Week 15 Recap

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New York Jets @ Los Angeles Rams (23-20 Jets)
Mike The Ace @TheAceWriter

The New York Jets got a win! I didn’t think I’d have a chance to say that phrase in the year 2020, but here we are. After losing the first 13 games of the season, the Jets traveled out west and beat the Los Angeles Rams.

The Rams were a team that I was very hard on before the season started. We discussed their offseason on Episode 6 of the TFINS podcast (26:10). The Rams surpassed my expectations on the season overall, and they currently hold a wildcard spot with the second best record in the NFC West. 

My concerns with the Rams in the preseason were centered around their offensive line. I thought that they had an unproven offensive line, and they did not make enough changes in the offseason to get good play up front. I’ll give credit to the Rams’ coaching staff, as their offensive line has been one of the better units in the NFL. Despite the o-line’s great season, they were outplayed on Sunday afternoon against New York.

The Jets defensive line is a young and athletic bunch. Their success starts in the middle with defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. After a slow rookie season, Williams has come to play as a sophomore. He recorded his 7th sack of the season in this game. Williams was also good against the run, making plays early and often. 

Pressure up the middle is always a difficult task for quarterbacks to overcome. The Jets rattled Rams’ quarterback Jared Goff in the first half, and he was unable to find a rhythm. The Rams only got past midfield twice in the first half, settling for a field goal on their second trip past midfield. The Jets held a 13-3 lead going into the break.

Jets’ quarterback Sam Darnold also had a good game. He was decisive with the football, and was able to limit any mistakes. Darnold would finish the game going 22 of 31, for 207 yards, a touchdown, and no interceptions. The Jets were able to move down the field and score on the opening drive of the 2nd half, increasing their lead to 20-3.

The Rams were able to fight back in this game, but were unable to complete the comeback. Jared Goff and the offense had a chance to tie or take the lead with 4:00 remaining in the 4th quarter, but Goff was unable to convert on a 4th & 4 in Jets territory. Jets safety Marcus Maye was able to force an incompletion in man coverage, deflecting Goff’s pass. The Rams’ turned the ball over on downs, and the Jets were able to run the clock out on the ensuing possession.

If the Rams are going to make the playoffs (let alone get a win), they will need to protect Jared Goff better than they did today. Goff is not a very athletic QB, so giving him time in the pocket is crucial. The Jets got too much pressure on him, and he really struggled in the first half. This was an embarrassing loss for Los Angeles, and they will need to tighten up. They face the division leading Seattle Seahawks next week.

(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

San Francisco 49ers @ Dallas Cowboys (41-33 Cowboys)
DK @ayeyoo_biggs

The NFC East has been one of, if not the strangest divisions, this year. Even after losing Dak Prescott and an underwhelming performance of Zeke Elliot, they are 4-9 and still in the playoff picture. Every game from here on out (if not stated explicitly) is a must win. Andy Dalton and company were able to keep their playoff hopes alive by beating a very depleted 49ers team, just trying to get to the end of the season at this point. 

Andy Dalton went 19-33 with 209 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was under pressure all game, but was able to make some plays and get the screen game going with running back Tony Pollard. Pollard has been a revelation for Dallas, with Zeke’s sub-par 2020 campaign. Pollard was able to combine for 124 yards running and receiving. Every week of great play from Pollard has the media and fans question the large deal for Zeke from last season. CeeDee Lamb also had a great game with 8 catches for 85 yards. He was also able to contribute on special teams with a touchdown there. This brings Lamb’s yearly totals to 69 catches, with 892 yards, and 5 receiving TDs, a rushing touchdown, and a touchdown on the return today. He was one of my breakout players of the year that I wrote about at the beginning of the season. I thought being on the other side of Amari Cooper would open up a lot of opportunities for him. With Dak going down and Andy stepping in, there was an obvious downgrade at QB, but Lamb is still having a good rookie campaign. 

The 49ers put up a valiant effort trying to ride their strong running scheme and backup QB Nick Mullens’ arm. He went 21-36 for 219 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. The rushing attack was a combination of Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. Those two, with a few other contributors, combined for 150 yards. Mullen was able to keep the offense moving with the run game and play action off the bootleg. He was unfortunately replaced by CJ Bethard late in the 4th quarter. Bethard was able to go 5 for 7 with 100 yards and a last play Hail Mary to Kendrick Borne in the end zone, for a touchdown. This game goes to show that the 49ers are still in serious need of a Quarterback, this was a game they could have easily won if not for poor QB play. With Jimmy Garoppolo constantly getting injured, they will have to seriously look at dragging a QB. Most mock drafts have them taking a quarterback with their 1st round pick this year. 

The Cowboys are still in the fight in the miserable NFC East. They sit right below the Washington Football Team in the standings, but it seems like a forgone conclusion that whoever gets in will have a first round exit. Dallas plays the Eagles next week in another divisional game that will go far in determining the playoff standings and clear up the NFC playoff picture. 

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Week 6 Recap

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Green Bay Packers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (38-10 Buccaneers)
Mike The Ace @TheAceWriter

Through the first five weeks of the season, the Packers looked like one of the most complete teams in the NFL. Despite not having star receiver Devante Adams for most of the season, Aaron Rodgers had looked like an early MVP candidate. The Packers faced a formidable opponent this week, taking on Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Buccaneers came out very aggressively on the defensive side of the football. Bucs’ defensive coordinator Todd Bowles loves to dial up the blitz, and this week’s game plan was no different. The Green Bay offense responded well to the pressure at first, using short throws and misdirection plays to pick up good yardage.

Following a successful first quarter, the Packers seemed to be in complete control of this game. Green Bay held a 10-0 lead, and their defense was playing well. After another defensive stop, the Packers had the ball again, primed to put more pressure on Tom Brady and the Bucs’ offense. Everything changed after Rodgers was intercepted by Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean.

Dean read the route from receiver Devante Adams perfectly, making the interception along the sideline and returning it for a touchdown. Rodgers would go on to throw another pick on the following drive. The second turnover was secured by rookie safety Antoine Winfield Jr., who was able to run the ball back to the 2-yard line.

Rodgers and the Packers’ offense was never able to get back on track after the turnovers. The blitzing pressure from the Bucs defense overwhelmed the Packers’ offensive line. Rodgers was sacked 4 times and finished the game just 16 of 35, for 160 passing yards, and no passing touchdowns.

This game was all about the Tampa Bay defense. They dominated this football game, and kept a high octane offense in check. Both Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady struggled throwing the football, and the Buccaneers relied on their running game to seal the victory. The Packers offense will look to bounce back against a poor Houston Texans’ defense next week.

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Arizona Cardinals @ Dallas Cowboys (38-10 Cardinals)
DK @ayeyoo_biggs

In what was Kyler Murray’s homecoming in Jerry’s World, there were a few big highlights for Arizona.  In comparison to what was a sloppy game for their opponent, the Dallas Cowboys. 

When the season started, we touted Andy Dalton as one of the best backup quarterbacks in the league, but he didn’t have a good showing Monday. He went 34-54 with 266 yards, 1 TD, and 1 interception. The main issue though, was the play of running back Ezekiel Elliott. After both teams couldn’t really get anything going on offense, Zeke then had two fumbles on back to back drives. These turnovers put the Cardinals offense deep in Cowboys territory, and they punched in two touchdowns. This caused the Cowboys to try and use Tony Pollard to maybe switch it up, but that wasn’t much better. This was the reason Andy Dalton had to make 54 pass attempts, which you do not want from your backup quarterback. 

Kyler Murray went 9/24 with 188 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also added 74 rushing yards. He didn’t have a great passing game, outside of a few deep throws. The running game carried the team with 261 total yards, Kenyan Drake accounting for 164 yards rushing. The offense is still a work in progress, trying to work the run game into the air raid offense. I love to see Kliff Kingsbury lean on the rushing game, especially with the Cowboys having the 31st rank rush defense. 

I still like the Cardinals even though their offense isn’t clicking 100%. By that, I mean receivers DeAndre Hopkins, Kirk or Isabella having 80-90+ yard games receiving, with Drake having over 100 rushing yards. The Cardinals have a great young defense, so i feel like they will be able to win them games. Defense is especially important in that tough NFC West division. The Cowboys will need Zeke Elliott to step up in Dak’s absence. He can’t continue being the reason they are losing games. 

Week 4 Recap

Tim Heitman – USA Today Sports

Cleveland Browns @ Dallas Cowboys ( 49-38 Browns)
Mike The Ace @TheAceWriter

Bad tackling, coverage busts, and mental lapses have plagued a decent amount of NFL teams so far. Through the first four weeks of the season, defenses league wide have struggled. However, none of these defenses may have struggled as badly as the Dallas Cowboys .

It seems to be the same story every week for Dallas. They start by exchanging scores with the opposing team on the first few drives. At some point they end up turning the ball over, and the other team almost always capitalizes. After building up a deficit, they storm back with a high octane passing offense. This script has played out in all four of their games so far. They have only been able to complete the comeback once, leading them to a record of 1-3.

Their defense wasn’t expected to be the best, but it has been awful. They have injuries at all three levels of their defense, and critics are now beginning to blame the complex scheme for their early problems. I believe a lot of their problems are due to a lack of effort. As highlighted in this breakdown here. In my opinion, stopping the run is the top priority for any defense. They have been unable to do so through the first quarter of the season.

On the flip side of things, you have to love what you’re seeing from Cleveland and their offense. They have been able to run the ball well, and have scored over 34 points in their last three outings. Odell Beckham Jr. went ballistic this past weekend, catching 8 passes for 81 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also sealed the game on a reverse play that went for a 50-yard touchdown.

Cleveland looks like they are on a roll. They are in a tough division, and will need to keep this focus and intensity in order to compete. Baker Mayfield has to limit his mistakes, and they will continue to bully teams on offense. On the other hand, Dallas is in the worst division in football and has a great chance to make the playoffs. They will need to find some kind of answer defensively.

AP Photo| Mike Roemer

Atlanta Falcons @ Green Bay Packers (30-16 Packers)
D.K. @ayeyoo_biggs

The Packers came out and dominated from start to finish at Lambeau on Monday night. Aaron Rodgers is continuing to have an MVP year even with a weak WR core, not having Allan Lazard and Devonte Adams. 

Matt Ryan was 28/39 for 285 yards and with no touchdowns. He was under fire from the Packers defense all game. He was sacked 4 times, but it was the QB hurries and getting him off his spots, which allowed for a bad offensive night from the Falcons. It also didn’t help much that Atlanta could not establish the run game. With Julio hampered by a hamstring, Green Bay stacked the box and dared Matt to throw, but there was unfortunately no time given by the offensive line. 

Aaron Rodgers went 27/33 for 327 yards and 4 touchdowns. With his top two receivers out, he went to his best threat left, tight end Robert Tonyan. He racked up 6 catches for 98 yards and 3 TDs. He does have 5 TDs on the season and is slowly turning into one of Rodgers favorite red zone targets. Aaron Jones also added 15 rushes  for 71 yards and backup RB Jamal Williams added 105 all purpose yards. 

Aaron Rodgers is putting together another MVP caliber year for the Packers and with the rest of the WR core coming back from injury, there is no reason why the offense won’t get even better. The defense also stepped up in a great way and used their pass rush led by Za’darius Smith. This loss puts Dan Quinn in an extremely hot seat, and it could be any day now that he’s fired with an 0-4 record on the season. 

Week 2 Recap

Steve Marcus

New Orleans Saints @ Las Vegas Raiders (34-24 Raiders)
Mike The Ace @TheAceWriter

The Raiders hosted their very first home game in Allegiant Stadium on Monday night. Nobody wants to be *the* team that starts a stadium’s history off with an L, and the Raiders played like it.

The Silver-and-Black brought it to the Saints in this football game. Vegas is a run heavy, smash mouth team. Everything on their offense starts with running back Josh Jacobs, but the star of the day was tight end Darren Waller. Waller had 12 catches for 105 yards and 1 touchdown.

The Saints defense did well against the run, holding Jacobs to just 3.0 yards per carry.  The issue was in the passing game, as Waller and backup Foster Moreau were both able to make big plays in this game. The Saints brought in safety Malcolm Jenkins this offseason to help defend against tight ends. He’ll need to improve his pass coverage, as he was picked on multiple times by Vegas.

The Saints leaned heavily on running back Alvin Kamara. This will likely be a necessary strategy for them, as star receiver Michael Thomas recovers from an ankle injury. New Orleans will need much more production from their other veteran receiver, Emmanuel Sanders. Brees will also need to be sharper as well. Both of these teams will be very interesting to watch, moving forward.

Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta Falcons @ Dallas Cowboys (40-39 Cowboys) 
DK @ayeyoo_biggs

The Cowboys had 4 first half fumbles and were still were able to somehow come out with the victory on Sunday. 

Matt Ryan had a great game on Sunday going 27/36 with 276 yards and 4 TDs. I really liked the way the offense operated, with 7 receivers getting targeted. Calvin Ridley continues to impress 7 catches for 109 yards and 2 TDs. 

The Dallas offense really had a tale of two half with first half fumbles and struggles. They came back in the second half and slowly chipped away at the Atlanta 29-10 halftime lead. Dak Prescott went 34/47 with 450 yard and 4 total touchdowns in the furious comeback. Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb both went over 100 yards receiving with Zeke Elliot adding 122 all purpose yards. 

Even after allowing 13 points in the 4th, Atlanta was still in a position to win the game. All they had to do was recover an onside kick. Dallas kicker Greg Zuerlein kicked the ball and as it rolled towards the needed 10 yards for them to recover, no Falcons players decided to fall on the ball. Dallas then recovers the kicks and drives down the field for a game winning field goal. 

This was the Falcons game to lose and unfortunately they did. Dan Quinn is on a seriously hot seat. These next few weeks will tell if he is in Atlanta beyond this season, if not the bye week.