ekblaw@uiucdcs.CS.UIUC.EDU (11/19/85)
Well, for the first time this season, I don't have a specific topic in mind for my discussion. However, since eleven weeks have been played, I can easily spend some time summing up some of the big games and scores of this season so far. Of course, one of the biggest surprises has been the Chicago Bears. Unbeaten after eleven games, clinched their division so early in the season, and with a three game lead over any other team in the league (Rams, Broncos, Patriots, and Jets each have a 8:3 record). This is the earliest divisional title clinched since sometime in the early sixties (I forget the exact date). Is this the Bears year for a Super Bowl berth? Probably, but nothing is for certain in this league! After a spectacular 7:0 start, the Los Angeles Rams have lost three of their last four games! This is a slump that defies the imagination! A possible reason for this performance is a slump in the defense recently and errors on the part of the special teams. However, after an opening streak like that (7:0), it is a heck of a surprise! Due to this recent losing record of the Rams, the 49ers have, in four weeks, shortened a four-game deficit to a two-game deficit. If this streak continues, the two teams will be tied going into the last game of the season. Now, as it presently stands, if they end up tied, the 49ers would win the division, as they presently have a better divisional record than the Rams. How would that be for a turnaround?! Another interesting divisional race is in the AFC East. The Jets and Patriots are presently tied for the lead. If that tie remains and the divisional records remain about the same, the Patriots would win the AFC East! What is even more surprising, they have an unbeaten 5:0 divisional record! Their remaining divisional games are all away -- one each at New York, Miami, and Indianapolis. The Colts should be a win, so the probable worst they can do is 6:2. The Jets presently have a 4:2 divisional record, with games remaining against both the Patriots and Buffalo. Buffalo is no big deal, and we assumed a Patriots loss in New York. Therefore they would be tied at divisional records with 6:2. Thus, two things must occur for the Patriots to clinch the division: 1) They must win at least one more game than the Jets in the five remaining seasonal games (Jets are still to play Chicago, the Patriots only tough opponents are divisional teams that they have already met this year and beaten -- Jets and Miami) or 2) They must beat either the Jets or Miami as a visitor. Option 1 seems easier, as I have already descibed, especially if you add the Jets visit to Detroit on Thanksgiving day. The Lions are a strong team (already beaten Dallas, San Francisco, and Miami) and have a reputation of winning on Thanksgiving. With the Bears and the Lions games, that makes two probable losses. It still seems, then, that option 2 is important. The Patriots and Jets game may be the deciding factor in that division! And how about Philadelphia and Detroit? In the preseason I picked those teams very low in their divisions (Philly in last place, Lions in 4th) and they are doing very well (Philly in third, Lions in 2nd)! And the last place divisional spot for St. Louis? I picked them a close 2nd in the NFC East, and now they are in last place, holding that spot for several weeks. Strange things have been going on this year ... Speaking of strange, how about the Giants placekicker situation. They presently have their third kicker to play in the 1985 season, and there are still five weeks left to play in the regular season! And, get this, the guy was teachig school when they hired him! It just goes to show that you can't predict what will happen in the league anymore. Before I sign off, I wish to end this segment with best wishes for a speedy recovery to Cowboys starting QB Danny White, who suffered a slight concussion and a strained neck in yesterday's [Sunday's] game against the Bears. I wish him all the best and hope to see him on television come Thanks- giving Day. NFL Ace [I add a comment here now to all the netters -- I also wish all the best for a speedy recovery to Joe Theismann, who suffered two compund fractures of the right leg in Monday night's game. The official word is that he will be in a cast for over a month, and must avoid physical activity for nearly six months. The season is over for Joe, but I hope not his career. He is a good quarterback and a nice person. May he make a triumphant return to the Redskins lineup next year.]