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Keyboard Quarterback Following Week 8
Authored by Andrew Perna - 1st November, 2006 - 4:01 am
While there isn't a real marquee matchup, Ravens vs. Colts, Panthers vs. Bucs, Bears vs. Falcons, and Chargers vs. Patriots are all pivotal games in the standings.
With John Herrera standing to his right dressed in black and appearing not unlike an undertaker, Lane Kiffin sat down at the podium for Sunday's postgame news conference.
Baltimore wants Flacco to be their QB of the future. But the Ravens feel they have no choice but to start him now because Boller and Smith are unavailable. Wrong!
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This column has gotten more depressing to write every week. Week eight in the NFL was an exciting one – that is unless you’re a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles or the owner of any of my nine fantasy teams. While my Eagles dropped their third straight to the injured-riddled Jaguars, my fantasy army finished the week with a horrible 2-7 record.
Despite the discouraging effort from my Eagles, half the teams who played this weekend saw positive results. Peyton Manning and the Colts broke through the iron-clad Denver defense once again as Indianapolis surged to a 7-0 record. Rex Grossman and his Bears also improved to 7-0 in week eight, after he threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns against the 49ers.
While Manning and Grossman had good weekends, Matt Leinart and David Carr had horrible ones. Both of their teams lost, the Cardinals falling to 1-7 and the Texans dropping to 2-5, and both quarterbacks struggled. Carr struggled so badly that he was benched in favor of Sage Rosenfels.
Anyway on with the highs and lows…
The Highest of Highs
Colts Break Through Denver Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts strolled into Denver, the home of one of the NFL’s toughest defenses, and came away with a three-point victory. Manning hooked up with Reggie Wayne for three second-half touchdowns, and the Colts won on a 37-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri.
Vick Dominates Again Mike Vick strung together back-to-back impressive passing performances after passing for 291 yards and three touchdowns against Cincinnati on Sunday. The Falcons improved to 5-2 and Vick continues to shock his critics.
Grossman Is For Real After leading the Bears to a 41-0 lead, Rex Grossman was able to sit back and enjoy the fruits of his labor. Through the Bears’ first seven games Grossman has totaled 1,639 yards and thirteen touchdowns, with just seven interceptions. More importantly, he’s commanded an improved Bears offense.
Romo Rallies Cowboys Tony Romo’s first taste of NFL action wasn’t very sweet when Coach Bill Parcells put him in against the Giants last week, but his first career start was a lot easier to digest. Down 14-0 after the first quarter, Romo rallied the Cowboys to 35 straight points including a 3-yard pass to Jason Witten that got Dallas on the board.
LT and LJ Burn Defenses Tomlinson lit the Rams up for 183 yards and two scores, while Johnson burned the Seahawks for 155 yards and three touchdowns. Both were considered top-tier fantasy running backs when the season began, and Johnson is finally living up to his end of the bargain.
The Lowest of Lows
Carr Stalls David Carr entered week eight as one of football’s top quarterbacks statistically, and left week eight on the bench. Texans head coach Gary Kubiak benched Carr after he failed to hold onto the ball, and put Sage Rosenfels in to lead the Houston offense. Sage excelled throwing for nearly 200 yards and three scores in limited playing time.
Steelers Fall to Raiders One touchdown pass and four interceptions later Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers had fallen to the hapless Oakland Raiders. The Raiders earned their second straight win, while the Steelers fell to 2-5, and nearly out of playoff contention.
Jets Land Riding high after consecutive victories over Miami and Detroit, the Jets were grounded on Sunday against the wretched Cleveland Browns. Heading into their bye in week nine, the Jets must prepare for back-to-back games against New England and Chicago. Here’s to a 4-6 record!
Leinart Preoccupied After winning their first game of the season, the Cardinals have now lost seven straight games and are fairing no better with rookie Matt Leinart than they were with the aging Kurt Warner. On Sunday the Cardinals fell to the Packers 31-14, with Leinart completing only fourteen of his thirty-five passing attempts. Oh, to be a father…
Philly Falling After beginning the season 4-1, and stating a legitimate case for being 7-0 after last week’s debacle against Tampa Bay, the Eagles looked to rebound against the struggling Jaguars. Instead, Philadelphia fell to the David Garrard-led Jags and fell to 4-4 in the ultra competitive NFC East.
My Fantasy Diary…
For almost two months now I’ve been publicly chronicling my fantasy football exploits for the sole purpose of creating entertainment for my wonderful readers. For the better part of those two months I’ve spent my time complaining about the failures of my team(s), and how my fantasy demise has led me into a competitive coma.
Rather than sit here and type away regarding my horrible performance in week eight, it was my worse effort all season, I’ve chosen to let it go and focus on the positives. Taking part in nine leagues has given me the opportunity to both expand on, and create, several different friendships. I think ultimately that’s why people participate in fantasy sports. The competitive aspect plays a large role, but the byproduct – social interaction, often trumps whether or not you actually win your league.
Of my nine leagues I know a majority of the members in only four. The other five leagues are comprised of people who were complete strangers at the beginning of the season, but have become, even if only distant, acquaintances along the way. A number of the leagues I organize (football, baseball, and basketball) are filled with current students and alum for Nichols College in Central Massachusetts.
Just last night we held our fourth annual fantasy NBA draft, and it was a lot of fun. Students, both past and present, trash-talked about basketball, life, and the common thread between us all – having gone to Nichols College. Leagues like these last for decades and the focus they place on social integration can’t be discounted.
After all, if I’m losing there has to be some reason I play……right?
