NFL Week 15 thread -- Starry nights at Lambeau

Henry has had a really weird career. If you look at his gamelogs, he was just sort of plodding along for his first 2 2/3 seasons in the league. He had two 100-yard games out of his first 44 in the league and only started four games his first two seasons. Then, in Week 13 in 2018 against the Jags he had 238 and four touchdowns, including a 99-yarder, on a Thursday night. He had 170 the next week against the Giants, then sort of plodded along again for the first half of 2019. Then, all of a sudden, halfway through 2019 he flipped the switch and has been unstoppable ever since.
So he's in his fifth season now. He was very average for 3 1/2 of them, and then transformed overnight into the best back in the NFL.

 

The Titans were so invested in Mariota that the focal point of everything they did was about making him into a star franchise QB. Once they realized Mariota wasn't that guy it became more about this massive stud running back. And now with Tannehill at QB, everyone's already aware of his limitations and how much he needs a running game to be effective. And the Titans also finally have a coach that sees all the value in Henry and uses him properly.

 

Now that’s a killer gift!

 

Saints DE Cam Jordan ejected for throwing punch, takes blame for loss to Chiefs

Is Cameron Jordan right? Did the punch that got him ejected and handed the Chiefs 15 yards and a first down rather than a third-and-nine cost the Saints the game? Or were the Chiefs going to win it anyway?

The punch didn't seem like much, but by rule, it was the right call. It didn't sound as if Jordan was blaming the officials. He was blaming his own poor decision.

 

Today worked out well for the WFT, the loss notwithstanding. Next week against Carolina is pretty much a must win. If they get it to get to 7-8, Dallas is out (swept by WFT). The Giants are in Baltimore next week, and that looks like a pretty certain loss, and they'd be 5-10 and unable to catch Washington. If Philly beats Dallas and WFT to get to 6-9-1, the only way the Eagles win the division is if they then beat Washington after Washington loses to Carolina.

It's pretty much over if WFT beats the Panthers and the Giants lose to the Ravens.

EDIT: I'm an idiot. It is over if Washington wins and the Giants lose next Sunday. Philly can't get to seven wins and Dallas would lose the tiebreaker.

 

When I played basketball at the park there was one guy, a former NAIA all-district pick, who dominated play. Whenever his team needed he could take over the game because he was so much better than the rest of us.

I get the same feeling watching Mahomes play. He can take over a game whenever he wants and will do what it takes for the Chiefs to win.

 

I've had a similar thought watching him play as well. The Saints were able to pressure him and it was often while rushing four, but they still couldn't stop him. They did a better job than most and the Chiefs still put up 32 points.

The Chiefs have a way of making things fall into place on offense similar to what the Patriots had been for so many years. The offensive line is hurting, so they manage to retrieve former part-time starter Stefan Wisniewski. Wisniewski had signed with the Steelers in the offseason, but they inexplicably cut him when he came off IR. The Chiefs stashed him on the practice squad until starting him last night. He's far from great but was a serviceable fill-in up front.

They also benefitted from the Jets' ugly relationship with Le'Veon Bell, getting a solid running back for nothing. He had his best game as a Chief with 62 yards while sharing the rushing duties yesterday, and now he could be the starter with Clyde Edwards-Helaire hurt.

 

I am trying to think of a game in NFL history that disappointed more people than the Jets-Rams outcome.

Nobody wanted that result.

Goff had his "duh" face on early in this one.

 

As Charles Robinson said, it was a catastrophic win for the Jets.

 

Bears fans: “Nobody shits the bed like our team shits the bed!”

Falcons fans: “Hold our beers, y’all.”

 

Panthers fire GM Hurney, seek 'restart, refresh'

Probably should have done this last season when Ron Rivera was turfed. Made little sense to hold on to Hurney if he and David Tepper didn't see eye to eye.

NOW the frustration grows over a team that has failed to win a single game on the last possession. Number is up to eight (!) this season. Unrealistic to think any team will pull eight games out of the fire. But not even one?

The big question: What signing or signings are they pinpointing as failures?