NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Parity?

 

I know the league strives to achieve that. And sure, a year here or a year there. But have they ever done that consistently for any length of time? Interesting thought though. We've known about "home field" for decades. But for it to just up and disappear like that. There has to be a bigger reason. We just haven't figured it out yet.

 

Pretty sure you're over thinking it.

There's no reason. It's just happened. There will be years where home teams dominate, years where it's even, and years where road teams might win slightly more games. Probability. For something to be the average there has to be a range of outcomes.

 

I'm not so sure. Now I'm not going to say your wrong, but this is just too big a swing in the numbers to ignore. For the 10 years pervious to the 2019 season, I've seen home teams win as few as 52% of all the games played in a season. Seen it as high as almost 58%. In a "normal" year, it's usually +/- 54%. And now the home teams are losing games? Just doesn't make sense. But who knows. You could be right.

 

No, you’re right. It’s a conspiracy to derail your choices in baby’s pickem.

 

Perhapse some of the covid protocols have cut down on things away team used to do and now under a more ridgid structure they are getting proper rest and are showing up at games more focused.

 

Meanwhile...

T.J. Watt is expected to play against Bengals on Sunday



After missing last week’s loss to the Chargers, edge rusher T.J. Watt should be on the field for Pittsburgh’s Sunday matchup against Cincinnati.

Watt was a full participant in the Steelers’ Friday practice and has no game status for Week 12. Watt was listed as limited on Wednesday and Thursday.


The star edge rusher has recorded 12.5 sacks in eight games, while also registering three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, four passes defensed, 13 tackles for loss, and 20 quarterback hits.

Watt missed Pittsburgh’s Week Three loss to the Bengals with a groin injury.

The Steelers have a chance to get all three key defensive players they were missing for last week back against Cincinnati. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was activated off the COVID-19 list. And cornerback Joe Haden (foot) is questionable for the contest. Haden did not practice Wednesday but was limited on Thursday and Friday.

Pittsburgh has only ruled out a pair of players: offensive lineman J.C. Hassenauer and tight end Eric Ebron. Neither player practiced this week.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (pectoral/right shoulder), cornerback Arthur Maulet (illness), guard Trai Turner (knee), defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk (groin) all have no injury status and are expected to play.

PFT

 

I KNEW IT !!!!!

There's no other answer!

You heard it here first folks!

 

Road players on the field minus hangovers. And the home team gets to stay home and drink their fill. I like it!

 

Bills CB Tre'Davious White out for season with torn ACL

The Buffalo Bills have lost one of their most important players for the remainder of 2021.

Cornerback Tre'Davious White suffered a torn ACL in Buffalo's Thanksgiving win over the New Orleans Saints, the team announced following an MRI on White's knee. White's injury means he's done for this season.

A former first-round pick out of LSU in 2017, White is a two-time All-Pro (one first-team, one second-team) and Pro Bowler who has become an integral part of Buffalo's defense in the last two seasons. His 2021 campaign wasn't quite as stellar up until his injury, as he'd posted an overall defensive grade that placed him in a tie for 43rd in the NFL among all cornerbacks, per Pro Football Focus.

White's 2021 season ended with just one interception and six passes defensed, but he remained excellent at preventing expected completions, posting a completion percentage allowed over expectation of -12.3 percent, per Next Gen Stats. Teammate Taron Johnson was the only other Bills corner with a better CPOE allowed (-25.7 percent) on 13 less targets as the nearest defender through 12 weeks.

Johnson is listed behind White on Buffalo's depth chart, but he's spent 2021 as Buffalo's primary slot corner, where he's found success. With Dane Jackson and Siran Neal available behind them, it'll be interesting to see if Buffalo moves Johnson out to the perimeter to replace White, or keeps him in his slot corner role and relies on the aforementioned backups to fill the void. On Thursday night, Johnson spent most of his snaps aligning near the slot receiver, while Jackson replaced White.

At 7-4, Buffalo is tied with the upstart New England Patriots atop the AFC East, riding a hot start to build its lead before weathering a tumultuous last month to remain in contention for the division crown. The Bills will play their first full game without White against the Patriots in Week 13 in front of a national audience, as Buffalo hosts New England at Highmark Stadium on Monday Night Football.

NFL.com

 

Micah Parsons breaks Cowboys' rookie sack record

Rookie linebacker Micah Parsons continues to be the one bright spot on a Dallas Cowboys defense that allowed 509 total yards in Thursday's 36-33 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.

In overtime, Parsons took down Raiders quarterback Derek Carr for his ninth sack of the season, breaking the Cowboys rookie record set by former Defensive Rookie of the Year and four-time first-team All-Pro pass rusher DeMarcus Ware.




The record highlights the massive impact the Defensive Rookie of the Year front-runner has had for the Cowboys D. At times Thursday it seemed as though Parsons was single-handedly keeping Dallas in the game.

In addition to his sack, the rookie added seven total pressures, four hurries, five QB hits, and five tackles against the Raiders.

Every week, Parsons' quickness and closing ability are on display. The freakish athlete owns speed and power that few 6-foot-3, 245-pound players possess. Quarterbacks and ball carriers often seem stunned that Parsons is on them like a supersonic jet chasing the Goodyear blimp.

After taking down the Cowboys' record, Parsons has six games remaining to chase the all-time rookie sack record set by former Tennessee Titans and Philadelphia Eagles pass rusher Jevon Kearse, who netted 14.5 in 1999.

NFL.com

 

Oddly enough, the standard deviation in teams' overall winning percentages was greater in 2020 than it was in 2017 - meaning that the league as a whole was closer to parity in 2017 (in spite of Cleveland) than in 2020.

And yet 2019 had the lowest home field advantage in the 42 years of playing the 16-game schedule, 2020 had even lower home field advantage, and now the home teams will really have to rally in the back end of the 2021 season just to break even.

Whatever is causing this, it's a real trend.

 

Clyde Edwards-Helaire fined $10,300 for taunting



Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire ran afoul of the NFL’s emphasis on taunting penalties last weekend and he heard from the league about his penalty this week.

Edwards-Helaire was flagged for pointing at Cowboys linebacker Luke Gifford as he made his way into the end zone for a touchdown. The foul didn’t take the touchdown off the board and the Chiefs’ Harrison Butker made a longer extra point one play later.


The NFL fined Edwards-Helaire $10,300 for unsportsmanlike conduct in response to the penalty.

Chiefs cornerback Rashad Fenton was also fined $4,934 for his actions in a sideline scrap with Cowboys defensive back C.J. Godwin on a punt.

PFT
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This is a fine in todays NFL ?... wow

 

More changes coming for Giants, with GM Dave Gettleman likely in his last year

Attention; @xinik

The New York Giants made a bold move earlier in the week, firing offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. With that change in hand, one can't help but contemplate what's next. And that likely won't be the only change they make with an eye toward the future.

General manager Dave Gettleman, who has run the team's personnel department since 2018, is unlikely to return in 2022, sources with knowledge of the situation and those with deep knowledge of the league say. With two first-round picks in the next draft and a critical offseason ahead, don't be surprised if there is another voice making the final call alongside head coach Joe Judge.

Gettleman, who will be 71 next season, may end up walking away himself and into retirement.

While the 2021 season is far from over heading into Sunday's game against the Eagles, New York would need to go on quite a run to reach the playoffs. An uphill battle, but not unprecedented. But, given one large alteration already occurred, it makes sense to zero in on another.

In the building, there would be some strong candidates to replace him, notably VP of Football Operations and assistant GM Kevin Abrams. Outside the building, the organization will likely look at some candidates with a background in the New England scouting system more in-line with Judge's thinking, along with others.

The areas of focus are many -- fix the offensive line, get the linebackers right, make sure Daniel Jones is the guy, etc. With so much at stake, it would be one of the most important hires in recent memory.

On the field today, there will be some changes, as well. Freddie Kitchens will call plays, as colleague Kim Jones reported, and they will look a little different. Expect more targets for receiver Kenny Golladay, especially in the red zone, and more chances for Saquon Barkley in space. And as time goes on, after a short week, Kitchens will be able to be more aggressive.

NFL.com

 

Injury roundup: Packers' Aaron Jones a game-time decision vs. Rams

Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (knee) will be a game-time decision Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams, a source tells NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Jones practiced all week and there's some optimism he'll play, but they'll work him out pregame to see how he feels before making the final call.

In ten games this season, Jones has rushed for 541 yards, caught 37 passes for 298 yards and scored 7 touchdowns.

Packers outside linebacker Rashan Gary (elbow) is expected to return to the lineup, according to Pelissero.

The 7-3 Rams take on the 8-3 Packers at Lambeau Field at 4:35 p.m. ET.

Other injury news we are keeping an eye on ahead of Sunday's Week 12 games:

• Atlanta Falcons star running back Cordarrelle Patterson, who missed last week with an ankle injury, is feeling much better this week. But sources tell Rapoport that Atlanta will take it up to game-time, making sure they are smart about it. A true game-time decision.
• New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley, still listed as questionable with an ankle injury, is expected to play against the Philadelphia Eagles, a source tells Rapoport. He's getting back to full strength.
• The Cleveland Browns are getting healthy, with wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones (groin) expected to play despite being questionable. Cornerback Troy Hill (neck) should also be good, Rapoport reports.
• The New England Patriots should have a mostly full roster, with running backs Damien Harris (neck) and Rhamondre Stevenson (knee) looking good to play. Same with tight end Hunter Henry (neck), per Rapoport.
• San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell (rib, finger) is listed as questionable, but is expected to play, according to Rapoport. He missed one week and has a pin in his finger, but should be able to play assuming no setbacks.

NFL.com

 

Ridiculous

 

Amusing thought... if the ref had thrown the flag and the league had slapped the same kind of fine on Mark Gastineau the first time he did his idiotic dance, we wouldn't be having such an emphasis on taunting today.

The fines seem excessive at times, but in the '70s guys didn't get up, strut ten yards into the defensive backfield and pose the first down signal after making a routine four yard run or five yard catch on third and two. Now, whenever a backup QB sails a pass out of bounds, at least one DB is going to make a big show of signaling incomplete as if he had anything to do with the play.

 

Back in the day, 'hotdogs' got their head taken off, lol.

Seriously, I guess what im hearing the most is the lack of consistency. One guy points and gets fined 10K+, while Heyward punches Herbert in the gut and gets nothing.

 

Marquise Brown, Donovan Peoples-Jones are expected to play Sunday night



Both teams taking part in Sunday Night Football have wide receivers listed as questionable for the game and it looks like the Browns and Ravens will have those players in the lineup.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Ravens wideout Marquise Brown is likely to return to action. Brown missed last Sunday’s win over the Bears with a thigh injury and will join quarterback Lamar Jackson in making it back to the lineup after sitting out a week ago.


Browns wideout Donovan Peoples-Jones was also out last Sunday, but Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports he’s set to return from a groin injury. Cornerback Troy Hill (neck) is also set to play after being listed as questionable with a neck injury.

The Ravens still have uncertainty on their defensive line with Calais Campbell (concussion) and Brandon Williams (shoulder) listed as questionable to play. They promoted defensive tackle Isaiah Mack from the practice squad on Saturday to give them more depth in the event one or both are inactive against Cleveland.

PFT