Indeed, the pride and joy of the National Football League is having a rough go of it, even extending to the division’s standard bearer, Philadelphia, which sits at a very uncharacteristic 2-4 amidst scrutiny about everything from clock management to personnel.

First, let me say this: the Eagles remain, in my estimation, the best organization in the league. Jeffrey Lurie is a tremendous owner, general manager Howie Roseman and his team are without peer and head coach Nick Sirianni has the best winning percentage (.670) of any active coach with Super Bowl jewelry and six postseason victories to his credit.

But it’s hard to forecast the October retirement of your best offensive lineman, Lane Johnson, and impossible to predict season-ending blood clots for championship QB Jalen Hurts. The Birds may or may not rally to win the division - it’ll be them or the Giants - but, if they don’t get to the postseason in 2026, they’ll find a way to get there and make their presence felt in 2027.

Sadly, the path for My Beloved Commies will likely not be as smooth as that of the Iggles. Or even the Giants or Dallas. We are in a tight spot, my friends, snug even.

That said, there is sun peeking through the clouds in southwest Florida where none other than THE CHIEF is feeling decent about his squad. I spoke with my old man the day after our tough Monday night loss to San Francisco and he was surprisingly upbeat.

He thought Jayden played well - which is correct - and liked how the defense stymied the Niners in the second half. “The division is bad, son. Maybe we can rise from the ashes and win it.”

From your lips to God’s ears, Pops. You’re still the man at age 86.

LE GURU’s Week Six record was a blessing at 9-5 (.643), improving the 2026 mark to 56-37 (.602). Let’s look at this week’s games with the Bills (5-1), Chargers (0-6), Jaguars (4-2) and Commies (1-4-1) on the bye…

THURSDAY — 8:15 PM ET — PRIME VIDEO

New England (4-2, 1-2 road) falls at Chicago (4-2, 2-1 home) as Caleb tops Drake. The Pats are tough on the road but it feels like the Bears found another gear last week.

Fun fact about Super Bowl XX, when the Bears trounced the Patriots, 46-10: the first points of that game came via the bare right foot of New England’s Tony Franklin, one of the last NFL kicker’s to eschew the shoe. The 5’8” Big Springs, Texas, native spent 10 years in the league with the Eagles (1979-1983), Pats (1984-87) and Dolphins (1988).

SUNDAY

9:30 AM ET — NFL NETWORK

Pittsburgh (4-2, 1-2 road) beats New Orleans (2-4, 0-3 home) in not-so-gay Paris.

This contest marks the first NFL game on French soil with the Steelers and Saints battling at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, just outside the City of Lights. Given the recent turmoil throughout the country, here’s hoping the only violence is the semi-controlled mayhem on the field.

1 PM ET — CBS

I like Cleveland (4-2, 1-2 road) at Tennessee (1-5, 0-3 home) on the strength of the stout Browns defense…

…Indianapolis (2-4, 1-2 road) puts up a fight but loses at Minnesota (5-0, 2-0 home). He’s no Nick Sirianni but this Kevin O’Connell character is quite the coach, isn’t he? His regular-season winning percentage (.658) ranks him 15th in NFL history…

…Miami (0-5, 0-3 road) loses at the Jets (2-4, 1-1 home). Confidence level in this pick is sub 10% and that may be a stretch. Please make me a prophet, Aaron Glenn…

…visiting Cincinnati (3-2, 2-1 road) beats Baltimore (4-2, 1-1 home) and, probably, Tyler Huntley. Lamar Jackson is reportedly a game-time decision but I’m pessimistic as he was limping at practice, moving at the pace of a Walmart shopper. Let’s call it 27-24.

1 PM ET — FOX

The visiting Niners (6-0, 2-0 road) trash Atlanta (2-4, 0-3 home) like a scene from “Gone with the Wind” as PEACHTREE WILL unwittingly enjoys his Sunday brunch of biscuits and gravy down the block…

…Tampa Bay (1-5, 1-1 road) loses at Carolina (3-2, 1-1 home) and it’ll be close. The Panthers lead the series, 26-25, but the Bucs have won 10 of the past 12 meetings…

…the Giants (3-2-1, 0-1-1 road) falter at Houston (2-4, 0-3 home) as JJ McCarthy gets his first start for Big Blue.

When I think of the Jints and Space City, my mind goes directly to running back Rob Carpenter, the Miami (Ohio) alum who ran hard for the Houston Oilers (1977-81) and the Giants (1981-85) during a solid decade of NFL work1. A tough son of a gun.

4:05 PM ET — CBS

Denver (4-2, 1-2 road) wins a close one at Arizona (2-4, 0-2 home). This Cardinals team isn’t great but they’ve got an awful lot of fight. Broncos, beware.

4:25 PM ET — FOX

Green Bay (4-2, 2-1 road) falls at Dee-troit (3-2, 2-0 home) in a knockdown, drag-out battle. We talk about a lot of rivalries, folks - Giants/Eagles, Cowboys/Commies, etc. - but Packers/Lions is the longest-running fued in the National Football League…

…the Rams (2-4, 1-1 road) win at Las Vegas (3-3, 1-2 home) with their figurative backs against the wall.

8:20 PM ET — NBC

Kansas City (5-0, 2-0 road) remains unbeaten at Seattle (3-3, 2-1 home). These teams were AFC West foes for decades (1977-2001) but that history doesn’t matter to Messrs. Reid and Macdonald. Andy comes off the bye and gets another win.

MONDAY — 8:15 PM ET — ESPN

Finally, on Monday night, the host Eagles (2-4, 1-2 home) save their season with a win over Dallas (2-4, 1-2 road). The Birds will have to scrap for every victory they get over the next 2+ months.

That’s all for this week, folks. Enjoy the games and God bless!

To others, he is known as a product pitchman and NFL studio host and, given how omnipresent he was on our televisions for decades, that made sense too.

But, to me, my first thoughts of Ditka are always of him as a player. He shattered records as an NFL tight end and, without question, still belongs in the conversation about the greatest to ever play the position.

Raised in the football hub of Aliquippa, Pa. - alums include Tony Dorsett, Sean Gilbert, Ty Law, and Darrelle Revis - Ditka starred at nearby University of Pittsburgh before being picked fifth overall by the Bears in the 1961 NFL Draft1. And it didn’t take him long to reward George “Papa Bear” Halas for making the selection.

Indeed, as a rookie, Ditka set NFL single-season records for receptions (56), receiving yards (1,076) and touchdowns (12) by a tight end while averaging an eye-popping 19.2 yards per catch. You read that right: he set all-time records for his position as a first-year man.

The rest of his career wasn’t bad either as he racked up a total of 427 catches and 43 TDs over 12 seasons, including five All-Pro selections and five Pro Bowl trips. His 75 catches in 1964 also set an NFL record that stood until the amazing Kellen Winslow topped it with 89 receptions with San Diego in 1980.

A truly remarkable career. Rest in piece, Iron Mike.

Today, Ditka’s Bears (3-2, 1-1 away) travel to Atlanta (2-3, 0-2 home) to face a Falcons outfit that seems much better than its record. You can catch the action at 1 pm ET on Fox.

For Da Coach’s sake, I’d like to take Chitown but I’m concerned that Caleb Williams will be rusty in his return from a torn right hamstring. I’m going to roll with Bijan & Co. at home, despite the team’s questions at QB. Call it 27-24, Falcons, and remind me later that I overthought this pick.

LE GURU’s record stands at 48-32 (.600) after Denver’s win over Seattle. Let’s move on to the rest of the slate with Cincy (3-2), Dee-troit (3-2), Miami (0-5) and Minnesota (5-0) on the bye…

SUNDAY — 9:30 AM ET — NFL NETWORK

Houston (1-4, 1-1 road) falls to Jacksonville (4-1, 3-0 home) as the Jaguars enjoy another week British home cooking at Wembley Stadium. I’ll take a Full English, please!

1 PM ET — FOX

Baltimore (4-1, 3-0 road) loses at Cleveland (3-2, 2-0 home) with Lamar on the shelf…

…Tennessee (0-5, 0-2 road) remains winless at Indy (2-3, 1-1 home) as Robert Saleh pines for his time in San Fran…

…New Orleans (1-4, 1-1 road) shocks the Giants (3-1-1, 3-0 home) at MetLife. Who wouldn’t love a Tyler Shough-Jameis shootout?

1 PM ET — CBS

The Jets (2-3, 1-2 road) lose at New England (3-2, 2-0 home) as the Patriots hit their stride, giving THE TRIBECA MULE a respite from Colby College’s 0-5 start to their 2026 campaign…

…Carolina (2-2, 1-1 road) wins at Philadelphia (2-3, 1-1 home) with Jalen Hurts out with a blood clot. Praying that Hurts, the consummate leader and pro, is back on the field soon…

…Pittsburgh (3-2, 0-2 road) gets the W at Tampa (1-4, 0-3 home) as longtime Bucs backer REAL ESTATE ROB turns his focus to his WNBA postseason fantasy team. Hey buddy, you’ve still got your South Florida Bulls!

4:05 PM ET — FOX

The host Rams (2-3, 1-2 home) take down Arizona (1-4, 1-2 road) but the NFL’s most underrated superstar, Cards TE Trey McBride, makes his presence felt. More to come on this recordsetting young man in future Ball coverage.

4:25 PM ET — CBS

The Chargers (0-5, 0-2 road) remain winless at Kansas City (4-0, 2-0 home). There is none better than Andy Reid coming off of the bye. Career win percentage: .815…

…Buffalo (4-1, 2-0 road) takes one on the chin at Las Vegas (3-2, 1-1 home) as Cousins outduels Josh Allen. There are two things LE GURU can’t hide: his extra 40 pounds of blubber and his love for Captain Kirk.

8:20 PM ET — NBC

Dallas (2-3, 1-1 road) loses again, this time at Green Bay (3-2, 1-1 home). Was last week’s Packer domination of Chicago real or an apparition? We’re about to find out.

MONDAY — 8:15 PM ET — ESPN / ABC

Finally, under Monday’s bright lights, My Beloved Commies (1-3-1, 0-2 road) surrender to San Francisco (5-0, 3-0 home).

That said, I don’t think we go down without a fight as, despite the record, DC has played well for lengthy in-game stretches this season. Sure, San Fran is excellent so it wouldn’t stun me if we got blown out but I think the boys come to play this weekend and give the Niners a run for their money.

One additional point: Jayden Daniels is being criticized from pillar to post after last weekend’s clock mismanagement but folks are failing to recognize one thing. He was absolutely outstanding last week until that fateful final minute, both as a runner and a passer.

My multi-jowled pal FATBACK HOBBS insists that JD5 will use last week’s failure as fuel from here on out and I’m inclined to believe him. The rest of the league is now on notice.

That’s all for this week, folks. Enjoy the games and God bless!

Lord, there was plenty of pain to go around with each fan coping in their own way.

THE CHIEF turned his antique dresser into kindling. FATBACK HOBBS drowned his tears in sports bar appetizers. PEACHTREE WILL shaved his head, BONELESS MING swore off football forever and PJ JAZZY JEFF told his kids there is no Santa Claus.

Meanwhile, LE GURU sat, dumbfounded, at what transpired in the final seconds. Did that really happen? Did we really fail to attempt a field goal at game’s end?

Take a pass through the World Wide Web and you’ll see all kinds of analysis about last weekend’s crunchtime shortcomings. But you won’t get that here.

My take is simple: mistakes were made and they likely cost my squad the win. I say “likely” because our rookie kicker, Drew Stevens, missed an extra point earlier in the day and, amid sloppy conditions at Northwest Stadium, Giants kicker Dominic Zvada already missed three field goals. So, a 42-yard attempt was not a slam dunk, as it were.

But, instead of diving deeper into Sunday’s happenings, I’m going to dig into DC football lore, focusing on some of the most painful moments in franchise history in my lifetime (1970-present). Here are five plays that continue to haunt me.

5. Aikman’s OT Bomb - September 12, 1999

This was a devastating season-opening loss to our archrivals. Washington, which won the 1999 NFC East title, led 35-14 in the third quarter and Norv Turner’s offense was humming. Then came the collapse.

Dallas put up 21 points in a furious fourth-quarter rally and then, barely two minutes into overtime, Troy Aikman reared back and hit a wide-open Rocket Ismail for a 76-yard touchdown to seal it. Brutal.

4. The Hold vs Arizona - November 10, 1996

The 1996 Washington Redskins started the season hot at 7-1 and then faded down the stretch, missing the playoffs with a 9-7 record. Along the way, there were a bunch of painfully close losses and none was worse than this defeat, at home, to a bad Arizona team, 37-34.

Cardinals QB Boomer Esiason, age 35, threw for a mind-numbing 522 yards on my squad, a figure that is tied for fifth in NFL history. But the most hurtful moment was in overtime when Washington kicker Scott Blanton nailed a 38-yarder to win it. Alas, tight end Scott Galbraith was called for holding and Blanton then missed the 43-yard kick to give Arizona the ball back.

Four minutes later and it was all over when their kicker, Kevin Butler, nailed a 32-yard try to win it. A real kick in the gut.

3. LaDainian Tomlinson’s Winning Dash - November 27, 2005

Washington was hitting its stride in year two of Joe Gibbs II and played an excellent Chargers team tooth and nail, clinging to a 17-10 lead late in the fourth quarter. And that’s when lightning struck - twice - in the form of future Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson.

First, LT ran 32 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 17 with three minutes left and then, on the second play of overtime, he burst through the line and rumbled for a 41-yarder to win it. It was the Skins’ third straight loss, by a total of 10 points.

From there, Gibbs & Co. got on a roll, winning six straight games including a Wild Card game in Tampa. Their season ended in the Divisional Round at Seattle.

2. Alstott’s plunge - November 13, 2005

The loss to San Diego followed a soul-crushing defeat two weeks earlier when the playoff-bound Skins and Bucs squared off in Tampa. It was a true NFC slugfest and Clinton Portis gave Washington the lead, 35-28, with 8:26 remaining.

The teams traded possessions until Bucs QB Chris Simms hit WR Edell Shepherd on a 30-yard pass to pull Tampa within a point. Star Washington outside linebacker Lavar Arrington was flagged for delay of game on the play, moving the extra point attempt to the 1 1/2-yard line, half the distance to the goal.

Tampa kicker Matt Bryant then missed the extra point but, alas, DB Walt Harris was offside, moving the ball inside of the one-yard line. Given the proximity to the DC end zone, Bucs head coach Jon Gruden went for the two-point conversion and his hulking running back, Mike Alstott, made him look like a genius. 36-35, Bucs.

The Silver lining: Washington returned to Tampa in the playoffs and toppled the hosts, 17-10, in a Wild Card game to earn a trip to Seattle for the Divisional Round.

1. Jack Squirek’s Super Bowl Interception. - January 22, 1984

This was the most painful moment of LE GURU’s teenage fandom, a pick six thrown by NFL MVP Joe Theismann with just seconds before the half in Super Bowl XVIII.

Washington trailed 14-3 when it took possession with 12 seconds left from its own 12-yard line. Hoping to catch the Raiders napping - as he did when the teams faced off earlier in the season - Theismann threw a screen pass that was picked off by Squirek, the Illinois alum. He walked into the end zone from five yards out and it was 21-3 at the half.

Joe T & the boys promptly marched downfield on their first possession of the third quarter to make it 21-9 on a John Riggins run, a painful reminder that it would have been a one-score game if not for the end-of-half gaffe.

As for tonight, we’ve got the Seahawks (3-2, 1-1 road) at the Broncos (3-2, 2-0 home) as these former division rivals square off. Kickoff is set for 8:15 pm on Amazon Prime with Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit and and Kaylee Hartung on the call.

Indeed, these teams were AFC West combatants for 25 seasons (1977-2001) and they were not friendly with one another. Just think of the names: Davis, Elway, Easley, Kreig, Largent, Warner. The list goes on.

As for tonight, you’ve got an elite Seahawks road team under Mike McDonald - 16-3 since he took the job in 2024 - against one of the league’s best home teams with Sean Payton & Co. 22-5 at Mile High since he took the helm. I’m going with the Broncos in a squeaker, 19-17.

The Week Five record was 10-5 (.667), bumping the season mark to 47-32 (.595). That’s all for tonight, folks. Enjoy the games and God bless!

Ariri had been drafted out of Clemson in 1981 by the Baltimore Colts but didn’t make it to the regular season. He then was cut by the USFL’s Washington Federals, making him a man without a football home.

But Tampa came calling in 1984 and Ariri delivered, making 19 of 26 field goal tries2 and becoming the first Buc to hit three kicks of 40+ yards in the same game. In the locker room, teammates called him “The Automatic African” as the league’s first Nigerian player set the franchise record for points and field goals in a single season.

In fact, Ariri was so successful that it might’ve been his undoing. In the ensuing NFL Draft, the Bucs drafted another Nigerian Clemson placekicker - Donald Igwebuike - and the rookie promptly won the job over his countryman. The newcomer owned the role for the next five seasons and ended his Tampa career as the franchise leader in career points and field goals.

The irony doesn’t end there as it turns out that Ariri actually arranged for Igwebuike to attend Clemson. Ariri excelled for head coaches Charley Pell and Danny Ford and Igwebuike kicked under Ford for four seasons, starring on the school’s 1982 national championship team.

So, Pell and Ford were part of the Nigerian football revolution but the real architect, even if it was accidental, was Dr I.M. Ibrahim, the Palestinian American chemistry Ph. D who recruited Ariri and Igwebuike to play soccer at Clemson. A program he started from the ground up and led to two national titles.

Following the success of Ariri and Igwebuike, the Chiefs famously drafted running back Christian Okoye aka “The Nigerian Nightmare” in 1987 from tiny Azusa Pacific, an NAIA school that wasn’t exactly a football factory. But does Okoye get picked that high - or even at all - without the success of Ariri and Igwebuike?

Okoye, of course, became one of the most feared runners of his era, bludgeoning NFL defenses for six years with Kansas City, functioning as coach Marty Schottenheimer’s sledgehammer. And his grand success set the stage for the many Nigerian players who continue to follow in his footsteps.

How grand?

Well, at the start of the 2026 season according to ESPN, there were 93 players of Nigerian origin on NFL rosters or practice squads - an average of nearly three per team - and 137 players of African descent.

The list of Nigerian players includes the 2025 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Seattle receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba; his Super Bowl champion teammates Nick Emmanwori and Uchenna Nwosu; Pro Bowlers like Tennessee kick returner Chimere Dike, Chargers tight end David Njoku and Baltimore defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike; and so many others.

Simply astounding and, at day’s end, they’re really just getting started.

The Week Four record was anything but impressive at 8-8 (.500), dropping the season mark to 37-27 (.578). Let’s go to the games with the Chiefs (4-0) and Panthers (2-2) on their bye week…

SUNDAY

9:30 AM ET — NFL NETWORK

Philadelphia (2-2, 1-1 road) falls to Jacksonville (3-1, 2-0 home) in London, but they won’t go down without a fight. It’s been a brutal week in the City of Brotherly Love with the loss to the Rams and Lane Johnson’s retirement, but I think Sirianni & Co. go down swinging.

Note to local pasty purveyors: TOMMY BIRD is in town for the game and he isn’t counting calories.

1 PM ET — FOX

I like Chicago (3-1, 1-0 road) at Green Bay (2-2, 0-1 home) in a defensive struggle…

…Jayden Daniels returns for My Beloved Commies (1-3, 1-1 home) but we still fall to the visiting Giants (3-1, 0-1 road). I wish the young man would get elbow surgery but, hey, I’m no doctor, despite what DISCO MIKE might tell you…

…Minnesota (4-0, 2-0 road) falls at New Orleans (1-3, 0-2 home) as the Saints bounce back from their tough home loss to Atlanta…

…I’ll take Cincinnati (2-2, 1-1 road) at Miami (0-4, 0-1 home) as SIR STRIPES takes FISHBOY to his second home, the proverbial woodshed.

1 PM ET — CBS

Houston (0-4, 0-1 road) gets in the win column at Tennessee (0-4, 0-2 home). Hang in there, Robert Saleh…

…Cleveland (3-1, 1-1 road) wins at the Jets (1-3, 0-1 home) and TIMMY THE BROWN starts planning the Super Bowl parade. Poor fella…

…Indianapolis (2-2, 1-1 road) drops one at Pittsburgh (2-2, 2-0 home). The Aaron Rodgers/Mike McCarthy marriage enjoys a blissful week, and the gnashing of teeth stops - at least for now - at THE HOUSE OF SUSSEX…

…Las Vegas (3-1, 2-0 road) loses at New England (2-2, 1-0 home) but Cousins keeps it close.

4:05 PM ET — CBS

Denver (2-2, 0-2 road) bounces back with a win at the Chargers (0-4, 0-2 home) as the SoFi air reeks of desperation.

4:25 PM ET — FOX

Detroit (2-2, 0-2 road) wins at Arizona (1-3, 0-1 home) behind Messrs. Goff, Gibbs and Amon-Ra…

…San Fran (4-0, 1-0 road) gets a victory at Seattle (3-1, 2-0 home) as Purdy continues his crazy roll. Playing like the best QB in football right now.

8:20 PM ET — NBC

Baltimore (3-1, 2-0 road) takes the “L” at Atlanta (2-2, 0-1 home). Just give it to Bijan and let him do the rest, Mr. Stefanski.

MONDAY — 8:15 PM ET — ESPN / ABC

Buffalo (3-1, 1-0 road) wins at the Rams (2-2, 1-1 home), bouncing back from last week’s loss to the Patriots. The Bills usually experience a two-game losing streak at some point in the season, but I don’t think this will be it.

That’s all for this week’s games, folks. God bless!

Frerotte’s counterpart that afternoon was one James Joseph Harbaugh, playing his first season with the Colts after spending the first six years of his career with the Bears (1987-93). He remained the starter in 1995 and led Indy to the AFC title game, losing to Pittsburgh when his Hail Mary attempt fell just short.

This weekend’s Colts–Commanders tete-a-tete is on NFL Network with Dave Pasch, Jason Kelce, Kurt Warner and Molly McGrath calling the action. Washington is 0–1–1 in international regular-season games - including last year’s overtime loss to Miami - while the Colts are 2-1, beating Atlanta in Berlin in 2025.

Catch the action at 9:30 am ET as My Beloved Commies earn a hard-fought 26-24 victory. A guy can dream, can’t he?

From dreams to nightmares, LE GURU’s record stands at 29-20 (.592) after Thursday night’s Pittsburgh loss to Cleveland. On to the games…

SUNDAY — 1 PM ET — CBS

New England’s (1-2, 0-2 road) misery continues at Buffalo (3-0, 2-0 home). The rivals first met in 1960 during the American Football League’s inaugural season and the Pats hold a commanding 80-52-1 series lead. That won’t help Vrabel & Co. this weekend…

…Jacksonville (2-1, 0-1 road) falls at Cincinnati (2-1, 1-0 home). This one feels like a shootout…

…Arizona (1-2, 1-1 road) loses to the host Giants (2-1, 2-0 home). These teams are connected by star running back Ottis “O.J.” Anderson, who toted the rock for St. Louis (1979-86) and New York (1986-92) during his illustrious NFL career.

Anderson is oft remembered as a Giant because of his two Super Bowl wins but was actually much more of presence with the Cardinals, earning 78% of his career rushing yards and 59% of his touchdowns in the Gateway City. Dude was a stud during some lean years for the St. Louis franchise…

…Tennessee (0-3, 0-1 road) gets boat-raced at Baltimore (2-1, 0-1 home) as Derrick Henry takes his former mates to the woodshed.

1 PM ET — FOX

The Rams (1-2, 0-1 road) falls at Philadelphia (2-1, 1-0 home) and I’m thinking of legendary QB Norm Van Brocklin, who played for the Rams (1949-57) and Birds (1958-60) in his Hall of Fame career.

The most amazing thing about “The Dutchman”? His single-game passing record of 554 yards - set in 1951 - still stands. Seventy-five years later! Indeed, though the game has changed to favor offenses, Van Brocklin still reigns supreme…

…Green Bay (1-2, 1-1 road) gets a win at Tampa (0-3, 0-2 home). These teams were NFC Central rivals for 25 years (1977-2001) but that’s about all they have in common…

…Chicago (2-1, 1-1 home) gets a home win against the Jets (1-2, 1-1 road) in their first meeting since 2022…

…Dallas (1-2, 0-1 road) loses to in-state rival Houston (0-3, 0-2 home). It’s time for some serious soul-searching in the Big D. Some of the most beautiful words I’ll ever type.

4:05 PM ET — FOX

Miami (0-3, 0-2 road) travels to Minnesota (3-0, 1-0 home) and I’ll take the hosts.

When I think of these teams, I recall Super Bowl VIII when the Dolphins throttled the Vikings to the tune of 24-7. Miami ran for 196 yards in the game while QB Bob Griese attempted seven passes, the fewest by a winning quarterback in Super Bowl history.

The second fewest attempts by a winning QB? The previous year in Super Bowl VII when the Dolphins beat Washington, 14-7. Griese threw just 11 passes as Miami ran for 184 yards.

That said, Griese wasn’t a caretaker at QB. The man was a pinpoint passer and a heck of a leader, attributes that led to his enshrinement in Canton. A Purdue Boilermaker to the core.

4:25 PM ET — CBS

Kansas City (3-0, 1-0 road) wins at Las Vegas (3-0, 1-0 home) in a renewal of one of football’s most bitter rivalries…

…Denver (2-1, 0-1 road) takes the “L” in San Francisco (3-0, 2-0 home) as memories of “Black 59 Razor” echo through the ears, eyes, nose and throat of every Broncos fan, all still traumatized from Super Bowl XXIV…

…GULF COAST JON’s LA Chargers (0-3, 0-1 road) lose in Seattle (2-1, 1-0 home) to remain winless.

A loss would drop the franchise to 0-4 for the first time since 1992 when Bobby Ross was at the helm. Ross, like THE CHIEF a Richmond, Va., native and VMI graduate, knew how to lead men and the Chargers rebounded to finish 11-5 and win the AFC West. No other team has started 0-4 and made the playoffs.

Of course, the biggest question in LA is whether the Jim Harbaugh-Mike McDaniel marriage can make it through the season. Heck, Zsa Zsa Gabor would’ve called it a day by now. Stay the course, men.

8:20 PM ET — NBC

Dee-troit (2-1, 0-1 road) wins at Carolina (1-2, 0-1 home) in just the 13th meeting between these teams. Their last matchup was a 42-24 Lions victory in 2023.

MONDAY — 8:15 PM ET — ESPN

Atlanta (1-2, 1-1 road) at New Orleans (1-2, 0-1 home) renew their rivalry with plenty at stake for both squads. Go with the hosts.

That’s all for this week, folks. Enjoy the games and God bless!

Indeed, host Cleveland (2-1, 1-0 home) and visiting Pittsburgh (2-1, 0-1 away) have been bitter enemies since their first matchup on October 7, 1950. The then-dynastic Browns laid the wood to the hapless Steelers that day, 30-17, and continued to roll their neighbors to the east, winning the first eight games of the series1.

Cleveland dominated Pittsburgh for two decades, but the worm turned like TIMMY THE BROWN under police questioning when owner Art Rooney made the biggest move in Steelers history. In 1969, he hired Baltimore Colts defensive assistant Chuck Noll as head coach, tapping a man who knew C-town well.

Turns out a young Charles Henry Noll had joined Cleveland in 1953 via the University of Dayton as an offensive lineman and linebacker, selected in the 20^th round - you read that right - of the draft2. He would eventually become one of eight Pro Football Hall of Famers picked that year3.

Indeed, it was a different era and, while the draft did not resemble what we have today, the game on the field was just as dissimilar. One great example of that: Noll himself.

First, given football’s financial picture at the time, the young athlete made only about $5,000 per year with Cleveland, supplementing his income as a substitute teacher and insurance salesman. Chuck Noll: athlete, teacher, insurer. A true triple threat.

Second, while splitting time between offense and defense, he got additional exercise as one of Cleveland coach Paul Brown’s “messenger guards,” ferrying the play calls from the sideline to the huddle. Yep, in the ‘50s, Brown, considered by many the single most innovative figure in NFL history, believed that coaches, not quarterbacks should call offensive plays, thinking that was unconventional at the time.

Jack Clary of The Pro Football Researchers Association put it like this:

“(Brown) chose guards to bring in plays because they did not handle the ball…In his typical thorough method of preparation, his guards used the system in each of their daily practices so that everything would be as close as possible to game conditions. While this was revolutionary -- and it also worked better than anyone had ever imagined -- it also brought forth a deluge of sour grapes, based primarily on an ignorance of the system that unfairly subjected his quarterbacks, particularly (HOF QB Otto) Graham, to needless criticism. PB always insisted that it was never disparaging to the intelligence of his QBs, and indeed, many of the calls were predicated on what the defense would do. Hence, the call going into the game would be a ‘check with me,’ call, whereby the quarterback knew what his options would be when he saw the defensive alignment, and then he called the correct option at the line of scrimmage.”

One thing Brown may not have considered: a big fella gets tired jogging back and forth to the huddle and the Cleveland guards did this on every single play. Heck, if that system was in place at Lehigh in the 1990s, guys like the late, great HAIRMAN KEN would’ve staged a mutiny.

After seven years with the Browns – winning two NFL titles and finishing second three times – Noll probably tired of jogging and decided to enter the coaching ranks as a defensive assistant. Fortuitously, he began with the American Football League’s Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers (1960-65) before moving to the NFL’s Colts (1966-68).

At those two stops, Noll’s head coaches were a pair of legends, Sid Gillman, and Don Shula, respectively. That means the future Steelers employee spent his first 16 pro seasons learning from three of the most successful men in the history of the sport:

—Brown, the most important individual in NFL history;
—Shula, the winningest coach ever and a former Cleveland player under Brown;
—Gillman, a man whose remarkable vision made deep throws a part of professional football, leading to the modern passing game.

It’s no wonder Noll was so well prepared when the sad-sack Steelers tapped him as their fourth head coach in six years in 1969, joining a team that was the laughingstock of the NFL.

Founded in 1933 as the Pittsburgh Pirates, the team played in one – 1! – postseason game in 36 seasons until Noll arrived while registering eight winning seasons4. He, of course, flipped the script as Pittsburgh posted 25 winning records and won 24 playoff games in the ensuing 36 years, including four Super Bowls.

All told, in his 23 seasons at the helm, Noll won 209 games, including playoffs, and took the team on a run that has never been matched by any franchise: those four Bowl titles in just six years. Plus, 11 of his players made it to the Hall.

How well did Noll set the organization on its course? Well, since he joined in 1969, the team has had only four head coaches: Chuck (1969-91), Bill Cowher (1992-2006), Mike Tomlin (2007-2026) and now Pittsburgh native Mike McCarthy. By comparison, the Cardinals franchise has had 17 coaches work at least one full season during that timeframe.

Chuck Noll, truly remarkable.

As for tonight, it’ll be a good one to watch if you’re shelling out an ever-increasing monthly nut to Bezos & Co. The guy takes a bigger financial chunk out of me than DUCK & CHIPS, beloved pugs of THE FAIR CLAUDINE.

Catch the action at 8:15 pm ET on Amazon Prime with Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit and Kaylee Hartung on the mike. Call it Steelers, 23-20, as Rodgers comes up big.

Enjoy the evening, all! God bless!5

Getting JD5 back would make a difference even though backup Marcus Mariota is one of the top second-string signal callers in the league. But, no matter how good DC’s QB play is, it can’t make up for the offensive line’s pass-blocking struggles or the iffy play of the team’s defense.

After an encouraging effort against Philly in Week One, the Commies’ D was a colander-like sieve last weekend, a 37-20 Dallas rout. Dak Prescott is a high-quality quarterback, yes, but he’d be a first-ballot Hall of Famer if he went up against my squad every weekend. Career record vs MBC: 14-2.

It gets no better for Washington (0-2, 0-0 home) today as Seattle (2-0, 1-0 road), the defending Super Bowl champion, comes to town. The forecast calls for heavy rain so we may have a shot to be competitive with our running game, which ranks fourth in the NFL. But, then again, the Seahawks’ stingy defense only allows 8.5 points a game so it’s likely to be tough sledding. And tough rushing and passing for that matter.

Call it Seattle, 34-17, and catch the action at 1 pm ET on Fox with Joe Davis, Greg Olsen and Pam Oliver on the call. Olsen, by the way, is a joy to hear so, at the very least, the commentary will be on point, even if it is painful to hear.

In the Middle West, the Packers were pained Thursday night in their disastrous 35-14 Lambeau loss to Atlanta, dropping LE GURU’s season mark to 21-12 (.636). On to the games…

SUNDAY — 1 PM ET — FOX

The Chargers (0-2, 0-0 road) remain winless at Buffalo (2-0, 1-0 home). I won’t be surprised if LA puts up a fight but the gulf between these teams is wider than the distance between my pockets…

…Cleveland (1-1, 0-0 home) loses against visiting Carolina (1-1, 1-0 road) in the “We Dumped Baker Mayfield and We Regret It” Bowl. The Panthers are a better squad and Bryce Young is playing well…

…the New York Jets (1-1, 1-0 road) lose in Detroit (1-1, 1-0 home) as head coach Aaron Glenn returns to where he ran the defense from 2021-24. This could be a defensive struggle, but Amon-Ra makes a play late to give the Lions the win. The dude is a top five player in this league.

SUNDAY — 1 PM ET — CBS

Kansas City (2-0, 0-0 road) blasts host Miami (0-2, 0-0 home). It is close to unpossible that the Dolphins win this game…

…Houston (0-2, 0-0 road) wins at Indianapolis (0-2, 0-1 home) to get off their early season schneid. If you recall, the Texans started similarly in 2025 at 0-3 but then ripped off 12 wins in their final 14 regular-season games under the unflappable DeMeco Ryans…

…Cincinnati (2-0, 1-0 road) defeats host Pittsburgh (1-1, 1-0 home). It’s hard to trust the Steelers though THE HOUSE OF SUSSEX may say otherwise. A win today gives the Bengals their first 3-0 start since 2015…

…New England (1-1, 0-1 road) falls at Jacksonville (1-1, 1-0 home). The Patriots’ defense puts in a game effort, but the Jags win it late in a low-scoring affair…

…Tennessee (0-2, 0-0 road) fights but loses at the NY Giants (1-1, 1-0 home). Good Jameis shows up this week to deliver the win and, somewhere, the late, great PEDRO LAMBERTO is smiling a big blue grin.

SUNDAY — 4:05 PM ET — FOX

San Francisco (2-0, 1-0 home) handles visiting Arizona (1-1, 1-0 road). Brock Purdy has been lights out and the Niners seem primed for a serious run this season. The SF QB completed all eight of his passing attempts between 10-19 yards vs. Miami1 and he will play big again today…

…Minnesota (2-0, 1-0 road) drops one at Tampa (0-2, 0-1 home) as the Bucs get victory #1 in Baker Mayfield’s third career start against Carson Wentz.

Mayfield, the 2017 Heisman Trophy winner, is 2-0 against the North Dakota State product: he led Cleveland over the Eagles in 2020, and his Browns topped the Commanders in 2023.

SUNDAY — 4:25 PM ET — CBS

Baltimore (1-1, 1-0 road) gets a road win against Dallas (1-1, 1-0 home) in Rio as Lamar goes (Brazil) nuts on the undisciplined Cowboys’ defense. Stay in those rush lanes, men…

…Las Vegas (2-0, 1-0 road) loses at New Orleans (1-1, 0-0 home) with Cousins and Shough engaging in a shootout. This one feels like 35-31, Saints.

SUNDAY — 8:20 PM ET — NBC

The visiting Rams (1-1, 0-0 road) bow to Denver (1-1, 1-0 home) in the nightcap. LA is tough but a night game at Mile High is no place for a visiting team. It’ll be tight but Nix & Co. will pull it out late.

MONDAY — 8:15 PM ET — ESPN

Philadelphia (2-0, 1-0 road) runs roughshod at Chicago (1-1, 0-1 home) as memories of the infamous Fog Bowl abound. The crowd will be loud, but those Iggles will tune out the noise.

That’s all for this week, folks. Enjoy the games and God bless!

Of course, these teams are far from rivals, playing infrequently since Atlanta joined the National Football League in 1966 with the league expanding to 15 franchises1. Their first meeting? A Week Seven contest in that inaugural Falcons’ campaign, though it wasn’t really a game at all.

To summarize: Vince Lombardi & Co. won 56-3 with everyone but the coach himself reaching the end zone. In all, eight Packers scored touchdowns, doing so in almost every way imaginable: three rushes, two passes, two interception returns and, for good measure, a fourth-quarter punt return. For its part, Atlanta threw four picks and its QBs were sacked eight times.

Green Bay - eventual winner of the 1966 NFL title in the famed “Ice Bowl” game against Dallas - improved to 6-1 with Atlanta falling to 0-7 under head coach Norb Hecker, who was actually an assistant coach under Lombardi from 1959-65.

When Hecker took the Falcons gig, I can imagine the conversation with his old boss went swimmingly.

NORB: “Nice working with ya, Vince. A real pleasure. Take it easy on me when we meet up in October, eh?”

VINCE: “Norb, we’ll stomp on your heart and spill your guts all over County Stadium, but I promise not to go after any members of your immediate family.”

NORB: “Thanks, Vince. That’s tough but fair.”

Bouncing back, Hecker and the Falcons got their first win three weeks later against the hapless Giants, dropping New York to 1-8-1 and prompting this look from our old pal BROTHER BLUENIK, who displayed the same face this past week when Jaxson Dart said farewell to the 2026 campaign.

Let’s return to Falcons-Packers where conversation often turns to the 1992 trade of QB Brett Favre from Atlanta to Green Bay, a move that played a major role in the Pack’s resurgence. Indeed, many stories have been written about the deal, with some pinning the trade on Ken Herock, the Falcons’ VP of player personnel, and others blaming Jerry Glanville, the team’s coach2.

Most football fans know plenty about Glanville - the bombastic, Elvis-worshipping frontman who led the Oilers (1985-89) and Falcons (1990-93) as part of a 20-year NFL coaching career3. But only true pigskin people know about Herock, a former player turned longtime exec with the Falcons, Bucs and Raiders. And that’s a shame.

A native of Munhall, Pa., Herock starred at West Virginia University and then spent six years as an American Football League tight end with Oakland, Cincinnati and the Boston Patriots, where he likely endeared himself to a young newspaper delivery boy named CORKY.

From there, it was on to the personnel life for the next three decades with the Raiders (1970-75), Bucs (1976-83), Raiders again (1984-86), Falcons (1987-96), Raiders for a third time (1997-98) and then the Packers (1999-2001), reuniting with Favre.

Three tenures with Al Davis? Well, the word is the Oakland cafeteria served a hearty raccoon stew, reminding Herock of his West Va. roots. And I’ll bet the roux base was sublime.

In all, it was quite the successful football life for Herock as he reached the WVU Hall of Fame, won Super Bowl XI as a Raiders personnel exec and helped take expansion Tampa to the NFC Championship game within three years of formation.

Not bad for a kid from Munhall, eh?

As for tonight, I’m going with the Pack. Call it 33-15 as the Falcons thank their lucky stars that Lombardi isn’t around to take Kevin Stefanski & Co. to the woodshed. Catch all the action at 8:15 pm ET on Amazon Prime with Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit and Kaylee Hartung.

One last note: the Week Two record was 9-7 (.563), moving the season mark to 21-11 (.656).

That’s all for tonight, folks. Enjoy the game and God bless!

I remember John Riggins breaking off a career-long 66-yard run in the 1979 season finale to give the visiting Skins a 34-21 fourth-quarter lead in Big D, only to see Dallas rally and end my playoff hopes…

…Mark Brunell hitting Santana Moss for two deep touchdown passes on a Monday night in 2005, lifting Washington to a 14-13 miracle win…

…Joe Theismann taking a safety as the clock expired in 1978 and taunting the Cowboys as he did it. A delicious 9-5 victory…

…and then there’s THE CHIEF in 1983, drinking warm milk in a gold-colored terry cloth bathrobe at 5:30 am, unable to sleep with the NFC Championship game vs. the Cowboys just a few hours away. When we locked eyes, he looked at me with the stare of a man ticketed for Alcatraz and said:

“Son, we’ve GOT to have this game.”

Exactly how I feel today as our boys tussle with Dallas. A victory would be huge.

As an eternal optimist, I’ll take My Beloved Commies, 27-24, and you can catch the action at 4:25 pm on Fox as Jayden Daniels & Co. get the #1 announcing crew again. Yes, it’s Burkhardt, Brady, Andrews & Rinaldi, which sounds like a pop boy band that Tribeca’s own REAL ESTATE ROB would travel hundreds of miles to see. Rev up the jet, my friend.

Meanwhile, nearly 400 miles from LE GURU’s abode, Buffalo took down Dee-troit on Thursday to move my season mark to 13-4 (.765). On to the games…

SUNDAY - 1 PM ET - FOX

I like Carolina (0-1, 0-0 road) at Atlanta (0-1, 0-0 home). The sooner the Falcons turn to Jack Strand at QB, the better…

…Minnesota (1-0, 0-0 road) falls at Chicago (1-0, 0-0 home) as Carson Wentz gets the start for the visitors.

Of course, when I think Vikes/Bears, I’m reminded of one of the late Walter Payton’s most electrifying performances, a then NFL-record 275 yards rushing vs Minnesota in 1977, his lone MVP season. Oddly, the final score was just 10-7 as the Bears rushed an eye-popping 63 times in the game, including 40 by Payton…

…Philadelphia (1-0, 0-0 road) lays the wood to host Tennessee (0-1, 0-1 home). The Birds are in a bit of flux with some injuries and a new offensive coordinator in Sean Mannion, but they’ll figure things out. Hey, it’s the best thing for TOMMY BIRD’s health…

…Green Bay (0-1, 0-1 road) gets win #1 at the Jets (1-0, 1-0 home). New York is over .500 for the first time since the Civil War but it’s a bad week to play the Packers.

1 PM ET - CBS

Take visiting Pittsburgh (1-0, 0-0 road) to upset New England (0-1, 0-1 home). It’s going to be an up-and-down campaign for the Pats and THE TRIBECA MULE…

…Cleveland (0-1, 0-1 road) drops one at Tampa (0-1, 0-0 home). Exactly the opponent the Bucs need after their Week One loss in Cincy…

…New Orleans (0-1, 0-1 road) loses at Baltimore (1-0, 0-0 home) but don’t be shocked if the Saints pull it out. Tyler Shough & Co. were impressive in their opening OT loss to the Lions…

…Cincinnati (1-0, 0-0 road) at Houston (0-1, 0-1 home) isn’t a football game - it’s a chili cookoff!

Oh, I can still hear my late pal, RAVISHING ROY REYNOLDS, admonishing me for serving chili with beans. A Texas native who was all things Lone Star State, Roy was very serious about his eats.

In his honor, I’m taking the Texans but, surely, he’d ask me not to fuss about it.

4:05 PM ET - CBS

Jacksonville (1-0, 0-0 road) falls at Denver (0-1, 0-0 home). Payton & Co. quickly get off the schneid after their opening loss in KC…

…the host Chargers (0-1, 0-1 home) take down Vegas (1-0, 0-0 road). Herbert and Cousins in a shootout? Sign me up.

4:25 PM ET - FOX

Seattle (1-0, 0-0 road) wins at Arizona (1-0, 0-0 home) in a game that’ll be tighter than a tick…

…Miami (0-1, 0-1 road) loses big at San Fran (1-0, 0-0 home). It’s a tough time to be FISHBOY…

8:20 PM ET - NBC

On Sunday night, Indy (0-1, 0-0 road) plays tough but loses at Kansas City (1-0, 1-0 home). If Week One is a sign, the Chiefs are again legit title contenders.

MONDAY - 8:15 PM ET - NBC

I almost picked the Giants (1-0, 0-0 road) to upset the Rams (1-0, 0-0 home) but Sean McVay has had 12 days to prepare for Dart and his mates, even with jet lag. I’m taking LA to win on a late field goal.

That’s all for this Sunday, folks. Enjoy the games and God bless.

The Bills have spent plenty of their NFL existence as bridesmaids - most notably their four straight Super Bowl appearances in the early 1990s - and have made the playoffs 21 times. Not too shabby even if they’ve never ascended to the ultimate mountaintop.

On the flip side, the Lions would typically surrender kidneys to be within a mile of the NFL altar. A league member since 1930, Detroit still has just nine postseason victories and only a couple of wins since the 1991 campaign. Both triumphs occurred in 2023.

Fast forward to 2026 and both teams are legitimate title contenders - and they’re also connected by a few illustrious pro football names. To wit:

• Linebacker Chris Spielman, the Lions’ all-time leading tackler (1988-95) and the single-season tackling leader for the Bills (1996);

• Joe Ferguson, the rugged quarterback who played professionally until age 45 including stints in Buffalo (1973-84) and Detroit (1985-87);

• Marlin Briscoe aka “The Magician,” the first black starting quarterback in pro ball with the American Football League’s Denver Broncos in 1968. He suited up for six teams, including the Bills (1969-71) and the Lions (1975).

And then there’s Dick Jauron, the two-time Pro Bowl defensive back who played for the Lions (1973-77), was an assistant coach with the Bills (1985), served as defensive coordinator (2004-05) and interim head coach (2005) in Detroit, and was head coach in Buffalo (2006-09).

That’s a man drawn to rust like a 2010 Toyota and we haven’t even mentioned his time in locales like Green Bay (1986-94), Chitown (1999-2003) and Cleveland (2011-12).

All told, Jauron spent 36 years in the NFL - eight as a player and 28 as a coach - but I think what he did before he got to the league is just as interesting. You see, he didn’t matriculate at your average football factory.

No, he went to Yale. Yes, that Yale. The one in the Ivy League.

Of course, it’s not unheard of for the Bulldogs to send players to the NFL. The Elis currently have seven (!) men in the league, including Seattle safety Rodney Thomas and star Jacksonville linebacker Foyesade Olukon, one of the most durable players around.

THE GURU’s favorite Yalie? It’s got to be THE HACKENSACK BULLDOG, an elite lower Manhattan flag football coach who played offensive line in New Haven for four seasons before graduating in 1999. Though often mistaken for a placekicker due to his trim physique, our man was actually a stalwart center for Yale, anchoring the o-line in the late 1990s.

In 1998, our guy closed his career with a 9-7 upset win at Harvard, a huge victory for the Elis, assuring them of their first winning season in seven years. Linebacker Peter Mazza put it this way:

“We were picked eighth (in the Ivy League) and Harvard was picked first this year. Internally, our 110 guys that make up a family and our coaching staff never thought we were the Cinderella story. But still, for us to go preseason number eight all the way to where we did - phenomenal.”

For his efforts in 1998, THE HACKENSACK BULLDOG was named Honorable Mention All-Ivy League while also earning two major Yale Football distinctions:

1. The Jordan Olivar Award - “Given to that senior, other than the captain, who, through his devotion to Yale football, has earned the highest respect of his teammates”
2. The Gregory Dubinetz Memorial Trophy - “Given to the lineman who best exemplifies the spirit of Gregory Dubinetz as a player and person”

Not bad for a kicker, eh?

As for tonight, you can catch the action at 8:15 pm ET on Prime Video as Monsieur Bezos simultaneously slips his hands into all four of your pockets. It should be a fun one and I’m rolling with the hosts. Let’s say BILLS, 33-31

One last note: LE GURU’s Week One record was 12-4 (.750), a sure sign that I’ll be plummeting to earth like FATBACK HOBBS in a rented hammock.

That’s all for now, folks. Enjoy the games and God bless.

I remember arriving at my desk and learning that a plane had struck the North Tower. The many conversations and questions that followed as my Dow Jones colleagues and I covered the breaking news story.

I remember hearing the horrified screams at the other end of the newsroom as a second plane struck, hitting the South Tower.

I remember the order to evacuate our office building. The relative calm of my friends and co-workers, led by Neal Lipschutz, Rick Stine, Linda Fung and Pete Rooney. Making a quick call from my desk and speaking with my dad, alerting him that we were fleeing to safety.

I remember leaving our building and praying to God that every one of my colleagues and friends would be safe.

And hugging a woman on the street outside of our office as the South Tower fell.

I remember walking up the street with colleagues to bunker down at the home of generous editor Jennifer Rossa, trying in vain to call family and friends. But the cell lines were down.

I remember emailing my dad, mom and sister with a subject line of “I’m OK!!!,” telling them that, in the midst of the tragedy, I prayed God would give me the chance to help someone.

I remember getting Neal’s OK to return to our abandoned office and work since I wouldn’t make it home to the Upper East Side that evening.

I remember meeting bewildered people on the way into the office, folks who had escaped on a ferry from NYC. Taking them upstairs to use a landline so they could let others know they were ok. God answering my prayers to be helpful.

I remember walking 60-70 yards to the east windows of our office in the middle of the night and staring at the madness in Manhattan. Fire and smoke filled the air, and it all seemed so surreal.

I remember working through the night on stories with colleagues based near and far, including a stirring column by Dick Levine, one of our leaders.

I remember thanking God when my colleagues showed up on Wednesday morning, led by Colin Kellaher and Joe Woelfel. Everyone was shaken but alive. I think of them often and am grateful I had the opportunity to work with them on the 12th and all the days that followed.

I remember heading back home late on Wednesday afternoon and being so amazed at the resiliency of our great city - and great nation.

I remember it all. And I’ll never forget.

——————

There’s no smooth way to transition from 9/11 to the games people play but football was a refuge in the wake of that tragedy, and it remains a safe haven. My quick picks for this week:

SUNDAY - 1 PM ET - FOX (2025 regular season records in parentheses)

Tampa Bay (8-9) falls at Cincinnati (6-11) in a shootout. Bold(ish) prediction: these teams combine for 900 yards of total offense…

…take Dee-troit (9-8) at home against New Orleans (6-11). Dan Campbell’s team will come out swinging after a disappointing 2025 finish…

…Atlanta (8-9) loses at Pittsburgh (10-7) in Mike McCarthy’s Steelers’ debut. Cooper Rush gets the nod at QB for the Falcons with Tua and Penix ailing. Next on deck for Atlanta: rookie stud Jack Strand…

…Chicago (11-6) tops host Carolina (8-9) in a matchup of 2025 division winners. Hopes haven’t been this high in the Windy City in decades.

1 PM ET - CBS

Tennessee (3-14) beats the visiting Jets (3-14). Cam Ward gets off on the right foot…

…Baltimore (8-9) wins in Indy (8-9) as the Jesse Minter era begins. The former Chargers defensive coordinator is the fourth head coach in Ravens history…

…Jacksonville (13-4) lays the wood to Cleveland (5-12) in northeast Florida. Welcome to the Browns, Todd Monken…

…Buffalo (12-5) squeaks past Houston (12-5) on the road and takes first place in the AFC East, a spot they’ll hold for the entire season.

4:25 PM ET - FOX

Miami (7-10) loses a road game in Las Vegas (3-14). The Kirk Cousins show may be short-lived, but it’ll get off to a hot start…

…My Beloved Commies (5-12) lose the opener in Philadelphia (11-6). These NFC East franchises are miles apart, folks.

4:25 PM ET - CBS

Green Bay (9-7-1) starts slow in Minnesota (9-8) as the Kyler Murray show begins in Minneapolis. Vikes by seven…

…The Chargers (11-6) deliver an early-season beatdown to visiting Arizona (3-14). It’s going to be a long year in the desert.

8:20 PM ET - NBC

Dallas (7-9-1) loses its opener at the rival Giants (4-13). New York will be hard-pressed to make the playoffs, but they’ll be much improved.

MONDAY

8:15 PM ET - ESPN/ABC

Denver (14-3) wins an AFC West clash in Kansas City (6-11). A healthy Mahomes means a return to the playoffs, but Sean Payton & Co. will have the upper hand this weekend.

That’s all for this week, folks. Enjoy the games and God bless.

Like our old pal BROTHER BLUENIK, the NSIC has been around since 1932 and, as with Division I conferences, has expanded in size. In fact, the NSIC now numbers 16 institutions of higher learning1.

Among the conference’s 14 football-playing members:

• University of Sioux Falls, the playing and coaching alma mater of Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer. DeBoer’s record as HC: 67-3 with three national titles;

• Bemidji State University, which counts do-everything QB Sam McGath, son of ERIC THE GREAT, among its alums. Eric is a dear friend, and Sam was a stud for the Beavers, leading them to the first NCAA Division II playoff quarterfinal trip in team history in 2024;

• Minnesota State University Moorhead, which sent QB Jack Strand to the NFL this season. The 6’5” gunslinger, a disciple of quarterback guru - and Hun School offensive coordinator - Tony Racioppi, even threw a few balls to THE TRE MAN in the offseason as he was preparing to get the call from the league.
  
  An undrafted free agent, Strand impressed Atlanta’s brass in the NFL preseason and made the team’s initial 53-man roster. Keep an eye on this young man: he is big, strong and can throw the pill.

Sure, football in the NSIC is different than, say, the Big Ten but there are few leagues that breed a brand of toughness like this one. Messrs. DeBoer, Ham, McGath, Strand, and Thielen, are all shining examples of that hardiness.

That said, the recently retired Vikings wideout is the rare NSIC name the average NFL fan knows. Thielen played one of the league’s more glamorous positions and caught more than 700 balls for nearly 8,500 yards in 13 seasons. A two-time Pro Bowl selection, he recorded more than 100 receptions twice and snagged 14 touchdown passes in 2020, a Minnesota single-season number topped only by Hall of Famers Cris Carter and Randy Moss2.

Ham also earned two Pro Bowl trips, but he toiled at fullback – the most anonymous position this side of long snapper – so few NFL diehards know his name or his game.
But Ham’s anonymity doesn’t extend to a certain retirement community in Southwest FLA where, at the mere mention of surname, THE CHIEF salivates.

How much does my old man love the pig? Well, as my late pal HAIRMAN KEN – a legend of legends – might say, “He’d crawl naked over broken glass and bottle caps to hear someone slice a ham over a pay phone.”

That’s no joke, friends, and neither was C.J. Ham’s career, a 10-year testament to hard work and dedication. A D-II guy who beat the odds and became great.

Cortez Thaddeus Ham, Jr., began his football career at Duluth’s Denfeld High School, an institution whose alums include actress Dorothy Arnold, the first wife of baseball Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio. The slugger’s marital bliss was short lived, and Dorothy eventually sued the Yankees star in the midst of a child custody battle3.

Thankfully, Ham’s marriage to football lasted far longer. He starred for the Hunters as a versatile player - a harbinger of things to come - and was a stud on both offense and defense. In a 2018 article by Lindsey Young, assistant coach Richard Swanson said:

"(Ham) just said, 'OK, where do you need me?' That's why I think he made it at the next level – because he said, 'I want to be on the field. Tell me where to go, and I'll go.'"

After graduation, Ham left for Augustana, about 370 miles from his hometown, to attend a university with 2,000 undergraduates. He redshirted as a freshman for, yes, the Vikings, and earned playing time over the next two seasons, becoming a starter as a junior. He ripped it up for the next two seasons but, alas, was not chosen in the 2016 NFL Draft.

At that point, the odds of C.J. playing pro football - much less becoming a Pro Bowl player - were remote at best. But, like my pops going headlong after a ham and Swiss, he was a man on a mission.

The young running back signed with his home state NFL squad on May 10, 2016, but despite playing well in the preseason was waived during final cuts on September 3rd. He joined Minnesota’s practice squad the next day and in December, was promoted to the active roster as a running back.

In training camp in 2017, Ham made the switch to fullback and the rest is history. Yup, over the next nine seasons, he became Mr. Reliable for the Vikings, excelling in the backfield and on special teams.

Sure, he was an oddity, recording exactly twice as many pass receptions (84) as rushing attempts (42) during his career. No, he won’t be selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But he was named team captain four times. He was revered by teammates, on and off the field. He was one of those men that make the NFL what it is.

In the locker room after the team’s Week 18 win over Green Bay, Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell said it well:

“(Ham) has changed my life, made me better in every aspect of my life just being around him on a daily basis. I know many of us feel the same way. When these types of players come into an organization, man, we’re lucky. We are lucky to be around you every day.”

Cortez Ham, of Duluth, Minn. From tiny Augustana College. Undrafted by all 32 NFL teams. Earned his way into the league and, a decade later, left the game on his terms.

What’s better than that?

A few guys like C.J. Ham will be on display tonight when the season kicks off with the Patriots (17-4 in 2025, 9-1 on the road) at the Seahawks (16-3, 8-2 home) in a rematch of Seattle’s resounding Super Bowl LX victory.

NBC and Peacock have the telecast with Messrs. Tirico and Collinsworth joined by Melissa Stark and Kaylee Hartung. The action begins at 8:20 pm ET.

We could go back and forth analyzing this game but there’s little time for that: THE FAIR CLAUDINE is ready for dinner, and my hunger pangs are about to turn into full-body discomfort. It’s go time.

With apologies to CORKY - a dyed-in-the-wool Jim Plunkett sycophant - and THE TRIBECA MULE, let’s take the hosts. Call it 23-20, Seattle…

Thursday, we’ve got a second game on tap and it comes from Melbourne, Australia. Sean McVay and the Rams (14-6, 7-5 road) technically host the rival Niners (13-6, 8-3 road) but make no mistake, this is an away game for both squads.

This contest feels like a “push” but, given San Francisco’s War and Peace-length injury report, I’m picking McVay and LA, 33-27.

Catch the action on Netflix at 8:35 pm ET and, at the half, enjoy an episode of Outer Banks but please stick to season five. The announcers are Noah Eagle, 2026 Hall of Fame inductee Luke Kuechly, Tom Pelissero and MJ Acosta-Ruiz.

That’s all for today, folks. Enjoy the games and God bless.

It was with me as I taught THE TRE MAN how to ride a bike and drive a car. Present as I coached him and his friends on the football field or baseball diamond. Right there as my son and I went on our annual road trips.

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Perhaps most prominently, it was central to my ability to play games, lots and lots of them, especially football. It was faithful as I learned the sport in Colorado and ended my high school career in the Midwest. It led me to the University of Illinois, a couple of junior colleges and, finally, the God’s country that is the Lehigh Valley.

After graduation, it allowed me to continue playing the sport in an NYC league that was equal parts reckless, raucous and incredible fun. You can argue that I shouldn’t have played until age 47 but my old pal and I would’ve resisted that idea to the hilt.

Indeed, we did a lot together - yours truly and my right knee.

So, with some trepidation and after 56-plus years of fun, I bid farewell to my intrepid companion on March 19th at New York’s Hospital for Special Surgery. The 45-minute full knee replacement was a fitting farewell to “Righty”.

Though I was blessed to be pain free in the years leading up to surgery, it was clearly time to act. Righty had been bone-on-bone for years, creating more friction than any Trump presser, and I feared my bad gait would soon begin to affect my hips, back and psyche.

I entered the operating room on the 19th and, within minutes, was administered the gas, putting me in full Rip Van Winkle-mode, not dissimilar to how I felt sitting for the SAT.

After the work was done and I came to my senses, the doctor arrived at my bedside, explaining that, on a scale of 1-10, my knee was a “9” in terms of severity. Perhaps only the Russian judge kept the score short of perfection.

Turns out things went as expected during the procedure - and they didn’t.

As anticipated, the doctor removed three large bone spurs behind Righty, growths he’d seen on the x-rays in January. But he also learned that my knee lacked an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). It apparently suffered severe trauma at some point and then disintegrated, perhaps a decade or more before my surgery.

“Fortunately, there are lots of things you can do without an ACL,” he said, and I immediately set a big goal of lying on the coach and watching The Masters.

The ACL disappointment was cushioned by the delectable crackers I was delivered by the nursing staff as I recovered. It was my first sustenance of the day and, channeling my inner Eddie Murphy, this was no ordinary snack.

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Now a little more than three weeks post-surgery, things are moving along. That starts with physical therapy, which I’ve been sticking to thus far. Soon I’ll see the doc again and get clearance to ride a bike, drive a car, maybe even stroll the aisles of Target.

I wouldn’t say this process is enjoyable, but I know I’m very fortunate. I got a good 56 years out of Righty and am lucky my knee problems didn’t lead to further issues. And surely many others have far greater health hurdles to surmount than I do.

The next time we cross paths, I bet you’ll see a smoother gait, a more comfortable guy. Someone who is grateful to Righty and looking forward to decades of fun with my new knee.

The two of us will see you soon.

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But before we get into the game, a brief digression.

If you’ve been paying attention over the past week, you’ve heard plenty of furor about New England icons Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft being “passed over” for the Hall of Fame. My advice: please stop the madness.

Yes, it’s silly that Belichick and Kraft, winners of six Super Bowls together, were not elected to the latest Pro Football Hall of Fame class. In fact, “silly” is being kind about it. But I’m going to let you in on a little secret.

IT. DOES. NOT. MATTER.

Simply put, Messrs. Belichick and Kraft are icons of the game who do not need HOF enshrinement for their careers to be validated. Indisputably, they are already Mount Rushmore-level guys in their respective roles of coach and owner. A bust in Canton changes nothing for this duo.

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But that’s not true for everyone. Sure, this year’s HOF class includes no brainers who are NFL legends like Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri. They were stars throughout their careers, perennial Pro Bowlers/All-Pros long viewed as locks to make their way to Ohio’s hallowed gates.

But that’s not the case for guys like Roger Craig, the long-retired running back who excelled for San Francisco (1983-90), Oakland (1991) and Minnesota (1992-93) after an outstanding career at the University of Nebraska. Out of the game for three decades, he’s a guy that many modern fans don’t know well but, as of this week, is finally set to be immortalized as a Hall of Famer.

It always seemed odd to me that Craig wasn’t enshrined, given the major role he played in the Niners’ success. He is a three-time Super Bowl champion. Earned the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award in 1988 when he became the first player to record 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in the same season. Led the NFL in catches in 1985 - as a running back. And was a member of the prestigious 1980s All-Decade team.

Truly, to see Roger Craig play was poetic. Bursting through the line with his knees pumping like pistons and the ball held tight. A set of focused eyes ready to take on any defender.

Now, on the precipice of being a 2026 HOF inductee, Craig’s career is finally - and rightfully - validated. The bust in Canton changes how he is viewed by many and, as someone who watched him play, I’m damn glad to see it.

With hearty congrats to all of this year’s inductees, let’s move on to the big game as LE GURU seeks to improve on his playoff mark of 10-31 (.769). Kickoff is at 6:30 pm on NBC with Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Melissa Stark and Kaylee Hartung on the broadcast. The 16-3 Seahawks against the 17-3 Patriots.

With two weeks to think about this matchup, I’ve found myself going back and forth, like HONG KONG MIKE pacing nervously at a Chinese buffet, waiting for the next steaming tray of General Tso’s.

After the conference championship games, I was thinking “Seattle,” potentially in a rout. My rationale: the Seahawks are on a tear, Drake Maye has struggled for most of the postseason and Jaxon Smith-Njigba might be the best player in the sport.

Then I started to think about history and, looking back, there are two Super Bowls that remind me of this year’s scenario - XVIII (Raiders over Skins in the 1983 season) and XXXVI (Patriots over Rams in 2001). In each case, the heavily favored team lost, and I see some parallels today.

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In 1983, Washington was the best team in football, and it wasn’t close: 16-2 with two one-point losses. They also set an NFL regular-season record for points scored (541) and registered an absurd +43 turnover margin, a mark that is still nearly 50% better than any other team in NFL history.

In their playoff opener, they trounced the Los Angeles Rams, 51-7, before winning a tightly contested NFC title game over the Niners, 24-21. Then, they lost the Bowl to the LA Raiders in resounding fashion, 38-9.

Sadly, the ‘83 Skins peaked too soon.

This season, the Seahawks have been dominant, posting an 8-1 road record2 and stifling opponents with a suffocating defense that allowed a league-low 17 points per game in the regular season. Their special teams were outstanding, ranking third in the NFL and may be the biggest threat to New England today. And, oh yes, Smith-Njigba was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year.

In their first playoff game, they lambasted the Niners, 41-6, before winning a tightly contested NFC title game over the Rams, 31-27.

Now I wonder: “Did Seattle peak too soon?”

In 2001, the Rams were the defending Super Bowl Champions and ran roughshod over the league with Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk leading the famed “Greatest Show on Turf”. Meanwhile, the Pats were a Cinderella story with Tom Brady, who was starting NFL games for the first time. Yet, New England topped St. Louis in overtime, 20-17.

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The Patriots’ strategy that day was to go after Faulk, the NFL’s best offensive skill player, and limit his explosive plays. So, they hit him on every single play, even when he wasn’t going to touch the ball. As Belichick later said:

"…our game plan was defined by two words -- Marshall Faulk. If he's behind the quarterback, we are playing run. And if he's not behind the quarterback, we're playing pass. Ok, where is he? He's not behind the quarterback? We're thinking jam the receivers. That triggered the defensive ends -- (Willie) McGinest -- trying to hit Faulk and take him out of the game so the quarterback doesn't have an outlet to throw. When we blitzed in this game, we tried to blitz over Faulk. Our thinking was that we would be able to keep him in and force him to block. Then our blitzers would get to the quarterback and we would force the ball out in a hurry.”

Vrabel was in his first year as a New England player in 2001 and started the Super Bowl at left outside linebacker, recording four tackles. That included two takedowns of Faulk and a sack of Warner.

In preparation for Seattle, I think Vrabel will hearken back to that franchise-changing day in New Orleans and the strategy that Belichick & Co. employed to keep Warner, Faulk, etc. under wraps. Here’s betting New England gets physical with Smith-Njigba and throws a lot of heat at QB Sam Darnold, keeping the game close. But does that create an opportunity for someone like Cooper Kupp or Kenneth Walker III?

One thing’s for sure: if the game is tight, Vrabel will have the chance to showcase his outstanding clock management skills and deep understanding of the NFL rule book. Remember the 2019 playoffs when, as coach of the Titans, he brilliantly shaved two minutes off the clock against the Pats by intentionally taking penalties? Tennessee won the game, turning it into Brady’s swan song in Foxboro.

Vrabel’s experience as a three-time Super Bowl champion player should allow him to keep his young team calm and it also helps to have the steady hand of Josh McDaniel at offensive coordinator. This is the tenth time (!) that McDaniel has coached in the big game, giving the Pats another definite advantage.

Of course, Vrabel’s opposite number Sunday - Mike Macdonald - is far from a slouch, entering the game hotter than FATBACK’s side of the bed. How does 16-3 with the three losses by a combined nine points grab you? Sure, he may lack Super Bowl bona fides, but I don’t think he’ll be overwhelmed by the moment.

The oddsmakers favor Seattle and they should. The Seahawks are a better team than New England. Yes, it’s subjective but, if you’ve watched the two teams closely all year, it’s feels empirical.

But here’s the thing: the Pats don’t have to be better than Seattle. They just have to be better than Seattle today.

As I see it, we’re in for a low-scoring affair with the head coaches matching wits and the teams exchange punts and field goals. I’m not saying it’ll be like Super Bowl LIII when New England beat the Rams 13-3, but I don’t expect many offensive fireworks. These defenses are too good at limiting big plays.

I think the difference-maker could be Macdonald’s aforementioned special teams, which are clearly better than the middle-of-the-pack Patriots. So, let’s call it Seattle, 20-17, with kicker Jason Myers drilling a 44-yard field goal to win it.

That’s my pick and I’m sticking with it, at least for the next few minutes.

Enjoy the game and God bless!

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As we battle the nasty weather, my anticipation for football is even greater, with two big-time clashes today. And I’m betting they’ll top the excitement of last weekend’s games1.

First, the #2-seed Patriots (16-3, 8-0 away) visit #1 Denver (15-3, 9-1 home) at 3 pm ET on CBS. The broadcasting crew: Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson and Evan Washburn.

I’ll cut to the chase: Washburn’s hair is fantastic. I’m not sure what kind of product he leans on but it’s worth the price of admission.

On a lesser note, I like Sean Payton and the Broncos to win and advance to the Super Bowl, understanding that this prediction is sure to draw the considerable ire of Pats diehards like THE ADMIRAL and CORKY. Please allow me to explain.

1. Denver has an extreme homefield advantage.

2. Drake Maye and the New England offense have struggled against top-tier defenses, and the Broncos D is one of the league’s best.

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First, let’s tackle point #1. One of the first things a new coach wants to do is to establish an edge at home and, in three seasons under Payton, the Broncos have clearly done that.

Indeed, Denver is 20-7 at home under the former Saints coach, including last week’s victory against Buffalo. The won-loss progression during his tenure: 5-4, 6-2, 9-1. In fact, since midway through the 2024 campaign, the Broncos have won 14 of 15 at Mile High.

That said, the Patriots are undefeated on the road this year so New England won’t be a pushover, even if only one of those wins came against a playoff team2.

On to point #2.

As excellent as the Patriots’ offense - and star sophomore quarterback Drake Maye - have been, they’ve struggled against strong defenses. In fact, they’ve only faced two top 10 units3 this year and haven’t looked crisp against either.

Those two defenses? LA and Houston, each of which sacked Maye five times in the past two weeks, nearly twice NE’s regular season allowed-sack rate (2.76/game). That doesn’t bode well vs. Denver, the league’s #3 unit, which paced the NFL with 68 sacks, 19% more than any other team.

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Here are some of Maye’s numbers the past two weeks, a sharp contrast to his regular-season performance:

58.9% completion rate (vs 72% regular season)
4/5 TD-to-Turnover Ratio (vs 31/11 regular season)
224 Passing yards per game (vs 258 regular season)

Two other glaring stats: Maye4 has fumbled six times in the postseason - losing three - and the New England offense has only put 37 points on the board. A repeat effort vs. the red-hot Broncos will put the Pats in a tight spot.

However, as good as Denver’s defense has been, they were 26th in the NFL in forced turnovers5. They did manage to turn it up in the postseason opener against Buffalo, creating five takeaways, and I’m betting there is more of that to come Sunday.

Make no mistake: New England’s biggest edge in this game is Vrabel and the wealth of playoff experience he brings, having competed in six conference title games as a Patriots player and one as Tennessee head coach (2019). And, when you’re up against a longtime success like Payton6, that matters.

I hesitate to pick Denver because THE TRIBECA MULE - who loves the Pats, mayo and Chevy, in that order - may expel me from his flag football coaching staff and cut me off from his extraordinary Beef Wellington7. I beg your forgiveness, my brother.

Could Maye make me eat my words? Of course, he could. Did you see that dime he threw to Kayshon Boutte last week for the clinching touchdown? Good gravy. His arm talent is remarkable and he’s a fierce competitor.

Of course, if that comes to pass, I’ll have just one request for Mr. Maye: a slice or two of Wellington with my crow.

Next, the #5 Rams (14-5, 7-4 away) travel to #1 Seattle (15-3, 7-2 home) at 6:30 pm on Fox. The broadcasters: Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi.

This is a tough one as the margin of difference between these teams is linguini thin. To wit: they split the 2025 series with Los Angeles (21-19) and the Seahawks (38-37) both winning at home.

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If you’re wondering whether the Rams can win in Seattle, consider this: Sean McVay is 12-7 against the Seahawks, with five road victories including a Wild Card triumph in the 2020 postseason. And his QB Matt Stafford is also playing at a very high level.

On January 19, LA led host Seattle 30-14 with 8:22 to go in an eventual overtime loss. Then, they allowed a 58-yard Rashid Shaheed punt return touchdown and stumbled offensively, resulting in a 38-37 defeat.

Shaheed’s big play was obviously no fluke. He ignited last week’s rout of the Niners with a 95-yard TD on the opening kickoff and he - and the Rams’ subpar special teams - may pose the biggest threat to McVay & Co. today.

How big of an issue has this unit been for LA? Enough of a problem that McVay fired special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn - a two-time Super Bowl champion as a Giants linebacker - with just two weeks to go in the regular season. His replacement is Ben Kotwica, the former Army helicopter pilot and Iraq War veteran who has spent 18 seasons as an NFL coach.

The biggest issue for Seattle may be the loss of running back Zach Charbonnet, who rushed for 12 TDs this season but tore his ACL against San Fran. Here’s how offensive coordinator Clint Kubiak - son of Gary - describes the Michigan/UCLA alum:

“I think it needs to be said just how important Zach Charbonnet has been to our team this year and how much we’re going to miss him. When you think about, ‘What is a Seahawk?’ A guy that’s smart, tough, and dependable. That’s Zach Charbonnet. He’s one of the most impressive individuals I’ve been around, and a lot of our success has come because of his leadership this year. We’re gonna miss him.”

I’m betting the loss of Charbonnet will be tough for Mike Macdonald, Sam Darnold and their crew to overcome. Let’s call it 27-24, Rams, perhaps in OT. But never fear, Seattle: Mac will be in plenty of games of this magnitude in his head coaching career.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to massage my lovely wife’s aching left calf, which oddly has been bothering the heck out of her the past 24 hours.

“I’m not sure how I hurt it. Maybe when I karate-kicked that guy in the toilet paper aisle?”

That’s all for this weekend, folks. Enjoy the games and God bless!

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Yes, I’m speaking of the NCAA transfer portal and, sure, there are reasons aplenty to be up in arms over this database, which now numbers more than 10,000 Division I, II and III American footballers1. To wit:

• It creates chaos for coaches and players, fostering a transient environment where real commitment to a team or its members is rapidly going out of style.

• It injects agents - and others - into the mix that may not have the players’ best interests at heart.

• It can lead to players, coaches and alumni abandoning common sense at the altar of money and winning.

But, all that said, I see several silver linings:

• It gives players the freedom to find a place where they truly feel wanted. That’s no small thing. If you’re loved, you’re more confident. If you’re confident, you play better and, if you play better, you get more out of your college experience.

• It allows coaches to do more of what they love to do: teach and touch lives. Any coach worth his salt got into the game because he loves to educate young people and, with the constant churning of the portal, there are more and more athletes coming to each program, whether it be Division I, II or III. And more players = more opportunities to teach.

• Perhaps most importantly, it teaches student-athletes important life lessons about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (and money). Most people learn through experience and what better experience for a kid than to truly see how the world works? To learn that decisions have consequences. To see that the grass is not always greener and, in fact, may be artificial turf.

No, I’m not saying I love it. But I don’t hate it either. I’m clearly in wait-and-see mode, like when I’m marking time for that first Krispy Kreme to come off the conveyer belt.

Much more to come on this seminal topic as we move along but now, let’s dive into tonight’s College Football Playoff championship game with Indiana (15-0, 5-0 away) facing Miami (13-2, 7-1 home) on the Hurricanes’ home field. A fascinating matchup.

The Hoosiers are the darlings of the 2025-26 football world with a Heisman Trophy quarterback (Fernando Mendoza) and, with sincere apologies to Bobby Knight and Tony Dungy, the most popular Indiana coach (Curt Cignetti) since Gene Hackman.

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Mendoza and Cignetti get most of the headlines, but the team’s success starts up front with one of the most dominant offensive lines in football. In fact, the Hoosiers’ o-line paved the way for the second-best Power 4 rushing attack in terms of yards a game2.

On the flip side, Miami boasts the #5 rushing defense in Power 4 and the #8 overall defense with an FBS-leading 47 sacks3. That means something’s got to give and it may not be Mario Cristobal’s squad.

I think tonight comes down to the big uglies (h/t Keith Jackson) up front and I like IU to beat Miami narrowly. That said, I would not be shocked if the host Hurricanes won the crown with their defensive front overwhelming the Hoosiers a la the Eagles vs KC. After all, Miami is a terrific team that, like THE FAIR CLAUDINE, is clearly peaking at the right time.

Kickoff is at 7:30 pm on ESPN with Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Molly McGrath and Holly Rowe on the mike. Enjoy the action and I’ll return next week for NFL title game picks4.

God bless!

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Sunday, 3 pm: #5 Houston (13-5, 6-3 away) at #2 New England (15-3, 7-3 home) with Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters and Laura Rutledge on ESPN/ABC.

Sunday, 6:30 pm: the #5 Rams (13-5, 6-4 away) at #2 Chicago (12-6, 7-2 home) with Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Melissa Stark on NBC.

Indeed, we’ve got four great contests where any of the combatants could win. Right? Right?

Oh, if only that were true.

In reality, the home team is highly likely to triumph in the Divisional Round. Let’s examine the past 15 NFL postseasons and list the record of the home teams in the Elite Eight:

2024: 3-1 (the exception: visiting Washington won at Dee-troit)
2023: 3-1 (visiting Kansas City won at Buffalo)
2022: 3-1 (visiting Cincinnati won at Buffalo)
2021: 1-3 (SF won at Green Bay; Rams won at Tampa; Cincy won at Tennessee)
2020: 3-1 (Tampa Bay won at New Orleans)
2019: 3-1 (Tennessee won at Baltimore)
2018: 4-0
2017: 3-1 (Jacksonville won at Pittsburgh)
2016: 2-2 (Pittsburgh won at KC; Green Bay won at Dallas)
2015: 4-0
2014: 3-1 (Indianapolis won at Denver)
2013: 3-1 (San Francisco won at Carolina)
2012: 3-1 (Baltimore won at Denver)
2011: 3-1 (New York Giants won at Green Bay)
2010: 2-2 (New York Jets won at New England; Green Bay won at Atlanta)

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You get the picture, right? Over the past decade and a half, home teams have posted a scintillating 43-17 (.717) mark1 in Divisional Round games, recording a losing record once (2021).

So, which of the visiting squads is going to buck the trend this weekend and capture a victory to advance to the conference championship team?

Is a Buffalo victory in Denver possible? Heck yes. Josh Allen is the league’s most dynamic quarterback, and this Bills squad is battle tested.

Could the Niners spring the upset in Seattle? Of course they could. Kyle Shanahan is one of the league’s finest and, even without George Kittle, San Fran is playing well.

Will DeMeco Ryans and his Texans shock the world and take down the Patriots? It wouldn’t be a surprise, given Houston’s 10-game winning streak and suffocating D.

All that said, I’m taking the Rams and the experience of Messrs. McVay and Stafford to advance in the Chicago cold. Each of the other underdogs - Buffalo, San Francisco and Houston - will see their seasons come to a close.

Six teams saw their seasons end last week as LE GURU registered a Wild Card record of 5-1 (.833), improving the season mark to 156-109 (.589). Good to see our friend - the blind squirrel - make a rare late season appearance and find a nut or two.

That’s all for the weekend, folks. I’ll be back Monday with a prediction for the College Football Playoff title game. Until then, enjoy the games and God bless!

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We begin today’s action with my pops in his lounge chair and two franchises facing off in Jacksonville. The Bills (12-5, 5-3 away) visit the Jaguars (13-4, 7-2 home) and game time is 1 pm with Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson announcing on CBS.

These squads have met twice before in the playoffs - 1996 and 2017 Wild Card games - with Jacksonville winning each. The overall series is tied 10-101 but, of course, none of that matters today.

I’m envisioning a barnburner and think it’s a tough game to call given how Liam Coen & Co. are rolling. I’ll stick with experience and pick Buffalo, 34-31…

…at 4:30 pm, the Niners (12-5, 7-2 away) visit the Iggles (11-6, 5-3 home) for a doozy of a matchup. Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi are your broadcasters on Fox.

San Fran and Philly have also met twice in the postseason with the Niners winning a 1996 Wild Card game and the Birds besting SF in the 2022 NFC Championship. And just like that matchup in the 2022 postseason - when Niners QB Brock Purdy tore the UCL in his right elbow - injuries could be a factor today.

Specifically, there are major questions on both offensive lines with stalwart tackles Lane Johnson (Philly) and Trent Williams (San Fran) questionable to play. These aren’t mere linemen; they are franchise cornerstones and are to their respective teams what peanut butter and jelly are to the sandwich world.

The latest reports say Williams is almost certain to play while Johnson is likely to hit the field but may be iffy from series to series. So, it could be advantage, Niners, here.

That said, the Eagles are the defending champs and they’re also at the Linc, one of the true home field advantages in the league. Given those factors and Nick Sirianni’s 6-3 mark in the postseason, I’m leaning Philly - and Johnson - but just barely. Call it for the Birds. Let’s say 23-22…

…finally, at 8 pm, Jim Harbaugh’s red-hot Chargers (11-6, 5-3 away) face the Patriots (14-3, 6-3 home) in Foxboro. Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth and Melissa Stark will be on the mike for NBC.

Despite residing on opposite coasts, these teams aren’t postseason strangers, meeting four times with New England holding a 3-1 edge. The Chargers lone win: a pounding of the Boston Patriots in the 1963 AFL Championship game, 51-10. Indeed, it was a rough day for our man CORKY, who was only 18 at the time.

Unfortunately, this LA outfit is more battered than a Midwestern pork tenderloin and that is likely to hurt the visitors. Sadly, that’s been the case all season as Harbaugh lost superstar left tackle Rashawn Slater in the preseason and his other elite tackle Joe Alt, midway through the campaign, among others.

Harbaugh, of course, is no stranger to the playoffs, posting a 5-4 record as a coach and leading the Niners to Super Bowl XLVII against brother John. Plus, he started five playoff games as a quarterback, posting a 2-3 mark.

His opposite number, Mike Vrabel, also brings a wealth of postseason experience: posting a record of 15-5 as a player - including three Super Bowl wins with the Pats - and a 2-3 mark as a head coach, including an AFC Championship appearance in the 2019 season.

Everything in my chimp-like brain screams “New England in a blowout” but, in a week that brother John was fired by Baltimore, I see Jim being even more fired up than usual. And that’ll keep it very close. Let’s say 31-30, Patriots, and see what happens…

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…then, on Monday, we’ve got the weekend finale in Pittsburgh with the Texans (12-5, 5-3 away) playing the Steelers (10-7, 6-3 home). Catch the action at 8 pm on ESPN or ABC with broadcasters Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters and Laura Rutledge.

I love how the Steelers are playing right now and, yes, THE HOUSE OF SUSSEX is riding high but there’s something special about this DeMeco Ryans club. And, in the end, I think his defense delivers. Texans by a field goal.

That’s all for this weekend, folks. Enjoy the games and God bless!

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Indeed, this year’s postseason menu features six entrants that didn’t qualify for last season’s field, including the #1 seeds in each conference: the Broncos (AFC) and the Seahawks (NFC). Fun.

The other four new teams are no slouches either with the Jaguars and Patriots in the AFC and Bears and Panthers in the NFC. Somewhere, late NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle is smiling at the league’s parity.

A Navy veteran, Rozelle famously ruled with an iron fist from 1960-89, seeing the NFL through the merger with the American Football League, fighting openly with Raiders owner Al Davis and, all the while, dreaming of a time when any team could truly win on any given Sunday - and in any given year. So, he’d be ecstatic looking at this playoff group.

All that said, some old standbys remain in the mix with the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles leading the Pack. And don’t forget perennial contenders like San Francisco, the Rams and Buffalo.

No matter how it shakes out, this postseason should be better than a punch in the face as my man, THE NORDIC BARRISTER, likes to say. We can only hope.

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Hope, as they say, is not a strategy but you wouldn’t know it from my predictions. The blind squirrel did find a nut or two last week with an 11-5 (.688) effort improving the season mark to 151-108 (.583).

On to Saturday’s games with more to come later this weekend…

…the action kicks off at 4:30 pm today on Fox with the Rams (12-5, 5-4 away) visiting Carolina (8-9, 5-3), which is back in the playoffs after an eight-year drought. Give or take, that’s how often FATBACK and I say, “Let’s hit the salad bar!”

If you’re old enough to remember, these teams were divisional rivals in the NFC West from 1995-2001 when St. Louis fielded “The Greatest Show on Turf” and the Panthers were led by defensive stalwarts like Sam Mills and Kevin Greene. Now, of course, the Rams are back in LA and Carolina is a longtime denizen of the NFC South.

I’m taking LA here given Coach Sean McVay’s vast playoff experience — an 8-5 (.615) record, the most postseason victories for any Rams coach. But don’t expect Carolina’s top dog Dave Canales to roll over and play fetch.

Catch the action on Fox with Joe Davis, Carolina legend Greg Olsen and Pam Oliver handling the broadcasting duties…

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…at 8 pm on Prime Video, we’ve got an intriguing NFC North matchup with Chicago (11-6, 6-2 home) hosting the Packers (9-7-1, 4-4-1). Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit and Kaylee Hartung have the call.

This is the third time the teams have met in the postseason, with the Bears beating Green Bay in 1941 to win the Western Division title and the Pack returning the favor in the 2010 NFC Championship. The latter was the last time that Green Bay won the Super Bowl.

Chitown has made a habit of pulling rabbits out of their hat this season and I think it continues against a Packers team that has been too inconsistent to trust. Bears by a deuce.

That’s all for today, folks. Enjoy the games and God bless!

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Kicking things off at 4:30 pm ET today on ABC/ESPN, the Panthers (8-8, 3-5 away) visit the Bucs (7-9, 3-4 home) in a game that could determine the NFC South champ. Chris Fowler, Dan Orlovsky, Louis Riddick, Peter Schrager and Katie George are on the call.

A win gives Bryce Young & Co. the division while the Bucs claim the title if they beat the Panthers and the Saints beat the Falcons. The latter scenario would leave Tampa and Carolina knotted at 8-9 with the Bucs winning the tiebreaker, which is record vs. common opponents.

That said, I’m taking Carolina for two reasons: one, they’re playing better than Tampa and, second, this is a banged-up Buccaneers outfit that has lost its juju, its mojo and its confidence. Take the Panthers by three…

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…I like the host Falcons (7-9, 3-4 home) against the Saints (6-10, 3-5 away) in the other NFC South contest at 1 pm Sunday on Fox. Bijan Robinson is the real deal, and Kirk Cousins is playing well enough that Atlanta will have some QB decisions to make in the offseason. Chris Myers, Mark Schlereth and Jen Hale call the action…

…on Sunday at 8:20 pm, the Ravens (8-8, 5-3 away) travel to Pittsburgh (9-7, 5-3 home) to determine the AFC North winner. NBC has the broadcast with Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth and Melissa Stark manning the mikes.

Predicting this one is tougher than picking my favorite buffet - I was always partial to Shakey’s - so I’ll take the easy out and pick the home team. Give the Steelers a two-point victory and listen for the roar from THE HOUSE OF SUSSEX.

While only a few games will determine playoff participants, there are several contests that will decide the top seeds in the two conferences.

This evening at 8 pm on ABC/ESPN, I like the Niners (12-4, 5-2 home) to take down the Seahawks (13-3, 7-1 away) in Santa Clara. Edge goes to Shanahan and the victory gives San Francisco the NFC West title and pole position in the NFC. Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters and the hard-working Laura Rutledge are on the air…

…over in the AFC, Denver (13-3, 7-1 home) earns the AFC’s top seed with a win over the visiting Chargers (11-5, 5-2 away). Catch the action Sunday at 4:25 pm with Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson on CBS.

Even with LA sitting Justin Herbert and other regulars, this game could be as tight as September’s matchup, a three-point Chargers’ win. Yes, Sean Payton & Co. have won 12 of their last 13 but Jim Harbaugh doesn’t give ground to anyone…

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…if the Broncos falter and the Patriots lose, the Jags (12-4, 6-2 home) can earn the top seed by winning their home game against Tennessee (3-13, 2-6 away). Adam Amin, Drew Brees and Kristina Pink have the call at 1 pm Sunday on Fox.

I view Liam Coen and his crew are a near-mortal lock to beat the Titans, leaving their newly minted #1 fan, THE SONGBIRD, aflutter. A Jacksonville native who has spent the past two decades in Kansas City, our hero is rapidly swapping his Chiefs gear for an ensemble of teal, black and gold. Jaguars by 22…

…the other potential AFC top seed is New England (13-3, 5-3 home), which meets the Dolphins (7-9, 2-5 away) in Foxboro at 4:25 pm Sunday on Fox. Joe Davis, Greg Olsen and Pam Oliver handle broadcasting duties.

Look for the Pats to throttle Miami as the New England faithful pray for a Denver loss to vault Mike Vrabel’s club into the top spot. Just don’t expect a repeat of the 1982 regular-season battle between these two teams, the famed “Snowplow Game”.

The abbreviated story: New England and the Dolphins met in Week Six of the strike-shortened ‘82 season and treated fans to a scoreless battle in the snow until the game’s waning moments. That’s when Mark Henderson, a convicted burglar on work release from Walpole State Prison, drove a John Deere 314 tractor onto the Schaefer Stadium turf and cleared a spot for Pats kicker John Smith to drill the game-winning 33-yard field goal.

Miami coach Don Shula - a member of the NFL’s Rules Committee - was rightfully irate but he exacted revenge when the Dolphins beat New England in the first round of the playoffs four weeks later. It was 70 degrees and sunny in south Florida that day as Miami romped to a 28-13 win.

More importantly, Henderson went legit and turned his life around. And he - and the day’s combatants - will never forget his role in the game’s outcome.

LE GURU’s role as a prognosticator left much to be desired last week as I registered a 9-7 (.563) performance, dropping the season mark to 140-103 (.576). On to the rest of the games…

SUNDAY

1 PM – FOX

I love the Cowboys (8-8, 3-5 away) at the Giants (3-13, 2-5 home) with Kevin Kugler, Daryl Johnston and Allison Williams doing the TV work. It’ll be another long winter for the Jints and their fans. Can’t wait!

1 PM - CBS

The Browns (4-12, 1-6 away) lose in Cincinnati (6-10, 3-4 home) as SIR STRIPES gains some modicum of respect, the kind of esteem his skin-tight Lululemon shorts won’t earn him. On the call: Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta and Aditi Kinkhabwala..

…I’ll take the Vikings (8-8, 4-4 home) against the visiting Packers (9-6-1, 4-3-1 away). Love vs. McCarthy will get far more interesting in 2026. Announcing this one are Tom McCarthy, Jason McCourty and Amanda Balionis…

…I don’t see the Colts (8-8, 3-5 away) beating the Texans (11-5, 6-2 home), even if host Houston rests its starters. This week’s CBS crew is a stellar one: Ian Eagle, J.J. Watt and Evan Washburn.

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4:25 pm - FOX

The Bears (11-5, 6-1 home) finish with a home win against the Lions (9-7, 3-4 away) as they fight to earn the #2 seed. Fox’s A‑team handles the action: Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady and Erin Andrews…

…the Rams (11-5, 5-2 home) topple the hobbled Cardinals (4-12, 2-5 away) as Sean McVay turns up the heat. Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma and Megan Olivi are on the call.

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4:25 PM ET – CBS

In three games that few will watch…

…go with the Chiefs (7-9, 3-5 away) at the Raiders (3-13, 2-5 home). Here’s hoping that Pete Carroll gets a second crack at things in Vegas. On the mike: Chris Lewis, Kyle Long and Tiffany Blackmon…

…the traveling Jets (3-13, 1-6 away) fall to the Bills (11-5, 6-2 home) as Buffalo readies for a playoff run. Could this be the year for THE FRANKLINVILLE KID? Tune in to hear Andrew Catalon, Charles Davis, Jason McCourty and AJ Ross…

…last but not least, expect My Beloved Commies (4-12, 2-6 away) to shock the resting Eagles (11-5, 5-2 home), giving Josh Johnson his second career win as an NFL QB. It’s been a tough season in DC, but I’ll still tune in to hear Kevin Harlan, Ross Tucker and Melanie Collins chronicle the pain.

That’s all for this week, folks. Enjoy the finales and God bless!

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