thedrifter
04-07-06, 09:43 AM
Christmas cheer, Thanksgiving feasts and more great games
April 6, 2006
By Pete Prisco
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Tell Pete your opinion!
Judge: Schedule worsts
Ho, ho, ho, the Eagles get T.O.
The NFL gives us a holiday treat in 2006 as new Dallas Cowboys star Terrell Owens gets to face his old team, the Philadelphia Eagles, for the second time on Christmas Day. The first meeting will come Oct. 8 when the Cowboys travel to Philadelphia.
he NFL released its schedule Thursday -- hasn't that become a holiday, too? -- and the two Owens-Eagles games stand out among the slate. The Christmas Day game is really good because we'll all get to see it, a nice diversion from putting together kids' toys or listening to Aunt Fannie tell stories about her childhood for the umpteenth time.
Too bad the Christmas game isn't in Philly. That's the city where fans once booed Santa Claus, as well as Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin when he stayed on the turf with a neck injury.
We could have had a holiday double-dip. Then again, since it was Christmas maybe the Eagles fans would go easy.
Not a chance.
Owens helped lead the Eagles to the Super Bowl in 2004, and then had the nightmare season last year that ended when the Eagles basically told him to go home. It included a rip-job on Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb and led to a city turning on Owens and his me-first ways.
Now with a belly full of food and an eggnog buzz we can watch as Owens tries to beat his former team, probably with a playoff berth at stake.
Ho, ho, ho, let's hope nobody kills T.O.
Here are nine other can't-miss games.
Week 1: San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals
Why the heck is this on here? This is the first regular-season game in the Cardinals' new state-of-the-art stadium. It has a retractable roof, which means the torrid Arizona heat won't be a factor. That's why the Cardinals have an opener scheduled at home for the first time since they moved to Arizona in 1988.
Maybe that change will help them finally win a division title. It's also the debut of Edgerrin James in a Cardinals uniform in a game that counts.
Week 1: Indianapolis Colts at the New York Giants
It's the Manning Bowl, Peyton against Eli. Both quarterbacks have good teams around them, which makes this even better. Peyton opens his season with hopes of his first Super Bowl. Eli opens with hopes of moving closer to his brother's level. It's not an easy opener for either of them, but the fact that it's in New York will put more pressure on Eli.
The game will be the first Sunday night game for NBC, which puts it even more in the spotlight. What's the over-under on cuts to Archie in the stands?
Week 3: Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints
This Monday night game will be the first regular-season game in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina. That will set up an emotional night in the Big Easy. Adding to it will be the fact that these two teams are bitter rivals and their fans don't like each other. Both teams' fans travel to the other team's site for away games, which makes for even more fun.
This will be a special night in the Superdome.
Week 9: Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots
When these teams meet, the game has to be on the list. The Colts got rid of the New England demon last year when they blew out the Patriots in Foxboro. Even so, this still has a lot of intrigue.
It's Peyton Manning against Tom Brady, which is always good theater. Plus, these are two of the five best teams in the league.
Week 11: Minnesota Vikings at Miami Dolphins
This is the Daunte Bowl. The Vikings traded quarterback Daunte Culpepper to the Dolphins last month in large part because new coach Brad Childress didn't feel comfortable with him. After the trade, Childress had some not-so-nice things to say about Culpepper. Now the quarterback gets his get-even moment.
The Vikings might want to send him a chartered boat as a pregame gift. Maybe a little dice throwing while watching his teammates frolic with strippers can help the Vikings.
Week 11: New York Giants at Jacksonville Jaguars
This Monday night game features the return of coach Tom Coughlin to Jacksonville. Coughlin, the Giants' coach, will face his former team for the first time since he took over in New York. Coughlin was the Jaguars first coach and was fired after the 2002 season, despite taking the team to two AFC Championship games. When he left, he was bitter and angry that owner Wayne Weaver didn't give him another year. He still has a beach house in the city.
Both of these teams went to the playoffs last year and both have a chance to go deeper this year.
Week 12: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs
This is intriguing because it's a Thanksgiving night game. For the first time, the NFL will televise three Turkey Day games. This is also the first game televised by The NFL Network, which makes it historic for another reason. Plus, these teams don't like each other.
It's a nice way to end a chow-a-thon that day. But doesn't turkey make you tired? Here's hoping we can last.
Week 15: Pittsburgh Steelers at Carolina Panthers
These are the two best teams in their conferences heading into the season. The Panthers have made a lot of improvements since the end of the 2005 season and the Steelers are the Super Bowl champs.
Both teams play tough, hard-nosed football. This will be a throwback game, featuring a lot of running plays and some nasty hits. It could be over in 2½ hours.
Week 17: Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals
When Steelers coach Bill Cowher mocked the Bengals with his "Who-Dey?" chant, a reference to the Bengals' rap tune from last season, it put even more juice into this rivalry. This will be the first time Cowher and the Steelers come to Cincinnati since his post-Super Bowl dis. You can bet Bengals fans will be ready.
Don't forget: Cincinnati won the AFC North last year, not the Steelers. It burned them to lose in the playoffs at home and then watch the Steelers win it all. Not only that, but it was the Steelers who knocked out quarterback Carson Palmer in that game with a major knee injury. This is a great game to end the season for these two.
Ellie
April 6, 2006
By Pete Prisco
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Tell Pete your opinion!
Judge: Schedule worsts
Ho, ho, ho, the Eagles get T.O.
The NFL gives us a holiday treat in 2006 as new Dallas Cowboys star Terrell Owens gets to face his old team, the Philadelphia Eagles, for the second time on Christmas Day. The first meeting will come Oct. 8 when the Cowboys travel to Philadelphia.
he NFL released its schedule Thursday -- hasn't that become a holiday, too? -- and the two Owens-Eagles games stand out among the slate. The Christmas Day game is really good because we'll all get to see it, a nice diversion from putting together kids' toys or listening to Aunt Fannie tell stories about her childhood for the umpteenth time.
Too bad the Christmas game isn't in Philly. That's the city where fans once booed Santa Claus, as well as Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin when he stayed on the turf with a neck injury.
We could have had a holiday double-dip. Then again, since it was Christmas maybe the Eagles fans would go easy.
Not a chance.
Owens helped lead the Eagles to the Super Bowl in 2004, and then had the nightmare season last year that ended when the Eagles basically told him to go home. It included a rip-job on Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb and led to a city turning on Owens and his me-first ways.
Now with a belly full of food and an eggnog buzz we can watch as Owens tries to beat his former team, probably with a playoff berth at stake.
Ho, ho, ho, let's hope nobody kills T.O.
Here are nine other can't-miss games.
Week 1: San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals
Why the heck is this on here? This is the first regular-season game in the Cardinals' new state-of-the-art stadium. It has a retractable roof, which means the torrid Arizona heat won't be a factor. That's why the Cardinals have an opener scheduled at home for the first time since they moved to Arizona in 1988.
Maybe that change will help them finally win a division title. It's also the debut of Edgerrin James in a Cardinals uniform in a game that counts.
Week 1: Indianapolis Colts at the New York Giants
It's the Manning Bowl, Peyton against Eli. Both quarterbacks have good teams around them, which makes this even better. Peyton opens his season with hopes of his first Super Bowl. Eli opens with hopes of moving closer to his brother's level. It's not an easy opener for either of them, but the fact that it's in New York will put more pressure on Eli.
The game will be the first Sunday night game for NBC, which puts it even more in the spotlight. What's the over-under on cuts to Archie in the stands?
Week 3: Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints
This Monday night game will be the first regular-season game in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina. That will set up an emotional night in the Big Easy. Adding to it will be the fact that these two teams are bitter rivals and their fans don't like each other. Both teams' fans travel to the other team's site for away games, which makes for even more fun.
This will be a special night in the Superdome.
Week 9: Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots
When these teams meet, the game has to be on the list. The Colts got rid of the New England demon last year when they blew out the Patriots in Foxboro. Even so, this still has a lot of intrigue.
It's Peyton Manning against Tom Brady, which is always good theater. Plus, these are two of the five best teams in the league.
Week 11: Minnesota Vikings at Miami Dolphins
This is the Daunte Bowl. The Vikings traded quarterback Daunte Culpepper to the Dolphins last month in large part because new coach Brad Childress didn't feel comfortable with him. After the trade, Childress had some not-so-nice things to say about Culpepper. Now the quarterback gets his get-even moment.
The Vikings might want to send him a chartered boat as a pregame gift. Maybe a little dice throwing while watching his teammates frolic with strippers can help the Vikings.
Week 11: New York Giants at Jacksonville Jaguars
This Monday night game features the return of coach Tom Coughlin to Jacksonville. Coughlin, the Giants' coach, will face his former team for the first time since he took over in New York. Coughlin was the Jaguars first coach and was fired after the 2002 season, despite taking the team to two AFC Championship games. When he left, he was bitter and angry that owner Wayne Weaver didn't give him another year. He still has a beach house in the city.
Both of these teams went to the playoffs last year and both have a chance to go deeper this year.
Week 12: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs
This is intriguing because it's a Thanksgiving night game. For the first time, the NFL will televise three Turkey Day games. This is also the first game televised by The NFL Network, which makes it historic for another reason. Plus, these teams don't like each other.
It's a nice way to end a chow-a-thon that day. But doesn't turkey make you tired? Here's hoping we can last.
Week 15: Pittsburgh Steelers at Carolina Panthers
These are the two best teams in their conferences heading into the season. The Panthers have made a lot of improvements since the end of the 2005 season and the Steelers are the Super Bowl champs.
Both teams play tough, hard-nosed football. This will be a throwback game, featuring a lot of running plays and some nasty hits. It could be over in 2½ hours.
Week 17: Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals
When Steelers coach Bill Cowher mocked the Bengals with his "Who-Dey?" chant, a reference to the Bengals' rap tune from last season, it put even more juice into this rivalry. This will be the first time Cowher and the Steelers come to Cincinnati since his post-Super Bowl dis. You can bet Bengals fans will be ready.
Don't forget: Cincinnati won the AFC North last year, not the Steelers. It burned them to lose in the playoffs at home and then watch the Steelers win it all. Not only that, but it was the Steelers who knocked out quarterback Carson Palmer in that game with a major knee injury. This is a great game to end the season for these two.
Ellie