My friend, THE GURU is primed as My Beloved Commies (3-3, 1-2 away) visit the repugnant Cowboys (2-3-1, 1-0-1 home) with THE CHIEF set to celebrate his 85th birthday. And that means it’s time for me to repeat a story.
The date was January 22, 1983, and Dallas came to DC’s RFK Stadium for the NFC title game, the Cowboys’ 10th conference championship appearance in 13 years. Yes indeed: Dallas, along with Pittsburgh, was the NFL’s gold standard at the time.
Even as a clueless 12-year-old, I had a sense of the game’s importance, mainly because my Pops was on edge all week, teetering on the football brink. Putting a fine point on it, on gameday, I heard something coming from the kitchen downstairs and quietly tip-toed down the steps. It must’ve been 5:30 a.m.
What I saw was a vision I’ll never forget. It was THE CHIEF, sitting in his lounge chair and drinking warm milk in his trademark gold terry cloth bathrobe. His legs were shaking, and he was simply staring head, borderline catatonic.
Noticing me, he looked up and, with the intensity of Mel Gibson in “Braveheart,” he said:
“Son, we’ve GOT to have this game.”
By day’s end, my dad’s wish had come true as the Skins toppled the Cowboys, 31-17, to capture their first NFC championship under Joe Jackson Gibbs. The nail in the coffin: this Darryl Grant interception return for a touchdown, courtesy of a tipped pass by my guy, Dexter Manley.
Eight days later, Washington beat Miami, 27-17, to win Super Bowl XVII, the first of three Lombardi Trophies for Gibbs. How sweet it was for the author and, particularly, THE CHIEF.
This week brings more reason for joy as Pops enjoys his milestone birthday Tuesday, a celebration that will surely include a trip to the gym, some carrot cake, and a lengthy diatribe about how the country is going to hell in a handbasket.
If you’re so inclined, feel free to email the young man your birthday wishes as he reflects on another trip around the sun and, in all likelihood, complains about the heat. You can reach him at crwvmi@yahoo.com.
As for today’s game, you can catch the action on Fox at 4:25 pm with Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, and Erin Andrews on the mike. Not in attendance: Kliff Kingsbury’s Swiss Army knife, Deebo Samuel, on the shelf with a heel injury.
That’s a tough blow as Samuel has been a key player in the early going and looks like a potential difference maker for the Burgundy & Gold. And, as we’ve observed through six games, our margin for error is Communion-wafer thin.
That said, I expect Jayden to rise up after last week’s tough loss to the Bears. Let’s call it for My Beloved Commies to the tune of 30-27.
Speaking of rough outings, Pittsburgh’s Thursday Night defeat at Cincy dropped my season record to 51-42 (.548). Let’s go to the games with the Bills (4-2) and the Ravens (1-5) on the bye.
First up: another early-morning tilt from across the pond.
SUNDAY
9:30 AM - NFL NETWORK
Take the surprising Jaguars (4-2, 1-1 away) over the Rams (4-2, 2-1 away) at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Jacksonville head coach Liam Coen bests his former boss, Sean McVay.
All told, Coen spent four years with the Rams in three different roles, and 2025 marks the seventh consecutive year in which he’s had a new job. The man’s got a little bit of OBNOXIOUS MIKE in him, doesn’t he?
Check it out:
-2018-19: Rams assistant receivers coach
-2020: Rams assistant QBs coach
-2021: Kentucky offensive coordinator and QBs coach
-2022: Rams offensive coordinator
-2023: Kentucky offensive coordinator and QBs coach (again)
-2024: Tampa Bay offensive coordinator
-2025: Jacksonville head coach
1 PM - CBS
Take the Browns (1-5, 1-2 home) over the visiting Dolphins (1-5, 0-3 away) in a game only a mother - and Don Shula1 - could love. Be careful where you tread, FISHBOY: I hear the folks in the Dawg Pound have developed a taste for marine life…
…I love red-hot New England (4-2, 3-0 away) in Tennessee (1-5, 0-2 home). Methinks the struggling Titans still haven’t hit rock bottom…
…the Raiders (2-4, 1-2 away) fall to the host Chiefs (3-3, 2-1 home). Last week’s KC win vs. Dee-troit gave RIGHT WING MATT the kind of energy boost he hasn’t felt since his shipment of Ted Cruz bobbleheads arrived in the mail…
1 PM - CBS
I like the Vikings (3-2, 1-2 home) against visiting Philadelphia (4-2, 2-1 away) as Carson Wentz beats his former employer, and I perform wellness checks on TOMMY BIRD and BOBBY O. The Birds will get squared away and make another deep playoff run but, for now, they’ve got lots of work to do…
…the Saints (1-5, 1-2 away) fall at the Bears (3-2, 1-1 home), one of four NFC North teams with a winning record. Don’t look now but Chicago just may be in the playoff conversation…
…from the Just a Hunch Dept.: the New York Jets (0-6, 0-4 home) get victory #1 as Carolina (3-3, 0-3 away) remains winless on the road…
4:05 PM - CBS
The Colts (5-1, 1-1 away) drop a road game against the Chargers (4-2, 2-1 home) as Jim Harbaugh takes down his former team. Don’t be surprised if Daniel Jones, who is looking like a modern day #4, springs the upset…
…the Giants (2-4, 0-3 away) crash to earth at Denver (4-2, 2-0 home). New York is clearly on the rise but games in the Mile High City are a different animal. Odds of Skattebo hyperventilating at any point in the game: 87%.
4:25 PM - FOX
Expect the Packers (3-1-1, 0-1-1 away) to lay the wood to Arizona (2-4, 1-2 home). I like Coach Gannon, but this Cards team is a confounding bunch, and the Pack seems like it’s ready to get on a roll. Don’t be shocked if this one is a laugher.
8:20 PM - NBC
I like the Falcons (3-2, 1-2 away) to spring the upset at San Fran (4-2, 2-1 home) with Brock Purdy still inactive for the hosts. The good news for the Niners: George Kittle returns from a hamstring injury to serve as a security blanket for Mac Jones.
My preferred security blanket: a sizable container of queso with any chip that’s dippable. Potato, tortilla, carrot, wood - you name it, brother.
MONDAY
7 PM - ABC/ESPN
Tampa (5-1, 3-0 away) suffers its first road loss at Dee-troit (4-2, 2-0 home) in a battle of legit NFC heavyweights. This is Ali vs. Frazier. Marciano vs. Louis. FATBACK and LE GURU vs. Lehigh Pizza.
Fun fact: these two squads were once NFC Central rivals, playing one another twice a year from 1977-2001.
10 PM - ESPN
I’ll roll with Seattle (4-2, 1-2 home) against the visiting Texans (2-3, 1-2 away) in the nightcap. This one will be a dogfight with the Seahawks defense making a big play to preserve the win at the end.
That’s all for this week, folks! Enjoy the games and God bless!
The legendary Miami coach begin his NFL career as a player for the Browns in 1951-52.