Everybody playing at the same time (with the Monday/Thursday/Saturday exceptions) over a ten-hour period is one of the many things that makes pro football riveting. The entire context of a division, wildcard or homefield race can change within the span of a Sunday afternoon or evening. Another reason why I'm not excited about Thursday Night Football.
Yes, I enjoy the pro game as much as anyone else...but do we really need another night? It's taken me this long to warm up to College Football on Thursday's-- and now you're going to take away it's spotlight? I'm fine with TNF-- after Thanksgiving. One residual effect with TNF and the flex scheduling is now there are potentially more dog games on Sundays... Detroit-Tampa Bay, anyone? Fantasy Leagues get the shaft as well. At this point of the season, most everybody's banged up a little. Is your fantasy running back that's listed as questionable going to be ready to play on Sunday? Thursday most questionable players are still...well...questionable.
Playoff Picture:
AFC-- Indianapolis takes the top seed... while Denver's #2...
San Diego at Cincinnati and Pittsburgh at New England are the first round matchups.
NFC-- New Orleans is the #1 seed followed by Minnesota...
Philadelphia at Dallas and Atlanta at Arizona are the first round games.
On the fringe-- both 5-4 teams... while the New York Giants are crashing after a 5-0 start that had most punching their NFC East ticket, Houston could actually be good this year.
Best/Worst Division-- the AFC South (19-14) takes a one game lead over the NFC East-- thanks to the Giants and Redskins four game losing streaks. Meanwhile, the NFC West remains the division of depression (12-20, or 7-17 minus Arizona).
The chase for being on the clock:
There are five 1-7 teams... who's in the best shape to stay in last/first?
Tampa Bay-- 3 home/ 5 away... 39-25 record (including two with New Orleans).Kansas City-- 4 home/ 4 away... 35-29 mark...
Detroit-- 4 home/ 4 away... 34-30 record (plus the home Thanksgiving game & 10-day layoff).
St Louis-- 5 home/ 3 away... 33-32 record.
Cleveland-- 5 home/ 3 away... 30-34 record.
Even if they wear their orange creamsicle unis, this is Bucco Bruce's game to lose... keeping in mind TB owned this spot from 1976-78, 1984, and 1986-87 all when the flamboyant pirate was perched on their helmets. That's not just bad-- that's dynastically horrific. Now I know why they moved to the pewter and red.
Riggo's Rant-- Redskins Hall of Fame running back John Riggins has been in the news quite a bit lately with his opinions and analysis of the team and its owner. Having once been a co-worker with #44 at Red Zebra Broadcasting for two years, I know how entertaining and enlightening the Diesel can be. While I agree this team is not being run efficiently and perhaps a change upstairs would be good, I stop before declaring Dan Snyder has a "dark heart".
In making great copy, Riggo has obscured the story at hand while making himself look less legitimate.
The issue isn't whether or not Snyder is evil incarnate-- but that the current management model needs major tweaking. Instead of Greg Blache remaining silent and Joe Theismann focusing on whats wrong with the Skins team-building approach--both are defending the owner... I feel like Hal Holbrook in All the President's Men "Now you've got people feeling sorry for and defending them!"-- although I'd never meet Riggo in an Arlington parking garage.
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