Daydream Believers

Disclaimer:  These picks are purely for the sake of entertainment. No wagers are being made on my behalf nor are they being taken by me.  If you're betting on games, you're an idiot.  If you're using my picks to bet on games, at least you're doing it right.  Last week would have been your most profitable week, so you might as well stop while you're ahead.

NFL Week 2 Picks

Chicago @ Dallas (-8)

Since his infamous clothesline of Brian Orakpo last Sunday night, Alex Barron has sent me and every other Cowboys fan into a whirlwind of emotions.  I've even gone so far as to look up every single disastrous play the Cowboys have made in my 30-year existence.  In no particular order:

Leon Lett's Superbowl gaffe
Leon Lett's Thanksgiving blunder
Romo's fumbled snap
Cheerleaders (I love the feature on youtube where random videos are generated on the side bar using some of your keywords!)

As much as I would like to pick the Cowboys at home, after a loss, and because I'll need antidepressants if I don't...they still have Alex Barron AND he's going up against Julius Peppers.  Pick:  Cowboys win but don't cover the spread 20-17 on a special teams play in the 4th quarter.

Arizona @ Atlanta (-7)

At any other point in the season, the Falcons would have the better record here.  For that reason alone I've gotta go with the dirty-birds.  Pick:  Falcons cruise to a 31-16 win over the out gunned Cardinals don't call me Cardinal.  (Note:  I wonder if the Cardinals could actually beat the Stanford Cardinal this season?  Stanford scored touchdowns on it's first eight possessions yesterday against Wake Forest.)

Baltimore @ Cincinnati (+3)

Can you say Monday night hangover?  Baltimore grinded out a tough road victory last Monday against the Jets, but this road game within their division should be too much to handle on 5 days of rest.  Pick:  Cincy jumps ahead early on the strength of their passing attack and holds off a late Ravens comeback for a 24-20 victory. (Note:  Did you know Mel Kiper Jr. is from Baltimore?  Can we name Baltimore the official home of the skunk mullet?  Just a thought.)

Kansas City @ Cleveland (-3)

Don't even second guess that spread.  I've looked on bodog.com, espn.com, cnnsi.com, and every other site that invades your computer with online slot machine pop-up windows.  It's legit.  Nothing says respect like beating your division's defending champs and turning into 3-point dogs in Cleveland the following week.  Either the Chiefs got really lucky last week or the Browns have vastly improved every part of their game.  I'm going with option A.  Pick:  Kansas City puts the hurt on a Browns team that still doesn't know how to get over the  Earnest Byner fumble from the 1987 AFC Championship game, 28-10.

Philadelphia @ Detroit (-7)

A criminal going to a crime riddled city to do his job....Mike Vick should be right at home in Detroit.  Pick:  Philly buys Andy Reid some more time by gutting the Lions 38-7.

Buffalo @ Green Bay (-14)

Our first double digit spread of the season, courtesy of the Buffalo Bills!  Other than the fact that NFL teams don't typically score in the triple digits, I can't find one reason why that line isn't Green Bay (-100).  Wait, I know...Brett Favre.  Pick:  Green Bay picks up another impressive win over a pathetic wannabe CFL squad, 34-9.

Pittsburgh @ Tennessee (-6)

Country music and wish-bone!  That's what Nashville does! Wouldn't it be great to see Vince Young and Chris Johnson line up in the old wish-bone offense?  Oh the collisions that would made near the sidelines!  I've got goosebumps.  The reality is that both teams play great defense, so you pick the team with the best player on offense and take a chance that they make some plays.  Pick:  Tennessee wins on a late fieldgoal, 13-10.

Miami @ Minnesota (-6)

Here's the play call in the Viking huddle:

Favre:  Ok guys I've been cleared to play today after having 37 cortisone injections and you know they make my vision a little blurry.  So, I can't read from my wrist band and I'm definitely not looking over Childress, he's just creepy.  AP just line up behind me and block until I can figure out their defense.  Harvin go deep, don't try to sit in the zone coverage, and I'll try not get your cappa detated from the rest of your body.  Ready break!

Here's how it should be:

Peterson:  Hey Brett did you collaborate with Keyshawn Johnson for your next book Just Let Me Throw the Damn Ball?  Well, I collaborated with Bo Jackson on my running back skills...so, I'm just sayin.

Pick:  Vikings get back on track with a 27-17 win.

Tampa Bay @ Carolina (-4)

Yawn.  Pick:  Tie 0-0.  Just kidding.  Panthers reel off a couple of late scores for a 24-17 win.

Seattle @ Denver (-4)

Kyle Orton and a slew of no-name receivers = winning while not covering the spread.  Pick:  Denver picks up a late field goal to rain on Pete Carroll's parade, 19-17.

St. Louis @ Oakland (-4)

Close call last week for Sam Bradford and company.  I'm convinced this kid will be a good quarterback for the next ten years.  The only sad thing is that Steven Jackson is in the twilight of his career and is likely to leave at the end of his current contract.  Maybe they could talk Marshall Faulk out of retirement.  Pick:  Oakland gets all the bounces in a rough start for Bradford, 27-13.

New England @ NY Jets (+3)

Rex Ryan better get his offense in order or else the Super Bowl dream becomes a wet-dream over night.  Randy Moss is on a mission to get a new contract and he might make it personal against Darrelle Revis (who did get a new contract).  Pick:  New England endures a sloppy first half and pulls away with a 24-17 victory.

Jacksonville @ San Diego (-7)

The statistics point to a San Diego blowout here.  Historically, teams that travel from one coast to another have a hard time adjusting to the time difference.  More so for West coast teams traveling east due to the early kickoff times.  I'm still confused as to why a Super Bowl contending team would let their Pro-Bowl Left Tackle and Wide Receiver hold out.  How do you not pay those guys?  If I'm Phillip Rivers here's what I say, "I'm holding out, not for a new contract, but until you guys pony up some cash for my only playmaker and my best bodyguard."  Pick:  San Diego finds a way to win 23-20.

Houston @ Washington (+3)

Here's your typical hangover game.  Let's see, who do we go with for the most hung over after beating their rivals at home in stunning fashion?  Every bit of me wants to pick the Texans, but I've grown to learn that the NFL is all about experience in games like this.  Pick:  Washington finds another way to deflate the state of Texas, 27-20.

NY Giants @ Indianapolis (-5)

Manning vs. Manning.  I'm not sure that actual football will be played during tonight's Manningfest. However, it is sponsored by Sony, DirecTV, Gatorade, Reebok, Oreo, the city of New Orleans, Archie Manning, the other Manning brother.....I'll be tuning into Mad Men, thank you very much.  Pick:  Manning puts together a late drive for a great comeback while the other Manning wears the infamous "Manning Face" the entire way and NBC cuts to it about 25 times including in the car riding home after the game.  NY wins 28-24.

New Orleans @ San Francisco (+6)

The Saints have had extra time to prepare for this game while the Niners have been licking their wounds.  Everything points to New Orleans here.....except two tiny little details.  Outdoors.  Grass surface.  Just two seasons ago, this same high-flying Saints offense went 1-5 on grass.  I'd like to think that playing without Darren Sharper and playing a road game outdoors on grass should level the playing field.  Pick:  49ers come through on the strength on their defense and a great running attack, 24-23.

Last Week's Record - 10-3-2
Overall Record - 10-3-2

2010: The Year of the Defense?

First of all, I'd like to thank everyone for supporting the blog through last season and into what looks to be an exciting 2010 NFL season. No sophomore slump in this blog, no sir. This year we're going bigger, better and more in depth than last year starting with my weekly picks, followed up with a Tuesday analysis of the weekend's big games.

You won't find any college football coverage here. I'm not Mel Kiper, I'm not Kirk Herbstreit and until the bright folks at the NCAA devise some sort of real playoff system and start punishing the real culprits inside of each and every recruiting scandal, consider this my formal boycott. I mean really, why should Matt Barkley and the rest of the crew at USC take it on the chin for Reggie Bush's antics back in 2005? Why not prosecute these former "student"-athletes, who've cheated their fans and Universities, for committing fraud? Oh, I know...because the NCAA isn't exactly the straightest shooter out there.

Back to the league where players make an honest living and their only problem is finding enough party favors that would put the 70's ABA to shame.

Let's glance into my brand new Apple iCrystal (Amazon.com $399) and breakdown how things will shake out in Week 1.

NFL Week 1 Picks:

Miami @ Buffalo (+3)

Miami is this year's trendy pick to win the AFC East division and they got a huge break this season when the league office released the new schedules. The Dolphins learned their annually most unanticipated game on the schedule was set for early September and not mid December. An eager and hungry Dolphin squad will roll into Buffalo on Sunday expecting to walk away 1-0. Hold the phone. Isn't Bill Parcells still employed by the Dolphins? Well, something's rotten in Miami and it reeks of old tuna. Meanwhile, the Bills have flown under the radar for the past few months even after having a malignant tumor removed in the form of Terrell Owens. Combine that with the fact that home field advantage still exists in the NFL and this has all the makings of a 16-9 stink bomb. Pick: Buffalo, 16-9.

Detroit @ Chicago (-7)

Detroit's main focus this offseason was to get rid of anything or anyone with ties to Matt Millen.  Much like Jimmy Johnson did with the Cowboys in the early 90's, Jim Schwartz started cleaning house on Day 1. A few gray hairs and roster moves later, Schwartz and company look primed for another losing season.  The only difference between this season and seasons past will be their level of competitiveness.  Expect a lot of close games out of these Lions, which should continue to help their confidence and give them hope in 2011.  The Bears are looking for some dividends out of the Jay Cutler investment.  I'm sorry, but when you put your franchise in the hands of a pouty spoiled brat, you get what you deserve. If you could compare NFL players to NBA players, Jay Cutler would be the equivalent of Baron Davis. He puts up great numbers, his teammates love him, and coaches love his game while continually being burned by his attitude.  Pick: Detroit covers the spread but Chicago pulls off a come from behind 24-21 victory.

Oakland @ Tennessee (-7)

Chris Johnson has been salivating for this game since his 2009 run for the record books came up just short of Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record. His twitter account has been on overdrive the past couple of months after he announced his goal of 2,500 yards rushing this year.  Um, that's over 160 yards per game Mr. Johnson.  Oh yeah, you have Vince Young at quarterback.  This is totally doable. Pick: Tennessee runs wild for a 31-17 victory.

Cincinnati @ New England (-6)

All the talk this off-season about the Patriots has been more about their adolescent defense and not enough about Tom effing Brady and Randy Moss going into their 4th season together.  I'm not sure if you're aware of this but those guys are locks for the Hall of Fame.  If anyone thinks New England is on a "down" year...think again.  Do you think Brady would sign an extension if he didn't feel like they had a chance to win every season? As for the Bengals, their roster has done enough hard time to rank them ahead of Adam Sandler's squad from The Longest Yard for best prison league football team of all-time. Pick: New England will restore the faith by manhandling one of the AFC's best defenses for a 34-20 victory.

Carolina @ NY Giants (-7)

Addition by subtraction was a common theme among NFL teams this off-season and the Panthers were no different.  They dump flailing quarterback, Jake Delhomme on the Browns and have reason to believe that no matter who steps in to fill his shoes, they should be a considerable upgrade.  Their defense should again be in the top 5 against the pass.  Combine that with two above-average running backs and guess what you get? I have no idea.  This team has more people confused than DiCaprio in his latest thriller, Inception.  Eli Manning is prone to throw momentum killing interceptions and expect Ahmad Bradshaw to finally let the Giants know who the alpha dog is in their backfield.  Pick: The Giants give Panther fans something to cheer about, but for how long? Panthers take it 17-14

Falcons @ Steelers (+1.5)

I'm guilty of being completely biased about this game.  I can't stand people that rape or are accused of raping other people. Steelers: check.  I can't stand over-hyped running quarterbacks.  Steelers: check.  I can't stand teams that have beaten the Cowboys in the Super Bowl.  Steelers: check.  Even after running through that checklist, I still love their defense, coach, stadium, nickname, and even Polamalu's hair.  I hope for the Falcons sake that Matt Ryan isn't happy with being the Phillip Rivers of the NFC.  The Falcons will be in the discussion for Super Bowl favorites every season as long as Ryan plays Mr. Nice Guy with the media.  Please do not fall in love with the Chargers, Falcons, or Packers this season.  Give me one guy on each defense that has a decent post-sack dance. You can't.  Pick: Falcons were given this game when this famous quarterback decided that he was the coolest guy at a college club in Georgia.  Falcons win running away, 27-13.

Cleveland @ Tampa Bay (-3)

This game is certainly right up there with Broncos vs. Jaguars for most irrelevant week one matchup.  Neither team can play the Tebow card here and they are unmatched in anti-star power.  Let's try to think of some superstars in this one....and now I've got a headache.  Bring back CHUCKY!!!  Pick: Experience will be key here and Cleveland runs rampant with guys who've sat on the bench before in the NFL.  That's more than Tampa Bay can say for themselves. Cleveland wins this season's toilet bowl by a touchdown, 21-14.

Denver @ Jacksonville (-3)

I'm giving Denver about 3 quarters of football before they hand over the keys to Tim Tebow.  Listen, they have no receivers and they really don't have a running game.  Solution:  Run Tebow, run!  This won't be enough against just about every NFL team this side of Oakland.  Pick: Jacksonville wins a laugher in front of their only sellout crowd (all wearing Tebow jerseys), 38-10.

Indianapolis @ Houston (+1.5)

I love the Texans at home against just about anybody.  I especially love them against an aging Reggie Wayne and the non-existent running game of the Colts.  However, I'm hung up on these three things:

1. Can Coach Kubiak really take this team to the elite level?  Are both Texas teams doomed by their own head coaches?
2. Can Matt Schaub stay healthy for 20 straight weeks?  He finally played an entire season last year, but that makes one out the past three.  
3. How much of a homer are you if you're rooting for any team or player with the letters TEX in their names?  I love Mark Texiera.  How can you get rid of that guy if you're the Texas Rangers?

Pick: Texans finally get over the hump in this one.  Schaub can at least make through week one, right? Houston wins 27-24.

Arizona @ St. Louis (+4)

This line really surprised me for the simple fact that both teams are pretty much throwing rookie quarterbacks into the mix.  I know Derek Anderson has been in the league a few years, but he still plays like a rookie.  Why else would Cleveland replace him with Jake Delhomme?  In a battle of inexperienced offenses, I've gotta take the home team plus the points.  Pick: Rams and Sam Bradford give St. Louis something to cheer about since their baseball team just crapped all over them the past two months.  23-20.

Green Bay @ Philadelphia (+3)

The Packers have been getting the publicity this off-season and rightfully so, but Philadelphia is still sneaky strong.  I can't tell you how many times I've said they Eagles were toast and they always seem to make the playoffs.  It should be interesting without McNabb leading the offense for the first time in over 10 years.  I love home teams in Week 1, but I also love Aaron Rodgers' hair.  Pick:  Green Bay is too much for Kevin Kolb and company.  31-17.

San Francisco @ Seattle (+3)

Singletary vs. Carroll.  Integrity vs. Bailout.  Intensity vs. Street smarts.  If this were a battle of morality, the 49ers win running away.  Its not.  The NFL doesn't hand out merit badges and sell cookies.  Pick: Seahawks win on the strength of their home crowd and Carroll's enthusiasm.  13-10.

Dallas @ Washington (+3.5)

McNabb is 2-5 against the Cowboys in the past three seasons while playing for BETTER team.  Why should tonight be any different?  The Cowboys have concerns about the offensive line and how they're going to protect Tony Romo.  Local media have been hammering this point into the ground for over a month now and I feel like they're overlooking an important aspect of the game, defense.  The Cowboys still have DeMarcus Ware, Bradie James, Terrence Newman, and young Pro Bowler Mike Jenkins.  Pick:  Dallas wins a close one, 30-27.

Baltimore @ NY Jets (+1.5)

Most interesting match up by a long shot.  Both teams play great defense, run the football effectively, and have big personalities.  I love the off season acquisitions by the Ravens at wide receiver which was once their only weakness.  The Jets have been in the spotlight this entire off-season and they appear to be up for the challenge.  Monday night football will not get any better than this.  Pick: I've gotta take the home team in a game like this.  Jets win on a huge late defensive touchdown, 20-13.

San Diego @ Kansas City (+5)

Huh?  Um, why was this game chosen to be a part of the Monday night doubleheader?  Packers - Eagles? Cowboys - Redskins? Colts - Texans?  Even the Raiders - Titans match up is more interesting.  Oh well, Week 1 is still awesome.  Pick: Kansas City will stun the NFL and expose the Chargers without the help of their star wideout, Vincent Jackson.  21-17.

How to fix the NBA's Slam Junk Competition

For the first time in a very long time, the NBA's Slam Dunk Competition didn't have my heart racing as if I'd just wakeboarded through a shark tank. Instead, it left an aftertaste in my mouth that even Everclear and listerine couldn't wash out.

I wanna say this first: I don't have a problem with short guys. At my current height of 5'8", on a good day, it's inbred in me to cheer for the short guys. I love Darren Sproles, J.J. Barea, David Eckstein, Martin Short, Michael J. Fox, Tom Cruise and a slew of other midgetesque entertainers.

Sproles is that shifty running back that defenses lose sight of as soon as he hits the line of scrimmage. Barea makes seemingly impossible reverse layups over giant like statues of defenders. Eckstein was the improbable MVP of the 2006 World Series despite being overlooked by many teams his entire career. Short went virtually unnoticed during the better part of the 80's until his lead role alongside Danny Glover in the 1989 blockbuster, Pure Luck. Fox is Canadian. Cruise is some sort of demigod within his own religion...or something like that.

These guys are all role models for us short guys. The unwritten code among short guys goes something like this: We always have each others back. No matter what. Whether it's for an Emmy, Grammy, MVP, re-election, back-alley fight, it doesn't matter.

After the past three years of watching a midget should-be gymnast, Nate Robinson, win the NBA Slam Dunk Competition, I've had enough. The code can no longer interfere with my passion for the NBA and their celebrated "larger" than life competition. I'm putting my foot down and begging for a new rule to be enforced..."You must be this tall to ride this ride". Please, Mr. Stern.

The "show" that was put on last night by a midget and three nobodies was the most disappointing professional skills competition since they had pro athletes on American Gladiators. About midway through the second round, Charles Barkley said it best, "These guys better show us something before the crowd gets up and walks out." I'm sure the execs at TNT cringed when Chuck busted out with his disappointing comments, but he was simply stating the obvious.

If that's the best the NBA has to offer when it comes to a dunking competition, maybe they need to provide some incentives for the real big boys to come out and play. There was no way in hell that LeBron James or Kobe Bryant was going to compete in last night's dunk contest against a midget and a bunch of nobodies. What was there to gain?

In the 80's and 90's the dunk contest was all about pride and becoming a legend by doing something creative that no one had ever seen before. Think about guys like Dee Brown, Shawn Kemp, Harold Miner, Isaiah Rider, or Vince Carter. They will always be remembered more for their dunks than anything else they've accomplished on the court. Nowadays, the guys like LeBron and Kobe don't want to compete, because if they embarrass themselves, their ego would take a big hit and it might affect their current "legendary status". So, they play it safe.

Let me ask you something, why is LeBron already considered a legend in the same breath as Michael Jordan? Simply, the NBA's marketing juggernaut alongside Nike have made everyone believe that he's more of a legend than he really is. He has zero championships (Jordan had 6). He has two bronze medals and one gold (Jordan won two gold). He has one scoring title (Jordan had 10 scoring titles and an NCAA title). He's never won defensive player of the year. He's won zero slam-dunk competitions (Jordan won two). What I'm saying here is that he's not even close to Jordan and he never will be.

I don't care if he's only 25. He'll never catch up to Jordan in any of these categories...except one, the dunk contest. Lebron has the opportunity to seal his place in NBA folklore with some jaw dropping dunk contest performances that will put him in the same breath as Kobe and Jordan, even if he never wins a championship. But, if he doesn't win a championship or a dunk contest, he'll go down in history as the most selfish, over-hyped, over-rated player to ever play in the NBA.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has a great idea for fixing the dunk contest. He says to put up a million dollars and a super sports car and have a no holds barred winner take all contest . Anyone in the NBA can sign up. You get one dunk. Best dunk wins. The cash goes to the charity of their choice and the player keeps the car. Everyone would watch that, right? I believe that most of the big names in the NBA, including an arthritic Shaquille O'Neal, would compete in it.

Let me know what you think. Did you guys even watch the dunk contest last night? Did you not tune in because of the poor quality of dunkers? Did you tivo it like me and were damn glad that you didn't watch it live? Did you just not care at all?

Root for Peyton Manning because I said so!

Today, I'm giving you all about 45 minutes of entertainment/ brainwashing just before tomorrow's big game. Because the game is between the Colts and the Saints, I feel like a ton of people are searching for a rooting interest during the big game and ESPN's unbiased coverage isn't helping.

Consider today's post as an educational sermon on why this year's Super Bowl has way more outside factors influencing which camp football fans outside of New Orleans and Indianapolis should join. If anything, you can take away that I'm giving you guys a cheaper way to be interested in the Super Bowl as opposed to making silly prop bets in Vegas or dumping 20 bucks into an office pool.

5 Reasons to watch Super Bowl XLIV and root for the Colts:

1. Peyton Manning. This video is a great clip of Peyton Manning mic'd up during a game against the St. Louis Rams. It really shows how passionate and emotional he can be when faced with adversity. It's also pretty funny how he comes back down to earth as soon as his 332 lb left tackle, Tarik Glenn tells him to sit down. Click here
2. Peyton Manning. Before his breakthrough on SNL, Manning was perceived as that silver spooned kid that never made mistakes and was always politically correct. Even I couldn't stand Peyton Manning. My favorite QB growing up, Steve Young, already had that throne in my book. I remember being a Tom Brady fan because he played the mysterious, overachieving underdog that didn't take flak from anybody. He also happened to date supermodels....and impregnate movie stars, simultaneously. Manning's SNL skit tipped the scales in his favor, especially after this United Way commercial.
3. Peyton, Eli, and Archie Manning. By far the greatest karaoke song.
4. Hitler loves the Colts. Especially Peyton Manning.
5. Peyton Manning's audibles are in Gaelic.

5 Reasons to Root against the Saints

1. Reggie Bush. How can you root for a guy that dates Kim Kardashian, went to college in Southern California, got paid to play college football, destroyed the credibility of his Alma-mater's football program, and won the Heisman Trophy over Vince Young in 2005? The only consolation out there for Reggie Bush haters would have to be this.
2. New Orleans is a dirty sodomy filled city. Been there twice and hated it both times.
3. Sean Payton. When he was Offensive Coordinator here for our beloved Cowboys, I clearly remember him calling ridiculous plays in the worst situations. The most memorable being a 4th and goal from the 1 yd line situation, down by 4, under a minute left against the Chargers. What came next? Fade route to to Keyshawn Johnson. Incomplete pass. Now all of the sudden he's the hottest coach in the NFL.
4. Saints - Party in the MIA Remix. Wow. Not only was the Miley Cyrus version lame, but this is without question the worst Super Bowl pep song ever.
5. Katrina. Get over it. It was almost 5 years ago and we're still hearing about how devastating it was. Let me ask you this...Did you ever once hear a New Yorker try to convince anyone to pull for the Yankees or the Giants after 9-11? How about the Oklahoma City Thunder? Do they request any sort of charity from the fallout of the Oklahoma City bombing of the 90's? All over ESPN they're covering how the city NEEDS this Super Bowl victory for it's rebuilding efforts. Um, no. You need to build a city somewhere that doesn't require levies and doesn't get blasted by Cat 5 hurricanes every 5 years. Think about this...after all of the money that was poured into the rebuilding effort by the federal, state, and local governments, not to mention individual contributions and volunteer hours, what are they going to do if they win tomorrow? Have a $2-3 million Super Bowl parade? On who's dime? Maybe they should have it Houston (where most of the city's population moved to after the storm), or possibly in San Antonio (where the Saints practiced and relocated to for the remainder of the 2005 season).

My point is that just because the city suffered through a tragedy doesn't mean that the rest of the nation has to jump on the bandwagon. The team's success has nothing to do with how the city is represented. Just look at Buffalo, Detroit, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Kansas City. If your team's success determined the general feeling of the city, then these cities would very high suicide rates, unemployment rates (sorry Detroit), etc.

If you couldn't care less about anything that I rambled on and on about...just root for Peyton Manning because he's a good guy.

4th and Done

For 18 weeks now, Mondays have given football fans a day of heightened emotional exhaustion. Compounding the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat with an already tedious weekday that's typically characterized by high stress levels at the workplace. After mixing in an argument with your spouse, getting cut off in traffic by a teenager on their cell phone, and a sprinkle of unruly customers, "Overreaction Mondays" have given fans an opportunity to vent.

Message boards, chat rooms, talk radio, neighborhood bars, office water coolers, barbershops, etc...

No matter where you go on Monday, you'll be lucky to make it to lunch without hearing the chatter about yesterday's game.

For Dallas Cowboys fans, it's over.

Monday was your last chance to lie on the couch and tell Dr. Football what exactly has been bothering you since Brett Favre threw his 4th TD pass to humiliate your team the day before. I've gotta be honest, I couldn't even eat anything after that game. I found myself munching on some Doritos around 6 pm and finally able to slurp down some chicken noodle soup before bed. My bottom lip quivered and my eyes watered all night (this might have been caused by the tap water I used as contact solution, not a good idea). Favre had ripped my heart out like Kano's fatality move from Mortal Kombat.

Because of this unknown complex that I'm suffering from, I'm not getting into any specifics about the game. Ok, ok...maybe just one.

Let me paint the picture for you....

On the Cowboys first possession of the game the Cowboy offense moved the ball from just shy of their 20-yard line to the Minnesota 32-yard line and didn't show any signs of slowing down. Minnesota looked as if they were laboring against the run and Felix Jones had already squirted through for a couple of 8 to 10-yard carries. Even Miles Austin had a key 7-yard carry to convert a key third down situation.

Cowboys kicker, Shawn Suisham starts trotting out onto the field to attempt a 49-yard FG on a 4th and 1 situation...

A Field Goal?? Seriously, Wade?? On 4th and ONE?? With the score 0-0??

Did I mention that our kicker was 7-13 for his career kicking inside of domes?

It's impossible to pinpoint where everything went wrong for the Cowboys in such a lopsided game. If it wasn't Tony Romo, who looked like Willie Beamon in Any Given Sunday after he'd put himself before the team and his offensive line refused to block for him. Or our porous secondary who was torched by Jerry, I mean Sydney, Rice, for not one, not two, but THREE touchdowns. Or maybe Red Jesus and his play calling on offense? This is all fair game on Overreaction Monday, but my question goes to Wade Phillips...

What happened to being aggressive and pulling out all the stops in a must win game on the road?? Why didn't you go for it on 4th and 1?

That's it. There's nothing else to say.

In my opinion, this season was a success. We're off the hook as far as the 13-year playoff win drought goes. Our defense looked like a top-5 squad the second half of the season, against some pretty stiff competition I might add. And our QB and head coach have taken that ugly monkey off their backs.

Here are some things that Cowboys fans have to look forward to next year:

1. Cowboys Stadium is the best stadium in the NFL, by far. I encourage anyone that lives within a 500 mile radius of Arlington to check it out. It doesn't matter what type of event you go to, the stadium alone will blow you away. I just hope that it got the attention of some soon-to-be free agents this offseason.
   
2. Jerry Jones will make the necessary moves to get his team over the hump. It will be up to the players and the coaches to make it happen next season. Mark my words, as soon as Jerry starts holding people accountable, the Cowboys will return to their glory days of the 90's.
   
3. Standout seasons by Jay Ratliff, Mike Jenkins, Miles Austin, Anthony Spencer, and Felix Jones should be the tip of the iceberg. Each one of these guys made huge contributions and where pretty much afterthoughts before the season started. Now they're on the map and it will make game planning against the Cowboys that much more difficult.
4. Finally, Tony Romo's age is getting up into the area of "Super Bowl" or "Bust" as far as his career's concerned. The added pressure should motivate Romo to work harder this offseason and come into 2010 with a bit of a chip on his shoulder.

Here are some pics of the Cowboys - Eagles playoff from a couple of weeks ago. Sorry it took so long! We had really great seats!

Playoff Drought - RIP

Felix! Felix! Felix!

Those were the chants permeating inside the ninth wonder of the world, known as Cowboys Stadium, during the third quarter of last night's Cowboys/Eagles playoff game in Arlington, TX. Felix Jones had just ripped off an untouched 73 yard touchdown run, the longest in Cowboys playoff history. Felix's TD run made the score 34-7, Cowboys favor, with just over 20 minutes remaining in the game. You could feel it in the crowd. You could sense it in the air. You could see it on Coach Phillips' face (if you were looking at the largest flat screen in the world).

The Cowboys were about to pull off an improbable season long trifecta against their bitter rival the Philadelphia Eagles, and most importantly, end a 13 year-long playoff drought.

Two days prior to the game, my mother called me and asked if I would like to go to my first ever Cowboys playoff game for my birthday. I believe my response was something along the lines of, "Hell yeah!" or "That would be nice.". We were able to track down a couple a tickets online in section 219, at a very reasonable price I might add.

Realistically, I wasn't expecting much of a view. I've been to Cowboys games in the old Cowboys Stadium, and I've sat in just about every section. I can honestly say that the best seats were on the 50 yard line in the second deck. You're high enough to see over the players on the sideline and close enough to take in all the action on the field. Last night, we had two of the best seats in the house for the money. The thing is...every seat in the house is phenomenal.

From the time we were molested by security guards walking into the stadium, to avoiding all the meandering drunkards outside of the stadium after the biggest Cowboys win in recent memory...the experience had to be one of the greatest sports spectacles I've ever witnessed. I found myself watching the big screen for the majority of the game...along with high-fiving about 7 different people every time the Cowboys made a big play. My hand is killing me today.

My only complaint about the whole night is this...Eagles Suck! Eagles Suck! Eagles Suck! That was the clever chant the Cowboy fans repeated throughout the night. Please Cowboy fans, let's get a little more creative.

So overall, it was a fantastic game between a seemingly cohesive Cowboys squad and a flailing Eagles team that needed a trick play from a former dog fighter to get on the scoreboard. My buddy that went to the game with me, Tyler, said, "I wonder if Keith Brooking will go up to Mike Vick and say "I sure am glad we got the hell out of Atlanta."?

These were a few things that hit me during the game:

1. Mike Jenkins is the next great shutdown corner in the league. He and Terrance Newman held Eagles wideout, Desean Jackson, to three catches for 14 yards in last night's game. Jenkins also added two interceptions during the game and made one hell of a play on a key deep ball in the first half that could have been a turning point in the game.

2. The Dallas pass rush is downright scary. They remind me of the days of Charles Haley, Russell Maryland, Jim Jeffcoat, and Ken Norton. That defense was also overlooked because of all the stars on offense. The similarities give me goosebumps. I'm going to pray for Brett Favre next weekend. If what we did to Donovan McNabb is any indication...imagine what we can do to a 40 year old quarterback with zero agility.

3. Wade Phillips will keep his job next season, no matter what happens in Minnesota. Just by getting the monkey off his back last night, Phillips has all but secured his job with the Dallas Cowboys for at least another season.

4. Next weekend's game against Minnesota is my unofficial "Super Bowl". In my opinion, these are the two most balanced teams in the NFL. I feel like New Orleans faded down the stretch and lost their edge against Dallas. Indianapolis cannot make any stops in the fourth quarter. Every close game that they played in this year, the other team made boneheaded mistakes or went for it on fourth down as if they were playing a game of Madden. Minnesota and Dallas are the only two teams that you know what you're going up against when you play them. Relentless pass rush, smart middle linebackers, and balanced secondaries on defense. Quarterbacks capable of making every throw, running backs with home run speed, tight ends that move the chains and wide outs that are red zone threats on offense. I'm stoked about next week's "Super Bowl". Let me know what you think!

Hibernation

Dear readers (all nine of you),

My wife and I have been on a whirlwind of a holiday vacation since December 21st and this is literally the first time I've been able to sit down and put it all on paper. Err...keyboard. Err...you know what I mean. I would give you all an apology, albeit an empty one, that would be a little bit like winning a trophy for finishing in last place. I guess you can't really measure your stress/frustration level in the game of life when you're a.) trying to start a sports blog from scratch b.) taking 12 hours of classes this semester c.) working part-time in an industry that you never knew existed until 5 months ago, and d.) newly married since June 2009.

So, when a vacation presents itself....you seize the day my friends. That's exactly what I did. No blog. No school. No work. No wife....wait a second, she's still here. Well 3 for 4 isn't bad.

Over the past few weeks, my life has been oddly fulfilled. Maybe being married has some perks that I wasn't aware of. For instance, you get to celebrate multiple Christmases. We celebrated Christmas with her family in Houston first, then hustled up to Mabank for a quick Nichols family Christmas. I understand that it may start out being a perk and may eventually end up a nightmare, but Christmas 2009 was outstanding in my book. (The PS3, EOS Rebel, The Hangover DVD, and other goodies were just icing on the cake!)

To make a long story short, I'm still on vacation. Consider this my version of checking in. Or out...whichever makes more sense to you. I'll return to my normal weekly blog after the BCS National Championship game on January 8th. My plan is to be the Vince Young of sports bloggers. Promising start....everything goes haywire for few weeks....then reels off seven straight wins out of nowhere. As my good friend Khayam would say, "I'll understand quantum physics 'fore I understand the NFL."

Have a happy New Year!

JNick

P.S. - Send me your New Year's resolutions. I'd like to know what everyone is planning for 2010.