Week 11 — Mon, 21 Nov 2005
From: Jeff <toxic@doobie.com>
To: mnf@doobie.com
Subject: It's Monday...
...and who woke up the 49ers?
Yesterday, the most consistent team in the league, the Seattle Seahawks
came to Candlestick, and almost got beaten by our own 49ers. It came
down to a two-point conversion attempt with less than 20 seconds on the
clock, but alas, the niners came up just a few feet short, and lost the
game 27-25. Perhaps this is a rebuilding year after all, because San
Francisco is looking better every game. They even scored not one, but
two touchdowns (something they'd failed to do since week 7).
For the second week in a row, the Redskins lost in the final seconds,
due to a very questionable call (last week's was downright wrong -- and
the NFL Officials Office even said so, eventually). This time, Raiders
running back LaMont Jordan fumbled the ball at the one yard line, and
somehow the officials ruled that he was down before fumbling (he
wasn't). The Raiders went on to kick a game-winning field goal on the
drive, winning 16-13. The 'skins fall to 5-5, putting them two games
behind the NFC East leading Giants and Dallas, and seriously damaging
their playoff chances. The Raiders climb to 4-6 in a tough AFC West,
their playoff hopes ended back in week 3.
And then there's Dallas. This week, they outscored the Lions 20-7, in a
game that seemed mostly decided by the yellow hankies on the field.
Detroit gave Dallas 129 yards and NINE first downs due to penalties.
That sort of performance makes it impossible to win games (just ask the
Raiders of old). Dallas goes to 7-3, and sits at the top of the NFC
East. This Thursday (gobble-gobble), Denver will come to Dallas.
Denver's been quietly winning games over in the AFC, and had no problem
shutting out the nearly useless New York Jets. The Denver offense was
on the field for more than 42 minutes. This isn't as much commentary on
the Broncos as it is on the Jets, who couldn't beat a decent college
team this year.
The Colts are still undefeated, after lighting up the scoreboard right
alongside the Bengals this week. There were three punts in total in
this 45-37 display of offense. In truth, both of these teams should be
concerned about the viability of their defense. But then again,
sometimes the best defense is a good offense. Both of these teams are
probably going to be playing in January.
For the second week in a row, Tampa Bay won by a narrow margin. This
week, they dispatched Atlanta 30-27 with a 45 yard field goal with 42
seconds to go. Atlanta did manage to set up a last-second 55 yard field
goal attempt, but kicker Michael Koenen missed it. Atlanta held the
advantage in virtually every stat for this game, except for turnovers,
and of course, score. At this point, the Falcons are only one or two
losses away from missing the playoffs. Michael Vick seems intent on
fumbling those away.
The Playoff situation:
AFC:
Essentially In: Indianapolis, Denver
Probably In: Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati
Theirs to Lose: New England
Fighting to get in: Buffalo, San Diego, Kansas City
NFC:
Essentially In: Seattle, Chicago
Probably In: Dallas, NY Giants, Tampa Bay, Carolina
Fighting to get (back) in: Atlanta, Washington
Fooling themselves: Saint Louis
Which brings us to tonight's game.
The Game:
Tonight, neither team is on the lists above, but they'll both be playing
like they were -- because old rivalries never die, and midwestern teams
hate looking bad on Monday Night.
Yes, tonight, we should have a good, if meaningless one, when the 4-5
Minnesota Vikings go to Green Bay Wisconsin to take on the 2-7 Packers
on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field.
Built in 1956, Lambeau field (formerly City Stadium) is the oldest
continually-used stadium in the NFL (and thanks to the new Soldier Field
in Chicago, and the current lack of football in LA, it's also the oldest
stadium in use in the NFL). It has endured 49 seasons, and eight
additions. It was the first field in the country to have a grass
root-warming system (copper electro-resistance (hairdryer) coils
installed in 1966 by Vince Lombardi himself). The current field
includes a radiant heat system installed in 1997 to keep the 100%
Kentucky Bluegrass toasty and growing in the epic cold that is inherent
to northern Wisconsin.
Weather.com claims there's a 20% chance of flurries there tonight. Brr.
The Line:
The Packers are favored by 5.5.
The over/under is 44.
The smart money went 2-0 last week. It is now 8-11. Tonight, it likes
the Vikings +5.5.
The Bar:
It's been a little while since we've been here.
Union Square Sports Bar
232 O'farrell St (near Powell)
Near the cable car, all the market street busses, and the Powell/Market
station.
Kickoff is at 6:00.
See you there?