#novsnyg

[ceaiv]

#Repost @saints ・・・ Happy #SaintsGameday! ⚜️ #NFL #GoSaints #WhoDat #Saints #NOvsNYG (at MetLife Stadium) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoWknOMHIzgYtG3rq7NxLtJdrq8vqTKH6w7pGY0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=13dt9fg4ue7i9

[junker-town]

The Saints’ breakout third-string QB is doing everything to help but throw

The third quarterback on the depth chart does a little bit of everything except play quarterback for the Saints.

Imagine Tim Tebow didn’t have an ego that kept him from playing anything but quarterback. And imagine Tebow didn’t have a delusional fanbase convinced he deserved to be a starting quarterback in the NFL despite completing fewer than half his passes.

Behold, Taysom Hill.

The New Orleans Saints claimed Hill off waivers before the 2017 season when he didn’t make the Green Bay Packers’ final roster. He was an undrafted quarterback who was 95th out of 100 quarterbacks in passer rating during his senior year at BYU. It wasn’t his shaky abilities as a passer that landed him in the NFL — it was everything else he could bring to the table.

He had 32 rushing touchdowns during his collegiate career and the Saints are putting those unique skills to good use:

Hill’s just a flat out good running back

If the Saints’ third-string quarterback made a full-time transition to running back, he’d probably be a perfect fit. Hill is 6’2, 221 pounds and reportedly ran a 4.46 in the 40-yard dash at his pro day with a 38.5-inch vertical. For comparison, Adrian Peterson is 6’1, 220 pounds and ran a 4.41 at the 2007 NFL Combine with a 38.5-inch vertical.

That doesn’t mean Hill’s the second coming of Peterson, but it does give some perspective that explains why he’s been so hard for defenses to tackle. He has the speed to beat teams to the edge:

This is obviously the play we'll all remember made by a Saints quarterback tonight. Taysom Hill's first NFL touchdown. @BYUfootball @T_Hill4 pic.twitter.com/J54AOxoYlu

— Dana Greene (@dana_greene) October 9, 2018

He has the power to run through arm tackles:

When Taysom Hill is in the game, you should know the zone read is coming and that he will likely keep it no matter what. And that he can run over defenders like Landon Collins. Like the arc block by the TE here. pic.twitter.com/f3kW4zxBHi

— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) October 12, 2018

And when you combine that size and speed, he eats up yardage in a hurry:

Drew Brees pitches it back to Taysom Hill and he runs for the 1st down. Love the ways they use him!#WhoDat#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/UXNbWiioOD

— Jessica B (@YFanGirl_JB) October 21, 2018

Six games into the Saints’ 5-1 season, Hill has 125 rushing yards on only 18 carries. His 6.9 yards per carry is one of the best marks in the NFL, but it’s his throwing ability that makes it all work.

Hill throws just well enough to be a nightmare

What if one of the NFL’s many dangerous running backs was a threat to throw every time he had the ball in his hands? It’s partly why Ronnie Brown’s Wildcat offense was unstoppable for about a month early in the Dolphins’ 2008 season.

In the case of Hill, it makes him a rusher that the defense has to be careful about fully committing to stop. It’s the biggest reason he’s been so efficient on the ground, even if he’s only attempted two passes so far in 2018. His only completion was on a fake punt:

It's a fake! Taysom Hill gets it done through the air! #NOvsNYG pic.twitter.com/zUSf1Fpxlg

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 30, 2018

He showed what he can do as a passer in preseason with 36 completions on 49 attempts for 365 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. But it makes sense why the Saints traded for Teddy Bridgewater to be the backup and possible starter of the future in New Orleans. There just isn’t much faith in running an offense with Hill at quarterback full time.

But he can throw well enough to scare teams and when that is coupled with his rushing ability, it makes him difficult to deal with.

Just putting him on the field makes an impact now

He can run, he can throw, and he can even block.

Ravens will get a taste of their medicine in terms of facing an athletic back-up QB when the Saints bring in Taysom Hill (7) into the game. He's returned 7 kicks & in their RZ packages he's a threat to run it or throw it. They'll even use him as a blocker. pic.twitter.com/G1ztF80Kbj

— michael crawford (@abukari) October 18, 2018

With Hill bringing so many different skills to the table, he has to be accounted for by the defense. The Saints only put him on the field for about 10 percent of their offensive snaps and it draws the attention of defenders, even if he’s just a decoy.

Just faking a jet sweep to Hill in a Week 5 game sucked up a Washington cornerback and left Tre’Quan Smith open for a 35-yard touchdown.

Saints running the 2017 copycat NFL Play-of-the-Year Fake jet sweep, RB vertical - w/ utility knife Taysom Hill involved for good measure Complete with more WASH coverage breakdowns#WASvsNO pic.twitter.com/PmsJ9ciFDV

— Josh Cohen (@jco3215) October 9, 2018

What are the limits for Hill? Pretty much anything except kicking the ball:

Taysom Hill was asked what's the most fun position to play for the #Saints. Kick returner, quarterback, running back, blocker, upback on punts. "I can't single out one thing. Just being on the field with these guys is a unique bond, and I love that." @FOX8NOLA #BYU pic.twitter.com/vE8UnhTB5E

— Garland Gillen (@garlandgillen) October 1, 2018

There are many reasons the Saints are 5-1. Drew Brees is still cooking defenses, the defense shook off a slow start, and the offense is loaded with weapons like Alvin Kamara, Michael Thomas, and Mark Ingram. But the team’s most unique piece is its third-string quarterback and he’s being used to perfection.

[craigspur56]

it's GAMEDAY...

🏈🖤💛⚜💛🖤🏈

#WHODAT!!!

#NOvsNYG

#BeatTheExtraLargeGuys

#SaintsGameday

#Saints

[nosdk]

GAMEDAY er online! Du har nu mulighed for at vinde bogen @fantasticsaints . Det eneste du skal gøre er at kommentere på sitet med vinderen af kampen, Saints antal point, Saints første pointscorer og hvem der laver flest taklinger for Saints. Klik forbi og foretag dit Saints Pick. Who Dat! #saints #saintsdk #GoSaints #nfl #nfldk #giants #nygiants #novsnyg #whodat https://www.instagram.com/p/BoWFAJxFIpX/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=tgr2si7yviyk

[junker-town]

Alvin Kamara’s touchdown run into the tunnel was even cooler than you realize

There’s a tradition here.

In a fair and just world, Alvin Kamara would be in the early conversation for NFL MVP.

All he did this week was set career highs with three rushing touchdowns and 134 rushing yards in Saints’ 33-18 win against the Giants this week. But it’s his last touchdown, a 49-yard run to the right side that we need to talk about today.

Here’s another look at the play.

KAMARA! 3 TDs. Incredible.#GoSaints #NOvsNYG pic.twitter.com/qJJ79h4CKJ

— NFL (@NFL) September 30, 2018

The Giants scored on the drive before this one to pull within eight points with just under four minutes left in regulation. Six plays later, Eli Manning and Co. were buried, on their way to loss number three.

Kamara’s gone before the defense even realizes it. There’s a blur of lead blockers and BLOOP out pops Kamara on his way to the end zone, easily breaking free from the one guy who had a chance to tackle him.

But he does not stop in the end zone. He goes right into the tunnel and into the locker room, done for the day. And really, what else was left for him to do? He racked up 102 yards in the second half and scored all three of his touchdowns to power the Saints’ win.

True to form, this gave people something to be mad about online ... like literally everything else no matter how innocuous it may be. The man has no time for hate though, and this was his high road response.

pic.twitter.com/91cimTes4v

— Alvin Kamara (@A_kamara6) October 1, 2018

Kamara’s run into the tunnel needs a little context, because it’s a pretty time-honored tradition.

Bo Jackson famously did it during his rookie season after a 91-yard touchdown run in Seattle. If you don’t love Bo Jackson, I’m not sure that we can ever be friends.

Running into the tunnel has even more significance against the Giants. In the 1989 NFC Division round game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Giants, Rams receiver Flipper Anderson caught a game-winning, 30-yard touchdown pass in overtime. He kept right on going into the tunnel and to the locker room too.

I haven’t seen Kamara directly acknowledging Bo or Flipper Anderson’s tunnel runs. He was too busy praising his teammates after Sunday’s win.

Give this man the award, all of the awards.

[craigspur56]

#WHODAT!!!

🏈🖤💛⚜💛🖤🏈

#NOvsNYG

#SaintsGameday

#Saints

[zone601]

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GameDay #theadventurezofzone601 #WhoDat #saints #BlackAndGold #NOvsNYG #FreshHeir

[nfl]

Flip Wilson. #NOvsNYG

[junker-town]

Monday Morning Pleighbook: Fitzmagic is dead. Long live Fitzmagic.

The Chicago Bears crushed the Bucs, Earl Thomas sent a message, and Alvin Kamara has left the building in Week 4’s Monday Morning Pleighbook.

Fitzmagic officially fizzled out on Sunday, when Khalil Mack and the Chicago Bears poached whatever was left of it after the Steelers embarrassed Ryan Fitzpatrick for a half in Tampa on Monday Night Football a week earlier.

Mack forced a fumble on Fitzpatrick in the second quarter with the Bears up 21-3. Then down 35-3 late in the first half, Fitzpatrick threw an interception in Bears territory. You know the script from here: Fox cameras show Jameis Winston with his headset on, and he comes out for the second half, effectively ending this magical journey.

Fitzpatrick’s rope was shorter on Sunday because the Buccaneers secondary at times looked like the plot of a Ballers episode — it had many holes in it. Because of these holes, the Bears got out to a big lead fast, making it easier to pull the plug on Fitzpatrick for Winston.

Fitzpatrick is an accomplished NFL journeyman (some, like Joe Tessitore are kinder with words and call him “well traveled” instead) that finds his way to incredible peaks, while also diving in the deepest of valleys with seven different NFL teams throughout his career.

The Fitzmagicking of 2018 was an amazing peak, even for him. Nobody really saw it coming — any conversation around the NFC South focused on either the Saints, Falcons, or Panthers. ESPN’s FPI gave the Buccaneers just a 7.2 percent chance of starting the season 2-0.

And yet Fitzpatrick came out during the first two weeks of the NFL season looking like a Hall of Famer. He joined Tom Brady and Cam Newton as the only three players in league history to throw for at least 400 yards in each of their team’s first two games of a season. He also had four touchdown passes in both of those games, which were played against the defending Super Bowl champions, and 2017’s NFC runner-up.

Fitzmagic also gave us this postgame classic:

Ryan Fitzpatrick’s postgame look: pic.twitter.com/4qkRyu7l7X

— Greg Auman (@gregauman) September 16, 2018

With the great outfit came a great performance, as Fitzpatrick joked about not letting a big game change you while having gone from looking like a Civil War vet to Conor McGregor. When he was asked about the origins of the outfit, he credited a shirtless DeSean Jackson who was standing on the side for the fresh get up.

Well, except for this part of the outfit:

“The chest hair is mine.”

In case you’re wondering — yes, chest hair is an accessory for some.

Fitzmagic wasn’t meant long for this world, but it was fun while it lasted. It brought us more than we ever could have imagined Ryan Fitzpatrick, Starting Quarterback For An NFL Team In The Year 2018 would have.

Shoot, Fitzmagic was such a thrill that one of the NFL’s most popular factoids, his Harvard education, became an afterthought. Now, we’ll get back to that practice, but with a little bit more respect for him than before.

Elsewhere, Earl Thomas flipped off the Seahawks sideline

Earl Thomas has been trying to preserve his health in an effort to get either a contract extension with the Seahawks, or a trade to another franchise. He’s been hesitant to participate in practice, and hasn’t done more outside of the 60 minutes on the field every Sunday than he has to.

While that’s a good strategy for somebody trying to maximize their value and earnings, sometimes injuries are just unavoidable in the NFL. Thomas broke his leg on Sunday, and left the game on a cart, in an air cast.

He then delivered a middle finger to the Seahawks’ sideline. Because most of the videos online right now are choppy, here is a nice, clean, Getty image of Thomas speaking his mind. Because this moment deserves it:

Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images

When asked about the middle finger after the game, Pete Carroll deflected and said “it’s a big stadium.”

Yeah, it’s a big stadium. But I don’t think that was directed at Cardinals Fan Paul in the 14th row, Pete. The jig is pretty clear, and now Thomas will likely go into the offseason hoping a team believes in him just as much after the injury as they did before.

We all got robbed of some classic Marshawn Lynch

It would appear that the world came awfully close to another legendary Lynch run during the second quarter of the Raiders’ game against the Browns. However, officials blew this one dead before Lynch could take matters into his own hands:

Beastmode went Beastmode again @MoneyLynch pic.twitter.com/KMuO4OLIgy

— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) September 30, 2018

While Lynch didn’t get to finish his path of destruction, it was nice to see that the old BeastMode is still alive and well. He ended up finishing the game with 130 yards on 20 carries. He even had a few catches for 27 yards.

There’s still plenty of season left, so maybe we’ll get another iteration of the BeastQuake.

Alvin Kamara is still Alvin Kamara

Kamara single-handedly beat the Giants on Sunday. He finished the game with 180 total yards and three touchdowns, which included this one that erased any doubt as to whether or not the Saints were going to win:

KAMARA! 3 TDs. Incredible.#GoSaints #NOvsNYG pic.twitter.com/qJJ79h4CKJ

— NFL (@NFL) September 30, 2018

He ended up in the tunnel, and honestly probably should have just stayed there.

When you’re playing the Saints and you see the No. 41 and that tape on the arms out in front of you, there’s not much to be done except hope you get it right the next time.

Saquon Barkley can fly

Speaking of the Giants, we knew No. 2 overall pick Saquon Barkley was going to be special. But we probably didn’t expect him to look like Walter Payton so early in the season with this diving flip into the end zone:

AIR @SAQUON! ⬆��#GiantsPride #NOvsNYG : CBS pic.twitter.com/7L5uRMzGNz

— NFL (@NFL) September 30, 2018

Barkley’s been having a solid start to his career minus the Giants just not being very good. Feats of amazing athleticism will always make it into the pleighbook, so welcome, Saquon.

REJECTEDDDDDD

Josh Rosen’s career, unlike Barkley’s, has not been off to a good start.

Rosen got thrown into the fire last week to try to pull out a victory against the Bears, and it simply didn’t go well at all. This week, he went up against the Seahawks, and things were better, except for this firm denial:

They really did Rosen like that pic.twitter.com/R68vnEOx66

— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) September 30, 2018

Rosen’s going to make a lot of rookie mistakes, and that’s fine. But this is one that even many normal ass human beings wouldn’t make. Bobby Wagner didn’t even appear to offer Rosen a hand up, and he reached for assistance anyway.

I personally didn’t get to watch much of that particular game on Sunday, though I’m going into Week 5 questioning his in-game decision making strictly because of that situation.

Baker Mayfield’s happiness for Nick Chubb

Baker Baker, Touchdown Maker got his first start on Sunday, and nearly got the Browns a second-consecutive win, and their first on a Sunday since 2016. But the Browns lost in overtime, because they are still working out this whole Being The Browns thing.

However, after Nick Chubb broke loose for a 63-yard touchdown, Mayfield sprinted down the field with him so he could celebrate with his teammate:

Some call it Moxie. Others call it Baker Mayfield. @bakermayfield pic.twitter.com/D2XewjnpXZ

— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) September 30, 2018

If you don’t have at least one friend that gets excited for you like Mayfield did for Chubb there, find one. Reassess everything, and then let me know how that goes for you in the comments below, via tweet, or via email.

The Atlanta Falcons

This space is usually reserved for the good, weird, and funny things about an NFL Sunday. For some of y’all, this is going to fall into two of those categories (good, and funny). For myself, one of SB Nation’s handful of Falcons fans, this isn’t any of those.

The Falcons seem to have figured things out on offense — something once we all believed impossible under one Steve Sarkisian — and they still aren’t winning games. I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed.

Here’s a Falcons-ass stat:

Since 1940, teams scoring 36+ points at home with 0 turnovers are 402-4. The Atlanta Falcons are 0-2 since last week when doing that. Half of the losses are Atlanta now.

— Scott Kacsmar (@FO_ScottKacsmar) September 30, 2018

Here’s another one:

Matt Ryan is the first player in NFL history to lose back-to-back games with 350 Pass yards, 3 Pass TD and 0 Int. pic.twitter.com/VjUnou4D1a

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 30, 2018

And here’s one from the previous week:

Matt Ryan just put up the highest passer rating (148.1) in a loss in NFL history (min. 25 attempts).

— Scott Kacsmar (@FO_ScottKacsmar) September 23, 2018

I just had to get that off my chest. I’ll see y’all next week.

OTHER THINGS FROM WEEK 4

Tyler Eifert celebrated a TD with a Stone Cold beer chug, kinda

Adam Vinatieri is the GOAT

Jeff Fisher isn’t any better in the broadcast booth

Mitchell Trubisky just waxed the Bucs in the first half for the best day ever for a Bears QB

The Titans beat the Eagles in OT because Mike Vrabel isn’t about these ties

The Colts got too aggressive, and lost their OT game against the Texans

Read my pal Charles McDonald (the FourVerts guy on Twitter) on Our Falcons

Adam Stites explained why his Jags dunked on the Jets with a late TD and 2-point conversion

Marshawn Lynch got mad, then got into Beast Mode

The Browns are better, but they’re still the Browns

[rsonee]

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#Repost @nygiants with @repostapp ・・・ @iam_objxiii putting on a show from the @pepsi corner before #NOvsNYG! 🏈 (at MetLife Stadium)