Texans Survive Bear-ly Watchable Slog-fest

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.

Caleb Williams got roughed up on SNF, Tua is not considering retirement, the Jags “suck” according to Trevor Lawrence, Christian McCaffrey could miss six weeks on IR 😭, things go from bad to worse for Deshaun Watson, and we take a deep dive into the NFL’s concussion protocol.

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Let’s dive in.

QUICK HITS

• Chiefs rally to stun Bengals with late pass interference call, FG as time expires; Cincinnati falls to 0-2 (Yahoo Sports)

• Steelers' defense carries Justin Fields and offense to a 13-6 win (Yahoo Sports)

• Texans sack QB Caleb Williams seven times in SNF in 19-13 win over Bears (PFT)

• Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence on Jacksonville's 0-2 start: "We suck right now" (NFL.com)

• Vikings improve to 2-0 behind QB Sam Darnold with upset win over 49ers (SI.com)

• Commanders don’t score a single touchdown, beat the awful Giants anyways (NY Post)

• Cardinals dominate Rams, Marvin Harrison Jr. scores 2 TDs in 1Q (PFT)

• Jets outlast Titans, Rodgers gets first win as a Jet (Yahoo Sports)

• Seahawks beat Patriots 23-20 in overtime (SI.com)

• Browns hang on to defeat Jaguars 18-13 (PFT)

• Bucs hold on for 20-16 win over an underwhelming Lions offense (PFT)

• Raiders mount major comeback to beat Ravens 26-23 (Yahoo Sports)

• QB Tua Tagovailoa suffers fourth concussion in Thursday night matchup agains the Bills (ESPN)

• Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa has no plans to retire after suffering latest concussion (NFL.com)

• New York Jets DE Jermaine Johnson suffers likely ACL injury (ESPN)

• Jets RB Braelon Allen is youngest player to score from scrimmage since 1930 (PFT)

• Bills signed RT Spencer Brown on four-year, $72M extension with $45M guaranteed (ESPN)

• 49ers place RB Christian McCaffrey on IR, could miss as much as six games (ESPN)

• Chiefs WR Hollywood Brown is expected to miss the entire regular season (PFT)

• Cleveland Browns signed WR Kadarius Toney (Cleveland Browns)

• Rams placed WR Puka Nacua on IR, could miss 5-7 weeks (ESPN)

• Chiefs placed WR Marquise "Hollywood" Brown on IR (Fox Sports)

• Rams-Lions drew 22.7 million viewers on Sunday Night Football (PFT)

• Bills fans flood Tua Tagovailoa’s foundation with donations (PFT)

• Lions legend, Hall of Fame LB Joe Schmidt died at 92 (NFL.com)

• Former New Orleans Saints safety and ALS advocate Steve Gleason recovering after medial event (ESPN)

• Fox has an option to buy an 18.6% stake in FanDuel for $4.3 billion (Sportico)

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WHO’S UP? WHO’S DOWN?

Who’s up?
New Orleans Saints. The New Orleans Saints offense has come out swinging in 2024, and after Sunday's 44-19 thrashing of the Dallas Cowboys, they're making the rest of the league take notice.

Last season, the Saints finished a middling 14th in total offense. But through two games, they've rocketed up to 5th, thanks in large part to the resurgence of quarterback Derek Carr. After a solid 2023 campaign with 25 TDs and just 8 INTs, Carr has taken his game to another level, tossing five touchdowns to only one interception while posting a blistering 142.41 passer rating.

"Derek's been surgical," said head coach Dennis Allen. "He's taking what the defense gives him and making them pay every time."

The biggest beneficiary has been veteran running back Alvin Kamara, who gouged the Cowboys for four TDs on Sunday. With the passing game humming, defenses can't stack the box, giving Kamara room to operate.

"This offense is clicking right now," said Kamara. "Derek's slinging it, the line is blocking their tails off, and I'm just doing my job when I get chances."

While it's still very early, the Saints have served notice that their offense is a force to be reckoned with. Next up is a showdown with the Eagles, providing another chance to prove this blazing start is no fluke.

"We're just getting started," said a confident Carr. "This train is rocking, and it isn't slowing down anytime soon."

For a Saints team with Super Bowl aspirations, that's exactly the attitude they need from their resurgent offense. The NFL had better take notice - the Bayou Bombardiers are bombing away. The 2024 Saints are just second team since 1970 merger to score at least 91 points through two games. The other team, the 2009 Saints — Super Bowl XLIV champs.

Who’s down?
Deshaun Watson. The dark clouds continue to gather over Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns. Just when it seemed the controversial quarterback had put his legal troubles behind him, a new bombshell allegation surfaced this week - another woman accusing Watson of sexual misconduct during a 2022 incident.

As the NFL immediately reopened its investigation, questions swirled about the Browns' ability to escape from Watson's massive $230 million contract if further wrongdoing is uncovered. Leaked details reveal Watson's deal contains clauses allowing Cleveland to void guaranteed money if he is suspended for violating the personal conduct policy or engaging in conduct that "materially and adversely affects" the team.

The timing couldn't be worse for the Browns, with Watson already struggling mightily on the field. Although it's still early, his pedestrian play has Cleveland sitting at a disappointing 1-1 record despite lofty preseason expectations and squeaking by Jacksonville this past Sunday 18-13.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski has staunchly supported his embattled QB, but this latest scandal raises doubts about Watson's long-term future in Cleveland. If the NFL investigation corroborates the disturbing new allegations, the Browns may have an avenue to part ways - though such a divorce would be enormously complicated given the unprecedented contract.

For Watson, a player once regarded as an elite talent, this season is rapidly spiraling from bad to worse. His on-field struggles pale in comparison to the massive personal turmoil that continues to cast a dark shadow over his career.

NUMBERS YOU SHOULD KNOW
A look at the NFL’s concussion protocol

In a sport where hard hits and collisions are the norm, the recent concussion saga surrounding Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has sent shockwaves through the NFL community. The young signal-caller's third documented concussion since 2022 has reignited the debate surrounding the league's concussion protocol and its effectiveness in protecting players. Tagovailoa is the only QB in the last five seasons to enter concussion protocol four times.

The NFL's concussion protocol is a multi-step process designed to identify and manage potential head injuries. It involves a comprehensive evaluation by medical personnel, including a neurological examination, balance testing, and cognitive assessments. However, the protocol's effectiveness has been called into question, with critics arguing that it fails to adequately address the cumulative effects of repeated head trauma.

According to the NFL's own data, concussions have risen, with an average of 219 reported cases in 2023, up from 213 in 2022. This trend has prompted calls for more stringent measures and a reevaluation of the protocol's efficacy.

Tua's case has highlighted the complexities of diagnosing and managing concussions, as well as the potential long-term consequences for players. With each successive head injury, the risk of long-term neurological damage increases, raising concerns about the long-term health and well-being of athletes in a sport that celebrates physicality.

As the NFL grapples with this issue, the spotlight remains firmly on Tua Tagovailoa's recovery and the league's response. Will this incident serve as a catalyst for change, or will it be another missed opportunity to prioritize player safety over the game's inherent violence? Only time will tell.

Did you know?

🏈 Concussions sustained on kickoffs dropped by 60 percent, from 20 to eight from 2022 to 2023.
🏈 There were 281 documented concussions in 2017.
🏈 Players missed 700 fewer games during the 2023 regular season due to injury than they did in 2022.
🏈 The NFL conducted 1.6 concussion evaluations per game in 2023.
🏈 Of the reported concussions, 43 percent were self-reported by players.

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