Week Six Crystal Ball - Weekend: Recalling a Crazy Season
"The Ball is life and life is the Ball." - Tommy Bird, 1996
My friends, THE GURU is girding his loins for Sunday’s Commies-Ravens tilt, the biggest thing to hit the DMV1 since Ben’s Chili Bowl, a true DC institution.
If you haven’t made it to the original location on U Street, you are missing a slice of hot dog heaven. I could wax poetic about the legendary Half Smoke - a savory mixture of pork and beef, covered in homemade chili - but, instead, I’ll let the photo speak for me. That, folks, is a happy youngster.
My son was 12 years old in this photo, just days from becoming a teenager. Full of hopes, dreams and animal protein. The picture made me a bit nostalgic and got me thinking about myself at that age. And, as with most thoughts, my one-track brain quickly turned to football.
You see, when I was 12 and barreling towards teendom, my young eyes witnessed perhaps the craziest National Football League season that’s ever come down the pike. You had to be there to believe it.
First, the good: the then-Washington Redskins came out of nowhere to win their first Super Bowl title under a second-year coach by the name of Joe Jackson Gibbs. While I was raised a fan of the franchise, this was the season when I fell head over heels for the team and, truly, I’ve been smitten ever since.
The bad: the season was marred by a 57-day labor dispute between the players and owners, leading to a truncated nine-game schedule for each team. Washington was best equipped to handle the chaos and recorded an 8-1 regular-season mark before winning four playoff games to capture Super Bowl XVII against Don Shula’s Miami Dolphins.
Prior to 1982, the NFL postseason included 10 clubs, a sensible number for a 28-team league. But, with the strike, the playoffs expanded to 16 to account for the shortened regular season. Here’s how the standings shook out as defending Super Bowl champ San Francisco missed the postseason and two sub-.500 teams making the tournament:
The 1982 playoffs were organized into four rounds with one of the opening games matching the St. Louis Cardinals (5-4) against the host Green Bay Packers (5-3-1). Sadly, it was a rough day for coach Jim Hanifan and the Cards as QB Lynn Dickey riddled the St. Louis secondary, throwing for 260 yards and four touchdown passes in an efficient performance.
The day was significant for the Cardinals as it was their final playoff game while based in St. Louis as well as their last postseason trip until 19982. Hanifan led the team to winning seasons in 1983 (8-7-1) and 1984 (9-7) but, alas, they fell just short of the playoffs each year. It would take nearly three decades (2013-15) for the team to post three consecutive winning seasons again, under Bruce Arians.
As for Dickey, the Kansas State product still ranks fourth among Green Bay QBs in most major passing categories, only trailing current or future Hall of Famers Favre, Rodgers and Starr. Just beyond the top 10 is Jordan Love, the man now at the controls for the Pack.
Today, Monsieur Love and Green Bay (3-2, 1-1 home) square off against those same Cardinals (2-3, 1-1 away) in a pivotal matchup for both teams. Both clubs earned nice victories in Cali. last week with the Packers beating the Rams and Arizona stunning the Niners.
Rookie head coach Jonathan Gannon is doing a nice job with the Cards, whose losses include narrow defeats to the Bills (34-28) and Lions (20-13) but, I think Arizona will have its collective hands full today in Lambeau. Call it Packers, 24-22, and you can catch the action on Fox at 1 pm.
Before we dive into the games with the quick picks, it’s time to unveil a new AQB feature, an honor I’ll pass out periodically throughout the season to a deserving team, coach, athlete or other individual.
We’re calling this prize the PIGHEART JEFF SILVER LINING AWARD in honor of my pal, who was as optimistic a person as I’ve ever met. No matter the circumstances, there was always at least a ray of sunshine in Jeff’s world and indeed, he transferred that sunlight to all who crossed his path.
Moving forward, as I come across deserving folks throughout the year, I’ll hand out this virtual hardware in this column. Who will be the first recipient? Time will tell and, of course, feel free to pass along nominees at any time.
While you’re passing along nominees, send me some game predictions too as my prognostication ship is listing like a vessel whose passengers include yours truly, BATTLESHIP BARTELLE and FATBACK HOBBS sitting starboard. The season record? A not-so-hot 38-38 after Thursday’s Seattle loss to San Fran.
On to the games with the Chiefs (5-0), Dolphins (2-3), Rams (1-4) and Vikings (5-0) on the bye…
SUNDAY
9:30 AM — NFL NETWORK
I like the Jaguars (1-4) to beat the Bears (3-2) as coach Doug Pederson improves upon his 3-1 record3 in London. Fun fact: the Jags have played more games in the UK (11) than they have against the Bears (8).
1 PM - CBS
Take the visiting Colts (2-3, 0-2 away) to beat the Titans (1-3, 0-2 home). With these cities just four hours apart by car, the Indy fans will be out in full force…
…Take Houston over host New England as Drake Maye makes his first career start for the Patriots (1-4, 0-2 home) against the Texans (4-1, 1-1 away). DeMeco Ryans must be licking his chops…
…My Beloved Commies (4-1, 1-1) shock Baltimore (3-2, 1-1 home) - and the football world - at M&T Stadium. In true PIGHEART JEFF fashion, I’ll never pick against my team again…
1 PM - FOX
Two ex-Oklahoma quarterbacks square off when Baker Mayfield (Bucs) brings his squad to the Big Easy to face rookie Spencer Rattler (Saints). Go with Tampa Bay (3-2, 1-1 away) against New Orleans (2-3, 1-1 home)…
…host Philly (2-2, 1-1 home) gets a win against visiting Cleveland (1-4, 1-2 away) and Nick Sirianni gets a temporary respite from his legion of critics.
4:05 PM - CBS
The good word: QB Justin Herbert is slated to play today as LA (2-2, 1-1 away) visits Denver (3-2, 1-1 home). Still, I’m taking the Broncos over the banged-up Chargers…
…Go with Las Vegas (2-3, 1-1 home) over Pittsburgh (3-2, 1-1 away) at Allegiant Stadium. The schizophrenic Raiders win every two weeks and, after last Sunday’s loss at Denver, they’re primed for victory…
4:25 PM - FOX
I’ll roll with the Lions (3-1, 1-0 away) to win in Dallas (3-2, 0-2 home) as Dan Campbell & Co. extract revenge for last year’s brutal defeat in Big D. Watch out for those tackle-eligible plays, Mike McCarthy…

…Captain Kirk outshines the Red Rifle as visiting Atlanta (3-2, 1-0 away) beats the Panthers (1-4, 0-2 home). The Falcons lead the all-time series comfortably (36-22) but the teams have split the past eight games.
8:20 PM - NBC/PEACOCK
Cincinnati (1-4, 1-1 away) beats the Giants (2-3, 0-2 home) at MetLife Stadium. The Bengals’ record isn’t pretty, but all four losses were by one score, and I think the Jints will struggle to stop Joe Burrow with Kayvon Thibodeaux on the shelf.
MONDAY
8:15 PM - ESPN/ABC
Buffalo (3-2, 1-2 away) travels to New Jersey and beats the Jets (2-3, 1-1 home) but it will be a struggle against interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich & Co. The man will have his charges ready to play.
And I’m ready to watch!
That’s all for this week, folks. Enjoy the games and God bless!
DMV = The District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia
They were then based in Arizona.
The Jags are 6-5 all-time in the UK. Thanks, NFL Network.