The Cowboys and Bears have three games remaining and the other 30 NFL teams will play four more. Yes, the first three quarters of the regular season is complete. Now, intrigue sets in with colder weather, more at stake and rivalries intensified.
Here’s some observations from the arm chair of a living room in Prince George:
# The AFC is highly competitive with 12 of 16 teams at .500 or better, all still with a playoff shot. Five teams at 7-5 are tied for the last wild card position. On the other hand, the four worst teams in the entire league arguably reside in the AFC. The New York Jets, Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars are 2-10 while the Oakland Raiders are 1-11. In addition, they have the four worst net points in the league, all with a minus in triple digits. All four teams have a common denominator in that they have struggled at quarterback. If Aaron Rodgers was calling the plays for one of those four, they still would not be a playoff team but likely competitive around the .500 mark. If Gino Smith instead of Andrew Luck was the quarterback for Indianapolis, would the Colts record by any better than the Jets? I doubt it.
# Nine teams in the NFC have a losing record, including all four in the South. No, the playoff format doesn’t need a change because this year is an anomaly. Winning a division, even a bad one, is worthy of a post-season berth and the #4 seed. It would be ironic (and certainly possible) if Seattle is a wild card team and the #5 seed and has to start the playoffs at New Orleans. Remember in 2010 when the Saints finished 11-5 and had to play at the 7-9 Seahawks? Many critics suggested that Seattle should have not had home field advantage. Well, turnabout would be fair play. Despite what anybody says, the Saints are a dangerous team. New Orleans QB Drew Brees leads the league in completion percentage and is second in total yards. Despite a 5-7 record, the Saints have scored five more points than they have surrendered.
#Take note Seattle fans: the Seahawks have allowed 0 touchdowns in consecutive games for the 1st time since 2005. They’re the 1st team to do that this year.
#The more things change the more things remain the same. The top candidates for MVP are Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. It’s no co-incidence that the Packers, Broncos and Patriots are arguably the best teams although the Seahawks deserve the respect of being the defending champions. Every year there is debate about who is an elite quarterback and who isn’t. Group A starts and ends with those three. The next two are Brees and Luck. Rounding out the top 12 are Ben Roethlisberger, Russell Wilson, Joe Flacco, Tony Romo, Phillip Rivers, Matthew Stafford and Andy Dalton. Okay, I hope you got your chuckle for the day. Of course Dalton doesn’t belong. While Matt Ryan gets an honourable mention, the last spot of the top dozen goes to Eli Manning, who is perhaps the biggest enigma at his position. His career is close to Hall of Fame worthy but his lack of consistency and high interception ratio (183 picks in 165 games) are puzzling for such a high achiever.
#The Arizona Cardinals remind me of last year’s Kansas City Chiefs, both with superb defences but just pedestrian offences. The 2013 Chiefs started 9-0 but ended up 11-5 and lost in the first round of the playoffs. K.C. tied with Cincinnati for the fewest points allowed on defence. Arizona is 9-3 but coming back to reality with back-to-back losses. I don’t care if QB Carson Palmer was healthy and playing rather than Drew Stanton, the Cardinals are overachievers that will be bounced quickly in the playoffs, if they make it.
#I chuckle when I see the power rankings and how many of the sports networks get these so called experts and former players to rate teams. Of course, it’s just to fill programming. If one wants an updated version of the power rankings it’s actually quite simple, just look at the standings. A team’s record, especially over a substantial amount of games, is the only indicator that matters.
#
He was classy on and off the ice. Jean Beliveau was supremely skilled as a complete player; one with flair, intelligence and an abundance of success. #4 was a reason many cheered for the Montreal Canadiens.
The NHL lost a leader, a gentleman, an ambassador and a role model when the gracious Beliveau passed away at age 83.
His stats are overwhelming in an era where there wasn’t any watered down competition. A 10-time Stanley Cup winner as a player, Beliveau scored 507 goals and finished with 1,219 points in 1,125 games. The Hall of Famer and 14-time all-star is remembered as the greatest centre in the storied history of the Canadiens.
Whether one is a Habs fan or not, the legendary Beliveau earned respect from teammates, competitors, media and fans. He will always be regarded in the highest of esteem.
From the Quote Rack:
Some tickets for Monday’s Miami-New York Jets game were going for $15. But many Jets fans were holding out to be paid more.
The NFL has decided not to fine the St. Louis Rams players who made the “hands up don’t shoot” gesture before their game with Oakland. Nor are they fining the Raiders who looked like they were REALLY surrendering.
Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
Justin Bieber and Rob Gronkowski were seen together at a LA Clippers game. Security, however, told Bieber that he had to leave his pet billy goat outside.
A financially struggling Burt Reynolds will soon auction off such items as his football helmet in ‘The Longest Yard’ and his Golden Globes. I hear he also later tried to make off with the spear that he ceremoniously planted midfield before the Florida St game against Boston College.
Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
The Grey Cup game did not sell out so organizers decided to donate some unsold tickets to minor league football. No word on how many were sent to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers or Oakland Raiders.
US Airways kicked a woman and her pig off a flight last week. They only had one valid ticket, the woman said she planned to spend the entire flight riding piggyback.
Comedy writer TC Chong of Vancouver (http://alwaysfunny.com/)
And in case you missed it:
Several fire departments rallied to rescue over 1,400 piglets from an overtuned trailer near Indianapolis. Over in D.C., there aren’t enough firefighters to save RGIII’s bacon.
Comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com
Hartley Miller is the sports director and morning news anchor for 94.3 the Goat. His column appears Fridays on hqprincegeorge.com. Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to [email protected]
Follow him on twitter: @Hartley_Miller