In Week 2, the NY Jets traveled to the country music capital of the world, Nashville, TN, to take on the Tennessee Titans. This game came six days removed from the Jets 32-19 loss against San Francisco in Week 1. In that game, Rodgers threw for just 167 yards before being handing things over to Tyrod Taylor. Breece Hall had a decent game, running for 54 yards, and one touchdown on 16 attempts. The Jets looked to get back on track against a much more beatable opponent in the Titans.
Sunday’s game, unfortunately, was still not the Jets’ best. Against a team like Tennessee, this is one of the games on their schedule they could have dominated and built themselves back up. This game came right down to the very end. Fortunately, the Jets were able to hold on and win the game, 24-17. This didn’t come easy, though, as the Titans drove right down the field and almost scored to tie the game with 20 seconds left. So, who were the three players who led the NY Jets to victory?
3. Aaron Rodgers, QB
Coming into this game, Rodgers was hoping to get back on track. Despite not being his best today, it can be said that Rodgers did accomplish that. Rodgers finished the day completing 18 out of his 30 passes. He threw for 177 yards, and two touchdowns. Rodgers found rookie Braelon Allen for a 12-yard touchdown pass at the end of the second quarter to tie the game up at seven a piece. Unfortunately, the Titans would march down the field and take a 10-7 lead before the half.
The Jets opened up the third quarter with another big score. This time, Rodgers found Breece Hall for a 26-yard touchdown to give them the 14-10 lead. The Jets never looked back after this. Leading 14-10, the Jets would go up 17-10 and ultimately won 24-17. This was a solid game for the Jets’ Hall-of-Fame quarterback. It may have taken him some time, but Rodgers is beginning to find a groove with just about all of his receivers, and yes, that even includes Allen Lazard.
2. Brandin Echols, CB
Last week, Brandin Echols had a quiet game on the stat sheet. He had a goose egg in just about every category, and he was relatively silent. In a position that is dominated by Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed for the Jets, the cornerback room is pretty quiet otherwise. However, Echols picked it up a lot this week in Reed’s absence and was seemingly the catalyst in the Jets’ Week 2 win against the Titans, especially after making one of the game’s biggest plays.
In the middle of the second quarter, the Jets looked defeated. Being down 7-0 to the Titans can do that to you. However, Echols picked off Will Levis and fully changed the Jets’ momentum going forward. Echols’s interception led to Rodgers’s first touchdown pass to Allen, which started all of the scoring for Gang Green. After being down 7-0, the Jets never looked back. Echols massive interception changed all of the momentum, which is why he more than deserves to be on this list.
1. Braelon Allen, RB
The NY Jets running back room is led by Breece Hall and will be for the foreseeable future. However, that doesn’t mean that other running backs won’t get a chance on the team. Just ask Braelon Allen. Allen, who was drafted by the Jets in Round 4 of the 2024 NFL Draft, came into this season with low expectations. After all, Hall is the clear-cut RB1. However, this game will forever be known as Allen’s breakout game and it’s easy to see why.
After his receiving touchdown in the second quarter, Allen was not finished yet. Allen broke through for a 20-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter which ultimately won the Jets the game. Allen finished this game with 32 rushing yards on seven carries and 23 receiving yards on two receptions. More importantly, Allen picked up two out of the three Jets’ touchdowns and ultimately won them the game. This was a massive game for Allen, and he showed up and showed out, more than earning his spot on this list.
This article first appeared on JetNation.com and was syndicated with permission.
Hours before the New York Giants fell to 0-2 on the season via Sunday’s frustrating 21-18 loss at the division-rival Washington Commanders (1-1), ESPN’s Adam Schefter became the latest NFL insider to mention that the Giants could consider benching quarterback Daniel Jones to ensure the injury guarantee for 2025 reportedly worth $23M attached to Jones’ contract doesn’t become fully guaranteed because of a serious physical setback. Jones was asked about Schefter’s story following Sunday’s defeat.
“To be honest, this is the first I’ve heard about the report and I’ll let the team handle that,” Jones explained, as shared by the Giants’ official website. “I don’t concern myself with what comes out and will leave that up to the team to handle. My job is to play good football and help us come out with a win.” It’s been known for some time that the Giants could escape the four-year contract Jones signed in March 2023 as soon as next offseason assuming he can pass a physical at that time.
He has dealt with two different neck-related issues since the start of the 2021 campaign, and he is still shaking off rust he accumulated after he suffered a torn ACL on Nov. 5 of last year. Back in July, Giants general manager Joe Schoen neither confirmed nor denied that head coach Brian Daboll could sit Jones before Week 18 so that the club could part ways with the 2019 first-round draft pick in March 2025. That was before Jones produced an awful showing in the season-opening 28-6 home loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 8 and before he looked better against the Commanders. In total, Jones completed 16-of-28 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns to go along with 32 rushing yards on five carries versus Washington.
One could argue he would’ve earned his first win of the campaign had Daboll handled the statuses of placekickers Graham Gano and Jude McAtamney differently and/or had rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers not committed a costly drop in the fourth quarter of the contest. Despite the Giants’ woes, Jones remains on track to start over primary backup Drew Lock and fan-favorite Tommy DeVito when Big Blue plays at the Cleveland Browns (1-1) this coming Sunday. As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Giants as seven-point underdogs against the Browns.
We are just 50 days away from the 2024 presidential election. But before we get to the updated election odds and predictions on who will win the race between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, let’s talk about what happened this weekend. Suffice it to say that this election will go down as one of the wildest in recent history, regardless of who wins. That trend continued on Sunday, as the Secret Service thwarted what appears to be a second assassination attempt on former President Trump in as many months. Sunday’s incident, which took place at Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach, isn’t something to be taken lightly. According to the New York Times, we still don’t know as of late Sunday night/early Monday morning if the armed man fired any shots before he was spotted by the Secret Service, who fired on the man’s location and took him into custody after he fled in a vehicle. All we know for sure is that the former president was physically unharmed, unlike when Trump was struck by a bullet or bullet fragment during a rally in Pennsylvania on July 13, a little over two months ago. While former President Trump reportedly was joking with friends at his Mar-A-Lago home late Sunday afternoon about how the apparent planned attempt on his life ruined his round of golf, what happened Sunday and the uncertainty around the situation is scary, to say the least. The security of both candidates needs to be taken with the utmost seriousness by law enforcement and politicians on both sides of the aisle. With all that said, just like July’s assassination attempt, Sunday’s events will undoubtedly have an impact on the Harris vs. Trump presidential race. Let’s look at the latest chance to win the 2024 election 50 days before voters go to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 5. 2024 Presidential Election Odds Odds are according to BetMGM UK.
The “chance to win the election” percentages are based on implied probabilities with the vigorish removed. Gambling on elections is not legally allowed at sportsbooks in the United States. Vice President Harris surged back into the lead in the odds-based presidential election predictions during her first debate against Trump. The former President said during a campaign speech last Thursday in Arizona that there would not be another debate this election campaign. In the days since Harris’ lead over Trump has grown slightly. Harris 52% Favorite Over Trump 50 Days Before Election With 50 days to go until the 2024 presidential election, Harris is a -120 favorite over Trump, giving her a 52.17% chance to win. Trump is a +100 underdog, which gives the former president a 47.83% chance of winning the election and re-claiming the White House.
Keep in mind that election odds provide a complement to national polls and state-by-state analysis, but they should be taken in the proper context. While election betting markets are often the first indicators of how voters perceive the two candidates, the odds are skewed by where bettors are placing their money based on which candidate they believe has value. Election odds will also often include long-shot candidates that have no shot of winning — we’re looking at you, Michelle Obama, for much of 2024 — just for people to place a ridiculous bet on them, whether for pure wish fulfillment or whatever reason, and the presence of such candidates can impact how odds translate into election predictions.
How Polls See the 2024 Presidential Election According to election polling resource 538.com, Vice President Harris is projected to have a 48.1% chance of victory based on the website’s “average for each candidate in 2024 presidential polls, accounting for each poll’s recency, sample size, methodology and house effects.” Trump, on the other hand, has a 45.4% chance to win in that same polling average, with the remaining 6.5% comprising undecided voters and those planning to vote for a candidate other than Harris or Trump. Those numbers were as of Sunday morning, before the second apparent assassination attempt on the former president. 2024 Election Predictions: Which Party Will Win Lastly, the Democrats as a party are actually slightly bigger favorites than Harris herself to win the November election. The Democrats are -125 compared to Harris’ odds of -120. The Republicans, like Trump, are +100.
Remember that the United States presidential election is decided by which candidate wins the 270 electoral votes necessary to win the Electoral College, not who wins the national popular vote. Electoral votes are allocated on a state-by-state basis, based on the number of members of the House of Representatives, plus the two members of the Senate in each state, with Washington, D.C. also having three electors, for a total of 538 electoral college votes. That means that 270 electoral votes is the minimum number needed to win the majority of the votes. In the exceedingly rare event of a tie in the Electoral College, the House of Representatives determines the President, with each state having one vote, and the Senate determines the Vice President.
Everything looks rosy for the Minnesota Vikings in 2024. Justin Jefferson got a good injury update, and defensive coordinator Brian Flores made Brock Purdy’s head spin. But folks, the Vikings are not the real deal after their upset victory over the 49ers. But before we go down the real road, let’s take the imaginary road of Sports Illustrated. The claim is: It’s time for the world to take the 2024 Minnesota Vikings seriously.
Too fast. Just too fast. Yes, they beat the 49ers. But the other win came over a New York Giants that is apparently even worse than the Washington Commanders. Yuck. Vikings QB Sam Darnold still lacking what it takes Yes, head coach Kevin O’Connell has bought the program. He believes in his team. Good for him. O’Connell is a good coach, and he’s doing what good coaches do in these times, according to Sports Illustrated. “I love this team,” O’Connell said after the win over San Francisco. “It takes a result sometimes for people to see it, and I understand that.
I’m most proud of what led into this football game. (There are) a lot of individual performances we could talk about, but this was the epitome of building a football team with a mindset through many, many months ago of what we wanted to play like, how we want to battle, and ultimately how we want to come together and find a way to win a football game.” But we still have to focus on Darnold. Sure, there’s every reason for O’Connell to believe in Darnold. The Vikings made the tough decision to decline matching the Falcons’ bid for quarterback Kirk Cousins. So they signed Darnold as a stopgap player until rookie J.J. McCarthy could take over. In the preseason it looked McCarthy could do it. But McCarthy went down with a season-ending injury and Darnold had to be the guy.
Through two games, Darnold’s completion percentage is 11 points higher (72%) than his previous career best for a season. Market correction is coming, folks. NFL defensive coordinators are smart and a little ornry. They’re going to start putting Darnold in spots where he’s not comfortable. And the old Darnold — the dude with the career record of 23-35, ven after these two wins this year — will return. This will happen no matter how much praise O’Connell throws Darnold’s way. O’Connell spoke of Darnold’s effort in a post on X by Will Ragatz. “The amount of work that goes into that position, on your quarterback journey, when everybody decides that you cannot play — we always believed in him,” an emotional O’Connell said. “Awesome to go watch him go do that thing. Really proud of Sam Darnold.”
WR Justin Jefferson helps the situation No matter who is playing quarterback, Jefferson will make him better. Sports Illustrated’s Ragatz pointed out, “It helps that Darnold gets to play with Jefferson, who continues to demonstrate why he’s the best wide receiver in football,” Ragatz wrote. “The Vikings always thought that this offense — with O’Connell calling the plays, Jefferson and others catching passes, and a quality offensive line up front — provided the perfect environment for Darnold to succeed.
” This is an excellent point. Jefferson not only gets open, he provides a big-enough target and plenty of catch radius. Balls don’t have to be perfect. Jefferson will catch most of them anyway. But it has been proven time and time again in the NFL. Great receivers can be quarterback-proof, so to speak, and still get their numbers. But that’s where it ends. The receivers’ numbers look OK, but the quarterback doesn’t make enough plays to lead to enough wins. Plus, another problem is injuries. Jefferson got hurt against the 49ers.
But the hope is he avoided a serious problem, according to Sports Illustrated. “Justin did come in today feeling pretty good, which was a positive based upon the initial quad contusion that happened on that run play,” O’Connell said. “We’ll be day-to-day with Justin and we’ll keep you guys posted throughout the week on his workload and what it looks like for Sunday, but pretty positive in the early returns there.” Jefferson said he’s going to be fine, according to nfl.com.
“Just a little thigh bruise, contusion, whatever you want to call it,” Jefferson said. “Something that happens a lot during football. I’ve just got to get it feeling well and be ready to go next week. “I’m feeling good. We played tremendous ball all-in-all. At the end of the day, all that matters is winning, and I’m not seriously injured. That’s the main, important thing, so it’s all about getting to the training room, making sure my body is right for next week.” Jefferson is an NFL star. His numbers back it up as he surpassed 6,000 yards receiving (6,091 now for his career) and hit 400 receptions.
Also, he tied Hall of Famer Randy Moss for the most games with 100 or more receiving yards in a player’s first five NFL seasons (30). However, Addison missed the game against the 49ers, and may be at risk of missing another game. “He’s consistently been pushing through that process,” O’Connell said. “Didn’t quite get to a place last week where he could try to go out and even work (in practice) from a limited perspective. We’ll see if we can maybe get him involved in the week as we push forward, but very much questionable. Hoping to have him, but also want to make sure we’re smart with him, knowing it’s a long season.” It’s hard to imagine what kind of a game Darnold would have if both Jefferson and Addison missed Week 3.
Then we’d see what this Darnold hype is really all about. The defense could be the real deal One thing that looks good is the way the Vikings play on the defensive side of the ball. And they have a defensive coordinator in Brian Flores, who could be one of the NFL’s best in that role. The Vikings defense came away with two takeaways and recorded five sacks while holding a powerful offense — potentially one of the NFL’s best — to just 17 points. Also, the Vikings held the 49ers to a 2-of-10 mark on third-down situations.
There’s depth on the defense, and the veterans are good. They aren’t just hanging on at the end of their careers. And the young guys look good in the early going. If the Vikings make a run at the playoffs, it will be the defense that makes the difference Linebacker Blake Cashman said the proof has already been provided. “This game demonstrated who we can be,” Cashman said. “We’ve been playing good ball, good team ball. If we keep playing consistent like that, I don’t see what can stop us.”
It is unknown when Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will return to the lineup coming off his latest concussion that he suffered in this past Thursday’s 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Some began linking the Dolphins with retired signal-caller and living legend Tom Brady as soon as Tagovailoa was sidelined during the prime-time game, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter left little doubt during an update shared on Sunday’s edition of the “NFL Countdown” program that Brady isn’t an option for the Dolphins this time around. “I know a lot of people suggested Tom Brady, bringing him out of retirement,” Schefter said about the Dolphins’ quarterback situation, per Lauren Campbell of MassLive. ”
That’s not going to happen with Tom Brady going to Miami.” Fans and even some former players have openly said since Thursday evening that Tagovailoa needs to consider calling time on his playing career due to the fact that he has dealt with a minimum of three reported concussions since the 2022 season. However, insiders such as Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated have pointed out that “most folks around [Tagovailoa] think” that the 26-year-old will continue playing and work to get cleared for action as soon as possible.
As for Brady, it’s widely believed the seven-time Super Bowl champion had at least some interest in playing for the Dolphins during the 2022 season. He retired in February of that year when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers held his rights but then confirmed the following month he would play another season with Tampa Bay. The Dolphins ultimately were forced to forfeit a pair of draft picks for violating tampering rules regarding Brady and current Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton. Brady retired from playing “for good” in February 2023 and spent portions of last season preparing to work as Fox’s lead in-game analyst during the ongoing campaign.
By all accounts, the 47-year-old also still wants to become a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders. Brady received mixed reviews for his announcing debut that he made back on Sept. 8, but Richard Deitsch of The Athletic noted that the future Hall of Famer “was sharp and enthusiastic early for viewers” while calling this past Sunday’s game between the New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys. Speculating about Brady serving as Miami’s temporary savior may be fun for some, but there’s no indication he would seriously consider an in-season return as backup Skylar Thompson prepares to start Miami’s Week 3 matchup at the 2-0 Seattle Seahawks. As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the 1-1 Dolphins as 6.5-point road underdogs against Seattle.
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