$.01-- The new emphasis on protecting the quarterback in even more restrictive ways is quickly coming to be known as the “Clay Matthews rule.” The Green Bay Packers linebacker was flagged for his third roughing the passer infraction in as many games for a hit on Washington QB Alex Smith that would not have been a penalty in prior years. 

Here’s the hit and the NFL’s official explanation of why it’s a penalty:

Former NFL safety Matt Bowen nicely summed up the frustration from a defensive standpoint. Bowen (one of the best in the business) did it with a lot fewer curse words than most in reacting to the penalties.

There is a certain amount of irony that the rule designed in large part because of how Aaron Rodgers got his collarbone broken -- twice -- is coming back to bite the Packers. This week’s foul is more by-the-book a violation than last week’s egregious wussification of football. Matthews did indeed land with most of his body weight on Smith. This one looks more like the examples we were shown during training camp when the NFL officiating crews made presentations to teams (I caught referee Brad Allen’s group in Detroit). 

The blowback on these new rules and Matthews’ penalties needs to be taken seriously by the NFL. League rules are already essentially eliminating the kick return, something many fans consider the most exciting play to watch in person. Now the quarterbacks are getting babied from hits which are not only perfectly legal anywhere else on the field but encouraged by the league itself in the name of safety. That’s a very dangerous line of hypocrisy and duplicity they’re attempting to straddle. And Roger Goodell & Co. are doing it poorly. Imagine that...

$.02-- The losing streak is finally over in Cleveland, thanks to Baker Mayfield. The No. 1 overall pick rallied the Browns to their first victory since Christmas Eve of 2016 with a spectacularly energetic showing in relief of Tyrod Taylor. 

When Mayfield entered the game after Taylor suffered a brain injury just before halftime, the Browns looked very much like the collection of lifeless moribund ineptitude that has permeated the Hue Jackson coaching era. Mayfield immediately electrified the team, as well as the anxious home crowd at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Simply put, Mayfield was everything the Browns faithful, from long-suffering fans to GM John Dorsey, hoped he’d be. Baker rallied Cleveland to the 21-17 comeback win over fellow rookie Sam Darnold and the New York Jets in the highest-rated Thursday night game in four seasons.

Mayfield completed 17 of his 23 passes. Three others were dropped, including a picture-perfect strike to Jarvis Landry which flashed Mayfield’s arm strength. But it was the style in which he succeeded after Taylor had miserably failed to do much of anything positive which really captivated everyone watching. His ability to quickly identify and attack the favorable matchup with legit zip, pinpoint accuracy and the ability to alter arm angles called to mind a hybrid of Drew Brees and Matthew Stafford. 

Cleveland’s defense deserves credit, too. Myles Garrett bagged two more sacks and the defense forced three more takeaways, increasing the total to a league-leading 11 after three games. Last year they forced a total of 13. At 1-1-1 the Browns are a good kicker away from being 3-0 and appear to have hit with several high draft picks over the last two years. Even if they falter in the race to escape the AFC North cellar, they’re proving to be a fun young team with a very bright future.

$.03-- Cleveland’s win snapped the longest winless streak in the league. Inheriting that unfortunate title was the Houston Texans and coach Bill O’Brien. Houston had dropped eight games in a row since beating the Arizona Cardinals in Week 11 last year when Tom Savage sucked less than Blaine Gabbert in the battle of bad backup QBs. 

O’Brien’s Texans kept the streak growing with a mistake-filled 27-22 loss at home to the previously winless New York Giants. Houston’s defense was hapless in trying to stop Eli Manning, allowing the Giants passing offense to complete 25 of 29 attempts. That’s a record in completion percentage and efficiency for Manning, who has been in the NFL since Deshaun Watson was in 5th grade. Houston might have the worst collection of cornerbacks in the league. 

Watson himself threw for 385 yards and 2 TDs. He also led the Texans in rushing, which spotlights the other glaring hole in Houston: the offensive line. With Seantrel Henderson out for the year with his broken ankle, the tackle tandem is Julien Davenport and Martinas Rankin. Watson would be forgiven for understandably catching the shotgun snap and simply calling to the ground. There were times in this game where he didn’t even have time for that.

Earlier in the week, O’Brien leapt to the top of the odds to be the first coach fired. That was before Hue Jackson’s Browns finally won. Sunday’s outcome won’t help O’Brien, who does not have enough goodwill and cache with the Houston media to get much of a break in the court of public opinion. There were several “Fire O’Brien” signs scattered about NRG Stadium for owner Bob McNair to see. Those signs are not going anywhere for the AFC’s worst team thus far. 

$.04-- Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are in the process of rewriting the NFL record book. The second-year wunderkind threw for 314 yards and 3 TDs to keep the Chiefs undefeated, whipping visiting San Francisco 38-27. 

Mahomes threw his third TD pass of the afternoon just before halftime, hitting Sammy Watkins on a catch-and-run where the wideout broke two tackles. That was Mahomes’ 13th TD on the season, breaking the record for most TD passes through 3 games he shared with Peyton Manning. Mahomes only needed 10 quarters. 

The Kansas City offense is ridiculously fun to watch...until it isn’t. Like a teenage boy given the keys to his uncle’s sweet 1977 Pontiac Firebird with the t-tops and 6.6 liter engine, it’s prone to running out of gas violently and unexpectedly. After the 35-point first half eruption, a stanza in which they racked up 23 first downs, they managed just a field goal in four possessions in the second half. The same thing happened last week against Pittsburgh, where they also allowed a Steelers rally to make the game interesting.

Unfortunately for the 49ers, the comeback abruptly ended when QB Jimmy Garoppolo left with a late injury. On a play where he lowered his shoulder to grind for an extra yard, Handsome Jimmy G’s left knee buckled as he braced for contact. Initial reports are he’s out for the year with a torn ACL, a massive blow for one of the league’s highest-paid players and a franchise heavily reliant upon him to rebuild hope. 

$.05-- On Sunday mornings I co-host a radio show here in Grand Rapids on ESPN 96.1. We primarily talk about the Detroit Lions, and our show had a bomb dropped on it just after we started at 10 AM. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Lions and New England Patriots had “nearly completed” a blockbuster trade which would have sent Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski to Detroit back in draft season. Gronk threatened to retire rather than playing anywhere but New England, though Schefter’s clarification on that point came too late to spare Detroit about 45 minutes of being on the wrong end of the Nelson (from the Simpsons) “Ha-ha” meme. 

When the two teams met in Ford Field on Sunday Night Football, nobody was laughing at Detroit anymore. The winless Lions dominated the visiting Patriots, 26-10. Detroit’s heretofore dismal defense held Tom Brady, Gronk and 9 guys apparently plucked from a random sidewalk to just 209 total yards and 12 first downs. 

This is what the Lions had in mind when they hired Matt Patricia away from the Patriots to be the head coach. His defense was phenomenal. Kerryon Johnson broke the 70-game string of no 100-yard rushers in just his third game in the NFL. Matthew Stafford was sharper than he had been in the ugly opening losses, with some help from Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones. 

Now both teams are 1-2 and suddenly fates are changed. A Lions fan base teetering between anger and apathy as late as 8 p.m. Sunday night is rejuvenated, while a cocksure Patriots nation is suddenly wondering if maybe this is the year it all comes crashing down. 

$.06-- Several member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame have decided to boycott future induction ceremonies until the league increases the health insurance and pension benefits to former players. A full 22 HOFers initially signed the letter, posted by legendary RB Eric Dickerson on his Twitter page.

There was some confusion over what actions the HOFers were prepared to take, which led to Jerry Rice and Kurt Warner withdrawing their names from the letter. Despite that, Dickerson remains the point person for battling the NFL for something that has been an issue for players who preceded him and continues to be an embarrassing pittance compared to what could be done. 

Here’s hoping the NFLPA is listening to the players. For too long the players’ representation in collective bargaining negotiations has given away future benefits for present cash. The NFL is certainly complicit in the process too, but the players need to take a real stand for their post-football lives. 

$.07-- I took advantage of an early (for them) start by Oregon to check out Ducks QB Justin Herbert, who could be the first QB selected in next April's draft. It was my first time really focusing on him this season.

There is a lot to like with Herbert, a 6-6/230-pound (if you trust the listing) junior who most NFL folks believe is definitely declaring. He’s got the prototypical size as a pocket passer, but he’s also got mobility and quickness afoot for a taller guy. His run up the left sideline showed the long-striding wheels that will entice teams looking for a dual threat.

Two things I really liked from Herbert as a passer: his play-action fakes and his touch on outside throws. Both are NFL-ready. As an anticipatory thrower, Herbert has no issues with placement or velocity. When he can’t hit the first or second read, the accuracy does fall off. He might still complete it, but he appears to shorten his stride and put more shoulder into the throw and the placement isn’t as great. That’s not uncommon for taller QBs but it’s still something I’d like to see him work on. Obviously he’s not wild: Herbert completed 23 of his first 25 passes. It’s the difference between hitting his WR on a shallow crosser at full stride near the chest instead of making him decelerate a touch and reach down to snag it on his hip.

The 3rd quarter fumble and ensuing return for TD by Stanford was not his fault; the snap sailed over his head. Snap accuracy was an issue all evening and it did seem to rattle Herbert a bit. I like how he handled pressure from Stanford’s front. And anyone trying to pin the heartbreaking loss on Herbert clearly did not watch the game. Amazing comeback by Stanford, which finally figured out how to utilize its significant size advantage against Oregon’s defense.

$.08--NFL Quickies

--Unintentionally giving short shrift to what was the best game of the early Sunday slate, with Drew Brees and New Orleans sneaking past Atlanta in overtime, 43-37. After eight lead changes and an overturned TD pass to Alvin Kamara one play earlier, Brees plunged into the end zone on the first drive of the extra session. Kamara caught 15 passes, Michael Thomas 10 for the victors.

--This might be the most Matt Ryan stat ever…

--I didn’t see one snap of the game, but Buffalo going into Minnesota and stomping the Vikings 27-6 is perhaps the most unexpected outcome of the young season. Buffalo came to Minnesota winless and largely witless, and down starting RB Lesean McCoy. The Vikings were prominent in the argument for the NFL’s best team thru two weeks. Any Given Sunday indeed. Josh Allen gets his first NFL victory in the stunner. 

--Raise your hand if you had Miami at 3-0 and in first place in the AFC East. They haven’t exactly played murderer’s row thus far, but to their credit the Dolphins keep winning. Their Week 4 matchup with New England is a lot more interesting than it looked in August. 

--At the end of the Colts’ loss to Philadelphia, Indianapolis pulled Andrew Luck in favor of Jacoby Brissett to throw the Hail Mary. They were 54 yards away from the end zone. Luck threw the ball 4 times but managed just 164 yards passing, a paltry 4.1 yards per attempt. I didn’t see a great deal of this game, probably 10-12 of Luck’s attempts, but it’s interesting they pulled him given the context of his shoulder injury that wiped out last year. 

--Impressive Broncos rookie RB Phillip Lindsay got ejected for this...

I see more hostility than that ignored in my daughter’s 4th grade soccer league. No penalty for the other players diving onto the pile or striking Lindsay, even inadvertently?

--Dallas is 1-2 after falling to previously winless and largely lifeless Seattle. Dak Prescott continues to struggle at QB for the Cowboys, getting little help from his supporting cast too. His forced throw into coverage which was deflected by two different Seahawks before disgruntled safety Earl Thomas picked it off was hard to watch. So was Thomas’ reaction, bowing cavalierly at the Dallas bench. He earned the taunting penalty for mocking the team widely reported to be incredibly interested in trading for him.

$.09--College/Draft quickies

--Congrats to Old Dominion. The Monarchs stunned No. 13 Virginia Tech, 49-35, in Norfolk behind a backup QB. ODU entered the game winless, notably getting spanked 52-10 by Liberty in their opener. Yet somehow the Hokies could not stop backup QB Blake Larussa, who threw for 495 yards and 4 TDs. Virginia Tech allowed Florida State to score only a single field goal three weeks ago. Easily the biggest win in program history for ODU, a school that didn’t even play football before 2009.

--Buffalo is 4-0 after going on the road and rolling B1G doormat Rutgers, 42-13. Quarterback Tyree Jackson played well, but this romp did demonstrate some of why he’s going to be a tough sell for some NFL evaluators. The giant (6-7/245) Bulls redshirt junior completed just half of his 28 passes. His arm strength is off the charts and he can generate easy throwing power even while rolling to his left, but the ball placement can be erratic and lacking proper touch. He’s really not that different from the QB of the professional team in Buffalo, just without the considerable hype or open-field running.

--Notre Dame changed quarterbacks from Brandon Wimbush to Ian Book in the impressive 56-27 romp over Wake Forest. Book is everything that Wimbush is not: poised, accurate and patient. The Demon Deacons are not great, but the ease with which Book picked them apart indicates the Fighting Irish could be an undefeated handful going forward...if they can beat Stanford next week. That’s the only remaining currently ranked team on their schedule.

--I don’t do fast food often, but I do prefer Wendy’s. It doesn’t hurt that their social media account is wickedly sharp. This was their tweet after Nebraska got shellacked 56-10 (it wasn’t nearly that close) at Michigan:

I think I want a Frosty. And like a true Clevelander, I’ll dip my fries in it... 

$.10-- Ladies, your halftime Super Bowl LIII entertainment will be Maroon 5. If ever there was an acquiescence that the Super Bowl is not really for football fans, having Maroon 5 play at halftime is just that... 

...And that’s perfectly fine. One of the reasons the Super Bowl is the most-watched television production every year is because it pulls in nontraditional football viewers. People like my mother-in-law, my 10-year-old daughter and my gym friend Tina, whose one question she’s ever asked me about my job was “do you get to see players naked in the locker room” with encouraging eyes. That’s who the Super Bowl halftime show is all about. 

There might not be a better act to cater to those folks than Maroon 5. Danceable pop music always plays well, and all of their collaborations with other artists makes it an easy option to feature guests on the massive stage, ones who can tie in hip-hop and country. Somehow. 

Is it what I wanted? No. Let’s just say Maroon 5 is not my musical type. With the game in Atlanta, I was hoping for local representation from Collective Soul or Mastodon. I would accept Outkast or Ludacris despite neither being more than background annoyance music at clubs where I’d rather not be. Then again I wanted Metallica in San Francisco and Coheed & Cambria in New York. Shabutie. But the game’s not for me or football fans or those who like complete albums not written in 5 minutes on a piano with two keys. Maroon 5 is for those folks, and we can tolerate their 15 minutes of inoffensive noise if they can tolerate the 60 minutes of football with us.