Andy Richardson
A lightning-quick recap of yesterday's games: Titans unbeaten, Lions unbeating, rookies Ryan and Flacco impressive, Rams depressing, Kansas City finding exciting ways to lose, Patriots finding boring ways to win, Seahawks jetlagged, Mannings charmed, Raiders hopeless, Peterson peerless. OK, now onto this week's whirlwind tour of the handful of games I watched yesterday.
Packers at Vikings: This was a crazy game where the Packers did nothing on offense for virtually the entire game, took a pair of safeties, nearly got their quarterback killed, and still nearly came away with a win. Head coaches generally don't get fired after wins, but I'm on board with the Vikings fans calling for Brad Childress' head all year after watching this one. Armed with an unstoppable running back and an 11-point lead, Childress still has Gus Frerotte throwing low-percentage wounded ducks downfield to be easily picked off.
The Vikings, in fact, did a variety of stupid things, like fair-catching a punt at their own 5-yard line, wasting what could have been a critical timeout on a stupid challenge, and then trying to pick up a 4th down on their own end of the field seemingly as a result of the fans screaming for it (they failed). They did, however, do two smart things: figured out they had to get pressure on Aaron Rodgers to make him look like a first-year starter (what a concept), and got the ball to Adrian Peterson on their final drive. And that was enough. Bet on the Bears bringing the house on Rodgers next week, as well, while the Vikings go down to Tampa Bay and get whupped.
Titans at Bears: Presumably Kerry Collins didn't care for being referred to as the weak link all week. He did just fine in leading the Titans to their 9th straight win, even without a running game. Is Bo Scaife the most underrated tight end in football? Certainly by those of us who mistakenly thought Alge Crumpler would be better this year -- whoops. Considering how much I've struggled to fill the position in a dynasty league this year, it really bugs me that I waived Scaife in the preseason. Anyhoo, the Titans probably aren't going to go undefeated, but imagine if they did? Their toughest remaining games are probably at Jacksonville (next week) and Indianapolis (week 17); both winnable. They get the Jets and Steelers at home, also winnable. Then the Lions, Browns and Texans. Probably won't happen, but not impossible.
As for the Bears, well, they miss Kyle Orton. On one key series, Rex Grossman missed a wide-open Devin Hester for what would have been a 67-yard TD, then missed Rashied Davis for a first down. And got booed, which kind of made me feel bad -- I mean, he's the backup. It's not his fault he's out there starting, or that he's not very good. Boo a regular starter who looks awful (or, like Grossman reportedly did, fails to get ready for a New Year's Eve game), but a backup? I mean, he's not very good, which is why he's a backup. Oh yeah: It was snowing a little in this game. That was kind of cool.
Rams at Jets: I think the way you recognize the NFL's worst teams is that not only do they never lay a glove on the quarterback, but when their opponent runs the ball, that player is usually about 10 yards downfield before he even gets touched. That was the case on both sides of the ball in Denver at Cleveland last Thursday, and that's the story with the Rams. They didn't touch Favre, they didn't touch Thomas Jones until he had left giant footyprints all over their chests, they basically didn't show up to play. And the Jets are really good on both lines right now, and the Rams are really awful in those same areas, and there you go.
There's nothing much else to say except it was 40-0 at halftime and it didn't seem as if the Jets had even worked up a sweat -- effortless is the word I'd use. Amusing call from the booth: with the Rams trailing 40-0 and Trent Green leading a drive (which ended in an interception), one of the announcers said, "The offensive line is doing a good job now protecting him!" No, that's because the Jets have stopped bringing pressure, perhaps feeling pity for a broken team led by a concussion-prone quarterback almost as old as their own. Maybe the Rams will bounce back against San Francisco next week, but I'd think twice about starting anyone associated with this team from here on out. Oh yeah, it hasn't taken Dustin Keller long to show why he was the consensus top tight end in the draft. Which trade will the Packers regret more one day, I wonder: dealing Brett Favre to the Jets, or the No. 30 overall draft pick that became Keller?
Ravens at Texans: This game was supposed to be played in week 2; the Texans probably wish it had been. Because back then Joe Flacco wasn't playing as well; now he's making impressive throws all over the place, like a long TD to Yamon Figurs and a near-miss to Mark Clayton. The other thing to mention about the Ravens is that you simply have to give up trying to figure out how they're using their running backs -- it almost looks like they're deliberately trying to tweak fantasy owners. Willis McGahee didn't get a carry last week, making it tough for anyone to start the guy, so naturally he goes out and rushes for 112 yards and 2 TDs, including carrying at the goal line (with LeRon McClain as the blocking fullback) after McClain had owned those carries of late. Ray Rice had a huge game a week ago; just 7 carries yesterday. Cruel.
One note on the Texans: not only did Owen Daniels do nothing coming off a huge game the week before, but he also committed a holding penalty wiping out a 58-yard TD run by Steve Slaton. Oh, and Sage Rosenfels through 4 interceptions, proving that even when Matt Schaub struggles, he should still be the starter here.
Giants at Eagles: The Giants are like an inexorable force of nature -- their running game and pass rush just keep on coming, series after series. The Eagles are good but not good enough -- can't pick up a key yard late in games, can't win close ones, can't beat good teams right now. It's crazy that you can look at so many of their games (Bears, Washington, Giants) and say, man, if they'd just picked up a single yard here or there, they could have won. Maybe they're still making up for that ridiculous 4th and 26 conversion way back when, or maybe that's just how they are. Anyway, I think the Eagles have tried eight different players at fullback this season, but they've clearly got to come up with something else.
As for the Giants, somebody compared them to the '98 Broncos, who surprised everyone by winning a Super Bowl in a huge upset, then went out the next year and were even better, blowing teams away. That's the Giants right now. Brandon Jacobs, if he doesn't fumble, is a monster; if the Giants can run on the Eagles, they can probably run on anybody. I don't know how you can watch them play and bet against them getting back to the Super Bowl. Who's going to stop their ground game and slow their pass rush? That team just isn't there, in the NFC anyway.
Colts at Steelers: Great game. Filled with good, bad and ugly. Some fantastic throws by Peyton Manning, two of which should have been touchdowns to Marvin Harrison but he dropped them. Ben Roethlisberger ... well, he's basically a punching bag out there right now, getting hit on almost every play, making some great throws and then tossing up some horrible interceptions, including at the end of the half and near the end of the game, both of which led to Colts scores (the second one may have been Santonio Holmes' fault, who stopped his route somewhat unexpectedly).
For all the hellacious hits in this game -- on Roethlisberger, on Anthony Gonzalez, on every running play -- the game came down to the final second, with Roethlisberger getting a last snap off as time expired, running around a bit, then throwing one some 30ish yards into the end zone. It bounced off multiple hands and nearly, nearly caromed to a Steeler, before being intercepted. That's the difference between winning and losing in the NFL; not so much a game of inches but of bounces.
You know, except the 47-3 ones.
Andy watches all the games he can each Sunday. If you want to add some observations of your own from yesterday, feel free.
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