Four Downs with Stock & Doc
by Ben Stockwell and Paul Hopkins
12/12/2008
This week, Stock and Doc look at the likely fall-out from Sunday's huge encounter between Dallas and Pittsburgh, who has the edge of the three 8-5 AFC sides, whether Boise State have been hard done by the BCS and consider where does Tebow fit in the all-time college football greats.
 Will Sunday's marquee NFL match-up have more of impact at the end of the season for being a Cowboys loss or Steelers win?
DOC – Cowboys loss – Simply because the Steelers already have a playoff place assured, and this means Dallas simply must win at least two of their final three games. Dallas seemingly operates in a highly intense bubble and what many feel was a meltdown in the 4th quarter (after a magnificent performance for the third three) simply adds to the pressure. Romo's decision-making, how he and his tight end cannot be on the same page twice after never seemingly missing a beat, Garrett's play-calling, TO supposed explosion on the sidelines (more about the moronic press making something out of nothing) all add to the pressure. Chuck in Jerry Jones' perceived criticism of MB3 and it says more about Dallas's mental toughness than the Steelers'. We learnt they can win ugly, we already knew. We didn't know Dallas could dig in the trenches, they did, but they still lost.
STOCK – Steelers win – This loss was about as popular in the M&T Bank Stadium tailgate lots last Sunday as a bunch of mouthy Steelers fans will be this Sunday coming. This was the win that the Ravens needed to get back on level terms with the Steelers in the AFC North and now even if the Ravens win out they don't control their own fate. This was key for the Steelers, now even if they lose to the Ravens they only have to face a Titans team that could have already clinched the #1 seed in the AFC and the hapless Browns, should be two wins. This result will have little impact as a Cowboys loss beyond further proof that they stink in December.
The team that will come out on top of the three-way tie at the top of the AFC East will be:
DOC – New England Patriots – They'll all win this weekend, with relatively easy games, although I think the 49ers may push the Dolphins hard. Next week they all face games that could go either way. The Jets must cross the nation to play in Seattle which will not be hard, especially as they look to have hit the wall, Miami go into Arrowhead to play the Chiefs who are just competitive all the way now, and the Pat's banged-up defence will go up against the potent Cardinals offence – the weather may play a role here. As far as i can see it comes down to the last week of the season, and the Jets hosting the Dolphins, and whether the Jets can win. The Pats have to be fancied to win in Buffalo, so they're going to end with 10 wins, and I have a sneaky feeling for the Fins to win in New York, ending the Favre fairytale.
STOCK – New York Jets – Things just got rather real rather quickly for the Jets in the last two weeks, the Broncos game was an obvious let down after the big win in Tennessee, however the subsequent loss in San Francisco was not and they've now lost all of their breathing room. I fully expect all three teams to win both of their remaining games before the AFC East goes head to head in week 17. That'll leave the Jets with a home game against the Dolphins and the inside track, this is Favre's chance to go out on top, when he realises that and when the Jets coaching staff realise that they'll need to re-establish Thomas Jones and get things on an even keel.
 12-0 Boise State should not have been overlooked for a BCS berth in favour of lower ranked, two-loss Ohio State.
DOC – FACT – Ohio State has fans and will bring a lot of revenue and media attention to the Fiesta Bowl. But as a team they do not deserve it. Boise State deserve that spot Come January 6th, when the Longhorns do what Oklahoma won't do, and win their Bowl game, we'll all know that it was a waste. They lost two games, were soundly beaten by USC and Penn State, and should not merit consideration. Boise may have had a softer schedule and come from a smaller conference but they merit this chance for their season. It's just further proof we need a playoff asap.
STOCK – FICTION – BCS bowl selection, unfortunately, is not all about teams earning the bids on the field, off field considerations factor into things and unfortunately in this case take an equal or even unequal weighting. Boise State as with Utah who I said weren't worth a BCS championship game last week haven't proven themselves this year either, their marquee win is over Oregon, who frankly are mediocre. Boise can't match Ohio State for travelling fan base or potential TV audience and they're not from a BCS conference, the big 6 run the BCS so they're going to look after their own. It doesn't sound fair, but that's the lie of the land.
 Tim Tebow is the greatest college player of all-time.
DOC – FACT ! – Ok, ok. Greatest player of all time might be a bit over the top, considering the likes that were far before my time. But Tebow is the greatest I have ever seen. And that includes my favourite – Vince Young. He has leadership, a great arm, he can run the ball and he's a great team leader. I'm not sure he'll make it big in the NFL, but in the ranks of the NCAA he reigns head and shoulders (and then some) above all the others. Add in his clean-cut image and there's not a thing you can doubt him for. A second National Championship is a certainty for him, and probably a second consecutive Heisman. And well deserved.
STOCK – FICTION ! – He's in the discussion, no doubt, but I can't put him to the very top of that list just yet, with time he might get elevated to that level but if no-one can fully separate themselves over more than a century of college football, then how can Tebow just magically do it now? He's great, but he's not on another level from the likes of Jim Thorpe, Herschel Walker, Red Grange, Archie Griffin, Earl Campbell etc. If someone can seriously tell me that they've sat down and watch 10, 15, 20 games for every single one of a list of great college playoffs and that they can fully separate Tebow then fair play. They'll be lying, but fair play to make the effort. Tebow is an all-time great, but he and none of those guys have separated themselves from that list.
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