What a week in not only NFL but college hoops, college football, and believe it or not, NBA. With all of that in mind, I will stick with the NFL... for the moment. This was the week of NFL play that fans have been waiting for, Thanksgiving week. Due to the holiday, traveling, and the high consumption of food, this weeks addition of Monday Round-Up follows up on Tuesday but be that as it may, it will be entertaining, I guarantee it. There were several teams with key injuries this week as well as key matchups and as always there were several eggs laid also.
Key Matchups
Both of this weeks key games happened on the most anticipated holiday of the year, Thanksgiving. The undefeated Packers traveled to Detroit to face the Lions in an NFC North showdown. Many expected this to be a good game, but the Pack saw things differently. Aaron Rodgers was on his "A" game as always with 307 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Packers defense couldn't eat early so they opted to tear into Matt Stafford by forcing him to throw 3 interceptions on the day. The Lions lost Kevin Smith to a leg injury during the game but Maurice Morris stepped up big with 39 rushing yards and 81 receiving yards. Another key Lion was lost during the game but it was due to an ejection for unsportsmanlike conduct. Ndamukong Suh rammed a Packer lineman's head into the turf and kicked him on the ground after the play. He claimed in his post game press conference that he was simply keeping his balance and that's all. I'm sure Commissioner Goodell will take some of Suh's balance from his checking accounts because he will be fined. The game was another stain on the annual holiday game for the lions but I suppose they were in the giving mood. The Packers coasted away in this game to a 27-15 win and remained undefeated at 11-0.
The Thanksgiving night gave the world the first Har-Bowl in the NFL and it was a classic. Jim Haurbaugh and his 49ers faced his younger brother John Harbaugh and his Ravens in a defensive minded game. Both teams relied heavily on the legs of their kickers for points through the first three quarters as both starting quarterbacks Alex Smith and Joe Flacco struggled. During the fourth quarter, things started to heat up for the Ravens. Flacco lead his troops on a 16 play 76 yard touchdown drive that chewed away 7:34 on the game clock. Alex Smith needed to answer back to Flacco but the Ravens defensive line schemes were to much to handle. The Ravens defense tied a franchise record with 9 sacks and they could have had more if not for the evasive Smith. After failing to score, the 49ers punted the ball away to the Ravens and they made it down the field to settle for a field goal that sealed the fate for the older Harbaugh's team. The Ravens won 16-6 in a game that was exciting for real fans that love a defensive struggle. The Harbaugh brothers matchup is a game that I would like to see again.
Who Am I?
This weeks edition of "Who Am I?" will stump many but not all. See if you can guess who he is.
Throughout my career I have thrown for over 40,000 yards, 218 touchdowns, and had a completion percentage of 55.7%. I also have made the Pro Bowl 2 times in my career. Who am I?
Quick Spin
The in between Thanksgiving game between the Cowboys and Dolphins may was just as good as the other two games. Early in the game, Tony Romo was off to one of his debacles with 2 early interceptions but he righted the ship through the rest of the game. He went for 226 yards and 2 touchdowns. Not to be out performed, Matt Moore played well with 288 yards and a touchdown. Moore is playing well for the Dolphins but not well enough to be the long term answer. In a close game, the Dolphins lost 20-19 to the Cowboys. The Cowboys are now 7-4 and are in first place in the NFC East.
The Atlanta Falcons were early season favorites to push for the Super Bowl however their play this season is not worthy so far. They faced the Vikings in a game where they controlled the game. Matt Ryan was on the mark with 262 yards and 3 touchdowns, he also found Roddy White on the day with 10 catches, 120 yards, and a touchdown. Without Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson, The Vikings didn't stand much of a chance. On a bright note, Christian Ponder continues to impress but the Vikings lost 24-14.
When you talk Bengals football there are two names to keep in mind, Andy Dalton and A. J. Green. These are two rookies that are becoming the faces of the franchise in Cincinnati and Sunday was no different. Dalton tossed for 270 yards and a touchdown and Green hauled in 3 of those passes for 110 yards. The other driving force for the Bengals is their top ranked defense. The Bengals held off the Browns to win the game 23-20 and are in the playoff picture.
The Indianapolis Colts are awful but on Sunday they faced the Panthers that have been, well, less awful. The Colts were challenging early and were tied with the Panthers with 10 points at the half. However, in the second half the Colts laid down as always and the Panthers rushing attack took over the game. DeAngelo Williams, James Stewart, and Cam Newton combined for 192 yards and 3 touchdowns. Painter gained more experience but his play continues to stay the same. The Colts are drafting number one overall.
After the loss of Matt Schaub for the rest of the season, the Texans were ready to move forward with the first round bust known as Matt Leinart. The Texans were off to a solid start and Leinart was playing the role of check down champ but he was getting the job done. After a hard tackle, Leinart exited the game with an injury that turned out to be season ending collarbone injury. The Texans are cursed and they seriously may lose control of the division. T. J. Yates stepped in to finish the game and luckily they were playing the Jaguars and they wrapped up the win 20-13.
In the battle of the overrated teams, the Jets and the Bills played an overrated game. Both overrated quarterbacks shined on the day. Sanchez had 180 yards and 4 touchdowns while Fitzpatrick had 264 yards and 3 touchdowns. The star of the show by far was Stevie Johnson who celebrated a touchdown by mocking Plaxico Buress' leg shooting incident. With a chance to win the game, Johnson dropped a wide open pass that may have lead to a touchdown. Advice to the young gun, spend less time in the mirror practicing and more time on the field.
The Cardinals and Rams faced off to see which team would pick first in the top ten of the draft. With both teams not having much to be excited about this year, Beanie Wells had a surprise performance. Wells ripped through the Rams on the day rushing for 228 yards and a touchdown. Wells single handedly dismantled the Rams as the Cards rolled on to the 23-20 win.
The Buccaneers are the exact same team from last season: slow and methodical. They faced off against the Titans and were slow and methodical. Josh Freeman had 199 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. LeGarrette Blount rushed for 103 yards on the day but lost 2 fumbles. The Bucs defense caused 4 turnovers on the day but Chris Johnson was too much to handle. Johnson had a nice game with 190 yards on the ground and helped the Titans to a 23-17 victory.
Caleb Hanie made his first of many starts after the Bears lost star quarterback Jay Cutler for the season. Hanie didn't play bad but he didn't play well either. Hanie Passed for 254 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. Johnny Knox was the beneficiary to 145 yards of Hanie's throws. Carson Palmer had another good game but struggled to get the offense in the endzone. Palmer had 301 yards and the team thrived on the leg of Janikowski who made all six of his field goals. The Raiders won 25-20 and remained in first place in the AFC West.
The Seahawks and the Redskins both need work and they showcased that on Sunday. Shanahan is a coach that has let the game pass him by and Carrol needs to catch up to speed. The Redkins pulled out the 23-17 victory thanks to the Seahawks not making enough plays.
Phillip Rivers and Tim Tebow are far apart in recent conversations about football but not in the way either quarterback would have imagined. Rivers has not been the same player he's been in the past this season and has lead his team to the basement of the AFC West. Tebow is now 5-1 since becoming the starter for the Broncos and all the critics says that all he does is win. Tebow rallied his troops again for a fourth quarter tie and pushed the Bolts to overtime. The game was heading into a tie before Tebow lead his team within field goal range for the game winning field goal. Tebow's numbers: 143 yards and a touchdown. Rivers numbers: 188 yards and a touchdown. You be the judge.
The Eagles were in hopes of another win on Sunday to salvage their season but the Patriots had other plans. After taking a 10-0 lead, the Eagles appeared to be ready but then the game plan and offensive play went out the window for some reason. Tom Brady walked the field with the Eagles as he threw for 361 yards and 3 touchdowns. Vince Young had 400 yards and a touchdown on the day but it was not enough to take the Pats down. New England coasted away with the win 38-20.
The Sunday night game paired the Steelers and the Chiefs together and let me tell you, Tyler Palko is terrible. Palko allowed the Steelers to take the game while setting them up with great field position the entire game. Palko had 167 yards and 3 interceptions which let Roethlisberger have a lite night with 193 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. The Steelers won 13-9, on the arm of Tyler Palko. Kyle Orton will start for the Chiefs next week, I guarantee it.
Monday Night Recap
The New York Giants entered the game a half game back from the Cowboys in the NFC East and the New Orleans Saints were in the drivers seat to win the NFC South. What started out as a good game with two struggling offenses immediately changed to an outright blowout in the second quarter. Drew Brees was sharp and passed for 363 yards and 4 touchdowns on the night. The Giants defense was no factor as they couldn't stop the pass or the run. The Saints rushed for 205 yards and 3 touchdowns; Mark Ingram lead all rushers with 13 carries and 80 yards. Eli Manning could not keep pace with the Saints as he passed for 406 yards, 2 touchdowns, and an interception. Tom Coughlin was frustrated all night and he looked as if he's been down this road before. Probably because he has as the Giants have collapsed headed down the stretch of the season last year. As of now, it looks as if three teams will make the playoffs from the NFC North division which means the Giants, now one and a half games back, would not make the playoffs. The Giants have to get back on track if they want to bump the Cowboys out of first place. With the way the Cowboys have been playing lately, it may not be so easy for the Giants. They need to focus on every game and win them all.
Who Am I? (Answer)
So who am I with over 40,000 yards, 218 touchdowns, completion percentage of 55.7%, and 2 Pro Bowls? I'm Kerry Collins of the Indianapolis Colts.
Collins has been praised and criticized throughout his 16 year career. Along with his stats he also has thrown 196 interceptions. He may not have the greatest stats but he did lead the Giants to a Super Bowl in 2001. Collins started this season as the goat that filled in for the Colts for the injured Manning. He once again was criticized and this may very well be his last NFL season. Hate him or love him, he is tenth on the all time passing yardage in NFL history. That has to be good for something, but maybe not the Hall of Fame.
"Worst Luck" Race
Which teams are the top 5 teams in position to land the highly coveted Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck in the 2012 NFL Draft. This race is pretty much signed, sealed, and delivered but strange things happens in draft day war rooms and there is no guarantee that Luck will go first overall. So, I will keep track anyway.
1.) Indianapolis Colts, 0-11
2.) St. Louis Rams, 2-9
3.) Jacksonville Jaguars, 3-8
4.) Minnesota Vikings, 2-9
5.) Carolina Panthers, 3-8
Last Thoughts...
While visiting with my family for the holiday, I had several friendly but serious debates with my brother whom also happens to be sports knowledgeable also. The biggest debate we had was how the Cowboys placed a waiver claim for Kyle Orton. The Cowboys have an issue at backup quarterback with Jon Kitna and his injured back. They also have another issue with their inconsistent starting quarterback, Tony Romo. Owner Jerry Jones makes sure that his team has the best players on the field and that is just what having Kyle Orton would have done. Now, I realize that if Romo produces one of his bombs and self implodes, Orton would have been a good option to bring into the game. Even though the Cowboys didn't land Orton, the backup quarterback position is not to be taken lightly. The Colts and the Bears have both been taught valuable lessons due to the injuries to Peyton Manning and Jay Cutler. If teams don't want to sign a veteran quarterback as their backup then they need to draft a solid rookie that may be able to start a few games, if needed. The quarterback position is the most important position to an NFL franchise but perhaps the backup quarterback should be the second most important position to a team. That's just food for thought.
Hope you have enjoyed reading. Please comment, share, and give feel free to give feedback.
Thank you!,
Byron T. Williams
Monday, November 28, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
NFL Week 11 Monday Round-Up
Another exciting week of NFL play has come and several teams are beginning to go. With the level of play improving, teams such as the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills have hit slumps and are seriously in jeopardy of not making the playoffs. Those teams are in search of heroes but the chances of that happening are looking like slim to none. Some of those hopeful teams stepped up during week 11 while others took yet another step backwards. Time is of the essence for many NFL franchises if they want a shot at the championship title.
Key Matchups
The Philadelphia Eagles are in much need of luck and good play the remainder of this season. On Sunday night the Eagles traveled to New York to face the division rival Giants without several of their key starters Michael Vick and Jeremy Maclin. Vince Young got the nod for the Eagles at quarterback and his performance was shaky but I wouldn't say it was all bad. The game got rolling in the second quarter and the Eagles, believe it or not, drew first blood with a field goal. Eli Manning was pressured most of the game and that led to several punts for the Giants, 9 punts to be exact. With their final drive of the first half, the Eagles started the drive at the 14 yard line after a 51 yard punt return by DeSean Jackson. Vince Young hit Steve Smith for a 14 yard touchdown to take a 10-0 lead. The Giants managed to get a field goal before halftime. In the second half, the pressure continued for Manning but during the fourth quarter Manning battled through and connected with Victor Cruz for a touchdown to tie the game at 10 points. Vince Young was in a situation where he had to lead his football team to victory and he did just that. Young jaw dropping 18 play, 80 yard drive that chewed away nearly 9 minutes of the game clock for the game winning touchdown pass to Riley Cooper. Young ended the night with 258 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. Manning had 264 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. The Eagles have a long road ahead of them but they have to play more like they did on Sunday and less like they have so far.
The AFC North is the best division in the entire AFC and the Bengals and Ravens showcased their winning teams on Sunday. The Ravens have been very inconsistent this season but the Bengals have been solid through and through. Baltimore was on the mark Sunday despite the absence of All-Pro linebacker Ray Lewis. Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Torrey Smith, and the Ravens defense all had great games, but the Ravens only won the game by 7 points. That was due to Andy Dalton for the most part. The rookie quarterback may have thrown 3 interceptions on the day but he also had 373 yards and a touchdown. He was without fellow rookie A. J. Green but he found his target for the day. That target was Jerome Simpson who hauled in 8 catches for 152 yards. It wasn't enough to win the game but the Bengals are definitely a good football team. However, the Ravens are vets at the game and Flacco had 270 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Rice hit the ground with 104 yards and 2 touchdowns. The AFC North could possibly put three teams into the playoffs this year.
Who Am I?
This weeks edition of "Who Am I?" will mind boggle many people. Here's a hint for you, he is really overlooked.
I have over 450 yards receiving, 34 receptions for an average of 46.2 yards. It's not amazing but I do have 8 touchdowns and I'm fourth among skill players in scoring this season. Who Am I?
Quick Spin
Only in a world where imperfect is perfect can Tim Tebow be a starting quarterback. I guess Denver is an imperfect world. Thursday night's game two of the NFL's worst quarterbacks. Mark Sanchez had 252 yards and an interception. Tebow had 104 yards on 9 completions. Tebow is the more athletic quarterback and that's what got him the victory. The Broncos beat the Jets 17-13 and are now 4-1 since making Tebow the starting quarterback.
The Buffalo Bills were once 5-2 and started off 3-0 with the lead in the AFC East. It's amazing how things can change in a few weeks. They were simply a bad football team that were playing good football. On Sunday they faced the Miami Dolphins in a game they could have competed better had it been Madden 12. The Dolphins ran away with the game as Matt Moore posted another good game with 160 yards and 3 touchdowns. Ryan Fitzpatrick was awful with 209 yards and 2 interceptions in the 35-8 loss to Miami. It's safe to say the Bills will not make the playoffs this year.
The Carolina Panthers have been the most entertaining losing team to watch this season and that's not a bad thing at all. They faced the Lions on Sunday and it was a barn burner. Cam Newton has been good but he also has been very turnover prone. He had 4 interceptions on Sunday to give him a total of 14 for the year. Despite that he still had 317 total yards and 3 touchdowns. Matthew Stafford on the other hand was a huge with 335 yards and 5 touchdowns but nobody was bigger than Kevin Smith. Smith rushed for 140 yards and 2 touchdowns and added 61 receiving yards and another touchdown. The Lions defeated the Panthers 49-35.
The San Diego Chargers are frustrating. One week they play well, the next week they play not so well, but they still can lose either of those type of games. Sunday was a not so well type as they faced the Chicago Bears. Philip Rivers had an average game with 280 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions and the Chargers running game was non-existent. Jay Cutler is having his best season since becoming a Bear and Sunday was bittersweet. Cutler had 286 yards and 2 touchdowns in the 31-20 win but suffered a possible season ending injury to his thumb on his throwing hand. The Bears may be in serious trouble if this is true.
The San Francisco 49ers are hot and are on the heels of the Green Bay Packers this year. They faced the Cardinals and they were lights out. The Cardinals had a total of 229 yards in the game and that was not enough to deflate the 49ers. Alex Smith was good... again with 267 yards and 2 touchdowns. They rolled pass the Cardinals 23-7 and at 9-1, they are a very serious championship contender.
Speaking of championship contenders, the Green Bay Packers are the defending champions and are pushing for another title with the best record in the league this season. The Buccaneers gave the Pack a scare on Sunday in a close game against the undefeated team. Aaron Rodgers was typical with 299 yards and 3 touchdowns. His leading wide receiver was Jordy Nelson with 123 yards; he's having a monster season for all the fantasy heads. Josh Freeman and the Bucs played their best game in quite some time. Freeman tossed for 342 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Packers remained undefeated after the 35-26 win over the Pack.
The Atlanta Falcons and the Tennessee Titans faced off and the most interesting note of this game was rookie quarterback Jake Locker. After suffering an injury, Locker came in and looked very good on the day. Locker had 140 yards, 2 touchdowns, and looked like he may be a better fit for the now .500 Titans. Matt Ryan and the Falcons had a nice lead and held Locker off to seal the 23-17 win. It will be interesting to see how the Titans handle Locker going forward.
Since being traded to Oakland, Carson Palmer has been sharp despite his first game blunder. Facing the Vikings on Sunday wasn't an easy task as Christian Ponder has been solid as the Vikings quarterback. He posted 211 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. He also added 71 rushing yards on the day. It wasn't the best day but it was far from the worst. Palmer had 164 yards and 2 touchdowns on the day. Palmer is now 2-1 as the starter after the 27-21 win over the Vikings.
After starting the season off 3-1, the Washington Redskins have lost 6 consecutive games. The sixth loss came Sunday against the Cowboys but they played them tough. Rex Grossman is on his second stint as starting quarterback this season and he was good on the day. He had 289 yards and 1 touchdown but didn't get help from his backfield. Tony Romo continued his good play with 292 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Redskins pushed Dallas into overtime but fell short with the 27-24 loss. Having a rushing attack really has improved Romo's play and has given Dallas 3 consecutive wins.
The Seattle Seahawks went up against the St. Louis Rams in a game to avoid last place in the NFC West. The Rams need competition at quarterback because Sam Bradford looks average at best. Sunday was no exception as he had 181 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. The Seahawks have talent but they need some more on their roster. However, it was enough to blowout the Rams 24-7.
The Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns played on Sunday. The Browns scored 14 points and the Jaguars scored 10. Browns won. The end.
Monday Night Preview
Monday night's game with the Kansas City Chiefs against the New England Patriots could very well be good. It also could easily be a blowout depending on which teams show up to play. The Patriots have a high powered offense but they have struggled several times this season on defense and some on offense. The Chiefs are a solid team but they have exceeded expectations at times and have looked really good. They both have their eyes on their division titles but they both need to play solid football the remainder of the season.
Look for the Patriots to roll pass the Chiefs easily in this game. The Gronkowski will be a challenge for the Chiefs and the Patriots knows it. They will use the tight ends to open up the game for Tom Brady and Wes Welker.With Tyler Palko making his first start of the season, look for the Patriots defense to attack the fresh quarterback often and early. My prediction is that the Patriots will win 38-13 and yes I know I may be reaching.
Who Am I? (Answer)
So who am I with 450 yards receiving, 34 receptions for an average of 46.2 yards, and 8 touchdowns? I'm Eric Decker of the Denver Broncos.
Decker proves that stats can be misleading and a bit one-sided. The Broncos have the 26 ranked offense and are 20 in points. Decker has been a bright spot on offense and special teams. He may not be the top ranked receiver but he is earning his keep. Keep an eye on Decker.
"Worst Luck" Race
Which teams are the top 5 teams in position to land the highly coveted Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck in the 2012 NFL Draft. Even though the Colts are on a bye this week, they are still the favorites but things can change.
1.) Indianapolis Colts, 0-10
2.) St. Louis Rams, 2-8
3.) Washington Redskins, 3-7
4.) Carolina Panthers, 2-8
5.) Jacksonville Jaguars, 3-7
Last Thoughts...
The NFL is in the third quarter of the season and injuries are taking a toll. This week, we saw Jay Cutler, Matt Hasselbeck, and Adrian Peterson get injured and Cutler's appears to be out for an extended period of time. It's only going to get tougher and teams are starting to prepare for the worst. Also, the Bills have fallen from the ranks of the high and mighty to bottom feeders. Since Fitzpatrick signed his extension, he has 2 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. The Bills were too excited and now they have an expensive backup quarterback. That never turns out well, just ask the Jaguars. Vince Young made his first start with the Eagles and got them the win over the Giants. I'm not sold on Young but I'm not sold on Vick either. Dallas have rebounded nice on the season and it's all thanks to DeMarco Murray. The kid can run and as long as he is, the Cowboys are dangerous. If the season ended today, the Ravens, Texans, Bengals, Steelers, Patriots, and Raiders would make the playoffs for the AFC. The NFC would be the Packers, 49ers, Bears, Saints, Lions, and Cowboys. That would be 6 new playoff teams since last post season. Then again, the season doesn't end today so that can all change. I know one thing, the last 6 weeks of this season will be exciting and I can't wait.
Hope you have enjoyed reading. Please comment, share, and give feel free to give feedback.
Thank you!,
Byron T. Williams
Key Matchups
The Philadelphia Eagles are in much need of luck and good play the remainder of this season. On Sunday night the Eagles traveled to New York to face the division rival Giants without several of their key starters Michael Vick and Jeremy Maclin. Vince Young got the nod for the Eagles at quarterback and his performance was shaky but I wouldn't say it was all bad. The game got rolling in the second quarter and the Eagles, believe it or not, drew first blood with a field goal. Eli Manning was pressured most of the game and that led to several punts for the Giants, 9 punts to be exact. With their final drive of the first half, the Eagles started the drive at the 14 yard line after a 51 yard punt return by DeSean Jackson. Vince Young hit Steve Smith for a 14 yard touchdown to take a 10-0 lead. The Giants managed to get a field goal before halftime. In the second half, the pressure continued for Manning but during the fourth quarter Manning battled through and connected with Victor Cruz for a touchdown to tie the game at 10 points. Vince Young was in a situation where he had to lead his football team to victory and he did just that. Young jaw dropping 18 play, 80 yard drive that chewed away nearly 9 minutes of the game clock for the game winning touchdown pass to Riley Cooper. Young ended the night with 258 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. Manning had 264 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. The Eagles have a long road ahead of them but they have to play more like they did on Sunday and less like they have so far.
The AFC North is the best division in the entire AFC and the Bengals and Ravens showcased their winning teams on Sunday. The Ravens have been very inconsistent this season but the Bengals have been solid through and through. Baltimore was on the mark Sunday despite the absence of All-Pro linebacker Ray Lewis. Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Torrey Smith, and the Ravens defense all had great games, but the Ravens only won the game by 7 points. That was due to Andy Dalton for the most part. The rookie quarterback may have thrown 3 interceptions on the day but he also had 373 yards and a touchdown. He was without fellow rookie A. J. Green but he found his target for the day. That target was Jerome Simpson who hauled in 8 catches for 152 yards. It wasn't enough to win the game but the Bengals are definitely a good football team. However, the Ravens are vets at the game and Flacco had 270 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Rice hit the ground with 104 yards and 2 touchdowns. The AFC North could possibly put three teams into the playoffs this year.
Who Am I?
This weeks edition of "Who Am I?" will mind boggle many people. Here's a hint for you, he is really overlooked.
I have over 450 yards receiving, 34 receptions for an average of 46.2 yards. It's not amazing but I do have 8 touchdowns and I'm fourth among skill players in scoring this season. Who Am I?
Quick Spin
Only in a world where imperfect is perfect can Tim Tebow be a starting quarterback. I guess Denver is an imperfect world. Thursday night's game two of the NFL's worst quarterbacks. Mark Sanchez had 252 yards and an interception. Tebow had 104 yards on 9 completions. Tebow is the more athletic quarterback and that's what got him the victory. The Broncos beat the Jets 17-13 and are now 4-1 since making Tebow the starting quarterback.
The Buffalo Bills were once 5-2 and started off 3-0 with the lead in the AFC East. It's amazing how things can change in a few weeks. They were simply a bad football team that were playing good football. On Sunday they faced the Miami Dolphins in a game they could have competed better had it been Madden 12. The Dolphins ran away with the game as Matt Moore posted another good game with 160 yards and 3 touchdowns. Ryan Fitzpatrick was awful with 209 yards and 2 interceptions in the 35-8 loss to Miami. It's safe to say the Bills will not make the playoffs this year.
The Carolina Panthers have been the most entertaining losing team to watch this season and that's not a bad thing at all. They faced the Lions on Sunday and it was a barn burner. Cam Newton has been good but he also has been very turnover prone. He had 4 interceptions on Sunday to give him a total of 14 for the year. Despite that he still had 317 total yards and 3 touchdowns. Matthew Stafford on the other hand was a huge with 335 yards and 5 touchdowns but nobody was bigger than Kevin Smith. Smith rushed for 140 yards and 2 touchdowns and added 61 receiving yards and another touchdown. The Lions defeated the Panthers 49-35.
The San Diego Chargers are frustrating. One week they play well, the next week they play not so well, but they still can lose either of those type of games. Sunday was a not so well type as they faced the Chicago Bears. Philip Rivers had an average game with 280 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions and the Chargers running game was non-existent. Jay Cutler is having his best season since becoming a Bear and Sunday was bittersweet. Cutler had 286 yards and 2 touchdowns in the 31-20 win but suffered a possible season ending injury to his thumb on his throwing hand. The Bears may be in serious trouble if this is true.
The San Francisco 49ers are hot and are on the heels of the Green Bay Packers this year. They faced the Cardinals and they were lights out. The Cardinals had a total of 229 yards in the game and that was not enough to deflate the 49ers. Alex Smith was good... again with 267 yards and 2 touchdowns. They rolled pass the Cardinals 23-7 and at 9-1, they are a very serious championship contender.
Speaking of championship contenders, the Green Bay Packers are the defending champions and are pushing for another title with the best record in the league this season. The Buccaneers gave the Pack a scare on Sunday in a close game against the undefeated team. Aaron Rodgers was typical with 299 yards and 3 touchdowns. His leading wide receiver was Jordy Nelson with 123 yards; he's having a monster season for all the fantasy heads. Josh Freeman and the Bucs played their best game in quite some time. Freeman tossed for 342 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Packers remained undefeated after the 35-26 win over the Pack.
The Atlanta Falcons and the Tennessee Titans faced off and the most interesting note of this game was rookie quarterback Jake Locker. After suffering an injury, Locker came in and looked very good on the day. Locker had 140 yards, 2 touchdowns, and looked like he may be a better fit for the now .500 Titans. Matt Ryan and the Falcons had a nice lead and held Locker off to seal the 23-17 win. It will be interesting to see how the Titans handle Locker going forward.
Since being traded to Oakland, Carson Palmer has been sharp despite his first game blunder. Facing the Vikings on Sunday wasn't an easy task as Christian Ponder has been solid as the Vikings quarterback. He posted 211 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. He also added 71 rushing yards on the day. It wasn't the best day but it was far from the worst. Palmer had 164 yards and 2 touchdowns on the day. Palmer is now 2-1 as the starter after the 27-21 win over the Vikings.
After starting the season off 3-1, the Washington Redskins have lost 6 consecutive games. The sixth loss came Sunday against the Cowboys but they played them tough. Rex Grossman is on his second stint as starting quarterback this season and he was good on the day. He had 289 yards and 1 touchdown but didn't get help from his backfield. Tony Romo continued his good play with 292 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Redskins pushed Dallas into overtime but fell short with the 27-24 loss. Having a rushing attack really has improved Romo's play and has given Dallas 3 consecutive wins.
The Seattle Seahawks went up against the St. Louis Rams in a game to avoid last place in the NFC West. The Rams need competition at quarterback because Sam Bradford looks average at best. Sunday was no exception as he had 181 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. The Seahawks have talent but they need some more on their roster. However, it was enough to blowout the Rams 24-7.
The Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns played on Sunday. The Browns scored 14 points and the Jaguars scored 10. Browns won. The end.
Monday Night Preview
Monday night's game with the Kansas City Chiefs against the New England Patriots could very well be good. It also could easily be a blowout depending on which teams show up to play. The Patriots have a high powered offense but they have struggled several times this season on defense and some on offense. The Chiefs are a solid team but they have exceeded expectations at times and have looked really good. They both have their eyes on their division titles but they both need to play solid football the remainder of the season.
Look for the Patriots to roll pass the Chiefs easily in this game. The Gronkowski will be a challenge for the Chiefs and the Patriots knows it. They will use the tight ends to open up the game for Tom Brady and Wes Welker.With Tyler Palko making his first start of the season, look for the Patriots defense to attack the fresh quarterback often and early. My prediction is that the Patriots will win 38-13 and yes I know I may be reaching.
Who Am I? (Answer)
So who am I with 450 yards receiving, 34 receptions for an average of 46.2 yards, and 8 touchdowns? I'm Eric Decker of the Denver Broncos.
Decker proves that stats can be misleading and a bit one-sided. The Broncos have the 26 ranked offense and are 20 in points. Decker has been a bright spot on offense and special teams. He may not be the top ranked receiver but he is earning his keep. Keep an eye on Decker.
"Worst Luck" Race
Which teams are the top 5 teams in position to land the highly coveted Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck in the 2012 NFL Draft. Even though the Colts are on a bye this week, they are still the favorites but things can change.
1.) Indianapolis Colts, 0-10
2.) St. Louis Rams, 2-8
3.) Washington Redskins, 3-7
4.) Carolina Panthers, 2-8
5.) Jacksonville Jaguars, 3-7
Last Thoughts...
The NFL is in the third quarter of the season and injuries are taking a toll. This week, we saw Jay Cutler, Matt Hasselbeck, and Adrian Peterson get injured and Cutler's appears to be out for an extended period of time. It's only going to get tougher and teams are starting to prepare for the worst. Also, the Bills have fallen from the ranks of the high and mighty to bottom feeders. Since Fitzpatrick signed his extension, he has 2 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. The Bills were too excited and now they have an expensive backup quarterback. That never turns out well, just ask the Jaguars. Vince Young made his first start with the Eagles and got them the win over the Giants. I'm not sold on Young but I'm not sold on Vick either. Dallas have rebounded nice on the season and it's all thanks to DeMarco Murray. The kid can run and as long as he is, the Cowboys are dangerous. If the season ended today, the Ravens, Texans, Bengals, Steelers, Patriots, and Raiders would make the playoffs for the AFC. The NFC would be the Packers, 49ers, Bears, Saints, Lions, and Cowboys. That would be 6 new playoff teams since last post season. Then again, the season doesn't end today so that can all change. I know one thing, the last 6 weeks of this season will be exciting and I can't wait.
Hope you have enjoyed reading. Please comment, share, and give feel free to give feedback.
Thank you!,
Byron T. Williams
Sunday, November 13, 2011
NFL Week 10 Monday Round-Up
The quarterback position is a key position to a teams success and may very well be the most important. Sunday tested this theory as several of the games showcased just how much the quarterback matters to a team. With the change in weather many quarterbacks begin to struggle with passes but then again, that's what separates the elite from the good and the good from the average. Tim Tebow may not be an NFL starting quarterback but he is a football player that plays with a lot of heart at the position. With teams inching closer to the playoffs, Sunday was full of excitement and upsets. This season is definitely beginning to take form.
Key Matchups
In the first key game on Sunday the San Francisco 49ers hosted the New York Giants in a tale of two quarterbacks. Before the start of the season, Alex Smith was considered to be a place holder for rookie coach Jim Harbaugh. On Sunday, Alex Smith entered the game with a passer rating of 97.3 which is 7th in the NFL this season. Giants quarterback Eli Manning labeled himself "elite" and everyone criticized him for it. On Sunday, Manning entered the game with a 98.8 passer rating which is 5th best in the NFL. This game was as good as advertised as both teams were lead by their quarterbacks. Through the first half both teams depended heavily on the legs of their kickers as the 49ers lead at the half 9-6. David Akers was 4 of 4 on the day and his kicks proved to be huge in the outcome. During the second half the Giants got the ball rolling and Eli connected with Mario Manningham for a 13 yard touchdown pass to take a 13-12 lead over the 49ers. Early in the fourth quarter, Alex Smith spotted a wide open Vernon Davis for a 31 yard touchdown and to make the game a 7 point game, the 49ers went for a 2-point conversion and hit Michael Crabtree on an outside slant to the right side of the endzone. On the following drive Manning threw his second interception on the day to Carlos Rogers, his second of the game also. The 49ers ran the ball with Kendal Hunter for the 27-13 lead but Manning wasn't done yet.
Manning followed up with an 80 yard drive that lead to a 32 yard touchdown throw to Hakeem Nicks to make it a 7 point game. After a defensive stand, the Giants had a chance to tie the game with a last drive. Manning made it into the redzone but had a difficult time against the 49ers defense. On a last effort, Manning attempted a throw on fourth down but the pass was batted down by Justin Smith. Manning finished with 311 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Alex Smith finished with 242 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. The 49ers are now 8-1 and in the drivers seat for a first round bye in the playoffs.
After dropping two losses in a row, the Patriots were looking to rebound against the New York Jets. New England jumped out of the gate with some nice drives but failed to line up touchdowns. They lined up the uprights for some field goals instead and Stephen Gostkowski was accurate and gave the Pats a 6-0 lead in the first quarter. With under 5:00 left in the second quarter the Jets got pressure to Brady and forced a safety and after the punt by the Pats, Mark Sanchez lead his squad to touchdown on a 65 yard drive as he called his own number on the 2 yard line for a rushing touchdown. Before the end of the first half, Brady put together an 80 yard drive and was sharp and hit Rob Gronkowski for an 18 yard touchdown. Gronkowski had another big game with 8 catches for 113 yards and 2 touchdowns. During the second half, the Patriots piled it on and began pulling away from the Jets. The jets were outscored 24-10 in the second half and they made it look easy. Mark Sanchez could not withstand the wrath of Andre Carter who had 4.5 sacks on the night. Sanchez finished the game with 306 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. He could not last 60 minutes on the field with the Patriots. Tom Brady was stellar on the night going 23 of 39 for 329 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Jets were making strides to recovering after a slow start on the season but the Patriots knocked them into second place in the AFC East division. That was the last meeting between the two teams this season and they probably won't meet in the playoffs. It looks like only one team will makes it from that division.
Who Am I?
This weeks edition of "Who Am I?" will be an eye opener to many but not to all. Here's a hint for you, he's labeled as a bust.
Throughout my career I have a 75.3 passer rating, 11, 108 yards, 65 total touchdowns, and 56 interceptions over 7 seasons. This season I have 1, 709 yards, 12 total touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. So, who am I?
Quick Spin
What better than to kickoff Thursday Night football with an AFC West showdown for first place between the Raiders and Chargers. With the current struggles of Phillip Rivers, the Chargers have been very inconsistent this year. Thursday was no different as the offense was playing well but the defense was ripped by Carson Palmer and Michael Bush. Palmer had a perfect passer rating into the fourth quarter and finished with 299 yards and 2 touchdowns. Bush rushed for 157 yards and added 85 receiving yards with 1 touchdown. Rivers was 23 of 47 for 274 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception and 1 fumble. With the 24-17 win, Oakland moves on to 5-4 in first place and the Chargers are 4-5 in second place. The Chargers have some big decisions to make in the offseason.
The Bengals are a perfect example of how a team can go from top to bottom with a good offseason. With both teams fighting for first place in the AFC North, the Bengals hosted the Steelers in Cincinnati. Andy Dalton continued to play big and posted 170 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. A. J. Green was on his way to a nice day but was injured on a 36 yard touchdown catch; it was his only catch of the day. Roethlisberger was on the mark with 245 yards and 1 touchdown. Mendenhall has struggled this season but added 2 touchdowns on the day. With a chance to tie, Dalton threw an interception to William Gay and the Steelers sealed the 24-17 victory. These teams will definitely be in the playoff mix.
It is officially safe to say that the Eagles are just a football team and not the football "gods" that many thought they would be. With another bad outing on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, Michael Vick heard the boo birds calling for his head. With 128 passing yards, 79 rushing yards, and 2 interceptions, Vick fell victim to the Cards 21-17. Skelton looked good for the Cards and connected with Larry Fitzgerald all day long. Skelton had 315 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Fitzgerald hauled in 7 catches for 146 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Eagles are far from the playoffs and need to finish strong. It's not going to happen but they are the "dream team" aren't they?
The NFC South battle of the week was between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons certainly needed to beat the Saints if they wanted to push for the division title. Drew Brees was having none of that nonsense. Brees was sharp on the day going 30 of 43 with 322 yards and 2 touchdowns. Matt Ryan didn't go down without a fight as he lead his team to a comeback tie to send the game into overtime. On the Falcons second overtime possession, the Falcons went for a 4 and 1 on their own 30 yard line and fell short. What appeared to be a bad decision was and the Saints nailed a game winning field goal. Ryan ended the day with 351 yards, 2 touchdowns, and an interception. The Falcons need to get it together and fast if they want to push the Saints.
The Buffalo Bills have been a bad team playing good football. They also extended Ryan Fitzpatrick to a multi-year deal and may have jumped too soon. The Cowboys hosted the Bills in the slaughter of the day as they coasted by with a 44-7 victory. Tony Romo continued to play well going 23 of 26 for 270 yards and 3 touchdowns. DeMarco Murray continued to take Felix Jones' starting job with 135 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. The real Bills have arrived and are now 5-4. Seems like some things never change.
The phenomenal rookie Cam Newton took a backseat to the savvy vet Matt Hasselbeck on Sunday. Newton and the Panthers struggled the entire day as they couldn't keep up with the Titans. Newton had 212 passing yards and 1 interception; he also added 55 rushing yards on the day. Chris Johnson finally arrived for the first time this season with 130 yards and a touchdown. Hasselbeck had 219 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. The Titans won all three phases of the game and sailed away with the 30-3 blowout. Cam Newton isn't as effective when he can't find Steve Smith. He really looked like a rookie on Sunday.
I'm not sure if Mike Shanahan knows it but the Redskins season is over. Sunday was the return of Rex Grossman... again. The 'Skins traveled to Miami to face the Dolphins and Grossman was just as bad as he is on any other Sunday. Grossman had 215 yards and 2 interceptions. Shanahan's running back gumbo of Torain and Helu combined for 61 yards on 16 carries. Matt Moore was solid with 209 yards and Reggie Bush ran for 2 scores on the day. Miami beat the 'Skins 20-9 and recorded their second win of the season. Miami may be 2-7 but they have certainly played better the past three weeks but then again, they haven't been playing elite team either.
The Buccaneers have problems and the list is growing longer each week. They are basic, vanilla, slow, methodical, and losing most of all. Sunday wasn't any different as they hosted the Houston Texans and succumbed to yet another blowout. Schaub and the Teaxans were on all day as they only allowed 12 first downs on the day. Schaub had 242 yards and 2 touchdowns on the day. His 2 touchdowns were for 80 and 78 yards. They moved on to 7-3 with the 37-6 win against the Bucs. Josh Freeman was horrible with 170 yards, a touchdown, and 3 interceptions. The Bucs appeared to be on the rise last season but they are an average team at best. I guess they won't sit on their hands during offseason like they did the past offseason.
In an imperfect world Tim Tebow is the perfect quarterback. I guess the Denver Broncos play in an imperfect world because somehow, someway, Tebow is finding ways to win. Taking on division rival Kansas City Chiefs, Tebow had one of the worst games of any starting quarterback on Sunday. Tebow was 2 of 8 for 69 yards and a touchdown. He also added 43 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. Matt Cassel was just as bad with 93 yards and a touchdown. The Chiefs have been up and down this year but have played hard for head coach Todd Haley. Playing hard didn't get the job done on Sunday though as the Chiefs fell to the Broncos 17-10. The Broncos are now 4-5 and they are 3-1 since Tebow took over the starting quarterback job from Kyle Orton. He's still not a franchise quarterback but I guess he's fun... or funny to watch.
In one of two toilet bowl games the Jaguars faced off against the winless Colts. If any team knows how important the quarterback position is it's the Colts. Last season with Peyton Manning under center, the Colts were 10-6 and in the playoffs. This season they have 10 losses and counting. The Jaguars rookie quarterback continued to struggle and had 118 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. Maurice Jones-Drew was the focus, as always, and had 114 yards on 25 carries. Painter was awful too with 94 yards and 2 interceptions. He has not thrown a touchdown in three straight games. These are two of the NFL bottom feeder teams. Not much to talk about really but the Jags won 17-3.
In the second toilet bowl the Browns battled the Rams in game that has, not playoff impact, but draft impact. Sam Bradford had 155 yards and a touchdown on the day but the Rams were carried by Steven Jackson. Jackson had 128 rushing yards on the day. Colt McCoy had 218 yards on the day but was carried by Phil Dawson. Dawson connected on 4 of 5 field goals on the day but the missed attempt proved to be huge as the Browns lost to the Rams 13-12. Both of these teams need to improve their player personnel and the Browns need to add another quarterback to the roster.
Can anyone find the real Joe Flacco? Flacco has been as inconsistent as any quarterback this season. One week he is a hero and the next week he's a chump. The Ravens traveled to Seattle to tack on the Seahawks in a game that clearly favored the surging Ravens. Flacco wasn't terrible but he wasn't great either. Flacco was 29 of 52 for 255 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1interception. Ray Rice was quiet on the day with the exception of a 1 yard touchdown toss to Ed Dickson. This game belonged to Tavaris Jackson and Marshawn Lynch. Jackson was efficient with 217 yards and Lynch carried the team to victory with 109 yards and 1 touchdown on 32 carries. Steven Hauschka added 5 field goals to help the Seahawks beat the Ravens 22-17. The Ravens are unpredictable and I don't see them making the playoffs in a crowded division and conference.
Battling for second place in the NFC North is huge because first place is probably wrapped up by the Packers. The Bears and Lions faced off in a game that may be huge come payoff time and it was a blowout. The Lions started the season on fire but have come down to reality recently and the Bears saw to it that remained the case on Sunday. Matt Staford was 33-63 for 1 touchdown and 4 interceptions. The Bears were sharp at every phase of the game. They had a punt return touchdown from Devin Hester and 2 interception returns for touchdowns; 1 by Charles Tillman and 1 by Major Wright. Jay Cutler added 123 yards passing but he didn't have to do much on the day. With the teams settled in now, the Bears are 6-3 soaring and the Lions are 6-3 declining.
Monday Night Preview
The defending and undefeated Green Bay Packers will host the 2-6 Minnesota Vikings for an NFC North showdown. The Packers are as good as they come and Aaron Rodgers is having the best season of his career. The Vikings opened the season with veteran quarterback Donovan McNabb as their starter but was benched in favor of rookie Christian Ponder in week 7. The Last time these two teams met, Ponder debuted and with confidence as he battled the Packers to the wire in the 33-27 loss. This game should be just as exciting with a more confident Ponder and Vikings team.
Aaron Rodgers is clearly the best quarterback this season and he can give part of the credit to a good offensive line and arsenal of receivers. The Packers are fourth in total offensive yards this season and they appear to be getting better with each passing week. Their defense on the other hand is ranked 30th in yards allowed this season. They have been apart of their fair share of barn burners this season. However, their defense has made plays in big moments this season and have contributed to their 8-0 record. Rodgers and the Pack will strike and strike often to remain undefeated.
Before Christian Ponder took over the team they seemed lost and dazed but when he stepped in, he gave the team hope and they played with fire in their eyes. Ponder has been good as he has been competitive in each game and has played until the end also. The Vikings may have the 23rd ranked defense but they have Jared Allen and he makes the best quarterbacks work hard. Allen is currently second in sacks with 12.5 and he is eyeballing Michael Strahan's single season sack record; he is 10 sacks away. The Vikings record may not show it but they do have some good players on their roster. They will try to push Green Bay again and take the win.
Look for Rodgers to have a good game but he will be pressured by Allen throughout the night. James Starks should have some nice running lanes and could be effective. The Packers have given up points this season and expect the same on Monday. Ponder will post another solid game and will look for Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson to lead the way. Peterson will have a monster game. Jared Allen will get at least 1 sack on Rodgers and pressure him often. My prediction is that the undefeated Packers will remain just that and beat the Vikings 38-27.
Who Am I? (Answer)
Who am I with 1, 709 yards, 12 total touchdowns, and 3 interceptions throughout this season. I am Alex Smith of the San Francisco 49ers.
Alex Smith was drafted first overall by the 49ers in the 2005 draft. He will forever be linked with Aaron Rodgers because they were the top 2 quarterbacks in the draft and many thought the 49ers would take Rodgers because he was from California. Smith has been shaky throughout his first 6 seasons but Jim Harbaugh believed that Smith could be a top passer. So far, so good and Smith has the 49ers in first place in the NFC West and in position to make the playoffs with a first round bye. He may not be Rodgers but he is taking his own path and leading his team.
"Worst Luck" Race
Which teams are the top 5 teams in position to land the highly coveted Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck in the 2012 NFL Draft. Clearly the Colts are the favorites but things can change.
1.) Indianapolis Colts, 0-10
2.) St. Louis Rams, 2-7
3.) Miami Dolphins, 2-7
4.) Washington Redskins, 3-6
5.) Carolina Panthers, 2-7
Last Thoughts...
This season has been as unpredictable as any but one thing I know is that quarterbacks matter. The quarterback with the biggest impact on his team this season is by far Peyton Manning. The Colts are a terrible team and they have major concerns with Manning's future. Andy Dalton stepped in for the Bengals and they are thriving and Carson Palmer looks like the real deal for the Raiders. Cam Newton looks like the beginning of success for the Panthers. Tim Tebow won't be the quarterback for the Broncos but at least he is giving them a reason to be talked about... good or bad. Dallas has proved when Romo is on his "A" game, they are as good as any team but when he struggles, they lose. This years draft will be full of quarterback prospects. If a team is unsatisfied with their quarterback then they better draft one because that may make or break the team. Offensive rookie of the year took a turn this week also. Cam Newton is the fan favorite but Andy Dalton is good also, maybe even better. Newton has a passer rating of 84.0 with 2, 605 yards, 11 passing touchdowns, 10 interceptions. Dalton has a passer rating of 82.6 with 1, 866 yards, 14 passing touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. Now Newton also has 374 rushing yards and 7 rushing touchdowns. The selling point for me would be, the Bengals are 6-3 and the Panthers are 2-7. Dalton is offensive rookie of the year up to this point in the season for me.
Hope you have enjoyed reading. Please comment, share, and give feel free to give feedback.
Thank you!,
Byron T. Williams
Key Matchups
In the first key game on Sunday the San Francisco 49ers hosted the New York Giants in a tale of two quarterbacks. Before the start of the season, Alex Smith was considered to be a place holder for rookie coach Jim Harbaugh. On Sunday, Alex Smith entered the game with a passer rating of 97.3 which is 7th in the NFL this season. Giants quarterback Eli Manning labeled himself "elite" and everyone criticized him for it. On Sunday, Manning entered the game with a 98.8 passer rating which is 5th best in the NFL. This game was as good as advertised as both teams were lead by their quarterbacks. Through the first half both teams depended heavily on the legs of their kickers as the 49ers lead at the half 9-6. David Akers was 4 of 4 on the day and his kicks proved to be huge in the outcome. During the second half the Giants got the ball rolling and Eli connected with Mario Manningham for a 13 yard touchdown pass to take a 13-12 lead over the 49ers. Early in the fourth quarter, Alex Smith spotted a wide open Vernon Davis for a 31 yard touchdown and to make the game a 7 point game, the 49ers went for a 2-point conversion and hit Michael Crabtree on an outside slant to the right side of the endzone. On the following drive Manning threw his second interception on the day to Carlos Rogers, his second of the game also. The 49ers ran the ball with Kendal Hunter for the 27-13 lead but Manning wasn't done yet.
Manning followed up with an 80 yard drive that lead to a 32 yard touchdown throw to Hakeem Nicks to make it a 7 point game. After a defensive stand, the Giants had a chance to tie the game with a last drive. Manning made it into the redzone but had a difficult time against the 49ers defense. On a last effort, Manning attempted a throw on fourth down but the pass was batted down by Justin Smith. Manning finished with 311 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Alex Smith finished with 242 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. The 49ers are now 8-1 and in the drivers seat for a first round bye in the playoffs.
After dropping two losses in a row, the Patriots were looking to rebound against the New York Jets. New England jumped out of the gate with some nice drives but failed to line up touchdowns. They lined up the uprights for some field goals instead and Stephen Gostkowski was accurate and gave the Pats a 6-0 lead in the first quarter. With under 5:00 left in the second quarter the Jets got pressure to Brady and forced a safety and after the punt by the Pats, Mark Sanchez lead his squad to touchdown on a 65 yard drive as he called his own number on the 2 yard line for a rushing touchdown. Before the end of the first half, Brady put together an 80 yard drive and was sharp and hit Rob Gronkowski for an 18 yard touchdown. Gronkowski had another big game with 8 catches for 113 yards and 2 touchdowns. During the second half, the Patriots piled it on and began pulling away from the Jets. The jets were outscored 24-10 in the second half and they made it look easy. Mark Sanchez could not withstand the wrath of Andre Carter who had 4.5 sacks on the night. Sanchez finished the game with 306 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. He could not last 60 minutes on the field with the Patriots. Tom Brady was stellar on the night going 23 of 39 for 329 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Jets were making strides to recovering after a slow start on the season but the Patriots knocked them into second place in the AFC East division. That was the last meeting between the two teams this season and they probably won't meet in the playoffs. It looks like only one team will makes it from that division.
Who Am I?
This weeks edition of "Who Am I?" will be an eye opener to many but not to all. Here's a hint for you, he's labeled as a bust.
Throughout my career I have a 75.3 passer rating, 11, 108 yards, 65 total touchdowns, and 56 interceptions over 7 seasons. This season I have 1, 709 yards, 12 total touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. So, who am I?
Quick Spin
What better than to kickoff Thursday Night football with an AFC West showdown for first place between the Raiders and Chargers. With the current struggles of Phillip Rivers, the Chargers have been very inconsistent this year. Thursday was no different as the offense was playing well but the defense was ripped by Carson Palmer and Michael Bush. Palmer had a perfect passer rating into the fourth quarter and finished with 299 yards and 2 touchdowns. Bush rushed for 157 yards and added 85 receiving yards with 1 touchdown. Rivers was 23 of 47 for 274 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception and 1 fumble. With the 24-17 win, Oakland moves on to 5-4 in first place and the Chargers are 4-5 in second place. The Chargers have some big decisions to make in the offseason.
The Bengals are a perfect example of how a team can go from top to bottom with a good offseason. With both teams fighting for first place in the AFC North, the Bengals hosted the Steelers in Cincinnati. Andy Dalton continued to play big and posted 170 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. A. J. Green was on his way to a nice day but was injured on a 36 yard touchdown catch; it was his only catch of the day. Roethlisberger was on the mark with 245 yards and 1 touchdown. Mendenhall has struggled this season but added 2 touchdowns on the day. With a chance to tie, Dalton threw an interception to William Gay and the Steelers sealed the 24-17 victory. These teams will definitely be in the playoff mix.
It is officially safe to say that the Eagles are just a football team and not the football "gods" that many thought they would be. With another bad outing on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, Michael Vick heard the boo birds calling for his head. With 128 passing yards, 79 rushing yards, and 2 interceptions, Vick fell victim to the Cards 21-17. Skelton looked good for the Cards and connected with Larry Fitzgerald all day long. Skelton had 315 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Fitzgerald hauled in 7 catches for 146 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Eagles are far from the playoffs and need to finish strong. It's not going to happen but they are the "dream team" aren't they?
The NFC South battle of the week was between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons certainly needed to beat the Saints if they wanted to push for the division title. Drew Brees was having none of that nonsense. Brees was sharp on the day going 30 of 43 with 322 yards and 2 touchdowns. Matt Ryan didn't go down without a fight as he lead his team to a comeback tie to send the game into overtime. On the Falcons second overtime possession, the Falcons went for a 4 and 1 on their own 30 yard line and fell short. What appeared to be a bad decision was and the Saints nailed a game winning field goal. Ryan ended the day with 351 yards, 2 touchdowns, and an interception. The Falcons need to get it together and fast if they want to push the Saints.
The Buffalo Bills have been a bad team playing good football. They also extended Ryan Fitzpatrick to a multi-year deal and may have jumped too soon. The Cowboys hosted the Bills in the slaughter of the day as they coasted by with a 44-7 victory. Tony Romo continued to play well going 23 of 26 for 270 yards and 3 touchdowns. DeMarco Murray continued to take Felix Jones' starting job with 135 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. The real Bills have arrived and are now 5-4. Seems like some things never change.
The phenomenal rookie Cam Newton took a backseat to the savvy vet Matt Hasselbeck on Sunday. Newton and the Panthers struggled the entire day as they couldn't keep up with the Titans. Newton had 212 passing yards and 1 interception; he also added 55 rushing yards on the day. Chris Johnson finally arrived for the first time this season with 130 yards and a touchdown. Hasselbeck had 219 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. The Titans won all three phases of the game and sailed away with the 30-3 blowout. Cam Newton isn't as effective when he can't find Steve Smith. He really looked like a rookie on Sunday.
I'm not sure if Mike Shanahan knows it but the Redskins season is over. Sunday was the return of Rex Grossman... again. The 'Skins traveled to Miami to face the Dolphins and Grossman was just as bad as he is on any other Sunday. Grossman had 215 yards and 2 interceptions. Shanahan's running back gumbo of Torain and Helu combined for 61 yards on 16 carries. Matt Moore was solid with 209 yards and Reggie Bush ran for 2 scores on the day. Miami beat the 'Skins 20-9 and recorded their second win of the season. Miami may be 2-7 but they have certainly played better the past three weeks but then again, they haven't been playing elite team either.
The Buccaneers have problems and the list is growing longer each week. They are basic, vanilla, slow, methodical, and losing most of all. Sunday wasn't any different as they hosted the Houston Texans and succumbed to yet another blowout. Schaub and the Teaxans were on all day as they only allowed 12 first downs on the day. Schaub had 242 yards and 2 touchdowns on the day. His 2 touchdowns were for 80 and 78 yards. They moved on to 7-3 with the 37-6 win against the Bucs. Josh Freeman was horrible with 170 yards, a touchdown, and 3 interceptions. The Bucs appeared to be on the rise last season but they are an average team at best. I guess they won't sit on their hands during offseason like they did the past offseason.
In an imperfect world Tim Tebow is the perfect quarterback. I guess the Denver Broncos play in an imperfect world because somehow, someway, Tebow is finding ways to win. Taking on division rival Kansas City Chiefs, Tebow had one of the worst games of any starting quarterback on Sunday. Tebow was 2 of 8 for 69 yards and a touchdown. He also added 43 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. Matt Cassel was just as bad with 93 yards and a touchdown. The Chiefs have been up and down this year but have played hard for head coach Todd Haley. Playing hard didn't get the job done on Sunday though as the Chiefs fell to the Broncos 17-10. The Broncos are now 4-5 and they are 3-1 since Tebow took over the starting quarterback job from Kyle Orton. He's still not a franchise quarterback but I guess he's fun... or funny to watch.
In one of two toilet bowl games the Jaguars faced off against the winless Colts. If any team knows how important the quarterback position is it's the Colts. Last season with Peyton Manning under center, the Colts were 10-6 and in the playoffs. This season they have 10 losses and counting. The Jaguars rookie quarterback continued to struggle and had 118 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. Maurice Jones-Drew was the focus, as always, and had 114 yards on 25 carries. Painter was awful too with 94 yards and 2 interceptions. He has not thrown a touchdown in three straight games. These are two of the NFL bottom feeder teams. Not much to talk about really but the Jags won 17-3.
In the second toilet bowl the Browns battled the Rams in game that has, not playoff impact, but draft impact. Sam Bradford had 155 yards and a touchdown on the day but the Rams were carried by Steven Jackson. Jackson had 128 rushing yards on the day. Colt McCoy had 218 yards on the day but was carried by Phil Dawson. Dawson connected on 4 of 5 field goals on the day but the missed attempt proved to be huge as the Browns lost to the Rams 13-12. Both of these teams need to improve their player personnel and the Browns need to add another quarterback to the roster.
Can anyone find the real Joe Flacco? Flacco has been as inconsistent as any quarterback this season. One week he is a hero and the next week he's a chump. The Ravens traveled to Seattle to tack on the Seahawks in a game that clearly favored the surging Ravens. Flacco wasn't terrible but he wasn't great either. Flacco was 29 of 52 for 255 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1interception. Ray Rice was quiet on the day with the exception of a 1 yard touchdown toss to Ed Dickson. This game belonged to Tavaris Jackson and Marshawn Lynch. Jackson was efficient with 217 yards and Lynch carried the team to victory with 109 yards and 1 touchdown on 32 carries. Steven Hauschka added 5 field goals to help the Seahawks beat the Ravens 22-17. The Ravens are unpredictable and I don't see them making the playoffs in a crowded division and conference.
Battling for second place in the NFC North is huge because first place is probably wrapped up by the Packers. The Bears and Lions faced off in a game that may be huge come payoff time and it was a blowout. The Lions started the season on fire but have come down to reality recently and the Bears saw to it that remained the case on Sunday. Matt Staford was 33-63 for 1 touchdown and 4 interceptions. The Bears were sharp at every phase of the game. They had a punt return touchdown from Devin Hester and 2 interception returns for touchdowns; 1 by Charles Tillman and 1 by Major Wright. Jay Cutler added 123 yards passing but he didn't have to do much on the day. With the teams settled in now, the Bears are 6-3 soaring and the Lions are 6-3 declining.
Monday Night Preview
The defending and undefeated Green Bay Packers will host the 2-6 Minnesota Vikings for an NFC North showdown. The Packers are as good as they come and Aaron Rodgers is having the best season of his career. The Vikings opened the season with veteran quarterback Donovan McNabb as their starter but was benched in favor of rookie Christian Ponder in week 7. The Last time these two teams met, Ponder debuted and with confidence as he battled the Packers to the wire in the 33-27 loss. This game should be just as exciting with a more confident Ponder and Vikings team.
Aaron Rodgers is clearly the best quarterback this season and he can give part of the credit to a good offensive line and arsenal of receivers. The Packers are fourth in total offensive yards this season and they appear to be getting better with each passing week. Their defense on the other hand is ranked 30th in yards allowed this season. They have been apart of their fair share of barn burners this season. However, their defense has made plays in big moments this season and have contributed to their 8-0 record. Rodgers and the Pack will strike and strike often to remain undefeated.
Before Christian Ponder took over the team they seemed lost and dazed but when he stepped in, he gave the team hope and they played with fire in their eyes. Ponder has been good as he has been competitive in each game and has played until the end also. The Vikings may have the 23rd ranked defense but they have Jared Allen and he makes the best quarterbacks work hard. Allen is currently second in sacks with 12.5 and he is eyeballing Michael Strahan's single season sack record; he is 10 sacks away. The Vikings record may not show it but they do have some good players on their roster. They will try to push Green Bay again and take the win.
Look for Rodgers to have a good game but he will be pressured by Allen throughout the night. James Starks should have some nice running lanes and could be effective. The Packers have given up points this season and expect the same on Monday. Ponder will post another solid game and will look for Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson to lead the way. Peterson will have a monster game. Jared Allen will get at least 1 sack on Rodgers and pressure him often. My prediction is that the undefeated Packers will remain just that and beat the Vikings 38-27.
Who Am I? (Answer)
Who am I with 1, 709 yards, 12 total touchdowns, and 3 interceptions throughout this season. I am Alex Smith of the San Francisco 49ers.
Alex Smith was drafted first overall by the 49ers in the 2005 draft. He will forever be linked with Aaron Rodgers because they were the top 2 quarterbacks in the draft and many thought the 49ers would take Rodgers because he was from California. Smith has been shaky throughout his first 6 seasons but Jim Harbaugh believed that Smith could be a top passer. So far, so good and Smith has the 49ers in first place in the NFC West and in position to make the playoffs with a first round bye. He may not be Rodgers but he is taking his own path and leading his team.
"Worst Luck" Race
Which teams are the top 5 teams in position to land the highly coveted Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck in the 2012 NFL Draft. Clearly the Colts are the favorites but things can change.
1.) Indianapolis Colts, 0-10
2.) St. Louis Rams, 2-7
3.) Miami Dolphins, 2-7
4.) Washington Redskins, 3-6
5.) Carolina Panthers, 2-7
Last Thoughts...
This season has been as unpredictable as any but one thing I know is that quarterbacks matter. The quarterback with the biggest impact on his team this season is by far Peyton Manning. The Colts are a terrible team and they have major concerns with Manning's future. Andy Dalton stepped in for the Bengals and they are thriving and Carson Palmer looks like the real deal for the Raiders. Cam Newton looks like the beginning of success for the Panthers. Tim Tebow won't be the quarterback for the Broncos but at least he is giving them a reason to be talked about... good or bad. Dallas has proved when Romo is on his "A" game, they are as good as any team but when he struggles, they lose. This years draft will be full of quarterback prospects. If a team is unsatisfied with their quarterback then they better draft one because that may make or break the team. Offensive rookie of the year took a turn this week also. Cam Newton is the fan favorite but Andy Dalton is good also, maybe even better. Newton has a passer rating of 84.0 with 2, 605 yards, 11 passing touchdowns, 10 interceptions. Dalton has a passer rating of 82.6 with 1, 866 yards, 14 passing touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. Now Newton also has 374 rushing yards and 7 rushing touchdowns. The selling point for me would be, the Bengals are 6-3 and the Panthers are 2-7. Dalton is offensive rookie of the year up to this point in the season for me.
Hope you have enjoyed reading. Please comment, share, and give feel free to give feedback.
Thank you!,
Byron T. Williams
Sunday, November 6, 2011
NFL Week 9 Monday Round-Up
The second half of the season is officially underway and teams are beginning to make their playoff push. There were several blowouts during the early games but the later games made up for the lack of excitement. Carson Palmer finally made a real start, Tim Tebow continued to be the beat-buddy for the NFL and critics, and the 49ers are still blazing hot. With another amazing Sunday in the books, the NFL entertained while other leagues continue to meet (yes that's an NBA jab).
Key Matchups
In a rematch of Super Bowl XLII, the Giants faced the Patriots. After starting the season off with big offensive numbers, Tom Brady has slipped into very average play as well as the Patriots as a whole. The Giants defensive line was swarming to Brady despite only recording one sack on the Pro Bowl quarterback. Through the first half, both teams played jaw breaking defense and made it clear that they were there to claim the victory on the day. The second half is when the teams began posting numbers on the score board and after both quarterbacks had settled, they too posted numbers in the stat line. Tom Brady tossed for 342 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. The self titled "elite" quarterback Eli Manning had 250 yards and 2 touchdowns on the day. The fourth quarter want down to the wire as the Tom Brady had an opportunity to take the lead late in the game and connected with Rob Gronkowski for a 14 yard touchdown. With 1:36 remaining in the game, Manning had an opportunity to put together a game winning drive for the Giants to take the lead and possible victory. Manning put together an 8 play, 80 yard drive, and connected with Jake Ballard for a 1 yard touchdown throw. It seems as if the Patriots are going backwards and now at 5-3 they have a long road ahead of them. The New York Giants continue to coast away with the NFC East and are 6-2 and have a key matchup with the San Francisco 49ers (7-1) next week.
The Sunday night game showcased two of the AFC North's finest as the 6-2 Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the 5-2 Baltimore Ravens. Back in week 1, the Ravens blasted the Steelers 35-7, so this was a game that the Steelers marked on the schedule. During that game Joe Flacco looked like the all-pro and Ben Roethlisberger looked like the chump. The hype was built for Sunday and both teams delivered. The game started as a defensive battle as both teams could only put field goals on the scoreboard and the Ravens lead the Steelers at the half 9-7. In the second half both teams aimed for touchdowns and the game opened up for both squads. During the forth quarter, Roethlisberger lead his team to a comeback and they were rolling. Big Ben had 330 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception on the night. He targeted his young, speedy receivers as Antonio Brown had 5 catches for 109 yards and Mike Wallace had 4 catches, 68 yards, and 1 touchdown. Trailing by 4 points, Joe Flacco and the Ravens had to put together their 2-minute offense and 92 yards to score a touchdown. Flacco turned heads as he was sharp on the drive and calm. Flacco connected with Torrey Smith for the go ahead touchdown for 26 yards. Flacco ended the night with 300 yards and 1 touchdown and sealed the 23-20 Ravens win. Flacco has been up and down this year but he is getting the job done. The Ravens now own the tie breaker between the two teams and are now 6-2 and tied for first place in the division.
Who Am I?
Once again it's time for another trivia question and this week should stump some but not all. In case you are wondering, in "Who Am I?" I take on the role of an NFL player, current or retired, and give you his stats which will make you think a little while you continue reading. Here's a hint, he is an all-time top 20 rusher.
Throughout my career I rushed for 11, 695 rushing yards for a 4.6 yards per carry average. I also added 2, 384 receiving yards. I scored a total of 74 total touchdowns and I only made the Pro Bowl one time. I am the most known unknown running back. Please can someone tell me who I am?
Quick Spin
It's safe to say that Jim Harbaugh will win the Coach of the Year award at the end of the season because the 49ers are 7-1, lead the division by a landslide, and they are in position to get a first round bye in the playoffs. Sunday wasn't any different as they went on the road to face the Redskins in a game that they had in the bag from the start. Alex Smith had another good game as he threw for 200 yards and a touchdown. Frank Gore added 107 rushing yards and continued to be the workhorse for the 49ers. Shanahan is clearly not an effective head coach anymore and the Redskins have now lost four consecutive games and are 3-5 on the season.
Still winless on the year, the Colts faced the Falcons in Indianapolis and this game wasn't much different from any other game. On the first two drives for the Colts, they turned it over and they paid for it as the Falcons capitalized on the blunders. Julio Jones returned from his injury and had a huge day. The rookie had 3 catches for 131 yards and 2 touchdowns. Near the end of the game Curtis Painter was replaced by Dan Orlovsky; whether the move is permanent is yet to be seen. The Falcons won 31-7. The Colts will be picking Andrew Luck in April.
The Chiefs rebounded nicely after a rough start but they declined on Sunday as they faced the winless Dolphins. Everything went Miami's way as both Matt Moore and Reggie Bush had good days. Moore was 17 of 23 for 244 yards and 3 touchdowns and looked very sharp throughout the day. Bush made good plays all around and had 142 total yards and 1 touchdown. The Chiefs are not a good football team but had been playing good football. They must rebound next week against Denver if they don't want to fall behind.
The Buffalo Bills had a wake up call from Rex Ryan on Sunday and they got the message. Fitzpatrick received the long term extension but didn't smell like money against the Jets. He reeked of sweat and tears as he was smacked around all day. With only 191 yards and 2 interceptions, he could not lead the Bills to victory. Sanchez had a nice game with 230 yards and 1 touchdown as he lead his squad to a 27-11 blowout. In a tough division and conference, the Bills are going to have to play at the high level they were once playing.
I'm not sure if the Texans are a Super Bowl contender but they have stated their case several times this season. The Browns need an overhaul in talent, especially at quarterback. Colt McCoy was awful again on Sunday with 146 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. Houston was without Andre Johnson again but the running game was present. The Texans rushed for a total of 261 yards and 3 touchdowns. Arian Foster had 124 of those yards and 1 touchdown. With the 30-12 loss, the Browns fell to 3-5 on the season .The Texans could be really special if they play up to their potential.
The Cowboys have been up and down this season and Sunday was an up for them. The Seahawks on the other hand, not much competition for anyone this year. Romo brought his "A" game to the field as he threw for 279 yards and 2 touchdowns. The rookie phenom DeMarco Murray continued to play well with 139 rushing yards on the day. Tavaris Jackson played terrible with 3 interceptions and the Seahawks will be looking for a quarterback in the draft. After polishing off the Seahawks 23-13, the Cowboys are 4-4 and in second place in the NFC East.
In a NFC South showdown, the Buccaneers traveled to New Orleans to face the Saints. After the Saints Halloween trick last week against the Rams, they got back on track. Drew Brees was on point with 258 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Bucs didn't make many splashes in the short offseason and it is showing now. They have very average talent and most teams are not surprised by the young team. Josh Freeman had 281 yards and a touchdown but that wasn't enough to take down the high powered Saints. With the 27-16 victory, the Saints are sitting comfortably in first place of the division.
The new Bengals have been playing with purpose this season but they faced a tough matchup with the Tennessee Titans. Andy Dalton continues to impress as he had 217 yards and 3 touchdowns. A.J. Green also impressed with 7 catches and 83 yards. The Titans started with a 17-7 lead at the half and Hasselbeck was leading his troops nicely. After the slow start, the Bengals won 24-17 and are now 6-2 in the crowded AFC North.
Tim Tebow was abused in this game but he pushed through as always. He may not be a great quarterback but he is a football player. Willis McGahee entered the game injured and had an amazing game. He rushed for 163 yards and 2 touchdowns. Palmer showcased an up and down game with 332 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also delivered 3 interceptions on the day that were huge in Denver's comeback win. With 124 passing yards, 117 rushing yards, and 2 passing touchdowns, Tebow finished the day with the 38-24 victory.
In the battle of the bottom feeders, the Rams faced the Cardinals in a matchup for last place in the NFC West. Both teams entered the game at 1-6 and with the expectation of not winning many games, this was their Toilet Bowl. Bradford suited up for the Rams but Kolb was out for the Cards. The key player of the game was clearly Cardinals rookie cornerback Patrick Peterson. With 1 interception already on the day, Peterson added his second punt return touchdown of the season with no time remaining to give the Cardinals the 19-13 win. Both teams are still terrible.
The defending Super Bowl champs Green Bay Packers faced off against the San Diego Chargers in a barn burner. Phillip Rivers has been off this season and he was off on Sunday. He had 385 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions which 2 of those were returned for touchdowns. Despite the struggles, the Chargers battled back and challenged the Packers to the wire. Rodgers put together another good game as he threw for 247 yards and 4 touchdowns. He connected with 7 different receivers and 4 of those caught the touchdown passes. After capping off the Bolts 45-38, the Packers are undefeated at 8-0.
Monday Night Preview
The 4-3 Chicago Bears and the 3-4 Philadelphia Eagles are set for an NFC matchup and both are in position to be fighting for a wild-card playoff spot. The Eagles opened the season anointed as the "dream team" per Vince Young and their play reflected every bit of a nightmare. The Bears have been led by Matt Forte as he is the workhorse for the Bears. With both teams having playmaking defenses, this game is lining up as an exciting matchup.
Michael Vick and LeShawn McCoy have been the offense for the Eagles this season. Vick has made plays this season, both good and bad. He has 11 touchdowns on the year but he also has 8 interceptions and 8 fumbles which 3 of those resulted as lost fumbles for a total of 11 turnovers. McCoy on the other hand is known as the closer and he has played his role exceptionally well. He is forth in the NFL with 754 yards and could very well lead all rushers when the night is over. They will look to lead the Eagles to their forth win of the season.
How good is Matt Forte? He leads all running backs in total yardage this season with 1, 091 yards; that's a 155 yards per game average. He also has 3 touchdowns to go along with those numbers. Forte is also in a contract year and he is earning his keep unlike Chris Johnson and Peyton Hillis. The Bears defense may not be what it once was but they still have Brian Urlacher. His tackle numbers are way down but he has 3 interceptions and 4 passes defended. The Bears defense will have a challenge on their hands to shutdown the Vick and McCoy show.
Look for both quarterbacks to struggle and rely heavily on their running backs. Cutler won't have to do much as Forte will lead the offense. Expect the Bears defense to force turnovers and set the offense up with good field position. Vick will play hard as usual but will have too much to overcome. My prediction is that the Bears will play well under the lights on the road and coast away with a 27-17 upset.
The defending Super Bowl champs Green Bay Packers took on the San Diego Chargers and it was a barn burner. Phillip Rivers started the game
Who Am I? (Answer)
So, who am I with career numbers of 11, 695 rushing yards, 4.6 yards per carry average, 2, 384 receiving yards, 74 total touchdowns, and a Pro Bowl appearance? I'm Fred Taylor, former running back of the Jacksonville Jaguars and New England Patriots.
Fred Taylor is number 15 on the all-time leading rushing list with 11, 695 yards ahead of John Riggins, Corey Dillon, O. J. Simpson, Warrick Dunn, and Ricky Watters. He is ahead of some Hall of Fame players but there is still the debate of whether he will be inducted someday. Taylor was plagued by injuries, played for a small market team, and never made the Super Bowl. If not for the injuries, he would be much higher on the list. Will he be inducted into the Hall of Fame? He should be but it's up to the committee.
"Worst Luck" Race
Who are the top 5 teams in position to land the highly coveted Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck in the 2012 NFL Draft.
1.) Indianapolis Colts, 0-9
2.) St. Louis Rams, 1-7
3.) Miami Dolphins, 1-7
4.) Seattle Seahawks, 2-6
5.) Jacksonville Jaguars, 2-6
Last Thoughts...
Week 9 had early blowouts but the later games were exciting and showcased some of the better matchups on the day. The Panthers, Lions, Jaguars, and Vikings were on byes. The Panthers, Vikings, and Jaguars all have rookie starting quarterbacks. Cam Newton and Christian Ponder look promising with solid football teams. Blaine Gabbert, not so much. He has to improve in the second half of the season. The Lions have a chance at the playoffs for the first time since 1999 and it is well overdue. The AFC North is very tough. The Bengals and Ravens are tied for first place at 6-2 and the Steelers are 6-3. I still have the Steelers winning the division. The Browns are need a quarterback because Colt McCoy is terrible. He's not the only Colt that stinks because the Indianapolis Colts are in position to finish 0-16. They're only 7 losses away. The Texans have a strong running game and that should lead them to the AFC South division title. I don't think they will go far in the playoffs though. The Titans could save $17 million of Chris Johnson's $30 million if they cut him before March 1. Doubt they will do it though. The Jets are on the rise thanks to their defense. The Patriots look baffled and they will fight for the playoffs this year. The Bills are a bad football team that was playing good football. They need to rebound and fast! The Dolphins finally got a win and they may squeak out 2 more if they're luck-y. The Chiefs are another bad football team playing good football. The Raiders are falling by the wayside. Tim Tebow plays with his heart but he doesn't have much skill though. The Chargers have to get Rivers on track.
The NFC has the defending champs and they are good! The Bears need to pay Forte. The 49ers are playing lights out football. Pete Carrol needs to focus on the draft and get some talent in Seattle. The Cardinals and the Rams are bottom feeders. The Saints are good but they are no longer invincible. The Buccaneers are overrated. The Falcons are catching wind to fuel the fire. Vick needs to limit the turnovers in order to lead his team to the playoffs. Eli Manning is proving that he is indeed elite as the Giants are 6-2 and lead the NFC East. The Cowboys have a nice road ahead of them and should make up ground for the bad start. The Redskins need to fire Mike Shanahan. Yeah I said it! Last but not least, has anyone ever noticed that NFL Network's anchor sounds like Kermit the frog? It's funny and annoying at the same time.
Hope you have enjoyed reading. Please comment, share, and give feel free to give feedback. Thank you!
Key Matchups
In a rematch of Super Bowl XLII, the Giants faced the Patriots. After starting the season off with big offensive numbers, Tom Brady has slipped into very average play as well as the Patriots as a whole. The Giants defensive line was swarming to Brady despite only recording one sack on the Pro Bowl quarterback. Through the first half, both teams played jaw breaking defense and made it clear that they were there to claim the victory on the day. The second half is when the teams began posting numbers on the score board and after both quarterbacks had settled, they too posted numbers in the stat line. Tom Brady tossed for 342 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. The self titled "elite" quarterback Eli Manning had 250 yards and 2 touchdowns on the day. The fourth quarter want down to the wire as the Tom Brady had an opportunity to take the lead late in the game and connected with Rob Gronkowski for a 14 yard touchdown. With 1:36 remaining in the game, Manning had an opportunity to put together a game winning drive for the Giants to take the lead and possible victory. Manning put together an 8 play, 80 yard drive, and connected with Jake Ballard for a 1 yard touchdown throw. It seems as if the Patriots are going backwards and now at 5-3 they have a long road ahead of them. The New York Giants continue to coast away with the NFC East and are 6-2 and have a key matchup with the San Francisco 49ers (7-1) next week.
The Sunday night game showcased two of the AFC North's finest as the 6-2 Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the 5-2 Baltimore Ravens. Back in week 1, the Ravens blasted the Steelers 35-7, so this was a game that the Steelers marked on the schedule. During that game Joe Flacco looked like the all-pro and Ben Roethlisberger looked like the chump. The hype was built for Sunday and both teams delivered. The game started as a defensive battle as both teams could only put field goals on the scoreboard and the Ravens lead the Steelers at the half 9-7. In the second half both teams aimed for touchdowns and the game opened up for both squads. During the forth quarter, Roethlisberger lead his team to a comeback and they were rolling. Big Ben had 330 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception on the night. He targeted his young, speedy receivers as Antonio Brown had 5 catches for 109 yards and Mike Wallace had 4 catches, 68 yards, and 1 touchdown. Trailing by 4 points, Joe Flacco and the Ravens had to put together their 2-minute offense and 92 yards to score a touchdown. Flacco turned heads as he was sharp on the drive and calm. Flacco connected with Torrey Smith for the go ahead touchdown for 26 yards. Flacco ended the night with 300 yards and 1 touchdown and sealed the 23-20 Ravens win. Flacco has been up and down this year but he is getting the job done. The Ravens now own the tie breaker between the two teams and are now 6-2 and tied for first place in the division.
Who Am I?
Once again it's time for another trivia question and this week should stump some but not all. In case you are wondering, in "Who Am I?" I take on the role of an NFL player, current or retired, and give you his stats which will make you think a little while you continue reading. Here's a hint, he is an all-time top 20 rusher.
Throughout my career I rushed for 11, 695 rushing yards for a 4.6 yards per carry average. I also added 2, 384 receiving yards. I scored a total of 74 total touchdowns and I only made the Pro Bowl one time. I am the most known unknown running back. Please can someone tell me who I am?
Quick Spin
It's safe to say that Jim Harbaugh will win the Coach of the Year award at the end of the season because the 49ers are 7-1, lead the division by a landslide, and they are in position to get a first round bye in the playoffs. Sunday wasn't any different as they went on the road to face the Redskins in a game that they had in the bag from the start. Alex Smith had another good game as he threw for 200 yards and a touchdown. Frank Gore added 107 rushing yards and continued to be the workhorse for the 49ers. Shanahan is clearly not an effective head coach anymore and the Redskins have now lost four consecutive games and are 3-5 on the season.
Still winless on the year, the Colts faced the Falcons in Indianapolis and this game wasn't much different from any other game. On the first two drives for the Colts, they turned it over and they paid for it as the Falcons capitalized on the blunders. Julio Jones returned from his injury and had a huge day. The rookie had 3 catches for 131 yards and 2 touchdowns. Near the end of the game Curtis Painter was replaced by Dan Orlovsky; whether the move is permanent is yet to be seen. The Falcons won 31-7. The Colts will be picking Andrew Luck in April.
The Chiefs rebounded nicely after a rough start but they declined on Sunday as they faced the winless Dolphins. Everything went Miami's way as both Matt Moore and Reggie Bush had good days. Moore was 17 of 23 for 244 yards and 3 touchdowns and looked very sharp throughout the day. Bush made good plays all around and had 142 total yards and 1 touchdown. The Chiefs are not a good football team but had been playing good football. They must rebound next week against Denver if they don't want to fall behind.
The Buffalo Bills had a wake up call from Rex Ryan on Sunday and they got the message. Fitzpatrick received the long term extension but didn't smell like money against the Jets. He reeked of sweat and tears as he was smacked around all day. With only 191 yards and 2 interceptions, he could not lead the Bills to victory. Sanchez had a nice game with 230 yards and 1 touchdown as he lead his squad to a 27-11 blowout. In a tough division and conference, the Bills are going to have to play at the high level they were once playing.
I'm not sure if the Texans are a Super Bowl contender but they have stated their case several times this season. The Browns need an overhaul in talent, especially at quarterback. Colt McCoy was awful again on Sunday with 146 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. Houston was without Andre Johnson again but the running game was present. The Texans rushed for a total of 261 yards and 3 touchdowns. Arian Foster had 124 of those yards and 1 touchdown. With the 30-12 loss, the Browns fell to 3-5 on the season .The Texans could be really special if they play up to their potential.
The Cowboys have been up and down this season and Sunday was an up for them. The Seahawks on the other hand, not much competition for anyone this year. Romo brought his "A" game to the field as he threw for 279 yards and 2 touchdowns. The rookie phenom DeMarco Murray continued to play well with 139 rushing yards on the day. Tavaris Jackson played terrible with 3 interceptions and the Seahawks will be looking for a quarterback in the draft. After polishing off the Seahawks 23-13, the Cowboys are 4-4 and in second place in the NFC East.
In a NFC South showdown, the Buccaneers traveled to New Orleans to face the Saints. After the Saints Halloween trick last week against the Rams, they got back on track. Drew Brees was on point with 258 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Bucs didn't make many splashes in the short offseason and it is showing now. They have very average talent and most teams are not surprised by the young team. Josh Freeman had 281 yards and a touchdown but that wasn't enough to take down the high powered Saints. With the 27-16 victory, the Saints are sitting comfortably in first place of the division.
The new Bengals have been playing with purpose this season but they faced a tough matchup with the Tennessee Titans. Andy Dalton continues to impress as he had 217 yards and 3 touchdowns. A.J. Green also impressed with 7 catches and 83 yards. The Titans started with a 17-7 lead at the half and Hasselbeck was leading his troops nicely. After the slow start, the Bengals won 24-17 and are now 6-2 in the crowded AFC North.
Tim Tebow was abused in this game but he pushed through as always. He may not be a great quarterback but he is a football player. Willis McGahee entered the game injured and had an amazing game. He rushed for 163 yards and 2 touchdowns. Palmer showcased an up and down game with 332 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also delivered 3 interceptions on the day that were huge in Denver's comeback win. With 124 passing yards, 117 rushing yards, and 2 passing touchdowns, Tebow finished the day with the 38-24 victory.
In the battle of the bottom feeders, the Rams faced the Cardinals in a matchup for last place in the NFC West. Both teams entered the game at 1-6 and with the expectation of not winning many games, this was their Toilet Bowl. Bradford suited up for the Rams but Kolb was out for the Cards. The key player of the game was clearly Cardinals rookie cornerback Patrick Peterson. With 1 interception already on the day, Peterson added his second punt return touchdown of the season with no time remaining to give the Cardinals the 19-13 win. Both teams are still terrible.
The defending Super Bowl champs Green Bay Packers faced off against the San Diego Chargers in a barn burner. Phillip Rivers has been off this season and he was off on Sunday. He had 385 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions which 2 of those were returned for touchdowns. Despite the struggles, the Chargers battled back and challenged the Packers to the wire. Rodgers put together another good game as he threw for 247 yards and 4 touchdowns. He connected with 7 different receivers and 4 of those caught the touchdown passes. After capping off the Bolts 45-38, the Packers are undefeated at 8-0.
Monday Night Preview
The 4-3 Chicago Bears and the 3-4 Philadelphia Eagles are set for an NFC matchup and both are in position to be fighting for a wild-card playoff spot. The Eagles opened the season anointed as the "dream team" per Vince Young and their play reflected every bit of a nightmare. The Bears have been led by Matt Forte as he is the workhorse for the Bears. With both teams having playmaking defenses, this game is lining up as an exciting matchup.
Michael Vick and LeShawn McCoy have been the offense for the Eagles this season. Vick has made plays this season, both good and bad. He has 11 touchdowns on the year but he also has 8 interceptions and 8 fumbles which 3 of those resulted as lost fumbles for a total of 11 turnovers. McCoy on the other hand is known as the closer and he has played his role exceptionally well. He is forth in the NFL with 754 yards and could very well lead all rushers when the night is over. They will look to lead the Eagles to their forth win of the season.
How good is Matt Forte? He leads all running backs in total yardage this season with 1, 091 yards; that's a 155 yards per game average. He also has 3 touchdowns to go along with those numbers. Forte is also in a contract year and he is earning his keep unlike Chris Johnson and Peyton Hillis. The Bears defense may not be what it once was but they still have Brian Urlacher. His tackle numbers are way down but he has 3 interceptions and 4 passes defended. The Bears defense will have a challenge on their hands to shutdown the Vick and McCoy show.
Look for both quarterbacks to struggle and rely heavily on their running backs. Cutler won't have to do much as Forte will lead the offense. Expect the Bears defense to force turnovers and set the offense up with good field position. Vick will play hard as usual but will have too much to overcome. My prediction is that the Bears will play well under the lights on the road and coast away with a 27-17 upset.
The defending Super Bowl champs Green Bay Packers took on the San Diego Chargers and it was a barn burner. Phillip Rivers started the game
Who Am I? (Answer)
So, who am I with career numbers of 11, 695 rushing yards, 4.6 yards per carry average, 2, 384 receiving yards, 74 total touchdowns, and a Pro Bowl appearance? I'm Fred Taylor, former running back of the Jacksonville Jaguars and New England Patriots.
Fred Taylor is number 15 on the all-time leading rushing list with 11, 695 yards ahead of John Riggins, Corey Dillon, O. J. Simpson, Warrick Dunn, and Ricky Watters. He is ahead of some Hall of Fame players but there is still the debate of whether he will be inducted someday. Taylor was plagued by injuries, played for a small market team, and never made the Super Bowl. If not for the injuries, he would be much higher on the list. Will he be inducted into the Hall of Fame? He should be but it's up to the committee.
"Worst Luck" Race
Who are the top 5 teams in position to land the highly coveted Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck in the 2012 NFL Draft.
1.) Indianapolis Colts, 0-9
2.) St. Louis Rams, 1-7
3.) Miami Dolphins, 1-7
4.) Seattle Seahawks, 2-6
5.) Jacksonville Jaguars, 2-6
Last Thoughts...
Week 9 had early blowouts but the later games were exciting and showcased some of the better matchups on the day. The Panthers, Lions, Jaguars, and Vikings were on byes. The Panthers, Vikings, and Jaguars all have rookie starting quarterbacks. Cam Newton and Christian Ponder look promising with solid football teams. Blaine Gabbert, not so much. He has to improve in the second half of the season. The Lions have a chance at the playoffs for the first time since 1999 and it is well overdue. The AFC North is very tough. The Bengals and Ravens are tied for first place at 6-2 and the Steelers are 6-3. I still have the Steelers winning the division. The Browns are need a quarterback because Colt McCoy is terrible. He's not the only Colt that stinks because the Indianapolis Colts are in position to finish 0-16. They're only 7 losses away. The Texans have a strong running game and that should lead them to the AFC South division title. I don't think they will go far in the playoffs though. The Titans could save $17 million of Chris Johnson's $30 million if they cut him before March 1. Doubt they will do it though. The Jets are on the rise thanks to their defense. The Patriots look baffled and they will fight for the playoffs this year. The Bills are a bad football team that was playing good football. They need to rebound and fast! The Dolphins finally got a win and they may squeak out 2 more if they're luck-y. The Chiefs are another bad football team playing good football. The Raiders are falling by the wayside. Tim Tebow plays with his heart but he doesn't have much skill though. The Chargers have to get Rivers on track.
The NFC has the defending champs and they are good! The Bears need to pay Forte. The 49ers are playing lights out football. Pete Carrol needs to focus on the draft and get some talent in Seattle. The Cardinals and the Rams are bottom feeders. The Saints are good but they are no longer invincible. The Buccaneers are overrated. The Falcons are catching wind to fuel the fire. Vick needs to limit the turnovers in order to lead his team to the playoffs. Eli Manning is proving that he is indeed elite as the Giants are 6-2 and lead the NFC East. The Cowboys have a nice road ahead of them and should make up ground for the bad start. The Redskins need to fire Mike Shanahan. Yeah I said it! Last but not least, has anyone ever noticed that NFL Network's anchor sounds like Kermit the frog? It's funny and annoying at the same time.
Hope you have enjoyed reading. Please comment, share, and give feel free to give feedback. Thank you!
Monday, October 31, 2011
NFL Week 8 Monday Round-Up
The halfway mark of the season has officially arrived and teams are playing at consistent levels now, some good and some bad. Most of the matchups were straight forward this week except for the egg that was laid in St. Louis by the Saints. I'm pretty sure there is something in the water in St. Louis. With many teams continuing there quests to the playoffs, Sunday was a day of put up or shut up for many of those teams.
Key Matchups
There was a possible AFC Championship game preview on Sunday as the Patriots took on the Steelers at Heinz Field. Coming off of the bye week, the Patriots were favored to knock out the Steelers but as soon as the game started, the Patriots were in a dog fight. Pittsburgh made it tough on Tom Brady early and often as he was sacked 5 times on the day and one of those was a fumble at the end of the game. Roethlisberger followed his week 7 performance with 365 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. With Hines Ward sitting the game out, Big Ben utilized his arsenal of young, speedy wideouts. Sanders, Wallace, and Brown combined for 207 yards and 1 touchdown on the day. Coach Belichick went for a risky onside kick in the fourth quarter with 2:35 remaining and all three of their timeouts. The Patriots failed to kick it 10 yards which allowed the Steelers to extend the game with great field position with a 23-17 lead. The Patriots really shot themselves in the foot in this game and at this point in the season, I'm not sure that their defense will improve much more than they already are. They need to get focused for the second half of the season.
The Sunday night game featured an NFC East divisional game between the Cowboys and the Eagles. The Eagles came into the game with a 2-4 record and needed a win to keep playoff hopes alive. Well they clearly knew what this game meant because they annihilated Dallas 34-7. The score was 21-0 with 10:15 remaining in the second quarter. Michael Vick was playing at the all-madden level and Tony Romo was on rookie level, if you can even call it that. The Eagles offense clicked as a whole and had the running game working also. LeSean McCoy rushed for 185 yards and 2 touchdowns. After Laurent Robinson scored on a long touchdown pass, along with Dez Bryant and Miles Austin, they went to the sidelines complaining to the coaches. What they were complaining about, nobody knows but it was probably Romo's play; you can bet on that. It's obvious that the Cowboys need to make a decision on Romo in the offseason and I'm sure Jerry Jones will make the right one.
Who Am I?
Once again it's time for another trivia question and this week should be a goodie. In case you are wondering, in "Who Am I?" I take on the role of an NFL player, current or retired, and give you his stats which will make you think a little while you continue reading. Hope you're ready for this one.
Throughout my career I have passed for 24,773 yards, 169 touchdowns, 118 interceptions, and 47 fumbles. I have a Super Bowl victory under my belt also. I have been debated on several times whether I'm good or not, but all I have done is lead my team to wins. I have only had one losing season. Please will somebody tell me, who am I?
Quick Spin
The Saints faced a winless Rams team that had the spirits of champions in the building with the St. Louis Cardinals coming on field to celebrate their World Series Championship. The Rams were without Sam Bradford for a second week but A.J. Feeley was efficient and with Steven Jackson, they rolled right through the Saints. Brees struggled on a day when he was sacked for 6 times and had 2 interceptions on the day. Brees tried a late game comeback but the damage was done. The Rams won 31-21 for their first win of the season.
After their Monday night collapse, the Ravens were on their way to another bad day against the Cardinals on Sunday. This was a tale of two halfs as the Cardinals had a 24-6 lead at halftime. In the second half, the defense said enough was enough and the Ravens started their comeback. Flacco also found a connection with Anquan Boldin on the day as he had 7 catches for 145 yards. The Ravens were too much for the Cardinals, who seems to have a difficult time playing 60 minutes of football. With only 3 points in the second half, the Cardinals lost 30-27 and dropped to 1-6 on the season.
The 49ers are rolling and they are the real deal. They took on the Browns in the Bay and continued to keep rolling. Frank Gore had a big day with 134 yards and 1 touchdown. Colt McCoy had another bad day as he threw 1 interception and 4 fumbles with 1 lost. He added 241 yards but it was not enough to challenge the 49ers. After the win on Sunday, the 49ers are at 6-1 and they look like they are going to push for a first round bye in the playoffs this year.
The Bengals made sure that they made the right choices in the draft by selecting Andy Dalton and A.J. Green because they are leading the offense into the next era. The Bengals took on the Seahawks in the return game for TavarisSeahawks. They are now 5-2 and tied for second place in the AFC North.
The NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award is Cam Newton's and he added on to his outstanding season as he faced fellow rookie quarterback Christian Ponder and the Minnesota Vikings. This game went down to the wire as both of the young quarterbacks were hungry for a win. Ponder may not win the rookie of the year award but he certainly will win games. He had 236 yards and a touchdown on the day. Newton on the other hand had 290 yards and a career high 3 touchdown passes. With an opportunity to win on the last drive of the game, Newton ran the ball for the leading score but the play was called back due to a Steve Smith penalty. The Panthers settled for a field goal but Mare missed and the Vikings won 24-21. These quarterbacks are leading their teams and very well might I add.
The Giants coming off of the bye week faced a winless Dolphins team. The Dolphins finally got the picture because they realized that they have nothing to lose and played relaxed and aggressive. They jumped out to a 14-3 lead but it was cut to a 4 point lead at halftime. Reggie Bush showed up to play as did Matt Moore. They had the Giants on the ropes and for the second consecutive week were facing their first win on the season. Eli Manning and the Giants didn't want to be the first team so they started rolling and sealed the victory 20-17. They now lead the NFC East at 5-2.
The Indianapolis Colts continued their tour of losses on Sunday as they battled the division rival Titans. Just like many teams have done against the Colts, the Titans cruised right by. Chris Johnson had another meaningless game but at least he's paid well. Hasselbeck has continued his consistent play for the Titans as he lead them to a 27-10 win. This has been a very revealing season for the Colts and you have to wonder how good they really are because without Manning, they are god awful.
In another AFC South showdown, the Texans put on their battle red to face the Jaguars. The Texans moved the ball with ease at times and at others they struggled. Blaine Gabbert continued his struggles and he clearly looks like the worst rookie quarterback this season. He threw for 97 yards on 10 of 30 passes and he had 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. The Texans coasted to a 24-14 win and are the clear favorites to win the AFC South.
The Redskins have finally arrived. They are playing as bad as many people predicted they would play and after losing to the Bills on Sunday are 3-4 with 3 consecutive losses. The Bills, on the other hand, are proving that they are not a hoax and they are playing playoff level football. Fitzpatrick has continued to be good and efficient and he is earning that contract extension that he just received. The Bills now lead the AFC East division and they are seriously challenging the Patriots.
The Denver Broncos showed up to watch the Lions put on a show because they certainly didn't show up to play. Tebow was just as bad as he was last week in the first half but this time around, he was bad the entire game. Matthew Stafford and the Lions stomped all over the Broncos and posted a 40 burger on the board with a 45-10 win. The Broncos are now at 2-5 and they are crossing their fingers and toe for Andrew Luck in April.
Monday Night Preview
Monday night will deliver an AFC West showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Diego Chargers. The Chiefs are on a hot streak and have won their last 3 games. They started the season off with 3 losses and lost star running back Jamaal Charles for the entire season. Jackie Battle has emerged to run the ball, Matt Cassel has looked better, and the defense has improved each week. They are taking it one step at a time and they will look to get win number 4 on Monday.
The Chargers are beginning to look like the team they have been for quite some time. They play to the level of the competition and that is not good but it's certainly not bad either. They have looked very polished with Phillip Rivers and at other times, not so much. They are looking to take a commanding lead in the division on Monday night but they have to flex their muscle and knock the Chiefs back down to reality.
Look for Rivers to get out to a hot start but the Chiefs will begin to keep up. The Chiefs will play well but turnovers are they key. Cassel and company can not turn the ball over and they must be efficient if they want to win. My prediction is that the Chiefs will do enough to win and will walk away with a 24-21 victory.
Who Am I? (Answer)
So, who am I with career numbers of 24,773 yards, 169 touchdowns, 118 interceptions, and 47 fumbles? I have also only had 1 losing season. I'm Eli Manning of the New York Giants.
Eli made a bold statement before the start of the season and he declared himself to be elite. I'm not sure if he is elite or not but he is definitely good. He also won a Super Bowl faster than his older brother Peyton Manning whose definitely elite. Eli is still young and his best years are ahead of him. I'd say he's off to a great start.
"Worst Luck" Race"
Who are the top 5 teams that are in position to get Stanford's QB Andrew Luck in next April's draft.
1.) Indianapolis Colts, 0-8
2.) Miami Dolphins, 0-7
3.) St. Louis Rams, 1-6
4.) Arizona Cardinals, 1-6
5.) Denver Broncos, 2-5
Last Thoughts...
Week 8 was full of several predictable matchups but you still have to play the game. Just ask the Saints. The Falcons, Bears, Packers, Jets, Raiders, and Buccaneers were all on byes and some of them needed it too. The Bucs are the same, slow team from last year and they have a tough road ahead. The Jets are still not great but they are playing much better. The Raiders need to get healthy and chemistry with Carson Palmer if they want to make any real noise. The Falcons also need to get healthy and focused if they want to win the NFC South. The Bears are playing good football but are in a very tough division. The Packers are still the champs, hands down! I believe Romo has played his last season for Jerry Jones' Cowboys. The Eagles are finally living up to the hype. The Redskins are a bad franchise and I'm not sure if they'll ever be good again. The Giants are coasting away with the division quietly. Matt Staford is leading the Lions into a great spot midway through the season. Ponder is playing the Vikings into respectability. Jim Harbaugh is doing what so many failed to do in San Fransisco and that is, WINNING! Pete Carrol needs to flex his muscle and get the Seahawks some good players in the draft. The Cardinals are regretting that Kevin Kolb trade now. The Rams are still terrible even with the win against the Saints. The Panthers may be losing but for what it's worth, they are doing it with style. The days of fearing the Saints are long gone. The Chargers are a good average team. I give the Chiefs kudos for battling back into the season. I'm not sure if he realizes it but Tebow is a guinea pig. The Jaguars need to take the draft serious next year. Peyton Manning is the MVP this year. Chris Johnson has an amazing agent. The Titans are going to try to catch the Texans but... the Texans have won the division by default. I guess Belichick knew his defense was terrible. The Bills may actually win the division. Will someone please pack Sparano bags for him? Thank you! The Steelers are settled in now. Flacco will see a quarterback drafted by Baltimore. Colt McCoy will get the same treatment as Flacoo. Cincy has made a nice team and they have plenty of draft picks to build with thanks to the Oakland Raiders and Carson Palmer.
Hope you have enjoyed reading and please comment. Thank you!
Key Matchups
There was a possible AFC Championship game preview on Sunday as the Patriots took on the Steelers at Heinz Field. Coming off of the bye week, the Patriots were favored to knock out the Steelers but as soon as the game started, the Patriots were in a dog fight. Pittsburgh made it tough on Tom Brady early and often as he was sacked 5 times on the day and one of those was a fumble at the end of the game. Roethlisberger followed his week 7 performance with 365 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. With Hines Ward sitting the game out, Big Ben utilized his arsenal of young, speedy wideouts. Sanders, Wallace, and Brown combined for 207 yards and 1 touchdown on the day. Coach Belichick went for a risky onside kick in the fourth quarter with 2:35 remaining and all three of their timeouts. The Patriots failed to kick it 10 yards which allowed the Steelers to extend the game with great field position with a 23-17 lead. The Patriots really shot themselves in the foot in this game and at this point in the season, I'm not sure that their defense will improve much more than they already are. They need to get focused for the second half of the season.
The Sunday night game featured an NFC East divisional game between the Cowboys and the Eagles. The Eagles came into the game with a 2-4 record and needed a win to keep playoff hopes alive. Well they clearly knew what this game meant because they annihilated Dallas 34-7. The score was 21-0 with 10:15 remaining in the second quarter. Michael Vick was playing at the all-madden level and Tony Romo was on rookie level, if you can even call it that. The Eagles offense clicked as a whole and had the running game working also. LeSean McCoy rushed for 185 yards and 2 touchdowns. After Laurent Robinson scored on a long touchdown pass, along with Dez Bryant and Miles Austin, they went to the sidelines complaining to the coaches. What they were complaining about, nobody knows but it was probably Romo's play; you can bet on that. It's obvious that the Cowboys need to make a decision on Romo in the offseason and I'm sure Jerry Jones will make the right one.
Who Am I?
Once again it's time for another trivia question and this week should be a goodie. In case you are wondering, in "Who Am I?" I take on the role of an NFL player, current or retired, and give you his stats which will make you think a little while you continue reading. Hope you're ready for this one.
Throughout my career I have passed for 24,773 yards, 169 touchdowns, 118 interceptions, and 47 fumbles. I have a Super Bowl victory under my belt also. I have been debated on several times whether I'm good or not, but all I have done is lead my team to wins. I have only had one losing season. Please will somebody tell me, who am I?
Quick Spin
The Saints faced a winless Rams team that had the spirits of champions in the building with the St. Louis Cardinals coming on field to celebrate their World Series Championship. The Rams were without Sam Bradford for a second week but A.J. Feeley was efficient and with Steven Jackson, they rolled right through the Saints. Brees struggled on a day when he was sacked for 6 times and had 2 interceptions on the day. Brees tried a late game comeback but the damage was done. The Rams won 31-21 for their first win of the season.
After their Monday night collapse, the Ravens were on their way to another bad day against the Cardinals on Sunday. This was a tale of two halfs as the Cardinals had a 24-6 lead at halftime. In the second half, the defense said enough was enough and the Ravens started their comeback. Flacco also found a connection with Anquan Boldin on the day as he had 7 catches for 145 yards. The Ravens were too much for the Cardinals, who seems to have a difficult time playing 60 minutes of football. With only 3 points in the second half, the Cardinals lost 30-27 and dropped to 1-6 on the season.
The 49ers are rolling and they are the real deal. They took on the Browns in the Bay and continued to keep rolling. Frank Gore had a big day with 134 yards and 1 touchdown. Colt McCoy had another bad day as he threw 1 interception and 4 fumbles with 1 lost. He added 241 yards but it was not enough to challenge the 49ers. After the win on Sunday, the 49ers are at 6-1 and they look like they are going to push for a first round bye in the playoffs this year.
The Bengals made sure that they made the right choices in the draft by selecting Andy Dalton and A.J. Green because they are leading the offense into the next era. The Bengals took on the Seahawks in the return game for TavarisSeahawks. They are now 5-2 and tied for second place in the AFC North.
The NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award is Cam Newton's and he added on to his outstanding season as he faced fellow rookie quarterback Christian Ponder and the Minnesota Vikings. This game went down to the wire as both of the young quarterbacks were hungry for a win. Ponder may not win the rookie of the year award but he certainly will win games. He had 236 yards and a touchdown on the day. Newton on the other hand had 290 yards and a career high 3 touchdown passes. With an opportunity to win on the last drive of the game, Newton ran the ball for the leading score but the play was called back due to a Steve Smith penalty. The Panthers settled for a field goal but Mare missed and the Vikings won 24-21. These quarterbacks are leading their teams and very well might I add.
The Giants coming off of the bye week faced a winless Dolphins team. The Dolphins finally got the picture because they realized that they have nothing to lose and played relaxed and aggressive. They jumped out to a 14-3 lead but it was cut to a 4 point lead at halftime. Reggie Bush showed up to play as did Matt Moore. They had the Giants on the ropes and for the second consecutive week were facing their first win on the season. Eli Manning and the Giants didn't want to be the first team so they started rolling and sealed the victory 20-17. They now lead the NFC East at 5-2.
The Indianapolis Colts continued their tour of losses on Sunday as they battled the division rival Titans. Just like many teams have done against the Colts, the Titans cruised right by. Chris Johnson had another meaningless game but at least he's paid well. Hasselbeck has continued his consistent play for the Titans as he lead them to a 27-10 win. This has been a very revealing season for the Colts and you have to wonder how good they really are because without Manning, they are god awful.
In another AFC South showdown, the Texans put on their battle red to face the Jaguars. The Texans moved the ball with ease at times and at others they struggled. Blaine Gabbert continued his struggles and he clearly looks like the worst rookie quarterback this season. He threw for 97 yards on 10 of 30 passes and he had 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. The Texans coasted to a 24-14 win and are the clear favorites to win the AFC South.
The Redskins have finally arrived. They are playing as bad as many people predicted they would play and after losing to the Bills on Sunday are 3-4 with 3 consecutive losses. The Bills, on the other hand, are proving that they are not a hoax and they are playing playoff level football. Fitzpatrick has continued to be good and efficient and he is earning that contract extension that he just received. The Bills now lead the AFC East division and they are seriously challenging the Patriots.
The Denver Broncos showed up to watch the Lions put on a show because they certainly didn't show up to play. Tebow was just as bad as he was last week in the first half but this time around, he was bad the entire game. Matthew Stafford and the Lions stomped all over the Broncos and posted a 40 burger on the board with a 45-10 win. The Broncos are now at 2-5 and they are crossing their fingers and toe for Andrew Luck in April.
Monday Night Preview
Monday night will deliver an AFC West showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Diego Chargers. The Chiefs are on a hot streak and have won their last 3 games. They started the season off with 3 losses and lost star running back Jamaal Charles for the entire season. Jackie Battle has emerged to run the ball, Matt Cassel has looked better, and the defense has improved each week. They are taking it one step at a time and they will look to get win number 4 on Monday.
The Chargers are beginning to look like the team they have been for quite some time. They play to the level of the competition and that is not good but it's certainly not bad either. They have looked very polished with Phillip Rivers and at other times, not so much. They are looking to take a commanding lead in the division on Monday night but they have to flex their muscle and knock the Chiefs back down to reality.
Look for Rivers to get out to a hot start but the Chiefs will begin to keep up. The Chiefs will play well but turnovers are they key. Cassel and company can not turn the ball over and they must be efficient if they want to win. My prediction is that the Chiefs will do enough to win and will walk away with a 24-21 victory.
Who Am I? (Answer)
So, who am I with career numbers of 24,773 yards, 169 touchdowns, 118 interceptions, and 47 fumbles? I have also only had 1 losing season. I'm Eli Manning of the New York Giants.
Eli made a bold statement before the start of the season and he declared himself to be elite. I'm not sure if he is elite or not but he is definitely good. He also won a Super Bowl faster than his older brother Peyton Manning whose definitely elite. Eli is still young and his best years are ahead of him. I'd say he's off to a great start.
"Worst Luck" Race"
Who are the top 5 teams that are in position to get Stanford's QB Andrew Luck in next April's draft.
1.) Indianapolis Colts, 0-8
2.) Miami Dolphins, 0-7
3.) St. Louis Rams, 1-6
4.) Arizona Cardinals, 1-6
5.) Denver Broncos, 2-5
Last Thoughts...
Week 8 was full of several predictable matchups but you still have to play the game. Just ask the Saints. The Falcons, Bears, Packers, Jets, Raiders, and Buccaneers were all on byes and some of them needed it too. The Bucs are the same, slow team from last year and they have a tough road ahead. The Jets are still not great but they are playing much better. The Raiders need to get healthy and chemistry with Carson Palmer if they want to make any real noise. The Falcons also need to get healthy and focused if they want to win the NFC South. The Bears are playing good football but are in a very tough division. The Packers are still the champs, hands down! I believe Romo has played his last season for Jerry Jones' Cowboys. The Eagles are finally living up to the hype. The Redskins are a bad franchise and I'm not sure if they'll ever be good again. The Giants are coasting away with the division quietly. Matt Staford is leading the Lions into a great spot midway through the season. Ponder is playing the Vikings into respectability. Jim Harbaugh is doing what so many failed to do in San Fransisco and that is, WINNING! Pete Carrol needs to flex his muscle and get the Seahawks some good players in the draft. The Cardinals are regretting that Kevin Kolb trade now. The Rams are still terrible even with the win against the Saints. The Panthers may be losing but for what it's worth, they are doing it with style. The days of fearing the Saints are long gone. The Chargers are a good average team. I give the Chiefs kudos for battling back into the season. I'm not sure if he realizes it but Tebow is a guinea pig. The Jaguars need to take the draft serious next year. Peyton Manning is the MVP this year. Chris Johnson has an amazing agent. The Titans are going to try to catch the Texans but... the Texans have won the division by default. I guess Belichick knew his defense was terrible. The Bills may actually win the division. Will someone please pack Sparano bags for him? Thank you! The Steelers are settled in now. Flacco will see a quarterback drafted by Baltimore. Colt McCoy will get the same treatment as Flacoo. Cincy has made a nice team and they have plenty of draft picks to build with thanks to the Oakland Raiders and Carson Palmer.
Hope you have enjoyed reading and please comment. Thank you!
Monday, October 24, 2011
NFL Week 7 Monday Round-Up
As the NFL moves another week closer to the mid season mark, teams are getting settled in. Some teams are rising while other teams are free falling right before our eyes. There were six quarterback changes this week; they were all very noticeable. Along with that, there were upsets, blowouts, breakout performances, and the "Worst Luck" race.
Key Matchups
The matchup of the week showcased two of the surprises of the NFL thus far. The Falcons and Lions both were feeling pressure headed into this weeks game. The Falcons desperately needed a win to get above .500 for the first time this season and the Lions needed a huge rebound win after last weeks tough loss to San Fransisco. Atlanta made it tough for Stafford early and it continued throughout the day. With a chance to win on their last drive, Detroit not only loss the game 23-16 but possibly their star quarterback as well. Now at 5-2 with two losses in a row, Detroit seems to not be as hot as they were. Remember the 2008 Buffalo Bills started at 4-0 but finished at 7-9. Yeah this could happen to the Lions too. If Stafford misses time, things could get sticky in the Motor City.
Another key matchup on the day was the Chargers and Jets facing off in East Rutherford, New Jersey. With both head coaches throwing jabs during the week, both teams played into the hype. Philip Rivers air show was not much of a show at all. He was 16 of 32 for 179 yards with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. Sanchez stole the show with 173 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Those 3 touchdowns were hauled in by Plaxico Burress who had a breakout performance. Did Sanchez finally arrive this season? I'm not sold yet but he certainly did on Sunday. The Jets defeated the Chargers 27-21 and moved on to 4-3 on the season.
Who Am I?
Let's take a break for a moment for some brief fun and trivia. In case you are wondering, in "Who Am I?" I take on the role of an NFL player and give you my stats which will make you think a little while you continue reading. Hope you're ready for this one.
My career numbers are 980 receptions, 11, 960 reception yards, and 86 total touchdowns. I also under my belt are 4 Pro Bowls and 2 Super Bowl titles. So, Who am I?
Quick Spin
Every game on Sunday may not be hyped or a head turner but they all have their impact. Tebow made his first start of the season and it was full of highs and lows. Through the first half Tebow had 24 yards through the air but in the fourth quarter, Tebow rallied his team from a 15-0 deficit to tie the game for an overtime victory. Tebow finished the day with 161 passing yards, 65 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns and the overtime win, 18-15. What does this performance say about Tebow? Well, considering it was against the Dolphins, not much but it says he has heart and will fight back. As for the Dolphins, it says the end for Sparano is near. They are in the "Worst Luck" race.
The AFC South had a head-to-head matchup between the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans. Schaub and Foster were too much for the Titans. Foster had a combined 234 yards and the Texans did not miss Andre Johnson at all. After losing to the Texans 41-7, the Titans must be wondering if their star running back Chris Johnson will ever show up. With another disappointing game, Johnson had 18 yards on 10 carries and 6 catches for 27 yards. The Texans should own the AFC South by default this season.
The phenomenal rookie Cam Newton continues to impress many as well as lead his team. The Panthers took on the Redskins and the day belonged to Cam. With 256 passing yards, 59 rushing yards, and 2 touchdowns, Newton led his team to a 33-20 victory. The Redskins are now 3-3 and tied for second in the NFC East. They need to regroup under coach Shanahan quickly if they want a chance in the division and the playoffs. It also looks as if their leading rusher Tim Hightower may be lost for the season.
In the annual international game the Bears faced the Buccaneers. Through the first three quarters the Bears victory looked as if it was signed, sealed, and delivered. Forte had another amazing game and made it look easy. In the fourth quarter, the Bucs rallied within three points but fell short to lose the game 24-18. Freeman had a bad game with 4 interceptions and 2 touchdowns. Tampa has to learn how to play four quarters if they're going to win.
The Steelers and Cardinals was another great performance for Ben Roethlisberger. With 361 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air, Big Ben carved up the Cardinals secondary for the 32-20 win. Kevin Kolb and the Cardinals can't seem to get things going this season and they appear to have several holes on both sides of the ball. Don't look for things to change much in the desert.
Making headlines this week with their trade for Carson Palmer, the Raiders took on the division rival Chiefs. This was not much of a contest with Kyle Boller starting, Palmer taking over in the second half and the first quarter injury to Darren McFadden. Both quarterbacks threw 3 interceptions for a total of 6 and two of those were touchdowns. The Chiefs blew by the Raiders 28-0 and are now at .500 with a 3-3 record.
The Dallas Cowboys had something on Sunday they haven't had all season, a running game. Rookie DeMarcowinless at 0-6 and are in the "Worst Luck" race.
Christain Ponder made his first career start for the struggling Vikings. Ponder played well with 219 passing yards, 31 rushing yards, and 2 touchdowns; he also threw 2 interceptions. The Packers were a tall order for the Vikings but they were up for the challenge. Jared Allen and the defense made it tough for Rodgers early but couldn't hold back the "Champ" for too long. Rodgers finished with 335 yards and 3 touchdowns for a 33-27 Green Bay victory. Lookout for Ponder because he plays with much more heart than that other quarterback (McNabb) in Minnesota.
The Indianapolis Colts submitted another ballot for the "Worst Luck" race on Sunday night. They loss to Drew Brees and the Saints 62-7. Not much to say here except for it made it easy for me to change the channel and watch The Walking Dead.
In the Dud of the Week game the Seahawks played the Browns in Cleveland. In a 6-3 Browns win and both teams palying without starters Tavaris Jackson of the Seahawks and Peyton Hillis of the Browns, the best play on the day was the field goal. Both teams need to look for offensive help in the offseason. For now, I guess they'll continue to play K-I-C-K.
Monday Night Preview
With another prime time dud in the making, the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars face off in what could be Jack Del Rio's last game coaching. The Jaguars need a win desperately and Del Rio is running out of time. Maurice Jones Drew is sixth in rushing yards this season and is looking to keep climbing the charts with a heavy work load expected. Rookie Baine Gabbert has to face the third ranked defense and they will be licking their chops for the fresh meat.
Joe Flacco is as consistent as a politician but he gets the job done. The Ravens will look to Ray Rice to set up the passing game for Flacco. Rookie Torrey Smith is a speedster that will have plenty of big play opportunities against a Jaguars secondary that gives up big plays occasionally.
Look for both teams to run the ball and both quarterbacks to struggle but Flacco will play better than Gabbert. The Ravens defense should be solid as should the Jags defense. However, the Jags defense always seems to find a way to give a touchdown on their opponents opening drive. Final score prediction is 24-13 Ravens victory.
Who Am I? (Answer)
So, who am I with career numbers are 980 receptions, 11, 960 reception yards, and 86 total touchdowns; also are 4 Pro Bowls and 2 Super Bowl titles under my belt? I'm Hines Ward from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Many people overlook Hines Ward as a stud but the numbers don't lie. He holds the Steelers records for receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. The aspect of his game that most people overlook is that he's an excellent blocker; that's hard to come by in a receiver these days. Hines Ward should be in the Hall of Fame some day and it will be well deserved.
"Worst Luck" Race
Every week I will post my top 5 teams that are in position to land Stanford's QB Andrew Luck in the 2012 NFL Draft. Let's get started shall we.
1.) Indianapolis Colts, 0-7
2.) Miami Dolphins, 0-6
3.) St. Louis Rams, 0-6
4.) Arizona Cardinals, 1-5
5.) Jacksonville Jaguars, 1-5
Last Thoughts...
Week 7 was full of excitements and duds. I think the Tebow project will pan itself out and the decision of the quarterback of the future will be made at the end of the season. They will be drafting someone to replace him in my opinion. Sanchez is not a good quarterback and I will stand by that but if he can be efficient then maybe the Jets can win. San Diego are always full of hype but they play to the level of the competition every week. Something has to change in San Diego. I'm not sold on the Texans as being a powerhouse but they looked like it on Sunday. The Titans are not good but they have a future, they just need a couple of good offseasons. The Falcons are trying to make something of this season and they have a tough road ahead of them. The Lions are falling back and they clearly need some more weapons for Stafford. Cam Newton are making the Panthers competitive and good for the future. They will be tough to beat in a few years. I believe the game has passed Shanahan by or either he's being a stubborn old man. Chicago may have a shot a second place in the NFC North considering the Lions may be falling. The Buccaneers are the same team from last year and they have to change that in the offseason. The Steelers are good but they need to get a consistent ground game going. The Cardinals have played themselves into the "Worst Luck" race. The Chiefs have rebounded nicely after an 0-3 start. The Raiders have put their fate into the hands of Palmer. The Cowboys have played great at times and horrible at others. Either way, its entertaining. The Rams are a bad team with young prospects. Cheers to their future! The Packers are the Champions! Ponder looks promising for the Vikings. Brees and the Saints are good but they need to focus on defense and wide receivers in the offseason. Indianapolis may go 0-16!
Hope you have enjoyed reading and please comment. Thank you!
Key Matchups
The matchup of the week showcased two of the surprises of the NFL thus far. The Falcons and Lions both were feeling pressure headed into this weeks game. The Falcons desperately needed a win to get above .500 for the first time this season and the Lions needed a huge rebound win after last weeks tough loss to San Fransisco. Atlanta made it tough for Stafford early and it continued throughout the day. With a chance to win on their last drive, Detroit not only loss the game 23-16 but possibly their star quarterback as well. Now at 5-2 with two losses in a row, Detroit seems to not be as hot as they were. Remember the 2008 Buffalo Bills started at 4-0 but finished at 7-9. Yeah this could happen to the Lions too. If Stafford misses time, things could get sticky in the Motor City.
Another key matchup on the day was the Chargers and Jets facing off in East Rutherford, New Jersey. With both head coaches throwing jabs during the week, both teams played into the hype. Philip Rivers air show was not much of a show at all. He was 16 of 32 for 179 yards with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. Sanchez stole the show with 173 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Those 3 touchdowns were hauled in by Plaxico Burress who had a breakout performance. Did Sanchez finally arrive this season? I'm not sold yet but he certainly did on Sunday. The Jets defeated the Chargers 27-21 and moved on to 4-3 on the season.
Who Am I?
Let's take a break for a moment for some brief fun and trivia. In case you are wondering, in "Who Am I?" I take on the role of an NFL player and give you my stats which will make you think a little while you continue reading. Hope you're ready for this one.
My career numbers are 980 receptions, 11, 960 reception yards, and 86 total touchdowns. I also under my belt are 4 Pro Bowls and 2 Super Bowl titles. So, Who am I?
Quick Spin
Every game on Sunday may not be hyped or a head turner but they all have their impact. Tebow made his first start of the season and it was full of highs and lows. Through the first half Tebow had 24 yards through the air but in the fourth quarter, Tebow rallied his team from a 15-0 deficit to tie the game for an overtime victory. Tebow finished the day with 161 passing yards, 65 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns and the overtime win, 18-15. What does this performance say about Tebow? Well, considering it was against the Dolphins, not much but it says he has heart and will fight back. As for the Dolphins, it says the end for Sparano is near. They are in the "Worst Luck" race.
The AFC South had a head-to-head matchup between the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans. Schaub and Foster were too much for the Titans. Foster had a combined 234 yards and the Texans did not miss Andre Johnson at all. After losing to the Texans 41-7, the Titans must be wondering if their star running back Chris Johnson will ever show up. With another disappointing game, Johnson had 18 yards on 10 carries and 6 catches for 27 yards. The Texans should own the AFC South by default this season.
The phenomenal rookie Cam Newton continues to impress many as well as lead his team. The Panthers took on the Redskins and the day belonged to Cam. With 256 passing yards, 59 rushing yards, and 2 touchdowns, Newton led his team to a 33-20 victory. The Redskins are now 3-3 and tied for second in the NFC East. They need to regroup under coach Shanahan quickly if they want a chance in the division and the playoffs. It also looks as if their leading rusher Tim Hightower may be lost for the season.
In the annual international game the Bears faced the Buccaneers. Through the first three quarters the Bears victory looked as if it was signed, sealed, and delivered. Forte had another amazing game and made it look easy. In the fourth quarter, the Bucs rallied within three points but fell short to lose the game 24-18. Freeman had a bad game with 4 interceptions and 2 touchdowns. Tampa has to learn how to play four quarters if they're going to win.
The Steelers and Cardinals was another great performance for Ben Roethlisberger. With 361 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air, Big Ben carved up the Cardinals secondary for the 32-20 win. Kevin Kolb and the Cardinals can't seem to get things going this season and they appear to have several holes on both sides of the ball. Don't look for things to change much in the desert.
Making headlines this week with their trade for Carson Palmer, the Raiders took on the division rival Chiefs. This was not much of a contest with Kyle Boller starting, Palmer taking over in the second half and the first quarter injury to Darren McFadden. Both quarterbacks threw 3 interceptions for a total of 6 and two of those were touchdowns. The Chiefs blew by the Raiders 28-0 and are now at .500 with a 3-3 record.
The Dallas Cowboys had something on Sunday they haven't had all season, a running game. Rookie DeMarcowinless at 0-6 and are in the "Worst Luck" race.
Christain Ponder made his first career start for the struggling Vikings. Ponder played well with 219 passing yards, 31 rushing yards, and 2 touchdowns; he also threw 2 interceptions. The Packers were a tall order for the Vikings but they were up for the challenge. Jared Allen and the defense made it tough for Rodgers early but couldn't hold back the "Champ" for too long. Rodgers finished with 335 yards and 3 touchdowns for a 33-27 Green Bay victory. Lookout for Ponder because he plays with much more heart than that other quarterback (McNabb) in Minnesota.
The Indianapolis Colts submitted another ballot for the "Worst Luck" race on Sunday night. They loss to Drew Brees and the Saints 62-7. Not much to say here except for it made it easy for me to change the channel and watch The Walking Dead.
In the Dud of the Week game the Seahawks played the Browns in Cleveland. In a 6-3 Browns win and both teams palying without starters Tavaris Jackson of the Seahawks and Peyton Hillis of the Browns, the best play on the day was the field goal. Both teams need to look for offensive help in the offseason. For now, I guess they'll continue to play K-I-C-K.
Monday Night Preview
With another prime time dud in the making, the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars face off in what could be Jack Del Rio's last game coaching. The Jaguars need a win desperately and Del Rio is running out of time. Maurice Jones Drew is sixth in rushing yards this season and is looking to keep climbing the charts with a heavy work load expected. Rookie Baine Gabbert has to face the third ranked defense and they will be licking their chops for the fresh meat.
Joe Flacco is as consistent as a politician but he gets the job done. The Ravens will look to Ray Rice to set up the passing game for Flacco. Rookie Torrey Smith is a speedster that will have plenty of big play opportunities against a Jaguars secondary that gives up big plays occasionally.
Look for both teams to run the ball and both quarterbacks to struggle but Flacco will play better than Gabbert. The Ravens defense should be solid as should the Jags defense. However, the Jags defense always seems to find a way to give a touchdown on their opponents opening drive. Final score prediction is 24-13 Ravens victory.
Who Am I? (Answer)
So, who am I with career numbers are 980 receptions, 11, 960 reception yards, and 86 total touchdowns; also are 4 Pro Bowls and 2 Super Bowl titles under my belt? I'm Hines Ward from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Many people overlook Hines Ward as a stud but the numbers don't lie. He holds the Steelers records for receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. The aspect of his game that most people overlook is that he's an excellent blocker; that's hard to come by in a receiver these days. Hines Ward should be in the Hall of Fame some day and it will be well deserved.
"Worst Luck" Race
Every week I will post my top 5 teams that are in position to land Stanford's QB Andrew Luck in the 2012 NFL Draft. Let's get started shall we.
1.) Indianapolis Colts, 0-7
2.) Miami Dolphins, 0-6
3.) St. Louis Rams, 0-6
4.) Arizona Cardinals, 1-5
5.) Jacksonville Jaguars, 1-5
Last Thoughts...
Week 7 was full of excitements and duds. I think the Tebow project will pan itself out and the decision of the quarterback of the future will be made at the end of the season. They will be drafting someone to replace him in my opinion. Sanchez is not a good quarterback and I will stand by that but if he can be efficient then maybe the Jets can win. San Diego are always full of hype but they play to the level of the competition every week. Something has to change in San Diego. I'm not sold on the Texans as being a powerhouse but they looked like it on Sunday. The Titans are not good but they have a future, they just need a couple of good offseasons. The Falcons are trying to make something of this season and they have a tough road ahead of them. The Lions are falling back and they clearly need some more weapons for Stafford. Cam Newton are making the Panthers competitive and good for the future. They will be tough to beat in a few years. I believe the game has passed Shanahan by or either he's being a stubborn old man. Chicago may have a shot a second place in the NFC North considering the Lions may be falling. The Buccaneers are the same team from last year and they have to change that in the offseason. The Steelers are good but they need to get a consistent ground game going. The Cardinals have played themselves into the "Worst Luck" race. The Chiefs have rebounded nicely after an 0-3 start. The Raiders have put their fate into the hands of Palmer. The Cowboys have played great at times and horrible at others. Either way, its entertaining. The Rams are a bad team with young prospects. Cheers to their future! The Packers are the Champions! Ponder looks promising for the Vikings. Brees and the Saints are good but they need to focus on defense and wide receivers in the offseason. Indianapolis may go 0-16!
Hope you have enjoyed reading and please comment. Thank you!
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