The playoff picture seems to be coming into focus. So soon. Perhaps, but the math starts to get simple with five games to go. If the Bengals go 3-2-0 down the stretch to finish 10-6-0, the Jets would need to win out to avoid tie-breakers. If I’m a Jets’ fan I would have to believe the Jets can do just that; at ‘Skins, Chiefs, at Eagles, Giants, at Dolphins. As a Patriots’ fan, I’m looking forward to Miami knocking the Jets out of the playoffs with a last second field goal.
Enjoying the Moment
The play-action touchdown pass to Welker over the top of the Eagles’ defense. The throw in rhythm to Gronkowski. The “Cat with a Play-Toy” pass and run to Branch. It’s hard to pick my favorite moment from this Sunday’s big, big win over the Eagles.
Okay, that was fun, but now it’s on to the Colts.
Indianapolypse
Will everyone who keeps insisting the Colts poor showing only confirms just how great Peyton Manning is please acknowledge what they are really saying?
Do you think this Colts team would be 8-3-0 or better if the only difference was Peyton Manning at QB? That’s where they’d need to be to lay claim a tie with the accursed Houston Texans for their usual 1st place spot in the AFC South. I think they could be 7-4-0; maybe 6-5-0. Indianapolis’ defense is defenseless. The Colts are 29th in yards allowed and last in points allowed.
I know. With Manning under center the offense would hold the ball longer and score more points giving that defense less time to be horrible and maybe they’d occasionally play with a lead (but remember: still horrible).
This is a bad, bad football team.
Still, I fear the upset. This is the Colts’ Super Bowl in a way. Denting a hated rival’s playoff hopes, ending the possibility of a winless season (while retaining #1 Draft Pick position) and salvaging their pride all in a single deeply satisfying outcome.
A chance to say, “See that? That’s who we are.”
Subtext: We’re not the team our 1-11-0 record says we are.
Maybe. Probably yes, you are the team your 1-11-0 record says you are. Should the Colts beat the Patriots I’d sooner file it under “Wacky Shit That Happens in the NFL” than predict a 5-11-0 finish for the Colts.
Still.
Wacky shit.
It happens.
The future’s uncertain and the end is always near, you know?
[Rated PG-13 for Language Worse than "Shit."]
[Too bad there isn’t actual footage to go with this performance.]
Jesus Swept
To his right after faking inside to McGahee!
That bumper sticker has to happen.
Probably not.
Anyway, I watched the Pigskin Buddhas on NFL Network chattering about Tebow again. They all seem befuddled by Tebow’s on-going success, particularly Warren Sapp (though Mooch seemed to act intrigued by the possibilities). I know I’m only seeing highlights so I’m only seeing completions and big runs, not the incompletions or 2-yard losses.
I know, I know.
Small Data Sample
Tebow seems to be throwing the ball with more authority, actually letting it fly. He’s got a few good receivers. 8-16-1 for 143 isn’t a line you’ll see next to Brady or Rodgers or Brees but how good does Tebow need to get? 12 of 21 for 155 yards?
Those are Bob Griese numbers.
Could Bob Griese win in today’s NFL?
Maybe if he was 6’3” and about 235 pounds.
I see a nice bit of complementary football in the Broncos.
· They run and control the tempo of the game on offense.
· That helps keep the defense fresh.
· Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil are dangerously unsympathetic men.
· Tim Tebow Time.
Ipso Pigskin.
Who Feels Worse
Welcome back to our favorite game here at They Still Call It Football, Who Feels Worse?
Eagles Fans – You bought the Dream Team talk, didn’t you? You didn’t want to, you told yourself not to, but somehow you couldn’t help yourself. (It happened with my wife and “American Horror Story” so I understand.) You got sucked in by the win over the Giants, didn’t you? You were going to win out and somehow squeeze into the playoffs and then, who knows? That 10-point lead in the 1st Quarter against the Patriots felt pretty good, didn’t it? Yeah. Now? Who’s got the meat thermometer?
Chargers Fans – Six straight losses. This was going to be the Chargers’ year in the AFC West. The Chiefs benefited from a weak schedule the year before and they were beset by injuries. The Raiders would lead the league in penalties and wind up around 8-8-0 again and the Broncos were looking at a reboot. A 4-1-0 start had San Diego poised to run away with the division and then… Six straight losses. Ima feel ya. No, not really. Patriots’ fan; we’re never on this list!
Ndamukong Suh’s Agent – So much for endorsements money.
Matt Leinart – This looks like Gypsy Curse territory we’ve entered with Leinart. He seems like the kind of guy who may have done something questionable during his indiscreet youth. The possibility of gypsy involvement seems like a long shot but hardly an impossibility. Anyway, it’s got to make you think whenever you get that junk-punch from fate.
Bills Fans – Stevie Johnson is the face of your franchise right now. Buffalo Bills: The opposite of class and the opposite of clutch.
Browns Fans – Colt McCoy is not the answer and the Browns are probably not bad enough to get Matt Barkley. With four wins already, Andrew Luck is out of the question. Landry Jones?
Rams Fans – The talk that Steve Spagnuolo should/would be fired started a few weeks back. The likelihood that the Rams and Franchise QB Sam Bradford will be starting over grows by the week. Bradford could be working with Offensive Coordinator #3 in his 3rd year in the league in 2012. This is not the typical formula for successfully developing a quarterback in the NFL. Oh, you knew that. Sorry.
Buccaneers Fans – Another team that was supposed to take the next step this year. And they did. Backwards.
Chiefs Fans – Check the fine print whenever you sign a personal services contract with Beelzebub, am I right? 2010 looked like something to build on. Then 2011 actually happened and the levee broke.
So, Who Feels Worse? I’ve got to go with Chargers Fans. Because it isn’t over.
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