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).

“Lame.”

That’s all I said to my friends when they were too tired/hungover on Sunday morning to watch football with me.

We had all been up drinking together, in costume, until about 3 or 4 in the morning (actually, most of them were in bed before that, but that’s what time I finally passed out) and I knew that I had to be up in time to watch football. There just wasn’t any question about it.

Listen, Sundays mean different things to different people. Some people go to church and brunch with family that day. Some spend it out on golf courses relaxing in nature. Others, like myself, view the 7th day of the week for one thing and one thing only: football.

And maybe baseball if there is no football on.

Even the dog was too tired to get fired up about Favre returning to Green Bay! Luckily, my buddy (and fellow Pyle of List-er) BJ Boyd was there to get my back and supply the Jalepeno Popper Doritos.

But to all of my friends, and the rest of you out there, who were too whatever from Halloween festivities: You are lame!

Will the real Ted Ginn Jr. please stand up?

Which is it going to be, guy? Are you a blinding speedster that can change the game a la Desean Jackson or Devin Hester? Or are you a middle of the pack receiver/return man a la the Ted Ginn Jr. we’ve seen so far in your career? Listen, I know he didn’t pick himself #9 overall and put all this undue pressure on himself, but that’s the way the cookie crumbled. And as someone who has watched him, rightfully so, sit on his fantasy bench all season I know that this is the exception, and not the rule with him. Do not buy into this, the production will not last.

Care for some more blowouts?

Of the 12 games played yesterday, 7 were decided by 2 touchdowns or more. And one of those (NY@Phi) was supposed to be one of the best of the weekend. Many experts have said that true parity, something the league prides itself on, in the NFL is dead. I’m not quite sure that’s the case, but it certainly is turning into a bit more of a caste system. Sure, I still feel that on any given Sunday you can be completely surprised by a team, but there is definitely a ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ thing going on right now.

Can Oakland play San Diego every week?

I know the Raiders are 0-2 against the Lightning Bolts so far this year, but both of those games have been inspired contests for the Raiders. The only game that even compares in intensity for the silver and black is that upset win over the Eagles two weeks ago. Something about the close proximity (about a 10 hour drive apart) and it being a division game seems to get Tom Cable’s guys fired up. But the same can be said for the Chargers, as it took this rivalry game to get their struggling superstars (LT and Merriman) back on track (2 TDs and 2 sacks respectively). All in all, just some good California football.

Shouldn’t battles like this be on Pay-Per-View?

Oh man, talk about two titans going at it. Maurice Jones-Drew and Chris Johnson put on a freakin’ show on Sunday. The two combined for 405 rushing yards (177 for MJD, 228 for Johnson) and 4 TDs (two apiece) on only 32 carries. That’s a 12.66 YPC average. This game wasn’t on TV, but I was watching the scoreboard light up via the internet the entire time. The crazy thing is, all those TDs were on long runs (80, 79, 52, and 89). Fellas, thanks for the fireworks.

Fantasy bonus question: TO scored a TD this week, should I start him/pick him up off the waiver wire?

Say no to TO. Yeah, seeing him get in the end zone was nice, but that was on a reverse. How many of those are you expecting him to see each week? You’ve got to look past the random score and see that he only caught 5 balls for 39 yards. 39 yards?! And you are thinking about putting that in your lineup? I assure you there are better WR options in your league right now.

Fantasy Question of the Week

Any chance I can trade Forte?

Lord knows I’m going to try. After being a constant disappointment to my fantasy life this year, Forte finally had the kind of day he would have last year. Unfortunately, he can’t play the woeful Browns every week. So I’m now going to try to deal my first round pick for someone I have more confidence in week after week. Wish me luck!

Un-Perfect Season Watch ‘09!

Each week we will hilight the lowliest of the NFL landscape. Why? Because it’s fun to laugh and point at other people’s misfortune.

Un-unbeaten teams: Tampa Bay Bucs

Bottom of the barrel (teams that failed to score an offensive TD in the past week):  Cleveland Browns

Monday Night Sneak (Preview) Attack

Atl @ NO - Who, doggie! This is going to be a good game! I would love to pick Atlanta here just so I can say I called the upset, but I’m not. I like NO, at home, to take care of business. The Atlanta secondary is depleted and sketchy, not a good recipe for trying to stop Drew Brees.

2009 Sneak attack record: 7-1