Pyle of List

Every Monday, our very own DLamp will be taking a look at what just happened the day before in the NFL, and looking ahead to the Monday night game(s).

Ah, the plight of the Bears fan. I was in hell yesterday, moving a washer and dryer from one place to another, with no TV, no internet access, and no radio. It was like the freakin’ stone age at this place! But then I got a text from a friend that made me feel a lot better about my place in the universe at that moment. The text was very succinct yet very powerful:

“F@cking Grossman!”

Ahhh, looks like some things never change!

Hey, Safeties, you know they can throw the ball too, right?

Normally, I would use this space about ESPN slob knobbing the Colts a bit too much (they showed every single play of note in the highlights, a lot more than many other games) but I won’t because it exposed two people I don’t really care for: Bob Sanders and Troy Polamalu. You see, analysts talk about these guys non stop like they are they biggest difference makers in the NFL and that gets annoying to me. Maybe I just don’t like being told I’m not as good as them. Whatever. But there were two plays where you could see them looking for the big, highlight reel hit, and they got burned for it. Sanders got burned a blown flea flicker (seriously, it was an ugly play) because he is obsessed with stopping the run, which is what he’s known for. So since he’s spying into the backfield on the play, he got made to look stupid by the Steelers. Good for them. Then, later in the game, Polamalu (who REALLY gets the star treatment) lets Rhodes blow by him for the go ahead TD. How did this happen? Again, he’s looking into the backfield so he can make some sort of “amazing” play instead of just covering his man (he was the only guy close to Rhodes).

Should Kansas City have gone for the tie? 

Absolutely not. Their season is lost, as far as playoffs are concerned, so when they found themselves hanging in there against a better team at the end of the game, they had to go for. KC was just happy to be invited to the party, playing with house money, and other over-used metaphors. To risk not even getting the ball in OT is not worth it. You’ve got your best shot, so take it and if it doesn’t work (which it didn’t) you team still made enough progress during the first four quarters to build on going forward.

Are the Saints done?

Pretty much. They would have to run the table and need some help from Carolina (like a bad losing streak) in order to climb back into the playoff picture. I know it’s the NFC and you’re never out of a wild card spot, but c’mon. This team can’t stop anybody and can’t even string two wins together in consecutive weeks. Just let them push Drew Brees’ chase for Marino’s single season yardage record and stop pressuring them to win games, because they are not very good at that.

Party’s over, so what is Holmgren still doing here?

Actually, I applaud Mike The Walrus for sticking it out like he said he would. Too many coaches (and athletes) these days don’t honor their commitments. Whether you like it or not, you signed the contract so you should honor it, and that’s what Holmgren is doing. I’m sure everyone in Seattle envisioned something a little different in his final year, but injuries have hit them incredibly hard and they are not going to make it to the post season. However, they do play a lot of contenders here down the stretch, so watch for Mike to have some fun when Hasselback gets back playing spoiler.

Did Maurice Jones-Drew outscore the Lions all by himself?

Why, yes. Yes he did.

Fantasy Question of the Week

Anyone mind if I strangle Willis McGahee?

Pyle of List is playing in a blogger fantasy league this year, and nothing has gone right. First, we got locked out of the draft (shenanigans?) and had to use Yahoo defaults. Then we get saddled with freakin’ guys like Larry Johnson, Marc Bulger, Steven Jackson, and Willis McGahee. This is two weeks in a row that McGahee has screwed us. Last week, he looks like he’s going to play, then doesn’t and we get the goose-egg. This week, when he’s been hobbled all week, he starts and scores two TDs…on our bench! Maybe Ray Lewis will let me borrow his “stabbin’ knife”…

Un-Perfect Season Watch ‘08!

Still un-un-beaten: Detroit

Monday Night Sneak (Preview) Attack

SF @ Ari - Two teams, one division, opposite directions. Arizona looks like it’s going to make the playoffs for the first time in a very long time and SF looks like…well, they look like a team whose coach likes to take his pants off at half-time. And it’s in the pink taco? ‘Zona in a landslide.

2008 Sneak Attack record: 7-3