Stacy On Sports  

Week 12 gave us a little bit of everything.  As I wade through the empty cans of whoop ass littering the NFL landscape, I see the monumental benching of a franchise QB, comeback wins that will go a long way in solidfying playoff contention, the last unbeaten team falling, and a surprising upset of a division leader by a team whose ruthless leader can be found at thrift stores shopping for wind pants and jogging suits . . .

Man, do I love football.

Here are my miscellaneous musings and insightful insights into the week that was:

FORGET THE TITANS:  Tennessee’s winning streak came to a crashing halt as the Jets came into Nashville and throttled the NFL’s last unbeaten team.  The green machine steamrolled the once mighty Titans by a score of 34 - 13 and didn’t even give the music city maestros a chance to be competitive.  By winning the time of possession battle by a ridiulously large margin of 20 minutes and 30 seconds (Jets 40:30 and Titans 19:30), the tauted Tennessee defense tired quickly and the game plan of short dink and dunk passes combined with Leon Washington’s 10 yard per carry average and 2 rushing scores made quick work of their so-called “Tencious D”. 

FUN FACT: Brett Favre has passed Dan Marino in the record books yet again to win as a quarterback in 32 different stadiums, the most since the Super Bowl era (1966 - for those not up on football history).  Dan Marino took down opponents in 31 different venues.   

ONLY 5 QUARTERBACKS HAVE DONE IT:  And no, the NFL’s favorite son is not one of them, but his back up is . . . Matt Cassel recorded back to back 400-plus yard passing games becoming only the 5th QB to sling it four lengths of the football field or more in consecutive games since the merger (once again, for those who don’t know, that’s 1970).  He joins Dan Fouts, Dan Marino, Phil Simms and . . . Billy Volek?  What ever happened to him?  Anyway, besides the latter, Cassel in is some pretty good company.  Sorry Billy, you had your time, but you just don’t belong in that group.  Will Matt Cassel?  I’m sure we’ll have a chance to find out . . .

FUN FACT:  Cassel DOUBLED Tom Brady’s number of games with a 400-plus passing performance - for his career.  Is that chowdah or a quarterback controversy I smell brewing in New England? 

STEELERS DEFENSE IS BETTER THAN ADVERTISED:  Yeah, I know it’s hard to believe the vaunted Dick LeBeau scheme could be even better than their #1 ranking, but they are.  For those don’t follow the Steelers or watch their games, not only does the D have to play against opposing offenses and the more than occassional flag happy official, but they also have to protect against . . . their own sad punter, Paul Ernster, who with a 32 yard average constantly gives adversaries good field position and forces the D to step up their play.   

BREAKING NEWS:  Mike Tomlin must have been looking over my shoulder this morning because that sorry excuse for a punter, Paul Ernster, was just released . . .

Can you believe this NFL season is almost two-thirds OVAH?  Didn't it just start?  Regardless, here are the rest of my opinions on the week that was:

REID CHOOSES CORN ON THE KOLB OVER DONOVAN'S CHUNKY SOUP:  Trailing in a 10-7 game at the half against the Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia coach Andy Reid had a hankering for some corn on the Kolb at quarterback, undermining the leadership ability of his franchise pro, the consumate endorser of  Campbell's Chunky Soup, Donovan McNabb.  After a pitiful performance in the second half, looking completely lost and incompetent, Kevin Kolb gave up the NFL record for an interception returned for a touchdown - 108 yards to Ed Reed who even with a neck injury happened to break his own record of 106 yards to pay-dirt set back in 2004.  The Eagles lost 36 - 7 so the question is, now what?  Today, Andy Reid appointed McNabb as his starter against Arizona this Thursday.  Will this be the jolt McNabb needed to jumpstart his game?   In Reid's words, "sometimes you need to take a step back to take a step forward."  Could we be seeing the beginning of a comeback?  When you can only TIE the lowly Bengals, you have already reached the point of no return and you are NOT coming back . . .

McNabb may be endorsing a different soup next year . . .

ASK AND YOU SHALL RECIEVE:  At least, that's how it worked out for T.O. after he poured his heart and soul out to fellow "I" man Deion Sanders in an interview with NFL Newtork airing Thursday night during the Steelers - Nobody (sorry Cincinnati, you just suck, and that's with or without Chad Ocho Cinco) telecast.  BUT . . . I have to say Owens did not blow a gasket while he was held at 38 yards or less receiving for the past five games.  On Sunday he was "unleashed" for his second highest receiving yard total of his career - 213 with one touchdown, which outgained his last five games put together.  His best?  With San Francisco in 2000, T.O. corralled 283 yards in 20 catches, an NFL record.  So against that same team - the one that drafted him, Owens put on a show and gave notice that the he is here to stay . . . for now.  I mean, it was only the 49ers who have a volatile interim coach trying to motivate but obviously not put his players in the best position to win, because if he was he would have suggested Nate Clements take a look at the Redskins film and bump T.O. at the line of scrimmage.  But that did not happen and Owens let loose for BIG gains of 45, 52 and 75 yards, the latter going for a touchdown.  Consider yourself served, NFL, the personality and production of T.O. has been resurrected in Dallas . . .

The Defense proved themselves forcing field goals on the first two drives, with 1st and goal on the 4-yard line and San Francisco coming up with only 3 points each drive.  Despite two garbage time touchdowns, the Dallas D looked pretty tight, albeit against a mediocre team.  With Seattle coming to town on Thanksgiving before facing Pittsburgh, the NY Giants, Baltimore and Philadelphia, they should have a 3-game winning streak going into the tough last quarter of the season at 8-4.  Only time will tell if Dallas can salvage their season and get into the playoffs . . .

OAKLAND WINS AT MILE HIGH:  No that's not a typo supposed to read, Oakland gets a "mile high", it's the actual result of an AFC West division game this past Sunday.  The Raiders kicked the Broncos ASS, 31 -10 in Denver, scoring their 6th win in only 34 tries at a division opponent.  Is Al Davis excited?  Ask his nurse's aide - he can't contain himself and has had to use his frequent bed pan changer card after a shocking win in Denver against the division leading Broncos . . .  Not too much to say about that win, except it is a DISGRACE to Denver.  Let's see how Oakland does against Kansas City next week and San Diego the following week . . . 

The playoff race is heating up - Stay tuned for more commentary and please feel free to add yours!