Mike McCarthy is a real jerk, challenging up 17 with two minutes left. It's Christmas, and he has no regard for people chasing the backdoor cover. In the end, the Bears settled for a FG to make it 35-21. I had Chicago +13.5.
Everyone says Peyton Manning's the MVP because the Colts were winless without him after winning 10 games or more since the dawn of time. Well, it's pretty clear the Colts are a 6-10-type team with Dan Orlovsky under center, rather than last year's 10-6. Four games is a lot, don't get me wrong, but it's Jay Cutler/Matt Schaub at this point. Maybe Manning circa 2004 would be worth 10-plus games, but let's stop with all the hyperbole this year. It might be that Manning to Orlovsky is worth four, and and Orlovsky to Painter is worth another four actually.
If you drafted Fred Jackson and backed him up with C.J. Spiller, you did just fine at one of your RB spots this year. Same with Darren McFadden/Michael Bush. Sometimes - though not usually - getting the backup works out. More often, you wind up with Matt Forte/Marion Barber or Jamaal Charles/Thomas Jones.
Peyton Hillis looks like last year's version again. Of course, he's impossible to evaluate for next year until we know where he's playing.
Mark Sanchez came up awfully small against what had been a terrible Giants defense (4.4 YPA, 2 INT), but the Giants got a lot more pressure on him than they had say on Rex Grossman. Eli Manning had a bizarre line, completing just 9-of-27 passes, but the YPA was salvaged thanks to Victor Cruz running by the entire Jets defense after a short grab. At least Manning has the excuse that he was facing an elite opponent.
Tony Romo owners would probably have had a better chance of winning their leagues had he been lost for the season after Week 1, than going down after scoring zero points in the fantasy Super Bowl. But the Cowboys and Chargers almost always let you down when you need them most. Tom Brady, on the other hand, knows to rush for two scores.
I hope the Saints win Monday's game 8-0, just enough to cover the spread, but send all of those with players in the game out of their minds.
Jerome Simpson's flip was one of the more amazing moves I've seen on a football field. The Bengals should scrap their usual short-yardage offense and just let him flip over the pile. Of course, when Ray Lewis pops him halfway through, he'll probably get decapitated.
Tim Tebow had a terrible game against the Bills, but I wouldn't overreact. Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy (his draft-class-mates) have had plenty of clunkers, too. Of course, just as Tebow's the messiah when he wins, he's a total joke and completely worthless when he plays poorly.
It's really too bad the Chiefs couldn't beat the Raiders because it would have set up a showdown for the AFC West between Tebow and Kyle Orton. Now Orton just gets to play spoiler, which is still a good story, but not nearly as interesting.
What kind of odds would you need to let someone else have New England, Baltimore and Pittsburgh to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl, i.e., you'd get Houston, the AFC West winner and the other Wild Card? Is 10:1 enough?
Marshawn Lynch is apparently match-up proof.
Jared Cook doesn't offer a whole lot of notice before he goes off.
While Sean Payton might be the better coach, 65-year old Tom Coughlin is far more of a bad ass after taking a hit on the sideline.