When Cam Newton and Jameis Winston throw 5 touchdowns on any given Sunday, you have to know that, unless you are also a big NBA fan, you are going to have to find something else to do on Sunday afternoons between Labour Day and Valentines Day. Bridgewater and Geno Smith may be jokes, EJ Manuel and Russell Wilson may be yesterday’s news and the jury may still be out on Tyrod Taylor (Colin Kaepernick is below consideration) but one thing is certain: Football has undergone a fundamental shift, not necessarily for the better, in the league’s never-ending thirst for cash, and more of it’ and in trying to draw non-traditional fans they are going too far trying to please too many demographics. Pride goeth before destruction proclaims the Bible.
Much about Cam Newton has been written lately, most of which is a load of nonsense. There is a brilliant, young, Quarterback of Color in the NFL right now, and that is Jameis Winston in Tampa. He is the first good quarterback to come along in quite some time that happened to be black. It is not the system he played in College as the last two (2) high picks from FSU were Ponder and EJ Manuel. Ponder seems to have lost his chance at starting exactly at the point in his development when he became ready and Manuel just can’t seem to make the cut at the NFL level. Winston, based on the serious allegations levelled at him for his behaviour at FSU and his ongoing weight problem, may self-destruct before fulfilling his potential but as of right now, Winston is simply a good Quarterback, no qualification required.
Another good young Quarterback is TJ Yates, signed off the street by the Texans after the Falcons released him in September. Much like Case Keenum, who had his head taken off on Sunday turning a game-winning drive for the Rams into a victory for the Ravens as Jeff Fisher, once again, had no clue as to what was going on until hours after the game, Yates has improved much over the four years he spent in the Texans system. If Yates had Hoyer’s experience he would be a starting Quarterback somewhere. In a delicious irony, Baltimore now faces trotting out the author Gary Kubiak’s demise, Matt Schaub, while former Raven back-up Tyrod Taylor starts ably for the Bills, Case Keenum is the Rams starter (assuming he passes the concussion protocol) and Yates is headed back to the bench as an able back-up to Hoyer, at least for now.
Kubiak has now wrecked the 2013 Texans, the 2015 Ravens (after spending the 2014 season there) and now the 2015 Broncos, all due to his inability to accurately assess a Quarterbacks ability. Brock Osweiler may have beaten the Bears but this week faces the number one scoring and rushing defence when New England rolls into Mile High on the weekend. The Patriots have surrendered over 100 yards rushing only once since Week Two and when Denver is unable to run the ball the Patriots pass rush, second only to the Broncos themselves in sacks, will severely limit the amount of time Osweiler has to get rid of the football. With the Patriot’s offence needing to once more reconfigure, this would be an ideal weekend for Manning to upset them (the Patriots are already down to 4/7), sore feet and all, but Kubiak has benched old Peyton. The game will by no means be an easy one for New England, particularly if DeMarcus Ware returns and is a factor, but Kubiak has at least reduced the degree of difficulty.
Thanksgiving Games
Never understood why Americans make such a big deal out of Thanksgiving Weekend. Thanksgiving as a practice is a worthy goal but going home and getting hammered watching football all day followed by seriously overeating and then trampling people in shopping malls is much less easy to understand. The games this year are not nearly the quality of last year when we spent about to paragraphs explaining why taking the points and the Seahawks was a good idea over the favored 49ers and why Chip Kelly’s offence would walk all over Dallas which it did, even with Mark Sanchez. While we would love to see the Cowboys wipe that smirk off of Newton’s face and the Bears do the same to Aaron Rodgers we wouldn’t bet on it, nor do we believe the spread will come into play. The Eagles-Lions game is anyone’s guess. Good Luck.
Sunday’s Games
8/5 Miami Dolphins + 3.5 at 5/9 New York Jest – 3.5
Last year New York won in Miami and Miami won in New York. Both teams have mediocre Quarterbacks, under performing defences and unpredictable offences.
No Selection
20/21 Minnesota Vikings + 1.0 at 20/23 Atlanta Falcons – 1.0
Mike Zimmer has put together a good defence with a good scheme that couldn’t keep the Packers from winning but faces a somewhat easier task here. The Minnesota offence is still only Adrian Peterson as QB Bridgewater is terrible but All Day should be enough.
Selection: Minnesota Vikings + 1.0
20/29 New York Giants – 2.5 at 5/4 Washington Redskins + 2.5
The Giants always play New England tough. Their own division, not so much. We were pretty impressed with Cousins in New England, which played out in New Orleans and, believe it or not, the first half of the Panthers game, and thing that he is already almost the best Quarterback in the division and will be the best sooner than most think. The Giants bring back WR Hicks which should be just enough of a distraction.
Selection: Washington Redskins + 2.5/Washington Redskins @ 5/4
New Orleans/Houston
Selection: Houston – 3.0
San Diego/Jacksonville
Selection: San Diego +4.0
Pittsburgh/Seattle
Selection: Pittsburgh +4.5 – Best Bet
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