NFL Week 10: Action Jackson rides again

That is what I wrote in my reply. I disagree regarding going for it. It was a foolish risk that gave away points in a close game.

We agree on the play call. Taylor is a better offensive coach than that. Burrow needs to make a better throw than that, too.

I know a lot of it is Chase being a monster, but the Ravens' defense is just bad. They got lucky in that Hamilton's injury doesn't seem to be serious. Now they have a little break to get him healthy for the game against the Steelers.

 

Despite how amazing Jackson and Henry have been, the Ravens defense means they'll never have a truly safe lead in the fourth quarter against any team with an even adequate offense. That's not a formula for playoff success. I will note, however, that whether or not the Steelers have an adequate offense remains an open question.

 

On the longest Chase td, I swear the defender seemed to be running *away* from him.

 

Agreed. The Steelers have been better with Russell Wilson, but I'm not sure they have the receivers to take advantage of the Ravens' pass defense the way the Bengals did. I'm not sure Mike Williams is healthy enough to really move the needle.
The season statistics suggest the Steelers have a good run defense. They have a history of playing Jackson well and have even had some good games against Henry in the past, but the way the Giants gouged them makes me think Henry will have a big day. Wilson is going to have to continue to play well for them to have a shot.

 

I'm fascinated by the Steelers-Washington game, not just because I'm a Commies fan. Washington's defense has improved by leaps and bounds since the start of the season but the Giants were able to gash it pretty good with the run up the middle last week. Lattimore is a huge addition, because St Juste is a fucking toast back who was being asked to defend everyone's best receiver. He's not good enough. Sainristil has looked great so far as a rookie. This will be by far the best defense Daniels has faced. It's been a very long time since I've been this excited for a Washington football game in November.

 

These next two games should be good matchups for the Steelers. They haven't faced Lamar Jackson yet this season, but they have a veteran defense that has handled him well in the past. That should help against Daniels. Joey Porter, Jr. seems to be better when he can lock in on one top receiver, so his matchup with McLaurin should be interesting. The Steelers' offense is built to take advantage of a weak run defense like Washington's.

All of that said, I don't think the Steelers' defense is nearly as good as the statistics say it is, so I wouldn't be shocked to see Daniels carve them up.

 

Reminds me of some of the columns I'd write for my high school paper. Yeah, there's a problem. But it offers no solution.
Knee-jerk reaction is usually "make them full time," but that isn't a real fix.

 

My personal belief is that replay mas made officiating worse because it's used as a crutch that makes the zebras less attentive and well, lazier. Oh, well, if we blow the ball replay will catch it. Except of course, the big blunders this season have come from non-calls, which by and large aren't reviewable. Face mask is one of the most dangerous penalties, yet the league makes a "point of emphasis" on presnap penalties like illegal shift. This is backwards. Calls when most of the players are standing are easy, in the heat of action if gets more difficult. The point of emphasis should be penalties involving the head and neck. Officials should be told looking for those is the priority. not whether some offensive lineman's nose twitched before the snap.
Bill Belichick's idea is to make every play reviewable, but I don't know if fans are ready for five-hour football games.

 

The flip side is this will be by far the best offense the Steelers have faced.

 

I don’t know how they missed either. Equally obvious to me.
I fully expect pass interference to be ignored in general on plays like this. (I don’t think the Ravens were guilty of that.) But how do you miss these?

 

The league makes something a point of emphasis because there are complaints about or evidence of a rule being abused or not being called correctly. I don't recall there being an outcry over a rash of uncalled facemask penalties in recent years. Given the high-profile misses this year, it could and perhaps should become a point of emphasis going forward.