FatManWriting

Sunday Night Football Preview: Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Dallas Cowboys—To Play Tony Romo Or Not To Play Tony Romo—That Is The Question

2016-12-17T08:59:00.001-08:00

According to the Dallas Cowboys, there is no quarterback controversy. Jason Garrett said he never thought about removing Dak Prescott from last week’s game for Tony Romo and that the team has not considered benching Prescott for Romo, leaving many with one question.

Why not?

Via Twitter

Houston Texans-Oakland Raiders Recap: Referees/Bill O’Brien Help Raiders Steal Win From Texans In Mexico

2016-11-21T22:53:00.001-08:00

There is no such thing as a loss that is easy to swallow so saying it will be hard for the Houston Texans to take Monday night’s loss to the Oakland Raiders doesn’t say much. But when the Texans try to do so on the way home—well, the flight attendants better have the bar well-stocked.

On the opening drive of the game, Brock Osweiler connected with DeAndre Hopkins on what ended up being a 24-yard reception when the referee blew the play dead because he thought Hopkins had stepped out of bounds. O’Brien threw the challenge flag, but since the play was not one that could be reviewed a penalty should have been assessed against the Texans—but there wasn’t.

WATCH: Referees Congratulate Raiders In Tunnel After MNF Win Over Texans

2016-11-21T22:44:00.002-08:00

Just in case Houston Texans fans were not already annoyed at how Monday night's game between their team and the Oakland Raiders played out--it appears that the referees were in the tunnel after the game congratulation the Raiders. You can see one giving out fist bumps and another appears to be clapping guys on the back or high-fiving them.

Go ahead conspiracy nuts--go wild.

#NFL refs probably saying we got this game for y'all 👊 #raiders #Texans #mnf #FixedGame #ItwasAtouchdown #ItWasAfirstDown @ESPNNFL @nfl pic.twitter.com/WdfBFkFBvT
— Javier Reyes Jr (@TheGridironTxn) November 22, 2016

Texas A&M-LSU Preview: Aggies May Get An Early Christmas Present For LSU Game—Trevor Knight

2016-11-21T20:21:00.000-08:00

It has been a long, arduous season for Texas A&M fans. Expectations were not high to start the season, but then something unexpected happened—the Aggies won games against good opponents. The defense played well, and Trevor Knight looked good; not great, but good enough when combined with the team’s running game.

The team got out to a 7-1 start with the only loss coming against Alabama earning them a spot in the College Football Committee’s top four—but then they lost Trevor Knight to an injury and were upset by Mississippi State.

Via Twitter

Washington Redskins-Dallas Cowboys Preview: Will Dak Prescott Give Dallas Fans Something To Be Thankful For?

2016-11-21T20:13:00.001-08:00

The season didn’t start well for either the Redskins or Cowboys. Dallas lost their starting quarterback and were forced to rely on a rookie taken in the fourth round. His preseason was good, and his first start wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t good enough to lead the team to a win either.

Two weeks into the season and the Redskins were glad Kirk Cousins hadn’t signed the long term deal they offered during the offseason. Yes, he threw for 300+ yards in both games, but only had one touchdown pass to his name and threw three interceptions—one which led directly to the go-ahead touchdown for Dallas in Week Two.

Historic Loss To Kansas Appears To Be Final Straw For Charlie Strong—But It Shouldn’t Be

2016-11-20T20:22:00.000-08:00

Charlie Strong as probably feeling good heading into Saturday’s game against the Kansas Jayhawks. His defense had been improving, his offense was decent (and would be even better in the years to come), and with one more win—which he was surely going to get against Kansas—his Longhorns would become bowl eligible for the second time during his tenure as head coach.

But then the dreaded worst-case scenario unfolded. Strong’s team had a complete meltdown against one of the worst teams in college football and lost.

via Twitter

Monday Night Football Preview: Houston Texans vs. Oakland Raiders–If Brock Osweiler WantsTo Prove He Wasn’t A Mistake… | Sports Information Traders

2016-11-19T08:45:00.000-08:00

Monday Night Football features the Houston Texans and Oakland Raiders this week, but the game is not being played in Texas or California. No, this one is being played in Mexico at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Why? The NFL wants to make more money, and rather than charge the fans even more, the league is trying to expand its fan base.

To do so, it is heading down Mexico way for the first time in over a decade to play a regular season game. So–if there were ever a time for a player to have a statement game, this would be it because not only will the eyes of one nation be on the game but the eyes of two.

via Twitter

Carolina Panthers Beat Saints Thursday Night But At A Heavy Price

2016-11-18T10:55:00.001-08:00

When the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers last met in Week Six, the Panthers were riding a three-game losing streak, had a record of 1-4, and were playing terribly. The defense was a sieve, and the offense was nowhere near the juggernaut it was last year, and Cam Newton was back to being that moody, truculent guy with the media the haters love to poke.

Fast forward a month to the second meeting for the division rivals and the Panthers are a better team—as are the Saints—and fighting to become relevant in the postseason race.

Louisville’s Playoff Hopes Come Crashing Down With Loss To Houston

2016-11-18T10:49:00.000-08:00

After Houston took down then-No. 3 Oklahoma to start the season, college football fans in the state of Texas circled November 17 on their calendars. If their Houston Cougars were going to have a shot at making the college football playoffs, they were going to have to beat the Louisville Cardinals—who were also hoping to make the playoffs this year.

Despite their one loss (to Clemson), Louisville entered the game ranked No. 5 in the last CFB Committee poll. Houston is not ranked after losing to Navy and SMU. But a win over the Cougars would likely be enough for Louisville to move up should one of the top four lose this week.

Via Twitter

No. 11 Oklahoma State-TCU Preview: Can TCU Ruin Oklahoma State’s Title Hopes?

2016-11-17T19:52:00.000-08:00

TCU came into this season with high hopes, but an inconsistent offense and a defense that was not quite ready for prime time has TCU still fighting to become bowl eligible as the team heads into this week’s contest against Oklahoma State with a 5-4 record. Oklahoma State, on the other hand, should be 9-1 and be contending for a spot in the playoffs. But instead, they are 8-2 and hoping they can turn next week’s Oklahoma game into the unofficial conference title game.

First, they must get past those pesky Horned Frogs.

Sunday Night Football Preview: Green Bay Packers vs Washington Redskins—Relax Aaron Rodgers!

2016-11-17T15:16:00.000-08:00

It’s been strange in Green Bay these days and fans are not sure what to make of it. Is the team struggling because of the head coach? Is it because the running game is pathetic or is it because Aaron Rodgers has lost his mojo?

As nice as it would be to know the answer, it would be even better if the team could right the ship and get back to winning football games again. At 4-5 and with the Vikings and Lions at 5-4, it would not take much for them to get back in contention in the NFC North. But they must start winning again—but that will be easier said than done against the Washington Redskins this week.

Baltimore Ravens-Dallas Cowboys Preview: Time For Dak Prescott’s First Real Challenge

2016-11-17T15:15:00.000-08:00

Before last week’s contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Dak Prescott bandwagon became a lot lighter as many in the media jumped off and proclaimed the Steelers would be the team to end the Dallas winning streak. For a time, it appeared as if they might be right. But then Prescott engineered a beautiful drive with less than a minute on the clock to get his team the win.

As Ezekiel Elliot trotted into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds of the game, the bandwagon began to fill up once again. But will it stay that way after the Baltimore Ravens come to town this week?

Los Angeles Rams-Miami Dolphins Preview: Jared Goff To Start In Place Of Case Keenum But Will It Matter?

2016-11-15T19:54:00.001-08:00

Los Angeles Rams head coach Jeff Fisher knows the importance of loyalty and not pulling the trigger on a player too soon. He knows he needs to show confidence in his guys; a faith that can’t waver—that is until it should.

For weeks, the media and fan base in Los Angeles have been calling for Fisher to end his show of faith and confidence in quarterback Case Keenum, but he has resisted. He has insisted he had the right guy in the lineup and that Jared Goff, the No. 1 pick in the last draft, wasn’t ready.

Via Twitter

Monday Night Football Recap: Free Agent Haul Pays Off For New York Giants Against Bengals

2016-11-15T11:08:00.002-08:00

When the New York Giants spent a small fortune on defensive free agents, the moves were met with a healthy mix of skepticism and hope. Hope that the players would be worth the $200 million+ in contracts they signed and skepticism because trying to “buy” a good team through free agency doesn’t work in the NFL.

But when you have the No. 8 offense in the NFL, the worst defense in the NFL, and finish the season 6-10 you must do something besides finding a new head coach—which the Giants did. They spent over $200 million in free agency; primarily on defensive players. Against the Cincinnati Bengals Monday night, the investment appeared to be paying off.

Thursday Night Preview: Can The New Orleans Saints Stick A Fork In The Carolina Panthers?

2016-11-15T11:00:00.000-08:00

After the Carolina Panthers lost four in a row and five of their first six, many fans and media types were ready to write the defending NFC champions off. It wasn’t hard to see why either. Cam Newton has not been playing like someone who won the MVP a season ago, and he isn’t getting much help. It certainly hasn’t helped that the team took a huge gamble on a young, inexperienced secondary–and the gamble hasn’t paid off.

But at 3-6, their season is far from over. It may be on life-support, but there is still a chance the Panthers can make it back to the postseason. However, first, they must get by the New Orleans Saints this week on Thursday Night Football.

New England Patriots Fall Victim To Seattle Seahawks And Poetic Justice Sunday Night

2016-11-14T15:41:00.001-08:00

If you believe in karma, poetic justice, fate, deja vu, and any of that other metaphysical stuff, then you must have loved how Sunday night’s game between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots played out. The last time the two played each other was almost two years ago in Super Bowl XLIX—which the Patriots won 28-24.

In that game, the Seahawks had a chance to win, but on second and goal from the New England one-yard line with 26 seconds left, they opted to run a pass play. Why they didn’t hand the ball to their beast of a running back—Marshawn Lynch—no one will ever truly know.

Via Twitter

Big Win Answers A Very Serious Question For Dallas Cowboys While Raising Some For Pittsburgh Steelers

2016-11-14T10:42:00.003-08:00

Before Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, it seemed as if many of the commentators and media types couldn’t proclaim “Dallas will lose” fast enough. Very few picked the Dallas Cowboys to beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh. It was as if they have been dying to jump off the Dak Prescott/Ezekiel Elliot ship before it sank and had to be the first to go.

For some, it was because they don’t believe in Dak Prescott and they want Tony Romo back. For others, it was more about Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers.

Baylor QB Seth Russell's Leg Broken While Being Tackled Against Oklahoma [VIDEO]

2016-11-12T11:51:00.002-08:00

By all accounts, Seth Russell is considered a good guy, a standup teammate, and a great football player--but his college career is going to end in one of the worst ways possible. Last season ended with a neck injury that could have ended his career, but he came back from it and was having a great season. That is, until the tackle you'll see in the Vine after the jump.

Oklahoma's players know the kind of competitor he is. While they will not mind having him out of the game, they respect him and made sure he knew that before he was carted off the field.

Instead of watching replay of Seth Russell's gruesome injury… Watch this. Notice how much respect the OU stars have for this quarterback. pic.twitter.com/oIRtAIfCrz
— Abigail Ogle (@KOCOAbigail) November 12, 2016

Duke-No. 17 North Carolina Recap: Duke Takes Victory Bell Back From North Carolina

2016-11-11T10:56:00.001-08:00

Earlier in the week, Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson stated that his team would not go 0-16; that the Browns will win a game. There has been only one team in NFL history that failed to win a single game all season. It’s safe to say that is not a club anyone wants to join and will be sufficient reason for Hue Jackson to be fired.

For a time, it looked like they might have a chance to get that elusive first win Thursday night against the Baltimore Ravens. Jackson’s team wasn’t playing great football, but when combined with the mistakes and poor play of the Ravens it resulted in a 7-6 halftime lead.

No. 20 USC-No. 4 Washington Preview: Time To Prove Yourselves, Huskies.

2016-11-11T10:54:00.002-08:00

Fans of the Washington Huskies felt their team was shorted when it was overlooked for Texas A&M in the first CFB Committee Poll. But then the Aggies lost to Mississippi State, Washington demolished Cal, and when the new poll was announced, all was right in the Pacific Northwest. But it might have been better for them to have been jumped by Ohio State.

Had it happened, the chip on their collective shoulder would have become massive and would have helped propel them to victory over the final few weeks of the season. Instead, they are going to have to battle the ever-present threat of complacency as well as the competition. Should the Huskies come out with anything other than their best against USC Saturday night, the Trojans will happily kill what playoff dreams the Huskies have.

Thursday Night Football Recap: Hue Jackson Trying To Get The Cleveland Browns To Fire Him?

2016-11-11T10:53:00.002-08:00

Baylor Bears-No. 11 Oklahoma Sooners Preview: Can Baylor Get It Together?

2016-11-10T15:44:00.001-08:00

The Baylor Bears and Oklahoma Sooners came into this season with national title aspirations, but have since seen them disappear. Oklahoma’s went south when they lost to the Houston Cougars in the season opener. Baylor’s didn’t go south until a couple of weeks ago when the Bears lost to the Texas Longhorns. While the ultimate prize is out of reach for both, the still have something to play for—the Big 12 conference title.

Oklahoma is undefeated in conference play so win out, and the title is theirs, but doing so will not be easy with Baylor coming to town Saturday, a trip to West Virginia the following week, and the Oklahoma State to end the regular season.

Ole Miss-Texas A&M Preview: Whose Back-Ups Are Better?

2016-11-10T10:03:00.002-08:00

Before the season started, this weekend’s Ole Miss-Texas A&M one looked like it would be a heck of a ball game. Fast forward a few weeks into the season and while Ole Miss has had trouble putting a complete game together. Texas A&M, on the other hand, has rolled with Trevor Knight at the helm and was even named the No. 4 team in the nation in the first CFB Committee poll.

But last week, Ole Miss lost their quarterback, Chad Kelly to a season-ending injury, as did Texas A&M. So—now what? The two teams will have someone step in, and the game will be played, but what can fans expect?

Thursday Night Football Preview: Cleveland Browns At Baltimore Ravens--Will Baltimore Keep Cleveland Winless?

2016-11-08T18:27:00.000-08:00

Some people probably think the Cleveland Browns were destined to be terrible this year. Not because they don’t have a starting quarterback, running back, and only one good wide receiver, but because the professional sports franchises in Cleveland have done too well. The sports karma in the universe must even out. With the Cavaliers winning the NBA championship and the Indians making it to the World Series, there isn’t any mojo left in Cleveland which means the Browns were predestined to suck.

Which means the Browns were predestined to suck–again.

Resiliency Of Seattle Seahawks Against Buffalo Bills Overshadowed By Richard Sherman’s Questionable Play

2016-11-08T12:13:00.001-08:00

The talk after Monday night’s Buffalo Bills-Seattle Seahawks game should be all about Russell Wilson appearing to be getting closer to his old self, Buffalo slicing through the Seattle defense with ease, and the Seahawks making the necessary adjustments to win the game. Those things are being discussed, but the lead story is instead the questionable actions of Richard Sherman and poor officiating.

Buffalo got off to a hot start by blocking a Seattle punt and setting the offense up on the three -yard line for an easy touchdown. The Seahawks answered with one of their own, but then the Bills began a drive that every team that plays Seattle will be looking at closely—a 17-play touchdown drive that took 10 minutes off the clock.

Via Twitter