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There is only one college football game this weekend (Army-Navy), but one event that does take place this weekend is the annual presentation of the Heisman Trophy (in New York), awarded to the best player in NCAA Division I FBS college football. There are three finalists, as well as plenty of other deserving candidates who didn't get an invite.
Mayfield made a strong case for the Heisman, and believes he should have been a finalist. He led the Sooners through the wild Big 12 and emerged with just one loss, a championship, and a spot in the Playoff. Mayfield threw at least two touchdown pass in all but one game (which he threw one in).
It was the Michigan State game that not only ended Ohio State's title hopes, but also Elliott's Heisman hopes. He carried the ball just 12 times for 33 yards, and both he (in a post game "rant") and Urban Meyer admitted they should have given him the ball more. In every other game (including the next week vs. Michigan), Zeke rushed for over 100 yards.
Early in the season, it looked like Fournette winning the Heisman was almost a foregone conclusion. He had at least 150 yards rushing in his first seven games, but then he got contained by Alabama (19 carries, 31 yards) and Arkansas (19 carries, 91 yards) in consecutive weeks, dwindling his Heisman chances.
If the Heisman were a career award, Reynolds would probably win it. Reynolds is a four year starter who holds the NCAA record for most career rushing touchdowns (84), and he led the Midshipmen to the AAC Championship Game this season (where they lost to Houston).
McCaffrey broke Barry Sanders record for most all-purpose yards in a season while leading the Cardinal to a Pac-12 Championship and the Rose Bowl. He may be the most versatile player in the country; he has also thrown two touchdown passes (he's attempted three) and returned a kickoff for a touchdown.
Alabama Junior RB Derrick Henry: 339 rushes, 1,986 yards, 23 TD; 10 catches, 97 yards Henry was a workhorse back for the Tide, breaking the SEC record for most rushing yards in a season while averaging 26 carries a game, including 46 and 44 in his last two games (an Iron Bowl win and an SEC Championship win) respectively.
Watson came back from ACL surgery and piloted the Tigers to an undefeated season and an ACC Championship. The dual-threat had four games of 100 or more yards rushing and five games of three or more passing touchdowns.
G-Rex's Pick: Watson Watson isn't the favorite to win the Heisman (many have him behind both McCaffrey and Henry), he should be. He's the only finalist who plays quarterback, widely thought of as the most important position. He also has intangibles like leadership and poise, and he led Clemson to an unbeaten season, which no other team in NCAA Division I accomplished. McCaffrey is highly versatile and productive, but Stanford lost twice and didn't make the Playoff. Henry is a very powerful runner, but he didn't do much else besides run the ball. Watson was extremely productive passing the ball and running the ball, and he didn't lose a game, something the others can't say. G-Rex's Rankings: Watson, McCaffrey, Henry
Hope you had a good Thanksgiving (and Black Friday, if you're into that). The Weekly Review/Preview is back from Thanksgiving break, and just in time for conference championship week. This week will determine who makes the College Football Playoff, and what bowls other teams go to. Right now, there are really about nine teams who still have a shot (even if it's minuscule) at making the Playoff:
Clemson: If the unbeaten Tigers take care of business Saturday in the ACC Championship, they will most likely be the #1 seed in the Playoff. If they are upset by North Carolina, they still have a chance of staying in the top four, but they will most likely be on the outside looking in.
Alabama: As with Clemson, the Tide are in with a win in the SEC Championship Saturday. They're out if they lose to offensively-challenged Florida.
Oklahoma: Oklahoma looks to have a Playoff spot locked up. They demolished Oklahoma State to take the Big 12 (which doesn't have a championship game) crown, and that's the final impression the Playoff Committee will get from them.
Iowa: The unbeaten Hawkeyes will play in a winner-take-all (or at least a Playoff spot) Big Ten Championship against Michigan State. Win and they're in. Lose and they're out.
Michigan State: The Spartans are in with a Big Ten Championship victory. If they lose, they most likely go to the Rose Bowl.
Ohio State: The Buckeyes played to their potential last Saturday against Michigan, running all over the Wolverines with J.T. Barrett and Ezekiel Elliott a week after Elliott hardly touched the ball in a loss to MSU. They need at least either Clemson or Alabama to lose to have a chance to defend their title
Stanford: The two-loss Cardinal are still in contention, but they will need to win the Pac-12 Championship against USC, hope either Clemson or Alabama lose, and hope the Playoff Committee values a conference championship over the eye test.
North Carolina: The Heels could sneak in with an upset of Clemson and a Stanford or Alabama loss. The problem is their strength of schedule; their lone loss was to South Carolina, and they played two FCS teams.
Florida: It's unlikely the Gators, who have struggled recently, including last week in a loss to Florida State, get in, but if they pull off an SEC Championship upset of Alabama, they have a sim chance.
In a double-overtime thriller, Trevon Boykin and TCU dashed the title (conference and national) hopes of third-string quarterback Chris Johnson and Baylor.
Led by their talented offense, Western Michigan ruined Toledo's hopes of winning a MAC Championship and playing in a New Year's 6 bowl game. They play Northern Illinois in the MAC Championship this weekend.
In last weekend's marquee game, Stanford rallied to knock off Notre Dame on a game-winning field goal in the final seconds.
Top Performances California QB Jared Goff vs. Arizona State (W 48-46): 30-51, 542 yards, 5 TD
One of the top NFL prospect at quarterback put on a show in Cal's final regular season game, throwing five touchdowns to push the Bears past ASU.
Alabama RB Derrick Henry @ Auburn (W 29-13): 46 carries, 271 yards, TD
Henry is many people's Heisman front-runner after a dominating performance that saw him tote the rock 46 times.
Clemson QB Deshaun Watson @ South Carolina (W 37-32): 20-27, 279 yards passing, TD; 21 carries, 114 yards rushing, 3 TD
Another Heisman candidate, Watson kept the #1 Tigers unbeaten despite a scare from South Carolina.
Play of the Week
The best play from the holiday weekend goes to Southern Miss receiver Mike Thomas, who made an Odell Beckham-like catch in the end zone and somehow managed to get a foot down in bounds. Southern Miss beat Louisiana Tech and will play in the Conference USA Championship.
Play of the Weak
If there was a team that exemplified Play of the Weak best, it would be the Kansas Jayhawks. Somebody made this "hype video" to celebrate their 0-12 season.
Championship Week Preview Quick Picks
Two Weeks Ago: 12-7 Season: 104-38 Friday MAC Championship: Bowling Green 32, Northern Illinois 28(8:00 PM, ESPN 2) Saturday Texas 38, #12 Baylor 32(Noon, ESPN) C-USA Championship: Southern Miss 34, Western Kentucky 45 (Noon, ESPN 2) AAC Championship: #22 Temple 28, #19 Houston 42 (Noon, ABC) SEC Championship: #18 Florida 13, #2 Alabama 30 (4:00 PM, CBS) MWC Championship: Air Force 38, San Diego State 35(7:00 PM, ESPN 2) Pac-12 Championship: #20 USC 28, #7 Stanford 35 (7:45 PM, ESPN) Big Ten Championship: #5 Michigan State 40, #4 Iowa 29(8:00 PM, FOX) ACC Championship: #10 North Carolina 34, #1 Clemson 32(8:00 PM, ABC)
Two quarterbacks will be making their fist start of the season this week, and they happen to be two of my favorite backup quarterbacks. Those two would be Denver's Brock Osweiler and St. Louis's Case Keenum. Osweiler came in for Peyton Manning last Sunday after Manning threw four interceptions. Earlier this week, we learned that Manning had been battling plantar fasciitis, so Osweiler was named the starter this week for the injured/ineffective Manning. It's remains to be seen whether Gary Kubiak will stick with Osweiler if he plays well, or go back to the future Hall of Famer in the midst of a miserable season. Meanwhile, in St. Louis, Jeff Fisher announced that Keenum will start over ineffective Nick Foles this week. The Rams have an outstanding running game with Todd Gurley, but no passing game due to the lack of talent at quarterback and receiver. If this is the first time you've heard the names Brock Osweiler and Case Keenum, let me provide some background. Osweiler is 6'8", 240 lbs., and is in his fourth year out of Arizona State (third round draft pick). The 6'1", 205 lb. Keenum is in his fourth season (undrafted) out of Houston, where he set multiple career passing records. This is an audition for quarterback of the future for Osweiler and Keenum (as well as Johnny Manziel.
Week 10 Review Top Games Lions 18, Packers 16
The last time the Lions beat the Packers at Lambeau was in 1991. They broke that streak on Sunday, but they almost blew it. The Green Bay offense couldn't do anything, as Detroit held them to just three points through three quarters. The Packers finally scored a touchdown with just under six minutes left, making it 12-10 Lions. The Lions then answered with just under two minutes left, but failed the two-point conversion. Green Bay scored again with 32 seconds, but needed to convert the two-point conversion. They didn't get it on a well-defended pass, and it looked like Detroit would escape Lambeau with a win. But then the onside kick went right through Calvin Johnson's hands and the Packers recovered. They got into field position for a Mason Crosby 52-yard field goal. However, the ball was not kicked well and fell well short, and the Lions finally won in Green Bay.
Jaguars 22, Ravens 20
Blake Bortles led the Jags to a fourth quarter comeback victory (he did it again Thursday night against the Titans). The Ravens scored with 7:30 left to take a 20-13 lead, but didn't get the two-point conversion. After a couple punts, Bortles and the Jaguars got the ball back with 1:06 to play. Bortles drove the offense 45 yards, and Jason Myers made a 53-yard field goal as time expired.
Patriots 27, Giants 26
The Patriots remained undefeated, but only after a close encounter with the Giants. New York took a 26-24 lead with 1:47 left, a few plays after a Odell Beckham Jr. touchdown catch was reviewed and ruled an incompletion (didn't complete the process of the catch). The Giants could have run out the clock before the field goal, but they decided to throw the ball, giving Tom Brady more time. On the ensuing Patriots possession, Brady threw what looked like a sure interception, but as Landon Collins came down with the ball, he hurt his arm, dropping the ball. Brady took advantage, setting up a Stephen Gostkowski 54-yard field goal with one second left.
Top Performances Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger vs. Cleveland (W 30-9): 22-33, 379 yards, 3 TD, INT
Big Ben was active but didn't start after getting injured last week, but after starter Landry Jones was injured early, he came in and (as usual) tore up the Browns defense.
Vikings RB Adrian Peterson @ Oakland (W 30-14): 26 carries, 203 yards, TD
AD ran all over the Raiders defense, including on an 80-yard touchdown run that put the game out of reach.
Steelers WR Antonio Brown vs. Cleveland (W 30-2): 10 catches, 139 yards, 2 TD
Brown is really good, and the Browns are really bad. Brown went to town on Cleveland's depleted secondary, exemplified by front flip into the end zone.
Play of the Week
Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins made a fabulous one-handed touchdown catch against the Bengals on Monday night. Despite tight coverage, Hopkins was able to hold on to the ball and get both feet down. The play helped propel the Texans to an upset of the previously unbeaten Bengals.
Play of the Weak
As I have done sometimes, I am putting something I found funny from last week in this spot. After J.J. Watt and the Texans took down Andy Dalton and the Bengals on Monday Night Football, Watt made a funny comment about beating Dalton.
Week 11 Preview Quick Picks (home team listed last) Last Week: 6-8 Overall: 80-55 Byes: Browns, Saints, Giants, Steelers Thursday Night Final: Titans 13, Jaguars 19 Sunday Raiders 34, Lions 28(1:00 PM, CBS) Colts 27, Falcons 31 (1:00 PM, CBS) Jets 22, Texans 24 (1:00 PM, CBS) Buccaneers 24, Eagles 21(1:00 PM, FOX) Broncos 35, Bears 17(1:00 PM, CBS) Rams 23, Ravens 16(1:00 PM, FOX) Cowboys 38, Dolphins 30(1:00 PM, FOX) Redskins 17, Panthers 27 (1:00 PM, FOX) Chiefs 28, Chargers 26(4:05 PM, CBS) Packers 32, Vikings 28(4:05 PM, FOX) 49ers 22, Seahawks 35 (4:25 PM, FOX) Game to Watch: Bengals 27, Cardinals 30 (8:30 PM, NBC)
The Sunday night game is usually the game to watch, and that is the case here when the 8-1 Bengals visit 7-2 Cardinals in a battle of two great defenses. Monday Bills 31, Patriots 38 (8:30, ESPN) Start 'em
Cowboys QB Tony Romo @ Miami Broncos QB Brock Osweiler @ Chicago
Of course you should start Romo, who's likely to play this week after coming off IR. Romo is always a strong fantasy quarterback when healthy. Osweiler may be a bit of a flier, but I believe in him. Plus, he has weapons around him and doesn't face an extremely tough defense. Other Suggestions: Raiders QB Derek Carr @ Detroit, Rams QB Case Keenum @ Baltimore Chiefs RB Charcandrick West @ San Diego Cowboys RB Darren McFadden @ Miami
Charcandrick (great name) has scored a rushing touchdown in each of his last three games, and has at least 20 carries in each of those games. San Diego has one of the worst rushing defenses in the league. Speaking of one of the worst rushing defenses in the league, Miami would be the worst (according to yards allowed per game) if not for the Cleveland Browns. Other Suggestions: Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart vs. Washington, Raiders RB Latavius Murray @ Detroit
Buccaneers WR Mike Evans @ Philadelphia Rams WR Tavon Austin @ Baltimore
Evans has had 150 yards receiving and 126 yards receiving the last two weeks, respectively. This week he is up against a below-average Eagles pass defense. Austin is up against one of the worst defenses in the league. He is also St. Louis's top receiving option, and Case Keenum might be an improvement over Nick Foles (we'll see). Other Suggestions: Raiders WR Amari Cooper @ Detroit, Chargers WR Stevie Johnson vs. Kansas City
Sit 'em Bengals QB Andy Dalton @ Arizona
Dalton got silenced by the Texans last week, and now he must play one of the top defenses in the league on the road.
Bears RB Jeremy Langford vs. Denver
Langford has filled in admirably for Matt Forte, but he faces Denver's defense this week.
Bears WR Alshon Jeffery vs. Denver
Same thing with Jeffery, along with the fact that he is questionable.
We are entering the most climactic part of the college football season: the last few weeks. Many teams have just two or three (including conference championship games) left, and those games will be vital to determining what bowl they go to, especially since these games will be fresh in the committee's minds. One topic up for debate as we enter this crucial stretch is the ever-present question of whether a one-loss Power 5 conference team should be ranked above an unbeaten Power 5 conference team. Right now, there are two one-loss teams from major conferences (Alabama and Notre Dame) in the top four (Alabama at #2, Notre Dame at #4), while Ohio State (#3), Iowa (#5), and Oklahoma State (#6) all carry unblemished records. Here is the complete Week 12 College Football Playoff Rankings:
Clemson (10-0)
Alabama (9-1)
Ohio State (10-0)
Notre Dame (9-1)
Iowa (10-0)
Oklahoma State (10-0)
Oklahoma (9-1)
Florida (9-1)
Michigan State (9-1)
Baylor (8-1)
Stanford (8-2)
Michigan (8-2)
Utah (8-2)
Florida State (8-2)
LSU (7-2)
Navy (8-1)
North Carolina (9-1)
TCU (9-1)
Houston (10-0)
Northwestern (8-2)
Memphis (8-2)
Ole Miss (7-3)
Oregon (7-3)
USC (7-3)
Wisconsin (8-2)
The reason for putting the one-loss teams in front of the unbeaten ones is simple: strength of schedule and talent level. Iowa's strength of schedule is ranked 61st in the nation (according to ESPN.com), while Oklahoma State has the 55th strongest schedule. Ohio State is ranked 69th in strength of schedule. Conversely, Alabama has the strongest schedule in college football and Notre Dame is 27th. Notre Dame's one loss was on the road against the #1 team in the country, and Alabama's lone loss came early in the season against Ole Miss. Another big factor in the rankings is how talented the teams are perceived to be. Many people think Alabama is the most talented team in the nation, and although they have a loss, they have the talent to beat anyone. Many feel the same way about Notre Dame, especially since they were so close to beating #1 on the road. This is unfortunate for the players and coaches of Iowa and Oklahoma State (and Houston, for that matter), who have done their jobs thus far and can't do anything about their strength of schedule. Of course, if Iowa wins the Big Ten Championship and/or Oklahoma State wins the Big 12, they should be in the Playoff (probably over Notre Dame and/or Ohio State), but right now, despite their pristine records, they're on the outside looking in.
Saturday was probably a bittersweet day for the Pac-12. There were some very close and entertaining games out west, but the conference's playoff hopes were squashed. In what was a shootout, Oregon had the lead for most of the game thanks in part to three Stanford turnovers and a missed field goal. The Ducks were up 38-30 with just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter when Stanford had its most costly fumble in the Oregon red zone. The Cardinal would get the ball back and score with ten seconds left, but they could not convert the two-point conversion.
In late-night Pac-12 action, Arizona's upset of Utah effectively eliminated the conference from the playoff. Every Pac-12 team now has at least two losses after backup quarterback Jerrard Randall led the Wildcats to a double-overtime victory over the Utes (starter Anu Soloman was injured in the fourth quarter).
In another double-overtime game, Indiana and their high-scoring offense gave Michigan a scare. The Hoosiers took their first lead with 2:52 left in regular time, but then the Wolverines tied it up as time expired. Michigan answered Indiana's touchdown in the first overtime, then scored a touchdown to open up the second overtime. IU got down to the two, but couldn't convert on fourth and goal.
Top Performances
Texas Tech RB DeAndre Washington vs. Kansas State (W 59-44): 27 carries, 248 yards, 3 TD
In an offense known for passing, the running back stole the show on Saturday. Washington had three of Texas Tech's five rushing touchdowns in a win that made them bowl-eligible.
Chesson caught four of Michigan's six touchdowns, including the game-tying one as time expired in the fourth quarter.
Navy QB Keenan Reynolds vs. SMU (W 55-14): 2-9, 81 yards passing, TD; 14 carries, 137 yards rushing, 4 TD
The highly-accomplished Midshipmen set the NCAA record for career rushing touchdowns (78) while also throwing a 72-yard passing touchdown.
Play of Week
Oklahoma quarterback looked Johnny Manziel-esque on this touchdown against. Mayfield was able to extend the play and put the Sooners up two possessions with just a few minutes left in a 44-34 win.
I honestly just wanted to highlight the Memphis-Houston game, where Houston was down 34-14 at one point and came back to win 35-34. They were helped by plays like this, where Paxton Lynch's pitch bounced right off of running back Doroland Dorceus's chest and was recovered by Houston. Houston didn't capitalize on the turnover, but the next drive Lynch threw an interception on a bad pass.
GSB Playoff Rankings (Week 12)
1. Clemson
Clemson got a bit of a scare from Syracuse, but they were able to put the Orange away. The Tigers next two games are Wake Forest and South Carolina, and then (presumably) the ACC Championship game.
2. Ohio State
Ohio State dispatched Illinois last weekend and showed once again that the offense is better with J.T. Barrett at the helm. Now comes the tough part of the schedule, games against Michigan State and Michigan.
3. Alabama
Alabama destroyed Mississippi State last Saturday, and face what looks like a cupcake game against Charleston Southern this weekend before the Iron Bowl at Auburn.
4. Notre Dame
The Irish took care of Wake Forest, and now they have Boston College this weekend and a tough test at Stanford next weekend to finish off their season.
#17 North Carolina 29, Virginia Tech 27(Noon, ESPN)
Purdue 20, #5 Iowa 38 (Noon, ESPN 2)
#12 Michigan 35, Penn State 28 (Noon, ABC)
#21 Memphis 38, Temple 26(Noon, ESPNU)
Chattanooga 17, #14 Florida State 40 (3:00 PM, ESPN 3)
Game to Watch: #9 Michigan State 32, #3 Ohio State 38 (3:30 PM, ABC)
There are many good games this weekend, but the best is probably this Big Ten battle with playoff implications. 10-0 Ohio State faces by far it's toughest test of the season against a Spartan team that is a questionable call away from being 10-0 as well.
Arguably the biggest headliner out of the NFL recently has been Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy. Hardy was arrested last year, while he was on the Panthers, for assaulting and threatening his then-girlfriend Nicole Holder. He allegedly threw her against a bathroom wall, threw her on a pile of assault rifles, and threatened to kill her. Hardy was convicted of domestic violence, but the conviction was eventually removed from his record after he requested it be. He was suspended 10 games and placed on the commissioner's exempt list in September of last year, but he appealed and the suspension was reduced to four games. He signed with the Cowboys in the offseason, and since then, although he's been a force on the field, he has made abrasive comments and gotten into an altercation with a coach (on the sideline during a game) off of it. Despite that, Jerry Jones, who likes to take risks and draw attention to himself, backed him, calling him a leader and saying they wanted to sign him to an extension. Then, last week, photos from the night of Hardy's domestic violence incident were released, showing a badly bruised and battered Nicole Holder. Hardy tweeted regret for past mistakes later, but then changed his Twitter bio to proclaim his innocence briefly before changing it again. I don't have very strong feelings about this situation (and I'm not usually a very opinionated person), but I do have opinions on it. Although photos shouldn't change people's perceptions, they did when Ray Rice punched his then-fiancee (and current wife) in an elevator and knocked her out. Before that, Rice had only been suspended two games, but after it, he was released by the Ravens and is currently not on a team. But Rice is much different from Hardy. Rice made one really idiotic choice in a moment where he got out of control emotionally. I'm not trying to say what Rice did wasn't serious or very wrong, but he paid the consequences, and now he wants to help raise awareness for domestic violence. Hardy continues to do dumb things, and doesn't seem very remorseful. Hardy is still playing football because he is more of a help on the field than Rice at this point. Although I don't think Hardy should be suspended by the NFL (they already suspended him, albeit lightly, for the domestic violence incident), Jerry Jones and the Cowboys should consider letting him go. Right now he seems like a cancerous personality in the locker room, and he needs time to fix it. But the NFL should fix its discipline. Players are getting fined for what they wear (including clothing honoring a deceased family member or our country) when the NFL and Roger Goodell should focus on more serious offenses. It just doesn't make sense how something like smoking pot or deflating footballs can be disciplined similar to something like domestic violence.
Week 9 Review Top Games Titans 34, Saints 28 OT
Marcus Mariota came back from injury and outdeuled Drew Brees, throwing for 371 yards and four touchdowns. Tennessee blocked a field goal with a minute left in the fourth quarter, and after they went three and out, the game went into overtime. The Titans got the ball, and Mariota led a nine-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a five-yard touchdown pass from Mariota to tight end Anthony Fasano.
Rams 18, Vikings 21 OT
Despite losing quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to a concussion in the fourth quarter, the Vikings were still able to get an overtime win thanks to 125 yards and a touchdown from Adrian Peterson and a game-winning field goal from The Blair Walsh Project Blair Walsh. Greg the Leg Greg Zurlein hit four field goals to help the Rams take Minnesota into overtime, including a career-long 61-yarder, but he also missed a 48-yarder.
Eagles 33, Cowboys 27 OT
Guess what the Sunday Night Football game was this week? Yep, it was this one. Philadelphia beat the Matt Cassel-led Cowboys thanks to ex-Cowboy DeMarco Murray (161 total yards, 1 TD) and fellow running back Ryan Mathews (67 yards, 1 TD), as well as cornerback Jordan Hicks, who had a pick-six, and Sam Bradford and Jordan Matthews, who connected on the game-winning touchdown pass in overtime.
Top Performances Steelers RB DeAngelo Williams vs. Oakland (W 38-35): 27 carries, 170 yards, 2 TD
Williams thrived in his first game as Le'Veon Bell's replacement (well, technically third game, since he filled in during Bell's suspension), running all over Oakland and helping the Steelers squeak out a victory.
Bills WR Sammy Watkins vs. Miami (W 33-17): 8 catches, 168 yards, TD
Watkins returned with a bang after being out a few weeks with an injury, starring in a big win over Miami.
Titans QB Marcus Mariota @ New Orleans (W 34-28): 28-39, 387 yards, 4 TD
Another big returner from injury, Mariota thrived in his first game with Mike Mularkey as interim head coach.
This was a great play by Bears tight end Zack Miller, who hadn't scored a touchdown since 2011. He put a hand up and was able to corral the ball with both hands and score the game-winning touchdown.
This week, this section goes to everything the Broncos did on the last drive against the Colts. The Colts were able to keep the ball and run out the clock thanks to Aqib Talib poking Dwayne Allen in the eye and a holding penalty against Denver on a Colts field goal (why would the defense need to hold on a field goal!?)
Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater @ Oakland
Teddy is expected to play Sunday, and he gets to face the worst pass defense in the NFL (by yards allowed per game).
Packers RB James Starks vs. Detroit
Earlier this week, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy announced that Starks will be the starting running back over Eddie Lacy this week. Starks is also involved in the passing game, and he plays Detroit's subpar defense.
Sit 'em Any Steelers QB vs. Cleveland
I know they're playing the Browns, but I am not currently sure who's starting for Pittsburgh this week. Will Big Ben be able to go? Will Landry Jones fill in? What about Mike Vick? If you have inside information and are confident in one of these guys, go right ahead. But there are better options.
Bills QB Tyrod Taylor @ NY Jets
I really like Tyrod Taylor, especially as an underrated fantasy quarterback. However, the Jets defense is really good, so Taylor probably isn't the best choice this week, especially in a Thursday night game.
Cardinals RB Chris Johnson and Broncos RB Ronnie Hillman
Both Arizona and Denver have elite defenses, and neither team leans extremely heavily on the run game.
We are into the second week of the College Football Playoff rankings, and there are some changes near the top after Alabama beat LSU. Here are this week's rankings:
1. Clemson 2. Alabama 3. Ohio State 4. Notre Dame 5. Iowa 6. Baylor 7. Stanford 8. Oklahoma State 9. LSU 10. Utah 11. Florida 12. Oklahoma 13. Michigan State 14. Michigan 15. TCU 16. Florida State 17. Mississippi State 18. Northwestern 19. UCLA 20. Navy 21. Memphis 22. Temple 23. North Carolina 24. Houston 25. Wisconsin
The College Football Playoff Committee uses many different criteria for their rankings, including strength of schedule and the eye test, so I'm going to compare the brief resumes (strength of schedule, best wins, losses) for each of the teams: Information via ESPN.com 1. Clemson (9-0) SOS: 19th Best Wins: #4 Notre Dame (24-22), #16 Florida State (23-13) Losses: None
2. Alabama (8-1) SOS: 1st Best Wins: #9 LSU (30-16), #25 Wisconsin (35-17) Losses: Ole Miss (37-43)
3. Ohio State (9-0) SOS: 73rd Best Wins: Penn State (38-10), @ Virginia Tech (42-24) Losses: None
4. Notre Dame (8-1) SOS: 12th Best Wins: #20 Navy (41-24), @ #22 Temple (24-20) Losses: @ #1 Clemson (22-24)
Use this to make any case you want, because their are definitely many arguments that can be had.
Week 10 Review Top Games 1. Northern Illinois 32, #24 Toledo 27
In some Tuesday night MACtion, the Huskies upset the unbeaten Rockets thanks to a rally led by freshman backup quarterback Ryan Graham, who had to come in for starter Drew Hare, who injured his leg in the second quarter. Down 24-16 in the third quarter, the Huskies came back and took the lead with just under two minutes left, then intercepted Toledo quarterback Phillip Ely to seal the victory.
2. #7 Michigan State 38, Nebraska 39
Another week, another controversial finish. Michigan State was up 38-26 with a little over four minutes to play. Nebraska responded with a touchdown, but they were still down 38-33 with 1:47 left. They were able to force the Spartans to punt with 55 seconds on the clock, then conducted a four-play drive culminating in a 30-yard touchdown pass from Tommy Armstrong Jr. to Brandon Reilly with 17 ticks left. However, Reilly clearly went out of bounds before catching the pass, which is illegal. The officials reviewed the play and came to the questionable conclusion that Reilly was forced out by MSU corner Jermaine Edmondson.
3. Arkansas 53, #18 Ole Miss 52, OT
Another week, another crazy play to win a game. The game was tied with three seconds left in the fourth quarter, when an Arkansas 47-yard field goal attempt was blocked. Ole Miss scored in overtime on three plays, and Arkansas couldn't get anywhere. On fourth down and 25 from the 40, Brandon Allen threw a 14-yard pass to Hunter Henry. Knowing he wasn't going to make it to the first down marker, Henry flung it backward, where it was picked up at the 42 by Alex Collins, who found space and ran 31 yards for a first down (he fumbled at the end of the play, but it was recovered by Arkansas' Dominique Reed). Allen threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to Drew Morgan two plays later, and instead of going for the tie, Bret Bielema went for the win. Unfortunately, Allen was pressured and had to throw it away as he was being taken down. However, he was taken down by his facemask, so the Razorbacks got another chance. This time, Allen ran it in for the game-winning score.
Top Performances Arkansas QB Brandon Allen @ Ole Miss (W 53-52): 33-45, 442 yards, 6 TD
Allen played tough and exceptional, throwing six touchdowns, including the equalizer in overtime, and scoring the game-winning two-point conversion.
Alabama RB Derrick Henry vs. LSU (W 30-16): 38 carries, 210 yards, 3 TD
In the battle of Heisman contenders at running back, Henry wiped the floor with Leonard Fournette (19 carries, 31 yards, TD), which was a microcosm for the entire game, where Bama wiped the floor with LSU.
Baylor WR Corey Coleman @ Kansas State (W 31-24): 11 catches, 216 yards, 2 TD
Coleman continued his historic season in a nail-biter over K-State, catching 11 of Jared Stidham's 23 completions and two of his three passing touchdowns.
Play of the Week
I was going to go with Arkansas' amazing lateral, but I'm a sucker for flea-flickers. Oklahoma had their way with Iowa State, including on this nifty trick play.
Play of the Weak
I'll just use this as the Play of the Weak for Ole Miss's inability to stop Arkansas on fourth and 25 followed by a facemask penalty on the two-point conversion.
GSB Playoff Rankings 1. Clemson
Looking at each team's resume, I've finally conceded that Clemson deserves the first spot over Ohio State. The Tigers are rolling right now, and it seems highly likely they enter the ACC title game unbeaten. Next 3 Games: @ Syracuse (Saturday), Wake Forest (11/21), @ South Carolina (11/28) 2. Ohio State
Although the Buckeyes are no longer number one, they are still in the top two due to their talent level. This Saturday's game against Illinois is the preamble to big games against Michigan State and Michigan. Next 3 Games: @ Illinois (Saturday), #13 Michigan State (11/21), @ #14 Michigan (11/28) 3. Alabama
I contemplated putting unbeaten Iowa (or Baylor, or Oklahoma State) ahead of one-loss Alabama, but the Tide have a tougher schedule and are probably a better team. This is another case of how much talent a team has. Next 3 Games: @ #17 Mississippi State (Saturday), Charleston Southern (11/21), @ Auburn (11/28) 4. Notre Dame
I also contemplated one of the other unbeatens here, but Notre Dame's lone loss was by two points on the road against the number one team in the country. Next 3 Games: Wake Forest (Saturday), Boston College (11/21), @ #7 Stanford (11/28) 5. Iowa 6. Oklahoma State 7. Baylor 8. Stanford 9. LSU 10. Utah Week 11 Preview Quick Picks(home team listed last) Last Week: 15-7 Overall: 85-27 #1 Ohio State 42, Illinois 14(Saturday, Noon, ABC) #11 Florida 28, South Carolina 17(Saturday, Noon, ESPN) Kansas 13, #15 TCU 42 (Saturday, Noon, Fox Sports 1) Maryland 14, #13 Michigan State 35 (Saturday, Noon, ESPN 2) Purdue 21, Northwestern 28 (Saturday, Noon, BTN) N.C. State 27, #16 Florida State 38 (Saturday, 12:30 PM, ESPN3) Miami 30, #23 North Carolina 32 (Saturday, 3:30 PM, ESPNU) Wake Forest 17, #4 Notre Dame 32 (Saturday, 3:30 PM, NBC) #1 Clemson 38, Syracuse 10(Saturday, 3:30 PM, ABC/ESPN 2) #2 Alabama 34, #17 Mississippi State 21(Saturday, 3:30 PM, CBS) #14 Michigan 32, Indiana 27(Saturday, ABC/ESPN 2) SMU 23, #20 Navy 35 (Saturday, 3:30 PM, CBS Sports) #8 Oklahoma State 40, Iowa State 24(Saturday, 3:30 PM, ESPN) #22 Temple 34, South Florida 19(Saturday, 7:00 PM, CBS Sports) #21 Memphis 28, #24 Houston 35 (Saturday, 7:00 PM, ESPN 2) Arkansas 13, #9 LSU 21 (Saturday, 7:15 PM, ESPN) Oregon 32, #7 Stanford 38 (Saturday, 7:30 PM, FOX) Game to Watch: #12 Oklahoma 48, #6 Baylor 42(Saturday, 8:00 PM, ABC)
This Big 12 shootout between the Sooners and undefeated Baylor will definitely have an impact on the Big 12 race, and quite possibly the Playoff race. Minnesota 20, #5 Iowa 29 (Saturday, 8:00 PM, BTN) #10 Utah 32, Arizona 24(Saturday, 10:00 PM, Fox Sports 1) Upset Special: Washington State 41, #19 UCLA 38(Saturday, 10:45 PM, ESPN)
Fun fact: Washington State's three losses (to Stanford, Cal, and, somehow, Portland State) were all by one possession. The Cougars are coming off a win over Arizona State, who beat UCLA 38-23 in Week 5. Washington State has the tools for the upset.
We are now past the halfway point of the NFL regular season. Maybe it was just me, but last week seemed brutal. There were numerous big hits and bad injuries, including Reggie Bush tearing his MCL, Steve Smith tearing his Achilles, Le'Veon Bell tearing his ACL, and Matt Forte injuring his MCL. Numerous other players are banged up and have been all season. Many teams have lost starting quarterbacks, running backs, or wide receivers for periods of time due to injury. Let's hope for less injuries this week.
The Bucs went into the Superdome and upset the Falcons despite giving up a 17-point lead. Jameis Winston showed great strides, finishing 16-29 passing with 177 yards and a touchdown and adding 3 carries for 24 yards and a touchdown rushing. But the real MVP may have been rookie linebacker Kwon Alexander, who led the team in tackles (11), recovered a fumble, and had an interception just two days after his 17-year-old brother was killed.
Just like the Bucs, the Panthers gave up a 17-point lead but emerged victorious. They won in overtime on a Graham Gano 52-yard field goal after picking off Andrew Luck. Luck continued to struggle, throwing three interceptions.
Drew Brees just threw another touchdown pass as I was typing this. Brees tied an NFL record with seven touchdown passes Sunday (along with 505 yards and two interceptions), while his counterpart, Eli Manning, threw six touchdown passes (along with 350 yards and no interceptions). Odell Beckham Jr. had 130 yards and three touchdown catches. In the end, though, Brees won the touchdown war and the game, thanks to a last-second 50-yard field goal from newly-acquired Kai Forbath.
Top Performances
Saints QB Drew Brees vs. Giants (W 52-49): 39-50, 505 yards, 7 TD, 2 INT
Brees tied an NFL record with seven touchdown passes, continuing a strong season sans Jimmy Graham.
Rams RB Todd Gurley vs. San Francisco (W 27-6): 20 rushes, 133 yards, TD
The rookie cannot be stopped. He is the best running back to enter the league since Adrian Peterson (and may be better). He had his fourth straight triple digit yardage total Sunday.
Panthers LB Luke Kuechly vs. Indianapolis (W 29-26 OT): 14 tackles, INT
Kuechly was his usual self Monday night, amassing tackles and terrorizing offenses. He also had an interception in overtime that led to a game-winning field goal.
The Bengals were down 10-6 to Pittsburgh with just over five minutes to play, and the Steelers had the ball. Ben Roethlisberger rolled out away from pressure, set his feet, pointed to a receiver, and threw. It was picked by Cincy cornerback Shawn Williams on a great diving play. That helped the Bengals come out with a 16-10 win and remain unbeaten.
Game to Watch: Packers 32, Panthers 27(Sunday, 1:00 PM, FOX)
The Panthers look to stay undefeated against a team looking to bounce back from their first loss last week. The headlines will be the Packers offense vs. the Panthers defense and Aaron Rodgers vs. Cam Newton.
Redskins 14, Patriots 38 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, FOX)
Titans 24, Saints 28 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
Dolphins 30, Bills 28(Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
Rams 26, Vikings 24(Sunday, 1:00 PM, FOX)
Jaguars 28, Jets 24(Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
Raiders 34, Steelers 21(Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
Giants 42, Buccaneers 38(Sunday, 4:05 PM, FOX)
Falcons 48, 49ers 24(Sunday, 4:05 PM, FOX)
Broncos 28, Colts 17(Sunday, 4:25 PM, CBS)
Eagles 38, Cowboys 35(Sunday, 8:30 PM, NBC)
Bears 23, Chargers 26 (Monday, 8:30 PM, ESPN)
My Fantasy Sleepers
Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston and WR Mike Evans vs. Giants
The improving rookie quarterback and his best receiver face a Giant defense that allowed seven touchdown passes to Drew Brees last week. Winston won't throw seven, but he'll have a very favorable matchup.
Steelers RB DeAngelo Williams vs. Oakland and Titans RB Antonio Andrews @ New Orleans
Williams takes over as Pittsburgh's primary ball carrier once again with Le'Veon Bell out. During Bell's two-game suspension at the beginning of the season, Williams ran for 204 total yards and three touchdowns. After Ken Wisenhunt was fired earlier this week, interim head coach Mike Mularkey said Andrews will be the Titans' workhorse at running back, and he'll go up against the Saints' poor defense Sunday.
Browns WR Travis Benjamin @ Cincinnati and Chargers WR Malcolm Floyd vs. Chicago
Johnny Manziel is starting for the Browns tonight, which is good news for Benjamin owners. In the game Manziel started plus the game he came in for Josh McCown after the first drive in, Benjamin had 204 yards receiving and three touchdowns. In the other six games combined, Benjamin only has one receiving touchdown. Floyd is now Phillip Rivers' top target with Keenan Allen out, and the Bears are not very good at defending the pass.
My Fantasy Busts
Colts Offense vs. Denver
I wouldn't advise starting any Colts offensive players against Denver's stifling defense (a defense that held Aaron Rodgers to 77 yards last week), especially with Andrew Luck struggling.
Browns QB Johnny Manziel @ Cincinnati and 49ers QB Blaine Gabbert vs. Falcons
Don't get cute. I'd love to see these two backups-turned-starters play well, but they will more than likely struggle. Starting one of these two is a shot in the dark.
Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. Jacksonville and Jaguars QB Blake Bortles vs. NY Jets
Fitzpatrick has a torn ligament in his thumb, and Bortles faces a dangerous pass defense.
A lot has happened since last week's review/preview, including the suspension of the starting quarterback on a playoff contender, one of the craziest plays ever, and MACtion (including #24 Toledo, who played - and lost - on Tuesday). But probably the most important event that happened was the release of the first College Football Playoff rankings this season. Here is a rundown of how the initial rankings shaped up:
Clemson (8-0)
LSU (7-0)
Ohio State (8-0)
Alabama (7-1)
Notre Dame (7-1)
Baylor (7-0)
Michigan State (8-0)
TCU (8-0)
Iowa (8-0)
Florida (7-1)
Stanford (7-1)
Utah (7-1)
Memphis (8-0)
Oklahoma State (8-0)
Oklahoma (7-1)
Florida State (7-1)
Michigan (6-2)
Ole Miss (7-2)
Texas A&M (6-2)
Mississippi State (6-2)
Northwestern (6-2)
Temple (7-1)
UCLA (6-2)
Toledo (7-0)
Houston (8-0)
Now, there are many people who disagree with these first rankings (including myself), but in the grand scheme of things, the initial CFB Playoff rankings hold little weight. This becomes evident by looking at last season's debut of the CFB Playoff rankings (the teams in last year's Playoff are in bold):
Mississippi State
Florida State
Auburn
Ole Miss
Oregon
Alabama
TCU
Michigan State
Kansas State
Notre Dame
Georgia
Arizona
Baylor
Arizona State
Nebraska
Ohio State
Utah
Oklahoma
LSU
West Virginia
Clemson
UCLA
East Carolina
Duke
Louisville
As you can see, only one of the top four teams in these rankings ended up in the top four at the end of the season. In fact, the #16 team ended up winning the National Championship. So, while the Playoff Committee may have made some questionable decisions (Ohio State not at #1, undefeated Baylor, Michigan State, and TCU below one-loss Alabama and Notre Dame, etc.), there is still much football to be played.
Wasu was flying high going into a key home date with Stanford Saturday night, but the Cardinal, along with some costly mistakes, brought them down. The Cougars' Air Raid offense still amassed 354 yards, but they had trouble punching it into the end zone, leading to five Erik Powell field goals. Their defense, however, shut down Stanford's pass game, so the Cardinal leaned on the rushing attack, led by quarterback Kevin Hogan (112 yards, 2 TD) and running back Christian McCaffrey (107 yards). State was in a good position up one with under four minutes to play, but quarterback Luke Falk was picked off in his own territory by Quenton Meeks (his second interception of the game). Stanford got down to the WSU two before kicking a go-ahead field goal with 1:54 to play. Falk and the Cougars got the ball back and drove down the field to set up a 43-yard field goal by Powell, who had already made five field goals. Alas, the sixth went wide right.
Michigan escaped Minneapolis with the Little Brown Jug after a goal-line stand as time expired. After long-time Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill retired earlier last week due to his epilepsy, interim coach Tracy Claeys decided to go for the win instead of the tie after quarterback Mitch Leidner got the Golden Gophers to the one. A deep pass from Leidner to Drew Wolitarsky was initially ruled a touchdown, but the officials reviewed the play and marked him down at the one. Leidner was then stuffed on a QB sneak to end the game.
1. Miami 30, #22 Duke 27
Forget about the first 59:54. It was the last six seconds of this game that made the highlight reels. Before that, it looked like Duke had gotten a win on a QB sneak by Thomas Sirk with six seconds to play. The Blue Devils got the two-point conversion and kicked a squib to try to run off the remaining seconds. Then, madness ensued. Dallas Crawford picked it up and lateraled it to Corn Elder, who lateraled it to Jaquan Johnson, who lateraled it to Mark Walton, who lateraled it back to Johnson, who lateraled it to Tyre Brady, who lateraled it back to Elder, who lateraled it back to Crawford, who lateraled it back to Elder, who returned it 91 yards for a game-winning touchdown. The Canes pulled off the backyard football lateral play that never works. It wasn't without controversy, of course (I'll get to that later), but it was one of the most amazing plays in college football history, and it provided a shocking ending for the third week in a row.
Top Performances Clemson QB Deshaun Watson @ NC State (W 56-41): 23-30, 383 yards, 5 TD; 14 rushes, 54 yards, TD
Watson accounted for 36 of the Tigers' 56 points in a shootout win over N.C. State.
Arkansas RB Alex Collins vs. Tennessee-Martin (W 63-28): 16 rushes, 173 yards, 5 TD
Five of Collins' 16 carries were touchdowns in a rout of Tennessee-Martin
Oklahoma State WR James Washington @ Texas Tech (W 70-53): 4 catches, 200 yards, 2 TD
Washington only had four receptions, but he averaged 50 yards on those four receptions, and half of them were touchdowns.
Play of the Week
There was a very exciting Pac-12 game Thursday night between former ranked teams Oregon and Arizona State. On fourth down with 12 seconds left, Oregon quarterback Vernon Adams rolled out of the pocket looking for someone, and heaved a desperation pass that was hauled in in the back of the end zone by Dwayne Stanford to send the game into overtime. Oregon would win in the third overtime.
Play of the Weak
This one goes to "The Return" Miami had against Duke. It is in "Play of the Weak" because of the multiple mistakes officials made on that final play. In fact, that officiating crew was suspended for the errors. First, it looked like Mark Walton's knee might have been down as he lateraled it. Second, a flag was initially called for a block in the back, but after meeting about it, the officials called it off. Third, someone on the Miami sideline came on to the field before the touchdown was scored, which should have been a penalty. All of this shouldn't take away from the amazement of the play.
Grant's Initial Playoff Rankings
1. Ohio State
Starting quarterback J.T. Barrett was cited for operating a vehicle while intoxicated Saturday morning, and is suspended for Saturday night's game against Minnesota. That means Cardale Jones gets another crack at the starting job. Next Game: Minnesota, Saturday, 8:00 PM 2. Clemson
The #1 team in the actual Playoff rankings gets my #2 spot. Deshaun Watson is a stud, and the defense is stout. They face a tough test this weekend at home against Florida State, followed by three winnable games and the ACC Championship. Next Game: Florida State, Saturday, 3:30 PM 3. LSU
The talented Tigers face the most daunting task of any of the top teams, traveling to Tuscaloosa for a clash with the Crimson Tide Saturday night. Three of LSU's next (and final) four opponents are ranked. Next Game: @ Alabama, Saturday, 8:00 PM 4. TCU
The Horned Frogs have a couple of close wins, but they have a high-octane offense featuring a Heisman Trophy contender in Trevone Boykin, and they're now the favorite to win the Big 12 with Baylor losing Seth Russell. Next Game: @ #14 Oklahoma State, Saturday, 3:30 PM
5. Baylor 6. Michigan State 7. Alabama 8. Notre Dame 9. Iowa 10. Stanford Week 10 Preview Quick Picks(home team listed last) Last Week: 16-1 Overall: 70-20 Northern Illinois 10, #24 Toledo 27 (Final Score: Northern Illinois 32, Toledo 27) #6 Baylor 32, Kansas State 24(Thursday, 7:30 PM, Fox Sports 1) #20 Mississippi State 28, Missouri 21(Thursday, 9:00 PM, ESPN) #22 Temple 35, SMU 17(Friday, 8:00 PM, ESPN 2) Vanderbilt 13, #10 Florida 28 (Saturday, Noon, ESPN) #5 Notre Dame 38, Pittsburgh 28(Saturday, Noon, ABC) Penn State 24, #21 Northwestern 28 (Saturday, Noon, ESPNU) #11 Stanford 42, Colorado 14(Saturday, 1:00 PM, Pac-12) Arkansas 19, #18 Ole Miss 34 (Saturday, 3:30 PM, CBS) #16 Florida State 30, #1 Clemson 32 (Saturday, 3:30 PM, ABC/ESPN Deportes) #8 TCU 52, #14 Oklahoma State 50(Saturday, 3:30 PM, FOX) #9 Iowa 32, Indiana 28(Saturday, 3:30 PM, ESPN) Rutgers 14, #17 Michigan 35 (Saturday, 3:30 PM, BTN) Cincinnati 21, #25 Houston 35 (Saturday, 3:30 PM, ESPN 2) #23 UCLA 32, Oregon State 17(Saturday, 4:30 PM, Pac-12) #7 Michigan State 35, Nebraska 20(Saturday, 7:00 PM, ESPN) Iowa State 27, #15 Oklahoma 45 (Saturday, 7:00 PM, ESPNU) Navy 32, #13 Memphis 40 (Saturday, 7:00 PM, ESPN 2) #12 Utah 42, Washington 34(Saturday, 7:30 PM, FOX) Auburn 28, #19 Texas A&M 42 (Saturday, 7:30 PM, SEC) Minnesota 24, #3 Ohio State 38 (Saturday, 8:00 PM, ABC) Game of the Week: #2 LSU 35, #4 Alabama 32(Saturday, 8:00 PM, CBS)
This is probably the biggest matchup so far this season. Two SEC heavyweights and top five teams go at it. LSU's prolific offense goes against Alabama's ferocious defense, and the winner will be in the driver's seat not just for the SEC West, but for a playoff spot.
We're at the halfway point of the NFL season. I apologize for the British-related pun in the title, but that's what I'm going to talk about today: The league's cellar-dwellers going to London. The NFL always seems to send bad teams to London to showcase the NFL. Multiple coaches have been fired after losing in London, including this season, after Miami lost to the Jets in Week 4. Last week in London, 3-4 Buffalo lost to 2-5 Jacksonville, and this week, 1-6 Detroit faces 2-5 Kansas City. Poor Londoners have seen so much of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Week 7 Review Top Games 1. Bills 31, Jaguars 34
This game made history by being the first NFL game live-streamed online (it was on Yahoo), and it turned out to be a good game. Jacksonville took an 11-point lead into the fourth quarter, but Buffalo scored a touchdown with six-and-a-half minutes left (and got the two-point conversion), then got a pick-six from Corey Graham to take a 31-27 lead. However, the Jags struck back, as Blake Bortles made up for his interception with a 31-yard touchdown pass just before the two-minute warning. 2. Buccaneers 30, Redskins 31
Tampa Bay took a 24-7 lead into the third quarter, but then the Washington comeback began. After they got within three, the Bucs kicked a field goal to stretch the lead to 30-24, but then Kirk Cousins marched the Redskins down the field and threw a six-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jordan Reed with 24 seconds remaining. Cousins was kind of pumped about it afterward:
3. Cowboys 20, Giants 27
In a game that shockingly was not on Sunday Night Football, the two NFC East foes battled back-and-forth. The Giants were helped by two interceptions off Matt Cassel, including a 58-yard pick-six from Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. They were also helped by former Cowboy Dwayne Harris, who scored what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown on a 100-yard kickoff return.
Play of the Week
Chris Johnson continued his comeback/late-career renaissance Monday night against Baltimore. He ran for 122 yards (his third 100-yard rushing game this season) and a touchdown. He also made the highlight reel with this big run that looked like it would be stopped for a short gain. But Johnson, aware that he was not down and no whistle had been blown, kept running and busted a 62-yard run.
Play of the Weak
Cole Beasley may have lost his job as the Cowboy's primary punt returner Sunday. Down seven with a minute-and-a-half to play and no timeouts left, the Cowboys forced a punt from the Giants. Brad Wing punted from his own 22 yard line to Dallas' 15 yard line, where Beasley had to back up to try to catch it, and never got hold of it. It bounced right into Myles White's hands and the Giants secured the victory.
Top Performances Dolphins RB Lamar Miller vs. Houston (W 44-26): 14 carries, 175 yards, TD
Miller busted out a big game for the second straight week (he had 113 yards and a touchdown against Tennessee), this time against the lowly Texans. He has found much more success (in two weeks) under new head coach Dan Campbell.
Redskins QB Kirk Cousins vs. Tampa Bay (W 31-30): 33-40, 317 yards, 3 TD
Just go back up and watch that video at least three or four more times.
Raiders WR Amari Cooper @ San Diego (W 37-29): 5 catches, 133 yards, TD
The rookie got back to tearing it up on Sunday in San Diego after two sub-par weeks, helping the Raiders beat the Chargers with his third 100-yard receiving game this season.
Week 8 Preview Quick Picks(home team listed last) Last Week: 9-5 Overall: 60-34 Byes: Bills, Eagles, Redskins, Jaguars Dolphins 28, Patriots 35 (Thursday, 8:25 PM, CBS/NFL) Lions 30, Chiefs 31 (Sunday, 9:30 AM, FOX, at Wembley Stadium) Cardinals 32, Browns 21(Sunday, 1:00 PM, FOX) Buccaneers 24, Falcons 38 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, FOX) 49ers 20, Rams 24 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, FOX) Giants 27, Saints 34 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, FOX) Vikings 28, Bears 23(Sunday, 1:00 PM, FOX) Chargers 31, Ravens 22(Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS) Bengals 35, Steelers 24(Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS) Titans 28, Texans 24(Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS) Jets 21, Raiders 24 (Sunday, 4:05 PM, CBS) Seahawks 27, Cowboys 21(Sunday, 4: 25 PM, FOX) Game to Watch: Packers 32, Broncos 27(Sunday, 8:30 PM, NBC)
This week's Sunday Night Football matchup is between two unbeaten teams. Green Bay is winning with their offense, led by All-World quarterback Aaron Rodgers, while Denver is winning with their defense, which is making up for a struggling Peyton Manning. Colts 24, Panthers 31 (Monday, 8:30 PM, ESPN) Fantasy Sleepers Cardinals RB Chris Johnson @ Cleveland Ravens RB Justin Forsett vs. San Diego
In this week's edition of "Who Plays the Two Worst Rushing Defenses in the NFL", we have Chris Johnson and Justin Forsett. Johnson has been on fire, and there is no reason he won't continue that against the Browns' screen door (or no door) rush defense. Forsett only ran for 32 yards last week, but he did score a touchdown, and he has gone off for 150 (vs. the Browns) and 121 this season.
Saints QB Drew Brees vs. N.Y. Giants Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick @ Oakland
In this week's edition of "Who Plays Two of the Worst Defenses in the NFL", we have Drew Brees and Ryan Fitzpatrick. Brees faces a defense that is near the bottom in every category, and he's thrown for at least 255 yards in every game this season. Fitzpatrick has thrown two touchdown passes in all but one game, and he plays the worst pass defense (in terms of yards per game) in the league.
Vikings WR Stefon Diggs @ Chicago Titans TE Delanie Walker @ Houston
Keep riding the Diggs bandwagon. He's quickly become Teddy Bridgewater's top option. Plus, the Bears are tied for the second-most receiving touchdowns allowed this season (15). The only team with more receiving touchdowns allowed are the Texans (16), who play Walker and the Titans Sunday. Walker is Tennessee's top target, and he'll get a boost if Marcus Mariota is able to suit up.
Fantasy Busts Cowboys WR Dez Bryant vs. Seattle Packers WR Randall Cobb @ Denver
I don't care if Dez plays this weekend. Hold off on inserting him back into your starting lineup. He won't be completely healthy, he'll have Matt Cassel at quarterback, and he'll be up against Richard Sherman and the Legion of Boom. Cobb will be up against Aqib Talib and the vicious Denver secondary, and Aaron Rodgers has other options anyway.
Colts QB Andrew Luck @ Carolina Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger vs. Cincinnati
Luck has not looked sharp thus far, and the Panthers defense is scary. As with Dez Bryant, hold off on Big Ben. He won't be 100% and the Bengals defense is strong.
Raiders RB Latavius Murray vs. N.Y. Jets Jets RB Chris Ivory @ Oakland
Latavius is coming off a solid gamein San Diego, but this week he faces a tougher defense then the Chargers. The Jets have the stingiest rush defense in the NFL. On the other sideline, Chris Ivory goes up against the third-best rush defense in the NFL in Oakland.
Welcome back for for Week 9 of the college football season. Last week, a couple College Football Playoff contenders suffered big losses, either on the scoreboard or on the field. Utah, who I have been praising, was sitting pretty heading to L.A. for a battle with the USC Trojans, who have played very well since the firing of coach Steve Sarkisian. Although Utah was in the top four and USC was unranked, many believed the Utes would fall to the Trojans, and sure enough, USC trounced Utah 42-24 Saturday night in the Coliseum. Meanwhile, Baylor, right now arguably the second-best team in the country (or even first in the eyes of some), cruised to a 45-27 win over Iowa State. But they lost star quarterback Seth Russell, who's thrown for 2,104 yards, 29 touchdowns, and six interceptions this season, to a neck fracture, which he will have surgery on and miss the rest of the season. Losing their starting quarterback doesn't necessarily mean the Bears are done (see last season's National Champs), but Russell's backup, Jarrett Stidham, is a true freshman. Two more things before we get going: I would like to send my condolences to the victims of the Oklahoma State homecoming parade drunk driving incident last Saturday and Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill, who retired this week due to recurring health problems.
Week 8 Review
Top Games 1. Florida State 16, Georgia Tech 22
Another week, another wild finish. Florida State (like Michigan last week) led all 60 minutes but still lost. With just over five minutes to play in the fourth quarter and up 16-13, Noles quarterback Everett Golson threw an interception in the end zone from the ten yard-line. After a couple punts, the Jackets drove down and kicked a 35-yard field goal to tie it with 54 seconds left. Florida State was then able to march down the field and set up Roberto Aguayo, arguably the best kicker in the nation, for a 56-yard field goal with six seconds left. Then it got wild. Georgia Tech lineman Patrick Gamble blocked the kick, and after it rolled around a bit, sophomore defensive back Lance Austin picked it up and ran down the sideline 78 yards for the game-winning touchdown with no time left on the clock.
2. Duke 45, Virginia Tech 43, 4OT
Don't worry, this wasn't the only four-overtime game last Saturday. This high-scoring game between two teams more known for defense was close the entire time. Duke kicker Ross Martin hit he right upright on 46-yard field goal attempt with just over a minute left in the fourth quarter, which could've come back to bite the Blue Devils. Luckily for them, though, it didn't. After Virginia Tech scored but failed the two-point conversion in the fourth overtime, Duke struck back on the very first play of their drive, as quarterback Thomas Sirk hit Erich Schneider on a 35-yard touchdown pass, and then Sirk, on a pass that was defended well by the Hokies, scrambled and fought his way into the end zone to win it for the 6-1 Blue Devils.
3. Auburn 46, Arkansas 54, 4OT
This was the first of the two four-overtime games on Saturday. This long game went back-and-forth the whole time. After Arkansas took a 14-0 lead, Auburn came back and tied it, and the two teams traded the lead from there on. Arkansas led 24-21 with just over a minute left in the fourth quarter, but Auburn drove down the field and kicked a 41-yard field goal as time expired. The teams matched each other in the first three overtimes (they both made the two-point conversion in the third overtime). Arkansas quickly struck in the fourth overtime, scoring on the first play of the drive on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Allen to Drew Morgan, and they converted the two-point conversion. Then the Razorback defense was able to hold Auburn to a one-yard run and three incompletions, getting out with a big win.
Play of the Week
This week's best play is, unsurprisingly, Georgia Tech's block and return for a game-winning touchdown against Florida State.
Play of the Weak
Not only did USC beat up on Utah to give the Utes their first loss of the season, but this poor Utah defender was embarrassed. USC wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster not only stiff-armed the guy into oblivion, but he called him out before he did it. he basically said "You are going to get absolutely destroyed by me" and then actually did it.
Top Performances
Washington State QB Luke Falk @ Arizona (W 45-42): 47-62, 514 yards, 5 TD
Falk and the pass-happy Cougars continued their ascent into a Pac-12 North contender with a big win over Arizona. Falk is third in the nation in passing yards and fourth in passing touchdowns. He has thrown for 2,885 yards, 26 touchdowns, and four interceptions so far this year. Washington State has a monumental game in the Pac-12 North race this weekend as they face Stanford.
Ohio State QB J.T. Barrett @ Rutgers (W 49-7): 14-18, 223 yards, 3 TD; 13 rushes, 101 yards, 2 TD
Barrett excelled in his first start of the season. The Ohio State offense looked the best it has looked since the first week of the season as Barrett ran and passed for over 100 yards and had five touchdowns.
USC LB Cameron Smith vs. Utah (W 42-24): 3 INT, 122 return yards, TD
USC took down #3 Utah behind the defensive exploits of Smith, who picked Utah quarterback Travis Wilson three times and racked up over 100 interception return yards and a touchdown. Wilson threw four interceptions as the Utes had 353 total yards.
Top 4 After Week 8
1. Ohio State
The buckeyes looked the best they've looked since their opening week win over Virginia Tech last Saturday night against Rutgers. Zeke Elliott ran for at least 100 yards for the 13th consecutive game (he had 142 yards and two touchdowns), the defense played outstanding (they gave up 293 total yards and just one touchdown, scored in the final seconds of the game), and new starting quarterback J.T. Barrett played very well. Next Game: Minnesota, 11/17, 8:00 PM
2. Clemson
Clemson climbs up to #2 after blowing out Miami. It was ugly. Clemson led 42-0 at halftime and ended up romping 58-0. After the game, Miami fired head coach Al Golden. Along with the thrashing of the Canes, Clemson boasts wins over Notre Dame and Georgia Tech. Next Game: @ NC State, Saturday, 3:30 PM
3. LSU
The Tigers easily dispatched of Western Kentucky last week, and they are in control of the SEC right now. They have elite talents at both quarterback (Brandon Harris, who has 1,098 yards passing, nine passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdown, and zero interceptions) and running back (Leonard Fournette (who has 1,352 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns). Next Game: @ #7 Alabama, 11/7, 8:00 PM
4. Baylor
If this ranking were just based on the results of the games played so far, Baylor would be #2. But since I'm factoring in the impact of injuries, they slide to fourth. Luckily, Jarrett Stidham has time to prepare for his first start, since the Bears are off this week. Next Game: @ Kansas State, 11/5, 7:30 PM
Next Four: TCU, Michigan State, Stanford, Alabama
Week 9 Preview
Quick Picks(home team listed last)
Last Week: 14-5
Overall: 54-19
North Carolina 32, #23 Pittsburgh 30 (Thursday, 7:00 PM, ESPN)
West Virginia 42, #5 TCU 45 (Thursday, 7:30 PM, Fox Sports 1)
#19 Ole Miss 28, Auburn 21(Saturday, Noon, ESPN)
Syracuse 17, #17 Florida State 28 (Saturday, Noon, ABC)
Oregon State 17, #13 Utah 34 (Saturday, 7:00 PM, Pac-12)
Game to Watch: #9 Notre Dame 28, #21 Temple 21(Saturday, 8:00 PM, ABC)
In the only game between ranked teams this weekend, the undefeated Owls, who have had a surprisingly great season, face their biggest test yet against talented Notre Dame in South Bend. This game will help determine how seriously people should take Temple after starting 7-0.
Upset Special: #8 Stanford 32, Washington State 35 (Saturday, 10:30 PM, ESPN)
Washington State looks like the real deal after wins at Oregon and Arizona, and now they take aim at Stanford. Stanford is better than any team the Cougars have played, but Washington State my be able to shock the Cardinal with their air attack that contrasts Stanford's style of play.
