# NFL Week 3 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 18, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/698849 "2014-09-18T18:03:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/698849/41 "2014-09-22T08:34:19Z")
> [@VarlosZ](#): > > Eli Manning had his first game without an interception since Week 11 of last year. > > Giants looked like a real football team this week; won 30-17, and really should’ve had more. They improved last week, too. The optimistic interpretation would be that they just needed extra time to install the new offense. If Eli plays well, the team actually has a lot of talent. Big if, but still. I saw this coming a mile away, and was pleasantly vindicated. So confident that I pulled my starters to put in Eli, the Giants DEF, and Donnell in our fantasy matchup in the dynasty league. Happily, they played exactly as I expected. Next week, however, is against what is technically a backup quarterback, so I see 1-3 coming. The Giants can’t beat a backup QB to save their life. (Which is why last week was a loss.) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/698849/42 "2014-09-22T10:52:14Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > would Baker have been ejected if his actions hadn’t started a fight? or just a personal foul Who can say, but the fact that he was blindsiding a QB would probably be more of a factor. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/698849/43 "2014-09-22T13:49:24Z")
Oh, wow, I turned off the Denver-Seattle game after Manning’s interception, didn’t realize it had gone into overtime until just now. Damn, I hate when that happens. Good game, though. Seattle is the only team that’s actually playing defense in the modern game. I don’t know how they do it. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/698849/44 "2014-09-22T15:29:34Z")
> [@VarlosZ](#): > > Good game, though. Seattle is the only team that’s actually playing defense in the modern game. I don’t know how they do it. There are 14 teams that have given up fewer points than Seattle. The Bengals, the Bills, the Texans, the Lions, the Cardinals, the Patriots are all teams that are playing very good defensively. Seattle’s defense is very good, but they aren’t even close to the only team playing well on defense. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/698849/45 "2014-09-22T15:59:00Z")
In a highlight video, I heard it mentioned that Russell Wilson was one of three QBs this week to catch a pass. I looked through the stats and found Andy Dalton, who was the third? ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/698849/46 "2014-09-22T15:59:51Z")
Johnny Manziel, I’m guessing, but it was called by for an illegal shift and therefore not in the record books as a pass. It was actually a pretty clever trick play, but I’m not sure exactly what rule it violated. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/698849/47 "2014-09-22T16:06:38Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Johnny Manziel, I’m guessing, but it was called by for an illegal shift and therefore not in the record books as a pass. It was actually a pretty clever trick play, but I’m not sure exactly what rule it violated. Illegal shift. Terrance West wasn’t set before the snap. That was the penalty that was called. Also, the play itself was supposedly illegal. From [here](http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11566812/cleveland-browns-qb-johnny-manziel-trick-play-reception-deemed-illegal-not-penalized): "The league office, though, referred to page 64 of the rule book, which states unsportsmanlike conduct is “Using entering substitutes, legally returning players, substitutes on sidelines, or withdrawn players to confuse opponents, including lingering by players leaving the field after being replaced by a substitute and an offensive player lining up or going in motion less than five yards from the sideline in front of his team’s designated bench area. However, an offensive player is permitted to line up less than five yards from the sidelines on the same side as his team’s player bench, provided he is not in front of the designated bench area.” ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/698849/48 "2014-09-22T16:46:00Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > There are 14 teams that have given up fewer points than Seattle. The Bengals, the Bills, the Texans, the Lions, the Cardinals, the Patriots are all teams that are playing very good defensively. Seattle’s defense is very good, but they aren’t even close to the only team playing well on defense. Well, points allowed isn’t a great metric here considering they’ve played three of the very best offenses in the league to start the season. But I was talking more about feel. Obviously there are other teams that are, by definition, above average. But, when it’s playing well (which is most of the time), Seattle’s is the only defense that \*seems \*akin to the smothering defenses of 20, even 10 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/698849/49 "2014-09-22T17:11:25Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Johnny Manziel, I’m guessing, but it was called by for an illegal shift and therefore not in the record books as a pass. It was actually a pretty clever trick play, but I’m not sure exactly what rule it violated. A newly reporting player can’t be in the coaching box. Plus any player not lined up on center has to have his shoulders parallel to the line of scrimmage, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/698849/50 "2014-09-22T17:53:12Z")
2014 49ers first half: 56-16 2014 49ers second half: 3-52 what the hell? ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/698849/51 "2014-09-22T22:51:08Z")
no stamina? ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/698849/52 "2014-09-23T01:56:50Z")
Poor Jets, just got robbed of a TD. Luckily they have Geno Smith to win the game … Sorry, I couldn’t say that with a straight face. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2014, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/698849/53 "2014-09-24T21:15:53Z")
the NFL agrees with me that Baker’s hit on Foles was a clean block > **[Chris Baker won't be suspended for Nick Foles hit](https://www.nfl.com/news/chris-baker-won-t-be-suspended-for-nick-foles-hit-0ap3000000399864)** > > NFL's executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said Tuesday that Redskins defensive tackle Chris Baker will not be suspended for his blindside hit on Nick Foles in Week 3. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/698849/54 "2014-09-25T06:02:35Z")
Bengals: one turnover in three games versus seven taken away, #1 in yards per pass, no sacks allowed, fewest points allowed on defense, best defense in special teams points and yards allowed, fewest points allowed… Good team. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/698849/55 "2014-09-25T14:48:21Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Bengals: one turnover in three games versus seven taken away, #1 in yards per pass, no sacks allowed, fewest points allowed on defense, best defense in special teams points and yards allowed, fewest points allowed… > > Good team. What? No update on Bernard’s studliness? You’re slacking, Mr. Bengals Fan. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/698849.md?page=2)