NFL Week 11: Pass the Popcorn

Welcome back, everybody!!! We finally made it to Thanksgiving Break. It has been a long week. Tony Romo made an emotional statement about now being the second string quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. Tom Brady and the Patriots lost at home to Seattle. The Green Bay Packers are a hot mess. The Saints can't get out of their own way, and lookey there, my Kansas City Chiefs are in first place in the AFC West.

I know, I know, many people are not saying much about my Chiefs, but the Chiefs are 7-2 going into this week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They have only lost those 2 games since beginning last year with that 1-5 record. They have the longest current home game win streak with 10.  They are getting Justin Houston back today, and while I don't expect a monster sack game from Justin, his presence is a welcome to the defense.  

The Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers are both under-performing this season.  The Packers are currently sitting in third place in a division they have normally dominated.  Pittsburgh is also under pressure as they sit in second place in the AFC North. Ben Roethlisberger seemed to throw his coach under the bus this week for his team's woes. Aaron Rodgers, however, came to bat for his coach as people begin to criticize Mike McCarthy, but some of his former teammates have come out swinging against Rodgers and his leadership (or lack of) in Green Bay. We are only halfway through the season and the drama!

While last week wasn't a particularly bad week with me, my five losses were teams that just. Seriously, my losses:  Atlanta, San Diego, Green Bay, New York, and New England. What gives guys?  So, I ended last week with a 9-5 record bringing my seasonal record to 90-57.  On the fantasy side, Lucille Swings is still hanging out in first place with an 8-2 record after soundly defeating my foe.  Lochted and Loaded took a loss last week and drops to 6-3.  Fantasy fans, do not forget that this is a bye week for Atlanta, San Diego, Denver, and the NY Jets. 

Sunday, November 20, 2016
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Kansas City Chiefs:  Kansas City
Buffalo Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals:  Cincinnati
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns:  Pittsburgh
Baltimore Ravens vs. Dallas Cowboys:  Dallas
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Detroit Lions:  Detroit
Tennessee Titans vs. Indianapolis Colts:  Indianapolis
Arizona Cardinals vs. Minnesota Vikings:  Arizona
Chicago Bears vs. New York Giants:  New York
New England Patriots vs. San Francisco 49ers:  New England
Miami Dolphins vs. Los Angeles Rams:  Los Angeles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Seattle Seahawks:  Seattle
Green Bay Packers vs. Washington Redskins:  Washington

Monday, November 21, 2016
Houston Texans vs. Oakland Raiders:  Oakland 

I will be back on Thursday to pick the Thanksgiving Day games. Until then, enjoy your games, and "Be true to yourself, help others, make each day your masterpiece, make friendship a fine art, drink deeply from good books - especially the Bible, build a shelter against a rainy day, give thanks for your blessings and pray for guidance every day."-John Wooden

NFL Week Seven: Et tu?

Well those first six weeks flew by quickly. We are one week away from the half way point. Injuries are still plaguing many of the more popular athletes in the league.  This week, the Steelers learn they will be without Ben Roethlesberger after he tore his meniscus and had surgery.  Added to that list is the Packers Eddie Lacey and James Starks.  The Cowboys are dealing with their potential QB controversy with Dak Prescott performing well, and Tony Romo scheduled to return in the next few weeks. We should all be so lucky, right?  

Then, there is Josh Brown kicker for the New York Giants. This guy is piece of work. He receives only a one game suspension for what he calls treating his wife "like a slave." He appears now to be a serial abuser of his ex-wife Molly, and it appears that the NFL and the Giants knew more than they let on. Sorry, I so little sympathy for this guy, who claims he felt like a "god" when with his wife. The NFL truly needs to weed all of these abusive guys in the league. Being able to play a sport, act, or sing well does not allow a person to treat women in this manner. It is unacceptable. I'm a firm believer in zero tolerance for domestic violence. ZERO.

If you missed it, my Chiefs did win last week beating the dreaded Raiders (Raider Hater). Four years ago, I finally saw my first Chiefs game, and it was against the New Orleans Saints at the Super Dome. This week, the Saints head to Arrowhead to take on my Chiefs. (One day, I'm going to make it to Arrowhead.) The Saints are my aunt's favorite team, and I actually took her to her first Saints game, which was also the first time I ever got to see Tony Gonzalez play live and in person, but I digress. She and I will be sitting on opposite ends of the sofa this week as we watch my Chiefs beat her Saints. Yes, I am pettty, but you know this, right? My Chiefs won the last meeting when Jamaal Charles scored a touchdown in overtime in the end zone in front of me. It was awesome! 

Speaking of Tony Gonzalez, he did a really good job, plus they gave him more lines, on NCIS.  He will be returning in the role of Tony Francis this week as well.  Looking forward to more acting work from Tony G.

Fantasy fans: Remember Big Ben and Eddie Lacey are out, and the Cowboys and Panthers have a bye this week. Last week wasn't so great, but it wasn't so bad either as I finished the week with a 9-6 record.  Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Indianapolis left me shaking my head, too.  My record is 54-38 on the year, so let's see if I can stay on the positive side.

Sunday, October 23, 2016  
New Orleans Saints vs. Kansas City Chiefs:  Kansas City
Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals:  Cincinnati
Washington Redskins vs. Detroit Lions:  Washington
Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans:  Indianapolis
Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins:  Buffalo
Baltimore Ravens vs. New York Jets:  Baltimore
Minnesota Vikings vs. Philadelphia Eagles:  Minnesota
Oakland Raiders vs. Jacksonville Jaguars:  Oakland
San Diego Chargers vs. Atlanta Falcons:  Atlanta
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. San Francisco 49ers:  San Francisco
New York Giants vs. Los Angeles Rams:  Los Angeles
New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers:  New England
Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals:  Arizona

Monday, October 24, 2016
Houston Texans vs. Denver Broncos:  Denver

Thursday, October 27, 2016
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans:  Tennessee

That's all, folks!  Enjoy your games, and pour one out for the poor guy on the receiving end of Negan's bat, Lucille, because The Walking Dead returns tonight!!!!! As Negan said, "You can breathe. You can blink. You can cry. Hell, they're all gonna be doing that." That is how most of our Sundays go...make the best of yours!!!!

FYI: I will be live blogging the season premiere of tonight's episode of The Walking Dead!!!

It's Time to Name the Champ...Super Bowl XLV

Welcome back, everybody!!! This is the most bittersweet day on my yearly calendar...Super Bowl Sunday. Every year, along with everybody else, I partake in the gluttony of wings, dips, chips, etc. as we all watch to see who will wear the crown. The last time one of my teams actually made the Super Bowl was 1994 in Super Bowl XXIX when the San Francisco 49ers won the Super Bowl. My Chiefs haven't been to the big game since their win at Super Bowl IV in 1969. So, every year I throw myself on some random bandwagon just to have a rooting interest. Last year, I rooted for the Saints. I just wanted them to win so badly, and they did.

To be honest, I'm not a big fan of either of these teams. I don't actually hate either team. (I don't like Ben Roethlisberger or Hines Ward, but I try not to hold it against the whole team. Then again, I don't really like Aaron Rodgers, either.)

The Pack haven't been to the big game since 1997 (jeez, that was the year I graduated from college). Bet Lord Favre is still smarting that Desmond Howard won the Super Bowl MVP that year. The Steelers are going for their 3rd ring in 6 years (2005, 2008).

On the Green Bay Packers, I love Clay Matthews, A.J. Hawk, Greg Jennings, and Charles Woodson, not to mention Donald Driver is a Alcornite. I carried the Packers as my fantasy defense most of the year. Plus, they have Kevin Greene as an assistant coach. I love Kevin Greene. The guy was a pro wrestler! How can you not love these guys.

With the Pittsburgh Steelers, I love Troy Polamalu (the hair, the reckless abandon, the hair), James "I'm gonna mess up your quarterback" Harrison, James Farrior.

Btw, do you guys realize that if the Steelers win, Charlie Batch and Byron Leftwich will have more Super Bowl rings than Peyton Manning. Charlie Batch will have the same number as Tom Brady. tee-hee...

Packers or Steelers...Packers or Steelers...Statistically, they are practically the same team. That said, I'm going with the...The Green Bay Packers. I know...I know...I'm still going with the Pack.

So, I'm off to watch the last game of the 2010 season with most of America. We are all hoping that the NFL and NFLPA will come up with a new CBA without depriving us of football. Enjoy the game while you can boys and girls...It might be the last for a while.

Until next time, “Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.”~Vince Lombardi