Fire from the Hip: Thoughts on Sports & Real Life

RECORD
Last Week: 7 - 6
Season: 45 - 22


Before we delve into the Week 8 matchups, we ought to review the events of a bizarre Week 7. Despite accurately predicting the Bengals, Giants, and Falcons victories in marquee games last weekend, I still barely broke .500. The week was headlined by a shocking 62 yard game-winning field goal by Matt Bryant of the Bucs. His boot propelled the Bucs to a 23-21 victory over the Eagles. The successful kick couldn't have been more jaw-dropping as Bryant previously had been 0-3 from forty yards or more this season. The field goal eclipsed his previous career high by twelve yards! And that is only the tip of the iceberg.

In terms of upsets, there were a number to choose from but none topped the Texans victory over Jacksonville. A talented Jaguars team visited lowly Houston last weekend, and were beaten soundly by the score of 27-7. With the win, the Texans snapped a seven game losing streak against AFC South opponents, spanning two seasons. In Kansas City, NFL analysts' flavor of the month, the Chargers lost on a last second 53 yard field goal 30-27. And later in the day, Minnesota dominated the suddenly injury-plagued Seahawks 31-13 who now find themselves with Seneca Wallace as their starting quarterback. Matt Hasselbeck will miss the next three to four weeks with a strained ligament in his knee. The injury occurred on a low hit by Vikings linebacker E.J. Henderson on a play eerily similar to the one that shredded Carson Palmer's knee in last season's playoffs. Honorable mentions goes to the Oakland Raiders who beat the Arizona Cardinals, proving me wrong that the team would become the first team ever to go 0-16. With that crazy week behind us, let's take a look at Week 8, shall we?

Atlanta Falcons at Cincinnati Bengals - Bengals

The Bengals regrouped last week with a critical win over Carolina, after a disappointing stretch of football, which saw them lose two winnable games. In the Panthers game, the offense recommitted to Rudi Johnson who reaped the benefits with a hundred yard effort on the ground. Against a Falcons defense that has given up over 900 total yards over the last two weeks, the Bengals offense should get on track. With Chris Henry back after a two game suspension and Chad Johnson fired up to play against big mouth CB DeAngelo Hall, expect big things from Carson Palmer and the Bengals offense on Sunday.

St. Louis Rams at San Diego Chargers - Rams

All of a sudden, I don't feel so confident about the Chargers. In my opinion, they have the look of a team in turmoil and I think the players are getting tired of Marty Schottenheimer. This team is good enough to win this division. His Marty-ball style of playing not to lose games prevents his teams from reaching their potential. More later this week about Schottenheimer and the Chargers. As far as this game, I like the Rams balance on offense. Coming off the bye week, I expect a solid effort in San Diego to result in a three point win.

Indianapolis Colts at Denver Broncos - Broncos

Today, we will finally be able to see how good the Broncos defense really is. But what makes me like the Broncos in this game is their ground attack and home field. The Colts defense has been unable to stop the run this season. The Colts, ranked 31st in the league against the rush, will have a difficult time slowing down Denver RB Tatum Bell. I suspect the Indianapolis offense will be well beneath their average of 28.5 points a game against the stingiest defense in the league in front of a raucous crowd at Mile High.

Arizona Cardinals at Green Bay Packers - Packers

Last Sunday, the Packers surprised me in Miami. Playing away from home against a solid defense, the offense played extremely well. Against a team that had limited the Patriots to 62 yards rushing two weeks before, the Packers were able to establish Ahman Green and protect Brett Favre in the pocket. Their defense is still giving up way too many yards but today, the Packers should be able to find a way to win against the hapless Cardinals. The Cardinals must not have shown up last week in Oakland. It is the only explanation for getting beaten so soundly by the Raiders.

Baltimore Ravens at New Orleans Saints - Saints

This promises to be a physical game. The Ravens need this game but their defense remains susceptible to the big play. I like the Saints playmakers in this game, Reggie Bush, Deuce McAllister, and Joe Horn. I like this trio to make enough big plays to eke out 20 points against a tough Ravens D. Ravens coach Brian Billick has his back against the wall after firing offensive coordinator Jim Fassel last week. He is running out of scapegoats to blame for the miserable offense he has put together in Baltimore.

San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears - Bears

The Bears return after their bye week looking to start 7-0 for the first time since 1985. Their offense looks to regroup against a young 49ers defense that is giving up 362 yards a game. I just hope Alex Smith plays better than J.P. Losman did at Soldier Field three weeks ago. That was embarrassing.

Tampa Bay Bucs at New York Giants - Giants

Bruce Gradkowksi has played sound football since taking over for injured Chris Simms three weeks ago, engineering two come-from-behind victories for the Bucs. However, the Giants have too much offensive firepower for the Bucs to match. I am aware that the Bucs defense has been playing great the last few weeks but the missed tackles on the Brian Westbrook go-ahead touchdown last week was pathetic.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Philadelphia Eagles - Eagles

The Jaguars try to get back to their winning ways today in Philadephia after a poor performance last week in Houston. However, they will have to do it without QB Byron Leftwich. David Gerrard will start in his place and has proved over the last few years that he can manage the offense reasonably well. The last time the Jaguars defense played as poorly as last Sunday was in an overtime loss to the Redskins in Week 4. They followed that loss with a 41-0 trouncing of the Jets at home. I suspect the Jacksonville defense will not repeat the feat against the top rated offense in the NFL, led by first half MVP Donovan McNabb. The Eagles win this game because they can't afford to lose after getting stung by the Bucs Matt Bryant and his 62 yard field goal last week.

Dallas Cowboys at Carolina Panthers - Panthers

Somebody picked the Cowboys to win this game this week with Tony Romo at the helm for Dallas. I think it was Peter King. Is he crazy? The Panthers defense will overwhelm a porous Dallas offensive line, forcing Romo into any number of disastrous decisions. The Panthers win this game, forcing Cowboy fans to realize that Tony Romo will not be able to salvage the 2006 season.

Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans - Texans

There has been much positive talk this week of the rebuilding job Gary Kubiak has done in Houston. I have gotten caught up in it. I also really like Wali Lundy who I have thrice owned in fantasy football this season. So caught up in Texan fever, I take the Houston even though I am not sure how good they are away from Reliant Stadium. Oh wait, I do know. They have lost both games away from home this year by a combined score of...drumroll please...77-30. So yeah, I am predicting the first win of the year on the road for Houston. Makes sense.

Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs - Chiefs

In a battle of backup quarterbacks, always take the team at home. Unless, their backup quarterback can't go and they have to start a guy named Brodie. I will take the Chiefs even if Damon Huard can't go because the Seahawks are really banged up right now on offense. On the road in Arrowhead is not an ideal way to introduce Seneca Wallace to the NFL. He makes enough mistakes today to cost the Seahawks the game.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Oakland Raiders - Steelers

So Oakland is turning it all around. I don't think so. The Steelers defense will be disappointed if they allow a point to the Andrew Walter-led Oakland offense. The Pittsburgh offense is starting to find itself after struggling mightily earlier in the season. This team needs to start playing with a sense of urgency as it is a long road to the playoffs from a 2-4 start.

New York Jets at Cleveland Browns - Browns

This game is a loss waiting to happen for me. The Browns cornerbacks, at least the ones still standing, are disasters waiting to happen. The Jets have talent at receiver, led by Laveranues Coles and boast a creative offense capable of putting up some points. The last time these two teams met was in November 2004 and boy was it ugly. Quincy Carter started for the Jets against Jazzy Jeff Garcia. The Jets won 10-7 with a late touchdown but what is truly amazing is that I watched every snap of that game. Second point of information, Browns CB Gary Baxter blew out both of his knees on Sunday on the same play becoming only the second person with that dubious distinction. Bears WR Wendell Davis had it happen to him at the old Veterans Stadium in Philly. That turf ended more careers than any other stadium in history.

New England Patriots at Minnesota Vikings - Vikings

This is a another difficult game to pick because the Patriots are an unknown this year. They have quietly gone along defeating teams they were supposed to handle, with the exception of their impressive performance against Cincinnati in Week 4. But I don't have a good feeling about this game for the Patriots. The Red Sox never play well in the Metrodome, so why should I suspect that Tom Brady and the gang will do better? I will take the Vikings in a tight game but I am really interested to watch this game to get a better feel for two teams that nobody is quite sure about yet.

Photos: Unknown Persons

Today seemed a day like any other in my office out behind the Toledo Sports Arena. That is, until I was struck with a sudden epiphany while hanging up the phone after yet, another failed sales call. I was rejuvenated by an idea so brilliant that it trumped my immediate, more mundane task of making phone calls. The thought continued to reverberate inside of me like an aftershock. What we in the Toledo Storm front office needed was a gong that would be struck following each successful sale. The employee responsible for said sale would do the honors.

Giddy with excitement, I weighed the benefits and drawbacks to bringing a gong into work. First of all, the sheer excitement that a gong generates cannot be overstated. Moved to hit "that damn thing," people would push themselves harder than threats from a supervisor ever could accomplish. Second, it would contribute to a more light-hearted work atmosphere. How could someone ever become stressed at work when success is distinguished by banging on a gong?

Unfortunately, some drawbacks stand in the way of such a ludicrous, and thus brilliant idea of adding a gong to the work space. In attempting to gain all angles on this subject, I pursued firsthand information from people who had worked where bells and gongs has been used. A bell in the office space trivialized the work being done, which I am not sure is a bad thing. Either way, the thought process might go something like this: "I am calling these people in hopes of eventually being able to bang that gong over there...Are you serious?" Furthermore, an overt action such as banging on a gong recognizes the auspicious employee while simulataneously acknowledging, at least implicitly, the failure of his or her peers. As one friend in sales confided: "I hated listening to that bell ring, and I couldn't stand high-fiving the jackass with the toothy-grin who had just rung it!" So what causes this: is it a poor work environment that promotes a "dog eat dog" mentality or is it resentment that festers from being, in essence, put down in the work place?

I don't have all the answers just yet but I found the research educational. I became excited about putting a gong into the office for the sheer hilarity that I think would result from it. I don't like to take myself too seriously; more pointedly, I see a certain trivial quality to most jobs. In my eyes, a gong in the office reminds employees of the inconsequential nature of our responsibilities. And I think that can be an advantage in keeping an office loose. However, my limited research proved otherwise. That same friend who later quit added: "By the time I left there, I wanted to ring that bell right into somebody's face!"