I’ve been a White Sox fan my whole life, and given that fact, I am qualified to tell you what is the sweetest part of the Sox making the World Series.
We got there before the Cubs.
On this day, we feel like the Russians did the morning after Sputnik went in the air.
Or how America felt the day Neil Armstrong walked on the moon.
Congratulations White Sox fans. We always knew we were right.
(4-2) PANTHERS 21, (2-3) LIONS 20
Whatsamatta You?
Lions TE Marcus Pollard was caught from behind by Panthers safety Mike Minter on a play that would have given the Lions a 24-14 lead with 4 minutes left in the game.
How About?
The unfortunately named Chris Weinke leading the Panthers to the winning touchdown after Jake Delhomme left with a concussion.
No More Yinky My Weinke
(4-2) COWBOYS 16, (3-2) GIANTS 13 OT
Whatsamatta You?
The Giants had a stretch in the second half where they turned the ball over 4 times in 5 possessions. And I’m talking demonic possessions, not regular possessions. Included in these was a fumble on the Cowboys’ goal line by rookie RB Brandon Jacobs.
How About?
Keyshawn Johnson caught 8 passes for 120 yards. One of the catches was the 700th of his career, making him the 22nd person in NFL history to achieve that milestone.
(2-3) BEARS 28, (1-4) VIKINGS 3
Whatsamatta You?
The 3 points scored by the Vikings was their lowest total in a game since a 19-3 loss to Baltimore in 2001.
How About?
Bears RB Thomas Jones having another strong game, with 89 yards and 2 TDs. The Bears taking another running back, Cedric Benson, with the 4th overall pick in the draft, now looks like as shrewd a move as an Eskimo drafting a block of ice.
(2-3) RAVENS 16, (2-3) BROWNS 3
Whatsamatta You?
Jamal Lewis was pointed towards the bench in the midst of another dismal performance, averaging less than 3 yards a carry.
How About?
Chester Taylor then stepping in and molesting the Browns for 92 yards on 8 carries. Me thinks Baltimore may have a new feature back, one that hasn’t been in the joint.
Nevermore?
(5-1) BENGALS 31, (2-4) TITANS 23
Whatsamatta You?
Titans’ CB Pacman Jones was a human lowlight reel in this game. He was flagged for two pass interference penalties, and was toasted by both Chad Johnson and some guy named Kevin Walter.
How About?
Bengals QB Carson Palmer has now thrown 148 passes in a row without being intercepted. Speaking of interceptions, Bengals rookie LB Odell Thurman ran one back for a touchdown. The second round pick is making a serious run at being defensive rookie of the year.
(5-1) BUCS 27, (2-3) DOLPHINS 13
Whatsamatta You?
The Enchanted Auburn Wonder Twins have seemingly hit the wall. Bucs RB Cadillac Williams missed another game with an injury, and Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown could only manage 22 yards in 9 carries.
How About?
Another TD for Bucs WR Joey Galloway? He has 10 of them in his last 11 games. Galloway is seemingly on his way to his first 1000 yard season since 1998. That’s the longest gap in between 1000 yard seasons since Hiram “Stinky” McGee pulled the feat in 1922 and 1930 for the Oorang Orangutans. No, not really, I made that up.
(4-2) JAGUARS 23, (3-2) STEELERS 17 OT
Whatsamatta You?
Don’t be surprised to see Tommy Maddox show up on RAW tonight. He may have to go crawling back to Vince McMahon after getting picked off 3 times, including one for the game losing TD in overtime. If that weren’t bad enough, he fumbled the ball on the Jaguars 27 yard line in OT, costing the Steelers a chance to kick the game winning field goal.
How About?
Hines Ward’s consecutive games streak ended at 116. He missed the game with a hamstring injury. 116 consecutive games in the NFL is pretty damn impressive. Oh, and the Steelers have dropped 3 out of their last 4 at home.
“Your Momma’s Ass Is Soooooo Big..”
(4-2) FALCONS 34, (2-4) SAINTS 31
Whatsamatta You?
From Friday’s Pancakes Column:
“I think the Saints are going to draw a lot of energy from their supportive San Antonio fans, and if they can avoid crucial mistakes, they are going to win this game. With the Saints, that’s a very big if, but I still like them in this matchup.”
The Saints gave up TDs on a fumble return and a blocked field goal return in the last 4 minutes of the first half. They also got flagged for a defensive holding penalty that gave the Falcons a second chance to hit the game winning field goal, which they converted. I guess that “avoiding crucial mistakes” thing didn’t work out so good for them.
How About?
The Saints were without RB Deuce McAllister, as they will be all year, but they still rolled up 211 rushing yards in this game. Antowain Smith scored 2 rushing touchdowns, they were his first since 2001.
(3-2) CHIEFS 28, (3-2) REDSKINS 21
Whatsamatta You?
Tony Gonzalez may as well change his jersey # to 68, because the Chiefs seem to have forgotten he’s an eligible receiver. In his last 2 games combined, he has 4 catches for 18 yards. He had a better day than Eddie Kennison though. Kennison did not catch a single pass, and had only 2 thrown to him.
How About?
Priest Holmes averaged only a little more than 1 yard a carry, but made up for it as a pass catcher. He had 100 receiving yards, including a 60 yard reception to win the game. Redskins WR Santana Moss continues to be out of his mind. He caught 10 passes for 173 yards and 2 touchdowns.
(3-3) CHARGERS 27, (1-4) RAIDERS 14
Whatsamatta You?
Randy Moss left the game in the first quarter with an apparent ankle injury. It was the beginning of a miserable day for the Raiders. “You don’t feel good about anything when you played the way we played,” Raiders coach Norv Turner said.
How About?
LaDanian Tomlinson showed why many feel he is the best the NFL has to offer. 140 yards rushing, 39 yards receiving, and a 4 yard TD pass. He did it all.
He’s Just So Versatile
(5-1) BRONCOS 28, (3-3) PATRIOTS 20
Whatsamatta You?
The New England secondary, absent safety Rodney Harrison, is horrid. This is the third game in a row they have had a receiver go for over 100 yards against them (Rod Smith, Brian Finneran, Antonio Gates). In this game, they surrendered a 72 yard completion to Rod Smith, and a 55 yard pass to Ashley Lelie, both of which led to TDs.
How About?
Patriots backup RB Patrick Pass stepping in for the injured Corey Dillon, and generating 153 yards of total offense (64 rushing, 89 receiving)?
(3-3) BILLS 27, (2-4) JETS 17
Whatsamatta You?
Vinny Testaverde played like a 40 something guy who was laying around with his hand down his pants not very long ago. He completed less than half his passes, was sacked 5 times, and picked off twice.
How About?
Willis McGahee shredding the Jets for 143 yards rushing? There was also a Justin McCareins sighting. He had 5 catches for 116 yards.
(4-2) SEAHAWKS 42, (0-5) TEXANS 10
Whatsamatta You?
Is it too early to order my Matt Leinart Texans jersey?
How About?
I dare say that there isn’t a player in the NFL who puts up more insane single game performances than Shaun Alexander. Last night was one of those. He ran for 141 yards and FOUR touchdowns.
Gimme Four!
ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOOOOOBALLL????
MONDAY NIGHT
(2-3) ST. LOUIS RAMS AT (5-0) INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
The Storyline
The Rams are a mess right now. Not only did they suffer what looks to be a backbreaking defeat at home to the Seahawks last week, but they also have lost their coach, Mike Martz, for an unspecified amount of time with a heart ailment. Like sheep to the slaughter, they head to the RCA Dome to take on the NFL’s last unbeaten team, the Colts.
Key Questions
Who is going to be coaching the Rams tonight?
The man running the show for the Rams tonight is somebody named Joe Vitt. Vitt is currently the team’s linebackers coach. He broke into the league as a strength coach with the Baltimore Colts in 1979. Lotsa luck, Rams Fans. At least the Cardinals are going to the World Series. Oh wait probably not. Well, hockey’s back. Do you like hockey? The Blues?
Is there a big milestone within reach tonight?
Yes there is. With one more TD connection, Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison will have surpassed Young to Rice as the most prolific touchdown hookup in NFL history.
Anything else interesting going on here?
Rams RB Marshall Faulk makes his first return to Indianapolis since the Colts traded him to the Rams following the 1998 season. Faulk came within a dropped pass of helping lead the Colts to a Super Bowl in his second NFL season. Marshall rushed for 5320 yards, had 2804 receiving yards, and scored 51 touchdowns while in a Colts uniform. The fact that the Colts traded him to make way for a younger Edgerrin James is not water under the bridge for Faulk. He said this about Bill Polian, the Colts’ GM that made the deal, telling the Indianapolis Star, “”I think nothing of Bill. Nothing.” He went on to dispel the popular notion that it was a good trade for both teams, “”You can call it win-win if you want to,” he said, “but I played in two Super Bowls and won one.” Meeee-owwww.
HERE’S YOUR FORECAST
Much like Sunday Night’s Seahawks-Texans squash, this is another prime time mismatch that is going to end with lopsided results. The Rams have leaned almost exclusively on the passing game this year, which works out good for the Colts because they are averaging 4 sacks a game. The Rams may be able to stay in the game for a little while, but the Colts are going to tee off on Marc Bulger, and it’s eventually going to lead to turnovers, and the Colts’ new ball-control offense will sink its fangs into the Rams, and then it’s all over.
COLTS 30, RAMS 17
Time and Punishment-Looking Ahead
Rams Win- Joe Vitt is a genius and will be enshrined in Canton next week. Either that or Mike Martz is a horrible coach and the Rams are better off without him. Either way, they return home for a game with the Saints in Week 7 that can put them back over .500.
Rams Lose- A loss puts the Rams at 2-4, and I think you can officially hold the funeral for the playoff dynasty that began in 1999. It will finally be time to rebuild.
Colts Win- Larry Csonka, Bob Griese, and Paul Warfield, and the rest of the 72 Dolphins have to hold off on their cigar smoking circle jerk for another week. The Colts are still unbeaten.
Colts Lose- 72 Dolphins have a night of wild, crazy, old man sex. With each other.
This Guy Is the Rams’ New Coach
IF THE PLAYOFFS STARTED TODAY
Here’s a new weekly mini-feature called “If the Playoffs Started Today”. It’s simple. If the playoffs started today, these teams would be in:
NFC
1. Tampa Bay- NFC South Champs
2. Seattle- NFC West Champs
3. Dallas- NFC East Champs
4. Chicago- NFC North Champs
5. Atlanta- Wildcard
6. Carolina- Wildcard
1st round Playoff Matchups
Carolina at Dallas
Atlanta at Chicago
Bye- Tampa Bay, Seattle
AFC
1. Indianapolis- AFC South Champs
2. Denver- AFC West Champs
3. Cincinnati- AFC North Champs
4. Buffalo- AFC East Champs
5. Jacksonville- Wild Card
6. Kansas City- Wild Card
1st round Playoff Matchups
Kansas City at Cincinnati
Jacksonville at Buffalo
Bye- Indianapolis, Denver
The Bills and Bears would be in the playoffs. The Eagles, Patriots, and Steelers would not be. Pretty damn nuts.
Alright that’s it till Friday see ya then!
