The Tuesday Morning Quaterback with Sportsfreaks NFL guru Hamish Girvan
0The importance of backing up
A backup quarterback hardly gets a play during a game let alone starting however two backups have come in during the season and have changed their teams season’s prospects from a disaster to playoff hopes.
The Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers went down with down with an injury in week 9 and backup quarterback Matt Flynn was ironically re-signed over the following week. Flynn has led the Packers to two wins in a row including a come from behind (they were down 26-3) against the Dallas Cowboys. Green Bay now have a shot at the playoffs. Flynn by the way was let go by the Packers during the off season and was traded to the Oakland Raiders with a view as being their starting Quarterback. That never eventuated and he was released as their back up and ended up back at Green Bay.
Nick Foles was in his second year as backup Quarterback at the Philadelphia Eagles and looked to continue that role sitting behind the mercurial Michael Vick. After some average results and an injury to Vick, step up Mr Foles. He clicked immediately with new coach Chip Kelly’s offense and was within one touchdown pass of the record 20 straight touchdown passes set by Peyton Manning and zero interceptions to start a season. His quarterback rating is one of the best in the NFL and the Eagles now have a shot at a division title. That was looking impossible earlier in the season
Lesson here is for those who are patient……..
The enigma of the Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are known as “Americas team” however do the American people like under achievers and chokers ? The week 15 meltdown against the Green Bay Packers was just another in the recent history of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. A common thread in these losses is Quarterback Tony Romo who grafted his way as the starter in 2006, from being an undrafted player on the practice squad. His first big loss came in a playoff loss in Seattle whereby a winning field goal would have taken them to the next round. This is what happened and all Romo’s job was to catch the ball and place it. Has he really recovered since ?
Against the Packers and up 26-3 the Cowboys somehow lost the game and two interceptions throws by Romo gave Green Bay the win. Question is do “America’s Team” like putting up with a klutz as their main man ?
“I promise this will never happen again”
If the season finished today
AFC
First round byes for the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots
Miami Dolphins at Cincinnati Bengals
Kansas City Chiefs at Indianapolis Colts
Baltimore Ravens, San Diego Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets all have faint hopes still
NFC
First Round Byes for Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints
San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles
Carolina Panthers at Chicago Bears
Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys are all still in the hunt
Week 16 Early picks (2 rounds to go)
Dolphins to win at Bills
Panthers to beat Saints
Dallas to win at Redskins
Steelers to win at Green Bay
Seahawks to beat Cardinals
Ravens to beat Patriots
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