Week 4 Mistakes

8-6.

Ugggggggggggggly.

Ugly week of football. I watched many of the games this past Sunday (switching between games mainly to follow fantasy players) and I saw a lot of stuff that made the football fan in me groan. Firstly, I saw a lot of poor blocking and tackling. Secondly, I saw horribly devised defensive packages (mainly soft zones that allow for 10-15 yards EVERY play). And lastly, I saw teams simply overwhelmed by the sheer incompetence of their own performance. As for the 13 games that didn't involve the Chargers, well... they were fine.

On the bright side, I got more than half the game right:

HOUSTON (-9) over Oakland 29-6
NEW ENGLAND (-2) over Baltimore 27-21
New York Giants (-8.5) over KANSAS CITY 27-16
Tampa Bay (+7.5) over WASHINGTON 13-16
INDIANAPOLIS (-10) over Seattle 34-17
MIAMI (+1) over Buffalo 38-10
SAN FRANCISCO (-9.5) over St. Louis 35-0
MINNESOTA (-3.5) over Green Bay 30-23

But those were the easy ones. You can't be a pro unless you get the really tough games right.

Tennessee (-3) over JACKSONVILLE
Score: JAC 37, TEN 17
Well I was off on this one just a little bit. The odds makers lured me in with the 3 point spread, and then BAM! I woke up in a bathtub full of ice with a very peculiar incision in my left lower abdomen. I shouldn't have trusted them...

Cincinnati (-6) over CLEVELAND
Score: CIN 23, CLE 20 (OT)
So now we know why Eric Mangini didn't want us all to know who he was starting. Because he was intentionally starting the wrong guy to sabotage the franchise!! Nice try, Mangini. But after 3 straight weeks of Brady Quinn in you face, he was forced to put in his REAL quarterback. And they almost WON. This game really had it all, didn't it? Rivalry, controversy, comebacks, late game heroics. The only thing missing was this exchange at the beginning of overtime:

(Referee flips coin)

Referee: It is tails. Cleveland has won the toss.

Derek Anderson: We want the ball. We're gonna score

(If you don't get the joke, click here)

Anyways, these 2 offensive juggernauts used up 14:56 of the allotted 15 minutes of overtime (surely for dramatic effect) and the game was finally won on a Shayne Graham field goal (by the way, I have seen the replay 8 times, and Graham has missed 8 consecutive field goals. There is no way this ball is not wide right). So if the refs had gotten the call right and Cleveland gets the ball back with 4 seconds, do they take a knee? I think they have to.

Offensive Coordinator Brian Daboll: Coach, what play do you want to run here?

Coach Eric Mangini: What? What do you mean "play"?

Offensive Coordinator Brian Daboll: ... Well um... we only have 4 seconds, do you wanna run the hook and ladder?

Coach Eric Mangini: Are you kidding me? We have a non-loss result locked up here! I'm not risking that! (Yelling towards field) TAKE A KNEE, DEREK, TAKE A KNEE!!!

(sorry that last one took so long, I couldn't resist the monologues)

Detroit (+10) over CHICAGO
Score: CHI 48, DET 24
Well it looked pretty good for me at halftime. The Lions were keeping up with the Bears and had the game tied 21-21. Unfortunately, Chicago remembered that they have the option and the ability to play defense when the other team has the ball. They did so. If you had told me that the Lions would score 24 points, I would have said "sweet, I'll take them to cover the spread". I may have underestimated this Bears offense... or overestimated the Lions defense. Anyways, don't look now, but the Bears are 3-1.

New York Jets (+7) over NEW ORLEANS (Ballsy Pick of the Week FAILED)
Score: NO 24, NYJ 10
This Jets defense did exactly what I wanted. They shut down Drew Brees (190 yards, 0 TDs) and that high-powered offense. They only gave up 10 points. The problem was Mark Sanchez. Remember how I predicted that Sanchez would struggle in his first few games? And then how I apologized for that after he won his first 3? Well, APOLOGY RESCINDED!!! Sanchez turned the ball over 4 times (3 Int, 1 fumble) which led to 2 TDs for the Saints defense. Sanchez lost this game. Plain and simple.

Dallas (-3) over DENVER
Score: DEN 17, DAL 10
Sigh... I am forced by a statement I made last post to give some respect to the Denver Broncos. I did not think they could win this game. They did. What can I say? Congrats Broncos. Your defense looked great. There. Respect. On the other hand, the Cowboys have lost all sign of offensive competency. They are competing with the undefeated Giants, and an Eagles team that is 2-1 and will be getting all their starters back soon. The Cowboys better pick it up. Tony Romo better pick it up.

San Diego (+6.5) over PITTSBURGH
Score: PIT 38, SD 28
I don't want to talk about it. Seriously.


Overall Record: 27-19
Ballsy Pick of the Week Record: 2-1


Fantasy Update:
League: WeLikeSportz
Won against Team Johnny 130.4 - 106.01
Another big win for me this week. I had the third highest score and I defeated our league's reigning champion. Brady had over 250 yards and 2 TDs for 23 points. Slaton FINALLY got on track, pulling in 20 points for me with 1 rushing and 1 receiving TD. Calvin Jonson had 19 and Chris Cooley remains the only noteworthy part of Washington's offense, catching another TD pass and finishing with 15 points. But I have to give this week's MVP to my defense. That's right, my DEFENSE. Minnesota had 8 sacks. Let me say that again. Minnesota had 8 sacks, 4.5 from Jared Allen. They also had an interception and a safety. 29 big points. They were the difference this week.
Current Record: 2-2 (4th place)

League: League of Imported Spirits
Lost to Team Unicorns 115.76 - 106.87
Peyton Manning continues to be... the best thing ever. He had another big game and scored 24 points. The PT cruiser (Pierre Thomas, if I forgot to clarify that last time) rode again with 19 points. Every one else had between 4.8 and 11 points, so I was a little disappointed with that production. On the other side, Steve Slaton and Chris Cooley came back to bite me because team Unicorns has them in this league. Also, Chad... sigh... Ochocinco made a nice contribution (14) and Aaron "not Brett Favre" Rodgers ended up with a very nice fantasy score of 25, despite being sacked 8 times. This was a big match up. I would have grabbed a share of first place with a win. Instead I drop 2 games back of team Unicorns, along with everyone else in the league.
Current Record: 2-2 (2nd place)