The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Houston Texans in a wild shootout to remain as the league's only unbeaten team, while three teams remain winless - among them, my Giants. Yes, the G-Men lost in the final minute to the previously winless Chargers, and so Eli Manning still cannot say that he ever defeated Philip Rivers.
In other games, there were some surprising results. The Steelers were stunned by Jacksonville in Pittsburgh, actually getting blown out. The Ravens defeated Oakland in the Black Hole, as the Raiders seem to be imploding. Miami knocked off Tennessee. The Bills were upended in Cincinnati, and lost sole possession of first place in the AFC East, while the Jets won their third straight game, beating the Browns in Cleveland, so that they are tied with the Bills and the Pats for first place in the AFC East. The Cardinals were blown out in Philly, and look like they are in danger of having another season spiral out of control.
In some of the big showdowns, the Seahawks managed to slow down the Rams, and are now locked in a first place tie with them in the NFC West. The Panthers just managed to hold off the Lions in a big showdown in Detroit. And the Packers still seem to have the Cowboys number, winning in Big D for the second time in a row.
One thing that should be noted, because it made the headlines, obviously, was the Vice-President Mike Pence was at the 49ers-Colts game, but he walked out when players knelt and protested during the national anthem. Boy! The Trump administration is facing some serious criticism for their poor handling of the hurricane disaster in Puerto Rico, and they also faced some controversy regarding their gin control stance following that awful, deadly mass shooting just a week ago. All that, and I am not even going to get into the whole North Korea thing again! But this guy, Pence, he knows how to get the spotlight off the negatives, and back to where he wants it, doesn't he? This was essentially a non-issue, a fluff story that really does not affect the living standards of anyone. Yet, it made some news headlines, predictably, and sadly. That is what makes Pence more dangerous, by my estimations, than the Trump clown show, where there is absolutely no sense of control, and there seems to be a general lack of direction and focus. That clearly is not a weakness for Pence, and this felt very calculated, frankly.
Can I just say something briefly here? President Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence really should be focusing on other things right now, and Americans should be able to get past their political allegiances to recognize that. Again, we just had an incredibly horrific mass shooting, a series of staggeringly powerful and destructive hurricanes, one after the other, and we now have massive fires in California, to say nothing of a more divided union than I have ever seen. So clearly, there are bigger things to worry about. So, this whole emphasis on protesting NFL players just seems ridiculous and, frankly, exploitative.
For many years, even decades now, a part of me felt a bit guilty following sports. You see, I used to really be obsessed with the NFL, and particularly the Giants, while growing up. Never wanted to miss a game, or anything. Now, I did grow up from that, and have no problem not watching a single NFL game for weeks, even months. Following it on sports highlights in ESPN or the internet, and just keeping up with the standings, tends to be fine. However, for the first time in a long time, I feel almost like I am doing something noble by watching it. I feel almost drawn to try and watch more games, specifically as a kind of "F*#% You!" to this president and his administration's calls to boycott the NFL.
Start worrying about bigger things already, will you? Start acting like a real president, and not get sidetracked on fake issues and escalating phony crises like this one. That is one thing that, it seems to me, should be so elementary and universal as to be a no-brainer. Yet, his supporters are with him all the way, and are indeed boycotting the NFL over this ridiculous "issue" over their taking a knee. And I, for one, will feel good supporting the NFL on this issue. It truly boggles the imagination that even the NFL, which is known itself as a relative bastion of conservatism, should not be nearly conservative enough for this administration's liking.
Let's take a closer look at the week 5 that was:
In other games, there were some surprising results. The Steelers were stunned by Jacksonville in Pittsburgh, actually getting blown out. The Ravens defeated Oakland in the Black Hole, as the Raiders seem to be imploding. Miami knocked off Tennessee. The Bills were upended in Cincinnati, and lost sole possession of first place in the AFC East, while the Jets won their third straight game, beating the Browns in Cleveland, so that they are tied with the Bills and the Pats for first place in the AFC East. The Cardinals were blown out in Philly, and look like they are in danger of having another season spiral out of control.
In some of the big showdowns, the Seahawks managed to slow down the Rams, and are now locked in a first place tie with them in the NFC West. The Panthers just managed to hold off the Lions in a big showdown in Detroit. And the Packers still seem to have the Cowboys number, winning in Big D for the second time in a row.
One thing that should be noted, because it made the headlines, obviously, was the Vice-President Mike Pence was at the 49ers-Colts game, but he walked out when players knelt and protested during the national anthem. Boy! The Trump administration is facing some serious criticism for their poor handling of the hurricane disaster in Puerto Rico, and they also faced some controversy regarding their gin control stance following that awful, deadly mass shooting just a week ago. All that, and I am not even going to get into the whole North Korea thing again! But this guy, Pence, he knows how to get the spotlight off the negatives, and back to where he wants it, doesn't he? This was essentially a non-issue, a fluff story that really does not affect the living standards of anyone. Yet, it made some news headlines, predictably, and sadly. That is what makes Pence more dangerous, by my estimations, than the Trump clown show, where there is absolutely no sense of control, and there seems to be a general lack of direction and focus. That clearly is not a weakness for Pence, and this felt very calculated, frankly.
Can I just say something briefly here? President Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence really should be focusing on other things right now, and Americans should be able to get past their political allegiances to recognize that. Again, we just had an incredibly horrific mass shooting, a series of staggeringly powerful and destructive hurricanes, one after the other, and we now have massive fires in California, to say nothing of a more divided union than I have ever seen. So clearly, there are bigger things to worry about. So, this whole emphasis on protesting NFL players just seems ridiculous and, frankly, exploitative.
For many years, even decades now, a part of me felt a bit guilty following sports. You see, I used to really be obsessed with the NFL, and particularly the Giants, while growing up. Never wanted to miss a game, or anything. Now, I did grow up from that, and have no problem not watching a single NFL game for weeks, even months. Following it on sports highlights in ESPN or the internet, and just keeping up with the standings, tends to be fine. However, for the first time in a long time, I feel almost like I am doing something noble by watching it. I feel almost drawn to try and watch more games, specifically as a kind of "F*#% You!" to this president and his administration's calls to boycott the NFL.
Start worrying about bigger things already, will you? Start acting like a real president, and not get sidetracked on fake issues and escalating phony crises like this one. That is one thing that, it seems to me, should be so elementary and universal as to be a no-brainer. Yet, his supporters are with him all the way, and are indeed boycotting the NFL over this ridiculous "issue" over their taking a knee. And I, for one, will feel good supporting the NFL on this issue. It truly boggles the imagination that even the NFL, which is known itself as a relative bastion of conservatism, should not be nearly conservative enough for this administration's liking.
Let's take a closer look at the week 5 that was:
Philadelphia 34, Arizona 7 - If you are a fan of the Cardinals, you have to be thinking, "Uh-oh! Here we go again!" Another season seems to be slipping from their grasp. They followed up barely getting past the winless 49ers at home by getting blown out in Philly, and are now in third place in the NFC West. The only thing saving them from being in a desperate situation is that both of the other two first place teams also only have records of 3-2, otherwise, Arizona would be in serious trouble right now. As for the Eagles, another very solid and impressive win moves them to 4-1 on the year, and alone atop the NFC East. Even better news for them, no other NFC East team won, as both Dallas and the Giants lost, and Washington had a bye. If Philly keeps playing this well, they might start to run away with this division! My pick: Inaccurate
Cincinnati 20, Buffalo 16 - Well, the Bills did look good, but the Bengals made them look rather pedestrian again. Cincy earned their first home win of the year, and managed to win a second game in a row, perhaps taking steps to salvage a season that was coming dangerously close to being lost just around eight or so days ago. In the process, Buffalo lost that momentum from the early part of the season, and now are in a first place tie with the Pats and the Jets. Tough break, but the Bengals are looking considerably better now. My pick: Inaccurate
Carolina 27, Detroit 24 - Hopefully, the Lions get a bit of a break at some point on their schedule. So far, they have taken on only tough teams, and that must take a toll after a while. The Panthers are starting to look for real this season, despite having lost their star tight end, and this victory on the road will give them a huge boost, as well as sole possession of first place in the NFC South. As for Detroit, this was obviously a disappointing loss, and it knocks them out of first place in the NFC North, but they still have a winning record, and a lot of reason to feel confident about where they are right now. Still, this was a tough loss for them. My pick: Inaccurate
Jacksonville 30, Pittsburgh 9 - This was the shocking result of the week! I guess the Jaguars are better than I thought they were, because I keep expecting the same old lowly version of Jax to show up, and they keep surprising me. This time, they went into Pittsburgh, which is not known as an easy place for road teams to play, and they effectively dismantled the Steelers. Pittsburgh's explosive offense did not manage to get into double digits, while their defense was obviously a bit on the ropes against the Jaguars. Man, Jacksonville looks great so far! Who would have guessed that they would be alone atop the AFC South right now? In the meantime, the Steelers lost the advantage that they had taken by beating the Ravens in the big showdown last week, and are now tied for first once again, and only one game ahead of Cincy. My pick: Inaccurate
L.A. Chargers 27, N.Y. Giants 22 - This was obviously a must win for both teams. No team in NFL history has ever recovered from an 0-5 start to qualify for the playoffs, but whoever would lose this one would indeed reach that 0-5 threshold. As it turns out, that team was the Giants. That, despite having home field advantage, and despite the Chargers being winless as well. New York was obviously supposed to be better than this, but their offense still looks pretty mediocre, while their defense gave up the big score when it mattered the most, and also allowed 27 points, which was obviously too much for an offense that only seems to be getting going in spurts. A solid win for the Chargers, as they finally got that first win, which is often the toughest one to achieve. As for the G-Men? Well, this season is over. They are already four games behind Philly, and two games behind the 2-3 Cowboys, despite that team struggling, as well. Looking like it is going to be a long and miserable season for Giants fans! My pick: Inaccurate
N.Y. Jets 17, Cleveland 14 - Who before this season started could have possibly foreseen a scenario where the Jets would be in a first place tie with New England after five games, and would be three games ahead of their division rivals, the New York Giants? Yet, that is exactly what has happened, as Gang Green managed to win their third straight game, earning their first road victory in the process for this season. Of course, the Browns are hardly known for being an elite franchise, as their woes just continue to pile up. They flirted with a winless season last year, finally getting their first and only win in the second to last weekend of the regular season. Right now, they are still looking for their first win. They came closer against the Jets than they have so far this season, but still no cigar. As for the Jets, what a victory! Now every fan is thrilled, however, because many fans thought that this was their season to bottom out in the rankings and standings, and earn some top draft picks to help build something more solid for the future. A good 3-2 start might prevent that, even if the Jets sink back to mediocrity the rest of the way. Still, they have to be feeling pretty good at the moment. My pick Accurate
Indianapolis 26, San Francisco 23 (F/OT) - It took all the way to overtime for the lowly Colts to get past the lowly 49ers, and perhaps home field advantage really was essentially in this case. However, the Colts did it, albeit barely. Still without Luck, yet in a decidedly mediocre AFC South, Indy now finds themselves in a three-way tie for second place (as well as last place) in the division, with each of those teams also only one game behind Jax for first place. It seems like another unlikely scenario, but that is how the ball bounces sometimes. As for the 49ers, another tough performance that showed that they have some talent and potential, but another loss that now results to a winless start for them. They are one of three teams remaining that do not have a win yet, but they played hard, and should feel good about that, at least. My pick: Accurate
Miami 16, Tennessee 10 - This is exactly what the Dolphins needed. Their season looked like they were on the verge of going down the drain, and they desperately needed a win. And even though their offense clearly is still showing issues, another win gets them back to even at 2-2, and they are only half a game behind every other team in the AFC East for first place. A tough defense performance on their part helped out tremendously! As for the Titans, they are now one of those teams who seems to be approaching a crossroads, and they need something to happen, something good, before their season starts to really fall apart on them, because they have not looked good in either of the past two weeks now. A solid win for the Fins, and another disappointment for the Titans, who are not looking very titanic to this point. My pick: Inaccurate
Baltimore 30, Oakland 17 - Speaking of teams who felt like their seasons were about to spiral out of control, both of these teams seemed to be under the gun heading into this one. The Ravens had looked bad in two consecutive back-to-back blowout losses, and another one here in Oakland would likely have seemed fatal to their chances. But who knew that they not only would win, and score 30 points in the process, but that the Steelers would also lose a shocker, which means that Baltimore is right back in a first place tie again. As for the Raiders, they are now looking outright bad, dropping their third straight contest. That victory over the Jets, when Marshawn Lynch was celebrating wildly on the sidelines, is starting to look and feel like a distant memory for them by now. The Ravens jumped out ahead, taking a commanding early lead, and they managed to hold the Raiders off the rest of the way to earn a solid road win out in the West Coast. Great news for the Ravens, and now, Oakland needs ti find a way to win a game and stop the bleeding, before their chances go out the window. They are only one game ahead of the last place Chargers now! My pick: Inaccurate
Seattle 16, L.A. Rams 10 - This game went down pretty much as expected. A low-scoring slugfest, but with the end result being that the Seahawks, far and away the most experienced team in the NFC West in terms of fielding a competitive team and winning the division, managed to slow down, and ultimately defeat, the red hot Rams. Yes, the Rams looked like they had a hot offense going into this showdown, but they managed only a touchdown and a field goal against Seattle's trademark tough and physical defense. Seattle did what they needed to do, and in the process, they earn a solid road divisional win, and move into a first place tie with the Los Angeles Rams. A disappointment for the Rams, a huge boost for the 'Hawks. My pick: Accurate
Green Bay 35, Dallas 31 - Back in the first half of the 1990's, when the Packers seemed to hold the promise of future greatness, the Dallas Cowboys always seemed to be the main team that seemed to always hold them back. And despite some regular season success, the one thing that the modern day Green Bay teams never seemed capable of was eliminating the 'Boys from the playoffs. Now, however, they managed to knock Dallas out of the postseason twice in a three year span, and this victory shows that they still enjoy their mastery over Big D. The Cowboys lose a second straight game, and now find themselves in third place in the NFC East, and two behind Philly for first. As for the Packers, this was an awesome road win for them, and coupled with Detroit's loss, the Pack now are alone atop the NFC North. Pretty much where most of us expected them to be, right? Solid win for Green Bay, disappointing loss for Dallas. My pick: Accurate
Sunday Night Football - Kansas City 42, Houston 34 - Another nationally televised shootout involving the Chiefs as the visiting team. And another impressive win for KC, this time in Houston, to remain undefeated. Yes, the Chiefs improved to 5-0 by winning a tough one against the Texans, who once again showed some strength on offense, but were unable to score enough in this one to actually beat the Chiefs. KC remains atop the AFC West, with the Broncos not too far behind, although the Raiders seem to have fallen completely out of relevance - at least for now. As for the Texans, this loss hurt. They are now in a three-way tie for second place, as well as last place, in the AFC South. Still, they did not play poorly, but just lost against the team that, at least so far, seems like the best in the league. Solid win for KC! My pick: Inaccurate
Monday Night Football - Minnesota 20, Chicago 17 - The Bears played their hearts out, with the big story being Mitchell Trubisky's debut. He claimed it was a bit of a surprise, but it finally happened, and everyone was talking about it afterward. There was a real buzz, as well as some much-needed bit of enthusiasm in Chicago. The Bears suddenly were moving the ball quite well, and I watched, and could not help but be impressed, with his touchdown drive and then the two-point coversion to tie the game late. The Bears looked energetic and excited, and that speaks volumes for a team that is 1-4, and was 3-13 last season. They now have something to build towards in the future. Still, the Vikings were able to pull off the victory with a last second field goal, although that did not feel like the main story after the dust settled for this one. My pick: Accurate
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