The fact six straight home team favorites have won and covered the spread in these NFL ‘offs, including New England which won by 18 as a 16 point “fave,” does not reveal enough about this incredible “chalk” run.
Now more than halfway through the 10 NFL post-season tilts with a home team, (N.E. covering, “all teasing Houston assured there will be no home team in the Supe, for the 51st time in as many Supes–the ’79 Rams, who covered in defeat and the great ’84 49ers, were very close, but not official home teams), 18 playoff games have manifested in which no road team underdog, has won the game, only the ’14 Packers covering in defeat.
During that current span, home teams are (14-4) in the games, (13-5) vs the spread, all four losses in last year’s wild card round but no home was a clear favorite. (Again a game involving the Green Bay Packers requires explanation/results in an exception and coincidentally G.B. is the next underdog up as their tilt at Dallas (Cowboys) now precedes the Pitts/KC tilt which is now scheduled for night action. Last year GB in their win at Wash in the final wild card round game of the weekend was either a slight 1 point fave or “dog” (where have they gone? too little effective “PASSING” alternately phrased where have they gone, long time passing since one covered the spread).
In the 2014 title tilt at Seattle, the home team Seahawks (yesterday the Seahawks suffered their 8th straight road slots loss and have been eliminated in playoffs tilts three straight times, most notably in the ’14 season Supe by N.E. since that incredible “pull out” victory vs G.B) did not cover.
Only one underdog in the 18 tilts has won outright, (the 2015 Broncos en route to the title vs N.E. in the AFC title game) while two other home underdogs combined with aforementioned road one, Green Bay have covered in defeat.
Thus favorites are (17-1) in the games and (14-4) vs the spread in the 18 NFL playoff games with a home team (Denver. as with Green Bay an exception team in these notes, maybe G.B. will end the streak today but if they do, it will be sans me, as I have had “enough” and that is why failing to predict/cash underdog Clemson vs Alabama, “hurts” (again not Tide QB, Jamel) HURTS so much) since the Colts went into Denver, and upset the Broncos in slot 4 of the 2014 divisional round/quarterfinals.
“Baba” said above, in each tilt he was correct. Of course (this is but one reason why someone far better than “slipped through the cracks” status, did indeed slip through those societal “cracks”) I did not “listen” perhaps as a veritable “Vincent,” not knowing how.
Click below to view the great artist Don McLean sing “Vincent” (Starry, Starry Night), a tribute to the immortal, unrecognized in his time, artist Vincent van Gogh.
I have done some, but not all the research, but gladly throw out that for the second straight Sunday, the combined number of Super Bowl victories by the four teams playing that day number 16, to my knowledge the highest ever for a specific NFL playoffs day (by definition in any playoffs round other than the Supe, since no two teams have ever combined or can combine at this point, for more than 11 Supe crowns).
This week Sunday tilts match Green Bay with 4 Supe wins with Dallas a franchise with 5, followed by Pittsburgh with the league high six Supe wins at Kansas City, a franchise with one such win.
The above adds to 16 as did last Sunday’s total among the 4 teams. Pittsburgh and Green Bay playing then as well. The Pack opponent, Giants have 4 crowns while the Steelers’ opponent last week, the Miami Dolphins have 2 adding up to 16.
Is anyone citing the fact that exactly 50 years later (unless one of the games, the already moved to night tilt in K.C. where an ice storm is likely) the opponents (Green Bay and Kansas City) in the first Supe, then called the AFL/NFL Championship Game or similar, on January 15, 1967 (#15, the great and under rated Bart Starr, now suffering memory loss so great and sad, he can not remember his great deeds, was the MVP as G,B. (35-10)’d K.C.—perhaps had the game been moved to the 16th, perhaps due to lack of interest, which certainly relative to most Supes since was the case, #16 Len Dawson would have been. No, not likely then, not vs a great Packers team, but the case three years later when Len, Jan (Stenerud) and “Big Play” Otis (Taylor), now a not talked about, unable to walk, “thanks football” virtually forgotten former great and was he ever!! and a great defense led a Supe win vs Minne), are each playing playoff games on January 15, 2017.
In fact, the Packers in this a slots/quarterfinal game are returning to Dallas to face the Cowboys, exactly 50 years and two weeks after their (G.B. 34 Dallas 27, in a game also great but rightfully less heralded than their Ice Bowl/”NFL semi,” one day less than a year later) “NFL/semi” victory vs Dallas on the first day of 1967.
Max “Old Man” McGee got back to his room at 6:30 A.M. (it is told) on January 15, 1967, after a fun night, thinking he would not play in the championship tilt that day.
When Boyd Dowler was injured, McGee came in and had a great game, catching two touchdown passes from Bart Starr in the Packers’ victory.
First a little more regarding the well paid incompetence of Mike Francesa then his predictions which I “warned” last week as the usual/favorites/chalk were not to be gone against, at least not with the intensity had it been the regular season and not the playoffs. To his credit, Francesa went (3-1) last week and “claims” a (31-19), impressive .620 percentage, for the season.
After his predictions, he failed to answer a caller’s question as to other than the famed New York Jets Supe 3 win, as at least 18 point underdogs vs the Baltimore Colts, any other teams had won as such big underdogs, this asked a day before New England is minus 16 vs Houston.
Additionally, he said there were 3 minutes to go in the recent Clemson/Alabama title tilt when “Bama” scored to take the lead when in fact, two minutes remained.
A touchdown pass “to the” (Alabama) “tight end,” O.J. Howard, (not identified by Francesa, whose penchant for generic identifications and of course flourishing despite this less informative method is astounding or maybe, more realistically a product of our doomed, less productive society. Trust me if I had his job, that would not have been the case!) was classified as late. It was in the third quarter which is NOT late.
Francesa, warned against as a “tout,” by Howard Cosell (like Cosell or not, he was right on in his criticism of so many in broadcasting and other things sports and while certainly of his name CO SELL, often a shill, so much said by Cosell rings true to this day) has been good of late. Long ago I was told he was a big “blower” in his actual bets (who isn’t, save a select few). Yet I doubt I will even predict, no less bet vs him. If that is the case, Francesa’s picks will lose.
Mike Francesa says Atlanta minus 5 vs Seattle, picking the game (38-24). I am inclined to agree but the favorites run will stop today either in this tilt or in the “Pooh” (Jim Nantz) night game.
His pick is New England minus 16 vs Houston. He “allows” it is a great number of points. Especially if Atlanta covers, go against Francesa in this one. (Think “N.E.” no cover, Saturday night “slots” wins vs Tennessee, once Houston (Oilers) in ’03 and I believe vs “Jax” in ’07. Oh “Jax” evoked Tom Coughlin, which yields a reminder of another post predictions Francesa mistake yesterday, this slip of the tongue, saying Coughlin’s Giants were the favorites, when they upset a (16-0) N.E. team in the 42nd Supe.
On Sunday in what is now the earlier game, he takes the underdog Packers (plus 4 and a fraction) to cover at Dallas.
In a game moved to the night, meaning “Alfalfa” Michaels (that was Cosell’s name for this turncoat, who again I wish the best, to avoid Mike Tirico as broadcasting skill yes, “trumps” political beliefs in this case) will still have never broadcast an “earlier Sunday playoffs tilt,” as late as the “slots,” (his only such playoffs tilt being in the Walsh miss/Sea win at Minne in one of last year’s NFC wild card round games), Francesa picks “K.C.” with his “buddy” Andy Reid as coach, minus one or two vs Pittsburgh.
My fault for listening to Mike Francesa, but I heard New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a/the big Cowboys’ fan say he became a Cowboys’ fan watching and “falling in love” with Roger Staubach in Super Bowl 5.
One problem with that, and of course Francesa, (earlier when inquiring on the new starting time for Pitts at K.C. said is it 8 or 8 thirty?– and when someone told him eight twenty, said “that’s what I thought,”) did not know enough to correct the man “who makes the bridges NOT run on time,” as Craig Morton, and not Staubach, was the Dallas QB in that tilt.
Talk between the two overblown (I can’t fault those who eat too much because it is difficult to fight a weight problem but also because my frustration lately manifesting in eating too much was off the charts in realization of my life’s failure juxtaposed with these two far less than admirable individuals) and over paid individuals, turned to their future plans and Christie with his factual mistake, could be another Francesa.
Francesa with his penchant for playing with the truth might be a “candidate” (pun I guess intended), for the political field.
Also Francesa, who never fooled me nor will ever attend an NAACP meeting, continually referred to and continues to call Monday’s celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Day, a “holiday” nothing more, never citing the fallen Civil Rights leader’s name.
Dr. King, an eloquent speaker which is a vast understatement, would be shocked not that such (not so) “closet” racism is still evident, but that one with the lack of eloquence as a Francesa, could have reached such heights.
What a waste of life fool I am as in my next post I will give you Francesa’s predictions. Dr. King would truly be disappointed that one with intelligence would waste time with this.
By the way, Erica Herskowitz, “another bargain,” just said, actually read, as this “so called reporter,” could not improvise anything other than a shopping spree (I am a feminist, but why is she there?!!!) that KC/Pitts an 8:20 start would begin “IMMEDIATELY” after GB/Dallas a 4:40 start ends. NFL games are long but I doubt this will be the case unless of course there is a major delay and/or overtime.
There probably are more “notes/Bryant” in just the last quarter year of sport’s action/history, I will cite those that come to mind and doubt came to anyone else’s.
The Cubs Kris Bryant started the play on which the team’s over publicized 108 year title drought ended. Certainly there was disproportionate attention to said drought, relative to one involving a far more heartbreaking near miss, albeit 40 years less in length, tied to the Cubs’ W..S. opponent, the Cleveland Indians.
Bryant, I believe the N.L. MVP, (once I cared about such things and surely can name most from the award’s inception through say 1968, but care not now), was a vital post-season contributor to the Cubs, surely the best “reg” team in 2016, finally winning it all.
Until Clemson denied Nick Saban(o) and Alabama four days ago, thoughts largely came down on the side that Saban would win a 6th college football title (to me— and believe me the choices by A.P. giving the title to still “anti” team Notre Dame, as with Beano Cook I take no pleasure in seeing them this far down, but still fear them winning it all, which is SO SICK,— in ’77 HURTS (I do not mean Alabama Q.B. Jamel, sorry–either A.P. or a playoff win is my “counting” vehicle for titles) which would have exceeded Paul “Bear” BRYANT’s five and tied his five won as Alabama coach.
Both NFC home slots game teams this weekend have top players at their positions involved in game deciding slots game plays, one each in the last two even year (I amaze myself, recalling this, heartbroken it really does me no good) NFL seasons.
In my last post, I recounted that Matt Bryant made the decisive field goal in Atlanta’s “slot 3” win vs Seattle after the 2012 regular season.
I did not detail the fact, that the Seahawks and their (still–cue Lionel Richie, who “still” performs so well) quarterback, Russell Wilson, showing signs of 2 year essential greatness to be, led a comeback from a (27-7) deficit to take a one point lead when Wilson as was the case with Hurts vs Clemson as fate would have it scored “too soon,” giving his team a one point lead (28-27).
However, one Matt, QB Matt, to this point in his only ‘offs win–likely but far from definitely that will change this weekend—got Atl close enough, but Bryant had to make a difficult? 50 yard field goal attempt, which he did.
Two years later, the Cowboys’ (need I say their home is in Dallas,Texas) Dez BRYANT, made one of the great clutch catches in NFL history, only due to a ridiculous rule and “Big Brother,” over used replay review, never happened as that assured a Packers’ slots win (one I am not so sure Dallas will avenge this Sunday) that day. Surely GB would have had a great chance with their great QB Rodgers, to have still won that tilt but that call against (a) BRYANT made that conjecture moot.
Click below to view the great Lionel Richie then “STILL” with The Commodres, perform “Still”
The 1966 Pro Football season is on my mind, as fifty years later, half of the eight “slots” teams have significant history concerning that campaign, “U.S. Grant on that bill,” years ago.
I start with the team, the Atlanta Falcons that will host the first weekend game and their “start,” which was in the 1966 season.
As the games approach, especially Sunday’s games which yield significant 1966 season game coincidences, there will be more details.
In a bid to be to make the home favorites FIVE for FIVE in the 2016 playoffs and perhaps 5 for 5, vs the spread as well, Atlanta is a 5 point favorite vs the Seattle Seahawks, in the 4:30 P.M. Eastern time tilt/slot 1 game, apparently assigned to Kevin Burkhardt.
The Seahawks, in the midst of a truly fine run, are in the “slots,” for the fifth straight season, having likely peaked with their 2013 title, which was followed by another one seed season in 2014.
The 2014 Seattle season ended with a heartbreaking loss to Malcom Butler and New England, in that season’s Super Bowl.
“Sea,” (again that is on the shirt still hanging outside any closet, in another Seahawks’ ‘offs year, I noticed friend Anne Sam’s book with “SEA” in the title) is (1-7) in road “slots”/division round games, having lost 7 straight such tilts.
One was by a (30-28) score at Atlanta (2012 season) in the early Sunday/slot 3 game at Atlanta, covering the spread as 2 plus point underdogs.
“Toe” (Matt) Bryant, still the “Atl” kicker had the clutch decisive field goal, in a game also “presided over” by the “non Joe Buck,” Fox Network choice, then Thom Brennamann.
In the upcoming “Sea at Atl tilt,” that non “Bucker,” is Kevin Burkhardt, the latest version of one “chosen,” leaving never to be chosen me and perhaps others, that long for such previous “slots” games announcers as Frank Glieber, Don Criqui and Charlie Jones to ask why Burkhardt?!!
Ah but my notes will not end there, at least not without a “promo” for the many more to come, as the “slots” are almost here.
Ulysses SIMPSON Grant on the fifty dollar bill.
Jim SIMPSON was another fine “slots” game broadcaster, having called the Steelers’ rout win of the Buffalo Bills in slot 3/1974.
Both Orenthal James (O.J.) SIMPSON and Jim Brown, each such a great running back that wore the number/my number 32, that I have largely disgraced by being both an abysmal failure but also in the noble cause of “fighting windmills,” scored their only post-season game touchdowns in losses.
O.J. whom I once asked about his glorious college title winning, regular season 64 yard touchdown run for U.S.C. vs crosstown U.C.L.A, played in just one ‘offs game, that above referenced ‘offs loss, to eventual Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh.
Jim Brown, who twice invited me into his Hollywood Hills home, once kind enough to help console me after so many conspirators had caused my mother’s death, which still and sadly, always will haunt me, had his only post-season touchdown at Detroit, in a (59-14) loss, to the last Lions’ title team, 59 years ago.
Brown and his Browns did win the 1964 NFL title, the last Cleveland sports title until the Cavaliers’ NBA crown last NBA season.
That preceded Cleveland losing in the great Jim Brown’s only other post-season tilt, his last NFL game, a (23-12) loss to the Bart Starr (Bart is so under rated and was so great!!) Packers in the mud of Lambeau Field in the 1965 (last NFL, all the way) Title Game.
As stated yesterday along with much esoteric and of greater detail, the Dallas Cowboys will host an NFL quarterfinal game for the 16th time, the 14th time since the AFC/NFC configuration began in 1970, this “slots” weekend.
On Saturday night, the New England Patriots will host a “slots” game for the eleventh time in sixteen seasons, matching the S.F. 49ers (1981-1996). Sixteen is the operative number as N.E. is that big a favorite, (16 points) in their tilt, vs the Houston Texans.
“N.E.” which will play in the Saturday night/second slot for the seventh time in the eight seasons the AFC was involved in such a tilt, the first the famed New England home overtime win in the snow, vs the Oakland Raiders en route to the PATRIOTS first crown (of course it was the PATRIOTS after the events of 9-11-01) after the 2001 season.
New England will play at home in the Saturday night slots game for the sixth time (they are (5-0) in previous such games) and (5-1) overall, having lost at Denver in 2005.
The Bill Belichick coached Patriots, in the ‘offs as division champions for the 14th time in 16 seasons, meaning they would host at least a wild card round game, have hosted only three of those thus yielding this as stated above a record tying 11th home slots game in 16 seasons.
The Patriots went (2-1) in the home wild card round games and (1-1) in the road slots games. “N.E.” is (9-1) in home slots games (their only loss was to the Rex Ryan coached New York Jets in 2010) during this great period of play on their part.
Their only other home slots game was against another franchise then playing in Houston, (the site of this season’s Supe, an entity New England has been established as a 2 to 1 favorite to gain entry and just a 3 to 2 underdog to win, easily being perceived the most likely choice to title), the Oilers.
In an early Sunday tilt, one of the few NFL ‘offs games if not the only one I entirely missed in THOSE DAYS, sojourning however briefly, to the Catskills Mountains, the Oilers with the great Earl Campbell upset the Pats in that tilt.
Alas Belichick’s home slots record all with New England (then not knowing better, now he does, as a truly great, yet as with all of us not infallable, down (17-0) at Pittsburgh in his only other slots game as a head coach, he opted for the gutless choice of field goal (I am sure the “aw shucks” Phil Simms, who seems to take great pleasure in such ridiculous decisions would have approved. Of course, his words endorsing such decisions would not have come forth when he was a darn good, far from great quarterback, with the “Hack” Giants) in an eventual loss) is (9-1) the same record he had overall in the playoffs before winning and not covering vs the Eagles in the ’04 season Supe, to make that record (10-1)
Of course it is so likely Belichick will get to the same (10-1) mark in home slots tilts (I will tell you now, especially if 5 point favorite Atlanta covers to make the home “faves” (5-0) in the 2016 ‘offs, but even if they no cover or lose the game, I believe “Hous” will cover, albeit in defeat in Poo’s (Jim Nantz) third Saturday night slots tilt in New England.
Since Belichick’s ‘offs record stood at (10-1) yielding comparisons with Vince Lombardi, who had a (9-1) ‘offs record, his “N.E.” team, which had titled in all 3 playoffs appearances under Belichick, (the Green Bay Packers “titled” in the last 5 of their six ‘offs appearances under Vince, whose wife Marie once remarked, while in bed with the famed coach, “God your feet are cold,” to which Mr. Lombardi retorted “it is all right, you can call me Vince), has been “ungodlike,” failing to title in all but one of the 11 subsequent seasons, suffering 9 playoffs defeats.
Certainly as stated often here, this is a great run by New England, perhaps top heavy with early Supe titles and suffering hard luck defeats denying them the crown in all but one subsequent season.
This time with no editorial comment, here comes, not “that rainy day feeling” but that “of 16” again.
The most significant and most impressive “of 16” a “14 of 16” in sports achievement, goes to the New York Yankees, for their 14 pennants in 16 seasons from (1949-1964).
Some quick managerial notes: Casey Stengel guided the Yankees to an incredible 10 pennants in his 12 seasons as Yankees’ manager from (1949-1960). Ralph Houk went three for three in pennant bids, in his first stint as Yankees’ manager while Yogi Berra went one for one in same (1964).
Only one other manager, Al Lopez, with two different franchises, the (1954) Cleveland Indians, who won 111 games in a 154 game season, but were swept in 4 straight games in the World Series by the New York Giants, and 1959 “Go Go” Chicago White Sox, won a pennant during that 16 year span.
This season, the New England Patriots notched their 14th AFC East title in the last 16 seasons, all with Tom Brady as their quarterback and Bill Belichick as their coach.
Even more impressive, they will host a “slots”/division round home game, earned by being at least the conference’s two seed, they are “one seeds” for the 6th time in the span, for the 11th time in 16 seasons.
The other “of 16,” while a testament to the many playoffs, specifically slots/NFL quarterfinals appearances of the Dallas Cowboys, is one rooted in being a television “ratings” power even more so than being a football “power.”
No matter the result Sunday in their tilt vs the Green Bay Packers in the late Sunday “slots” game this week, the Cowboys will have played 12 of their 16 home slots/NFL quarterfinals games on Sunday.
One non Sunday home “slots”/divisional round tilt was played on a Monday in 1977 when the NFL respected the Christmas holiday and there was no possible Sunday game for Dallas.
The “12 of say 15 possible Sundays” includes NFL quarterfinal games in both 1967 and 1969, the only game in the NFL that day, at a time before the AFC/NFC configuration which began in 1970 and will this weekend, “produce” two slots games, on two different days for the 47th straight season.
Dallas played or will play a home Sunday “slots” game in ’73, ’76, ’79, ’82, ’92-’95, ’07 and 2016. They went (1-1) in ’67 and ’69 and (6-3) in 2 slots games tilts Sundays in this upcoming “slots” or divisional round.
The Cowboys are (4-0) in non Sunday home slots games, winning on Saturday thrice, in ’70 and ’78, en route to Supe losses and also in ’81 before losing at SF in the famed Joe Montana to Dwight Clark and subsequent SF defense, the latter which few if any historians cite, title game.
Dallas won a Monday tilt vs the Bears and the great Walter Payton, en route to their ’77 crown.
Additionally after Sunday, when again they play the later Sunday “slots” game, Dallas will have played 8 or two thirds of their 12 Sunday home slots game, later than the other tilt that day.
The four exceptions were from (’92-’95) when the powerful West Coast 49ers were involved in those times, when NFL playoff games were not at night.
Thus S.F. also a one or two seed with Dallas all four seasons, (S.F. was the “1” in ’92 and ’94, winning it all and beating Dallas in the NFC title tilt but once, while Dallas won it all not only as the NFC “1” in both ’93 and ’95, beating SF in the NFC Title game in ’93, but also took the crown after having won at S.F. in the ’92 NFC title game/NFL semi-final game) had to play either late Saturday or Sunday.
Of course Dallas which has only played in the early slots Saturday game at home once, that in ’81, played on Sunday, albeit early as mandated by the alternating conference games “mandate” which largely has been upheld in the 47 such seasons.
For the record Dallas is (11-4) at home and (15-10) in NFL quarterfinal games but have lost in their last three. The “ratings darling” Cowboys played in the only Saturday NFL game in 1968 and have played in the worst ratings time, first game of the “slots” weekend but twice, as cited above at home in ’81 and ten years earlier, when after they took a nice lead en route to victory at Minnesota vs a truly good Vikings’ team, my father correctly forecast it finally being “Dallas’ year,” as they went on to win their first NFL crown.
Forty years ago, Pittsburgh University led by the great Tony Dorsett claimed the mythical national title.
In 2016, “Pitt” handed eventual national champion, Clemson their only loss.
Dorsett played on a Super Bowl winning team, contributing mightily to the 1977 Dallas Cowboys’ title, in his rookie season in the N.F.L.
Ezekiel Elliott led Ohio State University to the national title in college football two years ago, after the 2014 season.
Now a rookie in the N.F.L. with the (you guessed it or knew it) the Dallas Cowboys, Elliott was the biggest reason Dallas gained the NFC one seed, with a stellar (13-3) record.
There is “mucho wood to chop” before a Supe title (odds are 5 to 1 against such an occurrence) but the Cowboys are the top choice to at least make the tilt in Houston Texas. One thing is for sure Dallas will not play any games outside the “Lone Star State” the rest of the way.
The Cowboys seek their first “slots”/divisional round/NFL quarterfinal win since 1995 when they host the Green Bay Packers in the “slot 4,” late Sunday, tilt.
Among the great “notices,” for Tony Dorsett, pictured above, is being chosen by the legendary television character “J.R.” of “Dallas” fame, as his choice of “anyone in the world,” when accessing a new data base, with I believe, all blood types, in a “Dallas” episode.
I am fortunate to have met both Tony and the late, great Larry Hagman (J.R.), each so kind, each having brought treasured memories to so many people.
Andy B Sports 