TMQ Watch: December 22, 2015.

We pretty much have all of our Christmas shopping done now, barring a possible few last minute gifts or accessories for gifts already purchased. With that out of the way, we can focus on TMQ.

And what does he have to say this week?

Coaches should run the ball more, especially close to the goal line. 588 words and a gratuitous Barbara Tuchman reference down.

Seattle is playing well. We hadn’t noticed. Mixed: Pittsburgh-Denver. “Sour Giants Game-Management Plays of the Week (New Running Item)”. TMQ needs a new running item like we need another hole in our body, but we confess to an evil glee at the misfortunes of the Giants and Eli Manning.

Stats. TMQ rants, once again, about “bottomless pits”, this time in the context of the new “Star Wars” movie. Note: TMQ’s item contains at least one big spoiler for the movie. If you have not seen it, and you care, perhaps you should skip his column this week, or at least the part that starts with “Spoiler Alert”.

Misdirection. Isn’t the reason why good games are on Sunday night because of the NFL’s flex scheduling? Also: book plug.

Sunday in the late slot, coastal California became an actual Hell’s Sports Bar.

Really? An “actual Hell’s Sports Bar”? With lakes of brimstone? Satan his ownself making a grand appearance?

The return of “cosmic thoughts”.

“Authentic Games Standings”.

T.M.Q. continues to think the best thing that could happen to the Panthers would be a nice defeat, getting the whole 1972 Dolphins business off their minds.

And giving Easterbrook a chance to dust off his wrong, wrong, wrongity wrong 1972 Dolphins auto-text.

Rex Ryan. Percy Harvin.

The haiku fad seems to have faded.

Was there ever a “haiku fad”? Outside of Japan and TMQ’s head, that is?

The 500 Club.

In college it’s legal for offensive linemen to block downfield before a pass that is caught behind the line of scrimmage. This is not legal under N.F.L. rules, but officials often act as if it is.

TMQ has argued for simplifying the rules. We wonder if, in addition to simplification, unification between the college and pro rules would also help.

Mount Union 49, St. Thomas 35. That’s all for this week. Have yourself a merry little Christmas. This includes you, Gregg.

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