Jets quarterback Zach Wilson unwittingly created a meme last night at Highmark Stadium which encapsulated his team's season in one unassisted stumble. Wilson, jogging backwards from the sideline to to the huddle and receiving last-second instructions from the coaching staff in the third quarter, somehow went ass-over-tea-kettle and landed on his back with no other player within ten feet of him. The video clip was making the rounds last night as a perfect example of the ineptitude of the Jets quarterbacking in 2023. Coach Robert Saleh finally benched Wilson in favour of someone named Tim Boyle whose bust will certainly not end up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
It made me wonder how much better the trainwreck which is the Jets offence would have been this season with Aaron Rodgers under centre as planned. There can be little doubt that things would not have played out as poorly as they have for Gang-Green but the question which will never have an answer is how much of an improvement would Rodgers presence have made? Persistent issues with the offensive line, as Tony Romo pointed repeatedly last night, would obviously not have been solved by Rodgers, nor would the weak wide receiver play or the lack of creativity in passing schemes (where have we heard that before?). But it seems safe to say that Rodgers would have lifted the Jets offensive production, limited the devastating turnovers (where have we heard that before?) and generally willed his team-mates to a better showing than Wilson, and now maybe Boyle, have been able to deliver. The Jets have built one of the best defences in the league and they have somehow managed to squeeze out four wins with a historically anemic offensive output. Rodgers recovery and rehab has been going well buy all accounts and he has a theoretical chance to return late next month. But why would he if the team has no shot at the playoffs?
Speaking of maybe or maybe not having a shot at the playoffs, the Bills finally got the "re-set" game they have needed since things went off the rails in north London six weeks ago. Whether new offensive coordinator Joe Brady"s approach at scheming the offence made the difference or not, the production was obviously there last night and against a very good defence which has stifled the Bills for the last few games they have faced them. As Tony Romo pointed out, Josh Allen's clean and turnover-free game (he did have an interception on a Hail Mary at the end of the first half) was as much a product of the desperation throws which he didn't make as it was anything else. After the Miami game in week five, it has seemed like Josh Allen felt like he had to turn every busted play into a high stakes roulette wheel of forced and ill-conceived passes. James Cook ran well, Dalton Kincaid's production continues to ramp up and Khalil Shakir had the longest play from scrimmage this season for the Bills, an 81-yard touchdown catch and run which sealed the game. Rasul Douglas has a good shot at earning defensive player of the week honours as he recorded two interceptions, one fumble recovery, three pass break-ups and four tackles. With injuries in the defensive backfield continuing to pile up, adding him at the trade deadline was as fortuitous a mid-season move as the Bills have made possibly ever.
Yesterday's 110th Grey Cup game was reported to be a sellout with more than 28,000 in attendance at Tim Horton's Field in Hamilton. I regret to say that I saw not one second of the game live but, in typical CFL fashion, the game ended with a last-second touchdown to earn the Alouettes their championship rings. Also in typical CFL fashion, the league scrambled late in the week to add some French signage inside the stadium after a few Montreal reporters (and others) pointed out that with a Quebec-based team playing in the big game, it might be a good idea. Since my dad was a follower of the CFL (he was a high school class-mate of Danny Nykoluk who played for the Argos from 1955 to 1971), I try to follow it, try to watch it (without much success) and I generally hope that it finds a way to continue. It's dwindling fan base of old-stock Canadians won't be around forever but reports of the demise of the CFL have been around literally for decades - yet it endures. Good attendance at last week's Eastern Final in Toronto and yesterday in Hamilton is certainly encouraging. Too bad that Winnipeg, whose fan base remains strong and loyal, couldn't pull it out.
In College Park, MD, the Michigan Wolverines held on to beat the Terrapins and finish the exhibition portion of their schedule at 11-0. It all comes down to Saturday's game in Ann Arbor against the Ohio State Buckeys who also finished their exhibition schedule at 11-0. This annual end-of-season match between these two has become known as "The Game" and I will be watching. The winner is pretty much guaranteed a spot in the four-team college football playoff.
Up next for the Bills is a trip to Philadelphia next week for another late afternoon game. The Eagles are the class of the NFC and will be favoured. I see two reasons why the Bills may have a better chance than the pundits and the point spread may indicate. The first is that the Eagles play their week 11 game tonight against the Chiefs in Kansas City and then, after playing the Bills, they face the 49ers at home. The combination of a short week to prepare (although the Bills themselves had no issue with that yesterday) after a tough road game and a big conference game the following week could make this a classic "trap game" for the Eagles.
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