Blowout loss behind us; skill-position edges point to a bounce-back week

Last Sunday's 67.6-point deficit to the Astra Aces was the worst loss in franchise history — no sugarcoating it. But the numbers that mattered then aren't the numbers that matter now. Patrick Mahomes is back from his bye (16.8 projection, no designation), Christian Watson's ankle is fully cleared per the Packers' club report, and our skill-position projections carry decisive edges against the 4-3 Muse Meteors. Jahmyr Gibbs (23.2) and Omarion Hampton (10.1) give us a 33.3-to-16.9 advantage at running back against Jeremiyah Love (questionable) and TreVeyon Henderson. At receiver, Watson (16.1) and Garrett Wilson (16.4) project 32.4 combined versus Jameson Williams and Rome Odunze at 20.3. Michael Wilson in the FLEX (15.9) and the Steelers defense (8.9) extend the edge. The Meteors counter with Drake Maye at 22.0 and Tucker Kraft at 10.8, but their questionable tags — Love, Egbuka, Rice — add volatility we don't have. Tyler Loop's kicking job bears watching after Baltimore signed Jake Moody to the practice squad, but our lineup is healthy, locked, and built to win the projection battle. We're 2-5; the record won't fix itself. This week, the matchups say it can.