Each week, Hall of Fame wide receiver and Westwood One Sunday Night Football analyst James Lofton tells you about the teams, players and trends that are on the way out and those that are on the way up around the NFL.
IN: On the route tree for wide receivers, the number 6 is often the deep, square “in” route. In today’s NFL, six is something different: it’s how many touchdowns you can throw each week. First, it was Big Ben Roethlisberger that lit up the scoreboard with six TD passes in back-to-back games. Then on Sunday Night in Titletown aka Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers put on a first-half show with 6 TD tosses in 30 minutes against the Bears.
OUT: Down, but not out are the 8-1 Arizona Cardinals. Carson Palmer went down with a non-contact ACL injury and will be out for the rest of the season, but it still doesn’t look like you can count out these Cards. Remember, Bruce Arians was able to get wins as Steelers offensive coordinator with Dennis Dixon, Charlie Batch and Byron Leftwich taking significant snaps while Roethlisberger was out of the lineup either due to injury or suspension.
GO: After playing in nine or ten regular season games and four additional preseason outings, rookie receivers are now in their sophomore years in my mind. The Eagles’ Jordan Matthews looks very comfortable in the slot. Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans continues to shine even in a dull season for the Bucs. Kelvin Benjamin is a big play waiting to happen. Problem is, there is just a little too much waiting going on in Carolina. Sammy Watkins has rung up three 100-yard games this season and we haven’t seen deep speed like his since… well, James Lofton (Ha!). And you don’t have to be an early pick or from a big-time program to rise up, like the Cardinals’ John Brown from tiny Pittsburg State in Kansas.
ALL GO. The Philadelphia defensive line was all-go on Monday night, sacking Cam Newton nine times. Nine is the go route on the tree and the Eagles certainly were all-in on going for the quarterback.
STOP: Rule number 1 of successful football: run and stop the run. Guess that memo didn’t get to the Giants. Seattle busted them up for a franchise-record 350 yards on the ground, while allowing just 54 yards rushing.
UP! Not the temperature, in some parts of the country. You know when Halloween passes and we turn those clocks back it’s time to start keeping an eye on the weather for games in those northern locations. So break out the parka and the hot chocolate, fans. The forecast for Sunday’s Bears-Vikings game at Soldier Field? How about a high of 35 degrees with snow likely. I’ll be in Indianapolis, where they’re calling for about the same conditions. Of course, high atop Lucas Oil Field we’ll be nice and cozy, looking up at a roof and not at snow flurries.
DOUBLE COMEBACK: Mark Sanchez and Michael Vick in the same week. If you had stashed either of those guys on your fantasy team and the move paid off this weekend, you can give yourself a big pat on the back. Not many would’ve seen that coming.
– James Lofton
Pro Football Hall of Famer James Lofton is the analyst for Westwood One’s coverage of Sunday Night Football. This weekend you’ll find James in Indianapolis, where Andrew Luck and the Colts play host to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Coverage begins Sunday at 7:30 PM Eastern.
