The Crystal Ball 2014 Week 14

Wait, am I reading this right? The Packers made a statement win? No, they did not. Everything transpired as I predicted. The only statement is Belichick muttering under his breath, “now I know what you do and how you do it.”

Opening Kickoff

As of this moment, there are so many different teams in a viable position for a playoff spot, it is enough to make your head swim. I think I’ll wait for a few of them to weed themselves out before weighing in. Bills, Browns and Bengals, I’m looking in your direction.

The Way It Was

See? I told you Baltimore’s defense was crappy. No one believed me, even though they had the same middling record as Pittsburgh, who everyone knows has a terrible defense! Boy it feels good to be proven right, again.

The Raiders are just cover your eyes awful. Running into each other during plays, Schaub throwing a pick six in relief of Carr, it’s like we’re watching each week Al Davis’ personal hell.

Wow, Giants, wow. I know it’s a bad season. But really? Jacksonville????

It’s starting to feel like J.J. Watt having a big day is becoming the norm. I like that.

I knew the Bills could do it! Let’s savor the moment rather than look at today. Just for a bit longer.

Oooh, Tampa Bay. So close!

Everyone sing it with me! San Diego…..Super Chargers!!!!

Temperature for the beginning of the Vikings game were -7 wind chill. That’s just insane.

Johnny Football time is here! But we knew this would happen. Hoyer had the shortest of all leashes. You don't spend that much money or that high a draft pick for someone to hold a clipboard. Hoyer could have gone 11-0, got off to a slow start in game 12 and still been pulled.

The Steel Pit

Steelers 32 – Saints 35

And yet again, for the umpteenth time in the last 10 years, the Steelers cannot handle a crappy team. Good gravy, after a while it’s no longer an anomaly and it's a pattern. A disturbing pattern.

I’m putting a little blame on Haley, seriously, the flea flicker? And when you control the game through the first quarter and a half, you need to amass more than 6 points.

And I'll put some blame on Big Ben, because dang he just was cover your eyes awful for too long a stretch in that game. But not a ton of blame since everyone is entitled to a bad day at the office now and again.

As a quick aside, it’s frightening to think that if Roethlisberger has a bad game, and he did, we’re screwed. That’s not a condemnation on Ben. It’s a condemnation on the rest of the team. He shouldn’t have to play at superman levels every game just to give us a chance.

But in all honesty, the biggest issue is still the defense.

Ike Taylor picked up right where he left off, unfortunately that was getting burned repeatedly.

The normally solid William Gay did his best Ike Taylor impression for unfortunate sections of the game.

Mike Mitchell was as useless as ever.

Cam Thomas couldn't stop up a toilet, let alone an opposing running game.

And now Brett Keisel’s season is over, and unfortunately he was one of the few assets playing with a combination of skill and passion. The list of those who play like that on defense consist of him, Cam Heyward and Lawrence Timmons. That’s it. The rest either are not playing well enough, or without any passion or urgency.

Perhaps Keisel’s injury, reminiscent of latter day Aaron Smith, will spark something in this ragtag group to come together. If not, here’s at least hoping for a good draft position.

Only In Faux NFL Reality…

Apparently, Ray Rice is drawing some interest from teams. If he plays again, I bet it will not be until next year. But let’s illustrate the real determining factor in Rice’s continued career. He may be washed up.

Speaking of the Rice family, Janay Rice followed up Ray’s appeal victory by slamming Roger Goodell and the NFL. It’s difficult to pick the good guy in all of this mess, but I will say this. For as despicable actions Ray committed, at the very least he told the truth, which is more than we can say for everyone else involved.

Playoff re-seeding? Apparently, it could happen. Honestly, we know this will only happen if the 5-11 Saints make the playoffs and somehow Brady or Manning (Peyton) does not.

Who doesn’t love Andre Johnson? Again he continued his holiday tradition of giving a toy shopping spree to underprivileged children. What a great guy!

The Bills have terminated their contract to play games in Toronto. That ought to make Buffalo fans breathe a sigh of relief and endear them to the new owners.

An arbiter is urging the NFL to settle their case against Adrian Peterson, rather than proceed to an arbitration hearing. That’s nice of the arbiter, to try to help the NFL not look stupid in a second arbitration hearing.

A Thousand Words or Less

Jeff Curry / USA Today Sports

Powerful image, isn’t it? You know what’s even more powerful? Their statement was underlined by the fact that after making it, players received threats for making a peaceful protest. And reactionary, knee jerk reactions came from everywhere, including a Rams bar that publicly pulled their support of the team by calling these men expressing themselves as “boneheaded” and Mike Ditka claiming he’s embarrassed for the players.

Until we all can stop trying to posture, or pretend nothing is wrong or bury feelings and expressions and prejudices for fear of being labeled or ostracized by political correctness, and have an honest, open, painful, truthful and ultimately cathartic discussion about race relations in this country, things will never get better.

He Said He Said

"It’s been outstanding. He and I get along and are doing great. But those are the Sunday splash reports. When you’re in this business, on Sunday you have to have something that everyone reads, regardless of if it’s truthful or not.” – Saints head coach Sean Payton on a rumored rift between himself and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan

Sean can protest all he wants, but I saw them on the sidelines. And I know Ryan is a massive egomaniac who thinks the attention and focus should be on him, and not the head coach. Ever wonder how he wears out his welcome in so many places so fast? Mark New Orleans as one more place very shortly.

“Pittsburgh invited a host of 1974 Steelers to town this weekend for a 40th anniversary celebration of the franchise’s first Super Bowl champion. I wonder what the members of the Steel Curtain defense thought about Pittsburgh’s present-day defense once Brees got warmed up and shredded it for five touchdown passes on six mid-game possessions? I’d pay way more than a penny for those thoughts.” – SI.com’s Don Banks

Oh, don’t worry. Steeler nation knows exactly what those gentlemen are thinking.

"We get together and say who gives us the best chance to win. So far, Brian’s been the answer to that question." – Browns head coach Mike Pettine on his growing quarterback controversy

It took longer than usual, but there goes the Browns season down the tubes.

"In this arbitration, the NFL argues that Commissioner Goodell was misled when he disciplined Rice the first time. Because, after careful consideration of all of the evidence, I am not persuaded that Rice lied to, or misled, the NFL at his June interview, I find that the indefinite suspension was an abuse of discretion and must be vacated." - former U.S. District Judge Barbara S. Jones

I just wanted to see it again, someone calling out Goodell, politely of course, for being a liar.

"Man, damn. I can't believe we're 2-10. It's a joke." – Jets head coach Rex Ryan

Oh, there’s a joke here alright. But it’s not the record.

“Gronkowski's been a problem for us.” – Packers head coach Mike McCarthy at halftime

He's a problem for EVERYONE.

“My short list of greatest catches is determined by the following formula: “degree of difficulty” plus “impact in the moment” multiplied by “the stakes of the game itself.” So Lynn Swann’s Super Bowl tip catch is way up there. Same for Santonio Holmes’s Super Bowl–winning catch, Franco Harris’s Immaculate Reception and the Tyree FML Helmet Catch.” – Grantland.com’s Bill Simmons

Hmmm, there’s a theme to most of those catches. I wonder if I can decipher the pattern.

Idiot of the Week

This week, we give the award to a player who I’m sure will win more than a few of these in what I bet will be a Tebow-length career.

Congratulations to first time winner, rookie Browns quarterback Johnny “Football” Manziel!

Manziel entered the game on Sunday in relief of the ineffective Brian Hoyer, and managed to lead his Cleveland squad down the field for a touchdown scoring drive. Manziel himself did the honors, scoring a big touchdown on a 10 yard run. Johnny Football then did his electric move after scoring, holding his hands in the air and doing the rubbing money sign.

Never mind that the Browns were on the road playing in Buffalo, and this would be of interest to no fan in the building. Never mind that unless you’re watching TV, no one could make out what he’s doing. Never mind it looks foolish for the backup quarterback to be celebrating. What really gets Johnny Football the award is his team was losing by that point by two scores. He’d have to score twice again just to get back into the game. And there he is, in another team’s stadium, celebrating what would turn out to be a meaningless score.

So for the first time, but I bet not the last, Johnny Manziel you are an idiot.

On Tap This Week

Well, not losing ground, but not gaining enough of it to really make a splash. But still, pretty darned solid once again.

Last week: 11-5

Thursday: 1-0

Season to Date: 129-65

Once more into the breach…

Sunday

New York Giants (3-9) at Tennessee (2-10)

Yeah, at this point I have no faith in New York to win another game. It’s that bad.

Titans over Giants

St. Louis (5-7) at Washington (3-9)

Same goes for Dan Snyder’s bunch.

Rams over Snyders

Pittsburgh (7-5) at Cincinnati (8-3-1)

If any week I needed the Bengals to morph back into the Bungles, it’s this week. Come on boys, win it for the Diesel!

Steelers over Bengals

Indianapolis (8-4) at Cleveland (7-5)

Sorry Johnny Football fans, Brian Hoyer is back in the saddle. Honestly, with Indianapolis at home this week, it feels like a set up to bench Hoyer once and for all without a real controversy. Seriously, does it not feel like he’s being sacrificed to save Johnny Football?

Johnny football!

Colts over Browns

Carolina (3-8-1) at New Orleans (5-7)

Well, now that New Orleans were given an infusion of mojo after last week….

Saints over Panthers

Houston (6-6) at Jacksonville (2-10)

Let the renaissance of Ryan Fitzpatrick begin!

Texans over Jaguars

New York Jets (2-10) at Minnesota (5-7)

Jets and Giants, competing for worst team in New York. At least Rex Ryan can win some competition this season.

Vikings over Jets

Baltimore (7-5) at Miami (7-5)

Haloti Ngata is now suspended for 4 games for using performance enhancing drugs and blaming Adderall. There goes the best aspect of Baltimore’s crumbling defense. Goodbye season. Why am I suddenly so joyous?

Dolphins over Ravens

Buffalo (7-5) at Denver (9-3)

The Neck Beard returns home. I bet it will not be pleasant.

Broncos over Bills

Kansas City (7-5) at Arizona (9-3)

Arizona is too depleted right now. And if KC can establish a running game, its all over.

Chiefs over Cardinals

Seattle (8-4) at Philadelphia (9-3)

This is a bit of a stretch, considering the up and down season so far, but they’re champions for a reason, and this is the time of year when such reasons come to the forefront.

Seahawks over Eagles

New England (9-3) at San Diego (8-4)

You think New England is going to play vanilla this week? Yeah right.

Patriots over Chargers

Monday

Atlanta (5-7) at Green Bay (9-3)

Possible let down game, but I don’t buy it. Not at home, not to Atlanta.

Packers over Falcons