Thank you for passing down your quarterback chromosomes.
Sincerely,
Chiefs fans
Kansas City received an early Halloween treat when the AFC-leading Broncos were shocked Sunday at the Meadowlands. Growing up a Giants fan in upstate NY, the recipe for rare success might as well been the team's slogan: good defense, strong running game, capitalize on the opponents' mistakes. The Jersey wind, or "the Hawk," kicks up around the Meadowlands sometime in late October and hangs around to mess with quarterbacks until the end of the season. So you simply don't leave it up to late-fourth quarter aerial displays. The Parcells teams won this way for most of the 80s and Dan Reeves and Jim Fassel remembered (although I have a tendency to believe Fassel forgot a lot of other things).
So, it might not be hyperbole to say in the thirty-year history of Giants Stadium, we hadn't seen a 2:00 drill executed quite as perfectly as it was on Sunday. Eli Manning had a coming-of-age moment, driving the Giants into the teeth of one of the AFC's best defenses for a stirring 24-23 win over the Broncos. The loss cut (5-2) Denver's lead over the (4-2) Chiefs to just a half game and the Broncs still have to come to Arrowhead next month.
Eli orchestrated the 15-play, 83-yard march with a mixture of short and intermediate passes, with just over three minutes left in the game. The most impressive part, however, was just how calm and in-control he appeared. How a second-year kid handles himself with such assuredness is almost spooky. He doesn't carry himself with arrogance, yet seems to have the respect of everyone in that huddle. From the 2-yard-line with 10 seconds left and no timeouts, he bought time by moving left
and then threw a TD strike in the middle of traffic to Amani Toomer. He doesn't have a gregarious personality, never gives a good sound bite, shows much less emotion than his brother, Peyton . He almost seems like a kid-QB-robot.
Admittedly, the Broncos conceded the short stuff, however, Eli took advantage of the underneath space and was not confused by Denver's mixed coverage or rattled by their blitzes. Most importantly, Eli's confidence and aggression wasn't tempered after throwing an interception on the previous drive. Phil Simms is correctly regarded as the best Giants QB since Fran
Tarkenton (yeah, try that QB lineage for the better part of four decades), but even Simms was not one to run the 2:00 drill. His passes were sharp, crisp and extremely catchable when his hulking O-line afforded him time. But in the crunch, even Simms was flappable.
While it doesn't have the same impact as Elway's "Drive" in the '86 AFC Title game, it gave the same sense of a special maturation moment. Is the Giants defense good enough for this team to make the playoffs and noise in the NFC ? Probably not. But man, maybe giving the Chargers 3,027 draft picks and a truck of meatball parm from the Turnpike Diner for Eli was worth it. Here's guessing Chiefs fans think so.
...
August 18, 1985, Akron University, Akron, OH: Browns head coach Marty Schottenheimer publicly mocked rookie kicker Dane Hutchinson at practice today, then released him, saying "Dane doesn't have the moxy to ever kick in this league. He's an embarrassment to this organization and a symbol of weak-minded individuals who will never amount to anything."
This didn't happen. But it sure seems like it must have, right? Why has Marty inherited this kicker karma? What could be possibly have done in a past life to deserve these special teams' nightmares? Sunday, leading 17-13 with 2:25 left the Chargers lined up for a makeable FG. SD's defense had squashed McNabb and the running game all day and a TD lead meant at the very worst, the Bolts would force OT. And then Marty's kicker karma swept in from South Jersey. Nate Kaeding's kick was blocked, then run back for the GW TD by the Eagles. Lin Elliot killed the Chiefs playoff hopes on an icy day in Jan. '96. The Chargers were knocked out of the postseason after missed kicks last year. And now this. Marty need to make peace with the Special Teams gods or this might only be the beginning.
...
Can't say enough good things about the Chiefs winning Friday night's game. For the first time in NFL history (and that includes the days of riding a greyhound to Joliet, IL) a team traveled and played the same day. All I know is after sitting on a Southwest flight for three hours with nothing but half a Sprite and 14 salted peanuts, I don't feel like waiting for my baggage, let alone playing a football game. The 'Phins D-line was dominated and that should alert the Chiefs the offensive identity has changed. This is a power running team, with a bruising O-Line and two solid backs, including the punishing Larry Johnson. My only real concern after Friday night was that Al Saunders doesn't have the patience to stick with the run. In the early 4th QTR, the Chiefs called passes on three of four plays, the drive stalled and KC had to settle for a 52-yard FG attempt. You get the feeling Saunders sometimes gets antsy like a kid playing Madden. It's not fun to win by dripping clock and controlling the line of scrimmage. But right now, it gives the Chiefs their best chance.
...
Ok, next time remind me never to pick a team that thinks like this: "Game's still scoreless, it's 4th and inches. We're on the road and need to keep the drive going to keep the home team on its heels. We've got a battering ram of a running back and a shaky quarterback who hasn't proven he can play Ivy League football. Plus, the offensive line has been horrible all season protecting the QB. What do you think?"
"Umm... how about play-action pass?"
"Perfect!"
By the way, the Jayhawks didn't gain the 1st down as Brian Luke was sacked for an 11-yard loss. KU lost 44-13 in Boulder, a game I figured Kansas could win. Yeah, the freshman dorms aren't the only thing that stinks in Lawrence.
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The Crypt Keeper's Holiday Crazy
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Is
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A
D.A. Show Investigation reveals color commentators handing out the pink slip
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Duh, ok.
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Dear Archie,
