WHAT were you THINKING!??!?!

Seriously, Sean Payton, what the fuck were you thinking?

The Saints, five point home favorites, are up by 3 with the ball on the Philadelphia 30 yard line and 3:30 left in the game. Every gambler in the world is working out the scenario: New Orleans will run the ball a few times, run some time off the clock, and kick a field goal to go up by 6 and cover the spread. The main risk to holders of "New Orleans - 5" is that the Saints are too successful with their drive and manage to make a few first downs and run the clock out without needing the field goal. There is simply no way the Saints are going to put themselves in position to turn the ball over though...

UNLESS SEAN FUCKING PAYTON CALLS A PITCH TO REGGIE BUSH INSTEAD OF SIMPLY HANDING THE BALL TO HIM, OR GIVING IT TO DEUCE MCALLISTER WHO HAD BEEN MAULING THE PHILLY DEFENSE ALL GAME LONG!!!

Umm... Sean - did you watch this game? Remember on the second play of the game when Reggie Bush caught a quick out pass and almost got decapitated by Sheldon Brown??? Bush tried to stand up, but ended up crawling to the sidelines, looking like he may roll over and die. I made the immediate injury line:

ruptured spleen: 3-1

broken back: 15-1

dislocated shoulder: 2-1

collapsed lung: 5-1

crapped pants: even money

So, the point is, Bush was right to be keeping an eye on the hard hitting Philly defenders - which means he doesn't have both eyes on the ball - which means that when you pitch the ball to him, and he's worried about getting hit so hard that he craps his pants again, it becomes a high risk play.

Bush fumbled the pitch, and Philly took over with a chance to tie the game. Unfortunately, the NFL Saints conspiracy kicked in, and Philly's miracle 4th down conversion was called back on some bullshit offensive penalty, which resulted in Philly facing a 4th and 15 from their own 35 yard line with about 1:45 on the clock. Philly Coach Andy Reid decides to kick the ball away!

Andy Reid: WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU THINKING!?!??!?

Didn't you notice that New Orleans was pretty much running all over you, and that all they'd need was one first down to clinch the game? Did you really think that the combined chances of a) a fumble on the punt return or b) your defense putting together a 3 play defensive stand while allowing only 40 seconds to run off the clock (because you only had two timeouts), forcing a Saints punt, and driving down the field for a game tying field goal in under a minute were better than the chances of going for it on 4th and 15?

Didn't you realize that even if you don't convert on 4th and 15, the Saints are barely on the edge of field goal range, so you can STILL play the "three and out" defense plan!??!?

Anyway, the Eagles punted, the Saints garnered a first down, ran out the clock and won the game. Nice hand Andy Reid.

I really cannot understand why the Seattle Seahawks, the defending NFC champs, are 9.5 point underdogs against a Chicago team who's biggest problem is their own quarterback. Anything could happen in this game. Chicago could win by 21, or Seattle could come out on top - and that means I'm taking the points. It's odd that this seems like a total trap game, but everyone likes Chicago! Maybe Chi-town IS the trap!

until next time,

KD