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 on quarterbacks anymore. Lending a sympathetic ear is none other than Mike Zimmer Youth Kirk Cousins Jersey , one of the biggest beneficiaries of the league's renewed emphasis on protecting the passer."It's pretty difficult," the coach of the Minnesota Vikings said. "You've got a target area the size of a strike zone."So, from the top of the knees to the armpits.No lower legs. No neck. No head."And then you can't fall on top of them," added Zimmer.So, they've got to break the quarterback's fall or at least do a "gator roll," where they basically pull the quarterback on top of them as they land.Do all that in the blink of an eye and there won't be a flag negating the game-sealing interception like Matthews was hit with Sunday, allowing the Vikings to escape Lambeau Field with a 29-29 tie instead of a loss.To be clear, the rule outlawing defenders from landing on the quarterback has been in the books since 1995, but the league's competition committee made it a point of emphasis this year.And while Matthews wasn't whistled specifically for that, the league's emphasis on roughing the passer appeared to play a role in the game-altering whistle that erased rookie Jaire Alexander's interception of Kirk Cousins with 1:37 remaining in the fourth quarter with Green Bay ahead 29-21.Referee Tony Corrente explained that when Matthews "hit the quarterback, he lifted him and drove him into the ground."Many critics didn't buy that explanation or the justifications for the more than 30 times roughing the quarterback has been called in the first two weekends of the season."I love the NFL - but it's crazy the #s being put up by QBs & WRs due to fact that D can't hit them anymore & can't lay hands on them downfield," tweeted Kurt Warner, the architect of the "Greatest Show on Turf" that put up its own big numbers."Everyone is running free the entire game (or it's a penalty)! Don't get me wrong I LOVE Offense, but better when it's a fair fight."Other takeaways from Week 2 include the realization that not even his grandma is safe from Jalen Ramsey's trash talk; Marquette King got the last laugh on Jon Gruden after the Broncos' 20-19 win over the Raiders; kickers who can't cut it get cut; and Vontae Davis gave new meaning to walking away from the game.GRANDMA GOT RAN OVERRamsey, the Jaguars star cornerback and one of the league's most outspoken personalities said he "definitely would" hit his grandmother if she lined up against him on the football field."To respect the game, you have to play it fierce," Ramsey said. "I don't believe in having friends on the field. I mean, my brother, my dad, my mom, grandma was out there, like it's on. After the game, we can be cool. It doesn't matter. That's how I feel, like, you've got to respect the game of football."Football is not a game meant to be played being nice to each other and all that, like kumbaya. After the game's over with, that's cool."Ramsey wouldn't really hit his grandmother, would he?"No, I definitely would," he said. "She knows that. My grandma knows that. I love you, but she knows that."Ramsey added that granny "might not get up from one of my licks."TIME FOR ME TO FLYInstead of a farewell game, Davis said farewell to the game, walking away during halftime of the Bills' loss to the Chargers.The 10-year veteran told his coach he was done and then didn't accompany his team back onto the field for the second-half kickoff.Bills linebacker Lorenzo Alexander said he'd never seen anything like it "in Pop Warner, college, pros, never heard of it, never seen it.""And it's just completely disrespectful to his teammates," Alexander added.After the game, Davis tweeted that he meant no disrespect to his teammates or coaches, saying, "This isn't how I pictured retiring from the NFL. ... But today on the field, reality hit me hard and fast. I shouldn't be out there anymore."CHEEZY CHUCKIEShortly after Brandon McManus' field goal with 6 seconds left allowed Denver to escape Gruden's bid for his first win in Denver http://www.thevikingsfootballauthentic.com/sheldon-richardson-jersey-authentic , the ex-Raiders punter trolled him on Twitter with a video that included a Chucky doll with dollars stuffed into his clothes, an unmistakable reference to Gruden and the 10-year contract he signed to return to the Raiders this spring.King was released by the Raiders on March 30 and quickly signed with Denver, saying he was eager to face Gruden twice a year. King said after signing with the Broncos that he hadn't spoken to Gruden before or after his release, and when he was asked about Gruden last week, he replied, "Who's that?"KICKED TO THE CURBAfter a weekend that included 19 missed kicks, two kickers lost their jobs Monday.The Vikings waived rookie Daniel Carlson after he missed all three of his field goal attempts, including two in overtime, in the tie game at Green Bay.When asked by a reporter how the decision was reached, Zimmer deadpanned, "Did you see the game?"The Browns released Zane Gonzalez after his four misses in New Orleans prevented Cleveland from winning for the first time since 2016. That came after his potential game-winning field goal in overtime was blocked by the Steelers in the opener.Gonzalez misfired on two extra points and two field-goal tries, including a 52-yarder in the final seconds, in the Browns 21-18 loss to the Saints.Some Browns fans weren't any more accurate than the wayward kicker when they vented at the wrong Zane Gonzalez on Twitter — a graduate assistant baseball coach at the University of Rio Grande who retorted, "Guys, I'm just a college baseball coach. Relax."To which one intrepid fan replied, "to be fair you didn't make those kicks today either." Week five has come and gone, and all of the Bizzaro-Football that plagued the division in the first few weeks seemed to have disappeared.Defenses that were supposed to be pretty good finally looked pretty good. Offenses that were thought to be some of the best moved the ball like they were some of the best.Referees didn’t make any didn’t make many made some really controversial calls.Kickers kicked the baaaaahhhh...nevermind.Same as it ever was.NFC North Division kickers Mason Crosby, Matt Prater and Dan Bailey combined to make just five of twelve kicks this weekend.Five. Of. Twelve.In Detroit, where the Lions outlasted the Packers 31-23, the kicking game proved to be fatal for Green Bay, as kicker Mason Crosby missed four field goals and an extra point in the game.With the loss, the Packers saw their record fall to 2-2-1, tied with the Vikings.Detroit improved to 2-3 with the win, but still hold last place in the division.The 3-1 Chicago Bears held on to the top spot in the division through their bye week. Chicago BearsBefore bringing up any of the usual type of nonsensical tidbits usually found in this column, I’m compelled to mention the name George Taliaferro, who passed away on Monday, October 8th.Taliaferro was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 13th Round of the 1949 NFL Draft - making him the first African-American player ever drafted into the league.Taliaferro never played a down for the Bears, but was a three time Pro-Bowler - for the New York Yanks, Dallas Texans, and Baltimore Colts.At the University of Indiana, he became the first African-American to lead the Big 10 Conference in rushing yards.Taliaferro was 91 years old.The big news in Chicago continues to be centered - rightfully so - around star Linebacker Khalil Mack.Mack won Defensive Player of the Month honors, racking up five sacks, four forced fumbles, and one touchdown - hey look! He’s right there with Chucky’s entire defense in Oakland!Apparently, the only other Bears news worth reporting is that Mitchell Trubisky wore an arm sleeve during his six touchdown performance versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.It is the only possible explanation as to how a quarterback like Trubisky could throw six touchdowns in a game.Mr. Biscuit explained the sleeve in a very Mitchel-y way, stating:Every kid in Chicago is right now begging mommy and daddy to run to DICK’s Sporting Goods to buy them an arm sleeve, so they can throw like a Biscuit, too.In fairness, I wrote this entire column while wearing an arm sleeve, and I believe the results are鈥?swaggy. In an earlier NFCN Recap column, I pointed out the fact that the Chicago Bears kept only seven offensive linemen on their final 53-man roster.Well, they’ve added a couple Womens Brett Jones Jersey , including Bryan Witzmann, recently cut by the Vikings.So far, though, the Bears’ line has been very solid, allowing the fewest QB pressures in 2018, according to PFF. The Bears will travel down to Miami this Sunday to take on Ryan Tannehill and the 3-2 Miami Dolphins.Not-afraid-to-make-a-prediction Prediction:Finally, a team that can give the Bears a run for their money.The Dolphins force Mr. Biscuit (no relation) back to earth, and Tannehill breaks through the Bears defense for the win.Detroit LionsThe following game recap of the Lions’ 31-23 victory over Green Bay is so perfect that I won’t add a thing.It is most definitely must-see-tv.Last week, I mentioned that Devon Kennard has been a quality find for the Lions defense.This week, he had yet another sack - his fifth sack in as many games - and a huge fumble recovery.Fans of his former team - the New York Giants - have begun to take notice.While the Minnesota Vikings can brag about having one of the best receiving duos in the league in Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs, the emergence of second year wideout Kenny Golladay (no relation) is giving Detroit some serious consideration for having the best trio in the game.Paired with Golden Tate and Marvin Jones, he’s begun to put up some stats worth comparing:But apparently, the Packers’ Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix isn’t a fan.Today’s lesson:Rivalries begin early.Teach your children well.Not-afraid-to-make-a-prediction Prediction:The Lions are on a bye this week, and will return in week seven to face the Dolphins, who may or may not be coming off a win versus the Bears.Matt Patricia will go pencil shopping and Kerryon Johnson will play a ton of video games.Green Bay PackersIt’s been a rough week on the interwebz for Mason Crosby - misser of field goals, doinker of uprights, changer of shoes.My personal favorite,And finally,One of the biggest stories in Packerland is the perceived misuse of running back Aaron Jones.Jones has had some success running the ball this year since returning from a two game suspension, but his snap count continues to frustrate Packer fans.It almost seems like Packers head coach Mike McCarthy is trying to send a message to his young running back. If he’s worried about pass protection, Jones has been doing a pretty good job with that, as well.From the Department of Disgruntled Employees:Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix is in the last year of his contract, and doesn’t see a future in Green Bay.Packer fans may or may not be heartbroken.In a Paul Allen-esque moment, former Packer James Jones’ homerism came through fully on NFL Network, recently.If you don’t feel like watching the video, Jones predicts 4-0 for the Packers - including two on the road in L.A. and New England in back to back weeks.Earlier in the season, Amazon Prime NFL Streaming became the first outlet to feature an all-female broadcast team.This weekend, Westwood One Radio will break ground with the first Father-Daughter duo.That’s right, former voice of the Minnesota Timberwolves Kevin Harlan will be joined by his daughter Olivia (@OliviaDekker) on the air Monday night when the Packers take on the San Francisco 49’ers.She’s... um, she’s quite fetching - as the kids today would say.Also,Wednesday was Brett Favre’s birthday, and I found this gem.The farther removed he is from his days as a Packer, the more I like him.If you get a chance to hear his segments on Sirius/XM NFL Radio, do yourself a favor and give it a listen.Happy Birthday, 4!Not-afraid-to-make-a-prediction Prediction: The ol’ reverse psychology worked last week, so we’ll try ‘er again this week!OF COURSE THE PACKERS WILL WIN!!It’s Monday night, at Lambeau, against a beat up 49’ers team.Two touchdowns, easy.