After Green Bay's big win over New England, Chris Harris Jr. and Emmanuel Sanders break down how Jordan Love, Christian Watson and Matthew Golden attacked Christian Gonzalez, plus CeeDee Lamb's 195-yard day and Shedeur Sanders' first start for Cleveland.
Key takeaways from the Packers' win over the Patriots
Emmanuel Sanders says teams can't play Green Bay in man coverage, because Matt LaFleur's bunch and stack sets are built to beat it.
Chris Harris Jr. thinks Jordan Love belongs in the MVP race with Josh Allen if he keeps playing like this.
Christian Watson had 171 yards one week after leaving a game in an ambulance, and Sanders said he was playing through a broken rib.
Harris is dropping Christian Gonzalez down his cornerback rankings after giving up big plays to two receivers, but expects him to bounce back.
Both hosts say Shedeur Sanders played well in his first start but shouldn't take the job from Deshaun Watson.
Week 9 stat lines discussed on the show
Player | Team | Stat line |
|---|---|---|
Jordan Love | Green Bay Packers | 23 of 29, 372 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, 1 rushing TD |
Christian Watson | Green Bay Packers | 7 catches, 171 yards, 1 TD |
Xavier McKinney | Green Bay Packers | 2 interceptions |
CeeDee Lamb | Dallas Cowboys | 16 targets, 10 catches, 195 yards, 1 TD |
Shedeur Sanders | Cleveland Browns | About 300 passing yards, 2 TDs, 5 sacks taken |
Watch the full Quick Slant
On this Quick Slant from The Matchup, former NFL cornerback Chris Harris Jr. and former NFL receiver Emmanuel Sanders react to Week 9. They break down how the Packers beat Christian Gonzalez and the Patriots' man coverage, Christian Watson's big day through a rib injury, CeeDee Lamb's 195 yards in Dallas' win over the Colts, Shedeur Sanders' first start against the Saints, and Norfolk State's late fumble against North Carolina Central.
[Embed the YouTube video here]
0:34 Cowboys beat the Colts and the 30-yard celebration penalty
1:57 Is George Pickens earning his money? CeeDee Lamb's 195 yards
3:55 Jordan Love's near-perfect game and how Green Bay beats man coverage
5:49 Drake Maye's struggles, Xavier McKinney's two interceptions and Love's MVP case
7:17 Christian Watson's 171 yards through a broken rib
7:53 Was it on Christian Gonzalez?
9:09 Should Shedeur Sanders start in Cleveland?
13:32 Norfolk State's late fumble and Michael Vick
Cowboys beat the Colts and the 30-yard celebration penalty (0:34 to 1:57)
The episode opens with Dallas' win over the Colts, and a celebration that went too far. After a fumble recovery, a man in Cowboys gear, shades and chains ran about 30 yards onto the field and cost Dallas a 15-yard penalty.
"I'm trying to figure out what the hell was he thinking running out there on the field," Sanders said. Harris said he wouldn't be surprised if the league fines him, since there's a difference between celebrating on the edge of the sideline and running onto the field.
Is George Pickens earning his money? CeeDee Lamb's 195 yards (1:57 to 3:55)
Harris asked whether George Pickens is earning his money in a contract year. "Nah, he's not," Sanders said, before pointing to CeeDee Lamb, who had 10 catches for 195 yards and a touchdown on 16 targets.
Sanders said the game shouldn't have been that close against a Colts team that looks focused on next year. He sees confusion and players out of place on the Cowboys' young defense, and wants Dallas to simplify things so its players are thinking less.
Harris agreed and praised Caleb Downs for a game with a sack, an interception and pass breakups, saying a first-round pick needs to take over games like that. "Salute that boy CeeDee Lamb," he added, calling Lamb consistent and All-Pro level all year.
Jordan Love's near-perfect game and how Green Bay beats man coverage (3:55 to 5:49)
Jordan Love went 23 of 29 for 372 yards and three touchdowns and added a rushing score. Sanders said the Patriots play man coverage 35 to 40% of the time, and Matt LaFleur's receivers know exactly how to beat it.
He walked through the Christian Watson play that was blamed on Christian Gonzalez. New England tried to handle a bunch set by having its outside defenders play in and out, Green Bay answered with a whip route and a corner route, and Gonzalez was left in a bind.
"You cannot play Green Bay man to man. I'm talking to all NFL teams," Sanders said. When the Patriots switched to quarters, the Packers beat that too, with Watson getting over the top on a post. Sanders called the Packers dangerous, especially once their defense comes together, and said the whole NFC North looks tough.
Drake Maye's struggles, Xavier McKinney's two interceptions and Love's MVP case (5:49 to 7:17)
Harris said Drake Maye is having a letdown season after taking New England to the Super Bowl, pointing to a league-leading 11 interceptions. Xavier McKinney added two more for Green Bay.
"If Love can play like he played yesterday, it's going to be tough to knock them boys down or to say he's not the MVP," Harris said, putting Love in the race with Josh Allen because he was getting the ball out on time and stretching the field.
Harris said Watson is hard to guard as a 6-foot-5 speedster who doesn't need to run precise routes, while Matthew Golden brings a different kind of speed. "Watson's going to be a problem. He's starting to get it," he said, adding that Green Bay will be tough to deal with once Micah Parsons is back.
Christian Watson's 171 yards through a broken rib (7:17 to 7:53)
Watson finished with seven catches for 171 yards and a touchdown, one week after he left the Panthers game in an ambulance and came back to make catches.
"The guy just had 171 yards while playing with a broken rib," Sanders said. Having broken a rib himself, he knows how much it hurts. "He was out there balling like it was nothing," he said, joking that he's not sure what the new NFL is putting in these guys.
Was it on Christian Gonzalez? (7:53 to 9:09)
Harris said Watson's size and speed and Golden's quickness make the pair a tough matchup for any corner. Gonzalez, the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL, gave up close to 100 yards across two receivers and gave up touchdowns.
"I've been cooked by one receiver, but I ain't never been cooked by two," Harris said. He's dropping Gonzalez down his list, but hasn't given up on him and expects a bounce-back game. He warned that Love will exploit any flaw in a corner's technique.
Sanders defended Gonzalez in part, saying Green Bay's bunch and stack sets make life hard on any corner, and that if Gonzalez and the defender next to him don't communicate, "you're going to be in a world of trouble."
Should Shedeur Sanders start in Cleveland? (9:09 to 13:32)
Shedeur Sanders made his first start against New Orleans with Deshaun Watson in concussion protocol. Sanders asked Harris about Bill Cowher's take that Shedeur should be the Browns' starter.
"I think it's a bad take right now," Harris said. He liked Shedeur's game, with nearly 300 yards and two touchdowns, but pointed to five sacks, holding the ball a bit too long and Watson's winning record.
Sanders agreed, even as a fan. "The NFL is better when I can turn the TV on and watch Shedeur play quarterback," he said. "But as far as being a starting quarterback in Cleveland, nah." He said Shedeur should care more about winning than yards: "I'd be more happy about 180 with the W."
Both praised his big throws, including one to Jerry Jeudy while taking a big hit from Chase Young, and Shedeur's comments about learning from Watson. Sanders said the ceiling is high and he expects Shedeur to start for some team eventually. Harris named Atlanta and Miami as teams that might try to trade for him, and said Todd Monken might also want to keep him.
Norfolk State's late fumble and Michael Vick (13:32 to 16:39)
Norfolk State lost to North Carolina Central after head coach Michael Vick called for victory formation with a minute and 34 seconds left. Instead, a play was called, the quarterback ran, fumbled, and Central went down and scored to win.
Harris said if the offensive coordinator changed the call, "I would have to let him go." Sanders said it's also on the quarterback, who ran left with the ball in his right hand. Both said they're rooting for Vick, and Harris called it a stain on the resume of a coach trying to move up, while noting HBCU programs don't have the same resources.
Packers vs. Patriots questions answered
How did Christian Watson play against the Patriots?
Christian Watson had seven catches for 171 yards and a touchdown in Green Bay's win over New England, one week after leaving the Panthers game in an ambulance. Emmanuel Sanders said Watson was playing through a broken rib.
What did Chris Harris Jr. say about Christian Gonzalez?
Chris Harris Jr. said he's dropping Christian Gonzalez down his cornerback rankings after he gave up big plays to Christian Watson and Matthew Golden, but he expects Gonzalez to bounce back.
Should Shedeur Sanders start over Deshaun Watson for the Browns?
Chris Harris Jr. and Emmanuel Sanders both said no. They liked Shedeur Sanders' first start against the Saints, but said Deshaun Watson has earned the job with a winning record.
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