RDS, RDS2 and RDS.ca present three NFL games today. You can also follow all the action with NFL RedZone.
PRE-MATCH
The Baltimore Ravens (3-2) and New York Giants (4-1) face off this afternoon in another big game in their respective bids to get back to the playoffs this season.
After reaching the playoffs in 2019 (14-2) and 2020 (11-5), the Ravens fell back last season with an 8-9 record that did not allow them to extend their campaign. The Giants’ drought dates back to 2016 and after going 4-13 last year, they made their third head coaching change since 2018.
The Giants, however, have their best start to the campaign since 2009, when they started it with five wins. This year, they have won four games by a total margin of 17 points.
The Ravens have had their ups and downs so far this season. They defeated the Cincinnati Bengals on a late field goal last weekend, after losing to the Buffalo Bills a week earlier.
Saquon Barkley has been central to the Giants’ offensive success this season. He is one of four NFL players to lead his team in rushing and passing yards. His 533 rushing yards ranks him second behind Nick Chubb of the Cleveland Browns and his 676 yards from the line of scrimmage puts him at the top of the league. The Ravens will have to slow him down to hope to win.
The duel of the week
Bills c. Chiefs | 16 h 25 | RDS2 and RDS.ca
PRE-MATCH
The Buffalo Bills have probably been waiting for this since January 23rd. An opportunity to avenge their 42-36 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the last NFL playoffs.
This is the chance that is offered to them this afternoon, in the most anticipated game of the week in the NFL.
In one of the most spectacular playoff games in NFL history, the Bills and Chiefs traded the lead three times and scored 25 points in the final two minutes of regulation time, including an offensive push from 13 seconds from the Chiefs that forced an overtime that Buffalo football fans are still trying to forget.
The Chiefs finally had the last laugh, ending the Bills’ second straight season at their home of Arrowhead Stadium.
It’s possible to argue that both teams are better this year than they were last season.
The Bills lead the NFL in passing yards as well as total offensive gains, and rank second in the league in points scored, with 152. Who ranks first in this category? The Chiefs, with 159, are also fourth in passing yards and sixth in total yardage.
On the other side of the coin, the Bills are tied for first in fewest points allowed and second in fewest passing and total yards allowed. As for the Chiefs, they rank third in the fewest yards given on the ground.
This explains why the two clubs have identical records of 4-1.
It will be the fifth meeting between the two clubs since 2020, including the two playoff games at Arrowhead Stadium.
Who at the top of the NFC East?
Cowboys c. Eagles | 20 h 20 | RDS2 and RDS.ca
PRE-MATCH
With a 5-0 record, the Philadelphia Eagles are the only undefeated team in the NFL. The Cowboys (4-1) have won their last four games. The Eagles can take a two-game lead over the defending NFC East Division champions with a win tonight.
Philadelphia is 5-0 for the third time in franchise history. The Eagles started the 2004 season with a 7-0 record and finished it 13-3 before losing to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. In 1981, they got off to a 6-0 start before losing in the first round of playoffs.
Although Dak Prescott is closing in on a return to play, Cooper Rush is expected to be the Cowboys’ starting quarterback for this game.
Prescott suffered a broken thumb on the hand he throws with in the Cowboys’ season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Rush took over and made four consecutive starts, including two against the two clubs that took part in the last Super Bowl: the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams.
This will be Rush’s first start against the Eagles. He has won each of his five career starts, including one last year at Minnesota.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is on an even more impressive streak, having won eight straight regular-season games, the longest active streak of its kind in the NFL. He’s rushed for 1,359 yards and four touchdowns, rushed for 266 yards and had six rushing touchdowns this season.
