By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Kansas City dominated Oakland in the second half on Sunday, shutting out a Raiders offense that has shown a penchant for second-half explosions. Few plays epitomized this superiority more than Dontari Poe‘s score from one yard out.

For as long as football has been played, when a team needs to gain a few yards, it lines up the most mass it has and punches it up the middle, between the tackles. But this is 2016, where we spread defenses out with our ingenious formations and innovations. Andy Reid’s play-call included 6-foot-3, 346-pound defensive tackle Dontari Poe.

There have been a handful famous names for plays in football history. Student Body Right. Red Right 88. Spider 2 Y Banana.

Now, we welcome Hungry Pig Right to the elite group. One can only imagine how many faces lit up inside the huddle when Alex Smith relayed the play to his teammates. Continue reading →

By Around the NFL staff
NFL.com
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Week 6 saw huge games from big names and unlikely players alike. Rob Gronkowski and Odell Beckham posted career-highs in yardage in huge wins. LeSean McCoy saw his revenge game against Chip Kelly materialize to perfection. Jay Ajayi of all people became the first running back this season to break 200 yards! Here’s what we’ve learned from Week 6 so far:

Kansas City Chiefs 26, Oakland Raiders 10

1. Conditions weren’t favorable in Oakland, with the game starting in an absolute downpour. Derek Carrlaughed at that adversity, driving Oakland down the field for an opening touchdown. It was the first and last time the Raiders would find the end zone. From there Kansas City took control, bullying Oakland on the backs of Spencer Ware (24 carries, 131 yards, 1 TD; 2 catches, 32 yards) and Jamaal Charles (nine carries, 33 yards, one touchdown). While Oakland floundered on offense, Alex Smith was a tactician, chipping away at the Raiders‘ defense by completing 19 of 22 passes for 224 yards and swiftly moving Kansas City into Oakland territory.

2. Carr didn’t look quite like himself Sunday. You could blame the wet conditions, but he dispelled that notion early on. More of the blame (and conversely, credit) falls on the shoulders of Kansas City’s defense, which played tight coverage, harassed the quarterback and forced him into some awkward throws. On multiple occasions, Carr dropped back and floated passes off his back foot, with one being intercepted by Marcus Peters and another coming dangerously close to being picked off. We spent much of the afternoon waiting for another thrilling comeback win from Carr and BlackJack Del Rio, but it just never happened. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Kirk Cousins will be down a target in an important NFC East battle Sunday.

Redskins tight end Jordan Reed (concussion) was downgraded from questionable to out against the Eagles in Week 6, the team announced Saturday. Reed did not practice this week. Rookie safety Su’a Cravens was also downgraded to out with a concussion. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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The Carolina Panthers will get a much-needed boost in their lineup Sunday.

Quarterback Cam Newton (concussion) has been cleared to play against the New Orleans Saints, the team announced Saturday. Newton missed Carolina’s Week 5 loss to Tampa Bay after sustaining the concussion in a loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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There’s an old saying that can be applied to almost anything in life. It’s the KISS rule.

No, not the popular American rock band of the 1970s and 80s. It’s an acronym for Keep It Simple, Stupid.

That’s what the Buffalo Bills have done since their back-to-back opening losses that had the team on the brink of early season disaster, according to NFL Network’s Mike Silver. Buffalo jettisoned offensive coordinator Greg Roman and replaced him with Anthony Lynn, who pared down the playbook and played to the team’s strengths. The Bills did something similar on defense, retaining Rob Ryan but shifting playcalling duties to defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Carlos Hyde has officially executed the most expensive front double biceps pose in history.

The flexing pose, popularized by modern bodybuilding pioneers and used by Hyde after a seven-yard reception against Arizona, cost the 49ers running back $9,115 in a league fine, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, according to an NFL spokesman. Continue reading →

By Around the NFL staff
NFL.com
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Week 6 of the NFL season is upon us, and that means it’s time for another round of bold predictions. As always, this week’s edition of fearless prognostications includes a macho helping of audaciousness and abandon as we head into Sunday and Monday’s contests. Warning: these predictions are not for the faint of heart.

A myriad of quarterbacks lead Browns to first win

The Browns have had their starting quarterback complete exactly two games healthy — a 30-24 overtime loss to the Dolphins and a 31-20 loss to the Redskins — this season, and have had a total of four signal-callers take the field. One of those was among Nashville’s most attractive and is also no longer on the roster. Another is dealing with a fractured coracoid bone, which I’d bet 85 percent of the football-watching world didn’t know about until Tuesday of Week 2. The point is, stability and Browns quarterbacks are water and oil. Continue reading →