The National Football League-that was the week that was
- Thread starter AAAintheBeltway
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The thought of a potential Pats/Cowboys Superbowl, with Pats at 18-0 and Cowboys at 17-1 is starting to get intriguing. Plenty of stories there. Brady v Romo (both got their starts after being backups to D. Bledsoe). Giselle v Jessica. TO v Moss. Americas Team v Americas Most Hated Team.
Well, NO thumped atlanta last night without Reggie Bush. That leaves me at 3-1 for the week.
Let's revisit the 2006 draft, in which Houston was roundly criticised for picking D lineman Mario Williams and passing on Vince Young, Bush and Matt Leinart. How does that pick look now? If you had the chance to do it over, would you pick Young or Bush instead? Not sure I would.
Let's revisit the 2006 draft, in which Houston was roundly criticised for picking D lineman Mario Williams and passing on Vince Young, Bush and Matt Leinart. How does that pick look now? If you had the chance to do it over, would you pick Young or Bush instead? Not sure I would.
That seems to be the consensus among the talking heads AAA. As the MNF guys were saying, Bush is not your standard back or slot receiver, so things have to be altered to fit him. Altering your playing for one player may not be the best option after all.
Another week, with playoffs looming big for a number of teams on the bubble. The marquee matchup takes place in the league's toughest division, the NFC East, with the Redskins traveling up I-95 to the Meadowlands to visit the grave of Jimmy Hoffa and the NY football Giants. The Redskins got the Giant sseason turned around in week 3 by handing them a last minute win, and they are hoping the giants will return the favor. The Giants are pretty much in the playoffs, while the Redskins, at 6-7, can't afford any more screwups. The boys in Vegas have installed the Giants as 4 1/2 point favorites, which seems about right, maybe a bit light considering how banged up the Skins are. The two teams are pretty similar in their approaches, but the Giants have the edge physically. The Redskins defense does not match up particularly well with the Giants offense. They have trouble covering Burress and Shockey and tackling Jacobs. For the Skins the x factor will be whether career backup Todd Collins can dazzle the Giants like he did the Bears last week after taking over for QB Jason Campbell, who is out for the season. Collins put 24 points on the board in little more than a half against the Bears. Another factor is the must-win nature of this one for the Skins versus the nice to win quality for the Giants. Way too many moving parts for me to pick this one.
In other games, Cincy visists SF for a Saturday game and is an 8 point favorite. I never expected to take Cincy, particularly in a road game, but Sf is hurting at QB. Alex smith is on IR and Trent Dilfer has a concussion. Give the 8 and hope the Bengals can play some D for once.
NO hosts Arizona in a game with huge playoff implications. NO is very much alive if the Vikes falter, while the Cards have flickering hopes. NO is a 3 1/2 point favorite. They looked good monday night against the Falcons, but so does everybody. Arizona is a wildly inconsistent team, but they can put the ball in the endzone. I like the Saints here, but they've fattened their record against weak division teams, so I think it's best to pass this one.
TB hosts Atlanta as an almost inconceivable 13 1/2 point favorite. That's a typical game's worth of scoring for the Bucs. Of course, Atlanta is the league's worst team and its coach abruptly quit midweek. Nice gesture. I guess class was not one of the qualifications the University of Arkansas was looking for in a coach. Since Petrino was despised by his players, it's tough to get a feel for how they react, but I can't see them doing much in any case against the buc's defense. As Sammy Farha says, let's gamble. Holding my breath and giving the 13 1/2.
Cleveland hosts Buffalo as a5 1/2 point favorite in another game rife with playof implications. Regular readers know I've liked the Bills the whole season as a darkhorse team, and they have lived up to it. Who expected them to be knocking on the door of the playoffs? Cleveland of course is the year's cinderella story. As much as I respect the Browns, I'm not about to give the points against the Bills. Avoid this one.
GB visits St. Louis as a 10 point favorite. I've underestimated the Packers all year, and regretted it every Monday morning. I don't like this game at all, as the Rams get Bulger back and could put some points up. On the other hand, they could mail it in. Home field advantage in the playoffs against Dallas could be huge for GB, so i expect them to go all out. Going with GB and giving the points.
Pittsburg hosts Jacksonville in another game with huge playoff implications. The Steelers are 3 1/2 point favorites, and have played tough at home all year, except for the Miami debacle. I'm not that impressed with the Steelers however, and I expect the Jags to take this one. Going against Pittsburg at home is not a good play however, so I'm passing on this one.
The Pats host the Jets and are 23 1/2 point favorites. Not touching this one, but the Jets are not as bad as their record. Could be a tough cover for the Pats.
Seattle visits Carolina as a 7 1/2 point favorite. going against the QB-less Panthers has been as close to a gimme bet as they let you take. Seattle is another team I'm not that impressed with. they've built their record against mediocre opposition. They barely escaped against St. Louis and were thumped by the Steelers in road games. Still, it's not like they will be in a shootout. Hold your nose and take the Seahawks and give the 7 1/2.
Indy visits Oakland as a 10 1/2 point favorite. I like Indy here but Oakland has a respectable defense and I'm just a little put off by the size of the spread. Avoiding this one but will probably wish I took Indy.
Dallas hosts Philly as a 10 1/2 point favorite. I though McNabb looked terrible last week against the giants, but they still kept it close. The Cowboys totally wrecked the Eagles the first game in Philly though. The Iggles' playoff hopes are gone, so they could suffer a letdown, but the Cowboys were lucky to beat Detroit last week. Hmmm, let's pass.
The Monday night game has the Vikes hosting the Bears as 10 point favorites. Who would have predicted that the first week of the season? The Vikes have really caught fire, but they are a running team and the Bears will not let you run on them. I can't see the Vikes covering this one, but I can;t see myself going with the offensively challenged Bears. Avoid.
NO hosts Arizona in a game with huge playoff implications. NO is very much alive if the Vikes falter, while the Cards have flickering hopes. NO is a 3 1/2 point favorite. They looked good monday night against the Falcons, but so does everybody. Arizona is a wildly inconsistent team, but they can put the ball in the endzone. I like the Saints here, but they've fattened their record against weak division teams, so I think it's best to pass this one.
TB hosts Atlanta as an almost inconceivable 13 1/2 point favorite. That's a typical game's worth of scoring for the Bucs. Of course, Atlanta is the league's worst team and its coach abruptly quit midweek. Nice gesture. I guess class was not one of the qualifications the University of Arkansas was looking for in a coach. Since Petrino was despised by his players, it's tough to get a feel for how they react, but I can't see them doing much in any case against the buc's defense. As Sammy Farha says, let's gamble. Holding my breath and giving the 13 1/2.
Cleveland hosts Buffalo as a5 1/2 point favorite in another game rife with playof implications. Regular readers know I've liked the Bills the whole season as a darkhorse team, and they have lived up to it. Who expected them to be knocking on the door of the playoffs? Cleveland of course is the year's cinderella story. As much as I respect the Browns, I'm not about to give the points against the Bills. Avoid this one.
GB visits St. Louis as a 10 point favorite. I've underestimated the Packers all year, and regretted it every Monday morning. I don't like this game at all, as the Rams get Bulger back and could put some points up. On the other hand, they could mail it in. Home field advantage in the playoffs against Dallas could be huge for GB, so i expect them to go all out. Going with GB and giving the points.
Pittsburg hosts Jacksonville in another game with huge playoff implications. The Steelers are 3 1/2 point favorites, and have played tough at home all year, except for the Miami debacle. I'm not that impressed with the Steelers however, and I expect the Jags to take this one. Going against Pittsburg at home is not a good play however, so I'm passing on this one.
The Pats host the Jets and are 23 1/2 point favorites. Not touching this one, but the Jets are not as bad as their record. Could be a tough cover for the Pats.
Seattle visits Carolina as a 7 1/2 point favorite. going against the QB-less Panthers has been as close to a gimme bet as they let you take. Seattle is another team I'm not that impressed with. they've built their record against mediocre opposition. They barely escaped against St. Louis and were thumped by the Steelers in road games. Still, it's not like they will be in a shootout. Hold your nose and take the Seahawks and give the 7 1/2.
Indy visits Oakland as a 10 1/2 point favorite. I like Indy here but Oakland has a respectable defense and I'm just a little put off by the size of the spread. Avoiding this one but will probably wish I took Indy.
Dallas hosts Philly as a 10 1/2 point favorite. I though McNabb looked terrible last week against the giants, but they still kept it close. The Cowboys totally wrecked the Eagles the first game in Philly though. The Iggles' playoff hopes are gone, so they could suffer a letdown, but the Cowboys were lucky to beat Detroit last week. Hmmm, let's pass.
The Monday night game has the Vikes hosting the Bears as 10 point favorites. Who would have predicted that the first week of the season? The Vikes have really caught fire, but they are a running team and the Bears will not let you run on them. I can't see the Vikes covering this one, but I can;t see myself going with the offensively challenged Bears. Avoid.
Just saw this on ESPN website:
HOUSTON (AP) -- Mario Williams had his best game at the perfect time.
Last year's No. 1 pick had a career-high 3½ sacks among seven tackles to lead the Houston Texans to a 31-13 victory over the Denver Broncos on Thursday night in Houston's first prime-time game in two years.
"This is our first big-stage game," Williams said. "Everybody was watching. We were the only game on. We kind of showed the world what we can do."
With its seventh of the season, Houston tied the franchise record for victories.
When Williams dragged down Jay Cutler for the third time, he jumped up and sashayed like a hula dancer. The dance seemed appropriate with the performance sure to help his push for the Pro Bowl in Hawaii.
"I know this kid is a tremendous football player," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. "I'm just happy that good things keep coming his way."
Texans (7-7) fans yelled "overrated" when Williams was picked, but chanted his name Thursday as he posed Superman-like with his hands on his hips for several seconds after he took Cutler down for the second time.
"With everything that happened with the situation I was in last year and the criticism the owner and the coaches the whole organization had, this was big for us just to show what we could do and what we were capable of," he said."
Williams' performance made him Houston's career sack leader with 17½. He's had a sack in a team-record five straight games and has 13 for the season and nine in the last five games.
He has the second-most sacks in the NFL behind Patrick Kerney (13½).
"They're getting their money's worth these days, aren't they," Cutler said when asked about Williams.
Williams sack of Cutler forced a fourth down and the Broncos went for it, but the pass fell short, giving Houston the ball.
"He's playing the way we expected him to play," Texans owner Bob McNair said. "But understand that you haven't seen the best of Mario yet. He's going to get even better."
Big game today Browns vs. Bills. Who would have thought in the beginning of the season that Cleveland vs. Buffalo would have playoff implications?
Today's weather will have a MAJOR impact on the game as currently today's weather forecast is Snow, Wind, Rain, etc. I've even seen reports defining it as Blizzard-type conditions.
I guess this is why we brought Jamal in and a revamped OL. Today will be a great test of our running attack.
Today's weather will have a MAJOR impact on the game as currently today's weather forecast is Snow, Wind, Rain, etc. I've even seen reports defining it as Blizzard-type conditions.
I guess this is why we brought Jamal in and a revamped OL. Today will be a great test of our running attack.
What a weekend for the AFC North:
Steelers LOSE
Cinci LOSE (to 49ers)
Baltimore LOSE (to MIAMI)
Browns WIN
Great weekend up here in the Blizzard!
Steelers LOSE
Cinci LOSE (to 49ers)
Baltimore LOSE (to MIAMI)
Browns WIN
Great weekend up here in the Blizzard!