I know it seems like that last-second FG-block-returned-for-a-score couldn’t be any crazier/funnier/better, but consider:
** The Eagles were favored by 3.5 in that game. That means as the Rams lined up for the field goal attempt, bettors with money on LA had to assume that they were getting paid with either a miss or good attempt … right up until DT Jordan Davis started running free down the field.
** That final sprint to return the block by Davis was the wildest TD run by a big man since … well, we don’t know, actually. According to NFL stats, the 336-pound lineman reached 18.59 mph on his run, the fastest time ever recorded in an pro football game for a player over 330 pounds. But they’ve only been tracking that stat since 2017, so there's a slim (get it? slim!) chance that some other monster of a man ran faster.
** The last time the Eagles came back in a game where they trailed by 19 or more points? That would be 2010, when the Eagles came back from a 21-point deficit against the Giants. Oh, and that game ended with another last-second non-offensive TD — WR DeSean Jackson’s incredible punt return for the Miracle at the New Meadowlands.
** The last time the Eagles blocked two field goals in the same game? 1975, when the Eagles squeaked by the Giants 13-10 on a late field goal by well-known kicker Horst Muhlmann.
** Eagles coach Nick Sirianni conceded late on Sunday that Davis made the wrong call in running the ball back, since falling on it would have ended the game without the danger of a fumble or other bizarre outcome. But Sirianni also acknowledged that Davis “would probably get the play of the game” anyway, because, c’mon.
WR: Tre Tucker, 32.73 pts — on the wire
RB: Jonathan Taylor, 30.77 pts — started by Jonathan
TE: Hunter Henry, 22.00 pts — on Jeff’s bench
K: Chase McLaughlin, 21.00 pts — started by Sam
DEF: Minnesota, 31.00 pts — started by Sam
D: Isaiah Rodgers, 22.50 pts — on the wire
Sam got 52 fantasy points out of his defense and kicker alone, which is insane. Most of that big Minnesota points total is courtesy of Rogers, who had three tackles, two pass defenses, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery for a TD, an interception returned for a TD. He was in the top five of all non-QB player scoring, outshining WR AJ Brown (16.27 pts), RB Christian McCaffery (16.07 pts) and WR CeeDee Lamb (dead).
One player he didn’t beat was Raiders WR Tre Tucker, who had eight catches for 145 yds and three TDs on Sunday. Oh, and his team lost by 17 to the Commanders.
Shout out to the 12th best QB on the weekend: Minnesota backup QB Carson Wentz, who threw for 173 yds and two TDs in his first meaningful start in almost two years. He wasn’t even the best former Eagles player in that game (Isaiah Rodgers won a Super Bowl with the Eagles last year, remember?) but good for him for sticking around this crazy league.
And he had a better week than former Eagle C.J. Gardner Johnson…
“Remaining defensive” edition
3rd place: (tie) Dallas, -3.00 pts — on Joel’s bench
3rd place: (tie) Las Vegas, -3.00 pts — on the wire
3rd place: (tie) Cincinnati, -3.00 pts — on the wire
2nd place: New Orleans, -4.00 pts — on the wire
1st place: Tennessee, -6.00 pts — on the wire
Another week with multiple awful defenses, including the Titans becoming the latest team to hit rock bottom (35+ pts allowed, no sacks or turnovers). For the season so far, both the Cowboys and Dolphins have a total of -3.00 fantasy pts, meaning you have been worth more as a defensive starter in fantasy (0.00 pts) than those two “professional” franchises.
Not on the list of bad fantasy news: the Panthers’ defense, which scored 27 pts this week, good enough for the second best start of the week. Last year, through 17 games, Carolina’s defense totaled just 20 fantasy points. But I guess the Falcons really, really didn’t want to pile onto the poor guys, and let them throw a shutout this week.
** During the Bears/Cowboys game on Sunday, with Dallas down 31-14, QB Dak Prescott faced a 4th and goal from the five-yard line with just five minutes left in the contest. With the game in the balance, CBS commentator Tom Brady — one of the best ever to play the QB position — gave this insight into what Prescott was thinking:
“What you’ve got to run here is your best play. Whatever is going to get you a score, that’s what they need here.”
Wow. Such wisdom. Such a grasp on the position.
Sadly for the Dallas fans, Prescott ignored Brady’s advice and opted for his own best play: A backbreaking interception in the end zone. Maybe next time.
** During that Eagles comeback victory, with the Eagles facing third and 10 in the shadow of their own end zone, radio color commentator Mike Quick similarly gave his opinion of what needed to happen next:
“This ball has to go to AJ Brown. He’s your best playmaker. He has to be involved.”
And the Eagles … did that. And it worked. Because it’s AJ Brown.
It wasn’t stupid that Quick said that simple, obvious play. It was stupid that it took 2.5 games for the Eagles to remember that AJ BROWN IS AWESOME and maybe they should try that simple, obvious play and force the ball to Brown if the rest of the offense isn’t working. Because he’ll fix it.
Anyways, shout out to Mike Quick, who saw that the Eagles could not figure out the most clear-cut move and yelled down the answer from the booth.
** Excerpt from a Washington Post brief on Monday morning titled “Steelers Defense Falters Again”:
“The final score of the Steelers 21-14 victory over the Patriots concealed what has been a major issue early in the season: Their defense has not played like it needs to play. The team forced five turnovers, two of which came inside their own 5-yard line … But it’s not sustainable for Pittsburgh to let teams move the ball up and down the field. Pittsburgh’s defense is built to be elite, and it has barely been mediocre”
I get that the normally solid Steel Curtain is allowing a lot of yards right now, but I feel like complaining that the defense was soft after a game where they had FIVE turnovers is maybe a little demanding. I guess a sixth interception would have made them elite.
“Remaining defensive” edition3rd place: (tie) Dallas, -3.00 pts — on Joel’s bench
3rd place: (tie) Las Vegas, -3.00 pts — on the wire
3rd place: (tie) Cincinnati, -3.00 pts — on the wire
2nd place: New Orleans, -4.00 pts — on the wire
1st place: Tennessee, -6.00 pts — on the wire
Another week with multiple awful defenses, including the Titans becoming the latest team to hit rock bottom (35+ pts allowed, no sacks or turnovers). For the season so far, both the Cowboys and Dolphins have a total of -3.00 fantasy pts, meaning you have been worth more as a defensive starter in fantasy (0.00 pts) than those two “professional” franchises.
Not on the list of bad fantasy news: the Panthers’ defense, which scored 27 pts this week, good enough for the second best start of the week. Last year, through 17 games, Carolina’s defense totaled just 20 fantasy points. But I guess the Falcons really, really didn’t want to pile onto the poor guys, and let them throw a shutout this week.
** During the Bears/Cowboys game on Sunday, with Dallas down 31-14, QB Dak Prescott faced a 4th and goal from the five-yard line with just five minutes left in the contest. With the game in the balance, CBS commentator Tom Brady — one of the best ever to play the QB position — gave this insight into what Prescott was thinking:
“What you’ve got to run here is your best play. Whatever is going to get you a score, that’s what they need here.”
Wow. Such wisdom. Such a grasp on the position.
Sadly for the Dallas fans, Prescott ignored Brady’s advice and opted for his own best play: A backbreaking interception in the end zone. Maybe next time.
** During that Eagles comeback victory, with the Eagles facing third and 10 in the shadow of their own end zone, radio color commentator Mike Quick similarly gave his opinion of what needed to happen next:
“This ball has to go to AJ Brown. He’s your best playmaker. He has to be involved.”
And the Eagles … did that. And it worked. Because it’s AJ Brown.
It wasn’t stupid that Quick said that simple, obvious play. It was stupid that it took 2.5 games for the Eagles to remember that AJ BROWN IS AWESOME and maybe they should try that simple, obvious play and force the ball to Brown if the rest of the offense isn’t working. Because he’ll fix it.
Anyways, shout out to Mike Quick, who saw that the Eagles could not figure out the most clear-cut move and yelled down the answer from the booth.
** Excerpt from a Washington Post brief on Monday morning titled “Steelers Defense Falters Again”:
“The final score of the Steelers 21-14 victory over the Patriots concealed what has been a major issue early in the season: Their defense has not played like it needs to play. The team forced five turnovers, two of which came inside their own 5-yard line … But it’s not sustainable for Pittsburgh to let teams move the ball up and down the field. Pittsburgh’s defense is built to be elite, and it has barely been mediocre”
I get that the normally solid Steel Curtain is allowing a lot of yards right now, but I feel like complaining that the defense was soft after a game where they had FIVE turnovers is maybe a little demanding. I guess a sixth interception would have made them elite.
** Eagles QB Jalen Hurts is on pace to rush for 23 TDs this year (four through three games). That would break the scoring record for a quarterback, currently held by … Jalen Hurts (15 in 2023).
** Rams WR Puka Nacua is on pace for 164 receptions this year (29 through three games). That would eclipse the record of 149 set by WR Michael Thomas in 2019.
** The Colts are on pace to punt six times this year (one punt through three games.) That would shatter the record for fewest punts on a season held by the 1982 Chargers (23 punts), which was set over nine games due to a strike ending the season early.
** Titans QB Cam Ward is on pace to be sacked 85 times this year (15 sacks through three games). That would break him, and break the record set by Hosuton QB David Carr in 2002 (76 sacks).
** The Cowboys are 1-2 and on pace to miss the playoffs. That would match Dallas’ worst season since … last year, when they went 7-10 and missed the playoffs.
The Cowboys selected LB Shemar James in the fifth round of the NFL draft last spring in the hopes that he could help shore up the middle of their defense. The knock against him in the pre-draft process was that he never had enough consistency and discipline to be a premier run-stopper, but the Dallas coaching staff was confident they could overcome those flaws.
And the results so far? The Cowboys remain one of the worst defenses in football. That’s no surprise, given what the letters in James’ name spell out:
Dallas rookie LB Shemar James
** Mr. hero ball: Lad is a mess, a joke
Remember, you can’t spell “Shemar” without “shame,” and there’s plenty of that going around the Dallas franchise.
** So much for my hot start — Dad went 3-0 against me in the picks this week, so I’m now up just one for the year. I did pick Dallas to beat the Bears, though, so I was happy to lose that one.
** Just one week left in the MLB season, and if the Phillies can win all six of their final games, they can finish at 98-64, which is … a really good record. Three years in a row of 90+ wins already. So that’s fun.
** Math time: Browns beat the Packers by 3, Packers beat the Lions by 14, Lions beat the Bears by 31, Bears beat the Cowboys by 17. So if the Browns play the Cowboys, logic says that Cleveland should win by 65 points.
Week 3 standings
Family Cup standings
House Doyle: 8-1
House Shane: 5-4
House Garrity: 3-6
House Quinn: 2-7
The Wisconsin clan is starting to open up a sizable lead on the rest of the league, but it comes with a caveat — they haven’t had to play each other yet. Almost half of Team Shane’s games have been internal family fights, including Pop Shane’s defeat of his granddaughter this week. Jonathan continues to dominate, with a 55-point lead over the second highest scoring team. The Garritys and Quinns still have a lot of work ahead, but the season is still young.
Awesome Cup standings
1 — Saquontum Leap (Capt. Awesome), 404.62 pts
2 — City Hands (Mike), 361.77 pts
3 — One Plus One is Three SBs (Pop), 348.15 pts
4 — The Fightin Pickles (Sam), 343.68 pts
5 — Vert der Ferks (Ant), 335.08 pts
6 — Goederts and Monsterts (Bob), 332.32 pts
7 — Still The Best (Jonathan), 318.98 pts
8 — DeVonta’s Inferno (Mom D), 317.12 pts
9 — Schwarbombs (Jo), 298.86 pts
10 — The B Sharps (Paul), 294.87 pts
11 — Blue Collar Killers (Jeff), 274.80 pts
12 — All Rogers No Sauce (joel), 252.05 pts
Bob led the pack this week and drove up the chart, but just about everything else in the standings stayed the same. Well, not everything — I did increase my first-place lead just a little more.
Jeff still has not managed a single point from a kicker yet this year, which makes his 107-pts total this week all the more impressive. Joel has managed 1 pts from his three weeks of defensive player starts. Jonathan’s team continues to be stuck in the middle. Jo continues to hate Bo Nix.
Alert for this week — Our first Sunday morning overseas game pits the Steelers and the Vikings in the Dublin Classic (usually a Dublin classic involves a green suckerpunch to the back of someone’s head). And there’s a Thursday game as always. So check those rosters early, and make sure you’re not leaving any points on the sideline.
** Rams WR Puka Nacua is on pace for 164 receptions this year (29 through three games). That would eclipse the record of 149 set by WR Michael Thomas in 2019.
** The Colts are on pace to punt six times this year (one punt through three games.) That would shatter the record for fewest punts on a season held by the 1982 Chargers (23 punts), which was set over nine games due to a strike ending the season early.
** Titans QB Cam Ward is on pace to be sacked 85 times this year (15 sacks through three games). That would break him, and break the record set by Hosuton QB David Carr in 2002 (76 sacks).
** The Cowboys are 1-2 and on pace to miss the playoffs. That would match Dallas’ worst season since … last year, when they went 7-10 and missed the playoffs.
The Cowboys selected LB Shemar James in the fifth round of the NFL draft last spring in the hopes that he could help shore up the middle of their defense. The knock against him in the pre-draft process was that he never had enough consistency and discipline to be a premier run-stopper, but the Dallas coaching staff was confident they could overcome those flaws. And the results so far? The Cowboys remain one of the worst defenses in football. That’s no surprise, given what the letters in James’ name spell out:
Dallas rookie LB Shemar James
** Mr. hero ball: Lad is a mess, a joke
Remember, you can’t spell “Shemar” without “shame,” and there’s plenty of that going around the Dallas franchise.
** So much for my hot start — Dad went 3-0 against me in the picks this week, so I’m now up just one for the year. I did pick Dallas to beat the Bears, though, so I was happy to lose that one. ** Just one week left in the MLB season, and if the Phillies can win all six of their final games, they can finish at 98-64, which is … a really good record. Three years in a row of 90+ wins already. So that’s fun.
** Math time: Browns beat the Packers by 3, Packers beat the Lions by 14, Lions beat the Bears by 31, Bears beat the Cowboys by 17. So if the Browns play the Cowboys, logic says that Cleveland should win by 65 points.
Week 3 standings
Family Cup standings
House Doyle: 8-1
House Shane: 5-4
House Garrity: 3-6
House Quinn: 2-7
The Wisconsin clan is starting to open up a sizable lead on the rest of the league, but it comes with a caveat — they haven’t had to play each other yet. Almost half of Team Shane’s games have been internal family fights, including Pop Shane’s defeat of his granddaughter this week. Jonathan continues to dominate, with a 55-point lead over the second highest scoring team. The Garritys and Quinns still have a lot of work ahead, but the season is still young.
Awesome Cup standings
1 — Saquontum Leap (Capt. Awesome), 404.62 pts
2 — City Hands (Mike), 361.77 pts
3 — One Plus One is Three SBs (Pop), 348.15 pts
4 — The Fightin Pickles (Sam), 343.68 pts
5 — Vert der Ferks (Ant), 335.08 pts
6 — Goederts and Monsterts (Bob), 332.32 pts
7 — Still The Best (Jonathan), 318.98 pts
8 — DeVonta’s Inferno (Mom D), 317.12 pts
9 — Schwarbombs (Jo), 298.86 pts
10 — The B Sharps (Paul), 294.87 pts
11 — Blue Collar Killers (Jeff), 274.80 pts
12 — All Rogers No Sauce (joel), 252.05 pts
Bob led the pack this week and drove up the chart, but just about everything else in the standings stayed the same. Well, not everything — I did increase my first-place lead just a little more.
Jeff still has not managed a single point from a kicker yet this year, which makes his 107-pts total this week all the more impressive. Joel has managed 1 pts from his three weeks of defensive player starts. Jonathan’s team continues to be stuck in the middle. Jo continues to hate Bo Nix.
Alert for this week — Our first Sunday morning overseas game pits the Steelers and the Vikings in the Dublin Classic (usually a Dublin classic involves a green suckerpunch to the back of someone’s head). And there’s a Thursday game as always. So check those rosters early, and make sure you’re not leaving any points on the sideline.
1 comment:
Captain, Another fine job on analyzing what is happening in the NFL.
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