Views from the Nosebleeds: 2016 NFL Regular Season, Week 10

Frankly, I don't show frequent love to NFL place kickers because, like many football fanatics, I tend not to regard them as "real" football players.  I often hate how a game can swing on the foot of a guy who only comes out for kickoffs, extra points and field goals--especially with the tough year kickers are having since the extra point extension to the 15-yard line last season.  Well, if you ask Chiefs play-by-play announcer Mitch Holthus--who has long been one of my favorite radio network announcers--Cairo Santos might as well have been Moses, King David and Jesus Christ rolled into one.  When their visit to Carolina was primed for overtime tied at 17, Panthers receiver Kelvin Benjamin handed Marcus Peters and the Chiefs' opportunistic defense an early Christmas present via a fumble on Carolina's 24-yard line with only 20 seconds remaining in regulation.  As Santos nailed the first walk-off of his career, Holthus' call was one for the ages:

This would be the biggest kick for Santos...and all of Brazil holds its breath...17-17...it's now four seconds they're saying left in the game...ball in the center of the field...on a 37-yard attempt...placement is down...Santos' kick...he lines it up AND THAT BABY IS RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE!  É SULCÉ É BOA!  É SULCÉ É BOA!  AND ALL OF BRAZIL AND THE CHIEFS KINGDOM REJOICES WITH AN INCREDIBLE, IMPROBABLE VICTORY ON THE ROAD!

First and foremost, thank God I kept my TuneIn Premium subscription because I wouldn't have located this audio otherwise.  Second, when I do something even remotely as amazing as that, I need Mitch Holthus on speed dial and speaking Portuguese is purely optional   Third, that's the best radio call I've heard since 98.5 The Hub color analyst Scott Zolak gave us, "BRADY'S BACK!  THAT'S YOUR QUARTERBACK!  WHO LEFT THE BUILDING?!?!  UNICORNS!  SHOW PONIES!  WHERE'S THE BEEF?!?!"  With that, fellow pigskin enthusiasts, let's recap Week 10...

THE PLUS/MINUS TAKE OF THE WEEK: REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (-7).  Niners quarterback Colin Kaepernick had me inspired like a significant section of the country who decided to kneel with him in protest of police brutality.  Not only was I ready to refuse to sing the National Anthem, but I was also prepared to purchase his jersey and help contribute to charitable organizations.  However, when I found out he didn't vote, I was disappointed.  Granted, I knew he wasn't enamored with either Secretary Hillary Clinton or (now) President-Elect Donald Trump, but to not even participate in down ballot voting seems counterproductive.  One of the biggest ways to challenge the system is to send a message with your ballot and hold up your end of the bargain in the political process.  (I covered the importance of Black folks voting in detail here and here, but apparently, Kaep didn't get these memos.)  Because he failed to do that and set a better example for the half of America that abstained from the process, he became part of the problem instead of actively contributing to the solution.

While I've somewhat muted my true feelings, ESPN's First Take lead debater Stephen A. Smith pulled no punches in his criticism of Kaepernick.  On the November 9 episode, Smith sounded off in a twelve-minute diatribe, including this salient point:

My days of rooting for him have come to an end and here is why...as an African American in this country, you have to be sensitive to the fact that civil rights legislation was passed in the mid 60s.  When we talk about the battles that have been fought, the things that have happened to people, what they've had to endure, the fact that folks ended up dying for the right for him to have the right to vote in this great country of ours, you have the opportunity to vote...we have the power to change and manipulate the course not just of our lives, but of generations to come because of the voice that we have through the vote to provoke change.  If anybody in this country should appreciate that more, it is African Americans because that right wasn't always bestowed upon us...so knowing all of this and then having the audacity to kneel for the National Anthem talking about how you won't stop until there is change that takes place, but you ignore the very thing, the most poignant thing you can fathom to help facilitate that change and you play no active role in that?  It's inexcusable.

Although I don't watch First Take anymore due in large part to Smith's boisterous antics, overly dramatic histrionics and frequent Ls he took on issues pertaining to African Americans--including telling a group of students at the University of South Alabama "of course racism exists...but not for you" earlier this year--I'm firmly with my fellow Libra brother on this one.  (Frankly, the former two factors showed up in this particular segment, but it was warranted if you ask me.)  Doesn't help when you betray your cause and your team is one of the worst in the league...

THE HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE TAKE OF THE WEEK: ALL THREE PHASES NEEDED TO PLAY WELL TO WIN.  For a while, Kirk Cousins tried to rewrite the book on him.  Can't score in the red zone?  He throws a low, but well-placed pass to Jamison Crowder for a four-yard TD.  Can't hit receivers in stride when he takes shots downfield?  He hits Vernon Davis for a 38-yard TD.  Can't play a mistake-free game?  Those two TDs were over no INTs.  Unfortunately, once the Vikings' vaunted defense clamped down, the offense racked up yardage, including 22 of 33 for 267 yards from Cousins as well as 22 carries for 97 yards from rookie Rob Kelley, but scored no more touchdowns after the second quarter.  If the Skins had a kicker with rookie Roberto Aguayo's misfortunes instead of the more sure-footed Dustin Hopkins, then their record would look a lot different.  Once again, Hopkins bailed out the fizzling offense and was a critical factor in the Skins' 26-20 win.

Although the defense held a suffering Vikings offense scoreless in the first quarter, they struggled against a rejuvenated Sam Bradford in the second quarter.  Local product Stefon Diggs (who hails from Alexandria, Virginia and played at the University of Maryland)  primarily cooked Kendall Fuller for 13 catches for 164 yards while both Kyle Rudolph and Adam Thielen got in on the scoring action on the way to a 20-14 halftime lead.  However, right when it seemed like the defense would be a liability, they kept the Vikings from scoring another point in the second half.  Preston Smith rose to the occasion when he 1) read Bradford well on a three-step drop for an INT with 5:53 remaining in regulation which led to three more points from Hopkins and 2) recorded the biggest of his two sacks on 4th and 17 against Bradford to keep the visiting team from a last-minute comeback win.  Although they're still not an intimidating team, Washington showed some grit and figured out a way to win as they keep their playoff hopes alive and well...

SCRIBBLER'S GAME OF THE WEEK: DALLAS COWBOYS 35, PITTSBURGH STEELERS 30.  In the highest scoring game of the day as well as the season's first game with seven lead changes (the Seahawks-Patriots game became the second hours later), Dallas and Pittsburgh renewed their inter-conference rivalry in dramatic fashion.  While I could sit here and give half-by-half analysis, this came down to 1) the see-saw battle in the fourth quarter and 2) Pittsburgh's inability to succeed on two-point conversions.  Down 22-18, the Steelers benefited from a 22-yard punt return from Antonio Brown and completed a six play, 46-yard drive with a Le'Veon Bell goal line score to go ahead 24-22...but the two-point conversion failed.  On the Cowboys' next drive, Dak Prescott responded with a ten-play, 75-yard drive capped off by a 14-yard TD pass to Ezekiel Elliott (whose 95 yards receiving for the Cowboys were bested only by Dez Bryant's 111-yard, one TD performance) to go up 28-24 with less than two minutes remaining...but failed on their two-point conversion.  Big Ben charged right back with three huge passes to Bell, Jesse James and a 15-yard TD to Brown on a fake spike play to go up 30-28...but they failed on another two-point conversion.

What made this the game of the week was how Dallas responded with little time left.  On the strength of two first-down passes from Prescott to Cole Beasley and Jason "Wide Open" Witten as well as 15-yard face mask penalty on Pittsburgh to get into Dan Bailey's field goal range, all Dallas had to do was score a field goal and win the game.  However, on the biggest play of his young career, Elliott ran 32 yards untouched for the game-winning touchdown, leaving the Steelers' offense a measly eleven seconds.  Despite getting 55 yards from Brown in two plays, it wasn't enough as the Cowboys wanted this win more than the Steelers, who drop back further in the standings in the AFC North and are dashing their playoff hopes.  For a team with a rookie QB and a rookie RB (who should firmly be in the MVP conversation) to go into both Lambeau and Heinz Fields and win in the same season on their way to an 8-1 record is beyond impressive; it's downright intimidating, especially if you're in the NFC and potentially have to go through Arlington to get to Houston...

SCRIBBLER'S CHECKDOWNS: 

• BAL 28, CLE 7: even with the Ravens scoring 22 second half points and "salvaging" what could've been a low-scoring affair, this continues the sleepy trend of TNF.  Baltimore still leads the division, but if they do win the AFC North, they'll probably be an early out in the playoffs because they aren't impressive.  Meanwhile, coming off of one of the most putrid offensive performances by any NFL team this season (111 passing yards, 33 rushing yards), perhaps what's worse than being 0-10 is the Browns don't have a bye week until Week 13, which is also the last week of bye weeks.  They can't even win an earlier break.  Sheesh;
• HOU 24, JAX 21: if Blake Bortles could limit the untimely turnovers, then the Jags might have a slightly better record.  However, a pick six was the difference as the Texans improve their overrated record once again on the strength of two TD passes from Brock Osweiler with only 99 passing yards to his name.  That's not a typo, ladies and gents...a starting quarterback...won a professional football contest...with less than 100 yards passing.  Man alive that dude is overpaid;
• DEN 25, NO 23: the Saints couldn't afford another defeat, but this one is as simple as not losing the turnover battle to a Super Bowl winning defense, regardless if your defense gets two INTs off of Trevor Siemian.  The Broncos might not go very deep into the playoffs unless they get C.J. Anderson back in time, but their defense will cause fits for opposing offenses;
• LA 9, NYJ 6: if you love defensive struggles, then this was your game.  Neither team cracked 200 yards passing nor 300 total yards of offense.  The Rams simply won this game with two important "ones": one extra turnover, one extra field goal.  They're on pace for another average season under the most average head coach perhaps ever while the Jets could be looking for a new coach next year if things don't turn around;
• PHI 24, ATL 15: this game manifested why I have dwindling confidence in the Falcons to play in Houston in February: their defense is their undoing.  With 109 of the team's 208 rushing yards and two TDs, Ryan Mathews had his most dominant game in a Philly uniform by far.  Much needed win for the Eagles to stay above .500 and in the playoff hunt while the Falcons could ill afford to jeopardize their seeding in the NFC, especially with the 'Hawks rising to the No. 2 seed;
• TB 36, CHI 10: the Bucs' memo to the often-inconsistent Bears starting QB read something like, "Jay Cutler, you are now allowed to come back down to Earth."  Outside of a fluke Hail Mary TD at the end of the first half, Cutler tossed two INTs including an early pick six to former teammate Chris Conte.  On the other side, Famous Jameis quietly passed for 312 yards and two TDs on the way to a much-needed win.  While there's still life in Tampa Bay, Chicago is now tied for the league's third-worst record with Jacksonville at a paltry 2-7.  Monsters of the Midway no more;
• TEN 47, GB 25: what in the world happened to Dom Capers' defense on Sunday?  Only allowing an average of 75 rushing yards per game, they allowed that on the Titans' first offensive play from DeMarco Murray, the league's rushing leader who had 123 yards and a TD.  However, the star of this game was Marcus Mariota with 295 passing yards, four TDs and, most important, no turnovers.  The Texans better keep winning because the Titans are on their heels while the Packers are on a serious decline in a tightening NFC North in which the Lions now have the lead;  
• MIA 31, SD 24: outside of their overtime win against the Falcons, Philip Rivers and the Chargers simply cannot get right in fourth quarters this season.  Out of his four INTs, the dagger was a late game pick six.  Whenever Ryan Tannehill is outplaying Rivers--or at least playing smarter football--that's never a good sign as a Chargers fan.  On the strength of a four-game winning streak, the Dolphins could be a playoff team if they continue to win more and have a few things go their way;
• ARI 23, SF 20: although they were +3 in the turnover battle, garnering less than 300 yards of total offense on the strength of Colin Kaepernick's two TDs (one if by land, one if by air) epitomized the Niners being second worst team in the NFL at 1-8.  Meanwhile, Arizona shouldn't be too thrilled with this win as they are far from their impressive 2015 form, despite having a shot at a playoff spot if they play their cards right (I promise no pun was intended);
• SEA 31, NE 24 (SNF): if not for the epic battle between the Cowboys and the Steelers, then this Super Bowl XLIX rematch would've easily been my game of the week.  I could blab about Russell Wilson's 348 passing yards and three TDs or the ascension of rookie C.J. Prosise, but this was all about the revenge of the goal line.  Between Kam Chancellor's TD-saving tackle on LeGarrette Blount and squaring up against Rob Gronkowski on a controversial final play, the Legion of Boom once again bent but did not break for a second straight week.  Traveling across country on a short week against a team who seems to be a Super Bowl lock in the AFC, Seattle had the most impressive win of the day by far; and
• NYG 21, CIN 20 (MNF): when you're +1 in the turnover battle but can only muster 254 yards of total offense while your defense gives up 122 rushing yards to the team with the league's worst rushing attack as well as three Eli Manning passing touchdowns including 97 yards and a score to Odell Beckham, Jr., it equates to being one of the most disappointing teams this year other than the Cardinals.  As for the Giants, let's see if Ben McAdoo can continue to reverse their twelve-year curse under Tom Coughlin in the second half of seasons as the schedule toughens as they seek to make the playoffs for the first time in five years.

SCRIBBLER'S CHOP LICKERS FOR WEEK 11:

• NO (4-5) @ CAR (3-6), 8:25 p.m. (TNF): despite a matchup between two losing teams, maybe this will be the one Thursday Night Football game this season which could be worth watching.  The Panthers will be looking to not only avenge a 41-38 defeat in that Week 6 Superdome thriller, but also gain more footing in the NFC South and keep their extremely slim playoff hopes alive.  Meanwhile, the Saints will seek to prove they can beat more teams on the road who actually have something to lose;
• BUF (4-5) @ CIN (3-5-1), 1:00 p.m.: despite this being a matchup between two teams struggling to make headway in a tough AFC playoff race, this game jumped off of the page for me because of the two old coworkers on a Super Bowl winning team in former Ravens defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis (1996-2001) and former Ravens defensive line coach Rex Ryan (1999-2004).  Although I'm partial to Lewis at home, it still appears it could be anybody's game;
• GB (4-5) @ WAS (5-3-1) 8:30 p.m. (SNF): the last time the Packers came to Landover, they handed the Skins their third consecutive first-round playoff out by erasing an early 11-0 deficit to score on five consecutive possessions on their way to a 35-18 road win.  Now, Washington looks to hold on to their current position in the playoff picture while Green Bay would love to get back to .500.  Hopefully, the home team's defense will play much better against the road team's struggling offense; and
• HOU (6-3) @ OAK (7-2), 8:30 p.m. (MNF): in a matchup between two seemingly-playoff-bound teams, the Raiders have the most to lose if they can't harass the 30th-ranked Texans offense--although Houston has the fifth best defense in the league.  Might not be the most exciting matchup since Derek Carr and Oakland's offense is far superior to a Brock Osweiler-led offense, but considering this is the first NFL game ever played in Mexico, this game has the potential to be interesting nonetheless because of the divisional and playoff implications involved as well as the international reach.