Week 12 NFL Thread

Here is where Denver's game didn't surprise. At no point in that game, even at 21-10 or 28-17 did I feel the Broncos would lose. The only opening I felt a slight doubt was Manning's last drive in the first half. If he doesn't get a score (TD or FG), then the Dolphins, maybe, have a shot to win it. Maybe.

Felt the same way about Green Bay today. At no point at 14-10 or 14-13 did I think the Vikings would win.

 

Miami is much improved and could have made a statement with this game. I still think they'll go to the playoffs.

 

I was gonna say no way, but they'll need help. Two games with NYJ, home vs. Baltimore and Minn, at New England. They could go 4-1 and finish 10-6; I don't know if that's going to get it done with KC/Pitt/SD/Cleveland ahead of them.

 

The quick release is definitely a feature, not a bug. As batman said, it's the pre-snap reads and knowing what's going to be open. It's not that he doesn't go through his progressions, it's just that he often doesn't need to. He's good at going through his progressions, but the point of a progression - you don't bother going to #2 if #1 is open.

I don't know what constitutes a playing breaking down in your mind. It's not surprising that Manning, who's roughly as mobile as a quadriplegic moose, isn't great if he has to do any serious scrambling. But he actually moves in the pocket well and doesn't have to scramble often as a result.
He definitely still performs at a high level when going through his progressions. In 2013, he led the league in completion percentage on passes thrown from 3.1-3.5 seconds after the snap (he also led the league in passes thrown in under 2 seconds, confirming your contention that he throws to his first read a lot.) Once you get over 3.6 seconds (a LONG time to hold the ball) the most successful QBs are the athletic ones - Wilson, Newton, Luck). Only 30 of Manning's attempts took more 3.6 or more seconds to get out of his hands, the lowest in the league. He still completed 56% of his passes in these situations (compare that to Rodgers who completed 38%), but his completions were very, very, very short, just 3.3 yards.

(all info thanks to the wonderful folks at profootballfocus.com)

 

It didn't seem possible, but the Cowboys could pull off yet another 8-8 finish.

 

Ahem.

 

I swear Belichick sent word to Blount that if he hypothetically somehow were to become available, the Patriots were really hoping to find a battering ram.

 

Been watching the NFL religiously for 35 years, and I can't remember a better catch than Beckham's.

 

I was thinking on that. I don't believe I have either. I remembered some of Cris Carter's sideline grabs, but nothing quite like this.

 

Yeah, it's hard to think of any catches better than that Beckham grab. Three fingers, well behind him, all while getting dragged down by the defender.

David Tyree in the Super Bowl was probably better for both difficulty and impact, but I understand those who would argue it's a "luckier" catch. And I fully enjoyed watching the studio guys acknowledge it with Rodney Harrison sitting there.

 

Tyree's was in no way more difficult. The body control of Beckham defied physics.

 

Damn good catch.
May not even be best in team history (Tyree)