
NFL 2019: ICY HOT TD Week 4
(originally written 9/30/19)
What the hell is NFL ICY HOT TD, anyway? I'll tell you—ICY HOT TD = In Case You Had Other Things To Do.
While some of us are able to watch NFL football all Sunday long and follow it up with postgame analysis/highlight shows well into the night...many of us can't. I aim to bring those fans bits of trivia, data, and news they likely missed on Game Day.
Such as:
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On Thursday Night Football, The Packers fell a touchdown short to the visiting Eagles, 34-27. That touchdown could well have come from WR Davante Adams, who put up a (six-year) career-high 180 receiving yards but injured his toe in the 4Q as Green Bay attempted to mount a rally.
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In New England's 16-10 win over host Buffalo, the Patriots finally allowed an offensive TD in 2019 when Bills QB Josh Allen punched in a 1-yarder. The Pats earned the win though Tom Brady's QBR of 45.9 was his lowest since 2006; it was also the first time he threw 0 TD's and at least one pick in a victory since 12/3/17...also at Buffalo.
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For the Bills, RB Frank Gore eclipsed the 15,000-rush yard milestone, joining Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton and Barry Sanders.
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The Chiefs improved to 4-0 with a 34-30 road win over the Lions. The teams combined to lose five fumbles, most in the NFL since 2014. Check out Bashaud Breeland's long fumble return for KC:
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Oakland won in Indianapolis (31-24) for the first time since 2001. Granted, that only spanned two other games but still.
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Denver fell to 0-4 with a last-second, 26-24 home loss vs. the Jags. It marked the first time the Broncos blew a 14-point lead at home and lost since 2006.
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Giants 24, visiting Redskins 3. Just know the names (and numbers) Ed Baker (1972, 10) David Woodley (1980, 15) and current Redskin Dwayne Haskins (2019, 17). They're the NFL record holders for fewest past attempts to throw three picks in their first career game. Baker never received a second chance, by the way.
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In Chicago's 16-6 home win over Minnesota, Bears DE Khalil Mack became the first with four sacks and fumbles forced in his team's first four games. The Vikings scored late to avoid their first shutout loss since 11/11/07 vs. Green Bay.
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Though Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald moved into 2nd place on the all-time receptions list, his team fell to the visiting Seahawks 27-10.
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For the first time ever, an NFL game ended with a 40-25 final, with the Browns outlasting the Ravens. It didn't come without a fisticuff or two, however:
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The Chargers went into Miami and won (30-10) for the first time since a 1982 playoff game; they were 0-8 in between. Miami's 163-26 season point differential is the NFL's four-game worst since at least 1940.
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Loads of milestones/records from Tampa Bay's 55-40 victory over the Rams. First, no NFL game had ever ended in a 55-40 score before. Second, it was a Tampa Bay all-time high for points (48 had been the record). Third, the 55 points were the most ever vs. a reigning Super Bowl team as well as a 3-0 team.
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More from Bucs/Rams: Tampa scored a franchise-record 28 points off Rams turnovers. Rams QB Jared Goff threw for 517 yards, tied for the 8th-most ever and the league's most since Tom Brady's 517 in 2011. Goff's 68 attempts tied for the third-most ever (Drew Bledsoe's 70 in 1994 is the record; Vinny Testaverde threw 69 times in 2000).
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Bucs LB Shaq Barrett is now tied with four others for the all-time most sacks through four games (nine). He is the first to do so with a pick mixed in.
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On Sunday Night Football, the Brees-less Saints defeated visiting Dallas 12-10. It was the first time since 1998 NO won without a TD (they beat Tampa 9-3 on 10/25). It was only the third time in Cowboys history that they scored at least one TD, allowed zero TD, and lost. Both other instances came in 2002.
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On Monday Night Football, the host Steelers avoided their second 0-4 start (2013) since the merger by destroying Cincy 27-3. Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin's all-time MNF win percentage (.875, 14-2) ranks second to John Madden (.885, 11-1-1).
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With Tennessee and Carolina picking up wins at Atlanta and Houston, respectively, road teams went 11-4 overall this week. (The 49ers and Jets enjoyed bye weeks.)
Sources: NFL Primetime, ESPN.com, ProFootballTalk.com, YouTube.com, ProFootballReference.com, USAToday.com and various TV and radio broadcasts