2020 #NFL Week in Review – Week 7
Welcome to the Week in Review. *deep sigh*
Let’s get this one out of the way...
This game - hell, this season - can be summed up in one sequence” Andy Dalton getting knocked out of the game by a Jon Bostic cheap shot. And not a single Cowboy so much as shoves Bostic in defense of their teammate. Compare and contrast the reaction to Dak Prescott’s injury. More Giants checked in on Dak than Cowboys defended Dalton.
That is the reaction of a team that has ceased to give a fuck.
I have never seen a team give up on a season this quickly. A reaction made doubly strange considering that, given the dire nature of the NFC East, the Cowboys are only a win or two away from retaking the conference lead. That suggests one thing: This team isn’t giving up on the season, it’s given up on Mike McCarthy. And frankly, McCarthy has done or said not a damn thing to inspire confidence in the team or the fans. He blasted his own team for their lack of reaction to Dalton’s injury, and was right to do so. But it also felt less like a coach calling his team onto the carpet and more like an attempt to shame his team into acting right.
And if you have to do that, it’s probably a lost cause.
That being said, this still might be the worst Cowboys team I’ve seen in my lifetime. And I lived through Tom Landry’s last squads. The 1-15 1989 squad. The Dave Campo era. The team that straight up quit on Wade Phillips¹. The injuries on the O-line have hurt but the play calling hasn’t done a damn thing to adjust to that. I mean, it’s not like there’s an entire style of offense that was created to deal with just such a scenario...²
But injuries cannot excuse the deplorably bad defense. The run defense is the worst I’ve ever seen: They gave up more than 200 rushing yards for the third time in the last four games. Dontari Poe, who was supposed to shore up that weakness, has been an absolute bust. Aldon Smith, a bright spot early on, has vanished since the Seahawks game. The defensive backfield, which was assumed to be the weak link coming into this season, has been even worse than advertised, even with rookie Travon Diggs putting in work. And, once again, coaching has done nothing to adjust. Given how many players are holdovers from last season, it’s fair to say Mike Nolan’s coaching has made things worse.
And now, with the Red Rifle out under Concussion Protocols, 7th round rookie Ben DiNucci is the starting QB for at least Week 8, backed up by AAC MVP Garrett Gilbert. Sam Darnold, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tyrod Taylor and (urgh) Blake Bortles are names being bandied about as QBs the Cowboys could/should bring in, even if Dalton doesn’t miss significant time.
There are moves the Cowboys could make right now that would make a significant difference (fire Mike Nolan, bring in Earl Thomas and/or Eric Reid, throw out any dropbacks longer than three steps from the offensive playbook). And if Trader Jerry wants to salvage this season, he’s gonna need to.
Seriously: This is what we fired Jason Garrett for? They made Kyle friggin’ Allen look like Theisman in his prime.
Now, back to your regular sequence of games
So this game was basically Danny Dimes’ 80-yard non-scoring run, Evan “Oh, THIS is why neither the Lions nor Colts wanted to keep me” Engram’s dropped TD and the Eagles doing everything in their power to keep the Giants in this game, right?
Right. Moving on.
Yep. Might be time for Stephen Gostkowski to start looking at the next phase of his life.
After a red zone INT gives the Titans one last chance to take the game to overtime, Gostkowski shanks a 45-yarder, his sixth miss of this season (his most since 2012). Clearly, he’s not the main reason the Titans lost this game (The early 27-7 hole the defense dug had far more to do with that), but a far more reliable kicking option will be needed if the Titans have any aspirations of making a deep playoff run.
Kickers are like pitchers and golfers: Their game is largely mental and once they lose that groove, it’s exceedingly rare to get it back. Gostkowski is probably on the wrong side of his 30s to get it back.
Tennessee was playing their third game in 14 days, so fatigue was a real factor here. Who knows if the team will give Gostkowski the benefit of the doubt here. I wouldn’t. (Sorry, Steven)
Every day Adam Gase and Gregg Williams are still employed by the New York Jets is an insult to the Jets players, the fans and the league itself. Period.
This game proved that the Panthers need Christian McCaffrey to come back strong if they’re going to make a run. Teddy Bridgewater has exceeded expectations taking over for Cam Newton. But without a run game or a true playmaker to lean on, there’s only so much he can do.
Marcus “Remember when I was supposed to be the Saint’s missing piece on defense?” Davenport’s backbreaking sack on the Panther’s final drive (turning what would’ve been a 57 yard kick with no gain into a 65-yard desperation try) was probably a game saver for the Saints
Breesus and the Saints offense acquitted themselves well without Michael Thomas. But they’d probably rather have him back than not.¹
Even in a loss though, Teddy Ballgame made himself right at home with his old team and QB stablemates.
https://twitter.com/Saints/status/1320449309960294400
The Texans were the latest team to feel the wrath of Angry Aaron Rogers. Discount Double Check threw for 283 and 4 TDs - including 196 and 2 to Davante Adams (on 13 catches). Maybe throw a double team or two on #17, guys?
The New Car Smell fell off Romeo Crenell in a hurry. The Texans have given up 77 points in their last two games, since scoring Win #1 over Jacksonville. During the first quarter, the Packers had as many touchdowns as the Texans had first downs (2)
And, of course:
Is THIS the game that truly sets Baker Mayfield on The Right Path™? Probably not, especially with OBJ going down with a torn ACL, But 5 TDs is 5 TDs, no matter who the opponent is.
Speaking of the opponent: (Via NFL.com) (Joe) Burrow became the fourth rookie passer to register five 300-plus passing yards games Sunday, then topped that by becoming the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to throw for 400-plus yards and three passing touchdowns and run for a score in a single game.
What this tells me that folks are going WAAAAY too far in trying to hype up Joe Burrow. We can see him play, guys! We don’t need you to slap together fake “firsts” for him to accomplish!
The only way this could’ve been more of an inevitable train wreck would be if this could somehow be a three-way with the Chargers. One of these teams was GOING to lose this game in a head-scratching, did not see that coming way.
For those who somehow missed it: The Falcons are driving late in fourth, down 16-14. The only way the Lions would have the chance would be for the Falcons to score immediately, giving Detroit enough time to try to drive down the field. Atlanta clearly knew that as well, which is why they ran up the middle, ran up the middle and ran up the middle again. Until...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3s4q1nMIh0
This would merely be a temporary embarrassment for a team with a real defense. But this is the Falcons, so Detrot drove down for the winning TD in just over a minute.
It’s like Dan Quinn never left.
The Lions have won two in a row. Yeah, they were against Atlanta and Jacksonville, they of the combined two wins. But that won’t stop them or the Lions brass for using this as a reason to hang on to Frat Douche Bill Belichick. Because the Lions are ass.
Tom Brady is apparently Jesus..
At least that’s the impression I get whenever Brady has a game that isn’t actively terrible. Granted 369 and 4 vs. a decent Raider defense is something to be lauded. But just “lauded”, not...
I mean, it’s not he’s playing with the best receiver corps he’s had since his Gronk/Edleman/Welker teams in NE, a rejuvenated Leonard Fournette and the league’s best defense. It’s ALL about TB12.
Because the universe hates me.
This Justin Herbert kid might be alright.
Granted, this was the worst game the Pats have played this year. Indeed, the worst game a Darth Hoodie team has played in years.
But the folks declaring that “THIS IS THE YEAR IT ENDS” and “CAM NEWTON IS DONE” need to take a step or two back. Cam clearly isn’t right and could probably do with another week or two inactive. Let Jarrett Stidham face live fire with a week to prep.
Still not sold on the Niners, though.
You’d think the team from the mountains would be better in the snow.
Zane Gonzales should be buying his defense lunch for the next month.
So one bad game by Nick Foles and already the murmurings about bring Mitch Trubisky off the bench start?
You fickle Midwestern fucks!
Yeah, Foles and the Chicago offense have been in a bit of a lull. But no one was complaining about that when the Bears were winning. And you do recall Foles was installed as starter to begin with right? Do you think Trubisky has had an epiphany on the bench? He’ll suddenly save himself from BUST status?
And why does Foles/Trubisky/Whoever’s The Starter This Week get all the blame when the run game has been MIA since, hell, last year?
Or it could be that you guys got beat by a superior squad.
All I know is that if you guys do ditch Big Dick Nick for Mitch and nothing changes, I am never going to stop laughing at you.
(Bye Week) Colts, Dolphins, Ravens, Vikings
Cowboys 3, No Names 25
Let’s get this one out of the way...
This game - hell, this season - can be summed up in one sequence” Andy Dalton getting knocked out of the game by a Jon Bostic cheap shot. And not a single Cowboy so much as shoves Bostic in defense of their teammate. Compare and contrast the reaction to Dak Prescott’s injury. More Giants checked in on Dak than Cowboys defended Dalton.
That is the reaction of a team that has ceased to give a fuck.
I have never seen a team give up on a season this quickly. A reaction made doubly strange considering that, given the dire nature of the NFC East, the Cowboys are only a win or two away from retaking the conference lead. That suggests one thing: This team isn’t giving up on the season, it’s given up on Mike McCarthy. And frankly, McCarthy has done or said not a damn thing to inspire confidence in the team or the fans. He blasted his own team for their lack of reaction to Dalton’s injury, and was right to do so. But it also felt less like a coach calling his team onto the carpet and more like an attempt to shame his team into acting right.
And if you have to do that, it’s probably a lost cause.
That being said, this still might be the worst Cowboys team I’ve seen in my lifetime. And I lived through Tom Landry’s last squads. The 1-15 1989 squad. The Dave Campo era. The team that straight up quit on Wade Phillips¹. The injuries on the O-line have hurt but the play calling hasn’t done a damn thing to adjust to that. I mean, it’s not like there’s an entire style of offense that was created to deal with just such a scenario...²
But injuries cannot excuse the deplorably bad defense. The run defense is the worst I’ve ever seen: They gave up more than 200 rushing yards for the third time in the last four games. Dontari Poe, who was supposed to shore up that weakness, has been an absolute bust. Aldon Smith, a bright spot early on, has vanished since the Seahawks game. The defensive backfield, which was assumed to be the weak link coming into this season, has been even worse than advertised, even with rookie Travon Diggs putting in work. And, once again, coaching has done nothing to adjust. Given how many players are holdovers from last season, it’s fair to say Mike Nolan’s coaching has made things worse.
And now, with the Red Rifle out under Concussion Protocols, 7th round rookie Ben DiNucci is the starting QB for at least Week 8, backed up by AAC MVP Garrett Gilbert. Sam Darnold, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tyrod Taylor and (urgh) Blake Bortles are names being bandied about as QBs the Cowboys could/should bring in, even if Dalton doesn’t miss significant time.
There are moves the Cowboys could make right now that would make a significant difference (fire Mike Nolan, bring in Earl Thomas and/or Eric Reid, throw out any dropbacks longer than three steps from the offensive playbook). And if Trader Jerry wants to salvage this season, he’s gonna need to.
Seriously: This is what we fired Jason Garrett for? They made Kyle friggin’ Allen look like Theisman in his prime.
Unlike this scenario, they had plenty of time to get used to and sick of Phillips.³
That would be the West Coast Offense, for those playing at home.
And I still believe, with all my heart, that Clappy The Clown intentionally tanked his OC duties to undermine Phillips..
Now, back to your regular sequence of games
(TNF) Giants 21, Eagles 22.
So this game was basically Danny Dimes’ 80-yard non-scoring run, Evan “Oh, THIS is why neither the Lions nor Colts wanted to keep me” Engram’s dropped TD and the Eagles doing everything in their power to keep the Giants in this game, right?
Right. Moving on.
Steelers 27, Titans 24
Yep. Might be time for Stephen Gostkowski to start looking at the next phase of his life.
After a red zone INT gives the Titans one last chance to take the game to overtime, Gostkowski shanks a 45-yarder, his sixth miss of this season (his most since 2012). Clearly, he’s not the main reason the Titans lost this game (The early 27-7 hole the defense dug had far more to do with that), but a far more reliable kicking option will be needed if the Titans have any aspirations of making a deep playoff run.
Kickers are like pitchers and golfers: Their game is largely mental and once they lose that groove, it’s exceedingly rare to get it back. Gostkowski is probably on the wrong side of his 30s to get it back.
Tennessee was playing their third game in 14 days, so fatigue was a real factor here. Who knows if the team will give Gostkowski the benefit of the doubt here. I wouldn’t. (Sorry, Steven)
Bills 18, Jets 10
Every day Adam Gase and Gregg Williams are still employed by the New York Jets is an insult to the Jets players, the fans and the league itself. Period.
Panthers 24, Saints 27
This game proved that the Panthers need Christian McCaffrey to come back strong if they’re going to make a run. Teddy Bridgewater has exceeded expectations taking over for Cam Newton. But without a run game or a true playmaker to lean on, there’s only so much he can do.
Marcus “Remember when I was supposed to be the Saint’s missing piece on defense?” Davenport’s backbreaking sack on the Panther’s final drive (turning what would’ve been a 57 yard kick with no gain into a 65-yard desperation try) was probably a game saver for the Saints
Breesus and the Saints offense acquitted themselves well without Michael Thomas. But they’d probably rather have him back than not.¹
Even in a loss though, Teddy Ballgame made himself right at home with his old team and QB stablemates.
https://twitter.com/Saints/status/1320449309960294400
And to grow the hell up.
Packers 35, Texans 20
The Texans were the latest team to feel the wrath of Angry Aaron Rogers. Discount Double Check threw for 283 and 4 TDs - including 196 and 2 to Davante Adams (on 13 catches). Maybe throw a double team or two on #17, guys?
The New Car Smell fell off Romeo Crenell in a hurry. The Texans have given up 77 points in their last two games, since scoring Win #1 over Jacksonville. During the first quarter, the Packers had as many touchdowns as the Texans had first downs (2)
And, of course:
Browns 37, Bengals 34
Is THIS the game that truly sets Baker Mayfield on The Right Path™? Probably not, especially with OBJ going down with a torn ACL, But 5 TDs is 5 TDs, no matter who the opponent is.
Speaking of the opponent: (Via NFL.com) (Joe) Burrow became the fourth rookie passer to register five 300-plus passing yards games Sunday, then topped that by becoming the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to throw for 400-plus yards and three passing touchdowns and run for a score in a single game.
What this tells me that folks are going WAAAAY too far in trying to hype up Joe Burrow. We can see him play, guys! We don’t need you to slap together fake “firsts” for him to accomplish!
Lions 23, Falcons 22
The only way this could’ve been more of an inevitable train wreck would be if this could somehow be a three-way with the Chargers. One of these teams was GOING to lose this game in a head-scratching, did not see that coming way.
For those who somehow missed it: The Falcons are driving late in fourth, down 16-14. The only way the Lions would have the chance would be for the Falcons to score immediately, giving Detroit enough time to try to drive down the field. Atlanta clearly knew that as well, which is why they ran up the middle, ran up the middle and ran up the middle again. Until...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3s4q1nMIh0
This would merely be a temporary embarrassment for a team with a real defense. But this is the Falcons, so Detrot drove down for the winning TD in just over a minute.
It’s like Dan Quinn never left.
The Lions have won two in a row. Yeah, they were against Atlanta and Jacksonville, they of the combined two wins. But that won’t stop them or the Lions brass for using this as a reason to hang on to Frat Douche Bill Belichick. Because the Lions are ass.
Bucs 45, Raiders 20
Tom Brady is apparently Jesus..
At least that’s the impression I get whenever Brady has a game that isn’t actively terrible. Granted 369 and 4 vs. a decent Raider defense is something to be lauded. But just “lauded”, not...
I mean, it’s not he’s playing with the best receiver corps he’s had since his Gronk/Edleman/Welker teams in NE, a rejuvenated Leonard Fournette and the league’s best defense. It’s ALL about TB12.
Because the universe hates me.
Jaguars 29, Chargers 39
This Justin Herbert kid might be alright.
Niners 33, Patriots 6
Granted, this was the worst game the Pats have played this year. Indeed, the worst game a Darth Hoodie team has played in years.
But the folks declaring that “THIS IS THE YEAR IT ENDS” and “CAM NEWTON IS DONE” need to take a step or two back. Cam clearly isn’t right and could probably do with another week or two inactive. Let Jarrett Stidham face live fire with a week to prep.
Still not sold on the Niners, though.
Chiefs 43, Broncos 16
You’d think the team from the mountains would be better in the snow.
(SNF) Seahawks 34, Cardinals 37 (OT)
Zane Gonzales should be buying his defense lunch for the next month.
(MNF) Bears 10, Rams 24
So one bad game by Nick Foles and already the murmurings about bring Mitch Trubisky off the bench start?
You fickle Midwestern fucks!
Yeah, Foles and the Chicago offense have been in a bit of a lull. But no one was complaining about that when the Bears were winning. And you do recall Foles was installed as starter to begin with right? Do you think Trubisky has had an epiphany on the bench? He’ll suddenly save himself from BUST status?
And why does Foles/Trubisky/Whoever’s The Starter This Week get all the blame when the run game has been MIA since, hell, last year?
Or it could be that you guys got beat by a superior squad.
All I know is that if you guys do ditch Big Dick Nick for Mitch and nothing changes, I am never going to stop laughing at you.
(Bye Week) Colts, Dolphins, Ravens, Vikings
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