The eighth Sunday of the NFL season is in the books so here are the different thoughts and opinions I have on various things I witnessed this past weekend. No Cowboys game this week so my blood pressure got a rare autumn Sunday off. Just remember I am a Dallas Cowboys fan and I'm extremely biased. Feel free to agree or disagree about anything mentioned here. All comments are welcome.
Bye week for Dallas, but the Cowboys are everywhere
The Cowboys had a bye this week and man did they need it. So did I, they are chasing the few remaining hairs I have right off my head.
But just because Dallas has the week off doesn't mean the Cowboys aren't plastered all over the NFL broadcasts. You can't escape them. Troy Aikman, Daryl Johnston and Jimmie Johnson on Fox, Tony Romo on CBS, Michael Irvin on the NFL Network, Darren Woodson and Jason Witten on ESPN. C'mon NBC, you're falling behind! Emmitt Smith isn't busy. Just saying.
The hard part for me is watching some of my favorite players try to be impartial. Troy Aikman joined the Fox pre-game show this week since he was in Los Angeles to broadcast the Rams game. I was eating my lunch as I watched the show and heard these words come out of Aikman's mouth: "I do like the Washington Redskins this year." Dear lord no!!!!!!!! I threw up in my mouth. I was hoping Jimmie Johnson was going to slap him upside the head, but he didn't. Dammit Troy, you embarrassed the Star! Remember that the next time you accuse Troy of being a Dallas homer during a broadcast.
Deja vu all over again
You know history has a tendency to repeat itself right? I had a strange feeling of Deja Vu watching the Steelers/Browns game on Sunday.
Halfway through the third quarter the Browns were hanging in there with the Steelers 14-6 when an offensive lineman was called for holding in the endzone, giving the Steelers a safety.
After the safety, Cleveland had to make a free kick to the Steelers, a play that falls under the same rules as a kickoff when the ball leaves the kickers foot. It's a live ball that can be recovered by anyone. You would think most NFL players are aware of this fact. Apparently the Steelers aren't.
Pittsburgh kick returners Antonio Brown, Ryan Switzer and Roosevelt Nix all watched the ball in the air and couldn't decide who was going to catch it. So they let it bounce down the field. Now on a punt it wouldn't matter, Cleveland could only down the ball and the Steelers would retain possession. But this was a free kick, the ball was live. The Browns defenders gleefully grabbed the ball on the Steelers 24-yard line and took possession. Of course they could have ran the ball into the endzone for a TD, but they are the Browns so they simply took possession.
Cleveland went on to score a TD (and foul up the two point conversion) to cut the score to 16-12. Mike Tomlin head a simple explanation for the play after the game: "We screwed up." I admire the man's honesty and brevity. In the end it didn't matter as the Steelers pulled away for a 33-18 victory. Yet as I laughed my ass off over the Steelers gaffe, I was suddenly thrown in the wayback machine.
The date was October 21, 1990. I spent the afternoon watching the Steelers/49ers game with my Dad. My Dad, poor misguided soul he was, loved the Pittsburgh Steelers with passion. The only times I can ever remember hearing him swear was when he was cussing out the TV during a Pittsburgh game. I on the other hand have quite a potty mouth, but I digress.
The Steelers were down 13-7 when the 49ers were making a kickoff late in the 3rd quarter. Mike Cofer kicked the ball downfield to Pittsburgh returner Barry "Bananas" Foster. The ball fell well short of the endzone and Foster made a halfhearted effort to chase the ball before he gave up on the play. Once again, live ball and the 49ers recovered the ball on the 5-yard line. I thought the old man was going to throw the TV out the window. When the Niners scored a few plays later to make it 20-7, Dad redefined the term "pissed off". The f-bombs were dropping in all directions. I almost felt bad for laughing. Almost. Luckily for me by that time I was bigger than him or I might have got a beating. The Steelers would go on to lose 27-7. Dad's week was ruined.
Thank you Pittsburgh for that wonderful trip down memory lane. OK, back to the present. What was I talking about? Oh yes, the Cleveland Browns .....
A day late and a dollar short
Poor Cleveland Browns, always the laughingstock of the NFL. It starts at the top.
Today the Browns fired head coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley. Why now? Nothing the front office of this team does makes sense.
I feel bad for Hue Jackson. First he had to deal with the final days of Al Davis and a lousy Oakland Raiders team. Then the only head coaching gig he could get was with this train wreck of an organization.
He could be forgiven for a 1-15 record his first year, the team stunk. But to follow that up with a 0-16 mark, well the handwriting was on the wall. Jackson needed to go. Except the Browns hung on to him. It is being reported ownership (i.e. Jimmy Haslam) told Jackson the team quit on him. How could you tell if a Browns team quit? You mean they busted their asses to go 0-16 last year? Why did they wait to now?
The team has released a statement saying they made the move today to maximize the team's opportunities for the rest of the season. Uh, what? The Browns are 2-5-1. They wouldn't make the playoffs if they resurrected Lombardi. This entire organization is a raging dumpster fire. I wonder which sucker will line up to take this job next.
Speaking of a day late and a dollar short ...
Oh those crazy Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs got off to hot start this year behind the power of Fitzmagic. Knocking off the Saints and Eagles, nearly beating the Steelers. Ryan Fitzpatrick was playing great, 400 plus yards passing in each of the first three games. A new NFL record. No way the Bucs could bench him when Jameis Winston returned from suspension.
But they did. One rough, but not terrible, half against the Bears and head coach Dirk Koetter decided to bench Fitzpatrick in favor of Winston.
The results? A loss to the Falcons were Winston had 4 TD passes, but two INTs. Not really impressive, the Falcons secondary is banged up bad. An OT win over the Browns that they were lucky to escape despite Winston's two INTs vs zero TDs.
Then there was Sunday's game against the Bengals. The Halloween season is here and Winston handed out INTs like candy, 4 total in less than 3 quarters. With the Bucs trailing 34-16, Koetter decided to reinstate Fitzpatrick at QB. What do you know, Fitzmagic is still alive! Fitzpatrick threw for 194 yards and two TDs in a little over a quarter to erase the deficit. Unfortunately for Tampa Bay, it was too little too late as the Bengals hit a last second field goal to escape with the win.
Today Dirk Koetter announced Fitzpatrick will start this week against the Panthers. In his press conference he said he doesn't like changing QBs, but he needs to make the switch now. Holy shit! That is hilarious! I don't know how the Bucs beat reporters held up from laughing right in his face.
Think about the absurdity of his remarks. He doesn't like changing QBs, but he benched a red hot Fitzpatrick after one so-so half for a QB who has underwhelmed so far in his career. He needs to make the switch now? It should have never been made in the first place! Koetter went on to say Fitzpatrick is the QB for this week only at this point, he won't commit beyond that. I guess he hasn't watched what has been taking place on the field or have access to game film.
Good news Koetter, you won't have to keep making dumb decisions much longer since your job seems to be a week to week proposition. The Bucs could realistically be 5-2 instead of 3-4 like they are now. If he pulls Fitzpatrick at a home game I hope the crowd storms the field and runs him out of town.
Take a &%$@! knee!
What a game between the Packers and Rams. Too bad knucklehead Ty Montgomery robbed us of what would have been an exciting finish.
The game was an entertaining back and forth affair. With 2:09 left on the clock, the Rams made a field goal to take a 29-27 lead. But I guarantee you no fan of the Rams was feeling confident, not with Aaron Rodgers standing on the other sideline. Two minutes, one time out, the two-minute warning and the Packers only needed a field goal to win. As a Cowboys fan I've been in that boat too many times. I don't care if it was the 85 Bears D on the field, odds are Rodgers wins the game. All the Packers had to do is hand him the ball.
And that's when thing fell apart for Green Bay. Ty Montgomery fielded the kickoff several yards deep in his own endzone. Common sense says to take a knee and get the ball on the 25-yard line. Reports are the coaching staff ordered him to take a knee. It appears Montgomery not only lacks common sense, but is also hard of hearing because he returned the kick. Not only did he just make it to the 20-yard line, he fumbled the ball and the Rams recovered. One first down by the Rams and it was game over. Rodgers never got his hands on the ball.
It is said Rodgers was furious on the sideline, yelling "Take a &%$@! knee!" I don't blame him. That play was dumb. And if Montgomery was told by the coaching staff to take a knee I don't understand why he hasn't been cut yet. He isn't that good that Green Bay can't win without him. He pissed all over a noble effort by his teammates to knock off the only unbeaten team in their own backyard. If I was a Packers fan I would throw cheese at him.
One more note about this game. After the Rams recovered the fumble, they only needed one first down to kill the clock and secure the win. On a third and ten play, Rams RB Todd Gurley ran for the first down and it appeared he could have easily scored a TD on the play. Instead he stopped and let the Packers bring him down. It was a smart move. His run secured the win, one kneel down and the game was over.
Of course all over America today gamblers and fantasy football owners are crying over the play. I've heard a lot of bitching about the integrity of the game and other nonsense because one more TD and the Rams would have covered the spread. Or fantasy players whining because they lost and another TD would have won the week for them. If you feel this way I got two words for you: Boo Hoo! NFL players aren't playing to win you money or fantasy games. There is only one thing they are required to do. What is it coach Edwards?
That's right. They play to win the game. Good move Gurley.
Random Stuff
Congratulations to Adam Vinatieri for passing Morten Andersen to become the NFL's all time leading scorer. If this guy isn't elected to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot it will be a travesty. He's been hitting big kicks for a long time. How long has he been around? He got his start in NFL Europe. How many of you even remember that league?
The Eagles and Jaguars took their troubles over to London with the Eagles prevailing 24-18. The Eagles ran the ball a little more this week so maybe some of the writers smartened Doug Pederson up. Blake Bortles wasn't bad, but he couldn't live up to usual expectations of him having a big game overseas. The Jags lack of a running game isn't doing him any favors either. Carlos Hyde was a bust in his debut: 6 carries 11 yards.
The big news from London was several members of the Jags defense being arrested for trying to skip out on a $64,000 bar bill at a London club. The players said they thought the booze was comped. HAHA! Who would send these jabronis that many free drinks? And what the hell were they celebrating in the first place? In the end no charges were filed after the bill was paid. By whom we don't know. I'm sure the wives got to the bottom of it when these guys got home. Good day to be a florist in Jacksonville.
Another big game for the Steelers James Conner: 146 rushing yards, 66 receiving yards and 2 TDs. Le'veon who? Bell isn't under contract since he didn't agree to the franchise tag placed upon him, so technically he isn't holding out. But if his plan was for Pittsburgh to suffer without him, well lets just say it didn't work out to well. He'll still get a big contract. From somebody.
Make it eight straight 100-yard games for Vikings WR Adam Thielen as he hit 103 against the Saints Sunday night. He is now tied with Calvin Johnson for the most consecutive 100-yard receiving games. Ironically he'll try to break the record against the Lions next week.
The Giants went through a stretch of 12 plays without giving Saquon Barkley a touch against the Redskins. Good move, keep the ball Eli's hands instead of giving it to your best playmaker. Eli was awful. The Giants are 1-6, but you get the feeling they would be .500 or better if they had some better QB play. The Manning Era is having quite an ugly end in New York.
Another 300-yard, 4 TD day for Patrick Mahomes. Man this guy is in a rut.
Whoo, this post got a little long winded this week. Is anybody still reading? If you are thank you. Let me know your thoughts on Week Eight.
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