It’s crazy to think about, but there’s a parallel universe out there, maybe situated right next to ours, where Kyle Shanahan got exactly what he wanted: Mac Jones, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft; the player hand-picked by the Niners’ coach to be his team’s next franchise quarterback after Jimmy Garoppolo.

Now, that’s not...Read more

SEATTLE — It’s two games. Two games that have included major opponent injuries, a doinked field goal and a muffed kickoff return.

To pretend that we know who the Seahawks are based on 120 minutes of action would be premature. But that defense? That defense is making the Mike Macdonald hire look better every week.

The Seahawks jumped to 1-1...Read more

MIAMI — It’s officially open season on the Miami Dolphins.

Say what you want about South Florida’s NFL franchise right now because there are no consequences, no repercussions.

Who isn’t looking for someone to blame, someone to fire?

Players, coaches, executives, scouts, the cafeteria staff [which I’m a big fan of for the record], ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — The Chargers are spiraling — in all the right ways.

A laser to Keenan Allen in the back of the end zone. A pristine rainbow to Quentin Johnston way downfield.

Justin Herbert, spinning passes with mechanical precision, led his team to a 20-9 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, directing the Chargers to a 2-0 record and a spot ...Read more

Remember this one.

If this turns out to be a special season for Tampa Bay, this game will be a huge part of the story.

Playing without both of their offensive tackles, two of their receivers and a defensive tackle, the Bucs used a makeshift game plan to come from behind in the final minute and beat the Texans 20-19 in Houston on Monday night. ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Baltimore learned its lesson and closed out a double-digit lead, this one a 41-17 win over the Cleveland Browns. It marked the first time the Ravens scored 40-plus points in back-to-back games since December 2020. A few unexpected heroes made the difference.

Here are five things we learned from the game:

Wide receivers can turn ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Before the season, Rams coach Sean McVay spoke confidently about his team's talent and depth.

That depth will get another early test.

Starting cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon was placed on injured reserve Monday after suffering a fractured clavicle during Sunday's 33-19 victory over the Tennessee Titans.

Witherspoon, 30, will ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Cam Heyward said he’s not going to ride the roller coaster of emotion that can happen week to week in the NFL.

The Steelers’ long-time defensive captain said he’s not going to react or get caught in the ups and downs, the good and the bad that can occur in a season, especially after just two games.

But that’s the problem...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — One sequence from a debacle of a football game crystalized how things have gone for the Vikings offense in seven of the eight quarters played in this young NFL season.

With the ball at the Atlanta 2-yard line, J.J. McCarthy took the snap, faked a pitch to his running back and lost grip of the ball. He recovered the fumble ...Read more

CHICAGO — Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson has a new groin injury, and the team hasn’t determined how much time the two-time Pro Bowl selection might miss. Johnson exited Sunday’s 52-21 loss to the Detroit Lions in the second quarter.

Johnson also missed all of training camp and the season opener with a groin injury, but coach Ben ...Read more

INDIANAPOLIS — Time to run mental lapses.

And extra gassers at the end of practice.

Here in Naptown, a poster with Colts players adorns the J.W. Marriott, paying tribute to late team owner Jim Irsay. It reads: For the Boss. For the City. For the Shoe.

For the love of God, this ending was stupid. A series of cognitive disconnects, each more ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The Chargers embracing an opposite approach in play-calling — moving away from a run-heavy philosophy — left many bemused during their season-opening win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Brazil.

Justin Herbert was given free rein to showcase his arm, firing pass after pass against the defending AFC champions. This approach ...Read more

NEW YORK — Jets coach Aaron Glenn announced Monday morning that quarterback Justin Fields has been placed in concussion protocol.

Fields, 26, suffered a concussion during the fourth quarter after Joey Bosa sacked him during Sunday’s 30-10 loss to the Bills.

The back of Fields’ head hit the MetLife Stadium turf after he was taken down and...Read more

NEW YORK — The Cincinnati Bengals are going to be without Joe Burrow for a while.

The star quarterback “looks like he’s gonna need surgery” for the turf toe injury he suffered Sunday, head coach Zac Taylor said Monday.

“We’re still working through all the details of that, what that timeline’s gonna look like,” Taylor said.

...Read more

DETROIT — Trailing by a touchdown, the Chicago Bears faced a third-and-1 at their 37-yard line early in the second quarter Sunday at Ford Field. Coach Ben Johnson called for a quarterback sneak.

“I’ve got a lot of confidence in them that, when it becomes a third-and-1, that we can get a first down in two plays,” Johnson said.

Caleb ...Read more

MIAMI — There surely have been bigger early games, Week 2-early, across the NFL’s century-plus or the Miami Dolphins’ 60 years in it.

Maybe. But I doubt that. Have not covered one, heard of one or felt one like what Sunday was at Hard Rock Stadium.

The weight of this game on the Dolphins was oppressive, heavy as hot anvils.

Sunday, down...Read more

With all the Atlanta Falcons’ issues with kicking field goals, projecting them to win the game because of field goals was a long shot.

Enter Parker Romo, who was the team’s choice as the kicker over Younghoe Koo, who missed the potential tying field goal last week as time expired.

Call Romo the hero — and give the defense a close second ...Read more

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The house of horrors we called it. Remember?

Miami, the place where Patriot dreams wilt, wither and die.

Tom Brady had a losing record here. Bill Belichick never beat Tua Tagovailoa here.

Blah, blah, blah.

Welcome to the Mike Vrabel era.

Here, the Patriots needed just two games to do something they hadn’t done in ...Read more