A Level Headed Review Week 16 2024

[DenverChief]

I really tried to watch the Madden broadcast but I couldn't do it, the commentary is garbage and I prefer to the see the play up close (wide angle to close in). Staying wide angle the whole time is just annoying to me for live football. Which is weird because I am a Madden player. I just wasn't digging it and had to find the NBC broadcast halfway through the 1st Q.

Hicks with the pick putting as at +3 on the year for TO differential. Hicks is quietly impressive at the safety position, he just is always in the right place at the right time. Think we have ourselves a solid starter for years to come.

Tre Smith holding call was complete garbage. The offensive line blocking has looked MUCH better through the first quarter. Caliendo just went too far inside trying to help Humphrey and left his gap open that led to a sack.

Hollywood Brown with the nice 4th down catch to keep the drive alive. Good to see him back on the field, I really hope he can give the offense the spark.

Pat not playing around the two long runs. I think the Settle comments really fired him up. He really barreled into the end zone on the second run.

Williams needs to be tighter in coverage, he was two steps behind the WR he was covering on the last play of the 1st quarter. I haven't seen Nelson on the field, not entirely sure if he was activated for this game.

We seem to still struggle with getting off the field on third and long situations.

That 2nd Q touchdown...that was a blatant hold on Karlaftis AND a push off on McDuffie in the end zone. I'm not normally one to say anything about the refs but both of those were glaringly obvious and on the same play...don't know how you don't see at least one of those.

Watson needs to bring that ball in for the TD. Worthy was wide open as well. If Pat just slows down a bit he hits Hollywood in stride. Pat makes up for it by finding Kelce for the first down.

I'm feeling better about the offense today, Worthy, Brown, Pacheco and Hunt are making the plays - sprinkle some Kelce in and use Hopkins as a decoy and it is starting to feel like the engine knock is going away.

McDuffie with his 2nd career interception - so happy he is finally getting his.

The offense stalled in the red zone - not sure what happened with Worthy limping off the field (ankle injury), the third down throw should have gone to Hopkins who looked like he had a step on his defender vs JJSS who was covered tightly by his defender.

Through the first half only one sack on Mahomes and that was the Caliendo mistake. Mahomes has been moved around in the pocket a little and they have used the bootleg to perfection a few times but by and large Mahomes has been kept clean in the pocket today. The one other time he took a shot was a RTP penalty.

Ironically with the firepower of our passing offense (Brown, Worthy, Hopkins, JJSS, Kelce) we have two rushing TD's through the first half.

WTH statistic is this? 11% Missed tackles - 0 tackles today? I'm assuming 0 missed tackles today.


I don't understand how Pat seems to have lost his deep ball touch this year - it just seems other QB's can drop these bombs right in the bread basket but Pat just overthrows the WR. Strange....I suppose it could be we are focusing on getting the rest of the offense in sync and less time to practice the deep passes.

3rd and 1 and 4th and 1 - why not use Hunt - he has been much more effective on short yardage than Pacheco, that was a terrible decision.

Hunt really takes over in the second half and gets yardage when we need it.

[displacedinMN]

That catch by Brown was a work of art. Truly a pro catch.

[TLO]

Most complete game of the season, IMO.
Great win!

[FloridaMan88]

Perine needs to get the ball more in the screen game.

[DenverChief]

The pocket was so much better this game. Thuney and Caliendo have really locked it down.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by DenverChief

The pocket was so much better this game. Thuney and Caliendo have really locked it down.

Thuney definitely looked much more comfortable than he did last week

[lcarus]

Kareem Hunt should be the #1 RB. I like Pacheco and he'll get plenty of opportunities still, but when it's short yardage, goal line, or time to close out a game, I like Hunt in there.

[DenverChief]

Originally Posted by lcarus

Kareem Hunt should be the #1 RB. I like Pacheco and he'll get plenty of opportunities still, but when it's short yardage, goal line, or time to close out a game, I like Hunt in there.

I don't mind rolling with Pacheco in the first half and wearing the defense down with his speed and aggressive running and then turn it over to Hunt in the 2nd and let him power rush and jump cut for first downs.

The exception is for obvious critical short yardage situations

[Best22]

Originally Posted by lcarus

Kareem Hunt should be the #1 RB. I like Pacheco and he'll get plenty of opportunities still, but when it's short yardage, goal line, or time to close out a game, I like Hunt in there.

Agree, but we needed to give Hunt the rest. Hunt looked fresh today.

[Basileus777]

A lot of encouraging things from this one. If this team is healthy and playing Hopkins/Brown a lot more snaps, they are in good shape to win 3 playoff games.


And Spags just knows how to exploit the protection calls of these Shanahan system offenses.

[Easy 6]

Negative - The lack of pass rush against a mash unit O line is worrisome, but we won so I won't complain too loudly

Positive - I think the sun might've been in Watsons eyes on that TD drop, loving me some Kareem Hunt, Worthy is getting better by the week, Hopkins is straight up $$$

[DenverChief]

Originally Posted by Easy 6

Negative - The lack of pass rush against a mash unit O line is worrisome, but we won so I won't complain too loudly

Positive - I think the sun might've been in Watsons eyes on that TD drop, loving me some Kareem Hunt, Worthy is getting better by the week, Hopkins is straight up $$$

We still have to send odd rushes and extra rushers to get home...but some of that feels like it was designed to keep Stroud from rolling out of the pocket.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by DenverChief

We still have to send odd rushes and extra rushers to get home...but some of that feels like it was designed to keep Stroud from rolling out of the pocket.

I concur

[lcarus]

Originally Posted by Easy 6

Negative - The lack of pass rush against a mash unit O line is worrisome, but we won so I won't complain too loudly

Positive - I think the sun might've been in Watsons eyes on that TD drop, loving me some Kareem Hunt, Worthy is getting better by the week, Hopkins is straight up $$$

The pass rush was definitely lacking. Though Karlaftis was so close a couple times to getting that strip sack. Hopefully he gets there against Mr. Unlimited.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by lcarus

The pass rush was definitely lacking. Though Karlaftis was so close a couple times to getting that strip sack. Hopefully he gets there against Mr. Unlimited.

Absolutely, GK never closed the deal today but it damn sure wasn't for a lack of effort