This is nothing NFL related, yet I yearn for a place to express my feelings on the BCS. And this is the place. And now is the time.
Look at the situation. Look at what happened on Thursday, Friday, and Monday. Look at what happened in the Fiesta Bowl. Look at what happened in the Sugar Bowl. Look at what happened in the Rose Bowl. Look at what's happening in college football.
In what may be the biggest controversy in college football since the exclusion of Auburn in 2004, there are currently 5 teams with a legitimate case that they should be national champions. And while that number will become 4 after the "National Championship Game" when either Florida or Oklahoma lose, you still have one huge can of worms. And this can of worms, regardless of tomorrow's outcome, whether it be a 45-10 blowout or a 38-35 thriller decided in triple overtime, this can of worms will not go away.
Just look at who has a legitimate case. We'll start out with the team that should be playing in the national championship in the first place, Texas! We all remember what happened in Dallas, that one fateful afternoon when Texas beat Oklahoma 45-35 and yet somehow, someway, by running up the score on Texas Tech and Mizzou, Oklahoma is in the national championship. What kind of message is this sending? That if you run up the score and be poor sports that you can get your way? There is a difference between blowing a team out and sending a message, which is fine, but when it becomes a 40-point game in the 4th quarter and you're still trying to score, isn't that a little bit much? Hasn't the point already been made? But yet, it seems like the more I think about it, the more those garbage touchdowns have mattered more and more.
The BCS prides itself in a regular season where every game matters. I disagree. I disagree vehemently. It's not if you lose, it's when you lose that matters. It's rare these days that a team from a "major BCS conference" goes unbeaten through the regular season. It is possible that a team can lay an absolute turd week 1, get blown out 45-o and go undefeated the rest of the way and make the national championship. And yet, if a team goes undefeated for their first 11 games, lose their final game by a score 45-0 that team has absolutely no chance of making it to the national championship. How fair is that? Despite everyone in the BCS claiming that they look at the whole body of work, it's not. It's a "what have you done for me lately" system. And by "what have you done for me lately" it's what did you do in the last 2 weeks. And just to slam the point home, look at the final BCS standings.
1. Oklahoma (lost October 11)
3. Texas (lost November 1)
7. Texas Tech (lost November 22)
Notice a pattern here? Now imagine this. What if the Texas-OU game was later on in the season? What if that was the last Big 12 south game of the season? What if the score remained the same? Texas is playing Florida in the national championship game. Colt McCoy is the Heisman Tropny winner. In other words, the entire landscape of college football would be different.
And that's just the argument for one team! Let's move on to USC. The Trojans have one of the best defenses in the history of college football. They beat PSU in the Rose Bowl by a deceptively close score of 38-24. They bashed the Nittany Lions, the Big 10 champions and say what you will about the Big 10, Penn State under JoePa is a damn good football team and USC mopped the floor with them. And look at who they lost to, Oregon State. At the time it was "haha, USC lost to weak Oregon State", but look at Oregon State now! They are a ranked team and they beat Pitt in an, albeit unentertaining, Sun Bowl. USC is more than capable of putting a beat down on Florida and Oklahoma. USC is more than deserving of a national championship.
And lastly, Utah. Whatever happened to going undefeated? Apparently you only get in the national championship game in the FBS if you're undefeated and you play in a major conference. Of course the BCS absolutely ignores the Mountain West Conference. Who cares? Even if they are a BCS conference. They are not a major money maker for them. Therefore, they are shunned away. Forgotten about. Oh, they have an undefeated team? Ah, put them in the Sugar Bowl against Alabama and they'll get blown out. Oh, that Sugar Bowl was a blowout all right. 31-17. Utah beat Alabama. They have more than proven their worth. They beat 4 ranked teams this year. What more can you ask for? What more can they do? How fair is it that a team goes undefeated and is not credited with being a national champion? No matter the outcome of tomorrow night's championship game, one fact will remain the same, Utah is the best damn team in the nation and there's not a damn thing Florida and Oklahoma can do to change it! Oh, what about the rest of their schedule? Can you seriously consider a team that plays Weber State to be a national champion? To which, I quite ask the person who asks that question....what drugs are you taking? YES! You can! Why? It's simple. Look at Florida's schedule. Look at who they played? Notice anything. Wait, what's that? They played The Citadel? Yeah, that's right. Florida played The Citadel! The Goddamn Mother Fucking Citadel of The FCS! (pardon my French, s'il vous plait). So, according to you ignorant people who feels Utah should not be a national championship because they had Weber State on their schedule, surely you must feel the same way about Florida....
The bottom line is everybody has weak teams on their schedule. UT-Chattanooga, Baylor played Oklahoma. Should they be discredited then for playing such weak teams? The answer is a simple no. Utah is the best team in the nation. They beat a damn fine TCU team who more than proved there worth in the Poinsettia Bowl. They beat another solid BYU team. And then there was the Sugar Bowl. 31-17. That's the new rallying cry. 31-17! 31-17! 31-17! 31-17!.....
But alas, the BCS does not care. They don't care about the kids. They care about money. Florida and Oklahoma would make more money than a national championship involving Utah. It would be more appealing to a casual fan. There's no doubt about it. But what satisfies those qualities is not always right. In fact, it hardly ever is.
And maybe it's a blessing in disguise that Fox is covering the BCS. They're crappy production has in part helped to drive the BCS ratings into the ground. And maybe once driven completely into the ground. The ashes that rise up will be that of a new system. One where every FBS team gets treated fairly, regardless of conference. And I'm not totally against having bowl games. I would not get rid of the Bowl system, I'd keep the bowls, as they are a good and fun reward for teams not in the Top 8 to play one more game, show off some hidden talent to the country, and entertain us in the process. And then the top 8 teams in the country, regardless of conference, would use the BCS bowl game sites as a site for the quarterfinals of a playoffs (i.e. the Orange Bowl would be a quarterfinal game, the Rose Bowl another, etc.). Wouldn't that make everyone happy?
But then does that not diminish the importance of the regular season? No! It does not. Every game is still important. But there will still be snubs? Yes, there will be. But isn't it easier to snub a 2-loss team or a 1-loss team that got beaten badly by a sub-.500 team than it is undefeated Utah, Texas, and dominant USC?
But as long as the people in the BCS have any say, that will never happen. They are too blinded with greed to see their own greed. They are too obnoxious to realize their own obnoxiousness. Maybe this will finally snap them out of it. Chances are, they will most likely look at Texas, Utah, and USC and just put there nose in the air and say "hmph! I don't care about you". That would not be any different than what they have been doing all year and to teams like Boise State two-years ago and Auburn in 2004.
I, like most college football fans will watch the national title game. Not because I like laughing at Fox's band shots, not because I want to listen to Thom Brennaman and Charles Davis (and his Mangina), not because I want to see who the best team in America is (that honor for this year belongs to the Utes of Utah), but because of two reasons. A). I want to see two good teams play what should be an entertaining game. And B). I want to say I witnessed history when the shit hits the fan with the BCS.
And all the while, in my head, one thing sticks out in my mind above all else. 31-17......31-17.......31-17.....There it is, BCS. Your true national champions. Utah Utes.
Good night and good luck.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Divisional Round Preview Arizona @ Carolina
What: An unlikely matchup that will produce the result that is likely.
Who: The Arizona Cardinals and the Carolina Panthers
Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
When: 8:15 PM EST
What Channel: Fox
Announcers: Kenny Albert, Daryl "Moose" Johnston, Tony "Goose" Siragusa
Announcers' Talking Point of the Game: The Carolina Panthers have such a dominant and dynamic running game.
Weather Forecast: Cloudy with a chance of showers later in the game, 53 degrees
Regular Season Meeting: Week 8: Panthers 27, Cardinals 23
I'll be the first to admit that I did not think that the Cardinals stood a chance in hell against the Falcons. To their credit, they surprised the shit out of me (which given my record of picking games, I guess really is not that big of a feat, but I was certain the Falcons would be here). So now they are traveling to the east coast where they have not won a game against a team a Carolina Panther team that has not lost at home all year.
That alone is a huge obstacle to overcome, and yet one can't help but notice the team that they are going up against. The Panthers are not a fluke team. Their rushing attack is one of the best in the league, consisting of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart who have combined for 28 touchdowns this season.
The only chance the Cardinals may have in this game is to get to an early lead and force Delhomme to throw the ball. Delhomme has pretty much been the only glaring weakspot in this Panther offense and while Steve Smith is a dangerous receiver, the Cardinals would be more than happy to get into an offensive aerial show against the Panthers, for they have Kurt Warner and two of the best receivers in the NFL in Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. That may be their only chance. And even then, that would require Kurt Warner to play the game of his life, and at his age, there is no guarantee he won't throw a costly interception or two.
The most interesting part of this game in this otherwise unenticing divisional round match-up (the only one of it's sort) would be the ramifications of a Cardinal upset. That would pretty much raise the stakes of the Eagles-Giants game ten-fold, as if it was not a high stakes game already. For if Arizona wins, the winner of the Eagles-Giants showdown (I'll have a full preview of that one tomorrow), may very well earn themselves a free ticket to Tampa Bay as both the Eagles and the Giants mopped the floor with the Cardinals during the regular season.
Prediction: I'm sure you pretty much guessed by reading above who I am going with in this one. Not only have the Cardinals not won on the east coast and the Panthers not lose at home, but on Monday night, the only bit of mojo they had going for them, the underdog always winning at University of Phoenix Stadium was lost when Texas became the first team that was favored to ever win a post-season game there. So any mojo or dirt that they might bring to Carolina for good luck is no more. Basically, the Cardinals are up the creek without a paddle in this one and will be (figuratively) eaten alive by the Caroina Panthers by a score of 38-17
Who: The Arizona Cardinals and the Carolina Panthers
Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
When: 8:15 PM EST
What Channel: Fox
Announcers: Kenny Albert, Daryl "Moose" Johnston, Tony "Goose" Siragusa
Announcers' Talking Point of the Game: The Carolina Panthers have such a dominant and dynamic running game.
Weather Forecast: Cloudy with a chance of showers later in the game, 53 degrees
Regular Season Meeting: Week 8: Panthers 27, Cardinals 23
I'll be the first to admit that I did not think that the Cardinals stood a chance in hell against the Falcons. To their credit, they surprised the shit out of me (which given my record of picking games, I guess really is not that big of a feat, but I was certain the Falcons would be here). So now they are traveling to the east coast where they have not won a game against a team a Carolina Panther team that has not lost at home all year.
That alone is a huge obstacle to overcome, and yet one can't help but notice the team that they are going up against. The Panthers are not a fluke team. Their rushing attack is one of the best in the league, consisting of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart who have combined for 28 touchdowns this season.
The only chance the Cardinals may have in this game is to get to an early lead and force Delhomme to throw the ball. Delhomme has pretty much been the only glaring weakspot in this Panther offense and while Steve Smith is a dangerous receiver, the Cardinals would be more than happy to get into an offensive aerial show against the Panthers, for they have Kurt Warner and two of the best receivers in the NFL in Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. That may be their only chance. And even then, that would require Kurt Warner to play the game of his life, and at his age, there is no guarantee he won't throw a costly interception or two.
The most interesting part of this game in this otherwise unenticing divisional round match-up (the only one of it's sort) would be the ramifications of a Cardinal upset. That would pretty much raise the stakes of the Eagles-Giants game ten-fold, as if it was not a high stakes game already. For if Arizona wins, the winner of the Eagles-Giants showdown (I'll have a full preview of that one tomorrow), may very well earn themselves a free ticket to Tampa Bay as both the Eagles and the Giants mopped the floor with the Cardinals during the regular season.
Prediction: I'm sure you pretty much guessed by reading above who I am going with in this one. Not only have the Cardinals not won on the east coast and the Panthers not lose at home, but on Monday night, the only bit of mojo they had going for them, the underdog always winning at University of Phoenix Stadium was lost when Texas became the first team that was favored to ever win a post-season game there. So any mojo or dirt that they might bring to Carolina for good luck is no more. Basically, the Cardinals are up the creek without a paddle in this one and will be (figuratively) eaten alive by the Caroina Panthers by a score of 38-17
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Divisional Round Preview Baltimore @ Tennessee
What: An Epic Defensive Struggle
Who: The Baltimore Ravens and the Tennessee Titans
Where: LP Field, Nashville, Tennessee
When: Saturday at 4:30 PM EST
What Channel: CBS
Announcers: Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf
Announcers' Talking Point of the Game: Wait a minute, the Tennessee Titans were the last undefeated team in the NFL? We completely forgot about that. Oh, but aside from that, these two defenses are just so good we won't be surprised if it goes to Triple overtime with the score tied at 0.
Weather Forecast: Cloudy, 45 degrees
Regular Season Meeting: Titans 13, Ravens 10
For the second time in three years, it looks like Greg and Dan will get a very low scoring game in the playoffs involving the Baltimore Ravens (See Colts-Ravens a couple of years ago). This one, however, should be quite an entertaining game, especially seeing as there are obvious parallels with the two teams.
For starters, both teams improved upon their record from last year (the Ravens more so than the Titans, however both did improve). But just look at these teams, I honestly don't know where to start. Both teams have defenses that can be absolutely dominating. The Titans defense suffered from injuries toward the end of the year, however it does look like Kyle Vanden Bosch and Albert Haynesworth will be back in the line up this Saturday at LP Field. The Ravens' defense was lights out against the Dolphins last Sunday and what can I say about Ed Reed. The man is just a beast. Superman (and Tim Tebow) wear Ed Reed underwear.
Another similarity can be drawn by looking at both offenses. The biggest threat that the Ravens boast is their 3-headed monster rushing attack consisting of Willis McGahee, Le'Ron McClain, and Ray Rice, all of whom have rushed for over 500 yards this season. The Tennessee Titans also have a powerful rushing offense consisting of Chris Johnson, the rookie out of East Carolina who rushed for over 1,000 yards this year. And just as an aside on Johnson, I had not even heard of the man until I saw last year's Sheraton Hawaii Bowl pitting East Carolina against Boise State. And just by watching that game, I could tell that he was going to be something special in the NFL. And it looks like that (for once) I was right. Anyway, back to the match-up, Johnson has not had to do things on his own, as Lendale White, the back-up to Reggie Bush at USC averages 3.9 yards per carry himself and has proven to be a very valuable weapon in short-yardage situations.
And in yet, another similarity, both are led by a quarterback who have done just enough to get their team to where they are. Both Joe Flacco of the Ravens and Kerry Collins of the Titans have done just enough to manage the game, and rarely, if at all, have been the reason for the team's defeat in the games that they lost. But at the same token, neither has necessarily wowed anyone with their numbers and thus, even if there are quite a few injuries at QB for the AFC, it is unlikely that any of these two will be in the Pro Bowl. Where they differ is in experience. Kerry Collins started the year as a back-up to Superman himself, Vince Young (he has the Ed Reed undies as well), but due to the injury to VY week 1, Collins was forced to step in and the Titans have never looked back. The Ravens, desperate for someone other than Kyle Boller and unwilling to rely on little Troy Smith, drafted Joe Flacco out of Delaware, and he is just the man they needed. He stepped in as the starter in the beginning of the year, and he has not looked back either.
Prediction: While I am generally a bigger fan of offensive games as opposed to defensive games, this sure-to-be defensive game is going to be a dandy to say the least. I can appreciate a good defensive struggle when I see it and damn it to hell that I probably won't be able to catch it as I will most likely be spending the afternoon moving back to college for the upcoming semester. Oh well, I'll catch up on the good stuff by reading S2N's live blog at AA (assuming he's doing it) and then watching NFL Replay on the NFL-N if the game is even half as good as I think this one will be. Give me the Ravens avenging their Week 5 loss and upsetting the top-seeded Titans by a score of 16-13.
Who: The Baltimore Ravens and the Tennessee Titans
Where: LP Field, Nashville, Tennessee
When: Saturday at 4:30 PM EST
What Channel: CBS
Announcers: Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf
Announcers' Talking Point of the Game: Wait a minute, the Tennessee Titans were the last undefeated team in the NFL? We completely forgot about that. Oh, but aside from that, these two defenses are just so good we won't be surprised if it goes to Triple overtime with the score tied at 0.
Weather Forecast: Cloudy, 45 degrees
Regular Season Meeting: Titans 13, Ravens 10
For the second time in three years, it looks like Greg and Dan will get a very low scoring game in the playoffs involving the Baltimore Ravens (See Colts-Ravens a couple of years ago). This one, however, should be quite an entertaining game, especially seeing as there are obvious parallels with the two teams.
For starters, both teams improved upon their record from last year (the Ravens more so than the Titans, however both did improve). But just look at these teams, I honestly don't know where to start. Both teams have defenses that can be absolutely dominating. The Titans defense suffered from injuries toward the end of the year, however it does look like Kyle Vanden Bosch and Albert Haynesworth will be back in the line up this Saturday at LP Field. The Ravens' defense was lights out against the Dolphins last Sunday and what can I say about Ed Reed. The man is just a beast. Superman (and Tim Tebow) wear Ed Reed underwear.
Another similarity can be drawn by looking at both offenses. The biggest threat that the Ravens boast is their 3-headed monster rushing attack consisting of Willis McGahee, Le'Ron McClain, and Ray Rice, all of whom have rushed for over 500 yards this season. The Tennessee Titans also have a powerful rushing offense consisting of Chris Johnson, the rookie out of East Carolina who rushed for over 1,000 yards this year. And just as an aside on Johnson, I had not even heard of the man until I saw last year's Sheraton Hawaii Bowl pitting East Carolina against Boise State. And just by watching that game, I could tell that he was going to be something special in the NFL. And it looks like that (for once) I was right. Anyway, back to the match-up, Johnson has not had to do things on his own, as Lendale White, the back-up to Reggie Bush at USC averages 3.9 yards per carry himself and has proven to be a very valuable weapon in short-yardage situations.
And in yet, another similarity, both are led by a quarterback who have done just enough to get their team to where they are. Both Joe Flacco of the Ravens and Kerry Collins of the Titans have done just enough to manage the game, and rarely, if at all, have been the reason for the team's defeat in the games that they lost. But at the same token, neither has necessarily wowed anyone with their numbers and thus, even if there are quite a few injuries at QB for the AFC, it is unlikely that any of these two will be in the Pro Bowl. Where they differ is in experience. Kerry Collins started the year as a back-up to Superman himself, Vince Young (he has the Ed Reed undies as well), but due to the injury to VY week 1, Collins was forced to step in and the Titans have never looked back. The Ravens, desperate for someone other than Kyle Boller and unwilling to rely on little Troy Smith, drafted Joe Flacco out of Delaware, and he is just the man they needed. He stepped in as the starter in the beginning of the year, and he has not looked back either.
Prediction: While I am generally a bigger fan of offensive games as opposed to defensive games, this sure-to-be defensive game is going to be a dandy to say the least. I can appreciate a good defensive struggle when I see it and damn it to hell that I probably won't be able to catch it as I will most likely be spending the afternoon moving back to college for the upcoming semester. Oh well, I'll catch up on the good stuff by reading S2N's live blog at AA (assuming he's doing it) and then watching NFL Replay on the NFL-N if the game is even half as good as I think this one will be. Give me the Ravens avenging their Week 5 loss and upsetting the top-seeded Titans by a score of 16-13.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Eagles Wildcard Recap
Well it's about darn time, isn't it? How many times have we seen the Eagles in a close game in the 4th quarter and lose? Way too many, I know. But not this time. For the first time this year, the Eagles won a close game and it could not have come at a better time.
All of the Eagles wins before this game have been blowouts (the fact that the Giants win was close on the scoreboard at 20-14 does not count as they scored a TD in garbage time; the Eagles dominated that game). This game, was a good, close game and the Eagles found a way to win. The screen to Westbrook for the TD and the moment he scored I instantly knew that the Eagles were going to New York to play the Giants in the divisional playoffs (more on that one later in the week).
The Eagles' playmakers stepped up when they needed to. Up 9-7, Asante Samuel picked off Tarvaris Jackson and returned it for a touchdown (I've got the video of the epic end of that return at the bottom). Westbrook with the game in question, took McNabb's screen to the house to cement our plane tickets to the Meadowlands.
But what about the rest of the game? Some say that aside from another outstanding performance by our defense, the Eagles' offense sputtered. I say not. I say they did just enough throughout the entire game to put the pressure on the Vikings' offense to make a play and aside from Adrian Peterson's 40-yard run, no big plays were made. The Eagles did an excellent job of controlling field position that entire game and the Vikings were never able to successfully reverse it in the second half. Every time they pinned the Eagles deep, the Eagles took it to midfield and pinned the Vikes back deep. The Viking offense never had a chance.
The pressure (both of the game and that of the Eagles' defense) got to him in the end and when he was needed the most in a big game against a defense not consisting of 2nd string players (i.e. Week 17 vs. New York), he (and subsequently the Vikings) fell flat on their face. He had time, there was 6 minutes on the clock after the Westbrook TD (which by the way, if you haven't heard Merrill Reese's call of that yet, go check it out, it's classic), which can be an eternity in the NFL. The Eagles' defense just played Eagles' defense and that was more than enough to ensure victory for the Eagles.
The Eagles will have to pull off all the stops, though, if they are going to beat New York who will be healthy and will have Brandon Jacobs in the lineup. Jacobs, who was absent when the Eagles beat the Gmen, could play a pivotol role in this week's divisional playoff game.
And now, as promised, courtesy of Tirico Suave, here is the epic conclusion to Samuel's pick six.
I love me some schadenfreude! That is the first time that I can recall that a football player has ever been bodyslammed like that before. Good grief. So funny......so, so funny.
Chris Clemons Destroys Tarvaris Jackson (Tirico Suave)
All of the Eagles wins before this game have been blowouts (the fact that the Giants win was close on the scoreboard at 20-14 does not count as they scored a TD in garbage time; the Eagles dominated that game). This game, was a good, close game and the Eagles found a way to win. The screen to Westbrook for the TD and the moment he scored I instantly knew that the Eagles were going to New York to play the Giants in the divisional playoffs (more on that one later in the week).
The Eagles' playmakers stepped up when they needed to. Up 9-7, Asante Samuel picked off Tarvaris Jackson and returned it for a touchdown (I've got the video of the epic end of that return at the bottom). Westbrook with the game in question, took McNabb's screen to the house to cement our plane tickets to the Meadowlands.
But what about the rest of the game? Some say that aside from another outstanding performance by our defense, the Eagles' offense sputtered. I say not. I say they did just enough throughout the entire game to put the pressure on the Vikings' offense to make a play and aside from Adrian Peterson's 40-yard run, no big plays were made. The Eagles did an excellent job of controlling field position that entire game and the Vikings were never able to successfully reverse it in the second half. Every time they pinned the Eagles deep, the Eagles took it to midfield and pinned the Vikes back deep. The Viking offense never had a chance.
The pressure (both of the game and that of the Eagles' defense) got to him in the end and when he was needed the most in a big game against a defense not consisting of 2nd string players (i.e. Week 17 vs. New York), he (and subsequently the Vikings) fell flat on their face. He had time, there was 6 minutes on the clock after the Westbrook TD (which by the way, if you haven't heard Merrill Reese's call of that yet, go check it out, it's classic), which can be an eternity in the NFL. The Eagles' defense just played Eagles' defense and that was more than enough to ensure victory for the Eagles.
The Eagles will have to pull off all the stops, though, if they are going to beat New York who will be healthy and will have Brandon Jacobs in the lineup. Jacobs, who was absent when the Eagles beat the Gmen, could play a pivotol role in this week's divisional playoff game.
And now, as promised, courtesy of Tirico Suave, here is the epic conclusion to Samuel's pick six.
I love me some schadenfreude! That is the first time that I can recall that a football player has ever been bodyslammed like that before. Good grief. So funny......so, so funny.
Chris Clemons Destroys Tarvaris Jackson (Tirico Suave)
Saturday, January 3, 2009
A Few Site Announcements
Sorry if it seems like I've been in and out (and not at all of the AA live blogs-open threads for the bowl games), but I've been in and out, spending time with my family and and old friends back at home and haven't been watching football live.
I have Tivoed all of the bowl games the incredibly boring bowl games we have gotten this year. I have not missed a thing that has happened and I am absolutely ecstatic that Utah beat Alabama. I personally that all FBS teams should have an equal chance of well, being FBS champions and not just the special BCS conferences. Utah played ranked teams this year, beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, and are the only undefeated team in the FBS. Therefore, they are in my mind the National Championships this year. Call me a douche and disagree with me all you want, but Utah is as good, if not better, than most teams in the BCS. That's a fact that after last night, one can no longer ignore and/or put down.
I will be watching the Eagles-Vikes game (obviously) with my family and unlike S2N, I can't be around people and concentrate on live-blogging the game or listening for announcer quotes while I trash-talk my Viking fan relative who is watching the game with me. I will be around for bits and pieces of today's games and tomorrow's Phins-Ravens game before watching the Eagles computer free.
Lastly, the future of the site. I will be back around full time starting sometime next weekend as that's when I will be back at college and will be participating in live blogs/open threads like I did before holiday break (it's my way of procrastinating). So enjoy the games. It should be a fun weekend of football (assuming the Eagles win, that is).
I have Tivoed all of the bowl games the incredibly boring bowl games we have gotten this year. I have not missed a thing that has happened and I am absolutely ecstatic that Utah beat Alabama. I personally that all FBS teams should have an equal chance of well, being FBS champions and not just the special BCS conferences. Utah played ranked teams this year, beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, and are the only undefeated team in the FBS. Therefore, they are in my mind the National Championships this year. Call me a douche and disagree with me all you want, but Utah is as good, if not better, than most teams in the BCS. That's a fact that after last night, one can no longer ignore and/or put down.
I will be watching the Eagles-Vikes game (obviously) with my family and unlike S2N, I can't be around people and concentrate on live-blogging the game or listening for announcer quotes while I trash-talk my Viking fan relative who is watching the game with me. I will be around for bits and pieces of today's games and tomorrow's Phins-Ravens game before watching the Eagles computer free.
Lastly, the future of the site. I will be back around full time starting sometime next weekend as that's when I will be back at college and will be participating in live blogs/open threads like I did before holiday break (it's my way of procrastinating). So enjoy the games. It should be a fun weekend of football (assuming the Eagles win, that is).
Friday, January 2, 2009
Wildcard Preview Philadelphia Eagles @ Minnesota Vikings
What: A Game That May Be Blacked Out In Minneapolis
Who: The Philadelphia Eagles and The Minnesota Vikings
Where: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
When: Sunday, 4:30 PM EST
What Channel: Fox
Weather Forecast: Indoors
Announcers: Joe Buck and Troy Aikman with Pam Oliver working the sidelines
Announcers' Turning Point of the Game: I still can't believe the Eagles humiliated and beat the awesome Cowboys 44-6! That was mean of them!
Ah yes, a game that a week ago Eagles fans like me would laugh at if you told us (me) that we would be playing in it. But alas, the chips fell the right away, the Eagles smashed the much-hated Cowboys, and low and behold, the Eagles are in the playoffs.
The Vikings come into this having just clinched the NFC North last week with last second field goal to beat New York (If my memory serves me correctly, the Vikings beat the Giants before the Texans officially beat the Bears, although the game was out of hand by the time of the field goal, so that FG should be considered an NFC North winning figgie). But they struggled against a Giants defense that was playing mostly scrubs, especially during the end of the game.
Ever since the loss to the New York Giants on SNF, the Eagles' defense has been absolutely lights out. They have been the immoveable object that everyone said the Minnesota Vikings' defense would be coming into this year. They forced turnover after turnover last week against Dallas, been a solid wall throughout the year, and have rarely given up any big pass plays over the top.
The Vikings' offense, outside of Adrian Peterson, is mediocre at best. And while Tarvaris Jackson has been hot in the past few weeks, one must really look hard at the defenses he faced. The Detroit Lions (yes, the 0-16 Detroit Lions), the Arizona Cardinals (and their finesse defense), the Atlanta Falcons (a credible opponent; a Vikings loss), and the New York Giants (oh wait, they sat out most of their starters; and when they were playing starters, the Vikings could not move the ball). They do have some deep threats in Benard Berrian and Sidney Rice, but the Eagles have seen much more talented receivers throughout the year. Hell, they saw more talented receivers last week with T.O. and Roy Williams but unlike Dallas, at least Minnesota is a team, and not a collection of individuals who wear the same clothes on Sundays (I'll take the +1 for that one)
The biggest battle of the game will be the Eagles offense, against, well, the Eagles offense! What offense will show up is the million dollar question in this game, no doubt about it. The Vikings are pretty stout up the middle, but other than that, they really do not boast anything special (except for maybe Pro Bowler Antoine Winfield). There is a chance that big Pat Williams will play for the Vikes. He's trying to make it. And in my mind, that would be a good thing for the Eagles. No, I am not rooting for them to lose, I just think that if Pat Williams plays that will force the Eagles to pitch the ball to Westbrook to the outside where Westbrook is effective instead of up the middle where for the most part Westbrook is ineffective.
If the Eagles offense does not show up and play like they did against Cincinnati, Baltimore, and Washington, then I see this being a yawner of a game where I would be surprised if any teams hits double-digit points. But alas, I see the Eagles getting up for this game. If you can't get up and play well in the playoffs, then you don't deserve to be there. The Eagles will be riding a huge wave of momentum after beating Dallas 44-6 and should dispatch of Minnesota with little problem, beating them 28-10
Who: The Philadelphia Eagles and The Minnesota Vikings
Where: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
When: Sunday, 4:30 PM EST
What Channel: Fox
Weather Forecast: Indoors
Announcers: Joe Buck and Troy Aikman with Pam Oliver working the sidelines
Announcers' Turning Point of the Game: I still can't believe the Eagles humiliated and beat the awesome Cowboys 44-6! That was mean of them!
Ah yes, a game that a week ago Eagles fans like me would laugh at if you told us (me) that we would be playing in it. But alas, the chips fell the right away, the Eagles smashed the much-hated Cowboys, and low and behold, the Eagles are in the playoffs.
The Vikings come into this having just clinched the NFC North last week with last second field goal to beat New York (If my memory serves me correctly, the Vikings beat the Giants before the Texans officially beat the Bears, although the game was out of hand by the time of the field goal, so that FG should be considered an NFC North winning figgie). But they struggled against a Giants defense that was playing mostly scrubs, especially during the end of the game.
Ever since the loss to the New York Giants on SNF, the Eagles' defense has been absolutely lights out. They have been the immoveable object that everyone said the Minnesota Vikings' defense would be coming into this year. They forced turnover after turnover last week against Dallas, been a solid wall throughout the year, and have rarely given up any big pass plays over the top.
The Vikings' offense, outside of Adrian Peterson, is mediocre at best. And while Tarvaris Jackson has been hot in the past few weeks, one must really look hard at the defenses he faced. The Detroit Lions (yes, the 0-16 Detroit Lions), the Arizona Cardinals (and their finesse defense), the Atlanta Falcons (a credible opponent; a Vikings loss), and the New York Giants (oh wait, they sat out most of their starters; and when they were playing starters, the Vikings could not move the ball). They do have some deep threats in Benard Berrian and Sidney Rice, but the Eagles have seen much more talented receivers throughout the year. Hell, they saw more talented receivers last week with T.O. and Roy Williams but unlike Dallas, at least Minnesota is a team, and not a collection of individuals who wear the same clothes on Sundays (I'll take the +1 for that one)
The biggest battle of the game will be the Eagles offense, against, well, the Eagles offense! What offense will show up is the million dollar question in this game, no doubt about it. The Vikings are pretty stout up the middle, but other than that, they really do not boast anything special (except for maybe Pro Bowler Antoine Winfield). There is a chance that big Pat Williams will play for the Vikes. He's trying to make it. And in my mind, that would be a good thing for the Eagles. No, I am not rooting for them to lose, I just think that if Pat Williams plays that will force the Eagles to pitch the ball to Westbrook to the outside where Westbrook is effective instead of up the middle where for the most part Westbrook is ineffective.
If the Eagles offense does not show up and play like they did against Cincinnati, Baltimore, and Washington, then I see this being a yawner of a game where I would be surprised if any teams hits double-digit points. But alas, I see the Eagles getting up for this game. If you can't get up and play well in the playoffs, then you don't deserve to be there. The Eagles will be riding a huge wave of momentum after beating Dallas 44-6 and should dispatch of Minnesota with little problem, beating them 28-10
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Wildcard Preview Baltimore Ravens @ Miami Dolphins
What: A wildcard battle with two hot teams capable of running the table and advancing to Tampa.
Who: The Baltimore Ravens and the Miami Dolphins
Where: Dolphin Stadium, Miami, Florida
When: Sunday 1 PM EST
What Channel: CBS
Weather Forecast (As of 1/1): Partly cloudy, 77 degrees
Announcers: Jim Nantz and Phil Simms
Announcers' Talking Point of the Game: Yawn, I don't care, the Patriots, Steelers, and Brett Favre are not in this game.
Regular Season Meeting: Baltimore 27, Miami 13
I apologize ahead of time if this one seems a little shorter, but I do not have a lot of time right now. The Miami Dolphins were 1-15 last year. And you can bet your bottom dollar that Detroit this year made them feel so much better about their season last year as now everyone has forgotten about the 07 Dolphins. Going 11-5 this year also helped that. But back to the 1-15 season, if you remember that one game that the Dolphins did win last year was in overtime against the Baltimore Ravens. Coincidence indeed.
Of course the Ravens were by no means great last year. They were 5-11! However, drafting Joe Flacco out of Delaware certainly aided them this year. He has been very solid at the position and the Ravens could not be more happier with their draft day selection. The Ravens' running game will be a big factor in this one. Joe Flacco is playing in the biggest game of his young career and it will be necessary for Willis McGahee and Le'Ron McClain to take some of the pressure off him. Another key for the Ravens will be their defense, led by one of the greatest defensive leaders of all time and a sure-fire future hall-of-famer, Ray Lewis.
In the regular season meeting, the Dolphins came in with the wildcat formation and no one yet to stop it. The Ravens were the first team to do so. They stopped that formation cold and it may be up to Chad Pennington to air it out if the Dolphins want to have a chance.
Give me the Ravens winning a 17-14 defensive struggle.
Who: The Baltimore Ravens and the Miami Dolphins
Where: Dolphin Stadium, Miami, Florida
When: Sunday 1 PM EST
What Channel: CBS
Weather Forecast (As of 1/1): Partly cloudy, 77 degrees
Announcers: Jim Nantz and Phil Simms
Announcers' Talking Point of the Game: Yawn, I don't care, the Patriots, Steelers, and Brett Favre are not in this game.
Regular Season Meeting: Baltimore 27, Miami 13
I apologize ahead of time if this one seems a little shorter, but I do not have a lot of time right now. The Miami Dolphins were 1-15 last year. And you can bet your bottom dollar that Detroit this year made them feel so much better about their season last year as now everyone has forgotten about the 07 Dolphins. Going 11-5 this year also helped that. But back to the 1-15 season, if you remember that one game that the Dolphins did win last year was in overtime against the Baltimore Ravens. Coincidence indeed.
Of course the Ravens were by no means great last year. They were 5-11! However, drafting Joe Flacco out of Delaware certainly aided them this year. He has been very solid at the position and the Ravens could not be more happier with their draft day selection. The Ravens' running game will be a big factor in this one. Joe Flacco is playing in the biggest game of his young career and it will be necessary for Willis McGahee and Le'Ron McClain to take some of the pressure off him. Another key for the Ravens will be their defense, led by one of the greatest defensive leaders of all time and a sure-fire future hall-of-famer, Ray Lewis.
In the regular season meeting, the Dolphins came in with the wildcat formation and no one yet to stop it. The Ravens were the first team to do so. They stopped that formation cold and it may be up to Chad Pennington to air it out if the Dolphins want to have a chance.
Give me the Ravens winning a 17-14 defensive struggle.
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