NFL News

[Futureshock]

Patrick Mahomes ran nearly 500 yards before throwing or getting sacked

Posted by Mike Florio on February 8, 2021, 9:22 AM EST

Getty Images

The Chiefs didn’t have much of a running game last night. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, however, did plenty of running in the passing game.

According to NextGenStats, via Seth Walder of ESPN.com, Mahomes ran 497 yards before throwing the ball or being sacked on Sunday night. It was the highest total for any quarterback in the 2020 season.

Second on the list? Mahomes in Week Five, against the Raiders. That day, Mahomes ran for 495 yards before throwing the ball or getting sacked.

This time around, Mahomes had a toe injury. While it wasn’t a factor in the AFC Championship, it was a factor on Sunday night. Mahomes fought through it, doing whatever he had to do in an effort to will his team back into the game.

Some are criticizing Mahomes for his performance in Super Bowl LV. That’s a lazy take; Mahomes played heroically and admirably.

Although Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady won the Super Bowl MVP award, here’s the reality: The game was won by the team’s defense. Indeed, if Mahomes and Brady had flipped teams before kickoff, the outcome would have been as bad — if not much worse — for the Chiefs.

The offensive line wasn’t good. The playcalling abandoned the run (again). The receivers weren’t getting open or catching balls that hit their hands, or elsewhere. The defense was sloppy and undisciplined.

The Chiefs lost the game for many reasons. Patrick Mahomes was not one of those reasons.

[Futureshock]

Todd Bowles: Biggest thing was taking away Chiefs’ first read

Posted by Josh Alper on February 8, 2021, 5:29 AM EST

USA TODAY Sports

The Buccaneers gave up 543 yards while falling behind 20-7 in the first half of their 27-24 Week 12 loss to Kansas City, but they found a much better plan for dealing with the Chiefs in Super Bowl LV.

Kansas City didn’t manage a touchdown en route to a 31-9 loss that dashed their hopes of a repeat as NFL champions. Patrick Mahomes was 26-of-49 for 270 yards and two interceptions in what may have been his worst performance as a professional quarterback and the architect of the Bucs’ successful approach was defensive coordinator Todd Bowles.

After the game, Bowles said the guys up front “hunted” while the secondary “took away some of the underneath throws” to leave the Chiefs and Mahomes with nowhere to go with the ball.

“The biggest thing was trying to take away the first read,” Bowles said. “If you take away the first read, you know he’s got to drift and hold it, and you know that that’s a dangerous thing because he can run and he can make plays with his feet, but we didn’t want him sitting in the pocket, just zinging dimes on us all day, either. So, the d-line got some pressure on him and was making him run and making him a little bit uncomfortable, and I thought that was key for us.”

Mahomes looked more than a little bit uncomfortable, which is something that we’ve rarely seen since he entered the league. That’s a credit to the work done by Bowles and the entire defensive unit in their biggest test of the year.

[Futureshock]

Ha!!!


Antoine Winfield: It was only right that I gave Tyreek Hill the peace sign back

Posted by Charean Williams on February 8, 2021, 12:33 AM EST

Getty Images

In a Week 12 game against the Bucs, Tyreek Hill had more than 200 yards in the first quarter. The Chiefs receiver finished with 269 and three touchdowns.

At the end of a 75-yard touchdown in that game, Hill taunted rookie safety Antoine Winfield Jr. with his signature peace sign as he crossed the goal line. Officials did not penalize Hill. Shortly after that, Hill stopped before the goal line and back flipped into the end zone for a 44-yard touchdown.

On Sunday, Hill made only three catches for 34 yards in the first three quarters when the game was in doubt. He finished with seven for 73, and the Bucs secondary very much enjoyed their revenge.

On a fourth-down incompletion intended for Hill, Winfield walked up to Hill and flashed the peace sign in the receiver’s face. Officials flagged Winfield for taunting on a post-play foul.

Winfield was unapologetic afterward.

“The taunting, man, it’s something I just had to do,” Winfield said. “When we played them earlier, Hill went off on us. He back-flipped in front of my face and gave me the peace sign. So it was only right that I gave him the peace sign right back to him. It felt amazing to do that. I’m not even gonna lie.”

The Bucs walked the walk before talking the talk, winning convincingly 31-9 with a brilliant defensive game plan that should have earned someone on the team’s defense the MVP award that went to Tom Brady.

Winfield was a candidate with six tackles, an interception and two pass breakups. Devin White had 12 tackles and an interception; Ndamukong Suh had 1.5 sacks; and Shaq Barrett had a sack and four quarterback hits.

Since he was penalized, Winfield likely has a fine coming his way. He also has a Super Bowl ring on its way, so it’s doubtful he will care.

[Futureshock]

Could Nick Foles be heading back to Philadelphia, again?

Posted by Mike Florio on February 7, 2021, 11:20 AM EST
The Eagles could be going back to the future. As rumors continue to make the rounds regarding a possible trade of quarterback Carson Wentz, long-time Eagles sideline reporter Howard Eskin dropped this nugget late Saturday night: Wentz to the Bears. For a first-round pick, running back Tarik Cohen, and . . . quarterback Nick Foles. [more]

[TheLondonLion]

I’m really looking forward to the mic’d up to hear the Honey Badger and Brady go at it.

Brady was PUMPED. More pumped than I’ve seen him. This was the ultimate legacy settler.

[Futureshock]

DESHAUN WATSON'S DESTINATIONS

Patrick Daugherty evaluates all of Deshaun Watson's potential trade destinations.

[Futureshock]

RUSSELL WILSONQB, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS


NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports "a couple of teams have called Seattle to inquire" about Russell Wilson's availability, but that there is "no chance" of a deal taking place.


Wilson rumors percolate from time to time, but they never go anywhere. That is life for a superstar quarterback in a run-first organization. No one is happy about how things went on offense for the Seahawks in 2020, but coach Pete Carroll has finally made a commitment to modernize his offense by plucking ex-Rams passing-game coordinator Shane Waldron away from Sean McVay's staff to call plays.

SOURCE: NFL.com
Feb 7, 2021, 2:34 PM

[Futureshock]

JAMEIS WINSTONQB, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS


NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports Saints QB Jameis Winston is "in the driver's seat" for the New Orleans starting quarterback job.


Drew Brees has not made his retirement official yet but all indications are that he is done playing in the NFL. That leaves the starting QB job up for grabs in New Orleans. Taysom Hill was the only quarterback other than Brees to start in 2020 but Winston reportedly impressed the staff in practice. Hill made four starts and threw the ball well while adding a dynamic element with his running ability. Winston attempted just 12 passes on the year but did make a nice touchdown throw on a trick play in the playoffs. The Saints may not be able to keep Winston if the market for him is hot. They are currently working with a projected deficit of over $70 million for 2021. If there aren't many suitors for Winston in free agency, he looks like the clear favorite to start for New Orleans in 2021.

SOURCE: Ian Rapoport on Twitter
Feb 7, 2021, 10:43 AM

[Futureshock]

JOSH ROSENQB, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS


NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports the 49ers will tender an offer to QB Josh Rosen.


The 49ers picked up Rosen off the Bucs practice squad last year while dealing with a myriad of injuries. He was active for two games but did not get any reps. He was an exclusive rights free agent meaning the 49ers got the first crack at signing him. The deal will become official at a later date. Rosen was selected with the No. 10 pick by Arizona but he flopped in spectacular fashion there and in Miami once again after being traded. He was subsequently released by the Dolphins. If the 49ers can capture some of the talent that landed Rosen in the first-round, he'll have an outside chance at cracking the 53-man roster at the end of the summer.

SOURCE: Mike Garafolo on Twitter
Feb 7, 2021, 9:33 AM

[Futureshock]

SAM DARNOLDQB, NEW YORK JETS


ESPN's Adam Schefter reports multiple teams have reached out to the Jets about trading for QB Sam Darnold.


The Jets hold the second pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and are nearly certain to be eying a quarterback, likely Ohio State's Justin Fields or BYU's Zach Wilson. That means that Darnold will have no more value than any other high-end backup passer once day one of the draft concludes. Other teams clearly recognize this and are likely trying to scoop up a project quarterback for pennies on the dollar. Darnold will only be 24 years old a the start of the 2021 season and was set up for failure in New York. His play also expedited the process as he averaged just 6.6 yards per attempt across three seasons. Schefter previously reported that Darnold will cost teams a late first-round pick and there will likely be a team who is willing to gamble on Darnold for that price.

SOURCE: Adam Schefter on Twitter
Feb 7, 2021, 9:16 AM

[-Deborah-]

https://twitter.com/tonyclementstc/s...727286784?s=21

How do I embed this? He’s lucky he got up.

I just answered this yesterday lol. Please see here:

https://www.detroitlionsforum.com/forums/forum/sports-discussion-forums/detroit-lions/1694180-nfl-news?p=1728055#post1728055

[Newbomb Turk]

Considering I was responding to someone else bringing it up, how about you go after the source, chief?

Do kindly eat the nearest bag of dicks.

I am not familiar with the process of eatign a bag of dicks, but I did order your book on the topic.......

[TheLondonLion]

Thanks Debs. I’m clearly an idiot.

Can we please just dwell on how insane this play was cos a second?

[chemiclord]

I am not familiar with the process of eatign a bag of dicks, but I did order your book on the topic.......

Nah, man. You gotta get the revised second edition. I put in a lot more details that any adventurous fellow needs to know. There's more than the two handed pump, for example.

[Newbomb Turk]

I gotta lot to learn...

Chapter 3 on "Cupping the Balls" is pure inspiration.