Home
The Bottom Ten/NFL Week 10
By Gaylon Kent
The Writer's Shack
While veteran B-10 watchers are giddy over the Rams and Dolphins starting 0-8, no one is getting too worked up, as memories of the nightmare of 1996 come flooding back. Recall that was the year both the Jets and the Falcons started 0-8 and neither made it to 0-9, showing the minefield that the NFL can be, especially for those teams trying to win The Dan Henning Trophy.
And, with both 0-8 teams enjoying a bye week this week, the NFL rejected the Writer's Shack petition to have Rams and Dolphins meet in Warsaw to decide B-10 title.
This week's fiasco:
1. Miami (0-8; lost to NY Giants 13-10)
Mitigating Factors: Dolphins claim inaugural Intercontinental Cup by becoming first team to lose eighth straight game in England...NFL wanted to leave Dolphins in Europe to train for upcoming NFL Europa season, but that folded this past summer...Match-up so unattractive, royal box almost empty, save for a couple of gay Lord Chamberlain's and a partridge in a pear tree.
Commitment To Something Or Another: Dolphins show why a sustained B-10 run is a team effort by allowing Giants just one touchdown and 49 yards passing and still losing when lousy offense chips in three fumbles and a missed field goal.
Next Loss: Buffalo (11/11)
2. St. Louis (0-8; lost to Cleveland 27-20)
Mitigating Factors: Rams jump out to 14-0 lead, turn game over to defense, who get outscored 27-6...Rams explode for 79 yards rushing, 22 of them on one play.
Gut Check: Faced with opportunity to win game, Rams turn ball over on downs, throw interception in last two minutes.
Next Loss: at New Orleans (11/11)
3. NY Jets (1-7; lost to Buffalo 13-3)
Mitigating Factors: Jets not even bothering anymore, getting 15-play, 78-yard drive and a field goal on first series, then turning game over to defense despite being tied 3-3...Jets need five drives to run 15 more plays and eight drives to gain 78 more yards.
What Might Have Been: With two winless teams ahead of them, all Jets can hope for is to contend for inaugural John McKay Cup, symbolic of the worst NFL team that actually wins a game.
Next Loss: Washington
4. Cincinnati (2-5; lost to Pittsburgh 24-13)
Mitigating Factors: Trailing 14-3 and facing fourth and less than a yard inside the two, Bengals grab bull by the horns and kick inspiring, momentum-depleting field goal...Defense shows team effort, allowing followup touchdown.
Numbers Game: Bengals defense ranks 31st in Total Yards (385.4 ypg) and Scoring Defense (30.14 ppg) and 28th in Rushing Defense (139 ypg) and Passing Defense (246.4 ypg).
Next Loss: at Buffalo
5. Chicago (3-5; lost to Detroit 16-7)
Mitigating Factors: While fans fret over QB situation, Brian Griese shows he's the man to lead defending NFC champs to B-10 glory, completing four passes in end zone, including one to his own teammate...Griese finished day with four interceptions...Running game chips in with 63 yards on ground.
Yeah, We Bad: Bears rank next to last in Rushing Yards (78.9 ypg).
Next Loss: at Oakland (11/11)
Caught In The Lint Trap:
6. AFC East Rearguard (4-18) - Bills, Jets and Dolphins now have half as many wins as division leading New England!
7. NFL - League solidifies world hatred of US by fobbing off Dolphins to international, bored audience with first regular-season game in England, plus another 12 games in US...Of these, three are decided by 21 or more points, three have winning team exploding for 13 points and one features the Bills and the Jets.
8. Colorado Rockies - At least Denver area spared traffic nightmare from having Bronco game, game 5 of World Series on same night.
9. Washington -If Arizona were any good, and they're not, Redskins have lost three straight.
10. Boston Red Sox - In just two short years, team has gone from universally beloved, historic franchise, to the most annoying entity on the planet.
This Week's Clash Of The Titans: Cincinnati at Buffalo
Comments? Recipes? Threats? Email us here!
Home |
|