Why NFL kicking isn't as bad as it seems this season: More volume, longer tries and closer games​

Here's what we know: There were more missed kicks in Week 5 of the NFL season than in any single week during the past 34 years.

Here's how that makes us feel: NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Here's how it should make us feel: Eh.

NFL kicking improved steadily over the past two decades, despite the introduction of rules that make it more difficult. The long upward trend shouldn't allow one week, as shocking as it was, to overwrite years of performance.

In some cases, perceptions have been influenced by the timing of the trouble this season. There have been 11 misses that would have brought a team into a tie or moved it ahead during the final minute of the fourth quarter or in overtime. In other cases, it has been the volume. The Green Bay Packers and Cincinnati Bengals, for instance, combined to miss five field goals during the final three minutes of regulation and overtime. A sixth attempt, Mason Crosby's 49-yarder, finally won the game for the Packers.

So let's take a broader look to separate anecdote from trend and better understand what has happened so far this season.

Was it as bad as it looked in Week 5?

For the most part, yes. Kickers missed 14 field goals and 13 extra points. According to NFL Research, that total of 27 was the highest number of combined misses since Week 11 of the 1987 season.

But that gripping data point was driven largely by the extra-point misses. You don't have to go very far to find a worse week for field goals. In Week 5 of the 2019 season, for example, there were 17 missed field goals. In 2018, there were 16 in Week 5. And in both cases, those misses came on fewer attempts than they did this past weekend.

So what's going on with extra points?

We should avoid thinking too deeply about it at this point. (That's easy for most of us!)

In the first four weeks of the season, place-kickers converted 94.4% of their extra points. That's better than the 2020 and 2019 seasons, over the same time period, and right at the league average since the NFL moved extra points from the 2-yard line to the 15-yard line in 2015. We should wait to see if the Week 5 downturn continues before worrying too much.

What about field goals?

Kicking accuracy has been slightly below average during the same time period, beginning with the 2015 season. Through five weeks, 82.7% of field goal attempts have been converted. That's the second-lowest mark during the first five weeks of a season since the start of 2015, but not by much. The average between 2015 and 2020 was 83.6%, a difference of three additional converted kicks.

If you're looking for an explanation beyond that, you might want to consider the surge of long attempts this season.

What do you mean by "long attempts"?

Through the first five weeks of this season, coaches have sent kickers out to attempt 61 kicks from at least 50 yards, including six from at least 60 yards. That's eight more than the previous high since 2015 and 13 more than the pre-2021 average. The conversion rate has been a respectable 60.7%, but the higher volume has played a bigger role in bringing the overall average down than it usually does.

Come on. It seems like every important field goal is being missed.

There is no doubt we have seen a high number of missed field goals in clutch situations. In fact, there have been 17 such misses so far during the fourth quarter and overtime. But there have also been a substantially higher number of late-game attempts.

Here are the facts: Kickers have converted 88 of 105 such attempts for an 83.8% rate. That percentage is better than it was for similar kicks over the same time period in 2019, 2018 and 2015 and is, again, only slightly below the 84.5% average from 2015 to '20.

So this is an issue of volume?

In many ways, yes. And one reason there has been a surge in attempts, especially from long distances, is the high number of close games the NFL has produced this season.

Through five weeks, there have been more winning scores in the final minute of regulation or in overtime (19) than in any season on record. The total of eight overtime games through five weeks has tied a league record. Overall, 21 games have been decided by three points or fewer, tied for the third most in league history through five weeks.

It stands to reason that there will be more high-leverage field goal attempts when games are close late in regulation, and especially in overtime. If the overall conversion rate stays the same -- a not-unexpected outcome -- there will be more misses to go with the increased number of attempts.

Aren't there some kickers who can be relied on to rise above the average?

Of course. There are five full-time kickers who haven't missed a field goal or an extra point this season: The Kansas City Chiefs' Harrison Butker, the Chicago Bears' Cairo Santos, the Denver Broncos' Brandon McManus, the Atlanta Falcons' Younghoe Koo and the Cleveland Browns' Chase McLaughlin. That list doesn't include the Baltimore Ravens' Justin Tucker, who missed a 49-yarder against the Lions in Week 3 but made up for it with an NFL-record 66-yard kick to win the game on the final play. He's pretty good, too.

In total, 10 kickers have converted at least 90% of their field goal attempts, and 16 have been perfect on extra points.

You seem to be making a lot of excuses for these guys.

Really, this is just about providing a fuller context for what has happened this season. It's indisputable that there have been a bunch of high-profile misses. But they are coming in a season in which teams are playing more close games than usual, leading to a higher number of attempts. The actual conversion rates don't look much different than previous seasons.

So there's nothing to see here?

I wouldn't go that far. Weird things can happen in kicking. But to date, there are plenty of non-performance data points to drive this analysis.

I need to get my shopping list together…

What is your game day food plan?

I have not made chili since week 1 and I am leaning that way with a rainy day forecasted here.

Became a Ram fan when they beat the Pack in 67 on blocked punt and Gabriel to Casey TD pass. Been a fan ever since.
Just bought tickets today for me and family to see Pack vs Rams in Lambeau on Thanksgiving weekend. Sitting on 25 yard line on Rams side. Will be one of greatest thrills I could imagine even with my oldest son a Pack fan ughh. 10 of us heading there from South Florida.
Can't wait!!!

Giants plan to wear white jersey's and grey pants this Sunday in celebration of SB win 10 years ago. Rams to wear all bone uni. Both wear blue helmets. I've never seen a game where teams uni's so closely match. Usually one team wears a dark jersey, the other light.

They stick with this there will be lots of confusion.

Recently acquired cb Dick Sherman was apparently hurt in the Monday nite win against the Eagles.
The fact that he didn’t have a job until recently said a lot about what teams thought Sherman being his old self. And how desperate were the Bucs to bring in a guy who couldn’t make it through one game before getting hurt again.

The cards seem to be going for it trading for Zack Ertz of the Eagles. Per the athletic.
Scary.

The only thing better than what I witnessed tonight would be the Rams beating the Whiners in the NFC Championship on a bad call, after we both went 15-2 but they won division on a tiebreaker.

SF’s tears are soooo tasty!

So after a year to ruminate on the logos, jerseys, color scheme, and font, how do you all view it now?

Personally, ive completely come around on it. Hated everything about it at first. Not until I went to SoFi that I had a greater understanding of the change. The Rams arent caught up in "honoring the past", they are really trying to a be team of the Los Angeles of today and tomorrow. There seems to be this air of "Bleeding Edge" to the Rams Rebrand...And it occurred to me that the Rams are trying to pull off the same Rebrand that the Golden State Warriors did.

Center a historically middling franchise around progressive ideas (new state of the art stadium, young, offensive genius head coach, bold and ever constant changes to the roster and coaching staff, unique jersey design) in a effort to appeal to a city that has changed A LOT since they were relevant in LA. Just as the Bay Area became the home of Silicon Valley, LA is a far more diverse and culturally relevant city in 2021 and the Rams rebrand was an attempt at capturing that zeitgeist.

Personally, I think they nailed it, in retrospect.

What say you all?

I'm overconfident, which I freely admit. Part of it is for show and a subtle troll against the idea that my overconfidence has any effect on the game at all. I fully believe the Rams are about to destroy, and should destroy the NY football Giants. Measuring the talent on both sides and thinking of both the Rams and the Giants playing to their full potential, this should be no contest. Every West Coast team deals with travel and away crowds and later weather problems. A team can be tired or flat (look at the Cardinals game).

When I talk about the assbeating we should deal to the Gigantes, I always get the warning of last year's hubris over the Jets game. As you remember, we lost to the winless Jets 23-20. This was at home at empty SoFi and the Rams should have won. BUT. This was not a good game for Jared Goff and the offense. If you are a believer in QBR, Goff's was 16.0 (box score from ESPN). He threw 34 times for 209 yards, 2 TD's, and one interception. Aside from one chunk play for a 44 yard pass to Tyler Higbee, it was a lot of dink and dunk passes from Jared. Jared was sacked 3 times for 20 yards. We all know about the Oline struggles last year, with Whit being out for several games, so there is that.

Stafford is not Jared Goff. He will throw downfield to Jackson and he will move smoothly in a pocket created by our best Oline in a few years. He has a running game with which to work. There will be a slow start most likely, but there will be very little dinking and dunking. He will make a few throws that are questionable, but that's part of the deal with him. Kupp, Woods and Higbeast will be getting theirs.

Knowing this, my saying that the Rams will destroy the Giants will have no bearing on the outcome of the game. I imagine that Sean McVay is acutely aware that getting his players motivated every week is one of his biggest jobs before game day. As long as HE and his staff are taking the Giants seriously and the team responds to that coaching, this game should not be close.

TV Maps: https://506sports.com/nfl.php?yr=2021&wk=6

Schedule: LINK

Sunday, Oct. 17
Miami Dolphins at Jacksonville Jaguars (London), 9:30 am (CBS)
Los Angeles Chargers at Baltimore Ravens, 1 pm (CBS)
Minnesota Vikings at Carolina Panthers, 1 pm (FOX)
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears, 1 pm (FOX)
Cincinnati Bengals at Detroit Lions, 1 pm (FOX)
Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts, 1 pm (CBS)
Los Angeles Rams at New York Giants, 1 pm (FOX)
Kansas City Chiefs at Washington Football Team, 1 pm (CBS)
Arizona Cardinals at Cleveland Browns, 4:05 pm (FOX)
Las Vegas Raiders at Denver Broncos, 4:25 pm (CBS)
Dallas Cowboys at New England Patriots, 4:25 pm (CBS)
Seattle Seahawks at Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:20 pm (NBC)

Monday, Oct. 18
Buffalo Bills at Tennessee Titans, 8:15 pm (ESPN)

I know it's not a Ram article, But reading about all of the dysfunction in SF put a tear in my eye. sniff sniff

Personally I found the article uplifting. Leaving me with a smiling " I hate a 9er" smirk on my face.
Not sure why and I know a lot can change, but I am smelling a freaking sweep this year.
And a monkey off McVay's back.
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San Francisco 49ers' identity in 2021 is clear as mud

Nick WagonerESPN Staff Writer


SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- It didn't take long to figure out the San Francisco 49ers' identity over the past two seasons.

In 2019, the Niners had the makings of a legitimate Super Bowl contender early, built around a dominant defense and a dynamic running game. That identity carried them to within minutes of a Lombardi trophy.

In 2020, the season was quickly defined by injuries, leading to a disappointing 6-10 finish.

Entering this year, it was fair to wonder which of those seasons was the aberration. Were the 2019 Niners still in there somewhere? Or were the oft-injured 49ers of 2020 more the norm?

As the Niners hit this week's bye, the answer is clear as mud. They have showed glimpses of a team capable of contending again, but have also struggled for long stretches.

If one possession in each game had gone a little different, the Niners could be undefeated. They also could be winless.


Instead, San Francisco is 2-3 and in the midst of a three-game losing streak in a season in which every game has been decided by eight points or fewer.

"We could easily be sitting at 5-0 right now," left tackle Trent Williams said. "Obviously, we're not. We're 2-3 but we go back and revisit every loss, you can find some good in that. There were some things where we could have won some games but we didn't take advantage of the situations."

The Niners' chances of righting the ship will come down to finding a way to make the plays that decide games in the waning moments.

The good news is the 49ers haven't been overmatched in any of their games and the schedule could lighten a bit as the season wears on. What's more, receiver Deebo Samuel looks like a breakout star and stalwarts like Williams and defensive end Nick Bosa are at the top of their games.

When coach Kyle Shanahan and his staff perform their self-scout during the bye, they'll see a team that isn't far off and it's worth noting that there aren't seven obvious playoff caliber teams in the NFC ahead of them. All of that is heartening despite three straight frustrating defeats.

"That's the main thing I try to stress to our team, that it's always going to be hard when you lose games in this league," Shanahan said. "But you can't let a narrative become your reality. You've got to watch the tape, you've got to work harder, you've got to get better at all these little details that come down to winning and losing in crucial moments."

Indeed, there are a number of little and not-so-little details that have held the Niners back in the first five games. Among the primary issues are struggles on third down, turnover margin, a lack of big plays and costly penalties.

The 49ers are 24th in the league in third-down conversions, moving the chains on just 35.6% of their opportunities. On the turnover front, they continue to struggle to create takeaways while maintaining a knack for giving it away.

San Francisco is tied for 29th in the league in turnover margin (minus-5) with two takeaways, second-fewest in the NFL. While it's asking too much to think this defense can reach the heights of that 2019 group, getting more takeaways would undoubtedly help close the gap.

"We need more," linebacker Fred Warner said. "If we want to be the defense that we know we're capable of, we've got to keep hunting at it and when they come, they're gonna come in bunches."

After losing starting cornerback Jason Verrett (torn ACL) for the season and missing nickel cornerback K'Waun Williams (calf) during their recent streak of losses, the Niners have been playing musical cornerbacks, attempting to plug and play a combination of journeymen off the street and unproven rookies.

It's a predictable issue for a team that had a glaring need in the offseason but again declined to invest premium resources into the position. That group hasn't been as bad as one might think in terms of raw numbers but also has contributed to the Niners' eight defensive pass interference penalties for a league-most 153 yards.


Still, the defense hasn't really been the Niners' biggest issue. An uneven offense that has struggled at nearly every position has been more maddening. Aside from the opener against Detroit, San Francisco has gotten off to exceedingly slow starts. The 49ers dropped 31 first-half points on the Lions but scored a combined 21 first-half points in the four games since.

Blame for that can be shared. Niners quarterbacks have been contacted 68 times, the most in the league but they have also struggled to generate big plays with only 15 gaining 20-plus yards (tied for 26th).


The 49ers aren't getting much from their draft class early on. Quarterback Trey Lance has flashed his potential but been used sparingly when Jimmy Garoppolo is healthy. Of more concern is that second-round pick Aaron Banks has been a healthy scratch every week even as right guard Daniel Brunskill has had his issues. Third-round cornerback Ambry Thomas looks to be in the midst of a redshirt year and third-round running back Trey Sermon has only contributed when multiple injuries piled up at the position.

It's a lengthy list of problems but if there's a silver lining to it, it's that many of those problems are self-inflicted, which means fixes are possible and must come from within.

"We've got to find a way to do better, and I've got to find a way to get us to do better," Shanahan said. "Going into this bye week at 2-3, there's still a lot of football left to play. We've got to come back and play better than we have."

The fate of this year's 49ers depends on it.

Going to post about Arizona game today,to review a loss.PISSED just from the start of that game.JJ Watt got away with a late hit in my eyes.
I used to LOVE The NFL back in the day growing up from the first SuperBowl.Playing hard 2 hand touch in a short area? No count,so knowing what it felt to get hit or sacked while throwing the ball.Whatever it was we would always try to find out what a late hit was. We might have even played tackle?

The rule was when you got rid of the ball that you could not hit the QB. It was when you got hit while throwing the ball. If you got hit afterwards it was late,unless you could not hold up. Then it was you also had to make an effort not to hit the QB,or make at least an attempt.

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I was reading the comments on this. I think the guy is overrated from a HC standpoint. I dont think he will be fired this year, (hope he stays and makes them worse) but the seat has to be getting hotter. Their personnel moves have been questionable and let people walk (Buckner to the Colts), keeping Jimmy G (to scared to kick him to the curb), and not starting Lance from the get go.

The point is that the media is so scared to say that he is on the hot seat. 31-38 is not a good record. His glory is off on one playoff appearance.

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scary shit.

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DL Michael Hoecht explains his time as a calculus tutor at Brown University, how he made the Rams' roster & more on Rams Revealed​

How does a second-team All-Ivy League defensive lineman and calculus tutor from Canada find his way to an NFL roster in Los Angeles in the midst of a pandemic?

In the case of 24-year-old Michael Hoecht, the journey was even more unlikely than it sounds.

As the world shut down in the spring of 2020, like so many others, Hoecht had his pro day cancelled. A private workout with San Francisco was also nixed. The academic senior was suddenly running out of avenues to extend his football career.

"Five alarm fire in my head," Hoecht said of that experience on this week's Rams Revealed podcast. "This is my dream coming to die. But then I was like, I'm not going to let this happen."

So Hoecht went to the practice fields at Brown, where he had been a team captain and two-time sack leader. He recorded just about every piece of film he could envision NFL teams desiring. He documented all the standard combine tests and times; put himself through defensive line drills; he even ran routes as a tight end.

Hoecht took that material, got on his computer, and handled all the editing.

"I put together the whole package of everything (NFL teams) would have seen at the pro day… I was making sure that if they wanted to see something, they would have that film without having to come see me in person."

While his agent sent that reel out to all takers, it was the opportunity to sign with the Rams that Hoecht was after. They were his top choice because of his admiration for Aaron Donald.

After what he described as a redshirt year on the practice squad in 2020, Hoecht (pronounced: "hoyt") earned his spot on the 53-man roster this summer and has dressed for every 2021 game as a contributor on defense and special teams.

For the entirety of his story, including a bit of calculus, check out this week's full episode of Rams Revealed.

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Thursday Night Football: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Philadelphia Eagles​

Tom Brady may be less than 100 percent this week as his Tampa Bay Buccaneers face the Philadelphia Eagles on "Thursday Night Football." A banged-up thumb on his throwing hand will leave the 44-year-old fighting through pain on every throw.

Other players would be forced to sit out weeks. But with Brady? Does throwing with four fingers even matter?

The Athletic's Greg Auman reported Monday the thumb was wrapped with tape. Brady's response? "It's a little bit sore but nothing I'm not used to. I've certainly had worse."

The Miami Dolphins sure didn't find an injured Brady easier to handle. A five-touchdown performance, Brady's second in five games this season sliced apart their defense to the tune of 45 points. He's now on pace for 51 passing TD this season, a new career high for the first player to do the unthinkable: wage war against Father Time and win.

Keep in mind Brady likely suffered the thumb injury early on Sunday. It means he's already used to playing — and succeeding — through the pain as Tampa Bay took sole possession of the NFC South. They appear fully recovered from a tough two-week stretch, losing to the Rams and then going through a once-in-a-career moment for Brady facing the New England Patriots in Gillette Stadium.

Into this buzzsaw come the Philadelphia Eagles, a team plagued by inconsistency on both sides of the ball. A 2-3 record has produced some ugly losses (41-21 to the Dallas Cowboys) but also some promising performances, including last week's fourth-quarter comeback against the Carolina Panthers.

Can the Eagles carry that momentum into this latest clash with Brady? Or are they just the latest team to get bulldozed in the Bucs' quest for back-to-back Super Bowl success?

Thursday Night Football: Tampa Bay (4-1) at Philadelphia (2-3)

Kickoff: Thursday, Oct. 14 at 8:20 p.m. ET
TV: FOX/NFL Network/Amazon Prime
Spread: Buccaneers -7

Three Things To Watch

1. Will Brady be bothered at all?

Brady's thumb will be scrutinized more than any other NFL injury this week. But how often have we seen this superhuman play through similar problems? He just played an entire Super Bowl-winning year with a knee injury that required offseason surgery.

Since replacing Drew Bledsoe in the middle of 2001, Brady has only missed 19 out of a possible 323 NFL regular season starts. Fifteen of those were for a torn ACL suffered in the first quarter of Week 1 in 2008; the other four were for a suspension due to the Deflategate scandal in 2016. In between, Brady's been one of the league's most durable quarterbacks, quietly playing through a variety of ailments that often flew under the radar.

"In my younger days, I probably would have never showed you guys [the thumb]," he said after Sunday's game. "I'd probably try to keep it a secret. But, I think, at my old age, I don't care so much."

The Eagles' defense will certainly care as they try to throw Brady off his game. Problem is, two weeks ago they had another MVP quarterback come to town as good prep work for Brady's arrival. They failed the test, Patrick Mahomes torching the Eagles for five passing TDs as the Kansas City Chiefs never punted in seven offensive possessions.

Linebacker Eric Wilson did pick off one Mahomes pass, a brief moment where the Eagles looked like they could get back in the game. But Mahomes has been a step below MVP level this year, causing a turnover in four straight games as the Chiefs have regressed to 2-3.

Brady? He hasn't had an interception since Week 1. The Eagles' passing defense is still ranked third in the NFL despite that Mahomes blip, but I expect they'll still have their work cut out for them Thursday night.

2. Which Philadelphia offense will show up?

The Eagles' offense has been defined by inconsistency. They've scored 22 points or more just twice in five games, and one of those was the season opener against the Falcons.

Last week, the Eagles condensed their offensive rollercoaster into a single game. They scored six points in eight first-half possessions, giving up a safety to the Panthers, then adding a fumble and an interception to start the second half before turning on the jets.

Their 15 unanswered points were driven by a trio of young Eagles players: first-round pick DeVonta Smith, Quez Watkins, and Dallas Goedert. It looks like Smith, in particular, is settling into the NFL and developing chemistry with a former Alabama teammate: 14 of his 25 catches have come in the last two weeks.

Smith will be a tough matchup for the Bucs secondary, even with Jamel Dean back in the lineup and the possible return of Antoine Winfield Jr. this week. But Goedert now appears unlikely to play after a positive COVID-19 test Monday landed him on the reserve list. Who will Jalen Hurts turn to as a third option? Former Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz has been invisible, making just one meaningless catch Sunday. Ertz now hasn't had a game with more than 70 yards receiving since 2019 and will be hard-pressed to match Goedert's performance.

3. Who can rush the ball?

The Bucs have been hesitant to put the ball on the ground this year, ranking 26th in rushing offense despite scoring 33.4 points per game, second most in the NFC. No one on the team has put together a 100-yard rushing performance despite lead back Leonard Fournette averaging a respectable 4.5 yards per carry.

Is Thursday night when they'll try and spread their wings a bit to take the pressure off Brady's thumb? Fournette had a season-high 5.6 yards-per-carry average against the Dolphins, earning his first rushing touchdown of the season on 67 yards.

Just as important will be how the Bucs' front line manages the legs of Hurts and Miles Sanders. Sanders has had a disappointing start, rushing no more than 74 yards in any games as head coach Nick Sirianni has been accused of abandoning the run too early. The Penn State product has just 214 yards this year, less than half of the total he put up during his first five starts of 2020 (434). Part of that has to do with the emergence of rookie Kenneth Gainwell, who has 21 rushes for 100 yards and two scores plus 14 receptions for 122 yards out of the third-down role.

Hurts fancies himself a Lamar Jackson redux, piling up the second-most rush yards of any QB this season (256, more than Sanders to lead the Eagles). But Jackson's record (4-1) shows his ability to utilize his runs at the right time. To win Thursday night, Hurts will need to get better with his decision-making, targeted rushes that move the chains instead of his stat line.

Final Analysis

The Eagles came up with a quirky win last week, helped a bit by a blocked punt in the fourth quarter while Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold came down to earth after a hot start (three interceptions).

It would be a miracle for the Eagles to get the same type of turnover luck against an experienced Buccaneers team. Brady just has too many weapons, from Antonio Brown to Mike Evans, along with an underused rushing attack in Fournette. Even with Rob Gronkowski unlikely to play, healing from broken ribs, this one should be a cakewalk for the defending Super Bowl champs.

Imagine what would happen with Brady at 100 percent…

Prediction: Tampa Bay 38, Philadelphia 20

the media darlings are at the top.

ESPN’s stat, QBR has Mahomes and Stafford, 75 and 74.8, yet Stafford is 9th.

Anybody know why????????

DNP in practice today with knee issue.

Jives with his performance being under his standard the last 2 weeks. Hope it’s nothing serious.

Most likely way the D improves by year end…

congrats to @Angry Ram fr winning last weeks contest and the 2 week prize of 10k sportsbook credits


nobody reads this crap anyway so kewugkdnk bhebwkkvc qwwebkfskw hdknbfwekjckn owehhf hweihefbkjj kwefnwihn ihwfniknkihkn hefuwqwb ohwehwe oehwnkkdbjk weekkcnknkjj ihk

just start the damn thread already

I listened to a podcast with D'Farr interviewing London Fletcher and it brought back all of the anger after the Rams essentially rejected him by letting him walk after Super Bowl 36. The guy was a valuable player wherever he went. He played for 12 more years in the NFL after the Rams for the Bills and the Redskins. He recently was inducted into WST's Ring of Honor. He never missed a GAME after he left the Rams. He was our stout MLB.

WTF, WTF.WTF.WTF!

First Look: Rams travel to Giants in Week 6 seeking second-straight road win​

The Rams aim for their second-straight road win as they travel to New Jersey to take on the New York Giants in Week 6. Kickoff from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. is scheduled for 10 a.m. pacific time on FOX.

In advance of the contest, here is your first look at Rams-Giants.

Notable Giants additions

Drafted WR Kadarius Toney 20th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft: Originally slotted the 11th overall pick, the Giants traded back with the Bears and still managed to snag Toney, who tallied 2,641 all-purpose yards across 38 games in four seasons at the University of Florida.
Signed WR Kenny Golladay to a four-year contract on March 20: The former Lions wide receiver was brought in as a big-bodied receiver to complement the speedy Darius Slayton and slot receiver Sterling Shepherd, and has recorded 17 receptions for 282 yards through five games.
Top performers in Week 5

QB Mike Glennon completed 16 of 25 pass attempts for 196 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in the Giants' 44-20 loss to the Cowboys in Dallas. He replaced starter Daniel Jones, who was knocked out of the game in the second quarter with a concussion and completed 5 of 13 passes for 98 yards prior to the injury.

RB Devontae Booker led New York's backfield with 16 carries for 42 yards and one touchdown. He replaced starter Saquon Barkley, who excited the first quarter of Sunday's game with an ankle injury.

Toney led all Giants receivers with 10 catches for 189 yards before being ejected late in the contest for throwing a punch at Cowboys S Damontae Kazee.

CB Logan Ryan and LB Tae Crowder led New York's defense with eight tackles each.

On special teams, K Graham Gano made 2 of 3 field goal attempts and both of his extra point attempts, while P Riley Dixon averaged 45.0 yards per punt across two punts.

Early storylines to watch, and what they mean for the Rams

The Rams defense could very well be preparing for a short-handed Giants offense this weekend.

As detailed in the previous section, the Giants saw their starting quarterback, top offensive skill player in Barkley, and a wide receiver they invested a lot of money into in Golladay exit last week's game against the Cowboys due to hamstring injuries. And that was on top of playing without Shepard and Slayton.

That being said, if all three do miss this week's game, it's not an offense that should be overlooked. Tight end Evan Engram was a capable target, moving the chains with four catches for 55 yards. Toney also had a massive game and will certainly have the attention of the Rams' secondary. Plus, even in the absence of that trio of players, it was a four-point game early in the third quarter before the Cowboys pulled away.

The statuses of Jones, Barkley and Golladay – and also Shephard and Slayton – will be worth monitoring this week.

Yeah I know he's got that Hawk taint on him, but with the injury to Darious Williams and the benching of David Long he might be worth a look.

At any rate it's my opinion that we should never be caught short when it comes to corners.
So what say ya'll?

~ArkyRamsFan~

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The Bucs removed Jon Gruden's name from their ring of honour.

It won't be long before his name is removed completely from anything related to the nfl.

Jon Gruden will be cancelled from nfl history. China would be proud.

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