TOP THREE SHOCKING THINGS ABOUT WEEK 11


Tony Romo, the new Peyton Manning?

Oh, go'won, you know you want me to note the bloody Colts being knocked from the ranks of the undefeated by the Cowboys as "shocking" but was it really? Not only I, but many others had predicted just this sort of thing. Why? Because the Colts aren't that good, that's why. Nor are the Bears. And THAT, Al Michaels, you smug little bastid, is why bloggers change their mind like players and real analysts about these teams. Neither is what you would call "Super".

In fact, I predict now that neither of these two teams will win the Super Bowl, that some darkhorse candidate rising from below and beyond to surprise us.




1. 49ers 20 Seattle 0 at the half: That the final margin ended up closer is no consolation for the Seapigeons who allowed the 49ers to win their 3rd straight game of the season, almost as unfathonable as the Raiders winning two in a row. This means the 49ers are in the playoff hunt, a mere game away from the Seahawks and first. What made this initially shocking was that this was the game both Alexander and Hasselbeck were to come back and whom better to exploit than a dodgy 49er defence? As it turns out Alexander had only 37 yards on 17 carries, rustier than imagined and Hasselbeck merely dressed, didn't see any action. Still, kudos to the 49ers in their rise from the dead. Frank Gore's 212 yards rushing was a new team record and further cheers to 49er coach Mike Nolan and his spiffy sideline suit.



2. Good Bye McPhilly Season - What this proves is that the Iggles don't need some evil Terrell Owens karmic voodoo to end both Donovan McNabb and the Eagles' season prematurely. But look at it this way: the team I had pegged for the Super Bowl can now afford the greatest excuse of all for not winning: Our franchise QB is lost for the season. Is there an Earl Morrell waiting in the wings? Sadly, no. Just more Jeff Garcia and AJ Feeley and a string of losses to close out the season. With this injury, McNabb has suffered as many season-ending injuries as season ending chokes. McNabb had surgery for a sports hernia and missed the final seven games last season when Philadelphia finished 6-10 a year after going to the Super Bowl. McNabb also sat out the final six regular-season games of the 2002 season with a broken ankle before returning for the playoffs. The Eagles were 2-5 with Mike McMahon filling in for McNabb last year and went 5-1 with Koy Detmer and Feeley starting the last six games in '02. Next up on the hit list - The Indianapolis Colts.



3. Down Go the Horseheads - Ok, I know I just said it wasn't all that shocking because really and truly, this team is no great team puffing up their regular season record and beginning a history of humiliation that goes back to the Patriot heydays but even though it isn't as shocking as the Bears losing to the Dolphins, it's still newsworthy simply for the fact that Peyton Manning looked mortal, getting outplayed by Tony Romo throwing two interceptions in one game after just three all season. Tony Romo, mate. I know they've been singing his praises since preseason but to get outplayed by a rookie making his what, 4th start of his career? Hmmmm.

Random Notes


Marty Ball Gone Wild

Will the Chargers be the newly annointed favourites now that they've made yet another thrilling comeback? The Chargers have rallied back from 17-point deficits in their last two games, the first time in NFL history that feat has been accomplished. You have to wonder what an AFC Championship game between the Chargers and Colts would be like - the highest scoring finale in history? Not so fast. Like the Chargers, the Ravens have also won their last four on the trot and hey, the Dolphins, with three in a row, are making a revival.

Meanwhile on the downside, the Vikings have now lost 4 games in a row and the Rams have lost 5 in a row. The Falcons have also lost three in a row and although the Redskins have only lost 2 in a row, they'd struggle to beat the Cardinals at this point in the season. Time to say goodbye to Joe Gibbs and begin the countdown to which guru's reputation can be tarnished by a run at the Redskins?