Denver forced to play with no QB

[Ethan in Cleveland]

1 hour ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Any idea as to why the NFL was so firmly set against this?

 

Edit OK I see above. Unfair, teams could "store players as coaches".  Eh, if the only time the team is allowed to dress a coach is if the whole position group is knocked out of a game with a contagious disease, not much advantage there.  I'm not too impressed by "slippery slope" arguments when the slope in question is reached by a rare set of circumstances.  I think the NFL is kind of being ***** to the Ponies here. 

I think that is the official explanation.  My guess is the league is making an example of them to get other teams to comply with the rules.  See also the Saints fines and loss of draft pick.

You have to wonder if a bubble plan is being worked on for the playoffs.  Very difficult to do with the size of these teams compared to the NBA but the league can't risk a SB being played with third string QBs or one team having a significant competitive advantage over another because of COVID.  Truly difficult situation.

[HereComesTheReignAgain]

6 minutes ago, dma0034 said:

Saints aren't playing with a QB either. I'm starting Hinton as a WR in fantasy and idc.

ESPN has Hinton listed as a QB now.

[The Frankish Reich]

This is an absolute joke. 

A couple years ago I took a deep dive here into how teams fare with "emergency QBs." I tried to define that strictly: guys who were signed off the street (think Derek Anderson here in 2018, or Thad Lewis a few years earlier) in order to avoid more common/less desperate situations like activating a guy from the practice squad -- those guys have practiced, taken reps at QB (even with the scout team) so it's a different situation.

The answer: they weren't as bad as you'd think. My point then was that teams seem to overvalue the ordinary backup QB like Matt Barkley. After all, he basically was the signed-off-the-street replacement level QB. And guys like him typically perform like a run of the mill backup. A decent team can start a guy like that for 6 games and plan to go 2-4. That's the baseline, and that's where the Broncs were last year with Brandon Allen as the emergency guy.

But this is different. It literally never has happened in my football fan lifetime, which goes back to the mid-70s. This is not even like the Jets being forced to use TE Tim Tebow at QB -- he was already on the team, he'd played QB in the NFL before (with mixed results, not as bad as most people think). This is unheard of, activating a WR off the practice squad literally one day before a game -- a guy who has never taken a snap at QB, even in practice or camp, since (I think) his sophomore year in college. A guy who has no real knowledge of the playbook as it relates to QB. And there isn't enough time to devise a what-the-hell-let's-run-an-old-college-option-offense-this-week gameplan to try to get through this week.

The closest thing is the replacement player games of the 1980s NFL strike, except one team is playing with their real roster. I know the Broncs were stupid, but the NFL should not want to put this product on TV as allegedly professional football.

[Doc]

19 minutes ago, stevestojan said:

I have no feelings one way out the other about the Broncos, but this is the ultimate “stop testing us” from the NFL. 

 

By the way, the game is back on the sports books. N.O. -16.5. Opened at -6. 
 

really tempted to take NO. 

 

With 16.5 points?  I wouldn't touch that.  I looked at the moneyline and betting $2000 gets only $123.  Not worth it in case Hinton somehow looks like Kurt Warner.

[y2zipper]

Just now, Doc said:

 

With 16.5 points?  I wouldn't touch that.  I looked at the moneyline and betting $2000 gets only $123.  Not worth it in case Hinton somehow looks like Kurt Warner.

 

Considering Hill is on the other side and how well their D operated against Tua I would take Denver plus the 17.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

5 minutes ago, The Frankish Reich said:

This is an absolute joke. 

A couple years ago I took a deep dive here into how teams fare with "emergency QBs." I tried to define that strictly: guys who were signed off the street (think Derek Anderson here in 2018, or Thad Lewis a few years earlier) in order to avoid more common/less desperate situations like activating a guy from the practice squad -- those guys have practiced, taken reps at QB (even with the scout team) so it's a different situation.

The answer: they weren't as bad as you'd think. My point then was that teams seem to overvalue the ordinary backup QB like Matt Barkley. After all, he basically was the signed-off-the-street replacement level QB. And guys like him typically perform like a run of the mill backup. A decent team can start a guy like that for 6 games and plan to go 2-4. That's the baseline, and that's where the Broncs were last year with Brandon Allen as the emergency guy.

But this is different. It literally never has happened in my football fan lifetime, which goes back to the mid-70s. This is not even like the Jets being forced to use TE Tim Tebow at QB -- he was already on the team, he'd played QB in the NFL before (with mixed results, not as bad as most people think). This is unheard of, activating a WR off the practice squad literally one day before a game -- a guy who has never taken a snap at QB, even in practice or camp, since (I think) his sophomore year in college. A guy who has no real knowledge of the playbook as it relates to QB. And there isn't enough time to devise a what-the-hell-let's-run-an-old-college-option-offense-this-week gameplan to try to get through this week.

The closest thing is the replacement player games of the 1980s NFL strike, except one team is playing with their real roster. I know the Broncs were stupid, but the NFL should not want to put this product on TV as allegedly professional football.

 

This is basically where I am, especially since there were potential solutions including allowing the Broncs QC coach to suit up or delaying the game until Tues to allow 1 of the QB to come off the list.

[stevestojan]

1 minute ago, Doc said:

 

With 16.5 points?  I wouldn't touch that.  I looked at the moneyline and betting $2000 gets only $123.  Not worth it in case Hinton somehow looks like Kurt Warner.

Changed my mind. Put $20 on the money line for the Broncos just for ***** and giggles. 

[Doc]

4 minutes ago, y2zipper said:

Considering Hill is on the other side and how well their D operated against Tua I would take Denver plus the 17.

 

How much would you wager?

[y2zipper]

8 minutes ago, Doc said:

 

How much would you wager?

 

Oh not much hahaha.

[NoSaint]

45 minutes ago, y2zipper said:

 

Considering Hill is on the other side and how well their D operated against Tua I would take Denver plus the 17.

you have to think it’ll be a low scoring game with both teams minimizing possessions. 
 

To win by 3 scoring possessions (if not more if the gap is fgs instead of tds) would be a lot. Should be a solid win but not sure it’ll be that good without a reliable offense if their own. Will be a lot of milking the clock 

[Big Turk]

1 hour ago, dma0034 said:

Saints aren't playing with a QB either. I'm starting Hinton as a WR in fantasy and idc.

 

Who the hell is Hinton???

54 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

This is basically where I am, especially since there were potential solutions including allowing the Broncs QC coach to suit up or delaying the game until Tues to allow 1 of the QB to come off the list.

 

No there was no option to delay the game...that is done strictly for medical reasons not because thr team does dumb stuff.

[Captain Caveman]

Has anyone mentioned how the Bills have stashed Jake Fromm this year for this exact scenario?

[Big Turk]

17 minutes ago, Captain Caveman said:

Has anyone mentioned how the Bills have stashed Jake Fromm this year for this exact scenario?

 

Very smart...Bills pre-planned for almost any scenario...

[Kmart128]

Why cant i watch this game... no one wants to see Mahomes vs Brady. We wanna watch the game that has a WR and TE playing as QB

[Big Turk]

Somehow it is 0-0 at the end of the 1st Q

[letsgoteam]

This is must watch tv, if you LOVE football from an Xs & Os standpoint. It will be ugly and low scoring, but watching the way they run their offenses is a treat.

[billsherd]

-8 pass yards into the 2ns Qtr and it's not Denver. 😄

Edited November 29, 2020 by billsherd

[letsgoteam]

Poor poor Hinton

[Mij yllek]

so far the Denver QB is on pace for more INT's than completions.

Has that ever happened before?

 

[CEN-CAL17]

Question....

 

When Cam Newton got Covid they pushed the game back to Monday, twice....

 

The Broncos backup tests positive on Friday and they HAVE to play with no QBs???

 

Why not push it to Tuesday?

[Ethan in Cleveland]

4 minutes ago, CEN-CAL17 said:

Question....

 

When Cam Newton got Covid they pushed the game back to Monday, twice....

 

The Broncos backup tests positive on Friday and they HAVE to play with no QBs???

 

Why not push it to Tuesday?

Because the NFL is making an example of the Broncos who were not following rules. 

[joey greco]

6 minutes ago, Ethan in Portland said:

Because the NFL is making an example of the Broncos who were not following rules. 

Yea, just like they did with the Titans.

[Rochesterfan]

7 hours ago, benderbender said:

Any reason why the Titan got off without even a slap on the wrist while all other teams get fined?

 

The team got fined over $300,000 - not exactly a slap.  Coaches also got fined.

 

The Raiders, the Pats, the Broncos have all also been fined.  The Ravens and the Broncos are going to get hit and I expect loss of draft picks also.

[The Frankish Reich]

1 completion, 2 interceptions.

I hope you enjoyed that fiasco, Roger.

[Real McClappy]

6 minutes ago, The Frankish Reich said:

1 completion, 2 interceptions.

I hope you enjoyed that fiasco, Roger.

That is just insane for a full game.

[Iverwig]

It’s pathetic that they have to play like this regardless of the circumstances. If the Bills were faced with this almost every fan would be pissed. They should have pushed the game back and have been allowed to bring in a QB. The Broncos offense is just horrible today. 

[HalftimeAdjustment]

28 minutes ago, The Frankish Reich said:

1 completion, 2 interceptions.

I hope you enjoyed that fiasco, Roger.

 

I don't really understand why they could not have moved it to Tuesday. Or even Monday... give them one extra day of practice?

 

Edit: Maybe the Broncos management did not want to move the game.

Edited November 30, 2020 by HalftimeAdjustment
Afterthought

[Punching Bag]

8 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Any idea as to why the NFL was so firmly set against this?

 

Edit OK I see above. Unfair, teams could "store players as coaches".  Eh, if the only time the team is allowed to dress a coach is if the whole position group is knocked out of a game with a contagious disease, not much advantage there.  I'm not too impressed by "slippery slope" arguments when the slope in question is reached by a rare set of circumstances.  I think the NFL is kind of being ***** to the Ponies here. 

 

I agree but teams did that in past.  I think an exception is reasonable accommodation at this point.

 

I can also see Broncos playing but making little effort saying NFL gave them no chance to win and they treated it like a 4th preseason game.

[NoSaint]

5 minutes ago, HalftimeAdjustment said:

 

I don't really understand why they could not have moved it to Tuesday. Or even Monday... give them one extra day of practice?

 

Edit: Maybe the Broncos management did not want to move the game.

broncos would’ve loved it.

 

other than more fun to watch, what’s your reason to move it?

[Punching Bag]

8 hours ago, benderbender said:

Any reason why the Titan got off without even a slap on the wrist while all other teams get fined?

 

Only reasonable explanation IMO is bribes.  Everything is network talk and many teams to think that.

[NoSaint]

10 minutes ago, Iverwig said:

It’s pathetic that they have to play like this regardless of the circumstances. If the Bills were faced with this almost every fan would be pissed. They should have pushed the game back and have been allowed to bring in a QB. The Broncos offense is just horrible today. 

 

in theory it wouldn’t happen to the bills who are following a better protocol. Be mad at the team not the league.

[Captain Caveman]

1 hour ago, Mij yllek said:

so far the Denver QB is on pace for more INT's than completions.

Has that ever happened before?

 

Peterman?

[NoSaint]

3 minutes ago, Limeaid said:

 

Only reasonable explanation IMO is bribes.  Everything is network talk and many teams to think that.

they were subject to a 6 figure fine also.

[Punching Bag]

2 minutes ago, NoSaint said:

they were subject to a 6 figure fine also.

 

Small cost compared to winning a game they would have a lot less chance to win with NFL ignoring many transitions. 

 

This is case where NFL needs outside arbitrator.  I am surprised that some players have not tried to go to court.

[NoSaint]

1 minute ago, Limeaid said:

 

Small cost compared to winning a game they would have a lot less chance to win with NFL ignoring many transitions. 

 

This is case where NFL needs outside arbitrator.  I am surprised that some players have not tried to go to court.

what players would go to court with what claim?

[Punching Bag]

Just now, NoSaint said:

what players would go to court with what claim?

 

Players having contracts depending on meeting certain objectives and NFL is making uneven decisions regarding enforcement.

 

Does not mean they would win but I can see cases going to court.

[YoloinOhio]

 

[Bubba Gump]

What woulda happened if Denver was on the playoff bubble? Denver woulda been pretty pissed having to play with no QB while other teams games get changed.

[The Frankish Reich]

4 hours ago, Mij yllek said:

so far the Denver QB is on pace for more INT's than completions.

Has that ever happened before?

 

Ryan Leaf, 1999.

[The Frankish Reich]

2 hours ago, Limeaid said:

 

I agree but teams did that in past.  I think an exception is reasonable accommodation at this point.

 

I can also see Broncos playing but making little effort saying NFL gave them no chance to win and they treated it like a 4th preseason game.

I actually watched about 80% of this steaming piece of crap. I agree; that's on me.

To their credit: the Broncos played hard. The defense actually did a great job and exposed Taysom Hill as a backup/gadget guy, at least at this point in his development. The offense also played hard. Right up until the end we had wildcat QBs like Melvin Gordon and Royce Freeman breaking tackles and trying to make plays. But they literally could not complete a pass. There was one screen to TE Noah Fant that accounted for the 13 yards passing. They let the poor kid at QB -- he would come in on 3rd down after they ran wildcat with the RBs on 1st and 2nd -- heave the ball downfield a few times with predictable results (2 INTs). I realize the Broncos had almost zero preparation time, but I found it weird that they were lining up in the wildcat, snapping the ball directly to one of two RBs in the backfield, but with Fant (a poor blocking TE) and at least one WR on the field. They literally could not throw the ball ... why not just play an extra lineman as an eligible receiver? And almost stranger: the Saints had a man covering the WR even though the Broncs showed no inclination whatsoever to have the RBs throw the ball. 

I thought it would be weird and maybe fascinating in a shambolic way. Instead it was just ... boring. We should never let this happen again. Vic Fangio (Elway too) should be fired immediately for letting this happen.

2 hours ago, Bubba Gump said:

What woulda happened if Denver was on the playoff bubble? Denver woulda been pretty pissed having to play with no QB while other teams games get changed.

It never would've happened if the Broncos (or the Saints) were on the playoff bubble. The NFL just did a big "who cares anyway, let's get the game in."