This week's games include some super games. Of course, there's the Chicago Bears final visit to the Metrodome to face the Minnesota Vikings. That's a big one. Denver Broncos-Kansas City Chiefs and Arizona Cardinals-Philadelphia Eagles are terrific. All four teams are in the thick of the playoff chase. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Carolina Panthers has become an intriguing game. The Buccaneers were at the bottom of the league only a month ago. Now, they are surging with nothing to lose. Tennessee Titans-Indianapolis Colts, Cincinnati Bengals-San Diego Chargers, and St. Louis Rams-San Francisco 49ers are nice games on a day filled with them. The New Orleans-Seattle Seahawks on Monday is a fantastic cap to great weekend of football.
While the Vikings Metrodome home is a structural piece of shit, it has often been a pretty nice home field advantage. Today's opponent, the Bears, are 12-19 since the Metrodome opened in 1982. It will be blown up two months.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune ran an article about Vikings defensive end Jared Allen's final season of his current contract. All year, the media has focused on the possible end of Allen's Vikings career. He's tried to deflect it saying simply that both parties have honored the terms of the monster contract signed in 2008. The decision will be made in the offseason, not now. That's not enough for the media as they always chase the drama. I hate the thought of Jared Allen playing football for another team. Maybe that's why I try to avoid it. Still, I agree with Allen that it's a topic more deserving of attention in February and March.
Seahawks receiver Percy Harvin missed some practice time this week. He's listed as doubtful for the Saints game. Coach Pete Carroll mentioned that he was sore from the previous game. A game that was two weeks ago as the Seahawks had their bye last week. The team is obviously going to be very careful with Harvin and his return from hip surgery. The amount of practice that he's missed this week has to be a concern for the Seahawks. Much has been made of Harvin's inability to stay healthy before and after his trade from the Vikings. The ankle injury that closed out his time in Minnesota and this hip injury are the only injuries that have forced him to miss any game time. From his college days to his four years with the Vikings before the ankle injury, Harvin was nearly always there on game day. The unbelievable, physical manner in which he plays football may finally be catching up with him. He would always play hurt because he was always hurt. With Harvin, it's always been the hurt vs. injured scenario. He was always hurt so he played. Recently, he's been injured so he hasn't played. If Percy Harvin can ever get and stay healthy, the Seahawks offense could become a monster. Harvin is one of the most explosive football players in the entire league.
Great NFL games today and tomorrow. There were great college games yesterday. It was rivalry week. I wish that I could see every minute of every game. It's amazing how records often mean little when rivals meet. Too bad that wasn't the case in Palo Alto last week.
Ohio State vs. Michigan.
A great first half was marred a bit by a ridiculous skirmish following an Ohio St. kick return. Three players were ejected. Linebacker Royce Jenkins-Stone of Michigan. Running back Dontre Wilson and lineman Marcus Hall of Ohio St. Hall left the sideline to join the fight. He made a bad situation even worse with his tantrum on the sideline and eventual exit with a couple of middle finger held high. Apparently the fact that the skirmish took place in the first half means that the Ohio St. players will be available for the Big-10 Championship game next week. I wouldn't be surprised if an exception is made for Hall after his idiotic exit from the field.
The Wolverines and Buckeyes traded scores early. Almost to the point that you wondered if either team brought their defense. Really, it was each team's offense coming out hot. After the game was tied 21-21, it felt like Ohio St. was always on the verge of exploding but Michigan wouldn't go away.
It was a bold move by Michigan coach Brady Hoke to go for two and the win at the end of the game. The players love that decision. Everyone else second-guesses it with the benefit of hindsight. I would love to play football for Hoke. Even now, when I'm old and broken.
I always enjoy the AFLAC trivia question during college football broadcasts. Yesterday's question during the Ohio St.-Michigan was a real keeper. Ohio St. coach Urban Meyer has yet to lose as the Buckeye's coach. 23 straight wins entering this game. That perfect start prompted the question: Who has most consecutive wins to start tenure at a school?
1. 30 Pop Warner, Pitt, 1915-18
2. 29 Fielding Yost, Michigan, 1901-03
3. 28 Walter Camp, Yale, 1888-89
4. 24 Larry Coker, Miami, 2001-02
5. 23 Urban Meyer, Ohio St., 2012-13
Any list of college coaches that includes Warner, Yost, and Camp is a special list. Camp is, literally, the father of the game that we love. Seeing Coker among the likes of the other four is a little shocking but he's got the win streak to belong.
I always wince when I see or hear mention of Meyer's win streak. I don't think that he should have made it past game #3. Cal hasn't done much the past two seasons but they should have beaten Ohio St. last year. The scoreboard showed 35-28 Ohio St. but Cal had control of that game late but let it slip away. That game, a loss, is the highlight of Cal's past two seasons.
Alabama-Auburn.
A missed field goal return decides the game. A play like this might make teams think again about the players that coaches put on place-kicking units. Especially for long field goal attempts.
I've never seen a sewing machine pop up on the sideline of a football. An Auburn jersey had to be mended.
I'm pretty sure that Nick Saban regrets getting that second put back on the clock.
On paper and computer, it looks like Florida St.-Ohio St. for the national title. I still think that Florida St. and Alabama are the two best teams in the nation. If Alabama lost their shot with the loss to Auburn, I prefer Florida St.-Auburn over Florida St.-Ohio St. Maybe it's that Cal game from a year ago that lightens my opinions of the Buckeyes.
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