by tom weppel
After getting run over, around, and through by the Titans last week, the Jaguars now try to gather their collective ego and get ready to host the Atlanta Falcons, a team that lost in Minnesota last weekend. Without question, the Jags’ defense was not happy about the way they were manhandled by the Titans offense. Coming off last season, the Jaguars had established a tough reputation for shutting down their opponents. Then Tennessee came in and made some nice plays, with RBs Chris Brown and LedDale White and QB Vince Young gaining large chunks of real estate.
I’m sure Jack Del Rio was not happy with the way he and his boys were treated. I’m sure he’ll do a few things THIS week to get the team back in line and ready to play a little better this weekend against a Falcons team that is certainly not in the greatest condition. Most perceive Atlanta as a squad that is not very good without Michael Vick. While the Jaguars defense got beat up last week, the offense also wasn’t very effective, and it had nothing to do with David Garrard. The running game was essentially non-existent, with Fred Taylor only gaining 16 yards on six carries. And a lot of people didn’t know until after the fact that K Josh Scobee had banged himself up during pre-game warm-ups last week. We shall see if he is close to being in form this Sunday. There are a lot of tickets available for this game, since Atlanta is not the sexiest draw in the NFL. This game will most likely be blacked out, so if you want to check it out, go downtown on Sunday, as seats are available!
It seems the Patriots are loaded AGAIN this season! Tom Brady and Randy Moss are going to be in heaven, as long as they both stay healthy. We’ll see what kind of test they get when San Diego travels to New England Sunday night. Meanwhile, the Colts have had plenty of time to relax and prepare to take on the Titans in Nashville. That could get interesting. After lighting up the scoreboard for 45 points against the Giants, the Dallas Cowboys now head to Miami to face a roughed-up Dolphins squad.
We will know more about who is good in the NFL after three or four weeks. Until then, these games are a chance for everyone to sort themselves out, so to speak.
After two solid weeks of games, we are seeing that there is perhaps a bit of disparity in college football. Things are atrocious in Michigan, where the Wolverines are 0-2. They will now take on the 0-2 Notre Dame squad, and this should be an unbelievable contest! Whoever ends up 0-3 might have their coach fired! Michigan will play without their QB Chad Henne, while the Irish will have Freshman Jimmy Clausen in the driver’s seat.
I don’t think the Auburn Tigers had any inkling whatsoever that South Florida would come in and beat them. Tiger fans are aghast this week! I’m sure that Georgia Bulldog fans are not happy, either, as Steve Spurrier came into Athens and let his Gamecocks beat the ‘Dogs. Then we have the Seminoles, who are looking very pedestrian after their win against UAB last week. It seems Florida State is not a very good team, and we’ll know a little more on Saturday as they travel out West to take on Colorado.
The marquee match in this area, though, will be in Gainesville, as the Gators get their first stern test when they host the Tennessee Volunteers. Florida is a tad injured in some key areas and we’ll see if they have those players available. Obviously, the key will be the play of QB Tim Tebow, who has shown some strong play in his first two starts. It should definitely be an entertaining contest!
And so the Chase is now on! It’s down to these few drivers to race on for the Championship, led by Jimmie Johnson, who is on a nice roll after winning his second straight race last weekend in Richmond. Meanwhile, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is out of the Chase and should maybe just pack his bags and move on, since he will be changing his status next year anyway. If I were him, I’d start having some fun and tailgate on the track, slow others down, or pull all sorts of antics, just to piss off Teresa Earnhardt, his stepmother. Anyway, I believe the Chase will come down to Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and Tony Stewart, with Kevin Harvick and a few others getting into the race. It starts this weekend in New Hampshire.
Folks, we are witnessing two individual dynasties in sports in these times! Tiger Woods and Roger Federer are unbelievable in their play at the present time. Federer won his third Major this year last weekend, taking the U.S. Open Championship. It was his twelfth Major title, and he has many more years ahead of him. Then, Tiger will, for all intents, pick up the FedEx playoff Championship in Atlanta on the PGA Tour this weekend. He will then add the $10 million top prize to the roughly $75 million he has already won in his career, at the age of 31. Without question, both of these gentlemen are making history before our very eyes.
Tom Weppel talks trash with Greg Larson, Lonnie Marts, Eugene Chung, Artis Gilmore, and Ron Duguay on SportsAvengers.com 24/7.
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