The 2nd half was a real problem in the NFL last week
Atlanta blew a 21-point lead, Joe Flacco lost his “eliteness”... the final 30 minutes were a real problem in the NFL this week.
Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports
HISTORICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
As the foremost expert of NFL franchise wellness, the Department of Football Epidemiology must be ever aware of each team’s individual history. Just as they would for any other patient, sharp deviations from that history can be an early indicator of serious problems or marked improvement. Let’s examine some of the more unusual symptomatology from this week:
2. From Week 6 of the 1995 season until Week 13 of the 2010 season, no quarterback threw for 4 touchdowns in a single game against the Jets. Tom Brady was the first to end that streak, and Andy Dalton pulled it off last season. This week, a third quarterback joined their company: Kyle Orton.
3. Before this week, Atlanta was second in the league in second half offensive touchdowns scored (12) and second half yards per play (6.52). The Falcons scored no points in the third and fourth quarters against Detroit and were held to 3.64 yards per play, on the way to their first loss in franchise history in a game they led by at least 21 points at halftime.
4. Oakland is in the midst of its second-longest losing streak ever, at 13 games and counting. The team record is 20 games, set across the 1961 and 1962 seasons. And there's a decent chance they'll tie that streak, as they only face one team that's currently below .500 in their next seven games - the Rams, on the road.
5. Four NFL players have reached 1700 receiving yards in a single season: Calvin Johnson, Marvin Harrison, Isaac Bruce, and Jerry Rice. All of them were selected in the first two rounds, but two lower-drafted players are on pace to join them this season - T.Y. Hilton (third round) and Antonio Brown (sixth round).
REVERSE OFFENSTALSIS
Unfortunately, the Jaguars don’t play the Rams this season, so we’ll just have to imagine the defensive carnage that might result if they had.
THIS WEEK’S UNUSUAL CASE STUDY
This week, we’re looking at the 2014 numbers for quarterbacks in the following situation: the second half of games in which the lead/deficit is no larger than one score (8 points).
Patient A has been nearly unstoppable when the game is close in the second half, completing 75.4 percent of his passes and averaging 10.6 yards per passing attempt, and he’s got five touchdowns against only one interception.
Patient B is the polar opposite; his second half statistics in tight games are a meager 56.3 percent completion rate, 7.6 yards per attempt, and two touchdowns against four picks.
Who are our mystery patients? A is, of course, Tony Romo, well-known for his consistent performance under pressure late. And Patient B is Joe Flacco, who went 5/12 and threw two picks when the game was within one score in the second half against the Bengals.
SALUTE TO HEALTH
A shorter list than usual this week, but we single out Kansas City for applause. Before Sunday, the Chiefs had only accumulated nine drives all year that covered 70+ yards; they had three in the second half against St. Louis, which they turned into 17 points.
GET WELL SOON
- The worst third down conversion rate in the NFL belongs to the Tennessee Titans, who only pick up a new set of downs 28.4 percent of the time. Against the Texans, Tennessee didn't convert a third down until midway through the third quarter, when they were already down 27-3.
- Carolina's known for its defense, but the Panthers had also scored at least one offensive touchdown in every game since Week 5 of last season until they were shut out of the end zone by Seattle.
- At 3-5, Chicago is off to its worst start since 2007. Since 2000, only six teams have recovered from a 3-5 start to make the playoffs.
- Green Bay has given up 74 rushing first downs this season and 60 runs that gained seven yards or more. Both are worst in the NFL.
- Only one team in the league has trailed at the half of every game they've played in 2014: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
See More:
