Talking NFL

A look at the other 2 games from this past weekend:

Patriots 37 - Jets 16

This was an amazing game that was closer than the final score indicates. This match-up of the coaching prtoegee versus the master did not disapoint, and was played at a break-neck speed. Both teams utilized hurry-up offenses, multiple wide-out sets, and kept the opposing defenses breathless. Jackie MacMullan of the Boston Globe talks about the Patriots offensive strategy to keep the Jets on their heels. Meanwhile, Wallace Matthews of Newsday talks about a few critical plays in the 2nd half (including the incomplete ‘lateral’ thrown by Chad Pennington that Vince Wilfork scooped up) that sealed the Jets fate.

For me, the thing that continues to impress me about the Pats is how they are able to find guys on the low end of their roster that come up and make big plays in big games. Tully Banta-Cain, a seventh round pick who is starting at outside linebacker only because Junior Seau broke his arm, had two sacks. And Jabar Gaffney, who was dropped by both the Texans and Eagles before signing with the Pats off the street in the middle of the season, had over 100 yards recieving. It goes to show just how good a job Scott Pioli, Patriots VP of Player Personnel, is doing.

By the way, who had the better stiff-arm during the game: Vince Wilfork on his fumble recovery, or Bill Belichick on that photographer after the game?

Eagles 23 - Giants 20

Another great game, with a game winning field-goal by David Akers as time expired sealing the Giants fate. What stood out in this game were 2 things - for the Eagles, it was Brian Westbrook. Just a monster game, especially in crunch time, and as Rich Hofmann of Philadelphia Daily News reports, his performace took the spotlight away form the now retired Tiki Barber. As for Tom Coughlin & the future of the Giants, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post says their’s actually a decent chance that the embattled coach returns next year.

What is very interesting about this situation (and disconcerting for Patriot fans) is that the rumor mill is churning about a possible return to the Giants by Bill Belichick next year. While the terms of Belichick’s contract are not public, it’s rumored that he’s coming into his last year. While he has certainly been an amazing success coaching the Patriots, he would be hard pressed not to at least look at the possiblity of coming back to the Giants. It’s a job coveted for the team’s position in NFL history, and who better than a former Parcells student to right that ship? Hopefully, this is just a rumor, because if not, well, I’m going to have to trade in my entire collection of gray hoodies….