How did that BS with Thanksgiving and the Lions start anyway? In the whole history of your life has there ever been a good turkey day game with those pikers in it?
Since we have games tomorrow, I'll go over my picks today. Anyone contemplating a game should check the injury reports later in the week though. The playoffs are coming early for the Washington Redskins and most likely, their opponent Sunday, the Tampa Bay Bucaneers. After dropping a close game to Dallas last week, the Skins stand at 5-5 and have to figure they can only take two more losses and still have a chance of getting in the playoffs. Since they have the Giants in NY, the Cowboys again, Chicago, Buffalo and the Vikes left, they really can;t afford to drop this week's matchup against TB, a likely wildcard competitor. The Skins ave the tiebreak over Detroit and Arizona already, so beating theBucs would give them the trifecta of playoff possibilities. The oddsmakers have installed TB as a 3 point favorite. This a typical TB team. Stout defense, underwhelming offense. They are averaging giving up 15.1 points a game, which puts them in the same defensive territory as NE, Pittsburg and Indy. Those teams allaverage at least a TD betterthan TB on offense however, indicating part of their defensive stats comes from just hogging the ball and keeping the other team's offense off the field. So TB's defense might be the league's best, all things considered. By cmnparison, the Reedskins have given up 22.1 points a game. They have played soem potent offenses however, NE, GB, Dallas, NY. Bottom line, I like Washington to win this game, because their season rides on it. Coach Gibbs has to loosen up his deathgrip on the handlebars first however. You're not going to win on the road against good teams by calling 50 yard field goals in the first half with a lead, like youdid last week. Or fourth quarter ones on fourth and one when you're a TD behind. The bad news for Washington is twofold, injuries and attitude. Their defensive secondary has gone from really good to lousy after injuries to CB Carlos Rogers and All Pro S Sean Taylor. On the other side of the ball, most of their receiving corps are either hurt or dinged. That tends to happen when they are all 5-10 190 pounds. I am also a little concerned about their attitude, which seemed to be more relief atnot getting blown out than anger at losing. The keys to this game will be whether TB QB Jeff Garcia can exploit the Redskins with the long ball, not his specialty, and whther their defense can stuff the Skins ground game. Despite the Redskins explosive passing against the Cowboys, I expect them to play itsuper safe against the Bucs. As said, I like the Redskins, but their defesive secondary scares me enoughthat I'm avoiding the game.
In other games, tomorrow sees GB go into Detroit as 3 1/2 point favorites. This is the perfect example of a game to avoid. Too really good offenses that can explode at any moment, so a shootout is a good possibility. That kind of game will get determined on turnovers, and if you can predict those, be my guest. Dallas hosts the Jets as a 14 point favorite. The idea here is that the Jets defense will be torched by the Boys. Could happen, but the Jets are not a terrible team, record notwithstanding. You can ask the Steelers. I really don't like this game at all. In the other Thanskgiving Day game, Indy visits Atlanta and gives 11 1/2. Atlanta is a bad team, and a blow out is the most likely outcome. But what if bad Indy shows up, like the last two weeks? Let's hope they don't, because I am taking indy and giving the 11 1/2. In Sunday action, the Ravens go cross country to play the Chargers who are 9 1/2 point favorites. I am having trouble getting my arms around the concept of the Ravens as a punching bag team that should get a big spread against an inconsistent team like the Bolts. Still, the Ravens have sucked, so I want to avoid this one. Denver comes to Chicago as a 2 1/2 point underdog. Denver is suddenly on fire and a realistic playoff team. Reality has set in for Chicago however. They would have to win out to make the playoffs. Tough game to figure. Probably Denver is a good wager here, but I am still not on board with them so I will pass. Cincy hosts the Titans in a pick'em game. I have maligned Vince Young repeatedly, but I saw a little of last week's game and I was frankly pretty darn impressed by his quick delivery, arm strength and accuracy. Too bad his receivers suck. Cincy meanwhile is on official suicide watch. A season is a a terrible thing to waste, and this year has certainly been a bitter disappointment for a team which came in thinking it was ready for the next step. If you just want to gamble, like Sammy Farha, then I say I would go with the titans and Jeff Fisher, one of the league's best and most underrated coaches. For myself, I'm passing as Tennessee is too inconsistent for me, and Cincy is not totally hopeless. KC hosts Oakland and is a 5 1/2 point favorite. I like KC here, but I don't see giving that much. They are a four win team who have scored less points than everybody but SF and Atlanta. So no choice but to avoid. I'd really like to see the Browns at home against the Texans. Cleveland is the league's hottest team, a real cinderalla story. Houston is not a bad team at all, a bit unlucky at times or they would be in the middle of a playoff race. Cleveland gives 3 1/2, which seems about right. Cleveland however has given up the most points in the league. Only cincy is even close. This could easily be another shootout, settled by a FG or INT. Not for me, avoid. Seattle visits St. Loius and is a 3 point favorite. I know St. Loius has got some people back from injury, but they couldn't do anything against SF last week. Of course SF did even less against them and lost. Seattle has its own injury issues, but if the Bears couldn't take advantage of them, i don't see how the Rams can. I'm going with the Seahawks and giving the 3. The NY Giants play host to the Vikes and are giving 7. Two pretty similar teams actually, only the giants are a little better at key positions. I don't have a good handle on the Vikes, so I'm going to pass. NO visits Carolina and is a 3 point favorite. I have missed layup bets against Carolina the last two weeks because I underestimated their QB situation. On the other hand, NO is one of the most up and down teams around. It's not like NO has to do a lot more than win the game. Taking NO and giving the 3. Arizona is at home against SF and is giving 10 1/2. This is the flip side of that big spread favoring the Ravens. I just struggle with the notion that Arizona gives double digits, even against one of the league's worst and at home. Shouldn't they be happy just to get a win? Now a five win team like the Cards has to struggle under the expectations of a 10 1/2 point spread? But SF has been so terrible, I will go with the Cards in any case. Cards giving 10 1/2. NE is at home against Philly and is a whopping 22 point favorite. If McNabb plays, that seems like a juicy target to me. The Iggles have a stout defense and have faced some good offenses. However, they were also shredded by one of them, Dallas. Got to avoid this one. Too many points to give, but are you really going to take them? Not me. In the MNF game, the Steelers host Miami as 16 point favorites. Seems like a lot for a team that just lost to the Jets, but this Steeler team seems to send a replacement team on road trips. At home, they are the real deal. Are the Steelers at home a TD better than Philly? I say yes, and take them and give the 16. My observation for this week is that there a lot of games with favorites giving huge numbers. Probably the books have taken a beating on NO, and although I don't have the stats to prove it, it seems to me that this has been a year when teams covered a lot of big spreads. So the spreads get even bigger.
Good grief what a week in the NFL. Besides SF and the Raiders actually winning a game, there was the spectacle of the Rams vs Seattle with a 4th and 1 on the Seattle 1, down by five and barely any time left. Of course they go for it....and Frerotte fumbles! I had a little cachingo on this game as I took Seattle and the 3 points they were giving, so I was very relieved. But a tough way to lose for Frerotte. He and Kurt Warner will have some bad dreams tonight.... Then Chad Johnson erupts for 3 touchdowns after I drop him from my fantasy line-up since he hasn't caught a TD since Week 2 or 3...bastard! And the other Johnson I do have in my lineup - Andre - does diddly squat against what is supposed to be the worst defense in the league in Cleveland. Eli Manning should just sit when he plays the Vikes. Etc., etc., just a crazy week!! Now if only my 'Fins can upset the Steelers tomorrow, all will be copacetic.
Tonight's games Fins vs Steelers what another stinker. Now this news here should Piss you Off. Thursday's game G.B. vs Dallas is on the NFL Network about 80% of the nation will not be able to see this "attractive" matchup. Also N.E. last game vs N.Y. Giants when the Pats attempt to go 16-0 also NFL Network most will not see this game. Is the NFL harming themselves or just trying to make more money?????? Did see end of T.B. vs Wash. those were two "Bad" INT that Campbell threw, right to both T.B. players. At least the Giants lost, yet another poor showing by Eli.
And the Browns took care of Houston. We ran the ball well and the defense actually stepped up. Good pressure on the QB most of the game really made the difference here for us. The offense continues to shine with the Anderson, Edwards and Winslow combo. It's hard to stop that, esp when they are hot.
Question for AAA and others - from your point of view, what do you think the Browns should do with Anderson this offseason? He is a restricted free agent. Our options as I see it: 1) Trade for defense and/or draft picks that will probably be defensive picks. 2) Sign to long-term deal. 3) Keep as is and have him compete with Quinn next season. As you know, Brady Quinn is our backup right now. We spent next year's first to get him last draft. So what do you do? I ask b/c I am having some heated debates on a Browns message board with other Browns fans about this situation. Let's just say I am not sold on Quinn being the savior as many others think he will be.
:eek: Wow. What on earth are they thinking? That game might as well be the title game. And how can anyone not think at this stage its NE v. GB or DAL in the Superbowl? Shame on the league.
I was sooo pissed last night AJ made that terrible throw late in the game to cost them the game against new england. They had that game in hand, pretty much. I just wanted to see that smug faced brady take a loss and forget about all this 16-0 nonsense. Damn!
Getting rid of him would be insane. He's a young, top 5 quarterback. Those don't come along very often - especially to Cleveland! Pinning their hopes on Brady Quinn and shipping Anderson off would be asinine. But what do I know? I'm just a fan who happens to have Anderson and Edwards in my fantasy league, and they're kicking ass!!