Saints Vs Giants - Only one winner!

Well unless it's a tie obviously.  But seriously what a game in prospect.  I cannot wait for this.  Two excellent teams, both playing strong good football going head to head making it my game of the week.

Some individual match ups are intriguing.  On one side of the ball you have Eli Manning, Brandon Jacobs and co. going up against a rejuvinated Saints defence.  The Saints D play better against the run than the pass so it will be key to keep the middle of the field plugged up early forcing the Giants to throw.  If they can do this they will be pitting Eli Manning against an improved Saints secondary who will be covering a glut of impressive rookies.  The winner of this dual may well decide the game.  If they can stop enough 3rd and long passes and turn the ball over to the Saints O then the Saints have a good chance as time of possession will be key.  The longer the Giants have it the better their chances.

On the other side of the ball Drew Brees, Reggie Bush, Robert Meachem and co. will be up against a tough Ginats D.  It is vital that Peirre Thomas and Mike Bell are able to establish the running game early.  If they are able to punch a enough holes then it will open up the long play game and in Devery Henderson the Saints have a dangerous deep threat.  Break a long one early on and Brees will be able to keep the Giants second guessing which then leaves room for his slot recievers and balls out of the back field.  The Giants will have their work cut out if that happens because Brees is one of the best in the business when it comes to reading defences and changing plays at the line.

Last, and by no means least, there is the question of special teams where the Saints returners should have the edge.  Reggie Bush may have his detractors but he is still one of the best in the business in the open field and the Giants would do well to get some good air time on any punts.  Luckily for them they have the best punter in the league in Jeff Feagles so it will be intriguing to see who comes out the winner here.  If Reggie is able to break one or two for reasonable yardage then it will give the Saints O great field position by which to take advantage, which will help if the Giants are consuming the clock.

My pick for this is a narrow Saints victory but only on the basis of home field advantage.  If it were in Giants Stadium it would go the other way, it's going to be that tight.  I just think the Saints will be able to edge it late and I'm going for a 27 to 23 Saints win but for things to come down to the wire.

Men are from Mars and woman love Sex in the City

I was watching Sex in the City last night with my wife (hey get off my back guys, I get football on Sundays, she gets Sex in the City reruns in the week - plus I secretly pick up useful tips from time to time) when it occurred to me how great it would be to see some linebackers taking on those roles for a while.  Instead of Carrie signing off her monologues with one of her usual 'which got me to thinking if men are into football is it alright for us to be into men?' wouldn't it be great to see Ray Lewis in a night gown and mud pack typing away at his mac book 'if Drew Brees audibles at the line of scrimage is it because he's changing plays or is it because he's trying to ask me out on a date?'.

Meanwhile across town Brian Urlacher was having his own problems with commitment.  'Look coach I just don't think I'm ready to get back into rehab, I think I want to work for Christian Louboutin and help his Fall collection become something really special'...

OK maybe not.  Back to the drawing board.  The morphine is clearly playing tricks with my mind.

 

Mike Singletary and the eyes of steel

I don't know if you managed to catch the 49ers Falcons game on Sunday but I for one am glad I am not a San Fran player this week.  Mike Singletary's eyes told a story of just what he thought of the lack of concentration and effort on display by players throughout his team.

If there is one coach you would not want to cross in the NFL Singletary stands head and shoulders above all others for me.  He coaches how he played, with maximum intensity and hard work.  He was a model professional; smart, tough, committed and a leader.  Now that he is a head coach you better believe he expects such qualities from his players and, at the very least, total commitment to the team cause.  What he got on Sunday was something of a joke and I dread to think just how bad the screaming in the locker room got.  That said his team deserved such a tongue lashing.

From the outset too many of his players simply did not have their heads in the game.  Stupid penalties, blown assignments and unnecessary show boating made me angry for him.  I mean how hard can it be?  You train all week, you watch game film over and over, you are paid a big salary to play the game you love and you are led by someone that demands every players respect.  I would give anything to play or simply work for someone like that.  Someone you can rely upon to have your back if you guarantee him maximum effort.  Even if you fall short with Singletary you can rest assured that if you worked your socks off for the team he is going to support you and give you the confidence to come back and prove him right.

If I were a 49er player this week, Bry springs to mind, I would take a long hard look in the mirror and ask myself whether I am ready to grow up and sieze the opportunity I've been presented with.  I would then spend the next week preparing to play the game of my life and to run through walls if necessary to get things right.  It's the least you could do to prove you are worthy of a place on his team.