Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb was responsible for one of the more heads-up moments of Sunday’s action, but it cost some fans dearly in the process. Fear not, though. While Chubb can’t do anything about it, he is sparing a thought for them.
Chubb passed up what would have been a 60-yard touchdown run by going out of bounds at the one-yard line with about a minute to go. That allowed Cleveland to run out the clock on a win instead of giving the ball back to the Houston Texans. Of course, it also cost him fantasy points, and ensured that the Browns, who were 4.5-point favorites, would not cover the spread.
Chubb at least acknowledged the bettors and fantasy players after the win, though he has no regrets.
“I guess I feel bad from that aspect. But we got the W. That’s what matters most,” Chubb said, via Jason Lloyd of The Athletic.
No sympathy necessary, really, though it’s nice of Chubb to offer it. His job is to win games for his team. The last thing he’d want to do is emulate this horrible mental error. He did the right thing.
San Francisco 49ers tight end Jordan Reed made an absolutely incredible catch during the team’s game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
Nick Mullens threw a pass over the middle for Reed that was barely above the ground. Reed reached down with one hand and somehow caught the ball even though it was only six inches above the ground.
That was truly an incredible play.
Reed had four targets as of the third quarter and caught all four passes. The 30-year-old tight end entered the game with 12 catches for 88 yards and two touchdowns this season. He’s playing this year after missing all of last season due to concussion issues.
Drew Brees struggled in the first half of Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers and took a couple of big hits, and the New Orleans Saints quarterback began the second half on the bench.
Brees was replaced by Jameis Winston to start the third quarter. Analyst Mark Schlereth said on the FOX broadcast that the decision was a result of the hit Brees took from Niners defensive lineman Kentavius Street in the first half. The Saints later announced that Brees suffered a rib injury.
Street sacked Brees in the second quarter but was called for roughing the passer. The officials felt Street drove Brees into the ground with his bodyweight, but replays appeared to show that the call was bogus. You can see a video of the play here.
Brees completed 8/13 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown prior to his exit.
Teddy Bridgewater is undergoing an MRI on his right knee after leaving the Carolina Panthers’ 46-23 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with an injury.
Bridgewater took a hit to the back of his legs on a Jason Pierre-Paul sack late in the fourth quarter of the team’s defeat. Bridgewater was down on the ground and came up limping.
Bridgewater was replaced by backup P.J. Walker following that play.
Bridgewater went 18/24 for 136 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in the loss. He also rushed for 16 yards and a touchdown.
Bridgewater had a devastating leg injury when he was a member of the Vikings, but that was to his left knee.
Ronald Jones’ 98-yard touchdown run is set to go down as the day’s biggest play. It was a play that the Carolina Panthers’ defense didn’t see coming — but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ sideline sure did.
Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians revealed after the game that both he and backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert knew Jones was about to do something big as soon as they saw Carolina’s defense lining up for the play.
“Blaine and I looked at each other and Blaine said ‘he’s gonna take it to the house,'” Arians recounted. “I said, ‘good chance on this play.’ And he did.”
Gabbert and Arians proved prescient. Jones burst through a hole in the middle of the defense and then outran Carolina’s chasing secondary for the 98-yard score.
For all the chatter about how Arians is handling his players this year, it’s a reminder that he’s one of the most highly thought of offensive minds in the NFL. That’s true even on a play like that which looks fairly simple.
Kentavius Street was robbed of what would have been his first career sack during the San Francisco 49ers’ game on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.
Street closed in on Drew Brees and brought down the Saints quarterback on a second down play in the second quarter. However, Street was called for roughing the passer, which gave New Orleans 10 yards and a first down.
Street avoided falling on Brees with his bodyweight, which is why he was perplexed over his penalty call.
Many people, including 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman, disagreed with the call.
Roughing the passer penalties ramped up following new rules instituted in 2018 but have died down somewhat since then. Remember what was happening with Clay Matthews? Well, Street appeared to be the victim of one of those calls here.
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones continues to show quality speed and athleticism on the field. It’s obvious the young quarterback is very focused on one thing, though, and that’s staying on his feet.
Jones broke off a 34-yard touchdown run in Sunday’s win over the Philadelphia Eagles. That’s a clear improvement from last time he faced the Eagles, when he hilariously tumbled on his way to the end zone on what looked like a straightforward touchdown run.
Jones hasn’t forgotten that mishap, judging from his quote after Sunday’s victory.
“I tried to stay on my feet that time,” Jones joked, via Tom Rock of Newsday.
Jones succeeded and then some. It’s a reminder that he is, in fact, one of the faster quarterbacks in the league. All he had to do was keep his coordination. This time, he managed it, much to his relief.
Colin Cowherd sent a tweet on Sunday about Dustin Johnson and Paulina Gretzky that went viral.
After Johnson won the Masters for his second career major, the FS1 host sent a tweet saying congratulations to Johnson “on everything.” Cowherd’s tweet included a photo of the golfer with his left hand on his fiancee’s backside.
Johnson won the Masters by five strokes at 20 under for the event. After he secured his second major, he was greeted by Paulina, who wore her own green jacket.
Johnson and Gretzky have been together since at least early 2013 and were engaged later that summer. They have two children together but have not gotten married. They had some rocky times a few years ago over cheating rumors, but that has not kept them apart.
The Houston Rockets have given no indication that they plan to trade James Harden, but the former NBA MVP reportedly has a destination in mind if that changes.
Harden would have the Brooklyn Nets at the top of his list if the Rockets decide to trade him, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne. Harden is said to be open to playing alongside former teammate Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, but Houston is telling teams Harden is not available.
Russell Westbrook reportedly wants out of Houston, though he has shot down the talk of him no longer wanting to play with Harden. Harden is apparently still committed to the Rockets.
The Rockets have moved on from both head coach Mike D’Antoni and general manager Daryl Morey this offseason, so it’s not impossible to envision them blowing things up entirely if they do trade Westbrook.
Harden and Westbrook are both owed more than $130 million over the next three seasons, which could make trading either of them difficult. Trading both would be even tougher.
The Nets would almost certainly be interested in acquiring Harden if there were an opportunity, especially if Durant and Irving are in favor of the idea. Westbrook has been linked to a couple of teams already, though it doesn’t sound like there is a huge market for him.
Trayvon Mullen had a scary moment during Sunday’s Las Vegas Raiders-Denver Broncos game.
Mullen made a helmet-to-helmet hit on Noah Fant after the Broncos tight end caught a pass down the right sideline in the first quarter. He stood up for a few seconds, and then collapsed to the ground.
Mullen exited the game after the hit and went into the medical tent for an examination. He was later able to return to the game.
The 23-year-old cornerback was a second-round pick by the Raiders last year. He entered Sunday’s game with 30 tackles in eight games.
