Tag: games

Here’s what we need to know in week 9 of the NFL regular season:

GAME OF THE WEEK: I have a love/hate relationship with this pick…but I’m saying Cowboys at Falcons. The Falcons are still undefeated, and the Cowboys still find ways to make big comebacks…and then lose. It’s like bad reality tv…you know the result but you just can’t help watching the inevitable unfold. But if the Cowboys could summon all of their talent and give the Falcons a run for their money, it’ll be a great game. Second pick: the suddenly relevant Dolphins at Colts game. Who knew either team would be in the playoff conversation at this point of the season?

PLAYER TO WATCH: Michael Vick. After last week’s post-bye meltdown, he needs to have a statement game against the Saints on Monday.

STORYLINE TO KNOW: Steelers at Giants. This game has the potential to do for NYC what the first Sunday of football after 9/11 did for the country. Whether you like football or not, competitive sports do something to unite people. It’s a symbol of perseverance and teamwork, two attributes that will be much needed in the coming months of disaster relief. I can’t even begin to understand the desperation those who have been affected by Sandy are feeling, but hopefully this is a game that will inspire a little hope in the city and its surrounding areas.

RECIPES TO MAKE:

Let’s call this edition Things to Make with Leftover Candy

candy corn and pretzel bark

frozen peanut butter cup banana pops

halloween blondies

monster cookies

mounds bar cookies

Eight thoughts on Week 8:

1. My mind continues to be boggled at the Jets refusal to use Tim Tebow in obvious offensive situations. No matter what his starting quarterback potential is, no one can deny that he was born to play on 3rd and short and in the redzone. It’s just what he DOES. And yet they continue to leave him on the sidelines when he could make a tangible contribution to winning games, something the Jets have not done much of lately. Even if they don’t want to start him at quarterback, at least use him effectively as a football player. (?!?!?!) (Or as Herm would say, YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME. Hello?!?!?!)
2. The Colts are looking like the comeback kids. They won another game in OT this week (against the Titans) and since the AFC is particularly awful this year, they have a legitimate shot at being a real playoff contender.
3. Unexpected thriller of the week: Dallas’ 24 point comeback in the second half against the Giants. It wasn’t enough to win the game, but it sure was one heck of an effort.
4. Holy throwbacks, Batman. My eyes still hurt.
5. The Eagles collapse continues to gain momentum. They just could not hold it together against the Falcons, who are steamrolling along at 8-0. More changes are sure to come, likely at the expense of Michael Vick.
6. San Diego…what?! A 7-6 loss to Cleveland?
7. Denver is in full swing under the leadership of Peyton Manning. Let’s just pause for a moment to consider how amazing a Broncos-Giants Super Bowl in New Orleans would be. The Manning brothers dueling it out in their hometown?! Doesn’t get any better than that. (Unless, of course, the Packers are in the Super Bowl.)
8. Speaking of, a win is a win is a win. But the Packers just squeaking past Jacksonville doesn’t really bode well for them as it pertains to their former offensive prowess. They are decimated by injuries at it shows. Come on, bye week! Week 10 can’t come soon enough!

Here are the essential facts about week 8 in the NFL:

GAME OF THE WEEK: There are a bunch of noteworthy games on Sunday – Patriots vs. Rams in London (a geographic selection which never fails to confuse me) and the return of Joe Vitt as Interim Head Coach to the Saints in their night game in Denver – among them. But the big one to me is Giants at Cowboys: the classic NFC East battle. The Giants lost a shocker to the Cowboys on opening day of the season, but since then the roles have been reversed. The Cowboys have been frustratingly terrible and the Giants are coming off of multiple big wins in a row. However, you can never predict what will happen in a match up between these two teams. But you can predict the need for snacks ( see below) and a clearing of your schedule between 4:30 – 7:30pm.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Cam Newton. He came under quite a bit of fire this week for his downtrodden demeanor – both on the field and off – as it pertains to the Panthers losing streak. As many commentators have been wise to point out, this is the first time he’s actually lost and taken heat for it…ever. He’s always been on winning teams or been praised for his efforts. So he deserves a little time to adjust, but should probably speed up the process a bit to quiet the media and encourage his teammates.

(I find it ironic that he’s facing another QB famous for demeanor issues this week: Jay Cutler.)

STORYLINE TO KNOW: The unbeaten Falcons visit the floundering Eagles. Two big things to note here: 1. The Eagles are 13-0 under Andy Reid after the bye week. And this is the game after their bye week (excellent timing). 2. The Eagles fired their defensive coordinator, Juan Castillo, before the bye week, so there will be some first-time on-field adjustments to be made under a new coordinator, Todd Bowles. The Eagles are also playing at home, and the Falcons have not been overwhelmingly successful against the Eagles in the past.

So, all signs point to an Eagles victory. Which probably means the Falcons will win.

RECIPES TO MAKE:

(It’s halfway through the season…so let’s keep it healthy this week. Pace ourselves in preparation for the next 8 weeks.)

carrot chips

cinnamon and pear fruit leather

roasted rosemary walnuts

toasted almond guacamole with apricots

whipped feta with sweet and hot peppers

 

Here’s the important info to know about Week 7 in the NFL:

Who’s Back:

• Terrell Suggs was back in the lineup for the Ravens. Although unfortunately it didn’t help much in their 13-43 loss to the Texans.
• Vilma was back for the first time this season for the Saints…possibly for the last time this season if his case is heard and the suspension upheld this week.

Who’s Out:

• Charles Woodson, Packers Cornerback, broke his collarbone in the 4th quarter of the game against the Rams. This is bad news for the Packers, whose defense has not been stellar so far as it is. Woodson will be out for at least 6 weeks.
• The Jaguars. Or, at least two of the more effective players on their roster: Blaine Gabbert, QB, likely out for this week, and Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, likely out for awhile with a foot injury.

What’s Good:

• SO MANY awesome endings. The Jets/Patriots and Jags/Raiders games went into OT simultaneously, while earlier in the day at least four games were decided on the final drive: wins by the Saints, Giants, Titans, Cowboys. Amazing.
• RG3 vs. Eli. Man, that was a great game – and promises to be a great NFC East matchup for years to come.

What’s Bad:

• The Panthers, with so much hope invested in Cam Newton, are kind of falling apart. So much so that they just fired their GM. Bad news.
• I continue to be hopeless in our family fantasy football lead. I didn’t even pick this week…I left it completely to chance: a quarter for the wins/losses and random.org for the confidence points. And I still lost by double digits. It’s like I’ve never seen a football game before.

It literally pains me that we’re already at Week 7…the season goes by so fast! At any rate, here’s the need-to-know info for this week:

GAME OF THE WEEK: I’m tempted to go with the battle of the 3-3’s: The 3-3 Patriots vs. The 3-3 Jets, both of whom are fighting with the also 3-3 Bills and 3-3 Dolphins for 1st place in the AFC East. But the Houston/Baltimore game is more compelling, I think. Houston is coming off a confidence-shaking loss to Green Bay on Sunday night, and Baltimore just lost several of their best players to injury. It’s an interesting AFC match-up – of the only AFC teams who actually have winning records right now (both are 5-1).

PLAYER TO WATCH: Jonathan Vilma, linebacker for the Saints, might get to play in his first game this season after coming off of the Physically Unable of Perform list this week. If you’re wondering how he can play since he’s technically still serving a year-long suspension for his alleged involvement in the Saints bounty program – don’t worry, I was wondering the same thing. But since Vilma’s case is still under appeal and will be subjected to ruling by the federal judiciary system sometime soon, the suspension is not currently under effect.

STORYLINE TO KNOW: The face-off of the two surprisingly good teams: the Minnesota Vikings and the Arizona Cardinals. Both teams are 4-2, and neither were expected to be anywhere near that number at the beginning of the season. But intrigue: John Skelton, the Cardinals original starting QB who was injured and lost his spot to Kevin Kolb who is now also injured and could potentially lose his spot, again, to Skelton, is starting this week. He’s under a lot of pressure to play well – to earn his spot back and to redeem an ugly loss to Buffalo in OT last week. Minnesota is also trying to come back from last week’s loss to the Redskins. It’s not being billed as a great storyline, but if you can, watch this game. It’s sure to be a good one!

RECIPES TO MAKE:

apple snicker nachos

peanut butter filled devil’s food cupcakes

pumpkin crunch cake

reese’s peanut butter white chocolate bark

snickers caramel cheesecake cookies

I left you guys hanging on Friday without a What to Know in Week 6 post…I’m sorry! Here’s a quick recap of what happened in Week 6:

• Sad news for Ray Lewis and the Ravens, he’s out for the rest of the year with a torn tricep. This is a HUGE loss for the Ravens – he’s their main emotional leader as well as an on-the-field powerhouse. And it’s a huge disappointment for Lewis, who is nearing the end of his playing days as is.
• Surprise, surprise. #1: The Bills upset the Cardinals in overtime. Biggest surprise: Jay Feely hit a field goal from 61 yards earlier in the game…and missed a chip shot to win in overtime. #2 The Seahawks upset the Patriots. Biggest surprise: bad decision making from the Patriots…who never make bad decisions.
• Two high profile clobberings: The Giants dismantled the 49ers in a huge road win, and…my Packers! My Packers took apart the formerly undefeated Texans. Big, big win for the Packers – but big loss as well with two more out-for-the-season injuries: linebacker D.J. Smith and running back Brandon Saine.
• RGIII dominated after coming back from a nasty concussion last week. A lot of people (myself included) didn’t think he should play, but the doctors cleared him and he took full advantage, tearing up the field.
• And…Dallas continues to struggle.
• And…so do the Eagles.

So! Did you watch any games over the weekend? Which ones? Questions, comments, concerns? Let’s talk about it! That’s what the comments section is there for! See you there :)