New on SI: Arizona Cardinals Hall of Fame Players: A Complete History

Among players, coaches and executives who spent at least one season with the Cardinals, 21 have been elected to the Hall of Fame. Among those are 12 who spent the majority of their career with the franchise.

The Hall of Fame logo was featured on the field prior to the 2017 Hall of Fame Game between the Cardinals and the Cowboys in Canton, Ohio.

How Many Cardinals Players Are in the Hall of Fame?

As the oldest continually operating franchise in pro football history, the Cardinals have churned out their fair share of Hall of Famers. In total, the Cardinals have 21 players, coaches and/or executives represented in the Hall of Fame. Some spent their entire career with the franchise whereas others made a brief one- or two-season stop. All told, the team accounts for just over 6% of the 346 men who have been enshrined in Canton, Ohio.

Among the team's representatives are some of the best defensive players in the history of the NFL, one of the Cardinals' greatest receiving threats of all time, numerous coaches and the man who built the team that won the 1947 NFL championship.

Cardinals Hall of Famers

What follows is a list of every Hall of Famer who has played at least one season for the Cardinals. Members are listed in order by the number of seasons each spent with the franchise and, unless otherwise noted, all bulleted stats refer only to the given member's time with the franchise.

Larry Wilson

• Position: Safety
• College: Utah
• Seasons Played: 1960–72
• Years as Coach/Executive: 1973–2002
• Seasons With the Cardinals: 1960–2002
• Year Inducted: 1978
• Stats: 52 interceptions for 5 TDs
• Awards: 1966 Defensive Player of the Year, Cardinals Ring of Honor, Cardinals No. 8 Retired
• All-Pro: 1966–70
• Pro Bowl: 1962–63, 1965–70

Larry Wilson closed his career as one of the greatest Cardinals players of all time, and he immediately followed his retirement by joining the team's front office. He spent a total of 43 years with the Cardinals, first as a dominant defender for 13 seasons, then in various front-office capacities through 2002. Those first 13 years were spent perfecting the safety blitz, while the last 15 were spent as the team's vice president. His tenure culminated with the announcement that the Cardinals would soon get their own stadium.

Wilson was a seventh-round draft pick of the Cardinals in 1960. Dubbed Wildcat early in his career, Wilson became so adept at the safety blitz—a new trend in the NFL in the 1960s—that coaches started calling the play by Wilson’s nickname. By the middle of the decade, Wilson had become the premier defensive player in the league, and among his career-defining moments was a string of seven straight games in 1966 when he intercepted a pass. That stretch included a 91-yard touchdown and a three-interception game for the second season in a row. His 10 picks that season paced the league, and an interception for Wilson was usually good news for the Cardinals, who went 30-13-2 in games when he picked off a pass. He maintains team records with 52 career interceptions and 800 interception return yards. His long return of 96 yards stood as a team record until 2001.

For all of Wilson's successes, however, the team achieved very little during his tenure. Wilson is one of few Hall of Famers to have never appeared in a postseason game, and the Cardinals had an 83-86-11 record throughout his playing career.

Wilson—one of just five Cardinals to have his number retired—was hired as the team's scouting director following his retirement, and he moved up to become the general manager in 1977. He briefly stepped in as interim coach in 1979, picking up two wins and a loss after Bud Wilkinson was fired. By 1987 Wilson added vice president to his ledger, remaining with the Cardinals until his retirement after the 2002 season.

Charley Trippi

• Position: All-Purpose, Coach
• College: Georgia
• Seasons Played With the Cardinals: 1947–55
• Seasons Coached With the Cardinals: 1956–57, 1963–65
• Year Inducted: 1968
• Stats: 3,506 rushing yards; 2,547 passing yards; 1,321 receiving yards; 53 total TDs
• Awards: Cardinals Ring of Honor
• All-Pro: 1948
• Pro Bowl: 1952–53

Charley Trippi was primarily known for his abilities as a

running back, but he actually played a lot more positions than that in his nine years with the Cardinals. He was also deployed as a quarterback, return man, defensive back and punter. After retiring, he joined the team as an assistant coach.

Before going pro, Trippi had multiple options. He had a dual-contract offer from the short-lived New York Yankees of the newly founded All-America Football Conference—which included the option to play baseball for the Yankees. Several other professional baseball teams were pursuing him, as well. Finally, he had a $100,000 offer to play football for the Cardinals. He opted for the Cardinals and became one of the franchise's most remembered players.

As a rookie, Trippi immediately became a contributing player—accumulating 206 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns against the Eagles in the 1947 NFL championship game. He averaged nearly 5.0 yards per carry over his first four seasons, then switched to quarterback for two seasons. He returned as halfback for a year, then switched to the defensive backfield and punted. In the 1955 preseason, he was viciously tackled and sustained injuries that ultimately ended his playing career. He retired as the franchise's all-time leader in rushing yards.

Following retirement, Trippi was an assistant coach for the Cardinals, primarily focusing on the team's offensive backfield. Currently, at age 98, he is the oldest living NFL Hall of Famer, and with 14 total seasons of service with the Cardinals, he is among the most tenured individuals in franchise history.

Cardinals Hall of Fame tight end Jackie Smith waves to the crowd during the Hall of Fame parade in 2018.

Jackie Smith

• Position: Tight End
• College: Northwestern State University (La.)
• Seasons Played: 1963–78
• Seasons With the Cardinals: 1963–77
• Year Inducted: 1994
• Stats: 480 catches for 7,918 yards and 40 TDs
• Pro Bowl: 1966–70

Jackie Smith came to the Cardinals as the 129th pick in the 1963 NFL Draft, and in just his second career game, he showed he'd become a capable NFL player. On that day against the Steelers, Smith established career highs he would never beat with nine catches for 212 yards and two touchdowns. His best season was in 1967, when he had four 100-yard games en route to 1,205 yards for the season. He added a career-high nine touchdowns and was red hot over the last four games of the season, hauling in 20 passes for 455 yards and five touchdowns.

Smith was a dependable target from the get-go, playing in the first 121 straight games of his career until he was injured in 1971. He picked up at least 100 yards in 22 games during his career and snatched a touchdown in all but five of those. From 1967 to '70, he had a reception in 46 straight games while providing superb blocking. His career yardage total is the best-ever for a Cardinals tight end, which was the NFL record until 1990, and he is third all-time in team history for receiving yards.

The legend retired after the 1977 season, but he reportedly wanted to come back to the Cardinals for the '78 season. Ultimately, he ended up going to the Cowboys as a backup and went to the Super Bowl that season, while the Cardinals fell to a 6–10 record—the team's worst mark in five seasons.

Charles Bidwill

• Position: Owner
• College: Loyola of Chicago
• Seasons as Cardinals Owner: 1933–47
• Year Inducted: 1967
• Awards: Cardinals Ring of Honor

Charles Bidwill spent his first couple of years in professional sports as a vice president of the Bears. And while he would have preferred to have purchased that team from George Halas, he ended up buying the Cardinals for $50,000 instead. Among his first deeds with the Cardinals was claiming the 1925 NFL championship, which had been awarded to the team by the NFL but had never been accepted. The title was the story of much controversy due to scheduling and ineligible players, among other aspects, but Bidwill staked a claim to the first of just two championships for the Cardinals.

Bidwill never found much success with the Cardinals, however, as the team had just one winning season between 1933 and '45. In 1944, his Cardinals combined with the Steelers due to a shortage of players because so many had joined the fight in World War II. Known as Card-Pitt, the team was dubbed the Carpets after going 0–10. Two years later, the Chicago Rockets joined the All-American Football Conference, giving Chicago three professional football teams.

Refusing to be the worst team in town, Bidwill signed Charley Trippi to an expensive contract to create the "Million Dollar Backfield," a group of offensive forces that propelled the Cardinals to the 1947 NFL title. Despite his role in building that team, Bidwill was unfortunately unable to enjoy the championship. He died at age 51, eight months before his team made history.

Roger Wehrli

• Position: Cornerback
• College: Missouri
• Seasons Played With the Cardinals: 1969–82
• Year Inducted: 2007
• Stats: 40 interceptions, 22 fumble recoveries, 2 TDs
• Awards: Cardinals Ring of Honor
• All-Pro: 1975–77
• Pro Bowl: 1970–71, 1974–77, '79

Roger Wehrli came to the Cardinals as a first-round draft selection in 1969, starting a 14-year career with the franchise that made him one of the top defensive players in team history. He was consistently among the league's top defensive backs every season. He had six interceptions in a season twice (1970 and '75), and he picked off at least one pass every season from 1969 to '81 with the exception of just one season ('72).

In 1981 and '82, Wehrli was a backup on a team that was rebuilding with younger players. He did have a highlight game in 1981 against the rival Eagles, however, intercepting two passes—the fourth time in his career he had done so. Wehrli was a reliable workhorse who once played 125 straight games, missing only six in total throughout his career. He recovered 22 fumbles for the Cardinals, retiring atop the team's all-time leaderboard (and still tied for first), and his 40 interceptions were second all-time (now third).

Dan Dierdorf

• Position: Offensive Tackle
• College: Michigan
• Seasons Played With the Cardinals: 1971–83
• Year Inducted: 1996
• Stats: 160 games, 7 fumble recoveries
• Awards: Cardinals Ring of Honor
• All-Pro: 1976–78
• Pro Bowl: 1974–78, '80

Dan Dierdorf began his 13-year career with the Cardinals as a second-round draft pick, and by his fourth season he had cemented himself as a fixture on the offensive line. He didn't miss a game at right tackle from 1972 to '76, which helped push the franchise to 31 wins and two postseason appearances from 1974 to '76. In those three seasons, St. Louis finished 10th, 5th (tied with Minnesota) and 3rd respectively in total offensive yardage. In 1975, St. Louis quarterbacks were sacked just eight times in 14 games. He was also recognized by his peers—being named the best offensive lineman in football by the NFL Players Association from 1976 to '78.

In 1979 Dierdorf sustained a major knee injury, and his play was never the same. He did start every game from 1980 to '82 and made a Pro Bowl in '80, but by '83 the knee was too bothersome and he announced his retirement in the middle of the season. In 1982, he moved to center and mentored younger players on the line, helping the Cardinals to their first winning season since 1976. After retiring, he enjoyed a long and successful career in sports broadcasting.

Cardinals Hall of Fame cornerback Aeneas Williams speaks in London during NFL UK Live at The Mermaid in 2017.

Aeneas Williams

• Position: Defensive Back
• College: Southern University
• Seasons Played: 1991–2004
• Seasons With the Cardinals: 1991–2000
• Year Inducted: 2014
• Stats: 568 tackles, 46 interceptions, 9 TDs
• Awards: Cardinals Ring of Honor
• All-Pro: 1995, '97
• Pro Bowl: 1994–99

Aeneas Williams was much more than a standout defender during his decade-long tenure with the Cardinals. Known as the heart and soul of the team and its spiritual leader, Williams led by example off the field, and did his part on the field, too. He was a shutdown cornerback taken in the third round of the 1991 NFL Draft and is remembered as one of the greatest defensive players in franchise history.

After suffering through five losing seasons, Williams considered leaving the Cardinals for the Jaguars in 1996, but he ended up signing a five-year contract to remain with Phoenix. He'd help the Cardinals to the postseason in 1998 and would then intercept Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman twice in a first-round victory—the team's first win in the postseason since 1947. Once his contract expired, Williams was given the franchise tag and then traded to the Rams during the 2001 NFL Draft.

With the Cardinals, Williams ranks second all-time with 46 interceptions and still holds the club record with six interception returns for touchdowns. In 1994 he led the league with nine interceptions, and he had six interceptions as a rookie. He also tied an NFL record when he returned a recovered fumble 104 yards against Washington in 2000.

Ollie Matson

• Position: Running Back
• College: San Francisco
• Seasons Played With the Cardinals: 1952, 1954–58
• Year Inducted: 1972
• Stats: 3,331 rushing yards; 24 TDs; 2,150 receiving yards; 16 TDs
• Awards: Cardinals Ring of Honor
• All-Pro: 1952, 1954–57
• Pro Bowl: 1952, 1954–58

Ollie Matson joined the Cardinals as the No. 3 pick in the 1952 NFL Draft. He was the fastest player in the league after winning two medals as a sprinter in that year's Olympic Games. He spent 1953 in the U.S. Army and came back to become one of the leading players for the Cardinals over the next several seasons. In four of the next five years, he would gain at least 900 offensive yards, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark in 1954, '56 and '57.

The finest game of his career came during Week 9 of the 1954 season when he carried the ball eight times for 163 yards and a career-high three scores—and hauled in five passes for 64 yards and another touchdown in a 38–16 win over Washington. A week later, he was a shining star again, picking up a career-best 161 receiving yards on five catches and adding another 115 on the ground in a loss to Pittsburgh.

After six seasons with the Cardinals, Matson was traded to the Rams in an unusual deal that saw the Cardinals get nine players in return. His 3,331 rushing yards for the Cardinals were second all-time in franchise history at the time of his trade (now ninth).

"Night Train" Lane

• Position: Cornerback
• College: Western Nebraska C.C.
• Seasons Played: 1952–65
• Seasons With the Cardinals: 1954–59
• Year Inducted: 1974
• Stats: 30 interceptions, 2 TDs
• Awards: Cardinals Ring of Honor
• All-Pro: 1956
• Pro Bowl: 1954–56, '58

Dick "Night Train" Lane is remembered as one of the best ball-hawking cornerbacks in the history of the NFL. He burst onto the scene as a rookie in 1952, setting an NFL record with 14 interceptions for the Rams. Despite his obvious talent, Lane was traded to the Cardinals as part of a three-team deal before the 1954 season.

Lane led the league in interceptions with 10 in 1954. Two seasons later, his defensive prowess helped lead the Cardinals to their first winning season since 1949. Because of his athleticism, he was sometimes deployed on offense, and in 1955 he scored on a 98-yard touchdown reception. In six seasons in Chicago he intercepted 30 passes, which was a team record when was traded to the Lions in 1960. Currently, his mark is fourth-best in Cardinals history.

Paddy Driscoll

• Position: Quarterback, Coach
• College: Northwestern
• Seasons Played With the Cardinals: 1920–25
• Seasons Coached: 1920–22, '36, 1941–57
• Seasons Coached With the Cardinals: 1920–22
• Year Inducted: 1965
• Stats: 17 total TDs
• Awards: Cardinals Ring of Honor
• All-Pro: 1920, 1922–23, '25

Paddy Driscoll was the first coach and quarterback in franchise history, and he is considered one of the best players from the earliest days of the NFL—despite weighing in at just 160 pounds. Driscoll's play, which came at the cost of $300 per game, led the Cardinals to a fourth-place finish in the standings, and he was honored by becoming the first-ever All-Pro quarterback. Between his passing, rushing and kicking abilities, Driscoll left his mark all over the field throughout his career. In 1925 Driscoll and the Cardinals won the NFL championship, but the Bears lured him across town in the offseason with an offer of $10,000.

Jimmy Conzelman

• Position: Coach
• College: Washington (Mo.)
• Seasons Coached: 1921–42, 1946–48
• Seasons With the Cardinals: 1940–42, 1946–48
• Year Inducted: 1964
• Stats: 34 NFL wins, 1947 NFL championship
• Awards: Cardinals Ring of Honor

Jimmy Conzelman was a standout quarterback in his playing days, but he made his mark on the Cardinals as a head coach. He first took on the role from 1940 to '42, and after compiling an 8-22-3 record he spent '44 as an assistant for the MLB Browns. He returned to the Cardinals in 1946, and with some extra stars on the roster, he led two of the greatest seasons in franchise history.

Under his watch, the 1947 Cardinals finished the regular season at 9–3 and dispatched the Eagles for the NFL championship. They followed up with an 11–1 record in 1948, but it was the Eagles who would claim that season's league crown. Conzelman unexpectedly resigned following the season, and he finished with a 34-31-3 record in his six years at the helm.

Duke Slater

• Position: Tackle
• College: Iowa
• Seasons Played: 1922–31
• Seasons Played With the Cardinals: 1926–31
• Year Inducted: 2020
• Stats: All-NFL 1923, 1925–26, '29

Duke Slater—an All-American tackle out of Iowa and the first Black lineman in the NFL—blocked for a series of Hall of Famers and runners. But while his talent on the field was undeniable, he was long bypassed as a Hall of Fame candidate in spite of being a finalist in both 1970 and '71. He was finally inducted in 2020, a full 58 years after becoming eligible.

Cardinals Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner delivers his induction speech during the 2017 Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Canton, Ohio.

Kurt Warner

• Position: Quarterback
• College: Northern Iowa
• Seasons Played: 1998–2009
• Seasons With the Cardinals: 2005–09
• Year Inducted: 2017
• Stats: 15,843 passing yards, 100 TDs
• Awards: Cardinals Ring of Honor
• Pro Bowl: 2008

After building his Hall of Fame candidacy with a run of success for the Rams, Kurt Warner closed his career with five seasons for the Cardinals to become their best quarterback of all time. In his first three seasons in Arizona, he was never the solidified starter, competing with youngsters like Josh McCown and Matt Leinart. But once he was named the starter for the 2008 season, Warner led the Cardinals to one of the most memorable seasons in franchise history.

That season, Warner threw for 4,583 yards and a then-franchise record 30 touchdowns while leading the team to a 9–7 record and their first playoff appearance since 1998. As a wild-card team, Arizona faced a long road to a championship, but Warner threw for eight touchdowns over the first three rounds of the playoffs to give the team their first berth in a Super Bowl. He threw for 377 yards in Super Bowl XLIII, but his team fell to the Steelers, 27–23.

He pushed the Cardinals into the playoffs again in 2009. With two touchdown passes in Week 16, Warner became just the second quarterback in NFL history to throw 100 touchdowns for two teams, and he threw five touchdowns in a wild first-round postseason win over the Packers. Warner stands fifth all-time in franchise history, with 15,843 passing yards and 100 touchdowns.

Walt Kiesling

• Position: Offensive Line
• College: St. Thomas (Minn.)
• Seasons Played: 1926–38
• Seasons With the Cardinals: 1929–33
• Year Inducted: 1966
• All-Pro: 1930

Walt Kiesling was a football lifer who spent 34 years in professional football. That included five of his prime years with the Cardinals. He was regarded as one of the best offensive linemen of his time, helping his team finish fourth in the standings twice. He was selected by the Hall of Fame as an offensive lineman on the NFL's 1920s All-Decade Team.

Ernie Nevers

• Position: Fullback, Coach
• College: Stanford
• Seasons Played: 1926–27, 1929–31
• Seasons Played With the Cardinals: 1929–31
• Seasons Coached: 1927, 1930–31, '39, '46
• Seasons Coached With the Cardinals: 1930–31, '39
• Year Inducted: 1963
• Stats: 26 rushing TDs
• Awards: Cardinals Ring of Honor
• All-Pro: 1929–31

Ernie Nevers didn't have a long career, but he made quite an impression on NFL history. A four-sport athlete at Stanford, he played professional football and baseball and is considered one of the finest NFL players of the league's early years.

In his first season with the Cardinals, he established an NFL record by scoring all of his team's points in a 40–6 win over the Bears. He routinely scored all of his team's points because he was a prolific runner, passer and kicker, and he scored 26 rushing touchdowns in three seasons with the Cardinals. In 1931, an informal poll placed Nevers in a tie for second as the greatest football player in history up to that point. As a coach for the Cardinals, he was 11-19-2.

Hall of Fame inductee Edgerrin James speaks to the media during the NFL Honors awards presentation at Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami, Feb. 1, 2020.

Edgerrin James

• Position: Running back
• College: Miami (Fla.)
• Seasons Played: 1999–2009
• Seasons Played With the Cardinals: 2006–08
• Year Inducted: 2020
• Stats: 2,895 rushing yards for 16 TDs
• Accolades: NFL All-Decade Team of the 2000s

A first-round pick by the Colts in the 1999 NFL Draft, Edgerrin James won Rookie of the Year honors and led the league in rushing yards his first two seasons. After seven strong seasons with the Colts, he signed with the Cardinals as an unrestricted free agent prior to the 2006 season.

While he is best known for his time in Indianapolis, James was an effective runner for three seasons in Arizona, rushing for 1000-yards in two of those seasons and helping the Cardinals to an appearance in Super Bowl XLIII. He finished his career with a single season in Seattle.

Hall of Famers Who Made a Stop With the Cardinals

Several Hall of Famers made only a brief stop with the Cardinals during their career. The following players spent two seasons or fewer in a Cardinals uniform or on the sidelines as their coach.

Emmitt Smith

• Position: Running Back
• College: Florida
• Seasons Played: 1990–2004
• Seasons With the Cardinals: 2003–04
• Year Inducted: 2010
• Career Stats: 18,355 rushing yards; 164 TDs
• Awards: 1990 Rookie of the Year, 1993 MVP, 1993 Bert Bell Award, Cowboys Ring of Honor
• All-Pro: 1992–95
• Pro Bowl: 1990–95, 1998–99

With the Cardinals, Emmitt Smith had 1,193 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns over two seasons. That included a 937-yard effort in 2004, the final season of his career.

Earl "Curly" Lambeau

• Position: Coach
• College: Notre Dame
• Seasons Coached: 1921–53
• Seasons With the Cardinals: 1950–51
• Year Inducted: 1963
• Career Stats: 226 wins, 6 NFL championships

The namesake to the Packers' stadium, Earl "Curly" Lambeau posted a 7–15 mark in two seasons with the Cardinals after winning six NFL championships in Green Bay.

Jim Thorpe

• Position: Running Back
• College: Carlisle
• Seasons Played: 1915–17, 1919–26, '28
• Seasons With the Cardinals: 1928
• Year Inducted: 1963
• All-Pro: 1923

Often considered among the greatest athletes of all time, Jim Thorpe donned the Cardinals' uniform for the final season of his football career. Thorpe also played professional baseball and basketball, and he won two gold medals in the 1912 Olympics.

Don Maynard

• Position: Wide Receiver
• College: UTEP
• Seasons Played: 1958, 1960–73
• Seasons With the Cardinals: 1973
• Year Inducted: 1987
• Career Stats: 11,834 receiving yards; 88 TDs
• AFL All-Star: 1965, 1967–69
• Accolades: All-Time AFL Team (1970)

Don Maynard played the final season of his career with the Cardinals, but he didn't see much action at wide receiver, hauling in one catch for 18 yards.

Guy Chamberlin

• Position: Halfback, End, Coach
• College: Nebraska
• Seasons Played: 1920–27
• Seasons Played With the Cardinals: 1927
• Seasons Coached: 1922–27
• Seasons Coached With the Cardinals: 1927
• Year Inducted: 1965
• Career Accolades: 4-time NFL champion
• All-Pro: 1920

Berlin "Guy" Chamberlin played end and coached the Cardinals in the last season of his career. The team finished with a 3-7-1 record that year.

Alan Faneca, who primarily played for the Steelers, being inducted into their Ring of Honor in 2018. If he were to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, he would also represent the Cardinals.

Potential Hall of Famers in Waiting

The list of Hall of Famers who played with or coached the Cardinals is sure to grow soon. Here are a few likely candidates.

• Alan Faneca: Offensive lineman Faneca was announced as a semifinalist for the 2020 ballot on Nov. 26, 2019. He spent the 2010 season with the Cardinals, and he started all 16 games at left guard. That was his last season and the ninth straight in which he started every game of the season, but he was not among the players elected to the Hall of Fame for 2020.
• Simeon Rice: Defensive end Rice was named a 2020 semifinalist by the Modern Era committee. It is Rice's second time as a semifinalist; he also picked up the honor in 2018. Rice played for the Cardinals from 1996 to 2000. He was a 1999 Pro Bowl selection after recording a career-high 16.5 sacks and forcing five fumbles. In five seasons with Arizona, he had 51.5 sacks and 225 total tackles.
• Don Coryell: Former coach Coryell has also been a five-time finalist in balloting by a selection committee, and many have argued for his inclusion in the Hall of Fame. Coryell coached the Cardinals for five seasons, and his team won the NFC East division titles in 1974 and '75. He posted a 42-27-1 record with the Cardinals, and he also led the Chargers to several postseason berths. He was again up for potential induction as the Hall of Fame inducted a special Centennial Class in 2020 for the NFL's 100th season. Coryell and another former coach, Buddy Parker, were both finalists but didn't make the cut.
• Larry Fitzgerald: As one of the best wide receivers ever to play for the Cardinals, Fitzgerald could be inducted one day soon. He is expected to be inducted as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
• Anquan Boldin: Boldin is another one of the best wide receivers ever to play for the franchise. Though he has a less-compelling argument for induction, he very easily could join the ranks.

Cardinals quarterback Blaine Gabbert (7) drops back to pass against the Cowboys during the first quarter at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in the 2017 NFL Hall of Fame Game.

Cardinals in Hall of Fame Games

The Cardinals have appeared in the annual Hall of Fame Game five times, posting a 1-3-1 record. Most notably, the Cardinals played the Giants in the inaugural Hall of Fame Game in 1962 and had a great matchup against the Cowboys in a 2017 loss.

1962: Cardinals 21, Giants 21

The Cardinals struggled out of the gate, allowing the Giants to take a 21–0 lead before even finding a first down on offense. St. Louis and first-year head coach Wally Lemm, however, made a furious comeback. Joe Childress scored on a two-yard run in the second quarter to trim the deficit. Sonny Randle caught an eight-yard touchdown pass out of halftime, and safety Larry Wilson picked up a fumble on New York's next play and rumbled into the end zone.

1974: Cardinals 21, Bills 13

Tensions were high as striking members of the NFL Players Association tried to disrupt the Hall of Fame exhibition game. Larry Stallings was the only veteran player from the Cardinals to cross the picket line and play in the game, which saw St. Louis control most of the matchup. Rookies and free agents played a clean game in front of 17,286 fans, while veterans and members of other unions protested outside the gate.

1986: Patriots 21, Cardinals 16

The Cardinals got just one touchdown—on a punt return of 91 yards by Vai Sikahema—but even with a handful of field goals, it wasn't enough to get past the Patriots. Rookie kicker John Lee, the first Korean-born player in the NFL, knocked in all three of his field goals (28, 39 and 25 yards) and an extra point.

2012: Saints 17, Cardinals 10

One year after the Hall of Fame was canceled for the first time due to a lockout, the Cardinals fell to the Saints in the first game of a quarterback competition between John Skelton and Kevin Kolb, who started but threw an interception and suffered minor injuries. The game also featured replacement officials, as the referees were locked out. Arizona punter Dave Zastudil booted a 79-yard punt, a Hall of Fame Game record.

2017: Cowboys 20, Cardinals 18

For the second time, the Cardinals were invited to the Hall of Fame Game a year after it was canceled. The 2016 edition was called off due to poor field conditions, and the Cowboys and the Cardinals thrilled in the 2017 version. New quarterback Blaine Gabbert—who was fighting for the backup role behind Carson Palmer—led a pair of long scoring drives early in the game for a 15–0 lead. Dallas stormed back for 10 points, then added a touchdown and field goal in the second half for the victory. Hall of Fame tight end Jackie Smith, who played 15 seasons with the Cardinals and one with the Cowboys, sang the National Anthem before the game.

New on SI: Patriots-Jets Preview

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) Well, this is unusual.

The skidding New England Patriots and winless New York Jets square off Monday night in a once-spicy matchup of AFC East rivals dealing with big-time struggles.

The Jets' woes are nothing new, of course, but they're a loss away from the first 0-9 start in franchise history. Meanwhile, Bill Belichick's bunch is sputtering into MetLife Stadium on a four-game losing streak. And, that's just not normal.

''Nobody plans for a bad season, that's for sure,'' Patriots running back James White said. ''We're still competing. Everything we want is still out there in front of us. We just have to turn the sense of urgency up a lot more.''

That has usually not been a problem for New England under Belichick, whose teams have won 11 straight division titles - with Tom Brady at quarterback, of course. He's now in Tampa.

The Patriots currently sit in third place - yes, third! - at 2-5, two games behind Miami (4-3) and 3 1/2 behind AFC East-leading Buffalo (6-2).

Sure, there's time to turn things around, but a loss to the Jets in front of a prime-time TV audience would mark New England's first five-game losing streak since 1995, when it finished 6-10 under Bill Parcells.

''You're not going to get change by walking around here negative or walking around with your head down, declaring the season to be over,'' cornerback Jason McCourty said. ''The only way you're going to create change or try to make a difference or get yourself out of the situation you're in is to continue to work.

''I think if you're negatively working, that's the results you're going to get.''

Adam Gase's Jets know about negative results. New York is 0-8 for the first time since the 1996 team lost its first eight and finished 1-15 under Rich Kotite. That team is generally considered the worst in Jets history, but this year's squad could give that one a run - especially if they lose Monday night to make some dubious franchise history.

''Obviously everyone wants to win,'' quarterback Sam Darnold said. ''That's why we're in this business. That's why we're professional football players. We got here by winning football games. For us, we've just got to put our heads down and go back to work. I feel like if we do that, we can win this game and worry about the next when it's up.''

DOWN DARNOLD

Darnold will sit out the game after his throwing shoulder didn't feel right in practice Friday after reinjuring it last week at Kansas City. He and the Jets were optimistic earlier in the week that he'd play, but was listed as doubtful Saturday. Joe Flacco is expected to start in his place

That comes after Darnold initially sprained the AC joint in the arm and had to sit out two games. He struggled since his return, and thrown for just three touchdowns with six interceptions in six games this season. His 65.9 quarterback rating is last in the NFL among quarterbacks that have made at least three starts.

''When I talked to him, I see a guy that's, you know, he's young, but he understands kind of what this profession is,'' Gase said. ''It's about what can we do to change things, what can we do to fix things, what does he have to do, what do the rest of the guys have to do? He's trying to acquire that information to make sure that he understands like, `Where can I help change things?'''

SLOW STARTS

The Patriots entered the week ranked 29th in the NFL averaging 19.4 points per game. Part of the reason for their lack of production can be traced to their poor starts.

New England has scored just seven of its 136 total points this season in the first quarter, while giving up 36 points to opponents. It has created early deficits for an offense that has struggled to find a rhythm in the three games since quarterback Cam Newton returned from his stint on the reserve/COVID-19 list

''Yeah, we definitely want to change it and need to change,'' Belichick said. ''(Starting slowly) is not what we are trying to do, but we haven't done a very good job of it so far.''

THIRD-AND-UGH

One of the biggest culprits in the Jets' troubles on offense has been their inability to convert on third downs.

They went 2 for 12 in those situations and rank last in the NFL with a 28.30% conversion rate. In its last three games - including 2 of 8 against Buffalo, and 2 of 17 at Miami - New York has converted on third downs six times in 37 opportunities, a dismal 16.22%.

BALANCING INJURIES

Injuries have played havoc on the Patriots' ability to establish consistency on both sides of the ball. Knee injuries kept receiver Julian Edelman and star cornerback Stephon Gilmore out of last week's loss at Buffalo, along with receiver N'Keal Harry (concussion) and safety Kyle Dugger (ankle). Edelman and offensive lineman Justin Herron (ankle) were subsequently moved to injured reserve.

New England lost more players during the game, with defensive tackle Lawrence Guy leaving in the third quarter with a shoulder injury, and linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley exiting in the fourth with a groin injury.

One bright spot: It has created opportunities for backup players such as running back Damien Harris and receiver Jakobi Meyers. Harris had his second 100-yard game of the season last week, and Meyers has 10 catches for 118 yards over the past two games.

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AP Sports Writer Kyle Hightower contributed.

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New on SI: Bears-Titans Preview

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Tennessee Titans are not happy. Their sizzling start during which they won their first five games is a distant memory with the fresh pain of back-to-back losses for the first time since December.

''It's tough,'' Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill said. ''Everyone's frustrated. Just not going out and performing the way we expect to is frustrating, plain and simple. But at the end of the day, we have no one to look to but ourselves.''

The Chicago Bears (5-3) also have lost two straight, including a 26-23 overtime loss to New Orleans last week. They are scheduled to visit the Titans on Sunday dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak that included another player testing positive, forcing the Bears to close Halas Hall on Thursday.

The Titans (5-2) went through this themselves a month ago and had two games rescheduled.

''We'll continue to prepare as if we're playing Sunday until we're told otherwise,'' Titans coach Mike Vrabel said.

The Bears have won each of Chicago's first three trips to Tennessee. But coach Matt Nagy is busy figuring out a variety of plans for whoever's available Sunday after the positive COVID-19 tests and other injuries.

''Who knows where this thing goes for gameday?'' Nagy said. ''We don't know yet.''

The Titans know they must start faster. They trailed Pittsburgh 14-0 before losing for the first time this season and fell behind last week 10-0 after Tannehill was intercepted in the end zone. The Titans lost 31-20 to Cincinnati, and Tannehill says those slow starts are keeping them from putting pressure on defenses.

''It's going to be really important for us to go out, play well early in the game and put points on the board,'' Tannehill said. ''That way we're not putting ourselves in a bad situation as it gets down in the second half.''

LINED UP

The Bears could be missing four starters on the offensive line, with right tackle Bobby Massie (knee) placed on injured reserve after being hurt against New Orleans. Center Cody Whitehair (calf) was sidelined for last week's game against New Orleans and left guard James Daniels (pectoral) is likely out for the rest of the season after being hurt Week 5 against Tampa Bay.

Right guard Germain Ifedi was activated Friday off the reserve/COVID-19 list. Depth also is an issue with Jason Spriggs on the reserve/COVID-19 list and center Sam Mustipher (knee) out. Spriggs took over for Massie, and Mustipher made his first career start last week.

THERE GOES HENRY

Titans running back Derrick Henry is off to the best start of his career leading the NFL with 775 yards rushing on 161 carries averaging 4.8 yards per attempt and eight touchdowns. Those are all his highest yet through the first seven games of a season.

If he runs for 125 yards and a TD, it would be just the 10th time since 1948 that a player has run for 900 yards and nine TDs through eight games and first since Shaun Alexander in 2005 for Seattle. Jim Brown, Jim Taylor, Eric Dickerson, Emmitt Smith and Terrell Davis to hit those marks.

Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson said he hasn't played against any running back like Henry: ''Naw, I don't think there is another running back built the way he is.''

THIRD-QUARTER WOES

The Bears have their own offensive woes being outscored 49-7 in the third quarter. And they're trying to figure out why.

''I think that's something we're working on putting a finger on and figuring out,'' quarterback Nick Foles said. ''And it's going to take the coaches and the players to do that. The biggest thing is just going in at halftime and talking through things, and it's making sure we're ready to roll going into the third quarter.''

Chicago's lone third-quarter points came at Carolina in Week 6, when Foles scored on a 1-yard run. The Bears had a rough time against New Orleans, and it wasn't just because Javon Wims got ejected for punching New Orleans Saints safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Wims was suspended two games by the NFL.

HEY YOU

This will be Bears kicker Cairo Santos' first game in Nashville since Oct. 6, 2019. That day, he missed three field goals and had a fourth blocked kicking for the Titans in a 14-7 loss to Buffalo. The Titans cut him the next day. Santos is 14 of 16 this season with Chicago.

Stephen Gostkowski now is the Titans' kicker, and he has struggled this season despite making the winning field goal in Tennessee's first three games. Gostkowski is 10 of 17 and has missed a kick in three straight games with another blocked.

The Titans cut their long snapper Tuesday. Three-time Pro Bowl punter Brett Kern holds for Gostkowski but was declared out for Friday because of an injured wrist. The Titans planned to sign a replacement punter after a workout Saturday.

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AP Sports Writer Andrew Seligman contributed to this report.

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Follow Teresa M. Walker at https://twitter.com/TeresaMWalker

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New on SI: Seahawks-Bills Preview

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) Buffalo Bills defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson isn't sure why everyone's suddenly going gaga over the numbers Russell Wilson has put up in Seattle this season.

Though the Seahawks might have Wilson throwing more, the quarterback doesn't appear any less than the dominant player Jefferson got to see up close during his previous four years in Seattle.

''To be honest, it's been what he's been doing,'' Jefferson said as the Bills (6-2) prepare to host the Seahawks (6-1) in a non-conference showdown of division leaders Sunday. ''I don't know if it's just the media giving him more coverage this year, but I feel like it's Russ.''

Wilson has stepped his game to another level by firmly thrusting himself into the NFL MVP conversation at the midseason mark.

His 26 touchdown passes and 120.8 passer rating lead the league, and he ranks third with a 71.5 completion percentage and sixth with 2,151 yards passing.

For someone who has never won an MVP honor, Wilson's career-long consistency is evident in how he's in position to become the NFL's winningest quarterback through his first nine seasons. His 92 regular-season wins are tied with Peyton Manning over that span, while his 101 wins, including playoffs, match the record set by Tom Brady.

''He's the best he's ever been because he's the most experienced he's ever been,'' Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said of Wilson's development. ''He's been able to grow and grow and grow, and he has total command of the game right now.''

The Seahawks have needed almost every bit of Wilson's production overseeing an offense averaging an NFL-best 34.2 points per game, to offset a porous defense which ranks 24th in the league in allowing 28.4 points an outing.

Difficult as it might be for the Bills defense to contain Wilson, the emphasis is on their Josh Allen-led offense to rediscover its early season groove.

The Bills combined to score 123 points and generate 1,639 yards of offense in opening 4-0. They've gotten 75 points and 1,031 yards of offense in splitting their past four.

One reason behind the drop in production is how opposing defenses have begun protecting against getting beaten deep, forcing Allen to play with more patience in overseeing lengthy scoring drives.

Compounding Buffalo's troubles was a pedestrian running attack which appeared to finally find its legs in generating a season-best 190 yards rushing and accounting for all three touchdowns in a 24-21 win over New England last weekend.

WELCOME TO SEATTLE

Defensive end Carlos Dunlap is expected to make his debut for Seattle after being acquired in a trade from Cincinnati. The Seahawks hope Dunlap can apply more pressure with Seattle ranking in the bottom third of the league with 12 sacks.

Dunlap's addition would also reduce Seattle having to blitz linebacker Bobby Wagner, who earned NFC defensive player of the week honors with 11 tackles and two sacks in a 37-27 win over San Francisco last weekend. Not that Wagner minds.

''I'm all for blitzing,'' Wagner said. ''I'm always telling them to blitz me more, but I do whatever the coaches tell me to do.''

MEASURING STICK

The game is another measuring stick for a Bills team leading the AFC East through Week 8 for the first time since 1996, but has come up short against the league's elite.

Buffalo's six victories, including two against the winless Jets, are against opponents with a combined record of 15-30. The Bills' two losses are against Kansas City (7-1) and Tennessee (5-2).

NOT AGAIN

Having already faced Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes in a 26-17 loss to Kansas City three weeks ago, Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier knows he has his hands full again with Wilson.

''That's a scary thought because Patrick Mahomes is pretty impressive, but Russell is off to a great start,'' Frazier said.

Buffalo was effective in limiting Mahomes to 225 yards passing and two scores, but was burned in allowing 245 yards rushing, including 161 by rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

ALMOST HOME

Wilson has never thrown a pass at Bills Stadium after Seattle's previous road game at Buffalo was played at Toronto during the quarterback's rookie season in 2012. That doesn't mean he hasn't visited.

The Bills expressed interest in selecting Wilson, and brought him in for a pre-draft visit.

''It was a cool place. They love football, that's for sure,'' said Wilson, who scored a career-best three touchdowns rushing and added one passing in a 50-17 win over Buffalo in Toronto.

BUFFALO MEMORIES

Carroll has mixed memories of Buffalo.

It was where he broke in as an NFL assistant in 1984, before being fired after a 2-14 finish.

''I was always told the hardest thing to happen to a coach is you get in the NFL for one year and you get let go, you may never get back,'' said Carroll, who spent the next five seasons coaching defensive backs in Minnesota. ''But I'm really glad I was there because it was a unique place and I enjoyed that first opportunity.''.

Buffalo is also where Carroll earned his first win as head coach with the New York Jets' season-opening 23-3 victory in 1994.

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AP Sports Writer Tim Booth in Seattle contributed to this report.

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

New on SI: Saints-Buccaneers Preview

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Tom Brady vs. Drew Brees won't be the only compelling storyline when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints clash with first place on the line in the NFC South.

The NFL career passing leaders meet for the seventh time Sunday night, with Brady (561) and Brees (560) ranking first and second on the touchdown passes list after exchanging the lead three times in the past two weeks.

The Bucs (6-2) have won three straight, six of seven since losing to Brees in Week 1.

The three-time defending division champion Saints (5-2) have won four in a row to stay on the heels of Brady, Tampa Bay's ever-expanding collection of offensive playmakers and a defense that has emerged as one of the best in the league.

Brees, 41, called the TD pass race ''pretty cool'' while stressing what's more important is winning and regaining the division lead.

''Speaking for myself, I'm just laser focused on the job that is right in front of me, and the opportunity that we have this week,'' the Saints quarterback said.

Brady, 43, also had little to say about the uniqueness of him and Brees chasing history at the same time.

Brees took over the top spot with two TD passes in an overtime win over Chicago last Sunday. Brady reclaimed the lead with a pair of scoring passes against the New York Giants on Monday night.

''We've both been around for quite a while. He's a great quarterback,'' said Brady, second in career yards passing behind Brees with 76,760.

''I have a lot of respect for him as a player, as a person, and we're both closer to the end than we are to the beginning,'' Brady added. ''I think we both still enjoy being out there on the field with our teammates playing and competing, and it's going to be a very competitive game Sunday night.''

The primetime matchup will also feature Antonio Brown's debut with the Bucs.

The four-time All Pro receiver signed with Tampa Bay last week and is coming off an eight-game suspension for multiple violations of the NFL's personal conduct policy.

He's the latest big-name addition the Bucs have made on offense since signing Brady in free agency, joining Rob Gronkowski, LeSean McCoy and Leonard Fournette.

''I'm just excited to put my hand in the pile. There are so many great guys here,'' Brown said.

''I'm just super grateful for this opportunity and ... excited to fit in and do what's best for us to win,'' Brown added. ''Whatever that entails.''

GETTING IT DONE

Brady is off to a terrific start, throwing for 2,198 yards, 20 touchdowns and four interceptions. He has tossed 17 TD passes vs. one interception over the past six games.

Brees is coming off a 280-yard, two-touchdown, zero-interceptions game against Chicago. In one fewer game than Brady, he has thrown for 1,898 yards, 13 TDs and three interceptions.

Bucs coach Bruce Arians was asked what his defense has to do disrupt Brees on Sunday night.

''Knock him down a few times. That always helps,'' Arians said. ''None of them - especially the older guys - like getting knocked down. We've got to pressure him, get him off his spot and have really good, tight coverage.''

BRACING FOR BROWN

Saints coach Sean Payton is well aware of how difficult Brown can be on a defense. When the Saints edged out the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-28 in the Superdome in 2018, Brown was arguably the best player on the field. The Saints couldn't stay with him, and he finished with 14 catches for 185 yards and two TDs.

Payton said one of the big challenges Brown presents is his explosiveness. So, limiting his catches most of the game could be undone by ''one big play at the wrong time.''

Payton added that ''it doesn't require 11 catches'' for Brown to have a significant effect on a game.

RUN STUFFERS

While both teams have viable running games, both defenses are stout against the run. The Buccaneers rank first in the NFL in rushing defense, allowing 70.4 yards per game. The Saints rank third, allowing 90.6 yards per game.

''There's 32 teams that will say, `We want to stop the run,' right? That's just a fact, everyone is going to say that,'' Payton said. ''And yet, they've been able to back that up year after year.''

Meanwhile, the Saints could be short-handed in the interior of their defensive line. Starting defensive tackle Shedone Rankins, a 2015 first-round draft choice, hurt his knee last Sunday in Chicago. It's not yet clear when he'll be ready to return.

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AP Sports Writer Brett Martel contributed to this report.

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

New on SI: Report: NFL to Fine Raiders, Gruden for COVID-19 Violations; Strip Team of 6th Round Pick

The fines reportedly stem from head coach Jon Gruden's failure to wear a mask, along with other infractions.

The NFL will reportedly fine both the Raiders and head coach Jon Gruden for violating the league's COVID-19 protocols, as well as strip the team of a sixth-round draft pick,

according to Yahoo's Charles Robinson. The punishments are related to offensive tackle Trent Brown's positive test from October.

The Raiders will be fined $500,000, while Gruden will pay $150,000.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter and Kimberly A. Martin, among the violations by the Raiders include Gruden's failure to consistently wear a mask. Raiders players also attended a large indoor gathering and the team allowed an unauthorized person into the locker room after a game.

Brown returned to the reserve/COVID-19 list earlier on Thursday due to lingering effects from the virus, according to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer. He is unlikely to play in Sunday's game against the Chargers.

Brown was hospitalized on Sunday after air entered his bloodstream during a pregame IV in the Raiders locker room before the team's game against the Browns. He was reportedly released from a Cleveland hospital on Monday.

“Very glad to report he’s up and seems to be doing well,” Gruden said Monday, per Adam Hill of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “We’re awaiting some of the results of some of the extensive tests that they did today and yesterday. I don’t have anything to report other than he had an issue.”

Brown signed a four-year, $66 million deal with the Raiders in 2019. He joined the franchise after stints with the Patriots and 49ers. He made the Pro Bowl in 2019 and has played in just two games in 2020.

New on SI: Report: Several Steelers Players Buy Dinner for Allegheny County Ballot Counters

Several Pittsburgh Steelers reportedly decided on their own to foot the dinner bill for ballot counters at the Allegheny County voting site.

While Election Day is technically behind us, the results are still rolling in due to an unprecedented number of registered voters who decided to vote by mail, which means the ballot counters are still hard at work. 

Several Pittsburgh Steelers players decided to buy dinner for those public servants at the Allegheny County voting site,

NBC News photographer Paul Rigney reported. 

ESPN's Brooke Pryor tweeted that she was told the move wasn't necessarily one made by the organization, rather a decision made by a few players. 

Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer confirmed that the players worked with the Steelers CR department. 

Pennsylvania is one of the states whose voters most heavily opted to vote by mail, and Allegheny County is among the highest in the country in terms of how many absentee ballots they need to process. As of 6:30 p.m. EDT on Nov. 4, the AP estimated that 88% of the votes had been counted, and President Donald Trump was in the lead by 260,192 votes. Most of the mail-in votes are expected to be for former Vice President Joe Biden, however, making the state's electoral result still unclear.

This is not the first instance this election cycle of the Steelers supporting election efforts. Last week, it was announced that the franchise teamed up with local organization Citrone 33 to help provide 5,000 masks to Allegheny County election officials. 

New on SI: The Top 5 Quarterbacks in Philadelphia Eagles History

Though the Eagles have been in the NFL since 1933, they haven't had as many truly great quarterbacks as one might expect. Still, the team is fortunate to have been led by some impressive quarterbacks. This article counts down the top five as well as a few honorable mentions.

Confetti falls as (from right) QB Carson Wentz, backup QB Nate Sudfeld, Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles and owner Jeffrey Lurie ride a float during the Eagles Super Bowl LII victory parade, Feb. 8, 2018.

Greatest Eagles Quarterbacks of All Time

Some teams have had an embarrassment of riches at the most important position in the game: quarterback. The Packers basically went from Bart Starr to Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers. The 49ers went from Joe Montana to Steve Young. The Patriots had Tom Brady—who is better all by himself than all the quarterbacks that some teams have had in their entire history combined. Super Bowl wins and enshrinement in the Hall of Fame are normal for some franchise's quarterbacks.

Not so much for the Eagles. If you look at the Hall of Fame, the Eagles don't have a single quarterback who spent the majority of his career playing for the franchise.

Selection Criteria

I was born in 1968, so while I have seen some great Eagles quarterbacks in my day, I spent far too many seasons watching the likes of Bubby Brister, Jeff Kemp, Rodney Peete, A.J. Feeley, Bobby Hoying, Sam Bradford, Mark Sanchez, Kevin Kolb and the Detmer brothers, Ty and Koy, lead the Eagles absolutely nowhere. Oh, the humanity!

Despite this history, there actually have been a few truly great quarterbacks who have led the Eagles—and we will count down the top five here.

For the purpose of this list, I considered only the statistics and accomplishments accumulated while playing for the Eagles. This caveat may upset some fans, but it's the only way to do a list like this.

5. Ron Jaworski

• Eagles QB: 1977–86
• Drafted: Second-round pick by the Rams in the 1973 NFL Draft out of Youngstown State
• Acquired: Via trade with the Rams in 1977
• Eagles Hall of Fame Inductee: 1992

Selected in the second round of the 1973 NFL Draft by the Rams, Ron Jaworski was traded to the Eagles in 1977. Known affectionately as "Jaws," he teamed with new coach Dick Vermeil to slowly build the Eagles into a winner. Jaworski led Philadelphia to the playoffs in the 1978 and '79 seasons, but the team had early playoff exits both years. Then came the magical season of 1980.

Jaworski and the Eagles started out the 1980 season 11–1, en route to winning the NFC East with a 12–4 record. The Eagles beat the Vikings in the divisional round of the playoffs before heading to one of the biggest games in the franchise's history.

The Eagles had lost 19 of the previous 23 games they had played against their biggest rival, the Cowboys. Now, Jaworski was leading them into the NFC championship game against that rival. The Eagles reversed their fortunes and beat the Cowboys 20–7 to reach their first Super Bowl in franchise history. The Super Bowl against the Raiders was not Jaworski's or the Eagles' finest hour as they lost 27–10, but it was still an amazing season.

Jaworski completed 57% of his passes for 3,529 yards, 27 touchdowns and 12 interceptions for a 91.0 passer rating during that 1980 season. That earned him first-team All-Pro honors along with several other awards. He still has the record for the second-most yards (26,963) and second-most touchdowns (175) in franchise history.

He finished his Eagles career with a record of 69-67-1, and he started all 16 games during five different seasons. He remains an icon in the city of Philadelphia to this day, and he fits nicely at No. 5 on the all-time list of the greatest Eagles quarterbacks.

4. Tommy Thompson

• Eagles QB: 1941–50
• Signed: Undrafted free agent signed by the Steelers out of Tulsa
• Signed With the Eagles: 1941

Anyone who isn't currently getting a senior citizen discount never got a chance to see Tommy Thompson play quarterback for the Eagles. As old as I am, I can honestly say that I included him on this list strictly on his accomplishments. I say accomplishments, because his statistics weren't exactly great.

While he was technically on the Eagles for 10 years, he actually played only eight seasons. He missed the 1943 and '44 seasons because he was serving in the Army during World War II. During the eight seasons he played, he was a part-time starter who threw for only 10,240 yards with 90 touchdowns and 100 interceptions. These numbers may not sound very impressive, but here's why I believe Thompson deserves to be on this list.

He led the Eagles to three straight NFL championship games in 1947, '48 and '49. The Eagles won the title in 1948 and '49 in bad weather conditions, so Thompson didn't have great stats. But anybody who watched the Eagles lose two Super Bowls due to subpar quarterback play can appreciate a guy who managed to win it all, even as a game manager.

That doesn't mean Thompson was never great. He led the NFL with 25 touchdown passes in 1948. His statistics for the 1949 season were downright dominant for the time. He led the NFL in passer rating (84.4) and touchdown percentage (7.5); it was the third straight season he led the NFL in that category. He completed 54.2% of his passes for 1,727 yards, 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. It's also important to remember that the NFL was a very different game in the 1940s. Those stats were enough to earn Thompson an All-Pro nod—and the No. 4 spot on this list.

3. Randall Cunningham

• Eagles QB: 1985–95
• Drafted: Second-round pick by the Eagles in the 1985 NFL Draft out of UNLV
• Eagles Hall of Fame Inductee: 2009

Once dubbed

"The Ultimate Weapon" by Sports Illustrated, Randall Cunningham redefined the quarterback position in the NFL. Quarterbacks were traditionally pocket passers before Cunningham burst onto the scene. His ability to throw the ball nearly the length of the field and scramble like a running back was just the beginning of the NFL's evolution at the quarterback position.

Cunningham played sparingly during his first two seasons while backing up Ron Jaworski, but he took over as the starter in Week 11 of the 1986 season. By the 1988 season, Cunningham was leading the Eagles to the NFC East division title and the playoffs. Unfortunately, the Eagles lost "The Fog Bowl" to the Bears, 20–12, but Cunningham threw for 407 yards. That was only the beginning of big things for the Eagles quarterback.

The 1990 season saw Cunningham win the NFL MVP Award by completing 58.3% of his passes for 3,466 yards, 30 touchdowns and 13 interceptions for a 91.6 passer rating. He also had 118 carries for an additional 942 yards and five touchdowns. He led the team to a 10–6 record and another playoff berth.

Unfortunately, Cunningham's 1991 season ended in Week 1 when Green Bay's Bryce Paup sacked him and tore his ACL. The following season, Cunningham returned and won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award. He threw for 2,775 yards, 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions for a 87.3 passer rating. He added another 549 yards rushing and five touchdowns. He capped the 1992 season by leading the Eagles to their first playoff win in 12 years. But it was obvious that the knee injury had robbed Cunningham of some of his mobility.

The following seasons were marred by injuries, and a switch to the West Coast offense led to Rodney Peete taking over as quarterback. Cunningham soured on the game at that point and retired from football after the 1995 season. He came out of retirement with the Vikings, but that's a story for another article.

Cunningham compiled a 63-43-1 record with the Eagles, but his playoff record was only 1–4. He is still third in passing yards (22,877) and sixth in rushing yards (4,482) in franchise history. His 4,928 rushing yards are still the third-most in NFL history by a quarterback.

Cunningham's Eagles career didn't fully deliver on the promise of his unparalleled talents, and it ended on a sour note, but it was still plenty good enough to be considered No. 3 in franchise history.

2. Nick Foles

• Eagles QB: 2012–14 and 2017–18
• Drafted: Third-round pick by the Eagles in the 2012 NFL Draft out of Arizona

Some may argue that No. 2 is too high a ranking for Nick Foles, but it's hard to argue with the numbers. Not to mention the fact that he is the only quarterback in Eagles history to ever win a Super Bowl.

The Eagles selected Foles in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft, but he didn't get into a game until Week 10 of that season when Michael Vick got hurt. Foles made his first NFL start the next week, marking the beginning of this unlikely legend. Even though he went 1–6 in 2012, he became the first rookie in NFL history to throw for 240 yards per game while completing 60% of his passes. Breaking records would soon become his norm.

Foles lost a training camp battle to Vick in 2013, but Vick eventually got hurt in Week 5. Foles started Weeks 6 and 7, but the genius that was Chip Kelly decided to start Vick again in Week 8. Vick promptly got hurt again, and it was back to Foles for good. That's when one of the greatest seasons an NFL quarterback has ever had really took off.

Foles decided that he needed another NFL record to break. In Week 9, he tied an NFL record with seven touchdown passes against the Raiders.

For the season, he went 82 in his 10 starts and led the Eagles to a surprising NFC East division title. He lost his first playoff start that year, but he left the field with a lead late in the fourth quarter—only to have his special teams give up a long return before the defense allowed a game-winning field goal to the Saints. As impressive as that was, his stats were even better. He completed 64% of his passes for 2,891 yards, 27 touchdowns and only two interceptions, and he had a league-leading 119.2 passer rating during that 2013 season.

The next season wasn't kind to Foles. He had pedestrian stats before his season was ended early in Week 9 by a broken collarbone. Chip Kelly proved once again that he was in over his head when he traded Foles to the Rams for Sam Bradford. Foles played for the Rams in 2015 and then the Chiefs in '16. He then re-signed with the Eagles in 2017 to back up Carson Wentz.

Every Eagles fan knows what happened next. Wentz got hurt in Week 14, and Foles led the Eagles to the first Super Bowl championship in franchise history.

Foles completed 28 of 43 passes for 373 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in the Super Bowl. He also became the first player in NFL history to both throw and catch a touchdown pass in the Super Bowl. His famous play call (Philly Philly) is still immortalized with a statue outside of Lincoln Financial Field today. I walk by it every home game on my way to my seats.

Nick Foles Stats (in only 32 starts)

• Highest career passer rating in team history (93.2)
• Highest single-season passer rating in team history (119.2 in 2013)
• 9th in franchise passing yards (8,703)
• 8th in franchise touchdown passes (58)
• Lowest interception percentage in a season in team history (0.63 in 2013)
• Most yards passing in a game in team history (471 on Dec. 23, 2018, vs. the Texans)
• Most touchdown passes in a game (7 on Nov. 3, 2013, at Raiders), which tied a franchise and NFL record
• His 27 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions in 2013 was the best TD-INT ratio in NFL history at the time
• His 119.2 passer rating in 2013 is 3rd all-time, trailing only Aaron Rodgers' 122.5 rating in '11 and Peyton Manning's 121.4 rating in '04

Foles may have been an Eagle for only five seasons, but they were five mostly magical seasons that included the franchise's only Lombardi Trophy.

Former Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb throws a pass during Super Bowl XXXIX.

1. Donovan McNabb

• Eagles QB: 1999–2009
• Drafted: No. 2 overall pick by the Eagles in the 1999 NFL Draft out of Syracuse

Donovan McNabb didn't have the normal career of a top franchise quarterback, but that doesn't mean that he didn't put up the numbers and wins to earn this spot at the top of this ranking.

The Eagles took McNabb with the second overall pick of the 1999 NFL Draft. The franchise quarterback didn't receive the warmest of welcomes, however, as a busload of knuckleheads went to the draft to boo his selection. Unfortunately, McNabb never forgave Eagles fans, as a whole, for the misdeeds of a handful of fans. This thin-skinned reaction would become the norm for McNabb, and it kept him from becoming the beloved icon a franchise quarterback in Philadelphia should be.

McNabb's rookie year was uneventful as he only started six games. The starter in those other games during the 1999 season? None other than the current Eagles head coach and Super Bowl champion, Doug Pederson. By the next season, McNabb was entrenched as the starter and would remain there for a decade.

McNabb led the Eagles to the playoffs in his first season as the starter in 2000 and even won a playoff game. In 2001, he led the team to the playoffs again and they advanced to their first NFC championship game since 1980. Losing to the Rams "Greatest Show on Turf" team was certainly nothing to be ashamed of. Unfortunately, this would be the first of numerous failed attempts in the NFC championship game; McNabb would have a record of 1–4 in that game. Of course, at this point, the fans had no reason to doubt that McNabb was going to lead the team to greatness.

The Eagles won the NFC East four straight years between 2001 and '04 while McNabb was establishing himself as one of the stars of the league. The only problem was that he couldn't get that last win to get his team into the Super Bowl. That all changed in 2004 when head coach Andy Reid finally decided it would be a good idea for a passing offense to have a great wide receiver. The Eagles got Terrell Owens, who teamed with McNabb to lead the team to the promised land.

Unfortunately, McNabb once again couldn't come through in the biggest game of the season as he coughed up the Super Bowl to the Patriots. This was during the heyday of their Spygate days. But that doesn't mean that 2004 wasn't a magical season. In fact, it was the best season of McNabb's career.

In 2004, McNabb became the first quarterback in NFL history to finish the season with over 30 touchdown passes and fewer than 10 interceptions. He completed 64% of his passes for 3,875 yards, 31 touchdowns and 8 interceptions for a 104.7 passer rating. He also added three rushing touchdowns on only 41 carries.

The Super Bowl hangover was real for the Eagles the next season. T.O. wanted a new contract and began feuding with McNabb. The whole circus ended up with Owens doing sit-ups in his driveway while reporters tried to ask him questions about being banished from the team. McNabb ended the season on the Injured Reserve after only nine games.

The 2006 season wasn't much better, as McNabb tore his ACL and only played in 10 games. The Eagles actually finished first in the NFC East in 2006 behind backup quarterback Jeff Garcia, who went 5–1 as a starter and even won a playoff game that season.

McNabb returned for the 2007 season, but the whole team struggled. Somehow, McNabb and the Eagles had a resurgence in 2008 that ended in yet another loss in the NFC championship game. He even set his career high in passing yards (3,916) that season. His last season in Philadelphia (2009) ended with a playoff loss to the rival Cowboys in the wild-card round of the playoffs. McNabb was traded that offseason.

Donovan McNabb Records:

• Winningest quarterback in Eagles history (92 wins)
• Most pass attempts in franchise history (4,746)
• Most completions in franchise history (2,801)
• Most passing yards in franchise history (32,873)
• Most touchdown passes in franchise history (216)
• Led NFL in quarterback wins between 2000 and '04

McNabb finished his Eagles career with a 92-49-1 record (he famously didn't know NFL games could end in a tie). His playoff record was 9–7; he threw for 3,752 yards, 24 touchdowns and 17 interceptions for an 80.0 passer rating in those 16 games. He also ran for 422 yards and four more touchdowns in the playoffs.

McNabb may have had his issues in NFC championship games and lost his only Super Bowl, but he was only the second quarterback to even lead the Eagles franchise to a Super Bowl. That, and all of the team records that he still owns, make him the choice for the top quarterback in Eagles history.

Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz

Honorable Mentions

The following three players didn't quite make the cut for the greatest Eagles quarterbacks of all time, but they still made important contributions to the franchise. They are listed here in order of their importance.

Carson Wentz

• Eagles QB: 2016–Present
• Drafted: No. 2 overall pick by the Eagles in the 2016 NFL Draft out of North Dakota State

There may be plenty of Eagles fans who will be upset that Carson Wentz didn't make the list of the top five quarterbacks, but the truth is that he just hasn't played enough games yet to beat out any of the guys on the list. That being said, he has already amassed some amazing stats during his career.

Eagles records Wentz already holds (as of the 2019 season):

• Fifth most pass attempts in franchise history (2,055)
• Fourth most completions in franchise history (1,311)
• Fifth most touchdown passes in franchise history (97)
• Second best career quarterback rating in franchise history (92.7)
• Second best career completion percentage in franchise history (63.8)
• Fifth most passing yards in franchise history (14,191)
• Most touchdown passes in a season in franchise history (33 in 2017)
• Most passing yards in a season in franchise history (4,039 in 2019)

What's really holding Wentz back is that he wasn't able to finish two of his four seasons due to injury. In addition, he has only played in one playoff game—and he only threw four passes in that one because he got hurt.

Of course, Wentz had one of the best seasons of any Eagles quarterback. Sure, his 2017 ended in Week 14, and Nick Foles led the team to victory in the Super Bowl, but Wentz had the team at 11–2 when he got hurt. He completed 60.2% of his passes in 2017 for 3,296 yards, 33 touchdowns and 7 interceptions for a 101.9 passer rating in only 13 games. Those 33 touchdown passes broke a 56-year-old record, previously held by Sonny Jurgensen, and were still the second-most in the NFL that season. He was running away with the MVP award before he blew out his ACL on a touchdown run against the Rams.

I'm sure Wentz will be on any list of the greatest Eagles quarterbacks starting next season, and he might just challenge McNabb for the top spot one day. But for now, he just needs more time and good health to build his stats and his resume.

Norm Van Brocklin

• Eagles QB: 1958–60
• Drafted: Fourth-round pick by the Rams in the 1949 NFL Draft out of Oregon
• Acquired: By the Eagles in a 1958 trade with the Rams
• Eagles Hall of Fame Inductee: 1987
• Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee: 1971

Old-school fans may believe that Norm Van Brocklin rightfully belongs among the top five on this list. However, like Wentz, Van Brocklin simply didn't play enough games for the Eagles to be ranked among the best.

The Eagles acquired Van Brocklin in a 1958 trade with the Rams, and he went on to be the starting quarterback for three seasons. He had already established himself as one of the best quarterbacks of his era with the Rams, but for the purposes of this list we are only considering his Eagles career. Of course, the highlight of his time with Philadelphia was the 1960 season.

In that season, his final one in the NFL, Van Brocklin led the Eagles to the NFL championship over the Vince Lombardi–led Packers. Amazingly, Van Brocklin was the only quarterback to ever beat the Lombardi Packers in the playoffs. It was also his best year as an Eagle statistically, with 2,471 yards passing, 24 touchdowns and 17 interceptions for an 86.5 passer rating. By today's standards these numbers may not seem impressive, but in those days defenses could actually hit offensive players and teams weren't throwing the ball on over 60% of their plays.

For his Eagles career, Van Brocklin threw for 7,497 yards, 55 touchdowns and 51 interceptions. He was a Pro Bowler in all three of his seasons in Philadelphia and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971.

Sonny Jergensen

• Eagles QB: 1957–63
• Drafted: Fourth-round pick by the Eagles in the 1957 NFL Draft out of Duke
• Eagles Hall of Fame Inductee: 1983
• Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee: 1987

Much like the other honorable mentions on this list, Sonny Jergensen didn't play for the Eagles long enough to make the top five. Sure, Jergensen was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983, but a lot of that had to do with his 10 years with Washington. The Eagles traded him for Norm Snead after an injury-plagued 1963 season.

Jergensen was the backup to Van Brocklin for four years, and he didn't get a chance to start until 1961. He made up for lost time by leading the NFL in passing yards in back-to-back seasons in 1961 and '62. His 1961 season was especially great as he led the NFL with 235 completions for 3,723 yards and 32 touchdowns. Those 32 touchdown passes were a franchise record for 56 years, until Carson Wentz broke that record with 33 touchdown passes in 2017.

Jergensen finished his Eagles career with 9,639 passing yards, 76 touchdowns and 73 interceptions.

New on SI: Week 7 Preview: Antonio Brown Gets the Second Chance He Didn't Even Try to Earn

Also, why a heavy burden could fall on Tannehill when the unbeaten Titans meet the unbeaten Steelers, a sign that the Bears can sustain success, why Tua Time is now, and how Ngakoue could change the Ravens defense.

1a. I believe in second chances. And third and fourth chances. Folks will argue that playing in the NFL is a privilege and not a right, but for some players it is their only marketable skill; taking it away indefinitely is draconian (not to mention, the kind of power Roger Goodell should not—and, legally, cannot—exercise). People change, especially in their 20s and 30s, and every one of them deserves a pathway to redemption.

However, the pathway must involve some baseline effort at rehabilitation. Right? A hint of contrition? Even just a show that he is making the slightest effort to maybe think about possibly making amends for his actions? With that in mind: Did Antonio Brown do that?

You could do some mental gymnastics and convince yourself he did the absolute bare minimum. There were some apologies—under a markedly different writing style than we usually get from him—posted on his social media accounts. He took cuts at a few softballs last winter and dispensed the type of reflexive, mealy-mouthed, non-specific apology I wouldn’t accept from my preschooler. And when it came to his

abhorrent treatment of women, he played the victim card. I mean, this is an actual quote from February:

“I feel like I never really got in a conflict with no woman. I just feel like I’m a target so, anybody can come against me and say anything and I’m going to have to face it. There’s no support, there’s no egos, there’s no rules in it, anyone can come after me for anything. No proof or whatever. ‘He said, she’s saying.’ The media will run with it, so even if I’m not guilty, I already guilty because they already wrote it, put it on TV and put that in people minds. So for me to have to sit here and hear those the allegations of me is just unfair to me every time.”

Brown's mistreatment of women has been chronicled in police reports, sometimes on his own social media accounts and in the accounts of accusers. If he was referring to our source who, in Sept. 2019, accused Brown of sexual misconduct, a quick refresher: She did not come to us—we found her. Her story and her background held up against exhaustive vetting by our team. And despite what you might have heard on sports radio or seen on social media from the kind of people who have yet to realize you can breathe through your nose, at no point did she ever give an indication that there was financial motivation.

Each of us are, in the simplest terms, the sum of our actions, and our actions are shaped by our circumstances. After spending the summer of 2019 researching Brown’s behavior, I write this with a fair amount of confidence: Superstardom on the football field shaped Antonio Brown, and not in a good way. It made him feel like others—viewed as being beneath his station as a star athlete—could be treated however he saw fit, without consequence. Brown was surrounded by the typical variety of toadies and stooges who encouraged that kind of behavior, but he has also been enabled by coaches and teammates as well. Tom Brady is now chief among them.

Over the past 13 months, Tom Brady has floated the notion that he and his football team’s culture is what Brown needs—apparently ignoring the fact that, while a teammate of Brady’s, Brown saw fit to send threatening texts to a credible accuser. For Brown, football isn’t the solution, it’s part of the problem.

This isn’t about rehabilitating Antonio Brown as a man, because he’s never shown even the slightest interest in being rehabilitated. (And if Brady is interested in helping troubled players, there are many who are more deserving than Brown.) No, this is the opposite of rehabilitation: It reinforces that as long as the greatest receiver of this generation is still in his prime, there are no consequences, especially when it comes to people who don’t have a role in winning football games. And Brady will always be there to fight those consequences—every single one—because there is no greater calling in life than maximizing your chance to win football games.

We can only hope we've arrived at the final act of this farce. It will further cement the legacy of Tom Brady the player as a guy who won a lot of football games. And it will further cement the legacy of Tom Brady the man as a guy who won a lot of football games.

1b. Also, congratulations to Russell Wilson, Pete Carroll and the Seahawks organization for lowering themselves into the sewer and not even coming away with their man.

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Whatever. Here’s some analysis of the week’s games and news interspersed with poop jokes…

2. Anyone with optic nerves that transmit images to their brain knows that the Steelers defense poses a stiff test for the Titans. But what’s even more worrisome for Tennessee is that this Steelers defense is almost custom-built to deal with their offense.

Pittsburgh has the best run defense in football by just about any metric, but I want to focus in on their defensive line Stuff Percentage (a league-leading 32% according to Football Outsiders) and the fact that Vince Williams—maybe the closest thing to a “weak link” in their defensive front—leads the NFL in tackles for loss (10) while T.J. Watt is tied for second (9) and even slot corner Mike Hilton (5) is top-20. The book on Derrick Henry is that, while he’s superhuman once he gets to the second level, he’s a mere mortal around and behind the line of scrimmage. The Steelers often don’t allow backs to get to the second level, and while I don’t like touting the vague notion of “physicality,” there’s no doubt that the Steelers’ cast of front-seven characters are capable of handling Henry. And, yes, Devin Bush is out, but so is Taylor Lewan, which means Bud Dupree will get to pick on Ty Sambrailo, for whom “functional strength” has been an issue throughout his career (I write while struggling to summon the strength to get off my couch and get more candy corn).

Play-action is the other staple of the Titans offense—one very much aided by the fact that linebackers often get sucked up more than they normally would because everyone is trying to get to Henry before he gets a head of steam. But playing behind-schedule is an issue for anyone’s play-action offense. The average second-down distance for Pittsburgh’s opponents this year has been 9.22 yards, which is a number that has no right existing outside a science-fiction short story about a dystopian future where footballs have been replaced by 600-pound anvils. If the Titans find themselves in a lot of second- or third-and-long, that play-action game becomes less effective. (And we haven’t mentioned the steady diet of Minkah Fitzpatrick in disguised robber coverages the Titans are likely to see.)

Look at what happened to Cleveland against the Steelers last week. The Browns’ system is loosely similar to Tennessee’s (zone running and play-action off it). But with the Steelers’ dominant run defense mitigating that play-action game, Cleveland was utterly doomed. And you could argue that the Browns are better than Tennessee at every offensive position—except quarterback.

And with that, I arrive at the core point of this meandering take. Ryan Tannehill might not be an MVP-type quarterback (yes, I’ve seen the stats). But since arriving in Nashville, he has been an exceptionally good system quarterback who’s an exceptionally good fit in an exceptionally good system. What he hasn’t been is a guy who’s going to make plays off-schedule and have a lot of success on third-and-long. So far this season, the Titans rank 26th in third-and-long (defined as 6-plus yards to gain) at 21.7%. They were 22nd (26.5%) after Tannehill took over as the starter last year.

Carson Wentz and Mayfield are the last two quarterbacks Pittsburgh faced. Wentz, for all the Josh Allen-esque mistakes he’ll make late in the down, also has the ability to create Josh Allen-esque magic. The Eagles went 5-for-7 on third-and-long in Pittsburgh, which is how they put up 29 points and hung around, and it's a big reason why the Steelers still rank near the bottom of the league in third-and-long defense (28th, at 38.9% allowed). Mayfield, on the other hand, hasn’t shown the ability to make out-of-structure plays this so, and didn’t do so in Pittsburgh, which is why that game was not competitive.

When Tannehill played in Miami, the later in the down it got, the worse off he was. In Tennessee, he’s rarely had to make plays out-of-structure. He’s a 57.0% passer on third-and-long since becoming the Titans starter, which is actually slightly lower than the mark he posted in Miami (57.4%). Sunday is shaping up to be a week where he’s going to have to make a handful of plays outside of the system. Whether or not he rises to the occasion will determine which of these teams stays undefeated.

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3. It seems the Dolphins had circled the bye week for promoting Tua Tagovailoa all along, but doing it now makes plenty of sense. The biggest deterrent to throwing a young quarterback into the fire is an offensive line that can’t protect him—Miami couldn’t do this a year ago. But their young offensive line has improved immensely, to the point that it’s league-average and trending up.

The other factor is that, as good as Ryan Fitzpatrick has been in 2020, they know it’s not going to last for 16 games. Because it’s never lasted for 16 games. Sometimes when you get on a hot streak at the craps table, you just have to walk away.

You likely already know Fitzpatrick’s origin story—no formal education, worked as a chimney sweep, radioactive squirrel bites him and he gains the power to ace the Wonderlic, Rams draft him, etc. etc. etc. He took the demotion as graciously as possible, and mentioned he might have made his final start, which might be true. But, while he’s 38 in November, he has for the most part maintained the physical traits he had when he entered the league. He can move an offense as well as any backup in football, and it seems he did just fine in the mentor role with Tua. Most likely, he bought himself at least one more chance to be someone’s bridge quarterback.

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4. Not sure why, but I’ve been thinking about this clip a lot this weekend:

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5. We’re all furrowing our brows in a vain attempt to understand the Bears’ 5-1 record. We know luck—the same kind of pure, stupid luck that shines on a team or two every season—has something to do with it, and the Vaudevillian nature of their opponents’ fourth-quarter gaffes draws the eye to late-game scenarios. But hey, the points in the first three quarters count the same as the ones in the fourth quarter.

If you really want to understand the one fluke constant with Chicago, look at their outlier defensive performance in the red zone. Red-zone performance on both sides of the ball tends to fluctuate wildly year to year, due to the small sample size and the unique nature of the tight field. To credit the Bears’ red-zone success to some kind of otherworldly situational football play, you’d also be arguing that the Ravens (fourth-worst red-zone defense in 2020) and Titans (third-worst) are bad situational defenses. Or that the Packers were a great situational defense last year (fourth-best red-zone defense) but, with the same staff and roster, forgot how to play situational defense this year (second-worst red-zone defense).

The Bears are allowing a league-leading 36.4% touchdown percentage—they allowed a TD rate over 50% each of the past two seasons, and were 48% or higher each of the last eight years. Only the Cardinals are allowing fewer points per red-zone trip (4.0). And since they’ve played 22 red-zone possessions, if Chicago’s 4.14 number were closer to the league-average (5.13), you’d be talking about a three-point increase in points-per-game allowed.

However, last week’s win in Carolina was at least a blueprint of how they should be expected to win games: They had constant pressure on Teddy Bridgewater, resulting in four sacks and three takeaways (though one was when Panthers RB Mike Davis forgot he was carrying a football in the open field).

The difference between the 2018 and ’19 Bears was takeaways. They led the league in ’18 (36) but fell to 22nd last season, as the number was almost halved (19). Part of that is luck. Part of it was a down year for Khalil Mack, who very much looks like his all-world self again in 2020. The takeaways weren’t coming during the 4-1 start—just five over those first five games—but pressure creates turnovers, and the pressure has been there this season. A multi-takeaway outing like the one in Charlotte shouldn’t be an outlier.

No matter how good your defense is, you’re walking a tightrope when your offense is this level of inept. However, the Bears could go 4-6 from here on out and still make the playoffs—a 5-5 finish would virtually guarantee postseason football. And once they’re in the tournament, with this defense and with a quarterback with a history of getting very hot in January, anything goes.

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6a. The funny thing about Yannick Ngakoue joining the Ravens is that Baltimore has consistently used overload, fire-zone blitzes to generate pressure in order to make up for the fact that they don’t have a truly dominant edge rusher. And now, in Ngakoue, they’re adding a dominant edge rusher. Though now that I read it I guess that’s not as funny as I originally thought.

Defensive coordinator Don Martindale (or, as many call him, "Mink" Martindale, due to his fondness for the semiaquatic, carnivorous animal) now has a chance to be a little more flexible in his approach. With Ngakoue capable of creating pressure independent of scheme, they could take an approach more along the lines of what the Steelers do: Blitz-happy on early downs, four-man rush in front of coverage on third down.

6b. From the Vikings' perspective, clearly they thought they were going to make a run this year. That just isn’t the case as long as the NFL insists on setting the playoff field based on win-loss record. And considering the fact that they’re in cap heck the next two seasons, it didn’t make sense to commit to Ngakoue long-term—not only would they be paying a premium to Ngakoue, but they’d surely have to adjust Danielle Hunter’s below-market deal if they did. They didn’t get caught up in sunk-cost fallacy, so good on them.

6c. The move also suggests this might be fellow pending free agent Matt Judon’s last year in Baltimore. He’s a very good player, but probably a half-step below Ngakoue talent-wise (not to mention three years older). If Ngakoue works out—and there’s no reason to think he won’t—and gets a long-term deal, the Ravens can play their comp pick game when Judon signs elsewhere this offseason.

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7. Ladies and gentlemen . . . Pixies!

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