Time for our look back at Week 7 in the NFL. Today we look back at the British Invasion, the Saints remaining unbeaten, the Benson bowl, JaMarcus Russell, and hot dogs. Bon appetite!
Underrated Story Of The Week: Wembley Wonderment
We just witnessed the 3rd installment of The International Series (yes that's the official name, how original) this past weekend as the poor Brits were subject to a Pats/Bucs mismatch. The Glazers might have been better served to put Man U on the Wembley pitch... they would fare better against New England than Tampa Bay did. But, the larger story is the mere blip on the radar the London game was this year. Even with a celeb like Brady and a glamour team like New England traveling overseas there was no publicity, hype, or anything surrounding this game. Sure, a full house showed up in London, but stateside there was a collective yawn surrounding this game.
But, Don Goodell has come out saying that there will probably be multiple regular season games in London in the future. As more and more games go to London, expect more and more pushback from NFL fans. Sure, Tampa might not mind losing a home game this year, but what about when multiple teams have home games taken away? What about when there is legitimate discussion of a London Super Bowl or Franchise. As far as the NFL in London goes, this is the eye of the storm. Expansion in the NFL has to be out of the question - 32 teams has to be the maximum. So, then what? Does London get a team before LA or another American city? Does Jacksonville pick up and become London City FC? Do you actually move an American team overseas? This story won't be resolved anytime soon, but pay close attention the next few years to the London/NFL relationship. As they say in the British press, watch this space.
Overrated Story of The Week: Did Team X Win Or Did Team Y Lose??
-I realize this is a cop out, but I feel that stories in the NFL have been properly rated this week, with the exception of this disturbingly lazy trend. Instead of trying to actually analyze games, players, and stories, we are left with the worthless banter of whether or not a team won or lost a game (ESPN First Take, I'm staring in your direction, although anything involving Skip Bayless is worthless banter...). Here's the easy answer, Team X won AND Team Y lost because both things happened!!!
Perfect example: Saints v Dolphins. The Dolphins lost because they didn't keep going to their vaunted running attack while the Saints won because of their opportunistic defense and incredible 2nd half offensive performance. But, instead of trying to figure out whether the Saints can keep it up, analyzing how Miami did shut down New Orleans for 30 minutes, the Miami Wildcat, Drew Brees' MVP hopes, Chad Henne's play, the greatness of Darren Sharper, the great comeback, or countless other stories... we're left with this stupid and pointless "debate." Yawn.
3 Stars:
3rd Star: Miles Austin (WR-Cowboys)
-Someone start working on this guy's Hall of Fame bust. Following up that 250 yard showing with a 171 yard effort and 2 TDs is incredibly impressive. You have to laugh at the numbers comparing Austin's 2 game stretch with the illustrious Cowboy career of Roy Williams, where's that TO guy again?
2nd Star: Reggie Bush & Jeremy Shockey (RB/TE-Saints)
-Out of all the amazing stories coming out of the Miami/New Orleans classic were two defining plays by Bush and Shockey. First, Shockey's 66 yard catch and run would make Mark Bavaro proud as he stiff armed his way inside Miami's 20. Then, Bush took a double reverse from the 10 around a Drew Brees block and took flight from the 6 and landed a couple yards across the pylon, a play that has to be seen to believed. These were two huge jaw-dropping momentum plays in the Saints' win.
1st Star: Cedric Benson (RB-Bengals)
-Ok, so that picture might be a low blow. But, 37 carries, 189 yards, and a TD for the jettisoned ex-Bear against his former team will make that image fade away. It was redemption for Ced, but count me among the folks not necessarily "rooting" for this guy. Benson was the definition of a malcontent and a bust in Chicago (held out, didn't get along w/ teammates, played like Curtis Enis) and while it's good for him that he turned his career around, you have to wonder where this has been the first 4 years of his career... and if the Bengals can trust the NFL's leading rusher for the long run.
Fab 5:
1. New Orleans
2. Denver
3. Indy
4. Minnesota
5. Cincinnati
-A thought about our rankings: The Saints stay at #1 with their huge comeback in Miami, Denver stays above Indy (beating St. Louis doesn't move you up, please). Minny slots in at #4 as the only 1 loss team, and on the back of their whooping of Chicago, Cincy gets in the Fab 5 ahead of the other 8, yes 8 teams with 2 losses. NE, Pittsburgh, Zona, Dallas, and GB are all candidates, but Cincy is the one with the most impressive wins, let that soak in.
11 Random Observations:
1) Washington - ouch. Still think it was a good idea to keep hold of Jim Zorn? Still think it was a good idea to get Sherm Lewis out of the Bingo hall? Still think there's any reason for My Cousin Vinny Cerrato to have a job? Time to blow the whole thing up.
2) Speaking of NFC East teams on the decilne, the G-Men lost at home to the Cards on Sunday night. I wouldn't ring the panic bells yet in New York though, both the G-Men and Arizona still remain division favorites.
3) I went to the local BW's in Columbus for the Saints game at 4. I arrived at 3:45 to get a table only to run into a restaurant full of Steelers fans. Steelers fans?? Isn't this Browns/Bengals country? Am I missing something? And, of course, there was the psychotic screeching menopausal Steelers fan which could be heard across the room. Step up Ohio NFL fans, well at least Bengals fans, you can't blame converting Browns fans. Oh, and it was a nice win for the Steelers too. Both Pitt and Minny will make the playoffs, book it.
4) The Tweetgate Scandal of the week involves washed up Chiefs RB Larry Johnson. Maybe Don Goodell should think about enacting a new player conduct policy: no tweeting if you average beneath 2.8 yards per carry... that means you LJ. His criticism of Todd Haley only makes Johnson look more petty and pathetic.
5) Can anyone figure out the Houston Texans? Yes, that's a reprint from last week. They beat SF to move to 4-3. But, in SF's loss they might have found careers for #1 picks Alex Smith and Michael Crabtree. Crabtree played solidly and Alex Smith might have resurrected his career with a 3 TD showing. Even though they lost, the 49ers might have the brighter future this year.
6) Is Jay Cutler's 10 picks worth that trade and extension? If the Bears could find a running game, offensive line, talented wide receivers, and a competent play caller... maybe we could see what Cutler is really made of. As of now, he might as well be trying to guide Larry, Moe, and Shemp into the endzone. See, you were expecting Curly weren't you... at least Shemp is tall enough to catch a fade in the corner of the endzone.
7) Isn't it time to call out Brett Favre for being the worst tackler in NFL history? Jeff Reed's attempt on Percy Harvin's return TD was lambasted... why does Favre get a pa... why bother asking that question?
8) Mark it down now: one of St. Louis, Tampa, or Tennessee will seriously threaten 0-16. That's a weak prediction, but don't be surprised to see at least one of these teams reach 12 or 13 losses to start the season or beyond.
9) So, Mark Sanchez ate a hot dog... so what? Who cares? You have to apologize for eating while hungry nowadays? My QB could be eating a McGriddle on the sidelines for all I care, as long as he's giving it all on the field that's what counts. We've been hard on Sanchez before, but give the kid a break in this case.
10) Speaking of hungry QBs... let the Gradkowski Era begin! Glad to see Richard Seymour's playoff prediction and the JaMarcus Russell revival lasted about as long as a hot dog would in front of the hefty Oakland QB, at least JaMarcus should now have plenty of time to examine the buffet at Golden Corral without much consequence. Maybe by then he'll actually take some of the blame for his lackluster career. Russell saying, "I don't think it's me personally, I really don't" might be a contender for stupidest utterance of they year in sports.
11) Get ready for a long, endlessly annoying week. Brett Favre is returning to Lambeau. Here's hoping the Green Bay fans do the right thing and shower him with beer, brats, and orange hunting jackets amidst a parade of boos. My guess is that won't happen, just don't wake me till it's over.
What Happened In Week 6 That Will Change The Season: The Comeback
The Saints 46-34 win over Miami tied for the biggest comeback in Saints history (21 pts). It's also the first time since the '87 Saints that a team trailing by 21 came back to win by more than 10. But, it wasn't the numbers, but the intangibles of the comeback which showed this could be (knocking on wood till my knuckles bleed) a special season in the Big Easy. For your observation...
-Brees lobbying Sean Payton for 7 instead of 3 at the 1st Half's close.
-Another Pick 6 for Darren Sharper
-The ability of Brees and the O-Line to step up after a horrid 1st Half
-The ability of the D to get key stops and TO's to fuel the comeback
-The highlight plays of Brees and Shockey
-The hard running of Mike Bell
-Surviving a 2nd half INT and a missed XP in the midst of the comeback
-Finshing and winning games that wouldn't have happened before.
This was simply put the most impressive win by an NFL team this season. All author biases aside, any neutral NFL observer would say the same thing. The Saints showed heart, composure, and an ability to fight adversity that is necessary to win a title in any sport. They have now shown that they can win with offense (on pace to break the all-time scoring record), defense (leading the league in TOs), coaching, and any other aspect of the game. While the Saints might have looked pretty in Weeks 1-6, in Week 7 they proved that they might be championship material.
Check back for our thoughts about the end of the baseball season and the beginning of the basketball one as well as the Decade Series, bye for now!
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