NFL Power Poll
We had a Monday night football game that was the fitting representation of two of the league's most amazing (good and bad) story lines right now.
For the good, the New England Patriots have now won 10-plus games in 13 consecutive seasons. Thirteen. The only team with a longer streak was the San Francisco 49ers, who had double-digit wins for 16 straight seasons from 1983-1998. That's amazing, no matter your view on the Patriots' antics. In fact, that's right there with that crazy stat of Florida State finishing in the top four in the polls for 14 consecutive years from 1987-2000.
New England Patriots running back James White (28) scores a touchdown as teammate Danny Amendola (80) celebrates in the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Monday, Nov. 23, 2015, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) As for the bad, the officiating was again a story in the Monday night game. There was an inadvertent whistle that cost the Patriots a 69-yard TD, and that is borderline inexcusable. There also was a missed call on the final play that should have allowed the Bills one more play.
Which is more egregious - and in turn dangerous for the game - bad officiating or an overabundance of very mediocre teams?
Power poll
1. Patriots. The Patriots are unbeaten and cruising. They have the best quarterback-coach combo since Montana and Walsh were clicking on the West Coast. They have a galvanizing locker room issue that has kept everyone on the same page through the first 10 games. But - there's always a but, right? - they now have a growing injury problem that will either derail the train or emphatically stamp Tom Brady's greatness. In the last three weeks, the Patriots have lost their leading rusher (Deon Lewis) and now have injuries ranging from serious to slight to arguably the top three wide outs (Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, Aaron Dobson). That leaves Brady and Gronk.
Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton (1) celebrates after a first down against the Philadelphia Eagles in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone) 2. Panthers. Cam Newton threw for five touchdowns last week and opened even more eyes. The Panthers are 10-0 and now are four games clear of the Falcons in the NFC South. Cam is getting legitimate MVP buzz - but that's Brady's award to lose right now - but it's fair to ask where does Newton rank in the hierarchy of quarterbacks across the league in the here and now. If Brady and Aaron Rodgers are the clear top two, who is in the next group? The questions and comparisons are interesting. For example is Cam better than Philip Rivers? What about Matt Ryan? How about Eli or Andy Dalton? Discuss.
3. Cardinals. Arizona has emerged as the NFC's toughest competitor for the Panthers. (Yes, who thought that in the preseason.) There may not be a more balanced team across all three phases than the Cardinals, who are a serious threat as long as Carson Palmer stays healthy. He is 16-2 as a starter the last two years in the desert.
4. Bengals. Whispers become talk which becomes bellyaching which becomes real concern. The Bengals are early in that stage, but back-to-back setbacks on prime time stages have started the whispers. That's important and crucial for a team with a coach and a quarterback with serious questions about delivering in big moments.
5. Packers. Impressive win at Minnesota last week that was only missing the Rodgers' postgame "R-E-L-A-X" dissertation. As long as Rodgers is in the mix, the Packers are Mike Tyson. Could they implode and try to bite off the Lions' ear? Sure. But when Rodgers brings his overhand right with precision, the Pack will be a tough out.
Powerless Poll
28. Lions. We're all for tradition, but aren't we to a point that it's cruel and unusual punishment to force the Lions on America on Thanksgiving. It's like a national helping of your bossy aunt's really, Really, REALLY bad squash casserole. (Hey, there's such a thing as too much salt.) And we're forced to eat it every year. Yep, the Lions are bad squash casserole and we've had enough. Let's mix this thing up, especially for those of us in different parts of the country who rarely get to see the Raiders or the Chiefs or the Vikings or the Buccaneers - young teams finding their strides for a change. Nope, we get the salty squash casserole.
29. 49ers. Has any NFL player in recent memory fallen more and more quickly than San Francisco's Collin Kaepernick? Without a career-altering injury, we can't recall one. Kaepernick and Co. were a play form the Super Bowl - and likely would have smoked the one-dimensional Broncos much like the Seahawks did if they had gotten there - less than three years ago. Today, he's on IR with a shoulder injury and his time in San Fran is likely done, which means he's on the market hoping to prove himself and keep a starting job in the league.
30. Chargers. Injuries and age have reeled in the Chargers. Side note: We can't help but wonder how much the background noise of relocating to L.A. may have played into the team's struggles and the fan base's indifference. Also, you have to wonder if the powers that be may be looking to deal Philip Rivers and reboot this club.
FILE - In this Nov. 15, 2015, file photo, Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) plays during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, in Pittsburgh. Manziel got promoted during the bye week. Everyone else was put on notice. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File) 31. Browns. Cleveland had its bye last weekend, and it could be the most important two-week stretch in the young career of Johnny Manziel. Mr. Football, as he was know in a former life, will take the field next Monday night as the bona fide starter, with more than two weeks to prepare for the Ravens and a chance to state his case as the long-term solution in front of a national TV audience. Behind the scenes, how Manziel prepares and works in the film room and among his teammates will be more telling for the organization in a lot of ways. Cleveland, here's Johnny.
32. Titans. Are we not to a point that the Titans should look to lose? Draft picks - especially for a team this devoid of talent on some many levels - are key blocks (or should we say bricks considering the state) in the rebuilding process. If the Titans get the top overall selection - and considering they have their quarterback of the future in place - they could move that spot to a number of quarterback-starved teams such as San Fran or Houston or Kansas City and get even more. Side note: The Titans are the league's only team still looking for a home win. No es bueno.
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College football playoff committee
The craziness that was last weekend has opened a world of possibilities for the college football playoff committee.
There are three certainties, teams that completely control their own destinies:
If Clemson, Alabama and Iowa win out, they are in. Period. No discussion.
From there, however, the options are completely wide-open, and the door has been reopened for some of the better two-loss teams in the country.
The top 15 in the ESPN Power rankings of college football teams - all the way down to 9-1 Navy at No. 15 - could make a move into the Final Four before everything is said and done.
The biggest uncover tonight will be who has the early edge at No. 4 - Notre Dame or Oklahoma - and where the pieces fall for Oklahoma State and THE Ohio State after losses.
We also believe this could be the single most intriguing weekend we can remember in the regular season of any major sport. Egad.
Rivalry games. Top-20 matchups with playoff implications. Start checking them off.
Wow.
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Les Miles
Before we get to the topic of the ol' Grass Chewer, we thought this was an interesting story. Butch Jones says coaching in the SEC takes years off your life.
First and foremost, he's likely 100 percent correct. It also allows you millions of dollars, and if you are successful, opportunities about which most of us can only dream. Yes, the guys in those spots - or in high-profile tech jobs or acting jobs or what have you - work very hard and maximize a lot of talent to get there.
That said, in this of all weeks when we should be ever-grateful, any perceived complaint - and Jones wasn't really complaining - about any opportunity that allows your family to be set for generations to come, no matter how valid and accurate, rings fairly hollow in these times.
Les Miles That said, how much longer Les Miles has to worry about the stress level of coaching in the SEC remains to be seen. This story is the latest of the river of news that says Miles - he of the 10-wins a year, the 77.5-winning percentage and the national title in 11 years - is on his way out.
We can debate that all you want. We can remind them about what happened when UT ran Fulmer. We can call a ton of evidence, and it really doesn't matter because if a school/fan base is done, it's done.
That's how it goes.
No to take the emotion out of this we have a few of interesting philosophical questions about this:
First, is the greatest measure of a coach's dominance how much he changes the coaching landscape around the league? If so, Saban continues to rework the entirety of the SEC because Miles' job security is a direct casualty of Saban's dominance.
Secondly, if LSU runs Miles - who has a far greater resume than any current coach in the SEC not named Saban - how does the rest of the league start to feel about the long-term (or short-term for that matter) future under their current coach?
Finally, after the all the craziness of the protests at Missouri for perceived racism or at Princeton against Woodrow Wilson's name being on a building or at the University of Ottawa against a yoga class for crying outlaid, what would happen if the LSU players threatened to boycott this weekend's game against Texas A&M unless Miles was given an extension?
Game on.
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Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (23) shoots over Orlando Magic's Aaron Gordon (00) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 23, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) This and that
- The Warriors face the 2-11 Lakers tonight and with a win, Golden State would be 16-0 - the best start in league history. Good times.
- LeBron James joined Oscar Robertson as the only player in NBA history in the top 25 in career points and assists. That's pretty elite company right there.
- Interesting story here putting some numbers to the ESPN decline we have discussed before around these parts.
- UTC stumbled at Iowa State, but the 20-point loss has more to say than the final result. Consider this: UTC went to a top-five team and shot it poorly from 3 while the Cyclones were locked in from 3, and still kept it a game for most of the contest. This UTC team is legit good for what it's worth.
- The Lady Vols edged Jim Foster's Mocs 59-57 on Monday. This UTC team is legit good for what it's worth, too.
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Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) warms up prior to an NFL preseason football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey) Today's question
There are now reports that Peyton Manning is looking at trying to play in the 2016 season.
Oh brother.
OK, on one hand, if he finally gets healthy, then maybe he has something left in the tank. But are we really prepared to see Peyton taking the field with a Texans team trying to sling out one more haymaker at a Super Bowl run?
On a true or false Tuesday, let's throw out a couple:
True or false, Peyton is in the NFL as a player next year?
True or false, Peyton has made his last start of this season?
True or false, THE Ohio State should have suspended Ezekiel Elliott?