Week 3 -- Chiefs @ Philly

A coach travels "home", a beloved Chief is honored and the QB gets the cheerleader. Shocker. I'm shocked. DON'T MISS the amazing drink recipe at the end of the blog. It's Week 3 in the NFL! Let's kick it off.....

Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) at Philadelphia Eagles (1-1)
8:30pm EST on NFL Network

1. Andy Reid (BYU) returns to Philly. This is everything you need to know about this game, and it's all you'll hear on the pre-game show and from the commentators for about the first hour. Ugh. Michael Vick (VA Tech) credits Reid with taking a chance on him in 2009 after serving 23 months at Leavenworth for running a dog-fighting ring, lest we forget? Double ugh. Reid coached in Philly for 14 seasons from 1999-2012. For all the cheesesteak-eating they're bound to try to convince us he's done, Reid was born & raised in LA. His first job was as a hot dog vendor at Dodger Stadium.

2.  Chiefs are thin at TE this week, with their starters both injured in Monday night's narrow win over the Cowboys. They cut TE Kevin Brock (Rutgers) two weeks ago, but re-activated him for tonight's game. I'm sure he has mixed feelings about this. :)

3.  The Eagles go into Week 3 with the 2nd overall offense, but the 30th overall defense. In KC, it's Opposite Day...the Chiefs offense is 26th overall, and the D is 3rd. Hmmm....I think that's what they call a pick 'em, except the Eagles have home field advantage and an edge in Vegas, favored by 3 points. I think there is a better than even chance the Chiefs will pull off the upset, or at least cover the spread.

4.  Usually stellar Chiefs running back, Jamaal Charles, is averaging only 4.1 yards per carry this season, down from his career average of 5.7. That's a lot. He's currently tied with Marion Motley for best all-time career average, but he'd better pick up the pace if he wants to keep that title.

5.  Look for DeSean Jackson (UC-Berkeley) to get the ball a lot tonight as he goes for his 3rd straight 100-yard receiving game.

6.  Chiefs QB Alex Smith (Utah) was drafted as the first overall pick in 2005 (over Aaron Rodgers), but was deemed a "dud". Well, things have certainly changed for the former 49er. And while it is a league rule that you can't date an NFL cheerleader on your own team, no one said anything about marrying one from ANOTHER NFL team. Smith married Oakland Raiderette, Elizabeth Barry, in 2009. 


7.  Be sure to catch the homage to the great Chiefs linebacker in "Derrick Thomas: A Football Life" September 24th on NFL Network.  

Party Tip!!

Whether the weather cooperates or not, it’s Fall! The equinox comes this weekend, so let’s celebrate with an autumnal beverage you can serve at your next football party. Here in LA, we have a favorite spot called The Tasting Kitchen. They serve a fabulous concoction called “The Braveheart”, and I found the recipe.  Hey! That’s a double! No wonder it costs so danged much….

Tasting Kitchen's Braveheart :  Tasting Kitchen's fresh ginger juice is a ratio of 2 parts juiced ginger to 1 part simple syrup (its simple syrup is 2 parts sugar to 1 part water). To juice fresh ginger, purée or grate peeled ginger and strain, discarding or saving the solids for another use. Tasting Kitchen shakes and serves the cocktail using single large rocks of ice. (I substitute ginger beer when I don't have time to make ginger juice.)

 

2 ounces blended scotch

1 ounce fresh lemon juice­

3/4 ounce ginger juice

1/4 ounce cocktail honey (3 parts honey, 1 part hot water)

2 dashes bitters, preferably Angostura

Combine the scotch, lemon juice, ginger juice, cocktail honey and bitters in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain and serve over ice in a bucket glass.

Each cocktail: 175 calories; 0 protein; 13 grams carbohydrates; 0 fiber; 0 fat; 0 cholesterol; 11 grams sugar; 1 mg sodium.