In a gripping weekend of NFL action, the Kansas City Chiefs eked out another nail-biting victory, but not without a cost as Rashee Rice went down with a knee injury. Meanwhile, the Washington Commanders seized their second road win within six days to maintain their lead in the NFC East. The NFC South is heating up, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers staging a strong comeback against the Philadelphia Eagles and the Atlanta Falcons securing a close victory over the New Orleans Saints.
Over in Indianapolis, it was a throwback matchup as Joe Flacco faced off against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Athletic’s NFL writers Mike Jones, Ted Nguyen, and Saad Yousuf offer their insights on these developments and more.
Nguyen praised the Commanders, noting the impressive rookie season of quarterback Jayden Daniels. He acknowledged the team’s offensive prowess but cautioned that they would need to prove themselves against tougher defenses in the league. Yousuf echoed Nguyen’s sentiments, highlighting Daniels’ remarkable performances and the overall state of the NFC East division.
The injury to Rice raised questions about the Chiefs’ offensive capabilities moving forward. Jones emphasized the need for other players to step up in Rice’s absence, while also emphasizing the importance of tight end Travis Kelce’s production and support from the defense. Despite the challenges, Jones remains optimistic about the Chiefs’ Super Bowl aspirations.
The discussion then turned to the Colts’ quarterback situation, with Richardson’s development and Flacco’s veteran presence both in the spotlight. Jones pointed out the delicate balance between Richardson’s growth and the team’s immediate success, while Yousuf emphasized the importance of Richardson getting game reps to progress as a quarterback.
As the NFC South continues to unfold, the question of favorite emerges. With all four teams showing promise early in the season, the race for supremacy in the division remains wide open. The competition will only intensify as the season progresses, setting the stage for an exciting battle in the NFC South.
