Leyden's Log - Week Eleven

A New Moon has risen and Week 11 offers a full slate of 16 NFL games. With Tennessee in Houston, Indy in Baltimore and the Cardinals playing St. Louis, it's true you can go home again.

Inside This Edition:

Scalping a Cowboy
Calling All Turkey Nominees
The Magic of Manning’s Jersey
Where’s Ed Hochuli this week?
Junior turns the Big 4-0!


QUESTION OF THE WEEK

In the mascot wars, only two answers were worthy of points – this ain’t no charity case!

Grant Nodine from the Big Apple is all-inclusive with, “A Chief would order one of his Redskins to scalp a Cowboy as he was distracted while roping a Colt and a Bronco. Later an Eagle, a Seahawk, and a Falcon would eat the dead Cowboy's guts.” I’ll give Grant ¼ point for every mascot mentioned.

Matt Boyer of Oakland Township, MI continues his offensive assault with, “The Lions would definitely eat the Washington Redskins. Sadly, food poisoning would set in & they would be trampled by all other mascots.” Factually correct and entertaining as well. Genius. Three points!


THIS WEEK’S QUESTION

Time for the Thanksgiving Log Awards – Who do you nominate for Turkey of the Year?

Send responses via e-mail to tleyden@wxyz.com, via Facebook or via Twitter @TomLeyden


SONG OF THE WEEK

New Moon, you saw me LOGGING alone...


FOUR TOPS The best four games of the week

Kudos to the NFL schedule gurus. The Titans go back to Houston on the same week the Colts travel to Baltimore and the Cardinals host St. Louis. Knowingly or not, Howard Katz and Mike North got every relocation of the last 27 years covered in three games. Next suggestion? Expansion Week. Seattle/Tampa, Jacksonville/Carolina, Houston/Cleveland.

The Colts ride the wave of Bill Belichick’s ego into Baltimore looking to make it 19 straight regular season wins. Indy hasn’t lost to its Maryland replacement since 2001, rolling up six consecutive Ws over the Ravens. Is this the week lady luck runs dry? To me, Baltimore looks like a team that will finish 9-7 or 8-8, wondering how it blew this season. Indy this week, Pittsburgh next week, @ Green Bay the first week of December. They’ll be fortunate to enter Week 14 with a 6-6 record. Incredible for a team I thought would battle for the Super Bowl this year.

I’ll keep punching my Texan card because Houston never lets me down in the Four Tops. The Texans are 3-1 in their last four and coming off a bye. More importantly, they have turned an important corner – they’re a legitimate addition to postseason discussion for the first time in franchise history. Tennessee hasn’t lost since Jeff Fisher donned the Peyton Manning jersey (is Jim Schwartz close behind?) The Titan offense has been rejuvenated by Vince Young, averaging 35 points a game since being shut out in New England last month. This one is definitely worth a watch Monday night.

Truth be told, I probably wouldn’t throw St. Louis at Arizona in the Four Tops under normal circumstances, but this being Old Home Week, why not? The Rams found a pulse in Detroit and kept it going with a worthy effort against New Orleans. Can they keep it going on the road in Arizona against a Cardinals squad that seems to be on track? Kurt Warner has won the last five games against his old team and signs point to a sixth, but I’ve learned a few things in my time watching this game: Warner sometimes lays an egg, the Rams sometimes show up out of nowhere and teams with a bruising running back (Stephen Jackson) always have a puncher’s chance. Not saying St. Louis wins, but I think it’s close either way.

We wrap up the Four Tops in Foxboro, where the Pats are an angry bunch. Couple last week’s 4th down debacle with Week 2’s loss at the Meadowlands and there’s some pent-up frustration in the New England locker room. Whoa – weren’t the Jets 3-0 and the cat’s meow at one point? Since September, Gang Green is 1-5 and hearing the “Same Old Jets” whispers. I’ll say this – despite the struggles, New York plays close games and that’s all we’re gunning for here in the Four Tops. Considering all factors, this runs the risk of getting ugly (New England Big as Jimmy the Greek would say), but I’m throwing my hat in the ring.


HOW’D I DO? Grading last week’s Four Tops

Bengals/Steelers – If you like FGs, yes. Close games, yes. If you like up and down action, no. B

Lions/Vikings – When will I learn? D

Cowboys/Packers – Somebody must have spiked my Corn Flakes. D

Pats/Colts – At least I didn’t blow the layup. A

Season totals – 22 A’s, 7 B’s, 6 C’s, 3 D’s, 2 F’s


OVERTIME Other games to watch

Niners/Packers – Desmond Howard returns punts. Terrell Owens catches last-second touchdown passes.

Steelers/Chiefs – The Len Dawson Bowl.

Falcons/Giants – Atlanta hasn’t lost at the Meadowlands in thirty years (5-0)

Eagles/Bears – Let the fog roll in.

Chargers/Broncos – Is Ed Hochuli reffing this game?


HOT

Skins/Cowboys, Hawks/Vikes, Saints/Bucs, to trot.

NOT

Browns/Lions, Bills/Jags, Bengals/Raiders, my problem.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Kerry Malzewski, Julie Luzarraga, Sarah Barry, Jeff Blevins, Jim Boddy, Andrew Benway, Andrew Fink, Corey Hagood, Erin Jacob, Jeanne Garofalo, Turk McNamara, Alex Cleland, Jennifer Chittick, Julie Temple Stan and Ken Griffey, Jr, who turns 40 this Saturday.