Four Down Territory: Bubble Up
First Down
The NFL, like everyone else in the world, is dealing with a pandemic. It’s popped up a few times this year and even caused some rescheduling issues but week 12 was or should be, the breaking point. The obvious team(s) affected are the Ravens and Steelers but more on them later.
Let’s focus on what happened in Denver.
Sunday, against the Saints, the Broncos had zero quarterbacks availalbe.
All the QBs on the Broncos' roster are ineligible to play Sunday against the Saints after being deemed high-risk, close contacts, sources tell ESPN.
None were wearing masks at the time of exposure, per source.— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 28, 2020
Denver pulled the ultimate rabbit out of the hat by elevating Kendall Hinton. A practice squad WR that played QB in college.
The Broncos lost 31-3 and Hinton went 1/9 for 13 yards and 2 interceptions but if it’s worth anything the Saints also played without a QB so it is possible.
The situation in Denver is only the tip of the iceberg compared to what’s happening in Baltimore. Currently, the Ravens have 21 players on the Reserve/COVID-19 list which include Lamar Jackson, Matthew Judon, and Mark Andrews.
The Steelers and Ravens were orginally supposed to play Thanksgiving night then the game was pushed to Monday. Now it’s Wednesday afternoon.
As it stands JK Dobbins and Mark Ingram will be eligible to play; they were placed on the COVID-19 list on 11/23.
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The Ravens outbreak started because a strength coach didn’t take COVID seriously.
Both situations are different but the Steelers and Broncos have every right to be angry right now. The Steelers have now been indirectly affected by team outbreaks twice this year. Once against the Titans and now the Ravens. They have to pay the price for other teams innability to stop the spread of cornavirus.
Reports like this also don’t help the optics.
The Broncos found out Saturday they had to play an NFL game without a quarterback. The game wasn’t postponed and the Broncos had to adjust. For that, they should be angry at the NFL for appearing to bend over backwards for the Ravens.
The NFL, overall, hasn’t done a really good job this season navigating the pandemic. No league, outside of the NBA and WNBA, has done a good job if we’re being honest.
What separates the Associations from the others?
That’s right, a bubble.
Earlier this year we spoke about how it’d be almost impossible to create a bubble for all 32 teams but we’re about to start week 13 and have a solid idea of teams that can make the playoffs and teams that are looking forward to the draft. It’s more feasible now to pause the season for two weeks while the bubble is created then invite teams that are currently in.
That is, if the NFL has been doing their homework on a possible bubble(s) but lol of course they haven’t.
The NFL can have a play-in game between the 8th and 9th seed in each conference and go from there. It’ll create a better product for fans and it’s the responsible thing to do.
You see, you wouldn’t have to do this if a bubble existed.
Now I understand that I’m taking a very complicated problem and giving a very simple solution but the NFL really needs to find an alternative way to finish the season. Right now they’re just kicking the can and one day soon it’s going to cost them.
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