Game 14 2009

All 32 teams in the NFL played their 14th game this week. It was a hard week for my anointed teams. As you recall I picked the following teams in the preseason:

1. Colts (won--barely)
2. Dolphins (lost to the Titans)
3. Saints (lost to the Cowboys)
4. Packers (lost to the Steelers)

This wasn't the end of the struggles. The Cardinals had to fight to beat the Lions. It looked like they were going to crush them early, but then the Lions came back. The Vikings, a team I have never bandwaggoned with in 2009, dropped an ugly stinker in Carolina. Of the solid playoff teams, only the Eagles made a solid effort and won well.

Worst of all, my Rams got up on their hind legs and fought the good fight against the Texans, but they failed to win. Maybe my Rams were offended by my suggestion that they have packed it in for the year. They decided to fight before finally packing it in. Once again, I am extremely pleased with our outstanding defense. Once again, I am utterly horrified by our pathetic offense, and our inability to score points. We need a serious offensive overhaul, just like the one we did between 1998 and 1999.

You could make an argument that this weekend was only kind to 3 playoff teams:

1. The Chargers (they won, and the Broncos lost)
2. The Cardinals (they won, and the 49ers lost)
3. The Colts (they won again, and they are the only undefeated team in the league)

I would tend to agree with Jamie Dukes, regarding the New Orleans Saints: This loss is a blessing in disguise. The Saints have been winning thrillers lately, instead of delivering all-out beat-downs, the way they once were. Now they took a beating at the hands of Dallas. I do agree with the notion that this will give them a renewed and refreshed focus in practice. They now know that they are not immortals. They know they can be beaten They know they need to improve during these two weeks before entering the playoffs.

A friend of mine, who is a 49er fan expressed a similar thought when he said: "I agree with Bill Walsh's philosophy: Let them loose 1 and only 1." This can have a focal effect on a championship caliber team.

Also, the loss really didn't hurt the Saints at all. The Vikings turned right around and dropped an ugly game to the Panthers. One more victory locks up home-field advantage through the NFC tournament.

Quick note about the Packers

Just a quick thought or two about the Packers before I get underway this evening. Those who read this blog will know that I picked the Packers vs. Saints as the NFC championship game after the 4 preseason games. I also picked the Colts vs. Dolphins in the AFC championship at the same time. These looked like the 4 most outstanding teams to me in the 1st quarters of those 4 preason games.

Most would say that picking the two undefeated teams that early on is pretty good football prognosticating. They would have forgiven me for those other two picks, which didn't look so good a few weeks ago.

Lo-and-behold! Guess who is coming on strong all of a sudden?!?! The Packers are getting pretty hot as Green Bay is getting pretty cold. Did you hear what Steve Young had to say about these guys? He believes that Aaron Rogers is close to being the best QB in the league, and (of course) the Pack has the #1 yardage defense in the league. As Young correctly pointed out, this is spells serious trouble for Packer opponents in the playoffs. A highly efficient QB coupled with a powerful defense usually spells victory in the playoffs. Young believes that the Packers can cause some serious damage if they can only lock down a wildcard birth.

Some would dismiss Young as cheering for Rogers, a kid who is on very parallel path to the one Young suffered in his pro-career. Most of the guys on MNF and ESPN did not dismiss this analysis. Neither do I. Rogers is what is cracked up to be. The Packers' defense is getting stronger and stronger.

Now wouldn't it be something if those Packers just happened to get through to the NFC Championship game in the Super Dome against the Saints? Calling 3 out of the final 4 is pretty damn good football prognosticating.