NFL Week 15

[outofplace]

What happened to all the scoring in the NFL?

The Saints haven't been the same offensively for three weeks. I do wonder if that can continue at home against a shaky Pittsburgh defense next week.

It is interesting timing, with the Rams also faltering on offense recently and the Steelers and Patriots playing a surprisingly low-scoring game. Having watched that one, I don't think it was anything great either defense did, either. Both offenses blew quite a few opportunities.

 

[JC]

What happened to all the scoring in the NFL?

December

 

[goalmouth]

Has the NFL advised the officials to cut back on calls for targeting, leading with the helmet, hits to the head, and other old school violence? Asking for a friend.

 

[outofplace]

Your friend doesn't think it is possible that all NFL defenders mastered the art of tackling without using their heads or hitting opponents' heads while also playing better than they were the early part of the season?

 

[playthrough]

Kick in the balls to close out a rocky weekend.

Thanks, fumble touchback.

- All of us with Saints -5.5

I had Panthers +6 and was figuring oh well, they'll kick the FG and I'll push. But a fumble ... let's just say I'm never on the right side of those.

 

[CD Boogie]

It is far too early to start talking about Smith-Schuster going to the Hall of Fame. Antonio Brown still has work to do to earn his way to Canton and he is a hell of a lot more accomplished at this point than Smith-Schuster.

Think about it. Brown had a run of about five years that he was the best in the game and this season he is still damn good, but he's not at that level. Maybe that is already the start of a decline. He is currently 35th all-time in receiver yards, behind the likes of Muhsin Muhammed and Derek Mason, neither of whom is going to get there. He is 29th in receptions, again behind guys who are not in anybody's HOF conversation. I'm not saying he won't get there. I think he will. I just think we need a little perspective on Smith-Schuster.

That bit about replacing Roethlisberger is a very big if. I'm not sure how old you are, but I was too young to fully appreciate the teams in the '70s. By the time I was a serious fan, guys like Cliff Stoudt and Mark Malone were starting over 20 years of mediocre quarterback play in Pittsburgh that didn't end until 2004.

I think if Brown was done today he'd be in Canton. He's been All-Pro the last four years. How many guys have been All-Pro four times as a receiver and not made Canton? None that I can find. Sterling Sharpe made it 3 times (and should be in Canton), but Sharpe wasn't on the cover of Madden and didn't have the same sense of flair. Kidding (sort of).

He might not be first ballot, but he'd definitely make it pretty quick. He's led all the triple crown receiving categories at least once, including yards and receptions twice each.