Monday Morning Jerkface: Week 14

Week 14 has came and went (once again I’m discarding the Monday night game) and I can’t help but think that we don’t know all that much more about the National Football League than we did on Sunday morning.  That doesn’t mean I don’t have plenty of things to say!

If you look close, you can see Tebow forcing the fumble

TEEEEEEEEEEEBOOOOOOOOOOOW TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIME!

Yeah, it happened again.

I will admit I have softened my stance on Tim Tebow.  Originally I had said that he will never be successful NFL quarterback and I think that might have been too rash.  Despite my stance that John Elway is perhaps the most overrated athlete of all time, he was a talented QB and his recent endorsement of Tim and pledge to work with him in the offseason is encouraging for the former Heisman award winner’s development.  I would be a fool to say that Tebow is not getting better, but once again I remind everyone to pump their collective breaks.

You can’t consistently play bad for three quarters and expect a perfect storm to bail you out.  In this case that perfect storm just happened to be Marion Barber having a complete meltdown, and two field goals of over 50 yards by Matt Prater.  If you didn’t see the game, Marion Barber went out of bounds for no reason with under two minutes left when the Bears were trying to hold onto the lead.  If he wouldn’t have done that?  Tebow would have been left with 20 seconds, no timeouts, and long field to go.  Just think about that for a second.  If one of their opponents would not have made a rare and almost unforgiveable mistake the Broncos would not have won this football game.  Instead he had around a minute and was able to maneuver his team in position for a 59 yard field goal attempt.  And then in overtime, with his team in field goal range, Barber fumbled.  Tim Tebow, as he has done for the last few months (and to his credit), took advantage.

As I watched the game I couldn’t help but laugh aloud because it was obvious that a lot of these factors would be ignored by a certain percentage of the population.  In the big picture the Broncos are in first place and with the Raiders loss in Lambeau field they don’t seem to be losing that spot any time soon.

Like him or hate him, it is fascinating television.

Sweet Divisional Champs T-shirt, Bro

The Houston Texans continue to fly under the radar and win games.

If they make a deep run in the playoffs this year, which is becoming more and more possible, you might be able to look back at this game as one of the big reasons.  Everyone knew that T.J. Yates was better than your average NFL third string QB, but to see him throw for 300 yards and lead a dramatic fourth quarter comeback without Andre Johnson has to make the team feel a lot better about their prospects than they previously did.  Did we see a QB change from a game manager to a game changer?  Maybe, maybe not.  Only time will tell.  Originally it seemed that Jim Harbaugh was going to be a runaway for coach of the year, but how can you ignore the job that Gary Kubiak has done despite an avalanche of key injuries?

The Patriots, Steelers, and Ravens are getting most of the AFC hype because of their past accomplishments, but the Texans have played as consistent as any team in the conference right now.

Whistlegate?

Alright, so this is weird.

Late in the Saints win in Tennessee a few of the Titans’ offensive line claimed that the Saints were blowing a whistle on the sidelines during their offensive possessions as a distraction.  Apparently the producer of the “Titans All Access” television show has evidence on tape.

With all the cameras and technology inside of a stadium each week, I have a hard time believing that a team would think they would get away with something like this.  But on the other hand, people are stupid so we’ll see!  Jake Locker was reported as adding, “Maybe they were whistling at me.  Cause I’m sexy as shit.”

It’s entirely possible that Jake Locker didn’t actually say that.

Dan Bailey is sad

What a weird seven day stretch for the Dallas kicker.

After being accidentally iced by his own coach the week earlier, he once again put through a clutch late game field goal only to have a last second timeout by Tom Coughlin nullify the kick.  After the timeout his second kick was blocked and the Giants had their season saved in Dallas on Sunday night.  This was the most hyped game of the weekend and it did not disappoint, producing several lead changes and plenty of points.

You have to wonder at this point if the media beating the “Dallas sucks in December” drum is starting to become a self fulfilling prophecy.  For the most part Romo is not to blame for this one.  He played quite well throughout, but he will certainly be irrationally beaten up in the press about a chance to ice the game with a throw to Miles Austin late that he wishes he could have back.  It sailed over Austin’s head and the crowd became quiet, as if they already knew what was going to happen.  To make things worse for Dallas their sensational running back DeMarco Murray appears to be lost for the season with a broken ankle.

Can’t wait for everyone to tell me that Manning is elite again today!  Yawn.

Other Stuff

-I’m Tebowing for Greg Jennings health today.  Won’t you join me?  Late in the Packers route over Oakland, the star wide receiver left the game with what is being called a knee sprain.  Injuries seem to be the only thing that can stop the Packers season.  We will know more after an MRI today.

-Rob Gronkowski now owns the NFL single season tight end TD record with 14.  We’re still trying to track down the footage of Bill Belichick creating him in a lab out of scrap metal, a jungle cat, and several young tight ends that disappeared after being asked to try out for the Patriots.

-Speaking of the Patriots, anyone see the spat on the sidelines between Brady and offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien?  If it would have been DeSean Jackson the NFL network might have a three hour special on it today, instead it’s just a footnote.

-The 49ers stumbled on Sunday inArizona, now making it more and more likely that they might not get a first round bye.  I say this because they still have to play the Steelers yet this year and the Saints know that the longer they can go in the playoffs without going outdoors the better their chances are.

-Don’t look now but the JETS would be in the playoffs if the season stopped today.  How do they keep doing this?

-Atlanta Falcons coach Mike Smith was taken off the team plane on Sunday night with chest pains.  All tests were negative and he will be on the sidelines Thursday night.

If you like games between cellar dwelling NFC West franchises, and who doesn’t, then Monday Night Football is right up your alley!  Enjoy Rams/Seahaws.