8 wins puts Norm atop the weekly pickem pile, although he now needs a new name for his team because Byron Leftwich has replaced Joey H. as the Falcons starter. Apparently both men are just place holders until Coach Bobby Petrino can get the man he really wants, his former Louisville starter Brian Brohm. He will need some help however, because although the Falcons have been bad the Rams and Dolphins continue to be even worse, still winless as we enter the second half of October and leading in the #1 pick derby. Compounding the problem, both teams need a QB, especially the Dolphins.
Hyman maintains a narrow lead in the Overall standings.
There was much more consensus last week then usual, although not always correct consensus. This speaks volumes about the quality of NFL matchups or, more accurately, the lack thereof. Last week featured one game that was worth mentioning and a whole lot of poor performances or Who Cares? Contests.
Sure Adrian Peterson had a big game, but does anyone really care about Bears Vikings, let alone Panthers-Cardinals, Rams-Ravens, Tampa Bay-Tennessee, Cinci-KC, Houston-Jags or, the snoozer of the week, Miami-Cleveland.
The National Games were even worse, making everyone but the execs at TBS and Fox angry and frustrated. This week seems little better. Is this a product of bye weeks? Parity? the presence of a few dominant teams (ie Indy and NE) and a whole lot of mediocre ones? The National Games this week offer a little more intrigue with Indy playing a Jags team that beat them twice last year (the last team to beat the Colts), but wouldn't the time be better spent playing outside with the kids then watching Eagles-Bears or Seattle-St. Louis?
LotW got back above 500 trusting the Pats to get the job done, which they did with plenty to spare, beating the Cowpokes by 21. This week, with the 1972 Dolphins team already nervous, will the Fish be able to put an end to the Pats undefeated season? Will they even beat the 17.5 spread?
Meanwhile, GBs ugly win over the Redskins and the Cowboys loss puts Favre and the Pack into a tie for the best overall record in the NFC as their inexorable run to the Super Bowl continues.
LotW will take Tampa on the road getting 1.5 in Motown.
Get those picks in and make it a good week.
Jono
posted by jmercan @ 12:40 PM
5 Comments
5 Comments:
Jono;
You've probably already noticed this, but the Sports Guy will probably have a full third of the league in his "Bruce Coslet" division this week. The NFL truly sucks this year. On a local note, the Leftwich switch does not provide much hope here, as he is, if anything, more statue-like than Joey Friggin Harrington. The real issue is the offensive line and (in part) a scheme that doesn't fit the personnel. They are completely unwatchable, as constituted currently. And Deangelo Hall is the most overrated player in the NFL.
BTW, the Thrashers are 0-6 and have fired their coach, the local college teams are ensconced in mediocrity. Its gotten so bad in A-town, that we actually are looking to the Hawks to get us excited about local sports. If it were not for the miraculous Pack start, I would have thrown my television through a window by now.
Didn't the fins take a QB of the future in round 2 this year (after passing on Brady Q)? Seems unlikely they go back to the well so soon.
17.5 point favorites on teh road -- when's the last time we saw that?
Jono,
I cared a great deal about the Panthers-Cardinals game and in fact watched more of it than I watched of Pats-Cowboys. I will admit, though, that for anybody other than a passionate fan, it would have been unwatchable until the fourth quarter.
On the plus side, though, college football has been fantastic this year, especially down here in SEC country. Wouldn't it be a great year for a 16-team playoff??
--Hyman
On the College Playoff issue -- I have long advocated the team NCAA playoff (since we were all in Atlanta at least). 12 teams means that the top four teams can have a bye -- rewarding them for conference championships; it also conceivably limits the number of games being played, something us professor types get bent out of shape about.
I remember speaking with Athletic Dept. types at Miami who were concerned about issues like travel, ticket sales etc for fans; though this could be dealt with somewhat by playing at the high seed's home stadium until the finals or at least semis.
So much for having to change my name.
God, the Falcons suck. There will probably be a blackout of the game this Sunday. Will any one notice???????
Norm
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