NFL power poll
No matter what your football eyes tell you, the most powerful force in the NFL is not the combination of Mahomes' arm and Tyreek Hill's wheels.
No matter what your football eyes tell you, the most powerful force in the NFL is not a balanced and deep and deceptive Steelers defense that leads the NFL in turnovers forced (21), first downs allowed (177), passing yards allowed, points allowed (174) and points allowed per game (17.4).
No matter what your football eyes tell you, the most powerful force in the NFL is not the complete trust Aaron Rodgers has in his play-caller and his No. 1 option Davante Adams.
Nope, the NFL may be the biggest league in American sports and pop culture, but even the monster monolith that is the Shield has been brought to its knees by the COVID.
Like Bill Dance would say, let's check the poll
1 Pittsburgh. We referenced the defensive stats above. And in truth - and we know he won't win it because of the dazzling details and tremendous tosses of Mamohes and Rodgers - there's a stretched argument to be made for Ben Roethlisberger being the MVP of the league, if you are going to focus on what the V truly stands for. Consider that last year, with almost all of these same pieces, these Steelers missed the playoffs. This year, they are a win tomorrow night over the rival Ravens from being a solid favorite to go 16-0.
2 Kansas City. Lots of talking heads on the national level - I'm more of a talking head on the regional level - continue to bang the drum that the Chiefs are the best team in the NFL. OK, and hey, I love watching Patty Mahomes sling it deep as much as anyone. But is that enough? Side question: Not sure many folks have discussed this, but does anyone else think Andy Reid signed Le'Veon Bell to get as much inside intel as possible on the Steelers defense, considering Bell was there from 2015-17, and the Steelers DC, Keith Butler, has been in that role since 2015? Hmmmmmmmm. (Side note about the side question: The always-entertaining Dan LeBatard Show's always-entertaining "Looks like game" has a bunch of "Andy Reid looks like" and the best may be - paraphrased - "Andy Reid looks like the co-worker at the morning pastry table who looks at the donuts, wags his finger and says to no one in particular, 'Don't mind if I do.'"
3 New Orleans. In the COVID controversies of the last 10 days, I'm not sure that folks are making enough of the huge, in-season, almost-full-blown bye week these two-loss Saints got. Also, I have to ask what you guys think Jameis Winston was thinking watching on the sideline, with a QB résumé that includes a Heisman, a national title, with two 4,000-yard seasons, a 5,000-yard season, 121 NFL TD passes and a smidge under 20,000 passing yards in five seasons as a starter, as Taysum Hill ran the single Wing and the Broncos turned to a guy who was moved to WR as a junior at Wake Forest had more interceptions than completions Sunday afternoon.
4 Green Bay. Let's ponder for a second what these Packers would have looked like right now if they had not traded up to draft for 2022 and pushed chips to win it all now. (Side note: I love the draft; you know this.) How does this Packers team look with Tee Higgins, who was on the board when they picked quarterback Jordan Love, opposite Davante Adams with Aaron Rodgers picking people apart? Or Michael Pittman? Or Chase Claypool? And that's not even looking at the possible replacements at any number of positions the Packers could have had late in round two when they took AJ Dillon, who is a fine player but that's a lot of draft capital for a third-string running back.
5 Tennessee. Yeah, surprising, I know. But among the 8-3 teams, who do you trust more right now, especially after the Titans KER-rushed Indy last Sunday in Indy? The Browns? The Seattle defense? The faceless Bills and Josh Allen? I'll take Derrick Henry and em boyz in Nashville above all of those.
Powerless
28 Philadelphia. Man, last night's loss was harsh and left with two non-gambling thoughts: First, did anyone think that the coach who won the first Super Bowl in Eagles history would be on the hot seat just three years later? Second, according to the ESPN folks, Carson Wentz is going to count something like $50-plus million toward the cap next year, and by all accounts with the losses and fiscal setbacks, the cap will be smaller in 2021. Wow, cheese steak please.
29 Dallas. When the Washington Football Team punk you on Thanksgiving, well, not sure what's left to say about the listless Cowboys, who have overpaid for a slew of position players, do not have a franchise QB - if they tag Dak Prescott, it will be close to $40 million on that reduced NFL cap - and are facing the very real question about blowing the whole thing up.
30 Cincinnati. Man, is there a better draft fit and need than the stinky Bengals' O-line and that behemoth tackle from Oregon to protect Joe Burrow for the next decade?
31 Jacksonville. I know he would never answer it, but man, I'd love to hear which of the NFL dregs Trevor Lawrence prefers, wouldn't you? In some ways, with the draft picks available, and with a real chance to have a say on the coaching staff, the Jags would have to be a consideration. Look at the young skill guys - James Robinson is a rookie dude, and the WR room is filled with guys who make plays - and know that the fire sale of defensive stalwarts, the Jags have the Rams' 1 and 4 in 2021 and the Vikings' 2 as well as two extra fifth-rounders.
32 New York Jets. Worst team in the history of the NFL? Hey, if you're going to strive to be something, strive to be the best at it, right? So if you are the worst, should you strive to be the best at being the worst? My head hurts.
Speaking of COVID
Certainly, the NFL is not alone in having struggles dealing with the corona.
It's everywhere, in and outside of sports.
But considering the run and the expectation of control the NFL has been magnified the NFL's issues of late.
Consider this: Did we ever imagine something - well, maybe other than taking a knee during the anthem - could leave the league this bewildered and befuddled?
In the last week alone, the league has made a team play without a quarterback, and the ripples from the Denver decision continue to extend. The reach encompasses everything from fairness to playoff implications to seriousness about protocols to Drew Lock's mom taking offense to all the criticism the Broncos starting QB has received for going maskless. (Seriously. Here's Laura Lock's scathing social media rebuttal to the NFL.)
Worse, the NFL decision-makers and planners look downright foolish compared to the in-season decisions and flexibility the leadership of the MLB showed in regular-season adjustments to Corona. Did we ever think there was something that would make us say, "Wow, the MLB handled that pretty well The NFL, what a bunch of clowns."
Because if you're going to force Denver's hand without a QB and make them play but keep backpedaling for the Ravens, the league's protocols on protocols seem not flexible but flawed, and haphazard. (Side note: To make matters worse, the whispers that the Ravens were threatening not to show up if the game was played on Tuesday, a mini-strike if you will, is a scary scenario for everyone involved that would play out terribly for both sides.)
Considering the NFL had the most time to prepare and the most various cases studies from all the various leagues to review - never mind the most resources at their disposal - the ineptitude and inconsistencies are even more puzzling, even with this second surge of cases.
Why was there not a QB on every roster encased with the "Break glass in case of emergency" or even much larger player pools?
Maybe that's the strongest statement yet of the all-reaching power of this virus.
So here we are, crossing our fingers on a Tuesday that the best non-tournament day of the college basketball season goes off without a hitch in two empty gyms in two different locations.
And we do that a day before we get ready for a Wednesday night NFL game at 3:40 in the afternoon that makes the head honchos at the MAC look around and say, "Hey 3:40 at Wednesday, we'll play then if you want. Call us."
College football playoff rankings
OK, for maybe the first time in history of the 30-minute college football playoff announcement show, tonight's version will not be 26 minutes too long.
For the most part, the show could normally be a SportsCenter segment, but the need for programming is the need for programming.
But tonight, after last week's puzzling decision to have BYU 14th and with the circulating questions around THE Ohio State and its dwindling number of games, the positioning seems more important than normal.
So too does the answers whomever speaks for the committee offers to questions about the baseline number of games THE Buckeyes will need to be in consideration.
(Side question: If you're the Big Ten and you have already moved Heaven and Earth to a) have a season in large part to cash in on the much-needed playoff windfall, and b) did a) in large part because THE Ohio State is the best bet to cash that playoff check for the entire league, don't you change the rules like today and lower the threshold of games needed to get to the Big Ten title game?)
Who knows how the rankings will shake, but for the first time in a while, I am curious to see the show, and hear what is said.
This and that
- Epically bad beat on Monday night football. A possible all-timer. Seattle, laying 6.5 at Philly last night. (Side note: We made our pick last week and got Seattle at minus-5. Sometimes the early picks hurt; sometimes early picks prove beneficial.) So, Seattle takes a 14-0 lead, extends it to 17-7, 20-9 and up to 23-9 with 1:13 left in the game. Seattle bettors are all-but counting chips, right? RIGHT?!?! Well, a 40-yard kick return puts the Eagles beyond its 40. Couple of swing passes and a spike against anything but an interested Seattle defense sets up a 33-yard TD pass with 12 seconds left. OK. Then, the Eagles go for two - and get it - and turn a 23-9 game into a 23-17 final. Ouch-standing.
- Speaking of bad beats, well, how bad is this? Yes, that's bettor who put $500K on the Eagles minus-the-6.5. Wow, that makes me sick to my stomach.
- Speaking of Monday night football, DK Metcalf is an absolute dude. That is all.
- The actor inside the Darth Vader suit in the first three Star Wars films died over the weekend. Dave Prowse was 85, and according to the internet, Prowse was worth $3 million.
- Speaking of Star Wars, we got any Mandolorian watchers around these parts? In last Friday's episode, we learn Baby Yoda has a name. Without too many spoilers, well, can we all agree to continue to call him Baby Yoda? My vote is for that.
- You know the rules. Here's Paschall on Florida's high-scoring offense, which looks poised to overmatch UT this weekend. Here's Paschall on Georgia facing Vandy and interim head coach Todd Fitch, the Dores OC who takes the reins from Derek Mason. Here's Paschall on Alabama's defense doing big-boy work in big-boy pants.
- You know the rules. When Weeds writes about college hoops, we read and link Weeds on college hoops. And today, TFP ace sports columnist Mark Wiedmer looks at whether college basketball is a 50-50 proposition to finish the season with a March Madness, and you know what, it's hard to see the odds being much better than that.
- Congrats to our buddy "20 win" Lamont Paris, the UTC hoops coach, after his Mocs moved to 2-0 last night with a strong second half against Tennessee Tech.
- Here's today's A2 talking points. Enjoy.
Today's questions
Hey, it's Tuesday, true or false.
True or false, the Big Ten will change the requirements to be eligible for the Big Ten football title game.
True or false, you thought Dave Prowse/Darther Vader's body double would be worth more than $3 million. (I really did, in royalties alone, you know.)
True or false, Sarah Fuller deserved to be a co-special teams player of the week.
True or false, tonight's Duke-Michigan State, Kentucky-Kansas doubleheader will be the highlight of the college basketball season.
True or false, a 6-0, non-conference champ THE Ohio State gets into the playoff. True or false, a 6-0, non-conference champ THE Ohio State should be in the playoff.
You know the drill, answer some T or Fs, leave some T or Fs.
As for today, the first day of December, let's review.
Woody Allen is 85 today. First, never really been a fan of Woody's work to be honest, second, dude's more than a little creepy all things considered, no?
Wow, Richard Pryor would have been 80 today. Easily on the Rushmore of best all-time stand-up comedians in my opinion. (Carlin and Eddie Murphy also are fist-ballot dudes, the other spot, well, Robin Williams, Chappelle, Kinison, and a whole lot of others can fight it out.
Today is also the National Day of Giving. Rushmore of 'gifts' and be creative.