The NFL Report: Are The Ravens Cooked? + No More Undefeated Teams in the NFL

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak November. Is it already over for the Ravens? We have the latest on Lamar Jackson's thumb injury. Meantime, is there a better answer in Minnesota than Kyler Murray? Bucky Brooks doesn't think so. I disagree. The latest on the Vikings quarterback conundrum.

And we have a Monday night preview for as good a game as we have seen yesterday. This week, maybe? It's next on the NFL Report. That game is the Bears and the Seahawks in Seattle.

That is a doozy.

Bucky Brooks is here for your Ben Johnson, Mike McDonald preview coming up in a second. Hi there. NFL Report presented by Nationwide. My name is Andrew Siciliano. Monday, a lot of injuries. Let's get what's news to me. Our latest headlines and the big one is out of Baltimore here. Lamar Jackson has not had thumb surgery yet. Do not yet know if he's going to be out for the season.

But moments ago, Jesse Minter says it doesn't look like Snoop Huntley can play Thursday. Yes, they play Thursday against the Jaguars. And it means that in all likelihood, the rookie quarterback, the seven-year college kid out of Maine and UConn who finished up yesterday, Joe Funiano, is going to be the quarterback. He has a chance to play because he, too, Dealing with some injuries. Bills beat him up a little bit.

Bills beat the Ravens. Ravens now 4-4. Here's the schedule. Jaguars on a short week. Bucky's going to be there. Then it's the winless Chargers. The Panthers and Texans in no way out of it fighting for playoff spots. Then the bye. Then the Bucs. You get my point. A lot of AFC North games. Second half of the year.

For now, Bucky... The Ravens are in fourth and last in the hyper-competitive AFC North. If they don't have Lamar and they don't have Huntley for a couple of weeks, man, there are some who think it's over. It's curtains. So the topic bar here is going to ask, is it over for the Ravens, Bucky?

It's not over, but it's really bleak.

You said that with a smile on your face.

I mean, it's not over. But it's really bleak.

I mean, look, the coach in me says that there's always a way for them to win games. And I think the way that they will have to win Jesse Minter is going to have to lean on his defense to be able to get it done. And so, offensively, this means a lot of Derrick Henry, a lot of ground and pound, find ways to get Zay Flowers the ball on quicks and screens and those things, try to minimize the role that Joey Fanano has to play, and then lean on Cal Hamilton and company to get this done. Remember, coming into the season, Jesse Minter was partially hired because of his defensive prowess. Well, Jesse, we're going to need you to find a way to make this defense play at a high level.

So.

It's bleak. It doesn't look good, but it's not over.

If they can play the right way, it's just going to be on Jesse Mitchell and his defense to really lead them on a run if they're going to make a run this season.

All right.

A lot of people go, well, make a move, Eric DaCosta. Jacoby Brissett just got benched. I'm sure even though Kirk Cousins had a great game, the Raiders would listen if you made a call. I have a crazy one. I'd call for Kyler Murray, but you think I'm insane. Like, shouldn't they try to do something here?

Well, I mean, I think a lot of it depends on Snoop Hundley and how long he will be out if he's out at all.

Here's the thing.

All the quarterbacks that are available that could be on the street or whatever, like, I don't know if they're going to be an upgrade over their current situation. With Declan Doyle, the only ones that you could go to would be someone that is affiliated with the Bears. Tyler Bajan. maybe Case Keenum. That's the only way because you have to get up to speed and learn this offense. And you posted the schedule. The schedule is hard. How quickly can a new quarterback get up and running? I think they're probably best to stay the course unless it's absolutely critical that you only have Joe Panano and then you've got to figure out a way to kind of go somewhere else.

Yeah, Tyson Bajan's not playing for the Jaguars. I'm sorry, for the Ravens against the Jaguars on Thursday. He's in uniform right now in Seattle. the Bears. We'll get to that game come up in a second. Bucky stayed right there. Let's get to the highlights. What a week eight it was. All of these great divisional games, including the one in the late window between The Chiefs and the Broncos. Bo Nix did it again. That is a fourth-quarter comeback. Here it's Nate Atkins. They get the two-point conversion. That was a fourth-down touchdown. They get the two-pointer to Waddle, and we've got a game. And the Chiefs are up by only three. And then Jonah Coleman, the rookie, gets in the end zone. This one play after a 51-yard run

where he gets him down to the five. And that's at the two-minute warning. Patrick Mahomes would drive him down the field. Fourth down, final play of the game. It came down to the final play. Malcolm Roach gets the sack. You can't lateral it to a lineman. Denver is in first. The Broncos are 6-2. The Chiefs are 5-2. And Kansas City loses back-to-back. Bo Nix found a way to do it again. Update. All right. This is the most important news to come out of the Lions and Vikings game.

The fact that today the Lions gave a somewhat positive update here on Jack Campbell. Scary injury taken to the hospital on a stretcher. Preliminary indications are positive. The Lions say it is a neck injury, but they're not going to give any more information than that. It is a vague update. But the Lions are calling it a positive update.

So we'll cross our fingers and take it from there. The actual game itself at Kyler Murray and the Vikings trying to stay undefeated. They're on the road. They're in Detroit. Vikings had only nine offensive touchdowns all year coming into the game. This is a close game in the third quarter when Jameer Gibbs goes off. 30-yard touchdown run. They go for two. They don't get the two. Gibbs ran for a buck. 53. Great offense against great defense. And a little bit of offense here for Kyler. He hits TJ Huckinson for the touchdown. Minnesota leads 15-12. But Jared Goff made plays all day. And here, with four and a half to go, he hits Jamison Williams. Touched in the back of the end zone. Get the feet down.

And the Lions take a lead. And the Lions have now won three consecutive games. And they are 2-0 in division. And the Vikings finally lose.

Full team effort, man. But I'm telling you what, you play different games every week by the opponents, man. And we did exactly what we had to do. You guys just hung in there. That's a gritty win, man. That's a gritty win. Like, that's one of those deep playoff wins, man.

Right?

You get late in the season, you hit the playoffs. You got to have some... to you, man. Intestinal fortitude to win that. We're going to take a knee. I want to pray for Jack.

Okay?

And let's keep him in our thoughts and prayers now. That's a hell of a win, man. You guys broke it down. I love you, boys. Stick together.

I know that's tough with Jack.

Stick together. Lean on each other, all right? Good job.

Win on three.

One, two, three.

Win!

So the Lions go to Miami now, and the Vikings are home on Monday night against the Bills. So they have a little bit of time here for Kyler Murray to rest that hammy. He did not look like himself at the end of the game yesterday. Kevin O'Connell confirms he is dealing with a hamstring. There are some Bucky Brooks who would argue... And in a very small sample size, Carson Wentz moves this offense better. Kyler, 413 down the field yesterday. 51 of his 200 yards came on one play.

Would you ever consider doing that?

Sitting him down?

I mean, look, that's been the word. There's been a lot of conversation about Kyler Murray and this offense. But I'll say, look, he's only started six games for the Minnesota Vikings. And this offense hasn't been perfect. But I would say Calum Murray's been part of the problem. But I would say the run game or lack thereof has also been a problem. And so if you're Kevin O'Connell, what you're looking to see is how far can we go with this offense playing like this? Our defense is terrific.

Our defense gives us a chance each.

And every week.

And even though I want to dial it back to be able to complement what we do defensively, we have to get more.

Is it fixable? Yes.

But Calum Murray has to improve. Kevin O'Connell has to improve with the play calling. They have to figure out how to get on the same page. But right now, it certainly doesn't look great. But I'll say this about Carson Wentz. Carson Wentz had a flash early in the year when he jumped in. I think the Green Bay game when he came back. But the next game, he wasn't great either. So this offense is a big problem, and that problem extends beyond the quarterback. They've got to figure out how to score more points.

All right, so Carson Wentz, let me translate here. Sounds like to you, Bucky, the proverbial guy who can get you through a couple of weeks, but let's keep it at that.

Oh, for sure.

I'm not the only one. There have been a million teams that have told us that, that he's a guy that is just a stopgap of feeling. He's a middle reliever. We don't want him pitching too long. We don't want him closing games out late. We just kind of need him on the roster to come out of the bullpen every.

Now and then.

Okay, well, you know, I mean, there are teams that try to win World Series with bullpen games, right? Sometimes it's not necessarily sustainable. I hear you. Bucky, stay right there. We are far from done. Let's get back to more news, including in Arizona, where no surprise today, Mike LaFleur named Gardner Minshew his starting quarterback. What a fourth quarter Minshew had yesterday, the Minshew magic. Some would argue also not sustainable, but he is the guy, at least for now, and Jacoby Brissett has been bounced all the way down to QB3.

He'll be the emergency quarterback.

Obviously, I mean, I think he kind of showed all of us in terms of him going out there, being the competitor that he is. Doesn't shock me, obviously. I mean, the production was pretty wild in terms of the amount of points and just moving up and down the field. But, you know, he's a competitor, and he's always prepared. He's preparing like he's the starter. He's preparing like he's going to be in there for whatever snap. He supported Jacoby at a high level, too. He's been a great backup to him. for him. He's been great for the room.

I look forward to the challenge that we have this week with him.

Rookie Carson Beck will be number two next Sunday in Seattle. Meantime, in Indianapolis, Shane Steichen says Daniel Jones will remain his starting quarterback. Bucky was there when the Colts got destroyed by the Jaguars yesterday. Jones eventually benched Anthony Richardson, got the game, his first action since the eye injury a year ago. But Daniel Jones is still the guy, for now, in Indianapolis. Moving on, back to the highlights here. Big AFC North game. Browns, Steelers, Browns had lost 22 consecutive regular season games in Pittsburgh. It's now 23. They could have made it a one-score game going into the half, but the Steelers got the ball back with 45 seconds to go. Bad tackling. Steelers go down the field, and

the Pat Friermuth team tush push with 300 pounder Darnell Washington pushing behind. Why do I mention Darnell Washington? Because he was a menace. Three for 94. Again, he's listed at 265. If he's 265, I'm six foot five. He is 311 pounds at a minimum. That's what he admitted on a podcast last year. Jalen Warren, 143 yards rushing.

The Steelers go to six and two. They take control of the AFC North at a bye. They have won four consecutive games. Browns fall to five and three. This game was wild. Titans, Bengals. What a day for Joe Burrow. What if I told you he had six total touchdowns, five through the air, one on the ground. Here is one of the five through the air with a buck 17 to go. It tied the game. Touchdown to T. Higgins, who had 155 yards receiving. We go to overtime when Cam Ward, you could argue, mismanaged the end of regulation, even though he had.

A great game.

Burrow runs for a touchdown. He threw three picks all to Imani Hooker. But right there, the Bengals have the lead. And then Cam Ward, fourth down. Nope. Can't connect. And that is it. That is the game. Robert Sala and the Titans come oh so close, play a great game on the road, but cannot finish. And this is what your AFC North looks like. Steelers atop with a 2-1 division record, and they head to the bye. Bengals 5-2.

Browns go to New Orleans this week. The Ravens play on Thursday. By the way, the Bengals go to Madrid to play the Falcons. We are back in Europe, we collectively, as a league. Let's get to the Thursday night game. Zach Charbonnet activated. He is on the field now for the very first time since last year's ACL injury down the stretch. And Jadarian Price is on the field as well.

The rookie running back, the first round pick activated off injured reserve. Look, mom, one hand for Jackson Smith in Jigba as the weather starting to feel like fall, isn't it? Caleb Williams, however. No, it's Jeffrey Simmons, isn't it? I have a very small monitor right here. Jeffrey Simmons in his first Bears action. Will he wear orange sleeves tonight?

That's the question. Also the question, Bucky Brooks, is who wins in, if you're a tape head, if you're an X's and O's geek, this fascinating matchup tonight. Mike McDonald, Ben Johnson, first time they have gone head-to-head as head coaches. What gives?

Yeah, this is a great one to watch. And I think Ben Johnson is the creativity. It's the way he mixes pizzazz and physicality. They're going to run the football.

They're going to run it at you.

They're going to throw the clock. But then he's going to have enough creative and trick plays to kind of keep you guessing from a defensive standpoint. What he has done with this offense, particularly with Caleb Williams, He has made it efficient, but explosive. Mike McDonald, on the other hand, he does a great job of playing two high safeties, nickel personnel, trying to find different ways to send people on blitzes while really maintaining an umbrella over top of the defense. So for Caleb Williams, he is going to have to be disciplined and patient and take the shots that are available, but there won't be many shots available.

To me, this is a push. I have no idea who has the edge because both teams are talented players. But if I have to lean, I'm going to lean towards the Seahawks just because that defense gives them a bit of an edge.

Bears' number one rush offense in the NFL, 154 yards a game. The number three total offense in the NFL. No Kyle Medungai, however. It's DeAndre Swift as RB1 again tonight as Medungai. He's going to miss yet another game with the toe injury. Bucky Brooks, everybody, thank you kindly. You're watching the NFL Report. I ask every day, do you have NFL Plus Premium yet? And the answer should be yes. If it isn't, my question will be why not.

You get NFL Red Zone every Sunday. You get the game replays. You can track advanced analytics powered by next-gen stats. with NFL Pro. Sign up today at plus.nfl.com slash fast. Terms and conditions apply. They always apply. Scott Hanson, hi, I'm Andrew. When you get it, when you get your NFL Plus and you watch Red Zone, you can see firsts every week. Week 8, we had a lot of fun first.

Absolutely.

How about the Buccaneers game is not one that made a lot of the highlight shows, not in the A block and the first segments of the highlight shows. That game, torrential downpour in Tampa, the lightning capital of North America.

They didn't have any lightning, thankfully. But they have so much reign.

The Bucs win the game without completing a pass.

In fact, we're going to show.

You all of Baker Mayfield's pass attempts there. That one went to the end zone incomplete. This one goes to the end zone. Nobody home. And then they said, you know what? The wet stuff's coming down. Maybe we just stop even throwing it. Although he did complete.

That right there, which is a lateral, not a pass.

And then Jesse Bates with one of the defensive plays of the year there to punch it free at the goal line.

The old touchback.

Everybody hates that rule and whatnot. But the Bucs win with zero completions. First team to do that since the 1974 Buffalo Bills.

Put it in a time capsule. It only happens once every 15 years.

So that game happened that you mentioned, September 29 of 1974. I was exactly one month old to the day, looked it up. I also love, and this is not an anti-Baker take, I promise you, I like Baker, but that Mayfield has beaten the Panthers and Kevin Stefanski in back-to-back weeks and done so with like 11 completions in those two games.

Does he keep track of those things? I always forget.

He does not.

I don't think in any way he keeps track of those games. Bygones be bygones.

So back-to-back revenge, or 2-0, you'll take 2-0, but with 11 completions.

Yeah, there you go. But that Bucs run game, bro. Insane.

Franchise record yesterday, 324 yards. Bucky Irving goes for a buck 70. Kenny G, Kenny Gainwell.

Gainwell, that is. With 100 and, Kenny G, got to go get it.

140 yards.

Bucs-Brown game is for real. Defense made enough plays there. Atlanta's got some things to fix.

One of the most fun games in our fun facts and fun firsts game. the Raiders and the Jets. And also, kick return.

Finally, first kick return for a touchdown.

When they changed the kick rules, I don't know how you feel out there, but I thought this was going to lead to some explosive plays. You've got the guys that are coming down on the pursuit are so close to the blockers, there are going to be lanes to exploit. And you know who's exploiting them better than almost anyone these days? That guy right there, Dylan Lauby. The kick returner for the Las Vegas Raiders with the first kick return of the year for a touchdown.

95 yards, he goes on this one.

Guy's a sixth-round pick out of New Hampshire from a couple years ago. He's the first Raider since 2011 to have a kick return for a touchdown.

Jacoby Ford, remember the old speedster? Of course.

Clemson Tiger, I think he was, like a 4-3 guy that Al Davis would have loved to have drafted there. And how about this one for Lobey as well? He's a Long Island native. So playing right across the river there at MetLife Stadium. Had a ton of fans and friends in the stands to watch him go 95 and house it for.

The first time, anyone.

Tip of the cap to Jason Horowitz as well. Voice of the Raiders, who had it in his bag. They didn't have one in 15 years as soon as he gets across the ball.

Yeah, it was. 15 years. Game recognizes game when it comes to those guys.

Absolutely.

Horowitz, I got you right there. Also, Joe Burrow had one of those ridiculous, like my 12-year-old nephew playing Madden because he played Joe Burrow, kind of games for the Bengals.

Yeah, first time ever he's accounted for six touchdowns in his tremendous career so far, but this was a burrow boffo type of a day. Against the Tennessee Titans, who people thought, oh, they're folding up the lawn chairs right now. No Jeffrey Simmons, that defense is just going to be absolutely collapsing all over the place.

Well, he threw for five, he ran for one, but he also threw three interceptions.

All the Imani Hooker.

It was a Jameis Plus type of a game right here. And you know, the good thing for Burrow and the Bengals, they had that stigma of, oh, they trail in the fourth quarter.

That's it.

The Bengals don't come back. Burrow does not come back late in the fourth quarter.

He did.

Game-time touchdown with a minute and 17 seconds. This was the game-winning touchdown eventually in overtime. The scramble right there. Cincinnati's 5-2. I don't know what you think about an overtime win over Tennessee, but... They are 5-2 in the best division in the AFC.

A win is a win is a Cam Ward taking a 20-yard sack when you could have had a Joey Sly 64-yard field goal attempt at the end of the game. But it's a win.

True. It's a win. Absolutely.

Scott Hanson, everybody.

Good to see you, Andrew.

Likewise.

You're watching the NFL Report. Great event here in L.A. this past week with the Chargers. They call it Boo at the Bolt. Do it every year. It's a Halloween celebration for kids impacted by cancer. It's a tradition that gives those kids a safe and supportive place. The kids and their families as well. Some holiday fun. A bunch of Chargers, as you can see. Players Taking part and spending time with kids and their families. Good stuff here in Los Angeles. All right, back to the highlights. Maybe not good stuff for the Cowboys. Cardinals, Cowboys, the Cardinals own the Cowboys in Dallas. You laugh all you want, but they really do. Seven seconds left. Six on the clock.

When Gardner Minshew off the bench, it's Michael Wilson, who had nearly 130 yards from scrimmage. And the Cardinals are going to beat the Cowboys. Except Chad Ryland missed the extra point. Cardinals rally from down double digits. Minshew with three late touchdowns. What an amazing back and forth game. Boy, go to overtime. So Dak's going to win in overtime.

Except he's not. Josh Sweat, not yet traded. With the third down sack, Cowboys have to punt. Minshew gets him into field goal range. And then, as Joe Davis said, Ryland redemption. Chad Ryland wins it. The Cardinals have never lost at AT & T Stadium. That's not a typo. They are 5-0 and do it again.

How concerned are you that Shadi is not getting it done the way you want it to be?

Well, I don't know.

None of us are getting it done. And that should.

Be my concerns.

Will this cause you to make a change?

Again, we're not going to get into anything. That's not in my mind at this time.

Very disappointing sucks.

One of the toughest, I guess, I've been a part of.

Yeah, no words for it, really.

Other than that, really, really disappointing, frustrating.

It's part of this league.

Cowboys go to Indianapolis this coming Sunday. Moments ago, Brian Schottenheimer said both Caleb Downs and P.J. Locke, two members of the secondary, are in concussion protocol. Malachi Lawrence has an ankle and that it is more serious than the ankles suffered by Jake Ferguson and Joey Porter-Lewis. Okay, so the Cowboys certainly banged up and reeling after that loss.

Getting healthier, that man, Micah Parsons. Matt LaFleur, any LaFleur will do, says the plan is for Micah Parsons to practice this week. So coming back from last year's knee injury, no one thinks he's playing this week. Circle the night before Thanksgiving here in Los Angeles against the Rams. for a potential Parsons return. Speaking of the Rams, Miles Garrett is getting back on the practice field this week. Sean McVay means it this time. He said it about an hour ago. McVay has not played. So odd, by the way, to see him listed as a linebacker. Garrett, rather, has not played since week one in Australia. News not good in Tampa. Yaya Diaby, who some think might be traded, but the Bucs won yesterday, has an MCL sprain that

is normally a multi-week injury. Bucs found a way to win yesterday in a downpour. Yes, they can stand the rain. The Saints have moved on from their run game coordinator, TJ Paganetti, New Orleans' 28th. rushing attack in the NFL, although they have had a banged-up backfield. They're coming off a bye. They get the Browns this coming Sunday. How about a new flag football league? You knew it was coming, but the NFL and tomorrow's sports unveiled today. The Premier League, that's going to be the brand identity for the new professional flag league, men and women flag league, coming in the summer of 2027. And finally, we have time for one more thing before we go. Ladies and gentlemen, he is back. That is Kirko Chains. Remember the Kirk Cousins

alter ego years ago in Minnesota? Now he's a Raider. And the Raiders pulled out a win in a highly entertaining game in New York. And the flight back. Kirk O'Chain in all his glory. My name is Andrew Siciliano. We thank you for watching the NFL Report. We're back tomorrow, 7 o'clock Eastern time. In the meantime, let's get you ready for Monday Night Football. So long.

The NFL Report: Are The Ravens Cooked? + No More Undefeated Teams in the NFL

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