Trash Talk: I’m An Excellent Driver Edition
Well I woke up this morning and got myself a beer
The future’s uncertain and the end is always near
Let it roll, baby roll, let it roll all night long.
These are strange days indeed we live in. One minute it is a quiet peaceful day after Thanksgiving, not even the sound of sugar plums and OPR reports dropping, and the next thing you know all hell is breaking loose in the Woods. Tiger goes Rainman driving in the driveway, and Elin Woods shows she’s got some game with golf clubs too. Go figure. You knew it couldn’t be long before Gloria Allred and Mark Geragos were involved. Ugh. The Woods family, sadly, will all be crawling from this wreakage for a long time.
But there is, thankfully, football to occupy our time, so let’s get to the games.
Student Athletes: Right now, and in my backyard, my ASU Sun Devils have just lost, via a late game moronic muffed punt, to the hated UofA Wildcats in what, at one time, was one of the best and nastiest rivalry games in the entire country. No longer, strictly ho hum now. Another game that was always huge, but has lost some luster is Trojans v. Bruins, which is a late game tonight (Fox Sports here). It may not be what it used to be, but very well may be an interesting game tonight. By the way, both TCU and Boise State are going to finish undefeated; I say put em both in BCS bowl games; these are good teams and they have earned it far more than some SEC team with two losses, and more than any flunky Big-10 team.
National Favre League: Again, there area a bunch of simply lousy games not even worth discussing. But the good ones have a lot to chew on. First up is Pittsburgh versus the Ravens in Baltimore. The big news here is that Big Ben is out, not going to play because of concussion symptoms. When Roethlisberger himself is making the call, you know it is real, he is a tough dude. So Dennis Dixon, who was a legitimate Heisman candidate, if not frontrunner, two years ago at Oregon before he hurt his knee, will get the start. He is a great athlete and can throw the ball, but has almost zero experience; ought to be interesting. The Ravens are desperate and have to have a win, but have not been playing well. This is a tossup, with the slight edge to the Ravens.
Peyton and the Colts at Houston is notable too. Can the Colts stay undefeated? Can Houston win a big game at home? I’ll take the Colts. Da Bears visit Old Man River in the land of the Norske. The other really interesting game, however, is the Cardinals visiting the Titans. Kurt Warner looks fine in spite of the hit last week, so the Cards look to be at full strength. The Titans have been resurgent with Vince Young though and are back to playing Jeff Fisher football. The Titans are on a mission, the Cards have the division pretty much wrapped up already because the NFC west is so pitiful. I’ll take the Titans in an upset.
By far the biggest and best game this week is the Monday Night affair down in the Big Easy. If I had more dollars than sense, I would head down for some hurricanes at Pat O’Briens and a 48 hour partay ramble. You know the Who Dat nation is going to be amped up and ready to geaux. This has the makings of another Dolphins/Bears Monday Night game from almost 24 years ago to the day. With only the Redskins, Falcons, Cowboys, Bucs and Panthers left on their schedule, if the Saints can overcome the Pats, they very well may run the table. The Pats are really rounding into form at the right time of the year. You knew they would. Most importantly, the New England defense is gelling. Couple that with a healthy Wes Welker and Brady getting back to the QB he is capable of being, and, well, you just cannot ask for anything more out of a regular season game. As Keith Jackson would say, “folks, this is gonna be a good un”. Drew Fookin Brees and the Who Dats are at home in the dome; give them a microscopic edge.
Alright, that is the slate; what ya got? Been kind of quiet here the last couple of days, time to make some noise fellow knuckleheads!!
BMAZ, TCU and Boise State are already guaranteed BCS bowl spots with the Broncos win last night over Nevada and TCU romp today over hapless New Mexico, and Oklahoma beating Oklahoma State today.
The real question for TCU is whether Texas will lose to Nebraska next week in the Big 12 title game.
If Nebraska defeats Texas (an upset some are calling already), then TCU will play in the BS BCS title game against either Florida or Alabama.
They are not both guaranteed BCS spots. The OSU loss helps, but there are no guarantees. TCU will almost certainly get the nod, Boise State is less clear. Reports locally are that the Fiesta Bowl was sweet on OSU, if they are smart, they will bring Boise State back to where they played in one of the best bowl games ever.
No, Boise State is officially in.
The Oklahoma State loss will knock them out of the Top 16, which you have to be in to at least be eligible in order to go to the BCS if you are a non-BCS conference winner.
Boise State is in the BCS.
With Oklahoma State loss today in “The Bedlam Game”, they are out of the BS. That guarantees that Boise will be in there this year.
Well, they certainly worked hard for it.
It does nothing of the sort. They still must hope a BCS bowl selects them as an at large team. There is a method by which one non-BCS conference school can get an automatic bid; but only one. That will undoubtedly be TCU. Boise State should get an invite, but it is not guaranteed.
Oh, I know the rules, trust me on that one.
If Cincinnati and Texas win their conference titles, then they will mostly likely will be in.
In fact, here’s most people’s projections for the BCS Bowl Games as they stand now, if Texas and Cincy win:
Title Game: Florida/Alabama vs Texas
Rose Bowl: Ohio State vs Oregon
Sugar Bowl: Iowa vs TCU
Fiesta Bowl: Florida/Alabama vs Boise State
Orange Bowl: Clemson/Georgia Tech vs Cincinnati
And the committee will be very hard pressed to pick Cincinnati over Boise State if Cincinnati losses next week to a two loss Pittsburgh team now. (Georgia Tech certainly can’t pass them now if they lose to Clemson with three losses, that’s for sure).
The only team that can really prevent them from being in a BCS game is Nebraska. If the Cornhuskers win next week, which I think they will actually, then that bumps Texas down into a BCS slot.
Then again, Nebraska could easily knock out a two loss Iowa team out of the equation INSTEAD of Boise State.
And it really comes down to whether the committee favors a two loss Iowa team who could have easily loss many more games this season, or Boise State, who has defeated Oregon in the opening game of the year, the potential winners of the Pac 10.
And with Georgia Tech losing tonight, though it isn’t official of course, I think Boise State is in the BCS.
I have several friends on the Fiesta Bowl Committee, and I can tell you, it is no given they will take BSU over Iowa. The economy is hurting and Iowa is thought to travel a lot better and bring in a lot more fans and money. That counts as much as the football. In fact, if it had not been for the afterglow from the 2007 game where BSU beat Oklahoma, I could pretty much guarantee you they would pick Iowa or Penn State. I would say it is 50:50 right now; slight edge to Boise maybe.
Well, Boise State had a very good representation at the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma three years ago, and everyone’s money is the same. Plus, in terms of “attractiveness”, Boise State is obviously the better choice, and the whole state of Idaho would come down to Phoenix just like they did in 07.
Heh, you don’t have to convince me, I’m on your side here. But I also know the gig here very well. If it were not for the 2007 experience, and BSU did represent well, this would not even be close. Like I said, I think it leans in their direction, but it is not any certainty.
True, true.
I think they have the inside track, and today’s events certainly help that.
Noise! I got to watch the Panama Canal in action. Amazing, this hundred year old engineering marvel. The water is at three different levels, between lochs, between the Pacific and the Caribbean/Atlantic.
The small ships pays $1500 to go through, gets tied up on the top level, and once all three are level, the gates open and the ship goes through.
Too small for the cruise ships and large containers, so the canal is being doubled in width and depth. Amazing.
Panamanians generally love Americans because while the French worked hard to build the canal, too many were killed by Yellow Fever and Malaria. American
scientists made the vaccine for these diseases, so Americans could build the canal.
The top engineer and control of construction of the new canal is American. Something to be proud of even if OT.
You there now? That is cool!
Got back Thursday. There are little railroad tugs that keep the large ships in line so as not to be damaged or damage the canal. The ship I saw was much smaller, I’m guessing this ship had to pay $7K to go through.
Something to be proud of, indeed.
I hope you have terrific weather – oh, I see you’re back home now.
Enjoy good weather, all the same!
I think you meant locks rather than lochs. Lochs are those lakes in Scotland and Ireland like Lomond and Ness.
Ishmael, of course our balls are bigger – we have a national healthcare system.
GO RIDERS.
UCLA is a bit unhappy with USC: someone came over and painted the bronze Bruin in crimson and gold, or whatever the SC colors officially are. (By me it’s dark red and yellow.)
You forgot a big game tomorrow, bmaz, it’s Grey Cup Day in Canada, the championship of the Canadian Football League. As Doug Flutie can tell you, it is a vastly different and much faster paced game than American football – and like much about Canada, while the continued survival of the CFL doesn’t make much financial sense in the shadow of the National Favre League, it continues to endure and play high quality football. Until recently, our balls used to be much bigger than Americans, more like rugby balls – make of the metaphor what you will!! :)
GO ALOUETTES!
The Stanford-ND game is actually turning into an interesting one.
As to my Stillers, oh, well…. At least they are acting in Big Ben’s interest. Now, it’s time for the Stiller D to step up the way the Steel Curtain did the one year when Bradshaw was out hurt most of one year.
But, hey, I saw a great image the other day: a six-pack like when you pick up beers. Only there were Lombardis in the place of longnecks. Only one team can pick up that sixpack.
The Green Bay Packers have a cool twelve pack of NFL championships; the Steelers have a long way to go yet.
How many Lombardis? One? Three? Shoot – the first couple Super Bowls they might not have gotten a trophy (I Dunno….) – they only named it the Lombardi after Vince checked out.
A championship is a championship; they won em fair and square. The old Yankees championships are not discounted because they didn’t have that asinine trophy with the stupid little flags on it.
Jeebus, Houston is beating Rice 59-0. At halftime!
Not to worry. The Ricers will be cranking up their “hey, hey that’s OK, you’ll be working for us one day.” cheers shortly, if they haven’t already. They accept the sad fate of their football teams with equanimity, because they know the natural order of things (Texas edition) indicates their path to ruling goes through losing at football.
Heh ;-))
It’s in the student handbook. Right after the section on “welcome to the escalator of life, where you will move up solely by virtue of the provenance of your degree. Congratulations on your wise choice of college and your future success.”
My alma mater, thank you very much. Sumlin has class, he put the starters on the bench at the half. Final was 73-14, UH reclaims the Bayou Bucket after a nasty 56-42 loss last year.
Whoever the new Saviour of Notre Dame football is after Weis is sacrificed, it will be a very ugly season next year without Clausen and Tate if they go into the draft, and they have to score 30 points a game to cover for the defence.
Hah hah, just saw this. This reminds me of Raiduh’s, Skins and Yankees fans, when they can’t admit that their teams just aren’t very good. Literally, it’s ALWAYS “Oh yeah, well how many rings you got?”
Sort of a ‘last refuge of a scoundrel’ sorta thing. I oughta know, I got a Raiduh’s fan in the cube right next to me.
It doesn’t seem that long ago that we were discussing the enshrinement of Mike Tomlin into Canton. Turns out that the on-field talent and injuries to said talent might have some effect.
It wuz big of you, bmaz.
Completely agree.
Ain’t gonna happen. Can’t.
Don’t you know all the BCS games are the province of the Alabamas, Georgias, Floridas, and all those cracker schools in Mississippi and Louisiana. You know the usual suspects – they wind up in the bowls pretty much regardless of how many games they win or lose.
Admitting schools like TCU and Boise State – which have miniscule TV drawing power compared to the usual suspects – into the BCS games would be a commercial catastrophe. So, it won’t happen.
Naw, they’re the Black Swans of college football.
Surprising.
And out of ‘nowhere’.
Calling TCU or Boise “out of nowhere” reveals that the person saying that may not have been watching. oise has been very,very good for 5 or 6 years or so now, and TCU has had a low, though national profile for many years but has recently raised its play to the highest level.
A team does not go undefeated in Division 1-A (or whatever they’re calling it these days) without being very, very good.
Yes, they have been good for several years now (I’m told the Director of the Athletic Dept should get a lot of credit).
But some people still view most of Idaho as ‘nowhere’.
I kid you not.
I sometimes encounter them.
You have to admit thought that it is sometimes difficult to take a team that plays on the smurf turf all that seriously, no matter how well they do play.
That is an eyesore.
Ouch!!
You been in Texass too long ;-))
Crikey, the LSU Arkansas game has been great. And Stanford/ ND is very good too.
I need to pinch myself a few more times.
Clearly, I’m dreaming…
Fiesta Bowl from 3 years ago must have given you pinches three years ago.
DREW FOOKIN BREES
jes to be safe …
NOLA will be a ghost town Monday night. My kid’s karate class has been rescheduled so as not to interfere with Saintsgiving!
Ghost town??!!? More like a zoo. It will be wild.
Well, yeah, the bars will be busy. But it will be the night to hit the malls for Christmas shopping, there will be no one around! I can’t even think about it too much, the whole idea of being undefeated is so bizarre. I’d almost rather they lose one game during the season then run the table through the playoffs to the Big Game. But then we’d still have the 72 Dolphins preening about. To have the Saints go undefeated for the season then win out? No…it’s just too far beyond the realm of possibility to even seriously contemplate.
Gosh, I hope nobody gets over that bridge and loots Gretna or anything….
There’s absolutely nothing worth looting in Gretna … I should know, I used to live there.
Yeah probably not, but that little bridge scene in the Katrina aftermath is seared into my brain. That was American ugly at its full throated best.
Yes, that was seriously wrong and completely unnecessary. Gretna had its own bad elements — seems to come with the poverty and crappy political structure, among other things — but the part I lived in wasn’t like that and did not sprout yard signs supporting the police chief.
But back to football: a tip of the hat to Kevin Sumlin for sitting his key starters in the 2nd half and not piling on the score in an effort to get his QB a Heisman. He did pretty much the same last week against Memphis. That is some unusual restraint in this day and age.
no Roethlisberger and no Palamalu make pittsburo a dull boy
Dennis Dixon ???
what milk carton did they find him on ???
For the record, I think the Texans have a much better chance of beating an undefeated this weekend than the Pats–and of course, I’m a Pats fan (though with a healthy dose of respect for the ‘Aints).
I just think the Saints have enough D to make the Pats struggle a little. Drew Fookin Brees with throw some picks. But that doesn’t seem to prevent him from winning.
“The Wheel”,
I think the Texans and the Pats have equal chance. Lawrence Maroney is finally running the ball with authority now, and the Saints are very susceptible to the run. They are 20th in the league in defending that, and I think Belichick will find a way to mix that run in enough to throw Sharper and company of the Saints off balance there.
The Patriots know who they are (and I say that begrudgingly as a Jets fan), but do the Saints, especially in the last few weeks, know who they are in terms of truly being the game’s elite?
The Texans desperately need this game against Indianapolis on Sunday, but because of Gary Kubiak’s team being a pass first offense, the Colts, despite no longer having Marlon Jackson and Bob Sanders in the backfield for the rest of the year, love the fact that they can turn both Freeney and Mathis loose on the quarterback.
Dwight Freeney is OUT didn’t even travel with the team to Houston.
What a big loss….well, that changes the game more so. I thought the texans were going to beat them. And now, they really should in my mind.
“Tiger Woods hits tree in shortest drive of career”?
Alright, we have a winner! The first Tiger comment!
Well, you know, driver has always been the one inconsistency in his game….
Yep.
It sure does.
Although Boise still has people happy to spend money.
From what I can glean about BSU, it’s actually a pretty good school, particularly certain divisions (i.e., engineering, believe it or not).
Faculty like living in a ‘liveable’ town where they can bike to work and afford to live. (HP has a facility in Boise, and some other engineering firms moved up from Cal in the past couple decades.)
Part of the Mountain West.
OT, I’d actually been checking EW’s to see whether there’d be any thoughts and/or insights regarding Dubai.
But lookee what I just spotted at the NYT. My, oh, my…”Pakistan’s Leader, Under Pressure, Cedes Nuclear Office“.
Lots more info at the link.
But ‘Pakistan’ has been a topic at EW’s many times.
Oh, my paws and whiskers (!) as someone round these parts might say…
I expect Dick Cheney to show up in some spot or other on the airwaves in the next 48 hours. No doubt he’ll find some way to spin this as Obama being ‘weak’, and vent some spleen. I’ll bet a Beamish.
(BTW: This article says AQ Khan was a ‘metallurgist’. Huh? I always assumed that he was a physicist.)
Go Alouettes!
Go Argos … preferably to Oshawa, so Toronto can get a good Football team !
You can have the Cardinals.
Oh, wait, did you want a professional team?
It’s been so long since we’ve had a Professional team, I’m not sure what to do with one …
My restraint deserves some praise … staying away from quips re. bigger balls, Drivers, etc.
Well how about Division 1 Montana. Scored 34 points in the 4th qtr to squeak out a win in the first round of the playoffs over South Dakota State.
Hey, I’m impressed that they found enough people to squeak out TWO football teams in those two states!
Just wanted to pop in quick to wish everyone a Happy Belated Thanksgiving!
I also wanted to thank 4jkb4ia and john in sacramento for thinking of me on
Packer DayThanksgiving ; ) I did indeed have a happy one : )I hope everyone else did as well — the outcome of various sporting events notwithstanding : )
I give thanks every day that Brett Favre is playing!
Wasn’t he that Rookie QB who had a dismal season with the Jets Jets Jets !
Behind that gruff Favre-worshipping exterior is a man who pointed out the number of Packer championships to a Stiller fan and posted a comment on Charles Woodson’s philanthropic tendencies. You ain’t foolin’ anyone bmaz, you still love the Pack ; )
… or he’s jonesing for a Gift Basket of Wisconsin’s finest !
I am a descendant of Julius Cheeser!
Wait, I thought I was the one crediting Woodson for his generosity.
Sorry sister, I was way ahead of you!
Clearly, you did not spend your Sunday morning procrastinating by reading dead trash threads ; ) Yep. bmaz beat you to it ; )
Thinking of Wisconsin’s finest… I wonder whether there is a Curds of the Month Club. It would be the perfect accompaniment to a subscription to the Beer of the Month Club. Hmmmm, I’ll have to look into that… Just for bmaz, of course ; )
Wisconsin’s finest? That was the Wolvereenies’ finest.
What on earth are you talking about?
First, WI is known for it’s cheese, not MI.
Second, last I checked the Badgers made a delectable snack of your cocktail Woolvereenies a few weeks back.
I think Peyton is making you feverish — your comments are completely incoherent ; )
Woodson the Wolvereenie who just happens to play in Green Bay at the moment.
Well, that is a fair claim, he didn’t donate it to the Green Bay Medical Center.
Right. Just as an example, noted long-term Packer Brett Favray never bought us a kid’s hospital.
Um, that would be in Minneapolis wouldn’t it?
In the many years former Packer Brett Favray was in Green Bay, he never once decided to buy us here in Ann Arbor a hospital.
Neither has Donald Driver, for that matter.
That’s cause you don’t have ENOUGH POINTS!
I told you they didn’t have enough points.
It seems to be the pattern. Colts only ever show up for the second half these days. But you gotta put enough in the bank in the first half to stay ahead in the second. 30 might do it.
Does Green Bay have a medical center? I’m not sure that is a fair comparison bmaz.
When I was little and living in the greater GB area, one of my brothers was seriously ill. The hospital in GB was not equipped for the help he needed. So they had him go to the Mayo Clinic (yes, I know Viking territory). While I don’t doubt that GB has grown since then, I would highly doubt that there exists even now the kind of top tier medical facility that one finds associated with every Big 10 school. So I am not the least bit surprised Woodson made the donation to UM rather than to a local hospital in GB. And I cannot imagine a Woolvereenie (even with a healthy coating of cheese) would donate to the equivalent Badgery kind of place in Madison ; )
Well, Woodson also grew up about an hour or so from here, down by Sandusky.
Ah, now I get it thanks : )
You have to admit that Woolvereenies are better when wrapped in cheese ; )
Look at that, and I thought that was another comment about Tiger Woods.
Too.Tempting.To.Resist.
If the reports on Tiger Woods are true, I will say that Chris Rock is exactly right, AA Celebrities need AA Wives !
Do you think Obama would risk cheating on Michelle, even if he has the power to launch Nuclear Missiles ?
I feared my friends’ mommas even more than my own parents … and they really liked me !
Arrrrrrrr, I be puttin you two out to walk the plank!
I got up early to watch …
Washington versus PHILLY ???
why does the NFL hate me ???
and YES, 10:00 am is early for me
Washington sneaks an onside kick to take an early lead …
Be glad you don’t live on Maui. You’d have had to tune in @ 8 am. Still, that’s an hour better than during Daylight Savings Time [which Hawaii doesn’t observe, so NFL action begins @ 7 am].
Ohs Noz … the Steers jump into an early 17-0 lead over the Horsies.
Ruh roh, Kurt Warner OUT today versus the Titans.
Well, well, well
I just declared it beer thirty, on account of that second Peyton pick.
Texans probably STILL haven’t gotten enough of a cushion (see also, Pats, NE). But I’m happy with where the game is so far.
MORE POINTS! Need more points!
I learned that from a sage.
I’m thinkin bmaz had a little too much sun this weekend
he’s talkin to the desert flora
I kinda wonder what the Shaqtus taught him???
(duckin & runnin)
The Shaqtacular One taught me not to run into his friend and neighbor Wesley Snipes’ fire hydrant and tree.
You especially need more points when the refs give Peyton Manning a free 40 yards.
Fuck
More Points!
What’s with the Manning Boys … forgot to eat their Wheaties ?
Laces in, McAfee … Laces in !
BTW, I told you 17 points wasn’t enough points.
Bring it, Matt Schaub.
Two turnovers later, I think we can call the Colts undefeated season intact.
Bills are upsetting Dolphins (17-14) with 2:30 left.
Good news for the Patsies cuz if Patriots lose to Saints and Dolphins win in Buffalo, It sets up next week’s Dolphins-Patriots game and Miami can pull even.
OOOps. Make that 24-14 at the two minute warning…
Favre to Harvin for a 15 yard TD
7-0 over Da Bears
That would be The Old Geezer’s 500th TD pass!
The count continues …
# 501 to Chester Taylor
14-7 over Da Bears :-)
Very disappointing loss for the Texans, and the questions on whether Matt Schaub can win when it matters will come up here again. Obviously their lack of a running game, where Steve Slaton has been a major disappointment this season, hurts, but Schaub did not maintain his level from the beginning of the game.
Still though, the Colts aren’t at all guaranteed 16-0, though I like them. The Titans, based on their momentum, can easily come into Lucas Oil Stadium and win that game. They have always played well in Indianapolis.
Pssst bmaz, when you get a chance tell Jared Allen that he is not a QB.
Name CP/AT YDS TD INT
Brett Favre 20/31 256 3 0
Not bad for one half of work.
What with Grizzly throwing TDs to just about every other Norske, waterkids & ziggyowners not necessarily accepted, I’m thinking McKimmie sent the brain trust a message that they oughta put in a tackle eligible.
Yeah but wait until they bring out oxygen and a walker for the ol’ geezer in the 2nd half ; )
Don’t piss him off, else he will come back to lick Ted Thompson and the Pack a couple of more times next year.
Just as that grizzled old qube Favre has the soul of a farve, Jared Allen has the soul of a ruggerer.
Perhaps, but even in rugby one must pass backwards not forwards ; )
teh old dude can chuck a pigskin
one of those incompletions traveled over 60 yards
on my best day, I couldn’t throw a ball 60 yards …
Hey Buddy … there’s an ongoing Troll infestation upstairs … go see how far you can chuck ’em !
No kidding. I can’t even go over there. Freep get to work
Just to balance the thread … GO RIDERS !!!
*The Championship Game in the Canadian Flutie League has begun*
Balance is very very important Petro… If you don’t mind taking a minute to bring some of us up to speed in our post-Tday haze… Who is playing in the Grey Cup? Who is favored? And who should we root for (opposing opinions from others welcome of course ; )
Montreal Alouettes [“Larks” in English] Vs Saskatchewan Roughriders [not to be confused with Ottawa Rough Riders ]
Montreal is favored, with the best QB in the League; Riders are the funnest team, with the wildest fans … choose
yer side ! *g*
Rough Riders!
I am normally a Hamilton Tiger Cats fan…..
Didn’t there used to be two “Rough-Riders” teams in the CFL?
No, no … the Rough Riders is the team from Ottawa; the Roughriders is the team from Saskatchewan, which is in the Grey Cup … *g*
*It makes a lot of sense, after a 2-4*
I am for the one playing.
Canadians are confusing!
That’s only cuz you ain’t drunk enough …
Thanks Petro! Roughriders it is then. What can I say, I like fun underdogs ; )
Whether they win or lose, their fans will have the best parties …
Riders lead 10-0 over the Larks.
Chargers 43 Chiefs 14.
Rivers keeps getting better and better every week … as does the entire team.
Are the Cards going to give this one back?
Congrats to yer Chargers randiego. The Cards are killing me, although that sack was nice.
Voices on my teevee are saying the Grizzly is just a big ol’ meanie beating up on these little cubs. Team & personal records falling by the downs.
Most offensive yards amassed on the Bears since 1982. You mean that kind of record?
I expected Grizzly to set a personal game record for passing yards, though that’ll do nicely. The one I particularly like is 5 receivers with 5 or more passes caught.
What frequently gets overlooked when a guy is going like this is that Defense Wins Championships. Vikes have a pretty good one.
Bears -3 offensive yards in the second half
PS aren’t the Rough Riders from Moose Jaw? … Just kiddin’ ;-) I mean Regina
Go Rough Riders!
I actually went to Regina once, a few years back. The company I was working for made software for car and truck dealership accounting systems. There’s a Freightliner dealership there.
Regina, man – not much to say about it, except I remember watching the Padres on a flat screen TV in my room… there wasn’t much else to do.
I also got sent to Grande Prairie, Alberta. That place was MUCH better.
My memory of Grande Prairie, High River et al is, in Winter you had to leave your engine running 24/7.
Shutting it off for 30 seconds would cause your engine block to freeze !
Oh yeah, that place is pretty far north. We were there in May and we managed to play a round of golf after work, and we had a 6pm tee time.
It’s smack dab in the oil patch of Alberta, lots of oil-field workers with cash in town. Lots of stuff to do there!
I know how much the Fans love to watch Favrey but when the game is a wash, they really ought to pull him earlier and give Jackson more playing time.
537 yards
I’ve said for years that if there was any way they could’a gotten the gunslinger they’da evened up their Super Bowl record … Prolly too late for that, but, (knock on wood) they’ll get a chance for one this year
PS the Saints passing game scares me, but, with Antoine Winfield back they have a chance
OMFG … what a catch by Britt !
Holy smokes the Titans win! Too bad I picked AZ in my football pool, but shoot, you can’t argue with that final drive. Nicely done.
WOW. Vince Young is really making a statement lately. Holy cow, a 99 yard drive with a TD pass to win the game as time expired. Crikey!
Good for the Titans; nice story.
Nice capture on the laid-back niceness of the Niceness Division, where everyone’s so nice, the leader can’t even lose ground by losing.
Okay I was just watching the highlights of that last drive. Cards appeared to be in ‘prevent’ mode, rushing only 4 guys and not really challenging Vince Young. Didn’t USC learn that lesson in the national championship?
I thought it was over after Britt fumbled during the last drive. Vince Young looks like he did, in his last year as a Longhorn.
Montreal’s Offense having lots of trouble with the Riders’ Defense … Riders lead 17-3 at Halftime.
*Beers & Burgers, all ’round*
Go Roughriders! I mean, Go Rough Riders!
Riders 17-10, mid way through the 3rd Quarter.
Any news Petro?
Just done putting my kids to bed … Montreal wins 28-27 on the last play of the game !
Montreal missed the first attempt – from 38 yards out. But the Riders were called for too many men on the field, so the Alouettes got another chance and made it !
Wow! Sounds like a great game. My condolences to your Roughriders, but you can’t complain about such a close game. Sounds like they acquitted themselves well.
They were great, up until that last penalty … dumb, dumb, dumb !
Not that we partied any less … *g*
Well, Big Ben he ain’t, but Dennis Dixon has acquitted himself well so far for the Steelers.
Alouette win by a point, field goal, last play of the game. Holy cow!
Congratulations Alouette Fans !
I had a premonition, when the Riders kicked a Field Goal at the last play of the 1st half … that it would come back to bite them in the ass.
Calvillo is like Peyton Manning, only better. You can never score enough points against him.
What you been sipping on to keep you warm up there Petro?
Started with Leffe, moved onto Stella, then Single Malt … *g*
Ooh, Stillers just got away with one. On an earlier call, Ravens not so lucky.
Roughrider fans are very sad.
Rough Rider fans don’t care.
ROFL !!!
BREAKING
Woods wife took a 9 iron to him
before breaking car windows with said mace.
Is there a source for that story, or is it just more speculation?
Indeed a big barn burner here, as expected through even with Dixon at the helm.
And it would be something if Dixon does lead a game winning drive here.
pjevans@162
A source?
Of course
For the looming divorce
It’s orionatl,
ESQ.*
*call me any time.
I’m sure no big fan of the Stillers, but what they almost just pulled off was impressive – on the road in a division game with a third string QB.
I think Dixon just moved into the #2 job in Pitt.
Joe Flacco just doesn’t seem to be all that, and the Ravens aren’t very good.
Agree, Dixon did very well tonight.
Had he taken snaps all week, he might have seen that zone before he threw a pick into it.
But next week is gonna be fun on Sunday night. Old Man River North versus Old Man River South. Now that sounds like a good time.
Did I just hear that OMRS has a concussion?
He didn’t play today, supposedly because of that; but I think he is probable for next week.
I like the Saints, but show me something in January. Right now, barring injury, it looks like the Colts and the Vikings to me, with the Colts to take it all. Although AZ and Kurt Warner have a good chance, if he gets hot. Same as the Steelers with Ben or the Patsies with Brady. But the Colts are the only team that can score 3 touchdowns on offense with 6 minutes or less left in the game, that’s gotta count for something.
Stay tuned, the saga continues Monday night…
what the hell is an “Alouette”
An Alouette is a bird, who had the misfortune to choke when they brought out that big silver bird bath. Breathing seems to be normal this time.
Inch of snow on the ground, though.
707 !!!
I’m saving that one …
Freep, Alouette is French for “Skylark” … the Bird, not the Buick. *g*
THE GAME (with apologies to Amherst/Williams)
“No matter who wins, there is only one thing that would surprise anyone tonight, and that would be a 17-14 game. The local boys reflect the national thinking.” Bob Ryan says. “The New Orleans Times-Picayune asked five of its writers to pick a winner and a score, and all five, of course, selected the Saints. But their scores are interesting: 31-28, 33-31, 35-34, 40-38, and 42-41. I’ll drink to that kind of game, and, believe me, I won’t have any trouble finding a place to do it.”
If I had any balls, I’d bet Bmaz and EW, a brand-new bottle of Utopia.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20091130/us-extreme-beer/
I actually wouldn’t be surprised by a 31-14 score. Prolly going the way of the Saints, but you never know.
This is total bogosity! You are trying the bmaz patented “oh woe is my crappy team” from the playoffs last year. But that only works when your team actually has a lifetime of crappiness like the Cardinals. I don’t think Brady, Bill Bel and the Pats qualify for this discount.
Charlie Weiss OUT at the Home o teh Dome.
It only took them 3 years to figure out that Charlie Weis needed to be replaced … should put those guys in charge of War decisions …
Good One!
wOOt !!!
Canadian GP returns to beautiful Montreal
Now, Quebecosis™ and Friends will be celebrating twice as much … *g*
Hey, either Quebecosis or ANOther invited me up there to rain on your little parade, so watch out!
So, that’s what it’s gonna take to get you up here, huh ?
‘k, fine … so be it !
DREW FOOKIN’ BREES
That is all.
We are two hours and thirty minutes to the Patsies, kicking the Saints
arse…
Purdue’s finest outshined by another Big Ten QB.
Congrats to the Chargers.
Thanks. Chargers have some tough games left on their schedule. Cincy and Dallas will be tough, but their toughest game just might the Titans on Christmas.
PS – I’m not sure if you noticed, but Purdue’s finest is playing pretty well.
What they don’t have more “tough games” like Kansas City left??
Dude, selective amnesia in yer old age or what? Wasn’t that the same KC team that beat the Stillers last week? Then there was the “very tough” Denver McDaniels the week before, same 29-point margin.
Of course, this week we have the powerhouse of the AFC Norris, the Cleveland Browns. Any Given Sunday… blah blah blah
No sir, it’s the Denver McDaniels that have it tough… 2 games left against KC, and one against the Raiduhs. Bet you twenty they lose one of those.
Second seed is at stake. Where is everybody? Crack one open, and enjoy the game, since it’s a huge game for the Patriots:
“… The Saints are three games clear of the No. 3 team in the NFC, Dallas, which means they’re a pretty good bet to get a first-round bye even with a loss, and still would be in good shape to outdistance Minnesota (since this is a non-conference game) for the top seed. New England, on the other hand, is in the middle of a dogfight with San Diego and Cincinnati (and maybe Denver, too) for the all-important second seed in the AFC.”
nice try
beware patriot fans bearing advice
teh minnesota favres lost a non-conference game, an this is a non-conference game
a loss would put New Orleans in a dead heat with the norske geezer
an we jes can’t have that …
brady has to take a hit for the
teamBig 10 conference(wink)
Did you eat those damn crunchies I referred you to??
Cause I better not find out you been slackin on the job again.
I wasn’t slackin, I was drunk !!!
what crunchys ???
tanbark ???
that wasn’t a thread, that was a riot (mob riot, not funny riot)
I been sharin toob space with a “my face” farmer (or some such thingy), so my time in the bowels is limited
ain’t been able to sneak a nap on da couch in months, or nuttin
I’m jes here to inflame regrets south of Santa Barbra an north of Tijuana
DREW FOOKIN BREES
the fookin Saints ???
bag heads no more
all hail the mighty big 10 quarterbacks (all three of em)
(duckin & runnin)
Rut roh, Old Man River South still having eyesight problems
Bobby Bowden to retire as FSU coach tomorrow.
I just don’t think they’re in the neighborhood of the Big 3 this year. THey can always win. But I don’t feel good about them beating the Saints at home.
Here’s a question while we’re waiting.
ANyone got a semi-plausible explanation for why BillBel picked THIS WEEK to do a happy sitdown with Michael Lombardi?
THat’s just weird.
Who’s Michael Lombardi?
Works for NFL network, but shows up on ESPN sometimes. I assume he must be a younger brother of Vince II or a cousin or something (I never met him that I remember). He had a long sitdown the other day (even answered some questions I would have asked, such as whether or not he regretted getting rid of all his old defensive leaders).
Incidentally, in trying to fgure out if there’s a family tie, I learned that Joe Lombardi, the snot nose kid from down the street when I was 10-16, is an assistant on the Saints.
So is it Beamish time yet?
Actually, it’s Avery India Pale Ale.
Gotta mix it up against a team like the Saints.
I’m no beer expert, but I’ve been favoring a double-IPA lately, called Pliny the Elder. The local beer tavern has it – 8.0% ABV.
Pliny The Elder
Isn’t he the old dude on the teevee during New Years? ;-)
Results are just in from 500 New England fans sitting at their favorite
wicked pisser bar
Who will win the Monday Night Football game between the Patriots and Saints?
Patriots
79.1%
Saints
20.9%
Total votes: 470
What will the margin of victory be in the game?
6-10 points
47.1%
2-5 points
38.8%
11-15 points
9.9%
More than 15 points
3.2%
1 point
0.9%
Total votes: 433
Who will have a better game, Patriots QB Tom Brady or Saints QB Drew Brees?
Brady
81.5%
Brees
18.5%
Total votes: 449
Who will have a better game, Patriots WR Randy Moss or Saints WR Marques Colston?
Moss
78.9%
Colston
21.1%
Total votes: 417
Which team would you rather see the Patriots beat, the Saints or Colts?
Colts
87.9%
Saints
12.1%
Total votes: 505
Wait, didn’t they already beat the Colts? Oh that’s right, BBFG.
Disclaimer:
Votes may not add up, void where prohibited, Saint’s result may vary, contents can shift in transmission, and not reproduced without the
expressed written consent of Emptywheel or her wholly owned Bmaz subsidiary
Oh no, it looks like a very valid sampling to me…..
FOFL … this is another Terrific Trash Talk Thread … Totally !
Figures tallied by Fox News Quality Control
http://crooksandliars.com/bluegal/calling-fox-news-quality-control-pie-chart
BayStateLibrul @ 203
Actually your figures add up I think . I was going off of your joke
So is there a game on tonight?
Wowser, I guess so… Didja see that catch for a TD? Definitely worth the wait to see this matchup…
Whoa, was that BilBel personally coaching up his defense on the sideline?
Looked like it and he looked concerned.
I can’t believe how fast the Saints are scoring. These big pass plays are exciting and fun to watch, but the defense isn’t getting any rest. I wonder if that will come back to haunt them in the second half.
And fwiw, those scoring projections are looking really low…
uh wow, holy crap and crikey!
bmaz
You still think I was joking when I said it might be a 16 point game?
Now I’m just hoping.
Clearly you only divined the first half…..
Drew Breeeeeeeeeeeze!
Hey, apparently Darren Sharper can still hit.
Drew Fookin Brees is looking almost Favre like. Almost.
LOL, now there’s some wishful thinking. The way the Saints are playing tonight, they’ll make the ol’ man look like warmed over lutefisk when they meet in the NFC Championship ; )
Dunno about that. See, the Vikings, unlike the Pats, have a very good D.
I thought the Vikes’ D-Fence was overrated, but they are very good at adjusting in midstream …
I hope Brady gets going like he did last week … would make for a great 2nd half.
The Vikings D is ranked 9th … surprisingly the Packers are ranked 1st. I say surprisingly because I’ve only seen them play twice this year – against the Vikings, in which they lost both, and Favre had monster games against, and I thought it’d take them a year to get things smoothed out with the new defense
The Vikings strength on defense is the line, which is arguably the best in the NFL this year. Jarred Allen and Kevin Williams are automatic Pro Bowlers and Pat Williams still deserves to go as does Ray Edwards. The LB’s are solid and the secondary is getting better – not good enough yet (Antoine Winfield please get well), but, better.
They’re ranked 1st in sacks (no surprise)
2nd in rushing (again no surprise)
8th in points per game
19th in overall passing defense (one behind the Saints)
22nd in rec. yards (really hurts if they’ll have to play the Saints)
And one of the bummers about that (probable) game is that they’ll beat the shit out of each other and soften them up for Peyton, who is not their match this year.
I agree with that, but from what I’m seeing the Saints wide receivers are either exceedingly fast or finding their spots perfectly or both ’cause they seem to have nothing but wide open field in front of them tonight. I don’t know that the Vikes coverage will be any better than the Pats.
Not bad, eh? I got pretty close to the 3rd Q score, too!
Now if only we’ll see some D.
Hah, Drew Fookin’ Brees just passed Old Man River like he was standin’ still
Whodat!
The compiler of that survey is not now using, nor has ever used Patriot performance enhancing drugs.
Proof: Lookey at the score.
Pour me a stiff one
You might need that Utopia now, eh?
There were a lot of come from behind games this weekend (well at least a few) so who knows, maybe the Pats will join that list…
Pep talk by Bill ongoing
“Not much clicking for the Patriots defense and that has meant points for the Saints. Brees completed 11 of 13 passes for 229 yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile, Brady has completed 12 of 21 passes for 124 yards and one interception. Wes Welker has four catches for 25 yards and Randy Moss has one catch for 9 yards.”
BTW, if anyone knows the Sports Psych. that the Saint are using, please buy him/her a drink for me.
The Dude/Dudette is earning every Dollar/Euro …
What the hell is going on out there?
LOL — thanks for that : )
Good Heavens … 1,2,3,4 … how many Pats players in the Secondary had their backs turned away from the play …
It’s an experiment the Pats are trying: to beat the best O in the NFL with no secondary.
So far, the experiment isn’t working out so well.
Really? Hhas their secondary been bad all year or do they have injuries? Genuinely curious, didn’t know their secondary isn’t up to snuff.
Every time I see BilBel going for a 4th down I can’t help but think he’s overcompensating.
Kick the FG Bill!
He panicked.
Another brain fart.
Maybe he knows something we’re just now seeing.
Watching his Defense tonight, I understand BilBel’s lack of confidence in them.
Hmmm. Brady has second thoughts about going for it on fourth and four. Timeout.
Cue the “Jeopardy” music…
The fucking Pats ain’t met a Saints receiver yet that they wanted to cover apparently. Crikey.
Ah nuts. Now they’ve gone and ruined my spread.
Say, is it too late to ask, again, whether BillBel’s secret brain was Pioli or McDaniels? Probably the former wouldn’t have sent Richard Seymour to Oakland, but I’m not sure that would have been enough.
If we told you, then it wouldn’t be a secret anymore now would it? ; )
18-22, 371yds, 5 TDs. Drew Fookin’ Brees.
There was a time when he and Philip Rivers were on the same roster.
Thing is, Rivers is pretty fucking good. I’m still not positive losing Brees was totally the wrong decision (though I said then it was), given that Rivers is younger and still damn good. But it was a tough choice.
Rivers is very good, and we’ll keep him thank you. I love Drew Brees, but Rivers is only 27, and Brees was hurt when they let him go. My thought at the time was I wanted Brees to stay, I sort of liked the whole Montana/Young redux.
He played HS ball in Austin, and my wife got to have a conversation with him about it when we attended his annual fundraiser here in SD. Very nice guy.
There. Fixed it for ya ; )
Heh, touche’. Mr. Rodgers is having himself a very nice season.
Not as good as DREW FOOKIN’ BREES though ; )
BSL, if you’re still around, you have my sincere condolences. I don’t know if it helps any, but I don’t think anyone could have beaten the Saints tonight.
‘night all, great watching the game with you : )
I’m recovering, thanks.
The Globule is way too easy on our Big Easy pre-winter nightmare.
HARD FALL FOR PATRIOTS – They headline.
I’d rather splash
BAYOU BOYZ KICK ASS or
BREES’S 60 MINUTE DRILL SPITS IN PATRIOTS EYES.
At that time, I had given up hope that Brees would ever play to his potential. He has done an amazing job
these past 3 years to get where he is.
Can someone tell me WTF Che-Vee is thinking, appealing to a youth demographic by putting Bobby Orr
in their ads ?
Alright. That was disappointing but not at all surprising.
Now I can go back to rooting for Drew Fookin Brees to beat Peyton and Old Man River North for it all…
If Brees keeps this up, the Hornets should try him out at Point Guard.
Saints going all the way. Step aside Patriots.
Hey Don Shula and 1972 Fishheads, ya getting a little nervous???
So then you have to sweep all the way through the Super Bowl to shut up the Dolphins? Isn’t that like 3 more games or something?
Who Dat?!!!!!!!
Got to watch the game on the phone w my Dad in NO. This is a long-awaited bit o’ joy. Even seeing the ‘dome on teevee is a lovely trip home. (My HS band got to play there a few times, usually for Tulane on holiday break!) But one thing Saints fans have learned the hard way, many times — usually thanks to some 49ers — is never count those chickens.
And I lived in Austin while Drew F. Brees was doin’ his thang at Westlake HS.
Sometimes, good guys do good.
Thanks for allowing me to wallow in it for a few…. Cheers!
I don’t know if Drew Brees had a perfect game, but that 75 yard td pass ???
I got that marked as “E-8” in my scorecard
the dude looked like he was standin in a pasture in kansas or sumtin, there was NOBODY around him …