#run-defense

#run-defense

In fact, Weaver, whose run defense is last in the NFL at 174.2 yards per game, said the run defense was so bad that there were times he wanted to "throw up" while watching the game tape of Panthers running back Rico Dowdle rushing for 206 yards in the Panthers' 27-24 win. "This guy was running, he was like a runaway freight train, just running downhill," Weaver said.

This is a big one. Like last year when the Falcons faced the Eagles and Chiefs, or 2023 when they drew the buzzsaw Lions, Atlanta's facing one of the very best teams in the NFL. This happens to be a team they see once every four years, and since the turn of the decade, the Buffalo Bills have the second-best record in the NFL, barely behind the Chiefs.

PASS OFFENSE: A Mac Jones won for the third time in as many starts in place of Brock Purdy, throwing for 342 yards with two touchdown passes, no interceptions, no fumbles, no Ricky Pearsall, no Jauan Jennings, no George Kittle and no Brandon Aiyuk. No kidding. Kendrick Bourne, after Sunday's three-drop fiasco, was Jones' favorite target (10 catches, 142 yards, one drop). Jones delivered scoring strikes to Jake Tonges and Christian McCaffrey for a stunning 14-0 lead, then even after aggravating a left-knee injury,

PITTSBURGH -- The Seattle Seahawks face the Pittsburgh Steelers in a NFL Week 2 matchup on Sunday. Shoring up the run defense was an emphasis this offseason, yet the Steelers struggled against the Jets. The defense will be tested in a different way against Seattle's zone scheme without first-round rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (knee). Watch out for No. 3 corner Josh Jobe, whose combination of size (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) and speed might make him Seattle's best option to match up with former Seahawk DK Metcalf.

Under the lights at Memorial Stadium and in front of a national TV audience, Cal faces its biggest challenge of the young season Saturday when Minnesota pays a visit. Both teams bring 2-0 records to the 7:30 p.m. kickoff on ESPN. We will need to play our best game so far, coach Justin Wilcox said. I'm confident we can do that.

It's why Fowler's reps diminished at the business end of the campaign and into the playoffs. Although Fowler's 10.5 sacks and 44 pressures were encouraging, his ability against the run leaves a lot to be desired. His 50.0 run defense grade from Pro Football Focus ranked 169th out of 210 qualifying edge defenders. The No.3 overall selection became a liability, and the Commanders couldn't trust him to provide the production needed.