What About us? The New York Giants have been perfect this season when facing teams with losing records. Continuing that trend Sunday night against the division rival Washington Redskins will put them in the playoffs for the third straight season. Almost overshadowed by the seasons fellow NFC teams Dallas and Green Bay are having, the Giants (9-4) have quietly put together a very impressive stretch, winning nine of 11 since opening the season with consecutive losses to the Cowboys and Packers.
Author: Anthony Rome
Approaching History One thing the Indianapolis Colts and Oakland Raiders have in common over the past five years is consistency. The Colts will look to become the first team in NFL history with five straight 12-win seasons Sunday when they visit Oakland, while the Raiders scramble to avoid their fifth consecutive year with at least 10 losses.
Unique Challenge For the past three weeks, coach Roy Williams and North Carolina have eagerly awaited each challenge they have faced in a stretch of six consecutive games away from home. The top-ranked Tar Heels have one more to overcome Sunday, coming off an 11-day break as they try to emerge from this string of road games unbeaten when they face Rutgers.
Warriors Begin Road Trip They’ve already met once this season, but the Detroit Pistons may not recognize the Golden State Warriors this time. The Warriors (13-10) look for their 14th win in 18 games on Sunday when they start a five-game road trip at Detroit.
Flyers Head to Jersey Martin Brodeur picked up the 500th win of his career against the Philadelphia Flyers earlier this season. Since then, he’s played like he’s capable of winning 500 more. Brodeur will look for his 10th win in 12 starts since reaching that milestone Sunday when the New Jersey Devils host the Flyers.
Opposite of Perfect A perfect season 35 years ago ensured the Miami Dolphins football immortality. They have three more opportunities to ensure this season won’t be remembered forever for the opposite reason. The Dolphins will try to avoid being just the third team in NFL history to start a season 0-14 on Sunday when they host the Baltimore Ravens, who have lost a franchise-worst seven straight games.
Going Downhill Fast The Utah Jazz haven’t struggled this badly in nearly three years. They’ll be trying to snap a six-game losing streak when they host the surging Seattle SuperSonics on Saturday night.
Division Rivals Meet Struggling to put up points this week, the Houston Rockets look to snap a five-game losing streak to the Dallas Mavericks as the Southwest Division rivals meet Saturday at the Toyota Center.
One Away From 500 Louisville coach Rick Pitino is just one victory away from winning his 500th collegiate game. His team is not doing him any favors to help reach that milestone. Already with a depleted front line, the 22nd-ranked Cardinals will be without suspended forward Derrick Caracter on Saturday as Pitino makes his second attempt at win No. 500 in a matchup against Purdue in the John Wooden Tradition in Indianapolis.
Emerald Bowl Preview For the second consecutive season, Oregon State lost its first two conference games to fall under .500 through five contests. And just like in 2006, the Beavers finished the regular season with just four losses and a bowl invitation. Capping another strong turnaround with an Emerald Bowl win on Dec. 28 might not come easily, however, as the Beavers head to San Francisco’s AT&T Park to meet Maryland, which has earned a reputation for stepping up in big games.