 |
|||||||||||
Just
Shoot Me How great was it, watching the conclusion of the Panthers-Packers game with snowflakes falling from the heavens? It was even better watching Carolina find a way to rally in the "Land of the Cheeseheads". It was truly an entertaining affair. You got the sense that the Panthers were watching this one slip away, but they miraculously found a way to win a big one on the road. The Panthers have played some really memorable games with the Green Bay Packers, but this one was huge. The Carolina victory, along with Tampa's "W" over New Orleans, makes next Monday night's showdown in Charlotte quite large. Both teams are tied at the top in the NFC South with a 9-3 record, and the Bucs already have one big win against John Fox and company from earlier this season, when they waxed Carolina. Now, the Panthers need to take care of business while in the "revenge" mode. It should be a great setting, as Carolina's biggest game takes place in a stadium where they have yet to lose all season long. While Tampa and Carolina get set for the "Southern Showdown", don't forget about Atlanta, who is one game back at 8-4. The NFC South has been fascinating; the home teams are still a remarkable 22-2 this season, and the Panthers hope that trend continues. Hey, Plaxico Burress...you're an idiot. I'm all for anybody buying a gun legally, but be smart enough to know how and when to use it. If you need a firearm to hang out in a nightclub a few days before the game, then you probably shouldn't be hanging out in the club. The New York Giants are the defending champs and playing great football. The only thing that can possibly screw things up for the G-Men is some moron stealing the headlines for all the wrong reasons.....enter Plaxico. Granted, the Giants didn't need the services of Burress in wearing out the Redskins, but that's not the point. Any player that can't figure it out at this stage of the year and of his career, perhaps you don't need on your championship roster. So, let me figure this out: I'm supposed to ignore the fact that Texas beat Oklahoma by double digits on a neutral site? Evidently, that game didn't take place or it was just an exhibition during the Texas State Fair. According to the latest BCS Poll, Oklahoma and their high flying offense is the team most worthy of representing the star-studded Big XII South in next week's conference game. This ranking and decision will be debated all week long. Don't get me wrong; both OU and Texas are legit and deserving of not only a conference title, but the national title, too. But the system is so flawed that it is comical. Explain to me how Texas and their (11-1) record sit at home and watch Missouri and Oklahoma play for the conference title? Did I mention that the Longhorns beat both of them? I bet OU can't make that claim. Screw Missouri; the Big XII should mandate that anybody that loses to Kansas at this stage of the season is automatically DQ'ed from being championship worthy, thus allowing OU and Texas to have a loser-leave-town match next weekend, for the Big XII title. Seriously, that's pretty much what has happened to a suddenly-disappointing SEC. Bama and Florida hook up in the Georgia Dome in one of the most anticipated games of the year. It's #1 Alabama and #2 Florida....it kind of reminds me of the Big Ten a few years ago, when Ohio State and Michigan played the leading roles....and like the Big Ten that season, there was nothing but mediocrity surrounding the "big two". That's what the SEC has turned into, this season. What has happened to the SEC? Since mid-October, LSU and Georgia have turned into Big XII-Light and seemingly forgotten how to tackle anybody. Add the fact that Auburn and Tennessee have decided to suck at the same time; the Southeastern Conference has become a collection of two great teams and ten others that are picking up parting gifts during the bowl season. In fact, the ACC just got finished smashing the SEC by winning three of the four rival match-ups over the weekend, while running their record to 6-4 against their more established Southern Fried Football™ brethren. While the ACC has zero elite teams, they do have better depth as indicated by ten, count 'em, ten bowl-eligible teams. The conference has improved as much since week three as the SEC has backtracked during the same time period. I guess the bowl match-ups will give us a better feel and indication of where these respective leagues stack up, in the big picture. The SEC will be looking for their third consecutive BCS title with the winner of the Bama-Florida game, and the ACC will be looking for their first BCS bowl win of the century. While both stats are factual, the SEC's other bowl-eligible teams look as ordinary as I've ever seen them. While he ACC enjoys nagging the SEC in football with the latest results, it gets back to business with the unfortunate event known as the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. I've lost count how many years we've had this made-for-television event, but I do know that the Big Ten wins this contest as often as the Detroit Lions win games in the NFL this season. For the record, that would be "zero". I think the ACC should spot the Big Ten a 4-0 lead and then start the challenge. As I look at the match-ups, I could only warn the folks that have tickets to the Indiana - Wake Forest game to make sure they don't allow young children to view the massacre. Maybe this will be interesting this season....but you already get the impression that it's probably going to be another snooze fest. Just this past holiday weekend, a middle-of-the-road Maryland team bombed top 10-ranked Michigan State. Who knows...if the ACC can drop kick the SEC in football, perhaps the Big Ten can pull the same stunt by finally winning the lame "Challenge"? I watched the Notre Dame - Southern Cal game on Saturday night. The Irish, led by offensive mastermind Charlie Weis, picked up their initial first down of the game on the last play of the third quarter. Nothing like playing 45 minutes, before starting to implement that outstanding gameplan. For crying out loud, Oklahoma and OK State scored more touchdowns in the fourth quarter than Notre Dame had first downs for the entire game. It was downright hilarious, watching the crowd mock Notre Dame when they picked up their first first down of the game. I really hope ND keeps Charlie Weis around. He makes it so much fun, to rip the biggest collection of blowhard college football fans in America. What's even better is to hear Irish fans tell you how great their upcoming recruiting class is going to be, and the fact that 2009 is the year the Irish get back to respectability. They are as clueless as Jimmy Clausen trying to find an open receiver. |
Packman
on Sports Commentary
|
||||||||||
