NFL Week 13: Time to wallow in the Mirer

Alex Smith gave a very good interview yesterday. " I feel like the only thing I did to lose my job was get a concussion."

http://www.csnbayarea.com/football-san-francisco-niners/niners-talk/Alex-Smith-It-sucks-I-dont-know-what-els?blockID=807701&feedID=2800

That part of it is definitely an issue. I don't think anyone thought Smith's job was in jeopardy when he went down, but a guy who's in a fight for the starter's spot? Maybe he does think twice about being honest.

 

That's the biggest example yet of how badly they miss Sean Payton. Nobody is better in those end-of-half situations. I was really surprised Brees let that fall apart, though.

 

Can't believe more people on this board haven't ripped them for that. With 18 seconds left and no timeouts, you have to throw it into the end zone there (or make absolutely sure the pass is incomplete or your receiver can get out of bounds). Checking down was a horrendous decision by Brees, the worst decision he could have made. If your guy isn't open in the end zone, throw it away. If he had, they probasbly would have had time to take one more shot into the end zone before settling for a field goal (unless the down was an issue -- I don't remember what down it was).

 

No, they had the downs left ... but I think the bigger problem was letting all that time work off after they got into the red zone. Didn't they take like 30 seconds to run a play?

 

They freakin' huddled up before that check down. Unbelievable, it was like they could care less about the game. Never saw that sense of urgency that they were playing for their season.

I expected this from a rookie, not from a former SB MVP.

 

I do get all the Giants love, but lets remember this is the same team that lost to the Cowboys Bengals and Eagles and were losing at halftime (IIRC) to Tampa Bay. New York has been somewhat inconsistent this year.

 

I think the Giants are falling into the trap that they think they can "turn it on" when its needed.

 

If beating the Packers by four touchdowns is falling into the trap, they're doing something right. Falling into that trap is how they've won their two Super Bowls.

I agree they could go either way. Said as much after the loss to the Bengals. But Coughlin seems to have a bit of the Popovich in him, he knows this is all a dance and all you have to do is get in the playoffs and go from there. So he keeps injured guys out maybe a game or two longer than other teams would, they throw up a clunker or three during the season, and yet there they are.

The only time they went balls-out through the regular season was 2008 and they got bounced immediately.

 

I do think their luck will run out at some point. That said, NFC is a crap shoot between five teams.

I give Atlanta credit for being able to win those close games, just like Notre Dame. The majority of NFL games get decided by a touchdown or less. How you do in those is the difference between 10-6 and 6-10. To win ALL (or almost all) of your close games is a noteworthy accomplishment.

Three weeks ago, everyone was ragging on the Giants. Then it was the Bears without Jay Cutler. This week it's the Packers. If the 49ers lose Sunday, people will jump off that bandwagon, too. Well, the important games start in January.

 

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/steelers/its-official-steelers-roethlisberger-wont-play-sunday-vs-ravens-664347/

Roethlisberger officially out for the game in Baltimore Sunday.

Steelers will also be without outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley and right tackle Mike Adams. Seventh-round rookie Kelvin Beacham replaces Adams, so Pittsburgh is down to its third stringer at right tackle. Left guard Willie Colon might miss the game, too. If he does, Maurkice Pouncey will shift to guard with Doug Legursky at center (Legursky has been solid when filling in at center, but he sucked at guard last week in Cleveland.)

On the plus side, Troy Polamalu will start. Now if he can actually make it through an entire game for the first time all season and if Worilds continues to make plays in place of Woodley like he did last week, at least the defense might keep the game close. I just can't see the Steelers winning this one without Roethlisberger. Charlie Batch has nothing left and I think the Ravens will be better offensively than they were two weeks ago.

Pittsburgh is going to be 6-6 and have to run the table the final four games to get in the playoffs, but the Steelers can't blame the injuries if they end up failing to make it. That's what happens when a team pisses away so many games against weak competition.

 

giants are the most successful NFC franchise since 2000, 3 Super Bowls and 2 wins. They seem to be doing the job. And Eli has more SB rings and SB MVPs than Brees, Rogers and Favre.

 

they cannot be counted on to bring their 'A' game on any given sunday but the giants are THE team all others fear the most as a playoff opponent, 'cause if they play their 'A' game nobody is equipped to beat 'em. when their defense is cookin', there isn't a QB who can overcome them.

that said, it is impossible to ever know if those giants are suiting up or their evil twin, the team that cannot stop a faucet.