Thursday, December 9, 2010
Los Angeles Lakers at Chicago Bulls
This is an early season East-West clash of the titans in the NBA. There is a possibility, though not a popular one, that this could be a preview of what basketball fans will get to see in June. The Bulls are in first place in the Central Division. Not the toughest feat, but they have done so without the services of prized offseason free agent signee Carlos Boozer until last week. The Lakers dropped four straight games, as of the middle of last week, before righting the ship and they are comfortably in first place in the Pacific Division.
One could bill this as "Derrick Rose vs Kobe Bryant" or perhaps "Carlos Boozer vs Kobe Bryant". I would prefer, "The Battle of Poorly Groomed Folicles" with the matchup of the Lakers' big man, Pau Gasol, going toe to toe with Joakim Noah of the Bulls. Advantage: Lakers
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| Noah's Ark needs a barber on board. And Gasol needs to plug in the Braun shaver and go boom, boom "Pau" with the beard! Do chicks in SPAIN think that looks good, Pau? 1 |
Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans
Once upon a time, the Colts and Titans series was a twice annual meeting of two titans in the AFC. Now it is a battle for survival. With the division leading Jacksonville Jaguars at 7-5 with 3 division wins, a loss to Tennessee would be the Colts' third loss to an AFC South rival and all but slam the door on the possibility of Manning and the Colts appearing in the playoffs for a ninth consecutive year. A Tennessee loss would snuff out all but the most lottery-ticket like odds of the Titans reaching the playoffs.
On the other hand, the team that wins tonight will receive the equivalent of a successful shock from the defibrillator, receiving new life. Should the Colts win, they will be a half game back of the Jaguars and will be set up for a week 15 showdown with the Jaguars at Lucas Oil stadium, which would likely decide the winner of the AFC South. Tennessee, with a win, would improve to 6-7 and, though the odds would be somewhat lengthy, have a shot at the playoffs with some help.
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| You're betting against me? I'll take that bet and raise ya! |
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Navy Midshipmen vs Army Black Knights
I think that every American should have the opportunity to experience the annual tradition of this service academy matchup, at least once. I will not be hopping on the chuck wagon to Philadelphia this weekend, but I plan to view, at least, the opening pageantry of this game on CBS at 1:30 CST. I do not pretend to have much insight to offer on any independent college football program, other than Notre Dame, but I do know football and am familiar with many of the opponents that both teams have faced in 2010. Without being able to name a single player on either team, I can still see that Navy (8-3; Army is 6-5) has (clearly) the better record and higher quality wins, including victories over Notre Dame and Wake Forest. Advantage: Navy.
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Sunday, December 12, 2010
St. Louis Rams at New Orleans Saints
All but the youngest Saints fans should recall that the Los Angeles turned St. Louis Rams used to be, perhaps, the Saints fiercest division rival, from a competitive standpoint, in the old, pre-2002 NFC West. The Rams have delivered so much heartbreak to the Who Dat Nation over the years that I fail to see how any fan past a certain age can hold greater lifetime hatred for any other NFL franchise, including the Cowboys and Falcons. Consider the following priceless memories, similar to the memory of the first time you got food poisoning:
December 18, 1983 - The Mike Lansford Kick - The Saints and Rams were 8-7 heading into week 16. The winner clinches the final Wild Card playoff spot. Rams kicker Mike Lansford makes a 42 yard field goal with 2 seconds remaining and eliminates the Saints from the playoffs.
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| Rams kicker Mike Lansford - scarred me for life! 4 |
November 26, 1989 - The Flipper Anderson Game - The 6-5 Saints have an opportunity to tie the 7-4 Rams for second place in the NFC West. Rams wide receiver Flipper Anderson was unstoppable, setting the NFL single-game record of 336 receiving yards. Anderson scored the game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter, and Lansford kicks a winning field goal in overtime. December 12, 1993 - The Saints Get Hit by a Bus - Jerome Bettis rolls over the Saints for over 200 rushing yards. The 7-5 Saints blow a golden opportunity to stop a tailspin against the 3-9 Rams, as they continued on a 4 game losing streak, finishing 8-8 after a 5-0 start.
December 17, 2001 - The Rivalry Game - After wide receiver Joe Horn famously declared that the Rams were not a real "rival" (the Saints had won the two meaningful games against the then defending Super Bowl champion Rams in 2000), the Saints are pummeled on Monday Night Football, fall to the back of a very tight NFC playoff race, begin a four game losing streak, and miss the playoffs. The Rams would advance to the Super Bowl that season.
It is true that the Rams morphed into the "Lambs" over the past three seasons, but quarterback Sam Bradford, the first overall pick in the 2010 draft, and Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo have shed the wool and regrown the horns on this Rams team. The Rams are in first place in the NFC West, albeit in one of the worst divisions, maybe, ever. Sunday's matchup could very realistically be a preview of the first round of the playoffs, should the defending Super Bowl Champion Saints be unable to overtake the Atlanta Falcons for first place in the NFC South.
This is a critical game for both teams that will shape the direction of the season for each. Of the Saints three losses in 2010, two were to teams with losing records and the other loss would have been voided with a successful 28 yard field goal attempt in overtime. The Saints have had no problem playing big in big games. The Rams are still learning. Running back Pierre Thomas returns. And Drew Brees is...Drew Brees. Did I mention this game is being played in the Superdome? Advantage: Saints
Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers
The Chargers can pull to within one game of the AFC West division leading Chiefs with a win. A loss all but eliminates the Bolts from playoff contention. The Chiefs, with a win, are placed in a very comfortable position heading into the final three weeks of the season.
Fortunately for the Chargers, this game is at Qualcomm Stadium and not at Arrowhead, where the Chiefs are difficult to beat when they are playing well. Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, overall, is playing some of the best football of his career. The real "x" factor may be that Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel did not practice on Wednesday due to an emergency appendectomy. Brodie Croyle would start in his place should Cassel not be able to go. Advantage: Chargers
New England Patriots at Chicago Bears
This is the strongest matchup of the week. The Bears have been criticized for much of the year for not beating strong opponents. This is a golden opportunity to not only silence the critics but keep their one game lead on the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North. The Patriots can ill-afford to give back the ground it gained over the New York Jets last week by losing at Soldier Field.
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| Brady --> boots with the fur 3 |
Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys
The Eagles may have the best record in the NFC East, but the Cowboys are playing the best football. The Cowboys are motivated and appear to be responding to interim Head Coach Jason Garrett. Were it not for an opportunistic forced fumble by the Saints on Thanksgiving Day, the Cowboys are likely riding a four game winning streak. Be afraid Eagles; be very afraid.
The Eagles, however, have Mike Vick and he is not only making plays, but creating opportunities for the offense that it would not have without Vick's skills. It is, however, difficult to have much renewed confidence in the Cowboys' defense, which has surrendered over 25 points per game in the past four games, in spite of the overall resurgence of the team. Cinderella's carriage may turn into a pumpkin on Sunday, but this game is no slam dunk for Philadelphia. Advantage: Eagles
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Orlando Magic at Denver Nuggets
This could be a great matchup or could be a romp. Assuming Nuggets star forward Carmelo Anthony is able to play and has recovered from his inflamed knee, this could be a very entertaining game. Dwight "Superman" Howard WILL be ready to go as the Orlando Magic appear to be in a dogfight in the Southeast Division with the Atlanta Hawks and the surging Miami Heat. I cannot help but wonder, though, if his knee "inflammation" is aggravated by his increased desire for a trade. Advantage: Magic
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami Heat
This is not a great matchup and I expect Cleveland to have King James rubbed in its face further in this game, but the Cavs do have an ax to grind. Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson was quite clear that he and LeBron James' other former teammates were not being "friendly," as some sports reporters speculated, to James in last week's thrashing of the Cavs by James and the Heat. Professional athletes have pride and, in order to clear any misconceptions of in-game fraternization with the enemy, there could be a spark or two to fly in South Beach. Advantage: Heat
1) Image from latimes.com
2) Image from johnyroadtrip.com
3) Image from wzlx.radio.com
4) Image from mydamrams.tripod.com
Eric you may want to clarify the statement regarding a team with a losing record not making the NFL playoffs. In the strike shortened season of 82 both the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns qualified with 4-5 records.
ReplyDeleteYou're correct. And actually, the Saints missed out on what would have been their first playoff appearance, ever, on the tiebreaker with a 4-5 record.
ReplyDeleteBut...9 games and eight teams from each conference (and 28 years ago)...that regular season was such an anomoly that I didn't want to take the reader's attention off the main point with such an unrelated and isolated sidebar.
But, I think there is a way a can throw in a discreet disclaimer.
Intersting thing about that '82 season...the final four and eventual champion probably had the best four teams (Washington, who won the SB and won the NFC Chamionship the next year, Dallas, in its 3rd stright NFC title game...went 12-4 the next year if I rememeber, the Jets, who were an offensive juggernaut with Richard Todd that year, and the Dolphins, who made the SB, won their division in '83, and made it back to the SB in '84), in spite of letting so many teams in.