Photo Credit: NFL.com
Week 10 was the week of the season so far, with a handful of extra exciting games and storylines.
Lions win in Wisconsin:
A lot was said of the Lions going up to Green Bay and winning for the first time in 26 years. Division rivals, you’d think that even one of the years that the Lions were good (Barry Sanders, their few playoff years recently, etc.) that it would have happened by accident. But this year it was nearly out of the question! The Lions were 1-7 and had just fired a lot of their coaches. The Packers were 6-2, but both losses came to undefeated teams. There were rumblings about issues on offense and the team not playing strong, but on the otherhand losing to 2 elite teams shouldn’t be cause for panic. Well they might have cause at this point. Despite the field goal fest to start, the game finished with a ton of excitement. The Packers scored to bring it within 2, and then actually recovered the onside kick! On a side note, I can only think of 1 or 2 other players I’d want recovering an onside kick other than Calvin Johnson, how he had butterfingers on that play is bizarre. They managed to get into long FG range in a couple plays, and then even more bizarre was how bad Crosby’s kick was. It didn’t looked to be blocked, he just shanked it like crazy and it fell 20 yards short.
Patriots Near Upset:
The other game of the week was hands down the Giants vs. Patriots game. As dominant as the Pats have been the last 14 years, the only team who seems to have their number is the Giants (from the other conference). Each matchup ends up being good, and we easily remember both Super Bowls, and the regular season game in 2007. This week was no different, with 4 lead changes in the 4th quarter alone. One way the Giants won the previous matchups was giving Brady 30 seconds or less to answer. This week they went up by 2 with 1:47 left. This was enough time for Brady to drive them into “long” FG range, and Gostkowski nailed the kick of his career keeping the Patriots undefeated. That exact kick gave Gostkowski the record for the most FG in Patriots history, passing Adam Vinatieri.
NFC West Showdown:
The top 2 teams met on Sunday night with a crazy scoring fest. The Cardinals went up 19-0 quickly, and quieted the 12th man down drastically. Then, in just over 6 minutes of game time in the 3rd and 4th quarter, the Seahawks scored 21 unanswered points to take a 4 point lead. Two of the scores were because of Carson Palmer fumbles in only 1:44. The crowd was going insane only to have Arizona drive twice for 80 and 83 yards to win the game. The Seahawks are now 4-5 after being in the Super Bowl the past 2 years. Their defense isn’t the same, and it seems like Arizona is the new sheriff in the division.
Surprise teams taking down Undefeated’s:
Last week it was the Colts knocking off the Broncos. This week it was the lowly Texans with their 3rd string QB, going TO Cincinnati and taking down the 8-0 Bengals. We almost saw the same with the Giants taking out the Patriots. Despite schedules looking cushy, it makes me want to back off my undefeated prediction this year, although I still think the Patriots have a shot to do.
Manning’s Amazing Terrible Day:
On a day that should have been celebrated, Peyton Manning had the worst game of his career, and the almost unheard of 0.0 Passer rating. It’s been 8 years since another QB posted a 0.0 rating, and Joe Namath was the last QB who threw 4 INT’s and fewer yards. Manning passed Brett Favre for the most passing yards in a career. They stopped the game, and it went downhill from there. Granted he was hurt, but that was almost painful to watch.
Quote of the Week:
“I drank a lot of milk” Ben Roethlisberger, on asked about his quick recovery
Quote of the Season #2:
“Our goal was to come out here and make the Red Rifle look like a Red Ryder BB Gun, and I think we did that,” J.J. Watt. How Andy Dalton got offended by that is beyond me, that quote was hilarious, witty, and timely. Guarantee Dalton is called the Red Ryder BB Gun whenever he underperforms the rest of his career. Perhaps that’s why he’s upset, that America just figured that analogy out.
Bonus J.J. Watt Quote:
“I shook her hand instead of hugging her. Then I left the room without proposing. It was a complete disaster.”
–On meeting actress Jennifer Aniston
Curse of the Season:
In a new McDonalds commercial, it features Mike Ditka putting on a Packers sweater. In the hilarity that follows, conspiracy theorists have noted that the Packers are 0-3 since Ditka threw on the green and gold. On a side note, the other member in the commercial shows Jerry Rice putting on a Cowboys jersey. They were major playoff rivals back in the 90s, and the Cowboys are also 0-3 since that happened.
Stat of the Week:
Since we’ve heard 50 things about 1991, here’s a new one regarding the last Lions win in Wisconsin. There was less time between that 1991 win and the Moon landing, than the 1991 win and today.
Stat of the Week #2:
There were a record 6 TD’s of 75+ yards this week, two of those plays occurred against the Rams
Stolen Stat of the Week #3:
The Seahawks allowed 39 points on Sunday night. In 2014 under the Legion of Boom, they allowed 39 points over the final 6 games of the season (Bill Barnwell stat)
Stolen Stat of the Week #4:
The Giants are winning their division and at 5-5. Of their 5 losses, 4 of them had the Giants with the lead in the final 2 minutes of the game.
Stolen Stat of the Week #5:
The Buccaneers are 3-2 in their past five games, in their previous 23 games they were 3-20.
Reader Stat of the Week #6:
The Vikings have only had 48 accepted penalties against them (fewest in the league). Buffalo has nearly double that, at 90.
Stolen Stat of the Week #7:
Blake Bortles leads the NFL with 4 Fourth quarter game winning drives this year.
Stat of the Week #8:
Ben Roethlisberger threw for 379 yards and 3 TD’s. He didn’t even start the game, and he was pretty much Doubtful going into the game with a banged up foot.
Quick Hits:
- To all you Cutler haters, the Bears have won 4 of 6 since his return, and both losses came on scores in the last 4 seconds of regulation or later.
- The Cardinals are 1st in the NFL in offense, and 3rd in total defense. That’s championship football right there.
- Any Romo haters still out there? They were 2-0 with him and are 0-7 without him
- The Colts are without Luck for the foreseeable future, while the Texans have a cushy schedule and Jaguars can take over 1st with a win. Colts have won the division 9 of the last 12 seasons. Colts have also made the playoffs 12 of the last 13 seasons.
Cam Newton Rant:
As most FMQB readers know, the first 3 years I ripped on Cam Newton pretty good. He even got the moniker “God’s Gift to Man Cam” from yours truly. He seemed to mature last year, but he’s been regressing again. Ripping down the Packers sign and his response was childish, but the dancing last week was over the top. He danced in the endzone, fine. But when a Titans player confronted him, he deliberately danced in the face of the player (which should have been a taunting penalty). Then the ref got in between the two of them, and he continued dancing in his face (nobody’s talking about a fine for him). This was a taunt and unsportmanlike, not a celebration to take him to his “happy place.” I’m not as sour as the Nashville mom, and I’m typically a fan of the endzone celebrations (TO and Ochocinco are greatly missed), but it still made him look like an idiot.
AFC South:
The AFC South is exactly like the NFC South last year, and it is very possible that a team with a losing record makes the playoffs. Tied in 1st place are the Colts and Texans, both at 4-5. The Colts are missing their stud QB for the foreseeable future, while the Texans are on their 3rd QB of the season. Only ½ game back is the surging Jaguars at 4-6.
Rams Eagles Trade:
It’s been an emotional rollercoaster seeing Sam Bradford get traded to the Eagles. First it was confusion, then anger, then acceptance, then jubilation, now indifference. Neither QB has produced this year, although you could argue that Bradford has done better. It’s fitting that the exact same week in the season, both QB’s are no longer the starters. Foles was benched for Case Keenum (way to give up on the season), and Bradford out with a separated shoulder and concussion.
Games of the Week:
Jets at Texans: Yes, I know what you’re thinking. But this game has tiebreaker implications for a WildCard spot
Broncos at Bears: A month ago this game looked like a joke, but it’s John Fox’s return to Denver if you will, the Bears are hot, Broncos have lost 2 in a row, and Manning won’t be playing.
Packers at Vikings: Two playoff teams meeting up to see who gets the home game in the playoffs
Bengals at Cardinals: Potential Super Bowl preview
FMQB 