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So the Cowboys stood at 8-3. A two game lead over the NY Giants with an opportunity to send the Giants to a 6-6 record and pretty much end their season. We all know the December history with this team over the last three seasons and we have all heard the talk this past week. READ MORE

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Dallas went to New York with high hopes and fell short, a touchdown short to be exact. Giants (7-5)walk away with the win and are only one “W” out of first place. The Cowboys (8-4) now share the division lead with the Eagles. Never a dull moment in the NFC East. Early on the Cowboys seemed READ MORE

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Honeymooners fans may remember when Ralph Kramden uttered the words, “Be nice to the people you meet on the way up, because you meet the same people on the way down.” As the New York Giants get ready to host the Dallas Cowboys later this afternoon, they may want to be mindful of what Wade Phillips said READ MORE

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Game of the Week:Dallas 24 @New York Giants 22 The Dallas Cowboys could be playing for the NFC East. The New York Giants could be playing for their playoff lives. Or they could just find themselves in a bigger cluster with five weeks to go. With two games and one team – the Philadelphia Eagles – separating READ MORE

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Dallas, coming off a beating to the Oakland Raiders, now has to travel to New York and face the Giants for the last time in Giants Stadium. Yes, I know they are struggling but they absolutely do not like us as a team, organization, or even fans. They hate us and we hate them and READ MORE

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Remember this picture of Tony Romo, Jessica Simpson and Jason Witten enjoying a siesta in Mexico just before their huge playoff loss to the New York Giants? Romo caught a lot of flack for that trip as many thought he should have been on the practice field preparing for that big playoff game. Work first, party READ MORE

All, Sorry it�'s been a bit since I�'ve written, but you needed to have a writing project to make up for no class meeting this Tuesday. As such you will have to respond to this post with two different essays. For the first response I�'d like you to think back to the lecture on sporting space. During that lecture and the reading discussion following it we discussed how the campus at the University of Mississippi and even Fenway Park were spaces where predominantly “white” people congregate and often revel in their privilege. Sadly, in 2009, we still have people who do more than act out their privilege in unspoken ways. More specifically, the Ku Klux Klan held a rally at the University of Mississippi this past weekend in front of a less than respectful crowd (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/21/kkk-rally-at-ole-miss-kla_n_366475.html). On the one hand this is heartening to see, but, on the other, I wonder why many of the people (a decent amount were white) were protesting the demonstration. Was it for the reason that they didn�'t want racist individuals on campus at Ole Miss? Or was it because they prefer to practice racism in more covert ways without the media attention that comes with a Klan demonstration? What I mean by this is that the reason that the Klan was rallying in the first place is that the University decided to stop the school band from playing the song “From Dixie With Love”, because many of those congregating in the Grove prior to the game would chant “The South Will Rise Again” during particular points in the song. I suppose that it�'s good that there was such a negative response on campus regardless of the reason, but just because people were protesting doesn�'t mean we should think that (c)overt racism at “Ole Miss” is in the past. For this essay I�'d like you to talk about a particular sporting space that you have topophillia for (like many of the people that go to Ole Miss games), but that people with “other” social identities may not want to go. Please think about this more deeply than “I like going to Eagles/Ravens games and fans of other teams must not like it” – think about it in terms of race, class, gender, sexuality, (dis)ability. For your second essay I�'d like you to talk about nationalism and what role it plays in your life. Do you, for example, always root for the USA (or some other country) when they are engaged in an international sporting event? Why? Does this prevent you from being critical of the United States in terms of politics? Do you think more of the United States and less of other countries, ways of being, and their conventions? Or do you only watch/participate in sports that are considered “American” sports? Think about these questions as many of you are eating turkey and watching the Cowboys, Lions, and Giants play this Thanksgiving. Try to “decode” the nationalist messages that are broadcast to us and use that as your second essay. Have a safe and fun holiday and I�'ll see you on December 1st!

Clear Thoughts for the Cloudy Minds Check out sports betting community for NFL Power Rankings Week 11 betting tips & picks, free nfl picks at www.betrepublic.com Cincinnati took a big jump in the standings and is now one of the AFC favorites to make it to the Super Bowl, along with New England, and Indianapolis. The Steelers without Polamalu is like a day without sunshine. Gloomy and dark. Your number one team in the NFL is. The New Orleans Saints. No. two, is Peyton Manning and the Colts. They are undefeated unless New England gets them tonight, then the Colts drop two spots, and New England goes up one to two positions. No. three position is held by the Minnesota Vikings ar 8-1. There is no explanation here. They have the third best record in the league against some quality teams. No four are the Cincinnati Bengals. A big win over Pittsburgh, sweeping that series, and a 7-2 record that should in all reality be 8-1. This team is all about the W. Deep breathe here now. Relax. Clear your mind of all barriers and let the truth flow. Hang on not to past dreams, but today�'s reality. Denver has lost three in a row. Dallas got shut out in Green Bay, who can't beat Tampa Bay. No one else is eligible for this number five spot so welcome back Patriots the the top five of professional football. Fear Bill Belicek and Tom Brady in the playoffs. Currently the New England Patriots are in the number five spot with maybe a 7-2 record if they can knock off no. two Indianapolis. The Colts could fall as low as number five with a loss, or hold steady at number two with a win against New England. No six is the Pittsburgh Steelers at 6-3 for the season. They have to win a few down the stretch now, and see who can trip up the Bengals. A third play-off match up is very interesting. It is very very hard to beat a team three times in one season if they are evenly matched. No. seven are the Arizona Cardinals who keep showing up week after week. Now at 6-3, the offense is explosive with Warner and his receivers. No. eight are the San Diego Chargers who would be oh so much better with a defense. No. nine are the Denver Broncos, now the proud parents of a strapping eight pound three game losing streak and San Diego knocking at the door. No. 10 are the under achieving Dallas Cowboys who get shut out, by the team the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat for their only win. No. 11 belongs to Atlanta, outside looking in at the big boys playing in the yard. This may be a little rough for you, youngsters. Better wait til next year when you are bigger and stronger. The once mighty New York Giants are now in the No. 12 position and needs some wins now, No more excuses, Execute and move up. Struggle and miss the playoffs. Get it together G-Men. Houston is now hovering in that zone of maybe making the playoffs. 5-4 and hope springs eternal. Better get some wins too, Texans or you'll be with the Giants. One game short. The San Francisco Forty-Niners, or the little train that could, are at No. 14. Mike Singletary must get something up his sleeve to get a win in Green Bay. The surprising Jacksonville Jags are at 5-4 and are at an astonishing record for this season so far. They can beat Buffalo and actually be at 6-4. Wow! Good job with the three name dudes. You need some more of those. No. fifteen is your reward. Baltimore who still has some hope for the playoffs, after Cincinnati beat the Steelers is currently in number 16. They should win next week, because they suddenly have to, if the playoffs are to follow this season. The Packers are number 17, and moved up after beating the Cowboys. Next week, can they do it again beating number 14 ranked San Francisco? A big game for both teams motivation for this season. Philadelphia is falling off the charts with this win one, lose one pattern.8-8 will not cut it, guys. Now at number 18 and going to angry Bears that are wounded at home next. The Dolphins are at No. 19 and it does not look good for playoffs to be in Miami's future this season. The Panthers are at 4-5 now and have made a nice recovery from the 0-3 start. No. 20 and number 19 play next week. 5-5 to the winner. The Bears are at No. 21 and really need a miracle to catch anyone to make the playoffs. The Jets are not that much better and need a lot of things to happen, jst to go 8-8 this season. Again, this team will not make the playoffs. No. 22 to the Jets. Tennessee is number 23 now with three wins in a row. Hooray!!! Seattle is at 3-6 and going no where fast. Number 24 to the Seahawks. Washington is the best of the bad teams, beating Denver and staying out of everyone in the NFC East's way, 3-6 and No. 25. Buffalo is also 3-6 and No. 27. Maybe you should put T.O. in your game plaqn, a little more. The man can catch dummies. No 28 is Kansas City who beat the Raiders in Oakland. 2-7 and a brownie point. No 29 are the inept quarterbacked Raiders. Who finally sat Russell, I hope, forever. No. 30 are the Buc's, who are somehow, improving, week by week. Number 31 and slipping fast, are the Detroit Lions, who need another win, next week against....... you guessed it, No. 32, and worst team in the league Cleveland Browns. Oops, I forgot the Rams. I skipped a number after Washington. Ok, Number 31 1/2 to the Rams. Enjoy your week and watch key power match ups next week as No. 11 Giants host the No. 12 Falcons. San Diego at No. eight takes on No. nine Denver in Mile High Stadium. Both teams desperately need to win and this game will rock. Baltimore must find a way to slow down Peyton Manning and the Colts if they want to play in there post season. The Colts travel to Baltimore in firm control of their own playoff destiny. For More Football Betting Tips & Picks and Sports Betting Information at BetRepublic.com.

It's into the wee hours of Sunday morning here, so I'll keep this short and sweet.

Last week's record: 10-3. Season record: 82-34.

Falcons over Redskins: One of the more obvious locks of the week.

Bears over Cardinals: I'm predicting a nice game from Cutler. Hopefully Forte too.

Ravens over Bengals: Baltimore should build off last weekend's big win against Denver.

Colts over Texans: This one should be pretty close, but I give the edge to Indy.

Patriots over Dolphins: This also should be a good one to watch, but I sense a last-second New England win.

Packers over Bucs: The second really obvious lock of the week.

Chiefs over Jaguars: The "upset" pick of the week, though I don't see it as much of an upset.

Seahawks over Lions: Just what the doctor ordered for my struggling Seahawks.

Saints over Panthers: I really wanted to take Carolina here, but I'll go with Saints in a toss-up.

Giants over Chargers: New York's anxious to turn things around. It starts here.

Titans over 49ers: Last week has given Tennessee some momentum. They keep it going here.

Eagles over Cowboys: I like the Eagles in Philly. The Eagles might be the team to beat in the NFC East.

Broncos over Steelers: I think Denver bounces back at home against Pittsburgh.

Originally posted on

To some Cowboys fans it doesn’t get much worse than the Washington Redskins, to others its the New York Giants. While those are intense games and definitely rivalries, the Philadelphia Eagles are the team that really boils my blood. I won’t go on and on about the Michael Irvin injury story that broke hearts all over READ MORE