1) Up six against the Colts, the Patriots went for it on 4th and 2 from their own 28 yard line. They failed to convert and the Colts scored with thirty seconds left to win 35-34. What was Bill Belichick thinking?
Ben: NO IDEA. Why do coaches try to outsmart themselves? All Belichick had to do was kick the football and play defense for 1:45, but decided not to. Granted that is a lot of time on the clock for Peyton Manning, but all throughout the history of this rivalry the Patriots have had an answer for Peyton. I just don't understand risking the win, on picking up two yards when the Colts know you aren't going to run, and you're going to run a short route.
Note to coaches: stop trying to outsmart youselves and make smart decisions.
Boz: I understand what he was thinking. He has one of the best quarterbacks on the planet and an offense that has put up 450 yards of offense in the game and that he thinks they can pick up two more yards. With that being said, I completely disagree with the decision to go for it. I know that any Peyton Manning-led offense is dangerous and you want to keep him off the field, but you have to punt the ball and trust your defense from keeping Manning from going 75 yards for the game-winning touchdown. The other problem was that the Patriots didn't run enough time off the clock. Had they trusted the running game and ran more time off the clock, punting would have been a much easier decision that it already was.
2) The Cincinnati Bengals finished off their second sweep in as many weeks over the top two teams in their division, the Ravens and the Steelers. Are the Bengals a legit contender to reach the Super Bowl?
Ben: No. They are playing some physical football now and that will take it's toll shortly and they will begin to fade. I like the Bengals, and think they can get to and make an impact on the playoffs, but I don't think they have what it takes to make the Super Bowl.
Boz: I guess so. I've really underestimated the Bengals and picked them to lose each of those four games they've won against the Ravens and Steelers. The Bengals have proved that they are a contender to reach Miami in February by sweeping the defending champs. I'm not ready to put them ahead of the Colts, or possible even the Patriots despite having a better record, but they are playing good football right now. Palmer is a top quarterback again, Ochocinco is a team leader again and Cedric Benson is running the football like he has something to prove, since he does. Despite being 5-0 in the division they still are only a game up on the Steelers, so they aren't quite running away with the AFC North quite yet. But they are a playoff team and have shown they'll be tough to beat in the postseason.
3) Michelle Wie won the Lorena Ochoa Invitational to record her first win on the LGPA Tour in her 65th career tournament. Do you still think Wie will fulfill all of the promise that many put on her career years ago?
Ben: Nope. She doesn't have the mental game, and she has disappointed for all these years. Granted, the expectations were too high when she first broke onto the scene, but there have been stretches of his career where she has played terribly. There have been years were she has disappeared and played so bad, that she was almost an afterthought in LPGA circles. I don't think she can get back on top.
Boz: Yes. Absolutely. People were putting all of that promise and expectations upon her when she was 14 years old. Here's the newsflash...she's only 20 years old! She's not even old enough to drink the beer that two others golfers poured on her to help her celebrate the win. I'm not trying to compare her to Tiger Woods, but Tiger won his first event when he was 20 as well. She'll be playing on the tour for probably another 20 years and will win many more tournaments, including some majors, during her career.
4) The Stanford Cardinal football program has had a great two weeks, defeating Oregon and USC in back-to-back games. Is Stanford the best team in the Pac-10?
Ben: Yes. Had they not been so up-and-down at the beginning of the season, they could be more entrenched in the BCS standings. I like Stanford, I like Harbaugh, I like their running back, I like their offense, and they are much improved from recent years. They are hammering teams, and playing fantastic football - fear the Cardinal.
Boz: I think that they are the best team in the Pac-10. Not only did they beat Oregon at home, but they went into LA and beat USC in their own backyard...easily. If they could have avoided one of the two losses on the road to Oregon State or Arizona, they could have already clinched their trip to the Rose Bowl. They still could clinch the Pac-10 title with the Ducks having to play at Arizona and against Oregon State, both ranked teams. The Cardinal have one of the best running backs in the nation and I'm pulling for them to make it to the Rose Bowl.
ODDS
1) The Warriors finally rid themselves of Stephen Jackson, sending him and guard Acie Law to the Bobcats for Raja Bell and Vladimir Radmonovic. What are the odds that Stephen Jackson can get the Bobcats to the playoffs in the Eastern Conference?
Ben: 0%. Jackson is a headcase, and the Bobcats are not good enough yet to compete.
Boz: 0%. If this were the Eastern Conference of 2-3 years ago then I would give it a better chance to make the playoffs. However, the Eastern Conference is much stronger this season and the Bobcats aren't strong enough to compete. They have a lot of young talent on the roster but also has some holes to fill and inexperience to deal with. Jackson will improve the team but not solve all of those problems.
2) Notre Dame lost at Pittsburgh on Saturday night moving their record to 6-4. What are the odds that Charlie Weis is fired at the end of the season?
Ben: 99.7%. The only thing that saves Weis is his buyout and ridiculous contract numbers. The ONLY thing Notre Dame wants, is wins. Weis can't do that.
Boz: 95%. They have clinched a bowl game for the second straight year, but for the second straight year it will be a lackluster bowl game played before January. They're going to suffer another loss when they play at Stanford in the regular season finale. A 7-5 record doesn't cut it for Notre Dame. Weis will be out as soon as their bowl game is over.
3) The Broncos lost to the Washington Redskins on Sunday running their losing streak to three games. What are the odds that the Broncos miss the playoffs this season?
Ben: 50%. The Chargers are coming on strong, and while I think the Broncos are running out of steam I still think there is too much time left in the season to completely write them off.
Boz: 70%. Looking at their remaining schedule, I have the Broncos finishing at 9-7. With the AFC, I don't think 9-7 is strong enough to clinch one of the two wild card spots. The Bengals/Steelers will grab one of those spots and I think the other goes to Houston.
HAPPY HOUR
Ben: Happy 45th Birthday Tom Gooden. He was a Rookie of the Year, youngest-ever Cy Young (at age 22), and won the pitching Triple Crown. Then, his career declined because of drug and alcohol abuse. Doc Gooden had 3 dominant years, then some problems for a year, another dominant year and then disappeared from the Majors. He would be classified as a headcase, disappointment, and drug addict -- but an extremely talented player.
Boz: Happy 27th Birthday to Amare Stoudemire. The former Rookie of the Year is a four-time all-star and has led the Suns to the best record in the NBA to start this young season. He should be in good spirits on his birthday after scoring 30 points in the Suns win over the Raptors last night.
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