Pats in Turmoil Tailspin 🔥

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Good morning. This is the Opening Drive, the weekly newsletter that brings you the best of the NFL so you’re always the smartest one at the water cooler.

The Pats have lost four straight, the Jags finally got a win, Rodgers passes 60,000 career passing yards, the Vikings stay undefeated, the Texans win a thriller in OT, and the NFL says Guardian Caps are working in reducing head injuries.

We are LOADED today… Let’s dive in.

QUICK HITS

• Dak’s late TD gives Cowboys the win over Steelers in final seconds (ESPN)

• Antonio Pierce benches struggling Raiders QB Gardner Minshew for Aidan O'Connell in loss to Broncos (Yahoo Sports)

• Cardinals second interception seals 24-23 upset of 49ers (Yahoo Sports)

• Packers fend off Rams, survive late comeback (CBS Sports)

• Giants walk-off blocked field goal for a touchdown stuns Seahawks (Yahoo Sports)

• Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow wow fans with nine total TDs in Ravens' OT win vs. Bengals (Bleacher Report)

• Texans stifle Josh Allen, stun Bills with walk off FG in showdown of AFC contenders (Yahoo Sports)

• Patriots drop fourth straight game with ugly, penalty-filled 15-10 loss to Dolphins (CBS)

• Deshaun Watson sacked 7 times, Jayden Daniels runs for 82 yards in Commanders’ 34-13 victory (Cleveland.com)

• Bills end-game clock management ripped following loss to Texans (SI.com)

• Joe Flacco throws for 381 yards and three touchdowns in loss to Jaguars (Yahoo Sports)

• Aaron Rodgers third interception ends Jet’s comeback hopes in crushing London loss to Sam Darnold, Vikings (NY Post)

• Vikings stay undefeated in Sam Darnold revenge game against Jets (NBC)

• Caleb Williams has his best game as Bears get easy win over Panthers (PFT)

• Two players ejected from Bears-Panthers after ugly brawl following late touchdown (SI.com)

• Steelers make aggressive trade offer for WR Davante Adams (SI.com)

• NFL's leading receiver Nico Collins leaves Texans-Bills game with hamstring injury (Yahoo.com)

• Chiefs WR Rashee Rice to have procedure this week to determine severity of knee injury (NFL.com)

• Dolphins' Jaelan Phillips suffered torn ACL in week 4 loss (NFL.com)

• Christian McCaffrey won't be activated from IR when eligible in Week 6 (Yahoo Sports)

• Patriots’ own reporter says team is ‘teetering on mutiny’ (NY Post)

• Kirk Cousins forces his way into the MVP conversation (PFT)

• Steelers' T.J. Watt becomes second-fastest player to 100 sacks, behind the legendary Reggie White (NFL.com)

• Aaron Rodgers becomes the 9th QB in NFL History to reach 60,000 passing yards (NFL.com)

• Derrick Henry passes 10,000 yard rushing (A to Z Sports)

• Deshaun Watson, Kevin Stefanski have heated exchange on sideline as Browns fall apart (SI.com)

• Greg Landry, longtime NFL quarterback and assistant coach, dies at 77 (PFT)

• Guardian Caps aid NFL’s lowest number of preseason concussions since 2015, league EVP says (The Athletic)

• The Cowboys’ 20-15 victory over the Giants averaged 16.22 million viewers, an all-time high for TNF on Prime (SI.com)

• Pistons owner Tom Gores set to buy stake in Chargers (ESPN)

• NFL suspends Von Miller for violating the league’s personal conduct policy (ESPN)

• NFL considers, and tours, Abu Dhabi as expanding international series looks for new host cities (CBS Sports)

• The ‘No-Fun-League’ (NFL) cracks down on finger guns (PFT)

WHO’S UP? WHO’S DOWN?

Who’s up?
Jayden Daniels. The Washington Commanders are the surprise story of the NFL season so far, thanks to the electric play of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. The No. 2 overall pick has been nothing short of sensational, leading the Commanders to a 4-1 record and first place in the NFC East.

Daniels has been a revelation, putting up MVP-caliber numbers through the first five games. He's completed over 77% of his passes for 1,135 yards, with four touchdowns and two interceptions. Daniels has also rushed for 300 yards and four touchdowns. No other player in NFL history has ever thrown for 1,000+ yards and rushed for 250+ yards in the first five games of their career. But his impact goes beyond the stats - his poise, decision-making and playmaking ability have energized the entire Commanders offense.

Under the guidance of innovative offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, Daniels and the Commanders are putting up historic production. They lead the NFL in several advanced metrics, including expected points added and success rate. Daniels' ability to excel in Kingsbury's up-tempo, no-huddle scheme has been a major factor in the team's fast start.

While there are questions about whether Kingsbury's offense can sustain this level of success, the Commanders appear to have found their franchise quarterback in Daniels. The rookie has already won over long-suffering Washington fans, rekindling hope for a team that has struggled for years. If Daniels continues his torrid pace, the Commanders could be a force to be reckoned with in the NFC.

Who’s down?
The New England Patriots. The Patriots are in complete disarray. According to one of their own reporters, the team is "teetering on mutiny" in the locker room. This report surfaced before the Pats lost their fourth straight game in a 15-10 slopfest with the Miami Dolphins. Veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett has struggled mightily, leading to calls from players to get rookie first-round pick Drake Maye into the lineup.

The defense and offense are reportedly at odds, with young receivers even throwing "tantrums" on the sideline. It's a mess in Foxborough, and first-year head coach Jerod Mayo is quickly losing control of the situation.

The Patriots' once-proud culture appears to be crumbling, with players growing increasingly frustrated with Brissett's inability to get them the ball. The team's top draft pick is sitting and watching as the season slips away, with teammates wondering why. As one player reportedly put it, “Like why am I going out there with a quarterback who can’t get me the football, when we’ve got the Ferrari back in the garage that can get me the football?'”

This is not the Patriots way. New England has been a model of consistency and excellence for two decades, but those days appear to be over. At 1-4 on the season, the Patriots are off to their worst start in years and currently sit in the basement of the AFC East. If things don't turn around soon, this could be a long, painful season in Foxborough. The once-mighty Patriots dynasty appears to be crumbling before our eyes.

BEST LOOK 🔥 

2024 is the season of the throwbacks. The Jags and Broncos did it right this week.

The Texans on the other hand… 🤮 

STATS OF THE WEEK

Yesterday was a historic day in the NFL:

• It was the longest day in NFL history at 15 hours and 27 minutes. The London game kicked off Sunday at 9:32 AM ET and the SNF game ended Monday at 12:59 AM ET.

• Dak Prescott became the first player to throw a touchdown pass on two different days during the same game.

• It was the first time there were two 100-yard defensive touchdowns scored.

Yesterday however, was NOT the first time Aaron Rodgers has thrown three interceptions in a single game…

MEMES OF THE WEEK

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