There comes a point in every sports fan’s life when it becomes painfully evident that the team he cheers for with die-hard exuberance will not make the playoffs, let alone win a championship. As a Philadelphia sports fan, I’m all too familiar with this feeling. During the third quarter of the Eagles’ loss to Green Bay on Monday night, it sank in that, once again, this would not be the year. What’s even more ominous is that this may be a time when none of the Philadelphia sports teams will qualify for their respective second seasons. I know, I know, every team goes through a rebuilding process where the current product is sacrificed for the betterment of the future. It’s the cyclical nature of sports. When all four are down at the same time? Bad times, trust me. Sure, there are budding homegrown superstars – Carson Wentz, Joel Embiid, Shayne Gostisbehere – that will serve as the cornerstones. But unless you add those other building blocks, the foundation is wasted.
By way of example, look no further than Donovan McNabb. Like Wentz, he was the #2 overall pick in the draft. Also like Wentz, he had a pu-pu platter of receivers to work with at the beginning of his career. Charles Johnson and Torrance Small? Not exactly Rice and Taylor, Swann and Stallworth, or the Marks brothers. This current crop needs a massive overhaul. Jordan Matthews is serviceable, but not elite. Former first round pick Nelson Agholor was just a healthy scratch because he can’t catch a cold. Doriel Green-Beckham is the smallest 6’5” receiver ever. McNabb’s rookie coach Andy Reid struggled with clock management and personnel decisions that didn’t do his franchise QB any favors. Doug Pederson’s undoing could be the red challenge flag. He challenges plays that have little to no meaning on the game, then seems baffled when he doesn’t have one in the chamber for a critical fourth quarter play. It makes me wonder how this team beat the Steelers, Vikings, and Falcons this year.
Actually I know how…Wentz. For the love of all things midnight green and silver, could we please get this guy some help before his career turns into the meaningless string the remainder of 2016 has become?
On the heels of an 0-6 start, it looked like my fantasy football team (ironically named “ihatefantasyfootball”) was playing out a string too. But with four wins in the last six weeks, I’m still mathematically alive. All I have to do is win this week, have my buddy Mike lose, and outscore his team by about 100 points to win the tiebreaker. So you’re saying there’s a chance…
Here are the Week 13 picks, as always with the home team in CAPS.
MINNESOTA (+3.5) over Dallas – Vikings coach Mike Zimmer will miss the game because he had eye surgery. I’d argue that he should have foregone the surgery so he didn’t have to watch this mess. Vikings 20, Cowboys 19
Denver (-5) over JACKSONVILLE – Unlike the Eagles, the Jags seem to have some building blocks but no foundation. I don’t see Blake “Garbage Time” Bortles getting it done. Broncos 24, Jaguars 16
Kansas City (+3.5) over ATLANTA – Atlanta offense vs. Kansas City defense seems like a wash. That in mind, I think I like the Chiefs O a little better than the Falcons D. Chiefs 23, Falcons 21
GREEN BAY (-2) over Houston – Rumors of Aaron Rodgers’ demise were greatly exaggerated, obviously. Packers 30, Texans 24
Philadelphia (-2) over CINCINNATI – The Eagles aren’t mathematically eliminated either, but it couldn’t hurt them to start scouting the college bowl games for those pieces to add in April. Speaking of, the WR-needy Eagles should absolutely look at Oklahoma’s Dede Westbrook. I mean, he has a brother named “Iverson.” Iverson? Westbrook? How’s that for karma? Eagles 27, Bengals 20
NEW ORLEANS (-5) over Detroit – Drew Brees and Matthew Stafford could each throw for 5,000 yards. Not this season, I mean in just this game. Saints 44, Lions 38
CHICAGO (-2.5) over San Francisco – Former Eagles great Matt Barkley looked surprisingly competent last week in relief of smokin’ Jay Cutler. Maybe Chip Kelly was on to something when he drafted Barkley a few years back. He’ll get a chance to watch him in person this week. Bears 20, 49ers 17
NEW ENGLAND (-13.5) over Los Angeles – Even with Brady’s wonky knee and Gronk’s gronky back, I’ll take the Pats in a walk. Patriots 34, Rams 14
Miami (+3.5) over BALTIMORE – A little confused by this line. Miami has won seven in a row, and Baltimore was last seen holding every member of the Bengals in what looked like a middle school dance. You’re not fooling me, Vegas! Dolphins 22, Ravens 20
OAKLAND (-3) over Buffalo – If you would have told me in August that the Week 13 Raiders-Bills game would be the game of the week, I would have had you committed. Alas, that’s where we are. Raiders 27, Bills 23
Tampa Bay (+4) over SAN DIEGO – Gut play on road dog #1, I don’t foresee a let down from Tampa after last week’s knock-down, drag-out fight with the Seahawks. Buccaneers 24, Chargers 23
Washington (+2.5) over ARIZONA – Gut play on road dog #2, I’m on board with Kirk Cousins, and the Cardinals are a hot mess. Redskins 27, Cardinals 16
PITTSBURGH (-6) over New York Giants – Two of my Steelers people, my Uncle John and the homie Nate, had birthdays this week. Hoping they both get a big gift from Ben, Bell, and Brown on Sunday. Steelers 31, Giants 22
SEATTLE (-7) over Carolina – If Seattle has any intention of hosting an NFC Championship game, they need to bounce back in front of the 12’s. Seahawks 21, Panthers 13
NEW YORK JETS (+1) over Indianapolis – In the immortal words of Billy Joel, don’t ask me why. Jets 19, Colts 17
Bye: Cleveland, Tennessee
Week 12: 12-4 Straight up; 11-5 Against the spread
2016 Season: 108-67-2; 88-88-1
By way of example, look no further than Donovan McNabb. Like Wentz, he was the #2 overall pick in the draft. Also like Wentz, he had a pu-pu platter of receivers to work with at the beginning of his career. Charles Johnson and Torrance Small? Not exactly Rice and Taylor, Swann and Stallworth, or the Marks brothers. This current crop needs a massive overhaul. Jordan Matthews is serviceable, but not elite. Former first round pick Nelson Agholor was just a healthy scratch because he can’t catch a cold. Doriel Green-Beckham is the smallest 6’5” receiver ever. McNabb’s rookie coach Andy Reid struggled with clock management and personnel decisions that didn’t do his franchise QB any favors. Doug Pederson’s undoing could be the red challenge flag. He challenges plays that have little to no meaning on the game, then seems baffled when he doesn’t have one in the chamber for a critical fourth quarter play. It makes me wonder how this team beat the Steelers, Vikings, and Falcons this year.
Actually I know how…Wentz. For the love of all things midnight green and silver, could we please get this guy some help before his career turns into the meaningless string the remainder of 2016 has become?
On the heels of an 0-6 start, it looked like my fantasy football team (ironically named “ihatefantasyfootball”) was playing out a string too. But with four wins in the last six weeks, I’m still mathematically alive. All I have to do is win this week, have my buddy Mike lose, and outscore his team by about 100 points to win the tiebreaker. So you’re saying there’s a chance…
Here are the Week 13 picks, as always with the home team in CAPS.
MINNESOTA (+3.5) over Dallas – Vikings coach Mike Zimmer will miss the game because he had eye surgery. I’d argue that he should have foregone the surgery so he didn’t have to watch this mess. Vikings 20, Cowboys 19
Denver (-5) over JACKSONVILLE – Unlike the Eagles, the Jags seem to have some building blocks but no foundation. I don’t see Blake “Garbage Time” Bortles getting it done. Broncos 24, Jaguars 16
Kansas City (+3.5) over ATLANTA – Atlanta offense vs. Kansas City defense seems like a wash. That in mind, I think I like the Chiefs O a little better than the Falcons D. Chiefs 23, Falcons 21
GREEN BAY (-2) over Houston – Rumors of Aaron Rodgers’ demise were greatly exaggerated, obviously. Packers 30, Texans 24
Philadelphia (-2) over CINCINNATI – The Eagles aren’t mathematically eliminated either, but it couldn’t hurt them to start scouting the college bowl games for those pieces to add in April. Speaking of, the WR-needy Eagles should absolutely look at Oklahoma’s Dede Westbrook. I mean, he has a brother named “Iverson.” Iverson? Westbrook? How’s that for karma? Eagles 27, Bengals 20
NEW ORLEANS (-5) over Detroit – Drew Brees and Matthew Stafford could each throw for 5,000 yards. Not this season, I mean in just this game. Saints 44, Lions 38
CHICAGO (-2.5) over San Francisco – Former Eagles great Matt Barkley looked surprisingly competent last week in relief of smokin’ Jay Cutler. Maybe Chip Kelly was on to something when he drafted Barkley a few years back. He’ll get a chance to watch him in person this week. Bears 20, 49ers 17
NEW ENGLAND (-13.5) over Los Angeles – Even with Brady’s wonky knee and Gronk’s gronky back, I’ll take the Pats in a walk. Patriots 34, Rams 14
Miami (+3.5) over BALTIMORE – A little confused by this line. Miami has won seven in a row, and Baltimore was last seen holding every member of the Bengals in what looked like a middle school dance. You’re not fooling me, Vegas! Dolphins 22, Ravens 20
OAKLAND (-3) over Buffalo – If you would have told me in August that the Week 13 Raiders-Bills game would be the game of the week, I would have had you committed. Alas, that’s where we are. Raiders 27, Bills 23
Tampa Bay (+4) over SAN DIEGO – Gut play on road dog #1, I don’t foresee a let down from Tampa after last week’s knock-down, drag-out fight with the Seahawks. Buccaneers 24, Chargers 23
Washington (+2.5) over ARIZONA – Gut play on road dog #2, I’m on board with Kirk Cousins, and the Cardinals are a hot mess. Redskins 27, Cardinals 16
PITTSBURGH (-6) over New York Giants – Two of my Steelers people, my Uncle John and the homie Nate, had birthdays this week. Hoping they both get a big gift from Ben, Bell, and Brown on Sunday. Steelers 31, Giants 22
SEATTLE (-7) over Carolina – If Seattle has any intention of hosting an NFC Championship game, they need to bounce back in front of the 12’s. Seahawks 21, Panthers 13
NEW YORK JETS (+1) over Indianapolis – In the immortal words of Billy Joel, don’t ask me why. Jets 19, Colts 17
Bye: Cleveland, Tennessee
Week 12: 12-4 Straight up; 11-5 Against the spread
2016 Season: 108-67-2; 88-88-1