After Further Review: More evidence Monday night was rigged...

And no, two bobbled receptions commonly making the rounds on the Net aren't that evidence.

This helmet hit, however, IS...

Missed Call: The #Commanders should have been in scoring position after this nasty hit. Clearly, a defenseless Stefon Diggs. #49ers helping the refs at home https://t.co/WSgmAFZE9r

— FirstDownMedia (@FirstDownMediaa) October 20, 2026

Odds and Sods, October 20, 2026

• The LA Rams are the third outright Super Bowl favorite in 50 years to start the year at best 2-4.
• The Green Bay Packers have the worst rushing attack in the league by nearly 20 yards, and the third worst in 20 years.
• In a move that I think White Right America will LOVE snork, Roc Nation head Jay-Z has tapped himself to be the Super Bowl halftime entertainment this season.
• The Tennessee Titans fired Jordan Elliott for an incident at the team facilities last Thursday.  He was a reserve defensive tackle.
• Auburn has cut/fired Xavier Atkins, a star defensive back for the War Eagle before he was suspended from the team this week for undisclosed reasons.  Atkins has declared for the portal when the time comes.  Apparently a number of teammates had problems with Atkins.  I can think of about 1,000,000 reasons why Atkins was an issue.
• Even though they are the top teams in each league, both the Brewers and Rays are significant sportsbook liabilities, according to ESPN -- the Rays so much so that, should they win, they will tie the 1991 Minnesota Twins as the longest shots on the board to win the championship at 80-1 to start the season.

2026 Week Six Political Rankings and Dud of the Week Awards

Hopefully, I can keep it short this week...

AFC Politicals:

1) Kansas City

I thought Taylor was pissed off and didn't want to go to the game this week.  Oops.  KC wins one of the few blowouts this week to go to 5-0.

2) Buffalo

Back in it again.  And with Josh Allen being pimped to be NFL MVP so far this year, who knows how far that might go!  Buffalo and Kansas City play the Thanksgiving nightcap, in case you are wondering.

3) Cleveland

One week after the DeRapist Rapist Redemption Tour went off and the Amazon Thursday Night crew was made to look like an ass, the Tour is back on, ugly as that win might've been.  Cleveland is one of SIX 4-2 teams, including three in the AFC North.  They have the tiebreaker over Baltimore and Pittsburgh.

On the way up:

Most of the rest of the 4-2 morass.  As just said, six AFC teams are now 4-2, constituting the leads of the North and South divisions and all three wildcards, and another team!

DUD OF THE WEEK AFC DISHONORABLE MENTIONS:

Miami.  Well, at least you didn't lose this week.  You also didn't play.

Jacksonville.  Wot?  Just...  wot?

NFC Politicals:

1) San Francisco.  Let's start with an "After Further Review"...

Fred Warner AGAIN leading with the helmet. No penalty… https://t.co/D9v1HcHl35

— Tiller56 (Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) October 20, 2026

And that, apparently, wasn't the only one.  Especially after the Arizona/Rams call, you'd THINK they'd have that looked at by now.  That is, unless we are pimping the 49ers as the main NFC choice -- but, after the Jed York prostitution bust and suspension, does the NFL really wanna go THERE?

2) Carolina

by a hair over...

3) Minnesota.

And that's Donald Trump talking more than anyone else.

4) Chicago

Last week's fart notwithstanding, the move to Indiana is at least getting Chicago discussable.

On the way up:

Green Bay.  But after some of the early season, I'm not going to be convinced about this three-game winning streak (and two very decent performances at Lambeau) until we get through @DET, CAR, @NE, MIN, with the Bills looming.  There is plenty of pimp still in Green Bay if Micah's return gets the rocket put on the push:  They play both the day before Thanksgiving and Christmas Day in national streaming specials on Netflix.

NFC DUD OF THE WEEK DISHONORABLE MENTIONS (not otherwise discussed):

None.  All the NFC considerations will be folded into the Silver and Gold Medals.

AND NOW, THE MEDALS FOR NFL DUD OF THE WEEK THIS WEEK:

BRONZE MEDAL:  Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard

Or, should I say, FORMER Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard.

Their last division title was in 2014.

Their last playoff victory was in 2018.

Their last playoff appearance was in 2020, and they don't look to be anywhere close.

Since his hiring during the 2016-17 NFL Playoffs, Ballard's Colts have two playoff appearances, one win, and a regular-season record of 73-79-1.  A large-scale shakeup is being forecast, and I can't say I blame them.

SILVER MEDAL:  I'm giving two this week.

CJ Gardner Johnson for continuing to show what an unsportsmanlike punk-ass bitch he is.  Received his fourteenth NFL disciplinary action today when he was suspended a game for spitting at the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Los Angeles Experiment.  2-10 between them, both wins by the Rams.  As of the end of Week Six, the Arizona Cardinals have more wins at SoFi Stadium than the Los Angeles teams do.  Los Angeles teams:  One of them was favored to win the Super Bowl, the other favored to go to the playoffs and possibly go a fair distance.  Two of the largest-scale disappointments of this season so far.  Fuck You, Spanos.

GOLD MEDAL:

THE NFC LEAST.

If for no other reason, this one:  It is reported that this is the first time since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 that an entire division playing every game both weeks has not won any games in those two consecutive weeks.

Philly might have at least some excuse:  Jalen Hurts' blood-clot situation has worsened.  They found some being thrown into his lungs now, so he's probably out the year, if not longer.

Dallas?  How bout them Dallas Cowboys...  Cheerleaders?  Will someone get them off the field please?  With their hot legs, they're beating the Cowboys 12-7.

At least they can't make it three.  The Commanders get their bye this week.

2026 Week Six Score Report

• Scoring down this week.  608 points in the 14 games.  43.42 per game.
• Season:  4,292 points in 93 games.  46.15 per game.
• 1,483 penalties in the 93 games.  Almost 16 a game.
• Interesting statistic:  Of the seven teams with the most penalties accepted against this season, three lead their divisions (Cleveland (2nd), Buffalo (5th), Carolina (7th)), one more would be in the playoffs (Green Bay (1st) -- would be first wild-card in the NFC right now), and one would face a tiebreaker for the last spot (Baltimore (6th) -- out, losing divisional tiebreaker to Pittsburgh for the AFC #7).
• Home teams were 6-7 this week, and needed Kansas City, the Sunday nighter, and the Monday nighter to get THAT.  46-41-1 for the season, 10-16-1 in the last two weeks.
• Another historic stat...  That I will get in my Gold Medal Dud of the Week.
• Only Green Bay, Kansas City, and Carolina could win their games by more than 8 points, and the Carolina game was competitive, so only 2 non-competitive games out of the 14 this week.
• Season:  59/93 within one score.
• And again, now the fun part:
• Cliffhangers:  ELEVEN different ties/lead changes in the final 2 minutes or overtime in just 5 games.  40 such scores in 22 games this season so far.
• Last Chance Misses:  Six in four games.  38 games have had at least an opportunity to win the game go by the boards in the last two minutes or ending overtime.
• Multiples
• Double Cliffhanger in Denver, tying field goal Seattle at 3 seconds of regulation.  Winning field goal for Denver halfway through the extra session after a Seattle pick inside their own 30.
• Double Cliffhanger in London.  Jacksonville with a tying 60-yard field goal with 1:55 to go, only to get hit at the gun for the winner for Houston.
• A FIVE-BAGGER as the Bullshit is Real for Pittsburgh over Tampa.  After Pittsburgh being down 16-3 in the fourth quarter...
• Tying 55-yard field goal for Pittsburgh 1:58 of regulation. (16-16)
• After a turnover, another field goal for Pittsburgh at 1:21.  (19-16)
• A 53-yard field goal for Tampa to send it to overtime at 8 seconds.  (19-19)
• Pittsburgh wins the toss and goes 70 yards in 6:45 for the game-winner.  (26-19)
• And Tampa has the ball at about the Pittsburgh 40 when the quarterback is sacked on 4th down to end it.
• Double Cliffhanger in LA.  Touchdown pass for LA Rams to go up 16-15 at 47 seconds, and that penalty everybody's talking about (especially with an egregious non-call tonight!!) leading to the Cardinals winning it at the gun.
• Double Last Chance Miss for the Commanders against the 49ers.  4th down miss inside the 20 at 1:54, and an intentional grounding and a sack end the game after they got the ball to the 49er 28.

2026 Week Six Supplemental Discipline Blotter

Buffalo:  Chauncey (CJ) Gardner-Johnson has just spit his way to a one-game suspension.

This is Gardner-Johnson's THIRD league disciplinary action this season, and he also has one strike on his Points of Emphasis suspension blotter.

It is also his third career ejection.  Since his 2019 career start, this is his FOURTEENTH career league disciplinary action, according to Spotrac:

• October 2019:  Roughing the Passer
• December 2019:  Blow to the Head
• November 2020:  Fighting (his first ejection)
• December 2020:  Unsportsmanlike
• The next week in December 2020:  Another unsportsmanlike
• Playoffs that same season:  Another fighting situation, both of the fighting fines against Chicago.  That's FOUR that season -- two fightings, two unsportsmanlikes.  Traded to Philadelphia after this season.   
• Super Bowl LVII:  Helmet foul.  Released and then returned after a year in Detroit.     
• September 2024:  Taunting
• The next week in September 2024:  THREE OFFENSES:  A late hit and two taunting fines, totalling over $45,000.
• December 2024:  TWO MORE TAUNTING OFFENSES, these were both flagged and resulted in his second ejection, costing him ANOTHER $45,000.  Traded to Houston after this season -- it looks like Philly saw enough after SIX 2024 disciplinary actions.   
• Bounced around the league last year, largely on practice squads, from Houston to Baltimore to Chicago, then got signed by Buffalo.   
• September 2026:  Earned a Points of Emphasis Strike and a fine for a hip-drop tackle.
• Last Week:  Striking, etc.
• This Week:  His third ejection and first NFL suspension for spitting.

This guy's a problem.  And I don't think this went far enough.  To me, his standing record should've made this, at minimum, a two-game suspension appealed to one, if not THREE.

After Further Review: Roughing the Passer, on EVERYBODY!!

In changing to update my other post to make sure that I got it accurate that it now had video, I made reference to a lot of what might be considered, by some, ticky-tack fouls.

I want to show you at least two Roughing the Passer calls on the Packers last night.  Before I do that, watch this video from the NFL regarding the RTP rule (especially the quotation at about 10 seconds)...

And keep in mind:  That means ANY UNWARRANTED PHYSICAL ACT.

Got it?  OK.  On to last Sunday night's game:

Lukas Van Ness Was Called For This Roughing The Passer On Dak Prescott, Soft League Man. The Packers Edge Rusher Gets Flagged On A Hit That Barely Looked Like A Foul. Soft. 😬 https://t.co/N03KhdYJBp

— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) October 19, 2026

Lucas Van Ness of the Packers is flagged for an automatic first down midway through the fourth quarter with the Pack up 23-7.

Again, I want to stress the rule:  ANY UNWARRANTED PHYSICAL ACT.  And this would probably qualify -- it's two steps or so after the release of the ball.  Even the light shove is unwarranted.

Later in the same drive, this for Karl Brooks:

Karl Brooks Called For Roughing The Passer On Dak Prescott, This Is Textbook For NOT A Roughing The Passer, As He Didn’t Go Down With All His Body Weight And Had Only His Arm. The Packers Defensive Tackle Gets Flagged On A Clean Hit That Should Never Have Been Called. Not Roughing. 😬

— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) October 19, 2026

The initial hit is fine. The problem is Brooks' hand appears to get around Prescott's neck or face mask by the time he takes Prescott to the ground. That is also Roughing the Passer.

The Packers got flagged for three automatic first-down penalties on that drive, as part of four against the Packers in the game and seven overall.  The Cowboys could not capitalize, losing the ball on downs with less than six minutes to go.

Here's one in the San Diego game with Justin (S)Herbert:

This negated a Chiefs interception, and, again, you see some slight helmet contact there.  Given the NFL's "protect the quarterback at all cost" provision, that's also Roughing the Passer.

This took away a Chiefs INT for “roughing the passer.” The @NFL officiating is absolutely broken. Even Justin Herbert was walking off the field because he thought the penalty was against the Chargers.🙄 https://t.co/Uk2jnHJ7rf

— Shannon✨Stargazer (@1776Whispers) October 18, 2026

We'll find out about these and several others, probably, on Saturday.

After Further Review: Have We Got Another Investigatable Foul?

The Rams are now 2-4.  And it sounds like the game was rigged AND deliberately thrown by the Rams.

Touchdown Rams for 16-15 at 47 seconds.

Then the kickoff goes into the end zone and comes out to the 35.  Remember, all Arizona needs is a field goal.

Then, 41 seconds left, a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty by Josh Wallace puts them in field-goal range.

UNREAL PERSONAL FOUL WHAT DO YOU WANT HIM TO DO??? https://t.co/L4XLXmZw0W

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) October 18, 2026

Not the hardest in the world, but it is shoulder to the head of a defenseless player -- that will be a strike for suspension too. The call IS correct.

Field goal at the gun for the Double Cliffhanger and 18-16 to Arizona.

This has been a week with a number of questionable calls, to the general public, vis-a-vis head contact.