Football Snark from Charles Robinson
Oct. 11th, 2005 09:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
desertvixenReading Charles Robinson's columns is one of my and Brian's mildly guilty pleasures. This is really only going to interest the other football fanatics.
Robinson Snark : By Charles Robinson, Yahoo! Sports October 11, 2005
This was an NFL weekend tailor-made for U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday."
Six of the 10 teams in the Top 12 suffered a loss last weekend, throwing a dash of chaos into the rankings. And after Monday night's win over San Diego, Pittsburgh threw a major wrench in the "who-beat-who" factor that is typically useful when sorting out the league's elite. The Steelers lost to New England at home, but edged a San Diego team on the road – the same Chargers team that thumped the Patriots in Foxboro only a week ago. Figure that one out.
Well, letting them score that one touchdown without even a squeak out of the Charger defense might help.... Maybe they were still busy dancing to the "San Diego Super Chargers" song? I did enjoy staying up to watch it while cuddling with the husband, but sort of regretted it this morning.
As for the rest of the Top 12, the Patriots shuffled their way back into the top four, while the Jaguars and Cowboys reappear after knocking off two of the best teams in the league. Meanwhile, the quickly deteriorating Ravens have made their first appearance in the Bottom Five, while Green Bay's big 52-3 devastation of the Saints didn't quite spring the Packers from the cellar.
Glad to see the Pack show up for a game finally!
THE TOP 12
1. Indianapolis Colts (5-0) – The defense has held opponents to 5.8 points per game. But their first five opponents have a combined record of 9-14, so there will be plenty of skeptics until the Colts face New England in Week 9.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1)
3. Denver Broncos (4-1)
4. New England Patriots (3-2)
5. Philadelphia Eagles (3-2) – When Terrell Owens donned a Cowboys jersey with Michael Irvin's name on it after Sunday's loss to Dallas, he insulted every one of his teammates. Nobody seems to make losing games more painful for his own franchise.
It should have been painful. They lost to the Cowboys, who are not exactly the powerhouse they once were. By 23 points. That's three TDs with some change.
6. Cincinnati Bengals (4-1)
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-1)
8. Atlanta Falcons (3-2)
9. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2)
10. New York Giants (3-1)
11. Dallas Cowboys (3-2)
12. Washington Redskins (3-1)
RISING
Seattle Seahawks (3-2)
THE MUDDLED MIDDLE (in alphabetical order)
Buffalo Bills (2-3)
Carolina Panthers (3-2)
Cleveland Browns (2-2)
Detroit Lions (2-2) – Losing Roy Williams to a thigh injury will make Kevin Johnson and Mike Williams the starting receivers this week. As if Joey Harrington needs another excuse to look even worse.
We love you too, Charles. (sticks out tongue) Still, despite how bad the Ravens looked, and acted, and the fact that Harrington needs to pick up his play, the Lions seem to be getting better. Please, God, are you there? It's the Detroit fans.....
Kansas City Chiefs (2-2)
Miami Dolphins (2-2)
Minnesota Vikings (1-3)
New Orleans Saints (2-3)
New York Jets (2-3)
Oakland Raiders (1-3)
San Diego Chargers (2-3)
St. Louis Rams (2-3)
Tennessee Titans (2-3)
FALLING
Chicago Bears (1-3)
THE BOTTOM FIVE
28. Green Bay Packers (1-4) – The offensive explosion was needed, but it was far too costly considering Najeh Davenport's broken ankle. And before you say this is the same predicament Green Bay was in last year, consider how much worse the injuries are this time around.
29. Baltimore Ravens (1-3) – Brian Billick can say whatever he wants about the officials, but most of Baltimore's wounds in the loss to Detroit were self-inflicted. Now the Ravens have to win their next two games if they have any hopes of salvaging the season.
30. Arizona Cardinals (1-4) – It's not even midseason and the mercurial Dennis Green has already given up on J.J. Arrington. On the bright side, Josh McCown may have solidified the quarterback spot for the rest of this season.
McCown looks pretty good, and Boldin can catch. There might be some hope for the team yet.
31. San Francisco 49ers (1-4) – Why start Alex Smith against Indianapolis? Because the horrific debut gives the coaching staff something to work on with him during the bye week.
32. Houston Texans (0-4) – Giving up seven more sacks (now 27 and counting) is bad enough, but going 0-for-13 on third down was a new low. Andre Johnson's injury only worsens the worst start of his career.
DV
Robinson Snark : By Charles Robinson, Yahoo! Sports October 11, 2005
This was an NFL weekend tailor-made for U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday."
Six of the 10 teams in the Top 12 suffered a loss last weekend, throwing a dash of chaos into the rankings. And after Monday night's win over San Diego, Pittsburgh threw a major wrench in the "who-beat-who" factor that is typically useful when sorting out the league's elite. The Steelers lost to New England at home, but edged a San Diego team on the road – the same Chargers team that thumped the Patriots in Foxboro only a week ago. Figure that one out.
Well, letting them score that one touchdown without even a squeak out of the Charger defense might help.... Maybe they were still busy dancing to the "San Diego Super Chargers" song? I did enjoy staying up to watch it while cuddling with the husband, but sort of regretted it this morning.
As for the rest of the Top 12, the Patriots shuffled their way back into the top four, while the Jaguars and Cowboys reappear after knocking off two of the best teams in the league. Meanwhile, the quickly deteriorating Ravens have made their first appearance in the Bottom Five, while Green Bay's big 52-3 devastation of the Saints didn't quite spring the Packers from the cellar.
Glad to see the Pack show up for a game finally!
THE TOP 12
1. Indianapolis Colts (5-0) – The defense has held opponents to 5.8 points per game. But their first five opponents have a combined record of 9-14, so there will be plenty of skeptics until the Colts face New England in Week 9.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1)
3. Denver Broncos (4-1)
4. New England Patriots (3-2)
5. Philadelphia Eagles (3-2) – When Terrell Owens donned a Cowboys jersey with Michael Irvin's name on it after Sunday's loss to Dallas, he insulted every one of his teammates. Nobody seems to make losing games more painful for his own franchise.
It should have been painful. They lost to the Cowboys, who are not exactly the powerhouse they once were. By 23 points. That's three TDs with some change.
6. Cincinnati Bengals (4-1)
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-1)
8. Atlanta Falcons (3-2)
9. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2)
10. New York Giants (3-1)
11. Dallas Cowboys (3-2)
12. Washington Redskins (3-1)
RISING
Seattle Seahawks (3-2)
THE MUDDLED MIDDLE (in alphabetical order)
Buffalo Bills (2-3)
Carolina Panthers (3-2)
Cleveland Browns (2-2)
Detroit Lions (2-2) – Losing Roy Williams to a thigh injury will make Kevin Johnson and Mike Williams the starting receivers this week. As if Joey Harrington needs another excuse to look even worse.
We love you too, Charles. (sticks out tongue) Still, despite how bad the Ravens looked, and acted, and the fact that Harrington needs to pick up his play, the Lions seem to be getting better. Please, God, are you there? It's the Detroit fans.....
Kansas City Chiefs (2-2)
Miami Dolphins (2-2)
Minnesota Vikings (1-3)
New Orleans Saints (2-3)
New York Jets (2-3)
Oakland Raiders (1-3)
San Diego Chargers (2-3)
St. Louis Rams (2-3)
Tennessee Titans (2-3)
FALLING
Chicago Bears (1-3)
THE BOTTOM FIVE
28. Green Bay Packers (1-4) – The offensive explosion was needed, but it was far too costly considering Najeh Davenport's broken ankle. And before you say this is the same predicament Green Bay was in last year, consider how much worse the injuries are this time around.
29. Baltimore Ravens (1-3) – Brian Billick can say whatever he wants about the officials, but most of Baltimore's wounds in the loss to Detroit were self-inflicted. Now the Ravens have to win their next two games if they have any hopes of salvaging the season.
30. Arizona Cardinals (1-4) – It's not even midseason and the mercurial Dennis Green has already given up on J.J. Arrington. On the bright side, Josh McCown may have solidified the quarterback spot for the rest of this season.
McCown looks pretty good, and Boldin can catch. There might be some hope for the team yet.
31. San Francisco 49ers (1-4) – Why start Alex Smith against Indianapolis? Because the horrific debut gives the coaching staff something to work on with him during the bye week.
32. Houston Texans (0-4) – Giving up seven more sacks (now 27 and counting) is bad enough, but going 0-for-13 on third down was a new low. Andre Johnson's injury only worsens the worst start of his career.
DV
