NFL Week 6 Recap & Commentary
1. Bills (2-3) at Lions (0-5)- L
2. Texans (1-3) at Cowboys (2-2)- L
3. Giants (2-2) at Falcons (3-1)- W
4. Seahawks (3-1) at Rams (4-1)- W
5. Titans (0-5) at Redskins (2-3)- W
6. Panthers (3-2) at Ravens (4-1)- L
7. Eagles (4-1) at Saints (4-1)- W
8. Bengals (3-1) at Buccaneers (0-4)- L
9. Dolphins (1-4) at Jets (2-3)-L
10. Chiefs (2-2) at Steelers (1-3)- W
11. Chargers (3-1) at 49'ers (2-3)- W
12. Raiders (0-4) at Broncos (3-1)- W
13. Bears (5-0) at Cardinals (1-4)- W
Week 6 score: 8-5 (62%)
Overall score: 50-37 (57%)
I would be remiss if I did not comment on the Monday Night Football spectacular that ended with the Chicago Bears having an improbable comeback after being down by 20 points near the very end of the third quarter. They managed to come back to win, without scoring an offensive touchdown the entire game. That is unprecedented in NFL history and it was certainly among the more bizarre games that anyone has ever seen.
What an emotional roller coaster for a passionate Bears fan like myself! I just could not believe they were playing so horribly and were down by a wide margin to an inferior team. Then, they would get a turnover and a score and it looked like there was hope, but then soon, it looked once again like it would not be enough for the victory, etc. etc. Somehow, someway, they won though. Team of Destiny? Perhaps. The offense can never play that poorly again though. Hopefully, the team will stop looking ahead to the Super Bowl and not run the risk of overlooking anyone in the regular season.
I swear that I have not had such a night since the 2000 Presidential election with depression, followed by hope, followed by more depression, then exhilaration…. Etc. etc.
Unlike the 2000 GWB vs. Gore contest though, I actually was able to go to sleep happy and with the knowledge that the result would not be overturned. Dennis Green acted a little like the unhinged Al Gore of latter years at the post-game press conference though.
So, it was an amazing game and verification that surprises can always happen. I think it means that since I breathed an big sigh of relief that the Bears were able to win, I am either going to now have a very tough Election Night three weeks from today, or it will be another improbable come from behind performance by a Republican political team across the country that will never give up, never give in, and will refuse to lose.
posted by Corey @ Tuesday, October 17, 2006
4 comments
4 Comments:
"Never give up, never give in, and will refuse to lose"...
Said using the proper volume and vocal inflection, you're starting to sound like Howard Dean in Iowa.
Which leads me to my fear that Dean will appear on Meet the Press or some such show and will begin yelling "We're going to win Senate races in Pennsylvania! And Ohio! And Missouri! And Rhode Island! And Montana! And we're going to elect governors in New York! And Ohio! And Massachusetts! And..."
Then the news media will pick that up, put into instant replay mode, and your predictions just might come true.
I can picture Howard Dean taking the podium at the National Press Club (as national party chairs always do) the day after the election where the GOP managed to keep control of Congress and going all Dennis Green.
Q. "Did the GOP 72 Hour Program do it?"
Dean: "The GOP is exactly who we thought they were. They are exactly who they thought we were. If you want to crown their ass, then crowd their ass! They are exactly who we though they were and we let them off the hook! AGRHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"
Well, quite a lot will have to change for your prediction to come true, but you never know. (I can say with some certainity, though, that if the elections and Dean's response to them go as you say here, then he will not remain as party chair.)
Furthermore, what if the Dems make gains but come up just short of control? Like they pick up 13 or 14 seats in the House and 4 in the Senate? Is that really a GOP victory?
I think there's a certain amount of counting the chickens before they've hatched going on here. Some commentators seem so certain of Democrats winning control of the House (not so much the Senate) that anything short of that might be construed as a defeat, or at least a disappointment.
But it's patently ridiculous to suggest that results like that which I described represent any great vote of confidence in Republican leadership, at least as we've seen it over the last few years.
Thanks for the comments to everyone who has been doing so lately. I always enjoy seeing them.
Let’s be very clear….
Any result that has the GOP keeping a majority in the Senate and House will be seen as an immense victory for the party, and rightfully so.
When you consider what the current conventional wisdom has been throughout this election year, especially since the whole Foley thing, and all the predictions and expectations of Democrats and the media, of the party taking over the House, and potentially winning 30-40 seats, *anything* short of an absolute majority (and I am including the possibility of Democrats potentially voting for a Republican Speaker on Opening Day, etc) will mean the GOP has accomplished its mission. The historical average for House pickups in a sixth year Presidential midterm (including 1998) is a gain of about 30 seats for the party that does not hold the White House.
Anything short of that (which most reasonable believe would be the case) for the Democrats, would still put the GOP in a better situation that would historically be the case, and anything short of the magic number of 15 for the Democrats would be a *massive failure*, especially considering all the expectations that have been raised.
Furthermore, I want to stress that *if* the Democrats make enough gains to win the majority (my full predictions will be coming through the end of this month), it would primarily not be a victory of ideology or party realignment or anything like that.
Simply put, there are a bunch of Republican districts where the party has either nominated a weak candidate (like AZ 8) or the seat is open due to a scandal (the Foley seat in FL, coupled with Reynolds in NY, as well as the open Ney seat in OH,) I would especially point out Don Sherwood’s adultery will probably cost the GOP that seat in PA, which the Democrats would not have a prayer of winning otherwise. To be sure, the Democrats still have to win these districts and if they manage to do so, that is their right to gloat, but they would be victories of extraordinary circumstances, and the failings of individual Republicans, and the Democrats ability to exploit them. They would not extremely substantive victories though and the seats may very well flip back in 2008.
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