It Was Bound To Happen. "Greatest Duo" Gets Hurt.

 By John Turney 

In late August, the NFL, among others, posted a meme on X asking whether the Myles Garrett–Aaron Donald pairing could be the best defensive duo ever.

We called the question ridiculous in an August 31 post. The inevitable arrived quickly. Both got hurt in the season's first month. 

Garrett first. He carried a nagging knee into the season, aggravated it in the Week 1 opener in Melbourne, and has not been right since. Donald did not play that game. In Week 3, Donald injured his back and will miss at least this week's game against the Eagles.

We like both of these players as much as anyone. The preseason hype was still over the top. We suggested letting them play a full season together before anyone judged whether they were the greatest single-season duo. They have not yet shared a healthy afternoon.

We'll check back in a few weeks, in case the next meme asks whether this is the greatest comeback by an injured duo in a season, ever.

Play the games. See what happens after. No one knows the future, and no one can predict much of anything—least of all whether someone will be the greatest anything.

TUESDAY TIDBITS: "We'll win that one for the title"

By TJ Troup  

This past Sunday was chock-full of close, hard-fought, exciting games. We can all hope this continues so 2026 can be one helluva season for all of us. Every statistic in football is meaningful, yet some are more important/significant than others. 

Forty years ago it was first communicated by Steve Sabol, sharing the win percentage when a team returns an interception for a touchdown. All these years later and when a player returns a "pick" his team wins about 80% of the time. That stat was probably not going through Kain Medrano's mind as he dashed 50 yards to seal the victory for the 'Skins.... oops! 

Kain Medrano

Commanders in their win over the defending SB champions. Allan Malamud was an insightful, superb writer whose column "Notes on a Scorecard" was must-reading in the early '90s, and though cannot compare (nor am I trying to), today's column might seem similar? Most folks believe the Chargers have a strong team and their defense Sunday recorded 4 sacks and 5 takeaways, and LOST! You won't see that happen very often this year. 

Ok, folks what team has surprised you the most this year and why? October 4th, 1964 the Patriots are in Denver before 15,485 for a dominating 39-10 win over the Broncos. AFL All-Star Gino Cappellletti sets a pro football record as he kicks 6 field goals in 6 attempts in one game. Cappy's six field goals are in the first three quarters of the game as Boston builds a 25-0 lead. 

The punishing Patriots defense will allow Denver only 53 yards rushing, and averages just 82 yards a game all season. Boston bruiser Larry Eisenhauer leads a pass rush that records 8 sacks. In their last 24 games, the Patriots have had just one 100-yard rusher, but today halfback J.D. Garrett pounds out 121 yards on 12 carries to key the offense. The Patriots' highlight film of '64 Bob Gallagher states that Cappelletti is "ever dependable," and after four weeks Cappy was on pace to attempt 70 field goals! 

Gino Cappelletti

Later in the season at Buffalo, the Pats beat Buffalo 36-28. Rookie Oliver Dobbins was beaten easily by Cappy for the final touchdown in the victory(his 3rd of the game). Babe Parilli is quoted after the game "It's going to go down to the final day of the race when the Bills come to play us at Boston, and we'll win that one for the title". 

We all know that the Bills claimed their first outright division title on that artic afternoon 24-14, yet boy oh boy what a season for Cappelletti by scoring 155 points in fourteen games. 

Today begins the baseball playoffs, and sure wish had Malamud to share his thoughts on the White Sox series against the Astros, especially since the last White Sox World Series Title came at the expense of Houston. Enjoy the games!

One-Two Punch Kayos Green Bay in Home Opener

By Eric Goska

The Packers were dealt a one-two punch Thursday night unlike any they had absorbed in more than a century of playing professional football.

So effective was the combination that it ranks among the most productive in NFL history.

The Atlanta Falcons dominated Green Bay on the ground and through the air in administering a 35-14 beatdown at Lambeau Field. Not only did the victory halt the Packers string of successful home openers at 13, it left the Green and Gold with far more questions than answers.

Top of the list: How to tighten a defense that hemorrhaged 498 yards. Also: How to ensure two players – no matter how talented – don’t account for 80 percent of that total.

Bijan Robinson pounded out 194 yards rushing on 29 carries. Drake London soared for 194 yards on nine receptions.

The two supplied 16 of Atlanta’s 25 first downs. They accounted for 11 of the Falcons’ 13 offensive plays of 10-plus yards.

Robinson ripped off a 55-yard run on the Falcons’ first drive to six points. London snagged passes of 68 and 40 yards on consecutive advances to set up Atlanta’s final two touchdowns.

Mr. Robinson averaged 6.7 yards a carry. Mr. London averaged 21.6 yards a catch.

The tandem earned those titles of respect due to their superlative performances.

Over the years, of course, Green Bay has helped many backs extract 150 or more yards rushing (51 instances) at its expense. It has enabled many wideouts to secure 150 or more receiving yards (54 occurences).

What the club has never done is dole out 400 scrimmage yards to two players in the same game. Robinson (213) and London (194) commandeered 407.

London, selected eighth overall in the 2022 draft by Atlanta, and Robinson, taken in the same spot a year later by the team, have played in 48 regular-season games together. In 18 of those, they combined for more than 200 yards from scrimmage.

Prior to Thursday, they had twice accumulated more than 300. Their best effort had been a 396-yard outing in a 24-14 takedown of Buffalo last season.

The Packers, generous to a fault, allowed the duo to crack 400. In doing so, Green Bay joins seven other teams – Oilers (1963), Giants (1965), Colts (1972), Dolphins (1976), Lions (2007), Raiders (2015) and Eagles (2018) – to have permitted such shenanigans and it, like the others, paid the price with a loss.

This comes with one proviso that I neglected to mention in my original post. In reaching 400, each player must have contributed at least 175 yards to the cause; that is, one player did not supply a disproportionate amount of the total. Essentially, both athletes were equal in what they brought to the one-two punch.

Extra Point

The Packers did not rush once in the fourth quarter, opting instead to pass on all 22 of their offensive plays in the final 15 minutes. Since 1953, Green Bay is 1-14 in regular-season games in which it completely abandons the running game after 45 minutes of play.

The 400 Club
The eight times two teammates accounted for 400 or more yards from scrimmage in one regular-season game in NFL history. Each player must have contributed at least 175 yards to the cause. (list generated using Stathead at Pro-Football-Reference)

Yds   Tandem                                                                         Team              Date
531   Antonio Brown (306)-DeAngelo Williams (225)       Steelers         Nov. 8, 2015
481   Art Powell (247)-Clem Daniels (234)                           Raiders          Dec. 22, 1963
442   Kevin Curtis (221)-Brian Westbrook (221)                 Eagles            Sept. 23, 2007
414   Ernie Green (222)-Jim Brown (192)                             Browns          Nov. 14, 1965
410   Ron Jessie (220)-Lawrence McCutcheon (190)         Rams              Oct. 3, 1976
409   Amari Cooper (217)-Ezekiel Elliott (192)                    Cowboys       Dec. 9, 2018
407   Bijan Robinson (213)-Drake London (194)                Falcons          Sept. 24, 2026
401   Rich Caster (204)-Eddie Bell (197)                               Jets                Sept. 24, 1972

Marshall Faulk Number, Soon Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs Qualify

 By John Turney

Credit: Tristar Cards

Back in the 1990s, STATS, Inc., now STATS Perform, introduced a Roger Craig "number" and in later volumes of their publications, changed it to the "Marshall Faulk Number," which was the harmonic mean of rushing yards and receiving yards in the same season. To score high one must do well in both categories so unlike a mean, a large average yards per game is not sufficient because it can be leveled. 

We expanded it to go by games played, since old-school guys like Chuck Foreman and Lydell Mitchell, among others, would be on the list since they played mostly in 14-game seasons. We chose a minimum of 60 games rather arbitrarily or maybe to allow Billy Sims to be included on our list. That would be admitted to.

Later this season, barring injury, Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs will reach 60 games played and will make our list. And they rank high. They are the Roger Craig and Marshall Faulk of today (along with all-time leader Christian McCaffrey.

Note that De'Von Achane and Breece Hall could also rank in the top 25 if they reach 60; Hall almost certainly will. Achane needs to play 14 of the next 15 games. We'll see on that one.

Here we are currently, allowing actives who may make 60 by end of season. Bijan looking strong.

Brock Purdy—First in Passer Rating, or Will Be Soon

 By John Turney

Back in the day, if you wanted to know who the “all-time leading passer” was, you reached for paperback record books like the ones above. The answer changed with the book—and with the system.

Before 1973, the NFL crowned its passing leaders with a moving target: yards one era, completion percentage the next, then various point and inverse-ranking schemes that compared a passer only to the men who threw that same season. When the league adopted the Pro Football Hall of Fame formula in 1973—the four-category scale Don Smith (Hall of Fame), Seymour Siwoff, and Don Weiss (NFL) built against a 1960–70 performance standard—the names at the top shifted because the method itself had changed.

That formula has its well-known limits. It rates the pass, not the quarterback. It ignores sacks, rushing, and era. But it has been the same formula since 1973. The intent was stability: a fixed standard instead of a yearly pile of category rankings that reshuffled every time the rest of the league improved.

The formula had many critics (rewards dink-and-dunk passers), and some semi-fans. Steve Young once said, "It's hard to do well in those categories. It's hard to throw touchdowns and to not throw interceptions." Both views have merit..

Be that as it may, we will likely have a new leader in about a month.. Current leader, Lamar, at the oment sits at the top with a 102.2 rating. Aaron Rodgers is slightly behind him. But when Brock Purdy reaches 1,500 pass attempts (he is 91 short), he will be number one with a rating around 104, barring injury and him throwing a mess of interceptions.

So at 26, he will be number one. 

Chart by PFR, with Purdy added by us

Is 1,500 pass attempts to sit atop a list like this given how many passes are thrown these days? Perhaps not, but that is what we have. And after all, Ken Anderson was just 27 when he surpassed Len Dawson to become the official all-time NFL passing leader. We say official because the NFL did not allow AAFC numbers in their NFL lists, but the Pro Football Hall of Fame did. After the 1983 season joe Montana made that problem moot since he ended that season with a 90.0 rating, about 3.5 "rating points" ahead of Otto Graham who'd been the Hall's number once since the system started. And Montana was 27, same as Ken Anderson.

Purdy, because of real time, will get the record, as we mentioned at 26, but he will be 27 when the season ends, and when next year's Official NFL Record & Fact Book is published, that will be his age. He will be the third 49ers quarterback (Montana and Young) to be first on the list as well.

This matters less and less, but in the 1970s at a young age`, it was fun getting those paperbacks and  seeing in print the new leader is passing. Stuff of great memories.

Von Miller—Late Career Slide?

 By John Turney 

Von Miller

Statistics usually don't tell the whole story, especially in football. Many times a player might have statistics that are not the norm for him, but there are reasonable explanations for it. In terms of a pass rusher, he might be getting extra blocking, or the offense running plays to help neutralize a player's skills.

However, with Von Miller, it seems his statistics as of late are telling the story. And it is backed up by watching him play, the old 'eye test,' as it were. The story is he's one of those players who is having a late-career slide.

In his years in Denver, and even the half-year in Los Angeles, he was as good a 3-4 OLB as there ever was not named Lawrence Taylor. He was a joy to watch; his speed his "ghost move", a move Miller where he would show the long-arm or stab first, drawing the tackle into a punch or an early set, then drop underneath the hands and vanish around the corner. The "now you see me, now you don’t" line he used while demonstrating it, plus the specific combination of fake and dip, is the version that caught on around the NFL, the move he is the father of.

But that was then. This is now. Today, the once super-elite edge rusher is average, if that, if the last two games as a Dallas Cowboy are any indication. However, and this is key, that is so far. There are fifteen games left and who knows; he may end up with a double-digit sack total and the Cowboys get into the playoffs and Miller is part of a defense that can help make a run for a title. 

That he's done before, once with the Broncos and once with the Rams. 

This is a guy who Pro Football Focus (PFF)  graded with an average grade of just under 90 from 2011 through 2022 when he was a starting All-Pro and about 67 since, when he's been a designated pass rusher.

Again, breaking down PFF and also Football Outsiders (FO) independent totals of QB pressures (combination of sacks, hits and hurries), the numbers tell the story

2011–2022 (11 seasons, excluding 2020 missed year)

PFF  average: 68

FO  average: 53

2023–2026 (3 full seasons)

PFF  average: 31

FO  average: 31

However, let's be fair: Miller is 37 and was always a speed/technique rusher. He was a guy who was timed in the 4.5 forty range and looked like it on the field. In his early days, he was more than a pass rusher. With defensive schemes of coaches like Wade Phillips and Vic Fangio, he would be asked to cover a back or the flat. With Phillips, it might be calls like "Will Wink" or "Sam Sink" that would send four of the 5-man line (three defensive interior players and two edges) after the quarterback and either the Sam backer or Will backer would drop. 

The same was true of the Fangio scheme; the edge players would have to drop sometimes, the flat or as a "bonus hook" player, and Miller was good at it. Some guys are just "there," and others can cover, be more than just there. Miller could cover, especially early in his career.

Given his age and performance, he likely won't get a dozen sacks like a 37-year-old Kevin Greene did in 1999, but he might get a handful in a season like James Harrison or Clay Matthews Sr. did in their late 30s. It's possible, at least. But does that help or hurt his legacy?

When does his production get to the point of being like Willie Mays in 1972-73 with the Mets or Hank Aaron with the Brewers in 1975-76, or a Johnny Unitas in 1973? When is he just is not himself and it starts to hurt your heart to see one of the best ever do it, being a shell of himself. 

To his credit, he came back from an injury plague in the 2023 season to be productive the last two years, but even then, watching him, it was not the same. Hopefully, this year will be more like 2024 and 2025 than 2023, but the film, SO FAR, isn't showing that. Obviously, things can change in the next span of games.

Of course, Miller is going to get a Gold Jacket, likely five years after he retires, but it will be based on the six All-Pro seasons in the first half of his career, around 140 career sacks, and his two rings that were aided by his 16 career playoff games (when his teams went 11-5) and when he recorded 10.5 sacks, 49 tackles, three forced fumbles ... including 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in Super Bowls alone.

 

Let's just hope the current version is not what is left in voters' minds, or they might ding him a year. Let's hope not, but that is a discussion for another day. 

Career stats and honors—

TUESDAY TIDBITS: "Whatever You do John, Don't Throw the Ball"

By TJ Troup

The 2026 season is off to a roaring start with so many storylines! Ok, folks what game so far surprised you the most? Which game this coming weekend stands out to you?

This coming Sunday the 27th is one of those days that truly stands out for all of you BALTIMORE Colts fans. The opening day game in '53 is of course the Bert Reich's once-in-a-lifetime performance, yet I want to highlight the '64 game of the Bears going to Memorial Stadium.

The Colts from 1955 through 1960 had won nine of twelve from the Bears and lost only once in Memorial Stadium. Then the Bears win six straight against the Colts.

During a stretch during the Bears 1963 Championship season the George Allen defense allowed just 31 points over the course of 23 quarters. The Unitas led Colts score 24 points in the first half, 28 in the 2nd in the demolition of Chicago. Everyone contributed for the Colts that afternoon.

Many times have mentioned Mr. Steve Sabol and we all know his creativity was the focal point at NFL Films. Really believe that the "America's Game" series was his best. For those of you that have never watched the 1970 BALTIMORE Colts, do yourself a favor and watch.

While Curry, Smith, and Curtis are insightful and entertaining in there comments want to pay a quick tribute to Mr. Ernie Accorsi. He is in his first year as PR director, and his commentary is a key component to why this chapter is so fun to watch.

Baltimore has a 1-1 record and are struggling against a woeful Patriot team, as they lead 7-6 in the 4th quarter. Head Coach Don McCafferty joined the staff in 1959 and developed a strong working/coaching relationship with John Unitas. The title of today's column comes from Accorsi, as McCafferty tells John to be conservative. Unitas's play-action touchdown pass to Roy Jefferson for 55 yards puts the game out of reach. Though they struggled with many a close game, this Colt team hoisted the Silver Trophy. Accorsi worked for a handful of teams during his long career, many of those teams had success. RIP Ernie!

Finally, am going to shift gears to go to the horsehide game. Two years ago the White Sox won 41 games and would rank with the worst teams in baseball history. This year has been "magical" for them and with six games remaining the Pale Hose can earn a playoff berth.

Fielder Jones
colorization by PFJ

Today is the 130th anniversary of Fielder Jones of the Sox hitting his 2nd home run of the season for the soon-to-be champions. Why is his home run significant you ask? Well, he now has tied Billy Sullivan for the team lead in home runs. The White Sox hit seven home runs all season; no that is not a misprint----SEVEN! There are teams in this era that hit seven in a week. See ya next week.