NFL Football- It's FANtastic!

[Rasix]

That's what frustrates me about Jaws, he DOES know what's going, he just stopped sharing his knowledge.

Yah, but he's 200% more excited about what's going on!

I just wish he'd ignore Turico and Kornholer and do his own thing.

[Paelos]

I think Jaws is partly overcompensating and partly playing off what's going on around him as well. He just needs to stick to his strengths, which is usually teaching me something new about the game I wasn't thinking of.

[UD_Delt]

I get the feeling the producers told Jaws to dumb it down after the Dennis Miller debacle. What they fail to get is that people didn't hate Dennis Miller because his comedy was too high-brow it was mainly because he just sucked on MNF.

[Sky]

Do not make the mistake of overestimating the brow of the average MNF viewer.

[naum]

I can't freakin stand what ESPN has done to MNF. They all need to stfu and actually ... I dunno ... call the game? Please? Not that Madden and Michaels are my all time favorite announcers or anything. But I'll take them back over having to listen to those ESPN dumbasses yap about whatever comes to the top of their mind.

And for the love of all that's good in the world, stop with the player introductions. Just read off who's playing and get back to the game.

Ya, I'm an ESPN MNF hater. I guess I need to learn to watch the game on mute.

/em with you totally

On and on an on about the families, and all the pomp and hype over Favre (and I write this as a Packer fan) or whoever the elevated player du jour is… …I just want to watch the game, I don't want to hear about the make believe epic ramifications… …good Gates, it's just a freaking game…

Jaws is good, the only + in that trio, though Turico is nowhere near as annoying as Kornheiser. Why do network sports head honchos keep shoveling blathering New York idiots at the rest of the country… …I'm sure his family is proud of him, but good Gates, his yell at you style and thick accent have got to go…

…never thought I'd think that I'd rather hear Joe Theisman. At least then, the annoyance would be Joe pontificating on how he had lunch/dinner with said coach/player and talked about another said coach/player… …I would ponder, just how many lunches and dinners did he eat this week…

[naum]

I get the feeling the producers told Jaws to dumb it down after the Dennis Miller debacle. What they fail to get is that people didn't hate Dennis Miller because his comedy was too high-brow it was mainly because he just sucked on MNF.

Dennis Miller experiment was awful, worse than Kornholio…

I don't know why we even need announcers, or they should just limit it to 2, even the sideline reporter schticks are beyond silly… …"how did you feel after you caught that touchdown pass?" or "what are your thoughts after seeing your QB get sacked six times in the first half?"… …the 3rd man comic guy schtick could work but the kind of individual that could make it work would quickly get into trouble with NFL and network powers for irreverent and non-deferential stuff that would actually be entertaining…

Howard was the best… …yeah, the nation hated him, but he was entertaining, not afraid to call it like it was (at least in his distorted, peculiar perception) and he was fun just to sit around drink beers and laugh at him calling everybody the "best ever", or injecting multi-syllable alliterations that came natural, not awkwardly artificial and contrived (like Miller's schtick)… …RIP Cosell…

[cmlancas]

Heh. Naum, I have about five of that baseball card :)

[Raging Turtle]

Holy crap did you see that Brackett interception.

[Trippy]

Go go Colts!

Edit: NOOOOOOO!!!!!!

[Paelos]

Go go Colts!

Edit: NOOOOOOO!!!!!!

That sums it up nicely.

[stray]

Tom Brady is a robot.

[Margalis]

That Pats/Colts game had so many crap interference calls. I'm no Pats fanboy but they really got screwed on a couple calls. Colts huy hugs the other guy's waist and doesn't get a call, then the refs call defensive pass interence on what was really offensive pass interference, then make another pass intereference call on a play with basically no touching.

[Brogarn]

The calls were horrible. I'm a Pats hater and even I cringed a couple times and went "c'mon... that was b.s..."

[UD_Delt]

Crazy... Another week goes by and I can still say "GO BROWNS!!!"

Goddamn is it possible that we have 3 sports back in Cleveland again?

[HaemishM]

What a weekend of football.

The refs were dick in that Indy/Pats game. Pure dick. I have to wonder if that game would have been as close had the Colts had Marvin Harrison, or even Anthony Gonzales for the whole game. After the first half, when I expected Indy to move the ball better, they just couldn't get anything going. Gonzales was on the bench for the most part, and Moorehead wasn't going to scare anyone. The Pats could single-cover Moorehead and put Rondey Harrison on Dallas Clark, and suddenly the only passing outlet is Joseph Addai. And Addai is a fucking stud, but no way were those quick checkdown passes going to work enough against that good a team. Last years AFC Champsionship, the Pats were missing their Harrison (Rodney), this matchup the Colts missed their Harrison and both those losses had a huge effect on the games. Maybe when they meet in the Playoffs, both Harrisons will be healthy.

It was still a great fucking game, the kind of smashmouth football nobody expected. But the fact that both teams could play that kind of football should just tell the rest of the league just to pack it up. No one's going to compete with a team that can finesse OR smash you to death. I think Pittsburgh and maybe Dallas (and that's a real iffy maybe) are the only teams with a prayer of beating either of these two.

Dallas took care of Philly, which should shock anyone. Philly just sucks it this year, except when McNabb is on. And he hasn't been most of the year.

The Chargers? WTF? How does a defense that good let someone run up 296 yards on them? It's not like Minnesota has ANYTHING else to use. FFS, if Peterson is in the backfield, throw 9 in the box. What the fuck else are the Vikings going to do, throw the ball with Brooks Bollinger and those shitty wideouts? There is no excuse for being that shitty with that defense.

Cleveland Browns... wtf? A guy named Derrick Anderson should not be putting up those kinds of numbers. But Winslow and Edwards are showing their quality, and they have a running game. Seattle? Man, does the NFC West suck it or what?

Green Bay and Detroit take care of business, and suddenly, they are among the class of the conference. That should not be. But both teams have some pretty damn good, young wideouts, and unfortunately for Green Bay, Detroit has the running game the Packers wish they had. That Thanksgiving Day showdown in Detroit is going to be a fucking lights out arena football scorefest, and will easily be the best game of the day. Packers/Cowboys week 13 on Thursday night will also be kickass.

Thank God, Chad Johnson is ok. He flew back with the team. That was one helluva hit. I don't care what anyone says, I love Chad Johnson. He has all the right attitude, his showboating is never about disrepecting anyone, and he had the balls to say he wouldn't do endzone celebrations until the Bengals got to be .500. He's the kind of player that Randy Moss and Terrell Owens SHOULD be.

[naum]

Heh. Naum, I have about five of that baseball card :)

Oh.

I'd never seen it until in online form.

And my early 1970ish Clemente cards got rid up by my Mom I think…

[Paelos]

I don't like the Pats, but all the Colts fans seemed to think they actually had a chance in this game. Frankly, I didn't see it happening, but they at least made it close.
The Cowboys looked great against a shitty Eagles team, and TO continued to piss off the average football fan with more of his antics. Whitten running without his helmet for 35 yards was pretty cool though.
The Green Bay v. Chiefs game was just about the most boring first half of football I've seen in a long long long time. Ugh. I'm glad Favre keeps winning, but man they don't play very well until the second half.

[WayAbvPar]

Cleveland Browns... wtf? A guy named Derrick Anderson should not be putting up those kinds of numbers. But Winslow and Edwards are showing their quality, and they have a running game. Seattle? Man, does the NFC West suck it or what?

As soon as I figure out how to get my big toe inside the trigger guard of this shotgun, this season will come to an abrupt and merciful close for me.

[UD_Delt]

Cleveland Browns... wtf? A guy named Derrick Anderson should not be putting up those kinds of numbers. But Winslow and Edwards are showing their quality, and they have a running game. Seattle? Man, does the NFC West suck it or what?

It's all about the o-line and finally having a pocket QB. Anderson has a hell of an arm and that's about it. He still misses reads and can't run worth crap but man the guy can outright gun the ball. Only problem is when he can't set both his feet. The good thing is the o-line this year is unfocking believable and they've been giving him the time he needs. They've actually got depth and Joe Thomas is everything a 3rd overall pick should be. The kid is just solid.

My only question is what the hell do the Browns do with Quinn now? My feel is that if DA can keep producing for the rest of the year they ship him off for a first rounder or early second rounder and then let Quinn take over right at the start of camp next year while getting good value for DA.

[HaemishM]

I don't like the Pats, but all the Colts fans seemed to think they actually had a chance in this game. Frankly, I didn't see it happening, but they at least made it close.

They DID have a chance, despite not having Marvin Harrison. Their defense was just flying all over the field, punching motherfuckers in the chops. But when you can't move the ball for shit the entire second half, the defense can only do so much. I'm not saying the Colts would have won with a healthy Harrison, but they wouldn't have been stuck in neutral the second half. No one is scared of Anthony Moorehead at wideout.

That Whitten run was the bomb. Motherfucker is tough.

[Bunk]

Cleveland Browns... wtf? A guy named Derrick Anderson should not be putting up those kinds of numbers. But Winslow and Edwards are showing their quality, and they have a running game. Seattle? Man, does the NFC West suck it or what?

As soon as I figure out how to get my big toe inside the trigger guard of this shotgun, this season will come to an abrupt and merciful close for me.

Don't whine, you could be like me and divide your loyalty between the 'Hawks and the Bears.

[WayAbvPar]

Cleveland Browns... wtf? A guy named Derrick Anderson should not be putting up those kinds of numbers. But Winslow and Edwards are showing their quality, and they have a running game. Seattle? Man, does the NFC West suck it or what?

As soon as I figure out how to get my big toe inside the trigger guard of this shotgun, this season will come to an abrupt and merciful close for me.

Don't whine, you could be like me and divide your loyalty between the 'Hawks and the Bears.

Or the Hawks and the Canucks?


Where the HELL are those shotgun shells?

[Bunk]

Yea, well, 25 years of watching the Canucks has dulled the senses to the losing. Back in the good old days, we just cheered for 'em for working hard and wearing scary uniforms, and we liked it damnit!

[Sky]

That Whitten run was the bomb. Motherfucker is tough.

Yes. The look on his face when the defenders both roll off him, I knew he got popped good. The bloody nose didn't surprise me, I thought he had a concussion. I liked that play so much I made an avatar from a frame of the nfl.com video. So badass.

[murdoc]

That Witten run was BONFIDE badass. We all jumped off the couch and cheered when he kept running. 

[Paelos]

Last night's Monday night game was a horrible horrible game. It was the ugliest first half I've ever seen Baltimore play. Ugh.

[HaemishM]

Shit, Baltimore is DONE. When even McNair can't make your offense function effectively, it's over. Granted, the Steelers have a good D, but to be embarrassed like that, with such turnovers, I just don't see that team making the playoffs. They are definitely out of my top 10.

Early (and sure to be wrong) playoff pics:

AFC
1 New England
2 Indy
3 Pittsburgh
4 San Diego
5 Jacksonville
6 Tennessee

NFC
1 Dallas
2 Green Bay
3 Tampa Bay
4 Seattle
5 Giants
6 Detroit

I no longer regard the Giants as that bad. Their defense has come around, but it's going to desert them come the playoffs. I wanted to put Detroit ahead of the Giants, but looking at their schedule, I just can't. They still have 2 games against Green Bay, a game against Dallas and San Diego and KC, all of which are games they could either win big or lose big. The Giants benefit from having games against Washington, Philly, Buffalo and Chicago, all of which they could lose but should win. I'm more sure of the Lions' opponents than I am of the Giants' opponents.

[UD_Delt]

Early (and sure to be wrong) playoff pics:

AFC
1 New England
2 Indy
3 Pittsburgh
4 San Diego
5 Jacksonville
6 Tennessee

I agree with your division winners but I don't see both wildcards coming out of the South.

I hate to say it because I'm sure it means they won't win another game but the Browns actually have real potential to get that last spot. They have a pretty soft schedule for the rest of the year:

@Pittsburgh - Hopefully they'll play tougher but this is probably a loss.
@Baltimore - They beat em once and the ratbirds sure aren't looking any better lately.
Houston - Houston at home is definitely winnable
@Arizona - good chance for a win
@Jets - great chance for a win
Buffalo - flip a coin
@Cinci - definitely beatable
San Fran - Great chance for a home win to secure a wildcard spot at the end

They only have one game left (next week) against a team over .500. Even if they only go 4-4 over this schedule it puts them at 9-7 with an outside shot at making the playoffs.

[HaemishM]

The Browns are definitely a team I think have a shot at the wild card. Both the Jags and the Titans have question marks. I see the Jags winning 4 games of the last 8 for sure, with the San Diego and Tennessee games as tossups. So they will finish up at least 9-7 and could go as high as 11-5, depending on how well the next two weeks go. The more I like at the schedule, the more I think the Browns could finish with as many as 10 or 11 games. That's a really soft schedule.

That last spot is going to be a tossup.

[cmlancas]

Shit, Baltimore is DONE. When even McNair can't make your offense function effectively, it's over. Granted, the Steelers have a good D, but to be embarrassed like that, with such turnovers, I just don't see that team making the playoffs. They are definitely out of my top 10.

Early (and sure to be wrong) playoff pics:

AFC
1 New England
2 Indy
3 Pittsburgh
4 San Diego
5 Jacksonville
6 Tennessee

NFC
1 Dallas
2 Green Bay
3 Tampa Bay New Orleans
4 Seattle
5 Giants
6 Detroit

As big as I am a TB fan, I think NO might sweep it out from under them if Detroit keeps winning. Have you seen Brees lately? Move over, Tom Brady.

[stray]

Gosh, I'd love to see Dallas and Detroid duke it out in the playoffs. For personal reasons at least.

[Paelos]

Gosh, I'd love to see Dallas and Detroid duke it out in the playoffs. For personal reasons at least.

I like Kitna and I hope good things happen with that team. However, if he stands in the way of my Cowboys, I hope they grind his face into the dust.

[cmlancas]

No Paelos, you don't like the Cowboys, right? RIGHT?!

 

[Paelos]

No Paelos, you don't like the Cowboys, right? RIGHT?!

 

  How bout them Cowboys!

[El Gallo]

I've had to put up with Kornheiser in the sports section of the Washington Post for the past 10+ years, so I am glad to share my pain with the rest of you.  I have no idea who likes him, perhaps other old, whiney men?  I hope he gets fired throat cancer before destroying MNF forever.  Watching my beloved Steelers crush the Ravens should not have been sullied by his incessant blathering about nothing.

Anyway, speaking of unlikely teams with a shot at the playoffs, the Bills are 4-4, lost 2 of those games (to Denver and Dallas) by a total of 2 points, got beaten badly by NE (who hasn't) and PGH (not a bad loss).  Their defense has been pretty good all season, and if Lossman can get any kind of deep threat going to balance out the decent run game they have, I could see them possibly putting up 9 wins, maybe even 10, and squeezing into the WC.

I may be biased because La Gallina is a Bills fan, so I've seen a number of their games.  Personally, I'd like to see the Brownies make it, so we can whip 'em three times this season (before we get annihilated by the Pats whip the Pats on the way to a 6th title after Belichik is smote down by the Hand of Lombardi).