December 3rd- 38's their number. Three weeks in a row, they score 38 points. Mike Anderson's
number is 38. Jimmy Spencer had to comp out 38 tickets for
friends and family. Griese's blood alcohol level was .38. Eerie.
This was a very watchable game. There's always something appealing to me about the Saints.
Hey, I was even stupid enough to pick the Saints and the Broncos to both go to the Super Bowl
in 1992. The Broncos haven't played the Saints since 1994, and haven't played
them in Naw'lens since the late 80's. Heck, last time they played an NFL game on this field was
one of the worst moments for this franchise. You may remember that game.. a couple of dudes named
Montana and Rice played catch all afternoon and set a few records, to the tune of 55-10. Before this day was done,
the Broncos had done their best to erase those nasty New Orleans memories, and set
a record of their own in the process.
Saints were, alledgedly, the best defense in the NFL. Of course, any team that gets to play
the Falcons and 49ers twice in one year, can easily run up cooshy stats. Plus, any defense that
features a dude named "Hand" as their best player just does not intimidate ya. Still, Naw'lens
is one of those teams we Donkey followers don't get to see much. Add in a spanking new
second year QB (Aaron Brooks), and you've got a very interesting matchup. So, I had no
idea how this game would unfold.
Gusamania was present, but was not running wild, brutha. Mike Anderson did all the running, to the
tune of 251 yards. Unbelieveable. By the time halftime rolled around, he had already
scored three TDs, and notched 130-some yards. His most impressive run had to be TD #3. He
was bumped by Joe Johnson in the backfield, balanced himself with his hand, and quickly sprinted
off left tackle for a 12 yd TD. Too easy, and the rook just could not stop smiling all day.
When it was all over, Mike Anderson had set a new Broncos rushing record, for yardage and TDs. He also
set an overall NFL rookie record for single game
yardage, besting Dillon's old record. He also went over 1,000 and, for the third year in a row, a different RB has broken
that barrier for the Broncos. This time, Anderson broke Olandis Gary's rookie record
for season yardage, set last year. Very impressive, for a rookie part time starter.
Anderson should not only be considered for Rookie of the Year, but
NFL Player of the Year (MVP), as well. Without him, this team would be
going nowhere.
Perhaps the most
impressive thing is how Anderson got these yards: by banging and bulling his way through the
defense. He had a few breakaways, but none of those cheap pitch-left 80 yard scampers,
made famous by Bo Jackson in the late 80's. Nope, the majority of Anderson's
yards developed from simple off tackle, or gut plays. In other words, that's a damn
good offensive line the Broncos have.
While Anderson was entering himself into the the record books,
Mike Shanahan was doing his best to get the Broncos OUT of the
record books. It seemed like he was set on Anderson breaking Corey Dillon's new single-game rushing record.
Set, against these Broncos, in the "Worst Episode Ever". When asked about it after the game,
Trevor Pryce was quoted as saying "aw man, he only needed thirty more yards!"
For the Saints, they had some moments of their own. Aaron Brooks broke Archie Manning's
single-game Saints passing record, with 400-some yards. I'm not sure, but holding a record for the
Saints is like holding the record for "most hot dogs eaten at the Wal-Mart snack bar". It might
sound cool.. but nobody in their right mind would admit to it. The passing numbers might
sound impressive, but the Saints only had about 28 on the ground. Offensive tackle Kyle Turley
even got in on the fun, as he caught a deflection and ran for about 12 yards. Fat guys just don't
catch enough balls, dammit! Broke throw two picks late in the game, to
Eric Brown and Jimmy Spencer. But those were basically garbage INTs.
While the Saints had a respectable outing, this team just isn't ready
to challenge the Vikings or Bucs for NFC supremacy. The Saints flirted with the playoffs and
the division title in the early 90's, but always folded in the playoffs.
Everybody loves a loser, so let's hope these
Saints have finally shaken their embarassment and go on to brighter days. Even if their coach, Jim
Haslett, looks like Barney Rubble.
Don't look now, but the Broncos have quietly racked up one of the best records in the AFC. Second
only to their bitch, Oakland. They have the tie breaker with the Raiders, so a division title
is not out of the question. Even as the first wildcard seed, they would have a tie breaker over the
Jets and might even have a better conference record than Baltimore. Hell, all I know is this:
if they beat Seattle this weekend, they're IN. Yes, this team still doesn't look too
impressive.. but neither do the Titans, who have to result to Al Del Greco to get them on the
scoreboard. Colts seem to be losing steam, plus they have Jim Mora. The Raiders are the
Broncos' bitch. The Jets have Vinny... no QB named Vinny has ever been to a Super Bowl
(Vince Ferragamo went by VINCE, not Vinny..so don't get technical on me). The only team that
could legitimately give the Broncos problems is Baltimore. ...and they have Trent Dilfer.
I'm not confident, but a decent playoff run could be in the works. As long as the
HULK SMASH Broncos show up, and not the Puny Banner Broncos. In fact, this is the first year
in awhile that I have not been able to score tickets to a Broncos game. I hope I can
save my luck until January and score some home playoff tickets (hint to all you
Xmas shoppers and/or aspiring female suitors for ES).
FINAL CUTS
Fantasy football junkies rejoice! Four RBs went over 200 yds this weekend. That's just
strange. Just like baseball, where the offensive stats have shot up in the past five years,
football now seems to have the same problem. Offensive records seem to break with
greater and greater frequency, nowadays. You could mark the 1994
season, when the chuck rule was modifed, as the turning point.
What's the NFL's excuse? They can't say
"the ball's juiced", like MLB followers contend. .. || ... I don't know what I'd
do without ESPN's superb "NFL Primetime". Not only do I mark out everytime I see
former Donkey LB Tom Jackson co-hosting the nation's best highlight show, but these
guys actually (gasp!) UNDERSTAND the game and its history! Fantastic package they ran on
the Steelers-Raiders game. They even managed to slip in a reference to "Jefferson Street"
Joe Gilliam. Now that's doing your homework!... Norv Turner gets canned?
Six years late, if you ask me. How else do you have a head coach pick Heath Shuler
with his top pick and survive for SIX years??...||... Lou Groza R.I.P....||..
Did you see those guys in the stands with "We LUV Melissa Stark" signs, on MNF? Hey,
I called it back in September, she's a PACKAGE. I'm a prophet, I tell ya!...
