This is For The Win’s daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here. Have feedback? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey! Now, here’s Mike Sykes.
Good morning, Winners! Welcome back to the Morning Win! Thanks so much for reading today.
If you know an Eagles fan, hug an Eagles fan today. Coincidentally, I am an Eagles fan. Please hug me.
In all seriousness, what a game last night. As a neutral observer, I’m sure it was absolutely delightful for most of you all to watch. And, Falcons fans, I’m sure you’re over the moon about it all. What a final drive from Kirk Cousins.
Usually, it’s the Falcons who are on the other end of the most embarrassing moments in NFL history. I don’t even need to explain that — it’s already understood. 28-3. You know the vibes. You know the history.
Plus, with Kirk’s “I hate Monday Night Football” Cousins on their side, nobody could blame you for thinking that the game was over after the two-minute warning. All it took was some shrewd playcalling and solid clock management to seal things away.
Fortunately for the Falcons, Nick Sirianni decided to out-Falcons them on Monday.
It only took the Falcons 65 seconds to drive 70 yards up the field to win the game in Philadelphia, 22-21. Atlanta only had a 0.7 percent chance of winning, per ESPN’s Stats and Info, with just under two minutes left. Watching it was unreal.
Cousins would drop back and stand there like a statue until someone got open, taking chunk after chunk after chunk out of the defense. It looked like they were running 7-on-7 drills out there.
But the game was lost even before then.
It was over when Saquon Barkley dropped that ball on 3rd-and-3. Heck, it was probably over when Sirianni decided not to run the ball again. And it was certainly over when he decided to kick the dreaded “let’s push the lead to 6” field goal. Never kick a field a field goal to push the lead to six. It’s a death sentence, folks. Especially when your pass rush doesn’t exist.
I know the Eagles supposedly shook off the late-season demons that plagued the team last year, but it seems like they’ve latched themselves onto something and stuck around.
This is the sort of game that makes you wonder if that something is the coach.
Poor Bryce Young
I can’t fathom what Bryce Young is going through today. Getting benched less than 24 hours after your head coach seemingly gave you a vote of confidence has to be a gut punch. It’s got to be a shock.
But it’s also probably the right decision for the Panthers, Robert Zeglinski writes.
“The biggest problem for Young, though, was how little he possessed in his toolbag. At worst, an above-average NFL starting quarterback must be a problem solver. Not every play will be run to perfection as it was drawn up. News flash: the other side of the ball gets paid, too. Quarterbacks have to be ready to improvise, and they have to possess enough talent and adaptability to run something else if their comfortable bread and butter isn’t working.
When asked to improvise or stray out of his comfort zone, Young looked like a helpless deer in headlights. His diminutive 5-foot-10, 204-pound frame meant he often couldn’t see directly over the line of scrimmage, limiting him to a shotgun-based offense that became rote. He didn’t have a strong arm, making it easier to take away lay-up reads and progressions that would’ve helped him establish a healthy rhythm. He wasn’t a terrific athlete, meaning the Panthers couldn’t shift their offensive philosophy to implementing more RPOs that utilized Young’s legs. That’s not his game, and it never will be. Young was a pocket passer and a tiny creator to a fault.”
Andy Dalton isn’t good, but he gives them their best shot at winning. Young was too rigid and rigid doesn’t work at quarterback in the NFL these days. (Unless you’re playing the Eagles, who won’t touch you). (Sorry).
More on Young’s benching:
— Christian D’Andrea has more on the trend of teams bailing on first-round QBs without hesitation. What a fascinating trend.
— Here are five possible landing spots for Young moving forward. His career isn’t over just yet.
— This is really all David Tepper’s fault.
Good news for the Mets
The Mets are trying to hold on to a Wild Card playoff slot in the National League playoff race. So when news of Francisco Lindor had to exit early in an eventual loss to the Phillies, the alarm bells began to ring in New York. He left because of a nagging back injury that’s been bothering him for a while.
But, as it turns out, it may not be as serious as it sounds. Lindor could be back in the lineup within the next few days, he told reporters.
“I still have a little bit of pain, but we had good news. Everything seems like it’s good. It could be three to five days, or it could be two to three. It depends on how my back reacts,” he said.
He’ll have to manage his pain, but the star shortstop should be ready to play soon.
That’s fantastic news for the Mets. There are only two weeks left in the season and New York has to do everything it can to hold on to that final Wild Card slot with Atlanta breathing down its necks.
The hunt for October is still on in New York.
Quick hits: NFL Power Rankings … CFB Winners and Losers … and more
— Here’s Robert Zeglinski and Christian D’Andrea with our weekly NFL Power Rankings where the Saints are surging.
— Here’s Tyler Netunno with the Week 3 Winners and Losers from the CFB weekend. Big shouts to Wazzu.
— Here’s Charles Curtis on whether Quentin Johnson’s fantasy boom is for real.
— Taylor Swift fans think the Bengals’ touchdown celebration is why they lost to the Chiefs. Caroline Darney has more.
—Here’s Cory Woodroof on why Kirk Cousins’ MNF win was so special.
— The Dream trolling Tina Charles is amazing. Here’s Meg Hall with more.
That’s a wrap, folks. Thanks so much for rocking with us today. We appreciate you. Have a fantastic day. Peace.
-Sykes ✌️
