Games I watched (some of ):
Browns 41-16 Bengals
I know this looks like the Browns dominated and they kinda did, but really this was all about absolutely nothing going right for the Bengals. I call this a Sideshow Bob game: the Bengals were just stepping on rakes all day long. The Browns probably are the better team, the Bengals have probably grown a little too fast. But this game doesn't seem like the perfect example of what these two squads are like and when they play again, it could be a totally different outcome. The Bengals just had a bad day (that's two bad Sundays in a row), while the Browns just had a good day (in the NFL every good day is a good day).
Vikings 31-34 (OT) Ravens
The Vikings dominated the 1st half and then went up 24-10 by running back the opening kickoff of the 2nd half. But once the Ravens put their minds to it, they were the better team and they ground their way back into the game. The Vikings got off to a good start but the Ravens were the better finishers.
Packers 7-13 Chiefs
Wow, what a strangely dull game. The Packs came with the starting debut of Jordan Love and he was, well, underwhelming. For three quarters, he looked lost, he certainly didn't have the command Aaron Rodgers would've brought, but his movement was okay and he didn't look completely lost and by the 4th quarter he was moving the ball. He's got to learn how to handle the blitz, then he'll be ready for a phase change (though it doesn't feel like he's replacing Rodgers any time soon). The Chiefs had a nice long methodical drive to open the game...then they went right back to slinging the ball around with no success. The Chiefs are like a guy that knows he needs to stop drinking so much and eat healthier and really enjoys when he does, but can't help himself and keeps getting drunk and eating bad food. The Chiefs are in a dangerous place: if they get it together, they can still win the Super Bowl, but if they don't, they might completely fade from view.
Titans 28-16 Rams
Another one of those games where nothing the Rams did worked. Not sure who was at fault, but nothing worked, no one played well. The Titans played hard and got lucky and that's how you win by double digits in the NFL. (Are the Titans #1 in the AFC right now? Are the Rams #1 in the NFC?)
The rest of the slate:
Jets 30-45 Colts
Good W for the Colts. Might want to try play some defense, but hey, you got the W, so good work.
Broncos 30-16 Cowboys
The Cowboys really fell asleep here--this game was 30-0 deep into the 4th quarter! Not sure what happened but the Cowboys clearly didn't come to play.
Texans 9-17 Dolphins
The Texans are the get-right team. Even for the Dolphins.
Falcons 27-25 Saints
Two division foes going at it. For two so-so teams this looks like it was a fun game.
Raiders 16-23 Giants
The Raiders just keep enduring tragedies, some of them drive them forward, some drive them back. They just don't look like they feel like playing football right now. The Giants, on the other hand, have settled into the phase of having nothing better to do than go forth and play ball. The Giants are having fun and that's a dangerous team to play. The Raiders are not having fun, feels like they're listing.
Patriots 24-6 Panthers
The Pats are going to punish bad teams and though Sam Darnold started off well, he's lost his grip on this squad and the Panthers are flailing badly. The Pats are girding their loins, man, that's all they do over there (they got some seriously girded loins).
Bills 6-9 Jaguars
*sigh* Come on, Bills, one TD would've won this game. One TD. Nice win for the Jags.
Chargers 27-24 Eagles
Probably the correct outcome: the Chargers are the better team but the Eagles play good teams close. I think this is the kind of game the Chargers would've lost in previous years and the kinda game the Eagles would've lost by two TDs in previous years, so both teams are on the upswing (even if Philly isn't getting the W's).
Cards 31-17 Niners
I don't understand the Niners at all, they can look great or terrible for no reason at all. The Cards just keep winning, man, they don't seem to have bad days.
Bears 27-29 Steelers
I saw none of this game but the highlights were eye-opening: dude, there was a 15 yard flag on the Bears on a play where Ben was knocked down one blocker into the legs of another blocker--the Bears never actually touched him! Meanwhile, Justin Fields got hit late 3 plays straight without a flag. Then there was the whole weirdness with the ref, felt like the refs were eager to keep kicking the Bears in the shins. Fun last coupla minutes, back and forth action, ended on a missed FG.
No comments:
Post a Comment