JAGUARS AND SAINTS TONIGHT

So, the Jaguars and Saints play tonight on Thursday Night Football.  Now, Thursday Night Football lulls us to sleep because it typically produces bad football on a short week for the players.  And, I am weary about tonight.  For starters, both quarterbacks are banged up. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence twisted his knee last weekend and Saints quarterback Derek Carr is playing with a sprained shoulder.

Now, tonight's game is important for the Jacksonville Jaguars because a win raises their record to 5-2 in the AFC South.  They are expected by many to win the division but the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans surprised many with good starts to the season.  But a win puts the Jags a game and half ahead of the Colts and really two and half games up on them since they just beat the Colts head to head Sunday.

The Saints, on the other hand, struggled to a 3-3 start but, luckily for them they play in the NFC South where .500 puts you in the driver's seat to win the division.  A win tonight puts them in first place by a half game.

-Craig Shemon

ESPN Southwest Florida

The NFL season is entering week 7. And one of the biggest story lines of the year has been the Miami Dolphins offense. It's been so impressive that the only other offense in recent memory that put up similar numbers is the 2000 St. Louis Rams. AKA the Greatest Show on Turf. The Dolphins play on natural grass, so they can't take the title from the Rams. But they can rewrite the record book and go down as the greatest offense of all time. And they're ding that as the Miami Dolphins have had 3 Offensive Player of the Week awards. Tua is on pace to throw for 5,315 yards with 40 touchdowns.  But it's really been the running game that is truly mind boggling. Both Mostert and Achane have won the Offensive Player of the Week award. It's crazy that the Miami Dolphins have won 3 Offensive Player of the Week awards.

The Miami Dolphins are on pace to set multiple NFL records, and are close to many other records. The franchise record book has been rewritten already this season. Raheem Mostert and De'Von Achane each tied the franchise record to touchdowns in a game this season. And they did it in the same game! It was the 70 point performance in week 3 against the Denver Broncos when Mostert and Achane found pay dirt 4 times each. And that 70 point performance set the franchise record points in a game. They also set the franchise record for yards in a single game with 726. This Miami Dolphins offense have had 3 offensive player of the week awards through the first 6 weeks of the season. And I wouldn't be surprised if they added to that total.

Tua came out of the blocks quickly in 2023. His stat line in week 1 was 28/45 for 466 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception. The Dolphins 2-point win was led by the offense and Tua's left arm.

What a coming out party it was for rookie running back De'Von Achane. The Texas A&M product carried the ball 18 times for 203 yards (11.28 yards per carry) and 2 rushing touchdowns. He also had 4 receptions for 30 yards and 2 touchdowns. Mostert also accounted for 4 touchdowns in this game, but it was Achane's ability to break the big play that landed him the award.

Mostert's 17 rushes for 115 yards and 2 touchdowns was impressive. But once again a Dolphins running back won the Offensive Player of the Week Award in part because of his ability to catch the ball. Raheem had 3 receptions for 17 yards and added another touchdown. It was the 3rd time in 2023 Mostert had 2 or more touchdowns in a game.