Can Jonathan Taylor or Cooper Kupp Beat Out a QB for MVP?

 By John Turney 

We hear from the analytics crowd quite often that the NFL MVP has to be a quarterback because that position has the most "value". As if they invented that concept.

Though it may have been written before Buddy Parker wrote that in his book in 1955 We Play To Win!. He did use the work valuable he said "important'. However, the gist is the same.

That said, over the years plenty of running backs have been voted the MVP or Player of the Year (the nomenclature United Press (later United Press International) chose, though the award was the same). Remember the Associated Press (AP) started with "outstanding Player" then changed to "Player of the Year" then in 1961 Changed to Most Valuable Player (MVP), then changed back to "Player of the Year: in 1962 before permanently going with MVP from 1963 to the present. Understand this: The award was the same regardless of what they called it. The Newspaper Enterprise Association called it MVP two years before the AP started giving out an award. 

The NEA, UPI, and AP were the big three that were recognized by the Offical NFL Record and Fact Book which is the official yearly record book published by NFL. 

Later the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) began choosing an MVP and along with the Sporting News, those are the major awards accepted by the NFLPA and also by Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the NFL. Note the word "official" in the title.  

With that background, the first MVP award will be the PFWA in mid-January but the most publicized is the AP MVP award with the hoopla of the NFL Awards show. Sp, mainly we are speaking of that, though try as it might, it is not an official award. It is just the one that is picked up by the most media outlets and gets the most discussion and the votes are released, unlike the PFWA. It should be noted that since 2004 the AP and PFWA have been sympatico in their selections. 

Now, to the nitty-gritty.

Usually, and especially recently the award does go to a quarterback. The last running back to get the award was Adrian Peterson in 2012 (30.5 of 50 votes).  Since then all running back combine have received a total of 16 votes. 

This year could be different for a few reasons.

Through maybe 2/3 or 3/4 of the season Kyler Murray was the favorite and Tom Brady was close. Both of them played themselves (in our view) out of it this past weekend.

Aaron Rodgers

That leaves Aaron Rodgers as the top-ranking quarterback in our view with maybe a couple of comers.

However, Rodgers' deceptive (or to use the script from "The Natural"—a canard, a prevarication, a lie) answers about his vaccination status and then his COVID illness, missing a game undoubtedly left a bad taste in some voters' mouths in our view. 

Additionally, in an era where MVP quarterbacks throw 40 or more touchdowns routinely, Rodgers, unless he really goes off, may end up with who knows- 32, 35? Sure, he could reach 40 but he may not play all the final games. If the number one seed is locked up he will all assuredly rest. He will likely pass 4,000 yards but likely not by much.

Our point is it is an excellent season, but is it the stuff of recent MVPs? It's close, but is it? The voters have to decide and with the COVID baggage that puts a drag on his candidacy, he is not a sure thing.

There are other QBs. Matthew Stafford perhaps, but he played himself out of it on his three-game losing streak when he and his offense kept throwing pick 6s and turning the ball over deep in their opponents' territory and running up garbage yards and points in those. He'd had a Pro Bowl year but MVP? Not really. In other games, he's been really terrific. 

Jared Goff used to lead the Rams to 10-4 records. That is where Stafford is now. 

Mahomes? Allen? Herbert? All really great years but do they check all the boxes for MVP? Maybe Mahomes who is coming one but they all would need to do a lot in the next few games to make their case.

Now, who else?

Jonathan Taylor is very interesting. There have been other running backs in the last decade who have had great years, but as we mentioned all of them combined have gotten about half the votes that Adrian Peterson did in 2012. The higher vote-getter was Todd Gurley in 2017 with eight. he hurt himself some by going down inside the ten a couple of times to run the clock out rather than score a touchdown so his final numbers were dinged, but he had no chance really. 

Jonathan Taylor

Derrick Henry was kind of like Taylor last year—a running back who an offense was built around that was dominant in it. The question is this: IS Taylor that dominant—MVP dominant.

As of now, he has 1,518 yards and 17 rushing touchdowns in 14 games. He will be leaned upon a lot in the next three games if the Colts are to push into the playoffs and make their seed as high as possible. It is possible, but not likely he will surpass 2,000 yards. But 1900 yards and 20+ touchdowns is quite reasonable. He also is averaging 5.6 yards a carry and has decent receiving numbers. Not stellar, but decent. 

If he does those things and the Colts make the playoffs it will be because of him by and large. That would make him a very strong alternative to any quarterback in our view. 

Next up is Cooper Kupp.

The last wide receiver to win a major award was Jerry Rice in 1990 when he was the Sporting News Player of the Year. But if you don't like that one he was the PFWA and NEA MVP in 1987. John Elway was the AP winner garnering 36 votes, Rice had 30. 

Jerry Rice the 1987 consensus MVP winning two of the accepted MVP awards that year no matter what the "AP only" crowd thinks.  Rice was the MVP. 

There had been some winners before but they were far and few between. Harlon Hill (NEA-1955), Lance Alworth (AFL UPI-1963), Gino Cappelletti, (AP/UPI 1964). Cappelletti doubled as a kicker and led the AFL in scoring that season. The NFL's Official MVP went to Don Hutson in 1941 and 1942 so there is that as well.

Cooper Kupp

So, what would Kupp have to do in order to crack the wide receiver glass ceiling for MVP?

Right now he's leading the NFL with 122 catches and 1,625 yards and 14 touchdowns. He is likely to win the receiver triple crown. But Steve Smith did that in 2005 and he was not even considered. But his numbers were lower in sixteen games than Kupp's in 14. So there is that.

Kupp is on pace to be very close to breaking the NFL record for receptions. However, in our view, that's a bit dubious because the NFL season is now 17 games (NFL records should be on a per-game basis in our view). So, will that matter to voters? Unknown. But a total of 140-150 receptions is still amazing, record or not.

He's also on pace for 1973 receiving yards. Again, would be a record. Again, with the 17-game caveat. If he gets 17 touchdowns that will not be as noteworthy since the record is 23. 

The eye test for Kupp should also be considered. If you've seen him play you'd know his receiving skill set is certainly top-notch, but his high level of blocking and running after the catch has bailed out the Rams offense in every game, several times a game. Those kinds of intangibles should be part of the mix as well.

Kupp also got a nice compliment from Shannon Sharpe, though not an endorsement for MVP—

It will be interesting to see if the rareness of the achievements are considered in the MVP race. By that we mean Kupp's achievements, whether they break records or not are rarer, from a historical perspective than either Taylor's or Rodgers'.  The numbers of 140+ catches and 1900+ yards and 17+ TDs are just not as common (if achieved) as 1900 yards rushing and perhaps 18-20 receiving TDs. 

What if it were (to use round numbers) 150 catches, 2000 yards, and 20 TDs? Would that do it and break the ceiling? Once again, unknown. 

That is not to denigrate Taylor's season it's just counting up the number of times, even on a per-game basis the numbers have been reached. the same is true for Rodgers, and the rest of the QBs mentioned, this is unless someone goes off the next three weeks. 

In communicating with people in the know it seems like Kupp has the longest row to hoe. Taylor seems like he has a legitimate shot. Rodgers is tainted but still is likely the front-runner. The rest need big holiday seasons to leap Rodgers and Taylor.

It will be fun to have a race where the winner is not clear and obvious like basically the last decade or more. We have not had a close vote in the AP MVP voting since 2005. This year promises to be like that unless big changes occur in the next three weeks.

TUESDAY TIDBITS: Eternally Stupid Putrid Network

By TJ Troup 

Trevon Diggs

Saddle up, since am gonna start by getting on my soapbox. Not sure what the letters ESPN stand for, but have a new name for them, and yes folks that is the title for my column today. Sunday Diggs of Dallas recorded his 10th interception, and online at ESPN stated "Diggs gets his tenth interception of the season and becomes the first Cowboy since 1969 to have double-digit interceptions in a season since 1969. 

This of course is in reference to right safety and future Hall of Famer Mel Renfro who led the league with 10 (he played in 12 games that season). Perplexed? Angry? What the hell? Do the damn research, take a few minutes and look up Dallas Cowboy history as rookie Everson Walls pilfered 11 in 1981, and recorded his 10th in the tenth game of the season against Buffalo. 

Everson Walls

T.J. Watt is on helluva player, and has demonstrated many times he is a force for the black & gold, and can make the big play when Pittsburgh needs it most. ESPN stated he set the Steeler season sack record with 17. Eugene Lipscomb took down passers 17½ times in 1961...how do I know this? Mr. John Turney and Mr. Nick Webster did the research, and now Pro Football Reference lists his sack totals. 

Have one of the research staff at ESPN take a snap from center, and tell the Big Daddy he does not have the record and watch what happens to that staff member. Running for his life? Crying? Geez! Then this morning at the Eternally Stupid Putrid Network Kevin Seifert states that both John Fox and Matt Nagy led the Bears to a playoff berth. Huh? Check the season records...how long is this going to go on? Ok, am getting off my soapbox. 

The American Football Conference has five teams with an 8-6 record, and this coming Sunday the Ravens visit the Bengals, and as such the result should add some clarity to the standings. Buffalo travels to Foxboro and the result of this game should also add clarity to the standings. 

The National Football Conference does not have the log jam that the AFC does, and the Rams take to a trip to the land of 1000 lakes on Sunday, and boy oh boy for us old-timers Los Angeles at Minnesota was almost always must see viewing...you need an example? 

Check the playoff games from 1969 through 1976, and the date of those games. Next week will re-visit those games. Years ago writer Bill Dow contacted Gail Cogdill for me and set up a phone conversation for the talented wide receiver and myself. Have been able to have some insightful, and fun talks over the years with former players, and the one hour with Cogdill remains in my top five. 

Questions asked, Cogdill answers with some comedic stories, yet his answers also explained how the game was played in his era. Cogdill starts for Van Brocklin in Atlanta, and his Dutchman stories were just fantastic. A key to playing for Van Brocklin was simple; do not make mental errors. 

The Falcons drafted a receiver out of San Diego State in '71, and though he did not have a long career Ken Burrow played his ass off for the Dutchman and the Falcons. Though the Dutchman was an accurate passer who could shred a defense, as a coach he really believed in the running game, and by 1971 the Falcons are actually a decent team that plays physical football. 

Ken Burrow

October 3rd against the Lions Burrow snags six passes for 190 yards, and then on the last day of the year on December 19th against the Saints Burrow grabbed eight passes for 190 yards! How many rookie receivers in history have ever had two games of at least 190 yards receiving? He is the only man to accomplish this feat. Billy Howton in '52 had games of 200 & 162. Harlon Hill in '54 had games of 144 & 214. Bill Groman in 1960 had games of 182 & 171. 

Finally, Jimmy Orr in 1958 had games of 205 & 162. As impressive as those games were by the four men listed above, Ken Burrow stands alone. Watching film of Burrow is a real treat. Had excellent speed, yet more important is the fact that he exploded out of his sharp cuts. Burrow had reliable hands, and had the hunger you want in a receiver...Kenny thought he could get to and catch every pass. NFL Films game of the week in 1965 was called "NFL Play by Play Report", and the final regular-season game the Sabol's film crew did takes us to Kezar Stadium. Ready for some background? 

Here goes...the 49ers beat Green Bay the first five times they played at Kezar and outscored the Pack 168 to 61. The next ten times they played at Kezar each team won five as the Niners scored 352 points, and the Packers 362 points. The last six of those ten games Green Bay was coached by Vince Lombardi along with his most able assistant, and former 49er line coach Phil Bengston. Green Bay had won four of the six coached by Lombardi, yet this one would determine the Western Conference champion. After six weeks in '65 the Packers were 6-0, while the Colts were 5-1.

 A log jam of four teams were tied for third at 3-3. One of those four teams is the suddenly red hot Chicago Bears. Over the next seven weeks, the Packers are 4-3, while the Colts were 4-2-1, but Chicago goes 6-1 and has beaten both Green Bay and Baltimore. The Bears are 9-4 and need both of their rivals to lose and beat the Vikings at Wrigley. The Colts with Matte at quarterback beat the Rams in the Coliseum on a Saturday afternoon to finish 10-3-1 and eliminate the Bears. 

Over and over in the broadcast, Jim Gibbons states that a Packer victory gives them the division crown, and a loss would place them second for the third consecutive season...Lombardi in second, and headed back to Miami for the "Hinky Dink" bowl? Can watch this film over and over again; there is so much to savor, and evaluate. 

Where to begin? Neither team scores in the first quarter, and that alone is interesting since the 49ers are a powerhouse scoring machine in '65. 

Late in the first quarter the Niners began a drive from their own thirteen, and after nine plays it is 4th and eleven on the Packer fourteen. Tommy Davis drills a 21-yard field goal as San Francisco draws first blood. The key play on the drive was Brodie connecting with Dave Parks for 38 yards. Green Bay responds and three plays into the drive are camped on the Niner forty-three. Starr drills Dowler for 43 yards and a touchdown. Later in the second quarter on second and four on the Packer fourteen Brodie pitches out to John David Crow. 

Though a complete back Crow over the course of his career can lose the handle on the ball, and does so again. All-Pro right safety Willie Wood is johnny on the spot and grabs the ball on the bounce and dashes the length of the field to score...and 86 yard fumble return for a touchdown! Wait? The officials are huddling, are they discussing which strip club to attend after the game? What pizza to order? Oh, you cannot advance a lateral....and the pitchout from Brodie to Crow is determined to be a lateral. Watching St. Vince march onto the field and berate the Referee is classic. 

This is not a chemistry lab seminar, but the score remains 7-3 Packers at the half. Middle of the 3rd quarter and Brodie throws towards the right sideline, but Herb Adderley for the record-setting third time in the season pilfers the pass, and dashes 13 yards to paydirt. Green Bay 14 San Francisco 3. Late in the third quarter Brodie finds Crow open and John David scores on a 32-yard pitch from the 49er passer. John Brodie having the best year of his career so far completed six of seven on the drive for 77 yards! Green Bay goes three and out, and Brodie has the ball again with 1:45 left in the quarter, and again systemically maneuvers his boys from the bay area down the field mixing run and pass. 

The ninth play of the drive has San Francisco camped on the Packer twelve-yard line, and Brodie finds Dave Parks open again, and rifles the ball to the determined receiver. Parks has now caught 7 passes for 125 yards in the game. He has aligned split, tight, flanked, and beat both zone and man coverage. No, he is not the first player to gain over 100 receiving against Green Bay in '65. 

Four other men have gained over 100; Sayers, Barr, Flatley, and Berry...and all four times the Packers prevailed on the scoreboard. Starr brings the Pack right back down the field after a sparkling 33-yard kick-off return by Adderley. The key play is Bart finding backup receiver Bob Long open and gaining 34 yards to put the ball on the Niner seventeen. Jim Taylor powers off tackle to the left for five yards and now Green Bay leads 21-17. Third down and six on their own twenty-four and Brodie is intercepted by Willie Wood. 

This is the only game in their careers together that Wood and Adderley both intercept and recover a fumble in the same game. Don Chandler pumps through a 31-yard field goal with 2 minutes remaining as the green & gold increase their lead to 24-17. The facemask penalty on Green Bay coupled with Kermit Alexander's 25-yard kick-off return has the Niners on their own forty-five. Brodie completes to Parks for 13 and calls time out with 1:38 remaining. Brodie continues his red hot passing with two more completions, and it is now 1st and ten at the Packer twenty-seven. 

Brodie is right on the money on a post pattern to back-up receiver Vern Burke for 27 yards. Burke is playing in just his third game, and this is his second catch of the season, and his first touchdown! We are tied at 24, and the question is simple—can Starr again take his boys down the field. After one first down, Starr misfires on three straight, and Chandler punts. 

Kermit Alexander began the game at right safety, moved to right corner to replace the "torched" Jerry Mertens, and has had the best game of his career returning punts. Green Bay allowed 290 yards in punt returns all year, and on this day Kermit gains 82 yards on six returns. Alexander fields Chandler's punt on his own sixteen, and darts, dashes, cuts, and twists his way...and eventually gets to the Green Bay forty-six with seven precious James Bond seconds left. Brodie again throws deep to Burke, but is incomplete. 

The only time Green Bay and San Francisco tie at Kezar results in a tie for the Western Division crown, and of course the next week will be the dramatic play-off game between Shula and St. Vince at Lambeau.

Packers Air on the Side of First Downs in Baltimore

 By Eric Goska

Don Horn, in 1969, was the first Packer
to pass for 20 first downs in a game.

If you knocked back a shot for every Packers’ passing first down against the Ravens, you might be contemplating going alcohol-free in the new year.

Green Bay traveled by air to Baltimore and that mode of transportation more than sufficed in moving the chains for the team Sunday. The Green and Gold racked up five times as many passing first downs as they did rushing in shading the Ravens 31-30.

The Packers didn’t abandon the run at M&T Bank Stadium. They rushed 25 times for 96 yards.

But with Baltimore entrenched as the league’s top run defender, turning to the air made sense.

Green Bay produced a season-high 20 passing first downs. All 20 arrived during a roughly 36-minute stretch that started late in the first quarter and ended with too much time remaining in the fourth.

Had the team tacked on one more – instead of kicking a field goal – the Raven’s likely would not have been in position to take the lead with 42 seconds remaining on what turned out to be a failed two-point conversion.

In today’s NFL, passes get bandied about like holiday candy. Even so, Green Bay came away with more than its customary share of chain-advancing throws.

Since 1921, Green Bay has amassed 20 or more passing first downs 14 times in regular-season games. Its record when doing so is 8-5-1.

In Baltimore, eight Packers caught at least one pass that reset the down marker to one. Six helped themselves to two or more.

Getting that many players involved to that extent has proven effective. The Packers are 10-2 in games in which at least six players chipped in multiple first-down receptions.

Against the Ravens, Davante Adams (5), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (5), Josiah Deguara (2), Aaron Jones (2), Allen Lazard (2), and Marcedes Lewis (2) were multiple go-getters. A.J. Dillon and Tyler Davis each had one.

Eighteen of the first downs were registered as Green Bay helped itself to four touchdowns. The two that occurred elsewhere – a 24-yard grab by Valdes-Scantling and a 23-yarder by Lewis – were followed by a punt and Mason Crosby’s 29-yard field goal.

That three-pointer put the Pack up 31-17 with nine minutes, 26 seconds remaining. Had Aaron Rodgers not overshot Lazard in the end zone one play earlier, Green Bay would have led by more.

Five Packers passers – Don Horn, Lynn Dickey, Brett Favre, Matt Flynn, and Rodgers – threw for 20 or more first downs in a single game. Rodgers and Favre each did so five times.

Sunday, Rodgers and the Packers tied the team record for the fewest pass plays (sacks included) needed to reach 20 first downs through the air. The 31 pass plays they required matched the number Horn used to light up the St. Louis Cardinals 45-28 in the 1969 regular-season finale.

Horn attempted 31 passes – he was not sacked – and completed 22 for 410 yards, five TDs, and 20 first downs. Just two of his completions failed to yield first downs.

Rodgers (23 of 31 for 268 yards and 3 TDs) was nearly as efficient. Only three of his connections came up short.

The last of those – a toss to Adams that lost six yards – came one play before his overthrow intended for Lazard in the end zone.

This season, four teams – the Buccaneers (225), Chiefs (221), Chargers (204) and Cowboys (200) – have manufactured more passing first downs than have the Packers (193). But Green Bay’s rate of one passing first down every 2.65 pass plays is No. 1 in the league, ahead of the Chiefs (2.67) and the Rams (2.68) and 29 other teams.

Flying First Class
Since 1921, regular-season games in which the Packers needed 45 or fewer passing plays (sacks included) to produce 20 first downs passing.

   Plays    Quarterback          Opponent                   Date                        Result
      31            Don Horn                 Cardinals              Dec. 21, 1969          GB won, 45-28
      31       Aaron Rodgers              Ravens                 Dec. 19, 2021           GB won, 31-30
      40       Aaron Rodgers               Saints                 Sept. 30, 2012           GB won, 28-27
      41          Lynn Dickey                Broncos             Oct. 15, 1984            GB lost, 14-17
      44          Brett Favre                Panthers               Sept. 27, 1998           GB won, 37-30
      45          Brett Favre                 Jaguars                Dec. 19, 2004            GB lost, 25-28
      45          Brett Favre                  Vikings               Nov. 11, 2007            GB won, 34-0
 

Bobby Wagner and His Quest for 200 Tackles

 By Nick Webster 

There was a lot of talk before the 2021 season about all the records that would be broken with the new 17-game schedule. Alas, it seems we may have to wait a little while as—despite an interesting and entertaining season - absent a late-season breakout, it doesn’t seem that any individual records will be broken. 

One possibility is that Bobby Wagner could break the single-season tackle record; Wagner has 152 tackles through 13 games putting him on pace for 199 on the full 17-game season, and that’s the all-time single-season record . . . right?  Well not really, it’s a far more complicated story than that.

 First, let’s cover a brief history of tackles.

 The NFL started keeping basic statistics as far back as the 1930s, but frequently readers of this site, as well as those familiar with the research of John Turney and myself on sacks will know that not everything available today was tallied historically.

Now, this is an excerpt from the fantastic 1987 book The Hidden Game of Pro Football, if you don’t have a copy, you must pick one up at whatever cost - it’s the best primer on thinking about Football statically that there is, the Rosetta Stone of football analytics.  

But note that even this does not reference tackles.  There were no official NFL tackles in 1987.  So when were tackles first tallied?  

Well, the answer is simple but nuanced, the simple answer is, essentially, forever. 

According to Weeb Ewbank’s personal records (courtesy of the University of Miami Ohio’s Cradle of Coaches Archive), Derrell Palmer has 22 Primary tackles and 25 Assists in 1952. Now Paul Brown himself was a meticulous type and his assistants—like Weeb—took after him, but this level of detail from way back in 1952 is telling.  

Do we think George Halas didn’t even just know the total number of times George Conner fell on a ball career a few years earlier? 

Joe Schmidt (#56)

Did you know that Joe Schmidt was credited with 157 tackles in 1957?  And that the Lions kept track of tackles in 1956? 

Benton Harbor Herald-Palladium 12/10/1957

Did you know he outpaced an amazing performance by a defensive tackle who had 135 tackles that same season (probably still the per-game tackle record for a D-lineman) a man named Big Daddy Lipscomb? 

Did you know that Chuck Bednarik, the 60-minute man, had 60 tackles in the Philadelphia Eagles 1960 championship season. It’s true, just add up the tackles compiled on the published tackle charts contained in the terms play-by-plays.  

See below Bednarik’s one assisted tackle on the October 9th, 1960 tilt against the St.Louis Cardinals. 

Billy Ray Smith led the 1961 Colts with 101 tackles and HOFer Gino Marchetti racked up 89tackles. 

In 1962 the Chicago Bears were paced, no surprise, by HOF linebacker Bill George with 121, numbers which were probably kept by forward-looking Bears assistant George Allen.

Bill George

In each case, except Bednarik’s, these numbers were kept - as we imagine they have been forever—by each team's coaches.  Nineteen sixty represents a somewhat important milestone as it’s the date beyond which it became standard more and more for tackle statistics to be kept consistently across many teams in Press-Box statistics.  

This is important because rushing yards, passing TD’s, interceptions—you name it—the statistics that eventually become “official” were sourced from the Press-Box stats. Jim Brown’s 1,863 Rushing Yards in 1963—from press-box stats. Night Train Lane’s 14 Interceptions in 1952—from press-box stats.  And, by the way, sometimes the press-box got it wrong; you can read many accounts of that in this very site, but those are the numbers which became official, though teams do have the opportunity to ask for corrections of those press-box stats (a story for another day).

So for the early history of the league, we have tackle statistics kept by coaches for their teams and largely unpublished. Then, in the 1960s, press boxes began keeping tackles alongside Coaches and these numbers were published in the tackle charts of game play-by-plays.  

Early keepers of tackle charts were the Eagles, 49ers, Cowboys, Rams, and most AFL clubs; clubs like the Steelers, Bears, Cardinals, and Giants held out around the merger prior to consistently keeping Press-Box Tackle-Charts.  By 1970 almost all NFL games had some manner of obtaining press-box tackles, either from a sampled tackle-chart or by tacklers being listed in the detailed play-by-play text.

 As press-box tackles became prevalent a challenge quickly emerged, it became clear that not all press-box spotters were assigning tackles in the same way, this meant that some awarded more tackles than others. This wasn’t unique to Press-Box stats, team tackle counts compiled by coaches clearly varied widely. We all clearly “know it when we see it” regarding tackles, but some circumstances are more blurry.  

If a defender causes a runner to step out of bounds without contact, is that a tackle? If a runner gives himself up, was it caused by the closest defender? When a runner is wrapped up by one defender and then taken to the ground by a second, who gets credit for the tackle . . . or do both?  

The Cleveland Browns press-box of the 1970s would frequently credit three tacklers with bringing down a ball carrier. And certain spotters would credit a tackle to the closest defender (or perhaps just their favorite?) when the quarterback kneeled, see below from the Saints. It wasn’t until the late 1990s that press-box tackle stats from gamebooks became largely standardized. 

So we have 5 different eras of pro football tackle stats to think about, 1.) Coaches / Team numbers prior to ~1970 which were inconsistently assigned and rarely and inconsistently published, 2.) Coaches / Team Stats after-1970 which were consistently published and widely available but inconsistently assigned, 3.) Press-Box stats prior to ~1970 which were inconsistently assigned and inconsistently published, 4.) Press-Box stats between 1970 and 1996 which were inconsistently assigned and consistently published, and 5.) Press-Box stats from 1997-to-date which were quite (though not perfectly) consistently assigned and consistently published.

Pro Football Reference, who have published our sack data, have done an excellent job at compiling, in a consumable manner, the statistical history of the NFL as well as the other major sports.  But on tackles, the numbers available are only quite recent and are a mixture of eras 2, 4, and 5 that we’ve identified here. We plan to work with them to try an correct this record and present as fair a view of tackles as is possible. In the meantime, we will lay out for you what’s best known about the best single-season era-by-era.

Era 1 - Coach/Team Tackle stats prior to 1970:

First, all of these numbers should be taken with a huge grain of salt, they were massively inconsistent and largely not intended for outside consumption . . . and here we are consuming them.

The highest single-season tackle number we’ve seen from here is Tommy Nobis’ 294 in a 14 game 1966, that is 21 Tackles per scheduled game which would be 357 in a 17-game season (his press-box total was 125). Other seasons that stand out: Dick Butkus with 220 in 1969 and 216 in 1970, respectively—good for just over 15 tackles per scheduled game and 262 and 244 in a 17-game season.  

Sporadic availability makes these by far the largest numbers of this era though Joe Schmidt’s aforementioned 157 in 1957 would amount to 13 per game and 222 in a 17-game schedule.  All in all these numbers aren’t sufficient widely publicized to garner much attention or to be concerned about their accuracy though some teams do have enough of their play-by-plays, such as the aforementioned Nobis 1966 season.

Era 2 - Coach/Team Tackle stats after 1970:

Again, these must be understood to have a large number of assists in the tackle numbers and as a result, we see some fairly egregious examples of tackle inflation among these figures.

The highest single-season tackle number of this era we’ve seen is Randy Gradishar’s 286 Total Tackles in 1978 compiled from 196 Solo Tackles and 90 Assisted tackles. Gradishar was a star linebacker for the Broncos in the 1970s and probably the best linebacker overall in pass coverage, multiple All-Pros, Pro Bowls, and a Defensive Player of the Year award have not landed Gradishar in the Hall of Fame, an honor he deserves.  

Some actually believe it is the inflated tackle numbers he was credited with that have been held against him since during the Hall of Fame discussions voters actually brought up the tackle numbers brought up by the presented and said they didn't believe them. 

How do we think about whether or not those tackles are inflated, the ’78 Broncos faced 779 plays from scrimmage where the result was not a Touchdown; therefore there were 779 Tackle Opportunities.  As we know, more than one player can be in on a tackle, so a 1 : 1 ratio isn’t logical, but the team credited a total of 1682 tackles in 1978, implying 2.2 tacklers on every single play.  Our rule of thumb, derived from press-box numbers is that this figure should be about 1.25 : 1, implying that these tackle figures were inflated by ~73%.  

Further, press-box tackle figures for Gradishar in 1978 have him at 197 tackles. Which is still the third-best ever coming from press-box totals, so the Hall of Fame voters ought to note that and not penalize him for something out of his control. 

Kuykendall

Another favorite inflated season —and the second-highest observed number of this cohort—is Fulton Kuykendall’s 284 for the Atlanta Falcons in 1978.  Now Captain Crazy should probably get credit for his spectacular hairdo—but when comparing what coaches compiled versus what the press-box said about The Captain’s exploits it is clear there was serious inflation going on here.  Press-box Tackle-Charts credited Kuykendall with just 117 Total Tackles in 1978, far less than half his Teams’ figure. 

This is something we should always contemplate as we think about coach/team figures, we often do have the press-box numbers to corroborate, if the two figures are close, that tells us something valuable; how likely is it that two separate sources conspired to create high numbers for a particular individual or team.

Most of the other highest known and published Coaches / Team Tackle numbers from the era suffer from the same inflation. In fact, specific coaches and teams were renowned for it; Jets Inside and Middle Linebackers had their tackle inflated be it Stan Blinka, Bob Crable, Kyle Clifton, etc.  The most publicized of these inflated tackle numbers came from the Atlanta Falcons and Jessie Tuggle.

Era 3:

 Practically nothing

Era 4:

Spielman is the most recent and likely most reliable.  No Tuggle at all, once you’ve gone to PBP numbers.

Era 5:

We shouldn’t be surprised to see Lewis and Kuechley prominent. Where does that leave us with Wagner?  With 152 through 13 games, he’s on pace for 199 in 17 which would be the record for the Modern Era of Press-Box Tackles.  Even in a 16-game season, he’s on pace for 187, which would still surpass Ray Lewis for this Modern-Era title.  

We believe the Spielman number is believable enough that he’s almost certainly above Wagner, but we acknowledge that the eras and the numbers are different.  Where is Wagner alongside Joe Schmidt, Dick Butkus, Randy Gradishar, and Tommy Nobis—nobody knows.

 

We’ll leave you with one thought. A while back we were discussing some of the early-80’s New Orleans Saints inflated Tackle numbers with the PFJ’s very own T.J. Troup. We noted that per coach/team numbers Glen Redd had 254 Tackles in 1981 followed by Jim Kovach with 225. The team credited over 1800 Tackles to players all told even though just 748 Tackle opportunities existed. 

Coach replied, “As far as I know Jim Kovach made only one tackle in his career when Walter Payton broke the all-time rushing record, and I saw it on film.”  Tackle stats and tackle records, who knows, but you know them when you see them.

2021 All-Role Player/Backup Team

 By John Turney 

Cordarrelle Patterson

Sure we will miss some, but we've picked players, at least though three-fourths of the season, that have played duel roles, stepped in for injured starters, and have fit in as role players that have helped their team and have impressed.

Sometimes a starter will go down and these guys are the "next man up" or they just do multiple things. Maybe the guy ahead of them got traded or cut. Maybe they are the "1B" running back. 

You get it.

We love Patterson and Samuel as "slash" players. Even Cobb lining up in the backfield and running routes. But Deebo and Cordarrelle are special, even sometimes carrying the ball more than catching it. Impressive for wideouts. As of this post Patterson, a career wide receiver and return specialist, has more rushing yards than receiving and than kick return yardage.

In his last four games Samuel had eight receptions and one touchdown. He as 21 carriers for five touchdowns. Prior to that he had five carries and a touchdown and 49 receptions for 882 yards and four scores. Pretty good versatility.

In today's game slots are so important it sometimes is the outside receivers, the single-side receiver who is the specialist. Van Jefferson is often that and he's been getting deep and hauling in Matthew Stafford's bombs all season (six touchdowns) several long ones. 

Marcedes Lewis is a blocking specialist and Mo Alie-Cox of the Colts is also one but as some good decent receiving numbers. Cox is 6-7, 270 or so pounds, and has 4 touchdown receptions. 

The Colts Julie'n Davenport filled in for an excellent, but underrated, right tackle when Brady Smith went down and Yosuah Nijman of the Packers has done the same kind of thing for the Packers. Blake Hance of the Browns has filled on for both the left- and right tackle when needed. Nice.

Joseph Noteboom backs up 40-year old Andrew Whitworth but last week filled in for COVID-list right tackle Rob Havenstein but the week before he was the Rams tight end when they went heavy personnel and also did so this week, about half the time he was uncovered and therefore an eligible receiver. we expect this role to continue the rest of the season and the playoffs, as long as the Rams last in the tournament.

Connor McGovern of the Cowboys and Hakeem Adeniji of the Bengals are the fill-in guards. Wes Schweitzer took over for Brandon Scherff for a few weeks and Andrew Wylie was fine for the chiefs in the same role. Evan Brown took over for Frank Ragnow in Detroit and Tyler Larsen filled in for Washington's downed center Chase Roullier.

Gardner Minshew II was great for one game for the Eagles. Geno Smith did well filling in for Russell Wilson. Taysom Hill for the Saints may end up being the best choice by season's end but he's been nicked himself. 

We liked what Jacoby Brissett did with the Dolphins (he just played his guts out) and also liked Colt McCoy's work with the Cardinals. His job was to hold the fort until Kyler Murray came back and he did winning two of three starts.

The Packers AJ Dillon is a beast. A "1B" running back, but gets starter's minutes. A scary-looking man to have to tackle. James Conner's role expanded when Chase Edmonds went down but Conner does the power running and has shown some great hands as well. Edmunds is slated to come back and if the Cardinals are going to make a run in the playoffs he and Conner will be a solid 1-2 punch.

When Cam Akers went down the Rams had to trade for a back and they chose Sony Michel and when the starter got nicked and sick Darrell Henderson Michel stepped in ran hard and has averaged over 100 yards a game rushing the last two weeks. Javonte Williams is the 1B back behind Melvin Gordon. A rookie, Williams looks like a future star. We'll see.

Carlos Dunlap gets pressure and bats passes in key moments like he's done his whole career. Rookie Darrell Taylor is doing very well as a classic designated pass rusher. We like his game so far.

Jaelan Phillips and Odafe Oweh are also rookie stud edge rushers. B.J. Hill of the Bengals and Solomon Thomas of Las Vegas and solid wave rushers from the inside. Sheldon Rankins deserves a spot, too. If we do a year-end update maybe he will supplant one of the tackles. When they come in, they all make plays. Phillips has 8.5 sacks and 16 QB hits and Oweh has five and 13 QB hits.

Jaelan Phillips

Greg Gaines of the Rams has really come on as of late. he's filling in for Sebastion Joseph-Day who went down with a pec injury and Gaines may have won the job in his absence. He's been getting some push, is good in the run game, and can chase down some quarterbacks, as he showed Monday night.

Rakeem Nunez-Roches spells the NFL's best most tackle, Tampa Bay's Vita Vea and there is not a lot of dropoff when he's in the game.

Derrick Barnes of the Lions is an excellent pass cover 'backer. He's started a few games and has 49 tackles. However, with that situation, he's easy to miss. 

Kyle Van Noy is a special player, really, a Pro Bowl-level guy who may never make the Pro Bowl. he can play either a Sam or Will in a base defense, either in a 3-4 or a 4-3, and this year he's often the only linebacker in the Patriot's sub defenses. From there he can rush or cover in zones, match zones, man, whatever.

Kyle Van Noy

Rasul Douglas was acquired by the Packers in mid-October and has made a huge impact. Was a pickup. he's picked off three passes, taking two to the house, and dropped at least one more. One more pick six and he tied the Packer record for most in a single season.

Troy Hill is the Browns slot corner. he was signed away from the Rams where he played a similar role. Not only does he cover well from there he's nosey around the line of scrimmage—he's got two sacks and six other tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

The Saints  P.J. Williams is another guy who can get pressure from the slot (a sack and three Qb hits) and has three picks and deflected two other passes. A fine sub back.

When the Bills Pro Bowl corner Tre'Davious White went down  Dane Jackson had to step into the breech and so far has acquitted himself well, considering how big a pair of shoes white left for him to fill. 

Robert Alford gets too many holding penalties but is a battler in a fine Cardinal secondary. Chris Harris Jr. is our other pick. He's still playing pretty well. He's a starter on the right side but when Derwin James moves to Brando Staley's slot or "Star" position Harris moves to right safety, so his versatility is what we noticed. He's always been an interesting player but his dual roles is what we liked.

The Bucs Mike Edwards should perhaps be on the First-team, he does have a pair of pick-6s but because of his suspension and so forth, we just docked him and went with the Colts George Odum and Eric Rowe of the Dolphins. 

When the Dolphins go with all those Cover-0 blitzes and looks Rowe has to be extra sharp. Odom has filled in as a starter and again, one of those guys who you notice. He's played pretty well.

TUESDAY TIDBITS: "Slingin' the Ball for a Title"

By TJ Troup 

Louis Riddick, Brian Griese, and Steve Levy

The game last night was fascinating/intriguing and downright fun to watch. Though just one man's opinion, the MNF crew in the booth is just damn good, with Brian Griese and Louis Riddick at the top of their game with insights. Probably many of you take the time to study the standings, and of course check the schedule. The Washington Football Team is listed as the seventh "seed" right now, yet tied with four other teams at 6-7.

So, my first question for all of you:  Who gets that last berth in the NFC? If there is no change in the NFC standings the rest of the way the Cardinals would take on the 49ers, and the Rams would play the Cowboys—wow! For me, that would be match-ups with plenty of storylines. 

As for the AFC, we have so many teams at 7-6 that there is going to most likely be a winning team that does not make the playoffs. 

Would not even attempt at this point to state what would be the seeding in the AFC. Read online this morning in an ESPN column by Lindsey Thiry that only three men since the merger won the triple crown in receiving (Rice, Sharpe, and Steve Smith), and of course, Cooper Kupp of the Rams sure has a chance to join them. 

Since the merger? So Don Hutson and Crazy Legs Hirsch don't count? Geez, the lack of depth in doing historical research by websites is just damn sad. Will not detail the folly of Ms. Thiry's comments about the Rams inconsistency, but if she had watched them play as many times as I have this year—she would not make such a foolish statement. 

Crazy Legs Hirsh

She is welcome in my den to watch a Ram game and would answer any/all of her questions, and just might share my Dr. Pepper while my wife fixes the entry. 

Cooper Kupp

Mark my words, Cooper K. and Rams will take on the 49ers the last day of the regular season, and the game will have MEANING. Not sure how many of you will take the time to do the research, but if intrigued which division in league history has the best road record in league history? 

The NFC West is now 20-8, or simply put when on the road they win 5 of every —that is amazing to me! Possibly all four teams lose down the stretch when on the road, yet based on what has transpired so far they will all continue to win. 

December the 12, 1937, and the Redskins...oh you want me to call them the Washington Football Team? The 'Skins are returning to the title game, and have a rookie tailback named Sammy Baugh. 

1937 Title Game

The Bears led at half-time in Wrigley Field, but Sam is plenty accurate as he completes 18 of 33 for 335 yards in the Washington victory. For the sake of comparison, the '42 Steeler passers after seven games had completed 31 of 100 for 337 yards. Next week we will travel to Kezar.

Rodgers at Home in December

 By Eric Goska

Woeful special teams. Lapses in defense. Double-digit deficits.

For two quarters, the Bears had the Packers reeling. But Chicago picked the wrong time and the wrong place to stage an upset.

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay’s starting quarterback these past 14 years, is nearly invincible at home in December. He again provided evidence of that Sunday night as his Packers downed the Bears 45-30 to improve to 10-3 and remain in the race for the NFC’s top seed in the playoffs.

Here’s a question for you Green and Gold fans: Anything in the first half spark concern?

Maybe: a.) two first-quarter sacks by Chicago’s Robert Quinn; b.) Malik Taylor’s botched attempt to field a kickoff that gave the Packers the ball at the five instead of the 40 had he let it roll out of bounds; or c.) Mason Crosby’s out-of-bounds kickoff that afforded a short field on which the Bears scored in three plays?

Anything in the first half trigger panic?

Perhaps: a.) Jakeem Grant’s 46-yard touchdown reception; b.) Damiere Byrd’s 54-yard touchdown reception; or c.) Grant’s 97-yard, a franchise-record punt return for a score?

How about all of the above? Each of those plays, in one way or another, helped Chicago go up 10-0 and 24-14.

In particular, the long gains stand out. All three came in the second quarter in which the Bears exploded for 24 points.

In ringing the bell from long distance, perhaps the Bears were on to something. Only twice previously in more than 100 years of regular-season football had Green Bay given up three touchdowns of 40 or more yards in a single quarter. And both times – against the Rams in 1945 (20-7) and Lions in 1951 (52-35) – the Packers lost.

Up 27-21 at the break, the Bears and their coach Matt Nagy were feeling good.

“Matt Nagy was so excited and thrilled for his team when I caught up with him at halftime,” said NBC sideline reporter Kathryn Tappen. “He said, ‘I’m having so much fun.’”

Was Nagy not aware of Rodger’s record at Lambeau Field in December? With an entire half to play, the record-setting quarterback had plenty of time to improve upon an already impressive track record.

Stathead Football claims to be “the most powerful research tool in sports.” Whether true or not, the site is more than capable of producing interesting finds.

A search for passers who attempted at least 100 tosses in regular-season games at home in December from 1950 to 2021 yields 281 names. Those on the list range from Don Trull or Stan Gelbaugh to Hall of Famers such as Johnny Unitas or Joe Montana.

Players can be ranked by quantity – attempts, completions, yards passing and more – or quality – passer rating and winning percentage.

Rodgers, no surprise, is No. 1 in passer rating with a mark of 114.4. Lamar Jackson (111.3) and Dak Prescott (109.5) are the only others above 103, and both attempted far fewer passes than Rodgers.

In beating the Bears by 15, Rodgers improved to 23-3 (.885) at home in December. Of those who played in at least 12 such December games, only Trent Green (15-1; .938) and Daryle Lamonica (13-1; .929) have a higher winning percentage than Rodgers.

Six of Rodgers’ 23 wins came against two teams: the Lions (3) and Bears (3).

In deconstructing Chicago, Rodgers completed 29 of 37 passes for 341 yards and four touchdowns. His passer rating (141.1) was nearly double that of his counterpart, Justin Fields (70.8).

Rodgers matched his December home high with 19 first downs passing. Seventeen came on scoring drives.

Rodgers completed 10 in a row, from late in the second quarter until deep into the third. Those 10 passes produced 162 yards and two touchdowns – a 38-yarder to Davante Adams and a 23-yarder to Aaron Jones.

His team up 38-27 heading into the fourth, Rodgers didn’t flinch. He completed six straight for 39 yards and a touchdown as the Packers took eight minutes, 38 seconds off the clock to go up 45-27 with 4:33 left.

For Rodgers, this was his sixth 300-yard performance in December at Lambeau. It was the 16th time he compiled a rating of 100 or better.

Numbers aside, Rodgers just wasn’t going to allow Chicago beat him on his home turf. Not in December, anyway.

It’s a stance that can’t hurt when Green Bay hosts Cleveland on Christmas Day.

Decembers to Remember
Since 1950, the seven passers who had a career passer rating above 100 in regular-season home games played in December (minimum 100 attempts).
 
  Rating          Player            Record
   114.4       Aaron Rodgers          23-3
   111.3       Lamar Jackson            7-0
   109.5      Dak Prescott                6-1
   102.8      Peyton Manning       29-9
   102.3      Kurt Warner               12-2
   101.1       Russell Wilson           19-8
   101.1       Ryan Tannehill          9-10
 
Source: Stathead Football at Pro Football Reference.com