, and his second came in the fourth quarter, denying the Cardinals a potential game-tying drive.

Arizona struggled to generate offense throughout the game, but Kyler Murray led a late push to make things interesting. A fourth-quarter field goal cut Green Bay’s lead to 14-11, and the Cardinals had a chance to drive for the win with under two minutes left. However, Green Bay’s defense stood tall, forcing a turnover on downs to seal the victory.

“Those situations shouldn’t come down to the defense, but we made the stops when we had to,” White said.

With the win, Green Bay improves to 4-2, staying in the thick of the NFC playoff race, while Arizona remains winless at 0-6.

Texans' Defense Shines in 41-14 Blowout Over Patriots

FOXBOROUGH (AP) — The Houston Texans pulled away from the New England Patriots with a commanding 41-14 victory on Sunday, fueled by a stifling defensive performance. Two critical pick-sixes—one by veteran Tyrann Mathieu and the other by newly signed cornerback Desmond King II—helped the Texans (5-1) break open what had been a close game early.

Patriots quarterback C.J. Stroud struggled against Houston’s opportunistic defense, throwing four interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns. Mathieu’s pick-six came late in the second quarter, shifting momentum firmly in Houston’s favor. King added his own score in the third quarter, all but sealing the Patriots' fate.

“We thrive off each other’s energy,” Mathieu said. “Everyone’s flying to the ball, and when we get opportunities, we capitalize.”

Despite a solid start by New England, which trailed just 10-7 midway through the second quarter, the Texans took control with their defensive pressure. Stroud, who had been relatively sharp in earlier games, appeared rattled as Houston’s secondary blanketed receivers and forced him into poor decisions.

On offense, Houston quarterback Drake Maye managed the game efficiently, taking care of the football and keeping drives alive. Maye didn’t need to throw for huge numbers thanks to the defense’s dominance, as Houston leaned on short fields to build their lead.

“The defense gave us every opportunity,” Maye said. “When they’re scoring points, it makes life easier for us.”

Texans head coach David Shaw credited his team’s preparation. “We knew if we could get pressure and make them throw into tight windows, we’d have a chance to change the game,” Shaw said. “That’s exactly what the guys did today.”

The Texans improve to 5-1, looking like one of the top teams in the AFC, while the Patriots drop to 0-6 with lingering questions about Stroud’s development and protection in the passing game.

Jordan Love Shines as 49ers Defeat Seahawks 31-17 on Thursday Night Football

SEATTLE (AP) — Jordan Love delivered a dynamic performance, accounting for four total touchdowns as the San Francisco 49ers cruised to a 31-17 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football. Love threw for 262 yards and two touchdowns while adding two more scores on the ground, leading the 49ers (5-1) to a key road win.

“Coach [Kyle] Shanahan gave me the green light, and we just executed,” Love said. “It’s always tough to play here, but we stayed focused and got the job done.”

Love’s go-to target, CeeDee Lamb, hauled in six passes for 106 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown that gave San Francisco a comfortable lead. Lamb's ability to find space consistently frustrated the Seahawks' defense throughout the game.

“We’re building something special with this group,” Lamb said. “Jordan makes it easy to trust the process. He was in complete control tonight.”

Seattle (1-5) kept things competitive early, with Geno Smith throwing a touchdown pass and the Seahawks staying within striking distance at halftime. But San Francisco's defense tightened after the break, limiting Seattle to just one second-half field goal.

The loss adds to the Seahawks’ struggles, as they fall to 1-5 and continue to search for answers. Meanwhile, San Francisco improves to 5-1 and looks poised to remain a contender in the NFC.

Justin Tucker’s Five Field Goals Lift Chargers to 15-13 Win Over Broncos

DENVER (AP) — Justin Tucker was the difference-maker on Sunday, drilling five field goals to power the Los Angeles Chargers to a narrow 15-13 victory over the Denver Broncos. In a game where touchdowns were hard to come by, the Chargers (4-1) leaned on Tucker’s reliable leg and a dominant performance from running back Najee Harris to secure the road win.

“Every point mattered today,” Chargers head coach Bobby Slowik said. “We knew it would be a grind, and Justin was money, as always.”

Harris carried the offensive load for Los Angeles, rushing 18 times for 158 yards, including several critical runs to keep drives alive and set up Tucker’s field goals. Despite Harris' efforts, the Chargers couldn’t find the end zone, but Tucker’s perfect day—capped with a 47-yard game-winner in the fourth quarter—proved enough.

“He’s a luxury to have,” quarterback Will Levis said of Tucker. “When you know you’re getting three points every time you get close, it gives you confidence.”

The Chargers’ defense was equally impressive, holding Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix to just 99 yards through the air and limiting Denver’s offense to 13 points. While the Broncos (2-4) managed a fourth-quarter field goal to briefly take a 13-12 lead, Los Angeles answered with a late drive to position Tucker for the game-winning field goal.

“Defense stepped up big,” Slowik said. “We kept the pressure on them, and even when they scored, we knew we had enough time to respond.”

With the win, the Chargers improve to 4-1 and remain in the thick of the AFC playoff race. Denver, meanwhile, drops to 2-4, struggling to find consistency on offense as Nix continues to adjust to NFL defenses.

2025 3GML Mock Draft 1.0

It is SOOOO early in the NFL season, as it’s only ⅓ of the way done at this point but it’s time for our first 3GML mock of the year. I’m not going to go into each player or anything like that and this is mostly a consensus big board, but i’ll do a write up for each 3GML team based on its picks. Let’s get into it as the NFL season is ⅓ over and the college football season is halfway done so why not.

DRAFT SLOTS ARE BASED ON TODAY’S DRAFT ORDER 10.15

1. New England Patriots - Travis Hunter, ATH Colorado

2. Cleveland Browns - Tetairoa McMillan, WR Arizona

3. Jacksonville Jaguars - Will Johnson, CB Michigan

4. Carolina Panthers - Shedeur Sanders, QB Colorado

5. LA Rams - Malaki Starks, S Georgia

6. Tennessee Titans - Cam Ward, QB Miami

7. New York Jets - Malaki Starks, S Georgia

8. Cincinnati Bengals - Luther Burden III, WR Missouri

9. New Orleans Saints - Will Campbell, OL LSU

10. Arizona Cardinals - Kelvin Banks Jr, OT Texas

11. Las Vegas Raiders - Jalen Milroe, QB Alabama

12. New York Giants - Quinn Ewers, QB Texas

13. Miami Dolphins - Benjamin Morrison, CB Notre Dame

14. Seattle Seahawks - Deone Walker, DT Kentucky

15. Denver Broncos - James Pearce, EDGE Tennessee

16. Dallas Cowboys - Ashton Jeanty, RB Boise State

17. Philadelphia Eagles - Emeka Egbuka, WR Ohio State

18. Chicago Bears - Abdul Carter, EDGE Penn State

19. Indianapolis Colts - Shavon Revel, CB East Carolina

20. Green Bay Packers - Nic Scourton, EDGE Texas A&M

The Packers have to be thrilled at what they see this year from Carl Granderson who has played very well through 6 games. They also have big money invested in Harold Landry on the other side. That said, they have zero depth at the position, and while Landry has looked better this year he’s not an elite QB pressure guy. Yes he had a 14 sack season but throughout his career he’s converted a crazy high percentage of his pressures into sacks and has never topped 64 in a season. He’s pretty damn good, but they need him to be great. 

Enter Nic Scourton. He’s a 285 pound guy who give this team a chance to maybe get into the right spots defensively. He is a great run defender who also has way higher than normal movement skills for someone his size. He gives them depth at the position and an opportunity to move away from Landry if they choose soon with the contract coming due. 

Also for what it’s worth I think the Packers look HARD at trading back in this draft. With the high payouts for the 3 stars they extended this season, and the Tua situation that could present the team with limited financial resources, moving back and acquiring cheap talent is something they could focus on. Also depth in some key positions is lacking so this could solve some issues - if they can find a trade partner in a weaker draft.

21. Tampa Bay Bucs - Aireonete Ersery, OT Minnesota

22. Baltimore Ravens - Jonah Savaiinaea, OL Arizona

23. Buffalo Bills - Kenneth Grant, DL Michigan

24. Pittsburgh Steelers - WR Isaiah Bond, Texas

25. Houston Texans (From Washington) - Jack Sawyer, EDGE Ohio State

I honestly don’t know what the Texans are looking to do in this draft as their team is pretty well stocked, particularly on the DL. However, after ANOTHER injury to Jaelen Phillips you have to wonder if GM TH is going to extend him and pay him big time money after 3 serious injuries in college and now two in the NFL. He’s great when he plays, but he doesn’t play. Enter Jack Sawyer. He’s a 265 pound edge who plays the game the right way and has been great the past two years in the Big 10. Sawyer racked up 37 pressures and 8 sacks a season ago and is on pace to get more pressures this season, while also being a plus run defender, bordering on plus-plus. Not sure his upside is great but he’d be a nice piece to add for both depth and high quality play. High floor boring pick at a position they need. Not sure this is the move but it makes some sense.

26. Atlanta Falcons - Mykel Walker, EDGE Georgia

27. LA Chargers - Carson Beck, QB Georgia

It looks like the Will Levis experiment has failed for the Chargers, so in a draft where you can find a quality player late, the Chargers try again. Levis jumped onto the scene last season with a 4TD game in his debut agains the Falcons and looked like a potential superstar. Since then he only has 2 games in which he’s thrown 2 or more TD passes and has the second lowest QBR in the NFL. Levis hasn’t shown an ability to run, a calling card of his in college that could increase his floor, as he’s ran for more than 25 yards just twice and hasn’t had a QBR in a game over 45 in any game since his debut. On top of it, his turnovers this year have been backbreaking.

Time to move on. Carson Beck doesn’t have the ceiling that Levis did, but he’s got a super high floor. While it does look like he’s come back a bit this season compared to last over the past two years he has 39 TD’s, just 11 interceptions and has completed 70% of his passes. A highly accurate passer with a very catchable ball, Beck can play point guard to a team with an INSANE amount of high end weapons. It’s a lower ceiling, but a much higher floor.

28. Detroit Lions - Harold Perkins Jr, LB/EDGE LSU

29. San Francisco 49ers (SOS determined) - OL Emery Jones, LSU

San Francisco has done an exceptional job in the rebuild on the fly. Love has been great, the team has continued to win games, and the 49ers have purged some bad contracts - that’s a really positive season. The team still does have some needs though, and chief among them is on the offensive line. While the tackle spots have the stud with two first names Zach Tom playing right tackle, they could use depth on the LT side and at guard and that’s where Jones comes in. I think he’s probably best at tackle, but his power and size could obviously push him inside to guard as well. Given his potential he seems like an easy answer for the 49ers here at 29. 

The reason I doubt this happens though is GM CD is an analytically driven GM and Jones hasn’t been great this year. In fact, neither LSU tackle who are projected to go in round one have been particularly dominant in 2024. Jones has struggled at times as a run blocker and while he PROJETS as a really impressive player given his H-W-S, he only showed it in 2023. You wonder how much someone wants to take a projected stud in round 1 versus a higher floor player like or a guy at another position, choosing to build up depth with a day 2 pick or two.

30. Houston Texans - Josh Simmons, OT Ohio State

    
    

I could see Houston moving up or back in this draft and I think the odds of them staying put where the current picks are is virtually zero. That said, if they DO stand pat, they might be looking for OL depth. While their current group of Jones, Risner, JMS, Jenkins, Rosengarten, and Lucas is solid, they could really use some upside here. Rosengarten has showed some good things in his rookie campaign, but we have zero idea of Abe Lucas’s knee injury is career threatening. It looks at best to be a consistent problem. I know GM TH likes Jones at LT long term if the price is right, but if it’s not Simmons provides a great answer.

He played RT at San Diego State, has switched to LT at Ohio State and looks like a natural at that spot. His game against Oregon was pretty rough this last weekend though, maybe pushing him down a bit. However, he’s good in pass pro, giving up just one sack over the past two seasons to go along with just 12 TOTAL hurries in that time frame. He’s a decent run blocker who can play either scheme and looks like he could be a candidate to kick inside as well as his length looks just okay. The Texans like versatility and someone who has already played both tackle spots but looks more primed for an interior role might be exactly what they’re looking for. 

31. Minnesota Vikings - Tacario Davis, CB Arizona

32. Kansas City Chiefs - Landon Jackson, EDGE Arkansas

2024 3GML Season - Week 5

Bills Dominate Texans 34-3 as Houston's Offense Falters

HOUSTON (AP) — The Buffalo Bills overwhelmed the previously unbeaten Houston Texans in a decisive 34-3 victory on Sunday, holding the Texans to just 134 total yards in a game where Houston’s offense could not find any rhythm. Bills quarterback Josh Allen carved up the Texans’ defense, throwing for 318 yards and two touchdowns, while Houston rookie quarterback Drake Maye struggled under heavy pressure.

Maye completed just 125 yards through the air and threw two costly interceptions, while also being sacked eight times by Buffalo’s relentless pass rush. The Texans (4-1), who had looked dominant in previous weeks, were out of sync from the start and never posed a real threat to the Bills (3-2).

“We didn’t execute today, plain and simple,” said Maye. “I’ve got to be better, and as a team, we’ve got to respond.”

Texans head coach David Shaw found himself under scrutiny after a series of questionable decisions.

When asked about the choices, Shaw was visibly irritated, defending his game management. “Look, everyone’s got something to say after the fact.  It's not like I was drunk out there,” Shaw responded. “We made the decisions we felt were right in the moment, and I stand by them. Hindsight’s easy, but we were trying to get something going in a game where nothing was working.”

With the loss, Houston’s high-flying start to the season came to a screeching halt, and Shaw’s decision-making now faces increased scrutiny as the Texans look to rebound from their first defeat. 

Montgomery Powers Packers to 28-14 Road Win Over Rams

LOS ANGELES (AP) — David Montgomery led the way for the Green Bay Packers with a dominant performance on the ground, rushing for 130 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-14 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. The Packers (3-2) rode their bruising running game to a crucial road win while the Rams (2-3), hampered by injuries, struggled to keep pace.

Montgomery set the tone early, consistently finding holes in the Rams’ defense and finishing drives with touchdowns to give Green Bay control of the game. His third score, a 15-yard dash late in the third quarter, put the Packers up by two scores, effectively sealing the win.

“David was incredible today,” said Packers head coach Matt LaFleur. “When you can run the ball like that, everything else opens up, and he was just relentless.”

For the Rams, it was a frustrating day on offense as quarterback Matthew Stafford was unable to get much going. Without several key starting receivers and dealing with an offensive line that struggled to hold up, Stafford and the Rams were stifled throughout. 

The Packers’ defense took advantage of the Rams’ depleted offense, keeping them off balance and limiting their opportunities to capitalize on Green Bay’s lead.

“Obviously, we’re not at full strength, but no excuses,” Stafford said postgame. “We’ve got to find a way to make plays.”

With the win, Green Bay moves to 3-2 on the season, while Los Angeles falls to 2-3 as they try to regroup from their mounting injury challenges.

49ers Dominate Cardinals 37-13 Behind Wright’s Two TDs and Newton’s Defensive Surge

SANTA CLARA (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers rolled to a convincing 37-13 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, fueled by a balanced offensive attack and a relentless defense that sacked Kyler Murray seven times. Running back Jaylen Wright led the 49ers’ offense, rushing for 92 yards and two touchdowns, while rookie defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton put on a show with three sacks in a breakout performance.

The 49ers (4-1) took control early, with Wright finding the end zone twice in the first half as San Francisco built an insurmountable lead. On defense, Newton spearheaded a pass rush that kept Murray on the run all game long, never allowing the Cardinals (0-5) to find a rhythm.

“Everything was clicking today,” said Wright. “The O-line gave me room to run, and the defense made it tough on them all game.”

Newton, who had his best game of the season, led a Niners defense that overwhelmed Arizona’s offensive line. The 49ers racked up seven total sacks, consistently pressuring Murray and forcing errant throws. 

“Our defense was relentless today,” said 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan. “Newton really stepped up, and the entire unit did an incredible job keeping the pressure on Murray.”

With the win, San Francisco remains atop the division standings at 4-1, while Arizona falls to 0-5 after another tough outing against an NFC West rival.

3GML All League Through Five Weeks

OFFENSE:

QB – Jordan Love, SF

The default answer at this point. He’s made some really bad turnovers and is actually just 1-2 as the starter this season but, he also shows glimpses of what made him arguably the best QB in the NFL for the last half of last season.  He also has been aggressive and despite a below average completion percentage, he is averaging 7.7 yards per throw and almost 300 yards per game. It’s not all pretty but he’s definitely the all league QB.

RB – Derrick Henry, Hou

The guy is a menace. He has 8 total TDs is averaging 6 yards per carry and is once again leading the NFL in rushing. He’s the exception to the rule.

RB – David Montgomery, GB

Well GM TH clearly knows how to draft running backs as he picked both of these guys. Montgomery is the best runner at making people miss in the hole in the NFL. He falls forward better than anyone and is a short yardage superstar. His success rate as a runner is as high as there is in the NFL and while his YPC will never wow you, it’s because that’s not what he’s there to do. But he’s one of the best in the league at doing his job. While we can argue about their merits, he’s also the 4th rated RB in PFF rankings this season.

TE – Isaiah Likely, Hou

This one was insanely close. Goedert had one insanely monster game where he absolutely went off and it moved the needle way up but Likely’s elite run blocking got him the grade here. This one is between Likely and Goedert currently and might come down to whatever voters value more, blocking or pass catching. Goedert has fallen off so far this season as a blocker, missing as many blocks as he’s made on the edge in the games I’ve watched, but he’s put up over 300 yards in just 4 games. Very tough call.

WR – Justin Jefferson, GB

He’s a superstar that shows up every single week, and makes the entire offense better. Jefferson not only has put up 450 yards to be 3rd in the NFL, he’s also drawing flags by the dozen in games. He carries that offense at times and is the epitome of elite.

WR – CeeDee Lamb, SF

See above. Lamb is 9th in the NFL in yards and while he and Dak haven’t been on the same page as often this season, there are times that the entire offense seems to hinge on whether AB Goat can get single coverage. When he does, or he gets the ball in space, he’s as dangerous as any player in the NFL. 

WR – Rashid Shaheed, Hou

I doubt this one sticks all season, as I can’t see Shaheed continuing to outproduce Amon Ra St Brown or even Aiyuk and Samuel on his own team, but he’s been a walking one play TD drive this season. Shaheed has 25 targets through 4 weeks and is averaging over 10 yards per target. On top of that he also has 77 punt return yards, 25 rushing yards, and 108 kickoff return yards to round it out. Will Shaheed stay as the #3 WR by years’ end, almost no shot, but through 4 games he’s been very dynamic.

FLEX – Dallas Goedert, GB

This is how I get Goedert on the team with 300 receiving yards. This is going to be a very tight race with St. Brown, Diontae Johnson, both Houston/SF WRs out there, etc. But through 4 games Goedert is on a 1000 yard pace as a TE. If he keeps that up, no way he stays off the starting offense.

LT – Jordan Mailata, LAC

This one is actually closer than you might think, as Bernard Raimann is coming into his own on the left side. That said, Mailata’s ability to displace people is incredible. As he ranks 3rd in PFF grade, and 8th in ESPN pass block win rate. He’s a star.

LG – Landon Dickerson, LAC

This one was a bit closer than I expected as well as Teven Jenkins gave Dickerson a bit of a run for his money. However, Jenkins inconsistency and missing some snaps gave Dickerson the edge. He’s had more bad losses this year than any in his career thus far though and while his overall body of work is good, he’s given up a massive 15 pressures through 4 weeks. This looked like a lock before the season, if that pace keeps up, Jenkins could move in and steal this all league spot.

C – Tyler Linderbaum, GB

This is another one that’s much closer than I thought it would be but through ZERO fault of Linderbaum’s. He’s played at a potentially All Pro level through 5 games but Tyler Biadasz has played really good football for the Commanders as well and is in this conversation. Linderbaum has been elite as a run blocker and very good in pass pro so far, being the #1 rated cernter in pass block win rate through 4 weeks through ESPN’s metrics. The thing is Biadasz is rated 4th there and actually has a higher PFF pass block win rate. Linderbaum gets the edge due to the fact he’s elite in the run game and Biadasz has been good and not great there but it shows how awesome Biadasz has played that he’s even in this conversation.

RG –  James Daniels, SF

He’s been so damn good to start this season, it’s a huge bummer that he got hurt because it was by far the best year of his career. Daniels was killing it on the inside zone run and had truly seemed to find his stride there, placing second in ESPN run block win rate AND as the top rated guard by PFF. The injury is a huge blow.

RT – Zach Tom, SF

He’s a star. Tom is one of the most consistent offensive linemen in the NFL. He can run block block pass protect at a high level and he seems to understand leverage at a high level. He’s been an impressive and integral part of the offensive line in GB and is their best OL.  

 

FIRST 5 WEEKS ALL LEAGUE OFFENSE:

QB – Love, SF

RB – Henry, HOU

RB – Montgomery, GB

TE – Likely, HOU

WR – Jefferson, GB

WR – Lamb, GB

WR – Shaheed, HOU

Flex – Goedert, GB

LT – Mailata, LAC

LG – Dickerson, LAC

C – Linderbaum, GB

RG – Daniels, SF

RT – Tom, SF

 

DEFENSE:

Defensive Tackle: Christian Wilkins, HOU

The Texans spent a fortune to bring in Wilkins and have him anchor a disruptive front, and that’s exactly what he’s done through 5 games. He did just hurt his foot this week but we don’t know how bad it is. Through 5 weeks though he’s been electric. Wilkins is 9th in PFF grade, placing at 75 or higher in both run grade and pass rush grade, and he looks it on tape, piling up an impressive 246 snaps as well. He’s also 5th in run stop rate per ESPN grades and 4th in pass rush grade. He’s a star.

Defensive Tackle: Zach Sieler, LAC

I’m a little biased here because I absolutely love Sieler, and he’s been awesome so far this season. He’s 17th in ESPN pass rush win rate through 4 weeks (no 5th week updated yet but it’ll go up after he dominated this week) as he’s not put up 16 pressures this season. He’s one of the better and most disruptive interior players in the league against the pass and he’s solid as a run player.

DL: Zach Allen, SF

I don’t know where to put Allen. Is he interior, is he edge? Idk but as a hybrid he deserves to be SOMEWHERE on this list so I’m simply going to put him here. While his run defense this year has been mediocre at best, he’s been getting hurries and pressures at an obscene rate. His intensity on the defensive front is palpable. The dude has freaking 29 pressures through 5 weeks. That is out of control. Now I’ll say he’s had some issues in run D this year, but 29 pressures is top 5 in the NFL. He has to be on this list.

Edge: Carl Graderson, GB

This dude seems to have leveled up this year. Granderson if you watch the Saints seems to be everywhere. He signed a new contract extension and then immediately balled out. He has 22 pressures and 3 sacks through 4 weeks but on top of that he’s also been pretty decent against the run and has also picked up 15 tackles. He’s been really good so far this season.

Edge: Brian Burns, SF

Rousseau is on his tail but Burns has been better to start the year. He has 17 pressures through 5 games, lower than Rousseau but he has a crazy 5 batted balls this season. He also has 15 tackles and has been winning as a pass rusher with frequency as he’s 6th in pass rush win rate as his wins are just quicker than Rousseau’s. He has the “Edge” right now.

LINEBACKER: Jermiah Owusu-Koramoah, LAC

He’s so fun to watch. Watching JOK play is like watching someone shot out of a cannon when he gets going. He flies sideline to sideline and is one of the rare off ball linebackers that at times feels like he can take over a game. He’s got 39 tackles, including 6 for loss so far this season, and while he hasn’t been as big of a big play guy this year, his coverage skills are as good as anyone in the NFL from the LB position, giving up a passer rating against of just 61.6. He’s also gotten stronger in 2024, having missed just 2 tackles all year. He’s awesome.  He also has two forced turnovers through 5 weeks.

LINEBACKER: Logan Wilson, HOU

I thought Wilson was pretty mediocre last season. While he put up decent counting stats, I didn’t feel like he made nearly as many plays. He changed that in 2024. Wilson has been a machine out there, putting up at least 9 tackles in every single game. On top of it, he’s been blitzing more, and has 5 QB hits and a forced fumble while improving his coverage skills, allowing just 65 yards in coverage through 5 games, an impressive number. He’s been REALLY good through 5 weeks.

LINEBACKER: Frankie Luvu, HOU

This one is going to be a tough race between a lot of guys. Including another Houston LB in Pete Werner. Henry To’o To’o has improved by leaps and bounds this past season as well, giving GB another dog in the fight. However, Luvu is a freaking playmaker and one of the best blitzing LBs in the NFL. He has 3 sacks and 10 pressures through 5 weeks as well as 37 tackles, and his best season so far in coverage, allowing just 43 yards in coverage through 5 games and missing only 2 tackles. He’s improved.

CORNERBACK: Patrick Surtain, LAC

Well I had mentioned I thought Surtain was good, but maybe not great anymore and he responded with two interceptions and a TD as he dominated week 5. He’s given up just 78 yards in coverage this season and hasn’t missed a tackle. Yeah he’s elite.

CORNERBACK: Jaylon Johnson, SF

He’s maybe the best shutdown cornerback in the NFL today. Johnson has a passer rating against when targeted of just 33 this season while playing plus run defense. He’s given up just 5 completions as the nearest defender per next gen stats, and just 9 total completions, including 4 that were in deep off coverage. He’s as sticky as there is in the NFL today.

NICKEL: Trent McDuffie, GB

He’s the NFL’s feistiest corner. McDuffie is simply good at everything. He hasn’t been totally lockdown this year but he’s been really darn good. Through 4 weeks he’s given up a little bit with 10 catches for 92 yards, but that’s still really darn good. Especially considering he’s also added 4 pressures as a blitzer. I will say this, he’s been good but there are guys on his tail here which shows how many good corners are in this division. He hasn’t been as big of a playmaker and he’s letting guys creep up on him and has 3 penalties that have led to first downs.

Zyon McCollum has played outstanding football in 2024 allowing fewer than half the passes against him to be complete. Christian Gonzalez is rounding into form after a couple of weeks where he started slow – he can steal this spot without question and has looked great the past two games. Some young guys have jumped up as well, including rookies Kool Aid-McKinstry and Quinyon Mitchell. And even Isaac Yiadom has been a solid under the radar signing by SF.

SAFETY: Xavier McKinney, LAC

He’s been the best player in the secondary this season for any team. He has 6 turnovers through 5 weeks including a pick in every single game. On top of that the guy has only missed one tackle all season and as the closest defender has only given up 3 catches and 43 yards. For our league he’s the DPOY without there being a vote.

SAFETY: Tyrann Mathieu, HOU

He’s been outstanding for the Texans and the real life Saints through 4 games and seems to have found a mini fountain of youth. Mathieu has forced three turnovers this year and while he did give up a big play in the pass game, he’s been flying all over the field for a good Saints defense. His grasp on this spot is definitely not safe though as younger ascending players are coming for him but he’s a playmaker who has been making a LOT of plays early on in the season.

 

FIRST 5 WEEKS ALL LEAGUE DEFENSE:

DT: Wilkins, HOU

DT: Sieler, LAC

DL: Allen, SF

EDGE: Granderson, GB

EDGE: Burns, SF

LB: Owusu-Koramoah, LAC

LB: Wilson, HOU

LB: Luvu, HOU

CB: Surtain, LAC

CB: Johnson, SF

N: McDuffie, GB

S: McKinney, LAC

S: Mathieu, HOU