Cover 3: Your Weekly Insight Delivered Every Thursday

Cover 3 is a digital newsletter that covers 3 different stories around football every week. From the locker room to the front office, we’ve got you covered.

Each Thursday, an email will land in your inbox from me, Jordan Palmer.

Our goal is not only to give you the stories you won’t get anywhere else - but another perspective that can help you build your relationship to the game, your family, and all the people you enjoy spending time with.

Jake Browning Stepping Up, The Same Old Pac-12, And Letting Russ Cook Again

In today’s email:

First off - Happy Thanksgiving from the Cover 3 Team! We’re incredibly grateful to have you here with us!

Jake Browning tossed 91 TDs in his senior year of high school. Then was crowned Pac-12 Player Of The Year at Washington. Can he save the Bengals season?

It's that time of year in the Pac-12 when the stat sheets and win columns take a back seat to the raw, unscripted drama of rivalry games. We've seen it time and time again—the heavy hitters of the conference, the ones with pristine records, coming undone in the 11th hour.

Not too long ago, the collective football world had pretty much closed the book on Russell Wilson. But then, the winds shifted in Denver, and amidst a four-game hot streak, the whispers started—Is Russell Wilson back?

Jake Browning Stepping Up For The Bengals

Thursday night's game hit the Cincinnati faithful like a ton of bricks. Joe Burrow, the face of the franchise, goes down with a season-ending injury to his arm. The implications are vast: it's a gut punch for the Bengals, a downer for the fans, and a serious blow to the NFL's playoff storyline.

Burrow's absence leaves a void many assume can't be filled, considering the Bengals—with their star QB and a formidable receiver duo—have shown they can take down any team when the stakes are high.

91 TDs And Pac-12 Player Of The Year

But before we write off the Bengals' season, let me share a perspective that might just inject some hope into this narrative. I've had the unique opportunity to work with Jake Browning, the guy stepping into Burrow's massive shoes.

I'll be honest, he flew under my radar—undrafted, a quiet college career that didn't grab the headlines. But as I've gotten to know Jake, I've discovered a record-setter, a guy who threw for 91 touchdowns in his senior year at Folsom High—a titan in California high school football.

At Washington, Browning wasn't just padding stats; he was leading his team to victories, snagging the Pac-12 Player of the Year title and and lead his team to a conference championship 2 of his final 3 seasons. This guy's a winner, just waiting for his shot.

The Bengals Are Hungry

What Browning has going for him isn't just raw talent—it's a Bengals squad that's hungry, driven, and still in the hunt. Unlike other teams where backup QBs step into a lost cause, Browning's surrounded by players with everything to play for.

Both of his top 2 wideouts are in a contract year, a running back eyeing his next deal, and defenders fighting for their future—all with playoffs still on the table.

Timing Is Everything

And let's not overlook the timing. Cincinnati's gearing up for a divisional clash against a Pittsburgh team in the midst of its own coaching shakeup. The Steelers are dealing with transitions that could take time to iron out, presenting an ideal scenario for Browning to step in and make a statement.

It's a brutal turn of events for Burrow and the Bengals' fanbase, no doubt about it. But before we count them out, let's sit back and see what unfolds. This could be the moment Jake Browning has been waiting for—the chance to ignite his NFL story and lead the Bengals on an improbable run that no one saw coming. Well, almost no one…

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Is This The Same Old Pac-12?

In the wild ride that is the Pac-12, we're staring down one of those weekends that remind us why college ball is just different. It's that time of year when the stat sheets and win columns take a back seat to the raw, unscripted drama of rivalry games.

We've seen it time and time again—the heavy hitters of the conference, the ones with pristine records, coming undone in the 11th hour.

We’ve Seen This Before

Think back to a guy like Justin Herbert, the engine of an Oregon squad that was steamrolling opponents until they hit the brakes against Arizona State, led by none other than a gutsy freshman named Jayden Daniels. That day, Oregon's perfect season took a hit, reminding everyone that in the Pac-12, even the mightiest can tumble.

And Andrew Luck? That man was a stat machine at Stanford, but even his arm couldn't always outduel the heart of a Pac-12 underdog ready to defy expectations.

The In-State Rivals

Now, fast-forward to today. Oregon and Washington are tearing up the field, with offenses that are no joke—they’re lighting up scoreboards and shredding defenses, averaging sky-high points per game.

But lurking in the shadows are their in-state rivals, Oregon State and Washington State, squads that know a thing or two about playing the spoiler. They're more than their record; they're the potential plot twist in a season narrative. 

This is more than stats on a page; it's about the intangibles of a rivalry game. It's about those match-ups where Vegas lines are just numbers scribbled on paper because when rivals clash, the unpredictability factor skyrockets.

The Beauty Of November Football

Oregon and Washington have got their work cut out for them. They're staring down the barrel of games that could cement their seasons as successes or serve as cautionary tales. With Oregon’s yard-churning prowess and Washington's air raid offense, they’re looking to make a statement that they're not just another Pac-12 statistic. 

This weekend, it's about who can bring that extra gear, who's got the mettle to rise above the rivalry pressure and perform when history is on the line. Can the big dogs hold their ground, or will the upset bug bite once more?

That's the beauty of college football in November, and especially in the Pac-12—it’s anyone's game when tradition and pride step onto the field. 

Is Russell Wilson Back?

Let's riff on Russ for a minute. Not too long ago, the collective football world had pretty much closed the book on Russell Wilson. You know the story: once a magician on the field, suddenly he seemed more escape artist than quarterback.

But then, the winds shifted in Denver, and amidst a four-game hot streak, the whispers started—Is Russell Wilson back?

This isn't just idle talk. The stats are painting a picture of a QB rediscovering his groove. We're starting to see flashes of the Russell Wilson who made the impossible look routine, the one who didn't just move the chains, but moved the entire narrative.

We’re Staring Down A Pivotal Showdown

The Cleveland Browns are marching into Broncos territory, and it's not the rookie QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson on the other side that's the headline—it's that Browns' D. We're talking about a defense that's a straight-up menace, starring Myles Garrett, who’s in the business of turning pocket passers into ground game spectators.

Jim Schwartz, the mastermind behind the defensive chessboard, has his unit playing 4D chess while everyone else is playing checkers. This is the real test for Wilson. It's not just about extending a win streak; it's about making a statement that he's still the guy who can pull a rabbit out of a hat when the pocket collapses.

Let Russ Cook - Again

Russ has this moment laid out in front of him—an AFC clash, a prime-time stage, and a chance to cement his role as the Broncos' leading man. Can he dial it back to the days when "Let Russ cook" was a weekly feast? This game's going to tell us a lot. It's about whether Wilson can stand tall against a defense that's dialed in and hungry.

So as we gear up for kickoff, keep your eyes peeled. Will Russ shrug off the pressure and deliver those vintage, out-of-the-bag plays? Or will the Browns' defense be too much, turning the Broncos' streak cold? There’s only one way to find out. One thing's for sure: if Wilson can tap into that old magic, we're in for a heck of a show. Denver's counting on it.