Week 10 NFL thoughts

Sometimes, strange things happen in the NFL. A team with a terrible record and loosing season will play against a team with a great record and their best season ever. Usually, everyone knows how this will end but... What if there is a longstanding rivalry?  What if these two teams have battled it out, year after year with close scoring games?  What if the fans are just as (or even more) invested in the outcome? That's when things gets strange!  Regardless of records, regardless of injuries, regardless of... anything, the game becomes a battle. Teams play better than anyone expected because it comes down to pride and settling a score. Passionate fans on both sides feed off of and into the intensity.  The worst team in the NFL sometimes beats the best when long-standing rivalries are thrown into the mix. Sometimes... Strange things happen. 

The Saints - I stand by my statement that this season is a joke for the Saints. Yes, they won against the Eagles - woohoo. Having watched that game, the Eagles gave them that. Once again, it was the Drew Brees show and I, for one, think it's an insult to every other player on that team!  Ok, sorry. I still see weaknesses and inconsistencies on this team. Yes, he-who-annoys-me has a great arm but even the Eagles D took him to the turf a time or two! 
The Saints play the Falcons this week - in NO. This is one of those rivalry situations. For 80% of the season, Falcon fans get along ok with Saints fans.  Twice a year, however, all bets are off!   This game will be a battle. The Saints may be having a bad season but, when they play the Falcons, expect them to put on a show. The same holds true for the Falcons. I REALLY want to win this one - and it doesn't have a damn thing to do with a perfect record!  I want us to go into their house and make ourselves at home and embarrass them in front of all their drunk, obnoxious fans!  "Who dat?" annoys the crap out of me!!!  I honestly believe that the Falcons have what it takes to win this. 

The Jets - the drama returns!!  When I was in college, everyone would gather in the common rooms and watch soap operas. Different shows on different floors with guys and girls piled in watching the 'stories' (as my grandmother called them) unfold. The Jets football team this year reminds me of that time - groups of men watching the drama and debating which guy is better or pondering why one guy was chosen over another.  This week, the Seahawks get pulled into it. 
I have to make a shameful confession regarding the Seahawks - I have never taken them seriously.  I know, they have gone to the playoffs 11 times but I always seem to forget about them. If I were asked to name the teams in the NFL, I would probably forget the Seahawks, the Titans and the Jaguars. It's nothing personal and I do feel kinda bad about it. Having said that, they are doing well this year!  Unfortunately, regardless of the outcome, the Jets will get all the attention after the game. It's wrong but we Falcons fans can relate.  

Cowboys - Eagles - The Eagles are such teases!  You keep thinking, "here they go! They're gonna score!" but... No!  They march down the field, looking good, but before your hopes are fully formed... dropped pass, interception, fumble.  My new theory is that this is a real life version of "The Prestige" - the 2006 movie staring Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman that had a pretty cool ending!  The outcome of this game depends 100% on which Michael Vick shows up!  
I have really mixed feelings about the Cowboys. I like Jason Garrett and I think he would be so much more successful if he just focused on being the head coach. I have nothing against most of the players with the exception of the hugely over-rated Tony Romo. I just really, REALLY don't like Jerry Jones. He's one of those people who does nothing more than speak yet I feel my upper lip curl into a sneer while I roll my eyes in disgust.  He comes across, to me, as arrogant and condescending and I just don't like him. For this reason alone, I hope the Cowboys loose - again. 

Steelers/KC -  when I was growing up, the Steelers were one of THE teams in the NFL.  Even as a child, I knew the names Bradshaw, 'Mean' Joe Greene, Lynn Swann,  Franco Harris... You get the idea. through the 70's and early 80's, it seemed like the Steelers were ALWAYS going to the Super Bowl.  You couldn't help but be impressed!  That was then. Oh, I still really like some of their guys - Troy Polamalu is great and his shampoo commercials crack me up! But... Yup, there's a BUT!... I cannot stand "Big Ben". My dislike of him is right up there with Michael Vick but has nothing to do with his playing - it' personal and possibly a female thing. I know, those charges were dropped. (I'm rolling my eyes again)  Don't care!!!!  I hope they loose. This might or might not be the best thing for the Falcons come playoff time but, again, DON'T CARE!  I realize that a win by KC is not very likely but... I don't even care!! Besides, it's the NFL, anything can happen!  Come on, it's not Tinkerbell and fairy dust, it's football and... Stranger things have happened!  

Houston/Chicago - this is a BIG game!  It promises to be a cold, wet game as well as a battle on the field. Each team has a 7-1 record.  Each is top in their Division. Houston is top in their Conference.  At this point, I need to research which outcome is better for my Falcons. I honestly don't know. Yes, that's how I will pick my favorite in this game!  Don't judge me. 

That's about all I've got this week.   Actually, I have one more thing!!!  Every single week, after every single game, players are asked the most stupid, ridiculous, meaningless questions. "How did you feel after that fumble/interception/dropped pass/missed block?" Really?!? How do you THINK he felt? What do you expect the guy to say? Some idiot reporter asked Roddy White if he thought the Falcons could go 16-0. Roddy said Yes!  Of course he said yes! What is he supposed to say? Does anyone actually think he's going to say, "No, we can't do that."  I find it staggering that people get all worked up over the answer without looking at the original question!  Vick said he would support his coach if Reid decided to bench him. Is he supposed to say that only an idiot would do that? Had he done so, he would have been torn apart by the media and fans alike!  What a STUPID question!!!  People need to stop judging these players when they are on live TV being interviewed by some brainless twit who cannot think of a decent question!!! 

Reporter: Your team has only won one game this season. How do you feel?
Player wants to say:  How the F#*K do you think I feel? This SUCKS! I hate loosing!  I feel like a total looser! Are you stupid? How would you feel?
Player actually says: As a team, we have a lot of work to do. We've played some really great teams. I believe in my team mates and know that we can turn this around. 

Reporter: Young Quarterback, how did you feel when the player dropped the game winning pass?
Young Quarterback wants to say: Are you kidding? I wanted to go kick his ass!  We practice that all the time and NOW his head is up his ass! Wait until I get him alone!!
Young Quarterback actually says: We fought hard out there and it was a close game. The other team's defense was tough.  I'm proud of all our guys for fighting right up to the end.
 
Reporter:  You guys played the toughest team in the league with the best record. Did you think you could win against them?
Player wants to say:  Are you kidding? With our quarterback? With our O-line performing like a bunch of six-year-olds?  With four D-line guys out with injuries?  We all KNEW this was going to suck ass. 
Player actually says: We knew going in this was going to be a tough game.  All week, we worked and prepared for this game but they are a great team. Any loss is a tough loss. 

Before you judge the answer, LOOK AT THE QUESTION!!!!!