Notre Shame can win its last 7 games and finish at 8-4 and, of course, yet
another bowl snub as the major bowls decide to pass them over for more worthy
competition. I wonder how many more years that this attitude will prevail?
The Blighting Irish could just as easily come away with only a couple wins
in those last 7 games so we may not have to see more South Bend snoberry.
                                   ****
Oakland was one St. Louis mistake away away from being 1-4. If the Raiders
make the playoffs, they should send the Rams 1/2 their playoff shares for
the penalty that turned the game around. I got a good laugh when they were
talking about how unexpected Brown's rushing totals. I say that because
the Raiders are abysmal against the run and have been since the first day
of the season.
                                   ****
The NFL's most memorable game has been designated as the "Heidi" game. Since
many of you weren't even alive when that happened, let's try this: pick YOUR
most memorable game. To make it easier to be objective, there are two types
of games that you can pick, the most memorable game involving your favorite
team and the the most memorable game not involving them. Heck, you can even
make it a top 5 of each category.:-)
Mine, involving Dallas:
1. Pittsburgh 35, Dallas 31 - Huh? Hey, I didn't say that your favorite team
had to win. This game had it all, including Jackie Smith's drop of a TD pass
that would turn into a FG that was the difference in the final margin.
2. Dallas 30, SF 28 - For those who never saw this game, they never saw
Roger Staubach at his best. The 49ers were making their plans for the NFC
Championship Game when the Dodger brought them back in one of the most
memorable of ANY games played in the past 30 years.
3. SF 28, Dall 27 - Even after the 49ers scored, I STILL wasn't convinced
that they were going to win. Dallas WAS moving on the 49ers when they
fumbled away their last chance.
4. Dallas 31, Washington 30 - It's MNF, it's in Washington and the Skins are
yukking it up until the Cowboys come back. Yuk no more, you DeadSkins...
5. Dallas 35, Washington 34 - It's Thanksgiving, Staubach is out and Clint
Longley is in.....Deadskins lose...Deadskins lose....
Came close --  Washington 14, Dallas 7 - Walt Garrison is going in for the
game tying score when he meets future Hall of Famer, Ken Houston at the
goal line. The irresistible force is unable to budge the immovable object.
Mine, not involving Dallas (Cowboys):
1. Dallas 20, Houston 17 - Probably one of the top 3 most bizarre games of
all time. The Dallas Texans won the coin toss and chose to kick but the
Oilers weren't able to take advantage of the wind and the Texans would
eventually win the game.
2. San Diego 41, Miami 38 - A great individual effort by Kellen Winslow, a
hook and lateral for TD by Miami and some great offensive play made this one
hell of a game.
3. Miami 27, Kansas City 24 - Ed Podolak had one of the greatest individual
performances of playoff history but Jan Stenerud, the great Chief's kicker,
did not. Garo Yepremiam eventually won the "longest" game on Christmas night
and one of the best games ever was finally over.
4. SF 38, NO 35 - The Saints go up 35-7 at halftime and the only *offense*
that the 49ers can muster is a Freddie Solomon punt return for a TD. What a
difference a half can make. The Saints can't buy a point and Joe Montana can
do no wrong.
5. Buffalo 41, Houston 38 - Another painful overtime loss for Oiler fans. A
35-3 lead in the 3rd quarter is wasted and the Bills had overcome an NFL
record 32 point deficit and it would take a win by the Houston Rockets for
the city to lose the "Choke City" tag.
                                   ****
You know what gets me is those "Look at how washed up this guy is" articles
that have been in the paper this week. One paper was talking about how Dan
Marino was so washed up and how he couldn't do this or that and that it was
the right thing for Johnson to go with Erickson and then there was one that
talked about Emmitt being washed up and now it was time for them to go with
Sherman Williams. Geez, folks. Let's get real and look at where the real
problems lie.
                                   ****
Got a good laugh when Wyche said that despite the fact that the Ravens were
up 24-7, the game wasn't over. Collinsworth snorts about betting money and
Gumbel chimes in with a sarcastic barb about it only being halftime and Sam
just ignores it. Of course, as the game is being recapped with PIttsburgh
up 35-24, you don't hear either Collinsworth or Gumbel mentioning their
cracks and Sam has enough class not to call them on it.
                                   ****
I'm so tired of Zampese. It's time that the Cowboys chuck him. I don't care
if he's the one that taught Turner offense, he's never been been as good as
Norv and that includes when he was in LA. The team has scored way too many
field goals under Zampese and it's cost them dearly. I know that the line
is a problem, however, they're just part of THE problem. Zampese is so damn
predictable and the Pokes aren't the same kind of offense that they were
under Turner.
                                   ****
Jeez. Chicago entered this season needing 2 wins to have 600 and after 6
weeks, they still need those same 2 wins. I think that Wannstedt made a big
mistake by pulling Kramer and going with Mirer. The offense wasn't THE
problem under Kramer, it was a defense that couldn't (and still can't) stop
the other team from putting up 30+ points a game.
                                   ****
Did you know that 10 years ago, the NFL was on strike and replacement games
were being played? Just asking...:-)
                                   ****
Am I watching the same game as the MNF crew or what? First Al says that
except for that pass to Byars, Denver's defense has looked great and then
Frank talks about New England's being erratic on their first drive? Huh?
New England was looking great on that first drive and it was Glenn's fumble
that stopped them from taking an early lead.
                                   ****
Finally, unless there is a change between now and when the *official* run
support numbers are put out, Greg Maddux is FINALLY not the worst supported
Brave, John Smoltz is. But, until it's official, it could still go either
way (USA Today's BB Weekly's figures are often 1-2 runs different from what
is finally published. In fact, the numbers for the Braves don't make any
sense as far as 5 of the 6 pitchers. There's no way that the run support
figures that they offer up are correct so there's going to be a difference
of as much as a run when the figures do become official).
--- TrekEd 1.00
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