TNF
TB @ ATL -6
Sunday Early
SD @ BUF -2.5
TEN @ CIN -7
BAL -1.5 @ CLE
GB @ DET -2.5
IND -7 @ JAX
OAK @ NE -14.5
MIN @ NO -9.5
HOU -2 @ NYG
WAS @ PHI -6.5
DAL @ STL
Sunday late
SF -2.5 @ ARI
KC @ MIA -4
DEN @ SEA -4.5
SNF
PIT @ CAR -3
MNF
CHI @ NYJ -2.5
Detroit as a favorite over GB seems odd.
I’m not sure what to make of the Buccaneers. McCown has been awful, but then he’s not being allowed to throw downfield at all. We are throwing a bunch of quick slants and outs as though all our wide receivers were Randall Cobb. No, they’re all Brandon Marshall types - throw the ball downfield, Jeff Tedford. I make some allowances for the fact that Tedford was having heart surgery Week 1 and didn’t call the plays, of course.
As for the defense, we were missing three of four starting linemen in Week 2, including Gerald McCoy. So I’m not that concerned that Austin Davis carved us up. I’m very concerned that Derek Anderson carved us up in Week 1. I mean, really. Derek Anderson? With Carolina’s receiving corps? Excellent MLB Mason Foster is now also out and Adrian Clayborn is on IR. So that’s bad.
Anyway, I think we cover the spread tonight but I don’t think we’re going to win unless Doug Martin plays really well, or there is a massive change in pass strategy.
Or this could happen.
Is Atlanta this good or is Tampa this bad?
I’ll just keep waching to see what comes next in the meltdown.
Both. When Atlanta is at home, anyway.
I have never been concerned about a team of mine scoring too many points.
Until tonight.
Man, what a beatdown.
Tampa’s offense suuuuuuuuuucks.
Their D didn’t look much better.
Neat to see Hester set a record at least in a snooze of a game. How he is so good at returns?
did Atlanta beat the spread?
Joe Flacco has thrown for a 47 QB rating against Pettine’s defenses, including a 5 pick game last year against the Bills. I hope that means he has some sort of secret sauce. Browns have an early bye in week 4 - how incredible would it be if they went into it 2-1 with their only loss being a last second field goal?
I think the Ravens deserve to be a small favorite, but then again, the Browns beat them last year starting Jason Campbell, Willis McGahee, Davone Bess in the middle of a psychotic breakdown… you never know.
Nobody knows. He was a great returner in college, but he only had six return touchdowns there. That might have been because he played three ways though.
Great to see Hester’s performance last night. Not only did he score a record TD return, he got his first rushing TD and forced a turnover after a fumble on offense. I would have liked to see him accomplish that return TD as a Bear but I also really appreciate seeing him perform in a situation where he’s appreciated and he’s utilized in a system properly. I don’t think Lovie Smith fooled even himself when he called Hester a “number 1 receiver.”
I think it’s a combination of a couple of things. First, he’s very fast and elusive, he reads the field really well and works with the blocking scheme, and he takes chances.
Second, when he was an unholy terror a handful of years ago he played on a team that had some very good special teams coaching and schemes. It wasn’t unheard of before he came along to see the Bears run back a kickoff or punt for a TD. He ramped that up to the next level. If he’d been doing the same job for, say, the Chargers, I think he’d still have been very good but maybe not record breaking good.
Definitely true. Danieal Manning led the league in kick-off return yardage for a few years by a wide margin.
I heard someone recently, when explaining why the 2014 Bears Special Teams are so atrocious, describe the change in philosophy under Emery/Trestman vs. Lovie/Angelo as this: “The Bears used to make special teamers into backups, now the make backups into special teamers.” I think that pretty well nails it, the Bears went out and signed great special teamers and often let high upside backups go in favor of low ceiling guys who were good on special teams.
At the time I was always frustrated that we had so few backup guys with talent who we could develop into potential starters, now I’m getting what I asked for with the likes of Marquess Wilson, Willie Young, Shaun Draughn and Khaseem Greene on the roster. We’ll see if there’s a net benefit or not.
Green Bay appears intent upon not winning this game.
I can’t imagine that RG3 has a job waiting for him at this point. Even if the Skins lose Cousins has been dominant today. One or two more solid games from him before RG3 heals up and I’d say Griff is cooked.
And the Ravens pull it off with a last minute FG. Well done, although too close for my tastes. The Browns are starting to become dangerous.
The cream of the division is definitely Cincinnati though. The rest of us are just playing for a wild card I’m afraid.
Wicked belly to back suplex put on Brees today. Was glad to see him bounce up and go after the guy.
Also pleased to finally get a win. Wasn’t pretty. Vikings stuffed the Saints offense after the first quarter, held us to 20 points at home, snapped Brees’ consecutive 300 yard passing record at home.
Cassel carted off, Bridgewater makes his regular season debut, performs reasonably well.