Notes From NFL RedZone: Week 7
Every team in the National Football League has at least two losses except the Philadelphia Eagles (6–1), which has a quarterback (Carson Wentz) who is playing out of his mind in 2017. Wentz, in his second season, has already thrown one more touchdown (17) than he did for the entirety of last season (16), and his QB rating is about 25 points higher (104.0). Most likely, Wentz will throw for 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns this season; he’s a Most Valuable Player candidate. After watching the Eagles take care of the Redskins on Monday Night Football, I am sold on Philadelphia being an all-around force in the league. Outside of that, I don’t have a solid opinion besides knowing that Cleveland, San Francisco, and the N. Y. Giants are horrible.
The New Orleans Saints (4–2) have won four straight games; a nine-point victory in Green Bay is its latest triumph. The Patriots (5–2), Dolphins (4–2), Chargers (3–4), Seahawks (4–2), and the Vikings (5–2) have all won three consecutive games. Are the L.A. Rams (5–2) and Jacksonville Jaguars (4–3) ready to be taken seriously? Both teams posted shutouts — 33 to 0 and 27 to 0, respectfully —in Week 7, and seem to have many similarities starting with having a quarterback — Jared Goff and Blake Bortles, respectfully — that is in the process of trying to prove himself to the league.
If you’ve been following this weekly column, you know what’s coming below (play-by-play and opinions from watching NFL RedZone). Roll tape.
(1:27 p.m.): Close watch on Jared Goff (Rams) and Blake Bortles (Jaguars). These two quarterbacks have the ability to lead their teams to the playoffs, but only with consistency. Marcedes Lewis, tight end for Jacksonville, leaps to grab a Bortles throw in the back corner of the end zone for a touchdown; 14 to 0, Jaguars over the Colts in Indianapolis.
(1:32 p.m.): Mitchell Trubisky, the Bears’ quarterback, fires a throw to Zach Miller for a large gain. Chicago, at home against Carolina, leads by seven points. Close watch on Trubisky, too.
(1:35 p.m.): Trubisky is sacked.
(1:36 p.m.): Matt Forte (Jets) beasts the Dolphins’ tacklers for 20 yards on third down and 19; he broke at least three tackles. Big game for the Jets and the Dolphins to keep pace in the AFC East.
(1:41 p.m.): Robby Anderson (Jets) hops into the front row of seats of Hard Rock Stadium in Miami after a touchdown thrown from Josh McCown, who is playing unlike the McCown of the past. Shouldn’t people be sitting in those seats? There’s a cluster of 10 empty seats behind the goal post.
(1:43 p.m.): Rookie Eddie Jackson (Bears) with a 75-yard fumble recovery return for a touchdown. Second defensive touchdown of the day for Chicago, which leads, 14 to 0, over Carolina.
(5:19 p.m.): What’s up? Been out. Interviewed this girl named Elena Cruz Allen about a music video she made…popped into a bar during my travels — saw the Tennessee Titans beat the Cleveland Browns in overtime, the Dolphins beat the Jets on a late field goal, and the Buffalo Bills beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a late field goal.
Games now: Cowboys, 20 to 3, over the 49ers; Bengals, 14-to-14 tie with the Steelers; Chargers, 14 to 0, over the Broncos; and N.Y. Giants, 7 to 0, over the Seahawks.
The Rams and the Jaguars — both won via shutout — might be the two best teams in the NFL, one for the NFC and another for the AFC. Explosive on offense, decent on defense.
(5:27 p.m.): Melvin Ingram (Chargers) sacks Trevor Siemian, the Broncos’ quarterback, shooting past the offensive line like a bullet. Ingram gets called for roughing the passer; Siemian still had the football, no helmet-to-helmet happened. Well, L.A. ended up recovering a fumble…KARMA.
(5:38 p.m.): Bottom line reads about a Carson Palmer (Cardinals) injury that will cost him at least eight weeks. Palmer’s career is getting shorter by the week. Also, Jay Cutler (underachieving Miami quarterback) got injured.
(5:45 p.m.): The N.Y. Giants could be 2–5 with a win over Seattle, possibly in the NFC East conversation. But really?
(6:10 p.m.): D.J. Alexander, linebacker for the Seahawks, blocks a punt attempt by Brad Wing (Giants); the football bounces forward to near midfield. New York leads, 7 to 3.
(6:11 p.m.): Which team wins a game first, Cleveland or San Francisco? There has never been two 0–16 teams in one NFL season; let’s make history.
(6:26 p.m.): Joe Haden (Steelers) intercepts a ball that was resting on A.J. Green’s back. Andy Dalton (Bengals) led Green too far on the slant pass.
The Cowboys lead the 49ers, 33 to 3. Cincinnati allows a field goal to Pittsburgh; Bengals are down 12 points on the road.
(6:29 p.m.): Dez Bryant ties Bob Hayes for career receiving touchdowns by a Cowboys’ receiver. Hayes had 71 touchdowns for Dallas from 1965 to 1974.
(6:34 p.m.): Dalton throws another pick (how many times have I typed that this season?). Pittsburgh has great field position, again. Dalton is an untrustworthy quarterback.
(6:37 p.m.): Pathetically, RedZone is showing a game with a 40-to-3 score. There must be better things happening?
(7:17 p.m.): The N.Y. Giants (1–6) are burnt toast; the team cannot put consistency together. Seattle, no matter the ups and downs from season to season, always finds itself in the thickness.
(7:26 p.m.): Saw a replay — top RedZone play of the day — of that 75-yard Eddie Jackson pick-six in Chicago. The ball deflected high up, and Jackson tracked the ball well.
(7:35 p.m.): TOUCHDOWN MONTAGE REALIZATION: Eddie Jackson had both a fumble recovery for a touchdown and an interception return for a touchdown in Chicago's win over Carolina. Both plays were exciting, covering lots of yardage. Jackson is the first player to score two defensive touchdowns in a game since Week 17 of 2012 (Zach Brown of the Titans).
Editor’s Note: Surprisingly, the Baltimore Ravens beat the Miami Dolphins, 40 to 0, on Thursday Night Football to start Week 8. Currently, in London, the Minnesota Vikings are going to move to 6–2 with a win over the Cleveland Browns (0–8); the Vikings have won four consecutive games.
If you enjoyed this piece, give it a few claps 👏 👏 so others see it too!
Follow The Unprofessionals on Medium or @unprofession for more on sports and entertainment.
