default-cbs-image

I love what Norv Turner is doing with the Vikings offense.

Sure, they get a lot of help from that killer unit on defense, but the run game is definitely better the last few weeks without Adrian Peterson. Jerick McKinnon makes a few big plays every week and, dare I say it, but Cordarrelle Patterson is beginning to look like a fully-vested member of this passing game.

His routes are better, he knows where to be, and he picked up the slack on Sunday with Stefon Diggs out. Patterson was making plays downfield and moving around to multiple spots. It could be that he is finally ready to emerge as a potential mismatch and not just someone to run reverses.

More NFL news and notes:

Baltimore Ravens

Speaking of bad offenses, the Ravens have decided to get a new play caller. Baltimore fired offensive coordinator Marc Trestman and replaced him with Marty Mornhinweg.

What they're doing isn't working. I'm not quite sure even what they are trying to do, but as John Harbaugh put it himself after a troubling loss to the Redskins: "We've got to find our offense." Well, the Ravens had found it on the ground where they were slashing Washington like every team they have faced thus far. But Trestman abandoned the run, as he is prone to do, and the Ravens failed to even find an intermediate passing game, yet again. It's checkdown city. That's not Joe Flacco.

Yes, the Ravens badly need left tackle Ronnie Stanley back, and yes losing Steve Smith to an ankle injury hurts, but the lack of vision, creativity, and depth to this offense is stunning at times. With all of the talent added on that side of the ball, something has to give. It's also time to quit chasing two-point conversions, fourth-down conversions and trying fake field goals early in games while this team is so unable to score points. Take them when they are there.

Cincinnati Bengals

Any reason not to believe the Steelers will wrap up the AFC North before the Pats wrap up the AFC East this year? The Bengals have fallen off, big time, as I suspected they would in the preseason. The Ravens aren't ready to step up, given their extreme limitations on offense thus far, and the Browns are cursed. The Bengals have regressed majorly on offense due to the exodus of talent -- coaching and on-field -- in recent years and the injury to tight end Tyler Eifert, and their secondary has become a significant area of concern as well at a time when the pass rush doesn't come easy, either. That's a rough combination to overcome midseason.

Cleveland Browns

The Browns are likely to be working out quarterbacks again on Tuesday. Whoever takes the gig should expect to be on IR by Halloween. Feel bad for rookie Cody Kessler, who fared far better than I thought he would. The organization would benefit from being able to see him play every week for a season as it prepares for another critical draft.

Dallas Cowboys

Dak Prescott is about at good as it gets between the hash marks. The stuff in the seam to Cole Beasley and Jason Witten is his bread and butter and he is every bit as accurate as Carson Wentz (but not challenging defenses nearly as much vertically and down the sidelines).

Indianapolis Colts

Even in victory, the Colts struggle. When a team like the Bears is all over Andrew Luck, you realize this is just going to be what it is. Luck is going to get pummeled, every week, most of the time, no matter the opponent. Still, he can keep the Colts in games as long as he isn't knocked to the sidelines. Chicago hit Luck on nine of his first 28 dropbacks on Sunday. There will be pain.

Miami Dolphins

Any reason the Miami Dolphins, as horrible as that defense has been, wouldn't try to see what they could get for aging pass rusher Cam Wake? They need all the draft picks they can get. Ndamukong Suh's contract will remain an albatross for at least a few more years, limiting some other maneuvers, and this team only has a win because Cody Parkey missed three field goals for the Browns. I would be beyond stunned if the Dolphins do not make major changes in the front office this offseason. It's become basically inevitable.

New England Patriots

As I reported over the weekend, Gronk is back. Forget about slowing him down anytime soon with that hamstring no longer keeping him from being able to run a full route tree. And so much for "rust" on Tom Brady. He topped 400 yards passing without breaking a sweat. New England had 321 yards of offense -- at the half.

New York Jets

The Jets red-zone offense needs a thorough rethink. It hasn't been clicking since Week 1 and it wasn't sunk due to interceptions, Sunday. If not for some acrobatics from Brandon Marshall, Ryan Fitzpatrick would have tossed another end-zone pick, however, and it's Geno Smith time.

Philadelphia Eagles

That was a tough loss for the Eagles off of a turnover late, but Carson Wentz was splendid yet again. This loss isn't on him. He led a late comeback rally and spread the ball around well and was overly accurate again.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers offense will be truly unstoppable if Sammie Coates can start holding on to the ball. He could've had three touchdowns on Sunday -- he dropped two of them -- but Ben Roethlisberger clearly seems to trust the kid and Pittsburgh develops receivers like no one else in the league. He's going to continue to get opportunities to make plays with all of the attention Antonio Brown demands.

Tennessee Titans

Plenty of puzzling things have gone down in Tennessee this offseason, but the addition of DeMarco Murray has worked out expertly thus far. He could reach 2,000 yards from scrimmage and he's been the fulcrum of that offense.

Washington Redskins

The Redskins finally got Pierre Garcon back involved in the offense and his size provided some match-up issues. Each week Washington seems to have re-ignited another weapon in that offense. It was tough sledding against a stout Ravens defense, but in the second half the Redskins moved the ball enough to win and Garcon showed up some around the red zone. The Redskins are a flawed team, and that defense will get exposed by legit offenses, so getting as many cogs going as possible in the passing game is imperative. They have stabilized their season with three straight wins.