2011 NFL Games Week 7: After six weeks of NFL action, we are now down to just one undefeated team, as the Lions were defeated by the 49ers, 25-19, but not without some controversy. The impact these NFL coaches’ have had in Frisco and the Motor City cannot be undermined. Both guys have taken over franchises once left for dead and revived them, seemingly, in a matter of no time. In what was supposed to be a game between THE two most pleasant surprises this NFL season, what transpired after it, was anything but.
San Francisco has already had a lot of success during Jim Harbaugh’s first season as head coach. With a blue-collar, defensive brand of football, the Niners have practically clinched the NFC West division and we’re not even halfway through the 2011 season. Get $50 in Free NFL Picks here!
For the Lions, Jim Schwartz has led his team to its best start in 55 years and as a real playoff contender in the NFC’s playoff picture. With quarterback Matthew Stafford running the offense and the Lions defense dominating oppositions, Detroit was able to keep pace with the defending world champs in the NFC North all season long until last week.
After what was a very entertaining game, San Francisco ended the Lions’ perfect start, in the hostile environment of Ford Field. When the clock finally expired, Harbaugh sprinted across the field, gave Schwartz — what looked-like — a hard handshake, slapped him on the back, and then took off running towards his locker room.
With a confused/pissed-off look in his face, the Lions coach said something to Harbaugh, but the Niners coach was too excited to pay him any mind. Thus, Schwartz decided to let him know what he thought about their congratulatory handshake, and chased him down to the tunnel.
Running right into him while screaming at him, Schwartz caught up to Harbaugh and the two were face-for-face, screaming at each other for a second. “Get out of my face,” Harbaugh told Schwartz, and the two had to be separated. It seems to me that Schwartz felt that Harbaugh mocked him, sort of like an “I got you” type of deal, and he just wasn’t having it.
“I went to congratulate Coach Harbaugh and got shoved out of the way,” Schwartz said during his post-game presser. “I didn’t expect an obscenity at that point. Obviously, when you win a game like that, you are excited, but there is a protocol… I’m sure it is on video, and you can see it…”
Harbaugh claims he didn’t do anything wrong, other than squeeze too hard: “That’s totally on me. I shook his hand too hard.”
The league will review the incident, and sanctions will likely be handed down to one, if not both head coaches.
This week, the (5-1) Detroit Lions [-4½] will try to get right back to winning, as they host the inconsistent (3-3) Atlanta Falcons [+4½]. Meanwhile, the (5-1) San Francisco 49ers will be home for a bye week.
Here’s a complete list of the 2011 NFL Games Week 7 (All Eastern Standard Times):
Sunday October 23, 2011
1 PM:
Seattle (2-3, Road: 1-2) vs Cleveland (2-3, Home: 1-2)
San Diego (4-1, Road: 1-1) vs NY Jets (2-3, Home: 2-0)
Washington (3-2, Road: 1-1) vs Carolina (1-5, Home: 1-2)
Atlanta (3-3, Road: 1-2) vs Detroit (5-1, Home: 2-1)
Denver (1-4, Road: 0-2) vs Miami (0-4, Home: 0-2)
Houston (3-3, Road: 1-2) vs Tennessee (3-2, Home: 2-0)
Chicago (3-3, Road: 0-2) vs Tampa Bay (4-2, Home: 3-1)
4 PM:
Pittsburgh (4-2, Road: 1-2) vs Arizona (1-4, Home: 1-1)
Kansas City (2-3, Road: 1-2) vs Oakland (4-2, Home: 2-1)
Green Bay (6-0, Road: 3-0) vs Minnesota (1-5, Home: 1-2)
St. Louis (0-5, Road: 0-2) vs Dallas (2-3, Home: 1-1)
8:20 PM:
Indianapolis (0-6, Road: 0-3) vs New Orleans (4-2, Home: 2-0)
Monday October 24, 2011 (8:30 PM)
Baltimore (4-1, Road: 1-1) vs Jacksonville (1-5, Home: 1-2)
