NFL Week 13

[terpkristin]

Brady Quinn out for season?
FOX Sports on MSN - NFL - Sources: Quinn to miss rest of season (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/8850902/Sources:-Quinn-to-miss-rest-of-season)

/tk

[Groundhog]

I guess that's karma for endorsing McCain. ;)

[sterlingice]

In name only, NFL week 13 has started with the Lions fumbling the second snap of the game and the Titans going in untouched for a score a couple of plays later

SI

[Lathum]

lol.

I go to the store to get corn and come in to see the game is 7-0 already 90 seconds in.

[sterlingice]

FYI, some turkey day history of NFL games (Detroit/Dallas):

NFL Thanksgiving Games (http://www.profootballhof.com/history/stats/thanksgiving.jsp)

SI

[kingfc22]

LOL. Nice pass Culpepper

[mauchow]

In defense of Culpepper, his arm was hit as he threw the pick-six.

[EagleFan]

Bad news for the Lions, they didn't get spotted 1st quarter points this time. I would say it could get ugly but it's already ugly.


lol, a 13 yard punt. Wow, how bad can a team implode?

[MikeVic]

It's fun watching this with just the updates on nfl.com... seems like Detroit is doing everything wrong. That punt was just 13 yards? lol.

[EagleFan]

dola: If the Titans don't start every drive on the Lions 30 he is going to rush for about 300 yards today, there is no Lion close to him until he is about 5 yards past the line each time he gets the ball.

[MikeVic]

Improper dola.

[bhlloy]

Things have to get better now Millen is gone, right. Right?

This is just a team with zero talent anywhere. I guess Hanson is a pretty good kicker. Calvin Johnson seems to have potential but he's already mailing it in... Anyone else?

[EagleFan]

Is that a 5 or 15 yard violation? :)



I miss the days of watching Barry Sanders play on Thanksgiving. Even if the Lions sucked he made it entertaining to watch.

[MikeVic]

5 yard, minor penalty.

[MikeVic]

Things have to get better now Millen is gone, right. Right?

This is just a team with zero talent anywhere. I guess Hanson is a pretty good kicker. Calvin Johnson seems to have potential but he's already mailing it in... Anyone else?

Kevin Smith seems alright.

[Lathum]

this is just embaresing

[MikeVic]

Stop stealing TDs lardo!!

[M GO BLUE!!!]

L I 0-16 N S !

[DaddyTorgo]

i predict the lions will fail to get a TD here somehow

[DaddyTorgo]

wow - color me surprised!

that's the Lions what - 5th TD this year?

[timmynausea]

It's interesting. I think one of the first big moves of the Matt Millen era was cutting Charlie Batch, whom the prior regime thought of as their QB of the future. Part of that was that he wasn't a good fit for Marty Morningwheg's offense (not enough INTs, maybe). Anyway, I've always wondered how things would've gone if he stayed in Detroit. His career rating is 77.9, which isn't horrible considering the bulk of his playing time came before he turned 27. Here are the career ratings of the QBs the Lions have started since then:

Ty Detmer - 4 starts - 74.7
Mike McMahon - 7 starts - 55.1
Joey Harrington - 55 starts - 69.4
Jeff Garcia - 5 starts - 87.8 (65.1 in Detroit)
Jon Kitna - 20 starts - 76.6
Dan Orlovsky - 4 starts - 74.2
Daunte Culpepper - 3 starts - 89.1

I only vaguely remember the Jeff Garcia era, and obviously Culpepper took a big ratings hit after his injury.

[larrymcg421]

Batch looked pretty damn good in the limited time he had with the Steelers.

[MikeVic]

Batch was the career leader for a bunch of records in one of the first long careers I had in FOF.

[DaddyTorgo]

clearly they have done a lot worse than Charlie Batch would have been...

[M GO BLUE!!!]

I still think that the Lions look best in these "throwback' uniforms...

[Lathum]

We have a Vince Young sighting

[MikeVic]

test

[MikeVic]

I think the timezone is being switched or something. The board is an hour ahead for me right now.

[JeeberDMack]

Cowboys looking good in first quarter.

[JeeberDMack]

Man...there has been ZERO pressure on Romo so far. 21-3 Boys early second...

[MikeVic]

Man...there has been ZERO pressure on Romo so far. 21-3 Boys early second...

Wait until next week. It'll be more than made up for. ;)

[SnowMan]

Man, I feel bad for us Seattle/Washington sports fans this year. Hasn't been a team even close to competing.

[JeeberDMack]

Romo's looking like he's finally healthy. This is the sharpest I've seen him all season...

[EagleFan]

Romo's looking like he's finally healthy. This is the sharpest I've seen him all season...

Just wait until he hits post season form...

[RedKingGold]

Boy, I've never heard the Jonas Brothers before today. I figured I'd watch the half-time show to see what all the fuss was about.

To sum up my thoughts: They are teh suck at singing (at least singing live)

[Rizon]

OMFG who are these Jones Brothers??? They fucking SUCK. The most godawful crap I've ever heard.

[SnowMan]

50 billion screaming teenage girls can't be wrong...can they?

[JeeberDMack]

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuck......

If DWare's knee is messed up that's a huge loss.

[Buccaneer]

Man, I feel bad for us Seattle/Washington sports fans this year. Hasn't been a team even close to competing.

I was thinking the same thing and that's on top of losing the Sonics.

[MrDNA]

Jonas Brothers>Jesse McCarthy

I feel creepy just typing that.

[Raiders Army]

OMFG who are these Jones Brothers??? They fucking SUCK. The most godawful crap I've ever heard.

Hanson 2.0

And I don't mean Jason Hanson.

[Thomkal]

Cardinals playing in the East=losers. :(

[tucker rocky]

I thought the ball touching the ground, would make that catch by Pope incomplete.

[tucker rocky]

I need an explanation here.

Jackson caught the ball, went out-of-bounds with 2:11 left on the clock in the first half.
Ball is respotted, but the clock is ran down to the 2 minute warning.

Yet, late in a game when a team is possibly driving for a tying or winning score, the clock would'nt restart until the ball was snapped.

What am I not understanding here?

[sabotai]

In the 2nd quarter, I think the clock only stops in the final two minutes. It stops for the final 5 minutes in the 4th quarter. (EDIT: For a player going out of bounds...)

[Eaglesfan27]

I'm just catching up on the Eagles-Cardinals game on DVR. Spectacular first half except for the injury to Max Jean-Gilles at the end of the half.

[EagleFan]

So that's what happens when you run the ball?

What's the over/under on Reid going right back to his pass happy game plan next week?

[Eaglesfan27]

I think he'll stick with the run next week. Great end to a good day. This is how I want to see Kolb - coming in with a 28 point lead and under 4 minutes to play. :)

edit: Really nice to see Eckel make some plays, even if it was against the Cardinals.

[MrDNA]

Three snoozers today. That's not the tryptophan putting you to sleep, folks.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Three snoozers today. That's not the tryptophan putting you to sleep, folks.

I am glad the other two games were blowouts. This should take a little steam off the whole "The Lions should lose the Thanksgiving Day game because they suck so bad" argument.

I didn't watch one play of NFL football yesterday. I listened to the first half of the Lions' game on the drive down to Cleveland. I am the big winner here.

[johnnyshaka]

At least the PHI/ARI game didn't go as expected...McNabb getting pelted by Chunky Soup cans after tossing his 3rd pick of the first quarter.

[sterlingice]

I am glad the other two games were blowouts. This should take a little steam off the whole "The Lions should lose the Thanksgiving Day game because they suck so bad" argument.

I didn't watch one play of NFL football yesterday. I listened to the first half of the Lions' game on the drive down to Cleveland. I am the big winner here.

That's annoying me, too. The "let's take the game away from the Lions". Yes, they suck. But no one was saying "let's take it away from the Cowboys and rotate it with every team". It was basically this visceral "the Lions suck so let's punish them" nonsense.

SI

[EagleFan]

I say rotate the games. I am tired of Cow#$@#ers and Lions on Thanksgiving. I at least liked watching the Lions while Barry Sanders was playing but that is just a memory now.

[Thomkal]

yeah I barely watched any of those games-even the Cards that I had to watch through NFL.com since we don't have NFL network here. I think they should do what they do with NBC's night game right now. Two or three weeks before the T-giving game they should go through all the games scheduled for that week and pick out "good" ones to be played on Thanksgiving. For tradition's sake they should give first preference to Detroit and Dallas, but if they aren't playing well they don't get the Thanksgiving game that year.

[MikeVic]

Why do Detroit and Dallas deserve those games every year? It should rotate.

[AlexB]

Not strictly Week 13, but I didn't catch whether Channing Crowder got any further punishment following his ejection for getting grabbed by the dreads and punched three times. Was there any further action taken?

I know the Commissioner is keen to clean up the game, but getting ejected for being punched was a bit strong?

[DeToxRox]

Not strictly Week 13, but I didn't catch whether Channing Crowder got any further punishment following his ejection for getting grabbed by the dreads and punched three times. Was there any further action taken?

I know the Commissioner is keen to clean up the game, but getting ejected for being punched was a bit strong?

No further punishment for either.

Apparently the refs heard him instigate the fight with some "personal" comments directed at Light.

[AlexB]

Ah ha - cheers for the info.

[Lathum]

Awesome first drive for the Giants. Take the emotion out of the stadium on Sean Taylor day.

BTW, does anyone else think it's a little silly they are putting him into the ring of fame?

[GrantDawg]

Awesome first drive for the Giants. Take the emotion out of the stadium on Sean Taylor day.

BTW, does anyone else think it's a little silly they are putting him into the ring of fame?

No. Probably would have earned it some day. Nothing wrong with honoring someone whose life was cut short.

[Lathum]

yup, Eli is really screwed without Plax.

[Arles]

Scott Wells just ended GB's season at the end of the 2nd quarter. As I said earlier, this team is just way too inconsistent to be a playoff team. Now, they're talking about trading some of our only vets (ie, Al Harris) for picks this offseason to get even younger. Great! :rolleyes:

[Jas_lov]

And this is why they play the whole game and not just the 1st half. The Packers have everything going for them now despite losing their starting SS, C, and RB. Maybe McCarthy gave a stirring halftime speech or the Panthers are just really overrated. Anyway, the Packers are looking good right now, led by mvp Aaron Rodgers.

[Jas_lov]

An 18-0 run has given the Packers a 7 point lead! 3 TD passes by Rodgers. Did anyone see the long run by Brandon Jackson and who sprinted out to throw a block? Aaron Rodgers. He sure has turned it around since starting the game so poorly.

[Arles]

Rodgers has had a great game, but the defense and special teams have been horrid and may still lose it with their sloppy play.

[SackAttack]

42-35 final, anybody?

[Radii]

Big drive for Carolina to tie the game up, including a huge clutch pass and catch under pressure from delhomme to smith for 36 yards on a 3rd down. Now the defense needs to decide to start playing again.

[Radii]

If Aaron Rodgers could play against Carolina every week he really would win the MVP.

[Jas_lov]

Well that goalline series sucked. Give it to Jackson again, not Kuhn. Now it's up to the Packer defense, god help us all. Peppers should get a nice fine from the Commissioner for his cheap hit on Aaron Rodgers.

[Arles]

Let's not forget the kickoff, which is always an adventure.

[Arles]

Jeez. Can we get someone who can play special teams?!

[Radii]

Peppers should get a nice fine from the Commissioner for his cheap hit on Aaron Rodgers.

just a penalty in the old NFL, but under Goodell, definitely a fine.

[Radii]

holy crap steve smith.

[SackAttack]

You forgot the special teams, Jas_lov.

[Jas_lov]

Well you were right Arles. Atrocious special teams and defense will likely cost the Packers the game.

[Arles]

Ah, the wonderful GB special teams and defense rears its ugly head again. Another loss at their feet. It's a shame too, Rodgers had an amazing game.

[Arles]

At this point, I'd let them score and see what Rodgers can do in 1:45.

[Neuqua]

The Panthers won the game the same way against the Bears earlier in the year.

[Arles]

Watch as Carolina punches it in from a yard out and then kicks it out of the endzone. Exactly what we should have done 5 minutes ago.

[Arles]

I forgot what good kickoff coverage looked like. Thanks to Carolina for reminding me.

[DeToxRox]

Awful decision by Rodgers to end it.

[Arles]

That's how you win a game when you have a defense and special teams. Maybe GB can work on getting both those areas back next season...

[Arles]

You have to question McCarthy here as well. Kicking the FG and putting the game on our two weakest areas (defense and special teams) is a tough one. You need to go with what got you here. Go on 4th, if they stop you then they have to go from their 1 to FG range in 1:40.

[Jas_lov]

And the Packers lose yet another close one. The terrible defense has been bested down the stretch by the likes of Brian Griese, Matt Ryan, Gus Frerotte, Kerry Collins, and now Jake Dehlome. A valiant effort without their starting C, RB, SS, DE, and MLB, but another heartbreaking end.

[DeToxRox]

Carolina is a team to watch in the playoffs. I think they match up with the Giants the best because their strength is running the ball on offense, and stopping the run on defense. It'd be a battle come the NFC Title game and those are my favorite games to watch.

[DeToxRox]

This Atlanta/San Diego game is huge. SD can still win the West because Denver is not a good team, and they have one game left vs one another. However, if somehow Denver beats the Jets, and SD loses to Atlanta, it may be out of reach for SD.

[DeToxRox]

And while I am at it, the fact the Steelers still may get a bye with Ben as their QB is amazing. He is so terrible.

[SirFozzie]

Great start for the Pats :)

[MikeVic]

And while I am at it, the fact the Steelers still may get a bye with Ben as their QB is amazing. He is so terrible.

He's injured and their o-line is brutal.

[DeToxRox]

He's injured and their o-line is brutal.

I realize he's hurt but he still makes very boneheaded decisions in crucial moments of games. His 32 TD year was an anomaly imo.

[DeToxRox]

Wow. WTF happened on that TD by the Broncos? Brad Smith fumbles a reverse pitch, falls on the ball but doesn't secure it, and Vernon Fox picks it up and runs it in.

Jets are challenging that Smith was down but I don't know he ever had it.

[DeToxRox]

Looks like the play stands. 7-0 Broncos.

[Radii]

Carolina winning today sets up a HUGE game next week vs Tampa. Carolina and Tampa are both 9-3, Tampa won the first meeting by a lot(I think 27-3). Of course there will still be 3 more games left after this next one, but the winner of the NFC South is likely to have the 2nd bye along with the Giants in the playoffs, so this game could well decide who gets a bye, and who has to go on the road as a wild card team in the playoffs.

[SirFozzie]

Awful awful call, Pittsburgh defender basically runs over the Pats receiver a half second before the ball gets there, no call.

[DeToxRox]

And Thomas Jones ties it up with a 59 yard TD run.

[Jas_lov]

You have to question McCarthy here as well. Kicking the FG and putting the game on our two weakest areas (defense and special teams) is a tough one. You need to go with what got you here. Go on 4th, if they stop you then they have to go from their 1 to FG range in 1:40.

No you don't. Kicking the FG was absolutely the right decision. I still feel pretty good about the Packers future from watching Rodgers this year. They still have the 2nd youngest team in the league, a solid QB, a ton of cap space, and an additional 2nd round pick at worst from the Jets. Plus, they're in a joke of a division. Improvements on defense and o-line should be #1 priority.

[Arles]

That was an MVP handoff by Favre on that run...

[Arles]

No you don't. Kicking the FG was absolutely the right decision.
Really? 4th and less than a yard on the opposing 1.
Worst case: GB gets stuffed and it's Carolina's ball at their own 2 with 1:40 and 1 TO to get in FG range.

Go for the FG and you are looking at them having the ball at the 40 (given today's returns) with 1:40 and needing a FG to tie.

I would say odds are much longer of Carolina getting a FG to win from their own 2 than a FG to tie at their own 40. Given a decent chance of GB scoring from the opposing 1 and you have a much greater shot at winning with that choice. Now, if you had Baltimore's defense and special teams, you kick the FG. But with GB's crew, you have to go for it.

[Cringer]

Green Bay lived up to my hopes of the day. Make it look good, but still lose to secure a probable 3rd place finish in the division.

And I don't want to hear about the Packer's injuries as a reason for the bad season. Sure it hurts, but good teams overcome them. Like the Giants. Hell, New Orleans beat us last week and they have had a ton as well.

[hoopsguy]

Watching Cutler's incomplete pass to Marshall on 3rd down, throwing into the end zone, and it was tough to find a moment in time where the CB was not interfering with Marshall. The amount of variance on PI calls in football is just astounding.

[DeToxRox]

Week 17 .. 0-15 Lions go into Lambeau and win for the first time in what, 15 years?

Book it.

[Jas_lov]

The Jets have been terrible in all their games against the AFC West this year. They could go 1-3 and they were lucky to beat the Chiefs.

[MrBug708]

Nice Jones!

[DeToxRox]

Nice Jones!

Sick run.

But wow, the Broncos D is so bad. And right now if they did somehow win the West, they'd probably play the Colts. Talk about a blood bath.

[Jas_lov]

Week 17 .. 0-15 Lions go into Lambeau and win for the first time in what, 15 years?

Book it.

It'll never happen. The Lions best chance to win a game is probably next week against the Vikings, likely minus Pat and Kevin Williams. If they don't win that one, they're going 0-16.

[DeToxRox]

It'll never happen. The Lions best chance to win a game is probably next week against the Vikings, likely minus Pat and Kevin Williams. If they don't win that one, they're going 0-16.

Just wait. Favre is on speed dial with all the Packers audibles.

[Buccaneer]

Saw something funny. 1-10 Kansas City is still alive for the playoffs.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Breaking news in the Pats-Steelers game...
Nobody can do SHIT!

Steelers give up more yards rushing in nearly two carries with NED in the 2min drill than they give up for a game (although I'd argue a blatant hold on one of the carries).

Then Moss drops one in the end zone. Following play, Ike Taylor in coverage on Moss drops a sure INT. Followed by Gostkowski missing what was like a 25 yd FG.

[DeToxRox]

lol.

Derek Anderson is out for the season now too with an MCL sprain.

[Suburban Rhythm]

With Culpepper already signed, who is available?
Jeff George?

[DeToxRox]

With Culpepper already signed, who is available?
Jeff George?

Spergon Wynn.

[Greyroofoo]

Is Tim Couch still around?

[Suburban Rhythm]

Spergon Wynn.

Not sure how the insurance business is going for Tommy Maddox currently.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Dola

Anyone else watching Pats-Steelers, is this Greg Gumbal or Bryant Gumbal? Because he's been awful so far today. The icing on the cake was the most recent play, a muffed punt by Mewelde Moore, that goes about 10 yards out of bounds, and he's questioning if he recovered it.

[terpkristin]

Dola

Anyone else watching Pats-Steelers, is this Greg Gumbal or Bryant Gumbal? Because he's been awful so far today. The icing on the cake was the most recent play, a muffed punt by Mewelde Moore, that goes about 10 yards out of bounds, and he's questioning if he recovered it.

HAHA. I have the game on TV, but I've got it muted while listening to music. Sounds like I'm not missing anything insightful.

/tk

[terpkristin]

Wow, it must be really slippery at Gillette. That was just ooogly.

/tk

[Alan T]

Wow, it must be really slippery at Gillette. That was just ooogly.

/tk


The weather here has been crappy all day. They said on the game that it has been raining all game, but if it is anything like what I am getting at my house, it is actually hail/ice/sleet/frozen rain. My outside stairs are incredibly slippery right now, so I can only imagine holding onto the football is much tougher today.

This isn't the fun that watching a football game in snow is.. this is just gross weather.

[Jas_lov]

Facing the 2nd worst run defense in the history of the nfl behind only the '08 Packers, the Jets pass it on 3rd and 1 and 4th and 1. Brilliant.

[Thomkal]

Tyler Thigpen on the verge of getting his first win with the Chiefs? Just went ahead of the Raiders 17-10 early in the fourth...

[Hurst2112]

James Harrison is a machine!!!!

[Suburban Rhythm]

Nate Washington makes it the 4th drop of the day for the Steelers, a sure TD beating Deltha O'Neal. The Jeff Reed misses the FG.

Ridiculous stat shown at the end of the 3rd quarter. Through 12 games, the Steelers have given up 9 points in the 3rd quarter all year. 9!

[Big Fo]

It'd be a nice day for the Dolphins if Pittsburgh and Denver can hold out here.

New England's offensive line is getting abused today.

[PilotMan]

Dola

Anyone else watching Pats-Steelers, is this Greg Gumbal or Bryant Gumbal? Because he's been awful so far today. The icing on the cake was the most recent play, a muffed punt by Mewelde Moore, that goes about 10 yards out of bounds, and he's questioning if he recovered it.

It's Greg, and Dan has been terrible as well. Most of the stuff that he says sounds good but isn't at all accurate.

Is anyone else tired of the NFL and their definition of a good hit and an illegal hit?

[Hurst2112]

Through 12 games, the Steelers have given up 9 points in the 3rd quarter all year. 9!

props for those halftime adjustment speeches i guess.

[Hurst2112]

NOICE!

[PilotMan]

Man Pitt, has just taken over this entire game. They really ought to have about 14 more points than they do right now.

[Suburban Rhythm]

The one other thing that has been nice to see so far, when Ben is scrambling, he looks like the Ben of 2005 and 2007, keeping plays alive.

[Hurst2112]

wow. there have been some dumb steeler penalties this year. This game as well.

[ISiddiqui]

The Falcons lose 3 fumbles (one returned for a TD), and they STILL beat the Chargers on the road 22-16!

Great effort from the Falcons, dominating the Chargers far more than the score indicates.

[yacovfb]

The Falcons lose 3 fumbles (one returned for a TD), and they STILL beat the Chargers on the road 22-16!

Great effort from the Falcons, dominating the Chargers far more than the score indicates.

Yup...time for Norv to go. The offense has gone to hell in the last few weeks, making the improvements on D even more incredible. I thought talent could overcome coaching, but apparently the talent is only there when motivated and prepared and right now the players alternate between looking lost or showing no effort. Horrible.

[Hurst2112]

CAAAAASSELLLLLLLL

[PilotMan]

Alright, this feels good, but without Brady in the game, it isn't as impressive. Still, this is a big win for the Steelers.

[Hurst2112]

Alright, this feels good, but without Brady in the game, it isn't as impressive. Still, this is a big win for the Steelers.

yeah, but it feels good considering how the networks were touting Matt's consecutive 400 yard games.

[RedKingGold]

Steelers might be the new favorite to be the AFC's Super Bowl representative.

[Thomkal]

And Thigpen gets his first win in a game only I and RaidersFan care about

[Hurst2112]

Steelers might be the new favorite to be the AFC's Super Bowl representative.

I'd love to see a Titans/Steelers playoff game.

[Alan T]

The Falcons lose 3 fumbles (one returned for a TD), and they STILL beat the Chargers on the road 22-16!

Great effort from the Falcons, dominating the Chargers far more than the score indicates.


I know that I shouldn't do this.. and I am setting myself up for disappointment.. but I am starting to feel we can make the playoffs now. Coming into the season, I didn't even figure we would have 6 wins the entire season, so either way this season has been a huge success and hopefully a sign of things to build upon...

Falcons have games left @ New Orleans and Minnesota and home vs Tampa Bay and St. Louis.

I think we're likely to split the in conference games with Tampa Bay and New Orleans, for a 1-1 there. I am feeling pretty good about our chances to beat the Rams. Even though we have beat everyone else in the NFC Central, I don't know if that translates into a win at the Vikings though...

I think it is very likely we go 2-2 the rest of the way (a 3-1 would make me happier though), but that would be good enough for a 10-6 for the season. Would that get us into the playoffs?

I think Tampa is likely to win the division.. So that means we need to do better than at least all but one of Carolina, Dallas, Washington the rest of the way. I think at best we finished tied with Carolina, but more likely finish one game back of them. I feel pretty good about our chances to stay ahead of Washington.. so I guess it comes down to who does better the rest of the way Atlanta or Dallas.. the Cowboys have a brutal schedule to finish the season (Pittsburgh, Giants, Baltimore, Eagles) ...

So yeah I am getting my hopes up.

[Logan]

I can't believe this Denver - NYJ game is just ending now.

[ISiddiqui]

That's always risky... just remember none of us, in our wildest dreams thought we'd do better than 6 wins (personally, I was going for 4), so regardless of what happens, this season has been an amazing success and step forward.

[cougarfreak]

Yup...time for Norv to go. The offense has gone to hell in the last few weeks, making the improvements on D even more incredible. I thought talent could overcome coaching, but apparently the talent is only there when motivated and prepared and right now the players alternate between looking lost or showing no effort. Horrible.

Isn't it amazing how bad Turner has screwed up a team that was very, very good a couple of years ago?

[JeeberD]

RaidersFan

Who?

;)

[JetsIn06]

Facing the 2nd worst run defense in the history of the nfl behind only the '08 Packers, the Jets pass it on 3rd and 1 and 4th and 1. Brilliant.

We get it... you don't like the Jets.

[Buccaneer]

Isn't it amazing how bad Turner has screwed up a team that was very, very good a couple of years ago?

Yep. But some think the Bolts' two playoffs win last season was worth going to Turner over Marty.

[Thomkal]

Who?

;)
Raiders Army distant cousin :)

[Suburban Rhythm]

yeah, but it feels good considering how the networks were touting Matt's consecutive 400 yard games.

I have to wonder now that we've seen what the Pittsburgh D, and more to the point, pass rush/James Harrison, did to Cassell, what happens next week?

In Pittsburgh...setting the over/under for Romo fumbles at 5.

[Galaril]

I'd love to see a Titans/Steelers playoff game.

They play each other in three weeks in Nashville. It ought to be a war.

[kcchief19]

And Thigpen gets his first win in a game only I and RaidersFan care about
Thanks to MVP JaMarcus Russell.

Tyler's a good kid and I'd like to keep him around as a backup I think he has some Rich Gannon-esque qualities where he could be a great backup QB, maybe just not The Guy unless he has a real nice team around him. I just don't think he can be a starting QB on a playoff team.

But he's a million times better than JaMarcus Russell. This kid has everything except any clue where the ball is going once it leaves his hand. He can fire the ball harder and farther than just about anyone, which is only a problem if he's overthrowing his receivers by about three feet or missing his target on screen passes. I have never seen a QB so completely miss his target on flippin' screen passes in my entire life -- he must have missed on a half dozen short passes like that.

This win just cost us draft position. We're sucking the Bengals tailpipe now. Watch this team get hot and go from having the No. 2 pick to having the No. 10 pick after they lose a coin flip.

[kcchief19]

Now that SNF is coming on, please allow me to ask once again who was the football illiterate who put together the SNF/MNF games this year? I realize New England, Pittsburgh, Indy, Dallas and the Giants can't play in prime time every week but who decided before the beginning of the season that Chicago at Minnesota and Jacksonville at Houston were the "elite" games of the week the nation had to see? Some of the matchups this year have just been awful.

And that's not a knock on Chicago and Minnesota -- I just don't know anyone credible who would say before the season this was a must-see game. Sure, it has playoff implications, in the same way that determining who gets to go to the Alama Bowl has implications.

[Buccaneer]

Did the flex schedule idea die? I thought that was the way to avoid bad primetime games late in the season?

[terpkristin]

Did the flex schedule idea die? I thought that was the way to avoid bad primetime games late in the season?

Don't think so, but I do think it fails in weeks like this when there are so many national games.

/tk

[GrantDawg]

That's always risky... just remember none of us, in our wildest dreams thought we'd do better than 6 wins (personally, I was going for 4), so regardless of what happens, this season has been an amazing success and step forward.


With ya. A playoff berth would be way more than expected. I'll be beside myself if we can get the winning season.

[DaddyTorgo]

pathetic game by the Patsies today

[Izulde]

Man, seeing Miami at 7-5 is amazing. :) Like you Atlanta fans with the Falcons, I thought sure the Dolphins would maybe get 5, 6 wins tops.

To actually see them in the playoff hunt is AWESOME. :)

[Suburban Rhythm]

The last two games I've really watched Matt Light play (Super Bowl and then today)...how in the world was this guy in the Pro Bowl?

Also, I would love if the same reporter from last year asked BB what he thought about the Steelers safety play.

[RedKingGold]

Glad we have all these "protect the quarterback" rules when Freotte is injured on a bad no-call after a dirty hit by Adwunle Ogunleye.

[Coffee Warlord]

He's now suspended for a couple games.

[RedKingGold]

I'm not sure whether it's because this is a "rivalry game" or because there's so much at stake, but I've seen a lot of extra hitting/piling on in this game.

Very physical and one of the more fun games to watch today.

[Big Fo]

We get it... you don't like the Jets.

Watching how Packer fans have turned on Favre has only been matched by Red Sox fans turning on Ramirez in terms bringing the laughs.

[cougarfreak]

Holy shit........Vikes stop the Bears on 4th and goal from the 1, then Ferotte goes for 99 yards to Berrian on the next play.

[Logan]

Glad we have all these "protect the quarterback" rules when Freotte is injured on a bad no-call after a dirty hit by Adwunle Ogunleye.

That definitely should have been a penalty, but if that was the NHL, Frerotte would also be in the box for diving.

[Thomkal]

Thanks to MVP JaMarcus Russell.

Tyler's a good kid and I'd like to keep him around as a backup I think he has some Rich Gannon-esque qualities where he could be a great backup QB, maybe just not The Guy unless he has a real nice team around him. I just don't think he can be a starting QB on a playoff team.

But he's a million times better than JaMarcus Russell. This kid has everything except any clue where the ball is going once it leaves his hand. He can fire the ball harder and farther than just about anyone, which is only a problem if he's overthrowing his receivers by about three feet or missing his target on screen passes. I have never seen a QB so completely miss his target on flippin' screen passes in my entire life -- he must have missed on a half dozen short passes like that.

This win just cost us draft position. We're sucking the Bengals tailpipe now. Watch this team get hot and go from having the No. 2 pick to having the No. 10 pick after they lose a coin flip.

I agree with you on Russell. Thigpen should be putting up those kinda numbers and throwing those kinda passes, not Russell. Right now he's looking like a big bust for the Raiders. But Al Davis loves him so he'll be starting there for a while it looks like.

I tend to agree with your assessment of Thigpen despite my liking him and being a local hero here. But you know the Chiefs have scored at least 19 points/game since Thigpen took over again-they only scored more than that once in the games he didn't start. So there is a spark there and growing confidence in him and by him. It's been the defense primarily that's let them down. It would be interesting to see how he would do with a good team around him. Given how empty the tank is in QB talent right now though, he's probably going to get a chance to start somewhere next season if not with the Chiefs.

It'd kinda suck for the Chiefs to win games at this point since it'd ruin their draft position, but all four games they have left on their schedule are winnable. They get Denver next who they already beat, then San Diego who they nearly already beat with Thigpen starting. Miami's their toughest opponent left probably but get them at home at least, then Cincy to end the year when the top two Coastal Carolina draftees (WR Simpson was a second rounder for Cincy this year) get to battle each other. I think they will win at least one game out of that four, but probably no more than two. But I'd be happy if they won some more, so sorry Chiefs fans :)

[st.cronin]

Thigpen is terrific. I'm willing to blame Russell's performance on the coaching staff so far. I still think he'll probably be ok.

[ISiddiqui]

And that's not a knock on Chicago and Minnesota -- I just don't know anyone credible who would say before the season this was a must-see game. Sure, it has playoff implications, in the same way that determining who gets to go to the Alama Bowl has implications.

I think, though, after last season, NBC wanted AT LEAST one game with Adrian Peterson, thinking he'd build on his first year and be a super-mega stud on his way to MVP back this year.

[Groundhog]

Thigpen is terrific. I'm willing to blame Russell's performance on the coaching staff so far. I still think he'll probably be ok.

In the few Raiders games I've seen with him at QB (2?), Russell's inability to complete a throw seemed to me to be more due to the fact that he had about 11 defenders in the backfield 0.3 seconds after the ball was snapped than any particularily awful accuracy issues.

[Arles]

Watching how Packer fans have turned on Favre has only been matched by Red Sox fans turning on Ramirez in terms bringing the laughs.
I think it's more being in defense of Rodgers. After watching every national media person rip GB for going with Rodgers over Favre (even though Rodgers has been better to this point) is extremely frustrating for Packer fans.

Favre: 90 rating, 68%, 2,708 yards, 20 TDs, 14 INTs (14 yards and 0 TDs rushing)
Rodgers: 91 rating, 64%, 2,897 yards, 20 TDs, 10 INT (188 yards and 4 TDs rushing)

Yet, you'd think Favre was the second coming of Joe Montana and Rodgers was Dante Cullpepper if you listened to the media. The Jets have a better team than GB and an incredibly weak schedule (talk about winning the lottery - getting the AFC and NFC west conf), that's why they have 8 wins and GB has 5. It's not because Favre is so much better than Rodgers.

Still, I am rooting for the Jets as GB gets a 2nd round pick if the Jets make the playoffs (1st if they make the SB). As a Packer fan, we need all the talent/assets we can get at this point.

[Dr. Sak]

That definitely should have been a penalty, but if that was the NHL, Frerotte would also be in the box for diving.

That dive made Crosby jealous.

[Fighter of Foo]

God bless the Raiders (http://www.insidebayarea.com/timesstar/localnews/ci_11109439):

It was even 3-3 early in the second quarter when Cable first felt the tingling in his brain. The Raiders had driven for a field goal on their first possession, thanks to a couple outside-the-box calls — one a hook-and-lateral which Darren McFadden ran to the Kansas City 14, the other an end-around which Johnnie Lee Higgins advanced to the 7.


The Chiefs had answered with a field goal. Now the Raiders were moving back down the field. When their drive stalled at the Kansas City 25, Cable dispatched the field goal team, with special instructions.


Holder Shane Lechler took the snap at the 33. Instead of spotting the
ball on the ground, he flipped it backward between his legs in the direction of kicker Sebastian Janikowski, who was making for the left sideline.In a perfect world, which is to say when the Raiders practice the play against themselves, the ball hits Janikowski in stride. Whereupon the 250-pound Janikowski circles left end like Gale Sayers on the power sweep, gaining a first down, perhaps scoring a touchdown, maybe even stopping along the way to pull a quarter out of his ear.


"It's something we've worked on for two years," Cable said. "They were lined up exactly as we wanted."


What, with their helmets on backward?


Lechler's flip was behind the lumbering Janikowski. Even if Janikowski had caught it, Kansas City's Maurice Leggett was standing there waiting for him. Instead the ball hit the ground. Leggett scooped it up and ran 67 yards for a touchdown.


"I don't think it was a big deal," Cable said. "Obviously the touchdown was a big deal, but the team continued to play."


It was a ginormous deal on a multitude of levels, starting with the fact it was a 10-point swing in what turned out to be a seven-point game. Then there were the wide-eyed players along the Oakland sideline who watched the disaster unfold.


"We do that in practice all the time," cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha said, "but I never knew it was a real thing that we were going to attempt."

[Pumpy Tudors]

Wait, is this serious? Did the Raiders actually run a play like that? It's like the only game I haven't seen any highlights of. I'd really like to laugh about that, but this is the same Raiders team that crushed Denver a week ago. :(

[Fighter of Foo]

I'm not that creative: YouTube - Week 13: Fake Gone Bads (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3x5AiiR-i4)

[Raiders Army]

In the few Raiders games I've seen with him at QB (2?), Russell's inability to complete a throw seemed to me to be more due to the fact that he had about 11 defenders in the backfield 0.3 seconds after the ball was snapped than any particularily awful accuracy issues.

After watching every Raider game this year, I endorse this viewpoint. The difference between last week and this week is that Russell had time to throw last week.

On the trick play thing, the Raiders have been so vanilla during their losses I'd rather see them lose trying to win as opposed to run, run, pass, punt their way to losing.

That being said, there's a time and place for everything.

[sterlingice]

Wait, is this serious? Did the Raiders actually run a play like that? It's like the only game I haven't seen any highlights of. I'd really like to laugh about that, but this is the same Raiders team that crushed Denver a week ago. :(

Sounds like this is definite flere material. I didn't realize they tried to run that play either

SI

[PilotMan]

Tony Kornheiser says, "Jack Del Rio is a big physical guy, who likes big physical guys."

LMAO

Unintentionally hilarious.

and then

"The best way to stop the running game is penetration."

Which is, coincidentally, how I got my wife.

:)

[RedKingGold]

Has Rosenfels always looked this bad?

[bhlloy]

"I don't think it was a big deal," Cable said. "Obviously the touchdown was a big deal, but the team continued to play."




This might be the most pathetic sports related thing I have ever heard. An actual head coach in the NFL saying a swing of 10 points in a really close game "wasn't a big deal". That's without even considering what a pathetic play he dialed up. Raiders hit new lows every couple of weeks right now.

I'm assuming it also won't be a big deal when he's a positional coach again in 3 months time... Lane Kiffin is laughing all the way to the bank right now.

[sterlingice]

My favorite story of the week:
NFL suspends 6 players for doping violations - NFL - Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AvN0zVrIrvKEOLhD8AVQ5aJDubYF?slug=ap-nfl-suspensions&prov=ap&type=lgns)


NFL suspends 6 players for doping violations



NEW YORK (AP)—Unless the courts intervene, the Minnesota Vikings will have to make their stretch run at the NFC North title without their two stalwart defensive tackles.

Kevin and Pat Williams, who have anchored a Minnesota defense ranked second in the NFL against the run, were among six players suspended by the league on Tuesday for violating the league’s anti-doping policy. New Orleans Saints Deuce McAllister, Charles Grant and Will Smith also were suspended along with Bryan Pittman, the Houston Texans’ long snapper.

All six were punished for using a diuretic, which can serve as a masking agent for steroids.

The punishment means all six will miss the end of the regular season, an especially harsh blow to Minnesota, which relies heavily on the Williamses in its run defense.

Angelo Wright, the agent for Pat Williams, said he planned to file a motion in federal court in the next 24 hours, presumably to put off his client’s suspension. Tom Condon, the agent for Kevin Williams, said he hadn’t yet determined what course of action to take.

A seventh player identified in reports that began surfacing in late October, Atlanta’s Grady Jackson, was not suspended. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Jeff Pash, the league’s chief counsel, had asked for additional information.

If a player’s team makes the playoffs, the player will be eligible to return to the active roster on Dec. 29.

The suspensions of Pat and Kevin Williams, who are not related, may prove to be the most critical.

The Vikings lead Chicago by a game in the NFC North with four games left, in large part because the Williamses are considered the NFL’s best defensive tackle combination.

Last Sunday, they led a goal-line stand that kept Chicago from taking a 14-3 second-quarter lead in Minneapolis. On the first play after the Bears were stopped, the Vikings’ Gus Frerotte threw a 99-yard touchdown pass to Bernard Berrian, giving Minnesota a 10-7 lead it never lost—a 14-point swing.

“In response to this afternoon’s ruling, the Minnesota Vikings are very disappointed in the National Football League’s suspension of Kevin and Pat Williams,” the team said in a statement. “At the appropriate time, we will have further comment.”

Adolpho Birch, the NFL’s vice president of law and labor policy, would not disclose during a conference call when the players tested positive.

Asked why it took until the final four games of the regular season to hand down the suspensions, Birch said it was “a function of a lot of factors.”

“I think if you ask most coaches, every game is important. I don’t think they’d differentiate between the first and the last,” Birch said. “We do have things in place to get them done as quickly as possible. But we had to deal with the number of players involved and adjust travel schedules. We have to fit it around the players’ ability to attend.”

David Cornwell, the lawyer for Pittman and the three Saints, called the decisions “inconsistent with the objectives of the steroid policy.”

“Deuce, Will, and Charles did not try to enhance their performance with steroids, nor did they knowingly expose themselves to the adverse health risks of a diuretic,” Cornwell said in an e-mail. “They took a weight loss supplement that they had every reason to believe was safe.”

In their appeals, some players said the banned substance Bumetanide was not listed as an ingredient in StarCaps, an over-the-counter weight-loss pill.

In fact, Jackson filed suit against StarCaps in Alameda County Superior Court in California last month, seeking restitution for any lost salary and damages for “false advertising and unfair business practices.”

But in issuing the suspensions, the league reiterated the section of its policy that reads:

“You and you alone are responsible for what goes into your body. Claiming that you used only legally available nutritional supplements will not help you in an appeal. … Even if they are bought over-the-counter from a known establishment, there is currently no way to be sure that they contain the ingredients listed on the packaging or have not been tainted with prohibited substances …

“If you take these products, you do so AT YOUR OWN RISK! For your own health and success in the league, we strongly encourage you to avoid the use of supplements altogether, or at the very least to be extremely careful about what you choose to take.”

The NFL also said it sent two notifications about StarCaps on Dec. 19, 2006 — one to NFL club presidents, general managers and head athletic trainers and the second to NFLPA executive Stacy Robinson, who oversees the steroid policy for the union. That letter, according to the league, advised that StarCaps had been added to the list of prohibited dietary supplement companies.

Asked if the NFL would review its policy on diuretics, Birch said the policy is reviewed every year.

“I suspect the players’ association may want to look specifically at diuretics or some other issues. We’d be happy to do that with them if appropriate,” he said. “I do think it’s good policy. It works well. It has different aspects to it, but we will certainly listen with an open mind and if it’s appropriate to make change, make changes.”

Yes, the long snapper. Steroids are everywhere!

SI

[flere-imsaho]

Quick, everyone pick up Detroit's running back in fantasy! :D

[sterlingice]

Wow- usually you want to pick up the opposing back for the Lions games ;)

SI

[Scoobz0202]

Im pretty stacked everywhere but running back. Who should I start this weekend guys? Two running backs:


McFadden
Larry Johnson
McGahee
Kevin Smith

[flere-imsaho]

Not easy.

McFadden - Normally I'd say bench because you'd have to assume the Raiders would be playing from behind all game and he wouldn't see the ball. However, the Chargers have struggled of late, so he could see more use, but will probably split some carries with Fargas.

Johnson - Depends. If you think Thigpen can keep up with Cutler, then he'll probably have a huge day.

McGahee - Is Baltimore's O now better than Washington's D? If you lean that way, then he's probably a good start.

Smith - If the Williamses are suspended for real, then the Minnesota D could give up a lot of running yards. Of course, how quickly will Detroit get behind and have to start throwing?

I'd say Johnson is probably the safe choice, and then it's a question of who you'd rather take a flier on: McGahee or Smith. I'd probably go McGahee given that Detroit are so abominable.

[Scoobz0202]

I was thinking the same thing. Only thing is that McGahee has been getting hurt all season and will get about 4 carries some games.

What a bunch of underachieving bastards I got at Running Back.