MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

Taylor Heinicke: With a bye coming up, this is the Super Bowl for us this week

For at least this week, Taylor Heinicke will again start at quarterback for the Falcons.

He’s trying to make the most of the opportunity by being all-in with his preparation for the Cardinals. There’s a decent chance that after the bye, Atlanta will turn back to Desmond Ridder — who started the club’s first eight games this year.

“We’re all putting in everything for this game,” Heinicke said, via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We got a bye week next week, so this is the Super Bowl for us this week, trying to get a win going into the bye and feel a little bit better going into that bye week.”

The Falcons fell to the Vikings in Week 9, with a pair of Atlanta giveaways leading to 11 Minnesota points. Heinicke threw an interception in the second half.

“When you don’t play for a while, you’re on scout team and you’re trying to give the good looks and you’re trying to fit balls in and you kind of experiment with your throws to see what you can do, try to give the defense a good look, where in a game you don’t want to do that,” Heinicke said. “You want to take care of the football, so that interception that was an awful throw against the Vikings. It’s something that I’ve just got to keep working at.”

Now going into his second consecutive start, Henicke said he feels like he’s in more of a routine this week.

In two appearances this season, Heinicke has completed 33-of-59 passes for 443 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

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Josh Dobbs: Jonathan Gannon looked me in the face and told me I wouldn’t be traded

Josh Dobbs was traded from the Cardinals to the Vikings just before the NFL trade deadline — and after, he says, he had been assured by Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon that he wouldn’t be traded.

Dobbs said on the Torchbearers podcast that Gannon had told him he would remain the Cardinals’ starting quarterback until Kyler Murray returned to the field, but then changed his story and said rookie Clayton Tune would start. But Dobbs said that even after Gannon told him he had lost the starting job to Tune, Gannon assured him he wouldn’t be traded.

“I go to the facility on Monday and JG, the head coach in Arizona, called me into his office and said, ‘We’re going to start Clayton Tune,’” Dobbs said. “I was upset with it but I understood the situation the franchise was in.”

Even after being benched for Tune, Dobbs says, he took Gannon at his word that the Cardinals were keeping him for the remainder of the season.

“Woke up Tuesday morning with a text from my agent saying, ‘You could be traded today because it’s the trade deadline,’” Dobbs said. “And listen to this -- when I had my meeting with JG in Arizona, he looked at me in the face and he said, ‘You’re not getting traded, you’re not being released, you’re going to be here in Arizona’. I was like, OK, cool. So then I woke up to that text saying all right the trade deadline’s in four hours, you could be traded, you could go to Minnesota or go back to Cleveland.”

Dobbs got traded to Minnesota and came to realize that over his last day and a half as a Cardinal, nothing he had been told was true.

“The last 36 hours, whatever was told to you, something different has happened,” Dobbs said.

Dobbs’ comments are believable considering what Gannon said publicly: Gannon first said Dobbs would start against the Browns, only to change his mind the next day and say Murray would start when medically cleared and Tune would start until then.

Although Dobbs was blindsided by the Cardinals trading him, things worked out for him: He led the Vikings to a win in his first game in Minnesota and now has a chance to lead them to the playoffs — somewhere the Cardinals will not be heading this season.

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This Gannon guy sound like a real doosh-bag. I hope Dobbs gets the last laugh... he's already in Minnesota instead of playing for the Cardinals - who in their right mind wouldnt dig that?

 

I am so happy for Josh Dobbs, never trust a two faced coach. I think the Steelers would be better off with him than Trubisky or Rudolf, class this missed. Back to Dobbs, kept a positive attitude, kept quiet, did his job. People forget he is rocket scientist smart too, has an engineering degree and an IQ off the charts if I remember correctly.

 

Be better with Dobbs than pickett as well

 

Ouch. I am still wating for an OC who calls plays for Washington and throws over the middle. The big IF is can Pickett throw over the middle.

 

I'm happy for him too. He's had time to develop into a solid NFL-caliber quarterback, and now he's getting his chance to show his combination of skills. And... he's a free agent again this coming offseason. He's probably going to land at least $4 million for next season thanks to his last two games. Getting unceremoniously unloaded by the Cardinals that way was the best thing that could have happened for him.

Another QB to watch along those lines is Sam Darnold. No, he's not a legit rocket scientist like Dobbs, but he has also kept doing his job even though he's now just a backup. I thought he was stellar late last year for Carolina and looked solid in preseason this year for the 49ers. Sure enough SF dropped Lance to make Darnold the #2. I think some team out there needing a new starting QB for next year would do well to sign him this offseason and give him a shot. (And for that matter, that team might turn out to be my Falcons.)

 

I said before the season that head coach Arthur Smith wasn't on the hot seat coming into the season and didn't deserve to be. Going 7-10 with the team in total cap hell and half the defense injured was excellent coaching, and team owner Arthur Blank knows that.

But this year? The offense should be wide open, unpredictable and explosive. Instead it's one of the most predictable, boring offenses you could imagine. He's not focusing on protecting his young QB (Ridder and Heinecke have already taken a combined 30 sacks), yet the offense is even more plodding than when Mike Mularkey built the whole scheme around protecting then-rookie Matt Ryan.

Smith's seat isn't truly hot yet, but it's certainly getting warmer.

 

Offense is light years ahead.of ours though

 

The data I posted a week or so back is confounded. Allgeier getting more snaps than Robinson, when Robinson has way better numbers is quite puzzling... now the Falcons are playing musical QB's, no protection from the trenches, its turned into a mess, especially when you have those RB's and WR's/TE... something needs a changing.

 

I didnt know that until doing a little research, but I did say before knowing that he must be truly smart and sharp to pick up the KOC offense in a few hours. They say he did some improvising in his first game, but he said himself to the coach, I got this or I know this play and that play... it was truly amazing to see him come in and pick up the offense that fast. If a game comes up where the Vikings need a rocket, he might put one together during a time out, lol.

 

Just playing devils advocate here. Robinson has never played more than 12 games in his career, which we are fast approaching. He might be trying to keep the rookie fresh for home stretch. Algeier has been there, done that and is respectful as a RB option.

 

Well, advocating to your advocacies, lol. If they dont throw caution to the wind, there wont be a home stretch...

 

Josh Allen: Bills are playing “a lot of bad football”

Bills quarterback Josh Allen says the whole team is to blame for falling to 5-5 with Monday night’s loss to the Broncos.

Allen said the Bills shouldn’t have let the game come down to a last-second field goal on which a Buffalo penalty gave Denver its final chance. Allen believes the mistakes the Bills are making are unacceptable.

“It sucks. Shouldn’t have been in that position in the first place. A lot of bad football. A lot of bad football,” Allen said.

The Bills are currently half a game behind the Texans for the final wild card in the AFC, and a game and a half behind the Dolphins in the AFC East. Allen thinks there’s still time to turn it around, but not a lot of time.

“I’m still confident, but it’s no secret the clock’s ticking. We’ve got to have some urgency now,” Allen said.

The Bills are at home against the Jets on Sunday, about as close as it gets to a must-win game at this time of year.

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The difference in their stats might be because of what the RBs are given to do in those snaps. Allgeier is getting stuck with "let's run the ball straight up the middle every freaking time" duty.

That can work if you use it as play action to attack vertically in the passing game. But... no. Atlanta didn't complete a deep pass the entire game against Arizona. Heinecke's longest pass play in the first half (including yards after catch) was 11 yards.

And until he got hurt in the second half, Heinecke completed 3 passes for a total of 25 yards - while also getting sacked 3 times, losing 24 yards. The team's four drives in the second half before Ridder returned went for a total of NEGATIVE TWO yards.

All the commentary when Ridder came out for concussion protocol a few weeks ago was that Heinecke seemed to give the team a spark. This time, there's no doubt that Ridder gave the team a spark as soon as he got back on the field. He completed 4 of 6, had the team's longest passing play of the game, led one drive that put the team in field goal range and then a 74-yard drive that scored a touchdown and regained the lead. More than half of the team's total offense for the game came on just those final two drives.

Unfortunately, the defense simply couldn't hold it against a mobile quarterback. For the second week in a row, the opponent put together the game-winning final drive where a long QB scramble was a decisive play.

 

Lost in the Bills being terrible right now talk... Russell Wilson went 24 of 29, 193 and 2 TD's. Broncos might make some noise coming down the stretch. (not holding my breath tho)

 

Rams HC Sean McVay said the Rams expect Matthew Stafford (thumb) to play in Week 11 against the Seahawks.

According to McVay, Stafford was able to throw the ball in individual drills, and showed enough to convince the team he’ll be ready to go by the end of the week. The Rams signed Carson Wentz last week as an insurance option to Stafford, but remained optimistic about Stafford returning after the bye. Barring any setbacks, Stafford will be a mid QB2 in Week 11’s matchup against the Seahawks, who just allowed 312/3 to Sam Howell and the Commanders.

 

Lamar Jackson “pissed off” about missed opportunities on deep passes

There were a few plays that could have pushed things the Ravens’ way in last Sunday’s 33-31 loss to the Browns, including a deep shot to wide receiver Zay Flowers in the second quarter of the game.

Lamar Jackson’s throw was a bit too far out ahead of Flowers and the missed opportunity meant the Ravens would have to settle for a field goal try that was blocked by the Browns. On Tuesday, Jackson lamented that miss along with the team’s overall inefficiency on deep passes — 3-of-13 on throws of 20 yards or more since Week Six — to this point of the season.

“I mean it’s right there. I’m pissed off about it to be honest with you,” Jackson said, via the team’s website. “I watched the game, and it’s like it might be a difference in the game if we connect with that one. Can’t dwell on it. Hopefully this Thursday we catch them when we want them, we have success with the deep ball, we connect and have chemistry there. I believe it’s there, in practice we do it all the time. Those guys catch the ball down the field 40 yards, 50 yards down the field. We need to transition that over to the games, that’s all.”

Jackson currently has the highest completion percentage of his career, but getting that number up on longer shots would add another dimension to the Baltimore offense for the stretch run.

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Matt Eberflus: Our plan is to start Justin Fields this week

After missing several weeks with a thumb injury, Bears quarterback Justin Fields is set to return against the Lions on Sunday.

“He’s progressing well and our plan is to start him this week,” head coach Matt Eberflus said in his Wednesday press conference.

Fields has missed the last four games, as undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent filled in for him.

“[Fields] looks good, so we’re excited about where he goes,” Eberflus said. “This will be a big evaluation today … going full speed, doing full-speed reps. So, it’ll be a big evaluation today.”

Eberflus added that Fields has “been great” in terms of staying engaged since he’s been sidelined, helping out Bagent.

“You can feel support,” Eberflus said. “You can feel him being genuine about that support and really helpful. And he was great that way.

“He’s always been a great teammate, always been one of the hardest workers. He was engaged in all those game plans to be supportive and to be helpful.”

In six games this season, Fields has completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 1,201 yards with 11 touchdowns and six interceptions. He’s also rushed for 237 yards with a TD.

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Andrew Berry: We feel good about QB room, will add a third QB at some point

The Browns announced on Wednesday morning that Deshaun Watson will miss the rest of the 2023 season because of a right shoulder injury and General Manager Andrew Berry discussed the team’s plans at the position at a press conference later in the day.

Berry said the team is “devastated” by the news that Watson suffered a fracture that will require surgery in last Sunday’s win over the Ravens before moving on to what’s next at quarterback. P.J. Walker and Dorian Thompson-Robinson have both started games this season and Berry said it will be up to Stefanski who starts against Pittsburgh this week.

Berry said the team “will add a quarterback at some point in the near future” and that they’ll consider all opportunities when it comes to who that player will be, but that their focus is on the players who are already on the roster. Berry also answered a question about not making a move for another quarterback before the trade deadline.

“We feel good about the room. . . . It’s football. Guys do get hurt playing it. We’re going to move forward with the room and continue to win games,” Berry said.

Given how the two in-house quarterbacks played earlier this year, Walker would seem to be the likely choice to start but Stefanski will get to field that question at his own press conference.

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Tommy DeVito will start again for Giants this week

The Giants are sticking with rookie Tommy DeVito at quarterback for this Sunday’s game against the Commanders.

Head coach Brian Daboll shared the news about his quarterback choice with reporters at a Wednesday press conference. DeVito’s shoulder was banged up after last Sunday’s loss to the Cowboys, but Daboll said it was well enough for him to make his second straight start against an NFC East opponent.

DeVito was 14-of-27 for 86 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception in the 49-17 loss to the Cowboys. He also ran seven times for 41 yards and the vast majority of the positive plays for the Giants offense came well after the game was out of reach.

Matt Barkley is on the 53-man roster as DeVito’s backup and Jacob Eason is on the practice squad, but the Giants will keep rolling with the undrafted rookie for at least one more week.

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