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      Nothing surprising about Cowboys’ dismantling of Texans

      September 26, 2010 /
      NEW ORLEANS - DECEMBER 19: Linebacker DeMarcus Ware #94 of the Dallas Cowboys sits in the bench during their game against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on December 19, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

      If you hate the Cowboys, these past two weeks have been glorious.

      Food has tasted better. Little gumdrop midgets have been seen frolicking in dewy meadows. Even naked Twister with your wife has actually been somewhat enjoyable.

      Yep, life has been good. “I told you they’re not as good as the media makes them out to be,” could be heard muttered from New York to Philadelphia to Washington over the past two weeks.

      But alas, all that ended Sunday when the ‘Boys somehow lucked into a 27-13 win. Well, it may not have been luck but it sure feels like it. Dallas may have outgained Houston in virtually every statistical category and scored more points, but pay no attention to that – they were fortunate to win.

      If you’re a Cowboy fan and you’re seething – relax. I’m being sarcastic. The truth of the matter is that people should have seen this win coming from a mile away. The Texans were coming off two emotional victories and were now facing a desperate Dallas team in search of its first win. They were also down their starting left tackle Duane Brown, who was suspended four games earlier this week for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. The Cowboys entered Sunday with only two sacks, yet they recorded four today in Brown’s absence, two by DeMarcus Ware (who probably couldn’t sleep Saturday night thinking about playing against a shorthanded Houston O-line).

      The point is that the Texans were due for a letdown and the Cowboys were due to get back on track. Cowboy haters have relished the past two weeks, but the fact remains that Dallas is a pretty good football team. They’re still an underachieving bunch, but this game was set up perfectly for them to win and they did.

      As for the Texans, this is a painful reminder that if they want to reach the playoffs then they have to play at a top level each and every week. They’ll learn from this.

      External Sports, NFL

      Rockies once again accused of using juiced balls at Coors Field

      September 26, 2010 /

      According to a report by AOL Fanhouse.com, MLB will now oversee the use of humidor balls at Coors Field following a compliant by the Giants, who have accused the Rockies of using “non-humidor” balls in the teams’ three-game series this weekend.

      Tim Lincecum, who made a start two days again in Colorado, could be seen curising on the field when tossing a ball back to the umpire during the sixth inning. He went on to pitch eight innings while giving up just one run in a 2-1 Giants’ victory.

      The Rockies are 51-26 at home this year compared to just 31-46 on the road, but that of course doesn’t mean that they’re cheating. Most baseball teams play better at home than they do on the road, although this isn’t the first time the Rockies have been accused of using juiced balls either.

      Would anyone be surprised if someone with the Rockies slipped some “non-humidor” balls to the opposing pitcher in a tight pennant race? I wouldn’t – especially with Lincecum on the hill. And if the Rockies were cheating, it makes Lincecum’s outing the other night even more impressive.

      I doubt we’ll see MLB do anything about this issue. The Rockies will probably go on to miss the playoffs, this story will die down and then it’ll resurface next year when another team accusing them of juicing their balls. (Juicing their balls? On a Sunday morning? I mean really, that’s just not right…)

      External Sports, MLB, Video

      2010 NFL Week 3 Predictions

      September 26, 2010 /
      DENVER - SEPTEMBER 19: Tightend Demaryius Thomas of the Denver Broncos makes a reception as cornerback Kelly Jennings of the Seattle Seahawks tries to make the tackle at INVESCO Field at Mile High on September 19, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Seahawks 31-14. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

      After picking all the games in Week 1, last week was the first time I limited my predictions to only four games. And after a 2-1-1 Sunday – I’m hot! On fire, really…

      The Packers and Bengals were winners in Week 2, while the Raiders (thanks to a backdoor cover by the Rams) were losers and the Redskins (thanks to being jerk-faces and blowing a lead against the Texans) were a push.

      Here are my top 4 predictions for Week 3 in the NFL:

      Steelers at Buccaneers +1.5, Sunday, 1:00PM ET
      This game looks a little too good to be true. The Steelers’ defense has been lights out early in the season and despite their 2-0 record, the Bucs still have plenty of issues offensively. So take the Steelers and lay the measly 1.5 points right? Well first of all, don’t tell me what to do. Second of all, something smells funny to me. For the third week in a row the Steelers will try to run the ball 60 times out of the 60 offensive plays they run and lean on the defense to create turnovers so they can eek out another field goal-riddled victory. The problem is that Tampa is playing with a ton of confidence right now and are catching Pittsburgh at the right time. For starters, Charlie Batch will once again start under center, limiting the Steelers’ effectiveness on offense. This is also the second time in as many weeks that Pittsburgh has to play on the road and also has a huge divisional game coming up next week against Baltimore – which oh-by-the-way is a week before Big Ben returns from his suspension. This is a classic look-ahead game for the Steelers, who get caught with their pants down. (Uh, okay that was probably in poor taste given the Roethlisbathroom situation. My apologizes.)
      THE PICK: BUCCANEERS +1.5

      Cowboys +2.5 at Texans, Sunday, 1:00PM ET
      This is another game people are probably licking their chops at: a 2-0 Texans team playing at home against a pitiful 0-2 Cowboys team? And I only have to lay 2.5 points? Sign me up. The problem is that the Texans are another team (kind of like the Steelers, but even more so) that is due for a letdown. They’re coming off two emotional wins (one over their biggest bully and the second in come-from-behind fashion) and now come home to face a Cowboys team that is reeling. And the problem with reeling teams is that you’re probably going to get their best effort because they’re desperate for a win. There’s no doubt the Cowboys should be focused and with Houston missing left tackle Duane Brown (suspension), it could come this weekend. I don’t expect the Texans to score over 30 points again like they did the last two weeks and DeMarcus Ware could have a huge day pressuring Matt Schaub with Brown out. I like Dallas to get the straight up win.
      THE PICK: COWBOYS +2.5

      Continue reading »

      External Sports, NFL

      Why does it take a good opponent for Oklahoma to actually show up?

      September 25, 2010 /
      Sooners head coach Bob Stoops talks to his team in the second half of the 2009 FedEx BCS National Championship NCAA football game in Miami January 08, 2009. (UPI Photo/Mark Wallheiser) Photo via Newscom Photo via Newscom

      Oklahoma is off to a 4-0 start, but it’s one of the more strange 4-0 starts I can remember seeing.

      The Sooners struggled in Week 1 with Utah State, destroyed what was thought to be a very good Florida State team in Week 2, squeaked by a solid, but not elite Air Force team in Week 3 and just minutes ago survived a scare from a less-than-stellar Cincinnati team. All that matters is the 4-0 start, obviously, but isn’t it a little alarming that the Sooners seem to be playing down to some of their opponents?

      Since winning the national title in 2000, Bob Stoops-coached Oklahoma teams have a slightly disturbing habit of losing to inferior teams. Stoops often catches crap for losing in bowl games, but to me, stuff like that is forgivable. It’s when a team loses concentration and struggles to put away a team that it should have no problem burying that I worry about.

      One problem Oklahoma runs into is that I’m sure these teams make this the biggest game of their season. Utah State could go 1-11, but if the win is over Oklahoma, fans will never forget that team. Tonight’s near-giveaway against Cincinnati could also be attributed to having Texas next week. It’s the biggest game on the schedule for the Sooners, and perhaps they started to look ahead a little too soon.

      Again, the Sooners haven’t lost any of these games this year, and maybe Utah State, Air Force and Cincinnati will go on to have great seasons, we don’t know yet. We do know that these aren’t isolated incidents, however, and the precedent for losing one is there.

      College Football, External Sports

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