The Dugout - November 26
Stuff That Happened NFL Week 12
The New England Patriots are pretty much the best team in the NFL now. Remember the drama earlier in the season over Brady and whether he was done or not? Whether Bill Belichick would be able to make anything of yet another band of merry men and outcasts? They out-duelled the Broncos a few weeks back, ran all over the Colts last week and this time they picked apart the Detroit Lions like it was nothing. One of the best defences going around. Most of their best games have been at home, but that’s hardly an issue heading into the playoffs when they have the best record in the AFC and seem bound for a home seeding. They have a seven game win streak going and like the great team that they are, they’re finding different ways to win. Next week they play the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau and if that ain’t a Drop Whatever Else You’re Doing And Watch game then I don’t know what is.
Incredibly, Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady have never faced each other as starters before.
By this stage in the season the margin for error among the competing teams is lower than ever. All four teams in the AFC North have seven wins and each of them have shown enough great moments to think they’ve got plenty left in the tank. But at an absolute maximum only three can make the playoffs, and for that to happen you’d have to discount the likes of the Dolphins and Chiefs (who did both lose this week). The lone exception is the NFC South. That pathetic cesspool of a division. The Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints are at the top with 4-7 records. One of those teams (or the 3 win Panthers/2 win Buccaneers) will make the playoffs. The system is broken!
The Falcons showed exactly why they’ll be the first team anyone wants to play come postseason should they make it. With victory in sight against the Cleveland Browns, Mike Smith gave a clinic in How Not To Coach. With a third and 2 and 55 seconds remaining, inside range for a game-winning field goal, and Coach Smith calls a timeout. Then a pass play that goes incomplete. Either you let the clock run or you run the ball to make it an easier kick or both. Instead Cleveland get 44 seconds with the ball and they use every bit of it in driving up the other end for the actual game winner. Brian Hoyer’s mistakes may have given Atlanta the chance, but his final possession was all they needed. Josh Gordon was on point in his first game back from suspension/selling cars, catching 8 passes for 120 yards.
The Miami Dolphins may have let a big win slip against the Broncos, but that was a game in which they came out with their pride intact. Denver’s ruined many a team recently. Not these Dolphs. Ryan Tannehill’s playing the best ball of his career and he has weapons to boot. The problem there is that the offensive line, such a disaster last season, seems to be crumbling with injuries. Injuries are the same thing that have slowed down the Eagles and Cardinals, though each remains firmly in the hunt.
Watch out for Robert Griffin III’s name though. He’s pretty firmly on the outer in Washington, amazing given it wasn’t that long ago that he had the highest selling jersey in the league. Things went sour quickly, he just doesn’t seem to be the same QB any longer. He’s reluctant to run after his injury problems and without that threat his arm has suffered too. Word is Colt McCoy’ll start this week.
Yeah, and I s’pose this needs mentioning too. It’s just the greatest catch you’ll ever see, from Odell Beckham Jr for the New York Giants against the Dallas Cowboys. This… this is insane.
Oh, and here he is practising during warm ups. Good Lord.
NFL Week 12 Power Rankings:
- New England Patriots (9-2)
- Denver Broncos (8-3)
- Green Bay Packers (8-3)
- Arizona Cardinals (9-2)
- Dallas Cowboys (8-3)
- Seattle Seahawks (7-4)
- Indianapolis Colts (7-4)
- Philadelphia Eagles (8-3)
- Detroit Lions (7-4)
- Baltimore Ravens (7-4)
Red Sox Recruitment Rally
The baseball season may not be long over, but it finished a lot earlier for the Boston Red Sox than they’d planned. The defending World Series champs didn’t even make the playoffs in 2014, and that was enough to spark some serious spending. This week they’ve made not one but two massive free agent signings.
Pablo Sandoval, fresh of taking the catch that clinched the World Series for San Francisco, has reportedly agreed to 5 years and $100m to be the Sox new third baseman, while shortstop Hanley Ramirez is on the way for 4 years and $88m (with a $22m option for a fifth). The Red Sox gutted their roster a few years back, shipping away the likes of Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford, and to be honest it looks like they might do so again. They’re now stacked for bats but way shallow with their pitchers, so don’t be shocked if fellas like Will Middlebrooks or Yoenis Cespedes get dealt some time before spring training. Boston went from last, to champions and back to last in the AL East over the last 3 years. Things are happening, though.
Meanwhile In The NBA…
NBA Power Rankings
- Golden State Warriors (11-2)
- Toronto Raptors (12-2)
- Memphis Grizzlies (12-2)
- Washington Wizards (9-4)
- Portland Trailblazers (11-3)
- Houston Rockets (11-3)
- San Antonio Spurs (9-4)
- Dallas Mavericks (10-5)
- Chicago Bulls (9-6)
- Miami Heat (8-7)
(Everybody just cool on the Cavaliers. Let them sort it out in time. Come June they’ll be right up there.)
The Tao of Manu
Merry Christmas* From The Sacramento Kings!
*by Christmas, we mean the start of the Commercial Christmas season. As in, BUY BUY BUY SPEND SPEND SPEND! It’s what Jesus wanted!
An Onside Kick Designed By Diego Maradona
Quote (Rant) of the Week:
A belter this week. It’s Richard Sherman and Doug Baldwin hiding behind a cardboard cutout of Doug Baldwin (of the Seattle Seahawks) going into a presumably highly rehearsed role play over the NFL’s ‘hypocrisy’ when it comes to the league’s media code and sponsorship expectations. It’s pretty weird/thrilling.
The whole thing was first and foremost a retaliation to Marshawn Lynch getting fined $100k for not fulfilling his press duties. This was Lynch’s own response.
Good Week:
Odell Beckham Jr. (New York Giants) – Oh, no. That catch was not the end of it at all. Beckham, as well as becoming an internet sensation, he also had 10 catches for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Plus he made that catch.
T.Y. Hilton (Indianapolis Colts) – He said he’d score a touchdown for his newborn baby daughter (born the morning of the game). And he did. Lovely moment.
Bad Week:
Jonas Gray (New England Patriots) – A week after his supposed breakout game – 199 rush yards and 4 TDs - Gray doesn’t even log a single carry against Detroit. You know why? Coz he slept in on Friday and missed team meetings which meant he didn’t train and Billy B doesn’t take too kindly that kinda thing.
Charlotte Bobcats – I’m worried I may have jinxed them. The ol’ Wildcard’s Curse. Charlotte have dropped 6 games on the trot and as long as Kemba Walker and Lance Stephenson keep rimming their jump shots that may well continue.
Player of the Week:
Steph Curry (Golden State Warriors) – The Warriors are top of The Dugout’s NBA Power Rankings and Mr Curry is the biggest reason for that. He most recently was seen torching the Miami Heat, dropping 40 on them with 8 threes. He’s now got 51 games with at least 5 assists and 5 three pointer. That’s the most in NBA history. What’s more is that he’s done it in his 349th game, while the next best (Ray Allen - 50) has played 1300.
Upcoming Dates (NZ Time):
January 4 - NFL Playoffs Begin
February 2 - Superbowl XLIX
February 16 - NBA All Star Game