Niyo, Bianchi, Silva discuss the Lions crushing the Bears in Ben Johnson’s return.
Niyo, Bianchi, Silva discuss the Lions crushing the Bears in Ben Johnson’s return.
Orchard Park, N.Y. – Joey Bosa grew up watching “SpongeBob SquarePants,” and has made a professional living out of terrorizing opposing quarterbacks.
Both passions followed the 10-year NFL veteran to Buffalo, where the Bills edge rusher feels rejuvenated two months after bidding farewell to his 20s.
“It is crazy to think that I’m 30, but I have a lot of life left,” Bosa told The Associated Press on Monday. “And when I’m feeling good, I feel nice and young. And I’m feeling as good as I have my entire career.”
As fresh starts go, Bosa’s cross-country transition has been smooth so far for the onetime Chargers star, whose trajectory ebbed following three injury-limited seasons.
In the locker room, he has found common ground in cartoons, of all things, while bonding with Buffalo’s young edge rushers.
“He knows my SpongeBob, so he’s at the top of my book,” the 25-year-old Greg Rousseau said, noting the two spent training camp exchanging lines from the animated Nickelodeon series that debuted in 1999.
Rousseau doesn’t recall how the show first came up in conversation, but he noted how it provided constant fodder for laughs during camp. Without revealing details, he said the two have a SpongeBob-themed sack celebration in the works.
Tartar sauce jokes aside, it’s on the field where Bosa has filled a key role for the five-time defending AFC East champion Bills (2-0), who host Miami (0-2) on Thursday night.
In a 31-10 win over the Jets on Sunday, Bosa forced two fumbles, one recovered by Buffalo, and added a sack – the 73rd of his career, moving him into a tie with Rob Burnett for 99th on the NFL list. Bosa’s three forced fumbles, with one coming in a 41-40 season-opening win over Baltimore, lead the NFL.
Replacing Miller
It’s early still, but this is what the Bills were counting on when signing Bosa to a one-year, $12.6 million contract in March to muscle up a middling pass rush. He essentially replaced Von Miller, the 36-year-old who was cut after showing signs of age and limitations through three injury-shortened seasons.
Upon his arrival, Bosa was upbeat and philosophical while realizing he’s running out of time on his career, and driven to get the most out of however many years left.
“I think I have a lot to prove to mainly myself, because that’s all that really matters, that I still have stuff to give to this game,” Bosa said this week. “It’s just nice to have a fresh start with a new team and get to experience football in a different environment and a whole new situation.”
Though he enjoyed his time in Southern California and was disappointed upon being released by the Chargers with one year left on his contract, Bosa embraced joining a team with an established culture, a recent winning history and stability at coach.
This is far different from the Chargers, who are on their fourth coach since 2020, made the playoffs just three times during Bosa’s tenure and built a reputation for losing close games.
It’s why Bosa said he felt like being “in a dream state” after the Bills rallied from a 15-point deficit in the final four minutes to beat Baltimore.
Fresh start
Defensive tackle DaQuan Jones felt similar emotions upon joining the Bills in 2022 and can relate to what Bosa’s experiencing.
“You kind of felt like your career takes a little boost just from the culture standpoint and how we go out there and play, and I think he’s living in that moment now,” said Jones, a 12-year veteran. “I think it’s a match made in heaven, and I hope he just continues to grow and continues to be happy.”
Bosa’s happiness is apparent to Bob Babich, the Chargers linebackers coach in Bosa’s rookie year, 2016, and whose son Bobby is the Bills defensive coordinator.
“He called me after the (Jets) game and said, ‘Man, Joey Bosa looks like he’s having fun,’” Babich Jr. said. “It’s cool to see a smile on his face. … He’s certainly in a good place right now, and we got to keep that going.”
Staying healthy is key for the NFL’s 2016 defensive rookie of the year, who combined for just 14 sacks over the previous three seasons and was limited to 28 games because of groin, foot, hip and back injuries.
“Mentally, maybe a little older. But physically, I’m feeling pretty good right now,” Bosa said. “Old Joey, new Joey, I think I’m just Joey. And I think when I’m healthy and I’m feeling good, I play good football.”
Raiders QB Smith wants to go long
Henderson, Nev. – The Chargers decided to take away Geno Smith’s deep passing game Monday night and force him to go with underneath routes.
Smith at times did just that, but he also opted to throw long regardless of the coverage – and paid the price.
He tied a career high with three interceptions in the Raiders’ 20-9 loss to Los Angeles, becoming the first quarterback since 2015 to go at least 0 for 10 from 10 yards and beyond, according to Sportradar.
Las Vegas coach Pete Carroll said after the game he thought Smith forced too many throws. Watching the video reinforced his opinion.
“They defended him well,” Carroll said Tuesday. «They were back there. In retrospect, it looked like it was really difficult to be hopeful, and he was trying to make something happen.”
Smith showed back to offseason summer practices his willingness to take shots downfield, and he has speedy receivers on the outside in Tre Tucker and Dont’e Thornton who can get past the fastest cornerbacks. That aggressiveness plays into the Raiders’ proud history of trying to beat teams with the long ball.
But Smith did his own Monday morning quarterbacking minutes after the game Monday night.
“I’m never going to make any excuses about anything,” Smith said. «I’ve got to be better. We got to be better, and we’ve got a short week to improve on that.”
A week shortened even more because the Raiders have a cross-country trip to play Washington on Sunday.
What Smith needs as much as anything is a run game, which would help open up those deep routes. Las Vegas averaged a league-low 79.8 yards rushing last season, which is why the Raiders drafted running back Ashton Jeanty sixth this year.
That hasn’t fixed their ground game. The Raiders average 62 yards, ahead of only Cincinnati at 47.
Jeanty did make progress. A week after rushing for 38 yards on 19 carries at New England, he gained 43 yards on 11 attempts against the Chargers.
“He’s still getting it,” Carroll said. “We have a ways to go here, and I have no problem telling you that. He’s going to get better and get more comfortable. He felt more comfortable in this game. He looked good running the football. We need to just get to him more, just liked to get another eight or nine snaps to him and get around 20.”
One reason Carroll was thrilled to reunite with Smith after their success together in Seattle was that he knew he was getting a veteran quarterback who has overcome more than his share of adversity.
So one bad outing likely will not throttle Smith.
“You got to learn from it, and so I’m going to be super hard on myself, extremely hard on myself, because that’s all I know,” Smith said. «I’m going to get better this week, find ways to get better from this film, and we’ll be better as a team as well.”
What’s working
The defensive front is getting the job done, ranking fourth in allowing 70.5 yards rushing per game and tied for eighth with six sacks. Usual suspect Maxx Crosby is a big part of it, but it’s not just him. Defensive tackle Jonah Laulu, stepping in when Christian Wilkins was dismissed, has three sacks. He had one in 17 games last season.
What needs
The Raiders’ struggles with the offensive line is a major reason they didn’t have a running game last season. Guess where much of the problem lies now? Las Vegas drafted two linemen in the third round and signed free agent Alex Cappa, so the Raiders didn’t ignore the front. But it’s not looking like they did enough to address it.
Stock up
Not everyone on the offensive line is struggling. Kolton Miller, long one of the NFL’s top tackles, is off to an especially good start. Pro Football Focus rates him as third best out of 92 tackles in pass blocking and 10th overall. There’s a reason the Raiders in July gave him a three-year, $66 million extension.
Stock down
Three trips to the red zone netted two field goals and an interception against the Chargers. The Raiders’ defense kept the team in the game, but the offense failed to take advantage. It’s a bad early trend as well. The Raiders’ 25% conversion rate ranks 29th.
Injuries
Carroll said he expected G Jackson Powers-Johnson (concussion) to return to practice this week. He also said TE Brock Bowers (knee) will increase his productivity in practice. Bowers practiced once last week and was clearly not 100% against the Chargers in catching five passes for 38 yards.
Chargers’ defense dominates Raiders
El Segundo, Calif. – The Los Angeles Chargers are off to a 2-0 start for the second straight season under coach Jim Harbaugh. The difference this time? Both wins were over AFC West opponents.
They’ll have a chance to make it 3-0 against the division on Sunday when they host the Denver Broncos in their home opener.
The Bolts’ latest takedown was a 20-9 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night. They opened the season with a 27-21 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Brazil.
“Obviously, there are things to clean up, but I like the direction we’re going,” quarterback Justin Herbert said. «As long as we’re moving forward, keep getting better, I like the things that this team can do.”
What’s working
The defense. It limited the Raiders to just 218 yards of offense, with Las Vegas quarterback Geno Smith throwing for 180 yards with three interceptions. The first play of the game was an interception by the Chargers. The D-line showed its endurance when the Raiders chewed up 11 minutes, 15 seconds on a 19-play, 62-yard drive that ended in a field goal.
What needs help
Second-half offense. The Chargers managed just three points after halftime and had their first turnover of the season.
Stock up
Linebacker Daiyan Henley. He came off the injury report to play with a fever and had one of the best games of his three-year career. He had a team-leading 10 tackles (two for loss), an interception and an 11-yard sack of Smith that ended a late fourth-quarter possession. Henley said he cried in the second quarter because he felt “terrible.” Herbert said, «For him to show up and give us his best effort like that, he’s a true leader on this team.”
Stock down
Running back Omarion Hampton. The rookie has 23 carries for 72 yards and no touchdowns through two games as the top option. He had a fumble in the fourth quarter against the Raiders. Hampton has yet to meet expectations based on his draft profile and it’s possible the team opts for Najee Harris as its No. 1 RB. “We want to get better there and keep growing,” Harbaugh said.
Injuries
Linebacker Khalil Mack’s left elbow bent awkwardly on the final play of the first quarter. He returned to the sideline wearing a sling and was set to have imaging. Linebacker Denzel Perryman went on injured reserve Monday with an ankle injury he suffered against Kansas City in the season opener.
Steelers’ Johnson will watch from the bench
Pittsburgh – Kaleb Johnson’s mental lapse in Pittsburgh’s loss to Seattle has temporarily cost the rookie his job returning kicks.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Johnson is off the kick-return team in the short term after the third-round draft pick opted not to chase after a live ball that bounced over his head early in the fourth quarter against the Seahawks.
Seattle’s George Holani chased it down and fell on it just before it rolled over the end line for a gift touchdown that propelled the Seahawks to a 31-17 victory and erased Pittsburgh’s early season momentum just as quickly as it appeared.
“I’m certainly going to give him an opportunity to work his way back from that error,” Tomlin said. “I believe in his talent. He’s a sharp young man. He is a hard worker. So you leave the light on for him. You give him an opportunity to move on from it, but he has to do that.”
Johnson returned kicks briefly early in his career at Iowa before becoming the Hawkeyes starting running back. The Steelers selected him 83rd overall in the draft, enamored with his size (6-foot-1, 225 pounds) and ability to create what Tomlin described as NFL-quality runs against defenses stacked to stop him.
While Johnson has yet to crack the running back rotation led by Jaylen Warren and Kenny Gainwell, Pittsburgh hoped his vision would help him be effective on special teams. The early returns have been OK if not spectacular. Johnson was averaging 23.9 yards per return before his gaffe, believed to be the first kickoff recovery in the end zone for a score in 45 years.
“You’ve got to man up,” Tomlin said. “You’ve got to acknowledge your shortcomings, and then you’ve got to work to move beyond it. And it’s my job as a leader to provide that opportunity.”
Tomlin declined to specify who would take over Johnson’s spot. He was benched immediately in the game, with Jaylen Warren lining up deep next to Gainwell on the ensuing kickoff after Seattle’s recovery. It seems unlikely that Warren – who returned kicks earlier in his career – is a long-term solution given his increased workload as Pittsburgh’s starting running back.
The Steelers (1-1) will try to regroup on the road next week at New England (1-1) with a defense that has been hit hard by injuries. Rookie defensive lineman Derrick Harmon is expected to miss his third straight game with a sprained knee. Safety DeShon Elliott is likely to miss a second consecutive contest with his own knee issue and outside linebacker Alex Highsmith is out with an ankle injury.
There’s a chance cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (hamstring) could return after sitting out against Seattle. Darius Slay (shoulder) and linebacker Patrick Queen (oblique) are expected to play.
The spate of injuries to a veteran group is one of the reasons a defense that began the year with lofty expectations has struggled. Pittsburgh is 29th in yards allowed and points allowed and has just three sacks through two games.
“We’ve got to be better,” Tomlin said. “We got to strategize better. We’ve got a play better. We got to divide the labor up a little better. Some of that’s been challenging with some of the attrition, but that’s what we’re paid to do and I’m excited about addressing it this week.”
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