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Fridays are a wonderful time to study figures. For the NFL fan, especially of the fantasy variety, it’s a good time for all that. For those who prefer figures of another type — such as contestants in the recent Midwest Fitness figure, fitness, bikini and bodybuilding show at Harper College in Palatine, Ill. — any time is a good time for all that.
It's lovely Lariyah Daniels and fantastic Faydra Brown at Fitness Midwest 2011 bikini competition.
The editorial staff at elliottharris.com figured combining both worlds would be a wonderful way to fill today’s edition. Some NFL figures; some scantilly clad lovely ladies. In the name of saving the best for last (certainly froma visual viewpoint), the NFL numbers, courtesy of the league’s publicity machine, will go first:
* Through the first six weeks of the season, 52.2 percent (47 of 90) games have been decided by seven points or fewer. Meaning teams are on pace to play the greatest percentage of such close games since 1970 (the leader being 1994 with 51.3 percent — 115 of 224 games).
* With the Chicago Bears playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday in London, the teams can extend their streak of consecutive games in the series decided by three or fewer points to four. Other teams with three in a row for such close contests: Atlanta-New Orleans, Cincinnati-New York Giants, Denver-Tampa Bay, Indianapolis-New England, Jacksonvill-St. Louis.
The Bears and Bucs have played overtime games in their last two meetings (the most recent a 2008 27-24 Tampa Bay victory). Since the advent of overtime in 1974, teams have played three consecutive overtime games against each other three time:
* Atlanta vs. Pittsburgh: 2002, 2006, 2010
* Buffalo vs. New England: 1999-2000
* Denver vs. Los Angeles Raiders: 1984-1985
The London Bears-Bucs game will be the ninth international regular-season game in NFL history and the fifth in the United Kingdom. Previous games in the UK (home teams listed second):
2007: New York Giants 13, Miami 10
2008: San Diego 32, New Orleans 37
2009: New England 35, Tampa Bay 7
2010: Denver 16, San Francisco 24
The defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers (6-0) are the last undefeated team in the NFL this season. The 6-0 start is their first since 1965. They have 12 consecutive victories, including the postseason. With a victory Sunday against MInnesota, the Packers (699-540-36, including postseason) would become the second franchise in NFL history to reach 700. Including the postseason, the Bears are 724-533-42.
A Green Bay victory also would become the fourth defending Super Bowl champion to start a season 7-0. The others (final record in parentheses): 1990 San Francisco (14-2), 1998 Denver (14-2) and 2007 Indianapolis (13-3).