Month: November 2016

Opposing passers feast on Packers’ thin secondary

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Green Bay has, as head coach Mike McCarthy said after the Packers‘ latest loss, its “ass against the wall.” The sixth defeat on the season was the Packers‘ fourth straight, and also the second consecutive dreadful performance in the secondary.

The Packers have allowed 670 yards and seven touchdowns through the air in their last two games, surrendering 89 points to opponents in two road defeats. It’s a far cry from Packers teams of past years that put up plenty of points on offense and relied on veterans such as Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams to lock it down on defense. Instead, they’re too often left watching various defensive backs end up chasing opponents in vain or with their faces full of turf as the other team finishes in the end zone.

So what’s going on in Green Bay’s injury-riddled secondary? We took a closer look at the last two games to see just how other teams are treating the Packers like the Swiss cheese hats their fans wear in the stands. Continue reading →

DeVante Parker comes alive late in Miami’s comeback win

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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So much for all that good karma the road squads built up last week. Just five of 13 visiting teams won games in Week 11, and only two were by double digits, with the league’s worst two teams — Cleveland and San Francisco — falling at home to Pittsburgh and New England. The rest were close, coming down to the final possession, which is what we all want, right?

Well, with the slant leaning toward road teams in this specific space, we’d like to have some more candidates. But we’ll make do with what we have. These are your best away from home in Week 11. Continue reading →

Patriots’ Alan Branch facing four-game suspension

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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The Patriots will be a bit thinner up the middle after the league has sidelined one of its interior defensive linemen.

Defensive tackle Alan Branch has been notified he’s facing a four-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on substances of abuse, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, per a source informed of the situation. Branch will appeal the suspension, Rapoport added. Continue reading →

What we learned: Business as usual for Pats, ‘Hawks

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By Around the NFL staff
NFL.com
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Week 11 has been a cruel joke with no kicker for kickers. The league’s most disrespected position players were under fire Sunday after they collectively missed 11 point-after attempts, breaking a single-week record. Even Adam Vinatieri got in on the miss-apolooza!

This week’s games weren’t a lost cause for everyone though. Andrew Luck helped the Colts top the Titans for the 11th straight time; the Buccaneers quieted Alex Smith‘s Arrowhead attack; and the Cowboys are still the cream of the league. Here’s what we learned from Week 11. Continue reading →

Vikings snap skid with thrilling win over Cardinals

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Minnesota (6-4) snapped its four-game losing skid in exciting fashion, avoiding a late collapse to send the Cardinals (4-5-1) back to Arizona with a losing record after the Vikings triumphed 30-24 at U.S. Bank Stadium. Here’s what we learned:

1. Arizona tried its best to extend it, but mercifully, Minnesota’s losing streak has come to an end. In a role reversal, the Vikings moved the ball efficiently through the air and even found success on the ground. For the first time in weeks, it was evident that Minnesota has some talent at its skill positions when the offensive line isn’t folding in on itself. Adam Thielen was a focal point of a passing game and opened scoring with a fantastic toe-tapping touchdown grab inside the pylon. Continue reading →

Cody Kessler suffers concussion in Browns’ loss

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Cody Kessler exited the Browns‘ game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third quarter to be evaluated for a possible concussion and did not return in the team’s 24-9 loss.

After the game, Browns coach Hue Jackson said Kessler suffered a concussion and that Josh McCown would start next week if Kessler can’t play.

Kessler has routinely been harassed and beaten by various defenses since taking over as Cleveland’s starting quarterback, suffering a concussion earlier in the season against Cincinnati and fighting through many more vicious blows to stay on the field. It begs, if not screams the question of what’s going on up front? Continue reading →

Steve Smith records his 1,000th career reception

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Steve Smith is a step closer to reserving a possible place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The passionate, rage-fueled receiver recorded reception No. 1,000 in his career with a 22-yard catch in the third quarter of the Ravens‘ 27-17 loss Sunday, becoming the 14th receiver in NFL history to reach 1,000 catches. Smith moved into a tie for 13th-most receptions in NFL history with former Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward and is just 24 grabs from tying Isaac Bruce at 12th all-time. Continue reading →

Eagles clamp down on Falcons’ passing attack in win

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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The showdown began with a thinly veiled, critical characterization of Atlanta’s passing game, but when it was all said and done, Philadelphia backed it up on the defensive side of the ball. The Eagles held Matt Ryan and the Falcons — the second-best offense in the league — to 15 points and just one touchdown through the air. The teacher had rounded up the schoolyard.

Julio Jones still posted a box score worth writing home about, but he was shut out of the end zone and harassed by various Philadelphia defensive backs for much of the afternoon. A look at the film shows an increased emphasis on targeting Jones that almost felt forced. The Eagles made it their mission to obligate Ryan to look elsewhere, and he struggled. Continue reading →

Ezekiel Elliott breaks 1,000 yards, hearts of Steeler Nation

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Monday night stands as the home side’s last chance to even out the host/visitor split for Week 10. That’s right — for the first time this season, the road teams have won more games than the home squads.

Thanks to some white-knuckle wins on the parts of Dallas and Miami, visiting clubs emerged with a 7-6 record through 13 contests, with the Cincinnati-New York matchup yet to be played. Big-time performances on both sides of the ball propelled the two winning teams to victory, while Seattle locked down on the goal line to preserve a win, and the Broncos turned to a well-timed leap and return to depart New Orleans with a stunning victory. Heroes abound! These are your greatest on the road from a wild, wacky and wonderful Week 10. Continue reading →

Philip Rivers laments four-interception performance

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Late in the fourth quarter Sunday, the Chargers found themselves embroiled in yet another heart-stopping affair. And as quickly as they had the win in their sights, it was sprinting away from them, in the form of a linebacker wearing a white and aqua No. 47.

It’s become par for the course for San Diego in 2016. But this one was especially painful for Philip Rivers, who, on the day he joined the 300-touchdown club, was directly responsible for the defeat. Continue reading →