Photo Credit: NFL.com
Coincidence:
Cam Newton and Jameis Winston both had career days last Sunday. But their stat-lines were pretty interesting to look at. Both QB’s have very similar playing styles including bruising runs, and rocket arms from the pocket. On Sunday, Winston’s stat line was 246 yards, 5 TD’s and 0 INTs. Newton’s stat line was 246 yards, 5 TD’s, and 0 INTs. Each TD for both QB’s went to 5 different receivers. Both QB’s play in the NFC South, and they both demolished a team from the NFC East. (Cue Twilight Zone music)
Controversy in Denver:
After one of the worst statistical games of all time, Manning missed a rare game to get healthy and Brock Osweiler got the first start of his career. He had a solid game, granted I saw him as a game manger more than anything else. Either way, he was efficient, didn’t make any mistakes, and threw 2 TD’s in their road win. Rumors are saying that Manning wants to play in 2016 no matter what, and for any team. There are rumblings that the Denver organization is wishing that Manning will kind of fade off into the sunset so they can move on without causing too much pain (remember the flack they got when they got rid of Tebow). It could lead to an interesting offseason.
Keenum Concussion:
In today’s NFL, concussions are a touchy subject. It’s the one issue that could derail the entire league in the future, so the NFL has been doing anything and everything to prevent that from happening. But the handling of Case Keenum’s concussion last week was a gross mis-representation of that goal, although I put that onus a bit more on the Rams than the league itself. Watching the replays are almost painful. Any boxing ref would have called the fight within 5 seconds of watching what happened. Instead after the hit, he rolled around, had a teammate try to pick him up and he collapsed again, finally stood up and wobbled to the line and snapped the ball. One play later he got hit again for the game sealing TD. I think the reason this one was so egregious was just the sight of it. We hear about players playing through concussions after the fact, but we don’t normally see the drunken stupor like Keenum seemed to be in. Jeff Fisher has been answering questions all week about it, and somehow only Nick Foles notice Keenum struggling. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are more rules surrounding this, or at the very least a memo sent to all 32 teams.
Analyzing Records- Quick Hits:
- After starting 0-5, the Detroit Cecils have won 3 straight, and 4 of their last 6 games
- The Texans started the season at 1-4, and have since gone 4-1
- The Buccaneers started the season 1-3, but have won 4 of their last 6, and won back to back games for the first time since 2013
- The Bears have won 3 of their last 4 games, and have only had 1 bad loss (to the Lions). Otherwise they’ve lost to Ari, Sea, GB, and Den. They have a very weak schedule the rest of the way, and could easily be 9-7.
- The Chiefs started their season 1-5, but have since won 4 straight.
- The Packers started 6-0, but have lost 4 of their last 5 games. 3 of those losses, the Packers lost on the final play of the game (2 on 4th and Goal, and 1 missed FG).
Last Two Undefeateds:
When Carolina pulled to 11-0 yesterday, all of a sudden things have gotten very real. With the Patriots at 10-0, and the “fairly” recent Super Bowl matchup between the two still fresh in our memories, it’s almost a given that this would be the matchup to see. Actually, take a look at the Monday night game they played 2 years ago, that was a great game as well. http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap2000000284418/Week-11-Patriots-vs-Panthers-highlights
Anyway, the Patriots have 6 games left to go for perfection, however 4 of those games are on the road. They lucked out in facing a Manning-less Broncos team, and if they get by that, their only other challenge is the Jets on the road.
The Panthers also have an easier road at this point, and only have 5 games left. Two of the five games are against the struggling Falcons (1-4 in their last 5 games), and the other three are against teams under .500. Not only do I think it’s very feasible that both teams make it to the playoffs undefeated, I think I’d be surprised at this point if it didn’t happen! The playoffs are a beast of their own, but it would be a ton of fun to see 2 teams from different conferences make it to that point.
Stolen Stat:
The Packers had 6 sacks on Sunday. During their 3 game losing streak they had zero sacks
Stat of the Week #2
The Colts are 3-0 under Matt Hasselbeck, and 2-5 under Andrew Luck
Stat of the Week #3:
The 10th game of the Season for the Broncos was the first all year where they didn’t throw an INT.
Stat of the Week #4:
Carson Palmer is leading the league in TD passes and Passer rating. This from a player who just passed the .500 mark in his career last week
Quote of the Week:
“Rex Ryan” Tom Brady. Was the buzz word to audible out of a play
FMQB 