MIKE TANIER has been writing Football Outsiders Almanac chapters for so long that he feels like Ringo making yet another special guest appearance during a Paul McCartney show. Mike recently wrapped up a six-year run as the NFL Lead Columnist for Bleacher Report; his popular Monday Morning Digest feature will presumably be replaced by TikTok videos, cartoon GIFs of Lamar Jackson, and long apologies. A father of two with almost 20 years of experience as an NFL writer, Mike is proof positive that we all get by with a little help from our friends. You can find his work at Fansided.com, Pro Football Network, the New York Times, and here at Football Outsiders.
Cardinals-Rams may come down to who can create the most big plays—or who can prevent them. The 49ers customize a game plan to attack the Seahawks, the Browns try to avoid turning into the Vikings, and both Andy Reid and Ben Roethlisberger approach milestones. Yep, that covers each and every storyline for Week 4, and they are all in Friday's Walkthrough!
Is the Seahawks defense terrible? Or is it simply predictable, understaffed, and stale? Oops, looks like Walkthrough might have tipped its hand with that intro. But you'll want to look inside for more details, plus the strangest Cordarrelle Patterson comparison ever, actual praise for the Vikings, and betting trends you can use (and some you shouldn't) for Jaguars-Bengals on Thursday Night Football.
The Bills are two-touchdown favorites against the lowly Texans, but history reveals that heavy September favorites are a bad bet. Also, Walkthrough explores whether Dan Campbell's caveman tactics have a chance to catch fire for the Lions and examines how hot starts and upsets have shaken up the futures market in the AFC West and NFC South.
Justin Fields was awful in his first start, but Matt Nagy deserves much of the blame. The Chiefs are 1-2, but any Patriots fan can tell you that's no reason to panic. The Rams proved that Matthew Stafford makes them Super Bowl contenders, while the Steelers are in denial about Ben Roethlisberger. Plus: Week 3 awards and a huge day of props and parlays in Monday's Walkthrough!
Have opponents found Aaron Rodgers' weakness? And was it sitting on their desk the whole time? Walkthrough goes deep on the two-deep looks defenses are using against the Packers. Plus: the Chargers' red zone woes, the malfunctioning Bears, the stubborn Vikings, and your weekly dose of Carson Wentz slander.
Odell Beckham and Will Fuller are slated to return to Browns and Dolphins teams that desperately need them. But didn't we say that last week? And will Curtis Samuel's hamstring ever heal? Walkthrough hopes some of the NFL's dynamic receivers will be worth the wait. Plus: Derrick Henry's purgatory, Sony Michel's opportunity, and a guide to betting against Davis Mills.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced its 122 nominees for the Class of 2022. That field will be trimmed to 25 semifinalists in November and 15 finalists in January. (Click to read more.)
Lamar Jackson threw for over 200 yards, rushed for over 100 yards, and scored three total touchdowns on Sunday night. Walkthrough investigates just how many other QBs have done that in NFL history. Plus: a look at why Mac Jones is the best bet to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, some QB injury updates, and a dive into the New York Giants' alternate reality.
If Jameis Winston is outstanding in Week 1 and horrendous in Week 2, does that make the Saints ... average? Where do they rank among the NFL's many .500 teams, including the Chiefs and Ravens? What can we make of the 2-0 Raiders and 49ers? And what sort of person wagers $107,000 on the Miami Dolphins? The answers to these questions, plus Week 2 awards and much more, are all in Monday's Walkthrough.
The Chiefs can't really clinch the AFC with a win over the Ravens, but it sure feels like they can. Plus, the Titans' abandonment of play-action causes an existential crisis, the Cowboys risk early self-destruction, and the Bears risk final Bengalsization in the Week 2 Game Previews!
