Takeaways - NFL Week 9

Blaine Gabbert beat the Falcons on Sunday for his first win as a starting quarterback since 2012.  Gabbert had previously lost his last 10 starts.

(ESPN Stats and Info) Blaine Gabbert’s last game with multiple TD passes was with the Jaguars on November 4, 2012 against Lions.

The 49ers scored 10 points in the first half.  They had scored 9 points combined in their previous two games.

The Carolina Panthers are the only team in the NFC who is undefeated.  They join the New England Patriots and the Cincinnati Bengals as the only teams in the league who are without a loss.  Having two teams at this point in the season is rare, as the last time that occurred was 2009 and previously in 1990.  There have NEVER been three teams who featured undefeated records at this point in the season in NFL history.

(Elias) Cam Newton had his 29th career game in which he threw a touchdown pass and also ran for a touchdown. That’s now the second most games in NFL history to accomplish that feat, with only Steve Young ahead of him with 31.

(ESPN Stats and Info) Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans had five drops on Sunday against the Giants.  That is the most for anyone in the NFL in a single game since Brandon Jacobs dropped five against the Redskins in 2007.

(Elias) Marcus Mariota: 1st rookie in NFL history to throw for 350 yards, 4 TD & 0 Int in one game

(Elias) Terrell Owens & Antonio Brown are only players w/ 17+ receptions & 280 receiving yards in a game

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Matt Cassell tossed two touchdowns in last night’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.  That is one more than Brandon Weeden threw as the starter in Dallas for his three games.  The Cowboys current leader in touchdown passes is Tony Romo, with three.

(Elias) It’s pretty impressive when you’re not only first in a particular category, but also second.  The most touchdown passes through eight games with two interceptions or less is currently held by 2007 Tom Brady.  Brady tossed 30 touchdowns last season through eight games with less than two interceptions.  Second on the list is 2015 Tom Brady, who has thrown 22 touchdowns to only two interceptions this year.

(Elias) The Patriots have scored in 31 straight quarters.  That ties the 1999-2000 Rams and the 2005 Colts.

(Elias) Before yesterday, the last time Cowboys, Packers, Saints, and Buccaneers lost on same day their QBs were Aikman, Favre, Everett, and Dilfer.

The Initial College Football Playoff Rankings 11/3

The first College Football Playoff Rankings will be out later today.  As you all know, these rankings will change wildly by the time we reach the end of the season.  I do find it funny how many people are trying to downplay the importance of these initial rankings.  It’s similar to those people who believe the only cool thing to do is to portray the popular thing as not cool.

There is this misnomer out there that the committee changed their methodology on the final rankings weekend in order to push Ohio State into a playoff spot.  This couldn’t be more wrong, as the reason Ohio State earned a spot was because they were an undisputed conference champion.  If you examine the committee’s own selection process guidelines, championships won is the most important.  That was not the case with TCU and Baylor, who can simply blame the Big 12’s stance on co-champions as to why they were eliminated in the end.

But I digress.  These rankings matter only to establish that last year’s methodology for determining the playoff participants are still the same for this year.  Here is what we should be looking at for these initial rankings.

1. Clemson

2. LSU

3. TCU

4. Michigan State

5. Ohio State

6. Baylor

7. Alabama

8. Florida

9. Notre Dame

10. Utah

11. Stanford

12. Iowa

13. Oklahoma State

14. Oklahoma

15. Memphis

From a rankings standpoint, the top four are pretty straight forward.  All are undefeated and are ranked with strength of schedule, strength of record, and game control in mind.  For Ohio State and Baylor, their rankings in strength of schedule are significantly behind the top four teams at this point in the season.  This will change as the season moves on.

For Alabama, Florida, Notre Dame, Utah and Stanford, their rankings are simply stronger than the next grouping of undefeated teams.  Consider Florida, who has played the 6th ranked schedule in the country in terms of strength of schedule.  Iowa has played the 63rd toughest while Oklahoma State has the 66th toughest.  Basically they have been more impressive verse a tougher schedule than some of the other undefeated teams in the country.

We will see tonight how it all turns out.

Takeaways - NFL Week 8

Saints QB Drew Brees

Atlanta Falcons have 10 sacks through eight games this season, putting them on-pace for 20 this season.  That would be their lowest total since last season when the Falcons recorded 22 sacks.  But it has been worse.  During the 1987 season the Falcons defense recorded 17 sacks.  In 1982 the Falcons recorded 18 sacks.  Last time Falcons had over 40 sacks in a season was 2004. 

The Falcons did not punt in their loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  In NFL history, the 2014 Packers (vs the Saints), the 2014 Bears (vs the Packers), and the 1992 49ers (vs the Bills) are the only teams to lose a regular season game without punting.  The 2004 Chiefs lost to the Colts in the playoffs without punting as well.  Tim Mastay is the only NFL punter in history to have two games in which he didn’t punt in one NFL season (2014 Packers). 

The Falcons currently have two players who are league leaders:  RB Devonta Freeman is leading the NFL with 709 rushing yards.  WR Julio Jones is leading the NFL with 892 receiving yards.  Since the 1970 merger, only two times has one team had the leaders in these categories:  the 1999 Colts (James & Harrison) and the 1991 Cowboys (Smith & Irvin)

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning has now won 186 games as an NFL starting quarterback.  That now ties Brett Favre for the NFL all-time record.

Aaron Rodgers had 77 passing yards in the Packers loss to the Broncos.  That is the lowest of his career in a game in which he had at least 20 passing attempts. (ESPN Stats & Info)

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees tied an NFL record for the most touchdown passes in a game with seven.  Eli Manning threw six against the Saints, but set his own career high.

(Elias) A couple of weeks after we had the note on Phillip Rivers and he being the first NFL quarterback to throw five touchdown passes, 0 interceptions, and lose….we now have Eli Manning.  Who is now the first quarterback in NFL history with six touchdown passes, 0 interceptions, and lost the football game.

(Elias) Odell Beckham Jr. has 141 receptions and 1,959 receiving yards for his career.  Both are the most by any player in NFL history in their first 20 games.

In the last 10 seasons, The New Orleans Saints have scored 40 points or more in 19 games.  The Patriots have done it 30 times.

(Elias) NFL quarterbacks with the most five touchdown games in their careers: Drew Brees with 10.  Peyton Manning with 9.

(ESPN Stats and Info)  How great it Todd Gurley?  He has 226 yards on just four carries this season.  His longest runs in each of his first four starts are: 52, 55, 48, 71.  Gurley now holds the NFL record for most rushing yards over his first four starts since 1970 with 566 yards.  Gurley passed Billy Sims, who had 539 rushing yards for the 1980 Lions.