Being balanced is a worthwhile quality. Except when it isn’t. True in life; true in football. For that, we can give thanks — even if being balanced is no guarantee of success, on the field or off. Today being Thanksgiving (provided that you are reading this on Nov. 22, 2012), we can take a look at the NFL, which is kind enough to provide three games so that there is a diversion from gatherings of family and friends.
In the first of those games are the Houston Texans, who visit the Detroit Lions. The Texans (9-1) have the best record in the AFC and have the most balanced run-to-pass ratio in the NFL: 50.1 percent running and 49.9 percent passing. In Week 11, Houston quarterback Matt Schaub passed for 527 yards in a 43-37 overtime victory vs. Jacksonville. The week before, Arian Foster ran for 102 yards in a 13-6 victory at Chicago.
“It is part of our identity,” Schaub said of the team’s balanced offense. “It’s how we operate. We can control the ball and put drives together. It’s just something that we need to stay true to our plan and who we are.”
The Bears (7-3) are among the leaders in balanced offenses, as is San Francisco. The 49ers (7-2-1), who squashed the Bears on Monday night, are No. 2 in balanced attacks with 50.4 percent rushing to 49.6 passing. The Bears are No. 5 in the category with 46.6 percent rushing to 53.4 passing
Before anyone in the audience starts thinking that a balanced attack is the key to success, let the record show that the Washington Redskins (4-6) are No. 3 on the list and the Kansas City Chiefs (1-9) are No. 4.
Without any further breakdown of the numbers, here’s a fairly reliable assessment: It’s better to be good (effective) at what you do rather than to be balanced. On balance, being balanced on a football field can keep people guessing. Away from football, being unbalanced can have the same effect.
Courtesy of the NFL publicity department comes this tidbit: With a victory on Thanksgiving night against the New York Jets, New England’s Bill Belichick can become the eighth coach in NFL history with 200 career victories. Belichick (199-107) would reach 200 in his 307th game, the fourth-fastest in NFL history.
Coaches with 200 victories (including postseason) and the number of games it took each to reach the milestone:
Don Shula (Baltimore Colts, Miami Dolphins: 347): 286
George Halas (Chicago Bears: 324): 287
Earl “Curly” Lambeau (Green Bay Packers, Chicago Cardinals, Washington Redskins: 229): 300
Tom Landry (Dallas Cowboys: 270): 325
Marty Schottenheimer (Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers: 205): 339
Chuck Noll (Pittsburgh Steelers: 209): 347
Dan Reeves (Denver Broncos, New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons: 201): 373
The Detroit Lions are as much a staple of Thanksgiving as pumpkin pie. Their game vs. the Texans will be their 73rd Thanksgiving contest. The Lions are 33-37-3 on Thanksgiving. The Texans never have played on Thanksgiving. THe Lions have played on Thanksgiving Day since 1945.
Among the many things some of us have to be thankful for are videos that appear on this site. Here is some footage left over from the Exxxotica Chicago 2012 event (better late than never). These two feature Christie Stevens and Caramel Vixen:
We are also thankful for Adrianne Curry and her series on collectors (non-sports). Today we feature a comic-book collector:
And a little musical interlude:
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