NFL Notes and Analysis: Daniel Jones Shines, Gardner Minshew and Carson Wentz Fail.
NFL Notes and Analysis: After 17 weeks of NFL activity, the postseason field is nearly complete. The contenders have risen above the pretenders, with quarterback play and defensive disruption regularly separating them.
With only one week until the start of the single-elimination tournament, here are some views and observations from a former NFL scout.
Three things I appreciated | NFL Notes and Analysis
Jaire Alexander is a shutdown cornerback.
Since Justin Jefferson entered the league in 2020, there haven’t been many cornerbacks who have been able to slow him down. Alexander can declare himself a lockdown corner after blanketing the Vikings’ top receiver for four quarters and limiting him to one catch for 15 yards.
Green Bay’s gritty corner held Jefferson without help, employing a variety of techniques, including standard bump-and-run tactics and a “quick jam” approach that disturbed the smart receiver’s timing at the line of scrimmage. Alexander, who shadowed Jefferson on 20 of 31 routes and controlled the playmaking wideout like no other cornerback, is a legitimate eraser on the perimeter for the Packers.
Jaire Alexander backed up his claim that Justin Jefferson’s Week 1 performance was a fluke by limiting the Vikings receiver to just one grab in the Packers’ 41-17 victory.
2. Kenneth Walker III answers the bell.
Pete Carroll’s concept for the Seahawks includes a punishing ground game that paces a balanced offense that complements a disruptive defense. When the Seahawks stick to their plan, they consistently win and appear like a playoff contender. With Seattle’s hopes riding on the team’s ability to win while receiving some help from others, Carroll put the ball in the hands of a rookie runner who has proven to be a workhorse.
Walker rushed for 133 yards on 23 carries to help the Seahawks win their eighth game of the season, including a 60-yard run that displayed the speed, burst, and vision that made him a top candidate in the 2022 draft. On a variety of runs between the tackles that gutted the Jets defense, the youngster also shown balance, body control, and toughness.
Walker is not the sledgehammer Carroll had in Marshawn Lynch, but he is the five-star runner the Seahawks need to return as an NFC contender.
3. Daniel Jones presents his argument
Jones’ status as the Giants’ franchise quarterback was still up in the air entering into the season. However, the fourth-year veteran is making it difficult for the franchise to let him go after bringing New York back into the playoffs while impressing as a dual-threat playmaker.
Brian Daboll has taken a leaf from his old Buffalo Bills playbook to help Jones discover his MVP-caliber game, much as he did with Josh Allen. Jones isn’t quite the “one-man show” that Allen has become with the Bills, but the deft playmaker has shown promise as a runner-passer this season. Most importantly, he has reduced the turnovers that have previously ruined the Giants’ chances of winning (only eight giveaways in 16 games).
Craig Carton argues for Daniel Jones to receive the MVP award after the quarterback led the Giants to a victory over the Colts, securing a playoff spot for the first time since 2016.
Jones had 268 yards of total offense against the Colts, including 91 yards rushing on 11 attempts. With the Giants QB1 also scoring four touchdowns (two passing, two rushing) and committing zero turnovers while executing RPOs and other zone-read runs, it is time to put the discussion to rest and pencil Jones in as the long-term starter for a team that earned its first playoff appearance since 2016.
Three things I disliked
1. Carson Wentz falters under duress
Only Ron Rivera knows why he chose to put the ball in Wentz’s hands with the Commanders’ playoff prospects at stake. Although the veteran has the ability to make big plays, he has rarely delivered in key games down the stretch in his career, including last season with the Colts.
Wentz’s turnover issues and glaring blunders surfaced early and often against the Browns on Sunday, in a pressure-packed game that appeared to overwhelm the seventh-year pro. He fumbled the ball twice in the Commanders’ opening three possessions and didn’t pass for 100 yards until late in the fourth quarter. The team’s prospects of victory were harmed by a relentless stream of misfires and errors, putting Rivera on the hot seat for his choice.
Carson Wentz struggled on his return to the field after missing much of the season, throwing three interceptions in the Browns’ 24-10 victory.
With Wentz’s performance extending a string of bad play in high-pressure situations, Washington has a lot of decisions to make.
2. What is the Dolphins‘ Idendity? | NFL Notes and Analysis
Mike McDaniel was hired to remedy the Dolphins’ quarterback troubles while also designing an unique running strategy that would allow South Florida to mix finesse and physicality in the game plan. The use of novel rushing strategies was supposed to be a significant part of why the Dolphins wanted McDaniel, but we haven’t seen them use them throughout their free fall.
Why? Why have the Dolphins shunned the ground-and-pound strategy that made McDaniel one of the most sought-after coaching candidates?
That is the million-dollar question McDaniel will have to answer when justifying his team’s terrible finish. Although Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle’s spectacular plays made the squad entertaining to watch, the Dolphins have stumbled in key moments due to their inability to manage the game. When a succession of injuries interrupted the Dolphins’ original plans, they built a quarterback-centric strategy that relied on the play of the frequently injured Tua Tagovailoa (and Teddy Bridgewater).
3. The moment was too big for Gardner Minshew
Despite the fantastic statistics that have accompanied Minshew for the most of his career, the seasoned backup is hardly a QB1 candidate.
While his fans laud his performance as a great sub, the noodle-armed quarterback racks up impressive numbers on a variety of “dink-and-dunk” passes against soft coverage. When opponents limit Minshew’s easy access throws and compel him to make contested tosses into narrow windows, he lacks the velocity and precision to deliver strikes when it counts.
The Saints limited the Eagles to 313 total yards, and Marshon Lattimore’s pick-six late in the fourth quarter secured New Orleans’ triumph.
Minshew’s shortcomings were exposed in vital moments against the Saints, as he was unable to put points on the board. Aside from a 76-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Brown, the Eagles’ offense looked nothing like the high-octane team that has scorched defenders all season. The Eagles were unable to exploit a New Orleans defense that has been frustratingly inconsistent this season because Minshew was unable to threaten the perimeter as a runner while also missing the arm talent to stress the defense as a passer.
Furthermore, the QB2’s poor performance shows that the Eagles’ Super Bowl prospects are dependent on Jalen Hurts’ return to the lineup.
Top ten sports teams | NFL Notes and Analysis
1. Kansas City Chiefs: Andy Reid’s team has appeared to be in the weeds as the top challenger in football, and a Bills loss may give the Chiefs the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Given Patrick Mahomes’ supremacy at this point in the season, the rest of the league does not want the route to the Super Bowl to pass through Arrowhead Stadium.
2. San Francisco 49ers:
The Brock Purdy-led 49ers are the hottest club in football, riding a nine-game winning streak to the top of the rankings. Kyle Shanahan has used his QB3’s ability as a precision passer to add an efficient passing game to a bludgeoning rushing assault, with Christian McCaffrey dashing like a madman between the tackles.
QB Brock Purdy spoke with FOX Sports’ Laura Okmin following the 49ers’ 37-34 overtime victory over the Raiders. “Having some adversity is great for us,” he remarked.
3. Philadelphia Eagles: Two consecutive losses have left the Eagles in danger of losing their No. 1 seed after dominating the league for the most of the season. While Jalen Hurts’ return could alleviate the team’s offensive difficulties, defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon must figure out how to get his playmaking unit to step up to deal with the dynamic offenses that will be on display in the playoffs.
4. Buffalo Bills:
As an electrifying dual-threat quarterback with exceptional skills as a runner and thrower, Josh Allen is the league’s most dangerous offensive playmaker. The Bills have complimented him with an explosive group of pass-catchers and an emerging group of running backs, which might allow Sean McDermott’s team to win with an offensive-centric approach. The football world will soon find out if the Bills are worthy of carrying the No. 1 seed into the playoffs with a Monday Night Football battle versus the Bengals.
5. Cincinnati Bengals:
The Bengals’ Monday night game against the Bills will offer them a chance to show the football world that they are ready to reclaim the AFC title.
Joe Burrow and company are getting their stride as the season winds down, and few opponents can match their perimeter personnel.
6. Dallas Cowboys: Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys aren’t all glitter and glam. The star-studded squad has found ways to win by adopting a variety of strategies. From shootouts to nail-biters, the Cowboys are ready to win thanks to a potent offense and a playmaking defense with enough firepower to defeat any heavyweight in the league.
7. Los Angeles Chargers: With some of their star power returning to the lineup, the Bolts are peaking heading into the playoffs. The offense, in particular, appears to be a potential powerhouse, with Justin Herbert collaborating with Mike Williams, Keenan Allen, Gerald Everett, and Austin Ekeler to torture opponents with an aerial circus. The Chargers could emerge as the AFC’s sleeping giant as the defense adds Joey Bosa to a frontline that is beginning to produce regular pressure at the point of attack.
8. Minnesota Vikings: Despite having 12 wins on their resume, the Vikings appear to be a one-and-done squad heading into the tournament. Although Kevin O’Connell’s excellent playcalling has helped the Vikings manage a suspect defense and erratic quarterback play, the team’s fatal faults might lead to a speedy exit in the playoffs if O’Connell is not on his game.
9. New York Giants:
For transforming the Giants into a playoff team, Brian Daboll should receive numerous postseason awards and hardware. The G-Men have mastered the art of game-winning by avoiding self-inflicted blunders (turnovers, penalties, huge plays allowed, and kicking game errors) that have plagued the squad in the past. The Giants might be a tough out in the tournament if Daniel Jones and company put up enough points to compliment an ultra-aggressive defense that confuses and confounds quarterbacks and playcallers.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars: Doug Pederson has taught the Jaguars’ young players how to win in the final minutes. The Super Bowl-winning head coach has built an offense that has the ability to light up the scoreboards, led by a developing star quarterback and a group of unheralded playmakers with “take over the game” potential. With each victory, the Jaguars’ confidence increases, and the rest of the league takes notice of the AFC South leaders.
Game Balls for the Week 17 | NFL Notes and Analysis
Week’s Most Valuable Player
It’s time to recognize Kenny Pickett for his late-game heroics for the Steelers. The rookie quarterback has led game-winning drives in consecutive weeks to keep the team’s postseason chances alive. Furthermore, Pickett has shown flashes of being the franchise quarterback capable of restoring Mike Tomlin’s team to prominence.
Week’s Offensive Player
Tom Brady defies the odds as a 40-year-old quarterback. Also the seven-time Super Bowl champion threw for 400 yards and rallied the Buccaneers from a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit in a must-win game. The Buccaneers are the club that no one wants to face in a single-game elimination tournament, with Brady turning back the clock with a legendary performance on the eve of the playoffs.
With their victory over the Panthers, the Buccaneers clinched the NFC South.
With a 30-24 victory over the Panthers in Week 17, Tom Brady and the Buccaneers claimed the NFC South. Brady threw for 432 yards and three touchdown passes of 63, 57, and 30 yards to Mike Evans. Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe react to Brady’s 14th consecutive postseason appearance.
Week’s Defensive Player
James Houston has provided the Lions with the pass-rushing presence they needed opposite Aidan Hutchinson. He had eight sacks in six games, including a three-sack performance against the Bears that displayed his instincts, athleticism, and skill as a dynamic edge rusher. With Houston still only scraping the surface of his potential as a spectacular sack artist, the Lions may have stumbled across a hidden treasure in an undersized former HBCU standout.
Unsung Hero of the Week | NFL Notes and Analysis
Amari Cooper of the Cleveland Browns ended the Commanders’ postseason dreams with a 100-yard performance that showcased his exceptional playmaking abilities. Although the veteran surpassed the century milestone with just three catches, displaying exceptional catch-and-run skills in the open field as he zipped by the defenders. Cooper’s explosion not only reminded the football world of his sustained excellence. But it also helped Deshaun Watson shake off the rust in the second half, when he displayed the talents of a top-five quarterback.
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