Westward Bound: Peyton Manning in the Desert

Currently, as I write this, Peyton Manning is being wined and dined by John Elway, John Fox and the Denver Broncos. It brings up an interesting thought I had a few months ago, when I said Tim Tebow to the Colts for Andrew Luck. That's not going to happen, but I discussed in depth what Tim Tebow and Peyton Manning might look like playing together. And it's scary. You can read it here.

But that is not what we are here to discuss. Why? Because we want Peyton Manning in the desert and we want it now! He will be going there very soon, possibly as early as tomorrow. Dear Arizona Cardinals, Rod Graves, Ken Wisenhunt and any Bidwill who's reading this, DO NOT LET HIM LEAVE. Lock that ish down. Ungas his jet if you have to. Flatten the tires. Just make it happen.

I'd take Peyton Manning at 90% throwing to Larry Fitzgerald all day and twice on Sundays. Actually more like 15 times on Sundays. You get the point. 

Both options are enticing, Denver and Arizona, since the AFC West and NFC West aren't exactly the strongest divisions. Let's just hope when it's all said and done, Peyton gets ring #2 and the Cardinals get their first.

Hey Timmy, Win or Go Home

Well not exactly. Technically, the Broncos can still lose and make the playoffs. They would however need the Raiders to lose. So what are we looking at here in the AFC West's final weekend of football?

The afore mentioned Denver Broncos take on the KC Chiefs in Denver, at Mile High Stadium. As a side note, did you know that University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, home of the Arizona Cardinals is the second highest stadium in elevation? True fact. Play some trivia at the bar with your friends. That was more that a side note, it ended up being the majority of the paragraph. Anyway.

So it all comes down to this. Kyle Orton v Tim Tebow. Orton, you may remember started the year as Denver's starting QB before losing it to Baby Jesus. Interesting though that Orton is the one who looks more like Jesus with that beard of his. Orton is now running the offense for KC and you can bet the great beard of Zeus that he'd love to stick it to the Broncos.

He'll go #1. It will be Denver or San Diego.In Oaktown, the San Diego Chargers are fighting to finish .500 as they battle Carson Palmer, the Black Hole and the Oakland Raiders. California Love? Hardly. These two teams do not like each other. SoCal v NorCal. I'm rooting for a Raiders loss for two reasons. #1) It would be nice to see the Bolts finish 8-8 and #2) What in the world would we do with no Tim Tebow for the playoffs? We'd have no excuse to show pictures of attractive ladies and make ridiculous claims that they are dating America's Last Virign.

Go Bolts! Go Broncs! Surf and Ski. Denver deals with me all the time.

Playoffs? Don't talk about Playoffs!?

Go West, young man. Yes, Jim Mora, Jr is headed West. UCLA calls. To inaugurate his new coaching position, we'll dedicate this post to his Pops and ask the question, Playoffs? Yes, we're talking about playoffs.

GB v KC - The quest for perfection continues. The Green Bay Packers (13-0) head to Arrowhead, where the only thing the Chiefs have perfected is how not to attract head coaches. Todd Haley out, do not pass go, do not collect $200. Aaron Rodgers makes it look easy. Tyler Palko does not.

DET v OAK - Megatron. Matthew Stafford. Carson Palmer. Run DMC. This has the makings of a good one, where the loser will likely find themselves out of the playoffs. Remember, both these teams still have to play the Packers. 

NE v DEN - Tom Brady is meat and potatoes. Tim Tebow is a Steve Jobs euphoric-like, carrot-salad-only-diet. Bill Belichick is the cloaked magician. John Fox, the read-option master. East versus West. Beauty versus Beast. Will Cinderella keep the glass slipper? And a better question, who has the better life right now: Tebow or Brady?

Brady has Gisele, Tebow has, well.... anyone he wants. He denied rumors he is dating US Olympic Skier Lindsey Vonn.

CLE v AZ - Seneca Wallace gets the start for the injured Colt McCoy. John Skelton starts for Kevin Kolb. And the red-hot, "Rise Up Red Sea" Arizona Cardinals are still alive in the playoff hunt. Wallace scares me a bit as he used to destroy Arizona when he played them as a member of the Seattle Seahawks. 

BAL v SD - Ray Rice, Ray Lewis and the Ray-vens decided they needed a little beach time before their playoffs begin. You know, soak up some rays? OK, I'll stop. Meanwhile Rivers and Co. need to win for a chance to get in. Luckily for the Chargers, the beach is nice and close.

PIT v SF - Monday Night Football will not know what hit it when these two defenses collide. Both teams are 10-3, yet the Steelers are still fighting for a playoff seed and the San Francisco 49ers are a #2 seed. Guess it pays to be in the NFC, especially the NFC West.

Phoenix Suns: Time to Rise

The Sun Devils failed. The Arizona Cardinals are still fighting. The Arizona Diamondbacks succeeded. How will the Phoenix Suns fair this season? Can they capture the excitement in a sports fan base that got a taste of postseason glory with a thrilling DBacks Brewers series? Or will the sun set and end a once promising team built for an NBA championship? It is time to rise in the Valley.

NFL Week 14: At 5-7 or 7-5 Many Teams Still Alive

Don't ask me how it's possible, but it is. Technically the Arizona Cardinals and the Seattle Seahawks, both 5-7, are still in the playoff hunt in the NFC West. In the AFC West, the San Diego Chargers and KC Chiefs, both teams also 5-7, are in the hunt. All of these teams need help, still anything is possible.

The Hyphen takes it to the house. Cards beat Dallas in OT.The Arizona Cardinals, fresh off their overtime victory against the Dallas Cowboys, host the NFC West Champion San Francisco 49ers. Count on it being crazy in Glendale and if the Redbirds can pull off a miracle win, 6-7 starts to look quite promising. Andre Roberts is coming into his own as a wide receiver, which is good, as Kolb needs to be able to throw to someone other than #11. So, #12 naturally is the next progression.

KC (5-7) goes to the NYC to play the J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets. The Jets with L.T. and USC Trojan Mark Sanchez look like a playoff team and at 7-5 have a legit shot at making the Wild-Card Round. Wake me when this one is over. I'd rather watch paint dry.

Sticking with the theme of playoff possibilities for 5-7 teams, the Buffalo Bills (5-7) head to the 619 and Qualcomm Stadium. The Chargers (5-7) are playing better (could they play worse?) and with expectations being so high in SD, it is unlikely Norv Turner will be back next year. Unless the Bolts win out. 

Carson Palmer and the Oakland Raiders at 7-5 are in a battle to win the AFC West with Tebow and the Broncos. Oakland seems to be going backwards, while Denver is playing like world beaters. Things do not get easier this week for the Raiders against the perfect Packers. Yes, 12-0 with a good chance at 13-0. In Green Bay. 

In one of the week's best match ups, the Chicago Bears head to Denver's Mile High Stadium to battle the Broncos. Cutler v Tebow would have been fun to watch, but with Cutler hurt 'Da Bears will need to rely on Matt Forte and the running game. Oh, wait. That's right. Matt Forte is hurt. Yuck. The Bears are in trouble. Expect Tebow Time again late in the 4th quarter. (Scroll down for the obligatory Tebow body paint photo).

The Seattle Seahawks (5-7) after stomping Philly host the Saint Louis Rams on Monday Night Football. Umm, ESPN, you're fired. How did you actually think this was going to be a good game? Really? I'll probably watch because let's be honest, it's Monday Night... what else am I going to do?

Get it? T-Bow. Oh, come on, what were you expecting? Hint: if you click on the photo, you'll get to see the real Tebow Body Paint.