Old dude, I really have a bone to pick with the NFL over certain things. But I need to sharpen the axe.
Glad you're doing it. You're keeping this enterprise afloat in a sea of rage.
And I have a suggestion for the Big Ten, but I don't need to sharpen the axe for that. I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYPPPPEEE! for a couple of these games, and we are going to learn a lot about people this weekend. It's time to watch me work.
Windiana Hoosiers (+13.5) vs. Beloved Wisconsin Badgers Well, the Badgers get to keep the Axe, as the Gophers have bigger problems to deal with on their end. The suggestion I have for the Big Ten is simple. There has been rumblings that Michigan might not be able to play against A School in Columbus next week, meaning that the Buckeyes would not have played in the 6 games needed to qualify for the conference title game. It also has been reported that the Big Ten is going to let A School in Columbus play in Indy even if they don't get that 6th game. Well, should the Badgers win out and Northwestern lose next week, then it is only fair that the Badgers get the nod to play. It's only fair, and would be a better test for Ohio State. But, the Badgers can't worry about that. Indiana has been the story of the year so far in the league. I know that Michael Penix Jr. will not be playing, but the Hoosiers are a disciplined team that is well-coached under Tom Allen. The Badgers played like absolute crap at Ryan Field, and yet somehow still could have won the game. Oddly, this is going to be the 2nd and last game at Camp Randall. This will be tough, but the Badgers can win and send the seniors away from Madison with a good memory. Badgers 24, Hoosiers 17.
A good Indiana football team is a rarity, but in a rare year it seems oddly fitting. The Hoosiers have two excellent receivers with strange names (Whop Philyor and Trey Freyfogle), who can catch the ball no matter who is throwing it to them. The Hoosiers also play good defense. But the game is at Camp Randall and the Badgers gotta have it, so I think they win. But they won't cover a -13.5 spread. Wisconsin 23, Indiana 14.
Jacksonville Jaguars (+10.5) vs. Minnesota Vikings The Vikings did get it done against Carolina, but dodged a massive bullet thanks to terrible clock management by the Panthers. Kirk Cousins got it done, and is probably back in the good graces of the fickle Vikings fans who blame him for the failure of management. The Jags are a team that will play tough and can hang in there even when they are outgunned, as evidenced by their inspired play at Lambeau a few weeks back. This is a trap game for the Vikings, and they need to have learned their lesson from last week. If you come out flat, you will lose. Thankfully, the Vikings have learned their lesson. Vikings 31, Jags 10.
Or have they? Jags 24, Vikings 23.
Philadelphia Eagles (+7.5) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers The Packers had no trouble at all against Da Bearz last week, and it was great to have some people in the stands at Lambeau. The Eagles are a mess. Carson Wentz looks like he has regressed, and the fanbase openly wants Jalen Hurts to play more. Well, this is a trap game for the Packers. If you remember last year, the Eagles came in and were the better team. Plus, thanks to the NFC Least making the 2010 NFC West and 2014 NFC South look like competent divisions, the Eagles still have a shot at a division title. I think that the Packers can win as they have more talent, and the pass rush finally looks like doing something. But there is danger in this game. Something in my gut tells me that, and hopefully I am wrong. Packers 31, Eagles 27.
I agree with your assessment. Eagles will give the Packers their best shot. It won't be enough. Packers 28, Eagles 20.
And now, it's time for A Very Special Comment.
So, the NFL seems to have had a bad week. The Steelers and Ravens game was a complete mess. The Steelers have not been getting much luck in when they have played certain teams. They lost their bye week thanks to the Titans mess, and then lost their mini bye thanks to the Ravens having a staffer just totally not following league rules and infecting multiple players. That Ravens-Steelers game was postponed from Turkey Day, to Sunday, to Tuesday, to Wednesday afternoon. Yes, you read that right. They had to play an NFL game on a Wednesday afternoon because apparently a Rockefeller Center tree lighting can't be moved by NBC. Now, the Steelers have to play on short rest for the next couple of games, and are likely to lose one of those games, meaning that Kansas City could sneak in and get the AFC bye. The Steelers have gotten hosed, and hopefully Art Rooney II can raise a stink at the next owners meeting. Plus, they lost Bud Dupree for the year. That game was a complete mess, and ruined one of the games that a lot of people were curious about.
But the one thing that angers me the most is what happened in Denver. The Broncos lost their entire quarterback stable. Now, I know that Drew Lock was not following the league rules. But the Broncos game didn't get postponed, and they had to start Kendall Hinton, a practice squad receiver, at quarterback. The dude played as well as he could considering he had to learn the offense and got very short notice. Guess who the Broncos played on Sunday? The New Orleans Saints. Guess who is fighting with the Saints for the NFC bye? The Packers, the team I love through thick and thin. The Saints got a free win, as they didn't even have to try. Before you come at me with the excuse that Drew Brees didn't play, just remember that Taysom Hill at least is a quarterback, and knows the offense. He at least gave the Saints a fair chance. The Broncos didn't get the same luxury. Why did the Broncos not get the game postponed to Monday or Tuesday? Maybe then, they would have actually had a chance. You almost have to try and be this incompetent. Heck, the reason this happened was because the Broncos have an ownership dispute involving Pat Bowlen's kids. The Broncos have an awesome fanbase; the fanbase really knows their football, and the Broncos have been a model franchise for most of my lifetime. I hope that Hilton gets a fair chance on the Broncos to show what he can do as a wideout. Heck, he is welcome on the Packers anytime. I'll even buy him a beer.
Roger Goodell was interviewed at halftime Wednesday by Mike Tirico. He claimed that the NFL was doing a great job this year. Uh, that was a lie. Look, I don't care what you think about the response (or lack thereof) by leaders. All of them screwed up, and that stands for both Republicans and Democrats. To make matters worse, the 49ers have to play games in Arizona because the local California leaders out there don't want there to be football in Santa Clara County. In fact, there are even rumors that the Rams and Chargers might have to leave the state to play. Where are those teams going to play? This is a freaking dumpster fire. Heck, Rob Manfred and Gary Bettman did a better job with the MLB and NHL seasons respectively. Do you realize how hard it is to do that? I'm a baseball fan, and Manfred is a terrible commissioner who might not even like baseball. That being said, I loved what he did with the opening round of the playoffs that gave us wall to wall ballgames all day and did a great job by getting fans back for the NLCS and World Series. Bettman is hated by NHL fans, but he pulled out a great playoffs in Canada, and I really enjoyed watching the playoffs this year with all the games in the opening round being fun. The NFL had months before the season started to observe other sports leagues. It's clear they haven't come up with any contingency plans. Maybe Goodell is secretly Kevin Warren. Whatever the reason, the NFL is a joke. I remember when they were able to protect the shield. Not anymore. Please fire Goodell and hire Greg Sankey. Sankey actually has a chance to play all the games he scheduled with fans in attendance in the SEC. When I have to praise the SEC, that's when you know something is wrong.
Ben is fired up!
Yeah, I am. Despite all that, enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out.
1 comment:
Hoosier Daddy?
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