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12/29/2003 Archived Entry: "Monday Night Quarterback - 12/29"

Posted by steve @ 12:23 AM EST [Link]

MONDAY NIGHT QUARTERBACK - EARLY EDITION: I tell you, the Arizona-Minnesota game is the perfect argument for buying a satelite dish and subscribing to an NFL package. Of course I can't afford to do so so I had to make due with Fox and CBS games. Minnesota needs to get into the playoffs and can only do so if they beat the Cardinals. Easy win? Guess again. The Cardinals, clearly trying to make a point, gave the Vikings everything they could handle and a marvelous final play which saw Josh McCown throw a touchdown pass to Nathan Poole capped off a 12 point comeback and the win. Not only that, but the Vikings loss propelled Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers to the playoffs.

Favre, who has had what anyone would call a difficult week, credited the Packers win and the Vikings loss to his father.

"I felt like he was watching. Something's going on here," said Favre.

"I've been around people who have lost a family member or lost someone close to them and they say that that person is there watching, or the angels, whatever. I'd say two weeks ago I didn't really believe in that. But I think we better start believing in something, because the odds were against us and they were really [against us] at the end of the Arizona game."

Orrin Judd believes that football is "anti-American/anti-human" but could it actually be the sport of God? Of course not, everyone knows hockey is His favourite sport.

Of course, the victory didn't come without a price for the Cardinals. By winning the game they lose the first pick in the NFL draft and fall to third. Hey, as Gregg Easterbrook would likely say, the Football Gods shall reward the Cardinals for playing the game to win. The Cards will also lose coach Dave McGinnis, who went 17-40 during his tenure in Arizona. The only person who should be fired is team owner Bill Bidwill, a man who personifies incompetence.

Odd weekend for me: Seattle decides they can actually play on the road at beat San Francisco, Atlanta beats Jacksonville, Cincinnati is downed by Cleveland, Dallas decided it was a bye week and let the Saints win (allowing Seattle entry in the post season), and St. Louis -- even after throwing in Kurt Warner -- lost to the Lions and thereby threw away home-field advantage in the playoffs. This after leading 20-10 at the half. Turnovers are always a key stat when it comes to wins and Marc Bulger's hamhandedness gave the gift of 10 points to the Lions.

ESR game balls go to Jamal Lewis for becoming the fifth man to rush for 2 000 yards in a single season, going for 2,066, second best in NFL history. The other ball goes to the Cardinals for actually winning.

Week 1: 9 of 15 (Thursday night game not counted)
Week 2: 13 of 15
Week 3: 10 of 15
Week 4: 10 of 15
Week 5: 11 of 14
Week 6: 11 of 14
Week 7: 8 of 14
Week 8: 10 of 14
Week 9: 7 of 14
Week 10: 9 of 14
Week 11: 12 of 16
Week 12: 12 of 16
Week 13: 8 of 16
Week 14: 8 of 16
Week 15: 12 of 16
Week 16: 11 of 16
Week 17: 10 of 16

Season %: 67 (171 of 256)

So about the playoffs? Glad you asked. For Wildcard Weekend I predict that Tennessee will win on the road against Baltimore and Dallas, also on the road, will beat Carolina. On Sunday, Green Bay will beat up on Seattle while Indianapolis will knock Denver out of further contention.

The cheerleader of the week can only go to an Arizona Cardinal and my selection is rookie pom pom waver Bridgot. Though she breaks my heart being married, Bridgot impresses me by graduating Summa Cum Laude from ASU and teaching. As a special bonus, here's Brooke, the Cardinals' Pro Bowl bound cheerleader.

Now off to watch the Dallas/New Orleans game which is being re-aired on Canada's Global Television! It's never too late to watch football...