By Paul Casey Gotham
Odd couple?
Four weeks in the books and only two teams maintain unblemished records – one likely, the other? Well, maybe the other was more likely than people thought.
Tabbing the Green Bay Packers as a candidate to win their first four games required no stretching. But the Detroit Lions? Sure, the Lions have Ndamukong Shu, Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford, but 4-0? Actually, it is not much of a stretch. The denizens of Motown have now rattled off eight consecutive wins finishing last season with triumphs over Minnesota, at Miami, at Tampa Bay and (somewhere off in the distance I hear the faint rat-a-tat-tat of a snare drum) the Green Bay Packers. Yes, crazy as this eight may seem, the Detroit Lions have exorcised the demons of Matt Millen past and returned to football respectability.
Yesterday, the Lions showed the resolve of a…dare I say…playoff-bound team overcoming a 24-point deficit on the road in the final 25 minutes of play to win in Big D.
A pair of interceptions returned for touchdowns and Calvin Johnson playing like he has something to prove or at least something to prove to Cris Carter scored a pair of his own in the fourth quarter as the Lions trimmed the Dallas Cowboys 34-30.
The Lions improve to 3-0 on the road. Six games lie between now and Thanksgiving, but the thought of two undefeated teams meeting over turkey and mashed potatoes?
Not to be overlooked in all this, the Packers manhandled the Denver Broncos 49-23. Aaron Rodgers connected on 29 of 38 passes for 408 yards. Ho hum.
Almost forgot
Why, with a 24-point lead in the second half, is a team giving its opponent a chance for a pair of interceptions?
WILLIE? Ohhhhhhhhhhhh Willlllllllllie! Willie? Do you have anything to say about this?
World Class Fad?
Don’t blame Cam Newton. After throwing a first-quarter pick for a touchdown, the Heisman-Trophy winner connected with Greg Olsen for six and ran the ball over the goal line twice, but the Carolina Panthers could not put away the Chicago Bears.
Devin Hester returned a punt for a touchdown, and Matt Forte ran 205 yards and one score as the Monsters of Midway took a 34-29 home triumph.
The rookie Newton is averaging 346 yards in the air and 33 on the ground. If he can improve his 1:1 touchdown to interception rate, maybe his stars will start to shoot.
We’re mutts
Is it a case of be careful what you wish for? The NFL has done so much to increase parity. Not sure the League wanted have to have more winless teams than undefeated teams. But that is the case. The Miami Dolphins, St. Louis Rams and Minnesota Vikings sit at 0-4. The Indianapolis Colts put their 0-3 mark on the line tonight.
The Fish are swimming in no so hospitable waters. They are the only team in the AFC east to NOT score 100 and the only of their to give up more than the century mark. The Rams have tallied just 46 points. For those without calculators that is just a hair more than 11 per game. The Vikings have led all four of their games in the second half only to let that advantage slip away every time.
Don’t despair. Take these words to heart.
For those of us who don’t remember or are not old enough to remember the “best doggone dog in the west.”
A streak of Rin Tin Tin
A year ago, Andy Dalton was under center for the Horned Frogs of TCU. He proved himself worthy of being mentioned among the college quarterbacks likely to make the transition into the NFL. Dalton made his way into that conversation, but more as an afterthought. Many more performances like yesterday, and the rookie will have the Queen City trying to remember who he replaced.
Down 14 at half to the then-undefeated Buffalo Bills, Dalton led the Cincinnati Bengals back in dramatic fashion for a 23-20 triumph. Dalton threw two picks in the first half. In the second he threw one, scored one and led two drives that ended in field goals as the Bengals improved to 2-2.
Bengals finished the game 18-36 for 298 yards.
Say, who used to play quarterback for the Bengals?
Silent film star?
Post-game press conferences. Those menacing moments when players are taken off the field of battle and shoved in front of a camera with reporters trying to pick at the raw emotions.
One week after stumbling through his post-game comments, one has to wonder if Michael Vick wishes he played during the time of Charlie Chaplin when words weren’t required from the performer.
This week’s comments won’t grab headlines like Vick’s assertions of last week, but there is no denying his discomfort in front of the camera.
It is “the dialogue” Michael “can live without.”
A round of cold ones
These guys earned some refreshment from the Pine.
Chicago’s Devin Hester – for his NFL-record 11th career punt return for a touchdown.
Miami’s Yeremiah Bell – 14 solo tackles.
Chicago’s Matt Forte – 205 yards on 25 carries.
Philadelphia’s Jason Babin – three sacks.
New York Giants’ Hakeem Nicks – 10 receptions
Kansas City’s Ryan Succop – connecting on all five of his field goal attempts including two from fifty yards.
For those interested, the Chinchillas will take the stage on Friday, October 28th at the newest Sticky Lips BBQ Juke Joint, 830 Jefferson Road.
Got any NFL splinters? Share them here.
What I find comical about Michael Vick’s comments is the fact that I heard a Curt Schilling interview over the weekend and he literally commented about the dumbest question a reporter could ask after the game is “How do you feel right now” or “How does it feel to be in the hole that you are”. Should be a pretty easy answer.
Gotta feel for Tony Sparano. He is a Dead Man Walking and the Dolphins front office did him no favors. Before the season started, the owner openly went after Jim Harbaugh, didn’t land him and has left Sparano with absolutely no credibility. When your locker room leader is Jason Taylor, who changes locker rooms every year – you know you are in trouble.
Speaking of Jim Harbaugh. Alex Smith is playing well and he pretty much has the same team as Mike Singletary and he is 3-1. The man can coach. Then again, so could Josh McDaniels after 4 weeks in his first year – so maybe we should hold off on the accolades.
Is there a better nickname then Megatron for Calvin Johnson??
Great stuff Casey – especially anything with the Replacements.
Hey Bill – what type of royalties do you get from Casey using your music on here? Has to be something, right?
Vick looked like he wanted to “keep it real” as Dave Chappelle would say. I truly believe that if he didn’t have the whole image problem with his imprisonment, we would have had a classical blow up at that question. You can see his brain pulling the reins on what he wanted to actually say.
Oh boy. This ought to be good. 🙂
First time for everything – I almost felt bad for Vick. Like he wanted to say – how do I feel? I don’t know you tell me. You working in print media right? Your industry is about to go belly up, so you need me to react so you can put this video on your site and get a bunch of hits. You tell me how I feel at 1-3.
Remember how Singletary came in and turned everything around with the 49ers? What happened? How about Harbaugh making his team stay the week in Youngstown, Ohio instead of going home.
Rey, as far as royalties and money from the band, I usually don’t see a dime, and haven’t seen hardly anything in over 25 years. The money we make from gigs usually goes into an account for recording expenses and such, although you’d never know it form the lo-fi sound we seem to keep putting out on each disc. I am, however, not allergic to accepting royalties, so feel free to send a check. Hello? Hello? Is this thing on?
Gotta give Harbaugh credit on that decision.With another East Coast trip next week, why make your team fly back and forth. The NFL certainly didn’t do them any favors with that schedule.
Both the Steelers and the Jets are looking so-so right now. Jets could easily be 1-3 right now.
Bill – I am being completely honest here – I LOVE the sound of Podunk. Was there anything different about that release compared to the others?
We gotta get a video for Beer Truck.
Hey everybody – check out Beer Truck: https://chinchillas.x10hosting.com/mp3s_files/chinbeertruck.mp3
not sure about the Podunk mix. I suppose the sports analogy would be like the Lions right now – it works, but you’re not sure why.
Typically, we go in, lay down the basics, argue, wait a while, mix, wait a while, get annoyed with each other, and then say what the heck, and sell it for 5 bucks. That’s how the Stones did it, right?
Digging the Odd Couple and the Who … Love the retro…