Stroll Down the NFL Boulevard Week 17

Stroll down the NFL Boulevard

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind, Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and auld Lang syne? As we start a new year we reflect on the one that just past. While looking back we are reminded how the more things change the more they stay the same. For the last couple of weeks we have told you about the parity of the NFL, Well here we are on the last week and only 2 playoff spots were left to be decided and only 5 teams for them. At seasons end there were 19 teams at or below .500. So let’s get started. Start the music.

We will start in Boston home of the Sith Lord. We would like to congratulate the Dark side for their perfect season, however with all the video taping and controversy we think it might just be tainted a little. The Giants and Coach Coughlin put up a valiant effort but when dealing with a Sith Lord the task was too great. Ellie Manning played well but not well enough as the Giants once again go down. Hey Giants Fans nice year, 6-2 to start only to finish 10-6. Let’s look at those wins, Washington and Philadelphia twice the only teams at or above 500. I guess you have to play who is on your schedule. Good luck next week in the playoffs, we hope you didn’t have your great game this week.
Final Score was the Dark Side 38 the Giants 35, but was it really this close?

We guess as is the tradition here at the stroll we will start at the bottom and the Bottom just happened to be in our Nations Capitol Washington. The Dallas Cowboys had nothing to play for but some individual records and it showed on Sunday. With home field advantage in the NFC locked up Romo and the boys looked like kid with a new Christmas toy, nothing else mattered. Honestly we have seen better S**T fights by the monkeys in the zoo. So again let us look to Big D for this week’s Birth Canal team of the week. They showed us just how much nothing they had to play for. Way to go Washington you have finally figured out how to honor Sean Taylor, you made it to 9 and 7 and made the playoffs. Good Luck next week when you travel to Washington, (The State) to play again.
Final Score was Cowboys 6 Washington 27. Thanks for nothing.

Up next we will travel to Cleveland, unfortunately the Browns could not make the playoffs as the Cavs, and the Indians did. But ‘07 did provide their second winning season in 13 years; that is terrific. But had it not been for that slip up in Cincinnati last week you would be in the playoffs. But all is well that ends well, and you ended well at home, Hey Cleveland you are first runner up in the AFC playoffs and if the last place team decides that they don’t want to go to playoffs then you can go in their place… NOT… Hey San Francisco have your Coach and Quarterback stopped fighting? Good Lord Chris Weinke at Quarterback now? We thought he was working with Shawn Falco, Scrapping barnacles off boats. We think he is just a replacement until Alex Smith gets back from injury. Look out for that next year with new offensive coach.
Final Score was 49ers 7 the Browns 20. Missed it by this much.

And now for something completely different, each year as the weeks roll by it becomes apparent that for some teams the road ahead is too great. That the difficulties of life in the NFL are too great to bear, such is the life of Herm Edwards. This quote was uttered when he was hired “We selected Herm Edwards because he is without question one of the most qualified head football coaches in the NFL today,” “Herm knows what the National Football League is all about. He coaches all aspects of the game and he coaches them well. He is a man of integrity, family and great passion for the game of football.” That guy was fired. You have to wonder if anybody would like to take those comments back. His record speaks for itself 13 – 19, now that is great coaching? This game was the “Who cares game of week 17”, we mean honestly who watched this game and if you did why?
Final Score was Chiefs 10 NY JETS 13. Why did this game have to go to overtime?

Up next, in a game of no consequence along comes the Bills and the Eagles. This game might have had some intrigue to it if anybody would have won more than 8 games this year. But no one did so it meant squaduish! Donavan McNabb put on a nice show and Buffalo fell on their collective faces. Kevin Everett showed up before the game for a little inspiration for Buffalo and they used that emotion to fuel 9 whole points, Thanks for nothing, we guess.
Final Score was Bills 9 Eagles 17. Philly did do something nice, (Just wait)

Well let’s go to Atlanta where the Falcons showed that they have more heart than their former Coach Bobby Petrino. The Falcons came into game trying to put a close to the controversy that was 2007. It was like the song says “it’s the end of the world as we know it and we feel fine.” Seattle showed again that you can’t travel across the country and win, because they didn’t. Hopefully 2008 will be better for Atlanta as they look for a new head coach, and Quarterback. Good Luck.
Final Score was Shehawks 41 Falcons 44. Ho hum.

Up Next is game that would finally answer the question can a Ram beat a Cardinal? Since the start of the season we have told you that St Louis is over matched. But being over matched by the Cardinal is really an Oxymoron right? We mean that the Cardinal is overmatched by most of the teams they play. They finally got to 500 this for the first time since 1998. Wow that is great, looks like they have finally put it together thanks goodness your quarterback got the experience he needed to push forward. Huh? Their Quarterback was hurt? Who was that again? Matt Leinart? Oh yea the guy from USC? He got hurt right then Kurt Warner came in, oh yea, okay… Never mind these are the Cardinals.
Final Score was Rams 19 Cardinal 48. Yuck.

And now let’s talk about the Buccan Game against the Buccan Panthers. Tampa Bay pulled down their sails and let their boat drift into the rocks that are the Panthers. Coach Jon Gruden was convinced that he had nothing to prove in this game and let his team just lay down like a cheap rug. The Panthers were able to hike their leg and urinate on the Bucs for good measure. Jeff Garcia was heard saying “Just let me in the Buccan Game” Jon Gruden told him to put his “Buccan butt on the pine till next week”.
Final Score was Panthers 31 Bucs 23. Hey Vinnie thanks for the Memories…

In a game the actually did mean something the Viqueens showed us why they were not fit for the playoffs. They went to Denver and lifted their skirts and showed us that under all that purple there is a bit of lace. They don’t call them the Viqueens for nothing. Oh they made it close and even went to overtime but eventually they folded like the cheap lawn chair that they are. They folded to the Bronco’s of all teams. The Broncos? Good gosh you didn’t deserve to be in the playoffs if you lost to the Bronco’s.
Final Score was Viqueens 19 the Bronco’s 22. Lose to the Bronco’s? Come on…

Now to another game that had nothing but pride on the line. Welcome to Green Bay, home of the Packers, of all the names they could have chose Green Bay choose the Packers, that is such a funny name. What are they packing? Where are they going? Why are they going there? Are they packing light? Are they packing heavy? Is it an over night bag? Is it a trunk? Is it lined with Lion Skin fur? This week is was. Hey Jon Kitna next time you make a prediction about wins in season maybe you should keep it to yourself. Hey we told you before when the Lions score more than their opponents they win today they didn’t and they lost again. Looks like playoff time in Green Bay is coming for at least one team, better PACK warm.
Final Score was Lions 13 Green Bay 34. Man doesn’t Packers just make you giggle?

Well let’s go to Oakland. Oakland? Oakland; where nothing really happens unless Al Davis removes his velour suit. Well the NFL gave you the first pick in the Draft of ‘07 because we you guys earned it. This year you guys returned the favor by winning two more games to go 4 and 12 this year, thanks. Good luck in next year’s draft. Hey Norv, thanks for not running the score up too bad. I guess you owed Oakland that for firing you two years ago. Hey at least no one got hurt.
Final Score was Chargers 30 Raiders 17. Put your clothes on Mr. Davis.

Okay well the next game that didn’t mean anything was played in Houston. Question: Do they play football in Houston? Answer: Yes they do. This year’s Spice award goes to the Houston Texans and Sage Rosenfels. What a “Spice Man”! Not much else to say but we hope the Jacksonville Head Coach Jack Del Rio did rest his kick return because if not they are terrible. Andre Davis ran through them like he was Richard Pryor on fire and high on crack. And do you know what? He liked it so much that he did it twice. Well we will move on as this game was a disaster.
Final Score was Jaguars 28 Texans 42. Wow do you know what else the Texans did?

Off we go to Chicago to a game that meant something to someone. The New Orleans Saints had a chance to get to the playoffs this season by the strangest of means. If they won the Game against the Bears then had the Viqueens lose, and then had the Redskins Lose, plus Sean Penn would have to leave, and they have to finally put their own lives back together without any more government assist... Well they gave us our answer on that, they came out and played two quarters, the second and the fourth. Will the real Bear quarterback please stand up? No not you Rex Grossman, we have seen enough of you. No Brian Griese you just plain suck. Where the Hell did Kyle Orton come from? Hey 12 of 27 with only one interception is better than anything those other two goof balls did all season. It is about Damn time. Lovie Smith finally did something right and Da Bears win two games in a row. And who names their kid Lovie? We mean come on.
Final Score was S-Aint’s 25 Da Bears 33. This was the Agony of Da Win.

Well the next game meant something, but to whom? The Pittsburg Steelers could have had the third seed and not faced the Dark side until the Championship game, but they decided not to play anyone against the Ravens. And when we say anyone we mean Charlie Batch. This game was so bad that the Raven fired Brian Billick as he was running up the tunnel after the win. After losing 9 games in a row including the only Dolphins win the Ravens will quote the Billick never more. Seems fitting Pittsburg has played lousy since mid November when they lost to the Jets, does anyone remember that? We do. The Pittsburg head Coach was overheard telling his other coaches after the game there are only two things that scare me and one is the Jacksonville Jaguars, the other is Carnies, Circus folk, small hands.
Final Score was Ravens 27 Steelers 21, All in all it’s just another brick in the wall.

And now to the game that might have meant the most on the day the Bengals and the Dolphins. This game had everything you could imagine in a football game, Field goals, punts, touchdowns, players and coaches, on both sides, wondering if they would have a job at the end of the game. A streaker. Sorry that was Al Davis, would somebody get him a robe. The Dolphins cast their net upon the waters of ESPN and caught a Tuna cake. We think they were hoping for a Tom Jackson or even Emmitt Smith, but they got a 58% correct head coach that gets too much credit for things he does right and not enough scrutiny when he screws up something. No one should have to put up with him and his press conferences. Let us all hang our head towards the south and give heart felt finger to the Dolphins organization for making this the blunder of 2007. Trust us when we say that he will be coaching again before he is through down there. Hey Marvin Lewis thank God that the spotlight was off of you this week, but then again you might get fired as well.
Final Score was Bengals 38 Dolphins 25. We wish the Dolphins had used Tuna free nets.

And now to the game that meant the most on a day when nothing really mattered to anyone. The Indianapolis Colts rested everyone against the Tennessee Titans and had the Game under control, but then Jim Sorgie came in a screwed it up. The Titans thanked their lucky stars when Vince Young went out and Kerry Collins came in to lead them on two field goal drives to win the game. This only proves that with out a shadow of a doubt Rod Bironas has two good legs and Heather Mills still only has one. Man can you just imagine her out on the field trying to kick a ball with that peg leg? It would be great. (Sorry about that we got off track a little) okay back to the game. The Titans win and spoil the Browns playoff hopes like Spalding wanting to play Tennis in Caddy Shack. Hum? Yea? No? yes? Ha ha ha hey Ty hold up there a minute… (Sorry that is the best Ted Baxter I can type)
Final Score was Titans 16 Colts 10. I bet you get a bowl of soup when you buy that hat!

Well another week is in the books and this will cap our season. But that is just the regular season, we have had our contract extended through the Playoffs and we will be here each week with thoughts and opinions. (and just so you know we found that the two toughest division in football this year were the AFC South, Three playoff teams and all teams at 500 or better. And the NFC East, Three teams as well and all teams 500 or better, and yes that includes the New York Football Giants).
And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp!And surely I'll be mine!And we'll take a cup o' kindness yet,for auld lang syne.
Good night everybody and have a Happy New year.
And like we always say….