THURSDAY NIGHT (NOVEMBER 29,2018)

THE MATCH UP

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (10-1) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (6-5)

I’ve been reading some experts think tonight’s game is going to be a Cowboy upset. Cowboys are playing better.  Cowboys are rested from playing last Thursday on Thanksgiving. Amari Cooper is coming off a great game. Ezekiel Elliot is running the ball better. The quarterback has a pulse all of a sudden. The defense has played well. They have even won on the road. Is this the complete recipe to beat the Saints in a prime time game on Thursday night?

Let me wake up these experts that are dreaming and drinking the Cowboy kool-aid. They beat the Redskins’ back up quarterback on Thanksgiving. I was not impressed that it was a dominating performance by America’s team. Then they just edge the Falcons who suddenly are playing horrible. Then they beat their archrival, the Eagles, by a touchdown. What happened against the Titans at home on Monday night a few weeks back? Plus the Cowboys play in the worst division in football.

The Saints are well rested as they played last Thursday as well. The Saints took out the Falcons with ease. They destroyed the Eagles and beat them like they owed the Saints’ players money. They have won ten straight. Brees is a hall of fame quarterback and has a number of weapons to throw to. Many of them not even household names.  They have a head coach that is a mastermind, not like the one on the Dallas side line who gets questioned by his boss through the media. The running game, they have a two headed monster. Plus their defense has played well.

It’s a no-brainer in this contest. Have to go with WHODAT!!! I can truly say I have not been bitten by a zombie today. However I have not stayed in a Holiday Inn Express EVER. If it makes you feel better I have not arrived home in the back of a turnip truck either.  However I can say that I fainted on an altar when I was younger serving as an altar boy. No worries. I’m feeling much better. My head took most of the blunt hit against the marble.

OUR WINNER: SAINTS

 

DA BEARS are like the Jeffersons and are moving on up to deluxe apartments in the sky. Are The Chargers pretenders? It might not be the end of the world, but we have some interesting tidbits before the zombie apocalypse. WEEK 12!!! Hang on to your hat. You might see some butt crack.

#1. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 10-1 (SAME)  On Thanksgiving Night I asked who the hell are these guys? My family of football experts like myself shrugged their shoulders. Dan Arnold, Austin Carr Keith Kirkwood, and Tommy Lee Lewis. All these guys caught a touchdown pass from Drew Brees. Tommy Lee Lewis went to NIU,  one of the announcers told us that. Even our NIU alum did not know who he was. We were very happy for him since he went to one of our state schools we like. Some of these guys were undrafted. In a primetime game they are helping the Saints march on in an unforgettable regular season they are having. Drew Brees could easily cement MVP honors being able to work these unknowns who are replacements for the injured. Then they destroyed the Eagles last week. Then on a short week what the Saints defense did to a good Falcon offense on Thanks giving night. I think this team right now is my favorite to win the Superbowl. They are playing well on both sides of the ball and special teams. They have everything covered with no weaknesses like most of the teams  have.

#2. LA RAMS 10-1 (SAME) You wonder what happened to the Rams defense on that Monday Night game. However you’re playing the Chiefs offense. If you can hold them to under 55 points you have a shot to beat them as the gameplan said all week. Maybe the Rams borrowed a play from the movie Speed.

Stay above 50 or the team will explode and Chiefs will come away with the win. It worked for the Rams as they stay above 50 scoring 54. If this was the Superbowl preview what would the over be set up as in that contest?

#3.KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 9-2 (SAME) Chiefs put up over 50 points and come away with the loss to the Rams in one of the most epic regular season games of all-time. Still have this team high up on the charts because they are still the best in the AFC. Only thing I worry about is this team after they lose a game. Last few years after winning streaks, one loss has sent them into a downward spiral. They rebounded nicely after the Patriots loss weeks ago. I think they are a different animal nowadays, that the Monday night loss will not affect them. After bye week, business as usual. Feel sorry for the team they square up against.

#4.NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 7-3 (UP ONE SPOT) Patriots were on a bye week but I moved them up a spot because of what happened to those Chargers who had the number 4 spot briefly. The Patriots stunned in Nashville last time they played as the Ewoks are still moonshining it up from that epic battle they won against the Evil Empire. Now the Patriots will tune up against the Jets to get back on track.

The Jets will be running their preventative defense against the Evil Empire this weekend.  The defense will consist of GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE..The retreat is always used in most playbooks across the NFL.

#5.PITTSBURGH STEELERS 7-2-1 (UP ONE SPOT)  The Steelers I had written off earlier in the year. I even had the locals going to Mike Tomlin’s house and dragging him out of his home with torches and pitch forks. I think with the distraction of Leveon Bell’s hold out finally put to bed as he will miss the entire season, it is a good thing. The Terminator is doing well replacing him. Now Steelers do not have to waste time answering the same questions over and over. The Steelers can focus on piling up wins and hopefully are putting some ideas off to the side on how to beat the Patriots for once. The Chiefs look scarier than the Empire. Home field throughout the playoffs is the big key to strive for as the Steelers look totally different on the road than home.

#6.CHICAGO BEARS 8-3 (UP THREE SPOTS) The NFL is easy to figure out some of the top teams. You can then group the bad teams. Most of the teams are in a soggy holding pattern. Definitely watered down. Bears are definitely a team on the rise. I keep thinking the Bears need to beat somebody. They took down the Vikings. They beat the Lions on Thanksgiving with their back up quarterback. Now I can finally say the Bears have officially arrived in top status of the NFL. The defense is scary. The offense can beat you so many ways. They have lots of depth on their roster. I have to see more, I’m not crowning these guys Superbowl champions. However to me they have a Superbowl defense. You notice many of these top teams lack a great defense. They say pitching and defense win baseball games. A great goalie can stymie teams in the playoffs in hockey. NBA just sucks. Remember that great Denver defense not too long ago in the Superbowl. Perhaps you can credit the Legion of Boom with the Seattle Superbowl win as well.  DA BEARS will be heard a lot the rest of the way.

#7.HOUSTON TEXANS 7-3 (SAME) Texans have now won 7 games in a row. To go on the road and beat a tricky Washington team is a hard thing to do. This team is winning close games which stands out to me. The Texans will be in some big dog fights the rest of the way in their own division as teams are on the rise. It is not a cake walk any longer with cream puffs. Plus playoff games are always going to be dog fights. Certain teams prevail in close games. They know they will find a way. That and the team is in good health, at this time of the season that’s huge going further.

#8.LA CHARGERS 7-3 (DOWN FOUR SPOTS)  The Chargers are a team that baffles me. You think they are over the hump and you keep thinking they are better than what they are. Wins pile up and then they lay a turd on the field against a Denver team. Then I think when the hell was the last time the Chargers won a playoff game?

To sum up the Chargers they are the boy who cried wolf. Fool me once. Fool me twice. But the third time we know you are a pretender.

#9.MINNESOTA VIKINGS 5-4-1 (DOWN ONE SPOT) Losing to the Bears and even surrendering the division to them, the Vikings find themselves on the bubble. Sure they play the Bears one more time. They have 6 games left on their schedule to make a run at it. I feel like they will not win the Central due to the Bears. However the Vikings are still a good team to land a wild card spot in the NFC. Their offensive line worries me.  Is Kirk Cousins just a fantasy football quarterback ? Get you numbers for all the games.  However losses keep piling up. If that is the case, that whole deal in the off season with him is going to look like a Jay Cutler deal. Now that is hitting below the belt.

#10. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 5-5 (UP 3 SPOTS) Maybe moving Seattle up a few spots will jinx them and send them down the big slide in the game of chutes and ladders. They won a big game last week over the Packers. This week they could really start cementing their wild card position knocking off the Panthers. They will not win their division as Rams wrapped that up in week two. If you control the tie breakers with teams fighting you for the Wild card, it will be a SNEAKY PETE year for the guys up in the Northwest.

#11.GREEN BAY PACKERS 4-5-1 (DOWN ONE SPOT) Sick of saying or even thinking Aaron Rodgers is going to win this week, then rattle off a six game winning streak. This Sunday night its do or die for the Cheeseheads. Lose to Vikings and sorry sir you are officially  cheese whiz. This week even Aaron Rodgers’ brother came out and said he’s a turd. Not his play on the field, but just in life. Aaron probably wants his coach McCarthy axed. Missing the playoffs will only make him happy. Plus I think he’d rather cuddle with the State Farm agent then his own agent before even a naked Danica even undresses. Poor Clay Matthews never stood a chance.

#12. DALLAS COWBOYS 6-5 (UP SIX SPOTS) Only in the NFL, the Cowboys rise up from the dead like they do. They are like Jason from the Friday the 13th movies.You think they are dead. You make fun of them. You scratch your head with the trade they made with Oakland. Then all of a sudden the Cowboys win three in a row. They are on top of their division. They even come out with another movie in Jason takes Manhattan.

In this one, Bernie from Weekend at Bernies stays alive as he is held up in TGI Fridays which is Jason’s favorite eatery. Nothing like having a cross over with two classic movies. Wait until Otis hears this! He will love it.

#13. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 5-5 (UP SEVEN SPOTS) I think it is time to say the Indianapolis Colts are for real. They have quietly won 4 in a row. Andrew Luck has been magnificent all year. The Colts defense has made some great plays throughout this season. They should win five in a row playing the Dolphins this week. On Monday Night, the Titans and Texans play each other and one will lose. With a win this weekend your team will even look better next week in the power rankings with all this playing out.

#14. BALTIMORE RAVENS 5-5 (UP THREE SPOTS) Flacco’s worst nightmare.

Rambo drew first blood but these days the women are the worst nightmares . Men, did we not know this? Or is society sneaking up on us. Why is Flacco in the fetal position sucking his thumb in the corner of that room? Oh I forgot Lamar Jackson won his first start last week.

#15.TENNESSEE TITANS 5-5 (DOWN ONE SPOT) The Titans suddenly come alive. They take down the Evil Empire. Then they lay a big juicy turd in the middle of the field.

Even Terrell Owens had to check it out. He was jealous and he dropped his pants to try to outdo the Titans. Did not happen, Titans laid the bigger turd last weekend.

#16. CINCINNATI BENGALS 5-5 (DOWN FIVE  SPOTS)    The Bengals brass should start telling their players Marvin Lewis job is still on the line. The Bengals find themselves in a big funk. They hired back Hue Jackson who was recently fired by the Cleveland Browns. No team will be scared of that as the Browns have already won since Hue got his pink slip. The ultimate humiliation will be if the Browns beat you this weekend.

#17. CAROLINA PANTHERS 5-4  (DOWN ONE SPOT) Panthers were upset by the Lions last week. They still have not gotten a signature type of win against a winning squad. However they find themselves in the thick of things. If the playoffs started today they are in. They need to step up their game or like a snap of a finger this will suddenly be taken from them. Seattle in the same boat with the same record could derail the Panthers. Next week the Seahawks will be penciled in while the Panthers will be still dust busting the crumbs of the field left by their cookie quarterback.

#18.CLEVELAND BROWNS  3-6-1 (UP THREE SPOTS) Only in the NFL you can have a bye week and the team moves up in the power rankings three spots. This weekend Cleveland can take down their old coach who was fired and now went back to the Bengals where he came from. Brown already won a game since the firing. If they win this week against the Bengals, now you might have a case for the finger pointing. However, if the Browns continue to win it will be hard to hire McCarthy from the Packers. Seems like he is doing his part in helping the Packers fall deep into the abyss. The Browns need the substitute  teacher, perhaps win this week, so Browns ownership can say they fired their scapegoat. Then they can go back to their Charlie Brown ways and get the coach they really want in the off season. Who would have thought the NFL is this catty?

#19. ATLANTA FALCONS 4-7  (DOWN 4 SPOTS) The injuries on defense and inability to cash in on touchdowns in the red zone, killed the Falcons this season. Thanksgiving they had multiple mishaps. It seem like they wore themselves off after a 1-4 start to get back to the 500 mark. Since then the dirty birds have been found on the highway of life dead.

The Falcons officially pronounced DOA.

#20.WASHINGTON REDSKINS 6-4 (DOWN 8 SPOTS) Without Alex Smith this team will most likely free fall. I do like Colt McCoy as a back up. He had some moments on Thanksgiving. Perhaps he was knocking off the rust with the mistakes he made. He is a Gunslinger, so he will make mistakes. Anything can happen in the crappy division the Redskins are in. I don’t think the Skins line will hold up. They have two tight ends and no receivers on that team. One tight end is out dated. Speaking of out dated the running back is too. Spanky Peterson has had some good games this year. Way better than last season. This guy will not get you over the hump, to get in the playoffs. Dallas which is another struggle bus, has more talent on both sides of the ball, compare to the skins. Even Philadelphia, who I think is done. However they have more talent than the Skins.

#21.DETROIT LIONS 4-7 (UP ONE SPOT) We give the Lions one spot for knocking off the Carolina Panthers last Sunday. Then they go home and play on Thanksgiving and get beat by the Bears with their second string quarterback. It probably ends their season of any playoff hopes. Then to make things worse for fans in Michigan. The Wolverines lose to Ohio State, 62-39 knocking them out of the top four and beyond. Oh the Humanity to be loving your teams living in Michigan.

#22.DENVER BRONCOS 4-6 (UP ONE SPOT) Broncos come away with an upset after their bye week. Too bad it does not mean a thing.The Chargers love to lose games to weaker opponents. They are your typical masochists.

Chargers can get away with it. They love the pain and have no fan base. What’s the Broncos excuse ?

#23.MIAMI DOLPHINS 5-5 (UP ONE SPOT) Dolphins coming off a bye week. They are 5-5 and are teetering in the playoff mix. Just in time for their savior Ryan Tannehill to lead the Fins to the promise land. The Fins thought Jay Cutler was going to be their savior . We do know Saviors from down south have not had a good track record lately.

I predict this Dolphins team will just turn into the regular fish fry at your local watering hole on Friday nights.

#24.PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 4-6 (DOWN 5 SPOTS)  PHILLY, PHILLY…. Perhaps the Eagles have indulged in the mead in their off season celebrations.

The pit of misery has hit its full capacity with the whole Eagles roster.

 

#25.NEW YORK GIANTS 3-7 (UP 2 SPOTS) Giants have suddenly have won two games in a row. The team is in the worst division in football. Everyone is lumped up like cattle getting ready to be slaughtered.

They play the Eagles this week. They are on skid row. Redskins stock has fallen as their starting quarterback is out for the year. Dallas Cowboys are wishy washy. Can Odell Beckham Jr. actually be right with his prediction that the team is going to make the playoffs? Anything can happen in the NFL.

#26. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 3-7 (DOWN ONE SPOT) Every week the same thing as the only way to fix the problem is keep changing the quarterback. It’s between the same two guys  they keep flip flopping. Do they have another quarterback on the roster? This team should be gutted out completely. Hire someone from the Home and Garden channel so we can watch it step by step as this hovel is transformed. The Buccaneers are definitely hoarders. Watch episode one as they rip out the 1970’s decor like Mr. Furley’s FitzMagic couch. Then the Winston stereo that the music has gone to static. Maybe they can make it write off blame it on a hurricane.

#27.JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 3-7 (DOWN ONE SPOT) In a division where every team except your own is on the rise with huge potential. Last year you made huge strides and now the Jaguars are  lower than pond scum. The team did nothing about their glaring weaknesses in the off season. They just let things ride on the same number and it blew up in their faces. Even with running back Fournette back from injury, this team has played another good game, but came up short. Made too many mistakes and many teams can take advantage of that if you’re going to give them early XMAS gifts. This Christmas season the Jags will have to air out their grievances around the Festivus tree.

Sit around the mighty shiny pole during which the team could fix their family disfunction. They can wrestle each other. Even have tickle fights. Jerry Springer is the second option if the pole does not work in fixing these JAG BAGS.. Asking Santa for a quarterback will also help. But they have been so bad, coal is probably what these cats will get in their stockings.

#28. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 2-8 (SAME) The 49ers were on their bye week and I have them in the same position after their over time loss on Monday night the last time they played. Only reason to watch 49er football is to see Nick Mullens play. It’s been two good games so far for the undrafted free agent. He’s 1-1 with a really good chance to get the 49ers another win this weekend against a horrible Buccaneer team. Always good to carry two good quarterbacks on your roster as 49ers were wowed last year by Jimmy Garoppolo. The question… Nick Mullen for real? Could Nick Mullens pass up Jimmy on the depth chart?  Or with a league so desperate for a man to lead their team behind center would it just be better to cash in, just in case this is a fluke.  One thing is he has not played a very good defense yet.

#29. BUFFALO BILLS 3-7 (SAME) Bills won big versus the Jets and went into hiding on their bye week. The Bills should be like George Costanza and leave the room on a high note. The season is over, we won, and we are done. Build on that for the off season. Now the question is who will start at quarterback for the Bills when they play this weekend. We are delighted to say it will not be Nathan Peterman.  Peterman was actually trying out for the Lions.

Looks like the rookie Josh Allen could be back. You want to give the rookie lots of playing time to see what you got going on for your future. It’s hard not to play Matt Barkley based on his performance last time out. Much sunnier days in Buffalo even if it’s snowing, the quarterback situation suddenly improved which will put an extra pep in your step to get your snow suit on in the morning to get to work.

#30. NEW YORK JETS 3-7 (UP 1 SPOT) Since the Raiders won last week we had to move the Jets up one spot. The Jets did not do anything stupid last week on the bye week. The Jets are just in time to help the Evil Empire get back on track this Sunday.

I picture the Jets are lined up taking an ass kicking from the Patriots. Like joining the Patriot Delta Ki Luke and Kappa. The Jets bend over, and Brady thumps them with a 4×4 piece of wood or some kind of cricket paddle. As Brady and the empire swing these paddles it relights the fire in their eyes as they plot to take back the AFC from the Rebel alliance. Jets are just another planet in the way of progress. As they scream, “Thank you may I have another one!”

#31.OAKLAND RAIDERS 2-8 (UP 1 SPOT) Jon Gruden’s ultimate plan to get the number one draft pick in the NFL was hurt last week. Maybe that was why Gruden and Derrick Carr were having a heated discussion on the sidelines. Can’t Derrick Carr tow the company line? Tank the season and then we can find your replacement next April. If you like the sound of that, can you do me a solid and train your replacement? Is that asking too much? JUST WIN BABY !!!

#32.  ARIZONA CARDINALS 2-8 (DOWN TWO SPOTS) When you lose to the Raiders in my book you should be kicked out of the league. How would you like to be in Larry Fitzgerald’s shoes to come back to play with a team like this? One of the best receivers of all-time could be helping multiple playoff teams but he stays during a rebuild that might take a very long time. It would suck to be an Arizona sports fans on the professional level. Cardinals are at rock bottom. The Suns I believe still have a team. The Diamondbacks are talking about trading their assets to start rebuilding. It’s either hug a cactus or watch college sports. Herm Edwards has the Sun Devils heading to a bowl game. Which will bring these Sun Devils to your television screen.

They say the desert is really hot!!!  Do you agree?

HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!!!       THURSDAY NOVEMBER 22, 2018

THREE GAMES ON THE THURSDAY SLATE

FIRST MATCH -UP

BEARS AT LIONS

We know the Lions overall play better on Turkey Day as they are one of the main staple teams on this day. Both teams  coming off wins. Two weeks both teams met and Bears won at home as the defense of the Bears was the ringmaster who tamed the kittens from Detroit. Chase Daniel has been called into duty for this one. Mitch Trubisky can’t go on a short week with shoulder injury.  We liked the Bears in this one even with the change at quarterback. Bears defense is the key to this victory and they are that good to stop the Lions and Statford for the second time in three weeks. Plus Chase Daniel knows this offense in his sleep. He dreams about this offense. Watch him even run it better than Mitch Trubisky. Plus do we want to see the Coach for the Lions, Matt Patricia, eating a turkey leg with that grizzly Muslim beard? Probably has turkey skin still stuck in there from last year’s turkey.

OUR PICK:BEARS

REDSKINS AT COWBOYS

Sometimes it takes another Cowboy to beat a Cowboy. With Alex Smith out, the Washington Redskins are relying on ole Colt McCoy and his six shooter. He’s a Texan, maybe he grew up a Houston Oiler fan, but he’s coming in blasting like Yosemite Sam.

The Cowboys will be the dirty Varmints.  Then you have the Cowboys, a team from which you have no clue what you will see each week. Last Week they won over the Falcons. Weeks ago they looked lost against the Titans. The Cowboys, like the Lions, play well on Thanksgiving. Another prime time game for the Cowboys which is the norm because it’s all the time. Both these teams play in an awful division where all the teams suck. The Skins lead this sorry arse division. Who knows, maybe the Giants could crawl all the way back and win it. The Eagles are still hung over from the Superbowl. Like the factory worker living off his own high school highlights. Al Bundy is a perfect example. I see a close game since they are a big rival. The Redskins defense will just do enough to hold Elliot from breaking this thing open into his own highlight reel on turkey day. Spanky Peterson will get a couple extra whacks with the belt in warmups that will fire him up. The key stat is, last time the Skins played Dallas on Thanksgiving, Skins won with RG-III. Colt McCoy came into that game to seal the deal. I can see Colt McCoy being able to do some things  Alex Smith could not and this is why the Skins win this on the road.

OUR PICK:REDSKINS

FALCONS AT SAINTS

RIP ATLANTA FALCONS… Today Drew Brees will be the reaper to the end of your season. The Falcons are now 4-6. They looked good a few weeks back when they evened their record up at 4-4. It took all their mite and fight to crawl their way back to 500. Cant see the Falcons on short week traveling to the best team in the leagues home and winning today. With the loss they will be 4-7. To make the playoffs they would need to win all five games remaining to go 9-7. If 9-7, record will work as a wild card record. Too many teams jumbled up as well. Brees and the Saints march all over the dirty birds at home.

OUR PICK: SAINTS

 

Another great week in the power rankings. Lots of movement throughout. Lots of rants and raves in this addition.

#1.NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 8-1 (SAME)  They say the Saints can not score like they do in their dome at home in New Orleans. Perhaps the Cincinnati Bengals thought the same thing when the Saints invaded their city last weekend. Cincinnati Bengals who have had a pretty good defense this season. However they had no answers for Drew Brees and all those weapons at his disposal. Not even the Big Guy and Herb Tarlek could of stopped the Saints offense even bombarding the field with turkeys.

Saints prevailed and put up a 50 burger. Meanwhile Bengal fans felt like these two guys.

Perhaps the signing of the plague that infects all locker rooms he walks into, can derail the Saints. Brandon Marshall might not be welcomed in New Orleans in a few weeks after a few losses.

#2. LA RAMS 9-1 (SAME) Rams seem to always have a dog fight with the Seahawks which has been going on for years. These dog fights even occurred when both teams were at the opposite ends back when Seattle was the team of the division. Rams got a bye and move their attention to the Chiefs. While Pete Carol can make his vacation plans for the off season. Another season with no playoffs for the Seahawks. Rams get some great news as they do not have to play the Chiefs in Mexico because of the field conditions.That game will be played at home in LA. The Chiefs probably will have more fans then those fantastic LA fans.

#3. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 9-1 (UP 1 SPOT) Chiefs continued to roll as they are 9-1 and their only loss coming from New England in a close game they loss towards the end of regulation. Mahomes does not look like a quarterback in his second season. He is playing like one of the elite quarterbacks in the league. The Chiefs defense has been improving as the season goes on.    Is this weekend a Superbowl preview with the Chiefs going to LA to face the Rams? The key to winning this match up with these two super powers facing off is the Chiefs’ defense’s ability to make a few stops to that Rams high powered offense that can play well in shoot outs. Maybe just scrap the defenses in this contest and let the offenses do their thing.

#4. LA CHARGERS 7-2 (UP ONE SPOT) The Chargers did not even have to bring their A-Team out against the Raiders.

The Chargers could of brought out The Replacements to beat up on the Raiders.

We do love the replacement cheer leaders.

We do have one question about the Chargers. When the Chargers win a game does the team make a sound?

#5. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 7-3 (DOWN 2 SPOTS) What happened to the Patriots in Nashville?

Did the Titans use unconventional football ways to take down the Empire. Looked like Malcolm Butler was making some huge tackles. The Titans offense found themselves. The Titan defense was harassing the Patriots all day long.

 

At the end of the game Music City had to clean their field littered with bodies of the Evil Empire. Moonshine was drank in this celebration. The thud of the Patriots was definitely heard around the world.

#6.PITTSBURGH STEELERS 6-2-1 (SAME) Was thinking of moving up the Steelers into the top five. Tom Brady and the Evil Empire presence disrupts the Steelers. Even if the Steelers do not play the Patriots during the season. If the Steelers even think they are going to pass up the Patriots for best record in the AFC. Big Ben feels his wind pipe become constricted.

Tom Brady can use his evilness from a distance. Even if Brady is in Boston and Big Ben is in Pittsburgh. Steelers will always stay second fiddle to the Pats in the AFC.

#7. HOUSTON TEXANS 6-3 (SAME) Texans have won six straight. Is a bye week good at this time for a team on a roll? I think it was a perfect week for a bye for this Texan team. First you have a banged up quarterback, Deshaun Watson, who needs rest. Plus all your big names on defense are still standing. Resting those guys for a big second half will help their chances. Plus your new receive,r Demaryius Thomas, to settle in with his new team. Then you have Washington up first this weekend. A team you should beat. But a team that can beat you as the Redskins are very unpredictable every week. Plus you’re on the road. Now we will see if the Texans are a team that deserves to stay in the top ten.

#8. MINNESOTA VIKINGS 5-3-1 (SAME) It might have been the first game the Viking defense played close to a perfect game. Before the bye week they beat up on the kitty cats from motor city. Vikings have been up and down the whole season but known for a strong defense it has not showed up very often in 2018. Vikings know winning the division is the best road to the playoffs. You have to take care of division opponents. This week on Sunday night on the big stage they face the Bears who have been rising up all season. This a different Bears team from years past. These teams play each other twice. Both these games could be the key to gate master.

#9.CHICAGO BEARS 6-3 (UP 1 SPOT) Are beating the Lions, Cardinals, Bills, Jets, Seahawks, and the Buccaneers enough to qualify you as a top ten team in the NFL? They blew a late lead to the Packers late in the 4th quarter in game one that they should have won. They took the Patriots to the brink. Mack is back from his injury that sidelined him for two weeks. The defense with or without Khalil Mack in the line up  have been dominating teams. This unit has been forcing numerous amounts of turnovers from opposing offenses. They also have been scoring on defense. The Bears offense is on the rise. They’ve been putting up big numbers. The Bears will be in the spot light on Sunday Night. They have a chance to earn a significant win over the Vikings. If they can beat the Vikings on Sunday night they will also increase their lead in the division. It’s a big game to find out where are the Bears exactly.

#10. GREEN BAY PACKERS 4-5-1 (UP 1 SPOT) Packers have been playing better than they did before their bye week. I’m really not sure they are a top ten team. However they have a guy named Rogers. Plus look at some of the crap that follows the Packers. The middle of the pack teams are teams treading water one week. They might look like world beaters this week. Many teams in the NFL are messed up like some high school kid that is looking for what group he belongs in. The type that is not on the bottom or with the cool kids type. Packers looked pretty good overall against the Dolphins. They are on a short week this week as they play Seattle. It is hard to win in Seattle. Plus Seahawks have been playing better. Packers lost a tight one in Seattle. Was it a coaches decision not to go for it on fourth down that gave this game to Seattle? Is McCarthy thinking about the Browns job? Maybe trying to be like George Costanza forcing the team to fire him to take another job. I keep the Packers in the top ten because of Rodgers, he will somehow turn everything around by himself.

#11.CINCINNATI BENGALS 5-4 (DOWN 2 SPOTS) Many teams get humiliated by the New Orleans Saints. The defensive coordinator lost his job because of that humiliation suffered against Drew Brees and company. The Bengals have found themselves in a rut of late. I think the team should put Marvin Lewis’ head on the chopping block. With knowing that, half the team will respond and play a lot better.

#12.WASHINGTON REDSKINS 6-3 (UP 2 SPOTS) Talk about a bend don’t break defense, last week versus the Buccaneers. To give 500 yards of offense and hold them to three points. The Redskins will take advantage of being in the crappiest division and take that road to the playoffs.

#13.SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 5-5 (UP 4 SPOTS) Seattle won a huge game on Thursday night at home against a desperate Packer. Both teams needed a victory to stay alive in the playoff hunt. Russell Wilson continues to deliver strong performances and has carried this team on his shoulders. In a year many thought would be a rebuild, now realize this team could somehow sneak into the playoffs in a very good NFC. Not giving Pete Carol coach of the year honors. He has done a good job minus all those dirt bags they called the Legion of Boom on the defense. Maybe by getting rid of all the bad seeds, that was what was needed to get this team on the right track. Will nice guys finish last? They still have Pete Carol so that statement is not exactly true.

#14.TENNESSEE TITANS 5-4 (UP 5 SPOTS) You bring down the Empire and your stock will rise. Titans looked pathetic on offense the whole year. They were able to win a few games and stay close to the 500 mark. All of sudden Mariota rises from the table.

The Titans have won two in a row.We do not know what kind of jolt of wattage they gave Mariota. We do not know how much moonshine was pumped into the man’s bloodstream, but it is working. The defense has been pretty good all year. If this offense stays alive, this team could get back to the playoffs. That whole division except the Jaguars all of sudden look like solid teams and have come out of their comas. Will be interesting to see how it all finishes up at the end of the year.

#15.ATLANTA FALCONS 4-5 (DOWN 2 SPOTS) Atlanta was cruising along on a nice quiet winning streak. Then they hit a speed bump last week as the Browns took them down like Charlie Brown. The Falcons will be heading home this weekend to try to get back to 500 with the Cowboys coming in. Another team riding the short struggle bus. Falcons need another winning streak to happen. Every game now has to be treated like a playoff game. Too many teams in the NFC in same boat in a pack. Falcons need to get themselves out of the pack. They to separate themselves.

#16.CAROLINA PANTHERS 5-3 (DOWN 1 SPOT) Panthers coming off a big loss to the Steelers last Thursday. It was a humiliating loss. Panthers and Cam Newton have five wins, none of them stand out to me as a big win. A big win in a team with a winning record. This week they play the Lions and the Panthers will quickly rebound from their loss and be back in the playoff hunt. It will all play out the same like in Weekend at Bernie’s 2. The dead body will show up at every party on the beach. Like Cam Newton he will make appearances at every game and play the part. At the end when the big beach party takes place, both of them will be buried in the sand. Weekend at Bernie’s is not a movie to describe your quarterback. DIEHARD!!! Cam is no Bruce Willis. He’s like the body being chucked out of the high rise building. WELCOME TO THE PARTY PAL!!!

#17.BALTIMORE RAVENS 4-5 (DOWN 1 SPOT) Even during the bye week the Ravens stock is dropping. This is a new ERA for the Ravens, out with the old and in with the new. Could this be the end of Joe Flacco in Baltimore? The play of Lamar Jackson will determine that. The Ravens had used him this season in the red zone around the goal line. I can see Lamar Jackson’s ERA getting off to a hot start. These running quarterbacks take too many hits and eventually he’ll run into the ground. It will be interesting to see what he can do. In a league of bad quarterbacks, Flacco could resurface anywhere. Could Ravens make a change at head coach as well? Ravens seem like they are on their way to a complete overhaul.

#18.DALLAS COWBOYS 4-5 (UP 2 SPOTS) One week Dallas looks distraught. Their brains are in another galaxy with the Raiders. Then perhaps two weeks later they upset a team they should not be doing. Perhaps the Eagles are not really an upset. Perhaps that whole division is the worst in the league. Could Odell Beckham Jr. be right and the Giants still have a chance to win this sorry excuse for a division in the NFL?

#19.PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 4-5 (DOWN 7 SPOTS) Talk about a Superbowl hangover.

Now you go to New Orleans this Sunday.

Looks like another Tequilia Sunrise in Philadelphia this weekend.

#20.INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 4-5 (UP 1 SPOT) The Colts have quietly been putting together a string of victories. They beat the Jaguars last week, and now they have a big game against another division foe, the Titans who are all of a sudden red hot. They took down the Evil Empire last week. Colts need to win to leapfrog Tennessee and get their sights on Houston who have been red hot since the Colts gave them their first victory of the year. Colts are at home and Andrew Luck is playing very well this season, two ways they could knock off the Titans this weekend. Weird all of sudden the whole division is playing well except the Jag Bags.

#21.CLEVELAND BROWNS 3-6-1 (UP 2 SPOTS) Sometimes it takes firing the head coach and getting rid of the assistant coach. Bring things to a simple level and all of a sudden you earned another win. Different voice can spark things. Now on a bye week who knows where this new voice and direction can take the Browns. What we do know is the team has some nice pieces in place. Drew Carey and the Dawg pound have to be very excited.

#22.DETROIT LIONS 3-7 (DOWN 4 SPOTS) When it comes down to the king animal of the jungle this year, it is not a Lion. Obviously DA BEAR is the new king after the kitty cats had no answers to the new version of the species in Chicago. Looks like another struggle for a storm trooper leaving the empire. No worries, the coach of the Lions is due to be picked up by airport security at some point.

23.DENVER BRONCOS 3-6 (UP 1 SPOT) The Broncos were on bye week last week so we moved them up one spot. We know Case Keenum went through intense training in the middle of nowhere in Colorado, preparing his mindset and his body for the next seven games where he takes this Broncos team to the playoffs.

 

BRING ON THE RUSSIAN!!!  Case then wakes up from this Rocky marathon on the television with Cheetos and chips all over his body laying on the couch.

#24.MIAMI DOLPHINS 5-5 (UP 1 SPOT) CONGRATULATIONS THE DOLPHINS ARE THE BEST PRO FOOTBALL TEAM IN FLORIDA!!! The Dolphins get to head to Disney World. If you combined all the Florida teams in one roster. Then combined all the New York teams in one roster. Do you think any of the two teams could make the playoffs? Who would be the starting quarterback in this swampy mess ? Brock Osweiler versus Eli Manning.

#25.TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 3-6 (DOWN 3 SPOTS)  How does a team get 500 yards in total offense and only come away scoring three measly points? That’s five football fields they marched up and down on.  FitzMagic who’s no longer the magician as the rabbit escaped the helmet and went elsewhere. He threw for 400 yards of that total offense. The Buccaneers defense is a unit that is no good. They held the two old timers which is the Skins offense to only 16 points. We know the team’s uber rating is way down. The fans rating and attendance might start peeking just above the Tampa Bay Rays attendance. The five old guys who attend every baseball game.

#26.JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 3-7 (SAME) Last week I dropped the Jaguars two spots on a bye week because they irritate me. Thinking coming off bye week the team thought they make a run especially against a division opponent the Colts. Looks like they fought their way back in that game late but fell short for another loss.

That game they did missed it by that much. The way the Jaguar brain trust thinks about their own quarterback is like that guy describing the big whale he caught. It ends up as only a minnow. This little fish though sends a quake so huge into the locker room it ends up swallowing the whole team alive

Doug Marrone is no Jedi Night to save this sorry ass team. Rancor must of been filled eating Ramsey with the big ego he has.

#27.NEW YORK GIANTS 2-7 (UP 3 SPOTS) Congratulations the Giants are the best team in NEW YORK !!!  Most fans from New York would want to escape New York to head else where for their football fix instead watching what they got going on in their own state.

Wonder if Jake the Snake Blisken can play quarterback for one of the New York teams. He hurt his knee in Best of Times playing Reno Hightower.

Giants are a very confusing team. They have some great talent on this team. Especially on offense. If they had an Eli Manning, they would be better. I’m talking about the younger one. This team at times will win against any team because sometimes the old young Eli Manning comes in and shows flashes of his old self. Not as many flashes to win ten games a season. Odell predicted playoffs. Yes I agree with him the Saints will definitely make it to the playoffs.

#28.SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (SAME) The 49ers have been stuck in the 28th position. Clowns above them, jokers below, as they are stuck in the middle. Nick Mullens had his second start of the season in a game they could have won as they played the Giants. The game went in to OT. They lost, but two great starts under the undrafted free agent’s belt for the start of his career. He continues to do well, so he’ll be locked to have a job next season. I wonder how Dickie Sherman has been doing with the 49ers? The loud mouth has not been heard since the beginning of the year. It has to be frustrating to see the Seattle Seahawks still in the mix with out Shermy’s services. Plus Sherman picked a team in the Seahawks division to rub salt in their wounds thinking the 49ers were going to be way better than his former team. Not a Seahawk fan, especially since Pete Carol is a snake in the garden. I do believe you can do better without players like Sherman.

#29.BUFFALO BILLS 3-7 (UP 2 SPOTS) FINALLY THE BUFFALO BILLS CUT TIES WITH NATHAN PETERMAN… I moved Buffalo up one extra spot just for that move alone releasing Peterman who should not even get picked up by any of those future spring leagues. If I was Canada, I’d move my league to Antarctica. If Nate has a college degree, he better have a back up plan in life and it better not be anything to do with football. Then you see a journeyman Matt Barkley who is on the streets light up the Jets and he has only been on the team for 2 weeks. Kind of stuck on Matt Barkley being on the streets. Two years ago at the end of the season for the Bears he was moving the team up and down the field. He was playing with some crappy receivers as well. He could have won a game late in the contest. He threw a perfect pass right in the mid section of Josh Bellamy for the game winner, but he dropped it. Went through his hands. Josh Bellamy still to this day aka rock hands is on the Bears.  Barkley is a good pick up. But Bills finally got a lucky break. The brain trust in Buffalo to have Nate Peterman even making the team is baffling. They should have had a guy like Matt Barkley being the bridge quarterback for Josh Allen in game one. The Bills have a good defense. They really don’t need much offense to win games. But they will never win with how pathetic it had gotten. They have a bye week this week. They still play a good amount of bad teams on their schedule to play yet. We will see if the Jets just had a bad week and the Bills got lucky when they return to action in week 12.

#30. ARIZONA CARDINALS 2-7 (DOWN 1 SPOT) Cardinals expected to lose to the Kansas City Chiefs last Sunday. They held the Chiefs to only 26 points.The Cardinal offense scored 14. Many figured the Chiefs would roll this Cardinal team but they stayed strong and put up a good fight against a heavy weight especially on offense. Meanwhile Josh Rosen is still taking baby steps as he is becoming a better leader the way he carries himself in the huddle. His performance on the field has not been off the charts. He’s still developing and at times he has shown some good stuff to make you believe. They have a match up with the Raiders this Sunday. The game means nothing to both teams. However another victory on Josh Rosen’s resume will build more confidence. If you lose to a Raider team, that plain sucks and he might regress. Actually it could be a meaningful game in developing your guy.

#31. NEW YORK JETS 3-7 (DOWN 4 SPOTS) The Buffalo Bills drove down and kicked your can all over the yard. Now you are officially the worst team in New York. Thank God the Raiders have not been shipped off to Canada for that Winnipeg squad, then you’d be in trouble in Little Big China. Then you lost to a guy that was not even in the NFL two weeks ago. The great journeyman that I brag about, Josh McCown for the Jets,  looks like he should be ready to retire at the old folks home. Jets have a string of injuries including their rookie quarterback like everyone else. The game plan against Buffalo was bowling and darts during the day at the tavern thinking Nate Peterman was going to just give gang green the game. That would have worked but the brain trust just got better from sniffing glue. It threw a wrench in your game plan.

#32. OAKLAND RAIDERS 1-8 (SAME) Surprised the Chargers did not put up a 40 burger on the Raiders last week. 20 points was plenty to beat the silver and black without any kind of pulse. It seems like yesterday the Raiders were relevant again. It was not too long ago. They drafted Derrick Carr and this team made it to the playoffs.They came out of the dark ages. They were young and hungry.  Like the sound of the wrecking ball, the Raiders crumbled down to the level no franchise wants to go. It’s a team in an apocalyptic world now. A team with no brains. A team with no plan. A team that is walking dead. Before the Raiders actually go to Vegas, I imagine Derrick Carr might get to ride with the equipment. Someone will have to get rid of all those dead teammates the team does not want anymore.

HERE’S DERRICK CARR SAYING HIS GOODBYES

THE FINAL SWITCH IS THROWN RIGHT BEFORE HEADING OUT OF TOWN. DERRICK CARR WILL BE THE ONLY ONE THAT MAKES IT TO VEGAS AS ALL THE OAKLAND RAIDERS ARE MUTILATED FOR GOOD. THIS WHAT WE CALL GRUDEN’S GRINDERS

 

THURSDAY NIGHT (NOVEMBER 15,2018)

MATCH UP

GREEN BAY AT SEATTLE

This is a big game for both teams. Basically, the team that loses will be home for the playoffs. Seattle needs this game more since they are light years away from the division leader Rams. The Seahawks need to make a run at the wild card. They will need to leapfrog many teams to go that road. Every game from here out for both teams should be treated like playoff games. Packers find themselves in the thick of things and have a chance at the division title. However now-a-days, no pushovers in the Central. Lions suck but once in awhile they knock off a team. Ask the Packers. Both these teams have played well of late. Especially Seattle who got out the gate slowly due to injuries. After the Packers coming off the bye week, they have been much better. The Rams had the game in their hands but they blew the lead late in that one. Now you know how the Bears feel. Will that Rams game they fumbled away and that tie with Minnesota earlier in the year come back and haunt them?

My gut feeling is telling me Aaron Rodgers will have a big game tonight. The Packers are playing well and I see the carry over into this game. The Seahawks are not who they once were. The Legion of Boom are all doing time 8 to ten in the local prisons. Maybe not, but it is a good idea. The Seahawks have the 12th man, but that has not worked out the last few contests at home. Aaron Rodgers home is safe from the style of pants his State Farm guy wears. KHAKIS.. The 12th man I think should get on the field to help their quarterback. Russell Wilson is asked to do too much. He is running for his life the whole year, keeping plays alive trying to get something out of nothing. Surprised Pete Carol does not have him playing defense as well. After ten weeks, Russell Wilson can’t take on this heavy load by himself and in a short week, this will affect his performance.  This is the time of season where Rodgers gets a streak of wins going and this will be the second in a row in Seattle. The Pack will win this one late in the game to put away a tired Wilson.

OUR PICK:GREEN BAY PACKERS

After years of being the doormat of the league. Some might say years of tanking. The 76ers were gathering young players and trying to put together a young team that could grow and gel together. The process took many years to finally put together a young nucleus. In the NBA it’s the old way of doing things. It’s all about assembling the big three, clearing enough cap space to get one star and his BF and perhaps you have a guy already established. The 76ers plan was working. The original plan  as the team made it to the playoffs and got deep into the playoffs. It was a team that continued to grow year by year. It was a team that liked each other. It was team that was a band of brothers on the hardwood courts across the country. The old plan suddenly scrapped. Two of the starters  dealt to Minnesota for a star in Jimmy Butler. Suddenly you feel another crack in the liberty bell in Philadelphia.

Minnesota Timberwolves gets rid of disgruntled Jimmy Butler sending him to 76ers along with Justin Patton.  The Timberwolves land two starters which were fan favorites in Philadelphia. Robert Covington and Dario Saric. Also thrown into the deal for the Timberwolves were Jerry Bayless and a 2022 second round draft pick. The Timberwolves know they can turn the page on the short Jimmy Butler era, who demanded a trade before the season started. They waited for the best deal. Then pulled the trigger as the Timberwolves are off to very slow start and they knew this was not going to work out with Jimmy Butler still in a Timberwolves uniform.   Philadelphia now has a big three established in Jimmy Butler coming east to Philadelphia. Already in place are Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. With this trade practically a done deal, the oddsmakers have already increased the 76ers chances to win the conference.

Tom Thibadeau is the man who made Jimmy Butler who he is. The Chicago Bulls drafted him and Thibs is responsible for making Jimmy Butler into a great defensive player. Jimmy Butler worked hard on his game and had the desire to get better as he became an offensive force. Jimmy Butler, a guy that can create his own shot and then play well at the other end to stop the opponents. Two way guys are definitely hard to find these days in league where turn stile defenses are the normal. Thibs then was fired from the Bulls. Landed on his feet in Minnesota and became their coach and was also President of basketball operations. He made the trade that landed Jimmy Butler and brought him to Minnesota. He gave up a lot to get him to the twin cities. Things worked out in the very first year as Jimmy Butler and the Timberwolves made the playoffs. It’s been awhile since Minnesota made the playoffs. You have to go back to the Kevin Garnett days. It did not take things very long to go South as Jimmy Butler did not get along with teammates. This occurred in Chicago as well. Threw his old coach under the bus and forced the team to make this trade. Thibs gets criticized for relying on X Bulls players on his roster. Some call the Timberwolves the Bulls alum team. If things don’t turn around after cutting the fat off the bone, Thibs will find himself out of a job. When you live by the Bull, you die by the Bull.

I do not know if the 76ers get better with this trade. The 76ers traded away two starters for one. Obviously someone from the bench will be inserted into the line up. This trade will ruin some of the overall depth on the team. Imagine they will find some more players before the deadline to improve that depth. Then Jimmy Butler has only one year left on his deal presently which could haunt this team if you can not re-sign him. Elton Brand who took over the operations of the 76ers now has established the big three that is the main staple across the NBA. Who are your big three?

I do not know if Minnesota got back what they gave the Bulls for Jimmy Butler. I think the Timberwolves added some nice pieces in Saric and Covington. I do not think they are enough to get the Timberwolves back to playoffs. They may not be enough to save Thibs’ job after the season ends. Overall these pieces with some of the other young guys the Timberwolves have in place already, might be a good starting foundation. The Timberwolves took a few steps backwards but they got rid of the bad element in the locker room. Plus a good draft pick or good free agent signing and they could be back in the mix of things. However Tom Thibadeau might be in another town. He might be done in the NBA until the turn around is complete.

I think the 76ers are rushing themselves. Before the Warriors added Kevin Durant, they already were a very well established team. They even had a championship under their belt. All the years waiting, why did they have change their direction right now? If they stayed the course and watched this team continue to grow and get more confidence with the experience, then added the top free agent in the off season, look at all the depth you still have. Is Jimmy Butler going to fit in with your team or create another rift with his third team?  Will Jimmy Butler even sign with you after the season is over?  I can see him bolting to another team to play with some of his BF’S. Some team that has an open salary cap to fit all his posse under. Then you have to rebuild on the fly. If you can’t get the right pieces this whole thing folds on you like a house of cards. Then you have to start over just because patience was not a virtue and your new guy running the show needed to make a splash.  Ended up with egg on his face picking a questionable character like Jimmy Butler. Things were going well in Philadelphia on the sports landscape. The Eagles and possible the 76ers could be heading in a nose dive. The Phillies might over paid for high price talent with questionable character this off season. The Rocky statue should have a frown on its face seeing a bad sports cancer making it’s way through the City of Brotherly Love.

 

WEEK TEN

THE SUNDAY SLATE

MATCH UP                                                                               OUR WINNER

SAINTS AT BENGALS                                                          SAINTS

FALCONS AT BROWNS                                                     FALCONS

LIONS AT BEARS                                                                    BEARS

CARDINALS AT CHIEFS                                                   CHIEFS

PATRIOTS AT TITANS                                                        PATRIOTS

REDSKINS AT BUCCANEERS                                      REDSKINS

BILLS AT JETS                                                                           JETS

JAGUARS AT COLTS                                                           COLTS

CHARGERS AT RAIDERS                                               CHARGERS

SEAHAWKS AT RAMS                                                     RAMS

DOLPHINS AT PACKERS                                              PACKERS

COWBOYS AT EAGLES                                                  EAGLES

GIANTS AT 49ERS                                                               GIANTS

We have another wild week in the power rankings for week ten. Plenty of teams that we think are done for the year. Plenty of teams on the rise as well. Hope you donate money to help fund Nathan Peterman’s early retirement in Buffalo. Make sure you tip your bartender well as we have another exciting week in the power rankings,

#1.NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 7-1 (UP 1 SPOT) Saints with a big win last week versus the Rams that could be a preview of the NFC championship game. In the dome the Saints are so hard to beat. They built up a big lead in the first half. The second half the Rams made this a game. Then Drew Brees got his act together and sealed the deal and finished the Rams fatality style.

This fatality has an old man about Drew Brees’ age finishing a youngster we will name Goff. In other news, Saints signed the great Dez Bryant. His career with New Orleans very short as Dez hurt himself in practice an season ending injury for #88. Back to twitter for your usually stupid opinions on Cowboys football. The revenge game is not happening for 2018. Now Saints might sign the cancer of the league in Brandon Marshall. Never played in a playoff game. He was cut earlier this season by the Seahawks. Will Marshall ruin another team?

#2.LA. RAMS 8-1 (DOWN 1 SPOT) The undefeated season comes to an end. The 1972 Dolphin team popped the one cork on the one bottle champagne to celebrate their perfect year. After a sip of the bubbly and a dose of metamucil, they had to get back to the home before the street lights came on. Rams made some great adjustments to get back in the game against the Saints last weekend. It took all that effort just to get back in the game. Then to give up a score after tying the game takes all the wind out of your sails. I think a loss will help this team in the long run. They should rebound quickly as they have a ton of talent on both sides of the ball to make another run and find themselves meeting up again with the Saints in the playoffs.

#3.NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 7-2 (SAME) Last weekend was a marquee match up that featured two of best quarterbacks in the league playing against each other. It was Rodgers versus Brady. Reminded me of a great match up of the past that did not happen very often. Marino versus Montana was a great match up that met up in the Superbowl. This is the second time Rodgers versus  Brady have went at it. The Evil Empire pulled away late in the game to give Brady the win over Rodgers. Both quarterbacks are dating high profile celebrities. Brady might be married. I can see them betting their girl on the game. Brady gets to race cars with Danica this weekend. At least Rodger’s State Farm guy wears better khakis than Brady’s Farmer’s guy. Cheese heads need any small victory they can get these days into the season.

#4. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 8-1 (SAME) How would you like to get promoted at your job. Then be asked to beat the Kansas City Chiefs. The Cleveland Browns was the latest victim of the Chiefs high octane offense that steam rolled the Browns. The experts and reporters say Mahomes is due to have a let down. To have a bad game. Not seeing that as this team is hard to stop. The concern I did have with the Chiefs is not to get in those long losing streaks. Last few years the first loss led to five straight. Then they would have to dig themselves out of it. Fight and crawl their way back into the playoff hunt.  They lost to the Patriots weeks back. Since then they have recovered and now have won three in a row.

#5.LA CHARGERS 6-2 (SAME) I was a bit nervous to have the Chargers at number five. It’s a team that is very frustrating. All the talent they have. In the past things like missed kicks would doom them. Then Phillip Rivers would throw a stupid pass that would get picked off on a potential game winning drive. Many did not think the Chargers could go on the road and win in Seattle who plays well at home. Plus it is a team that has done well lately. The chargers still had missed kicks but they over came them and won a big road game. Seems like they really don’t have a home field advantage. The games in LA are more of the other team’s fans. I can’t wait until their next match up with the Chiefs, should be a good one. The Chargers are like that poop hanging on to the the Chiefs bum hair and not going away.

#6.PITTSBURGH STEELERS 5-2-1 (UP ONE SPOT) Who the hell needs Leveon Bell. Not the Steelers, they have the Terminator. Bell is in Pittsburgh playing pick up games of basketball as his saving account is not getting bigger as the hold out continues. The Thursday night Big Ben and the offense and the defense updated their shower curtain and they completely steam rolled the panthers. Crumbs of newton laid on the turf after the lights went off in the stadium. Reminds me of the few guys on the Chicago Bears defense in 1985 who held out the whole season. The Bears defense did not need them as they dominated their opponents. Then they won the Superbowl. They quickly ended their hold out the next season missing out on a historical team that year. Not saying the Steelers are going to the big game. But Bell might miss out on Big Ben’s prize winning chip dip at his house for his annual Superbowl party. Just saying, legend is he uses fresh garlic.

#7.HOUSTON TEXANS 6-3 (DOWN 1 SPOT) Had to drop the Texans down one even though they have won six straight. Last week they won against the Denver Broncos. The Broncos took the Texans to the brink of the game and could of pulled off a comeback victory. This after the Broncos gave the Texans one of their starting receivers earlier in the week. At times teams are going to play you tough in a close game but the Broncos. Come on this game should of been over after the coin toss. If you’re going to let teams hang with you, you might not be in my top ten the following week. I will expect a card from the team asking me to forgive the bums.

#8. MINNESOTA VIKINGS 5-3-1 (SAME) Vikings took care of business last week against the Lions. Vikings fed off division teams last season. Teams like the Lions can be troublesome. Lions have taken down the Patriots and the Packers. Not a slouch team. But It’s  a game you need and sends you into bye week with a winning record at pretty much the half way point of the season. The Viking defense did well which is a good sign as that was the unit that helped pave the way for the team last season.

#9.CINCINNATI BENGALS 5-3 (UP 1 SPOT) The Bengals were on bye last week and moved up one spot with a few teams doing bad last week. Bengals won the week before their bye after losing two in row. Looks like it will be them and the Steelers fighting for the division title since the Browns have hit a slippery slope.The Ravens have suddenly started to free fall. Even if the Bengals do not win the division I expect them to get a wild card. Lots of talent on both sides of the ball. They face a tough challenge this week against the Saints.They are at home and if they can pull it off that could build huge confidence for the team going into the second half of season.

#10. CHICAGO BEARS 5-3 (UP 3 SPOTS) Not totally sure at our decision to move the Bears into the top ten as they’ve been on the outside looking in.They have won two in a row. They have beat young quarterbacks this season. They even took care of business against a quarterback that does not even belong in the league. They are done with the AFC east. Now we will see if this team is for real with games in their own division. I love their defense. They played well without Mack in their line up due to injury. With him back in the line up the way he played before missing a few games I see them getting stronger. If this team is going to make it to playoffs they need to start knocking off division opponents and they finally have a chance at that as the Lions are up this weekend. Then Vikings and back to the Lions. Trubisky is getting better each game. He does make mistakes in not hitting the wide open guy. He gets away with a few passes that teams should pick off but they drop the ball. If he can avoid mistakes, this team has a shot at their division title or a wild card berth.

#11. GREEN BAY PACKERS 3-4-1 (UP 3 SPOTS) The cheese heads have been playing much better even though it doesn’t show in the standings. They have played the Patriots and the Rams the last two weeks and have nothing to show for it. Now their schedule gets a tad easier. I expect them to turn things around. First up the Dolphins. Aaron Rodgers is due for a big winning streak and this weekend might be where it starts. Do you put cheese whiz on your fish fry?

#12. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 4-4 (UP UP THREE SPOTS) We have not heard much of the Eagles lately. They went to England and tamed the Jaguars and now have an even record half way through the season. The Eagles have been taking it easy over the bye week hanging out with the usual Witchy women to calm their nerves. In a division that they do not have to feel Desperado about as things are coming together when they looked like they were the New Kid in Town after winning the Superbowl last year. It is time to show their greatest hits album two this second half and secure their division and be top on all the charts when playoffs arrive.

#13.ATLANTA FALCONS 4-4 (UP 3 SPOTS) Even with the bad defense and so many key injuries on that side of the ball, the Falcons have quietly gotten themselves back into the thick of things. After throttling a Washington team last week, that evened their record at 4-4. The Redskins have a great defense and have been playing good football. The Falcons shut down the Redskins offense. We know the Falcons have an explosive offense which seems to be getting better and better each week. The team just added released veteran Bruce Irvin who was cut by the Raiders. Another person’s junk is another person’s treasure. Besides Jon Gruden does not know what he is doing.

#14.WASHINGTON REDSKINS 5-3 (DOWN 5 SPOTS) The Redskins are a roller coaster team. One week they can beat a very solid team. The next week they can be slaughtered by a solid team. Besides Alex Smith and Spanky Peterson, who else is on that offense? The Redskins are in a bad division and seems they are disguising them selves as a winning team. Not buying what they are selling.In the long run they are at best a 500 team.

#15.CAROLINA PANTHERS 5-3 (DOWN 4 SPOTS) When it comes to big games, the Fig Newton actually becomes a cookie. Just on Thursday they played a tough opponent in the Steelers and they got destroyed by Big Ben and company. It shows the Panthers wins have come from other cookies in the cookie jar. Another team which has a fancy wrapper on the outside but nothing special inside. In Lethal Weapon, Roger Murtaugh says all dressed up and nobody to blow. That’s the Carolina Panthers for you in a nutshell.

#16.BALTIMORE RAVENS 4-5 (DOWN 4 SPOTS) Looks like the end for Joe Flacco. The Ravens have suddenly hit a slippery slope and are playing bad. Losses are mounting up. Looks like Joe Flacco’s injury will need surgery. Looks like his worst nightmare is about to happen. It’s the Lamar Jackson show when the Ravens return from their bye week. Joe Flacco has loathed management after they drafted Jackson in the first round.  Flacco even showed he could have passed to Jackson who was wide open on one of those plays they have him come in on the goal line. Instead it was incomplete pass and Ravens settled for field goal.

#17.SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 4-4 (UP 1 SPOT) Seattle coming off a loss to the Chargers last week at home. They fought and crawled their way back in that contest ,but fell short off a tougher opponent like the Chargers. Pete Carol without his Legion of Boom defense has done a pretty good job at keeping this team competitive. The team had troubles with the offensive line earlier in the season and now have fixed their troubles as they’ve been in every game. In tough NFC they probably will not make the playoffs especially with the Rams who should win that division by a mile. Pete Carol, a guy I hate, will keep this team hovering around the 500 mark the rest of the way.

#18 DETROIT LIONS 3-5 (UP 1 SPOT) Felt bad last week moving the Lions down 5 spots. Even though they deserved it. I moved them up one spot because I feel bad for this team.They are like those carnival goldfish that look good in the bag. Then you get home and they die before you get them in the bowl. However they seem like they will not flush immediately down the toilet as they look like it as they go round and round with the water. But then it pops up in the bowl after the flush.The Bears this week should give them the extra flush it take to end the Lions season for good this weekend.

#19.TENNESSEE TITANS 4-4 (UP 3 SPOTS) The Titans probably save their season with a win over the Cowboys on Monday night. Especially now you have to play the Patriots this week. If you lost both games you would of been in a hole you could not get out of. We know the Titans are good in their own division. They moved up because they are threading water until they can feast on their own division to try to get them back in the race.

#20.DALLAS COWBOYS 3-5 (DOWN 3 SPOTS) The Cowboys on the big stage of Monday Night last week could have evened their record at 4-4. Could of really been in the thick of things in their division. They were also at home. The Titans came in and handled the Cowboys with ease. Things are not well for America’s team. First you lost the civil war in Texas earlier to the Texans. Now this team should be stripped of its America’s team badge. This has gone on too long. They need a new President. Jerry Jones needs to butt out of football operations, don’t care if he is the owner. They need to steal Trumps slogan and get it printed on hats Make Dallas better again. Trump might charge you for using his slogan but Jerry Jones has money to wipe his tush with.

#21.INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 3-5 (UP 2 SPOTS) Colts coming off a bye week after they have won two in a row. Andrew Luck is playing like one of the elite quarterbacks in the league as he has his old form back. The defense has done pretty well. Frank Reich has things turned around in his first year as head coach.  They have a match up this week with the Jaguars, a perfect time to kick a team when they are down. Plus to kick a division opponent when they are down is PRICELESS.. Going 4-5 after this weekend and if the Texans come back down to earth, this team could be in the thick of things in their crappy division.

#22.TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 3-5 (DOWN 2 SPOTS) The Buccaneers are dealing with who’s on first. This is baseball thing. Who is the starting quarterback this week? It could be either Winston or Fitz-magic who got the job back. The defense sucks. Time to abandon ship, let your quarterbacks and defense go down with the boat, and start over.

#23.CLEVELAND BROWNS 2-6-1 (DOWN 2 SPOTS) The Browns are free falling after their stock was on the upswing. They fired their head coach and some of his side kicks. Then the plot of this Cleveland soap opera gets juicy as Hue Jackson reveals all on the E channel. How he wanted to draft Carson Wentz. Oh those Brownies. The Charlie Brownest of all the Browns. They need to get Snoopy in ASAP.

#24. DENVER BRONCOS 3-6 (UP 1 SPOT) Broncos have not been winning but they are a team moving up, not into a deluxe apartment in the sky. Perhaps a small hovel in a middle class neighborhood because beans don’t burn on the grill. They are heading to bye week after playing two tough games between two great teams in the AFC. This is another team stuck in limbo. They have some talent but if they turn things around and get back to winning they will not get a top draft choice. They will end up drafting a Harry Bentley. Great neighbor but not a guy that will help the franchise future.

#25.MIAMI DOLPHINS 5-4 (UP 1 SPOT) Good times at Ridgemont High in Miami. Osweiler is your quarterback and orders a pizza like Spocoli in the meeting room at Dolphin head quarters. You beat the Jets last week. Brock Osweiler is actually looking pretty decent. Plus the Rams loss means no teams remain undefeated  for those old guys from the 1970’s. Is all this actually good or are you stuck in the middle with clowns to the left of you and jokers to the right of you. Osweiler will not net you anything valuable in a trade. Plus the team is ruining its draft status. Dolphins seem like a team that should tear everything down and do a complete make over because they are stuck in the middle.

#26.JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 3-6 (DOWN TWO SPOTS) Even though the Jag Bags were on bye week their stock fell two spots. No way a bye week will help that quarterback situation. No way it tames the anger in the room on their defense. Good thing no bar fights to report on this week. Bad news is the Colts will probably light them up this Sunday as the team is like a plane going down as it tries to land in a soft spot. The pilots do not see the big mountain because of the dirty windows. A lesson for you always is check the fluid in your car especially window cleaner or you will be in the Jag Bags boat.

#27.NEW YORK JETS  3-6 (SAME) Congrats to the Jets, you are the best team in New York. That statement does not really mean anything. It’s like the coffee mug with best boss on it. In the movie Elf the diner advertises the world’s best cup of coffee. Again nothing exciting. It’s all about developing your young quarterback this season. Plus getting a higher draft pick. However sometimes you need a fun week. With Sam Darnold out with an injury, you will see Josh McCown. Last year the journeyman quarterback did awesome as the Jets won games in a year they wanted to tank games. No matter what you still will get a top pick. May as well enjoy a fun week and see an old wily veteran sling the ball downfield. Plus no worries you do make the best cup of Joe in the state and congrats.

#28.SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 2-7 (SAME) I’m curious to see what Nick Mullens can do in his second start in the NFL. The 49ers play the Giants this week. The Giants will not instantly make this kid a super star. If he does well. Plays like he did last week . That is huge for a team that lost their number one quarterback for the season. To have two good quarterbacks on your roster is hard to do. Many teams do not even have one good quarterback. They could use Mullens as trade bait next season if he continues to play well. If he plays well keeping him as a cheap insurance policy is a smart idea just in case Jimmy is fragile.

#29. ARIZONA CARDINALS 2-6 (SAME) Arizona heads to Kansas City this week. They will experience and get to see the Chiefs quarterback quarterback Mahomes close up. Perhaps they can get some pointers from Wally the Walrus, the Chiefs head coach, on how to raise a quarterback these days in a tough world. They should get every detail he has to offer from reading Mahomes’ bed time stories. What he put in Mahomes’ formula  to give his play a boost. Josh Rosen is still a bed wetter. It could be the Arizona heat, but it’s a dry heat. Like that makes a total difference… it’s still hot.

#30. NEW YORK GIANTS  1-7 (SAME) The Giants were on bye week dealing with their back up quarterback that broke the law. The bright side of things coming out of the bye, Odell Beckham thinks the Giants can sneak into the playoffs. Depending on if they sign a few free agents to fill in the holes on their roster. I definitely think the San Francisco Giants have a shot at sneaking in and grabbing a wild card next season. Maybe the New York Giants will start off with a win against San Francisco’s other team, the 49ers. Actually the 49ers have an undrafted quarterback who is probably better than Eli Manning. Keep drinking that moonshine kool aid Mr. Beckham.

#31. BUFFALO BILLS 2-7 (SAME)

Nate Peterman collected another defensive player of the week playing quarterback for the Bills. Another stellar performance by the actor from Seinfeld.  Buffalo Bills fans are passing the cup around to help Nate Peterman into early retirement. I will donate to that. You know things are bad when X Buffalo Bills quarterback EJ Manuel is taking shots at your quarterback situation. He’s not playing for a reason. He sucks too…

#32.OAKLAND RAIDERS 1-7 (SAME) Do you think if you combined both the Gruden brothers’ football teams, would they be a playoff team? Raiders and Redskins roster working side by side. You might have a better pass rush just using the guys from the Redskins defense, something Jon has been talking about that his team lacks. Jon Gruden has said his phone has been ringing off the hook on how many people want to play for him when the team goes to Vegas. I guess he has friends in low places where the whisky is rye and there is no such thing as a pass rush. If I was a member of the Black Hole in Oakland hearing Gruden diss you like that. Sounds like the  Raiders are just going through the motions and looking forward to sandy pyramids and slot lights as they leave Oakland in a black cloud of smoke. . Some particular guys might come knocking at your door who have been paying big money for tickets to see crap.

Chucky might not make it to Oakland. What is done in Oakland, stays in Oakland.

Last Thursday Prediction: Loss

Our thought process last week was the Raiders were facing an undrafted quarterback. It was the third quarterback on the 49ers depth chart. We are thinking Nate Peterman type of night. I guess only in Buffalo they get to see first hand every week what a Nate Peterman night consists of.  We got hosed picking the silver and black. Raiders absolutely SUCK!!! They are done in our books. We will only pick them to lose the rest of the season.

NOVEMBER 8, 2018

 

TONIGHT’S THURSDAY MATCH UP

CAROLINA AT PITTSBURGH

This is probably one of the best match-ups on Thursday night, we have seen this year. The last few weeks have been pretty sad when you’re watching reruns of King of Queens. If we go NBA during an NFL game, we might have to blow up this whole blog and start fresh like Gruden and the Raiders are planning.

Both the Steelers and the Panthers have won a few games in a row as they meet tonight. One team will continue their streak while the other will be back to the drawing board. This game will be a close game. It will come down to the end when a big play will win it for their team.

Both defenses have not played up to their reputation as a defensive team at least in their histories. That may be because in the NFL, defenses will be outlawed completely. The Steelers defense has been playing better. The Panthers defense can be scored on but they do make key stops at the right times. They can force a few turn overs as well.

I like Pittsburgh at home because they play better and on a short week. They have a better  running game with the Terminator Conner who’s been very good, especially lately. Meanwhile Bell is in Pittsburgh. He played in a pick up basketball game at one of the gyms. Cam Newton is the main weapon in the Panthers running game.  Not impressed by the Fig Newton running and being the leading rusher.

I scratch my head and wonder how Carolina is winning games. I know he has Greg Olsen back. They have a small little white guy in the back field catching a lot of balls. McCaffrey running between the tackles is not happening. I could not tell you who Cam’s receivers are. Somehow Carolina is doing something that works. I think the offense feeds off the defense.

Then Big Ben with his aerial attack is one of the best in the league. With the running game working well without their holdout, everything is clicking. I think Pittsburgh can win on both sides of the ball tonight. They will score on Carolina defense. I think the defense can hold their own and come up with a big play on Newton. The Panthers have been beating teams they should beat. Steelers have been beating tougher teams in their own division. Again Steelers at home is a different animal. Cookies always crumble in big games. That goes for Fig Newtons too. Steelers win this one by one score.

OUR PICK: STEELERS

 

 

What in the double hockey sticks is going on in Chicago? Today the Chicago Blackhawks fired Joel Quenneville. The man that led the Blackhawks to three Stanley Cups, all of a sudden gone after going 6-6-3 this season. Three cups in six seasons as he coached a dynasty in the hockey world that is hard to do with the salary cap rules in this era. He is the second winningest coach in NHL history. He did not get a chance to be the winningest coach in Blackhawks history as he was shown the door along with some of the assistant coaches today. He settles for being the second winningest coach in after ten full seasons and the dozen games this season in his 11th year. He only missed one year not making the playoffs. Only twice in his long tenured career. Why was a legend fired?

The Blackhawks have been down this road. The front office was evaluating Denis Savard when he was coaching, and they pulled the trigger to replace him with Joe Quenneville who was in-house at the time. The front office has probably been evaluating Joel Quenneville for some time now. The first thing that jumps to my mind is missing the playoffs last season. You could say the five game losing streak the team is on, after a pretty good start to the season. It’s going to be a few things especially to justify getting rid of a guy with the amazing resume that the coach has. The last time the Blackhawks made the playoffs was the year Nashville Predators swept them out in round one. That series the team looked very bad and very old at the same time. The last time the Blackhawks won a playoff series goes back to 2015.

This goes much deeper then the last couple of seasons. I believe the three cups Joel Quenneville has won have kept him in Chicago longer. If it was only two or just the one, I think he would have been shown the door years ago. It comes down to a different philosophy than GM Stan Bowman. The GM of the Blackhawks obviously thinks the roster they have now can get it done. Joel Quenneville will play veterans over younger guys until they play his style. Players are always in Quenneville’s dog house. Some don’t get out for long periods of time. It always goes back to the Coach’s way of doing things, especially his style of play. The GM Stan Bowman disagrees and has a totally different philosophy.  I imagine both have  been butting heads for years, especially if Bowman signs a free agent or makes a trade with some team. Bowman thinks that player can help the team. The player hardly sees any ice time.

The Blackhawks hired Jeremy Colliton who will be the 38th coach in franchise history. He comes from the Blackhawks minor league affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. This is his second season with the IceHogs. The first season he went 40-26-4-4 and got the team deep into the AHL playoffs, during which they knocked out the Chicago Wolves. Before that he was overseas coaching a team in Sweden. Jeremy will also be the youngest head coach in the entire NHL as he is only 33 years old. He is the same age as Brent Seabrook. He was actually drafted in the same year as Brent Seabrook. Jeremy Colliton last played for the Islanders in  2011. He only played in 57 games in five seasons in New York. He will be younger then a few of his players in his first head coaching job in the NHL.

It seems like a trend in all sports… out with the old and in with the new. Everybody wants the young guy with analytics and some fresh ideas.  The Blackhawks are thinking the team needs a new voice to listen to with new ideas. Stan Bowman and the rest of the organization feel confident this young cat will come in and inject his new ideas into this team. The new voice will provide a spark to Stan Bowman’s roster where they can get back to the playoffs and still win, now, instead of a complete overhaul.

Last time they did the coaching change, the team was young and filled with talent. This team has too many aging superstars making a lot of money that is handcuffing the salary cap.  You have your star goalie who is coming off a season where he missed most of it from concussions. Your aging defense is slow as molasses and will have a hard time keeping up with young and fast skaters. Patrick Cane is still playing well. Jonathan Toews is doing good this season but was MIA last year. Brandon Sadd just got out of the dog house. He has not been like the same guy they had the year they traded him away.  The rest of the cast have one goal each in their stat lines.

It’s another chapter in Chicago history where Coaches get too big. GM’S feel small. The relationship that worked at one point has become strained. This happened with Ozzie Guillen and Kenny Williams after the White Sox won it. Mike Ditka was chased out of town by the Bears. It will happen to Joe Maddon and the Cubs. Phil Jackson left the Bulls because things were escalating to a level higher than any of the colors on the terrorist alert system. I do not think the Blackhawks roster is at a championship level. Possible playoff berth and one and done from any coach. It’s a roster with too many holes. If it was not this year, it would have been next season. Joel Quenneville would have suffered the same fate he did today. I think it is hard to find great coaches. The kid from Rockford is destined to  have a similar career to Tim Floyd, when he replaced Phil Jackson that first season. I think GMs in this town need to be held accountable. All the talent the Hawks  had traded away over the years. I know you can not pay everyone. Seems like Pittsburgh Penguins have no problems staying afloat. You got rid of many young guys that could be helping you stay afloat right now, perhaps made you better. You held on to some of the wrong guys you have overpaid. Just because your father is a mentor to the organization, should not give Stan Bowman a job to hold on to like the Pope. Joe Quenneville will resurface. He will get the last laugh. He will also be missed. Definitely if Chicago had a Mount Rushmore for coaches, Q is on that mountain.