Thanksgiving Day Observations

Sick

I’ve been sick the last few days, but under the circumstances Thanksgiving wasn’t too bad. I got to watch the games in the separate office-adjacent den, made a plate and brought it in with me. Heather had invited over a French woman and her son, as well as an American woman and her daughter, so they were occupied on the other side of the apartment. I was brought out from my dungeon to carve the turkey leg and shuck a few oysters (I think the oysters did me some good in fact), but otherwise was left alone. Except for Oscar who swung by occasionally to check in on me and sit by my side on the sofa.

The Lions-Bears was a strange game, even before the insane ending. The Lions looked like they were going to win huge again, the Bears couldn’t even get a first down, and then they’re life and death at the end. Of course, squandering 30 seconds on the last play while leaving a timeout on the table had to be one of the worst clock management fiascos in NFL history. A good rule of thumb is that when time is an issue, always burn the timeout rather than the time itself. It’s like spending airline miles rather than dollars — you can only use the miles for the flight, but you can use the dollars for anything.

I watched the second half of the Giants game this morning. I had them in Circa unfortunately too. They weren’t that horrible, but you can’t backdoor cover when you give up the pick six. Drew Lock was sloppy, but the Giants o-line is bad, and Micah Parsons wrecked them.

I watched only the highlights of Dolphins-Packers. I started Jonnu Smith in every league, one of them over Jaylen Waddle in the flex, and it turned out to be the right call. I sat Tua for Anthony Richardson, and Tua somehow got 32 points, so that’s a high bar. I didn’t like them playing in cold weather, figured short throws to Smith were more likely.

• The Lions were toying with the Bears in the first half, at one point calling a roll out for tackle Penei Sewell where he looked like he was going to throw it. When he found no one open, he ran with it a short distance and bodied a few would-be tacklers.

• Caleb Williams botched the last play (as did his likely soon-to-be-fired coach) but he looked good to me. One skill he has is keeping his downfield focus while scrambling.

• It was odd seeing David Montgomery, who had a solid game, on the field so much more than Jahmyr Gibbs, who averaged nearly 10 yards per carry. Montgomery was the one who was banged up going into the game too.

• Malik Nabers had a decent game, and it would have been better but for a 21-yard catch at the sideline that was called back. The Giants need to get him a real QB next year, and he’ll turn into Ja’Marr Chase.

• Theo Johnson was quiet in the first half, but got going in the second. He took some big hits after the catch a couple times, but kept going. Nabers, Johnson and Tyrone Tracy is a good nucleus. They’re two offensive linemen and a QB away.

• Rico Dowdle went nuts after Dexter Lawrence got hurt. He looked pretty good, but the Giants tackling was abysmal. I’m not sure what happened to CeeDee Lamb— was he banged up? He had a few drops, then disappeared from the game.

• Tom Brady is a great announcer. He has all the knowledge and love of the game without a dopey schtick. Plus, it must be cool if you’re a player in the game, and you hear later that Brady said something positive about you — he’s the GOAT after all.

• Jonnu Smith is the TE1. Deal with it.

• I sat Waddle for Smith, and I was nervous about the decision after Waddle’s monster game last week, but Waddle’s target volume just hasn’t been there this year, and despite trailing all game yesterday, he got only four against the Packers.

• Jordan Love and the Packers are having a good season, so maybe they know something I don’t, but why are they not targeting Jayden Reed more often? The guy is a playmaking machine.