How good is Chris Johnson? He rushed for 128 yards in a 59-0 loss. So much for the favorite announcer stat (used to justify the supreme importance of the running game) where every time running back x gets 100 yards, his team wins. Luckily for me, I got the Titans at +60 due to some late line movement. So much for "the bad teams are historically bad" this year nonsense we've been hearing lately. The Chiefs and Raiders won outright, and the Rams went to overtime on the road. The Bucs also lost in the closing minute. The NFL is not fundamentally different than in the past - it's still an any given Sunday league. (Credit is due to Football Outsiders for saying so before Sunday's upsets). Officials should err on the side of omission rather than commission in throwing flags, i.e., it's better to miss an actual penalty than to call a phantom one. To this end they should be instructed to call fouls based on direct evidence only, i.e., something they saw, rather than circumstantial evidence, something they assume happened based on what they saw, e.g., pass interference because the receiver fell to the ground near the defender). The Saints probably would have won anyway Sunday, but calling a terrible PI on Corey Webster for getting his legs tangled with Marques Colston, then calling a hold on Shaun O'Hara (negating a touchdown and what would no doubt have been the greatest catch of Brandon Jacobs' life) where no one was near him is inexcusable. Again refs should have to SEE the foul, not merely circumstantial evidence (a player slipping). There was also a questionable call at the end of the first half (that was reviewed by the booth) where Eli Manning fumbled, the Saints recovered, and then fumbled themselves into the end zone which Kevin Boss recovered for a would-be touchback. The ball was moving out of the defender's hands before his knee hit the ground, but the booth ruled that it was still controlled against his shoulder pad. I have no idea how a ball moving from hand to shoulder pad that eventually comes out is under control. That play gave the Saints the ball on the seven yard line which they converted for another touchdown.
Best line of the day was Jeff Erickson's response to Dan Fouts question in the Jets-Bills game: Quote from Fouts: "Dick Jauron and a lot of Buffalo fans have to wonder, what do we have to do to win?"
How about be a little more aggressive with your play calling in the final two minutes, so that you're not relying on a |STAR|47|STAR|-yarder to win? Maybe, I don't know, get it closer?
And then:
BUF: Here, take this win, you need it.
NYJ: Do not want.
The Jets are who we thought they'd be before the season. Rex Ryan's and Mark Sanchez's stock has dropped by about 70 percent in three weeks. You know who the Jets could really have used this year? Brett Favre. There was no report of Eli's Manning's foot bothering him, but he was at his worst this week, missing an open Mario Manningham and Steve Smith for touchdowns. Brandon Jacobs ran very well before leaving with a minor stinger, and returning when the game was out of hand. I'd buy low on him in non-PPR. Between leaving in the first quarter in Week 5, missing Week 6 and having a bye in Week 7, Calvin Johnson has been a bust in the season's first half. But if you need a big second half to contend - it's time to make some offers. Same for Steve Smith of the Panthers who was a nonfactor, but it's only a matter of time before he breaks out, too. The loss of Kenny Phillips was huge for the Giants as now they essentially have three run-support safeties who can't cover. And to make it worse, Bill Sheridan, the new defensive coordinator, refused to blitz even though Drew Brees had years to throw and carved up the Giants secondary. The team's corners are very good, but a team like New Orleans with multiple options will kill them unless Sheridan sends some rushers. Ever since the preseason Hakeem Nicks has made at least one big play per game, and this week he had two in garbage time including a 37-yard TD. He could be a top-10 receiver a year from now. How bad does the Albert Haynesworth signing look now? Even Larry Johnson got back on track against the Skins. Actually, I haven't seen a problem with Johnson all year and expect him to produce as long as he keeps his role. Before you declare a back washed up, consider what people were saying about Cedric Benson two years ago. Situation and health are everything for all but the Adrian Petersons. Pierre Thomas - summed up very well in our notes:
Thomas (hamstring) rushed for 72 yards on 15 carries Sunday against the Giants. Thomas ran effectively against a Giants' defense that had ranked first in the NFL in total defense before the game. However, Thomas failed to find his way into the end zone, despite seven Saints scoring touchdowns, including backfield mates Mike Bell, Reggie Bush, and even Heath Evans. Thomas and Bell each had 15 carries, however, Thomas was much more effective and 10 of Bell's 15 rushes came late in the second half after the Saints' were comfortably up three or more TDs. The real concern is Bell stealing goal line carries from Thomas, as Payton each gave them a number of chances to score from short yardage, with Bell finding pay dirt in the first quarter on fourth down. While Thomas will likely continue to see the bulk of carries, he may cede some goal line duties to Bell depending on the situation.
Ray Rice is a top-10 back, top-5 in PPR. (AP, MJD, RB, CJ). Mike Tomlin knows what he's doing, giving Mendenhall 17 carries and Parker seven. In a tougher game, I'd expect that ratio to favor Mendenhall even more. The Ravens no 100-yard rusher streak was broken by Cedric Benson and stands at zero after Adrian Peterson easily repeated the feat. Baltimore is an elite offensive team with an average defense (Consider them football's version of the Anaheim Angels).
