Don’t believe the hype you’re hearing about Aaron Rodgers’ numbers at home.  Don’t get me wrong, they’re outstanding, but that implies that on the road he struggles.  That’s bull.

Rodgers has a passer rating of 103 in road games, having thrown 10 TDs and just 3 picks.

Sure, his home numbers are better, but that’s true of most quarterbacks.  Rodgers is having a phenomenal season, home or away.

This Week’s Sucked And Won

David DeCastro, G and Marcus Gilbert, T (PIT).  The right side of the Steelers’ o-line allowed Titans LB Avery Williamson to singlehandedly make Ben Roethlisberger’s life miserable.  He recorded 2 sacks and 3 QB hits on Pittsburgh’s quarterback, part of an overall 5 sack 8 hit assault surrendered by the line.

When we look back at the 2014 NFL Draft, I think we may remember it as the year of the receiver.  It seems like every week it’s a new rookie’s turn in the spotlight.  This week it was the Buccaneers’ Mike Evans, who caught 7 balls for 209 yards, but Sammy Watkins, Kelvin Benjamin, Brandin Cooks, John Brown, Odell Beckham and Jordan Matthews have all opened eyes at some point.

 

Shocking realization of the week

The Kansas City Chiefs have not allowed a rushing touchdown this season.

There’s been no bigger disappointment in the NFL this season than the New Orleans Saints, and with their latest loss (their second in a row at home) they’ve actually forfeited first place in the South to the 4-6 Atlanta Falcons.  Yikes.  Just how bad is the NFC South representative in the playoffs going to be?   Even Tampa Bay is only two games back (shudder).

 

This Week’s Great But Lost

Mario Williams, DE (BUF).  For the second week in a row, a member of the Bills’ defensive line had a stellar day in a losing effort.  Williams recorded 3.5 sacks, including one for a 10 yard loss against Ryan Tannehill, but his team couldn’t parlay that into a win.

After suffering through his worst season as a pro and throwing 27 interceptions last season, Eli Manning had seemed to have turned things around, and had thrown only 6 coming into today’s game.  Unfortunately for him, that total just doubled (almost).  Manning threw 5 picks against San Francisco, which still gives him only 11 for the year so, probably he’s not gonna get to 27, but still, if he’s gonna throw 5 in one game. . .

 

Thursday Pick:   Kansas City (-7) @Oakland (Westgate Superbook)

I’d have loved to get the Chiefs giving less than a touchdown, but I’ll take what I can get.  Don’t be fooled by the illusion that this game being in Oakland matters.  What sort of home field advantage do you imagine an 0-10 team has, exactly?  Not to mention, two of the last three meetings between these teams in Oakland were 20+ point wins for Kansas City.  I’ll give the 7.  No problem.

Kansas City Chiefs 27 Oakland Raiders 16

 

NFYell

“He should be ashamed of himself.” – Bengals TE Jermaine Gresham, on the Saints fan who sntached away the touchdown ball Gresham was tossing to a Bengals fan in the stands.

“I heard about it about 10 seconds ago.  It’s an even better day now.” – Chiefs DT Dontari Poe, asked about the rival Broncos’ loss to the Rams.

“It’s just a loss.  We’re still the same team that came in 7-2. Now we’re 7-3, we just got one loss. A loss is a loss. It doesn’t matter if you lose by two or lose by 30.” – Eagles DE Cedric Thornton after the Eagles lost by 33.

“It was obviously the accuracy issue.” – Giants coach Tom Coughlin, addressing Eli Manning’s 5 interceptions on Sunday.

“You just hate to see that, and I feel a part of that.  I felt like I probably could have held the safety a little bit longer, keep him from getting a jump on that. So every pass I throw, you feel responsible for it especially if a player gets injured so I hope he’s OK.” – Broncos QB Peyton Manning, on the hit that knocked WR Emmanuel Sanders out of the game.

“He was huge.  At one point during the game, I honestly turned around and said, ‘This guy is legitimately swinging the game single-handedly.’” – Raiders coach Tony Sparano on Chargers punter Mike Scifres, who repeatedly pinned Oakland deep in their own territory.

“Nothing special.” – Bears DE Jared Allen, on recording his first sack vs. his former team, the Vikings.

“We knew we had to run it and stop it, and we did neither.” Colts coach Chuck Pagano, on the role of the ground game in his team’s loss to the Patriots.

“You can’t do epic shit with basic people” – Washington WR DeSean Jackson, on Twitter.   Jackson’s tweet was in support of QB Robert Griffin III, who complained that the team’s performance “takes 11 men” instead of only him.