NFL Week 12 Recap

After a few weeks without doing one of these, I thought it would be a good way to pass the time as the Indianapolis Colts finish pounding the Iggles.

New Orleans 31, Atlanta 13 - The Saints are no longer merely a playoff possibility. With 5 weeks left on the schedule, the Saints are leading their division and are currently the #2 seed in the NFC playoff picture. Still, I'm amazed at how productive Drew Brees has been this year. He's closing in on a 6th straight 300-yard passing game, and is on pace for 5,000 yards for the season. Did anyone see this coming, especially after the Saints dealt Donte Stallworth to the Eagles?

Atlanta's inability to pass, and stop the pass, has done them in this year. On the defensive side, it's all about the injuries. No Patrick Kerney. John Abraham has missed most the season (he did play today), and the secondary is banged up. At least they have an excuse. But offensively, what more can Jim Mora Jr. and Greg Knapp do for Michael Vick? They have an excellent two-back run game, three former 1st round picks at WR and a Pro Bowl tight end. Yet they can only muster 84 yards passing?

Washington 17, Carolina 13 - The season may not be over, but when you compile the list of disappointing teams, you have to put both of the teams on top of the list, don't you? And I'd say that Carolina has been the more disappointing of the two. This was supposed to be the most talented team in the league, and a well-coached one to boot. For them to be 6-5, and lose to Jason Campbell in his 2nd NFL start, makes me wonder if this team can get it together by January.

St. Louis 20, San Francisco 17 - It was frustrating for me to watch this game. The guy I was playing in fantasy football had both Frank Gore and Steven Jackson going, and every time I peeked in today, one of them was gashing the other team's defense.

As for the game, this was vintage...ok, it wasn't vintage anything. I would say it's an example of San Francisco's youth coming back to haunt them. The 49ers were simply unable to put the Rams away, and they gave the Rams too much time late in the 4th quarter to come back.

NY Jets 26, Houston 11 - How many people thought Chad Pennington was done when Mario Williams attempted to bury him alongside Jimmy Hoffa? Come on, raise your hand...

Minnesota 31, Arizona 26 - If you've been watching tonight's SNF game on NBC, it's been mentioned how teams rarely win when they're one dimensional on offense. Arizona attempted to run the football 6 times today. Is it any wonder they lost? Sometimes these guys know what they're talking about. Sometimes.

Buffalo 27, Jacksonville 24 - The Bills were helped by Roscoe Parrish's punt return for a touchdown. I like to call those "The Dante Hall Specials", because the officials let at least one hold and one block in the back go as Parrish streaked down the sidelines. It was reminiscent of Hall's 96-yard punt return against Denver a few years back. I still don't know how no laundry ended up on the turf on that one.

Baltimore 27, Pittsburgh 0 - It's official now that the Pittsburgh Steelers will not make the playoffs this year. I have to wonder what western Pennsylvania is going to be like in January. The Steel City's greatest export that month will be blank, melancholy stares. Relax, Pittsburghers: It's only 10 weeks until pitchers and catchers report to Pirates camp.

Cincinnati 30, Cleveland 0 - Is it already time for Cleveland to do another house cleaning? Perhaps it's a bit too soon, but then again, maybe it's not. This team has shown zero progress under Crennel. None. The defense never had a chance against Carson Palmer and Chad Johnson, and the offense couldn't move the ball against one of the worst defenses in the NFL. And today, Braylon Edwards threw a tirade at Charlie Frye. Peter King reported on Football Night in America that Edwards' tirade was directed at the offensive line. So that makes it acceptable?

San Diego 21, Oakland 14 - I'm not trying to start something here, but I watched a lot of this game today, and it looked like Philip Rivers was a bit scared. Maybe he just has awful mechanics, but every pass seemed to be thrown off his back foot, and his passes were often short of their target.

And since I'm stirring things up, there is no way that was an "illegal forward pass" by Vincent Jackson, who apparently thought he was still playing at Northern Colorado when he flipped the ball to the ground even though nobody touched him down after his falling reception. San Diego scored on that drive, so Christmas came early for Marty's bunch.

Tennessee 24, NY Giants 21 - Yes, I'm tooting my own, but I've repeatedly mentioned how "soft" I think the Giants are. Today, I was (once again) proven right. They positively choked that game away today. Up by 21 with less than 10 minutes to go, and Burress gives up on a play. Mathias Kiwanuka then treats Vince Young like it's a drill, and Uncle Rico is a blocking sled. Then Manning's ill-advised interception. All the while, Tom Coughlin stands on the sideline with the "what the ----" look on his face. I agree that Coughlin didn't miss any tackles or throw any interceptions, but when the teams plays like that, the coach is ultimately responsible.

New England 17, Chicago 13 - Some may look at this game and note that it was sloppy. I just saw two great defenses doing what great defenses do, and that's forcing turnovers. i had a sense that this game was going to come down to the play of the quarterback, and I'll take Tom Brady over Rex Grossman 100 times out of 100.

On a side note, I think that installing that FieldTurf is going to be the best improvement Robert Kraft has made to this team since hiring Bill Belichick. It'll make their defense faster, it'll make Laurence Maroney unstoppable, and Tom Brady won't have to worry about his footing anymore.

Indianapolis 45, Philadelphia 21 - Because Jeff Garcia was in the building I'm hesitant to say this, but I think we just witnessed Joseph Addai's coming out party. I've been saying it all year long, but Addai should've been starting for a few weeks now. Nothing against Dominic Rhodes, but Addai is just more dynamic. It may have been against a poor Eagles run defense, but 170+ yards and 4 touchdowns is no joke.

Quote of the Week
"The road to Glendale is paved with Trojans" - Brent Musberger, after USC defeated Notre Dame, 44-24.

Apparently, the road to Glendale is ribbed for her pleasure.

Mac's Game Balls

Offense: Joseph Addai, Indianapolis Colts - As mentioned above, I'm very impressed with Addai's performance on Sunday night. 170 yards and 4 touchdowns is just a phenomenal outing for the rookie RB. (For the record, Edgerrin James had 4 carries for 15 yards on Sunday)

Defense: Asante Samuel, New England Patriots - Samuel intercepted Rex Grossman three times, including one that clinched the game for the Pats.

Special Teams - Rod Bironas, Tennessee Titans - Based on the condition of the turf in Nashville, the 49-yard field goal by Bironas in the games final 11 seconds gets him this honor. Don't look now, but the Titans are 4-4 with Vince Young starting at quarterback!

Monday Night Prediction

The weather is calling for upper 30s and some snow showers in Seattle, which would be a first during a Seahawks game. Personally, I don't think that the whole "that weather helps the Green Bay Packers" way of thinking.

Teams do not practice in the elements, so why would snow help the Packers? Plus, the weather in Green Bay has seen above normal temperatures and very little snow this month. Since all NFL players have, at one point, played in inclement weather, I don't think a few flurries and chilly temperatures aides one team or the other. About the only time I think it has any merit is when the temperature is very, very cold (negative temps, wind chill, etc...) and the visiting team plays in a very warm climate. In those instances, I can see how the shock of being outside in the elements would have a negative impact on the roadies.

For tonight, I'm going with a Seahawks 27, Green Bay 16 prediction. I don't expect Matt Hasselbeck's return to pay huge dividends in his first game, but I do think they'll improve offensively with Hasselbeck joining an improving Shaun Alexander in the huddle. Once the offense improves, which it will, the defense will benefit greatly by not having to spend so much time on the field.