Nine.com -- Perhaps football games should only be three
quarters long.
Then, not only would the Philadelphia Eagles be 2-0, but their defensive end
Jevon Kearse would not be out for the season after suffering numerous ligament
sprains in overtime on a sack of Eli Manning.
It is not every Sunday that a team blows a 17-point fourth-quarter lead and
then loses in overtime. Everybody in Lincoln Financial Field knew damn well
that there was no shot of the Birds pulling that one off once Giants kicker
Jay Feeley sent the game into OT. Needless to say, anyone who bet Philadelphia
minus the three probably is feeling the same animosity toward Philly coach
Andy Reid's play calling, which included two horrible decisions on two
separate fourth-and-ones that ended the same way...with the Giants getting the
ball in decent field position.
Doubters of Chicago Bears quarterback Rex Grossman are starting to second-
guess themselves after the former Florida Gators standout shined for the
second straight week and covered the spread by blowing out the competition
again. If the Bears, early three-point favorites in Minnesota, can defeat the
Vikings and start off with three straight division wins, not only will they
have a quick jump on the division but on the rest of the conference as well.
The New Orleans Saints already are two-thirds to last year's win total by
starting the season 2-0 both SU and ATS, with both victories coming on the
road nonetheless. They spotted Green Bay a 13-point lead, but Drew Brees threw
for 350 yards and two touchdowns as New Orleans iced Brett Favre and the Pack,
34-27. Next up for the Saints is the first game back at the Superdome on
Monday night against the Falcons, who are three-point road favorites.
Speaking of the Falcons, everybody needs to calm down about them. This is a
team that, while it is 2-0, has played two squads who are a combined 0-4 and
have scored only 22 points in four games. The Falcons are good but not Super
Bowl contenders. I am going to go out on a limb and say that the Saints win
again outright next week.
Monday night came and went with the Steelers not scoring and the Jaguars
tallying only nine points. Was Big Ben ready to go? Did he really have a 104-
degree fever before the game? Not sure. One thing I do know is that the
Jaguars defense manhandled the Steelers. Now, the true test for Jacksonville
comes when they head to Indy to face Peyton Manning and the Colts.
As for Pittsburgh, things don't get any easier for the defending champs as the
Bengals will come into town looking for revenge for last year's playoff loss
in which Cincy quarterback Carson Palmer was knocked out.
Finally, the Miami Dolphins bandwagon is carrying less weight than Ellen
Pompeo's scale. Everybody thought that Daunte Culpepper would help turn things
around, but he is now 4-12 ATS in his last 16. Ronnie Brown is averaging a
mere 3.3 yards per carry. However, despite being 0-2 SU and ATS, the Dolphins-
Titans line has opened with Miami -10 1/2...go figure.
quarters long.
Then, not only would the Philadelphia Eagles be 2-0, but their defensive end
Jevon Kearse would not be out for the season after suffering numerous ligament
sprains in overtime on a sack of Eli Manning.
It is not every Sunday that a team blows a 17-point fourth-quarter lead and
then loses in overtime. Everybody in Lincoln Financial Field knew damn well
that there was no shot of the Birds pulling that one off once Giants kicker
Jay Feeley sent the game into OT. Needless to say, anyone who bet Philadelphia
minus the three probably is feeling the same animosity toward Philly coach
Andy Reid's play calling, which included two horrible decisions on two
separate fourth-and-ones that ended the same way...with the Giants getting the
ball in decent field position.
Doubters of Chicago Bears quarterback Rex Grossman are starting to second-
guess themselves after the former Florida Gators standout shined for the
second straight week and covered the spread by blowing out the competition
again. If the Bears, early three-point favorites in Minnesota, can defeat the
Vikings and start off with three straight division wins, not only will they
have a quick jump on the division but on the rest of the conference as well.
The New Orleans Saints already are two-thirds to last year's win total by
starting the season 2-0 both SU and ATS, with both victories coming on the
road nonetheless. They spotted Green Bay a 13-point lead, but Drew Brees threw
for 350 yards and two touchdowns as New Orleans iced Brett Favre and the Pack,
34-27. Next up for the Saints is the first game back at the Superdome on
Monday night against the Falcons, who are three-point road favorites.
Speaking of the Falcons, everybody needs to calm down about them. This is a
team that, while it is 2-0, has played two squads who are a combined 0-4 and
have scored only 22 points in four games. The Falcons are good but not Super
Bowl contenders. I am going to go out on a limb and say that the Saints win
again outright next week.
Monday night came and went with the Steelers not scoring and the Jaguars
tallying only nine points. Was Big Ben ready to go? Did he really have a 104-
degree fever before the game? Not sure. One thing I do know is that the
Jaguars defense manhandled the Steelers. Now, the true test for Jacksonville
comes when they head to Indy to face Peyton Manning and the Colts.
As for Pittsburgh, things don't get any easier for the defending champs as the
Bengals will come into town looking for revenge for last year's playoff loss
in which Cincy quarterback Carson Palmer was knocked out.
Finally, the Miami Dolphins bandwagon is carrying less weight than Ellen
Pompeo's scale. Everybody thought that Daunte Culpepper would help turn things
around, but he is now 4-12 ATS in his last 16. Ronnie Brown is averaging a
mere 3.3 yards per carry. However, despite being 0-2 SU and ATS, the Dolphins-
Titans line has opened with Miami -10 1/2...go figure.
