Every Monday, our very own DLamp will be taking a look at what just happened the day before in the NFL, and looking ahead to the Monday night game(s).
Full disclosure: I live in Los Angeles. We do not have a professional football team [insert "USC players get paid just as much" joke here] so the passion for the NFL at your local watering hole isn’t really there. Sure, there are a few die hards on any give Sunday, but it just doesn’t hold up to most other major cities with a pro team. Enter Chicago! I made my first visit to the Windy City (actually, it’s only the 16th windiest city in the U.S. WTF?) this past Sunday and settled down into The Billy Goat (the diner that the SNL “Cheezborger cheezborger cheezborger”, “no Coke – Pepsi!” sketches are based on) to watch the end of the Chicago/Minnesota game. All eyes were glued to the TV. In a pretty tourist-y place in downtown Chicago, there was no one there NOT watching the game. Afterwards, a few Vikings fans walked in dressed in their team garb. I just turned to the bartender and said, “that’s pretty ballsy”. He just nodded and continued pouring the Schlitts he was working on.
It was amazing. As a fan without a team, it was great to see the unbridled passion and energy of a city for it’s team. And not in an un-bearably douche-tastic way (Hi, Boston!)
Will the Saints be playing the role of Two-Face in the Dark Night Sequel?
It certainly appears that way. After completely dismantling Oakland last week (admittedly not a good measuring stick) they pissed on their shoes this week against Carolina. This loss puts them at 3-4 on the season which means only one thing…bet the house on them to win next week! I kid, I kid. After losing Bush for a few weeks [editor's note: heh, 'bush'!] and still trying to get Colston and Shockey back up to full speed, the Saints might struggle for consecutive weeks for the first time this season. Either that or they will beat San Diego by one hundred touchdowns. It’s all or nothing with these guys.
Is Tennessee the new New England?
Not hardly. First off, their fans aren’t nearly obnoxious enough yet. Secondly, their sense of entitlement, and fair weathered nature haven’t quite developed yet. And their offense isn’t that great. Don’t get me wrong, they might be the best team in the NFL this year (relax! I said ‘might be’…) but they are no where near the juggernauts that last year’s Pats were. I don’t think they can run the table for two reason: 1) Their division is too tough. New England got to waltz through Buffalo, the Jets, and Miami twice each last year whereas the Titans have to slosh through Indy, Jacksonville, and Houston. It’s a much harder road to walk. and 2) eventually their defense won’t be able to cover up the offense. People are gushing about Kerry Collins, but really, a canteloupe with a wig on would put up better numbers than Vince Young. Eventually their defense is going to have a bad day, and they won’t be running up 300 some-odd yards on a crappy team (Hi, Chiefs!) and they will lose. But I still don’t want to play them in the playoffs. Hey, speaking of the Chiefs…
Should They Really Have Sat LJ This Week?
Like most people, I tire of hearing about athletes and their sense of invincibility and thoughts that the rules don’t apply to them. But does that mean they shouldn’t play football? So the team sits him down, and basically takes money out of his pocket by not letting him honor his contract. Then, you put an inferior product on the field (even by Kansas City standards) and ask the fans to pay full price. Sounds like a scam to me! The players get robbed of their best chance to win a game, and the fans get robbed of seeing a competitive team on their field. It’s all bogus to me. You want to fine the crap out of him for hitting his baby-mamma? Fine. But don’t make us NFL fans suffer by watching a team that might not be able to beat Texas.
Who Are These People, and What Have They Done With the Rams?
When I was in The Billy Goat on Sunday and the Dallas/St. Louis score flashed across the top of the Fox ticker, I didn’t believe it. I had to wait for it to circle back around and it still dropped my jaw to the floor. In the past two weeks, the team that looked like they might never win a game has defeated two powerhouses that sat atop many an “expert’s” power rankings. I don’t know what happened on the bye week, or what Scott Linehan was putting the water that Haslett has since had removed, but this is a completely different team. The line is holding up, and allowing their best player, Steven Jackson, to do what he do best: score touchdowns on fools! All of a sudden, the crappy NFC West title isn’t out of sight.
Will Indy Make the Playoffs?
No. I’m saying it right here, right now, that Pey-pey Manning sits at home and watches the postseason on his mountain of money. Mark my words. Mark them!
Fantasy Question of the Week
LenDale White: ‘yes, please’ or ‘no, thank you’?
After coming out of nowhere for a rare hundred yard performance (oh, did I mention 3 TDs?) you can bet that White will be thrown into a trade offer in almost every single league he is owned in. Now some of us got lucky and started him because we know the Chiefs are terrible, but most of you saw him getting phased out by Chris Johnson and left him sitting on the bench. And that’s where he should stay, unless he’s filling in for a bye or has a crazily favorable match-up. He is gong to vulture TDs, no doubt. But all it takes is one week where he doesn’t vulture (like week 6) and you’re getting 1 or 2 points from your RB slot, which most teams can’t afford.
Un-Perfect Season Watch ‘08!
Still un-un-beaten: Cincinnati, Detroit
Monday Night Sneak (Preview) Attack
Den @ NE – As much as I want Denver to win, no no, DESTROY the Patriots, I just don’t think it’s going to happen. Coming off a bad loss, at home Belichick is going to have those boys in tip top shape. That and I need Marshall to go off tonight and I want to hedge my bet.
2008 Sneak Attack record: 4-3
“Windy City” originally coined by some east coast political observer (late 1800s I believe) referred not to weather but the blow hard wordiness of the local governors. Give me MPLS over Chi Town any day – even today with frost on the grass at 8am 34 degrees. Vikes give up 3 defensive/ST TDs, in a season full of early head coach (and Team Pres – Hi Mr. Millen) firings, I wonder who will be next, Chili or Phillips?
Lampson, late night after bar in Chi Town, did you partake in the burrito as big as your head experience? I hope so.
LJ suspended WITH pay, I think it is actually worse along the lines of your theory.