Week 16 NFL Football: Things That are True

I watched some football this weekend. Every weekend I notice things. Sometimes I get enough time to break from my routine to share those things with you. Here are 10 things that are true.

Sam Bradford is a pimp: In a Week 16 game that kept their destiny up to them, Sam Bradord was damn-near perfect. I’ve always loved this kid (don’t believe me? go HERE). Bradford didn’t have much of a running game to lean on as Steven Jackson went for just 48 yards on 24 carries (a lowly 2ypc). Without that, all he did was carry the team – a team without a #1 receiver, without any commodity outside of Ste-Jack. He went 28-37 for 292 yards, a touchdown, and no interceptions. His leading receivers? Danario Alexander – 6 grabs for 99 yards (11 career catches before today), Brandon Gibson, Danny Amedola, Daniel Fells…. I’m just saying… PIMP.

Carson Palmer didn’t miss TO or Ocho: Carson Palmer might be sitting on his Lazy-Boy right now, his arms out to the side with hands crunched in a fist (except for one select finger) – the direction of each fist accurately aimed in the direction of each star receiver that sat out today. Carson had his best game of the year, an almost flawless 16-21 270-yard, 4 touchdown, 0-interception day that ended the San Diego Chargers’ hopes for a playoff spot. Carson didn’t need those guys, and he didn’t need a killer rushing attack, he just needed some time in the pocket and some receivers that worked their A’s off for a chance at a catch, deserving nothing, entitled to nothing. Good on ya, Red Palmer.

Eli’s shame-face, unbeatable: I stumbled upon the Packers’ beatdown of the Giants and all I could see was Eli Manning’s face all crunched up and gooey from disappointment. Some people wear their emotions on their sleeves’, but Eli wears his right on his face, and it’s awesome. I didn’t know the score until I saw Eli’s grimace, and I could tell it was GOOD! Ha. The Giants got kicked around, and now the Packers will end up having to beat a Chicago Bears team that won’t be playing for much, probably resting, for a playoff spot. I’m not giving it to them quite yet, but I bet Eli’s face tells it all right about now.

The Patriots are better than you: Yeah, I’m talking to you – anybody – the Patriots are better than you. Tom is terrific, their run game is solid, they can beat you 7 different days of the week, 7 different ways. They are coached better than you, they know how to win better than you, and they are the best home team in football. Oh, and they get home-field throughout. I’m not giving it to them, but if I was Eli, I’d probably be pouting about it right now.

6-9 Seahawks, still in it: The NFC West’s playoff spot was not decided on Sunday – weird. Will it ever be clear? You bet! When, you ask? Well, the last game of Week 17, that’s when – in Seattle, when the disgustingly useless Seahawks play the not-quite-hapless St. Louis Rams. The Rams should win, and with Sam Bradford, a good coach, and an improving defense, they should run the show for a long time out West. Still, the Hawks are still in it at 6-9, and that’s disgusting. The division is 23-37 on the season. That’s -14. Gross. The next worse division is the AFC South, and every single team in that division is better than every single team in the NFC West. All kinds of yuck in this mess.

Pick a quarterback and stick with him: Alex Smith, David Carr, Troy Smith… Matt Leinart, Derek Anderson, Max Hall, John Skelton…  Matt Moore, Jimmy Clausen, Tony Pike… Chad Henne, Chad Pennington (1 second), Tyler Thigpen, Chad Henne…. Vince Young, Kerry Collins, Vince Young, Rusty Smith…. Listen, I’m all for sending a cat to the bench and going with a new guy if you think he’s better – but this wishy-washy crap will only get you to a losing record and in most cases send you off for the summer looking for another job. If you make the change, it better be for a good damn reason, and if it doesn’t work out for a game or two, you better be willing to stick to your guns. And Jeff Fischer, Ken Whisenhunt, have you two guys at least learned not to fire your QB because you don’t like him?

Tim Tebow’s Broncos: Dude’s going to be alright. Keep hating, everyone. I want to know, you’ve taken hating Tim Tebow from me. I did it plenty, but with everybody doing it and claiming him to be an NFL failure before he took a snap, I have to like the kid. Thanks a lot. He plays hard, and he wants to win – not “want to win” like most people “want to win” but he “wants to win” like real winners “want to win” and I don’t see why he won’t.

Good bye Mike Singletary (and more): My favorite player of all time, Mike Singletary, made about 100 bad coaching decisions over his short career in San Francisco. Having the respect I do for the guy, I hope he gets another chance some day and that he learned from his mistakes. But Mike, you’re not the only one… Good bye, John Fox, Gary Kubiak, Tony Saprano, Jack Del-Rio, Marvin Lewis, and maybe Jeff Fischer and some interim coaches as well. It was real.

Oh AFC South:You had a chance to dethrone the Colts. They aren’t good this year, Peyton is off his game, Joseph Addai was out more than he was in, many draft picks didn’t work out in the past few years for a team that usually hits the draft in the bull’s eye. But you really let them off the hook. Nobody wanted to crown them, but you did. Congratulations! I’m sure they’ll win the thing for the next 5 years – and you had a chance to get them when they were down. The pee down your collective leg is smelly.