2022 NFL: Previewing Week 6

Erik Malinowski once said something that I think about a lot:

“1. don’t tweet”

When you’re feeling sad, put the phone down. When you’re confused, put the phone down. When you’re angry, definitely put the phone down. When you’re feeling amorous … you get the idea.

Which brings us to Keenan Allen. The wide receiver is a Chargers team captain who tends to have great seasons when he’s not on my fantasy team. Well, he was at home last Sunday with a hamstring injury, watching his compatriots cling to a two-point lead on the road against the Browns. And on fourth down from the L.A. 46-yard line with a little more than a minute to play, head coach Brandon Staley did what he often does. He kept the offense on the field.

And as can happen in these situations, the Chargers didn’t convert as a Justin Herbert pass fell incomplete. And that’s when Allen picked up his phone and tweeted this:

“WTF are we doing”

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t laugh when I saw that tweet. It makes me happy to see NFL players react like the rest of us civilians during a game’s climax. But what did Allen mean by it? We don’t know because he deleted the tweet later and hasn’t publicly addressed it. It’s highly doubtful that he had a problem with his head coach’s decision to go for it on fourth down. Staley has built a reputation for being aggressive and having faith in his players.

If I had to guess, Keenan was probably wondering why the Chargers threw the ball in that situation. They only needed two yards and running back Austin Ekeler had already exploded for 173 yards on just 16 carries. In fact, the Bolts had gained a season-high 465 yards on Sunday. Football is won in the trenches. If you can’t line up in a heavy formation, surge forward and gain a couple yards against an opponent, you’re just not good enough. I would have preferred to see them try that rather than attempt a pass, where any number of things can go wrong.

Maybe Allen agreed with me. And I can appreciate him reacting in a way that any number of people would have (and probably did). But man, Keenan, myself and the rest of us jamokes don’t have to work with the Chargers players. You do.

To Staley’s credit, he has deflected any and all Allen questions. It also helped that the Chargers did hold on to beat the Browns.

“It’s just a part of sports,” Staley said (H/T to ESPN). “We’re going to become closer because of it. We already became closer this morning because of it.

“There’s no one that I have more respect for than Keenan Allen. What makes him special is his competitiveness and how much he cares about our team.”

So, controversy averted. It was a very human reaction by Allen. No hard feelings. But Keenan, if you ever feel fired up and your phone is next to you, remember that one simple axiom.

Don’t tweet.

NFL’S TOP 10

1. Bills – Opening drive against the Steelers, third-and-10 from their own 2-yard line and Josh Allen hits Gabe Davis for a 98-yard touchdown pass. The Bills didn’t have much of a problem from then on. This is the only team in the league I have full confidence in. Doesn’t mean they’ll win or even reach the Super Bowl, because nothing is guaranteed, but they definitely look the part of a No. 1 contender.

2. Eagles –  The great thing about the NFL is that style points don’t make a difference. They got lucky to escape Arizona with a win, but in the long run, nobody will remember that. The key detail to remember is the Eagles are still unbeaten at 5-0 and are leading a suddenly resurgent NFC East.

3. Chiefs – There’s no way I was the only one who wasn’t fazed when Kansas City fell behind by 17 points against the Raiders. I was very much fazed when tight end Travis Kelce finished with four touchdown catches en route to an exciting 30-29 Chiefs win.

4. 49ers – Their blowout win over the Panthers on the road didn’t just cement this team as the class of the NFC West, it got the opposing head coach fired (more on him in a bit). Injuries, especially on defense, are starting to become an issue, but the amount of talent on this roster can’t be ignored.

5. Cowboys – This will be the last time I say this: There is no quarterback controversy in Dallas. Cooper Rush has done an admirable job of not soiling himself as Dak Prescott recovers from an injury, but when the latter is healthy, it’s his offense. Maybe it will be a new and improved offense, of sorts, as the Cowboys have done an outstanding job of doing what they do well without Dak: run the ball and play dominating defense.

6. Ravens – Huge division win over Cincinnati on Sunday night. I could be a jerk and point out that Baltimore’s defense blew yet another lead, but I won’t. Lamar Jackson came through late. And speaking of coming through, did you know that kicker Justin Tucker is 17 for 17 on career field goal attempts in the final minute of regulation? That includes his game winner to beat the Bengals. Must be nice to have an automatic assassin to help steal victories.

7. Vikings – Well, they’re 4-1. And Justin Jefferson is an absolute beast. I think I’m starting to figure this squad out and I like what I’m seeing. And wouldn’t you know it, they’re in first place in the NFC North! That’s because of the …

8. Packers – Nice job blowing it across the pond against a Giants team that isn’t convincingly good. Green Bay is fast becoming a frustrating team to watch and predict. And if you’re a gambler, stay far away from them. But they still have Aaron Rodgers and that has to count for something. Right?

9. Buccaneers – Speaking of counting for something, Tom Brady’s offense looked better last Sunday. Granted, it was against the Falcons, but they looked so inept at times over the past weeks that it’s nice to see them reach the end zone a few times. That roughing passer call they benefited from was bogus though, for the record.

10. Giants – I’m begrudgingly putting them in this spot. Not because I truly feel they’re one of the 10 best teams in the league, mind you. It’s because they’re 4-1 and is there anyone on this roster you fear, possibly besides Saquon Barkley? You can’t just brush that aside. They’ll fall back to Earth eventually (right?), but for now, I’m going to give them a little shine.

WHAT’S THE CHATTER?

You’re done: And to think, I once complimented Matt Rhule after he led the Panthers to a 3-0 start last season. The team won just two games the rest of the way and has stumbled to 1-4  so far this year. Owner David Tepper saw enough and fired Rhule and his 11-27 overall record in Carolina on Monday. That’s $62 million well spent, eh? And guess what? Unlike most players, he gets every red cent of the contract. So Rhule now joins the long list of college coaches who flamed out in the pros. And like many of those names, he’ll probably land some plumb gig back at the collegiate level. Looks like Nebraska has a job opening, just saying. It’s a perfect gig for someone like Rhule. Take a moribund program and return it to its former glory.

Sky is falling: Speaking of the Panthers, they take on the Rams on Sunday. Los Angeles has, to put it kindly, stunk out loud in 2022. The Rams have faced three solid defenses (Bills, 49ers and Cowboys) this season already and they’re 0-3 in those games. The offensive line is dealing with a mess of injuries and seemingly can’t block anyone, which is leading to more turnovers from Matthew Stafford. They can’t run the ball effectively either. That reminds me of one scene from the movie “Apollo 13.”

Gene Kranz: Let’s look at this thing from a… um, from a standpoint of status. What do we got on the spacecraft that’s good?

Sy Liebergot (EECOM): I’ll get back to you, Gene.

If you ask me what’s going well with the Rams, I’ll have to get back to you.

Keep your hands to yourself: Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams did something stupid on Monday night. After the aforementioned loss to the Chiefs, the veteran was walking off the field when a photographer accidentally bumped into him. Adams, who was wearing full pads and his helmet, shoved the guy to the ground. Sigh. Nobody understands frustration more than yours truly. But dude, you can’t do that. For what it’s worth, Adams did apologize via Twitter (what did I say about not tweeting?!) and he seemed sincere. Of course, the photographer filed a police report and Adams is facing a misdemeanor charge. Was that momentary shove worth the hassle that follows?

Make that change: I’m a Bailey Zappe guy. I’m serious. I’ve seen Mac Jones quarterback the Patriots offense and I wasn’t impressed. This Zappe kid has moxie. He’s got that fire. He (insert overzealous and cliche adjectives here). He completed 75 percent of his throws with two touchdown tosses in a 29-0 win over the Lions. And while Bill Belichick hasn’t committed to anything going forward, Jones better pick up his play when he returns from an ankle sprain. His seat is getting warm fast.

APPOINTMENT VIEWING FOR WEEK 6

Patriots at Browns: Cleveland is sitting at 2-3 but have been more impressive than I thought they’d be without Deshaun Watson. Nick Chubb is electric and the Browns offense is sixth in the league in points per game. If their underperforming defense can get stops, they should be even at .500 when this game is over.

Jets at Packers: Hey, look at Gang Green sitting at 3-2! Granted, they beat the Dolphins, who were down to their third-string quarterback and the Steelers, who are also having passing issues. But it’s a fun story to see a developing team grab a couple victories. The fun should end in Lambeau on Sunday … or will it?

Jaguars at Colts: Maybe I was a little too excited too early about Jacksonville. Meanwhile, I might have been too dismissive about Indy, who despite its early season ugliness, is at .500 with a 2-2-1 record.

Vikings at Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa will miss a second straight week as he’s still in the concussion protocol. So is backup Teddy Bridgewater. So, Skylar Thompson will get the start at quarterback for Miami. All roads are leading to 5-1 for Minnesota.

Bengals at Saints: If Joe Burrow’s bunch falls to another loss, the grumbling will only grow in Cincinnati.

Ravens at Giants: On paper, Baltimore shouldn’t have much trouble getting the win here. But these are the 4-1 G-Men we’re talking about. Like Kevin Garnett once said, anything is possible.

Panthers at Rams: Carolina just fired its coach. It’s a perfect time for the franchise to rally around each other and get a huge win over the defending champs on the road. Am I being too negative about my Rams? At this point, no, I don’t think so.

Bills at Chiefs: Easily the sexiest game of the week. A rematch of last season’s AFC division playoff classic. And once again, we’re in Kansas City. The Bills need to win this one if they want to have a playoff rematch, but this time in Buffalo.

Cowboys at Eagles: NFC East games on Sunday nights have been absolute duds over the past few years. But 2022 is apparently a season of rejuvenation. Grab your popcorn for this one.

Broncos at Chargers: Two teams with a penchant for questionable coaching decisions. And it’s Monday night, what else are you going to watch?

Enjoy the games!