NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Sunday Night Football: Aaron Rodgers still owns Bears, throws four TDs in 45-30 victory



Earlier this week, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers admitted his “I still own you” comments to Bears fans could be used against him at some point.

But Sunday was not that day.


Though the Bears held a 27-21 halftime lead, the Packers scored 24 straight points to beat their division rival 45-30.

Rodgers was terrific, particularly in the second half when he threw a pair of touchdown passes. He finished the contest 29-of-37 passing for 341 yards with four touchdowns. Green Bay’s last scoring drive was a 13-play, 71-yard clock bleeder that ended with a 3-yard score from Rodgers to receiver Davante Adams. The long possessions took 8:38.

With that score, Adams tied receiver Jordy Nelson for No. 2 on Green Bay’s all-time list with 69 touchdown receptions.

Adams finished with 10 catches for 121 yards with a pair of touchdowns. Allen Lazard also had six catches for 76 yards with a TD.

After the second quarter, it looked like the game was going to be a shootout. Chicago scored 24 points in the period and Green Bay put up 21. According to NFL research, it was the first time since at least 1925 that there were five touchdowns of at least 35 yards in a single quarter.

But the explosive plays slowed down in the second half as the Bears didn’t manage a first down on their first four possessions. Quarterback Justin Fields was strip-sacked on Chicago’s first drive in the third quarter and that led to a quick Green Bay touchdown.

The Bears didn’t score until Cairo Santos hit a 43-yard field goal with 1:22 left in the fourth quarter to make it a two-possession game.

They made it more interesting by recovering an onside kick. But Fields threw his second interception of the night on fourth-and-13 with 53 seconds left, effectively ending the game.

Fields finished 18-of-33 passing for 224 yards with two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions along with one lost fumble. Fields also led the Bears with 74 yards rushing on nine carries.

With the win, the Packers move to 10-3. If the Cardinals lose to the Rams on Monday night, Green Bay will hold the NFC’s No. 1 seed. The Packers travel to Baltimore next week to play the Ravens, who may not have quarterback Lamar Jackson after he suffered an ankle injury in Sunday’s loss to the Browns.

Rodgers’ regular-season record against the Bears also improved to 22-5.

The Bears, however, are 4-9 and look more and more likely to make a regime change. They’ll take on the Vikings next week at home next Monday night.

PFT

 

The epitome of stupid... Dont go on the road and disrespect someone!

 

Way beyond stupid. Just play the game.

 

Sean Payton: Alvin Kamara gave us some real good juice and energy



The Saints took a five-game losing streak into Sunday’s game against the Jets, but they put an end to it with a 30-9 win at MetLife Stadium.

One of the biggest reasons for the win was the play of running back Alvin Kamara. Kamara missed four games with a knee injury, but looked like he was back to being himself while running 27 times for 120 yards and a touchdown.


Kamara also caught four passes for 25 yards and accounted for 94 of the team’s 129 yards in the first half. After the game, head coach Sean Payton said that Kamara brought the team “real good juice and energy” in a win that kept the Saints in the playoff hunt.

“I feel good. I’m back healthy,” Kamara said. “I think that was most important thing, just being able to get healthy and get well so I can help the team the best I could. Like you said, I felt comfortable, I felt good. O-line played well. I think we played well all around as a team. I think there was a lot of energy out there and we came out with the win.”

The Saints will be in Tampa next Sunday night and having Kamara back in form is a big boost to their chances of getting a win they’ll need if they’re going to continue to harbor any thoughts of the postseason.

PFT

 

AFC Playoff Picture...

The Bengals showed a lot of fight in coming back from 14 points down to force overtime on Sunday, but they wound up losing to the 49ers and it may wind up as a moment of great regret come the offseason.

Baltimore’s loss earlier in the day meant that the Bengals would be in first place in the AFC North if they were able to secure a win in the late afternoon slot in Week 14. Two muffed punts and some conservative play-calling left them down big in the fourth quarter, however, and two Ja'Marr Chase touchdown catches weren’t enough to knock off the NFC West club.


As a result, the Bengals failed to move up in the standings and now find themselves on the outside of the playoff picture because of the loss. They will have to go to Denver next Sunday and then close out the season with the Ravens, Chiefs, and Browns so they can’t afford any more stumbles if they want to book passage to the postseason.

Here’s how the entire playoff picture looks after Week 14’s action:

1. Patriots (9-4) The bye week offered some rest ahead of a final playoff push that starts with an intriguing matchup in Indianapolis in Week 15.

2. Titans (9-4) Facing Jacksonville always makes a team feel better, but a truer test of their mettle awaits in Pittsburgh next Sunday.

3. Chiefs (9-4) Winning in Los Angeles on Thursday night would likely make them AFC West champs once again.

4. Ravens (8-5) Losing to the Browns is always painful, but it will be doubly so if Lamar Jackson has to miss an extended period of time.

5. Chargers (8-5) They beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium and a season sweep would shake up the top of the conference’s playoff picture.

6. Colts (7-6) Not playing on Sunday worked out well and the Colts are well positioned for a postseason berth, but no one should be hanging any banners with four weeks still left on the schedule.

7. Bills (7-6) They showed a lot of fight by coming back in Tampa, but they need actual victories not moral ones to finish off their playoff bid.

8. Browns (7-6) They’ve alternated wins and losses for the last eight weeks and continuing on that path won’t work if they’re going to return to the postseason.

9. Bengals (7-6) Sunday’s game in Denver may be a playoff eliminator for the losing side.

10. Broncos (7-6) An emotional win over the Lions keeps them in the hunt for at least one more week.

11. Steelers (6-6-1) The Steelers have played their best when everyone writes them off, so this may be a good week to bet on Pittsburgh.

12. Raiders (6-7) Dancing on the Chiefs logo before Sunday’s game may turn out to be the last happy moment of the Raiders season.

13. Dolphins (6-7) Their bye week interrupted a five-game winning streak, but the scheduling gods made it up to the Dolphins by serving up the Jets in Week 15.

ELIMINATED

14. Jets (3-10) Official playoff elimination came far later than assumed playoff elimination for the Jets.

15. Texans (2-11) The Davis Mills era will run for at least four more weeks.

16. Jaguars (2-11) The Urban Meyer era may run for just four more weeks.

PFT

 

Kevin Stefanski: Kareem Hunt, Troy Hill unlikely to play on Saturday vs. Raiders



It looks like the Browns will be without a pair of contributors as they get ready to play the Raiders on Saturday.

In his Monday press conference, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters that running back Kareem Hunt (ankle) and cornerback Troy Hill (knee) are both unlikely to play in Week 15.


Hunt suffered the ankle injury in the first half of Sunday’s win over the Ravens. He recorded a pair of catches for 13 yards along with two carries for 5 yards.

Hill was able to play for most of the game, exiting after playing 85 percent of the Browns’ defensive snaps. He had seven total tackles and three tackles for loss in the win.

After defeating Baltimore, Cleveland is in the thick of the AFC playoff race at 7-6 and currently the conference’s No. 8 seed. The club could take another step forward with a conference victory over Las Vegas this week.

PFT

 

Monday Night Football: Stafford, Kupp carry Rams to 30-23 win over Cardinals



Matthew Stafford threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns as the Los Angeles Rams picked up a key 30-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Monday night.

Cooper Kupp caught a career-high 13 passes for 123 yards and one of Stafford’s three touchdowns, and the Rams intercepted Kyler Murray twice to sink their NFC West rivals. Kupp has at least 90 receiving yards in nine straight games, which ties Hall of Famer Michael Irvin in 1995 with the Dallas Cowboys and teammate Odell Beckham Jr. in 2014 with the New York Giants for the longest such streak in the last 70 seasons, per NFL Research.


In addition to the two Murray interceptions, the Cardinals twice turned the ball over on downs on failed fourth down tries in the fourth quarter.

After a Matt Prater 53-yard field goal gave the Cardinals an early 3-0 lead, Murray was picked off for the first time by linebacker Ernest Jones. The Rams took advantage, marching 68 yards in 10 plays with Stafford finding Beckham on a 2-yard touchdown to give the Rams a 7-3 lead. A 55-yard field goal from Matt Gay extended the Rams advantage to 10-3.

James Connor scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to draw the game level at 10-10.

Gay’s 35-yard field goal with 35 seconds left in the half gave Los Angeles a 13-10 advantage, but Prater drilled his second 53-yard attempt of the night on the final play of the half to tie the game at the break.

A 53-yard touchdown from Stafford to Van Jefferson put the Rams back on top. Murray was then picked for a second time deep in Arizona territory by Leonard Floyd. It quickly turned into a 4-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Kupp as the Rams grabbed a 27-13 lead.

Conner scored on an 8-yard run to cut the gap to seven early in the fourth quarter. He finished the night with 125 yards from scrimmage for Arizona, with 31 yards in 13 carries on the ground and nine catches for 94 yards.

Gay converted a 33-yard field goal with 7:20 left to push the Los Angeles lead to 30-20.

Prater’s third field goal of the night, a 49-yard try with 37 seconds, trimmed the lead to 30-23. The Cardinals then recovered an onside kick attempt as Prater’s kick slipped under the recovery attempt of Christian Rozeboom and Terrell Burgess and was secured by Zaven Collins.

However, a holding penalty and a false start set the Cardinals further back and the game ended on Aaron Donald‘s third sack of Murray on the night.

Murray threw for 383 yards with 32 completions on 49 attempts for Arizona. A.J. Green had 102 yards receiving on seven catches.

PFT

 

Cooper Kupp is on pace to threaten all-time receptions, receiving yardage record



In the first season of 17 games, a pair of all-time records arising from a 16-game season could fall.

Rams receiver Cooper Kupp, with 13 catches for 123 yards on Monday night, has put himself in position to challenge the single-season reception and receiving yardage records.


As to the former, Saints receiver Michael Thomas set it in 2019, with 149 catches. Kupp, with 113 receptions in 13 games, is on pace to finish with 148 (technically, 147.7). And with 1,489 receiving yards in 13 games, Kupp is on pace for 1,947 receiving yards — 17 short of the record set by former Calvin Johnson nine years ago.

Kupp’s quarterback now, Matthew Stafford, was Johnson’s quarterback then. And to the extent that the Rams have more than a little sizzle to go with a meal that at times has been more Salisbury than steak, they’re surely aware of Kupp’s pace and willing to try to help him get to one or both records.

Some will say that any records set in a 17-game season should carry an asterisk. However, no one said a word when records based on a 14-game season began to fall after the shift to 16 in 1978.

Regardless, it’s no surprise that Kupp currently is the favorite (+125) to win the offensive player of the year award. And he’s at +10000 to win the MVP.

Could Kupp win the MVP award? The Rams would need to win the NFC West, and Kupp would need to break one or both of those records. Even then, remember that no receiver has ever won the award.

A defensive tackle? Yes, Alan Page in 1971. A linebacker? Yes, Lawrence Taylor in 1986. A kicker? Actually, yes. Mark Moseley, in 1982. But no receiver has ever won it. Then again, Kupp may end up having a season that no other receiver has ever had.

PFT
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Definitely a truly remarkable season and he should probably be in the MVP conversation.

 

Mike Tomlin: T.J. Watt, Joe Haden among those with an opportunity to play this week



Steelers star edge rusher T.J. Watt had to miss most of last Thursday’s loss to the Vikings while dealing with a groin injury. But the extended break between games may help him, because there’s a chance he won’t miss any more time.

In his Tuesday press conference, Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin mentioned Watt as one of the players who has an “opportunity” to get back on the field and play this week. Tomlin also mentioned edge rusher Alex Highsmith has a chance to be ready for Sunday after suffering a knee contusion against the Vikings.


Watt is a prime defensive player of the year candidate as he currently leads the league with 16.0 sacks. He also has 16 tackles for loss, 27 quarterback hits, four forced fumbles, a pair of fumble recoveries, and four passes defensed.

Tomlin added that cornerback Joe Haden, linebacker Robert Spillane, defensive end Isaiah Buggs, center J.C. Hassenauer, offensive tackle Joe Haeg, and defensive tackle Carlos Davis all have a chance to return for this week’s matchup with Tennessee. Hassenauer is currently on injured reserve and would have to be designated to return.

Haden started eight games at cornerback before suffering a foot injury in the Week 10 tie with the Lions. He hasn’t played since then.

Haden has recorded 24 total tackles, five passes defensed, and a forced fumble in 2021.

PFT

 

Browns enter league's enhanced COVID-19 protocols, meetings virtual Tuesday

The Cleveland Browns are dealing with COVID-19 issues ahead of Saturday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

The team announced Tuesday it entered the NFL's enhanced COVID-19 protocols. Meetings will be held virtually. In addition, all tiered personnel are required to mask while indoors.

A Browns walkthrough is scheduled for this afternoon.

The announcement comes after a rash of COVID-19 positive tests around the NFL. Thirty-six NFL players -- 25 on active rosters and 11 on practice squads -- were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday as a result of positive tests. It is the largest number of additions to the list since its creation in 2020, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported.

On Monday, the NFL mandated all Tier 1 and 2 personnel "who have previously been vaccinated and are eligible under [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidelines, must receive a booster shot" by Dec. 27, as announced in a memo obtained by NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. The mandate does not include players.

NFL.com

 

The Browns have a COVID-19 crisis.

Playing on Saturday against the Raiders, Cleveland placed eight players on its COVID-19 lists on Tuesday, including four offensive starters. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Media, all eight tested positive for the virus.


Receiver Jarvis Landry, guard Wyatt Teller, tackle Jedrick Wills, tight end Austin Hooper, edge rusher Takk McKinley, and guard Drew Forbes have all been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Forbes was previously on injured reserve.

Receiver/return specialist JoJo Natson and tight end Ross Travis have been placed on the practice squad/COVID-19 list.

With so many players testing positive, the Browns have been placed into the NFL’s enhanced COVID-19 protocols, which include virtual meetings and mask mandates for all inside the team’s facility.

The Browns are no stranger to having to work under poor COVID-19 conditions. Last season, the team’s top four receivers were placed on the COVID-19 list just before the Week 16 contest with the Jets — a matchup the Browns ended up losing. Then head coach Kevin Stefanski tested positive and had to miss the team’s playoff victory over the Steelers in the Wild Card round.

Cleveland is currently 7-6 and on the outside looking in as the No. 8 seed in the AFC...

Per; PFT

 

Rams place nine on COVID-19 lists, activate Tyler Higbee



After missing cornerback Jalen Ramsey and Tyler Higbee for Monday’s win over the Cardinals, the Rams have several COVID-19 issues entering their practice week.

Los Angeles has placed eight players on their active roster and practice squad COVID-19 lists — including receiver Odell Beckham Jr.


But the team has activated Higbee off the COVID-19 list. Head coach Sean McVay told reporters in a Tuesday press conference that Higbee’s test result was a false positive.

Beckham’s positive test was reported earlier on Tuesday. The Rams also placed defensive back Jordan Fuller, defensive back Terrell Burgess, tight end Brycen Hopkins, defensive back Juju Hughes, offensive tackle Alaric Jackson, and defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day on the COVID-19 list. Joseph-Day has been on injured reserve since undergoing surgery to repair a pectoral injury last month.

Practice squad defensive lineman Jonah Williams and defensive back Tyler Hall were placed on the practice squad/COVID-19 list.

L.A. now has 13 players on its COVID-19 lists, with the nine placements on Tuesday joining Ramsey, running back Darrell Henderson, right tackle Rob Havenstein, and cornerback Donte Deayon.

The Rams play the Seahawks at home on Sunday.

PFT

 

Coaching staff may be forced to play Higgins and Njoku (if he returns from his own stint on the COVID list). Not many bodies left.

 

Two days, 75 positive player COVID tests



The NFL has a full-blown COVID crisis, at a time when many have become numb to the realities of the ongoing pandemic.

Via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, a total of 75 players have tested positive in the last two days. Seventy. Five.


It’s the highest two-day total since the pandemic began. And while it’s not nearly enough to cause the NFL to cancel games or pause the season (neither will be happening), it’s cause for concern as to where things may lead if the league doesn’t get things under control, quickly.

For now, it would make sense to revert fully and completely to the protocols of 2020, with daily testing and extensive use of masks and other personal protective equipment. While the vaccinated players may resent the termination of their preferred status, too bad. To keep the season from imploding, the league needs to go back to the way things used to be.

With the postseason looming, the league also needs to consider the possibility of putting the playoff teams in a bubble. Many players won’t like it. Those who are committed to advancing their legacies by winning a championship will deal with it.

Absent a bubble, those teams with strong player leadership (like the Buccaneers) will do whatever they can to minimize their positive cases. For all teams, avoiding an untimely COVID case could be the difference between going home early, getting to the Super Bowl, and ultimately being fitted for a big-ass ring in 2022.

PFT

 

Baker Mayfield tests positive for COVID-19



With 12 players on their COVID-19 lists, the Browns already had a full-blown crisis.

Then the team announced on Wednesday morning that head coach Kevin Stefanski had tested positive for the virus.


Now Cleveland’s quarterback has, too.

According to multiple reports, Baker Mayfield has tested positive for COVID-19. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports Mayfield is a “longshot” to have two negative tests separated by 24 hours in time for Saturday’s game against the Raiders, which implies the quarterback is vaccinated.

Mayfield testing positive could mean the others in the quarterback room are at risk of doing so. Cleveland’s backup is Case Keenum, who started the Week Seven victory over the Broncos when Mayfield was out due to injury. The Browns also have Nick Mullens on their practice squad.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Mayfield feels “completely normal.”

In recent days, Cleveland has placed receiver Jarvis Landry, tight end Austin Hooper, guard Wyatt Teller, and left tackle Jedrick Wills on their COVID-19 list. Tight end David Njoku was placed on the list last week and has a chance to return in time for Saturday’s game.

There could be more positive tests to come out of Cleveland on Wednesday.

PFT
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As of this moment... no status on the Browns and Raiders game has been issued yet by the NFL.

 

I wonder if these players who are a-symptomatic after testing positive will be allowed by the NFL to play... if not, we may see some games get the axe.

 

The NFL said no rescheduling games because of COVID-19 this season. The teams are going to have to deal with it.

 

I realize they wont reschedule... Im thinking forfiet because of cancellation of the game completely. No discussion is on going according to some sources, but when would the NFL deam a game not playable if a team has no QB's or what not and when is a game deamed unfit/unsafe to play?

 

Sounds like you better dam well make sure that your players don’t get Covid-19.

 

I, for one, am shocked that no one is talking about the possibility of false positive test results. I don't care what you're measuring, from piston bore diameters to overall length of 2X4's to pharmaceutical tests, there are inherent variations in the measurement systems used to arrive at a result. Pharmaceutical testing is notorious (rightfully so) for erring on the side of caution.

I was the recipient of a false positive Covid19 test last December. At the time, I had been adhering to all of the Covid19 mandates in place (stay at home, social distancing, face coverings, etc) and had zero symptoms. The only reason I was tested is because I was in a high risk category (age and COPD) and my doctor ordered it.

It would seem to me that, in order to force a team to sit a player, that player would have to exhibit at least some of the typical symptoms once he tested positive.