Dave’s Football Blog

If your 2005 Grey Cup turned out to be so damn great — even without the Renee and Angela wannabes in the stands — how come I can’t find a BitTorrent distribution of this game anywhere?

Come on, Canada, share that rich 3-down football tradition with the rest of us. Let us see for ourselves how great your game is.

You couldn’t possibly hate ESPN as much as this guy. He’s come up with a lot of creative ways to kill Chris Berman.

(Spotted on Deadspin.)

…and that appears to make a grand total of one person in the St. Louis Rams organization who wants Mike Martz to return to his old job.

Granted, it’s kind of hard to fire someone who’s on disability leave, but the Rams look like they’re going to give that a try. The whole soap opera has convinced Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch to suggest some replacements for Martz.

The name not on that list? Cam Cameron, the offensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers. It appears, though, that the former IU head football coach isn’t all that concerned with being a head coach yet and seems convinced that “God is going to handle it.” Which is funny, since Mike Martz used to think he was God.

Incidentally, if you read through that column about Cameron, you get the sense that Drew Brees, a former Purdue quarterback, really wants to play for the guy. If that’s the case, and Cameron accepts a head-coaching job somewhere else, will Brees follow him there as a free agent? And will Antwaan Randle El follow Cameron as well? Can you imagine the former QBs for both Indiana and Purdue playing together? It’s the kind of thought that makes you think world peace is possible. There’s that God again…

Dear Senator Specter,

Why are you wasting your time and ours discussing the T.O. situation? Don’t you have some right-wing nutjobs to confirm as federal judges, or some impressionable young interns to bang or something?

Regards,

Football fans everywhere

The NFL has come forward and admitted to Mike Holmgren and the Seattle Seahawks that referee Larry Nemmers may have made mistakes in that Seahawks-Giants game. It seems that Jeremy Shockey’s 2nd quarter TD, in which he was knocked loopy as his second foot was coming down, and Amani Toomer’s 4th quarter back-of-the-end-zone grab may not have been completed passes after all.

Check the game book. The back judge on Nemmers’ officiating crew was — I kid you not — Phil Luckett.

You remember Phil Luckett, right? He was the former referee who, back on that fateful Thanksgiving Day in 1998, couldn’t make heads or tails of what Jerome Bettis was saying. The NFL had to rewrite its coin flip procedure because Phil Luckett couldn’t get it right. He’s been busted down to back judge since then, and he hasn’t gotten any less controversial.

So of course, it’s just coincidence that Luckett’s mere presence resulted in not one, but two highly questionable touchdown calls in the same game, calls that resulted in a 21-21 tie, which was the prelude Jay Feely’s monster choke job. If Shockey’s TD is overturned — and admittedly, the Fox cameramen did an equally crappy job capturing Shockey’s feet on that catch — Feely kicks a 25-yard gimme, the score is 7-6, Seahawks, instead of 10-7, Giants, and the game is completely different and much less controversial after that.

Try to imagine what Feely might be thinking after hearing this. If not for Luckett’s general incompetence, Feely never would have had the opportunity to attempt (and miss) three long game-winning field goals.

Seriously, how does that travesty keep a job as an NFL official? Shouldn’t he be banished to AF2 or the United Indoor Football League or something?

Updated 11/29/2005.

TIEBREAKERS:

1.) Pittsburgh wins the tiebreaker over San Diego and Kansas City by virtue of having a better division record. Woo.

I don’t care what anyone says — especially this dork — about the Colts’ weak schedule. They’re that good. They’ve taken all comers so far and beaten them with offense and defense. Well, they beat the Bengals with offense, but that’s all they needed, and they still won by 8.

What may stop the Colts from going undefeated? Tony Dungy clinching home-field advantage early and deciding to rest his starters the last two weeks of the season. The Seahawks may still be trying to fend off the Bears and Panthers come Week 16, when Indy travels to Seattle. The Jaguars will be without Byron Leftwich for the rest of the regular season. The Chargers… well, they might have a shot, but the way Naptown shut down the Steelers running game, you’d think they could shut down LaDainian Tomlinson, too. It’s been done at least once before, and that Colts’ defense swarms in on the ball like paparazzi on Paris Hilton. And it’s just as creepy.

Can David Garrard keep Jacksonville afloat in the Wild Card race? Take away the home game against the Colts, and the Jags draw Cleveland, San Francisco, Houston and Tennessee. Those teams are a combined 10-34. Yeah, it seems possible, which isn’t good for those NFC West teams struggling to catch the Broncos. Or for Pittsburgh, because Jacksonville has the tie-breaker on them if they choke again.

THIS WEEK’S BIG GAMES:

1.) Cincinnati at Pittsburgh (Sun., 1:00 PM, CBS): The Steelers have to win this game. Period. If the Steelers lose this one, their season is over. Done. Finished. And the entire coaching staff should be shitcanned. Shit. Canned. Someone needs to remind Bill Cowher and Ken Whisenhunt that Antwaan Randle El is not a free agent yet. The only way Randle El re-signs with Pittsburgh after the season is if Cowher gets fired and replaced with San Diego offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, who found lots of creative uses for Randle El at my alma mater.

2.) Denver at Kansas City (Sun., 4:15 PM, CBS): So how good is that Kansas City defense this year? This game should answer that question. Then again, it’s Denver’s defense that’s doing the job, isn’t it? They could kick some sand in Trent Green’s face by winning this one.

3.) Oakland at San Diego (Sun., 8:30 PM, ESPN): The Raiders have been reduced to the role of spoiler, but how is that different from any other season lately? The Chargers need to minimize the turnovers and keep feeding Tomlinson the ball. Last time LT faced the Raiders? 1 rushing TD, 1 receiving TD, and 1 passing TD. Oh, and 140 yards rushing. Antwaan Randle El will follow Cam Cameron anywhere.

4.) Jacksonville at Cleveland (Sun., 1:00 PM, CBS): The Browns may be a different team at home (3-2 in Cleveland vs. 1-5 on the road) but I fully suspect Jack Del Rio to institute the Tommy Maddox defense — stop the running game at all costs and make the QB win it. As long as David Garrard doesn’t lay an egg, it’s all good for the Jags.

5.) N.Y. Jets at New England (Sun., 4:15 PM, CBS): If Miami beats Buffalo on Sunday, the Pats can all but clinch the AFC East by beating the hollow shell that used to be the Jets. We know it’s not Herman Edwards’ fault, but damn.

6.) Tennessee at Indianapolis (Sun., 1:00 PM, CBS): The Colts may lose a game this year. It won’t be this Sunday.

Updated 11/29/2005.

TIEBREAKERS:

1.) Chicago wins the head-to-head matchup tiebreaker over Carolina.

2.) Dallas wins the head-to-head matchup tiebreaker against New York. (so far)

3.) New York wins the conference record tiebreaker over Tampa Bay.

4.) Tampa Bay wins the head-to-head matchup tiebreaker over Atlanta. (so far)

Jay Feely’s monster choke job in Seattle — which showed us all just how big an idiot Jeremy Shockey is — has helped cement the Seahawks’ position at the top of the NFC playoff race. At 9-2 with only one above-.500 team remaining on their schedule (the Colts), there’s little to knock this team off its perch now.

The Panthers, meanwhile, won a tough road game to push itself ahead of the NFC South pack for now. They still have a long way to go, though, and if they stay even with Chicago, they’re not going to get a first-round bye. In fact, if Carolina and Chicago win their divisions and finish with the same record — no guarantee, either, since the Panthers have yet to face Señor Mexico — then the Panthers might have to go through Chicago to advance to the NFC Championship.

I like the city of Chicago. Great place to hang out. Bad spot for the Panthers in January.

Meanwhile, the Redskins fell off the playoff picture after letting LaDainian Tomlinson run roughshod over them. The Vikings, believe it or don’t, are still alive in this thing, and the new love affair has just begun. Would this have happened if Daunte Culpepper hadn’t blown out his knee? I wonder…

THIS WEEK’S BIG GAMES:

1.) Atlanta at Carolina (Sun., 1:00 PM, FOX): After two years of close, classic matchups, how did this not become a Sunday night or Monday night game? Seriously. Atlanta’s season hinges on this one. Win it, and they retake control of the NFC South. Lose it, and they fall two games behind and face an ugly uphill battle. Carolina hasn’t beaten Mexico yet. Will this be the year?

2.) Dallas at New York Giants (Sun., 1:00 PM, FOX): I’m not predicting a shootout for this one, but I am predicting a rough-and-tumble game with plenty of extra-curricular action. I also predict that continued Google searches for “Eli Manning girlfriend” will eventually lead people to this very page.

3.) Tampa Bay at New Orleans (Sun., 1:00 PM, Baton Rouge, FOX): Another choking kicker may have cost the Bucs playoff position last week, but with Carolina and Atlanta duking it out, the Bucs can’t afford another letdown. Wins by Tampa Bay and Atlanta will put three NFC South teams at 8-4. You want to face any of ‘em?

4.) Seattle at Philadelphia (Mon., 9:00 PM, ABC): Think the Eagles want to do to Shaun Alexander what they did to Tomlinson?

5.) Green Bay at Chicago (Sun., 1:00 PM, FOX): Brett Favre can’t seem to find his receivers anymore. Maybe it’s because they’re all on the sideline in street clothes and casts. Nathan Vasher will get at least one INT in this game. Bank on it.

6.) Minnesota at Detroit (Sun., 1:00 PM, FOX): Is it just me, or have the Vikings had a pretty easy schedule the last few weeks? Sure, the Giants were no gimme, but they’re a young team that’s prone to the occasional letdown — as opposed to the Lions, who are prone to decades-long letdowns. The entire blogosphere is questioning Matt Millen’s continued employment. Except this guy. Which is why I don’t write for MVN.

The Colts still have a 23-7 lead with 2 minutes left. Unless Ryan Fitzpatrick shows up to sprinkle some magic dust on the Steelers, it’s all over but the shouting. Pittsburgh got throttled. They made some stupid mistakes, too.

I’m continuing to remind myself that next week’s game is much more important to the Steelers’ season, but it’s cold comfort right now. That’s two things I didn’t get for my birthday.

I’ll post the updated playoff pictures tomorrow afternoon. I’m considering making the Original Steakhouse & Sports Theatre my home base for blogging next season. I still have a few places to visit before this season is done, though…

My friend Victor is somewhere in the Hoosier Dome nosebleed seats. He’s got a rolled up sign that reads, “Dear Mr. Shula: You’re welcome.” Something tells me he’s not going to be able to roll that out tonight.

Another friend of mine up there called me and told me that obstructed-view seats were going for $500 on the street before the game. I almost bought nosebleed seats in July for $150. Right now, I’m glad I saved my money.

The onside kick just gave momentum back to the Colts. They didn’t score on their second drive, but they ate up more clock than Albert ate steak tonight, and down three scores with no clear ability to run the ball or break a big play, it’s clear that the Steelers are in trouble.

Conversation at this table has devolved into how reality TV has peaked. That’s how bad it feels right now…

Bill Cowher called an onside kick to start the half. The Colts recovered on the Steelers’ 37. Then they scored a touchdown.

Nice one, Bill. Did Matt Millen call that one in for you during halftime?

Early in the 3rd, the Colts are up, 23-7.