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.
NBC Sports is happy this day as the Dallas Cowboys’ victory at Chicago vs the (5-8) Bears last night assures that at most their deficit in the NFC East will be one game going into next Sunday night’s tilt at Philadelphia, vs the Eagles.
Philadelphia with a (9-3) record hosts the defending champion Seattle Seahawks this week. Dallas with its win last night sports a (9-4) record.
Meanwhile it is lucky NBC, as its tilt the following Sunday is Seattle, currently with an (8-4) record, going to Arizona which with a (9-3) record, still leads the NFC West.
Going into this week in which the (5-7) New Orleans Saints are 10 point home favorites vs the Carolina Panthers, while the also (5-7) NFC South co-leading Atlanta Falcons must travel to 13 point favorite Green Bay (Packers), it seems the best Atlanta can hope for is that their December 21st game at New Orleans will decide the division (NFC South) title.
The Falcons did win the first week game vs the Saints which means they would win the tiebreaker with New Orleans, if they win that game.
However, as evidenced by this week’s lines and the remaining schedule, Atlanta, which would be over a touchdown underdog at New Orleans were the game this week, will settle for the game in New Orleans deciding the division.
Last night I had the great pleasure of seeing the legendary Dick Cavett interviewed about his new book, “Brief Encounters: Conversations, Magic Moments, and Hijinks. The interview was conducted by Eric Metaxas, who is the author of “Socrates in the City.”
Mr. Metaxas provided a great introduction for Mr. Cavett that included a song delineating some of the incredible guests that graced Dick Cavett’s talk shows over the years.
That set the stage for Mr. Cavett, who is utterly brilliant, “Old West quick” (as in That FAST), sharp, and witty.
His stories, comments and inside reflections were tremendous, humorous and often times deeply moving. He could have and wanted to go on for hours, but alas there were and always are time constraints.
Trying to circumvent time, which despite HG Wells is impossible, the names and memories conjured up do help.
Among them: William F. Buckley, Judy Garland and a story or two about “fat” Jack Leonard, described as a so called “insult comic,” who bestowed gifts on the production/writing staff.
Mr. Leonard, for whom Mr. Cavett wrote, had a line “put your glasses on backwards and walk into yourself.”
Mr. Cavett suggested to Mr. Leonard that he embellish it this way, “walk backwards into a parking meter and violate yourself.” People laughed, including me, others did not and it was cited that meters and violations have changed their association with time.
Mr. Cavett’s memories are treasures. Toward that end, I know his latest book “Brief Encounters: Conversations, Magic Moments, and Assorted Hijinks” is a must read.
I will read “Socrates in the City” as well, and based on Mr. Metaxas’ wit in collaborating and “holding his own” with the great Dick Cavett, surely will like, perhaps love it.
Any or all of Mr. Cavett is a sure good thing. He talked of others, telling stories about Muhammad Ali’s visit to his home and his getting into Ms. Garland’s dressing room.
The last word and story goes to the indomitable Groucho Marx, who attended a seance in Minnesota as Mr. Cavett recalled.
The scene and situation were recalled brilliantly by Mr. Cavett (I remember long black curtains as part of the description) and the seance began.
The trans-medium made “contact” with the other world. That “world” asked if anyone had questions for the presumed “voice from beyond.”
A familiar voice was heard asking the following question. What is the capital of North Dakota? Indeed!
“Brief Encounters: Conversations, Magic Moments, and Assorted Hijinks”
