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Random Shots From Week 3

Joe Bryant's Random Shots From Week 3
By Joe Bryant, September 30, 2020

Random Shots From Week 3
Photo: USA Today Sports

Hi Folks,

We do a ton of insightful, thoughtful, and serious features here at Footballguys with smart people thinking deeply for you.

This is not one of those features.

This is Random Shots and it's a few pages of me downloading my goofy and dysfunctional mental hard drive that gets stuffed with way too many random items from too many hours watching, reading about, and listening to football every weekend and throughout the week. It's the only way I manage. Here's hoping it has some value for you.

We'll see. Now let's get to it.

J

Three hours condensed to three seconds.

Alvin Kamara, you're kind of ridiculous.

Not a smart play to relax like this from DK Metcalf. And a heads-up play from Trevon Diggs. Although let's be fair, the better play by Diggs would've been not to get torched to begin with. He makes a great recovery though.

Keep an eye on Diggs. I listened to an interview with Aqib Talib this summer and he couldn't stop raving about the rookie Diggs.

Shannon Sharpe not playing around with Skip here...

My timeline take on Joe Burrow:

Preseason: I'm not sure he'll make it.

After Week 1: He's good.

After Week 2: He's really good.

After Week 3: I'm not sure he'll make it.

God Bless you Falcons Fans. This is rough. No more roasting for a while.

Ok, then...

This is kind of alarming...

I get players and coaches wanting to celebrate. But headbutts probably aren't the best idea. When only one person is wearing a helmet.

Interesting stat from Peter King.

Lamar Jackson has played 27 NFL games.
He's been behind at halftime in 6 of those games.
And lost all 6.
For the 21 games he's been ahead at half, he's 21-0.

This fits exactly with what I said Tuesday morning after the game. Going back to the Titans playoff loss last year.

Glitch in the Matrix...

Hat Tip to Corey Alan Carrender.

I expected Cam Newton to respond well to Bill Belichick's coaching.

What I didn't expect was how much Newton would affect Belichick...

God Bless the Internet.

We don't deserve Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Music Note this week.

Clem Snide is a band I started listening to last year. They're one of those "overnight sensations". That started in 1991... Apparently, a ton of you like them too as I've had a ton of email about him. Eef Barzelay is the singer here. He's got a chill Americana vibe and If that's your jam, I bet you'll like him too.

Lane Kiffin's back with big-time college football. Right where he belongs.

Tom Pelissero is one of my favorite reporters. You know he was smirking with that last sentence...

There's a balanced offense. And then there's a Mike Leach balanced offense.

Finally some common sense in the early/late game schedules last week. Why is this so difficult?

I remember when everyone thought Cole Beasley was dumb for leaving the spotlight of Dallas for Buffalo. I think this is working out for him just fine.

Never let it be said the Broncos don't have a sense of humor.

Who's old enough to remember the tear-away jerseys? It's a different world...

You shouldn't need more reasons to distrust small sample sizes. But here's one just in case.

"He would have been a wide receiver if he could catch" is something said about some defensive backs.

Harrison Smith is not one of those defensive backs.

We can make this game too difficult. Some things are as simple as "Don't put a linebacker one-on-one covering Terry McLaurin."

No player is perfect. And Stefon Diggs is a problem. But the Rams paid Jalen Ramsey of boat load of money to win situations exactly like this one.

I can't remember a time when there were more athletic tight ends in the game.

Hurdles are awesome.

Until they are not awesome.

Don't lose your fantasy football league...

Hat Tip to David Dodds.

Never underestimate blocking after a pass reception.

I'm not surprised anymore by much of anything. But there seems to be a never ending supply of these...

I hope you find someone who appreciates you like Aaron Rodgers...

Remember this summer when we all were in love with A.J. Dillon's calves?

Are the Packers just toying with us? They're one of the best teams in the league and their first and second-round draft picks this year have barely seen the field.

The Bears are 3-0. They've scored 12 more points than their opponents this year.

But you know what? They only count Wins and Losses at this level.

It's three games, but Cam Newton seems to be having the time of his life.

The "Was New England's success Tom Brady or Bill Belichick?" question was the big topic for this season. So far, it looks like the answer is "both". Nice.

This is not the normalcy I was looking for. Chargers down 5 on the last play of the game and they do this.

From the center of the field to the sideline 40 yards downfield. That ol' Noodle Arm Tom Brady I guess.

Kyler Murray. Still ridiculous.

Somewhere Jerome Bettis is smiling...

The Browns are above .500 for the first time in six years. But don't worry, the Jets still haven't held a lead this year. So things aren't totally crazy.

Easy there, Rams fans.

Wrapping with this one. This is Brazilian pianist Joao Carlos Martins. From the Chicago Tribune, he was "Considered one of the great interpreters of Johann Sebastian Bach's music, the Brazilian classical pianist and conductor had retired last March after 24 surgeries trying to stop pains from a degenerative disease and a series of accidents. His limitations had forced him to work mostly as a conductor since the early 2000s."

Here's the thing. It's not about being a great piano player. The lesson here is don't take the things you enjoy for granted. Whatever that is. Think about what that is for you. And do more of it.

Thanks to Footballguys Keith Overton, Clayton Gray, David Dodds, and Corey Alan Carrender for the help on this one. If you've got a Random Shot of your own, send me an email at bryant@footballguys.com.

Thanks for playing along and I hope you make the most of whatever you're doing in your life. Love your neighbor and stick together.

Peace and Grace to you.

J

Photos provided by USA TODAY Sports
Tags Fun Brandon Aiyuk Cole Beasley Tom Brady Joe Burrow Stefon Diggs Trevon Diggs AJ Dillon Zach Ertz Mike Evans Rashaan Evans Ryan Fitzpatrick Myles Garrett Lamar Jackson Kyle Juszczyk Alvin Kamara Terry McLaurin DK Metcalf Kyler Murray Cam Newton Jalen Ramsey Aaron Rodgers Kyle Rudolph Harrison Smith Jarrett Stidham Carson Wentz Russell Wilson

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