NFL Week Four -
Futbol Americano – Less Taste – More Filling

by Ivette Ricco

Fearless Week Five Picks Follow* With a Challenge from Da Most
October 6, 2005*

No that wasn’t Jose Jimenez in the ESPN booth last night. That was Commissioner Paul “Tags” Tagliabue visiting ESPN’s three stooges, Paul Maguire, Mike Patrick and Joe Theismann in Sunday night’s edition of NFL ala Mexico in a game that wasn’t spicy, wasn’t hot, but was more like a big fat doughy tortilla.

Hey even referee Houckle (has he been checked for steroids?) gave us a penalty call in Spanish. “Mira chico, no es necessario, yo hablo English!”

The ever-changing NFL landscape brought a smile to Tag’s lips. Yes, Tags will go down in football history as the NFL Commissioner who made parity a reality, and the commissioner responsible for the first ever NFL regular season game played outside the USA.

It is only fitting that America in its unending democratic spirit share its passion for American Football with its southern neighbors, we’ve shared football with our Canadian neighbors, no? Hockey, fughetabout it, soccer, fughetabout it. Football, now that’s a game!
We’re nothing if not good neighbors. Right?

So rather than play a game in Arizona to a half empty stadium, and rather than make no money on a game with little outside interest; the NFL created a way to make a little extra dough (as if they needed it), explore new markets and make an event out of a non-event.

Brilliant.

Sloppy play aside, the fans seemed eager to see a game and have some good football fun. Lots of NFL jerseys were evident, and they seemed to cover the NFL spectrum. I spotted Cowboys, Steelers, and Raiders jerseys in the crowd.
The game was decidedly one-sided and early on very pro-Niner. But as the Niner offense quickly went south and the Niner defense melted under the strain the crowd began to switch sides in favor of the winning team, Los Cardinales. Pretty savvy fans if you ask me.
Goodwill, sure, money, definitely, good football, no mas.

The fans did have a good time and when the action got to that “I can’t bear to watch stage” they did "La Ola" - the wave. I was feeling a little seasick myself, or was that Montezuma’s Revenge?

Most interesting Week Four Games:

1. Chargers 41 upset the Patriots 17.
Has Tom and the Brady Bunch reached the end of the line? It’s too soon to say. There are 12 more regular season games, and with injuries playing a significant role throughout the league there’s no way to know where the Pats will finish the season. You can’t write off this team. They have Tom Brady, and that is more than most teams have.

The Chargers are a good solid team with a great running back LaDainian Tomlinson. The Chargers defense is also a very good unit, so it isn’t that much of a surprise that they could beat the Pats on this given Sunday.

2. Eagles 37 come from behind to beat the Chiefs 31.
Donavon McNabb, what more can you say about this guy? He is playing hurt and in spite of his team being down by 17 points in the second quarter, at Arrowhead, he engineered a comeback Eagles and Chiefs fan will long remember. Sports hernia? No problem. McNabb threw for 369 yards and three touchdowns, and, as usual, spread the ball around to perfection.

3. The NY Giants 44 outscore the Rams 24.
Did you say, Greatest Show on Turf?
Yes the Rams were still able to put up great numbers, Marc Bulger threw for 442 yards and two touchdowns, but the Giants stopped the Rams running attack and Eli Manning threw four touchdown passes and shredded the Rams' defense with Tiki Barber's 128 rushing yards.

Do You Believe? Four Teams Still Undefeated:

Cincinnati 16 Houston 10 (Bengals 4-0)
Wake me up, pinch me. Are those guys in those ugly Halloween uniforms really the undefeated Bengals?
Oh mama. Marvin Lewis has the Bengals believing in themselves and now the rest of the league seems to believe the proverbial NFL losers are the real deal.
T hey are one of only three teams with a 4-0 record, something they haven't done since 1988 (which is the last time they reached the Super Bowl).

Washington Redskins 20 Seahawks 17 OT – (Redskins 3-0) winning with defense.
Tampa Bay Bucs 17 Lions 13 – (Bucs 4-0) winning with defense and running.
Indianapolis Colts 31 Titans 10 – (Colts 4-0) Colts playing lights out.

Winless:
Green Bay Packers 0-4
Houston Texans 0-3

Week Four NFL Scores

October 02 Buffalo  7 at New Orleans  19 Final Detroit  13 at Tampa Bay  17 Final Indianapolis  31 at Tennessee  10 Final San Diego  41 at New England  17 Final St. Louis  24 at New York  44 Final Denver  20 at Jacksonville  7 Final Houston  10 at Cincinnati  16 Final Seattle  17 at Washington  20 Final New York  3 at Baltimore  13 Final Philadelphia  37 at Kansas City  31 Final Dallas  13 at Oakland  19 Final Minnesota  10 at Atlanta  30 Final San Francisco  14 at Arizona  31 Final     October 03 Green Bay at Carolina  This is a critical game for both these teams. Is Brett going to have to play all positions him self? Will DelHomme outplay Brett? Final Score: Panthers 32 Packers 29 The game wasn’t even close for three quarters. But in the fourth quarter the Packers made a dramatic comeback with Brett Favre showing flashes of his old style and passion. But the Packers couldn’t convert on 4 and 3 with under 1:30 to go. The loss puts the Packers at 0-4! 9:00 pm ET   Week Four Femmefan’s Fearless Picks record 9-5. Season record 31-29, finally above .500 for the first time this season. Week Five Games: Femmefan’s Fearless Picks for Week 5 October 09 Baltimore at Detroit - Mooch get this team going! 1:00 pm ET Miami at Buffalo - Saban the saviour 1:00 pm ET New Orleans at Green Bay - First Win for the Pack 1:00 pm ET Tampa Bay at New York - Chucky is lovin' it 1:00 pm ET Chicago at Cleveland - could go either way 1:00 pm ET New England at Atlanta - gotta go with the home boys 1:00 pm ET Seattle at St. Louis - gotta go with the home boys 1:00 pm ET Tennessee at Houston - Win Number 1 for Texans 1:00 pm ET Indianapolis at San Francisco - very wishful thinking 4:05 pm ET Carolina at Arizona - Panthers pluck Cardinals 4:15 pm ET Philadelphia at Dallas - My Big Upset Pick 4:15 pm ET Washington at Denver - Denver is mile high 4:15 pm ET Cincinnati at Jacksonville - not getting off the Bengals wagon until I have to 8:30 pm ET     October 10 Pittsburgh at San Diego - Bolts look awesome 9:00 pm ET   Week 5 Picks by Da Most: (WINNERS IN CAPS) Baltimore @ DETROIT Chicago @ CLEVELAND MIAMI @ Buffalo New England @ ATLANTA New Orleans @ GREEN BAY Seattle @ ST. LOUIS TAMPA BAY @ N.Y. Jets TENNESSEE @ Houston INDIANAPOLIS @ San Francisco CAROLINA @ Arizona PHILADELPHIA @ Dallas Washington @ DENVER CINCINNATI @ Jacksonville MONDAY Pittsburgh @ SAN DIEGO

 

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