The NFL is Poop - Week 9

Clash of the Titans
Here's the problem with hype, it's very hard to live up to. So this game wasn't the epic showdown that was predicted. But it was a good game, a close game and a very fun game to watch. The most interesting aspect was the emergence of the defenses. Even though they got gashed for 2 touchdown drives in the last 10 minutes, I was very impressed with the Colts defense. Their pass rush and their run defense were better than I expected and served notice that the Colts are no longer a finesse passing team. They are tough. They just got beaten by a better team. I actually was surprised at how easily the Colts moved the ball against New England particularly in the first half. But the Pats defense held three times, forcing them into 3 field goal attempts (one failed). But their defense looked horrible on the 73 yard catch by Joseph Addai to end the first half. But like their offensive counterparts the New England defense stiffened at the right time and forced two key turnovers to seal the game.

So Can They Go Undefeated?
The Patriots have a bye week to calm themselves, then play at Buffalo, Eagles, at Baltimore, Steelers, Jets, Dolphins, at NY Giants. I really don't see them losing another game. I know people want to point to the Steelers but I don't see the Pats losing a home game. I think the biggest obstacle will be the Giants game. Not the Giants themselves but the game because if the Pats are 15-0 they will have clinched home field advantage through the AFC playoffs. And the Giants are good enough to beat them if Brady only plays half the game. What happens if the Pats are winning by 14 in the third quarter and Brady gets sacked. Would Belichick have the stones to keep him in the game?

The NFL's Next Great Running Back
In the NFL running backs tend to burn bright and die young. We're used to seeing guys burst on the scene, but nothing like what Adrian Peterson is doing. Peterson (he goes by AD for All Day, not AP for Adrian Peterson) now owns the NFL single game rushing record after his 296 yard performance against the Chargers. Previously in the season Peterson rushed for 224 yards in a game against the Bears. Through 8 games he has 1,036 yards (almost exactly half - 520 - game in two games). If he improves over the second half, unlikely but possible, he has a real shot at Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards. And he will also earn himself a lot of extra money.



Record Return
Chargers defensive back Antonio Cromartie set the NFL record for longest play by returning a missed field goal 109 yards for a touchdown. Cromartie is an interesting story because he played in every game in 2003 and 2004 at Florida State but got hurt and missed the entire 2005 season. Instead of going back to school for his senior year and risking another injury, Cromartie declared for the draft. He performed really well at the combines and was taken with the 19th pick in the first round by the Chargers who are obviously very happy to have him.



Rumblin, Bumblin, Stumblin
Lions defensive lineman Shaun Rogers is listed at 340 pounds, but that was probably 5 steak dinners ago. Rogers, who was suspended last season for 4 games for a violation of the league's steroid policy, returned an interception 66 yards for a touchdown in the Lions 44-7 win over the Broncos. Rogers started strong but was losing steam by the 20 and was caught from behind by Selvyn Young. Rogers leveled Young with a vicious stiff arm and punctuated his moment in the sun with a dive into the endzone.





Game of the Week (Not Pats-Colts)
Cleveland 33 Seattle 30
The upstart Cleveland Browns went into Seattle, dug themselves a huge hole and climbed out of it. After a Nate Burleson return for a touchdown the Seahawks had a 21-6 lead, which the Browns trimmed to 21-9 at the half. In the second half Derek Anderson led the Browns on 3 TD drives, while the Browns defense held the Seahawks to three field goals. The Browns almost cost themselves the game by going for a 2-point conversion early in the 4th quarter. At the time the score was 24-22 but it might have been a little too early in the game to take that risk. They missed and after Seattle got another field goal they needed that point back. But when they scored to take a 28-27 lead they made up that point, by going for and converting a 2-point conversion. However the Seahawks fought back and tied the game with no time left on a Josh Brown field goal. Each team had the ball twice in the fourth (which started with the Seahawks leading 24-16), but the Browns scored 2 touchdowns, the Seahawks got 2 field goals and the game went into OT. The Seahawks got the ball first and narrowly missed a first down twice. On 3rd and 8 Hasselbeck ran and got the first down but the booth review challenged the spot and said he came up short. On 4th and 1, Maurice Morris got stopped short, and that play was upheld by the replay official. Ballsy move by Holmgren to go for because it set the Browns up nicely at their own 44. One long run on a short pass by Jamal Lewis (who scored 4 rushing TDs on only 37 yards) set up Phil Dawson for the game-winning field goal.

Game of Next Week
Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers
I really thought the Chargers were back after their 3 game winning streak but a disappointing performance against the Vikings, especially on defense, has me questioning them again. I think the Colts are a solid enough, veteran enough team to have quickly put the Patriots loss behind them but I do wonder if an angry Chargers team can beat a crestfallen Colts team.

Cheerleader of the Week
Brencia of the Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders
Brencia is the captain in this her 6th year on the squad. When she's not cheering she's a registered nurse in a maternity unit. She used to have a black Corgi named Midnight but the dog recently passed away. I'm not sure if she was trying to say passed (the correct term), or past (a homonym that would be incorrect in this case) but her bio actually says the dog pasted away. Her favorite book is the Bible, like half the other NFL cheerleaders. Her favorite TV show is House, favorite singer is Beyonce but her favorite American Idol contestant of all time is Jennifer Hudson. Oh and you really shoud read for yourself about her most embarrassing moment.

How do I know all this? Because the Falcons have one of the best cheerleader websites in the NFL. Each girl has her own bio page, a page of favorites, and most girls have a photo gallery and a video page.






Brief Rant About the Redskins
This was the first game I saw in its entirety since the Giants debacle in Week 3. While I was very pleased with the offensive line and the running game I'll caution that this was an aberration because the ground game hasn't been this potent in any other game so far this season. Also the development I saw earlier this year from Jason Campbell is not there. He has thrown only 6 TD passes all year, and the Redskins wide receivers are the least productive of any corps in the NFL. It seems to me that Campbell drops back to pass, checks his wideouts and then too quickly goes to his safety valve, Cooley or Sellers. He does have a certain quality about him that helps win games, like his 29 yard run late, but 4 field goals in regulation means Campbell has to get this team into the endzone more often. A week after getting pounded, any win is a good win, but against a horrible team like the Jets I hoped for a better performance. Huge home game against the Eagles this week that could put the Skins to 6-3. At 5-4 it would be tough to get into the playoffs because there are 3 games remaining against the Cowboys and Giants and the other four games (Bills, Bears, Bucs, Vikings) are all against tough but beatable teams.

If The Super Bowl Were Played Today
The Super Bowl was played last week and the Patriots won 24-20.
We'll pit them against the winner of Giants-Cowboys (sorry Packers) next week.