How Falcons surprised Eagles, plus chaos in Prisco’s Energy Rankings and why Bryce Younger obtained benched

Welcome to the Tuesday version of the Choose Six e-newsletter! 

And I might prefer to particularly welcome everybody from the Kirk Cousins fan membership. The Falcons pulled off a stunner on Monday evening with a 22-21 win over the Eagles and it was all due to Cousins. For many of his profession, Cousins was recognized for wilting beneath the Monday evening lights, however not this time. The Falcons QB engineered a wild comeback, and we’ll be overlaying that right now. 

We’ll even be breaking the down the Panthers’ surprising choice to bench Bryce Younger, and naturally, because it’s Tuesday, we’ll even have Pete Prisco’s Energy Rankings, which underwent some wild adjustments this week. 

As all the time, here is your day by day reminder to inform all your pals and neighbors to join the e-newsletter. To get them signed up, all you need to do is click on right here. 

1. Bryce Younger benched: Particulars on Carolina’s shocking choice to bench the previous No. 1 total choose

The Carolina Panthers made a shocking choice on Monday once they determined to drag the plug on Bryce Younger. Though Younger hasn’t regarded good thus far in his brief profession, it was a surprising choice since you not often see NFL groups surrender on a first-round quarterback this rapidly, and positively not a QB who was taken with the primary total choose. 

With Younger on the bench, the Panthers might be turning to Andy Dalton in hopes that he can jumpstart an offense that has scored simply 13 factors via two weeks. 

This is what you’ll want to know: 

• Why Younger was benched. New Panthers coach Dave Canales, who was simply employed in January, mentioned that benching Younger is a transfer that provides his group the very best likelihood to win video games proper now. “In the end, this comes on me, and my No. 1 duty is to assist the Panthers win,” Canales informed the media. “And so this transfer, I imagine, places us in the very best likelihood to do this this week.” The Panthers’ subsequent recreation will come on Sunday in Las Vegas towards the Raiders. 
• Younger was apparently blindsided by the transfer. Regardless of getting off to an unsightly begin this 12 months, Younger had no concept he was about to be benched. In keeping with ESPN.com, Younger “did not see” the choice coming. In two video games this season, Younger was averaging simply 122.5 passing yards per recreation whereas throwing three interceptions in comparison with zero touchdowns. 
• Younger was traditionally dangerous. In 18 begins with the Panthers, Younger went 2-16. Since 1950, that is the third-worst report for any QB with not less than 15 begins. Solely DeShone Kizer (0-15) and Chris Weinke (2-18) have been worse. 
• Panthers make an unprecedented choice. Benching the No. 1 total choose throughout simply his second 12 months is just about exceptional within the NFL. JaMarcus Russell, who was one of many greatest draft busts of all time, obtained benched throughout his third season with the Raiders. Jameis Winston additionally was benched early in his profession. After being taken with the primary total choose in 2015, the Buccaneers ended up benching him in 2018. If you wish to see the complete record of No. 1 picks who’ve been benched, you’ll be able to test that out right here. 
• Dalton set to go on revenge tour. If Andy Dalton finally ends up beginning the remainder of the season, it will be fairly the revenge tour for him: Carolina might be dealing with ALL of Dalton’s former groups this season with video games towards the Bengals (Week 4), Bears (Week 5), Saints (Week 9) and Cowboys (Week 15). 

You’ll be able to test out our full story on Younger’s benching right here. If you wish to learn much more, our native North Carolina resident, Will Brinson, broke down why the Panthers are literally making the fitting choice by benching Younger, and also you can test that out right here. 

2. Recapping the Falcons’ surprising win over the Eagles: Six issues to know

The ultimate recreation of Week 2 was a wild one. The Eagles appeared to have issues in hand within the fourth quarter, however Kirk Cousins engineered a comeback over the ultimate 100 seconds to provide Atlanta a surprising 22-21 win over Philadelphia. 

In case you missed the sport or simply desire a refresher, here is a fast breakdown of what occurred: 

1. Kirk Cousins comes up clutch within the second half. Cousins did not look nice within the first half, however he caught hearth within the second half. Over the ultimate two quarters, Cousins accomplished 13 of 16 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns. His most spectacular drive got here late within the fourth quarter. With the Falcons trailing 21-15 and simply 1:39 remaining, Cousins engineered a 70-yard scoring drive by going 5 of 6 for 70 yards. The Falcons QB gained the sport with a seven-yard TD cross to Drake London with simply 34 seconds left (You’ll be able to see each cross from the drive right here). Cousins used to have a historical past of choking in Monday video games, however he is now 4-1 in his previous 5 Monday video games after opening his profession 0-9. 
2. Bijan Robinson carried the Falcons offense for a very good chunk of the sport. The Falcons offense regarded like a jumbled mess in Week 1, however it took a giant step ahead this week, and that was thanks principally to Robinson. The operating again totaled 97 yards on the bottom whereas additionally including 25 receiving yards. With Robinson operating the ball so effectively, that took some stress off Kirk Cousins, who appeared to get extra snug as the sport went on (Cousins was simply 7 of 13 for 75 yards within the first half). 
3. Barkley’s blunder prices the Eagles. There are numerous causes the Eagles misplaced, however the greatest one is due to a dropped cross by Saquon Barkley. On a third-and-3 play with slightly below two minutes left, Jalen Hurts rolled out and threw an ideal ball to Barkley. If he had caught it and gotten the primary down, the Eagles might have merely taken a knee and ran out the clock, however he ended up dropping the cross (You’ll be able to see it right here). The drop stopped the clock for the Falcons, who have been out of timeouts. The drop additionally overshadowed a formidable recreation by Barkley, who totaled 116 yards (95 rush and 21 receiving). In keeping with CBS Sports activities analysis, Barkley now has 19 drops because the begin of the 2021 season, which is essentially the most amongst operating backs. 
4. Jalen Hurts additionally makes a giant mistake. After Atlanta took a 22-21 lead with simply 34 seconds left, the Eagles nonetheless had an opportunity to win. After getting the ball at their very own 30, they simply wanted to get in discipline aim vary and so they had two timeouts to assist make that occur. The Eagles solely wanted about 28 yards to provide Jake Elliott an opportunity, and it regarded like they have been going to get there after gaining 13 yards on their first play. Nevertheless, Elliott by no means obtained an opportunity to strive the sphere aim as a result of Hurts was picked off by Atlanta’s Jessie Bates III on Philly’s closing offensive play of the sport. The choose sealed the loss for Philadelphia and overshadowed an in any other case strong recreation from Hurts, who threw for 170 yards and a TD whereas additionally speeding for 85 yards and a TD. 
5. Sirianni goes to be second-guessed. Barkley’s drop on the finish of the sport would not have occurred if the Eagles merely would have run the ball. Peyton Manning was shocked to see Philly throw a cross in that state of affairs, and here is why: The Falcons have been out of timeouts. If the Eagles had run the ball, they might have burned one other 40 seconds off the clock. In that state of affairs, the Falcons would have gotten the ball again with out about 55 seconds left whereas trailing 21-15. As a substitute, they obtained it again with 1:39 left. Sirianni additionally made a questionable choice to go for it on fourth-and-4 from Atlanta’s 9-yard line within the first quarter. The Eagles might have taken a straightforward discipline aim, however as an alternative, they went for it and obtained stopped. Sirianni confronted virtually the EXACT similar state of affairs TWICE within the second half, and each occasions, he ended up kicking the sphere aim (One got here on a fourth-and-3 from Atlanta’s 6-yard line, the opposite got here on a fourth-and-3 from Atlanta’s 10). Sirianni made some attention-grabbing choices which are undoubtedly going to be second-guessed. 
6. Eagles preserve collapsing. The Eagles’ loss to the Falcons marked the fourth time because the begin of the 2023 season that they’ve blown a lead within the closing two minutes, which is the best quantity within the NFL. The Eagles’ late-season collapse is perhaps beginning early this season. 

Anyway, if you wish to try extra of our takeaways from the sport, make sure you click on right here. If you wish to see what form grades the Falcons and Eagles earned, you can see that right here. 

3. Prisco’s Week 3 Energy Rankings: Saints and Vikings make enormous jumps

The Energy Rankings underwent considered one of its greatest shakeups ever this week with FOUR completely different groups shifting up not less than 13 spots and 9 completely different groups shifting down not less than six spots. I have been studying Prisco’s Energy Rankings for greater than a decade now, and I’ve NEVER seen something like this.

Even the highest 5 was impacted with two new groups this week:

1. Chiefs (Similar as final week)
2. Payments (Up one spot from final week)
3. Texans (Up two from final week)
4. Buccaneers (Up 5 from final week)
5. Vikings (Up 13 from final week)

I am not going to spoil the remainder of the Energy Rankings right here, however I’m going to provide you a number of nuggets. This is what has modified since Prisco’s final Energy Rankings: 

• The largest bounce this week went to the New Orleans Saints. After watching the Saints blow out the Cowboys on Sunday, Prisco is lastly able to admit that New Orleans is perhaps for actual. Prisco moved them up 19 spots this week, from twenty fifth to sixth. I am not the official report keeper of the Energy Rankings, however I imagine that is perhaps the most important single-week bounce within the historical past of Prisco’s rankings. 
• The largest bounce within the AFC went to the Raiders, who obtained rewarded for pulling off an enormous upset towards the Ravens on Sunday. Due to that win, Prisco moved them up 16 spots from thirtieth to 14th. 
• The largest drop within the rankings went to the Miami Dolphins. With Tua Tagovailoa out, it was a provided that the Dolphins have been going to fall and Prisco ended up dropping them 13 spots from tenth right down to twenty third. 
• The largest drop within the NFC went to the Eagles. After getting shocked by the Falcons on Monday evening, Prisco dropped them 10 spots from eighth to 18th. 
• Now, let’s discuss in regards to the worst group within the NFL, and there is no drama right here. The Panthers have been ranked useless final because the finish of final 12 months and so they’re nonetheless in that spot heading into Week 3. The Panthers are clearly turning to Andy Dalton in hopes that he can pull them out of the underside of the rankings. 

If you wish to know the place your favourite group ended up in Prisco’s Week 3 Energy Rankings, make sure you click on right here. If you wish to argue with Prisco over his rankings, you can do this on Twitter by clicking right here. I argue with him on a regular basis about every part. 

4. Rating the highest rookies of Week 2: Marvin Harrison Jr. steals the present

After a quiet debut the place he caught precisely zero passes, Marvin Harrison Jr. exploded onto the scene in Week 2 with an enormous recreation throughout Arizona’s 41-10 win over the Rams.

Josh Edwards ranked the very best rookie performances this week and Harrison was on the high of his record. Let’s check out his high 5: 

1. Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr. “Some had concern about Harrison’s future based mostly on the way it performed out in Week 1, however that’s customary irrational microwave sizzling takes. …. Harrison completed with 4 receptions for 130 yards and people two touchdowns.”

2. Giants WR Malik Nabers. “Nabers ran 27 routes on Sunday, in line with TruMedia. He was focused 18 occasions (10 receptions for 127 yards, 1 TD), which suggests he was focused on 66.7% of routes ran. Nabers was snapping off routes and creating separation for a Giants offense that desperately wants it.”

3. Steelers RT Troy Fautanu. “Fautanu virtually threw an ideal recreation on Sunday towards a Broncos cross rush that had some success towards the Seahawks in Week 1. There could have been some confusion on one stunt, however in any other case he held Denver in test all recreation.”

4. Chargers LT Joe Alt. “Alt does a very good job enjoying with stability and sealing run lanes. He’s all the time calm and in management working via his cross arc. When Los Angeles requested him to work to the second degree, he was snug doing that as effectively.”

5. Saints LT Taliese Fuaga. “The Saints have been the shock of the season. They made some schematic changes to provide the rookie left deal with a little bit of assist, however he did a formidable job towards a Cowboys cross rush that gave the Browns some bother in Week 1.”

Edwards ranked a complete of 10 rookies, and also you can see his full record by clicking right here. 

5. Breech’s Week 3 NFL picks: Ravens fall to 0-3, Eagles lose one other recreation

If it is Tuesday, that may solely imply one factor round these components: It is time for my weekly picks.  

In case you ignore all of my picks this week, I’ll perceive. As a matter of truth, I would ignore my very own picks after seeing how badly I did final week. It was so dangerous that I’ve repressed it from my reminiscence and I’ll by no means be speaking about it once more. I went 4-12 straight-up and eight of these 12 losses got here in a recreation the place the group I picked misplaced by six factors or much less. Principally, EVERY ONE-SCORE GAME WENT AGAINST ME. HOW IS THAT EVEN STATISTICALLY POSSIBLE?

Anyway, as all the time, this text will characteristic three of my picks, after which if you happen to really feel like studying the remainder of them, you can click on via right here and test them out. 

With that in thoughts, listed below are three of my most important picks for the week, beginning with the Thursday evening recreation in Miami:  

• Patriots (+6) at Jets: This would be the Jets’ third recreation in 10 days, so I will not be shocked in any respect if the Jets look sluggish. As a result of that truth, I feel the Patriots can preserve this shut, however I do not suppose they’re going to have sufficient juice to drag off the upset. PICK: Jets 20-17 over Patriots.
• Eagles at Saints (-1.5): Via two weeks, the Eagles protection is surrendering a median of 399.5 yards per recreation, which is the fourth most within the NFL. When you have got one of many worst defenses within the NFL, the Saints are the final group you need to be enjoying. PICK: Saints 34-24 over Eagles.
• Ravens at Cowboys (+1): If the Ravens lose this recreation, they’re going to fall to 0-3, and a loss would possibly really occur. Via two weeks, the Ravens have given up the MOST passing yards within the NFL and I really feel like Dak Prescott goes to have the ability to make the most of that. PICK: Cowboys 30-27 over Ravens. 

As soon as once more, to take a look at the remainder of my picks for Week 3, make sure you click on right here.   

6. Additional factors: 49ers star to overlook a number of weeks

It was a busy 24 hours within the NFL, and because it’s practically inconceivable to maintain monitor of every part that occurred, I went forward and put collectively a roundup for you.

• Deebo Samuel will miss a while with an harm. The 49ers have already misplaced Christian McCaffrey to harm, and now Deebo Samuel can also be going to overlook a while. Kyle Shanahan mentioned that Deebo will miss a “couple of weeks” as a consequence of a calf pressure that he suffered towards the Vikings, which makes it sound like Samuel will miss not less than two video games, if no more. 
• Cooper Kupp to overlook a number of weeks. The Rams have already misplaced Puka Nacua to harm, and now, Kupp can also be going to overlook a while. Sean McVay mentioned that Kupp will miss an “an prolonged time frame” after spraining his ankle towards the Cardinals. The Rams have already been decimated by accidents, and now, not solely are they including Kupp to the injured record, however guard Jonah Jackson and security John Johnson III are additionally anticipated to overlook a while. 
• A.J. Brown could possibly be out a number of weeks. The Eagles star missed Monday’s loss with a hamstring harm, and apparently he might find yourself lacking extra video games. Brown informed ESPN that he “expects to overlook a pair weeks.” Nevertheless, Nick Sirianni disputed that timeline after the sport, so it stays to be seen how lengthy Brown might be out. 
• Steelers sticking with Justin Fields in Week 3. It seems to be like Russell Wilson might be spending one other week on the bench. Mike Tomlin introduced on Tuesday that Justin Fields might be getting the beginning on Sunday when the Steelers host the Chargers. The Steelers are 2-0 in two begins with Fields, however they solely have one offensive landing.
• Dolphins have not made an IR choice on Tua. The Dolphins nonetheless have not decided about whether or not they’ll put Tua on injured reserve. In the event that they make the transfer, then Tua should miss not less than 4 video games, however proper now, coach Mike McDaniel says that group does not have “sufficient info.” If Tua goes on IR, he’d really be out for 5 weeks because the Dolphins have a bye in Week 6, which suggests he would not be capable of return till Week 8 (Oct. 27). If the Dolphins really feel he can play sooner, they might let him return after the bye, which might imply solely lacking three video games. Returning after the bye would give him 5 weeks to heal from his concussion. 
• Pacheco out 6-8 weeks. We talked about on Monday that Isiah Pacheco was going to be positioned on IR, and now, we’ve a greater concept in regards to the timeline of his return. The Chiefs operating again is anticipated to overlook six to eight weeks, which suggests he’ll be sidelined till November. 
• Jets lose defensive starter for the season. Jermaine Johnson will miss the remainder of the 2024 season after tearing his Achilles throughout New York’s Week 2 win over the Titans. With the defensive finish now out, this might push the Jets to attempt to get a deal completed with Haason Reddick in an effort to finish his holdout.