This weeks game of the week is the 5-2 Steelers at the 6-2 Redskins on Monday Night Football. This game will be huge for both teams, as the winner will get a step closer to a playoff spot and the loser will open doors for other teams in the division. It also should be a great barometer for both teams playoff chances.
The Redskins have had one of their best starts in recent memory, and a big part of that success is due to running back Clinton Portis who leads the league in rushing with 944 yards. With the closest back in the league being Purple Jesus with 684 yards. He also leads the league with 187 carries, which puts him on pace for the dreadful 370 carry season. Portis has been running the ball so well, he could be on his way to an MVP award. But Skins fan beware of the 370 carry season, its not a good omen for the year after.
370 carries is a good thing for the current year, as to get that many carries something must be going right for that back . But the season after is a different story, it is often referred to as the "curse of 370." Here is the theory summarized by Football Outsiders: “A running back with 370 or more carries during the regular season will usually suffer either a major injury or loss of effectiveness the following year, unless he is named Eric Dickerson.” To read more about the curse, click here.
The game this Monday night is big for reasons other than playoff indications, and the main reason why I made the above photo. You see the last Redskins home game before the election is a predictor of which party will make it into office on Election Tuesday. When the Redskins win, the incumbent party wins the popular vote and the presidency, and when the Redskins lose, the other party gets the nod. In fact this theory has held true a perfect 100% (17 of 17) since 1936. The year the Redskins started playing in our nations capitol.
Some will say in 2004 this didn't hold true, but I beg to differ. The Redskins lost their last home game before the election to the Packers. The incumbent republican George W. Bush stayed in office. Although democratic nominee John Kerry didn't win enough of the electoral votes to clinch the presidency he did win the popular vote. So the predictor still held true and I wouldn't bet against it this year. After all it has been more accurate than all the political prognosticators and polls for 72 years.
Basically if your voting for McCain, root for the Skins. And if your voting for Obama, root for the Steelers.
Lastly at halftime on ESPN, Chris Berman will interview both major party presidential nominees, Republican Senator John McCain and Democratic Senator Barack Obama.
1: (1) Titans 7-0-0
2: (2) Giants 5-1-0
3: (5) Redskins 6-2-0
4: (4) Steelers 5-2-0
5: (3) Bills 5-2-0
6: (13) Panthers 6-2-0
7: (9) Patriots 5-2-0
8: (6) Buccaneers 5-3-0
9: (10) Cowboys 5-3-0
10: (8) Falcons 4-3-0
11:(12) Broncos 4-3-0
12:(14) Bears 4-3-0
13:(15) Packers 4-3-0
14:(16) Eagles 4-3-0
15: (7) Cardinals 4-4-0
16:(21) Saints 4-4-0
17:(19) Ravens 4-3-0
18:(17) Jets 4-3-0
19:(11) Colts 3-4-0
20:(18) Jaguars 3-4-0
21:(22) Vikings 3-4-0
22:(23) Texans 3-4-0
23:(24) Browns 3-4-0
24:(27) Dolphins 3-4-0
25:(20) Chargers 3-5-0
26:(25) Rams 2-5-0
27:(26) Raiders 2-5-0
28:(29) Seahawks 2-5-0
29:(28) 49ers 2-6-0
30:(30) Chiefs 1-6-0
31:(31) Bengals 0-8-0
32:(32) Lions 0-7-0
2 comments:
This game is more than just football it is deciding the future of our nation!!
November 2, 2008 at 8:07 PMYeah and I would venture to say that Kornheiser mentions this fact at least 10 times during the game. Which means it will be about one third of the amount that he makes Brett Favre references.
November 3, 2008 at 7:59 AMPost a Comment