Want the Packers/Cowboys? Go to Canada!

As you know, a huge chunk of the country will not see the NFC battle between the Packers (10-1) and the Cowboys (10-1), because it is an NFL Network game. Here’s an article I wrote from ArmchairGM, talking about how Canada can get the game, and other things related to the NFL on Canadian TV.

Canada can get NFL Network games like the Packers/Cowboys and Giants/Patriots on TSN, a basic/basic extended cable channel. Let’s expand further into the topic “Do Canadians really have it better with the NFL on Sundays?”.

• All Canadian cable companies have American channels like NBC, FOX, CBS, and ABC. Any game played on the bordering state’s channel (yes, it depends on which province you live in), is broadcast there but with Canadian commercials (evil Canadian Radio and Television Communications!).

• On Sundays, CTV (basic cable channel) has the rights to a 1:00 ET game of their choosing. They can take it from FOX or CBS, it does not matter. They’ll tend to air one game on the east coast, and another for the prairies, and then one for BC.

• Rogers Sportsnet (ditto) has the rights to any 4:00 ET game of their choosing. Their style is kinda backwards. They tend to air a west coast game on the east coast while airing something like a Cowboys/Dolphins game out west.

• For the nationally televised games, all the rights go to TSN. What happens here, is that they get the rights to NFL Network Thursday/Saturday night games, while the actual NFL Network gets blacked out in their region. They also have the rights to Sunday Night Football, and Monday Night Football (Canada does NOT get ESPN, but shares ESPN programming).

• Lastly, all games broadcast use the usual US commentators from the CBS, FOX, ESPN, etc. feed.

• All playoff games and the Super Bowl are on CTV, but no Super Bowl American commercials, they can’t handle a little Bud Light?

So yes, if you combine everything that I just mentioned, CANADA of all countries, has no need for NFL Sunday Ticket! I’m going to cry.

Don’t Shoot the Three!

Did my school friend sign up to play for Tennessee? Last night, the #11 ranked Vols beat North Carolina A&T 93-59. Dominating victory, but here’s the best stat. Tennessee shot not 10, not 20, not even 30, but 50 three pointers!! How many they made? A whopping 14. Ouch. And that my friends, is the stat of the day.

I’m going to be giving myself a break from blogging from Thursday night to Sunday right after the Seahawks/Eagles game, have a nice weekend! That includes you Mr. Willingham!

Breaking News: Sean Taylor Dies

Tragedy in the NFL once again, Pro Bowl safety and star player for the Washington Redskins, Sean Taylor, has died at the age of 24. The initial report stated that the shooting had stemmed from a burglary. He was shot in the leg, but lost a huge amount of blood as we was airlifted to a nearby Jackson Memorial Hospital. Doctors were very encouraged when he woke up from his coma, and squeezed the hand of his doctor. The 5th overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft was pronounced dead just hours ago. We all wish the best for a senseless killing of another NFL player (Darrent Williams earlier this year was murdered). Police are still looking for the killer(s). Taylor leaves behind a girlfriend and a 1 year old daughter, and both, unfortunately, were there at the time of the shooting (neither was harmed).

Condolences all around to the Taylor family and the Redskins community, who welcomed Taylor into the league, had a great player, troubled yes, had several incidents before, but a stunning way to go.

RIP Sean Taylor

 

1983-2007 

Does Pete Prisco Know ANYTHING About Football?

A collection of typos in one shot from Sportsline columnist Pete Prisco.

So the New York Jets Jets? What? Would you like the NY Jets Panthers?

Ahh…..history repeats itself.

And finally…..

Crap, if that were true, this would be great. Too bad they came back from 12.

That’s all from me, see ya tomorrow!

Getting Away With Murder (and a win)

First published on ArmchairGM

Holy balls, how in the bloody heck did the Seahawks win that one? Down 19-7, offense out of sync, they make yet another 2nd half rally, and stun the St. Louis Rams 24-19 in thrilling fashion. I can’t think properly, so let’s take it verrrry slowly. I only need one play to tell you about. Fourth and 1 yard, 30 seconds left, 1 yard wins the game, likely ends Seattle’s playoff chances. Gus Frerotte messes up the snap, loses 3 yards, game over. Now, let’s review the keys to the game.

Seahawks Offense

1. Hey, there’s a running game? Get this, Maurice Morris (who will start this weekend), has run for 174 yards on 46 carries (many carries being garbage negative yards), with two touchdowns. This Seahawks offensive line is improving, and he should be a key factor against this same Rams team that let him run for a 100 yard game last season.

I guess 16 carries for 79 yards (one play was for 46) is okay.

2. Pass attack. Matt Hasselbeck threw 7 interceptions in 4 games last season. In 10 games, he has thrown 8. His receivers have been in-sync all season with him, and against a suspect Rams passing defense, he should have a big day. BTW, someone on Sportsline said Hasselbeck could have trouble against a Rams defense that had Trent Dilfer throw 2 interceptions. Huh?? Nevermind….Dilfer is legendary right?

Hasselbeck had a disastrous first half, but rebounded for a 21-38, 249 yard, 1 TD and 1 INT performance. Not a great game, but enough to win.

3. No more turnovers. Did you know Seattle has turned the ball over at least once in every game this season? It’s brutal, and it’s mostly fumbles that kill it.

Yikes, 2 turnovers resulting in 7 points. Not good for Seattle.

Offensive MVP: I guess it’s Deion Branch. A 5 catch, 94 yard, 1 TD performance was the only great spot for an inconsistent Seahawks offense.

Seahawks Defense

1. Marc Bulger. The guy can’t run even if snails were chasing him. He got sacked 6 times by the 49ers. He was also sacked 8 times in their first meeting, this is too easy to breakdown.

Ineffective only because he left the game with a concussion. Gus Frerotte came in, did pretty well.

2. No more Babineaux. It’s unanimous that Seattle DB Jordan Babineaux (AKA, Cowboy killer), is the crappiest man to man coverage guy on the team by 50 miles. The usual suspects like Kelly Jennings and Marcus Trufant must stay healthy, or else were done.

No Babineaux in coverage, good job by the secondary today.

3. Stephen Jackson. He’s a beast against Seattle, and that defense better take him out of the game frequently. If he’s not a factor, the Rams are even worse than they already are.

Stephen Jackson had a 53 yard TD run, but if you take away that play, he has 22 carries for a whopping 37 yards. Once again, Seattle lets one big run occur, and show up the rest of the way.

Defensive MVP: The whole friggin defense saved their ass. A goal line stand probably saved their season.

Seahawks Special Teams

1. Nate Burleson. The guy has returned 2 touchdowns against the Rams since he has signed with the Seahawks. That will be a big factor for this dangerous returner.

Josh Wilson is my friggin hero! Burleson fumbled, and had a poor day returning. Wilson on the other hand, scored on a 89 yard kickoff return.

2. Josh Brown, tackling machine. I really only put this in because Devin Hester got taken down (not a huge tackle) by our kicker. Whomever is on the Rams return team, better watch out because if he gets hit by Brown, Josh may turn into the friggin Incredible Hulk.

Brown has lost his field goal touch, he’s missed 2 out of 3, and he didn’t tackle anyone.

Time for the losers, played well, but lost everything on one yard.

Rams Offense

1. Run the football. It’s practically confirmed that passing the football with Bulger is hopeless. Continue to pound that football with Stephen Jackson, Brian Leonard, and Antonio Pittman. That Seahawks defense had some holes exposed last week in the running game.

They had over 100 total rushing yards, but 53 came on one play.

2. Quick slants. I don’t know the Rams offense that well, but the quicker the QB gets the ball out, the more likely he will not end up on the turf.

Hey, no slants, none of that stuff, but 4 sacks combined on Bulger and Frerotte.

3. Touchdowns, not field goals, in the red zone. The key to beating the Seahawks is scoring in the red zone. Seattle has done a very good job in general with red zone defense. Touchdowns do the trick, not FG’s.

1 touchdown in 3 red zone trips friggin blows. Especially when you fumble at the 1 to lose a game.

Offensive MVP: Isaac Bruce. No one really stepped up, but he caught a TD pass on 6 catches, and that was the first touchdown pass allowed by Seattle since October 14th.

Rams Defense

1. Stop Hasselbeck. I know that’s a difficult task, but as long as Matt has an off game, then they are mediocre. That’s the only key they really need in all honesty.

No St. Louis, I MEANT THE ENTIRE GAME!!!! Stopping someone like him for one half is great….but they didn’t win.

Defensive MVP: Will Witherspoon. His stats include 2 sacks, and 1 pass defensed. He was key in the defensive attack.

Rams special teams was not a factor, other than 1 good return from Dante Hall, and the fumble by Burleson.

By the numbers

11 is the number of weeks in a row that the Seahawks have turned it over at least once.

3 is the number of sacks by Patrick Kerney, 6 in 2 games for the big man.

4 is the number of fumbles by St. Louis.

0 is the number of fumbles Seattle recovered from St. Louis fumbles.

7 is the number of wins the Seahawks have!

Alrighty, if you watched the game, you know we got lucky. But a win is a win, and now I can watch Seattle get their balls eaten by Philly.

Any opinions on this game?

Update: Condolences to Redskins safety Sean Taylor, who was shot in the leg in an apparent burglary.

Upset Alert

It is 24-21 Pats over Eagles, watch out New England. We’ll see tomorrow if there is an upset.

Five Spot

Gosh…haven’t done this one in a while.

1. The Sports Hernia tells us what those “Terrible Towels” from the Steelers game are also used for.

2. NCAA Basketball Scores reports on Mike Tyson’s lengthy jail sentence.

3.  An IM conversation between very well known Chargers figures on ArmchairGM.

4.  Crap, Man U lost to Bolton (BBC).

5.  Epic Carnival posts about Darren McFadden’s heisman worthy performance at LSU.

NFL Picks: Week 12

I rarely post picks here, because I tend to have records teetering towards .500. I’m 3-0 after Thanksgiving, I only need 7 more for a 10 win week. The green dots and/or checkmarks next to certain teams are the ones I picked to win.

P.S: No time for an Apple Cup preview, but….

Washington 40 Washington State 28: Locker is just too much to handle for the Cougs.

Thanksgiving Heartbreak

“May not be at ArmchairGM more than another day as we have received 48 hour eviction notice from our apartment. Unless a miracle happens I have written my last article since there is no internet out on the streets. You are welcome to tell anyone if you want if I have not posted past Saturday. Have enjoyed your opinions and comments. Wish I knew half as much about baseball as you do when I was your age.” – Niteowl049

That was ArmchairGM user and favorite Niteowl049, a former Vietnam veteran, and excellent writer for the sports forum. I contribute there regularly, and he is one of the top writers on the Chair.  The landlord for his apartment has given him a 48 hour eviction notice on Thanksgiving day. Who would do that to anybody on a holiday like this? This was one statement from his blog:

If we cannot come up with the money by tomorrow we may be forced to move out with only the barest necessities. If there are no more posts I want to thank everyone for reading Baseball Etcetera which started in May of 2004.

May God bless each reader if we are unable to write again. There is still a slim chance of not being evicted but as of today the future looks very bleak.

Thank you for understanding,

Andrew Now, anything involving sending money to a stranger would be out of this world stupid. But if this is indeed true, then this is a very tragic case for a popular and well-respected man in the blogging world. Click on this link to see more about this story. We wish that the best will happen Niteowl.

Fearless Thanksgiving Predictions

Not the part where I predict which part of the dining table your uncle may throw up, but the one where I pick all NFL games on Turkey Day.

Packers @ Lions: The Lions are fading fast, Jon Kitna continues to get pounded, and in the last 2 games, they’ve combined to rush for -8 yards (otherwise known as a great output for Shaun Alexander’s ‘07 campaign). Green Bay continues to roll, Brett Favre is playing very well, and his receivers are very underrated, I see Packers 23 Lions 14.

Jets @ Cowboys: HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! Cowboys 34 Jets 13.

Colts @ Falcons: Indianapolis is in desperate need of guys like Marvin Harrison. Dwight Freeney is now done for the year, and the pass rush has gone down. However, it’s Atlanta, and it’s Joey Harrington. Colts in a squeaker, 16-14.

More NFL picks coming on Friday, plus the Apple Cup preview. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!