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What must it be like for Brian Billick to be coaching a team with no offense (other than Jamal Lewis)? This is the same guy who was offensive coordinator for the record-setting ‘98 Vikings (whose offense scored 556 points), and the same fella who was also affiliated with the high-octane attacks of BYU and San Diego State.
Having said that, is it a surprise to you that the Ravens lead the AFC North in points scored? How about the fact that the only teams in the AFC who have scored more points are the Colts and Titans? I mean, the Ravens are a defensive team, aren’t they? Right. Only six teams in the AFC have allowed more points this season. Isn’t there something about “lasting impressions”? I guess old beliefs die hard.
The Dolphins did what they needed to do: suck it up and win a tough, dirty game.
The Dolphins’ hero of the game may well have been punter Matt Turk. He punted seven times, with five of his punts being downed inside the 20-yard line. Not one of Turk’s punts was returned, and the Ravens began only four of their twelve drives outside of their own twenty. Then again, had Baltimore’s possessions all started at mid-field, they still might have had trouble reaching the red zone.
It was good to see Ricky having a solid game. With Fielder back next week, the Dolphins might be able to put on one of their patented late-season winning streaks. They are a good road team and even though they have not played well, they are still only two games behind the Patriots, and, lest we forget, the NFL has two wild-card teams from each conference.
Terry Glenn (more on him later) is the modern prototype of the “open mouth and insert foot” syndrome. Dissing your former employer and/or city is none too bright, yet Kevin Johnson, Syracuse notwithstanding, follows in Glenn’s very shallow footprints. So, what do the Browns do without KJ? Only score 44 points with Holcomb going 29 of 35 for 392 yards and 3 TDs. And, what does Andre Davis (the cause of Johnson’s distress) do? Seven receptions, 17 yards per catch, and a touchdown. Sometimes an organization needs to make a statement.
Is Arizona this bad? We know that Cleveland is not this good.
It’s so cool to see the crazed Browns fans (at least they have crazed fans, what do the Cardinals have?) begin to think they may have a shot at the playoffs. They are kinda like the proverbial Red Sox fan … always so close, but no cigar. But, God, do they care!
There were several teams that did not deserve to win this week, yet there was no team that deserved to win more than the Falcons. With absolutely nothing to gain but pride, this team played its heart out, and if not for a 54-yard field goal attempt that was a tad short, they would have won their second in a row.
There is absolutely no way the Saints can be considered a serious team when they play with the lack of desire they exhibited on Sunday. Except for Deuce McAllister (37 plays for 237 yards) this team is sleepwalking. Their remaining schedule is not all that difficult, and with a little luck they can win nine games. With the Bucs going over Niagara Falls without a barrel the Saints have a chance; all they need to do is wake up!
Dan Reeves has never made me want to go out and start a fan club, but give the guy credit. He has been a good, if not great, coach and has conducted himself with a class that is sorely lacking in professional sports. Heck, it’s lacking in all sports. Kudos, Dan.
Donte Stallworth is more fragile than David Gest (Liza Minelli’s ex).
I watched this game with a lifelong Bengals fan. Without providing a lot of detail, just know that the floor was wet when the game was over.
Put together a group of guys with a modicum of talent and give them a leader who not only believes in himself, but, most importantly, believes in them, and this is what you get. Anyone who saw the post-game locker room karma between Marvin Lewis and his team knows exactly what I’m talking about.
On the other hand, how many losing coaches take such relish in the overall ambience of the game. Vermeil could possibly be an absolute snake when out of the spotlight (I doubt it), but his public grace and perspective should be the material of a mandatory high school class.
Incidentally, the football game was a good one. No interceptions, only one fumble (recovered by the fumbler), clutch D, and high intensity. What the NFL at its best is all about!
Poor Corey Dillon. He has the timing of a Wal-Mart minority recruitment drive. Just as he publicly complains that the Bengals are not committed to winning and that he wants a one-way ticket out of Cincinnati, what happens? Of course, the Bengals win four out of five. Lest we forget, however, Dillon labored in the vast wasteland that has been Bengal-land for many, many years. Although a victim of his own “twitch,” he really does deserve better than this.
Meanwhile, of course, his replacement looks like Jim Brown without an attitude. Rudi Johnson, whose middle name is Ali (truth), played one year of major college football (Auburn). His junior college experience allowed him to enter the draft after his junior year at Auburn. He looks like the real thing.
Well, we know for sure that Kurt Warner was NOT consulting with his wife on that headset when he declined Mike Martz’s offer to enter the game because of Bulger’s struggles.
Maybe Marshall Faulk can revive them (one more time), but the Rams do not look good. They are lucky that their three remaining away games are in Arizona, Cleveland, and Detroit, and we all know that they are almost unbeatable at home. So, they look to be in good shape to make the playoffs, but they are still a vulnerable team.
It’s just not fair. How can one team end up with Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce while the other team has Marty Booker and Dez White?
Don’t you just want to cry when you think about the Bears’ remaining three away games at Denver, Green Bay, and Kansas City? Is it time yet for Rex Grossman?
I really thought the Redskins were going to win this game. I’m not talking about during the game, I’m saying that before the game began this felt like a perfect upset game. You know, one team is coming off a big game, they have a substantial lead in their division, the other team looks like they are on the rebound, la, la, la. WRONG!
Would you insure Patrick Ramsey?
Washington’s running game: 54 total yards, 2.5 yards per carry.
Washington’s passing game: 127 total yards, 3.3 yards per pass, and 3 sacks. Makes you wonder why this game was so close.
Either Gregg Williams or Drew Bledsoe is going to pay for this loss. I’d bet on Williams.
David Carr’s injury puts him out for another couple of weeks. When you have a property like Carr, you think of the long haul. Capers is too smart to rush him back.
Is it really possible that Travis Henry continues to play with a broken leg? I’ve been known to miss work over a splinter!
Henry’s injury answers the question, “Why in the world would we draft Willis McGahee when we have Travis Henry?” Yet at least for now, Sammy Morris is number two on the depth chart.
Donovan McNabb, a class act, passes for 314 yards, two touchdowns, and leads his team to their fifth win in a row, all the while winning seven of his last eight games. Meanwhile, Rush Limbaugh places his foot in his mouth, gets fired by ESPN, checks in and out of a rehab program, is the subject of a criminal investigation regarding his drug use, and is a prayer short of becoming a Holy Jumper. Now, you tell me who looks like the winner of that little tête-à-tête.
The New York football community is 7-13. Tell me there is no God in heaven.
The Titans win even when they stink the place out. When you think of the kind of team that historically does well in the playoffs wouldn’t you bet your pony money on the Titans as opposed to the Colts?
“… I’m going to Rio with Jack Del Rio … cha, cha, cha!” Buster Poindexter’s new hit song.
Good sport of the week goes to Fred Taylor, who says the Titans are overrated. Fred, please take your medication.
I’ve loved Peyton Manning ever since I saw him on Letterman, throwing a football into a third story window while standing across the street. (It obviously doesn’t take all that much to impress me.) However, what is it with this roaming up and down the line of scrimmage pointing and yelling and generally making a fool of himself? Yeah, I know he’s giving directions, but, like, is he the only QB who thinks this is a good idea?
A guy named Wayne catches nine passes from Manning. Don’t you think that Manning could complete 8-10 tosses to just about anyone with a pulse and a dim flashlight?
Maybe we all have a long way to go to truly become a sane society, but you gotta admit that it looks real cool to see two African-American coaches go head-to-head in such a fun game (See Marvin Lewis comment above). But you know, it’s probably just the white media wanting to find a black head coach to champion … huh, Rush?
Flutie has never really been able to do it week in and week out in the NFL. But come on, the guy was never supposed to do anything. So he’s short … get over it.
If you or I were as unsuccessful in our jobs as Marty Schottenheimer has been, do you think we would still be working?
Plummer is 5-1 with the Broncos, his only loss being a 1-pointer to the Chiefs in Kansas City. Unfortunately, Denver has to go on the road for its last two games of the season, playing the Colts and the Packers. What a shame to lose the December in Denver home field advantage for those games.
The edge in pro football is so thin that it’s hard not to believe that the whole “Sapp Flap” didn’t contribute to knocking the Bucs off of their game. This team has lost five of its last seven games. Amazing!
Doesn’t Brett Favre look entirely different this year? Yes, his physical condition is better, but on whole, he just looks like he’s having a lot more fun.
In effect, the Bucs traded John Abraham (13th pick, 2000 draft) and Anthony Becht (27th pick, 2000 draft) for Keyshawn Johnson. Three and a half years later, with Johnson just having purchased a “do not pass go, do not collect anything” one-way ticket out of Tampa Bay, who do you think made out the best?
Do you think it may have to do with that Thanksgiving Day game tradition? I mean, don’t most of your conversations go, “Oh yeah, of course Detroit is playing on Thanksgiving Day … oh well, I wonder what the other game is?”
Is it really possible to lose 22 games in a row on the road? Let’s see, that’s eight games a year … they’re approaching three seasons since they won away from home! Forget the Lion as their mascot, let’s call them the Detroit ETs (”ET phone home”).
‘Splain to me Lucy how there were no points scored in the 2nd half of this game!
Oakland has won three games? How did that happen? Well, they are 3-2 at home with victories over the Chargers, Bengals, and Vikings. So, while the Raiders are not good, there are still seven other teams that have lost as many, if not more, games than they have. Is that the definition of faint praise?
If you lose four games in a row against teams with a combined record of 14-26, who would you want to play next? The Lions, of course!
You have your first and second string quarterbacks out for the season. Your backup QB hasn’t even been around long enough to say something bad about Bill Callahan. You have third and six on your opponent’s seven yard line. What do you do? You run with the ball and attempt to leap into the end zone from the three yard line, going airborne, getting hit and replicating the propeller on one of those Pee Wee Herman beanie caps. People think that you might be dead, but, no … you’re Rick Mirer! Does anyone think that ole Rick went to Notre Dame on an academic scholarship?
Did anyone see who really initiated the “Bill on Bill” hug? I couldn’t get a good angle on it. I think it was around the 45 yard line. Parcells made the first move, I think, but Belichick eagerly responded. I mean, come on! There was more talk about this Bill on Bill thing than about the game.
I swear that Paul McGuire compared Quincy Carter to Brett Favre. Is this true? Someone call Michael Jackson and tell him to come home, they’re digging up his back yard! This was the second time in four games that the Cowboys were shut out. Brett Favre, my butt.
So, Bob Kraft spent over $300 million of HIS OWN MONEY to build the new stadium. It was reported as if it was a gesture of magnanimous proportions. Whose money did they think they would use? Yours and mine?
Terry Glenn hates everything about New England. Well, guess what, Mr. One Reception for Eight Yards? New England vis-à-vis Terry Glenn is a little like Old England vis-à-vis George Bush. Ain’t no unnecessary love lost!
The 49ers are 0-4 on the road this year, which is exactly where they will play four of their remaining six games. Green Bay, Cincinnati, Baltimore, and Philadelphia on the road may be a bit much for this team.
Steeler fans, believe it or not, should not totally give up the old steel mill. When you have only three wins but are still within two games of the division leaders, you, remarkable as it may seem, still have some hope. Especially when you play those two leaders head-to-head. Better yet, of your other four remaining games, you play the Browns, Raiders, Jets, and Chargers.
Ted Whiteside’s Lessons Learned column, featuring his sharp eye for football and equally sharp wit, is a weekly feature at the Cafe.
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