For some reason I feel better going into the Rams game after an underwhelming offensive game from the Seahawks. Let them watch us stub our toes repeatedly and think they can handle us if they follow the Colts and Vikings recipe. Go ahead. Make my Thursday.
Should be a great game, and hopefully this time we win. I'm not going to lose my mind if we don't. The games that really matter are still coming. Would I like the #1 seed? Sure, one less game to play. Do we need the #1 seed? Nope.
The run game is the one worry, and pretty much the only worry, I have with this team. Solid to really good everywhere else. We don't have to run for 200+ every game to have the offense function properly, but we do have to press 100 yards or more. It just makes everything off of that work. No run game will be a problem if we can't get back to at least a modest ability to gain 3 - 4 yards when we need to.
There were some cool passing concepts in the game yesterday that Kubiak used. More than once he had receivers run routes over top of each other, with one receiver trailing the other. Then they diverged late, and sometimes he'd also run a late under route with the TE or RB to hold the flat corner. It was working too, but Sam seldom had the time to find the open guy, as pressure was too quick getting there. Cool concept though. Hope the o-line can hold off the pressure against the Rams so Sam can get to some of these.
Officiating is a little bad...but it kinda always was. I do think gambling has infiltrated the NFL and refs can be persuaded. I wish they had expedited review ability for some non calls or to reverse some calls that are currently non reviewable.
Keneth walker seems to get a lot of good runs called back for penalties, is it because he hits incorrect holes that allow defenders to slide off blocks and then o line ends up holding?
I think it shows grit that you can grind out any win. My one takeaway was we can move the ball into scoring position with very little time and no way to stop the clock and successfully convert our one opportunity into points needed for the win. If we need to do that again, we know we can do it.
Begaw! FTR. I'm actually probably the only one, but I'm more concerned about San Fran than I am about LA. But we shall see.
Remember the preseason narrative that the Raiders were playoff-bound in 2025 and the Seahawks would be picking early in 2026? That one didn’t age well. I just read an article on CBSSports that called the Seahawks and the Rams the “two best teams in the NFL”. Surreal. I have to admit the Raiders misfortune this season has given me more than a little satisfaction.
Uff, I remember. Darnold and JSN were supposed to be a downgrade, OL was supposed to be deficient, etc, etc...
I made the mistake of watching a Raiders themed podcast tonight. Complete and total negativity without a single positive comment. Rumors are Geno faked his injury because he wants out, Carroll needs to be and will be fired, the young players are not being developed.... It was a good reminder that we as fans have it pretty good.
Teams plan individual games to win wars/Division-Super Bowl. Recent Hawk O game plans were conservative. Yesterday's stuck out bc Colts didn't self-destruct like Vikes & Falcons. D plan also seemed conservative - few obvious pressures, overplays, etc.
One reason may be MM & Co. know Hawks must beat Rams & SF to win any "wars" - if Hawks can win w/vanilla, Rams don't have film preview of O & D tactics tailored for them.
Rams & SF split, Hawks lost to both. Both give Hawks all they can handle & more in Rams case.
My guess & hope is TNF Hawks have practiced and saved O & D looks McVay's never seen.
Of course McVay uncorks O & D looks Hawks haven't seen - incoming Sammy!!!
O hope is Shaheed is truly integrated in the O such that Rams can't cover like in game 1.
If Cross is hurt, uh oh, Sam's already nervous. TNF excitement on the way!
This exists, it's just not public. There are more crews than games & they do get internally ranked with better crews given more important (and more prime time/national tv) games. Whilst not made public, you can assume the crew assigned to TNF Hawks @ Rams is in the upper tier of Refs (based on the NFLs internal logic, so... um... yeah...).
Reflecting on yesterday’s game, I am not as down on the offense as some. Since Thanksgiving, we have had a run of very good defenses, and our offense has hung in there, though not always excelled. On the good side vs the Colts, we consistently got into scoring range and scored each time we did. Field position was horrible in the first half, and we didn’t take risks and have turnovers in dangerous positions. We scored on 4 out of 5 drives in the 2nd half, including the critical game-winning drive into FG range, while Indy punted 3 times and only scored on one drive by hitting a 60 yd FG. In short, we decisively won the 2nd half and the game.
I like Sea Hawk Run!’s analogy to baseball games where you get a lot of guys on base but don’t score. I would also offer a soccer analogy, where a team dominates possession and the run of play, but just doesn’t get one in goal. Yesterday felt a lot like that. In soccer terms, Indy “bunkered” and tried to hold on, but we kept chipping away. And we had to play a bit more careful and conservative, because their run-and-dump offense wasn’t going to turn the ball over. Mike likes to take risks - but not yesterday. I’m happy with how he adjusted to this tight game situation.
What worries me? The running game, of course. This is clearly not an offense that can lead with the run. Blocking, backs, whatever, we just don’t have the talent. But the OL is improved from last year - and our passing game is dangerous, while our defense and special teams often put the offense in advantageous positions. It’s a grade-B offense with a grade-A defense, and that can be a winning formula. Was it any different back in 2013-14?
The Rams may be grade-A on both sides, so that is our challenge. Feels like they are peaking, and have now passed us in point differential [edit: no, we are still 4 pts ahead], which could be the tie-breaker if we win on Thursday but don’t win out. Hoping for a big game on D, less turnovers on offense, and another no-miss outing from good-year Myers.
Quick comment on that Parkinson catch, and I hate the Rams, but I think everyone has got to be missing something when it seems so obvious and I think the issue was he didn't actually secure the ball and make the catch until he'd fallen into the end zone. I could easily be wrong, but I think the rule would be that the location of the ball when he's actually completed the catch is the critical factor.
Also, the refs have been bad this year. Although I'm a Canadian and CFL fan and absolutely hate reviewing of pass interference. So, not sure where to go from here.
This actually happens quite a bit in the NFL just the opposite direction. A receiver will "catch" the ball for a first down, get hit hard, ball bobbles in his hand, he then secures the catch short of the first down.
Forward progress is not granted and it is not a first down because it is where he secures the catch that matters.
FWIW, I think whatever the call was on the field would have stood. If they called it down at the 1, no catch, or TD ... based on the video that was not conclusive, I think all three calls would have "stand"
Allow the Lead Official to declare 'no flag' by determining flagrant PI from a pinch on the back of a jersey. An Official can take a 3 and out offense often into field goal range with the call and very easily choose who goes to the Playoffs. I detest the interruptions, so when the game stakes are that high, declare it an option enforced today. Imagine the dark pressures brought on these officials by the gambling world. Hell, have the League hire Lead Officials to manage their volunteers, holding them strictly accountable by reviews.
I have only read the first two paragraphs so far, so keep that in mind, but if I only did 5 minutes of housework every day I would lose ground to the housework. I am alone now, and I do all of the housework. 5 minutes won't cut it.
Buy a robo vac and mop. Expensive but they work well. Unexpected benefit is while it buzzes around, if you're typing on SSJ, rather than doing stuff you should be doing, it makes you feel like you're at least doing something. ;-)
On reflection, we shouldn’t worry about the lack of TDs too deeply. In baseball, a team that gets on base 27 times could be shutout or get 24+ runs, depending on how things stack.
Colts' average starting field position: 38.7-yard line.
Seahawks' average starting field position: 19.9-yard line.
Yet the Seahawks got into scoring position six times. One drive ended with the 3rd down Rashid Shaheed non call. Small errors stopped other drives. We just didn’t string successes together.
The Colts put together one string for a TD, but had few yards and didn’t get into scoring position as often, even with much shorter fields.
Come to think of it, in the final drive in LA, we faced a short clock and a long 99.5 yard field - and nearly won.
May the Seahawks’ offense string successes and face short fields Thursday evening!
Me? Nah. I was pulling for the Ms, but I haven’t been into baseball since the 80s. Back then I was in So Cal. I had two front row season tickets for every third game in Anaheim at less than $10 per ticket. I was at the game they lost to Boston, preventing them from going to a potential first World Series, so I know the feeling.
I moved to Camas, WA in the 90s. At one point, I looked into taking my three-kid family to a Mariners game. It would have been $50 or so per seat with a partially obstructed view, plus gas and hotel. Never did take the kids to a ball game.
Now I’m in Southern Oregon. Do they even televise Mariners games here?
But looking back, it was the strike year when I lost interest in the game. With the high ticket prices, MLB never got me back.
I lived in Vancouver, WA in the 90s (actually from the 40s through the first couple of years of the 2000s) but now I'm in Southern AZ where the only Seahawks games I can get on any of the broadcast stations is the Sunday , Monday and Thursday night games. Have to use my daughter's U-tube Sunday ticket to see them.
The starting field position was the most critical factor in the game, by far. Even the raw numbers don't do it justice - the Colts always seemed to start a drive one first down from a long field goal and the Hawks were handing off the ball inside their own 10 a lot. Just once I would have loved to see the Colts start deep in their own end.
Also, ironically, the one play which may have flipped all of that in the first half was the rarity of a JSN drop - he makes that catch, that's 20 yards the way he was moving and even with a punt, the whole tenor of field position would have changed.
I was at the game and just rewatched it on the TV coverage. I have a different perspective than most. Thought the Colts displayed the blueprint to beat modern defenses and Mike Mac. Run run run. (this is what the Rams should do on Thursday). Quick throws and stay out of obvious passing situations where they can get into their exotic looks (simulated pressures). I am not sure why the Hawks didn't crowd the line of scrimmage to stop the run and quick game. But at least they will have to play similar to stop the Rams.
Offensively, I thought this was one of Darnold's better games. He had another fumble which at this point I just don't understand it. But he didn't put the ball in harm's way once that I can remember. His line did not play well. The running game was not there. He had drops. He had miscommunications. And yes he missed some throws himself. And yet, he found a way to convert a 4th down (4th read?), he ran for a 1st down, he led two drives at the end of the halves for much needed points and one to win the game.
This was more impressive than the Commanders game. That game everything was obvious and easy. He went what seemed like for weeks without getting hit. This game he got hit and back up and threw a laser beam to Shaheed with a minute left.
Maybe he missed some open receivers or played too conservatively, those are arguments that we may see in the coming days. But I came away pretty happy with the performance.
Why even take the hit? Because in a split second, QB has to simultaneously process what he knows about the immediate situation concurrently with everything he has learned in the last twelve games.
The guy comes in from straight in front of him on a 2nd and 18. Why even take a hit? Let alone fumble. Lucky the ball kicked out of bounds but that is the type of play that will lose a game very quickly. Giving them the ball at our own 10-yard line and for what upside? To try and make it 3rd and 17?
I think he was hit more from the side than the front and Darnold did not see the tackler. The concern for me at the time is the hit was right on his throwing arm/shoulder which could have led to an injury. He should have slid or just thrown the ball away.
On the TV broadcast he runs to his left, pumps to somebody on the left sideline (I think to freeze the defender on the left side in front of him) and then is hit from the right. He turned his head a split second to the right just before the hit but it was too late by then.
The Hawks were on the 10 yard line at the time so I think Darnold was just trying to position the team for better field positioning. Even if the right side defender wasn't there he likely would have only picked up a couple more yards due to the other defender.
In the end, it wasn't worth it and he should have thrown the ball away.
Nothing better than screenshots that don't take any context of what actually happened to try and prove someone's point.
The officials ruled Parkinson a TD on the field. The reason he wasn't down at the 1 is because it was unclear when he had possession. Probably was closer to not a catch than down at the 1. In the end, the play stands was/is pretty clearly the right decision. Had they called it incomplete or down at the 1 on the field, those calls also would've stood.
I am not sure what fans are complaining about in the Hawks game? Maybe the PI call on Jobe was a little soft? Maybe if you call that you got to call something on the Colts like holding? Not sure, didn't see much.
Thought the officiating was really bad for the Falcons on Thursday Night and they still ended up winning.
Think the officiating has been pretty normal this year. It is an impossible game to officiate, and they do a great job for the most part.
The only call I had a real problem with was the PI on Jobe. Jobe was attempting to break up the pass however I have seen other plays not called that looked similar. It is the inconsistency I don't care for.
I am currently watching the game again.... It's much less stressful now.🙂
At 31 seconds left in the half Darnold passes to JSN. Defender Edwards is draped all over JSN and riding his back while trying to break up the pass. That one should have been called. Same game, different call.
We made it to Week 15 before I had to dig out the Referee's comment, so the officiating really cannot be that bad! But they do need to make DPI reviewable, it's too impactful as both a call and non-call with huge yardage swings. Plus i'll tack on my usual addendum to armchair refereeing, if you have never tried to officiate (in any sport) then you don't get to nitpick and moan about officiating (within reason), so ignore near enough anyone on X (which is also just general life advice, get off X!) including ex-players/coaches.
I'll judge the Seattle offense after Thursday. The Vikings gameplan was superb, we got going against Atlanta in the end, and the Colts did another excellent job. Fortunately we have a Defense so good that if we don't turn it over, we only need 1TD to have a more-than-a-coin-flip chance to win. So Thursday, hoping Darnold doesn't turn it over, does throw a TD, and then we should be properly in position to win the game to decide the NFC - which would be pretty fucking awesome!
Yeah I played college soccer and then got registered with FIFA and refereed for awhile. I hear you on the challenges but on the other hand, we who have tried it still have mad respect for the truly great referees we see from a distance. Have very high expectations for NFL referees, it's like being selected to referee World Cup games, best of the best.
In addition to making PI reviewable, what other suggestions would you make to take them out of the game (in the good sense). I wonder sometimes about some of those roughing the passer calls or targeting calls too, should they be reviewable (or, maybe they are?).
The NFL doesn't have 'Targeting' in the way CFB does. Falls under Unnecessary Roughness/Impermissible Use of the Helmet, for 15yds + auto 1st Down + League assessed fine. I don't see a need to make that reviewable.
Roughing the Passer, nah. We've been through the adjustment phased for both players & refs, and i don't really see it miscalled anymore, certainly not enough to warrant a review or change.
The NFL does a reasonable job staying ontop of things. Like there was a growing issue with calling hits on players sliding/giving themselves up but this has been somewhat worked on by calling yardage a lot more conservatively. This could however still be done better, but doesn't need to be reviewable.
My biggest change would be to digitize spotting the football. GPS & camera tracking of the ball to more accurately spot it, rather than leaving it to an officials eye. Could definitely be done, and i believe in a way where high tempo drives would not be affected.
Then outside of the game I ask for this in basically all sports, is some kind of release later in the week that goes over some of the main talking points from the weekend. Explaining why this play was called, that play wasn't etc. Even if you may disagree with the outcome, when you know the process it's so much easier to get behind the refs and focus on the important things.
The Premier League (UK soccer) has started doing this and reviewing key talking points to explain them. World Rugby has done similar with Nigel Owens on youtube. It'd be cool for the NFL to do in conjunction with the referees (i.e. not just NFL Network talking about the games without knowledge, although that's like 75% of their programming).
For some reason I feel better going into the Rams game after an underwhelming offensive game from the Seahawks. Let them watch us stub our toes repeatedly and think they can handle us if they follow the Colts and Vikings recipe. Go ahead. Make my Thursday.
Should be a great game, and hopefully this time we win. I'm not going to lose my mind if we don't. The games that really matter are still coming. Would I like the #1 seed? Sure, one less game to play. Do we need the #1 seed? Nope.
The run game is the one worry, and pretty much the only worry, I have with this team. Solid to really good everywhere else. We don't have to run for 200+ every game to have the offense function properly, but we do have to press 100 yards or more. It just makes everything off of that work. No run game will be a problem if we can't get back to at least a modest ability to gain 3 - 4 yards when we need to.
There were some cool passing concepts in the game yesterday that Kubiak used. More than once he had receivers run routes over top of each other, with one receiver trailing the other. Then they diverged late, and sometimes he'd also run a late under route with the TE or RB to hold the flat corner. It was working too, but Sam seldom had the time to find the open guy, as pressure was too quick getting there. Cool concept though. Hope the o-line can hold off the pressure against the Rams so Sam can get to some of these.
Officiating is a little bad...but it kinda always was. I do think gambling has infiltrated the NFL and refs can be persuaded. I wish they had expedited review ability for some non calls or to reverse some calls that are currently non reviewable.
Keneth walker seems to get a lot of good runs called back for penalties, is it because he hits incorrect holes that allow defenders to slide off blocks and then o line ends up holding?
I think it shows grit that you can grind out any win. My one takeaway was we can move the ball into scoring position with very little time and no way to stop the clock and successfully convert our one opportunity into points needed for the win. If we need to do that again, we know we can do it.
Begaw! FTR. I'm actually probably the only one, but I'm more concerned about San Fran than I am about LA. But we shall see.
Remember the preseason narrative that the Raiders were playoff-bound in 2025 and the Seahawks would be picking early in 2026? That one didn’t age well. I just read an article on CBSSports that called the Seahawks and the Rams the “two best teams in the NFL”. Surreal. I have to admit the Raiders misfortune this season has given me more than a little satisfaction.
Uff, I remember. Darnold and JSN were supposed to be a downgrade, OL was supposed to be deficient, etc, etc...
I made the mistake of watching a Raiders themed podcast tonight. Complete and total negativity without a single positive comment. Rumors are Geno faked his injury because he wants out, Carroll needs to be and will be fired, the young players are not being developed.... It was a good reminder that we as fans have it pretty good.
Teams plan individual games to win wars/Division-Super Bowl. Recent Hawk O game plans were conservative. Yesterday's stuck out bc Colts didn't self-destruct like Vikes & Falcons. D plan also seemed conservative - few obvious pressures, overplays, etc.
One reason may be MM & Co. know Hawks must beat Rams & SF to win any "wars" - if Hawks can win w/vanilla, Rams don't have film preview of O & D tactics tailored for them.
Rams & SF split, Hawks lost to both. Both give Hawks all they can handle & more in Rams case.
My guess & hope is TNF Hawks have practiced and saved O & D looks McVay's never seen.
Of course McVay uncorks O & D looks Hawks haven't seen - incoming Sammy!!!
O hope is Shaheed is truly integrated in the O such that Rams can't cover like in game 1.
If Cross is hurt, uh oh, Sam's already nervous. TNF excitement on the way!
I think we should have ref crew power rankings, there should be extra crews and the bottom few lose out on the chance to referee the bigger games
This exists, it's just not public. There are more crews than games & they do get internally ranked with better crews given more important (and more prime time/national tv) games. Whilst not made public, you can assume the crew assigned to TNF Hawks @ Rams is in the upper tier of Refs (based on the NFLs internal logic, so... um... yeah...).
And I quote: "Ray: A lot has been said about Seattles uglest loss, but this might be Seattles uglest win. ...
So ugliest it was uglest! (I know it’s just a typo, but kind of a fitting one, don’t you think, Ray? Not just ugliest…uglest! Because it was!)"
Thank you for being kind to me, but I really can't spell or type. I love your work and am super glad I can contribute.
Reflecting on yesterday’s game, I am not as down on the offense as some. Since Thanksgiving, we have had a run of very good defenses, and our offense has hung in there, though not always excelled. On the good side vs the Colts, we consistently got into scoring range and scored each time we did. Field position was horrible in the first half, and we didn’t take risks and have turnovers in dangerous positions. We scored on 4 out of 5 drives in the 2nd half, including the critical game-winning drive into FG range, while Indy punted 3 times and only scored on one drive by hitting a 60 yd FG. In short, we decisively won the 2nd half and the game.
I like Sea Hawk Run!’s analogy to baseball games where you get a lot of guys on base but don’t score. I would also offer a soccer analogy, where a team dominates possession and the run of play, but just doesn’t get one in goal. Yesterday felt a lot like that. In soccer terms, Indy “bunkered” and tried to hold on, but we kept chipping away. And we had to play a bit more careful and conservative, because their run-and-dump offense wasn’t going to turn the ball over. Mike likes to take risks - but not yesterday. I’m happy with how he adjusted to this tight game situation.
What worries me? The running game, of course. This is clearly not an offense that can lead with the run. Blocking, backs, whatever, we just don’t have the talent. But the OL is improved from last year - and our passing game is dangerous, while our defense and special teams often put the offense in advantageous positions. It’s a grade-B offense with a grade-A defense, and that can be a winning formula. Was it any different back in 2013-14?
The Rams may be grade-A on both sides, so that is our challenge. Feels like they are peaking, and have now passed us in point differential [edit: no, we are still 4 pts ahead], which could be the tie-breaker if we win on Thursday but don’t win out. Hoping for a big game on D, less turnovers on offense, and another no-miss outing from good-year Myers.
If we win Thursday we will have an even larger point differential.
Quick comment on that Parkinson catch, and I hate the Rams, but I think everyone has got to be missing something when it seems so obvious and I think the issue was he didn't actually secure the ball and make the catch until he'd fallen into the end zone. I could easily be wrong, but I think the rule would be that the location of the ball when he's actually completed the catch is the critical factor.
Also, the refs have been bad this year. Although I'm a Canadian and CFL fan and absolutely hate reviewing of pass interference. So, not sure where to go from here.
How about we just get rid of pass interference? Let those guys fight it out for the ball once it’s in the air. Might be more fun.
You are correct on the Parkinson's catch.
This actually happens quite a bit in the NFL just the opposite direction. A receiver will "catch" the ball for a first down, get hit hard, ball bobbles in his hand, he then secures the catch short of the first down.
Forward progress is not granted and it is not a first down because it is where he secures the catch that matters.
FWIW, I think whatever the call was on the field would have stood. If they called it down at the 1, no catch, or TD ... based on the video that was not conclusive, I think all three calls would have "stand"
Allow the Lead Official to declare 'no flag' by determining flagrant PI from a pinch on the back of a jersey. An Official can take a 3 and out offense often into field goal range with the call and very easily choose who goes to the Playoffs. I detest the interruptions, so when the game stakes are that high, declare it an option enforced today. Imagine the dark pressures brought on these officials by the gambling world. Hell, have the League hire Lead Officials to manage their volunteers, holding them strictly accountable by reviews.
I have only read the first two paragraphs so far, so keep that in mind, but if I only did 5 minutes of housework every day I would lose ground to the housework. I am alone now, and I do all of the housework. 5 minutes won't cut it.
Buy a robo vac and mop. Expensive but they work well. Unexpected benefit is while it buzzes around, if you're typing on SSJ, rather than doing stuff you should be doing, it makes you feel like you're at least doing something. ;-)
.... now a robo lawn mower...
Like a sheep
Re: PI. Sometimes it is called incorrectly. Sometimes it is not called at all. It seems there is no simple or easy solution to fix both instances.
On reflection, we shouldn’t worry about the lack of TDs too deeply. In baseball, a team that gets on base 27 times could be shutout or get 24+ runs, depending on how things stack.
Colts' average starting field position: 38.7-yard line.
Seahawks' average starting field position: 19.9-yard line.
Yet the Seahawks got into scoring position six times. One drive ended with the 3rd down Rashid Shaheed non call. Small errors stopped other drives. We just didn’t string successes together.
The Colts put together one string for a TD, but had few yards and didn’t get into scoring position as often, even with much shorter fields.
Come to think of it, in the final drive in LA, we faced a short clock and a long 99.5 yard field - and nearly won.
May the Seahawks’ offense string successes and face short fields Thursday evening!
The baseball analogy sounds like a guy still recovering from M's high LOB and low RISP avg!
Me? Nah. I was pulling for the Ms, but I haven’t been into baseball since the 80s. Back then I was in So Cal. I had two front row season tickets for every third game in Anaheim at less than $10 per ticket. I was at the game they lost to Boston, preventing them from going to a potential first World Series, so I know the feeling.
I moved to Camas, WA in the 90s. At one point, I looked into taking my three-kid family to a Mariners game. It would have been $50 or so per seat with a partially obstructed view, plus gas and hotel. Never did take the kids to a ball game.
Now I’m in Southern Oregon. Do they even televise Mariners games here?
But looking back, it was the strike year when I lost interest in the game. With the high ticket prices, MLB never got me back.
I lived in Vancouver, WA in the 90s (actually from the 40s through the first couple of years of the 2000s) but now I'm in Southern AZ where the only Seahawks games I can get on any of the broadcast stations is the Sunday , Monday and Thursday night games. Have to use my daughter's U-tube Sunday ticket to see them.
I was hoping for a Mariners vs Dodgers showdown in the world series.
The starting field position was the most critical factor in the game, by far. Even the raw numbers don't do it justice - the Colts always seemed to start a drive one first down from a long field goal and the Hawks were handing off the ball inside their own 10 a lot. Just once I would have loved to see the Colts start deep in their own end.
Also, ironically, the one play which may have flipped all of that in the first half was the rarity of a JSN drop - he makes that catch, that's 20 yards the way he was moving and even with a punt, the whole tenor of field position would have changed.
I just double checked with my wife and we did not, in fact, have a newborn child on Sunday. That comment came from "Gavin," not "Grant." Phew!
Wrong wife?
ha ha... one is plenty for me.
Funny.
I was at the game and just rewatched it on the TV coverage. I have a different perspective than most. Thought the Colts displayed the blueprint to beat modern defenses and Mike Mac. Run run run. (this is what the Rams should do on Thursday). Quick throws and stay out of obvious passing situations where they can get into their exotic looks (simulated pressures). I am not sure why the Hawks didn't crowd the line of scrimmage to stop the run and quick game. But at least they will have to play similar to stop the Rams.
Offensively, I thought this was one of Darnold's better games. He had another fumble which at this point I just don't understand it. But he didn't put the ball in harm's way once that I can remember. His line did not play well. The running game was not there. He had drops. He had miscommunications. And yes he missed some throws himself. And yet, he found a way to convert a 4th down (4th read?), he ran for a 1st down, he led two drives at the end of the halves for much needed points and one to win the game.
This was more impressive than the Commanders game. That game everything was obvious and easy. He went what seemed like for weeks without getting hit. This game he got hit and back up and threw a laser beam to Shaheed with a minute left.
Maybe he missed some open receivers or played too conservatively, those are arguments that we may see in the coming days. But I came away pretty happy with the performance.
Why even take the hit? Because in a split second, QB has to simultaneously process what he knows about the immediate situation concurrently with everything he has learned in the last twelve games.
https://x.com/codytalksnfl/status/2000694213831168442?s=46&t=GOr4QVtKtJ8ZabyL8K_o7Q
This is a safety. Split second? The saftey runs from 20 yards away.
Just throw the ball away or slide.
“He had another fumble which at this point I just don't understand it.”
This one came on an awfully hard hit. If Darnold hadn’t fumbled all season, this one probably isn’t noticeable.
yeah ... the pattern continues.
The guy comes in from straight in front of him on a 2nd and 18. Why even take a hit? Let alone fumble. Lucky the ball kicked out of bounds but that is the type of play that will lose a game very quickly. Giving them the ball at our own 10-yard line and for what upside? To try and make it 3rd and 17?
I think he was hit more from the side than the front and Darnold did not see the tackler. The concern for me at the time is the hit was right on his throwing arm/shoulder which could have led to an injury. He should have slid or just thrown the ball away.
https://x.com/codytalksnfl/status/2000694213831168442?s=46&t=GOr4QVtKtJ8ZabyL8K_o7Q
Not sure how he didn’t see him (I think he did).
Agree on throwing away or getting down. No reason to risk anything there on a second and 18
On the TV broadcast he runs to his left, pumps to somebody on the left sideline (I think to freeze the defender on the left side in front of him) and then is hit from the right. He turned his head a split second to the right just before the hit but it was too late by then.
The Hawks were on the 10 yard line at the time so I think Darnold was just trying to position the team for better field positioning. Even if the right side defender wasn't there he likely would have only picked up a couple more yards due to the other defender.
In the end, it wasn't worth it and he should have thrown the ball away.
Nothing better than screenshots that don't take any context of what actually happened to try and prove someone's point.
The officials ruled Parkinson a TD on the field. The reason he wasn't down at the 1 is because it was unclear when he had possession. Probably was closer to not a catch than down at the 1. In the end, the play stands was/is pretty clearly the right decision. Had they called it incomplete or down at the 1 on the field, those calls also would've stood.
I am not sure what fans are complaining about in the Hawks game? Maybe the PI call on Jobe was a little soft? Maybe if you call that you got to call something on the Colts like holding? Not sure, didn't see much.
Thought the officiating was really bad for the Falcons on Thursday Night and they still ended up winning.
Think the officiating has been pretty normal this year. It is an impossible game to officiate, and they do a great job for the most part.
The only call I had a real problem with was the PI on Jobe. Jobe was attempting to break up the pass however I have seen other plays not called that looked similar. It is the inconsistency I don't care for.
Yeah … that was questionable.
I am currently watching the game again.... It's much less stressful now.🙂
At 31 seconds left in the half Darnold passes to JSN. Defender Edwards is draped all over JSN and riding his back while trying to break up the pass. That one should have been called. Same game, different call.
Oh yeah … that was PI.
Not a big call but yeah pretty easy one. Often time I think of flags in terms of odds. I would say officials throw a flag there 90% of the time.
Yeah, not much of an impact at all. I don't think we were going to try for the TD and were just positioning for an easier Myers field goal.
Agree, I think the officiating is pretty good overall. I don't think the NFL has any referees at the competence of Angel Hernandez for instance.
My thoughts exactly.
Praying Cross is okay. Losing Cross would be bigger than Rams losing Davante.
We made it to Week 15 before I had to dig out the Referee's comment, so the officiating really cannot be that bad! But they do need to make DPI reviewable, it's too impactful as both a call and non-call with huge yardage swings. Plus i'll tack on my usual addendum to armchair refereeing, if you have never tried to officiate (in any sport) then you don't get to nitpick and moan about officiating (within reason), so ignore near enough anyone on X (which is also just general life advice, get off X!) including ex-players/coaches.
I'll judge the Seattle offense after Thursday. The Vikings gameplan was superb, we got going against Atlanta in the end, and the Colts did another excellent job. Fortunately we have a Defense so good that if we don't turn it over, we only need 1TD to have a more-than-a-coin-flip chance to win. So Thursday, hoping Darnold doesn't turn it over, does throw a TD, and then we should be properly in position to win the game to decide the NFC - which would be pretty fucking awesome!
I umpired for 1 season of t-ball when I was in high school. The parents ruined the experience and 1 season was enough for me. Never again.
An opening drive TD would be nice.
Yeah I played college soccer and then got registered with FIFA and refereed for awhile. I hear you on the challenges but on the other hand, we who have tried it still have mad respect for the truly great referees we see from a distance. Have very high expectations for NFL referees, it's like being selected to referee World Cup games, best of the best.
In addition to making PI reviewable, what other suggestions would you make to take them out of the game (in the good sense). I wonder sometimes about some of those roughing the passer calls or targeting calls too, should they be reviewable (or, maybe they are?).
The NFL doesn't have 'Targeting' in the way CFB does. Falls under Unnecessary Roughness/Impermissible Use of the Helmet, for 15yds + auto 1st Down + League assessed fine. I don't see a need to make that reviewable.
Roughing the Passer, nah. We've been through the adjustment phased for both players & refs, and i don't really see it miscalled anymore, certainly not enough to warrant a review or change.
The NFL does a reasonable job staying ontop of things. Like there was a growing issue with calling hits on players sliding/giving themselves up but this has been somewhat worked on by calling yardage a lot more conservatively. This could however still be done better, but doesn't need to be reviewable.
My biggest change would be to digitize spotting the football. GPS & camera tracking of the ball to more accurately spot it, rather than leaving it to an officials eye. Could definitely be done, and i believe in a way where high tempo drives would not be affected.
Then outside of the game I ask for this in basically all sports, is some kind of release later in the week that goes over some of the main talking points from the weekend. Explaining why this play was called, that play wasn't etc. Even if you may disagree with the outcome, when you know the process it's so much easier to get behind the refs and focus on the important things.
The Premier League (UK soccer) has started doing this and reviewing key talking points to explain them. World Rugby has done similar with Nigel Owens on youtube. It'd be cool for the NFL to do in conjunction with the referees (i.e. not just NFL Network talking about the games without knowledge, although that's like 75% of their programming).
It's the taunting calls that I find petty. Well, not all of them, but some seem so tame that the definition could be expanded a bit.
Three pumps, how did that get messed up?