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 detrimental methods, however the constructive aspect of the spectrum was as much as par as effectively with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and Detroit Lions sustaining their respective leads.
An entire heck of rather a lot occurred in between although, and that’s the a part of the sandwich that we, Michael Peterson and RJ Ochoa, focus on.
Welcome to The Skinny Publish, the place we could or could not supply 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 very best crew in a gaggle of whole misfits.
However the Texans stands out as the most paper tiger-y crew going proper now as they only misplaced to 2 of the groups that we listed above, and one in all 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 way in which again towards them. All informed, Detroit scored 19 unanswered factors and wherever you look amongst Texans followers the blame is falling squarely on the toes of the place they’ve laid all of it season… offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.
I’m not saying that Slowik hasn’t been dangerous or that he doesn’t should 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 in regards to the head coach? I acknowledge that DeMeco Ryans is a enjoyable story and an objectively good coach, however he has additionally been objectively actually dangerous and poorly ready within the second halves of video games this yr. It could’t simply be “Slowik sucks” and that’s the top of it.
The Texans aren’t a nationwide title and solely enter the dialog when issues are going effectively, however we will deal with them with as a lot logic as we do everybody else.
Michael:
Let’s get this on the market instantly: In a recreation 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 bit of over three touchdowns value of factors and can also be greater than 17 groups common on a per-game foundation. It’s very simple to say, “Oh, effectively, if the offense scores even only one extra landing/area aim/and so on then they in all probability would have received!”
The factor is, that’s excusing the protection for permitting 19 factors within the second half which, if I recall accurately, is the aspect of the ball that DeMeco Ryans is accountable for.
Nonetheless, 5 interceptions is a number of takeaways and one would suppose that may result in an insurmountable quantity of factors for Houston. The factor is, CJ Stroud certain did toss a number of interceptions of his personal with no less than one coming instantly after the second-half kickoff and one other coming quickly after his crew recorded one in all their 5. Not solely had been his picks robust to see, they got here at occasions the place it obliterated the momentum created by his personal protection’s greatest performs.
So TL:DR, sure I completely agree that each Ryans and Stroud probably deserve extra of the blame right here than Slowick does. Ryans must discover a strategy 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 massive issues and I simply don’t suppose the Texans had been targeted sufficient on the little issues greater than the Lions had been on this one.
Has Russell Wilson performed his manner out of all of the jokes and comical rhetoric surrounding the previous few years of his profession?
Michael:
It looks like Russell Wilson has been recognized extra for his whimsical “Mr. Limitless” persona over the previous few years than he has been for the performs he makes on the soccer area. This yr seemed prefer it was going to be one other “dunk on Russ”-type season whereas he was out on account of damage to start the yr, however now that he’s 3-0 because the starter following his return, I feel it may 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 may 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 crew very effectively 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 occasions when a very good operating joke seemingly has run its course, however this time I’m truly sort of pleased for Wilson that he’s been in a position to 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 the whole lot feel and appear higher so it is smart that him attending to Pittsburgh could be useful for everyone concerned.
It’s wild that the Ravens usually are not operating away with the AFC North as a result of Russell is taking part in so effectively and retaining 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 feel 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’re taking over Kevin O’Connell?
RJ:
The Minnesota Vikings aren’t dominating the way in which that they had been earlier within the season and that has brought on some folks to fall a bit of bit out of affection with them. I feel we’re nonetheless underselling the job that Kevon O’Connell is doing right here.
KOC has the Vikings positioned to be a playoff crew and is frequently making lemonade on a weekly foundation with Sam Darnold as his quarterback. I’m satisfied that the person might 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 suppose are higher than him? That is my listing, in no specific order:
- Andy Reid
- Jim Harbaugh (additionally underrated)
- Mike Tomlin (a push, however I’ll lean Mike)
- Dan Campbell (in case you insist)
- Kyle Shanahan
I believed a bit of bit about together with Nick Sirianni, however I simply can’t deliver myself to do it. I additionally discover Sirianni to not get sufficient credit score for what his crew is doing, by the way in which.
But when we actually needed to battle and debate we might make the case that KOC is or is no less than pushing High 5. Give the person his props! And perhaps apologize for hating on the 2022 model of his crew that no one was keen to consider in both.
Michael:
As you already know I reside in Minnesota and watch each Vikings recreation after they aren’t taking part in concurrently the Chargers. It’s been a ton of enjoyable watching Sam Darnold carry out effectively (not a lot as of late) below KOC and it solely additional reveals how effectively he can join and develop quarterbacks.
So far as coaches I might take over him — and this takes into consideration their success as a coach plus how nice the locker room vibes have to be — I feel my listing could be:
- Mike Tomlin
- John Harbaugh
- Kyle Shanahan
- Andy Reid
- Jim Harbaugh
- Dan Campbell
So primarily your listing however I might take the opposite Harbaugh brother, as effectively.
All of those guys are winners and there’s really nothing detrimental you possibly can actually say about any of them as folks. They hook up with their gamers, inspire them to play past themselves, and are confirmed winners.
There’s no manner Aaron Rodgers isn’t the most important downside on the Jets, proper?
Michael:
I really feel like we’ve talked fairly a bit about Rodgers on The Skinny Publish this season however I suppose that’s not shocking given he’s a high-profile quarterback in a significant media market that’s wildly failing to reside as much as the preseason expectations.
I received’t lie, it’s been enjoyable to observe the whole lot soften down.
Rodgers and the Jets have one of many higher talent 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 achieved a lot to maneuver the needle on offense.
I don’t know the way far more we have to see, nevertheless it appears prefer to me that Rodgers is the widespread denominator right here. If the protection was overrated, then Saleh was doing much more of the heavy lifting for this crew than he was given credit score for, as effectively.
RJ:
So as to add thus far: Contemplate that Mike Williams scored a landing (an important one!) in his first recreation with the Pittsburgh Steelers after having his title dragged via the mud by Rodgers after they had been teammates.
It’s troublesome for one thing to go in probably the most wrong way that an individual plans for them to and if that’s taking place then you might be both the Dallas Cowboys or Aaron Rodgers.
Time will assist with this, clearly Rodgers has had extra of his life off of the sector attain the general public eye over the previous few years, however I actually marvel how we glance again on Rodgers’ profession as an entire because of this time.
He’s clearly a HOFer and probably the greatest to ever do it, however I feel for a very long time folks gave him an enormous advantage of the doubt. Individuals blamed others like Mike McCarthy for him not profitable extra championships whereas in Inexperienced Bay… the previous few years — actually his Jets tenure — have confirmed that he’s an enormous downside in and of himself.
You hate to see it.
