NFL Rewind Week 8

Instant Analysis:

-A week filled with upsets, surprises, Tebowing, and some good luck for teams coming off the Bye. Breaking a trend of teams struggling after a bye the 6 Bye Week teams from Week 7 went a combined 5-1 in Week 8, with the only loss being the Patriots against the Steelers. Meanwhile in Denver Tim Tebow showed everyone why he is still not an NFL QB at this point in a 45-10 beating from the Lions, in which Tebow fumbled 3 times threw 1 INT and was sacked 7 times. Meanwhile around the league the Bills shutout the Redskins which was the first time a Mike Shanahan coached team has ever been shutout. The 49ers keep on winning (6-1), The Colts keep on losing, and the Dolphins have proved their mastery of the “Lebron” by choking away another game. Congrats to the Rams for shocking the football world and beating the Saints, finally the “Dream Team” may finally be arriving after a 34-7 win against the Cowboys.

“Say What” Stats

14: Turnovers this season by Chargers QB Phillip Rivers. His 11 Interceptions and 3 Fumbles combine for the most turnovers this season.

239: Rush yards by the Philadelphia Eagles in their 34-7 thrashing of the Cowboys. The Cowboys entered the game with the No.1 Run Defense in the NFL.

9: Turnovers forced by the Kansas City Chiefs in their past 2 games. ( 6 @ OAK, 3 vs. SD) 8 of the 9 turnovers have been interceptions.

46.1: Completion Percentage of Broncos QB Tim Tebow (35/76), last in the NFL among qualifying QB’s.

3: Straight games the Bengals have had a defensive TD in the 4^th quarter. (2 INT’s 1 Fumble Recovery)

MVP Watch: (Players with Week 8 Bye are not on list)

Drew Brees: (@ STL) 30/44 269 Pass Yards 1 TD 2 INT’s 73.0 QB Rating

2011 Total: 242/343 2,746 Pass Yards 19 TD’s 10 INT’s 100.6 QB Rating

Tom Brady: (@ PIT) 24/35 198 Pass Yards 2 TD’s 0 INT’s 101.8 QB Rating

2011 Total: 184/272 2,361 Pass Yards 18 TD’s 8 INT’s 1 Fumble 104.4 QB Rating

Lesean McCoy: (vs. DAL) 30 Carries 185 Rush Yards (6.2 YPC) 2 TD’s 2 Catches 15 Rec Yards

2011 Total: 135 Carries 754 Rush Yards (5.6 YPC) 8 TD’s, 23 Catches 128 Rec Yards 2 TD’s

Calvin Johnson: (@ DEN) 6 Catches 125 Rec Yards 1 TD

2011 Total: 47 Catches 125 Rec Yards 11 TD’s

Defensive Player of the Week

London Fletcher LB, WAS: 20 Tackles (12 Solo, 8 Ast) .5 Sack, 1 INT

  London Fletcher stepped up this week for the Redskins, even if the rest of his team did not. Fletcher was all over the field collecting 12 solo tackles, and assisting on 8 more. Fletcher also got to Ryan Fitzpatrick once registering .5 a sack. Fletcher also made a key play when the Bills were driving, intercepting a Fitzpatrick pass in the End Zone. A strong week for Fletcher, and a worthy candidate of Defensive Player of the Week.

Top Plays of the Week

Play #1:  Jonathan Baldwin 39 yard TD Catch

Play #2: Reggie Nelson 75 Yard Interception Return TD

Play #3: Jason McCourty Blocked Punt Recovery Touchdown

My Pick: For the Week 8 "Top Play of the Week" I give it to Reggie Nelson and his 75 yard Interception return for a TD. It was the longest of the 3 Big Plays, it was the Bengals 3rd straight game with a defensive TD in the 4th quarter, and it was a flat out great play. Congrats to you Reggie Nelson.

Injury Updates

Hakeem Nicks NYG, WR: Strained Hamstring, Questionable Week 9

-The Giants were without Hakeem Nicks at the end of their game vs. Miami due to a strained hamstring. In his absence Mario Manningham and Victor Cruz each stepped up with a TD. X-Rays on Nicks right hamstring were negative, so he may be available Sunday against the Patriots.

Curtis Brinkley SD, RB: Concussion, TBD

-With Mike Tolbet already out and Ryan Mathews dealing with his own injury 3rd string RB Curtis Brinkley was thrown into action late in the game carrying the ball 10 times for 43 yards and adding a TD. After the game it was revealed he has a Concussion, and he will undergo tests throughout the week. The status of all 3 RB's vs. Green Bay is uncertain.

Montario Hardesty CLE, RB: Torn Calf Muscle, OUT Several Weeks

-The Broncos who were already without Peyton Hillis, will now be dealing with the absence of Montario Hardesty for a few weeks. Hardesty tore his calf muscle in the 2nd quarter of their game against the 49ers. In his absence Chris Ogbonnaya ran 11 times for 37 yards, and QB Colt McCoy scrambled 8 times for 30 yards.

Coaches Hot Seat:

Tony Sporano: Burnt Ashes

-Even Soprano's family knows he is out of a job, especially after his team blew another lead, this time against the New York Giants. It is a disturbing line in a string of tactics by Sporano to win the "Suck for Luck" Sweepstakes, and he has hurt his chances of future jobs in the process. The Dolphins have little to be excited about this year except for the purpose of drafting Luck. Yet, despite their terrible play this entire season, they may be out done by the Indianapolis Colts.

Norv Turner: Broiling

-A 4-3 record is usually not a reason to throw a coach onto the hot seat, especially a seasoned coach like Norv Turner. Unfortunately for Norv, his teams have continued to disappear come playoff time, which was the reason his predecessor Marty Schottenheimer was fired in 2006. Now Turner has been coaching from 2007 to now and the Chargers have yet to make it past the AFC Championship game, and now they are not executing plays, fumbling snaps, and having costly penalties, all of which come down to coaching. Turner still has some security, but his job is far from safe.

Mike Shanahan: Cooking

-For the first time in his long tenure as a head coach in the NFL, Mike Shanahan was shutout for the first time ever. It came at the hands of a 20-0 defeat from the Buffalo Bills. Shanahans Redskins have been abysmal since their 3-0 start, the Redskins have lost their last 4 games and are now looking like the cellar team we all thought they would be. It has been 2 seasons for Shanahan and neither have looked promising, even after he defamed Albert Haynesworth and Donovan McNabb.

Andrew Luck Sweepstakes

We are 8 weeks into the "Andrew Luck Sweepstakes" and two of the worst teams in the league are going at it. Right now the Indianapolis Colts, have reached the lowest of lows, and have the best chance of finishing with the worst record in the NFL, and that could easily be a 0-16 season the way they are playing.  badly. Future Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy suggests if you land the No.1 pick you should draft Andrew Luck, and trade Peyton Manning.

Andrew Luck as a Colt, now that would be fun to watch

So what would the Colts do if they landed the 1st overall pick, well take Andrew Luck of course. Peyton Manning is coming off a neck injury and soon will be reaching his "Old Man" years, and the Colts will need to find a new franchise QB. Andrew Luck gives them an immediate impact QB who can come in and make their franchise relevant again. The Colts have key impending free agents (Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon,and Jeff Saturday). Assuming all 3 can be re-signed that would give Luck a veteran Center, and two legitimate WR's to throw to. Luck would arrive in a place filled with tradition, leadership and great coaching. But what about that guy Peyton Manning, you know the 1st Ballot Hall of Famer. That is when the Colts look at their options and trade Manning for everything and the kitchen sink. It is a crazy scenario to think about and one the Colts front office, and Colts fans may not want to imagine. But no one can play forever, and it is time the Colts prepare for the next 15 years.