Carey

Agreed. Pats usually fail to pummel Baltimore like they do to many teams (although they still win over the Ravens for the most part). The same can be said at the expense of Dallas. Fortunately for those teams, the only good team that New York has great difficulty with is Seattle. Speaking of the Seahawks, I actually admire their uniforms. Could be due to the color itself. But I totally can see how it's a tad too much for TV

Man, thank you, New England. That team is just. That. Damn Good

Well, we nearly went the entire 2016 season sans a midterm boot. While it was an obvious choice, it wasn't Rex Ryan either. For now. Kinda of wished that Los Angeles would have kept Jeff Fisher long enough to break Dan Reeves' record on Thursday at Seattle. I guess maybe they can get Hue Jackson down there, because getting fired this year by Cleveland is "not the wrong choice there"! In better news, nothing too serious for Tannehill. Based on the time of year and where Miami is at overall, however, Ryan is likely done anyway, but would be ready for Training Camp next year

Well, first time Zeke lost on the road in quite a while. Looks like the rookie wall hit, but man, with JPP out I thought it was not meant to be. With that win, the worry for the NFC isn't as high, IMO. It probably would make it a flip as of now for the AFC if it's New England, Baltimore, Pittsburgh & Denver with defense & experience. Not sure about Kansas City, but momentum would be there vs Dallas (if the Cowboys get to Houston) should the Chiefs knock off their AFC foes

Feels like the Giants are giving Dallas the Titans-over-Jacksonville treatment of 1999. Though New York is really a team no one wants to see in the postseason (except for Seattle maybe)

If Cleveland doesn't get it done today I don't think it's happening this year. RGIII returns and if it's a legit return, that should help. Similar to how Cincy plays Baltimore tough, Cleveland plays Cincy tough as well. People saying their trying so hard, more than the Jets, but the Jets won several games this year, including one in Cleveland If the Browns go 0-16, people think Hue would be safe. Thing is I can't defend him or criticize Haslam for booting him, and it's not the first time they fired someone after one year. Whoever loses to Cleveland might lose its coach before next season. Less likely though if that win comes on New Year's Day

It's likely just me, but I guess I get a giggle out of how the day of Army vs. Navy game ended with Catholics vs. Convicts Yes, hats off for Army and ending the streak. Based on everything, if they didn't win yesterday, I think they never were going to end it. You can argue about the lack of two of Navy's top offensive players, but I can't argue for Navy on why they punted down 4 with 4-5 minutes left. Not a total blunder, but with one time out, I think they should have gone for it. Glad they didn't do something stupid like kicking a field goal! Congrats to Lamar Jackson. Youngest Heisman winner ever, and he's now in position to win it twice (back-to-back or just twice)

Looks like the media or whomever is/are pissed at how we have to wait half a year before Cavs/Warriors. I respect their concern how the NBA isn’t fun anymore since it’s all but inevitable. I’m also laughing at them (since it’s true barring injury or an upset). It’s still December, and much of the country is focused on football and college hoops to care. If it’s Golden State vs Cleveland for the next 4 seasons I’ll okay with that, but I think the analysts overdo it with their in-the-moment living and reactions. IMO, I saw the water bottle thing as a side story turned into a bigger deal than necessary. Warriors rout was just business as usual

I’ll probably root against Chapman before rooting for Chapman. And the big reason is that he was the enemy. Well, one of them. His side story out of baseball last year was not good. I’m not going to have a problem if someone would have to root against a team based on his involvement with said team, but only if they are the victims or can relate. If I was in that category, I probably would be like those folks, but that’s not a total given. At the end of the day I’d root for the team to just win; whatever happens outside of that I could care less (example would be with my football team). I just would never turn on a team over a player. It’s business With Dexter Fowler, new team, but same hate for Cincy and Pittsburgh

I guess they're taking after College Football and scheduling tough. Which doesn't mean as much since you can actually lose those games or a couple, and still get into the Dance. It's a major bonus IMO if you win those tough ones early. Or in the event of a tourney, you go far. Anyway, I would play my backups in crap-ass games early for the experience (as well as a safety net in the event of injury or in-game foul trouble) Man, I really, really, hope Connecticut gets to 100 consecutive wins. That is all

Unlike most of the others teams playing at Gillette (Baltimore excluded), Kansas City actually had a fair chance of beating the Patriots. Like all the others, including the Ravens, they lost there. But it wasn't the blowout I figured it would be. I can't remember off the top of my head the point-differential for New England in their postseason games in Foxborough, but I think it might be up there amongst the best I was worried for Kansas City there last night. It's like they kept saying no thanks to first place, but that defense really held Oakland to nothing (scoring opportunities came from brutal turnovers). The Raiders defense wasn't really there; can't say they shut out the Chiefs more than the Chiefs missing out. Speaking of missing out, I guess we'll see the aftermath of Derrick Johnson's fall. The road to Houston in February should go through Arrowhead if Kansas City wins out, so that will be rather tough for anyone (might be the AFC version of CenturyLink)

Washington is pretty much going all in on Cutch. While his exit from Pittsburgh won't be a shocker, I don't know or think it's necessarily to the Nats. Somehow they'll fall short on that one, but who knows

And with his non-shocking extension, the man is on pace toward a place on the Rams Ring of Honor when their new LA Stadium is done in 2019

Man, Oakland is to Penn State as Buffalo is to Wisconsin Meanwhile, mild shock with Earl Thomas' comments. Probably going to be one of those years where I'll feel a little sad post Super Bowl (and I got it right the last two times) Totally incredible what happened with Kansas City & Atlanta, I agree. Berry's game is the best thing for today no matter what. Fortunately it's not a total blow for the Falcons. Maybe it comes back to hurt them down the road, but could you imagine if this happened in January?!

I think it sounded insulting that Kirby referred to PITT as 8-4 as if they were a crap-ass team. I think that it wasn't insulting, but more in the lines of what the Panthers record was. He never said that they were awful, but it seemed like it had they won that game or any other non-conference game they would have been in at 12-1. Sort of loved how Rece "grilled" Hocutt but I do think he defended the decisions fairly well Speaking of Pittsburgh, man. What could have been. They hold on at UNC and then take care of business at home in a night game vs Virginia Tech. Add that to upsetting Oklahoma State or not, and they'd be opposite Clemson, who they beat last month. However, PITT survived a couple of games this year, and Clemson would have beaten them in Orlando for revenge. If the Panthers can fix their defense, they'll be a force to deal with in the Coastal if not the ACC as a whole. Especially with a defensive-minded guy like Pat Narduzzi. Rather stunning there was NO defense for 60 minutes with PITT! Anyway, I think I'm glad that PITT didn't get close to being in the playoff. I have better New Years plans over watching Alabama defeat them by at least as many points as that combined total from their game vs Syracuse

Alabama vs. Washington and Ohio State vs. Clemson. Buckeyes survived but swapped with Clemson

Sports are weird. Funny thing is Denver had a QB one year and got pummeled in the end game, but two years later they "didn't have a QB" and did the pummeling. The fact is Wisconsin forgot to play 60 minutes. And as for that PSU QB, any chance he goes to NYC? I think PSU belongs. Meaning I think if they got in I'd be okay with it. Whatever happens will be a great call (maybe except for the seeding). The committee has never taken a team that didn't win its conference. However, they've never taken a team that lost more than once either. They should just do a PROD with PSU, Washington, OSU, and Clemson . That will make things that much easier. PROD, by the way, is simply drawing rocks and if you choose the odd color, you're out

If so, I don't think it'll be a big deal. It worked in 2003 & 2004 for seasons 4 & 5. I think the issue would be rather relevant competition on the other networks with their summer hits and/or reality shows. That, and what day they'd stick the show I'd love to hope that the show would go for four cycles (to top the 2004-2005 TV year of 3). I don't think TAR 30 is a definitely go at all, but if so, funds aside they'd tape TAR31 in the summer, 32 in the fall, and get 31 to air in autumn 2017 and Season 32 in winter-spring 2018. They'd sort of catch up if that happened, but the news of TAR29 is good as much as bad or saddening based on the premiere

Well, what might get lost in this weekend with College Football is how the Patriots ended any talk of Gronk returning before 2/5/17. New England thinks rather highly of Rob and his future. With people saying it’s career ending or trending that way, it’s a tough call but the right call to make it impossible for the TE to return with such a major injury. JJ Watt might have set the standard. I don’t think it changes too much for the Pats chances. They’ve lost playoff games with Gronk, and won 3 titles without Gronk. I’m so glad Kubiak went for it. Not because I had anything to gain from a Denver loss, but because you’d be playing for a tie at best. As mentioned, while a tie is better than a loss, a win is better than a tie. Tough field goal, but it’s an automatic win if it hits. It didn’t but it didn’t result in an automatic loss at that point either. Going for it? Meh. Punting sucks IMO because Denver would’ve conceded and heck, Smith could have gone down the field in a hurry. To be fair, whatever he decided would have been okay; they do have a great defense that might have gotten lucky with a turnover. I think a tie would have meant nothing positively. The only team that they would have been affected by that tie would have been Cincinnati, who is done

Well, I guess I wasted time talking about Alabama losing. I should know better after Nick Saban said it was not okay to lose! With Alabama one of four teams in, I think if Clemson wins, the top four will remain the way it is now. Unless the B1G winner more than pummel their victims. If so they are that fourth team in. Then if OSU actually falls for doing nothing, that would suck but so be it. If Clemson loses, then the B1G winner and OSU are in, IMO. Don’t think Michigan has a shot anymore. I guess they might if PSU & Wisconsin both look like crap. Oklahoma needed Washington to lose, amongst other things, so no Big 12. At the end of the day, I can’t wait for the bitterness of those that get left out, mainly the people on television that will be upset at the results. I might agree if they complain about OSU. OTOH, OSU stormed the field so I guess you could say it's punishment for doing so

What if Alabama (actually) loses to Florida? I wouldn't be shocked if the committee did that, but it would be interesting to see who'd be Number one if Bama didn't stay there with an unlikely loss

Yes. New York gets normal rest while Dallas gets a week and a half. The good news is that the Giants won't get screwed as bad as San Francisco did earlier this season (and even at the very same time last year). In other words, it's a home game for the GMEN as they host the Cowboys. And the Giants have position on Dallas (thanks to a road win at AT&T in Week One) New York wins out and, say the Cowboys drop a game to Detroit, all of a sudden the road to Reliant for SB 51 would go through Metlife, while Dallas would have to go Atlanta or Detroit before heading back to MetLife (or even worse: CenturyLink) in the postseason Big if with that though! That was a great game last night. The so-called rookie-wall may have factored in, but sadly the offense isn't a great one for Minnesota. Added to a fair-enough defense from Dallas, the end result was what I expected. I probably won't rank it over New England's defense when it comes to non-flashy, do-your-job kind of defense, but it's close. Unlikely Special teams turn of events; otherwise Dallas might lose (OTOH, endzone, Vikings!). At season's end; this game might end up meaningless (just for Dallas)

The main issue I would have with that is that perfect reigning champ Alabama would get "punished" for the Big Ten Chaos. Yes PSU beat OSU, but the majority still views Ohio State as the second best team in the country. Basically it would be a tough match (albeit great game) between Bama & OSU whereas the other semi would be a rather easy game to get to face the Bama/OSU winner

Just amazing how the Big Ten used to get punished annually when the best team would do well enough to get to the end game, and the lack of a Big Ten Title Game was costly. Now the eventual champion might need help based on the rankings. I doubt Michigan gets in, but I think they belong more than Penn State & Wisconsin. Just not easy to defend losing to Iowa at all, so I'd be okay seeing them left out I think I'll survive whatever the final decision is on Sunday. Lesson learned is to win. That's it. Of course, the day all five P5 champs are undefeated would be chaotic itself. At the end of the day, I personally would be pissed if the inclusion of the Big Ten champion resulted in Ohio State falling to the 4th spot

I picked the Cubs to win the pennant, and then lose in the WS, but not to Cleveland. I think it'll be close. If Chicago loses, I'd hate for it to be due to that stupid All-Star rule. But the Indians are pretty elite after all of their loses & injuries. Unless Chicago scores early (like tonight), they'll have to find their victory based off of defense to avoid extending their WS-winning drought to 109 years, IMO