NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Is there any significance to this game tonight? Tell me, please.

 

It's gonna be all Gruden all day. If you must watch do so on mute.

 

Monday nights get whatever comes up with. The significance is that you can go out and do some last minute christmas shopping..

 

Um, NO!

lol, id do some last minute Christmas shopping if it were for me.

 

I'm rooting for the Raiders, or more specifically for the Broncos to look clueless. It's happening so far - that delay of game on 4th and 1 and the lack of outside contain on the second touchdown make it appear that Denver isn't a well-coached team.

It's a pipe dream, but if the Broncos fall apart and decide to fire Vance Joseph, then Broncos OC Bill Musgrave will likely become available as well. I think most people here know I wanted him for Atlanta when Oakland let him go two years ago. (I even traded a draft pick for him in the mock GM thing. As weird as it may have seemed at the time, I'll still stand by that being a damn good move.)

There's a lot of speculation that our own OC is on the hot seat. I'm not truly convinced that Sark is going anywhere, and I'm even less convinced that Dan Quinn would bring in a truly good OC even if he does make a change. They'd probably promote Greg Knapp or go with one of Quinn's buddies from Seattle or his college days instead and waste Matt Ryan's remaining good years.

But if it's going to happen, the first step would be for Musgrave to become available again. That means I need a new coaching staff in Denver. So at least for tonight, GO RAIDERS!


Jets and Cardinals fans are probably also rooting for Oakland (London? I love it.) for the draft implications.

 

Raiders Win...



Back-to-back losing seasons for the Broncos...

 

Hard to say if it really was Oakland or if the imploding Broncos just made them look good, but the Raiders actually looked like a team on the rise tonight. Throw in that they have four of the top forty picks in the upcoming draft, and they might actually be a GOOD team by the time they get to Vegas.

I mentioned above that I love the idea that surfaced earlier today about them playing their home games in London next season. If the league really is set on at least four games in London each year (four have been announced for 2019 - two at Wembley and two at Tottenham's new stadium), then four teams are sacrificing a home game to make it happen. I won't say it's a "win-win", but given that the Raiders are currently homeless for 2019, having them be that "home" team as much as possible would minimize the damage.

An added touch would be to work in at least two games at Sam Boyd along with the London games. With a seating capacity of less than 36,000, it's not suitable for a full season of NFL games. But it would be a great move to get in a few games in Las Vegas in 2019 if possible.

 

Todd Gurley could sit out another week...

The Rams expected Todd Gurley to play up until game time Sunday. He didn’t.

Nothing has changed this week.

If Gurley is ready to play, he’ll play. If he’s not, he won’t.

“It’s kind of the same place we were at,” Rams coach Sean McVay told beat reporters Monday in a conference call. “He came in, was feeling good today. We’re just taking it a day at a time right now. . . .I know he’s done a nice job with his rehab. No real updates, but we’re just kind of going to take it day-to-day with Todd.”

The Rams made the decision to make Gurley inactive after putting him through a pregame workout. He has dealt with left knee inflammation since Week 15.

“We want to do what’s best for Todd most importantly and what’s best for Todd is also what’s best for our football team,” McVay said. “We don’t want to do anything where we’re putting him in harm’s way, if we feel like it could be something where we’re putting him at risk. But if he’s getting back, if he’s feeling good, then the anticipation is getting him ready to go. But we’re just going to take this one day at a time right now.

“It was good to see what [C.J. Anderson and John Kelly] did yesterday, but nothing changes with regards to our approach with Todd. If we can get him ready to go, then that’s what we’ll do. and if not, then we’ll just kind of play that by ear.”

The Rams are playing for a first-round bye. A Rams loss to the 49ers plus a Bears victory over the Vikings would force the Rams to play wild-card weekend.

Gurley still ranks second in rushing with 1,251 yards, trailing NFL-leader Ezekiel Elliott by 183 yards. The Cowboys are playing for nothing Sunday against the Giants, having already clinched the NFC East and locked into the fourth seed.

The Rams are unconcerned if Gurley goes four weeks between games. He last played in Week 15. If he sits out this week, and the Rams get a bye, he wouldn’t play again until the divisional round.

McVay rested his star players in the preseason, and they didn’t miss a beat in the season opener against Oakland.

“You’d obviously like to be able to get these guys as much work as possible, but most importantly is the health,” McVay said. “. . .Would it be ideal? No. But is it something that you’re going to be concerned with? No.

“I think we have a lot of confidence in Todd, and if he’s ready to go, then he’ll be good to go, and he’ll be sharp whenever that is.” (PFT)

 

Playoffs will feature at least five teams that didn’t qualify in 2017...

Yes, the Patriots have clinched a 10th consecutive division title, but they are an anomaly.

For 29 consecutive seasons (1990-2018), the NFL has turned over at least 25 percent of the playoff field from one year to the next.

Five teams already qualified for the playoffs after missing the postseason in 2017 — the Bears, Cowboys, Texans, Chargers and Seahawks. The Ravens and Colts still could qualify for the postseason after staying home during the playoffs last season.

Since the 12-team playoff format was adopted in 1990, at least four teams have qualified for the playoffs in every season that were not in the postseason the previous year.

Chicago has clinched a division title after a last place finish a year ago. In 15 of the past 16 seasons, at least one team has gone from last or tied for last place to a division championship.

If Houston clinches the AFC South on Sunday, it would mark the second consecutive season that two teams go from worst to first (Jacksonville and Philadelphia in 2017). That is something that has never happened in any other major U.S. sport. (PFT)

 

This might be the "new normal". The NFC alone had five playoff teams last year that had not made the postseason in 2016.

 

I agree with you. Todays NFL is very close in the form of parody and the ol' adage; "on any given Sunday", holds true.

Its actually a good thing for the NFL, in my opinion. Brings more cities into the spotlight and it must be good for viewership, sponsorship, ratings and revenue. Its a Forest Gump league now... 'you never know what your going to get'.

 

I know people think Joe and I make too much of the weird twist of fate that has Atlanta playing Philadelphia every year. But here's just how freaky it is.

Three weeks ago, Atlanta was dead last in the NFC South at 4-8 and playing like they were simply mailing it in, They looked crippled and hopeless. Meanwhile the Eagles were about to face Dallas with the division lead at stake.

There seemed to be no chance that the two teams would end up in the same place in their respective divisions.

Three weeks later, if the Saints beat the Panthers (just eliminated and without Cam Newton) OR if the suddenly rejuvenated Falcons can beat the Buccaneers (who have lost three straight and have their head coach on the hot seat) OR if both games end in a tie, then the Falcons would finish as division runner-ups and will face the Eagles yet again next season.


If this happens, it will be the 15th time in the 18 years since the league went to the 8-division structure that the two teams will have faced each other.

 

Seahawks can match record for fewest turnovers in a season...

The Seattle Seahawks have given away the football just 10 times through 15 games this season. If they can get through another 60 minutes of football Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals without a turnover, they’ll equal the league record for fewest turnovers in a season.

The record of 10 turnovers in a season is shared by the 2010 New England Patriots and 2011 San Francisco 49ers.

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll can be like a broken record to his players emphasizing his belief “it’s all about the ball.” Turnovers are perhaps the single thing he harps on most as a coach, so the thought of potentially matching the league record for fewest turnovers is music to his ears.

“It’s the No. 1 thing that we emphasize and we’ve been doing it for a long time,” Carroll said on Wednesday. “What our challenge is, is how well can we emphasize it? And how well can we transfer than emphasis so they adopt that as part of their play? The mentality of it; there is a constancy that just goes away if you don’t. You have to be on it because there are unnatural aspects of it when you play the things that you have to do. You have to train and drill with the highest of expectations to get it done.

“It is such a big deal around here that guys get put on the screen and they get hammered and they get whatever – they get hooted out or whatever if they’re even loose with the ball a little bit.”

Much like the increases in completion percentage and passer rating in recent years, teams have become far more adept at not giving the ball away. As recently as a decade ago, the best turnover seasons in league history had been somewhat dated. The 1982 Kansas City Chiefs held the record with just 12 turnovers. The 1943 and 1990 New York Giants, and 1959 Cleveland Browns were tied for next on the list with 14 turnovers.

However, the top of the list has been flooded in the past few seasons. Assuming the Seahawks don’t turn the ball over more than twice on Sunday, eight of the nine best turnover seasons in history will have come since 2010 with six of those coming in the last three years.

The 2016 Atlanta Falcons (11), 2016 New England Patriots (11), 2017 Kansas City Chiefs (11), 2016 Buffalo Bills (12) and 2017 New England Patriots (12) all have joined the top of the list. The 1982 Chiefs are the only team outside of the last decade still in the conversation.

The Seahawks had five turnovers in their first two games – three interceptions from Russell Wilson and lost fumbles by Wilson and Chris Carson. They’ve turned the ball over just once in their last five games.

Seattle also leads the league in turnover margin at plus-14. The Chicago Bears and Houston Texans, both at plus-12, are the only other teams with a turnover margin of at least plus-10. (PFT)
____________
____________________________

That's quite an accomplishment when you stop and think about it.

 

Adrian Peterson would love to be back in Washington...

Adrian Peterson was a last minute addition to the Washington roster this season and he let it be known on Thursday that he’d like to sign up for another tour.

Peterson was signed after second-round pick Derrius Guice tore his ACL in August and he’s expected back for the 2019 season. Chris Thompson is on hand in the backfield as well, but Peterson said he thinks “having two guys that can pound the ball and have a no-plays-off mentality” along with Thompson can work.

“I would love to come back here and finish off on a better note,” Peterson said, via ESPN.com. “We have a great group of guys here — all the adversity we’ve faced this year and how guys have responded. To come to work and really stay focused shows a lot about this team, this locker room, coaches as well. … That’s something I would love to be a part of.”

If things don’t work out for a return engagement, Peterson believes he’s shown enough to generate interest elsewhere. He’s run 247 times for 1,042 yards and seven touchdowns and said “you’re blind” if you can’t see that he has a lot of football left in the tank. (PFT)

 

Rams rule Todd Gurley out of regular season finale...

The Rams are going to err on the side of caution. Having a backup go wild the week before made it an easier decision.

The Rams officially ruled running back Todd Gurley out of Sunday’s regular season finale against the 49ers, giving him time to rest his ailing left knee.


He also sat out last week’s game, when off-the-street pickup C.J. Anderson went nuts in his place, carrying 20 times for 167 yards against the Cardinals.

The Rams are locked into a playoff berth, and need a win or tie against the 49ers or a Bears loss or tie against the Vikings to wrap up a first-round bye. That should be easy enough to accomplish, while giving Gurley time to rest for games with more on the line.

Gurley finishes the regular season with 1,831 yards from scrimmage and 21 touchdowns.

 

Raiders will have Jordy Nelson back in 2019...

Receiver Jordy Nelson will return to the Raiders for the final season of the two-year, $14.2 million contract he signed in March. Raiders coach Jon Gruden confirmed that Friday, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The Raiders paid 2019 roster bonuses to Nelson ($3.6 million), linebacker Tahir Whitehead ($3.325), linebacker Kyle Wilber ($500,000) and tight end Lee Smith ($1.1 million) this week, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

“Normally when you hand out a bonus for next year’s season, there’s a pretty good chance those guys are coming back,” Gruden said.

The payouts become prorated over 2018 and 2019, freeing up money for next season.

Nelson, 33, has 54 catches for 661 yards, including 29 catches for 308 yards in his past four games since returning to health from a knee injury.

“If you watch Jordy play carefully the last four weeks when he’s been healthy, you see what he’s capable of doing,” Gruden said. “And I think as we continue to improve this football team around some of the core guys that are here, I think you can even see better and better days ahead. So yeah, he’ll be back.”

Nelson will turn 34 in May. Larry Fitzgerald and Brandon Marshall have caught passes at 34 or older this season. (PFT)

 

being an Eagles fan and Philly native resident this debate has recently grown to be a big argument the last 4 weeks-do the eagles keep nick foles or carson wentz ? it's not that simple. now foles' contract expires this off-season. the eagles need the cap space from that contract. wentz has 2 years left and wants an extension to be over $27-30 mil a season. foles is the reigning Super Bowl MVP. Wentz has now had 2 season ending injuries and looks to be a 77 Gremlin from the reliability department. with a win and minnesota loss this sunday night, Foles will have led the Eagles back to the Playoffs after being under .500 with Wentz. I don't think Foles has ever started more than 11 games in 1 season. Wentz seems to can't finish a season. Wentz would bring a lot in trade value and Foles would make less than what wentz wants in a year or 2 via extension. what do the eagles do ?

if the eagles can get into the playoffs and somehow win a game on the road, the decision will be that much tougher for GM Howie Roseman this off-season. to me it's not just cut and dry "get rid of Foles!" Wentz has had 2 huge injuries now. can they rely on him in future seasons? fans have been saying this year on media outlets that the team responds and plays better for Foles than for Wentz. i don't know about that. lots to consider for sure in south philly...?

 

There is no scenario where the Eagles consider moving on from Wentz.

 

They weren't under .500 because of Wentz.

Nor should they.