.#NFL - Week 10
Welcome to the Week in Review. Never depend on free time at work for your hobbies.
[ On Bye: Bengals, Jets, Patriots, Ravens]
[TNF] Atlanta Falcons @ Carolina Panthers
The Narrative:
Two weeks ago, the Panthers absolutely blew a chance to take the NFC South lead. Interim coach Steve Wilks is sticking with PJ Walker, despite his DIRE performance in Cincinnati and Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold healthy and ready. The Falcons didn't have Cordarrelle Patterson in the first game and they'll look to rebound from a tough loss to the Chargers. Arthur Smith is likewise sticking with Marcus Mariotta, despite spotty results (and a true heir apparent in Desmond Ritter waiting in the wings).
The Results:
Well that sucked.
The Panthers never trailed in the game. Walker (10-16 for 108) was a non-factor. (His one big play - a 41-yard quick screen to Laviska Shenault - was ruled a lateral, hence a 41-yd TD run). The Panthers leaned on a suddenly alive and frisky D'onta Freeman (a career-high 31 rushes for 130 and a TD) and a defense that shut down Mariota and co.
Even the special teams weren't immune to the fail on this night, as the usually-automatic Younghoe "You can stop giggling now" Koo missed two extra point kicks.
The loss leaves Atlanta a half-game behind Tampa for the division lead, pending their game in Munich vs. Seattle (see below).
By now, it's clear Atlanta doesn't think Ritter is ready, otherwise they make the move at least two weeks ago. But if Mariotta keeps pulling shit like this...
.
They're gonna have to make the switch.
At this point it would not shock me if this division produces the first 10-loss playoff team. A 10-loss team that would HOST a playoff game.3
Panthers 25, Falcons 15
[Munich] Seattle Seahawks vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Narrative:
The first regular season game in Germany features two surprise teams, but for opposite reasons: The Seahawks have been the best, most consistent team in the NFC West and journeyman Geno Smith has been the best, most consistent QB in it. Tampa has been a part of the NFC South morass and has been inexplicably bad. If you look only at the stats, TB12 has been great. If you actually watch the games, not so much.
The Results:
Well, that was unexpected.
Not that the Bucs could win, but that they won by both reviving their mostly dead rushing attack (Rachaad White and Leonard Fournettte combined for 162 yards and a TD) and shutting down the Seattle attack (Kenneth Walker III was limited to 17 yards on 10 carries).
Smith kept the 'Hawks in the game with a season-high 275 and 2 TDs, but without the ground game and the defense reverting to its early season ineptitude, it wasn't enough.
I suppose we'll see later if this is one last hurrah for the Bucs or them finally getting their shit together.
Bucs 21, Seahawks 16
Denver Broncos @ Tennessee Titans
The Narrative:
The Titans hope the Malik Willis experiment is over. The Broncos, at this point, probably wish they had a Willis as an excuse to bench Mr. Ciera.
The Results:
Who the hell is Nick Westbrook-Ikhine?¹
Oh. Okay then.
You can probably guess by that statline that Ryan Tannehill was back under center.
With Russ actually cooking for once (21/42 for 286, 1 and 1), people noticed that all the (earned) Wilson scorn hid the fact that the Broncos' run game is also ass (26-65 as a team).
Titans 17, Broncos 10
- Third-year receiver out of Indiana, for the record.
Minnesota Vikings @ Buffalo Bills
The Narrative:
The Vikings roll into Buffalo as the most dismissed and disrespected 7-1 team in recent memory. The Bills look to show the world that their stumble at the Jets was just that. Josh Allen was cleared to start with an elbow injury, so all eyes will be on him (more than usual, that is).
The Results:
The result is Game of the Year.I thought the Bills/Chiefs playoff game from 2020 was the craziest last minutes of a game I've ever seen. I've NEVER seen a botched snap in the endzone like that on the NFL level. NEVER. Never mind recovered for a touchdown.
Also disguised was the fact that YOULIKETHAT's big game was fueled by hucking up 50-50 balls to Jefferson. That's the kind of thing you do two or three times a game, not six or seven. That's either gonna net you some INTs (It's called "50-50" for a reason) or get your WR creamed with the constant mid-air collisions.
That being said, I'm more down on Buffalo than up on the Vikes. Yeah, Minnesota took advantage of every Bills mistake. But that means Buffalo made that many mistakes.
Two weeks ago, Buffalo was the consensus Team To Beat. After two straight losses, thvey've clearly ceded that title to the Chiefs.
And yes, I'm still taking the Eagles over the Purple People Eaters.
Vikings 33, Bills 30 (OT)
Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears
The Narrative:
Can Justin Fields turn his leveled-up output into wins? The lowly Lions might be his last chance.
The Results:
The answer was "no."Fields was once again a one-man team (167 and 2 passing, 147 and 2 rushing, including a career-high 67 yarder) Cole Kmet is emerging as the Bears best receiving threat (He became the first Bear to catch two TDs in back to back weeks since Johnny Morris in 1964!).
The problem was everything else. Chase Claypool was supposed to add a vertical element to the Bears' attack. He caught one pass for eight yards. And it was for lack of trying: Fields threw the bulk of his 12 completions to TE Kmet and slot guy Darnell Mooney (4 each). That says either Fields is in Falcon Mike Vick mode (minus the "YOLO Bomb" option)¹ or the Bears coaching staff isn't dialing up any deep shots. That needs to change if they want to win.
In the middle of all this, Dan Campbell won his first road game and has a nice little win streak going. This will probably be enough to convince the Fords to give him one more season, because the Fords are trash-tier owners.
Lions 31, Bears 30
- The other options in the Vick Atlanta Years were: "Screen to Warrick Dunn", "Dump off to Alge Crumpler" and "RUN!"
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Kansas City Chiefs
The Narrative:
Frankly, the only questions here are "Can the Jags keep it close" and "Can Trevor Lawrence follow up on a solid Week 9"
The Results:
The answer were "relatively" (10 pts) and "yes" (29/40 for 253 and 2).
The real revelation here was Kadarius Toney in his second game as a Chief. An afterthought even on the WR-hungry Giants roster, the Chiefs got him for peanuts. His performance here (80 scrimmage yards and a TD catch, plus two punt returns) says another Andy Reid reclamation project about to blow up in the rest of the league's faces.
Chiefs 27, Jaguars 17
Cleveland Browns @ Miami Dolphins
The Narrative:
With a healthy Tua Tangyvanilla, the Fish have been nipping at the Bills heels all season, just waiting for them to slip.
The Browns, coming off the buy following their utter beatdown of the Bengals, looking to score their first win streak of the year.
The Results:
Tua is playing himself into the MVP race with another big game (285 and 3). Jeff Wilson slotted right into the offense in a big way as well (17-119-1). If Tua can remain healthy, the Fish are a darkhorse SB contender. Seriously.As for the Browns, they are not a Come From Behind team. Bombs Away is not Jake Briskett's game and it showed when they had to go pass heavy. And going pass heavy means Nick Chubb was pretty much neutralized (he scored on a 33-yard run at the top of the 4th, and never got the ball again)
But hey: Creeper McHeresmytaint is cleared to practice with teh team this week, leading up to his full clearance next week. Yay?
Dolphins 39, Browns 17
Houston Texans @ New York Giants
The Narrative:
The Giants are in that no-man's land of winning teams: They're considered a paper tiger, so if they don't absolutely dismantle a team like the Texans, they might as well have lost.
The Results:
Textbook case of playing down to your competition, as the Giants leaned on Saquon Barkley (152 and 1 on a career-high 35 carries). Danny Dimes filled in the gaps (192 and 2) in a competent, but unexciting win.Rookie RB Dameon Pierce (17-94) remains the only, non-bile fascination-based reason to watch the Texans.
Giants 24, Texans 16
New Orleans Saints @ Pittsburgh Steelers
The Narrative:
No, seriously: What did Jameis Winston do to Dennis Allen that he's chained to the bench like this?
The Results:
Another lackluster game by Andy Dalton (17/27 for 174, 1 and 2), another no-show by Alvin Kamara (6-26), another Saints loss. Next.Steelers 20, Saints 10
Dallas Cowboys @ Green Bay Packers
The Narrative:
Given the looming presence of a trip to Buffalo next week, plus their recent history with the Cheeseheads and (let's be fair) Mike McCarthy's track record vs. teams he should steamroll, this screams "TRAP GAME."
The Results:
The trap, indeed, sprung. And its name was "Christian Watson."
Seriously, it was like Discount Double Check said "Screw It. I'm establishing a connection with ONE of these bastards" and kept throwing to Watson, even after his first two attempts hit the ground. HE was rewarded with 4-107 and 3 TDs by Watson.
But the real tale of the game was Green Bay basically taking the game out of Rodgers' increasingly incapable hands, grinding the Cowboys down with Aaron Jones (24-138-1) and AJ Dillon (13-65), sticking with it even when faced with a 14-point 4th quarter deficit.
This was the second straight game Dallas gave up 200+, having also been on the other end of Justin Fields' breakout game. Combine with two early INTs, untimely penalties (and a couple of "iffy" ones)
Indianapolis Colts @ Las Vegas Raiders
The Narrative:
And here we have Chapter One of Head Coach Jim Zorn Jim Tomsula Matt Rhule Rod Marinelli Jeff Saturday.
Josh McDaniel knows there's no way he can lose to this guy, in this scenario, and not get fired, right?
The Results:
HOW. HAS. THIS. MAN. NOT. BEEN. FIRED?
Lost in the sauce is the fact that Saturday reversed Frank Reich's edict, benched Sam Ehlinger and reinstated Matt Ryan as starter. He put up a solid 222 and 1 on 21 of 28 passing.
Maybe Jim Irsay knew something we didn't? (Nah).
Oh and the rumor mill is that Mark Davis and the Raiders brass have already committed to McDaniels for 2023. Because doubling down on your mistakes is the path to success, apparently.
Colts 25, Raider 20
Arizona Cardinals @ Los Angeles Rams
The Narrative:
And intriguing Kyler Murray/Matt Stafford battle suddenly devolved into Colt "Yep. Still Here" McCoy vs. John "Seriously, WHO?" Wolford.
The Results:
This is why it pays to have a reliable vet backing up your young gun.
Colt McCoy is not and was never the QB Kyler Murray is. But sometimes you need a Piper Cub, not an F-35. McCoy was steady in relief (238 and 1, 70.3 comp. %) and maybe that steadying hand is what the Cards need ATM.¹
Not bad for someone who was cut from the Browns 12 years ago.²
And naturally, the Rams didn't just lose the game. Cooper Kupp was injured trying for an errant pass. He suffered a high ankle sprain and will be out for the next month, minimum.
[Writes off the Rams for 2022...]
Cardinals 27, Rams 17
- Sure as hell ain't getting it from their head coach...
- I did a check of the 2012 Browns roster. McCoy is literally the last player from that team still in the league.³
- Unless you count Josh Gordon. And you shouldn't..
[SNF] Los Angeles Chargers @ San Francisco 49ers
The Narrative:
We have the prime time debut of Run CMC in a Niners uniform and San Fran looking to keep their momentum going, trying to overtake the Seahawks for the division lead.
The Chargers are just trying to rub two sticks together at this point. Even with injuries, they're too talented to be this mid.
The Results:
I'd be far easier on The Bolts with regards to them struggling with injury... If they didn't look pretty much the same WITH their missing parts. With Joey Bosa, with Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and with out them., the Chargers under Brandon Staley are just... Meh.
And that ain't changing until the "under Brandon Staley" part changes. (Obligatory #FuckSpanos)
Not that the Niners were so much better. At least on offense. This night was all about the Niner defense, who shut out the Chargers in the second half. This was a bit of a step back for the Niners, who looked to be on a roll with McCaffrey (77 scrimmage yards, 1 TD run). They gained a game on Seattle, but they'll need more than this to catch them.
9ers 22, Chargers 16
[MNF] Washington Commanders @ Philadelphia Eagles
The Narrative:
Every win at this point put the Iggles in unprecedented territory (7-0 was their best ever start). The Deadnames are at that point where if things break bad for you or break good for them, they can snatch a victory or two.
The Results:
And the corks pop in Miami.
And my favorite part of the whole thing is watching Eagle Nation blame the refs.
Not the four turnovers. Not going away from the rushing attack that had fueled their run. Not not being able get the Deadnames off the field on defense. Not both lines getting bullied by the Ws.
Nope: They lost because the refs didn't call a (to be fair, blatant) face mask on Dallas Goedert.
As I have oft said: You don't lose by two scores because of Ref Ball. Deal.
Can confirm that, as a Dallas fan, praising anything Dan Snyder-connected feels wrong. Can't imagine it's any better for Giants Nation. But here we are: Our repective teams didn't lose ground because of Washington.
[I need a shower #FuckDanSnyder]
Commanders 32, Eagles 21
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