BY SAMIR NAWAZ – FAN FUEL BLOGGER
With the labor dispute between the NFL and its referees and the Bounty-gate scandal growing smaller and smaller in the rear view mirror, the season now seems to be in full-swing.
Time to examine all that took place in week six of the NFL, including Aaron Rodgers six touchdowns and a surprising implosion of the San Francisco 49ers.
THE HIGHLIGHTS:
1. Green Bay’s “upset” win
Well the Green Bay Packers called it all week, they said they were no one’s underdog and they proved it. While many in the media were calling the Packers team done, this team (and myself if you read my picks column) couldn’t have disagreed more. Their leader Aaron Rodgers had perhaps the biggest chip on his shoulder leading up to the game in Houston and was adamant that his team was still the team to beat despite Houston’s inflated record. With the way New England and San Fran lost this week, he might be right (my money however is still on the Giants though).
As I have said time and time again, if you are gambling in the NFL there is no smarter move than betting on the Tom Brady and Bill Belichick led Patriots (unless of course it’s the playoffs). But as reliable I think the Patriots are, something scarred me away from betting on this game even though the Patriots have been looking as dominant as ever lately. Although the Seahawks have had some clunker games this season and are led by a rookie QB, their defence is extreme stout and their special teams have been really good this season.
Add to this the fact that Seattle has had one of the best home-field advantages in all of sports for a long time now, and it is not that big of a shocker that they won this game. Of course, the Patriots still were in control of this one for most of the game and if it wasn’t for that deep ball to Sidney Rice late in the game when the Patriots fell asleep on D, the DBs that were calling out Tom Brady after the game might have been singing a different tune after this one.
3. Shonn Greene’s big day
This goes out to everyone who had Shonn Greene on their fantasy squads (myself included) and had the guts to play him despite his terrible performances over the last five weeks (myself not included). In what may be the greatest out-of-nowhere performance for a player this season, Shonn Greene turned his game around and pounded the Colts on the ground for 161 yards and three touchdowns to help the struggling Jets rout the Colts 35-9 at home.
THE LOWLIGHTS:
1. It’s always panic-mode in Philadelphia
Another week, another turnover prone week for the Eagles. However, like last week, Philadelphia could find none of their improbable ways to win like they have earlier in the season. If you winter is settling in and you are getting cold, you can always try warming up on Andy Reid’s hot seat, as it is officially the hottest seat in terms of criticism and media speculation in sports right now.
How Reid’s Eagles managed to bungle a 10 point lead late in the game to the 1-3 Lions I’ll never know. And while Reid has taken his fair share of flack for his dubious play calling, Michael Vick’s turnovers, which now account for the vast amount of turnover on this squad, have absolutely killed this team as they always seem time come at the worst possible time (and often in the red zone). While Eagles fans are quick to point of that the Eagles are still not under .500, no one who has followed this team all season knows they should be no better then 1-5. The good news for the Eagles is that they are going into the bye this week, and Andy Reid is always strong coming off a bye week. For Reid’s sake I hope he is because this is definitely one season he cannot afford to buck that trend.
2. The Cowboys do it again
Do not believe the score in this one because while was close enough to win, they certainly did not deserve too. Why you ask? Well if you watch a Cowboys game, you will always see the same thing, boneheaded penalties (and lots of them), missed opportunities, Romo getting picked off at the worst moment, allowing the first down on third and long and of course, the big missed field goal.
It is almost as if the Cowboys were the cinematic equivalent of Groundhog Day without the high end comedy. And in the contest against Baltimore it was of course more of the same. The only difference in this one was that Dallas’ running game showed up and the team showed some heart near the end of the game. Unfortunately, for the Cowboys all their miscues and missed opportunities (no bigger than Dez Bryant’s dropped two point convert), sealed this game before Dan Bailey’s kick went predictably wide left. It is indeed a hard time to be a Cowboys fan, but the bright side is that their offensive line looked a lot better and none of the injuries their playmakers sustained in this contest are believed to be serious.
3. San Fran’s big letdown
This 49ers team not only got beat by the Giants in the playoffs and had the whole offseason to stew as consequence, but they talked all week about what they were going to do and how badly they were going to beat the Giants. And what did they do? Nothing. They got beat at home even worse than last season despite all their upgrades and all their promises. This team should be ashamed of themselves. Despite their lack of hype, the Giants are far and away the team to beat in the NFC right now.
Related read: More MLB: Wild start to 2012 MLB playoffs