Well, we're officially over the half way point for the 2024 NFL season, after a promising week nine full of important matchups...that failed to deliver overall. Sometimes it's like that, but we got some wild highlights though, starting with:
Garrett. MF. Wilson.
Still unsure how he contorted his shin to get inbounds. Wilson's "Jump Man" catch is one that's going to be replayed for years and years to come.
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| Photo: Seth Wenig/ AP Photo |
Swiss Cheese
The Texans offensive line can seemingly run block with the best of them, but they're absolutely abhorrent at pass blocking. CJ Stroud was really bad once again, but you can only expect so much when your QB is getting sacked 8 times while taking 11 total hits.
Sack Fest in the ATL
Feels like the best performance we've seen from the Falcons pass rush in years! Their front seven got after Dak Prescott for 3 sacks, bringing their grand total on the season up to nine. That's 9, in nine games. Pretty bad!
Dallas is Dead
They're 3-5, CeeDee's banged up, Dak's headed to the IR and the defense is ass. What a better time than now to trade a fourth rounder for a wide receiver who couldn't get on the field in Carolina!? Dumpster fire in Dallas, the biggest we've seen in recent memory. And that's a high bar.
Miami Too
Unlike the Cowboys, the Dolphins at least went down in Buffalo with a fight. They're sitting at 2-6 overall and should really be wondering how much longer it'll be worth it trotting Tua Tagovailoa out there.
Your AFC East Champions
The Jets are second place in the division, currently boasting a sad 3-6 record. The 7-2 Buffalo Bills have effectively steamrolled the AFC East, yet still have a ways to go to lock up a #1 seed for the postseason.
Five for Joe B
I'll talk shit on the Bengals with the best of them but their offense has elite capabilities. Joe Burrow posted 5 touchdowns on a Raiders secondary that isn't completely hapless-- and that was without Tee Higgins. Huge game for them Thursday as they continue their unlikely push for a playoff spot.
Desmond Ridder... It's Really Come to This?
Las Vegas finds themselves in a pretty unenviable spot now with Desmond Ridder taking the reins from Gardner Minshew. Their predictably incompetent offense has been as rough as advertised, which cost OC Luke Getsy his job on Monday, along with some of his assistants. Surely more names will be hitting the unemployment line before it's all said and done.
Classic Jameis
Just seven days after torching a sad Ravens secondary, the people's champ Jameis Winston came crashing back to Earth against the Chargers. 3 interceptions doomed the Browns feeble postseason hopes while quickly reminding everyone why Winston couldn't get any starting looks this offseason.
WR1 Quentin Johnston?!
The new Nelson Agholor, at least in terms of jokes about his hands. Or lack thereof. All jokes aside though, when Johnston's been healthy this season, he's been awesome, providing the Chargers with some much needed ability to stretch the field. Justin Herbert's got a big arm and will find him, as evidenced by the receiver's 4/118/1 line. Nice to see that bust label getting shed.
Fun Finish in Tennessee
Not a lot of entertainment to be found elsewhere though. Drake Maye was held largely in check by the league's best pass defense, but he did managed to hang in the pocket for about 20 seconds on the final play of the game, ultimately finding Rhamondre Stevenson in the end zone to cut a seven point deficit to one. Then Jerod Mayo inexplicably elected not to go for two and caught the L in overtime...won't be the last time you see that sentence in this article.
A Daniel Jones Touchdown in East Rutherford!
After going nearly two calendar years without throwing a touchdown pass in their home stadium, Daniel Jones threw not one, but two against Washington! He was pretty pathetic outside of that though, forcing Brian Daboll to reiterate to the media that he is their starting quarterback.
Dante Fowler Jr.'s Emergence
The former #3 pick overall entered season with 45 sacks in 9 years. By many accounts, he was a decent player, but a bust given his draft status. This year's been different though. Fowler had 2 sacks and a forced fumble on Sunday, putting him into the top 10 league-wide for sacks. Just a few weeks ago, he recorded the first interception and touchdown of his career against the Panthers. He's on pace for his best season ever, cementing himself as a critical member of the D-Line in DC.
Beating the Dead Horse...
The Saints got their QB1 back, outgained Carolina 427 to 246 and didn't turn the ball over, yet they still lost. To the one win Panthers. Completely wasting a 215 yard effort by Alvin Kamara. Dennis Allen has finally, deservedly been relieved of his duties as head coach. Meanwhile, Michael Thomas is finding himself back in relevance by bitching out Derek Carr from the perpetual IR. What a mess in New Orleans.
Auditions
Bryce Young was decent again, managing to put together the first game winning drive of his career, against a respectable defense at that. Now that he's made it through the trade deadline, it's all about proving to the organization that he can be the guy moving forward. Big couple of months incoming for the second year QB.
Sick Catch, Bo
Nix's touchdown catch was a pretty sweet play, giving the illusion early on that the Broncos were going to hang with Baltimore. Not the case. But hey, hell of a highlight.
Baltimore Needs a Pass Rush
If you were watching that Ravens-Broncos game, you probably got several glimpses of Bo Nix cleanly in the pocket for 5 or more seconds at a time. The Baltimore secondary has plenty of it's own issues, but those are bound to arise when opposing QBs have all day in the pocket. Could end up being their Achilles' heel.
Eyes in the Back of his Head
That Saquon Barkley reverse hurdle...my God. Giants fans have to be sick to their stomach.
Almost Pulled it Off
As awful as Trevor Lawrence was through their first seven drives-- 4/11 for 23 yards and an interception, en route to a 22 point deficit-- the Jags still managed to be one good throw away from pulling off a miraculous comeback. That throw was intercepted, but nonetheless, good on them not to quit. Sad team.
Road Woes
Bears head coach Matt Eberflus has gone a remarkable 3-17 on the road in with the team. Miraculously, none of the three wins have come in Sunday games either. To top it off, their point differential during that span is -161. Unbelievable incompetence.
Arizona's Legit
The Cards really took it a tough Chicago defense, mainly on ground at that. Kyler only had to throw for 154 yards because they rushed for 213 against the Bears-- an attack spearheaded by James Conner, Emari Demarcado and Trey Benson. Arizona sits at 5-4 atop the NFC West.
Uncharted Territory
We said last week how Detroit were Super Bowl favorites, but the way they smashed Green Bay felt like an overdue, symbolical announcement to a changing of the guard in the NFC North. These Lions aren't the ones you grew up with.
Turnover Prone
Jordan Love, and the love is for throwing interceptions. His pick six at the end of the first have was an unforgivable mistake, turning a 7 point deficit into 14. By the time Green Bay got the ball again meaningfully, it was 24-3. As exciting as Love is, he needs to clean these things up.
Also Turnover Prone
Geno Smith...the 103-yard pick six in the fourth was horrendous, but then he went and capped another drive an interception. Given the potential of this Seattle team, you have to wonder if they'd be better off with Sam Howell at the helm?
Yoink!
Demarcus Robinson's 1-handed walk off touchdown was a thing of beauty. Robinson never seems to catch on anywhere for long but he seems to make a few big plays every season.
Maybe Flacco's Not the Fix
After recapturing the hearts and souls of America with a few decent performances, it seems pretty clear that Joe Flacco is, in fact, 39 years old. That Minnesota blitz destroyed Joe, only allowing him to muster 179 passing yards against what had been a generous pass D. Guess at some point you probably want to let A-Rod get another look.
Tale of Two Halves
Sam Darnold was on rocks for a minute there, staring down an 0-3 stretch with two crucial turnovers to his name. He did throw another pick in the second half, but he was excellent outside of that, throwing for 3 touchdowns while helping the Vikings storm back to a critical win. At 6-3, they just need to stay afloat to gain entry to the playoffs.
HOW do you not go for two?
Todd Bowles makes it really hard to believe in him. 27 seconds left, on the road, against the undefeated defending champions. And you roll the dice to go to overtime. Just like the aforementioned Patriots, the result was a crushing loss with their tails between their legs. Sad, scared coaching.
Nice Fit
Deandre Hopkins was such a good get for this KC offense. His presence immediately freed up Travis Kelce, but a two touchdown Monday reminded the whole world that Nuk's still got a lot left in the tank. The rich got richer, and secured another win from a sad, scared coach.
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@Choppinglines
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