Photo by Mick Haupt on Unsplash
Going into this season my picks to reach the Super Bowl were the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs. Both lost Sunday, though the 49ers’ loss seems far more consequential than the Chiefs’. Beyond that, coaching, both good and bad, was on full display Sunday.
1: Matt Eberflus is a millstone around the Bears’ neck.
Eberflus’ end of game timidity was on full display Sunday. With 36 seconds left in the game and a timeout in hand, Eberflus elected not to run another play to get closer for an easier field goal. Instead, Eberflus elected to settle for a 47-yard attempt which was blocked.
I’m trying to remember if I’ve ever seen a coach more afraid to grab a game by the throat. The big positive coming out of the game was the better play of Caleb Williams. Hopefully the change of OC will stifle the regression of Williams.
The McCaskey family should have canned Eberflus before the season began. However, having failed at that, hopefully Eberflus will be gone at the end of the year and Bears job will still have some appeal to strong applicants.
2: Bo Nix is really coming on.
Broncos’ QB, Bo Nix, had an amazing game, throwing for 307 and four TDs with no interceptions. The Broncos rolled over the Falcons to the tune of 38–6. The win evened the Broncos’ record at 5–5.
Sean Peyton has done an amazing job in helping turn the Broncos around. The Broncos narrowly missed upsetting the Chiefs last week. It looks like it wasn’t a fluke.
3: The 49ers may be in trouble.
The 49ers last second 20–17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks dropped their record to 5–5. And they’ve seemed sluggish all year. Some of their vaunted skill position players have had a down year, in large part due to injuries.
Brandon Aiyuk is out for the season and Christian McCaffery played in just his second game of the season, rushing for 79 yards and picking up another 27 yards on four receptions. Good numbers, but not great.
Debo Samuel’s rushing stats have taken a hit this season, and he’s scored only two TDs thus far. Samuel picked up a mere 22 yards from scrimmage in Sunday’s loss.
4: Coaching matters 2.0: Mike Tomlin.
Just as Matt Ebrflus is costing the Chicago Bears wins, Mike Tomlin keeps the Pittsburgh Steelers afloat year after year. The Steelers were able to stifle Lamar Jackson and the high-powered Ravens’ offense in their 18–16 win Sunday.
Like peas and carrots, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields have found a way to work harmoniously together at the QB position. While the Steelers aren’t blowing opponents out, they do sit at 8–2.
5: Coaching matter 3.0: Jim Harbaugh.
After blowing a 21-point halftime lead, the Chargers hung on defeat the Bengals, 34–27. It was the type of game the Chargers would have lost in years gone by.
The Chargers have revamped received crew and the new guys were on display. Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnson should continue to grow in expanded roles. McConkey caught six passes for 123 yards and Johnson caught a 26-yard TD pass.
Justin Herbert looked phenomenal in the first half. Honestly, if you were going to put together the prototypical NFL QB in a lab, it would be Justin Herbert. It looks like Jim Harbaugh is finally unleashing the talent Herbert possesses.
