Scattershooting
The Cowboys ran an empty backfield for a good chunk of the win over Minnesota on Sunday, including the entire final game-winning drive. I find it amazing that any NFL team could basically tell the opponent that it was going to throw every down and drive down the field like a hot knife through butter. The wide receivers ran great routes but a ton of credit goes to Tony Romo. I’m not a “Romo apologist” but I think he gets a bad rap. The guy is a gamer and think of how bad this offense would be with some of the other QBs in this league (like Christian Ponder)…This Saturday’s game at Texas A&M is notable for several reasons, 
the biggest of which is that it is probably Johnny Manziel’s final home game as an Aggie signal-caller. The same goes for Mike Evans. (Can you imagine what the scout team was like in 2011 when both were redshirting?). But the game vs. Mississippi State is the final contest for Kyle Field as we know it. A two-year renovation of the stadium begins right away (like, Sunday), as A&M plans to make it one of the best venues in college football. It will eventually seat 102,000, but the renovation schedule will give Kyle Field a capacity of 109,000 for one season in 2014. That’s a lot of yelling Aggies…Scary moment in Houston last night. Texans coach Gary Kubiak collapsed at halftime du to lightheadedness and was sent off via ambulance. Denver coach John Fox is having heart surgery this week after suffering chest pains over the bye week. These situations reminds us all how fragile we are. Football coaches live as stressful a job as there is, and they work unreal hours during the season. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families to make full recoveries…The Chiefs are 9-0. I mean it was the Bills, but still, 9-0 is 9-0. Even Baby Andy Reid agrees.
Heisman Watch
The Barometer originally picked Clemson’s Tajh Boyd to win the stiff-arm trophy but now it seems it is down to three guys – Oregon’s Marcus Mariota, Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel, and Florida State’s Jameis Winston. Our revised pick is Winston, though Manziel probably deserves it more. He’s simply the most valuable player in the game. Mariota? He’s good, but what has he done that A.J. McCarron hasn’t? I think the Bama QB is more worthy, myself. But Winston is worthy enough. I can’t see Florida State losing again in the regular season (there it is – the kiss of death) and he’s a big reason why. Johnny Football still has a chance if he and A&M run the table and he has big games at LSU and Missouri. But I think the voters are looking for any reason not to vote for him (and inventing some). It’s sad but true. So I’ll just ask this: who would you rather have under center if you had to go 80 yards for a touchdown in the last two minutes of a game?
The Week Ahead
Cowboys at Saints: Dallas would be better off had the Saints won at the Jets Sunday. Oops. Not gunna be pretty at New Orleans’ practices this week. And with the Cowboys’ struggles on defense, combined with no running game, the Saints may run away with this one. Dallas keeps it close though. Saints 30, Cowboys 23
OU at Baylor (Thursday): This is the game everyone is looking at to see if Baylor is for real. I got news for you – keep looking. Baylor will run the Sooners right out of the building. And part of the reason is that OU is simply not that good. But I also think Baylor is. Wait until the Bears play at Oklahoma State – that’s the real test we’re waiting for. Baylor 48, OU 20
TCU at Iowa State: TCU’s non-existent offense vs. ISU’s non-existent team. But I actually see the Cyclones showing up for this one and winning a close one. Too bad for TCU that any close replay in the final minutes will go Iowa State’s way. They’re owed one. Cyclones 24, Frogs 21
Kansas State at Texas Tech: Two-game losing streak for the Raiders? No problem. Order up some Wildcats. Red Raiders dial up some offense and treat them like they did their fox problem – kicked ‘em right out of the building. Tech 48, KSU 20
Kansas at Oklahoma State: The Cowboys are on a roll and that’s bad news for Kansas. Come to think of it, playing in the Big 12 is bad news for Kansas. This one will be over early. Take comfort, Jayhawks fans – basketball season has begun. Cowboys 59, Jayhawks 10
Texas at West Virginia: Texas is still undefeated in Big 12 play, and this continues in Morgantown. The Horns’ running game gets going again and they control the game from the outset. Texas 37, West Virginia 14
Mississippi State at Texas A&M: Johnny Manziel makes his last home game a special one, earning his sixth career 500+ yards game. The Bulldogs keep it close early but the Aggies run away with things in the second half. Aggies 54, Bulldogs 27
