NFL Week 5

[Grover]

So, does Josh Johnson get the start tonight?

[QuikSand]

No. In a surprise move, Spencer Stone steps in and throws 4TD for a big win.

[Grover]

No. In a surprise move, Spencer Stone steps in and throws 4TD for a big win.

Considering the news this morning, I feel like this comment is in extremely poor taste.

[BillJasper]

Considering the news this morning, I feel like this comment is in extremely poor taste.

?

[Grover]

?

Spencer Stone, French Train Attack Hero, Stabbed in Sacramento - NBC News (http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/french-train-attack-hero-spencer-stone-stabbed-n440956)

[BillJasper]

Spencer Stone, French Train Attack Hero, Stabbed in Sacramento - NBC News (http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/french-train-attack-hero-spencer-stone-stabbed-n440956)

Hadn't seen that news yet.

[QuikSand]

Sorry to offend by all means, I was trying to flatter him and not besmirch him. He's part of a remarkably heroic "save the day" circumstance in Paris, and appears to have stepped in to defend a friend in the incident last night. I was just following along this same riff:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I swear to God, we’re two news cycles away from discovering that this guy is Batman. <a href="http://t.co/ZCE6Z24vQW">http://t.co/ZCE6Z24vQW</a> <a href="http://t.co/ohbYWU36uP">pic.twitter.com/ohbYWU36uP</a></p>&mdash; Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) <a href="https://twitter.com/charlescwcooke/status/652154676259897344">October 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Again, sorry if I mis-measured this. My meaning was that he's the save-the-day type.

[BishopMVP]

Report: Dolphins parting ways with Kevin Coyle | ProFootballTalk (http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/10/08/report-dolphins-parting-ways-with-kevin-coyle/)

I guess the only surprise is they didn't do it when they fired Philbin.

[BillJasper]

Report: Dolphins parting ways with Kevin Coyle | ProFootballTalk (http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/10/08/report-dolphins-parting-ways-with-kevin-coyle/)

I guess the only surprise is they didn't do it when they fired Philbin.

Apparently, they allowed Dan Campbell to make that call.

[BishopMVP]

Apparently, they allowed Dan Campbell to make that call.Must've been an awkward couple of days.

Patriots sign Dion Lewis to an extension. Yet another reason why you don't spend draft capital or tie up big money in RB's (looks in Buffalo's direction.) (Although we're not entirely exempt - still hate the James White pick. He wasn't even the best RB on his college team.)

[BishopMVP]

Concussion protocol isn't worth much if you just let guys go back out on the field. Didn't ODB do the same thing in one of the first Giants game this year too?

[cuervo72]

hahahahahahahahahahaha

[BishopMVP]

hahahahahahahahahahahaThat might be the worst play I've ever seen by Greg Toler. Instead of looking for the football he tries to prevent Strong from entering the endzone, somehow gets run over and setting a perfect pick on 3 separate defenders who were actually looking at the ball and could've knocked it down.

[Abe Sargent]

This game h as not been bad

[ColtCrazy]

Been very impressed with Hasselbeck's play. He's been great and has really helped turn this season around. The big play to Hilton was a gutsy call.

That said, Greg Toler is the worst Colts DB since Jason David. Just inexcusable.

[Groundhog]

The whole dynamic between QBs and backup QBs, is a very interesting thing to me. It's easily the most high profile position on the field and, where the starter is not a premier guy, a very competitive thing especially if a team isn't winning and fans are calling for the backup... Yet still, most guys seem to handle it really well, and I love seeing pics of the QB and his backup sitting with coaches after a drive and listening to them speak, or discussing things between themselves.

And then you have Ryan Mallett......

[Butter]

Mallett has no one but himself to blame for getting benched during that game. He took a shot, and essentially took himself out of the game. Maybe O'Brien was making a point to him by not letting him back into the game after taking what looked like not that hard of a hit. Or maybe he was making a point at not putting him back in because he was clearly pouting like a fucking baby. A few minutes after he came out when Hoyer went back in on the next drive, you could see him mouth the words "this is fucking bullshit".

Then Hoyer proved why he is good at times and not at others. That interception with under 2 minutes left was just an awful, awful throw.

[spleen1015]

Matt Hasselbeck is a class act. After receiving the game ball after last night's game, he dedicated it to Michelle Bair on twitter. Michelle lost her battle with breast cancer yesterday. Michelle was the wife of my daughter's AAU basketball coach and the mother of one of her good friends. Matt's daughter is also on the AAU team. Thanks to Matt for bringing a lot of good to a terrible situation.


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This game ball is in honor of Michelle Bair who lost her battle with cancer today. <a href="http://t.co/7PkHLLCFe0">pic.twitter.com/7PkHLLCFe0</a></p>&mdash; Matthew Hasselbeck (@Hasselbeck) <a href="https://twitter.com/Hasselbeck/status/652333339274141696">October 9, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Thomkal]

QB controversy in Indy? :)

And neither QB in HOU is the answer they are looking for- I suspect that will cause the coach to lose his job-pick one and stay with him.

[stevew]

Still can't believe HOU let Bridgewater get within reach and didn't pull the trigger. I think Hoyer might be okay if given support

[Chief Rum]

I can't believe Houston has allowed this QB thing to go this long before making a serious play for a real QB. I mean, at least 2-3 whole offseasons where they didn't try to sign one or trade for one (no, Mallett doesn't count) or draft one. Just inexcusable. It's the most important position on the field.

I may be wrong, but I feel like every other team in the NFL either has a big time QB (Brady, Luck, Rodgers), has a young QB they hope will become a big time QB (Carr, Manziel, Winston) or has a veteran QB with proven credentials (Cutler, Smith, Bradford), even if he isn't that good. I mean, if a team has a situation at QB they really need to fix, where they're not even getting in range of mediocre every game, almost all NFL teams make an effort to get a QB that gets them to that base level at least, with hopefully potential for more down the line. But not the Texans. They can't be bothered with that...

[stevew]

It's why JJ Watt will never win a title until he's in his mid 30s and playing the role of pass rusher for hire. Houston totally doesn't get it. They're like the southern version of the Jets

[Grover]

What exactly is Sam Bradford's proven credentials? Tearing ligaments?

[stevew]

What exactly is Sam Bradford's proven credentials? Tearing ligaments?

Pedigree.

[stevew]

dola-

Bradford is like a Derek Rose except one that's never accomplished anything at the pro level.

[EagleFan]

Not a Bradford defender but rookie of the year is an accomplishment.

[flere-imsaho]

Bradford's completed just under 60% of his attempts in his career and has more TDs than INTs. I think that was the kind of "mediocre base level" Chief Rum was describing.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Not a Bradford defender but rookie of the year is an accomplishment.

You mean like RGIII, Vince Young and Cadillac Williams had accomplishments?

[stevew]

Not a Bradford defender but rookie of the year is an accomplishment.

man, that was like the worst year for rookies, looking at it. Only others receiving votes were Mike Williams(TBY) and Pouncey(PIT). Other possible contenders would have been Blount.

[Grover]

Pedigree.

He has been dog food for most defenses. I agree.

[Chief Rum]

Bradford's completed just under 60% of his attempts in his career and has more TDs than INTs. I think that was the kind of "mediocre base level" Chief Rum was describing.

flere's got it. It's a low base line. One Houston has been abysmal at even trying to reach. If I were their fans, I would be livid at management and would pretty much boycott the team until the front office got off its ass and brought in an at least semi-legit QB or QB prospect.

For those of you who have doubts, if you had Bradford, Hoyer and Mallet on the same team, who would you start? Pretty obvious.

[Grover]

For those of you who have doubts, if you had Bradford, Hoyer and Mallet on the same team, who would you start? Pretty obvious.

Well, yeah.

I think Bradford's got too much of that introverted personality going on like Cutler. He never seems too pumped up. As if he's constantly just going through the motions.

[Vince, Pt. II]

I can't believe Houston has allowed this QB thing to go this long before making a serious play for a real QB. I mean, at least 2-3 whole offseasons where they didn't try to sign one or trade for one (no, Mallett doesn't count) or draft one. Just inexcusable. It's the most important position on the field.

I may be wrong, but I feel like every other team in the NFL either has a big time QB (Brady, Luck, Rodgers), has a young QB they hope will become a big time QB (Carr, Manziel, Winston) or has a veteran QB with proven credentials (Cutler, Smith, Bradford), even if he isn't that good. I mean, if a team has a situation at QB they really need to fix, where they're not even getting in range of mediocre every game, almost all NFL teams make an effort to get a QB that gets them to that base level at least, with hopefully potential for more down the line. But not the Texans. They can't be bothered with that...

The 49ers aren't far from being in this sort of situation themselves.

[Chief Rum]

The 49ers aren't far from being in this sort of situation themselves.

Yeah, Kaep feels like a bad call at this point. But I still put the Niners up there as trying. Kaep looked like a franchise QB 2-3 years ago, and they made an effort to keep him by signing him to the big deal. It may end up being a bad investment, and you can certainly blame the front office for buying in on Kaep when they shouldn't have. But you can't say they're not trying. I'm not sure Houston is.

[Grover]

The 49ers aren't far from being in this sort of situation themselves.

Is this even in their top five of bad moves in the last few years though?

[Chief Rum]

Well, yeah.

I think Bradford's got too much of that introverted personality going on like Cutler. He never seems too pumped up. As if he's constantly just going through the motions.

Yeah, not saying Bradford is great stuff. It really says something about what Houston is doing in that he is so much better than what they have.

Look at the backups currently playing, too, because of injury or ineffectiveness of the starter. Cousins (well, not a backup, but you get the point), Weedens, Hasslebeck, Vick. I would start all of them over the two-fer in Houston. And they're backups (or should be).

[Grover]

I mean, even look at Buffalo if they hadn't brought in Tyrod, who was a huge risk to start.

[Chief Rum]

Is this even in their top five of bad moves in the last few years though?

The Niners have had a combo of bad luck (guys retiring on them), bad judgment (risky character players) and bad scout/coaching evaluation (Kaep), but it's not fair, IMO, to pile on. They went to the Super Bowl three years ago, and were an up and coming talented team under Harbaugh.

They have certainly been dysfunctional at times, but I think just about everyone in the league thought Kaep was a star in the making, and who would have called Willis and Borland retiring when they did?

The Niners did a good job building up talent and there are a bunch of teams in the NFL right now who would probably trade the Niners' last five years for what they went through in their last five.

[Chief Rum]

I mean, even look at Buffalo if they hadn't brought in Tyrod, who was a huge risk to start.

Yeah, Buffalo, IMO, was the closest to the "Houston QB approach." Nonetheless, they do seem to have done good getting Tyrod, so perhaps you say Buffalo got lucky, but still, they have what Houston doesn't.

[Grover]

The Niners have had a combo of bad luck (guys retiring on them), bad judgment (risky character players) and bad scout/coaching evaluation (Kaep), but it's not fair, IMO, to pile on. They went to the Super Bowl three years ago, and were an up and coming talented team under Harbaugh.

They have certainly been dysfunctional at times, but I think just about everyone in the league thought Kaep was a star in the making, and who would have called Willis and Borland retiring when they did?

The Niners did a good job building up talent and there are a bunch of teams in the NFL right now who would probably trade the Niners' last five years for what they went through in their last five.

No, not trying to pile on, just more generally curious.

I'd be interested to see if there's any correlation between the retirements and Harbaugh getting kicked out of town were, though.

I was never big on Kaep, but he did look like he had the potential to grow into a star. And then he forgot how to read defenses, etc etc. He's got an incredible arm and athleticism, but something's missing upstairs (to be an elite QB at least).

I've always kind of liked the 9ers, loved Joe Montana et al as a kid and I enjoyed seeing them good again. Not to mention, I absolutely loved Justin Smith and he got better with age once he left Cincy. Being drafted fourth was too much pressure for a run stopping DE. Never produced the sack numbers the Bengals expected. Still wish they hadn't let him go when they did, but it was time to part ways.

[stevew]

Yeah, Buffalo, IMO, was the closest to the "Houston QB approach." Nonetheless, they do seem to have done good getting Tyrod, so perhaps you say Buffalo got lucky, but still, they have what Houston doesn't.

Jets

Bills at least tried to draft a first round QB recently. The Jets and Houston are both on idgaf mode.

[Grover]

Jets

Bills at least tried to draft a first round QB recently. The Jets and Houston are both on idgaf mode.

Don't understand the thinking that Geno could ever be a competent NFL QB.

Fitzpatrick is fine if you're looking to finish 6-10 or 7-9, thanks to a few backbreaking picks late in games you're trying to get back in, but yeah... not good.

[Chief Rum]

Jets

Bills at least tried to draft a first round QB recently. The Jets and Houston are both on idgaf mode.

Naw, disagree. Remember, we're talking effort here, not results.

Yeah, the Jets suck at evaluating and developing QBs, but they drafted Sanchez in the first round a few years ago and drafted Geno to be the man high in the second two years ago. They're trying to get that top QB, they just suck at doing it.

Even Fitzgerald qualifies, IMO, as a functionally effective veteran QB. Hell, he was in Houston last year. They should have kept him.

[bhlloy]

I didn't realize Mallet left the field before halftime. I honestly would cut his ass at this point. He's a terrible qb but there was also the incident in training camp where he "overslept" the day after not being named the starter, he's clearly unhelpful as he can possibly be on the sidelines and pouting when he's not in the game and that would be the last straw for me. If you have the next Dan Marino I guess you'd live with that, but for a guy who is fucking awful why bother?

[Logan]

Niners structured Kaepernick's deal with this type of thing in mind. They can cut ties relatively easily/cheaply.

[BishopMVP]

I was never big on Kaep, but he did look like he had the potential to grow into a star. And then he forgot how to read defenses, etc etc. He's got an incredible arm and athleticism, but something's missing upstairs (to be an elite QB at least).He didn't forget how to read defenses. Harbaugh just did a great job giving him simple reads and accentuating his strengths while hiding his weaknesses. Green Bay having no clue how to defend the read-option despite it being a thing in various places all season long helped his hype train a lot too. His upside was always righthanded Michael Vick - a.k.a. a player who looks much better in videogames than real life.

But in fairness to the 49ers, the deal they gave him wasn't that bad. It was really low on initial signing bonus, and allows them to cut bait pretty easily after any year.

[TroyF]

The Texans have handled this QB thing worse than just about any team I have ever seen. I don't care who anyone thinks is the "best" QB of the two guys. The flip flopping back and forth is ridiculous.

You have a full training camp to determine your starter. Then you pull the guy you have picked after 1 game. The new guy comes in and has a good game against the Bucs before crapping the bed against the Falcons. You bench him against the Falcons in the second half and are thrilled that the replacement played well in the second half. (of a game you were losing by 45 points, I wonder why there were suddenly openings downfield)

You decide to give another start to the guy who crapped the bed against the Falcons and he does virtually nothing wrong during his time in the game. (seriously, he was executing the game plan perfectly. Screen passes, passes to the backs out of the backfield. He goes 7-10 for 52 yards. His errors? Well, he threw one pass about 2 inches behind Foster who turned it into an interception. He threw a laser to Hopkins who did a terrible job of keeping his feet in bounds. He threw a called screen where Foster lost 5 yards.

Everyone harping on the low yards per attempt seems to forget if those three plays are turned around (10+ yard gain for Foster, 20 yard catch for Hopkins, and an incompleted pass on the screen, suddenly Mallett is over 8 yards per pass attempt too.

So he leaves for a play and your week one starter comes in. He leads the team down for a FG. He then gets the benefit of the Keystone Kops Colts D and suddenly the national story is he's a "spark" He gets put in against the Colts defense (holy hell are those guys bad, I mean, that secondary is simply horrific) and suddenly you have a new savior?

Yikes, pick a guy, stick with a guy and then move on. For the love of God, if you want to tank the season this early, just release both and sign Orvlasky or something.

As for the Colts, they are 27th in the league in pass defense and they have played these QB's:

Taylor
Fitzpatrick
Mariota
Bortles
Mallett/Hoyer

Here are the next 7 QB's they face:

Tom Brady
Drew Brees
Cam Newton
Peyton Manning
Matt Ryan
Jamais Winston (bye week)
Big Ben (assuming he's back by then)

If they don't get their defense figured out and fast, they are headed for a complete and total disaster.

[JPhillips]

What an opening drive for Hue Jackson. Seattle looked confused on almost every play.

[Grover]

I wonder if we'll get last week's bend but don't break defense we had against KC, or something more suffocating.

Incredible first drive. Some nice diversity from Hue. The planned run spreading the tackles wide was nice, as was the rollout pass to Jones.

[Grover]

Horrible blown coverage from Kirkpatrick.

Editing to add: 55 yard TD catch last week notwithstanding, I find it amazing that Brandon Tate is still returning kicks for this team. He's horrible.

[EagleFan]

Almost like watching a game without announcers with the Eagles game. Fox has the crowd/stadium noise pumped up and the announcers low. I have barely picked up on anything they are talking about.

[Suicane75]

Sam Bradford would be a great punter. He always pins the opposition inside the 20.

[JPhillips]

I hate how Fox keeps going to field level cameras. I can't tell much of anything that's going on from those angles.

[Arles]

Can someone explain to me that 2nd Rodgers INT didn't get overturned. Not only did the ball hit the ground, but it moved in the DB's hands. I give up on figuring out what a catch is in this league.

[JPhillips]

The Bengals have killed themselves. First a holding call negates a long TD pass and later Dalton throws a poor ball and takes away 3 or 7 points and gives Seattle 3. This game could easily be 17-7 rather than 7-10.

[JPhillips]

Feels like a playoff type second half collapse is coming.

edit: Yep

[Suicane75]

Watching the Bills/Titans is like watching two ugly people vomit at each other for 3 hours.

[JPhillips]

I'm a fucking Nostradamus.

[kingfc22]

And Charles looks done. Non-contact knee injury.

[Galaril]

So Bengals as predicted were overrated

[Grover]

Feels like a playoff type second half collapse is coming.

edit: Yep

I guess I should be glad Time Warner and Fox decided to go belly-up on me. Only happens with FOX and FS1.

http://i.imgur.com/z3cMVoi.jpg

[Grover]

Hopefully the entire broadcast nation can get off Andy Dalton's dick now.

[JPhillips]

This loss isn't on Dalton. He made one bad throw, but otherwise he's been solid. Penalties, turnovers, poor o-line play and a porous defense killed them today.

[cuervo72]

Did the Eagles miss another friggin xp?

[kingfc22]

Sooooo many bad QB's out there

[BillJasper]

Sooooo many bad QB's out there

+1

[BillJasper]

If you have the ball for three yards, it should be considered a catch.

[cuervo72]

Yeah, that one seems right by the letter of the rule, but wrong by common sense.

[kingfc22]

How is that Freeman play not a TD?

The NFL is such a farce these days. Thank goodness there is so much soccer readily available to watch these days.

[Galaril]

So Bengals as predicted were overrated

And I stand corrected. Nice job coming back Bengals.

[JPhillips]

Even if the Bengals lose, they've at least shown some spine.

[Grover]

I know it's not on Dalton and this comeback IS on him, I just think he's being overrated. We need him to win a playoff game first. Otherwise this outstanding early play will be meaningless

[BillJasper]

Sounds like a lot of Bears fans in Kansas City...

[Grover]

I'm not doubting this team's ability to come back again this year. This team has a spine I haven't seen a Bengals team have in the 25 years I've been a fan.

WHO DEY!

[rowech]

I know it's not on Dalton and this comeback IS on him, I just think he's being overrated. We need him to win a playoff game first. Otherwise this outstanding early play will be meaningless

No wonder Palmer wanted to leave. Give the man his moment -- he was outstanding.

[Butter]

I wouldn't have minded seeing a Pete Carroll reax shot after that last FG, considering the amount he was whooping it up in the third quarter.

[Jas_lov]

Can someone explain to me that 2nd Rodgers INT didn't get overturned. Not only did the ball hit the ground, but it moved in the DB's hands. I give up on figuring out what a catch is in this league.

It should have been overturned. There was no explanation. Ball hits the ground and the DB used the ground to catch the ball. And the ball moved. I'm sure the league will say afterwards that they screwed up like they usually do in Packer games.

[Julio Riddols]

This is the best day I have ever had as a Bengals fan because that comeback against that defense and Andy playing balls out against the LOB.. That shit was fucking magnificent.

[Jas_lov]

And I like how Mike Pettine is sitting on 3 TO's and just lets 40 seconds run off the clock, giving his team about 25 seconds to get in FG range at the end of regulation after Baltimore tied it. If they had a few more seconds they would have had a chance at the FG. Terrible clock management.

[Thomkal]

Lots of exciting finishes today. Hopefully Arizona will not need one in Detroit today. I think this loss is the end of Bradley in Jacksonville, barring a strong finish. Should not be losing to a team that is probably even younger than yours.

[Thomkal]

Beginning of the end of Harbaugh in Balt? Was like 12-1 against Cleveland till today.

[Thomkal]

Likely torn acl for Charles pending MRI tomorrow.

[JPhillips]

Beginning of the end of Harbaugh in Balt? Was like 12-1 against Cleveland till today.

He's got no weapons on offense and too many injuries on defense. I'm not sure what any coach could do with that team.

[Grover]

No wonder Palmer wanted to leave. Give the man his moment -- he was outstanding.

Haha, come on. I'm one guy in Maine who's never even been to Cincinnati. Little over the top with that first sentence there.

[Grover]

That Barnidge catch was something else. Incredible.

[MizzouRah]

4 INT's by Foles today.. definitely a game we could have won today.

[BillJasper]

4 INT's by Foles today.. definitely a game we could have won today.

There were a lot of plays where Foles never had a chance.

[Thomkal]

Cardinal fans are so fickle on the message board I hang out on. All Doom and Gloom after they went down 7-0. now couldn't be happier.

[gstelmack]

The NFL is such a farce these days. Thank goodness there is so much soccer readily available to watch these days.

Yes, because the flopping is SO much better than the NFL catch rules :rolleyes:

(I say that as someone who watches and enjoys both, but let's not pretend that many of these sports don't have their key issues. Baseball has the pace of the game and the occasional legal tackling and a major reluctance to embrace technology, basketball is just refs blowing whistles when they feel like it, hockey ... well, I can't say much about hockey, just not enough people like to watch it...)

[BillJasper]

Lions come full circle to their 0-16 season, put Dan Orlovsky in. :eek:

[Solecismic]

The Lions obviously have problems, but their schedule is as front-loaded as humanly possible. I doubt they're a playoff team - especially since Green Bay is a legit Super Bowl contender - but they'll win a few.

Brandon Weeden is not an NFL quarterback. It's hard to find one, but you should know when you don't have one. The Romo injury was their season. I think Dallas could beat New England with Romo.

[gstelmack]

Brandon Weeden is not an NFL quarterback.

How does he overthrow a wide open Williams in the endzone on that last pass?

[tucker rocky]

https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/x3BCGiVCsSC6lPU9q4kaV5zkfnw=/600x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4147384/wrongteam.0.gif

:lol:

[TroyF]

Denver keeps doing it one way and one way only. The defense is beyond good. The offense is beyond bad. This will not hold up.

Cincy really impressed me today, but the Seahawks are not. If the right call is made last week, Seattle is very likely now 1-4. Losses at the Rams, Packers and Cincy isn't horrible by any stretch, but they haven't even looked that great at home against mediocre teams.

The Cleveland TE catch was amazing today.

Some important games next week:

Eagles @ Giants
Cardinals @ Steelers
Panthers @ Seahawks
Pats @ Colts (Blowout waiting to happen)

[MizzouRah]

Come on Beckham and Giants kicker.. close to a W in my main FF league!

[mckerney]

Savvy move by Kapernick to use a timeout to make sure they get 1 more play in the 3rd quarter.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Sigh. That was not a great moment for Kaepernick.

[EagleFan]

https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/x3BCGiVCsSC6lPU9q4kaV5zkfnw=/600x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4147384/wrongteam.0.gif

:lol:

That is freaking hysterical. The receiver had a serious WTF moment when the player he wanted to block turned around and blocked him.

[Edward64]

QB controversy in Indy? :)

And neither QB in HOU is the answer they are looking for- I suspect that will cause the coach to lose his job-pick one and stay with him.

I was a big Mallett fan in college. He and Petrino gave me a couple of the most entertaining Razorback seasons that I can remember.

With that said, I do think Mallett has gotten his chance and has not done well. I look forward to him being a backup somewhere but that's probably as good as it'll get for him.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Anyone else watching notice the game clock stop at 3:05 after that first run by Hyde? Time ran off the clock for the first 10 seconds or so of the playclock, then the game clock stopped at 3:05.

[Abe Sargent]

not a bad game here either

[Vince, Pt. II]

NBC, you are awful and evil. I was enjoying a 45 minute free trial of the game streaming online. With 5 minutes left, they cut my feed right after the touchdown by Hyde and asked me to put in my cable provider's information.

I don't have television, so I don't get to watch the final drive by Eli. Sigh.

[Groundhog]

Much better game for Kap overall. Good to see Hayne get some time at RB too.

[sabotai]

Eli...just get down.

[Groundhog]

Can totally see the Giants scoring a TD here...

[sabotai]

Refs mistake a hand signal from Eli to his receivers as a timeout...

[sabotai]

Can totally see the Giants scoring a TD here...

Going to need a lot of luck (like they got right there) with Beckham and Reuben on the bench. They're going deep into their receiver depth chart on this drive.

[sabotai]

Nevermind, Beckham's back out there.

[Arles]

In the Green Bay game, that would have been a game ending INT. Luckily for the Giants, they had a different crew.

[sabotai]

And that is one of the reasons why I was so big on the Giants signing Vereen.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Vereen just seems like a guy that would make every single team in the league better.

[JPhillips]

If the Giants lose, there will be twenty teams with losing records after tomorrow's game.

[Abe Sargent]

ZANG

[Vince, Pt. II]

Sigh.

[kingfc22]

Sigh.

Collinsworth was all over it. How do you let Vareen beat you the entire drive?

[Groundhog]

Assuming no miracle, rough finish to the game, but a big step forward after the last couple of weeks for the Niners.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Since I no longer have a NFL franchise to follow, I am excusing myself from any further NFL Week <Insert Number Here> threads.

Enjoy the season, fellas!

[Chief Rum]

I wouldn't have minded seeing a Pete Carroll reax shot after that last FG, considering the amount he was whooping it up in the third quarter.

Couldn't have happened to a better person.

[Grover]

Since I no longer have a NFL franchise to follow, I am excusing myself from any further NFL Week <Insert Number Here> threads.

Enjoy the season, fellas!

It's not all bad! Take off your paper bag tinted goggles!

[TroyF]

OK, for the last couple of years I have gotten a ton of flack for my comments about the Kansas City Chiefs. I pointed out during their unbeaten start two years ago that it was mythical. The Chiefs D played a bunch of backup QB's and the Chiefs would falter once that luck stopped.

So, Chiefs fans, go ahead and give me crap for this:

The Broncos are a myth right now. They are 5-0 and they have a dominant defense. DOMINANT. (Much better than the Chiefs D that year) But their offense is putrid. (Much worse than the Chiefs O that year)

The 5-0 includes games vs the Ravens (1-4), Chiefs (1-4), Lions (0-5), Raiders (2-3) and Vikings (2-2). All but the Lions were one score games. The kicker and defense are currently responsible for 80% of the Denver points this year. No, that isn't a misprint.

This isn't a joke anymore. We are 1/3 through the season and there is no running game at all.Keep the defense honest? Well, you aren't doing that on 18 carries for 43 yards. If SD loses tonight, the division is already pretty much over. The playoffs? Ummm. . . how about no?

[Butter]

No offense, but I think most people agree that the Broncos are frauds among the 5-0 teams right now. But a team with a dominant D and Trent Dilfer at QB won a Super Bowl, so anything is possible.

[spleen1015]

Yep and wehn the Broncos win the Super Bowl, Manning becomes GOAT because he won another Super Bowl.

[TroyF]

No offense, but I think most people agree that the Broncos are frauds among the 5-0 teams right now. But a team with a dominant D and Trent Dilfer at QB won a Super Bowl, so anything is possible.


Hey, anything is possible. Maybe Denver figures it out and runs better. Maybe the defense is so good it won't matter. Maybe we'll get the refs from last weeks Seahawks game to gift us some football games.

The reality? The offense is not even close to average and I don't believe you'll win a title without some balance.

The other point, this is MY team. I think their frauds and I cheer for them. When I'm ripped on KC it was because I felt they were frauds, not because they were the Broncos rivals. Same thing applies here. I hope Denver wins the Super Bowl. I hope they sack Brady 50 times in a single game and Tom is screaming at his OLine for 60 minutes in January. The reality? That's just not going to happen.

With a decent offense, this defense might be historically great. This defense is going to wear down and when we play a team with true offensive firepower? We are going to get spanked.

[Kodos]

Hey Troy: Do you know why Cody Latimer is rarely seeing the field. I thought he had a good camp?

[Arles]

It's been 15 seasons since that Dilfer title. I'm not sure how relevant it is in today's NFL. With the rule changes, you need to be able to throw somewhat consistency - even with the best defense. Its been shown you can win without much pedigree at RB, but you need a top 10-5 QB in pretty much every case.

[Chief Rum]

Yep and wehn the Broncos win the Super Bowl, Manning becomes GOAT because he won another Super Bowl.

Wouldn't that be ironic? That he probably is the GOAT, and is definitely in the conversation, and the one thing holding him back has been Super Bowls/postseason flameouts. For him to possibly win one as a game manager type QB would make me laugh hysterically.

[TroyF]

Hey Troy: Do you know why Cody Latimer is rarely seeing the field. I thought he had a good camp?


He had an OK camp, not nearly as good as many of the national papers were saying. The rumor here is that he got into it a little bit with Manning about some pass routes which went over about as well as you would expect it to. He has a small injury now, but I don't think it matters. He's fallen to 5th in the WR pecking order. I don't see him seeing the field a lot this year unless we get a ton of injuries at that position.

[Kodos]

Yeah, I've seen him in on a couple of pass plays, and some special teams plays. It's too bad. He's a talented guy.

[Thomkal]

Hopefully he has as much of an impact as Chris Johnson has:

Arizona Cardinals add pass-rusher Dwight Freeney (http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13871647/arizona-cardinals-add-pass-rusher-dwight-freeney)

[BillJasper]

Staph infections are nothing to mess around with...

NY Giants Tight End Daniel Fells Fighting Staph Infection; Doctors Hope to Save Foot - The Root (http://www.theroot.com/articles/news/2015/10/ny_giants_tight_end_daniel_fells_fighting_staph_infection_doctors_hope_to.html)

I had one on the back of my leg that took months to heal.

[PilotMan]

Look, if Vick can't pass, at all, and you can't rely on him, then put Jones in. At least he knows the offense better.

[BillJasper]

Look, if Vick can't pass, at all, and you can't rely on him, then put Jones in. At least he knows the offense better.

+1

Vick looks horrible out there. Question is: has Jones gotten any work with the first team?

[stevew]

Is Melvin Gordon wearing concrete boots? Once again he's looking awful.

[stevew]

+1

Vick looks horrible out there. Question is: has Jones gotten any work with the first team?

Jones sucks worse than Vick.

[BillJasper]

Jones sucks worse than Vick.

From what I've seen, not sure that is possible. :lol:

[BillJasper]

Philip Rivers is the biggest fucking crybaby in pro football.

[SirFozzie]

The NFL continues its tradition of trying to piss off everyone possible.

NFL Goes After Deadspin And SBNation Over Tweeted Vines And GIFs | TechCrunch (http://techcrunch.com/2015/10/12/gifageddon/)

[Abe Sargent]

uh oh

[Abe Sargent]

Got to respect a run there by teh Steelers

[Pumpy Tudors]

A Steelers win with no time on the clock would be great, since that would shove it in the face of the clock operator in San Diego illegally running nearly 20 seconds off the clock after the Chargers kicked off at the start of this drive. I have no idea how nobody on the field noticed all that time running off the clock, but it looks like it could end up costing the Chargers a chance to win the game.

[bhlloy]

That's a crazy play call but it worked. Would think a Vick rollout with the option to gun it through the end zone after 2 seconds makes more sense there.

[BishopMVP]

The NFL continues its tradition of trying to piss off everyone possible.

NFL Goes After Deadspin And SBNation Over Tweeted Vines And GIFs | TechCrunch (http://techcrunch.com/2015/10/12/gifageddon/)I'm not sure why people are upset. Considering how much time each play actually runs for, how is a 6 second vine or gif different than showing a minute video clip? I enjoy consuming them because they're a quick roundup of important plays, but they're pretty clearly copyright infringement.

[PilotMan]

That's a crazy play call but it worked. Would think a Vick rollout with the option to gun it through the end zone after 2 seconds makes more sense there.

Not if you watched the 2 4th and 2's from last week it wouldn't. Either way, it was a very ballsy call. Probably stupid too. An almost for sure fg blown, by a wildcat, goal line play, would have exploded talk radio in the Steel City this week.

[jbergey22]

Not if you watched the 2 4th and 2's from last week it wouldn't. Either way, it was a very ballsy call. Probably stupid too. An almost for sure fg blown, by a wildcat, goal line play, would have exploded talk radio in the Steel City this week.

If the game goes to OT what percentage chance would you give Pitt playing in SD? 50/50 at the best? San Diego came into the game as 4 point favs.

As long as you feel that playcall has a better than 50 percent chance of success it seems like a brilliant call to me. Youd have to assume any run play from the 6 inch line has more than a 50 percent success rate.

[sabotai]

A Steelers win with no time on the clock would be great, since that would shove it in the face of the clock operator in San Diego illegally running nearly 20 seconds off the clock after the Chargers kicked off at the start of this drive. I have no idea how nobody on the field noticed all that time running off the clock, but it looks like it could end up costing the Chargers a chance to win the game.

Right there in the play by play too


4-8-PIT 36 (2:59) 2-J.Lambo 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-M.Windt, Holder-5-M.Scifres.
PIT 17 SD 20 Plays: 12 Possession: 4:46
Pittsburgh Steelers at 02:56
2-J.Lambo kicks 65 yards from SD 35 to end zone, Touchback.
1-10-PIT 20(2:38) (Shotgun) 26-L.Bell left guard to PIT 27 for 7 yards (27-J.Wilson).18 seconds for a Touchback?

[Pumpy Tudors]

Yep, the clock should never have run. I can't remember if they started the clock when the ball was kicked off or after it went through the end zone, but in either of those cases, it's wrong. Home cooking did not go San Diego's way right there!

[Pumpy Tudors]

So I watched it again, and they started the clock after the ball went through the back of the end zone. lol gg chargers

[stevew]

(0:14 - 2nd) Timeout #3 by SD at 00:14.
2nd and 1 at PIT 40
(0:14 - 2nd) (Shotgun) P.Rivers pass short left to D.Woodhead ran ob at PIT 42 for -2 yards (J.Harrison)
3rd and 3 at PIT 42
(0:12 - 2nd) (Shotgun) P.Rivers pass incomplete short left to D.Woodhead

[sabotai]

As long as you feel that playcall has a better than 50 percent chance of success it seems like a brilliant call to me. Youd have to assume any run play from the 6 inch line has more than a 50 percent success rate.

(From pro-football-reference.com)

Run plays from the 1 yard line from 1994 to 2015 had a 54.6% chance of scoring a TD with a 3.3% chance of a fumble. This varies from team to team though. Pittsburgh, as it turns out, was the worst team in the league at this, with only 38.7% of their tries (42 out of 111 runs from the 1) scoring a TD, but also only fumbling once.

Link (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/play-index/play_finder.cgi?request=1&match=summary_all&search=&player_id=&year_min=1994&year_max=2015&team_id=&opp_id=&game_type=R&playoff_round=&game_num_min=0&game_num_max=99&week_num_min=0&week_num_max=99&quarter=1&quarter=2&quarter=3&quarter=4&quarter=5&tr_gtlt=lt&minutes=15&seconds=00&down=0&down=1&down=2&down=3&down=4&yds_to_go_min=&yds_to_go_max=&goal_to_go=1&yg_gtlt=gt&yards=&is_first_down=-1&field_pos_min_field=opp&field_pos_min=1&field_pos_max_field=opp&field_pos_max=1&end_field_pos_min_field=team&end_field_pos_min=&end_field_pos_max_field=team&end_field_pos_max=&type=RUSH&is_complete=-1&is_turnover=-1&turnover_type=interception&turnover_type=fumble&is_scoring=-1&score_type=touchdown&score_type=field_goal&score_type=safety&is_sack=-1&include_kneels=-1&no_play=0&game_day_of_week=&game_location=&game_result=&margin_min=&margin_max=&order_by=yards&rush_direction=LE&rush_direction=LT&rush_direction=LG&rush_direction=M&rush_direction=RG&rush_direction=RT&rush_direction=RE&pass_location=SL&pass_location=SM&pass_location=SR&pass_location=DL&pass_location=DM&pass_location=DR)

[jbergey22]

(From pro-football-reference.com)

Run plays from the 1 yard line from 1994 to 2015 had a 54.6% chance of scoring a TD with a 3.3% chance of a fumble. This varies from team to team though. Pittsburgh, as it turns out, was the worst team in the league at this, with only 38.7% of their tries (42 out of 111 runs from the 1) scoring a TD, but also only fumbling once.

Link (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/play-index/play_finder.cgi?request=1&match=summary_all&search=&player_id=&year_min=1994&year_max=2015&team_id=&opp_id=&game_type=R&playoff_round=&game_num_min=0&game_num_max=99&week_num_min=0&week_num_max=99&quarter=1&quarter=2&quarter=3&quarter=4&quarter=5&tr_gtlt=lt&minutes=15&seconds=00&down=0&down=1&down=2&down=3&down=4&yds_to_go_min=&yds_to_go_max=&goal_to_go=1&yg_gtlt=gt&yards=&is_first_down=-1&field_pos_min_field=opp&field_pos_min=1&field_pos_max_field=opp&field_pos_max=1&end_field_pos_min_field=team&end_field_pos_min=&end_field_pos_max_field=team&end_field_pos_max=&type=RUSH&is_complete=-1&is_turnover=-1&turnover_type=interception&turnover_type=fumble&is_scoring=-1&score_type=touchdown&score_type=field_goal&score_type=safety&is_sack=-1&include_kneels=-1&no_play=0&game_day_of_week=&game_location=&game_result=&margin_min=&margin_max=&order_by=yards&rush_direction=LE&rush_direction=LT&rush_direction=LG&rush_direction=M&rush_direction=RG&rush_direction=RT&rush_direction=RE&pass_location=SL&pass_location=SM&pass_location=SR&pass_location=DL&pass_location=DM&pass_location=DR)


Well done and you found the information very quick:)

[Pumpy Tudors]

(0:14 - 2nd) Timeout #3 by SD at 00:14.
2nd and 1 at PIT 40
(0:14 - 2nd) (Shotgun) P.Rivers pass short left to D.Woodhead ran ob at PIT 42 for -2 yards (J.Harrison)
3rd and 3 at PIT 42
(0:12 - 2nd) (Shotgun) P.Rivers pass incomplete short left to D.Woodhead
?

[stevew]

It only ran off two seconds for that woodhead play.

[TroyF]

It only ran off two seconds for that woodhead play.

End of the first half, the play did take two seconds. Chargers tried a quick screen to the sideline and Harrison read it. The play was instant pass to Woodhead who ran out right away, nothing wrong with the clock there.

[Julio Riddols]

I wondered why San Diego didn't use Woodhead more against the Pittsburgh LBs. Gordon was clearly not getting anything done.

[gstelmack]

Yep, the clock should never have run. I can't remember if they started the clock when the ball was kicked off or after it went through the end zone, but in either of those cases, it's wrong. Home cooking did not go San Diego's way right there!

How does the NFL not control the clocks?

[Logan]

I'm not sure why people are upset. Considering how much time each play actually runs for, how is a 6 second vine or gif different than showing a minute video clip? I enjoy consuming them because they're a quick roundup of important plays, but they're pretty clearly copyright infringement.

It's a sports highlight. Highlights that are available all over the place. This isn't like being shown the ending of a movie that you'd need to pay to see otherwise. The NFL needs to get with the times and realize this is how the majority of people consume highlights online now. If the NBA can do it, and they embrace it fully and it's actually helped their social media profile, there's no reason the NFL shouldn't either.

[Grover]

Because Roger Goodell is an autocratic dickhead.

[TroyF]

https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/x3BCGiVCsSC6lPU9q4kaV5zkfnw=/600x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4147384/wrongteam.0.gif

:lol:

Turns out the guy had a concussion.

[sabotai]

NFL: There was clock error at end of Chargers game - NFL.com (http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000556176/article/nfl-there-was-clock-error-at-end-of-chargers-game)


"The official game time is kept on the stadium scoreboard, but it is the responsibility of the side judge to supervise the timing of the game. Had the side judge or any of the other six on-field officials noticed the timing error, they could have corrected it.

"The game clock is not subject to instant replay review unless there is a timing issue on the last play of the first half or the last play of the game. The performance of the clock operator and game officials will be reviewed per the standard procedure for reviewing every play of every game."

NFL clock operators are hired by the league and usually have college football officiating experience. Clock operators typically live in close geographic proximity to the stadium where they are working, though the league uses operators from outside the region of the home team's stadium during the postseason.

[BishopMVP]

It's a sports highlight. Highlights that are available all over the place. This isn't like being shown the ending of a movie that you'd need to pay to see otherwise. The NFL needs to get with the times and realize this is how the majority of people consume highlights online now. If the NBA can do it, and they embrace it fully and it's actually helped their social media profile, there's no reason the NFL shouldn't either.Highlights are available at places that pay the NFL, or done in small amounts and at least allegedly combined with added analysis so it falls under fair use. You and I can't just cut up a 3 minute highlight, add no original content, and put it on YouTube, and posting 30 6-second vines isn't any different.

I agree that I like the NBA's more enlightened policy but legally the NFL is well within its rights. (And its not like they were alone - the NCAA and UFC were also complaining about this, I know WWE does etc.)

And the idea the NFL will drive away younger fans with this is ludicrous. It's been proven again and again that people will make the extra effort - in this case going to NFL.com or their Twitter page.

[Logan]

Highlights are available at places that pay the NFL, or done in small amounts and at least allegedly combined with added analysis so it falls under fair use. You and I can't just cut up a 3 minute highlight, add no original content, and put it on YouTube, and posting 30 6-second vines isn't any different.

I agree that I like the NBA's more enlightened policy but legally the NFL is well within its rights. (And its not like they were alone - the NCAA and UFC were also complaining about this, I know WWE does etc.)

And the idea the NFL will drive away younger fans with this is ludicrous. It's been proven again and again that people will make the extra effort - in this case going to NFL.com or their Twitter page.

I didn't say they don't have the legal right to do so. They're welcome to. Doesn't make it any dumber for them to enforce that right when the people they are going after are doing their own marketing for them.

You have any figures on that claim BTW? Let's say the amount of Vine views of the ODB catch compared to viewers on NFL.com.

And I'm not sure who claimed this was driving away younger fans.

[BillJasper]

NFL: There was clock error at end of Chargers game - NFL.com (http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000556176/article/nfl-there-was-clock-error-at-end-of-chargers-game)

Glad to see the NFL is out in front of this! I'll never understand how the NFL stays so popular with the sheer amount on incompetence that goes into running it now?

[BishopMVP]

You have any figures on that claim BTW? Let's say the amount of Vine views of the ODB catch compared to viewers on NFL.com.

And I'm not sure who claimed this was driving away younger fans.No, just anecdotal evidence of the.amount of people who say they'll never watch the NFL again combined with TV ratings that keep going up. (But #'s on the ODB catch wouldn't matter - of course more people watched it on Vine, but if the NFL can become the only provider of gifs/vines they hope they'll get enough people conditioned to use their app or use their site first that they make up in ad revenue what they lose in free advertising. It's the old PPV vs showing games on cable debate, except the NFL isn't even charging money as far as I know - I do try to avoid them because their video player works shittily on my phone.)

And it's not here, but I've seen other places argue that "this is how young people get their highlights". Which seems eerily similar to the argument people made about how young people got music 10 years ago. People using Napster etc all complained but 99% of them (again, just a guess) happily use iTunes or Spotify now. I really hope the NFL is just trying to drive traffic to their site but let's be honest - if they charged $5/month for an app that worked well and had all the highlights most of us would pay for it. Just like one "exclusive" Thursday night game per week got NFL network into most homes.

[cuervo72]

Who is this "most?" I wouldn't pay free.99 for it.

[BishopMVP]

Who is this "most?" I wouldn't pay free.99 for it.I would say you (and me, and the average FOFC poster) are both smarter and more tech-savvy than the average NFL fan.

[cuervo72]

Which makes my luddite tendencies all the more curious!

(Seriously, I have like one app. But really I think I'm just at football saturation. If I don't see it during my 10-12 hours of Sunday viewing - or on Monday - I probably won't see it. I'll survive.)

[BillJasper]

(Seriously, I have like one app. But really I think I'm just at football saturation. If I don't see it during my 10-12 hours of Sunday viewing - or on Monday - I probably won't see it. I'll survive.)

This is where I'm at. If it wasn't for RedZone, I'm not sure how much NFL I would actually consume, the commercials in the games are at ridiculous levels.

[Logan]

No, just anecdotal evidence of the.amount of people who say they'll never watch the NFL again combined with TV ratings that keep going up. (But #'s on the ODB catch wouldn't matter - of course more people watched it on Vine, but if the NFL can become the only provider of gifs/vines they hope they'll get enough people conditioned to use their app or use their site first that they make up in ad revenue what they lose in free advertising. It's the old PPV vs showing games on cable debate, except the NFL isn't even charging money as far as I know - I do try to avoid them because their video player works shittily on my phone.)

And it's not here, but I've seen other places argue that "this is how young people get their highlights". Which seems eerily similar to the argument people made about how young people got music 10 years ago. People using Napster etc all complained but 99% of them (again, just a guess) happily use iTunes or Spotify now. I really hope the NFL is just trying to drive traffic to their site but let's be honest - if they charged $5/month for an app that worked well and had all the highlights most of us would pay for it. Just like one "exclusive" Thursday night game per week got NFL network into most homes.

Considering the NFL didn't even have its own presence on Youtube until this year, I'm guessing it will be somewhere around 2025 before they develop their own app/site exclusively for gifs and Vines.

And I wouldn't pay $5/month for that and no one else would. I'd just watch highlights on every site that already shows highlights. If the NFL does this in any kind of way, they will run it through their already existing NFL mobile app and have it as free content for those with an NFL network subscription through their provider, like every other channel does.

[Abe Sargent]

The one good thing about my team starting 1-4 (Jaguars) and having yet another crappy season likely, is that it honestly looks like we found our guy at QB with Bortles. The offense is improving. Robinson and Hurns both look like strong guys, and Lee ain;t no slouch either. With a real stud at TE as well, in a year or two, this passing game should be really tight.

[BishopMVP]

Btw, I assume no one takes QBR seriously, but it reached an amusing new low this weekend. Tom Brady's 20-27 275 2 0 line (130.9 traditional QB rating) garnered a 24.1 and ranked 27th out of 28 QB's. Brandon Weeden, Matt Stafford were both among those higher, Brian Hoyer got a 90.1.

[BillJasper]

Btw, I assume no one takes QBR seriously, but it reached an amusing new low this weekend. Tom Brady's 20-27 275 2 0 line (130.9 traditional QB rating) garnered a 24.1 and ranked 27th out of 28 QB's. Brandon Weeden, Matt Stafford were both among those higher, Brian Hoyer got a 90.1.

Yeah, QBR is a joke.

[stevew]

I assume Nate Solder getting hurt will kinda be a big deal. I mean they might not lose any games because of it, but it will affect what they are trying to do on offense some I'd imagine

[albionmoonlight]

Btw, I assume no one takes QBR seriously, but it reached an amusing new low this weekend. Tom Brady's 20-27 275 2 0 line (130.9 traditional QB rating) garnered a 24.1 and ranked 27th out of 28 QB's. Brandon Weeden, Matt Stafford were both among those higher, Brian Hoyer got a 90.1.

Roger Goddell works for ESPN stats now?

[markprior22]

This is where I'm at. If it wasn't for RedZone, I'm not sure how much NFL I would actually consume, the commercials AND FLAGS in the games are at ridiculous levels.

Every year that passes I watch less and less NFL. Every time a play is run you have to wait to see if it will be allowed. Pass interference flags coming in 5 seconds after a play is completed. Blocking in the back on so many kick returns. Not to mention the long commercial breaks. I'm just really not interested anymore.

This will be a winter of more reading, catching up on movies, etc...which is fine with me.

[flere-imsaho]

Btw, I assume no one takes QBR seriously, but it reached an amusing new low this weekend. Tom Brady's 20-27 275 2 0 line (130.9 traditional QB rating) garnered a 24.1 and ranked 27th out of 28 QB's. Brandon Weeden, Matt Stafford were both among those higher, Brian Hoyer got a 90.1.

How is that even possible?

[BishopMVP]

I assume Nate Solder getting hurt will kinda be a big deal. I mean they might not lose any games because of it, but it will affect what they are trying to do on offense some I'd imagineHurts our depth, but I think Solder's rep has exceeded his actual play for a couple years. Granted, I'm nowhere near an offensive line guru, and he's been banged up a lot (including playing through cancer for a season), but I've never really felt he's elite. Plus Marcus Cannon's pretty good for a backup and has gotten a lot of reps between Vollmer's various injuries and Belichick's recent decision to rotate O-linemen all game long. But now it really does mean Vollmer's (and Cannon) can't get banged up.

[stevew]

Well Pouncey now has an infection in his ankle and will likely miss the whole season. Should give him a bunch of time to Free Hernandez and find the real killer.

[TroyF]

How is that even possible?


None of the advanced stats liked Brady much this week. I think PFF gave him a +.4.

I haven't looked it over, but the reasons are usually a combination of:

1) A lot of yards after the catch. The QB in the advanced metrics doesn't give the QB a ton of credit for a swing pass that goes 35 yards.

2) Sacks against. Most view the QB being as much to blame as the offensive line on sacks and view them much harsher than incompletions.

3) poor third down conversion rate

4) Poor decisions. (Rodgers was deducted heavily in his week 3 game against the Chiefs for a dropped INT and a lost fumble that was reversed on a penalty.


I don't know what, if any, combination of those things happened this week in Dallas. (I do know that Brady had a fumble and in the advanced metrics, fumbles are counted the same no matter who recovered the ball) Manning had a .6, and a lot of that was due to 2 dropped TD passes and a dropped 40 yarder.

[sabotai]

Update on the clock issue in San Diego

Official suspended after Steelers-Chargers clock error - NFL.com (http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000557818/article/official-suspended-after-steelerschargers-clock-error)


The fate of the stadium clock operator in San Diego is still being decided.

"Side judge Rob Vernatchi will not officiate in Week 6 as a result of the failure to notice that the game clock was incorrectly started late in the fourth quarter of Monday night's game between the Pittsburgh Steelers (http://www.nfl.com/teams/pittsburghsteelers/profile?team=PIT) and San Diego Chargers (http://www.nfl.com/teams/sandiegochargers/profile?team=SD)," the statement reads. "The mistake will also impact the evaluation of the other six members of the officiating crew, led by referee Pete Morelli.

[sabotai]

As far as sacks go for Brady in the Dallas game, here's what I see watching the sack plays

1st Q, 3rd and 10 at DAL 32 (13:22) - LB came in untouched, nothing Brady could do. The sack did take them out of FG range.
1st Q, 1st and 10 at DAL 30 (10:08) - DE came from the left, Brady never saw him and he was sacked ~1 second after finishing his drop back.
2nd Q, 1st and 10 at DAL 30 (11:17) - Play action pass, Brady sets his feet at the end of his drop back and throws. Literally could not have gotten rid of the ball faster. He's hit from behind as he throws resulting in a fumble. Can't see how either the sack or the fumble is on him. The OT barely got a hand on the DE, who ran by him from his wide 9 position.
2nd Q, 3rd and 11 at NE 29 (9:49) - DE just bull rushes the OT back to Brady and sacks him. The OT barely slowed the DE down.
2nd Q, 1st and 10 at NE 45 (0:53) - Brady saw the pressure coming up the middle, scrambled to his left, right into a DE that had been blocked. I guess you can make a argument for this one being on Brady if you want to say that he should have thrown it away immediately. It looked like he had a guy to his right running a very short out route available to throw it to (or at least, sail it over his head to throw the ball away and take the incomplete pass and the hit).

And that's it. He wasn't sacked in the 2nd half.

I checked his incomplete passes. There was one almost INT. Near the end of the game, a blitzing CB got in front of a WR screen throw (off a play action) and nearly picked it off.

As for YAC, I don't think QBs should be given credit for swing or screen passes either, but for hitting a receiver in stride down field, he should get some credit. On the 59 yard TD throw to Edelman, Brady hit him with a perfect touch pass near the sideline allowing him to catch it at full speed. Several yards later, he makes a move to get by a Dallas defender. Had Brady's thrown been off the mark, Edelman has to slow down or worse, stop and wait for it, which would allow the defender to get into a better position the make the tackle. So Brady should get some credit for the YAC on that one, even the YAC that happens after Edelman's move to get by the defenders (IMO). Edelman's ability to generate YAC and ultimately get a TD happened because Brady threw a perfect pass. I can't agree with a stat that says that throw by Brady would be equal to one thrown by a QB that caused a receiver to have to stop and wait for it and was immediately tackled at the same distance down field because it's completely discounting YAC for the QB (not that anyone has said that there is one, just stating the obvious I guess).

(I didn't watch the full game, so can't comment on the rest of the plays.)

But I guess this just shows how difficult it is to do advanced stats on a sport like football.

[albionmoonlight]

But I guess this just shows how difficult it is to do advanced stats on a sport like football.

Yeah. Especially for QBs where a lot of the greatest ones do work pre-snap. Seeing something that the LB is doing and checking into a running play that gains 8 yards is great work. And maybe 30 other QBs wouldn't have seen what you saw and checked into that play. But I can't see how any advanced stat could capture that work.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Update on the clock issue in San Diego

Official suspended after Steelers-Chargers clock error - NFL.com (http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000557818/article/official-suspended-after-steelerschargers-clock-error)
It's good to see that they're doing something about it. The thing that confuses me, though, is that this page (http://www.nfl.com/rulebook/jurisdiction) from the NFL's own website says that the line judge is responsible for the clock, yet the side judge got suspended. I mean, I'm sure they got the right person, but I'm just curious if the NFL's rules digest is inaccurate or if this particular crew operates differently. Not a big deal, but it's just something I'm curious about.