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NFL Sunday takeaways: Rams make huge statement, Andy Reid of last-place Chiefs hospitalized, and those crazy kicks

Matthew Stafford sharp and prolific once more as Los Angeles palms Tampa Bay its first loss since November

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On a day of historic kicks, and a severe well being scare for Andy Reid — head coach of the all of the sudden struggling Kansas Metropolis Chiefs — the Los Angeles Rams made an emphatic assertion.

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That they’re the crew to beat within the NFC. Maybe even the whole NFL.

The Rams saddled the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with their first loss since final November, 34-24 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

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Los Angeles improved to 3-0, Tampa Bay dropped to 2-1 and behind 3-0 Carolina within the NFC South.

Whereas Tom Brady had the extra prolific passing stats on the day, with 432 yards on 41-of-55 completions, Matthew Stafford of the Rams confirmed once more how deadly a scoring-producer he may be in Sean McVay’s diversified assault.

Crucially, Stafford may be that whether or not the Rams are profitable operating the ball or not. Which could be very a lot in contrast to Stafford’s predecessor, Jared Goff.

Stafford, in his first 12 months in L.A. after 12 in Detroit, threw for 343 yards and 4 touchdowns in opposition to a stout Bucs defence, on 71% completions. Six of his receivers had no less than three catches, led by Cooper Kupp’s 9 for 96 yards and two scores, and DeSean Jackson’s 120 yards and one rating.

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As soon as L.A. took at two-score lead early within the third, on the 75-yard Stafford-to-Jackson bomb, the complexion of the sport modified. Stafford simply stored throwing precision darts all around the area, to his spectacular military of pass-catchers.

On the season, Stafford has accomplished 70.2% of his throws for 9 touchdowns and 942 yards. Elite stuff.

The Rams led 14-7 on the half and McVay is now 40-0 when his Rams lead after two quarters.

The Rams don’t have any breathers till after Canadian Thanksgiving. Subsequent Sunday they play host to the 3-0 Arizona Cardinals in an NFC West showdown, then 4 days later play at Seattle in a recreation the Seahawks would possibly have to win to remain within the hunt within the NFL’s greatest division to this point in 2021.

ANDY REID HOSPITALIZED AFTER LOSS

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Reid reportedly was taken to hospital by ambulance following Kansas Metropolis’s 30-24 home-field loss to the division rival Los Angeles Chargers, which dropped the Chiefs to a 1-2 report, alone in final place within the AFC West.

“After the sport coach Reid felt ailing,” Chiefs spokesman Ted Crews instructed reporters, “so our crew’s medical employees is checking him out proper now out of precaution. All the pieces proper now seems to be wonderful, however he’s getting checked out.”

NFL Community and ESPN each reported that Reid was taken to hospital by ambulance.

ESPN reported that the 63-year-old Reid “was in good spirits when he departed for precautionary commentary after he fell ailing. A Chiefs supply mentioned “Reid is anticipated to be wonderful — and there was little or no alarm concerning the coach’s standing inside the group.”

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Reid addressed the crew within the locker room post-game, as he usually does, win or lose, experiences mentioned.

Assistant head coach and special-teams coordinator Dave Toub took questions on the Chiefs’ post-game information convention.

Toub was requested if he seen whether or not Reid seemed or sounded ailing through the recreation.

“No, in no way,” Toub mentioned. “I simply suppose he was feeling a little bit ailing on the finish. I feel he’s wonderful. I feel he’s going to be wonderful.”

We’ll need to see whether or not the identical may be mentioned of the Chiefs crew.

Since main Baltimore late within the third quarter final Sunday night time, 28-17, seemingly headed towards a 2-0 begin, QB Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offence have uncharacteristically screwed up quite a bit: Two interceptions, three misplaced fumbles and touchdowns on solely three of 13 drives.

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“We’ve a protracted season forward of us,” Mahomes mentioned. “It seems to be actual dim proper now, but when yow will discover a option to get higher from this, and discover a option to win these video games on the finish … we’ll be the place we need to on the finish of the season.”

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ANOTHER KICK TO THE LIONS’ GUT

Subsequent time an NFL placekicker tries to set a brand new NFL report for longest area purpose, he should hope the opposing crew is the Detroit Lions — with Detroit forward 17-16.

Soccer’s hardest-luck franchise on Sunday was crushed by one other monster, report, game-winning kick by the similar rating when Baltimore’s placekicker extraordinaire, Justin Tucker, drilled a 66-yarder from placement that was doubly fortunate: It hit the crossbar and bounced over for a 19-17 Ravens victory.

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The ball was snapped from Detroit’s 48-yard line, and positioned down for Tucker to kick at Baltimore’s personal 44. Yeah, that far.

It’s the longest area purpose within the NFL’s 102-season historical past and one more all-time kick within the intestine to the Lions.

Tom Dempsey of the New Orleans Saints had set his long-standing report of 63 yards in November 1970, at recreation’s finish, to beat the Lions by the identical rating as Baltimore and Tucker did Sunday: 19-17.

Three placekickers from 1998 to 2012 tied Dempsey’s mark of 63 yards, earlier than Matt Prater in 2013 — then with the Denver Broncos — set a brand new milestone with a 64-yarder.

Tucker beat Prater’s kick by two yards — indoors, on kicker-friendly synthetic turf at Detroit’s Ford Area.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh mentioned to Tucker on the sphere moments later: “We’re going to recollect this for the remainder of our lives.”

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Had Tucker’s kick bounced backward off the crossbar, as an alternative of ahead, each the Ravens and Lions would now be 1-2. As it’s, the Ravens are 2-1, the Lions 0-3.

“(It) goes with out saying, that was a troublesome one,” first-year Detroit head coach Dan Campbell mentioned. “I didn’t suppose it might make it.”

You knew this already, however the soccer gods hate the Lions.

A 68-YARDER WASN’T IN THE CARDS

An earlier try to interrupt the longest-field-goal report happened about 90 minutes earlier than Tucker’s kick. It’s Exhibit A, all time, for why you by no means try a area purpose as ridiculously lengthy as 68 yards — not ever — besides in end-of-game desperation. Like Tucker’s kick.

On the ultimate play of the primary half in Jacksonville, with the winless Jaguars surprisingly tied with undefeated Arizona on the time, 7-7, Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury opted to have Prater try a 68-yard area purpose.

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On the time, Prater nonetheless held the NFL report for longest area purpose (64 yards). And he possesses one of many NFL’s strongest legs ever, so if anybody may make a 68-yarder, he’s the man.

However earlier than recreation’s finish, it’s an actual dangerous play. And we discovered why.

Prater kicked the snot out of it — and precisely. Seemed like he would possibly make the 68-yarder, too, however the ball fell simply wanting the crossbar — and into the ready palms of Jaguars return specialist Jamal Agnew, a yard in entrance of the again white line in the long run zone.

Agnew proceeded to weave via hapless sort out makes an attempt by Cardinals gamers and ran again 109 yards for a half-ending landing, and a 13-7 Jacksonville lead.

The play tied for the longest attainable in American soccer, at 109 yards — however the first of that size in NFL historical past off a missed kick.

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The Cardinals obtained their act collectively late within the third quarter and knocked off the plucky Jags, 31-19.

JUST GIVE AFC EAST TITLE TO THE BILLS

It’s even more durable three weeks into the season to see any of the Buffalo Payments’ three division rivals difficult them for the 2021 AFC East title.

After hiccupping offensively of their dud Week 1 loss to Pittsburgh, the Payments since have outscored division-rival Miami 35-0 and, on Sunday, the Washington Soccer Crew 43-21.

Payments QB Josh Allen has rediscovered all of his fantastic throwing skills of final 12 months. He picked aside Washington’s defence for 358 yards and 4 TDs, with out a decide, on 74% completions. Ace stuff.

In distinction …

The winless Jets have scored 20 factors on the season after getting shredded 26-0 at Denver.

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The 1-2 Dolphins have scored 45 factors on the season. Seven of their 28 in Sunday’s 31-28 time beyond regulation loss at Las Vegas got here from a defensive pick-six.

The 1-2 New England Patriots will seemingly wrestle all season to maneuver the ball, with expertise shortages at broad receiver, and behind rookie QB Mac Jones.

Most tellingly? Buffalo’s level differential via Sunday is plus-50. New York’s? Minus-50. Miami’s? Minus-37. New England’s? Plus-three.

Was once New England, most years this century, could be within the place Buffalo finds itself in at the moment — coming into October with a division title half within the bag already, with a first-round playoff bye quickly changing into the overriding motivational purpose for the following three months.

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