Head Coach Ranking

NFL Week 14 Monday Observations

By HCR Staff | December 14, 2020

The post-season picture is becoming clearer as more teams are eliminated.  It’s a major miracle the NFL season is in Week 15.  Thanks as always to the players, coaches and staffers for providing us this entertainment during a difficult time.

Let’s get to it.

Mike Tomlin – Great Head Coach Or Not?  The Steelers lost last night against the Bills to drop their second straight game, and the “Mike Tomlin for Coach of the Year” chorus was silenced a bit.  Tomlin has a sterling career won-loss record, but is he really a great head coach?

Well, yes and no.

Here’s the “yes” part: motivation, being collaborative with the front office and ownership, passion and drive.  None of these things should be discounted; all are important to becoming a great head coach. 

Here’s the “no” part: In-game strategy, game management and game-planning.  These things also are important, of course.  For an example of Tomlin’s lack of sharp game management skills, just check out the end of the Steelers’ 2017 home loss to New England.

So Tomlin is a bit of a mixed bag as a head coach, but he has one advantage that no other head coach in the NFL has: the most stable ownership group in the NFL. 

The Rooney family ownership culture can’t be understated.  The culture gives its front office and coaches a sense of calm that breeds confidence and loyalty.  Grateful coaches want to win for this ownership group; they feel they are in possession of a real civic treasure, so they take their job performance very, very seriously. 

The Rooney family culture also seeps down to the players, and this also helps make Tomlin’s job a bit easier.  The players also want to win for the family, not just for themselves.

The Steelers will always be a bit hit or miss under Tomlin, but they’ll always be in the hunt. 

Doug Pederson Gets His Spark.  Last week, Eagles head coach Doug Pederson announced a quarterback change from Carson Wentz to rookie Jalen Hurts because he wanted a spark.  Well, it paid off in a big win against the talented Saints, who were playing their third consecutive road game.

Pederson did a good job of sticking with a plan that didn’t deviate from what Hurts does well.  For essentially the first time this season, we saw an Eagles team play disciplined ball.  The stripped down offense allowed the Eagles and Hurts to play fast, and that was the difference.  The Eagles were simply a bit faster and more intense than the Saints.

Does Hurts’ one game success mean Pederson’s off the hot seat?  If it were up to us, the answer is ‘no.’  Why?  Because we simply don’t know what to expect from the Eagles from game to game.  For an organization rich with resources, we think the product should be more consistent.

Andy Reid Gets The Win, But We See Some Loose Threads With The Chiefs.  The Chiefs still are the most talented team in the NFL, but one of the issues we saw yesterday is their penchant to get a bit ‘playground’ on offense.  Now for the most part, due to their talent, they can get away with it, but a seriously short-handed Dolphins squad pushed them to the limit.

From a coaching standpoint, the Chiefs are so talented that it’s natural a coach will want to try everything.  Five wide receiver sets, the quarterback taking a snap while in motion, backward passes, no-look passes, etc.  They’ve largely gotten away with it because the talent is just that good.

The funny thing is that the Chiefs also have a lot of running back talent too, but pounding it just seems too boring for them.  Plus, the shock plays they make demoralize opponents faster.  We get it.

They may win their second straight Super Bowl this season, and they’re certainly in position to do it.  But we see some loose threads right now.

Can Jon Gruden Find His Counterpart On Defense?  The Raiders lost to the Colts, and then they fired defensive coordinator Paul Guenther.  If the Raiders can get into the playoffs this season, they can be a hard out, but they’re not a really serious contender to win it all.

In 2021, however, they can be, but they’ll have to do two things.  First, they have to add more talent to the defensive side of the ball.  They’re two impact players short – at least.  Second, and even more importantly, they have to find a Gruden-clone to coach that side.

Now that’s a tall task.  There’s not a lot of super-passionate, borderline crazy, defensive football-mad coaches out there with a high degree of intelligence.  But for the Raiders to get to the next level, this has to happen.  Paul Guenther was a veteran coordinator, but he was far from Gruden’s equal.

The Rams’ Sean McVay had a similar issue coming into 2020.  McVay made it his mission to find his counterpart on defense, and he did it in finding Brandon Staley; the Rams now play defense as intelligently and passionately as any in the league.

Can Gruden do the same?

Ron Rivera, Coach Of The Year?  As the COY debate heats up, here are the names that make an awful lot of sense: LaFleur, Reid, Stefanski, Payton.  But here’s another to consider: Rivera.

Yes, WFT still is a losing football team, and yes, they’re not really pretty to watch (unless you love defensive line play).  But consider what Rivera’s done.

He’s managed to take all the attention away from the most screwball, dysfunctional ownership group in the league.

He’s managed to take attention away from the racist former team name (and we vote for ‘Football Team’ to become the permanent name).

He’s managed to undergo chemotherapy – during the season – and not miss any time coaching.

He’s managed to deal with a quarterback controversy, injuries at the position, and reinvigorate veteran quarterback Alex Smith.

He’s building a playoff-caliber defense.

Most of all, he’s making the WFT a feared opponent.

If he takes this squad above .500, he’s getting our COY vote.

NFL Week 13 Monday Observations

By HCR Staff | December 7, 2020

As we do every Monday, and whether your team won or lost, let’s try and show gratitude to the players, coaches and staffers that put on the games.  We’ve only got four weeks left, and back in August, getting to this point seemed really difficult.

Let’s get to it.

Joe Judge Is A Comer.  We highlighted Judge last week and said that we’re seeing “green shoots” with his Giants.  Well, that was shown yesterday in the Giants’ road win at Seattle.  Our eye test tells us Judge is doing a great job in these three areas.

First, all units are playing complementary football.  The Giants attack a game with coordination, and each unit understands what their role is given the game situation. 

Second, the players seem to enjoy playing with each other.  This is where real leadership comes in, and Judge is showing it.  Before you ever get to the X’s and O’s and all the fancy football talk, a head coach has to create an environment where players enjoy each other and the process.  Judge seems to have done that – defensive tackle Leonard Williams confirms this.

Third, the Giants’ line play- on both sides of the ball- is far more fundamental than it has been in years past.  In our view, you can’t be a high-achieving NFL team unless you have sound and physical line play, and Judge is instilling that with his Giants.

Our only reservation with Judge is that he appears to have some hothead tendencies, similar to another former New England assistant, former Texans head coach Bill O’Brien.  O’Brien had early success in his Texans tenure, but based on reports, his emotions began to overwhelm the football.  It’s too early for us to draw any conclusions on Judge in this aspect, but it’s something to watch.

Jon Gruden Hits A Wall.  For the second week in a row, Gruden’s Raiders struggled.  While they beat the Jets, anyone who actually watched this game would conclude that for the majority of the game, former Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ defense actually played well – particularly considering the number of rookies and other inexperienced players he was utilizing.

So what’s going on with the Raiders?  One, poor execution – it’s just not crisp.  Even pre-snap, on both sides, they don’t always look ready.  Second, we think the team’s just tired.  After an emotional home loss to the Chiefs, they’ve had consecutive East Coast trips, with both games starting at 10:00am PST.

Kevin Stefanski’s Best Game Yet.  Even though he hit a bit of a wall in the second half, Kevin Stefanski’s game plan and play calling in the Browns’ first half yesterday against the Titans was spectacular.  Utilizing all of the Browns’ talent, Stefanski stretched the Titans’ defense all over the field, and the Browns’ tempo was as good as we’ve seen all season from them.  The credit goes to Stefanski – he dialed up a lot of plays that were easier to execute, and he let the Browns’ physical talent take it from there.

Notwithstanding their physical talent, the Browns have struggled with playing with pace, and emotional composure.  Yesterday showed them what can happen if they simply play within themselves and let the game come today.  If they can just avoid getting too high or too low, and let their talent do the talking, this team will be a tough out in the playoffs.

Now Kliff Kingsbury Has To Show He’s Not A One Trick Pony.  Arizona head coach Kliff Kingsbury has made his way branding himself as the “Air Raid” coach, i.e., wide open football, the ball in the air, and a lot of points.  Well, NFL coaches have caught up to him.

Three weeks ago, QB Kyler Murray was an MVP candidate, but now he’s acknowledging that teams have caught up to the Cardinals.  They’ve lost three straight, and they just can’t move the ball right now.

Right now, the Cardinals are on the outside looking in as far as the playoffs go, and it’s going to be interesting to see what Kingsbury does to improve.  We think he’s going to have rein in Murray a bit and get back to running the ball, and managing the games more conservatively.  He did this better earlier in the season, and it helped minimize the Cardinals’ mistakes.

A Real Test For Sean McVay This Week.  Rams Head Coach Sean McVay is one of the most influential head coaches in this league – and not just because of his offensive acumen.  His dedication, work ethic and creativity is respected, especially for someone so young, relative to his peers.

Notwithstanding that, and since the Super Bowl loss to the Patriots, McVay has shown a surprising degree of inconsistency.  For every high-flying win, there’s a head-scratching loss.  Witness the contrast between the win against Tampa Bay and the ensuing loss to the 49ers.  Quarterback Jared Goff has been getting the brunt of the criticism, but we suspect that McVay knows he has to be better too.

This week brings Bill Belichick and the Patriots on a short week.  The Rams are the more talented team, and they are playing at home.  This sets up for a possible strong Rams performance.  But will it be?  Does Belichick have his number, even with a short-handed team on a short week?

McVay should win this game – convincingly.  But will he?  We think it’s 70-30 he does, but the ‘30’ is there because we know he needs to be more consistent.

Vic Fangio – Good Guy, Great Coordinator, But Not A Head Coach.  We root for Broncos head coach Fangio, and we’re glad he’s gotten a chance to be a head coach.  But we’ve seen enough – he’s not going to be a great head coach.  He’s a great defensive coordinator, and that’s ok; after all, there’s not a lot of people on earth that can do that.

Why do we think this way?  Because Fangio has shown us over and over that he’s not a great strategist as a game manager.  The Broncos have some pieces, but they keep throwing away games due to bad in-game management.

Last night, the Broncos were playing well and giving the Chiefs all they could handle.  Ahead 10-6 with :33 left in the second quarter and facing a 4th-and-8 on the Chiefs’ 39, Fangio had a decision to make.  Knowing the Chiefs still had one timeout left, Fangio had the following options: a) go for the 4th down; or b) attempt a 57 yard FG; or c) punt.

Either way, Fangio had to consider what was the best option to prevent the Chiefs from getting the ball back in a position to steal points before the half, and this was shaping up to be a close game.

Going for the first down is a low percentage play – but a run play would have at least forced the Chiefs to take a time out.  But let’s say you gain four yards on a run – now quarterback Patrick Mahomes gets the ball on his own 35…which is pretty good field position.  Throwing for the first down risks an incompletion, the clock stopping, and the Chiefs keeping the timeout. 

Going for the field goal is enticing, of course.  After all, Broncos kicker Brandon McManus is a pretty good kicker with range.  But he’s outdoors, not in altitude, and most important of all, it’s a clutch situation, which causes nerves.  It’s far from a sure thing. Plus, a miss gives Mahomes the ball near mid-field, which drastically raises the likelihood the Chiefs steal points and some momentum.  We didn’t like this option either.

We preferred a pooch punt.  After all, the Broncos defense had been playing well, and if the Broncos could have successfully downed a punt inside the 10-yard line, you just never know if the Chiefs themselves lose the handle on a snap, for example, or even on the punt return.

Of the three options, we would have ranked them as punt, run the ball on a 4th down play, and last, a field goal attempt.  We just didn’t like a field goal attempt there, and Kansas City is a tough place to kick.

Well, Fangio picked the least attractive option, at least in our eyes.  Of course, McManus missed the kick and of course, the Chiefs marched down the field, and stole 3 points.

Fangio’s a coordinator and great one.

NFL Week 12 Monday Observations

By HCR Staff | November 30, 2020

COVID is starting to wreak even greater havoc in the NFL.  Players, coaches, officials and staffers all are operating under conditions that are bordering on chaos.  Given that, we’re thankful for the 11 weeks we’ve gotten to enjoy.

Let’s get to it.

Matt LaFleur Continues To Impress.  The Packers continue to win at a historic clip under a sophomore head coach.  Of course, Matt LaFleur benefits greatly from inheriting quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but LaFleur still deserves tremendous credit for bringing a new discipline to the club.

The Packers play with a distinct plan and have a distinct identity.  LaFleur wants to get out on top of the opponent early, and that’s why they Packers are incredibly efficient with their game-opening drives.  Once they get a lead, LaFleur stays committed to the running game, and it’s a running game that tests every aspect of the defense – the edges and between the tackles.

LaFleur also is adept at using his entire roster.  Last night, 36-year-old tight end Marcedes Lewis caught a touchdown pass, and rotation running back Jamal Williams served as a game closer.  LaFleur’s approach keeps every player engaged and fresh.

Give Packers CEO Mark Murphy credit.  His restructuring of the Packers prior to LaFleur’s hiring appears to have brought stability and new energy to the football operation.  Their best player, Rodgers, looks re-energized, and it’s possible he has another five years left in him. 

Packers fans have a bright future ahead of them.

Brian Flores Continues To Mature.  The Dolphins didn’t play all that well in a victory over the winless Jets, but they got the win nonetheless.  Most importantly, they controlled the game, and managed to slug their way through the parts of the game where they weren’t playing all that well.  This is a case where ugly ultimately results in pretty.

Every good NFL team will have an ugly game here and there, but a good head coach doesn’t panic when it happens, and that’s where Brian Flores is now in his development – he’s become a good head coach.

Flores has an intimate knowledge of the team he has, and the one it will become.  He knows they not only can get into the post-season tournament, but that they’ll be a hard out as well.

Flores coaches within his team’s capabilities, i.e., he doesn’t ask them to do anything they’re not capable of.  By doing so, he puts his players in a position to have a greater chance of better execution, and ultimately, execution wins games.

Joe Judge’s Giants Are Showing Green Shoots.  When Joe Judge took over as head coach of the Giants, all we expected to see was some fight, pride and physicality.  After all, the roster was in tatters, and the players once again were going to have to adjust to a new coaching staff and methodology.  Precision and execution wasn’t something that was reasonable to expect.

Judge is delivering.  The Giants now play with fight and physicality.  Their defense is slowly growing an identity, and on offense, the Giants are starting to find some bread-and-butter plays.

One thing we’re liking on offense is Judge’s commitment to the inside run game.  Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett made this adjustment about four weeks ago, and it’s paying off.  It’s helping the Giants hone their blocking angles, slow down the game, and set up their explosive plays.  A power running game is what differentiates the NFL from college football, and if a team doesn’t have it, then you’ve got to try to play the college game to win at the NFL level, and that’s only possible if you have superior physical talent (i.e., the Chiefs). 

Sadly, We Think Anthony Lynn Is On His Way Out.  Anthony Lynn’s had enough reps as a head coach to learn how to win.  Closing out a win involves knowing how to manage the clock, and unfortunately, that’s just not his strength.  He’s a great motivator, and players play hard for him, but ultimately, there are critical tactical decisions that have to made in every NFL game, and those kinds of in-game tactics aren’t his strength. 

The Chargers have to compete with the Rams in a tough and fickle LA market – one that only pays attention to winners.  Sadly, we think owner Dean Spanos is going to have to make a change because Lynn isn’t showing enough improvement.

Kevin Stefanski Passed Up A Late 4th Quarter FG Attempt To Go Up 11 Against A One Win Team – Why?  Up 27-19 at 5:42 in the fourth quarter against Jacksonville, Browns rookie head coach Kevin Stefanski decided to pass up a 40-yard field good attempt (in good elements) and go up 11…which is two possessions, of course.  Instead, Stefanski attempted the 4th-and-1 conversion, and running back Kareem Hunt was promptly stuffed.

The Browns ultimately won the game, but had to hang on and turn away a 2-point attempt at the end.  They were in this position only because they had to defend an 8-point lead, and not an 11-point lead – a position that their head coach created.

Stefanski, of course, has done a wonderful job this year with the Browns.  But it’s decisions like this one that show he hasn’t arrived yet.  Yes, going for a 4th-and-1 shows ‘aggression’, but when the risk of failure is to put the game into jeopardy, that’s just not very sensible to us.

W.O.W. – Winners Of The Week (Week 11)

By Juan Lozano and Marc Harper | November 25, 2020

Cardinals @ Seahawks – Bo Scarbrough (RB)

  • Seattle’s running back corps was without starting running back Chris Carson and backup Travis Homer in a tough division game against Arizona on Thursday night. The injury bug has impacted the Seattle running game the last few weeks and the two-game losing streak reflects that.  
  • Seattle got contributions on the ground from running back Carlos Hyde, also coming off injury, and was placed into a starter’s role and finished with 79 yards and a touchdown on fourteen carries. Quarterback Russell Wilson was more active in the run game as well with 42 rushing yards.
  • Even though he was just the third-leading rusher with 31 yards, newly signed Bo Scarbrough is our WOW player of the game. 
  • Scarbrough would leave the game with a leg injury in the fourth quarter, but not after making plays on three Seattle scoring drives. When he was injured, Scarbrough was coming off a nine-yard run that placed Seattle in much more favorable field position. The drive ended in a field goal that gave Seattle a 28-21 lead. This is a strong contribution for a player that Seattle signed on Thursday afternoon off their practice squad. 
  • Scarbrough had been signed to Seattle’s practice squad on November 11, after having been released by the Detroit Lions on October 31.
  • This is Scarbrough’s second go-around with Seattle as he was with the organization in 2018 and 2019 after having been signed off the Jaguars practice squad. 
  • Scarbrough was a seventh-round draft selection of the Cowboys in 2018. 

Bengals @ Washington Football Team – Chase Young (DE)

  • Chase Young only had three tackles on the day, none of which were sacks. But his biggest tackle was a violent collision with former Ohio State teammate Joe Burrow on fourth-and-goal, with Washington holding a seven-point lead.. 
  • Young easily could have given up on the play, and hoped the corner out in space could make the play. The corner didn’t, but Young did.
  • It’s hard to predict what would have happened if Burrow had squeezed into the endzone. Score wise, it’s only seven points, but not scoring in the red zone can be deflating, especially for a young offense.
  • Unfortunately, it’s hard to know because of the eventual devastating, season-ending injury to Burrow, but that doesn’t take away from Young’s impact. 
  • Coming into this game, some have been calling Young a “bust.” That’s preposterous, and you won’t hear that on this site. He impacts the game on almost every play even if he doesn’t show up on the stat sheet. It’s early, but the Redskins have an impactful player on their defensive line. 

Falcons @ Saints –  Saints Defensive Line

  • Weekly readers will remember that we put David Onyemata and Trey Hendrickson in this column over the past couple of weeks. They were outstanding again. Each notched two sacks in the game. Cam Jordan bested them with three sacks. Between the three of them they also had eight quarterback hits.  
  • The Saints defensive line has been coming on strong in recent weeks, but collectively this was the best the unit has looked this year. The Saints have good, not great, cover corners and safeties. For this defense to work they need to get to the quarterback. If they continue sacking opposing quarterbacks eight times per game, they’ll win a lot of games even if Drew Brees does not return. 

Steelers @ Jags – Bud Dupree (OLB)

  • The Steelers have one of the best pass rushes in the NFL. That’s a big reason why they are undefeated. Dupree is also one of the best players on that pass rush. On Sunday, he only had three tackles, but one was a sack, and one was a tackle for loss. He added two quarterback hits and a pass deflection for good measure. 
  • When going up against a rookie quarterback in Jake Luton, Dupree seemed to be disrupting the backfield on every single play. He has a quick jump, and even when not getting home, he forced early throws and bad decisions from the rookie quarterback.
  • Anybody who has watched Tom Brady come under pressure against great pass rushers knows you do not actually need to sack him. You need him to think you might sack him. Dupree forced that feeling almost every single play on Sunday, and he is a big reason why the Steelers won and remain undefeated.

Patriots @ Texans – Keke Coutee (WR)

  • Coutee, a fourth-round draft pick of the Texans in the 2018 draft had been a forgotten man in Houston until Sunday. 
  • It took the release of returner DeAndre Carter and a foot injury to wide receiver Randall Cobb to get the little-used and oft-injured Coutee into the mix. 
  • Coutee only had two catches for ten yards, but one of those receptions was a touchdown with ten seconds left in the first half to give the Texans a 21-10 advantage. Coutee also returned two punts in the game.  Coutee had not had any catches since Week 2. 
  • The Texas Tech-product has been rumored to be a trade or release candidate. Houston will have a new coaching staff in 2021. Coutee looks like he will have a chance to prove to the staff that he can make a contribution and belongs in the NFL. 

Eagles @ Browns – Oliver Vernon (DE)

  • The weather gods have not smiled on the Browns this season. E very game looks more miserable than the last. Fortunately for the Browns, it means the recipe stays the same. Run the ball and play good defense. Nick Chubb provided the running, but our W.O.W. of the week is defensive end Oliver Vernon. 
  • Vernon made a Pro-Bowl just two years ago, so it’s not as if he’s overlooked. But on a team with Myles Garrett, he’ll never be the first player one thinks of when they think of the Browns defense. Maybe he should be. 
  • On Sunday, Vernon lived in the Eagles backfield. He had three sacks, three tackles for loss, and hit Carson Wentz another three times. One of his sacks resulted in a safety. In a five-point game in poor weather, every point matters just that much more. Vernon was directly responsible for two points. The rest of his play helped keep the Eagles to 17 points on the day. 

Lions @ Panthers – PJ Waker (QB)

  • With starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater injured, Panthers backup PJ Walker got the starting nod in Week 11. 
  • Walker helped the Panthers to a 20-0 victory over the visiting Detroit Lions. Walker went 24-for-34, 258 yards passing, as well as a touchdown and two interceptions. The touchdown, a 17-yard pass to the versatile Curtis Samuel, came on the Panthers first drive of the second half to give the Panthers a 14-0 lead and total command of the game. 
  • Walker was acquired in the off-season after having been a member of the XFL Houston Roughnecks before the league shuttered operations. Although he is now known as the former XFL quarterback, the 25-year-old Temple University-product is not new to the NFL, having spent time with the Indianapolis Colts from 2017 to 2019. 
  • Walker played for Panthers head coach Matt Rhule at Temple.
  • Bridgewater may be back sooner rather than later. This might have been Walker’s only start of the season. If that’s the case, we think that Walker has found a home in Carolina for the foreseeable future. He has a coaching staff that supports him and he’s shown he can start, finish and win an NFL game. 

Titans @ Ravens – Corey Davis (WR)

  • We’ve put Corey Davis on this list before. We’ll put him again. After a disappointing start to his career, he’s really come a long nicely this year. Teams focus on Derrick Henry, A.J. Brown, and Jonnu Smith. That leaves ample opportunity for a fourth player to step up. Once again that player was Davis. 
  • Davis was held without a catch in the first half, but exploded for five catches and 113 yards in the second half. He helped provide a reliable offensive threat at a time when they couldn’t run well. 
  • Fortunately for the Titans, Davis provided just enough to make it into overtime. From there, Henry took over and that’s all she wrote. 

Jets @ Chargers – Denzel Perryman (LB)

  • On 3rd & 4 with 1:29 remaining in the first half, Perryman sacked Jets quarterback Joe Flacco for a nine-yard loss which ended the Jets drive and forced them to punt. 
  • The Chargers would kick a field goal after a punt and a seven play, 60-yard drive in 1:10 to give the Chargers a 24-6 lead that even they could not blow.  (And they’ve been great at that).
  • The Chargers would hold on for a six-point win after the Jets made a comeback at the end of the game. A conversion here and a potential score at the end of the half could have changed the momentum of the game sooner. 

Dolphins @ Broncos – Tim Patrick (WR)

  • There are a lot of top wide receiver draft picks on the Broncos. Just this year, they used high draft picks on Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler. Both those players are good, and will only get better with time. But the best wide on the field on Sunday? That was Tim Patrick. He had five catches for over 100 yards. 
  • Patrick is also a great story and we made note of his story in Week 4. He was undrafted coming out of Utah. He bounced around multiple teams and practice squads before finding a spot with the Broncos where he has continued to get better and better. 2020 is his best season by far, and if he continues to develop alongside Jeudy and Hamler, the Broncos could have the best receiving corps in the league within a couple of years.  

Cowboys @ Vikings – Andy Dalton (QB)

  • Sometimes, all a quarterback needs to do is not hurt their team. Since Dak Prescott was injured, the Cowboys have had mostly bad play from their quarterbacks. It’s their fault. They decided to let Garret Gilbert and Ben DiNucci start games. They lost some winnable games because of that. I have no doubt, if either of those guys started this game, the Cowboys would have lost. There are a lot of problems with the Cowboys, but the best thing they could do is have anybody other than Gilbert or DiNucci playing QB.
  • Fortunately, Andy Dalton is back, and he did what they needed him to do. He only passed for 200 yards, but he had three TDs and only threw one pick. The recipe for the Cowboys to win looks a lot like the team they were playing. Throw effectively, and hand the ball off to your elite running back.  Zeke Elliott finally got going, averaging 4.9 yards per carry on the day. 
  • For Dalton, the key is clear, don’t try to make too many plays. Live to fight another down. Hand the ball to Elliott and Pollard. On Sunday, he managed that, and the Cowboys won.

Packers @ Colts – Julian Blackmon (S)

In Week 6, we named Blackmon as a W.O.W. 

In Week 11, we will do so again. 

  • The rookie safety made a game-winning strip of Week 10 WOW player, Packers wide receiver, Marquez Valdes-Scantling that was recovered by defensive lineman DeForest Buckner at the Packers 29-yard line. Four plays later, fellow rookie, kicker Rodrigo Blankenship nailed a 39-yard game winner to give the Colts a victory, a 7-3 record. With the win, the Colts retained first place in a tight AFC South race. 

Chiefs @ Raiders – Le’Veon Bell (RB)

  • In his fourth game as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs, Le’Veon Bell finally made an impact on the outcome of the contest. 
  • With 5:54 remaining in the contest, Bell rushed for a six-yard touchdown to give the Chiefs a 28-24 lead. Bell would finish the game with seven rushes for 25 yards. 
  • Bell, a seven- year veteran is playing a different role on the Chiefs than he’s accustomed to. He is playing a complementary role on a talented team with a rookie running back that gets the majority of carries. He isn’t “THE MAN”.  Instead, rookie standout Clyde Edwards-Helaire gets the majority of the work as he did on Sunday when he rushed fourteen times for 69 yards and two touchdowns. By contrast, Bell finished the game with seven rushes for 25 yards. 
  • The Chiefs are overwhelmingly a passing team. But in those instances where the weather gets bad or they’ll have to control the ball, they will need ball carriers like Bell to help them close out games. 

Rams @ Bucs – Jordan Fuller (S)

  • Rams rookie safety is another repeat WOW Player of the Week. We mentioned him after a stellar Week 1 performance, even mentioning at that time, his connection to Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady. 
  • On Monday night, Fuller picked off Brady twice, including the game-sealing interception.  
  • Fuller would also have four tackles and two passes defended in the Rams victory. 

Opinions expressed are solely of the author and do not express the views or opinions of Headcoachranking.com.

W.O.W. – Winners Of The Week (Week 7)

By Juan Lozano and Marc Harper | October 28, 2020

Giants @ Eagles – Boston Scott (RB)

  • Scott, the Eagles reserve running back and in a starters role, made the play of the game in the Thursday night victory over the New York Giants. Scott took the bulk of the carries with starter Miles Sanders out due to injury. 
  • Scott, a stocky 5’6” back, caught an 18-yard pass in the end zone to give the Eagles the lead with under a minute left in the game.  Scott had 3 catches total in the game for 46 yards and another 46 yards on the ground on 12 carries.
  • This was Scott’s third consecutive standout performance against the New York Giants. In Week 14 of the 2019 season, Scott had 10 carries for 59 yards and a touchdown, and 6 receptions for 69 yards versus the Giants. Just three weeks later in Week 17 against the same squad, Scott carried the ball 19 times for 54 yards, including three touchdowns, in addition to four receptions for 84 yards.
  • A 2018 6th round selection of New Orleans Saints, Scott was signed by the Eagles off the Saints practice squad in December 2018. He was waived by the Eagles during their final cuts before the 2019 season, but later signed to the practice squad after he cleared waivers. 

Steelers @ Titans – Diontae Johnson WR)

  • Another week, another week of excellent receiver output for the Steelers. This time it was Diontae Johnson. He had nine catches for 80 yards and 2 scores in a battle against the Titans. 
  • Johnson was a third round pick out of the university of Toledo in 2019. The Steelers prove time and time again that you don’t need to be drafted high or go to Alabama to be a talented wide receiver in the NFL. They also now have a great young core of wide receivers in Johnson, Juju Smith-Schuster, and Chase Claypool. No team scouts, drafts, and develops wideouts quite like the Steelers. 

Cowboys @ Wash. – Antonio Gibson (RB)

  • The rookie running back from Memphis carried the ball 20 times for 128 yards and a touchdown.  Gibson’s first quarter, 12-yard touchdown run gave the Washington Football Team the lead for good. 
  • The Redskins did much of their damage to the Cowboys defense on the ground. Gibson led the trio of Redskins running backs that gashed Dallas for 208 yards on 39 carries.
  • Gibson, a third-round 2020 draft pick, is relatively new to a full-time role as a running back as he also was a wide receiver and returner for the University of Memphis in two seasons at the school. He practiced and played at the Senior Bowl exclusively at running back.  

Bills @ Jets – Bills defense

  • This was another very ugly game involving the Jets. But I am going to give the W.O.W. to the entire Bills defense.
  • Buffalo’s inability to score touchdowns on offense made this game way closer than it should have been. How did the “D” respond? By only allowing two first downs and four yards in the entire second half. I don’t care who you are playing against, that is remarkable. And if the Bills didn’t completely shut down the Jets offense, I am not sure if they would be 5-2 right now. They ended with six sacks on the day, and just made the day miserable for Jets quarterback Sam Darnold.

Panthers @ Saints – Marquez Callaway (WR)

  • On Sunday, the Saints were playing without wide receivers Emanuel Sanders and Michael Thomas. One would have expected an already inconsistent offense to take another step back back. Instead, Callaway stepped up to catch eight of 10 targets for 75 yards. 
  • You can’t expect to get great production from undrafted free agents this quickly, but the Saints will certainly take it. Coupled with a number of high priced players (Brees, Thomas, Sanders and Kamara) on offense, the Saints could use some lower cost talent. If Callaway keeps playing the way he did on Sunday, the offense will be in a great spot. 

Packers @ Texans – Jamaal Williams (RB)

  • This looked like it could be a tough game for the Packers. Green Bay were coming off a humiliating road loss to Tampa Bay the week before while the Texans had snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.  A second consecutive road game against a desperate opponent looked like it could be a trap for the Packers, especially considering they would be without the services of star running back Aaron Jones. 
  • Williams, a reserve running back put those fears to rest with an exceptional performance against the Texans. Williams rushed 19 times for 77 yards and one touchdown and caught four passes for 37 yards.

Browns @ Bengals – Donavan Peoples-Jones aka DPJ (WR)

  • DPJ is a rookie receiver, drafted in the sixth round and just one year removed from the University of Michigan. Going into the fourth quarter of this game, he had not made a catch all season. That would change in the fourth quarter when against the Bengals, he caught three passes for 56 yards, including a beautiful game winning score in the closing seconds.
  • His outburst was greatly needed with OBJ done for the season. 
  • DPJ was always a talented player at the University of Michigan, but it never felt like he was utilized correctly. This probably was a factor in his sliding to the third day of the draft. If he makes more plays like he did on Sunday, this will look like a great pick for the Browns. 

Lions @ Falcons – Marvin Jones (WR)

  • Marvin Jones has been little more than an afterthought in the Lions offense the last few weeks. He’s had less than 10 yards receiving in consecutive games. There’s a simple explanation: Kenny Golladay’s presence takes away Jones’ pass-catching opportunities.
  • On Sunday versus Atlanta, Jones re-emerged. The veteran wide receiver caught five passes for 80 yards, both season-highs. 
  • Jones’ catches led directly to Lions points. 
  • In the first quarter, facing it 3-and-9 at their own 46-yard line, Jones hauled in a 20-yard pass from Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford for a first down. It was a key third-down conversion that kept the drive alive. Six plays later, the Lions found the end zone and took a 7-0 lead. 
  • With twelve seconds left in the first half, a 20-yard completion from Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford to Jones put the Lions in range for kicker Matt Prater to belt a fifty-yard field goal. 
  • A 30-year-old veteran in a contract year, Jones’ days as a member of the Lions may be over. The star of the receiving corps is Kenny Golladay. Yet, Jones is still capable of making winning contributions.  

Seahawks @ Cardinals – Tanner Vallejo (ILB)

  • Inside linebacker Tanner Vallejo only played 18 snaps on Sunday night. He was credited with three tackles and a huge hit on Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson.  Vallejo’s final tackle came towards the end of regulation when he stopped Seattle running back Carlos Hyde on a 3rd-and-2 that forced Seattle to punt with a minute left. Arizona had no timeouts remaining and a conversion would have sealed the victory for them. Instead, Vallejo’s stop allowed Arizona to get the ball back and were able to kick a field goal to send the game to overtime.  
  • Vallejo is a young journeyman having been selected by Buffalo in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL draft. Buffalo released him in “final cuts” in 2018 by the team and was immediately claimed by Cleveland who released him after the 2018 season. Arizona claimed him and was released in “final cuts” in 2019. Washington picked him immediately and then later released him in November 2019. Arizona promptly brought him back, placed him on the practice squad and elevated him a few weeks later. That’s a lot of bouncing around for a player that can make an impact in a game, such as a key NFC West contest. 

Jaguars @ Chargers – Jalen Guyton (WR)

  • Guyton is an undrafted wide receiver out of the University of North Texas. On Sunday, he only had two catches for 84 yards. But, one of those catches was a 70-yard bomb for a score with the game tied at 29, deep into the third quarter. This touchdown seemed to be the straw that broke the Jaguars back, as it was over from there.
  • Guyton might not receive many targets, but when he does, they always seem to be big plays. He also had a 72-yard touchdown earlier this season against the Buccaneers. He’s been a nice addition for the Chargers, and is becoming a reliable downfield target for fellow rookie, quarterback Justin Herbert.  

49ers @ Pats – Jeff Wilson (RB)

  • The 49ers were playing without running backs Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman. Kyle Shanahan wanted to give Jerick McKinnon a break given his heavy workload after coming back from a torn ACL. One would have expected the 49ers to take a step back on the ground. Instead, Wilson had 17 carries for 112 yards and 3 scores. Wilson is sometimes inactive when all the running backs are healthy.  But every time he’s received an opportunity he’s been productive and made big plays to help his team win. 
  • This was a dominating win for the 49ers, and it started on the ground. Setting up the running game helps the blocking and play action in the pass game. Wilson was a big part of why the Patriots defense was left searching for answers at the end of the day. 

Chiefs @ Broncos – Daniel Sorensen (S)

  • The Chiefs were up 10-6 with 9:18 left in the second quarter when veteran safety Daniel Sorensen intercepted a Drew Lock pass, intended for tight end Noah Fant, and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown. Sorensen also had nine tackles on the day and another pass defended. 
  • It was Sorensen’s second interception of the 2020 season and the eleventh of his career as well as the third pick six of his career. (That’s one more career “pick six” than Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu.)
  • Sorensen’s special teams contributions helped the Chiefs overcome a double-digit deficit against the Texans in the AFC Divisional round. “Ditty Dan” continues to make big plays for Kansas City.  
  • Sorensen was undrafted out of BYU in 2014.  

Bucs @ Raiders – Scotty Miller (WR)

  • Antonio Brown who? The big news for the Bucs is that they are adding Antonio Brown to an already stacked receivers room. Miller wants to make sure you don’t forget about him. On Sunday, he had 6 catches for 109 yards and a score. 
  • His most important catch was a beautiful 33-yard pass right before the end of the half. This made the score 21-10 going into the half. This was an important play as the Raiders would get the ball to start the second half.
  • Settling for a field goal here would have kept it a one-score game. This is in stark contrast from the Bucs first half against the Bears earlier in the season. Successfully executing a two-minute drill gave the offense all the confidence they needed to keep firing away at a porous Raiders defense.  Miller might find it difficult to get as many receptions from this point forward, but the Bucs offensive staff knows that they will be able to depend on him if they need arises.

Bears @ Rams – Leonard Floyd (OLB)

  • The Rams kept the offensively challenged Bears out of the end zone on Monday Night. It was due in large part to the play of former Bears outside linebacker Leonard Floyd. 
  • Floyd finished with six tackles, two of those for losses, two sacks and three hits on Bears quarterback Nick Foles. 
  • Floyd, the ninth overall pick in 2016, was released this past off-season by the Bears and signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Rams. If Floyd is able to sustain the level of play, we would expect Floyd to cash in on a longer, much more lucrative deal with the Rams or another club. 

Opinions expressed are solely of the author and do not express the views or opinions of Headcoachranking.com.