The Marathon Continues.

[Soapy]

if you win another lombardi you capping it?

February.

[Soapy]

Week 6 Preview: Las Vegas Raiders
Record: 1-4, 4th AFC West

Team Leaders
Passing: Drew Lock (62% completion, 1068 yards, 8 TD, 5 INT, 89.1 rating)
Rushing: Shawn Gray (195 yards, 3.0 ypc, TD)
Receiving: Zack Knight (20 receptions, 239 yards, 2 TD)
Defense: Terrell Lewis (27 tackles, 3 TFL, 4.5 sacks)

Team Rankings
Total Offense: 29th
Total Defense: 24th
Points Per Game: 28th
Turnover Differential: T-25th

Injuries
HB Josh Jacobs

Las Vegas brought in former coaching prodigy Sean McVay to try to fix their offense and see if he could get anything out of Drew Lock and a slew of weapons. With the often injured Josh Jacobs sidelined with an injury just fourteen snaps into the season, the results hasn't been promising as the Raiders are in the bottom portion of the league in nearly every stat.

They'll need their free agent signing of Terrell Lewis to continue to be a good one if they hope to slow down the Los Angeles Chargers and their top ranked offense. Lewis has been the perfect dancing partner for fellow outside linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson who had some of his best games last season against the Chargers. Chaisson has just one sack this season but could have a big game on Sunday as the Chargers young offensive line is still coming together.

The exciting matchup to watch, however, will be on the other side of the ball. Los Angeles is getting Malik Truman back in the lineup, setting the stage for the trio of Truman, Jalen Ramsey and Donovan Bigby to be matched up against Chris Godwin, second overall pick Zach Knight and Dominique Stanton. Even third-year pro Nathan Thomas has gotten into the mix, averaging over 40 yards per game.

The only question is who will be throwing them the ball. Lock was decent last season, throwing 26 touchdowns to his twelve interceptions but his 7.4 yards per attempt was his second lowest since his first year as a starter while his passer rating was the third lowest of his career in a season where he played more than four games. The team drafted six-foot-six Max Good in the third round and might want to know if he's the answer, especially considering that many are expecting Texas QB Oliver Faine to be the top prospect in the draft.

[djp73]

2 MORE RINGS THEN

[Soapy]

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LV (1-5) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 7 || 13
LAC (6-0) | 0 | 10 | 7 | 21 || 38
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Raiders' QB Good Impresses But Not Enough as Chargers Keep on Rolling
The Las Vegas Raiders can leave Los Angeles feeling like they've got a potentially good quarterback. Chargers fans left the stadium knowing they've got a potentially great one and a great team.

Max Good threw for 396 yards in his first career start in his duel with Will Castonzo but it was Castonzo and the Chargers who got the 38-13 win over their divisional rivals.

Las Vegas jumped out to an early 6-0 lead with Good throwing for over 100 yards in the first quarter and finishing the half with 226 yards passing. All those yards however only got them six points while a late touchdown drive gave Los Angeles the 10-6 lead.

Castonzo fumbled to open first possession of the second half but after a three-and-out, the Raiders attempted a fake punt which was stopped eleven yards short of the first down marker. Castonzo then led a seven play drive that culminated with a 22-yard touchdown pass to Don Willson. Three plays later, Good threw his first interception and it was all Los Angeles after that.

Good was making his first career start in place of Drew Lock, who was benched. Good was drafted in the third round out of Buffalo after the Raiders selected Zach Knight with their first pick. Knight had 174 yards on nine receptions, including 76-yarder where he got open against the zone defense, broke two tackles and outran Malik Truman for the touchdown.
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Scoring Summary
Quarter 1
[LV] J. Lambo, 33 Yd FG (4:50)

Quarter 2
[LV] J. Lambo, 22 Yd FG (11:29)
[LAC] M. Badgley, 45 Yd FG (8:18)
[LAC] A. Brown 4 Yd pass from W. Castonzo (0:33)

Quarter 3
[LAC] D. Willson 22 Yd pass from W. Castonzo (9:17)

Quarter 4
[LAC] S. Burke 6 Yd pass from W. Castonzo (14:48)
[LAC] A. Brown 12 Yd pass from W. Castonzo (13:33)
[LV] Z. Knight 76 Yd pass from M. Good (12:24)
[LAC] W. Castonzo, 6 Yd run (7:17)
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Los Angeles Chargers
Will Castonzo: 21 of 33, 276 yards, 4 touchdowns, 4 carries, 34 yards, touchdown, fumble.
Felix Whittaker: 10 carries, 43 yards.
Derrick Henry: 4 carries, 89 yards.
D.K. Metcalf: 10 receptions, 151 yards.
A.J. Brown: 4 receptions, 71 yards, 2 touchdowns.
DeAndre Bridge: 11 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, interception.
Layne Scott: 8 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, sack, interception.
Derwin James: 7 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, sack.
Vincent Zellner: 6 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 sacks.

Las Vegas Raiders
Max Good: 29 of 44, 396 yards, touchdown, 2 interceptions.
Shawn Gray: 7 carries, 12 yards.
Zach Knight: 9 receptions, 174 yards, touchdown.
Dawson Knox: 5 receptions, 51 yards.
Chris Godwin: 4 receptions, 74 yards.
Tyler Higbee: 4 receptions, 57 yards.

[Soapy]

Behind the Numbers: Breakdown of Chargers Week Six Win vs. Las Vegas Raiders

Offensive Line Grades
LT Melvin McKinley: 60 snaps, 37 dropbacks, 23 rushes, sack, 2 penalties, 59.2 PFF grade.
LG Chauncey Truman: 60 snaps, 37 dropbacks, 23 rushes, run stuff, penalty, 62.0 PFF grade.
C Austin Griggs: 60 snaps, 37 dropbacks, 23 rushes, 80.0 PFF grade.
RG Stephen Zeigler: 60 snaps, 37 dropbacks, 23 rushes, sack allowed, 2 penalties, 59.2 PFF grade.
RT Jerron Bowman: 60 snaps, 37 dropbacks, 23 rushes, penalty, 75.0 PFF grade.
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Grade Scale :: 80+ ELITE | 79-70 ABOVE AVERAGE | 69-60 AVERAGE | 59> BELOW AVERAGE

Defensive Grades
DE Christian Childs: 64 snaps, tackle, sack, 61.1 PFF grade.
NT Cedric Darius: 28 snaps, 58.0 PFF grade.
DE Vincent Zellner: 57 snaps, 6 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, QB hurry, run stuff, 83.4 PFF grade.
EDGE Joey Bosa: 57 snaps, tackle, sack, run stuff, 65.8 PFF grade.
EDGE Rashard Keaton: 67 snaps, 2 tackles, tackle for loss, sack, QB hurry, run stuff, 59.1 PFF grade.
EDGE Willis Rayford: 17 snaps, tackle, sack, 61.8 PFF grade.
LB Layne Scott: 60 snaps, 8 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, sack, interception, QB hurry, 2 run stuffs, 5 catches allowed, 63.7 PFF grade.
LB DeAndre Bridge: 65 snaps, 11 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, interception, QB hurry, 2 run stuffs, 5 catches allowed, 75.9 PFF grade.
CB Jalen Ramsey: 69 snaps, 6 tackles, tackle for loss, 2 pass breakups, run stuff, 4 catches allowed, 71.8 PFF grade.
CB Malik Truman: 68 snaps, 7 tackles, 2 pass breakups, 4 catches allowed, 75.4 PFF grade.
CB Donovan Bigby: 68 snaps, 9 tackles, tackle for loss, pass breakup, run stuff, 5 catches allowed, 72.9 PFF grade.
S Samuel Fleming: 8 snaps, 3 tackles, 2 catches allowed, n/a PFF grade.
S Derwin James Jr: 68 snaps, 7 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, sack, 2 pass breakups, 2 run stuffs, catch allowed, 76.4 PFF grade.
S Sean Butler: 67 snaps, 3 tackles, 3 catches allowed, TD catch allowed, 54.7 PFF grade.
S Nick Steward: DNP.
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Grade Scale :: 80+ ELITE | 79-70 ABOVE AVERAGE | 69-60 AVERAGE | 59> BELOW AVERAGE

Class of 2028 Report Card
EDGE Willis Rayford: 17 snaps, tackle, sack, 61.8 PFF grade.
S Nick Steward: DNP.
TE Don Willson: 26 snaps, 1 reception, 22 yards, touchdown.
FB Teryan Vanover: 27 snaps, 2 receptions, 3 yards.

Injury Report
S Nick Steward: Probable (elbow)
S Samuel Fleming: Out (abdomen)

[Soapy]

Week 6 NFL Results
NYJ 31 - NE 29 :: PHI 24 - MIN 7 :: DAL 28 - TOR 26 :: TEN 23 - CHI 17
BAL 28 - BUF 10 :: CIN 28 - CLE 21 :: JAX 24 - HOU 16 :: DEN 28 - TB 21
LAR 27 - SEA 21 :: LAC 38 - LV 13 :: SF 24 - MIA 14 :: NYG 20 - PIT 7
ATL 16 - CAR 10 :: IND 28 - GB 10
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Players of the Week
QB Will Castonzo (LAC): 21 of 33, 276 yards, 4 touchdowns, 4 carries, 34 yards, touchdown.
QB Dak Prescott (SEA): 22 of 33, 245 yards, touchdown, 5 carries, 17 yards, touchdown.
S Antoine Brooks Jr. (TEN): 9 tackles, interception.
LB Devin White (TB): 11 tackles, sack.
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Notable Injuries
HB Jonathan Taylor (PHI): Season (knee)
TE Noah Fant (CAR): Season (hip)
T Ryan Ramczyk (NO): Season (shoulder)
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Notable Transactions
Cleveland Browns re-sign TE David Njoku (3yr, $18.1 million)
New England Patriots re-sign CB Trayvon Mullen (1yr, $7.05 million)

[Soapy]

Week 7 Preview: Atlanta Falcons
Record: 3-3, 2nd NFC South

Team Leaders
Passing: Manny Dillard (73% completion, 1287 yards, 12 TD, 2 INT, 89.1 rating)
Rushing: Ezekiel Elliott (509 yards, 4.8 ypc, TD)
Receiving: Tyler Johnson (28 receptions, 304 yards, 3 TD)
Defense: Troy Dye (35 tackles, TFL, 2.5 sacks)

Team Rankings
Total Offense: 7th
Total Defense: 11th
Points Per Game: 19th
Turnover Differential: T-19th

Injuries
S Chandler Thorne
HB Rashaad Penny
HB Jerome Brady

Vincent Zellner spent his first two seasons in the league desperately trying to live up to his fourth overall selection in the draft after finishing with just seven sacks through 32 games. The Chargers had traded out of the second overall pick when many expected them to select Joseph Wentz and passed up on Wentz once more when he was available on the board at #4.

The team they traded the second overall pick to? The Atlanta Falcons, who drafted an undersized tight end out of Florida in Tyler Khalil. Khalil would also start his career on a slow start, averaging just 12 yards per game in his first two seasons.

On the season, Zellner has nine sacks and Khalil is averaging 45.7 yards per game along with four touchdowns as the two have seemingly found their stride. Atlanta will look to find theirs as a collective.

Former OROY Manny Dillard is having his best season, fielding a 117.2 passer rating with a 6:1 TD:INT ratio while Ezekiel Elliott, at 33, appears to still have some juice left in him.

As good as Dillard has been, he's facing a QB that's been even better in Will Castonzo. Castonzo is second in the league in passing yards, first in passing touchdowns, third in passer rating and fifth in yards per attempt while also leading the league in yards per carry.

Do the Falcons have the horses to slow down this Chargers offense? Yannick Ngakoue and Yetur Gross-Matos form a solid duo at defensive end but without pro bowl safety Chandler Thorne, there isn't a ton of talent on the defense.

[Soapy]

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ATL (3-4) | 0 | 10 | 0 | 6 || 16
LAC (7-0) | 7 | 6 | 21 | 14 || 48
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Harper Late Touchdown Sparks Scrum Following Chargers Win over Falcons
After spending four quarters battering holes open for a rushing attack that totaled over 261 yards, Brian Flores decided to reward his fullback Eric Harper.

The Atlanta Falcons took offense and it winded up being the only competitive part of a 48-16 blowout victory for the Chargers.

Harper's touchdown catch with eleven seconds left in the game drew the ire of the Falcons coaching staff and players, leading to a small skirmish in the post-game handshake between Flores and Falcons head coach Jay Gruden.

Gruden and Flores appeared to exchange some heated words which led to the players around them getting in a shoving match. The Chargers did plenty of shoving and bullying inside the white lines as well.

The offense totaled over 600 yards and Will Castonzo's MVP campaign added another feather to it's cap as he threw for 353 yards and five touchdowns to five different receivers.

Atlanta's Manny Dillard failed to finish a game as he was injured during a fourth quarter scramble. Dillard rushed for 37 yards while Ezekiel Elliott was limited to just 64 yards on the ground as the Falcons were forced to abandon their running game early in the proceedings.
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Scoring Summary
Quarter 1
[LAC] H. Henry 27 Yd pass from W. Castonzo (5:00)

Quarter 2
[ATL] A. Hooper 4 Yd pass from M. Dillard (14:13)
[LAC] M. Badgley, 36 Yd FG (7:37)
[ATL] J. Sanders, 36 Yd FG (3:31)
[LAC] M. Badgley, 46 Yd FG (0:52)

Quarter 3
[LAC] D. Metcalf 73 Yd pass from W. Castonzo (13:22)
[LAC] F. Whittaker, 63 Yd run (7:20)
[LAC] A. Brown 14 Yd pass from W. Castonzo (1:24)

Quarter 4
[ATL] M. Coleman 12 Yd pass from C. Griffin (10:49)
[LAC] O. Beckham Jr 15 Yd pass from W. Castonzo (5:17)
[LAC] E. Harper 7 Yd pass from W. Castonzo (0:11)
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Los Angeles Chargers
Will Castonzo: 23 of 30, 353 yards, 5 touchdowns, 6 carries, 34 yards.
Felix Whittaker: 15 carries, 149 yards, touchdown.
A.J. Brown: 5 receptions, 50 yards, touchdown.
D.K. Metcalf: 3 receptions, 103 yards, touchdown.
Eric Harper: 3 receptions, 32 yards, touchdown.
Odell Beckham Jr: 2 receptions, 42 yards, touchdown.
Hunter Henry: 2 receptions, 33 yards, touchdown.
Jalen Ramsey: 6 tackles, tackle for loss, interception.
Joey Bosa: 1 tackle, sack.

Atlanta Falcons
Manny Dillard: 14 of 16, 135 yards, touchdown.
Charlie Griffin: 8 of 13, 95 yards, touchdown, interception.
Ezekiel Elliott: 15 carries, 64 yards.
Tyler Khalil: 6 receptions, 51 yards.
Tyler Johnson: 5 receptions, 44 yards.
Calvin Ridley: 3 receptions, 23 yards.

[Soapy]

Behind the Numbers: Breakdown of Chargers Week Seven Win vs. Atlanta Falcons

Offensive Line Grades
LT Melvin McKinley: 68 snaps, 32 dropbacks, 36 rushes, sack allowed, 73.1 PFF grade.
LG Chauncey Truman: 68 snaps, 32 dropbacks, 36 rushes, sack allowed, penalty, 65.9 PFF grade.
C Austin Griggs: 68 snaps, 32 dropbacks, 36 rushes, 85.6 PFF grade.
RG Stephen Zeigler: 68 snaps, 32 dropbacks, 36 rushes, run stuff allowed, 2 penalties, 68.4 PFF grade.
RT Jerron Bowman: 68 snaps, 32 dropbacks, 36 rushes, penalty, 83.9 PFF grade.
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Grade Scale :: 80+ ELITE | 79-70 ABOVE AVERAGE | 69-60 AVERAGE | 59> BELOW AVERAGE

Defensive Grades
DE Christian Childs: 49 snaps, 5 tackles, tackle for loss, run stuff, 76.4 PFF grade.
NT Cedric Darius: 24 snaps, 58.0 PFF grade.
DE Vincent Zellner: 45 snaps, tackle, tackle for loss, 64.7 PFF grade.
EDGE Joey Bosa: 41 snaps, tackles, sack, 63.0 PFF grade.
EDGE Rashard Keaton: 49 snaps, 45.9 PFF grade.
EDGE Willis Rayford: 20 snaps, 2 tackles, 3 run stuffs, 80.2 PFF grade.
LB Layne Scott: 44 snaps, 9 tackles, tackle for loss, 2 pass breakups, run stuff, 4 catches allowed, TD catch allowed, 61.7 PFF grade.
LB DeAndre Bridge: 34 snaps, tackle, 65.0 PFF grade.
CB Jalen Ramsey: 49 snaps, 6 tackles, tackle for loss, interception, 2 pass breakups, run stuff, 2 catches allowed, 86.6 PFF grade.
CB Malik Truman: 49 snaps, 10 tackles, run stuff, 4 catches allowed, 70.4 PFF grade.
CB Donovan Bigby: 46 snaps, 5 tackles, sack, run stuff, 2 catches allowed, 71.7 PFF grade.
S Samuel Fleming: DNP.
S Derwin James Jr: 50 snaps, 7 tackles, tackle for loss, pass breakup, 2 run stuff, 4 catches allowed, 54.1 PFF grade.
S Sean Butler: 43 snaps, 4 tackles, run stuff, 75.9 PFF grade.
S Nick Steward: 42 snaps, 5 tackles, 2 run stuffs, 2 catches allowed, 69.9 PFF grade.
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Grade Scale :: 80+ ELITE | 79-70 ABOVE AVERAGE | 69-60 AVERAGE | 59> BELOW AVERAGE

Class of 2028 Report Card
EDGE Willis Rayford: 20 snaps, 2 tackles, 3 run stuffs, 80.2 PFF grade.
S Nick Steward: 42 snaps, 5 tackles, 2 run stuffs, 2 catches allowed, 69.9 PFF grade.
TE Don Willson: 29 snaps, 2 receptions, 37 yards.
FB Teryan Vanover: 37 snaps, 1 reception, 5 yards.

Injury Report
S Samuel Fleming: Out (abdomen)

[Soapy]

Week 7 NFL Results
JAX 26 - IND 14 :: CAR 45 - NO 22 :: DET 35 - GB 21 :: PHI 31 - LAR 28
HOU 23 - KC 10 :: MIN 30 - CHI 22 :: SEA 24 - TB 14 :: LAC 48 - ATL 16
BAL 34 - TEN 31 :: DEN 38 - LV 20 :: ARI 24 - TOR 17 :: DAL 24 - SF 23
CIN 21 - BUF 17 :: NYJ 21 - CLE 19
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Players of the Week
QB Will Castonzo (LAC): 23 of 30, 353 yards, 5 touchdowns.
QB Keenan Church (CAR): 27 of 31, 253 yards, 6 touchdowns.
LB Myles Jack (JAX): 8 tackles, sack, interception.
S Julian Blackmon (CHI): 8 tackles, 2 interceptions.
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Notable Injuries
HB Jonathan Taylor (PHI): Season (knee)
DE Terrelle McKinley (SF): Season (chest)
DE Jerome Pitts (SF): Season (leg)
TE Noah Fant (CAR): Season (hip)
T Ryan Ramczyk (NO): Season (shoulder)
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Notable Transactions
New England Patriots re-sign LB Willie Gaiye Jr (2yr, $6.2 million)