Kansas City lost its first game this week, but is this the start of a slide for the formerly unbeaten Chiefs?
Their last six feature four divisional games: the Chargers twice, @Oakland and hosting Denver. They also host Indianapolis.
While I’m not suggesting Kansas City is in danger of missing the playoffs, don’t be surprised if they finish 12-4 or worse.
On the NFC side, a lot of people are asking this question about San Francisco, but their remaining schedule features Seattle at home, @Arizona, and four games against pretty weak competition.
While the Niners aren’t going to catch the Seahawks in the West, they’re not missing the playoffs either.
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This Week’s Sucked And Won: Rashard Mendenhall & Andre Ellington, RBs (ARZ): The Cardinals 1-2 punch out of the backfield was more like a 1-2 fall down. They combined for 17 yards on 21 carries, less than 1 yard per. Maybe Ellington was missing that chunk of hair that got ripped out?
Every now and then I am forced to bitch about what game option I am given on TV and this is one of those times. Really, local Fox affiliate? You think I want to watch the 3-6 Giants against Aaron Rodgers-less Packers just because New York is close to Philadelphia?
Or because the Giants are in the NFC East? You don’t think anyone in Philadelphia would rather watch the NFL’s game of the week: New Orleans vs. San Francisco? This is not a league thing. To my knowledge, the local affiliates can air whatever game they want. Lousy choice, Fox.
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Shocking realization of the week: Geno Smith posted a passer rating of 10 in this week’s game against the Bills. I didn’t know the formula could yield a result that low.
From jeering my local Fox affiliate, here’s some major props to NFL Network for creating NFL Redzone. If you haven’t check this out, do so next week. It just keeps switching to whatever NFL game has something interesting happening in it at the moment, sometimes going split screen. It is better than watching an actual NFL game if your team isn’t playing. My only question is how in the world are Fox and CBS okay with this?
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This Week’s Great But Lost: Calvin Johnson, WR (DET): There were many worthy candidates this week, but as usual, Megatron outshone them all. 6 catches, 179 yards, 2 touchdowns.
I don’t know if I’m completely sold on Nick Foles as a viable choice for the Eagles’ franchise QB moving forward, but one thing I’m sick of hearing is that Foles can’t run Chip Kelly’s offense because he doesn’t run enough. Well, this week he ran 9 times for 47 yards and a touchdown, and although Foles is no one’s definition of quick or mobile, he did a great job reading the defenses, choosing the right spots to run, and changing direction to make up for his lack of foot speed. Nick Foles may not be a franchise QB, but he can run this offense. No question about that anymore.
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Thursday Pick: New Orleans (-7.5) @Atlanta (MGM Mirage)
This couldn’t a worse spot for the Saints. They just beat the 49ers in a close one, and they have the Seahawks and Panthers on the horizon. Plus they’re at Atlanta, once upon a time a tough place to play. And it’s a divisional game. Throw it all out the window. The Falcons are so beaten up and awful that you can’t take them with any number in any spot. I wouldn’t touch this game, but I really wouldn’t touch it on the Falcons side.
New Orleans Saints 28 Atlanta Falcons 20
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NFYell
“I’m not holding my tongue anymore. To have one target until seven minutes left in the game, that’s f**king dumb. That’s dumb, period.” – Jaguars WR Cecil Shorts, expressing his displeasure with not being thrown to.
“I think running in those type of conditions, for me, I think is better because now the defenders have to constantly be on their heels and toes, and when you get guys off balance in mud and when it’s raining and slippery, it’s kind of an advantage to the running back.” – Lions RB Reggie Bush, disagreeing with coach Jim Schwartz’ opinion that Bush is better on a “fast track.”
“It’s not like this is going to be Kumbaya and we all hug and kiss all the time. I think you’ve got some highly competitive athletes that are talking about making plays or not making plays, and sometimes that gets your dander up, and I look at it as a good thing.” – Eagles coach Chip Kelly, on a sideline argument between RB LeSean McCoy and WR Riley Cooper.
“It was time to show everyone how thick my skin is.” – Saints K Garrett Hartley, on hitting two late field goals after struggling all year.
“He’s a pretty good quarterback. He got away with a couple that most guys wouldn’t be able to get away with. But we need to do a better job of getting a little more pressure on him.” – Chiefs coach Andy Reid, on Peyton Manning. Ahem…pretty good quarterback?
“Somebody’s got to get that last wild card spot. Why not us?” – Dolphins T Tyson Clabo, after his team moved into a tie with the Jets for the final playoff spot.
“Billy was shaking like a little girl.” Browns LB Paul Kruger, on DL Billy Winn, during the team’s harrowing landing in bad weather after Sunday’s game.
“We’re not going to be a playoff team until they say we’re in the playoffs. Right now, we just lost to the f**king Buffalo Bills.” – Jets G Willie Colon.
