Unpredictability is the Name of the Game

This season has been CHAOTIC.

JAX v. NO

Ugh. I feel for Foster Moreau. That is such a brutal way to end the game and it seemed like he was really blaming himself for it. But it was a messy game. The Jags lost 2 fumbles and couldn’t play a clean game if their life depended on it. NO has just struggled this year and their struggles still got the best of them today. They needed to block an injured Lawrence to keep him from running. But they bought so heavily into the talk that his knee injury would keep him from scrambling that they couldn’t adjust mid-game when it was clear he was able to. All in all, not a game I’d want to watch again.

Final Score: JAX 31 NO 24

LV v. CHI

This was a game I wasn’t excited by. Boy was I wrong. With Justin Fields out I expected little from the Bears. Instead, I got Tyson Bagent looking like a real QB and D’onta Foreman showing he’s still a tier 1 RB in the league. Brian Hoyer looked like the Brian Hoyer that keeps getting bounced around to different teams and Davonte Adams is not wrong for wanting a trade. The man can catch nearly anything, but you don’t throw to him? Okay. . .sure. If you want to lose that’s your prerogative, I guess.

Final Score: LV 12 CHI 30

CLE v. IND

UGHHH &$#&$)!#(%$&*($&^%. Let’s just get the obvious out of the way. Yes, those penalties were both questionable. Very questionable. And they definitely sealed Indy’s fate. HOWEVER, like the broken record I am, I keep saying you can’t turn the ball over and expect to win the game. Minshew turned it over 4 times. The Browns turned it over with 1 fumble and 2 INTs. But they also blocked a Matt Gay FG. Myles Garrett played a great game and I think the most interesting thing was that after Watson cleared concussion protocol, he didn’t come back in the game. PJ Walker played better than Watson so I agree with it . . . just surprised you’d sit your $236M investment like that.

Final Score: CLE 39 IND 38

BUF v. NE

I’m convinced Bill Belichick listens to our podcast because he included a lot of plays that were Zeke runs and Zeke killed it, getting into the endzone for the second week in a row. But as much as the story could be Mac Jones and the Patriots looking like a real NFL team, the story is actually how bad Josh Allen looked. It was like we had Week 1 Josh Allen back. He didn’t seem like he was mentally in this game. I don’t know if it was playing down to the Patriots perceived level or what, but this was not the result Buffalo wanted in a division that keeps beating up on each other.

Final Score: BUF 25 NE 29

WAS v. NYG

The Giants defense made the Commanders life a living hell. They blocked a short field goal and continually sacked Sam Howell. The Commanders were only able to get a TD when they were gifted a short field after Sterling Shepherd muffed a punt. It was such a rookie move and he was rightfully livid at himself after. But it didn’t end up mattering in the long run. The Commanders were never able to mount a drive all the way down the field. It was a struggle until the end though with a last second drive ending with a turnover on downs. Note to Brian Daboll: Consider starting Tyrod Taylor even after Daniel Jones is healthy again.

Final Score: WAS 7 NYG 14

ATL v. TB

This game was actually super exciting! Ridder fumbled right before the goal line and it was originally called a TD, but then overturned. Then Drake London had a crazy acrobatic flip resulting in him getting out of bounds before losing the ball. . .before Ridder fumbled it right near the endzone again. Last 2 minutes TB is down by 3 and drives to kick a field goal. With a minute to go ATL mounted a hell of a drive and got Koo in a position to kick a game winning 51 yarder. I love that kind of ending. Makes the game unpredictable and exciting. More please.

Final Score: ATL 16 TB 13

DET v. BAL

Um. Okay. Let’s start with the wow. Lamar Jackson threw for more than 350 yards and 3 TDs. That’s right, THREW. Not ran. We may have turned the corner and the Lamar Jackson primarily rushing QB has turned into Lamar Jackson the primarily throwing QB. I like the transition. It will serve him well longer into the future. Now, onto the bad. I don’t know what happened but the Lions did not show up for this game. Not only could they not stop the Ravens, but they couldn’t even mount their own offense. It certainly wasn’t the same team that we’ve seen the last 6 weeks. Everyone has an off week - let’s hope it’s just one off week for the Lions and not indicative of a larger problem.

Final Score: DET 6 BAL 38

PIT v. LAR

This game was pretty standard except for the kicking woes that plagued the Rams. Brett Maher missed two FGs and an extra point. For you math wizards out there, that’s 7 points. The exact number the Rams lost by. Puka Nacua is a phenom and I can’t wait to watch his career flourish. TJ Watt does the Watt name proud. But if Pittsburgh wants to compete with Baltimore, they need to start scoring earlier than the 4th quarter.

Final Score: PIT 24 LAR 17

ARI v. SEA

Kenneth Walker is just a solid workhouse of a RB. He is absolutely critical to the Seahawks offense. Like critical like your liver is. Geno needs to keep the ball under control though. He was the cause of 2 different turnovers. Can’t have that. The real heroes here are the Seahawks defenders. They made Josh Dobbs hurt time after time.

Final Score: ARI 10 SEA 17

GB v. DEN

Green Bay can’t keep playing this come from behind game. They need to start playing earlier in the game if they’re going to win. They tried to come back against the Broncos and there just wasn’t enough time. Try again next week. Good job Denver on finally getting a home team win.

Final Score: GB 17 DEN 19

LAC v. KC

This game started really slow, became exciting, and then ended with Kansas City blowing the Chargers out of the water. Mahomes had a killer game throwing for 424 yards and 4 touchdowns to 4 different receivers (it seems like he liked the number 4 this week). The Chiefs are just a monster team right now and I don’t really see how they’re going to be bested down the stretch.

Final Score: LAC 17 KC 31

MIA v. PHI

*Sigh I really wanted to see the Dolphins have success here. Not just for my fantasy team, but because I want Miami to beat good teams. But the Eagles murdered the Dolphins run game making Tua a one dimensional quarterback that was easy to stop. The Dolphins need to up their defensive game if they want to stay on top of the AFC East. And they better do it soon since they have a divisional game coming up this week.

Final Score: MIA 17 PHI 31

SF v. MIN

Second rough week in a row for San Francisco. They had a lot of turnovers which is pretty uncharacteristic for them. Brock Purdy had 2 INTs, McCaffrey had a fumble, Jake Moody missed another kick. Overall, just a very rare showing for the Niners. Minnesota had a solid game all around. Jordan Addison is certainly stepping up in Justin Jefferson’s absence. All in all, a pretty standard football game (if you discount the Niners exceptional play through the first 5 games). Onto the next week!

Final Score: SF 17 MIN 22