The big NFC North battle wasn't great. Well, it was for the Green Bay Packers.
The Packers defeated the Minnesota Vikings 30-13 in Minnesota.
The Vikings entered the game on a five-game winning streak. The Packers entered the game on a three-game losing streak. Both streaks ended.
The Vikings defense forced the Packers to settle for five field goals. That can be considered good from certain angles. The bad thing is that Mason Crosby made all five of those field goals. That alone was enough to cover the Vikings 13 points.
The Vikings made a lot of mistakes. Mental and otherwise. They came into this game as the least penalized team in the league. They had eight for 110 yards in this game. Three of those penalties were especially costly on a Packers drive to close the first half. Aaron Rodgers didn't have to be clutch as he led his team down the field. Three Vikings penalties on three third down situations kept the Packers offense on the field. 55 yards of the 80-yard drive were the benefit of penalties. Those repeated opportunities allowed Rodgers to eventually toss a touchdown to Randall Cobb. You can't keep giving Rodgers extra chances. Those seven points were the cost of each of those penalties. One of the Vikings eight penalties on the game was simply stupid. Cordarrelle Patterson had a 52-yard kick return at the start of the fourth quarter. Instead of heading to the sideline to be excited with his teammates Patterson head-butts the kicker Crosby. The kicker! Are you kidding me? Head-butting any opponent at that time, at any time, is ridiculous. But, the kicker! Instead of being set up nicely at midfield the Vikings had to start at the 34-yard line. Eight penalties. 110 yards. That can't happen. As a comparison, the Packers were called for four penalties for 19 yards. Their first penalty didn't come until the third quarter.
There were two plays that really ruined Vikings chances to win the game:
1) With 3:40 to play in the first half Vikings running back Jerrick McKinnon partially blocked a Tim Masthay punt. It set the Vikings up at the Packers 42-yard line. On second down Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was sacked by Julius Peppers for a two yard loss. In the process of the sack Bridgewater was clubbed in the head by a Packers lineman (Mike Neal?). I've been led to believe that a blow to the head of the quarterback was a penalty and it was an obvious blow to the head. The announcers didn't say a thing about it so maybe I'm missing something. The replay was shown a bunch due to the fact that Bridgewater injured his left, non-throwing, shoulder on the play. This injury was worse than the sack or the possible missed Packers penalty. It forced Shaun Hill to enter the game with a now third-and-15 situation. Teddy Bridgewater has a decent chance to convert that unfortunate situation. A fresh-off-the bench Hill has about zero chance. He didn't. The missed opportunity brought about by a blocked punt died when the Vikings starting quarterback was knocked out of the game. It also gave the Packers their penalty-enhanced opportunity to score before the half. Bridgewater did return to the game after a visit to the locker room.
2)After a Packers touchdown to take a 27-13 and after Patterson's idiotic penalty to start the fourth quarter, Bridgewater guided the Vikings from their own 34-yard line to the Packers 32-yard line. With some building momentum and a 1st-and-10, Vikings running back Adrian Peterson ran the ball inside the 20-yard. Unfortunately for the Vikings he didn't finish the run with the ball. The Packers recovered the fumble on the 21-yard line. There was still a lot of time but this fumble put the chances of a Vikings comeback real close to miracle territory.
For the second consecutive year Packers running back Eddie Lacy entered the first Vikings game of the season not playing very well. Packers coach Mike McCarthy even named James Starks the starter before last week's game. For the second consecutive year Packers running back Eddie Lacy shook himself out of his slump against the Vikings. He had 22 carries for 100 yards yesterday. I'd guess that Lacy is again the Packers starting running back.
If Lacy wasn't the star of the game for the Packers receiver James Jones was. He had 6 catches for 109 yards and a touchdown. His 37-yard juggling catch on third down late in the third quarter was a dagger. For some reason Jones found it necessary to wear a hoodie under his jersey. I can't recall ever seeing that before. And, quite frankly, he should have been kicked out the game for doing so.
As for the quarterbacks, it wouldn't be a stretch to say that Aaron Rodgers was outplayed by Teddy Bridgerwater. The stats:
Rodgers: 16/34 for 212 yards and 2 TDs
Bridgewater: 25/37 296 yards and 1 TD
The only stat that really matters is the score.
The real difference in the game came with respective protection that each quarterback received from their offensive line. Bridgewater was sacked six times and harassed all game. Rodgers was sacked twice. Bridgewater was on the run throughout the game. Rodgers had a much more relaxing day.
Bridgewater's one touchdown toss was a beauty. A 47-yard catch and run to tight end Kyle Rudolph. The pass was lofted over a safety with tight coverage that gave Rudolph an opportunity to cruise about 20 yards to the end zone. Rudolph had a terrific game. Six catches for 106 yards. That sort of production needs to continue.
One of Bridgewater's incompletions was a heartbreaker. He missed receiver Mike Wallace by inches on what could have been a game-changing 75-yard touchdown strike in the fourth quarter. Wallace has yet to make an impact this season. His only production yesterday came on a six-yard run. Quarterback and receiver have to connect.
Vikings rookie receiver Stefon Diggs continues to make an impact. He had only 66 yards on six catches yesterday but a few were of the explosive, chain-moving variety. If the Packers weren't concerned about the youngster before having faced him they are now.
Bridgewater really spreads the ball around to his receivers, tight ends, and backs. Nine different players caught passes against the Packers. It's surprising and disappointing that Wallace wasn't one of them. Charles Johnson too. It's tough on a defense when anyone with an eligible number could make an impact on any play. It should be noted that the rookie Diggs has been getting more looks than the rest since he's been part of the game day offense.
The Packers won this game because they made fewer mistakes. It's funny how that usually happens. The Vikings were riding a five-game win streak mostly because they have been playing smart football. Avoiding penalties and mistakes. The Vikings really made things difficult for themselves. Penalties, stupid and otherwise, kept killing opportunities and giving the Packers extra opportunities. Aaron Rodgers looked a little off all game but he still managed to take advantage of all of the extra chances that he was given. Great quarterbacks have a tendency to do that.
The Vikings offensive line has to start giving Bridgewater more time. And Peterson more holes.
The Vikings still have control of their 2015 fate. They play five games before they face the Packers again to close the season. If the Vikings take care of their own business that game could be for the division title. The Vikings do have a rough road the rest of the way.
@ Atlanta Falcons
Seattle Seahawks
@ Arizona Cardinals-Thursday Night
Chicago Bears
New York Giants
@ Green Bay Packers
The visit to the Cardinals three days after playing the Seahawks worries me the most.
Welcome back Tony Romo. The Dallas Cowboys didn't win a single game of the seven that their quarterback missed. The Cowboys defeated the Miami Dolphins in a rematch of Super Bowl VI. That game was 24-3 Cowboys. This game was 24-14 Cowboys. Romo threw two touchdowns in his return.
The Carolina Panthers are still undefeated. In perhaps their most complete game of the season they Panthers took apart the Washington Redskins 44-16. Cam Newton threw five touchdown passes. He has to be in the MVP conversation. The Panthers are going to cruise into the playoffs without having faced many challenges. Their division and as a result their schedule hasn't put up much resistance. Despite that they sure look like a team that can challenge for a title. Terrific defense and a quarterback that puts a lot of stress on a defense.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston also threw five touchdown passes. His team took apart the Philadelphia Eagles 45-17. Running back Doug Martin tossed in 235 yards on the ground to balance out a very productive Buccaneers offense.
It's sometimes tough to watch Mark Sanchez run Chip Kelly's silly offense.
The San Diego Chargers are really fading fast. Injuries have done a number to a talented offense. The Kansas City Chiefs thumped this time. 33-3. Nose tackle Dontari Poe even got in the scoring fun with a short touchdown run.
When the New York Jets visited the New England Patriots on October 25 they were 4-1 and playing for the division lead. They have only won once since then. The Jets lost to the Houston Texans yesterday. 24-17.
Brock Osweiler replaced Peyton Manning as the Denver Broncos starting quarterback. Osweiler, with a lot of help from a terrific defense, did enough to lead his team past the Chicago Bears. 17-15.
The Oakland Raiders haven't done well against the NFC North. Half of their six losses are to the Bears, Vikings, and Lions. The Detroit Lions defeated the Raiders this time. 18-13.
I spent my time waiting for the Vikings late window start by watching the Atlanta Falcons-Indianapolis Colts game. The Vikings visit the Falcons next week.
It didn't seem like either team wanted to win in the Baltimore Ravens-St. Louis Rams game. Each team had a shot to break a 13-13 tie late. Each team missed a long field goal. The difference was that the Ravens had a second opportunity. Justin Tucker made a 47-yard field goal as time expired.
The Ravens were gifted that game-winning opportunity when Rams quarterback Case Keenum fumbled and the Ravens recovered. The problem with that play was that Keenum was knocked woozy on the play before. He had trouble getting to his feet. The NFL has people at every game tasked with getting these potentially concussed players out of the game. The NFL might have some explaining to do.
Colts quarterback Matthew Hasselbeck started in place of injured and Andrew Luck. He played better in his two starts earlier this season but the results were the same. Hasselbeck is 3-0 as the Colts starter. 24-21.
The Falcons controlled the game until the final moments. For most of the game the Colts offense was in neutral. They gained 276 total yards and 170 of those yards came on their two touchdown-scoring drives. Other than those two drives they didn't do much. Mostly punted. It helped that the Colts defense added a score.
A significant portion of the Falcons offense was lost when running back Devonta Freeman left with a concussion in the first half. He had 43 yard on three carries at the time. 39 of those yards coming on a single run.
No matter how many times Falcons receiver Julio Jones touches the ball, and he had nine catches for 160 yards in this game, it doesn't seem like enough. He's a fantastic football player and the best receiver in the game. The Vikings have to deal with him next week. Corner Xavier Rhodes did a decent job covering Jones last year. Rhodes has to be even better this year.
In the nightcap, the Cincinnati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals played a scorcher. The Cardinals put up 21 points in the third quarter. The Bengals responded with 17 in the fourth. All of that action resulted in a 31-31 game with just under a minute to play. That was enough time for Carson Palmer to move the Cardinals offense 70 yards and a game-winning field goal.
These are two of the best teams in the league. It wouldn't be much of a surprise if they play again in February.
The New England Patriots might have something to say about that. They host the Buffalo Bills tonight.
Monday, November 23, 2015
Sunday, November 22, 2015
Week 11 Picks
Thanksgiving is Thursday. The holidays are upon us. We're just cruising through this season. The Minnesota Vikings are playing for a sturdy hold on first place in the NFC North today. They host the Green Bay Packers. Fun times. Here are the Flea Flicker picks for the Week 11 games.
New Orleans, New York Giants, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland are on bye.
-this is the final week of byes-yay!
The Jacksonville Jaguars held off the Tennessee Titans on Thursday night. 19-13. This might not have been the cleanest played game but it was an entertaining game. The two young quarterbacks, Blake Bortles and Marcus Mariota, could have a nice, long rivalry in the AFC South. This was game #2 of the NFL's idiotic "Color Rush" gimmick. The Titans were dressed entirely in their baby blue uniforms. The Jaguars were dressed entirely in something that might have been let loose by a baby.
Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings
Pick: Vikings
The Vikings have won five games in a row. The Packers have lost three in a row. That just doesn't sound right. But it is.
Indianapolis Colts @ Atlanta Falcons
Pick: Falcons
The Colts have been bumbling through this season. The Falcons have done the same recently after a hot start. Maybe they get back to their early season ways after a bye week. Matthew Hasselbeck hasn't lost in two previous starts for the Colts but the Falcons are a little more difficult than Jacksonville and Houston.
St. Louis Rams @ Baltimore Ravens
Pick: Ravens
The Case Keenum era begins in St. Louis.
Washington Redskins @ Carolina Panthers
Pick: Panthers
The Redskins are the feisty, physical sort of team that could give the Panthers their first loss. I'd be more inclined to think that if this game was played in Washington. The Redskins have had some road struggles.
Denver Broncos @ Chicago Bears
Pick: Broncos
The Bears have played well in recent weeks. The Broncos defense should have something to say about the Bears continuing that sort of play. Bears coach John Fox and offensive coordinator Adam Gase know a little something about that defense. The Broncos haven't gotten consistent play from the quarterback position all year so Brock Osweiler shouldn't be a downgrade.
Oakland Raiders @ Detroit Lions
Pick: Raiders
The Lions are probably feeling pretty good about themselves after their first win over the Packers at Lambeau this century. The Raiders should put an end to that happiness.
New York Jets @ Houston Texans
Pick: Jets
The Jets should find a way to beat the Texans but then I thought that about the Bengals as well.
Dallas Cowboys @ Miami Dolphins
Pick: Cowboys
Tony Romo finally returns to the Cowboys lineup. His team was undefeated when he left (2-0) and they haven't won since. They have to find a way to finally win again.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Philadelphia Eagles
Pick: Buccaneers
Mark Sanchez time in Philadelphia. There sure are a lot of quarterback changes this week. The Buccaneers have been nearly as inconsistent as the Eagles. At least the Buccaneers can point to a rookie quarterback as a reason for that inconsistency. The thought here is that rookie Jameis Winston outplays Mark Sanchez.
Kansas City Chiefs @ San Diego Chargers
Pick: Chiefs
The Chiefs took apart the Broncos last week. They should be able to beat a Chargers team that is missing a lot of offensive weapons.
San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks
Pick: Seahawks
The Seahawks offense has been a mess for most of the season. They should still do enough to take care of a Blaine Gabbert-led 49ers team at home.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Arizona Cardinals
Pick: Cardinals
The nightcap. This should be a terrific game unless the Bengals play like they did against the Texans on Monday Night. This is the sort of game, big prime time game, that the Bengals have to start winning if they want to be taken seriously.
Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots
Pick: Patriots
The Bills are the sort of opponent that can give an undefeated team their first loss. A tough, physical division foe. And the Bills are coached by Rex Ryan. A coach with a combative and sometimes successful history with Bill Belichick and the Patriots.
This should be another fantastic week of NFL action!
Go Vikings!
New Orleans, New York Giants, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland are on bye.
-this is the final week of byes-yay!
The Jacksonville Jaguars held off the Tennessee Titans on Thursday night. 19-13. This might not have been the cleanest played game but it was an entertaining game. The two young quarterbacks, Blake Bortles and Marcus Mariota, could have a nice, long rivalry in the AFC South. This was game #2 of the NFL's idiotic "Color Rush" gimmick. The Titans were dressed entirely in their baby blue uniforms. The Jaguars were dressed entirely in something that might have been let loose by a baby.
Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings
Pick: Vikings
The Vikings have won five games in a row. The Packers have lost three in a row. That just doesn't sound right. But it is.
Indianapolis Colts @ Atlanta Falcons
Pick: Falcons
The Colts have been bumbling through this season. The Falcons have done the same recently after a hot start. Maybe they get back to their early season ways after a bye week. Matthew Hasselbeck hasn't lost in two previous starts for the Colts but the Falcons are a little more difficult than Jacksonville and Houston.
St. Louis Rams @ Baltimore Ravens
Pick: Ravens
The Case Keenum era begins in St. Louis.
Washington Redskins @ Carolina Panthers
Pick: Panthers
The Redskins are the feisty, physical sort of team that could give the Panthers their first loss. I'd be more inclined to think that if this game was played in Washington. The Redskins have had some road struggles.
Denver Broncos @ Chicago Bears
Pick: Broncos
The Bears have played well in recent weeks. The Broncos defense should have something to say about the Bears continuing that sort of play. Bears coach John Fox and offensive coordinator Adam Gase know a little something about that defense. The Broncos haven't gotten consistent play from the quarterback position all year so Brock Osweiler shouldn't be a downgrade.
Oakland Raiders @ Detroit Lions
Pick: Raiders
The Lions are probably feeling pretty good about themselves after their first win over the Packers at Lambeau this century. The Raiders should put an end to that happiness.
New York Jets @ Houston Texans
Pick: Jets
The Jets should find a way to beat the Texans but then I thought that about the Bengals as well.
Dallas Cowboys @ Miami Dolphins
Pick: Cowboys
Tony Romo finally returns to the Cowboys lineup. His team was undefeated when he left (2-0) and they haven't won since. They have to find a way to finally win again.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Philadelphia Eagles
Pick: Buccaneers
Mark Sanchez time in Philadelphia. There sure are a lot of quarterback changes this week. The Buccaneers have been nearly as inconsistent as the Eagles. At least the Buccaneers can point to a rookie quarterback as a reason for that inconsistency. The thought here is that rookie Jameis Winston outplays Mark Sanchez.
Kansas City Chiefs @ San Diego Chargers
Pick: Chiefs
The Chiefs took apart the Broncos last week. They should be able to beat a Chargers team that is missing a lot of offensive weapons.
San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks
Pick: Seahawks
The Seahawks offense has been a mess for most of the season. They should still do enough to take care of a Blaine Gabbert-led 49ers team at home.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Arizona Cardinals
Pick: Cardinals
The nightcap. This should be a terrific game unless the Bengals play like they did against the Texans on Monday Night. This is the sort of game, big prime time game, that the Bengals have to start winning if they want to be taken seriously.
Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots
Pick: Patriots
The Bills are the sort of opponent that can give an undefeated team their first loss. A tough, physical division foe. And the Bills are coached by Rex Ryan. A coach with a combative and sometimes successful history with Bill Belichick and the Patriots.
This should be another fantastic week of NFL action!
Go Vikings!
Saturday, November 21, 2015
The Commissioner Is Coming To Minnesota
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is braving the public and coming to Minnesota. This Minnesota Vikings-Green Bay Packers game tomorrow must be a big deal to bring "the Goods" out of the comfy confines of his Park Avenue office. He will be at the big game but it's hardly the only reason for his visit. He's scheduled to watch the first half in the stands with the fans. I doubt that's wise. "The Goods" probably doesn't have many fans anywhere in the country. After keeping Vikings running back Adrian Peterson on the shelf for all but one game last season he probably has none in Minnesota.
"The Goods" isn't just coming to Minnesota for a football game. He actually has a big day planned even before the kickoff of the game. Maybe that's why the league moved the game to an afternoon start. The big guy is going to meet with Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf and team executives. They'll start the day with a tour of the team's proposed practice facility site in Eagen. Then they'll move to the U.S. Bank Stadium preview center across the street from where the beautiful new stadium is being built in downtown Minneapolis. The new stadium is set to open next summer. It has been tapped as the site for Super Bowl LII in two years. The last Minnesota visit for "the Goods" probably played a big part in the this stadium becoming a reality. That visit was in April 2012 and his address to a waffling Minnesota legislature probably got the stadium ball rolling. The reluctant decision-makers finally realized that the threat of the Vikings leaving the state was real. Then they did their jobs. It's impossible to know for sure but the critical public funding contribution to the new stadium might not have ever happened if it wasn't for the Commissioner's visit in the spring of 2012. Maybe he isn't such a hated figure in Minnesota. No, he probably is. "The Goods" will take part in a Q&A with invited season-ticket holders and a session with the media. That should be a hoot. From there "the Goods" will head across the street and a tour of the stadium. He'll then huddle with ownership and executives for an update on the state of the Vikings. Then it's game time and encounters with a lot of fans that might not care much for many of his recent decisions. Good luck to "the Goods."
"The Goods" isn't just coming to Minnesota for a football game. He actually has a big day planned even before the kickoff of the game. Maybe that's why the league moved the game to an afternoon start. The big guy is going to meet with Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf and team executives. They'll start the day with a tour of the team's proposed practice facility site in Eagen. Then they'll move to the U.S. Bank Stadium preview center across the street from where the beautiful new stadium is being built in downtown Minneapolis. The new stadium is set to open next summer. It has been tapped as the site for Super Bowl LII in two years. The last Minnesota visit for "the Goods" probably played a big part in the this stadium becoming a reality. That visit was in April 2012 and his address to a waffling Minnesota legislature probably got the stadium ball rolling. The reluctant decision-makers finally realized that the threat of the Vikings leaving the state was real. Then they did their jobs. It's impossible to know for sure but the critical public funding contribution to the new stadium might not have ever happened if it wasn't for the Commissioner's visit in the spring of 2012. Maybe he isn't such a hated figure in Minnesota. No, he probably is. "The Goods" will take part in a Q&A with invited season-ticket holders and a session with the media. That should be a hoot. From there "the Goods" will head across the street and a tour of the stadium. He'll then huddle with ownership and executives for an update on the state of the Vikings. Then it's game time and encounters with a lot of fans that might not care much for many of his recent decisions. Good luck to "the Goods."
Friday, November 20, 2015
Just Catch The Damn Ball
In my opinion the worst thing about the NFL's clunky reception rule is the general public's reaction to it. The essence of the rule is that possession of the ball must be maintained by the pass catcher. Simple. Catch the ball. Maintain possession of the ball. So simple. Where's the problem? Well, the problem is in the enforcement of the rule. Or the consistency in the enforcement of the rule. The "attempted" receptions this past weekend by Arizona Cardinals tight end Darren Fells and New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. were ruled incomplete because neither pass catcher maintained possession of the ball. Earlier this season Detroit Lions receiver Golden Tate was rewarded with a touchdown reception despite losing the ball. I'd rule all three incomplete because none of the three supposed pass catchers maintained that all-important possession of the ball. The inconsistency in the judgement of the officials is the problem. It's also the reason for the frequent cry of so many "I don't even know what a catch is anymore." It's a sad cry. The lack of consistency in the calls of the on-field officials and the replay officials isn't really any different than other judgement calls on penalties and plays. I see a similar lack of consistency in holding calls. One official sees a particular act as holding and another doesn't. If it looks like holding it should be called holding. People say the very same thing about catches. If it looks like a catch it should be called a catch. We see this same sort of inconsistency in every judgement call in football. Why would receptions be any different?
Just catch the damn ball. Don't even leave it up to the officials.
Possession of the football is the most important thing in football. Both teams strive to possess the football. Both teams strive to keep the football when they do possess it. A team can't score if they don't possess the football. Possession of the football is really important. So many players, especially those players that have just caught a football, take possession of that football for granted. It's really disappointing to see, One of the most debated recent catch/non-catch was that of Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant in the playoffs last year. Well, Bryant was horribly careless with the football after he grabbed it. Careless with his possession of it. He didn't maintain possession of the football after catching it. As a result he never completed the process of catching it. By the letter of the rule and the intent of the rule, it was an incomplete pass.
Maybe it's because these football players are so physically gifted but the basic fundamentals of catching a football across the NFL is pathetic. It's the same sort of thing with runners and fumbles. Careless handling of the football is more often the reason for fumbles than the defense knocking or stripping the football away, But this is about the elusive reception. We see a player like Carolina Panthers receiver Ted Ginn dropping a quarter of the footballs thrown his way. We consistently see players get careless with the football once they get their hands on it. They forget that they have to possess the ball. They forget that they have to maintain that possession. Just catch the ball. Just maintain possession of the ball. It's a basic fundamental of the game. Leave no doubt that it's a catch.
Just catch the damn ball. Don't even leave it up to the officials.
Possession of the football is the most important thing in football. Both teams strive to possess the football. Both teams strive to keep the football when they do possess it. A team can't score if they don't possess the football. Possession of the football is really important. So many players, especially those players that have just caught a football, take possession of that football for granted. It's really disappointing to see, One of the most debated recent catch/non-catch was that of Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant in the playoffs last year. Well, Bryant was horribly careless with the football after he grabbed it. Careless with his possession of it. He didn't maintain possession of the football after catching it. As a result he never completed the process of catching it. By the letter of the rule and the intent of the rule, it was an incomplete pass.
Maybe it's because these football players are so physically gifted but the basic fundamentals of catching a football across the NFL is pathetic. It's the same sort of thing with runners and fumbles. Careless handling of the football is more often the reason for fumbles than the defense knocking or stripping the football away, But this is about the elusive reception. We see a player like Carolina Panthers receiver Ted Ginn dropping a quarter of the footballs thrown his way. We consistently see players get careless with the football once they get their hands on it. They forget that they have to possess the ball. They forget that they have to maintain that possession. Just catch the ball. Just maintain possession of the ball. It's a basic fundamental of the game. Leave no doubt that it's a catch.
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Throwback Thursday: Remembering Charley Taylor
Washington Redskins receiver Charley Taylor was still a Pro Bowl staple when I first discovered the NFL in the 1970s. I didn't see a lot of the Redskins in those days but I knew that he was a very good football player. At the height of his career he was a great football player. I knew more about Taylor through reading about him than actually seeing him play. That's a shame. I'd like to have seen much more of him on a football field. Actual games rather than career highlights.
I was reminded of Charley Taylor recently while reading Tom Danyluk's terrific book The Super '70s. There's a lot of great stuff from that wildly entertaining football decade in this book. Taylor came up in an interview with Dallas Cowboys safety Cliff Harris. The Redskins and Cowboys had many great battles in the early 1970s. Some of the best parts of those battles could be found on the ground shared by Taylor and Harris.
Without a doubt, Charley Taylor was the most intimidating receiver I faced during my whole career. He would attack you in trying to block you. He broke (Cardinal DB) Jerry Stovall's jaw once. He blasted (Cardinals DB) Larry Wilson in the jaw. He knocked me down and almost out after popping me in the jaw. When Taylor would catch the ball, it hurt to tackle him. You really had to gear up for him, differently than against other receivers. Charley was fast and strong. He would talk to you. He'd tell Charley Waters, "You're no good. I'm gonna beat your ass all day." Typically, it's the defensive back that does the talking, but Taylor was giving it to us.
-Cliff Harris
Harris was one of the most physical, hardest-hitting safeties of his era, actually, any era, and here's a receiver taking it to him. I've always enjoyed watching tough, physical receivers play football. Hines Ward is a more recent example of the sort of receiver that kept defensive players on high alert. Steve Smith and Julio Jones are doing it today. These are receivers that carry with them an attacking, defensive sort of mentality. Charley Taylor was one of the first receivers to play the position with that sort of physicality. The Washington Redskins drafted him with the third pick in the 1964 NFL Draft as a running back out of Arizona St. He started his NFL career as a running back and was even named Rookie of the Year and selected to his first two Pro Bowls at the position. He wasn't switched to receiver full-time until 1966, his third season in the league. He played his new position much like he had played his old one. He attacked the opposition. He initiated contact. At 6'3" and 210 lbs he had the size to play physical and cause harm. That first season as a receiver was the best statistical season of his career. 72 catches for 1119 yards and 12 touchdowns. He and future Hall of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen were an explosive pair. Taylor played thirteen seasons. At his retirement, he was the NFL's all-time leading receiver with 649 receptions, 9110 yards, and 90 TDs. He had 10,803 all-purpose yards. Receivers from today's pass-happy NFL are dwarfing those numbers but they are still impressive. They are incredible numbers for the era that he played. Charley Taylor would have been a nightmare for defensive backs in any era.
Taylor was named to the Pro Bowl eight times. 1964-67, 1972-75.
1960s All-Decade Team
70 Greatest Redskins
Washington Redskins Ring of Honor
Ranked #85 on The Sporting News' 1999 list of the 100 Greatest Football Players
In 1984 Charley Taylor was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
I was reminded of Charley Taylor recently while reading Tom Danyluk's terrific book The Super '70s. There's a lot of great stuff from that wildly entertaining football decade in this book. Taylor came up in an interview with Dallas Cowboys safety Cliff Harris. The Redskins and Cowboys had many great battles in the early 1970s. Some of the best parts of those battles could be found on the ground shared by Taylor and Harris.
Without a doubt, Charley Taylor was the most intimidating receiver I faced during my whole career. He would attack you in trying to block you. He broke (Cardinal DB) Jerry Stovall's jaw once. He blasted (Cardinals DB) Larry Wilson in the jaw. He knocked me down and almost out after popping me in the jaw. When Taylor would catch the ball, it hurt to tackle him. You really had to gear up for him, differently than against other receivers. Charley was fast and strong. He would talk to you. He'd tell Charley Waters, "You're no good. I'm gonna beat your ass all day." Typically, it's the defensive back that does the talking, but Taylor was giving it to us.
-Cliff Harris
Harris was one of the most physical, hardest-hitting safeties of his era, actually, any era, and here's a receiver taking it to him. I've always enjoyed watching tough, physical receivers play football. Hines Ward is a more recent example of the sort of receiver that kept defensive players on high alert. Steve Smith and Julio Jones are doing it today. These are receivers that carry with them an attacking, defensive sort of mentality. Charley Taylor was one of the first receivers to play the position with that sort of physicality. The Washington Redskins drafted him with the third pick in the 1964 NFL Draft as a running back out of Arizona St. He started his NFL career as a running back and was even named Rookie of the Year and selected to his first two Pro Bowls at the position. He wasn't switched to receiver full-time until 1966, his third season in the league. He played his new position much like he had played his old one. He attacked the opposition. He initiated contact. At 6'3" and 210 lbs he had the size to play physical and cause harm. That first season as a receiver was the best statistical season of his career. 72 catches for 1119 yards and 12 touchdowns. He and future Hall of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen were an explosive pair. Taylor played thirteen seasons. At his retirement, he was the NFL's all-time leading receiver with 649 receptions, 9110 yards, and 90 TDs. He had 10,803 all-purpose yards. Receivers from today's pass-happy NFL are dwarfing those numbers but they are still impressive. They are incredible numbers for the era that he played. Charley Taylor would have been a nightmare for defensive backs in any era.
Taylor was named to the Pro Bowl eight times. 1964-67, 1972-75.
1960s All-Decade Team
70 Greatest Redskins
Washington Redskins Ring of Honor
Ranked #85 on The Sporting News' 1999 list of the 100 Greatest Football Players
In 1984 Charley Taylor was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
A Look At The NFL Standings Through Week 10
Here's a look at the NFL Standings as we move into Week 11.
How about that? The Minnesota Vikings are on top of the NFC North. A five-game win streak can do that. The Vikings host the Green Bay Packers on Sunday for the first of their two games. The second is the final game of the season. Big games. Bigger games than many of the talking heads thought that they would be. Most had the Packers strolling away with the division title. Many of those same talkers point to the fact that none of the Vikings seven wins have come against a team with a winning record. Well, four of those seven wins have come against teams that would have a winning record if the Vikings hadn't defeated them (Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs, St. Louis Rams, and Oakland Raiders). We'll learn a lot more about this Vikings team in this big game against the Packers. We'll learn a lot about the Packers as well. They've lost three straight games. That just doesn't seem possible for an Aaron Rodgers-led Packers team.
There are six teams in the AFC with a winning record. Half of those teams reside in the AFC East. The AFC South has no teams with a winning record. Neither does the NFC East. Very sad.
Two undefeated teams remain. The New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers. The Patriots needed a game-ending field goal against the New York Giants in Week 10 to stay undefeated. The Panthers had a much easier time with the Tennessee Titans. Both face a tough task to stay undefeated this week. The Patriots host the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night. The Patriots won a shootout in Buffalo, 40-32, in the opener to start their winning ways this season. The Patriots have to win this time without two important members of their offense. Dion Lewis and Julian Edelman. The Panthers host the Washington Redskins on Sunday. The Redskins have been great at home. They aren't so great on the road. Four of their five losses have been on the road. No matter where they play they have the talent to give even the best teams some trouble. Strong runners, solid defense, and a quarterback on a roll. This is a week in which the two remaining undefeated teams could stumble.
There it is. The NFL through Week 10.
There are six teams in the AFC with a winning record. Half of those teams reside in the AFC East. The AFC South has no teams with a winning record. Neither does the NFC East. Very sad.
Two undefeated teams remain. The New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers. The Patriots needed a game-ending field goal against the New York Giants in Week 10 to stay undefeated. The Panthers had a much easier time with the Tennessee Titans. Both face a tough task to stay undefeated this week. The Patriots host the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night. The Patriots won a shootout in Buffalo, 40-32, in the opener to start their winning ways this season. The Patriots have to win this time without two important members of their offense. Dion Lewis and Julian Edelman. The Panthers host the Washington Redskins on Sunday. The Redskins have been great at home. They aren't so great on the road. Four of their five losses have been on the road. No matter where they play they have the talent to give even the best teams some trouble. Strong runners, solid defense, and a quarterback on a roll. This is a week in which the two remaining undefeated teams could stumble.
There it is. The NFL through Week 10.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)