Take out your Binoculars

A look ahead game is a game where one team playing has already written their opponent off before the game even starts and then looks ahead to the games that come after the one they haven't played yet.  This, in turn, causes the team to get defeated by the very team they thought they could easily beat.

The NY Jets are playing the Oakland Raiders this Sunday in what I believe is one such game.  It is the first of three cities the Jets will visit as their next three weeks will be played on the road.  After playing the Raiders, the Jets will jet over to Baltimore and then to New England for a much anticipated matchup.  

The Raiders however just suffered an embarrassing loss at Buffalo to the Bills.  They are playing at home, and after having their first two games on the road, are ready to put a "W" on their card.

This week's Raiders/Jets game has look ahead written all over it.  Take out your binoculars boys and girls, it's time to look ahead.

And the Winner is...

Last night the Emmys were on TV.  So was the Eagles/Falcons game.  I'll tell you who won't be getting an award for best performance last night... the Falcon's offensive line.  They did little to nothing to protect their QB as he looked more like a stunt double getting plowed play after play.  Have you ever seen a baker beat a pasty lump of dough before it was finally cooked....it was a little like that.

However this little dough boy became a sort of comeback story as somehow the Falcons were able to pull off a win even though the Eagles were up by 10 in the second half.  It's no secret how they were able to pull off the win, it wasn't the editing department or the directing department led by head coach, Mike Smith.  It was that the opposing QB, Michael Vick, a sort of ATL hometown hero left the game and didn't play the last quarter.

You may be thinking that one man can't make that much of an impact, and it isn't fair that I put all the blame on Vick not being in the game as to why the Falcons won.  How soon you forget our lesson from Week One: there is an "I" in team... this one's name is spelled V-I-C-K.

Final score: Falcons (35-31)

Week One Rundown

Week one is nearly in the books (there are two Monday night games yet to be played).  Here are a few of the highlights you may have missed.


Bears vs. Falcons (30-12)
The Bears were looking like, well, a real pro football team on Sunday.  Who is this guy, and whatever he did with the real Jay Cutler we don't want to know!  Brian Urlacher scored a defensive touchdown and had an interception.  If the Bears can play as they did during the season opener for the rest of the season, there may be another postseason playoff in their future.

Texans vs. Colts (34-7)
Can I look now, is it over?  This is the feeling I may have for the rest of the Colt's season.  They were shut down by the Texans in Houston.  Don't worry boys, there are only 16 games left.

Cardinals vs. Panthers (28-21)
Cam Newton the newly drafted QB for the Panthers had quite a game on Sunday.  He threw for 422 yards passing, the most of any rookie QB in his NFL opening game.  Sadly, it wasn't enough to beat the Cardinals.

Jets vs. Cowboys (27-24)
The Jets won by three as they blocked a punt in the forth quarter to then score a touchdown.  They later kicked a 50 yard field goal to put themselves over the Cowboys in the final minutes of the game.  Dallas did have a chance to drive down the field in the final minute of the game, but they didn't appear ready for their first victory of the season.  Especially when, with less than eight seconds to go, the snapped ball to Romo bounced off the surprised QB.  The ball hit him in the chest, and what could have been a play to get Dallas into field goal range was ended.  Not a great offensive game for the Jets, but they fly to victory anyway.
Interesting sidebar:  If you can't seem to get enough of the larger than life Rex Ryan, you can now see his twin brother as he coaches in Dallas.  Buddy Ryan looks strikingly similar.  There is one way to tell them apart; Buddy has scary gray clown hair.

Well there you go boys and girls.  Just a few highlights to the beginning of the season.  Now Monday morning as you sashay up to the water cooler, remember a gem or two from above and you will be sounding like a Sports Guy's Girl in no time.

Twas the Night Before Football

Welcome to the start of football.  Well, technically Thursday was the start of football with the Packers beating the Saints, but it is finally time once again for football Sunday.  With all the nerves of the offseason lockout behind us it's time to make sure the batteries in the remote are new, the cheese dip is warm, and there are plenty of beers chilling in the fridge.

Last season I had a 59% accuracy ATS (against the spread) in a pool where I attempted pick winning teams for every game of the season.  That's freaking amazing and could potentially make me a lot of money if I ever took my talents public, but instead my goal is simple: First and foremost I want to entertain my readers with the same informative wit you have come to love, and break down sports in an easy to understand way.  After all, sports are really just soap operas with jock straps and pads.

For the first week I'm looking for:

1. The Colts to lose.  Without Manning, they may not win very many games this season, if any at all... What was that old saying? There is no "I" in team... well for the Colts there is, and he happens to be sitting on the sidelines recovering from neck surgery.

2.  The Bears to lose at home to the Falcons.  With all the problems the Bears have with upset players feeling like they aren't getting paid what they are worth (they aren't) and a lack luster QB who just broke up an engagement to a Dancing with the Stars contestant, there are more fireworks going on off the field than on it.  

3.  I like San Francisco.  Granted my accuracy rating would be a lot higher if I wouldn't have picked them to win so many times last year, but I still like them.  I think this team has a lot of potential.

I look forward to may colorful stories to come out of the season, and I can't wait to share them with all of you.  So, sleep tight and when you wake up tomorrow morning ask yourself one question.  Are you ready for some football????