10 & Out, NFL Week 7: Cowboys batter Seattle, Brady’s Back & Luck’s Run
By Kevin Casini
Tony Romo passes against the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter of a 26-20 Dallas victory. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
What I learned this week…
If Andrew Luck isn’t the MVP of this league then the entire award needs to be rethought. Just consider the Colts games and what they would’ve looked like without Luck at quarterback. The last four games he’s averaged 361 yards passing and has thrown for 370, 370, 393, 312 and again 370 yards against conference opponents. If you can name their leading rusher or any one of their offensive linemen you can write next week’s column.
Since Aaron Rodgers’ “R-E-L-A-X” plea to the Packer faithful Green Bay is 3-0, including two division wins, and is averaging 35.7 points per game. This week they face a Panthers team that just gave up 37 points to the Bengals.
The Eagles continue to innovate. Towards the end of their 27-0 romp over the suddenly hapless, helpless New York Giants, Chip Kelly and Co needed to run some clock. Well, that’s not really their strength. So here’s what they did: in something I have never before seen in the pro game, Chip had all players still run to the line of scrimmage, then looked to the sideline, in formation, to get their respective assignments from their position coaches. This has been done at lower-level colleges for a few years now, and if you watch as much Tuesday Night MAC football as I do, you recognized it pretty quickly. If I can find a good picture I will update.
Told ya so…The Jets lose again and need a win on a short week in Foxboro to stave off a 1-6 record before they play host to division opponent Buffalo in Week 8. It’s been a gauntlet the last three weeks, with the Chargers, Broncos and now the Patriots on the schedule, but it should get easier after Thursday night. Of course, that’s what the other teams are saying when they see the Jets coming up on their schedule.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugh
- Good: Tom Brady, New England Patriots. After hearing the talk Tom Terrific went out and led a full team effort against the undefeated Bengals. Then, to back that up, he came out and went 27-37 for 361 yards and 4 scores, 0 INTs. In the second half alone Brady was 15-17 for 274 yards, 3 TD, a 16.1 YPA average, and an uncapped 201.6 rating. That’s getting it done. More importantly for him, the Patriots got their first division win of the ’14 season. Quick turnaround as they play another division rival tonight in a soggy Foxboro. A win sends them to 5-2, hosting Chicago.
- Bad: Just when you thought the Cincinnati Bengals were moving in the right direction. In the last two games the Bengals defense has given up 80 points. After leading Carolina 17-10 at half, Cincy gave up 27 points after halftime, and K Mike Nugent missed a 36-yard field goal attempt on the final play of overtime, ending the game in a 37-37 tie.
- Ugh: Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict, who twice twisted the legs of Panthers players that had shown up on the injury list. Burfict was fined for each act, seen plainly on television. He should watch out because players tend to clean those things up on their own.
Whatever…“former Rocky Mountain Bon Vivant Matt Prater. Major upgrade” That’s what I said when the Detroit Lions signed exiled Broncos kicker and world-record holder Matt Prater. Then Prater missed his first two attempts in the blue and silver. Whatever, he hit a 52-yarder and they won.
How ’bout dem Cowboys?…Wow, never thought that would happen. In their toughest game of the year by far the Cowboys beat, and beat up, the all of a sudden legendary Seattle Seahawks. It reminded me a bit of the game last year against the Broncos, where Romo and Co. played Denver at their own game and nearly won, losing 51-48 on a late field goal. Here, Dallas nearly doubled the offensive output of Seattle, topping 400 total yards and surrendering only 206 while racking up 21 first downs to the Seahawks 9. In fact, without special teams miscues this would have been a runaway Cowboys win. Looks like the Eagles have some competition for the division now.
Mystery Team…Ranked 22nd in passing offense, 30th in rushing, 3rd in rushing against but dead last 32nd in passing against, giving up 309 ypg. Who am I?
FWIW…The past-their-prime New England Patriots have scored 80 points in their last two games, the Washington Redskins have lost 13 of their last 14 and the Browns next three opponents are a combined 1-15.
Top Three…Ravens
Ray Lewis
W2W4: Sunday night always seems to get the best marquee games, and this week is no different, with Peyton and Denver welcoming the resurgent 49ers, but I’m looking ahead to AFC playoff implications and a one-o’clock tilt in Indianapolis where the Colts host the Bengals. Cincinnati is dying to get a bad taste out of its mouth after being thumped, coming off of a bye, in Foxboro, and now blowing a late lead versus the Panthers. Meanwhile, the Colts keep chugging along, and have all but sealed their division crown with their 4th straight win (3-0 in division). They’ll be making an early charge towards a playoff bye if they put the Bengals in the rear-view.
Jersey Joe… Well Joe Flacco certainly had him self a nice day. How’s 15-22 for 245 yards and 5 TDs grab ya? Oh, that was just the first half. Jersey Joe had four (4) TDs in the first quarter against Tampa, and finished the day 22-29 for 306 yards and those 5 scores. In their last four games the Buccaneers are 0-4 (1-5 on the year) are surrendering and AVERAGE of 41.25 points. Last season through Week 6 Tampa was 0-6 but had lost three of those games by a combined six points. Where’s Greg Schiano now?
Mystery Team revealed…the darling Arizona Cardinals…wait, that the..?
Locks of the Century of the Week… Finally a wining week in the bank account. Thankfully for me I switched my New England and Chargers plays, laying the Patriots points and adding a SD win kicker. Fair play to me, but I’ll go with what was printed, so a 4-2 week, 24-10 on the year. Anyway, games consider this week, with final picks going up tomorrow in our Pick 6 :
SEA -6.5 @ STL CIN @ IND -3 MIN +7 @ BUF MIA @ CHI -3
CLE @ JAX +6 NO +3 @ DET SF +7 @ DEN HOU +3.5 @ PIT
MONEY LINE – Oof, Pittsburgh laid an egg. Not close on that one. For straight winners I like Seattle and Dallas. Check back tomorrow for some upsets, could be a nice week for ‘dogs
ELIMINATOR PICK– WK 1 Philly WK 2 Green Bay WK 3 New Orleans WK 4 San Diego WK 5 Detroit WK 6 Arizona – I can’t tell you why, because I don’t know, but at the last second I switched my pick to Arizona. Part of this is knowing who else is in your pool and trying to anticipate what they’ll do. They all picked Denver, and Cincinnati. Anyway, another win for me and I’m left with some decent teams. I’m tempted to take the Patriots tonight, but the weather may be an equalizer of sorts, and it seems the Jets always play the Pats tough. Except maybe on Thanksgiving. No, this is the week I’m finally taking Seattle, I usually stay away from road division winners, but after what happened to them at home I expect the Seahawks to come out with their hair on fire, and the Rams really had no second half fight against the Niners at all, so I don’t expect much from them.
REMEMBER: Do your own research. Bet your beer money not your car payment. And, as always, check back on Friday for final picks and analysis.
NFL Week 7 picks
NFL Week 6