The Green Bay Packers played a horrible game at home and were probably lucky to get past a not-so-good Tampa Bay team. Maybe they were already looking forward to the Lions on Thanksgiving. Conversely, the Lions stood around and watched a not-so-good Carolina team with a rookie QB put up a lot of points on them in their own house. Maybe they were already looking forward to the Packers.
The pressure of the Turkey Day spectacle rests squarely on the shoulders of the Lions. Why? Because the Packers at 10-0 are going to be division champions and have a lock on the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Lions have done no more than waltzed through a fairly easy schedule, to date. They've beaten the bad teams and lost to the good ones. Now the big boys are coming to town, followed by a date with Drew Brees down in the Big Easy. We'll see about all that....
Elsewhere, Jay Cutler of Da Bears broke the thumb on his throwing hand. Probably out for 8 weeks, which gets into playoff time. Like him or not, I dare say nobody has suffered more abuse, be it physical punishment on the field, or the media trashing him for one reason or another. If Matthew Stafford of the Lions had to take even half that beating, he might be curled up in the fetal position, thumb in mouth, calling for his mama, and shipped off to be heavily medicated somewhere. Cutler's one helluva tough QB, and after enduring all of the above, and finally getting Da Bears on a roll -- now this. It's a shame.
The Buffalo Bills, after a hot start, have reverted to usual form.
Andy Reid and Tom Coughlin, of the Eagles and Giants respectively, continue to employ bone-headed strategy in play calls and game management, but somehow miraculously not only keep their jobs, but stay in contention. Amazing.
Rex Ryan of the Jets has toned down his rhetoric after a few beatdowns. Not sure if that's a good thing or not. If nothing else -- he was entertaining.
Bill Bellichick of the Patriots has been too quiet. Somebody should be scared. The Mad Genius is always up to something....
Barring a monumental collapse, which is unlikely, Coach Of The Year is a done deal. Jim Harbaugh of the 49ers. Given what he had to work with going in -- who would have ever seen THAT coming? Talk about a quick turn-around.....
Some misguided soul recently stated that Ndahmukong Suh isn't really a dirty player. He's just avenging wrongs done to his own teammates -- as far back as last year. Then he went on to cite a recent poll taken amongst the NFL players, (and nobody knows players better than other players) where Suh, by a 4 to 1 margin over the runner-up, emerged victorious with the dubious honor. 4 to 1? What comes after landslide? Damn near unanimous? Something about defeating one's own argument comes to mind.....
Don't look now, but the Cowboys are back in the hunt. A couple more wins and that ever-loveable Jerry Jones will be back, front and center, for more photo-ops and sound bytes. Sigh.
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