RSS
Home
List: Seahawks playoff desperation
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Is this the end of the world for the Huskies and Seahawks? It's a pretty natural inclination to toss in the towel. In fact, it's what I would say is a predictable call for a sports columnist, as uncreative as it is. This is what was Steve Kelley's column was about Monday in the Seattle Times.
Having worked with Steve and seen his work over the years, I could have predicted this piece before the final gun. It's his way of separating himself from a loser, currently the Seahawks, and providing supposed expertise. Sometimes you just wish he wouldn't be so obvious. Also, sometimes he's dead wrong. Teams that he has declared dead over the years have suddenly come back to life and become competitive again. It's like, what's the point? Give me insight on something in that clubhouse, not three-and-out.
I'm not sure what's ahead for Hawks or Huskies but certainly their respective post-season and bowl scenarios are challenged. Here's this week's football reflections:
1. We looked last week at the best-case scenarios for the Hawks to reach the post-season and it was remote at best. And even that depended on the Hawks beating Arizona. Now they have to win games they aren't expected to win, like Dallas in two weeks, at Arizona Nov. 15 and at unbeaten Minnesota the following week. Unlikely perhaps, but the team may be getting back some injured and hurting players after the break, LB Leroy Hill, T Sean Locklear, T Walter Jones, G Rob Sims and CB Marcus Trufant. Their return, especially O-line guys, will make them immeasurably better.
2. A few weeks back we also looked at UW's bowl hopes. They have three wins and need six to become bowl eligible. One of the teams they win they had hoped to have was against Arizona State, who they lost to on an inexplicable last minute defensive lapse. They still need three with five games left. They'll beat Washington State (if not, they don't deserve a bowl bid). That's four. They may surprise UCLA in two weeks, or at least they'll need to do that. That leaves Oregon here this weekend, at Oregon State Nov. 14 and Cal here Dec. 5 to get one more. Oregon is possible. They could have a USC-like effort against their rival, but I'm looking at Cal, despite their demolition of the Bruins Saturday. It'll be cold, wet, miserable weather and the Huskies could be motivated, knowing that a win could get them to a bowl.
3. The Redskins brass has decided to take the play-calling responsibilities away from head coach Jim Zorn. Once you emasculate a coach, turning in his clipboard will be a quick next step. He's on a week-to-week leash.
As a followup to last week's note bemoaning the fact that there are so many horrible NFL teams, comes New England's 59-0 crushing of Tennessee. You see these kinds of games in college when Florida plays Delaware State. Not so much in the NFL. But it's amazing to me how pathetic some teams are. And the Seahawks are close to falling into that abyss.
How about that late-game 58-yard (in the air) pass from Brett Favre to Sidney Rice? It was a thing of beauty. Favre is 39 years old. He's defying logic.
After three weeks, I thought Baltimore was the most balanced and best team in the league. They have since lost three in a row, all by a touchdown or less. Coming out of their bye this week, I fully expect them to return to the elite.
Denver is 6-0. Unbelievable. As much as I hate to admit it, they are for real. Their defense is outstanding. Their pressure on San Diego QB Phillip Rivers, particularly in the second-half, was relentless. The Broncos look like a playoff team, especially since they are three games up in their division with 10 games left.
How does San Diego coach Norv Turner keep his job? How does he keep getting jobs?
Two of the league's top four rushers (Tennessee's Chris Johnson, 596 yards; St. Louis' Stephen Jackson, 501 yards) play for teams that are a combined 0-12.
Watch out for the Houston Texans? QB Matt Schaub is beginning to find his rhythm and RB Steve Slaton, an early season disappointment, had his best game (43 yards running; 102 receiving, 1 TD). He just needs to hang onto the ball. The Texans may be a wild card challenger, finally emerging from expansion.
Mini Lists:
Top Five: 1. Indianapolis. 2. New Orleans 3. Minnesota. 4. New England. 5. New York Giants
Bottom Five: 28. Tennessee. 29. Buffalo. 30. Tampa Bay. 31. St. Louis. 32. Cleveland.
Player of the Week: Is there anyone else? Patriots' QB Tom Brady, 29 of 34, 380 yards and six touchdowns. He threw five in the second quarter. And he only played one series into the second half.
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
