Week #... Oh I don't know...

I've been on a bit of a "Helmet" blogging hiatus as I've just been sitting home getting more pregnant by the day. That, and, as I said in Week #9, now that I have the luxury of walking away from the games for a bit I usually lose my focus in November and start to get the urge again when it's December and teams are playing for their playoff livelihoods.

My husband pointed out that perhaps I should be a bit more positive in my blogging opinions about the NFL, so here is my best effort:

• I am positive it's too early to jump on the Tim Tebow train just yet. Yes, he's finding a way to win games. It's a matter of time before teams start to find a way to stop him. I'm pretty sure my father is jumping on the train after covering the Vikings / Broncos game today, so let the holiday dinner family banter begin. 
• I am positive there are too many pass interference flags being thrown. We're enabling receivers to become creatures of habit. They want to get paid the millions they do, but do not want to be touched or looked at within 5 yards of their reception. I too could be a Hall of Fame receiver if I could stand wide open and untouched in the field of play. 
• I am positive that icing your own kicker is not good play calling. See Dallas Cowboys loss to Arizona Cardinals. 
• I am positive that no one was within 10 yards of the Houston Texan's punter Brett Hartmann when he appeared to have hyperextended his knee. How does that happen? (Answer: note his position)
• I am positive that getting back to the line of scrimmage in time critical situations is part of having game awareness. The Atlanta Falcons suffered when Julio Jones was downfield and ran several seconds off the clock as they were driving to tie up the game against Houston with only seconds left on the clock. I just watched the NY Giants burn a time out in the second half (when battling from behind against the Packers no less) for similar reasons. 

Okay - so not what my husband had in mind, but that's what he gets for setting unclear expectations.

A few teams to watch over the next few weeks as they play for their post season life...

In the NFC: Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Detroit (assuming they lose to NOLA)
In the AFC - fighting for the second Wild Card spot: Jets, Cincinnati, Tennessee, Oakland / Denver

The holiday season is often not so festive for football families. I still remember having to wake up in the wee hours of the morning to open Christmas presents with my Dad before he had to go to work, if he was lucky enough to be playing at home that week. I remember the holiday meals my mom would put together and cover with foil and take it to his office so he had some taste of home on that day. I also remember the year that he was officially named a "former" head coach. We've already seen one coach face that same unfortunate reality, and several others (we could see up to 10) rumored to be on the "hot seat". The inevitable question: Will my Dad go back to coaching? As he says - they are looking for young and cheap, and he is neither. As for any inside knowledge I have, I tend to turn my head the other way and just ask that my parents send me their forwarding address so I know where to send their Christmas card.

For now - Happy Holiday prepping!