Happy new year, everyone. Now that we’re all over our hangovers, let’s see what Gregg Easterbrook has in store for us this week, shall we?
A 7-9 team makes the playoffs. Two 10-6 teams don’t. “Has there ever been a better argument for the NFL to switch to a seeded-tournament postseason?” This isn’t an argument; if it was happening on a regular basis, TMQ might have a point, but extraordinary one-time events do not constitute an argument for change.
“This season’s Tuesday Morning Quarterback Non-Quarterback Non-Running Back NFL MVP is center Dan Koppen of New England.” That’s all you need to know; now you can skip the 488 words TMQ devotes to this.
Tricia really isn’t our type, but we give TMQ credit for picking someone with a certain amount of intellectual heft, and without the vacant look of many of TMQ’s previous picks.
TMQ’s “sweet and sour” this week concentrates on “game strategy”. Sweet: Chicago (going all out to win, even though they’d locked up their playoff spot), New Orleans and Baltimore (same same). Sour: Jacksonville, Cincinnati, Cleveland.
Creep. Yawn. However, WCD would like to relate that a family member was at the grocery store after Christmas, but before New Year’s; the grocery store already had Easter candy out, totally bypassing Valentine’s Day.
The NCAA celebration rule doesn’t make any sense, and isn’t consistently enforced.
Good news on concussions. “The NFL test of manhood is games within your division, and in the NFC East, the Nanticokes are on a 9-21 run.” Thank you, TMQ, for not using the word “streak”. The Colts are struggling. Why was Wisconsin passing?
Why won’t the NFL tell TMQ what type of helmets players are wearing? Could it be because they’re evil?
This week’s example of scientific inaccuracy in Hollywood films: the trailer for Transformers 3. Really, TMQ? You’re criticizing a movie about cars that transform into giant robots for scientific inaccuracy? “TMQ’s rule of sci-fi is that I will accept the premise — enormous instantly transforming living organisms made of metal that require no fuel or other energy and can fly without lift or propulsion, hey, why not? — so long as action makes sense within the premise, while laws of physics are observed.” But doesn’t the fact that the Transformers “require no fuel or other energy and can fly without lift or propulsion” violate several laws of physics?
The Panthers stink, while the Falcons success could be explained by…cheerleaders? Based on the photo TMQ includes, WCD is inclined to give that theory some serious consideration.
Trick plays. “Friday Night Lights” stuff. Should WCD plan on opening a bottle of champagne when that lousy show finally goes off the air? Black hole stuff.
Weasel coach watch: Randy Edsall, the new coach at Maryland.
How did the Chiefs lose to Oakland, of all teams? And the Chiefs are bucking the trend of ever increasing linemen size.
Wacky disclaimer watch: “real” lemons, “real” potatoes, “real” bacon, “FRESH BAKED taste”.
You can skip the “TMQ Non-QB Non-RB NFL MVP Finalists” and past winners, too. That will save you another 364 words.
Reader comments: NYC recycling.
“Single Worst Effort of the Season — So Far”: New England – Miami (the Julian Edelman runback).
That’s a wrap for this week. Tune in next week. We promise a “real” TMQ Watch with the “Fresh Baked taste” that you’ve come to expect from WCD.