Wow, lotsa stuff happening this weekend. I’ll take the liberty of dipping my own ladle into the pot:
Re. Warren Sapp’s hit on Chad Clifton
Oh, for crying out loud, hasn’t the game been sissified enough already? The last time I checked, there’s no such thing as “roughing the tackler”. And it was a completely clean block; no head-to-head, no chop, nothing even remotely dirty. So what if he was a long way from the ball carrier at the time…you’d be amazed as to how fast 15 or 20 yards can close up.
Fuggedaboudit. Totaly non-issue, and the league is correct to take no action whatsoever. This is football, folks, not basketball.
(And might I add, if you’re going to challenge Warren Sapp, you’d damn well better be right.)
Re. Warner’s 0-5! Warner’s 0-5!
I saw most of this game, and I actually thought Kurt Warner did fine. The Redskins did a great job of mixing up the plays, not overrelying on the pass, controlling the clock, and making the stops when they had to…good fundamental football. Also, as Tom Jackson reminded us, not having Marshall Faulk really limited the Rams’ options on offense. The final blow was just a fantastic defensive play by Lavar Arrington…if anyone’s at “fault”, it’s him. (Note, too, that if not for that horrible down-by-contact call that prevented a Rams’ fumble, it wouldn’t have even come down to that.)
Re. Mornhinweg’s brain-dead decision making in OT
Okay, maybe he wouldn’t do it again, and maybe the wind advantage wasn’t worth giving up possession, but let’s give the poor guy a fair shake here.
The Lions gave up a 15-yard pass with the Bears still on their own 35. Then, after a sack put them at 3rd and 11, they coughed up a 14-yarder for a first down. Then they had them at 3rd and 18 at the 45, meaning that if they give up less then 18 yards on two plays, it’s a stop, and they have the ball and the wind. Another 15-yarder on 3rd down. Now Chicago’s passing on 4th and 3, meaning that if they can cause in incompletion…ah, forget it.
If this were the Packers, Raiders, Falcons, Eagles, or Dolphins, yes, taking the wind would be utterly moronic. In the case of the Lions, I really don’t think it made any difference, because they always seem to find a way to lose. If they took first possession, my guess is that they promptly go 3-and-out (including a fumbled snap), then punt and have the punt returned for a touchdown. And then everyone will second-guess about why they didn’t go for it on 4th and 15 from their own 20.
Heads I win, tails you lose. That’s what it’s called. And the hapless Lions have been in that situation many, many times.
Re. Emmit Smith padding that record just a tad more
This reminds me more than anything else about the Cal Ripken situation, with assorted nimrods yammering about how he should take a seat and he’s just trying to extend the record and blah blah blah blah. Lost in all this tripe was the little issue of who exactly the Orioles had at the time who was better. To this day, I have yet to hear ONE sound argument for ending The Streak. The pseudo-controversy about how Smith is just holding back some mythical superior running back is just more think-with-your-mouth BS. Smith is out there because he deserves to be out there, and until the Cowboys get a running back who’s BETTER…not younger, not prettier, not cooler, better…Smith is the man. As it should be.
Shibboleth - Just calling 'em as I see ‘em. Seriously, this is probably the Buccaneers’ best chance ever to actually make it to the Super Bowl. Their biggest challengers in the NFC at this point are the Eagles and 49ers, and both are definitely beatable. If they get a bye and home field, look out.
pepperlandgirl - You’re the Chiefs fan, right?
I wouldn’t worry too much about the “monster” AFC West…mainly because the hard part will be getting into the playoffs at all. At present, 10 teams are ahead of the Chiefs, so they’re definitely out no matter what if current trends continue.
The last five games are against Arizona, St. Louis, and the divison teams. Arizona is practically a freebie win, but St. Louis is still dangerous and will probably still be in the playoff hunt by Week 14. After that, it’s all in their own hands. Having already dropped two of three divison games, however, I don’t see them suddenly catching fire and storming to the top.
You gotta have the wins. Everything else…divison strength, schedule strength, home vs. road, everything…is irrelevant until then.
)