Oct 17 2008
Week 7
The NFL season is ridiculously dramatic. Best part is, it is like this every season, and we never seem to get it.
- NFC East Inverted - Last week, the Eagles were buried in the NFC East because all the other teams just flat out looked better and had at least two game advantages on them. The Redskins promptly lost at home to the Marshall Thundering Herd; the Cowboys lost in Arizona (coming out of the game with mass injuries too) and the Giants managed to completely undo everything they’d done right in their past 10 games going back to last season in a loss at Cleveland. Meanwhile the Eagles, did everything in the fourth quarter they couldn’t do in their three previous losses.
- Cowboys hurting - Really, the only thing that happened of note was the injuries the Cowboys suffered. Tony Romo’s pinkie injury was thought to keep him out four weeks, but now Dr. Brett Farve told him he could and should play through this. I think that is somewhat unwise. He may be able to pull it off, but there is apparently risk that he could be further hurt. And last week, Trent Dilfer broke down how Romo throws and hold the ball, showing he puts a lot of pressure on that pinkie. Romo makes the Cowboys a legitimate offensive force, but he also kills them with turnovers (leading the league in fumbles); Brad Johnson will keep the offense from losing games, but won’t make big plays for them. Felix Jones has a bad hammy, Pacman was rightfully suspended; Terrance Newmann is out for a few weeks. The Cowboys need to somehow keep pace through this stretch. Glad to know they have the “brilliant” Wade Philips to do that.
- NFL Trading Deadline - Comes and goes with only one deal, Roy Williams to the Cowboys. I don’t have a clue why NFL teams are so insistent on trading only when they a) get an amazingly sweet deal, or b) totally rip the other team off. And shockingly the Lions were the smartest team in the league on Tuesday. They had a lethargic, temperamental, under performing young WR with value, and rather than holding out they jumped on an opportunity. The Lions have a ton of needs, and a 1st, 3rd and 6th will help them tremendously to rebuild. Williams wasn’t going to help them get better. The only things I’d say about the Cowboys on this one is, I don’t know that they need a WR at this point, and I doubt Williams is worth the picks plus a rumored $45 million extension. I’d have made him show he was worth the cash before giving it to him. Meanwhile, Kansas City couldn’t get it done with Tony Gonzalez. Similar to the Lions, they are a train wreck and Gonzo ain’t going to help them. Rumor is they turned down a 3rd round pick. Rumor also says Gonzo balked at going to Buffalo who may have offered better than the 3rd. Whatever the reason, the Chiefs should have accept the best they could get, from a team Gonzo was willing to go to. GM Peterson basically said that Shockey went for a 2nd and 5th why should they accept less for Gonzo. True, but you are in no position to negotiate. Gonzo isn’t young, this is midseason, and you stink. Accept what you can get, and rebuild.
- NFL is fine crazy - Troy Polamantu said the NFL is now becoming a pansy league. He’s right. The most popular American sport now no longer allows players to hit each other, celebrate TDs or *gasp* criticize referee’s. Should there be limits on these types of actions? Of course, there are always lines that shouldn’t be crossed. The NFL wants players to play hard through the whistle, hit each other hard, but rather than addressing player safety through better (read more expensive) equipment, they’ll just fine players who’s head is two inches two high and hits another players head. We are one or two seasons away from players not being able to high five each other after a TD. A referee costs a team a game and no one can talk about it. So the NFL now legislates free speech, physical contact in a contact sport and spontenaity in celebration. Change the name soon to the Nazi Football League.
Picks:
Last week, Antonio (3-3) Kali (2-4). Overall, Antonio (13-10), Kali (10-13).
Seattle at Tampa Bay:
Kali: I hope Jeff Garcia stops sleeping with Jon Gruden’s wife. Because otherwise there is no excuse for the way Gruden jerks his for Brian Griese. Garcia clearly out plays Griese, judged by any measurement. It is sad what is happening in Mike Holmgren’s last year. Pick: Tampa Bay
San Diego at Buffalo:
Antonio: I said it before, and I’ll say it again, this just isn’t the Chargers year. Buffalo is looking to bounce back from their first loss and the Chargers are still coached by Norv Turner. I believe I saw somewhere that NFL teams from the West Coast have zero wins on the East Coast this year. The Chargers aren’t breaking through that this week. Pick: Buffalo
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati:
Kali: Quietly the Steelers have been playing great football. And they’ve been doing it without Willie Parker. If Big Ben can survive the season they might eventually end up being the best team in the AFC. Why Cincinnati didn’t trade everyone that anyone would take at the deadline just shows why they’ll always be the “Bungles.” Pick: Pittsburgh
New Orleans at Carolina:
Antonio: Carolina was playing very well, until last week. Were they exposed? I don’t think so, it seemed to be a case of a team with offensive holes playing a very good defensive team on the road. The Bucs are very familiar with Carolina, and they were able to use that experience to beat them up. I’ve been sticking with the Saints this year, but mostly when they play at home. I don’t like them at all this week. Pick: New Orleans
Minnesota at Chicago:
Kali: Minnesota has been playing a little better with Frerotte. But Chicago gave away a win in Atlanta last week and has been playing well with Kyle Orton. Chicago is the best team in the NFC North right now. Pick: Chicago
Antonio: Minnesota and Chicago are basically the same team. No QB, very good running games and game changing defenses. Normally, I’d go with the home team, but I have a feeling that Adrian Peterson is going to breakout this week. Pick: Minnesota
Cleveland at Washington:
Antonio: Maybe the hardest game to pick this week in my book. On one hand, Cleveland played as bad as possible for the first few weeks of the season, and then inexplicitly torched the Giants. On the other side, the Redskins played terrible in the first week of the season, and then took off culminating in back to back road wins in division, only to lose to the lowly Rams. Who are these teams really? No clue. Pick: Cleveland
Kali: I foreshadowed a possible letdown by the Redskins last week. It was their lack of concentration that gave away a game. Cleveland on their biggest stage in years played their best game since the Bernie Kosar era. I hope they don’t carry that momentum on the road. Pick: Washington
Dallas at St . Louis:
Kali: Is Romo going to play? Does it matter? I don’t think so. The Rams didn’t even play well last only gaining 8 first downs and giving up 400 yards. They get that lucky again this week. Pick: Dallas
Antonio: The Rams have to play better offensively at some point right? Marc Bulger, Torry Holt and Stephen Jackson will finally put up points this week against a struggling and hurting Cowboys defense. If Romo plays, I’d probably feel better about this pick, but I’ll have to go with the Cowboys. Pick: Dallas
San Francisco at NY Giants:
Antonio: Here’s all there is to know about this game. Entering last week, the Giants had 15 sacks in 5 games, but none against Cleveland. This week, they play San Franciso, which has given up the most sacks in the league, 23. Pick: Giants
Kali: The Giants and Redskins performances last week actually showed me how impressive the Patriots were last year. It is very hard to get up every week and not underestimate the opponent. The Giants will take out last weeks performance on San Fran. Pick: Giants
