Ten Thoughts on the NFL

1) The NFL has been relatively lucky when it comes to players landing on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, but it sure seems like that luck is about to run out. Five teams had players go on the list today per the wire.

The league is getting nervous too as they’re asking players to start wearing masks on the sidelines during games and while in the locker rooms.

They’ve already done several schedule shuffles, and at some point they may be forced to cancel games.

2) The NFL does have an expanded playoff format under consideration if there are any games lost. That would eliminate the bye for the top seed and add a fourth wild card in each conference, bringing the total to 8 playoff teams per conference. A change like this could throw a wrench into any NFL betting postseason futures.

With the way the Bears are slipping, this may be the only way they taste the postseason this year.

3) Rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa didn’t light up the stat sheet for the Miami Dolphins in their 28 to 17 win over the Los Angeles Rams, but to be fair, he wasn’t asked to do too much. After falling behind 7-0 early, the ‘Fins defense and special teams helped catapult them to 28 straight points and Tua was able to coast to the teams fourth win this year.

4) The San Francisco 49ers have been decimated by injuries this year, and now they may be without starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo for the remainder of the season, but that could provide them an extended look at Nick Mullens. And that could lead them to part ways with Garoppolo this offseason. He’ll no longer have any guaranteed money on his deal, so they could trade him or even cut him, which would allow them to retool the roster while drafting a rookie QB for head coach Kyle Shanahan.

5) Running back Dalvin Cook accounted for 70% of the Minnesota Vikings total offensive yards and all 4 of their touchdowns in the Vikes 28 to 22 win against the Green Bay Packers. I wonder if there’s any percentage of offense prop bets at CashBet Sportsbook to play with as the Vikings host the Lions next week.

6) The Kansas City Chiefs did this against the New York Jets.

They’re just toying with teams now...

7) Speaking of the Jets, GM Joe Douglas said this about head coach Adam Gase.

“This is not all on Adam,” Douglas said, via NFL Network’s Kimberly Jones. ... “The goal is to get this fixed together.”

“My focus is helping Adam solve the problem and work together to do it,” Douglas said. “Obviously, I think we’re all confident in our abilities, but I’m focused to solve these problems with Adam.”

In looking over the Jets second half schedule, they’ll likely be favored to lose all 8 games, so barring a dramatic turn around, how can you justify bringing him back if they only luck into a couple wins?

8) The Chiefs may be playing great right now, but I think the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers are the best overall team in the AFC right now.

In the NFC, the best team at the midseason point has to be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and what separates them from the Seattle Seahawks is their defense. But with Seattle getting safety Jamal Adams back, and the trade for defensive lineman Carlos Dunlap, that should help get their defense to a respectable level down the stretch.

The playoff races are heating up!

9) I love this quote from Patriots head coach Bill Belichick when asked about his current team’s struggles.

“We sold out and won three Super Bowls, played in a fourth, and played in an AFC Championship Game. This year we have less to work with. It’s not an excuse. It’s just the facts.”

10) This Sunday the Chicago Bears, who are the second worst in converting third downs this season at 34.9%, will face a Tennessee Titans defense that is allowing teams to convert third downs on 61.9% of their tries, which is the worst in the NFL.

Then again, the Bears offensive line may be missing several starters, so this stat isn’t as appealing to me as I originally thought.

Go Bears...