NFL football is the ultimate reality show, and Week 1 of the 2018 season lived up to the hype. From surprising wins (like Tampa Bay going into New Orleans and knocking off the Saints) to breakout performances (like Saquon Barkley's impressive debut) to the return of Andrew Luck and a sensational rally from a banged-up Aaron Rodgers, Sunday's action was captivating throughout.There was also plenty of intrigue in the marquee matchups we highlighted last week. Here's a look at how those schematic storylines played out:Patriots' D vs. Deshaun WatsonWinner: Patriots' DAfter Deshaun Watson's breakout outing against the New England Patriots at Foxboro in Week 3 of the 2017 season, expectations were high for the Houston Texans and their young QB heading into Sunday. While Watson managed to pick up 40 yards on eight running plays, including a 13-yard scamper on Houston's final drive, the Patriots mostly contained him in the pocket, sacking him three times and preventing him from getting into those scramble drill situations where he can be so dangerous.New England's pass-rushing focus seemed to be on containing Watson with just four or five players up front and plugging his rush lanes to keep the QB in the pocket, preventing him from escaping to one side or the other.One way New England accomplished this was by using a "Bear" front, which consists of putting three down linemen on the inside, aligned across from the guard-center-guard interior, and then using linebackers Kyle Van Noy (No. 53) and Dont'a Hightower (No. 54) off the edges to help contain Watson:The Patriots used this scheme in the first quarter and nearly got to Watson for a safety:With Hightower and Van Noy working from the outside in, Watson can't escape. Instead, he's forced to try to climb the pocket, which brings him right into pressure, and he's fortunate to throw it away before being sacked.Vikings' LBs vs. 49ers' RBs in passing gameWinner: Vikings' LBsDuring Jimmy Garoppolo's impressive five-game run to close out the season last year, the 49ers used a number of two-back formations in the passing game to stress defenses. By attacking linebackers and using play-action, Kyle Shanahan put his quarterback in advantageous situations. While San Francisco lost Jerick McKinnon for the season before Week 1, they still looked to these two-back packages for success in the air against Minnesota on plays like this one to fullback Kyle Juszczyk:Here, the 49ers begin the play with both Juszczyk (No. 44) and fellow running back Alfred Morris (No. 46) in the backfield. But they shift the fullback out into the right slot before the snap and then show run action in the backfield, with Garoppolo (No. 10) faking a handoff to Morris. On the outside, Juszczyk fakes a block before running a vertical route to the outside while Pierre Garcon (No. 15) runs a vertical route toward the middle of the field. Garoppolo drops in a perfect throw to his FB, who's wide open, for a 56-yard gain.But that play was the exception Sunday when it came to San Francisco's two-back passing attack. It was Juszczyk's only reception of the game, and fellow RB Matt Breida was also held to a single catch. More often than not, when the 49ers looked to involve rushers in the passing game, there was either a failure to execute, great coverage, or a combination of the two. On this play, for example, Shanahan puts Juszczyk in a wing alignment on the right and tries to sneak him down the line of scrimmage, but Garoppolo misses the throw:Minnesota slowed down San Francisco's RBs in the passing game Sunday, but you can be sure Shanahan will keep trying these designs as the season unfolds.Patrick Mahomes vs. Chargers' D-lineWinner: Patrick MahomesWith Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram, and several other defensive standouts, the Los Angeles Chargers have the potential to harass quarterbacks all season long. Even with Bosa's absence Sunday, the Chargers were expected to get after Patrick Mahomes and force him into mistakes. But Mahomes lit up the scoreboard, completing 15 of 27 passes for 256 yards and four touchdowns in Kansas City's 38-28 victory in L.A.How did Mahomes and Andy Reid negate that pass rush? Through both scheme and pure talent. From a scheme perspective, the Chiefs made effective use of run looks to slow down Los Angeles' defensive front. For example, on Tyreek Hill's 55-yard catch-and-run touchdown, Mahomes (No. 15) showed a run fake before delivering a strike to Hill (No. 10):The run look, coupled with Mahomes' lightning-quick release on a sidearm angle, sent Hill off to the races after the reception. The Chiefs QB also showed some mobility in the pocket, as he did on this other throw to Hill:Mahomes does a fantastic job here of keeping his eyes downfield, while deftly moving in the pocket away from the pressure being applied by the Chargers.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.

The New England Patriots are reportedly signing former first-round draft pick Corey Coleman to a one-year deal Tuesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The 15th overall pick in 2016's draft, Coleman was traded from the Cleveland Browns to the Buffalo Bills during the preseason. The Bills dropped him during roster cuts.The Patriots' receiving corps has been a revolving door. With Julian Edelman suspended for the first four games, Rob Gronkowski did most of the receiving work in Sunday's season opener, catching seven passes for 123 yards against the Houston Texans. New Patriot Phillip Dorsett also had seven catches, followed by running backs James White and James Develin with four each.Wideouts Chris Hogan and Cordarrelle Patterson were held to one catch each.Coleman has yet to blossom in the pros. He caught 33 passes for 413 yards in his rookie year and his totals dropped to 23 catches for 305 yards last year. His departure from Cleveland was shown on "Hard Knocks," with his apparent lack of effort factoring into the decision.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Sam Darnold era is off and running in New York!Led by their rookie quarterback, the Jets shocked the world on Monday Night Football, dominating the Detroit Lions en route to a 48-17 victory. Darnold completed 16 of 21 passes for 198 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in the blowout win.The No. 3 overall pick's NFL debut could not have started any worse, however, as Darnold tossed a pick-6 on his first throw:

Detroit Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah left Monday's game against the New York Jets in the second quarter with a shoulder injury.Ansah was later ruled out for the remainder of the contest.The former first-round pick is coming off a 12-sack campaign for Detroit. He's playing under the franchise tag in 2018.Kerry Hyder and Romeo Okwara are likely to see increased snaps at defensive end if Ansah misses time moving forward.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.QuarterbackTyrod Taylor, BrownsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat NO12%$1We recommended Taylor for Week 1, and he'd recorded the sixth-most fantasy points among quarterbacks heading into Monday's doubleheader. Next, Taylor gets to face a Saints defense that just gave up 417 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, 36 rushing yards, and one rushing score to Ryan Fitzpatrick.Alex Smith, RedskinsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. IND62%$0Smith delivered a multi-touchdown performance in his Redskins debut, traveling across the country and leading his team to a victory over the Cardinals. The Colts' defense will be a much easier matchup in Week 2.Other options: Case Keenum vs. OAK (25 percent owned), Eli Manning at DAL (26 percent), Ryan Tannehill at NYJ (7 percent)Running BackMarlon Mack, ColtsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat WAS51%$21Mack missed over a month of training camp and preseason action with a hamstring injury before returning to limited practices last week. He wasn't ready for the opener, but neither of his replacements, Jordan Wilkins and Nyheim Hines, made a strong case to take over the starting job. Mack appears on track to play in Week 2, and carries low-end RB2 fantasy upside if he can avoid a committee.Matt Breida, 49ersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. DET57%$19Breida barely makes it under the 60 percent ownership mark, so consider this your last warning to pick him up. In a very difficult matchup on the road against the Vikings, he saw the same amount of touches as Alfred Morris, but outgained his backfield mate by 13 yards. Better matchups and better fantasy performances are on the horizon for Breida.Phillip Lindsay, BroncosNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. OAK4%$9Preseason standout Phillip Lindsay turned into a regular-season star - at least for one week - with a 17-touch, 102-yard, one-touchdown debut for the Broncos. The undrafted free agent had the same amount of carries as highly touted rookie Royce Freeman, and appears to have passed Devontae Booker on the depth chart. At worst, Lindsay will be a dependable PPR weapon for fantasy owners, and has a chance to carve out a timeshare with Freeman if he continues to rack up yards.Austin Ekeler, ChargersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat BUF17%$9In addition to his 64 rushing yards, Melvin Gordon saw 13 targets in Week 1, catching nine of them for 102 yards. Clearly, Ekeler presents zero threat to Gordon's workload, but he can still be a consistent high-upside fantasy flex option, as evidenced by his 126 total yards and touchdown catch on Sunday. He'll have another perfect opportunity to go off in Week 2 against the Bills, who were gashed by the Ravens' running backs in Sunday's embarrassing blowout loss.T.J. Yeldon, JaguarsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. NE15%$7The Jaguars continue to downplay the hamstring injury that forced Leonard Fournette to leave Sunday's game against the Giants, which takes some of the shine off Yeldon as a pickup. But even if the injury isn't serious, it's the latest in a disturbing amount of lower-body ailments that have plagued Fournette throughout college and the pros. Yeldon stepped up against New York with 51 rushing yards and 18 through the air, and he'd be a low-end RB2 if he starts in Week 2.James White, PatriotsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat JAC49%$5With Sony Michel still sidelined and Jeremy Hill leaving Sunday's game, White saw extensive usage against Houston. While the touches will likely decrease as Michel takes on a bigger role and Julian Edelman returns from suspension, White is currently a solid PPR option and a flex play in standard leagues.Other options*: Nick Chubb at NO (47 percent owned), Frank Gore at NYJ (9 percent), Chase Edmunds at LAR (2 percent), Javorius Allen at CIN (3 percent), Darren Sproles at TB (4 percent)*Aaron Jones is owned in 60 percent of leagues, but is returning from suspension in Week 3. If he's still available, you can make the early move to acquire him now before other owners realize he'll be activated next week.Wide ReceiversTyler Lockett/Brandon Marshall, SeahawksNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat CHI51%/8%$19/$8A few teams are dominating the fantasy receiver market this week with multiple assets worthy of waiver wire consideration.After Doug Baldwin was forced from Sunday's game with an MCL tear, Lockett led Seahawks receivers with 59 yards and a score. Rookie tight end Will Dissly had 105 yards, but profiles mainly as a blocker in the pros, making it unlikely he'll become a major factor moving forward. Lockett has long been viewed as a breakout candidate, and with Baldwin expected to be sidelined for a stretch this could finally be his year. Meanwhile, even as a low-yardage red-zone weapon, Marshall needs to be owned.Keelan Cole/Dede Westbrook, JaguarsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. NE55%/16%$19/$7In our first glimpse of the Jaguars' receiving corps without Marqise Lee, it was Cole who led the group with 54 yards while Westbrook paced the team with five receptions. Cole still provides the highest ceiling, but Westbrook's work in the slot is intriguing and he'll come at a much cheaper price.Chris Godwin/DeSean Jackson, BuccaneersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. PHI30%/26%$12/$9The Buccaneers' offensive explosion with Fitzpatrick at the helm was one of the most surprising results of Week 1. All three of Tampa's top wideouts had big performances, with Jackson going 5-146-2 and Godwin submitting a 3-41-1. However, a couple things are working in Godwin's favor moving forward. The sophomore played 70 percent of the snaps against New Orleans, while Jackson saw just 30 percent. Jackson also suffered a concussion late in the game, putting his Week 2 availability in question.John Brown, RavensNext UpOwnershipFAAB bid@ CIN20%$9Brown could have exceeded the 44 yards and one touchdown he produced against Buffalo had the game been closer. But amid a blowout, the Ravens didn't need to rely on his talents. The important thing is that Brown is healthy and ready to deliver a career year.Geronimo Allison, PackersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. MIN12%$5As long as Aaron Rodgers is in the lineup, it's possible for the Packers to field three quality fantasy receivers. That was the case in Week 1, with Allison amassing 69 yards including a 39-yard touchdown. Allison also has immense upside if either Davante Adams or Randall Cobb go down, and needs to be owned everywhere.Ted Ginn Jr., SaintsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. CLE17%$4With Cameron Meredith a healthy scratch and rookie Tre'Quan Smith not yet a factor, Ginn continued to be fantasy relevant in the Saints' opener as part of one of the league's best offenses. When he signed with New Orleans last year, Ginn said playing with Drew Brees could help extend his career. He wasn't wrong.Other options*: Dante Pettis vs. DET (1 percent owned), Quincy Enunwa vs. MIA (7 percent owned), John Ross vs. BAL (25 percent), Ryan Grant at WAS (3 percent), Phillip Dorsett at JAC (4 percent), Bruce Ellington at TEN (2 percent)*Mike Williams is owned in 60 percent of leagues and therefore doesn't meet the criteria for this article. If he's still available, he should be a high-priority target this week.Tight EndsJared Cook, RaidersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat DEN51%$7You never want to overreact to a small sample size, but Cook had one of the biggest games we'll see from a tight end this season, with nine catches for 180 yards on Monday Night Football. Cook has been a fantasy tease for many years, putting up monster outings then falling back to earth. However, with Amari Cooper continuing to struggle in tough matchups and the Raiders lacking downfield threats, Cook at least has a chance to solve his consistency issues. It's worth a few FAAB dollars to find out.Jonnu Smith, TitansNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. HOU1%$5Delanie Walker is lost for the season with a dislocated ankle, thrusting Smith into the starting lineup. In his second season with the Titans, the 23-year-old is an athletic player capable of emerging as a low-end fantasy starter.Eric Ebron, ColtsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat WAS33%$3Jack Doyle is the Colts' most reliable tight end, but Ebron isn't far behind. The former Lion hauled in four catches for 51 yards and a touchdown in his first game with Indy. Andrew Luck appears set on spreading the ball around, and Ebron offers upside as a touchdown scorer in an offense lacking a true second option behind T.Y. Hilton.Other options: Vance McDonald vs. KC (14 percent owned), Ben Watson vs. CLE (39 percent), Ricky Seals-Jones at LAR (29 percent)(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron admitted Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett was incorrectly penalized for roughing the passer during the second quarter of Sunday's 21-21 tie against the Pittsburgh Steelers.Garrett brought Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to the ground and was flagged. One play later, Steelers running back James Conner punched in a touchdown.Riveron noted that Garrett made an effort to not fall directly on Roethlisberger and should have avoided a penalty."The rule specifically says 'most, if not all, of your body weight,'" Riveron said to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. "So we want that player to make an effort. And the last three or four weeks, we have pulled extensive video to show the clubs exactly what we're talking about. ... Because the question we get all the time is, well, what do you want our players to do?""Well, they have to not put the weight on the quarterback. And this one yesterday showed, even though there is some body weight on Ben, this is not what we would consider contact that rises to the level of a foul."Despite the penalty, Garrett had an outstanding game, recording six tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If it were up to Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson, wide receiver Josh Gordon wouldn't have started Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.Gordon, who missed most of the summer to focus on his mental and physical health, wasn't expected to begin the season opener on the field. However, a communication breakdown between offensive coordinator Todd Haley and Jackson led to Gordon being part of the Browns' first offensive play."I saw it just like you did," Jackson said Sunday, according to ESPN's Pat McManamon. "Not what I wanted, but we will get through that, too."Haley had Jackson's approval to use Gordon for a specific play, but unexpectedly opted to call it first."The game's over now," Jackson added Monday. "So to talk about it, what's it going to do? Nothing. I've dealt with it and we'll move on."Gordon's lone catch on Sunday was a 17-yard touchdown that tied the game at 21. The Browns and Steelers would remain deadlocked through overtime and both opened their season with a tie.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Peyton Manning has said he isn't interested in becoming a politician, but if he ever changes his mind, one congressman thinks he stands a good chance of being elected.John Duncan, who represents Tennessee's 2nd district, told TMZ Sports the retired NFL quarterback could win any office in the state."If Peyton Manning ran for any office in Tennessee, he could win by a landslide," Duncan said.When asked about Manning's lack of interest in politics, Duncan said "I think he's made so much money off his football career and his advertising and so forth that it'd be a step down for him to be elected to some office."Manning's name was floated by Republican Rep. Scott DesJarlais as a possible candidate to run for a Senate seat in Tennessee last year. Manning was quick to dismiss the idea.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jon Gruden appears to have some lingering bitterness toward Khalil Mack.In an interview with ESPN's Lisa Salters that will air in full on Monday Night Football, the Oakland Raiders head coach implied that his decision to trade the star pass-rusher was about more than just finances."Obviously, Khalil Mack didn't want to play here," Gruden said. "That's what's being missed here. He was under contract. He never showed up for an OTA, he never showed up for training camp, and it was obvious he wasn't going to show up for the season. So don't forget that."Mack, who was entering the fifth-year-option season of his contract prior to being traded to the Chicago Bears, held out from all team activities in search of a new deal.Related: Carr on Mack trade: 'It isn't what anybody wanted'Gruden said last week the Raiders weren't close to the contract offer Chicago gave the All-Pro defender, and insisted he's only focused on the players currently on his roster."We have to get ready to play," Gruden said. "And I want players that want to be here, that want to help us put this thing back in high gear."Mack had an electrifying debut with the Bears on Sunday night, accumulating a sack, a fumble recovery, and an interception return for a touchdown.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks star wide receiver Doug Baldwin suffered a Grade 2 partial MCL tear Sunday against the Denver Broncos, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Head coach Pete Carroll originally said Baldwin suffered an MCL sprain, so the injury appears to be worse than originally thought. The team is still trying to figure out how much time the receiver will miss, Schefter added.Baldwin dealt with recurring knee problems throughout the preseason, but his current injury is to the other knee.Seattle's top pass-catcher hauled in 75 receptions for 991 yards and eight touchdowns during the 2017 season, earning his second consecutive Pro Bowl selection. A lengthy spell on the sidelines would be a big blow to the team's offense.Brandon Marshall and Tyler Lockett will likely see increased targets in Baldwin's absence.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Not so fast, Aaron Rodgers.The Green Bay Packers quarterback was deemed questionable to return to Sunday night's game against the Chicago Bears with a knee injury, but he rejoined the contest in the second half and led a late comeback. After the game, he said he'd play again next Sunday versus the Minnesota Vikings.However, head coach Mike McCarthy said on Monday that "no decision has been made" about Rodgers' playing status for Week 2, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter."We're still collecting all the information on his specific situation. I know Aaron wants to play and is always driven to play but that's all I have right now," McCarthy added, per ESPN's Rob Demovsky.Rodgers admitted postgame that the injury he sustained Sunday night was similar to the one that required a cleanup procedure on his left knee in 2015. He also told reporters he figured he could return to the divisional battle, spurred on by adrenaline, as he was told he could not do further damage to the knee.Rodgers missed nine games last season with a broken collarbone.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tennessee Titans announced Monday that the team has placed tight end Delanie Walker on injured reserve.Walker suffered a broken ankle and some ligament damage in Sunday's season-opening loss to the Miami Dolphins, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Walker was carted off the field late in the fourth quarter. He had caught four passes for 52 yards at the time.The sixth-round pick of the 2006 NFL Draft was named to his third consecutive Pro Bowl last season. He led the Titans with 74 receptions for 807 yards.In a corresponding move, Tennessee signed tight end MyCole Pruitt off the Houston Texans' practice squad and put him on their active roster. Pruitt has 12 career receptions for 102 yards over 21 career games split between three teams.Jonnu Smith and Luke Stocker are the other tight ends on the Titans' official depth chart.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One of Lamar Jackson's first big purchases as an NFL player commemorates an iconic moment from his college career.The Baltimore Ravens rookie quarterback recently spent $100,000 on a custom diamond chain immortalizing his hurdle over a Syracuse defender during his sophomore season at Louisville, according to TMZ Sports.The chain, designed by Stacks Customs Jewelry in Miami, features 285 grams of gold, while the pendant contains 257 grams of gold with 25 carats total weight of diamonds.

All the fuss during the preseason over the NFL's new rule for helmet contact seems to have been for naught.Referees have thrown just one penalty flag for a perceived violation of the helmet rule through the first 14 games of Week 1, according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN. Two Monday night games remain.That one penalty was assessed against veteran Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Ron Parker, who lowered his head to initiate contact with an opponent.There were 51 violations of the rule called through the first 33 games of the preseason, according to Seifert. Only 20 such calls were made in the final two weeks of exhibition play after the competition committee told officials to avoid penalizing incidental contact.The league acknowledged it wasn't possible to implement such a drastic change in just one offseason when opting to limit the number of flags that would be thrown."There are certain things that are incidental contact and just part of this sport," NFL executive vice president Troy Vincent said. "There are certain things you just have to live with and be OK with. And then there is the part of our role and responsibility. What do we want to coach out and then the players have to adjust to? Some of these things are more long term."To think that an individual player will make some of the adjustments between May 1 and the start of the season, when this is what I have done all of my life? That's unrealistic. That's truly unrealistic."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Week 1 is always one of the wildest, most surprising five-day stretches of the NFL season. Here's a look at four plays from this weekend that impressed from a scheme and execution standpoint. We'll also hand out our first Game Ball of the season.Passing Design of the Week: Mahomes finds his FBOne of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Pat Mahomes' four touchdown passes in a wild win over the Los Angeles Chargers came via a vertical route to fullback Anthony Sherman on a well-designed passing concept:On this play, the Chiefs use an inverted wing alignment, with tight end Travis Kelce (No. 87) aligned outside Sherman (No. 42). Then they execute a switch verticals concept, with Kelce running up the seam while Sherman bends to the outside. That isolates him on linebacker Kyle Emanuel (No. 51). Sherman's able to get past him, and Mahomes drops in a perfect throw for the score.Running Design of the Week: Touchdown TrubiskyThe biggest story to come out of Sunday night's tilt between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears was Aaron Rodgers leaving the contest with an apparent knee injury before returning - and leading Green Bay to one of the biggest comebacks in franchise history.But before all that unfolded, the much-anticipated debut of head coach Matt Nagy as a play-caller and offensive tutor for Mitchell Trubisky got off to a great start, as the quarterback took the Bears right down the field for an opening-drive touchdown. The score came on a creative, perfectly executed zone-read play that even included an offensive lineman lining up on the outside:Nagy puts offensive lineman Charles Leno Jr. (No. 72) outside to the right as Chicago unbalances the formation. Tight end Dion Sims (No. 88) slides into Leno's usual left tackle spot, next to guard Eric Kush (No. 64). The Bears then send tight end Trey Burton (No. 80) in motion to the right. Pre-snap, everything the defense sees indicates that the Bears will run to the right side, toward Burton and Leno.Instead, Trubisky meets Jordan Howard (No. 24) at the mesh point in the backfield; once he sees Clay Matthews (No. 52) cut inside on the potential run, Trubisky pulls the football and keeps it himself around the left edge:It's a great design from Nagy and perfect execution from Trubisky.Pressure Design of the Week: Panthers' A-gap pressureThe Carolina Panthers sacked Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott six times in Sunday's 16-8 win over the visiting Cowboys. The sixth was a strip sack that ended any chance of a Dallas comeback, but one of Carolina's two sacks on the previous drive really stands out from a scheme standpoint.With the Cowboys down by eight and the football at midfield, the Panthers put safety Mike Adams (No. 29) down in the box over the tight end, in position to either cover the TE or blitz:Adams doesn’t blitz, dropping with tight end Geoff Swaim (No. 87). But defensive coordinator Eric Washington does dial up the pressure, blitzing linebacker Luke Kuechly (No. 59) to the left side of the offensive line. Kuechly winds up with a free shot at Prescott (No. 4):Prescott slips away from Kuechly, but defensive end Wes Horton (No. 96) works free from his block for a clean-up sack. Adding insult to injury, the Cowboys were flagged for holding on the play, which was declined.Coverage Design of the Week: Gilmore on the 'cut' callStephon Gilmore intercepted DeShaun Watson in the end zone in the Patriots' Week 1 victory over Houston, making the pick on a perfectly executed "cut" call. On this play, Gilmore is aligned across from DeAndre Hopkins (No. 10), who's using a "nasty," or tight split, on the right side of the formation.It looks like the Texans are running the Yankee concept, one of their favorite passing plays from last season - but they implement a twist. The Yankee concept is a two-receiver route combination with a deep post route and a dig route coming underneath it. But here, Hopkins runs the deep dig, crossing from right to left, while Vyncint Smith (No. 17) starts on a post route. He then breaks vertically. The standard route on Yankee is shown here with the dashed line:The Patriots were ready for this design. They execute a "cut" call, which has free safety Duron Harmon (No. 21) come downhill to cover Hopkins on the crosser while Gilmore replaces him in the deep middle of the field:That puts Gilmore in position to make a play on the deep throw, and he does, hauling in the interception:Game Ball: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay PackersThe football world held its breath early Sunday night as Rodgers was carted to the locker room with an apparent knee injury. As the star quarterback was wheeled away, it seemed as if his season was in doubt.He returned in the second half with the Bears up 20-0 and performed heroics, capping off the comeback with his third touchdown pass of the game, a 75-yard catch-and-run to Randall Cobb that gave the Packers their first lead Sunday. Rodgers finished 20-for-30 for 286 yards in a 24-23 win, all while clearly favoring his left leg - another impressive performance in a career already filled with them.Mark Schofield write 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 over 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.

Cleveland Browns sophomore defensive end Myles Garrett is ascending toward becoming one of the NFL's top defenders.The 2017 No. 1 overall draft pick recorded two sacks, six tackles, and forced two fumbles in Sunday's season-opening tie against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He now has nine sacks in just 12 career games."I am being the person they got from the draft," said Garrett, according to Andrew Gribble of ClevelandBrowns.com. "I am finally healthy, and I am just trying to be the guy to make the plays when we need them."The 22-year-old missed four games in his rookie season due to a high-ankle sprain that bothered him throughout the year. Still, Garrett managed to rack up seven sacks and a forced fumble in just nine starts.Now, healthy and playing alongside an improved defensive unit, Garrett feels the success can continue."A great player can take over the game no matter what the position," he said. "It wasn't just me. It was a bunch of guys on my team who were there picking up the slack when I wasn't getting there."Cleveland forced Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger into three interceptions and two fumbles on the day, while also recovering a fumble from running back James Conner.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Rodgers' miraculous return from what appeared to be a serious injury on Sunday night led to an even more miraculous comeback by the Green Bay Packers.Trailing the archrival Chicago Bears by double digits, the Packers scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns to pull out the victory.Asked what he was thinking with his team trailing 20-0 in the third quarter, Rodgers had a simple response."Seven times three," Rodgers said, according to NBC Sports' Peter King.Rodgers will undergo further tests this week to determine the full extent of his leg injury, but he said postgame that he intends to play in next Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan Fitzpatrick had a stellar performance Sunday, throwing for 417 yards and four touchdowns, adding a rushing score, in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 48-40 win over the New Orleans Saints.That turned out to be great news for his son Brady."So my nine-year-old son, Tate, convinced my 11-year-old son, Brady, to put me on his fantasy team today," Fitzpatrick told NBC Sports' Peter King after the game. "I didn't even know Brady played fantasy football. I guess it was a good decision."Fitzpatrick is owned in just three percent of Yahoo fantasy football leagues but led all quarterbacks in points Sunday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck played his first game in more than 20 months on Sunday, as he finally worked his way back to the field from the shoulder injury that cost him the entirety of the 2017 campaign.Related: Despite loss, Luck makes triumphant NFL returnThough the Colts lost the contest 34-23 to the Cincinnati Bengals, Luck expressed how much it meant to him to make it through a full meaningful game."Overwhelming, I felt grateful and appreciative to be here," Luck said, according to ESPN's Mike Wells. "I was so excited to get to run on the field as a Colt and get to play with T.Y. (Hilton) and Jack (Doyle) and (Adam Vinatieri) and the new guys. It was fun. Then the game got going, and then it's one play at a time."The majority of Luck's success came after he made it through an early injury scare when Bengals safety Shawn Williams was ejected from the game for a helmet-to-helmet hit on the sliding quarterback.Luck got up from the play and gave a thumbs up toward the Colts' sideline.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sunday's game between the Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins set the record for the longest game in NFL history at seven hours and eight minutes.The game was stopped twice, on either side of halftime, for a total of nearly four hours due to lightning. Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake said the lengthy interludes caused some issues in the team's locker room."We ran out of snacks in the locker room," Wake said after the game, according to Cameron Wolfe of ESPN. "Lots of peanut butter and jelly (sandwiches) and turkey sandwiches gone. Lots of carbs, so we will do some conditioning tomorrow."The Dolphins were at least able to reward the hometown fans - 7,000 to 10,000 of whom stayed until the end, according to Wolfe - with their 27-20 victory.After others left, a scoreboard message invited many fans down to the lower bowl of the stadium.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, and Anchor.Boone and Woods recap the first Sunday of the season and take an early look at Week 2 waiver wire adds.Topics for this episode include:

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers confirmed he'll feature in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings after surviving an injury scare during Sunday's victory over the Chicago Bears.Rodgers suffered a knee injury during the first half and was carted to the locker room.After a poor display from backup quarterback DeShone Kizer, Rodgers returned for the Packers' first offensive series of the second half and was in top form, throwing three fourth-quarter touchdowns to lead his team to a 24-23 victory.He confirmed postgame that he expects to be fine going forward."It's the Bears-Packers rivalry. So it'd have to take something really catastrophic injury wise to keep me off the field the second half," Rodgers told NBC's Michele Tafoya. "I went in the locker room, did all the tests in our indoor facility trying to get it loosened up. But I knew once I got back on the field the adrenaline started going I would be able to hang in there.""Oh I'm playing next week," Rodgers added, when asked about his status.Packers fans can rest easy after Rodgers proved to be unstoppable during a second-half performance that will live long in memory.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The first Sunday of the NFL season did not disappoint.A number of players opened the year with a bang, putting on stellar individual performances. Here are ten standouts from Sunday's action.Myles Garrett, DE, Browns2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 6 tacklesThe former No. 1 draft pick has waited a full year to get his hands on Ben Roethlisberger. He did just that.Garrett harrassed Big Ben all day, dropping him twice and adding two QB hits.Add to his ledger two forced fumbles and it amounted to a coming-out party for the Browns' young pass-rusher.Khalil Mack, OLB, Bears1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT returned for TDWhat a debut for Mack.The Bears pass-rusher dominated the Packers on Sunday Night Football, taking an interception to the house and ripping the ball out of DeShone Kizer's hands for a fumble.Despite his team's loss, Mack cemented his status as one of the league's elite defensive players, further supporting the narrative that Chicago stole him from the Oakland Raiders.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers returned to Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears after being carted off during the first half with a knee injury.Rodgers was taken to the medical tent after being sacked by Bears defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris. He was later placed on a cart and was replaced by DeShone Kizer. Kizer didn't fare well in Rodgers' absence, throwing a pick-6 to Bears edge rusher Khalil Mack, and finishing 4-for-7 for 55 yards.In his first drive after returning, Rodgers helped the Packers down the field, leading to a 42-yard field goal from Mason Crosby.Rodgers is the face of the Packers' franchise and if he misses any time at all, it would be a devastating loss.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker suffered a dislocated ankle against the Miami Dolphins, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Walker will almost certainly miss the remainder of the 2018 season, Rapoport adds, as he also suffered an associated fracture.The three-time Pro-Bowler was carted off the field late in the fourth quarter Sunday.Walker's injury is a significant blow to the Titans' offense, as he was the team's leading receiver in 2017. He had four receptions for a team-leading 52 yards prior to the injury.2017 third-round pick Jonnu Smith and veteran Luke Stocker are next up on Tennessee's tight end depth chart.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin suffered an MCL sprain during Sunday's loss to the Denver Broncos, head coach Pete Carroll confirmed postgame.Baldwin was facing recurring knee problems throughout the preseason, but Carroll confirmed the veteran wide receiver injured his other knee Sunday. Baldwin finished the game without a catch.The 29-year-old has established himself as one of the Seahawks' offensive leaders alongside quarterback Russell Wilson. Baldwin caught 75 passes for 991 yards and eight touchdowns in 16 games during the 2017 season, earning his second consecutive Pro Bowl selection. He also led the NFL in receiving touchdowns in 2015.If Baldwin misses any further time, Brandon Marshall and Tyler Lockett will likely see increased targets.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs' offense is going to be dangerous in 2018.Kicking off the campaign in style, Patrick Mahomes dominated the Los Angeles Chargers en route to a 38-28 victory. The strong-armed passer completed 15 of 27 attempts for 256 yards and four touchdowns against the NFL's No. 3-ranked pass defense from 2017.Mahomes' stat line was impressive, but he passed the eye test as well, delivering a number of jaw-dropping throws. It's safe to say the second-year pro has lived up to the hype thus far.Here are a few of his best plays against the Chargers on Sunday:

Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker was carted off the field late in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins with an apparent leg injury.After hauling in a 15-yard pass across the middle, the 13-year veteran was tackled from behind by safety TJ McDonald. An air cast was put on his lower right leg.It was the third major injury sustained by a Titan on Sunday. Starting quarterback Marcus Mariota left the game with an elbow injury and left tackle Taylor Lewan exited with a concussion.Walker, Tennessee's top receiver in 2017, had four receptions for a team-leading 52 yards before the injury.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota left Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins with an elbow injury.Mariota was replaced by Blaine Gabbert. Prior to leaving the contest, Mariota completed 9 of 16 passes for 103 yards and two interceptions, also rushing for 15 yards on three carries.He appeared to suffer the injury after taking a hit from Dolphins defensive lineman William Hayes.The quarterback wasn't the only key Titans player to suffer an injury, with left tackle Taylor Lewan ruled out after suffering a concussion and tight end Delanie Walker exiting with an apparent leg injury.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck finally made his return to the field Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals - 616 days after his last NFL game.Luck, who missed the entire 2017 season after encountering multiple setbacks in his shoulder rehab after surgery, certainly wasn't eased into action. The pivot attempted a whopping 53 passes, completing 39 for 319 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.Despite a 34-23 loss, the former No. 1 overall pick exceeded expectations, delivering a number accurate throws and displaying his pre-injury arm strength. His best may have been on his first touchdown to Eric Ebron:

A pair of lengthy weather delays saw the Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins open their respective seasons Sunday by shattering the NFL record for longest game.Suspended for nearly two hours in the first half, and then another two-plus hours in the third quarter, the contest lasted for a staggering total of seven hours and eight minutes.The previous record of five hours and 16 minutes, set by a Ravens-Bears game in 2013, was surpassed before the Titans and Dolphins returned to the field from the second delay of the day.Those that stuck around through the multiple stoppages were treated to a fourth quarter with four touchdowns - two on returns - and a total of 34 points scored.The Dolphins won the back-and-forth affair 27-20.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-agent wide receiver Dez Bryant seems to be uninterested in returning to the Dallas Cowboys.Related: Bryant indicates he may sign later in seasonBryant responded to a Cowboys fan on Twitter, saying he'd rather go somewhere he can show off his skills and not be criticized for expressing his love for the game.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin will not return to Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos due to a knee injury.Baldwin was held without a catch before leaving the contest.The veteran receiver told reporters in August that he feared his knee injury would linger throughout the season, noting that he won't be at 100 percent at any juncture during the year.Related: Baldwin says knee won't be at 100 percent throughout seasonIt would be a significant loss for Seattle if Baldwin missed any more games. The 29-year-old has long been the anchor of the Seahawks' wide receiver group. He caught 75 passes for 991 yards and eight touchdowns in 16 games during the 2017 season and was named to the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive year.Brandon Marshall and Tyler Lockett will likely see more targets in his absence.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott isn't ready to make a decision on the starting quarterback for Week 2 after the Baltimore Ravens handed his squad a 47-3 loss with sophomore Nathan Peterman starting in the season opener.McDermott said postgame Sunday that it's too early to go one way or the other with the quarterback decision, according to Joe Buscaglia of WKBW.Peterman, the Bills' fifth-round pick of the 2017 NFL Draft, went 5-for-18 through the air for 24 yards and two interceptions before being pulled in favor of rookie Josh Allen.McDermott added that he needs to look at the tape in order to determine a true assessment of Peterman.The 22-year-old Allen proceeded to go 6-for-15 for 74 yards with the game well out of hand.Buffalo traded up in the 2018 draft and selected the Wyoming pivot with the seventh overall pick.McDermott said Allen made "some pretty decisive throws," according to Buscaglia.The Bills host the Los Angeles Chargers next Sunday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Le'Veon Bell may be reconsidering his stance after watching his backup run riot in the Pittsburgh Steelers' season opener Sunday.James Conner did his best impression of Bell during a dramatic 21-21 tie with the Cleveland Browns, posting an outstanding all-around stat line of 135 rushing yards, 57 receiving yards on six catches, and two touchdown runs.The second-year back showed outstanding burst and vision on his 22-yard score in the third quarter:

Adrian Peterson vaulted into 10th place all time in career rushing yards Sunday.Peterson entered Week 1 ranked 12th on the list with 12,276 career yards and needing just 36 yards to surpass both Jim Brown and Marshall Faulk.The 11-year pro reached that mark in the first quarter of the Washington Redskins' matchup with the Arizona Cardinals. He would later add a 1-yard touchdown run.Next up on the NFL list is Tony Dorsett who sits in ninth place with 12,739 rushing yards.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Browns had a potential game-winning 43-yard field goal blocked after Ben Roethlisberger threw his fourth interception of the game with less than a minute to go in overtime, ensuring Cleveland will remain winless since the 2016 season.More to come.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) Ryan Fitzpatrick highlighted a 417-yard, four-touchdown performance with two scoring strikes of more than 50 yards, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stunned the New Orleans Saints 48-40 on Sunday.Starting for the suspended Jameis Winston, Fitzpatrick completed 21 of 28 passes without an interception and also ran for a short touchdown, bowling over free safety Marcus Williams on his way into the end zone.Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore, the 2017 defensive rookie of the year, had arguably the worst performance of his career trying to cover receiver Mike Evans, who caught seven passes for 147 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown that put the Bucs up 41-24 late in the third quarter.DeSean Jackson caught scoring passes of 58 and 36 yards to highlight his five-catch, 146-yard day before leaving with a concussion.After Jackson's second TD catch over the middle, Fitzpatrick backpedaled giddily for about 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage before thrusting his arm upward in celebration, seemingly oblivious of the roughing-the-passer penalty called on defensive tackle David Onyemata moments after Fitzpatrick had released the ball.Fitzpatrick also threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Chris Godwin.The Saints, coming off a playoff appearance and hosting a team that won only five games last season, were among the more heavily favored teams in Week 1. They put together a frantic offensive flurry in the fourth quarter. Kamara scored on a 1-yard run and again on a 7-yard catch. Both were followed by 2-point conversions, cutting the Saints' deficit to eight points with 3:31 to go. On third-and-11, Fitzpatrick needed to make one more play - and did. He scrambled to his left for 12 yards at the 2-minute warning. With New Orleans out of timeouts, Fitzpatrick was able to run out the clock.Drew Brees was 37 of45 for 439 yards and three TDs for the Saints. Kamara, the 2017 offensive rookie of the year, caught nine passes for 112 yards and one touchdown to go with two touchdown runs.Tampa Bay scored on six of its first seven possessions and the only drive of the first half that did not produce points was when the Bucs ran out the final 55 seconds before halftime. Tampa Bay did not punt until their eighth drive ended with Fitzpatrick overthrowing an open receiver on third down, about halfway through the third quarter.The Saints punted only once in the first half, and were only one score down after Michael Thomas' 6-yard touchdown catch made it 31-24 shortly before halftime.FUMBLED OPPORTUNITYWith Mark Ingram serving a four-game suspension for use of a banned substance, the Saints brought in running back Mike Gillislee after he was cut by New England. In his Saints debut, Gillislee fumbled in the second quarter on a hit by Vernon Hargreaves. Cornerback Justin Evans scooped up the loose ball and ran it back for a 34-yard TD.PENALTIESThe Saints were fortunate to give up only a field goal after Onyemata and defensive end Marcus Davenport were flagged for roughing the passer on back-to-back plays in the third quarter. Onyemata was penalized under a renewed emphasis on forbidding defensive players from driving quarterbacks into the ground with the full weight of their bodies. It was his first of two roughing penalties in then game. Davenport, the Saints' first-round draft choice, struck Fitzpatrick's helmet with his own.INJURIESBuccaneers: Hargreaves was helped to the locker room with an apparent upper-body injury in the fourth quarter.Saints: New Orleans did not announce any injuries.UP NEXTBuccaneers: Host Philadelphia on Sunday.Saints: Host Cleveland on Sunday.---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.

The Buffalo Bills pulled the plug on Nathan Peterman after two-plus absolutely deplorable quarters against the Baltimore Ravens, inserting first-round pick Josh Allen at quarterback in his place during a 44-point defeat on Sunday.Peterman went 5-of-18 for 24 yards with two interceptions before being benched early in the third frame with the Bills trailing 40-0. The second-year pivot posted a 0.0 quarterback rating.In his first career start last year, Peterman infamously threw five interceptions in the first half against the Los Angeles Chargers before being yanked for Tyrod Taylor.Allen, the seventh overall pick in 2018, didn't fare much better than Peterman, going 6-of-15 for 74 yards the rest of the way.The Ravens obliterated Buffalo 47-3.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette left Sunday's game against the New York Giants after injuring his hamstring in the second quarter and was unable to return.Fournette had his hamstring examined on the sideline then went to the locker room.The second-year pro had nine carries for 41 yards before exiting.With Leonard sidelined, Corey Grant and T.J. Yeldon will shoulder the Jaguars' backfield workload.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals safety Shawn Williams was ejected from Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts for a helmet-to-helmet hit on quarterback Andrew Luck.Williams is the first player to be ejected from a game under the NFL's new rules for contact involving the helmet. Al Riveron, the league's senior vice president of officiating, confirmed the decision made by the referee.

The Indianapolis Colts never wavered in their belief of franchise quarterback Andrew Luck while he was sidelined by a shoulder injury for the entirety of last season.Colts general manager Chris Ballard turned down a trade offer from the Cleveland Browns ahead of the 2017 trade deadline, a source told FOX Sports' Jay Glazer.

Sunday marks the opening weekend of the 2018 NFL regular season. And with 13 games on tap, Will Bernanke, lead analyst at CG Analytics in Las Vegas, reveals how bettors have been approaching three key matchups leading up to the big day:San Francisco @ Minnesota Time: 1:00 E.T.Open: MIN -4 (point spread) / 47.5 (game total)Current: MIN -6/45.5The 49ers surged late last season under quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who carried the team to five straight wins once he took over the starting job. But on Sunday, he'll have his hands full against an elite Minnesota defense."Eighty-eight percent of all point-spread money is on the Vikings," said Bernanke, who added that Minnesota had garnered 60 percent of the moneyline betting as of Friday, while 92 percent of all money was on the under.Houston @ New EnglandTime: 1:00 E.T.Open: NE -6/50Current: NE -6/50The two AFC clubs met in a shootout last year, as the Patriots edged the Texans and rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson, 36-33. Watson is now set for his first game back after missing the second half of last season with a knee injury.Per Bernanke, New England has attracted 71 percent of the money on the spread while the Texans have received 57 percent of the moneyline.Seattle @ DenverTime: 4:25 E.T.Open: DEN -2/42Current: DEN -3/42In a rematch of Super Bowl XLVIII, the Seahawks figure to look a whole lot different this time around with a fractured defense and an offensive line that could struggle to protect quarterback Russell Wilson. And speaking of quarterbacks, the Broncos may have finally found one after going through a carousel in recent years, signing Case Keenum to a deal this past offseason."Ninety-one percent of all point-spread dollars are on Denver," said Bernanke, who said the Broncos were also getting flooded with 82 percent of the moneyline.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rookie Lamar Jackson will serve as the Baltimore Ravens' backup quarterback on Sunday, and Robert Griffin III will be inactiveBaltimore reportedly has a package of plays that could allow the team to get Jackson, its 2018 first-round pick, on the field against the Buffalo Bills, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen.Griffin was initially expected to be Flacco's backup, but will instead be on the sideline in street clothes. The Ravens reportedly still view Griffin as the more likely replacement for Flacco if the starter is forced to miss an extended period during the season.Jackson, a former Heisman Trophy winner, impressed throughout the preseason.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory is facing discipline from the NFL over another violation of its substance-abuse policy, league sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN.Gregory reportedly relapsed in August. He's played in just two regular-season games out of a possible 32 over his brief career because of substance-related suspensions. The NFL could rule on his case over the coming week.Gregory is still expected to suit up for Dallas in Sunday's season opener against the Carolina Panthers.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy is not expected to be charged following an investigation into a home invasion at a Georgia property he owns - which led to his ex-girlfriend being hospitalized - as police lack enough evidence, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.McCoy is also unlikely to be suspended by the NFL, Rapoport added, though it remains under "active review," a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Barring an unforeseen development, McCoy should be able to play the 2018 season.McCoy's former girlfriend, Delicia Cordon, was living at the property when the incident occurred and filed a personal injury lawsuit against the star running back after suffering multiple injuries in the assault.The lawsuit claimed McCoy and his former college teammate Tamarcus Porter "are liable for the assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress suffered" by Cordon after McCoy changed the home's security codes.McCoy has vehemently denied the accusations.The runner is set to start for the Bills in Sunday's season opener against the Baltimore Ravens.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have no interest in trading Le'Veon Bell, even as the running back extends his holdout into the regular season, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.It's unclear whether the Steelers would reconsider their stance if Bell remains absent for a while longer, though some in the NFL believe he'll report to the team by the end of September.Bell, who hasn't signed his one-year franchise tender yet, will miss the Steelers' season opener on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. The veteran sacrificed a Week 1 game check worth $853,000 when he refused to ink the deal before Saturday's deadline. However, he can't be fined by Pittsburgh for his absence while not under contract.Bell has kept his plans for the season a mystery, but a lingering absence suggests he's trying to preserve his health ahead of free agency.The Steelers placed the franchise tag on him for a second straight year in March, aggravating the 26-year-old who's searching for a long-term contract.Bell rushed for 1,291 yards and nine touchdowns last season, adding 85 catches for 655 yards with two more touchdowns as a receiver.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots gave Josh McDaniels a record contract to stay on as offensive coordinator after he backed out of his head-coaching agreement with the Indianapolis Colts, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.McDaniels reportedly inked a five-year contract with New England in the offseason and is now being paid like a first-time head coach. The 42-year-old's annual salary will reportedly exceed $4 million before the contract expires, which is a record number for a coordinator.McDaniels was announced as the Colts' new head coach on Feb. 6, but broke off the impending marriage hours later.He was formerly the head coach of the Denver Broncos from 2009-10, and has spent 14 seasons working for the Patriots across two separate stints.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts star quarterback Andrew Luck said he suffered a separate injury to the same shoulder that kept him out for all of last season while on a snowboarding trip in the winter of 2016.Luck initially tore the labrum in his right shoulder in 2015 and then apparently sprained his AC joint in the snowboarding accident. However, the veteran passer insisted the latter injury had no effect on his lengthy rehab."I've seen more doctors than I can count on two hands over the past two or three years," Luck said in an interview with Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, "and the consensus - unanimous - is that the AC is not an issue, nor did it have an effect. The labrum is an issue."Luck said he called the Colts immediately to reveal the snowboading injury."I don't snowboard anymore," he said. "And this was after the initial injury. I went back, rehabbed it with the Colts. I've had a bunch of AC sprains, both left and right shoulder, and resolved that issue. But the labrum has been my issue, was my issue, what I worked through, what I got surgery on."The Pro Bowl passer is set to start in the season opener Sunday, and it appears he went through more than anyone imagined to get back on an NFL field.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Martavis Bryant is facing another year-long suspension for the failed drug test he was reportedly appealing when the Oakland Raiders released him on Sept. 1, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.A ruling could come down from the NFL soon, Schefter added, perhaps over the coming week.The 26-year-old receiver has already been suspended three times for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. He missed the 2016 season because of a year-long ban before earning reinstatement ahead of the 2017 campaign.Bryant was expected to take on a significant role in Oakland's offense after the Raiders acquired him from the Pittsburgh Steelers for a third-round draft pick, but was instead cut amid news of the looming suspension.Bryant spent the first four years of his career with the Steelers. His best season came in 2015 when he notched 765 receiving yards and six touchdowns across 11 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.