NFL - NEWS & NOTES

LeVeon Bell released by Ravens.

 

BB is just an amazing coach I thought it be a down year for the Patriots but I thought wrong

 

Titans are an unprecedented 7-0 through 10 games against last year’s playoff teams



The Titans are 8-2, tied for the best record in the NFL. But perhaps even more noteworthy than the number of wins they have is the identity of the teams they’ve beaten.

Specifically, Tennessee is 7-0 against teams that made the playoffs last season. According to ESPN, the Titans are the first team since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to win seven games against the previous season’s playoff teams through the first 10 weeks of the season.


The seven games against 2020 playoff teams the Titans have won are the Colts twice as well as the Seahawks, Bills, Chiefs, Rams and Saints.

The Titans also, of course, have a loss to the Jets, one of the worst teams in the NFL both this year and last year. Call that game the ultimate example of how any team can beat any team on any given Sunday.

PFT

 

This may seem off topic at first but bear with me.

What you are describing is something that has been introduced for international rugby. You basically cant get away with anything in rugby anymore, even stuff i dont see at all watching on tv, the ref will get a voice in his ear and blow the whistle, then sure enough, the replay will highlight the transgression.

Now, having the whistle being blown 30seconds after the event when the play has already moved on can be annoying(especially when your team is moving the ball), but it has led to an improvement in officiating imo. And here's the big thing; rugby is a free flowing sport which means it doesnt naturally setup as well for these types of stoppages, but football is essentially a series of set plays, its setup perfectly for these stoppages. Basically outside of 2min drills you've got 40seconds to make a decision every time!

There would be some areas of frustration perhaps. We all know holding could be called every play. But for the most part this would be a hugely positive development imo. The blown calls would go out the window, the standard would go up massively. Frankly something like this needs to happen. It cant continue like this.

 

I agree, with all change comes some degree of frustration, but the end product would be vastly improved imho.

 

Chargers put Joey Bosa, Jerry Tillery on COVID-19 reserve list



The Steelers may be missing quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick next Sunday night due to COVID-19 protocols and the Chargers may be without a pair of defensive linemen.

Defensive end Joey Bosa and defensive tackle Jerry Tillery have been placed on the COVID-19 reserve list. Vaccinated players who tested positive can return in under 10 days if they’re asymptomatic and receive two negative tests 24 hours apart. Unvaccinated players are out 10 days for testing positive and five days if they were close contacts to someone who did.


Bosa has 28 tackles, 5.5 sacks and three forced fumbles this season. Tillery has 30 tackles and 2.5 sacks while playing 81 percent of the team’s defensive snaps.

Linebacker Drue Tranquill is the only other Chargers player currently on the COVID-19 reserve list.

PFT

 

You have to be subjective with the penalties you call from the booth. You can’t call everything. Some egregious penalty misses or blown calls should be on the table. But for the most part they should stay away from holding and pass interference. If they stopped holding from happening it probably would signal the end of the franchise QB because they would be on injured reserve all the time.

False starts, offsides, face mask, personal foul , illegal motion, illegal procedure should be called 100% of the time from the booth if missed on the field.

 

Cordarrelle Patterson will be a game-time decision



The Falcons don’t plan on making a decision about running back Cordarrelle Patterson‘s status for Thursday night’s game against the Patriots until just before the game gets underway.

Falcons head coach Arthur Smith said on Wednesday that Patterson will be a game-time decision due to the ankle injury he picked up in last Sunday’s game against the Cowboys. Patterson has been listed as a limited participant in practice this week.


Patterson leads the Falcons in rushing yards, receiving touchdowns, and overall touchdowns this season, so his absence would be a big one for their offense.

The full list of injury designations will be released later on Wednesday. Tight end Hayden Hurst (ankle), linebacker Daren Bates (groin), and defensive back Kendall Sheffield (hamstring) will likely be getting them after being listed as non-participants in practice the last two days.

PFT

 

Missed blown calls are what I am talking about. Pass interference should CERTAINLY be on the table.

Holding is a whole other animal. It isn't a case of calling it on every play, they need to change the rule completely so that it is different for certain players. They need to loosen the definition of holding so that the less known names aren't getting called holding, while on the other side of the ball someone like TJ Watt is getting tackled with a no call. Make it a fair rule where the TJ Watts and Myles Garretts can be wrangled, but those ridiculous holding calls against no names would no longer be called either.

Agreed. These calls are being called regularly, it isn't like there will be a 150% uptick in penalties. It's just that the ones that are missed would be caught by the eagle eye. Probably, in reality the increase in calls will be closer to 10% rise in calls, or on the other side of the coin, over ruling mis-calls would probably wipe the missed calls uptick out. I think there are more wrong calls made, than calls that are missed altogether. They huddle up and if no one had a better look, they stick to the call they don't go to the booth. If they had a dedicated booth each referee could have a microphone hooked to that booth so they immediately know what they are calling a foul on and can get a much better look to verify the foul.

 

But the refs let players false start when they are blocking Watt or Garrett which is a very big advantage if you can get to the spot to block them easily. It gets very old watching OTs false start every pass play and not get called for it.

 

Patriots-Falcons Preview


ATLANTA (AP) Tom Brady has moved on to win a seventh championship at Tampa Bay.

Only a handful of Atlanta players remain from that fateful night in Houston.

Yet memories of the greatest comeback - and flop - in Super Bowl history still linger, especially when the Falcons are facing the New England Patriots.

The teams meet Thursday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, exactly 1,747 days since the Brady-led Patriots rallied from a 28-3 deficit to beat the Falcons 34-28 in overtime at the 51st Super Bowl.

Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan, one of only a handful of players left from the team that couldn't hold a 25-point lead, said he's long since put that miserable evening in the rearview mirror.

''I'm not worried about what happened in the winter of 2017,'' he said. ''You can't go back and win that game.''

Brady captured one more championship with the Patriots - at a Super Bowl played in Atlanta, no less - before signing in 2020 with the Buccaneers, who face the Falcons twice a year as a divisional rival.

Rubbing a bit more salt in the wound, Brady has won three more games against Atlanta with his new team.

None of that matters to Ryan, who is more concerned about these Falcons (4-5) and how poorly he played in an ugly 43-3 loss to the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday.

Nothing that happens Thursday night will have any impact on that Super Bowl from five seasons ago.

''You have to move on from it and try to do everything we can to get ourselves back to .500,'' Ryan said. ''I really don't think it exorcises any demons or anything like that. That game is over and has been played.''

After missing the playoffs last season, the Patriots finally seem to have found their footing in the post-Brady era behind rookie quarterback Mac Jones.

New England (6-4) is one of the league's hottest teams, winning four straight games and five of the past six. The Patriots are coming off their most impressive showing of the season, a 45-7 rout of the Cleveland Browns.

Just 10 games into his career, Jones has already established himself as a leader in the Patriots locker room.

''I think that just happens naturally,'' he said. ''Really good leaders, they're themselves. They don't try to be somebody else. They just do what they are supposed to do, and they do it to the best of their ability.''

INVISIBLE RECEIVERS

Coming off the lowest-rated game of his 14-year career, Ryan must find a way to get his wideouts more involved in the offense.

They were basically invisible in the Dallas debacle, combining for just 36 yards on four catches.

Tight end Kyle Pitts is a huge weapon, but the Falcons have major problems at the receiver position after trading Julio Jones and losing his heir apparent, Calvin Ridley, who will miss his fourth straight game while dealing with mental health issues.

Against Dallas, the Falcons trailed 36-3 at halftime. They went on to take their worst loss since 2004.

''We're still 4-5,'' said Ryan, who was 9 of 21 passing for just 117 yards with two interceptions. ''I've been in worst situations, for sure. Obviously, it was an ugly game, but it was just one.''

RUN STOPPERS

The Patriots have held two straight opponents under 100 yards rushing, and they'll be looking to extend that streak against an Atlanta team that has struggled to run the ball.

The Falcons are averaging 82.9 yards per game on the ground, 29th in the NFL.

Compounding their problems, top running back Cordarrelle Patterson - who won a Super Bowl with the Patriots in 2018 - could miss the game because of an ankle injury.

''They're missing some good players,'' New England linebacker Dont'a Hightower said, ''but they have some guys on their roster that I'm sure are ready to step up.''

HAPPY TO BE BACK

Patriots right tackle Trent Brown's return last weekend was bittersweet.

Not only was it his first game back from a calf injury in the season opener that put him on injured reserve, it was against a Cleveland team he was about to face last November when he ''almost died.''

Playing for the Raiders, Brown was going through his normal pregame routine, including getting some extra fluid via an IV. That's when air was accidentally injected into his bloodstream, nearly sending him into cardiac arrest.

He spent three days in the hospital, took about eight months to fully recover, and even contemplated retirement.

''It was scary,'' Brown said. ''I definitely thought about my kids.''

Now that he's back from the calf injury, the Patriots are nearly at full strength on the offensive line for the first time since their opener.

ONE MORE THING ABOUT THAT GAME

The Patriots have only 12 players on their roster who were part of their historic Super Bowl win over the Falcons.

Linebacker Matt Judon wasn't one of them, having just finished his rookie season in Baltimore. But he said he remembers watching from afar.

''That screenshot (showing Atlanta ahead 28-3) and then Brady's head down. And they came back and won,'' Judon said. ''That's what this team is about - it's resilient. Never dying. Never say never. It ain't over until it is.''

SI

 

I would rather let THAT go than TWO defenders with their arms draped over the pass rushers shoulder pads Literally holding that player after he has beaten the double team.

I’m ok with giving them a chance, merely to save the QB. The blatant fouls MUST be called.

 

Sean Payton: Everyone involved in NFL deserves better officiating



Saints head coach Sean Payton said he had no comment on a costly roughing the passer call against his team after last Sunday’s loss to the Titans, but shared some of his opinion on Monday when he noted the penalty is for “roughing” after further questions about it.

Payton was on The Dan Patrick Show Thursday and he used a question about his reaction to that call to speak about officiating around the league. Payton said there are instances each week when officials are “not up to speed” and noted the Bears’ loss to the Steelers a couple of weeks ago before going on to say the “problems start at the top.


Payton, who recently left the NFL’s Competition Committee, said the league needs to “reduce the variables” involved with officiating starting from a “leadership perspective and training perspective” in order to make the necessary improvements to the game.

“We have to improve. Everyone watching and participating and involved in it deserves better,” Payton said.

Payton shared his belief that officials should have full-time jobs and wondered how 17 different crews can be expected to be on the same page under the current system. The NFL has shown no real appetite for going that route, but a continued spotlight on officiating errors may increase calls for a change.

PFT

 

Thursday Night Football: Patriots defense leads way in 25-0 shutout of Falcons



The New England Patriots defense continues to dominant opponents and pitched a shutout against the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night.

Kyle Van Noy picked off backup quarterback Josh Rosen and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown to put an exclamation point on the defensive effort for the Patriots in the 25-0 win over Atlanta.


The Patriots defense has not allowed any points in their last 19 possessions dating back to the opening drive of last week’s game against the Cleveland Browns. They’ve allowed just 13 points total over the last three games in victories over the Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns and Falcons. The Panthers scored six points on a pair of field goals. The Browns scored a lone touchdown from Austin Hooper on their opening drive last week and the Falcons were skunked on Thursday night.

Mac Jones completed 22 of 26 passes for 207 yards and a 19-yard touchdown pass to Nelson Agholor, and Nick Folk converted four field goals to lead the Patriots’ offensive effort.

It’s the first shutout for the Patriots since a 45-0 win over the Los Angeles Chargers last season. For the Falcons, it’s their first time being shutout since a 38-0 loss to the Panthers in 2015. It’s the first time they’ve been shutout at home since a 33-0 Los Angeles Rams victory in 1988.

The Patriots intercepted four passed off Falcons quarterbacks in the fourth quarter.

Devin McCourty and J.C. Jackson each hauled in interceptions off Matt Ryan that led to a pair of Folk field goals to extend the lead to 19-0. Van Noy’s pick-six off Rosen made it a 25-0 game and then Adrian Phillips intercepted third-string quarterback Feleipe Franks on the final possession of the game for Atlanta.

Folk’s 32-yard field goal got the Patriots on the board in the first quarter before Jones and Agholor connected for the only touchdown of the night to give New England a 10-0 lead.

The Falcons then had one of several promising drives come up empty.

After reaching the Patriots’ 14-yard line, Ryan took a 13-yard sack to push the Falcons into a lengthy field goal try. Younghoe Koo converted from 45 yards only to have an illegal formation penalty negate the kick. Koo would then miss from 50 yards to keep the zero on the board.

Folk added a 44-yard field goal to take a 13-0 lead into halftime.

After Jones was intercepted by A.J. Terrell in the third quarter, the Falcons 20-yard line only to have a pair of runs stuffed on third- and fourth-and-1 for a turnover on downs. The Falcons then threw interceptions on each of their final four possessions of the game.

Ryan completed 19 of 28 passes for 153 yards with two interceptions for Atlanta. The Falcons managed just 165 yards of total offense on the night. It’s the fewest yards gained by Atlanta since having just 131 yards of offense in a 26-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in 2018.

The Falcons have not scored a touchdown in two games as they lost 43-3 to the Dallas Cowboys last week. Their last touchdown was a 6-yard touchdown from Olamide Zaccheaus on a pass from Matt Ryan in the fourth quarter of their Week Nine win over the New Orleans Saints.

PFT

 

Browns activate Nick Chubb, Demetric Felton



The Browns have all of their running backs available for Sunday’s game against the Lions.

The team announced that Nick Chubb and Demetric Felton have been activated from the COVID-19 reserve list. Both players missed last Sunday’s loss to the Patriots along with John Kelly, who was activated from the same list on Thursday.


Chubb and Felton will be able to practice on Friday and we’ll know any injury designations they might have this afternoon.

The team could use as much help in the backfield as they can get this weekend. Quarterback Baker Mayfield is dealing with three injuries and wide receivers Jarvis Landry, Donovan Peoples-Jones, and Anthony Schwartz have all missed practice time this week.

PFT

 

Dallas Goedert is staying in Philadelphia.

The Eagles tight end agreed to terms with the club on a four-year extension through 2025, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported Friday. The team later announced the agreement.

Goedert's deal is for $57 million and includes $35 million guaranteed, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, per a source.

NFL.com

 

The Bears had let edge rusher Khalil Mack rest for the past few weeks in an effort to let his foot injury heal.

Apparently, it wasn’t enough.


Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, Mack will undergo season-ending foot surgery and will be placed on injured reserve.

Mack suffered the foot injury in Chicago’s Week Three loss to Cleveland, but played through it for four more games before the Bears shut him down in Week Eight. Mack tallied 3.0 sacks while playing through the injury and will finish the 2021 season with 6.0. He also totaled six tackles for loss in seven games.

Prior to this season, Mack had never played fewer than 14 games in a season. That mark came in Mack’s first campaign with the Bears back in 2018.

Chicago will take on Baltimore in Week 11.

 

Linebacker Danny Trevathan will miss the rest of the Bears’ season.

Trevathan was placed on injured reserve on Friday. He missed the first two days of practice this week with a knee injury. He also missed the first four games of the season while on injured reserve with a knee injury and the return trip means that he will not be eligible to come back to the active roster.


Trevathan made his first start of the season in the Week Nine loss to the Steelers. He had seven tackles in that game and 19 tackles in five overall appearances.

The Bears filled his roster spot by signing Cassius Marsh off the practice squad. Marsh was involved in a key play in that Steelers game when he was flagged for taunting after sacking Ben Roethlisberger in the fourth quarter. Referee Tony Corrente’s call was met with much criticism from fans and in the media, but the NFL said it was correct and fined Marsh last week.

The Bears also confirmed the signing of veteran edge rusher Bruce Irvin to their practice squad.

PFT