So, we've hit the halfway point for the NFL season for most teams, and it hasn't come without its surprises or disappointments. So now is my time to admit where I went wrong in my predictions and claims, and also boast about what I was right about. So without further ado, here it goes by conference.
AFC
Predictions that have made me look good so far:
1. Kansas City taking a step back: So far, heading into tonight's matchup with the Chargers, one with heavy implications for the division, Kansas City is 3-3, a game out of the division lead. On paper, it doesn't look so bad, especially with a chance to tie the division lead, but Kansas City has not looked good. They came out in Weeks 1 and 2 and got blown out by Buffalo and Detroit by a combined 89-10. Fortunately for them they have been able to play Minnesota, Indy, and an Oakland team caught between QBs to come from 0-3 to a respectable 3-3. So I guess for most of this, I'm going by their play thus far, and taking a step back means a step back from the division-winning 10-6 record last year. I also got a little lucky here because star RB Jamaal Charles went down for the year in week 2 (too bad I had him on my fantasy team).
2. The Texans stepping up to take over the AFC South: I did make this prediction after it was announced that Peyton Manning could possibly miss a good portion of he season so it isn't so great, but I had them at 11-5. So far they are 5-3 with a good handle on the division. Arian Foster looks like the Arian Foster that broke out last year, and barring something unforeseen, they should begin to distance themselves from the rest of the division.
Predictions that have made me look bad so far:
1. Cincinnati being terrible: At the beginning of the season I had the Bengals going 3-13. I know, I know. They have already come close to doubling that 8 weeks in at 5-2. I had no idea that their offense would be this effective with a rookie duo at QB and WR, but in fact they have been stellar. The defense has held up its end of the bargain as well, and the Bengals are tied with the Ravens at a mere half game back of the Steelers for the division lead.
2. Indy and Miami combining for 11 wins: The only excuse I have here is I wanted to put the Colts are 4-12, but couldn't do it because I didn't think Peyton Manning was worth 6 wins himself. Turns out he was worth more. Even if I had said 4-12 for Indy, that would be 9 wins combined for two teams that have 0 apiece at the halfway point.
What remains to be seen:
1. The Jets being the top Wild Card spot at 11-5: So far the Jets are 4-3, and on the outside of the playoff picture looking in. However, they are well within striking distance. If Rex Ryan's group can rebound defensively and pull out games like they did against San Diego in Week 7, then they could be well on their way, but if they sputter and continue to let opposing teams run at will on them, they will be watching the playoffs from home; it remains to be seen.
2. The Browns: I had the Browns taking a step forward to 7-9. They currently are on pace to come close, sitting at 3-4. However, they have been unimpressive and haven't shown me the real improvement I was looking for. They have found a way to beat teams, albeit in a very lackluster fashion. They really could tank or pick it up from this point forward; it remains to be seen.
NFC:
Predictions that have made me look good:
1. The Lions being a step-up team: I had them at 9-7 and being a contender for a wild card spot. They have surpassed my expectations so far and look well on their way to a playoff spot. So I look good here in saying they will be a good team this year as a contrast to previous season, but not too great because I didn't think they'd be this good.
2. The Packers being the class of the NFC: I had them at 13-3 this year and being the sure-fire best team in the NFC, which they have been, but by even more than I think most of us expected. They sit at 7-0 and have barely been tested so far this season. They are well on their way to 13-3, and if I had to bet, even better than that. The title is theirs to lose.
Predictions that made me look bad:
1. Cardinals winning the West: This is perhaps the worst prediction I made of all, where I said the Cards would win this paltry division at 9-7. So far, it's been San Francisco running away at 6-1, while the Cards sit at a measly 1-6. Kolb has struggled and the defense has been bad. I guess they were more than just a QB away.
2. San Francisco being bad: I never published this, but let it be known I thought San Francisco would be terrible this year. I thought they'd go about 4-12 and that there would be serious growing pains for first-year coach Jim Harbaugh. Boy was I wrong. The Niners look like they could be the 2nd best team in the NFC behind only Green Bay, and Frank Gore is back with 4 straight games with over 100 yards and a touchdown. The defense has played tremendously as well. Yet again, I was wrong.
What remains to be seen:
1. Tampa Bay taking a step back: I thought Tampa would step back this year and go 7-9. They currently sit at 4-3 and have been very inconsistent. One week they lose 48-3 to San Fran, the next they beat New Orleans, then lost to Chicago in London. They could replicate their 10-6 season from last year or they could also be 7-9 like I said; it remains to be seen.
2. The Eagles: I had them winning the division at 11-5. They started the year making a mockery of themselves and the "Dream Team" label by beginning 1-4, but since have reeled off consecutive wins against division opponents. Last night against Dallas the Eagles looked like they may have finally figured it all out. Andy Reid is now 13-0 coming off the bye as coach of the Eagles, and they could have been the turnaround point for the Eagles, who could either come back and take the division that is down this year, or they could continue their struggles as maybe Dallas was having one of their bad games that they have every other week; it remains to be seen.
Also, I would like to throw in a bit about Tebow. Amidst the hype and the criticism, I claimed that he is a viable QB because he makes those around him better and he makes plays when you need him to because the guy wins. I said he just needs some pieces around him. I am hereby retracting my statements after watching him play against the Lions yesterday. He was awful. As a quarterback, he cannot make the throws necessary to be a permanent player in the NFL. The Lions made him one-dimensional as they took the lead early, and he looked lost. The pick-six he threw in the second half from inside the 10 was an awful throw, which Eric Decker never even had a shot at. He's definitely a human highlight reel and can make spectacular plays at key moments when presented to him, but when playing from behind against a good team, he won't be able to do what he did against Miami. Maybe he can prove me wrong, but I'm going back to my calls I made when I was a huge fan of his at Florida where I said he would not make it in the NFL. It looks like I was right then, and not now.
-TA
Monday, October 31, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Week 8 Power Rankings
1. Green Bay Packers (7-0) (Last week: 1)- Minnesota made gave Green Bay their closest game since New Orleans in Week 1, but just like that game, they came out with the W. The Pack look like they could be on their way to, dare I say it, an unbeaten season.
2. New England Patriots (5-1) (LW: 2)- The Pats had a bye week to rest up for Pittsburgh this upcoming week, but perhaps the biggest winner of the New England area was TE Rob Gronkowski who was seen out gallivanting with adult film star Bibi Jones. I guess this really is just Gronk's world, and we're all just living in it.
3. New Orleans Saints (5-2) (LW: 6)- Normally I wouldn't condone a team getting jumped while on a bye, but with the way New Orleans played on Sunday night, I don't think there was anyone who could have beaten them, let alone the Colts. We'll have to see how this offensive juggernaut continues on from here.
4. San Francisco 49ers (5-1) (LW: 5)- Despite being jumped by New Orleans while on a bye, the Niners still move up a spot with the loss of San Diego. While in the NFC West, a 13-3 season or something of the sort is nowhere near out of the equation.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) (LW: 8)- After a worrisome start, Pittsburgh keeps reeling off wins, as a tough matchup with New England looms this week. This will be a true test.
6. Baltimore Ravens (4-2) (LW: 3)- Loss on the road to a bad Jacksonville team surely didn't look good as the offense struggled mightily, but I tend to think it was more of an aberration than a true sign of Baltimore's standing within the league. They need to get it together offensively though.
7. Detroit Lions (5-2) (LW: 7)- Another loss for Detroit is slightly troubling, as they travel to Tebow Land to take on the Broncos. Ndamukong Suh, though, is quickly getting a reputation for being a dirty player.
8. New York Giants (4-2) (LW: 10)- Climbing due to the blunders of the tail end of the Top 10. Might as well give them a nice ranking for now as it is sure to drop soon with their brutal schedule.
9. Buffalo Bills (4-2) (LW: 11)- Bye week came at a good time after suffering their second loss of the season at the hands of the Giants. They get a banged-up Washington team at home this week to get back on track.
10. San Diego Chargers (4-2) (LW: 4)- They gave the game away against the Jets as Rivers looked terrible in crunch time. They travel to Arrowhead on Monday night to take on the Chiefs, where Brandon Flowers lurks.
2. New England Patriots (5-1) (LW: 2)- The Pats had a bye week to rest up for Pittsburgh this upcoming week, but perhaps the biggest winner of the New England area was TE Rob Gronkowski who was seen out gallivanting with adult film star Bibi Jones. I guess this really is just Gronk's world, and we're all just living in it.
3. New Orleans Saints (5-2) (LW: 6)- Normally I wouldn't condone a team getting jumped while on a bye, but with the way New Orleans played on Sunday night, I don't think there was anyone who could have beaten them, let alone the Colts. We'll have to see how this offensive juggernaut continues on from here.
4. San Francisco 49ers (5-1) (LW: 5)- Despite being jumped by New Orleans while on a bye, the Niners still move up a spot with the loss of San Diego. While in the NFC West, a 13-3 season or something of the sort is nowhere near out of the equation.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) (LW: 8)- After a worrisome start, Pittsburgh keeps reeling off wins, as a tough matchup with New England looms this week. This will be a true test.
6. Baltimore Ravens (4-2) (LW: 3)- Loss on the road to a bad Jacksonville team surely didn't look good as the offense struggled mightily, but I tend to think it was more of an aberration than a true sign of Baltimore's standing within the league. They need to get it together offensively though.
7. Detroit Lions (5-2) (LW: 7)- Another loss for Detroit is slightly troubling, as they travel to Tebow Land to take on the Broncos. Ndamukong Suh, though, is quickly getting a reputation for being a dirty player.
8. New York Giants (4-2) (LW: 10)- Climbing due to the blunders of the tail end of the Top 10. Might as well give them a nice ranking for now as it is sure to drop soon with their brutal schedule.
9. Buffalo Bills (4-2) (LW: 11)- Bye week came at a good time after suffering their second loss of the season at the hands of the Giants. They get a banged-up Washington team at home this week to get back on track.
10. San Diego Chargers (4-2) (LW: 4)- They gave the game away against the Jets as Rivers looked terrible in crunch time. They travel to Arrowhead on Monday night to take on the Chiefs, where Brandon Flowers lurks.
11. Atlanta Falcons (4-3) (LW: 19)- Here comes Atlanta. A big win on the road against Detroit keeps the Falcons within striking distance of the NFC South lead. The bye should allow Matt Ryan enough time to heal to stay in the race.
12. New York Jets (4-3) (LW: 16)- Big win in San Diego was huge for the sputtering Jets and their confidence. They get a bye this week to gear up for a showdown with Buffalo.
13. Houston Texans (4-3) (LW: 15)- A very convincing win at Tennessee catapulted Houston into first place as last year's Arian Foster came back out to play. They get Jacksonville at home this week.
14. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2) (LW: 14)- I can't believe how a team with a rookie quarterback is still sitting pretty at number 14. Guess that's what happens when you have a good record amongst a ton of mediocrity.
14. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2) (LW: 14)- I can't believe how a team with a rookie quarterback is still sitting pretty at number 14. Guess that's what happens when you have a good record amongst a ton of mediocrity.
15. Dallas Cowboys (3-3) (LW:17)- Rookie RB DeMarco Murray broke out in a big way with 253 yards on the ground against lowly St. Louis. He will have a good chance to replicate that performance, or at least come close, against Philadelphia's meager run defense.
16. Chicago Bears (4-3) (LW: 18)- The Bears were able to hold on against the Bucs in London as the O-line is slowly getting it together, affirming Mike Martz's statement that he'd get the unit in gear. The bye will give them extra time to recover from any jet-lag back to the States.
16. Chicago Bears (4-3) (LW: 18)- The Bears were able to hold on against the Bucs in London as the O-line is slowly getting it together, affirming Mike Martz's statement that he'd get the unit in gear. The bye will give them extra time to recover from any jet-lag back to the States.
17. Oakland Raiders (4-3) (LW: 9)- Shutout loss to Kansas City may have shown that there will be some rust to brush off for Carson Palmer and an accompanying transition period.
18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3) (LW: 12)- After riding high off a win against New Orleans, they fell back down to Earth with a loss to the Bears. The Bucs need to find some consistency if they want to stay in the hunt for the NFC South, because in Week 9 they have to travel to New Orleans to take on the Saints yet again after the bye.
19. Tennessee Titans (3-3) (LW: 13)- The Titans are the newest Jekyll and Hyde team of the NFL. After beating Baltimore earlier this year, Houston trounced them at home in a 41-7 laugher. They'll have to be ready for Cincinnati this week.
20. Kansas City Chiefs (3-3) (LW: 22): Kansas City was very convincing in their rout of Oakland on Sunday as they intercepted Oakland QBs 6 times, 3 off both Kyle Boller and Carson Palmer. Brandon Flowers is an emerging star in this league.
19. Tennessee Titans (3-3) (LW: 13)- The Titans are the newest Jekyll and Hyde team of the NFL. After beating Baltimore earlier this year, Houston trounced them at home in a 41-7 laugher. They'll have to be ready for Cincinnati this week.
20. Kansas City Chiefs (3-3) (LW: 22): Kansas City was very convincing in their rout of Oakland on Sunday as they intercepted Oakland QBs 6 times, 3 off both Kyle Boller and Carson Palmer. Brandon Flowers is an emerging star in this league.
21. Philadelphia Eagles (2-4) (LW: 20)- Big matchup looms with Dallas after the bye week as the Eagles look to chip away at their NFC East deficit. They better be ready for DeMarco Murray.
22. Washington Redskins (3-3) (LW: 21)- The 'Skins keep falling apart. After their QB woes, they've now lost their leading rusher Tim Hightower for the season to a torn ACL. If their division wasn't so weak this season they may be falling out for good.
23. Cleveland Browns (3-3) (LW: 24)- After winning a horrendous game against Seattle, Cleveland is somehow sitting at an even 3-3. It certainly isn't pretty but there's no denying their record.
24. Carolina Panthers (2-5) (LW: 26)- Cam Newton is well on his way to setting the single-season rushing TD record for QBs as he picked up his 7th in only 7 games, equaling Vince Young's rookie record.
24. Carolina Panthers (2-5) (LW: 26)- Cam Newton is well on his way to setting the single-season rushing TD record for QBs as he picked up his 7th in only 7 games, equaling Vince Young's rookie record.
25. Denver Broncos (2-4) (LW: 25)- Well say what you want about Tim Tebow's horrendous first 3.5 quarters, he got it done when it mattered and delivered the W after being down 15 with just under 3 minutes to go. The kid just wins.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5) (LW: 29)- Who knew that Jacksonville would steal a win from Baltimore on Monday Night Football. Give credit to the Jags' D for keeping Baltimore off the board for almost the entire game.
27. Seattle Seahawks (2-4) (LW: 23)- They should probably be given 2 losses for losing such a bad game to a below average team like they did. Maybe they should starting looking toward the draft for an actual QB, maybe USC QB Matt Barkley.
28. Minnesota Vikings (1-6) (LW: 27)- Christian Ponder made it interesting against Green Bay in his first career start and did a lot of things to give Viking fans hope for the future. Unfortunately, for now it seems like there may be some temporary growing pains.
29. Arizona Cardinals (1-5) (LW: 28)- The disappointing season continues for Ken Whisenhunt's group as they stumble again against Pittsburgh to fall to 1-5. A trip to Baltimore this week probably won't help matters.
30. Miami Dolphins (0-6) (LW: 30)- They were so close. But they let Tim Tebow do his thing and let the Broncos recover a key onside kick to set up the game tying drive before faltering in OT. They travel to the Meadowlands for what should be another tough game against the G-Men.
31. St. Louis Rams (0-6) (LW: 31)- The Rams still continue to lose. Things are only going to get worse this week against a New Orleans team fresh off a 62-7 win over a 0-6 team. Good thing the Rams' record is.... oh.
32. Indianapolis Colts (0-7) (LW: 32)- Colts' C Jeff Saturday claimed after Sunday night's embarrassment against the Saints that his team was outcoached. OK, while that may have been true, you really think that was the difference? 55 points worth? Nothing is going right for the Colts and the end is nowhere in sight.
-TA
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Week 7 Power Rankings: Top 10 jumbles
First post as a legal drinking American...
1. Green Bay Packers (6-0) (Last week: 1)- Pretty much toyed with St. Louis and decided not to play offense the second half, resulting in no points for either team. Green Bay is in a league of its own at the moment.
2. New England Patriots (5-1) (LW: 4)- The Patriots almost got upset at home by Dallas, but the Cowboys left too much time on the clock for short-haired Tom Brady. He is proving short-haired Brady doesn't lose; it's all business now.
3. Baltimore Ravens (4-1) (LW: 5)- Solid win against Houston pushes the Ravens into the top 3. Defense held Houston's offense to only 14 points, even though they were without star WR Andre Johnson, solidified the belief that their defense is still an elite group.
4. San Diego Chargers (4-1) (LW: 6)- Bye week certainly can't drop you, and losses by New Orleans and Detroit bump them up.
5. San Francisco 49ers (5-1) (LW: 9)- Alex Smith, who knew, led the Niners to a come from behind win against the unbeaten Lions. I guess San Fran really is for real.
6. New Orleans Saints (4-2) (LW: 2)- Loss on the road to a hungry Tampa team coming off a 48-3 shellacking by the 49ers proved to be a trap for the Saints, who were widely viewed to be in a major lull in the schedule. A primetime matchup with the winless Colts, which should have been a big game, should get them back on track this week.
7. Detroit Lions (5-1) (LW: 3)- Loss to the 49ers left the Packers as the only undefeated and pushed this 5-1 team a game out of first in their division. They get Atlanta at home this week, which could be tough if Atlanta figures themselves out.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) (LW: 8)- Pittsburgh looked great in the first half against the Jaguars, but somebody forgot to tell them they had to play another. They still played well enough to win. They have to travel across the country for their Week 7 matchup, but only to play a Super Bowl rematch against Arizona, a team really struggling right now.
9. Oakland Raiders (4-2) (LW: 10)- Newly acquired Carson Palmer should start right away and is an obvious upgrade at the quarterback position. Did they overpay for him? Probably, but they're in win-now mode.
10. New York Giants (4-2) (LW: 15)- This may be the highest the Giants are ranked this year considering the rest of their schedule: after the bye and Miami they get New England, San Francisco, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Green Bay, Dallas, Washington, the Jets, and Dallas again. Yikes.
11. Buffalo Bills (4-2) (LW: 7)- Loss to the Giants brought them off of their high just a bit, but they have fallen behind New England in the division, a move that could be permanent with the return of short-haired Tom Brady.
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2) (LW: 16)- Big time rebound last week for the Bucs. After losing a laugher to the Niners, they responded big time with a 26-20 win over the Saints at home. They play the Bears in London to try to stay tied atop the NFC South.
13. Tennessee Titans (3-2) (LW: 13)- Bye week gave Chris Johnson a needed rest after he tweaked his hamstring against the Steelers. Home win against the Texans will give them a nice game and a half cushion atop the AFC South.
14. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2) (LW: 20)- Andy Dalton and AJ Green could be a hookup we see for quite some time in this league. For all the hype given to Julio Jones, it's been Green shining as the Bengals keep reeling off wins.
15. Houston Texans (3-3) (LW:12)- Big divisional game looms this week in Tennessee as the Texans try to take back the division lead. They'll have to do it without Andre Johnson though, as he is still out recovering from his hamstring injury.
16. New York Jets (3-3) (LW: 17)- They got back to .500 with a win over lowly Miami, but they didn't look good. Sanchez looks shaky and if it wasn't for Revis they're defense would be in trouble. Big matchup this week as San Diego come to town.
17. Dallas Cowboys (2-3) (LW: 14)- Even though they may be behind the Redskins in the standings, I think they're a better team. Romo and company almost got the job done in New England on the heels of the defense but didn't have enough time.
18. Chicago Bears (3-3) (LW: 18)- So it was the Bears that sent McNabb to the bench. Hester did what Hester does and returned a kickoff for a TD, while adding another on a long reception. O-line looked much better against a very good pass rush, which is huge for them moving forward.
19. Atlanta Falcons (3-3) (LW: 19)- Well, they did what they needed to do and won a divisional game at home, even if it was only Carolina. Tough game coming as they travel to Detroit to take on the Lions.
20. Philadelphia Eagles (2-4) (LW: 22): Big win for the Eagles on the road, knocking off rival Washington. The defense looked much improved as Ryan Torain only managed 22 yards on the ground on 10 carries and picking off Sexy Rexy Grossman four times to send him back to riding the pine.
1. Green Bay Packers (6-0) (Last week: 1)- Pretty much toyed with St. Louis and decided not to play offense the second half, resulting in no points for either team. Green Bay is in a league of its own at the moment.
2. New England Patriots (5-1) (LW: 4)- The Patriots almost got upset at home by Dallas, but the Cowboys left too much time on the clock for short-haired Tom Brady. He is proving short-haired Brady doesn't lose; it's all business now.
3. Baltimore Ravens (4-1) (LW: 5)- Solid win against Houston pushes the Ravens into the top 3. Defense held Houston's offense to only 14 points, even though they were without star WR Andre Johnson, solidified the belief that their defense is still an elite group.
4. San Diego Chargers (4-1) (LW: 6)- Bye week certainly can't drop you, and losses by New Orleans and Detroit bump them up.
5. San Francisco 49ers (5-1) (LW: 9)- Alex Smith, who knew, led the Niners to a come from behind win against the unbeaten Lions. I guess San Fran really is for real.
6. New Orleans Saints (4-2) (LW: 2)- Loss on the road to a hungry Tampa team coming off a 48-3 shellacking by the 49ers proved to be a trap for the Saints, who were widely viewed to be in a major lull in the schedule. A primetime matchup with the winless Colts, which should have been a big game, should get them back on track this week.
7. Detroit Lions (5-1) (LW: 3)- Loss to the 49ers left the Packers as the only undefeated and pushed this 5-1 team a game out of first in their division. They get Atlanta at home this week, which could be tough if Atlanta figures themselves out.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) (LW: 8)- Pittsburgh looked great in the first half against the Jaguars, but somebody forgot to tell them they had to play another. They still played well enough to win. They have to travel across the country for their Week 7 matchup, but only to play a Super Bowl rematch against Arizona, a team really struggling right now.
9. Oakland Raiders (4-2) (LW: 10)- Newly acquired Carson Palmer should start right away and is an obvious upgrade at the quarterback position. Did they overpay for him? Probably, but they're in win-now mode.
10. New York Giants (4-2) (LW: 15)- This may be the highest the Giants are ranked this year considering the rest of their schedule: after the bye and Miami they get New England, San Francisco, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Green Bay, Dallas, Washington, the Jets, and Dallas again. Yikes.
11. Buffalo Bills (4-2) (LW: 7)- Loss to the Giants brought them off of their high just a bit, but they have fallen behind New England in the division, a move that could be permanent with the return of short-haired Tom Brady.
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2) (LW: 16)- Big time rebound last week for the Bucs. After losing a laugher to the Niners, they responded big time with a 26-20 win over the Saints at home. They play the Bears in London to try to stay tied atop the NFC South.
13. Tennessee Titans (3-2) (LW: 13)- Bye week gave Chris Johnson a needed rest after he tweaked his hamstring against the Steelers. Home win against the Texans will give them a nice game and a half cushion atop the AFC South.
14. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2) (LW: 20)- Andy Dalton and AJ Green could be a hookup we see for quite some time in this league. For all the hype given to Julio Jones, it's been Green shining as the Bengals keep reeling off wins.
15. Houston Texans (3-3) (LW:12)- Big divisional game looms this week in Tennessee as the Texans try to take back the division lead. They'll have to do it without Andre Johnson though, as he is still out recovering from his hamstring injury.
16. New York Jets (3-3) (LW: 17)- They got back to .500 with a win over lowly Miami, but they didn't look good. Sanchez looks shaky and if it wasn't for Revis they're defense would be in trouble. Big matchup this week as San Diego come to town.
17. Dallas Cowboys (2-3) (LW: 14)- Even though they may be behind the Redskins in the standings, I think they're a better team. Romo and company almost got the job done in New England on the heels of the defense but didn't have enough time.
18. Chicago Bears (3-3) (LW: 18)- So it was the Bears that sent McNabb to the bench. Hester did what Hester does and returned a kickoff for a TD, while adding another on a long reception. O-line looked much better against a very good pass rush, which is huge for them moving forward.
19. Atlanta Falcons (3-3) (LW: 19)- Well, they did what they needed to do and won a divisional game at home, even if it was only Carolina. Tough game coming as they travel to Detroit to take on the Lions.
20. Philadelphia Eagles (2-4) (LW: 22): Big win for the Eagles on the road, knocking off rival Washington. The defense looked much improved as Ryan Torain only managed 22 yards on the ground on 10 carries and picking off Sexy Rexy Grossman four times to send him back to riding the pine.
21. Washington Redskins (3-2) (LW: 11)- John Beck now takes over the reigns for Mike Shanahan as the Redskins look all kinds of messed up on offense. A loss to the Eagles was bad for a team trying to show its 3-1 start wasn't a fluke.
22. Kansas City Chiefs (2-3) (LW: 25)- The Chiefs look to get rolling off the bye at Oakland, facing the newly-acquired Carson Palmer. The offense has been improved as late as Dwayne Bowe has gone back to being the Dwayne Bowe we saw much of last year, which is good news for the Chiefs, and they may have found something in RB Jackie Battle.
23. Seattle Seahawks (2-3) (LW: 23)- Coming off the bye Seattle will travel to Cleveland to take on the Browns. Rookie undrafted WR Doug Baldwin looks to keep his impressive rookie campaign going as Seattle looks to stay within reach of San Francisco.
24. Cleveland Browns (2-3) (LW: 24)- Hopefully Peyton Hillis' hamstring isn't an ongoing affair as those injuries seem to nag much more than others. He didn't practice Wednesday, so that could be an issue for Sunday's tango with the Seahawks.
24. Cleveland Browns (2-3) (LW: 24)- Hopefully Peyton Hillis' hamstring isn't an ongoing affair as those injuries seem to nag much more than others. He didn't practice Wednesday, so that could be an issue for Sunday's tango with the Seahawks.
25. Denver Broncos (1-4) (LW: 26)- This week officially begins the Tim Tebow era in Denver. The Broncos will be without star WR Brandon Lloyd, who was traded to St. Louis on Monday. I guess they have a lot of faith in Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas. (Side note: I correctly spelled "Demaryius" without looking. It's ok you can be impressed...)
26. Carolina Panthers (1-5) (LW: 21)- Cam Newton probably played his worst game as a pro against Atlanta in Week 7, throwing 3 interceptions without a TD, so I guess the rookie is human.
27. Minnesota Vikings (1-5) (LW: 27)- I really wanted to drop them in the rankings, but nobody below them warrants moving ahead of the Vikes. There is one positive though, it's now the Christian Ponder era in Minnesota as McNabb watches from the bench. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
28. Arizona Cardinals (1-4) (LW: 28)- Coming off the bye, it doesn't get any easier as the Steelers come to town for a rematch of Super Bowl XLIII. Kolb needs to play better because he is not living up to what they paid for him, both in the trade and his contract.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5) (LW: 29)- Countdown until Jack Del Rio's firing continues... About all you can say about Jacksonville, who somehow scored a Monday night appearance against Baltimore.
30. Miami Dolphins (0-5) (LW: 30)- Well, they beat the Jets pretty bad for just about the entire first half, but couldn't get anything going. The Dolphins are just pretty bad. Tony Sparano is a dead man walking.
31. St. Louis Rams (0-5) (LW: 31)- The Rams just continue to lose. They'll probably have to play this week against Dallas on the road without QB Sam Bradford. Good luck AJ Feeley...
32. Indianapolis Colts (0-6) (LW: 32)- The quest for Andrew Luck continues as they fight the Dolphins and Rams to the finish line. Sunday night's affair with the Saints should help them out.
-TA
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Guest Blog: The Roller Coaster Ride Is Over...
Guest Blog by friend-of-the-blog and my personal best friend, AJ Welch. Enjoy...
Well, the Garcia coaster has finally derailed. And let me tell you it was one hell of a bumpy ride. Throughout his whole career here at USC, Garcia has been one headache after the next; from his off the field suspensions, to his recent lack of talent and intelligence on the field.
Coming out of High School, Stephen Garcia was a highly recruited Qb, a four star recruit as a matter of fact. However, he was already tagged with the label of being a hand-full and an off field liability. You see, in his high school days, he would go around in the parking lots and slash tires, a modest hobby in his eyes I’m guessing. Still, these issues were seen as just some “high school pranks” and what not, he ultimately got recruited and offered a scholarship to play ball here at South Carolina.
Coming into camp in the summer, Garcia looked very promising as a starter, and a talented one at that. But wouldn’t you know his off field issues traveled with him to college. His first suspension came when was yelling and making a scene outside of his dorm, while sitting on a cooler of beer absolutely plastered.
But this wasn’t enough for him, almost one month later, he received his second suspension. This time it came for keying one of his professor’s cars. Even better about this, is his professor SAW him doing this, amateur status Stephen, amateur.
After these two pretty much back-to-back suspensions, he seemed to be settling down and maybe changing his act…”maybe” being the key word. Meanwhile, his off field stupidity was not necessarily translating to the football field, when he was able to play granted. He was shaping up to look like an all SEC quarterback. In 2009 he threw for 2,862 yards and 17 TD’s, not too shabby.
However, with each upside, there always seemed to be a downside. He got suspended for a third time in the offseason for underage drinking. This started to shape the question in some fans minds if maybe he had a problem and needed some help with it. This was quickly forgotten however when Garcia was once again reinstated.
Once the season started in 2010, the fans were on the fence about their controversial Qb. He soon had fans on his side of the fence when he started the season with a bang. He led the Gamecocks to a big time victory over Georgia, a game the Gamecocks haven’t won in many years. He also came very close to defeating the future National Champion Auburn Tigers, in a shootout.
Then came the Alabama game, which will now probably be his most remembered game. He must have been drinking something magical in that kool-aid, because the man played out of his mind. He led the Gamecocks to their first victory over a #1 ranked team, and one of the biggest upsets in the school’s history.
This is one of the reasons I believe fans have been so loyal to him in these past two years. They caught a glimpse of the high caliber talent that he has, but for reasons unknown, he doesn’t bring them to every game. This is what makes him such a frustrating player to watch on the field, his inconsistency. He is one of the only quarterbacks I know who can be flawless against a #1 ranked team, and then look like hes in pop warner against a team the next week. He has so much talent but he doesn’t use it on a regular basis.
Then comes the two other suspensions that came this year. Both of which are again for stupid things. The first suspension was for his violation of the hotel room curfew at the Chick-Fil-A Bowl in Atlanta. Now I guess this one isn’t terribly stupid, I mean he is a guy just trying to get some play, but as a fan I don’t want my quarterback to be focused on that a night before a fairly substantial bowl game that he is playing in. His second suspension is just downright dumb. He was suspended for drunken disruptive behavior at a leadership conference. Wow, nothing quite says leadership like a drunk fool. This is honestly where, as a fan, I began to draw the line on Steven. When he failed to learn from his past incidences and made my school look like a joke, I think its only fair.
Overall, I do not hate/dislike Stephen Garcia. I would merely say I am very disappointed in him and think to myself what could have been. This year he has severly regressed; now whether or not it has anything to do with all these suspensions…I do not know. All I know is that this year the Gamecocks are chock-full of talent, and while he was under center he didn’t allow the talent around him to shine. All of the games he started were nail biters till the very end, with the Gamecocks managing to pull them out for a win. Until Auburn came to town, and Garcia couldn’t manage to pull it out. Connor Shaw got the start the following week and everyone suspected that Garcia would ride the pine the remainder of the year, now with his dismissal, he won’t even do that. I think this quote I heard sums it up beautifully, “He is a million dollar talent, with a ten cent mind”. So now, with Garcia dismissed from the team, we turn to a new chapter with Connor Shaw. I think the future looks very bright for this young man. He came out looking spectacular last week when he started at Qb. He threw for over 300 yards and 4 TD’s, matching Garcia’s season total. And another upside to this young man is that there are no off-field issues to give fans heart attacks about. We shall now see where our season takes us, and hopefully it is a smoother ride.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Week 6 Power Rankings: Bills, Raiders rise. Texans, New Yorkers fall.
1. Green Bay Packers (5-0) (Last week: 1)- Looked like Atlanta would give them their first loss of the season... until Aaron Rodgers and company outscored them 19-0 in the second half. Green Bay looks unstoppable.
2. New Orleans Saints (4-1) (LW: 2)- Win at Carolina wasn't pretty, but yet another example of why you can't count out Drew Brees. Road games against divisional opponents are always tough and another at Tampa awaits them this week
3. Detroit Lions (5-0) (LW: 4)- Who can cover Calvin Johnson? That question hasn't been answered yet. Undefeated record and impressive play keeps them ahead of New England, but just barely.
4. New England Patriots (4-1) (LW: 6)- Win against the Jets proves New England is still the team to beat in the AFC East, and quite possibly the AFC. Short-haired Brady doesn't lose.
5. Baltimore Ravens (3-1) (LW: 3)- Drop two spots is mostly a result of the bye week, but then again may be a settling into the spot they deserve. Home game against the Texans should be another good test of their defense this week.
6. San Diego Chargers (4-1) (LW: 7)- 4-1 start for this typically slow-starting team is only helping. They head into the bye with their only loss coming against the Pats.
7. Buffalo Bills (4-1) (LW: 15)- Slip up against the Bengals may have just been an aberration. Win against self-destructing Eagles gives them ammo into fact that the Bills may be for real.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) (LW: 11)- Big Ben clearly didn't like my bold prediction that he'd throw under 20 TDs on the year, erupting for 5 against the Titans in Week 5. The aging Steelers may be getting it together.
9. San Francisco 49ers (4-1 (LW: 14))- Might as well give the Niners the division now. Jim Harbaugh is showing he may be everything he was cracked up to be this offseason as he and Alex Smith(?) have led the team to a 4-1 start.
10. Oakland Raiders (3-2) (LW: 17)- Emotional win for the Raiders against Houston catapults the Raiders into the top 10. They get Cleveland in Week 6, look for a huge game from McFadden.
11. Washington Redskins (3-1) (LW: 13)- Bye week only helped them as the rest of the NFC East is trying to give them the division. Week 6 showdown against tumbling Philadelphia can be huge for their confidence.
12. Houston Texans (3-2) (LW: 5)- Loss against Oakland brought them back to Earth. A Week 6 win at Baltimore could put them right back into the Top 10 though.
13. Tennessee Titans (3-2) (LW: 10)- Last week's loss came to Pittsburgh, so it wasn't too bad for Mass Hasselbeck and company, but enough to knock them out of the Top 10.
14. Dallas Cowboyss (2-2) (LW:16)- Bye week may have come at the right time for Dallas as the Giants stumbled against the lowly Seahawks. Dez Bryant and Tomo Romo needed the off week more than anyone as they travel to New England in a huge Week 6 matchup for the 'Boys.
15. New York Giants (3-2) (LW: 9)- Week 5 meltdown against Seattle was embarrassing, but Eli's 3 picks didn't help. The Giants look to get back on track with a home game against the emerging Bills.
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2) (LW: 12)- A 48-3 loss to San Francisco surely wasn't what Raheem Morris and his crew had in mind in Week 5, and it doesn't get any easier for the Bucs in Week 6 as the Saints come to town.
17. New York Jets (2-3) (LW: 8)- Lackluster loss to the Pats could have been a sign of a a free fall for the Jets, but luckily they get the winless Dolphins in Week 6. But unfortunately for Rex Ryan, dolphins don't have feet...
18. Chicago Bears (2-3) (LW: 18)- The first static member of the Power Rankings. Loss to the Lions surely isn't a bad loss, and they get the Vikings at home in Primetime on Sunday night to get back into the early Wild Card race.
19. Atlanta Falcons (2-3) (LW: 19)- A great first half from Matt Ryan and company had the Falcons in position to knock off the top-ranked unbeaten Packers, but the Pack had other ideas, shutting out Hotlanta in the second half, 19-0. They need to learn how to finish off a lead, but they can't overlook Cam Newton and the Panthers in Week 6.
20. Cincinnati Bengals (3-2) (LW: 23): Win against the Jags continues Cincinnati's surprising season. Who would have thought a team that looked doomed for a lost season, led by a rookie QB would be 3-2? Not me.
21. Carolina Panthers (1-4) (LW: 22)- Cam Newton almost pulled off his first comeback win, but unfortunately they left too much time on the clock for Drew Brees. A road win against Atlanta could get them out of the NFC South basement.
22. Philadelphia Eagles (1-4) (LW: 20)- The Eagles have had a chance to win every game they've played this year, yet they're 1-4. Andy Reid looks like a dead man walking and the defense needs to wake up or their slide can continue against the 'Skins this week.
23. Seattle Seahawks (2-3) (LW: 27)- Charlie Whitehurst led the Seahawks to victory after losing Tavaris Jackson for the 2nd half to an injury (which could be a huge blessing in disguise for Seattle). Win against the Giants was a very quality win as the defense picked off Eli Manning three times.
24. Cleveland Browns (2-2) (LW: 24)- Hopefully they made the most of their bye week because their Week 6 matchup against Oakland will be a rough one. We'll see how Colt McCoy continues his development.
25. Kansas City Chiefs (2-3) (LW: 28)- Stole back the game after a 17 point defecit against Indy. But then again, it was Indy. Regardless Matt Cassel seems to have regained his confidence and Dwayne Bowe continues his great season.
26. Denver Broncos (1-4) (LW: 26)- Well, folks in Denver, you got what you want. It's Tebow Time. We shall see if he's the answer the fans are looking for or if he's just another QB for them to lose with. It's his time now, but he did make it interesting against San Diego in Week 5.
27. Minnesota Vikings (1-4) (LW: 29)- Adrian Peterson broke out in Week 5 with three first-half TDs against the struggling Cardinals and the Vikes finally got their first win. A Week 6 road matchup with the Bears on Sunday night awaits as they look to piece together consecutive wins.
28. Arizona Cardinals (1-4) (LW: 21)- Bye week comes at a critical time after a worrisome blowout loss at the hands of Adrian Peterson and the then-winless Vikings. Kolb and the offense is sputtering, although Beanie Wells is holding his own as the starting running back. Kolb needs to find Larry Fitzgerald more because he'll catch anything.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4) (LW: 25)- Loss to the Bengals has Jack Del Rio one step closer to the firing he's been long overdue for. This season is purely for Gabbert to develop, nothing else.
30. Miami Dolphins (0-4) (LW: 30)- The Andrew Luck race is underway for the 'Fins as Chad Henne is very conveniently out for the season. Maybe they keep Tony Sparano around long enough to fire him at the end of the year, or at least until they start winning.
31. St. Louis Rams (0-4) (LW: 31)- Bye Week just gave the Rams an extra week to look forward to the Week 6 beatdown coming this week at the hands of the Packers. Yikes.
32. Indianapolis Colts (0-5) (LW: 32)- Well, it looked good for them in the first half against Kansas City. That is, before they squandered their lead and watched Kansas City take the game. Current frontrunners for Andrew Luck given their next four opponents: Cincinnati, New Orleans, Tennessee, and Atlanta. Hello, 0-9.
-TA
2. New Orleans Saints (4-1) (LW: 2)- Win at Carolina wasn't pretty, but yet another example of why you can't count out Drew Brees. Road games against divisional opponents are always tough and another at Tampa awaits them this week
3. Detroit Lions (5-0) (LW: 4)- Who can cover Calvin Johnson? That question hasn't been answered yet. Undefeated record and impressive play keeps them ahead of New England, but just barely.
4. New England Patriots (4-1) (LW: 6)- Win against the Jets proves New England is still the team to beat in the AFC East, and quite possibly the AFC. Short-haired Brady doesn't lose.
5. Baltimore Ravens (3-1) (LW: 3)- Drop two spots is mostly a result of the bye week, but then again may be a settling into the spot they deserve. Home game against the Texans should be another good test of their defense this week.
6. San Diego Chargers (4-1) (LW: 7)- 4-1 start for this typically slow-starting team is only helping. They head into the bye with their only loss coming against the Pats.
7. Buffalo Bills (4-1) (LW: 15)- Slip up against the Bengals may have just been an aberration. Win against self-destructing Eagles gives them ammo into fact that the Bills may be for real.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) (LW: 11)- Big Ben clearly didn't like my bold prediction that he'd throw under 20 TDs on the year, erupting for 5 against the Titans in Week 5. The aging Steelers may be getting it together.
9. San Francisco 49ers (4-1 (LW: 14))- Might as well give the Niners the division now. Jim Harbaugh is showing he may be everything he was cracked up to be this offseason as he and Alex Smith(?) have led the team to a 4-1 start.
10. Oakland Raiders (3-2) (LW: 17)- Emotional win for the Raiders against Houston catapults the Raiders into the top 10. They get Cleveland in Week 6, look for a huge game from McFadden.
11. Washington Redskins (3-1) (LW: 13)- Bye week only helped them as the rest of the NFC East is trying to give them the division. Week 6 showdown against tumbling Philadelphia can be huge for their confidence.
12. Houston Texans (3-2) (LW: 5)- Loss against Oakland brought them back to Earth. A Week 6 win at Baltimore could put them right back into the Top 10 though.
13. Tennessee Titans (3-2) (LW: 10)- Last week's loss came to Pittsburgh, so it wasn't too bad for Mass Hasselbeck and company, but enough to knock them out of the Top 10.
14. Dallas Cowboyss (2-2) (LW:16)- Bye week may have come at the right time for Dallas as the Giants stumbled against the lowly Seahawks. Dez Bryant and Tomo Romo needed the off week more than anyone as they travel to New England in a huge Week 6 matchup for the 'Boys.
15. New York Giants (3-2) (LW: 9)- Week 5 meltdown against Seattle was embarrassing, but Eli's 3 picks didn't help. The Giants look to get back on track with a home game against the emerging Bills.
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2) (LW: 12)- A 48-3 loss to San Francisco surely wasn't what Raheem Morris and his crew had in mind in Week 5, and it doesn't get any easier for the Bucs in Week 6 as the Saints come to town.
17. New York Jets (2-3) (LW: 8)- Lackluster loss to the Pats could have been a sign of a a free fall for the Jets, but luckily they get the winless Dolphins in Week 6. But unfortunately for Rex Ryan, dolphins don't have feet...
18. Chicago Bears (2-3) (LW: 18)- The first static member of the Power Rankings. Loss to the Lions surely isn't a bad loss, and they get the Vikings at home in Primetime on Sunday night to get back into the early Wild Card race.
19. Atlanta Falcons (2-3) (LW: 19)- A great first half from Matt Ryan and company had the Falcons in position to knock off the top-ranked unbeaten Packers, but the Pack had other ideas, shutting out Hotlanta in the second half, 19-0. They need to learn how to finish off a lead, but they can't overlook Cam Newton and the Panthers in Week 6.
20. Cincinnati Bengals (3-2) (LW: 23): Win against the Jags continues Cincinnati's surprising season. Who would have thought a team that looked doomed for a lost season, led by a rookie QB would be 3-2? Not me.
21. Carolina Panthers (1-4) (LW: 22)- Cam Newton almost pulled off his first comeback win, but unfortunately they left too much time on the clock for Drew Brees. A road win against Atlanta could get them out of the NFC South basement.
22. Philadelphia Eagles (1-4) (LW: 20)- The Eagles have had a chance to win every game they've played this year, yet they're 1-4. Andy Reid looks like a dead man walking and the defense needs to wake up or their slide can continue against the 'Skins this week.
23. Seattle Seahawks (2-3) (LW: 27)- Charlie Whitehurst led the Seahawks to victory after losing Tavaris Jackson for the 2nd half to an injury (which could be a huge blessing in disguise for Seattle). Win against the Giants was a very quality win as the defense picked off Eli Manning three times.
24. Cleveland Browns (2-2) (LW: 24)- Hopefully they made the most of their bye week because their Week 6 matchup against Oakland will be a rough one. We'll see how Colt McCoy continues his development.
25. Kansas City Chiefs (2-3) (LW: 28)- Stole back the game after a 17 point defecit against Indy. But then again, it was Indy. Regardless Matt Cassel seems to have regained his confidence and Dwayne Bowe continues his great season.
26. Denver Broncos (1-4) (LW: 26)- Well, folks in Denver, you got what you want. It's Tebow Time. We shall see if he's the answer the fans are looking for or if he's just another QB for them to lose with. It's his time now, but he did make it interesting against San Diego in Week 5.
27. Minnesota Vikings (1-4) (LW: 29)- Adrian Peterson broke out in Week 5 with three first-half TDs against the struggling Cardinals and the Vikes finally got their first win. A Week 6 road matchup with the Bears on Sunday night awaits as they look to piece together consecutive wins.
28. Arizona Cardinals (1-4) (LW: 21)- Bye week comes at a critical time after a worrisome blowout loss at the hands of Adrian Peterson and the then-winless Vikings. Kolb and the offense is sputtering, although Beanie Wells is holding his own as the starting running back. Kolb needs to find Larry Fitzgerald more because he'll catch anything.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4) (LW: 25)- Loss to the Bengals has Jack Del Rio one step closer to the firing he's been long overdue for. This season is purely for Gabbert to develop, nothing else.
30. Miami Dolphins (0-4) (LW: 30)- The Andrew Luck race is underway for the 'Fins as Chad Henne is very conveniently out for the season. Maybe they keep Tony Sparano around long enough to fire him at the end of the year, or at least until they start winning.
31. St. Louis Rams (0-4) (LW: 31)- Bye Week just gave the Rams an extra week to look forward to the Week 6 beatdown coming this week at the hands of the Packers. Yikes.
32. Indianapolis Colts (0-5) (LW: 32)- Well, it looked good for them in the first half against Kansas City. That is, before they squandered their lead and watched Kansas City take the game. Current frontrunners for Andrew Luck given their next four opponents: Cincinnati, New Orleans, Tennessee, and Atlanta. Hello, 0-9.
-TA
Cutler, and Tebow, and Eagles... oh my!!! (And the return of pictures!)
So Week 5 of the NFL season is now in the books. However, there are a few things that need to be touched on that are either not getting enough attention, or at least not the right kind.
First thing's first... Everybody better quit the Jay Cutler criticism right now. The guy has been nothing but scrutinized his entire career. The majority of his criticism has stemmed from last year's NFC Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers. Cutler went down with an MCL sprain in his knee and was unable to return to the game. Players spoke out against him that he wasn't tough and that he looked disinterested on the sidelines while injured, or that he wasn't in backup QB Caleb Hanie's ear enough to walk him through the game.
First thing's first... Everybody better quit the Jay Cutler criticism right now. The guy has been nothing but scrutinized his entire career. The majority of his criticism has stemmed from last year's NFC Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers. Cutler went down with an MCL sprain in his knee and was unable to return to the game. Players spoke out against him that he wasn't tough and that he looked disinterested on the sidelines while injured, or that he wasn't in backup QB Caleb Hanie's ear enough to walk him through the game.
This was the shot that had many people questioning Cutler's toughness, both mental and physical.
At the time, I was hesitant to criticize the Diabetic Cannon (or the Glucose Gunslinger, or the Vandy Dandy that Can't Have Candy, as my friend Jordan Welch would put it) because, well, I don't know how I can criticize a professional athlete for not playing injured, especially when I don't know what the pain is like.
Well, at this point into this year's season, I have seen enough to say leave Jay Cutler alone. Anyone who has watched the Bears this year has seen the debacle that is their offensive line. This guy is running for his life on every play and these guys simply cannot keep him upright. Suddenly, the Bears must be regretting not re-signing veteran Pro Bowl center Olin Kreutz during the offseason, who went on to sign a deal with the New Orleans Saints. Now, how many times have you heard Cutler complain about his line? Clue: none. The guy has kept his mouth shut and played the game. And ironically, it seems as though he has made less Cutler-esque mistakes this year. It is because of Jay Cutler that I am further turned off by Michael Vick's comments earlier in the season about how his O-line is not protecting him and such. Michael, take a page out of Jay's book, keep your mouth shut and play football. My hat goes off to Jay Cutler for how he has handled his situation this year. The guy has proven he's tough and he isn't even complaining about the beating he's taken. You've won me over, Jay.
Now, onto the biggest news of the day. In case you haven't heard, the Denver Broncos have announced that sophomore QB and fan-favorite Tim Tebow will be the team's starting QB when they return from their bye in Week 7.
Ladies and gentlemen... it's Tebow Time.
Perhaps the most stunning thing about all of the hype, at least to me anyway, is how extreme the opinions on Tebow are. It seems that you either love him and think he's destined to be a star in the NFL, or you think he's terrible and not worthy of playing for an NFL team. I, however, fall into neither of the two. I personally think that he is a viable starter in the NFL, and while he will never be a premier passer, the guy flat out makes plays; he's a winner. And I know that phrase has been long overused in reference to Tebow, but it's true. Anyone who watched the end of the Denver-San Diego game saw glimpses of greatness and an inconsistent pocket passer. That is exactly what he is. He will never have the polished passing skills of a Peyton Manning, a Tom Brady, a Drew Brees, or an Aaron Rodgers, but he finds a way to get the first down or the critical yardage when you need it the most, and it usually isn't pretty. So far, since the beginning of the 2010 season, only Michael Vick (9) has more rushing TDs than Tebow (7) among quarterbacks. The difference? Tebow has only started 3 games since he's been in the NFL.
Now, I've never been a big fan of running QBs in the NFL, because they're often prone to mistakes and taking off at the wrong time, but I would actually take Tim Tebow as my starting QB. Not because I think he's a Hall of Fame QB in the making, but because I trust his instincts and I trust his decision-making with the game on the line and in critical situations. If I were to take him, though, it would be necessary to surround him with some weapons. Right now Brandon Lloyd is a very good WR, but Eric Decker as a number two? And with no notable tight end threat? No disrespect to Eric Decker, he could wind up being very good, who knows, but as of now he's not the number two guy I want to set Tebow up with. He doesn't have a great running back to hand it off to either, despite the reemergence of Willis McGahee, especially since Knowshon Moreno hasn't panned out as expected.
Bottom line here is that Tim Tebow is neither the Broncos' savior, nor a scrub. The guy makes plays, kisses babies, and knows how to win games.
Well. Now onto the part that will either make you cry or smile. The Eagles. Where to start with the once self-titled "Dream Team"... I think at this point it is safe to say that from here on out it is an uphill battle just to keep his job. With the talent that the organization has assembled, there is really no excuse for a 1-4 record. After this year, Eagle fans may get what they have inconsistently off-and-on wanted for years now, an Eagle team not coached by Andy Reid. I have never been a big "fire Andy Reid" proponent because I don't think the Eagles would have reached three straight NFC Championship games in the middle of the past decade without Reid. But, if the season continues as it is going right now, Andy Reid should be gone.
Just to put it all in perspective, the Eagles would theoretically have to end the year 9-2 just to reach a 10-6 record and possible make the playoffs. With the way this team has made costly mistakes, this is not only unlikely, but impossible. The sad thing for this Eagle team is that they have been in a position to win every game they've played this year, but without fail, they have found a way to beat themselves.
The problem has not only been their mistakes, but their defense has not lived up to expectations. Their ridiculous secondary has been rendered irrelevant without the presence of a run defense. They have allowed opposing running backs to impose their will on the paltry Eagles D. Their poor tackling and execution has led me to the conclusion that I could have success running the ball against the Eagles defense behind Jay Cutler's offensive line. They're that bad.
Is it possible for the Eagles to get it together and roll off a 9-2 run and make the playoffs? Yes. But the reason why it will not happen is because this team is simply undisciplined. Nobody is being held accountable for the team's mistakes and there has to be a lot going on in the locker room, considering the Players Only meeting that was called on the off day after Week 4. Poor clock management in the final two minutes of each half has to fall equally on the shoulder of Reid and Vick, because if one mismanages, the other should have the presence of mind to bail the other out.
Where does the blame fall? Anyone? Bueller?
Herein lies my mistrust of Michael Vick. His head. I don't trust him when it matters to make the crucial play in crunch time. In theory, Vick is the Anti-Tebow. Where Tebow excels, Vick falters. Is Vick a better passer and better running with more raw athletic ability? Absolutely. But who do I want managing my offense to a comeback win in the 4th quarter? The answer is simple: Tim Tebow.
To all Eagle fans, your team needs to get it together, plain and simple. But their problem isn't one that can be fixed overnight. The team needs to put their egos aside and form a cohesive unit. Because if they don't, not only will they continue to beat themselves and lose games, but you can expect a slew of firings on the Eagles coaching staff and a massive overhaul. Buckle up Eagle fans, it could be a very bumpy ride.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Week 5 Power Rankings
We're a quarter of the way into the schedule for each NFL team and it hasn't come without a few surprises and disappointments. At this point, I'm ranking all 32 teams and giving a bold prediction about each one.
1. Green Bay Packers (4-0)- The offense is firing on all cylinders and Aaron Rodgers is making a case that he is the best quarterback in the league. The defense is playing well enough for the offense to be the difference.
Bold Prediction- Green Bay loses once all year and locks up the NFC by Week 15.
2. New Orleans Saints (3-1)- The poor man's Packers. Brees is off to a quick start with 1410 passing yards and the running game showed that you don't need one feature back to be effective.
Bold Prediction- 12 touchdowns for Jimmy Graham this year.
3. Baltimore Ravens (3-1)- The Ravens defense showed on Sunday night that it is still one of the toughest groups in the league and one of the most opportunistic. Despite Flacco's poor effort, they find ways to win games against good teams.
Bold Prediction- Baltimore sweeps the division.
4. Detroit Lions (4-0)- We knew the Lions would be much improved this year, but I'm not sure anyone knew they'd be this improved. The Lions don't have to play the Packers until Thanksgiving, so they may be able to stay within at least a game of the division lead until then.
Bold Prediction- Stafford to Calvin Johnson produces the highest touchdown total of any QB-WR hookup in NFL history when their careers are over.
5. Houston Texans (3-1)- If it weren't for a 4th quarter hiccup against New Orleans in Week 3, they'd be 4-0. They showed a lot of poise keeping Pittsburgh from roaring back in the 4th quarter.
Bold Prediction- Arian Foster continues to miss time sporadically throughout the year and Ben Tate is the team's leading rusher at the end of the year.
6. New England Patriots (3-1)- With Tom Brady and Bill Belichick at the helm, they're always a Super Bowl contender. Defense still worries me, especially with Jerod Mayo out 6 weeks.
Bold Prediction- Over 130 catches for Wes Welker this year.
7. San Diego Chargers (3-1)- For once, they actually are having a strong start to the year, which is dangerous for the rest of the AFC because Philip Rivers just does not lose in December.
Bold Prediction- Ryan Mathews becomes the featured back alone by Week 10.
8. New York Jets (2-2)- Record doesn't look too impressive, but they won't have to play the Ravens every week. Sanchez better step it up though.
Bold Prediction- They beat New England both times in the regular season and win the division.
9. New York Giants (3-1)- Tied atop the NFC East with Washington. Schedule hasn't been very tough, a win versus the Eagles early could be very helpful late in the season.
Bold Prediction- Giants slip up and miss the playoffs.
10. Tennessee Titans (3-1)- Matt Hasselbeck is doing his very best to make Seattle regret not signing him every single week. He clearly doesn't need Kenny Britt all that much.
Bold Prediction- 4,000 yards and 28 TDs for Hasselbeck.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2)- Only losses are to top 5 teams, but the injuries are piling up for Pittsburgh. Baltimore looks much stronger and the early head-to-head loss could prove very costly.
Bold Predicton- Under 20 TDs for Roethlisberger.
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1)- Schedule hasn't shown much, but they are 3-1. Week 6 matchup with New Orleans looms and will show their true colors.
Bold Predicition- LeGarrette Blount finishes in the top 5 in rushing.
13. Washington Redskins (3-1)- Ryan Torain burst onto the scene in Week 4 with over 100 yards on the ground. Mike Shanahan must be liking his chops with all these rushing options.
Bold Prediction- No Redskin back rushes for 1000 yards despite over 150 carries for all 3 backs.
14. San Francisco 49ers (3-1)- Big comeback win for the Niners against Philly on the road shows they are the team to beat in the NFC West, although I'm not sure how much weight that really carries.
Bold Prediction- 10+ TDs for Frank Gore.
15. Buffalo Bills (3-1)- Week 4 loss to Cincinnati showed that their strong start may have been a fluke.
Bold Prediction- Bills finish the year below .500.
16. Dallas Cowboys (2-2)- Tony Romo has been a warrior this year playing through injury, but his play has been Jekyll and Hyde. Collapse against Detroit was just flat out embarrassing.
Bold Prediction- Romo gets it together and Dallas wins the division.
17. Oakland Raiders (2-2)- Darren McFadden has been an animal on the ground and showing that he will be a player in this league for quite some time.
Bold Prediction- Over 1500 yards on the ground this year for McFadden.
18. Chicago Bears (2-2)- Thank God for Matt Forte last week or Carolina might have won by 10. Offensive line can't keep Cutler upright, but maybe they can block for the run game? It must be killing Mike Martz that he has to run it.
Bold Prediction- Forte remains the team's leading receiver for the entire season by a lot.
19. Atlanta Falcons (2-2)- Roddy White's preseason comments that Atlanta is the newest version of the 2001 Rams "Greatest Show on Turf" is appearing quite comical. Their play this year has been quite worrisome, especially given play of New Orleans, and Tampa Bay to a certain degree.
Bold Prediciton- Atlanta is the newest victim of the NFC South winner not repeating. They finish 3rd in the division and miss the playoffs.
20. Philadelphia Eagles (1-3)- "Dream Team" label is officially dead and there may be too many egos in the locker room. Players called a "players only" meeting on Monday instead of taking their customary day off, which proves there is some trouble in paradise.
Bold Prediction- Eagles finish 8-8 and miss the playoffs.
21. Arizona Cardinals (1-3)- Questionable call against the Giants possibly cost them the game, but a week 5 matchup with Minnesota could get them back on track.
Bold Prediction- 100 yards and 2 TDs for Fitzgerald this week in a win against the Vikes.
22. Carolina Panthers (1-3)- Cam Newton's progress with a short offseason has been nothing short of remarkable. I may soon have to eat my words that he will be a bust. Needs to tone down the mistakes though if he wants his stats to translate into Ws.
Bold Prediction- 12 rushing TDs for Newton this year.
23. Cincinnati Bengals (2-2)- Cam Newton has gotten all of the attention, but the most impressive rookie QB may actually be Andy Dalton, who has led a team most people expected to be horrendous to a 2-2 start.
Bold Prediction- 1000 yards receiving for rookie WR A.J. Green this year.
24. Cleveland Browns (2-2)- Not really sure what to make of the Browns so far. They're 2-2, but their only wins are against 0-4 teams.
Bold Prediction- Under 1000 yards on the ground this year for Peyton Hillis, even though he is a tank.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-3)- Blaine Gabbert has shown signs of excellence along with his growing pains. Having his second career start come against New Orleans probably wasn't fair. He needs some weapons.
Bold prediciton- Maurice Jones-Drew's total yards this year is within 500 yards of Gabbert's total passing yards.
26. Denver Broncos (1-3)- Don't put much weight into the loss against Green Bay, it was Green Bay. Divisional foes will be a better Litmus test.
Bold Prediction- Tebow starts the last 6 weeks of the year as the Broncos are out of contention early and the fans get restless.
27. Seattle Seahawks (1-3)- Whoever decided that they should not re-sign Hasselbeck and sign Tavaris Jackson should never be allowed to hold any position in football ever again. 2 point loss to Atlanta wasn't terrible, however.
Bold Prediciton- We see Charlie Whitehurst as starter before the end of the year.
28. Kansas City Chiefs (1-3)- After looking like the worst team in NFL history through the first two weeks, they got a win in Week 4 against the winless Vikings. A week 5 matchup with Indy should do wonders for their confidence.
Bold Prediction- 100 yards and a TD on the ground in Week 5 for Thomas Jones.
29. Minnesota Vikings (0-4)- They have held a lead in every game this season and have no wins to show for it. How on God's Green Earth can you not close out games with Adrian Peterson in the backfield?
Bold Prediction- Christian Ponder is the team's Week 10 starter after the bye.
30. Miami Dolphins (0-4)- The team says Tony Sparano is the guy for the job, but how can they seriously say that after their much-publicized pursuit of Jim Harbaugh in the offseason? The team is in trouble.
Bold Prediction- Sparano is fired after Week 8 after a 1-7 start.
31. St. Louis Rams (0-4)- They made it interesting at the end of their Week 4 loss to Washington, but their -67 point differential is God-awful. Where is Mike Sims-Walker?
Bold Prediction- Rams go 2-14 this season.
32. Indianapolis Colts (0-4)- Who knew Manning made this much of a difference? The defense is just not good enough to make up for their quarterback being 67 year-old Kerry Collins or wannabe-bro Curtis Painter. Seriously what is up with that guy's hair?
Bold Prediction- They steal a win from KC in Week 5.
1. Green Bay Packers (4-0)- The offense is firing on all cylinders and Aaron Rodgers is making a case that he is the best quarterback in the league. The defense is playing well enough for the offense to be the difference.
Bold Prediction- Green Bay loses once all year and locks up the NFC by Week 15.
2. New Orleans Saints (3-1)- The poor man's Packers. Brees is off to a quick start with 1410 passing yards and the running game showed that you don't need one feature back to be effective.
Bold Prediction- 12 touchdowns for Jimmy Graham this year.
3. Baltimore Ravens (3-1)- The Ravens defense showed on Sunday night that it is still one of the toughest groups in the league and one of the most opportunistic. Despite Flacco's poor effort, they find ways to win games against good teams.
Bold Prediction- Baltimore sweeps the division.
4. Detroit Lions (4-0)- We knew the Lions would be much improved this year, but I'm not sure anyone knew they'd be this improved. The Lions don't have to play the Packers until Thanksgiving, so they may be able to stay within at least a game of the division lead until then.
Bold Prediction- Stafford to Calvin Johnson produces the highest touchdown total of any QB-WR hookup in NFL history when their careers are over.
5. Houston Texans (3-1)- If it weren't for a 4th quarter hiccup against New Orleans in Week 3, they'd be 4-0. They showed a lot of poise keeping Pittsburgh from roaring back in the 4th quarter.
Bold Prediction- Arian Foster continues to miss time sporadically throughout the year and Ben Tate is the team's leading rusher at the end of the year.
6. New England Patriots (3-1)- With Tom Brady and Bill Belichick at the helm, they're always a Super Bowl contender. Defense still worries me, especially with Jerod Mayo out 6 weeks.
Bold Prediction- Over 130 catches for Wes Welker this year.
7. San Diego Chargers (3-1)- For once, they actually are having a strong start to the year, which is dangerous for the rest of the AFC because Philip Rivers just does not lose in December.
Bold Prediction- Ryan Mathews becomes the featured back alone by Week 10.
8. New York Jets (2-2)- Record doesn't look too impressive, but they won't have to play the Ravens every week. Sanchez better step it up though.
Bold Prediction- They beat New England both times in the regular season and win the division.
9. New York Giants (3-1)- Tied atop the NFC East with Washington. Schedule hasn't been very tough, a win versus the Eagles early could be very helpful late in the season.
Bold Prediction- Giants slip up and miss the playoffs.
10. Tennessee Titans (3-1)- Matt Hasselbeck is doing his very best to make Seattle regret not signing him every single week. He clearly doesn't need Kenny Britt all that much.
Bold Prediction- 4,000 yards and 28 TDs for Hasselbeck.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2)- Only losses are to top 5 teams, but the injuries are piling up for Pittsburgh. Baltimore looks much stronger and the early head-to-head loss could prove very costly.
Bold Predicton- Under 20 TDs for Roethlisberger.
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1)- Schedule hasn't shown much, but they are 3-1. Week 6 matchup with New Orleans looms and will show their true colors.
Bold Predicition- LeGarrette Blount finishes in the top 5 in rushing.
13. Washington Redskins (3-1)- Ryan Torain burst onto the scene in Week 4 with over 100 yards on the ground. Mike Shanahan must be liking his chops with all these rushing options.
Bold Prediction- No Redskin back rushes for 1000 yards despite over 150 carries for all 3 backs.
14. San Francisco 49ers (3-1)- Big comeback win for the Niners against Philly on the road shows they are the team to beat in the NFC West, although I'm not sure how much weight that really carries.
Bold Prediction- 10+ TDs for Frank Gore.
15. Buffalo Bills (3-1)- Week 4 loss to Cincinnati showed that their strong start may have been a fluke.
Bold Prediction- Bills finish the year below .500.
16. Dallas Cowboys (2-2)- Tony Romo has been a warrior this year playing through injury, but his play has been Jekyll and Hyde. Collapse against Detroit was just flat out embarrassing.
Bold Prediction- Romo gets it together and Dallas wins the division.
17. Oakland Raiders (2-2)- Darren McFadden has been an animal on the ground and showing that he will be a player in this league for quite some time.
Bold Prediction- Over 1500 yards on the ground this year for McFadden.
18. Chicago Bears (2-2)- Thank God for Matt Forte last week or Carolina might have won by 10. Offensive line can't keep Cutler upright, but maybe they can block for the run game? It must be killing Mike Martz that he has to run it.
Bold Prediction- Forte remains the team's leading receiver for the entire season by a lot.
19. Atlanta Falcons (2-2)- Roddy White's preseason comments that Atlanta is the newest version of the 2001 Rams "Greatest Show on Turf" is appearing quite comical. Their play this year has been quite worrisome, especially given play of New Orleans, and Tampa Bay to a certain degree.
Bold Prediciton- Atlanta is the newest victim of the NFC South winner not repeating. They finish 3rd in the division and miss the playoffs.
20. Philadelphia Eagles (1-3)- "Dream Team" label is officially dead and there may be too many egos in the locker room. Players called a "players only" meeting on Monday instead of taking their customary day off, which proves there is some trouble in paradise.
Bold Prediction- Eagles finish 8-8 and miss the playoffs.
21. Arizona Cardinals (1-3)- Questionable call against the Giants possibly cost them the game, but a week 5 matchup with Minnesota could get them back on track.
Bold Prediction- 100 yards and 2 TDs for Fitzgerald this week in a win against the Vikes.
22. Carolina Panthers (1-3)- Cam Newton's progress with a short offseason has been nothing short of remarkable. I may soon have to eat my words that he will be a bust. Needs to tone down the mistakes though if he wants his stats to translate into Ws.
Bold Prediction- 12 rushing TDs for Newton this year.
23. Cincinnati Bengals (2-2)- Cam Newton has gotten all of the attention, but the most impressive rookie QB may actually be Andy Dalton, who has led a team most people expected to be horrendous to a 2-2 start.
Bold Prediction- 1000 yards receiving for rookie WR A.J. Green this year.
24. Cleveland Browns (2-2)- Not really sure what to make of the Browns so far. They're 2-2, but their only wins are against 0-4 teams.
Bold Prediction- Under 1000 yards on the ground this year for Peyton Hillis, even though he is a tank.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-3)- Blaine Gabbert has shown signs of excellence along with his growing pains. Having his second career start come against New Orleans probably wasn't fair. He needs some weapons.
Bold prediciton- Maurice Jones-Drew's total yards this year is within 500 yards of Gabbert's total passing yards.
26. Denver Broncos (1-3)- Don't put much weight into the loss against Green Bay, it was Green Bay. Divisional foes will be a better Litmus test.
Bold Prediction- Tebow starts the last 6 weeks of the year as the Broncos are out of contention early and the fans get restless.
27. Seattle Seahawks (1-3)- Whoever decided that they should not re-sign Hasselbeck and sign Tavaris Jackson should never be allowed to hold any position in football ever again. 2 point loss to Atlanta wasn't terrible, however.
Bold Prediciton- We see Charlie Whitehurst as starter before the end of the year.
28. Kansas City Chiefs (1-3)- After looking like the worst team in NFL history through the first two weeks, they got a win in Week 4 against the winless Vikings. A week 5 matchup with Indy should do wonders for their confidence.
Bold Prediction- 100 yards and a TD on the ground in Week 5 for Thomas Jones.
29. Minnesota Vikings (0-4)- They have held a lead in every game this season and have no wins to show for it. How on God's Green Earth can you not close out games with Adrian Peterson in the backfield?
Bold Prediction- Christian Ponder is the team's Week 10 starter after the bye.
30. Miami Dolphins (0-4)- The team says Tony Sparano is the guy for the job, but how can they seriously say that after their much-publicized pursuit of Jim Harbaugh in the offseason? The team is in trouble.
Bold Prediction- Sparano is fired after Week 8 after a 1-7 start.
31. St. Louis Rams (0-4)- They made it interesting at the end of their Week 4 loss to Washington, but their -67 point differential is God-awful. Where is Mike Sims-Walker?
Bold Prediction- Rams go 2-14 this season.
32. Indianapolis Colts (0-4)- Who knew Manning made this much of a difference? The defense is just not good enough to make up for their quarterback being 67 year-old Kerry Collins or wannabe-bro Curtis Painter. Seriously what is up with that guy's hair?
Bold Prediction- They steal a win from KC in Week 5.
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