The primary of the double-digit weeks of this NFL season has formally come and gone and what per week of motion it was.
Establishment was maintained with groups just like the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets in unfavorable methods, however the optimistic facet of the spectrum was as much as par as properly with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and Detroit Lions sustaining their respective leads.
A complete heck of so much occurred in between although, and that’s the a part of the sandwich that we, Michael Peterson and RJ Ochoa, specialise in.
Welcome to The Skinny Submit, the place we could or could not provide our opinions on our favourite sandwiches in addition to the present state of the NFL.
It’s time to maintain DeMeco Ryans and C.J. Stroud accountable
RJ:
Let me be completely clear. The Houston Texans are going to win the AFC South. We will all perceive that they’re undeniably the most effective group in a gaggle of whole misfits.
However the Texans would be the most paper tiger-y group going proper now as they only misplaced to 2 of the groups that we listed above, and one in every of them was the Jets!
Houston’s newest blunder got here on Sunday evening with the world watching as they let the Lions come all the best way again towards them. All advised, Detroit scored 19 unanswered factors and wherever you look amongst Texans followers the blame is falling squarely on the ft of the place they’ve laid all of it season… offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.
I’m not saying that Slowik hasn’t been unhealthy or that he doesn’t need to be blamed, however we (rightfully) talked so extremely about C.J. Stroud all of final yr and into this one. Is the quarterback to not blame for zero second-half factors?
And what concerning the head coach? I acknowledge that DeMeco Ryans is a enjoyable story and an objectively good coach, however he has additionally been objectively actually unhealthy and poorly ready within the second halves of video games this yr. It might probably’t simply be “Slowik sucks” and that’s the top of it.
The Texans aren’t a nationwide identify and solely enter the dialog when issues are going properly, however we are able to deal with them with as a lot logic as we do everybody else.
Michael:
Let’s get this on the market immediately: In a sport the place the offense scored 23 factors within the first half, it’s by no means solely the coordinator’s fault for the loss. That’s a little bit over three touchdowns value of factors and can be greater than 17 groups common on a per-game foundation. It’s very simple to say, “Oh, properly, if the offense scores even only one extra landing/area purpose/and many others then they most likely would have gained!”
The factor is, that’s excusing the protection for permitting 19 factors within the second half which, if I recall appropriately, is the facet of the ball that DeMeco Ryans is answerable for.
Nonetheless, 5 interceptions is a number of takeaways and one would assume that will result in an insurmountable quantity of factors for Houston. The factor is, CJ Stroud positive did toss a number of interceptions of his personal with at the very least one coming instantly after the second-half kickoff and one other coming quickly after his group recorded one in every of their 5. Not solely have been his picks robust to see, they got here at instances the place it obliterated the momentum created by his personal protection’s largest performs.
So TL:DR, sure I completely agree that each Ryans and Stroud doubtless deserve extra of the blame right here than Slowick does. Ryans must discover a solution to proceed making changes previous halftime and Stroud must be smarter with the ball, particularly given the conditions he must capitalize on versus giving the ball proper again.
Little issues flip into huge issues and I simply don’t assume the Texans have been centered sufficient on the little issues greater than the Lions have been on this one.
Has Russell Wilson performed his manner out of all of the jokes and comical rhetoric surrounding the previous couple of years of his profession?
Michael:
It looks like Russell Wilson has been identified extra for his whimsical “Mr. Limitless” persona over the previous couple of years than he has been for the performs he makes on the soccer area. This yr regarded prefer it was going to be one other “dunk on Russ”-type season whereas he was out resulting from damage to start the yr, however now that he’s 3-0 because the starter following his return, I believe it is likely to be time to place the jokes to mattress.
And look, I’ve had enjoyable with it. The web has had a ton of enjoyable with it, however this man would possibly even have the Steelers poised to compete for a Tremendous Bowl this yr. In his three begins, Russ has thrown for 737 yards with six touchdowns to just one interception. He’s gelling with the group very properly and his connection is already stretching to new receiver Mike Williams who caught his first move as a Steeler for a landing on Sunday towards the Commanders.
Usually I mourn the instances when a great working joke seemingly has run its course, however this time I’m truly sort of completely satisfied for Wilson that he’s been capable of get again to soccer being the primary factor.
RJ:
I’m with Michael in that it’s oddly good to see Russell Wilson succeeding. The Steelers have a manner of creating all the pieces feel and look higher so it is smart that him attending to Pittsburgh could be useful for everyone concerned.
It’s wild that the Ravens should not working away with the AFC North as a result of Russell is taking part in so properly and holding Pittsburgh proper in that dialog. We’re nonetheless an extended methods from the “let Russ prepare dinner” days from his Seattle time, however that is enjoyable to observe!
The success of all of it doesn’t make me really feel like what occurred in Denver was any much less Wilson’s fault than we thought it was. I believe he simply wanted a little bit of a change of surroundings, maybe some humbling within the course of, and that the workmanlike mantra of the Steelers was good for him at this level.
Congrats to everybody concerned! We such as you!
What number of coaches would you are taking over Kevin O’Connell?
RJ:
The Minnesota Vikings aren’t dominating the best way that they have been earlier within the season and that has brought on some individuals to fall a little bit bit out of affection with them. I believe we’re nonetheless underselling the job that Kevon O’Connell is doing right here.
KOC has the Vikings positioned to be a playoff group and is regularly making lemonade on a weekly foundation with Sam Darnold as his quarterback. I’m satisfied that the person may win each single episode of Chopped as a result of he’s that good at adjusting on the fly.
So with that mentioned… what number of coaches do you assume are higher than him? That is my checklist, in no explicit order:
- Andy Reid
- Jim Harbaugh (additionally underrated)
- Mike Tomlin (a push, however I’ll lean Mike)
- Dan Campbell (for those who insist)
- Kyle Shanahan
I believed a little bit bit about together with Nick Sirianni, however I simply can’t carry myself to do it. I additionally discover Sirianni to not get sufficient credit score for what his group is doing, by the best way.
But when we actually needed to struggle and debate we may make the case that KOC is or is at the very least pushing Prime 5. Give the person his props! And possibly apologize for hating on the 2022 model of his group that no one was prepared to imagine in both.
Michael:
As I reside in Minnesota and watch each Vikings sport once they aren’t taking part in concurrently the Chargers. It’s been a ton of enjoyable watching Sam Darnold carry out properly (not a lot as of late) below KOC and it solely additional reveals how properly he can join and develop quarterbacks.
So far as coaches I’d take over him — and this takes under consideration their success as a coach plus how nice the locker room vibes should be — I believe my checklist could be:
- Mike Tomlin
- John Harbaugh
- Kyle Shanahan
- Andy Reid
- Jim Harbaugh
- Dan Campbell
So basically your checklist however I’d take the opposite Harbaugh brother, as properly.
All of those guys are winners and there’s actually nothing unfavorable you may actually say about any of them as individuals. They connect with their gamers, inspire them to play past themselves, and are confirmed winners.
There’s no manner Aaron Rodgers isn’t the largest downside on the Jets, proper?
Michael:
I really feel like we’ve talked fairly a bit about Rodgers on The Skinny Submit this season however I suppose that’s not stunning given he’s a high-profile quarterback in a serious media market that’s wildly failing to reside as much as the preseason expectations.
I gained’t lie, it’s been enjoyable to observe all the pieces soften down.
Rodgers and the Jets have one of many higher ability teams within the NFL on offense. To not point out that a number of gamers are Rodgers’ “guys” from his time in Inexperienced Bay. When issues weren’t clicking early on, proprietor Woody Johnson fired Robert Saleh. Since, the protection has been in shambles and even the addition of Davante Adams hasn’t completed a lot to maneuver the needle on offense.
I don’t know the way far more we have to see, but it surely appears to be like wish to me that Rodgers is the frequent denominator right here. If the protection was overrated, then Saleh was doing much more of the heavy lifting for this group than he was given credit score for, as properly.
RJ:
So as to add so far: Think about that Mike Williams scored a landing (a vital one!) in his first sport with the Pittsburgh Steelers after having his identify dragged by way of the mud by Rodgers once they have been teammates.
It’s tough for one thing to go in probably the most other way that an individual plans for them to and if that’s taking place then you’re both the Dallas Cowboys or Aaron Rodgers.
Time will assist with this, clearly Rodgers has had extra of his life off of the sphere attain the general public eye over the previous couple of years, however I actually marvel how we glance again on Rodgers’ profession as an entire on account of this time.
He’s clearly a HOFer and among the best to ever do it, however I believe for a very long time individuals gave him an enormous good thing about the doubt. Individuals blamed others like Mike McCarthy for him not profitable extra championships whereas in Inexperienced Bay… the previous couple of years — actually his Jets tenure — have confirmed that he’s an enormous downside in and of himself.
You hate to see it.
