2014 Week 7: Leftovers

So I didn't have the energy for a full written recap of Week 7 after all.  I had the time today, but it's difficult to review tape whilst nodding off.  In its place, here are a few leftover thoughts on Week 7 that I didn't share on our recap show last night:

• Watching the Titans-Redskins tape further convinced me that Washington coach Jay Gruden did the wrong thing in yanking QB Kirk Cousins and inserting Colt McCoy.  Cousins looked just fine on his throws.  His decision making on the interception right to the linebacker stunk, and perhaps Gruden warned Cousins that if he did something like that in this game, he was getting benched.  But I really didn't see evidence that Cousins was playing so bad that he needed to be sat down.  And McCoy's TD pass upon entering the game in the 3rd quarter was the result of a 10-yard curl route to Pierre Garcon who turned upfield, eluded some slow-footed Titans, and sped away for the score.  That's credit to McCoy?  In what world??
• Cleveland got owned up the middle in passing downs by Jacksonville, and that makes sense when you remember that Pro Bowl C Alex Mack was missing his first game in forever.  Never underestimate the continuity of an offense when a good center is playing every snap.  Poor Brian Hoyer was under fire all day, and that was from the Jaguars.  Imagine what an NFL team may do to the Browns.
• I would think Buffalo would suffer greatly in the near future from losing their 1-2 punch at RB.  C.J. Spiller is done for the year and Fred Jackson is out for the next month or so.  To go from two guys who produced the last few years and knew all the blocking schemes to Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown should be a huge blow.  I expect QB Kyle Orton to have some happy feet in the pocket and for the Bills to stagnate offensively.
• I haven't heard much football analysis lately, so this may have been addressed, but another big injury that showed up on the stat sheet was Seattle MLB Bobby Wagner, who didn't play against the Rams.  The Seahawks gave up 104 yards on the ground (discounting QB Austin Davis' two kneeldowns), and I'm sorry, but Tre Mason and Tavon Austin aren't the new Wonder Twins.  Wagner covers the entire field, and his absence was sorely felt.
• Thursday Night observation:  Someone scared the hell out of Geno Smith, because he virtually eliminated all of the stupid throws and almost captained the Jets to an upset of the Patriots.  Let's see if he can keep that up.  Sunday Night observation:  Denver blitzed SF QB Colin Kaepernick silly, and he never adjusted.  Makes it that much easier for Peyton Manning.  Monday Night observation:  Arian Foster was killing the Steelers running off right guard zone, and Houston stopped doing that for some unknown reason.  Yes, Pittsburgh put all kinds of extra defenders in the box, but the Texans did stay committed to the run.  They just started trying the left side and failing.  Stick to what works, boys.  It ain't that hard.  Oh, and Pitt QB Ben Roethlisberger couldn't wait to air out long bombs as soon as Hou DE J.J. Watt had to sit out some plays in the 4th quarter due to injury.  Houston dearly misses a pass rush without Watt on the field.  But most folks already knew that.

Week 7 Records--Dre & Jay 8-7, .533

YTD Records--Dre 50-52-4, .490; Jay 55-47-4, .539