By now, if you’re a person of legal voting age, then you probably know all about the proverbial ‘birds and bees’ story (uugh). Still, I’ve decided that ‘Birds and Bees’ would be the lead-in to this week’s top 10 NFL thoughts column, even though the birds and bees I’m talking about have nothing to do with mom or dad’s coming-of-age monologue.
The ‘birds and bees’ I’m referring to are the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys.
The wounded Birds were grounded in shocking fashion late in regulation for the second time this season after taking flight for the better part of the first half.
The ‘bees’ I’m talking about the Dallas Cowboys got ‘stung’ like never before after disturbing what had been a previously dormant Detroit Lions bee hive.
Okay, so now that you get the idea, let’s rock and roll with my top 10 thoughts on Week 10 in the NFL.
10. In The Pits!
The 2011 Pittsburgh Steelers sure don’t resemble last year’s team that reached the Super Bowl before falling to Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in a thriller. The Steelers have perennially been one of the best rushing teams in the league and one of the best at stopping the run defensively. Not this season however as the ‘new-look’ Steelers rank 21st in rushing and 22nd against the run. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that Pittsburgh doesn’t look like a legitimate AFC title contender at this point.
9. Duh, Del Rio!
Jacksonville Jaguars should have never parted ways with veteran quarterback David Garrard – but they should have parted ways with head coach Jack del Rio. The foolish Jags bounced Garrard in favor of veteran backup Luke McCown – until they rudely found out that McCown is mediocre at best (he’s always been just mediocre). Now, the Jags have been forced to turn to first round draft pick Blaine Gabbert and they’re paying for their poor choices in a big way as their 1-3 record indicates.
8. Belief by the Bay
First-year head coach Jim Harbaugh apparently was plenty ready to coach in the NFL. The brother of Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh has his rebuilding San Francisco 49ers team believing in him in a big way. Hell, at this point I’m thinking Harbaugh can walk on water the way he has mediocre quarterback Alex Smith actually looking competent this season.
7. Miserable in Minny!
The Minnesota Vikings thought they would rebound in a big way with veteran quarterback Donovan McNabb on board and head coach Leslie Frazier now putting his own stamp on the franchise after finishing out the 2011 campaign as the interim head coach. Unfortunately, things haven’t gone as planned for the Vikings. McNabb is aging faster than gray-haired granddad, Frazier apparently is still learning on the job and the Vikings have mostly forgotten about superstar running back Adrian Peterson in spite of giving the fleet-footed running back a brand new contract just prior to the start of the regular season.
6. Third String My A**!
Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan really made a fool out of himself last week by saying that Lions’ all-world wide receiver Calvin Johnson would be no better than the third-best receiver on the Cowboys. Of course, Johnson went out and torched the ‘Boys with eight catches – and two of those going for scores. Johnson became the first wide receiver in NFL history to have two touchdown passes in each of the first four games of the season.
5. Rookie Like No Other
Right now, I’m wondering how all those Cam Newton haters are feeling and where they’ve all gone. While the rebuilding Panthers are just 1-3 heading into Week 5, Carolina has been in every single game this season, losing to Arizona and Green Bay by a touchdown before falling to Chicago by five. By the way, Panthers scored at least 28 points in all three of those losses and Carolina ranks third in passing.
4. No Hassle for Tennessee
I’m wondering if the Seattle Seahawks are kicking themselves in the rear end for parting ways with Matt Hasselbeck – and if they’re not, well, they should be. Now in his 13th season in the league, the veteran gunslinger, has led the revitalized Tennessee Titans to a surprising 3-1 record while tossing eight TD passes and just three interceptions while completing 66.7 percent of his passes with a blistering 104.7 quarterback rating. Apparently, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!
3. Hestery in the Making
Yeah, that’s no typo … there’s ‘Hestery’ in the making NFL fanatics … as in Chicago Bears legendary return man Devin Hester. Undoubtedly one of the most exciting players in the NFL, Hester set a new NFL record for career touchdowns scored on punt returns by taking a punt 69 yards to the house for his 11th career punt return touchdown, surpassing one of my favorites, Eric Metcalf, son of another great returner and running back I also loved, Terry Metcalf. Anyway, I’m going on record to say that Hester will finish his career with at least 20 career punt returns for TD’s, but until he through, let’s just enjoy ‘Hestery’ in the making!
2. Ruh-Oh!
As Scooby Doo used to say, ‘ruh-oh’ Dallas Cowboys faithful. Quarterback Tony Romo is paying more like a nervous rookie than the nine-year veteran that he is. To be blunt about it, Romo has cost his team two wins with some absolutely unacceptable play late in losses to the Jets in their regular season opener – and Detroit on Sunday. Three costly picks and five picks in seven games have hurt the ‘Boys in their efforts to take charge in the NFC East immensely. The best way I can describe Romo is to say that he plays big in small moments and small in big moments.
1. Birds and the Bees
If you don’t know it by now NFL fans, the Philadelphia Eagles have some serious issues despite owning one of the most talent-laden rosters in the entire league. While the Birds rank 10th in scoring (25.2 ppg) and an even more impressive second in rushing (163.8 ypg), Philly’s vaunted offense has been outscored 36-0 in the fourth quarter this season.
Not only that, but despite their plethora of ‘big name players’ on the defensive side of the ball, the Birds rank just 11th against the pass and a miserable 30th against the run while allowing 25.2 points per contest defensively, good for 24th overall.
Philly’s self-proclaimed ‘dream team’ (I know it sounds laughable now) had better get it together quickly or they could end up with a nightmare of a 2011 season on their hands.