As we approach the half way point of the 2008 NFL season, I'm becoming aware of an awkward and somewhat humorous element that has crept into the legion of NFL fans: Hormonal emotions.
Frustration and disappointment over a team's plight are not alien manifestations as football fans on each end of the fanatic spectrum have expressed themselves in pure unadulterated honesty before.
But, this recent trend of hysterical and temperamental sentiments is overreaction to the core, and it can define the intelligence level of the fan base.
What makes this outburst so bizarre is also the timing. Why are some fans writing off the season in Week 7?
This can't be any more evident than in Dallas. The media and fans raised the expectations for the Cowboys to Everest heights. The Cowboys themselves didn't. There was talk of 16-0, 14-2, winning the Super Bowl, etc. Dallas now sets at 4-3 after hitting a rough stretch of games where they've lost 3 of 4 due to injuries to some key players, a lack of emotion, and a befuddled defense. All of these factors can also affect how you develop and execute game plans. The next thing you hear is an outpouring of fans demanding that Wade Phillips be fired and a shallow prediction that Dallas has just missed the playoffs, they should just start over and rebuild, etc.
Are you kidding me? Of course, these are the same fans that raise the roof at Texas Stadium and do The Wave when Dallas is five yards from the end zone WITH THE BALL thus jeopardizing the offense from hearing the signals.
I can understand these helpless feelings coming from fans in Detroit, Oakland, and Cincinnati whose teams are in disarray from top to bottom. Drastic actions in those type of cities can sometimes be justified. The Lions cut out their cancerous GM, but there's still a lot of work to do. Oakland changed coaches but it doesn't matter who is patrolling the sidelines if Al Davis is owner. Cincy might need to make a change at head coach just like St. Louis did as the Rams are not the same pathetic team under Jim Haslett. San Francisco followed the same model and installed Mike Singletary as head coach, and my guess is you're going to see positive vibes come from that city too.
Sometimes, it is what it is, but it's not the end of the world. Football fans aren't better or worse people than they were before the season began.
These things have a way of working out for a lot of teams, and history is full of teams who have started very slow and rusty only to roar back and not only make the playoffs but to actually come away world champions (Yes, Giant fans, I'm referring to the Big Blue.)
The season is still early for many teams, including Dallas. So many things can still happen to jump-start a sluggish team, but at the same rate, things can get worse. That's why the NFL is so great. Events and circumstances on and off the field can strike at a moment's notice out of nowhere and alter your expectations...good or bad.
There is plenty of time for things to turn around so embrace and enjoy the remainder of the season. Just take a deep breath and leave those unwarranted emotions at the door...until the playoffs arrive.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2) at Dallas Cowboys (4-3): FOX, 1pm EST - There is a sound coming out of Valley Ranch, and it's not pleasant. Coaches and players alike are sick of losing and are on a mission. The home crowd and an opportunity to beat Jeff Garcia, who is a Cowboys nemesis, should be enough to kick start The Boys.
- Washington Redskins (5-2) at Detroit Lions (0-6): FOX, 1pm EST - Crazier things have happened, but Detroit is skimming the barrel in every statistical category so an upset win over the Skins is about as remote as me buying the Desperate Housewives DVD set.
- St. Louis Rams (2-4) at New England Patriots (4-2): FOX, 1pm EST - Both teams are second in their division which is staggering if you think about the last few seasons for each team. QB Matt Cassel appears to be getting comfortable with the Patriots offense which was evident in last week's thrashing of Denver at home.
- Atlanta Falcons (4-2) at Philadelphia Eagles (3-3): FOX, 1pm EST - This will be the ultimate test for rookie QB Matt Ryan who has not faired too well vs. teams anchored by stout defenses although he did well vs. Chicago in his last outing two weeks ago. Both teams are coming off byes, and coach Andy Reid is 9-0 in games after bye weeks.
- Arizona Cardinals (4-2) at Carolina Panthers (5-2): FOX, 1pm EST - Trench warfare determines this one. Both squads have dynamic defensive lines which can alter any turf war. They also each have great passing attacks, but Carolina has a better running game.
- Buffalo Bills (5-1) at Miami Dolphins (2-4): CBS, 1pm EST - Despite the record, Miami has been a joy to watch this year on offense, but this Bills defense is serious. Something tells me that south Florida won't be sunny when the final gun sounds.
- San Diego Chargers (3-4) vs. New Orleans Saints (3-4) in London, England: CBS, 1pm EST - This will be QB Drew Brees' first time to face the Chargers since he left them in 2006. The void left by Reggie Bush due to injury will be cavernous. Both teams cannot afford to lose if they want to keep within striking distance in their respective divisions. Wembley Stadium historically has horrible field conditions.
- Kansas City Chiefs (1-5) at NY Jets (3-3): CBS, 1pm EST - Look for RB Thomas Jones to have a huge game vs. this very fragile KC defense which allowed over 300 yards rushing last week vs. Tennessee. This should allow Brett Favre to settle down as he needs a turnover-free game in front of his home fans.
- Oakland Raiders (2-4) at Baltimore Ravens (3-3): CBS, 1pm EST - Not going to waste much time here. Baltimore's defense is stifling and the Raiders offense is very ineffective. The Ravens need to focus on stopping the Raiders RB's, and they should do fine.
- Cleveland Browns (2-4) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3-3): CBS, 4:05pm EST - I might have picked Cleveland here in an upset due to their success in J-town (two straight wins), but the enigmatic TE Kellen Winslow and Cleveland management are at odds and those types of dynamics have a tendency to rattle the chemistry.
- Cincinnati Bengals (0-7) at Houston Texans (2-4): CBS, 4:05pm EST - On paper, this one is already in the books. Cincy has never lost to Houston in their three meetings, but this isn't that Bengals team. They are very unstable at RB, and QB Carson Palmer will miss his third straight game due to elbow problems and just might be out for the year. A loss will have the fire under Marvin Lewis glowing white.
- NY Giants (5-1) at Pittsburgh Steelers (5-1): FOX, 4:15pm EST - My taste buds stung and salivated when I saw this matchup. Can you think of two more balanced and even teams playing right now? Solid running attacks. Smothering defenses who love to rush the QB. Stellar quarterbacks. WR Plaxico Burress visits Heinz Field for the first time since he left in 2004. The Terrible Towels will be thick.
- Seattle Seahawks (1-5) at San Francisco 49ers (2-5): FOX, 4:15pm EST - New Niners head coach Mike Singletary takes over for his mentor, Mike Nolan. Singletary is a man of fiery passion, fierce competitiveness, and impeccable character. These kinds of traits have a way of creeping into the mindsets of the players. This matchup against a lousy Seahawks team should be the perfect inauguration for the Singletary era.
- Indianapolis Colts (3-3) at Tennessee Titans (6-0): ESPN, 8:30pm EST, MNF - Whoa. Indianapolis travels to Music City to take on their division rivals who are having the time of their life right now. A rejuvenated Kerry Collins, a heart-stopping running attack, and a defense that makes offense wet themselves has this Titans team on cloud nine. Peyton Manning is having an average year and has not done well on the road this year. Indy's run defense is also coming apart at the seams. Both teams have dynamic coaches. Don't go anywhere.
BYE: CHICAGO, DENVER, GREEN BAY, MINNESOTA
STANDINGS:
Chris Mortensen: 10-4, 69-33
Mark Schlereth: 8-6, 61-41
Ron Jaworski: 10-3, 61-34
Mike Golic: 7-7, 60-41
Eddie Chinn: 8-6, 59-43
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