'Tis the season to be jolly, but football is nearing the end. Bah! Humbug!

Thursday, Dec. 15
NFL (7:30-11 p.m. NFL Network): The Jacksonville Jaguars get a chance to derail the Atlanta Falcons' playoff hopes in the Georgia Dome.

Friday, Dec. 16
College football (6-9 p.m. ESPN 2): Mount Union takes on Wisconsin-Whitewater for the Division III championship game: the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl in Salem, Va.

Saturday, Dec. 17
NFL (7:30-11 p.m. NFL Network): The Dallas Cowboys travel to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This game has the Cowboys' playoff hopes hanging in the balance.

Sunday, Dec. 18
NFL (noon-3 p.m. FOX): New Orleans travels to Minnesota to take on the Vikings. The Saints have a lot on the line in this late-season game. (See Bryan's Rant, "Dome Sweet Dome".)

Monday, Dec. 19
NFL (7:30-11 p.m. ESPN): Pittsburgh is banged up and traveling to San Francisco. The Steelers and 49ers both need a win here for playoff positioning.

Tuesday, Dec. 20
College Basketball (8-10 p.m. ESPN 2): Two of college basketball's best mid-major bulldogs collide as Butler plays at Gonzaga.

Wednesday, Dec. 21
College Basketball (8-10 p.m. ESPN 2): Fifteenth-ranked Alabama hosts Oklahoma State. Is SEC basketball finally back as a threat on a national scale?

I had a strange thought this week. SEC fans like to make fun of C-USA, but both coaches in that conference title game were headhunted for bigger (or at least higher-paying) jobs. Maybe C-USA is not as bad as SEC fans like to think. They will find out as Kevin Sumlin takes over Texas A&M.

Previous Comments

ID

165603

Comment

Don't worry the Steelers will win even if Ben can't walk,throw or run.

Author

Walt

Date

2011-12-15T18:35:24-06:00

ID

165605

Comment

Walt, whatever dude! That dude has a high ankle sprain that they, down-graded to a Type-A sprain - calling it a "minor" high ankle sprain! Now last year we had all three quarterbacks (Delhomme, Wallace and McCoy) go out for a 2-4 week period due to high ankle sprains and Delhomme was out four weeks and came back from his and got knicked and was threw You guys can go ahead and put big ben in there if you want to against the 49ers front 7 and think he's going to get away with what he did against Cleveland, but the difference will be Harbough will be blitzing 7, compared to Dick Jauron blitzing 4. He really doesn't need to play, because he will not be able to avoid the rush.

Author

Duan C.

Date

2011-12-16T15:25:35-06:00

ID

165613

Comment

Yeah, Duan, I'm down at Kroger right now getting my celebration salsa and chips. I hope I get to eat it. If the Steelers lose I won't be able to eat. I was glad to see the Baltimore Cravens lose last night and Ray "slangblade" Lewis finally look his fifty something years of age. Maybe, he'll retire soon. I'm still angry about how he hit Hines Ward several weeks ago. Old man Ward needs to retire too before he gets killed out there playing with kids. Word is Ben Roughburger is playing tonight. We do need to win the game in order to win the division and get a first round bye, but I'm not for getting my quarterback hurt and unable to take us back to the big game. Teebow finally lost another game. I'm a fan of his anyway. I was so glad to see the Packers lose again before we defeat them in the Super Bowl in February 2012. Strangely, I was even glad to hear the Cowboys won on Satursday. They have had some awfully bad luck this year. They played well enough to have won 4 or 5 more games. Queen should take a bow to them this year for hanging in there despite all the bad luck. However, I don't want them anywhere near the Super Bowl unless we're their opponent. You know what will happen in that case.

Author

Walt

Date

2011-12-19T17:33:15-06:00

ID

165621

Comment

Walt, I told you and look at what happened. But let me start off by giving Ben his props, to play quarterback on a high ankle sprain, and to play in the following game after the injury happened - says a lot about him trying to help his team. But, like I said earlier against that front 7 - the 49ers shouldn't have lost to a hobbled Ben Roethlisberger, under Bruce Arians - who so happened to be a former Browns offensive coordinator - you guys are a pass oriented offense and with Big Ben being immobile and unable to extend the play - you guys aren't going to last long in the playoffs. Then after the 5 sacks and three picks yesterday, on that ankle, I can tell you right now, that his ankle is 5 times worse now. The NFC is shaky, now that Green Bay lost. The AFC, all roads lead through Boston a.k.a New England.

Author

Duan C.

Date

2011-12-20T10:57:47-06:00

ID

165639

Comment

You were right Duan. However, we figured if a one-eyed man could be king in the land of the blind, a one-legged quarterback could win a division if he wore the black and gold. Not on the 49ers, though! Duan, y'all is the team that hurt my quarterback.

Author

Walt

Date

2011-12-21T17:29:28-06:00

ID

165642

Comment

and Walt, that short sawed off watermelon sized head defensive end of yours, that goes by the name of Harrison - took my boy (McCoy) out for two games! I think we're even. lol!!!

Author

Duan C.

Date

2011-12-22T08:31:12-06:00