The Pittsburgh Steelers are quietly a 6-3 team after 10 weeks into the season. Pretty good record, but not one you would expect from a Superbowl contender, right? Wrong! Everyone knows how the New York Giants have a trend of scraping into the playoffs and peaking in performance in January. But they are not alone;
Heading into week 11:
2012 Pittsburgh Steelers 6-3
2011 New York Giants 6-3
2010 Green Bay Packers 6-3
2009 New Orleans Saints 9-0
2008 Pittsburgh Steelers 6-3
2007 New York Giants 6-3
As you have probably guessed, all the teams above went on to win a Superbowl.
Chicago Bears fans could be forgiven for thinking they are Bill Murray in Groundhogs day. The Bears looked great after 10 weeks last year (take a wild guess at what their record was) before Cutler broke his thumb in week 11. The result? Bears went from 6-3 and a legitimate Superbowl contender to finish the season 8-8. Which doesn’t make for good reading if you’re a Bears fan with Cutler going down again last week (And he was injured in the 2010 NFC Championship game against eventual Superbowl winners Green Bay). Can the Bears do anything offensively without relying on their defense every week to put points on the board?
With Michael Vick going down, the Eagles were forced to start the Nick Foles era. The difference? Short term, none! If the offensive line can not protect one of the most mobile Quarterbacks of all time, a rookie is not going to stand a chance. If the Eagles win this weekend, Nick Foles will probably remain starter for the rest of the season. If they don’t win, well the Eagles are done any way so they will probably just keep Foles in as starter to try and build some experience for next season.
Either way, I think Michael Vick is done in an Eagles uniform.
And the final quarterback to go down, Alex Smith. Coach Jim Harbaugh feels confident in back up Colin Kaepernick. Which is why, in hind sight, a tie last week could be the best thing that could have happened to San Francisco. If Kaepernick successfully leads the 49ers comeback (and if it wasn’t for Akers he would have) then a Quarterback controversy could have reared it’s head in San Francisco. Kaepernick is a top talent for the future, Alex Smith is our guy now. If Smith does miss Monday night and Niners beat the Chicago Bears and perhaps the best defense in the league, will Harbaugh keep in Kaepernick or bring back Alex Smith. You know, the Quarterback who Jim Harbaugh almost dropped in the off season, albeit for Peyton Manning.
But we had this Quarterbacks topic back in the late 80s Niners fans and I think that turned out ok for us!
As we approach the thanksgiving holiday season and the end of November, it is only now that teams will emerge as contenders, where injuries will take their tolls on teams. If the Steelers back up Byron Leftwich can win a few games before Big Ben returns (if?), it is not far fetched to think that the Vince Lombardi trophy could be making it’s way back to the Steel City for an unprecedented seventh time.
Or they could fall like last seasons Bears.
On to this weeks picks:
(HOME TEAM in Caps):
Saints (-5.0) over RAIDERS
Wow, what a job Drew Brees has done to keep this team in the hunt. Even when the Saints were 0-4, he still kept putting on terrific offensive displays. Expecting more of the same from him tonight against a Raiders side who must be thinking about the off season at this early stage because they are not catching the Broncos now.
Rams (-3.5) over JETS
Jeff Fisher is starting to turn things around in St. Louis, gaining the teams trust with plays including the two successful fake punts last week. Meanwhile the Jets are a complete mess. Insulting their own players over the past week “anonymously”. And the question must be asked, why did the Jets bring in Tebow? I suppose they couldn’t start him unless Mark Sanchez became, statically, the worst Quarterback in the league. Oh no wait, he is! He is officially worst than Blaine Gabbert! Sanchez needs to go, as well as Coach Rex Ryan because this team is turning into a joke!
Browns (+7.5) over COWBOYS
I know what you’re thinking. Actually I don’t. You could come up with a million reasons why you should never back the Browns on the road in any circumstance, My counter argument? Both teams stink, line is too high. Cowboys may win, but they’ll leave it late.
Buccaneers (-1.0) over PANTHERS
Carolina went down heavy to the Broncos last week while Tampa Bay are racking up W’s and could still be a surprise pick for the wild card. Division game and with Carolina out of contention for playoffs, the onus is on the Bucs to get the job done here.
Packers (-3.0) over LIONS
Last weeks game against Minnesota was a must win for Detroit. The loss could prove fatal. The Packers are coming off a bye week and even with Greg Jennings and Clay Matthews doubtful, I still could not put money against a healthy Aaron Rodgers who is erasing his bad start to the season with every touchdown pass.
Happy Football people!
Last Week: 3-3
Season: 29-29
Accumulator: 0-10
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