The Steelers receiver tweeted this Sunday before their matchup against the Saints.
A lot on the line this week. The whole season comes down to this. Yes, I’m talking about the fantasy football championship round. Of course I’m playing Sunday!!! Theres no way I can let down the real ones who believed in me by drafting me!! Let’s get it!! 🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/6YntwS4lpD
Usually NFL players don’t care about fantasy but JuJu is well aware that normal Joes had a lot on the line Sunday. Overall, Schuster had a monster game with 11 catches and 115 yards. His one mistake, though, potentially cost the Steelers a spot in the playoffs.
The Saints force the fumble on JuJu Smith-Schuster to end the game
For a guy to battle a groin injury all week to not only play in the biggest game of the season but recognizing, even though it shouldn’t matter, that fantasy owners were counting on him only to cough up the game sealing fumble is heart wrenching and a reason we love the NFL.
JuJu owned up to his fumble and took responsibility for the loss.
I know we live in a time, especially in the NBA, where fans hate seeing so much friendliness among competitors but I really do enjoy athletes reaching out to each other on public platforms. Twitter can be a dark place, especially when all guns are pointing at you, and to see someone who’s been there before (Lord knows Odell has been there PLENTY of times) reach out for support is a great sign of humanity.
Back to the Steelers; in order for them to make the playoffs a few things need to happen.
They need to beat the Bengals on Sunday and the Browns need to beat the Ravens and get in as AFC North champions. The way Baker has been lighting it up the second half of the season it’s not that far of a stretch.
OR
The Colts and Titans needs to end in a tie and they get in as the sixth seed.
Not impossible odds but a little luck will be needed if JuJu will have the opportunity to redeem himself in January.
Also, it’s a good thing AB got his money because it’s clear that JuJu is going to evolve into Pittsburgh’s number one receiver, and soon.
Second Down
The Eagles beat the Texans on Sunday to keep their playoff hopes alive. Houston has already clinched a playoff berth but the loss really puts them in danger of losing the division and becoming a wild card team. The Eagles need a little luck themselves if they want a chance to repeat as champions. They need to beat Washington on Sunday and pray the Bears play their starters and beat Minnesota.
Now that we’ve covered that let’s get into Jadeveon Clowney‘s dominance Sunday.
We all know Clowney; he’s the guy that murdered some kid from Michigan on national television.
Anyway, Sunday Clowney dominated Eagles swing tackle swing tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai. Michael Kist (one of the absolute best in the business) posted a few videos of Clowney eating Vaitai’s lunch.
Philadephia’s second round pick Dallas Goedert has been surprisingly good at blocking this year. It’s still a bad idea to not give him some help against Clowney.
Jadeveon Clowney's strip-sack leads to Deshaun Watson's 5-yard TD run. Asking Dallas Goedert to go 1-on-1 against Clowney isn't what you're looking for. pic.twitter.com/XI5h2HwHW6
This is one of my favorite moves to see and hard to develop. Clowney lines up as if he’s going to go for the outside rush then slides back inside for the tackle. Call it the euro-step for NFL lineman.
As much as I gush over Khalil Mack and Aaron Donald it’s amazing to watch Clowney put his fingerprints all over games week after week. The Texans should get more national games for that alone.
There’s a reason he’s going to his third pro-bowl.
Third Down
The Cardinals stink, like really stink. So much so that they’re considering firing their head coach, Steve Wilks.
Here’s the thing. You hired Wilks a year ago to help rebuild your team. The key word in that sentence is rebuild…meaning they weren’t good to begin with. Josh Rosen‘s rookie year has had more downs than ups but there’s still time to develop.
Especially if you get him a few more weapons. Right now teams focus on David Johnson and daring Fitzgerald and Rosen to beat them. That’s not going to happen often if at all.
If you hire a coach to rebuild then give the man time to do so. What coach is going to want that job knowing they may get canned after one year? It’s no secret that the nature of the NFL ensures that job security is obsolete but it is kind of an unwritten rule that a rebuilding coach gets at least three years to change the tide.
Fourth Down
I don’t know if you know this but I’ll inform you just in case.
The Seahawks are coming.
Seattle beat the Chiefs 38-31 Sunday night and clinched a playoff spot. Mahomes had a great game throwing for 273 yds and three touchdowns but Wilson did matched him for 271 yds and three touchdowns as well.
The Seahawks are kind of weird.
While the rest of the league has morphed into this pass happy machine Pete Carroll still keeps it the old way; running the football and playing great defense. Chris Carson carried the ball 27 times for 116 yards and two touchdowns. Only seven other running backs got 20 carries or more and Only Adrian Peterson got over 25 carries (26).
This is the kind of football that travels; and Seattle is going to need it.
As of now they would play Dallas in the first round. Two teams that run the football and play great defense. The thing in Seattle’s favor, and it’s a damn good thing to have, is a battle tested, Super Bowl winning quarterback.
This team will go only as far as Wilson can take them. If you’re a Hawks fan that’s comforting because he can take you a loooonnnggg way.
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