User-Endzone: Passing is for Losers!

Pittsburgh Steelers

27:6 Victory against the Cleveland Browns

by sportfan_1990

Week 8 in the NFL saw the Steelers take on the Browns in Pittsburgh for the AFC North lead. Who would have thought that before the season?

It was once again a dominant performance by the Steelers' defense. Led by TJ Watt, the Browns' offense – especially their offensive line – was systematically dismantled. In the end, they tallied 8 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, and allowed only 6 points.

Baltimore Ravens

10:36 Loss against the Buffalo Bills

by sportfan_1990

Can you lose in Buffalo? Yes! Can you also get completely routed there? Yes! So why are the Ravens considered a loser of the week? Simple: They are already among the losers of the season.

Another season with Lamar Jackson has been squandered, and this time, the football gods had something against them. After a good start to the season, Lamar Jackson was injured in Week 4. He had to sit out three games – at least one of which the Ravens managed to win during that period. Thus, after Week 7, they stood at a 4-4 record. Everything was still possible!

However, Jackson suffered a severe thumb injury on Sunday – on his very first pass attempt. He is now on the injured reserve list and might even be out for the entire season. Moreover, his backup Tyler Huntley had to concede due to a turf toe in the middle of the second quarter. This meant emergency QB Joe Fagnano had to step in. The 25-year-old rookie was thrown into the deep end and tried his best, but the Buffalo defense was relentless, allowing only 91 passing yards.

Huntley could also be out for weeks. Therefore, the Ravens will likely bring an old-timer quarterback out of early retirement. A good tip would be a reunion with Joe Flacco. But one thing is clear: The Baltimore Ravens' season is over!

Tyler Allgeier (Running Back, Arizona Cardinals)

33:30 Overtime Victory against the Dallas Cowboys (11 CAR, 146 Rushing Yards, 1 Rushing TD, 5 Rec, 44 Receiving Yards, 1 Receiving TD)

by Patrick_R

Breakout for Tyler Allgeier? The Cardinals entered the game with a very injury-plagued running back room, and thus Tyler Allgeier was immediately designated the "workhorse," especially in the second half.

Throughout the game, he delivered more than solid performances, breaking free for a long run occasionally and also catching a few receptions (including one for 1 TD) as a dual threat.

One thing is for sure: It was definitely the best game of his career, but whether this will be enough for Allgeier to become a permanent starter after years? Time will tell, but we certainly saw the potential on Sunday.

Briefly about the game: The Cowboys held the reins for a long time, until they forgot how to play defense in the final minute and let Minshew outmaneuver them. In overtime, there was nothing more to gain, and for the Cowboys, it's a painful loss in the fight for the division!

Los Angeles Chargers Offense

9:24 Loss against the Los Angeles Rams

by Patrick_R

Where has the offense gone, Mike McDaniel? That's likely the question people ask when watching a Chargers game this year. The Chargers' performance this week wasn't necessarily worse than the rest of the season, but since it has been disastrous all season, it at least representatively earned them this "award."

The offense consistently appears sluggish, Herbert is making uncharacteristic mistakes, and there's no running game to speak of. More or less nothing is working. Of course, they don't have the major weapons that other teams do, but the current performances are truly unworthy of the team.

They are now 27 drives without a touchdown. The last team with an even longer drought without a TD? The Dolphins in 2024. Also coached by Mike McDaniel.

Criticism of the Offensive Coordinator is therefore justifiably growing louder. Nothing has changed after last week's bye week. Except that before the bye week, it was reported that they would now (after Week 6!!) simplify the playbook so that players could actually understand it. I genuinely cannot imagine Head Coach Jim Harbaugh sticking with McDaniel – at least as play-caller – much longer, even though he's already held onto him for too long...

Symbolically, not even the completed Hail Mary reaches the end zone:

Emmett Johnson (Running Back, Kansas City Chiefs)

24:28 Loss against the Denver Broncos (1 Run for 15 Yards, 5 Catches for 128 Yards, 1 TD)

by sportfan_1990

The Chiefs' running backs: First, we have Super Bowl LI MVP Kenneth Walker III, who is having a very strong season, and then there's rookie Emmett Johnson – a fifth-round pick in this year's draft.

On Sunday, he had his big day, but not in his primary role of running the ball, but through the air. On five passes, he recorded as many catches and gained a total of 128 receiving yards. His longest catch and run was for 73 yards for a touchdown.

0

by Patrick_R

0? Yes, 0! That's the number of completions for the Buccaneers this week. Well, then they must have lost, right? No, they won 16:0.

Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield also left the field with only three pass attempts. Instead, they racked up an impressive 324 rushing yards. The reason: It was pouring heavily in Tampa Bay, and passes would simply have been the less effective method.

Just look at the Falcons: Michael Penix completed only eight of 24 passes. Four of his pass attempts landed in the hands of the Buccaneers. Perhaps he took pity and wanted to let the Bucs catch a few balls? :)

The last time a team won a game without a single completion, by the way, was in 1974. That was the Bills against the Jets, also in heavy rain!

However, I don't want to withhold from you a near-highlight play for the Bucs that quickly turned into a highlight play for the Falcons:

sportfan_1990:

This week, my esteemed colleague RP74 was actually scheduled. However, he was kind enough to swap with me. But since he was at the International Game between the Steelers and Saints in Paris last week, you can now look forward to his commentary on the live NFL experience in Paris.

RP74:

My second time!

After Berlin in 2025, I attended the game in Paris this year. Anyone who has experienced the NFL live once will want to do it again and again. I think I'm not the only one who feels this way. Since most of you followed the game on TV, I'll focus less on the game itself and more on the "surroundings."

My visit to Paris felt a bit like "Crocodile Dundee in LA." Fortunately, it wasn't quite that bad. Since my school days, including French lessons, are already a decade or two behind me, I wasn't entirely sure how smoothly communication would go. In the run-up, the mood for the Paris game was dampened by demonstrations and riots. So, upon my arrival in Paris, I decided to immediately tackle the tourist to-dos. Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower. Afterwards, to the hotel, freshen up, and explore the city. 

The next day, Notre Dame and the nearby event where one could attempt to throw a football over the Seine.

During my time there, no one succeeded – due to the large number of spectators, I decided against attempting it myself. Next up was the specially set-up fan shop, but it was temporarily closed, as was the Saints House, including the display of the Vince Lombardi Trophy. The city center showed its concerned side. Countless shops had their windows barricaded. Everywhere you went, you were advised to avoid or leave the city center. I only found out the next day that the city administration and police had relocated the approved demonstrations to an outer district, thus ensuring everything remained calm in the city.

At this point, I would have liked to give you a tip for any potential game visit. The NFL offers a special service for all games. Through the NFL ONE APP, you receive all information about what's possible in the city in connection with the NFL game. You also need this app to gain access to attractions. However, even the best app is useless if it's not kept up-to-date. Unfortunately, this was the case on Sunday when all fans set off for the game. A train was supposed to be the best and fastest way to get to the Stade de France. Too bad that three stops were closed due to construction work. So it was either turn back and take the Metro or take a taxi – for almost 15 kilometers. On the advice of a local, I downloaded another app where rides could be booked. The 12.90 Euros for the 15 km was one of the cheapest things Paris had to offer.

I must clear up one of my prejudices here. Because the Parisians proved to be at their friendliest. In the Metro, in restaurants, on the street, you could ask for help at any time, and help was given. It even went so far that some passers-by switched to English on their own if they noticed it would help. That was new to me – in my memory, the French stubbornly stuck to their French. So I say: mes chers Français, excusez-moi.

A few differences compared to last year's Berlin game: In Berlin, during my time there, American football was lived and celebrated throughout the city. In Paris, many people knew nothing about this game. Due to the fact that only the Saints hold the rights for the French market, there weren't countless venues like in Berlin that served as meeting points for a specific team's fan gathering. The Steelers' event, unfortunately, was canceled several days in advance.

What was better in Paris: the countless shops for matchday merchandise, as well as for refreshments outside the stadium (even before passing through security checks). This turned the outdoor area into a continuous party zone. As is typical for football, it was exuberant and always peaceful.

Comparing the atmosphere in the stadium is difficult for me – subjectively, I felt it was a bit quieter than in Berlin – others might have felt the opposite. What the game certainly was: a consistently great atmosphere, good spirits among the fans, a home game for the Steelers, AND definitely not the last game I've watched live. If you want to know more or something specific about Paris or the game – feel free to write in the comments or directly email info@userendzone.at