i just might get some sleep tonight
Week 17!
Five years ago yesterday, Eagles punter Donnie Jones forgot to remove his sweatpants before taking the field.
It’s like the opposite of a bad dream, where you’re wearing too little clothing.
Dreams, and more specifically, sleep, is a new frontier for the NFL. For many years, training and nutrition have been seen as the two pillars of elite athleticism. But a new science is emerging that is changing the way we think about sports performance: the science of sleep.
The Dolphins and Patriots have dark rooms at their practice facilities so players can take naps. Eagles players fill out a morning questionnaire on their tablets, self-reporting how long and how well they slept the previous night.
A good night’s sleep is directly tied to key factors such as reaction time, mental alertness, muscular recovery and converting what you’ve recently learned into memory.
One study found a 24 percent increase in heart attacks on the Monday after daylight saving time starts. Another found the risk of stroke is 8 percent higher on the two days following the time change.
Charles A. Czeisler, an American physician and sleep researcher, often shows players the results of a 2011 research article by Stanford’s Sleep Clinic, illustrating the effect of increased sleep on the university’s men’s basketball team:
While a small sample size, 11 healthy players were asked to extend their nightly sleep to at least 10 hours for a period of five to seven weeks. At the end, the players ran faster sprints, increased their shooting percentage and improved their reaction time by statistically significant margins.
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Numbers
1: A win today for the Eagles over the Saints would clinch both the NFC East and #1 seed in the NFC. It would also help their draft stock, as they own the Saints’ first-round pick in 2023, which is currently number 10 overall. Plenty of short- and long-term implications today.
49: After complaining about being sacked too much in Seattle, Russell Wilson now leads the NFL in being sacked 49 times with the Broncos in only 13 games.
64: Arizona’s David Blough and Las Vegas’ Jarrett Stidham will be the NFL’s 63rd and 64th different starting QBs this season. There have been only two other seasons in NFL history with at least 64 starting QBs: 2007 and the strike year in 1987.
14: Prescott and Carr may be leading NFL in INTs with 14, but Allen leads NFL in turnovers at 18, with 13 interceptions and 5 lost fumbles (on 13 total fumbles). Lawrence (7 INTs, 8 lost fumbles) also has more turnovers than Carr (14, 0) and same as Dak (14,1).
6.5: According to Stathead, Chargers RB Austin Ekeler in 2022 has the lowest yards per reception average (6.5) of any player in NFL history with at least 600 receiving yards. The next closest averaged 7.3 Y/R
2011 [TRIVIA]: Which Quarterback has, for the first time since 2011, double digit interceptions in a season?
Quotes
“I don’t have to live with that one anymore. Matt Ryan’s got it."
Warren Moon was happy to see the Vikings come back to beat the Colts two weeks ago in the biggest NFL comeback ever. Moon was with Oilers when they blew what was, the biggest lead: a 35-3 lead to Buffalo in 1992 playoffs.
“What people need to understand is we the big dog in the AFC. That’s just what it is. For anything to happen, it has to go through us.”
“Would I love to be coaching? Yeah. It kills me to go upstairs. I’m on the sideline in pregame and it kills me to have to go upstairs and just sit there….It’s hard…I’ve done it my whole life. I’m smart enough to know it’s over.”
Bruce Arians reflects on his Bucs Ring of Honor coaching career
“I ain’t gonna keep looking at these false statements about my boii russ man, as a teammate who sees the elite work ethic this man has is incomparable. He got an office because he’s committed his life to this game. I never had a teammate who motivate me more then russ 💯.
“Zach Wilson. Tua Tagovailoa. Mac Jones.”
Josh Allen’s sales pitch to Von Miller in March was a 3-line text message
“Then I called 911, tried to remain as calm as possible…I was just right place, right time.”
Buccaneers quarterback Blaine Gabbert helped rescue family from a helicopter crash via Jet Ski.
Picks
1pm
Saints (+5.5) at Eagles
The Saints have 34% of the bets and 81% of the money: +47% differential
Jaguars at Texans (+3.5)
The Texans have 37% of the bets and 77% of the money: +40% differential
Bears (+5.5) at Lions (O52.5)
The Bears have 48% of the bets and 89% of the money: +41% differential
49ers (-9.5) at Raiders
The 49ers have 81% of the bets and 85% of the money: +4% differential
Broncos at Chiefs (U45)
The Under has 59% of the bets and 79% of the money: +20% differential
4:25pm
Vikings at Packers (U47.5)
The Under has 37% of the bets and 44% of the money: +7% differential
Record
ATS: 53-56-2 (-7.77u)
O/U: 15-26 (-12.35u)
Highlights
