NFL Week 17

It's always sad when the season ends. However, this year the end was better than most because of teams that were still trying to make the playoffs. Even so, the best game was the Saturday night game between the Patriots and the Giants. Hats off to Coughlin, who played his team to the end. Eli Manning might have just saved his job there. He finally looked like a number one pick. And of course I can't go on without acknowledging the Patriots' perfect season. Way to go! That'll mean nothing if they can't win the Super Bowl. I think the most dangerous team in the AFC is the Jags. Del Rio looks like a genius getting rid of Leftwich, whom I think will probably be a backup from now on. The Pats will have their hands full with them.

It's official - the Skins are now the team to root for, what with the Saints gone. With the way they're playing, they'll go far in the playoffs. I think they can beat the Seahawks. If the Giants play like they did Saturday, they can beat Tampa Bay. Both of those teams will give the Cowboys fits, especially if they play like they did yesterday.

I hope Vince Young can play next week. I still think he's the next Michael Vick, hopefully without the criminal charges. The Browns need a new QB. Anderson has thrown too many interceptions. Why won't Romeo play Quinn? It seems Quinn might be better off if Romeo takes a job with the Dolphins, which is being rumored.

NFL Week 16

I can't believe it - the Browns outbungled the Bungles. Now they have to wait and see if the Titans lose, which is unlikely, considering the Colts have the bye locked up and have nothing to play for. However, the Patriots are playing for records, which was obvious yesterday. All the Dolphins did in the second half was play the pass and keep them from scoring. If the Giants do that Saturday, they have a great chance of winning the game. I wonder - what will be more important for Brady, his own TD record or the team record and his not getting hurt for the playoffs? Time will tell. I didn't see Brady on 60 Minutes. I wonder if he got a coach to help out his image. I assume that was why he was on the show, so he could try to be likable like Favre and Peyton Manning.

How about them Skins? It was clear who wanted to win more last night. If the Redskins make the playoffs, they'll have a lot of people rooting for them and they'll be like last year's Saints.

Happy holidays, everyone.

December Issue of Afterburn SF Is Live

The December issue of Afterburn SF came out this morning and is chocked full of action. Stories on the site are

The Unicorn Problem by Joanne Hall
Jastice by Anthony Kendall
The Shadow by Douglas Kolacki
The Drunken Thinbeard by Jonathan S. Pembrook
Chatter Me Timbers by Lindsey Duncan
Barrier by John Kratman

Read them all at http://www.afterburnsf.com.

NFL Week 15

What unselfish play by Brian Westbrook! Unfortunately it was all for nought after the Vikings eliminated the Eagles from the playoffs yesterday. I don't know about the Giants. With Shockey's season-ending injury and a bad case of team dropsies, I don't see how they can go far in the playoffs. It's not all Eli's fault.

I see Adrian Peterson took over as Nike's spokesman. That was Vick's job before. I saw where the NFL fined several Falcon players for supporting Vick. I guess the league doesn't want to support criminals.

Can the Patriots be stopped? I don't think so. The only thing left is to see whether Brady gets injured trying to go undefeated and breaking Peyton Manning's TD record.

NFL Week 14

All the games I watched this weekend and Monday were all blowouts. The only thing of interest was Vick's sentence. I knew he'd get more time than the others, but I still think he got off easy. I thought for sure he'd get 36 months. After last night I don't think we'll hear about Vick much again, except when the new recruits come in next year and Vick is used as an example of what not to do. With Vick out of the way, the Pro Bowl roster should be interesting because he was a shoo-in each year. Favre should make it, as should Romo for the NFC.

Looks like the Patriots will go undefeated and have a great shot at another Super Bowl. I'm willing to guarantee victory for the Pats against the Dolphins. I wonder if the Steelers' Smith will agree. That Jets-Patriots game will be real interesting. I'm sure there'll be some hard hitting on the field, maybe even on the sidelines. The Giants better bring their A game, but I don't think Eli has matured enough as a QB to win that sort of game yet.

NFL Week 13

I can't believe the Ravens blew their chance to beat the Patriots. They had 'em and kicked it in the weeds. I can see why Boller is a backup. Chad Pennington would be great in Baltimore. It's obvious he'll never be a starter for the Jets again, so why not go there? He's been to the playoffs and has winning experience.

I hate to admit it, but Jack Del Rio was right to get rid of Leftwich. I don't think he ever really recovered from that injury at Marshall, who BTW, is not in a bowl game. Maybe if Snyder spent more time coaching instead of being a grand marshall in an eastern Kentucky Christmas parade, perhaps the Herd would have had a chance to win more than three games.

Eli pulled out that win Sunday, but I still don't think he's improved enough. He's dangerously close to being a backup if he keeps that sort of play up. You can't always bounce back at the end and we know how tough a New York market is, right Chad?

However, Peyton keeps rolling along. I wonder when Marvin Harrison will be back. No one's said that I've heard.