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The Bottom Ten/NFL Week 15
By Gaylon Kent
The Writer's Shack
Like condemned men taking their final walk to the execution chamber, the NFL's three (3) one-win teams continued their march to the B-10 medal stand as all three lost this Sunday, leaving 2008 champion and recent B-10 Hall of Fame inductee the Detroit Lions wondering if there is going to be any room for them on the medal stand at the end of the year.
This week's mess, as the nags are at the head of the stretch:
1. Cleveland Browns (1-11; lost to San Diego 30-23) - Showing grit and determination for first time in memory of man, Browns outscore Chargers 16-3 in final quarter and are still lousy enough to lose by seven…Current seven (7) game skid longest in NFL…Next Loss: Pittsburgh
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-11; lost to Carolina 16-6) - Rookie quarterback Josh Freeman makes big pitch for B-10 Rookie of the Year "honors" by throwing five interceptions…Freeman particularly clutch in second half as interceptions stall long drives of 68, 52, 80 and 58 yards…Next Loss: New York Jets
3. St. Louis Rams (1-11; lost to Chicago 17-9) - Rams show B-10 medal stand mettle, mustering only nine (9) points against Bears squad that had lost four (4) straight and six (6) of last seven (7)… Next Loss: at Tennessee
4. Detroit Lions (2-10; lost to Cincinnati 23-13) - Dutiful loss sees Lions go up 7-0 then give up 23 unanswered points to Bengals…Loss keeps defending champs in hunt for medal stand, but with three 1-11 teams ahead of them, repeating as champions could be tough…Next Loss: at Baltimore
5. Football Playoffs - While NFL, other college divisions, continue to hold on to quaint, outdated notion that a postseason tournament is the best way to determine champion, largest NCAA division continues to set pace by allowing juggernaut human, computer team to choose their title game participants…To make sure they are extra ready to play, teams get a whole month to prepare, too.
6. Washington Redskins (3-9; lost to New Orleans 33-30 OT) - Everyone wondering how Redskins have managed to win three (3) games this year after loss where they miss short field goal that would have put game away and allow Saints to score touchdown after Saints player takes ball away from safety who had intercepted pass…Next Loss: at Oakland
7. New Jersey Nets - Pollsters a little late on this one, which is not a bulletin, but Nets recently set NBA record with 18-straight losses to start season…Nets staff trying to get hands on disgraced referee Tim Donaghy's rolodex, so they can get some decent refs who will fix their games for them.
8. Houston Texans (5-7; lost to Jacksonville 23-18) - After starting 5-3 and falling hopelessly behind Tennessee in the race for last in AFC South, Texans have lost four straight and are now tied with Titans for last place in AFC South…Next Loss: Seattle
9. AFC East (23-25) - Recipient of Pete Rozelle Cup, issued to worst division in NFL…First place team is has lost two straight and is two games above .500, and while division lacks glamour of having a 1-11 team in their ranks, nobody else is above .500...Next Loss: Divine status for Patriots head coach Bill Belichick
10. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6; lost to Oakland 27-24) - Steelers have lost four straight and are in prime position to become the first defending Super Bowl champion to earn spot in final B-10 poll…Can make case with loss in "statement game" against Cleveland…Next Loss: at Cleveland
10. President Obama's Nobel Acceptance Speech - Presented with an opportunity to make a speech that would live down the ages, Obama instead spent the first part of the speech apologizing for his award and then thrilled peace-loving Nordics the rest of the way by detailing dry, technical matter on the history, nature and conduct of war…There was no need to apologize…Sure, your award more or less amounted to a Rookie of the Year Award, but the Nobel Committee's citation had merit and you did not need to blab about how others were more deserving than you.
This Week's Clash of the Titans: Pittsburgh at Cleveland (Dec. 10)
This Is Don Criqui Reporting: Washington at Oakland
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