Joe Concha is on vacation. Today's NFL schedule below the fold.
Before we get there, any final thoughts on last night's Heisman pick?
And how about the San Jose Sharks becoming the fastest team to reach 50 points in a season since the 1929-1930 Bruins?
On to today's football schedule which has some great games:
Tampa Bay at Atlanta
Washington at Cincinnati
Detroit at Indianapolis
San Diego at Kansas City
Seattle at St. Louis
San Francisco at Miami
Buffalo at NY Jets
Tennessee at Houston
Green Bay at Jacksonville
Minnesota at Arizona
Denver at Carolina
Pittsburgh at Baltimore
New England at Oakland
NY Giants at Dallas
Where do you begin? Bucs against Dirty Birds in Atlanta. 9-4 vs. 8-5. This could be really good!
Two AFC East games could have HUGE playoff implications. Can the suddenly struggling Jets hold off the Bills, and could the suddenly resurgent Niners upset the Dolphins? These two games could have a HUGE impact on who wins this division.
8-5 Vikes at 8-5 Cards. After the Bears stunning OT win Thursday, Vikes have to keep pace to stay in the race. Yummy!
8-5 Broncs at 10-3 Pans. Much more at stake for the Pans with Bucs breathing down their necks.
10-3 Steelers at 9-4 Ravens. Wow. Huge game.
And finally, G-men at Boys. Which team will respond to last week's disappointment?
All in all, if you're a pro football fan, this is practically a Dream Weekend of great matchups with fabulous playoff portent.
What will be the game of the day, and what will be the big upset that dramatically changes the playoff picture?
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Here we go Steelers!
December 14, 2008 - 11:13 ET by sublight68This game makes me nervous, but I think the Steelers eke out a 3 point win in a battle of field goals.
Neither offense is going to move the ball, but I have a feeling Roethlisberger will avoid the Big Mistake while Pittsburgh's D will force Flacco into multiple turnovers.
sublight68......
December 15, 2008 - 04:56 ET by old croGood prognosis.
I want to share with you
December 14, 2008 - 11:23 ET by ricklailI want to share with you one other item from yesterday. I was disappointed that my West Craven Eagles lost 35-7 to West Rowan in the state 3A football champsionship. The local fire departments and rescue squads along with the Vanceboro cop provided an escort from town to the school as the team buses returned. It was great to honor these kid. But again saddness struck. Many of us were sadden over the loss and the fact that this was Coach Jordan's last game. We were also told that Senior offensive lineman Justin Barrow announed on the team bus on the way to W-S that he was just diagnosied with a brain tumor. Even more sadness. Life will go on.
I am really disappointed with Tebow not winning the Heisman. I think he is and will be remember as one of the best college players ever. If the Gators win the national championship then Brafford's Heisman will be forgotten as far a I am concerned.
I wanted to mention one more thing. Next Saturday the 72nd annual Shine Bowl will be played at Wofford University in Spartanburg, SC. I pits the 44 best seniors football palyers from NC agaist the 44 best from SC. The proceeds go to the Shiners Hospital for Crippled Children in Greenville, SC. The motto is " Strong legs run so weak legs may walk." QB Brett Mooring from West Craven will be playing in the game. ESPNU will broadcast the game tape delayed on Jan 7th. First time they have done that.
YOU CAN KEEP "THE CHANGE" PALIN 2012
Bills @ Jets
December 14, 2008 - 14:14 ET by 1611LilacLadyPrediction: Bills 3 Jets 55
I say go Jets!
I have lived in Western NY all my life. And I'm not rooting for the hapless Bills anymore. Ralphy Wilson, the greediest Pro-Football team owner in the history of the NFL, should move them to Toronto as he's be not so subtlely hinting.
We need a new team with a new owner who cares about the football fans in this area.
I just checked and the Jets scored a TD & X-Pt in the first 30 seconds of the game. See what I mean?
Edited to add, the Bills may make a liar out of me today. An hour later and they're leading 17-14. C'mon Jets! Don't let me down Bret!
What the Heisman Means These Days
December 14, 2008 - 14:56 ET by CaringwhiteguyWinning the Heisman these days seems to help the recipient along to a marginally mediocre career in the NFL.
1999
Ron Dayne
Wisconsin
RB
Sr.
2,042
2000
Chris Weinke
Florida State
QB
Sr.
1,628
2001
Eric Crouch
Nebraska
QB
Sr.
770
2002
Carson Palmer
USC
QB
Sr.
1,328
2003
Jason White
Oklahoma
QB
Jr.
1,481
2004
Matt Leinart
USC
QB
Jr.
1,325
2005
Reggie Bush
USC
RB
Jr.
2,541
2006
Troy Smith
Ohio State
QB
Sr.
2,540
Go Lions!!!
December 14, 2008 - 17:38 ET by BW222Only two more games to the perfect season and fooyball immorality.
BW222
Come on Steelers...you can
December 14, 2008 - 18:41 ET by bigtimerCome on Steelers...you can do it!
I have to root for the Panthers today against the Broncos so the Chargers still may have a chance..just got done watching the Seahawks win...that was a difficult game for me because my heart still belongs to the Rams...glad the Colts pulled another win...sure have been a lot of close games the last two weeks...really would have loved to seen the Titans/Texans play today too...love the Titans, but was tickled the Texans won again...now I hope the Giants beat the Cowboys tonight...
I love this time of year!
Go Zags!
Gotta' run and get back to games, pay bills and start with addressing Christmas cards..catch you all here and there.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
WOW! WOW! and WOW! Did
December 14, 2008 - 19:28 ET by bigtimerWOW! WOW! and WOW!
Did anbody just get done watching the Ravens/Steelers game?
What a heck of last few minutes of so with Holmes catch for a touch-down and then the interception by the Steelers at the end!
I loved it!!!!
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Where is Walt Coleman from?
December 14, 2008 - 19:43 ET by BKeyserEither the referee was born and raised in Pittsburgh, or Mike Tomlin slipped him a couple hundred dollar bills before this game because that was, without a doubt, the worst officiating in any game I've watched this year. Yes, I'm biased, I'm from Baltimore. And, the way the secondary played on that last drive, the Steelers probably deserved to win in overtime. But to extend the drive in the 2nd quarter on two plays- one, the challenge on the spot on 3rd and 1, and the other on the 37 second clock (also on 3rd down), led to the Steelers' only first half points. Then to reverse the call on the field and give them a touchdown on a ball that clearly never crossed any part of the goal line- this was simply an unfair playing field that the Ravens could not overcome. You can deny this, but if you do, also tell me that Blago didn't really do anything wrong.
Hey, Pittsburgh? You want Willis McGehee? $20 and cab fair to the steel city and he's yours...
Where is Walt Coleman from?
December 14, 2008 - 20:07 ET by 1611LilacLadyre: "Hey, Pittsburgh? You want Willis McGehee? $20 and cab fair to the steel city and he's yours..."
So Baltimore is getting tired of him too! So did Buffalo . .LOL
Of course that's not saying much . . since the Bill's decided to laydown on the playing field and watch their opponents score and win.
BTW, I'm from WNY . . Go Jets! Go Giants!
Walt Coleman is from
December 14, 2008 - 20:38 ET by Roger the ShrubberWalt Coleman is from Arkansas or Mizzo, I believe, and, unless I am also mistaken, was involved with the famous Tom Brady "tuck" play against the Raiders.
That being said, the call for the TD was correct. You guys have a rookie QB, and it showed today, and you lost to the better team.
Hey BK... Oh
December 14, 2008 - 22:13 ET by bigtimerHey BK...
Oh Boo-Hoo...Cry me a river.
You lost.
If you wouldn't have included Blago in your post because you lost, I wouldn't have even bothered to respond.
You are a sore loser...
Now...Go Giants Go!
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
No, not crying-
December 15, 2008 - 09:35 ET by BKeyserI still got up this morning. Don't worry, I'll be okay LOL
Replay might not though:
After further review, right call becomes wrong one
At least when the refs took points away from the Steelers, it didn;t cost them the game. Maybe this was a way to get them back, huh?
Which team?
December 14, 2008 - 22:00 ET by BKeyserThe black and gold or the black and white?
Yes, the Steelers are probably the better team, though you and Walt Coleman seem to be the only ones who think the TD was was correct. Certainly neither Nance or Simms thought so. You can bet that call will the the talk of the game- which by its very nature makes it a controversial win. And yes, Flacco's a rookie, and B'more has 16 guys on IR, and nobody thought that at this point of the season, this game would've meant anything. But that doesn't change the fact that Coleman blew two calls, blatantly, in favor of the Steelers. Without that help, there's a tie in the AFC North because today, the Ravens were the better team.
Find your way to the sports site of your choice........
December 15, 2008 - 05:04 ET by old croLook at the standings of the AFC North.....
The call was correct.........
Get over it.
Man, I thought when Art
December 15, 2008 - 08:04 ET by Roger the ShrubberMan, I thought when Art Modell skipped town he left all the crybaby fans behind in Cleveland.
You are almost as bad as those Seahawks fans buying "Super Bowl XL Champions" t-shirts on EBay.
Sharks bogus record
December 14, 2008 - 22:01 ET by BronxBomberSharks record of fastest to 50 points is a bogus record, what with OT and Shoot Out wins adding to their point total...