
Mrs. Doofus said I had to clean up the house, blow the remaining leaves and buy 100 pounds of dog food if I wanted to have a Doofus Deck party for the Conference championship games. I wasn’t sure I could get all that done between church and the games - so I to waited and see if Chris would host.
Sunday morning, I suffered through the assistant pastor’s sermon. She’s a tough listen. I hate it when the head pastor goes on vacation. During the moment of silence I'm praying he'll be back next week. Please Lord...
She was done finally and I hurried home to check my email. Chris had sent out the word. The party was on! We were to gather at the Outdoor Ampitheatre. Excellent
Still had to take care of the leaves and dog food though. I had the kids help clean the house. What’s the sense of having kids if you can’t get a little work out of ‘em.
So I got the chores done and headed over to Chris’. When I got there, Mrs. Chris was tending to the fire pit while the menfolk were gathered around the TV, drinking some whiskey, munching on snacks and smoking some cigars. Just the way nature intended. I thanked Mrs. Chris for the fine deserts last week (she didn’t realize they were gone – oops) and headed over to my plastic chair.
Being a late comer, I was relegated to the back row near the snacks and Bo the dog. The dog was friendly and I was pithy. The gang was in front of me which meant I had a perfect opportunity to lob various put downs and slanderous comments. Since we have all reached that point in our lives where merely turning around brings about various twinges – making rebuttals required some effort. Most of my comments turned out to not be worth the effort. It was a target rich environment with no return fire. I was lobbing away.
That is until Dobby forgot to call seat back and I moved up to the front row. From there, I lit my first cigar, settled back only to see there was a pretty good game going on – at least from a bettor’s perspective.
Sunday morning, I suffered through the assistant pastor’s sermon. She’s a tough listen. I hate it when the head pastor goes on vacation. During the moment of silence I'm praying he'll be back next week. Please Lord...
She was done finally and I hurried home to check my email. Chris had sent out the word. The party was on! We were to gather at the Outdoor Ampitheatre. Excellent
Still had to take care of the leaves and dog food though. I had the kids help clean the house. What’s the sense of having kids if you can’t get a little work out of ‘em.
So I got the chores done and headed over to Chris’. When I got there, Mrs. Chris was tending to the fire pit while the menfolk were gathered around the TV, drinking some whiskey, munching on snacks and smoking some cigars. Just the way nature intended. I thanked Mrs. Chris for the fine deserts last week (she didn’t realize they were gone – oops) and headed over to my plastic chair.
Being a late comer, I was relegated to the back row near the snacks and Bo the dog. The dog was friendly and I was pithy. The gang was in front of me which meant I had a perfect opportunity to lob various put downs and slanderous comments. Since we have all reached that point in our lives where merely turning around brings about various twinges – making rebuttals required some effort. Most of my comments turned out to not be worth the effort. It was a target rich environment with no return fire. I was lobbing away.
That is until Dobby forgot to call seat back and I moved up to the front row. From there, I lit my first cigar, settled back only to see there was a pretty good game going on – at least from a bettor’s perspective.

New England +5.0 @ Denver – That Denver was going to move the ball and get their points was a given. Even more so after Wes Welker gave a cheap shot to the Pat’s best DB Aqib Talib putting him on the sidelines for the rest of the game with a knee injury.
What was surprising was how well the Broncos defense was doing. They kept New England out of the end zone for 3 ½ quarters. By then, Manning had dinked and dunked his was to a 23-3 lead. But Brady was not about to give up.
He led the Pats on an 80 yard TD drive to cut the lead to 23-10 with 9 minutes left. Denver countered with a FG to go up 26-10. Brady went on another 80 yard TD drive. The points were coming in bunches.
Down 26-16 New England correctly went for 2. They didn’t get it - though it didn’t really matter. Being down 8 wasn’t going to help when I was getting 5. It wasn’t like NE was going to go for a field goal at this stage of the game.
New England goes for the onside. It was an ugly one and Denver recovered. Crap.
What was surprising was how well the Broncos defense was doing. They kept New England out of the end zone for 3 ½ quarters. By then, Manning had dinked and dunked his was to a 23-3 lead. But Brady was not about to give up.
He led the Pats on an 80 yard TD drive to cut the lead to 23-10 with 9 minutes left. Denver countered with a FG to go up 26-10. Brady went on another 80 yard TD drive. The points were coming in bunches.
Down 26-16 New England correctly went for 2. They didn’t get it - though it didn’t really matter. Being down 8 wasn’t going to help when I was getting 5. It wasn’t like NE was going to go for a field goal at this stage of the game.
New England goes for the onside. It was an ugly one and Denver recovered. Crap.

The Pats still had time. There was 3:07 left, they had all their timeouts and the 2 minute warning. This was getting exciting. All I needed was a TD to get the back door cover. New England needed to make a stop.
Manning was not to be denied. He was able to drive the ball to the NE 17 using up all the Pats timeouts and the 2 minute warning. NE had one more chance. It was fourth and 2 with about a minute to go. If they hold they might get a miracle pass from Brady. Nope – Monte Ball scoots 5 yards to get the first. A victory formation later and the game goes final - Denver 26 New England 16 LOSS.
I was torn coming into the game – should have stayed away.
The next game was going to be even more interesting
Manning was not to be denied. He was able to drive the ball to the NE 17 using up all the Pats timeouts and the 2 minute warning. NE had one more chance. It was fourth and 2 with about a minute to go. If they hold they might get a miracle pass from Brady. Nope – Monte Ball scoots 5 yards to get the first. A victory formation later and the game goes final - Denver 26 New England 16 LOSS.
I was torn coming into the game – should have stayed away.
The next game was going to be even more interesting

Seattle -3.5 vs San Francisco – This game showcased the NFL’s best new rivalry. The two best teams in the NFC are in the same division and were playing each other for the third time this year. Remember when the NFC West was a joke and Seattle got into the playoffs after going 7-9. No more. The NFC West is now the best division in the NFL.
Early on San Francisco had fully stymied Russell Wilson. On the very first play they sacked/fumbled Wilson and had first and ten at the Seahawk 15. Not the best way to start.
But the Seahawks have a pretty good defense too. They held the Niners to a 3 and out keeping SF to a FG.
The game turned into a defensive struggle as they teams kept trading punts. Finally, early in the second quarter, SF QB Colin Kaepernick got his scrambling going and led the Niners on an 80 TD drive to go up 10-0. Now I’m getting into a pickle. I’m giving 3 ½ so I’m really down 2 TDs
Seattle countered with a FG to cut the half time lead to 10-3. The Seahawks better get in gear in the second half or it will be a long night.
Early on San Francisco had fully stymied Russell Wilson. On the very first play they sacked/fumbled Wilson and had first and ten at the Seahawk 15. Not the best way to start.
But the Seahawks have a pretty good defense too. They held the Niners to a 3 and out keeping SF to a FG.
The game turned into a defensive struggle as they teams kept trading punts. Finally, early in the second quarter, SF QB Colin Kaepernick got his scrambling going and led the Niners on an 80 TD drive to go up 10-0. Now I’m getting into a pickle. I’m giving 3 ½ so I’m really down 2 TDs
Seattle countered with a FG to cut the half time lead to 10-3. The Seahawks better get in gear in the second half or it will be a long night.

Seattle went with Marshawn Lynch. He burst for a 40 yard TD run to open the 3rd quarter. Now were talking! Score 10-10
But San Francisco kept with Kaepernick. His passes and scrambles led to a TD on their next possession to get the lead back up to 17-10. This was turning into a great game.
Seattle countered with a FG to cut it to 17-13. Still going to need 2 scores though to get that cover.
Russell Wilson heard my call and opened the 4th quarter with a 35 yard TD strike. For the first time Seattle had the lead 20-17. But I was still down the hook. I needed another FG.
Niners get the ball and FUMBLE!! Seattle recovers. Sweet – first and ten at the Niners 29. FG here we come.
Russell Wilson gets it to the Niner 1 - fourth down. And FUMBLE! - Aww crap. That was a golden opportunity to put the game away.
Kaepernick drops back and PICK! This is getting comical. Three straight possessions resulted in turnovers. C’mon Seattle just get a FG and get out of here.
Seattle burns 4 minutes off the clock and gets the FG. Nice. Seahawks 23 Niners 17 with 3 ½ minutes left. Hold on Seattle. San Francisco still had all their time outs and the two minute warning. Lots of time left. Got to play defense.
Kaepernick was brilliant. Throwing and running until he got it to 1st and ten at the Seahawk 18 with 22 seconds left. He has to go for the TD. A FG does no good. The Niners are either going to win outright or I get the cover.
I look down and I’m still smoking the same cigar! It was a 7 inch 52 gauge thing of beauty. Lasted through two games. Nice. Maybe it can be a victory cigar too.
Kaepernick drops back and PICK! Another pick. Beautiful. Seahawks win 23-17 WIN
I finished what was left of my newly deemed victory cigar, finished off the last of my whiskey, watched Richard Sherman the Seahawk DB make a fool of himself after the game and headed home. A great evening.
With the split I am 9-3 for the bowls and playoffs. Another sizzling streak to end the year.
But San Francisco kept with Kaepernick. His passes and scrambles led to a TD on their next possession to get the lead back up to 17-10. This was turning into a great game.
Seattle countered with a FG to cut it to 17-13. Still going to need 2 scores though to get that cover.
Russell Wilson heard my call and opened the 4th quarter with a 35 yard TD strike. For the first time Seattle had the lead 20-17. But I was still down the hook. I needed another FG.
Niners get the ball and FUMBLE!! Seattle recovers. Sweet – first and ten at the Niners 29. FG here we come.
Russell Wilson gets it to the Niner 1 - fourth down. And FUMBLE! - Aww crap. That was a golden opportunity to put the game away.
Kaepernick drops back and PICK! This is getting comical. Three straight possessions resulted in turnovers. C’mon Seattle just get a FG and get out of here.
Seattle burns 4 minutes off the clock and gets the FG. Nice. Seahawks 23 Niners 17 with 3 ½ minutes left. Hold on Seattle. San Francisco still had all their time outs and the two minute warning. Lots of time left. Got to play defense.
Kaepernick was brilliant. Throwing and running until he got it to 1st and ten at the Seahawk 18 with 22 seconds left. He has to go for the TD. A FG does no good. The Niners are either going to win outright or I get the cover.
I look down and I’m still smoking the same cigar! It was a 7 inch 52 gauge thing of beauty. Lasted through two games. Nice. Maybe it can be a victory cigar too.
Kaepernick drops back and PICK! Another pick. Beautiful. Seahawks win 23-17 WIN
I finished what was left of my newly deemed victory cigar, finished off the last of my whiskey, watched Richard Sherman the Seahawk DB make a fool of himself after the game and headed home. A great evening.
With the split I am 9-3 for the bowls and playoffs. Another sizzling streak to end the year.