Tag: NFL

Cooper Kupp quietly broke an NFL record Sunday that Sean McVay didn’t even know about

No player in the NFL has more catches in his first 100 games than Cooper Kupp – a record Sean McVay didn’t even know his receiver broke Sunday

Cooper Kupp is as modest as they come at wide receiver. He doesn’t do flashy touchdown celebrations or talk trash on the field, and he sure doesn’t make a big deal about his own personal accomplishments.

In Sunday’s win against the Saints, he quietly broke a pretty impressive NFL record, even in a game where he had just three catches for 17 yards.

With those three receptions, Kupp now has 625 in his career. That’s the most by any player in his first 100 games in league history. Kupp now stands above everyone else, edging out Keenan Allen by one reception for the top spot. Antonio Brown (622) and Julio Jones (619) sit in third and fourth place.

The record flew so far under the radar that not even Sean McVay knew Kupp took the top spot. During his postgame press conference, McVay was made aware of Kupp etching his name in the record books (again) and he jokingly called out Rams VP of communications Artis Twyman for not telling him about that feat.

“What the hell, Artis? Why wouldn’t you tell me that? Another time that I ended up not recognizing Cooper Kupp,” McVay joked.

He then looked into the camera at his press conference and congratulated Kupp on his accomplishment. McVay mistakenly didn’t give Kupp a game ball in the locker room because he didn’t know about his accomplishment, but he’ll be sure to give him one on Monday.

“Congratulations, Cooper. You’ll get a game ball tomorrow, buddy,” he said.

McVay then got serious about the impact Kupp has had on the team as a player and leader over his first 100 games.

“That’s cool. … He’s a special player, he’s a more special person. His work ethic, everything he’s about, is the right kind of stuff and really happy for him,” McVay said.

Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt quiets critics with performance vs. Bengals

Pittsburgh Steelers’ T.J. Watt has faced criticism for not consistently delivering the explosive performances fans have come to expect.

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt has faced criticism this season for not consistently delivering the explosive performances fans have come to expect. But in Week 13 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Watt silenced his critics with a peak-performance game.

Dominant display by T.J. Watt against the Bengals

In the Steelers’ 44-38 victory over the Bengals, Watt was a disruptive force on defense, recording two sacks, five solo tackles, and a forced fumble.

Watt now has 106 career sacks, surpassing Jared Allen (105) for the third-most by a player in his first eight seasons since 1982. According to NFL345, only Reggie White (124) and DeMarcus Ware (111) have more.

T.J. Watt responds to season-long critiques

Throughout the 2024 season, Watt has been under scrutiny for a perceived decline in performance. Analysts noted his lower sack numbers over previous years and questioned his impact on the field. Some suggested that opposing teams had figured out how to neutralize him, leading to debates about his effectiveness and value.

T.J. Watt proves doubters wrong

Watt’s performance against the Bengals served as a direct response to his detractors. He delivered a game-changing display and reminded everyone of his elite status among NFL defenders. This game boosted his season statistics and reaffirmed his role as a cornerstone of the Steelers’ defense.

With this resurgence, fans and analysts alike will be watching to see if Watt can maintain this high level of play throughout the remainder of the season. Consistency will be key for silencing critics and solidifying his reputation as one of the league’s premier defensive players.

Watt’s Week 13 performance against the Bengals was a powerful rebuttal to criticism this season, showcasing his ability to dominate and influence the game’s outcome.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Watch Sean McVay’s fiery locker room speech after Rams’ win over Saints

Sean McVay was fired up after the Rams’ comeback win over the Saints, handing out game balls to Kyren Williams and two others

Sean McVay always brings the energy in the locker room after Rams wins, applauding his players for getting the job done – whether it’s a one-point win or 30-point blowout. Sunday’s game against the Saints was a close one, but the Rams pulled out the victory with a second-half comeback after getting shut out in the first 30 minutes.

McVay was fired up in the locker room, giving a passionate speech to the team at the Superdome. He also handed out three game balls, recognizing Kevin Dotson, assistant defensive line coach AC Carter and Kyren Williams for their efforts on Sunday.

He was particularly excited to give Williams his game ball, praising the running back for bouncing back after fumbling twice last week against the Eagles.

“I think it’s fitting that he (expletive) closes the game out, you see the way he (expletive) approached the week,” McVay said. “You talk about a guy that is all about the right kind of (expletive). He did something today that nobody is surprised about. We all knew, he knew. What a (expletive) G. Kyren Williams.”

Williams broke down the huddle in the locker room with a fiery speech of his own.

“Don’t forget this (expletive) feeling we got right now. We’re going to carry this (expletive) on for the rest of the season. Ain’t nobody (expletive) stopping us, man. I ain’t hearing (expletive).”

It was great to see Williams rebound from a tough game last week, and even better for McVay to recognize him. In the win on Sunday, Williams rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown.

Najee Harris blames Thanksgiving dinner for early struggles

Najee Harris said he overdid it on Thanksgiving and it caught up to him on Sunday.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris got off to a hot start on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals and then mysteriously took himself out of the game. He clearly had something wrong judging by his body language on the sidelines but the reporters on the broadcast were mum about any details.

Then after a short break, Harris looked to be back to full strength. He came back in and never missed a beat after that. It wasn’t until after the game when Harris let everyone in on what happened to him.

Blame Pat Friermuth’s girlfriend. According to Harris, Freiermuth’s girlfriend makes a great meal and he overdid it. He said she made some sort of banana dessert and Harris had too much. He said the big meal hit him all at once but he ate some oranges on the sideline and was fine.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Russell Wilson has electric response to Steelers conquering Bengals

Russell Wilson shines for Steelers with 414 yards, his most since 2017. Pittsburgh posts highest score since 2018 in a dominant team win.

Russell Wilson had an unbelievable game for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. With 414 yards passing, Wilson threw for the most yards since Week 8 of 2017 (452 yards) and the most by a Steelers quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger retired.

But as Wilson posted on X after conquering the Cincinnati Bengals, it wasn’t just a one-man show.

“W!!! Full TEAM effort! Proud of this group.”

Pittsburgh hasn’t scored this many points since their 52-21 trouncing of the Carolina Panthers in 2018.


Up next is an opponent it feels like the Steelers just played. Oh, wait, it’s because they did. Pittsburgh hosts the Cleveland Browns at 1 p.m. next Sunday, Dec. 8.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Steelers take control of AFC North after busy Week 13

The Steelers have a comfortable lead over the Ravens in the AFC North.

The AFC North has become a conference of the haves and the have-nots. Week 13 was a wild one for the North with one team winning and two others losing with one left to play.

Thanks to the Pittsburgh Steelers huge win over the Cincinnati Bengals paired up with the Baltimore Ravens loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh has a comfortable lead over the Ravens in the AFC North. Nevertheless, with five games left to play, anything can happen and it’s definitely a two-horse race and it makes that Week 16 rematch in Pittsburgh weighty in the AFC playoff picture.

Steelers 9-3

Ravens 8-5

Bengals 4-8

Browns 3-8

Next week the Ravens are on their bye before the final stretch. The Steelers come back home for a rematch against the Cleveland Browns who upset the Steelers two weeks ago.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Former Browns head coach gets a second chance at the college level

Former Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens is getting a second chance

The North Carolina Tar Heels parted ways with their head coach Mack Brown last week, and they have finally named their interim head coach: former Cleveland Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens.

The former Browns head coach joined the North Carolina Football program in 2023 as the run game coordinator and tight ends coach. He now, at least for just one game, takes on a much bigger role with the Tar Heels.

In a statement released by the Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham, Kitchens was deemed:

“… an incredible coach who is respected by our student-athletes and staff… He is dedicated to doing all he can to help lead our program through this transition, and we appreciate his willingness to take on the role.”

After taking over as the interim offensive coordinator for the Browns in 2018, Kitchens was named the head coach in 2019. That tenure did not last long as he was fired after a tumultuous season.

He now gets a second shot to make a lasting impact.

Jared Verse was the closer the Rams needed against the Saints

Jared Verse delivered with the game on the line against the Saints, coming up with a key stop on fourth down

Jared Verse didn’t have a sack in the Los Angeles Rams’ win over the New Orleans Saints. He didn’t have a single tackle for a loss and finished with five total tackles. It wasn’t his best game by any means, but when the Rams needed him most, he delivered in the clutch.

It shows the impact a pass rusher can have on a game even when he isn’t sacking the quarterback and Verse has quickly become one of the best young edge defenders in the NFL.

With the Rams leading 21-14 and just over a minute remaining, the Saints were threatening to tie the game from Los Angeles’ 9-yard line. It was fourth-and-3 after three straight runs by Alvin Kamara, which is when Verse made his presence felt.

Foolishly, the Saints tried to block him one-on-one with tight end Foster Moreau and it went about as poorly as you’d expect. Verse beat Moreau rather easily, turned the corner and hit Derek Carr’s arm to force the incompletion. It didn’t go down as a turnover forced by Verse, but it was a turnover on downs and got the ball back for the Rams, allowing them to ice the game one play later thanks to an 11-yard run by Kyren Williams.

Verse ended the game with six pressures and three stops, a fantastic performance once again by the rookie out of Florida State. He was constantly in the backfield pressuring Carr, dominating on the right side of the defense.

Just as Aaron Donald did in the Super Bowl, Verse closed out the game in dominant fashion by forcing an incompletion on fourth down to all but end it.

 

NFL fines two Browns in win over the Steelers but not George Pickens

NFL announced fines for Grant Delpit and Jordan Hicks after the Browns victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The NFL fined four players in the Cleveland Browns Pittsburgh Steelers game from last week.

Browns’ safety Grant Delpit and Jordan Hicks were fined, as well as the Steelers’ cornerback Donte Jackson and safety Damontae Kazee.

Delpit was fined $11,255 for unsportsmanlike conduct after pulling Steelers’ wide receiver George Pickens’ mouthpiece. Delpit posted on Instagram he was reacting to Pickens attempting to trip Delpit as he walked by.

Jordan Hicks was fined $10,378 for roughing the passer after he demolished Russell Wilson on the Hail Mary attempt to end the game.

Jackson was fined $22,511 for illegally using the helmet when he speared Browns’ receiver Jerry Jeudy. Kazee was fined $11,255 for a late hit when he ran Browns’ gunner Michael Ford Jr. into the bench.

Notably absent among the players penalized is Pickens. Pickens and Greg Newsome II had a brawl during the game’s final play. The brawl ended well after the play did, as both players tried throwing the other into the wall. Maybe the NFL thought losing a game in such a manner was penalty enough.

Geno Smith had the perfect meme to celebrate the Seahawks’ win over the Jets

Smith didn’t need words to roast his former team, just a perfect meme.

Geno Smith only thrived as an NFL quarterback after he escaped the swirling vortex of garbage known as the New York Jets. Smith went 12-18 as a starter after being New York’s second round pick in 2013. It was a tenure better known for the former West Virginia star getting his jaw broken by a teammate than any on-field success.

Smith was forced to take the long route back to relevancy, only thriving once he arrived in Seattle as Russell Wilson’s backup, then successor for the Seahawks. He’s been an above average starter in the years since, going 25-22 in three-plus seasons atop the team’s depth chart.

The 25th win on his resume came in Week 13 over the Jets. Like seeing the obituary for one of his biggest haters in the newspaper, Smith knew he had to show up.

That’s Smith, embracing the “RIPBOZO” meme on Twitter to tell the world he had to attend his hater’s funeral just to ensure he was dead. Seattle’s win Sunday ensured a ninth-straight losing season for the Jets — a streak that began, coincidentally, in Smith’s final season with the franchise. New York is once more on its way to the cemetery of playoff aspirations. Smith was there, dressed in black, to make sure it was true.