Tag: ladainian tomlinson

The biggest upsets in NFL divisional round history

Touchdown Wire revisits the biggest upsets in NFL divisional round playoff history.

If you go strictly by record and homefield advantage, San Francisco, Baltimore, Kansas City and Green Bay should be the winners of this weekend’s playoff games. But there is no such thing as a given in the postseason. Especially in the divisional round.

History has shown that upsets – including some very big ones – often take place in the divisional round. That’s why it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if Minnesota, Tennessee, Houston or Seattle pulls off an upset this week.

Divisional round upsets have taken place before and they’ll take place again. Let’s take a look at the nine biggest upsets in divisional round history:

1985: Patriots 27, Raiders 20

Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

This was a historic season for the Patriots. They became the first team in history to make it to the Super Bowl by winning three straight road games. The victory in Los Angeles was especially big because the Raiders had gone 12-4 and appeared to be one of the league’s dominant teams. The Patriots also won at Miami the following week, but got crushed in the Super Bowl by the Chicago Bears.

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NFL 100 All-Time Team discredits itself by snubbing Drew Brees

Saints QB Drew Brees joined LaDainian Tomlinson, Darrelle Revis, and Julio Jones on the list of players snubbed by the NFL 100 All-Time Team

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Well, they did it. The NFL 100 All-Time Team “blue ribbon panel” threw an interception late in the fourth quarter, condemning the product it put out to be remembered as something only worth laughing at.

It’s because they left off Drew Brees. The best player in New Orleans Saints history is also one of the greatest players in the NFL’s history. He’s breaking everyone else’s records each week after a career spent beating his peers head-to-head.

Among his generation of quarterbacks, he trails only Tom Brady in prestige, and that’s because Brady was fortunate enough to play with a defense that carried him to several championships early in his career. Now that they’re both on the back nine, there’s no comparing who plays at a higher level.

In addition to Brady, here are the quarterbacks who did make the cut on the NFL 100 All-Time Team (listed in alphabetical order):

  • Sammy Baugh
  • John Elway
  • Brett Favre
  • Otto Graham
  • Peyton Manning
  • Dan Marino
  • Joe Montana
  • Roger Staubach
  • Johnny Unitas

Most of those names are no-brainers; Brady, Favre, Manning, Marino, and Montana among them. The others are shamelessly catering to nostalgia, hyping up an era of football that wasn’t as impressive as some want to remember it. In the case of Baugh, the voters used his stats on defense and special teams to justify his inclusion, which is hilariously awkward.

Let’s be clear: nobody in the history of the NFL has done more with less than Brees, including everyone on this list. Until Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas rose to prominence in 2017, Brees had set the league on fire in New Orleans despite having shared the field with just one pass-catcher who earned a spot in the Pro Bowl (tight end Jimmy Graham). The Saints’ defensive personnel during Brees’ career is laughable, especially compared to the Hall of Fame-stocked units players like Brady, Manning, and Montana were able to lean on.

No, football was not better in the 1940’s — it was a sloppy, poorly-executed sport that hadn’t figured out important things like efficiency of movement or player safety just yet. Yes, it’s easier to pass in today’s game; that’s because decades of trail-and-error taught athletes the best ways to win. But those realities shouldn’t disqualify the best to ever do it from getting recognized for his accomplishments.

Overlooking the league’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns thrown in favor of quarterbacks who played in an era where most players (offensive linemen and defenders included) weighed 230 pounds or less is ridiculous. Are we really going to look back fondly on an era that predated desegregation?

This exercise has been lambasted before, for making head-scratching decisions like leaving off the NFL’s all-time leader in receiving yards per game (Julio Jones), or the best running back of the 2000’s (LaDainian Tomlinson), or the best cover corner in NFL history (Darrelle Revis). But Brees’ exclusion stands out even more glaring than the rest, because there are too many facts, stats, and other quantifiable values to argue against it.

If the voters wanted to highlight an often-forgotten era of the game and remember some of its most talented players, then fine, do that. But be honest about it. In this case, the selection panel let their feelings get in the way of the facts, and it led to Brees getting disrespected yet again in his storied NFL career. Here’s hoping they come to their senses when their votes really mean something, like induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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Lamar Jackson has been worth his weight in fantasy gold in 2019

A look at the season Lamar Jackson has put together in fantasy football in 2019

After Thursday night’s dismantling of the New York Jets, there can surely be no doubt as to the identity of the 2019 MVP. Lamar Jackson was masterful once again as a passer and a rusher, with his third game with five passing touchdowns and his setting the new single-season rushing record for a quarterback. It has truly been a season to remember for Jackson.

But as good as he has been in “real” life, we cannot overstate how great Jackson has been in fantasy football. As crazy as it seems now, according to average draft position data from My Fantasy League, Jackson was the 15th quarterback selected in fantasy drafts in August. People who picked him up this late are all looking pretty clever now, as Jackson is the leading point scorer in ALL of fantasy football.

His 37.1 fantasy points against the New York Jets marked the seventh time this season Jackson has amassed 30 or more points in a single game. Since the dawn of the 21st century, only three players have had more 30 point games in a single season. Marshall Faulk (2000), former Ravens running back Priest Holmes (2003) and LaDanian Tomlinson (2006) all had nine such games. Jackson has two games left in 2019, but it is by no means certain that he’ll play a full role in either of them. Jackson has been the overall QB3 or better eight times in 2019, with three weeks as the overall QB1 (potentially four, pending the rest of the Week 15 games).

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Jackson has a whopping 387.9 Points per Reception (PPR) fantasy points after 14 games. This is a new Ravens single-season record, beating Ray Rice’s 372.8 from 2011. Jackson has also averaged a whopping 27.7 PPR points per game in 2019, another Ravens record. Jackson is one of three Ravens players to average more than 20 PPR points per game in a season, joining Rice (2009 and 2011) and Jamal Lewis (2003).

As crazy as it sounds, Jackson could have had an even greater season if it were not his deeds in blowing out some of the teams he has played against. As Matthew Stevens pointed out, Jackson has sat in the 4th quarter of all three of the games in which he tossed five touchdowns.

But for all the greatness, there could be a sting in the tail for Jackson’s owners this season. Some scenarios could occur this weekend that would lock up the No. 1 seed for the Ravens, clinching home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and making the final regular-season game meaningless. Ravens coach John Harbaugh could decide to give his superstar an extended break, which would mean Jackson being unavailable for the fantasy football championships (usually played in Week 16, unless your commissioner is a psychopath).

Whether he plays in the final game or not, Jackson has been a true fantasy superstar in 2019. Ravens fans and fantasy football fans alike have been truly blessed to have him in our lives this season.

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Drafts that saw a team select multiple players who became Hall of Famers

Drew Brees one day will join LaDainian Tomlinson in Canton. What other teams drafted multiple players in one year who went on to the HOF?

The Chicago Bears chose Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers, back-to-back no less, in the 1965 NFL Draft and wound up with a pair of Hall of Famers. The Chargers chose LaDainian Tomlinson and Drew Brees in the 2001 draft. When the Saints’ QB is done, he will surely join LT in Canton. Here are some of the teams fortunate to choose multiple players in one draft since 1960 that went on to Hall-of-Fame careers.

Dallas Texans (AFL): 1963

George Rose/Getty Images

Buck Buchanan was the first pick of the Dallas Texans from Grambling State in the AFL Draft. In the seventh round, the Texans, who became the Kansas City Chiefs chose LB Bobby Bell from Minnesota.

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The 31 players somehow drafted before Drew Brees in 2001

Drew Brees continues to break records. The New Orleans Saints great was the 32nd pick in 2001. Who went before him?

The San Diego Chargers chose Drew Brees with the first pick in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft. When Brees is eventually inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, it will mean the Bolts took HOFers with their first two selections. Who were the players NFL teams chose before San Diego selected the QB from Purdue?

31. Baltimore Ravens: Todd Heap

 John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

The Ravens chose Todd Heap, a tight end from Arizona State. He had a solid career in Baltimore, playing 10 seasons and making 467 catches. Heap finished with two seasons in Arizona, where he added another 32 grabs and 1 of his 42 TD receptions.

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LaDainian Tomlinson believes Melvin Gordon will get paid, but not by Chargers

LaDainian Tomlinson believes Melvin Gordon won’t be a part of the Los Angeles Chargers in 2020.

Chargers running back Melvin Gordon sat out the entire offseason and the first quarter of the season in hopes of a new contract that paid him $13 million annually, in which he never got.

Gordon came back in Week 5 knowing that the only way to prove he’s worth that kind of money is to be on the playing field. It took a month to dust the cobwebs off, but he finally started to build some steam.

His first four games back, Gordon wasn’t efficient at all, amassing 31, 18, 32, and 31 yards in those games, respectively, averaging 2.5 yards per carry, with one game of over 10 receiving yards and two total touchdowns.

Since then, the former Wisconsin product has gotten on track, generating 100-plus scrimmage yards in three of the past five contests and averaging 4.67 yards per carry.

Gordon, who will be an unrestricted free agent after this season, has three games left to show he’s worth top-dollar running back money.

Former Chargers great RB LaDainian Tomlinson believes that he will receive a hefty contract after this season. But Tomlinson doesn’t think it will be Los Angeles paying him.

“I think he will get paid. There will be some team that says, ‘Hey, we see the value in what this guy can bring to the team. We’ll see what happens. But it certainly doesn’t look like he’ll belong to the Chargers after this season,” Tomlinson said.

Gordon is one of the better running backs in the league, but staying healthy has been an issue for him, which could be one of the reasons why Los Angeles is hesitant on paying him.

But Tomlinson believes there aren’t many players at his position that can do what Gordon does.

“Melvin is still a young man and he is going to get paid and it’s because he can certainly be a great all-around back,’’ Tomlinson said. “He’s shown he’s a willing blocker, he’s obviously been a very talented runner over the last couple of years and he can catch the ball out of the backfield. He can be a three-down back.’’

The Chargers also possess a talented backfield that consists of Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson. The team would be able to roll into 2020 with those two, along with a draft selection that comes later on or even an undrafted rookie, which is the approach they took with Ekeler in 2017.

Gordon will be one of many notable soon-to-be free agents that L.A. will have to decide on when that time comes in the next few months. If they feel like he’s not in their future plans, look for teams like the Chiefs, Buccaneers, Dolphins and Texans to target him.

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Twitter reacts to LaDainian Tomlinson being left off all-time team

It’s mind-boggling that a former Chargers great was left off this list.

The NFL unveiled the 100th anniversary running back all-time team Friday.

Among the crop who was a finalist, but did not make the final team was former Chargers great running back LaDainian Tomlinson.

Other notable finalists that did not make the cut other than Tomlinson include Adrian Peterson, Tony Dorsett, Marshall Faulk, Marcus Allen, Jerome Bettis and Franco Harris.

When you read the list of players, it’s all running backs that you’d think would make the list, but they were all drafted after 1990. Everyone that made it was drafted before that year.

“I’m surprised that there are no 21st century running backs on that list,” said Tomlinson, who started his career in 2001. Emmitt Smith was the (most recent) guy drafted that’s on the list. So that’s a bit surprising,” Tomlinson said.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to Tomlinson being snubbed from the list.

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Five years later: A retelling of Samaje Perine’s record-breaking 427-yard game

On this day five years ago, Samaje Perine did the unthinkable. Sooners Wire’s Brayden Conover was there, takes you through the historic day.

Records and awards are broken and won all the time at the University of Oklahoma.

While going through one of the worst seasons in the Bob Stoops’ Era, you’d be hard pressed to find a better moment or performance than Samaje Perine’s 427-yard NCAA record breaking performance. 

Perine, a freshman at the time, carried it 34 times to break Melvin Gordon’s record set a week prior, and TCU great LaDainian Tomlinson’s that was set in 1999. 

On the fifth anniversary of this performance, Sooners Wire’s Brayden Conover gives you his perspective on that day from inside Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma.

NOV. 22, 2014.

It was a rainy, chilly and dreary Saturday in Oklahoma.

Just as we always did, my step-dad and I got to our seats plenty early to watch warmups. We sat in section 18, row five, seats 26-28 so we had a close view of the visiting team’s warmups and would throw kicking balls that escaped the net in the North end zone back to trainers. After a lengthy lightening delay, we made our way back to our seats, already drenched and oblivious to what was about to take place.

We knew that with the weather, the Sooners would likely keep it on the ground with a combination of Samaje Perine, Keith Ford and Alex Ross.

Perine, though, had other plans.

On Oklahoma’s first possession, Perine stayed on the sideline as Ford got the start. After a negative one yard run and two five yard gains from Ford, the Sooners punted away.

Oklahoma regained possession after a Kansas three-and-out. This time, Perine jogged onto the field. All he needed was one play to kick off his historic day, taking it 49 yards to the house on the first play of the drive. The smallest crowd I’ve seen at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium erupted as the Perine gained the lead for the Sooners.

On the next drive, Ford checks back in and fumbles after two plays, giving Kansas the ball.

After an uneventful rest of the quarter, Perine finished with 61 yards on six carries after the first quarter and the Sooners were up 10-0.

From there, Oklahoma’s career rushing yards leader took over.

In the second-quarter, Perine tallied 161 yards on 12 carries with two touchdowns. He dominated the Jayhawks to the tune of 222 yards and three touchdowns on just 18 first half carries.

At halftime, there were rumblings that if he kept the pace, he would break Melvin Gordon’s record of 408 rushing yards that was set just the week prior as Wisconsin beat Nebraska also on a rainy Madison, Wisconsin day. Of course, no one really thought a true freshman would break a record that was previously held by TCU’s LaDainian Tomlison (406 yards) and stood for nearly 16 seasons just seven days after the new bar was set.

But once again, Perine had other plans.

On Oklahoma’s first possession of the third quarter, Perine once again needed just one play. Running 66 yards for a touchdown, the crowd that remained knew they were in for a treat.

The chants began as the offense jogged off the field.

“PERINE! PERINE! PERINE!”

The 30,000 or so fans that remained, had their voices heard as the chants reverberated against the empty metal bleachers.

Some 288 yards and four touchdowns on 19 carries with 13:56 left in the third. Everyone in the stadium hoped the defense could get the ball back as soon as possible, just to see No. 32 trot out there again.

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