The Starting 11 — ROOKIES SURFACING IN BIG WAYS AS NFL SPEEDS INTO OCTOBER
As a baby, TANK DELL got his nickname from his mom. Her son had a head reminiscent of a front-line offensive ground weapon. Last week, Dell introduced himself to the National Football League as Houston’s front-line offensive air weapon. The rookie third-round selection caught five passes for 145 yards and a touchdown in an impressive road victory. His rookie quarterback, No. 2 overall selection C.J. STROUD, is only the third player ever to reach 900 passing yards over his first three NFL games. The next player drafted, No. 3 overall selection WILL ANDERSON, became the first Texans rookie to block a field goal since J.J. WATT in 2011. Houston’s center, sixth-round rookie JARRETT PATTERSON, has helped give Stroud time in the pocket, while linebacker HENRY TO’OTO’O – a fifth-round selection – leads the team with 20 tackles. Even the Texans’ punter and holder, undrafted free agent TY ZENTNER, made key contributions in last week’s win. “I don’t care where you were drafted, how we acquired you,” said rookie head coach DEMECO RYANS. “Are you playing football the right way – the Texans brand of football? If you play that, then you’ll play for us.” Ryans, the 2006 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, knows all about playing football the right way. Miami’s DE’VON ACHANE knows all about speed. In the Dolphins’ 70-20 win last week, the rookie third-round selection became just the second NFL player ever – and the first since John F. Kennedy was President – with 200 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns and two touchdown receptions in a game. In Philadelphia, JALEN CARTER and NOLAN SMITH know all about championships, having won consecutive national titles at Georgia. Now, as key pillars in Philadelphia’s front seven, the rookies are literally big reasons the undefeated Eagles are leading the NFL in rushing defense (48.3 yards allowed per game) and are tied for the league lead with four fumble recoveries. Rookies all over the NFL are abundant and explosive. And look out, because as the NFL enters October, the lights have come on and the game is starting to slow down. The Starting 11 entering Week 4… 1. DOLPHINS, BILLS ON COLLISION COURSE: Fresh off one of the most prolific offensive performances in NFL history, MIAMI (3-0) is seeking its first 4-0 start since 1995. Standing in the way is one of the league’s most complete teams, BUFFALO (2-1), and the NFL’s toughest place to win, Highmark Stadium. Since 2020, the Bills own the NFL’s best home record (25-6, .806), including the postseason.
2. NUMBER OF THE WEEK – 18: The number of receptions this season by Lions rookie tight end SAM LAPORTA, surpassing former Packers Pro Bowler KEITH JACKSON (17 in 1988) for the most by a tight end in his first three career games in NFL history. LaPorta, who caught eight passes for 84 yards and one touchdown last week, is the first rookie tight end in league annals with at least five receptions in each of his first three career games. He enters Week 4 leading all NFL tight ends with 186 receiving yards.
3. TO WEMBLEY, INFINITY, AND BEYOND: The NFL returns to London this week when the JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-2) host the ATLANTA FALCONS (2-1) at Wembley Stadium (9:30 AM ET, ESPN+). Sunday’s matchup is the first of three straight weeks of London games and also marks the NFL’s 25th regular-season contest at Wembley, since the Giants defeated the Dolphins, 13-10, on Oct. 28, 2007. It’s the 10th franchise trip to London for Jacksonville, which will remain in the city to play a second London contest in Week 5 against Buffalo at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Sunday also is Atlanta’s fourth regular-season game outside the United States. The Falcons are 1-1 all-time in London and 1-0 in Toronto, Canada. 4. SPOTLIGHT – INDIVIDUAL MATCHUP: A pair of Pro Bowlers, center CREED HUMPHREY and defensive lineman QUINNEN WILLIAMS, are expected to face off when KANSAS CITY (2-1) visits the NEW YORK JETS (1-2) on Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, NBC).
5. SPOTLIGHT – TEAM MATCHUP: No NFL defense through three weeks has been as impressive as CLEVELAND (2-1), which leads the league in both fewest yards allowed per game (163.7) and fewest points allowed per game (10.7). That unit gets a formidable test at home against BALTIMORE (2-1) on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS).
6. STREAK SPEAK: SAN FRANCISCO (3-0) looks for its 14th straight regular-season win this week, entering with the NFL’s longest active winning streak. When the 49ers host ARIZONA (1-2) on Sunday (4:25 PM ET, FOX), San Francisco also will bid for its 10th consecutive home win (including the postseason), and 15th Levi’s Stadium win over its last 16 home games.
7. DID YOU KNOW?: Three games on the Week 4 schedule feature two teams at 2-1: DETROIT at GREEN BAY on Thursday Night Football (8:15 PM ET, Prime Video); BALTIMORE at CLEVELAND (1:00 PM ET, CBS); and TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS (1:00 PM ET, FOX). Recent history has shown that 2-1 teams that win in Week 4 have a much better chance of reaching the playoffs. Since 1990, 64.3 percent of teams that started 3-1 have made the postseason, while just 37.1 percent that opened 2-2 were able to advance to the playoffs. 8. UNDER-THE-RADAR STORYLINE: Several familiar faces will visit their old places this week. … Running back EZEKIEL ELLIOTT leads NEW ENGLAND (1-2) in his return to DALLAS (2-1) on Sunday (4:25 PM ET, FOX). … Wide receiver ADAM THIELEN and CAROLINA (0-3) welcome his old club, MINNESOTA (0-3), to Charlotte on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX) … Quarterback JAMEIS WINSTON could get a home start for NEW ORLEANS (2-1) against his first NFL team, TAMPA BAY (2-1) on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX). … Linebacker FOYESADE OLUOKUN and wide receiver CALVIN RIDLEY see their former teammates when JACKSONVILLE (1-2) meets ATLANTA (2-1) in London (9:30 AM ET, ESPN+) … Linebacker KHALIL MACK and the LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (1-2) host the franchise that drafted him, the LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (1-2) on Sunday (4:05 PM ET, CBS) … And, defensive ends JADEVEON CLOWNEY and ZA’DARIUS SMITH along with the CLEVELAND BROWNS (2-1) host their former team, the BALTIMORE RAVENS (2-1), on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS). 9. TREND TIME: The NFL enters October this week. Since 2011, only one Super Bowl champion has lost more than one game in October during its title season. Two of those Super Bowl champions in that stretch – SEATTLE (2-1) and the NEW YORK GIANTS (1-2) – meet this week on Monday Night Football (8:15 PM ET, ESPN/ABC).
10. NEXT GEN STATS NOTE OF THE WEEK: The MIAMI DOLPHINS own each of the five fastest ball-carrying speeds in the NFL this season. Rookie running back DE’VON ACHANE holds the top spot (21.93 MPH on a 67-yard rushing touchdown) along with the fifth spot (21.50 MPH on a 3-yard rush). Wide receiver TYREEK HILL holds the second (21.66 MPH on a 47-yard reception) and fourth spots (21.52 MPH on a 35-yard touchdown catch). And running back RAHEEM MOSTERT holds the third spot (21.62 MPH on a 43-yard rushing touchdown). 11. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST: This week, the Eagles have an opportunity to become just the sixth team this century to begin 4-0 in consecutive seasons, joining the KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (2017-20), DENVER BRONCOS (2015-16), NEW YORK GIANTS (2008-09), INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (2005-07) and ST. LOUIS RAMS (2000-01). Philadelphia has started 3-0 in two straight seasons for the first time since 1992-93.
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