The Dallas Cowboys annihilated the Indianapolis Colts yesterday to win their first divisional title since 2009.
They will almost certainly be the NFC “three seed” and host an NFC wild card round game–I will speculate that it will be on Fox Television on Sunday, January 4th.
It is possible, but unlikely, that the Colts and Cowboys will meet in the Super Bowl.
If so, the Colts, in my opinion, would have “bulletin board material” as Dallas backup quarterback Brandon Weeden hurled a long touchdown pass with 10 minutes to play with Dallas already ahead (35-0).
Give the Cowboys credit for their season. I recall so many prognosticators picking them last in the NFC East. Instead, they finished first.
After their (35-6) win at Arizona vs the Cardinals, the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks are overwhelming favorites to be the NFC one seed for a second straight season.
Seattle will be close to a two touchdown favorite at home vs the St. Louis Rams to win and claim the one seed. If they do win and get the one seed, it will be the third time in franchise history that Seattle claims its conference’s one seed.
In 26 years as an AFC team (1977-2002), the Seahawks were never the conference one seed. Now it is very likely to happen for a third time, all as an NFC team, in a 10 season span.
The two previous times that the Seahawks were the conference one seed, they made the Super Bowl.
In the 2005 season Super Bowl, they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Last year, Seattle routed the Denver Broncos in that game for all the marbles.
Yesterday, two NFL games were played on a Saturday for the first time since 2005. (Saturdays were once a league staple from the time of the AFC/NFC format which commenced in the 1970 season).
Each was a thrilling game, decided by a three point margin.
In the NFL Network telecast opener, the touchdown plus underdog (4-11) Washington Redskins, all but ended the (9-6) Philadelphia Eagles’ playoff hopes, with a (27-24) victory.
Now the (10-4) Dallas Cowboys take the field at home today vs the (10-4) Indianapolis Colts with a magic number of one to clinch their first divisional title or playoff appearance since 2009.
In the night game yesterday, the (9-6) San Diego Chargers, who trailed by as much as three touchdowns twice, and by two touchdowns midway through the fourth quarter, rallied to beat the (7-8) San Francisco 49ers in overtime by a (38-35) score.
However, the Chargers will need help to qualify for the playoffs, even if they win their regular season finale in Kansas City next week.
Last week the accuracy of the Las Vegas oddsmakers was most evident as two of my predictions were in games that fell “right on the number.” Seattle Seahawks favored by 10 points, won by that many vs San Francisco 49ers, ditto the Indianapolis Colts favored by and victorious by seven vs the Houston Texans.
In the other game I predicted, my pick the Dallas Cowboys, a field goal underdog, won at Philadelphia vs the Eagles and now control their destiny in a bid for their first divisional title or playoff berth since 2009.
This week I am predicting Dallas, a three and one half point favorite to win at home vs the Indianapolis Colts, a team that clinched its AFC South crown last week and almost certainly will be no higher than the three seed in the AFC.
The game means much more to Dallas and with their recent history of being denied playoff berths with late season losses, should be the Cowboy’s defining game of this season.
I do not like to “give points,” especially as a prediction to the public, something told to me by the late, great, football guru Beano Cook. Yet against my usual “principles,” Dallas by 7 points. I can just hear Beano yelling at me, up there.
Last night I was most fortunate to have seen “Beware of Young Girls: Kate Dimbleby Sings The Dory Previn Story,” which is a marvelous show about the life of the late Dory Previn. Ms. Previn is considered the queen of 1970s confessional songwriters.
For the show’s talented star, Kate Dimbleby, Ms. Previn was quite an influence on her life and it manifests in feeling the two, Ms. Dimbleby and Ms. Previn, are one.
Kate is joined onstage by her musical director Naadia Sheriff whose versatility is evident as she plays the piano, sings, and speaks as different people throughout Dory Previn’s life.
The story is fascinating as Ms. Dimbleby’s opening assertion as to why more people are not aware of the greatness of Dory Previn resonates throughout the show.
She was indeed married to the immensely talented Andre Previn and their work together is treasured. Some Hollywood history, extra marital affairs, breakups and human nature are all part of the storytelling truth.
I thought of the intertwining nature of life, less than six degrees of separation, and history repeating itself, as actress Mia Farrow is surely a part of the Previn story.
However, far more important and relevant, is the indomitable spirit of Ms. Previn told and sung so beautifully by Kate Dimbleby accompanied by Naadia Sheriff.
This fantastic show is playing at 59 E 59 Theaters through January 4th.
Kate Dimbleby
At this point, I probably need not react all that adversely to statements and opinions heard on the air. One might want to let it go, lest one burst a blood vessel.
Yet these two should be pointed out. A “Professor Leakey of the future,” might use them as evidence of the continual “on air” decline.
Last week CBS/NFL Network analyst Phil Simms said he “was looking forward” to tonight’s game between a pair of (2-11) teams, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans.
Everybody wants to watch two woefully bad teams–don’t they? Also, Simms game commentary is of the “goody goody” type–he rarely offers any criticism.
Up the dial on PBS, commentator Tavis Smiley interviewied Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, and stated 1993 as the year of Bill Clinton’s Presidential campaign/election, which of course is incorrect. The year was 1992.
Presidential elections occur every FOUR years.
Tavis Smiley
In watching some of game one of the 1973 World Series on “You Tube,” I took interest in the post game interview which included Oakland A’s manager, Dick Williams and the volatile, I feel progressive, A’s owner Charles Finley.
NBC’s Tony Kubek conducted the interview after the A’s held on for a (2-1) win vs the New York Mets, in a World Series the A’s would eventually win in seven games.
Williams proved prescient in saying the World Series would likely go seven games. Mr. Finley dropped by briefly. Some time later, manager Williams and owner Finley would be at odds with each other. That was not evident during the interview.
It was nice during football season to think about past baseball, especially a great team like the Oakland A’s.
Their manager Dick Williams, a baseball Hall of Famer, was a great one. The team’s owner, Charles Finley, a man ahead of his time, should be in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Williams won two World Series and managed four pennant winners. Finley’s A’s won three straight World Series (1972-1974) and many of his ideas thought too radical are in place today.
Dick WIlliams
The current leader in the race for the NFC one seed, the (11-3) Arizona Cardinals, are not expected to achieve that status.
The defending champion and (10-4) Seattle Seahawks go into Arizona this Sunday night and are over one touchdown favorites in the game. At least there is mercy for the fans there in warm weather Arizona, but that will not be the case the following week when the Detroit Lions play the Packers in Green Bay, Wisconsin in a game which was moved to nighttime upon NBC’s whim.
That contest almost certainly will decide the NFC West title and likely the NFC top seed as well.
The NFC North crown almost certainly will be decided in the game between a pair of (10-4) teams, the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions at night on December 28th.
The (10-4) Dallas Cowboys have a fraction of a game lead in the NFC East. The Cowboys led (21-0), trailed (24-21), but won (38-27) at Philadelphia vs the (9-5) Eagles.
In the woeful NFC South, a (6-8) record has the New Orleans Saints in control of their own destiny to win the crown.
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
