Die Hard Sports Fan

Over the years, I have learned that certain things just weren’t meant to be.  As a kid, I always wanted a brand new baseball glove.  I played every season for years and always used one my parents bought at a yard sale.  It had to be 40 years old at the minimum.  My little sister played softball one year with a brand new glove.  A new glove for me to be proud of just wasn’t meant to be.  In college, I spent a majority of my one class daydreaming about a believably good-looking girl that sat a row ahead of me, wondering what she looked like without all those annoying and frustrating clothes on but never found out.  It just wasn’t meant to be.  Life’s lessons never end because on Monday, I just realized another thing in my life that is not meant to be.

After suffering through a painful, horrific, and humiliating loss to the Washington Redskins Sunday, and trying to recoup from the loss, the hits just keep coming.  Philadelphia Eagles RB Brian Westbrook now has two fractured ribs.  I don’t know who is in more pain; Westbrook or us Die Hard Eagles Fans.

Brian Westbrook is the heart and soul of the Eagles offense.  No offense to QB Donovan McNabb but Westbrook is anything and everything to our offense.  He instills fear in the minds of opposing defenses.  Other teams have to account for him on every play.  They have to spend all week game planning for how to stop him as a multi-level threat. 

We know what the Eagles can do with and without “Westy”.  We saw that for the 2^nd half of the Steelers game and unfortunately the entire Bears game.  With a current record of 2-3 and a 0-2 NFC East division record, can there be any worse time for this injury?  My hopes and dreams of an Eagles Super bowl are fading by the second.  Maybe it is just one more thing in our lives that is not meant to be.

With that said, “E-A-G-L-E-S!!  EAGLES!!”

Share This

Everywhere I go, at work, at home, in the car, when I am awake and when I am asleep, I have one vision in my head and I cannot shake it from my thoughts.  The harder I try, the more it keeps replaying, over and over again.  That image is Eagles RB Correll Buckhalter being stuffed at the Bears 1 cm line in Sunday’s loss to the Bears.  I want to yell at Buckhalter to reach the ball over the goal-line while you are getting stacked up.  I want to jump into the vision in my head myself and help backup TE Matt Schobel block Bears DE Alex Brown.  In my vision, I want to run onto the field, over to the sidelines and beg Head Coach Andy Reid to run his 230 pound quarterback on a QB keeper.  I want to tell him to get his head out of his arse and run a bootleg or some kind of quick hitter instead of the slow, developing running plays to Buckhalter that they called. 

The NFC East is up for grabs.  It will probably come down to the final week of the NFL season.  With the development and improvement of QB Jason Campbell of the Redskins and their upset victory over The Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, there are now a total of four teams in the NFC East that could win the division.  Just a week ago, we thought it would only come down to The Giants, Cowboys, and Eagles.  Not so fast and now we face the Skins this Sunday in what is looking like a must win game.  Now I fear The Eagles loss to The Bears on Sunday may just come back and bite us in the rear come the end of the season where that we will look back and say “what if we only dialed up the right play calling when the game was on the line that September evening in Chicago?”

You think I am being too hard on Coach Reid?  Check out this article and let me know your thoughts (click here)

With that said, “E-A-G-L-E-S!!  EAGLES!!

Share This

The Eagles and Bears fought out a tough, competitive game with the Bears doing a better job of taking opportunity of some turnovers and earning the win.

1^st Quarter

The Eagles received the ball first to open the game.  The Eagles went 3 and out and were forced to punt after being sacked on 3^rd down by Bears Safety Daniel Manning.  On the Bears’ first offensive possession, they marched right down the field ending the drive with a Touchdown strike to Tight End Greg Olsen, who beat Eagles LB Chris Gocong in the endzone.

On the Eagles next possession, QB Donovan McNabb came out on fire, standing tall in the pocket, hitting rookie WR DeSean Jackson on multiple big plays including a 22 yard TD making the score 7-7.  Jackson also had a big run on a reverse, helping set up the Eagles’ first TD.

2^nd Quarter

On a Bears’ possession, they were forced to punt.  A Bears’ 38 yard punt was muffed by DeSean Jackson at the Eagles 24 yard line.  2 Plays later, Bears QB Kyle Orton found WR Marty Booker open in the end zone for a 23-yard Touchdown breaking the tie.  The Bears led 14-7.

The Eagles offense responded on their next possession by marching down the field.  WR Reggie Brown had multiple catches helping to get The Eagles down into The Bears’ Red Zone.  RB Correll Buckhalter then took a screen pass from McNabb 19 yards down to the Bears 1 yard line.  Buckhalter then took the next carry and plunged into the end-zone making the score 14-14.

On another possession, The Bears capped off a 60 yard drive with a 20 yard TD to KR/WR Devin Hester where The Bears took the lead 21-14 at half-time. 

3^rd Quarter

The Bears received the ball to start the 3^rd quarter and were forced to punt after a few plays.  The Bears punted the ball down inside the Eagles 10 yard line where McNabb through a costly interception with RB Correll Buckhalter getting hurt during the interception return.

Inside the Eagles 20 yard line, on the 2^nd play after the turnover, Bears QB Kyle Orton forced an ill-advised pass into the end-zone and right into the arms of Eagles Safety Quintin Mikell.  The Eagles defense gave the Eagles offense back the ball where the score still remained Bears 21, Eagles 14.

On the next possession, the Eagles went 3 and out and P Sav Rocca sent a booming punt deep into Bears’ territory where KR Devin Hester let it go over his head where he finally scooped up the ball and ran backwards, being downed at his own 4 yard line.

The Eagles defense stuffed the Bears down at the Bears goal-line forcing the Bears 3 and out.  On 1^st down, McNabb missed on an attempted pass to WR Greg Lewis.  With 3^rd string RB Lorenzo Booker in for injured RB Correll Buckhalter, Booker was creamed for a 3 yard loss on a screen play.  The Eagles failed to convert on 3^rd down with a pass to TE Brent Celek.  On 4^th down, K David Akers missed by dinking the upright of the goal post, giving the Bears back the ball with decent field position.

On the first play of the Bears’ next possession, Eagles DE Trent Cole sacked and stripped QB Kyle Orton forcing a fumble recovered by LB Omar Gaither who returned it to the Bears 28 yard line.

Almost giving up on the running game, the Eagles moved the ball inside the red zone, sometimes using 4 receivers in the formation.  On 2^nd down and 4 from the Bears 10, McNabb and the Eagles tried some trickery with a shovel pass to WR Jason Avant who took the ball down to the Bears’ 2 while picking up the first down.  On first down, McNabb rolled right, miss-firing on a pass in the end-zone to WR Hank Baskett.  On 2^nd down, McNabb tripped coming out from center and lost 4 yards.  With 3^rd and goal, The Eagles threw an incomplete pass in the end zone, bringing out K David Akers for another field goal attempt.  The Eagles cut the lead to 21-17 after Akers hit the 24 yard field goal.

The Bears responded with a Devin Hester kick return all the way to mid-field with a 51 yard kick return.  The Bears squandered the good field position, ending the 3 and out with a sack by Eagles DE J. Parker.

Upon the next Eagles possession, Eagles RB Correll Buckhalter returned to the Eagles backfield, carrying on first down for no gain.  The Eagles were unproductive, going 3 and out on this possession as well.  The Eagles were forced to punt and on the Bears very next offensive play, Bears RB Kevin Jones fumbled the ball, with it recovered by Eagles LB Stewart Bradley.

4^th Quarter

The Eagles ended the 3^rd quarter with a nifty reverse run to WR DeSean Jackson, who took the ball down to the Bears 15-yard line.  McNabb was sacked on the 1^st play of the 4^th quarter, by Bears LB H. Hillenmeyer.  The Eagles failed again to take advantage of the turnover and were forced for a David Akers field goal, cutting the Bears’ lead to 1 point at 21-20.

The Bears responded with finally their 1^st down of the 2^nd half and moved the ball down to the Eagles 24-yard line.  They stalled there and settled for a 41-yard field goal by K Robbie Gould.  The score was now 24-20, in the Bears’ favor.

The Eagles responded by marching down the field with a nice mix of runs by Buckhalter and pass plays by McNabb.  With 3:40 left in the game, the Eagles offense ran out of gas after calling a time out to discuss the next play.  On a crucial 4^th and goal from the 1, Buckhalter was stuffed by the Bears and their swarming defense, turning over the ball back to the Bears.

Taking the ball at their own 1-yard line, The Bears successfully moved the ball, gaining 1^st downs and making The Eagles burn up their time-outs.   The Eagles were successful in forcing the Bears to punt, but it was too little, too late.  The Eagles got the ball back with 17 seconds left after a DeSean Jackson punt return.  The Eagles ran one last play to WR Reggie Brown.  Brown didn’t get out of bounds and the game ended with the Bears winning 24-20.

Wrap-Up

• Bears QB Kyle Orton threw 3 first-half TD passes for a career high.
• Eagles WR DeSean Jackson caught his first NFL TD in his career.
• Eagles RB Brian Westbrook, TE L.J. Smith, and OG Shawn Andrews did not play.
• The Eagles Defense held RB Brian Forte to just 43 yards rushing, however, Forte also had 42 yards receiving.

NFL.com Game Center post game is attached.

With that said, “E-A-G-L-E-S!!  EAGLES!!”

Share This

The Philadelphia Eagles will face the Chicago Bears Sunday Night at Soldier Field.

TV & Radio Info:

Game: Philadelphia Eagles (2-1) @ Chicago Bears (1-2) TV: NBC (Al Michaels, John Madden) Radio: 610 AM WIP All Sports Radio (Merrill Reese, Mike Quick) Time: 8:15 p.m. ET

Game Notes:

• Last Regular Season Meeting: The Bears won a heart breaker, beating the Eagles 19-16 on the last play of the game at Lincoln Financial Field in 2007.
• The Eagles have won the last 4 meetings at Soldier Field, dating back to 1999.
• OG Max Jean-Gilles will replace OG Shawn Andrews.
• RB Brian Westbrook is expected to be a game time decision
• Eagles QB Donovan McNabb started last week’s game against the Steelers 15 for his first 15 passes, a new team record for starting a game.
• The Eagles are 12-5 when RB Brian Westbrook rushes for over 100 yards.
• Eagles Punter Sav Rocca currently ranks 1^st in the NFL with a 44.1 net punting average.
• Eagles Head Coach Andy Reid is 2 wins shy of 100 career wins.
• Coach Reid has an overall record of 17-3 against NFC North opponents.
• Eagles Safety Brian Dawkins is 1 interception short to tie Eric Allen and Bill Bradley for the franchise lead in career interceptions of 34.
• The Line: The Eagles are favored by 3. Over/Under 40.

Injury Report:

Bears - Doubtful: T Chris Williams (Back) Questionable: DT Tommie Harris (Knee), KR Devin Hester (Ribs), WR Brandon Lloyd (Hip). Probable: DE Alex Brown (Ankle), CB Nathan Vasher (Shoulder) Eagles - Out of Game: DE Victor Abiamiri (Wrist) . Doubtful: WR Kevin Curtis (Sports Hernia), OG Shawn Andrews (Back), TE LJ Smith (Back). Questionable: QB Donovan McNabb (Chest), RB Brian Westbrook (Ankle) Probable: FB Tony Hunt (Concussion), DT Dan Klecko (Hand), C Jamaal Jackson (Quad) Quote of the Week: On returning to the area where Eagles QB Donovan McNabb was raised: ”This being my tenth year, it’s not overly exciting as it was early on,” he said. “This is a trip in which it’s business. You’re going out to, obviously, improve your record and improve your team and gain more and more confidence each week to finish the season off on the right note. I don’t look at it like I’m just so excited about going back home. I look at it as just another opportunity to, hopefully, get another win in the win column and get ready for the following week.” - Eagles QB Donovan McNabb

Open Thread:

Please feel free to comment below or in the tag board in the sidebar to chat with Eagles fans from around the world. With that said, “E-A-G-L-E-S!! EAGLES!!”

Share This

On paper, The Philadelphia Eagles defense should match up quite well against The Chicago Bears offense.  The Bears passing game is suspect.  The Bears have no stand out, “have to stop receiver”.  The Bears starting QB, Kyle Orton has not been known to be a top, quality QB so far into his career.  Orton is inexperienced and inconsistent but can manage a game with short and accurate passes.  However, there are portions of the Bears offense that the Eagles need to be mindful of, or last year’s upset loss to the Bears could be repeated again this Sunday night.

Assuming dangerous return man/WR Devin Hester is still out with an injury as he is listed as Questionable at the time of this post, the Eagles should focus on shutting down two aspects of the Bears offense.  The first piece is to make sure they are not hurt continuously by rookie RB Matt Forte.  Forte has been a dangerous runner and receiver so far this season and could be the kind of back that gives the Eagles defense trouble.  There have been many successful rookie running backs so far into the NFL season, and Forte leads them all in production.  The Eagles so far have been extremely successful at shutting down the opposing team’s running backs and will need to keep Forte’s total damage at a minimum.  Doing so will put the Bears in a disadvantage, forcing them to have to attempt to pass, leaving them vulnerable to sacks, potential turnovers, and costly mistakes. 

The second portion of what the Eagles Defense should prepare for is the athletic ability of Bears Tight End Greg Olsen.  So far this season, arguably the Eagles biggest issue defensively has been attempting to shut down the other team’s Tight End.  Dallas Cowboys Tight End Jason Witten absolutely owned the Eagles during week 2’s game.  Last week, Steelers Tight End Heath Miller was the only success in the Steelers’ passing game.  It is crucial for the Eagles to get better at stopping opposing Tight Ends or more and more teams will game plan to pick on this chink in the Eagles defense’s armor. 

The Eagles have great Cornerbacks in Lito Sheppard, Asante Samuel, and Sheldon Brown.  Add in a ball hawking Safety in Brian Dawkins and an improving Safety in Quintin Mikell and I am quite confident that the Bears receiving core will not be much of a threat despite the fact that WR Brandon Lloyd (questionable) has started being more productive.

With that said, the Eagles would be wise to keep up their aggressive style of blitzing and be in the Orton’s face all day.  The Eagles should put as many men as possible up in the box, contain Forte, and bring the heat on Orton, forcing him to try to make the big play.  More times than not, the Eagles defense should be on the right side of things, helping our Birds go to 3-1.

With that said, “E-A-G-L-E-S!!  EAGLES!!”

Share This

There are many tangibles that make this game between The Philadelphia Eagles and The Chicago Bears an interesting match-up.  Will Eagles RB Brian Westbrook play?  Will Eagles QB Donovan McNabb play?  Can you imagine the Eagles high flying offense without both of its two key pieces?  Which Chicago Bears defense will show up Sunday night?  Will it be the Bears defense that went to Indy and squashed the high octane Colts offense?  Or will it be the Bears defense that last week gave up huge passing yards last week to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home?  We won’t know until Sunday night but let’s take a peak at how the Eagles offense could match-up against the Bears defense:

The Eagles offensive line will have to set the tone for the game.  The Bears have talented players who function well in their aggressive scheme.  The key offensively for the Eagles will to be to try to neutralize DT Tommie Harris, DE Alex Brown, LB Lance Briggs, and MLB Brian Urlacher.  When these four players are in their groove; making plays, being disruptive, and swarming the ball; the rest of the Bears defense feeds off of them and makes plays.  If the Eagles can keep these guys off balance more times than not, then they will have opportunities to move the ball down field, keeping the Bears defense and the field, and wearing them down.

Assuming Westbrook does not play but McNabb does, the Eagles will have to rely more on the pass.  Backup RB Correll Buckhalter is a solid replacement for Westbrook.  He will be able to get his nose in there and run hard for some extra yards after contact, but he doesn’t have the speed and skill-set to be a threat the way Westbrook would be against the Bears.  I expect the Eagles to come out trying to mix up the run and pass, keeping the Bears defense honest, and then open up the passing game and try to take advantage of the Bears defense the way Tampa Bay’s passing attack did last week.

With that thought process, the Eagles receivers and tight ends will need to be consistent and not have one of those games where they are looking over their shoulders, dropping key passes and making constant mistakes.  The Bears have a very underrated but talented player in CB Charles Tillman.  I would expect the Eagles to come to the line of scrimmage, find where Tillman is, and throw to whoever he is not covering.  I also expect the Eagles to game plan around the thought process that the Bears will bring the heat with some blitz packages that might make McNabb have to look for the hot read and get rid of the ball quickly.  If the Eagles can get the right match-ups and pick up on the Bears’ blitz, it could mean a big play or two for DeSean Jackson or maybe even Tight End L.J. Smith down the middle of the field. 

Last week, Tampa was successful passing the ball, taking advantage of open space that was there because the Bears were using blitz packages.  Quick hitters and quick slant plays might be the best way for the Eagles to beat the Bears aggressive style of play and help bring our record to 3-1.  Tomorrow, we will take a peak at how the Eagles defense matches up against QB Kyle Orton, RB Matt Forte, and the rest of the Bears offense.

With that said, “E-A-G-L-E-S!!  EAGLES!!”

Share This

The date was October 21, 2007.  After a rough start, the Philadelphia Eagles were 2-3 and looking to get back to .500.  This was the game where everything lined up for our beloved Birds to turn things around and get back into contention in the NFC East.  One way or another, this game could be the turning point for the 2007 Philadelphia Eagles.

The Chicago Bears came into the game 2-4.  A lot of people, including myself, expected this game to be a blowout, sending the Bears to a dismal 2-5 record.  How could I not think this way?  Bears QB Brian Griese versus Eagles QB Donovan McNabb?  At Lincoln Financial Field in Philly?  Stinking Brian Griese?  Are the Bears serious?  Who would have known….

The Eagles pretty much dominated almost all game long but could not capitalize on their opportunities.  The Eagles only points in the first half were due to K David Akers and his 3 Field Goals.  In three first half possessions, the Eagles gained 199 total yards on offense, but had zero TDs to show for it, something that surely came back to haunt them later in the game.  Getting to the Red Zone was one thing, but being productive in the Red Zone was something missing from the Eagles offense on this day.

Coming into the game, the Bears had the 5^th most awful offense in the NFL, ranking 28^th out of 32.  In the second half of the game however, the Bears offense started clicking on all cylinders.    The Bears gained 244 yards of total offense in the last two quarters.  Griese lead the Bears to a 4^th quarter lead before McNabb and the offense took charge and gained the lead back, putting hope back into Eagles fans everywhere that the victory would be ours.

With about 2 minutes left in the game, and the lead, Eagles Punter Sav Rocca landed a devastating punt down to the Bears 3-yard line.  1:52 remained on the clock and the Bears had no time outs.  The Bears QB was Brian Griese, not Hall of Famer and 4^th quarter comeback legend, John Elway.  There was no way that our defense would let this putrid offense down the field, 97 yards in our house to break our backs.  No way.

One minute and forty-one seconds later, the Bears somehow miraculously were on the Eagles’ 15-yard line.  With nine seconds left in the game, Griese dropped back to pass and connected to WR Mushin Mohammad for the winning TD.  The stadium was dead silent.  You could hear a pin drop.  The only noise heard were the jaws of Eagles fans dropping to the ground.  The Bears went 11 plays and 97 yards in less than 2 minutes, all with no time outs.  

To this day, I still hurt over this loss as it never should have happened.  However, to quote a song of my liking, “and the sun is set….the sun will rise another day” - Pearl Jam’s “The Long Road“.  The sun definitely set on us early in 2007.  Well guess what Die Hard Eagles Fans?  The sun has risen and is shining brightly on our 2008 season.  We’re off to a great start at 2-1.  We have an aggressive defense.  We have an offense that can move the ball up and down the field.  Our special teams are exciting and impressive.  There’s no better way to heal the pain of last year then by walking into Soldier Field and paying back the Brian Griese-less Chicago Bears in front of a national audience and to continue making the statement that the 2008 Eagles are a team to be feared.

With that said, “E-A-G-L-E-S!!  EAGLES!!”

Share This

Hello and welcome back to the site.  Like promised I am back to give you the rest of the NFL picks.  However, I am still a little bit under the weather (like yesterday, which is why I didn’t finish the picks in the first place) so the post today will just be the picks.  Sorry no insight for today.  Let’s get it started.  I’ll run down all of the pick (including yesterdays).  My picks are in bold.

Oakland Raiders (+9.5) @ Buffalo Bills

Arizona Cardinals (+3) @ Washington Redskins

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+3) @ Chicago Bears

Kansas City Cheifs (+6.5) @ Atlanta Falcons

Houston Texans (+5) @ Tennesse Titans 

Cinininati Bengals (+13.5) @ New York Giants

Miami Dolphins (+13) @ New England Patriots

Carolina Panther (+3.5) @ Minnesota Vikings

 St. Louis Rams (+10) @ Seattle Seahawks

New Orleans Saints (+6) @ Denver Broncos

Detriot Lions (+4.5) @ San Francisco 49ers

Jacksonville Jaguars (+5) @ Indianapolis Colts

Pittsburgh Steelers (+3.5) @ Philadelphia Eagles

Cleveland Browns (+3) @ Baltimore Ravens

Dallas Cowboys @ Green Bay Packers (+3)

New York Jets (+8.5) @ San Diego Chargers

Share This

Here at the Bills Blog we are very capable of changing things up.  This week I’m calling an audible and going to give you my NFL picks for Week 3 against the point spread.  This is going to be a weekly post that will happen every Thursday from now on (remember every Tuesday is also the Bills Player Bio of the Week).  Why am I still talking?  Let’s start it up.

Oakland Raiders (1-1, +9.5) @ Buffalo Bills (2-0)

OVER/UNDER: 36.5 Points 

Oakland lost their top back in Justin Fargas to a hamstring injury so the workload will go between rookie Darren McFadden, and Michael Bush.  I think the Bills Defense is going to be able to stop the run with Marcus Stroud just terriozing the Raiders O-line.  If they can’t run the ball, then the pressure will be put on 2nd year QB JaMarcus Russel who has not looked very strong.  The guy only had 55 yards last week through the air against a weak Kansas City defense (he went 6 for 17 which is good for a 35.3% completion).  Not to mention that the defense has been terrible.  They have let up an average of 24.5 points per game and 315 yards.  The Bills offense should have a big day.  The only question is will the Bills blow them out?  This is a game they are suppose to win big and it is tough whether or not they will step on their throat and blow them out of this game. 

THE PICK: I have to go with the Bills in this one.

OVER/UNDER: I’ll go with the OVER.   

 

Arizona Cardinals (2-0) @ Washington Redskins (1-1, +3)

OVER/UNDER: 42.5

Kurt Warner looked the right choice after all after he has led the team to a 2-0 start to the season.  He looked great last week against the Dolphins (but who doesn’t).  The Redskins secondary hasn’t looked great, so expect Warner to have another strong game with Fitz and Boldin running the show.  Clinton Portis is going to have to led the Redskins in carrier and be their workhorse in this game.  Jason Campbell looked sharp last week, like he was suppose to look like this season.  I think the Redskins are still a pretty good team.  Look for a high scoring game.

THE PICK: I really do like the Redskins with the 3 point spread in this one.

O/U: It might be a pretty high scoring game but my gut tells me to go with the UNDER.

 

KANSAS CITY CHEIFS (0-2, +5.5) @ Atlanta Falcons (1-1)

O/U: 36.5

This game could be the possible stinker of the week.  Kansas City is terrible but the Falcons aren’t too much better.  Neither team has a QB (sorry Matt Ryan Fans) but both do have some running backs.  Look for the Falcons to win the running battle with Turner and Norwood.  Two awful teams going head to head. 

THE PICK: Turner will have a huge game.  Falcons are my pick.

O/U: These teams might not even get passed the 25 point mark.  I’m taking the UNDER.

 

HOUSTON TEXANS (0-1, +5) @ Tennessee Titans (2-0)

O/U: 39

This will be the Texans fist game in 2 weeks as they had a “bye week” last week due to the Hurricane.  The Texans looked terrible in their first game and I expected that to continue especailly because they don’t have a running back.  The Titans will have to not turn the ball over and stop the Texans in the air to win this one.  Should be a low scoring game.

THE PICK: I like the Texans with the +5 points.

O/U: Like I said, I think this one will be low scoring.  I’ll take the UNDER.

 

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (1-1, +3) @ CHICAGO BEARS (1-1)

O/U: 35.5

The biggest question with this line is how is the over/under 35.5?  Neither team will score much in this game.  Both teams have a decently strong running game but passing is the big question.  Kyle Orton is not going to put up big numbers and Devin Hester, the Bears top playmaker might not even play in this game.  He has missed three pratices in a row this week due to a rib injury.  How are they going to get into good field postion now?  Their offense certainly won’t be able to do it.  This game should be another stinker.

THE PICK:  No Hester equals No Win.  I’ll take the Bucs with the 3 points to spare.

O/U: Under for sure.

 

CINCINNATI BENGALS (0-2, +13.5) @ NEW YORK GIANTS

O/U: 41.5

Can the Giants cover the spread?  They certainly will beat the joke of the NFL in the Bengals but by almost 14 points?  Their offense will put up some big numbers over a very poor defense (don’t give me those numbers of where the D is ranked, they are terrible).  The X-Factor in this one is Carson Palmer.  He has looked terrible for the Bengals in their two losses.  I have a feeling he bounces back in this one.  And hey maybe Chad Johnson (no I will not refer to him by his stupid spanish name that translates to eight five, not eighty-five) might accuatly come out and play a game of football.

THE PICK: Palmer bounces back in this one and the Giants, who win, just can’t cover the spread.  I’ll go with the Bengals, although I proabably will regret it. 

O/U: Over.  This game will have a pretty high score at the end.

 

MIAMI DOLPHINS (0-2, +12.5) @ NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (2-0)

O/U: 36.5

The Dolphins will play this game close, until halftime where they will eventually be blown out by the Pats.  Miami’s defense will not be able to stop the run or pass, even without Tom Brady.  The national betting scene is all over the Dolphins but let’s be honest here.  The Pats have too much firepower for them to handle.  It won’t be a high scoring game but I wouldn’t be suprise if the Dolphins get shut out. 

THE PICK: Not following the national media on this one.  I’m going with the Patriots.

O/U: Neither team will score much.  UNDER.

 

CAROLINA PANTHERS (2-0, +3.5) @ MINNESOTA VIKINGS (0-2)

O/U: 37.5

The Panthers are the underdogs in this one?  Watch Gus Frerotte be terrible this week and Tavaris Jackson wins back his spot.  The Panthers of course will have to stop AP and Chester Taylor on the ground.  That is no small task.  However they have won their first 2 games without their best player in Steve Smith.  Look for him to have a big game in this one.  I don’t usually go on trends but QB Jake Delhomme for the Panthers is 22-4 as an underdog in his career.  I expect that record to improve after this game.

THE PICK: Going with the Panthers on this one as everyone in Minnesota realizes their team is in deep trouble.

O/U: Steve Smith is back remember?  Going with the OVER on this one.

 

That covers all of the early games for Sunday.  Didn’t feel the need to bore all of you guys tonight.  Check the site tommarrow evening for the rest of the games.  Also remember, this post will be done on Thursdays from now on.

 

High Disagree with one of my picks?  Think I’m an idiot?  Want to praise me for picking your team?  Write a comment in below and tell me what’s up. 

Share This

NFL.com made a list of the “Top 10 weather games in NFL history”.  The Giants are fortunate to have been involved in so many great moments in NFL history.  Time after time, they appear on these ‘top 10′ lists.  The article contains video clips and photos for each of the games listed below if you would like to check them out.

1. Ice Bowl - “The 1967 NFL Championship Game turned into an epic and icy showdown between Vince Lombardi’s Packers and Tom Landry’s Cowboys.”
2. Tuck Rule - “The 2001 Divisional Playoff Game between the Raiders and Patriots turned out to be one of the most exciting, controversial playoff games.”
3. Fog Bowl - “The 1988 NFC Divisional Playoff Game between the Bears and Eagles turned surreal when a heavy fog engulfed Chicago’s Soldier Field.”
4. 1981 AFC Championship Game - “The Bengals overcame the potent “Air Coryell” Chargers, as well as a wind chill at 59 degrees below zero, to advance to their first the Super Bowl.”
5. 1975 AFC Championship Game - “Astroturf turned to ice when the Raiders and Steelers met at frozen Three Rivers Stadium with a berth in Super Bowl X at stake.”
6. 1948 NFL Championship Game - “A blizzard couldn’t keep the Eagles, led by future Hall of Famer Steve Van Buren, from winning their first NFL title.”
7. Snow Plow Game - “John Smith’s field goal provided the only score in the Patriots’ victory over the Dolphins in a 1982 AFC East showdown in Foxboro.”
8. Sneakers Game - “The Giants’ choice of footwear in the 1934 NFL Championship Game helped make this one of the more memorable games ever played.”
9. 1979 Buccaneers vs. Chiefs Monsoon - “Torrential rain nearly prevented the upstart Buccaneers from one of the most amazing turnarounds in NFL history.”
10. Red Right 88 - “This 1980 AFC Divisional Playoff Game at cold Cleveland Municipal Stadium had a memorable, yet painful, finish for Browns fans.”

Unfortunately, I only got to see the Tuck Rule game and the Fog Bowl game because the rest of these are before my time.  The two I saw were great games, and everybody seems to agree on that because of where they are on the list.  I still put an asterisk next to that Patriots Super Bowl victory because they should’ve never even have been in it to win it.  Personally, I don’t count it.  It’s funny because I always root for the AFC team to win the Super Bowl when the Giants aren’t representing the NFC.  That was the only year that I rooted for the NFC team to win, and not because I wanted them to but because it was right.

I’ve heard about a few of the others like the Ice Bowl and the Sneakers Game.  Below is the description of the Sneakers Game provided by Wikipedia…

The 1934 National Football League Championship Game, also known as The Sneakers Game, was played at the Polo Grounds in New York City on December 9, 1934. The final score was New York Giants 30, Chicago Bears 13. It was the 2nd annual NFL championship game.

A freezing rain the night before the game froze the Polo Grounds’s field, much like the Ice Bowl years later. After one of the players made a remark suggesting that sneakers would provide better footing on the frozen playing surface, Giants’ head coach Steve Owen sent equipment manager Abe Cohen to purchase sneakers. Cohen was unable to find an open sports equipment store and arrived at half time with 8 pairs of sneakers borrowed from Manhattan College’s basketball team

The Giants started the game wearing their regular cleats, but trailed 10-3 midway through the third quarter. So it was decided to switch out of the cleats for the sneakers. Then after the Bears increased their lead to 13-3, Giants quarterback Ed Danowski threw a touchdown pass to Ike Frankian to make the score 13-10. On the Giants next drive, running back Ken Strong scored on a 42-yard touchdown run. Later an 11-yard run by Strong was turned into another touchdown for the Giants. Finally the Giants closed it out with Danowski’s 9-yard touchdown run. The game ended with the Giants ahead: 30-13.

That sounds like a pretty cool story.  It’s probably worth checking out some old film on it.  If anybody of you have been around when that game took place and would like to chime in on that, feel free to do so.

Share This