Blog, Jvstin Style

Giants versus Jets!

Via my brother:

The first football game in the new Meadowlands Stadium will be between the owners of the $1.6 billion facility.

The Giants will play the first regular season game in the new Meadowlands Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 12. The Jets will open their regular season with the first Monday night game at the new stadium.

I wish I could be there for the preseason game to open the stadium.

Bracketology

Not quite a book review, but a pair of book recommendations for the March Madness season

The Final Four of Everything

and

The Enlightened Bracketologist: The Final Four of Everything

Mark Reiter knows what makes many of us tick in March. Even for those of us who don't really care about Basketball, there is something appealing about the idea of a bracketed tournament. The best of the best across the country compete head to head, looking to go to the next round. Upsets! Dark horses! Powerhouses! It's heady stuff.

Suvudu, for example, is doing brackets of "cage matches" between fantasy characters.

anyway, Mark Reiter takes these concept in his two books, The Enlightened Bracketologist: The Final Four of Everything and The Final Four of Everything. He takes on all sorts of subjects in these two books, setting up brackets and letting them duke it out. It would be enough if we had Reiter's opinions on, say, the best NY Athletes, but Reiter takes his concept to the next level and gets experts to do and fill out how the brackets will go. So, in the aforementioned example, he has sportswriter George Vecsey do brackets for the best NY athletes. (Babe Ruth wins out in the final against Jackie Robinson). Supreme Court reporter Adam Liptak takes on Supreme Court decisions. Time science editor Jeffrey Kluger does a set of brackets on astronauts. And so forth.

Both books are filled with delicious fun that encourage reading and debating at the dinner table, or wherever, and are eminently suited to the March Madness season.

Super Bowl XLIV: New Orleans 31 Indianapolis 17

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2010020700/2009/POST22/saints@colts

A couple of days ago, I made a Super Bowl prediction.

The Indianapolis Colts are a machine. Vanilla, straightforward. Implacable. They are all business (although in his commercials, Peyton does let his hair down) and telegraph what they do. Its just damned hard to STOP it.

Prediction: Another win for the AFC. Indianapolis 31 New Orleans 17

Well, the Colts WERE a machine. The Saints WERE risky--the 4th and goal attempt toward the end of the 2nd Quarter. The onside kick to start the second half!

And well, I did get the score right. However, I had the teams wrong. Even if the Colts were better on paper, the Saints won the game. A very entertaining game, even if after the first quarter I thought it might be a rout for the Colts.

Congratulations to the new America's Team. Congratulations to the New Orleans Saints.

Super Bowl XLIV Prediction

Since I've done so well this far with predictions, I might as well go for broke and make a Super Bowl Prediction.

These are two high scoring teams with very different philosophies.

The Indianapolis Colts are a machine. Vanilla, straightforward. Implacable. They are all business (although in his commercials, Peyton does let his hair down) and telegraph what they do. Its just damned hard to STOP it.

They also adjust well. The Jets had them on the ropes, and the Colts adjustments turned a Jets lead into a near-rout by the Colts

The New Orleans Saints are gunslingers. Gamblers. Party-loving. Risk taking, try it and see if it works approach. Its a risky strategy that has proven dividends. They also seem lucky, charmed, as witness the Vikings game. Luck is a big factor in football.

This, however, is the Super Bowl. As boring as it might be, I think the Colts Machine will survive whatever the Saints throw at them, and pull ahead by the end of the 3rd Quarter and win.

Prediction: Another win for the AFC. Indianapolis 31 New Orleans 17

2009 Playoffs: Saints,Colts...Vikings and Jets?!

Okay, so my playoff predictions for the Superbowl are shot.

I admit my mistaken predictions. The Saints winning--that wasn't really out of the line for my prediction. The Colts winning--well I did say the Ravens weren't Superbowl bound.

The Cowboys (thank God) on the other hand, disproved half of my Superbowl pick in definitive fashion. I thought, with their successful December, that the house that Jerry built now had a team that could make a run--and they did run, all right. They ran into the Purple Buzzsaw. Zzzzzzap!

As far as the Jest....err, Jets, that I didn't see coming. Even with three minutes left in the game, I expected the Jets to screw it up somehow. (And in that 4th down and 1 call at the end of the game, I expected the Jets to get stuffed and give the Chargers the ball with a good chance to tie or win).

So now the Vikings travel to New Orleans and the Jets go to Indianapolis. The Saints were in the Championship game three years ago (being spanked by the Bears then), but this is the first time they have ever hosted the NFC Championship. The Vikings were last in the NFC Championship in the 2000 season...the infamous 41-0 loss to my beloved NY Giants.

The Jets haven't been to the AFC Championship since the 1998 season (when they actually had the defending Superbowl champion Broncos on the ropes before they screwed it up and lost, Jets style), the Colts were there last in the 2006 season, when they beat the Patsies and won the Superbowl.

Onward toward the Championship games for this year!

Giants Opponents for 2010

The great thing about the National Football League is that as soon as the season is completed, teams know who they'll play the next season.

Giants Opponents for 2010:

Home: Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington, Chicago, Detroit, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Carolina

Away: Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington, Green Bay, Minnesota, Houston, Indianapolis, Seattle

I will have to see if my friend Kevin will take me to (another!) Giants-Vikings game next year...

Minnesota 44 NYG 7 and my NFL Predictions

Well, I went to see the Giants-Vikings game in person with my former Fed co worker and still friend Kevin Pachl (he has season tickets to the Vikings).

The 44-7 rout was much more fun for him than it was for me. I tried to take a few pictures...

Eli drops back to Pass
Originally uploaded by Jvstin

Anyway, with that out of the way, its time for my predictions for the upcoming NFL Playoffs!

Finishing strong is important, and getting that bye week is a mixed blessing. With that in mind, I think that the Vikings will revert to form sometime during the playoffs and crap out, the Saints will continue their skid, and (Heaven help us), the Dallas Cowboys will emerge to win the NFC Championship.

The AFC side is even wilder. I don't trust the Colts not to underachieve again. The Patriots will hopefully get beaten by SOMEONE, and the Jets, Bengals, and Ravens can all be had. So I am going to go with the "sexy pick" of the San Diego Chargers to represent the AFC, and take home its first ever Super Bowl victory.

San Diego 27 Dallas 21

The last Giants game to be played at Giants stadium...

http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/28/giants-open-thread-the-door-slams-closed/

The last Giants game to be played at Giants stadium was an utter disaster, a 41-9 loss to the Panthers that ended the Giants playoff hopes.

Bah, humbug.

Philadelphia 45 NYG 38

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2009121313/2009/REG14/eagles@giants

Once again, its one step forward (beating the Cowboys) and two steps back (losing to the Eagles after the Cows lost *again* this weekend to the Chargers). A win could have put the Giants in the driver's seat in the NFC East.

Now, the Eagles have the tiebreakers over us and, if the Cowboys continue to form (please, let the Saints turn them into Hamburger Helper!), will be the NFC East champions. It would take the Cowboys sliding past us for us to get into the playoffs as a wildcard at this point. We need to sweep our games (Washington, Carolina and the mighty Vikings). One hopes the Vikings are resting their starters...

NYG 31 Dallas 24 and the rest of my weekend

And my beloved Giants show some life, as they beat (and thus sweep) the Cowboys, 31-24 today.

I watched this at the Olsons, having spent the weekend with them in gaming D&D on Saturday, doing some photography with Felicia in the early afternoon, and then watching the end of the Saints-Redskins, the Giants game, some "Dogs 101", and some of the "Dawn of the Dinosaurs" special on the Discovery channel.

D&D went well, we reached the end of a storyline with the D&D, and we'll resume for a while at the very least with Exalted before returning to it. I've not GMed live in a while, and I am overdue for a chance at a hand at the tiller!

Photography was a mixed bag, we took Dani, our friend Katie, and her kids to Como Park's conservatory and had them pose amongst the plants in the greenhouse. Felicia's camera did not like the heat and humidity but I think I got some decent shots.

The Giants never made it easy, and really, two big plays made the difference in the game, but we'll take the win. Romo had high numbers of passes and yards, but it was in the end, all for naught, and that's what counts for me.

So the Giants win was a pretty nice star in the firmament of my pretty good weekend. What feels even better is the opportunity to go back to work tomorrow.

Ireland versus France, and the Fifth Down game

Soccer World In Uproar: Ireland Demands Rematch With France

French soccer ... er, football ... player Thierry Henry "has admitted handling a ball before a crucial goal that sent his team to the World Cup at the expense of Ireland." Henry's touch, by the way, is known now as "the Hand of Gaul" -- a nice homage to the "Hand of God" score by Argentina's Diego Maradona during the 1986 World Cup quarter final against England. Henry didn't score the French goal in Wednesday's match 1-1, but one of his teammates did soon after. The Irish argue that play should have stopped when Henry's hand touched the ball.

As it so happens, the FIFA has decided that there will NOT be a rematch. The result cannot be changed.

This reminds me of the infamous college football game between Colorado and Missouriin the 1990 college football season when the Buffaloes, thanks to an error, got a "fifth down" at the end of the game (on which, they scored and won the game). Even more egregiously, this win allowed the Buffaloes to share the National Championship this year.

So, Missouri Tigers fans can sympathize with Ireland this week, especially if France goes deep into the playoffs at the World Cup this year.

Football AND SF, what could be better?

One of the many things on my RSS feed is a football column, the Fifth Down, from the NY Times. They have a variety of things to fill the week, but today is "matchup day", when Mike Tanier looks forward to Sunday's games and how the teams stack up.

Imagine my delight, when reading todays column, when I came across this entry:

49ers (4-5) at Packers (5-4)
Sunday, 1 p.m.
Line: Packers by 6 1/2

Rodgers abandoned Asimov for Philip K. Dick: like Roy Batty in "Blade Runner," he rejected his programming. Rodgers is now the dangerous loose cannon, and Smith (drafted first in the 2005 while Rodgers sweated for the cameras and tumbled to No. 24) is trying to outgun him while chafing against a system that doesn't maximize his limited talents. Smith found an origami swan in his locker after practice this week. It cannot be a good sign.

Football AND SF. What could be better?!

New Orleans 48 NYG 27

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2009101804/2009/REG6/giants@saints
And so my beloved Giants lose their first game of the season, and decisively, too. Crap game all around for the Boys in Blue.

Darn it.

Tyree released by the Giants

Via George R. R. Martin...

David Tyree has been released by the Giants.

Excelsior, David. You will forever reside in my memory, and have my respect and gratitude, because of THIS:

2009 Giants Schedule Announced

The NYG Schedule for 2009:

1 Sun, Sept. 13 vs. Washington Redskins FOX 4:15 p.m.
2 Sun, Sept. 20 at Dallas Cowboys NBC 8:20 p.m.
3 Sun, Sept. 27 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers FOX 1 p.m.
4 Sun, Oct. 4 at Kansas City Chiefs FOX 1 p.m.
5 Sun, Oct. 11 vs. Oakland Raiders CBS 1 p.m.
6 Sun, Oct. 18 at New Orleans Saints FOX 1 p.m.
7 Sun, Oct. 25 vs. Arizona Cardinals NBC 8:20 p.m.
8 Sun, Nov. 1 at Philadelphia Eagles FOX 4:15 p.m.
9 Sun, Nov. 8 vs. San Diego Chargers CBS 4:15 p.m.
10 Bye
11 Sun, Nov. 22 vs. Atlanta Falcons FOX 1 p.m.
12 Thu, Nov. 26 at Denver Broncos NFLN 8:20 p.m.
13 Sun, Dec. 6 vs. Dallas Cowboys FOX 4:15 p.m.
14 Sun, Dec. 13 vs. Philadelphia Eagles NBC 8:20 p.m.
15 Mon, Dec. 21 at Washington Redskins ESPN 8:30 p.m.
16 Sun, Dec. 27 vs. Carolina Panthers FOX 1 p.m.
17 Sun, Jan. 3 at Minnesota Vikings FOX 1 p.m.

The Giants do NOT get the last game at Giants Stadium (boo, hiss!). The Jets hosting the Bengals will be the last game hosted at Giants Stadium, barring any home playoff games.

Also, note that the Giants are AGAIN playing the Vikings, in Minnesota. If I can afford it, I think might buy myself a ticket...

Super Bowl XLIII: Pittsburgh 27 Arizona 23

Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who won their sixth Super Bowl in dramatic fashion with their 27-23 win over the underdog Arizona Cardinals.

Three things killed the Cardinals:

1. At the end of the first half, Warner and the Cardinals, down 10-7. were at the goal line and threatening to tie or take the lead. Warner threw an interception which went back a Super Bowl record 100 yards for Pittsburgh to take a 17-7 lead.

2. Even given #2, Arizona battled back to a 23-20 lead with less than three minutes remaining. But they couldn't hold that lead , when Big Ben and MVP Santonio Holmes went on a game winning TD drive (the second straight year a last minute TD drive decided the game).

3. Arizona made crucial penalties, a record 11 penalties for 106 yards. Sloppy play that killed their chances.

One other note--this was the most "pass wacky" Super Bowl I have ever seen from both sides. From a purist point of view, it was horrifying. I have to admit that it probably made it for it being more entertaining though.

Congrats, Pittsburgh! You're the first team to get to six Super Bowl wins. Unfortunately, Kurt Warner is now the first QB in Super Bowl History to *lose* the Super Bowl with two *different* teams.

My Super Bowl XLIII Pick...

Now that we are in the home stretch of the Super Bowl week(s) its time for
me to make my Super Bowl Pick.

First, let me say that I would pay money to see the scenario envisioned by Gregg Easterbrook., where he once again suggests that Kurt Warner is an alien, the Cardinals could win the Super Bowl with him, and he will be beamed aboard a starcruiser after he gets the Lombardi trophy.

*That* would be cool. I have to admit that even without the alien trappings, the idea of a Cardinals Superbowl win would be one of the most improbable events in 43 Super Bowls. It would be a Super Bowl win for the ages--the year after my Giants made one for the ages by beating the Patriots. Can we be lucky two years in a row??

Unfortunately, I think the "two weeks off" is going to cool the red hot Cardinals, and we'll get a plodding victory by the Steelers. It won't be anywhere near as entertaining as one might hope.

Pittsburgh 24 Arizona 16

Football: Another sign of the Apocalypse...

The people who do that Rapture Ready website had better increase the Rapture Index.

Why?

The Hapless Arizona Cardinals are going to the Superbowl after a wild 32-25 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Back when he played for the St. Louis Rams, Gregg Easterbrook jokingly referred to Kurt Warner as a Space Alien. As a graybeard, leading the improbable Arizona Cardinals to their first ever Superbowl (and their first championship game of any kind since 1948), maybe there is something to that...

Philadelphia 23 NYG 11

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter?game_id=54461&season=2008&displayPage=tab_gamecenter

As Swiper the Fox says, "Oh, man!"

2 interceptions, 2 missed field goals and 0 touchdowns were a recipe for failure.

Now, these Eagles are going to go into the desert against the Arizona Cardinals for an NFC Championship game unthinkable a few weeks ago.

It looks like this year's Eagles are last year's Giants.

(And baring a miracle, it looks like the miracle Chargers have ended their run in Pittsburgh, which will set up the Steelers hosting the Ravens for the AFC Championship game). Which means that the Championship games this year have a #4 hosting a #6 seed (Arizona and Philadelphia), and a #2 hosting a #5 (Pittsburgh and Baltimore).

NFL: Wildcard Weekend

Four games this weekend:

PHI 26 Minnesota 14: Minnesota played a decent first half, but couldn't in the end keep up with the Eagles. Nuts! This means that the dangerous Eagles go to play the rubber game against my Giants next. (The season series is 1-1)

Baltimore 27 Miami 9: The result I expected but not the method. Miami, very good at avoiding takeaways this year, had 5 against the Ravens. It uncomfortably reminds me of a certain Super Bowl between the Ravens and the Giants. As a reward for beating the Fish, the Ravens travel to Tennessee and face the Titans.

San Diego 23, Indianapolis 17 (OT). I didn't see this coming. I'm gobsmacked. I predicted that the Colts would beat the Bolts and then next week, the Steelers. Instead, despite an injured Tomlinson, the Bolts managed a win. Just like last year, when they were unlikely victors over the (then) Super Bowl Champions, the Bolts are overachieving at just the right time. As a reward for knocking off the Colts, the Chargers get a trip to face the Steelers. I bet the fans in Pittsburgh root for foul weather.

Arizona 30 Atlanta 24 Defense wins championships, but offense can win you some games (along with, despite the score, a decent amount of defense) The Cardinals win a home playoff game for the first time in over 60 years. The Cardinals as a result of this once in a lifetime occasion get to visit the Carolina Panthers .

I'm nervous about my Giants (division rivalries skew these games something fierce. The Giants are a better team on paper, but paper counts for squat in a game like this.). Besides that, I think that the Chargers have a chance against the Steelers--they only lost by one point earlier in the year against them. Weather will be a factor. The Ravens and Titans? Well, the Titans are much better (although their game earlier this year was close)--but if Collins sees those Ravens jerseys and has a Super Bowl flashback and throws picks like he did when he wore Blue...the Ravens could beat Tennessee. And finally, I think Arizona's magical mystery tour ends here. Carolina should be able to shut down Arizona. Earlier this year, Carolina came from behind to beat Arizona in the second half. I am going to *root* for the Cardinals, since I like the Giants chances against them over Carolina.

I do think its a bit unusual that the divisional matchups this year are all pairs that played in the regular season--and had close games. (The Giants and Eagles games were both decided by less than a touchdown).

I hope this leads to an interesting weekend next week--and a successful one for my Giants.

NFL Playoff Predictions 2008-9

http://projects.nytimes.com/nfl2009/bracket/763942

The NY Times has a neat little applet where you can put your predictions for the entire NFL playoffs. You can even share these predictions with others.

Yes, I think that my Giants will in the end fail to repeat, but click on the link above to see how else I think the playoffs will spool out. The deadline for you yourself to play is 3 pm today EST.

GB 31 Detroit 21

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter?game_id=29772&season=2008&displayPage=tab_gamecenter&week=REG17

Why, gentle reader you may ask, am I blogging about the GB-Detroit game rather than the Giants loss (boo, hiss) to the Vikings?

Why, because the Lions made history. Last year, we had a team have a perfect regular season--the New England Patriots. (Who are not going to the playoffs this year. Joy!).

This year, we also have a team with a perfect regular season--perfect in the sense that for the first time since going to 16 games, a team has lost every game. That team is the hapless Detroit Lions.

So we congratulate the Lions for their singular haplessness. However, they still have one more NFL futility record that is not yet theirs! In 1976, their inaugural year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers went 0-14, the only other team in the Modern Era to go winless. However, in 1977, that same team started the next season 0-12 before finally winning, for a total losing streak of 26 games.

So, the Lions still have to lose their first 11 games next year to break *that* record.

NYG 34 Carolina 28 (OT)

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=29759&displayPage=tab_recap&season=2008&week=REG16&override=true

How the Giants pulled out a win, I'll never quite know. It was a tight game, and even without Burress, the Giants got what they needed from the running game.

Home Field Advantage is a huge thing, but its hardly a "done deal". I recall last year a team which won three road games at Tampa Bay, Dallas, and the coldest game in NFL history in Green Bay, knocking off all of those teams to get to the Super Bowl.

I wonder what the name of that team was? ;)

So, Home Field Advantage is nice, but its only the start.

Dallas 20 NYG 8

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter?game_id=29750&season=2008&displayPage=tab_gamecenter

I wonder who will go to the Superbowl this year.

It's not going to be, alas, the New York Giants.

Frak.

Thanks a lot, Plexico.

Philadelphia 20 NYG 13

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter?game_id=29727&season=2008&displayPage=tab_gamecenter

Philadelphia 20 NYG 13

Arrgh! The distraction of the Burress fiasco has infected my Giants with dropped passes, lousy play, and a loss. ]

The Jets lost too--to the less than threatening 49ers. Not a good NY sports day/

The only bright side to Sunday was that the Cowboys lost too, so the Giants backed into their division title. Still, we need at least a first round bye, if not home field advantage, in order to get a chance at a second Super Bowl visit.

Next up IS the Cowboys. Will getting up for our big rival be enough to straighten the ship? I sure hope so, but I know my Giants history...

NYG 23 Washington 7

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter?game_id=29714&season=2008&displayPage=tab_gamecenter

Aside from the inane insanity of the Burress situation, I have little to complain about this week. Beating up on a division rival is always a good thing.

The Redskins stuffed the run, and Manning made them pay for it. I have to admit, many of the Giants teams of old (save for the Simms era) wouldn't have a good counter to it. Manning (even though he had a pick) provides that extra dimension.

Next up is another tough match--another divisional matchup, the Eagles. I am not fooled by their record. Any connoisseur of Football knows the danger divisional opponents, of any record, provide a team. And the Eagles *also* have a tough rush defense, too.

Plaxico Burress Shoots Himself Accidentally

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/sports/football/30burress.html?_r=1&hp

Giants receiver Plaxico Burress accidentally shot himself in the right thigh while at a Manhattan nightclub early Saturday, hours after he was deemed unfit to play in Sunday's game at Washington because of a hamstring strain in the same leg.

Idiot.

I think Couglin will blow a gasket if the Giants lose to the Redskins thanks to this sort of distraction and circus. He might blow a gasket anyway.

That Fair Catch Kick attempt in the Giants-Ari game

I didn't know what to make of it, so I didn't really mention the free kick attempt by Arizona in the Giants-Arizona game. So I did a little research...

At the end of the first half, after the Giants punted with a few seconds to go in the half, Arizona called for a fair catch.

After a fair catch, an NFL team has the right to take a free kick from the line of scrimmage on the next play. If the kick goes through the uprights, the kicking team scores 3 points. It is also known as a "free kick field goal."

Basically, the difference between a free kick and a field goal is that it has to be after a fair catch, there is no snap, the defense has to be 10 yards back of the attempt, and the kicker cannot use a tee.

The Cardinals missed the attempt.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_catch_kick

NYG 37 Arizona 29

NYG 37 ARI 29

Who are you and what have you done with my NY Giants?

Despite phantom Pass Interference calls which drove me mad (ask the Olsons!), another good performance from the defending Superbowl Champions. This is a post-Superbowl year, guys. You usually have no business being on the north side of a winning season, to say nothing of arguably being the best team in football. I'll say that again. The Giants are arguably the best team in football. As far as the other great team in football, the Titans...

Have I gone in the Wayback machine to 1986, when both the Giants and Jets started off great? The Jets knocked off the previously unbeaten Titans preventing the Thanksgiving matchup of a 11-0 team with a 0-11 team (they are playing the Lions). It would have been the first time a 11-0 team faced a 0-11 one.

Back in 1986, the Giants went straight to the Superbowl; Jets went from 10-1 to 10-6,. and if not for being unable to beat Cleveland in double overtime, might have gotten at least to the championship game, if not to the Superbowl, too?

This is all a lovely dream and I am expecting a couple of teams to ruin it yet. But right now, its a good time to be a Giants fan...or a Jets fan, God help them.

Be Careful, Brett, what you wish for...

From Green Bay to Broadway - Favre Is a Jet - NYTimes.com

Brett Favre, who ostensibly retired at the end of last season, is now back in the NFL...and has been traded to the hapless NY Jets.

Be careful what you wish for Brett, you just might get it.

Giants Trade Shockey to the Saints

Saints acquire Shockey from Giants - NFL - SI.com

This news just makes me want to chair dance!!

Foul Ball

Red Sox Fan Foiled in Attempt to Curse Yanks : NPR
A Red Sox loving Construction worker tried to bury a Sox jersey at the construction site of the new Yankees Stadium. Perhaps its just silly superstition but the Yankees took it seriously.

Foul Ball, Red Sox Fan! No Ceremonial Magic allowed!

Super Bowl XLII: New York 17 NE 14

New York 17 New England 14

NYG 23 GB 20 (sudden death overtime)

Frak (and in a good way).

I never saw this coming. After playing a bit of Universalis with the IndieGamers, I went over to My Friends the Olsons™ to watch the game, fully expecting my Giants to be sacrificial lambs for Favre and the Frozen Tundra.

Even after a 6-0 lead from my Giants, I figured GB was just waiting to dominate. After GB took a 7-6 lead, and a 10-6 lead, I was doom and gloom going into halftime.

The second half, the Packers were just a little flatter and the see saw battles was a wondrous thing to watch. 13-10 NY. 17-13 GB. 20-17 NYG. When GB tied the game at 20, and the Giants drove down for what would have been a winning FG at the end of regulation, I let myself believe for a few moments.

And when the Giants missed the FG and the game went into OT, I figured GB would right their ship and the Giants dream was over. And GB got the coin toss, and the ball, and started to drive...

And then the interception, and the Giants marched, I was on tenterhooks. The field goal was long and when it passed over the crossbar with yards to spare, I was deliriously happy.

And now the Giants face the Patriots, who they gave a run for the money at the end of the regular season. I don't give the Giants much chance...but you really never know. I never thought they could beat the Cowboys, or the Packers.

Giants versus Packers: Historical Perspective

The Giants and Packers haven't played each other in the playoffs in 35 years and the Packers have almost always won the contests when they did play in the playoffs. A recap of the history:

Jan. 20 2008 - NFC Championship ?????

Dec. 30, 1962 - NFL Championship - Green Bay 16, N.Y. Giants 7

Dec. 31, 1961 - NFL Championship - Green Bay 37, N.Y. Giants 0

Dec. 17, 1944 - NFL Championship - Green Bay 14, N.Y. Giants 7

Dec. 10, 1939 - NFL Championship - Green Bay 27, N.Y. Giants 0

Dec. 11, 1938 - NFL Championship - N.Y. Giants 23, Green Bay 17

New England 38 NYG 35

They had a substantial 28-16 lead, but in the end the NYG couldn't keep it up, and fell to the first NFL 16-0 regular season team, the New England Patriots.

Now its on to the playoffs for both teams, with the Patriots now a prohibitive favorite to make it 19-0 and a Super Bowl win. However, as tonight's game proved--it won't necessarily be a cakewalk for Belichick and his team.

The first victory of the season for the Patriots was at Giants Stadium, 38-14 over the Jets, and now their 16th is at the same place, 38-35 over the Giants.

Washington 22 NYG 10

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter?season=2007&week=REG15&game_id=29417

Arrgh!
It's true.

If the Giants continue their swoon and lose next week to Buffalo, they could miss the playoffs after starting with a 9-4 record.

These last few years, the Giants and their collapses at the end of the season have made me feel like Charlie Brown and the frakking football.

The Curse is Dead

Curse of the Bambino - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I think its safe to say, with its second World series *sweep* in four years, that the Curse of the Bambino is gone from the Red Sox.
Congratulations to the World Series winning Boston Red Sox.

The Mets Lose the Division

The Mets failure to win the division puts them in the history books as one of the worst late-season collapses in baseball history:

Historic collapses

The largest leads held in September by teams that did not finish in first place in their league (or in divison, 1969 and later). Date of largest lead is listed:

Date Team Lead
9/12/07 New York Mets 7.0
9/1/38 Pittsburgh Pirates 7.0
9/6/34 New York Giants 7.0
9/4/95 California Angels 6.5
9/20/64 Philadelphia Phillies 6.5
9/8/51 Brooklyn Dodgers 6.5

The Dodgers of 1951 lost their division of course, to the Giants, in the "Shot heard around the world.". It was memorialized, in many other places, in a MASH episode.

(And what many people forget is that those same Giants ultimately lost the World Series to the Yankees, 4 games to 2)

Help me populate a F/SF football league

One of the games I play is the stat based computer game Front Office Football.

Its a lot of fun, even if its mostly numbers. There is no joystick control a la Madden or its rivals. On the other hand the career mode is deep. You can play year after year of a league of your making and i have done so.

It occurred to me today that I could have fun starting a new league, with a draft for imaginary teams. I briefly flirted with world cities without teams, and then a better idea struck me, one that *you* can help me with.

2 Conferences, 16 teams in each conference. With a little creativity, I can change city names and locations and make imaginary places. And since I could start with a draft so that all teams started equal...

Well, I could have 32 teams taken from fantasy and science fiction.

Where you can help me is with suggestions. Site in a world plus a name for the team would be great.

For example:

The Babylon 5 Starfuries
The Amber Royals
The Traken Keepers

I open the floor for suggestions. Help Populate my league!

Fantasy Football and real Football

The fantasy that's ruining football - Los Angeles Times

Via the NPR Blog, a link to an column by David Zirin, who argues that the individualisitic orientation of Fantasy Football threatens to distort the game of football itself.

He has a point.

Consider if a QB for a team throws 3 TDs and no Ints in a losing effort. Fans of the team are going to be upset; however those who have the QB as a fantasy player are going to be pumping their fists.

Reading between the lines, its clear that Zirin is concerned that the fantasy fans are going to outnumber the real fans, or at the very least devalue the team spirit of football. While one player can and does make or break a game, really, football is a team effort, where 11 people have to execute on every play.

Just seeing if your Running back, on a team you don't even follow, has 100 yards rushing is against the spirit of watching the game. In playing Front Office Football at home, I want my team to win, not just have pretty stats.

And so it is with my beloved Giants. Eli could have a 120 passer rating for all I care, but if the Giants can't win, I am going to be unhappy.

NFL fines Belichick, strips Patriots of draft pick

NFL fines Belichick, strips Patriots of draft pick

A camera was confiscated from Patriots video assistant Matt Estrella while he was on the New York Jets' sideline during New England's 38-14 win last Sunday at Giants Stadium

A clear violation of league rules, NFL Commissioner Roger Goddell has fined Belichick $500,000 (the maximum under league rules), has fined the team itself an additional $250,000 and the team will lose a draft pick. Most likely, if the Patriots go to the playoffs, they will lose a first round choice. If they should happen to fail to make the playoffs, they will lose a second and third round pick instead.

I think, even if Belichick wasn't suspended, that this is a tough but fair penalty for these shenangians.

On a sidenote, I have to say that the Patriots opponent this weekend, the San Diego Chargers, have to be salivating. With the Patriots in such disarray this weekend, this is a golden opportunity to grab a win if they can rise to the occasion.

.

Dallas 45 NYG 35

NFL Game Center: Game Recap - New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys - 2007 1

A wild opening to the 2007 Giants Season, with a 45-35 loss to the hated Cowboys. Due to a late injury, Manning was on the sidelines at the end, unable to bring the Giants back after Romo and company struck them one last time.

This is the most combined points ever scored in a Giants-Cowboys game.

Football Frontier

Solecismic Software: Home of Front Office Football

The good people at Solecismic Software, makers of Front Office Football, now have a general news and information site for real football, college and professional. Its called Football Frontier. With ratings, predictions and stats, I look forward to the same quality in the website that they do in their simulation.

Indianapolis 41 New Orleans 10

NFL Game Center: Game Recap - New Orleans Saints at Indianapolis Colts - 2007 1

Are you ready for some football?

Clearly, in the second half of the game last night, the Colts were, and the Saints weren't. The Colts broke open a 10-10 halftime tie to show, perhaps, that they haven't lost a step since winning the Superbowl earlier this year.

Preseason: NYG 13 Baltimore 12

Game Recap

The very definition of a pyrrhic victory. We lost a number of players to injury, including Will Demps, in the already weak secondary.

My funny feeling about how bad this season is going to be is just getting more and more prophetic.

Preseason: Carolina 24 NYG 21

NFL.com - Carolina at New York Game Recap

I know it's just the pre-season, but this was just plain ugly, un NYG like defense.

It could be a real long season for the Boys in Blue.

756

Whatever you think of him and the allegations of steroid abuse, Barry Bonds hit his 756th home run, surpassing Hank Aaron's record, on Tuesday, August 6th, 2008.

I'm not a big baseball fan except in certain circumstances, so I am not that excited about the record either way. I am glad that it happened in a home game for the Giants, and so he heard cheers rather than the boos which have surrounded him on his quest to beat the record.

NYG Schedule for 2007

2007 Schedule

Sep 9 @Dallas 8:15pm
Sep 16 Green Bay 1:00pm
Sep 23 @Washington 4:15pm
Sep 30 Philadelphia 8:15pm
Oct 7 N.Y. Jets 1:00pm
Oct 15 @Atlanta 8:30pm
Oct 21 San Francisco 1:00pm
Oct 28 @Miami (London) 1:00pm
Week 9 BYE
Nov 11 Dallas 4:15pm
Nov 18 @Detroit 4:15pm
Nov 25 Minnesota 1:00pm
Dec 2 @Chicago 4:15pm
Dec 9 @Philadelphia 1:00pm
Dec 16 Washington 8:15pm
Dec 23 @Buffalo 1:00pm
Dec 29 New England 8:15pm

Giants versus Dolphins...in London!

On October 28th 2007, the NY Giants will be playing the Miami Dolphins...at Wembley Stadium in London.

It's slated as one of the away games for the Giants.

Super Bowl XLI: Indianapolis 29 Chicago 17

GameCenter: Recap - SuperBowl.com - Official website of Super Bowl XLI

I was right...for one quarter.

Congratulations to the Indianapolis Colts, who overcame the first ever opening kickoff returned for a touchdown, and a sloppy game with a first quarter 14-6 Chicago lead to win their first Super Bowl in my lifetime, 29-17 over the Bears.

It was a sloppy, messy, and for that ,entertaining game. Despite their woes outside the first quarter, the Bears hung tough until the fourth quarter, when the Colts finally overcame the weather, and used the Bears own woes, to win.

Super Bowl XLI Prediction

Yes, I finally have decided to give my prediction. And I've decided to vote my fears rather than my hopes.

I *hope* that Peyton Manning gets his Super Bowl Ring. So many great players have missed their chance--Dan Marino, Barry Sanders, Warren Moon, Tiki Barber. Manning deserves a shot at getting a ring, just like Elway and Favre did.

With that said...the weather could undo Manning's plans. If it is rainy and windy like the weather forecasters say it might be in Miami, that plays into the Bears hands. A sloppy, ground game where a single special teams play or defensive maneuver makes the difference is the sort of game that the Bears can and would win.

So let's go out on a limb and say that it will all break that way...and the Bears win 24-20.

NB: If the Bears do not keep Manning on his heels early, like, say, the Patriots did to the Rams and Kurt Warner a few years back, Manning will make them pay and pay badly. If the Colts can get to 30 points, they'll win this game.

NFC Wildcard Round: Philadelphia 23 NYG 20

GameCenter: Recap - SuperBowl.com - Official website of Super Bowl XLI

And so, after a promising 6-2 start, the Giants season, and the career of Tiki Barber, are at an end.

Football Predictions for the 2006 Playoffs

My brother asked for them, so I will deliver.

My predictions for the 2006 NFL Playoffs

The NFC is wide open.

The Bears certainly look beatable even as the #1 seed, and the rest of the teams each have weaknesses, from the Saints all the way down to the Giants. This year's NFC representative could be a matter of blind luck and a hot streak than consistency.

So I am going to go on a limb, and say that the Eagles will beat the Giants, go into New Orleans and knock off the Saints and then upset the Bears (who will squash the Cowboys-beating Seahawks) to get to the Super Bowl.

The AFC has a surplus of decent teams, but again, all of these teams can be had for one reason or another.

I hate to do it, but I am going to go with coaching. I can't pick San Diego or the Indianapolis "Paul could run for a 100 yards in a game on them" Colts.

So I see the Patriots knocking off the Jets and the Colts surviving the Chiefs. In the divisional playoffs, the Chargers will shut down the Patsies, and the Ravens will beat the Colts. In the Championship game, the Ravens will exploit Schottenheimer's Curse and use it to propel themselves to their second Super Bowl.

I think we're in for another low scoring game between the Eagles and the Ravens.

The Bird Bowl will go to the Ravens, 24-17

And the Giants reach 8-8

I've been avoiding talking about the Giants, ever since their 6-2 season went really south. They've limped to 8-8 in Tiki's last regular-season game, and yet again, the Giants nearly gave this game away. If not for Tiki's two long touchdown runs, they would have.

Its very unlikely that they will miss the playoffs, the combination of events needed for the Packers in their stead are unlikely at best.

But I love playoff scenarios. In order for the Giants not to get their playoff spot:

Packers clinch strength of victory tiebreaker over NY Giants if all of the following occur:
ARI win, DET win, MIA win, MIN win, SF win, CAR loss, HOU loss, TB loss.

If Green Bay and NY Giants end up tied in strength of victory, then tie will be decided by best strength of schedule.

It could happen and weirder things have happened in the NFL. Heck, in an episode of the show "Coach" (the last season, I believe), Coach's NFL team unexpectedly made the playoffs on the last day of the season because of a series of improbable victories and upsets.

Dallas 23 NYG 20

NFL.com - GameCenter : Game Stats

And the Giants lose a fourth straight game and now are completely and utterly in a free fall.

I think the season is heading toward being a lost one.

Tennessee 24 NYG 21

NFL.com - New York at Tennessee Game Recap

And the Giants, mired by injuries and mediocre play, continue to sink.

NYG 14 Houston 10

NFL.com - Houston at New York Game Recap

An ugly game, one that the Giants should have won by more than 4 points (upset minded bettors probably made a bundle off the bookies on this one!).

Still, this was a bad day for good teams, with the Falcons falling, the Patriots falling, and most pertinently, the previously undefeated Bears fell to the lowly Dolphins (echoes of 1985).

And those newly imperfect Bears are the Giants next opponent, in the featured Sunday Night game. Its going to be tough, the Bears have got to be riled and pissed. If the Giants can beat them, though, then my boys can arguably seat themselves as the best team in the NFC...

NYG 27 Atlanta 14

NFL.com - New York at Atlanta Game Recap

I didn't get to see this game but I am very proud of my Giants. After early turnovers and a horrible busted blocking 90 yard run by Warrick Dunn to make it 14-3 Falcons, the Giants stayed focused and used the running game to catch up and dominate the rest of the game.

Tiki Tiki Tiki!

Seattle 42, NYG 30

NFL.com - New York at Seattle Game Recap

The less said about this debacle, the better. The game was nowhere near as close as the final score.

NYG 30 Philadelphia 24 (OT)

NFL.com - New York at Philadelphia Game Recap

A stunning 17 point fourth quarter comeback was capped by a TD in overtime to give my boys in blue their first win of the season. I admit that I thought their goose was well and cooked, but they rose to the challenge and pulled out the victory.

Indianapolis 26 NYG 21

NFL.com - Indianapolis at New York Game Recap

When you make mistakes when down only a few points against one of the best teams in the league, its very very difficult to win. A missed field goal, a fumble, and a missed field goal sunk my boys in blue.

And so the season begins.

(Pre-Season) NYG 31 NE 23

NFL.com - New England at New York Game Recap

Again, this is the end of the preseason and the game doesn't "count", but the last time the Boys in Blue had a perfect preseason, was their Super Bowl winning year in 1990.

Kevin Drum Agrees with Easterbrook...

The Washington Monthly

...about Football, that is. Kevin Drum agrees that football coaches don't go for it on fourth down anywhere near the statistical odds suggest, as Gregg Easterbrook has been crowing for years.

They are both right of course, although the analysis Drum cites doesn't take into account the time left in the game, or in the half. Even so, coaches in the NFL are often way too conservative in opponent's territory, especially with the emphasis these days on offense over defense. Those fraidy cat punts which net 10 yards often have the yardage they gain erased in a couple of plays by the other team.

The forty yard line of the opposing team seems to be the sweet spot for going for it no matter what, unless its fourth and forever, unless you have a Morten-Andersen esque kicker who can kick 57 yard field goals consistently.

Giants Schedule 2006

NFL.com - New York Giants Team Schedule

Its a rough road, starting with games against Indianapolis, Philly and Seattle.

This could be a bad year for my boys in blue.

Giants versus Colts Opening Weekend 2006

Broncos-Chiefs to open NFL Network broadcasts
(March 27, 2006) -- The NFL announced its 2006 Kickoff Weekend nationally televised schedule -- including a Monday night doubleheader -- and its Thanksgiving Day national TV tripleheader.

In a tradition instituted in 2004, the Super Bowl champion annually hosts the NFL Thursday night season kickoff the following year. This Sept. 7 at 8:30 p.m. ET, the Super Bowl XL champion Pittsburgh Steelers will oppose the Miami Dolphins as NBC rejoins the NFL's TV family for the first time since 1997. The game will feature a quarterback matchup of Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger and the Dolphins' Daunte Culpepper, acquired recently from Minnesota in a trade.

Fans won't have to wait long to see the anticipated 'Manning Bowl'.
On Sunday, Sept. 10, the FOX national doubleheader game at 4:15 p.m. ET will feature the Dallas Cowboys at the Jacksonville Jaguars, who finished 12-4 and earned a playoff spot last season

The Sunday night primetime game (8:15 p.m. ET) on NBC can be called the "Manning Bowl" and it will be a history-maker. The AFC South champion Indianapolis Colts will visit the NFC East titlist New York Giants. It will be a matchup of quarterback brothers -- the Colts' 30-year-old Peyton Manning against his sibling, 25-year-old Eli Manning of the Giants. It will be the first time in NFL history that brothers will start at quarterback against each other.

Super Bowl XL: Pittsburgh 21 Seattle 10

So I was wrong, so very wrong.

Bill Cowher and Jerome Bettis get a long-awaited Super Bowl Victory, winning 21-10 over the Seattle Seahawks.

Some notes:

Pittsburgh won on three plays, really: The long pass on 3rd down that got them close to the goal line to punch it in; The 75 yard rushing play (a Super Bowl record!) by Parker, and the gadget play TD pass by Randle-El.

Seattle kept shooting themselves in the foot. Honestly, Pittsburgh did too with the big interception on Ben Roethlisberger by the Seahawks, just when it looked like Pittsburgh was going to put the game away. However, Pittsburgh recovered from their mistakes. Seattle could not and did not.

Pittsburgh is now only one of three teams, with SF and Dallas, to win five Super Bowls.

This was the lowest scoring Super Bowl in 30 years (31 total points), and Pittsburgh won with the lowest winning score since Super Bowl X, when Pittsburgh beat Dallas 21-17.

For the second consecutive year, a WR has won the MVP Award. Last year it was Deion Branch of the Patriots, and this year Heinz Ward got it. He deserved it because two of the three big plays for the Steelers had him as the receiver. He had a big run on a reverse that was for naught since it immediately was followed by the other Roethlisberger interception.

Its sad, though, that Bettis is now retiring--but he retiring on top, as a Super Bowl Champion.

Congradulations to Pittsburgh.

The Two Jakes

GameCenter: Recap - Pittsburgh 34 Denver 17

GameCenter: Recap - Seattle 34 Carolina 14

No, not the sequel to Chinatown, but the two Championship games this weekend in the NFL featured the fall of two Jake quarterbacks.

On the AFC side, Jake "The Snake" Plummer could not escape the crushing Pittsburgh defensea s the Steelers break their horrible streak in AFC Championship games (1-4 under Bill Cowher, many of those with them as favorites) with a 34-17 thrashing of Jake's Denver Broncos

On the NFC side, Jake Delhomme looked even worse as Seattle completely dominated the other Jake's Panthers 34-14. The final score, if anything, understates the dominance of Seattle, since one of Carolina's touchdowns was on a late garbage time touchdown, and the other was a on a punt return TD which was originally, and should have been, called back on a penalty.

So, the official BJS prediction for the Super Bowl?

I think that the Bus finally will break down, as the opportunistic and dominant Seattle Seahawks will give Holmgren his first Super Bowl victory since his days with Favre and the Packers, 31-17.

2005 Wildcard Round: Carolina 23 NYG 0

GameCenter: Recap - SuperBowl.com - Official website of Super Bowl XL

And so my Giants end their season not on a bang, but a whimper, one of the most inept playoff performances in their storied history.

The Panthers rightly believed that shutting down Barber was the key to unraveling the Giants, and it worked. It worked like a charm.

Well, I would have been happy at the beginning of the season with a 9-7 record, so an 11-5, division title season is nothing to sneeze at. I just hope Manning straightens up and flies right next year.

I really hope we don't need a new quarterback. We paid too much for him as it is.

The end of Monday Night Football

Monday Night Football on ABC

Tonight is the 555th episode of Monday Night Football on ABC.

It's also the last. Next season, it moves to ESPN, and the era of it on free TV gone.

The first MNF game was the Cleveland Browns versus the New York Jets.

This last MNF game is the New England Patriots versus...the New York Jets.

(Keep this in mind, it will be in future editions of Trivial Pursuit: What NFL franchise was both in the first and last Monday Night Football game?)

Baltimore 30 Minnesota 23

Baltimore gives the Giants a Christmas Present!

By beating the Minnesota Vikings, the Baltimore Ravens have given the NY Giants and their fans a Christmas present--a playoff berth. The Giants can do no worse now than a wildcard, and thus will make the postseason. A division title is still assured with a victory against Oakland next week, but at least a playoff berth is assured no matter what.

Thank you, Baltimore.

Washington 35 NYG 20

Washington 35 NYG 20

Crash and burn. I was so afraid of this, after Washington dismantled the Cows last week.

The Giants can still win the NFC East next week by beating Oakland in Oakland. But dreams of a first round bye are dead, and I don't like the Giants chances in the playoffs against the likes of the Panthers/Bucs, Seahawks and Bears. But we shall see.

For the Giants to lose next week and then lose the NFC East title and the playoffs entirely would be the worst indignity.

NYG 27 Kansas City 17

NFL.com - Kansas City at New York Game Recap

A game that I thought they were going to lose for sure, but my Giants have made it to the 10 win plateau this year, something else I didn't expect. (I would have been expecting 8-8 this year, frankly).

I still don't like Manning's inconsistency and tendency to throw picks, especially at the worst possible time (there was a near-interception this game that was tailor made to fit that bill). But what can one say except Tiki, Tiki, Tiki? Breaking the Giants single-game rushing record? The most yards out of a single running back since 2003? Sure, a lot of it was Kansas City not being able to tackle to save their lives, but Barber has to get SOME credit.

Now, the Giants are a win away from the division title...and if they win both of their games and Chicago or Carolina falter, they will get the first round bye they need to have any chance at the NFC Championship.

Seattle 24 NYG 21 OT

NFL.com - GameCenter : Game Stats

Yes, BJS and SSS.N in general have been down the last few days, but now we are back.

And, in typical, ulcer inducing fashion, my boys had three chances to win the game against the Seahawks (at the end of reg, and two in OT), and could not seal the deal.

As Master Yoda says, "Now, things are worse."

NYG 27 Philadelphia 17

NFL.com - Philadelphia at New York Game Recap

After last week's disaster, my boys in blue stepped up and performed well enough. The Eagles always play us tough, tough enough to make the game tight throughout.

But, still, a win is a win is a win.

NYG 36 Washington 0

NFL.com - Washington at New York Game Recap

The sendoff to the late Wellington Mara was, in the end, a rout of the Redskins. Sure, neither team's quarterbacking was any good...but, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki was all the Giants needed.

And with the Broncos winning, for a week at least, my beloved Boys in Blue are all alone in first in the NFC East.

Whodathought?

Another year, another World Series curse broken

White Sox win first World Series since 1917 - Baseball - MSNBC.com

Last year, the Red Sox ended their World Series curse with a sweep of the Cardinals.

This year, the White Sox, who have not gone to the World series since 1959, and not won since the Black Sox scandal back in 1919, have swept the Astros.

Four very different games and wins for the Sox, too. A compleat and dominant victory.

Maybe next year, Cubs fans will get their own relief at long last, too.

Rest in Peace, Wellington Mara

NFL.com - New York Giants Team News

Wellington Mara, co-owner of the NY Giants for 70 years, has passed away.

Rest in Peace.

NYG 24 Denver 23

NFL.com - Denver at New York Game Recap

Aka, Who are you and what have you done with my New York Giants?!?

A Game winning touchdown drive running the two minute offense--against the Denver Broncos?

I thought they were toast after missing a field goal and getting intercepted in two consecutive drives in the 4th quarter, but in the end, they managed to come back and win it.

And despite all of that, winning isn't everything, its the only thing.

Dallas 16 NYG 13 (OT)

NFL.com - New York at Dallas Game Recap

Sloppy! Very very sloppy play by the Boys in Blue. I was quite disappointed in that, as much as the loss.

Too many turnovers.

NYG 44 St. Louis 24

NFL.com - St. Louis at New York Game Recap

Pass Defense was non existent (442 yards for the Rams' Bulger!), but Run Defense, a good outing by the offense, and no turnovers made for a good day for my boys in blue.

A good way to go into the Bye week, on an up note. I just hope they won't come out flat against Parcells' Cowboys!

San Diego 45, NYG 23

NFL.com - New York at San Diego Game Recap

And after two very good games, this time the Giants fell flat.

We got close...but San Diego turned it up in the second half, and then it wasn't even close.

0-2 teams can be hungry, and San Diego had good reason to hate Manning and the Giants (since the Chargers had, a couple of years ago, wanted to draft Manning but he said he wouldn't play there).

But it was the Giants defense (especially the running defense, oy!) which really didn't play today.

NHL Iced out

MSNBC - ICED OUT: NHL cancels entire season

Its now official. For the first time in modern North American sports history, a major professional sports league has canceled its entire season thanks to a labor dispute. Worse than when baseball ended its season prematurely (without a world series), worse than the shortened NFL seasons thanks to labor disputes, worse than the NHL's own last labor dispute, this is unprecedented.

I don't watch hockey, its not my thing. But I feel sort of sad for the loss all the same.

As for me, I'm on sports hiatus for the most part, since Football season is now over.

And its the I-95 Superbowl...

GameCenter: Recap - SuperBowl.com - Official website of Super Bowl XXXIX

Yesterday, the Patriots routed the Steelers in convincing fashion, and the Eagles, on their 4th consecutive NFC Championship game, finally met a team they could beat...the Atlanta Falcons.

So we have the Eagles versus the Patriots for all the marbles, in two weeks. I predicted at the beginning of the playoffs that the Patriots would beat the Eagles.

Well, at least i have the teams right. We shall see if the Patriots can knock off their biggest foe yet. They've shut down Manning, dismantled the running attack and defense of Pittsburgh...but now they face McNabb and the Eagles own formidable team.

I hope for a good game. I will be in NYC that weekend and might see the game with friends.

Superbowls are best seen in company.

Two lost chances

GameCenter: Recap - SuperBowl.com - Official website of Super Bowl XXXIX

The Jets proved that they are truly cursed, missing not just one, but TWO game-winning field goals, in their valiant but ultimately unsuccessful game against the Steelers.

Of course, one might argue the Steelers should never have let the Jets stay so close, but one might say that about the Chargers last week.

Still, though, the Colts or the Patriots (depending on who wins tomorrow) just might be able to knock off the Steelers, if the Jets were able to keep them so close.

Wild Card Weekend

MSNBC Sports Scoreboard

WC Weekend lived up to its name this year, as three upsets by visiting teams was paired with yet another magnificent performance by Manning and co. in the other matchup.

Thrills! Chills! Upsets! Next week will bring things back to Earth; traditionally, the bye rested home teams exterminate the winners of Wild Card Weekend.

But, as usual, we shall see. Maybe the Colts CAN score outdoors. Maybe the Eagles can be had by Culpepper and Moss. Maybe the bad luck of the Jets will fall into abeyance another week.

Only the games themselves will tell.

End of the Regular Season

NFL.com - NFL News

And my not so mighty Giants, end up 6-10 for the year. Not the worst in the league, but a definite downer after starting 5-2.

Tiki, at least, won the yards from scrimmage title, with nearly 2100 yards in total offense. He IS the Giants offense, and if they only had something besides him, the Giants might actually be feared. Someday.

Now, the playoffs.

My prediction for the Super Bowl? As you will recall at the beginning of the season, I predicted the Colts over the Seahawks.

The Seahawks don't look so mighty (even if they are in the playoffs), and the Colts have no defense.

So...my pick: New England over Philadelphia. We'll see how my prediction holds up, or doesn't.

My favorite time of the football year

NFL.com - NFL News

Aside from the Super Bowl itself is right now, when teams are jockeying for playoff spots, and sometimes you need an advanced math degree to figure out all the probabilities of who might and might not get into the playoffs.

This was satirized in an episode of the TV show Coach (the later episodes, when he coached a pro football team). At the end of the season, he headed home to Minnesota, confident his team had not made the playoffs, alas, but a weird concatenation of teams winning and losing gave his team a playoff berth.

I love it when that happens. This year is relatively straightforward, by comparison. My Giants are long since eliminated, of course.

Rest in Peace, Reggie White

NFL.com - NFL News

Reggie White, one time NFL sack leader, rival to the immortal Lawrence Taylor, has passed away.

He was only 43 years old, and was playing for Carolina only 4 years ago. And he played for the Packers, too. But I will remember him always as a Philadelphia Eagle, the counterpart and nemesis to my own Giants' Lawrence Taylor.

But a great player, nevertheless. Rest in Peace, and may you play in those fields in the sky, with Johnny Unitas and Walter Payton shuddering in fear as you rip through the OL like tissue paper...

One Pro Bowl selectee for Big Blue

NFL.com - Probowl

It doesn't take a genius to guess that its none other than Tiki Barber. Responsible for half of the team's offensive output, fumble as much as he does (this year less so), he IS the heart and soul of Big Blue. If anyone was going to get on the Pro Bowl Team from the Giants...it should have been him and I am happy for him.

Ahman Green and Shawn Alexander are the other two RB's for the NFC side, both equally good choices.

Classy show at the end of the Baltimore-Indy game

MSNBC - Manning 1 shy of TD record as Colts win

The Colts won, and yes, Manning did throw one TD pass, putting him at 47 compared to the record of 48, but it is the class he showed at the end of the game which is important.

Near to the end of the game, the Colts, with the lead, intercepted a pass from Baltimore and ran it back to near the Baltimore goal line. With little time left, all Indy had to do was run the clock out--or they could try and pad Manning's stats by trying to tack on more points.

Manning took a knee twice to end the game. I think its the right decision. The game is not in the end about stats, its about winning or losing.

What if Manning had tried to go for the record and, heavens forbid, been sacked and injured on the play, bad enough to miss the rest of the season and the playoffs? What then?

There are still two more weeks for Manning and his record. And unless something catastrophic happens, he will break Marino's old mark. Neither the Chargers nor the Broncos have the Ravens tough defense to limit Manning's golden arm.

Baltimore 37 NYG 14

NFL.com - New York at Baltimore Game Recap

Ugly.

And the referees didn't help, either. I never knew that a referee could and should listen to a coach and an "offensive consultant" long enough to throw a penalty long after the fact. But that's what happened, when the Ravens talked a referee into a questionable intentional grounding call against the Giants.

Even with that, though, the Giants once again were pitiful. I don't blame Eli, even if the Giants managed their only offensive score after he was yanked.

That 8-8 that I was hoping for after Strahan and Washingtong were lost is just about out of reach, now.

Washington 31, NYG 7

NFL.com - New York at Washington Game Recap

An even uglier loss for my boys than last week, where at least they showed some fight against the Eagles.

This time, they just rolled over and died. It reminded me a lot of the Super Bowl loss to the Ravens, all the way to the point of ONLY scoring on a kickoff return.

Yesterday was an ugly day all around while watching football at the Olsons--we all lost, and the Packers and Giants in a horrendous fashion.

At least the brats and burgers Scott made were good.

Philadelphia 27, NYG 6

NFL.com - Philadelphia at New York Game Recap

Lesson from yesterday's game:

Your team is only as effective as your offensive and defensive lines. Without one, you are in trouble.

Without both...you are almost surely doomed.

8-8 might be optimistic at this point for my boys in blue. Putting a rookie quarterback behind that OL is a recipe for disaster. They couldn't stop any blitz Philly threw at them.

They did decently in the first half, and should have had a lead instead of field goals, but they simply couldn't keep it up.

:Sigh:

Arizona 17 NYG 14

NFL.com - New York at Arizona Game Recap

An even more horrible outing for my boys in Blue, shooting themselves in the foot as they lost to the lowly Cardinals.

The loss of Washington and Strahan has taken all wind and momentum out of this team.

Sad.

End to end, its the end of the run

MSNBC - Giants' Strahan out for rest of year

The title of the article belies the fact that, while the Giants lost superstar Strahan for the year after being injured for the year, they also lost their OTHER defensive end, Keith Washington, for the rest of the year.

The Giants defensive line is now obliterated. If, from this point, the Giants can manage to go .500 for the rest of the year, it will be a miracle.

Damn. Damn. Damn!

Chicago 28 NYG 21

NFL.com - Chicago at New York Game Recap

An ugly, ugly, ugly game on both sides, but most especially by my Giants. They played worse than the Vikings did last week. Their offensive line was non existent. Turnovers and penalties were endless.

It was painful to watch it with Scott at the Olsons. Very painful.

NYG 34 Minnesota 13

NFL.com - New York at Minnesota Game Recap

And I was there as the Giants upended the Vikings at home for the third straight year.

It was my first ever live NFL game, and aural issues aside (I wound up with a headache from all the noise), it was a lot of fun.

Seeing the game live is far different than seeing it on the couch. Granted, my seat wasn't great, in the lower reaches of an endzone seat, but when the teams came close to my endzone...it was amazing.

I'd like to make it a tradition of seeing *a* game a year. Not that I am going to turn into a Vikings fan, but the experience of a game is something worth having.

But next time, I bring earplugs.

Redskins and the Presidential Race

MSNBC -Election to be Decided by the Packers-Skins Game?

Apparently, there is a trend going on with the Washington Redskins. If they win their last home game before the presidential election, the incumbent party stays in power. If they lose, so does the party. It's a streak over 17 games, and six decades.

So...if Green Bay wins, John Kerry will win. If the Redskins beat them, "W" will pull off the victory.

Well, these streaks are amusing...but they are really statistical flukes, aren't they?

At least, I'm sure my friend Scott, both a vowed Republican AND a Green Bay fan, thinks so.

Hell Freezes Over

Population: One: Win

Maybe it was the Lunar Eclipse, maybe it was fate, and maybe there never really was a curse.

But the World Champions of Baseball are the Boston Red Sox, their first World Series Victory since the First World War.

No more talk about Curse of the Bambino, ok? Even if they don't win again for a while?

Game One of the 2004 WS

Yahoo! Sports - MLB - Box Score. Boston 11, St. Louis 9

And Boston comes out of the game winning a slugfest.

I can see ERAs are going to be rather high if this keeps up in the series.

Bambino Curse to be lifted?

MSNBC - Damon powers Red Sox into World Series

Coming back from a 3-0 series deficit, the Boston Red Sox have done the unthinkable, and beaten the NY Yankees to go to the world series.

No team in Baseball playoff history had ever come back from a 3-0 series to win it.

Of course, if the Red Sox go on to lose the World Series, then one could say that the Curse still holds. After all, the Red Sox have BEEN in the World Series since 1918...they just have never won it.

Hurricane Relief, NFL Style

NFL.com - NFL Hurricane Relief Drive

If you visit the linked page on NFL.Com, the NFL (along with the Weather Channel) pledges to donate a $1 to Hurricane Relief, up to a cap of $100,000.

I think its worth a click to make sure they hit that cap, don't you?

NYG 14 Green Bay 7

An old fashioned win for the Giants over the Packers yesterday.

Even though the Giants missed three field goals--the wind was really bad, and the placekicker was incompetent at best--missing all of them the exact same way. And a key interception at the goal line kept the Giants scoreless in the first half even though they had dominated in every other respect. Tiki didn't fumble, ran hard, and the Giants played good defense. I can't really fault them for biting on Brett's TD pass. I never saw it coming either.

At 3-1, my Giants are in far better shape than I could have hoped. At 1-3, Green Bay is in turmoil, Brett injured in a second consecutive game.

And the Jest are 3-0. Football seasons are always surprising. Always.

80th Season

A fact that I wasn't quite aware of until i read it today...but this is my beloved New York Giants 80th Season.

There aren't many teams still around that are older--one of the few exceptions are their opponent on Sunday, the Green Bay Packers, who are in their 83rd season.

Many of those teams from that era no longer exist, though. Heck, there was even a team in my hometown of Staten Island.

Happy Birthday, NYG!

Pass Interference

There is only one penalty in football without a set amount of yardage assigned to it.

It is the infamous Defensive Pass Interference Call.

Troy Aikman, on NFL.Com tangentially talks about this in his article about his dislike of Instant Replay. But I think I like his idea on Pass Interference better.

Make every Defensive Pass Interference Call 15 yards and an automatic first down. Its too unbalancing as it currently is written, with no limit on yardage.

Think, theoretically, you can have a 99 yard DPI call--if the line of scrimmage is at the one and the DPI is called at the opposing end zone. Okay, that's nearly impossible because no one has that much arm strength, but my point is, DPI can put too much fortune and luck of the draw of referees into the game. Football isn't perfect.

And besides, Scott pointed out to me that Hail Mary calls almost NEVER get DPI calls, even if there is clearly lots of contact and a "scrum" in the end zone on every one. Why? If it was called often, then Hail Mary plays would be far more used--unfair to the defense side of the ball.

So, make every DPI a 15 yard call, automatic first down. (Of course, Half the Distance to the Goal would apply as usual in red zone situations).

NYG 20 Washington 14

Hurrah, hurray! The Giants are not going to go winless this year!
Uncharacteristic, though, for a Joe Gibbs led club to make so many mistakes and commit so many turnovers.

And the "Jest", to speak of the other NY team, are 2-0. Not what I would have expected either...

Football!

And the 2004 NFL Season kicks off tonight, with an AFC Championship game rematch on tap--the Indianapolis Colts against the New England Patriots.

I don't know that the Patsies can repeat as Super Bowl Champions (sorry, Deb!), but they certainly have a good chance at it. They have stiff competition within their conference--perhaps this is the Colts year at last, or perhaps Kansas City can keep their opponents to under 35 points a game and thus win...Denver needs a running game, and maybe the Bengals will actually make the playoffs this time.

And then there are the Seahawks, the aging Packers, and even the Vikings (if they would shut up and actually play).

My very premature and likely wrong Super Bowl Pick?

Manning gets his ring, as the Colts will knock off the Seahawks in the Super Bowl in a happy day for Indianapolis this coming January.

Worst loss in team history

There is a lot of cheering outside of Gotham this morning.

The Yankees were beaten by the Indians last night...by their worst margin ever. 22-0.

It's the worst loss by any team in the majors in over 25 years.

Ouch.

I never, by the way, realized how much the rest of the country despises the Yankees, until I moved out of NY. Heck, Mets fans could take a bit of instruction in Yankees-hating from people beyond the NYC area.

It's the Steinbrenner Factor, in most cases.

Unit's perfect game

Baseball is not my sport, but even I have to sit up and take notice when Randy "Big Unit" Johnson becomes the oldest pitcher in history to fan 27 batters, 13 of them struck out. No walks, no errors.

A perfect game. At age 40.

Bravo.

Giants coming to play the Vikings

Even bigger for me than the news that the Giants traded with the San Diego Chargers to get Eli Manning, the player drafted #1 in the NFL Draft (and hopefully a QB to match his brother Peyton) is the news that the Vikings schedule this year has an important (to me) home game on Halloween...

The Vikings are going to host the Giants.

I want a ticket. And since the Giants are *not* the Packers or Bears, who are their big rivals, I think I can manage the opportunity. I just have to manage to afford it...

But I'd love to finally go to a football game.

Double NCAA Champions

I don't follow basketball, but I have to be impressed with the University of Connecticut, having won the NCAA Basketball Championship for both its men's team (which torched Georgia State in its final) and now the women's (beating Tennessee). This is the first time a Division I school has managed this feat.

The women's team has now won three straight NCAA basketball championships and the men's team has won its second in six years.

The conclusion is inevitable. No matter what your gender, if you can play hoops, then Uconn is the place to be.

Here in Minnesota, the excitement was pretty high this year because the women's team had its best outing ever, getting to the Final Four (and being beaten by eventual champion Uconn).

Super Bowl Preview and Prediction

You knew it was coming. My views and predictions on
Super Bowl XXXVIII

The Place: Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas

The Matchup:

For the AFC:

New England Patriots.

How they got here:

Immovable object stops the irresistable force, as the Patriots stopped MVP quarterback Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts.

Strengths:
Defense, Defense, Defense. Plus, playoff experience, having won the Super Bowl two years ago. They know exactly what they are in for.

Weaknesses:
Not the greatest offense on the planet.

For the NFC:

The Carolina Panthers

How they got here:
Shutting down the Philadelphia Eagles on the road.

Strengths:
Defense and a good running game led by Steven Davis. Good special teams.

Weaknesses:
Besides Davis, the offense is lackluster. Delhomme is not yet proven to win games, but hasn't lost them either.

--------
In a matchup of two great defenses, who do you choose?

The Panthers shut down the Cowboys, the Rams and the Eagles.

The Patriots stopped TWO MVP Quarterbacks in beating the Titans and Colts.

Both Coaches are defensive masterminds.

The Patriots might have a slightly better passing game, the Panthers have a somewhat better running game.

Paul's Law:

When teams are close in one facet of the "Trinity" (Offense-Defense-Special Teams), then the game will be decided by one of the other two aspects.

Look for either a big offensive play or special teams play to be the icebreaker that puts one of the teams on top. And that team will be...

The New England Patriots.

Two years ago, in the best Super Bowl ever, and the second biggest upset in Super Bowl History, the New England Patriots stunned the world by knocking off the St. Louis Rams. Sunday, they will get another Super Bowl ring as they declaw the Carolina Panthers in a game that will probably bore a fair number of people, since its going to be a game of field position and maneuverings. In chess terms, this game is going to be a positional battle.

Either team, really, can win this. This is literally one of those Super Bowls where a single drive, or a single play will decide it. I do not think it will be like the blowout last year. I'd be shocked if either team wins by more than 10 points.

New England 20, Carolina 16.

Playoff time

Yeah, I know I haven't blogged about Football in a while, but then, the collapse of the Giants, the end of the Fossel era, etc, has stilled my tongue.

Time to make up for it...

What a wild weekend!

Playoff scenarios are always fun. "Team X gets in if Teams Y and Z lose, but Team K must win. Or Teams Y wins, Z loses, and K loses."

The improbability of such scenarios is compounded when weird things happen in games.

Thanks to a concatenation of events, the last playoff spot came down to Minnesota and Green Bay. Only the division title winner was going to get in, because the Seahawks won, and Dallas Lost.

Green Bay won its game, but then had to look at Minnesota. If Minnesota could hold a 17-6 lead with 3 minutes left to the Cardinals (the wimpy Cardinals), they and not Green Bay, would go to the playoffs.

Somehow, the Cardinals scored a touchdown. Kicked and recovered an onside kick. Drove somehow down the field, but it was 4th down, only a couple of seconds left, 25 yards to the end zone.

An unheralded QB managed to just get the ball to an unheralded receiver...and the Cardinals won. And so the Minnesota Vikings, starting the season 6-0, finish 9-7...and out of the playoffs.

The Playoff Teams look like this:

NFC:

Philadelphia
St. Louis
Carolina
Green Bay

Seattle
Dallas

AFC:

New England
Kansas City
Indianapolis
Baltimore

Denver
Tennessee.

And, let's look back, people, at the beginning of the season, and my Predictions:

2003 NFL Predictions
Although the season technically started last night with the Jets' loss, herein lies my picks for the NFL 2003 season...

Bye bye Fossel

Jim Fossel, with my beloved Giants at a awful 4-10 with two games to go, has announced he will part ways with the team at the end of the season.

Too bad.

He will leave the Giants as one of the few Giants coaches with a lifetime winning record even if they lose the last two games. (Parcells is the only other modern coach in Giants History to leave with a winning record, before that you have to go back to the 60's.)

Bad luck has plagued the team lately, dating back to that playoff loss to SF last year.

I will miss Fossel. He was finally letting the offense finally loosen up. For far too long, calling him Fossil was an apt and apporpriate pun.

C'est La Vie.

TMQ has returned

Readers back on the old incarnation of my blog will remember the fact that ESPN.com dropped Gregg Easterbrook's "Tuesday Morning Quarterback" Column after he said some really stupid things having nothing to do with that column or football at all, about the hierarchy of Disney.

Well, the ball has bounced again, and TMQ has returned--this time it is on NFL.com

I only found this by purest luck looking at the NFL.com homepage.

Yes, Gregg is an ass in his other columns, but he understands football. Huzzah!

Last weekend adventures

Last weekend was a bit odd for me, since it was the first weekend that I wasn't moving stuff from Scott's house to my matchbox, or getting something for the matchbox, or whatever.

So, I found myself at an unusual amount of liberty, since I now have a car.

So, Saturday I went and saw a movie. Yeah, alone, after all my movie buddy is still in Florida awaiting the birth of the adopted baby-to-be. I saw "Runaway Jury", even though Grisham and law thrillers are not my usual genre by a long shot.

Did I like it? Yes, although I could see a few holes in the plot, and I thought that the structure of the groups of characters were not all equal. It has a very good cast--Hoffman, Hackman, Weisz (the female lead in the Mummy movies), Cusack (aka, he who I would pick to play me in a story of my life), and even a cameo by the guy from the Practice (or was from the Practice, anyway). The plot revolves around a trial of gun manufacturers, jury picking and tampering, bribery, corruption, ethics and morals. And of course the "big secret at the end" that one side is racing to uncover before time runs out.

Besides that, I wandered over to Borders, and also Best Buy. At the latter I found something I'd only heard of and not seen--and picked that up instead of my intended purchase of the Matrix Reloaded: A Cd-rom set of every National Geographic add-in map up to the year 1999. One of my favorite things about NGO is the maps that come in every other issue or so, and this Cd-rom has all of the ones from the previous century. Best of all, it was just $20 Sweet!

On Sunday, I decided to do the male-bonding thing with Scott. I came over, put a new experimental recipe for sausage chili in the crockpot, and we watched football (with a little Good Eats thrown in as well). I'll mention the Sausage Chili in more detail in an entry of its own.

Football was a disappointment--as Scott pointed out, we went "1 for 3" today--the Packers lost to the Rams, the Giants unbelievably lost to the Eagles on a punt return in the final minute, but Felicia's Saints won and won big. It was good to spend time with Scott, anyhow, and I think he appreciated the company.

But it was a fun weekend. Next weekend, assuming I don't get wrapped up in something else, I think I am going to go a little further afield and really begin exploring the metro area. Museums, culture, parks, and more await...and its much more practical to do this with a car of my own.

No more TMQ?

Calpundit: ESPN Strikes Back

Gregg Easterbrook has been saying some controversial, and stupid things as of late. The whole "No doesn't always mean No" idiocy. And his column about Jews and movie violence.

Apparently, Disney, in the form of his employer at ESPN, has decided to can him. Not only that, but in possibly a fit of pique, have erased all of his TMQ columns. They are gone. All of them.

I can see if Disney wants him canned, but to erase him so thoroughly...Kevin Drum uses the word "Stalinesque". It's a good one. "1984ish" might be another. There's a latter day Winston Smith, dutifully erasing every TMQ column, or reference to TMQ, that ever existed on ESPN's website.

Only Google cached versions remain.

He brought it on himself, sure, and its disheartening and depressing. But his imbecilic political comments aside, I LIKED his football stuff, even though its gotten more self-indulgent ever since it left Slate. The likelihood of it showing up somewhere else in the future, though, are pretty damn slim. And that's a shame.

Baseball Curses

Game 7 gem: Yanks top BoSox in 11

With the collapse of the Red Sox last night, the curses striking the Red Sox and the Cubs have finished their grisly work for another year.

I guess, though, that a Red Sox-Cubs World Series would have been one of the signs of the Apocalypse, anyway.

"No risk, no reward"

Okay, I am hardly a Houston Texans fan, nor likely to be one. (Sorry Ginger!) However, I was surprised and amazed by the "roll the dice" approach of the Head Coach at the end of the game yesterday against the Jaguars.

The Score is 20-17, Jacksonville. You have the ball on their 1 yard line with two seconds on the clock, 3rd down. Conventional wisdom says you (try) and kick the field goal to tie, and go into overtime.

Dom Capers decided to go for it. For the unfootball inclined, there is no way to try a play, have it fail and then kick the field goal in under two seconds. So, if he failed here, the Texans were going to lose.

David Carr took a QB keeper and got across the goal line. Texans win, no overtime needed, Jacksonville (likely getting ready for an overtime session) stunned and amazed.

As was I.

In less happy football news, the Jets lost to the Dallas Cowboys. No surprise...but now Bill Parcells' Cowboys, by beating both the Giants and the Jets at Giants Stadium, have a better record in Giants Stadium this year than either the Giants or the Jets.

Even more of a coincidence, Dallas will play Bill Parcells' OTHER team in his resume, the New England Patriots, at New England Nov 16th.

Overtime

Ron Borges on NBCsports.com (part of MSNBC) argues for changing the OT rule so that both teams' offense have a chance at the ball during overtime...

I disagree, strongly.

His analogies are bad, to begin with. Baseball is constructed so that it is played in innings, one for each team. So the fact that a home team in extra innings always gets a shot at winning the game is fine and dandy. And Soccer doesn't play "real" overtime--penalty kicks don't count. And he is conveniently forgetting hockey, which is as sudden death as football.

And then there is my "three-legged stool" of football--offense, defense and special teams. It's not just about offense. Sure, for most people watching the offenses might be entertaining and they are the source of almost all the points, but they are not the entire sport. Play all three aspects of the damn game, and if you can't make a go of them, well then you don't deserve a victory.

Now, I could get behind a "NBA style" overtime change--play an entire 5th quarter, start to finish. Whoever has the most points, wins. That would be fair and balanced, and if the score is still tied at the end of OT...then its a tie game, just as it normally is now (except for playoffs of course).

But this silly nonsense of "both offenses getting the ball" is a clumsy idea at best, and at worst a slap in the face to two-thirds of what football is all about.

The Two out of Three rule

There is a theory about NFL games that I espouse, and I call it the "Two out of Three Rule."

Basically, it says that out of the three areas of Offense, Defense and Special Teams, if you are better in two of the three areas, you will win that particular game.

Offense and Defense are easy to see, but Special Teams--the kicking game, returns as well as kicks, are the one people forget. You *can* win a game with Special Teams and Defense.

The Panthers upset of Tampa Bay is proof positive. Not only did Carolina kick four field goals and play great defense, but they blocked the extra point at the end of the game that would have given TB the win. The result was a tie game, overtime, and Carolina going on to winning it. And last week, Carolina blocked two kicks (a punt for a safety, and a FG) to help preserve their win.

Admittedly its not *easy* to win with this combination, but it does work. Even on Super Bowl champions.

2003 NFL Predictions

Although the season technically started last night with the Jets' loss, herein lies my picks for the NFL 2003 season...

Tampa Bay will not repeat.

I proposed my theory of Franchise Quarterbacks and Repeats earlier. Brad Johnson is good enough to get the Bucs a Super Bowl Ring. He's not good enough to get them a consecutive second.

NFC:

East:
The Giants never put two good years in a row anymore, so by default, the Eagles will take the division. I think it's their time anyway.

North:
Besides the Packers, who else is there? Green Bay will pad their win total with games against the Bears and Lions. It will help them get fairly deep into the playoffs.

South:
Until Vick went down, Atlanta was a "sexy" pick to unseat the Bucs. I don't think the Saints have enough horses, although they'll get a wildcard out of the deal. Bucs take the division, but definitely not homefield advantage. If Atlanta comes back from Vick's injury, they could take the second wildcard.

West:
San Francisco makes the playoffs, upsets the Giants...and the coach gets fired. Imagine what would have happened if Mariucci had gone 3-13 instead? With such turmoil, the Niners will slip. If Warner can stay healthy, the Rams have a good chance to take this division back for themselves. Seattle is not a factor, and Arizona is a perpetual joke.

Conference Championship: Eagles stop the high octane Rams on a cold January day in Philadelphia.

AFC:

East:
Until Pennington went down, ANY of these teams were a legitimate threat to win the division. Now, its just the other three in contention. I am going to roll the dice and say...New England. Miami takes a wildcard.

North:
The Bruiser division. Are the Steelers better now that the Kordell experiment is finally over, and is the Bus out of gas? I think, scarily enough, that the Browns are going to squeak out a division title over the Steelers and Ravens. The Bengals are doormats, as usual.

South:
A much stronger division, with the Titans and the Colts, and possibly the aging Jaguars. Of course there are the Texans, too. Patched up and hopefully not as beat up, McNair and Eddie George outrun the Colts and take the division, and homefield advantage. Colts take a wildcard.

West:
Last year it was the "aging heroes" ride of the Raiders? Can they do it again this year? Denver has the hot-and-cold Plummer as QB, Kansas City is tantalizingly close to respectability (if only they could play defense!) and the Chargers always fold after a good start. I am going to pick Kansas City, figuring they can outscore their way to at least a Division title.

Conference Championship: The Titans get a home conference championship for a change, and the magic of Tom Brady is not enough for the Pats to overcome McNair.

Superbowl XXXVIII: Tennessee 27, Philadelphia 17

That loud cry you heard was from Giants Stadium

Pennington will miss at least 12 weeks, Jets say

So much for going back to the playoffs this year for Gang-green. Testaverde is getting a little too old for this.

It's twice as bad as what happened to the Falcons and Michael Vick.

Injuries stink but they are part of the game, part of the risk, but I don't have to like them.

In one of the old computer football games, way back when (Front Page Sports Football), my older brother and I created a custom team, and tuckerized ourselves onto our individual team.

On week one of the season, Greg's alter-ego suffered a Career Ending Injury. He and I were so aghast and shocked at the bad luck, that we never did finish that season. Subsequent editions of the game did address the question of too many injuries.

I miss FPS Football. It was less arcade-like than the Madden franchise (still going strong) but it was fun to play the games themselves as well as managing the team.

Franchise Quarterback Theory

I've got a theory about repeating NFL champions, and Franchise Quarterbacks, that is to say, Quarterbacks who are of elite, star level...

It's simply this. Sure, "Defense wins Championships". You can win a Super Bowl with a good Defense and an average Quarterback. Or a Quarterback who is having a very good single year.

But to repeat as Super Bowl champion takes having a "franchise" Quarterback...the kind of Quarterback that are at the top of the game, year after year.

Why? Simple. One year wonders are fine and dandy. No one can quite expect the sudden skill of a Tom Brady. Or a defense like the Ravens, or the Buccaneers of recent years.

All of those, however, fall in a repeat bid. Coaches are ready for the antics of an formerly unknown entity. Defenses can be "gamed". And when this sort of stuff happens, it takes a leader to get a Super Bowl Champion back to the Championship game. A Franchise QB.

Kurt Warner (although St. Louis lost the Super Bowl to the Patriots, they did get back there in their second year). Brett Favre (ditto, losing to John Elway). John Elway. Troy Aikman. Steve Young and Joe Montana. Those are the kinds of Quarterbacks who make a repeat possible.

Thus, I think as good as the Bucs defense is, without a franchise QB, they will not make the Super Bowl this year. Somewhere, perhaps in the playoffs, they will fall.

Football is back, and some things never change

Bucs look Super again to beat Jets

Some things never do change. Here we are at the beginning of the exhibition season, and the Jets already are in a hole.

Tampa Bay, on the other hand, still looks good. Could it be that we might have a defending champion worth its salt for a change?

Football is back, and I am excited. There's no danger of me becoming a Vikings fan, though, the anti-Vikings sentiment in this household is roughly equivalent to Anti-Dallas and Anti-Philadephia sentiment in New Yawk.

Giant Disappointment Oh the thrill

Giant Disappointment

Oh the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat. To have a big lead and blow it...and yet have a chance to kick a field goal at the end to win...and have the play fall apart. The Giants season ends not in a bang, but a whimper.

41-0 First shutout in NY

41-0

First shutout in NY Jets post-season history! They turned the Colts into ponies.

The Jets will probably play AT the Raiders next (assuming the Browns lose to Pittsburgh).

Tomorrow...the Giants take on the 49ers in San Francisco. The other game, for those who could care less and likely skipped this entry, are the Falcons
at the Packers. I know Scott and Felicia are rooting for the latter of course.

Yes, I live in California, but I can still root for my old home teams, can't I? And yes I do remember that the Giants punished the Vikings a couple of years
ago in the NFC championship, and then lost badly in the Super Bowl. And the Raiders are much tougher than the Colts, especially in their "Black Hole"

Watching the Packers-Jets game, they

Watching the Packers-Jets game, they had a shot in the stands of some "cheeseheads" which the announcer said "apparently made their way from Wisconsin to New Jersey"

I just hope the cheeseheads find their way out again of the morass that New Jersey can be.