Trash Talk: When NESCAC Offers the Best Game

BREAKING:From BSL in comments:

Final, Jeffs 26, Ephs 21: That will do it from Williamstown as the Jeffs finish off their perfect season at 8-0.

Woot!!
Here it is Saturday, mid-day, trying to catch up on Trash Talk, with some of the best games already played for the week and one NESCAC game–in progress–that might be the week’s highlight.

On Thursday, Mike Singletary’s Niners finally ended a nasty losing streak against Da Bears.

And last night, #5 Cinci beat West Virginia, but not by much.

Other than that, there’s not all that much going on, aside from the Buckeyes playing for first place in the Big 10.5 against the Stanzi-less Hawkeyes.

Except, that is, in the awesome Div III NESCAC, where an unbeaten Amherst College travels to Williamstown to meet a strong Williams team.

It’s always a big deal for Amherst College to beat Williams College, but in this, the 124th meeting between the two teams, the Lord Jeffs have more at stake than the bragging rights for knocking off their archrival.

The teams go at it Saturday at noon at Weston Field in Williamstown. The game will be televised on NESN.

With a victory, the Jeffs would claim their third 8-0 season, and their first perfect record in 25 years. They would also earn their first outright title in the New England Small College Athletic Conference.

From the rivalry standpoint, it would also be Amherst’s first win at Weston Field since 1985, and its first win over Williams since 2004. The last Amherst victory at Williamstown was also the first televised game in the series with the Jeffs coming on top 35-20.

Williams leads the all-time series 70-48-5.

A victory by Williams would mark the eighth time the Ephs have ruined the Jeffs’ quest for a perfect season.

I just missed that last unbeaten season, and it’s been a while since Amherst could really win these in Williamstown. So I’ll probably be updating you with bad news shortly. In the meantime, go Lord Jeffs!!

I was serious when I said that NESCAC game was one of the highlights. In the pro leages, here are some of the ho-hum games this week:

  • Detroit at Minnesota
  • Jacksonville at Jets
  • Drew Fookin Brees at Rams
  • Denver at ‘Skins
  • KC at Oakland

I mean, c’mon, KC at Oakland?!?!?!?! We’re supposed to watch that?

Which leaves just these four games of interest:

Atlanta at Carolina: Jake Delhomme was remembering how to QB until he met Drew Fookin Brees last week. That said, this is a Division game, the Dirty Birds want to stay in the hunt–for a wildcard, at least. So it might be interesting. Except for the fact that the Dirty Birds have finally gotten Michael Turner running again.

Cinci at Pittsburgh: Cinci’s actually a team this year, and with Baltimore struggling, the Bengals (cough) are the one thing that might challenge Pittsburgh in the Division. Cinci won their first game, in Cinci. But that’s different than playing at Heinz Field. Moreover, Ochocinco is bound to be hurting after having to pay $20,000 for a “bribe the ref with a buck” stunt last week.

Iggles at Bolts: This might be interesting. Then again, last time the Iggles traveled to the west coast they got embarrassed by the Raiders. Which leads me to believe the Bolts win this one comfortably.

Brady in Peyton’s home: Okay, there is one game worth watching–you just gotta wait until the night game to watch it. My instinct is to say that evil Peyton wins this one, it being indoors in Indy. Peyton got rid of his Pats boogeyman several years back, and the Pats–particularly their D–just aren’t all that good this year. Then again, the Colts have been winning, barely, for several weeks now, and they’re due to lose, barely. And they’re banged up, having finally discovered that Bob Sanders will never be healthy enough to do them much good. You know I’m rooting for BillBel in this game… let’s hope things go well for me in New England across the board.

image_print
254 replies
  1. Jim White says:

    EW: Would I be right to assume you drew trash talk duty because bmaz is too busy buying Budweiser in preparation for going to tonight’s NASCAR race in Phoenix? I expect a full report from him!

  2. Xenos says:

    DANG! Drat! humph.

    Watched the game on NESN, and they pronounced the name of the Defectors as “AmHerst” every single time, so that is some consolation. some.

  3. BayStateLibrul says:

    Jeffs 26, Ephs 21 with a minute remaining…

    Fourth quarter, 3:44: Just when it looked as though Amherst was on their way to slowly killing off the clock, the Jeffs fumble it away and the Ephs’ Will Cronin jumps on it to bring the crowd to its feet. Williams as just under four minutes to cut the 26-21 lead down

  4. BayStateLibrul says:

    Final, Jeffs 26, Ephs 21: That will do it from Williamstown as the Jeffs finish off their perfect season at 8-0.

    Fourth quarter, 1:13: The Ephs can’t reach the first down on the short pass to tight end John Carroll along the left side as he gets wrapped up about one yard short. The Jeffs can now just run out the clock

      • Mauimom says:

        That bodes well for a Pats victory, I’m telling you.

        Oh, so this [Amherst] explains your love of the Pats?

        I could never figure out why you weren’t rooting for one of those wholesome Midwest teams.

      • BayStateLibrul says:

        Does their rain-soaked, wind-driven, victory mean a bid to the Orange (Purple) Bowl?

        Pahty, hahdy, in Am-erst tonight…

      • lawordisorder says:

        i Guees the LORd and ladies(should that be squadies or redcoats) are god for something after all
        (As we here at the coffee machine engage in some friendly harassment…cursing the bloody yanks for introducing us to the total mindboogling game of “football” heretics…rebels thats what you are……looking for a beginners manual for the bloody thing…why can’t the commentators speak the queens English?)….. ;-)

        • freepatriot says:

          heretics…rebels thats what you are……

          ah, yer jes sayin that to make us feel good …

          (blushes)

          I think this guy really likes us

        • lawordisorder says:

          I know….and it also makes us still loyal to the crown saying it…LOL

          Throw in a crowned head or two and we all go wobbly on this side of the big pond…..THAT WAS NOT TO SAY BEHEAD THE BUGGERS…bloody (round heads) just a little self reflection lol

  5. LabDancer says:

    Don’t get NESN, but still have the remote set to cheer-lead:

    Brother Ephraim sold a cow
    To purchase his commission.
    Then rode he off to Canada,
    To fight the Indian nation.
    Soon sent home by George’s henchman,
    Proved an arrant coward:
    Ran away from Louis’ Frenchmen,
    Scared of being devoured.

  6. bmaz says:

    Hot damn, this really is a full service blog! Sporting news from the remote American colonies and everything…..

    Per the request above, today’s music has been inserted into the main post. For all you people in Deetroit Music and Motor City.

  7. LabDancer says:

    Amherst’s answer to the Harvard’s cheer*:

    Innoculate to extirpate.
    Eliminate the execrate.

    [* Repel them
    Repel them
    Make them relinquish the ball.
    -G. Plimpton]

  8. emptywheel says:

    I know we’ve done this in the past, but for those who don’t know the full joy of Amherst’s genocide fight song, here it is:

    Oh, Lord Jeffery Amherst was a soldier of the king
    And he came from across the sea,
    To the Frenchmen and the Indians he didn’t do a thing
    In the wilds of this wild country,
    In the wilds of this wild country.
    And for his royal majesty he fought with all his might,
    For he was a soldier loyal and true,
    And he conquered all the enemies that came within his sight
    And he looked around for more when he was through.

    Oh, Amherst, brave Amherst
    ‘Twas a name known to fame in days of yore,
    May it ever be glorious
    ‘Til the sun shall climb the heavens no more.

    Oh, Lord Jeffery Amherst was the man who gave his name
    To our College upon the Hill
    And the story of his loyalty and bravery and fame
    Abides here among us still
    Abides here among us still
    You may talk about your Johnnies and your Elis and the rest
    For they are names that time will never dim
    But give us our only Jeffery, he’s the noblest and the best
    ‘Til the end we will stand fast for him.

    • bmaz says:

      The Quackers laid a big egg last week; very disappointing. Not that Stanford is a bad team or anything, they are not – in fact, they are capable of being very good on a given night – but Oregon really needed to win that.

  9. Nola Sue says:

    Been waiting for a new trash talk to say hi and Who Dat! (Knocking on wood — lifelong Saints fans take nuttin fer granted.)

    Thought some might be interested in this article about ~Drew Fookin Brees~ … a cute 8 yr old N-Awlins girl won a Take a Player to School contest, and Drew picked up her in a limo, took her to school and spent the day doing yoga and playing with the kids.

    Great pictures. I always enjoy cheery stories from my old hometown downriver and had to share ….

    • emptywheel says:

      Which I don’t get, apparently. We local Wolvereenies aren’t allowed to see how far we’ve fallen.

      Or what we’re facing next week, not sure which.

      • Nola Sue says:

        I do not understand how these upper midwest stations pick their programming. The Mpls/St Paul Fox affiliate played infomercials instead of running Saints vs Eli Manning at the Dome? And any ol’ unranked, non-local Big Ten game gets on, regardless of some Top Ten major rivalry somewhere else in the U.S.

        (Speaking of small schools. Peyton & Eli went to mine in N.O.! Add our Isidore to the Jefferys & other-Elis. Course, I’m a few — ahem — years older.)

      • 4jkb4ia says:

        We were able to see Nebraska-Kansas in preparation for the great showdown next week.

        Hey! We are getting there. The shortest Friday will be on December 1.

        • 4jkb4ia says:

          Never mind. If there is a great showdown, Mizzou is not involved. Whoever wins Nebraska-Kansas State will be 5-3 at worst in the conference and will inherit the right to be destroyed by Texas since Mizzou can only be 4-4.

  10. bobschacht says:

    Ohio State wins by a field goal.

    Those are strange OT rules. Ohio State intercepts in the end zone, but instead of getting the ball on the 20, they get it on the Iowa 40??? WTF!?!!

    Bob in AZ

        • PJEvans says:

          Two of them, actually.

          (Last time, my mother was watching it, and said it was the best part of the game.)

        • cinnamonape says:

          Did you ever wonder if Cal Tech actually plays any sports in the Rose Bowl? Do they have sports at Cal Tech (other than chess, Scrabble, and Go)?

        • freepatriot says:

          Did you ever wonder if Cal Tech actually plays any sports in the Rose Bowl? Do they have sports at Cal Tech (other than chess, Scrabble, and Go)?

          they won the Beaver Bowl

          I saw it myself …

          the dude got a class credit for that stunt, does that count ???

        • bmaz says:

          Heh heh, yes because I would fit in so well in the OSU section. Funny story. Last time we went over – for the 97 game (one of the best ever by the way), a couple of friends who didn’t have tickets ahead of time tagged along. They were all dressed up in their maroon and gold ASU colors and were thrilled when they were able to buy a couple of tix outside the stadium right before the game. Good seats too. Except it turned out they were smack dab in the middle of the biggest Ohio State block in the joint. We kept looking through the binoculars at them and laughing and laughing. Then we would call them on their cell phone and laugh some more.

        • klynn says:

          I would never put pressure on you to censor your thoughts about the Buckeyes! But I sure would LOVE to get you tickets and watch your, “Oh Sh____!” expression as you sat surrounded by scarlet and grey.

          I was going to send you a Tressel sweater vest with those tickets bmaz!

        • bmaz says:

          I’m smarter than that. When they came over gushing about their score of great seats, I said “Excellent! so where are those?” I been to the Rose Bowl before, I know where the respective tickets are allocated to the schools.

          A sweater vest? Yikes.

          But I would go to the game with you if we could sit in neutral territory.

        • emptywheel says:

          I double dog dare you to send him a sweater vest. Backstage we keep trying to send him whiskey, but the feds don’t really smile on that kind of thing.

          But who could object to a sweater vest?

        • freepatriot says:

          But who could object to a sweater vest?

          if nobody else does it first, I will

          OBJECTION YER HONOR !!!

          based on my constitutional protection against cruel and unusual punishment

          (did I say that right)

          I shouldn’t have to picture something like that

    • cinnamonape says:

      I think the College rule is that if there is an unsuccessful series in OT the defending team gets the ball on the 40. Iowa also started on the 40 (no kickoff).

      • prostratedragon says:

        Yeah, ncaaf overtime works like innings. The int means that o held Iowa scoreless for an inning, and if their own turn at bat is at the bottom of the inning, then they can win effectively in sudden death on any score (winner is the leader after any complete inning).

        Hail the mighty Jeffs!

  11. rosalind says:

    watched Stanford go up 14-O in the departures airport bar
    watched USC make it 28-21 in the arrivals airport bar
    listened to the 4th Quarter in the car home.

    a good day.

  12. freepatriot says:

    I mean, c’mon, KC at Oakland?!?!?!?! We’re supposed to watch that?

    that’s why Goddess invented Bourbon

    anybody know what the hell happened to Stanford ???

    all teh sudden they think they’re a D-1 powerhouse or sumtin

    now Oregon don’t feel so bad

    • bobschacht says:

      anybody know what the hell happened to Stanford ???

      all teh sudden they think they’re a D-1 powerhouse or sumtin

      New coach. Jim Harbaugh:

      5. Jim Harbaugh, Stanford: He’s like Carroll with more of an edge to him. Harbaugh has quickly given the Cardinal confidence and some offensive fireworks, plus he’s a talented recruiter. Stanford would not give up the goods on his paycheck to USA Today, but conference sources say $800,000 (ninth) with an extension pending.

      Read more.

      Izzat the same guy who used to quarterback at Michigan? And for Da Bears, IIRC?

      Bob in AZ

  13. emptywheel says:

    Alright, Jim Brady (formerly of the WaPo) jsut linked to this site on Twitter. It shows which markets around the country are getting which games.

    It shows that:

    Detroit is getting the frigging KC-Oakland game, though there’s no conceivable reason why anyone would want to watch that game.

    The bulk of the country is getting Detroit at MN, rather than the ATL @ CAR game which will be the better game and will actually count for something. (I apologize in advance that the Lions aren’t coming along more quickly–but you’ll get to see Jared Allen make peanutbutter of a #1 draft pick.)

    The bulk of the country is getting Dallas @ GB, when the Phi @ SD game is more evenly matched.

    Who makes these schedules?

    Can I just say I’m grateful that DTV talked me into getting NFL ticket for $5/mo.

    • 4jkb4ia says:

      Drew Fookin Brees has become a legend in his own time. Damn game is going to be over by halftime and it will be the only one I can get.

    • bmaz says:

      Who makes these schedules?

      People whine about Old Man River, but people watch Old Man River. And who wouldn’t rather watch the ‘Boys and Pack in a game in Lambeau than the the woeful Norvals versus the pitiful Delhommes? Bleeech; give me the Ice Bowl replay any day.

      • emptywheel says:

        Sorry–it’s teh Norvals versus DeSean Jackson. Are you telling me watching Old Man River cream the Kitties is going to be more fun to watch than Bolts Iggles?

        • bmaz says:

          Ooops, had just woken up. But YES! I would rather watch Old Man River play the Lord Jeffs than the Norvals.

          Okay, maybe that’s a stretch….

    • freepatriot says:

      Detroit is getting the frigging KC-Oakland game, though there’s no conceivable reason why anyone would want to watch that game.

      Who makes these schedules

      isn’t it obvious ???

      it’s george w bush …

      (duckin & runnin)

    • rosalind says:

      back in my amphitheatre days, we used to make fun of the road crews taping the name of the town next to the lead singers mic – “who can forget what city they’re in?”, we laughed.

      cut to my third day out on the road as an assistant tour manager, stumbling in to the hotel lobby 4am after traveling from our previous night’s gig. cheerful receptionist asks where we played the night before. i think hard, but the best i can come up with is – “the state started with an ‘m'”.

    • bmaz says:

      Bo Merlot, Woody Hayes – what’s the difference?? Neither one could beat the Pac-10 in the Rose Bowl.

      I can see how easy it was for the Boss to make that mistake.

      As Freep would say, “Hey, this is Trash Talk right?”

  14. bobschacht says:

    In the last 30 years or so, has any university sent more quarterbacks to the pros than Michigan?

    Jim Harbaugh (MI, 1983-1986; Bears 1987-1993; Colts 1994-1997, etc.)
    Elvis Grbac (MI, 1989-1992; 49ers, 1993-1996; Chiefs 1997-2000, etc.)
    Brian Griese (MI, 1993-1997; Broncos 1998–2002; Dolphins (2003), etc.)
    Tom Brady (MI, 1998-1999; Patriots 2000-present)
    Drew Henson (MI, 2000; Cowboys, Vikings, Lions)
    Chad Henne (MI, 2004-2007; Dolphins, 2008-present)

    Almost every Michigan starting quarterback has spent some time in the pros, and some (Leach, Henson) have also played baseball in the pros.

    Bob in AZ

      • Neil says:

        I didn’t go to The Game this year although I was planning to drive up with my mom. The foul weather forecast changed our minds about making the trip. We watched at home.

        Doug Flutie called the game on NESN. He had spent Friday in Billsville with the Williams football team and coaching staff so he was well briefed and well versed if not a little Eph biased. To wit, he knew the last Williams offensive play of the game and said it, before they ran it and Amherst stopped it.

        It’s been a long time since Amherst beat Williams in Billsville, since 1985. Amherst won a string of Amherst Williams football games back then from 1981 to 1986. In the 26 years since, Amherst beat Williams 3 times, now 4 times in 27 years. 1986 was the last Amherst team that went 8-0.

        I don’t know who took the photos but I saw them via a tweet from either @AmherstCollege or @LordJeffery.

        I watched the Tufts game this year and learned what a phenomenal defense squad we had. There were 6-0 after Tufts. They passed there last two exams, Trinity and Williams with with high honors.

    • LabDancer says:

      Wonderful photos. And what a crowd: according to my Official FauxNoose calculator, there had to be at least 140,000 in those stands, easily eclipsing those Sta-Puft figures Ann Arbour comes up with every Homecoming.

      And what awesome & revealing literary asides:

      not only do [or do-do] all the WC players get compelled to wear their over-all average entrance grades on their helmets, but each player has the evidence right in front of his nose of precisely how dumb each & every one of his teammates, not only looks, but is [with the clever corollary that, critically, obviously so as to avoid the possibility of individual players having their self-esteem crushed, there is no such painfully discernible evidence of how dumb he himself looks or is — with the only available evidence requiring a level of deductive reasoning power fortunately denied anyone with such a GPA as his helmet documents],

      BUT ALSO the WC phan base contributes with their own tailored & telling spelling of the Put Down Du Jour: not being merely content to convert “u” to “o”, but as well to riff off the absent consonant in the team name: “Williams players are OOSHBAGS”.

  15. Neil says:

    “I’ll take 1-7 and take this game,” .. senior center Tim Bishop said, “over 7-1 and losing it, or 7-0-1 and tying it, any day.”

    None of the Williams seniors had ever lost this game before; the Ephs had won four straight over the Lord Jeffs. None of these Amherst seniors has ever won it. The reactions of both sides were startling and new.

    Williams senior kicker Scott Sobolewski of Clifton Park proved critical in last year’s 24-23 Ephs’ win. He ends his career 3-1 against the Lord Jeffs, but the 1 will stick with him the hardest.

    “There is no worse feeling,” he said after the game. “This is awful.”

    That’s what this game means.

    “Awful rivalry is great”link

    All true. There is no better feeling than beating Williams, and no worse than losing to her.

    • LabDancer says:

      They didn’t even bother to pack their Eph game — & it’ll still be more than sufficient.

      AP runs wild for a TOU- … no no, it’s a FU- … a highlight vid. The only thing this is going to show is how a team can beat a 2 td plus spread while turning over the ball or drawing a flag on every second play.

  16. 4jkb4ia says:

    14-14. Steven Jackson barely gets over the goal line. This game is NOT over, to say the least!

    Also SLU 1-0 in 59th minute.

  17. emptywheel says:

    For all my bitching about bad games, there are so many evenly matched games today I have broken down and opened a beer: Victory Pils, which I have never had before but it’s pretty good.

    • bmaz says:

      Yeah, well our earlier discussion as to whether I would rather watch the replay of Ice Bowl from the hallowed Frozen Tundra or the Norvals v McNabb and his mother (whatever happened to her??) is freaking moot. If you had completely consulted Jim Brady, you would have seen that I will be tortured into watching the local historically semi-pro football team play the SeaSquawks. Bleech.

      And, by the way, you think you could go down to Deetroit and help young Matthew Stafford get fitted in a proper little black dress for the debutante ball the NFL and its referees seem to be taking him and the other league quarterbacks to?

      • bobschacht says:

        Hey, bmaz, you gave up too soon. The Old Man of the South woke up in the second half and smoked those Sea Squawks until they were all pickled.

        Bob in AZ

  18. randiego says:

    San Diego became Philadelphia West this weekend. Hearing talk of 10,000 Iggles fans in town. Pretty embarassing, but the economy has killed ticket sales here.

    I’d love to send ’em home from paradise with a loss.

    • emptywheel says:

      I’d be rooting for you.

      Except there’s the whole Dallas problem.

      That, and Norval.

      I’m rooting for a good game, frankly, so I can rub bmaz’s face in having to watch a crappy game while I watch a good one.

        • emptywheel says:

          Then again, it’d be fun to set up a situation where bmaz says “yeah, you keep saying SD is not out of it, even though they’re three games behind,” only to see them close the gap with the Broncos.

          That was amusing for those of us with little invested there.

        • randiego says:

          They aren’t out of it, especially after an east coast loss for Los Burros. But you’d never hear me say that when they were three down… I was hoping for 8-8 at that point!

        • Petrocelli says:

          Unless the DonKos revert to their Zebra stockings, they’re going to have trouble beating the good teams …

        • bmaz says:

          Oh come on. That argument is so lame I am thinking about bringing over peejob from the other thread to address it. Closing the gap and overtaking the Donkos in the AFC West is not much of a standard based on the historical record of the last few years. That still does not mean the Norvals are “in it” and going anywhere. What the Norvals gonna do when they got to play the Peytons, the Pats, the Stilluhs or even the Bungals in January??

        • randiego says:

          Man, you seem a bit sensitive about that.

          So let’s see, previously the Bronkos were world-beaters, except when they aren’t. The Chargers aren’t in it until they are, but even if they are it won’t matter. Yet, Stillers don’t appears to be all that, and the Paytons didn’t look so hot last January, eh?

          Seriously, the easiest thing in the world is to be a Charger hater. It’s like being mad at Mondays.

        • bmaz says:

          Okay. I was very wrong. Looks like Norval and the Bolts are at least having a game with the Iggles. Cheesers are leading the ‘Boys 3-0 near the end of the third quarter. Ugh. I don’t even thing the tundra is frozen……

        • dakine01 says:

          What the hell are you complaining about? You could be having to watch Da Raidahs/Chiffs as the alternative to the Pack/’Boys on the non-tundra.

      • LabDancer says:

        If the bovine youths beat the Pack today, then your scenario of remote rubbing bmaz’ beak has to be in doubt: it’s quite possible the Norske need not bother actually playing, leave aside winning, any more regular season contests.

  19. bmaz says:

    Weekly Leaders
    PassingRushingReceiving
    Rk Name C/ATT YDS TD INT RAT
    1. B. Favre, MIN 20/29 344 1 0 120.5
    2. J. Cutler, CHI 29/52 307 0 5 33.6
    3. M. Bulger, STL 26/40 298 2 1 93.5
    4. M. Ryan, ATL 22/41 224 1 2 57.4
    5. D. Brees, NO 18/26 223 2 2 89.1
    6. D. Garrard, JAC 16/26 221 1 0 101.6
    7. M. Sanchez, NYJ 16/30 212 1 2 59.3
    8. V. Young, TEN 17/25 210 1 1 90.4
    9. J. Delhomme, CAR 15/24 195 2 0 115.8
    10. M. Stafford, DET 24/43 195 1 0 75.2
    Complete Leaders

    Passing
    Name CP/AT YDS TD INT
    Brett Favre 20/29 344 1 0

    And a QB rating of 120.5

    Boy, I hope Old Man River doesn’t get benched next week for such bad stats or anything; I hear he has a streak or something going….

  20. Petrocelli says:

    Cripes, the Murkans have taken over our air waves … we’re getting the Pack/Dullas, Cardinals/Seahawks, Bills/Titans & Iggles/Bolts as well as the NBA Nuggets/Bulls.

    And we also have on playoffs from the Canadian Flutie League …

      • randiego says:

        Two straight wins against the NFC East, I’ll take it. Next two games against Denver and Dallas, nothing comes easy!

        Today, LT moved into third place all-time career TDs with 146, passing a great ballplayer, Marcus Allen. He’s not what he’s used to be, but he had a huge game today and is still a warrior.

        • randiego says:

          He’s been banged up a lot, with stuff like ankle sprains. Plus, the leader of the O-line, Pro-Bowl Center Nick Hardwick, has been out 6 weeks – plus two other starters on the O-line. Kinda hard to run without a solid O-line.

          Hence, the worst running stats in the league, literally ranked #32, but LT had 96yards and two TD’s today. His best game of the year.

          Now, ask me about our run defense. Also, not so good. Perennial pro-bowl nose tackle Jamal Williams out for the year. Running a 3-4 without a dominant nose tackle is not easy. It allows teams to double-team Merriman.

  21. bmaz says:

    Well, the Cards finally managed enough gumption to put down the pesky Squawks. Exciting!

    But they are still the Cardinals, and flaky as all get out.

  22. bmaz says:

    As to the Lions, I would point out one thing Matt Millen did right: He absolutely robbed Dallas blind on that Roy Williams trade.

  23. freepatriot says:

    HEY, LOOK

    it’s the brady bunch at peyton’s place

    and did bmaz really warn randiego about the “lurking” bungles

    oh ya, they’re a playoff powerhouse …

    did anybody notice the the bolts wiped out the donkos 3 game lead a LOT earlier this year ???

    did I forget anything ???

    oh ya

    DREW FOOKIN BREES

      • freepatriot says:

        dude

        don’t deny my Muse

        if she wants points, you root for points (she didn’t specify a team, did she …)

        Indy must go down

        there can be only ONE

        or do I have to reconsider that objection …

        the way I figure it, the bradys an the peytons will wear each other out, jes like pittsburro an the bungles did earlier today, allowing San Diego to sneak past all four weakened teams, and get slaughtered in the superbowl by DREW FOOKIN BREES

        that’s my evil plan, an I’m stickin to it …

        the fun part is the brief second when I raised randiego’s hopes, only to crush them with ironic flair

        I’m good …

      • emptywheel says:

        We don’t really expect the Old Geezer to start throwing picks for another week or so.

        He’s almost as old as me. That arm (or that groin) will give out shortly.

        • bmaz says:

          Hey now, I’m ten years older than the Geezer; you still need it, just not as often….

          And Drew Fookin Brees had to scrape by the Rams, of all people, today. Other than the Pats, they don’t have much for tough teams left on their schedule though (unless you consider the Cowboys and Falcons tough), so they may Brees to an undefeated regular season if they can take care of the Pats in NOLA in two weeks.

        • bmaz says:

          I predicted at the start of the season the Pats were the pick to win the AFC and the SB. They certainly look well on their way now.

          Hope that doesn’t jinx them or nuthin!

        • LabDancer says:

          Yeah well, I’m so old the Geezer could be one of my kids!

          And as a Geezer’s geezer, I’ll have you all know the most typical concern with a tricky geriatric groin is not so much full spectrum performance capability as location, location, location — like in,
          now where did I leave my
          a] keys
          b] reading glasses
          c] teeth
          d] hearing aid
          e] cellphone
          f] meds
          g] [pick a body part]

      • emptywheel says:

        Though i will say this for the Old Geezer. The pre-game hype on this game was way out of line with the play of the two teams this year, even if the Colts ARE undefeated. They’ve been squeaking by, not like Drew Fookin Brees.

  24. randiego says:

    wow, that was one of the worst coaching decisions I’ve ever seen. That spot on the 4th down was a bit suspect, but they shouldn’t have been in that position. Shocking.

    • bmaz says:

      They said he didn’t have full possession at max forward progress; that looked accurate, but the replay wasn’t close enough for me to really tell.

      Was there an injury to the Pats punter? I saw him falling down earlier. Thought he was flopping looking for a penalty; but maybe he was hurt?

      • randiego says:

        Looked like a first down to me, unless I don’t understand the rule, which is possible.
        That punter better have a broken leg.

        Rodney just called it the worst coaching decision he’s ever seen Belichick make.

  25. bobschacht says:

    Well, Bellicheck made an uncharacteristically stupid decision, going for 4th and 2, only 30 some yards from his own goal. Cheese louise, how stupid can you get??? So the Patriots lost a game they should have won.

    Bob in AZ

  26. prostratedragon says:

    No timeouts, correct?

    I think the Pats wanted to make sure they’d have one more shot, that being the 4th down play. They knew that they might not get it back no matter where they put the Colts on the field.

    My guess, anyway, was watching muted.

  27. LabDancer says:

    Whnuh uh funhkn hhupin vherh? Whnwashush craphavout vuhluchukhsha ghenush?

    Sorry for that; had to finish off the last of those words at 198 [A dash of coriander might’ve helped]. To reiterate, my question had to do with a certain beautiful football mind, weaned and nurtured in that legendary nursery of footballiana, The Little 3.

  28. Neil says:

    As shitty as not getting forward progress on the 4 down down call was, which he gets 50% of the time (home games), the pats loss the game on a fumble into the end zone and a Brady interception, 14 points. I don’t blame Belechick for going for it but I am surprised they passed.

  29. prostratedragon says:

    I think the assessment was that once you give Peyton back the ball, time matters more than distance.

    It was a gamble. It failed. Sometimes you wind up with no good choices.

  30. Jim White says:

    Bill Bell blew it and I just love that. He’s a no-good, low-down cheater and that came back to bite him through karma. I think the call by the refs on fourth down was good: the ball was being bobbled over the 30 and not in possession until back on the inside of the 30. Bell killed himself by not having a time out to call for a review (that he would have lost). Not punting the ball was a huge gift to Peyton. I’m not a huge Peyton fan (lifetime 0-4 against the Gators, heh), but my dislike of the Pats runs very deep.

    • BayStateLibrul says:

      Gutsy call, a gamble gone bad?
      Didn’t Joe Theisman say “The word genius isn’t applicable in football.
      A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein?”

      My rallying cry to the gods

      “Forgive Bill’s hubris”
      “Fourth and 2 with 2:08”
      “Let’s not light ourselves on fire”
      “It’s no worse than the Baltimore Colts leaving town”
      “Remember Faulk’s bobble”

      The Patsies will rise again to spoil the Saint’s run (November 30)

  31. emptywheel says:

    I think that call was tacit admission on BillBel’s part that you can’t get rid of Bruschi, Vrabel, Seymour, after having already lost RodneyRoid, and still run that D consistently.

  32. BayStateLibrul says:

    Take two and hit to right.

    40/60 Poll…

    Should Bill Belichick have gone for it on 4th and 2?
    Yes. It just didn’t work out this time. 39.48%
    No. You have to punt. 60.52%

  33. randiego says:

    The whole Occams Razor thing is totally overused, but it is apt. Football is actually a pretty simple game. You punt the ball in that situation, period.

    The risk of giving Peyton the ball on the 30 with 2:00 left is ridiculously high. Add in the risk of what you’re trying to do – you’re talking about executing a short yardage play against Indy’s front seven, which is the strength of their defense and one of the best front seven in the league. Indeed, the Pats killed the Indy secondary all night and ate up big chunks of yards that way, which is why they were leading and should have won.

    That brain-fart was Schottenheimer-esque. That is a significant loss that could come back to haunt the Pats, and all because Belichick over-thought the situation.

    Belichick certainly has earned it, but I can think of a lot of coaches in the league that would have lost their jobs had they screwed up that badly.

      • bmaz says:

        You know, it has been a hard week on the Belichick coaching family. Eric Mangini is taking on enough water to form another Great Lake in Cleveland (and the Ravens are gonna kill them again tonight), Charlie Weiss has four losses this year and still has to play the suddenly red hot Stanford of all teams, oh and Romeo Crenel was the guy fired in Cleveland to make room for Mangini. Even whiz kid Josh McDaniels got smoked by the pathetic Washington Redskins yesterday. And then Bill Bel himself brain farted.

        Brutal.

        • Neil says:

          You can add this: Belichik’s (’75) Wesleyan colleague Whalen (’83), head coach for the EPHs, came up short in the “biggest little game in America” at home on homecoming weekend.

          Here’s a prediction. When Belichik retires from the NFL, he’ll coach lacrosse VIDEO.

        • dakine01 says:

          Well the thing about the BillBel coaching family is that of all the names mentioned, only one is actually BillBel. (Stated as someone who dearly wishes Romeo had been able to make a go of it in Cleveland)

        • emptywheel says:

          Actually, I’ve long been wondering when the constant loss of coaches takes something critical away from BillBel–who among his team was critical. Obviously, Mangy Mangini was not a loss. And the post-Pats history of Crennel (who I really like) and Weiss suggest they were not themselves teh key.

          But I’ve really wondered this year about Paoli and McDaniels.

          Would Paoli have prevented BillBel from dealing away all the leadership on his defense? That’s one real question I’ve got today, because I do think the team would be better this year with Seymour or Bruschi still on board, no matter how thinly played. (And I gotta wonder whether Rodney Roid was thinking of BillBel’s treatment of Seymour last night when he was so furious about BillBel’s decision. Seymour seems to be one of hte players that the rest of the team (and therefore, I assume Rodney Roid) believe was treated unfairly, even if you believe that talent is fungible and the salary cap is a neat competitive challenge.

          Then there’s play-calling and McDaniels. I DON’T think that would have made any difference–but I really would like someone to ask McDaniels whether he would have made the same decision.

          Also, we saw what Rodney Roid thought of the apparent diss of the Pats D. Has anyone yet asked Bruschi what he thought of it?

        • emptywheel says:

          Ah, thanks. Pretty much what I expected him to say. And Buccigross asked him pretty much everything I would have asked him. I must not be watching political journalism…

        • BayStateLibrul says:

          My brother lives in SD, so I have a soft spot for the Bolts…
          and we want Adrian Gonzalez from your Friars…

        • randiego says:

          I swear, I have heard more Belichick apologists trying to justify the decision today! “It’s genius!!”

          The emperor-has-no-clothes aspect is downright Bushian.

          Belichick has earned the right to make a dumb decision now and then. Just call it what it is!

        • dakine01 says:

          I think you’re probably correct to an extent about Pioli but don’t forget, BillBel has done similar to the Seymour trade before. Remember Ty Law and Lawyer Milloy? He seems to subscribe to the Branch Rickey school of better to trade away a year or two early than late.

      • randiego says:

        Norval making a brain-dead decision like that to cost his team the game would have sealed his fate in SD. Ditto Mangini in Cleveland, Zorn in DC, etc etc

        Norv’s a pretty conventional guy. He would have punted, the Chargers D would have given up the TD, and we’d be howling about soft defense in SD.

  34. Neil says:

    Belichick’s blunder obscured a few essential facts about the game.

    ¶He was right in thinking his defense was gassed and would probably not have stopped Manning no matter where the drive started. The Patriots had just allowed two 79-yard touchdown drives that took about two minutes each in the fourth quarter. Right or wrong, Belichick decided the Patriots would win or lose with the ball in Brady’s hands, a conventional approach and often a good bet.

    ¶The Colts’ defense has issues. Brady completed 29 of 42 passes for 375 yards and 3 touchdowns. The injury-depleted secondary had particular trouble covering Randy Moss, who was frequently untouched coming off the line of scrimmage. And the Patriots exposed a real problem for the aggressive outside pass rush of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis — the draw play run to the right caught the Colts overpursuing (Kevin Faulk had 12 rushes for 79 yards).

    ¶Manning is the best quick-strike scoring threat in history. The Colts’ offense was mediocre for much of the night, generating 251 yards through three quarters. Manning got little help from his young receivers. He threw to Pierre Garcon 11 times, who caught only three. Austin Collie dropped one pass. But Manning generated 21 points in the fourth quarter while holding the ball for less than six minutes total. He was 9 of 11 for 119 yards in that quarter. Now you know why Belichick did not want to punt to him again.

    Two things are certain: Belichick’s genius credentials are going to take a bruising this week. And it will all be compelling prologue if — when? — these teams meet in the A.F.C. Championship two months from now. LINK

  35. freepatriot says:

    hereafter we shall all refere to the unmentionable incident as the BBF Game

    the Belichick brain fart Game)

    if ya watch the tape closely, you can see the hair beside Belichick’s ears poof out briefly …

    but this incident does demonstrate that bmaz’ prognostication skillz is operating at full potential

    Y’all have already scored more than the Cowboys and Bears combined this week; you don’t need any more!

    it’s good to know that the more things change, the more they stay the same

    an I stand by my objection to the sweater vest

    jes to appear bi-partisan an all …

    (duckin & runnin)

  36. bmaz says:

    Shit. ESPN just announced Chucky Gruden has signed an extension to remain with them exclusively and not coach. Chucky is TERRIBLE.

    • freepatriot says:

      chucky isn’t terrible

      he’s shameless (and narcissistic too)

      there’s a difference

      for example:

      in the preseason, chucky made a remark about the jets receiving corps causing Jaws to tell chucky “that’s how rumors get started, YOU GUYS IN THE MEDIA say something, and …

      chucky was intelligent enough to appreciate the irony

      an chucky has more than a lil diva in him too

      I won’t repeat everything Warren Sapp said, but I bet his wife has to wait to use the mirror, thas all I’m sayin

      He’s a shameless self-promoter who loves himself, but he has a really nice ring …

      Disclaimer, I like chucky. I even liked him when he coached the raiders (and for me thats sayin a lot) but it’s trash talk, and I calls em like I sees em …

      (re-lurkin for a week while you smart folks have some of those serious talks)

Comments are closed.