by BRYAN LAIL
Intern Sports Reporter
Here’s what I want people
to do; lay off Bill Bellichick.
The call was brilliant, ya,
brilliant.
You’re facing fourth-and-two
with two minutes left. Peyton Manning has been unstoppable in the second
half and you have the Patriots offense with only two yards to pick up.
Make it, cinch it, Manning stays on the sidelines. Game over.
They didn’t make. It happens.
When I saw what was happening as I watched the game I gaped for all
of a split second, then I realized it wasn’t just a rare call for
that situation, it was the only call Bellichick could make in that situation.
New England’s coach remains
the smartest coach in all of football.
If he thought Manning could
run the length of the field and score just as easily as he could from
30 yards out, then why shouldn’t we?
Overall record to this point,
93-48
Last Week: 7-8
This week’s fantasy steal:
Justin Forsett, RB, Seattle Seahawks
This is a guy that I have been
sitting on for weeks now, and finally, FINALLY, he got his shot. Seattle’s
entrenched starter Julius Jones was pulled early against the Cardinals
this past week and from there Forsett took off. 123 yards and a touchdown
later Forsett managed to post 20 points in a loss. Take away Minnesota
this coming weekend and the Seahawks have a favorable stretch for Forsett
against fairly lenient run defenses.
On to the picks.
(H)Carolina > Miami
Props- The Panthers know Miami’s
offensive coordinator pretty well, after all, they fired him two years
ago. Carolina’s defense has been just wishy-washy enough to be worried
about this matchup, but they may remember enough Henning lore to give
them the slight edge they’ll need.
Pittsburgh > (H)Kansas
City
Props- Do the Steelers strike
you as a team that could be a bit upset over essentially losing their
division crown last week at home against the Bengals? I promise you
they are, and the Chiefs will soon know it.
(H)Detroit > Cleveland
Flops- If I asked any random
sports fan to name three players on each of these squads, Detroit’s
three might come pretty easily - the Browns, not so much. There’s
a reason for that ya’ know.
New Orleans > (H)Tampa
Bay
Props- Tampa is playing with
some confidence now after downing Green Bay two weeks ago. Despite their
improvements under freshman QB Josh Freeman, the Saints have no reason
to fear this matchup.
(H)New York Giants >
Atlanta
Flops- The Giant’s most glaring
problem during their current losing streak has been that less-than-dominant
defense. Eventually, it will show up.
(H)Jacksonville > Buffalo
Flops- Fantasy owners may have
a gripe over Maurice Jones-Drew’s late-game flop at the Jets goal
line, but, lost in all this are the many opponents of Drew’s owners.
Well, they’re ecstatic. Meanwhile, the Jaguars are just as excited
about their playoff prospects. With many more cupcakes like Buffalo
on the schedule, the Jags could cruise right into the postseason.
(H)Dallas > Washington
Props- Keep Clinton Portis’
tired legs on the sidelines and the Redskins may pick up another win
or two this year. One of those won’t come against Dallas however.
(H)Minnesota > Seattle
Props- Seattle may have found
their own Darren Sproles in young back Justin Forsett, unfortunately
against the Vikings big-play offense, the Seahawks may not have much
of a chance to flash the shiny new wheels this week - they’ll be throwing
early and often trying to play catch-up.
San Francisco > (H)Green
Bay
Flops- What, oh, you thought
Green Bay was back right? I mean, they did lay one on Dallas last week.
Don’t bet on the Pack just yet. The 49’ers can only hasten a big
Aaron Rodgers injury, and if that happens…well, the Packers boxes
are empty.
(H)Baltimore > Indianapolis
Props- Right, so it’s obvious
that the Colts are not going to lose at home. Lets try again on the
road. I guarantee Jim Harbaugh won’t be as scared of Manning as Bill
Belichick was last week; call it youthful ignorance.
Cincinnati > (H)Oakland
Flops- It’s almost a shame
that the NFL levies these matchups against their better teams. How about
we try something new; each week that you match a cellar dweller to a
stud this late in the season, just give the stud the win by default,
pat the other team on the bum and suggest politely that they try harder
next year.
Arizona > (H)St. Louis
Flops- OK, or how about this,
call it a new spin on the flex scheduling formula. Put St. Louis in
Oakland and Arizona in Cincinnati. Then you have two good games rather
than two blow-outs. I mean, it is all about quality of product, right?
(H)New England > New
York Jets
Flops- Remember all those Super
Bowl predictions for rookie QB Mark Sanchez and the Jets? Seriously
people, how could you not expect a big-time choke from a guy fresh out
of USC?
San Diego > (H)Denver
Flops- Remember when I said
that Denver just couldn’t compare with the better offenses in the
league, well, it just got worse for the Broncos. Kyle Orton is out and
Chris Simms is in - anyone remember him? I do, but that’s just because
the Panthers popped his spleen a couple of years back in Tampa.
(H)Chicago > Philadelphia
Props- Chicago is a good team……
OK, now that you’ve stopped laughing hear me out. Jay Cutler can’t
do any worse than he did last week in San Francisco, and the Bears still
have more than enough offensive weapons to put up points in bunches.
The Eagles are floating without a paddle right now and the desperate
Bears could well take advantage.
(H)Houston > Tennessee
Props- Lost in these last three
weeks has been that weak Titans secondary. Despite the interceptions,
touchdowns and big-time fantasy points in my defensive slot lately,
it’s still in there somewhere, and Matt Schaub and the Texans will
find it.
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