The one word that best describes week 11 in the NFL would be mediocre. Don’t get me wrong, there were a few good games and a few good moments (Patriots/Colt’s come to mind). But with all the hype coming into this week and all the expectations that week 10 built, overall this week unfortunately felt a bit flat. Luckily that flatness has lead to some changes including the (unfortunately too late) firing of Brad Childress and watching some teams decide to make a run for it while others give up.
Teams I think about:
Packers: I’ll admit it that I am a Favre fan. He has had a long (some say too long) and glorious career and each game is a new opportunity to play the game he loves. That being said, I’ve never seen a Favre lead team take a beating like they took on Sunday. They were simply outmatched by Green Bay and they strutted. Aaron Rogers wanted to make a statement and I believe the league heard it. I think they might be the best team in the NFL if they continue to dominate on both sides of the ball the way they have been lately despite all their injuries.
Eagles: After all the hype and expectations put on this team by their performance last Monday, it was nice to see this game come back to Earth a bit. But what most people forgot when they saw this game is that the Giants have the number one ranked defense and the number two ranked offense in the NFL. You certainly wouldn’t know it after this game. I don’t think I’ve seen a better played game by a defense… and they still lost and got 27 points scored on them. They tried a strategy that mostly worked for them which was to get Vick to roll to the right. They kept overloading the left side forcing Vick to go to the left or beat them from the pocket. And that he did. It wasn’t the sexiest performance and they even got a strip on him. But he still had a very respectable 258 yards in the air, 34 on the ground and a rushing TD. What the numbers don’t tell you is how well the Giants defense was and that he still beat them. It is still hard not to think of Michael Jordan watching Vick play and I fear Sundays game with the Bears.
Giants: Poor Giants. Eli made a crucial mistake on a slide that cost them the game and it was frankly just stupid. What is much more disconcerting is that they lost Steve Smith for a while and just lost their super star Nicks for a few weeks. Eli is now going to be tested like his brother and that Rivers guy with a new receiving core and I’m not sure he has what it takes to turn nobodies into winners. Speaking of which…
Chargers: I really hate Rivers. He tends to flip out too much for my liking and I’ve blamed him once or twice for some costly mistakes late in the fourth that has cost him some games. That being said, you don’t have to like the guy to be extraordinarily impressed with how he’s been playing without anyone he normally plays with. Jackson, Gates, Naanee, Floyed, now Crayton is out with a wrist injury, even Gates’ backup, McMicheal is out. I’ve never seen anyone singlehandedly produce so many points with people who just walked onto the team last week. It’s gotten pretty absurd and he just keeps on rolling with it. Also Kaeding is back so yay.
Bears: Or should I say the Peppers club. He is starting to become the most important player on that team. Urlacher has returned to form and their defense is dominating. I am really curious to see what they cook up for Vick this week. The defenses amazing play has almost made everyone forget how bad their offense has been playing. While they have improved the past two weeks, it was another decision making nightmare on Thursday with questionable red zone decisions leading to only one TD in a game that they should have put at least three up. With the Eagles D playing really well, lets just say I have concerns about this week.
Tampa Bay: They are a football team. Week after week, they continue to play well and surprise people. This week? Shut out. They completely shut down the 49ers offense. I think they make it to the post season and surprise a lot of people in the process.
New England: Coaching wins football games. Each week it feels like we are watching a different team. They adapt to their opponents so well. If they need to put on an air show, they put up an air show like in Pitt. If they need a more balanced approach like against Indy, they give us balance. They are impressive and will continue to impress as the season continues.
Bills: Strength through adversity. While they might not be ready to be made into a TV movie, I love how they keep fighting week after week. Same could be said of the Lions but the Bills are winning and they keep putting the points on the board against foes who keep underestimating them.
Lombardi: I am writing this from NYC after seeing the play Lombardi on Broadway. It was spectacular. I really enjoyed it and was impressed with the writing. They seemed to really capture the essence of not only Vince but his wife as well and really got to the heart of what made him strive for victory day in and day out. I believe I better understand what makes him extraordinary and at the same time what made him a man. Strongly recommend it for anyone in NYC over the next few months.
Things that make me sad:
-Cincinnati. Everything about that place is making me sad. Between getting thwomped by the Bills on their home turf after playing three quarters and T.O. coming out and saying Revis is just an average corner, nothing good is happening there. The Jets are going to simply make them irrelevant.
-Injuries. It is getting out of hand. San Diego is absurd right now. Indy not much better and the hits just keep on coming. Something has to be done and expanding the season isn’t it.
-Favre: The man who always fights till the bitter end has given up (or his team has)
-49ers. So much for their resurgence
-Bye Bye parity. Not gone completely but the sad are getting sadder
Things that make me believe there is hope:
-Bills and Lions. Love how they fight. They are the anti Cincinnati. They win. They lose, It doesn’t matter. They play each down in a vacuum and will soon start to find success.
-Vick. Continues to be impressive.
-Danny Woodhead. This kid is out of control good. Jets must be kicking themselves for letting him go. He is a fighter and if NE continues to win, it will not just be because of a man named Brady.
-Thanksgiving Games.
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