The best seat in the house is the view from the couch

Week 10 Rants & Ranks

Well, that's certainly the last time I use photographic evidence to make a point on this page. Looks like, yet again, the oddsmakers have proven me wrong. I've said it before - that's why they keep building casinos in the desert.

Also, I completely neglected to address a comment from my Week 9 Picks post, regarding that little... "incident" with the Patriots and the camera back in September. The comment asked for my take on this post on a Steelers' football blog.

My take? I agree 100%. In fact, I said the same thing in the comments section of Shanoff's page sometime around week 3. I wouldn't be one bit surprised if Bill Belichick intentionally got himself in trouble to give his players an axe to grind all season long. This is a team that historically needs a reason to feel disrespected.

In 2001, it was easy. In 2002, they were complacent and missed the playoffs, giving them all the fuel they needed in '03. And in '04, they galvanized around the mantra of "We're all just a bunch of 4th and 5th round guys", in reference to their Super Bowl opponent Philadelphia Eagles, and their defensive backfield of four #1 picks.

This year, they were annointed champions before the opening coin flip in the preseason. Not a single person was saying a negative word about them. So they needed something. And if it took making his players listen to a full season of "you only win because you cheat", followed immediately by "stop bludgeoning us to death when we're down by 40 points", then so be it.

If it helps his team win, Belichick will do it. Pats fans all knew it for awhile; now the rest of the world does.

OK, enough of that. Onto the Rants & Ranks following Week 10's action.



1. New England (9-0): I will admit, I'm lifting this 100% from Peter King's Monday Morning QB section printed yesterday, because it is an accurate representation of how most Boston fans feel right now: "Bye Week Thought of the Week: Since Oct. 18, the Hub's baseball, basketball and football teams (Sox, Celts, Pats) are 15-0." The part that Peter left out, and that makes me smile just as much, is that the only "big" teams to lose a game in that time span? The Bruins and BC football.
2. Pittsburgh (7-2): What a ridiculous comeback on Sunday by the Steelers. If they faced Indy today on a neutral field, I don't see any chance that the Colts would come out ahead.
3. Dallas (8-1): Ditto for the Cowboys. The Colts couldn't keep up with them on defense, and Indy's offense couldn't produce enough to keep the score close.
4. Indianapolis (7-2): Tough back to back weeks for Peyton Manning. His team can't keep the lead he helped build against New England, then he has to travel to face the Chargers after they were embarrassed by an inferior NFC team. Think about this - Manning threw six picks with basically no help on offense, and the Colts still only lost by 2 points on a shanked field goal late.
5. Green Bay (8-1): When you shut down the best rushing team in the league, and your rushing defense is supposed to be one of the worst around... maybe it really is your year.

Others Receiving Votes: Giants (a loss hurts, but at least it was to the best team in the NFC), Lions (That's not the way to prove you're for real Detroit...), Jacksonville (so, can they just plug in any quarterback and continue to win games?)



The Foul 5
5. Oakland (2-7): When, exactly, do we get to see this kid JaMarcus play a little? When would be the "opportune moment"?
4. St. Louis (1-8): If that offensive line can stay healthy and actually play a few games together the rest of the way, at 1-8 they are - somehow - not mathematically eliminated from winning the NFC West. And that makes me quite nauseous.
3. NY Jets (1-8): The bye week couldn't possibly have done anything to make them any worse. Maybe they can put together a solid string to close out the season.
2. San Francisco (2-7): Boy, it's a real shame they don't have a #1 pick this year to trade away for enough help to get them back into contention in '08...
1. Miami (0-9): Caller on WEEI's Whiner Line yesterday made a valid point - when they Dolphins finish this season 0-16, who pops the corks on the champagne bottles then?

Others receiving votes: Minnesota (No Peterson, no chance), Baltimore (Time to hang 'em up Steve McNair), Kansas City (remember when the Chiefs actually had a running game?)

That's it for now. back on Friday with the picks, but considering how terrible my weekend was (not just in football, but overall), who know how good this week will turn out.

Lata.

Labels: 2007, NFL, Playoffs here we come, Rants and Ranks, Recap

posted by Big D @ 9:17 AM