California Dreamin'

[Manning2Harrison]

WILD CARD WEEKEND SCHEDULE

SATURDAY, JAN. 5, 2019, 4:30 p.m.

Denver is only here because injuries derailed the Raiders, and almost nobody expects the Broncos to get beyond this game. Either way it goes, it could be Alex Smith’s last one in KC. The Chiefs struggled through the second half of the season after a hot start, and that mirrors the 2018 version of Smith, who was a MVP candidate midway through the season but faltered down the stretch.

SATURDAY, JAN. 5, 2019, 8:00 p.m.

If Brent Hundley, fresh off a win at New England, can get the Pack through this one, Green bay will have Aaron Rodgers back for the divisional round. But beating the Legion of Doom in a playoff game in front of The 12th Man is a tall order even for an experienced quarterback. Halfway through the season, the Seahawks were a 4-4 team that had just been swept by the 49ers. Now they’ve won 6 of their last 8, and their 4th straight NFC West title (and sixth in seven years). Playing better the further the season goes along is a trademark of Pete Carroll teams.

SUNDAY, JAN. 6, 2019, 1:00 p.m.

The Texans might be better than 8-8 if Lamar Miller hadn’t missed 4 games. After an early-season injury to Sam Bradford, Mason Rudolph has crafted a Rookie of the Year campaign and is the only one of the four 2018 first round QB’s to make it to the postseason. Tom Brady was a bit off this season, and the Pats with him. Is this postseasson the last hurrah of Teflon Tom?

SUNDAY, JAN. 6, 2019, 4:30 p.m.

Cam Newton has had his best season since being humbled by Denver’s defense in Super Bowl 50, and has saved Riverboat Ron Rivera’s job. Jameis Winston has led the Bucs to their first division title since 2007. But neither will be playing in this game. Both went down in the Week 17 battle royale for the NFC South crown, making this game Logan Thomas vs. Ryan Fitzpatrick. More like rookie Bo Scarbrough vs. Doug Martin. Home-standing Tampa Bay should have the edge here.

[Manning2Harrison]

Quote: Originally Posted by R1zzo23

Man, that's a tough way to go out. Not a single fumble all season long and then he puts the bean on the green in overtime?!? That's bad timing Todd Gurley!

Not only that, the Iggles had to rub it in by scoring a TD when a FG would have sufficed.

[Manning2Harrison]

Bruce Arians, Arizona Cardinals

Arians has announced his retirement, citing "health reasons". It is widely presumed that Arians' retirement was encouraged by the team, which wants to promote OC Harold Goodwin before losing him to another team.

Miami Dolphins

The rest of the staff left behind when Adam Gase was fired has been given their walking papers.

Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints

Payton and the organization have mutually agreed on a parting of ways. Payton should end up with one of the other open jobs. OC Pete Carmichael Jr. is expected to be elevated after the Saints conduct a Rooney Rule interview.

Ben McAdoo, New York Giants

Duh.

Mike McCoy, Portland Snowhawks

Owner Dean Spanos strongly hinted last year that another one and done in the playoffs would cook McCoy's goose. The Snowhawks didn't even reach the postseason in the first year of their new incarnation.

Bill O'Brien, Houston Texans (?)

O'Brien is still coach of the wild card Texans, but the five year contract he signed when he was hired will expire when the Texans either are eliminated or win the SB. This is by his choosing, which brings this question: Does he know something about Brady, Belichick and the "R Word"?

[Manning2Harrison]

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

THE FAB 5, WEEK 17

1.PITTSBURGH STEELERS (12-3-1)

2. TENNESSEE TITANS (12-4)

3. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (12-4)

4. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (10-6)

5. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (10-6)


The Year of Quarterbacks Dropping Like Flies

There was a 50% attrition rate in NFL starting quarterbacks this season. Yes, 16 signal-callers who were opening day starters are either currently injured or have missed games this season. The impact is most strongly felt in the NFC playoff field, where only two of the six teams (Seattle and Philadelphia) have their starting QB’s available. One would expect the NFC title game to be Seahawks @ Eagles, but stranger things than a backup winning a playoff game have happened. QB2‘s should be at a premium in the 2019 offseason. The roll call of carnage:

Josh Allen
Sam Bradford
Teddy Bridgewater
Derek Carr
Kirk Cousins
Andy Dalton
Sam Darnold
Eli Manning
Cam Newton
Philip Rivers
Aaron Rodgers
Tony Romo
Matthew Stafford
Tyrod Taylor
Mitchell Trubisky
Jameis Winston

Payton To Interview With Dolphins, Snowhawks

Former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton has scheduled interviews with the Miami Dolphins and Portland Seahawks and if offered both jobs he could make a decision by early as Wild Card Saturday, according to sources close to Payton. He has previously been linked to the Rams and the LA Chargers, partly because he has a daughter living in California. The west coast Snowhawks may therefore be more of a draw, and they are only a season removed from the playoffs whereas the Phins haven’t been since '08.

Brees Has Surpassed Peyton, But Wants To Play One More Year

2018 turned out to be the year that Drew Brees overtook Peyton Manning in career passing yardage, with a margin of over 2,300 yards. Many thought that achieving the milestone would be followed by Brees’ retirement, but he said he feels he can be effective for another season and that he wants to mentor his successor before hanging up the cleats. Two-year practice-squadder Nathan Peterman doesn’t appear to be the guy, and Josh Dobbs has become too valuable as a receiver to switch back to tossing the ball instead of catching it. That means New Orleans is going to have to secure the next man up either through free agency or the draft, in which the Saints hold the 4th overall pick.

Bridgewater Wants To Coach

During his first interview since his career-ending injury, former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater said he’d like to go into a coaching career. His high school alma mater, Miami Northwestern, has made an honorary offer which he “turned down” as the school is not in need of coaching change. But Bobby Petrino has said that Bridgewater would be welcome on his staff as a graduate assistant, and it would not be a surprise to see that materialize.

McCoy, Schwartz, Smith and Bevell Are On G-Men’s Interview Wish List

Mike McCoy has just gotten booted by the Snowhawks, but he already has an interview scheduled with the New York Giants. The G-Men would also like to talk to DC’s Jim Schwartz and Mike Smith of the Eagles and Buccaneers, and Seattle OC Darrell Bevell, but those three are currently busy preparing for playoff games.




Week 17 Injury Report (Playoff Teams Only)

Broncos DT Darius Kilgo - foot, 6 w
Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston - shoulder, 3 w
Buccaneers DT Akeem Spence - groin, 4 w
Buccaneers DE Noah Spence- groin, 4 w
Panthers QB Cam Newton - MCL, 4 w
Panthers C Travis Swanson - collarbone, 5 w
Patriots WR Michael Floyd - shoulder, 2 w


Transactions

Packers re-sign WR Jared Abbrederis (2 y)
Packers re-sign CB Justin Coleman (1 y)
Packers re-sign ILB Harvey Langi (2 y)
Rams re-sign LS Jake McQuaide (1 y)
Saints re-sign LS Justin Drescher (1 y)
Seahawks re-sign QB Trevone Boykin (2 y)

[Manning2Harrison]

NFL League Leaders - Updated: Dec 30, 2018
Passing Yards			Passing Touchdowns
	1. Ben Roethlisberger, PIT	5,064		1. Alex Smith, KC	39
	2. Blake Bortles, JAX	4,500		2. Aaron Rodgers, GB	37
	3. Dak Prescott, DAL	4,480		3. Russell Wilson, SEA	35
	4. Tom Brady, NE	4,432		4. Dak Prescott, DAL	34
	5. Marcus Mariota, TEN	4,376		5. Jameis Winston, TB	34
QB Rating			Interceptions Thrown
	1. Marcus Mariota, TEN	112.3		1. Matt Ryan, ATL	18
	2. Dak Prescott, DAL	110.8		2. Carson Wentz, PHI	18
	3. Cam Newton, CAR	110.3		3. Russell Wilson, SEA	17
	4. Aaron Rodgers, GB	109.4		4. Blake Bortles, JAX	16
	5. Ben Roethlisberger, PIT	105.3		5. Tom Brady, NE	16
Rushing Yards			Rushing Touchdowns
	1. Leonard Fournette, PHI	1,656		1. Ameer Abdullah, DET	18
	2. Spencer Ware, KC	1,352		2. Lance Dunbar, ATL	18
	3. Adrian Peterson, MIN	1,351		3. Leonard Fournette, PHI	15
	4. Devonta Freeman, ATL	1,305		4. Matt Forte, NYJ	14
	5. Ezekiel Elliott, DAL	1,247		5. Melvin Gordon, POR	14
Yards Per Carry			Broken Tackles
	1. Adrian Peterson, MIN	4.6		1. Melvin Gordon, POR	46
	2. Ameer Abdullah, DET	4.5		2. Jamaal Charles, SEA	44
	3. Jamaal Charles, SEA	4.5		3. Jordan Howard, CHI	33
	4. Leonard Fournette, PHI	4.5		4. Ameer Abdullah, DET	32
	5. Devonta Freeman, ATL	4.4		5. Derrick Henry, TEN	32

NFL League Leaders - Updated: Dec 30, 2018
Receptions			Receiving Yards
	1. Jamison Crowder, WAS	103		1. Antonio Brown, PIT	1,449
	2. Randall Cobb, GB	99		2. Allen Robinson, JAX	1,341
	3. Rob Gronkowski, NE	99		3. Golden Tate, DET	1,318
	4. Antonio Brown, PIT	97		4. Randall Cobb, GB	1,305
	5. Jordy Nelson, GB	95		5. Davante Adams, KC	1,242
Receiving Touchdowns			Yards Per Catch
	1. Dez Bryant, DAL	14		1. Alshon Jeffery, LA	16.5
	2. Randall Cobb, GB	13		2. Allen Robinson, JAX	16.0
	3. Alshon Jeffery, LA	12		3. Kendall Wright, TEN	16.0
	4. Tyreek Hill, KC	11		4. Jordan Matthews, PHI	15.7
	5. Kendall Wright, TEN	11		5. Ryan Switzer, DET	15.6
Solo Tackles			Total Tackles
	1. Su'a Cravens, WAS	122		1. Blake Martinez, GB	153
	2. Blake Martinez, GB	121		2. Su'a Cravens, WAS	152
	3. Zach Cunningham, NYG	120		3. Zach Cunningham, NYG	149
	4. Reuben Foster, MIA	116		4. Reuben Foster, MIA	147
	5. Kwon Alexander, TB	113		5. C.J. Mosley, BAL	147
Sacks
	1. Demarcus Lawrence, DAl	19.5		1. Vernon Hargreaves III, TB	10
	2. Khalil Mack, OAK	19.0		2. Sean Smith, OAK	8
	3. J.J. Watt, HOU	15.5		3. Malcolm Butler, NE	6
	4. Barkevious Mingo, NE	14.5		4. Xavier Rhodes, MIN	6
	5. Cameron Jordan, NO	13.5		5. Tahir Whitehead, DET	6

[Manning2Harrison]

LOS ANGELES RAMS Stats - 2018
Passing	C/ATT	YDS	COMP%	YDS/G	LONG	TD	INT	RAT
Jared Goff	330/505	3,335	65.3	287.3	79	25	4	100.5
Sean Mannion	85/133	1,123	63.9	224.6	87	7	2	101.8
Rushing	ATT	YDS	AVG	LONG	BTK	TD	YDS/G	FUM
Todd Gurley	224	1,195	5.3	77	18	8	74.7	*1*
Samaje Perine	73	339	4.6	30	5	2	24.2	0
Chase Edmonds	70	268	3.8	62	0	2	17.9	0
Anthony Firkser	34	110	3.2	9	7	0	6.9	0
C.J. Spiller	10	60	6.0	18	5	0	3.8	1
Jared Goff	13	38	2.9	16	2	0	2.9	9
Sean Mannion	4	2	0.5	2	0	0	0.4	3
Receiving	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG	DP	YDS/G	YAC
Alshon Jeffery	71	1,174	16.5	12	87	1,029	73.4	401
Cordarrelle Patterson	45	624	13.9	2	75	663	39.0	303
Martellus Bennett	58	615	10.6	2	54	1,094	38.4	248
James Washington	40	602	15.1	6	78	359	86.0	293
Billy Brown	55	592	10.8	4	59	693	37.0	222
Pharoh Cooper	31	459	14.8	3	55	395	28.7	135
Todd Gurley	36	204	5.7	0	22	556	12.8	164
C.J. Spiller	30	157	5.2	1	17	273	9.8	111
Anthony Firkser	14	154	11.0	0	29	442	9.6	62
Tyler Higbee	11	141	12.8	2	27	413	8.8	72
Samaje Perine	15	73	4.9	0	11	179	5.2	54
Nelson Spruce	5	50	10.0	0	17	158	3.8	25
Blocking					DP		SACK
Will Clapp					1,162		5
Rob Havenstein					1,162		5
Isaiah Battle					1,162		8
Nick Mangold					1,115		3
Jamon Brown					606		7
Luke Joeckel					590		6
Austin Corbett					120		0
Jake McQuaide					47		0
Andrew Donnal					15		0
	Tackles			Sacks		Interceptions
Defense	SOLO	AST	TOT	SACK	TLOSS	PD	INT	TD
Alec Ogletree	50	70	120	3.5	18	7	2	0
T.J. McDonald	50	69	119	1.0	6	12	0	0
Maurice Alexander	43	61	104	0.0	4	16	4	0
Lamarcus Joyner	39	39	78	0.5	1	8	4	2
Robert Quinn	37	35	72	11.0	12	3	2	0
Brandon Chubb	36	58	94	1.5	7	4	2	1
Ryan Anderson	33	48	81	12.5	11	5	0	0
E.J. Gaines	33	45	78	6.0	2	4	0	1
Trumaine Johnson	32	40	72	0.0	3	7	2	0
Aaron Donald	19	34	53	6.0	9	0	0	1
Hootie Jones	13	19	32	0.0	2	2	1	0
Dominique Easley	11	32	43	4.5	7	0	0	0
Michael Brockers	9	16	25	1.0	1	0	0	0
Keionta Davis	7	7	14	3.5	3	0	0	0
Matt Longacre	6	7	13	0.0	0	0	0	0
Xavier Coleman	5	15	20	0.0	0	0	0	0
Tyree Robinson	5	11	16	0.0	0	0	1	0
Josh Forrest	5	7	12	0.0	0	0	0	1
Roy Miller	4	5	9	0.0	2	0	0	0
Austin Calitro	1	4	5	0.0	0	0	0	0
Bryce Hager	1	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
Scott Pagano	0	3	3	0.0	1	0	0	0
Steve Williams	0	1	1	0.0	0	0	0	0
	Kickoffs					Punts
Returning	ATT	YDS	AVG	LONG	TD	RET	AVG	TD
Cordarrelle Patterson	27	694	25.7	94	1	41	11.2	0
C.J. Spiller	27	617	22.9	29	0	-	-	-
	Field Goals				Extra Points
Kicking	FGM	FGA	PCT	LONG	XPM	XPA	PCT	PTS
Greg Zuerlein	33	35	94	50	45	46	97	144
Punting	PUNTS	YDS	LONG	AVG	NET	BP	IN20	TB
Johnny Hekker	73	3,665	74	50.2	42.3	0	22	12

[Hushroom]

Tough end to the season.

Love seeing Blake Martinez lead the league in tackles!

[Manning2Harrison]

Quote: Originally Posted by Hushroom

Tough end to the season. Love seeing Blake Martinez lead the league in tackles!

So close.

Martinez came out of nowhere. And on an 11-5 team, which you would expect to have its defense on the field less.