NFL WEEK 11 Herbs and Spices

The Game Room
1

It’s not a great week for the NFL when the biggest news isn’t about current teams and players, but rather that a former player getting a workout. Colin Kaepernick gets a workout on Saturday in Atlanta. The “planning” and communication surrounding it is odd, but we will see what happens. For the record, I think the amount and vehemence of the hatred he got was bullshit and he shouldn’t have been blacklisted for his political activities. I also think he’s a system QB and that he’s not all that good of an NFL QB, but with the success Lamar Jackson is having this year (until he gets injured, he’ll be great fun to watch), there should be a place for Kaepernick in the NFL.

In other news, former first rounder Vernon Hargreaves gets cut by the Bucs, George Kittle and Tyler Lockett are injured, and life goes on.

Here’s your games for the week:

Thursday, Nov. 14

8:20 p.m. Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns (NFLN/FOX) CLE -3 40

Sunday, Nov. 17

1 p.m. Dallas Cowboys at Detroit Lions (FOX) DAL -3 52
1 p.m. New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (FOX) NO -5.5 50
1 p.m. Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers (FOX) CAR -5.5 51
1 p.m. Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts (CBS) JAX -3.5 44
1 p.m. Denver Broncos at Minnesota Vikings (CBS) MIN -10.5 39
1 p.m. New York Jets at Washington Redskins (FOX) WAS -1 39
1 p.m. Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins (CBS) BUF -5.5 40
1 p.m. Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens (CBS) BAL -4.5 50
4:05 p.m. Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers (FOX) SF -11.5 46
4:25 p.m. New England Patriots at Philadelphia Eagles (CBS) NE -3.5 45
4:25 p.m. Cincinnati Bengals at Oakland Raiders (CBS) OAK -10.5 49
8:20 p.m. Chicago Bears at Los Angeles Rams (NBC) LAR -7 42

Monday, Nov. 18

8:15 p.m. Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers (ESPN) KC -3.5 53

A lot of interesting games this week.

The Thursday night Steelers/Browns game should be interesting. Both teams are playing much better than they have earlier in the season, and the addition of Minkah Fitzpatrick seems to have rejuvenated the Steeler defense. It’s just a matter of which Baker Mayfield shows up this week. I expect a low scoring, smashmouth, defensive game that is very close. Should be a fun one to watch.

I was very surprised by the Saints loss last weekend; I thought they were one of the best in the NFC. But there are always down weeks for teams, so I think this one will be a breeze against the Bucs.

I’ll definitely keep an eye on the Jags to see if Nick Foles is markedly better than the Moustachioed one. The Chiefs/Chargers and Bears/Rams should be interesting just for the “travelling west” storyline. I wonder if that’s really a thing anymore or if teams have adjusted well enough. And the Lamar Jackson v. Deshaun Watson game should be great fun too.

Finally, the Pats and Eagles should be a good game too. I’m still unsure about just how good Carson Wentz actually is (his pass catchers are not helping him much this year), and an angry Bill Bellicheck is always interesting to watch. Peterson v. Bellicheck, Round 2 could be the game of the week.

And I know for sure I don’t want anything to do with the Jets/Washington game. Both teams put the Ugly in “Jesus, God please don’t make me watch this game because both teams are really fucking Ugly.”

Anyone care to share?

2

The Chiefs are “at” the Chargers but the game’s in Mexico City. Though it’s entirely possible that the Chargers will get a higher percentage of fans at this game than they do at home.

It’s kind of unbelievable, but the Chargers basically still control their own fate, even at 4-6. They’re two games behind KC, but they play them twice, and there’s still an OAK @ LAC game on the schedule too. It’s not very likely that the Chargers would win all three of those, but if I squint at the KC-TEN and LAC-GB games, I can convince myself it’s possible. Of course the Charger thing to do would be to win those three and then lose against Denver in some inexplicable way.

I haven’t read too much about the Kaep workout, but it seems just really weird. It seems like the NFL took the initiative in setting it up, but they’re also trying to sabotage it. So maybe it was just some kind of PR thing, but the way it’s being set up to fail seems completely obvious too. Just weird.

3

I’m over the Kaep thing. It’s insane that anyone would even consider a QB who hasn’t played in 3 years who comes with a massive media circus as any sort of a solution for the last few weeks of the season. I assume Kaep was annoyed that he fell out of the spotlight along with anthem protesters and threatened to rattle his sabre again.

Even without the circus, I wouldn’t even consider a kicker or a punter who’d been out of the league for 3 years, much less a QB who’d have to learn the system.

4

Considering the terms the NFL specified to Kaepernick’s team, I really doubt this. None of his personal staff are allowed to be there, he was given 2 hours say yes/no to the surprise offer, and less than a week’s notice for the session.

It seems more likely to be somebody at the NFL somehow trying to resuscitate the ‘good’ name of the league via publicity stunt. Kaep apparently still wants a second chance to play football badly enough to accept even these ridiculous terms.

I get it that you clearly don’t like Kaepernick as a person, but putting the blame for this stunt on him defies reason.

ETA: Also, the “circus” excuse is way overplayed. Tim Tebow always came with a more ridiculous circus (and much less talent as a QB), and that didn’t stop anybody.

5

Update on Tyler Lockett: it apparently wasn’t that serious. Leaving him in Santa Clara to stay in the hospital was precautionary and he’s already back in Seattle.

Though there are no guarantees, since Seattle has a bye week in all likelihood he won’t miss any time. He does still have a major bruise so depending on how well it heals he may be limited up to and including the next game in Philadelphia. But it’s not the terrible scenario that the team and fans were worried about.

6

I was wondering if week 11 would have a Spinal Tap inspired title.

Brian

7

This is good news. From what I’ve gathered, compartment syndrome is very serious, especially if you’ve had it before.

8

I like the KFC reference myself.

9

As do I. Good job, Hamlet!

10

I’m pretty hyped up for this game, which I haven’t been for a while. Whether they can get their shit together for this says a lot about the rest of the year. I think the Browns will win it solidly.

11

Fun fact that’s completely apropos of nothing!
Last six Browns coaches have all been fired right immediately after playing the Steelers.

12

I greatly dislike the interpretation of pass interference as “the pass catcher can go anywhere they want, including right where the defender is currently standing or running”.

Good start by Cleveland.

13

Because I usually dislike Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, I tend to go with the UK audio feed, which is surprisingly amusing. For tonight’s game, they are enamoured with the Scottish Hammer. I had no idea the punter for the Browns was Scottish.

14

Steelers are a hot mess tonight. Cleveland seems inspired. But they’re still the Browns, so let’s see them last two quarters. Regardless, this doesn’t threaten Roethlisberger’s record of being the winningest QB in that stadium for some time.

15

I’m beginning to think Denzel Ward might be good. :wink:

16

Do they mix the audience volume in Thursday night games lower for some reason? The games usually seem very quiet, which is part of what ends up making them feel kind of boring and not like real football.

17

Browns defender went to scoop up the fumble and return it for a TD instead of just jumping on it and securing it. Gonna get chewed out for that.

18
  1. Scottish Hammer is really good
  2. What a boneheaded, unnecessary procedural penalty on what is kind of a weird rule anyway. Reddit user: “That is officially the most superfluous penalty I have ever seen committed.”
  3. Why are the Steelers this bad? Kinda takes the excitement out of it even though we’ve only beat them like twice in the last decade.
19

Two clear helmet to helmet penalties that knock out players make it hard to root for the Browns. And the fans chanting “Bullshit…Bullshit” does them no good either.

20

WTF is the deal with Browns defenders leading with their heads? I don’t think they’re Vontaze Burfect dirty, but they’re not being taught how to tackle and they’re leading with their helmets.

A sign of, well, shitty coaching.