[My Exclusive Sunday Ticket 1PM game analysis]

[dad]

Happy XMas Eve,

I watched all the 1PM games today on the Sunday ticket.  You
never know what to expect out of a Week 16, and true to form a
lot of wacked out things happened in these games.  Almost
every game had something weird going on, so allow me to break
them down..

TB 22 CLE 7
I didn't watch a second of this game.  Who cares about this
game.. not even their own fans I bet.  No fantasy players at
all.  No chance of either team getting the #1 draft pick.  No
offense to speak of.  Okay, moving along...

TEN 30, BUF 29
I strategically waited until the last 3 minutes of this game
to tune in, because I knew they'd be basically tied at that
point and then Vince Young or the TN K would probably do
something to win it.  Well it turns out the Buffalo coach
decided to lose it on his own before that could happen.  This
was about the dumbest call I've ever seen.  They were in field
goal range with 57 seconds to go on 3rd and 5.  First of all
BUF calls a pass pay, which is kind of questionable as is, and
it didn't work.  So with the entire world expecting a FG on
4th and 5, and then seeing what Young could do in 53
seconds... Buffalo went for it??  Um.  WHAT THE HELL?  With
the season on the line for both teams?  Even the announcers
were saying, that's the worst play calling I've ever seen!

CAR 10, ATL 3
The most disgusting display of football I've ever seen.  The
Panthers refused to pass.  They ran at any down and distance. 
2nd and 16, 3rd and 26, didn't matter.  100% runs.  Obviously
they don't have the best run game in the world, and apparently
they forgot Steve Smith and Keyshawn are on the roster.  But
it was obvious early on that passes simply were not going to
happen.  
Atlanta didn't adjust, so it was effective enough to eat up
some clock.  It's not like that all-run strategy worked - they
only got 10 pts.  But Vick was flat out horrible, overthrowing
guys like 9 feet over their heads.  Then he threw the Falcons
coach under the bus after the game.  If Mora jr. is any kind
of a man at all, he benches Vick for the last game.  He's
getting fired anyhow.

WAS 31, STL 37
File another one under the overly-conservative coaching calls
category.  It's OT, WAS has the ball, and it's 4th and 1.  I
won't say where that ball was, because it freaking doesn't
matter where the ball is.  It's the NFL, and the game is in
OT.  If it's 4th and 1 and you're not in FG range, you
freaking go for it.  So guess what, WAS kicks, STL runs the
return back into near-FG range already, and then a few runs
later it's all over.

BAL 31, PIT 7
A blowout from the beginning, didn't watch a second of it..

NO 30, NYG 7
Every time I tuned into this one, announcers kept talking
about Tiki's last game in NY.  I can't stand Tiki, or Eli
Manning, so F the NY Giants.  I did get to see Colston score
his TD live, great catch.  Every time I see that guy I'm
astounded he went in the 7th round.  He might be the best WR
in the league.

NE 24, JAC 21
Almost every single JAX play, pass or run, the entire game was
directed for Jones-Drew.  I mean it was freaking ridiculous.
Oh yes, I do not buy into the hype that Brady is having an off
year because his WRs suck.  I have been watching Brady all
year and dude has just not been accurate this season.

IND 24, HOU 27
What does it say about the Colts that HOU beat them in a game
they were trying to win, and it really didn't surprise me?  I
really think Peyton's teammates must dislike him, whether they
dare say so out loud or not.  He seems like such an asswipe
when things don't go his way.

CHI 26, DET 21
The game was this close because CHI put in their JV offense
for the 4th quarter and they were only able to get FGs instead
of TDs.  Even though Griese actually seems better than
Grossman.  The Bears played their 1st team offense all game,
but due to injuries or whatever, those guys are now pretty
much just average or below average on defense.
Anyhow, the Lions still should have won it on Kitna's hail
mary to end the game.  Devin Hester, who was a joke on D, went
BEHIND the guy he was trying to cover in the back of the end
zone.  So the freaking guy Mike Williams has the ball go RIGHT
INTO HIS HANDS and he batted it down like he was a DB trying
to finish out a game.  That just mystified me.  I think the
Lions should cut his ass right there after that play.

[trotsky]

1. Nice review of the games.

I think you & I share a similar perspective w.r.t. coaching decisions and certain players. :)

[dad]

2. tryghj

Yeah, I hate conservative coaches as much as I hate conservative talk show hosts. Also, the Peyton and Eli Manning era in the NFL is now officially reminding me of the Bush/Bush2 era in the USA... When will our long national nightmare end?