Good news loyal Houstonians/wannabe H-towners: After blasting some 5000 mg of Vitamin C, 1200 mg of garlic, multiple cups of ginger tea, echinacea, and lords knows how else, and I seem to have rocket shipped my way through most of the bad parts of this bug (/knocks-on-wood). And just in time, no? Sunday is the day the man upstairs instructed us to watch professional football. Hey, if it's written in the scriptures, it's good enough for me.
The Texans head to New York to take on one of their toughest challenges yet. Kareem Jackson against Braylon Edwards or Santonio Holmes? Lord beer me strength. And well, if you're a Cowboys fan? Good luck with that.
Sunshine
Houston Texans at New York Jets --12:00 PM, CBS -- The Houston Texans seek a return to .500 while the Jets continue their HBO documented march to the Super Bowl... or something. Rex Ryan will look to snack (see what I did there?) all day long on football's worst defense, worst secondary, worst... well many, many really bad at football'ish things folks. Arian Foster will need to be at high form and I for one wouldn't mind Andre Johnson showing some kind semblance of full health/form.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Ford 400 -- 1:00 PM, ESPN -- Oh no he didn't! Oh yes he did! Look, I've long lobbied against NASCAR. I find the vast majority of the races to be mind numbingly boring. I acquiesce and give it a chance basically every other year. Sit down, pop a few cold ones, and endure DAYTONA and after 4 hours of my life are gone, I move on and only give it minor precursory lip service there after for the remainder of the chase. But something funny happened on the way to Miami homestead (site of today's race): the contest actually became compelling. I can't pretend I won't flip over once, twice, maybe even three whole times out of morbid curiosity. Obviously football will be on the primary television, but for the first time in as long as I can remember, it's not completely outside the realm of possibility that NASCAR may hold a place on the second for some time.For those as usually NASCAR intolerant as yours truly, basically Denny Hamlin, Jimmy Johnson, and Kevin Harvick are all so close to a championship point wise, that you need some kind of Excel spreadsheet to figure it out depending on different scenarios. Hey! Math. Give it a chance.. or not.
Lollipops
Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots -- 3:15 PM, CBS -- Hey, look! Another week, two teams I absolutely can't stand. For whatever reason, however (possibly due to the fact that I've never so much as met a genuine/non-bandwagon Colts fan in real life despite living in the midwest for almost 6 years) this one seems more compelling. C'mon y'all: Brady or Manning, who would you take?!?!?!?! (I vote for the Green party candidate, Matt Schaub). None the less a young, upstart Patriots team looks to derail a broken/old/injured Colts side in the first nationally covered late game I've seen all-season. Jim Nantz will call you his friend and you will like it, damn it.
Rainbows
New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles -- 7:20, NBC -- Since this is the point where there are two more teams I don't care for I admit I have something of a hater problem? This NFC East showdown pits the newly Super Mario star'ed Michael Vick against Eli Manning and his gang of former collegiate star wide receivers (I get most NFL'ers are, but it seems like they have a super college all-star team more than most, where occasionally a Kenny Britt or two can sneak through; I digress). The Eagles are playing their best ball of the season where as Tom Coughlin's Giants are coming off an embarrassing flop against the Cowboys. To the winner goes jostling position for the NFC East crown and playoff seeding assistance. The loser? A certainly scowl rich dress down from each of the teams' respective head coaches.
MLS Cup: Colorado Rapids vs. FC Dallas -- 7:30, ESPN -- I'm positive Jordan would be remiss if I didn't mention that the championship of this country's highest soccer league kicks off this evening in what should be an interesting evening of football proper.FC Dallas midfielder David Ferreira, the league's 2010 MVP, take on former US national Pablo Mastroeni, Jeff Larentowicz, and the Colorado Rapids. Look, there aren't enough characters allowed in this space for me to wax how incessantly unnecessary it is to not declare the top of the table side champ at regulars season's end, but if nothing else, the MLS Cup Final usually results in some highly competitive awesomeness. If you're American Football'ed out by the evening, give this a shot; you might be pleasantly surprised at what you find.