NFL News & Notes 10/16/12

Turner & Rivers On Hot Seat After Monday Meltdown
If you missed the second half of Monday night’s Denver-San Diego tilt because you turned the game off at halftime with the Chargers up 24-0, no one could really blame you. The Broncos reeled off 35 consecutive points and San Diego QB Phillip Rivers turned the ball over five times in the game, including four interceptions. Rivers wilted in the biggest moment in a home game against the only team that will legitimately threaten them for the AFC West title and a playoff spot.

You really do have to question Rivers’ big game ability, but the person who will really come under fire this week is Bolts coach Norv Turner. How many years can he get away with his team underachieving? He and general manager AJ Smith have to be on short leashes this season, and Turner will certainly be on notice after a colossal meltdown like that.

On the other side, credit has to be given to Peyton Manning, Denver Head Coach John Fox and that defense for playing hard in the second half and pulling off a comeback like that. The Broncos were down by at least 20 points in each of their three losses, Atlanta, Houston and New England (not a bad trio of teams to fall to) and fought back to make it interesting in each one of them. This time San Diego helped them out a lot and the Broncos pulled it out.

News & Notes
-After three straight losses, Philadelphia has fired defensive coordinator Juan Castilloand replaced him with experienced defensive coach Todd Bowles, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Castillo was a former offensive line coach, who was questionably hired by Eagles coach Andy Reid before the 2011 season. After the Eagles disappointingly went 8-8 last season, it was a surprise when Reid kept Castillo on the staff. But Castillo unexpectedly got the ax the Tuesday after a comeback defeat to Detroit. ”Average isn’t good enough,” Reid said. “I know the potential of our team and insist on maximizing it.”

-The AP is reporting that Beyonce will perform the Super Bowl halftime show this February in New Orleans. I approve.

-The NFL loves to talk about the parity it has and how any team could make the playoffs in a given season. The AFC is currently a prime example of such parity, with Houston and Baltimore the only teams over .500 right now. The entire AFC East is 3-3 and the Texans and Ravens play each other on Sunday in the first important test of the Baltimore defense without Ray Lewis and Ladarious Webb.

-We knew that the Jaguars have signed up to play one home game in London over the next several years, with the 49ers as the likely opponent in 2013. Now NFL Network reports that the Vikings have agreed to play the second London game next year, and possibly beyond in a similar deal to what the Jaguars have. The plans will be discussed in the NFL owners meetings today in Chicago.

-A few more items on the docket in Chicago include voting in Jimmy Haslam as the new Cleveland Browns owner, the finalists for who will host Super Bowls 50 and 51 and the possibility of a three day “tampering window” before free agency so free agents could negotiate contracts with other teams.

-It wouldn’t be a News & Notes report without a Jets bullet point, so here goes. CB Darrelle Revis will have ACL surgery today, performed by the Giants’ team physician, and he should be jogging within 12-16 weeks. And after New York’s dominant win over Indianapolis on Sunday, head coach Rex Ryan is back to his brash braggadocio going into this weekend’s tilt against the Patriots. ”I want them to know — and they know — I think we’re going to beat them,” Ryan said. ”They’re going to get our best shot. We know we’re going to get theirs. It doesn’t matter who says what, because we’re going to be ourselves. We’re coming up there to take our swing. We’ll see if we land that punch to win the game.”

-Speaking of the Patriots, they have an interesting decision to make regarding their play calling. It’s obviously tempting to throw the ball around the yard with all the talented pass catchers Tom Brady has at his disposal, but the results signify that their pass-happy offense isn’t working. ESPN Stats & Info reports that New England is 3-0 when the run more than they pass and 0-3 when they pass more than they run. Interesting…