Red Zone Blitz: Week 4 Edition

Thrilling finishes, a shootout in the Meadowlands, an injured Aaron Rodgers, and one very bad Bengals team.

Browns 20 Bengals 12 – Just to get that game out of the way.

Chiefs 33 Broncos 19 – Denver is not winning this division until they get that defense fixed. How can you possibly make Kansas City look like an offensive juggernaut? Turnovers killed the Denver offense, and letting Larry Johnson steamroll them was no help either.

Saints 31 49ers 17 - The moral of the day: Protect your QB and win, but rush the heck out of the Pro Bowl QB on the other side. Apparently San Fran forgot about this as JT O’Sullivan was sacked 6 times and Drew Brees was having a great time with that 3 man rush the Niners kept giving.

Titans 30 Vikings 17 - The refs got that 4th and 1 call in the game wrong and it could’ve been the beginning of the end for Minnesota. Still, the Titans running game is phenomenal, Kerry Collins is actually managing the game well, and quietly are 4-0. The Vikings are…..interesting.

Buccaneers 30 Packers 21 – I really am glad that Matt Bryant kicked the go-ahead field goal, considering he lost his infant son earlier in that week, it takes a lot to bury your kid the day before an early important conference game, and then play the next day for your team. As for the game itself, Brian Griese makes bad decisions….Jeff Garcia may want to think of coming to Seattle maybe? ;-) Aaron Rodgers is injured, a sprained shoulder, so let the durability issues on the talk shows commence!

Jaguars 30 Texans 27 (OT): Houston’s defense got tricked on a fake punt play with no punter! Despite all of that, Houston hung around, took the lead thanks to the awesomeness that is Steve Slaton, but……there is that defense. David Garrard took his team down the field in just 3 plays to kick the winning field goal in OT.

Jets 56 Cardinals 35 – Arizona = The Frauds. This was awful for the NFC West, the Jets were in “must-win” mode and whacked them with 56 points, 34 in the 2nd quarter. Kurt Warner was getting sacked (and then fumbling) with 2 or 3 man rushes the offensive line was that bad. Brett Favre threw 6 TD passes and at least 4 of them saw the receiver 5 yards away from any Cardinals player. Scary moment of course for Anquan Boldin after he took a helmet-to-helmet hit from Eric Smith (who has since been suspended), he is now fine and does not have any major injuries.

Chargers 28 Raiders 18 – Lane Kiffin’s goose is cooked, so he wanted to give Al Davis a heart attack by attempting a 76 yard field goal. Actually, Oakland played well in the first half and was up 15-0…..and then they pulled an Oakland and gave up 25 points in the 4th quarter, including a long TD run by LdT to clinch a San Diego win.

Bills 31 Rams 14 – Scott Linehan was fired…..just in time for the Rams to have the lead for 3 quarters, but the defense falters in the end, and Trent Green threw the go ahead INT to give the Bills a 4-0 record and a 1.5 game lead in the AFC East.

Redskins 26 Cowboys 24 – Let the soap opera begin! Haha, Washington is the real deal, passing offense is slick, defense is solid, the NFC East is fun to watch. As for Dallas, if you’re treating Marion Barber like he’s a backup, then what was the point of getting rid of Julius Jones?

Bears 24 Eagles 20 – You don’t deserve to win if you can’t capitalize off of 4 turnovers, let Kyle Orton get 3 first half TD passes, and not get 1 stinking yard on 4 downs. Andy Reid is like all of the other coaches under Mike Holmgren’s system, and that is he is too mechanical. Eagles are 2-2 because they can’t win the close game and frankly Reid is a maniac with a playbook in a close game.

More Washington Huskies Failure

It’s depressing, the Mariners have won their way out of a #1 draft pick, the Seahawks may drop to 1-3 with this tough matchup at the Giants, the Seattle Storm choked their way out of the first round of the WNBA playoffs, so we can only look at the college teams. Like anyone west of the Cascades cares about Wazzu winning, we want the Huskies! JAKE LOCKER! TYRONE WILLINGHAM!

(Looks around)

Photo taken from Mercury News

0-4? And Locker is hurt? A loss to Stanford? ****** STANFORD?! This team is a wreck, most U-Dub students are probably being held back from clawing Ed Donatell’s eyes out. Oh yeah, Jake Locker is out for 6-8 weeks with a broken thumb on his throwing hand, and Tyrone Willingham has the coaching mind of a hamster right now.

It’s quite possible this team could go winless, their best chance at a win is against Washington State, who is equally bad, but at least they are smart enough to know they suck and schedule teams like Portland State and not OKLAHOMA!

NFL Picks: Week 4

Just a little announcement that I won’t be posting the next 4 days, think of it as a Seahawks vacation and not a permanent vacation like the Rams began earlier this season.

Quick comments from me, none of the usual half-hearted attempt at analysis, and I have to say this is the most boring set of games the NFL could possibly deliver.

Last Week: 12-4

Season: 32-15

*Denver* @ Kansas City – The Raiders just beat up the
Chiefs 23-8 at Arrowhead…..Denver is in town and from what I hear they have a good offense. The Chiefs have nothing, this is going to be a painful one.

Houston @ *Jacksonville* – …..

Cleveland @ *Cincinnati* – Brady Quinn, time to drop that clipboard (or the menu pad, whichever works) and get in the game.

*Green Bay* @ Tampa Bay – Griese ain’t getting away with throwing 1000
passes and not getting sacked.

*Arizona* @ NY Jets – I hate picking the Cardinals, but the Jets are headed for a 5-11 season with that “offense”.

San Francisco @ *New Orleans* – 49ers, welcome back to Earth! The Saints are angry, and you won’t like the Saints when they are angry.

Atlanta @ *Carolina* – Panthers are 0-1 this year with Steve Smith, 2-0 without him. Maybe a little whack of the knee means the Panthers finish 15-1?

Minnesota @ *Tennessee* – It’s Gus Frerotte, he can’t win 2 weeks in a row…..can he?

Washington @* Dallas* – Forget it, I tried doing the reverse jinx on Dallas and
it failed. I’m picking Dallas to dominate Washington.

*San Diego* @ Oakland – Lane Kiffin goes bye-bye.

*Buffalo* @ St. Louis – Really? Pete Prisco thinks the Rams will lose 30-24? I thought Sportsline hired pro writers? Isn’t that like saying Stevie Wonder will shoot a 64 without a handicap at the US Open? Rams are a wreck, Trent Green is barely alive, etc.

*Philly* @ Chicago – Chicago is a wreck.

Baltimore @ *Pittsburgh* – Yeah…..Baltimore can be welcomed to
Earth.

See ya on Monday.

Don’t Be the Home Team on Sunday Night Football

Is this the NBC curse perhaps? Sunday night is football night, the home teams relish their spot in primetime with their loud crowds and the nation watching the Emmy’s gridiron. But after Dallas’ 27-16 rout (that late TD was worthless and the ‘Boys dominated and you know that) of Green Bay in Lambeau Field, the road team has won all 3 matches in Sunday Night Football this season. It’s not surprising because the home team on SNF has an absolutely embarrassing record.

NOTE: These games do not include the Thursday night openers, or the 2006 Christmas Day game.

2006

Colts 26 @ Giants 21

Redskins 10 @ Cowboys 27

Broncos 17 @ Patriots 7

Seahawks 6 @ Bears 37

Steelers 13 @ Chargers 23

Raiders 3 @ Broncos 13

Cowboys 35 @ Panthers 14

Colts 27 @ Patriots 20

Bears 38 @ Giants 20

Chargers 35 @ Broncos 27

Eagles 21 @ Colts 45

Seahawks 23 @ Broncos 20

Saints 42 @ Cowboys 17

Chiefs 9 @ Chargers 20

Packers 26 @ Bears 7

Road Teams: 9

Home Teams: 6

2007

Giants 35 @ Cowboys 45

Chargers 14 @ Patriots 38

Cowboys 34 @ Bears 10

Eagles 7 @ Giants 16

Bears 27 @ Packers 20

Saints 28 @ Seahawks 17

Steelers 28 @ Broncos 31

Cowboys 38 @ Eagles 17

Colts 21 @ Chargers 23

Patriots 56 @ Bills 17

Eagles 28 @ Patriots 31

Bengals 10 @ Steelers 24

Colts 44 @ Ravens 20

Redskins 22 @ Giants 10

Redskins 32 @ Vikings 21

Titans 13 @ Colts 10

Road Team: 9

Home Team: 7

2008

Bears 29 @ Colts 13

Steelers 10 @ Browns 6

Cowboys 27 @ Packers 16

Road Team: 3

Home Team: 0

_______________________________________-

Home team’s record: 13-21

Just taking a quick look at MNF on ESPN in that same span they have a better record for home teams by a few games. But my goodness that is awful, and with the Bears playing this weekend I don’t expect that 13 to change any time soon. A lot of those teams (Pats, Seahawks, Colts) are traditionally strong at home but fold on Sunday nights.

Final Out at Yankee Stadium

Pretty historic place, the Greatest Game Ever Played, Joe Louis’ classic knockouts, the New York Yankees winning a lot…..but it came to a close last night. I’ll leave you with the one video Youtube won’t take down, the final out at Yankee Stadium…..I don’t need to inject words.

Seahawks Players Not Injured in Last Game

It’s true……..that’s all I got.

Best Football Day Ever

Seahawks win and are the 3rd team in a row to humiliate the Rams, Ronnie Brown humiliates New England and adds to the misery of Boston sports fans, Arizona loses, Steelers lose, and Julius Jones and TJ Duckett are my favorite players now.

More NFL Blitz stuff tomorrow.

Fact: Not All British Soccer Announcers Are Great

This is just one video of David Pleat, failed manager and an even worse commentator for International and ITV feed soccer matches. First off, he’s boring. Second, he cannot get the simplest of player’s names right (Teddy Sheringham is now Terry Sheddingham, Nani is Nano, I think he called Frank Lampard, Frank Redknapp).

Third, he is the master of jinx!

Arsenal won this match 2-1 late and Tottenham still haven’t beaten Arsenal in the Premiership this decade. Yes Pleat, please go home.

Oscar Diaz Out of Coma

Two months ago, Oscar Diaz was slurring his speech and collapsed at his corner after taking a vicious beating from Delvin Rodriguez on ESPN’s Wednesday Night Fights. He was rushed to the San Antonio hospital where he fell into a coma as a result of brain swelling, and was fighting for his life. The good news came from one of the doctors, who said Diaz would soon be out of the coma, and yesterday he was out. Via CBC Sports:

Diaz, 25, was awake and breathing on his own. His condition has been upgraded from critical to stable, and doctors at University Hospital in San Antonio are cautiously optimistic about his recovery.

Doctors performed emergency surgery to relieve swelling in his brain, but he fell into a coma only to awake on Thursday. Diaz was expected to survive the injuries since shortly after they occurred, but the news was a relief to Rodriguez.

“It’s very good news to me,” Rodriguez told ESPN.com. “The doctors kept saying he would come out of it, but you don’t believe it until it happens.

We’re all glad he’s out and breathing on his own, but his promising boxing career is all but over, hopefully there are no serious recurrences as the years pass on, and I wish Diaz a good life after boxing.

NFL Week 3 Picks

Scott Linehan’s job is on the line, the Chiefs are looking to go for 0-16, the Cardinals are looking to beat Washington so we can anoint them Super Bowl champions, so many story lines, let’s go pick some games.

Last week: 9-6

Season: 20-11

Bengals @ NY Giants: This cannot possibly be the best game CBS has to offer to most of the country. I don’t care if it is the Giants or not, the Bengals are a wreck, and the Giants should be doing some more wrecking. Giants 31 Bengals 14

Raiders @ Bills: The Bills are the real deal, the Raiders only won because Darren McFadden is crazy good, but he’s injured so……Bills 27 Raiders 7

Panthers @ Vikings: I was going to pick the Vikings at first, but with Gus Frerotte at the helm, the Panthers getting Steve Smith back, and Brad Childress losing control of his own bus (and underusing his running attack), I think the Panthers will squeak out a win. Panthers 23 Vikings 16

Cardinals @ Redskins: It’s easy for Arizona. If they win they’re the real deal, if they lose (and lose by a large margin), then they are still Arizona. Looks like the Skins have got that offense sorted out, and they will beat Arizona. Redskins 31 Cardinals 20

Dolphins @ Patriots: The spread is 12.5, are the Dolphins that bad that even with Brady out they are still overwhelming underdogs? Easy pick here. Patriots 23 Dolphins 7

Texans @ Titans: After seeing Houston get ripped to bits by Pittsburgh’s running game, I have no faith in them stopping Tennessee’s running game, even if Kerry Collins throws 4 interceptions I’ll pick Tennessee. Titans 22 Texans 13

Chiefs @ Falcons: Tyler Thigpen, show you are the next Len Dawson or something. This isn’t fair, the Chiefs and the Rams would probably get beat by Missouri, and Chase Daniel would throw rings around them. Atlanta has some promising signs, the Chiefs are getting ready for next season in this rebuilding process. Falcons 30 Chiefs 12

Buccaneers @ Bears: Devin Hester is hurt? Matt Forte is human? I’m picking Chicago anyway because their defense seems to be performing well again, it’s really a coin flip pick. Bears 17 Buccaneers 13

Lions @ 49ers: If Detroit wins this game then the NFC West must be shipped off to the Bermuda Triangle. 49ers 31 Lions 21

Rams @ Seahawks: St. Louis gets taken out of its misery, Scott Linehan should be fired after this. I mean, the Rams are really bad. Seahawks 31 Rams 7

Browns @ Ravens: Joe Flacco will look like Joe Montana after he’s finished with this defense. Ravens 30 Browns 17

Steelers @ Eagles: Wow, this is a possible Super Bowl preview. The Steelers D has been stout, but Ben Roethlisberger has been hurt, and Jim Johnson likes to blitz, and I don’t think that O-line can handle the pressure. The Eagles passing game is much improved, and DeSean Jackson hopefully learned his lesson about premature celebrations. Crap this is tough, the Eagles safety position is shocking, and Roethlisberger has some weapons in Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes, but the Eagles stuffed Marion Barber for the most part last Monday. Eh….Philly. Eagles 34 Steelers 28 (OT)

Saints @ Broncos: If they can’t stop Darren Sproles, they can’t stop Reggie Bush in the open field. It’s a tough choice, it should be a lot of fun, but the refs will have a big make up call and the Saints will win on a Cutler fumble when it should’ve been an incomplete pass. Saints 38 Broncos 31

Cowboys @ Packers: Romo? Favre’s former hideout? John Madden? This should be fun. What’s also going to be fun is me picking the Cowboys so that the Packers win (See week 1 and week 2 picks). Cowboys 24 Packers 17 (wink wink)

Bretts @ Chargers: Brace yourselves for the worst NFL broadcast ever. Also brace yourself for a Chargers win. Chargers 20 Jets 13

Those are my picks, live with it, enjoy football.