Post by spiderfan on Dec 31, 2019 13:02:04 GMT -8
Hallo SCtoC, it is me Spiderfan and today I'm bringing you my last Web of Football of 2019. We've got a lot to cover, let us begin!
The Battle for the NFC East
If you read my column last week one of the playoff scenarios was to determine the NFC East:
Eagles-Tinys affects the Eagles and Cowboys
If the Eagles win against the Tinys, the Eagles win the NFC East and get into the playoffs eliminating their rival Cowboys. If the Eagles lose? Then things get interesting.
Cowboys-Redskins affects the Cowboys and Eagles
If the Eagles lose to the Tinys, then a Cowboys win against the Redskins would give the Cowboys the NFC East division title, eliminating their rival Eagles. However, if the Redskins beat the Cowboys, then the outcome of the Eagles-Tinys game doesn't matter, because the Eagles would win the NFC East automatically.
Interestingly enough both the Cowboys-Redskins and Eagles-Tinys games are also in the late window, meaning that the scoreboard watching in Philly and Dallas is going to be intense. More excitement!
If the Eagles win against the Tinys, the Eagles win the NFC East and get into the playoffs eliminating their rival Cowboys. If the Eagles lose? Then things get interesting.
Cowboys-Redskins affects the Cowboys and Eagles
If the Eagles lose to the Tinys, then a Cowboys win against the Redskins would give the Cowboys the NFC East division title, eliminating their rival Eagles. However, if the Redskins beat the Cowboys, then the outcome of the Eagles-Tinys game doesn't matter, because the Eagles would win the NFC East automatically.
Interestingly enough both the Cowboys-Redskins and Eagles-Tinys games are also in the late window, meaning that the scoreboard watching in Philly and Dallas is going to be intense. More excitement!
By all reports if the Cowboys didn't succeed this year Cowboys HC Jason Garrett (and his staff) would be out the door. I've been wanting this to happen for 2 years now so the idea that this could happen raised my excitement levels even more.
The Cowboys-Redskins game wasn't close. Pretty much from start to finish, it looked the like the Cowboys were going to win the game and they won handily. I would like to add the Redskins had early opportunities to make things happen, but bad offensive play calling prevented them from getting any momentum whatsoever.
The Eagles-Tinys game on the other hand? Was close throughout and caused me to sweat a little bit. The game was back and forth and was competitive for 3 quarters. Meanwhile the Cowboys are up 21 and I'm thinking "Is this really happening? Are the Cowboys going to make the playoffs? Is Jason Garrett going to get an extension?" again I was sweating a bit. What is key to remember (that I forgot like a complete moron) is that you should NEVER EVER expect the Tinys to win a game. Especially, a tight close one because they shrink in the big moments. What happened? Down 3 in the 4th quarter rookie phenom QB Daniel Jones fumbles the ball inside the Tinys 20 yard line, thus setting up a Eagles TD by RB Boston Scott and giving the Eagles ALL the momentum in the world. Boston Scott ended up with another TD run too and this was Jerry's reaction:
Welp. Jerry I know ya don't want to, but it is time to FIRE EVERYONE. Thank you, Eagles for the first time in years I feel optimism about the Cowboys. It is a wonderful feeling and I'm glad that Sunday was the most exciting bunch of NFL ball I've watched in a good while.
Game 256
255 other games were played in the 100th season of the National Football League all building up to the last game of the regular season. In most years Game 256 is a "win or go home" type game. However, this year was different as both the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks had already clinched a spot in the postseason. What was on the line? The NFC West division title and a home playoff game (or two in the case of the 49ers).
The first half wasn't all that interesting outside of a couple big plays by 49ers TE George Kittle and WR Deebo Samuel. The Seahawks produced all of 0 points and less than a 100 yards. I would give credit to the 49ers defense, but as we will discuss in a minute the 49ers defense wasn't all that.
The second half was where things got going. The Seahawks scored a TD on a long scoring drive and cut the deficit down to 6. Might I also say that Russell Wilson is just a magic man? His TD pass to Tyler Lockett was incredible. It looked like Wilson had crossed the line of scrimmage, but he managed to keep the pass legal and what a pass it was. The 49ers then took this as a sign to get things going and they scored a TD on their next series. Jimmy G was throwing the ball over the place and then set up 49ers RB Raheem Mostert for a rushing TD. The 49ers went for 2 and didn't get it thus the score became 19-7. The Seahawks then had another LONG drive, this time ending in a TD by recently signed out of retirement RB Marshawn Lynch, who also had a big run to set up his TD run. Score now 19-14. The 49ers then had another TD drive featuring another TD run by Raheem Mostert. Score now 26-14.
Now, the trick when playing the Seattle Seahawks is to make sure that you take them out of the game, because if you keep it close, eventually the Seahawks will come to get you. That is exactly what happened. The Seahawks scored a TD for the 3rd consecutive drive, on another incredible pass by Russell Wilson this time to DK Metcalf (who might I just say is a total stud and should be in the OROY conversation). Score now 26-21.
With the score being 26-21 and the Seahawks having all kinds of momentum at home, this is when a team like the 49ers has a choice. Either show your dominance and win the game on this next series or come apart at the seems and ultimately put yourself in a position to lose. Yeah, good ol' Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers decided to take the latter option because running a reverse trick play run while trying to run out the clock is TOTALLY brilliant. The loss on that play ended up forcing a 49ers punt and the Seahawks getting the ball down 5. Guess what happened next? The Seahawks drove right down the field and.... lost?
The Seahawks entered the redzone Phoenix AZ in the summer hot. With this in mind, let us also remember that the NFL added pass interference review not only on challenges, but also within the last 2 minutes in an effort to prevent controversy. This will be important later.
The Seahawks get all the way down to the 1 yard line with the clock running down. The ball is spiked so it becomes 2nd and Goal at the 1 yard line. Marshawn Lynch comes out and everyone knows what in next. Redemption for Super Bowl 49. Yeah, no because the Seahawks end up getting a false start penalty taking the ball out to the 6 yard line. Marshawn Lynch is subbed out. Russell Wilson tries a fade pass to Tyler Lockett in double coverage. The pass is dropped by the 49ers DBs. 3rd and Goal. Here is what happened on 3rd and Goal:
Remember how I talked about pass interference being reviewable in the last 2 minutes? WHY WAS THIS NOT REVIEWED?! Not only is it clearly pass interference, but it is a key play in a big game in primetime with playoff seeding implications. Supposedly, the reason reviewable PI was added for situations exactly like this. Apparently, that was not true AT ALL. Now, 4th and Goal.
Wilson throws a pass to Jacob Hollister down to the 1 yard line AAAAAANNNNNDDDD.... he is short? Yeah, to me it looked like he just barely crossed the plane. On review, the ruling of Hollister being short was upheld and the 49ers now home field advantage for the NFC playoffs. The Seahawks will be a wild card.
My takeaway from this game? I don't think the 49ers are going to win it all. The 49ers for all intents of purposes choked in their biggest game of the season. I don't see them winning 3 straight games in the postseason against obviously quality opponents. Also, there is no intimidation factor going into Santa Clara like there is for going into a Seattle or a New Orleans. That may be just me though.
Coaching Change Craziness
With all 256 games of the 100th season of the National Football League being played, that means that end of the season there will be changes in the teams that lost games. From the roster, to the front office, to the coaches. Which as you can see in the header is what this segment is about. So let us dive in.
As discussed many weeks ago now, the Washington Redskins fired Jay Gruden. OL Coach Bill Callahan served as the interim and was doing a decent job, but lost some games down the stretch ultimately not earning the permanent gig. It came out as during the writing of this column that longtime Panthers HC Ron Rivera has been hired to be the new HC of the Washington Redskins. Rivera was a 2 time Coach of the Year with the Panthers, leading them to 3 division titles, 4 playoff appearances, and an appearance in Super Bowl 50. I think Rivera is a great hire by the Redskins. He has won games and I think he'll bring about a desperately needed culture change in DC. Good on the Redskins for making sure they got him hired before other teams could pry him away.
Speaking of Ron Rivera, he was fired by the Carolina Panthers around a month ago and they have been conducting their coaching search ever since. It sounds like relatively new Panthers owner David Tepper wants to make a big splash hire and really make his mark on the organization. Word is that former Packers HC Mike McCarthy has interviewed with the Panthers twice, which leads me to believe that he'll end up being the guy in Carolina. For what it is worth there is also talk of the Panthers being interested in Baylor HC Matt Rhule and Patriots OC Josh McDaniels. Of the three, McCarthy is the best choice because he has been a proven winner as an NFL HC. I'm curious to see how what a new HC decides to do with Cam Newton or Kyle Allen.
Speaking of Matt Rhule (notice how every candidate seems to tie in with each other? Yeah, the coaching carousel is weird in that way) word is that he is the top candidate for the New York Football Tinys HC job, which opened up after they fired Pat Shurmur. As someone who keeps up with Baylor football (I'm by no means an expert, although I know more about Baylor football than pretty much any other national writer you'll read) I can tell you that Rhule is a good college football coach. He turned around Temple and he has turned around Baylor. Which makes him an excellent candidate for... the USC Trojans. Yeah, the thing about Rhule is that IMO he doesn't seem to make sense for a NFL job. How does making Temple and Baylor good teams through recruiting and talent development make you a good NFL HC? There is no recruiting in the NFL and it isn't like Rhule is some offensive or even defensive mastermind that has produced countless pro players. So why would the Tinys (reportedly) seriously interested? I can tell you why. Because before becoming the HC of Temple, Rhule was the assistant OL coach of the Tinys. He was part of the family and the Tinys are an organization that care about such things. Which is why I think that after the Sugar Bowl against Georgia, Matt Rhule will leave Waco to go to NY.
The surprise firing to me was the Browns firing of Freddie Kitchens as just one season. Look, I get there was SB aspirations, but ya gotta keep in mind not too long ago this team hadn't won 6 games over a period of 4 years combined. Also, keep in mind that 18 months the dude was a RB coach. He needed a season to learn IMO. Regardless, Cleveland didn't feel that way and thus Kitchens is out the door. Unlike with the other jobs where is an idea of where the search is going or has gone, this Browns job is one that I have no clue. They have put in interview requests to all kinds of people (according to the NFL.com coaching tracker, which BTW I highly recommend) and it looks like this will be a long search. As of this writing, there isn't a front runner or any obvious choices. So, I'm just gonna throw out Oklahoma HC Lincoln Riley. No sources, just a feeling.
Ryan Tannehill: Elite Franchise QB?
Tannehill was mediocre at best in Miami. This season? He is playing elite franchise QB level football. Here are some crazy stats for ya:
All I have left to say is that the Titans should make sure he is their QB going forward. Don't hesitate to pay him, because if ya do you'll regret it.
Never believe he can't throw! Fitzmagic, y'know!
The thing about Ryan Fitzpatrick is that he is streaky. Because of this, he had a REALLY bad game in Week 2 against the Patriots. But for every REALLY bad game, he'll a have a REALLY good game. I had a feeling Sunday morning that Fitztragic would step up aside for Fitzmagic against the Patriots, because I never want to underestimate what a team with him at the helm can do. Well, I was right and as I've said before when Fitzmagic is alive and well the NFL is more fun. (Click Watch on YouTube to see the highlights)
and here is the song for good measure:
Zone Coverage
-Congrats to the Ravens for breaking the all time NFL team rushing record and for achieving their best record in franchise history!
-Congrats to Doug Marrone, Dan Quinn, Matt Patricia, Vic Fangio, and Adam Gase for all not being unemployed!
-How many times do I have to say Jameis Winston is a bust and that Bruce Arians should be fired?
-No, I'm not going to pick the Wild Card games. I tried that last year and failed miserably.
-Check out our NFL playoff schedule for the all games this postseason. Shoutout to our own Jessica for making that happen!
Random Eurobeat Recommendation of the Week
What is Eurobeat? It is basically European disco pop music. It was made most famous by the anime series Initial D and Initial D is my favorite anime of all time in part because of the Eurobeat music throughout it. Today I'm going to pick a song that was featured in the 1st season of Initial D, Love is in Danger (Extended) by Priscilla. Enjoy!
Ladies and Gentlemen, 2019 has been an awesome year. I want to thank everyone for their support and I hope to see ya again in for the playoffs in the new year. This is spiderfan out.