choke city

Making fun of other teams for choking away games is WAY more enjoyable when your team doesn't choke away the game.

There were several opportunities for both the Chiefs and Raiders to decisively win yesterday. Bowe had a pass go through his hands that would have let KC run out the clock. Later, with 24 seconds left in regulation, instead of holding on to an interception, Flowers deflects a pass to the Raiders receiver which sets up the game-tying field goal. Not to mention all the chances in the 2nd quarter to get a bigger lead.

So now the Chiefs are still in first but only at 5-3. Remaining schedule:

Home: Cardinals, Broncos, Titans, Raiders
Away: Broncos, Seahawks, Chargers, Rams

10-6 is possible, but doesn't look as easy given the Chiefs 1-3 road record.

Hmmm...what can cheer me up?

- - -

How about making fun of the Lions?

With 9 minutes left in the 3rd, they score a touchdown taking the lead at 13-10 over the Jets. (To that point the only Jets offense was a 74-yarder to Braylon Edwards right before halftime.) But the Lions kicker was injured two plays prior.

It would seem your two options would be to send out the only other "kicking player"--your punter--to kick the PAT, or go for two.

But the Lions spit in the face of conventional wisdom. They want to kick the PAT, but in style. They send out 300-lb defensive lineman Suh. He's their backup kicker, of course! He doinks it off the upright. It's okay, there's not much difference between a 3-point lead and a 4-point lead in the NFL. I'm sure it won't come back to haunt them.

With 7 minutes to go in the 4th, the Lions D forces a punt. Now Detroit has the ball, up 10, at home in the closing minutes. At this point I actually said, "that's a shame, I was hoping that Suh extra point would matter."

On 2nd down, Stafford scrambles--and his shoulder is scrambled eggs. In comes Drew Stanton. Punt. Jets TD.

Lions get ball with 2:40. Run, run, incomplete, punt.

Jets get ball with under 2 minutes, drive down field including a personal foul on Lions. They get to the 18-yard line with 4 seconds left. Good thing they're only down 3. Field goal, overtime, Jets win in OT.

- - -

I do feel better now.