Some odds and ends from the NFL weekend...
- The New Orleans Saints made trades and signed free agents in hopes of improving one of the worst defenses in the league. Yesterday they gave up 427 yards to the Arizona Cardinals. It’s just one week, but last year their 384 yard per game average on defense was good enough for 31st in the league.
- The Carolina Panthers are still playing defense. They sacked Jaguars quarterback, Blake Bortles, five times. Offensively, it’s a challenge. Receiver Ted Ginn Jr. was targeted seven times on Sunday but made just two catches. TGJ's day included dropping a wide open pass that would have created a walk-in touchdown. (below)
Ted Ginn Jr's skillets.
- The Dallas Cowboys formula in 2014 was to hold onto the football and keep their defense off the field. With RB DeMarco Murray moving onto the Philadelphia Eagles, the question was whether they could still follow that blueprint. The Cowboys used Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden, and Lance Dunbar to rush for 81 yards on 21 carries. But they also added a receiving element as the three combined for 12 catches for 132 yards. Time of possession last night: 37:10.
- Marcus Mariota – Four touchdown passes: The last rookie to have four touchdown passes in an opening game was our very own Fran Tarkenton in 1961. The only rookie to throw for more than four touchdowns in a game was Matthew Stafford, who threw for five in a game his rookie season.
- Marcus Mariota 158.3 – Mariota posted a perfect QB rating. The last rookie to do that while throwing at least 10 passes in a game was in 2012 – RGIII. (USA Today)
- Fun with Sunday Night Football: The Giants were up 10 with eight minutes left in the game. At that point they had a 95% chance of winning according to the analytics. When they were up three with 1:37 left, they still held a 94% chance of victory. However, after kicking the field goal and with the time left on the clock their chances fell to 83%. (per SB Nation and Advanced Football Statistics)
- Trey Wingo from ESPN with a really fun note on Twitter: In 2014 teams that were a -3 in turnover different were 1-43 for the season. The other teams yesterday who were a -3 were Indianapolis and Cleveland (-4)
- Where the NFL is in 2015: Only three players (Matt Forte, Alfred Morris, and DeAngelo Williams) recorded 100 yard rushing games in week one. None of them were part of teams that won. Only those three and Jets running back Chris Ivory got 20 carries this week.
- Vegas: Week 1 2014: Favorites were 3-10 against the spread. Week 1 2015: Favorite were 9-4 vs the spread. Vegas is calling this the worst disaster for the sports books in 20 years. A majority of the money was put on Green Bay and Miami. Both road favorites covered.
- Adam Schefter on Twitter – So far during Week One of the NFL season: Four extra points have been missed. There were eight missed all of last season. It’s now a play that matters. Which was the goal that the NFL wanted.
- San Diego Chargers receiver, Keenan Allen: 15 catches for 166 yards. That actually ties him for 12th all-time in terms of receptions in a game. Brandon Marshall holds that record with 21 in December of 2009 while with Denver. Marshall is also 3rd all-time with an 18 reception game in 2008.
- Odd Stats: Jaguars rookie receiver Rashad Greene had seven receptions on Sunday against the Panthers. He totaled 28 yards. Doug Baldwin had seven for 35 yards. The next lowest receiver who had at least seven catches was Demariyus Thomas, who had seven for 60 yards.
- Teams with bad offensive lines, for your comparisons to what’s happening here in Atlanta… Russell Wilson was sacked six times yesterday by the Rams. The Seahawks have gone cheap at offensive line and have gotten Wilson sacked a lot over the last two years. Wilson’s 41 attempts was a career high yesterday, his previous high was last season with 37 passes attempted.