NFL Notes 12/19 - 12/20

Jets at Cowboys

The Jets are an improved team that are battling for a playoff spot in the AFC playoffs.  The Jets D is their usual affective self, as they’re currently 5th in the NFL (they finished 6th overall last season).  But if you look a little deeper, you realize what has them at 8-5.

The New York Jets are 10th in total offense and 10th in points scored.  Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has gotten much of the credit, as he should, for being able to get the ball to their weapons such as Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker.  But the Jets D has also contributed here as well.

After forcing just 13 takeaways in 2014, the Jets have forced 24 so far this season.  That’s tied for 3rd in the NFL.  The Jets offense has provided Ryan Fitzpatrick with some short fields and some easier opportunities to score.    To his credit, Fitzpatrick has thrown 25 touchdown passes to just 11 interceptions, that’s the same as Drew Brees. 

Also, keep an eye on Brandon Marshall, as he has caught at least one touchdown in the past six games.  Marhsll is rolling with 387 yards receiving the past three games.

Panthers at Giants

Quick, who’s the # 1 team in total points in the NFL? That would be the Carolina Panthers, who are now averaging more points that the Cardinals, Patriots, or Bengals.  Carolina is also 3rd in the NFL in total defense, but you already knew they were great there.

The challenge for the Panthers this week is how to play well enough without running back Jonathan Stewart and a banged up tight end in Greg Olsen.  Even without their team at full strength, the #32nd ranked defense in the Giants doesn’t have a lot of answers to deal with Cam and company.

This has been Cam Newton’s hottest stretch of football in his career.  Newton has combined to throw and rush for 14 touchdowns in his last 4 games.  And that was with only 1 score against Dallas’ defense.  The Giants are 3-3 at home and have given up an average of 22 points per game.

It’s hard to imagine how the Giants score enough points against this Panthers defense to upset their undefeated season bid.  The Giants will have to find at least 24 points and force a few short fields to get this W.

Broncos at Steelers

This is easily the sexiest matchup of the NFL weekend.  Pittsburgh has been so hot offensively over the last 5 weeks they are now 2nd in the league in total offense.  Denver has spent the season as the #1 team in the NFL in points and total defense.

This game is a prize fight between two excellent fighters.  And it’s going to be about when each team lands punches on the other team.  Denver is among the best teams in the league in fewest points allowed in the 1st and 3rd quarters, as they’re top 4 in the NFL in those quarters.  Pittsburgh’s offense has been at their best in the 2nd and 4th quarters in terms of points scored, as they rank top 4 in those quarters.

(Denver 3rd – 10th – 4th – 9th)

(Pittsburgh 19th – 4th – 11th – 3rd)

The area of vulnerabilty for the Broncos has been their performance on 3rd down.  If there’s one area that will be the reason quarterback Brock Osweiler doesn’t hold onto the job it will be the team’s perforance on 3rd downs.  The Broncos are now 29th in the league in 3rd down conversions.  Pittsburgh has converted nearly 56% of their 3rd down conversions over the past month, that’s good enough for 2nd in the league.

I feel Pittsburgh wins this game comfortably.

Cardinals at Eagles

Arizona and Philadelphia have completely different philosophies on which their teams are built. 

Arizona scores points, and plays defense, as they are top 5 in the NFL in both categories.  But here’s the thing about the Cardinals, they are not a team that sacks quarterbacks.  With 24 sacks this year, Arizona ranks 25th in the NFL in that category.  So where is the success coming from defensively?

Arizona has faced 3rd down just 166 times this year, that’s 7th in the NFL.  They have faced 3rd down so few times because they currently lead in the NFL in time of possession.  Their defense has played the 3rd fewest plays in the NFL.

Compare that to Philadelphia, who is currently last in the NFL in time of possession and has faced the most plays defensively in the NFL.  Comparing to Arizona’s 166 times, Philadelphia has faced 3rd down 188 times.  That’s 30th in the NFL.

Watch the early portion of this game.  If Arizona can get Philadelphia off the field quickly early on in the game, it’ll be a tough night for the Eagles.  If the Eagles hold onto the ball and drive the field, it will begin to play off in the 3rd and 4th quarters.

Takeaways - NFL Week 14

(Elias) – The Carolina Panthers have now won 17 straight regular season games.  The Panthers are now the 6th NFL team in history to put together that type of run.

The Falcons were shutout for the first time since December of 2004 when they were beaten by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-0.

(ESPN) Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is getting hot at the right now.  Wilson threw 5 touchdown passes in the Seahawks victory over the Ravens.  He’s also now the 4th quarterback in the Super Bowl era to throw at least three touchdown passes in 4 straight games.  The others: Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady).

(ESPN) The only players with multiple 5 touchdown pass games this season, Cam Newton and Russell Wilson.

(ESPN) The New England Patriots have scored at the end of the half and on the 2nd half kickoff 16 times since 2009.  That leads the NFL over that time.  Last night it was a 10 point swing.

(ESPN) Guess who’s getting hot, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles.  Bortles has now thrown for 8 touchdowns and 0 interceptions in his past 2 games.

The Colts, dating back to their days in Baltimore, had not allowed 45 points in back-to-back since 1954.  That occurred with the Jaguars victory over the Colts.

(ESPN) Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is getting hot at the right now.  Wilson threw 5 touchdown passes in the Seahawks victory over the Ravens.  He’s also now the 4th quarterback in the Super Bowl era to throw at least three touchdown passes in 4 straight games.  The others: Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady).

(ESPN) The New Orleans Saints beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa.  Drew Brees threw for 312 yards, which marked the 93rd time in his career that he’s thrown for 300 yards.  That now ties him with Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning for the all-time record in that category.

(Elias) The Kansas City Chiefs have their season back after winning 7 straight games after losing 5 straight games.  The only other team to have those two types of streaks in one season were the 1970 Bengals.

(ESPN) Oakland Raiders LB Khalil Mack had 5 sacks on Sunday against the Broncos.  He’s the first player since 2012 to have 5 sacks in game. (Aldon Smith)

(Elias) Marcus Mariota had a 40 yard TD catch on a trick play yesterday in the Titans blowout loss to the New York Jets.  He now joins former Steelers quarterback, Kordell Stewart, as the only quarterback with a 40 yard TD run and a 40 yard TD catch in the same season.

Takeaways - NFL Week 13

(Bleacher Report) Since the start of 1990 and the current NFL Playoff format, four teams have started 5-0 and missed the playoffs.  The 2009 Broncos (6-0) (8-8), the 2009 Giants (5-0) (8-8), the 2003 Vikings (6-0) (9-7) and the 1993 Saints (5-0) (8-8).  The Falcons could be the 5th team since 1990 as they currently sit at 6-6.

(Elias) Julio Jones has reached 100 catches by the 12th game of the season.  He is the 2nd player in NFL history to accomplish the feat.  The last to do so, Marvin Harrison in 2002 when he set the NFL record with 143 catches.

(ESPN) The Panthers are now the 9th team since the Super Bowl era began to start a season 12-0.  Six of those teams have made the Super Bowl.  Four of those teams have won it.

(PFF) Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly is missing a tackle every 41.5 attempts. The next closest to that number is Seattle linebacker KJ Wright.  Who’s missing one everyone 30 attempts.

New Orleans Saints cornerback Brandon Browner is now a record holder.  Browner is the most penalized defensive back in the NFL since 2007.  His 19 total penalties (Defensive Holding (10), Face Mask (15 Yards) (3), Defensive Pass Interference (3), Unnecessary Roughness (2),Defensive Offside (1), Illegal Contact (1), Illegal Block Above the Waist (1)) … means he has been penalized 8 more times than the next closest NFL player. (11 for Greg Robinson…who can’t play tackle)  The most penalized Falcon…Andy Levitre with 7…(4 offensive holds…3 false starts)  Robert Alford with 6.

(Elias) The New England Patriots suffered back to back losses for the first time since 2012.  They had gone 56 games without such a streak. The next closest is currently the Carolina Panthers with 15 games without losing back to back games.

The Philadelphia Eagles scored on a punt return, a pick six, and a blocked kick for a touchdown.  Their leading rusher had 66 yards.  The only team in NFL history to have scored those three ways in a game was previous…the Philadelphia Eagles.

(ESPN) Tom Brady threw the longest pick six of his career, and has thrown two pick sixes for the first time in a season since 2001.

Speaking of pick sixes, San Diego Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers threw one yesterday.  That is now 5 pick sixes so far this season, the most in the NFL.

(ESPN) Marcus Mariota threw three touchdown passes yesterday and also ran for over 100 yards in the Titans victory over the Jaguars.  Mariota had an 87 yard touchdown run, that’s the 3rd longest for a QB since 1970.  The longest: Terrelle Pryor (93 – 2013), Colin Kaepernick (90 – 2014).

(NFL) New York Jets receiver Brandon Marshall has gone over 1,000 yards receiving.  He is now the first player in NFL history to have gone over 1,000 with four different teams.  Broncos – Dolphins – Bears – Jets.

Odell Beckham Jr: now five straight games with over 100 yards receiving.

(ESPN) Steelers receiver Antonio Brown caught two touchdowns and returned a punt for another.  He’s the 2nd player since the merger to do that, with Browns receiver Travis Benjamin being the other this year.