So, did anybody who watched football yesterday come away thinking, Thank heavens they've got some new rules in place to clear up the pass interference debate that affected a playoff game last season? I mean whatever: the refs blew some calls and non-calls yesterday, just like always. And that's the point: all the new rules in the world won't change judgment calls. They're just being made in the booth instead of on the field.
Officiating and coaching tend to get highlighted when there are a lot of close games that come down to the final few plays. And it seemed like that happened in almost every game yesterday. So Yay for the NFL.
Kansas City at Titans: The worst thing about not really rooting for any particular team is you tend to feel bad for a lot of different teams when they lose. So I kind of felt bad for several teams who lost close games on last-minute drives, including Kansas City. But it's also telling: their defense isn't any better than it was a year ago, changing a bunch of players and hiring a coordinator who did his best work a couple of stops ago didn't really work out. Hard to win in the playoffs when you can't stop anyone. Although messing up a pair of late field goals was also critical to this loss. Damien Williams had reclaimed the featured job...but lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown. So we'll see. Started Adam Humphries and gnashed my teeth about his donut for 59 minutes (so, 3 hours) until he saved the day with a game-wining touchdown. Thank heavens. A.J. Brown disappointed, still felt like the right call.
Cardinals at Bucs: Felt even worse for the Cardinals losing this one, in part because Kyler Murray and Christian Kirk and the offense played so well, and Murray's late red-zone interception seemed to be a result of his receiver tripping/being flattened. But whatever, not a surprise that offenses soared and defenses did not in this one. Start your pass game guys against the Bucs, start anyone against the Cardinals. Ronald Jones had a decent all-around game until losing a late fumble (and it was Peyton Barber in the game to score the winning touchdown). We'll see what Arians says this week, hopefully Jones' overall strong performance keeps him in the featured role. Drafted Kyler Murray at 1.12 in my dynasty rookie draft and think I'll be starting him for a long time. Awful game for David Johnson, I wonder if it's too late to trade him away.
Giants at Jets: Which New York team is the biggest loser? I guess it's the Giants. In general, though, encouraging overall games for these two young quarterbacks, since they've had some not so good outings along the way. Left Darius Slayton on my bench after being burned by him last week. I'll probably start him next game and he'll catch 2 balls for 18 yards. Jets secondary is a great matchup though, just like the Giants. Neither Saquon Barkley nor LeVeon Bell went anywhere in this one; all passing. Shockingly ineffective game for Barkley; Bell at least scored.
Falcons at Saints: Survivor Pools nationwide were rocked by this one, which also wasn't a banner day for most Saints in fantasy. How New Orleans failed to get in the end zone, at home, against Atlanta is something for the wisdom of the elders to explain. It's pretty unthinkable, but I guess kudos to the team for rallying together over its bye week. New Orleans apparently hung out on Bourbon Street a lot, I really don't know. Saints should bounce back, but this one will leave a mark. Should have picked up Brian Hill as soon as it was reported that Ito Smith was headed for IR. Will be pricey this week. Worse, Austin Hooper left late with a knee injury. Fantasy Index readers hold their breath.
Bills at Browns: I scoffed at the Browns being favored by 3 points in this game. Fine, Vegas guys, you got me. Bills missed a couple of field goals in this one, factoring heavily into the loss. Browns made some big plays on offense, Nick Chubb looked great, Kareem Hunt got enough touches to help you in PPR. Josh Allen was the Bills offense, again. He's a poor man's Lamar Jackson these days. Speaking of which....
Ravens at Bengals: So, bad week to be facing Lamar Jackson, and even worse if you happened to be facing him and Mark Andrews (as I was in the league I benched Darius Slayton...painful). Why the Bengals thought giving Ryan Finley his first NFL start against the Ravens was a good idea is beyond me, but I guess these things just happen. And Cincinnati's defense can't stop anyone so I guess it didn't much matter. Serviceable day in defeat for Joe Mixon, a little disappointing from the non-Jackson and Andrews Ravens, though Mark Ingram scored. Highlight run of the year from Jackson, you've probably seen it.
Lions at Bears: Lions hung around and made this game interesting, but I encourage everyone not to be fooled by Jeff Driskel's cosmetically OK final numbers. If you had to start Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones you got saved by some late production, including an end-zone prayer to Golladay that was somehow completed. But the Lions offense didn't do much, Ty Johnson got hurt, and it's pretty much over for them. And if Matthew Stafford has a fractured bone in his back I'm not sure how he's playing this week, either (with Stafford they'd probably have won).
Dolphins at Colts: Probably should have seen this one coming. Fact is the Dolphins with Ryan Fitzpatrick running the show aren't terrible, and the Colts with Brian Hoyer and missing T.Y. Hilton...aren't good. Bizarre near touchdown for Eric Ebron that became an interception, Hoyer still leaning on those tight ends as receivers, to the disappointment of those who started Pascal, Rogers. And maybe it is time for Adam Vinatieri to retire, because yet again he missed an extra point, and yet again it factored into a 4-point loss (he could have attempted a late field goal to tie it). Tough one for Colts fans.
Rams at Steelers: Seem like only yesterday I was singing the praises of having Cooper Kupp everywhere. How exactly he goes from 200 receiving yards one week to getting shut out in his next game defies belief. I saw him out there running routes and even being targeted, but Goff couldn't hit him. Disastrous game for the Rams offense, and if you have the Steelers defense I'm not sure you bench them at all the rest of the way. They absolutely took over this game. Lone offensive touchdown by the impossible to start James Washington. Gerald Everett (8 catches) was busy getting in front of Kupp, evidently.
Panthers at Packers: There were some questionable calls in this one. Well, bad. A lousy roughness call against the Panthers for a hit on Aaron Rodgers. But that one happens every week. It was costly, though, helping keep Carolina in a hole they didn't get out of. I was kind of impressed by Kyle Allen watching this game. All along I've not really understood why Carolina would trade Cam Newton, injuries and salary a factor, I realize. But can Allen really lead this team to a Super Bowl? I'm not sure, but he did make some impressive throws and plays today. But not enough, and Green Bay wins. Increasing snow throughout the second half of this game, fun to watch but not great for passing I guess. But in general you got good numbers out of the right people. Near touchdown for Jimmy Graham, for those monitoring such things.
Vikings at Cowboys: Hey, anybody else see a 1-point fantasy win turn into a 1-point loss due to the game-ending Hail Mary interception? No? Happened to me. That's a bad beat. Also bad for Dallas, which mixed poor playcalling and clock management late to suffer a tough home loss in a game where Cooper, Gallup and Cobb were making circus grabs all night long. Great game for Dalvin Cook and Kirk Cousins, winning a game a lot of experts had them losing.
Monday, Monday: Looking at my daily lineup for this game, I've got money to burn. Reason is that backup tight end who will be San Francisco's starting tight end, Ross Dwelley, is so damn cheap. Russell Wilson is the best player in this game, but he's facing a defense that's been playing great. Which San Francisco running back will wind up with the biggest game? Is this the week I regret benching Deebo Samuel? I'm not sure how this one is going to go. Tempting to pick Wilson, who's having an MVP season, but will be tough to him to have a great game against this defense. San Francisco 23, Seattle 20.
