Monday Morning Digest: Big Ben's Burden, Rams Must Go Goff, Raiders on a Roll

NFL Week 9 taught us some simple lessons:

• The Steelers need a backup quarterback they trust, not Ben Roethlisberger climbing out of a hospital bed to try to save the day.

• The Dolphins need to run the ball with Jay Ajayi over and over again, even when they don't think it's working.

• Travis Kelce needs to remain calm and keep his towels to himself.

• Carson Wentz needs to stop throwing two interceptions per first quarter.

• The Browns need the 2017 draft to arrive as soon as possible.

• The Rams really, really need to quit messing around and put Jared Goff on the field.

All of this, plus squirrels and more, can be found in this week's edition of Monday Morning Digest!

Top Story: Rams Must Start Jared Goff Immediately, or Else

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Case Keenum's blooper reel is turning into an entire half-hour episode of NFL Follies.

Keenum had the ball poked right out of his hands and into the air by Thomas Davis during a sack in Sunday's 13-10 Rams loss to the Panthers. Luckily, Benny Cunningham caught the fumble to prevent a disaster.

Keenum threw a simple rollout pass in the second quarter that was so far off-target that boos rained down from the Los Angeles Coliseum crowd. "Tyler Higbee was within the hemisphere," announcer Kevin Burkhardt quipped, trying to identify the intended receiver.

Keenum wound up to throw a pass in the fourth quarter, changed his mind for some reason, switched hands and shot-putted a left-handed throw to Benny-on-the-Spot Cunningham.

Maybe Keenum heard the crowd calling for Tim Tebow and wanted to give them a southpaw thrill. What he could not give them was a win. On a day when the Rams defense so dominated the Panthers that any competent quarterback would have engineered a win, the Rams lost.

How much more of Keenum are Rams fans, football lovers and sane human beings expected to take?

Now is not the time to start Goff. Last month was the time to start Goff. After the four-interception London catastrophe and bye week was the time to start Goff. Now is long, long past the time to start Goff.

There is no good football reason to keep Goff on the bench. Oh, there are plenty of plausible-sounding-but-bad football reasons. Emily Kaplan itemized them in a recent MMQB feature: He's learning footwork and terminology, learning how to read defenses, adjusting from an Air Raid college offense with fewer adjustments and variables than the offense the Rams hypothetically run, and so forth.

Piffle, poppycock and balderdash. These are the same things every rookie quarterback must learn. None of them are left moldering on the bench while a third-string-caliber veteran pretends to be a switch-pitcher.

Either Goff is spectacularly unready, even by the standards of rookie quarterbacks, or the Rams have no idea how to properly develop him. Goff did not look spectacularly unready leaving Cal, no one on the Rams coaching staff has developed a quarterback in this millennium, and Kaplan quotes Rams coaches stating that they won't change their offensive scheme (masterpiece that it is) to acclimate the rookie. So this mystery of whether Goff or Jeff Fisher's staff is the problem doesn't seem all that hard to solve.

The Rams need to start Goff immediately. If he really cannot outperform Keenum, then it's an indictment of the brain trust that traded up to acquire him, one that should cost all of them their jobs. That may be precisely why Goff isn't playing. Better to bury the kid on the bench and be thought a fool for one more year than stick him in the lineup and remove all doubt.

That's the kind of reasoning that has kept the Fisher Rams under .500 for years. The only thing funny about it is Keenum's highlight reel.

Digestible Nuggets

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This week's nuggets are a roundup of what we learned from this week's "other" games, the ones not spotlighted elsewhere.

Chiefs 19, Jaguars 14. The Chiefs can win without Alex Smith and Jeremy Maclin as long as they face a team that loses three fumbles and whose quarterback has the throwing mechanics of one of those inflatable "dancing fan men" they use as decorations for the grand openings of check-cashing outlets.

Cowboys 35, Browns 10. Playing the Browns is like playing Madden against your nephew. Once you get past the three plays he mastered by beating the CPU in Sub-Rookie mode, you realize you can do whatever you want against him. After a while, that stops being fun, and you either start experimenting with weird plays, losing interest or just handing off to backups to run the clock because you feel sorry for him. The Cowboys did a little of all three in the second half.

Saints 41, 49ers 23. A typical Saints game: explosive offense, a defense so bad that a junior varsity soccer team could score 23 points on it. Chip Kelly should start interviewing for those college jobs now while he's still in demand.

Chargers 43, Titans 35. This is the ultimate "other" game. The Chargers are basically the Saints of the Southwest. The Titans are like Jerry Gary Larry Terry Gergich from Parks and Recreation: They can only perform well when no one is paying attention to them.

Colts 31, Packers 26: This is an unusual "other" game, as the Packers and Colts are two teams that always have storyline intrigue circling them and might end up spotlighted in a typical week.

But there are only so many times I can write "the Packers have a predictable offense, wide receivers playing running back and too many defensive injuries," only to spend the week answering the "What's wrong with Aaron Rodgers?" question on radio shows.

The Colts, meanwhile, usually mix a sloppy win or two per year against good teams with their sloppy wins against bad teams and many sloppy losses. In other words, this was business as usual for two teams that don't realize the prime seasons of franchise quarterbacks come in a finite supply.

Game Spotlight: Raiders 30, Broncos 20

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What Happened 

The Raiders delivered their biggest "statement" victory since 2002. They opened up a 13-0 lead on the strength of a defense that forced four straight three-and-outs and an offense that struggled to find the end zone but could do everything else.

Once the Raiders built a 20-10 halftime lead, punter Marquette King became the evening's unlikely superstar, pinning the Broncos on the 2- and 1-yard line with consecutive kicks, then celebrating with some on-field boogie that would make Cam Newton blush.

With field position and the score on their side, the Raiders relied on their backfield trio of Latavius Murray (pictured), DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard (211 total yards on 38 carries) to take control of the game. Murray's third touchdown, aided by a turnover and some pass-interference penalties, put the game out of reach.

What It Means 

The Broncos offense is a turtle on its back when it cannot generate first-down yardage, and the defense was not the same without cornerback Aqib Talib and lineman Derek Wolfe, who left the game with a hairline fracture in his elbow, according to Troy Renck of Denver7 News.

Seeing the Broncos unable to move the ball consistently was not surprising. Seeing them unable to stop the Raiders in the fourth quarter was more troubling. Last year's Broncos would have generated some late-game stops to save the offense. Those days appear to be gone.

Derek Carr was more efficient than spectacular, the Raiders secondary gives up too many big plays and the offense needs a red-zone strategy more sophisticated than throwing a bunch of fades and hoping for either a catch or a penalty.

Those are minor criticisms of the Raiders on the night of their most important victory in nearly a generation. Their offensive line can jam the ball down your gullet. The passing game has potential to be the league's best. The defense has brilliant stretches. And King is a special teams treasure.

The Raiders are the best team in the AFC West right now. They may be the second-best team in the AFC. The future we never thought would happen has arrived.

What's Next 

The Raiders get a bye week to enjoy this taste of success. The Broncos travel to New Orleans for a track meet.

Player Spotlight: Ben Roethlisberger, Quarterback, Steelers

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What He Did 

That man playing quarterback for the Steelers was not Ben Roethlisberger. He was some shaky, tentative, inaccurate checkdown passer who threw wobblers behind his receivers and had difficulty with basic swing passes.

The Roethlisberger impostor threw for just 50 yards in the first half, gave up an interception on a pass batted at the line (like the real Big Ben would ever let that happen) and executed a suspiciously arch-conservative and ineffective Steelers offense for three quarters.

Some late launches against a prevent defense made impostor Roethlisberger's stats look OK (264 yards, one touchdown, one rushing touchdown). But for three quarters, watching the Steelers quarterback was like a Batman comic book where Bruce Wayne was too injured to fight crime, so Alfred drove the Batmobile around to fool Gotham's criminals.

The Ravens weren't fooled. They won 21-14.

What It Means 

Roethlisberger had no business being out there. The Steelers knew it, which is why the early game plan was full of third-down running plays and other attempts to hide/shield a less than 100 percent healthy quarterback.

The Steelers have no excuse for getting themselves in the situation where they cannot trust Landry Jones (or some other backup) to beat a reeling opponent such as the Ravens. Sunday's loss was the result of bad planning and wishful thinking, and it muddies the team's playoff chances on a variety of levels.

What Happens Next 

Roethlisberger may have thrown himself back into shape during his fourth-quarter workout. If not, next week's visit from the Cowboys will be a long, frustrating afternoon.

Game Spotlight: Giants 28, Eagles 23

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What Happened 

After two Carson Wentz first-quarter interceptions led to two easy Eli Manning touchdown passes, the Eagles woke up and began outplaying the Giants on both sides of the ball. Unfortunately for Philly, three Eagles drives deep into Giants territory ended in two fourth-down stops and a blocked field goal.

Manning threw two more touchdown passes to give the Giants a 28-17 lead after the extra point, and they held on as the Eagles spent the fourth quarter driving into the red zone and stalling.

What It Means 

The Giants are a 5-3 team with the statistical profile of a 3-5 team. They can barely run the ball (54 yards Sunday), generate minimal pass rush (two sacks against the Eagles brought their season total to a league-worst 11) and have been outscored (161-164), outgained (340-371), out-time-of-possessioned (26:08 to 33:52), have lost the turnover battle (minus-seven) and been beaten in just about every statistical category except Memes Involving Sideline Equipment.

Coach Ben McAdoo played the "stats are for losers" card during the week (as James Kratch of NJ.com noted, among others). Either he's right and the Giants have discovered a magical formula for winning games without solid fundamentals and consistent play, or the Giants are due for a reality check. Guess which one we expect to happen.

For the Eagles, rookie coach Doug Pederson is as much a problem as rookie quarterback Wentz. Pederson's two fourth-down calls were a read-option and a telegraphed off-tackle run with an extra lineman playing fullback. Pederson made other strange decisions, like blowing a timeout on an extremely unlikely replay review.

As the Eagles fall off the playoff chase, both Pederson and Wentz must treat these close losses as learning experiences. Pederson also needs to maintain the trust and confidence of his veterans; Malcolm Jenkins called a players-and-coaches team meeting after the game, which is rarely the sign of a locker room brimming with joy.

What Happens Next 

The Cowboys run away with the NFC East.

Player Spotlight: Jay Ajayi, Running Back, Dolphins

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What He Did 

Ajayi followed up back-to-back 200-yard rushing efforts with a 24-111-1 performance in the 27-23 Dolphins victory over the Jets. But Ajayi's day was not as easy as the stat line would suggest.

He gained just 26 yards on 10 carries in the first half, 20 of them on one touchdown run, as the Jets stacked up to stop him and frequently penetrated the backfield. The Dolphins then entered one of those offensive fugue states that have plagued them for the last decade. They began passing on early downs, then giving the ball to Ajayi on 2nd-and-long, then passing again on 3rd-and-long.

The Jets came back to take a fourth-quarter lead, Jets-style. (Ryan Fitzpatrick looks terrible, Ryan Fitzpatrick gets clobbered and leaves game, Ryan Fitzpatrick heroically returns and briefly looks good.) 

Once Kenyan Drake gave the Dolphins back the lead with a kickoff-return touchdown, Adam Gase remembered Ajayi, who provided 45 yards on the final clock-killing drive.

What It Means 

This is simple, Dolphins:

RUN THE FOOTBALL.

You have a great run-blocking offensive line that isn't nearly as good at pass blocking and one of the best young running backs in the NFL. Run it with Ajayi. Run it with Damien Williams (who added a 23-yard rush) as a change-up.

Mix in some play action now and then, but only throw the ball on first down with the lead if nine defenders are in the box and there's a rookie cornerback playing 15 yards off Jarvis Landry. Don't abandon the run, even after a few stuffs, because you have spent five years proving that you cannot win games by passing.

What Happens Next 

If history is any guide, the Dolphins will abandon the run, starting next week against the Chargers. But perhaps Gase and Ajayi are the ones who finally end the cycle.

Unsung Hero of the Week: Tyrunn Walker, Defensive Tackle, Lions

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What He Did 

Tyrunn Walker blocked a fourth-quarter field goal in the Lions' 22-16 overtime victory against the Vikings. Pro Football Focus also credited Walker with three hurries and one deflected pass in a game dominated by defense.

What It Means 

Walker accepts this week's Unsung Hero notice as a role player on a team that is winning games thanks to its role players. Twelve different Lions have caught passes this season. Eight different defenders have recorded sacks. Nine different players have scored touchdowns.

Sunday's win was a solid three-phases effort against a tough divisional foe on the road. Matthew Stafford and the offense accomplished just enough, Walker and the D-line (with two sacks from Kerry Hyder) kept the Vikings from consistently moving the ball, and the special teams came through with clutch field goals, booming punts and Walker's block.

It's a far cry from the days when the Lions lived or died with Stafford, Calvin Johnson and Ndamukong Suh.

What's Next 

After the bye, a Lions playoff push begins with a visit from the Jaguars. Walker may not play the hero again. But chances are some teammate will raise his game.

Awards Digest

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Defensive Player of the Week: Thomas Davis brings this award to Carolina for the second straight week (Star Lotulelei won it last Sunday) for recording 10 solo tackles, one sack and a leaping interception against the Rams. Yes, interceptions of Keenum still count as great plays!

Special Teamer of the Week: Lions kicker Matt Prater wins for kicking 47-, 53- and 58-yard field goals, the last of which forced overtime against the Vikings. According to ESPN Stats & Info, Prater is 23-of-23 on game-tying or go-ahead field goals in the fourth quarter or overtime in his career. Take that, Adam Vinatieri! (Just kidding. Vinatieri is awesome, too.)

Offensive Line of the Week: The Raiders offensive line helped a three-headed backfield rush for 211 yards and held the Broncos to just two sacks. Let's hear it for Donald Penn, Kelechi Osemele, Rodney Hudson, Gabe Jackson and Austin Howard!

Anti-Offensive Line Award of the Week: This week, we're awarding a special offensive line demerit to the Panthers unit of Mike Remmers, Andrew Norwell, Gino Gradkowski, Trai Turner and Daryl Williams, aka the five guys who William Hayes and Aaron Donald kept tossing into Cam Newton's face. The Seahawks and Cardinals didn't play Sunday, Panthers, so your hapless line had no chance to blend in to the bad-blocking background.

Anemic Stat Line of the Week: It was a big week for small rushing averages:

• Second Runner-Up: Isaiah Crowell, Browns: six carries for four yards.
• Runner-Up: Jerick McKinnon, Vikings: seven carries for eight yards.
• Winner: Kenneth Dixon, Ravens: nine carries for 13 yards, plus two receptions for zero yards. It's the two-way contribution that makes an anemic stat line truly special.

Squirrel of the Week: A squirrel ran onto the field in the Colts-Packers game, and many memes ensued. The little critter ran around in circles for a while, eluded many would-be apprehenders but ultimately found itself in a net because it was all alone and unable to survive solely on its talent, skill and effort.

Somewhere in an oak tree, a squirrel talk-radio host is spinning a "What's Wrong with Aaron McFuzzytail?" narrative.

Fantasy Digest

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Winner: The Cowboys ran 70 offensive plays in their 35-10 win over the Browns, spreading fantasy goodness among Ezekiel Elliott (18-92-2), Dak Prescott (three passing touchdowns), Jason Witten (8-134-1) and others. The moral of the story: Start anyone playing the Browns.

Next week, for example, Terrance West, Steve Smith and Joe Flacco are good plays, assuming you aren't benching Elliott, Julio Jones and Tom Brady for them. Even backup running backs are decent emergency plays against the Browns: Alfred Morris went 17-56 this week when the Cowboys spent the fourth quarter updating software.

Losers: The Vikings offense is a fantasy nightmare these days. No running back has gained over 60 yards or scored a touchdown in three weeks. Sam Bradford has scattered three passing touchdowns to three receivers in three weeks.

New offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur is extra crafty in goal-line situations: a tight-end-around touchdown came after several fake reverses and other wrinkles on short-yardage plays. Also, Blair Walsh had a field goal blocked and missed an extra point. If you are starting Vikings in fantasy, it had better be their defense. 

Committee: DuJuan Harris now appears to be getting all the carries for the 49ers until Carlos Hyde returns. It's tempting to put Harris in the lineup because Kelly is so committed to both the run and passing to his running backs. But if Harris delivers a 13-carries-for-two-yards DeMarco Murray special in the near future, don't say we didn't warn you.

Leech: Rhett Ellison (pictured) was the tight end in question on the aforementioned Vikings touchdown. He has scored exactly one touchdown per year for the Vikings for the last four years: three receiving touchdowns and now one rush. No team has kept more fullbacks/H-backs/backup tight ends (Ellison, MyCole Pruitt, Zach Line, Chase Ford, etc.) employed in the leech business than the Vikings over the last four years.

Final Thoughts

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Kelce is a great player. He seems like a swell guy. He needs to be suspended for at least one week for what he did Sunday.

Kelce was interfered with in the end zone while attempting to catch a fourth-quarter pass. The defender looked like he was trying to climb onto Kelce's shoulders. Officials didn't throw a flag.

So Kelce went from official to official making an elaborate spectacle of his complaints. He got flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. So he turned and threw his hand towel at an official, who threw his cap, having already thrown his flag. Men's accessories were everywhere, and Kelce was sent straight to the locker room. He was acting so crazy that he was lucky they didn't send him to Arkham Asylum.

The no-call was terrible. Officiating seems extremely random and unpredictable this season. But Kelce needs to be suspended for at least one week for what he did.

The NFL's rules about end-zone celebrations are ridiculous and extreme. But this was not a celebration. It was a tantrum. Coming on the heels of Josh Norman's calling out a specific official who "sucked" in his postgame comments last week, Kelce's tantrum continues what should not become a trend.

No officials in any sport at any level should have any object thrown at them or be shown up like that. It's not even acceptable at the Pop Warner level. I don't mind if my sons dab or perform one of Kelce's celebratory dances when they play youth sports. But if they act like Kelce did toward an official, the PS4 is in my office for the rest of the month.

Kelce is not a bad person. His anger was not misplaced. And advocating harsh punishment from the NFL for end-zone behavior can lead to regrets when they decide to put someone to the rack for a too-suggestive touchdown twerk.

But what Kelce did was the definition of unacceptable unsportsmanlike conduct, the kind that cannot and should not be imitated by anyone or be allowed to become the NFL norm after a bad call.

It is why Kelce needs to be suspended for at least one week.