{"id":23398,"date":"2025-10-30T08:15:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T19:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tab.co.nz\/punters\/?p=23398"},"modified":"2025-10-30T08:40:01","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T19:40:01","slug":"from-the-land-of-stars-and-stripes-week-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tab.co.nz\/punters\/2025\/10\/from-the-land-of-stars-and-stripes-week-8\/","title":{"rendered":"From The Land of Stars and Stripes | Week 8"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome to our weekly column where we look at all things NFL<\/a><\/strong> from our regular NFL tipster and Rugby League raconteur Nick Tedeschi. He will look at the good, the bad and the ugly of the NFL, holding back no punches.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expedited Review A Joke<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The use of expedited review in the NFL may be changing some clear and obvious calls but it is creating far more suspicion and unevenness and is becoming disturbingly similar to the NRL\u2019s use of The Bunker and its malicious invasion on officiating. The NFL had a perfectly workable challenge system. It was not perfect but the parameters were clear. Now coaches are unclear on when to challenge while some plays get changed immediately and others are just ignored. There was a clear offside in the Steelers-Packers game. Officials huddled. Nothing. Yet 100 other calls are changed without transparency. While the intentions of the change are positive, it has had a widely negative impact on the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We All Lose With Skattebo Injury<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sport needs its heroes and Cam Skattebo proved just that, a sensational discovery by a Giants franchise in desperate need of a hero. An all-heart player who quickly became one of the most beloved players in the NFL after only half of his rookie season, Skattebo sadly dislocated his ankle in a gruesome manner against division rivals Philadelphia. He won\u2019t play again this year and may never return the same player. Such is his respect that the notoriously harsh Philadelphia crowd gave him a standing ovation as he was carted off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ranking The Backup QBs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The most important position in sport is the quarterback position and the most popular player on a team – a bad one at least – is the backup QB. Seasons can swing on backup QBs though. Here are all 32 ranked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Could Start on Some Teams<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Mac Jones (SF)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Joe Flacco (Cin)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Jimmy Garoppolo (LAR)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Marcus Mariota (Was)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Jacoby Brissett (Ari)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Tyrod Taylor (NYJ)
    Borderline Competent<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Drew Lock (Sea)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Gardner Minshew (KC)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Kenny Pickett (LV)
    Old Timers That Have Their Moments<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. Kirk Cousins (Atl)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  11. Teddy Bridgewater (TB)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  12. Russell Wilson (NYG)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  13. Andy Dalton (Car)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  14. Mitch Trubisky (Buf)
    Statues That Can Throw<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  15. Davis Mills (Hou)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  16. Mason Rudolph (Pit)
    Journeyman Backups<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  17. Jarrett Stidham (Den)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  18. Kyle Allen (Det)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  19. Brandon Allen (Ten)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  20. Nick Mullens (Jax)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  21. Cooper Rush (Bal)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  22. Josh Dobbs (NE)
    High Draft Picks That Haven\u2019t Taken<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  23. Trey Lance (LAC)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  24. Malik Willis (GB)
    Unproven But Hopeful<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  25. Tyson Bagent (Chi)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  26. Joe Milton III (Dal)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  27. Tyler Shough (NO)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  28. Riley Leonard (Ind)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  29. Tanner McKee (Phi)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  30. Quinn Ewers (Mia)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  31. Max Brosmer (Min)
    Unproven And No Chance<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  32. Shedeur Sanders (Cle)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Conservative Mike Blows It Again<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Mike Tomlin is officially the most conservative coach in the NFL, going for it less on fourth-down than any other coach this season. While it may fit with the most conservative organisation in the NFL – the Steelers have had just three coaches since hiring Chuck Noll in 1969 – it does not fit the modern NFL. Analytics demand that teams go for it more often than not on fourth down. Booting four field goals against the Packers just isn\u2019t going to cut it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Week 8 Bad Beat Power Rankings<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    No sport lends itself to cruel beats more than American football. Here are the worst for Week 8:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2. Over 41.5 SF-Hou: <\/strong>The game sat on 38 points at three-quarter time but only a field goal was hit in the final quarter to miss the over by a \u00bd point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Cincinnati H2H: <\/strong>The Bengals were heavily favoured at home and led 38-23 with 10 minutes to go before capitulating against the winless Jets to hand New York a 39-38 win, their first of the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Punter Stat of the Week<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Former Steelers and Vikings punter Harry Newsome and former Lions and Seahawks punter Herman Weaver share the record for most punts blocked in NFL history with 14 apiece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Fun Fact #1<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The Dallas Cowboys have sold out every home game since 1990.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Fun Fact #2<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The Colts, Rams and Raiders are the three teams to win Super Bowls in different cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Fun Fact #3<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The Seahawks are the only team to have played in an AFC and NFC Championship game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Read It<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The gambling scandal that is sweeping the NBA right now is not foreign to other sports and certainly not to the NFL. In 1963, the biggest star in pro football was Green Bay running back and kicker Paul Hornung, the 1961 MVP and star of the team that won the previous two championships. Commissioner Pete Rozelle suspended him indefinitely for gambling on football games and associating with bettors. Detroit Lions defensive tackle – and future Webster star Alex Karras – was also suspended. Read all about the scandal from the Sports Illustrated article from 1963 here<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Watch It<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    On November 8, 1970, New Orleans Saints kicker Tom Dempsey booted a 63-yard field goal at Tulane Stadium, a kick that would not be matched for 28 years or bettered for 43. When Dempsey kicked it, he broke the previous record by seven yards. Amazingly, Dempsey was born without toes on his kicking foot. Watch this famous kick here<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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