Liberal sportswriters ran around NFL locker rooms this week asking players about Donald Trump’s vulgar comments in 2005, recorded secretly, which the GOP presidential nominee later called “locker room talk.”
Stephen A. Smith, who works for the left-leaning ESPN, on his show “First Take,” ripped Trump about the claim this was “locker room talk.”
“I have never heard in any locker room, NFL, NBA, college, pro, Major League Baseball clubhouses, hell, I’ve even been in the locker rooms inside of, you know, for a hockey game, for crying out loud,” Smith said. “I have never heard it, not one time, in terms of grabbing a woman’s privates, you know, you just going to take it, you force yourself on her. You know, when you’re a celebrity, you can get anything. You can do what you want to do. There are unquestionably people who may feel that way, but verbalized and talked about and echoed in such a way, no, have never heard that at all.”
Here is the deal Stephen. The players don’t engage in that talk when the media is around. Hello!
Let’s turn from locker room talk to field talk – some interesting games this week, with one of the best being the red-hot Cowboys travelling to Green Bay. The Buffalo-San Francisco matchup receives analysis in another article. Let’s take a closer look at the action…
Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1) at Miami Dolphins (1-4)
This could turn out to be like a Steelers home game. The Dolphins struggle on the field and at the gate, and plenty of Pittsburgh fans live in Florida.
Miami QB Ryan Tannehill has been sacked 11 times in the last two games, and fed-up Dolphins coach Adam Gase released two linemen this week.
Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger has thrown nine touchdowns in the last two games, and the Dolphins have issues at cornerback.
Expect Pittsburgh to prevail.
Cincinnati Bengals (2-3) at New England Patriots (4-1)
The Patriots’ two tight end combo of Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennett probably led to some sleepless nights for Bengals defensive coordinator Paul Guenther this week.
In Tom Brady’s first game back from suspension, a blowout win over Cleveland, Bennett caught three touchdowns and Gronkowski had five catches for 105 yards.
The Patriots rarely lose at home, and it is hard to see them losing Brady’s 2016 home debut.
Carolina Panthers (1-4) at New Orleans Saints (1-3)
The Panthers are a mess, and their biggest problem is at cornerback, not a good thing when traveling to New Orleans to face QB Drew Brees.
Not only did the Panthers lose their star cornerback Josh Norman in free agency this offseason, their two current starters will miss this game due to injury.
The Saints, coming off a bye-week, should win this game.
Jacksonville Jaguars (1-3) at Chicago Bears (1-4)
The Jaguars are healthy coming off a bye-week, and the Bears are very banged-up.
One of the Bears’ injuries is to quarterback Jay Cutler, who has a thumb injury on his throwing hand. However, Brian Hoyer has done a nice job in his stead, throwing two touchdown passes in each of his three starts.
This game is a toss-up.
Los Angeles Rams (3-2) at Detroit Lions (2-3)
The Rams have a problem. Their offense is centered around star tailback Todd Gurley, and he has yet to get going this year. He has rushed 105 times for 288 yards, just 2.7 yards per carry.
Detroit has a beat-up defensive front seven, so perhaps this is the week Gurley breaks out.
This game could go either way.
Baltimore Ravens (3-2) at New York Giants (2-3)
The Ravens fired their offensive coordinator Marc Trestman this week, replacing him with quarterbacks coach Marty Mornhinweg.
Considering how many injuries the Ravens have on their offensive line, it might not make a difference this week.
The Giants should figure out a way to win this game.
Cleveland Browns (0-5) at Tennessee Titans (2-3)
The Browns have hired former Baylor coach Art Briles as an offensive consultant. Not a bad idea considering how his Bears consistently lit up the scoreboard.
The Titans haven’t exactly been lighting up the scoreboard this year as second-year QB Marcus Mariota is still experiencing growing pains.
Don’t be shocked if the Browns pull an upset.
Philadelphia Eagles (3-1) at Washington Redskins (3-2)
The Eagles will be without star offensive right tackle Lane Johnson for the next ten games due to a PED suspension, so they are forced to start rookie Hala Vaitai.
Expect Redskins talented pass rusher Ryan Kerrigan to take advantage of him.
Washington will be without gifted tight end Jordan Reed, who suffered his sixth concussion.
This should be a very tight match-up that could go either way.
Kansas City Chiefs (2-2) at Oakland Raiders (4-1)
The Raiders are one of the surprise teams of 2016, but it’s not because of their defense, which has been porous.
The Chiefs are coming off a bye week, which means Chiefs head coach/offensive mastermind Andy Reid had extra time in the lab to prepare a great game plan.
Don’t be surprised if the road team wins this game.
Dallas Cowboys (4-1) at Green Bay Packers (3-2)
Great match-up of the NFL’s leading rusher, Dallas RB Ezekiel Elliott, against Green Bay’s #1 ranked run defense.
In the quarterback match-up, the Packers have an advantage with Aaron Rodgers facing Cowboys rookie Dak Prescott, who has only thrown four touchdowns in five games.
The Packers are at home, and have the more experienced QB, and should win this game.
Atlanta Falcons (4-1) at Seattle Seahawks (3-1)
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll faces off against his former defensive coordinator, Falcons coach Dan Quinn.
Atlanta has the best passing attack in the league and will face their toughest challenge to date against Seattle’s talented secondary.
Well-rested Seattle, coming off a bye week, and at home, should figure out a way to win this game.
Indianapolis Colts (2-3) at Houston Texans (3-2)
The Texans take a lot of heat for their two embarrassing losses, but they came against perhaps the NFL’s top two teams, New England and Minnesota.
The Texans have the NFL’s #1 pass defense, which should come in handy against the Colts’ talented passer Andrew Luck, a Houston native.
This game is too close to call.
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