HIGHLIGHTS
PATRIOTS INTERNATIONAL WIN- Continuing in their tradition of overseas success, the Patriots once again beat a hapless team into the ground at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. While the Patriots have looked shaky in spots this season, they have deceptively been an offensive juggernaut on the road this season, and it doesn’t get more on the road then Merry Ol’ England. It is unfortunate that this Rams squad that had some momentum to them this season, had to not lose a “home” game by playing abroad, but also that the team they had to play happened to be the class of the AFC. I feel confident in my latter statement despite the many Patriot detractors because Pittsburgh has not heated up yet, Baltimore appears lost without Ray Lewis and Houston has not proven anything yet. While they probably won’t say it, the Patriots play their best ball when they are flying under the radar and that is just where they are right now. Watch out Patriots opponents.
COLTS KEEP IT GOING- Given their team on paper and of course NFL history, there should be no reason why they Colts have a winning record right now. The team finished last in the NFL, lost its franchise (and four time MVP-first ballot Hall of Fame) quarterback, also lost several perennial probowlers (Dallas Clark, Jeff Saturday), has no run game, has a suspect defense, and of course a rookie quarterback, but is still posting a record above .500. To say that Andrew Luck has played anything short of amazing is an absolute understandment as he has the poise, football IQ and leadership skills that you would expect out of an 8 year vet, not a rookie. While all they hype is around RG3 and what he’s doing for his sub .500 team, not only should luck win the rookie of the year award in a landslide, but if he can get his team to 9 wins and/or into the playoffs there should be some serious talk for him as the league’s MVP.
THE FALCONS REMAIN UNDEFEATED- I have long ago stated that until this Matt Ryan led Atlanta team does something meaningful in the playoffs, or at least wins a game, I will never drink the Kool-Aid with this squad. And while this has become a little more difficult to do each week, last week’s absolute dismantling of the Eagles was certainly the most trying. While the score of the game ended up being 30-17 and looking respectable, don’t let the numbers fool you. The way the Falcons played in this one coupled with how Eagles quit in this one the score might as well have been 88-2 (Assuming Matt Ryan fell at his own 20 and accidently kicked the ball out of the endzone). While I don’t know how long I will resist what the Falcons are selling, I do know that Andy Reid will be lucky if he last another 10 days as the Eagles coach. After that Michael Vick your clock in Philly is definitely ticking as well.
LOWLIGHTS
STEELERS THROWBACKS- I do know who was in charge of the decision to allow the Steelers to wear those old school jerseys but they should be fired on the spot (where they will be free to join Andy Reid should they so choose). I know throwbacks are supposed to be fashionable, and usually are, but the only thing these jerseys did was want to make me throw up. I won’t say much more, but I will close with a message to the Steelers organization, when your uniforms look like a cross between Charlie Brown and Alcatraz there is a reason they have not been worn since the 1930s.
THE CHARGERS LOSE AGAIN- Almost as offensive as Pittsburgh’s uniforms this past Sunday, was the horrendous game played between the Chargers and the Browns. I understand this game was on television in some parts of the country, so to those of you unfortunate enough to watch this stinker you have my sincerest apologies. While I was fortunate enough not to have caught this game live, San Diego’s continued implosion did effect me as it cost me another perfect of NFL picks. I know the weather played some part on the outcome of this game, but it was not enough to let perennial goats Phillip Rivers and Norv Turner off the hook, nor was it enough to excuse new goat Robert Meachm off the hook from dropping that touchdown pass (HOW COULD YOU NOT CATCH THAT BALL MEACHEM????). San Diego should have trounced the Browns by at least 25 points even if this game was played in a volcano, so to assume anything other than the Chargers as a team have totally quit on Norv Turner is anything but a fallacy. But still, HOW COULD YOU NOT CATCH THAT BALL MEACHEM???.
THE COWBOYS EPIC FAIL, YET AGAIN- Unfortunately for me, I had a university convocation to attend this past Sunday so I missed most of the NFL action live. Fortunately, however the Giants-Cowboys game was on at the exact same time as the degrees were being handed out so I missed having to watch my beloved Cowboys get trounced live. I was checking my phone periodically but once they were down 23-0 nothing in a matter of moments I gave up and quietly slid my phone away. However, about an hour later at dinner I glanced at my phone to see that my team was back in the game and only down 23-17. By the time I had wolfed down my food and asked for the check the Cowboys were actually ahead 24-23 in the fourth. As I was pushing everyone out the door I thought to myself was this possibly the greatest comeback in Cowboys history, or merely the next kick in the stomach in a long line of kicks to the stomach Cowboys fans have had to endure since the glory days of the mid-90s. By the time I got home, and frantically turned on the T.V. I quickly realized that this was going to be the latter. I will spare you and myself the anguish of reliving all of the blown plays of the final two minutes wherin the Cowboys basically gave this game back to the Giants, but there is one thing I know, Tony Romo has got to go. Troy Aikman made the point perfectly during the final moments of the telecast, “you can’t spot a team like the Giants (or any team for that matter) 23 points and expect to win football games.” It really is as simple as that. Tony Romo to be fair is incredibly talented, has all the raw tools to win, but unfortunately can never seem to get over the hump and win a critical game when it counts. Maybe the problem is as simple as the succinct assessment Michael Corleone gives to Moe Greene in Godfather One, maybe he’s just unlucky. Whatever the reason it is time for Tony Romo and Dallas to part ways. For Tony Romo its an opportunity to start fresh and capatilize on your few remaining years in the NFL (remember Romo did not become a starter until quite late). For Dallas a team that has a reasonably young squad maybe the best move is, instead of disheartening your core completely, it is more logical to hand the reins to a game manager like Kyle Orton who won’t rip your heart out every Sunday until you can find your next franchise guy, than it is give Romo another opportunity to embarrass the franchise. Either way something’s gotta give in big-D.
