NFL Takeaways: Brian Hoyer Is Accomplishing The Impossible
By Erik Lambert
Aug 9, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) and quarterback Brian Hoyer (6) before the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Week 6 didn’t have as many competitive games around the NFL, but it most certainly featured some intriguing story lines.
Hoyer making Johnny Manziel disappear for Cleveland Browns
Ask any Cleveland Browns fan at the start of the 2014 season and they would’ve said unequivocally that rookie 1st round pick Johnny Manziel would’ve been starting at quarterback by now. They never would’ve said that the team would be 3-2, in the hunt in the AFC North and quarterback Brian Hoyer would be the primary reason. His seven touchdowns to one interception ratio and efficient handling of the offense helped turn in a 31-10 humiliation of Pittsburgh, putting Cleveland in the playoff picture.
DeMarco Murray is now unquestionably league MVP
Mad respect to Philip Rivers for rescuing the San Diego Chargers from an upset. He deserves all the MVP hype but quite frankly after Week 6 he should be supplanted in the voting pool by Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray. In pacing his team to a 5-1 record, the fourth-year running back has not yet failed to crack 100 yards rushing in a game. At 785 yards and six touchdowns he leads the NFL in rushing by a wide margin and is averaging 4.9 yards per carry and against some pretty good defenses too like Seattle, San Francisco and Houston.
The Baltimore Ravens look like AFC favorites
Granted, it was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but the Baltimore Ravens showed on Sunday that they may be regaining their championship form in the AFC after racing to a 48-17 victory. Joe Flacco was on fire from the very beginning, firing five touchdown passes in the first half and had only eight incompletion all afternoon. The defense also posted a shut out in the first half as well, notching four sacks of Mike Glennon. This team bears serious watching in the weeks to come in what is a wide open conference.
Mel Tucker deserves Assistant Coach of the Week honors
Most people will direct their love towards Rod Marinelli for his remarkable efforts on the Dallas defense for Assistant Coach of the Year, but if there were an Assistant of the Week honor in the NFL, then it should go to Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Mel Tucker. Forced into a road game without his top four linebackers, many people were convinced the Bears were a dead team walking against a powerful Atlanta Falcons offense. Instead Chicago posted one of its best games of the year, holding Matt Ryan and crew to just 13 points and under 350 yards of total offense. Credit for that must go to Tucker.
Oakland Raiders get positive signs from Derek Carr
Unfortunately there hasn’t been much to cheer about for Oakland Raiders fans of late, but signs are pointing up and their young rookie quarterback Derek Carr is the reason. Emerging from the bye week under a new head coach, the 2nd round pick threw four touchdown passes against what was the 3rd ranked pass defense in the NFL in San Diego. Two of those passes were for 40 yards or more, showcasing his elite arm strength. Oakland may not win much in 2014, but brighter days are ahead.