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2008 NFL Power Rankings Week 10

kroberts — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 01:33:00 +0000

It’s a weird feeling. We knew we’d be here, but we were positive we’d never get here.

On one side, you have Brett Favre and his Jets going up against the Patriots for first place. The new guy with his new girlfriend, and he’s already gearing up for marriage? Nah.

Forget about the Jets winning the game, the playoffs, the Super Bowl, whether or not Favre comes back next season. No, none of that matters.

The main thing is what this off-season led up to. Was Ted Thompson right?

Well, Aaron Rodgers has performed well, but a closer look at the games and his stats show that while he hasn’t really been winning games, he hasn’t exactly been losing them, either.

So, while everyone watches the Jets and Patriots on Thursday night, in the back of their minds, whether they like it or not, they’re continuing to watch the beautiful play that is Favre vs Rodgers.

If you ask me, it’s just a guy playing on a new team, and if they win their next game, they just might be a shoe-in for the Super Bowl.

The way this season has gone, though, there are no guarantees. Unless you count the Lions losing every week. That’s almost a lock. But no, for almost every other team and player in the league, you can’t assume anything. You just have to keep watching…

Rank (Pv)	Team	Record	Comment
1 (1)		9-0	Who says Kerry Collins can’t still win games?
2 (2)		8-1	It will probably take another Super Bowl win for Eli Manning to prove he’s special, but this team is clearly in the top two.
3 (3)		6-3	Ben Roethlisberger gave that game away, and wasn’t afraid to admit it. Honesty is awesome, but so is leading your team to victory. He needs to get it together.
4 (4)		7-2	That was a poor showing by the offense, but the defense saved the day. But come on, it was the Raiders.
5 (5)		6-3	This game against Dallas is suddenly a season changer. A loss could drop them into a spiral out of playoff contention.
6 (7)		6-3	I still like their team, but they got lucky. Good teams hold onto the ball and close games. They can thank the 49ers poor play-calling for this one.
7 (9)		6-3	They had a chance to turn things around, but they blew it. If they don’t win this week, they’re toast.
8 (8)		6-3	They’re sitting in a nice spot, but they’ll need to step it up to keep pace with Atlanta and Carolina.
9 (13)		6-3	They scored 47 points with Favre simply going through the motions. Believe it or not, that’s worse than him throwing for another 6 touchdowns. This team is better than we think.
10 (16)		6-3	When was the last time you saw a rookie quarterback play this well?
11 (11)		5-4	Tony Romo to the rescue?
12 (6)		5-4	I’m tired of putting stock into this team and watching them come up short. That 4th down play at the end of the game was disappointing. They’re lucky Mike Singletary’s poor call overshadowed it.
13 (17)		5-4	It’s nice to see Manning and Co. playing well, but how long will it last. I need to see some consistency before I start buying the product.
14 (18)		6-3	Remember when no one thought Ben Roethlisberger could win it all as a rookie? Yeah…
15 (12)		5-4	They lost a hard fought game to an undefeated team, and are tied for first place in their division. Yeah, they’re doing fine.
16 (19)		5-4	The Dolphins have now won 5 times their win total of last season. When will that stop being interesting?
17 (20)		5-4	Do you think the trade for Jared Allen was worth it?
18 (21)		5-4	All four of their running backs are injured. How does that even happen?
19 (24)		4-5	They were a converted 2-point conversion away from losing their season. That’s actually way worse than it sounds. They were facing the Chiefs.
20 (10)		5-4	Losing to the Jets and Patriots in consecutive weeks probably means this team lost it’s shot at a wild card spot.
21 (14)		4-5	They lost a game that was as close to must-win as it gets, and now they face another one just like it. If they lose to Chicago, it’s over, and the “Where’s Brett?” chants begin.
22 (22)		4-5	They beat the Lions, so at least they didn’t lose to both of the league’s winless teams. There’s hope in Jacksonville, yet.
23 (15)		4-5	That argument between Drew Brees and Jeremy Shockey said it all. This team just doesn’t know what it’s doing anymore.
24 (23)		3-6	Make that two games Sage Rosenfels has single handedly lost for the Texans.
25 (25)		3-6	You have to admit, with Quinn at quarterback, the offense flowed a lot more smoothly. But, does this really save Romeo Crennel?
26 (28)		1-8	Who doesn’t love Tyler Thigpen, right now?
27 (26)		2-7	We know the answer isn’t Trent Green, so if it’s not Marc Bulger anymore, where do we go from here?
28 (27)		2-7	It just keeps getting better and better in Oakland.
29 (29)		2-7	Is there really any reason to bring Matt Hasselbeck back this season? And while we’re at it, can Mike Holmgren just retire, already?
30 (30)		2-7	That was a bad call to lose the game, but at least Mike Singletary has his team playing the right way. The verdict is still out on whether or not he should return next season.
31 (31)		1-8	Just for the sake of fantasy owners everywhere, can Carson Palmer come back and get this team back to respectability, already?
32 (32)		0-9	Shame on Matt Millen. For the damage he has done, he should never work in the NFL again.

2008 NFL Power Rankings Week 8

kroberts — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 01:25:00 +0000

The three teams I’m most interested in?

No, not the Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, or even the undefeated Tennessee Titans.

Try the sloppy Cleveland Browns, the surging Houston Texans, and the surprising Miami Dolphins.

All three of these teams are still below .500, are inconsistent as can be, and quite possibly could be out of the playoff picture completely in three weeks.

However, their recent re-emergence into playoff relevance has me giddy with all the possibilities they bring to the table.

1. A quarterback controversy, combined with a coach on the hot seat, heading into a potential divisional opponent playoff match-up. If you haven’t guessed, that would be the Cleveland Browns.

2. How about the Wildcat toting, trick-play dealing, Ted Ginn running Miami Dolphins? Come on, who out there wouldn’t want to see Ricky Williams win a championship and take a drag while holding the Lombardi trophy? Yeah, me neither. But I feel for Chad Pennington.

3. Lastly, the Texans are so hot, I’m getting blisters, and I live in Wisconsin. The Schaub to Johnson connection is better than high-speed internet (sorry, roadrunner), and I simply cannot get enough of it. Oh, and Owen Daniels is becoming an elite tight end.

At the very worst, these three average teams have helped make this season fun to watch. And because of these three teams, I can’t wait to see what else 2008 has in store for us. But there’s 29 more teams to keep track of, whether we like it or not, so take a look:

Rank (Pv)	Team	Record	Comment
1 (1)		7-0	True, the Colts weren’t much of a test, but a win in front of the nation still is impressive. Undefeated is undefeated, folks.
2 (2)		6-1	That 4th down bomb to Amani Toomer near the end of the game was a gutsy call. That’s the difference a year and a championship makes. This team is oozing confidence.
3 (3)		5-2	I know the Giants have a great pass rush, but when is this line going to get with it?
4 (5)		6-2	They could just as easily by 0-8. But you’ve got to hand it to them: they know how to close games. Clinton Portis for MVP, anyone?
5 (8)		6-2	Is it just me, or is anything possible when Steve Smith is playing this well? This is an elite NFC team.
6 (4)		5-2	They need to figure out fast what kind of team they are. Are they a division winner, or the team that loses next week to the Jets and fades away?
7 (9)		4-3	Yeah, that’s Brian Westbrook, and that’s how he rolls.
8 (10)		5-2	It seems every week brings a different thought or feeling about Cassel, but does it even matter? The Patriots are 5-2, and the winning doesn’t seem like it’s going to stop.
9 (6)		4-3	They played Carolina close, and should feel good even though they lost. 5-2 would have been great, but they’re still in good shape in their division.
10 (11)		5-3	Maybe Brooks Bollinger is the answer, after all.
11 (7)		5-3	How you let a team beat you with no production from the quarterback is beyond me. This was a letdown.
12 (13)		4-3	The Packers bring their lackluster rush offense and 25th ranked run defense up against the Titans. If that isn’t the funniest joke you’ve ever heard…
13 (15)		4-3	The week off should cure Jay Cutler’s ailing hand. But the defense? Not so much.
14 (17)		4-3	Kyle Orton versus the Lions tells me the Bears go 5-3. Kyle Orton by himself tells me they just might win the North.
15 (19)		4-4	Minus the loss of Reggie Bush, is any offense more exciting to watch right now? Drew Brees is playing out of his mind.
16 (12)		3-4	Matt Jones has a huge game and the Jags’ still lose. With a pending suspension, is there any reason for hope in Jacksonville?
17 (20)		4-3	You call it luck, and I call it Favre. It is what it is, folks. And the Jets win again…
18 (18)		4-3	Matt Ryan simply cannot put this team on his shoulders, yet. He’s good, but not that good.
19 (14)		3-4	It’s time to stop blaming Marvin Harrison and the other receivers. Peyton Manning is simply not himself.
20 (21)		4-3	This is what happens when Joe Flacco plays with poise. But can we really expect him to do that 5-6 more times?
21 (23)		3-4	They’ve had some tough luck, and are catching on fire at the perfect time. The minute they beat a good team, they shoot up the rankings.
22 (24)		3-4	Tell me you didn’t pick Ted Ginn Jr. up in your fantasy league.
23 (22)		3-4	You can’t ask much more out of Gus Frerotte. But hey, Gus, can we have some more?
24 (16)		3-5	When I say window, you say closed. Window! *Closed!
25 (25)		3-4	Is it just me, or have they come out of nowhere? A win against Baltimore this week, and they’re suddenly in second place in their division.
26 (26)		2-5	That was a real bummer. They played a solid, close football game, only to see the refs hand the game to the Patriots. Sickening.
27 (27)		2-5	Does this team even want to win every week?
28 (29)		2-5	Here, Seattle, have a cookie.
29 (28)		2-6	Yeah, Vernon Davis is the problem in San Francisco. Their losing has nothing to do with a terrible offensive line, questionable play-calling, and turnovers. Yep, it’s Davis, alright.
30 (30)		1-6	They played the Jets tough. Which, for now, means almost nothing.
31 (31)		0-7	It’s hard to knock Rod Marinelli’s heart and “belief” system, but the cleaning has to start from the top. Millen went, and he shall follow.
32 (32)		0-8	Carson Palmer is expected to miss the remainder of the season. Carson’s most recent text to relatives: Vacaaaaation!

2008 Week 7 NFL Power Rankings

kroberts — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:19:00 +0000

So much for bringing sexy back. Their cool “Wildcat” offense is no longer surprising or effective, and the Dolphins are back to being the Dolphins again. So, what does this mean for the league?

Well, first of all, it means literally any team can beat any other team. The Chargers, Patriots, Dolphins, and Browns are all you need to look at to believe it. They’ve all beaten and lost to opponents they probably shouldn’t have, and I’ve got news for you. It’s not ending here.

With the St. Louis Rams winning their second straight game over a solid opponent, they become the new Miami Dolphins, and they place themselves back in playoff contention. For now.

The only constant we can rely on in today’s NFL is the Tennessee Titans haven’t lost yet, and that uncertainty is the name of the game. If you’re still in love with the days when Brett Favre was always wearing green and gold, no matter the injury or the weather, then you better start forgetting. It’s time to adapt.

Even when considering Tennessee, it’s time to realize there’s no sure thing in this league. As discombobulated as the Colts seem to be, they’re sure to give the Titans a tough game next Monday. And the week after that the former Oilers get the surging Packers. Can they really make it to 8-0?

In today’s league, it’s anyone’s guess. And as I’ve said all season: Stop guessing, and start watching. This isn’t a tarot card totin’ man’s land. This is for football fans. Leave your bets in Vegas, because baby, you’re gonna lose.

Rank (Pv)	Team	Record	Comment
1 (1)		6-0	They run the football, play great defense, and they have yet to lose. That makes a pretty good case for best team in football, don’t you think?
2 (2)		5-1	There we go. Back to running the ball and shutting down the opposing offense. Anyone else ready to say that loss to the Browns was a fluke?
3 (3)		5-1	Mewelde Moore’s dazzling play of late has begun to make Willie Parker’s eventual return irrelevant. This is a darn good football team.
4 (5)		5-1	The beautiful thing about Trent Edwards is that he doesn’t make mistakes, and he doesn’t lose you games. If he didn’t go down at Arizona, Buffalo could be looking at 6-0.
5 (6)		5-2	That’s two weeks of sloppy football, but at least they won. Jason Campbell still hasn’t thrown an interception this season. That’s just incredible.
6 (7)		4-2	They face a tough opponent in Carolina this week, but their offense can handle just about anything these days. A healthy Anquan Boldin the rest of the way should mean the Cards’ first playoff appearance since the days of Jake Plummer.
7 (17)		5-2	There was talk on ESPN’s First Take that this team could be the best in the NFC. Stephen A. Smith scoffed at the suggestion, and for the first time in my life, I agreed with him.
8 (15)		5-2	They dominate, get dominated, and dominate again. Let’s say the crushing Tampa Bay dealt them was an aberration. For now.
9 (9)		3-3	A healthy Westbrook gives this team a serious chance at a run for the division. Let’s see them get above .500 first, though.
10 (13)		4-2	Matt Cassel looked sharp when he wasn’t curling up into a ball. Still, if it weren’t for those fumbles early in the game how much different of a result could we have seen? Rodney Harrison’s career is likely over.
11 (4)		4-3	You didn’t actually think going with Brad Johnson as the starter would end well, did you?
12 (16)		3-3	The bye week allowed Fred Taylor to rest up and the offensive line a whole week of establishing continuity. Now, what about that whole Matt Jones situation?
13 (20)		4-3	Green Bay dominated Indianapolis in every facet of the game. Peyton Manning reverted to rookie form, and the Packers relied on a surprisingly effective Ryan Grant to control the game. I still need to see so much more to believe.
14 (8)		3-3	Just when you thought they were getting it all together, they implode against a pourous Green Bay defense. They need to call Dr. Scholl’s, because they are so not gellin’.
15 (10)		4-3	They’re still a division leader, but not by much. It seems all those questions about their defense are finally getting answered, and not in the way Mike Shanahan had hoped.
16 (11)		3-4	Enough comparisons to last season. There has to be a line between a slow start and a team just being inconsistent. Aside from manhandling the Jets and Patriots, what has this team shown us?
17 (19)		4-3	I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Kyle Orton is the best player on this team.
18 (18)		4-2	The Falcons will only go as far as Matt Ryan will take them, and by initial accounts, that might be to a division title.
19 (12)		3-4	Once you lose Reggie Bush, you lose an offensive spark that can’t be replaced. What’s to happen to this team in the next 2-4 weeks?
20 (14)		3-3	That was the vintage Favre no one likes to see. If Favre can up his play, this team still has a shot at the wild card, but they need to take advantage of Kansas City this week.
21 (25)		3-3	This game was evidence that this is a solid football team if their quarterback can avoid mistakes.
22 (21)		3-4	That’s where the risk factor comes to life with Gus Frerotte. You normally don’t win games when you throw four picks. Then again, allowing 48 points doesn’t help, either.
23 (26)		2-4	Houston lost to Jacksonville and Indianapolis, both by less than a touchdown, and both divisional opponents. If they hadn’t, they’d be 4-2 right now. With that said, who’s with me on Houston placing second in this division at year’s end?
24 (23)		2-4	Granted, they were facing the Ravens, but perhaps teams are beginning to catch on to this “Wildcat” formation. Ya think?
25 (22)		2-4	If they could clean things up a bit, Cleveland could get back to where they were last season. They’ve been in almost every game this season. They just need to learn how to execute better.
26 (30)		2-4	They’re undefeated under Jim Haslett, and all the major offensive performers have flourished, well, for the most part. How can you not like the Rams right now?
27 (28)		2-4	Their defense was stellar, forcing Favre into bad play after bad play. But really, how did they win this game?
28 (24)		2-5	A once promising offense has turned into a mess. Something has to change in Frisco’, and it probably starts with Mike Nolan.
29 (27)		1-5	So, now we’re down to Seneca Wallace on the totum pole of awful quarterbacks in Seattle. If Matt Hasselbeck still can’t play next week, does Holmgren re-sign David Greene?
30 (29)		1-5	They should have traded both Tony Gonzalez and Larry Johnson. This team could use all the draft picks it can get, because it won’t be winning anytime soon.
31 (31)		0-6	Detroit can thank Matt Millen for Calvin Johnson, and that’s about all they can thank him for. But hey, that’s a heck of a talent.
32 (32)		0-7	Can we get a bye week and an amen? This team is beyond hurting. Their season was lost three weeks ago.

New Look Giants

ClassicRocker06 — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 09:59:00 +0000

“New Look Giants”

By Billy Fellin

The 2007 Super Bowl Champions came into the 2008 season being underrated, disrespected and basically ignored. And why not? It’s not like they beat the previously undefeated New England Patriots. But that’s just the way that the Giants like it.
The Giants have looked dominant thus far this year, their most recent victory coming against a normally formidable Seattle team. So what is the cause of this success? This success is coming from confidence, depth and experience. Confidence is huge among the Giants right now. Eli Manning is stepping up into the pocket, throwing lasers down the field. Those comparisons to Peyton don’t seem that farfetched right now. Granted, Eli only has 1 more yard and 1 more touchdown that Peyton right now, but he has only thrown 1 interception to Peyton’s 5 and has a QB rating of 99.7 to Peyton’s 79.2. Who would have thought that? Eli has only been sacked 5 times thus far this year, which is a huge change from previous years. He has confidence in the pocket and is leading this team the way that Ernie Acorsi and the Giants management thought he would when they got him in the trade from the Chargers in 2004.

Eli not getting sacked can be directly related to the play of the offensive line. Chris Snee, Kareem Mackenzie, David Diehl, Rich Seubert, and Shaun O’Hara have managed to stay healthy and working as one unit since last season. This unit has been working great together and not committing costly holding or false start penalties. They are probably the best offensive line in the league, but again not a whole lot of respect.

Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw have also benefited greatly from the play of the offensive line. Jacobs bulldozed over defenders left and right during the Seattle game. They call themselves “Earth, Wind and Fire”. These three have certainly been tearing up defenses, leading the Giants to the best rushing yards per game in the NFL.

Plaxico Burress was suspended for the Week 5 game against Seattle. Problem? Not for this team. Domenik Hixon and Sinorice Moss stepped up big in this game to fill the spot left by number 17. Certainly no one can replace what Burress provides this team in terms of a big play receiver. He is taller than most of the corners and safeties in the league and that is a huge advantage when it comes to those jump balls in the end zone. But I think the Giants can feel good that players like Hixon and Moss as well as Steve Smith and Amani Toomer can step up and be just as big of playmakers if the situation were to arise as Burress is. The Giants sent a huge message on Sunday to Burress and the rest of the league; that they can win with whoever is on the field.

The defense is also playing great. Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyoria can’t be replaced, but Justin Tuck is sure making it a bit easier without them there. Antonio Pierce is a great leader of the defense and the secondary has a great mix of seasoned veterans in Sam Madison, R. W. McQuarters as well as young guns like 2007’s first round pick Aaron Ross and 2008 first round pick Kenny Phillips. Everyone is touting Tennessee’s defense. Don’t forget about the unit prowling the Swamps of Jersey.

The Giants have a favorable schedule and arguably could be 7-0 going into the big showdown with Dallas on November 2nd. They have San Francisco, Cleveland and Pittsburgh between now and then. The NFC East is a brutal division this year with Dallas and Washington being tough and Philly always being a threat, despite their current 2-3 record.

The Giants “no respect” card seemed to work as they somewhat quietly made their way into the playoffs last year, then the road warriors took it to the favorites on the way to the Super Bowl. With the attention focused on Dallas, Brett Favre’s absence in Green Bay and the lack-luster play of the Pats and Colts, it seems like the Giants are flying under the radar.

And that’s just how they want it.

2008 Week 5 NFL Power Rankings

kroberts — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:02:00 +0000

The great Miami Dolphins are surging, people. They are taking us all by surprise and laughing in our faces. Not simply because they’re winning games, but because they’re doing it by playing unorthodox football.

And the worst part? The two teams from last season’s AFC Championship couldn’t stop them. So who does that speak louder for; those teams or the Mighty Dolphins?

I, much like you, am “all aboard” for a “who cares” train trip to week six. There are too many disappointing teams that are supposed to be contenders, that a team like this is a real treat. And quite honestly, they’re one of the most exciting teams to watch.

They lost Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor, yet their defense is playing very well, and stuffing offenses that normally dominate teams. And we were dogging the Jets for barely beating this team?

The Fins’ won’t be in the top 5 anytime soon, but their tricky style of “Wildcat” offense has got us, and every NFL team that isn’t undefeated, reeling. They’ve got us all thinking, “Could they really make the playoffs?”. And while it’s unlikely, especially with the Pats’, Jets, and Bills standing in their own division, it is a definite possibility.

So, aside from reading my rankings and sly comments, I beg of you to do one thing: Keep watching. Because as I say each week, it’s only going to get better.

Rank (Pv)	Team	Record	Comment
1 (1)		4-0	They lost their starting defensive linemen and tight end from last season, and are 4-0. Seattle might not be a great team, but 44-6? These Giants are the team to beat.
2 (2)		4-1	I was happy to see Terrell Owens not getting his way. But maybe he should have. That game against the Bengals was way too close.
3 (3)		3-1	Everyone needs to settle down. Aside from one long bomb to Randy Moss, Matt Cassel didn’t look that great. It’s the defense that keeps this team special.
4 (5)		5-0	Their defense is allowing less than 12 points per game, while their offense is registering 23 per game. Enough said.
5 (11)		4-1	When’s the last time you saw Clinton Portis run that freely? Jim Zorn has this team doing some special things. With the rest of their division opponents coming to Washington, the Skins’ could end up being a lot better than we think.
6 (6)		4-1	Can Ben Roethlisberger do any more for this team? And on that note, can we please have Willie Parker back?
7 (4)		4-1	Losing Trent Edwards only minutes into the game probably did them in, but it didn’t look like the Bills’ defense was stopping the Cards’ offense, anyways.
8 (9)		4-1	That’s two straight games of terrible offense for the Broncos. But hey, how about that defense? They just might be coming around.
9 (10)		4-1	I don’t care if it was the Chiefs. A shutout is a shutout. This is a darn good football team.
10 (7)		2-3	I agree with Donovan McNabb, that the Eagles are better than the last two teams they lost to. But where’s the line between being better and losing? This team just isn’t finishing games.
11 (8)		2-3	For anyone who thought the Chargers didn’t need LT to win games, here’s your proof. Just when you thought this team was turning things around, they go and lose to the Dolphins.
12 (19)		3-2	After contemplating retirement, Kurt Warner really stepped up and led his offense to a big victory. For the moment, this team still looks like the division favorite.
13 (18)		3-2	That’s the way you handle a bad football team, and on the road, no less. Kyle Orton is coming into his own.
14 (16)		2-2	So how much did Tony Dungy pay Sage Rosenfals to lose this game?
15 (15)		2-2	Is anyone else excited to see what Favre and the Jets’ offense does for an encore?
16 (12)		2-3	That was a tough loss to Pittsburgh, and it’s not from a lack of effort. They’ll just have to regroup and continue to prove they’re better than their record.
17 (14)		2-3	If you’re not buying Reggie Bush now, I don’t think you ever will. He had the game of his life, only to see his kicker ruin it.
18 (17)		3-2	You can dog Brian Griese all you want, but it’s clear the offense flows smoother with him. Hopefully his shoulder injury isn’t too serious.
19 (24)		3-2	Roddy White absolutely defaced the Green Bay secondary, and Michael Turner had a ton of room to run against the rush defense. The Falcons just out-played the Packers, period.
20 (13)		2-3	That’s 3 straight losses for a team that lost 3 games all year last year. Things are only going to get worse in Green Bay.
21 (21)		2-3	Thanks goes to Ryan Longwell. Gus Frerotte is 2-1 as a starter, and whether you like it or not, he hasn’t looked too bad.
22 (27)		2-2	They just doubled last season’s win total. The season is a success!
23 (22)		2-3	There’s nothing like having your defense become Randy Moss’s little play toy. J.T. O’Sullivan took a few steps back.
24 (23)		2-2	If Flacco doesn’t make mistakes, the Ravens win. If he does, they lose. How does anyone really expect this team to finish better than 8-8?
25 (25)		1-3	They needed this bye week. Up next: A humiliating loss in front of the nation to the Giants on Monday Night Football.
26 (20)		1-3	This team has been disappointing on so many levels. True, they’ve been hit in a bad way by injuries, but the good teams find a way to win, regardless.
27 (26)		0-4	It’s weird, because if it weren’t for Rosenfals, the Texans wouldn’t have even been in this game.
28 (30)		1-3	The week off should give the team time to rest up and regroup after Lane Kiffin’s firing. You could see a different team next week.
29 (28)		1-4	Hey, Larry Johnson, how do you go from 198 yards to 2? I mean, really?
30 (29)		0-4	So, can we finally make the switch to a different quarterback?
31 (32)		0-4	They’ll still be a bad team, but I get the feeling that Jim Haslett will allow the offense to open up a bit more. A little freedom can go a long way.
32 (31)		0-5	You have to admit, they have heart. They really hung in there against Dallas. But what is it going to take to get a win out of this team?

Super Bowl XLII: Brady’s encore or Eli’s debut?

teekay — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 14:49:00 +0000

The stage is set for another classic duel of Brady vs. Manning… Eli Manning. If anyone asked me who I thought would come out on top of this match-up at mid-season it’s likely that I would’ve punched them in the head, and never spoken to them again for fear of associating myself with such a astonishing imbecile. However, it’s not mid-season anymore and going into the final game of the year these two teams aren’t nearly the same as they were then. Their leaders under center have transformed dramatically over the past few weeks, and it has changed the face of the Super Bowl dramatically as well. We might have a game on our hands after all.Early on in the year Tom Brady looked completely unstoppable. He was throwing touchdown passes at a rate we’d never seen and it seemed like he would murder the single season touchdown record like he did Drew Bledsoe’s career. While he did beat the record (only by 1, rather than 15 as some suggested he might), Brady’s production slowed late in the year and now he is coming off the worst playoff performance of his life. To top it all off he was spotted in Manhattan yesterday wearing a walking cast that inspired the always classy New York Post to run the front page headline “Girly man limps home” (I can’t wait until my blog gets some attention so I can become a real journalist too!).

Now this begs the question, can an injured Tom Brady coming off a 3 pick performance give the Pats what they need to complete the perfect season? Of course it also begs the question, isn’t it a little odd for the opposing QB to show up in New York hobbling like Tiny Tim for all of the media to see? This has Belichick written all over it… I can see the Post cover page now: “Castgate ‘08!”

Healthy or not though, one thing is clear; Brady and the New England offense haven’t had things so easy of late. In the last few weeks of the year it seemed opponents began to figure out how to slow their unfathomable pass attack. Someone clued in on their secret, stole Tom Brady’s Game Genie and forced him to play like the rest of us. Since then the Patriots margins of victory were cut back down to earthly levels and, including in the playoffs, they have actually been forced to grind out some victories. Of course, it hasn’t hurt them yet. When the worst criticism an entire national media has for your team is “their wins no longer look like George Foreman vs. Rosey Perez,” things could be worse. But with the Pats suddenly looking like much less of a juggernaut, you have to wonder if their opponent might now have a legitimate shot. Especially considering the upswing the other guys have enjoyed of late.

For once the biggest story of the playoffs is focused on a quarterback not named Brady or Favre or Manning… well at least not the Manning that anyone cared about. After an entire year of Eli-bashing writers and analysts everywhere are eating their words as they witness first hand the equivalent of Frank Stallone outdueling Sly at the box office. I too was an unrelenting cynic when it came to young Eli, but I am a man who can admit when he is wrong. So I have drafted a formal letter of apology and will mail it out immediately… care of Archie Manning. In hopes that will read it to his son for a final confidence booster as he tucks him into his race car bed the night before the big game.

But say what you will about him, closing his third consecutive turn as hero Eli has quieted his critics and self-assuredly led his team to the biggest stage in all of sports. Suddenly morphing into a confident and poised adversary for the Pats, Eli has thrown zero interceptions, shown zero panic, and thus far given them zero reason to believe he’ll do otherwise in 2 weeks.

The sudden maturation of Eli Manning has done wonders for the balance of the New York offense, and morphed them into a justifiable force. For the better part of the season the Giants were a run first team, mostly because Manning always seemed to be a pass to the other team first quarterback. However, in spite of all of the blown throws and media criticism his teammates and coaches remained faithful to their quarterback, and in the end it has paid off. Whether it was a case of the unwavering belief of others instilling him with self confidence, or getting kicked in the temple by a donkey he tried to milk, something triggered a shake up in Eli Manning’s head and he seems like a whole new man on the field. Now considering all of this began in the Giants’ week 17 battle with Brady and New England, the Pats have to be at least a little worried that a continually improving Eli Manning and Big Blue could be the ones to knock them off their high horse in the final leg of the race.

The bottom line here is this, it’s not mid-season anymore. The public pasting of whatever unfortunate bunch of slobs would face the almighty Patriots in February is no longer a foregone conclusion. We have the country’s two most dominant sports markets facing off in the biggest game of the year. We have a classic case of David vs. Goliath. And we have a rematch of one of the best games this year had to offer. Not to mention I think we all remember what happened the last time the New York Giants faced the league’s most prolific offense in a Super Bowl.

We might just have a game on our hands after all.

Damned If He Does- Damned If He Doesn’t: The Eli Manning Story

ClevelandWill — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:10:00 +0000

The Manning name carries a certain stigma. The name Eli carries a completely different one. Will Burge explains why you shouldn’t be so quick to put down Eli ManningEeyore was a character on the beloved children’s show Winnie the Pooh. He walked around at a lethargic pace with his head hung low. He said things like “Oh bother” and “It doesn’t even really matter” in a glum tone.

This is what the world sees from Eli Manning.

Over the past three weeks Eli has been getting some props from national media. The long overdue congratulations are finally being bestowed upon one of the league’s most scrutinized players.

In recent years, when he wasn’t being blasted for interceptions by the New York media, he was being slammed by former teammates turned sports anchors for not being a leader. As if playing under the microscope in New York wasn’t enough, Eli also has that pesky last name to live up to.

Eli Manning is one of the most disliked players in the NFL and it can all be traced back to a single day: draft day 2004.

Manning was selected with the first pick in the draft by the San Diego Chargers. Phillip Rivers is chosen number four by the New York Giants.

We all remember the look on Eli’s face as he threw on that fake smile for photos with the Chargers jersey held in front of him; He looked like a little kid that got the wrong Power Ranger for Christmas. The trade to New York soon followed and Eli never stood a chance.

It wasn’t enough that he turned his nose up at everyone in the country and threw a tantrum because San Diego drafted him; now, he would need to please the ever-hungry appetites of the New York fans. This is no small task. The next Manning would be on the biggest stage in the NFL.

What could go wrong?

Unfortunately for Eli, plenty would go awry in the next three years.

Over Eli’s first three years in the NFL he completed just 52.6 percent of his passes and had a QB rating of 69.4. His second and third year also included second half collapses by the Giants; Manning bore much of the blame. He was deemed extremely unimpressive for an age where quarterbacks are given only two or three years to develop before a replacement is brought in.

There is a flip side to that coin, though. He had only been a full time starter in the league for two years. Both of those years were coached by Tom Coughlin, who was not a player favorite.

Perhaps we placed too many expectations upon young Manning. Though he has failed to impress the iron fisted media in the Big Apple, he hasn’t been that bad.

In three years starting in the NFL, Eli has thrown 71 touchdown passes. In only his third full year as the starter he has beaten what looked like another late-season Giants collapse and willed his team to the playoffs.

And now, Manning has his team one win away from only their second Super Bowl appearance in 17 years. Yet he is still chopped down by fans and media alike.

If a player makes mistakes early in his career to tarnish his public image, can he not be forgiven?

What if he had extremely successful family members who came before him in the same occupation? Can he not be judged based solely upon his own accomplishments?

For all that seems wrong with Eli there is ten times more that is right. He is always well-spoken and does not shy away from talking to media. Even in the pressure cooker that is New York, he stays out of trouble off of the field. The kid is twenty-seven years old and we judge him like he is a seasoned vet who has failed us all.

In our eyes, he should have three Super Bowl rings and set passing records because his birth certificate has the same surname as Peyton and Archie.

The fact of the matter is that Eli is not Peyton. He is not his father.

He is a solid starting quarterback in the NFL who has an upside. This is an extremely valuable commodity in a league where sixty-four different players have started at quarterback this season.

And Eli has accomplished everything he has done thus far with an below-average offensive line and no downfield threat at receiver. Plaxico Burress is his only real weapon deep but he hasn’t practiced with his quarterback most of this year due to injury.

The cards are stacked against Eli.

If the Giants lose this week against the Packers, it will be because of him. If they win, it will be because of the defense, or the special teams, or the run game.

If he succeeds in his career, then he was supposed to because he’s a Manning. If he is just solid or mediocre then he has failed for the same reason.

Though the compliments are slowly trickling in, it’s only a matter of time before the rug of confidence is pulled right out from underneath him.

Thus is the life of a little brother.

If you must judge Eli by what is on the back of this jersey, do so by the number ten instead of the last name. Only then can the criticism truly be on Eli and not on an inherited burden passed down by family members before him.

Why I Care About The Giants So Much

JSOppenheim — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:48:00 +0000

I had the good fortune of watching the last two New York Giants games in the company of a young lady who can only be described as “heavenly”, by virtue of us both being invited to watch the contests at the apartment of a mutual friend. Playoff football is not a conducive atmosphere to get to know someone, so I have every intention of asking her out for a cup of coffee the day after Super Bowl 42. This particular girl seems pretty perceptive, so I expect her to eventually ask why I am so wrought with tension during Giants’ games. Why do I get so involved in the Giants and their playoff march? Why is it that I allow myself to care too much?

These questions aren’t anything new; most fans have been interrogated with a similar line of questioning at least once in their lives. Unfortunately, these feelings aren’t readily put into words, and we are often only capable of answering in an unsatisfactory fashion.

The problem, at least for me, is that it isn’t the Giants, or the game of football, that has me rapt in awe. The reason why I can never fully explain my emotional commitment to the New York Giants is because what I’ve actually committed myself to wasn’t the New York Giants. It’s the tantalizing possibility of the unexplainable. The chance that we might see something we never knew could happen.

Our entire lives, we’re taught that for every action there’s a reaction. Out of this cause and effect relationship logic is born. It is ingratiated into our thinking process that, in no uncertain terms, logic governs everything. For something to exist, it must first be logically possible. Any tangible entity, any produced sum, is merely the end result of an iron-proof string of logical reactions of which there can be only one possible outcome. Teachers ensured that we understood this by making us show all of our work for any problem presented to us.

As we get older, every desire we might have is likewise subject to these laws. Will I get that promotion? Yes, provided you’ve worked harder than your colleagues on that presentation, and also on impressing your boss. Will you be able to afford your rent this month? As long as you managed to stop drinking after the sixth beer, meaning you didn’t get drunk enough to buy the entire bar a round of shots. If you didn’t stop at the sixth beer, and went on to buy the bar a round of Jagermeisters, and a couple extra for yourself, causing you to wake up with a nasty hangover, which meant you did a lousy job during your presentation and summarily failed to impress your boss, then you are unlikely to make your rent or get that promotion you now so desperately need.

But, even with all of this logical reasoning as the basis for all that I do, I still can’t figure out how it came to be that the Giants are going to the Super Bowl. Everything I’ve learned in fifteen years of watching football can not combine to formulate one single argument for the Giants not only beating the Packers in the NFC Championship Game, but for them actually making it there at all. Eli Manning is not supposed to beat Brett Favre for the NFC Title at Lambeau Field in sub-zero temperatures. Eli Manning is not that mentally tough. Brett Favre is. The defense is not supposed to rally around Coach Tom Coughlin, because you don’t revere Tom Coughlin, you obey him. If I could point to one Giant who suddenly started playing up to the level he was always capable of, I would. It’s just that there are too many of them to name. The same could be said for the number of guys who have gritted it out through injuries just for one shot at playoff glory. In the end, there are too many bizarre coincidences to account for. The string of reason was not just broken, it was entirely wiped out. Logic, it seems, didn’t apply.

And that is why I love sports. Not everything has to have a proper cause and effect; things can just inexplicably happen.

Maybe the Giants can beat the unbeatable New England Patriots. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll find that the heavenly brunette likes me too.

Quest for Greatness: A Punter’s Tale

bobbyjim45 — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 23:59:00 +0000

A little trivia question: Who holds the NFL record for most consecutive games played? Brett Favre, of course… right? Nope. Incorrect. Negatory. Wrongo. The correct answer is Jeff Feagles. No, not the crazy kicker from Ace Ventura. That was Ray Finkle. ”If he had held the ball laces out like he’s supposed to, Ray would never have missed that kick… Dan Marino should die of gonorrhea and rot in hell!” Jeff Feagles is in fact a punter, currently booting the ball down field after frequent Eli Manning third-and-outs with the Giants.Chances are you’ve had Feagles punting for your team (well at least if you’re a Patriots, Eagles, Cardinals, Seahawks, or Giants fan). And if you have had him on your team, then chances are your team sucked at that point in time. 41-year-old Jeff Feagles has played in the NFL for 20 years, playing all 16 games in each of those seasons. Yes, that’s a Charlie Weis size 320 games in a row. And in all of those games, there has been one common trend that’s plagued Feagles: losing.

Feagles has always been a great punter, carrying the University of Miami to a national championship in 1987, his senior year. People expected Feagles to go on to great things in the NFL, but it didn’t exactly turn out the way he had hoped.

Feagles was not drafted, but had no worries, as he was signed by the Patriots in 1988, where he was the starter immediately. Feagles stuck with New England for the ‘88 and ‘89 seasons, but jumped ship for Philadelphia after the Pats failed to make the playoffs both years. Feagles’ Eagles (no punt intended) got off to 3 winning seasons with the coffin corner man on their side. However, they didn’t win a playoff game until 1992, where Feagles won his first playoff game in the Wild Card round, but quickly exited in the divisional playoffs.

Though he was disappointed with the finish to the year, things were still looking up for Jeff Feagles. Only 26, he was about to enter his punter’s prime and already had a playoff win under his belt. But things didn’t go so well. After a sorry 8-8 year with Philly in 1993, Feagles got a needed change of scenery again and headed off to the desserts of Arizona. Though he enjoyed some personal success with the Cards, earning his first Pro Bowl spot in 1995, Arizona was still losing, and Feagles was quickly being labeled a choke artist.

In 1999, a Feagles team finally reached the playoffs again; this time it was Seattle. However, Feagles again suffered a one-and-done and whispers were floating around the league that he didn’t have what it takes to win the big one as an NFL punter.

Finally, an abashed Jeff Feagles reached the New York Giants in 2003. They said he was washed up, but Jim Fassel decided to take a chance on the wily vet. On the back of their new punter, the Giants finished with a 4-12 record. Fassel was fired and hard-ass Tom Coughlin was brought in. A lesser man than Coughlin would’ve immediately used the punter as the scapegoat, but Coughlin saw something. Despite strong urges from the fans to go after some young blood in the punting game, Coughlin stuck with his man, Feagles.

The next season didn’t go so well either, as the Giants finished 6-10, but they were getting better, and Feagles had proven to be the man for the job. Then in 2005, Feagles finally got back to the playoffs, but exited quickly in the first round. He fought through injuries the next year to keep the record alive, but it was another wild card loss in ‘06, and Feagles considered retirement.

It was a tough decision for the Feagles family to make, but they decided it was worth it to make one more run at shaking the best-punter-to-only-win-one-playoff-game-in-his-career reputation. It was the right decision to make. After putting together their 10-6 season, the team has ridden their 41-year-old punter to two playoff wins, and now has a date with the Green Bay Packers in the NFC championship game.

Some might say the monkey is off his back, as this is the farthest Feagles has ever gone in his 20 year career, but Jeff Feagles will not just settle for the NFC Championship. He wants the ring. He’s on a quest. It’s a quest to become a great punter; the greatest of all-time, even. This may just be Feagles’ last chance to take home the Lombardi Trophy, and he wants it more than he ever has before. Because nobody remembers a punter who never wins the big one.

2007 NFL Conference Championships Picks and Podcast

Editor — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:33:00 +0000

In many ways, the Conference Championship weekend is much much better than the Super Bowl itself. Usually we get great games. However according to vegas this year, it’s not looking so great. We’ll see if NE can cover those 14 points and if the Packers can cover the 7.

You can download the podcast directly (running time 75 mins) or subscribe to the feed.

If you use iTunes, just click here and then click subscribe and iTunes will take care of the rest.

NFL 2007 Conference Championship Picks

MATCHUP	Vegas Vinny	BostonMac	Trevor	Billy
Giants @ Packers	Packers	Packers	Packers	Packers
Chargers @ Patriots	Patriots	Patriots	Patriots	Patriots
Prev Week	2-2	2-2	1-3	3-1
Reg Season	160-96 (.625)	169-87 (.660)	154-102 (.602)	81-45 (.643)
Playoffs	5-3	5-3	4-4	7-1

Locks of the Week

[Editor's Note: This year, we're making the Locks of the Week a little more interesting as we have a side bet amongst the four experts. The person with the most money at the end of the year in Locks betting takes home all the money. Disclaimer: The amounts discussed are for illustrative and entertainment purposes only. Gambling may be illegal in your locale.]

Vegas Vinny: So far I’m 0 for 2 on my locks. This week I’m gonna put the ultimate reverse jinx on the Patriots by picking them as my lock of the week. As most of you long time listeners know, I absolutely hate NE, Giants, and the Favres. So instead of looking at the Super Bowl matchup as two of my least favorite teams, I’m going to view it as an opportunity for one of my hated teams to get so close and to blow it. How’s that for silver lining. But that’s a little premature right now. Let’s just look at this week’s games. The gambling gods have not been kind of us at all. The lines are at 7 and 14? Couldn’t just nudge it down by 1/2 a point could they? Still, I think the Patriots will blow out the Chargers. I know I said the same thing last week about the Colts but the Chargers are even more banged up this week than they were last week. The Patriots meanwhile looked completely unbeatable against the Jaguars. Even with a healthy squad, the Bolts simply don’t match up against New England as witnessed by the previous meeting between these two clubs. You might as well prepare the Lombardi trophy – destination Foxborough – right now. It’s absolutely over folks. The inevitable is truly inevitable. We’ve all known it since about week 10. The Patriots are gonna lock up the AFC this weekend and the Super Bowl in two weeks. I’ll take them to beat the Chargers… oh I don’t know… 49-26?

BostonMac: Get ready for a Super Bowl XXXI rematch, folks! It’s Drew Bledsoe! It’s Brett Favre! Bill Parcells! Mike Holmgren! It’s Packers-Patriots coming up next on Fox! Destiny is starting to take shape, and an eager Sports Nation awaits the storybook ending of the 07 season: goldenboy Favre in his Fountain of Youth as the last gallant defenders of truth, justice, and the American way from the evil commies, the undefeated cheaters New England Patriots (playing the role of Ivan Drago). Come to think of it, the Patriots (with their emphasis on the team over the individual, sacrificing individual wealth in favor of a stronger whole, and a strong centrally-controlled Politburo/Thought Police in Belichick and his lieutenants that carefully puppets every team member’s thoughts and words like a roided-up Orwellian Big Brother) really do play the role of the commies. But I digress. The Chargers, unfortunately, just cannot match up with the Patriots. The Jaguars played essentially a perfect game last week and pushed the Patriots hard, with David Garrard playing the game of his life, and they still came up two scores short. Can a banged-up, emotionally spent, Norv Turner-coached Chargers team that shot their wad last week in the RCA Dome come into 9 degree weather in Foxborough and somehow topple the unbeaten, Belichick-coached juggernaut? A fully healthy Chargers team got punched in the face by a mediocre (by New England standards) Patriots team last year in San Diego. A weakened Chargers team is going to get steamrolled this weekend by the greatest team ever assembled. The drama is gone; bring on the Pack. I’ll take NEW ENGLAND (-14) to win and to win big.

Trevor F: The Packers have the lower number at 7 so I will go with them. I think
both the Patriots and Packers should win their games rather convincingly.
I like Green Bay at Lambeau in the cold weather. I see the Pack jumping
out to an early lead and forcing Eli Manning to throw the ball downfield.
That should mean a couple picks and Aaron Kampman living in Eli’s grill.
The Packers win this game going away and the discussion begins about the
Patriots wideouts against the Packer corners which should be worth the
price of admission. Randy Moss and Chas Woodson one on one. Either Wes
Welker or Donte Stallworth drawing Al Harris. A.J. Hawk and Nick Barnett
lurking over the middle to crush receivers running short routes. The
Packers defense and the Patriot offense will be a nice little chess match.

Billy Fellin: This lock of the week comes to you courtesy of the letter B: as in Blowout. In making my lock of the week, I followed a handy checklist. Let’s see: Norv Turner coaching in the playoffs? Check. Bill Belichick coaching in the playoffs? Check. Tom Brady, Randy Moss and the offensive machine? Check. 17-0 team vs a team that started 1-3? Check. And Philip Rivers, LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates not at 100%? Check. Hrm. Seems like a New England win to me. The only way I’d give the Chargers a chance here is if they had their Big 3 healthy and running on all cylinders, which they won’t have come Sunday. They will have only 1/3 or maybe 2/3 at best. Even if all three did play, they wouldn’t be healthy. The Chargers are a good football team. They just happen to be playing the Patriots, who I’ll take to win and cover.