** 2012: 15th in yards per game (354)
** 2013: 5th in yards per game (412)
** 2012: 29th in points per game (17.5)
** 2013: 10th in points per game (25.1)
** 2012: 32nd in turnover margin (minus 24)
** 2013: 10th in turnover margin (plus 4)
** 2012: 19th in rushes per game (25)
** 2013: 3rd in rushes per game (31)
** 2012: 25th in tackles per game (62)
** 2013: 2nd in tackles per game (70)
** 2012: 10 Vick starts (3-7 record)
** 2013: 6 Vick starts (2-4 record)
** 2012: 6 Nick Foles starts (1-5 record)
** 2013: 5 Nick Foles starts (4-1 record)
It’s like a whole different team, just without any real changes.
QB: Ben Roethlisberger, 39.88 pts -- on Dad’s benchWR: Calvin Johnson, 29.93 pts -- started by Jeff
RB: Bobby Rainey, 36.57 pts -- on the wire
TE: Delanie Walker, 22.07 pts -- started by Ant
K: Dan Carpenter, 16.00 pts -- on the wire
DEF: Cincinnati, 31.00 pts -- started by Jim
D: Vontaze Burfict, 15.50 pts -- started by me
Yes, I picked up Burfict last week because I knew he’d have 10 tackles, a forced fumble and a defensive TD against the Browns this week, and not because he had a funny name. Why do you ask?
So far this season, two wideouts have already topped 1,000 yds (Detroit’s Johnson and Cincinnati’s AJ Green) but only one running back has reached the mark (Eagles’ LeSean McCoy). Not sure what that means, but I’m pretty sure that’s a profound shift in the focus and strategy of the league. Or a statistical quirk. One of the two.
“Skill” players edition3rd place: James Starks, -0.10 pts -- on the wire
2nd place: Devon Wylie, -0.66 pts -- on the wire
1st place: Geno Smith, -3.88 pts -- on the wire
There are bad days, and then there are career-shattering days like the one Smith had on Sunday: 103 yards passing, three INTs and a fumble. With that awful line, the Jets QB also stole away the title of “worst New Jersey QB” away from Eli Manning for the season, posting his 20th turnover to Eli’s mere 19. Of course, the Jets are still ahead of the Giants in the standings, 5-5 to 4-6, but the important thing is that both teams really stink.
This week is less “stupidest thing I heard” and more “stupidest discrepancy I saw.” Here’s a look at what good money and bad money can get you in terms of NFL tickets for coming weeks, according to Stubhub.
** Nov. 24, Broncos at Patriots: Tickets start at $148.
** Nov. 24, Colts at Cardinals: Tickets start at $8.
** Dec. 1, Rams at 49ers: Tickets start at $127.
** Dec. 1, Jaguars at Browns: Tickets start at $12.
** Dec. 9, Cowboys at Bears: Tickets start at $103.
** Dec. 5, Texans at Jaguars: Tickets start at $7.
** Dec. 16, Ravens at Lions: Tickets start at $76.
** Dec. 15, Cardinals at Titans: Tickets start at $13.
** Dec. 23, Falcons at 49ers: Tickets start at $132.
** Dec. 22, Buccaneers at Rams: Tickets start at $11.
** Dec. 29, Bears at Packers: Tickets start at $121.
** Dec. 29, Texans at Titans: Tickets start at $14.
Seriously, you could take your spouse and 13 other friends to most Jaguars home games for the same price it costs to buy a single ticket to some Patriots games. Granted, one is a professional football team and the other isn’t good enough to play in Division II college, but still.
Speaking of the Jaguars…
At 1-9, all hope is not yet lost for the NFL’s worst team. Here’s how they can make the postseason:
** The Jags win their last six games, and finish 7-9.
** The Colts lose their last six games, and finish 7-9.
** The Titans beat the Colts but lose their other five games, and finish 6-10.
** The Texans beat the Colts and Titans, but lose twice to the Jags, and finish no better than 6-10.
That leaves the Colts and Jags tied, with a 1-1 record against each other. But the Jags would claim the AFC South title with a 5-1 division record, compared to the Colts 3-3 tally.
Now, here’s how the Colts can make the postseason:
** Win their next two games.
That would give them 9 wins and all of the tiebreakers against the Titans, whose best finish could be 9-7. The Colts would clinch the division on Dec. 1, before dinner time.
I like Indianapolis’ odds better than Jacksonville’s, but that’s just me.
Once a season, the Cowboys take a week off from football. But they never take a week off from evil. How did they spend their bye this year:
Cowboys squad takes a bye in week eleven
** Squeaky benevolence: We beat kids. Say “Ow!”
For the record, “Dallas bye” also works out at “bad alleys” and “yea sad ball” and “blade slay,” but that all seemed too easy.
** Thanks to the Panthers’ last-minute heroics and the referees’ blatant missed call on Monday night, I managed not to lose any more ground to Dad in the weekly picks. Still 12 back, with six weeks to go. At least the Eagles won’t trip me up next week.
** Hey, the Eagles finally have a bye this week. And the Cowboys will play two more games before Philly takes the field again on Dec. 1 (one this Sunday, one on Thanksgiving). That’s just another reminder that the NFL doesn't care when you want to watch football -- they’ll give you some whenever they feel like it.
Week 11 standings 1 -- the american way (Sam) -- 1654.69 pts
2 -- III-time Champion (Capt. Awesome) -- 1599.73 pts
3 -- I Mildly Like WRs (Paul) -- 1544.07 pts
4 -- Sheldon Cooper (Dad)-- 1510.75 pts
5 -- Blue Collar Killers (Jeff) -- 1494.07 pts
6 -- Bad like Congress (Jim) -- 1371.13 pts
7 -- Show Me Your TDs (Ant) -- 1330.21 pts
8 -- Gettin' Chippy (Joanner) -- 1314.63 pts
9 -- The Maltese Falcons (Bobert) -- 1302.58 pts
10 -- Cheatstrong (ChampMike) -- 1292.53 pts
11 -- Timmy and The Jets (Joel) -- 1132.40 pts
The good news: The difference between first and fifth place is 160 pts, putting the top spot in reach in just one or two good weeks.
The bad news? After that, It’s a big drop in the standings. Jim’s squad has come on strong of late, but he has more than 280 pts to make up to catch Sam’s runaway train. Joanna and Anthony are locked in an epic battle for 7th, but probably can’t sneak much higher. And Joel’s team looks like it will struggle to top 1750 pts on the year, while Sam and I could pass that next week.
But remember: Even the Jaguars still have a chance.
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