Thursday Night Observations
It’s hard to believe the Team saw Carson Wentz’ work the last two years and decided to sign him, but it did. The Team was lucky to score more than three points as the first-half field-goal was set up by two pass interference calls, and they got their touchdown off a muffed punt at the six.
By contrast the Bears turned it over at the Team’s five-yard line on their second drive after a pass bounced off a defender’s helmet, got stuffed at the goal line in the second quarter and dropped/bobbled two game-winning touchdowns at the goal line on their final drive.
But I took the Team plus half a point in my picking pool (I made the line a pick ‘em, though that extra half point would only matter in the event of a tie) so I was fine with that. I also subbed in Brian Robinson in one league and was pleased to see him score the TD.
I can’t tell if Justin Fields is good or not. Would he be Jalen Hurts if he were on the Eagles? He’s obviously a great scrambler, and there’s nothing wrong with his arm. But Chicago has been a tough place to play quarterback. Who’s the best QB they’ve had in the last 50 years? Jay Cutler?
Khalil Herbert (7-75-0) looked great, but David Montgomery (15-67-0, 1-1-13-0) is no stiff, either.
Someone in one of my NFFC leagues dropped Darnell Mooney (12-7-68-0) a couple weeks ago, and I picked him up for 35 percent of my FAAB budget. I didn’t start him this week, but I’m not regretting the purchase. He’s No. 1, and there is no No. 2.
Robinson (17-60-1) looks like a tough straight-ahead runner with decent vision. Or maybe I just think he’s tough because he got shot a month ago, and now he’s handling double-digit carries in the NFL. Either way, he looked okay to me, but they’re not using him at all in the passing game.
Antonio Gibson (5-35-0, 4-3-18-0) showed off his speed and receiving skills on a drive in the second half. But he’s getting squeezed between Robinson and third-down back J.D. McKissic.
Terry McLaurin (2-11-0, 4-3-41-0) is going down the Allen Robinson career path. Hopefully, he gets paired with a good quarterback before it’s too late.
Curtis Samuel (5-2-6-0) dropped two passes, including by far Wentz’s best throw of the day, for what would’ve been a long TD.
I’m grateful I can consume the Thursday Night product via the 40-minute edited version. Odd they would even schedule these two teams for a standalone game in the first place. What did they expect?