The early games were mostly bad again, at least until the fourth quarter where there were some exciting finishes. The penalty flags continue to pollute the action, and by my unofficial (and anecdotal) tally, two out of three of them were either bad calls - where maybe it looked like holding from the ref's angle, but it wasn't - or something minor and away from or irrelevant to the action. If you designed a robot to make holding calls at random on players who made contact with opponents, it would likely be no worse.
As a person who despises commercials, mostly because they despise us, I instinctively turn the channel whenever there's a break in the action, so I missed a new Samsung one apparently I'm (briefly) in. Of course, once people alerted me to it, I suffered through all the commercials to check it out, but never was able to find it until someone sent me a link. (We knew they might use RotoWire for one of their ads, but no one told us when or whether it was definite.)
• I get why breaking the all-time TD record is a big deal, but I'm against acknowledging it during the game and having a late-second quarter celebration. Records are something derivative you deal with later, not during the action. Plus, that Manning would get it either this game or next was never in doubt. Celebrating (and calling plays specifically to get) records in game is similar to those ridiculous Derek Jeter, Cal Ripken and Mariano Rivera farewell tours. Have some respect for the particular game you're playing, tally achievements later.
• You have to love how quickly the Broncos strike. Had the 49ers not dropped passes and Colin Kaepernick not missed a wide open Brandon Lloyd for a TD, the Niners would have been in range where Kaepernick could have had a monster game in garbage time because there was so much time left.
• Ronnie Hillman is a better alternative to the passing game than Montee Ball because unlike Ball he doesn't give the defense a break.
• Demaryius Thomas is the No. 1 overall pick if I'm drafting today.
• The Niners have a lot of quality receiver depth with Michael Crabtree, Anquan Boldin, Stevie Johnson and Brandon Lloyd. Of course, you never know which one will be involved in a given game. And that's not counting Vernon Davis who should eventually secure a catch.
• The Giants had their chances before Larry Donnell's first fumble, but the Cowboys were the better team Sunday because their scoring drives were easier, thanks largely to the blocking of their all-world offensive line. Tony Romo had so much time on a couple TD throws, they were inevitable.
• If Thomas is the No. 1 overall player Dez Bryant isn't far behind. DeMarco Murray's in that conversation, obviously, but he tweaked his ankle on the turf and had to get it taped before returning. While it didn't affect him much Sunday, I'd be surprised if he's not on the injury report this week.
• Odell Beckham scored two touchdowns, but Rueben Randle and Donnell saw more targets. In fact Donnell caught all seven of his, though he fumbled after catching two of them. While the quick-hitting, short-passing offense has been largely effective, the Giants need to take an occasional shot down the field. Otherwise, it's too easy to stall, something you can't afford when Romo's getting 12.1 YPA against you.
• Jason Pierre-Paul, who had two sacks and six solo stops, looks close to his 2011 level.
• I know he's had his share of disaster games, but Ryan Tannehill has had some good ones too. I still like his upside in the second half this year.
• The Dolphins defense held Jay Cutler to 5.6 YPA at home.
• Brandin Cooks is looking more like Tavon Austin by the week.
• What a terrible blow to those who waited out C.J. Spiller's slow start only to see him knocked out for the year after a 56-yard gain with starter Fred Jackson out. (Likely an unwelcome development for Spiller too.)
• So much for the Kirk Cousins era. Three games ago, people were saying they'd take him over RGIII. Now he's benched for Colt McCoy. Or maybe I'm overestimating the distance between those two poles.
• The Titans are the most pointless team in the NFL. Unless their purpose is to troll my ATS picks (whether or not I back them.)
• The Bengals offense without A.J. Green, Marvin Jones and Tyler Eifert is not a top-30 unit.
• On paper it was a good game for Matthew Stafford, but remember - this was a home game against a bottom-five defense, and it took until the closing minute to get to 24. Without Calvin Johnson, that offense is below average. The defense could get them to the playoffs, though.
• Many predicted the Seahawks would stomp the Rams after the embarrassing home demolition by Dallas. But the Seahawks have a bad offensive line, and the defense can't generate a consistent pass rush. It took some trick plays by the Rams, though, including a heroic call by Jeff Fisher to fake a punt from his own end on 4th-and-3 to seal the game.
• Russell Wilson became the first player in NFL history to throw for 300 yards and rush for 100 in the same game.
• The Panthers +7 seemed like an easy call, but when they decide not to show, they don't even fake it. Jordy Nelson is a victim of the Packer blowouts where he catches one long bomb and is no longer needed.
• One last thing on Manning now that I'm watching the post-game interviews: He is a smooth talker, just the right tone, the deference and respect for those who went before, the appropriate amount of modesty without sounding fake, etc. I don't agree with Bob Costas that he's a good interview, though. He's a A-plus interviewer in terms of furthering his brand. But as a viewer, give me Tom Brady who, after the Pats escaped against the Jets, told the NFL Network crew he's pissed off. Brady who's won MVPs, three Super Bowls and is married to one of the all-time super models is pissed! Good for him, there's always something to be pissed about.
• People have been emailing and tweeting me about my two-seconds of screen time in that Samsung ad. It's very exciting, like I achieved some important goal or won a major award. The truth is it's a clip from last year that barely anybody watched, i.e., I did absolutely nothing except give them permission to use it.