The Dugout - September 23
NFL Week 3
The Seattle Seahawks are still the best team in the NFL. Just in case anyone doubted it. They got a massive challenge from Denver though. Seattle looked like they’d hold on for a tight win for most of the game, especially after Peyton Manning was intercepted late. But then Manning survived for a near impossible 80 yard, 59 second drive with a stunning Demaryius Thomas catch and a 2-pt conversion to take things to overtime. Only… he didn’t touch the ball again. Seattle got the kickoff and drove methodically into the end zone for the winner. Nothing flash, there just wasn’t an answer for Russell Wilson’s legs, his arm and his running back Marshawn Lynch.
The Cincinnati Bengals did the business once more, staying unbeaten as they beat Tennessee. They did it fairly comfortably too, grinding out the W against an improving Titans lot. And it’s not like they’ve played mugs either. Baltimore and Atlanta have won each of their other games. In 3 games, the Bengals have only trailed for 51 seconds. The best part of the game was a trick play where Dalton handed the ball off then split wide to make the catch and score the touchdown.
We also had the Dallas Cowboys with their biggest ever regular time comeback win, taking the Rams down 34-31 despite starting 0-21 down. Romo was tight, DeMarco Murray had his third straight 100 yard rush game. The Chargers took care of the Bills, while Eli Manning had an uncharacteristically proficient game against the Texans. The Saints, Chiefs and Colts had their first wins of the season, the Patriots fought off the Raiders and the Cardinals took it to the 49ers for a crucial win. In the Thursday night game the Falcons annihilated Tampa Bay, and in the two primetime games Pittsburgh snapped an 8 quarter streak without a TD in beating the Panthers and Bears kept the Jets at an arm’s length for a win. Oh, and the Detroit Lions finally beat Aaron Rodgers!
Possibly the most exciting game though was Washington and Philly, where DeSean Jackson made his return to the City of Brotherly Love. And he got plenty of that. Ok, no… he got none. But that was his fault as much as anything. Here he is mocking the Fly Eagles thing after scoring an 81 yard TD.
That game was a thrilling shootout between Nick Foles and Kirk Cousins, both of whom were outstanding… although it was Cousins’ late interception that eventually sealed a 37-34 for the Eagles. At one stage Foles got smashed in the pocket and the game erupted into an all out brawl. Guess who managed to avoid that little kerfuffle? Given he’s nursing an injury, probably a wise call. That and the 120kg Eagles looking to deck him one.
Early NFL Power Rankings:
- Seattle Seahawks
- Denver Broncos
- Cincinnatti Bengals
- Arizona Cardinals
- San Diego Chargers
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Atlanta Falcons
- Detroit Lions
- Carolina Panthers
- New England Patriots
Quarterback Crises?
Along with the various other dramas that inhabit the NFL week to week, these particular seven days saw Mike Glennon turn up on the field for the Buccs, Kirk Cousins play a great game in relief of the long-term absentee RG3, Drew Stanton do enough in relief of short-term absentee Carson Palmer, Teddy Bridgewater see some time for the Vikings and Austin Davis play 3/4 of a great game against Dallas. Plus the Jags have committed to Blake Bortles as their long term QB. Some coaches have some tough decisions ahead.
We even saw Johnny Manziel get some extra time in a trick play which was entirely illegal but still pretty awesome, pretending to argue with a coach then spinning off and making a catch. It was called back, but still...
3-0 NFL Teams
Philadelphia Eagles
Arizona Cardinals
Cincinnati Bengals
0-3 NFL Teams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jacksonville Jaguars
Oakland Raiders
Boo This Man Goodell
Lance Stephenson's Music Video
No explanation necessary:
There’s Hipster Chic…
…and then there’s straight wearing your girlfriend’s pants.
Quote of the Week:
Eagles cornerback Cary Williams is not a happy chappy with Chip Kelly’s notoriously rapid and apparently excessive training regime:
via Deadspin/NJ.com
Good Week:
The Arizona Cardinals – Look, there are plenty of teams and players I could turn to here. But I think the Cardinals are just incredible what they’ve done. They can’t run the ball, their starting QB is notoriously middle of the road, and anyway he’s injured and the guy they’re using in his place lost his last starting job to Tim Tebow. Yet they’re 3-0. A large part of that: In fourth quarters this year they’ve outscored opponents 30-0.
Devin Hester (Atlanta Falcons) – The new NFL career return TD leader! And he did it in Atlanta, surpassing one of their favourite sons. This is his first year for the Falcons after being a key guy for the Bears for so long. He’s still got it.
Polish Footballers – Bit of a weird one this, but between Stephen Gostkowski, Rob Gronkowski and Sebastian Janikowski, every single point in the Raiders-Patriots game was scored by a –kowski.
Jose Altuve (Houston Texans) – Most people still haven’t heard of his because he’s a second baseman for the woeful Houston Astros. Yet this midget of a man has batted at .345 this season with an incredible 220 hits (easily 1st in the MLB). Oh, and a cheeky 54 stolen bases too (3rd in the MLB).
Bad Week:
Ryan Fitzpatrick (Houston Texans) – He threw three picks and about 20 other passes that looked flat or short or long or wide, etc. The Texans were hoping for a steady head under the hood after the Schaub thing got so bad. This is not it so far. At least he has DeAndre Hopkins and Andre Johnson out wide, who specialise in making bad throws look good.
Stephen Tulloch (Detroit Lions) – Possibly the most Detroit Lions-y injury ever. Poor Tulloch tore an ACL - and is now out for the season – while celebrating a sack against Green Bay.
Player of the Week:
Andrew Luck (Indianapolis Colts) – He was so good that he had this game won in the first half. 31/39 (79.5%), 370 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs for a 140.4 passer rating (which is career-high PR). He hit 9 different receivers, at one point completing 13 passes in a row. We’ve seen plenty of late heroism from him already, but this was the most efficient he’s ever been.
Upcoming Dates (NZ Time):
September 30 - MLB Postseason Begins
October 22 - MLB World Series Begins
October 29 - NBA Regular Season Begins