Thursday, October 23, 2008

NFL Week 8: A Little Bit of Everything and More for an Explosive Week of Football








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Mama Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys and a Jolly Good Show Across the Big Pond

The New York Yankees and Dallas Cowboys have signed a joint concessionaire contract for both teams’ new stadiums. Dallas moves into its new facility next season. How ironic that the two teams that have an uncanny knack for soap opera theatrics and hogging the national spotlight should finally find some way to officially join together.

Meanwhile “down on the ranch” things keep getting crazier in “Big D.” As far as we know rumors that Owner Jerry Jones has demanded Head Coach Wade Phillips to order a pair of pruning shears to remove Quarterback Tony Romo’s pinky have proven so far to be false though talk of the college senior who opted to sacrifice his minor digit to continue playing has gotten pretty loud in Irving, Texas. Romo announced he will be out for the next few games on Michael Irvin’s radio program. Meanwhile, orders did come from Jerry Jones that Wade Phillips will now call plays on defense. More false rumors, Cowboys’ cheerleaders have not been spotted wearing shoulder pads, not yet anyway! Pac Man Jones remains on indefinite suspension and has apparently checked into an alcohol/substance abuse rehabilitation center in an undisclosed location far from deep in the heart of Texas. Terrell Owens is still behaving himself as newcomer, Roy Williams, not to be confused with the legendary North Carolina basketball coach will be playing a greater role on offense assuming the flimsy offensive line can protect the stand-in quarterback.

San Diego and New Orleans will be playing in London’s Wembley Stadium on Sunday, part of a new tradition in its second year to play one regular season game for our pals in jolly old London town. While it certainly is good publicity and helps extend NFL marketing to Great Britain, it surely cannot be of any help for two teams expected to lead their divisions that have been struggling so far this year. With the demise of NFL Europe, now they must settle for one game of the real deal over there.

Baltimore Ravens, all-pro retired offensive lineman, will be honored with his name being immortalized in the Ravens “Ring of Honor” at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday. This is perhaps the first honor to go to the Ravens’ first draft pick en route to a certain spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. Ogden’s departure leaves only Ray Lewis and Kicker, Matt Stover, who came in the franchise move from Cleveland, as the remaining original Ravens while Ray Lewis’s future with the team has become the subject of much hot talk as he, Bart Scott, and Terrell Suggs will all be seeking new contracts, and the unforgiving NFL salary cap will make it virtually impossible for the team to retain all three and have room for other roster moves. Meanwhile, who knows what’s going on between Chris McAllister and coach, John Harbaugh. For all McAllister’s talent, he does seem to be lost in space on some plays. Harbaugh insists it was not a dress code violation that lead to his not starting last Sunday in Miami.

Here’s what’s on tap with this week’s games. We picked ten out of fourteen last week though sucked miserably against the spread, all the more reason not to gamble on football boys and girls.

Oakland at Baltimore (-7)
Defensive coordinators Rob and Rex Ryan square off against each other in a game that should be the Ravens if they play a smart game and don’t turn the ball over. Oakland is still a pretty sickly team but there is talent on that roster that can pull embarrassing upsets for teams that aren’t ready.

San Diego (-3) plays New Orleans in London
New Orleans is technically the home team so does that mean Cajun flavored fish and chips or some Jambalaya stuffed in a meat pie? Yummy! San Diego should prevail though both teams have been underachievers this year.

Washington (-7 1/2) at Detroit
The Redskins will attack Fort Detroit like Chief Pontiac never could have dreamed of. Easy call for Washington.

Buffalo (1 ½) at Miami
Miami is showing signs of life while Buffalo is the Cinderella surprise in the AFC this year. Still, if Baltimore could dominate Miami the way they did last week down in South Florida, the Bills should do the same.

Kansas City at New York Jets (-13)
Brett Favre sure is getting a good taste of being in the media spotlight in New York isn’t he? He’ll lead the Jets to victory over the floundering Chiefs.

Arizona at Carolina (-4 ½)
This is an important game for both teams who need to prove they are deserving division leaders and playoff contenders for the rest of the reason. While Arizona could win their division by default, the challenge is tougher for Carolina in the South. This game is a tough call but the Panthers should pull this one out. It will be tough.

Tampa Bay at Dallas (2 ½)
We’re calling for the upset. Tampa Bay will take advantage of the mass confusion and lack of team discipline that dominates the Chicken Ranch these days.

St. Louis at New England (-7)
St. Louis is showing new power after a needed coaching change, but heading to Foxboro despite the Patriots’ missing captain on offense will not bring the Goats a win. The Patriots should prevail.

Atlanta at Philadelphia (-9)
Now’s the time for Philadelphia to take advantage of Dallas’s fumbling and bumbling. Yes, Atlanta is much improved and one of the real surprises so far this year, but Philadelphia has too much talent as across the parking lot the Phillies will be playing Tampa Bay in the World Series that night. Fun times in Phillie, huh folks?

Cincinnati at Houston (-10)
The Bengals will just sink deeper and deeper into oblivion as Houston starts to pull things together after a disruptive start to the season.

Cleveland at Jacksonville (-7)
Which Jacksonville will show up? If they are on top of their game they will beat the Browns for sure, but Cleveland can rise up against an unprepared team. Beware!

New York Giants at Pittsburgh (-3)
This could be the most fun game of the weekend. The Giants have had their way until they completely fell to pieces against the lowly San Francisco 49er’s last weekend. Pittsburgh is a tough place to play and with a monstrous defense, they will prevail in a slugfest on the river in Steel Town.

Seattle at San Francisco (-5)
Seattle’s coach has called his team the worst team he’s ever coached. The San Francisco 49er’s were lousy enough to get their coach, Mike Nolan, fired. Mike Singletary, the heart of the Chicago Bears killer defense of the late 1980’s takes charge to lead the “Niners” to victory over the totally confused Starbucks Boogers.

Indianapolis at Tennessee (-4)
Perhaps the week is saving the best for last as Indianapolis visits Nashville (yeehaw) for Monday Night Football. Given the Colts erratic play so far this year and weak run defense going up against the mighty defense and smart offense of Jeff Fisher’s Titans, the Colts will have to overcome everything that has pulled them down from the top to prevail. It’s a tough call, but let’s go with the Titans.

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