Monday Night Observations

The 40-minute version usually hasn’t been edited yet when I wake up at 7:00 am Portugal time, so I’ve been more often than not watching the five-minute highlights. From what I could tell — and the commentary on Twitter — in this case that was a good thing.

I shudder to look, but in one league (where I’m basically drawing dead) I started Joshua Dobbs over C.J. Stroud too. I actually like that team for the consolation round of the NFFC playoffs — it has a lot of good players like De’Von Achane, Stroud, Bijan Robinson, Saquon Barkley, DK Metcalf, George Kittle, Christian Watson and Calvin Ridley — who for one reason or another didn’t put it together. (I know thinking about the 3500-team, low-stakes consolation round is pathetic, but this is a team built to win it!)

Otherwise, it was a relief to see the Bears cover and put me at 1-4 ATS rather than 0-5. (I had a moment of panic when they turned it over, down one, with three minutes left that the Vikings would kick a FG to go up four.)

• So much for the “Why didn’t Team X just trade for Joshua Dobbs at the deadline?” as the Vikings are apparently contemplating a QB switch. Playing quarterback in the NFL is harder than rocket science.

• Starting Dobbs over Stroud was dumb. Not only was Justin Jefferson not likely to play, but the Bears defense is not remotely the doormat it was earlier in the year.

• I saw a Jordan Addison drop on a 100-mph throw slightly behind him from Dobbs, not sure if there were more than one. If Cousins is back next year, and Jefferson is 100 percent, I’m curious whether Addison becomes the Reggie Wayne to his Harrison or just a guy.

• I saw a chart of Justin Fields’ throws last night, and it was apparently extreme dink and dunk, with two fumbles lost. There are six weeks left in the regular season, but things are pointing to the Bears taking a QB with the likely No. 1 overall pick,

• You don’t really want much of this Bears offense, but it is a narrow tree with only D.J. Moore, Cole Kmet and the two backs ever touching the ball. Of course, D’Onta Foreman, their best back, was out.

• Of course, Cairo Santos drilled a 55-yarder. Justin Tucker may be slipping, but his legacy is real! The Dick Fosbury of NFL kicking.