Football -- Stars Hang On: This weekend had plenty of exciting games, where the underdogs gave the stars scares. The problem for those who wanted to see some upsets was that time and time again the star scored at the end of the game to tie or win (and each time the star won in OT). Among this group was (a bit ironically) the Jets, who played one of the few teams worse off than them, the Jaguars. The exception (other than Chicago, who beat the slipping Broncos) might have been the Ravens (who lost 9-6 last week), who manufactured a late Fourth Quarter drive, after being down seventeen points (tying things up at the end of regulation), winning in OT. On the other hand, Seattle is not exactly one of your elite division leaders. Still, allowing the Ravens to score over forty points is a bit sad.

And, sigh, we have the NY Giants. The Giants (4-7) might have did their fans a favor by basically eliminating themselves by losing the game against Tampa Bay (5-6), who now (given an easy schedule) have kept their slim hopes alive. The Giants lost another game in their now predictable fashion; the second Monday Night Game wherein they embarassed themselves. The final was 19-13. Let's see. From what I saw, the First Half and much of the Second (glutton for punishment, I), they had at least two Red Zone turnovers (one ending the First Half, after another impressive drive went for naught -- this happened over, and over, and over again this season) that could have gave them at least six points. As we shall see, that could have meant a 19-17 win for the Giants. On the other hand, one of Tampa Bay's scores occurred because of three penalties by the Giants that gave them around half of their yardage.

The worse came at the end. Hoping to clinch the game, Tampa Bay took a time out before the two minute warning on Fourth and inches (instead of letting the time run out and play the down after the warning), and couldn't convert. This gave the Giants some precious time and the ball. They managed -7yd. Two minute warning and Fourth Down. What to do? Well, with the ball on your own three and fourth and seventeen (or so), going for it is risky, especially if you are the Losers (oh, I mean the Giants). A safety, a move that the Pats used to their advantage a few weeks back, is an idea. You can go for the onside and even if you don't get it (likely), you have a time out to stop the clock. You'd have something less than a minute left. What do the Giants do? The safety ... but they waste thier remaining timeout, after having the warning to think about it. No recovery. Time expires on downs.

The fact the final was as close as it was suggests that Tampa Bay is not much better, but this game is typical of the Giants ... UGLY. Bad is one thing, but these guys show just enough to make you think they should win (you know, they are due), and then they get ya. It's like a sadistic game of rope and dope. I'm just glad I'm not a big basketball fan ... watching the Knicks do a version of this many times a week would be just too much.

In honor of TMQ, the ESPN football guy fired for putting his foot in his mouth, I offer this.