Colts Still Defeated with 3 to Play!

NFL Parity (Especially at the Top and Bottom of the League)

Let's just take a moment to relax, release, and relate what we may see not only this season, but in the span of 5 years. This season there is a better than average chance that 2 teams will run the tables (one of those being in reverse), going 16-0 and 0-16. I don't think many people are taking this moment as seriously as they should...Forget Tebowmania, this should be the absolute biggest story line of the year in the NFL. The odds are so stacked against one of these occurrences from taking place, but to have both occurrences take place within the same season borders on miraculuity (yes I made that up and as of now I coin that phrase to mean on the verge of being a miracle, if it wasn't such a trivial matter in the entire scheme of things).

Not only that, but we have to look back to 2007 and 2008, where in the span of 2 seasons we had teams that went Undefeated and Defeated. Now, just 3 seasons later, the entirety of this moment can crystallize into one shining moment of glory and agony at the same time...The NFL prides itself on parity and all teams after a while getting a chance to climb out of the hole and contend for a title, and this is true, more than any other pro sports league. The team that went 0-16 in 2008 is now a playoff contender and the SB champ from that year is now 0-13. I don't know what will happen this week (and I honestly think the odds are better for the Pack to go Undefeated than the Colts to go Defeated), but let's just take a moment, breathe it in, and enjoy this scenario for at least a few more days...Exhale...

Bengals Recap

Is it time for FraidyCat to come back?

In a game they were on their way to not losing, the Bengals showed why they were preseason Powerless darlings as they found a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. They are finding ways to lose by making some opportune mistakes at key moments in the game. Consider the Bengals had a plus 2 turnover ration in the game, Dalton managed the game well and did not throw a pick.

Of course, the Bengals lackluster offensive performance only gaining a total of 290 yards, inability to move the chains which contributed to them running less plays and not controlling the clock, ineffectiveness in the Red Zone, again, and the D playing poorly all around allowing Yates to throw it for 270 while giving up5 yards a carry, all contributed to the loss. But they still should have won that game, or maybe not. The Bengals of 6 weeks ago would not have lost that game and it has me questioning if their confidence is totally shot. Their swag (as the young folks say) is gone, and they could still salvage a halfway decent draft pick (mid to high teens) if they lose out.

Crennel Wants Chiefs Gig...Seriously

Even Romeo objects to him getting the HC job in KC

Romeo is for now interim head coach at KC and he is already trying to position, cast, and market himself as the front runner for the job. Romeo claims that his "competitive nature" is the drive for him wanting to get another crack at head coaching, you know to prove he can do it. (Where was the competitive nature when he only won 33% of the games he coached in Cleveland, although it was Cleveland). Well, Romeo should have quietly went about his business and kept the seat warm for the next guy. In his career as a head coach was a dismal 29-59 (although he was in Cleveland). Also you have the ubiquitous Coach Chin, The Real Gruden, Jeff Fisher, and the newly minted Jack Del Rio as potential candidates. KC GM, Pioli said that Crennel will get an interview, because he has to say that. But even if Crennel wins the final 3 games and captures an AFC West crown and playoff berth, would anyone in their right mind give Crennel a shot to run their team into the ground?

Indy 500 Revisited

In all the jubiliation that I feel in being able to witness the rarest of NFL polarities, a Perfect and Imperfect team in the same season, there is a disturbing stat floating around out there that only I and my readers have taken note of and that is the 500 points allowed benchmark I brought up a couple months ago. At that time Indy was on pace to give up 500 plus points joining the 2008 Lions and being almost a no brainer to finish Imperfect. However, after 13 games, the Colts are only on pace to give up 470 points. That is a far cry from 500 and that could make all the difference.

Just to recap from the last time we discussed this key indicator of going Defeated, we saw that the only team I could find in the last 20 or so years (as far back as I could get the stats) that gave up 500 points was the 2008 Defeated Lions. I saw teams who gave up 490, 494, 480, 470, which are all lackluster efforts, but apparently not enough to get over the hump to go Defeated. All of those teams had at least 1 win. So it stands, and I stand by my statistical analysis (until it wilts under the pressure of these lousy Colts). I am afraid to say if the Colts don't suffer at least one final blow out to take away what little manhood they have remaining, they may come up and surprise a team and suffer a win. 500 is the key!!!! Pay attention, I am not wrong on this!


Obligatory Tim Tebow Thoughts (Using the Socratic Method)

Is John Elway jealous of the success that Tebow has found in his rookie year or of the love that is showered on Tebow not only by Denver but by the entire planet? Why have Elway and Fox been so non-committal regarding the starting QB job in Denver? Could John Elway go from being Denver folk hero and legend and one day myth...to the most hated man in the Mile-High City? Will Denver ownership change the team name from the Broncos to the Miracles? Might Tim Tebow be the biggest household name in the world right now? If the Broncos don't win the division or make the playoffs, will Denver ship him and/or draft a QB? If Denver tried to trade Tebow, would NBA Commish, David Stern, come in and veto the trade? Could I not mention Tebow after yet another unlikely come from behind victory including a freaking 59 yard FG?


Powerless Rankings

We are coming down to it in a mad scramble for the bottom. Tampa Bay is making a strong case to undertake the Rams but the Rams are having none of it. Minnesota has dropped after holding the #3 spot for weeks and the "wildly inconsistent" Chiefs have once again slinked in the bottom 5. There are also several teams on the outside looking in putting together very weak resumes in the interviews to finish one of the most Powerless teams in the NFL.

1. Indy (Remarkably, if the Colts don't lose out to finish the season and the Rams lose out, the most Powerless team title could get a little dicey.)
2. St. Louis (Not to be outdone by the quickly falling Bucs, the Rams lost in convincing fashion this past week. Feeling the footsteps of Tampa Bay, they mounted a terrific loss to maintain a strong but weakening grip on the #2 spot.)
3. Tampa Bay (Now dropping 7 straight with the latest at the hands of the former #5 Powerless squad. The Bucs are mounting a threat that is growing more serious each passing week for what we previously thought was the locked in #2 spot.)
4. Minnesota (If this team continues to put forth effort and show they care, they are going to drop out of the bottom 5, or more aptly put, be undertaken by some teams that don't want it more.)
5. KC (After stating last week that they were not a bottom 5 team and they so far defied my metrics, they go and achieve an epic loss v the Jets. I did get one thing right in my assessment, "wildly inconsistent," and with that they have worked their way back in at #5 taking the spot of Jags.)

Dishonorable Mention: Buffalo (This season has become a train wreck for the once-heralded Bills as they continue to chase down Miami for the cellar spot in the AFC East by losing 6 straight), Washington (Their season is over and even if Sexy Rexy makes it back, it won't be enough to change their fate of finishing in the bottom 10 of the League), Cleveland (is Cleveland), Jax (The fact that the Jags have 4 wins this season is surprising for the team and is a testament of how great MJD is-who is in the top heap of the league in rushing...that being said, they are still led by Blain Gabbert and are still terrible), Carolina (We have discovered that Cam is a beast and that Carolina's future is bright as they build around him, but this season, Cam's Canon is not enough)



Newsflash: Roethlisberger Will Start Monday

Fantasy owners, start em.

Ben Roethlisberger likes to extend plays, and as a QB who likes to extend plays, he takes quite a pounding and is often injured. Ben Rothlisberger is perenially more banged up than Jenna Jameson in her prime, but he always seems to gimp his way out onto the field and commence to have an excellent game. This leads me to believe that in an effort to lull their opponents into a false sense of security, the Steeler organization softly floats this stuff out there about broken thumbs, dislocated noses, broken hands, ankle sprains, pulled muscles and all other sorts of ailments and maladies as smoke and mirrors. (CGI could definitely further this cause). Despite the publicity stunts and hi-jinx, there is one thing for certain, that is that you can count on seeing #7 with his hands snugly under the crotch of Pouncey or whoever starts at Center for the Steelers on Monday night.

Indy Keys to Defeat

This will be the toughest challenge Indy has faced in a while. As we get down to the wire and peek ahead to the last 3 games on the schedule, it will be a tough haul for Indy to run the table in reverse. They have Tenny, Houston, and the season finale, Jax. Believe it or not, Indy actually has a slight edge in the running attack v Tennessee. (But at least CJ2K got paid, right?) Anyway, with Chris Johnson not playing up to par, Houston on their #3 QB, and Jax being led by Blain Gabbert, there is some doubt about whether or not Indy has the lack of talent to drop these last 3 games (not to mention that they are falling short on the 500 point benchmark). But, as I always say, let's not get ahead of ourselves and focus one week at a time.

On offense:

1. Bring back C Pain to start. Orvlosky is scarily serviceable.
2. Run the ball and stick with it...I am saying run it 50 times and especially on 3rd and long.
3. Play-call conservatively.

On Defense:

1. Make wise business decisions when coming up to make tackles...think about it, what is to gain by sacrificing the body. Wait til next year and enjoy a healthy vacation.
2. Play to stop the pass. Go into a prevent mode and don't let anything get over the top. Get into Cover 2 and stay there.

From here on out, Indy's ride will get bumpy and it is almost certain that if the D doesn't give up 500 points on the season, they would have won at least one game, so let's enjoy this while it lasts, because the separation from 0-16 immortality and 1-15 been there done that levels of terribleness is thinner than the line to see Santa on December 26.

NBA (National Bush Association)

"I can't wait to play here!"

So, the NBA has not been able to find a buyer for the New Orleans Hornets, therefore the Association thought it would be a good idea for each owner to own an equal piece of the Hornets until such time as they find a buyer...Can you say conflict of interest? I mean Bud Selig and the MLB ownership of the Montreal Expos called David Stern to congratulate him last Thursday. In case you missed it, David Stern vetoed a 3 team trade that would have sent Chris Paul to the Lakers for what many basketball experts say would have been a fair and even good trade for the Hornets.

"Somebody get me Mike Brown on the phone!"

There are many theories floating out there on why this occured, but the prevalent candidate is whining and complaining from small market owners about the rich big market fat cat owners getting richer...etc, This reminds me of the Occupy Wall Street movement, which just goes to show that the war of the haves and have nots takes place at all levels of the socio-economic ladder, even amongst billionaires. Now I am not a basketball analyst, but you don't have to be one to see that this move reeked of the foul stench of conflict of interest and is terrible for the NBA and quite damning to David Stern's legacy. A few years ago David Stern was considered by most a shrewd genius, but now to mention his name with Bud Selig shows how far Stern has fallen. It is ending in such a tragic way for the man who sheparded the NBA from obscurity and helped make it's stars household names the past 3 decades. Unfortunately, this move is like a deeply ingrained crotch stain that won't come out of otherwise well-bleached tighty whities.

Update: The commish apparently has ok'd a secondary trade move of Paul to the Clippers and now with Eric Gordon can the Clippers finally ecClipse the Lakers?...maybe, but the whole thing is still just Bush League and Stern still has -0- credibility.

And in other NBA news, in case you hadn't heard, Russian Billionaire, business tycoon, and by the way, owner of the New Jersey (soon to be Brooklyn) Nets, Mikhail Prohkorov is running against Vladimir Putin for the office of Russian President. What a scenario...I will follow up on this most interesting story.

Would Jigga get a spot in the Russian gov?

Join me next Thursday as we find out if the Colts mishandled business and kept the dream of Imperfection alive, which Bengals team shows up in St. Louis, and other news of mediocrity...

Thanks for reading the

I pray the Lord bless you all!