Monday Playbook: Expect a rookie quarterback to show up in playoffs
- Upcoming Colts-Dolphins game could have major postseason ramifications
- Some Bears could make plays for major postseason awards
- One team needs to make a quarterback change, but it's not the Jets
Now that you've slept on the scores and digested the stats, here's an in-depth look at Week 8 of the NFL season, with observations and analysis by the USA TODAY Sports team.
And while you're reading it, two storms will play out: Hurricane Sandy will plot a path toward the East Coast and the courts will decide whether Bountygate mediator and former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue is an impartial guy with impeccable credentials or a Roger Goodell puppet.
Ten things we learned in Week 8
1. Peyton Manning is fully back. The way we know is how accurate the Denver Broncos quarterback's passes have been the past two weeks. The touchdown throw to Demaryius Thomas on Sunday night on the quick out couldn't be defended. New Orleans Saints cornerback Johnny Patrick learned that the hard way. Manning also delivered an outstanding ball to Thomas on a post up the deep middle. Those throws came after a perfect game-winning throw to Brandon Stokely against the San Diego Chargers in the Broncos' previous game. Manning's accuracy the last four games: 78.9, 70.5, 80.0 and 73.3%.
2. The New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles must do something drastic. This isn't silly, reactionary stuff on our part. We try to be measured when it comes to these situations. (For example, we find any talk of benching the Dallas Cowboys' Tony Romo ridiculous.) But the Eagles and Jets are spinning their wheels, committing the same mistakes and threatening to spiral downward, with their fans providing constant pressure. Our suggestion for the Jets: Leave Tim Tebow on the bench; fire general manager Mike Tannenbaum. It will do absolutely nothing for this season but will suggest they still have faith in Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez, just not their supporting casts. Meanwhile, the Eagles have to bench quarterback Michael Vick. It's time for Nick Foles. Coach Andy Reid, if he hasn't already realized that, must come to that decision soon.
3. The Detroit Lions (3-4) aren't going away. They certainly have made their victories, and even some of their losses, interesting. Sunday's last-minute victory over the pesky Seattle Seahawks required a 16-play, 80-yard drive to win it with 20 seconds remaining on a 1-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to Titus Young. Kevin Smith's touchdown with 10 seconds left in Week 1 and the late 10-point comeback against the Philadelphia Eagles represent the Lions' other victories this season. Unfortunately for them, their overtime loss to the Tennessee Titans, failed final drive against the Minnesota Vikings and sluggish offensive performances in losses to the Chicago Bears and San Franscisco 49ers show they'd betterbegin starting games better (they have just 28 first-quarter points this season).
4. We nearly witnessed another long touchdown to win a game. Last week, USA TODAY Sports broke down how there have been nine touchdowns of 30 yards or more to tie or take the lead in the fourth quarter this season. Dallas Cowboys wideout Dez Bryant missed making it 10 by the length of his fingertips, which landed out of bounds. He got past New York Giants cornerback Corey Webster and stayed inside of fellow corner Michael Coe. "How did he get behind him? In that circumstance, how does he get behind you?" Giants coach Tom Coughlin asked. "That's what you would say watching it on TV: 'How in the world does somebody, in that defense, get behind someone?'" Players and coaches have said they have to play their standard defense but be smart. The Giants weren't in a standard defense yet Bryant still nearly made the play. That's the way it works in the NFL anymore. Exciting finishes are the way of the league.
5. Don't count out Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings for defensive player of the year. He came out of the gate with four interceptions in his first three games. Sunday, he got back on the board with two interceptions, including a pick six to put Chicago ahead in the fourth quarter. Jennings also had a diving interception on an ill-advised throw by the Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton. Only one cornerback has been named the defensive player of the year since 1994 (Charles Woodson), and Jennings will have to fend off the Houston Texans' J.J. Watt, but he's certainly in the running. One more note: Jennings' touchdown made the Bears the first team in NFL history with six interceptions returned for a touchdown in the first seven games of a season.
6. It might be a passing league, but if you can't run the ball, you're still in trouble. Of the bottom 10 teams ranked in the NFL in rushing offense, only three have winning records. And the combined records of those 10 teams: 31-42. The only hole in the theory is the undefeated Atlanta Falcons, who are ranked 26th. But perhaps that means they're begging for their first loss.
7. Andrew Luck is a winner. He now has the highest winning percentage for a rookie quarterback through Week 8 for any No. 1 overall pick. But Luck has only one touchdown in his past three games, so give the Indianapolis Colts defense credit. And with the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars in the next two weeks, that defense could stay in lock-down mode. After that, though, the New England Patriots are lurking.
8. Speaking of the Pats, they love themselves some London. In two games there, they've outscored opponents 80-14. And nobody had more fun on this trip than Rob Gronkowski, who spiked a microphone during a rally Saturday and then mimicked "that little nutcracker dude that's guarding the house" (the Queen's Guard) before spiking the ball following one of his touchdowns.
9. Clock operators are under the microscope lately. Last week, there was some question about how quickly the clock stopped in Foxborough, Mass., following a fumble by the Patriots in a victory over the Jets. The quick stoppage gave the Pats more time when they got the ball back. This week, Coughlin seemed amazed the Cowboys were able to run three plays in 10 seconds at the end of the game.
10. The Pittsburgh Steelers defense is still formidable. With a little help from Hurricane Sandy, they were able to do what others haven't been able to do: Stop Robert Griffin III. RGIII completed only 47.1% of his passes (his previous season-low was 61.8) and had season-lows of 177 passing yards and 8 rushing yards (excluding the game against the Atlanta Falcons, in which he was knocked out with a concussion), though the numerous drops by Redskins receivers certainly helped Pittsburgh. The Steelers also have a solid running game, especially with the rumbling Jonathan Dwyer in there, and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was sharp Sunday. They have two games in three weeks against the first-place Baltimore Ravens in November. After that point, they could start running away with the AFC North.
Taking stock
Here's a glimpse at the NFL market and whether we're getting in or getting out.
BUY: The Atlanta Falcons' 7-0 record. We had questions about the level of competition before this week, but they beat the Philadelphia Eagles, who lost coming off a bye for the first time under coach Andy Reid. That's quite the accomplishment.
SELL: The San Diego Chargers' chances of fending off "a new era in Chargers football." That's the phrase GM A.J. Smith used to describe what could happen if the Bolts don't start winning. After Sunday's loss to the Cleveland Browns, that era could be on the way.
BUY: Vick Ballard's "ups." The Indianapolis Colts running back got some serious height on his game-winning touchdown in overtime and landed on the pylon as he was spun over in mid-air.
SELL: All those who didn't realize Ballard's touchdown meant the game was over. Come clean, we know you weren't sure if the Tennessee Titans were due a possession as well.
BUY: The Carolina Panthers' pick-two on the Chicago Bears' two-point conversion attempt. That has to be the first of those after a pick-six touchdown, right?
SELL: All those who didn't realize Panthers' rookie Josh Norman's return meant nothing because the defense can't score on a two-point conversion. Come clean, you thought college rules applied.
BUY: Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's gameplan and adjustments Sunday.
SELL: Ryan's sideline antics. He cursed out New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz as Cruz was looking for a holding call on the Cowboys' Orlando Scandrick.
BUY: Reggie Wayne's chances of becoming a top five all-time receiver. He's 2,469 yards from catching Tim Brown (14,934), who is fifth overall in yardage. Talk about a steady, quiet run up the rankings for Wayne, who is currently 16th overall and doesn't do as much yapping as a lot of the names on that list.
SELL: The Pittsburgh Steelers' bumblebee throwback uniforms. Nice tribute and all, but yeesh.
Week 9 awards
Comeback player of the week: After a sputtering start, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford rediscovered last year's groove, throwing for three touchdowns and 352 yards in a 28-24 win against a strong Seahawks defense.
Biggest disappointment: Coming off their bye with their season and coach Andy Reid's job at stake, the Eagles laid a 30-17 egg vs. Atlanta.
Under the radar: Trent Richardson is overshadowed by Robert Griffin III, four other rookie quarterbacks and RGIII's rookie tailback, Alfred Morris, in rookie of the year consideration. But Richardson played through bruised ribs to rally the Cleveland Browns to their second win — a 7-6 defeat of fading San Diego — with 122 yards and a 26-yard touchdown run.
Coach Joe Philbin's 4-3 Miami Dolphins are a young team that continues getting better. They've won three straight.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert had his first 300-yard passing day, hanging in until the end against Aaron Rodgers and the more powerful Green Bay Packers. Gabbert was 27-for-49 for 303 yards.
Under the microscope: Michael Vick is considered to be the Eagles leader, but he seemed too eager to concede his job should Reid feel a quarterback shakeup is needed. Clearly, they've discussed it. Maybe Vick is tired of all the stinging criticism, though his turnover-free play wasn't a reason why the Eagles were beaten Sunday.
It isn't just that Tony Romo has thrown 13 interceptions through seven games compared to 10 in 16 games last season. He's back across that line, trying to make up for too many of the Cowboys' deficiencies.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder hasn't been the same risk-averse quarterback the past four games, turning it over eight times over that span.
We'd be concerned if we were ...
Rex Ryan, whose defense and special teams took it on the chin from the Dolphins, who delivered the 30-9 gut punch that likely knocked the 3-5 Jets into non-postseason oblivion.
Kansas City Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel, whose quarterbacks — first, Matt Cassel, then Brady Quinn — continue to get knocked out of the lineup with concussions. It seems Crennel is going to be the one who takes the ultimate fall for that hard luck and Kansas City's league-worst 25 turnovers.
Panthers coach Ron Rivera, whose injury-depleted defense had six sacks of Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, only to fail to finish off a sorely needed win.
We'd feel pretty good if we were ...
Atlanta Falcons safeties Thomas DeCoud and William Moore and trash-talking corner Asante Samuel, who have the interception-prone Romo visiting the Georgia Dome Sunday night.
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, whose 4-4 team has Ponder, and tSanchez coming to Seattle the next two weeks.
Tom Brady, who heads the bye week coming off a four-touchdown, 304-yard, cross-Atlantic smoking of the St. Louis Rams.
Don't be surprised if ...
Bears coach Lovie Smith starts getting more love as coach of the (half) year candidate.
The Jets make a change under center. When conservative Tony Dungy insists on NBC's Football Night in America that it's time to go from Mark Sanchez to Tim Tebow, it's time for the Jets to find out what they traded for.
These frisky, Andrew Luck-led Colts edge out the Dolphins for the AFC's second wild-card berth. The two teams meet Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium, where the 4-3 Colts have yet to lose.
The AFC North race comes down to who's the better quarterback: Joe Flacco or Ben Roethlisberger. The Ravens' Flacco is flinging it further down the field, but the Steelers' Big Ben has thrown 14 touchdowns and only three interceptions compared to Flacco's nine touchdowns and six interceptions.
Matt Ryan duels Peyton Manning down to the wire for league MVP honors. Ryan's 17 touchdowns are the most through seven games in Falcons history. And he just might have better help than Manning when you throw in undrafted rookie Drew Davis, who, as slot receiver Harry Douglas' capable backup, has two touchdown receptions.
Contributing: USA TODAY Sports' Mike Garafolo and Jim Corbett