MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kevin O’Connell and Brandon Staley had been shut sufficient in 2020 as assistants with the Los Angeles Rams that their youngsters had been homeschooled collectively through the pandemic.
There’s been no house or time for sharing this week. The 2 buddies, now head coaches, are going through one another with each of their groups having stumbled to an 0-2 begin.
“I do understand how finally aggressive he’s, and he is aware of the identical factor about me,” mentioned O’Connell, who’s in his second season with the Minnesota Vikings after two years as offensive coordinator of the Rams. “I care about him tremendously. I believe he’s an ideal soccer coach and is someone who I respect as a lot as anyone on this league.”
Staley solely spent one season because the Rams’ defensive coordinator earlier than his massive break with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021. After guiding them to 10 wins in his second 12 months, they blew a 27-point lead in a loss to Jacksonville within the wild-card spherical to place his job standing in query. The Chargers opened by dropping to Miami and Tennessee by a mixed 5 factors, making Staley the betting favourite to be the primary head coach fired this season.
Solely 4 groups since the NFL expanded the sector in 1990 have began 0-3 and nonetheless made the playoffs. O’Connell and Staley can thus be forgiven for tabling the pleasantries this week.
“He’s like a brother to me, however we’re going head-to-head on Sunday, so our friendship goes to be a distant second to us profitable and dropping,” Staley mentioned. “I simply have the utmost respect for him as a frontrunner, as a coach. He’s one of many prime coaches that I’ve ever labored with. He’s one of many prime play-callers that I’m going to should go towards.”
The workers beneath Sean McVay with the Rams, who received the Tremendous Bowl after the 2021 season, was stuffed with head coach potential with O’Connell and Staley as the highest lieutenants.
“They’re each geniuses in their very own proper,” mentioned Chargers defensive deal with Sebastian Joseph-Day, who performed for the Rams in 2020 when each O’Connell and Staley had been there.
Staley mirrored this week on how scheming towards O’Connell in observe that 12 months sharpened his talent.
“That was one of many issues that was, for us, such a particular a part of that have,” Staley mentioned. “We had a few of the prime gamers within the league to teach, and there was simply that particular surroundings. Every day, you needed to be on it. You needed to carry out.”
STILL SOARING
The Vikings misplaced to Tampa Bay and Philadelphia by a mixed 9 factors, thanks largely to a league-leading seven turnovers which have overshadowed the continued brilliance of Justin Jefferson.
He can develop into the primary receiver in NFL historical past with three straight 150-yard video games to begin a season. That will give him 11 such video games for his profession, essentially the most by way of a participant’s first 4 years within the league. Jefferson would additionally with 150 yards break Wes Welker’s 2011 document with essentially the most receiving yards in historical past on the three-game mark.
Maybe essentially the most spectacular feat for Jefferson to this point is that he’s performed on 121 of 122 snaps.
“I simply don’t wish to miss out on any alternatives. Nearly all of instances once I do come out, we move the ball,” Jefferson mentioned, smiling. “I wish to put full pressure on my matchups. I wish to keep within the recreation similar to they keep within the recreation.”
AIR RAIDED
The Chargers have had loads of protection bother by way of video games. Michael Davis has yielded a league-high three touchdowns. Asante Samuel has allowed receptions all six instances he has been focused.
Jefferson additionally leads the NFL in receptions (31) and yards (681) on passes with a 50% or decrease completion chance for the reason that begin of final season. In 2021 towards the Chargers, he had two catches for 54 yards with a 50% or decrease completion chance.
“He could make a play or two, however you’ve bought to get again within the huddle and maintain taking part in towards guys like that,” security Derwin James mentioned.
KEYBOARD WARRIORS
After had one in every of Minnesota’s 4 misplaced fumbles towards the Eagles and netted solely 28 yards on eight carries, Alexander Mattison was sickened by the social media backlash he encountered after the sport. Greater than 60 messages directed towards him on Instagram contained sufficient hateful, racist and violent phrases for him to talk out towards such harassment.
“There’s quite a lot of fantasy soccer folks on the market, they usually suppose that it’s all enjoyable and video games,” Mattison mentioned. “We have now households. We have now people who love us. We have now people who we’re doing this for. It’s not fantasy. That is actual life.”
STAYING GROUNDED
The Vikings have struggled to get their floor recreation going, prompting the acquisition of working again Cam Akers from the Rams.
Working performs have been an issue for the Vikings on the opposite aspect of the ball, too. They gave up 259 dashing yards to the Eagles, getting trampled by D’Andre Swift down the stretch when a cease or two might’ve translated right into a comeback victory.
The Chargers rushed for 234 yards of their opening loss to the Dolphins, when Austin Ekeler suffered an ankle sprain that stored him out towards the Titans. Joshua Kelley would begin if Ekeler is sidelined once more.
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AP Sports activities Author Joe Reedy in Costa Mesa, California, contributed to this report.
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