$.01--The Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos played one of the most entertaining and high-scoring games in NFL history. The Broncos remain undefeated by edging the Cowboys 51-48 in Dallas. It was just the fourth game in NFL history where both teams scored at least 48 points.

In a game with an orgy of points and an onslaught of offensive production, one bad play by Tony Romo is the one thing that most are going to take away from this game. Never mind that Peyton Manning threw a truly awful interception--his first on the year--which led to Dallas taking a lead. Never mind that Romo threw for over 500 yards and averaged over 13 yards per attempt. Never mind the 51 points the defense surrendered, including allowing Denver to convert 9 of 12 third down conversions before the final effort where the Broncos opted to milk clock instead of trying to convert. Never mind that Romo overcame a 35-20 deficit in the 3rd quarter and was damn near perfect the entire second half.

No, the focus is going to be Tony Romo and the ugly interception. With the score tied at 48 and on a play after Romo was sacked, the Cowboys quarterback threw the ball right to Broncos LB Danny Trevathan. He had nicely anticipated the play and set up the Broncos for the win. Peyton Manning navigated Denver a little closer, and Matt Prater kicked the game winner as time expired. The national sports narrative dictates that we must blame Romo, and only Romo, for the loss.

The reality is that Romo was the only reason the Cowboys were even within three touchdowns of Peyton Manning and the Broncos. Dallas’ defense was (insert derogatory adjective of your choice here) all afternoon. Romo played a truly masterful game, save one lousy play. Yet sometimes that one play is all that matters. It bit Romo and the Cowboys once again, but if you believe that’s the only reason why they lost, you’re reaching too hard to hate on Tony Romo. 

$.02--While Denver remained undefeated, the Seattle Seahawks could not stay unblemished. The Seahawks fell 34-28 to the Indianapolis Colts, unable to hold onto a couple of different leads in the game.

In the battle of outstanding second-year quarterbacks, Andrew Luck outshined Russell Wilson. All these fourth quarter comebacks are getting to be old hat for Luck; this was his ninth in 21 career starts, an absurd statistic. In their last three drives of the game, Luck produced two touchdowns and a field goal. Wilson’s final three drives produced a field goal, a 3-and-out, and an interception.

This is not just luck, no pun intended. Whereas last season Luck often needed to overcome the hole he had dug himself with bad turnovers and poor accuracy, this year he’s winning games where his skill keeps them close enough to strike. It’s a significant sign of progress, one that should scare the bejeezus out of the rest of the AFC. The Colts made the playoffs last year despite Luck being one of the worst quarterbacks in the league for the first three quarters of just about every game. Now he’s found a rudder, and he’s still capable of spiking his play to another level in the final quarter or when the game is really on the line.

The Colts are now 4-1, same as Seattle. They’ve beaten both the Seahawks and the 49ers, widely presumed to be top-5 overall teams in the NFL pantheon this year. Their defense is playing better than a year ago, although they did allow Seattle to have two 100-yard rushers this week in Wilson and Marshawn Lynch. They’re getting a more consistent pass rush and better play from their corners. Indy is even producing some takeaways, something they were woeful at a year ago.

Seattle is showing a real chink in the armor: their passing offense. A week after producing just 123 yards on 12-of-23 passing, Wilson was once again not very effective. This week’s line: 15-of-31, 218 yards, and he turned the ball over twice. He was 8-of-19 for 142 yards against San Francisco. That’s three games where he’s not helping his team win with his arm. Those are Blaine Gabbert numbers, minus the turnovers. If Wilson cannot get this passing offense to improve, Seattle might be in for more losses when the games matter more. 

$.03--Sometimes it’s great to set NFL records. For Matt Schaub, he would love nothing more than to forget the record he set Sunday night. On his very first pass of the game, the Houston Texans QB threw a pick-six INT. That marked the fourth straight game in which Schaub threw a touchdown pass to the other team, breaking a tie he shared with John Elway and Peyton Manning at three games.

It did not get much better for the rest of the game. Schaub threw two more picks, one of which was very nearly his fifth pick six of the season, as the San Francisco 49ers blew out the woefully inept Texans 34-3. Schaub is clearly a major part of the problem. It’s very disturbing to watch a once-competent professional athlete lose his confidence, but that is exactly what has happened with the Texans quarterback. It got bad enough that Schaub got yanked for backup TJ Yates. But there is another person who needs a long look in the mirror, and that man is Schaub’s coach, Gary Kubiak.

The Texans offense is eminently predictable, and Kubiak’s conservative play calling feeds into that. As I mentioned during the game:

Before Schaub (or Yates) can improve, Kubiak needs to create more pages and diversity to his playbook. There is a lot of talent on the offense, but they often looked yoked to a scheme which is designed for them to not lose the game rather than trying to win it. Well, they are losing the games…why not try to win? Even though they are 2-3, they are seconds away from being 0-5. They played like an 0-5 team against San Francisco, which got truly awful QB play of its own from Colin Kaepernick but still managed to blow out the hapless Texans.

$.04--All August, the hottest name from New England was undrafted rookie free agent Zach Sudfeld. He was a star in camp and played reasonably well in preseason, but Patriot nation elevated him to impossibly ridiculous heights. Fantasy football writers did their part too; Sudfeld was drafted ahead of Jordan Cameron and Tyler Eifert in both fantasy leagues I’m playing in, on repeated recommendation from the fantasy gurus.

I had scouted Sudfeld at Nevada and watched him extensively in person during Shrine Game week. I was not surprised when he went undrafted, though my final evaluation graded him as a 6th-7th round talent but flagged for missing two full years at Nevada due to different injuries. I thought he had a chance to stick as a backup TE, maybe. Yet between Patriots Twitter talk and fantasy frothing, many were convinced he could make everyone forget Aaron Hernandez. The Boston Herald certainly fanned those flames with pieces like this, as did the CBS affiliate in Boston. One Patriots writer played up a Heath Miller comparison that had Pats fans brimming with overconfidence in the lightweight (he’s 6’7”, 225 pounds) Sudfeld. 

I guess not. Sudfeld was unceremoniously cut this week after failing to catch a pass. He played just 45 snaps in the first four games, and Tom Brady threw two passes his way. The always skittish Patriots media immediately jumped to the conclusion that Sudfeld release meant that Rob Gronkowski was ready for action, but that too proved to be irresponsibly hasty on their part. Gronkowski missed the game in Cincinnati with his ongoing back and forearm issues. The Patriots hole at tight end is as deep as the federal deficit--they combined for one catch and two yards in the punchless loss to Cincinnati--but they determined Zach Sudfeld couldn’t help.

As is customary whenever New England releases any player, he was claimed by a fellow AFC East team. Now he’ll sit on the Jets bench before quietly fading away. Let Zach Sudfeld serve as a reality check next summer when an undrafted phenomenon bursts onto the preseason scene.

$.05--It’s been a long time since I’ve attended a professional sporting event in New York. It’s been even longer--since the mid-80s Yankees--that I was in New York and saw a truly bad team play. I forgot how vociferous the booing can be.

I heard that booing when I flipped to the New York Giants-Philadelphia Eagles game just before halftime. The Giants faithful rained down the Bronx cheers with the rapaciousness of a hungry lion attacking a lame water buffalo. The team deserved it. At that point they trailed 19-7 to an Eagles team that was one of the few defenses that could be considered worse than their own. After starting the third quarter strongly with two Rueben Randle TD catches, the game ended with another cavalcade of negativity.

The Giants are 0-5 and looking at abject misery. The once-fearsome defensive front has five sacks in five games. New York committed 12 penalties for 136 yards, rivaling their MetLife Stadium cohabitants for flag proclivity. But the biggest issue is the offensive turnovers. Eli Manning threw three more interceptions in this game. All three came in a very short span of the fourth quarter when the game was very much undecided. That came on top of three intentional grounding penalties. Eli is making terrible decisions playing behind what might be the worst offensive line the NFL has seen in a long time.

It’s a very nasty confluence that has the Giants reeling. The lack of depth on the team is astonishing for a team that has been so successful for so long. Scads of missed draft picks by GM Jerry Reese are haunting the team. I think Tom Coughlin was on point when he mentioned that he felt Eli is trying to do too much to compensate for having inadequate teammates. That’s not Eli’s game. It’s not Coughlin’s game either.

I am not of the belief that Coughlin must be fired. Just as Andy Reid had the credit in the bank in Philly to last out a wretched season a year ago, Coughlin has earned the right to a terrible campaign. I also don’t agree with the cries to bench Eli. It’s not so much that I think Eli is not benchable, but more that I know Curtis Painter would be even worse. Giants fans are just going to how to swallow hard and accept that this is a bad football team destined for at least 11 losses and hope for the best next season.

$.06--The Cleveland Browns won their third game in a row, beating the Bills 37-24 on Thursday. They did so despite losing quarterback Brian Hoyer to a truly ugly knee injury on an awkward slide.

Hoyer was replacing Brandon Weeden, who missed two games with an injury. The Browns won both those games, and immediately everyone presumed Hoyer was the difference. I’m here to tell you, Browns fans, it was more of a coincidence than anything great Hoyer was doing. Was he better than Weeden had been playing? Absolutely. But Hoyer had a couple of assets which Weeden did not. Foremost is wideout Josh Gordon, who has very much emerged as a viable #1 receiver and legit downfield weapon. As they proved with a late-game touchdown over the top of the defense, Gordon makes Weeden look pretty good too.

The more hidden contributor who really helped Hoyer, and who will help Weeden going forward, is right guard Shaun Lauvao. He’s not much of a run blocker, but Lauvao is a rock in pass protection. The man he replaces, O’Neil Cousins, can go to Halloween parties as a turnstile without wearing a costume. Weeden is a quarterback who needs a clean pocket, and with Lauvao back in the lineup he’s much more likely to get one. Between those additions and the rock-solid defensive front seven, which is one of the best in the league, the Browns can ride Weeden and stick in the playoff race in a muddy AFC North.

The Bills, well…they lost rookie QB EJ Manuel to a knee injury and he’ll be out at least a month. His replacement on Thursday was undrafted rookie Jeff Tuel, who looked very much like an undrafted rookie. Injuries have devastated the Bills all season, and it only gets worse with losing Manuel. Don’t expect Tuel to be under center next Sunday. If he is, the bookies cannot give me enough points to take the Bills against the Bengals.

$.07--Much of the NFL news cycle this coming week figures to center on a controversial new book. League of Denial: The NFL, Concussions and the Battle for Truth hits the market on Tuesday, and it is sure to draw major public outcry against the NFL.

Some of the excerpts made public (you can read one here from CNN) are already fanning those flames. The book alleges that the NFL systematically ignored or manipulated highly damning evidence that football was proven to cause increased risk to brain injury and related maladies. The timing of the book is peculiar; as you might recall the NFL and thousands of former players recently reached a settlement in a lawsuit over concussions and post-football health issues.

I’ve read several excerpts which have been made public and heard some very smart people interviewed about the topic and the book. My main takeaway so far: instead of pointing the finger at Roger Goodell, the blame game needs to go back to his predecessor as NFL Commissioner, Paul Tagliabue. Almost all of the evidence I’ve seen and heard deals with his tenure as commish. I sincerely encourage my readers who care about this issue, or those who like to see the NFL squirm, to go out and read the book. Also pay attention to the NFL’s response, which to this point has been “no comment”. Their ability to spin the story how they implement damage control will go a long way in determining how well the book is received.

$.08--NFL Quickies

1. Niners safety Donte Whitner is attempting to change his surname to “Hitner”. You know, because he hits people. But the name change process is being held up by the federal government shutdown. I’m not sure this is what Ted Cruz had in mind about government waste, but didn’t everyone learn from Ocho Cinco that changing the name for football purposes is asinine?

2. Looking for a reason why Miami has fallen from 3-0 to 3-2? How about a moribund running game. In the loss to Baltimore, Miami failed to obtain a first down on the ground while rushing 11 times for 22 yards. Or perhaps it’s the pass defense, which has allowed almost 700 yards to Drew Brees and Joe Flacco the last two weeks. There’s no shame in losing to New Orleans and Baltimore, but the Dolphins must win against Buffalo after their bye week or else that 3-0 start is proven fraudulent.

3. After writing two pieces about the game already for Bleacher Report, I really don’t want to say much more about the Lions’ loss in Green Bay. So I’ll give you two brief takeaways. First, even with Calvin Johnson this was not going to be easy, and without him the offense had no hope. Second, kudos to the Green Bay interior offensive line for completely bottling up Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley. That was the best job any team has done on Suh this season by a giant margin.

4. I didn’t watch one second of the Chiefs/Titans game, but the early returns on Ryan Fitpatrick replacing Jake Locker did not look good:

The Titans did come back to respectability and lost 26-17, but the Chiefs remain tied with the Broncos at 5-0. The odds are clearly in Kansas City’s favor to make the playoffs, as teams which start 5-0 make the playoffs 90% of the time. Not bad for the team that picked #1 overall in April…and is getting nothing from that pick, RT Eric Fisher.

5. Speaking of high draft picks, Jacksonville lost the #2 overall pick in the draft, Luke Joeckel, to a broken ankle. He will be placed on IR and is lost for the season, per numerous reports. As bad as the Giants and Steelers are this year, and they’re both awful, these Jaguars are significantly worse. It will be a major challenge for them to not lose all 16 games, and that task gets harder with Joeckel sidelined.

$.09--College/Draft quickies

1. I watched the second half of the Texas/Iowa State game on Thursday night. For those of you sports conspiracy theorists, this game should certainly raise your skeptical eyebrows. Iowa State absolutely won this game but it was stolen from them by not one, not two, but three absurdly incompetent officiating calls down the stretch. The goal line fumble is the worst case I’ve ever seen of an officiating crew losing sight of the ball; worse than Justin Forsett flopping on the ground before getting up in the Lions/Texans game a year ago which is better known for Jim Schwartz challenging an unchallengeable play. The Big 12 should absolutely suspend the crew and issue a public apology to Iowa State, because the Cyclones won that football game. Check out ISU coach Paul Rhodes’ emotional reaction after the game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpnzwW_tuAU

2. Florida State destroyed a ranked Maryland team 63-0. This was the most impressive showing yet by freshman phenom QB Jameis Winston. I do not have a Heisman vote, but if I did he would have it at this point. It’s almost as if you are surprised when his throw isn’t absolutely perfect. He will be the #1 overall pick in whichever draft he chooses to enter, but he cannot declare until at least 2015. If you haven’t seen Winston play, think Aaron Rodgers crossed with Colin Kaepernick. Yeah, his potential is that high.

3. I really liked Odell Beckham Jr, the LSU wideout, in the Tigers’ game with Mississippi State. Beckham displayed excellent body control, strong hands, a good knack for the sideline, and bull-like power after the catch for his size. You will hear him compared to Victor Cruz or perhaps Miles Austin, but Beckham is tough to pigeonhole; I think he can play in the slot, or outside in a vertical-type offense like the Browns or Cardinals run. He is exactly what the Ravens need right now.

4. The news came out late Sunday that Oregon TE Colt Lyerla has left the program for “personal reasons”. For those who read my initial Top 103 draft prospects, you probably recognize Lyerla as my 16th rated player. So how will this latest escapade impact Lyerla’s draft stock? The early educated guess is that he is now completely out of first round consideration; quitting on a team--twice--is something that will be very difficult to just explain away. I’ve heard some unreportable things from scouts and media sources in Oregon that will probably be a life preserver of sorts for him, but how well he interviews and handles himself going forward are the difference between the very talented, versatile Lyerla being the 45th pick or a 4th-5th round pick.

5. One player who will be listed as “falling” in the next Top 103 will be Ohio State corner Bradley Roby, who has turned in two miserable performances in a row. His eye discipline and positional integrity have gone to hell against Wisconsin and Northwestern. Roby is playing like a player who thinks he’s better than he is, one who can cruise on natural talent and not putting in the hard work. There is too much natural ability for him to fall too far, either in my rankings or in the eyes of NFL scouts, but he needs to start playing better ASAP if he still wants to be a top 10 pick.

$.10--One of the more fun parts of doing what I do is that I get to interact with a lot of young, ambitious writers. Some want to be sports writers, others want to be scouts, and some just want to write about anything for a living. They ask me for advice, so here are three bits of wisdom I can impart.

First, if you’re still in school, get involved in forensics. Learning and honing the ability to compellingly present both sides of an argument is an invaluable asset for a writer in any subject matter. Heck, it’s a great asset to have in any walk of life. I know, debate club is not sexy. It can be very tedious, and it requires a lot of reading and research…two things that I spend a great deal of time doing as a professional writer. I was blessed to get involved with an exceptional forensics coach (and Spanish teacher) in Mr. Mike Amstutz at Vermilion High School, and I carried that over into student government at Ohio University. The things I learned in those venues are a strong backbone to what I do in every piece I write.

The second one pertains to those with scouting ambitions in particular, but also has relevance to everyone. Don’t fake it. It’s awfully tempting to try and show you have an opinion on every prospect, every subject du jour. Resist the temptation. I watch an insane amount of football. This is my fulltime job. Every week I watch between 80 and 100 hours of football, and I’ve been versed on how to break down film and understand the intricacies of the game. With all that effort over the course of a 9 month draft season (I take May-August off completely as a draftnik) I wind up with a concrete opinion on maybe 150-200 players in a given year. I have conversable familiarity with probably double that many, but I wouldn’t risk my reputation on those.

If you try and present yourself as an authority on too many topics, those of us who really are authorities are going to call your bluff and/or lose respect for you. Trust me, I know. I’ve been there as an aspiring draftnik trying to get attention. One of the most liberating things I ever did was to acknowledge my ignorance on certain players. It might be a little embarrassing, but it shows you are not trying to be something you are not. Editors, and I am one of those at Detroit Lions Draft too, hate poseurs. You want to impress me with your knowledge, or the editors here at RealGM who are always looking for more writing talent? Try becoming well-versed on all the prospects from one or two specific schools (not Alabama) or one position group (not quarterbacks).

Third, inject personality into your work. Be enthusiastic but also don’t be afraid to be yourself. I’m always creating words with hyphenations, and I use reference points from both my personal life and the world outside the given subject matter. That’s who I am, it works for me. I tend to use a loquacious vocabulary, but I do that in real life too. I’ll never forget a fellow draft writer remarking to me “wow dude, you really talk like that?!” over some drinks during Senior Bowl week one time. At the time I wasn’t sure if it was an insult or a complement, but now I cherish that exchange.

If you have a point of distinction, embrace it. Maybe you’re a sarcastic cynic, or perhaps you have a penchant for dark comedy. One of the issues I see is that the words tell a story but don’t paint a picture or have a voice. Anyone can be clinical. Be unique. Embrace your inner self and practice, practice, practice. I write vulgar limericks and outlandish political commentary with zero intention of anyone else ever reading it just to challenge myself, to keep honing my voice. I’ve really enjoyed seeing one of my writers at DLD, Darren Page, develop a strong voice of his own. He always knew the Xs and Os but now he can create a narrative around them that really pops off the page. It’s really cool to see his personality come out. If you want to write for a living or even as a side hobby, show yours too.