NFL Week 14: The Wheel in the Sky keeps on Toin-ning
I'd like to start this post by noting that I find it unbelievable that there were three pushes in the league this week. Not only is that insanely frustrating for this league - and good for those at the top, most who didn't have great weeks, by the way - but it really creeps me out how close Vegas can be on these lines.
Similarly, the theme of "How many ways can the Texans find to lose?" coupled with Reggie Bush winning the Heisman make me want to say, simply, "Hm." But that's just insane - the Texans could conceivably be on a three game win streak. That's crazy enough - but the fact that they are 0-3 during that stretch is even wackier.
Congrats to Jon Phillips, owner of the Celebrity Smackdown. For those of you who don't know Jon, he also writes for The Talented Mr. Roto along with myself. In fact, we've shared a few columns and that continues this week. But you don't probably care about that, and in fact, if you don't subscribe to the site, you can't read much of what we do there. But it's Jon's second win of the year, and that is...let's see...calculating...yes, two more than me. To quote Charlie Brown, AAAAARGGGHHH!
Jon's a Steelers fan, and that makes it doubly fun to be able to post a picture of Jerome Bettis. Because what the Bus did this weekend in Chicago was really impressive. Against that defense, in a critical game, the Bus took over. He's fifth all-time in rushing yardage...and still, somehow, there are those who aren't sure he's a Hall of Famer? I'm referring to the fact that Peter King felt it necessary to state that he was a Hall of Famer in his column on Monday, and a reader actually wrote in to question that. Hey, dummie...this is a no-brainer. Not only does he have the stats, but he's a genuinely good guy and teammate. Not that it matters, but I'm trying to find how someone could actually suggest he's NOT worthy...and I can't do it. Jeez.
That game was one of a few that took place in a snow flurry (I'd say snow storm, but those of you who actually suffer through that weather would see through that), and can I just say...nothing is cooler to watch than a snow game. I'm not sure I'd be sitting in the stands (in fact, I turned down the opportunity to do that at Soldier Field twice when I lived there) but props to those who do. Football...what a game.
In other news, Kevin Jones got hurt this weekend, which means the sun rose and also set. What a massive disappointment that guy is. Oh, and the 49ers lost. Badly. Very, very badly. There's a great article on SI today about the drop off of the 49ers Dynasty, and while it pained me to read, it's the truth.
Here is how odd football can be: I watched most of the games over at Mike Lang’s house, and left when almost all of them were over. Dallas was leading KC by three, and Mike said something about how, if KC could kick a field goal, it would go to overtime and …that’s when I stopped listening and took off. And yet…that almost happened. KC missed a 41-yard field goal, which means (though I didn’t see it) that it was totally makeable. What I don’t know is if Lawrence Tynes missed as preposterously as the Houston kicker did in a similar circumstance. That kick was so awful, and so clearly makeable, that if people aren’t asking if he missed on purpose, they are delusional. And yes, I’m bitter that the 49ers are going to stink again and still miss out on Reggie Bush.
In related news, if anyone wants two tickets to see the 49ers play Houston on New Years Day, give a holla.
Alright, enough already. Remember there are games on Saturday, and that should continue for the rest of the year, so be good Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and always be prepared.