Trash Talk: Giants v. Texas

/in /by

Apparently, football started early this week, with San Francisco’s team beating the Texas team one TD, a conversion, and a field goal to a TD on Wednesday, and shutting them out last night with three field goals. I understand the quarterbacks in these games have been a big part of the story, with the QBs from Texas playing like Tony Romo in a big game, and the QBs from San Francisco recalling Montana or Young; ah, the good old days! You know you’re in trouble when W looks to be the bright spot from the mound for the Rangers. May the Giants continue to score touchdowns over the evil Rangers!

Meanwhile, weird things are going down in the preprofessional football league. We’re well into the season, and yet the Big 10.2 still has 3 teams in the top ten, with the Spartans at the Hawkeyes one of the better games this weekend. Soon to be Big 10.2 team, the Huskers, face a big game at home against Missouri. And in bmaz’ part of the country, the Ducks will see whether the Spoiled Children have really returned to their winning ways yet. As for the Wolvereenies? Is it too soon to speculate whether JoePa will outlast yet another big program coach when he hosts RichRod this weekend?

The big drama in the pro leagues has to do with whether age and injuries will end the Geezer’s 291-game consecutive streak. I’m with BillBel on this: nahhh!! Favre has started every game since before Clinton was elected! No puny thing like broken bones and a penis scandal will keep him out. That said, much as I believe the Pats’ record grossly overstates their ability this year, I do think the Pats will beat Randy Moss in his return to New England.

But the Vikings-Pats game isn’t even close to the most interesting game of the week (even if bmaz and I will be at each others’ throats during it). I think the Stillers–who have earned their 5-1 record, will prove the champs are still suffering from a season long hangover. Likewise, I fear the Packers’ joy at beating the Geezer will be short-lived as they travel to play the Jets (though I do hope against hope that Russ Feingold’s attendance at the Packer’s victory over Favre will give him just enough juju to pull off a win in WI).

Meanwhile, does Randiego even read these threads anymore? Or does he cower away with the knowledge that the Bolts are likely to be 2-6 by Sunday after the very good Titans come to town? Jeebus, after all the mental errors Norv’s players made last week, I am gobsmacked he still has a job.

And Monday Night’s game? It’s never sane to bet against Peyton at home, but with the absence of Dwight Clark, I think the Texans might just pull off a repeat of their win against the Colts earlier this season. So which team do you think will be leading the AFC south on Tuesday?

Finally, let me confess to an unusual bout of optimism and predict that the newly healthy Stafford and his Kitties will surprise the Skins this week.

image_print
  1. strangely enough says:

    Fighting Schwartzes upend the Racial Epithets!

    Now that’s a headline. And, if the Bolts continue their generous ways (-7 in TO’s), Titans lead the South on Tuesday.

    Giants in five.

    • emptywheel says:

      I guess you gotta hope the Texans lose if you want the Titans to own first place by themselves.

      And that wouldn’t be very nice, now would it. You gotta root against the Peytons.

      • strangely enough says:

        EYIC: Titans fan in Raider/49er land. Yeah, it’s lonely.

        EW: Titans win and they have a half game lead due to their bye coming after this week. Div wins are a different story.

        laurastrand: I don’t thing Texas’ pitching staff is going to comply.

    • laurastrand says:

      With all due respect – Giants in 6 so they can win at home!

      This scrappy little team of misfits is my bad news bears dreeam come true – the whole is truly greater than the sum of the parts. They are a pleasure to watch, and frankly, the only bummer is how often we’ll be stuck looking at the ugly mug of the “Decider” as he pouts in the owners box until they come home to wrap it up.

      Go Gigantes!

      And Tim L., don’t forget to get your ballot in with a big mark in the yes on Prop 19 slot.

  2. EmbraceYourInnerCrone says:

    I second that, Go Titans! Although it’s hard being the only person in town with a Titans flag on my house. I live in New England and my neighbors (Giants, Jets and Pats fans) think I’m nuts. That’s OK we have Kenny Britt, Cortland Finnegan and Chris Johnson! Also Go Vols! (don’t advise saying that too loud during the womens basketball season around here!)

  3. JohnLopresti says:

    I checked the local news after reading the first paragraph of ew*s trashtalk post. I guess it is a timezone difference. The bay area sports press are writing still about hoping for rain in London Sunday. It must be some timeshift that occurs when one listens to 4 minutes 22 seconds of Joni Mitchell, some folksong capability to weave 48-hours-in-the-future events into a present-day tale fabric. I found a site that sells cute wool sweaters for UK children. Maybe the 9ers could do some holiday shopping before the plane back to the states.

    • emptywheel says:

      Oh yeah. THe Niners. Well, I hope Singletary’s team takes London, because I really do want them to make a run of it.

      And sorry for the Joni. But she feels right right about now and besides I believe baseball is a much more hippy sport than football.

        • JohnLopresti says:

          I like Joni. However, I think there is something about the contact sports that actually are more like the hip ideal. And Joni has good backup bands.

      • bmaz says:

        Maybe Singleterry and company can get some of those Bobby hats to wear. I dunno, I love Singleterry, but this ship is headed to the Bermuda Triangle it appears.

        • JohnLopresti says:

          There is that new defensive back rule about helmet impact, but I think the bobbies actually use the extra gear in lieu of other forms of strongarm. So some wideouts likely are going to notice if anyone is in a bobby helmet.

          I have not seen a game when Singletary is coach except in photos. I saw lots on live tv when he was a linebacker with defense smarts. Cohn observed Singletary had no coaching experience prior to his quick hiring at 9rs Santa Clara digs.

  6. runfastandwin says:

    Go Ducks I guess. I don’t see SC slowing them down much.

    Right now I’d have to say the Giants are the only team in the NFC that looks good. The rest of the NFC frankly stinks. Wade Phillips is way past his due date, as is Shanahan.

    I’m old too, so I am a Favre fan, but it looks bleak…

    As to the AFC it looks to be a 3-way race, between the Steelers the Patsies and the Ravens. I think the Jets and KC are both one and done in the playoffs, the Jets because they are counting on LT a lot and he never fails to disappoint in the postseason, and KC because worst to first teams almost always blow it. Tennessee will fold late just like every year. If I had to say, much as it pains me, I think this might be the Patsie’s year. Again.

      • scribe says:

        Nope. Stillers will go all the way. The D is playing like its 1976 and the O is rounding into shape.

        Love the Giants-Journey mashup, esp the Let Tim Smoke t-shirt. The guy doing the video is actually pretty good.

        I see there’s a job fair down at Jerryworld. Feel free to apply….

        And, in a final trashy note, all is well in the World of Football. Jamarcus Russell got a No True Bill from his local Alabama grand jury on that codeine thing, so it looks like he will be able to shop his lethargy addiction around to needful NFL teams. BMAz: I hear your Cards are in need of a QB. Or he could go to that job fair….

      • scribe says:

        For help in seeing the Patsies in the Supe, see mine at 24; turns out per a followup article the patches were made by some cops in a bit of “high-spiritedness” but they have been “corrected” and won’t be doing that again.

      • BayStateLibrul says:

        We can talk after 11/14/10

        11/14/2010

        Patriots @ Steelers Heinz Field- Pittsburgh

        Sunday at 8:30

        Will Randy get a standing O — question of the day…

        Will he get a Johnny Damon boo, I’m betting that Sox fans are different

        than Pats fans… and he’ll get a mixed blessing…

        Is fucking Papa Bush and Junior throwing out the first pitch tonight?

        SF in four

        • scribe says:

          Will Randy get a standing O — question of the day…

          Will he get a Johnny Damon boo, I’m betting that Sox fans are different

          than Pats fans… and he’ll get a mixed blessing…

          You’re forgetting: the same people who were watching and dying with the Sawx as they did their annual lawn furniture imitation* are the ones who turned their attention and passion to the Patsies. There were, you might recall, a lot of Damon 18 Sawx jerseys hung on clotheslines and set alight all across New England a couple years back when he left the Sawx and took his rightful place at Steinbrenner’s right hand. I would not be surprised if Moss gets the same reception.

          –

          *

          Q. How are the Boston Red Sox and lawn furniture alike?

          A. Come September, they both fold up and get put away for the winter.

        • BayStateLibrul says:

          How do you explain 2004?

          My son-in-law showed me a new DVD two weeks back about the 2004 Yankee comeback and it actually brought tears to my eyes.

          I’m no longer a bitter Sawx fan… something happened when they

          beat the Yanks (zen took over my life)…

        • scribe says:

          The short explanation for 2004 is that the Baseball Gods decided to sap, slowly and painfully, Sawx fandom’s vigor and spirit by giving them exactly what they thought they wanted: a championship.

          By giving them that championship, and the subsequent one in 2007, the Baseball Gods set Sawx fandom up for worse pain than they had gone through previously. Thinking back to 2004, the vast majority of Sawx fans had no memory of what it felt like for their team to win the Series. It had been 86 years. The whole idea of winning the Series was leaving living memory. Thus, so Sawx fans could know more fully and completely the pain of losing, the Baseball Gods had to give them a win. Otherwise they would have had nothing against which to compare losing. Then, to impress the memory more fully, they gave them the second in 2007. After all, in going through anything the first time you don’t really get the full depth of the experience. It’s only on the second go-round that you can really appreciate every moment.

          So, now the Baseball Gods have set the Sawx fandom up for a long, long drought and maximum pain from it.

          And we’re seeing the Sawx’ old losing ways re-emerge, in ways painful and not. Sawx ownership has, like their ownership in the days through the end of Teddy Williams’ career, started looking elsewhere for satisfaction and profit. Why else would they be spending their time and money on a soccer club? Instead of tending their knitting in Boston, building their farm system and making sane trades and signings, they’ll be doting on the soccer club like a new mistress and letting the Sawx stew in neglect. It will become not unlike the Sawx of the 40s and 50s refusing to integrate when it was clear such a failing was depriving them of the best talent. That rang down through decades. Their farm system and scouting system remained underdeveloped for many years. Free agent stars and potential stars will look at the Sawx and their ownership and pass. Fans will get used to coming in second or third in the AL East, coming up just short. The soccer club will become a costly boondoggle sapping money which could have otherwise be used on improving the Sawx.

          Nooo. The Baseball Gods are wise and think in terms of decades, not just individual seasons or games. They still have it in for the Sawx.

        • BayStateLibrul says:

          Well-crafted story. You forgot about the January 1, 2010 hockey game at the Fens… Outdoor hockey may have offended the gods…

          The gods will judge with a Clemens’ guilty verdict at the beginning

          of the 2011 season.

  7. matutinal says:

    Well from here in the Bay Area I’m calling sweep for our Giants!

    And did I really see GW Bush for one quick sec on TV at the game last night?

    nbcbayarea.com had a story titled “George Bush May Sneak into World Series –
    The World Series may attract an old nemesis to town” (Byline Matt Baume).

    But it was taken down and only in Google cache when I found it just now.

  9. Jim White says:

    Just landed at Washington National a little earlier this evening. In a very unusual development, the airport was mostly full of sane people. Looking forward to the rally tomorrow.

    I might make it back to the hotel in time for the end of the Gators and Georgia in the battle to see who is the most disappointing team in the SEC East this year.

  10. bobschacht says:

    Hey folks, the NBA season has started! The Celtics dispensed with the Florida Dream Team a few days ago, and tonight L.A. vs PHX is on, tied a number of times in 3rd quarter. Can the Sun’s second unit wear down the Lakers starting five?

    Bob in AZ

  12. GulfCoastPirate says:

    I’d be careful betting too much on the Texans now that DeMeco Ryans is out for the season. The defense was porous enough already. It looks like they can score on just about anyone but can they stop anyone is the question?

    No matter who wins anything it’s always a good football season when the whorns implode.

    I don’t want to hijack TT but I just read this and find myself flabbergasted. Is this guy really this naive? How can the R’s intentions be any more clear and he talks like this?

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39922794/ns/politics-decision_2010/

  13. Phoenix Woman says:

    Chilly needs to bench Favre, admit that this year is a rebuilding year, and put Tavaris in there for some OJT and hope he learns what to do in time for next season. Of course, this will cause Randy Moss to fight like mad to get out of his contract, but that might not be a bad thing.

  14. scribe says:

    Geezer alert: ESPN reports Favre told their reporter his injuries have healed sufficiently that he expects to start. Favre allowed himself to be photographed/videoed wearing just a simple wrap on the left ankle.

  15. randiego says:

    It’s been a busy month, what with me scrambling trying to find a place to watch all the blacked-out Charger games.

    Which Charger team will show up tomorrow? Who knows? It will be a physical game, the Titans/Chargers games have been very tough games the last few years – including the cheap-shot chop block in late 2007 that Shawn Merriman still hasn’t recovered from.

    Lots of theories about why the chargers are 2-5, the leading one being that Norv isn’t instilling discipline in his players. Hard to argue with that. But, he’s not going anywhere it seems. Dean Spanos won’t change him out mid-season.

    They’ve turned the ball over 18 times in 7 games, which is more than all 16 last year. What’s that about? Special Teams, which has always been a strength, has allowed multiple punt and kickoff return TDs, not to mention two straight blocked punts against the Raiders. Even with all that, they have had the ball to tie or go ahead at the end of the game in all those losses.

    What did Tom Brady do last week? Almost nothing, yet the chargers still found inventive ways to lose a game they clearly dominated. Yet Tom was cocky enough to talk shit after his crappy-ass game. Fuck that guy.

    Losing games they should win, playing down to lesser opponents – these are the hallmarks of the Norv Turner regime. I truly believe the record would be even worse if Philip Rivers hadn’t saved his bacon on multiple occasions.

    Rivers is amazing. His ability to find the open guy under duress with an accurate throw is incredible. If he played back east somewhere or for a team that could win a fucking playoff game ESPN would be hero-worshipping him.

    Btw Marcy – what’s Norv’s record against the Titans in the last four seasons including playoffs? You better go look that up. Those Titan teams were pretty good too.

  17. emptywheel says:

    It’s been a busy month, what with me scrambling trying to find a place to watch all the blacked-out Charger games.

    I feel for you. I’ve been there, though in the blacked out Lions stage, they weren’t as good as the Bolts still are.

    They’ve turned the ball over 18 times in 7 games,

    Correction: they had brain farts that caused them to just hand the ball over.

    What did Tom Brady do last week? Almost nothing, yet the chargers still found inventive ways to lose a game they clearly dominated.

    See also my comment that the Pats are a way worse team than their record.

    • BayStateLibrul says:

      Clearly? More like barely…

      The Bolts didn’t dominate until the 4th period (as I recollect)

    • randiego says:

      It’s been a busy month, what with me scrambling trying to find a place to watch all the blacked-out Charger games.

      I feel for you. I’ve been there, though in the blacked out Lions stage, they weren’t as good as the Bolts still are.

      Unemployment is California is still 12%, but I don’t think it explains everything. I think there’s a huge hangover from losing that playoff game to the Jets. The fans are tired of them losing games they should win. The Jets are pretty good now, they were not very good last year.

  18. randiego says:

    The Bolts are getting dissed by a guy in a Bieber do. That is just sad brother.

    Dude no shit. It’s just embarrassing. I think both the Pats and the Jets will crush them.

  21. bobschacht says:

    Hawkeyes with first and goal; nothing else seemed to work, so the Spartans tried to stop them with 12 men on the field. However, the refs could count, and out came the yellow hankies. Now its Hawkeyes 30-0 in the first half.

    Bob in AZ

  23. radiofreewill says:

    It really is a drinking game this year, but the Gators are whupping the Dawgs 21-7 at the half.

  25. radiofreewill says:

    We’re lining-up for a 40-yard field goal to win it – by the punter no less…

    Here’s the snap…

    Gators win!

  26. emptywheel says:

    Well, I’m glad to know the game of the weekend has already been called:

    Amherst College senior quarterback Alex Vetras (Clyde Hill, WA) became the program’s all-time leader in career passing yards and junior running back Eric Bunker ’12 (Topsfield, MA) ran for three touchdowns to lead the Lord Jeffs to a wild 70-49 win over Tufts University Saturday afternoon at Pratt Field.

    In a game that featured 119 points and 1,303 yards of total offense, Vetras threw for 265 yards to give him 4,979 in his career, surpassing the school’s previous record of 4,837, which was held by Rich Willard ’98.

    • Linnaeus says:

      In 30+ years of watching Michigan football, I’ve never seen a defense play this badly. All three of U-M’s losses were actually very winnable games with the offense that U-M has. They can move the ball, no doubt about it, but every other team seems to be able to do the same. Penn State is not having that great of a season now, and U-M’s defense made a former walk-on quarterback look like an all-Big Ten player. It’s shameful.

      • bobschacht says:

        One of the analysts, late in the Michigan – Penn State game, said that the problem with Michigan’s D is not in the defensive scheme, but in the personnel. That says to me that Rodriguez (MI coach) is either not capable or not interested in recruiting the best defenders. What, didn’t he get the memo?

        Duh.

        Bob in AZ

  31. bobschacht says:

    That turnover (Packers’ Woodson snatching the ball out of the Jets receiver’s hand) was a bad call. The Jets’ receiver was in possession and down, and the play should have been over. Geez, how long do you have to retain possession of the ball after you’re down? Bad, really bad call.

    Bob in AZ

  32. scribe says:

    I’m watching Jets-Pack and, to be quite honest, it’s extremely gratifying to hear boos cascading down on teh J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS as they go and turn the ball over on downs late in the 4th. They’ve already burnt two of their timeouts.

    Mmm.

    • randiego says:

      I was watching the Jets/Pack game on the internet, and yeah that was pretty satisfying.

      The Chargers are blacked out here, but the game has begun with a blocked punt for a safety by the Titans. Yeeesh.

      The Chargers are playing two receivers off of their practice squad today. Gonna be a long day.

  41. randiego says:

    They just showed a stat that Philip Rivers has the most passing yards after 8 games in NFL history. When you’re down 14 points week after week you get stats like that.

    • scribe says:

      Following in the footsteps of Darryl Lamonica and Dan Fouts/Air Coryell, Rivers has some big shoes to fill.

      • randiego says:

        He’s better than all of them, and that’s saying a lot. Fouts was a throwback – a true leader, tough as nails, smart and lots of talent. Rivers is better. Not as much of an outspoken leader (although he’s still very young), but a better passer. Rivers amazes me every week – he makes some throw that makes you do a double-take.

        Lamonica? He played for the Raiders?

  43. emptywheel says:

    Well scribe, you better hope your Stillers win tonight, otherwise it’ll leave the they’re-not-that-good-but-I’ll-take-it Pats in sole possession of the best record in football.

    • scribe says:

      Not for nothin’, the Patsies had to get Favre with a gimp, and then (probably) break his jaw to get him out of there before they could win.

      That, and a pretty porous Vike D.

      As to the Stillers/Ain’ts – we’ll see.

      • bmaz says:

        Apparently Favre flew out to the desert for a cameo appearance for the Cards in Derek Anderson’s uniform. On the march deep in the Bucs territory for a late game tying field goal, Cards just threw it to the Bucs over the middle for tragic interception, then promptly allowed Legarret Blount to ramble for about a 50 yard run.

      • emptywheel says:

        Yeah yeah, and the Bolts gave them the ball four times two weeks ago.

        Like I said, they’re not 6-1 good. Wouldn’t it be funny, then, if no one else was either?

    • bmaz says:

      Wow, Norval has the Bolts exactly where he usually does, trying for a late season peak to squeak into the playoffs and lose to a guy with a Bieber do.

      Guess he is better than Wade Phillips…..

      • randiego says:

        Give this one to Rivers. The Chargers started two receivers (3 of the 4 on the roster this week are out) off their practice squad and Rivers still threw for 300 yards.

        You’d think they would triple-team Gates and make them win with the rookies but Gates had 125 yards and a TD.

        • bmaz says:

          I tend to agree about Rivers; he is good. Vincent Jackson may be a dick, but he is really good and they should have handled that better. And Norval is just weak. All things considered, I would trade you heads up for the Cards any day of any week of any year.

        • randiego says:

          Vincent Jackson may be a dick, but he is really good and they should have handled that better. And Norval is just weak.

          Vincent Jackson was suspended for the first 3 games for his second DUI. Philip Rivers had to give him a ride to the Jets playoff game last year after he got busted driving on his suspended license.

          Yes, it would have been nice to have him earlier this season, but he was the guy holding out for $10M/year after the Chargers offered him $3.5M. I generally agree there had to be a way to bring him in earlier, but it’s hard to justify that kind of commitment to a guy who is one DUI away from a mandatory one-year NFL suspension.

          No argument on Norv.

        • bmaz says:

          Oh, I agree no 10 mil, but he was in a compromised position; seems like there must have been some way to get the deal done for some middle ground with a healthy salary, but protection for failure under the league policy. Dude is big, good, healthy and they had nothing, well little, else.

  46. BayStateLibrul says:

    Amazing post-interview, by Moss, wearing a Black Red Sox Cap.

    I’ll leave it to Mike and Mike to dissect… but it sure looked like

    a Patsies blowjob…

  48. emptywheel says:

    Besides, much as I admit that the Pats haven’t EARNED their league leading record, I wouldn’t mind if they had it to themselves for a week or so.

    • BayStateLibrul says:

      Unearned like dividends, interest, and captital gains?

      They certainly don’t dominate, but I think they earned each v, they get better each week, and Brady’s a winnah…

      Take that scribe!

      • scribe says:

        Looks like the Ain’ts managed to get their act together tonight, shaking off their Super Bowl hangover.

        I get the feeling these two teams will see each other across the ball again. And that over the course of the next couple months Drew Fookin Brees will be having bad dreams featuring that planting he took from Silverback Harrison.

        And, FWIW, the Patsies are the beneficiaries of unearned wins. I won’t complain about the refereeing of the Stillers game other than to say it sucked. That, and that if Brady’s gonna be whipped into wearing that Bieber ‘do, it’s only a matter of time before he’s whipped into wering one of them man-skirts.

        After all: Quarterbacks wear skirts. Always have. Always will.

  51. rosalind says:

    Little Lord Fauntleroy et team on top.

    Giants shut out Texas and shut up Bush 1 & 2.

    And for those keeping score at home: 6 spidermen, 2 Pirate Princesses, 1 generic Princess, 2 Batmen w/Light Sabers, and the homemade costume winners were: Horsey (she) and Robin Hood (he). Fake H’ween Candle w/sound effects retired for the night, I am next…

    • BayStateLibrul says:

      Breaking news… this just in … Randy Moss has been signed by the Boston Red Sox to work in public relations and media relations. In exchange, the Red Sox gave up their team doctor, who will nurse/medicate Brett for the remainder of the season….

      • john in sacramento says:

        The only good thing about it is that it seems indicative that Chilly’s in full panic mode and maybe he’ll finally get fired

        I think he’s probably an ok OC (not really, but I’m trying to be polite), but as a HC, and judge of personnel, he’s a blithering idiot. Everything Moss said (paraphrasing) about Chilly being a rock-headed obstinate fool is true. He’s an inflexible game planner, can’t make in-game adjustments, and can’t admit past personnel mistakes (letting Matt Birk go, signing Bernard Berrian to a huge contract, drafting TJ, and Ryan Cook, and many more poor decisions too long to list)

        They’ve only won in spite of him

        … other than that, he’s a great coach /s

        • bmaz says:

          John, the repeated two yards and a cloud of dust when it is goal to go on the three is just too much. Seriously, that is the kind of crap the Cardinals used to do. One or two, fine, but by the time you are at third or fourth down live or die with Favre on at least one of them. Maybe I am loopy, but some of the play calling this year has just been atrocious. Yes, Favre has been disappointing up until yesterday (he actually played incredibly well yesterday), but it is not all him. The offensive schemes and failure to have shored up the offensive line are every bit as much or more to blame (not that Favre is blameless, he should carry a fair load).

  54. emptywheel says:

    Cool. Comments briefly closed. But I have bent time and reopened them!!

    Teach me to post trash on a late Friday afternoon. I don’t know how it happened. But bmaz is really better at this whole trash thing.