Week Fifteen Crystal Ball - Weekend: A Big Day in PA
Published continually since 1994
My friends, THE GURU will be thinking “Philadelphia” this Sunday and, no, my mind won’t be on the world’s best pizza joint, Tacconelli’s, the gem of Somerset Street.
(Author briefly genuflects and bows his head)
No, instead I’ll be training my eyes on a big football matchup in the Keystone state as the Eagles (11-1, 5-1 home) host the Steelers (10-3, 5-2 away). Kickoff is at 4:25 pm on Fox.
These teams have met 81 times with the Iggles leading by a count of 49-29-3. The first game? A November 1933 contest when the Birds defeated the then-Pittsburgh Pirates by the count of 25-6. Read the box score and you’ll find it littered with the kind of fun names that dudes had back in the ‘30s. Red Kirkman. Swede Hanson. Angelo Brovelli.
Interesting stuff but something far more noteworthy happened exactly a decade later. And it is proof that war makes men do crazy things.
Indeed, with WWII at full throttle and hundreds of young football players fighting abroad, PA’s two NFL teams thought it wise to join forces and form a squad semi-affectionally known as the Steagles. That’s right.
As you’d guess, the effort was dysfunctional from the start as neither head coach – Philly’s Greasy Neale or Pittsburgh’s Walt Kiesling – was willing to cede authority to the other. Greasy and Walt. Red, Swede and Angelo would’ve fit right in.
Somehow, in spite of the challenges, the team scratched out a winning record and, if not for a season-ending loss to Green Bay, could’ve reached the postseason.
Both Neale and Kiesling wound up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame – Neale as a coach and Kiesling as a player – and the former is a particularly fascinating study. In fact, I think Greasy is one of the most interesting men in U.S. sports history. A bold claim, sure, but check this out.
Neale won two NFL titles as a coach, leading the 1948 and ’49 Eagles. Played pro football with Jim Thorpe. Batted .357 in the 1919 World Series for Cincinnati against the infamous Black Sox. And we're just getting started.
Most amazingly, Greasy coached tiny, unknown Washington & Jefferson College to an undefeated 1921 season and a 0-0 tie against powerhouse California in the 1922 Rose Bowl, claiming a share of the national title. Adding to his legend, he also became the first coach to use a black quarterback in the most revered of bowl games, a guy named Charles Fremont West. Here’s to you, Greasy!
Washington & Jefferson is not known widely as a football school, but maybe it should be as it’s a force with which to be reckoned in Division III. To wit: in current head coach Mike Sirianni’s 22 seasons, the school has dominated the Presidents Athletic Conference with 10 league titles and a 194-46 (.808) record
In fact, Sirianni has led the Presidents – yes, their team nickname is the same as that of the conference - to the postseason in all but three of his years in Washington, Pa. And, yes, he is the brother of the current Eagles head coach.
Nick, of course, takes no backseat to his older sibling with a sizzling 47-22 (.681) record in his young career. That, folks, is good for fifth - fifth! - in NFL history. Take note, READE STREET RICH!
This week, Nick’s Birds put their nine-game win streak on the line against a Mike Tomlin-coached outfit that has won seven of eight outings and looks like a well-oiled machine in all three phases of the game.
Who to pick? Well, I usually ride with the hottest QBs in games like this - and it’s clearly Pittsburgh’s Russell Wilson - but it’s hard to go against Philly at home. Birds by a deuce.
Let’s check out the rest of the Week Fifteen slate with THE GURU at 133-76 (.636) after Thursday’s LA win over San Fran.
On Saturday at 3 pm on CBS, I’ll take Navy (8-3) to topple a tremendous Army (11-1) squad. Yes, the Cadets are the hotter team. Yes, they crushed two of the clubs - Rice and Tulane - that defeated Navy. Yes, a Middies victory would defy logic.
But, remember this, my friends: THE GURU does not traffic in logic. Instead, I’m damning the torpedoes and rolling with my guy, THE ADMIRAL OF LEONARD STREET. I know where my bread is buttered.
Turning to Sunday at 1 pm on CBS, I’ll take the Browns (3-10, 2-4 home) to shock the visiting Chiefs (12-1, 5-1 away). I’m all Jameis, all the time…
…I love the Ravens (8-5, 4-3 away) to run roughshod over the Jints (2-11, 0-7 home). This is shaping up to be a historically bad season for New York and that, sports fans, is saying something…
…Houston (8-5, 4-2 home) gets a much-needed home victory vs. the Dolphins (6-7, 2-4 away). Despite their recent struggles, the Texans still hold a two-game lead in the AFC South, so all is good…
…on Fox, let’s go with Cincy (5-8, 4-3 away) to win at Tennessee (3-10, 1-5 home). Burrow & Co. aren’t dead yet, folks…
…My Beloved Commies (8-5, 3-3 away) will win a hard-fought game at New Orleans (5-8, 3-4 home). No Derek Carr is no bueno for the home team…
…the Cowboys (5-8, 4-2 away) travel to Carolina (3-10, 2-5 home) and lose. The Panthers put up quite a fight in Philly last weekend, didn’t they?…
…I’ll pick the Jets (3-10, 1-6 away) against a struggling Jacksonville (3-10, 2-4 home) outfit. Pity the Jags: Evan Engram is the latest player to be shelved for the season…
At 4:25 pm on CBS, take the host Lions (12-1, 6-1 home) to topple the Bills (10-3, 4-3 away) in a possible Super Bowl preview. I’m ten toes down on Dee-troit…
…I love the Broncos (8-5, 4-2) to beat the Colts (6-7, 3-4 away) in the Mile High City. Sean Payton deserves serious Coach of the Year consideration for his effort this year. What a turnaround…
…Arizona (6-7, 4-3 home) beats the Patriots (3-10, 2-5 away) in the desert. Here’s to another COY candidate - Jonathan Gannon - and his team, winners of just four games a year ago…
…on Fox in the late afternoon window, I’ll take the Chargers (8-5, 4-2 home) to defeat the visiting Bucs. Harbaugh continues to amaze…
…at 8:15 pm on NBC, I’m rolling with the Seahawks (8-5, 3-4 home) against the traveling Packers (9-4, 4-2 away). Don’t look now but Seattle may have enough juice to win the NFC West…
…on Monday night, we’ve got a twin-bill and I’m picking host Minnesota (11-2, 6-1 home) against the Bears (4-9, 0-6 away). Kickoff is at 8 pm on ABC…
…at 8:30 pm in Vegas, I’ll take the Falcons (6-7, 3-3 away) over the Raiders (2-11, 1-4 home). This one is on sister network ESPN. Please don’t make a fool out of me, Kirk.
Alright, that’s it for this week, folks. Enjoy the games and God bless!