Double Coverage: Week Three (A Guide to Games and NYC Sports Bars)
Welcome to issue three of our weekly romp around the league. Ted and I have survived another week in under the barstools, and it was even more perplexing than the first. The Texans Chiefs, Bears, and Bucs are 2-0 while the Cowboys, Vikings, and 49ers are 0-2. Put that in your prediction pipe and smoke it while you weep over your survivor league elimination (Both of us are out.) Week three will hopefully clear up some of the haze, but with the unimpressive slate of games, don't count on it.
We're going to do three of these games this week (hey yo, we're busy). The first is important to the NFC South race, the second is important to the hearts of an entire state before hockey season begins, and the third is probably the best game of the week -- and you have to wait until Monday for it.
Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints:
Cammy Ice: The Falcons gave the Saints a run for their money on Monday night last season and then again at season's end. They won't have any such luck this week though. The Saints are coming off what could have very well been a loss to the 9ers and an afternoon game at the Superdome should pose no problem. Speaking of, that Monday night game had the perfect combination of things that resulted in a fantasy win. Thank you terrible San Fran D. If you want to check out the Saints, do it at dirty, smelly, loud, and fantastic Bar None.
FEMA Bauer (too soon?): I gotta admit, I do not understand anything about NFL QBs and how they are evaluated. To my memory, which is admittedly hazy, Brees and Ryan were both average college QBs. Brees may have gone to one Rose Bowl (can we hire a fact-checker?) and Ryan was No. 1 overall, yes, but I feel like Purdue and BC weren't exactly elite when those guys were in town. Now, all these pundits view them as two of the top 10 QBs in the league. Whoa! I guess it's all about height and ball release (so is sex -- whoa!). Anyway, you're right. If this game was in ATL, it'd be closer. It won't be. Cool stat: Ryan is 13-1 in his last 14 at the Georgia/Ludacris Dome. Again, this isn't there. So, Saints. Here's something a bit depressing: Falcons fans go to Sidebar, admittedly a decent spot. I'm supposed to go to a birthday party there on Saturday night. I hope no one comes early for this game, or I'll be busting out the Dirty Bird -- whoa, what does that even mean? -- a bit early.
Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings:
Cameron "Use the Schwartz" Berkman: The Vikings are coming off a second and even more disheartening loss against the Dolphins. The Lions are coming off another encouraging loss to the Eagles. Even though the Vikings are catching 11 1/2 and they will be without Stafford, I am going to pick them to upset Favre and his crew. Jahvid Best is a vision. Check out the Lions at Mercury Bar.
Teddy Vikegame: So I know this kid, really slick dude I used to work with, right? He moved out to Los Angeles, living the life, getting the girls, all that. The kid, for some reason, decides to go to journalism school -- for print, HA! -- and the only place he can get in is some joint in Missouri. Not like St. Louis or even KC, but rural ass Missouri. So, now he's clearly bored. (Do you smell sitcom pilot?) As a result, he spends basically all day Saturday and Sunday posting to Facebook with his observations on college and pro games. Thing is, the posts are mad sanctimonious. Like, "LISTEN UP ALL: IOWA IS GOING TO LOSE THIS GAME." Last Sunday, he had a gem. "ATTENTION ALL: BRETT FAVRE IS OLD AND WASHED UP AND LOOKS LIKE A GHOST." Can't say I disagree. Vikes win this one because AP will slice that D apart, but ... Vikes are not the team they were even last year. You can also watch the Vikes at Bar None. 1pm on Sunday could be fairly rowdy over there.
Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears:
Cam Capers: The Pack's defense looks a lot better. Their offense has hung like 70 points on the first two opponents. Granted, opponent No. 1 was an Eagles team that now seems clueless, and opponent No. 2 was the Bills, who are likely to have the No. 1 overall pick in April's draft. This Bears' defense, and in a road game no less, will be a test for the offense. On the flip side, everyone wants to get on Jay Cutler's jock for his first two games -- 121 QB rating, as if anyone knows what the hell that even means -- but this is a MUCH better D than the Lions or Cowboys, who he got that 121 -- again, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? -- off of. Cutler could hurl five picks in this game and get booed by his hometown people. Or, he could throw five TDs and be the new Jordan. I mean, I don't know. I just plan to get drunk and watch. Bears people here go to Overlook, but this is MNF and you could likely get it put on at Dunkin Donuts if need be.
Teddy Rodgers: Again, back to the QB thing from above. Was Aaron Rodgers even that good at Cal? What am I missing here? He's now like a top-five QB in the NFL. Here's a funny story, although I can't confirm the truth of said story: apparently in his rookie year, while still backing up Favre, Rodgers hit on a girl at a wedding in Wisconsin that someone I know attended. She was into it, but she had JUST started dating a dude -- whom she had brought to the wedding. Nothing happened, and Rodgers was semi-stunned. Again, could be completely untrue. Just whispers in the wind that I hear, ya know? Packers should win this game. Honestly, all signs point to Packers vs. Saints as the NFC title game (yes, I realize it's Week 3). If the Pack can have home-field advantage and that game is at Lambeau, WHOA... that'll be epic. One option as a Packers person is Landsdowne Road; another is Kettle of Fish, which was profiled by NPR a few years back as a Packers outpost in the Northeast.
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