As expected, three teams clinched their divisions for at least the second year in a row.
The likely one seed, (11-3) New England (Patriots) clinched a 6th straight AFC East crown ripping the (7-7) Miami Dolphins. It is the 11th straight divisional crown for New England in a season in which Tom Brady played more than one game. He was injured in the first game of the 2008 season.
Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos won their 4th straight AFC West title, beating the (8-6) San Diego Chargers at San Diego. The Broncos have won the divisional crown in all three seasons with Peyton Manning at quarterback.
The (10-4) Indianapolis Colts, a touchdown favorite, won by that margin vs the Houston Texans to clinch a second straight AFC South title.
With two weeks left to play, the (9-4-1) Cincinnati Bengals shut down the Cleveland Browns (7-7) and their most hyped (and for little reason) QB Johnny Manziel, 30-0. The Browns lead the AFC North by a fraction of a game.
The Pittsburgh Steelers won yesterday at the (5-8-1) Atlanta Falcons. The Baltimore Ravens at home defeated the (2-12) Jacksonville Jaguars. The Steelers and the Ravens both now have (9-5) records. That record puts both teams tied for the lead for the Wild Card by at least a fraction of a game.
The Golden State Warriors, coached by Steve Kerr who was a many time NBA champion as a player, are off to an incredible (20-2) start.
It is a long season, and the Warriors, a 6th seed and first round loser in the playoffs last season, will have a tough time winning the very tough NBA West.
I wish they were in the Eastern Conference as they would be a third title threat in that far weaker conference.
The great start by the Warriors evokes memories of the miracle 1975 Warriors’ championship team. They failed to qualify for the eight team playoff field in 1973-1974, but won it all in 1974-1975.
Golden State was led by two great players: Rick Barry, who was the undisputed star of the team, and a rookie, who would become great, Keith (later to be Jamaal) Wilkes.
Click here for Warriors 1974-75 Playoffs Highlights
I have three NFL predictions this week, and two of the games involved are rematches of games I incorrectly forecast on Thanksgiving.
In the late afternoon, with the “Emperor” Joe Buck presiding, the highly disappointing San Francisco 49ers will play well at Seattle vs the defending champion Seahawks. The roughly 10 point favorite Seahawks will win, say (20-13).
In another “Turkey Day redux,” the three plus point underdog Dallas Cowboys are my “pick” at Philadelphia vs the Eagles.
My final prediction is that the Houston Texans will play well at Indianapolis vs the Colts. Near one touchdown underdog, Houston may win outright, but I will say Colts (27-24).
After their “ho hum,” (12-6), all field goal game win in St. Louis vs the (6-8) Rams, the (11-3) Arizona Cardinals, once the St. Louis Cardinals, and before that, the Chicago Cardinals, have all but clinched at least a playoff berth.
The Cardinals game next Sunday night (lucky for NBC to have it in its telecast package) at home vs the defending champion Seattle Seahawks, will likely decide the NFC West title.
The Cardinals are the NFL franchise that has gone the longest without a title. They last won the title in 1947 as the Chicago Cardinals. That was their only title game victory. They never won a title in St.Louis and have not done so in Arizona.
That 1947 Cardinals’ team had a great offensive backfield. Names like Charley Trippi, Elmer Angsman, Paul Christman, Pat Harder and Marshall Goldberg are part of NFL history, part of that Cardinals’ team that prevailed (28-21) vs the Philadelphia Eagles, to win the 1947 NFL crown.
1947 Chicago Cardinals
Of course, in the end, neither the selection process nor the move to a playoff among four teams produced a clear cut four deserving teams.
As usual, the late Beano Cook who knew just a “little more ” (try the length and breadth of Hoover Dam, as a fraction of the margin) about college football than Condoleezza Rice (a Selection committee member) was right both about wanting no playoff in college football, and probably about the ineptitude that permeates a lot of things all around us.
Sticking to college football, “stick it” is what the selection committee did to both Big 12 contenders, Baylor and especially TCU, the latter “teased” into the third spot in the penultimate week and then left out after a (55-3) victory.
The two semi-final games are both considered one sided and I hope they will be. Warning: do not bet that they will be. The rankings and the process/obsession of having a #1 or college football champion has and always will be a perversion of an already perverted system.
This week’s Green Bay Packers at Buffalo Bills game will almost certainly not be a preview of this year’s Super Bowl.
While the Packers are clear favorites in the NFC, they are still considered 7 to 5 underdogs to make it.
The Bills who have already exceeded their projected six and a half wins total, are a nice surprise, but 150 to 1 shots to make the Super Bowl.
The Packers on the road and Bills at home rekindles a nice, funny memory.
In the league championship games for the 1966 NFL and AFL seasons which would set the first Super Bowl, the Bills were at home vs the Kansas City Chiefs while “GB” visited the Cowboys, in Dallas.
The NFL was considered far superior thus the recollection of a sign held up in Buffalo shown during the Bills’ loss to the Chiefs in the 1966 AFL championship game remains funny, as it said Super Bowl 1– Bills 80 Packers 0.
It turned out Packers 35 Chiefs 10.
After their (43-37) win as 13 point favorites vs the Atlanta Falcons, the (10-3) Green Bay Packers continue to be huge favorites to win a third straight NFC North crown.
“G.B.” has a fraction of a game lead over the (9-4) Detroit Lions, whom the “Pack” host in a game that likely will decide the division title on a cold, perhaps frigid night in Green Bay on December 28th.
In all likelihood, NBC will telecast that game at night with no regard for the fans, who will have to endure the frigid conditions.
Meanwhile, despite the loss and only a (5-8) record, the Falcons are tied for first place in the woeful NFC South with the New Orleans Saints.
The Carolina Panthers, who handed the Saints a fourth straight home loss, all occurring after I heard WFAN Radio and Fox Sports 1 host Mike Francesa say they NEVER lose at home, are just a half game behind with a (4-8-1) record.
Whoever wins the division will be the NFC “4” seed and host a wild card round game. Meanwhile a team with a very good record will not qualify for the playoffs in the NFC.
While the AFC North race tightened, the other three AFC divisions have almost certain winners, with 3 games remaining on the schedule.
The (10-3) New England Patriots won at (8-5) San Diego vs the Chargers, virtually assuring a division title for “N.E.” quarterback, Tom Brady–his 12th in 13 seasons of play as he was injured in the first game of the 2008 season. For his Denver Broncos’ counterpart, Peyton Manning, this would be his 10th in his last 11 seasons played, as he missed the entire 2011 season.
Denver did its part, not for their bettors, winning by 7 points as 10 point home favorites, vs the (7-6) Buffalo Bills, one of 4 AFC teams that fell to (7-6) with losses yesterday.
Perhaps a third great AFC quarterback has emerged in the (9-4) Indianapolis Colts’ Andrew Luck, who guided the Colts 90 plus yards for a touchdown in the last minute of a (25-24) win at Cleveland vs the (7-6) Browns.
The Colts can now clinch a second straight AFC South crown with a home victory next week vs the (7-6) Houston Texans. “Indy” is a touchdown favorite in the game.
The (8-4-1) Cincinnati Bengals, despite a home loss to the Steelers yesterday, still lead the AFC North by a half game. The Steelers and Baltimore Ravens are next with (8-5) records.
In their loss yesterday, that likely ended their playoff hopes, some bad history repeated against the Cleveland Browns.
The 1986 AFC title game, also at Cleveland, (vs the Broncos), also produced a 90 plus yard drive by the opposition to help defeat the Browns.
Then current Denver Broncos’ owner, John Elway guided the Broncos on a 98 yard, tying touchdown drive in an eventual overtime win.
The college football playoffs are set as it will be Alabama vs Ohio State in one semi-final and Oregon vs undefeated, defending champion but ranked third, Florida State.
The two one loss teams from the Big 12 Conference, namely TCU and Baylor were left out and marquee name Ohio State which ripped Wisconsin, jumped to fourth and gets another title shot.
Alabama and Oregon each convincingly covered the spread en route to making the playoffs. For an incredible 11th time in 13 victories, Florida State did not exceed the point spread.
Looking ahead, now Florida State will be the underdog vs Oregon. Maybe in defeat, they will cover the spread.
Alabama will be a pretty hefty favorite vs Ohio State.
“Men and Women Talking Love and Sex,” currently at the Davenport Theatre at 354 West 45th Street, is a very realistic, somewhat sobering look at relationships between men and women.
It features an excellent cast and is well written by John Paul Porter. He also produced and directed the play which could be a primer for those who get romantic with the opposite sex.
I laughed, and had many emotions rushing through my brain. I recalled some personal romantic memories (some were mistakes!). I know I left the theatre better stocked for the “next time around,” which is the best way to look at most life lessons.
Kudos to the fine cast: Nicolas Greco as “Tom,” Zane Johnston as “Pete” and Karen Stanion as “Clarinda.” Those three interact as observers and friends of the couple whose relationship is examined.
Ben Kahre as “Caylor” and Aaron Ballard as “Annie” play the couple. I highly recommend seeing the performance and taking mental notes, which like chicken soup won’t hurt and likely will help, in your current or next romantic relationship.
Andy B Sports 