NFL WEEK 14 ALL IS LOST EDITION

 The sun had long since set in the desert and yet for England there was glimmer of light. One last ray of hope as Harry Kane bent down once more to adjust the ball, tug at his socks, closing his eyes to visualize his last penalty kick just a dozen minutes or so before. That shot sailed safely into the upper left corner of the net, tying England with France 1-1.  Now it was 2-1 France, and this was the last thin edge of the sun. One last ray of light. Surely Harry Kane, captain, who had just tied the great Wayne Rooney for goals in a world cup, would even the score. 

This was Nelson at Trafalgar. Battling from behind and beating the French just when all hope seemed lost. Ah to be in England now that Kane is to kick. 

Hugo Lloris bounced on his heels, swaying left to right and back again. The French goal keeper knew Kane well- they are teammates on Tottenham Hotspur. The mind games began. Would Kane go back to his strong point, and kick left and high? Or having done that, would he go to the right? Or would Lloris think Kane wanted him to think he would go to the right, so Lloris would break to the left as Kane went back to replicate his first kick. 

All of England stood, in Qatar and throughout the empire. Songs rippled through the crowd as millions of English in pubs could not even bring themselves to sip their ale until the score was tied. Surely at 2-2 England would find a way to the final round of four. 

Kane toed the line as the whistle blew and Lloris bounced and swayed. He took his small steps, measuring his pace, lining up the shot. LEFT. HIGH. Strong...and ...... Lloris broke to his right- Kane's left-  as well -and perhaps in those microseconds before foot met ball Kane's brain registered his friend's move. The brain sent last micro-second signals to the leg and foot. Make it high.  That corner of the net would puff out and the score would be tied. 

The NFL Week 14 begins the playoff run. Teams win now and get in. 

The Jets let us down at the one-yard line last week. At Buffalo today, the Bills are 9.5 favourites. This is when the old Jets folded. And maybe the new Jets will fold as well. But we are going down with the ship. J...E...T....S and Mike White and +9.5.

Miami has it's second West Coast road game in two weeks. Last week Fins QB Double T crashed back to earth. He looked positively Tua like circa 2020. Next week the Bills loom in Buffalo. But today the Chargers await. Playoff teams win these games. Has Miami upped their game? We shall see- Fins -3. 

The 10-2 Vikings are 2 point DOGS in Detroit against the surging 5- 7 Lions.  Say that again please. The Vikings with the second-best record in the NFL are underdogs against a team, playing at home with a losing record. 94% of the action in Vegas is on the Lions.  You know what Rumpole does when everyone does one thing- we do the other. Take the Vikes and the points because although the Vikes  aren't great, something tells us Detroit is just not ready. 

 

All of England held their breath. So did the Franch across the channel. England had not ever met the French in a knockout round. Men and women clad in Union Jacks or Tri-colour flags watched wild-eyed as Kane's kicked whistled though the desert night heat. 

Maybe they will talk about this in many years to come. When the man met the moment and all could come undone. In homes and pubs and schools and cars, fathers will whisper to their sons. 

The great Harry Kane had come undone. 

The ball sailed high to the left, too high to tie the score. 

English hopes were dashed again. 

Their World Cup dreams no more. 

France 2- England 1.