Filed under: 2009, Power Rankings | Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, football, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, NFL, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Power Rankings, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, sports, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Redskins
Consider this fact about the season so far: we’re seven weeks in, and only twelve teams in the league have a losing record. That means two things: playoff races this year are going to be really interesting, and the teams that are losing are losing a lot. This week, we saw an undefeated team fall, but we still have more undefeated teams at this point in the season than we ever had before. The teams that are winning know how to win, and the teams that are losing know how to lose. Which one is your team? Find out below:
1. New Orleans Saints (6-0): We knew they could get out to a big lead and then protect it, now we know they can come from behind in dominating fashion. Im-pressive.
2. Indianapolis Colts (6-0): A hungry 49ers team and Alex Smith eager to prove his worth might surprise this team this week. Might not, though.
3. Denver Broncos (6-0): Big test this week with the Ravens. Big tests are all too familiar for this team though, and they haven’t shown any signs of weakness yet.
4. Minnesota Vikings (6-1): See, I told you. They’re good, but they’re not a perfect team. I see more imperfection in their future.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2): What a difference Troy Polamalu makes. All of the sudden this looks like the defense we remember.
6. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2): What a throttling that was. They keep that up, and you’re a deep playoff threat.
7. New England Patriots (5-2): Yes, they’re a good team, but something about them still gives me a little hesitation. I don’t think they’re elite like they have been in the past. But they can get there.
8. New York Giants (5-2): Do we need to reassess this team? Did they trick us into thinking they were legitimate? A big division test against the Eagles may help us answer that question.
9. Green Bay Packers (4-2): Too high? Consider this: there are two teams that rank in the top six in yards-per-play on both offense and defense. One is the Colts, the other is this team.
10. Arizona Cardinals (4-2): What a confidence-boosting win that was. I wouldn’t be surprised if this team goes off on a nice little midseason run after that.
11. Dallas Cowboys (4-2): They’re paying Roy Williams about $9 million a year. They’re paying Miles Austin a generous handful of nickels. You tell me what’s the better deal.
12. Atlanta Falcons (4-2): They were caught lying down at the wrong time. And with the Saints on the docket for this week, they better solve their problems quick.
13. Philadelphia Eagles (4-2): They dominated the Skins, as they should have. Looks like they learned a little something after taking a week off in Oakland last week.
14. New York Jets (4-3): Leon Washington’s injury is more serious for this team than you think it is.
15. Houston Texans (4-3): Nicely done against the 49ers. Consistency from week to week is the problem, and if Andre Johnson’s injury is serious, it could spell trouble.
16. Baltimore Ravens (3-3): A week off to prepare for the Broncos is exactly what you need these days. Trouble is, the Broncos have had a week off to prepare, too.
17. San Diego Chargers (3-3): It’s easy to look incredible against the Chiefs. The poor showing against the Broncos is what you worry about. Their goal line offense is pathetic.
18. San Francisco 49ers (3-3): What happened? They were a shoo-in for their division, and now their falling apart. Let’s hope Alex Smith is the answer.
19. Chicago Bears (3-3): Yikes.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-3): ***Commentary blacked out due to sluggish ticket sales***
21. Buffalo Bills (3-4): They’re a big time long shot, but don’t count them out of the mix yet. This is a team with a very opportunistic defense.
22. Miami Dolphins (2-4): Tough break. Turns out you have to play two halves in a football game, especially one against the Saints.
23. Seattle Seahawks (2-4): In a two week span, the Seahawks went from challengers in the NFC West to big time long shots, and they only lost one game. Tough break.
24. Carolina Panthers (2-4): This team is a machine. A turnover machine, but a machine nonetheless. At least they’re consistent.
25. Oakland Raiders (2-5): As far as these rankings are concerned, the only difference between this team and the Redskins is that the Raiders beat the Eagles, and the Redskins didn’t.
26. Washington Redskins (2-5): Okay, I give up. Jason Campbell sucks.
27. Detroit Lions (1-5): Best part about a bye week? You can’t lose during it. Best thing about this week? You get the Rams at home.
28. Kansas City Chiefs (1-6): Matt Cassel’s failure to produce in Kansas City only emphasizes the genius of Belichick and McDaniels, who created a successful system for a quarterback who is now clearly below average.
29. Cleveland Browns (1-6): How this team managed to get a win is beyond me. They’re downright miserable. They had two drives get inside the 5-yard line, and result in zero touchdowns. That ain’t good.
30. Tennessee Titans (0-6): A week to rest after that berating from New England, and now have a much more manageable game against Jacksonville. Could we see win number one?
31. St. Louis Rams (0-7): While it may be the most winnable game they have this year, this week’s game against Detroit is going to generate zero interest from me or any other sensible NFL fan.
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-7): Nothing like a week off to sit back, relax, and reflect on how terrible you are. This team is a long way off.
Filed under: 2009, Week In Review | Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Brett Favre, Buffalo Bills, Carson Palmer, Charles Dickens, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, ESPN, football, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Jay Cutler, London, Minnesota Vikings, NFL, nfl draft, Roger Goodell, San Francisco 49ers, sports, St. Louis Rams
It’s a good week to be a horse. The Broncos and Colts, the two teams named after types of horses, lead not only the entire NFL, but all ungulate football teams in general. The Rams, Bills and Texans, the other three teams who use a hoofed mammal as their mascot, are a combined 7-14 while their horsey counterparts are a perfect 12-0. Both teams face somewhat of a challenge next week, however, as the Broncos face the Ravens, and the Colts take on the 49ers. The good news is, bird teams are a combined 15-13 and historical Americans are 15-17.
Elsewhere Jay Cutler, who chose not to be a horse anymore, is now a goat for the Bears. When he’s looked good, he’s looked decently good, but when he hasn’t, he’s caused migraines and ulcers all across the great state of Illinois. The Bears turned the ball over four times against the mightiest of all jungle cats, the Bengals. The Bengals had a hiccup last week, but there’s no reason to believe that they aren’t still a dominant force in the AFC after Carson Palmer’s five touchdown performance.
In other news, the almighty, all-heralded, media darling Minnesota Vikings mustered a mere 10 offensive points this week, and gave up two turnovers in the red zone. Do you remember anyone questioning the Vikings? Anyone who might have thought they were a bit overrated? Oh, that’s right. Me. Two weeks ago:
“I’m not buying the Vikings yet.”
Also this:
“I’m pretty sure that the Vikings are the weak link among the league’s unbeaten teams.”
Three of last week’s four undefeated teams are still undefeated. One isn’t. Yes, they were playing the defending Super Bowl champs on the road, but give me my moment of glory, please. And then give me another moment of glory next week after the Vikings lose their second straight to the Packers and their rejuvenated defense. Something tells me Favre won’t light it up outdoors in 40-degree weather like he did in the 72-degree climate-controlled Metrodome.
And now, as I’m sure you’ve anticipated, allow me to deliver:
The Annual “Why Football in London is a Ludicrous, Dumbfounded, Money-Grubbing, Stupid, Freaking Idiot Idea” Segment:
“What’s that?” you say, “There was a football game in London this weekend? I had no idea, because I don’t care. I watch football from my living room, which is in America, which coincidentally is the same country that football lives in.” Well, typical NFL fan, allow me to convince you, the NFL in Europe is the best idea the league has had since the forward pass. Can you imagine, you could watch football, then eat some fish n’ chips, then read some Charles Dickens, then have your ass saved by the Americans in World War II! Huzzah! What a perfectly British afternoon that would be! You could even call it “American Footy”! Isn’t that quaint? And the good news is, British people absolutely love football! It’s a perfect fit, just like professional soccer in America.
I will admit, I am a little protective of what I believe is the quintessential American sport. Baseball is great, and I’ll give baseball the entire 1900’s (and everything before) but the American sport of the new millennium is football, without a doubt. Consider that the NFL draft, an event where all we do is talk about football and the players who haven’t even played it yet, is a prime time ratings juggernaut for ESPN, just because the mere smell of football in mid-April is enough to draw the collective attention of the entire sportslovin’ nation for what will next year be a three-day event. What are the people of Great Britain doing during the NFL draft? Well, they ain’t watching it, that’s for sure. They’re probably too busy drinking tea, disregarding their orthodontists, or adding unnecessary u’s to words like color and humor. What it boils down to for me is that the British, similar in this regard to the citizens of Buffalo, New York, do not deserve football.
But the league doesn’t care, because all they see is dollar signs. In London, you’re guaranteed a sellout in a bigger stadium than anyone in America plays in, and you might convince some people to buy some hats and crap. Next year there will be at least two games in London, and I’d put money on Brett Favre taking a trip across the pond should he not decide to re-re-retire. The problem is, should the league actually move a franchise to London like it wants to, it won’t be able to hand pick the games it wants to showcase there. They won’t be able to tie a little bow on Tom Brady’s head and ship him over there first class to entice all the Londoners who may be on the fence where this “football thing” is concerned. If a franchise moves to London, it will likely be a franchise that is struggling here in the states, like the Jaguars, Bills, or Rams. And the football fans in London (all fourteen of them) aren’t going to like a Jaguars-Browns matchup any more than they like it in the states.
So yes, you may sell a few more shirts, but at what price? You spread your players even thinner than you already do, and you piss off a lot of people who will never come out and publicly say that they’re pissed off, because you’re the NFL, and you sign their paychecks. A London regular season game isn’t always going to be a night game, which means that if you’re a west coast player playing a day game in London, it’s the same as kicking off at 6:00 AM, which means you started warming up at 4:00 AM, and you likely woke up at 3:00 AM or earlier. Or let’s say a few years down the road, the London Jaguars are a decent football team, they’re challenging for a title, and they’ve got a juicy matchup with the Green Bay Packers, fresh off their fourth consecutive Super Bowl win, obviously. NBC decides to put that game on Sunday Night Football, so that means one of two things: it’s pre-recorded for fans in America, or kickoff is at midnight-thirty local time. You’re welcome, London fans. Enjoy your day at work on Monday.
That NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell doesn’t read this weekly update is a travesty, but I don’t think it’s a travesty that’s likely to change. Thus he shall remain unenlightened where the NFL in London is concerned, and we’ll just continue to see more and more football across the pond. Good news is, as long as the NFL is in London, you’ll have me to complain about it, and that’s at least mildly enjoyable, isn’t it? Enjoyable, maybe. Worth it? Not a chance.
Filed under: 2009, Power Rankings | Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, football, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, NFL, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, sports, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Redskins
It had happened a little bit already, but now it’s come in a big way: my own power ranking rules are coming back to bite me in the ass. For the purpose of these power rankings, I established at the beginning of the season that no team could be ranked higher than a team who owned more wins. Since wins are what counts in the NFL, it would make sense that the team with the most wins would be the team with the most power, and the opposite would also be true. However, after the Saints dismantled the Giants on Sunday, it is clear to pretty much everyone that they’re the best team in the league. But since they’ve had a bye, they only own five wins, and two teams (Minnesota and Denver) own six. Therefore, the team that I honestly believe is the best in the league won’t be ranked any higher than third (which they are). I’ve got to stick to my principles, and that means that the Saints won’t be able to own that top spot until they have the most wins of any football team in the league (or are at least tied for that mark). Denver’s on a bye this week, and Minnesota plays in Pittsburgh, so if New Orleans can knock off Miami, and Pittsburgh takes down the Vikes, the Saints should have a shot at that top spot next week. But not this week. This week it looks like this:
1. Denver Broncos (6-0): A 3.5 game lead in the division only six weeks in? The playoffs are theirs to lose, and I don’t see them losing it.
2. Minnesota Vikings (6-0): Call me crazy, but I still have trepidations about this team. You can’t count on a missed field goal or last-second miracle every time you’re faced with a challenging game.
3. New Orleans Saints (5-0): Beating what most thought was the best defense in the NFL in the fashion they did speaks volumes for this team, and will continue to do so, if they can keep it up.
4. Indianapolis Colts (5-0): With the way he was playing, a week of rest should only make Peyton Manning hungrier, and they’ve got the Rams this week. Look out.
5. New York Giants (5-1): Call that one a fluke. If you’re the G-Men, you have to. You can’t believe that was actually your team out there.
6. Atlanta Falcons (4-1): They play tough against tough opponents. Take that attitude to the playoffs, and you’ll go far. The November 2nd Monday Night game between the Falcons and Saints should be awesome.
7. New England Patriots (4-2): A whompin’. A good ol’ fashioned whompin’. That’s what they gave the Titans. They’re getting their swagger back, and a trip across the Atlantic to face the pass-defenseless Bucs should only help.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2): You beat the Browns, you should have beat the Browns. Beat the Vikings, and then we’ll talk.
9. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2): Marvin Lewis is allergic to hype. I’m pretty sure that’s the only reason this team can’t get on a decent win streak for very long. They need to learn to sustain.
10. Arizona Cardinals (3-2): Is it possible for a team that was in the Super Bowl to fly under the radar? There’s been very little noise from the desert, despite their current tie for the division lead.
11. Green Bay Packers (3-2): I don’t have a lot of confidence in any of the 3-2 teams, that’s why these guys are this high. They should be able to pull another W out against the Browns, but the following week is the return of Jared Allen, so there’s cause for concern in a fan like myself.
12. Chicago Bears (3-2): I’m too lazy to do the research myself, but I’m willing to bet Jay Cutler’s average margin of victory is much larger than his average margin of defeat. He needs to learn to win the close ones.
13. San Francisco 49ers (3-2): That drubbing from Atlanta still lingers, but they can silence a lot of doubters if they can shut down Houston’s offense.
14. Dallas Cowboys (3-2): Should the Falcons come into Jerry’s house and leave with a win, (which I think they will) I ‘d say the fire-Wade-Phillips/bench-Tony-Romo meltdown in big D starts a little early this year.
15. Philadelphia Eagles (3-2): Inexcusable. That’s all there is to say.
16. Baltimore Ravens (3-3): Believe it or not, I still have confidence in this team. They should too, after coming that close on the road against the Vikes.
17. Houston Texans (3-3): They should start playing Katy Perry’s “Hot n’ Cold” in pre-game warm-ups in Houston. This team can’t make up its mind whether or not it wants to suck.
18. New York Jets (3-3): Mark Sanchez’ QB rating through the first three games: a respectable 87.7. Since: 26.5.
19. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-3): Don’t let the .500 record fool you: this team nearly lost to the Rams.
20. Miami Dolphins (2-3): Just when they were starting to surge, the Saints had to come to town. Oh well, maybe next week.
21. San Diego Chargers (2-3): I get it. The Broncos are tough. But the Broncos are in your division, and you’ve got a month to build momentum before the rematch. Things don’t look so sunny in San Diego.
22. Carolina Panthers (2-3): I guarantee you: this week’s headline in Charlotte won’t be about the win, it’ll be about the interceptions Jake Delhomme keeps throwing.
23. Seattle Seahawks (2-4): First you inspire confidence with a 41-0 win, then you let me down with a 27-3 loss. Matt Hasselbeck, you betray me.
24. Buffalo Bills (2-4): Big division win on Sunday against the Jets. Shame it won’t mean anything come the end of the season.
25. Oakland Raiders (2-4): If they can take the success they had against Philadelphia and run with it, the sky’s the limit for this team. I’m talking five, six wins they could have this year.
26. Washington Redskins (2-4): Again, my rules fail me. Consider this: Washington’s opponent’s combined record is 9-26. And they’re 2-4.
27. Kansas City Chiefs (1-5): They’re the only 1-5 team coming off a win. I had to rank one of them highest, sue me.
28. Detroit Lions (1-5): I bet it’s at least another five or more years before Detroit wins in Green Bay. Streaks are meant to be broken, but for this one, not yet.
29. Cleveland Browns (1-5): Josh Cribbs is the most important offensive player this team has, and he mostly plays special teams. Go figure.
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-6): So far, the average margin of victory for games played in England has been 3.5. Betcha that grows after this year.
31. St. Louis Rams (0-6): Look at that, you take a team to overtime, and another team gets shellacked, and you get a ticket out of the basement. Not too terribly far out of the basement, but out of the basement nonetheless.
32. Tennessee Titans (0-6): When there’s talk of firing Jeff Fisher, you know there’s a hell of a lot of things going wrong.
Filed under: 2009, Week In Review | Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Brett Favre, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, football, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, mark sanchez, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, NFL, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, sports, Tom Brady, Washington Redskins
Let’s review a few facts from the 2008 football season:
-Buffalo began the season 4-0, then finished 3-9.
-Denver was 8-5, then went 0-3.
-San Diego ended their season going 4-0 after starting 4-8.
-The Jets were 8-3, then went 1-4.
-Cincinnati was 1-11-1, then went 3-0, and have gone 4-2 since.
-The NFC Champion Cardinals were 7-3, then finished the regular season 2-4, and then won three straight playoff games in impressive fashion.
-Dallas was 8-3, then finished 1-3.
-The Redskins were 6-2, then went 2-6.
All that to say, the NFL is a fickle bitch. We’re already seeing that this season, and we’re only six weeks in.
The Patriots started the first two weeks of the season looking anemic, losing to the Jets and barely scraping by the Bills. Then this weekend happened. The Jets started the season looking incredible, like they were going to will themselves past Tom Brady and the Patriots on route to an AFC East crown carried by the magical rookie arm of Mark Sanchez. Over the past two weeks, Sanchez has thrown for 291 yards, one TD, and five picks (interesting side note: over the past two weeks, former Jets QB Brett Favre has tossed 510 yards and 4 TDs, while winning both weeks. If Favre doesn’t have another late season collapse like he did last year, there are going to be some really upset Jet fans). The Niners also started the season hot, and then last week were clobbered by the Falcons, who seem to be on the rise since their early season loss to New England.
What does it all mean? It probably means that predicting anything in the NFL is a total crapshoot. You have just as much chance of being right if you predict Minnesota and Indianapolis to be in the Super Bowl this year as you do if you predict Detroit and Kansas City. Chances are, you’re going to be wrong either way. There are 256 possible matchups for the Super Bowl this (and every) year, and I don’t care how smart you are or how much you claim to know about football, no matter what you say is going to happen, you still only have a 1 in 256 chance of being right, because every once in a while, the Raiders are going to beat the Eagles, or a top 10 passing defense from 2008 is going to give up five passing TDs in a single quarter, and you’re gonna wind up wrong.
So clearly it’s a waste to predict anything in the NFL, because all the experts are wrong, right? While we’re on the subject, recall this from last week:
“Among its many great games, next week features one of only a few remaining possible matchups between two unbeaten teams when the Giants go to New Orleans. I’m looking for a passing extravaganza in that one, and surprisingly offensive shootout between defensive strongholds Minnesota and Baltimore. Also, Kanas City will again prove that even if you suck, you can still beat the Redskins.”
I’m counting 3 for 3 on those predictions, is that what you got? NYG-NO is a passing extravaganza? Over 600 total passing yards and 6 passing TDs in that one, check. An offensive shootout between Minnesota and Baltimore? Sixty four total points, check-squared. And Kansas City scored four field goals and one desperation safety, an admittedly sucky offensive performance, yet still beat the ‘Skins. Check-cubed.
So what did we learn this week? We learned that New Orleans is incredible, Brett Favre will likely still throw well when he’s 85, Tom Terrific still exists, Mark Sanchez is actually a rookie, the Broncos will likely be the first team to clinch a playoff spot, and even when everyone in the sports media is wrong, I am always right. That last one’s important. I am always right.
Always.
Filed under: 2009, Power Rankings | Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, football, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, NFL, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Power Rankings, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, sports, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Redskins
So only five unbeaten teams remain, and with the matchup between the Giants and Saints, next week it will be at most four. Which team will be the last to lose, and remain atop the power rankings longest? My bet is the Colts, but I guess that’s why you play the games, now isn’t it? On to the rankings:
1. Indianapolis Colts (5-0): I said it last week, I’ll say it again. Peyton Manning is without peer. He’s on pace to throw over 5,200 yards and 38 touchdowns. And you thought Drew Brees should’ve gone first in your fantasy league.
2. New York Giants (5-0): The game this week against New Orleans may have something to do with home field advantage in the NFC, if I may be so bold as to make a prediction.
3. Minnesota Vikings (5-0): Three of their wins have come against St. Louis, Cleveland, and Detroit. Their next three games are against Baltimore, at Pittsburgh, and at Green Bay. Your test begins… now.
4. Denver Broncos (5-0): Okay, so they proved they’ve got it. Now can they prove they can keep it? Don’t let your guard down against San Diego…
5. New Orleans Saints (4-0): Since they didn’t have a chance to get their fifth win, they’re ranked lowest of the unbeatens according to my rules. Should they get that fifth win against the Giants, their stock will rise.
6. Cincinnati Bengals (4-1): Their losing ways over the past few years have helped us forget two important things we’re now remembering: Carson Palmer is a good quarterback, and their defense was never all that bad.
7. Atlanta Falcons (3-1): When your team has a bye week to fix problems they arguably don’t have, they come out really prepared to play football again. The 49ers have to be upset they were standing in the way of that.
8. Philadelphia Eagles (3-1): Excuse me for being pessimistic, but aren’t we always excited about the Eagles during the regular season only to watch them not win the Super Bowl? What’s different this year?
9. Chicago Bears (3-1): A week of rest should have them fired up for their prime-time matchup against the Falcons. Trouble is, those Falcons should be pretty fired up, too. It’ll be a good one Sunday night.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2): Maybe it just took them a little while to get the wheels greased. They’ve looked good as of late, and if Rashard Mendenhall doesn’t keep that starting job, you can count me as confused.
11. Baltimore Ravens (3-2): Two really tough losses, and now a trip to Minnesota? What looked like a surefire Super Bowl contender could be sitting at .500 after this week if they don’t play better in a hurry.
12. New York Jets (3-2): Okay, after the second week in a row of less-than-superhuman play, Sanchez has finally returned to Earth. Can the Jets still win with that? The current trend suggests no…
13. New England Patriots (3-2): The master has become the apprentice… or something like that. Brady didn’t play awful, but he didn’t play stupendously, and his offensive line was giving him ample time to be stupendous. That strikes me as bad news.
14. San Francisco 49ers (3-2): That was embarrassing against the Falcons. They’ve got a week to lick their wounds, and let’s hope they heal quick, otherwise that could be the start of something bad.
15. Dallas Cowboys (3-2): This team almost handed one of the four winless teams in the league its first victory. No 250 yard receiving day makes up for that.
16. Arizona Cardinals (2-2): Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who I assumed would be the goat of the day, ended up being the hero. Good for him.
17. Green Bay Packers (2-2): Coming out of the bye with a lot of questions about that offensive line, anything other than an absolute blowout of the Lions would allow those questions to linger.
18. San Diego Chargers (2-2): Is it too early to say that if they don’t beat the Broncos, the season’s over? Probably, but this is an important game nonetheless.
19. Miami Dolphins (2-3): Well, well, well. Looks like the cure to that stingy Jets defense is a healthy dose of wildcat. Count me as one of the many who thought it was a gimmick. In Miami, it works.
20. Seattle Seahawks (2-3): Matt Hasselbeck is back with a vengeance. If he can stay healthy, there’s no reason the Hawks can’t compete in a now-muddled NFC West.
21. Houston Texans (2-3): They are always this close. The bad news is, consistently being this close and never getting over the hump is often worse than knowing that you’re miles away.
22. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-3): Getting blanked, no matter who does the blanking, doesn’t bode well for your team. Just sayin’.
23. Washington Redskins (2-3): Jason Campbell isn’t as bad as you think. He completed 74% of his passes. The Skins just aren’t trusting him enough to put it in his hands.
24. Carolina Panthers (1-3): Hooray! Your first win! Gosh, it must feel great to be a Panther, what with the league leader in interceptions locked into a long-term contract!
25. Detroit Lions (1-4): When your lack of fans make your home games feel like road games, you know you’ve got problems. Culpepper was decent in sub work, but having Stafford back as quick as possible is still best for the team.
26. Cleveland Browns (1-4): “It is great. It’s great, it’s fantastic, I couldn’t be happier.” Those were the words of Eric Mangini after his team put up six points, and his quarterback went 2 for 17 for 23 yards and an interception.
27. Buffalo Bills (1-4): Mustering up only three points at home against the Browns? You’ve got to be kidding me.
28. Oakland Raiders (1-4): The rules of my rankings don’t allow me to list them any lower than this, but believe you me: this is the worst team in the NFL.
29. Tennessee Titans (0-5): Forget about last season. This season, they’re just bad.
30. Kansas City Chiefs (0-5): So far this season, three teams have found their first win of the season against the Redskins. I’m betting Kansas City makes it four.
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-5): What a difference a year makes. What last year would have been a headlining matchup between two NFC South juggernauts will this year be a nobody-cares matchup when Carolina comes to town.
32. St. Louis Rams (0-5): I thought Steve Spagnuolo was supposed to turn this ship around. How many seasons is that going to take?
Filed under: 2009, Week In Review | Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, Eli Manning, football, Hot Dog on a Stick, Indianapolis Colts, Jay Cutler, Josh McDaniels, Kyle Orton, Matt Hasselbeck, Mike Singletary, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets, NFL, Peyton Manning, San Francisco 49ers, sports, Tom Brady, Tony Dungy, Washington Redskins
As it stands now, these teams are your division leaders in the American Football Conference: the Colts, the Broncos, the Bengals, and the Jets (who own a tiebreaker over New England). It could be argued that, considering the departure of Tony Dungy, these are all surprises. Both the Bengals and the Broncos, who most NFL-ites were touting as fluke teams who got lucky or had easy schedules, showed poise and resilience in proving all the doubters wrong with big wins against tough opponents. The Bengals have now beaten all three of their division opponents, two of those on the road, and in Denver, Josh McDaniels and Kyle Orton proved that it is possible to beat Tom Brady, even if you dress like a Hot Dog on a Stick employee.
Let’s take a moment to note some particularly impressive statistics about the Bengals and the Broncos. First, the Bengals became the first team in three years, that’s right three years, to have a player rush for 100 yards against the Baltimore defense. Raise your hand if you thought Cedric Benson was the most impressive running back in the NFL. Well, he currently leads the NFL in rushing yards, so maybe think again. In Denver, Kyle Orton did nothing more than throw for 330 yards against one of the most feared teams in the NFL. Know who hasn’t thrown for 300 yards in a game yet this season? I’ll give you a hint: it’s Jay Cutler. Another interesting fact: if you take the number of interceptions Kyle Orton has thrown, and multiply it by five, you’ll get the number Jay Cutler has thrown. Isn’t math fun?
And there’s one similarity between the Bengals and Broncos that I think is particularly impressive. They both are exceptionally good at finding ways to win tough games. Denver has come from behind in three of its five wins, and Cincinnati’s average margin of victory is four points. You can look at that one of two ways: either those teams are getting lucky, which is what sports media types have been saying, or you can say that those teams are winning the tough games, building confidence in themselves, and adding to their resume of hard-fought wins. It’s nice if you can be the 2007 Patriots and blow everybody out of the water every week, but if you can’t, I think the second best option is to be the team that you can never rest against, because you’re always a few plays away from pulling out a W.
In the other conference, big surprise here, but… I’m not buying the Vikings yet. Yes, they are undefeated, and yes, they have been playing very impressively, but consider this: their five wins came against the following teams: Cleveland, Detroit, St. Louis, San Fran, and Green Bay. The first three are obviously gimmes, so let’s look at the other two. It took a miracle for them to beat the Niners, and they only beat Green Bay by seven despite the Packers’ best efforts to throw the game away (Recall that the Vikes were the home team for both of those games). Though no one who’s paid to cover sports would likely agree with me, I’m pretty sure that the Vikings are the weakest link among the league’s unbeaten teams, especially after the Broncos showed us this weekend exactly what they’ve got. With games against the Ravens, at Pittsburgh, and at the revenge-minded Packers coming in the next three weeks, we’ll reassess once they get to their bye. If they go 2-1 over that three game stretch, then I’ll be impressed.
I am buying the Giants, however. At home, against an inferior opponent, they did exactly what they should have done: they blew ‘em out of the water. Count this as year number two that I’m hoping for a Manning v. Manning Super Bowl.
And where did the Niners go? The team that had a firm hold over its division is now back in the mix with the Cardinals and Seahawks, who now feature a healthy Matt Hasselbeck who made his presence known against Jacksonville. The Falcons, coming off their bye, simply crushed the 49ers in San Francisco. Mike Singletary now has the bye week to get his team back on track, but how they respond to this massive loss could determine their future this season.
Among its many great games, next week features one of only a few remaining possible matchups between two unbeaten teams when the Giants go to New Orleans. I’m looking for a passing extravaganza in that one, and surprisingly offensive shootout in the other game of the week between defensive strongholds Minnesota and Baltimore. Also, Kansas City will again prove that even if you suck, you can still beat the Redskins.
It’s nice to at least have one constant in the NFL, don’t you think?
Filed under: 2009, Power Rankings | Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, football, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, NFL, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Power Rankings, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, sports, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Redskins
Week four, in the books. The Vikings established themselves, the Colts kept steamrolling, the Broncos and Bengals found ways to keep winning. We’re getting a slightly cleaner picture of the NFL as it stands this year, and I like it. On to the rankings:
1. Indianapolis Colts (4-0): They are simply without peer. Even after just four weeks, it’s not too bold to say that Peyton Manning should take home a fourth MVP award.
2. New York Giants (4-0): As good as Peyton is, Eli ain’t too terribly far behind. Both are turning nobody receivers into household names, and both currently strike fear in opposing defenses.
3. Minnesota Vikings (4-0): As much as it pains me to admit it, this is a frighteningly complete team. Favre proved he’s still got it in week four. Will it hold until week 14?
4. New Orleans Saints (4-0): Winning one with defense will do a lot for this team. Drew Brees probably feels good about the fact that it doesn’t always have to rest on his shoulders.
5. Denver Broncos (4-0): In terms of the undefeated teams in the league, they aren’t getting a lot of respect. They can change that with a win against New England this weekend.
6. Baltimore Ravens (3-1): A close loss to the Pats is nothing to be ashamed of, but the Bengals are making the division a three-horse race, and they’re coming to town on Sunday.
7. Cincinnati Bengals (3-1): The game in Baltimore will be a huge test for this team. If they can pass it, they’ll own big wins that could help decide the division in a few months.
8. New England Patriots (3-1): Let the McDanielsBowl hype begin. Tom Terrific still hasn’t returned to 2007 form, and he may need it to get past that stifling Bronco defense.
9. New York Jets (3-1): So the kid is human. Cut him some slack for this one, as the Saints defense was in rare form. Braylon Edwards, should he get on track, could be big help.
10. Chicago Bears (3-1): Cutler’s definitely put that week one performance in the rear-view mirror. They better hope the week off doesn’t put a halt on their winning ways.
11. San Francisco 49ers (3-1): So Crabtree finally signs. You think it had anything to do with wanting to join a team that is so clearly on the rise, rather than enter the draft again and risk going to someplace like Washington or St. Louis? …Me neither.
12. Atlanta Falcons (2-1): Week four sure is an inconvenient place to have a bye. They’ve got a marathon ahead of them, but they just might have the stamina to pull it off.
13. Philadelphia Eagles (2-1): McNabb is back! McNabb is back! …Philly fans aren’t terribly forgiving, though, so with the success of Kolb, he’ll be on a short leash.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2): The champs looked like champs against San Diego Sunday night, and there’s no better way to continue the confidence boost than with a matchup against Detroit.
15. San Diego Chargers (2-2): Yikes. They ended up making it respectable, but San Diego wasn’t even close to being in the Steelers’ class. That doesn’t bode well should they find some way to make the playoffs, and with the Broncos playing well, that’s a stretch.
16. Dallas Cowboys (2-2): Is anyone really surprised by their mediocrity? This is Tony Romo we’re talking about.
17. Green Bay Packers (2-2): The potential is sky high, but the O-line is holding them back in a big way. Any quarterback who can perform that well despite eight sacks should get a medal.
18. Houston Texans (2-2): Get ready for the amazing-offense, underwhelming-defense bowl when the Texans take on Arizona. Should be some points on the board in that one.
19. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2): The people of Jacksonville don’t care about this team, so why should I?
20. Washington Redskins (2-2): I’m telling you, Jason Campbell is better than you think.
21. Arizona Cardinals (1-2): Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie vs. Andre Johnson this weekend. Anyone hedging their bet on DRC? Didn’t think so.
22. Miami Dolphins (1-3): I really don’t think they’ll beat the Jets, and 1-4 is a mighty big hole in the AFC East. This ain’t last year’s team, and that’s not just because of Pennington’s injury.
23. Seattle Seahawks (1-3): Play the Colts, get embarrassed. That’s a pretty standard formula for many teams in the NFL.
24. Buffalo Bills (1-3): I keep thinking this team is better than their record shows, and they keep proving me wrong. So much for the Great T.O. Experience, version 3.0.
25. Detroit Lions (1-3): With Pittsburgh on the docket, I’d at least give it a week before we start talking about win number two.
26. Oakland Raiders (1-3): One win against the Chiefs is keeping this team out of the basement in my rankings. That many Oakland fans are awaiting Al Davis’ death does not bode well for your team.
27. Carolina Panthers (0-3): A week off from losing is nice, and they might get another should they pull one out against the hapless Redskins.
28. Tennessee Titans (0-4): Does Albert Haynesworth really make that much of a difference? In Washington, no. In Tennessee, um… yes.
29. Kansas City Chiefs (0-4): Maybe, just maybe, shelling out millions of dollars for a backup QB who had one good season on a Super-Bowl caliber roster wasn’t the best idea.
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-4): Have you forgotten that this team exists yet? Because I have.
31. Cleveland Browns (0-4): Here’s an algebra problem for you: 1 roster full of ex-Jets who were successful last year + x = an 0-4 record. Solve for x. I’ll give you a hint: it rhymes with Shmeric Shmangini.
32. St. Louis Rams (0-4): Here come the Vikings. Rams players, assume the position.
Filed under: 2009, Week In Review | Tags: Aaron Kampman, Aaron Rodgers, Adrian Peterson, Al Harris, Brett Favre, Charles Woodson, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Dom Capers, Drew Brees, football, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, mark sanchez, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, NFL, Ryan Grant, Ryan Pickett, San Francisco 49ers, sports, Tennesse Titans, Vince Young
Okay friends. There’s a lot on my mind after the Packers-Vikings game, so buckle in and get ready for a no-holds-barred, all-out, leave-everything-on-the-field rant.
First things first: as a Packer fan, I’d have to go back at least six years to remember a loss as embarrassing as this most recent one (fourth-and-26 comes to mind, and if you don’t remember that, google it). That the Packers lost by only seven does not fully explain how poorly they played (don’t worry, I still love Aaron Rodgers, though he wasn’t without fault… we’ll get to him later). They were awful on so many different levels, and we’ll outline those levels in a moment, but let’s talk about Favre first.
I’ve been struggling lately with whether or not I should or can hate Brett Favre, and let me tell you, after that game, it has become increasingly clear:
(drumroll please…)
I can’t do it.
I simply cannot fault him for playing what was a very impressive football game. The Packers came in with the same defensive game plan you should always have against the Vikings: stop Adrian Peterson, and make Favre beat you. Well they did, and he did. Peterson, for the first time since he entered the league, was not a factor against the Packers. Favre, however, was. No matter what he or anyone else says, he wanted to stick it to the Packers, and he did. Yet I can’t hate him. I’m certainly frustrated by it (why couldn’t Favre have ever, ever played that well in the Metrodome during the previous sixteen years?), but I can’t fault him. He played a good game.
Thing is, the Packers allowed him to play a good game, and that, dear friends, is our segway into me ripping on the Packers for four quite lengthy paragraphs. Here’s how that looks:
Paragraph One: Offensive Line: The Packers have, as of this moment, the worst offensive line in all of football. They can’t run block, they can’t pass protect, they are basically just like those blow-up clowns with sand in the bottom that you used to punch when you were a kid, except the Packers o-line doesn’t bounce back up after you knock them down. No group of five professionally paid athletes should allow eight sacks in a game for any reason. That’s simply ludicrous and unacceptable. If Rodgers survives this whole season, count me as one surprised fellow.
Paragraph Two: Offensive Play Calling: I can’t count the number of times I was frustrated that the Packers were passing on first down, including one pass that took place (and was completed) inside the Vikings’ end zone, and only barely escaped a safety (which was to come later). To establish a running game, and to establish play action, you have to run on at least some of your first downs. Ryan Grant was more of a factor in the passing game than he was in the running game, and that’s because the play calling didn’t give him the chance. Yes, Minnesota may have the best run defense in the league, but ask any Packers coach, and they’ll tell you one of their biggest problems is that they face too many second- and third-and-longs. You can fix that by running for three or four yards on first down (ideally), rather than attempting a pass that falls incomplete and setting yourself up for failure and becoming predictable in the process.
Paragraph Three: Defensive Play Calling: Favre was successful, yes, but he had help from Dom Capers, the Packers defensive coordinator, who refused to do anything remotely creative in how he pressured Favre (unless you count “not pressuring him at all” as creative, in which case, Capers was a regular Picasso). Favre and the Vikings converted too many third downs to keep track, but they converted them in two different ways: during the early parts of the game, Capers would blitz Favre like crazy on third down, and Favre would calmly dump it off to his check down, and convert. Later in the game, after having been beat by the check downs, Capers would rush only three men, and Favre would have so much time that he’d just sit back and wait for someone to get open, and then deliver, usually to a receiver that was being covered by a linebacker, an easy mismatch. It was feast or famine with the pass pressure.
(Count this as paragraph three-b) The 3-4 defense the Packers are trying to install is good in concept, but it’s not suited to the players they have. It’s taking the strengths of every player on that defense, and turning them upside down. Charles Woodson and Al Harris, two of the best bump-and-run corners in the game, are asked to play zone 80% of the time. Aaron Kampman, a stellar defensive end, is asked to drop into coverage as a linebacker about 40% of the time. Ryan Pickett is decently sized to play defensive tackle, but not nearly big enough to be a 3-4 nose tackle. I could go on and on, but the point is this: the defense is not working, and those players are being left stranded out there by a scheme that doesn’t utilize their strengths.
Paragraph Four: A-Rod’s Decision Making Skills: I love the guy, and I don’t think any QB in history has thrown for 380+ yards in the same game that he’s been sacked eight times, and that speaks very well for his ability (imagine what he could have done with decent protection…), but the problem is that he’s young, and he wants a touchdown on every play. He doesn’t check down enough. The biggest difference between Rodgers and Favre during this game was that often Favre was content with 4- and 5-yard completions that eventually gave way to bigger plays, while Rodgers was looking for 50-yard TD bombs every chance he had. Understand that Rodgers was often playing from behind, and very frequently didn’t have all the time in the world to scan the field for those check downs, but if I’m an NFL quarterback, and I’m getting sacked one out of every five or six times I drop back, I might start looking to my check downs first, because a two-yard completion (with potential for yards after the catch) is better than a six-yard sack or a thirty-yard attempt that falls to the ground.
All that to say, the Packers are currently in a lot of trouble. Thankfully they have a bye week to get things sorted out, but they really need to work some magic over their week off, or it’s going to be a long, painful season. I’m already starting to put more of my fan support eggs in the Broncos’, Bengals’, and Colts’ baskets, because at least there I have a chance of feeling good on Sundays (for the time being, at least).
Elsewhere, the Colts are still dominant and probably aren’t getting as much credit as they deserve (even though they’re getting a lot of credit), the Broncos are most definitely for real, and the Patriots are looking better and better. The Bengals were tested, but shouldn’t worry about it. I don’t think the Browns taking them to overtime should be reason to fret in Cincy for two reasons: 1) the game was in Cleveland, and 2) it’s a divisional game, and as we should all know after Monday night, in divisional games anything goes. Mark Sanchez looked like a rookie for the first time, and though he won, Drew Brees looked human for the second straight week. The Niners are merely winning with offense, and crushing teams with defense and special teams, and the Titans still can’t find a victory (the “Vince Young Makes an Obnoxious Statement About How He Should Be Starting” Countdown Clock begins now).
That’s all for this week’s update. Tune in the next couple of days for updated power rankings, which get more and more interesting the deeper into the season we go…
Filed under: 2009, Power Rankings | Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, football, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, NFL, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Power Rankings, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, sports, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Redskins
I still think there’s a lot of football to be played, but seeing teams like Cincinnati and Denver find success is making this one exciting football season. Last year, Tennessee was the last team to lose. Will they be the last team to win this year? Detroit’s already got one in the bag, so anything could happen… alright already, on to the rankings:
1. Baltimore Ravens (3-0): Joe Flacco averaged 185 yards and .87 touchdowns per game last year and they were in the AFC Championship. This year, he’s averaging 280 yards and 2 touchdowns per game. He keeps that up, and with their defense, the Super Bowl is theirs to lose.
2. New York Jets (3-0): What’s most impressive about the Jets is that all three of their wins came against playoff-caliber teams. Playoff caliber teams with a combined 3-6 record, but playoff caliber nonetheless.
3. Indianapolis Colts (3-0): Peyton Manning is the only consistent thing left in the NFL. They can win any way they want to.
4. New York Giants (3-0): This team is the class of the NFC, and with games against the Raiders and Chiefs the next two weeks, should be 5-0 going into their big matchup with New Orleans.
5. New Orleans Saints (3-0): Speaking of which, Drew Brees doesn’t have to throw 300 yards each week for them to win. That’s a very good thing.
6. Minnesota Vikings (3-0): What will be lost in all the hooplah about Favre’s last second TD pass is that it took all that effort to beat a Frank Gore-less 49ers team at home.
7. Denver Broncos (3-0): Don’t ever say that Bill Belichick doesn’t produce winning coaches. Unless you’re talking about Charlie Weis, Eric Mangini, Romeo Crennel, or Nick Saban.
8. New England Patriots (2-1): Beating the Falcons was a confidence booster. Beating the Ravens next week, if they can do it, will get everyone believing.
9. Atlanta Falcons (2-1): A tough loss, especially considering they have the Saints to contend with in their division. Having their bye after a loss like that may not be a good thing.
10. San Francisco 49ers (2-1): Nothing to frown about. Much like the Bengals, this team is one miracle play away from 3-0.
11. Cincinnati Bengals (2-1): They could be 3-o. 3-and-0. But that can’t be in their mind. This is a good football team right now.
12. San Diego Chargers (2-1): I still don’t know that I believe in this team. Philip Rivers will put up amazing stats all season long, but I still see this team as a playoff disappointment waiting to happen.
13. Chicago Bears (2-1): Cutler’s been better, I’ve got to admit it. He should look superhuman this week against the Lions.
14. Green Bay Packers (2-1): The Packers know as well as I do that they’re standing on a pretty shaky 2-1 record. If they want all that hype back that surrounded them before the season, they can stomp on Favre and the Vikings Monday night.
15. Dallas Cowboys (2-1): You’ve got to look better than that against the Panthers. And don’t get me started about the two passes on second- and third-and-goal.
16. Philadelphia Eagles (2-1): Anybody besides me think that Kevin Kolb is making a name for himself as best backup QB on the Eagles team? Why did they need Vick again?
17. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-2): Apparently that Super Bowl curse isn’t just for the losers anymore.
18. Arizona Cardinals (1-2): Then again, I guess it does apply to the losers as well.
19. Buffalo Bills (1-2): Boyohboy, I just can’t wait to hear T.O. start whining again… it’s going to be awesome!
20. Seattle Seahawks (1-2): Seneca Wallace is a capable backup, but if he were an excellent backup, they’d be sitting at 2-1. The missed kicks didn’t help either.
21. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-2): MJD had a huge game, and fantasy football players rejoiced across the nation. Won’t change the fate of this team. Good thing there aren’t that many fans in Jacksonville to disappoint.
22. Houston Texans (1-2): This team is not as good as they were last year, and if you recall, they weren’t fabulous last year either.
23. Detroit Lions (1-2): They WON!! They WON!! …Wake me when they do it again.
24. Oakland Raiders (1-2): A lot of people are claiming the JaMarcus Russel era is over. Somebody remind me when it started.
25. Washington Redskins (1-2): If my rules allowed it, they’d be dead last. Losing to the Lions is unacceptable with the talent they have (and they do have talent).
26. Tennessee Titans (0-3): The best 0-3 team in the league? When are we going to admit that this team has forgotten how to win a game?
27. Miami Dolphins (0-3): With Pennington, they’ve looked modestly better than the 2007 Dolphins, who went 1-15. Without him, they could end up looking worse.
28. Kansas City Chiefs (0-3): I really had so much hope for this team. The best they’ve played is the week they had their $63 million dollar QB on the sideline.
29. Carolina Panthers (0-3): Miserable. One decent drive, but other than that, it was Delhomme as we now know him. Good luck swallowing that big contract you just gave him.
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-3): Josh Johnson is not the answer. If they aren’t admitting that they’re in rebuilding mode, then they’re in denial.
31. St. Louis Rams (0-3): When Kyle Boller looks better than your first option, know that your first option wouldn’t be most teams’ third option.
32. Cleveland Browns (0-3): One offensive touchdown in nine games. One.
Filed under: 2009, Week In Review | Tags: Adrian Peterson, Austin Collie, Baltimore Ravens, Brett Favre, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Eli Manning, football, Frank Gore, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Joe Flacco, Kansas City Chiefs, Kevin Boss, Mario Manningham, mark sanchez, Matt Cassel, Matt Ryan, matthew stafford, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, New York Jets, NFL, Oakland Raiders, Peyton Manning, Pierre Garçon, Pittsburgh Steelers, Sage Rosenfels, San Francsico 49ers, sports, Steve Smith, Tavaris Jackson, Todd Haley, Tony Dungy, Washington Redskins
Let’s explore all the things I thought about this season before it started that have already been proven wrong, shall we?
1. Mark Sanchez was a reach for the Jets at the number five overall pick: Um, no he wasn’t. Despite Stafford’s decent performance Sunday, it’s still obvious that Sanchez is clearly the best quarterback of the draft. I’d even go so far as to say that all four teams that picked ahead of the Jets (Lions, Rams, Chiefs, Seahawks) would currently be in a better situation than they are now (considering injuries and/or overall play) if Sanchez was their QB. We thought Matt Ryan had nerves of ice last year? This guy has nerves of… whatever’s colder than ice.
2. Brett Favre is washed up, and will do nothing more than hand the ball off to Adrian Peterson for the Vikings: Yes, he pulled one out. Yes, Tavaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels probably couldn’t have made that last TD throw. Yes, he’s very good at coming from behind in the fourth quarter. But I still think he’s being overpaid, and I will guarantee, guaran-stinkin-tee you that he will lose at least one game for that team before the season’s over, and it’ll probably be an important one. As a Packer fan, I’m hoping it’s this week.
3. The Lions, despite all their changes at practically every position throughout the franchise, will be no better off than they were last year: Was it a win? Yes. Was it a particularly impressive win? Maybe. Stafford looked good, and they only allowed 14 points, but even the paid-to-be-impartial FOX announcer said after the last few seconds ticked off the clock in Detroit that the win was “something this city can celebrate… at least for a week.”
4. The San Francisco 49ers will not do anything important in 2009: They already have. It was a crushing loss Sunday, but consider that it took that miracle final pass to beat the Niners, who were playing all game long without their most valuable weapon in Frank Gore. Put Gore in the game, and Frisco likely controls the clock, and there’s no final drive from the Vikings to talk about.
5. The Kansas City Chiefs will be at least a little bit better with Cassel and the new coach: Kansas City could be this year’s Lions. They might be able to squeeze out a win just because they have Washington, Oakland, and Cleveland on their schedule, but they just haven’t looked that good since the fight they put up against Baltimore in week one. Also, consider this tidbit: the state of Missouri is 0-6, and the state of New York (New Jersey) is 6-0. And while we’re on the subject…
6. The New York Giants can’t be successful with the receivers they have: Whoops! They’re doing just fine. “The Other” Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, and even tight end Kevin Boss are giving Eli Manning just enough options to allow the running game to be successful, and as the Giants proved last week, they even can win it through the air when they need to. Plaxi-who?
7. The Pittsburgh Steelers will be the last team to lose: aaand, they’ve already lost twice. Normally, I’d make some jab about how it’s a big deal that they lost to the Bengals, but I don’t think that’s a big deal. The Steelers didn’t lose to the Bengals, the Bengals beat the Steelers. This Bengals team is pretty legit, and it begins and ends with the offensive line. They’re protecting Palmer well (they were near perfect on the game-winning drive), and they’re making way for the running game. And it has to be said… if not for the Bronco Miracle, the Bengals would be 3-0.
8. Joe Flacco Sucks: Correction: Joe Flacco sucked. So far this year, he’s looked unstoppable. He’s averaging 280 yards a game, and is completing 65% of his passes. The Ravens, for the first time since they became the Ravens, have an offense that isn’t a punchline. Watch out for this team.
9. The Colts without Tony Dungy will take a step backward: Never question a Manning. Ever. I wouldn’t even question Cooper Manning, and everyone knows he’s the reject of the family. Peyton’s made Pierre Garçon and Austin Collie look like all stars, and that’s just because he’s the best of the best. They’ve fought some close ones, but they proved last week against the Dolphins that they don’t even need the ball for 15 minutes to beat you. Considering all the things that are changing in the NFL, Peyton is, and always has been, consistent.
So there may be plenty of things about which I was right, but as always, every season is full of surprises, and quite frankly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
