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Friday, Nov 27, 2009
NFL Week 11: Can the Colts go undefeated? Sure! But they'll lose to the Bengals Sunday.
Nov 18, 2005 | The Indianapolis Colts are officially a team with a chance for an undefeated season. I know this because the NFL led off its press box notes this week with a list of teams that have started a season 9-0. There are 21 of them, including two AFL teams and this year's Colts.
I'd like to offer $1 million to charity if the Colts go undefeated, but because I wanted to be more generous than a certain shoe company I'm already on the hook for $2 million if Peyton Manning and a few other guys average about a touchdown pass every five throws for the rest of the season, so I'd better not risk it.
But the Colts aren't going undefeated, he said in a statement so far from going out on a limb that the tree hasn't even been planted.
OK, here's a limb-walk: The Colts aren't making it to 10-0 because I'm picking them to lose in Cincinnati Sunday. And not even for any good reason beyond a trick knee and Ickey Woods coming to me in a waking dream and saying, "Bengals ... Bengals ... Bengals."
At least I think that's what he said. Just in case, I'm picking Cincy, but I also bought a dozen bagels and a used copy of "All Over the Place." You can't get this kind of analysis just anywhere.
And here's an update on the RBK Touchdown Challenge, in which Reebok promised to give $1 million to charity if a handpicked team of six NFL quarterbacks combined to throw 207 touchdown passes -- a virtually impossible assignment, which is why I doubled the offer: With nine games down and seven to go for all teams, the six quarterbacks have thrown 82 touchdown passes, so they're on pace to throw 146. Darn! Only 61 short of the mark.
Onward to the games of Week 11, in which the NFL returns to a full, 16-game schedule. No more bye weeks. Predicted winners in capital letters:
Philadelphia (4-5) at N.Y. GIANTS (6-3): Can you remember a season pivoting on one play the way the Eagles' season did on Roy Williams' interception Monday night? I can't. The Eagles, 4-4 and in last place in the NFC East, badly needed a win over the Dallas Cowboys to stay above .500, stay in the playoff race, get out of the cellar, and prove to themselves that they had turned the page on the Terrell Owens mess and could win without him.
