Thoughts from a thoroughly depressing Week 6.
Tennessee 26, Pittsburgh 23
Brandon Batch, RB, Pittsburgh: Ben Roethlisberger is a god damned magician and a tough s.o.b. that almost will certainly be wheelchair bound shortly after his career ends, but he needs SOME help. Batch lead the Steelers with 22 rushing yards on 10 carries. The other Pittsburgh RB’s didn’t do any better, combining for 20 yards on 11 carries. Big Ben can make up for a lot of sins, but he can’t cover for a leaky defense AND an invisible running game.
Brandon Batch, RB, Pittsburgh: Ben Roethlisberger is a god damned magician and a tough s.o.b. that almost will certainly be wheelchair bound shortly after his career ends, but he needs SOME help. Batch lead the Steelers with 22 rushing yards on 10 carries. The other Pittsburgh RB’s didn’t do any better, combining for 20 yards on 11 carries. Big Ben can make up for a lot of sins, but he can’t cover for a leaky defense AND an invisible running game.
Baltimore 31, Dallas 29
Ray Lewis, LB, Baltimore: Lardarius Webb’s injury might be a bigger deal going forward for the Ravens, but he’ll be back eventually from his torn ACL. If this was the last game in Ray Lewis’ storied career, I want to make sure that I pay him his proper respect. Beyond simply being one of the greatest MLB’s to ever live, what made Lewis such a popular player was the undeniable fire and passion he played with. You see a guy that great who obviously cares that much, you can’t help but be appreciate it. Ray Lewis once said in reference to his salary, “You pay me for Monday through Saturday. Sunday I give you for free.” Here’s to hoping that Ray has at least a few more volunteer work days in the future.
Ray Lewis, LB, Baltimore: Lardarius Webb’s injury might be a bigger deal going forward for the Ravens, but he’ll be back eventually from his torn ACL. If this was the last game in Ray Lewis’ storied career, I want to make sure that I pay him his proper respect. Beyond simply being one of the greatest MLB’s to ever live, what made Lewis such a popular player was the undeniable fire and passion he played with. You see a guy that great who obviously cares that much, you can’t help but be appreciate it. Ray Lewis once said in reference to his salary, “You pay me for Monday through Saturday. Sunday I give you for free.” Here’s to hoping that Ray has at least a few more volunteer work days in the future.
Tampa Bay 38, Kansas City 10
Brady Quinn, QB, Kansas City: 180 yards passing on 38 attempts. Nothing else really needs to be said after that.
Brady Quinn, QB, Kansas City: 180 yards passing on 38 attempts. Nothing else really needs to be said after that.
Detroit 26, Philadelphia 23
Mikel Leshoure, RB, Detroit: With Jahvid Best now confirmed out for the year after failing his latest neurological exam, Mikel Leshoure becomes even more important for Detroit. Matt Stafford has regressed a bit from 2011, so having some semblance of a running game to take some of the pressure off becomes even more important. After a horrendous game last week, Leshoure rebounded with 70 yards on 15 carries. He doesn’t need to be great, just respectable.
Mikel Leshoure, RB, Detroit: With Jahvid Best now confirmed out for the year after failing his latest neurological exam, Mikel Leshoure becomes even more important for Detroit. Matt Stafford has regressed a bit from 2011, so having some semblance of a running game to take some of the pressure off becomes even more important. After a horrendous game last week, Leshoure rebounded with 70 yards on 15 carries. He doesn’t need to be great, just respectable.
New York Jets 35, Indianapolis 9
Shonn Greene, RB, New York Jets: Greene’s rushing total from weeks 2-5: 123 yards on 49 carries. Greene in week 6: 161 yards on 32 carries. Forgive me if I don’t exactly hop on the bandwagon.
Shonn Greene, RB, New York Jets: Greene’s rushing total from weeks 2-5: 123 yards on 49 carries. Greene in week 6: 161 yards on 32 carries. Forgive me if I don’t exactly hop on the bandwagon.
Miami 17, St. Louis 14
Ryan Tannehill, QB, Miami: This isn’t real. Defenses will figure him out and he will turn into a pumpkin soon enough. There is no way Tannehill is an actual good QB. I won’t believe it and you can’t make me.
Ryan Tannehill, QB, Miami: This isn’t real. Defenses will figure him out and he will turn into a pumpkin soon enough. There is no way Tannehill is an actual good QB. I won’t believe it and you can’t make me.
Cleveland 34, Cincinnati 24
It’s Ohio. Who gives a shit.
It’s Ohio. Who gives a shit.
Atlanta 23, Oakland 20
Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta: Some fans like to point to the number of 4th quarter comebacks of QB’s like Matt Ryan and John Elway as evidence that the former is an elite QB and the latter is the greatest of all-time. I have the same response for both: If they were really that good they wouldn’t need to comeback all the damn time. The very nature of having a comeback win essentially means you sucked for the first 3 quarters. Why is doing that often considered a good thing?
Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta: Some fans like to point to the number of 4th quarter comebacks of QB’s like Matt Ryan and John Elway as evidence that the former is an elite QB and the latter is the greatest of all-time. I have the same response for both: If they were really that good they wouldn’t need to comeback all the damn time. The very nature of having a comeback win essentially means you sucked for the first 3 quarters. Why is doing that often considered a good thing?
Seattle 24, New England 23
Richard Sherman, CB, Seattle: Richard Sherman spent the game trash talking Tom Brady, telling him he was going to make him pay if he kept throwing his way. Brady laughed and told Sherman to come see him after the game when the Patriots win. Sherman ended up getting his INT, and the Seahawks beat the Patriots. Then Sherman hunted down Brady after the game to trash talk him some more. Then he went and called the Patriots a gimmick offense in post-game interviews. Richard Sherman is kind of awesome.
Richard Sherman, CB, Seattle: Richard Sherman spent the game trash talking Tom Brady, telling him he was going to make him pay if he kept throwing his way. Brady laughed and told Sherman to come see him after the game when the Patriots win. Sherman ended up getting his INT, and the Seahawks beat the Patriots. Then Sherman hunted down Brady after the game to trash talk him some more. Then he went and called the Patriots a gimmick offense in post-game interviews. Richard Sherman is kind of awesome.
Buffalo 19, Arizona 16
Jay Feely, K, Arizona: It takes a combination of a really boring game and a really clutch kick to get a kicker spotlighted here. Feely’s 61 yard field goal to the game with barely a minute left qualifies as clutch enough, and the rest of this eyesore of a game qualifies as boring enough.
Jay Feely, K, Arizona: It takes a combination of a really boring game and a really clutch kick to get a kicker spotlighted here. Feely’s 61 yard field goal to the game with barely a minute left qualifies as clutch enough, and the rest of this eyesore of a game qualifies as boring enough.
Washington 38, Minnesota 26
Robert Griffin III: I’m not right often, so I’m going to keep putting this out there for as long I’m proven right.
Robert Griffin III: I’m not right often, so I’m going to keep putting this out there for as long I’m proven right.
New York Giants 26, San Francisco 3
Alex Smith, QB, SF: I was so prepared to write a post about how Alex Smith is not good enough to win a Super Bowl, then I realized I already wrote that article less than a year ago, so I bailed on that plan. The point remains though: Alex Smith is an incredibly smart player and a respectable starting QB, but he possesses neither the arm strength or the accuracy to make a play out of nothing when its needed. If a guy is open I expect Smith to find him, but sometimes guys just aren’t open and you need to make a throw anyway, and he can’t do that. They will not win a Super Bowl as long as he’s the starting QB. As a 49er fan, you have no idea how much it hurts to say that.
Alex Smith, QB, SF: I was so prepared to write a post about how Alex Smith is not good enough to win a Super Bowl, then I realized I already wrote that article less than a year ago, so I bailed on that plan. The point remains though: Alex Smith is an incredibly smart player and a respectable starting QB, but he possesses neither the arm strength or the accuracy to make a play out of nothing when its needed. If a guy is open I expect Smith to find him, but sometimes guys just aren’t open and you need to make a throw anyway, and he can’t do that. They will not win a Super Bowl as long as he’s the starting QB. As a 49er fan, you have no idea how much it hurts to say that.
Green Bay 42, Houston 24
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay: To paraphrase Mark Twain: Reports of Aaron Rodgers’ demise have been greatly exaggerated.
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay: To paraphrase Mark Twain: Reports of Aaron Rodgers’ demise have been greatly exaggerated.
Denver 35, San Diego 24
Phillip Rivers, QB, San Diego: Phillip Rivers on the other hand…
Phillip Rivers, QB, San Diego: Phillip Rivers on the other hand…
You can follow Andy on Twitter @AMOhoop34
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