"The Stack" 10-26-20
The Stack is back on this Monday and “WOW” was that not a great day of NFL action or what? So many games coming down to the wire. The Atlanta Falcons Falconing their way to a loss as only Atlanta can. Reaction to it all plus a pick for tonight’s game so let’s get right to “the stack” for today, Monday, October 26th:
Steelers 27 Titans 24
What an incredible game this was. The Pittsburgh Steelers jumped out to a fast start and dominated the time of possession in the first half. Big Ben and Diontae Johnson connected for two touchdowns, but the game changed early in the third quarter when Tennessee’s Ryan Tannehill found A.J. Brown who dashed 73 yards to the endzone. Momentum started to swing in favor of the Titans. They shut down the Steelers offense. They forced a couple of turnovers and eventually they had a chance to tie the game and force overtime…but Stephen Gostkowski’s kick went just to right. It looked like the pressure from the Steelers made Gostkowski rush it a bit. Either way, the Titans lose a heartbreaker and the Steelers remain undefeated. What a game!
Cowboys 3 Washington 25
Wow, the Dallas Cowboys are a bad team. Their offensive line has been decimated with injuries and their defense is flat out horrible. Kyle Allen and Washington exploited the defense, but the story in this one was the nasty hit that Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton took in the second half that knocked him out of the game with a concussion. It was a dirty hit and a suspension may be coming for Jon Bostic. The NFC East is so bad.
Bills 18 Jets 10
The New York Jets actually had a lead in this game. In fact they were up 10-0. Then Buffalo finally woke up and went to work. Sure they didn’t find the endzone and quarterback Josh Allen struggled a little bit, but the Bills snapped their two game win streak and made six field goals so there’s that at least.
Panthers 24 Saints 27
This was a great back and forth game with the Saints jumping out early, but Teddy Bridgewater and D.J. Moore hooked up for two scores and Curtis Samuel had a touchdown reception as well for the Panthers who had a chance to tie the game late, but Bridgewater took an ill-advised sack that made for a 65-yard field goal attempt. Joey Slye missed it by just a yard and the Saints went on to win. For a team playing without their top two wide receivers in Michael Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, you take a win however you can get it.
Packers 35 Texans 20
No hangover effect for Green Bay after last week’s loss to Tampa Bay. Despite not having running back Aaron Jones, the Packers had no problems moving the ball against Houston’s defense. Wide receiver Davante Adams in particular had a monster day, catching 14 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown. The Packers cruised to victory in this game in large part thanks to Adams’ efforts.
Browns 37 Bengals 34
What a great game this was. Back and forth these two teams went. Back and forth the two quarterbacks went making big play after big play. Joe Burrow threw for over 400 yards for Cincinnati, but had an interception and a fumble. Baker Mayfield threw for almost 300 yards and five touchdowns including the game-winning pass with only seconds to go to Donovan Peoples-Jones. It was a big win for the Browns, but it came at a cost as it looks like Odell Beckham Jr. has been lost perhaps for the year with a knee injury. That hurts big time. The Bengals are so close to winning games. They just need to figure out how to close games out.
Lions 23 Falcons 22
The Atlanta Falcons once again Falconed their way to another loss and this one ranks right up there with the Dallas Cowboys game. Todd Gurley couldn’t quite stop his momentum from carrying him into the endzone and scored a touchdown with 1:04 remaining. If he had stopped, the Falcons would have kicked a field goal at the gun and won it with no time remaining. Instead, Detroit had life and Matthew Stafford took advantage of it. He threw the game winning touchdown to tight end T.J. Hockenson and the Lions somehow pulled out a victory in this one. Atlanta. Oh Atlanta!
Buccaneers 45 Raiders 20
Tom Brady still has Jon Gruden’s number. Tampa Bay’s quarterback threw for 369 yards and four touchdowns as the Bucs rolled to the victory over Las Vegas. It was close for a while, but the Bucs eventually pulled away and the old connection between Brady and Rob Gronkowski has been rekindled. Gronk had a touchdown catch and Brady’s comfort with him is evident. It just adds another weapon for a team already full of them…plus they added Antonio Brown. Watch out for this team.
Jaguars 29 Chargers 39
It looked like the L.A. Chargers were going to blow out Jacksonville early on. They got up 16-0, but the Jaguars rattled off 29 of the next 35 points and had a 29-22 lead, but Justin Herbert went on a tear and helped lead the Chargers back to victory. The Chargers have a special talent in Herbert who will be the face of the franchise for years to come.
49ers 33 Patriots 6
What a butt-whooping the San Francisco 49ers gave the New England Patriots. It’s the worst home loss in the Bill Belichick era and it doesn’t look like it’s going to get better any time soon. We’ve seen Belichick work wonders before, but this would be his biggest feat yet. May just as well crown the Bills the AFC East champions. Strong performance by the 49ers in this one. They’re back on track.
Chiefs 43 Broncos 16
Hall-of-famer Patrick Mahomes had a very pedestrian like performance in the snow in Denver, but that didn’t stop the Chiefs. Aided by a defensive touchdown and a kick return for a touchdown, the Chiefs cruised by the Broncos with ease. Denver has a long way to before catching up to the Chiefs.
Seahawks 34 Cardinals 37
What. A. Game! Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks were rolling all over the Arizona Cardinals defense, but the Cardinals hung around thanks to Kyler Murray. The play of the game, maybe the year happened in the second quarter when Wilson threw a pick to Cardinals safety Budda Baker who scampered down the sideline and looked like he had an easy pick-six except that Seahawks wide receiver D.K. Metcalf chased him down from behind and tackled him six yards shy of the endzone. The Cardinals would not score there, but they did force overtime after Murray led the Cardinals to a game-tying field goal. The Cardinals defense came up big in overtime coming up with their only two sacks of the game and then getting a pick by Hassan Reddick after kicker Zane Gonzalez missed his field goal. He got a chance at redemption and snuck it in as the Cardinals won a thriller. What an absolutely fantastic game.
5-1 Chicago Bears @ 4-2 Los Angeles Rams 8:15 PM ET ESPN MNF
The Bears remain one of the most unimpressive 5-1 teams in recent memory. Yet they are 5-1. But I can’t pick them against Aaron Donald and the Rams who are looking to bounce back after their loss to the 49ers last week. The Rams are a better team and they find a way to win this one tonight.
Prediction: Rams 24 Bears 16
Coming up Tuesday: MNF reaction, college football reaction and more thoughts on the World Series
