Barn Burners, Injuries, and Show-Offs
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This is about barn burners, injuries, and show-offs.
Football watching has been nothing short of thrilling the first few weeks of the college and NFL seasons. I’m not a cheerleader, but you have to adore the competitive nature of the games that have been played. To mention even half of them would take much too much time, so let’s tip our collective hats to what we’ve seen.
I’m talking about unexpected moments, some shocking upsets, games that go back-and-forth, come from behind victories, and dramatic last second outcomes. Many if not most games are close, and you have to wonder how crazy it is to seriously wager on point-spreads unless you’re putting up walk around money.
If you’re going beyond that, watch out.
Last weekend there were 12 NFL games going into Monday night decided by 8 points or fewer.
That’s 12 out of 14 games played on Sunday decided by only one score, and that’s never happened before.
Sunday, for instance, the Rams shut out the Broncos in the first half, leading 16-0, only to see the Broncos outscore LA 30-10 after intermission to survive, 30-26. Of course the Rams and their followers are still howling over a questionable pass interference call which cost them the game.
That’s another thing. Because one or two plays ultimately decide who wins, there is assuredly more than a few objections over officials calls every single week. Pass interference, both offense and defense, roughing the passer, and holding penalties are the major fouls that provide an uproar every week of the season. That’s part of the game. No matter what manner of review takes place on the field, this aspect of football will never change. Live with it.
Okay, here’s the question of the week. If the starting quarterback is the most important position on a football team, what is the second most important?
How about the backup quarterback? Sure, if the starter stays healthy all year, who cares about the backup? But heaven help the team, particularly a playoff contender, who loses its starter, especially for the remainder of the season. Quarterback injuries have affected some contenders, particularly the Bears (maybe not after Monday night), but other clubs looking to make strides for the future may be seeing their upward graph leveling off. The Giants were hard hit with the loss of Jaxson Dart.
Now they’re relying on Jameis Winston, once a #1 draft pick who slipped into the world of the second-stringer because he was erratic, couldn’t protect the ball or avoid interceptions.
Now all the Giants want from him is to become a game manager and not depend on his decision-making and throwing accuracy as the top teams do with their quarterbacks.
Funny how 11 years ago, Winston was the #1 pick by Tampa Bay, and Marcus Mariota was taken second to Winston by
Tennessee. Last Sunday, Winston held down the fort as the Giants used field goals and defense to beat the Titans, while Mariota, filling in for Jayden Daniels, had a big passing game as Washington outlasted Seattle. Both Winston and Mariota picking up wins as reserves on the same day.
Backups who have experience can still get the job done. Sam Darnold proved that in leading the Seahawks in the Super Bowl,
Carson Wentz has shown he’s capable wherever he’s been and of course the 41-year old graybeard, Joe Flacco, can always be a threat and we saw what Case Keenum did Monday night for the Bears.
But the bottom line is, keep your stars healthy. It’s a matter of luck.
I do have one more question. What is the most annoying and tiring act seen in every game college and NFL every single week?
Give up? It’s those boring look-at-me gyrations players indulge in after nearly every play.
Are you sick of those well-rehearsed (and they are) dances in the end zone after a score, the emphatic first down signal, or a he-man thumping of the chest after a sack?
What a terrible show they’ve become. The laughable moments come after a player performs one of them with their team down by three touchdowns.
What makes these selfish exhibitions look even more ridiculous is when you consider that one of the greats in the history of the game, Jim Brown, simply handed the ball to the closest official after one of the many touchdowns he scored in his brilliant career with the Browns.
Can you just picture the likes of Walter Payton, Lawrence Taylor, or Jerry Rice dancing around after doing what they were paid to do?
Can you just see Joe Montana or John Elway racing to the end zone to chest-bump a receiver who just caught a TD pass?
We’re seeing it now more in the college game because those athletes are watching the pro game, so it’s become an expected practice.
And the genie is out of the bottle. It’s not about to end.
Ravens FG beats Cowboys last play
One of key QB injuries
TD celebration
