Week 15 Sunday Night NFL Recap: Patriots' last-second blunder, Vikings' unbelievable comeback & Trevor Lawrence has officially arrived
Subscribe to You Pod to Win the GameApple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Google PodcastsWeek 15 got off to a weird start in the NFL right away. Saturday's triple-header started off with the 10-win Minnesota Vikings instantly falling into a 33-0 hole at home against a struggling Indianapolis Colts team. All profits directly fund the Terez A. Paylor scholarship at Howard University. Under "Tribute," please note that your gift is made in memory of Terez A. Paylor. Under "Designation," click on "Other" and write in "Terez A. Paylor Scholarship."
wftv.comHow it started: A whiffed tackle from Raiders' Chandler Jones. How it ended: a miraculous TD return after all-time Patriots error
Chandler Jones missed a tackle and it cost the New England Patriots the game. It’s important, because it explains how Chandler Jones ended up in that wide abyss of field where Meyers inexplicably heaved the ball. Standing in between was Chandler Jones, in nearly the exact spot of his missed tackle. “We were in like a desperado situation,” Chandler Jones told reporters afterward. As Chandler Jones said, the rest is history.
wftv.comDisastrous last play sums up day of mistakes by Patriots
“Mistake.”It summed up the Patriots’ 30-24 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, with by far the biggest miscue coming on the final play of the game. “Collectively made too many mistakes and gave up some big plays that were obviously the difference in the game,” Belichick said. One mistake in particular handed the Raiders the win and knocked the Patriots (7-7) out of playoff position in the AFC. “The play call was just a draw play — nothing more, nothing less than that,” Stevenson said. “Obviously we’ve got to do a better job playing situational football and not make critical mistakes in the game,” Belichick said.
wftv.comJones snags lateral on final play, Raiders stun Patriots
LAS VEGAS — (AP) — Defensive end Chandler Jones grabbed a bizarre, unnecessary lateral by New England's Jakobi Meyers out of the air on the final play and returned it 48 yards for a touchdown, giving the Las Vegas Raiders a 30-24 victory over the Patriots on Sunday. The wild finish bailed out the Raiders (6-8), who led 17-3 at halftime before allowing the Patriots (7-7) to score 21 straight points. Las Vegas scored two touchdowns in the final 32 seconds and seriously damaged New England's playoff hopes. The Raiders appeared to take control when they scored two touchdowns in the final 5:18 of the first half. The Patriots had a first down at the Las Vegas 2.
wftv.comRaiders stun New England after ridiculous Patriots mistake on frantic final play
The Las Vegas Raiders blew a 14-point lead on Sunday then rallied for a stunning victory over the New England Patriots on an absurd final play. With 3 seconds remaining in regulation of a game tied at 24-24, the Patriots had the ball at their own 44-yard line. Stevenson ran through the Raiders defense inside the Las Vegas 35-yard line. He plays for Las Vegas. McDaniels took the Raiders head coaching job last offseason after coordinating Bill Belichick's offense in New England for years.
wftv.comCousins, Vikings overtake Patriots for 33-26 victory
MINNEAPOLIS — (AP) — Kirk Cousins threw for 299 yards and three touchdowns, the last a go-ahead score to Adam Thielen in the fourth quarter to push the Minnesota Vikings past the New England Patriots 33-26 on Thursday night. Their fourth quarter included two three-and-out punts, a turnover on downs at the Minnesota 39 and a desperation last drive that went nowhere. Another vital call went the Vikings way a few minutes later when Pierre Strong Jr. was called for running into punter Ryan Wright. With a fresh set of downs, Cousins and the Vikings cruised up the field for the go-ahead touchdown. The Vikings had 231 yards in the first half, more than the Patriots allowed in the previous two games combined.
wftv.comWeek 6 Fantasy Football Stats Notebook: Is there any hope for Najee Harris?
Harris was drafted in the first round of fantasy outfits because he was supposed to get all the volume. That's now come into question with Mike Tomlin saying this week that they'd like to get Jaylen Warren more involved. After taking 71.4% of his snaps outside in Week 4, Moore was an 83% slot player in Week 5 with A.J. Seattle ranks 28th in passing success rate allowed and was just ripped up by the circus-like Saints offense last week. I’d play Moore this week and then look to use him as a trade sweetener before Week 7.
wftv.comFantasy Football Week 6 Analysis: It's been all good news for Geno Smith — but are we ignoring something crucial?
In short, the two metrics that we will use each week are:Expected Fantasy Points (or xFP)Fantasy Points Over Expected (or FPOE = Actual Points - Expected Points)Why do these metrics matter? Wide Receivers: Fantasy Usage & EfficiencyGabriel Davis - Buffalo BillsGabriel Davis is one of the most polarizing players in the fantasy community. Running Backs: Fantasy Usage & EfficiencyNick Chubb - Cleveland BrownsNick Chubb has been one of the most efficient running backs to start the season. And over the last five games, he ranks as the TE11 with 7.5 points per game and the TE10 in Expected Fantasy Points (8.0). Quarterbacks: Fantasy Usage & EfficiencyGeno Smith - Seattle SeahawksOne of the most surprising storylines this year is the resurgence of Geno Smith, ranking as the QB6 in fantasy points (19.6) and QB2 in fantasy points above expected (+4.6 FPOE) on a per-game basis.
wftv.comFantasy Football Fact or Fluke: Renee's reactions to Week 5
He's had double-digit targets in every game except Week 1 and is averaging 11 per game. It leaves no doubt that this offense can support 2-3 fantasy stars any given week. Quick Hits: FactKenneth Walker III: With Rashaad Penny out for the rest of the season, Walker season is officially upon us. He's averaging over 17 fantasy points per game in three games this season, catching 20 of 27 targets for 261 yards. Randall Cobb: Cobb is basically the Old Faithful of NFL wide receivers but he's not going to get 13 targets every week.
wftv.comFantasy Football Week 5 Care/Don't Care: Did we just get a sign to worry about the Bengals offense?
Joe Burrow averaged a measly 3.4 air yards per attempt against the Ravens, the lowest among any quarterback in Week 5. He averaged 4.2 air yards per target. On the other hand, you can't then veer so sharply in the other direction that your star receiver gets a total of 50 air yards. Brown ranks sixth in team air yards share (39.5%) and 15th in team target share (26.6%). He had a good Week 1, an excellent Week 2, a slow Week 3 and got hurt in Week 4.
wftv.comCam Newton helps Patriots beat Ravens in rain and wind
New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton, center, celebrates his rushing touchdown with teammates in the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. – Cam Newton threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score and the New England Patriots fought through rain and wind to hold off the Baltimore Ravens 23-17 on Sunday night. Damien Harris ran for a career-high 121 yards to help the Patriots (4-5) win consecutive games for the first time this season. As rain and wind pelted the field, the Ravens started the drive with a penalty, pushing them back to their own 9. Facing second-and-6 on the Ravens 24, Newton threw what appeared to be a wide receiver screen to Jakobi Meyers.
Patriots storm back to beat Jets 30-27, end 4-game skid
We’re not going to lay down.”Newton had two touchdown runs, with the second tying it at 27 with 1:57 remaining. A miscue by the Jets on special teams kept the Patriots’ next drive alive. But the Jets were called for 12 men on the field — resulting in a first down for the Patriots. Damien Harris ran for 21 yards to get New England into Jets territory. Jets: Rookie left tackle Mekhi Becton left in the first half with a chest injury, but coach Adam Gase was unsure if it was a torn pectoral.
Wilson has 3 TDs before injury, 49ers crush Patriots 33-6
– Jeff Wilson Jr. rushed for a career-high three touchdowns and 112 yards before leaving with an ankle injury and the San Francisco 49ers dominated in a 33-6 win over the New England Patriots on Sunday. San Francisco (4-3) has followed back-to-back losses with two wins and is 3-0 on the road. New England fell to 2-4 for the first since coach Belichick’s first season in 2000, when the Patriots went 5-11. Following a Patriots punt, San Francisco was pinned inside its 15. The lead grew to 23-3 with just under a minute to go before halftime on a 16-yard run by Wilson.