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).

The idea of ‘home field advantage’ is a fascinating phenomena. It gets talked about a lot in sports, but it exists in other aspects of our lives as well. I play a lot of video games (shocker, I know) and consider myself to be pretty good a few of them, one being the Guitar Hero series. I can play on my setup at home and completely dominate over all my friends, but if I pick up the plastic guitar at a party on foreign soil, I fall back to the rest of the pack. I have no idea why, either. It’s not like my little plastic guitar at home is any better or worse than the others, but that comfort of knowing that I’ve hit these buttons a million times and they won’t let me down by sticking or lagging or anything, pushes my game up a little bit. [/end nerd talk]

So how does ‘home field advantage’ work in the NFL?

I still don’t know, but home teams went 11-4 in the games played so far this week. It’s not about being comfortable in strange whether, as the Jets and Packers both lost at home in conditions that are foreign to their opponents (Denver and Carolina respectively). Whatever it is (cheering fans, official bias, comfort of not traveling) it exists, and is going to be a big part of the playoffs this year.

Biggest loser on Sunday: Oakland or Kansas City?

Clearly Oakland lost the game, but Kansas City lost the war. By notching their second win of the season, they are now risking losing their place at the top three of the draft come April. Back in week 12, when they only had one win on the season, they were sitting in the number two hole behind the winless Detroit Lions. Now, after beating the Raiders for their second victory, they have slipped past the Bengals (Woot! #2 pick! WHO DEY?!?!) into a tie with Rams and the Seahawks. If the season ended today, a coin flip could decide between the third pick and fifth pick for the Chiefs. Now, I’m not suggesting that teams should just start going in the tank towards the end of the season to get a better draft pick. These men are professionals and should do their jobs to the utmost of their abilities. All I’m saying is that this ‘victory’ might feel hollow when all is said and done.

Should the Chargers be blown up?

Of course not. They are still a very talented group of players, but the culture, in terms of milk, has gone from a delicious compliment to your chocolate chip cookie to a month past the date when it’s so smelly you don’t throw it out until the garbage is at the curb because you don’t want the smell poisoning the entire house. For those of us that can’t follow long (and pretty stretched)  metaphors, that means the culture is bad. I don’t think it is simply Norv Turner that is the problem. Very rarely do you see a head coaching change alone have that drastic of an impact on a club. I think it is on the “stars” of this team (LT2, Gates, Merriman, and Marmalard) to get everyone’s head on straight. Right now this team is playing without any heart, and that is on the players, not the coaches.

Sadder three point performance: Cincinnati or Buffalo?

Buffalo all the way. Everyone expects Cincy to suck this season, it’s the given. Buffalo, on the other hand, had a hot start and had people talking about playoffs instead of the team moving to Canada. But now the wheels are completely off the bus. Since their 4-0 start, the Bills have gone 2-6 with their only wins coming against the Chargers and the Chiefs (and just read above to find out how those franchises are doing). They wasted a 100 yard effort by Marshawn Lynch and lost to a team who’s more famous for their coach dropping his pants than for winning football games. On the plus side, I hear Canada has awesome hookers.

Can Brees break the record?

You know you’re having a good year when 296 passing yards seems like an off day, and that is what Drew Brees is doing this season. The NFL single season record for passing yards (held by Dan Marino) is 5,084. Through 12 games Brees is sitting at  3,870. That means that over the last 4 games of the season he needs 1,214 yards, or 303.5 per game. With Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, and Carolina the remaining hurdles, I think it’s going to be very very close, and may hinge on Carolina’s playoff picture and how many starters are playing for the entire game.

Fantasy Question of the Week

Playoff Primer: Name vs. Match-Up?

Most fantasy league playoffs are going to start in the next couple of weeks, and those owners who are lucky enough to reach them are going to have their hands full of tough decisions. The biggest one being: Do I play the guys I’ve ridden all year or just play match-up? It seems like a great idea to start anyone playing the Lions each week, but what if it means sitting a Marshawn Lynch or a Santana Moss on your bench? Now, neither of these players are superstars, but I bet both were in your starting lineups almost every week, and that’s the point. Are you gonna dance with who brought you, or jump ship to a flash new toy? I am a big proponent of the first theory and sticking by your guys. You never know who is going to put up points against who, and by sticking to your guns, your decisions you made early in the decision, the victory will be sweeter and the loss won’t sting as much. “I can’t believe I put MoJo on my bench this week!” - DLamp

Un-Perfect Season Watch ‘08!

Still un-un-beaten: Detroit

Monday Night Sneak (Preview) Attack

Jax @ Hou - Two teams that had lofty expectations coming into the season now get to face off in a game that nobody cares about. I’m taking Jackonville, because I don’t touch anything that’s touched David Carr. He has cooties.

2008 Sneak Attack record: 8-5