Tag: NFL Week 4

Lip readers think Mike McDaniel whispered emphatic respect for Sean McDermott into his ear

Mike McDaniel’s respect for Sean McDermott is so cool to see.

If Sunday’s matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins was an AFC East litmus test, then the Dolphins have a lot of work to do in the coming months. After hanging in with Buffalo for a half, the Bills pulled away with dominance en route to a 48-20 win that somehow didn’t even seem that close.

The Dolphins have lofty ambitions because of Mike McDaniel. But he even knows they’ll likely get through Sean McDermott’s Bills to achieve them. As such, McDaniel approached McDermott with nothing but respect in their post-game greeting.

And based on a cromulent reading of McDaniel’s lips, he seems to be a VERY big fan of McDermott’s work in Buffalo:

(Warning: NSFW language/reference in the video below.)

Honestly, what a classy gesture from McDaniel. His team is a divisional rival with the Bills, and he doesn’t have to show McDermott any respect. But Buffalo is the team Miami is chasing in the AFC East. Buffalo is the team that’s three of four matchups (including playoffs) with McDaniel’s Dolphins dating back to last season.

This was one heck of a way to express how much he appreciates McDermott, even amidst the tough loss.

Ja’Marr Chase gassed himself up after Bengals’ deflating loss: ‘I’m open. I’m always [expletive] open.’

Ja’Marr Chase added to the Bengals’ drama with this classic WR line.

The Cincinnati Bengals began this season with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. Instead, after a month of play, they are languishing with a 1-3 record, and there’s no real sign of hope on the horizon. A 27-3 loss to the Tennessee Titans Sunday — where running back Derrick Henry threw a TD pass of all people — doesn’t do the Bengals’ disaster proper justice.

Ja’Marr Chase decided to pile onto Cincinnati’s ongoing chaos.

In a video via WCPO 9 in Cincinnati, Chase discussed the Bengals’ ongoing offensive issues as Joe Burrow struggles with a calf injury. Chase himself had seven catches for 73 yards on Sunday but has just 29 receptions for 284 yards and no touchdowns on the season.

So, of course, Chase had to clarify that he is … “always open.”

(Warning: NSFW language in the videos below.)

Ahhh. It’s been a long time since we heard a classic quote from a disgruntled receiver. It’s a little jarring coming from someone like Chase but is nonetheless greatly appreciated. The full quote is less dramatic but doesn’t take away from Chase’s receiver line:

If Chase is voicing his frustrations like this, we might only be seeing the tip of the iceberg of the Bengals’ problems.

Chase Claypool wasn’t even on the Bears’ sideline 2 days after he said they weren’t using him right

Claypool is probably done playing for the Bears.

For all intents and purposes, the Chicago Bears have enjoyed a chaotic start to the 2023 season. Near the forefront of their issues has been receiver Chase Claypool, whose inconsistent effort has drawn ire on a national level.

The Bears might not have to concern themselves with Claypool for much longer. On Friday, the receiver told reporters that he believes the Bears aren’t using him right. Note: This is a player with four catches for 51 yards and one touchdown on the season who also poorly blocks in space. It’s hard to perform worse as a receiver than Claypol through three games.

Perhaps in response to Claypool’s commentary and effort, the Bears made the veteran inactive for their home matchup with the Denver Broncos on Sunday. And unlike other players who are injured or inactive, Claypool wasn’t even on Chicago’s sideline:

So it should be no surprise the Bears are actively shopping Claypool on the trade block, according to Jordan Schultz:

The Bears surrendered a high second-round pick for Claypool last fall. He’s given them 18 catches for 191 yards and a single score. It appears they’ve seen enough and are willing to recoup whatever they can for the disappointing player.

Update: After Sunday’s game, a Bears spokesperson stated that Claypool was told to stay home from the game today.

An exasperated Mike Tomlin threatened ‘changes’ were coming after the Steelers’ listless loss

Mike Tomlin is tired of his Steelers sleepwalking every Sunday.

Mike Tomlin has never experienced a losing season as the Pittsburgh Steelers head coach. Judging by his tenor following the Steelers’ 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans, Tomlin seems prepared to do anything to keep that remarkable streak alive.

In his post-game press conference, Tomlin was asked about whether the Steelers would consider making “changes” after such an embarrassing defeat. Note: Pittsburgh likely lost Kenny Pickett to a knee injury for a little while in Houston. Once Tomlin realized what the reporter was actually asking, he snapped into action, professing that Pittsburgh’s unacceptable performance Sunday simply necessitates something change.

(Warning: NSFW language in the tweet and video below)

The Steelers aren’t in an abyss like their divisional rival in Cincinnati. A 2-2 record is something that should be very easy to build upon. But Pittsburgh didn’t resemble a team prepared to do just that while getting clocked by the Texans. And Tomlin knows it. He’s probably also the only person who knows how to fix these Steelers.

What could those “changes” resemble? For one, offensive coordinator Matt Canada’s scheme has proven consistently inept. Demoting him would be warranted. On defense, it might be time to start giving rookie cornerback Joey Porter Jr. more snaps.

The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since 2016. Tomlin better adapt and work whatever magic he has and fast.

The Bears failed a key 4th down after head coach Matt Eberflus wasted a timeout trying for offsides

Eberflus basically threw away the Bears’ first win of the season.

For most of Sunday afternoon, the Chicago Bears looked like they’d finally build some positive momentum this season. Even against the Denver Broncos’ woeful defense, Justin Fields played like a superstar, completing 28-of-35 passes for 334 yards, four touchdowns, and a pick. And with just under 20 minutes to go in the game, Chicago held a seemingly insurmountable 28-7 lead. (Hmm, was Chase Claypool that much of an anchor???)

Then all hell broke loose.  Denver would score a touchdown on three straight possessions to even up this barnburner at 28-28 late in the fourth quarter. But even with the Broncos’ valiant comeback attempt, Chicago still had a chance to salt away its first win of the season. That is until Matt Eberflus self-combusted at the prospect of game management. With a field goal attempt lined up, the Bears faced a key fourth-and-short at the Broncos’ 18-yard line just before the two-minute warning.

Rather than run a play, Chicago tried to draw Denver’s defense offsides but failed. The Bears understandably took a timeout to save field position on a kick … except they kept the offense out there. Their possession petered out with a questionable straight handoff to Khalil Herbert, and they now had one less timeout.

Mere minutes later, thanks to this Marvin Mims Jr. reception, the Broncos drove right down the field for the eventual game-winning field goal.

With the Bears pressing for a game-tying kick in the closing moments, Fields would throw a desperation pass that Denver intercepted. Hmm, seems like they could’ve used that timeout!

Nothing has gone right for the 0-4 Bears this year, so it’s not as if Sunday was surprising. But blowing a 28-7 lead with just under 20 minutes to go at home against the NFL’s second-worst team is undoubtedly rock bottom. And the Bears might have avoided this unfortunate reality if their coach had simply managed the game well in the deciding sequence.

Stroud big game preserves J.J. Watt enshrinement; Texans beat Steelers 30-6

Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud was stellar, ensuring J.J. Watt’s Ring of Honor enshrinement was not spoiled against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

C.J. Stroud notched his second game with 300-plus passing yards as the Houston Texans preserved the enshrinement of former defensive end J.J. Watt with a 30-6 victory Sunday afternoon at NRG Stadium.

The Texans inducted the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year at halftime into the team’s ring of honor. Stroud’s 306 passing yards and two touchdowns were bulwarks that ensured no Houston fan would go home disappointed.

Stroud went 16-of-30 with a 111.2 passer rating and took no sacks. The No. 2 overall pick also extended his streak to 151 attempts without an interception to start a career, padding an existing NFL record.

WATCH: Texans RB Devin Singletary throws TD pass to TE Dalton Schultz vs. Steelers

Houston Texans running back Devin Singletary threw a touchdown pass to tight end Dalton Schultz in Week 4 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Houston Texans offensive coordiantor Bobby Slowik reached deep into his bag of tricks against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 4.

The Texans needed to recapture the momentum following six unanswered points from the Steelers in the third quarter. Slowik had the perfect play-call on second-and-goal from the Steelers’ 6-yard line.

Rather than have rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud look for the end zone, running back Devin Singletary took a pitch to the right side and followed his blockers. As tight end Dalton Schultz slipped towards the end zone, Singletary flicked his wrist for the Texans’ second touchdown of the afternoon.

Ka’imi Fairbairn’s extra point established Houston’s 23-6 early fourth quarter lead.

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The Titans were bullying the Bengals so badly that even Derrick Henry threw a TD pass with ease

This officially gave Henry, a RB, more TD passes than Joe Burrow!

To say the Cincinnati Bengals have disappointingly begun their 2023 campaign would be an understatement. Entering Sunday’s matchup with the Tennessee Titans, the Bengals were just 1-2 and were clearly feeling the effects of an unfortunate Joe Burrow calf injury.

Instead of getting back to .500, the Titans absolutely clocked them all around. By the late second quarter, Tennessee held a commanding 17-3 lead. And with mere seconds left on the clock, the Titans decided to pour it on with Derrick Henry. Ah, OK. Cool. Yeah, a good Henry run always makes sense.

Oh, no, scratch that. They had Henry throw the ball on a way-too-easy touchdown pass to Josh Whyle for a 24-3 lead. Cincinnati, what are we doing?

The Bengals wanted to even up after a poor start to their season. Rather than give them what they wanted, the Titans took the opportunity to humble their AFC rival by using a running back touchdown pass. For what it’s worth, Henry has been uncharacteristically good as a passer despite his reputation as a runner.

Burying a conference rival with a trick running back play? It doesn’t get more beautiful (or petty?) than that.

ESPN’s Laura Rutledge confirmed Dan Orlovsky was, in fact, wearing pants in awkward TV shot

These were probably not the best pants to wear on live TV!

With the Jacksonville Jaguars dispatching the Atlanta Falcons in a (mostly) drama-less 23-7 affair Sunday, there wasn’t much to write home about from London. Well, except for the time the ESPN+ camera appeared to show an unflattering shot of Dan Orlovsky’s beige pants.

You might be saying: “I’m sorry, what?” Let me explain.

Based on an unfortunate camera angle, it almost seemed like the announcer — who was in the booth with Louis Riddick and Chris Fowler — wasn’t wearing pants for a moment. That couldn’t have been further from the truth as the camera really was playing tricks on our eyes, and Orlovsky came fully dressed to work.

Orlovsky’s colleague, Laura Rutledge, would hilariously confirm on Twitter that Orlovsky was indeed wearing pants. (Even though the lining on his pants is plainly visible.)

This is how Orlovsky clarified his fashion decision in response to former NFL player Chris Long:

There have been a lot of fashion faux pas in professional sports and commentating. This one from Orlovksy would have been wild if it was actually true.

Kirk Cousins valiantly tried to stop a 99-yard pick-six but he was destroyed by a block

Cousins sprinted so far just to get ERASED!

If the Minnesota Vikings are earnestly trying to resuscitate their 0-3 season, they picked an awful way to start on Sunday. After Minnesota drove down in the red zone against the Carolina Panthers on its first possession, Kirk Cousins reared his ugly (quarterback) head.

The veteran lofted up a terrible pass that Sam Franklin Jr. picked to go the other way. But Cousins wasn’t done. He took a good angle and heroically tried to make up for his mistake by at least trying to make the tackle and prevent a 99-yard pick-six.

Cousins’ plan went swimmingly until Carolina’s D’Shawn Jamison saw a clean shot at a vicious block. He didn’t waste it:

Look, I’m almost never going to frown upon a quarterback trying to finish a play. The Vikings are in a place with no margin for error. They can’t afford to fall behind the eight-ball with avoidable defensive touchdowns. But Cousins’ attempt at heroics couldn’t have turned out more disastrous.

And the Vikings paid for it.