PMT DB
PMT DB
NFL Week 9 Upset Sunday: Titans Dominate, Bills Stumble, and the Belichick Tell
Sunday, Bloody Sunday lived up to the name. Week 9 was a graveyard for favorites as the dogs weren't just barking, they were biting everyone in sight. Big Cat and PFT recap a day where the NFL hierarchy was flipped on its head, starting with a Sunday Night Football statement in Los Angeles.
The Titans are the Real Deal
Tennessee went into SoFi Stadium without Derrick Henry and proceeded to bully the Rams for sixty minutes. While the national media was busy crown-polishing Matt Stafford, the Titans' defensive line was living in the Rams' backfield. Jeffrey Simmons looked like a man possessed, and the offense did just enough with Adrian Peterson and Tannehill to prove they aren't just a one-man show.
Big CatThe Tennessee Titans are for real, for real
I saw some people saying that the Rams stink, but I think that was more the Titans are for real, for real. And we've got to start taking them as such because no Derrick Henry. Their defense steps up. They can still play offense when they need to. I'm putting the Titans as for real, for real.
PFT was equally impressed with the grit, noting that while the Rams looked like hot garbage in the first half, the Titans have now reeled off wins against the Bills, Chiefs, Colts, and Rams in consecutive weeks. If that doesn't earn them the top spot in the AFC power rankings, nothing will.
Head-Scratchers in Jacksonville and Dallas
Perhaps the most inexplicable result of the season happened in Jacksonville, where Josh Allen (the defensive one) absolutely owned Josh Allen (the quarterback). The Bills looked lost, playing a style of football that relies far too much on miracle plays rather than fundamental execution. Big Cat noticed a disturbing trend in how Buffalo handles adversity.
Big CatThe Bills' 'video game offense' is flawed because they can't run the ball effectively
Watching the Bills play... there's times when it feels like the Bills are trying to play video game offense, where they don't really run the ball, like, ever, and they run around in the pocket, and then they find someone open. And video game offense... it's fun, but sometimes you've got to just be able to, like... run on the Jaguars and win the game somewhat easily.
On the other side of that matchup, the Jaguars managed to win a game in the United States for the first time in 420 days. Urban Meyer has officially clawed back to a .500 record since the bar incident, and the squad seems to have found a weird "us against the world" energy after giving up on their coach in week two.
PFT CommenterThe Jaguars are currently a dangerous team
We're in a window right now with the Jaguars. The Jaguars are a dangerous team right now.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys got absolutely whooped by a Broncos team that seemed energized by the departure of Von Miller. Teddy Bridgewater was hitting deep shots, and Javonte Williams ran like a man who refused to be tackled. PFT thinks the Broncos might have finally unlocked the secret to using their quarterback.
PFT CommenterTeddy Bridgewater is a good quarterback when the offense allows him to throw deep
Teddy Bridgewater is actually good when you let him throw the ball deep. ... I think his problem is Teddy is very, very accurate on short passes and so then they just have him throw those all the time ... but just let him throw the ball deep and the offense actually looks competent.
The Browns Find Peace Without Odell
The Battle of Ohio turned into a one-sided funeral for the Bengals' hype train. Baker Mayfield looked like a completely different quarterback now that he doesn't have the ghost of Odell Beckham Jr. looming over every progression. The chemistry was instant, the ball was spread around, and the offense finally had a rhythm that didn't involve forcing targets to a malcontent.
Big CatBaker Mayfield and the Browns are significantly better without Odell Beckham
It is not a hot take to say that the Browns are just significantly better and Baker Mayfield is significantly better without Odell Beckham. ... Because he doesn't have to feel like he has to throw the ball to Odell Beckham, and if he misses Odell Beckham, Odell Beckham's dad's going to make a fucking mixtape with R.E.M. behind it.
While Cleveland celebrates their newfound freedom, PFT has a plan for the Bengals to lean into the chaos. If they want to recreate that LSU magic and truly embrace the Bayou Bengals identity, there's a certain wide receiver on the waiver wire who might fit the vibe.
PFT CommenterThe Cincinnati Bengals should sign Odell Beckham Jr.
Here's a hot take. I think that the Bengals should go after Odell Beckham. Get all the LSU offense on one team. Just do it up big. ... Get the Bayou Bengals going.
Narratives Buried and Birth of the "Soupy"
Lamar Jackson continued his revenge tour against the stat nerds by pulling off yet another double-digit comeback against the Vikings. The old talking point about him being unable to play from behind is officially in the dirt.
Big CatThe narrative that Lamar Jackson can't lead comebacks is officially dead
We got to officially bury a narrative. Lamar Jackson is now the king of the comebacks this year. ... Previously in his career, he was 0-6, went down two scores in the second half. He's now had three games this year where he's brought the Ravens back down from double digits. That narrative's dead.
While Lamar is ascending, the Vikings are stuck in a loop of being "almost" good. Big Cat is officially done hearing excuses from the Twin Cities about being a couple of plays away.
Big CatVikings fans are not allowed to say they are a couple plays away from being a good team
Vikings fans, you are not allowed to say we are a couple plays away from being a good team because at some point you are what you are, and the Vikings are just the team that can play teams close but can never win a game.
In New England, the Patriots took care of business against the Panthers, and the real story was Bill Belichick’s wardrobe. Showing up with one sweatpant leg rolled up like a 90s rapper is a clear signal to the rest of the league that the Hoodie is locked in.
Big CatThe quality of the Patriots' play is directly correlated to how poorly Bill Belichick is dressed
The worse [Belichick] dresses, I feel like the better the Patriots are. ... It's almost his tell. ... When Belichick shows up in a custom bra hoodie with half a leg up on his sweatpants looking like he looks like he got concussed and he woke up in an alley, he knows that they're going to fucking kill the Panthers.
Hank is so confident in this version of the Patriots that he's already planning his Super Bowl parade schedule. With his brother getting married in California the week after the big game, Hank is envisioning a "December to Remember" that ends with him hoisting a trophy and taking a week off to live his best life.
HankThe Patriots might win the Super Bowl this year
What if the Patriots get to the Super Bowl? ... This year, my brother is getting married the week after the Super Bowl in California, so I'm going to be out in California. I'm thinking it's going to be just the biggest party week of all time. I'm going to win the soupy, I'm taking the next week off, and I'm just going to live the greatest life of all time.
QB Queries and Fourth Down Addictions
In the late window, Jordan Love’s debut was a reminder that sitting behind a Hall of Famer doesn't automatically grant you superpowers. The Packers' offense looked stagnant, and PFT isn't convinced that more time on the clipboard is the answer for Love.
PFT CommenterNo amount of sitting behind a veteran is going to make Jordan Love better at football
Jordan Love... He wasn't ready. I don't think any amount of sitting is going to make him better at football. ... He needs to play less football, and then pretty soon he'll be better at football.
Out West, Brandon Staley continued his war against the punt. The Chargers' loss to the Eagles featured a 98-yard drive that resulted in zero points because Staley refused to take the points. Big Cat is starting to worry that the analytics are becoming an actual addiction for the young coach.
Big CatBrandon Staley is addicted to going for it on fourth down
I like Brandon Staley. ... I think he's addicted to going for fourth down. Like he's addicted to it. And it's scary because it's like he just lives on the fucking edge. He is an adrenaline junkie.
Finally, Big Cat issued a formal mea culpa to Cliff Kingsbury. Even without Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins, the Cardinals handled the 49ers, proving that the culture in Arizona is legit. It’s a stark contrast to San Francisco, where the wheels seem to be falling off the Kyle Shanahan era.
PFT CommenterThe 49ers are officially a broken group of guys
I think the 49ers are officially a broken group of guys. If [Jimmy Garoppolo] makes that pass, that one pass... That he overthrew Emmanuel Sanders [in the Super Bowl]. Everything changes.
If the NFL season ended today, we'd have a lot of confused bettors and a very happy Belichick.
