Tag: Sunday Night Football

Vikings kicker Will Reichard finally missed a kick: Here’s what it means

Rookie kicker Will Reichard missed his first kick on Sunday night against the Indianapolis Colts, meaning he’ll finally get a haircut.

Not much went right for the Minnesota Vikings in the first half of their Sunday Night Football game against the Indianapolis Colts. The interior offensive line has been getting blown up all game, leading to a ton of pressure on quarterback Sam Darnold.

Darnold has not handled that pressure well, getting sacked three times in the first half, and getting pressured several more times. One of those sacks resulted in a fumble and a scoop-and-score for the Colts defense. Darnold also threw an interception early to compound the issues the Vikings are having early.

One consistent for the Vikings this season has been rookie kicker Will Reichard. Reichard was perfect on the season coming into the game, making his first 14 field goals of the season, including four kicks of 50+ yards. Reichard was also perfect on his extra points on the season, making his first 20 in a row.

Unfortunately for the Vikings, their fans, and Reichard’s hair, “was” is the operative term in that last paragraph. Reichard missed his first field goal of the season Sunday night against the Colts, missing a 53-yard kick in the second quarter and bringing his streak to an end.

Reichard’s special teams coach, Matt Daniels, mentioned earlier this season that Reichard was not cutting his hair until he missed a kick. That means Reichard is going to have a new look when he shows up to practice next week.

To make matters worse for the rookie kicker, Reichard missed a second kick to close out the first half, this one from considerably closer, as he doinked a 31-yard field goal off the upright. Missing multiple kicks in a game is not something Reichard is used to, as he only had three games at Alabama with multiple missed kicks in his five seasons in Tuscaloosa.

If it can go wrong for the Vikings, it has in the first half.

Broncos vs. Falcons could be flexed to ‘Sunday Night Football’

The Broncos’ home game against the Falcons in Week 11 could be a strong candidate to get flexed to ‘Sunday Night Football.’

The Denver Broncos‘ home game against the Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 17 could be flexed to prime time.

Mario Vetanze, a certified posture exercise professional and massage therapist who lists Broncos players among his clients, has been leaking the team’s uniform combinations ahead of Denver’s games this season.

This week, Vetanze tweeted that he’s hearing “rumblings” that the Broncos will wear orange jerseys with orange pants against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 11 because the game could be flexed to Sunday Night Football.

The Denver-Atlanta game is currently scheduled to air on Fox at 2:05 p.m. MT. A flex to SNF would make it a 6:20 p.m. MT game on NBC.

If the game is flexed to SNF, an announcement would arrive by mid-week because the NFL has to give teams at least 12 days of notice.

The current matchup scheduled for SNF that week is the New York Jets (3-6) hosting the Indianapolis Colts (4-4). One could argue that the Broncos-Falcons game is a more intriguing matchup, and it will mark safety Justin Simmons’ return to Denver.

Stay tuned. If the game is flexed, an announcement is not far away.

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Cowboys superstar LB unlikely to play vs. 49ers in Week 8

Micah Parsons is likely out for Week 8 per Adam Schefter.

It appears the banged up San Francisco 49ers are going to avoid facing Dallas Cowboys superstar edge rusher Micah Parsons when the two teams face off Sunday night.

Parsons was a non-participant Wednesday and Thursday for the Cowboys, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the three-time All-Pro is unlikely to recover from his ankle injury in time to play Sunday night.

This is a significant deal for a 49ers offensive line that has struggled at times this season. It’s also helpful for quarterback Brock Purdy who has generated some pressures of his own by holding onto the football too long.

Without Parsons, Dallas may have to resort to more blitzing to generate pass rush which is something Purdy and the 49ers’ offense should be able to take advantage of.

Parsons had 21 pressures and only 1.0 sacks in four games before his injury. He had 40.5 in the three seasons prior to this one, including a career-high 14.0 last season.

Without Parsons and edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence, who is on IR with a foot injury, the Cowboys have relied on a rotating cast of pass rushers to provide pressure.

Interior lineman Osa Odighizuwa has 17 pressures to lead the non-Parsons and Lawrence Cowboys. Odighizuwa, edge rusher Chauncey Golston and linebacker Eric Kendricks all have two sacks each per Pro Football Focus.

With the 49ers dealing with a host of their own injuries on offense, they’ll take the reprieve of missing Dallas’s top edge rushers in Week 8.

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Jaguars vs. Eagles Week 9 matchup flexed

Jaguars vs. Eagles Week 9 matchup flexed

The Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5) and Philadelphia Eagles’ (4-2) Week 9 matchup has been flexed out of Sunday Night Football, the NFL announced on Monday.

Kickoff is now scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 3, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Penn. Per the Jaguars, the game will remain nationally televised via CBS.

The NFL flexed Jacksonville and Philadelphia out of Sunday Night Football in favor of the Indianapolis Colts (4-3) and Minnesota Vikings’ (5-1) showdown in Week 9, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn.

The NFL provided no reasoning for the switch in its news release.

The game will mark Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson’s second matchup with his former team, the Eagles, since being fired by Philadelphia after the 2020 season.

Jacksonville lost to Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field in 2022, his first year on the job with the Jaguars, 29-21.

Pederson led the Eagles to their first Super Bowl victory in 2018, when Philadelphia beat New England 41-33.

Aaron Rodgers unsurprisingly took a shot at Jets media after the team’s SNF loss to the Steelers

Aaron Rodgers will always have silly priorities.

Aaron Rodgers is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. At his various peaks — namely, his four MVP awards — he felt impossible to defend. Based on his unserious approach and reaction to the New York Jets’ disappointing 2-5 start, we’ve likely seen the clear end of any consistent Rodgers dominance. Adding Davante Adams was always going to be a failed mask.

After the Jets took a 37-15 loss on the chin from Russell Wilson’s Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night, Rodgers was asked about how he and his teammates can keep morale up as New York’s season starts circling the drain.

Unsurprisingly, rather than take any responsibility for throwing six interceptions in the Jets’ four-game losing streak, Rodgers took a shot at the media for (rightfully) not believing in his team:

The absolute irony of this kind of statement to come from Rodgers. We are talking about a guy who probably listens to what people say about him and his team more than anyone while constantly claiming that “actually, he doesn’t care.” And for Rodgers to say this as the Jets’ season officially goes off the rails is vintage Rodgers. He would likely always be the first NFL player, I’d guess, who would take a shot at the press over a mess of his own doing.

Everyone else is always the enemy. He is never at fault. He is special, and everyone else only need acknowledge that. Internal retrospection seemingly just does not exist in his heart.

And that, dearest readers, is why the Jets’ tailspin with the quarterback they sold their soul for will likely continue indefinitely.

Steelers vs. Jets: Aaron Rodgers must win the time of possession battle

New York Jets QB Aaron Rodgers will need to overwhelm the Pittsburgh Steelers pass defense and keep Najee Harris on the sideline in Week 7.

Delegating touches has been an area of interest for quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the New York Jets’ offense.

Rodgers will be looking to get the ball to newly acquired wide receiver Davante Adams, as well as keep wide receiver Garrett Wilson, and running back Breece Hall involved on Sunday night.

The question is; will the Jets have enough time of possession to get the ball distributed on offense?

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is going to start Russell Wilson at quarterback and look to keep the ball away from the Jets offense. Steelers running back Najee Harris will be asked carry the offense so that fatigue sets in on the Jets’ defense.

While, Adams is a huge upgrade from Mike Williams, it won’t matter who the Jets have on offense if their defense can’t get off the field.

The Jets’ offense must therefore capture and maintain the lead early to neutralize the Steelers plan.

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Total first downs are a stat to look for in this game and will be directly tied to the winner of time of possession.

The 4-2 Steelers might bench Justin Fields for Russell Wilson

It sounds like the 4-2 Steelers plan to bench Justin Fields in favor of ex-Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson this week.

It’s looking like former Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson is set to start for the Pittsburgh Steelers against the New York Jets on Sunday Night Football in Week 7.

Wilson started getting first-team reps in practice earlier this week, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted that Wilson “seems to be trending toward” starting against the Jets on Sunday night.

It’s a curious decision from the Steelers because they are currently 4-2 and Justin Fields has 10 total touchdowns against one interception this fall. Fields has also fumbled six times, and he admitted that he hasn’t done enough to keep the QB1 role.

On Friday, Tomlin would not declare a starter, at least not publicly (the coach has already made his decision). While Tomlin’s not making an announcement, wide receiver George Pickens mentioned in his media availability that Wilson will make his first start on Sunday.

Unless Tomlin is attempting an elaborate smokescreen to throw off the Jets, it certainly seems like Wilson is trending toward starting in Week 7.

Wilson signed with Pittsburgh this spring after being cut by Denver.

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Steelers’ Russell Wilson had his worst NFL season with Jets’ Nathaniel Hackett

Steelers’ Russell Wilson had his worst NFL season with Jets’ Nathaniel Hackett

After the 2022 NFL season, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson started receiving scorn for his tenure with the Denver Broncos. Well, New York Jets’ offensive assistant Nathaniel Hackett was the head coach calling his plays that year.

In 2022, Hackett had the Broncos ranking last in the NFL in points per game.

Well, seeing that the Jets needed to demote Hackett five weeks into the this season, even though he had a glorious quarterback named Aaron Rodgers at his disposal, Wilson may have gotten the bad end of the blame.

Wilson is “washed,” according to many, but his 26 touchdown, eight interception 2023 season stat line would suggest the very opposite.

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The Jets’ defense will need to account for the scramble ability of Wilson Sunday night, unless they plan on falling to 2-5. Wilson’s composure and intuitiveness supersedes that of Justin Fields, and secretly,  Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin knows this.

Wide receiver Davante Adams is elite class, but acquiring him doesn’t guarantee a Jets’ win in week seven. Ultimately, If Wilson gets his first season start, and comes out victorious over Hackett and the Jets, suffering succotash.

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Tyler Smith had a NSFW explanation for Jalen Tolbert’s ballsy adversity before TD

The Cowboys’ Jalen Tolbert fought through a very unique injury before his winning TD.

In a tough Pittsburgh road environment where inclement weather led to an extensive start time delay, the Dallas Cowboys already had plenty of adversity on their plate.

However, Dallas receiver Jalen Tolbert — who scored the game-winning touchdown on a fourth-and-goal play in the final minute — was apparently dealing with the most of anyone.

By far.

According to an NSFW explanation from Cowboys guard Tyler Smith in the postgame locker room, Tolbert had “[expletive] sprained his nuts” on a chaotic play right before his winning touchdown. Smith would quickly correct himself without the curse word while appreciating Tolbert’s mental toughness in a clutch situation.

Warning: NSFW language in the tweet below.

Your Dallas Cowboys, everyone! They beat [expletive] groin injuries and still win! Who would’ve thought? Not me.

Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys, Week 5: Delayed with weather concerns

The Dallas Cowboys visited the Pittsburgh Steelers for their Week 5 matchup, but what awaited them was lightning and weather delays.

It appears that the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys will make fans wait a little longer for their anticipated rivalry game.

The 3-1 Steelers are hosting the 2-2 Cowboys in Pittsburgh this week for Sunday Night Football, and Mother Nature bends or kneels for no one, including the ‘Steel City’.

Depressing clouds, grey skies, and rain storms paint the picture in Pittsburgh.  The specific weather concerns seem to stem from a lightning delay, which viewers around the world can see clearly above Acrisure Stadium.

Waiting for the weather to clear up will be ideal for both teams, however, playing conditions could still worsen once the game begins.

There appears to be no timetable in sight for a return, but we at Steelers Wire will keep you updated as fans eagerly await the start of this historic rivalry between the NFC’s Dallas Cowboys and the AFC’s Pittsburgh Steelers.  The teams will both continue to prepare and stay loose for the games imminent start.

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