We close out our third week of NFL action as we always do, with a look back at what we learned. Considering the chaos that overran the league this week, we either learned a lot or will be completely fooled at how the rest of this season is going to play out.
JARED GOFF IS GOING TO BE OK
Well, Rams. Disaster averted. As much as Los Angeles, as an organization, tried to screw up the development of their franchise quarterback by signing Jeff Fisher and his entire shitty staff to extensions last season, they’ve managed to get a pretty good young quarterback. Of course, all it took was firing Fisher all but one coach that worked under him and hiring a new staff, but, hey, it’s working.
After three weeks, Goff is seventh in the league in passing yards (817) and the third highest rated quarterback (118.2) behind only Alex Smith and Tom Brady. He’s completed 70.4 percent of his passes, thrown five touchdowns to just one interception and the Rams are currently all alone in first place atop the NFC West at 2-1.
Live look at those of us who stayed on the Jared Goff Bandwagon pic.twitter.com/iDkoOdvizp
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) September 22, 2017
It’s amazing what hiring a competent and professional coaching staff can do. Weird.
Speaking of Rams that are bouncing back this season, Todd Gurley was already tossed on the scrap heap by plenty of writers after last year in Rob Boras’ “high school offense.” In three games with Sean McVay, Gurley is fourth in the league in rushing (241 yards) and scored four touchdowns. He’s also become a weapon in the passing game, catching 13 balls for 140 yards and two touchdowns. His six touchdowns in three games already match his entire total from last season.
THE FALCONS MAY HAVE CURED THEIR HANGOVER BY LESS THAN A FOOT
You could see it happening and you know the Falcons had absolutely no faith that it wouldn’t. After dominating their Sunday night game against the Detroit Lions early, Atlanta was about to lose the game in the final seconds as Matthew Stafford hit Golden Tate for what looked like, and was originally called, a one yard touchdown.
The replay showed that Tate’s knee was down with the ball right outside the goal line with six seconds to go. Because of a recent rule change, by stopping the clock for a review, the referees had to run 10 seconds off the game clock which put the timer at 0.0 and secured the victory for Atlanta.
The first 3-0 team in 2017…
The @AtlantaFalcons! #InBrotherhood pic.twitter.com/eNCEKcR9CU
— NFL (@NFL) September 24, 2017
It’s a moment that will likely resonate throughout the Falcons’ season and make them once again a contender for the NFC crown. That is if they can beat the New England Patriots at home in a couple of weeks.
Matt Ryan was ready to give this one away. He threw three interceptions and couple of them were bad. One was returned for a touchdown. The surprise was the effectiveness of Altanta’s defense. I’ve been badmouthing the Falcons’ D in this young season, but they were solid in this game. Especially early. Stopping Tate at the one inch line was the right call on review and you can’t discount the defensive effort it took to preserve a game the offense was determined to toss away.
THERE ARE FIVE WINLESS TEAMS LEFT IN THE NFL
The San Francisco 49ers, the New York Giants, the Los Angeles Chargers, the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns are all sitting at 0-3. That’s the bad news.
The good news for the Bengals and Browns is they play each other this week and in the parlance of boxing, somebody’s “0” has got to go. Cleveland is hosting the game, but the Bengals have a lot more talent and aren’t starting a rookie quarterback.
DeShone Kizer and the #Browns know the Bengals defense is getting a big boost for Sunday
📰 » https://t.co/z6faXvgFfE pic.twitter.com/n08DC1JjWC
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 27, 2017
The Chargers “host” (if you can call it that), the Philadelphia Eagles who already look like a power in the NFC.
For the Giants and 49ers, their offenses finally showed up last week for all the good it did them. New York travels to Tampa Bay to take on a Buccaneers team that got dominated by the Vikings last Sunday. San Francisco is headed to Arizona to take on a reeling Cardinals team. Both losers are on the road, but those are intriguing games. Check back over the next couple of days to get my picks.
DON’T CROWN ANYONE JUST YET
I had the Oakland Raiders as my AFC Super Bowl pick. Hell, I had the Dallas Cowboys as my NFC Super Bowl pick and both have experienced a serious ass kicking this season. The Raiders looked downright overmatched against the Washington Redskins Sunday night and Derek Carr did a pretty terrific impersonation of his brother David with some of his decisions that led to what looked like easy interceptions. It’s not just my preseason favorites, either.
I'm really disappointed with the @RAIDERS
— Deion Sanders (@DeionSanders) September 25, 2017
After the Denver Broncos completely dominated the Cowboys in Week Two, they turned around an Siemianed all over themselves in Buffalo, losing 26-16 to the Bills. The Pittsburgh Steelers not only lost to the then winless Chicago Bears, they had to come from behind just to get the game into overtime and lose it for good.
More shocking that those games were the Baltimore Ravens, who looked like they were channeling their 2001 defense for the first two games, getting taken down in a Shawshank shower scene in London Sunday morning. It was a rough way to start the day.
THE FALCONS AND CHIEFS ARE THE LAST UNDEFEATED TEAMS
And, really, considering the ups and downs we’ve seen so far in this young season, they look like the two best teams in the league. This could be our Super Bowl 52 and I’m more than OK with it.
What makes the Chiefs’ record so impressive is they’ve beaten teams that were in the playoffs (really the Super Bowl) last year or have been picked by many (not me) to go to the playoffs this year. Their two most dominant wins have been on the road. Arrowhead is one of the toughest places to play in the league and they still have seven games to go there. It really might be a Chiefs Kingdom.
It's September 24, 2017 and the Kansas City Chiefs are the best team in the NFL
— Sam (@SamDanes26) September 24, 2017
Alex Smith is the top rated quarterback in the the NFL and Kareem Hunt is the NFL’s leading rusher with 401 yards. The next closest guy is Dalvin Cook with the Vikings a full 113 yards behind him.
Oh, and on defense Justin Houston is on pace for 16 sacks. This is a good team.
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