TAMPA, Fla. (AP) It was not the way Ben Roethlisberger would draw it up, but the Pittsburgh Steelers will take it.In desperate need of a win, the two-time defending AFC North champions capped a tumultuous week in which star receiver Antonio Brown made headlines by shouting at an assistant coach on the sidelines and getting into a spat on social media with a 30-27 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night.The Steelers (1-1-1) built a 20-point lead held on for their first win despite not scoring after halftime.''I don't feel like we had the ball much in the second half. Three possessions maybe. We need to do a better job putting it away,'' Roethlisberger said.''At the end of the day we just wanted to get out of here with a win,'' cornerback Joe Haden added. ''It wasn't a good-looking win at all. They made a lot of plays on us, but at the end we made some big stops.''Roethlisberger threw for 353 yards and three touchdowns, with all but 80 yards of that production coming while the Steelers were building a 30-10 halftime lead.Vance McDonald scored on a 75-yard pass play and finished with four catches for 112 yards. Brown and Ryan Switzer also had first-half TD receptions for Pittsburgh, which had been winless through two games for the first time since 2013.The Pittsburgh defense did its part, too, forcing four turnovers, including three first-half interceptions of Ryan Fitzpatrick, the 35-year-old journeyman who threw for 819 yards and eight touchdowns in two victories to begin Tampa Bay's season.Fitzpatrick, the only player in NFL history to open a season with consecutive games with over 400 yards passing and four touchdowns, tried his best to create ''FitzMagic'' again in his third start in place of the suspended Jameis Winston.He led a long field goal drive in the third quarter, and then tossed fourth-quarter TD passes of 4 yards to Chris Godwin and 24 yards to Mike Evans to rally the Bucs (2-1) within 30-27 with 5:43 remaining.''We obviously dug ourselves a pretty big hole,'' Fitzpatrick said. ''The great thing to me coming out of this game is again the belief in the huddle in the second half and guys not wavering and not blinking and having the feeling the whole time that we were going to come back and win the game.''The Bucs got the ball back with just over three minutes left; however, the Steelers forced a punt and Roethlisberger ran out the clock.Fitzpatrick, who sacked three times, finished 30 of 50 for 411 yards and three TDs.''We just did so many things in the first half of that game that we haven't been doing, so many things to beat ourselves,'' Bucs coach Dirk Koetter said.''I'm really proud of the way we fought. You're down three touchdowns or three scores at halftime, it's not easy to come back in this league,'' Koetter added. ''We gave ourselves a chance there at the end and just couldn't pull it off.''Roethlisberger was 30 of 38 with one interception, completing nine passes to JuJu Smith-Schuster for 116 yards and six to Brown for 50 yards.The quarterback's on-field chemistry with Brown appeared fine in the first game since Brown responded to a former team employee on social media by suggesting the club trade him if it wants to find out how productive he can be without Roethlisberger.Fitzpatrick threw interceptions on three consecutive pass attempts during one stretch of the second quarter. The first stopped a promising drive at the Steelers' 6, and linebacker Bud Dupree returned the last one 10 yards for a touchdown that put the Steelers up 23-7.Roethlisberger also turned a fumble into a 27-yard TD pass to Brown and moved the Steelers 75 yards in nine plays just before the half to make it 30-10 on his 1-yard scoring pass to Switzer.FLAGS, FLAGS, FLAGSThe teams combined for five roughing-the-passer penalties, most in an NFL game since 2001, as fans around the league continue to gripe about flags being thrown for what appear to be routine tackles. Pittsburgh was flagged three times for hits on Fitzpatrick, and the Bucs were called twice for roughing Roethlisberger. In all, the Steelers were penalized 13 times for 155 yards. Tampa Bay had nine penalties for 80 yards. The Bucs also had a holding penalty that wiped out what would have been an 80-yard punt return for a TD by DeSean Jackson.RING OF HONORHall of Fame coach Tony Dungy, who won a Super Bowl ring as player with the Steelers and as a first-time head coach transformed Tampa Bay from a laughingstock into a championship contender, was inducted into the Bucs Ring of Honor at halftime.He's the 12th member, joining Hall of Famers Lee Roy Selmon, Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks; coaches John McKay and Jon Gruden; late owner Malcolm Glazer; and players John Lynch, Mike Alstott, Doug Williams, Jimmie Giles and Paul Gruber.Dungy and his wife, Lauren, accompanied Tampa Bay's captains to midfield for the coin toss. Three of the couple's children - Jade, Justin and Jason - led the team out of the tunnel as the honorary flag runners.INJURIESSteelers: Played without All-Pro guard David DeCastro (hand), right tackle Marcus Gilbert (hamstring) and safety Morgan Burnett (groin). Pittsburgh didn't report any injuries during the game.Buccaneers: Defensive tackle Beau Allen (foot) was inactive after being injured during Tampa Bay's Week 2 victory over Philadelphia. S Chris Conte left in the second quarter with a knee injury and did not return.UP NEXTSteelers: Home vs. Baltimore on Sunday night.Buccaneers: Visit Chicago on Sunday in the first game Winston is eligible to play.---More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/tag/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP-NFLCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen was reportedly involved in an incident at a Minneapolis hotel Saturday, Ryan Raiche of KSTP-TV reports.Police records obtained by Raiche indicate that a person at Hotel Ivy in Minneapolis verbally threatened to shoot someone on Saturday. The person's name was redacted from the report produced by the Minneapolis Police Department but sources confirmed to Raiche that Griffen was the person involved.The report stated that the suspect verbally threatened to shoot someone if he wasn't let into his room but no gun was found. He eventually left the hotel on his own volition and was not arrested.Griffen is being evaluated at a local hospital amid prolonged concerns about his mental health, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero."We are aware of the situation involving Everson Griffen and certainly concerned by what we have heard. We are currently focused on Everson’s well-being and providing the appropriate support for him and his family," Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said in a statement.Griffen missed Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills due to a personal matter.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone will run down the recommended waiver wire pickups.Ownership percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. FAAB bids are set off a $100 budget.Fantasy Podcast: Week 3 takeaways, early look at waiver wireQuarterbackGregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / GettyBaker Mayfield, BrownsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat OAK12%$3At this point, we already know what the rest of the quarterbacks on this list bring to the field. However, Mayfield is still an unknown and while he comes with some risk, he also offers significant upside. Mayfield was ready for the spotlight when he stepped in for Tyrod Taylor and led the Browns to a comeback victory. He also has a great matchup in Week 4 against a Raiders' defense that just allowed three touchdowns to Ryan Tannehill.Andy Dalton, BengalsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat ATL33%$0Although Dalton has eight passing touchdowns through three games, he did come back to earth with four interceptions in the Bengals' loss to the Panthers. He'll face much less resistance from the Falcons this week, who have given up six passing scores over their last two outings. If you're targeting Dalton, you'll need to monitor A.J. Green's status. The star wideout exited early with a groin injury on Sunday. If he's sidelined, Dalton could still be used as a streamer, but his ceiling would be lowered.Other options: Case Keenum vs. KC (27 percent owned), Joe Flacco at PIT (14 percent owned), Ryan Tannehill at NE (8 percent owned)Running BackEzra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / GettyAlfred Morris, 49ersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Chargers53%$14Matt Breida left Sunday's game with what appeared to be a non-contact knee injury, but later returned. On Monday, head coach Kyle Shanahan said Breida is questionable for Week 4. If Breida is unable to go, Morris would see a big workload. But, unfortunately, with Jimmy Garoppolo out for the year, Morris' opportunity makes him just an RB3. Kyle Juszczyk would become a long shot fantasy play, serving as the primary pass-down back.Chris Ivory, BillsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat GB6%$8Let's begin this section by making it clear: there is not a lot of help on the waiver wire for fantasy owners in need of immediate starters at running back. Since our threshold is players who are owned in less than 60 percent of leagues, that removes guys like Aaron Jones (64 percent owned) and Austin Ekeler (60 percent owned). With LeSean McCoy sitting out due to a rib injury, Ivory led the Bills' backfield with 20 carries for 56 yards and three receptions for 70 yards, including a 55 yarder. With McCoy's injury still a factor, and his off-field issues looming, Ivory is worth an add.Javorius Allen, RavensNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat PIT27%$7Allen has received a lot of praise from the Ravens' coaching staff, but his role in the Baltimore backfield is still a complementary one. Not counting the opening week blowout of the Bills, which involved an unusual game script, Alex Collins has outproduced Allen in almost every category. Collins has 27 carries for 103 yards with six catches for 61 yards over that two-game span. Allen has managed just 15 yards on 12 carries and 55 yards on eight receptions but has three touchdowns to Collins' one. Allen remains a TD-dependent flex play for fantasy.Duke Johnson, BrownsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat OAK48%$5With Mayfield taking over in Cleveland, the outlook of the entire offense changes. Johnson caught two passes from the rookie in Week 3, turning them into 24 yards - his best receiving output of the year. Last week, Hue Jackson admitted the team needs to find ways to get Johnson the ball more, which seems obvious after the team signed him to a sizable three-year extension in the offseason. If he's available in PPR leagues, you could double that FAAB bid.Marlon Mack/Jordan Wilkins, ColtsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. HOU35%/33%$4/$3We mentioned the Colts' running backs last week and not much has changed. This is a fantasy wasteland at the moment with Mack, Wilkins, and Nyheim Hines struggling to produce behind a weak offensive line. Mack, who sat out Week 3 with foot and hamstring injuries, offers the best chance at being a fantasy starter at some point this season, but this is a situation to avoid unless you are extremely desperate.Ty Montgomery, PackersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. BUF16%$2Montgomery offers upside as a pass-catcher, evidenced by his six-catch, 48-yard performance against the Redskins. He also added 16 yards on the ground in that game. But with Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams around, it's unlikely Montgomery sees a significant amount of carries. One can wonder if the Packers would ever elect to move Montgomery back to receiver if Randall Cobb keeps fading. Either way, he's worth a speculative add, especially in PPR leagues.Other options: Wendell Smallwood at TEN (2 percent owned), Ito Smith vs. CIN (6 percent owned), D'Onta Foreman returns Week 7 (5 percent)Wide ReceiversHarry How / Getty Images Sport / GettyMike Williams, ChargersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. SF56%$39The buy-low window for Mike Williams is over after he caught four passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns against the Rams. The sophomore has 189 yards and three scores on the season, and is just 30 yards behind Keenan Allen despite seeing 11 fewer targets. As expected, Williams is thriving as a red-zone weapon and has a legitimate shot to be a fantasy difference-maker as an upside WR3 the rest of the way.Calvin Ridley, FalconsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. CIN44%$34Ridley was highlighted in this space last week, so hopefully you rostered him before he put up 146 yards and a trio of touchdowns in Week 3. That gives him 200 yards and four scores over the last two games, and like Williams, he deserves to be started as a WR3 moving forward. With Matt Ryan playing at a high level and Julio Jones drawing the attention of defensive coordinators, Ridley should have plenty of room to operate.Tyler Boyd, BengalsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat ATL17%$19With all eyes on John Ross heading into the season, Boyd has stolen the No. 2 job in Cincy, and depending on Green's health this week, he might be Dalton's top target against the Falcons. He proved his six-catch, 91-yard, one-touchdown game in Week 2 wasn't a fluke, following it up with six grabs, 132 yards, and another trip to the end zone. Opportunity is key in fantasy, and Boyd has seen 16 targets over his last two games. He's not as flashy as some of the other players in this section, which means you can get him a little cheaper on the wire.Chris Godwin, BuccaneersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat CHI41%$19This article will be updated after the Monday nighter, so Godwin's performance in that game could alter how we approach him on the waiver wire. Entering Week 3, he was the WR24 in fantasy with touchdowns in both contests. He should be owned in all formats.Sterling Shepard, GiantsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. NO56%$14Giants tight end Evan Engram is week to week with a sprained MCL, which opens up targets for Shepard and the rest of the passing attack. With Engram being forced from the game, Shepard posted his best outing of the season with six catches for 80 yards and a touchdown. The uptick in volume puts him back in the conversation as a borderline fantasy starter.Geronimo Allison, PackersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. BUF34%$12This is the third straight week Allison cracks the waiver wire receivers' list. He's topped 60 yards in every game this season and has two touchdowns on the year. Outside of Davante Adams, Allison is the best fantasy receiver in Green Bay. If his ownership percentage doesn't rise this week, we might need to start going door to door to raise awareness.Other options: Antonio Callaway at OAK (33 percent owned), Christian Kirk vs. SEA (3 percent owned), Jordy Nelson vs. CLE (52 percent owned), James Washington vs. BAL (4 percent owned)Tight EndsThomas J. Russo / USA TODAY SportsJack Doyle, ColtsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. HOU53%$9Doyle should be owned in most competitive leagues, but some owners must have cut bait after a pair of quiet outings to start the season. That's a mistake. Doyle has the 11th most targets among tight ends through three games, an impressive stat considering he didn't play in Week 3. His Week 1 performance - seven catches for 60 yards - was marred by a fumble that lowered his fantasy point total. With the Colts emphasizing a short passing attack, Doyle will be heavily involved. Don't let him stay on your waiver wire for long.Ben Watson, SaintsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat NYG44%$3Normally we wouldn't advise picking up a 37-year-old tight end, but Watson has been a solid streaming option playing with Drew Brees. Watson had 44 yards in Week 1, was overthrown on a wide open end-zone target in Week 2, and came away with 71 yards in Week 3. With Engram joining Delanie Walker and Greg Olsen on the sidelines, Watson is a serviceable replacement.Other options: Tyler Eifert at ATL (51 percent owned), Vance McDonald vs. BAL (11 percent owned), Dallas Goedert at TEN (2 percent owned), Austin Hooper vs. CIN (29 percent owned), Ricky Seals-Jones vs. SEA (22 percent owned)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A season-ending injury to starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo isn't enough to spark the San Francisco 49ers' interest in a reunion with Colin Kaepernick."No. There was (discussion) last year. I made that decision because of the style of offense. That's the same situation now," head coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday when asked about the possibility of bringing back the former pivot, according to Cam Inman of the Mercury News.Related: Arbitrator denies NFL's request to dismiss Kaepernick's collusion caseInstead, the 49ers will once again turn the starting role over to sophomore C.J. Beathard. The 104th overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft made five starts as a rookie and completed 54.9 percent of 224 passing attempts over seven appearances. He threw four touchdowns against six interceptions but added three scores on the ground."C.J. is our guy and we have Nick Mullens backing him up," Shanahan added.The 49ers will also bring in veteran free agents Tom Savage, Kellen Clemens, and T.J. Yates for workouts on Tuesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.San Francisco is 1-2 through the first three weeks. They'll pay a visit to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams star cornerback Aqib Talib suffered a high ankle sprain Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers and will miss at least one month, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters that Talib will probably require surgery and is getting a second opinion.Rams cornerback Marcus Peters suffered a strained calf and is considered day to day. The Rams host the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday and it may be difficult for Peters to return in time, sources told Schefter.Talib has been named to five consecutive Pro Bowls and is expected to be a major piece to the Rams' new-look defense. He was traded to the Rams from the Denver Broncos in March. Talib recorded nine tackles, a forced fumble, and two pass deflections through three games.It was initially feared that Peters suffered an Achilles injury, but tests revealed the calf strain. Like Talib, Peters was acquired in a March trade, coming over from the Kansas City Chiefs. The two-time Pro Bowler recorded four tackles and an interception in three games with the Rams.It's a tough development for the 3-0 Rams, as Sam Shields and Nickell Robey-Coleman will likely be adjusted within the defense to replace Peters and Talib. Troy Hill, Dominique Hatfield, and Ramon Richards could see increased playing time.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich dismissed any concerns about Andrew Luck's arm strength following Sunday's 20-16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.Luck missed the entire 2017 season while recovering from a shoulder injury but has since completed 68.5 percent of his passes for 662 yards and five touchdowns against three interceptions. Although Jacoby Brissett replaced Luck to attempt a last-minute Hail Mary pass, Reich shook any argument that his starter isn't at full capacity."What I've seen is he makes all the throws," Reich said via ESPN's Mike Wells. "There's been plenty of throws down the field, in my mind ... (What) I've seen is a guy who is extremely accurate. I have no concerns about velocity."Related: Luck's struggles in Week 3 raise questions about arm strengthLuck is averaging 5.5 intended air yards per pass, the second-lowest total in the NFL, according to Next Gen Stats.With the Colts focusing on their divisional rival Houston Texans in Week 4, Reich praised Luck for his command on the offense and doesn't appear worried about the deep ball."I think he's playing good football," Reich said. "I'm happy with the way he's playing. I know he's like all of us, when you don't win you never feel like you're good enough at any position. We all wanted to do better than we did. I'm sure he would include himself in that, but overall he's doing a lot of things. Handling the offense well. We know how it goes, the quarterback is going to get more credit and more blame when they go right and wrong. So overall I think he's playing well."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson is out for the remainder of the season with an ankle injury, a source told ESPN's Rob Demovsky.Wilkerson was carted off during Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins after accidentally colliding with Packers safety Kentrell Brice."I would say it's significant but that's as far as the details I have right now," Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said.Wilkerson signed a one-year contract worth $5 million with the Packers in March. The 28-year-old was released by the New York Jets in February after spending the first seven seasons of his career with the organization.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Josh Rosen will be charged with salvaging the Arizona Cardinals' 2018 season amid an 0-3 start.Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks named the rookie quarterback as his new starter under center on Monday. Rosen made his NFL debut late in Week 3 against the Chicago Bears, replacing a struggling Sam Bradford with 4:31 remaining in the fourth quarter and the Bears holding a 16-14 lead.The 21-year-old completed four of his seven pass attempts for 36 yards, but his first career drive concluded with an interception.He threw a second pick on his next drive, but the play was called back due to an offside penalty called against Bears linebacker Khalil Mack.Arizona sent the 15th, 79th, and 152nd picks in April's draft to the Oakland Raiders for the rights to select Rosen at No. 10.Rosen was the fourth of the five quarterbacks chosen in the first round to make his NFL debut this season. It's the first time since 1967 that five first-round QBs have played within the first three weeks of their shared rookie campaign, according to NFL Research.The 30-year-old Bradford signed a two-year, $20-million contract with the Cardinals this offseason. He had completed 62.5 percent of 80 pass attempts for 400 yards (5.00 yards per attempt), two touchdowns, and four interceptions.The No. 1 pick in the 2010 draft has played for four teams and owns a 62.5 completion percentage over 83 career games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Those of us who cover professional football for a living, or any sport for that matter, often face moments when the games remind us that we really don’t know what we're talking about. Sunday was one such day. From stunning upsets to surprise rookie debuts, it was quite the week of NFL action.Here are some of the play designs that led to twists and turns:Passing Design of the Week: Josh Allen to Jason CroomFew gave the Buffalo Bills a chance ahead of their road trip to face the Vikings, but in just his second start, rookie quarterback Josh Allen led Buffalo to a stunning 27-6 victory, completing 15 of 22 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown. Most will remember the scramble when Allen hurdled Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr, but this touchdown to tight end Jason Croom was a beautifully designed and executed play.Facing a second-and-11 on the Vikings' 26-yard line, the Bills line up with Allen (No. 17) in the shotgun flanked by two running backs. Before the snap, running back Marcus Murphy (No. 45) starts in motion toward the right, where Buffalo has two pass-catching options: Croom (No. 80) and Zay Jones (No. 11). As the play begins, Allen takes the shotgun snap and first looks to Murphy, as if he'll throw a quick screen pass to the running back. This fake draws the defenders toward the running back and the line of scrimmage, but Jones and Croom are running a switch vertical concept, which has Jones running a post route toward the middle and Croom running a wheel route toward the outside. The latter ends up wide open:Allen hits Croom in stride and the tight end walks into the end zone for an easy touchdown. On this replay angle, you can see how the defenders react to the motion and fake screen, which allows Croom to leak toward the boundary undetected (sped up from the TV broadcast):This design - and execution - from the Bills and their young quarterback was one of the better plays of the weekend.Rushing Design of the Week: Emmanuel Sanders to the houseDenver Broncos wideout Emmanuel Sanders has many accomplishments on his resume. He's a Super Bowl champion, a two-time Pro Bowler, and has caught 34 touchdown passes over the course of his career. But he'd never scored a rushing touchdown until Sunday.With the Broncos and Baltimore Ravens knotted at 7-7, Denver lined up for a first-and-10 play with quarterback Case Keenum (No. 4) under center and "21" personnel on the field (two running backs, one tight end, and two wide receivers). Sanders (No. 10) is split wide to the right, and he comes in short motion before the snap, initially toward the quarterback near the line of scrimmage. But as the play begins, Keenum takes the snap and fakes a run to the right, simulating a handoff to running back Royce Freeman (No. 28). Then, with his back to the defense, he simply flips the ball to Sanders, who's circled into the offensive backfield:A critical element of this play is the blocking, led by fullback Andy Janovich (No. 32). He begins the play in a wing alignment to the right, but pulls across the formation to be the lead blocker in front of Sanders. Janovich throws a critical block downfield near the goal line, as does rookie wide receiver Courtland Sutton (No. 14):Unfortunately for the Broncos, they ultimately fell 27-14. But for Sanders, Janovich, and Sutton, their execution on this perfectly designed play is worthy of mention.Pass Coverage of the Week: Xavien Howard ends a Raiders threatSomething is rotten in Raider Nation.NFL fans woke up Sunday morning to stories about turmoil in Oakland's front office, led by new head coach Jon Gruden. The team then fell to 0-3 on the season with a 28-20 loss to the Miami Dolphins. David Carr completed 27 of 39 passes for 345 yards and a touchdown, but he was intercepted twice by Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard. The second of those ended a Raiders scoring chance and helped preserve Miami's victory.With just over seven minutes remaining in the contest, the Raiders took over possession of the football on their own 10-yard line, trailing 21-17. The offense marched down the field in eight plays, covering 77 yards, and the ninth play of the drive was a first-and-10 on Miami's 13-yard line. On the play, Oakland puts three receivers on the left side, with Martavis Bryant (No. 12) on the outside. Howard (No. 25) is right across from him:NFL/CBSBryant runs a red-zone fade route, releasing vertically. Miami is in a Cover 1 scheme, playing man coverage with one free safety. That basically leaves Howard on an island with Bryant, but the defender is up to the challenge:The interception stopped the drive and ended the threat, giving the Dolphins possession. They extended the lead moments later, while the positioning and execution from Howard on the above interception stood up as a key play in the victory.Pass Rushing Design of the Week: Chicago’s Hail Mary blitzGiven how the Chicago Bears’ defense is playing so far in 2018, we might have to rename this category in the unit's honor.The new Monsters of the Midway notched multiple sacks for the third straight week, getting to Arizona four times in a 16-14 victory. The Bears got to starting quarterback Sam Bradford three times, but it was their final sack of the game, with rookie Josh Rosen on the field, that stands out. Arizona had one final chance to pull out the win, with the football on its own 46-yard line and just a few ticks of the clock remaining. It was time for a Hail Mary attempt from the rookie QB.Usually when a defense faces a Hail Mary, it plays very conservative. Those defenses often drop eight or more defenders into coverage while playing a contain pass rush up front, just trying to keep the quarterback in the pocket.However, Chicago's defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio, had a different idea:NFL/FOXFangio blitzed Rosen, sending six pass-rushers after the rookie while using a seventh to spy the quarterback. The move paid off:That prevented Rosen from even setting up to attempt the Hair Mary, and instead ended the game with a sack.Game Ball: Drew Brees, SaintsThere were a number of standout performances on Sunday, including Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan throwing five touchdowns, Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey racking up 184 yards on the ground, and Falcons rookie Calvin Ridley catching three touchdown passes. But in the shootout between the Falcons and New Orleans Saints, Ryan was ultimately bested by Drew Brees.The Saints veteran completed 39 of 49 passes for 396 yards and three touchdowns. He also added two late rushing scores, including one in overtime that gave New Orleans the victory over its division rival. Ryan had the slightly better passing numbers, but to the victor go the spoils - and the game ball.Mark Schofield writes NFL feature content for theScore. After nearly a decade of practicing law in the Washington, D.C., area Mark changed careers and started writing about football. Drawing upon more than a decade of playing quarterback, including at the collegiate level, Mark focuses his work on quarterback evaluation and offensive scheme analysis. He lives in Maryland with his wife and two children. Find him on Twitter @MarkSchofield.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jimmy Garoppolo's MRI Monday revealed what the San Francisco 49ers had originally feared, as the team confirmed he suffered a torn left ACL against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.Garoppolo will miss the remainder of the 2018 season.The quarterback went down late in the fourth quarter after cutting back into the field instead of stepping out of bounds at the end of a quarterback scramble. He also stepped into a heavy hit upon making the cut.C.J. Beathard is currently the only other quarterback on San Francisco's roster, so he'll presumably start in Garoppolo's absence barring a trade or free-agent signing. The team will reportedly bring free agent Tom Savage in for a workout, a source told ESPN's Jordan Schultz.The injury is a huge blow to a once-promising 49ers season. The team currently sits at 1-2 after a 38-27 loss to the Chiefs.Garoppolo's first full season with the 49ers finishes with 718 passing yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets have contacted the Pittsburgh Steelers to express interest in trading for running back Le'Veon Bell, sources told Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.The Jets haven't yet submitted a concrete offer, according to the report, but are convinced the Steelers are finally willing to part with their disgruntled star.Related: 5 teams that should make an offer for Le'Veon BellBell hasn't suited up for Pittsburgh yet this season because of his disdain for the franchise tag, which he received in consecutive offseasons. He won't be allowed to negotiate the long-term contract he seeks until the offseason - regardless of whether he remains a Steeler or gets traded elsewhere.The 26-year-old Bell has finished among the top five in rushing in three of the previous four seasons. He's also one of the top pass-catching tailbacks in the NFL.The trade deadline is Oct. 30.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee is expected to miss at least a few weeks with a hamstring injury, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Lee suffered the injury during the second half of Sunday's loss to the Seattle Seahawks.The linebacker has been hobbled by injuries recently, missing 23 games over the last five seasons. He was originally questionable for Dallas' Week 3 tilt with another sore hamstring; the most recent injury is to his other leg.Leighton Vander Esch, who the Cowboys selected in the first round this past April, is expected to play significant snaps in Lee's place. Jaylon Smith will also see his role increase.Lee has accumulated 20 tackles and half a sack in 2018.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman suffered a mild calf strain Sunday versus the Kansas City Chiefs and is expected to miss two-to-three weeks, a source told ESPN's Jordan Schultz.Sherman was helped off the field by trainers at halftime after being unable to put weight on his leg.The veteran's injury is a blow to a 49ers pass defense that currently ranks 28th in the NFL. Ahkello Witherspoon and Jimmie Ward manned the outside cornerback spots during Sherman's absence against Kansas City.Sherman, a four-time Pro Bowler, signed a three-year contract with San Francisco after being released by the Seattle Seahawks in March.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants tight end Evan Engram is considered week to week with a sprained MCL, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Engram left Sunday's win over the Houston Texans prematurely with what the Giants initially called a knee injury.The 24-year-old has 10 receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown through three games this year. He ranked second on the Giants with 722 receiving yards last season as a rookie.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Atlanta Falcons safety Ricardo Allen will miss the remainder of the season with a torn Achilles, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Allen suffered the injury in Sunday's loss to the New Orleans Saints. The Falcons have now lost both their starting safeties to season-ending injuries after Keanu Neal went down with a torn ACL in Week 1.Allen signed a three-year, $19.5-million extension with Atlanta before the season. The 26-year-old registered 17 tackles and one interception in three contests.The Falcons have been ravaged by injuries in the opening month of the season, particularly on defense. Standout linebacker Deion Jones was placed on injured reserve two weeks ago because of a foot injury, pass-rusher Takkarist McKinley missed Week 3 due to a groin issue, and several others have been battling various ailments.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns' offense now belongs to Baker Mayfield, as head coach Hue Jackson named the No. 1 overall pick his new starting quarterback Monday."I informed the group this morning that we're going to start Baker Mayfield and Tyrod (Taylor) will be the backup if healthy," Jackson told reporters, via NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Mayfield dazzled in his debut last week, leading the Browns to their first victory in 635 days. He entered in relief of a concussed Taylor and threw for 202 yards in two-plus quarters of action as Cleveland fought back from a 14-point deficit versus the New York Jets.Mayfield will become the Browns' 30th starting quarterback since 1999, though he didn't seem too concerned when asked about it."It's 2018, don't really care," he said, according to ClevelandBrowns.com's Andrew Gribble.Taylor, meanwhile, remained in concussion protocol Monday and was absent from practice. Jackson said he's hopeful the veteran will be cleared to return by the end of the week.Although the Browns had chances to win both of their first two games with Taylor in the saddle, the offense moved much more effectively under Mayfield."Baker understands there's still a lot of work to do," Jackson said. "... Now the other added pressure of being out there first is there. But I think he can handle it. He's demonstrated that."Jackson was adamant throughout the offseason and preseason that the Browns would be Taylor's team in 2018 before handing the reigns to Mayfield next year.The Browns will take a 1-1-1 record on the road to the Oakland Raiders in Week 4.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's probably fair to say that William Hayes isn't a fan of the NFL's new roughing the passer penalty, which prevents defensive players from putting their body weight on quarterbacks.The Miami Dolphins defensive end tore his ACL on Sunday against the Oakland Raiders while sacking quarterback David Carr, and will miss the remainder of the season."He was trying to not put body weight on the quarterback," Dolphins head coach Adam Gase told reporters Monday, via ESPN's Cameron Wolfe. "His foot got caught in the ground."Related: Matthews says NFL is 'getting soft' after latest controversial penaltyHayes appeared to ease up on his final step while sacking Carr, as he attempted to roll over the quarterback instead of landing on him.When asked whether he believes the rule change led directly to Hayes' injury, Gase said, "I'm just telling you what happened ... I'm just telling you what he did."Multiple players responded to the injury news, adding further animosity towards the controversial rule.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones delivered a vote of confidence Monday to everyone involved in his offense's sluggish start to the campaign."I think we've got the players and I do think we have the talent and I think we have the coaching that can get us on the right track offensively," Jones said, according to the Dallas Morning News' Jon Machota, a day after the Cowboys fell 24-13 to the Seattle Seahawks."We will get on the right track offensively," he added. "I'll assure you."The Cowboys' offense has been abysmal through three games, ranking 31st in the NFL with 13.7 points per game. Their passing attack also ranks second-last in the league, averaging 145 yards per contest.Still, Jones is certain that preseason concerns about his team's lack of established skill players and potentially stale coaching or play-calling will prove to be rubbish."I've seen the makeup of this general group move the ball well on offense," he said. "No reason to think we won't see it again."If there was one bright spot on offense against the Seahawks, it was Ezekiel Elliott, who rushed for a season-high 127 yards and averaged 7.9 yards per carry. Still, the game ended with observers pointing to a lack of weapons around quarterback Dak Prescott and a lack of game-plan creativity from head coach Jason Garrett and offensive coordinator Scott Linehan.Dallas will take a 1-2 record into a Week 4 meeting with the Detroit Lions.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone and David P. Woods.Find the show on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, and Anchor.Boone and Woods recap all the action from Sunday and take an early look at Week 4 waiver wire adds.Topics for this episode include:

Following a loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday night, New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski confirmed that the Pats considered trading him to Motown this offseason.Gronk doesn't want to leave Tom Brady's side, and he threatened to retire as a result.

Detroit Lions fans won't be constantly reminded of Reggie Bush and the team's long-lasting rushing problems anymore.Rookie running back Kerryon Johnson ran for 101 yards during Sunday night's victory over the New England Patriots, becoming the team's first rusher to eclipse the 100-yard mark since the recently-retired Bush ran for 117 yards against the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 28, 2013.LeGarrette Blount and Theo Riddick, Johnson's veteran teammates, let him know the importance of his accomplishment on the sideline late in the fourth quarter.

DETROIT (AP) Matt Patricia beat mentor Bill Belichick, seemingly making all the right moves to help the Detroit Lions beat the New England Patriots 26-10 Sunday night.The Lions (1-2) suddenly looked like a team with a plan on offense and defense under their first-year coach, and former New England assistant. They opened the season with a 31-point loss to the New York Jets at home and fell short in a comeback at San Francisco.The Patriots (1-2) have had weaknesses exposed on both sides of the ball, losing two of their first three games for the first time since 2012.Detroit was in control from the start, creating holes for rookie running back Kerryon Johnson and giving Matthew Stafford time to pass.Johnson had 101 yards rushing on 16 carries, becoming the first player to reach the mark for the Lions since Reggie Bush ran for 117 yards against Green Bay on Nov. 28, 2013. Detroit's 70-game stretch without a 100-yard rusher was the longest since the NFL-AFL merger.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ezekiel Elliott views himself as a leader in the Dallas Cowboys' locker room, and he's taking the blame for his team's 24-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.Elliott finished the game with 127 rushing yards on just 16 attempts (7.9 yards per carry), adding 11 yards on three receptions. But he had a costly fumble early in the fourth quarter deep inside Seahawks' territory that cut short a potential scoring drive."You can say whatever, but at the end of the day, when you've got the ball in your hands, that's the team in your hands," Elliott said after the loss, according to ESPN's Todd Archer. "Me being a leader on the team, me being a better player on this team, I got to do a better job of taking care of the ball. That cost us the game."Earlier in the contest, Elliott was penalized for illegally touching a forward pass when he stepped out of bounds prior to what would have been a 31-yard catch-and-run touchdown in the second quarter."I had no idea (I was out of bounds)," Elliott said. "That's on me. I've got to have better awareness of the sideline. That's it."The loss dropped the Cowboys to 1-2 on the season, though their 23-year-old running back has recorded 311 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns through three games.The Cowboys return home to host the Detroit Lions in Week 4.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas had a lot to say after a classic performance on Sunday.Following a week in which his team disciplined him for missing practices, Thomas turned in a stellar game, recording seven tackles and two interceptions in a win over the Dallas Cowboys.After the game, the three-time All-Pro addressed the dramatic week and his feeling that it may have been his final game in a Seahawks uniform."I heard chatter, people were coming up to me and saying a trade might happen. Even pregame, a couple Cowboys coaches came up to me, I don't know if they were playing psychological games, but they were like, 'You ready for the trade tomorrow,'" Thomas said, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.Thomas, who held out this offseason in search of a new contract with the Seahawks and was widely connected to the Cowboys in trade discussions, bowed to the Dallas bench after his second pick.

Le'Veon Bell is reportedly on the trade block, but the unique circumstances surrounding his contract impasse with the Pittsburgh Steelers will likely limit the number of teams that can acquire him.The Steelers' franchise-tagged running back can't sign a contract extension until after the 2018 season. He's also due $11.98 million for the rest of the campaign, so any team trading for him must have the cap space to take on that salary.Related: Bell likes tweet suggesting he's played his last snap with SteelersTherefore, while some teams might trade for Bell with the intention of retaining him long term, others could view the three-time Pro Bowler as a rental.Here are five teams that should be calling the Steelers as soon as possible:Cleveland BrownsAt long last, the Browns are winners again. While Baker Mayfield played just one half in Week 3, the No. 1 overall pick looks like the real deal, and he should make Cleveland competitive for the rest of 2018. Thursday's dramatic comeback win ended the team's painful losing streak, and it likely changed how the Browns view this season.The Browns need to keep winning, and so does head coach Hue Jackson if he wants to remain employed. They can't lean on Mayfield, a rookie quarterback, and ask him to work his magic every week. Running back Carlos Hyde is no slouch either, but he doesn't create plays all by himself, as evidenced by his 3.3 yards-per-carry average.Cleveland has the cap space (nearly $60 million) to acquire Bell, and the team couldn't ask for better support behind its young quarterback than the versatile runner. Pittsburgh would likely be hesitant to trade Bell within the division. But the Steelers' options are limited, and sending him to Cleveland would end this bitter saga.Green Bay PackersJoe Robbins / Getty Images Sport / GettyIf there's one team that should consider renting Bell, it's the Packers. Star quarterback Aaron Rodgers has frequently been a miracle worker, but he suffered a knee injury in Week 1 and is still limited, and desperately needs someone by his side who can carry Green Bay's offense. Bell falls squarely into that category.Entering Week 3, Green Bay ranked 25th in rushing yards per game, and the offense was averaging only four yards per carry. The Packers were playing catch-up during Sunday's loss to the Washington Redskins, making the running game an afterthought. But that's where Bell could be valuable. He's as good a receiver as he is a runner, and would give Green Bay a huge upgrade over the likes of Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams as a ball-carrier, while also arguably becoming the team's second-best pass-catcher behind Davante Adams.The Packers' lack of cap space (just under $8 million) could shatter the dream of Rodgers and Bell lining up in the same backfield. However, Green Bay's championship window is closing, and new general manager Brian Gutekunst showed this offseason that he's willing to take more risks than the previous front-office regime.New York Jets Sam Darnold's first three NFL games have been a roller-coaster ride. He was crowned the king of New York in his debut, only to come back down to earth over the next two weeks. The rookie is supremely talented, but it's clear he needs more help, and the Jets don't want to put too much of the offensive workload on his inexperienced shoulders and risk magnifying bad habits.Bilal Powell and Isaiah Crowell have been a decent running-back duo so far this season, but they've combined for just 10 catches and 100 yards through three games. Bell, meanwhile, caught 160 passes over the past two seasons, and he would give the Jets a much-needed extra dimension to their offense. He'd instantly be the star of the show in New York too, taking much of the media spotlight away from Darnold in addition to the offensive-leader role.If they're smart, the Jets will try to surround Darnold with as much talent as possible while he's on his rookie contract, just as the Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, and Philadelphia Eagles have done with their young quarterbacks. Acquiring Bell now could help kickstart a quick turnaround, potentially pushing New York into playoff contention as early as next season.Indianapolis ColtsElsa / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhile it's questionable if the rebuilding Colts would want to give up significant assets for Bell, it's no secret the running back wouldn't mind landing in Indy. Bell has commented on multiple social media posts about the Colts, and tight end Eric Ebron even openly recruited him several weeks ago.The Colts have invested heavily at the position, drafting Marlon Mack, Nyheim Hines, and Jordan Wilkins over the past two years. But none of those backs are in Bell's stratosphere, and quarterback Andrew Luck doesn't look capable of carrying the offense yet as he continues to regain his arm strength.Money isn't an issue for the Colts. Indy has just over $51 million in cap space after not making a splash in free agency, and a mind-boggling $124 million available for 2019. If Bell could be acquired without mortgaging the Colts' future, general manager Chris Ballard may be tempted to swing for the fences and take pressure off his struggling franchise player.Houston TexansThe Texans were a sleeper Super Bowl contender entering the season. They were supposed to ride the insanely talented Deshaun Watson and a finally healthy defense to at least a wild-card spot. Instead, Houston is winless after three games and scrambling to find answers for its anemic offense.While running back Lamar Miller has performed solidly, he lacks the game-breaking speed and ability to make plays after the catch. Defenses zero in on Watson, and the Texans' offensive line isn't capable of holding up if the quarterback is forced to throw 40-plus times a game.The Texans need a playmaker like Bell, and with $26 million in cap space in 2018 and around $88 million in 2019, taking on his salary and giving him a record-breaking deal next offseason won't be a problem. Like the Jets and Browns, the Texans could follow the blueprint set by the Eagles and Rams, teams that have maximized the financial freedom granted by having a quarterback on an affordable rookie contract.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams star cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib appear to have avoided serious injuries after exiting Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers.Peters avoided an Achilles injury and reportedly suffered a calf strain, according to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio. The 25-year-old will reportedly undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury.Talib suffered an ankle sprain, a source told Florio. He's expected to receive a second opinion Monday.Peters and Talib were acquired by the Rams during the offseason and both players have been imperative to the new-look defense, with the team getting out to a 3-0 start.The Rams are on a short week, hosting the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday, and it'll be a welcome relief if both players can return for a hotly contested showdown.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

No pressure, Josh Rosen.The rookie Arizona Cardinals quarterback was called into action for the first time in his NFL career with the Cards trailing the Chicago Bears 16-14 and four minutes remaining in Sunday's game.Rosen's attempt at a game-winning drive sputtered at the Bears' 45-yard line when he threw a game-sealing interception.Rosen replaced starter Sam Bradford, who had Arizona in front for the majority of the game. But the veteran fumbled the ball on Arizona's previous possession before Rosen entered, and also threw two interceptions to go along with two touchdown passes.Bradford didn't appear to be benched due to injury. He remained standing on the sideline with his helmet on.Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks was asked about throwing a rookie QB into the fire while his team was searching for a late game-winning drive."I felt like we needed a spark," he said in his postgame press conference, adding that the offense became stagnant.Wilks will watch tape of the game before determining who will start under center against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 4.The Cardinals traded up in the 2018 draft to select Rosen with the 10th overall pick.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Zimmer insists his previously undefeated Minnesota Vikings weren't looking past the winless Buffalo Bills during a blowout 27-6 loss on Sunday.The Vikings were heavily favored to roll past the Bills, but they fell into a deep hole right away, trailing 17-0 at the end of the first quarter. However, Zimmer said his team was focused on the Bills, and not a Thursday night clash with the Los Angeles Rams."I don't think we took them too lightly, I think they came out and kicked our butts," the Vikings head coach said in his postgame press conference."Obviously that was a poor performance by us today. I obviously didn't do a well enough job preparing this football team for this game. It was probably as poor a first half as I've seen in quite a while."The Vikings were playing without running back Dalvin Cook and defensive end Everson Griffen due to injuries, but Zimmer didn't use that as an excuse. The Bills were also without LeSean McCoy, their best offensive weapon."Us missing guys had nothing to do with the way we performed today," Zimmer said.The Bills were 16.5-point underdogs and pulled off the third-biggest upset in NFL history, via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.The loss may be a tough blow, but Zimmer isn't ready to give up on his club."I have not lost faith in this football team. But it just shows you every week is a a new week. You've got to go out and play. Just because somebody says that you're supposed to win doesn't mean that's going to happen," he said.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Clay Matthews seems to be having issues with how NFL referees are calling hits on quarterbacks, as the Green Bay Packers linebacker received his third roughing the passer penalty in as many weeks on Sunday.Matthews was flagged for landing on Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith "with all or most of (his) weight," under Rule 12, Section 2, Article 9(b)."Obviously I don't agree with it, again," Matthews said when asked about the play postgame. "Obviously when you're tackling a guy from the front, you're gonna land on him."When you have a hit like that, that's a football play."Matthews, 32, has played 130 games over 10 seasons, all with the Packers.The six-time Pro Bowler acknowledged the need to try to eliminate the types of hit that resulted in Aaron Rodgers' broken collarbone against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 6 of last season, but he feels the league may be going too far."This league is going in a direction I think a lot of people don't like ... I think they're getting soft," Matthews said.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After an encouraging preseason and start to the 2018 regular season, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck appeared to lack arm strength in Week 3.Luck, whose Colts fell to 1-2 after losing 20-16 to the Philadelphia Eagles, averaged a career single-game low 4.1 yards per pass attempt on Sunday. His throws lacked zip and fell short of intended targets several times.Luck attempted 40 passes, but he still finished the afternoon with only 164 yards through the air. The 29-year-old was replaced by Jacoby Brissett at the end of the fourth quarter when the Colts needed to attempt a Hail Mary pass."He can throw it a mile," Colts head coach Frank Reich said postgame when asked about his decision to insert Brissett for the Hail Mary, according to Kevin Bowen of 1070 The Fan. " ... We knew Jacoby had the arm to throw it into the end zone."

Los Angeles Rams cornerback Marcus Peters left Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers with an ankle injury, according to team insider Myles Simmons.Peters was carted to the locker room and wasn't able to put any weight on his right leg. He's officially been ruled out for the rest of the game.The Rams acquired the 25-year-old from the Kansas City Chiefs in March. Peters had an impressive debut with his new team, recording a pick-6 in Week 1 against the Oakland Raiders.Peters is the leader of a stout Los Angeles secondary. An extended absence would thrust Nickell Robey-Coleman, Sam Shields, and Troy Hill into more significant roles.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills entered their Week 3 game against the Minnesota Vikings as 16.5-point road underdogs.They left the matchup as stunning 27-6 victors to improve to 1-2 on the season after being outscored 78-23 through the first two weeks.The football community took to Twitter to express mass frustration in an upset that knocked many participants out of their survivor pools as they followed what had seemed a simple strategy of picking against the Bills on a weekly basis.

The San Francisco 49ers fear a torn ACL for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who needed to be carted to the locker room Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, head coach Kyle Shanahan said postgame.Garoppolo will undergo an MRI on Monday to confirm the severity of the injury.Garoppolo went down late in the fourth quarter after cutting back into the field instead of stepping out of bounds at the end of a quarterback scramble. He also stepped into a heavy hit upon making the cut.

Josh Allen ran for two touchdowns and threw for another, as the Buffalo Bills stunned the Minnesota Vikings 27-6 on Sunday.More to come.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews received his third flag for roughing the passer in three weeks thanks to another controversial call Sunday against the Washington Redskins.

Le'Veon Bell rumors won't slow down after his most recent Twitter activity.The Pittsburgh Steelers running back liked a tweet from a fantasy football account Sunday, claiming Bell's most recent carry was "most likely" his last play with the team.Courtesy @LeVeonBell ‏ @LeVeonBell/TwitterEarlier Sunday, it was reported that Pittsburgh is currently listening to trade offers for the star running back.Bell is currently holding out after being given the franchise tag for the second consecutive year and has yet to report for the regular season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Week 3 NFL slate features three late afternoon games and a Sunday Night Football matchup between the New England Patriots and Detroit Lions. Will Bernanke, the lead analyst at CG Analytics in Las Vegas, offered some feedback to theScore on how bettors are approaching the later games.Chicago at ArizonaOpen: CHI -6/37.5Current: CHI -6/38.5The Chicago Bears are off to a nice start under first-year coach Matt Nagy. Had they not blown a double-digit lead to the Green Bay Packers in Week 1, the Bears would be off to a 2-0 start after they took down the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football last week.A Bears defense led by newly-acquired Khalil Mack figures to have its way against an Arizona offense that's struggled out of the gate. The Cardinals mustered a meaningless touchdown in a 24-6 loss to the Washington Redskins before being shut out by the Los Angeles Rams last week.Still, it hasn't shied sharp bettors from the home team catching points in this situation."We took a respected bet on the Cardinals at the opener at +6. It moved down but it's back at the current number," said Bernanke. "This is a pros (Cardinals) versus joes (Bears) matchup."New England at DetroitOpen: NE -6.5/51.5Current: NE -7/54.5The New England Patriots are on the second of back-to-back road games, hoping for a better performance than what they gave last week. They were handed their first loss of the season to the Jacksonville Jaguars, who had their way on offense en route to a 31-20 win.It'll be a familiar face on the opposite sideline when the Patriots head to Detroit. First-year Lions head coach Matt Patricia was a long-time Patriots assistant who's looking to earn the first win of his tenure against his former club. Detroit was embarrassed at home by the New York Jets in Week 1, then came up short in a 30-27 road loss to San Francisco last Sunday.New England typically garners a ton of money from the public on a weekly basis, and the book will likely see that again come closer to kickoff."This one is shaping up to be another pros (Patriots) versus joes (Lions)," said Bernanke.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are listening to trade offers for running back Le'Veon Bell, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Bell is engaged in a contract holdout after being given the franchise tag for the second consecutive year and hasn't reported for the regular season, with James Conner featuring at running back in his absence. He reportedly forfeited $1.7 million in game checks for missing the first two games of the season.The 26-year-old was named a first-team All-Pro for the second time in his career in 2017 after rushing for 1,291 yards and nine touchdowns, adding 85 receptions for 655 yards and two touchdowns.Bell was seen riding a jet ski in Miami on Monday and hosted a release party for his latest EP while on hiatus from the Steelers.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's Baker time.The Cleveland Browns will name Baker Mayfield the team's starting quarterback on Monday, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports.The 2018 No. 1 overall pick led the Browns to their first win since 2016 against the New York Jets on Thursday, erasing a 14-point deficit after replacing an injured Tyrod Taylor at halftime.Head coach Hue Jackson said after the victory that he would wait to name the starter moving forward.The offense struggled under Taylor, who completed only 4 of 14 attempts for 19 yards before exiting. Mayfield, meanwhile, threw for 201 yards and completed nearly 74 percent of his passes.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Earl Thomas and the Seattle Seahawks' issues appear far from over.The Seahawks are considering a "significant fine" for the All-Pro safety for his two non-injury related absences from practice this week, sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.In the middle of practice Friday, Thomas apparently sat down on the sideline and chose not to participate in the rest of team drills, according to FOX Sports' Jay Glazer. He's also shown up late to multiple team walk-throughs during the week.Thomas did take part in a walk-through Saturday and is reportedly expected to suit up for Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys, who apparently hope to restart trade talks after the contest.A deal with the Cowboys is considered a "super long shot," according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, but the Kansas City Chiefs have emerged as a candidate to acquire Thomas before the Oct. 30 trade deadline.Asked if Thomas' absence was injury-related, head coach Pete Carroll said Friday, "No, he's got some other stuff we're working on," according to ESPN's Brady Henderson. Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears the offseason trade rumors surrounding Rob Gronkowski were legitimate, as the New England Patriots nearly sent their star tight end to the Detroit Lions before the NFL draft, league sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN.The deal was thwarted when Gronkowski threatened to retire if he was shipped off to Motown. The Lions tried to change Gronkowski's mind, but the 29-year-old refused to return their phone calls.Detroit was about three months removed from hiring former Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia as its new head coach when a trade appeared imminent.Related: Patriots reportedly shopped Gronk 3 days before draftNew England had reportedly been shopping the five-time Pro Bowler because of his reluctance to commit to his playing future. Ultimately, he decided to return to the Patriots, who later restructured his contract in an act of good will.Gronkowski led the Patriots with 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns last year across 14 games. He has 138 yards and a touchdown through two weeks this season heading into Sunday night's contest versus the Lions.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The personnel system Jon Gruden uses to assess players has caused a disconnect within the Oakland Raiders' organization, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Gruden has reportedly been leaning on his own expertise and circle of talent evaluators since returning to Oakland, marginalizing the role of general manager Reggie McKenzie while cutting ties with many of his acquisitions and draft picks.Although McKenzie and his group are free to voice their opinions in meetings with team brass, it's clear to many scouts hired by McKenzie that Gruden values the opinions of his own circle much more, according to the report.Gruden also reportedly used a separate draft board and pro board from McKenzie and his cohorts in the offseason.Many of the Raiders' personnel decisions since Gruden returned - mainly the trade of star pass-rusher Khalil Mack - have been head-scratching to observers outside the organization.The former Super Bowl champion returned to coach the Raiders on a massive 10-year, $100-million contract in January after nine seasons as a broadcaster on Monday Night Football.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's Justin Boone is coming off his fifth top-10 finish in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition. Follow the links below to see his updated rankings for Week 3.Standard

Despite an earlier optimistic report, the Jacksonville Jaguars listed star running back Leonard Fournette as inactive for the team's Week 3 matchup with the Tennessee Titans.ESPN's Adam Schefter says the Jaguars are "playing it safe with Fournette," whose hamstring injury also kept him out of Week 2. T.J. Yeldon will again replace him in the starting lineup.Yeldon rushed for 58 yards on 10 carries in the Jaguars' 31-20 win over the New England Patriots last week. Corey Grant pitched in 13 rushing yards and 56 receiving yards.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vontae Davis may be done with the NFL, but the Buffalo Bills apparently aren't done with the veteran corner.The Bills are expected to pursue Davis' $1.5-million signing bonus after he decided to retire mid-game in last week's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.Buffalo may argue that Davis is only entitled to 1/17th of his signing bonus as he only completed one game, meaning he could earn just $88,235, added Rapoport.Davis should also miss out on $1 million in per-game roster bonuses and a $250,000 workout bonus.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys apparently aren't done pursuing Earl Thomas.Several people inside the Cowboys organization hope to reignite trade talks with the Seattle Seahawks after Sunday's contest between the two teams, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.The Seahawks "remain committed to Thomas," added Rapoport. Seattle reportedly turned down a second-round pick from Dallas for the playmaking safety after he sat out all of training camp in hopes of forcing a new contract.Thomas ultimately returned to the Seahawks prior to the regular season but said that the disrespect had been "well-noted." He is in the final year of a four-year, $40-million deal.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants are benching former first-round pick Ereck Flowers for Sunday's game against the Houston Texans after the right tackle struggled mightily during the first two games of the season, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Chad Wheeler is set to start in his place.The 24-year-old Flowers has been a disappointment since the Giants drafted him with the No. 9 overall pick in 2015.Despite possessing the talents of Odell Beckham Jr. and Saquon Barkley, the Giants have struggled to score this season, putting up 28 points in two games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Blaine Gabbert is expected to get his second consecutive start under center for the Tennessee Titans when they face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Gabbert led the Titans to victory in a Week 2 test against the Houston Texans with Marcus Mariota still trying to regain feeling in his hand following a Week 1 injury. Mariota reportedly has a pinched nerve in his elbow that has made it difficult for him to properly grip a football.Gabbert was steady in his first start in a Titans uniform last week. He completed 13 of 20 passes for 117 yards and a touchdown.Sunday's game will come against the team that selected him 10th overall in the 2011 draft. After three seasons in Jacksonville, Gabbert spent three years with the San Francisco 49ers and last year with the Arizona Cardinals.Gabbert signed with the Titans this offseason on a two-year, $4-million contract.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills are expected to be without star running back LeSean McCoy for their meeting with the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.McCoy has been listed as questionable to play due to cracked rib cartilage he sustained last week. He will test the injury in pregame warmups before a decision is made.Through two games, McCoy has just 61 yards on the ground on 16 carries. Nonetheless, his absence would be felt with rookie Josh Allen expected to garner his second career start against the No. 1-ranked defense from a year ago.Veteran Chris Ivory would likely start in place of McCoy.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.