The only reason I'd like to see somebody run the table in the NFL in the very near future? So we can stop hearing about the 1972 Miami Dolphins.  Mercury Morris, who has been one of the most vocal members of that 17-0 team, doesn't think it's going to happen. Ever again. Per ESPN.com:  "Let […]

Every year at around this time, those involved in the world of linguistics and literature draw some conclusions regarding the most popular words or expressions used in society by announcing a "word of the year." Between 2009 and 2012, for example, the American Dialect Society went with tweet, app, occupy and hashtag (amazing how closely […]

Based on the fact that we now have what appears to be a full-blown officiating controversy in the NFL, we sure picked a good year to starting documenting all of the stupid things that take place in the world of professional football. Week 14 didn't disappoint. Or did it? I guess it depends on whether […]

Here's a breakdown of six major records that are in peril of being broke over the next four weeks.  Passing touchdowns: Peyton Manning was falling off the pace he needed to break Tom Brady's single-season passing touchdown record, but then he tossed five of them against the Chiefs last week and now it's going to […]

It's pretty much impossible to compare quarterbacks from era to era, so we won't attempt to conclude, especially based on the statistics, that Geno Smith is the worst rookie quarterbacks in NFL history. But we think the numbers are ugly enough for us to conclude that the second-round pick shouldn't be starting at this point. […]

With four weeks remaining in the 2013 NFL regular season, here's how we see things wrapping up on Dec. 29.  AFC 1. Denver Broncos (14-2) 2. New England Patriots (12-4) 3. Cincinnati Bengals (11-5) 4. Indianapolis Colts (10-6) 5. Kansas City Chiefs (11-5) 6. Baltimore Ravens (8-8) No way Denver loses to Tennessee or San […]

Week 14 in the NFL is here, and you might be entering the weekend with your own preferences regarding which games to focus on, and which to place on the backburner. Most of you have your favorites and fantasy players to track. But in case you're completely neutral or need help breaking ties with regard […]

Alshon Jeffery and Josh Gordon have exploded in their second NFL seasons and have set the stage for another "who's better?" debate at the wide receiver position. What's interesting, though, is that unlike the famed war of words featuring A.J. Green vs. Julio Jones , Jeffery and Gordon were vastly overlooked as they made their […]

Four quarterbacks were taken in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft, and two with the first pair of picks. It was supposed to be the best class of elite quarterbacks to enter the league since John Elway, Jim Kelly and Dan Marino came in together as first-round picks in 1983. That might still […]

Time for Part IV of a special five-part futuristic series at Bloguin in which we're fast-forwarding 5,872 days to Jan. 1, 2030. In collaboration with fellow Bloguin outlets Awful Announcing and Crystal Ball Run, This Given Sunday caught up with several of our favorite NFL media types in order to put together our very own football version of […]

A whole lot of stupid this week, so let's jump right in. The stupidest challenge Mike Shanahan cost his team a timeout in the fourth quarter of a close game by challenging whether Brandon Myers of the Giants made first-down yardage on this play… The stupidest technicality within a smart rule I understand why the […]

School and work are out on Thanksgiving, so Americans really have no obligation to learn. And while that's refreshing, anyone who parked themselves in front of the television and spent the day watching football inevitably learned some things about the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders, Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. Let's […]

Week 13 in the NFL is here, and you might be entering the weekend with your own preferences regarding which games to focus on, and which to place on the backburner. Most of you have your favorites and fantasy players to track. But in case you're completely neutral or need help breaking ties with regard […]

The NFL has never been more popular and offenses have never been more efficient, but I also can't remember a point in my lifetime in which the league possessed so few truly great teams this late in the season.  When the majority of Week 13 games are played on Sunday and Monday, December will have […]