The Bottom Ten/NFL Week 11
By Gaylon Kent
America’s Funniest Guy
With the bottom falling out in Denver, and both Green Bay and Houston losing star quarterbacks, the race for The Dan Henning Trophy – symbolic of NFL Bottom Ten supremacy – promises to provide even more of the week in, week out drama Bottom Ten fan(s) have come to expect over the years.
And that doesn’t even factor in the fact there are still two (2) winless teams, which has sent the Bottom Ten pollsters scrambling to see what the Bottom Ten bylaws have to say about a tiebreaker, which they will do as they find the Bottom Ten bylaws.
This week’s fiasco, as the nags continue to limp up the backstretch:
1. San Francisco 49ers (0-9; lost to Arizona 20-10) – With Browns enjoying bye week, Niners get to strut stuff, test-driving B-10 top spot …49ers have lost ten (10) straight and 24 of 25 and are the 31st NFL team to start season 0-9…Next Loss: New York Giants
2. New York Giants (1-7; lost to Los Angeles Rams 51-17) – Giants come back strong from bye week, setting up showdown with 49ers with blowout home loss…Though defense taking bows, offense contributes three (3) turnovers while special teams chips in blocked punt…Next Loss: at San Francisco
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-6; lost to New Orleans 30-10) – Strong start key, as Bucs produce 33 rushing yards, zero (0) red zone trips in first half…Sunday’s game against up-and-down Jets key, as Tampa Bay cannot get caught playing up to their opponents level…Current five (5)-game skid still best amongst victoried NFL teams……Next Loss: New York (A)
4. Denver Broncos (3-5; lost to Philadelphia 51-23) – Broncos sinking like a stone with fourth straight loss…Denver with excellent opportunity to establish national B-10 identity with prime-time loss Sunday…Next Loss: New England
5. Cincinnati Bengals (3-5; lost to Jacksonville 23-7) – Never say die Bengals followup one-point win with inspiring blowout loss to former B-10 stalwart Jaguars…With losable game this week, Bengals cannot get caught looking ahead to upcoming showdowns with Broncos, Browns…Next Loss: at Tennessee
6. Green Bay Packers (4-4; lost to Detroit 30-17) – Packers taking advantage of injury to star quarterback to construct unexpected B-10 run with third straight loss…Defense rounding into form, too, giving up average of 27.5 points in last four (4) games…Next Loss: at Chicago
7. Houston Texans (3-5; lost to Indianapolis 20-14) – Texan fan(s) hoping clutch home, divisional loss sets tone for strong second half B-10 run…Inspired offense spends entire game punting or missing field goals until last two drives when they shake things up by scoring touchdown, fumbling…Next Loss: at Los Angeles (N)
8. Indianapolis at Houston – B-10 Game of the Year nominee, as video of first half overnighted to Hall of Fame as Colts and Texans tag team for eight (8) punts, one (1) fumble and a missed field goal…Teams combine for three (3) trips to red zone…Typically, neither team able to score.
9. AFC South (16-17) – Though two (2) teams have winning records and division lacks glamour of winless team, AFC South still easy pick for weekly Pete Rozelle Award – issued to league’s worst division…Football Hall of Fame being out on notice to receive more video from remaining intra-divisional thrillers.
10. United States – Race is on to see if once-proud nation shoots itself to death first or collapses due to other factors – like perpetual war and crushing debt – before that.
This Week’s Clash of the Titans: New York (N) at San Francisco
Even Don Criqui Is Going To This One: New York (N) at San Francisco
