#run-defense

#run-defense

Milton Williams has been worth the price that the Patriots paid this offseason to lure the former Eagles standout lineman to New England - with the 26-year-old Williams helping turn Mike Vrabel's defense into one of the stingiest in the league against the run. A young defensive lineman capable of both generating pressure up the middle and clogging up running lanes was one of the priorities for the Patriots last offseason as Eliot Wolf and Co. tried to shore up multiple holes across the depth chart.

His "contact courage" has been noted by coaches and teammates as an often overlooked but critical ingredient to the Patriots' defensive success. A third-quarter play in a Week 11 win over the New York Jets -- when 6-foot-1, 205-pound Gonzalez jacked up receiver Tyler Johnson, leading receiver Isaiah Williams to run into Johnson's back on a sweep -- is one notable example of Gonzalez's recent success in that area.

"It was crazy, not just to see a living legend but somebody that played at a high level in the league," Verse said. "To be able to meet him and sit down with him, it was cool."

Asked what it will take to upset the Cardinals (7-1, 4-1), Cal coach Justin Wilcox offered no magic formula. Block and tackle. I know that's going to seem like coach-talk and over-simplification but it's true, he said. We have to block and we have to tackle. Without that, we have no chance. I don't care what scheme you have. You just have a dry-erase marker at that point.

When he was signed by the New York Jets before the 2022 season, Jacob Martin told the New York Post, "I'm a total football player." That statement came five months after former NFL scout Daniel Kelly had essentially eviscerated the four-year veteran on Sports Illustrated. In his story, Kelly referred to Martin as one of the worst run defenders he had ever seen at the defensive end spot.

What happened to the Chargers who started the season with three consecutive wins over AFC West foes? Injuries along the offensive line and in the backfield account for some of the troubles - three losses in four games - but now the defense is breaking down too, especially against the run. Enter the Vikings, who have alternated wins and losses all season and are coming off a six-point loss to Philadelphia.

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Chargers activated linebackers Khalil Mack and Denzel Perryman off of injured reserve, the team announced Saturday. The move clears the way for both to return to the field against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Mack injured his elbow in the Chargers' Week 2 win over the Raiders. He attempted a tackle in the first quarter, but his left hand got caught between Chargers linebacker Troy Dye and Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker, turning his elbow to an awkward position.

"It's not the secondary, that's a cop-out," defensive tackle Cameron Heyward said. "I think the front line, we got to control line of scrimmage a lot better. I'm pissed off. We didn't take care of our job. ... they were last in rushing, and the way we gave it up today that takes the cake. We got to stop the f---ing run. That's as simple as that."

Currently out with high ankle sprain. Washington's offense is a moving target because Jayden Daniels turns dropbacks into field trips. He's been sacked 14 times, which is middle of the pack and the Commanders just coughed up three turnovers on Monday night after juggling injuries up front. That's the kind of environment where a high-motor edge like Ezeiruaku can really shine.

Chuba Hubbard missed last week's win over Miami and had 1,195 yards and 10 touchdowns in just 15 games last year. His replacement last week was former Cowboy Rico Dowdle, who had 1,079 yards and two scores in 16 games last year. And last week against the Dolphins, Dowdle had 206 rushing yards and a touchdown on just 23 carries - almost nine yards a carry.

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.

After the worst performance of his young career a week ago, he bounced back with poise, accuracy, and confidence. He wasn't just managing the offense; he was commanding it, showing exactly why the Falcons hitched their future to him. Penix finished 20-of-26 (76.9%) for 313 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Even the pick wasn't a backbreaker - more of a heat check to an equally hot Drake London on a sideline sail route.