Week 3: Jake Ferguson Becomes Invisible. Again.
The Crime: For the second consecutive week, an NFL defense leaves Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson wide open in the red zone.
Game Situation: Third quarter. Dallas trailing Baltimore, 24–13.
Defensive Strategy: Place the nearest Ravens defender on the opposite side of the field, remember Ferguson exists after Dak Prescott releases the football, and begin an emergency cross-field sprint.
Result: The defender arrives too late. Ferguson catches a 19-yard touchdown pass, Dallas converts the two-point attempt, and Baltimore’s lead shrinks to three.
Aggravating Circumstance: The Ravens’ own pregame scouting report specifically identified Ferguson as “the threat over the middle.” Baltimore had prior notice, published it on the internet, and disregarded its own findings.
Official Ruling: Apparently, Jake Ferguson is invisible.
Degree of Difficulty: Minimal. Ferguson had enough separation to receive the ball, locate the end zone, and await the eventual arrival of the defense.
Carm’s Coaching Note:
When your own scouting department identifies a 6'5", 244-pound tight end as “the threat over the middle,” consider forwarding that information to the people responsible for covering the middle.
Witten Index: 10/10
Red zone. Wide open. Repeat victim. Prior written notice. Full marks for transforming a known receiving threat into an apparent optical illusion.