NFL Week 10 – The Za’Darius Smith Cup

 

 

 

Greetings Tipsters

Just imagine you’re an architect, charged with building a covered football stadium. You include a window at each end. Do you align it north-south or east-west? Or maybe just slightly off east-west so the November sun shines through the window and onto the field at exactly the time a game is being played, blinding footballers at crucial moments.

Okay, maybe the architects had been out for an especially long liquid lunch before deciding the alignment. Maybe the photocopy kid accidentally rotated the plans. The result is the same, it’s the Dallas Cowboys stadium that suffers from this idiotic error.

‘America’s team’ is the world’s most valuable sporting franchise, worth $10B. Jerry Jones, the ancient and crazy owner and, oh dear, GM, bristled with indignation when asked about this.

“Couldn’t you put curtains up?” as done for concerts and other events.

“Do you want us to knock it down and build a new stadium?” he howled. Bear in mind, one of the few chances his team had to score was blown cos Cee Dee Lamb, the receiver, could not see the ball for the glare in his eyes.

Dallas have won 12 games in each of the last three seasons and have been embarrassed in the playoffs. At three and six, at least the team won’t have to worry about that this season. Jerry said they were going ‘all in’ this season, then messed up new contracts, signed old players, added none to fill gaps left by departing key players. Dak Prescott, an excellent QB, eventually signed a new contract for a king’s ransom the day before the first game and is now out for the season. Micah Parsons, their last good player, slagged hotseat coach Mike McCarthy in a lockerroom interview.

Scott Turner is the new OC for New Orleans Saints, after the HC was sacked, so he asked his dad to pop over and lend a hand. Norv has a lifetime of experience, OC for Dallas in two Superbowl wins 30 years ago, and several HC gigs. This father-to-son coaching thing is not unusual. Some call it nepotism, sometimes maybe. Bill Belichik had two sons on the staff in his last year with New England. Bill’s dad was a coach, he grew up in football.

Kyle Shanahan, 49ers HC, worked for his dad Mike in Washington in 2013, as did four other current HCs. Chris Shula, Rams DC, is a third generation coach, his dad and grandad coached against each other in ’94. Joe Lombardi, Broncos OC, former Lions OC, is grandson of legend Vince Lombardi – he’s been fired a few times, maybe teams keep hiring him hoping a genetic trait will show up eventually.

There’s a bunch more, point being that it isn’t necessarily nepotism but that the details and intricacies of football are such that someone who was immersed in it before they could talk is going to have an innate understanding of the game that will put them far ahead of their contemporaries. Kyle understood more about the game when he was 8 yrs old than every keen student of the game will ever know. Tho he still hasn’t won a Superbowl, and given the roster and cap situation, will have to wait a lot longer and maybe go to another team before he does.

Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions continue to put up records. After the best six game streak of completions in history, including an 18/18, Jared threw five interceptions against the Texans and still won. That’s happened twice since 1970. Six interceptions and a win? George Blanda did it in 1962 and Detroit Lion Frankie Sinkwich in 1944.

Down 23-7 at halftime, stats gave Lions a 7.6% chance of winning. I should’ve put money on it then, I wasn’t worried. Sure, Houston’s D was great in the first half, a swarming style that really pushed Detroit hard but it didn’t look like something they could keep up all game. D’s D shut out H in the second half, great play calling and it aint often you see a DC get the plaudits Aaron Glenn did.

Mid-season trade Za’Darius Smith didn’t play, partly cos he was supposed to have the bye this week and was due a rest, partly cos you can’t learn a playbook in three days. But he was there on the sidelines, talking to the players, teaching them, whipping up the vibe. He likes being with the Lions. Dan Campbell has made this a team that other players want to be a part of.

Texans sported an all red uniform that looked like Christmas pyjamas. I’m sure that had something to do with the loss, even if it was 0.1%, cos they must have looked at each other in the locker room and said, “Man, this is a new low!”

The Chiefs won again. The worst 9-0 team in history. The Broncos did almost everything right apart from poor blocking on what could have been the game-winning field goal, the guard was pushed over too easily, the kick touched. Sean might fire the Special Teams Co-ordinatorcos that’s happened a few times this season. Poor technique from the player, too much weight on his hand so if it’s swiped he’s off balance and out of the play.

Russ Wilson has rediscovered his mojo with the Steelers and now has two receivers to throw to – he has the moon ball, it goes high and long and gives them time to set up for a catch. Lamar Jackson threw a beautiful pass, not long, not fast, he scrambled out to the left, leapt a little, the ball floated in a gravity-defying manner into the receiver’s hands in the endzone.

We all know that it only takes one bad game to ruin a football team’s season. So I aint gonna get ahead of myself… but the Lions are the best team in the NFC.

Cheers Tipsters

P&C, a TGK Prouduction, a division of Trans-Dementia Inc
Brought to you with the assistance of Linda Ronstadt, esp ‘Different Drum’, writ by Mike Nesmith

 

 

To return to our Footy Almanac home page click HERE.

 

Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?

And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help things keep ticking over please consider making your own contribution.

 

Become an Almanac (annual) member – click HERE.