MARIOTA, TITANS COME ON STRONG
A quick preview as Week 11 rolls on in the NFL:
WHO’S HOT
Marcus Mariota. It has been a nice progression in Year 2 for the Titans quarterback, triggering one of the hottest offenses in the NFL and heading to Indianapolis with a chance for Tennessee ( 5- 5) to go over .500 at this point in the season for the first time in five years. Since Week 5, with the Titans winning four of six games during that span, Mariota has thrown an NFLhigh 17 touchdown passes against three interceptions. It helps to have the running game led by DeMarco Murray, who is second in the NFL with 930 yards. Yet Mariota, dangerous with his feet, too, has made a mark for cashing in opportunities. Now comes another opportunity to finally beat Andrew Luck and the Colts, who have won 10 in a row against Tennessee.
KEY MATCHUP
Patrick Peterson vs. Stefon Diggs. The “shutdown cornerback” hardly exists in the
NFL anymore, but there are still some studs. Supremely athletic Peterson is arguably the best. Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians didn’t hesitate this week to telegraph that they would assign him to cover the Minnesota Vikings’ big- play receiver. It’s possible that Arians was merely being coy. But because it’s Peterson, there’s merit to the idea. In any event, it could be the difference in a must- win game at Minnesota pitting teams whose seemingly Super Bowl aspirations have been derailed. The woes of the Vikings offense haven’t stopped Diggs ( tied for fourth in the NFL with 61 receptions) from being a force. He has caught 13 passes in each of the past two games, which is why the idea of a matchup against Peterson is so compelling.
ROOKIE WATCH
Jared Goff. The wait is over. Los Angeles Rams coach Jeff Fisher reversed field and decided to finally start the No. 1 pick overall in Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins. Fisher maintained for weeks that the Cal product wasn’t ready. Apparently, Goff made enough strides behind the scenes to warrant the big switch that fans at the Coliseum have been chanting for. Why now? One theory is that the Rams wanted a pop this week as they also broke ground on their new stadium in Inglewood. The stadium won’t be completed until 2019. How long it takes for Goff to become the face of the franchise remains to be seen. He is taking over a unit that ranks next- to- last in the NFL and is facing a hot Miami team that brings a robust defensive line led by Ndamukong Suh and Cameron Wake. Goff could find himself under all sorts of duress. Poise will be a virtue.
IF THE PLAYOFFS WERE TODAY…
Three teams from the NFC East would be in. The NFC Least no more, it’s the only division where every team has a winning record. What a stark contrast to last year, when Washington claimed the division at 9- 7 and the 4- 12 Cowboys had the worst record in the NFC. Now Dallas is in worst- to- first mode with the NFL’s best record ( 8- 1) and, barring a Cowboys collapse, the other three teams are front- runners for the wild- card slots. At the moment, the Philadelphia Eagles ( 5- 4) are the odd team out, but they are just a half- game behind Washington ( 53- 1) for the sixth seed and one game behind the New York Giants ( 6- 3). And when they get out of the division, the NFC East teams are a combined 18- 5- 1.
STAT’S THE FACT
Joe Thomas, the Cleveland Browns’ iron man left tackle, hasn’t missed a game, start, Pro Bowl selection or offensive snap since being drafted third overall in 2007. With the Browns ( 0- 10) the NFL’s only winless team, Thomas in the midst of a less- fulfilling streak: a ninth consecutive losing season.