This article is part of our NFL Observations series.
I had the Bears +4.5, so the result was good, but I was a little disappointed they made the game-winning field-goal because my predicted score was Bucs 19-17. While I've never gone 16-0 ATS, my real goal is to have all the scores predicted exactly. If that happens, it'll be national news, though the government would probably rendition me to some science lab in that case.
- Tom Brady looked like himself to me, zipping short passes into tight windows, moving decently inside the pocket, keeping his focus downfield. But as I noted in East Coast Offense, immobile QBs are at a massive disadvantage these days. He's better than Philip Rivers, but he's giving away a ton to the capable scramblers.
- Tyler Johnson (6-4-61) looks like a player -- physical, tough and with some burst. But the Buccaneers are so erratic with their targets (see Miller, Scotty, whom I started in a deep league) that it's tough to count on anyone besides Mike Evans (and even he's done almost nothing besides the TDs) and Chris Godwin (when healthy.) At least Evans got some downfield targets.
- Rob Gronkowski (6-3-52) was involved but even with Godwin out and O.J. Howard out for the year, his production was modest.
- Ronald Jones (17-106-0, 5-3-19) has work to do as a receiver, and he was out on third downs and in the two-minute drill. But he looks great between the tackles, with good vision, acceleration, sharp cuts and plenty of power. He should have had a receiving TD too, but the meddling refs blew the whistle too soon.
- Ke'Shawn Vaughn (3-2-5) didn't do much, and he fumbled after a big hit, but he was on the field late in the game when the Bucs were trying to set up a game-winning FG.
- I love that Bruce Arians went for it on 4th-and-1 from his own 20 with a 10-0 lead in the first half! Contrast that with Bill O'Brien punting on fourth and short from midfield in a 7-7 game in Kansas City.
- BDN (Nick Foles) got into a rhythm in the second half, and did enough (thanks to a huge roughing-the-passer penalty late in the game), but the Bears offense is ugly. At least, like Eli Manning, he still owns Brady.
- Allen Robinson (16-10-90) was not efficient, but he's a good bet to lead the league in targets, as Anthony Miller barely exists, and there's not much else. Jimmy Graham looks like a red-zone specialist again and could be among the TE leaders in TDs.
- David Montgomery (10-29-1, 8-7-30) runs hard and breaks tackles, but he's a plodder, and he's not quick or smooth as a receiver. The eight targets bode well, but I'd prefer to see Cordarrelle Patterson get more touches.
- Speaking of which, every time I watch Patterson play, I'm surprised his skills aren't in more demand -- at the very least he's an elite return man, and he seems useful as a runner/receiver. The Bucs were terrified to kick to him all game, and he nearly broke a couple. The guy is also 6-2, 238, i.e., he's almost Derrick Henry size.
- I watched the condensed version of the game, but what a flag fest. I guess the refs might start calling holding after all.
