Tom Brady's Bad Sunday
One week. It’s a kitschy, somewhat regrettable ‘90s hit, and 6.25 percent of the NFL season. You do not overreact to one week. But when we’ve gone eight whole months without any new data … it can be hard. We’ve been obsessing over the same stats since January. It’s nice to finally have some new numbers to pore over, bullet points for or against our offseason talking points. It’s just important to remember that what happens in Week 1 — like any of the season’s other 16 weeks — isn’t necessarily The Way Things Are Now™.
The Patriots are certainly hoping that’s the case. Week 1 losers for the first time since 2003, the Pats received a ghastly performance from Tom Brady, who went 29-of-55 for 249 yards (4.52 YPA), one touchdown and two lost fumbles. Brady looked more like Case Keenum than a future Hall-of-Famer, sailing aimless jump ball after aimless jump ball. Brady went an inconceivable 6-of-20 for 31 yards in the fourth quarter. 6-of-20 for 31 yards. Fourth quarter. Tom Brady. That’s a 1.55 YPA if you’re keeping track at home. Brady’s 51.8 completion percentage was the lowest of any Week 1 passer.
Shaky line play was at least partly to blame for Brady’s regression to his worst 2013 form, but is that even comforting? Or does it just mean the Patriots’ Logan Mankins-less line is going to be an issue all season? Gut-check time is coming six days from now, as the Patriots must venture to Minnesota to take on a Vikings team that throttled the Rams 34-6 on Sunday.
Romo One Ups Brady
If Brady was bad on Sunday, then Tony Romo was unforgivable. Romo’s final stats — 23-of-37 passes for 281 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions — weren’t quite as bad as Brady’s, but that’s because he had 40 meaningless minutes to compile them. Romo killed any chance Dallas had at a victory by tossing three picks in the game’s first 20 minutes. The Cowboys trailed 21-3 midway through the first quarter, and 28-3 going into halftime.
Combined, Romo’s three INTs were thrown in the direction of eight 49ers and three Cowboys. That’s two into triple coverage, and one into double coverage. It was fair to assume that Romo would be rusty after the Cowboys babied him through the offseason as he recovered from back surgery. It wasn’t fair to assume he’d appear to have zero chemistry with any of his weapons. No one has more ground to make up between now and Sunday than the Cowboys, who will be venturing to Tennessee.
Four Things That Went According To Plan
1. Cordarrelle Patterson was an all-purpose freak for the Vikings. Patterson still had to have his touches manufactured — he managed only three catches for 26 yards on five targets — but he knew what to do with them, adding three rushes for 102 yards and a 67-yard touchdown to his pedestrian receiver total. He became the first wideout since the merger to rush for 100 yards in a game. Patterson is going to have a few busts, but his talent is the kind that can’t be stopped from booming.
2. Matt Ryan appeared rejuvenated with a healthy Roddy White and Julio Jones back at his side. Ryan’s 448 yards were a new career high, while he connected with eight different receivers. He found each of Jones, White, Harry Douglas and Devin Hester at least five times. Ryan will be a prolific QB1 for as long as his wideouts can stay healthy.
3. Derek Carr struggled in his NFL debut. Although he was facing perhaps the most undermanned secondary in the league, Carr was also dealing with one of its best front sevens. His 4.72 YPA on 32 passes was ugly, but not surprising considering the circumstances. This was a second-round rookie who received only a smattering of first-team reps in the preseason trying to contend with Rex Ryan on the road. There will be more struggles, but it’s far too early to write Carr off.
4. Trent Richardson’s struggles. Coming off a terrible 2013 and even worse preseason, T-Rich rushed six times for 20 yards (3.33 YPC) in a game that featured 55 combined points and 769 yards of offense. His three catches for 31 yards can hardly be considered a silver lining. Sooner or later, Richardson will be backing up Ahmad Bradshaw, instead of vice versa.
Six Things That Didn’t Go According To Plan
1. Le’Veon Bell’s timeshare with LeGarrette Blount. Instead of sharing work with Blount, Bell decided to blow him out of the water, rushing 21 times for 109 yards and a touchdown while adding six catches for an additional 88 yards. Bell’s 197 yards from scrimmage were a new career high by 58. The performance was not a fluke. Looking noticeably thinner than he was a rookie, Bell was also quicker. He ran with vision and patience, fitting through holes that would have been too small in 2013. The Steelers took notice, giving Bell 27 touches to Blount’s four. Although Blount did manage to vulture a touchdown, this is Bell’s backfield to lose.
2. Toby Gerhart flopped his first audition as an every-down back. Gerhart rushed 18 times for only 42 yards, adding just two catches for 15 yards as the Jags watched a 17-0 halftime lead turn into a 34-17 defeat. An ankle injury brought on by a horse-collar tackle was partly to blame, but playing through such fare is part of what being a bellcow is all about.
3. Ben Tate’s coronation as a true fantasy starter. Tate was known for struggling to stay healthy in Houston. He made it six carries before living up to his reputation in Cleveland, checking out with a sprained knee after ripping off a 25-yard run. He appears highly questionable for Week 2, leaving rookies Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell to mind the store after impressive showings against the Steelers. If Tate can’t get healthy for Week 2 against the Saints, West should handle bellcow duties with Crowell changing the pace.
4. Doug Martin’s comeback. Checking in and out of the game with a left knee/leg injury, Martin rushed nine times for … nine yards. He was outgained by FB Jorvorski Lane and Josh McCown. Now he’s awaiting test results one year after missing 10 games with a shoulder injury. Bobby Rainey is the next man up for the Bucs.
5. Jamaal Charles’ decimation of the Titans. Coming off a fantasy campaign for the ages, Charles received … 11 touches. Although Charles can scarcely be held responsible for his workload, he turned the looks into just 34 yards from scrimmage. This, after Charles never managed fewer than 72 yards in any of his 2013 appearances. He’ll try to bounce back against the Broncos’ improved defense in Week 2.
6. E.J. Manuel’s road start in Chicago. Coming off the most-discouraging preseason of anyone in the NFL, Manuel helped the Bills to an overtime win on the road. The second-year starter completed 16-of-22 passes for 173 yards, a touchdown and an interception, adding six rushes for 19 yards and another score. Hardly a legendary performance, but still better than Manuel’s August suggested was possible. The honeymoon won’t last long, however. Manuel has a tough Week 2 matchup in a Dolphins defense that made life a living hell for Tom Brady on Sunday.
Questions
1. Is there any historic precedent for surviving a Week 1 loss to a team quarterbacked by Derek Anderson?
2. Did Andy Reid know they were recording that?
3. If Case Keenum is the answer, do you really want to ask the question?
Early Waiver Look
QB: Jake Locker, Geno Smith, E.J. Manuel
RB: Terrance West, Bobby Rainey, Justin Forsett, Chris Ivory, Ahmad Bradshaw, Isaiah Crowell
WR: Brian Quick, Jarrett Boykin, Greg Jennings, Marqise Lee, Allen Hurns
TE: Travis Kelce, Austin Seferian-Jenkins
Stats of the Week
For the second consecutive Week 1, Joe Flacco was incomprehensibly called on to throw 62 passes. That’s a recipe for success that will work exactly never.
Three. That’s how many goal-line carries Shane Vereen received to Stevan Ridley’s one. Vereen’s three came right in a row after Ridley failed to find pay dirt from the Dolphins’ six-yard line. Vereen cashed his third carry in for a score.
38. That’s how many snaps Rob Gronkowski played in his return from a torn ACL. He was targeted on 11 of them, turning his looks into 4/40/1. The bad news is, Gronk looked nowhere near 100 percent, lumbering instead of loping up the field. With that kind of usage, however, he remains locked in as a top-three fantasy tight end.
13. That’s how many passes Shaun Hill lasted before getting benched for third-year undrafted free agent Austin Davis. It’s going to be Case Keenum time in St. Louis before long. The Rams are a shipwreck.
One and one. The first number is how many touchdowns Hakeem Nicks has this season. The second is how many more touchdowns Hakeem Nicks has this season than last season.
Awards Section
Week 1 Fantasy All Pro Team: QB Matt Ryan, RB Le’Veon Bell, RB Marshawn Lynch, WR A.J. Green, WR Allen Hurns, WR Antonio Brown, TE Julius Thomas
Underreported Fact of the Day: The Steelers had to attempt a fake punt in the second half of a game they were leading 27-3 at halftime.
Most Absurd Moment of Week 1: Antonio Brown passing up a touchdown to Chuck Norris the Browns’ punter.
Quote of the Week: Jason Garrett on whether the Cowboys were ready to play: "I think we were ready. There was a tremendous amount of fight." Things are going to get worse in Dallas before they get better.
Tweet of the Week, from @ChrisWesseling: 49ers defense is running toward the end zone with the ball every time I look up.
The Rams Literally: Kicked a field goal down 34-3. Shameful.
For everyone suggesting last night’s Andrew Luck quarterback sneak was the worst of all time, this was the worst quarterback sneak of all time.
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