After eight consecutive divot-filled summers of golf, I can relate to Giants kicker Younghoe Koo, who also took the ground early last night.
Commentators rushed to claim, incorrectly, that Koo, an eight-year veteran with over 400 kicks in the NFL and zero turf-kicks to speak of, tripped on the turf. That he stubbed his toe.
That’s not what happened, according to Koo, who said his refusal to kick was intentional. With most eyes trained on Koo’s foot, it was easy to miss the bobbled snap by holder Jamie Gillan, who was moving the ball as Koo went to kick.
“I was approaching the ball and … the ball kind of slipped out at the bottom so it was moving,” said Koo. “I wasn’t able to kick through the ball. The ball was moving when I was driving to it, so I just pulled up on it.”
Though the slight angle is actually what kickers prefer (Eagles kicker Jake Elliott breaks down the science of a field goal in this YouTube video), and the hold looks nearly identical to prior holds of Gillan’s, Koo lost confidence in the kick.
“Jamie did a good job of catching it and putting it back,” Koo said afterward, “but, at that point, it was too late.”
Unlike golf, an NFL kicker must hit the ball for it to be counted as a miss. So, on paper, Koo has yet to miss a field goal since joining the Giants, while the holder Gillan has a sack added to his resume; that’s some chess by Koo.
Read more takeaways from the Patriots’ (11-2) win over the Giants (2-11), their 10th straight victory this season.
Below: The Texans defense, Cowboys passing attack and other elite units, plus Jake Ciely joins for Week 14 fantasy prep.
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NFL’s best: Texans passing defense
I wouldn’t want to be Patrick Mahomes this Sunday. His Chiefs take on the Texans, and 6-6 Kansas City’s playoff odds are at stake; it drops to just 11 percent with a loss, per our Playoff Simulator.
The three worst quarterback groups in the NFL this season, when ranked by passer rating, are the Vikings (69.1), Browns (71.0) and anyone playing the Texans (74.2). Opposing passers throw one touchdown (12 total) for every interception (12), the league’s worst mark.
Quarterbacks also average a league-low of minus-0.10 EPA per dropback against the Texans. Yes, Houston turns every quarterback it faces into Tyler Shough, who averages -.10 EPA per dropback.
What makes Houston so good? A strong secondary, led by shutdown corner Derek Stingley Jr., blankets opposing receivers while its pass rush, led by Will Anderson Jr., collapses the pocket.
About 87 percent of opposing passes come from the pocket (second-most) and Houston has faced just 33 rushing attempts from quarterbacks (second-fewest).
Limiting QBs to the pocket allows Houston’s pass rush to tee off. Opposing passers have just 2.75 seconds per pass, second-lowest in the NFL, and are pressured by the Texans on 43 percent of dropbacks, also the league’s second-best mark.
If Houston maintains the league’s sharpest passing defense, it might just eliminate the Chiefs from the playoff hunt — sweet revenge after Kansas City sent it home last year. Maybe Andy Reid shouldn’t be so optimistic?
Best run defense: Browns
Few teams spend more time trailing than Cleveland, which is why the Browns’ defense has seen 329 rushing attempts — 13th most in the NFL. It’s certainly not because it’s easy.
The Browns defense limits runners to 3.7 yards per carry and a 31.5 success rate, the two lowest marks in the league. The Browns have forced five rushing fumbles, second most, and allow opposing runners to convert first downs at the league’s lowest rate (19.5 percent).
Cleveland’s defensive line crushes opposing lines, with runners averaging just 0.59 yards before contact per attempt — well below the league average of 1.40. It’s why the Browns also lead the league in tackles for a loss, with 94, and why you’ll want to sit any Titans running backs in Week 14.
Top passing offense: Cowboys
The Chiefs, Rams, Lions and Patriots are all having impressive seasons, but the Cowboys’ passing attack has single-handedly kept Dallas in games this season.
Quarterback Dak Prescott leads the league in passing yards per game (271.8) and completions (303), with his 69.3 completion rate the highest rate among quarterbacks with over 400 attempts. Prescott takes sacks at the second-lowest rate in the NFL (just 3.7 percent of dropbacks, 17 total) and has the league’s lowest percentage of bad throws (10).
Prescott skyrocketed up Jeff Howe’s QB Stock Report this week, and now faces the reeling Lions defense, who just allowed Jordan Love to throw for four touchdowns.
Top rushing offense: Bills
As a team, Buffalo leads the league with 1,868 total rushing yards. They are third in success rate, and can credit a combination of James Cook, who has a career-high 1,228, Josh Allen’s running prowess and an elite offensive line that gives Cook 2.23 yards before contact, second-best among running backs in the NFL.
Despite missing their top two tackles against the Steelers, Buffalo still hung 249 rush yards in Pittsburgh, while Cook’s ran for 100-plus yards for the seventh time this season. Buffalo also rarely loses yards on runs, despite facing a loaded box at the second-highest rate (the Seahawks, the only team to face more loaded boxes, rank 31st in runs for zero or negative yards. Buffalo ranks top 10).
That’s a bad omen for my Bengals, who specialize in missing tackles (three of the top four players in missed tackles hail from Cincinnati) and face Buffalo this week. Over to Jake Ciely for a fantasy nugget.
All In with Jake Ciely: RBs to stash
Seems like almost all hope is lost for some, while others prep for the stretch run. One of the few season-altering shifts left is a running back injury. Jacob asked how I would rank the handcuffs likely available in every league.
I target them purely by the strength of the offense they play in, since we can’t predict injuries. So while Giants RB Devin Singletary is worth an add after Tyrone Tracy was carted off with a concussion, here’s how I’d rank other widely available, handcuff running backs.
Ray Davis, Bills
Tank Bigsby, Eagles
Ollie Gordon, Dolphins
Isaiah Davis, Jets
Raheem Mostert, Raiders
If every lead option got hurt, you could argue a more reliable workload for Davis. However, that’s like shopping in the discount bin and complementing the shrink wrap being completely intact.
My Week 14 waiver adds are live, with Kyle Monangai of the Bears my top running back add and Buccaneers receiver Chris Godwin the top add at his position, given that he was separating well, showed burst and was again Baker Mayfield’s No. 1 option.
Extra Points
Remember Laveranues Coles? The former Jets receiver made $42 million in his career, yet at age 47 chose to become a policeman in Jacksonville, Fla. Dan Pompei’s story explains how it starts with a difficult upbringing.
Staying healthy. It seems a tall task for Jaxson Dart, as the Giants rookie QB again absorbed unnecessary (and brutal) hits against the Patriots. Charlotte Carroll explores what the next regime needs to fix.
Yesterday’s most-clicked: Mike Sando’s Pick Six column.
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