Who Fed It And Who Ate It: 2019 Week 4
Just like that, a quarter of the season is gone. There are 3 undefeated teams (New England, Kansas City, & San Francisco), 5 winless ones (Cincinnati, Denver, Miami, NY Jets, & Washington), and the ones in between scurrying to move while trying not to slide down. We shall cover two teams who were thumped in their respective games, while we examine a player who may miss a lot of time, and not because of injury.
The Ass Kicking of the Week was delivered by the Pittsburgh Steelers, who spanked their divisional whipping boys, the Cincinnati Bengals, 27-3 Entering this particular Monday Night clash, it was two teams who have absolutely no love lost between, but each with the season on the brink as each one carried an 0-3 record into what essentially turned into a must win affair. The Steelers left no doubt that they have yet to play their best ball, while the Bengals looked lost. The quarterback comparison is absurd. The veteran Andy Dalton was sacked 8 times, threw for 171 yards and a pick. Second year starter Mason Rudolph was a cool hand for Pittsburgh as he carved up the Bengals defense (24 of 28 for 229 yards & 2 TD's for a 124.6 passer rating). While the Steelers have kept their playoff probability alive, the Bengals are done. While it may be harsh to claim after only 4 games, what other conclusion can be drawn when a defense allows 21 points on a good day? What alternative deduction can be made when Cincy's run offense has gained 198 yards out of 4 games?! Your humble scribe did believe that the Bengals were going to finish last in the AFC North this year, but could not have fathomed that they would be this bad. Then again, marginal activity in free agency, even with a brand spanking new head coach in Zac Taylor, when their divisional rivals worked diligently to improve sunk the Queen City Cats in March, long before the start of the season in September. The resistance to spend money on veteran help bit owner & GM Mike Brown in the ass (again). While stating the obvious in that Brown must engage in free agency to help field a competitive team feels like a moral obligation, there is also the understanding of the saying regarding a leopard changing his spots and its relation to this scion on a football icon.
The Washington Redskins slid to 0-4 in embarrassing fashion as they were dismantled by the New York Giants 24-3 This was an impressive show of ineptitude by the Redskins. Holy cow. They played the Giants at MetLife Stadium, possibly their only peer in the NFC East, as Big Blue is rebuilding. This would be a game that could be a sound victory for the Burgundy and Gold, but morphed into a scathing indictment of the Redskins roster management. The offense was beyond abysmal: 8 first downs, 176 total yards (121 passing, 55 rushing), 4 turnovers, and an 18% 3rd down conversion rate. And mind you, this is against a Giants defense that has been universally panned for either its void of talented players or their atrocious performances. Compounding this abomination was a report that said Washington owner Daniel Snyder made it clear he wanted to see rookie QB Dwayne Haskins on the field, even though coaches who worked with the transitioning collegian unanimously concluded he was not ready to take the field. The coaching staff was right; Haskins went 9 of 17 for 107 yards & 3 interceptions to post a 32.8 passer rating. With star offensive lineman Trent Williams holding out and hoping to get out of Washington & injuries beginning to strip away the more talented on the roster, there is no relief in sight for the 'Skins.
Oakland Raiders linebacker Vontaze Burfict has been suspended for the balance of the 2019 season due to delivering a deliberate head shot with his helmet Football is a violent sport, one where people are hurt, and hurt badly at times, even as the assailing party did not intend for such a result. And one dark little secret in football is some have no qualms about crossing the line between playing a physical style of game over into being a danger to others as well as themselves. But no football association, especially the NFL, should tolerate a player who has time and again been a remorseless headhunter, content to cause his opponent serious injury, especially serious head injuries. Vontaze Burfict has long been regarded as a dirty player in a class unto himself, being suspended a total of six games over his career due to causing intentional injury with malicious intent on many occasions. But when Burfict drilled Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle with an illegal helmet to helmet hit, the league finally had enough. Burfict was ejected from the game, then subsequently suspended from playing for the rest of 2019. This verdict, handed down by the league office, explained that his previous incidents and corresponding sanctions by the NFL have not been enough to dissuade Burfict in engaging in such malicious activity on a football field. It remains to be seen if the 13 week judgment will hold, as Burfict's representatives have filed an appeal. But it least the league has taken a stand against a player whose dirty play only tarnishes the league as a whole. Here's hoping NFL leadership, as it is, will be more active in getting dirty players out so as it protects those who play within the limitations of the game.
