The Dolphins Do it to the Bears Again and Other Week Nine Observations

I guess it's a good thing I didn't get to publish my week nine NFL selections last week because I was undoubtedly going to write something negative about my beloved Miami Dolphins - like the fact that, if they scored 10 points against the Chicago Bears, I would immediately go into some sort of cardiac arrest (although I think I did anyway).

So what happened this past Sunday?

Of course, the Dolphins annihilated the Bears, at home no less, giving them their first defeat of the season and once again ruining their chances at an undefeated season (although that clearly was not going to happen anyway) and rendering me totally dumbfounded in the process (which isn't a first).

Now, the members of the 1972 Dolphins, the only undefeated team in the history of the NFL, only have to worry about the Indianapolis Colts this season and once again, they can thank a current Dolphins team for eliminating a team that appeared to be a legitimate threat to their longstanding record.

The Bears can't make any excuses either. They have only themselves to blame for the lopsided 31-13 loss to a Miami team that entered the game with a 1-6 record and about as much confidence as one of the frightened looking fighters that faced a young Mike Tyson a couple of decades ago.

The Bears now have to regroup and can take this loss either one of two ways; they can let it muddle up their minds or they can actually use it as a building block to continue their fine season - and I think it will be the latter.

However, I am going to say that another performance or two like the stinker quarterback Rex Grossman unleashed on the Dolphins, and the Bears could be in more trouble than anyone ever thought a couple of weeks ago.

I've got to give Grossman the benefit of the doubt after his first really bad performance of the year, but his play will certainly bear (no pun intended) watching.
At any rate, Miami's shellacking of the Bears wasn't the only eye-opening occurrence of what is turning out to be an often-strange NFL season.

Here are my other observations from around the league following week a topsy-turvy week nine.

Disappointing Duo
So what, the Washington Redskins beat the Dallas Cowboys on a last-second field goal because they were awarded 15-yards for a face mask penalty, even though it should have only been one of the five-yard variety - both of these teams have been huge disappointments all season and certainly don't appear to be any kind of threat for the NFC title at this point. It's a sad thing to think that both teams' Hall of Fame coaches could go out with such whimpering teams.

What the … part II?
For a team that finally looked as if it were starting to gel - and a quarterback who was finally getting the hang of that throwing in the pocket thing, the Atlanta Falcons sure stunk up the joint in Detroit. Maybe it's me, but it sure seems like the Falcons entire team has taken on the personality of quarterback Michael Vick. One week, he looks like he should have an "S" on his jersey and the next; he looks like somebody stuck Kryptonite in his back pocket. Oh well.

What the … part III?
Speaking of the Lions, what in the name of Barry Sanders is going on? The Lions suddenly appear to be an offensive juggernaut under offensive coordinator Mike Martz, who I think is going to end up as the head coach of this bunch in a couple of years anyway. Roy Williams, Kevin Jones and Jon Kitna are putting on their best, Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce and Kurt Warner impersonation and in the case of Williams and Jones, it looks like they are both going to turn out to be the players everyone thought they would be when they were both drafted a couple of years back. However, I still must say that general manager, Matt Millen is the worst GM in all of professional sports, not just the NFL.

I told you so part I!
I said two weeks ago that the Jacksonville Jaguars should start backup quarterback David Garrard for the remainder of the season and that the Jags' offense just operates much better under Garrard than it does under former starter, Byron Leftwich. If you ask me, until Garrard personally loses a game with a horrible performance, he stays the starter. I'll say this, Leftwich could turn out to be excellent trade bait for the Jags to improve in other areas following this season.

I told you so part II!
The Pittsburgh Steelers need to shut down quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for the remainder of the season. I don't know if he has any lingering physical ailments or if the majority of his problems are between his ear, but Roethlisberger clearly isn't the same player who walked off the field following last year's Super Bowl victory. Heck, for that matter, the Steelers as a team look like they have a major hangover. Oh well, there's always next year. Too bad head coach, Bill Cowher won't be around to see it.