NFC WEEK 10
So, how did our little playoff contenders do this weekend? Let’s take a look, today at the NFC, tomorrow the AFC.
# 1 BEARS 38, # 2 GIANTS 20
As soon as Devin Hester fielded that missed field goal attempt in the back of the end zone last night, I thought of Nathan Vasher running back that missed field goal against San Francisco last year. I’m sure that’s what Devin Hester thought of when he caught it. I’m sure 99.7% of the human beings watching that game thought of it. Apparently the only people not thinking of it were the Giants, who just kind of stood around until it was too late, and Hester was on his way to the end zone to turn a 24-20 game into a 31-20 game. After that, the Giants didn’t have time to run the ball anymore, which they had been doing very effectively up to that point, and had to resort to Eli flinging incompletions all over the field.
Tom Coughlin took responsibility for his idiotic decision to attempt this 52 yard field goal after his kicker had already missed one from 33 at that same end of the field. “It was my decision to go for the field goal,” Coughlin said. “From that point on we were behind the 8-ball. … It falls right back to me. … I chose to go for it, and that ended up being the determining factor.”
STEELERS 38, #3 SAINTS 31
I think one of the more remarkable things I’ve seen this season is how Drew Brees has turned into Dan Fouts. He had yet another 350+ yard game. He’s carrying this team on his back and he’s doing it with a 5th round rookie out of Hofstra as his #1 receiver. Yesterday he made somebody named Terrance Copper look like an All-Pro. Yeah, the Saints lost, but with each passing week I become more and more convinced that they’ve got by far the best quarterback in the NFC right now.
#4 SEAHAWKS 22, RAMS 21
The Rams run defense is so bad it made Maurice Morris look like a healthy Shaun Alexander, and Seneca Wallace had his best game in his stint as the Hawks starting QB. Throw in a 90 yard Nate Burleson punt return, and the B-Team Seahawks are now YOUR 2006 NFC West Champs. With a virtual 3 game lead over a Rams team that has now lost 4 in a row, that race is over. I am officially crowning their ass.
BROWNS 17, #5 FALCONS 13
That’s nice that Jim Mora Junio’s family name got him an NFL head coaching job, in which he draws up gameplans that call for aerial wizard Michael Vick to hoist it up 40 times against a Browns team that gives up 5 yards a carry. Mine got me US citizenship and a predisposition to bladder cancer. It all balances out.
PACKERS 23, #6 VIKINGS 17
Finally, the Vikings are playing like they should be playing given the level of talent on their team. It’s nice to see them finally living up to their potential”¦their potential to suck.
OTHER CONTENDERS
The Eagles moved to 5-4 and into the NFC’s top 6 by somehow shutting down the Redskins and their 700 page playbook, which apparently only has only ½ a page dedicated to getting the ball to Santana Moss.
TO has been really good since he tried to kill himself. Yesterday he caught a 51 yard TD pass that blew open the Cowboys win over the Tardinals. Patrick Crayton had 104 receiving yards and a TD in place of the injured Terry Glenn. Rub those nipples and make that waiver claim fantasy fantasiers!!
Carolina can inject themselves deeper into the NFC wildcard quagmire with a win over the Bucs tonight.
NFC PLAYOFF PICTURE
1. Bears 8-1
2. Saints 6-3
3. Seahawks 6-3
4. Giants 6-3
5. Eagles 5-4
6. Cowboys 5-4
Falcons 5-4
NEWS YOU CAN USE
– Dennis Green today urged his 1-8 Cardinals team to “keep taking their cuts”. Cutting yourself is never the answer to easing your pain.
– The Falcons got more bad news today when they learned DE Patrick Kerney (5 sacks this year) is going to miss time with a pectoral muscle injury. I can tell you from experience that when you have massive, sculpted pecs, an injury to them can be very painful.
– SI’s Peter King this week has the Dolphins rated as the 15th best team in the league. I want some of what he’s shooting into his eyelids.
– Packers coach Mike McCarthy said if his team is able to “stay the course” they have an “excellent chance” of making the playoffs. Staying the course always works great, whether you’re talking about Iraq, or football.
– Titans’ DT Albert Haynesworth has paid his debt to society and is now free to step on more people’s faces.
– Titans’ WR David Givens is out for the year after tearing a knee ligament yesterday. What a free agent find he has been.
– Michael Vick is doing what every team leader should do, pinning the blame for defeat squarely anywhere but on himself. In regards to yesterday’s shit bomb against the Browns he said, “If you want to say it was my fault for losing the game, go ahead and say it. But I know what I feel, and on the inside I know what I know. It never should have even come to that point.” He knows what he knows.
– Andy Reid is handing the Eagles’ playcalling duties over to Marty Morningweg. Saying about Morningweg, and I’m not kidding here, “He has a good track record.” Marty Morningweg, the worst head coach of this century, good track record.
– The Redskins are euthanizing Mark Brunell and starting Jason Campbell next week.
That’s a wrap for today. Tomorrow we go over the AFC contenders weekend performance, and hit you with more news.
