Gardner Minshew can play, NFL power rankings and more

Gardner Minshew is a revelation in Duval for his cult status, but the larger point is being missed. The rookie can play, and the Jaguars are alive in the AFC South.

The mustache is sublime. The arm is better.

Gardner Minshew is an overnight cult hero in Duval. The mustachioed 23-year-old has become a movement with the Jacksonville Jaguars, a walking meme and the ultimate underdog story.

Talking to league sources, Minshew’s ascension shouldn’t be stunning. Throughout training camp, the Jaguars were impressed by his above-average intelligence and an accurate arm. The former was showcased at the NFL Scouting Combine, where he scored a 42 on the Wonderlic test.

“Gardner is the consummate professional,” said agent Dave Butz. “You can be laid back and be yourself off the field, and still be one of the hardest-workest guys in the game when it comes to preparing and playing football. That’s him.”

Asking those around Jacksonville and throughout the league, the same buzzwords are repeated. Straight shooter. Poised. Energetic. Smart.

Despite taking Minshew in the sixth round, Jacksonville was high on him throughout his senior season, charting each week. Minshew shined, setting the single-season Pac-12 passing record with 4,776 yards at Washington State.

Minshew largely fell down draft boards because he’s 6-foot-1 and the lack of elite arm strength. Many NFL teams also wondered about his background, having played at Northwest Mississippi Community College and East Carolina before starring with the Cougars.

After Nick Foles broke his clavicle in the first quarter of Jacksonville’s regular-season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, Minshew got his chance. Pressed into emergency duty, the Mississippi native completed 22-of-25 passes for 275 yards with a pair of touchdowns.

Instead of Minshew being overwhelmed by the moment, he thrived.

“We had a conversation a few weeks ago when the preseason ended,” Butz relayed. “I said the irony is, when you get into a regular season game, everything will be easier for you because it’ll be the first time you’ll have NFL starters surrounding you.”

A week later, Minshew drove Jacksonville to the brink of an upset road win over the Houston Texans in the waning seconds. Four days later, Minshew beat the Tennessee Titans for a national audience, notching 204 yards and two more well-placed touchdown throws.

The stats has been solid, but the film is better. Good mechanics. Live arm on out-breaking routes. Terrific touch and anticipation.

If Minshew was a first-round pick instead of a sixth, the hype would be absurd.

Inside the building, Minshew is surrounded by insightful voices. Offensive coordinator John DeFilippo, quarterbacks coach Scott Milanovich and Foles have helped bring the rookie along. From understanding protections to going through reads, Minshew is developing in real time.

His development has kept Jacksonville in the AFC South race. It’s also helped keep Jalen Ramsey in Jacksonville. After demanding a trade from the Jaguars, there’s now more reason to believe general manager Dave Caldwell holds off with the team in contention. Next week, the Jaguars have a chance to be .500 if they can beat the winless Denver Broncos.

Of course, Minshew is only three weeks into his career. Teams will go to school on his tendencies and weaknesses. From there it’s an unending battle of adjustments.

Still, the early returns are good. The mustache is all the rage, and the arm is firing.

Power rankings

Top 10 league-wide storylines through Week 3

1. Everything Antonio Brown. More below.
2. Injured quarterbacks are killing contenders (Roethlisberger, Newton, Brees)
3. Kyler Murray looks like a stud for the Cardinals
4. Dolphins are all-time bad outfit
5. Holding calls are out of control (and being curtailed)
6. Pats, Chiefs appear on collision course in AFC
7. Packers energized by defensive and coaching changes
8. Browns failing to realize hype in early going
9. Bears being held back severely by Mitch Trubisky
10. Surprise unbeatens roll along (Bills, Lions)

Quotable

"“Times are rough around here. Obviously the past three years – it’s been tough. Trying to get it right. We sit at 0-3, living in a world of suck. Football is still fun, but it’s not so much fun when you’re losing, especially when you prepare as hard as you can, you go out and have four targets, two catches and 10 yards. But there’s always next week, so I’m optimistic.”"

– Denver Broncos receiver Emmanuel Sanders on team starting 0-3.

After losing 27-16 to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, the Broncos are 0-3 for the first time since 1999. A new head coach-quarterback combination of Vic Fangio and Joe Flacco was suppose to invigorate a stale team, but the Broncos have largely been non-competitive offensively and merely average defensively.

For Sanders and the Broncos, the schedule provides no favors. Four games remain against the Los Angeles Chargers and Chiefs, along with road dates including the Minnesota Vikings, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills.

If the losses continue piling up, general manager John Elway should be aggressive at the trade deadline with both corner Chris Harris Jr. and Sanders set to hit free agency come March.

Podcast

Random stat

Steve O’Neal booted the longest punt in NFL history for the New York Jets in a 1969 game against the Denver Broncos. Thanks to altitude and a great bounce, O’Neal authored a 98-yard blast.

Info learned this week

1. Ravens played Chiefs tough, but concerns showed for Baltimore

Baltimore and Kansas City was billed as the week’s top game. It lived up to the hype.

The Ravens and Chiefs combined for 61 points and 955 offensive yards and 56 first downs. While Baltimore remained in the contest throughout, a closer examination does reveal a key concern. Once the Ravens are forced into obvious throwing situations, can Lamar Jackson consistently deliver?

Jackson totaled 267 passing yards on 22-of-43, but twice was rewarded on Hail Mary launches. Twice in the fourth quarter, Jackson heaved a 50-50 ball under pressure. The first came on a 4th and 5 with 13 minutes remaining, ending in a 25-yard completion to Seth Roberts. Five minutes later, Jackson found Willie Snead on 3rd and 17 for 23 yards on a cross-field throw. The drives resulted in nine points and kept the Ravens alive.

On one hand, Jackson made the plays, using athleticism and a phenomenal arm. On the other, those are unicorns, throws which typically end in turnovers or incompletions.

Baltimore should feel good leaving Arrowhead Stadium. The Ravens hung with the Chiefs and Jackson was a dynamo. A postseason rematch would be incredible.

Still, the details can’t be ignored. Jackson can make all the off-schedule plays. He needs to win more often on-schedule to avoid needing miracles.

2. Lions riding defense, running backs to surprising start

The Detroit Lions are undefeated. If they want to contend, though, they must improve.

On Sunday, the Lions earned an upset win over the Philadelphia Eagles. They were outgained 373-287 in total yards but won because of a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown and two Philadelphia turnovers.

Last week, the Los Angeles Chargers were leading 10-6 in the third quarter when they scored two touchdowns on the same drive. Both were called back due to penalties. Later on the drive, Chargers running back Austin Ekeler fumbled at the goal line, being recovered by Detroit.

Still, let’s also credit Detroit’s improvement. Outside of the fourth quarter in Arizona, the Lions have been tremendous defensively. In the other 11 regulation quarters this year, the Lions have allowed 40 points to the Eagles, Chargers and Cardinals. The offense is also less reliant on Matthew Stafford, long a sticking point in Motown.

With the Chiefs visiting Ford Field this week, another huge test is coming. The Lions await it undefeated.

3. Jones making Giants believe in wild win over Bucs

Matt Gay’s 34-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right. Rookie quarterback Daniel Jones and his New York Giants celebrated in ecstasy. Jones won his first career start. The Giants won their first game of a trying season.

Jones not only earned a victory, he earned belief. Hitting on a wide array of throws to accompany young legs, the sixth-overall pick threw for 336 yards and two touchdowns while running for two more. In an exuberant locker room postgame, Jones’ teammates were buzzing about what they believe is to come.

“He’s going to be a great one,” Giants receiver Sterling Shepard said, relayed by Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. He’s a winner. He’s a leader. And he is our quarterback.”

New York is 1-2. It has a long way to go. There will be tough days ahead, but at least now, the Giants have a burgeoning beaming light of hope to follow.

4. Kitchens’ inexperience shows against Rams

Freddie Kitchens might consider not turning on talk radio for a few days.

The Cleveland head coach failed to dial up anything imaginative or aggressive in the Browns’ 20-13 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night. His style was encapsulated with Cleveland trailing 17-13 midway through the first quarter. On the Los Angeles 40-yard line, Kitchens called a screen pass on 3rd and 9. It went for no gain. On 4th down, Kitchens called a draw. It went nowhere.

When a team has Baker Mayfield, Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry, it gives them opportunities to make plays. Put the ball in their hands. By calling such a conservative game, Kitchens risks strife in the locker room and frustration boiling over. It’s bad football, and it’s bad coaching in a variety of ways.

Kitchens needs to be ultra creative this upcoming week. Cleveland visits Baltimore, a blitz-heavy team with an excellent secondary. The Browns’ biggest weakness is its offensive line. If changes aren’t made, Mayfield will be a sitting duck, Beckham and Landry will be further annoyed, and the Browns will be 1-3.

5. Packers winning with defense, doses of Rodgers

The Green Bay Packers are 3-0. Not uncommon in the Aaron Rodgers era. The style, though, is.

In each victory, Rodgers has thrown for less than 240 yards. The future Hall of Famer has four touchdown passes. Green Bay’s offense is averaging 19 points per game. It’s been evident this group is trying to find its way under first-year head coach Matt LaFleur.

Instead, it’s been the defense leading Green Bay to the NFC North’s penthouse. The Packers have notched four interceptions while not surrendering a 300-yard passing game behind a young, talented secondary of safeties Darnell Savage and Adrian Amos, and corners Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson. The front has been terrific as well, totaling 12 sacks including six in Sunday’s 27-16 triumph over the Broncos.

Eventually, Rodgers and the offense will find its groove. Scary thought.

History lesson

The Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys didn’t play a classic on Sunday, but they’ve been involved together in a few before.

In 1971, the Cowboys defeated the Dolphins in Super Bowl VI. Today, Dallas is revered as America’s Team. Back then, the Cowboys had a less-flattered moniker: Next Year’s Champions. It all changed for Dallas in Tulane Stadium, beating Miami 24-3.

Thirteen years later, Dan Marino and the Dolphins made history in the campaign’s final week in a win over Dallas on Monday Night Football. Marino became the first quarterback in NFL history to eclipse 5,000 passing yards in a season

In 1993, the Dolphins and Cowboys waged a Thanksgiving Day bout for the ages. With a snowy Texas Stadium as the backdrop, Miami trailed 14-13 in the final seconds. The Dolphins’ Pete Stoyanovich lined up for a 41-yard field goal, only to have the attempt blocked.

Incredibly, Cowboys defensive tackle Leon Lett touched the ball beyond the line, with Miami recovering. The Dolphins got another shot and Stoyanovich drilled a 18-yard field goal, giving Miami a stunning victory.

Parting shot

The Antonio Brown saga has been put on pause until next season.

Technically, Brown can sign with another club and immediately be active, but after all which has transpired in the past two weeks, don’t count on it. With legal troubles looming over Brown, any team signing him would face commissioner Roger Goodell almost certainly placing him on his Exempt List.

If Goodell chose that course, Brown would be paid, but couldn’t play. Good luck finding an owner who essentially wants to make a donation.

Brown, 31, is one of the best receivers in NFL history. Yet his mind-numbing and in some cases, disgusting behavior has led to his career being in jeopardy.

The timeline of his actions over the past two years is disturbing, and yet the Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots all took chances on him. Hell, the Buffalo Bills wanted to take a chance. All gave up, with his stint in New England lasting 11 days.

Brown’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has tweeted about his client’s interest in finding another team. Rosenhaus should take stock of the moment and do the right thing by getting Brown help, not another paycheck.

Ultimately, Rosenhaus and Brown won’t have to worry about his next destination for a long while. He was granted the perfect opportunity in Foxborough, only to squander it in record time.