The R*s, after a great start, have given it up smooth. I sincerely expected them to look better. It looked like they really had a good formula for winning football, with strong running and good defense. Even with all the losses, the defense is still playing well. They haven’t given up more than 24 points in a game all year. If the Eagles defense could make that boast, they’d have one loss. But suffice it to say that I was expecting to have a much better season, after starting out 6-2.
This Steelers-Ravens game is what football is about. Defense and running. I’m really not imagining either team coming in and lighting up the scoreboard, without a lot of turnovers. I’d almost expect it to kinda play out like last week’s game against the Cowboys, only not quite as ugly. I’m thinking both teams will hang on to the ball a little better.
UPDATE
Okay. Fully healthy now, the Steelers are the best team in the league. With two comeback wins against two of the better defenses in the NFL, I don’t think there’s too much question about it. Are they beatable? Absolutely. But they keep winning. Can they win three straight in January and February?
I don’t know what to expect from the Eagles tomorrow night. They could come out as the team with the potent offense and put 30+ on the board, but if they do, will the defense come to play? They could come out as the team with the stout defense, but if they do, will they put up any points? The simple fact that they fairly well control their playoff destiny makes me nervous. They’re gonna need to win out. CAN they do it? Yes. They’re perfectly capable of doing it. Will they? I guess we’ll hafta see.
Non-NFL Update
I don’t know if NBA coaches should get fired within the first 1/4 of the season. I mean, the only sport where literally every game matters is football, because there are so few games. In basketball, you know there are gonna be stretches of poor play and slumps and all that. I think Maurice Cheeks and Eddie Jordan got shafted. Hopefully, they’ll find work soon enough.
Are basketball coaches’ salaries guaranteed?
December 14th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
When the Ravens couldn’t make a touch down the last time they had the ball, I knew they lost. Actually, I knew it in the 3rd quarter when the Ravens D, as usual, started giving up yardage.
Any good team just has to hang close and then go no-huddle offense.
December 14th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Ravens are definitely gonna be a tough out in the playoffs. They’ll probably be facing the NFCW champion, which is a game they should definitely win, regardless of who they play.
This also kinda typifies the logic for going with a seeded playoff system, because assuming that they’ll get 10+ wins, there’s no way they should be playing at any team out of the NFCW. No way whatsoever.
I still don’t see where the catch was all that controversial, though.
December 15th, 2008 at 12:56 am
You mean AFCW
December 15th, 2008 at 8:19 am
You’re right. I’m so used to typing the ‘N’ I didn’t even notice it. Good catch.
Your boys are still mathematically alive.
December 15th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
If the Chargers win at Tampa next week, and Denver loses it’s next game, it sets up a winner take all showdown in San Diego in the final week in the rematch of the Ed Hoculi Bowl. That earlier game set the tone for this lost season for the Chargers.
I didn’t see yesterday’s game, but Rivers threw 48 passes. At this point, it seems getting Rivers the passing title is the greater goal of the team this year, and I’ve always had a feeling that offensive coaches opt to feature the passing game over the running if they want to be considered “a genius.”
December 15th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
the last week of the season this year will be out of control. there’ll be the denver-sd game, the cowboys and eagles, miami and the jets…it’s gonna be football heaven.
December 15th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
R’s- Where is the pride?
‘boys- You have to play the strong teams well.
Stillers- If Parker and Polamolu stay healthy, look out Titans.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Re: NBA
Reggie Theus also got the boot. So let’s go to the scorecard…
Team – Fired – Replaced by
Thunder – PJ Carlisimo – Scott Brooks (who?)
Wizards – Eddie Jordan – Ed Tapscott (who?)
Kings – Reggie Theus – Kenny Natt (who?)
T-Wolves – Randy Wittman – Kevin McHale
Raptors – Sam Mitchell – Jay Triano (who?)
Sixers – Maurice Cheeks – Tony DiLeo (who?)
December 17th, 2008 at 11:42 am
BB- Tapscott is very well-known and well-regarded in hoops circles. He not only put together the business plan for the Charlotte Bobcats- and served as their president, and was a Knicks scout, and VP for player personnel in the ’90’s (when they were pretty good). Prior to that, he coached some very successful teams at American University from 1982-90 (winningest coach in their history, including Gary Williams and Dr. Tom Young). He’s been a fixture in pro ball for about 18 yrs.
December 17th, 2008 at 11:55 am
i forgot we had a certified hoops historian in the house. we gon hafta run some good ball chat soon.
December 17th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
I had a high school classmate named Ed Tapscott, so I was dying to see if it was the same ET. Then I saw a Wizard’s game and realized it was a different man, but I still had not heard of him before.
I think it’s interesting that 5 of the 6 fired coaches are former NBA players, yet of the guys who replace them, 5 of the 6, if they played in the NBA at all, were very obscure.