LATIMES.COM/SPORTS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2019D7
NFL WEEK 5
JAC
(2-2)at CAR
(2-2)
Sunday, 10 a.m.Panthers 24, Jaguars 20
TV: None. DirecTV: 705.
Line: Panthers by 3^1 ⁄ 2. O/U: 41.
Both young quarterbacks are playing
well. Carolina’s Kyle Allen is 2-0 as a
starter and finally gets to play at home.
Defense makes the difference, and the
Panthers are at their best in Charlotte.
NYJ
(0-3)at PHI
(2-2)
Sunday, 10 a.m.Eagles 31, Jets 17
TV: None. DirecTV: 706.
Line: Eagles by 13. O/U: 44.
The well-rested Eagles are getting
healthier, and Carson Wentz has been
terrific. The Jets’ offensive line is a
wreck, and this team is overmatched
with or without Sam Darnold.
BAL
(2-2)at PIT
(1-3)
Sunday, 10 a.m.Ravens 27, Steelers 21
TV: None. DirecTV: 707.
Line: Ravens by 3. O/U: 441 ⁄ 2.
The Ravens have lost two straight and
their offense has cooled. Their defense
isn’t what it has been over the years, but
it has enough to stop the Pittsburgh
offense, even on the road.
BUF
(3-1)at TEN
(2-2)
Sunday, 10 a.m.Titans 21, Bills 20
TV: None. DirecTV: 708.
Line: Titans by 3. O/U: 381 ⁄ 2.
These are similar teams. A lot hinges on
whether the concussed Josh Allen plays.
Without the full picture on that, give the
narrow edge to the home team, whose
defense is sharp and well-coached.
NE
(4-0)atWA S
(0-4)
Sunday, 10 a.m.Patriots 34, Redskins 14
TV: None. DirecTV: 709.
Line: Patriots by 15. O/U: 421 ⁄ 2.
The Patriots aren’t a perfect team. Their
defense is solid, but Buffalo exposed
some issues on offense. Still, this defense
is too good for Washington, which would
be wise to sit Dwayne Haskins.
ARI
(0-3-1)atCIN
(0-4)
Sunday, 10 a.m.Cardinals 28, Bengals 23
TV: None. DirecTV: 710.
Line: Bengals by 3. O/U: 471 ⁄ 2.
These teams are so bad, the game might
actually be good. Cincinnati is sputtering
on offense, and its defense is so shaky
that the Cardinals actually could look
like a high-flying NFL offense.
ATL
(1-3)atHOU
(2-2)
Sunday, 10 a.m.Texans 24, Falcons 20
TV: None. DirecTV: 711.
Line: Texans by 5. O/U: 481 ⁄ 2.
Both are coming off dispiriting home
losses. The Falcons traded for safety
Johnathan Cyprien, looking to shore up
their secondary. Julio Jones can’t seem to
get open. Houston bounces back.
TB
(2-2)at NO
(3-1)
Sunday, 10 a.m.Buccaneers 24, Saints 21
TV: None. DirecTV: 712.
Line: Saints by 3. O/U: 47.
This figures to be a great matchup. The
Saints are playing terrific team football,
but Teddy Bridgewater hasn’t lit it up.
Tampa Bay can smother the run, and
Jameis Winston looked sharp vs. Rams.MIN
(2-2)atNYG
(2-2)
Sunday, 10 a.m.Vikings 27, Giants 17
TV: None. DirecTV: 713.
Line: Vikings by 5. O/U: 44.
Daniel Jones is showing a lot of promise,
but he could hit a wall against this Vi-
kings defense. The Vikings are in re-
bound mode, and Dalvin Cook is primed
for a big day carrying the ball.CHI
(3-1)vs.OAK
(2-2)
Sunday, 10 a.m.Bears 28, Raiders 14
TV: Channel 11. DirecTV: 714.
Line: Bears by 5^1 ⁄ 2. O/U: 401 ⁄ 2.
Back-to-basics Bears might be better
with Chase Daniel at quarterback. Jon
Gruden can game-plan, so Raiders can
start fast in this London game but don’t
have talent to sustain it.DEN
(0-4)atLAC
(2-2)
Sunday, 1 p.m.Chargers 34, Broncos 21
TV: Channel 2. DirecTV: 715.
Line: Chargers by 6^1 ⁄ 2. O/U: 441 ⁄ 2.
Aside from Joe Flacco, the Broncos have
a really young offense. Their defense
looks really old. Miami followed by Den-
ver gives the banged-up Chargers a
relative breather to regain their footing.GB
(3-1)atDAL
(3-1)
Sunday, 1:15 p.m.Cowboys 31, Packers 24
TV: Channel 11. DirecTV: 716.
Line: Cowboys by 3. O/U: 47.
The Cowboys bounce back. Green Bay’s
defense is improved, but Philadelphia
showed it’s possible to run it down the
Packers’ throats. That’s playing right to
the strengths of Dallas.IND
(2-2)at KC
(4-0)
Sunday, 5:15p.m.Chiefs 38, Colts 23
TV: Channel 4.
Line: Chiefs by 11. O/U: 56.
The Colts are solid, especially with T.Y.
Hilton on the field, but the Chiefs are on
another level. The Chiefs don’t even have
all their pieces, yet Patrick Mahomes
makes it look like a “Madden” game.CLE
(2-2)at SF
(3-0)
Monday, 5:15 p.m.49ers 28, Browns 23
TV: ESPN.
Line: 49ers by 4. O/U: 461 ⁄ 2.
The Browns have gotten back to running
the ball with Nick Chubb, and that
makes them dangerous. The 49ers can
rush the passer with six guys. San Fran-
cisco hangs on at home.FARMER’S PICKS
The Times’ NFL writer, Sam Farmer, examines this week’s matchups. Lines according to Pregame.com (O/U =
over/under). Last week’s record 6-9 (.400); season 36-26-1 (.581). Using point spreads with the scores Farmer
predicted, the record against the spread last week would have been 5-10 (.333); season 31-31-1 (.500). Detroit and
Miami have the week off. Times Pacific.
Sam Darnold’s swollen
spleen has taken center
stage for the New York Jets.
The 22-year-old quarter-
back is scheduled to have
blood tests and an
ultrasound Friday to deter-
mine if the enlarged organ
has returned to normal size
— or close to it — and allow
Darnold to play in a game for
the first time since the sea-
son opener.
Darnold, the Jets and
their fans are keeping their
fingers crossed, hoping he
gets good news from the doc-
tors.
“It’s a tough thing be-
cause you want to stay safe,”
Darnold said Thursday. “I
want to make sure that I’m
safe out there, and that, you
know, I’m not going to die.”
Darnold managed a
smile while saying that, but
he understands the serious-
ness of the situation.
He was diagnosed with
mononucleosis on Sept. 11 —
three days after the season
opener — and has been
gradually working his way
back to the field. Darnold
was cleared for noncontact
activity Monday, and has
been practicing as if he’ll
start Sunday at Philadel-
phia.Etc.
Washington Redskins
coach Jay Gruden still is notready to say who will start at
quarterback against the
New England Patriots. Gru-
den said after practice
Thursday that he is “getting
closer“ to deciding from
among Colt McCoy, Case
Keenum and first-round
draft pick Dwayne Haskins
but wants to wait at least an-
other day. Haskins threw
three interceptions while
making his NFL debut after
replacing Keenum in last
week’s 24-3 loss to the New
York Giants.
The Patriots signed vet-
eran kicker Mike Nugent to
fill the spot created after
Stephen Gostkowski was
placed on injured reserve.
Nugent, 37, was drafted by
the Jets in 2005, spending
four seasons in New York.
He’s also played for Arizona,
Tampa Bay, Cincinnati, Chi-
cago, Dallas and Oakland.
Cleveland Browns wide
receiver Jarvis Landryre-
mains in concussion proto-
col following a strong game
in a win over Baltimore. It’s
not known if he’ll be avail-
able Monday night when the
Browns visit the San Fran-
cisco 49ers.
Jacksonville Jaguars cor-
nerback Jalen Ramsey
missed his sixth consecutive
practice. Ramsey sat out
last week’s victory at Denver.
The 49ers placed rookie
receiver Jalen Hurd (back)
and cornerback Jason Ver-
rett (knee) on injured re-
serve.AROUND THE LEAGUEDarnold’s spleen
is in the spotlight
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They are one of three
teams averaging as many as
300 yards passing per game,
and are fourth in the NFL in
yards per play and fifth in to-
tal offense.
The Chargers have
gained plenty through four
games. It’s what they’ve lost
that offensive coordinator
Ken Whisenhunt can’t
shake.
Four times the Chargers
have had touchdowns called
back because of penalties.
They also lost a glorious
scoring opportunity in De-
troit when Austin Ekeler
fumbled on first down at the
one-yard line.
“I think we’ve been OK as
an offense,” Whisenhunt
said. “Statistically, we’re
pretty good, I think. But
that’s just the thing that
keeps going through my
mind. It’s just hard. It’s hard
to think about that.”
The Chargers had two
touchdowns nullified
against the Lions because of
an illegal block by right
tackle Sam Tevi and a hold-
ing call against wide receiver
Dontrelle Inman.
A week later, a holding in-
fraction by left guard Dan
Feeneywiped out a touch-
down run. Keenan Allenwas
called for offensive pass in-
terference Sunday to erase
his 69-yard scoring recep-
tion. There’s a reason why
the Chargers are second be-
hind only Baltimore in time
of possession and fourth in
third-down conversion per-
centage yet are no better
than 14th in points scored.
Whisenhunt praised his
offense’s ability to generate
explosive plays. He also re-
ferred to the Chargers’ suc-
cess on third down and their
red-zone production, where
they rank 12th in touch-
downs per possession.
But he also noted the
team’s win-loss record and
how those are the only num-
bers that ultimately mean
anything.
“None of that really mat-
ters to me when you’re 2-2,”
Whisenhunt said. “I think,
and maybe I’m wrong, but if
we had those five touch-
downs on the board, I think
it’s a completely different sit-
uation right now. ... To me,
that’s what’s really impor-
tant.”
The Chargers’ had their
most comprehensive drive
of the season Sunday in Mi-
ami. They moved 66 yards in
16 plays and consumed 10
minutes 33 seconds of the
third quarter.
Though the series nettedonly three points — Ty Long
kicked a 45-yard field goal —
the Chargers kept the ball
out of the Dolphins’ hands,
contributing greatly to Mi-
ami producing 36 total yards
in 18 plays in the second half.
“That does a lot for a de-
fense after a stop, a punt and
then we held it for 10^1 ⁄ 2 min-
utes,” quarterback Philip
Rivers said. “That kept our
‘D’ rolling and fresh, and it
can take its toll on the de-
fense you’re going against
when we’re out there a longtime.”
The drive featured five
runs by Ekeler and four by
Troymaine Pope, and four
completions by Rivers. He
also had one incompletion
and was sacked once.
The Chargers picked up
five first downs and con-
verted two third downs.
They also ran a 17th play that
was called back because of
an illegal block penalty on
Allen.
“To have that kind of a
drive, to take that kind oftime off the clock, to convert
those third downs, that’s a
big deal,” Whisenhunt said.
“I think it goes toward confi-
dence for your team. It’s
pretty rewarding for the
group to do that.”Ingram sits
Defensive end Melvin In-
gram missed his second
consecutive practice Thurs-
day because of a hamstring
injury suffered against Mi-
ami.
Coach Anthony Lynnsaid Ingram has been lobby-
ing to play Sunday, but that
seems like an impossibility.
The Chargers host Denver
at 1 p.m. at Dignity Health
Sports Park.
Instead, Uchenna Nwosu
figures to fill in for most of
the snaps that otherwise
would have gone to Ingram.
“We’re excited about
Chenna,” defensive coordi-
nator Gus Bradley said.
“One thing about Chenna,
he’s going to play hard. ... I
think the technique is com-
ing. It’s not like it’s a big
shock to our unit. They have
a lot of confidence in him.”
Nwosu, who played at
Narbonne High, was a sec-
ond-round pick in 2018 out of
USC. He appeared in all 16
games as a rookie, including
three starts at outside line-
backer.
At 6-foot-2, 251 pounds,
Nwosu is big enough and
versatile enough to line up
on the edge up front. He
started working at the posi-
tion in the Chargers’ off-
season program.
“He’s naturally a gifted
athlete,” Bradley said. “It’s
hard to find a guy that can
play outside linebacker, ask
him to do all the drops [in
pass coverage], and then
also be a rusher. That’s why
we took him as high as we
did.”Injury updates
Rookie free safety Nasir
Adderley(hamstring) also
didn’t practice Thursday.
Adderley, the Chargers’ sec-
ond-round pick in April,
missed most of training
camp because of a ham-
string problem.
Linebacker Thomas
Davis(groin), wide receivers
Mike Williams(back) and
Travis Benjamin(hip) and
tight end Virgil Green
(groin) were limited for a
second consecutive day.
Cornerback Casey Hay-
ward(back) also was limited
after being a full participant
Wednesday. He spent last
week on the injury report
and then played all 52 defen-
sive snaps against the Dol-
phins.CHARGERS REPORT
Gaudy numbers not enough for them
By Jeff Miller
CHARGERS RUNNING BACKAustin Ekeler leaps over the Lions defense to score in the first quarter of his
team’s Week 2 loss. In the third quarter, Ekeler tried to score one from the one-yard line but fumbled it away.Robert GauthierLos Angeles Times