My Drink of the Week: Dallas Cowboys Midnight Cowboy Cocktail

Well that was an interesting Week 6. The Rams got manhandled by an impressive 49er defense. The Jets appear to be competitive with Darnold behind center (while the Cowboys continue to struggle), the Chiefs dropped another game as Mahomes looked relatively human, the Redskins and Dolphins decided someone had to actually win, the Chargers look worse with Gordon back and Kirk Cousins decided to finally show up to the 2019 season. My apologies for missing Week 5 as your Barkeep was on the IR with a bit of a bug. I couldn’t mix up a drink of the week for the guys this week, so they decided to do some vodka and rum shots. You know how that turned out. If you didn’t see it, or your imagination is turned off for the day, you can catch it here:

Kirk Cousins (MIN)
Apparently being called the weakest link is exactly what Kirk Cousins needed to prove he is worth $88 million. It may have taken 6 weeks but Cousins finally showed up to the 2019 season. Stud wide receivers Adam Thielen and Stephon Diggs (and an entire Minnesota fanbase) breathed a sigh of relief for at least a week as Cousins delivered his best game of the season. Over the past two weeks, Cousins has thrown for 639 yards, 6 TDs and 1 INT while the Vikings have scored 69 points. I’ll gladly take care of your tab, but I have a feeling I’m not the first in line for that this week.
Blitzed Stats: 22 of 29, 339 yds, 4 TDs, 1 INT

Stephon Diggs (MIN)
On the receiving end of Cousins day was one disgruntled star pass catcher, who blew up in a serious way. Trade rumors flying, Diggs played street ball and had a field day against a loose Philadelphia secondary that forgot just how good Diggs can be. Time and again the Eagles secondary left Diggs wide open to the tune of 7 catches for a whopping 167 yards. For Vikings fans, I hope this is just the beginning. Shots all around for Vikings fans this week, on me.
Blitzed Stats: 7 rec, 167 yds, 3 TDs

Sam Darnold (NYJ)
0-4. 23 points combined in the games he missed with mononucleosis. Laughing stock of the NFL. Back comes Darnold and promptly 21 points are put in the first half alone. Not only that, but the Jets come away with their first victory of the season against a team that many considered to be a Super Bowl contender just a week or two ago (not so sure at this moment). Regardless, Darnold had arguably one of his finest games of his young career and drove his team to victory, which is exactly what the Jets had in mind when they drafted him 3rd overall last year. Welcome to the club Mr. Darnold. Your drinks are on me. Just don’t share them with anyone. You’re probably still contagious.
Blitzed Stats: 23 of 32, 338 yds, 2TDs; 1INT


Honorable Mentions:
New Orleans Saints Defense, 49er Defense, Kyler Murray (AZ), Matt Ryan (ATL)

Marcus Mariota (TEN)
When Mariota was drafted 2nd overall in 2015, he came in as a highly decorated college QB out of Oregon and was expected to take the Titans to the next level. He has never gotten to that point. He was benched this past week after going 7 for 18 for just 63 yards and 2 INTs. His passer rating was an embarrassing 9.5 while his team was shut out. He’s not the answer in Nashville and it appears they may be kicking him out of their bars too. Permanently.

Jameis Winston (TB)
2015 was not a great year for quarterbacks. The only QB taken before Mariota is making his second appearance on my ‘Duds’ list by throwing 5 INTs and fumbling once across the pond in England. If you’re counting, that’s six turnovers by one person. They’ve seen enough American football now to know that’s not how you’re supposed to be a good quarterback. Arians may give him a vote of confidence on the surface, but Winston has done this far too often now for anyone to really say that his job is secure past this season. In less than five full seasons, he now has 68 career picks. That’s entirely far too many to give your team a chance to win. You’re out of my bar. Again.

NFL Referees (AGAIN)
I said it last week and I’ll say it again. This has got to stop. I was appalled watching the game be taken out of the players hands in the Monday night game. Games are taking longer because there’s a flag on EVERY. SINGLE. PLAY. On top of it all, Pass interferences were supposed to be reviewable and only 7 out of 40 (17.5%) total have been overturned this year. 1 out of 21 since week 3 have been overturned. I personally have watched at least 10 that should have been reversed. The game has become less enjoyable to watch. At this point, no referees are allowed in my bar until this changes. No matter how well you tip.

10 Things I THINK I think

1: Want a conspiracy? The NFL is run by Vegas and gambling. Outcomes are determined ahead of time and games are called as such. (It’s the only explanation I can come up with for how bad the refs are at this point)
2. What the hell happened to the Rams?
3. The NFC is really competitive while the AFC is really not. Don’t believe me? Go look at the standings from top to bottom.
4. That “2-point-attempt” was laughable by the Dolphins to win the game. Tanking is fun.
5. The NFC North is the best division in the NFL.  The NFC East is shaping up as possibly the worst.
6. The Chargers are worse now that Melvin Gordon is back.
7. Kyler Murray has a chance to be really good. Give him some talent around him.
8. The Buffalo Bills quietly are the 2nd best team in the AFC. They need some confident, offensively-charged wins to quiet the naysayers about them being true contenders.
9. Lamar Jackson is a freak athlete, however defenses will eventually figure out how to contain him. Just like Michael Vick.
10. That 49ers team is starting to look really good, don’t you think? One of four teams ever to start 5-0 after winning four games or less the previous year. ​

My Drink of the Week:
​Dallas Cowboys Midnight Cowboy

Going into Week 6, I did not expect the NFC East to be so, how shall we say it kindly? Up in the air? I’ll stick with that. The Eagles and Cowboys meet this week sitting at 3-3, meaning that one of these teams will move to first place at 4-3 while the rest of the division will fall below .500 (assuming they don’t tie). So, this week I’m having the guys drink a Midnight Cowboy Cocktail in honor of my Game of the Week. ​

DRINK RECIPE
2 oz Basil Hayden’s Bourbon
1 oz Myer’s Dark Rum
½ ounce heavy cream

Blitzed Build: Fill a low ball or rocks glass with ice. Add each ingredient and stir until the cream is mixed. Serve with a plate of cookies if desired.

Dallas is a team that some WERE picking for the Super Bowl. They are talented on both sides of the ball and but have not been playing well of late. They’re coming off a bad loss to the Jets while the Eagles are coming off a tough loss themselves at the hands of the Kirk Cousins-led Vikings (see above: Cousins, Kirk and Diggs, Stephon). This was already going to be an entertaining game but now, with Philly coach Doug Pederson providing bulletin board fodder for the Cowboys by guaranteeing a win, it should be even more interesting. I expect an angry Cowboys team to come out guns blazing, pun totally intended.

Blitzed Barkeep’s Prediction:
​Dallas 36 Philadelphia 23
​
That’s all for now Blitzers. I’ll be back again next week with my Week 7 review of the guy’s show and what they’ll be drinking next. As always, remember to always take Brady’s name in vein, tip your bartenders on the way out and if you’ve had too much to drink, give your keys to a friend.

Author

The Blitzed Barkeep is a member of Bills Mafia and Blitzed Football's official bartender. Every week he gives the guys a drink to try out on the show. You can follow him on Twitter here.