Not much to be said but . . . Wait for it . . . GO EAGLES!!!

Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles - Offense
Injured Reserve

#78 OT Fenuki Tupou (University of Oregon)

Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys - Offense
#1 P Matt McBriar (University of Hawai’i)

Dallas Cowboys - Defense

#78 DT Junior Siavi’i (University of Oregon)

The game is being televised on NBC at 3:00pm HST (KHNL8)
Portland 5:00 PM PDT (KGW8)
Seattle 5:00 PM PDT (KING5)

A Happy New Year to all Hawai’i Football Fanatics readers! Thank you for your support the past year and here’s to a prosperous year ahead for everyone. Rose Bowl! Go Ducks! Don’t forget to watch all the NFL games on Sunday for playoff matchups! As for me, I’m watching the game of the week, Eagles v. Cowboys.

Go Ducks!

Go Eagles!!

Mahalo nui loa,

Don Aweau

Monday night is an intense rivalry between two teams with strong ties to Houston, TX. The Titans, who were formerly the Houston Oilers and the Texans, the newest NFL franchise. The Texans are looking for chance to have a winning season and a possible wild-card contention. The Titans may be just able to salvage their season by winning the rest of their games. They always seem to get close to winning but can't close it out.

I'm going with the Titans on this one as its a no-brainer for me. Ex-warrior, Ryan Mouton, is finally getting the hang of it. But I can't fault him since this is his rookie season and a lot of criticism from fans are unwarranted. Kevin Mawae is like a workhorse. Brought out of retirement, the former LSU player with island ties is solid as a poi pounder.

Tennessee Titans

Tennessee Titans - Offense

• #68 Kevin Mawae

Tennesse Titans - Defense

• #29 Ryan Mouton
  

Houston Texans

Hoka! (Too Bad) Texans have no island players!!

Game on: 3:30 PM HST (ESPN22)

Portland 5:30 PM PDT (ESPN35)

Seattle 5:30 PM PDT (ESPN31)

*For complete NFL Polynesian/Hawaiian/Island Ties players, see HFF Pro Teams .

This game is a toss-up as both teams have a contingent of Polynesian players. Eagles are attempting to get a wild-card spot in the playoffs and the Bears are playing to avoid any more losses to squeeze into the game too. Cowboys avoided a loss today (barely with a 1 pt win), so they lead the division, but Philly still has a chance with a win over the Bears. I’m rooting along with the rest of my ‘ohana though for the Eagles on this one (since we lived in Philly). Go Eagles!!!

As of the past few weeks, all the Philly Polynesians on the Eagles squad are still nursing injuries or relegated to the practice squad. Fenuki Tupou is on injured reserve. Marcus Mailei and Paul Fanaika are hoping to see game time tonight.

Due to time constraints (have to go see my cousin, Kupono, of “So You Think You Can Dance” fame, return to Hawai’i), I’ll have to place a link for the Bears Polynesian/Islander contingent. I apologize for that, I got too engrossed in watching the Cowboys/Redskins, Colts/Ravens and Steelers/Chiefs matchups. What a shocker in the Steelers/Chiefs game!

Game Watch Links:

Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles - Offense
Injured Reserve

#78 OT Fenuki Tupou (University of Oregon)

Practice Squad

#63 OG Paul Fanaika (Arizona State University)

#41 RB Marcus Mailei (Weber State University)

Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears - #57 Olin Kreutz, #73 Donovan Raiola (practice squad), #75 Matt Toeaina, #59 Pisa Tinoisamoa, *#46 Al Afalava, *#45 Will Ta’ufo’ou (practice squad) & *#62 Johan Asiata (practice squad)

The game is being televised on NBC at 3:20pm HST (KHNL8)
Portland 5:20 PM PDT (KGW8)
Seattle 5:20 PM PDT (KING5)

*For complete NFL Polynesian/Hawaiian/Island Ties players, see HFF Pro Teams .

The big rivalry between Philly and Dallas will be renewed as they fight over who will dominate the NFC East in first place. The Eagles and Cowboys are tied with the same win-loss records. Someone has to lose tonight and with the Chargers upset over the Giants in the last remaining seconds of today’s game, either Dallas or Philly has a chance to get a game ahead.

Dallas has ex-Hawai’i Warrior punter, Matt McBriar, who is third in the NFL with a 41.3 yds punt average. Auwe! that’s a mean leg! and huge Polynesian, Junior Siavi’i, who looks to start this evening with Jay Raitliff on the sidelines. Watch out for these two to make a difference in the game.

On the Eagles squad, all the Philly Polynesians are still nursing injuries or relegated to the practice squad. Fenuki Tupou is on injured reserve. Marcus Mailei and Paul Fanaika are hoping to see game play if something happens in the depth chart tonight.

I’m rooting along with the rest of my ‘ohana for the Eagles on this one (since we lived in Philly) while my son-in-law, Akiona IV (Ala Akiona), is rooting for the Cowboys. The mana (power) may have very well have crossed over from the Phillies camp (sad about that one, Darn Yankees!) to the Eagles camp. So here goes. . . Go Eagles!!!

Game Watch Links:

Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles - Offense
Injured Reserve

#78 OT Fenuki Tupou (University of Oregon)

Practice Squad

#63 OG Paul Fanaika (Arizona State University)

#41 RB Marcus Mailei (Weber State University)

Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys - Offense
#1 P Matt McBriar (University of Hawai’i)

Dallas Cowboys - Defense

#78 DT Junior Siavi’i (University of Oregon)

The game is being televised on NBC at 3:20pm HST (KHNL8)
Portland 5:20 PM PDT (KGW8)
Seattle 5:20 PM PDT (KING5)

Aloha Hawai’i Football Fanatics fans!

Sorry got a late start today due to family matters the last several days. I wanted to pay tribute to my Uncle Samuel Kahakumaka Aweau, Jr. who passed away on Friday afternoon. Aloha ‘oe ‘Anakala!

Most of the featured games on the blog are televised locally in Hawai’i. If any fans have other games of interest, let me know and I’ll do my best to cover them as well.

Finished games as of 10am

New Orleans Saints @ Philadelphia Eagles (KHON3)

Final: NO 48 PHI 22

New England Patriots @ NY Jets

Final: NE 9 NY Jets 16

Mid-morning game at 10am

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Chicago Bears (KGMB7)

This game is an islander “toss up” because both are favorite teams and feature players from the islands.

Chicago Bears - Offense
#57 C Olin Kreutz (University of Washington)

Chicago Bears - Defense
#46 S Al Afalava (Oregon State University)
#59 LB Pisa Tinoisamoa (University of Hawai’i)
#75 DT Matt Toeaina (University of Oregon)

Chicago Bears Practice Squad

#45 FB Will Ta’ufo’ou (University of California - Berkeley)
#62 G Johan Asiata (UNLV)
#73 Donovan Raiola (University of Wisconsin)

Sunday Night (afternoon) game at 2:15pm:

N.Y. Giants @ Dallas Cowboys  (KHON3)

This is all Dallas Cowboys as the Giants have no players with island ties at this point of the season.

Junior Siavii has the greatest chance seeing some action this season more than ever as he backs up Jay Ratliff. I agree with Junior that you don't want to see anyone get hurt and sometimes it's becomes a detriment when you want to get some playing time in the NFL.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports :

Siavii’s big chance

The Cowboys boast some depth at defensive end, but nose tackle is different. There is no proven commodity behind Jay Ratliff, so Junior Siavii will receive a chance.

He’s the team’s best shot at backing up Ratliff. At 6-foot-5, 320 pounds, Siavii has the ideal frame for a 3-4 nose tackle, the question is whether he can be effective with that frame.

A second-round draft pick by the Chiefs in 2004, he spent a pair of seasons in Kansas City but was out of football in 2006 and ’07. Last season, he spent some time with the Cowboys, was injured, and then spent more time looking for work.

"I got nine tryouts, but at my position nobody went down. It’s hard to get a job if nobody gets hurt," he said. "I wish nobody gets hurt in this league, but sometimes that’s how it works to get a job."

He had some different options during the off-season, but he chose the Cowboys because he has a decent shot at playing time.

"The 3-4 defense is a better fit for me," he said.

There's no other player that deserves to play after all he's been through then Junior!

Aloha!