If there were any doubts over Alvaro Morata’s ability to integrate himself at Chelsea, they were cast aside over the last two matches as the 24-year-old scored his first Premier League hat-trick against Stoke City, and his first Champions League goal in blue away to Atletico Madrid.
Such has been the impact Morata has made for Antonio Conte since joining the club for a hefty £58-million fee during the summer. The Spanish international has quickly become a fan favourite at Stamford Bridge and as such, he does not regret making the move out of Real Madrid.
“I came to Chelsea because one club and one coach believed in me,” Morata said, as quoted by Sky Sports’ Michael Kelleher. “I’m very happy.”
Related – More than an heir: Morata proving to be Chelsea’s most complete striker
Morata came into a team needing a centre-forward as Diego Costa pushed for his eventual exit back to Atletico Madrid. Costa and fellow former Blues striker Fernando Torres could only watch, however, as Morata headed home an equalising effort off a pinpoint cross by Eden Hazard. The two combined masterfully to spearhead Chelsea’s attack at the Wanda Metropolitano.
It was the first time he and Hazard played together for a significant period of time and Morata was left more than impressed with his teammate.
“It’s not difficult playing with this kind of player,” Morata said of Hazard. “He’s one of the three best players in the world. It’s easy for me playing with him.”
One must wonder how high Morata’s numbers will rise if it is indeed easy to play alongside Hazard; he has done quite well in the Belgian winger’s absence as Hazard worked to recover from a broken ankle. Morata has seven goals in as many matches for the Blues, as well as a pair of Premier League assists.
Our NFL Insiders predict Week 6’s biggest upsets and fantasy flops and sleepers. Plus: Should Pittsburgh fans be worried about Ben Roethlisberger? Are the Packers the best one-loss team?
What’s your top upset pick for Week 6?
Matt Bowen, NFL writer: Rams over Jaguars. That Jacksonville secondary is nasty. Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye will challenge every throw from Jared Goff; they’re physical cornerbacks with ball skills. However, can the Rams lean on a high-volume day from Todd Gurley and take some calculated shots up the seam versus the Jags’ Cover 3 shell? The team that controls the tempo wins this one. And I’ll go with the Rams to hold on for a victory in a low-scoring affair.
Dan Graziano, NFL writer: Bears over Ravens. Look, this is a tough week to pick an upset. There aren’t really any that I like, except for a couple that I think would be too close to count here. (Rams in Jacksonville, maybe, or Lions in New Orleans, if Matthew Stafford is healthy.) So give me some Mitchell Trubisky on the road in Baltimore. I just don’t think the Ravens’ offense is capable of scoring consistently week to week. I think the Bears have been close in some tough losses, and they have a win over the Steelers, who dominated the Ravens in Baltimore in Week 4. It’s a flier, but this is the week for a flier. Gimme da Bears.
Aaron Schatz, editor-in-chief of Football Outsiders: Lions over Saints. Detroit is a surprising No. 8 in the Football Outsiders DVOA ratings through five weeks, and New Orleans is a surprising No. 9. But compared to last season and the talent level on the roster, the Detroit offense is underperforming a little bit and the New Orleans defense is overperforming. It’s certainly easy to imagine a scenario where Matthew Stafford engineers another fourth-quarter comeback, even on the road, against the holes in the Saints’ defense.
Mike Sando, senior NFL writer: Steelers over Chiefs. The Steelers intrigue me as a capable team that has underperformed and now must refocus to win on the road against a 5-0 Chiefs team. Injuries to Travis Kelce and Justin Houston are factoring into my thinking that Pittsburgh might be able to win a hard-fought game. Of course, the Chiefs could just as easily win by two touchdowns.
Field Yates, NFL Insider: Chargers over Raiders. There are some games that feel just too imbalanced to project an upset — i.e. the Browns over the Texans — so let’s stick with this one, noting a caveat: I believe there is a legitimate shot that Derek Carr plays in Week 6, and I also believe the Chargers can get the job done in an upset. Los Angeles’ defensive line is one of the most dominant in the NFL. The Raiders have an established, veteran offensive line but the early-season struggles are apparent. They’ve allowed 12 sacks through five games after a league-low 18 last season, and are 23rd in rushing yards per game after finishing sixth in the same category last year. Look for L.A. to make it two straight road wins.
Ben Roethlisberger threw a career-high five interceptions against the Jaguars last week. Philip G. Pavely/USA TODAY Sports
Graziano: Roethlisberger, because his team is the one of which the most was expected. There seem to be some problems bubbling up behind the scenes in Pittsburgh that have a lot to do with him, his relationships with his wideouts, his choices within the game plan, etc. The Steelers have no excuse not to run away with an otherwise weak AFC North, but the performance by Roethlisberger and the offense early in the season has raised legitimate questions about whether they will.
Schatz: Roethlisberger is surrounded by the most talent, which is why there are more questions about his struggles than the others. He has a solid offensive line, and maybe the best wide receiver and best (healthy) running back in the game. Palmer’s and Manning’s performances are less concerning only because they are less surprising; both look very similar to a year ago. Rivers is fine, still easily above average according to Football Outsiders metrics.
Sando: I don’t find any of their performances all that worrisome. Manning, Rivers and Palmer need more support. We know who they are, and who they’re not. Roethlisberger is the best of the bunch and needs to play better. Presumably, he will.
Yates: It’s Roethlisberger, given his supporting cast. The offensive line is a tenured and cohesive group that has standout players, his receivers are highlighted by arguably the best in the game with Brown and Le’Veon Bell is a game-changer. It’s difficult to pinpoint why Roethlisberger’s most recent struggles (six interceptions in his past two games and just one touchdown) have occurred. Pittsburgh has a tough test to get on track as it faces the league’s best team, Kansas City, this week.
Who’s your pick to be the biggest fantasy flop this weekend?
Bowen: Wayne Gallman and Orleans Darkwa, RBs, Giants. Given the number of injuries to the Giants wide receiver corps, fantasy managers would expect New York to run the football Sunday night. But there has been very little daylight for running backs this season against the Broncos. Denver leads the NFL, giving up an average of just 14.4 fantasy points per game to opposing backs.
Graziano: Lamar Miller, RB, Texans. The Browns are the second-best run defense in the league in yards per attempt per rush, allowing only 2.9. (the Broncos are the best at 2.4) There’s always a risk that a running back could rack up points against the Browns in the second half because he’ll probably be playing with a lead, but the Browns’ defensive front is actually something of a relatively quiet strength of their team.
Schatz: Lamar Miller, RB, Texans. You might think it’s easy to rack up rushing totals against Cleveland because the Browns are always losing and their opponents are always killing the clock. But the Browns are actually third in run defense DVOA (compared to 31st in pass defense) and allow fewer fantasy points to running backs than the average defense this season.
Sando: Jared Goff, QB, Rams. Goff was my choice in Week 5 and I’ll stick with him heading into a road matchup with the Jaguars. His overall trajectory is up, but these are a couple of difficult matchups for him following a fast start.
Yates: Mike Evans, WR, Buccaneers. By no means am I benching him, but let’s not overlook the matchup Evans draws this week against Arizona. Cornerback Patrick Peterson has been remarkable, holding primary duties in slowing down Marvin Jones Jr., T.Y. Hilton, Dez Bryant, Pierre Garcon and Alshon Jeffery to a combined total of 13 catches, 135 yards and two touchdowns in five games this season. Evans will have his hands full in Week 6.
The Packers’ only loss so far this season was on the road in Atlanta. AP Photo/Mike Roemer
Rank these one-loss teams: Panthers, Eagles, Packers, Broncos and Falcons
Graziano: 1. Panthers; 2. Broncos; 3. Packers; 4. Falcons; 5. Eagles. I love what Carolina is doing on offense with personnel groupings and its ability to change the game plan relative to the opponent and situation. Christian McCaffrey hasn’t put up numbers yet, but you can see the way he affects a defense’s attention and allows the Panthers to mix things up. They’re also fearsome on defense.
Schatz: 1. Packers; 2. Eagles; 3. Falcons; 4. Panthers; 5. Broncos. The Packers looked like the best of these teams going into the season, and only the Eagles have been better if we look only at 2017 data.
Sando: 1. Packers; 2. Falcons; 3. Broncos; 4. Panthers; 5. Eagles. Green Bay has the NFL’s best quarterback, possibly by a wide margin. I don’t see huge gaps between the others.
Yates: 1. Packers; 2. Broncos; 3. Panthers; 4. Eagles; 5. Falcons. The brilliance of Rodgers needs no explanation, with the balance of the offense through the running game making this Green Bay offense arguably the league’s best.
Pick a fringe fantasy player who should be started in Week 6.
Bowen: Elijah McGuire, RB, Jets. With Bilal Powell banged up and Matt Forte still working through an injury, McGuire is a solid play this week. The Jets running back is averaging 5.2 yards per carry on a limited workload (34 carries), but I like the matchup against a Patriots defense that is giving up an average of 30.0 fantasy points per game to opposing backs (the worst in the NFL).
Schatz: George Kittle, TE, 49ers. So far, the one position that’s getting plenty of receptions against the Washington defense is tight end. Fifth-round rookie Kittle is on the rise in San Francisco. That seems like a great combination to me.
Sando: Will Fuller V, WR, Texans. Fuller gets a crack at the Browns’ secondary. That’s a favorable matchup anyway, especially with coach Bill O’Brien seeming to keep the accelerator pressed whether Houston is leading or trailing.
Yates: Taylor Gabriel, WR, Falcons. If Mohamed Sanu sits this week, I’d roll the dice on Gabriel. The Falcons return from their bye to face a Miami team that has yet to track down an interception this season. Gabriel has the kind of speed that can make him a factor with just one play; he has a shot at a half-dozen targets if Sanu sits and is on the flex radar in a deeper league.
The finish line is within sight after more than two years of World Cup qualifiers.
Tuesday marked one of the most crucial matchdays, with South, North, and Central American hopefuls qualifying for the World Cup in dramatic fashion. But it was the elimination of World Cup regulars Chile and the United States that will steal the headlines Wednesday.
The day also featured the conclusion of the UEFA group stage, which saw European champions Portugal book an automatic place in the World Cup, while nations such as Switzerland, Greece, and Sweden became the latest to qualify for next month’s two-legged play-offs.
Australia edged past Syria to progress to the intercontinental World Cup qualifying play-off next month when the Socceroos clash with Honduras.
With all that in mind, here’s a breakdown of the countries – except hosts Russia – who have qualified for the 2018 World Cup:
UEFA (13 places)
Who’s in: Belgium, England, France, Germany, Iceland, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Serbia
Who still has a chance: Italy, Denmark, Croatia, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Greece, Switzerland, Sweden
CHICAGO — Bears coach John Fox said the team has complete confidence in quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, even after the rookie committed a pair of costly turnovers in Monday night’s 20-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
“I think our guys feel it. They feel his presence,” Fox said.
Trubisky’s performance was inconsistent in his highly anticipated NFL debut.
Mitchell Trubisky finished the game 12-of-25 passing for 128 yards, one touchdown and one interception — a 60.1 quarterback rating — in his first start for the Bears on Monday night. Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
The Bears tried to capitalize on Trubisky’s mobility. Eight of Trubisky’s 25 pass attempts came outside the pocket, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Trubisky’s predecessor, Mike Glennon, had four such throws in four games before Fox switched quarterbacks in the wake of Week 4’s blowout defeat to the Green Bay Packers.
“We were able to do some things with him as far as attacking the corner,” Fox said. “Those things will grow with time. For a first outing, I thought he was really good. I know his teammates feel the same way. He’ll just get better with time.”
However, Trubisky was responsible for a late fourth-quarter interception that set up Minnesota’s game-winning 26-yard field goal.
“That was basically me trying to do too much, trying to make a play when I just need to know the situation — throw the ball away and play another down,” Trubisky said.
The rookie finished the game 12-of-25 passing for 128 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception — a 60.1 quarterback rating.
Trubisky was just 6-of-16 passing on second and third down, with seven off-target throws, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
“I just have to do a better job of taking care of the football,” Trubisky said. “We need to work on the little things, really.”
Still, Fox said Trubisky’s positives outweighed the negatives.
“He’s got what it takes,” Fox said. “There’s no doubt in my mind. For a first game, I go back to watching guys like Joe Montana in his first game. I’ve seen a few of them. I’m not making comparisons at this point, but he will do nothing but get better.”
