Dolphins QB Ryan Fitzpatrick made NFL history on Sunday by starting against an opponent (the Eagles) for the 7th time in his career with seven different teams. In honor of his bizarre achievement, let’s take a look back at his career:
** For his career, Fitzpatrick has a 39.3 win percentage in games in which he has started. But against the Eagles, he’s 3-3-1.
** As a starter the last two seasons with the Dolphins and Bucs, Fitzpatrick has posted a miserable 5-11 record. But against the Eagles, he is 2-0.
** For his career, Fitzpatrick has 15 more turnovers than TDs (221 passing and rushing TDs vs. 236 INTs and fumbles.) But against the Eagles on Sunday, he had 3 TDs and one turnover (on the first play of the game).
** On the season, Fitzpatrick’s offense had averaged 16.4 points a game coming into Sunday. But against the Eagles on Sunday, the offense scored 37 points, their most of the season.
** For his career, Fitzpatrick is a joke. But against the Eagles, he’s a Pro-Bowler, because the Eagles are a joke right now.
QB: Aaron Rodgers, 36.12 pts — started by Joel
WR: DeVante Parker, 26.10 pts — started by Paul
RB: James White, 30.43 pts — on Bob’s bench
TE: Tyler Higbee, 16.63 pts — on the wire
K: Wil Lutz, 17.00 pts — started by Bob
DEF: Tampa Bay, 24.00 pts — on the wire
D: Devin White, 13.50 pts — on the wire
Did you know that Eagles WR Alshon Jeffery was the #2 wideout on the week, with nine catches for 137 yds and a TD? Of course you didn’t, because Parker’s 159-yds, two-TD performance against the Eagles completely outshined him.
Did you know that Tampa Bay’s defense has scored more fantasy points in the last two weeks (40 pts in wins over Jacksonville and Atlanta) than they did in their previous nine games (34 pts)? Of course you didn’t, because no one watches Tampa Bay games.
“Really bad” edition
3rd place: Trevor Davis, -1.30 pts — on the wire
2nd place: Nick Foles, -1.98 pts — on the wire
1st place: Troymaine Pope, -2.00 pts — on the wire
The start of December was not kind to St. Nick, who had three turnovers in the first half against Tampa Bay (all of which turned into Bucs TDs) and was benched at halftime to make way for rookie sensation Gardner Mishnew (who was only slightly better). Jacksonville has not won a game yet this season in which Foles has played a down, and he has more turnovers on the year than he does TD passes (four vs. three).
This time last year, Foles was gearing up to lead the Eagles on a surprise playoff push that included a 471-yard, 4 TD performance against a playoff-bound Houston squad. On Monday, Foles lost his starting job in Jacksonville for the rest of the year, as the coaching staff announced they’ll go with Mishnew instead. That’s a rough 12-month difference there.
** Eagles QB Carson Wentz said this in the post-game press conference on Sunday: “I believe in the defense. I believe in the offense. I think we’re going to get this thing going in the right direction.”
No, no, and no.
** Eagles Coach Doug Pederson in the post-game press conference on Sunday: “We’re still a good football team. ... We self-destructed in a couple areas today and that hurt us.”
In fairness, the only areas where they self-destructed were on offense, defense and special teams. Their locker room clean-up was fine.
** There has been a Twitter fantasy football ad in my feed for weeks that states “If Sammy Watkins can stay healthy, look out!” And then it plays a video about fantasy football advice.
Here are Watkins stats over the last four weeks that the ad has been running: five catches for 39 yds, two catches for 26 yds, bye week, zero catches for zero yds.
I think I’m done looking out, guys.
ESPN made an interesting point on Monday night (I know, I’m as shocked as you are) that the 2012 NFL draft, which was supposed to be one of the top-heavy QB classes in memory, actually had more talent in the later round QBs than the first-rounders. Consider:
1st rounders: Andrew Luck (Pro Bowler, now retired), Robert Griffin (Pro Bowler, now a backup), Ryan Tannehill (marginal starter), Brandon Weeden (sub-marginal starter).
Notable later QBs: Russell Wilson (3rd round, Super Bowl MVP), Nick Foles (3rd, Super Bowl MVP), Kirk Cousins (Pro Bowler)
Which got me to thinking … how often does that happen? Let’s go back a few years and see.
2017 firsts: Mitchell Trubisky, Patrick Mahomes, DeShaun Watson
Notable later QBs: DeShone Kizer (2nd), Nathan Peterman (5th)
Pretty easy call here. Mahomes won the MVP last year, Watson is a threat to win it this year. The other round guys are forgettable.
2016 firsts: Jared Goff, Caron Wentz, Paxton Lynch
Notable later QBs: Jacoby Brissett (3rd), Dak Prescott (4th), Kevin Hogan (5th)
Tougher call. Goff and Wentz have been great at times, but Prescott and Brissett may be passing them already. You’d have to go with the later-round value here.
2015 firsts: Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota
Notable later QBs: Trevor Siemian (7th)
The first rounders get it here, but this entire class is pretty awful.
2014 firsts: Blake Bortles, Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater
Notable later QBs: Derek Carr (2nd), Jimmy Garoppolo (2nd), AJ McCarron (5th)
None of the first round guys are still playing. Carr and Garoppolo and both playing and winning at the moment.
2013 firsts: EJ Manuel
Notable later QBs: Geno Smith (2nd), Matt Barkley (4th), Landry Jones (4th)
Truly, this was the worst QB class in memory. Let us never speak of it again.
2011 firsts: Cam Netwon, Jake Locker, Blaine Gabbert, Christian Ponder
Notable later QBs: Andy Dalton (2nd), Colin Kaepernick (2nd), Tyrod Taylor (6th)
Newton alone wins this year for the first-rounders, but absent him this would easily go to the later guys.
2010 firsts: Sam Bradford, Tim Tebow
Notable later QBs: Jimmy Clausen (2nd), Colt McCoy (3rd), Mike Kafka (4th), John Skelton (5th)
Honestly, I’m not sure there is a difference between Bradford and McCoy. And with Kafka and Skelton at least getting a bunch of starts, I’d at least make this a push.
2009 firsts: Matt Stafford, Mark Sanchez, Josh Freeman
Notable later QBs: Pat White (2nd), Nate Davis (5th), Curtis Painter (6th)
I’m honestly not sure if any of those later round guys ever started a game. Make fun of Sanchez, but he at least was good for a couple of years. Oh yeah and Stafford passes for 4,000 yards annually.
2008 firsts: Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco
Notable later QBs: Chad Henne (2nd), Josh Johnson (5th), Matt Flynn (7th)
A Super Bowl MVP and regular season MVP for the first group, and a handful of forgettable starts for the second group.
So, what have we learned here? Over a decade stretch, the first-rounders go 5-3-2 against the other rounds. I count 10 reliable, good starters among the first-rounders and eight among the other rounds.
I dunno. I’m not sure I’d put a lot of money on Tua Tagovailoa and Joe Burrow becoming NFL stars in years to come. But I might bet a little on a second-round Jake Fromm making noise in the 2024 playoffs…
Not a lot of good news on the football front this weekend, but one bright spot was the Bills’ surprising victory over the Cowboys on Thanksgiving, leaving the NFC East in complete free-fall. None of the teams in the division have winning records after 13 weeks of play. But what does the shocking loss mean for us as a people? Luckily, the magic letters tell us the meaning behind the results:
Cowboys upset in Dallas on Thanksgiving Day
** Bah! God loves you, and spanking scaly nitwits
Who are you to argue with God?
** FINALLY! Not only did I win the week against Dad, I swept him, picking up three games and cutting my deficit for the year down to five games. The victory brings me to 1-5-7 against Dad on a weekly basis and lets me start the final month of the season with momentum. In addition, I successfully called the Bengals first win of the season, so I got to share in the joy of that 1-11 team pride. That first win just feels so good...** The Saints clinched a playoff spot before Thanksgiving. That just feels wrong.
** Speaking of the playoffs, six more teams can clinch post-season berths this weekend: The Ravens, Chiefs, Patriots, Bills, 49ers and Seahawks. Also, the Maryland Racial Slurs can win the NFC East if they win their last four games, have the Cowboys lose their last four, and have the Eagles win their game against Dallas but drop their other three. It’s ridiculous, but so is the division.
Week 13 standings 1 — McCown or Never (Capt. Awesome), 1696.82 pts
2 — Kneel Armstrong (Sam), 1635.21 pts
3 — SweatpantsEnthusiast (Mike), 1612.84 pts
4 — We Love the Mud (Mom D), 1486.42 pts
5 — For Who? For Wentz? (Ant), 1479.99 pts
6 — Peabody and Sherman (Dad), 1453.19 pts
7 — Requiem for a Season (Paul), 1427.29 pts
8 — Blue Collar Killers (Jeff), 1422.51 pts
9 — Philly Special (Jo), 1415.03 pts
10 — Last Exit 2 Kutztown (Bob), 1372.78 pts
11 — Ezekiel34 holdout (Joel), 1271.72 pts
12 — I love the Cowboys (Joe McDeadaccount), 30.43 pts
Some movement in the standings, but largely to no avail. I got thiiiiiis close to topping the 1700-pts barrier this week and stretched my lead over Sam. With just four weeks left, the Awesome Cup is mine to lose.
Joanna took a big tumble this week, falling two more spots to nearly double-digit land. Ant and Paul both saw healthy jumps in the standings. Joe McDeadaccount did not score any points this week, thankfully.
Somehow there are still three Thursday night games left, none of them looking that interesting. Cowboys take on the Bears this week, so get all your Chicago rooting gear ready, I guess. A Dallas loss won’t help the Eagles if they can’t get their own house in order, but it’s still enjoyable to watch.
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