Day 266

• Great...  Now we find out Jake Paul's eventual boxing goal is a mega-money match with Conor McGregor.  Methinks, all things considered, Jake Paul wants his next of kin notified...   
• Update:  Wigan Athletic is now last in League One, only eight points in fourteen matches, five clear toward relegation about 2/3 of the way through the first half of the season.  The EFL is still evaluating the sale of the club, and now there has to be some discussion that, in fact, Wigan Athletic will be forced to "wind up", or dissolve.
• Not unlike Bury Football Club, thrown out of English football and basically dissolved.
• A commission of college sports leaders has recommended removing FBS football from the NCAA's purview completely.
• California will return to Stay At Home orders as early as this weekend.
• And an update from last night's article:  Edinburgh High School has been disqualified from the Division 6 Texas playoffs.  The school did it themselves, but...
• There are now 13 college football games cancelled for this week already due to COVID-19.
• That story I've been sitting on and mentioned a couple times here may be about to surface on the blog before the end of the year.  No definites, but...
  

Day 265: One of the worst referee attacks in high school sports...

Texas high school playoffs.

Division 6A, the largest schools.  Final week of the regular season.

Edinburgh is hosting Pharr-San Juan-Alamo.

The player you are about to see is Emmanuel Duron.  He was the punter, the kicker, and a defensive lineman for Edinburgh.  He was also a star wrestler.  Last year, he was the defensive player of the year in his district -- an 8-team assignment not unakin to conferences in most schools...

I use the past tense for the following reason:  Duron was ejected from tonight's game, and responded THUSLY (#88, so he's probably a defensive end):

Duron was arrested and will be charged with a violation of Texas Penal Code 22.01, a misdemeanor which can get him 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine.

The problem is that the game continued, Edinburgh WON, and is going to the playoffs as a result.

You can contact Dr. Susan Elza, the Director of Athletics for the Texas University Interscholastic League at athletics@uiltexas.org

The head of football operations is Brian Polk, and he can be reached at bpolk@uiltexas.org

Any suspension for the player (beyond the first half of the first playoff game) will be up to the UIL, Texas' sanctioning body.  The previously-reported on this blog John Jay incident cost one player the rest of his senior year in all sports and another the rest of his sophomore year and half his junior year.

I already have sent my comments to the pair.  I will let you know what happens.

Day 264

• Word out of Miami Gloria Estefan battled the coronavirus last month.  Tested positive November 8 with loss of taste and smell, has tested negative twice since.
• Pro wrestling lost one of it's mavericks (and one of it's probable sexual predators too!) Pat Patterson today.
• The thrice-delayed game was finally played...  Pittsburgh slogged through Baltimore 19-14.
• NBA announces 48 positives in their first round of testing to prepare for the 2020-21 season.
• Denver has fined all four quarterbacks involved in the mask fiasco.  I'm sorry, but after what it's done to your team and the supposed "good name" of the NFL...  One or more of them have to go.    
• No changes in the CFP this week.  And there won't be.  Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame, and Ohio State and you WILL LIKE IT!  We are headed for a single national Champions' League.
  
• Add the Las Vegas Bowl to the list of COVID casualties.
  

2020 NFL Power Rankings, Week 12 Edition: I think we have their Plan A now...

That was a mess.

That was a disgrace, a debacle, and should end, for all time, the public perception that the NFL games are fair and that the league is on the level with fair competition.

I'm not only talking that stupidity with the Broncos (a forfeit actually would been the BETTER scenario -- as of today, the quarterbacks involved have been fined!), but this whole shooting match with Pittsburgh and Baltimore and their game is just a mess (and that definitely should've been a forfeit for Baltimore's positives because of the strength and conditioning coach -- we don't know Pittsburgh's positives).

But one thing is now for certain, even if you disagree with my hypothesis which follows from it:  The NFL is using the COVID-19 policies as a function to rig the season.  You would officially have to be out of your mind to consider any other scenario.

And, as such, with the teams affected, I think it is clear we have the NFL's current Plan A.  That said, let me make clear:  PLANS CAN CHANGE.  Anyone who's seen the NFL and it's rigging the last 5-10 years knows plans can change, sometimes on a dime.

But, with five weeks to go in the regular season, I think the direction now appears clear with the NFL's COVID-related actions against Pittsburgh and to benefit New Orleans:  Kansas City to face (and sizably defeat) the Saints in the Super Bowl, should we get that far.

What happened in Denver this week was a disgrace to the sport of professional football.  They are fortunate, frankly, the Saints showed some mercy.

What happened with this Baltimore-Pittsburgh game has irreparably fucked the Steelers' season, and there's only one real reason or purpose for that -- get rid of the Steelers to promote Mahomes as the new face of the league.

And New Orleans?  That's Super Bowl XXXII Redux.  The league knowing they've fucked the Saints twice...

So, that in mind:

AFC Power Rankings:

1. Kansas City Chiefs (10-1)

I really don't even see many alternatives here.  A catastrophic Mahomes injury, at this point, could blow up the entire NFL season, in both conferences.  It was clear last season that Mahomes is now THE NEW MAN.  It would NOT be out of the question, barring such injury, a new Face of the League or the like, if, 10 years from now, we're looking at 5 titles for KC.

BIGGEST PROBLEM:  The NFL Boycott, or has the NFL finally conceded it's going to have to settle for 80 million watching the Super Bowl rather than 100-110?

2.  Pittsburgh (11-0)

And they have every right to bitch.  But the fact is that the NFL is using COVID-19 and the relevant policies to fuck them and everyone else for the result they so desire.

BIGGEST PROBLEM:  Patrick Mahomes.  Captain Fatfuck...  Patrick Mahomes.  Ben Rapistburger...  Yeah.

And I accept any criticism to "It's All About The Quarterback".  What happened in Denver this week should put that all to bed otherwise once and for all. 

3. Tennessee (8-3)

4.  Indianapolis (7-4)

Definitely beginning to see some press behind Tennessee especially here.  Not enough to justify putting them over Pittsburgh, and I think this has to be an outside backup plan if something happens.  But that tells you the gulf between 1 and 2 and even #3...

5.  Buffalo (8-3)

5A.  Miami (7-4)

Same thing I said last week, but that'll only get you so far.

NFC Power Rankings:

1. New Orleans (9-2)

I retract what I said last week, for now.  Given that New Orleans was handed a clean Free Win Card this week really gives you an indication that the Payback Super Bowl Berth IS in play.

And, just a thought:  You think that decision not to play Rapeis Winston was not racially/#NFLBoycott related?

BIGGEST PROBLEM:  Two, really.  You don't sue the NFL, especially over stuff you'll lose immediately.  And is Drew Brees going to have a set of ribs to play in January to get them there?

2.  Seattle (8-3)

Especially given this type of a season, a tribute given to the fans, especially the cult-like rabids in Seattle, would not be out of line here.

BIGGEST PROBLEM:  Washington State has not been the kindest to the conservative/freedom types the NFL loves to glorify.

3. LA Rams (7-4)

Really, because the options start running real thin here.

I do believe, end of the day, we are down to the last four teams for the Super Bowl:  Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Seattle, and the Saints.

BIGGEST PROBLEM:  The state of life in Los Angeles and especially Inglewood.  Especially if there is some desire to reboot normalcy circa next September with a vaccine, I think the LA Experiment (and it's Las Vegas counterpart) may be damn near kaput -- LA politically, and Vegas may not survive this at all in present form.  And I'm NOT talking the Raiders franchise!

4.  Tampa Bay (7-5)

Only because of what they tried to construct.

BIGGEST PROBLEM:  The first three quarters of that game with Kansas City appear to indicate the NFL is finally ready to move on unless it somehow thinks Tom Brady will come back next year.  He's definitely taken some body blows to Father Time.

5.  Green Bay (8-3)

No.

No.

No, and just no.

Jobber To The Stars again, and I really don't think people get this.  This team is one Aaron Rodgers injury away from 3-8.  And the league doesn't give a shit.

Packer Fan does not get that the league would put Tom Brady in Super Bowl LIV before it puts Aaron Rodgers in.

BIGGEST PROBLEM:  The league doesn't feel, even with what Packer Nation provides the NFL, that a small-town expansive fan-base is marketable or "money" enough in the 21st century.

The Kayfabe Standings: 2020 Week 12 Edition

Now I can finally do the week-ending posts for another NFL week.  Already did the scoring.  Here's the kayfabe (real) standings look, and then the Power Rankings post to come...

(Which means you'll see the Power Rankings post above the kayfabe, above the scoring...)

AFC:

1. Pittsburgh 11-0.  Lead AFC North, three clear of the Browns and won the first meeting.
2. Kansas City 10-1.  Lead AFC West, four clear of Las Vegas, season split.
3. Tennessee 8-3.  Lead AFC South, one clear of Indianapolis, season split.  See first tiebreaker below.
4. Buffalo 8-3, Lead AFC East, one clear of Miami, won first meeting.  See first tiebreaker below.
5. Cleveland 8-3, second AFC North, first WC outright.
6. Miami 7-4, second AFC East.  See second tiebreaker below.
7. Indianapolis 7-4, second AFC South.  See second tiebreaker below.
   

Tiebreakers:

First:  Tennessee vs. Buffalo for the 3-4 in the AFC.  You use wildcard tiebreakers.  Tennessee beat Buffalo 42-16 in Week 4.  Tennessee #3, Buffalo #4. 

Second:  The 6-7 in the AFC, Miami vs. Indianapolis.  Both teams are in.  Teams will not play each other this season.  AFC records:  Miami 4-3, Indianapolis 3-4.  Miami #6, Indy #7

Next out:  Baltimore and Las Vegas at 6-5.

First round:

Indianapolis at Kansas City

Miami at Tennessee

Cleveland at Buffalo

Pittsburgh clinches a playoff spot next week with a win or losses by Baltimore and Vegas.  (Possibly "or" on BAL/LV, per tiebreakers.  Either clinch the division or close with a win and a Cleveland loss.

Kansas City clinches the AFC West next week with a win and a Vegas loss.

NFC:

1. New Orleans 9-2.  Lead NFC South.  2 1/2 up and a season sweep over Tampa Bay.
2. Seattle 8-3.  Lead NFC West, one up on the Rams but lost the first meeting.  See first tiebreaker below.
3. Green Bay 8-3.  Lead NFC North, three up on Minnesota and Chicago.  Split Minnesota, just beat Chicago for the first time.  See first tiebreaker below.
4. And then the abortion of the NFC Least.  New York Giants 4-7, season sweep over Washington.
5. LA Rams 7-4
6. Tampa Bay 7-5
7. Arizona 6-5
   

Tiebreakers:

First:  Green Bay and Seattle for the 2-3 in the NFC.  They don't play this season.  NFC records:  6-2 each.

Next tiebreaker for them:  Common games, minimum four.  San Francisco:  Green Bay won, Seattle won.  Minnesota:  Green Bay split, Seattle won.  Philadelphia will apply next week once the Packers have played them.  Seattle won.  This tiebreaker, however, will not apply until Seattle has played San Francisco again Week 17.  Each team only has three.  So, by the end of the season, this tiebreaker will apply.  Seattle clinches this tiebreaker with a win over the 49ers or a loss by the Packers next week to Philadelphia.

For current reference:  The next tiebreaker gets into massive math.  Strength of victory, the records of the teams each team has defeated.  According to ESPN:  Seattle .438, Green Bay .420.  Seattle #2, Green Bay #3.

Second:  DO WE HAVE TO????  The Giants and Washington are 4-7 and that tie has to be broken.  Two of the four Giants wins, though, are against The Football Team.  The Giants barf their way into the #4.

Next out:  Chicago and Minnesota at 5-6.

First Round:

Arizona at Seattle

Tampa Bay at Green Bay

LA Rams at NY Giants

2020 NFL Week 12 Score Report

• Scoring average for the week:  47.3125 -- scoring definitely coming down the last three weeks.
• For the season (177 of a scheduled 256 games played):  8,771 points scored for an average of 49.554.

Record Watch:

Two seasons ago, the NFL had a record scoring season of an average of 46.727 points per game and a total of 11,962 points.

To break that record, the NFL needs 3,192 points in it's last 79 games (or adjust to taste if the coronavirus finally nails unimportant teams to the point games are called off).  That's an average of  40.41 PPG.

At the current season average, the record will be broken in the second game of Week 17.

The all-time per-game average is 47.2 -- and I forget the year it was done, but it was a year in which far fewer teams were in the NFL, and you'd have to pay Pro Football Reference to find out now.  grumbles 

The NFL is now 417 points ahead of THAT number, and that record would fall sometime in the early games of Week 17.

Scary thought:  This week was the third-lowest average of the year (there have been two other higher 47.3x averages).  It STILL beat the 47.2 record.

• Home teams were 6-10 for the week, 91-85-1 for the year.
• The Over was 6-10 this week, 88-85-4 for the year.
• Favorites:  5-10-1 against the Vegas spread.  73-98-3 for the year.
• Straight Up:  11-5.  115-58-1 for the season.
• Team with more penalties was actually 9-5 this week for 68-84-1 for the season.
• And, again, penalties are up as the scoring comes down.  195 penalties this week for 12.2 penalties per game.   2041 for the season, 11.5 per game.
• Three Cliffhangers (MIN TD 0:45 left, and NE and SF with field goals at the gun) this week.  33 for the year.
• Half the 16 games this week, eight, were within one score.
• 6 non-competitive games for 53 total.
• 3 Last Chance Misses for 56 total.
  

Day 263

• Beginning of practice for Golden State has been turned back after two Warriors have tested positive for the coronavirus.
• Dr. Fauci believes it will be another year before vaccines will get through to enough people that stadiums and arenas can start filling again.  And that's before you take into account all the FREE-DUMB types...   
• At least two college basketball games are off due to the virus.
• Two MORE Baltimore Raven positive tests -- that's TWENTY now????  And the game, supposedly, IS STILL ON for tomorrow afternoon!!!