Turnovers and penalties run rampant
The 40 things we learned from Week 7 of the NFL season:
1. We can sum up the games like this: If the play didn’t result in a penalty, there was a turnover. If there wasn’t a turnover, there was a penalty.
2. It was ugly, folks. Everywhere. Just one of those days.
3. How ugly was it? We thought you’d never ask.
4. In the 12 games played Sunday( not counting the Sea hawks-Cardinals Sunday night game ), there were 39 turnovers. We will do the math for you: 3.25 per game. You’ve been to Pop Warner games that didn’t have that many. Heck, you might have gone to some bakeries that didn’t have that many turnovers.
5. The Vikings-Eagles game featured eight, and it is a surprise that figure wasn’t higher. There were five consecutive turnovers in the first quarter.
6. And get this from Jaguars-Raiders: There were 24 penalties for 222 yards. Three turnovers. Two players ejected.
7. The only game without a turnover? Bills at Dolphins. Guess they didn’t get the memo.
8. A couple more “uglies” just for the fun of it.
9. Redskins QB Kirk Cousins was falling down and tried to execute a handoff from behind a running back by sticking the ball between the back’s legs. It wasn’t as comical as Butt Fumble, but close. 10. Even the fashion police had to cover their eyes. All that orange in the Browns-Bengals game? It was like #Halloween Fail.
11. But, yeah, a couple guys taking a knee or raising a fist during the anthem is why the TV ratings are down. Got it. 12. OK, you get the idea. 13. Rising above all the ugly, as they usually do, is Tom Brady-to-Rob Gronkowski. Damn, they just make it look too easy.
14. So we have this question about Dolphins RB Jay Ajayi, he of the successive 200-plus-yard rushing games. Why was this guy a healthy scratch at the start of the season?
15. And when the grandkids ask if anybody else has accomplished Ajayi’s feat in successive weeks, the answer is: O.J. Simpson, Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams. Yeah, that’s some good company Mr. Ajayi is keeping.
16. If you haven’t caught A.J. Green’s catch of a Hail Mary in that Bengals game, find a clip. Such concentration.
17. So Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, forced into the game when Geno Smith was injured, was whining after the game about losing his starting gig. Didn’t lose faith in himself, he said, but the coach and owner did. Huh? Does this guy not watch game film? 18. Annie Apple > John Mara. 19. Falcons coach Dan Quinn is going to face tough questions for going for it on fourth down on his side of the 50 in OT. As well he should.
20. The Giants spent a lot of money in the offseason on defense. It paid off in London. Nothing like the exchange rate to get more for your dollar.
21. Think the Packers did enough Thursday night to re-establish themselves as NFC contenders? Yeah, neither did we.
22. For the record, the Titans were the first to score in games played Sunday in the USA. A Marcus Mariota TD pass to Taylor Lewan on a tackle-eligible play. How cool.
23. The Chiefs have six picksixes since the start of the 2015 season, most in the league, according to ESPN.
24. We’re sure Robbie Gould was happy to be employed again, now kicking for the Giants. But the former Bear told reporters after the game he probably would have been at Wrigley Field on Saturday, when the Chicago Cubs clinched their first pennant in 71 years, had the Giants not called.
25. The Browns have now used six quarterbacks this season. That’s bad even by Cleveland standards.
26. Bengals RB Jeremy Hill did the Ickey Shuffle. And no flag! The NFL is losing control of these celebrations. Bwahahaha.
27. This tweet by Mike Jones of The Washington Post during the third quarter sums up Washington’s day: “Redskins have had a fumble going into the end zone, missed FG off top of upright, and now a fumble w QB falling down.”
28. Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri has hit 43 field goal attempts in a row, a league record. Fortythree! Think about that. Pretty incredible (for a kicker).
29. You tried to turn off the Chargers game, didn’t you? We tried to warn you. If you tune into one of their games, they are going to keep you until the end.
30. You have to feel a bit for Jets QB Smith. He just can’t stay on the field. And he has to listen to all that Fitzpatrick whining.
31. After last year’s setback with LeSean McCoy’s hamstring, why would the Bills press it and play him this week on a tender hammy? He left the game in the third quarter. If it lingers, that’s on you Rex.
32. Lions QB Matt Stafford doesn’t get enough credit for his late-game heroics, but he now has 24 game-winning drives in the fourth quarter and overtime.
33. The Ravens had 6 yards rushing Sunday. On 12 attempts. You almost have to try to be that bad.
34. With the Cubs and Indians in the World Series, we are here to remind fans of the Cardinals (1947) and Lions (1957) that your franchises have gone the longest since winning an NFL title. (Most of the Cardinals’ pain came when they were in St. Louis).
35. Figuring the next time Sam Bradford sees Philly, given all that has happened to him in that city, will be too soon.
36. Three trips to the red zone in the first half for the Steelers. Seven points. Not going to get it done vs. the Patriots.
37. The Raiders will be spending 10 days in Florida since they played there Sunday and play at Tampa Bay in Week 8. Nick Saban has already complained it is a satellite camp.
38. Kevin Hogan’s 28-yard touchdown run for the Browns was the longest rushing touchdown for a quarterback this season. So you have that to build on, Cleveland. (Hey, we’re trying to help here.)
39. Chargers RB Melvin Gordon has 10 touchdowns. He went all of his rookie year without a single score.
40. Chip Kelly’s 49ers took a 14-0 lead against the Buccaneers and then went back to being Kelly’s 49ers, surrendering 27 unanswered points. It is turning into a trainwreck in San Francisco, isn’t it? Or would that be a cable car wreck?