2020 #NFL Week in Review – Week 9
Welcome to the Week in Review, where we’re torn between paying respect to Alex Trebek and mocking Donald Trump.
* flips coin *
SUCK IT, TRUMP!
Welp... This is one of those games that went exactly as predicted, for the predicted reasons. San Fran was basically running an XFL team, roster wise, Jimmy G is proving himself one of those QBs who is exactly as good as the team around him¹, and the Packers were on a two-game losing streak and eager to take out their frustrations on somebody.
Frankly, I’m surprised the Pack didn’t hang fifty on them, just to prove a point.
Is the Seahawks defense that bad or are the Bills that good?
Yes.
Russell Wilson seems to be trying to throw himself out of the MVP race: He threw his third Red Zone pick of the season on Sunday. He had three in his career coming into 2020. The Seahawks defense continues at a record pace (in the wrong direction): their 2,897 passing yards surrendered is the most through 8 games in league history. And the return of Jamal Adams didn’t help, but as he’s not a pass rusher¹ he could only help so much.
With the Pats reeling, the Dolphins a big ol’ question mark and the Jets.. the Jets, the AFC East is Buffalo’s for the taking. As long as Josh Allen is healthy and under control, that is.
No, seriously, Colts; Why are you still depending on Phillip Rivers? He is very clearly done. Especially with THAT offensive line. For your sake and his: Bench him and put in Jacoby Brissett. This is getting uglier by the week, guys.
Jacksonville. Good for what ails ya’!
A win’s a win, especially when you only have two, but I wouldn’t get all giddy about this one. Especially when you have to fight and claw to beat a 6th-round rookie making his first start at QB.
And he drops a 73-yarder on you on his first pass:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70rMYRN_zYo
But, again, a win’s a win.
Good GAWD, the Bears offense is trash. And it shouldn’t be this way. They have talent! But they also have Matt Nagy calling plays. Someone who is proving himself less then next Sean McVay or Frank Reich and more Marc Trestman: The Sequel.
And A.J. Brown is a beast (4-101, 1 TD)
Run CMC is back!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2_EKyiqWes
Aaaand they lost him during the final drive with a shoulder injury.
The Panthers look like they have a whole other gear with McCaffrey. Here’s hoping he’s not out for long (again).
Weird stat of the week: Teddy Bridgewater has thrown 0 INTs this season on odd-numbered weeks. He’s thrown at least one in every even week.
If the Giants keep this up, they might play themselves out of the running for one of the top QBs, come April.
The Giants won their second game of the season and their second over Washington. And they probably don’t if Kyle Allen doesn’t go down (possibly for the season) with a fractured ankle. Alex “Inspirational Movie Pending” Smith came in, threw for 325 yards and a TD. But he also threw three INTs and his cold play late helped doom the No-Names.
Yet both teams are STILL only a game out of first place in the NFC East. Oy.
For the second straight week, it was the Dalvin Cook show, this time racking up 206 and 2 TDs on the ground and tacking on 46 receiving. With Cook going off, Kirk Cousins was free to do his mediocre thing: (13/20 for 220, but with 3 TDs).
And just like that, the time that two-game win streak bought Fratdouche Belichick is burned away, replaced with a renewed perch upon the Hot Seat.
It’s hard to say Dan Quinn wasn’t the problem in Atlanta, when his team is 3-1 since they fired him. Granted, those wins were vs. the Vikings, the CMC-less Panthers and the Broncos¹. But, yet again, wins are wins in the NFL.
And once again, the Chargers manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Twice.
Once with Mike Williams having a game-winning catch knocked free by Isaiah Johnson. Then Justin Herbert appeared to connect with Donald Parham as time ran out.
Nope: Overturned on replay.
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1325592360634363905
As the fans in San Diego chuckle with schadenfreude.
Were I the Raiders? I’d take that win and run, but I’d also be concerned that Herbert is the fourth QB this year to hang at least 300 and 2 on that Raider defense.
And they got the Chargers one more time (Dec. 15 @ SoWhat Stadium)
You know you’re on a bad stretch when you start counting “moral victories”
This was the best game the Cowboys have played all year, top to bottom. It was the best game the offense has played since Dak went down and it was the defense’s best game period.
Naturally then, two gaffes by what should be the defense’s leader, Jaylon Smith, might have cost the Cowboys a season-saving win.
This is what bad teams do: When they’ve got a superior team on the ropes, they start screwing up the little things and leave just enough of a crack for their opponent to slip through.
And now that it looks like we might have found a QB (Garret Gilbert isn’t going to be spawning any QB controversies, but he looked strong in his Dallas debut), our best DB may be out for a month.
SIGN EARL THOMAS, YOU FUCKS!
Of all the ways I expected this game to end, “a 49-yard FG coming up short” was not one of them.
Kind of a wet fart of an ending to what was a pretty entertaining shootout between two of the latest QBs WHO WILL CHANGE THE GAME FOREVER: Kyler Murray (21/26, 283yds, 3 TDs, 106 and 1 on the ground) and Tua Tangyvanilla (20/28 for 248, 2 TDs, 35 rushing).
Fun Fact: The Cards’ current four-game streak of 30 or more points is the longest in franchise history. Surprising, considering that didn’t happen under Air Coryell or during the Kurt Warner years.
And here we have the nominal Game of the Week. Saints/Bucs Round 2. Tom Terrific vs. Breesus. This should be a good one!
Well... That was an unexpected asswhipping. Not that I thought Brady was infallible. Far from it. But I didn’t think the Saints’ defense was capable of putting the clamps down like that. Also thought the Bucs’ D would put up a stronger fight. This one was over by halftime. A garbage time field goal averted the shutout.
Not sure what to make of this going forward. I really doubt the Saints can bring this kind of thunder again and I really doubt Tampa’s going to get shut down like this again. But I could be wrong.
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.
* flips coin *
SUCK IT, TRUMP!
(TNF) Packers 34, Niners 17
Welp... This is one of those games that went exactly as predicted, for the predicted reasons. San Fran was basically running an XFL team, roster wise, Jimmy G is proving himself one of those QBs who is exactly as good as the team around him¹, and the Packers were on a two-game losing streak and eager to take out their frustrations on somebody.
Frankly, I’m surprised the Pack didn’t hang fifty on them, just to prove a point.
See also: Andy Dalton
Seahawks 34, Bills 44
Is the Seahawks defense that bad or are the Bills that good?
Yes.
Russell Wilson seems to be trying to throw himself out of the MVP race: He threw his third Red Zone pick of the season on Sunday. He had three in his career coming into 2020. The Seahawks defense continues at a record pace (in the wrong direction): their 2,897 passing yards surrendered is the most through 8 games in league history. And the return of Jamal Adams didn’t help, but as he’s not a pass rusher¹ he could only help so much.
With the Pats reeling, the Dolphins a big ol’ question mark and the Jets.. the Jets, the AFC East is Buffalo’s for the taking. As long as Josh Allen is healthy and under control, that is.
Not resigning Jadeveon Clowney looks like the wrong call with every passing week, even with his mediocre stats with the Titans.
Ravens 24, Colts 10
No, seriously, Colts; Why are you still depending on Phillip Rivers? He is very clearly done. Especially with THAT offensive line. For your sake and his: Bench him and put in Jacoby Brissett. This is getting uglier by the week, guys.
Texans 27, Jags 25
Jacksonville. Good for what ails ya’!
A win’s a win, especially when you only have two, but I wouldn’t get all giddy about this one. Especially when you have to fight and claw to beat a 6th-round rookie making his first start at QB.
And he drops a 73-yarder on you on his first pass:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70rMYRN_zYo
But, again, a win’s a win.
Bears 17, Titans 24
Good GAWD, the Bears offense is trash. And it shouldn’t be this way. They have talent! But they also have Matt Nagy calling plays. Someone who is proving himself less then next Sean McVay or Frank Reich and more Marc Trestman: The Sequel.
And A.J. Brown is a beast (4-101, 1 TD)
Panthers 31, Chiefs 33
Run CMC is back!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2_EKyiqWes
Aaaand they lost him during the final drive with a shoulder injury.
The Panthers look like they have a whole other gear with McCaffrey. Here’s hoping he’s not out for long (again).
Weird stat of the week: Teddy Bridgewater has thrown 0 INTs this season on odd-numbered weeks. He’s thrown at least one in every even week.
Giants 23, Alex Smiths 20
If the Giants keep this up, they might play themselves out of the running for one of the top QBs, come April.
The Giants won their second game of the season and their second over Washington. And they probably don’t if Kyle Allen doesn’t go down (possibly for the season) with a fractured ankle. Alex “Inspirational Movie Pending” Smith came in, threw for 325 yards and a TD. But he also threw three INTs and his cold play late helped doom the No-Names.
Yet both teams are STILL only a game out of first place in the NFC East. Oy.
Lions 20, Vikings 34
For the second straight week, it was the Dalvin Cook show, this time racking up 206 and 2 TDs on the ground and tacking on 46 receiving. With Cook going off, Kirk Cousins was free to do his mediocre thing: (13/20 for 220, but with 3 TDs).
And just like that, the time that two-game win streak bought Fratdouche Belichick is burned away, replaced with a renewed perch upon the Hot Seat.
Broncos 27, Falcons 34
It’s hard to say Dan Quinn wasn’t the problem in Atlanta, when his team is 3-1 since they fired him. Granted, those wins were vs. the Vikings, the CMC-less Panthers and the Broncos¹. But, yet again, wins are wins in the NFL.
Who might have to be downgraded to “actively sucks” status
Raiders 31, Chargers 26
And once again, the Chargers manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Twice.
Once with Mike Williams having a game-winning catch knocked free by Isaiah Johnson. Then Justin Herbert appeared to connect with Donald Parham as time ran out.
Nope: Overturned on replay.
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1325592360634363905
As the fans in San Diego chuckle with schadenfreude.
Were I the Raiders? I’d take that win and run, but I’d also be concerned that Herbert is the fourth QB this year to hang at least 300 and 2 on that Raider defense.
And they got the Chargers one more time (Dec. 15 @ SoWhat Stadium)
Steelers 24, Jaylon Smith 19
You know you’re on a bad stretch when you start counting “moral victories”
This was the best game the Cowboys have played all year, top to bottom. It was the best game the offense has played since Dak went down and it was the defense’s best game period.
Naturally then, two gaffes by what should be the defense’s leader, Jaylon Smith, might have cost the Cowboys a season-saving win.
- An Illegal Contact penalty turned a Big Ben fumble into a first down. The Steelers went on to kick a FG to pull within one (19-18)
- RTP call negates a crucial three-and-out. Doubly painful because Trevon Diggs left the game with an ankle injury on the previous play. Steelers march down for the winning TD.
This is what bad teams do: When they’ve got a superior team on the ropes, they start screwing up the little things and leave just enough of a crack for their opponent to slip through.
And now that it looks like we might have found a QB (Garret Gilbert isn’t going to be spawning any QB controversies, but he looked strong in his Dallas debut), our best DB may be out for a month.
SIGN EARL THOMAS, YOU FUCKS!
Dolphins 34, Cardinals 31
Of all the ways I expected this game to end, “a 49-yard FG coming up short” was not one of them.
Kind of a wet fart of an ending to what was a pretty entertaining shootout between two of the latest QBs WHO WILL CHANGE THE GAME FOREVER: Kyler Murray (21/26, 283yds, 3 TDs, 106 and 1 on the ground) and Tua Tangyvanilla (20/28 for 248, 2 TDs, 35 rushing).
Fun Fact: The Cards’ current four-game streak of 30 or more points is the longest in franchise history. Surprising, considering that didn’t happen under Air Coryell or during the Kurt Warner years.
(SNF) Saints 38, Bucs 3
And here we have the nominal Game of the Week. Saints/Bucs Round 2. Tom Terrific vs. Breesus. This should be a good one!
Well... That was an unexpected asswhipping. Not that I thought Brady was infallible. Far from it. But I didn’t think the Saints’ defense was capable of putting the clamps down like that. Also thought the Bucs’ D would put up a stronger fight. This one was over by halftime. A garbage time field goal averted the shutout.
Not sure what to make of this going forward. I really doubt the Saints can bring this kind of thunder again and I really doubt Tampa’s going to get shut down like this again. But I could be wrong.
(MNF) Patriots 30, Jets 27
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.
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