NFL Sunday takeaways Rams make huge statement Andy Reid of last-place Chiefs hospitalized and those crazy kicks
Matthew Stafford sharp and prolific again as Los Angeles hands Tampa Bay its first loss since November
Author of the article:
John KrykPublishing date:
Sep 26, 2021 • 14 minutes ago • 6 minute read • Join the conversation
Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald is all smiles as he gestures to the crowd during Sunday's win over Tampa Bay. USA Today Sports Article content On a day of historic kicks, and a serious health scare for Andy Reid â€" head coach of the suddenly struggling Kansas City Chiefs â€" the Los Angeles Rams made an emphatic statement.
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Article contentThat they’re the team to beat in the NFC. Perhaps even the entire NFL.
The Rams saddled the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with their first loss since last November, 34-24 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
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Los Angeles improved to 3-0, Tampa Bay dropped to 2-1 and behind 3-0 Carolina in the NFC South.
While Tom Brady had the more prolific passing stats on the day, with 432 yards on 41-of-55 completions, Matthew Stafford of the Rams showed again how lethal a scoring-producer he can be in Sean McVay’s diversified attack.
Crucially, Stafford can be that whether the Rams are successful running the ball or not. Which is very much unlike Stafford’s predecessor, Jared Goff.
Stafford, in his first year in L.A. after 12 in Detroit, threw for 343 yards and four touchdowns against a stout Bucs defence, on 71% completions. Six of his receivers had at least three catches, led by Cooper Kupp’s nine for 96 yards and two scores, and DeSean Jackson’s 120 yards and one score.
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Article contentOnce L.A. took at two-score lead early in the third, on the 75-yard Stafford-to-Jackson bomb, the complexion of the game changed. Stafford just kept throwing precision darts all over the field, to his impressive army of pass-catchers.
On the season, Stafford has completed 70.2% of his throws for nine touchdowns and 942 yards. Elite stuff.
The Rams led 14-7 at the half and McVay is now 40-0 when his Rams lead after two quarters.
The Rams don’t have any breathers until after Canadian Thanksgiving. Next Sunday they play host to the 3-0 Arizona Cardinals in an NFC West showdown, then four days later play at Seattle in a game the Seahawks might need to win to stay in the hunt in the NFL’s best division so far in 2021.
ANDY REID HOSPITALIZED AFTER LOSS
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Article contentReid reportedly was taken to hospital by ambulance following Kansas City’s 30-24 home-field loss to the division rival Los Angeles Chargers, which dropped the Chiefs to a 1-2 record, alone in last place in the AFC West.
“After the game coach Reid felt ill,†Chiefs spokesman Ted Crews told reporters, “so our team’s medical staff is checking him out right now out of precaution. Everything right now looks fine, but he’s getting checked out.â€
NFL Network and ESPN both reported that Reid was taken to hospital by ambulance.
ESPN reported that the 63-year-old Reid “was in good spirits when he departed for precautionary observation after he fell ill. A Chiefs source said “Reid is expected to be fine â€" and there was very little alarm about the coach’s status within the organization.â€
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Article contentReid addressed the team in the locker room post-game, as he normally does, win or lose, reports said.
Assistant head coach and special-teams coordinator Dave Toub took questions at the Chiefs’ post-game news conference.
Toub was asked if he noticed whether Reid looked or sounded ill during the game.
“No, not at all,†Toub said. “I just think he was feeling a little ill at the end. I think he’s fine. I think he’s going to be fine.â€
We’ll have to see whether the same can be said of the Chiefs team.
Since leading Baltimore late in the third quarter last Sunday night, 28-17, seemingly headed toward a 2-0 start, QB Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offence have uncharacteristically screwed up a lot: Two interceptions, three lost fumbles and touchdowns on only three of 13 drives.
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Article content“We have a long season ahead of us,†Mahomes said. “It looks real dim right now, but if you can find a way to get better from this, and find a way to win these games at the end … we’ll be where we want to at the end of the season.â€
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ANOTHER KICK TO THE LIONS’ GUT
Next time an NFL placekicker tries to set a new NFL record for longest field goal, he ought to hope the opposing team is the Detroit Lions â€" with Detroit ahead 17-16.
Football’s hardest-luck franchise on Sunday was beaten by another monster, record, game-winning kick by the identical score when Baltimore’s placekicker extraordinaire, Justin Tucker, drilled a 66-yarder from placement that was doubly lucky: It hit the crossbar and bounced over for a 19-17 Ravens victory.
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Article contentThe ball was snapped from Detroit’s 48-yard line, and placed down for Tucker to kick at Baltimore’s own 44. Yeah, that far.
It’s the longest field goal in the NFL’s 102-season history and yet another all-time kick in the gut to the Lions.
Tom Dempsey of the New Orleans Saints had set his long-standing record of 63 yards in November 1970, at game’s end, to beat the Lions by the same score as Baltimore and Tucker did Sunday: 19-17.
Three placekickers from 1998 to 2012 tied Dempsey’s mark of 63 yards, before Matt Prater in 2013 â€" then with the Denver Broncos â€" set a new milestone with a 64-yarder.
Tucker beat Prater’s kick by two yards â€" indoors, on kicker-friendly artificial turf at Detroit’s Ford Field.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said to Tucker on the field moments later: “We’re going to remember this for the rest of our lives.â€
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Article contentHad Tucker’s kick bounced backward off the crossbar, instead of forward, both the Ravens and Lions would now be 1-2. As it is, the Ravens are 2-1, the Lions 0-3.
“(It) goes without saying, that was a tough one,†first-year Detroit head coach Dan Campbell said. “I didn’t think it would make it.â€
You knew this already, but the football gods hate the Lions.
A 68-YARDER WASN’T IN THE CARDS
An earlier attempt to break the longest-field-goal record took place about 90 minutes before Tucker’s kick. It’s Exhibit A, all time, for why you never attempt a field goal as ridiculously long as 68 yards â€" not ever â€" except in end-of-game desperation. Like Tucker’s kick.
On the final play of the first half in Jacksonville, with the winless Jaguars surprisingly tied with undefeated Arizona at the time, 7-7, Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury opted to have Prater attempt a 68-yard field goal.
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Article contentAt the time, Prater still held the NFL record for longest field goal (64 yards). And he possesses one of the NFL’s strongest legs ever, so if anyone could make a 68-yarder, he’s the guy.
But before game’s end, it’s a real risky play. And we found out why.
Prater kicked the snot out of it â€" and accurately. Looked like he might make the 68-yarder, too, but the ball fell just short of the crossbar â€" and into the waiting hands of Jaguars return specialist Jamal Agnew, a yard in front of the back white line in the end zone.
Agnew proceeded to weave through hapless tackle attempts by Cardinals players and ran back 109 yards for a half-ending touchdown, and a 13-7 Jacksonville lead.
The play tied for the longest possible in American football, at 109 yards â€" but the first of that length in NFL history off a missed kick.
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Article contentThe Cardinals got their act together late in the third quarter and knocked off the plucky Jags, 31-19.
JUST GIVE AFC EAST TITLE TO THE BILLS
It’s even harder three weeks into the season to see any of the Buffalo Bills’ three division rivals challenging them for the 2021 AFC East title.
After hiccupping offensively in their dud Week 1 loss to Pittsburgh, the Bills since have outscored division-rival Miami 35-0 and, on Sunday, the Washington Football Team 43-21.
Bills QB Josh Allen has rediscovered all of his wonderful throwing abilities of last year. He picked apart Washington’s defence for 358 yards and four TDs, without a pick, on 74% completions. Ace stuff.
In contrast …
The winless Jets have scored 20 points on the season after getting shredded 26-0 at Denver.
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Article contentThe 1-2 Dolphins have scored 45 points on the season. Seven of their 28 in Sunday’s 31-28 overtime loss at Las Vegas came from a defensive pick-six.
The 1-2 New England Patriots will seemingly struggle all season to move the ball, with talent shortages at wide receiver, and behind rookie QB Mac Jones.
Most tellingly? Buffalo’s point differential through Sunday is plus-50. New York’s? Minus-50. Miami’s? Minus-37. New England’s? Plus-three.
Used to be New England, most years this century, would be in the position Buffalo finds itself in currently â€" entering October with a division title half in the bag already, with a first-round playoff bye soon becoming the overriding motivational goal for the next three months.
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