FOX NEWS: Coronavirus passports with vaccination info in development: report

Coronavirus passports with vaccination info in development: report



The COVID-19 digital passport would provide a digital document showing a traveler's coronavirus test results and if they have been vaccinated.

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FOX NEWS: Suburban Seattle police report cases of people knocking on doors, claiming they’re rightful homeowners

Suburban Seattle police report cases of people knocking on doors, claiming they’re rightful homeowners



Seattle radio host Jason Rantz reacts on ‘America’s Newsroom.’

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FOX NEWS: TikTok user 'grills' steak in airplane bathroom, draws criticism from viewers and airlines alike: 'Disgusted'

TikTok user 'grills' steak in airplane bathroom, draws criticism from viewers and airlines alike: 'Disgusted'



A comedian from New York is catching a lot of heat for an unsavory cooking tutorial he recorded in an airplane restroom.

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FOX NEWS: How to get a Black Friday travel deal during the pandemic

How to get a Black Friday travel deal during the pandemic



Cruises, Caribbean getaways and state-side hotel stays are being offered up at major discounts this Black Friday.

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FOX NEWS: TSA shares Thanksgiving foods you can and can't carry on flights

TSA shares Thanksgiving foods you can and can't carry on flights



You might want plan how you’ll get your leftovers to your destination.

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FOX NEWS: TSA on Wednesday screened the highest number of travelers in one day since the pandemic began

TSA on Wednesday screened the highest number of travelers in one day since the pandemic began



Americans are still traveling for the holidays.

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FOX NEWS: Denver mayor travels after asking public to stay home for Thanksgiving

Denver mayor travels after asking public to stay home for Thanksgiving



Michael Hancock opts to visit family in Mississippi; Fox News correspondent Jeff Paul joins 'Special Report' with the latest

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FOX NEWS: Holiday travelers juggle risks, rewards amid COVID-19 infection spike

Holiday travelers juggle risks, rewards amid COVID-19 infection spike



Fox News correspondent Charles Watson has the latest from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta.

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FOX NEWS: American Airlines plane damaged after reportedly hitting bird, returns to airport

American Airlines plane damaged after reportedly hitting bird, returns to airport



And you thought it was bad running over a squirrel in the car.

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FOX NEWS: American Airlines lifts wheelchair weight limit after blogger was rejected from flight: Report

American Airlines lifts wheelchair weight limit after blogger was rejected from flight: Report



American Airlines introduced a policy in June that banned wheelchairs that weigh more than 300 pounds on some of its regional aircraft. The airline reversed the policy this week.

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New on SI: No title

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New on SI: MAQB: Ravens–Steelers Move to Wednesday Causes Cascade of Schedule Changes

Week 12 will now extend into Wednesday, meaning three prime time games early next week as the NFL tries to keep the season on track to finish in 17 weeks.

Our weekly Monday afternoon/evening news and notes, following what has been quite a different 24 hours in the NFL …

• So in case you’ve been offline all day, Ravens–Steelers (originally scheduled for Thanksgiving night)

will be played Wednesday, which has necessitated moving two more games with Steelers–Washington (initially scheduled for Sunday) being moved to Monday and Ravens–Cowboys (initially scheduled for this coming Thursday) sliding over to Tuesday. Which means we’ll have three games early next week, including a Monday double-header. And the late game on Monday, Niners–Bills, has been moved to Arizona, because San Francisco can no longer play home games under new Santa Clara County rules on contact sports. Got all that? Oh, and by the way, NFL officials believe this week will be worse than last week from a COVID-19 perspective, with everyone returning to work coming off the Thanksgiving holiday. That explains why the league, for now, has been hesitant to pull the Week 18 lever. Park Avenue very clearly wants to leave the idea of tacking a week on to the end of the season out there as a last resort. The goal, of course, for anyone paying attention, is to deliver all 256 games scheduled to the TV networks ahead of a new set of broadcast deals being negotiated. The thought, as I’ve heard it, is that’ll help with those talks—and if the NFL can score as big as it believes it will, then that’ll help mitigate the cap shortfall looming over the next three years. Which ultimately will help everyone. Fewer teams will be broken up. Fewer players will be cut or traded. More players will get paid. As for the Ravens–Steelers game, specifically, moving it to Wednesday allows for another day of testing, and for the Baltimore players a chance to get together, and get two workouts in, with the hope being that’ll lessen the chance of sprains and strains that can come out of a dormant period.

• It’s been a tumultuous 24 hours for the Ravens. Just after 9 a.m. on Monday, players and coaches were filtering into Baltimore’s indoor practice facility for a 9:30 a.m. session that was going to be basically an accelerated walkthrough. And then the call came from the league office to shut the workout down, and wait until about 5 p.m. ET (when the team’s PCR testing would be processed) for further direction. In between, players were open on their desire not to board a plane for Pittsburgh on Monday night, given an outbreak that had shelved 11 starters (including seven Pro Bowlers, one being reigning MVP Lamar Jackson) that still hadn’t been contained. In the end, the league and union wound up listening, with the game pushed another day. The Ravens’ new plans include a 6:30 p.m. Monday walkthrough/game prep session, and a Tuesday night flight (after Tuesday morning’s tests are processed) to Pittsburgh to play on Wednesday. Clearly, the Baltimore players have been through a lot mentally over the last week. They’ll go into the game, presuming it’s played, severely shorthanded (though they will have J.K. Dobbins and Mark Ingram back, and the number of active-roster guys missing will drop to 12). And when they take the field, they’ll be 12 days removed from their last full football practice. It’ll be interesting to see how they respond—though I know the staff really believes the character of the locker room is such where effort and energy won’t be an issue.

• Owner Arthur Blank was asked, after firing Dan Quinn and elevating Raheem Morris to interim coach, what it would take for Morris to be considered for the full-time job. He joked that if Morris went 11–0, he’d be considered. Now? Morris has put himself on a very real track to being a serious candidate for the job. The Falcons are 4–2 on his watch, and a Todd Gurley brain freeze from being 5–1. And while the playoffs are still unlikely (Atlanta is two games out of the last NFC spot with five games left), the fact that .500 is in sight is pretty remarkable based on where they are. What’s more, the team has responded to some of Morris’s adjustments aimed at getting the group back on track. One was to strip down and simplify the messaging from the coaches to the players; explaining in black-and-white each week what the team needs to win, how it can force its will on the opponent and what each individual’s job will be; while emphasizing turnovers and scoring plays in each phase of the game. Some of that might seem a little cliché. But it’s working. And thus Morris—who many saw as getting close to earning a second shot at being a head coach before the season began—is working his way back into the mix in the 2021 coaching carousel, and into the running to keep the job he’s been doing for the last two months.

• The Giants have plenty of confidence in backup QB Colt McCoy, who’s been in the NFC East forever and has the respect of his teammates. For now, word is that Daniel Jones’s hamstring pull is a two- to three-week injury. And while Jones is going to want to go, for sure, McCoy’s presence gives Joe Judge and Jason Garrett some leeway to manage Jones if need be. Hamstrings, as you probably know, can be tricky.

• Questions about Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh’s future have run rampant as his Wolverines have tumbled to 2–4 over the truncated Big Ten schedule—and many in the industry believe he’d want his next step, whether he takes it now or later, to be back into the NFL. So where would he go? The place he has the most obvious connection is Chicago, given he was a first-round pick there. But I’d just keep an eye on the Jets. Owner Woody Johnson’s affection for Harbaugh has been no secret to those who’ve worked in Florham Park over the last decade. Of course, Johnson still hasn’t returned from his ambassadorship in the U.K., which will be coming to an end shortly, and his reentry plan to the team is unclear. So there’s still some uncertainty here. That said, Johnson interviewed Harbaugh for his coaching job all the way back in 2009, and has kept tabs on him since, even covertly taking his temperature on interest in the Jets at points over the years. Keep an eye on that one.

The Albert Breer Show is back on its own podcast feed! Subscribe for Albert's insight and info, with guests including the biggest names in football.

• Of course, a big piece of trying to sell a coaching candidate is, and will always be, who that candidate will bring with him. To that end, wherever 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh lands in 2021, I’d think San Francisco run-game coordinator Mike McDaniel would be high on his list to come with him as an offensive coordinator and play-caller. McDaniel’s reputation as a strategist and play-designer is off the charts (there’s a reason why Kyle Shanahan has brought him to every one of his stops), and I’d think his presence on any staff list that Saleh presents a prospective employer would be viewed as a major positive.

• I wouldn’t be stunned if Matt Patricia wound up back in New England in some capacity. He’s maintained a very close relationship with Bill Belichick since leaving Foxboro, and was proficient in developing young guys on defense—New England was flush with homegrown stars like Devin McCourty, Dont’a Hightower, Jamie Collins and Chandler Jones over Patricia’s time running that side of the ball—which will be an important skill with a roster that badly needs to be turned over. I also believe that Patricia, with family ties to the area, would probably welcome a return. The only question, to me, would be potential awkwardness in slotting Patricia back in, with Belichick’s son Stephen and Jerod Mayo having taken on such prominent roles on the staff in recent years. (What would be more surprising to me, while we’re here, would be Bob Quinn landing back with the Patriots.)

• A lot of eyeballs will be on Eagles rookie Jalen Hurts Monday night. What will it amount to? My understanding is he got a smattering of first-team reps over the last few days—not enough to the point where a casual observer would take notice—so my guess would be that Doug Pederson and his offensive coaches have put together a few packages for him. Hurts, for his part, has gotten a lot better as a passer over the last two years, since leaving Alabama, so it should be interesting to see if that shows up in whatever shot he does get against Seattle.

• Texans WR Will Fuller’s six-game PED suspension isn’t exactly timed out great for the fifth-year burner. With five games left in the season, any team signing the pending free agent will do so knowing he’s out for the 2021 opener and he’s one step away from a year-long suspension. That could really cost him in what will likely be a market saturated with veterans cut as teams work toward compliance with a salary cap expected to drop. And that’s bad news for Fuller, because he’s exactly the kind of receiver that a lot of teams are looking for with the way NFL offenses are going, and he had been well-positioned to cash in as a result. (He might cash in anyway, we’ll see.)

• Finally, one note on the Jaguars’ move to fire GM Dave Caldwell: I’m told that head coach Doug Marrone actually has had final say on the 53-man roster over the last year. He got it when EVP of football operations Tom Coughlin was fired late last year, and that at least adds some context to all the moves the team has made since then.

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New on SI: Texans WR Will Fuller Suspended Six Games for PED Violation

Fuller recorded the best game of his 2020 season last Thursday, hauling in six catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns.

Texans wide receiver Will Fuller has been suspended six games for a PED violation,

he confirmed on Monday.

Fuller explained in a post on Instagram that earlier this year he sought treatment from a medical professional who "prescribed medication that he believed to be permitted under the NFL's drug policy. However, Fuller later learned the substance was not actually permitted under the league's performance enhancing drug policy.

"I want to sincerely apologize to the Texans organization and all of my fans for this mistake," Fuller wrote. "I am looking forward to putting this all behind me and returning better than ever in 2021."

Fuller recorded the best game of his 2020 season last Thursday, hauling in six catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns.

On the season, he has recorded a career-high 879 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. 

The 26-year-old Fuller was the subject of several trade rumors this season. Most notably, the Packers were reportedly interested in the Notre Dame product, but could not agree on his trade value. 

Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson later said he was grateful that Fuller was not dealt.

"It would have been hell if they would have did that, for sure," Watson said of potentially trading Fuller, via ESPN. 

The 26-year-old wideout has spent the first five-plus seasons of his career with Houston. 

He is in the final year of his rookie contract. 

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FOX NEWS: Resurfaced photo shows Biden press sec Jen Psaki wearing hammer and sickle hat with Russian official

Resurfaced photo shows Biden press sec Jen Psaki wearing hammer and sickle hat with Russian official



Jen Psaki, who was named to serve as President-elect Biden's White House press secretary, is facing fresh scrutiny over a photo that shows her wearing a Russian hat that bears the communist hammer-and-sickle logo.

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FOX NEWS: Dr. Scott Atlas resigns as special adviser to Trump on coronavirus

Dr. Scott Atlas resigns as special adviser to Trump on coronavirus



EXCLUSIVE: Dr. Scott Atlas, President Trump’s special adviser on the coronavirus pandemic, formally resigned from his post on Monday, Fox News has learned.

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FOX NEWS: Trump reportedly tells advisers he wants to run again in 2024

Trump reportedly tells advisers he wants to run again in 2024



Fox News chief White House correspondent John Roberts joins 'Special Report' with the latest

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FOX NEWS: Squad member Rashida Tlaib under fire from anti-Semitism watchdog

Squad member Rashida Tlaib under fire from anti-Semitism watchdog



A group opposing anti-Semitism is denouncing Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., after she called for Palestinian freedom "from the river to the sea."

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FOX NEWS: Dr. Slaoui: US could reach herd immunity by May or June with vaccines

Dr. Slaoui: US could reach herd immunity by May or June with vaccines



Operation Warp Speed leader Dr. Moncef Slaoui gives an update on 'Special Report'

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FOX NEWS: Gutfeld on the media’s hard-hitting take on Joe's pets

Gutfeld on the media’s hard-hitting take on Joe's pets



The media goes wild over the president-elect's furry friends; reaction and analysis on 'The Five'

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FOX NEWS: Gaetz: Republicans must continue to push investigation of election

Gaetz: Republicans must continue to push investigation of election



House Judiciary Committee member Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., joins 'Lou Dobbs Tonight' with his thoughts on the results.

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FOX NEWS: Redefining 'freedom'? Left-wing figures give it a try

Redefining 'freedom'? Left-wing figures give it a try



Left-wing icons have attempted to reframe the concept of "freedom" in terms of guarantees from society rather than liberty from certain restrictions.

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FOX NEWS: Biden inaugural committee accepting donations from 'corporate entities'

Biden inaugural committee accepting donations from 'corporate entities'



The committee will not accept contributions from lobbyists, political action committees, fossil fuel companies or their executives.

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FOX NEWS: Iran supreme leader vows vengeance for death of top nuclear scientist

Iran supreme leader vows vengeance for death of top nuclear scientist



Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst has the latest on the death of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh on 'The Daily Briefing'

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Michel Zecler beating: Four French policemen charged over assault

The assault on music producer Michel Zecler in Paris was captured in a video that shocked France.

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Nemonte Nenquimo: The indigenous leader named 'environmental hero'

Nemonte Nenquimo is one of the six environmental leaders to be awarded this year's Goldman Prize.

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Environment award for activist who stopped a new power station in Ghana

A climate activist has won a prestigious prize for leading the battle to block it being built in Ghana.

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Joe Biden: President-elect fractures foot while playing with dog

The president-elect will probably have to wear a medical boot for several weeks, his doctor says.

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Japan's crown prince 'approves' daughter's wedding

Princess Mako had postponed her marriage to Kei Komuro after reports of his mother's money troubles.

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Indonesia: Thousands flee poisonous gas after volcano erupts

Authorities have warned people against poisonous gas after Indonesia's Ile Lewotolok volcano erupted.

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Australia demands China apologise for posting 'repugnant' fake image

A fake image posted by a Chinese government official depicts an Australian soldier murdering a child.

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Sri Lanka: Six die in prison riot over Covid panic

Pandemic-related unrest has been growing in Sri Lanka's prisons as the number of virus cases surge.

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New on SI: Saints Blow Out Broncos 31-3 after Denver Refuses to Forfeit

The New Orleans Saints beat the Denver Broncos 31-3 with wide receiver Kendall Hinton starting at quarterback.

The Denver Broncos were in a bit of a quarterback quandary on Sunday after their passers were ruled out for the game due to COVID-19. QB Jeff Driskel tested positive for the virus and the NFL learned that Drew Lock, Brett Rypien and Blake Bortles were not wearing masks while watching film together- leaving them all ineligible to play. Sports Illustrated host Kaitlin O'Toole is joined by Chad Jensen from Mile High Huddle for insight.

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New on SI: Broncos Coach Vic Fangio 'Disappointed' in Quarterbacks for Breaking COVID-19 Protocols

The Broncos were without all of their quarterbacks in Sunday's 31-3 blowout loss to the Saints.

Speaking to reporters following his team's 31-3 loss to the Saints on Sunday, Broncos coach Vic Fangio expressed his disappointment about the position his team was in heading into the game. Denver was forced to play with

practice squad wide receiver Kendall Hinton at quarterback after every quarterback on its roster was ruled out as a high-risk close contact.

Broncos quarterback Jeff Driskel tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the week, and fellow quarterbacks Drew Lock, Brett Rypien and Blake Bortles were all ineligible to play after coming into contact with Driskel without wearing their masks.

"I was disappointed on a couple of levels, that our quarterbacks put us in this position, that our quarterbacks put the league in this position, we count on them to be the leaders of this team, so that's disappointing," Fangio said, according to Brandon Krisztal of KOA Radio Denver.

Fangio said that the quarterbacks met at the team's facility during an off-day on Tuesday to study film. The group "got lax with their masks" and failed to adequately keep their distance from each other.

Denver was alerted that it would not have its quarterbacks available on Saturday, the day before the game. After unsuccessfully appealing to the league to postpone the game, the Broncos opted to go with Hinton. Hinton hadn't been able to take practice reps at the position and had never played in an NFL game before, though he did spend multiple seasons playing quarterback at Wake Forest.

The results went about as most would expect. Hinton was 1-for-9 for 13 yards and two interceptions, as the Broncos only mustered 112 yards of total offense. 

"I can easily say that was the most eventful 24 hours of my life, but when I got the call there was pure excitement," Hinton said, per the team's postgame transcript. "Of course, there was nerves and disbelief, but the encouragement the team gave me and guys just keeping me up the whole time. ...

"Coming in I knew that I had no idea what the speed of the game was like. I'm familiar with our concepts but it's a lot different from quarterback. So, coming in we knew it'd be a tough situation for sure. That was a challenge that I wanted to take on."

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Biden announces all-female senior press team

Joe Biden has pledged to shape one of the most diverse US presidential cabinets ever.

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White Island volcano: NZ officials charge 13 parties over tragedy

Some 22 people died when the volcano suddenly erupted last December with tourists on it.

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Covid: Fauci warns of 'surge in cases' post Thanksgiving

Millions of people are returning home following the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States.

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Black Lives Matter founders: We fought to change history and we won

The founders of the Black Lives Matter movement tell the BBC's 100 Women season they are optimistic.

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Italy's Calabria has two pandemics: Covid and the Mafia

Calabria was not hit by the first wave of the pandemic but its fragile health system is buckling now.

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Why India can't stop farmers burning stubble

The toxic fumes from stubble burning affects hundreds of millions - but curbs to stop it keep failing.

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Viewpoint: Why Kenya's giant fig tree won over a president

The campaign to save a 100-year-old tree shows cultural fears can make politicians listen in Kenya.

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A 70-year-old photographic mystery

Collector William Fagan finds 70-year-old photographs in a camera.

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The tech allowing thousands of students to sit exams at home

Machine learning is helping firms across many industries more quickly solve difficult challenges.

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Coronavirus: How do you vaccinate 7.7 billion people?

Five challenges of distributing a Covid-19 vaccine to billions of people.

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Nagorno-Karabakh: The boy who swapped his piano for a gun

The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan is over, but some are still waiting for news of missing relatives.

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New on SI: The Broncos' QB Situation Against the Saints Was More Sad Than Amusing

Denver's 31-3 defeat at the hands of the Saints was both a boring watch and a painful reminder of how casually some are still treating the pandemic.

“Man, this is great.”

That’s how color analyst Mark Schlereth started us off on Sunday over an image of emergency quarterback (and former practice squad wide receiver) Kendall Hinton before kickoff of a Saints-Broncos game. It was an afternoon that would not feature a single quarterback for Denver due to the fact that every single one of them had set off red flags due to their close, maskless proximity to Jeff Driskel, who tested positive during the week.

Sure, on one hand it’s kind of a perverse curiosity; a team has to essentially revert to running the Wing-T amid this unprecedented season as the virus rips its way through their locker room and several other locker rooms (and the country, as we’re fast approaching a horrifying daily death record set back in April at a time when we surely thought all of this would be under control by now). It’s not difficult to understand how a matchup like this would accentuate offensive line play, which is Schlereth’s specialty, thus leading to a more informative broadcast for the viewer (and, theoretically, a more interesting game for Schlereth to call). But are we sure “great” is the right way to go with it?

Denver Broncos quarterback Kendall Hinton (2) throws the ball against the New Orleans Saints in the second quarter at Empower Field at Mile High.

This is not a column complaining about a slightly cringe-worthy word choice from one announcer, we promise. I’m not sure what many people would have done in his shoes. It was a perfectly okay broadcast otherwise. But it is an avenue into wondering whether we’ve blurred the line from acceptable entertainment during a pandemic to something more grotesque—and, as a football community, if we have the ability to even discuss something like this seriously at all. As teams around the league continue to approach COVID protocols with the casualness of a Tinder swipe, we’ve now fully embraced the consequences of their actions as a normal part of the tradecraft. How will team X overcome the loss of a player on Sunday who is sick with an illness that has claimed millions of lives?

The NFL had a unique mantle by which to set an example for the country. And God bless the league as they continue to try and rattle people’s cages with six-figure fines to underline the seriousness of the matter. They are trying. They made the Broncos

play without a quarterback on Sunday, for starters. But the way we all looked at Broncos-Saints simply echoed the fact that some of us are continuing to see COVID as a nuisance at worst and, at best, some kind of alternate sports universe from which to derive unique and interesting experiences. Coaches continue to remove masks. Players continue to gather without them.

Maybe watching Hinton scramble aimlessly through the backfield was entertaining for you and, devoid of its proper context, it’s hard to disagree. Had each of the Broncos quarterbacks missed the game through some routine, line-of-duty issue this would have felt more like something to gawk at. But shouldn’t it feel different given the circumstances? And if it doesn’t, why not?

What would the impact be of a coach stepping to the virtual lectern and saying that he was disappointed in himself for not setting a good enough example for his players? What would it look like if a broadcast booth was more openly critical of the situation? You could ask the same question about myriad things we’ve experienced through the lens of the NFL over the last few years—social injustices, domestic violence, substance abuse, mental health. Of course, it’s easier and more socially acceptable to just gloss over the reasons why we’re in the situation we’re in.

I understand the opposing viewpoint, which is that there is nothing left for us to do but smile and look for the positive. Indeed, football is good and cathartic during a time like this. But it can also be instructive and help change the attitudes of those who aren’t taking the pandemic as seriously as they should. That would be great. 

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New on SI: Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill Chase NFL Records vs. Buccaneers

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and wide receiver Tyreek Hill challenged two longstanding NFL records on Sunday.

The Chiefs sport the most explosive offense in the NFL, and Kansas City's dynamic duo chased the record books in a matchup against the Buccaneers on Sunday. 

Kansas City wide receiver Tyreek Hill tallied 210 receiving yards in the first half in Tampa Bay, challenging the all-time single-game yardage record as he finished the afternoon with 269 receiving yards. And Hill's quarterback started the contest on a similar pace. 

Patrick Mahomes entered the locker room at halftime with 359 passing yards, putting him on pace to set the single-game passing yardage record.

Mahomes won MVP in 2018, and he won Super Bowl MVP last season. But Sunday marked perhaps the greatest performance of his career as he finished the afternoon with 462 yards passing and three touchdowns. 

You have to travel far back in the annals of NFL history to find the record Mahomes chased on Sunday. Former Rams quarterback Norm Van Brocklin set the single-game yardage record back in 1951, throwing for 554 yards in an opening-day win over the New York Yanks. Van Brocklin won two NFL championships in his career, but no game is remembered quite like his record-setting contest nearly seven decades ago. 

Hill challenged a record set more recently. Former Rams receiver Flipper Anderson holds the single-game yardage record for wideouts, tallying 336 yards on 15 catches in 1989. Los Angeles tallied just 20 points on the day, but Anderson's record-setting performance was enough to give the Rams a three-point victory. 

Kansas City advanced to 10–1 with a 27-24 win on Sunday. The Chiefs are looking to become the first team to win back-to-back Super Bowls since the Patriots in 2003-04.

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Ethiopia's Tigray crisis: Authorities hunt for TPLF leadership

Prime Minister Abiy says this comes after the "last phase" in the conflict in the Tigray region.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2Vg3amg

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Farm workers killed in 'insane' Nigeria attack

Nigeria's president condemns an attack in which 43 labourers were "slaughtered" near Maiduguri.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/3qiSi5F

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'Fireball' dazzles in the sky in Japan

The ''fireball'' lit up the skies over wide areas of western Japan.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2J8NRtp

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Adam King: Six-year-old Irish boy's space ambition 'inspires' Nasa

Adam King from County Cork captured the hearts of TV viewers with dreams of joining a space mission.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2KH7uca

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Durham van traveller Esther Dingley missing in Pyrenees

Esther Dingley disappeared on a solo hike during a six-year journey through Europe in a campervan.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/33qU3DR

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Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr share an engaging draw in 'exhibition' bout

Mike Tyson ends 15 years of inactivity and shares an entertaining draw with Roy Jones Jr in Los Angeles.

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Dave Prowse: Darth Vader actor dies aged 85

The former bodybuilder was also given an MBE for his long-running role as the Green Cross Code Man.

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Canada bans mass exports of prescription drugs

The new policy comes in response to a US plan to import drugs from Canada.

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New on SI: Week 12 Preview: Baker Mayfield and QB Fits for 2021

Plus, making it work with Trubisky, everything that went wrong in Detroit, the farce of the QB-less Broncos, and more.

1a. I’ve spent much of the past week staring into the middle distance and asking myself, “Am I being too hard on Baker Mayfield?” To be clear, his performance this season has not been very good. But are their mitigating circumstances? Three of his early-season games were at Baltimore, at Pittsburgh and against the Colts, three of the top five—if not the top three—defenses in football. And his three games this month were each in near-monsoon conditions; and if there’s one thing I learned while studying meteorology under the esteemed Professor A.X. Elrose, it’s that nothing lasts forever,

even cold November rain.

Aside from that, Mayfield looked great in two wins over the Bengals, which… the Bengals still employ professional football players. And his play in the other two games—wins over the Football Team and Cowboys—neither offended nor excited me. It’s also important to remember that he’d had three head coaches in three years. Kevin Stefanski’s system is certainly the most functional and QB-friendly one he’s been in, but he had a truncated offseason in which to learn it.

That said, the issue right now with Baker is that, while there have been games in which he has operated that scheme capably, he’s too often been erratic when the Browns are playing on schedule. And when they get behind the sticks, things get much worse. Of the 34 qualifiers, Mayfield, Joe Flacco and Dwayne Haskins are the only quarterbacks in football completing less than 50% of their third-down passes.

It hasn’t been all bad though. Mayfield has been (weirdly) efficient on second-and-long, hitting 76.8% of his throws on second-and-8+ (third-highest completion percentage in that split). That’s likely because play-action is still a threat on second-and-long. Also working in his favor is that his teammates have always seemed to love him (and watching his commercials, some of them are surely considering packing on 80 pounds in hopes of becoming the next B.J. Raji).

Playing from the pocket was always going to be a challenge for Mayfield—he’s been much better on those play-action bootlegs—because for 6-foot quarterbacks vision becomes an issue in the condensed spaces of the NFL. Mayfield can’t fall back on the otherworldly vision and anticipation skills of Drew Brees, the otherworldly improvisation skills and downfield accuracy of Russell Wilson, or the otherworldly scrambling ability of Kyler Murray. And the fact that the Browns have given him such a strong supporting cast—offensive line, pass-catching weapons and a run game that can carry the offense—ultimately leaves you wanting more from a franchise QB than what Mayfield has provided in 2020. It creates a sense that a Kirk Cousins-type could have just as much success (and perhaps more) in Stefanski’s offense, with this talent level to work with.

Cleveland will have to make a decision on Mayfield’s fifth-year option this offseason, and for the first time in the rookie wage scale era—when there is no more valuable commodity than a quarterback still on his rookie deal—the franchise is considering a second contract for a quarterback they drafted. But it’s not as binary a choice as it would have been five years ago, when there was a serious shortage in quality quarterbacks. As last offseason proved, this is a buyer’s market thanks to the recent influx of young talent, and there should be at least four QBs going in the first round this April.

If Mayfield was a free agent this upcoming offseason, what would his market be? Neither Cam Newton, Jameis Winston nor Marcus Mariota could find starter money this past offseason. Mayfield certainly hasn’t established himself as a reset-the-market or even a $30 million-per-year QB at this point. But what about $20 million?

Mayfield does have six-plus weeks to raise his play to that level. Cleveland will get warm-weather games against struggling defenses in Jacksonville and Tennessee the next two weeks. Stefanski’s system doesn’t lend itself to 400-yard passing days, but clean, efficient quarterbacking with a few big plays mixed in would be a very positive sign.

1b. Baker Mayfield also has the league’s highest pass-blocking grade among quarterbacks, according to PFF. So facto that in too.

1c. Who will be participating in the offseason quarterback market? Let’s have a look in Part II of our now-nonsensically titled Football Things Special Event, continued from one week ago, “The Ballad of Abracadaniel.”

Below are the 18 teams who should be in the market for a significant investment at quarterback, whether it be a new starter, a challenge to the current starter, or a QB of the near-future. You’ll be able to tell which list is which as long as you’re able to recognize how the letters form words and the words form sentences and the sentences often form coherent thoughts. (And if you’re not able to do that, you’re probably that guy who kept emailing me about how Jameis Winston should have started over Taysom Hill last week.*)

There are 18 teams below, but to be clear: For 31 teams, if they get the first overall pick, they should take Trevor Lawrence and move on from their current QB. Lawrence is a fit in any offense (wanna run single wing? Wishbone? An offense based solely around the Statue of Liberty Play? He can make it work). He brings immediate superstar potential, and the rookie wage scale locks him into a far-below-market contract for his first three seasons. Only the Chiefs have a better QB situation than whomever lands Lawrence in April.

A NEW QB IN 2021

Jets: It’s Lawrence if they stay winless, Justin Fields (who would have been the first overall pick in any of the previous eight drafts) if they accidentally win a game.

Jaguars: Lawrence or Fields, and then Garner Minshew can reprise his role of an off-brand Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Broncos: They didn’t do any favors giving Drew Lock two offensive coordinators in two seasons, but what’s done is done and Lock hasn’t shown enough to keep Denver from taking a first-round QB. Philosophically, North Dakota State’s Trey Lance would be a perfect fit with Vic Fangio, adding dimension to the run game while emphasizing the downfield passing game.

Football Team: There are limited, conservative passing games and then there’s what Washington is doing with Alex Smith. It’s a formula for wins as long as they’re facing opponents like the Ryan Finley-led Bengals or a Cowboys defense that conscientiously objects to tackling. Lance or BYU’s Zach Wilson would be more dynamic options. Or, they have cap space to make a move for Matthew Stafford, which would guarantee them multiple NFC East titles over the next five years or so.

Bears: The bummer is that, as desperately as they need a quarterback, their outright refusal to address the crumbling infrastructure that is the offensive line (while spending draft capital and cap space on things like subpar edge rushers, middling running backs and enough tight ends to form a K-pop band) makes this one of the worst landing spots for a quarterback. Whoever they bring in will have to be able to create time and space—Lance and Wilson fit the bill, but might require a trade up in April.

IF THE RIGHT GUY BECOMES AVAILABLE

Panthers: Aggressive Teddy Bridgewater has been a joy to watch for the underdog Panthers, but they surely realize it will be someone else who takes them to the next level.

Vikings: Kirk Cousins’s contract is large and immoveable, so it would have to be one of the rookies coming in on a cheap deal. Zach Wilson would be awfully neat in a highly schemed offense like Gary Kubiak’s, though Alabama’s Mac Jones has a lot of similarities to a young Cousins and—again—would cost a fraction of the cap space.

Patriots: They have so many issues beyond quarterback—and plenty of cap room with which to address them—though Cam Newton hasn’t exactly locked down the job with his erratic play. It might ultimately make sense to upgrade the receiving corps and address the aging defense before bringing in the next QB for 2022.

49ers: Jimmy Garoppolo probably deserves a shot to run this thing at full health, but it’s such a well-designed offense that it hurts my feelings every time Garoppolo sails a pass right and wide. Spending a Day 2 pick on Mac Jones (I wonder about his tendency to drift backward against pressure), or maybe Florida’s Kyle Trask (unfortunately heavy-footed) might make sense and would certainly be more cost-effective, but neither guy is as physically talented as Garoppolo. Though if Zach Wilson makes it to them, Garoppolo’s fate might be sealed.

Colts: I mean, really, Jacoby Brissett would have had them in the same position this year as Philip Rivers does (Indy was 5-2 before Brissett got hurt last year, and when he returned it was to a receiving corps straight out of the Alliance of American Football and and a collapsing defense that was the real problem).

Titans: They’re surely pleased with Ryan Tannehill, but considering how QB-friendly this offense is (between scheme, play-calling and the Derrick Henry factor) and Tannehill’s shortcomings when they get behind the sticks (28th in third-and-6+ conversion rate), you wonder if they’d be tempted to do it with a young QB on a much smaller contract.

Saints: They probably should hand it over to Taysom Hill for a season and see what happens—that multi-dimensional run game, when melded with the passing game, will always create those big throwing lanes for him.

SEARCHING FOR THEIR TANNEHILL

The beauty of the Titans signing of Ryan Tannehill two offseasons ago is that, while they viewed him as a potential starter, he wasn’t the kind of guy the fanbase was going to be clamoring for. Bringing him in didn’t put any added pressure on Marcus Mariota, who they were still trying to develop. And, of course, Tannehill ended up being good enough to grab the job and get what amounts to an additional two-year commitment. With that in mind…

Browns: See above on Baker. But if there were an unthreatening veteran with untapped potential they could bring in as a Plan B…

Rams: The Rams have the complementary football thing down as well as anyone, and Goff has been great executing Sean McVay’s offense. But you have to think sometimes they just want a little more out of the position.

QB OF THE NEAR-FUTURE

Bucs: You can’t even figure out who the next QB will be, considering the coach is probably going out whenever Tom Brady does.

Steelers: Considering his struggles, you have to wonder if Sam Darnold is just one of those guys who isn’t comfortable in the play-action game—don’t underestimate how uncomfortable it can be to turn your back to the defense in those first moments after a snap. Ben Roethlisberger was never a play-action guy, and he came into the league, like Darnold, as primarily a second-reaction, playground QB before refining his game. Considering the Steelers have been much more forward-thinking with their system this season, they might have quietly become a nice landing spot for a guy with Darnold’s strengths and weaknesses.

QB OF THE NEAR-FUTURE IF IT’S THE RIGHT GUY

Falcons: Matt Ryan still has some gas left in the tank, and we don’t know what their offense will be in 2021 anyway. If they think they need a full reset, this might be the last chance to get a significant return for their franchise QB.

Lions: They might as well start from scratch now that Bob Quinn’s reign of terror has come to a merciful end. They wasted Matthew Stafford’s prime—to have a quarterback that good and consistently put a bottom five roster around him should be punishable with a hefty fine and possibly jail time. For Stafford’s sake they should move him to a team looking to get over the top (Patriots? 49ers? Colts?).

*—Just kidding, we love you Brian! But seriously, stop emailing. We blocked your email address to Talkback long ago—one of the first seven times you wrote in to swear you’d never read SI again—and now I’ve done the same with my inbox.

* * *

2. Mitchell Trubisky makes his return to the starting lineup at Lambeau on Sunday night. He’s had some time off to think about what he’s done, and with Nick Foles hurt in their last game the Bears had two weeks to figure out how they’re going to reinvent a fundamentally broken offense.

Aside from poor quarterback play, an overmatched offensive line has been Chicago’s biggest issue. Short of petitioning the league to allow each member of the offensive line to build a moat filled with scorpions at the line of scrimmage between every down… or something involving flamethrowers and a copious amount of accelerant… there was no way a quarterback as immobile as Foles wa going to be able to function. Trubisky’s athleticism at least gives him a chance.

For the past three seasons, the Bears have tried to expand Trubisky’s skillset and build him into a complete pocket passer. It didn’t happen then—he was bad in 2018 (but Pro Bowl!), atrocious in 2019, unplayable in 2020—and it’s not going to happen now. But in a way, that's liberating. They can now accept his limitations and emphasize the things he does well, as neither he nor the team have anything to lose. Here are four things the Bears offense should be emphasizing against the Packers on Sunday night.

i) For the love of Pan, the goat god, get Trubisky out of the pocket, where he has all the mechanical discipline of a wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man. Trubisky has been better (not good, but better) in play-action throughout his career, yet he only ranked 20th in play-action attempts a year ago. He was on pace for more over the first three games of 2020, but the fact that the Bears were falling behind big early in games forced them to move away from it. They have to stick with play-action as long as they can and preferably get him moving on bootlegs when they do. Defenses react to play-action in potential run situations no matter how bad your run game is (and Chicago’s is baaaaad), and the bonus of using play-action frequently is that you’re not handing it to your four-feet-and-a-cloud-of-dust running back.

ii) Trubisky’s best moments have come in two-minute drills, when the Bears are frantically trying to move the ball and he’s probably doing a lot less thinking. Tap into that by using tempo throughout the game. What are you saving your defense for anyway? As well as being the side of the ball where you’ve invested the majority of your cap space and draft capital, Aaron Rodgers hasn’t put up more than 24 points against this Chicago defense in any of the past four meetings. Also, the Bears are allowing 22.3 points per game when they win the time of possession battle this season, but only 20.0 when lose the TOP battle.

iii) In the simplest terms, the Bears offense is broken because they don’t get big plays and they’re hilariously inept on third-and-manageable. Don’t ask Trubisky to stay ahead of the sticks for third down—those third downs never end well. A year ago, Chicago was 46.1% on third-and-6-or-less (28th in the NFL). This year, they’re 37.7%, worst in the NFL by a wide margin (and worse than the Packers are on third-and-6+, 38.5%). Meanwhile, only the Jets have fewer plays of 20+ yards over the last two seasons. Trubisky was—again, not good, but not horrendous—working downfield a year ago. He completed 38.4% of throws beyond 15 yards in the air, just below the league average of 41.4%. That dropped to 30.4% in his three starts this year. But that’s within range of “if he goes on a hot streak we can pull off a big play or two that we wouldn’t otherwise get.”

iv) Legs! Use read-option stuff, make it an 11-man run game. What are you saving him for? He won’t be here next year, and if you don’t win at least four of the final six games the coaching staff and front office might not be here either.

* * *

3a. Instead of merely sending the Broncos out there to play the Saints after losing their entire quarterback room, the NFL should embrace the farce and also have them play without pants.

If this scenario happens with, say, the Raiders 24 hours before what could amount to a play-in game against Miami in Week 16, will they be forced to start Zay Jones at quarterback in a de facto playoff game?

3b. Speaking of the Saints schedule, it’s also patently absurd that the league scheduled a Friday night game for Christmas Day. Considering all the players have gone through this season, we can do without making them work on Christmas. As the young people say, “same energy”:

* * *

4. While you were all distracted by Matt Patricia—he was the public-facing half of the operation and arrived with some truly terrible ideas—you missed the fact that now-former Lions GM Bob Quinn just had as destructive a four-and-a-half-year roster-“building” run as you could imagine.

In 2016, Quinn joined an organization two years removed from an 11-win season and already with an elite quarterback in place. Aside from the coaching change, Quinn proceeded to over-invest to build an offensive line that proved to be middling, and at running back. Then he unload talented defensive backs for pennies on the dollar (Darius Slay, Quandre Diggs) while struggling to find adequate replacements. Unless Will Harris has been playing possum, Jeff Okudah, the No. 3 overall pick who has struggled mightily as a rookie, might be the only piece of the rebuilt secondary who has even a chance of making a long-term impact in Detroit.

Quinn overpaid for a good, but not difference-making, EDGE in Trey Flowers—precisely the kind of move that a Patriots team wouldn’t make, especially with their “manufacture a pass rush” M.O. And while Kenny Golladay, Quinn’s lone Day 2 hit over five drafts, was a huge get, one of Quinn’s final acts as GM was failing to secure the star receiver’s future in Detroit. (T.J. Hockenson is a good one too but he’d better be at eighth overall, and the jury is out on whether D’Andre Swift will reach the lofty heights that would justify a team with so many glaring needs taking a running back 35th overall two years after taking one 43rd overall.)

My advice to the next GM (unless I’m the next GM, maybe? Do you think it could happen? No. But, also, maybe?): Hire Eric Bieniemy, draft Trey Lance, trade Matthew Stafford to a franchise on more solid footing because he deserves something better. And set about with a three-year plan that isn’t some low-grade facsimile of Foxboro.

* * *

5. All right Football Things super fan(s), I recycled two past jokes in this week’s column. Can you identify them? If so, write them down on an 8x10 card. If you’re right, you’ll get a Football Things t-shirt as long as you go to your dresser, take out a t-shirt and, with that pen, write “Football Things” on it.

* * *

6. Ladies and gentlemen . . . Foo Fighters!

• Question or comment? Email us.

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New on SI: Seahawks-Eagles Preview

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Carson Wentz didn't finish the game the last time he faced the Seattle Seahawks because of a concussion.

His troubles have only grown worse.

It reached the point that coach Doug Pederson hesitated when asked if Wentz or rookie Jalen Hurts would start when the Philadelphia Eagles (3-6-1) host the Seahawks (7-3) on Monday night.

''He's my starter, end of story,'' Pederson eventually said to reporters. ''You guys can blow it up however you want it and that's fine. I'm focused on this team, these players, this coaching staff and the Seattle Seahawks.''

Wentz led the Eagles to four wins to secure an NFC East title last December and earned an opportunity to make his postseason debut after injuries forced him to watch Nick Foles lead Philadelphia to a Super Bowl title following the 2017 season, and a playoff win in 2018.

Wentz was outstanding down the stretch last year, completing 67.6% of his passes for 1,199 yards, seven TDs and no interceptions in four games. But he lasted only nine snaps before Jadeveon Clowney knocked him out with a shot to the head. The Seahawks won, 17-9.

Wentz hasn't been the same since that hit. He leads the NFL with 18 turnovers, including 14 interceptions, and has career lows in completion percentage (58.4) and passer rating (73.3).

But Wentz hasn't had much help. Injuries have forced the Eagles to use 12 players on the offensive line, including 10 different starters. Tight ends Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert, running back Miles Sanders and wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery have missed significant time. Wentz is too often throwing to inexperienced receivers who aren't always running the correct routes.

''I've gone back and looked at '17 and '18 tape, our coaching staff has, I know he has,'' Pederson said, referring to when Wentz finished third in NFL MVP voting in 2017. ''We've looked at everything from play calling, me, am I different? Am I using personnel right? Am I making decisions that are beneficial for the team? I look at a bunch of that stuff.

''It comes down to just each person, each player, each coach taking a look at yourself, looking in the mirror, see what you see. If you don't like what you see, we got to change, and you got to make improvements and you got to get better. So these are all the things that we're doing and we're helping him. We're helping the offense. We're helping the offensive line. We're helping the receivers. We're helping everybody get better and we're using everything we can to make these adjustments.''

Wentz has his best chance to get back on track facing the NFL's worst pass defense. The Seahawks have allowed 343.7 yards passing per game. They've shown improvement since halftime of a 23-16 loss to the Rams on Nov. 15.

''These last six quarters that we've played have been different, and the guys have really taken a step forward in owning what they're doing and in the communications and the adjustments and utilizing the package, and disguising really well and really feeling comfortable with it,'' Seattle coach Pete Carroll said.

BRINGING HEAT

The arrival of Carlos Dunlap in a trade from Cincinnati has helped the Seahawks turn up the pass rush in recent weeks. Seattle has 16 sacks over the past four games, including three sacks last week of Arizona's Kyler Murray. It was notable because Seattle didn't have a QB hit on Murray in the first meeting against Arizona.

Dunlap has three sacks in his three games since arriving in Seattle. And now the Seahawks face an offense that has allowed a league-high 40 sacks.

CENTURY MARK

Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner is on the cusp of joining rare company. Wagner needs four tackles to reach 100 for the season. It would be his ninth consecutive season with at least 100 tackles, one of just three players since 2000 to accomplish that feat. The other two are London Fletcher and Keith Brooking.

Meanwhile, three-time All-Pro center Jason Kelce will make his 100th consecutive start for the Eagles.

WARM IT UP, CHRIS

Seattle expects to have running back Chris Carson after missing the previous four games with a foot sprain. The Seahawks were out of balance and Wilson was under increased pressure in the three games both Carlos Hyde and Carson were sidelined. Hyde returned last week against Arizona and rushed for 79 yards and a touchdown. His return also lessened the stress on Wilson, who passed for only 197 yards but was efficient and threw two touchdowns in the 28-21 win.

DK OR JJ

The Eagles chose J.J. Arcega-Whiteside seven picks ahead of DK Metcalf in the second round of the 2019 draft. Arecega-Whiteside has 12 catches and was a healthy inactive two weeks ago before missing last week on the COVID-19 reserve list. Metcalf is already one of the best wide receivers in the league. He had seven catches for 160 yards and a touchdown in Seattle's playoff win in Philly in January.

PERFECT RECORD

Russell Wilson is 5-0 against the Eagles and the Seahawks have won six straight meetings. Philadelphia wanted to select Wilson in the third round of the 2012 draft but he went to Seattle at No. 75. The Eagles chose Nick Foles at No. 88.

----

AP Sports Writer Tim Booth contributed to this report.

----

More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP-NFL

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New on SI: Report: Broncos to Face Saints Without Any Quarterbacks Available

Broncos quarterback Jeff Driskel tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, while the rest of the quarterbacks have been deemed high-risk close contacts.

The Broncos will not be forfeiting their game against the Saints after all of their quarterbacks were

deemed high-risk close contacts with a player who had tested positive for COVID-19, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The trouble began on Thursday when Jeff Driskel tested positive. Drew Lock, Brett Rypien and Blake Bortles all came into contact with Driskel and were not wearing masks, per Schefter. They were ruled out on Saturday for Sunday's game.

Rookie wide receiver Kendall Hinton is expected to play "plenty of quarterback" on Sunday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Hinton has not appeared in a game yet this season, though he spent most of his college career at Wake Forest playing quarterback. In four seasons, he completed 53.0% of his pass attempts for 1,504 yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions before switching to receiver as a senior.

Running back Royce Freeman held the title of Denver's emergency quarterback, according to Ryan O'Halloran of The Denver Post. Freeman was the team's emergency quarterback in Week 2 when Lock was injured. Freeman has never attempted a pass in an NFL game, though he did complete his only collegiate pass attempt as a freshman in 2014 for a 26-yard touchdown.

Denver tight end Noah Fant took to Twitter to express his disapproval for the league's protocols that resulted in the Broncos not having a quarterback available:

On the season, Freeman has 79 rushing yards on 22 attempts, with nine receptions for 73 yards. As a team, Denver ranks last in the league in passer rating (69.0), interceptions (17) and completion rate (56.7%).

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New on SI: Chargers-Bills Preview

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) As much as he'd like, Josh Allen can't change the past when the topic of the Bills quarterback's first career start was mentioned this week.

''Obviously, very nervous, and things didn't turn out so great,'' Allen said, when asked to recall any lingering memories of Buffalo's 31-20 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers two weeks into the 2018 season.

''I should've, could've done a better job if I could go back and do it all over now,'' he added. ''But it did teach me some valuable lessons. ... It helped me. It really did, and I think you need to go through some of the bumps and bruises.''

In finishing 18 of 33 for 245 yards with a touchdown in the final minute, and two interceptions, Allen's outing was typically reflective of a raw rookie thrust into action after Nathan Peterman unraveled in Buffalo's season opener.

The signs of growth have become undeniably apparent some 2 1/2 years later as Allen and the AFC East-leading Bills (7-3) prepare to host the Chargers (3-7) on Sunday.

In playing a key role in Buffalo winning at least seven of its first 10 games in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1995 and '96, Allen has shed many of his erratic tendencies to be considered one of the NFL's top young quarterbacks.

His 2,871 yards passing rank eighth in the NFL, his 68.4 completion percentage stands ninth, as does his 103.2 passer rating in a season he has thrown 21 touchdowns - one more than last year - versus seven interceptions.

It helps that Buffalo spent the past two offseasons upgrading the talent around Allen, including this year's addition of Stefon Diggs to fill out an established group of receivers featuring Cole Beasley and John Brown.

And yet, coach Sean McDermott said Allen deserves credit for his ability to learn from his mistakes.

Chargers coach Anthony Lynn has seen a difference.

''He's grown tremendously,'' Lynn said.

''It's what you would expect from a young quarterback of his skillset and football IQ,'' he added. ''These guys don't come into the league hall of famers. They get developed, and they get better every single year. This year, he's looking like the league MVP to me.''

The Chargers, for all their flaws in blowing second-half leads, have the makings of a young, promising star of their own in Justin Herbert.

The first-round pick out of Oregon ranks 10th with 2,699 yards passing, and has already topped 300 yards five times, one short of matching the NFL rookie record in just nine starts. With 22 touchdown passes, he's three short of becoming the NFL's fourth rookie to reach 25. And he's 301 yards passing from joining Patrick Mahomes in becoming just the NFL's second player to reach 3,000 in his first 10 career starts.

What encourages Lynn is how much room Herbert still has to develop after being forced to start after Tyrod Taylor was sidelined with a rib injury in Week 1.

''There's a lot he doesn't know, and we're still putting more on his plate every single week,'' Lynn said. ''I love the way he's handling that, especially under the circumstances.''

WHAT THE EK?

The Chargers could get a big jolt to their running game if Austin Ekeler can return to action.

The running back led the AFC in scrimmage yards after three games before suffering a hamstring injury in Week 4 at Tampa Bay. In the six-plus games since, the running game has been inconsistent with Justin Jackson, Troymaine Pope and Kalen Ballage taking the lead at various points. Ballage has been the top back recently, topping 70 yards from scrimmage in each of the past three games.

ON THE RECEIVING END

Chargers receiver Keenan Allen leads the league with 81 receptions, which is eight ahead of Diggs, who is second.

Allen has five games with nine or more receptions, including last week against the Jets when he set a team record with 16. With 605 catches, he needs 18 in the next four games to pass Antonio Brown's mark for most through a player's first 100 games.

FORGET IT

The Bills had their bye week to get over the disappointment of a 32-30 loss at Arizona, which Kyler Murray sealed with a 43-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins with 2 seconds remaining.

''It's got to be behind us,'' McDermott said. ''One pass is not going to define our season. One pass, in particular that type of pass, is not indicative of who we are as a team.''

TALE OF TWO HALVES

The Chargers defense has allowed a league-low average of 134.3 yards offense in the first half. The second half is another story. The 209.7 yards allowed average after halftime is fourth worst.

The second-half collapses are why the Chargers have lost four games after having double-digit leads. They had an 18-point lead in a 34-28 win over the Jets last week. New York pulled within one score late in the fourth quarter and drove into Chargers territory before Gus Bradley's unit finally held.

TRAILING

The Bills have lost four straight to the Chargers, and haven't led at any point since a 23-14 win on Oct. 19, 2008.

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AP Sports Writer Joe Reedy contributed to this report.

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New on SI: Giants-Bengals Preview

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Despite losing their first five games and starting 3-7, the New York Giants find themselves in a surprising playoff derby in the NFC East.

The Giants are in the thick of it and have already beaten divisional rivals Washington (4-7) twice, and split games with Philadelphia (3-6-1).

Now they go on the road to face Cincinnati (2-7-1) on Sunday and are in position to take advantage of the Bengals' recent misfortune. Rookie quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending knee injury in last week's loss to Washington, and the Bengals are expected to start either practice-squad QB Brandon Allen or Ryan Finley, who seemed overwhelmed when he had to enter the game suddenly after the team's franchise QB was carted off.

Before a bye week, the Giants beat the Eagles 27-7 after they squeaked by Washington 23-20. With six games to play, they're trying not to think about the possibility of the playoffs - yet.

''It's kind of hard for us to look that far ahead,'' defensive end Leonard Williams acknowledged ''If we do something like that, we might mess around and overlook a team.''

The Giants realize it's unusual for a team to start the way they did and not be dwelling in the divisional basement, playing out the games with eye on next season - like the Bengals.

''It's a unique opportunity for us,'' New York tight end Evan Engram said. ''Yeah, it's a lot of meaningful football for us. We're heading into it with the right mindset, getting ready for it.''

The renewed energy and hope generated by Burrow's exciting play in Cincinnati was extinguished when he was sandwiched between two Washington defenders after throwing a pass Sunday. His left knee was bent in an unnatural direction. It's not an overstatement to say the team was in shock.

''We don't have any time to hang our heads and feel sorry for ourselves,'' Bengals second-year coach Zac Taylor said.

CHANGING IT UP

This will be the Giants' first game with Dave DeGuglielmo in charge of the offensive line. Before the bye week, coach Joe Judge fired O-line assistant Marc Colombo. Judge wanted to hire DeGuglielmo as a consultant, and Colombo objected a little too much.

After a slow start, the young line has been performing well, particularly in establishing the running game. New York has gained at least 100 yards rushing in six of the last seven games.

GROUND DOWN

Cincinnati's offense was forced to become even more one-dimensional after featured back Joe Mixon went out with a foot injury suffered in Week 6 against the Colts. His backup is the sturdy Giovani Bernard, known more for his reliable blocking and pass catching. He is questionable after dealing with a concussion.

Between Bernard and Samaje Perine, the Bengals managed just 37 yards on 14 carries last week.

KICKING COVID-19

Giants kicker Graham Gano tested positive for COVID-19 after the Philadelphia game on Nov. 15. There is a chance he will be back Sunday. Gano, who has made 20 straight field goal attempts, has been isolating in a hotel room. He recently released a video showing him kicking into a net in his room.

If Gano cannot play, the Giants probably will use Ryan Santoso. He was added to roster recently from the practice squad.

QB QUANDARY

Neither Finley nor Allen has distinguished himself thus far in the NFL. Allen started three games for Denver last year and has been the Bengals' practice squad quarterback this season. Finley, who has been Burrow's backup, was unremarkable in three games last year when Andy Dalton was benched. Coming in after Burrow was injured last week, Finley was 3 for 10 for 30 yards and tossed an interception.

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AP Sports Writer Tom Canavan contributed.

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New on SI: Titans-Colts Preview

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Indianapolis spent all week preparing for Derrick Henry.

Facing the league's leading runner with a short-handed defensive line only makes the challenge more daunting.

With Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner out after being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list earlier this week, starting defensive end Denico Autry still inactive after going on the COVID list last week and now starting linebacker Bobby Okereke ruled out with an ankle injury, coach Frank Reich isn't changing his tune. He's bringing back an old refrain for Sunday's game against Tennessee.

''This is normal in the NFL and good teams overcome it,'' he said Friday, referring to the three absences. ''That's what we need to do. Sure, every player is important and adds a unique combination to the game and when players go down, you miss them. But I've seen it happen so many times through the years, the good teams overcome it and that's what we need to do.''

Especially with so much at stake.

Both teams are 7-3 and share the AFC South lead. Indy won this season's first contest, Nov. 12 on the Titans home turf, and a season sweep would give the Colts a one-game lead plus a tiebreaking season-sweep.

A victory by Tennessee would give the Titans a one-game lead with five to play, a split in the series and the current tiebreaking edge because of a better division record.

But without Buckner, Autry and Okereke, the league's second-stingiest defense won't look the same - on paper - and some believe it could give the run-heavy Titans a significant advantage up front.

Henry doesn't buy it.

''I think they play very hard,'' the NFL's reigning rushing champ said. ''They fly to the ball. (They are) guys that play great together collectively, good tacklers,''

Reich believes those traits will continue to be on display despite being without their best run stuffer, leader in sacks and fourth-leading tackler.

Instead, the Colts defense believes only the name will change.

''There's no question,'' Pro Bowl linebacker Darius Leonard said when asked if the Colts would miss Buckner. ''It is what it is. The other guys have to do the preparation because it's not one guy, it's 11 guys.''

OH HENRY

Last week, Henry became this season's first 1,000-yard rusher and he comes into Sunday with a league-high 1,079 yards through 10 games.

He's also on quite a streak.

Henry has hit the 100-yard mark six times this season, including each of the past two weeks and has run for 100 or more yards in seven consecutive road games. Henry had 103 yards in the first meeting with Indy, and last season he rushed for 149 yards in a rare Titans victory at Lucas Oil Stadium. And he doesn't expect the workload to decrease this weekend.

''We have that mindset that it's playoff football right now and just be locked in every week,'' he said.

RIVERS RUNNING

Colts quarterback Philip Rivers returned to practice Friday, his first action since injuring the big toe on his right foot in last weekend's victory over Green Bay.

It appears Rivers will make his 235th consecutive start this weekend.

''I thought Philip looked good and had a good day out there,'' Reich said.

Rivers has not missed a start since 2006 when he became the starter for the Chargers, and Sunday's start would break a tie with Eli Manning for the 10th-most starts in league history. He would also tie Charles Woodson for ninth on that list.

KICKIN' IT?

The Titans could some special teams help this week - if three-time Pro Bowl punter Brett Kern returns.

He went on injured reserve after hurting his wrist in a loss at Cincinnati on Nov. 1 and sat out the last matchup with Indy.

Things didn't go well. Kern's replacement, Trevor Daniel, struggled in the second half - shanking one third-quarter punt for 17 yards and having another blocked and returned for a touchdown just a few minutes later.

Four-time Pro Bowl kicker Stephen Gostkowski also missed a 44-yard field goal wide right in that game, his fifth miss of the season on seven tries from 40-49 yards. Gostkowski made all three of his field goals in the Titans' win over Baltimore, including a pair of 40-yarders.

The special teams' struggles were a major reason Tennessee lost 34-17.

RUNNING TANDEM

Rookie Jonathan Taylor and veteran Nyheim Hines have taken turns sharing the load out of the Colts' backfield.

Hines has 51 carries for 179 yards and two scores, 36 receptions for 296 yards and four TDs, and is one of nine players who has three or more multiple-touchdown games this season. He had one on the ground and another through the air in the last meeting with Tennessee.

Taylor rushed for 90 yards last week, leads the Colts with 518 yards rushing and four TD runs.

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AP Pro Football Writer Teresa M. Walker also contributed to this report.

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New on SI: Chiefs-Buccaneers Preview

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) The Kansas City Chiefs aren't buying all the talk about Tom Brady's struggles. They insist he's still playing at a high level and will have to be at their best to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The reigning Super Bowl champions (9-1) visit the Bucs (7-4) on Sunday, with Patrick Mahomes facing Brady for the fourth time in his young career and Brady looking to shrug off a couple of subpar performances against playoff contenders.

''You can't take anything away from Tom Brady. He's still very smart, he's still trying to throw the ball downfield, he still has the weapons. We'll have our hands full,'' Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu said.

''He's played against our system a number of times, even going back to New England,'' Mathieu added. ''He's familiar with us. Now we have to get familiar with him and the weapons he has.''

Brady won two of the previous three matchups against Mahomes, including an overtime thriller in the AFC championship game two seasons ago.

The six-time Super Bowl champion played poorly in home losses to New Orleans and the Los Angeles Rams two of the past three weeks. Still, Kansas City coach Andy Reid cautioned against anyone writing off the 43-year-old quarterback.

Despite Brady's recent struggles, particularly on deep passes, the Bucs have already matched their victory total from all of last season and remain in prime position to end a 12-year playoff drought that's the second longest in the NFL.

''He's unbelievable. He's a great player, a Hall of Fame player. We're lucky enough to have a chance to be in this era where we get to play him,'' Reid said.

''He's old, and it's hard to tell he's old,'' Reid added. ''And that's a tribute to how he takes care of himself, and the care and living he does all the way around, from diet to workout to everything.''

The Chiefs have won five straight, the eighth consecutive year they've had a streak at least that long.

They avenged their lone loss last week a 35-31 victory at Las Vegas, with Mahomes throwing for 348 yards and two TDs.

Mahomes, who's thrown for just over 312 yards per game with 14 TDs and one interception during Kansas City's winning streak, was as surprised as anyone that Brady left the Patriots to sign with Tampa Bay in free agency last March.

''But he's in a great spot. They've got a lot of weapons there,'' Mahomes said, looking ahead to another head-to-head meeting.

''I don't think it's going to feel very much different. It's still a very good football team that's playing really good football and winning a lot of games,'' Mahomes added. ''I know it's going to be a really big challenge for us.''

Brady threw a pair of costly interceptions and was 0 for 6 on passes traveling at least 20 yards in last week's 27-24 loss to the Rams. He's 0 for 19 on such throws over the past three games, which includes a 38-3 loss to the Saints.

The struggles have raised questions about whether the offense Brady is being asked to run following a historic 20-year stint with the Patriots is suited to what he does best.

Bucs coach Bruce Arians concedes the offense has been inconsistent, but attributes that to a lack of continuity caused in part by teams not having a usual offseason due to the coronavirus pandemic and injuries that have forced lineup changes and limited practice time for some players.

''He can do anything, so it's not like he can't do it,'' Arians said, responding to critics who suggest the problem is the offensive scheme, which stresses pushing the ball downfield.

''We've had the guys open. We've just missed them,'' Arians said.

''Each and every week is so different, but when they're there, we need to hit them,'' the coach added. ''We can't have them going off our fingertips, and we can't overthrow them.''

Brady has lots of good things to say about Mahomes and the Chiefs, who lead the league in scoring at 32.1 points per game.

''He's a terrific player, obviously. ... They've got their offense rolling,'' Brady said. ''I feel continuity is probably the most critical aspect of consistent performance. ... They've been in that system for a while. Coach Reid's been there for a while. He's a great coach. ... They've been tough to beat for a lot of years now.''

WIDE RECEIVER ROOM

The Chiefs should be welcoming back wide receiver Sammy Watkins from a hamstring injury that has sidelined him since Week 5 just in time.

They lost Byron Pringle, who had been one of the bright spots in their wideout corps this season, to an ankle injury last week that landed him on injured reserve. Their only other healthy wide receivers on the 53-man roster are Tyreek Hill, Demarcus Robinson and Mecole Hardman.

FEELING DEFENSIVE

The Chiefs have won the past two weeks despite allowing 31 points each to Carolina and Las Vegas. The Panthers threw for 331 yards while running for 104 during their game at Arrowhead Stadium before the bye week, and Derek Carr led the Raiders to 364 yards of total offense - and if not for a touchdown in the closing seconds, a win - last Sunday.

''Every football game won't be a blowout. Every football game won't be a dominant defensive performance,'' Mathieu said, ''but what our fans should see is us playing hard. Sticking together, no matter what, whether we're up by 50 or down by 50. It's about us staying together.''

NONSENSE?

Arians rejects the notion that some of Tampa Bay's problems on offense are related to having too many playmakers on the roster. With their only being one ball, how could Brady possibly keep Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Ronald Jones, Rob Gronkowski, Antonio Brown, Leonard Fournette and LeSean McCoy happy?

''I don't think there's such a thing. ... I don't think you can have too many good players,'' Arians said. ''Looking at the team coming in here this week, I don't think they have a problem with having too many really good players.''

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AP Sports Writer Dave Skretta contributed.

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New on SI: Cardinals-Patriots Preview

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) When Kliff Kingsbury began coaching at Texas Tech in 2012, he used to carry a secret weapon on recruiting trips: his Patriots 2003 Super Bowl ring.

''That was something I tried to seal the deal with. It didn't work as much as I would have liked but I definitely tried with the ring,'' Kingsbury said this week.

Kingsbury, a quarterback, was drafted by New England in the sixth round in 2003, joining a roster that included a 26-year-old Tom Brady. Even then, Kingsbury knew there was something different about him.

''He was still the man, there's no doubt. Everybody knew who he was, and he was a superstar,'' Kingsbury recalled.

An arm injury and yearlong stay on injured reserve prevented Kingsbury from ever playing a regular-season snap at quarterback for the Patriots, and he was cut prior to the 2004 campaign. But Kingsbury says he owes his coaching career to the year he spent studying under coach Bill Belichick and his staff.

That season allowed him the opportunity to work in an offensive quality control role under then-offensive coordinator Charlie Weis and current offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who was a defensive assistant at the time.

''There were a bunch of really good offensive coaches that I was fortunate enough to be around,'' Kingsbury said. ''I did a little bit of everything. It taught me how to break down games, and game plan, and all stuff that I still use today.''

Belichick recalls Kingsbury being a fast learner.

''He was not a guy you had to tell anything more than once, and he picked up a lot of things on his own,'' Belichick said.

Now Kingsbury will try to use those tools against his former team when he leads the Arizona Cardinals (6-4) into Sunday's matchup with the Patriots (4-6). With a win the Cardinals can improve their chances of making it back to the playoffs for the first time since 2015. They can also add yet another blow to New England's fading hopes of extending its streak of 11 consecutive postseason berths.

Arizona won't have one of its best weapons this week. Star receiver Larry Fitzgerald was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Thursday along with receiver Trent Sherfield. The 37-year-old Fitzgerald is in his 17th NFL season and hasn't missed a regular-season game since 2014.

But even without Fitzgerald, Belichick says the Cardinals' big-play ability remains strong.

''Kliff does a good job with the offense of getting the ball into space, getting the ball to receivers - or whether it be backs, tight ends or receivers - but getting the ball to somebody in space where they have an opportunity to make big plays. I think they probably make as many as anybody,'' he said.

KYLER'S CANNON

Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray fell on his right throwing shoulder early in last Thursday's loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Murray could be seen grimacing occasionally on the sideline while throwing, but he stayed in the game and had a solid performance, completing 29 of 42 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns.

Murray said he was limiting throws in practice and felt he'll be fine for the Patriots game.

''I feel good,'' Murray said. ''Obviously getting banged up a little bit the past couple of weeks.''

HELP AT RUNNING BACK

Patriots running back Rex Burkhead said on Instagram this week that he is out for the season after sustaining a knee injury in last week's loss to the Texans.

Burkhead was one of the more versatile pieces of the Patriots' offense and was having one of the best years of his career with a combined 466 yards and six touchdowns rushing and receiving.

Help could be on the way. Sony Michel was activated from injured reserve last week after being sidelined since Week 3 because of a quad injury. He was a healthy scratch against Houston, but could be ready Sunday to add to a group that still has leading rusher Damien Harris and James White.

LEADING LINE

Arizona's offensive line doesn't have a lot of big names but has quietly been among the best in the NFL this season. That's an important reason why the Cardinals are averaging 414.3 total yards per game, which leads the league.

The usual starting lineup is left tackle D.J. Humphries, left guard Justin Pugh, center Mason Cole, right guard J.R. Sweezy and right tackle Kelvin Beachum.

''They usually are the unsung group, but everybody knows they're kind of the heart and soul,'' Kingsbury said. ''I've been very proud of our group and the evolution from Year 1 to Year 2.''

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AP Sports Writer David Brandt. contributed to this report.

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New on SI: Browns-Jaguars Preview

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) Jacksonville's injury report is longer than its losing streak, and that's saying something.

Cleveland is better off, but not by much.

The playoff hopeful Browns and downright woeful Jaguars will have numerous backups on the field - and a couple in the coaches' booth - when they play Sunday. It's far from ideal, but somewhat expected given the strangeness of this NFL season.

The sheer volume of absences, though, is borderline extreme, even for a Week 12 matchup.

''When opportunities arise, people have a chance to take advantage and either open up some eyes or you could be in trouble,'' Jaguars coach Doug Marrone said. ''I mean, it could go either way for you. But I'm excited for the guys that are going out there, to see what they can do.''

The Browns (7-3) will be without five players, including standout defensive end Myles Garrett, because of COVID-19 testing and contact tracing. Defensive ends Joe Jackson and Porter Gustin, linebacker Sione Takitaki and fullback Andy Janovich also won't play because of the coronavirus.

Adding to the team's woes, top cornerback Denzel Ward won't make the trip because of a calf strain.

COVID protocols forced the Browns to close their facility for three straight days to conduct contact tracing, and coach Kevin Stefanski was unable to get his offense and defense on the field at the same time.

''Whether it is COVID stuff or injuries, you never want to have it, but you have to deal with it, especially this year,'' quarterback Baker Mayfield said.

If Cleveland could have picked a week to be shorthanded, it probably would have chosen this one. After all, the skidding Jaguars (1-9) are even more undermanned.

Jacksonville, which has dropped nine in a row, put an additional three defensive starters on injured reserve earlier this week and then ruled out two cornerbacks and two of its top three receivers Friday.

This might be the best way to explain it: Marrone will try to avoid the franchise's longest, single-season skid without his starting quarterback (Gardner Minshew), his best receiver (DJ Chark), his best pass rusher (Josh Allen), his top two strong safeties (Josh Jones and Daniel Thomas) and four of his top five cornerbacks (CJ Henderson, D.J. Hayden, Sidney Jones and Chris Claybrooks).

The Jags also will be without three defensive coaches because of COVID. Coordinator Todd Wash, D-line coach Jason Rebrovich and assistant Dwayne Stukes won't attend the game. Secondary coach Joe Danna will call the defense while assistant linebacker coach Tony Gilbert handles the line. Team administrator Tyler Wolf will take on Stukes' responsibilities in the booth.

''The veterans really do have to step up and be able to lead the young guys through this kind of situation,'' linebacker Joe Schobert said.

GLENNON'S SHOT

Jacksonville is turning to journeyman quarterback Mike Glennon, who will make his first start in more than three years. Glennon is 6-16 as a starter with Tampa Bay, Chicago, Arizona and Oakland. He has 36 touchdown passes and 20 interceptions.

He takes over for rookie Jake Luton, who threw four interceptions in last week's loss to unbeaten Pittsburgh.

''I'm at a point in my career where I'm just going to cherish these moments,'' Glennon said.

END GAME

Garrett's absence last week gave defensive end Olivier Vernon a chance to shine -- and he dazzled.

Vernon had his best game since coming to Cleveland in the Odell Beckham Jr. trade last year, recording three sacks, including one for a safety, as the Browns beat Philadelphia 22-17.

''People have to step up,'' Stefanski said. ''He stepped up and I'm counting on him this week to do the same. He understands that it does not matter where he is rushing, how he is rushing and how he is playing the run. We need him out there and we need him to make plays.''

RIDING ROBINSON

With so many new guys in the mix on offense, Jacksonville plans to ride running back James Robinson, who has at least 90 yards from scrimmage in four straight games. He leads all rookies in rushing yards (762) and scrimmage yards (1,011).

He's the fifth undrafted rookie to top 1,000 yards from scrimmage in the modern draft era, joining Phillip Lindsay (2018), LeGarrette Blount (2010), Dominic Rhodes (2001) and Clark Gaines (1976).

WEATHER MEN

The Browns played in howling wind, sideways hail and pouring rain the past three weeks at home. A warm weekend in Florida sounds pretty nice.

Sunday's forecast is for 72 degrees, but a chance of showers.

''I am not jinxing anything yet until I show up and the clock starts,'' Mayfield said. ''I am just happy to go where it is a little bit warmer.''

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New on SI: Saints-Broncos Preview

DENVER (AP) Listen to Vic Fangio and you'd never guess the Broncos were preparing to face a quarterback making just his second career start as the New Orleans Saints' Taysom Hill is expected to do Sunday at empty Empower Field.

''I was turning on the tape maybe to see something different, but it's the Saints offense they've been running ever since Sean's been there,'' Fangio said of Saints coach Sean Payton, whose decision to start Hill over Jameis Winston paid off in a 24-9 win over the Falcons.

''Other than the quarterback designed runs, which are unique to him, they ran their offense,'' Fangio said.

Hill looked comfortable under center, completing all but five of his 23 throws for 233 yards and rushing for 51 yards and two touchdowns in place of Drew Brees, who has multiple fractured ribs.

''He's a good quarterback,'' Fangio said of Hill, the versatile 30-year-old who has overcome an injury-riddled college career to make the most of his many gifts as a 6-foot-2, 230-pound wrecking ball with 4.4-second speed.

In Hill's four years in New Orleans, Payton has found ways to use him at quarterback, tight end, flanker, slot receiver, halfback and fullback and as a blocker or gunner on special teams.

What impressed Fangio was Hill's first start at quarterback.

''If he keeps it up the way he played last week, he'll be considered the third best quarterback in Saints history behind Drew Brees and Archie Manning,'' Fangio declared.

Safety Kareem Jackson considers it both a blessing and a curse to see Hill taking snaps.

''He's a versatile guy. He does a lot for that team,'' Jackson said. ''With him having to play quarterback now, a lot of that stuff will be cut down as far as him being on special teams and doing all the other things.

''He's still a dual-threat guy. He can run and has a strong arm. Preparing for a dual-threat quarterback is always the toughest because you can't mimic that look in practice as far as their running ability.''

Jeff Driskel, the Broncos' athletic No. 3 quarterback, gave it his best shot Wednesday but he tested positive for COVID-19 on Thanksgiving, leaving Brett Rypien and Blake Bortles to take over the Hill imitations on the scout team.

Although Broncos QB Drew Lock has started just 13 games in the NFL, he'll face a team featuring a quarterback with even less experience for the third time this season.

The good thing is it's not a radically different Saints offense that Denver's defense is preparing to face, Fangio said.

''I don't think the Saints changed their offense at all because he was the quarterback. They still ran plays and concepts, formations and personnel groups that they ran with Drew Brees,'' Fangio said. ''But he has the added dimensions of the quarterback designed runs.''

Other subplots Sunday when the Saints seek their first win in Denver since 1994:

SANDERS RETURNS TO DENVER

Saints WR Emmanuel Sanders returns to Denver, a city he called ''wide receiver heaven'' when he arrived to play with Peyton Manning before souring on his situation and famously saying the Broncos were in a ''world of suck'' by the time he was traded to San Francisco last year.

WHO RETURNS FOR DENVER?

With Diontae Spencer going on the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday, the Broncos again had to scramble in their return game. CB Bryce Callahan handled punts and rookie WR Tyrie Cleveland handled kickoffs when Spencer was out three weeks with a shoulder injury. But Callahan is dealing with a foot injury this week.

MATCHING WITS

The game pits one of the league's top defensive minds in Fangio and one of the NFL's most creative offensive minds in Payton.

Asked if he enjoyed matching wits with Payton, Fangio retorted: ''No, I'd rather go against somebody less capable than he is. Sean is an excellent play caller. He's actually getting better - that's hard to believe - but I've always felt he's one of the best play callers in the league.''

SPY GAMES

Saints RB Alvin Kamara is curious to see whether opponents reduce the frequency with which they assign a defender to spy him because they now also must guard against the threat Hill poses as a scrambler.

''There's always a chance that he'll take off,'' Kamara said. ''So I don't know if they're going to put two dudes, like the guy that's guarding me, if they're going to take him off me and put him on Taysom, so that I have a better chance of catching the check-down ... but you've got to account for Taysom's ability to run the ball.''

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AP Sports Writer Brett Martel contributed.

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