RuntheDamnBall

I'll take, "EJ is more important 2 years from now than he is this season" for $600, Alex. If he needs the extra week and it's enough to keep this knee condition from becoming chronic, it's worth it.

I wondered why not try for the FG there on a day without much wind. You need two scores anyway and then you have the most clock available to you, presuming you make the kick.

Hell yes. Finally something to help me enjoy watching the remainder of this season.

Fair enough, 4merper4mer, but how can you overlook Garrison Sanborn's complete lack of contribution to this game?

You must have overwhelming evidence to suggest that he won't stay in the game and that he's not being called off the field by the coaches / for a certain package. That's a fair point, but I'm still not suggesting in any way that that's the correct way to use Spiller in that situation. I am saying why not Spiller over TJ or Chris Hogan -- clearly below-replacement-level NFL players?

http://deadspin.com/is-richie-incognitos-dad-blasting-jonathan-martin-on-m-1457997230?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_facebook&utm_source=deadspin_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow This is getting really ugly.

Oh, I didn't realize that you couldn't run out of a pass formation where fj is lined up in the backfield and spiller is split out wide.

He must either look great in practice, or have pictures of Nate Hackett in compromising situations.

I don't disagree, but I think he should be included as a pass option. Realistically, no options should be off the table, and your best weapons shouldn't be off the table. "The book" is only getting us so far, IMO. Good teams are hard to beat because they can kill you in so many ways. I'd like to see the Bills in that company.

I understand this, but if he's really only being used on a pass play, is that so much to worry about?

OK.

WELEASE... WOGER!

What to do with TJ Graham: 1) Purchase time machine 2) Draft Russell Wilson 3) Draft TJ Graham in the fifth round instead?

I'm not just talking about today; this is an all-season issue. Regardless, he didn't look too hurt to kick ass on some long runs. If he's lined up outside or set up to run a screen, is he really going to take that much more punishment?

Well, look, we were the beneficiary of a really rinky-dink roughing-the-passer call. Nobody ever thinks the refs are being fair. I've had my share of complaining about them, but I think this was just a bad officiating team all around. One thing that does blow my mind is why the Goodwin play seemed to have been originally called a catch, then was called a drop, then was upheld after the replay. Those kinds of plays merit suspicion just because of the sheer fact that they had to congregate to change the call or "get it right" to begin with. Replay was inherently inconclusive either way, so the "original" call is going to stand.

But I've just polished my pitchfork, and this torch... it burns my hands.

Honest football question here and I'd love to hear some rationale from people who know better. I understand that the book says that you feed Freddie at the line in a short yardage situation. But what are you giving up by having a two-back set down there? Not getting to have TJ Graham on the field? Please, someone explain to me why Gailey and now Marrone like to take one of our finest weapons off of the field in the red zone.

This is it, to me. I think Tuel made a GOD AWFUL decision there, but the play call could well have been the right one as evidenced by the fact that SJ was wide-open. It's truly a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation to me (in terms of how the coach looks afterwards). If you run up the middle again with Freddy (safest call) you risk getting called too conservative and weak, but you get three points if it doesn't work out. I would like to see them spread out and pitch it to Spiller with some pre-snap motion out of the backfield or a play-action screen there, but I might be wishing for too much. I just think there are other ways to play that than corner fade, up-the-middle run, or potentially fatal throws into traffic with an unseasoned rookie. I like that they wanted 7, and I like that this team is trying to trust its young players (which we didn't see enough of with Manuel). Killer instinct has been in short supply with Jauron / Gailey. But against a stingy D and with a really untested guy running the show, they ended up with the absolute worst possible result: a swing of 10, possibly 14 points given what they didn't score there.

That INT cost the team 10 points, possibly 14 given that they still could have gotten a TD. You can't under-sell its importance in this game.

Easley had a big opportunity and really !@#$ blew it.

Tuel played well? A pick six and under 50% completion till garbage time is playing well? He kept them in the game but also kept KC in the game. So, if he had made a good play instead of a dreadful one, we'd be singing his praises? Astute observation!

No he isn't.

Yup. It has been the difference.

It might well be. I think that's amazing considering neither FJax or CJ are 100%, and their first and second stringers are hurt. I do like what Tuel is doing with a week of reps, and the line is really helping him out. We even saw CJ break one and it led to points.

This is as good as anyone dared expect of Tuel, thus far. Hopefully they make some adjustments at halftime, because you know KC will. I expect more Charles, and more pressure on Tuel.