Studs & Duds in Chicago

Pokerbrat2000

Opinions are like A-holes, we all have one.
Joined
Oct 30, 2012
Messages
33,644
Reaction score
8,894
Location
Madison, WI
The jet sweeps just need to stop.
YES!

Especially in the red zone, when the defense is closer to the LOS and not having to defend as much turf. That reverse to Reed, in that situation, against THAT defense, was one of the stupidest calls that I have seen MLF make in awhile.
 

tynimiller

Cheesehead
Joined
May 2, 2012
Messages
14,951
Reaction score
5,582
I respectfully disagree. I know you mean this as a compliment though, in a backwards type way. Let me show you why this game was not usual if I may?

In games that Watson has been targeted (8 contests in ‘24) he averaged 3.85 targets per game. Yesterday he had 4 targets, so, in fact, he was not targeted more than normal. However he caught 4/4 and it’s only the 2nd game in 2024 (Tennessee 2/2) where Watson was 100% reception rate. Here it was on a bigger sample though as maybe you suggested. So this is his best performance in 2024 by a mile.

They weren’t just ordinary either. A couple of catches he made were nothing short of fantastic, like highlight reel stuff. Then to top it off he set his career high in yardage, which is a really important mark for a WR. We (fans) beat him up when he’s down, me included. I just want to make sure he’s properly recognized. Without Christian Watson yesterday elevating his game?
we lose this one.

What I loved was in the past he would kinda more normal 50/50 go for the snag. Often Defenders would steal it away. This was different. He just wasn’t going to be stopped on Sunday. Double coverage and all he was playing peak ball.

Nah, what I'm getting at is folks are saying he was different today - he really wasn't other than making some big plays. Folks have been statline watching far too much and not just watching him isolated in All22 film. Watson is a massive team mentality type guy and truthfully there have been times it seems we've been funneling offense almost forcing it to Reed and there for a while wicks even.

Sure he caught all his targets, but catch % purely also doesn't factor in the throw, merely the target - had he dropped or not caught is the better way of wording that bomb down right side or the one he dove on - I'd argue his game from a coach's perspective of the type of play you got wouldn't have changed much at all. BUT many would view his line as being 4 targets 2 catches and only like 50 yards as an eh day....missing the day he had entirely IMO.
 
Joined
Aug 16, 2014
Messages
15,883
Reaction score
6,812
We gotta get Wicks back to normal.
If he can elevate his game down the stretch? We’d have Reed, Watson, Doubs, Kraft and now Jacobs getting more involved in the Passing game. With Wicks redeeming himself we could get back to what we all expected coming into 2024.
Yea we gotta finish better. But we have nit played our best game at all in 2024. We got a game coming up that’s going to light someone’s Asz on fire
 

tynimiller

Cheesehead
Joined
May 2, 2012
Messages
14,951
Reaction score
5,582
We gotta get Wicks back to normal.
If he can elevate his game down the stretch? We’d have Reed, Watson, Doubs, Kraft and now Jacobs getting more involved in the Passing game. With Wicks redeeming himself we could get back to what we all expected coming into 2024.
Yea we gotta finish better. But we have nit played our best game at all in 2024. We got a game coming up that’s going to light someone’s Asz on fire

Right now this team's ceiling and floor of what could show up on Sundays has quite the gap between them. That's what makes the Lions so so scary...they're floor and ceiling is not that crazy far apart this year.

I still argue our ceiling can can hang with ANYONE...but dangit if we also have proven fully capable of being mid-tier most days.
 
Joined
Aug 16, 2014
Messages
15,883
Reaction score
6,812
- I'd argue his game from a coach's perspective of the type of play you got wouldn't have changed much at all. BUT many would view his line as being 4 targets 2 catches and only like 50 yards as an eh day....missing the day he had entirely IMO.
oh I think I gotcha. I know I never just look at one aspect I think that would be pretty naive or you’d have to be a complete idiot! lol
I totally agree with that full impact part. That said, these “stat-line” types of games are huge. His impact is certainly felt beyond a raw reception stat line. This reemphasized that he’s a big play machine. I mean you look at that game. That last drive he had a 60 yard play and nothing easy about it. Yet he had 90 yards on the other 3 plays. He just refreshed some DC’s worst fears.
Ignore Watson = Ignite Watson

Defenses can’t allow a player to put up 37.5 yards a play unless that D wants a short career.
 
Last edited:
Top