How We Saw Week 12

Tom Brady was named one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People, which prompted a commentator Sunday to say, "sex is #12 in the NFL."  Tom Brady will hereafter be known in this column as, simply, "Sex."

You'd think guys calling NFL games would have the names down of the players and teams  they're talking about.  Yet, every week we hear guys call the Titans the "Oilers" and talk about the "Phoenix Cardinals."  This week, we heard San Diego DT Jamal Williams called "Wally Williams" and Chicago WR Marcus Robinson called "Marcus Robertson."  Do your homework, guys.

The biggest reason to watch the Thanksgiving games isn't the games - it's the sit-down conversation between Jimmy Johnson and Jerry Jones.  The teaser clip shown Sunday looked great - these two guys ask each other the questions we'd like to hear them debate.  I may be baking an apple pie during the Redskins-Cowboys game, but I'll definitely take the apron off and watch that conversation from start to finish.

Fox showed the results of a poll they took this past week that showed 66% of those responding think Terry Bradshaw is one of the 50 sexiest people in the world.  Who was voting, Lynn Swann?

Last year, the Patriots beat the 2-0 Colts last year in week 3.  The Colts never recovered and finished 4-10 in their last 14 games.  The Bills were 5-3 and on a roll before losing to the Patriots this year; since, they're 0-3 and their offense, like the Colts in 2001, has run out of steam.  

Tampa Bay's defense played exceptionally well against Green Bay.  But, in the fourth quarter, the Packers seemed to find something that was working nicely:  Favre leaving the pocket.  He had a big run and was able to move the ball well, pitching to Green and throwing from outside the pocket.  Something to build on, if Mike Sherman can see it.

My Top Five:
1) Atlanta: If it wasn't for three plays, they'd be 10-0-1;
2) Indianapolis: They have rebounded well and Dungy has them believing;
3) Tampa Bay: Possibly the toughest last five games in the League;
4) New York Jets: They have everything right now and have outscored last four opponents, 119-50;
5) Philadelphia or San Francisco: We'll see Monday night.

--Check that ... two things are predictable. The Cincinnati Bengals and Detroit Lions stink.

The Bengals did another el foldo, this time against Pittsburgh, falling to 1-10. The Bengals were beating the Steelers, 21-20, in the fourth and their defense had just made a stop. But  T.J. Houshmandzadeh fumbled a punt, Pittsburgh recovered and it went downhill. The Steelers scored nine straight points and held off a late Bengal rally.

--The Lions are another feline-named team playing like pussycats. Detroit blew a 17-7 lead against Chicago and lost 20-17 in overtime after their coach, Marty Mornhinweg, lost his mind. The Lions won the toss and elected to KICK OFF! The reasoning--they wanted the Bears to have to play into a 17 mph wind. Of course, Detroit never saw the ball again and lost the game. "Knowing the outcome of this game, I wouldn't do it again,'' said Mornhinweg, in the no-duh remark of 2002.

--The Jets remind me of last year's Patriots. Like New England, the Jets started 1-3 and switched quarterbacks. Now in the thick of the playoff race, the Jets look as good as anybody in the AFC.

--The Jets' Chad Pennington had the move of the year for a quarterback as he faked Bills linebacker Eddie Robinson on a fourth-and-goal bootleg. Pennington stopped, and faked a pass, Robinson stopped and fell, and Pennington scampered in for a score.

--I love Brett Favre, but throwing seven interceptions total in consecutive games is unacceptable. The Packers' chance at home field advantage likely went out the window after losing to Tampa Bay on Sunday.

--Oddest catch occurred in the Sunday night game. Denver defensive back Deltha O'Neal had a ball bounce off his leg, and ricochet into the waiting arms of Indianapolis receiver Marvin Harrison. It went from an interception to a reception just like that.

--How bad is the NFC East? The AFC expansion Houston Texans are 1-7 in their own conference, but 2-1 against the NFC East. The Texans beat the New York Giants, who entered the game on a three-game winning streak.

--Kurt Warner passed for 300 yards in his return back for the St. Louis Rams, but netted only 17 points. In the 5-0 run by backup Marc Bulger, the Rams averaged 28 points. I smell a quarterback controversy.

--Kordell Stewart was great in his return at quarterback for Pittsburgh, subbing for the injured Tommy Maddox. Stewart was 22 for 26 for 236 yards and a rating of 117.3.

--Atlanta beat Carolina by a combined 71-0 in their two games this year. It's the first time since 1976 that a team has pitched two shutouts against another team in the same season.

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