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.
OUT: Out of whack. For the second week in a row, if you passed for 400 or more yards, you most likely lost the game! A week ago Luck, Foles and Rodgers all went down with great fantasy numbers – though going over 500 was good enough for a W for Big Ben. This week’s victim of the 400+ curse was none other than Peyton Manning, as Manning’s 438 yards netted the Broncos a 22-point loss to Tom Brady and company.
IN: In need of repair. The San Diego Chargers were humming along at 5-1 and the 5’7″ rookie from Buffalo, Branden Oliver, was looking like a bigger and stronger version of Darren Sproles. Three weeks later and the Bolts are 5-4. Oliver rushed 13 times for just 19 yards against a stiff Dolphins defense, and quarterback Phillip Rivers fared no better, with four turnovers in the 37-0 blowout loss.
UP! I’ve been touting my 40-game rule for young quarterbacks. I believe you know what you have and if you’re ready to move forward with one of those top picks after 40 games or about two-and-a-half years. Now, the guy doesn’t have to be a starter the whole time. Take Colin Kaepernick as an example; he pulled back-up duty for a year. But you know what you have after 40 games. Let’s take a look at the class of 2012. Andrew Luck is no-brainer, while Ryan Tannehill looks like a keeper too in Year Three. RGIII, on the other hand, well… it would be nice if he came with an extended warranty.
STOP & GO: Chip Kelly’s fast-paced offense is such a blur you get dizzy and forget what his teams are throwing at you. Mark Sanchez’s career seemed like it had hit a wall across the border in New Jersey. One state over and with Kelly calling the shots, he looks like he might just hit the go button again.
TURBO BOOST: I know it’s not a route and I try to stick to the wide receiver route tree in Out & Up, but “turbo boost” is the only way I can explain the explosiveness of Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown. Brown’s fast leg turnover, fly-swatting stiff arm and Gumby-like body control all seem to be straight off the video game menu.
IN: Home in time for dinner. You may not think of Andy Reid’s Chiefs as fast-paced football, but you’d be wrong. The Chiefs spoiled the Jets’ Sunday in just two hours and 47 minutes. By contrast, Bill Belichick’s Patroits took 3:32 to take care of business with those pesky Broncos. Watch out for Kansas City, by the way. They are back in the playoff hunt at 5-3.
– 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 back in Green Bay, where the Packers will host the Chicago Bears. Coverage begins Sunday at 7:30 PM Eastern.
