49ers
There’s a lot to like about what the 49ers are doing right now, but if you ask George Kittle, one rookie in particular is turning heads behind the scenes-and on the tape. Kittle can’t stop praising defensive tackle Alfred Collins, and after the team’s win over the Browns, he made sure to bring him up again.
“I cannot get over Alfred Collins,” Kittle said. “I just think he’s such a good player and you just see his effort out there. If you guys watch the All-22, I just think he’s making so many plays and so much effort and so much hustle and I’m just so proud of him.”
That’s high praise from one of the locker room’s most respected veterans, and it speaks volumes about the impression Collins is making. For a rookie to earn that kind of recognition-especially from someone like Kittle, who’s known for his intensity and attention to detail-means Collins isn’t just flashing on occasion. He’s consistently showing up on film with effort, energy, and execution.
And that’s exactly what this 49ers defense thrives on. It’s not just about star power-it’s about relentless motor guys who do the dirty work in the trenches.
If Collins keeps trending the way he has, he’s not just going to be a promising rookie. He’s going to be a problem for opposing offenses.
Rams
The Rams came into their matchup with the Panthers riding a win streak and playing some of their best football of the season. But that run came to a screeching halt, and the Panthers didn’t just take the win-they forced three turnovers from Matthew Stafford and handed the Rams a dose of reality.
Linebacker Byron Young didn’t sugarcoat it. For him, the loss wasn’t just a bump in the road-it was a necessary reset.
“I just feel like this is a wake-up call,” Young said. “You know, something that you just got to learn from.
I definitely think it’s something that we needed. I don’t look at it as a bad thing.
I just look at it that it is motivation. It is something I’m glad it happened.
We need this.”
That’s the kind of mindset you want from a young leader. The Rams have been playing with confidence, but this loss is a reminder that in the NFL, momentum can vanish in a heartbeat if you’re not dialed in.
The turnovers, the missed opportunities-those are fixable. What matters is how the team responds.
If they take this as a moment to regroup and refocus, it could be the kind of loss that sharpens a team rather than derails it. Sometimes the best lessons come when the scoreboard doesn’t go your way.
Seahawks
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