Monday, September 29, 2014

NFL Sunday Round-Up: Week 4

Week 4 of NFL Sunday is in the books. Tonight's Monday Night Football is a must-see for me as my favorite team is playing in what is probably their only prime time game of the season. If the Chiefs can upset the Patriots in front of a nationwide audience, I'll be dancing like "Johnny Jamboogie" all over my living room. Anyway, let's take a look back at all the action from yesterday in the National Football League...

Please note that I added more humor this week to the column. We'll see if it lasts.


(As always, the Sunday Night Football game is not featured due to time constraints)


New York Giants - 45 (2-2) @ Washington - 14 (1-3)


It wasn't a good week to be a Washington Redskins fan. Not only did the New York Giants come out and beat you like a red-headed step-child, but South Park made your favorite football team their latest target as well. If you missed the South Park episode, it was absolutely fantastic and was an interesting take on what's going on with Washington and the Native American's who have come out and publicly admitted that they are offended by the Redskins nickname. My favorite part was obviously Cartman playing the part of Redskins owner Dan Snyder:



Now that's just fantastic. As for the game, well, I don't know what to tell you about Washington. Sometimes they show up (Philadelphia) and sometimes they just come out and lay a gigantic egg. This was a fantastic game for the Giants though. Eli Manning has improved since the start of the season and the Giants needed that like I need a million dollars. It took him some time to get used to the new offense that was being implemented, but it looks like he has the hang of it now and the Giants appear to have things turned around for the time being. How long will that last though?

NY Giants Offensive MVP: Eli Manning (28 of 39 for 300 yards, 4 TD's, 1 INT, 1 carry, 1 rushing yard, 1 rushing TD, 117.5 rating)

NY Giants Defensive MVP: Quintin Demps (7 tackles, 2 passes deflected, 1 interception)

Washington Offensive MVP: Alfred Morris (12 carries, 63 rushing yards, 1 TD, 3 receptions, 27 receiving yards)

Washington Defensive MVP: Keenan Robinson (13 tackles, 1 interception)

Up next for NY Giants: vs. Atlanta (2-2)

Up next for Washington: vs. Seattle (2-1)




Green Bay - 38 (2-2) @ Chicago - 17 (2-2)


Packers fans,



Aaron Rodgers told you to r-e-l-a-x and it looks like he may have been onto something. The Packers offense finally showed up for the first time this season as they put a whooping on the Bears, especially in the second half. The Bears defense just had no answer for Green Bay's offense and I'm fine with that because I just so happen to have Rodgers and Eddie Lacy on a few of my fantasy teams. It's still way too early to say that Green Bay is BACK and Chicago has no chance this year, but that's what people will say because it's the NFL and people tend to over-react too much on a week-to-week basis. I'm still on the Bears bandwagon, I just think they ran into an ultra-motivated Packers team that was out to prove something (along with horrible officiating, but that's a story for another day). When Rodgers and company play like they did in this game, no one can stop them (unless they are playing the Seahawks in Seattle...). The Bears face a sinking Carolina Panthers team next week and could get this ship turned around before it really starts to catch water.


Green Bay Offensive MVP: Aaron Rodgers (22 of 28 for 302 yards, 4 TD's, 151.2 rating)

Green Bay Defensive MVP: Sam Shields (3 tackles, 3 passes deflected, 1 interception)

Chicago Offensive MVP: Matt Forte (23 carries, 122 rushing yards, 5 receptions, 49 receiving yards)

Chicago Defensive MVP: Tim Jennings (5 tackles, 1 pass deflected)

Up next for Green Bay: vs. Minnesota (2-2)

Up next for Chicago: vs. @ Carolina (2-2)





Buffalo - 17 (2-2) @ Houston - 23 (3-1)


This game was all about one man and one man only.



J.J. Watt is the pure definition of "beast". The guy is the best defensive player in the NFL right now and no one knows where this came from. He's a two-star recruit who first played at Central Michigan as a TE, but transferred to Wisconsin and converted back to a DE and ended up getting drafted by the Houston Texans with the 11th overall pick in the 2011 draft. Looking back at that draft now, he easily should have gone in the top 3 or been the first overall pick, but hindsight is 20/20 and no one knew just how good this guy was going to be. The Texans have a really special defense on their hands with guys like Watt and Jadeveon Clowney on their roster and if they can get an offense (i.e. a QUARTERBACK) to help complement it, these guy's are going to be dangerous. That's a big "if" though as there are a laundry list of NFL teams that have been looking for a good signal caller for years now. Not everyone is the Indianapolis Colts and luck themselves into two straight potential Hall-of-Fame QB's....


Buffalo Offensive MVP: Mike Williams (2 receptions, 84 yards, 1 TD)

Buffalo Defensive MVP: Nigel Bradham (3 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception)

Houston Offensive MVP: DeAndre Hopkins (5 receptions, 64 yards, 1 TD)

Houston Defensive MVP: J.J. Watt (5 tackles, 9 QB hits, 1 interception, 1 TD)

Up next for Buffalo: vs. @ Detroit (3-1)

Up next for Houston: vs. @ Dallas






Tennessee - 17 (1-3) @ Indianapolis - 41 (2-2)


Andrew Luck folks. He's good. Some people want to say that Russell Wilson is the best young quarterback in the game, but that's just asinine. Andrew Luck plays for an Indianapolis Colts team that won one game the year before he arrived. He immediately turned them into a playoff contender. Wilson has been incredible in his short NFL career thus far, but he's got so much more to work with in Seattle, including an elite defense. If you don't think having an elite defense can help an offense, then you should just stop reading this blog right now. Andrew Luck is going to be a first ballot Hall-of-Famer and as soon as the Colts surround him with better players, he'll get himself some rings. As for the Titans? HOW THE HELL DID THEY BEAT THE CHIEFS AT ARROWHEAD IN WEEK ONE? SERIOUSLY?!?!?!?!


Tennessee Offensive MVP: Delanie Walker (5 receptions, 84 yards, 1 TD)

Tennessee Defensive MVP: Wesley Woodyard (9 tackles, 2 passes deflected, 1 QB hit, 1 interception)

Indianapolis Offensive MVP: Andrew Luck (29 of 41 for 393 yards, 4 TD's, 1 INT, 123.3 rating)

Indianapolis Defensive MVP: Mike Adams (3 passes deflected, 2 interceptions)

Up next for Tennessee: vs. Cleveland (1-2)

Up next for Indianapolis: vs. Baltimore (3-1)






Carolina - 10 (2-2) @ Baltimore - 38 (3-1)



'Nuff said.


Carolina Offensive MVP: Kelvin Benjamin (5 receptions, 76 yards, 1 TD)

Carolina Defensive MVP: Luke Kuechly (12 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 pass deflection)

Baltimore Offensive MVP: Steve Smith Sr. (7 receptions, 139 yards, 2 TD's)

Baltimore Defensive MVP: C.J. Mosley (11 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 2 passes deflected)

Up next for Carolina: vs. Chicago (2-2)

Up next for Baltimore: vs. @ Indianapolis (2-2)






Detroit - 24 (3-1) @ New York Jets - 17 (1-3)


Did you know that Matthew Stafford almost died this week? Seriously. The overpass he was riding over in his car got hit by a truck and it collapsed. Don't believe me? Check it out for yourself. Either way, Stafford escaped death this week and you couldn't tell by his play on the field because he looked like the same Matthew Stafford that we've come to know and love for sometime now. Stafford lifted the Lions over a Jets team that is a complete dumpster fire on offense. I know I've said it for the past 3 seasons now, but if Rex Ryan is still the coach of the New York Jets by this time next year, I may just move the Jets over the Raiders in my "Stupidest NFL Franchises Power Rankings". Rex Ryan is a great defensive coordinator, but a horrible coach. Some people are good workers, but horrible managers and that is the exact definition of Rex. As for the Lions, they are a quiet 3-1 and look to be a potential playoff team. Then again, they are the Lions and things could flip from "good" to "bad" at any given time. Enjoy it while it's good though Detroit. And hey, at least your quarterback is alive and healthy.....


Detroit Offensive MVP: Matthew Stafford (24 of 34 for 293 yards, 2 TD's, 6 carries, 8 rushing yards, 1 TD, 116.4 rating)

Detroit Defensive MVP: Darius Slay (5 tackles, 1 interception)

NY Jets Offensive MVP: Chris Johnson (6 carries, 44 rushing yards, 1 TD, 2 receptions, 17 receiving yards)

NY Jets Defensive MVP: Muhammed Wilkerson (8 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 3 QB hits)

Up next for Detroit: vs. Buffalo (2-2)

Up next for NY Jets: vs. @ San Diego (3-1)






Tampa Bay - 27 (1-3) @ Pittsburgh - 24 (2-2)


I feel as though there's an NFL game every week that leaves me looking like this....



After getting embarrassed by the Atlanta Falcons last week amid rumors that the team was already quitting on new head coach Lovie Smith, the Bucs come out and shock the football world with a big win over the Steelers in Pittsburgh. I don't know man. The Bucs are one of those teams that are going to look like crap one week and come out and beat a team that doesn't take them seriously the next. I'm a fan of them making the move from McCown to Mike Glennon for the rest of the season as the Bucs need to see what Glennon can offer before they part ways with him. I think we can all agree that it was a horrible decision for the Bucs to sign McCown much less making the decision to bench Glennon and replace him with a career NFL back-up. Glennon wasn't perfect in this game, but he was an improvement over what the Bucs have been offering the last few weeks. There's still time for the Bucs to get this ship turned around, so a win here was huge. As for the Steelers, I think Joey Tribbiani's expression in the gif above explains how I feel about them right now.

Tampa Bay Offensive MVP: Mike Evans (4 receptions, 65 yards, 1 TD)

Tampa Bay Defensive MVP: Michael Johnson (5 tackles, 2 sacks)

Pittsburgh Offensive MVP: Antonio Brown (7 receptions, 131 yards, 2 TD's)

Pittsburgh Defensive MVP: Cortez Allen (7 tackles, 3 passes deflected, 1 interception)

Up next for Tampa Bay: vs. @ New Orleans

Up next for Pittsburgh: vs. @ Jacksonville (0-4)






Miami - 38 (2-2) @ Oakland - 14 (0-4)


"Hey, you guys want to see the Miami Dolphins play the Oakland Raiders in England this weekend?"





I couldn't have said it any better.....


(PS: What are the chances Oakland head coach Dennis Allen is fired by the time the Raiders take the field again? I'm thinking it's somewhere between 60-90%)


Miami Offensive MVP: Ryan Tannehill (23 of 31 for 278 yards, 2 TD's, 1 INT, 5 carries, 35 rushing yards, 109.3 rating)

Miami Defensive MVP: Brent Grimes (5 tackles, 2 passes deflected, 1 interception)

Oakland Offensive MVP: Andre Holmes (5 catches, 74 yards, 1 TD)

Oakland Defensive MVP: T.J. Carrie (5 tackles, 1 interception)

Up next for Miami: BYE WEEK

Up next for Oakland: BYE WEEK






Jacksonville - 14 (0-4) @ San Diego - 33 (3-1)


Now this one makes sense. The Jaguars are arguably the worst team in the NFL (the only team worse than them may be the Raiders) and the Chargers are easily one of the most underrated teams in the NFL. This was my "Survival Football Pick of the Week" (yes, I'm still alive!) for good reason. The Jaguars are pretty much a lost cause and are a favorite to get the #1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, which would create quite a conundrum for them if Marcus Mariota is as good as everyone think's he's going to be. The Jaguars just drafted Blake Bortles last year and he's actually looked pretty decent thus far, so that would make for some interesting conversation pieces leading up to the draft for sure. As for the Chargers, they just keep on winning and are one Peyton Manning injury away from arguably being the toast of the AFC alongside the Cincinnati Bengals. Philip Rivers continues to get disrespected even though he's easily one of the top 5 QB's in the NFL. One day, the rest of the world will get it.


Jacksonville Offensive MVP: Blake Bortles (29 of 37 for 253 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT's, 5 carries, 24 rushing yards, 81.6 rating)

Jacksonville Defensive MVP: Paul Posluszny (11 tackles)

San Diego Offensive MVP: Philip Rivers (29 of 39 for 377 yards, 3 TD's, 130.0 rating)

San Diego Defensive MVP: Donald Butler (10 tackles, 1 fumble recovery)

Up next for Jacksonville: vs. Pittsburgh (2-2)

Up next for San Diego: vs. New York Jets (1-3)






Philadelphia - 21 (3-1) @ San Francisco - 26 (2-2)


You know what this game looked like to me? Fellow Oregon Ducks fans will relate to this. It looked a lot like the recent Oregon Ducks/Stanford Cardinals games in college football. You know the ones I'm talking about. The hot shot fast-paced offense faces the powerful scary defense and unfortunately us Duck fans know exactly how that one works out. Stanford does a great job of shutting down the heart and soul of the Oregon offense (the run game) and forces Oregon to find other ways to win the game and the Ducks haven't been successful as of late. That's what Philly vs. San Francisco was and the irony of it all is that Chip Kelly was once the head coach of the Oregon Ducks while Jim Harbaugh was the head coach of the Stanford Cardinal. The high powered Eagles offense was only able to muster up 22 rushing yards and forced Nick Foles to try and win the game for them, only Foles isn't Andrew Luck or Peyton Manning and he's not good enough to win the game on his own. This game was nowhere near as close as the final score indicates. The 49ers were able to overpower the Eagles handing them their first loss of the season. Trust me Eagles fans, us Duck fans can relate.


Philadelphia Offensive MVP: Jeremy Maclin (5 receptions, 68 yards)

Philadelphia Defensive MVP: Malcolm Jenkins (7 tackles, 1 interception, 1 TD)

San Francisco Offensive MVP: Frank Gore (24 carries, 119 rushing yards, 1 reception, 55 receiving yards, 1 TD)

San Francisco Defensive MVP: Perrish Cox (3 tackles, 4 passes deflected, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception)

Up next for Philadelphia: vs. St. Louis (1-2)

Up next for San Francisco: vs. Kansas City (1-2)






Atlanta - 28 (2-2) @ Minnesota - 41 (2-2)


A few weeks ago, after all the Adrian Peterson stuff hit the news waves, Vikings fans were like this:




After one week of Teddy Bridgewater and "TEDDY TIME", Vikings fans are more like this:



Sometimes you just gotta dance.

Atlanta Offensive MVP: Antone Smith (4 carries, 62 yards, 1 TD)

Atlanta Defensive MVP: Kroy Biermann (7 tackles, 1 tackle for loss)

Minnesota Offensive MVP: Teddy Bridgewater (19 of 30 for 317 yards, 5 carries, 27 rushing yards, 1 TD, 98.9 rating)

Minnesota Defensive MVP: Harrison Smith (6 tackles, 1 interception)

Up next for Atlanta: vs. @ New York Giants (2-2)

Up next for Minnesota: vs. @ Green Bay (2-2)

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