Since I had a pretty quiet NFL-tweet day on Sunday, I’m about
to post some thoughts on NFL topics that probably 0.5 of you actually care
about. Adjust your procrastination habits accordingly…
1. The current Super Bowl line is NFC -2.5. 2.5? After this
weekend? Denver would be at least a 4 point underdog against Seattle right now
(and as a Broncos fan that seems generous in a chilly environment). I imagine a
New England team without Gronk would be even bigger underdogs. The AFC is so
open that even the Colts and Dolphins are legit contenders to come out of the
conference, and they would be even bigger underdogs. Second point of this: You
think any NFC team can go into Seattle and win? Maaaybe San Francisco since
they are so familiar and did beat them slightly earlier this year (though in
SF). I still say no. Grab the NFC -2.5 right now if you like money.
…And then feel free to blame me when Brady throws his fourth
TD pass to either Vereen or Edelman to go up by 23 against Detroit or Philly or
somebody in the Super Bowl.
2. It’s amusing to me the reputation Tony Romo has. He’s
actually a good quarterback but the perception is that he’s a choker. He’ll
have 3 “above average-to-borderline great” days, and then he’ll have a terrible
play in the 4th game that everybody notices which keeps the
narrative alive. Meanwhile, 2-time Super Bowl champion Eli threw 5 picks this
weekend to bring his total to 25 this season. But, whatever, right? Their
season is lost anyway, so what does it matter?
“Romo can’t win in the big game” well sure, why not. Of
course, this game Sunday would not have been a big game if he had played like
Eli all season.
3. If you’re going to praise Brady for his ZOMG CLUTCHNESS in
the OT win against Denver, then you have to blame him for his lack of it
against Miami. Or, preferably, you could drop the clutch talk altogether (since
he had a great game in both games). Teams win games, quarterbacks don’t. They
help you to win a game, but by no means are they only factor.
Obviously I’m partial in who I root for, but let’s go back
to the Brady/Manning debate -- sidenote: I really don't think it matters who is better, but admittedly it is fun to talk about so whatever. Without question, these are the two best
quarterbacks of my generation. But when we talk about who is better, Brady
backers always point to the record against each other. This is just a flawed
way of thinking. The QB’s aren’t playing with or against the same defense. You
would have to look at their entire body of work of their career.
Brady had a fantastic game this weekend. In the end it wasn’t
enough. Does that mean Tannehill is a better QB than Brady? Well, no. But their
head-to-head numbers are pretty similar. Note: I like how that page doesn’t
have the QB’s records against each other. You can find it with an easy google
search, but I didn’t want to make didn’t want to make your head spin.
4. I have no idea who comes out of the AFC at this point. But I’ll
say this: No one wants to see the Ravens get in the playoffs. I really feel
that, for whatever reason, there is something to be said about confidence being
a factor in the playoffs. And there is no doubt that the Ravens are a confident bunch (or, maybe a little dumb). Giants in 2007-08, Giants in 2011-12, Ravens in 2012-13; all of these
teams were extremely confident in their chances despite what everyone else
thought – and each won the Super Bowl. I’m not saying the Ravens will win the
Super Bowl if they make the playoffs. But I am not counting them out. (There. This
paragraph should do enough to ensure that they lose by 16 to Detroit tonight...)
4:49 - Update: More quick thoughts!
5. What a great weekend for the Rams! They completely demolish
the Rams, and somehow the Redskins (who are giving the Rams their first round
pick) manage to lose a game that Atlanta was giving them in the fourth quarter.
6. The Titans came back from 17 points in less than 5 minutes.
They score to make it 34-33 on what is essentially the last play of the regular
season. The Titans essentially had nothing to play for (and now don’t). The Titans elect to kick the game-tying XP.
This isn’t the smartest thing in the world, but fine. Whatever. The Cardinals
committed a penalty on the extra point attempt. The Titans now have the ball at
the one-yard line! Run the ball! Steal the win! They continue with the kick. A
few plays into OT, Ryan Fitzpatrick throws a pick, and the Cardinals gain some
yards, kick a field goal, and win the game. C’mon teams. Grow some cahones.
7. Frank Gore didn’t have a touchdown on the field, but he may
have scored off the field.
8. Wait, what’s this graphic CBS? Oh my god, stop! Get this out
of here! Ew.
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