I’m empyting out my Week 10 NFL notebook. This is what I found from this past Sunday.
Josh Lambo is still beating the Chargers – either with them, or against them.
Anthony Lynn has nothing on his Chargers coaching predecessor Mike McCoy, whose Chargers lost six games by an average of 3.3 points last season. The Chargers already have lost four games by three or fewer points. The Chargers could have beaten the Jaguars if Lynn would have had the guts to let Philip Rivers try to make a crucial third down late in the game by throwing instead of using a give-up-the-possession running play.
Dallas is a lower level team when missing Ezekiel Elliott, Tyron Smith and Sean Lee. Those who wagered on the Cowboys Sunday should keep that in mind.
Marvin Lewis has Jeff Fisher syndrome. There is no passion or astute coaching. Just a going-through-the-motions. The Bengals are 9-16-1 in their last 26 games. Lewis is in the final year of his contract. He should depart now because the Bengals are in desperate need of a spark.
Speaking of the Bengals, Vontaze Burfict is a great talent. He also is one of the dirtiest players in the league and a total knucklehead. I’d rank only Ndamukonk Suh as dirtier than Burfict. Another thing that bothers me when I’m watching the Bengals is Joe Mixon. He’s been a major disappointment. Yet whenever he makes a rare good play he celebrates. One of my biggest gripes about today’s modern player is they celebrate every little thing. Play the game. Be professional. Don’t show up the opposition.
Only the Browns could outgain an opponent by nearly 80 yards, win the time of possession battle and yet fail to cover as double-digit ‘dogs. Hue Jackson having DeShone Kizer try a quarterback sneak from the 2-yard line with 15 seconds left in the first half and no timeouts left may have been the worst play-call of the season. Of course Kizer didn’t score and time ran out before the Browns could even get a field goal.
Saw a great prop recently, which Cleveland coach gets fired first, Jackson or Tyronn Lue?
I streamed the 49ers’ Garrett Celek as my fantasy football tight end against the Giants. Why? Because the Giants had allowed a touchdown to every tight end they’ve faced this season. Sure enough Celek scored a touchdown. The Giants need to fire Ben McAdoo now before every one of his players lies down like several of his defensive players have done. The Giants are quitters. There’s not a harsher word to describe an NFL squad.
Funniest moment of the weekend was when Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh McCown threw interceptions on back-to-back plays while competing in the Journeyman’s Bowl. It’s hard to believe Fitzpatrick graudated from Harvard with all the bad decisions he makes.
Quiz time: Name the only the player who has had at least five catches in every game this season? Yep, Minnesota’s Adam Thielen. The Vikings would be in big trouble without this unheralded player.
The Bills haven’t been able to stop the run since dealing Marcel Dareus. If the Bills aren’t producting takeaways, they have no chance. Their talent level isn’t strong enough, nor is their downfield passing attack to keep up with good opponents. That’s why they laid an egg against the Saints. The Bills’ season ended when they lost to the Jets on Thursday night two weeks ago.
Joe Flacco had his best week of the season Sunday because the Ravens were idle. Flacco is averaging a career-low 5.3 yards per pass attempt.
The Packers finally stopped feeling sorry for themselves and displayed some heart in beating the Bears. The time to back the Bears is as home ‘dogs, not as chalk. Look for Green Bay to ride rookie running back Jamaal Williams against the Ravens this Sunday.
One position has killed both the Broncos and Texans: Quarterback. Denver’s defense may be worn down already from carrying its weak offense surrendering 92 points the past two weeks. I’ve never seen worse special teams play either than what the Broncos showed on Sunday against the Patriots. The Broncos gave up a 103-yard kickoff return touchdown, fumbled a punt return, had a punt blocked and were penalized on special teams for having too many men on the field.
The Texans’ season was finished when Deshaun Watson went down in practice. The Texans can’t win with Tom Savage – and Houston management knows it. So what do they do about it? They bring in Matt McGloin – who they already have released – T.J. Yates and Josh Johnson. Neither of these guys can play. Colin Kaepernick can. What’s more important, trying to put out the best team you can, or saving face by not making waves? The Texans answered that question.
Now on to Week 11.
Awesome write up!