"The Stack" 9-12-17
The Stack is back on this Tuesday and we don’t have a whole lot to talk about apart from the MNF doubleheader last night and some reaction to the college football weekend. Before we get to that though, what about those Cleveland Indians? They have won 19 in a row now following their 11-0 thumping of the Detroit Tigers. It is absolutely unreal what they have done over the past three weeks. Meanwhile on the other end of the spectrum, the Los Angeles Dodgers have lost ten in a row and 15 of 16. This is not a good baseball team right now. World Series favorites? Not in my book right now. Let’s get right to it and see what is in “the stack” for today, Tuesday, September 12th:
Vikings spoil Peterson’s homecoming
The Minnesota Vikings started out 5-0 last year before injuries to the offensive line wrecked their season. The offensive line was an absolute nightmare last year. It was only one game, but the Vikings offensive line came through with high marks. They gave Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford plenty of time and opened up enough room for Dalvin Cook to get a good rushing attack going as the Vikings beat the New Orleans Saints 29-19. Adrian Peterson started the game for the Saints, but had only four first half carries and finished with just six carries for 18 yards. He was targeted on one pass, but did not get any receptions. The Saints appear to be going with a running back by committee approach with Peterson, Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara. They also look like they will be throwing more screens. I’m not sure how well this offense is going to work for the Saints. Drew Brees threw a garbage touchdown late otherwise the Vikings had limited this supposedly high power Saints offense to just four field goals. Bradford was nearly perfect for the Vikings going 27-for-32 for 346 yards and three touchdowns. He threw the ball down the field and his accuracy was tremendous. This is going to be a fun team to watch if the offense continues to put up numbers like they did Monday night.
Broncos escape late Chargers rally
Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian looked pretty good for much of the game against the Los Angeles Chargers in the final game of week one. The Broncos were dominating up 24-7. Philip Rivers and the Chargers couldn’t get anything going. Things would change though in the second half with back-to-back turnovers that led to 14 Chargers points in a minute and ten seconds. The Broncos would give the Chargers one more chance, but the Chargers’ rookie kicker had his second field goal chance blocked (the first one was made, but the Broncos called timeout) and the Broncos escaped with a 24-21 win. Both teams are going to be pretty decent this year, but I don’t think either are going to be making the playoffs.
College football week 2 reaction
It was not a great week of college football. It didn’t help that several games were cancelled due to Hurricane Irma (thoughts and prayers to everyone affected down in Florida). Iowa and Iowa State played an entertaining game that Iowa ultimately prevailed with a 44-41 victory. Clemson’s defense made life miserable for Jared Stidham and the Auburn offense as the Tigers (Clemson) won 14-6 over the Tigers (Auburn). Oregon’s game with Nebraska wasn’t really all that entertaining in the first half, but Nebraska made it a game in the second half before losing 42-35. #6 USC proved what kind of team they can and hopefully will be as they beat #14 Stanford 42-24. And #24 Washington State played a highly entertaining game with Boise State. Trailing 31-10 with eight minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Washington State somehow came back to tie and ultimately win in triple overtime 47-44. Both teams lost their starting quarterbacks due to injury. It was quite entertaining and a great way to end the night though the game didn’t end until roughly 2:30 AM ET.
The story of the day though happened in Columbus, Ohio, where College Gameday was for the rematch between #5 Oklahoma and #2 Ohio State. Ohio State won in Norman last year. Oklahoma got revenge in Columbus this year. Baker Mayfield was sensational with three touchdown passes as the Sooners beat the Buckeyes 31-16. After the game Mayfield planted the Oklahoma flag at midfield in the middle of the “O”. Plenty of Ohio State fans did not like it, but the fact of the matter is that if they have a problem with anything it should be how the Buckeyes played in this game. They were bad. J.T. Barrett was bad. They haven’t looked great the first two games of the year apart from the last quarter-and-a-half against Indiana in week one. I didn’t think Oklahoma would be able to do this. I was wrong. It is going to be a fantastic race in the Big 12. Can Oklahoma get back into the College Football Playoff? Certainly can’t be discounted at this point.
David Johnson dislocates wrist, status unknown
Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson suffered a wrist injury Sunday against the Detroit Lions and there were conflicting reports as to what the injury was and how much time he would/will miss. We now know the injury. It’s a dislocation. Surgery is likely, but Johnson is seeking a second opinion. If the second opinion goes in line with the first that the wrist is a dislocation requiring surgery, Johnson is looking at a likely IR stint which would put him out eight weeks minimum. It’s a devastating blow to the Cardinals and to fantasy owners who took Johnson one or two in fantasy drafts this year (my wife and I each took him in separate drafts). Carson Palmer did not play well throwing way too many interceptions. He must play better. Fortunately for the Cardinals, they do play the Indianapolis Colts this week and they were terrible week one against the Los Angeles Rams. Either way, the window is closing on the Cardinals and this injury may make that window shut even faster.
Coming up Thursday: College football weekend forecast plus TNF preview
