The NFC Least Week 3

Giants and Redskins fans were treated to an early weekday game . The two teams met up on Thursday night for a conference battle. Coming into the game the Redskins were high on themselves having defeated St Louis Rams.  The Rams defeated the Seahawks in week 1. The Seahawks surrendered the Superbowl last year to slick Tommy Brady and his gang. The previous season the Seahawks won the Superbowl. Here is an example of Washington logic. Since the Seahawks were in back to back Superbowls. The Rams beat the Seahawks. The Redskins beat the Rams therefore the Redskins are going to the Superbowl!

Congress applies similar distorted logic in managing our Nation's finances. Senators and Representatives have looked to abandon the budget process because there are more efficient and modern ways to manage money. Hence our politicians have run up a 19 trillion dollar debt have been forced to raise the debt limit or shut the government down multiple times but everyone gets re-elected therefore we do not need a national budget.  I digress after all most people don't really care about the financial health of our nation, besides Bernie will just get some rich dude to pay our bills

Now lets get back to the NFC Least. On Thursday the Giants D were without their firecracker Boom Boom Pierre-Paul. Regardless they started the game with a steady performance and some outstanding secondary work. The Skins first possession of the game resulted in a 3 and out.

Giants special teams stunned everyone two minutes into the game when Giants running back Rashad Jennings blocked the Redskins punt into the end zone for a safety and a 2-0 lead.

Giants received the ensuing kick. Their offense went to work. Eli and company mixing in 3 short passes with 3 runs for a first down and 18 yards before having to punt. The punt backed the Redskins up to Washington's 12 yard line. A holding penalty backed it up further to the 6.

The Giants offensive line due to injuries is a patchwork of players. Mixing up the play calling and using short efficient passes helps the line to establish themselves. Winning the field position early in a game  is also monumental help for an Oline.

Skin fans blame Cousins for this next offensive series because he threw an interception. I credit Giants corner Prince Amukamara for it. Redskin Coach Jay Gruden has called this same play nearly a dozen times so far this season. Amukamara gets the credit because he clearly has been studying Redskin films this week and immediately picked up on the play. 


Same Play Jay

 We can go on and on with this game but it was over before the first quarter. The Giants played a complete game and the Skins did not have a chance. The final score 32-21 doesn't reflect the control the Giants had over the Skins the entire game.

This one game does not mean the Giants are on their way to the playoffs and the Redskins are heading for the cellar. Come on this is the NFC Least heading into week 4 The Cowboys without a QB are leading the division with a 2-1 record and the Skins, Giants and Eagles are enjoying an old fashioned 1980's basement party sitting at 1-2.

Cowboys: Holy cow it appeared as thought they were not going to need a QB after jumping to a 28-17 halftime lead. During the half-time owner Jerry Jones came into the locker room and congratulated them for their play and ability to overcome the loss of Romo and reminded them they were America's team. The Cowboys were so full of themselves they forgot to go out and play the second half. The Falcons came in ready for fight from beginning to end and they just whooped up on America's team. Falcon's receiver Julio Jones, no relation to Jerry Jones phoned home from AT&T stadium with a 39-28 win.

J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets! Apparently the Eagles are not too fond of the old Jets rally cry. Eagles are now 10-0 all time against the Jets.

The mighty Eagles/Kelly offense played second fiddle to the specials teams as Darren Sproles returned a punt for a TD and the Defense forced 4 turnovers.

Jets held the Eagles scoreless in the second half. The Jets won the battle of the clock with time of possession 31:49-28:11. Total yards Jets 323 to Eagles 231. However huge mistakes by the Jets negated their domination of the Eagles. It is tough to win when you throw 3 interceptions and fumble once. This game has provided Chippee Kelly with a week to breath in Philly but they are headed for Washington which could turn out to be a really crappy game for all fans of this mighty nation.


Next Sunday

The Giants are headed to Buffalo on Sunday.  Eli Manning vs Tyrod Taylor. Buffalo did not lose a game to the NFC last season. They also have not lost a fumble this season. Perhaps they are due.

The Cowboys are off to New Orleans.

Speaking of New Orleans: The Saints GM Mickey Loomis was seen frequently during Mardi Gras this off season hanging out with Pat O'Briens owner Sonny Oechsner III. One particular night Mickey lost count of how many Hurricanes he consumed. He also did not recall sending out a Tweet "Sonny and Me hanging with a pleasant and handsome young man from Seattle named John Schneider". His next memory was waking up to Tom Benson screaming at him on the phone. 

Good news for the Cowboys Drew Brees was hurt and did not play last week and safety Jairus Byrd has not played all season due to an inflamed knee. 

Bad news for the Cowboys: Drew Brees and Jairus Byrd may both be playing this week.

Eagles and Redskins Face Off : The Eagles are heading south to face the Redskins. The Eagles much publicized offense has yet to make an impact in a game. Danny Boys Redskins are consistently unpredictable they will either win in the final seconds or be blown out by the half.

Hey its the NFC Least who knows what going to happen. 

Some Statements in this article may not accurately reflect the truth but in the words of Hillary Clinton regarding truth "What difference at this point does it make?"

 

Bobo Gobanga

This is a high fiber high protein meal that can be used as a side dish or as your main meal.

Bobo Gobanga is a healthy inexpensive meal ideal for the busy person on the go.

For example Monday I can serve it with a piece of blackened chicken, Tuesday I may have it over brown rice, Wednesday I will add some smoked salmon to it. The beauty of Bobo Gobanga is in its versatility and its price.

The seasonings can be adjusted to your taste.

1 16 oz can Black Bean Soup
1 small can mushrooms
1 16 oz can sweet corn
1 16 oz can  string beans
1-3 hot chili peppers finely chopped
4 garlic cloves finely chopped
1 small sweet onion chopped to your desired size
2 tbs Honey
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 tsp chilli powder or to your taste
1/8 tsp cummin or to your taste
salt to your taste
pepper to your taste
1/8 tsp curry powder or to your taste
1 tsp chicken bouillion
1 ounce cooking sherry or favorite white wine
4 tbs olive oil
1 cup brown rice

To save yourself cleaning a pot and a pan prepare the Bobo Gobanga in a pot. Start by heating up olive oil. Add chopped onion, garlic and chilli pepper. Cook until tender and onion is translucent.
Add cooking sherry
Add Mushrooms
Add Sweet corn
Add string beans
Add honey and cinnamon stir
Add chili powder, cumin, curry powder, salt and pepper
Turn on high heat and allow to reach boil.
Turn down cover and simmer 30-45 minutes

There are several options for serving Bobo Gobanga. This dish can be served as a side on a plate or in a bowl. Or serve it as a main dish by pouring over your favorite grain or protein. Or go for both.  

I make a batch and bring it for lunch throughout my work week. It is very versatile so you never get bored because you can modify the meal each day.

 My favorites in no particular order is served:

In a bowl over brown rice     With roasted chicken and fried rice     With smoked salmon and quino

Mixed with  fried plantains, blackened chicken and rice    Over Wild Rice with broccoli  

Convenient and tasty.

 

The NFC Least Week 2

The NFL’s 2015 season started with low expectations from Giant fans. Many were surprised the Giants did not get blown out by the Cowboys or the Falcons for that matter. With a 0-2 start some fans are surprisingly more optimistic now than they were in August. They realize the G-men could have won both of them. In the season opener against the Cowboys it was two horrible calls by the NFL Officials that gave the win to the Cowboys and not the amateurish game time management by two time Superbowl MVP Eli Manning and future Hall of Famer Coach Tom Coughlin. The NFL in the spirit of transparency admitted as much. Check the article on Big Blue Interactive the best Giants fan site out there.

The loss in the final minutes to the Falcons this past Sunday Week 2, shows this team is able to be competitive. There is hope and some evidence the G-men can start winning especially when Jason "Boom-Boom" Pierre-Paul returns to the field.

Speaking of "Boom Boom", the Firecracker himself has found himself on a field with doctors and lawyers. An environment that never never bodes well for professional athletes.

Boom Boom’s first issue is not with the Giants but with, of all people, George Lucas. This summer the Giants star defensive end abruptly changed his name to JB2P2. Almost immediately after the new name was announced, George Lucas filed grievance for copyright infringement.  Apparently a new character JB2P2C-30 is a next gen C-3PO droid recently introduced in the Star Wars franchise.

The second issue has lawyers representing Boom-Boom discussing the explosive player’s options regarding the opinions of his personal doctors, the Giants team doctors and NFL doctors. The doctors are unable to concur on providing a medical clearance allowing the defensive end to return to the field. Doctors argue over Boom-Boom's Football health.

The NFL has begun to express concern about the health and safety of Chip Kelly. Chippee's bold off season talent acquisitions had many cheese-steak heads expecting the ever elusive Vince Lombardy trophy to finally be lifted in Philly. No doubt they will drop that on Broad St the same as they did the nations famous bell centuries ago. But not all Eagle fans fell for this happy trap. Some especially those who, for whatever 'weird' reason have migrated to the Southern Californian area of Huntington Beach have kept their emotions in check. Those wise fans have learned from the football gods over the years to never get too high and never get too low before during and after a season. At the same time maintain always enough credit card miles to purchase last minute airline tickets in the event Philly does manage to host a ticket tape parade. Granted it is only week 2 so the Eagles can still right the ship. But another couple weeks of this anemic offensive performance and the NFL may have to provide a security team to protect Kelly from fans in the City of Brotherly love. Will this army of Jack Torrance's wandering the streets of Philly be a threat to Chip

The Cowboys and the NFL as we previously mentioned barely defeated the Giants in Week One. Yesterday against the Eagles their offense looked even worse holding a 6-0 lead in the third quarter. The Mariners scored more against the Texas Rangers Sunday afternoon. Although the 'Boys held on to win they lost Tony Romo for 10 weeks. The Cowboys have the best rated offensive line in the league but now they don’t have a quarterback. If only they drafted Johnny Football when they had the chance.  It is going to be a tough 10 weeks for Dallas fans.

Finally for this week’s NFL Least wrap up, the Washington Redskins, the name so offensive to so many. We will just refer to them as the Redskins so as not to offend. Sitting at 1-1 the Redskins are in the best shape to take advantage of the current NFL Least situation.  With a couple wins in a row they can jump to a multi game lead in the East. This Thursday they take on the Giants in a short week for both teams.

The Pope is scheduled to arrive at Edwards Air force Base this Tuesday. He will meet with the President Wednesday and on Thursday will speak at a joint-meeting of Congress before visiting St Patrick’s cathedral. From the cathedral the pontiff is scheduled to visit a homeless shelter in Arlington before walking over to Buffalo Wild Wings to watch his Giants take on the Redskins. Pope Francis has stated “A little bit of mercy makes the world less cold but eating Mango Haberno Buffalo Wings makes it a little warmer” Giant fans living in the DC area will be praying the Pope will again be wearing his giants hat and can vindicate the poor choices of Eli Manning.

The New York Football Giants lost their first 2 games before going on to win the Superbowl in 2008.