As I crack open the Week Five edition of the Student of the Game’s Match-Up Mania, I’m basically left with Don Cheadle in my head from the movie Ocean’s Eleven. During what appears to be a failed bank heist, he exclaims to his crew that they, “. . . had one job to do!”. I have this image burned in my head because of the number of times during Week Four teams were left with the opportunity to win football games, but kickers failed to do their one job. And some in cases, multiple times.
Thursday night Josh Scobee missed two tries too many for the would-be win over the Baltimore Ravens. He was cut shortly after by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jacksonville Jaguars’ kicker Jason Myers also missed two attempts to beat the defending AFC South Champion Indianapolis Colts who were missing their top passer, Andrew Luck. The San Diego Chargers’ Josh Lambo was inches away from infamy missing a kick to sneak passed the Browns until Cleveland, in pure shoot-yourself-in-the-foot fashion, jumped offsides so Lambo could hit a second try. Zach Hocker was also in a state of “foot fear” as he booted the ball into the upright trying to seal a win for the Saints over the Cowboys in regulation. His horror was short lived though as CJ Spiller fantasy owners will be sending him fan mail for the TD Spiller ran for in the first play of overtime. If it wasn’t for Kansas City’s Cairo Santos blasting seven field goals for all of the Chiefs’ 21 points, there would be little faith and respect left for kickers. Heck, I needed a funny video just to get you to read this much about these guys.
Now — on with the MuM.
Seahawks v. Bengals
Wasn’t it just about two or three months ago where Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton was booed during a local charity softball game? Where masses of Bengal Boosters were calling for the back-up AJ McCarron? After all, he won the last BSC poll in College Football. (And no, this isn’t a miss spelling of ‘BCS’. I’ll allow your imagination to confirm what the BSC stands for in my mind. Long may the College Football Playoff reign ) Dalton has lost 4 straight playoff games, so obviously the front office must cut him loose and just slash and burn his career in Cincy as irresponsibly as others would a rainforest.
The problem is all the fair-weather fans have already forgotten the era of Bungles leading up to this. Last time the Bengals were relevant other than an unfortunate encounter with Carson Palmer and Kimo von Oelhoffen, Ikky Woods was doing his shuffle for something a lot more impressive than cold cuts.
Let’s put it this way. It may be frustrating to make it to four straight post seasons and lose in the opening round, but teams who make it there consistently don’t do it on the shoulders of a field general who should be replaced. Being said, don’t ask me to pull the trigger on the Red Rifle in January, I’ve become too afraid it might backfire.
Now, as Seattle has shown us, you can make it to the postseason repeatedly with a quarterback who is overrated. To be clear, I think Russell Wilson is a good quarterback. He’s won a Super Bowl and has the ability to pull plays out of the air. But needing a blown officiating call (again) to win a Monday nighter at home where your defense forced the opponent to punt 18 of 20 times doesn’t build a ton of confidence. And for those that continue to blame the Seahawks O-line, I find it difficult to blame a group who is responsible for greater that 3.5 yards per carry while the top running back is rookie Thomas Rawls out of Central Michigan.
As allegedly bad as the “Ginja Ninja” is in Cincy and as allegedly good as Wilson is for Seattle, the defense that does more in this game will make the difference. The Seahawks on D have yet to record an interception while the Bengals defense held the Chiefs last week to 7 FGs despite allowing 386 yards in the air. I think Cincinnati stays undefeated as Wilson again succumbs to pressure from the edge that prevents him from escaping and rolling out effectively.
Broncos v. Raiders
Sure, Oakland lost to the Bears last week. As much as that proves that Jay Cutler is better than Jimmy Clausen for Chicago, that doesn’t stop me from believing that this a trap in itself for Denver. All Broncos’ victories have come down to the last minute with Peyton Manning leading a game winning drive or the defense pulling through in clutch fashion. The scoreboard has also posted a difference within a single score in three out of four matches. The Denver Broncos are good, but they don’t appear unbeatable.
From the perspective of the Raiders, it could be they were looking past the Bears for their Blackhole Battle with the Broncos. And considering they have nothing to lose in the exchange, that only confirms the trap potential here.
But with as much faith as I may have in Oakland’s Derek Carr — the passer known as DC4. . . As much I am impressed by his rookie target Amari Cooper in his Rookie of the Year Campaign . . . As much as I respect the contribution of Latavius Murray in the run game, it’s hard to see them beating a squad that is top-to-bottom tough as Denver’s defense.
Then there’s the added complication of the Raider secondary not getting picked apart by Peyton. That, too, is a tall order regardless of how much it is alleged that he’s declined. Manning at 80% is still better than most who take snaps under center. The Broncos should once again narrowly escape the gravity of this Blackhole Battle, but I don’t see them beating the spread.
Honorable Mention
Saints v. Eagles
This game highlights two teams whose futures are trapped in water swirling around the sink about to go down the drain. Both as teams that showed preseason promise, they are now essentially reality show contestants battling against one another to stave off elimination, being voted off the playoff island, or fired from postseason contention. Take your pick which metaphor you like best here.
New Orelans demonstrated this past Sunday that even with quarterback legend Drew Brees playing with a bad shoulder, they can move the ball down the field against a decent defense. Philly’s defense, on the other hand, gave up a game winning drive to the far less illustrious Kirk Cousins. Advantage: Saints.
