football season is here!!!!!!!!!! (1 Viewer)

[Louis Badolato]

The big games that decide homefield throughout the playoffs both happen today, and in both conferences, the team that has been the leader all season (Titans, Giants) has been in a slump, losing 2 out of its last 3 games coming in, while the team that has been fighting for second cede (Steelers, Panthers) is on a huge hot streak, having won several big divisional games coming in. Both of the frontrunners (Titans, Giants) are hosting the game which decides it all. The Giants are hoping to recover enough from significant injuries and losses on both offense (Jacobs, Burress) and defense (Robbins) to make the necessary playoff run. The Steelers, who have been winning with defense all year hope their running game and offiensive lines are getting healthy at the right time to make them the dominant team in the AFC playoff picture.

Other games with important playoff implications are the the AFC East co-leaders' three games (Jets at Seahawks, Dolphins at Chiefs, Cardinals at Patriots), all of which are must win to stay in the hunt for the division, and the Falcons at the Vikings. Of partiuclar interest to me is the Falcons-Vikings, as whichever team loses no longer controls its playoff destiny. If the Falcons win they need only win their final game to clinch a wildcard spot, while a Vikings win virtually guarantees them the NFC North. On the other hand, a Falcons loss re-opens the door for the Cowboys (who all but eliminated themselves last night) or a Vikings loss and a Bears win gives the Bears the inside track on the North. A Vikings loss also clinches a bye for the Panthers and the Giants, making their game a battle for home field only, as the loser will already have clinched the 2nd cede.

So for me, the games to watch are:

Steelers at Titans at 1:05

Jets at Seahawks or (preferably) Falcons at Vikings at 4:05

Panthers at Giants at 8:15

Its a great day for football! Goooo Giants!!!

 

[lancer]

Let us hear a cheer for the Baltimore Ravens kicking the Dallas Cowboys sorry behinds into the bleachers. What a nice Christmas gift. -- lancer

 

[Peter Reuss]

We Vikings fans aren't quite sure of what to expect today. We're still not convinced that Tavaris Jackson is the answer. I'm just waiting for another bone-headed move on his part. If we get behind and have to start throwing the ball, we're in deep trouble.

I think this is Childress' last attempt to 'save face' for starting Tavaris at the beginning of the season.

Though I have to admit, the idea that these Vikes could clinch the division today is exciting...

 

[Spitfrnd]

Let us hear a cheer for the Baltimore Ravens kicking the Dallas Cowboys sorry behinds into the bleachers. What a nice Christmas gift. -- lancer

I'll give them one, although it would have been more enthusiastic if the Skins were still in the hunt. I do have a soft spot for the Ravens but I have had a problem with Baltimore football since the midnight betrayal. Actually, if the Irsay family had any honor, the Ravens would have been called the Colts.

 

[lancer]

Spitfrnd - completely agree. I am a lifetime Johnny U. and Baltimore Colts fan who has never forgotten or forgiven what Irsay did. I am currently a Redskins fan to the end but I have also adopted the Ravens. Should still be the Colts in Baltimore though. Curse you Irsay! -- lancer

 

[Spitfrnd]

Spitfrnd - completely agree. I am a lifetime Johnny U. and Baltimore Colts fan who has never forgotten or forgiven what Irsay did. I am currently a Redskins fan to the end but I have also adopted the Ravens. Should still be the Colts in Baltimore though. Curse you Irsay! -- lancer

Yes I grew up watching Johnny U and Ray Berry and the other greats of that team. I actually met Tom Matte through a connection with my college girlfriend of the time. I was fortunate enought to watch the Greatest Game when it was played, what an emotional roller coaster. I just missed (and forgot to record) the ESPN Special re-broadcast production of the game; I certainly hope it makes its way to DVD.

 

[jazzeum]

Can someone tell me why the Patriots QB is playing in the 4th quarter with the lead they have. What if he got hurt?

 

[tdubel]

Steelers looked ugly today, at first I was pretty upset, but in hindsight, maybe this is a wake up call for us that you can't always pull a win out. Time to dig in and get ready for the playoffs, I hope this loss will be a good thing in the long run. If not, will be a short playoff season.

TD

 

[jazzeum]

Same old Jets. Morons

 

[nmrocks]

A miserable day for Fantasy football superbowls everywhere!!!

 

[chiefs70]

A miserable day for Fantasy football superbowls everywhere!!!

Well, I lost last week when McNabb and the Eagles couldn't score just 1 more TD in their numerous trips into the red zond and he was finally sat early in the 4th with the game well in hand. I lost by 3 points which, in my league, 1 TD, 60 yards of passing or 30 yards of rushing (not likely on the rushing) would have eliminated. Ahh well, hope springs eternal so there is always next year.

 

[Louis Badolato]

WHAT A GAME!!!!!!!! The Giants win in overtime with an amazing performance by Earth Wind and Fire (especially wind, who rushed for 216 yards). The Giants with their most rushing yards since 1959! We are back baby!!!!!

 

[jazzeum]

Well, it looks like the Giants only have four more games to play this year!!

 

[Louis Badolato]

My wife gave me a Giants long sleeve tee with LT, Manning, Hostetler and Strahan on the front and the 3 Superbowl victories on the back for the first day of Chanukah. I was wearing it under my LT #56 jersey from the '86 Superbowl as I watched the game. It provided a little holiday magic that made my Christmas and Chanukah!

 

[nmrocks]

Well, I lost last week when McNabb and the Eagles couldn't score just 1 more TD in their numerous trips into the red zond and he was finally sat early in the 4th with the game well in hand. I lost by 3 points which, in my league, 1 TD, 60 yards of passing or 30 yards of rushing (not likely on the rushing) would have eliminated. Ahh well, hope springs eternal so there is always next year.

I got in last week by .2 of a point thanks to Westbrooks sleeper. I'm going down in the super bowl this week, Cowboys "D", Westbrook and Andre Johnson were the kiss of death.
Ray

 

[Spitfrnd]

Well I can't say today's game made me happy but at least the Skins stopped the slide against one of their old rivals the Eagles; certainly put a dent in their playoff hopes so maybe we will have company "watching the other teams in the playoffs".

 

[theBaron]

The Iggles were awful, simply awful in that game, especially their offense. It's only thanks to their defence that the Skins didn't put another TD on the board in the 4th.

I think it's a microcosm of how their season has been. If they lose next week, I think McNabb might be at the end of his career as an Eagle.

 

[Capitolron]

Well Coach Zorn should be a little happy - I think he can get by for another season - but, not much longer ! Better to finish strong than finish last

 

[Spitfrnd]

Well Coach Zorn should be a little happy - I think he can get by for another season - but, not much longer ! Better to finish strong than finish last

I am not sure why you say not much longer Ron? I think Zorn has shown excellent potential as a head coach. I think he could make a great coach for the long term and if the Skins are ever to again have consistent success, they need to have a consistent coaching staff. How many head coaches have we had in the last 15 years? Please don't tell me you want to bring back Marty.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if the Redskins win next week, they finish 10-6, but miss the playoffs in Zorn's first season as headcoach . . . considering the level of competition in the NFC East, and the fact that Clinton Portis has been banged up most of the year, I hardly think they should consider firing him. The only real beef I would have with Zorn is his hanging Clinton Portis out to dry in the media a couple of weeks ago. A coach just shouldn't shoot off his mouth like that about a guy who plays as hard as Portis does.

Remember, Ron, that Giants fans, myself included, listening to gripes from palyers we loved, like Michael Strahan and Tiki Barber, wanted to run Coughlin out of town after two straight 8-8 finishes. I freely admit that when Bill Cower left the Steelers, I was all for firing Coughlin and hiring him. But the GM wisely gave Coughlin another chance, and we have a Superbowl Title and the top cede (ceed? seed? how the heck do you spell that) in this year's playoffs as a result. As fans, we really don't know as much as professional GM's and coaches do.

On the other hand, if the Jets win next week, they go 10-6, and probably also miss the playoffs, but considering the fact that their level of competition was much lower (frankly, with the exception of games against the Patriots and the Titans, they probably had the easiest schedule in the league), and that all the key injuries were to their opponents (the Patriots and the Bills in particular), Mangini should definitely be fired. He has been unable to get one of the most talented teams on paper in the league to be able to play anywhere near their potential, or with any consistency. Every time the guy speaks in public, I cringe. He is such a putz.