250 News | Hartley Miller’s Slap-Shots Nov. 16, 2012

Hartley Miller’s Slap-Shots Nov. 16, 2012

Friday, November 16, 2012 @ 3:45 AM

The NFL season has passed the midway point with just seven Sundays remaining in the regular
season.

It’s become apparent that teams such as Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco & Green Bay (NFC); Houston, Baltimore, New England, Pittsburgh and Denver (AFC) appear to be playoff teams. If we include 6-3 Indy that would leave just two NFC spots left.

Naturally this can change depending on an unexpected winning streak from a team like Cincinnati or a losing streak from a team like Pittsburgh.

As we gear up for the home stretch here are some of my observations:

Best team: Houston. The Texans are 8-1, including 4-0 on the road. Houston made its leap to the top when they beat the Bears playing Bears football in miserable conditions in Chicago.

Most surprising team: Indianapolis. They have already tripled last season’s win total. The Colts will have to overcome a more difficult schedule to grab a wild card spot.

Worst team: Jacksonville. The 1-8 Jaguars are 0-5 at home. They have been been embarrassed and outscored 153-44 in their five home games, all losses.

Most disappointing team: Philadelphia. The much hyped Eagles have lost five straight and are in turmoil with a 3-6 record.

MVP: Peyton Manning. He leads the NFL in QB rating (108), has thrown 21 touchdown passes to just six interceptions and has elevated Denver from a middle of the road team to an elite one.

Top defensive player: JJ Watt. The Houston defensive end is a one man wrecking crew. He has sacked the opposing quarterback 10.5 times which is more than the entire Jacksonville team.

Comeback player: Peyton Manning/Adrian Peterson. Virtual tie. If the Vikings make the playoffs Peterson, the league’s leading rusher with 1128 yards, will also challenge Peyton for MVP honors.

Rookie of the Year: Andrew Luck. No luck about it that the Colts QB (8^th in the league in passing yards) gets the nod over Washington’s RGIII and Tampa running back Doug Martin.

Coach of the Year: Gary Kubiak. It was only a couple of years ago his job was on the line with the Texans. Now Houston rates as the odds on favorite to get to the Super Bowl from the AFC.

Ugliest moment: Packers-Seahawks ending. The only good that came from the final game of week three was that the debacle at the end of this game forced the owners to bring back the regular referees.

Elite quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning,
Drew Brees and Ben Roethlisberger.

2^nd tier of quarterbacks: Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Tony Romo, Phillip Rivers, Matt Schaub, Matthew Stafford and Andrew Luck.

Most disappointing quarterback: Matt Cassel. The Chiefs are just 1-8 in part due to Cassel’s ineffectiveness. He has just six touchdown passes along with 12 interceptions and a paltry QB rating of 66.6.

Most inspirational moment: Cancer struck Coach Chuck Pagano entering the Colts dressing room and speaking to his team following a week nine victory over Miami on Nov 4^th.

Mr. Irrelevant: Tim Tebow. Does anyone remember him?

—–

Approximately 4,440 Prince George sports fans combined to watch the Prince George Cougars, P.G. Spruce Kings and UNBC Timberwolves play on Saturday (Nov 10). It’s the only time this season those teams are scheduled to play in P.G. on the same night.

A crowd of 1,853 (plus 43 dogs) witnessed the Edmonton Oil Kings 4-2 victory over the Cougars at CN Centre in a spirited game that produced the exact same result as the previous night.
(The Cougars also lost the next day in Vancouver 4-3 in a shootout)

At the Coliseum, 1431 fans watched the Prince George Spruce Kings worst home effort of the season, a 7-3 loss to Victoria where the Grizzlies scored four times on the power-play.

Up the hill at the Northern Sport Centre, an estimated crowd of 1,100 was thoroughly entertained as CIS basketball lived up to the hype. The UNBC women beat TWU 62-54 for their second straight victory while the TWU men came from behind to knock off the Timberwolves 103-100 in overtime to gain a weekend split. The men’s basketball game featured many late lead changes, clutch shots, superb athletic plays and unparalleled drama over the final 10 minutes.

Perhaps 10 years ago there might have been upwards of 4,400 just at the Cougars game but in this era, these attendance figures for three events, each with its own fan base, reconfirmed that while the entertainment dollar remains at a premium, Prince George does indeed remain a SPORTS TOWN.

From the quote rack:

A study says that people who live close to bars tend to drink more. A similar study says that people who live near the Air Canada Centre tend to be depressed more.

Comedy writer Jim Barach (http://jokesbyjim.blogspot.com/)

Actress Alicia Silverstone wants fans to invest in an eco-friendly sex toy called The Leaf. It’s not to be confused with the Toronto Maple Leafs, who don’t stimulate anyone.

Winnipeg’s new football stadium reportedly has 150 seats with obstructed views. Having watched the 2012 Bombers, that’s not nearly enough.
Comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com

The Calgary Stampeders beat the Saskatchewan Roughriders despite their quarterback Drew Tate showing signs of concussion. Asked if he felt concussed Tate replied “Tuesday”.

I just can’t get enough of the Toronto Maple Leafs even during the lockout season. Mats Sundin was the latest. Who will be the next Hall of Famer not to lead the Leafs to the Stanley Cup?
Contributor Derek Wilken of Calgaryhttp://smacksport.blogspot.com

NY Jets CB Antonio Cromartie guaranteed the Jets will be playing in the 2012 postseason. What, like he guaranteed the eight mothers of his children that he wouldn’t get them pregnant?

The word from folks associated with the Los Angeles Lakers is that Phil Jackson thought the job was his: “I know just how you feel” said Mitt Romney.

Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, Californiawww.leftcoastsportsbabe.com

Mike Trout became the first Angel to win Rookie of the Year since Tim Salmon. Think their scouts used the same bait?

Bruce Bochy’s car ran out of gas during the Giants’ victory parade—someone said it was a Toyota Ver-lander.

Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California

And in case you missed it:

Washington State has voted to legalize pot. Cheech & Chong have been signed to every Mariners home game next season to sing “Toke Me Out to the Ball Game.”
Comedy writer TC Chong of Vancouver (http://alwaysfunny.com/)

Hartley Miller is the sports director for radio stations 94X and the Wolf@97fm. He also writes for the PG Free Press. Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to hmiller@94xfm.com.

Hartley Miller’s Slap-Shots Nov. 16, 2012

From the quote rack:

And in case you missed it:

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