On July 30th, 2013 I cut the cord and posted about it. So here I sit, 25 October 2018 watching Thursday Night Football on Fox, cable free for over 5 years!
I was just talking to my daughter-in-law about it, which prompted me to write this post. I honestly don't miss cable and if anything, streaming shows have gotten better over time. I have almost no desire to watch any weekly series that's on TV right now, with Manifest being the lone exception. Even then, I usually stream it off NBC's website when I want instead of watching it when it's broadcast on TV. In contrast, I look forward to many new series that are being streamed. The 1st seasons of Dare Devil and Jessica Jones were great. The 2nd season of DD was good, but I didn't like Season 2 of JJ. Looking forward to finding time to catch season 3 of DD which was just released. I liked Luke Cage, but it doesn't compare to DD and JJ. I thought season 1 of Iron Fist was terrible. Season 2 of each was better, but I heard that Marvel is cancelling both. Not as well known was Cloak and Dagger, which I was surprised that I really liked it. I hope they make a season 2. I thought that Jack Ryan lived up to the hype. Season 2 is all but guaranteed.
As a car-guy I thought I would really miss the Discovery Channel where all the good car shows seemed to be. But the streaming shows have been even better. Clarkson, Hammond, and May left Top Gear to create their own car show, The Grand Tour, which is currently filming season 3. Some have criticized it, saying it's not as good as TG, but for me TG was as much about the trio as it was about the cars. If you're looking for old school, Hot Rod Unlimited is for you. It's a rerun of the TV episodes made by Hot Rob Magazine. Want to see stuff on new cars, try Ignition. Created by Motortrend to introduce you to the newest vehicles on the market. Apex was an amazing documentary on SuperCars. Normally I couldn't car less about cars I'll never by able to afford, but this was so well done. Fastest Car was also a great documentary pitting garage built cars vs. SuperCars in a drag race. The stories about the owners were as entertaining, if not more so, then the cars themselves. For pure hilarious entertainment try Drunk History (and you may learn something too). It's crazy how many well know actors have played parts for this series.
There's also some great stuff to stream from YouTube (my Samsung TV has a YouTube app built in). For auto related, I love Donut Media, especially the "Everything you need to know..." series.
Host James Pumphrey's delivery is hilarious. Also your favorite team probably has a series. The Chargers have posted 4 episodes of Backstage:Chargers this season, along with highlights for every game. I also love HiSessions, which showcases musical artists from Hawaii.
Sports is still the downside. All those games on TNT and TBS (mostly basketball and baseball) that I can't watch anymore. Monday Night Football is still on ESPN. I will say there is a way to watch those games if you really want to...I will also say that those sites are probably not legally doing it. Because of that I won't post any links here, but it really isn't hard to find. Video quality isn't great and sometimes the stream can be erratic. It's up to you if you think it's worth it or not.
In the end, MNF and some random NBA/MLB games isn't enough for me to miss Cable. I'm perfectly happy with my viewing options and have no regrets.
Thursday, October 25, 2018
And the next Angels Manager is... Brad Ausmus
Ever since Billy Eppler was hired as Angels GM in 2015 there has been philosophical differences with former Manager Mike Scioscia on how to run the team. Scioscia became Manager of the Angels in 1999. He guided the Angels to 6 AL West Titles and the Angels only World Series Win. He won 1650 games (18th all time), but the Angels made the post season only once in the last 9 seasons. Scioscia was considered old school, managing by his "gut." Eppler is a proponent of "probability-based" managing.
Enter Brad Ausmus, who had spent the last year as a special assistant to Eppler, showing a willingness to adapt analytics into his baseball philosophy. That statistics based managing style caused some dissension in Ausmus' 4 year stint in Detroit. They made the post season only in his first year. Tigers management had a lot to do with the losing seasons, but Ausmus' embracing analytics during those losing seasons didn't help. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against analytics, it's just that when your pushing analytics and win you're going to get credit for being innovative. Lose while pushing analytics and you got fired.
I have the utmost respect for Scioscia. He is the all-time leader in wins for the Angels and the first Manager to bring his team to the post season in 6 of his first 10 years. I will forever cherish the 2002 season when an underdog Angels team won the World Series over Barry Bonds and the Giants. They lost Game 1 in every series, but came back to beat the Yankees 4-1, the Twins 4-1 in the ALCS and finally, the World Series in 7 games. But I have to admit that the last 9 seasons haven't been very successful for Scioscia, only making the post season in 2014 when they were swept by the Royals. All this with the consensus best player in baseball, Mike Trout.
So now Eppler and Ausmus will bring their probability-based decision making to the Angels. It will be interesting. While the analytics definitely will favor Trout being on the field, I don't believe it will favor Albert Pujols hitting in the 3-4 spot or playing 1B. Scioscia stuck with Pujols, will Ausmus?
I think there's going to be a shakeup in the Angels lineup next season...stay tuned.
Enter Brad Ausmus, who had spent the last year as a special assistant to Eppler, showing a willingness to adapt analytics into his baseball philosophy. That statistics based managing style caused some dissension in Ausmus' 4 year stint in Detroit. They made the post season only in his first year. Tigers management had a lot to do with the losing seasons, but Ausmus' embracing analytics during those losing seasons didn't help. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against analytics, it's just that when your pushing analytics and win you're going to get credit for being innovative. Lose while pushing analytics and you got fired.
I have the utmost respect for Scioscia. He is the all-time leader in wins for the Angels and the first Manager to bring his team to the post season in 6 of his first 10 years. I will forever cherish the 2002 season when an underdog Angels team won the World Series over Barry Bonds and the Giants. They lost Game 1 in every series, but came back to beat the Yankees 4-1, the Twins 4-1 in the ALCS and finally, the World Series in 7 games. But I have to admit that the last 9 seasons haven't been very successful for Scioscia, only making the post season in 2014 when they were swept by the Royals. All this with the consensus best player in baseball, Mike Trout.
So now Eppler and Ausmus will bring their probability-based decision making to the Angels. It will be interesting. While the analytics definitely will favor Trout being on the field, I don't believe it will favor Albert Pujols hitting in the 3-4 spot or playing 1B. Scioscia stuck with Pujols, will Ausmus?
I think there's going to be a shakeup in the Angels lineup next season...stay tuned.
Friday, October 19, 2018
NFL Week 6 - Home Away From Home
I really expected last weeks game to be a tougher for the Chargers. Browns were making strides at become respectable coming in with a 2-2-1 record and I'm pretty high on Baker Mayfield's long term potential. Chargers shook Mayfield up early and he started getting rid of the ball even when the Chargers were blocked. They did sack Mayfield 5 times, with 0 coming from Melvin Ingram.
The other Melvin, Gordon, had his best game this season. 18 carries for 132 yards, and 3 TDs. He had 28 catches coming into this game, but the Chargers ran so effectively that Phillip Rivers threw for a season low 20 attempts. Gordon caught 2 of those for a total of 30. The Williams, Tyrell and Mike, have a combined 32 catches. I expect teams to try to take Gordon and Austin Eckler (14 receptions) away at some point, but I believe Rivers will then shift more focus on getting the ball to the two Williams. Chargers staff must have seen something in film because they ran outside the tackles more this game then in any our time in under OC Ken Weisenhunt. Gordon gashed them with sweeps, and pitches all game. Chargers usually run Gordon inside the tackles, but I can remember only a handful against Cleveland. The also through in some jet sweeps from Kenny Allen and Mike Williams. Gordon's game wasn't all good. He had a Rivers pass bounce off his hands that got picked. Gordon was running a slant inside the Cleveland 5 and if he catches it had a good chance of getting his 4th TD of the game.
A couple unsung Chargers made big plays. The aforementioned Tyrell Williams caught back-to-back 44 and 45 yard passes in the 2nd quarter. The 45 yarder a TD were he outfought 2 Browns for the ball. On the next drive Rivers hit Tyrell again for a 29 yard TD that should have been called back. It was pretty clear that Russell Okung should have been called for a false start.
Desmond King picked Mayfield twice, the first was a great jump on an outside move. King is fast! The receiver made a good break and it was a pretty good throw by Mayfield, but King managed to under cut it. He also had a 32 yard punt return and has provided the Chargers an unexpected scoring threat on punt returns with Travis Benjamin nursing an injury.
A lot is being made about the Chargers having to travel to London. They stayed in Cleveland to practice so they didn't have to make the trip from California, which I thought was a smart move. The thing is, the Titans have to make the trip also. Both teams will have to deal with the Jet lag and time zone change.
Among all the negative stories about the Chargers not doing well in LA was how much the Chargers' are being welcomed in London.
"We're the home team and it feels like a home game even." - Head Coach Anthony Lynn
A reported explained how he’s followed Rivers’ career from afar for so long, and that while he was being completely professional, he couldn’t help but get those same fanboy emotions getting to be in the presence of his hero.
London native Andrew Cunneen already has his flight booked for December to travel 4,300 miles from the UK to watch his favorite team in action. On Sunday, the die-hard fan only has to travel a couple miles to watch his cherished Chargers up close.
“All over the UK, Chargers fans are hyped that their beloved team is playing in London,” said Rob Spragg, who runs the British Bolts social account. “The buzz is massive on social media and I know lots of Chargers fans can't wait to meet up and enjoy the whole experience. Parties and tailgates have been arranged for the whole weekend.”
The other Melvin, Gordon, had his best game this season. 18 carries for 132 yards, and 3 TDs. He had 28 catches coming into this game, but the Chargers ran so effectively that Phillip Rivers threw for a season low 20 attempts. Gordon caught 2 of those for a total of 30. The Williams, Tyrell and Mike, have a combined 32 catches. I expect teams to try to take Gordon and Austin Eckler (14 receptions) away at some point, but I believe Rivers will then shift more focus on getting the ball to the two Williams. Chargers staff must have seen something in film because they ran outside the tackles more this game then in any our time in under OC Ken Weisenhunt. Gordon gashed them with sweeps, and pitches all game. Chargers usually run Gordon inside the tackles, but I can remember only a handful against Cleveland. The also through in some jet sweeps from Kenny Allen and Mike Williams. Gordon's game wasn't all good. He had a Rivers pass bounce off his hands that got picked. Gordon was running a slant inside the Cleveland 5 and if he catches it had a good chance of getting his 4th TD of the game.
A couple unsung Chargers made big plays. The aforementioned Tyrell Williams caught back-to-back 44 and 45 yard passes in the 2nd quarter. The 45 yarder a TD were he outfought 2 Browns for the ball. On the next drive Rivers hit Tyrell again for a 29 yard TD that should have been called back. It was pretty clear that Russell Okung should have been called for a false start.
Desmond King picked Mayfield twice, the first was a great jump on an outside move. King is fast! The receiver made a good break and it was a pretty good throw by Mayfield, but King managed to under cut it. He also had a 32 yard punt return and has provided the Chargers an unexpected scoring threat on punt returns with Travis Benjamin nursing an injury.
A lot is being made about the Chargers having to travel to London. They stayed in Cleveland to practice so they didn't have to make the trip from California, which I thought was a smart move. The thing is, the Titans have to make the trip also. Both teams will have to deal with the Jet lag and time zone change.
Among all the negative stories about the Chargers not doing well in LA was how much the Chargers' are being welcomed in London.
"We're the home team and it feels like a home game even." - Head Coach Anthony Lynn
A reported explained how he’s followed Rivers’ career from afar for so long, and that while he was being completely professional, he couldn’t help but get those same fanboy emotions getting to be in the presence of his hero.
London native Andrew Cunneen already has his flight booked for December to travel 4,300 miles from the UK to watch his favorite team in action. On Sunday, the die-hard fan only has to travel a couple miles to watch his cherished Chargers up close.
“All over the UK, Chargers fans are hyped that their beloved team is playing in London,” said Rob Spragg, who runs the British Bolts social account. “The buzz is massive on social media and I know lots of Chargers fans can't wait to meet up and enjoy the whole experience. Parties and tailgates have been arranged for the whole weekend.”
Maybe the Chargers should just move to London.
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Spurs New Era Starts With a Win
It was strange to see this years Spurs take the court. Out of the 5 players that started the game, only 3rd year player Bryn Forbes is a home grown Spur. Jakob Poeltl and DeMar DeRozan came over from Toronto. Rudy Gay started in Memphis. LaMarcus Aldrige started his career in Portland. DeJounte Murray would have started, but a knee injury ended his season.
Along with Murray, Rookie Lonnie Walker and Derrick White also went down with injuries, but at least Walker and White are expected back this season.
It's only one game, but it was encouraging. DeRozan and Aldrige combined for 49 pts. DeRozan led the team with 28 pts. and hit the go ahead bucket to put the Spurs up 110-108. He followed that by making 2 free throws to seal the victory. Aldrige filled up the stat line with 21 pts., 19 rebs, 3 blks. 5 Spurs put up double digit scoring. They weren't the most efficient though, shooting .430 as a team. Aldridge only hitting on .304 had a lot to do with that. Not that worried about that since he's a .488 career shooter and making .499 in 4 seasons with the Spurs.
One game is WAY too early to make any valid long term conclusions, but I'll take 1-0 over 0-1 every time.
Along with Murray, Rookie Lonnie Walker and Derrick White also went down with injuries, but at least Walker and White are expected back this season.
It's only one game, but it was encouraging. DeRozan and Aldrige combined for 49 pts. DeRozan led the team with 28 pts. and hit the go ahead bucket to put the Spurs up 110-108. He followed that by making 2 free throws to seal the victory. Aldrige filled up the stat line with 21 pts., 19 rebs, 3 blks. 5 Spurs put up double digit scoring. They weren't the most efficient though, shooting .430 as a team. Aldridge only hitting on .304 had a lot to do with that. Not that worried about that since he's a .488 career shooter and making .499 in 4 seasons with the Spurs.
One game is WAY too early to make any valid long term conclusions, but I'll take 1-0 over 0-1 every time.
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
NFL Week 5 Thoughts...Winds of Change
Things are changing in Cleveland. That kick doesn't make it over the upright in any other game prior to Baker Mayfield taking the field.Yea, I know that Mayfield has nothing to do with the kick, but that kind of kick would have been destined to fail in any other season.
Before the season I was talking to a co-worker who is a Chief's fan. We talked about how one player sometimes changes the whole attitude of a team. Joe Montana changed everything for the 49ers. Tom Brady turned a so-so Pats team into Champions. I'm not going to go there yet, but right now, Mahomes and Mayfield are looking like the next "saviors."
Mahomes had his worse game (0 TDs, 2 INTs) and yet the Chiefs beat the Jags easily. KCs defense was MIA so far, but they showed up in Week 5. Jags were the AFC favorite going into Week 5, but the Chiefs have to be the top AFC now.
If you didn't know the distance and just watched the Graham Gano FG without sound it just looks like a routine kick. Down the middle and cleared the crossbar easily. Knowing that it's a 63 yard FG for the win in overtime...go crazy Carolina fans!!! The person that added the Titanic music is a genius.
Remember when the Colts went for it on 4th down and lost the game because they didn't make it? Yea, that was just last week against the Houston Texans in OT. So this week, Dallas has 4th and 1 on the Texans' 42 and decide to punt. 4 plays later, Deshaun Watson hits DeAndre Hopkins for 49 yards that sets up the Texans' game winning FG in OT. In poker they talk about pot odds. Basically it's a risk-to-reward factor on whether you should make the call or not. Frank Reich and Jason Garrett apparently never played serious poker.
Reich took too much of a risk going for it on 4th and 4 on their won 43. There was no guarantee of scoring even if he did make it. Garrett should have gone for it on 4th and 1 on the Texans' 42. K Brett Maher made a 48 yarder earlier in the 4th. Anything inside the Texans' 35 would have given Maher a decent shot of winning the game.
Yea, the Colts might have made it and the Cowboys may not have, but the risk-to-reward made the proper call to go for it NO for the Colts and YES for the Cowboys.
That was the Chargers best game so far this year.
Chargers D put a lot more pressure on the QB with LT Corey Liuget back from a 4 game suspension. Raiders didn't get into the end zone until a near meaningless TD in the 4th. Raiders biggest threat to score happened in the 3rd. DE Melvin Ingram made a great play on a defensive wrinkle where he dropped back into the passing lane and intercepted a Carr pass in the end zone. Raiders didn't convert a 3rd down in the first half.
Was it because of Liuget being back in the lineup? I didn't see anything that points to that, but I also didn't see anything that changed from the previous weeks. The Chargers blitzed less, but they didn't have to. All 3 sacks came from the D-Line. My first thought was "it's the Raiders," but they put up 45 points and 565 yards against an improving Browns' defense last week.
Despite Stub Hub not being a home field advantage the Chargers are 7-1 in their last 8 games there (the loss against KC in Week1).
I'm tired of articles talking about how the visiting teams fans outnumber the Chargers fans like it was something new since moving to LA (I won't even give one a link). Raiders fans have out numbered Charger fans even in San Diego. People writing these articles were never Chargers followers or they would know that anytime a popular team or other California team visited SD their fans outnumbered Charger fans at the game.
The Chargers won't play at Stub Hub again until Nov 18th. They do have a home game on Oct 21st, but that game is in London. They have the bye in Week 8, so it gives them a break in the middle. Not sure if the long hiatus from LA will be a disadvantage or not, but if they can pull off winning all 4 games they may see a few more Charger fans when they get back to Stub Hub. They're all winnable games (@Browns, Titans in London, @Seattle, @Oakland).
I'll end this post with a tip of the cap to Chargers Owner Alex Spanos who passed away today. He had been dealing with dementia since 2008. Pulled this from an article posted on CBS Sacramento...
Born in Stockton on Sept. 28, 1923, Spanos took an unlikely road to NFL ownership. After working in his father’s bakery and serving in the Air Force during World War II, Spanos borrowed $800 from a banker to buy a truck from which he sold sandwiches to migrant farm workers in the San Joaquin Valley. He began investing in real estate and started a construction company that mostly built apartment buildings, eventually expanding its footprint across the Sunbelt and Midwest.
Spanos and his wife were generous philanthropists, giving to many causes related to hospitals, universities and youth programs. He gave extensively to the University of the Pacific, his alma mater in Stockton, where the Alex G. Spanos Center houses the Tigers’ basketball and volleyball teams.
I didn't know him and words seem inadequate to express the sorrow felt by the Spanos family today.
Before the season I was talking to a co-worker who is a Chief's fan. We talked about how one player sometimes changes the whole attitude of a team. Joe Montana changed everything for the 49ers. Tom Brady turned a so-so Pats team into Champions. I'm not going to go there yet, but right now, Mahomes and Mayfield are looking like the next "saviors."
Mahomes had his worse game (0 TDs, 2 INTs) and yet the Chiefs beat the Jags easily. KCs defense was MIA so far, but they showed up in Week 5. Jags were the AFC favorite going into Week 5, but the Chiefs have to be the top AFC now.
If you didn't know the distance and just watched the Graham Gano FG without sound it just looks like a routine kick. Down the middle and cleared the crossbar easily. Knowing that it's a 63 yard FG for the win in overtime...go crazy Carolina fans!!! The person that added the Titanic music is a genius.
Remember when the Colts went for it on 4th down and lost the game because they didn't make it? Yea, that was just last week against the Houston Texans in OT. So this week, Dallas has 4th and 1 on the Texans' 42 and decide to punt. 4 plays later, Deshaun Watson hits DeAndre Hopkins for 49 yards that sets up the Texans' game winning FG in OT. In poker they talk about pot odds. Basically it's a risk-to-reward factor on whether you should make the call or not. Frank Reich and Jason Garrett apparently never played serious poker.
Reich took too much of a risk going for it on 4th and 4 on their won 43. There was no guarantee of scoring even if he did make it. Garrett should have gone for it on 4th and 1 on the Texans' 42. K Brett Maher made a 48 yarder earlier in the 4th. Anything inside the Texans' 35 would have given Maher a decent shot of winning the game.
Yea, the Colts might have made it and the Cowboys may not have, but the risk-to-reward made the proper call to go for it NO for the Colts and YES for the Cowboys.
That was the Chargers best game so far this year.
Chargers D put a lot more pressure on the QB with LT Corey Liuget back from a 4 game suspension. Raiders didn't get into the end zone until a near meaningless TD in the 4th. Raiders biggest threat to score happened in the 3rd. DE Melvin Ingram made a great play on a defensive wrinkle where he dropped back into the passing lane and intercepted a Carr pass in the end zone. Raiders didn't convert a 3rd down in the first half.
Was it because of Liuget being back in the lineup? I didn't see anything that points to that, but I also didn't see anything that changed from the previous weeks. The Chargers blitzed less, but they didn't have to. All 3 sacks came from the D-Line. My first thought was "it's the Raiders," but they put up 45 points and 565 yards against an improving Browns' defense last week.
Despite Stub Hub not being a home field advantage the Chargers are 7-1 in their last 8 games there (the loss against KC in Week1).
I'm tired of articles talking about how the visiting teams fans outnumber the Chargers fans like it was something new since moving to LA (I won't even give one a link). Raiders fans have out numbered Charger fans even in San Diego. People writing these articles were never Chargers followers or they would know that anytime a popular team or other California team visited SD their fans outnumbered Charger fans at the game.
The Chargers won't play at Stub Hub again until Nov 18th. They do have a home game on Oct 21st, but that game is in London. They have the bye in Week 8, so it gives them a break in the middle. Not sure if the long hiatus from LA will be a disadvantage or not, but if they can pull off winning all 4 games they may see a few more Charger fans when they get back to Stub Hub. They're all winnable games (@Browns, Titans in London, @Seattle, @Oakland).
I'll end this post with a tip of the cap to Chargers Owner Alex Spanos who passed away today. He had been dealing with dementia since 2008. Pulled this from an article posted on CBS Sacramento...
Born in Stockton on Sept. 28, 1923, Spanos took an unlikely road to NFL ownership. After working in his father’s bakery and serving in the Air Force during World War II, Spanos borrowed $800 from a banker to buy a truck from which he sold sandwiches to migrant farm workers in the San Joaquin Valley. He began investing in real estate and started a construction company that mostly built apartment buildings, eventually expanding its footprint across the Sunbelt and Midwest.
Spanos and his wife were generous philanthropists, giving to many causes related to hospitals, universities and youth programs. He gave extensively to the University of the Pacific, his alma mater in Stockton, where the Alex G. Spanos Center houses the Tigers’ basketball and volleyball teams.
I didn't know him and words seem inadequate to express the sorrow felt by the Spanos family today.
Monday, October 8, 2018
NFL Week 4 Thoughts
The game was close...closer than it should have been. The game couldn't have started any worse with Phillip Rivers throwing a pick-6 on their first possession to a team that didn't have an interception yet this season. But that's not what got me worried. It's the defense that's making me question whether this Charger team can put together enough wins to make the playoffs.
I can overlook the defense not getting the job done against KC and the Rams (is that a band?) with "Money" Mahomes and the return of "The Greatest Show on Turf." But Josh Allen was successful enough to get Buffalo 20 points and CJ Beathard, starting his first NFL game, moved the ball consistently leading the 49ers to 27 pts. Remember that the Chargers allowed only 17 pts/game last year.
What's the difference? The ability to pressure the QB consistently. The Chargers had 43 in 2017 (2.7 sacks/game). So far this season they have 8 which projects to 32 for 16 games. That's not a significant difference, but looking even deeper into the numbers, three of the Sacks this year has come from rookie Safety Derwin James. Quick math tells me that the front seven is only accounting for 62.5% of the sacks. Last year the front seven accounted for 38.5 of the 43 sacks (.895). You don't even have to dig into the numbers, just watch the game. The opposing QBs have had lots of time unless the Chargers have blitzed.
I have a hard time believing that Joey Bosa makes that much of a difference, but he's the only difference between 2017 and 2018. In fact, excluding Bosa, this defense should be better than last season with the addition of James. Yes Corey Liuget is also out (4 game suspension) and he is a key interior defensive lineman, but he only had 1.5 sacks last year. Liuget returns next week, so we'll see how much a difference he makes.
I also wonder how Kaleb Sturgis missed back-to-back extra points. Is there that much pressure to make a kick now? Thankfully Sturgis came through with what ended up as the game winning FG.
Turnovers were the saving grace for the Chargers D. Trevor Williams picked off a deflected pass and returned it 86 yards in the 3rd quarter. Beathard had led a drive down to the Chargers 8, trailing just 17-23. The second pick of Beathard came courtesy of a James blitz giving DL Isaac Rochell his first career interception.
It was also nice to see the Chargers throw to get the first down and put the game away instead of just running it 3 times and kicking a FG, which would have given the 49ers a last desperate drive chance of winning the game.
And my thoughts on rest of the games this week...
I still think the Browns got robbed despite the NFL explaining the call to re-spot the ball after the Browns got the game clinching first down. Yea, an NFL spokesman said Replay Command had an angle that showed Carlos Hyde's elbow hitting the ground with the ball short of the first down, but as far as I know that replay has never been shown and also as far as I know they have the same replays that the broadcast team has. No exclusive video that is only available to the NFL Replay Command. I know the Raiders still had to drive for the tying score and win it in OT, so you can't pin the loss solely on that call, but when it happens to a team like the Browns you gotta wonder.
I feel sorry for Ryan Fitzpatrick. Did he have an awful game against the Bears? No argument, but it's not like other QBs never had a bad game before. It also was going to be a tough game to win with the Bucs were giving up 5 TD passes by Mitchell Trubisky...in the first half! Fitz is a gambler who is going to take chances when his team falls behind. Doesn't always work out, but it was like that with Brett Favre. Am I saying he's as good as Farvre? Of course not, but Fitz is better than a lot of QBs that are starting this season. He's a career 59.9 percent passer that was completing 67.4 percent this year and despite the Bucs defense giving up a league worse 139 points in 4 games, managed to win 2 of them. He was also leading the league in passing yards.
The Tennessee Titans are 3-1 having just beaten the Jaguars and Eagles. I was wondering how? Nothing about this team is special, yet they are finding ways to win. 9-6 wining score in Jacksonville (when was the last time both teams were under 10 in a game?) and Marcus Mariota was having a terrible game in the first half against Philly. Down 17-3 midway through the 3rd, Mariota somehow led his team to 20-20 tie, then the gaming winning TD in OT. Good thing they didn't bench him at halftime (Yes that was a Fitzpatrick reference).
I still think the Patriots are in trouble. Yea, I've been there before, and so has the Pats. But this Pats team is short on play makers. Sure they crushed the Dolphins, but was anybody saying Miami was a contender even with the 3-0 start? Sure the Pats will likely make the payoffs because they play in the AFC East, but I don't feel like they'll be a threat in the playoffs this year. Even if Josh Gordon pans out, the defense is lacking in talent.
I can overlook the defense not getting the job done against KC and the Rams (is that a band?) with "Money" Mahomes and the return of "The Greatest Show on Turf." But Josh Allen was successful enough to get Buffalo 20 points and CJ Beathard, starting his first NFL game, moved the ball consistently leading the 49ers to 27 pts. Remember that the Chargers allowed only 17 pts/game last year.
What's the difference? The ability to pressure the QB consistently. The Chargers had 43 in 2017 (2.7 sacks/game). So far this season they have 8 which projects to 32 for 16 games. That's not a significant difference, but looking even deeper into the numbers, three of the Sacks this year has come from rookie Safety Derwin James. Quick math tells me that the front seven is only accounting for 62.5% of the sacks. Last year the front seven accounted for 38.5 of the 43 sacks (.895). You don't even have to dig into the numbers, just watch the game. The opposing QBs have had lots of time unless the Chargers have blitzed.
I have a hard time believing that Joey Bosa makes that much of a difference, but he's the only difference between 2017 and 2018. In fact, excluding Bosa, this defense should be better than last season with the addition of James. Yes Corey Liuget is also out (4 game suspension) and he is a key interior defensive lineman, but he only had 1.5 sacks last year. Liuget returns next week, so we'll see how much a difference he makes.
I also wonder how Kaleb Sturgis missed back-to-back extra points. Is there that much pressure to make a kick now? Thankfully Sturgis came through with what ended up as the game winning FG.
Turnovers were the saving grace for the Chargers D. Trevor Williams picked off a deflected pass and returned it 86 yards in the 3rd quarter. Beathard had led a drive down to the Chargers 8, trailing just 17-23. The second pick of Beathard came courtesy of a James blitz giving DL Isaac Rochell his first career interception.
It was also nice to see the Chargers throw to get the first down and put the game away instead of just running it 3 times and kicking a FG, which would have given the 49ers a last desperate drive chance of winning the game.
And my thoughts on rest of the games this week...
I still think the Browns got robbed despite the NFL explaining the call to re-spot the ball after the Browns got the game clinching first down. Yea, an NFL spokesman said Replay Command had an angle that showed Carlos Hyde's elbow hitting the ground with the ball short of the first down, but as far as I know that replay has never been shown and also as far as I know they have the same replays that the broadcast team has. No exclusive video that is only available to the NFL Replay Command. I know the Raiders still had to drive for the tying score and win it in OT, so you can't pin the loss solely on that call, but when it happens to a team like the Browns you gotta wonder.
I feel sorry for Ryan Fitzpatrick. Did he have an awful game against the Bears? No argument, but it's not like other QBs never had a bad game before. It also was going to be a tough game to win with the Bucs were giving up 5 TD passes by Mitchell Trubisky...in the first half! Fitz is a gambler who is going to take chances when his team falls behind. Doesn't always work out, but it was like that with Brett Favre. Am I saying he's as good as Farvre? Of course not, but Fitz is better than a lot of QBs that are starting this season. He's a career 59.9 percent passer that was completing 67.4 percent this year and despite the Bucs defense giving up a league worse 139 points in 4 games, managed to win 2 of them. He was also leading the league in passing yards.
The Tennessee Titans are 3-1 having just beaten the Jaguars and Eagles. I was wondering how? Nothing about this team is special, yet they are finding ways to win. 9-6 wining score in Jacksonville (when was the last time both teams were under 10 in a game?) and Marcus Mariota was having a terrible game in the first half against Philly. Down 17-3 midway through the 3rd, Mariota somehow led his team to 20-20 tie, then the gaming winning TD in OT. Good thing they didn't bench him at halftime (Yes that was a Fitzpatrick reference).
I still think the Patriots are in trouble. Yea, I've been there before, and so has the Pats. But this Pats team is short on play makers. Sure they crushed the Dolphins, but was anybody saying Miami was a contender even with the 3-0 start? Sure the Pats will likely make the payoffs because they play in the AFC East, but I don't feel like they'll be a threat in the playoffs this year. Even if Josh Gordon pans out, the defense is lacking in talent.
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