Dose: Saints Stomp Bears
The Saints-Bears matchup was actually one of the Monday Night Football games I was most looking forward to in a 2014 chock full of horrific primetime tilts. It had a beautiful 54-point over-under with New Orleans favored by just three. Instead, it followed suit with the majority of the other island games of the season, ending in a blowout with the Saints stomping the Bears 31-15 behind Drew Brees’ 375 yards and three touchdowns against a play-dead Chicago defense. Other than Brees, no other player really stood out in this one. Jimmy Graham got back on track with a 5-87 line on seven targets but was vultured by No. 3 tight end Josh Hill for two short touchdowns.
Those owners that were able to survive Brees’ horrific Week 14 against the Panthers at home now get to reap the benefits in fantasy semifinals and finals weeks. After dismantling the Bears’ league-worst pass defense on Monday, Brees now gets to return home for a Week 16 date against the 5-9 Falcons with the NFC South at stake. In 18 career games against Atlanta, Brees has thrown for over 5,400 yards with 35 touchdowns. The Falcons field a bottom-third pass defense. Brees put 333 yards and one touchdown on Atlanta in the season opener. That defense has since lost RCB Robert Alford and SS William Moore on the back end.
Monday Night Football Tidbits
In a week coach Sean Payton promised changes, former RCB-turned-slot corner Corey White was benched and a healthy scratch. Terrence Frederick got the start opposite Keenan Lewis and handled his own. … Khiry Robinson saw his first carries in seven games since injuring his arm. However, Mark Ingram still dominated the backfield work, seeing 17 totes to Robinson’s three. Week 16 against Atlanta sets up nicely for Ingram, who scored twice against the Falcons in Week 1. … Jay Cutler tossed another three interceptions on Monday night. The Bears were getting blasted 24-0 at the half and didn’t score until the fourth quarter. Cutler leads the league with his 24 turnovers. … Matt Forte wasn’t used enough. He was picking up easy chunks of yards every time he touched the ball. … Marquess Wilson was targeted six times behind Alshon Jeffery’s nine. Wilson’s touchdown came from one yard away on a shallow drag route. … Kenny Stills figures to draw stud Falcons LCB Desmond Trufant much of the day in Week 16. He’ll be a WR3/4, while Marques Colston and Nick Toon likely work on burnable CBs Robert McClain and Josh Wilson. Jimmy Graham may also see some of Trufant. … Pierre Thomas will be on the FLEX radar after his 94-yard night. The Falcons have allowed the fifth-most catches and second-most receiving touchdowns to running backs.
In Other News…
The big news of Monday was that DeMarco Murray suffered a broken bone in his left hand and underwent surgery. He hurt the hand on the third-to-last play on Sunday night’s win over the Eagles. He’s yet to be ruled out for Week 16, but VP Stephen Jones admitted it will be an “uphill battle” for Murray to be ready for the Colts game. If Murray isn’t available for fantasy championship week, Joseph Randle is expected to handle lead-back duties for Dallas.
T.Y. Hilton tweaked his hamstring late in Sunday’s win over the Texans and underwent an MRI on Monday. Tests came back clean, and Hilton hopes to practice this week ahead of his date with the Cowboys. Keep an eye on Hilton once practice reports start flowing in Wednesday.
C.J. Spiller (collarbone) was activated from short-term I.R. on Monday. It was his first week eligible to return. It remains unclear if he’ll play in Week 16. Fred Jackson has been dominating touches in the Buffalo backfield of late, but Spiller would likely cut into it against the Raiders.
Nick Foles’ checkup must not have been met with satisfying results because coach Chip Kelly already has ruled Foles out for Week 16. The Eagles will again be forced to start Mark Sanchez under center. Philadelphia is in danger of missing the playoffs altogether. Sanchez badly needs to step up his play against the Redskins on Saturday.
Speaking Monday, coach Mike Smith said he expects Julio Jones (hip) back for Week 16. If we’ve learned anything from Smith, it’s that he sucks at managing the game clock and he can’t be trusted when it comes to injury reports. Jones wasn’t even close to playing in Week 15. We’ll wait to see the practice reports this week.
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Quarterback & Running Back Slants
Coach Ron Rivera was noncommittal when asked about Cam Newton’s (back) Week 16 availability. We’ll have to wait for the practice reports. … Coach Ken Whisenhunt said Shonn Greene handled 16 carries Sunday because he had the “hot hand.” Greene averaged 3.1 YPC. The Titans are a complete joke. … The Browns are concerned about Isaiah Crowell’s (hip) health. … Carlos Hyde underwent an MRI on his injured ankle. … Coach Mike Pettine said Johnny Manziel will start Week 16 against the Panthers. … Dexter McCluster (knee) missed practice Monday. … The Titans placed Jake Locker on I.R. with a shoulder injury, ending his season. He’s done with the Titans. They signed Jordan Palmer to take his roster spot behind Charlie Whitehurst. … With Ryan Fitzpatrick (leg) and Tom Savage (knee) done for the season, the Texans signed Case Keenum off the Rams’ practice squad. He or Thad Lewis will start Week 16. … Colt McCoy (neck) is out for Week 16, leaving Robert Griffin III as the starter. … Ryan Lindley will be the Cardinals’ starting quarterback against the Seahawks in Week 16. … Blake Bortles has been diagnosed with a mid-foot sprain. His status for Thursday night’s Week 16 game against the Titans is up in the air. … Jeremy Hill out-snapped Giovani Bernard 47-28 in Week 15. … Jonas Gray out-snapped LeGarrette Blount 17-15 on Sunday. … The Broncos aren’t concerned about Peyton Manning’s thigh injury.
Wide Receiver & Tight End Slants
The Dolphins waived TE Gator Hoskins and promoted TE Gerrell Robinson from the practice squad. … Cody Latimer cleared the league’s concussion protocol and will practice this week. … The Bucs placed TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins (back) and WR Louis Murphy (ankle) on I.R. … Julius Thomas played just 29-of-66 snaps in Week 15. … Torrey Smith played his normal snap count in Week 15, getting in on 52-of-64 plays. … Keenan Allen (ankle) is in a walking boot and underwent an MRI on Monday. … Donte Moncrief out-snapped Hakeem Nicks 36-22 in Week 15 after edging him 50-18 the previous game. … Jermaine Gresham will visit a toe specialist Tuesday.
