December 13, 2021
I don’t know about you, but I think the Chargers looked pretty damn good against a crummy New York Giant football team yesterday. Look, the Bolts are looking good for a playoff spot, and Justin Herbert is totally a stud. Their schedule is also pretty easy down the stretch. However, if you’re asking me if I trust them to come through late in a critical game with their season on the line, that’s like asking me if I trust a 5 year old with a lighter. I don’t think they are better than Kansas City, I don’t think they are better than New England, and they probably aren’t better than the Titans at full strength. There’s plenty of time for weird stuff to happen, but weird stuff usually happens to the Chargers, and it usually isn’t good.
I’m not saying the Rams season is on the line tonight against the Cardinals on Monday Night Football, but it will tell us everything we need to know. The Rams have been beaten badly by some of the elite teams in the NFL this season, including the Cardinals. If they are really the contender we think they are, they will respond with a win tonight in the desert. If Matt Stafford can just stop turning it over, they should have a chance to win these games. Stafford looked like an MVP candidate in the first month of the season. Since then, he’s been turning it over like the Lakers. More on that in a moment.
Elsewhere around the NFL in Week 14, I guess Mike McCarthy wasn’t lying when he guaranteed a Cowboys win over The Washington Football Team. Tom Brady is now 33-3 against the Bills. Do the Lions even have 33 wins in the last 10 years? What’s that loud sucking noise? Oh, it’s just Chris Collinsworth slobbering all over Aaron Rodgers after the Packers win against the Bears. The Raiders stood on the Chiefs logo, and then the Chiefs stood all over them with a 48-9 win. The Titans beat up on the Jaguars, and Urban Meyer is probably busy telling all his assistants they are losers. Cam Newton was playing quarterback like Olivia Newton in the Falcons blowout win over the Panthers. Meanwhile, Chase Claypool is still at US Bank Stadium celebrating his 4th down catch, and is wondering where everyone went.
The ups and downs with the Lakers are a lot to take. I’m beginning to think the rest of the league is catching on to the Lakers dribble the ball down to 7 seconds on the clock and force something ugly offense. Some of you want to point the finger at Russ. Some of you want to point the finger at Frank Vogel. Some of you want to point the finger at Anthony Davis like the TNT guys. However, the reality of it is, Lebron hasn’t been on the floor that much, and the defense hasn’t been as good as it used to be. They also tend to have more turnovers than Betty Crocker. That’s a recipe for inconsistency given the talent the Lakers have. I mean at this point, do the Lakers just go to Lebron every night and say “so we’re going to need you do to everything for us tonight?” It feels like it. But he can’t over an 82-game stretch anymore. He won’t last if you want to do something in the playoffs. There’s some glimmer of hope that Lebron could be getting healthier, but the Lakers schedule is only going to get tougher from here. That’s what should concern Laker fans the most.
Do you realize that the UCLA Bruins have held six football practices in preparation for The Holiday Bowl, and they have yet to make an appearance in front of the media? I’m sure there are a lot of fans and big time donors that want to know what the hell is going on with Chip Kelly and the rumors that he could be interviewing for other jobs. Let’s be honest though, there was probably a large segment of the fan base and alums that would have packed Kelly’s bags for him had he been hired by Oregon. However, now him coming back to the program is like pleading with your wife to take you back after you thought you were gonna go off with your side piece forever. Let’s hope for everyone’s sake the Bruins and Chip can’t come to an agreement on a contract extension, and everyone can just happily go their separate ways.
Speaking of UCLA, their basketball team might start flying commercial again after their chartered flight was diverted unexpectedly. At one point, the players didn’t actually know whether or not they were going down apparently. Nevertheless, it was Marquette that ended up going down later in the day, as the Bruins defense was looking really good. I sure hope Cody Riley gets back in the lineup soon, because UCLA could really use some help in the front court against the elite teams. Riley appears to be close.
Finally, it’s fantasy suite night tomorrow night for The Bachelorette. However, it was The Men Tell All on center stage in the last episode. I can’t believe that’s how the producers had Tayshia announce her breakup with Zac Clayton over Rodney for The Bachelor? The producers must have realized that Michell is just too normal to be making stupid decisions, so they had to make some of their own. Michelle is way to sensible for this show. In the real world she’s a great girl. In the world of trashy reality TV, it’s boring. We’re watching to see a train wreck. It’s been nothing like that. That’s a compliment to Michelle, and a shot at the producers if you’re keeping score at home.
