Tag: Aiyuk

Week 8 Review

This week featured a slew of exciting games. The Steelers eked out a win against the Baltimore Ravens, thanks to a clean game from their QB Ben Roethlisberger, and the Niners were understandably defeated by the Seattle Seahawks due to a monster game from DK Metcalf. However, there was one big upset this week: the 1-5-1 Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Superbowl contender Titans.

Is Tua Tagovailoa better than Ryan Fitzpatrick?

Answer: We don’t know. While Tua didn’t have the greatest game from the statline, it wasn’t his fault. The Dolphins defense gave Tua great field position which meant that he didn’t have to do much. Also, two of the four touchdowns were scored by the defense and special teams which meant that Tua technically threw for 50% of the offense’s points. It’s difficult to say how Tua will fare if the defense isn’t so dominant.

Can Big Ben step up against the Ravens?

Answer: Yes. Big Ben played a very solid game against the Ravens. The offense couldn’t do much in the first half, but whatever adjustments the Steelers made at halftime seemed to work. The big point is that Ben fixed his interception problem, something that almost lost the Steelers the game against Tennessee. The Steelers lived off of their defense, scoring touchdowns after both of Lamar Jackson’s interceptions. If Ben was sloppy with those chances, the Ravens would have won that game.

Is it Brandon Aiyuk’s breakout game?

Answer: Yes and No. Aiyuk did play a nice game against the Seahawks but nothing spectacular., His impact may not be so large once George Kittle is healthy. It will be interesting to see if Aiyuk can keep up this level of involvement. If he does, then Aiyuk could be a star receiver for years to come. If he is placed in a smaller role, he could be in a situation similar to Chase Claypool, who has seen his targets diminish after Diontae Johnson came back. If Kittle is out for a large chunk of the season, Aiyuk might be able to keep his involvement and solidify his spot in the offense. However, Aiyuk was placed on the COVID/Reserve list on Wednesday, which means that he will miss his week 9 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. Expect him to be well-rested for the week 10 matchup against the Saints.

That’s it for this article. Check back before Sunday’s game to know all that you need to watch for in the week 9 matchups. 

Week 8 Preview

The NFL season is already almost halfway done. For a few teams like the New York Jets, this season is basically over. Others like the Miami Dolphins still have playoff hopes. This week features some amazing rivalry matchups, with the Steelers going to Baltimore to face the Ravens, the 49ers taking on Seattle, and of course Tua’s debut. Here’s what to look for in this week’s games.

Is Tua Tagovailoa actually better than Ryan Fitzpatrick?

The Dolphins made headlines when they took Tagovailoa with the 5th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The signal-caller out of Alabama could have potentially been the number one overall pick if it wasn’t for injury concerns. Tua now has additional pressure on his back as the Dolphins benched Ryan Fitzpatrick, who was arguably the best quarterback in the NFL. If Tua is able to perform better than Fitzpatrick, he could be on pace to potentially win Rookie of the Year. If not, the Dolphins might be very quick to bring back their veteran quarterback.

Can Big Ben step up against the Ravens?

Big Ben has had a shaky few years as QB. He’s struggled with interceptions and almost lost the game against Tennesse. As good as the Steeler defense is, they cannot beat the Ravens without the offense. The Ravens’ front seven is stacked with former Jaguars Calais Cambell and Yannick Ngakoue, and rookie LB Patrick Queen who I think could be the Defensive Rookie of the Year. This means that the Steelers will have to go to the air and utilize their trio of young receivers. Ben doesn’t need to do anything special in this game. He just needs to keep the ball moving and not give the ball away. If they do that, the Steelers should come out with the win.

Is it Brandon Aiyuk’s breakout game?

After gaining a lot of attention for his spectacular hurdle over Eagles’ safety Marcus Epps, Aiyuk has fallen out of the spotlight. He had a nice game against the Patriots last week, hitting the 100 yard milestone for the first time in his career. Aiyuk’s Niners will take on their division rival Seattle Seahawks this week. This is a good opportunity, as the Seahawks pass defense is horrendous. If Aiyuk can put up big numbers, he could become a sensation similar to DK Metcalf who had a monster year last year.

That’s it for this article. Don’t forget to check back to see my analysis of these games next week. If you have any thoughts on these players, let me know in the comments section.