Thanksgiving brought out some fun games. The Packers-Lions game wasn't as exciting as most thought it would be and the Dolphins-Cowboys game was more competitive than originally thought.The 49ers-Ravens game was as expected and the Ravens showed what you have to do to beat the 49ers, play defense.
I didn't get to watch as much football as I wanted to on Thursday, so today's slate of game interests me greatly.
There will be some bum games, and most are in the 1 o'clock hour. Atlanta should stomp Minnesota, Cincinnati should handle Cleveland, Carolina will toast Indy, the New York Jets will nip Buffalo; Arizona and St. Louis will put people to sleep and Tennessee should show up and beat Tampa.
The Red Zone Channel will be fun to watch during the first seven games.
Then, it's Eagles-Patriots. I'm obviously interested in this game because I'm an Eagles fan, but I'm also interested for a few other reasons. Vince Young gets another chance to start and I have to say I was very impressed after the win over the Giants. Young didn't show me much for the first three quarters, but that 18-play game-winning drive was amazing. Converting third downs and keeping the clock running. Young was efficient.
The Eagles have to win out to finish 10-6 and have a shot of the playoffs. ESPN had some kind of interactive beta projection model for the final six weeks of the NFL, and I picked the Eagles to win out and get to 10-6. I then, with the rest of the league, projected it out as I saw it panning out — which doesn't mean a lot, but I'm not too bad at picking NFL game — and with my honest objective take on the rest of the League, the Eagles actually got the fourth seed by winning the division. By beating the Cowboys on this win-out stretch, the Eagles would have the tie-breaker if the Cowboys finish 10-6 which I think they will.
I had the Bears finishing 10-6 and the Falcons, so it was a bit of a mess there, but I think it's possible.
But, will it happen?
I have to doubt it as an objective NFL fan.
But as an Eagles fan, I have to think it's possible, but it all lies on today. This is the toughest matchup the Eagles will have from here on out. Fortunately for the Eagles, it's at home where the Patriots have struggle of late. The secondary is a bit beat up but I can see Jason Babin and Trent Cole creating some real trouble for Brady today.
So, I'm putting it all on the line today. If the Eagles win this one, they're making the playoffs. If they don't, they're done.
And yes, I know we've heard "win or they're done" for about seven weeks now, but I feel like this week is the week that actually warrants it. This season has been marred by the awful preseason statement by Vince Young, "Dream Team."
If he doesn't say that, this failure — to this point — isn't as publicized as it has been.
Now Young has the chance to make up for that awful statement, and I have to say that after hearing his interview on NFL Sirius Radio, I feel like he could do that. I cannot believe how composed he was in the interview and I have to say, I became an instant fan.
If he wins today, I may personally break a few more Michael Vick ribs to keep Young in the starting lineup.
Ah, a QB controversy. It's like the mid-90s all over again for the Eagles organization. Every year it seems like the next best option is on the bench.
It would be nice to just find one QB and stick with them. When the contract was given to Vick, the Eagles were aiming for that, but everyone knew that Vick wouldn't play 16 games. Injuries and poor play has made that contract look like a mistake. The numbers were staggering in the contract, but the Eagles included several out-clauses and I wouldn't be surprised to see them come into play here if Vince Young rises.
Sunday Slackers (8-3) at T-Money (6-5)
T-Money has a very nice lead heading into Sunday, but unfortunately, he only has three players left.
Tony Romo (20.8 points) and Laurent Robinson (21.3) each had big days on Thanksgiving, but Frank Gore, Torrey Smith and the 49ers defense let him down.
The Slackers didn't get much help from his three players on Thanksgiving just scoring 16.5 points from Ray Rice, Jordy Nelson and Jermichael Finley. The Slackers was averaging 35 points a week from Nelson and Rice coming into the week, so to only come away with 12 points from them, it wasn't a good day.
It leaves a little bit of pressure on the rest of his lineup, and which three players from the Bears offense, the Slackers are really going to need a big day from Chicago.
And Sunday will not solve anything. Both have players going on Monday night. The Slackers will certainly be in comeback mode Monday night with Drew Brees, while T-Money will look to fend of the Slackers with Brandon Jacobs.
T-Money will really need a big day out of Steve Smith to keep the Slackers at bay. Against Indianapolis, I think he'll get just that and squeak out a close win over the Slackers.
Jawz Attack (3-8) at Jimmy Johnson (8-3)
The Jimmy Jammers pulled out 48.2 points on Thanksgiving and that's a great number considering how bad Stafford was playing for three quarters. He had single-digits heading into the fourth but two TD drives, including a TD pass on the final drive with 11 seconds left lifted Stafford to a respectable 21.6 points. But his four turnovers cost the Jammers eight points.
The Jammers also missed out on 17.3 points from Brandon Marshall. After his one catch for five yards doomed the Jammers last week, Marshall earned a seat on the bench and exploded. He's only been benched twice, and both times have been his biggest point totals of the season. Not good for the Jammers.
Good for Jawz (and the Slackers).
Jawz got 15.5 points from his Cowboys defense and he's primed to get some points according to ESPN projections, but I think Maurice Jones-Drew and C.J. Spiller with struggle to get to 100 yards, and if they don't score, they will be single-digit busts.
I like Roddy White, DeSean Jackson and Wes Welker on Sunday, and Jimmy Graham should give the Jammers a bit of a scare on Monday night, but if all of those players cannot get Jawz above 115 points, I don't think he'll have a chance.
The Jammers should get to 115 with his patched up lineup. Julio Jones is in the lineup now, but he's a game-time decision. The last time he was probable, Jones played one quarter and left, so it's going to be tough to start him.
DeAngelo Williams has a great matchup against the Colts, while Larry Fitzgerald has caught four TDs in the last three games. And against a banged up Rams defense, the Jammers should get some points from Fitzgerald.
Antonio Brown also should go way over his ESPN projected 8.1 points.
Browns double-digits in the Sunday night game should create enough cushion for the Jammers to pull out the win and virtually clinch the division title — if T-Money holds onto his lead. I say virtually because the Slackers would only be able to tie the Jammers at the end of the season and that tie-breaker would go all the way to points where the Jammers have a 50-point lead.
Team Boyer (6-4-1) at Dottsville Toasters (5-6)
The Toasters are in survival mode. After losing three straight, he needs to stop the bleeding and get this win to have any chance at making the playoffs. A loss will undoubtedly end his season.
So, it was good to get 61.1 points on Thursday. It was the start he needed.
But now he has to finish and that could be tough.
Eric Decker doesn't have a QB throwing to him; he basically has a RB who every now and then lobs up a halfback-option pass. Mario Manningham is questionable for Monday night, so that also is a tough start because you could run into a situation where he goes from questionable to out and then you're out of options. He also doesn't have many options on the bench with Jahvid Best and Jacoby Ford inactive, which means he could IR them and get some new players, but he hasn't done it yet.
He had to do it with Matt Schaub and he picked up Texans backup and new starter Matt Leinart.
Leinart makes is 2011 debut for the Toasters, and who knows what will come out of this. I always personally believed that Matt Leinart would some day come back and get a chance to start and surprise people. He's been sitting for a while in a good offense learning. Rust will definitely be an issue — he hasn't started since Week 12 in 2009 — but Leinart has something in Houston that he didn't have in Arizona — a run game. With two solid backs, Leinart should be able to build off of the run game and benefit from the return of Andre Johnson, who will be running routes against two inexperienced cornerbacks, including one cornerback who wasn't in the NFL a few weeks ago.
You see where I'm going with this. I can see 200/250 passing yards, a TD or two from Leinart. If he limits the mistakes, which I think he will because of the run game, I can see Leinart being effective enough to lead the Toasters to victory. He'll just need some of those yards to go to tight end Owen Daniels.
The other player the Toasters will rely on is Chris Johnson. He disappeared last week after his best week of the season. Against Tampa Bay today, with a QB coming of an injury, I expect to see Johnson get the touches and with the Bucs being ranked 31st against the run, it should equal a big fantasy day. Should.
Big fantasy days also are in line for Tom Brady and Michael Turner, but the rest of the matchups are iffy at best. Marshawn Lynch has the best chance to get to double-digits out of the other starters based on what he has done over the last could weeks. Still, with decent point totals coming from Leinart and Johnson, this 40-point hole will be tough to dig out of.
I think the Toasters will end his streak and keep his playoff hopes alive, and by that I mean, he will have a chance if the rest of the matchups in the JFL go his way, too.
Graybill's Generals (6-5) at Fear and Loathing (6-5)
Here are two 6-5 teams that desperately need to win this week. For Graybill, he's lost two straight games and the playoffs are slipping away. A win will keep him in the hunt.
For Fear, he's just hanging onto the division lead and could set himself up for a division title with a win today. Fear had a double-digit day out of DeMarco Murray on Thursday and owns a 6-point lead heading into Sunday.
And it's Sunday for Fear, so that means it's Tebow Time. Fear will look for Tebow to out-play Joe Flacco, who had just 14.2 points on Thursday.
The Chargers have been awful against opposing QBs, but Tebow isn't necessarily a QB. Still, the Chargers have been equally as bad against the run, so I could easily see a 25/30-point day out of Tebow.
Rashard Mendenhall will hit double-digits tonight, as will Cedric Benson and Brandon Lloyd. Given the amount of big days I have predicted for Fear, I can see him slipping past the Generals who can only count on LeSean McCoy and Steven Jackson today.
Fear moves one step closer to the playoffs.
Real Houserville (5-6) at World of Noise (2-9)
World of Noise has won two games and he's 2-1 in the division. He's going to try and do the improbable and finish with a winning division record despite being the worst team in the JFL.
He'll have a great chance to do so with some interesting matchups, but I can't go against Cam Newton, Michael Bush, Mike Wallace and Rob Gronkowski. Those four players should score enough points to take down Noise, so Houserville remains in the playoff hunt with a win today.
That's all.
Chinese Organ Thieves (3-7-1) Channel 4 News Team (7-4)
No Adrian Peterson. No Jeremy Maclin. No way.
Not against Rodgers and the News Team, who enters Sunday with a 30.9-3.5 lead. It will only get worse. I can easily see double-digits from six of eight starters remaining on the News Team's roster.
Arian Foster should have a huge day and he'll get in the end zone with long runs. Vincent Jackson, Tony Gonzalez and Victor Cruz also should provide double-digit performances.
Sorry, Thieves. This is just not your year. Feel free to cut and paste that on your fantasy league's main page and replace Thieves with Jammers. We are polar opposites.
In my league, I'm 8-3 and in Schiavo's I'm 3-8.
In his league, Schiavo's 7-4 and in mine he's 3-7-1.
In a Super Fantasy Standings, I have a half-game lead on him because of the tie. Nikish is in the same boat, he's 2-9 in Schiavo's league and 7-4 here.
I don't know what he's going to do in Schiavo's league today, but I can tell you what he will do here: win.
News Team clinches the division title today.
Comments