It's that time of week again. I've got some sports figures to throw Under The Bus.

NBA

The Game 2 crew: a 19 to 2 FT advantage by the Celtics in the first half? WTF? And two Lakers with THREE fouls?? Talk about home cooking at its best!!! IF YOU'RE GOING TO CALL TICKY TACK FOULS, CALL THEM CONSISTENTLY, AND NOT IN FAVOR OF ONE TEAM!!! Even the ABC announcers commented on the gross inconsistency of the calls. The Game 2 crew get thrown Under The Bus after the game.

NFL

Odell Thurman: he failed another drug test. Roger Goodell suspended him for ANOTHER season. That means this druggie has missed THE LAST THREE NFL SEASONS because of drugs. Way to #### away your NFL career, Odell. And don't expect ANY sympathy from me. Sympathy is reserved for those that have lost loved ones suddenly and sometimes unexpectedly. You made your choices, now you have to live with the consequences of those choices. For pissing away your NFL career, you get thrown Under The Bus.

Cedric Benson: TWO arrests in a month period? This guy can't seem to stay out of trouble. How long will it be before the Bears pull the plug on him? (More on the Bears later.) For getting arrested for the second time in a month, Benson gets thrown Under The Bus.

Chicago Bears: or more specifically, their front office. They got rid of the wrong RB in Thomas Jones, they kept Rex Grossman two YEARS too long, and haven't drafted a QB since Kyle Orton. And they drafted a RB of questionable character in Benson. For being incompetent, the Bears' front office gets thrown Under The Bus.

FORMULA ONE

Lewis Hamilton: in case you forgot or don't know, red means STOP. He barreled into Kimi Raikonnen's car as Raikonnen stopped for a red light at the end of the pits. Understandably, Raikonnen was pissed. Question: did Hamilton drink the same water as Denny Hamlin did last week? Hamilton's brain #### ended up knocking himself and Raikonnen out of the Montreal race. For his brain ####, Lewis Hamilton gets thrown Under The Bus.

HORSE RACING

Rick Dutrow, Jr.: after boasting for two months that Big Brown cannot be beat, he was NOWHERE to be found after the Belmont Stakes. WHAT A WUSS!! If Dutrow were a REAL MAN, he'd have owned it, faced the music regarding Big Brown, and credited Da'Tara on his win. For being an arrogant #### and hiding like the wuss that he is, Dutrow gets thrown Under The Bus.

Those are my nominations. Feel free to come in with yours!

Around the world of the NFL faster than an Ahmad Bradshaw 88-yard TD run in the snow at Buffalo, Crappafoni Pictures presents this week's vignette of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

THE GOOD

Pittsburgh Steelers: they made some big plays, particularly early in the game. They found a complement to Fast Willie Parker in Najeh Davenport. Ike Taylor had a Pick Six Special late in the game that sealed the win.

Jacksonville Jaguars: they thoroughly dominated an overmatched Raiders team. On the ground, in the air--it didn't matter. With a playoff berth on the line, they were going to get it done right, and they did.

Cincinnati Bengals: or more specifically, their defense. They picked off Derek Anderson four times, leading to three TDs, including two TDs within the last two minutes of the first half. Then the defense withstood a furious Browns rally.

Philadelphia Eagles: they put the Saints' playoff hopes on life support with their huge win in New Orleans. Donovan McNabb came up huge, including a 40-yard run to set up a score. McNabb also threw for 3 TDs.

New York Giants: they withstood a 14-0 deficit in the first quarter and dominated from that point on, outscoring the Bills 38-7. Both Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs rushed for over 145 yards. Bradshaw ripped off the NFL's longest run of the season, 88 yards for a TD in a driving snowstorm.

San Francisco 49ers: their game against Tampa Bay was one of the hardest hitting, most physical games in recent memory. They stared into the eyes of the Big Bad Bucs and didn't flinch. It was good old-fashioned, old-school smash mouth football. In the end, the Niners executed enough to pull out the win. Patrick Willis was the Stud of the Game, registering 20 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble.

Chicago Bears: it looked like THEY were the #2 seeded team in the NFC and the Packers were the cellar dwellers. The Bears' special teams blocked two punts and forced a 9-yard punt. Brian Urlacher returned a Pick Six Special for the first time in his career.

Washington Redskins: in a game they HAD to have, they put forth a great team effort and got it done. Todd Collins was sharp, Clinton Portis ran and passed all over the Vikings' defense, rushing and passing for a TD. Now with a win over the Cowboys next week, they're in the playoffs.

New England Patriots: it looked like they were going to run and hide from the Dolphins, leading 28-0 at halftime. The Fins actually outscored the Pats in the second half, holding the Pats scoreless. Laurence Maroney rushed for a career high 156 yards on just 14 carries.

THE BAD

Oakland Raiders: after that effort against the Jaguars. They were outplayed in every facet of the game. The Jags made the Raiders look like the bad team that they are.

Baltimore Ravens: are they the worst team in the NFL, or what? I think they're worse than the Dolphins, and that's saying something.

Green Bay Packers: sure, you're the second-best team in the NFC. Could have fooled me. You played like the second-WORST team in the NFC. That was ca-ca.

THE UGLY

N.Y. Jets at Tennessee: 16 total points between the teams. It seemed like neither team wanted to win. From Tennessee's perspective, style points aren't rewarded in the NFL; just wins and losses. The Titans' win means they control their own destiny. Win, and they're in.

Atlanta at Arizona: this was a matchup from hell. A bad team against another bad team. Depending on your perspective it was either a shootout or just bad defenses. I tend to lean towards the latter.

Those are my nominations. Feel free to opine with your nominations.  

Around the world of the NFL faster than two Devin Hester returns for touchdowns, Crappafoni Pictures presents the spaghetti western version of the Good, Bad, and Ugly, NFL style.

THE GOOD

Dallas Cowboys: while they didn't play their best football against the woeful New York Jets on Thanksgiving Day, they didn't have to. Terrell Owens had pedestrian numbers, but he brought double and triple coverage and the other receivers stepped up. Tony Romo was superb yet again.

Green Bay Packers: going into a hostile environment and putting a beatdown on your key divisional rival gets you into the Good category every single time. I think we've run out of adjectives to describe Brett Favre. Let's just say it doesn't suck to have young studs that can tote and catch the rock.

Cleveland Browns: after spotting an early lead to the Texans, the Browns took over. Jamal Lewis looked like the Jamal Lewis of old, gaining 134 yards on 29 carries. Rookie CB Brandon McDonald made several huge plays, including a key pick that set up the final Browns' touchdown. And he held stud WR Andre Johnson to 3 catches for 37 yards. Looks like the Browns have TWO studs at CB: McDonald and Eric Wright.

San Francisco 49ers: what a gritty, gutty win against a divisional rival! Frank Gore was an uber-stud, rushing for 116 yards and added 98 receiving yards on 11 catches. While Kurt Warner passed for 485 yards, it was his fumble in his own end zone that Tully Banta-Cain recovered that gave the Niners the win. Trent Dilfer did a great job in taking care of the ball, not committing a turnover. In fact, the Niners did not commit a turnover for the whole game.

Oakland Raiders: they won the old-fashioned way--by pounding it on the ground with Justin Fargas and swarming, tenacious defense. The Raiders broke a nine-game losing streak to the Chiefs and a 17-game losing streak against AFC West opponents.

Chicago Bears: or more specifically, Devin Hester. He Hesterized the Broncos for a punt and kickoff return for a TD in the same quarter. And what a TD catch by Bernard Berrian (former Fresno State Bulldog!) late in regulation on fourth down!

Minnesota Vikings: or more specifically, their defense. Any time you defeat a good team in their stadium, and especially with THREE Pick Six Specials, you'll be in this category every single time. Dwight Smith, Darren Sharper, and Chad Greenway did the honors.

THE BAD

Tennessee Titans: six points against one of the league's worst defenses? They have been exposed as frauds. They gave Cleveland a golden opportunity to clinch the final AFC playoff spot. And if the Browns do clinch that playoff spot, they can thank the Titans for losing to the Bengals.

Carolina Panthers: this is a bad team getting worse. Forget about the wheels coming off, they came off a long time ago! Looks like they'll end up in the top 5 in the draft. Time to draft a stud QB, and there's no shortage of them in this year's draft.

Denver Broncos: there is NO excuse for blowing a 14 point lead in the fourth quarter. Now your playoff chances went blowing in the wind. You won't catch the Browns, you won't catch the Jaguars, time to start thinking about next year.

THE UGLY

Carolina Panthers: yes, this team deserves to be in BOTH the Bad and Ugly categories. They STILL have not had a QB finish a game he started. The season is over, and no playoffs again. WHEN WILL WE DRAFT A YOUNG STUD QB THAT IS A WINNER?

New York Giants: just when many of us were buying into what Eli Manning was selling, he puts up this turkey o####ame. He was outdueled by Tarvaris FREAKING Jackson.

Philadelphia Eagles: I was going to put them in the Good category until the atrocious play calling late in the game. They had been going inside all game until late, when they went outside. THE PATRIOTS DON'T GIVE UP THE OUTSIDE. You HAVE to go inside.

Those are my nominations. Chime in with your nominations!!

Around the world of the NFL faster than two Antrel Rolle Pick Six Specials, Crappafoni Pictures presents, in living color, the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

THE GOOD

Arizona Cardinals: granted, they DID beat the Bungles, errrrrr, Bengals, but this team looked sharp. As stated above in the opening, Antrel Rolle had two Pick Six Specials in the game. Kurt Warner looked sharp again. Is this 2007, or 1999? Warner is playing like it WAS 1999.

New England Patriots: they are making it look too easy. They are NOT running up the score tonight; in fact, they're making every effort to call off the dogs. They're just too good right now. Even their defense is scoring TDs, as evidenced by Ellis Hobbs' 35-yard fumble return. Can New England run the table? I think they can.

New York Jets: beating one of the league's better teams will get you in the Good column every single time. They whipped the Steelers in the special teams aspect; in fact, a Leon Washington return set up the winning FG in OT.

Green Bay Packers: they are clicking on all cylinders now, and now they have discovered a running game. They beat an outmanned Panthers team minus Steve Smith (on a good note for the Panthers, they have discovered a #2 receiver in Dwayne Jarrett). Brett Favre is probably having the best season of his illustrious and stellar career. He has young studs that he can throw to, and young studs that can tote the rock, and young studs up front to protect him. This team is going to be an elite team for the next 3-5 years.

Dallas Cowboys: Tony Romo has been playing much better since his contract extension. He proved it by throwing for four TDs to Terrell Owens. Speaking of Owens, he's been a MUCH happier guy since Romo has become the Cowboys' starting QB. And the Cowboys have become a much better team since RomoCop took the helm.

Jacksonville Jaguars: or more specifically, Maurice Jones-Drew. I put him in here because he LIT UP Shawne Merriman on a blitz. He decleated Merriman; that allowed David Garrard to throw a TD pass.

Cleveland Browns vs. Baltimore Ravens: this was one of the most bizarre, wackiest, and best games you'll ever see. Joshua Cribbs accounted for OVER 300 return yards, the first time that's happened in 34 years. But it was the 52-yard FG at the end of regulation that has people talking. That's going to be talked about as one of the most bizarre plays in NFL history. And it just may be the impetus to send Cleveland to the playoffs this season.  

THE BAD

Pittsburgh Steelers: you lost to the J!E!T!S! SUCK! SUCK! SUCK!? What the HELL was that?? And just when you were going to become permanent residents of Goodville, you toss in this rotten egg!!

San Francisco 49ers: NO TDs in the last two-plus games? The 2000 Ravens offense thinks you're pathetic. The St. Louis Rams made some big plays on defense to get this win.

Miami Dolphins: still NO wins! You'll be in this column from here until you get your first win, which will be sometime next season. Granted, John Beck made his first start against a tough Eagles' defense. Unfortunately for the Dolphins, they only have one winnable game, against the Jets.

THE UGLY

Chicago Bears at Seattle Seahawks: last year or two years ago, this was a great matchup. Now it's between a bad team and mediocre team. It seemed like neither team wanted it that bad. Yecccccch!

Kansas City Chiefs at Indianapolis Colts: 13-10? It was an ugly win, but in the NFL, you don't get style points. Indy won, bottom line.

These are my nominations. Come in with yours!  

Around the world of the NFL faster than two Darren Sproles returns for touchdowns, Crappafoni Pictures presents the Spaghetti Western NFL version of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

THE GOOD

Cleveland at Pittsburgh: this was one of the better games on the docket today. Derek Anderson threw for 3 TDs and Joshua Cribbs took one to the house for 100 yards. The Browns jumped out to a huge lead in the first half and it looked like they were going to steal one in the Burgh. The Steelers coaching staff made the necessary adjustments and shut down the Browns' potent offense. Big Ben's 30-yard TD run swung the momentum the Steelers' way. The Steelers rallied and won a HUGE divisional game.

Dallas Cowboys: they keep getting better each week. After falling behind early, the defense clamped down, and Tony Romo got into a rhythm. Any road win is huge, but to beat your division rivals on the road is doubly huge. The Meadowlands is never an easy place to win, and the 'Boys win in effect gives them a three game lead (two actual games and 2-0 against the G-men).

Green Bay Packers: pitching a shutout in the NFL is very difficult against anyone. To shut out a divisional rival deserves props. Brett Favre looks happy again; having young studs like RB Ryan Grant and WRs James Jones and Greg Jennings are a large reason why. And that defense was gunning for Adrian Peterson, eventually knocking him out of the game.

St. Louis Rams: it was bound to happen sooner or later; this team is much too talented to be 1-8. Injuries, injuries, and more injuries. Once this team is healthy, I expect them to finish strong. They put a good old-fashioned ####-kicking on the Saints. At the Superdome, no less. Marc Bulger had one of his best games of the year, passing for 302 yards and 2 TDs. Steven Jackson even threw a TD pass and ran for a TD. Torry Holt had 8 receptions for 124 yards and a TD. The Rams' defense put the clamps on the Saints. The Saints could have had a chance to tie the game late in regulation, but an onside kick slipped through Josh Bullocks' hands and went out of bounds, giving the Rams possession and preserving their first win of the season.

Denver Broncos: they dominated Kansas City at Arrowhead, forcing four turnovers. Selvin Young rushed for 109 yards and a TD. Jay Cutler had a pedestrian game, passing for 192 yards and a TD to Daniel Graham. The defense also knocked Damon Huard out of the game, forcing the Chiefs to go with Brodie Croyle.

Arizona Cardinals: they are the most schizophrenic team in the NFL. You NEVER know which Cardinals team will show up from game to game or even series to series. Today's Cardinals looked like the team that many picked to win the NFC West. Kurt Warner looked like the Kurt Warner that QB'd the Greatest Show on Turf. Leonard Pope emerged as a red-zone target for both Warner and Tim Rattay, snagging 2 TD passes. Larry Fitzgerald also snagged 2 TD passes, both from Warner. The Cardinals defense did the rest, holding the Lions to MINUS 18 yards rushing FOR THE GAME, including a minus 15 yard effort by Shaun McDonald.

San Diego Chargers: or more specifically, Antonio Cromartie and Darren Sproles. Sproles returned BOTH a kickoff and punt to the house. Sproles' 89-yard kickoff return sparked the Chargers. He later added a 45-yard punt return for a TD. Cromartie picked off Peyton Manning THREE TIMES. The Chargers' defense picked off Manning six times overall. Maybe the powder-blue uniform had something to do with this. The Chargers seem to play better when they wear their powder blues.

Philadelphia Eagles: major props to them for a gritty win at Washington. Brian Westbrook was his usual stellar self. Is it possible he's one of the most UNDERRATED RBs in the league? Reggie Brown made a GREAT TD catch, a "Look Mom, look what I found" type catch. Donovan McNabb made big plays when needed. But it was the Eagles' defense that made the difference, coming up with key stops when needed and giving the offense a chance to win.  

THE BAD

Miami Dolphins: until they win a game, they will be residents of this category. This was a VERY winnable game for the Fins, and for awhile, it looked like they were going to win their first game of the season. Alas, they lost on a late FG by Rian Lindell. At one point, they led 3-2. 

Minnesota Vikings: a goose egg on the scoreboard. Enough said. 

Carolina Panthers: they allowed the Falcons to run the ball down their throats time and again. On the last Falcons' TD, the two Panthers' DBs looked at each other while Alge Crumpler walked into the end zone FROM 30 YARDS AWAY. This is one of the worst teams in the NFL right now. Mediocre would be a compliment. 

Indianapolis Colts: yep, I have to include the defending Super Bowl champs here. Yes, they moved the ball, but SIX Peyton Manning interceptions killed their chances of winning. 

Oakland Raiders: while their defense is still solid, the starting CBs are ####ed up. They need to learn how to finish games. They play well for the first 55 minutes or so, then in the last 5 minutes they let up. 

THE UGLY

Chicago at Oakland: it was even at 3 entering the fourth quarter. I found it hilarious that the broadcast highlighted the Hall of Famers from both franchises. NEWSFLASH: NONE of them are playing for either franchise! Griese vs. McCown does not exactly conjure memories of Young vs. Aikman. I found myself falling asleep through this snoozefest. 

Indianapolis at San Diego: this was a game that bordered on the surreal. NINE combined turnovers for two of the better teams in the AFC. Not to mention MANY missed opportunities. The two teams combined for more turnovers than you see at Rene's French Bakery. Adam Vinatieri missed two FGs, including a 29-yarder late in the game. Add in a heavy rainfall in the second half.

Come in with your nominations for the Good, Bad, and/or Ugly!      

Around the world of the NFL faster than a transatlantic flight for the Giants-Dolphins game, Crappafoni Pictures brings you, the NFL fan, the Week 8 edition of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

THE GOOD

New England Patriots: any time you put up 52 against a very good defense, you will be in this slot every single time. Can Tom Brady and Company ever be stopped? They are on pace to obliterate the single season scoring record. Brady is on pace for 60 TD passes. The defense recorded 3 sacks and 3 forced fumbles.

Indianapolis Colts: they overcame a sluggish first half to put up 21 second half points. Peyton Manning became the franchise record holder for TD passes, breaking John Unitas' record. Congratulations to Peyton Manning for that remarkable achievement. After allowing a TD on the opening drive that covered 75 yards, the Indy defense clamped down on the Panthers.

San Diego Chargers: can we say that they are back? They looked sharp in thrashing the Texans. The Chargers entered the game with heavy hearts and having to practice in Arizona this week due to the wildfires in the area. Antonio Cromartie was a beast, returning a Pick Six special 70 yards. For good measure he recovered a fumble in the end zone for another TD. Another Antonio, Gates, also scored 2 TDs. My thoughts and prayers go to the families of those affected by the fires, and to the firefighters fighting those fires.

Detroit Lions: we all know they have playmakers up the wazoo on offense. What we didn't know was that their defense is catching up to the offense. The defense forced four turnovers, all INTs, including three in their own end zone. Kevin Jones rushed for 104 yards and a TD, Jon Kitna passed for 268 yards.

New Orleans Saints: their offense is clicking much like it did last season. Drew Brees was 31 for 39 for 336 yards and 4 TDs, 3 of them to Marques Colston. Although Reggie Bush had a pedestrian game, he didn't need to be good today.

Pittsburgh Steelers: this was a big win against their bitter rivals. It effectively buries the Bengals once and for all. Willie Parker rushed for 126 yards and a TD, and Big Ben passed for 2 TDs. The defense clamped down when they needed to.

Cleveland Browns: they kept pace with the Steelers, getting a huge win on the road. Derek Anderson passed for 248 yards and 3 TDs, and Braylon Edwards caught 2 TD passes. They have some impressive young playmakers on offense. Anderson is second in the NFL in TD passes behind a man named Brady.

Miami Dolphins vs. New York Giants: you might be asking, "Now why did he include this game in the Good category? Because the Dolphins showed a lot of heart and grit in spite of the long odds against them. They only allowed 13 points to a good N.Y. Giants team. They may very well end up winning a game or two. The Giants are in the Good category because they are 6-2 going into their bye. Brandon Jacobs rushed sloshed for a career-high 131 yards in the rain and muck of Wembley Stadium in London, England.

Green Bay Packers: WOW! What a pass!! Brett Favre has thrown some great passes in his career, but this one is on the short list of his all-time greatest passes. A dagger in the heart of the Denver Broncos. THAT'S how you win a game! Favre passed for 336 yards and two scores. Both James Jones and Greg Jennings topped 100 receiving yards. If you're a legend and you have TWO young studs at WR, along with Driver and Franks, you'd want to play as long as you can!! Ryan Grant rushed for 104 yards on 22 carries.

THE BAD

St. Louis Rams: they are in the midst of an epically horrible season. Steven Jackson reaggravated his groin injury. The defense can't stop anybody. While Brian Leonard is a good RB, he's no Steven Jackson. The O-line is in shambles. They blew a 14 point lead to the Browns.

San Francisco 49ers: what happened to that offense that was very good last year? More importantly, what happened to Frank Gore? They get their stud TE Vernon Davis back from injury, then TE Delanie Walker goes down with a shoulder injury on the first play of the game. Alex Smith aggravated his shoulder injury during the game.

Oakland Raiders: once again, the offense was spotty. The defense played well enough for the Raiders to win, but Mike Williams dropped a sure catch on 4th and long late in the game that would have kept the Raiders' final drive alive. The defense allowed only 218 yards of total offense to the Titans.

Chicago Bears: seven points, four turnovers, 255 yards in total offense, 365 total yards allowed by the defense. Yes Virginia, the Chicago Bears ARE a bad team. Can you say, "They are DONE?" Not quite, but another couple of bad games like that, then they are officially done.

THE UGLY

Oakland at Tennessee: in this snoozefest, the two teams combined for 22 points, 162 yards in penalties, and 453 total yards. Yawn. Hopefully a sleep doctor Tivo'd the game so he can recommend watching this game to his patients for insomnia problems.

Buffalo at N.Y. Jets: I only put this game in the Ugly category because of the combined records of the two teams. Buffalo actually moved the ball pretty effectively. For most of the game the Jets' defense bent but didn't break. Late in the game, the Jets' defense broke.

Houston Texans: that loud thump you heard from San Diego is the Texans returning to earth. They got schooled.

New England Patriots: I wasn't about to leave these guys off the list. Here's why: they went for it on fourth down well after the game was in hand; they were passing deep downfield when leading 45-0; in other words, they were running up the score needlessly. It was chickenshit. You're up 38-0, you call off the dogs. You put in your second stringers. If you score TDs on defense, so be it. They'll get their comeuppance at some point in the season, hopefully next week.

NOTE: next week's edition will be next Tuesday evening due to the writer going on vacation.

Crappafoni Pictures takes you around the world of the NFL faster than the participants in The World's Greatest Race. Here we go!!

THE GOOD

New England Patriots: granted, they did play the Miami Dolphins. But throwing for 6 TD passes like Tom Brady did today was freaking incredible! It was like playing Madden 08. At this pace, Brady will obliterate the single season record currently held by Peyton Manning. Brady is on pace for 60 TD passes.

New York Giants: while Eli Manning was efficient and is getting better each week, the G-men's defense was swarming. They forced the 49ers into four turnovers. Michael Strahan was a beast with 2.5 sacks, Osi Umenyiora scored on a fumble return and had a sack, and Brandon Jacobs rushed for a career-high 107 yards and a TD.

Tennessee Titans: or more specifically, Rob Bironas. Bironas kicked 8 FGs, setting an NFL single-game record. The record setter came as time expired, lifting the Titans to a thrilling win over the host Houston Texans. Lost in all that was that Kerry Collins was nails on that final drive to set up Bironas' record breaker.

Dallas Cowboys: they dominated the Vikings in every single aspect of the game but needed a TD return of a blocked FG to put away the pesky Vikings. Tony Romo was superb, going 31 for 39 for 277 yards and a TD. Marion Barber rushed for 96 yards and a TD in the 24-14 win.

Cincinnati Bengals: if not for Kenny Watson's strong effort (31 carries, 130 yards, 3 TDs), the Bengals would have been put in either the Bad or Ugly category. Watson was the stud of the game. They should have beaten a putrid Jets team by at least 2 TDs. More on the Jets later.

Chicago Bears: the win today over Philadelphia may have salvaged their season. In the event a tiebreaker comes into play with the Eagles, the Bears have the advantage. Brian Griese coolly engineered the clinching drive, throwing a TD pass to Muhsin Muhammad with 9 seconds left in the game. The TD pass capped a 97-yard drive. While the Bears still need help in the ground game, Griese gives them a better chance to win.

New Orleans Saints: it looks like they are breaking out of their season-long funk. They won a close game they had to win. While Reggie Bush wasn't spectacular, his TD late in the game was one of pure determination. He caught a short swing pass and bulled over three Atlanta Falcons defenders for the winning TD with less than 5 minutes remaining in the game.

Denver Broncos: they played inspired football in beating a tough Pittsburgh Steelers team. The Steelers' comeback fell short, as Jason Elam kicked a 49-yard FG as time expired. Jay Cutler made the big passes when he needed to. He was 22 of 29 for 248 yards and 3 TDs and 2 INTs.

Kansas City Chiefs: this team has surprised me. I had picked them to be one of the worst teams in the league in the preseason. They are now 4-3. Another good: Priest Holmes returned to the lineup after missing nearly two seasons with head and neck injuries. Combine Holmes and L.J. and this team could possibly make the playoffs.  

THE BAD

St. Louis Rams: 0-7. Enough said.

Miami Dolphins: see above.

New York Jets: this is an absolutely putrid team. If not for the Rams and Dolphins, they would be the worst team in the league. They had opportunities to beat the Bengals and let them slip away. Let the Kellen Clemens era begin. How could a team that was a playoff team last season sink to such depths of ineptitude?

Baltimore Ravens: how could a team that says its a playoff team lose to a one-win team going into the day? Simple: you don't make the plays you need to and the now two-win team makes those same plays.

THE UGLY

Arizona at Washington: the Redskins had a two TD lead and very nearly gave it all back. Credit Arizona for making a furious comeback that fell wide left. The Redskins very nearly sel####estructed. Jason Campbell played like a rookie starting his first NFL game. After playing well much of the season, he played very poorly today.

San Francisco 49ers: Yikes! FOUR turnovers leading to 24 NY Giants points? You're not going to win playing like that! Four turnovers will give any hard-core football fan indigestion. Definitely not a game for the ages.

Oakland Raiders: while their defense kept them in this game, the offense sputtered yet again. Aside from their only TD, the offense didn't show up. What happened to the Raiders' ground game? Fifty-five yards for the game will not win you many games.

These are my nominees! Come with your nominees!!

Going around the world of the NFL, even though it was a light week due to the MLB playoffs, there are still worthy candidates to throw under the bus this week.

Cincinnati Bengals: I nominate Marvin Lewis and the entire Bengals' coaching staff. There is no excuse that this team shouldn't have a winning record. When will the good Bengal fans start calling for Lewis' head?

Chicago Bears: losing to an inferior Vikings team, especially when you're one season removed from a Super Bowl appearance, is unfathomable. For once, it's not Rex Grossman. Let Grossman drive the bus. I'd throw the Bears' defense under the bus.

Seattle Seahawks: can you say, "SUCKY?" What was THAT? If they weren't in the NFC West, they would NOT be a playoff team. But because they ARE in the NFC Worst, er, West, they are a playoff team. Kudos to the New Orleans Saints for going on the road and winning their first game of the season.

Chime in with your nominees for being thrown under the bus! Remember, it can be a player, coach, owner, or fans of a particular team.

Around the world of the NFL faster than the Goodyear Blimp, Crappafoni Pictures brings you the spaghetti western style of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, NFL version. HERE WE GO!!

Another spaghetti western edition of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, brought to you by Crappafoni Pictures....

Green Bay Packers: or more specifically, Brett Favre. With his first quarter TD pass to Greg Jennings, Favre broke the NFL record for most TD passes in a career. He added another TD later in the game to add to his record. He now has 422 TD passes and counting. He also was 32 of 45 for 344 yards as the Packers ran their record to 4-0.

Oakland Raiders: they pounded out nearly 300 yards rushing against the hapless Dolphins’ defense. Daunte Culpepper ran for 3 TD’s and passed for two more. The defense was superb as well, limiting the Fins to under 300 yards in total offense for the game.

Dallas Cowboys: they ran and passed at will on the St. Louis Rams, amassing 502 yards in total offense in a 35-7 beat down. Tony Romo was superb as usual, passing for 339 yards and three TD’s, and adding a 15-yard TD run for good measure. The Cowboys’ defense limited the once-Greatest Show on Turf to 187 net yards. 

Atlanta Falcons: or more specifically, Joey Harrington. Harrington played well last week in a tough loss to Carolina. This time he gets to enjoy the Falcons’ first win of the season. I’ve come around on the Falcons. I think this team is better than their record indicates. Harrington went 23 for 29 for 223 yards and two TD’s. Good job Joey.

Indianapolis Colts: although Peyton Manning had pedestrian numbers, he distributed the ball well, completing passes to eight different receivers. The Colts’ ground game gashed the Denver Broncos to the tune of 226 yards.

Arizona Cardinals: any time you beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, you deserve to be in the Good category. Enough said.

Detroit Lions: they scored 34 points in the FOURTH QUARTER, setting an NFL record for most points scored by a team in the fourth quarter. They came from 10 points down to beat the Chicago Bears 37-27. 

Cleveland Browns: despite being dominated by the Ravens in every facet of the game, they found a way to win against a better team. They made enough big plays, and a 3-3 record going into their bye week is realistic.

New York Giants: or more specifically, their defense. They sacked Donovan McNabb 12 times. TWELVE TIMES! That tied an NFL record for most sacks by a team in a game. McNabb was coming off a perfect game against the Detroit Lions. Osi Umenyiora (sp?) had SIX OF THEM. That's one shy of the NFL record for a game, held by the late, great Derrick Thomas of the Kansas City Chiefs.  

Carolina Panthers: for a game that determined the NFC South lead, they came out flat and uninspired. They let the Tampa Bay Buccaneers run and pass all over them. This is why I included them in my Teams That Have Jumped The Shark blog yesterday. Their window is slamming shut and may have slammed shut already. They didn’t play inspired until about 3 minutes remained in the game. They FINALLY scored with less than a minute to go and avoided being shut out at home.

San Diego Chargers: how can a team that has been chirping that they’re among the NFL’s elite come out and play so crappy? They have officially jumped the shark. It’s one thing to lose to New England and Green Bay (both elite teams); it’s QUITE another to lose to Kansas City! AND in your own crib, no less!! Not only was it a loss, it was a BEAT DOWN. As a blogger, I have officially jumped the shark for picking this sorry team to go to the Super Bowl. 

Chicago Bears: I knew this team was in trouble when they traded their best RB in Thomas Jones. He was Rex Grossman’s safety valve, bailing Grossman out numerous times last season. No Jones, no Grossman, no win. The defense is ####ed up and hurt, the offense sucks, and this team is rudderless. But to allow 34 points in the FOURTH QUARTER?? To a team you should have beaten in your sleep? The 34 points scored by the Lions in the fourth quarter set an NFL record for most points by a team in a fourth quarter.

St. Louis Rams: in all fairness, they are the NFL’s MASH unit. SO many players that are either out or on injured reserve. That being said, they are not a very competitive team.

New York Jets: I don’t know what to make of this team, except they’re not very good. Individually, they have players that have talent. This is a team that just last season made the playoffs as a wild card. To lose to a previously winless team IS ugly.

Baltimore Ravens:  what was THAT? To allow Derek Anderson to channel Brett Favre and Tom Brady when you are one of the league’s best defenses puts you into this ignomious category. Anderson is a decent enough QB, but this is a game the Ravens should have won in their sleep. The Ravens dominated the game in EVERY facet BUT the scoreboard. Scoreboard is what matters, and the Browns have it over the Ravens.

Chime in with your nominees for The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly!  

This is the third installment of predictions/prognostications of the 2007 NFL season.

NFC NORTH

Chicago: winner by default. This is a PUTRID and BRUTAL division. And I don’t mean brutal in a tough sense of the word. I mean brutal as in BAD. They did draft a stud TE in Greg Olsen. Tight end was a MAJOR need position for the Bears. They were able to not only draft a TE, but the BEST TE in the draft. I also like the selection of RB Garrett Wolfe in the third round. There is a lot of turmoil surrounding Lance Briggs’ contract situation. And they rightfully cut Tank Johnson. And they traded Thomas Jones, which means Cedric Benson is The Man. I see them taking a significant step backward, but not enough for them to miss the playoffs.

Predicted record: 10-6 (division champion).

Green Bay: they ended last season on a very strong note. The young offensive line jelled at mid-season and protected Brett Favre much better. The defense stepped up. I like their first round draft pick, DT Justin Harrell. He’ll be an immediate impact player. I also like their young players to step up and take their games to the next level. They resigned DT Cullen Jenkins and extended LB Nick Barnett, keeping two key pieces of their defense for several years. The schedule for the Pack is very tough and they have a suspect running game. One question: could this be Favre’s swan song? My gut says if the Pack make the playoffs, no. This will be Favre’s swan song. See you in Canton, Brett.

Predicted record: 8-8 (no playoffs).

Detroit: I can imagine Mike Martz was doing back flips after the team selected WR Calvin Johnson #2 overall. An already potent WR corps just got a WHOLE LOT better. If Kevin Jones can be the 2004 version of Kevin Jones, the Lions’ offense will be among the league’s elite. On defense, they took care of Cory Redding and made him a VERY happy man. There is a spirited competition among the LB corps. When healthy, the LB corps could be one of the league’s better units. They have been ravaged by injuries since 2005. At some point the bad luck should reverse itself. Their Achilles heel is the secondary. Mr. Irrelevant is a member of the secondary. However, he’s no ordinary Mr. Irrelevant. Ramzee Robinson, the aforementioned Mr. Irrelevant, will get significant playing time. He can play. While I can see the Lions improving, they’re still a year or two away.

Predicted record: 7-9 (no playoffs).

Minnesota: the QB situation is unstable. Tarvaris Jackson, widely considered the team’s QB of the future, is sharing reps with Brooks Bollinger as training camp opens. I’m not sold on the QB situation. (Chad Henne, anyone?)  Fortunately, they did draft a stud RB in Adrian Peterson. He will take a lot of pressure off the QB, whoever he is. Durability is a question with Peterson. They do have a strong defensive unit, bolstered by the drafting of CB Marcus McCauley. He should give them depth at DB. Overall, this situation could be a LOT better.

Predicted record: 5-11 (no playoffs).

Throughout this NFL offseason, I have been bombarded with acts of knuckleheadism, in some cases multiple acts. Chris Henry. Pacman Jones. Tank Johnson. In the past, Nate Newton. Michael Irvin. Ray Lewis.

Some of these athletes have learned from their actions and have taken steps to avoid such acts of knuckleheadism. Going knucklehead doesn't necessarily involve committing a crime, (see Kellen Winslow and his motorcycle escapade two years ago) although the vast majority of knuckleheads DO commit a crime or crimes. Going knucklehead involves doing something STUPID.

Who are your nominees for the Knucklehead Hall of Shame? This year, my nominees are: Chris Henry, Pacman Jones, Michael and Marcus Vick, and Terry "Yugo" Johnson. (I purposely omitted the "Tank" because of his blather about straightening up his act and becoming NFL Man of the Year and getting popped for DUI)