Intercepted
2010 Espy Award Nominations
Super “Dome”?
The NFL Playoffs used to mark the most brutal match-ups in the most brutal weather. The Green Bay Packers hosted games at Lambeau Field that transformed into “The Frozen Tundra” during the post season. In Chicago opposing teams would often face a tough Bears defense with below zero wind chills and violent hits. The Pittsburgh Steelers and that rock solid field put teams through a test of wills with the vaunted “Steel Curtain” defense and the harsh Pittsburgh weather. The bitter cold at Foxborough “Foxboro” Stadium, got the better of the Indianapolis Colts throughout the 2000’s as Manning’s invisible offense was neutralized in the arctic temperatures in New England.
It was a different time as talent was tested against the freezing temperatures. Skills were put aside for who could outlast the other and make the fewest mistakes in a more conservative test of wills. The losers were criticized for not being able to play amongst the elements and the winners were heralded as men among boys. Team identities were forged and reputations were manufactured as the game took on a more meaningful role in the battle of true toughness.
This weekend however, during the NFL’s Divisional Playoff round, the identities of old were put to rest as three teams saw a very different scenario laid out. The New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts & Minnesota Vikings all hosted games played in domes, becoming the new face of the NFL playoffs. These dome games came complete with temperature control and heat settings capturing crowd noise that all but made this year’s playoffs seem foreign.
Adding to that is the fact that each dome team actually won and all did it in fairly impressive fashion. It all made me wonder…is this really the NFL playoffs anymore? I guess matching talent for talent and skill set up against each other looks good on the surface, playing in ideal circumstances similar to that of the Super Bowl sure is entertaining, but when you look deeper it really was quite disappointing.
The Arizona Cardinals never had a chance as the Saints ran up and down the field on them in a blowout 45 – 14. Over in Indianapolis the Baltimore Ravens never found the end zone in a less offensive beat down, as they fell 20 – 3 to the Colts. And possibly the worst loss of the weekend came in Minnesota where the Dallas Cowboys lost the turnover battle and never seemed to find their groove allowing Brett Favre’s Vikings to run rampant in a 34 – 3 clobbering.
Sure every HOME DOME team won except the San Diego Chargers who hosted the New York Jets in none other than sunny California. The Jets sneaked out a 17 -14 win at Qualcomm Stadium. The Chargers held the lead for three quarters and if not for three missed field goals by Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding, we would be talking about a Phillip Rivers vs Peyton Manning AFC Championship game. Dome teams are now the face of dominance in the NFL. and its one that is killing the sport that I love. No more frozen tundra and footballs that feel like bricks. Temperature controlled “havens” are what we’re forced to hang our hats on as fans. Seriously no thank you!
In 2007, the New York Giants visited Lambeau Field for the NFC Championship game. There to greet them was the “King of Cold” himself, Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers were ready for a showdown in which they felt they had the edge based on the weather. Temperatures in that game got as low as -4 in what many called “football weather.” The picture of Giants head coach Tom Coughlin with frost bite on his cheeks is seared in the minds of football fans across the world after that day. The Giants beat the Packers in that game as quarterback Eli Manning and wide receiver Plaxico Burress, went up against one of the league’s best bump and run cornerbacks Al Harris. Burress and Manning had one of their best games together and their bond was made stronger as a result. These are the statements only games played outdoors where football was created to be played in are made.
And It’s that kind of statement that was missing from this weekend’s games. I’m not blaming the players or teams for how the season played out, but these NFL playoffs were lacking the very fabric that makes this game what it is today. Talent matched with talent is great but talent matched with talent and freezing temperatures is what makes this game phenomenal.
(Image Sources: Burress, Coughlin, Foxborough, Lambeau)
Editor’s Note: Special thanks to MY editor MKRob who oversees the overseer. LOL He’s the someone who’s responsible for the eyes and eyes of THE eyes and ears…and is the best at correcting my many mistakes and keeping me honest.
Really LaDainian Tomlinson…
Really LaDainian…I mean really dude? So this is how you chose to provide forensic evidence that coonery is alive and well? By putting your country fried DNA stamp of approval on this fake arse “Cupid Shuffle”
San Diego Charger running back LaDainian “www.thedefinitionofabama.com” Tomlinson decided to “make it do what it do” and taped this video. With lyrics such as “Stiff Arm the Guys”, “Hit the Hole” oh and my FAVORITE “Wave to Yo Momma she’s in the crowd” -blink blink-
Just when we thought we “overcame”, somebody had to dust off their Old Negro Spirituals for the 21st Century Guide, just to remind folks there’s plenty more where that came from.
I’m imploring everyone who reads this, that has children, to sit them down tonight and make them watch this 100 times, so that they become disgusted, thereby ensuring that they’ll NEVER embarrass themselves or YOU like this.
Just One of the “Guys”
Ask me what I love most in life and you’d be surprised by my answer. Sports, Shopping, Shoes, Starbucks and Sushi…in that order (the “S’s” are merely a coincidence). I can’t get enough of any of them and I feel I need each one to survive. For me there has always been something a little different about me from the rest of my other girls. Sure I love marathon shopping sprees, late night giggle fest with a bottle of Cabernet, or wearing that perfect dress that brings men to their knees; I mean who doesn’t love that.
But a girl’s gotta have her priorities…and if you drag me to the mall before a football game I better make it back home before kickoff or I’m raising hell.
For some people it’s just a game, for me it’s LIFE. It’s really quite simple; Sports = Life. My love of sports, football topping that list, defines who I am, and has shaped my existence. That very existence has been molded by the men that have come in and out of my life over the years. For as long as I can remember sports have been a part of my life, from my dad’s Super Bowl parties growing up as a kid, to my trips back and forth from Pennsylvania to Maryland to attend college football and professional games throughout my teens, to finally becoming a love of my very own in 1999 when I discovered that I knew just about every player’s name and number on both the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles’ roster. It was the guys who taught me the difference between the 4-3 and the 3-4 defense. Why pass interference and illegal contact carried different penalty yardage. How impressive a triple double performance in a basketball game is. And why the Red Sox were so excited to have finally won the World Series in 2004. Guys shared their knowledge of the game with me, they mixed it up and teased me when I thought my Giants were unstoppable and then comforted me when I lost touch and wanted to run away from my fandom. It’s no disrespect to the ladies who love their sports just as I do, who know them inside and out better than some of the guys. I know plenty of women love the game as much if not more than me.
However, for me, my story in sports is my preference for a more low key existence…content with standing out in the crowd by carefully blending in, as just one of the guys.
But being one of the guys hasn’t always been easy or fun. After being acclimated and accepted as one of their “own” I was tested and challenged, my motives were questioned and my interest probed. I call it a rite of passage as nothing worth having is ever easy attaining or more importantly maintaining. People often ask me why I don’t write for sites geared towards “female sports fans” which is amusing because I’ve never run across sites geared towards “male sports fans” so why would I separate myself. Doesn’t make much sense…but honestly neither do I too many people.
Being a “female” sports fan and writer to some is a lot like rooting against the home team. It throws people off, that I’m completely ok with the fact that my teams colors are different from everybody else.
Expect everything and leave nothing behind or to chance is how I go about my life in the sports world. This past decade I learned a lot from the guys; however, entering into a new decade I intend to take those lessons and continue building my unique journey as one of the guys…through the eyes of a girl.
Bengals WR Chris Henry Has Died
This is just sickening and incredibly sad news… From the Associated Press/Huffington Post:
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry has died, one day after suffering serious injuries upon falling out of the back of a pickup truck in what authorities describe as a domestic dispute with his fiancee. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said Henry died at 6:36 a.m. Thursday. Henry was 26. Henry was rushed to the hospital Wednesday after being found on a residential road “apparently suffering life-threatening injuries,” according to police. Police said a dispute began at a home about a half-mile away, and Henry jumped into the bed of the pickup truck as his fiancee was driving away from the residence. Police said at some point when she was driving, Henry “came out of the back of the vehicle.” They wouldn’t identify the woman, and no charges were immediately filed. “Detectives continue to work diligently on this active investigation,” police said in a statement Thursday announcing Henry’s death. Henry is engaged to Loleini Tonga, and the couple has been raising three children. Tonga’s MySpace page identifies herself as “Mrs. C. Henry” and has a picture of her next to a person who appears to be Henry. She also has a post from Tuesday talking about buying wedding rings. A neighbor said Wednesday that the Tonga family owns the home where police say the incident began. Charlotte is home to his fiancee’s parents. Henry was away from the team after breaking his left forearm during a win over Baltimore on Nov. 8. He had surgery and was placed on season-ending injured reserve following the game. Throughout his career, his temper and poor decisions got him in trouble. He was ejected from a game and suspended for another at West Virginia, where former coach Rich Rodriguez told Henry that he was an embarrassment to himself and the program. His reputation was already costing him – the Bengals were the only NFL team to bring him in for a pre-draft visit in 2005. They found that his demeanor didn’t match his reputation. Henry was shy and spoke in a quiet voice. They warned him that he had to stay in control if he was going to stay in the NFL. Then, they picked him in the third round. In a sense, it was already a second chance. “I’m worth the chance,” Henry said, when he showed up the following weekend for a rookie minicamp. “I’m just happy they took me.” Henry become a vital part of the offense as a rookie, helping the Bengals reach the playoffs in 2005 with his ability to run past defenders to grab long passes. In the final month of the season, he also showed his other side, getting arrested for marijuana possession. After a playoff loss to Pittsburgh, he was arrested on a gun charge in Florida. Henry and former Tennessee cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones became the league’s two most trouble-bound players. Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended both in 2007 – Jones for a full season, Henry for half of it – as part of a toughening of the league’s conduct policy. When Henry was arrested for a fifth time following that season on an assault charge, the Bengals decided they’d had enough. At his arraignment on April 3, 2008, Municipal Court Judge Bernie Bouchard called Henry “a one-man crime wave.” He was released by the Bengals the same day. It was a jolt to Henry, who had dreamed of an NFL career since high school, when he got the NFL logo tattooed on the back of his right hand. No team showed an interest in bringing him back. His career seemed finished. Then, Bengals owner Mike Brown – who refers to himself as “a redeemer” – changed his mind and gave him another chance. “If you only knew him by hearsay, you’d think he’s some kind of ogre,” Brown said, during the Bengals’ appearance on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” series this summer. “It’s not true. He’s a good person. When you see him up close, you’ll find that you’ll like him. He’ll be a soft-spoken, pleasant person.” This time, Henry seemed determined to stay out of trouble. After only 19 catches and two touchdowns in 12 games in the 2008 season, he set about making himself a topflight receiver again. He got into top shape and worked out with teammates in the offseason, showing more resolve than at any point in his career. Henry also changed his personal life, spending more time with his fiancee and the three children they are raising. Teammates noticed a pronounced change in his demeanor. “He’s a great kid with a great heart,” quarterback Carson Palmer said as training camp started. “He’s changed his life around. He ran into some trouble, made some bad decisions, and realized that. He’s sorry for them, apologized for them, and has done everything he can to make himself a better person. I’m just proud of him.” Before the 2009 season, Henry got a new tattoo that matched his new outlook. Below his left ear, in flowing one-inch script, was the world “Blessed.” “I kind of felt like I dug myself out of the hole and started doing the right things,” Henry said in an interview with The Associated Press as training camp opened. “People say, ‘How you feeling now Chris? You doing all right?’ I just tell them I’m blessed. That’s why I got it.” He caught a touchdown pass in each of Cincinnati’s four preseason games. A thigh injury slowed him early in the season, and he had 12 catches for 236 yards – his 19.7-yard average per catch leads the team – when he broke his left arm during a win over Baltimore on Nov. 22, ending his season. When he showed up in the locker room for the first time since surgery to fix the fracture, Henry sounded confident he could get through the latest setback. “It just comes with time, you know?” he said. “I learned to handle all situations, so I’ll be all right.”
News broke last night that the Henry was involved in a domestic dispute that resulted in his hospitalization and he was listed in critical condition. (Picture Source)
INTERCEPTED: Week 14 Top NFL Match Ups
There are three more games left to play in the NFL. And things for the NFC could not be more confusing. Two weeks ago the Dallas Cowboys appeared to be the class of the NFC East with a two game lead over the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants. Now at 8-4 they are only a game ahead of the Eagles and after being swept by the Giants they have allowed the Giants to own a tie breaker if it were to come to that at the end of the season. The Giants are still on the outside looking in if the season ended today but having the edge over the Cowboys in the division could prove beneficial if they win out and make the playoffs. Perfection Personified: Denver Broncos (8-4) at Indianapolis Colts (12-0) The Denver Broncos fell off mid-season appearing to be the pretenders everyone said they were after opening the season with six wins. They are now however back to their winning ways but are facing a Indianapolis Colts team that really is unstoppable right now. Manning and the Colts virtually have no defense but are executing an offense attack on teams that no opposing defense has come close to figuring out. For Denver they need to look to their defense led by linebacker Elvis Dumervil, Champ Bailey, DJ Williams and newcomer Ty Law. They must create some level of discomfort for quarterback Peyton Manning or he’s going to unload his full arsenal of weapons and orchestrate a full on assault on this Broncos team. And honestly I don’t know many people who think anything else is likely to happen. AFC & NFC Pretenders?: Cincinnati Bengals (9-3) at Minnesota Vikings (10-2) Whoa Minny! I would say the Arizona Cardinals put a number on this team last week showing the entire league just how to beat Minnesota. The good news for the Minnesota Vikings are that they return home to a ready and waiting Antoine Winfield back on the field and well they’re playing the Bengals at home. Both of the Vikings losses have been on the road. And while it was down-right ugly at times for Vikings they should have extra motivation as they seek out some revenge this week against the Bengals. If you’re a believer in this Cincinnati Bengals team (I’m not) then you would have to give in to the idea that neither the Baltimore Ravens or the Pittsburgh Steelers are the teams they used to be at least they aren’t this season. Both teams have looked down right dreadful this season and while the Bengals took full advantage in sweeping both teams, I can’t escape the reality of them not being their true selves. The Vikings play great at home and the Bengals really haven’t beaten anyone this season to ease the fears of fans who may still be on the fence about the legitimacy of this team. Revenge is a dish best served cold and I know the Vikings are itching to erase the nasty taste that the Cardinals put on their mouths. The Best and Worst of December Football: San Diego Chargers (9-3) at Dallas Cowboys Cowboys (8-4) It’s no disrespect to the Dallas Cowboys but I’m going to play the numbers game on this one. The San Diego Chargers are perfect in December with quarterback Philips Rivers as their starter. They have not lost one game in December with Rivers under center. The Cowboys however, have less than stellar numbers in the month of December and last weeks loss against the Giants after going on a winning streak and taking over the lead in the NFC East is all but forgotten as the season concludes. Will the Cowboys hand the Chargers their first loss in December with Rivers or will they continue to prove the media and everyone else right in that they can’t sustain momentum in December and risk not only their division title and any playoff hopes? The Chargers are playing excellent football, more impressive then they have in the past heading into December and the road block may prove too much for Dallas. NFC East Battle: Eagles (8-4) at Giants (7-5) I’ll be honest this game makes me nervous. As a New York Giants fan there aren’t many teams in the NFL that have the Giants number, but if I had to name a team that did it would surely be the Philadelphia Eagles. The seasons in which they’ve either knocked them out of the playoffs or stopped them from even going is too many to count. And after what they just did to the Atlanta Falcons on the road doesn’t subside those feelings. The Eagles are one game behind the Cowboys for the division lead and they’ve already beaten the Giants once this season. A win on Sunday night would all but kill the Giants hope for a wildcard spot but the Eagles need this game just as much as they do. As do all games against the Philadelphia Eagles, it will either be a blowout in favor of them or it’ll go down to the wire all but giving me a heart attack. The Giants shocked a lot of people last week when they announced they had demoted defensive end Osi Umenyiora in place of Mathias Kiwanuka but the move proved beneficial to a team in turmoil and created the emotional spark they have lacked since losing four in a row. The Eagles are also coming off of an emotional win with Michael Vick returning to his former home in Atlanta after being released and serving time in jail for dog fighting offenses. Vick had his best game as an Eagle as they rolled clear over less than competitive Falcons team. Emotions will again be high for two teams that don’t think too highly of one another and need to keep the winning momentum on their side heading into the post season. Monday Night Football: Cardinals (8-4) at 49ers (5-7) Does anyone really think the San Francisco 49er’s pose any real threat to the Arizona Cardinals. After last week’s dominate victory over the Minnesota Vikings the Cardinals look like the strongest team in the NFC right now and that strength will be on full display as they push for another playoff run? For 49er fans who do believe their team has a chance I fully understand your thinking as a fan but I question your rationale. At any event, these teams will square off on Monday night in a battle I predict will be lopsided in favor of the Cardinals. The 49er’s have had moments of a team renewed but they haven’t been able to sustain that momentum in more consistent wins leaving people uncertain about their maturity as a team.
Flozell Adams…Really?
Well it seems that bitter Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Flozell Adams just hasn’t had enough of being a piece of hot garbage. I’m going to call this what it is in that it appears to me that Mr. Adams is jealous of Tuck. And for good reason I mean Justin Tuck is a force in the NFL and on many occasions he has all but manhandled Flozell’s tub of lard behind on the field, so why not take it back to preschool before boys become men and do ridiculous things to express their frustrations.
After attacking Tuck AGAIN, Flozell stated while speaking with reporters after Sunday’s loss that he wasn’t going to “discuss” Tuck because he was “a nobody” *chuckles*. A nobody sir…really Flozell Adams. Justin Tuck is a nobody…really?
So let’s take your statement as is, and apply it to some facts here. Tuck = nobody. Pretty clear and concise statement here. So if Justin Tuck is a nobody, then what exactly does that make you? I mean really, the way I see it, a nobody is someone who hasn’t accomplished anything or done anything of any importance; and in the grand scheme of things it would appear Mr. Adams has that title pretty well sewn up himself. But he can’t be a nobody because Tuck is.
Now, let’s see here…since being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1998 Flozell Adams has been selected to five Pro Bowls (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008)…yes you read that correctly the fan voted pro bowl folks, and in 2007 he went for the double whammy in making the All Pro team. Impressive! But in his 11 year career with the Dallas Cowboys, this self important super star, hasn’t managed to win ONE SINGLE PLAYOFF game. He’s so important that Justin Tuck (the nobody) is listed on his very own Wikipedia page.
In the 2009 season Adams was fined several times for kicking at and tripping opponents. Adams also got into an altercation with several Giants in their December 6, 2009 game at Giants Stadium after he pushed Justin Tuck from behind after a play had been blown dead, an action which drew review by the NFL.
Now that’s saying something about who you are and where you stand when the person who’s not so important to you, somehow makes it into your all important world. So there you go, Flozell Adams is not a nobody and that’s clear from all that he has accomplished in his career. Over in Justin Tuck’s world…here’s how the cards stack up. Since being drafted by the New York Giants in 2005, “the nobody” , playing behind future hall of fame defensive end Michael Strahan and opposite Osi Umenyiora has managed to do ok for himself. He’s only been selected to one Pro Bowl in his four years as a Giant and he’s only been the starter since 2008 following Strahan’s retirement at the end of the 2007 season. And then there’s the issue of that Super Bowl that he all but DEBUTED himself to the world, as a back up pass rusher against the NFL’s top ranked offense. The nobody has seemingly made the transition for the Giants from back up to starter, filling the shoes quite nicely for the recently retired Michael Strahan who did ok in his role. Add to that the five playoff games that Tuck has been apart of winning with the Giants and I’d say he’s a pretty well known and productive nobody. I mean because hey…isn’t the post season the perfect place to transform players into exceptional players. Something that the accomplished Flozell Adams has yet to do. So if splitting time with one of the best at his position and beating the best in a Super Bowl and picking up a ring, and one selection to the almighty Pro Bowl makes you a nobody then Flozell Adams WILL NEVER BE A NOBODY because his career is filled with so many other distinguished accomplishments compared to Justin Tuck. So…Flozell I really see why you think so little of Justin Tuck, really I do. And why you feel justified in pushing him from behind and taking shots at him jeopardizing his career and health. Is it that you’d really prefer not to see him if you make it to the playoffs and have to face him again? Or that you know you can REALLY play better and protect your quarterback more if he really wasn’t on the field in the first place? Or maybe it’s that in the grand scheme of things, nobody really makes you think about your career, when comparing it to that of your own until you’re faced with Justin Tuck. And if you really take a look at it, it really doesn’t match up in your favor now does it? And truth is Flozell it really never will!
Top NFL Matchups Week 11
The AFC has become just as complicated as the NFC has been for years when attempting to shape the playoff picture. The Denver Broncos jumped out early with a six game win streak, but in the past three weeks they’ve been a shell of their former selves, dropping three consecutive games and are now in danger of losing their lead in the AFC West. The Baltimore Ravens have also fallen to a dismal 5-4 start after a promising early start in the month of September going 3-1. Even more surprising are the Tennessee Titans who after starting the season 0-6 have gone on to winning three games since starting quarterback Vince Young and running back Chris Johnson’s stellar season. Heading into week 11 there will be division lead changes and some interesting matchups. Stover’s Revenge: Indianapolis Colts (9-0) @ Baltimore Ravens (5-4) There’s so much you can pull from this game and I know reducing it to a kicker’s revenge might be cheap to some, but this isn’t just any kicker controversy. You’d be hard pressed denying the glaring deficiency the Ravens kicking game has suffered since moving forward without former Ravens kicked Matt Stover. As an Indianapolis Colt Stover, has been nearly perfect playing in place of the injured Adam Vinetari. We all know this game will come down to the whether or not the Ravens can in any way threaten the Colts perfect record. Considering the defense they’ve been fielding lately, it may however prove highly unlikely. This is one of those games that go one of two ways. (1) The Colts completely dominate and embarrass the Ravens or (2) the Ravens actually give Manning and company a game with a punishing defense and some trumped up swagger, challenging that vaunted offense run. With new kicker Billy Cindiff replacing Hauschka and Terrell Suggs sidelined with a knee sprain this game could prove disastrous for the Ravens. Playing for Position: Atlanta Falcons (5-4) @ New York Giants (5-4) I’m not going to mince words here. The New York Giants either win on Sunday or their season is OVER. It’s just that simple. They’re coming off of their bye week, where in week 10 both the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles lost balancing out the division and making things a little easier for them to overcome their four game skid. The Giants currently are on the outside looking in, behind the Eagles and Packers if the playoffs began today. But since they do not, they still control their own destiny and it begins with a win against the Falcons. For Atlanta they’ve had an up and down season with Matt Ryan dealing with a similar second year let down as Flacco is in Baltimore, leaving the team to rely heavily on Michael Turner and the running game. They however, are still a good offensive team that poses a huge mismatch for the Giants’ struggling secondary, and if Ryan can get the ball to Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez, the Gmen may be staring at their fifth straight loss. The Wild Wild “AFC” West: San Diego Chargers (6-3) @ Denver Broncos (6-3) In the blink of an eye the Denver Broncos have all but erased their impressive start to the season. With three losses in consecutive weeks this game will determine who walks away with the lead in the AFC West, and if the Broncos’ recent play is any indication I’d say they have an uphill battle. This division always comes down to the Chargers finally waking up and playing to their potential and week 9 against the Giants marked their yearly wake up call as they haven’t looked back since, beating the Eagles in week 10 in impressive fashion. What this game will come down to is the play from both quarterbacks where Philip Rivers has the clear edge. But the Broncos can win games and if they play with the same fire as their head coach they could shock the Chargers and pull one out and catch their season from slipping away from them. The Stuper Bowl: Philadelphia Eagles (5-4) @ Chicago Bears (4-5) In Chicago, Bears’ fans are stunned. Actually I think many football fans are pretty shocked. Through eleven weeks of football, quarterback Jay Cutler has been absolutely horrendous. Cutler has thrown 17 interceptions and only 14 touchdowns. For the Bears he has all but put the nail in the coffin for head coach Lovie Smith, unless he can figure out a way to salvage this season and get this team back on track. Cutler has three games in when he’s thrown three or more picks. In Philadelphia, it seems the Eagles just can’t seem to get things right. Quarterback Donovan McNabb has been back for a solid month after injuring his rib and they’re 2-2 as a result. Running back Brian Westbrook is having his worst season of injuries, already having missed four games and is in danger of missing more as a result of a concussion he suffered in week 9. The burning question in Philadelphia seems to be, after having lost two in a row when they’ll start to seriously look at how to incorporate Michael Vick into this offense and possibly give it a spark to help win some games. Remember the Titans: Tennessee Titans (3-6) @ Houston Texans (5-4) In case you haven’t been paying attention, quarterback Vince Young is 3-0 as the starter in Tennessee. Running back Chris Johnson already has over 1,000 yards rushing and doesn’t look to be slowing down. Young has 507 yards two touchdowns and two interceptions in three games. Numbers that aren’t overly impressive and could stand to improve but he’s winning and this team looks like the team everyone expected them to be before the season began. While Young hasn’t done anything special yet, he should be applauded for returning and finding success after a rocky 2008 season, where he lost his starting job and faced questions about his mental strength. This Monday night match up with them against the Texans will put two teams together with something to prove. For the Texans quarterback Matt Schaub and his receiver Andre Johnson couldn’t be playing better football. Johnson is well on his way to a 1,000 yard season with 4 touchdowns and Schaub is having a career year with over 2,500 passing yards, seventeen touchdowns and seven interceptions. With numbers like this you wonder how they’re in third place in the AFC South, but I believe other teams are aware of what the Texans are capable of doing on the field with their QB/WR tandem. The Titans defense will have to find a solution to slow these down and the Texans defense has to stop Chris Johnson.
Top NFL Matchups For Week 10
The Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints are still unbeaten and both teams have perfectly executed their mission so far this season, as their playoff hopes are all but locked for the year. Both teams are sitting at 8-0 heading into week 10 with completely different teams threatening their perfect seasons. For the Saints they face a St. Louis Rams team that on paper doesn’t look to put their record in any real danger. However, the Colts aren’t as lucky as they face off with their AFC rival the New England Patriots, that can not only hand them their first loss but is a team who is also clearing a path of their own this season. For the rest however, it will be another week of November football and some interesting matchups. Who’s Number 1: Cincinnati Bengals (6-2) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) Last week the Bengals swept the Baltimore Ravens in the division series, which not many people saw coming. Then again, the Ravens haven’t really looked like the Ravens team that started out 3-0 on the year. This week the Bengals will be tested once again when they face the Steelers who are riding a five game win streak in a battle for number one in the AFC North. Both the Steelers and Bengals are playing great run defense holding the number one (Steelers) and two (Bengals) spots in the league. So the spotlight in this game will be placed on the quarterbacks. Ben Roethlisberger, has been great in the last four games with nine touchdowns and only three interceptions with a QB rating of 111.2. Carson Palmer is putting together some impressive wins as well, but he’ll need to have a better day against the Steelers defense than he did in week 3 despite their win. Palmer was 20 of 37 for 187 yards a touchdown. Identity Crisis: Philadelphia Eagles (5-3) @ San Diego Chargers (5-3) With the win against the New York Giants in week 9 in the final seconds of the game, the Chargers are once again setting themselves up for their yearly mid-season push for the division title. With the Denver Broncos having lost two consecutive games to AFC north opponents, and may have very well reached their plateau on the year, the Chargers are poised to overtake them for the lead. For the Chargers it’s much of the same from a team that shouldn’t be in danger of coming in second in the AFC west they’ll look to orchestrate back to back wins against NFC east teams on Sunday. The Eagles are in a similar position with the win-lose streak they’re on this season. Since losing to the Raiders in week 7, they’ve beaten the Giants in week 8, only to lose last week to the Cowboys falling to second in the division. Still in the drivers seat of their season however, they’ll need to establish some consistency if they want to be a serious contender in the wild card push. And one still has to wonder just when, if ever they’ll utilize Michael Vick impatiently waiting in the wings, ready to restore order for the Eagles if needed. Role Reversal: New England Patriots (6-2) @ Indianapolis Colts (8-0) The NFL is a funny place as things can swing from big success for a team to disappointing failure one season to the next. The Patriots are used to big success, but last season they had a disappointing blow, losing quarterback Tom Brady to a season ending knee injury. This season the Patriots look to resume their dominance of the AFC over the past decade with another successful season. Standing in their way is an overachieving Indianapolis Colts team, who are also used to greatness, but this season seem to have the edge over New England in AFC supremacy. At 8-0 it’ll be New England’s turn to play spoiler and bring down the AFC’s new “Goliath”, the Indianapolis Colts. In the last three games the Patriots have outscored their opponents 121-24, which started with a rout against the Titans 59-0 in week 7. The Colts have taken blows to their defense losing safety Bob Sanders and cornerback Marlin Jackson for the season to injuries. But Manning is still Manning so it’ll be another classic matchup of Tom vs. Peyton. Creating Separation: Dallas Cowboys (6-2) @ Green Bay Packers (4-4) The Cowboys are in position to create separation in the NFC east this week with a win over the Packers. Currently, they sit atop the division and a win over a hapless Green Bay team would prove beneficial to them on their quest for their first division title since the 2007 season. Quarterback Tony Romo and the Cowboys defense are playing as good as it gets and another win would make it their fifth in a row. On the other hand the Packers are coming off of an embarrassing loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road, capping an up and down season where at times they’ve looked legitimate and others completely inept. Quarterback Aaron Rogers needs to find better chemistry with his receiving corp. and the defense needs more consistency. Games of Interest There’s nothing compelling at first glance at either of these matchups, but looking deeper there is something to be said for the teams involved so let’s take a look. Redemption: Denver Broncos (6-2) vs. Washington Redskins (2-6) The Redskins have lost four consecutive games and are averaging 14 points a game. So far this season they haven’t scored 20 or more points in a single game and have a total of 113 points on the season. What’s perplexing about the Skins however, is their ability to be better but their failure to do so. With players like running backs Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts and wide receiver Santana Moss all capable of turning things around at any moment, I’m looking for the Redskins to return from their bye week with something to prove. They’ll face a Denver Broncos’ team that has lost two straight games and are looking to get back to their winning ways. On Monday night I witnessed the complete collapse of a team in the second half that had all but dominated the Steelers during the first half. The Broncos were completely incapable of readjusting to the Steelers approach for the second half. If the Broncos are unable to get back on track, the questions will begin of how legitimate they were in the first place when they leaped out to their 6-0 record. Vince Young is Perfect: Tennessee Titans (2-6) vs. Buffalo Bills (3-5) Two games after debuting as the starter for the Titans “the sequel”, Vince Young is 2-0 and has this team rallying around its new leader. The Titans started the year off at 0-6 after going 13-3 a season ago, which created the sudden urgency to replace Collins with Young from ownership. So what happened? We know Vince Young isn’t that good, but he does seem to be the spark the team needed and has helped right the shit for the time being. But what everyone wants to know is how long will it last? And can Young continue with his successful campaign for saving the Titans. For now it’s exciting seeing the franchise back in action willing his team back from the dead.
Top NFL Matchups for Week 9
The drama heading into week 9 couldn’t get any better. Good teams are riding losing disastrous losing streaks, perfect records are on the line in Indianapolis and New Orleans and the playoff push is in full swing heading into the winter months. November kicks off midseason when football is at its best. Let’s take a look at some of the matchups I believe are worth paying attention to as we head into Sunday’s showdowns. AFC South Showdown: Houston Texans (5-3) @ Indianapolis Colts (7-0) Will the Colts go down against the Texans…it’s not that far of a stretch to think so? For those who may not have been paying attention, Houston Texans’ quarterback Matt Schaub is playing very good football so far this season. He has 16 touchdowns and is on pace for a 4,700 passing yard season. With weapons like wide receiver Andre Johnson, tight end Owen Daniel and Steve Slaton, the Texans have been quietly getting the job done week in and out. Meanwhile for the Colts it’s business as usual, with quarterback Peyton Manning, orchestrating yet another record breaking season with 15 touchdowns and 2,227 passing yards. Manning only needs 19 yards on Sunday against the Texans to become the first player in NFL history to reach 40,000 passing yards in one decade. I’ve long since realized that Manning just isn’t human. Together with wide receiver Reggie Wayne, Austin Collie, Pierre Garcon & tight end Dallas Clark there seems to be no stopping this offense. Unfortunately, the Colts took two hits to their defense this week losing cornerback Marlin Jackson for the year with a torn ACL; and after only having safety Bob Sanders back for two games, he was lost for the season with a torn bicep tendon. NFC East Collide: Dallas Cowboys (5-2) @ Philadelphia Eagles (5-2) With the collapse of the New York Giants, the NFC East is now in the hands of the Cowboys and Eagles, and on Sunday night they’ll square off with one team securing the number spot in the east. Dallas has emerged since their bye week with two impressive wins over the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks. Quarterback Tony Romo and receiver Miles Austin’s have looked unstoppable. Romo has six touchdowns and zero interceptions in the past two games. Since his breakout game against Kansas City Miles Austin has been on fire with 5 touchdowns on 21 receptions for 482 yards. The defense for Dallas has stepped up in a major way for the team which is an improvement from the weeks before their bye. The Eagles on the other hand have their share of ups and downs with injuries to quarterback Donovan McNabb and running back Brain Westbrook earlier in the year. They also fell into the trap against the Oakland Raiders two weeks ago, but as all good teams do rose to the occasion and with a rout against the New York Giants as a response to that performance. In last week’s game they opened up their big play ability on offense with three plays of 40 yards or more for touchdowns, one being a bomb from McNabb to wide receiver DeSean Jackson. Both the Eagles and Cowboys are playing their best football midway through the season and will battle for the number one spot tomorrow night. 2004 NFL Draft Revisited: San Diego Chargers (4-3) @ New York Giants (5-3) The New York Giants have dropped three in a row and look nothing like the team that started 5-0 on the season. But a visit from the San Diego Chargers might just be the spark the Giants need to snap their losing streak. You can’t discuss the Chargers and Giants without talking about what happened in the 2004 draft. The Chargers are always a question mark team at this point in the season yet, somehow always seem to find their way into the playoffs in the end. This season is no different with a 4-3 start and patchy play from the west coast team. Running back LaDainian Tomlinson leads the team in rushing but is a mere shell of his former self from seasons past. Meanwhile, quarterback Philip Rivers is having another solid year with 11 touchdowns and over 2,000 passing yards. Why the Chargers aren’t a more dominant team in the AFC is always a mystery to me with guys like tight end Antonio Gates and wide receiver Vincent Jackson having solid seasons. However, against the Giants, I’m sure there will be a little extra motivation for the team that traded Rivers for Manning. For New York, it’s another week of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and a toss-up of which one will show up on the field Sunday. Not many expected the Giants to drop three games, so sinking a fourth isn’t that far of a reach at this point. If the Giants lose another game however, they might as well hang it up in the NFC east, so this game is as much a statement as it is a push for a fifth playoff appearance in consecutive years. With defensive players like outside linebacker Michael Boley and free agent defensive tackle Chris Canty rumored back in the lineup maybe the defense will finally show up on the field and play with more intensity. Sweeping through the South?: Baltimore Ravens (4-3) @ Cincinnati Bengals (5-2) Not many people picked the Cincinnati Bengals to win on the road against the Baltimore Ravens in week 5, but in a tight game the Bengals came out and punched back when the Ravens tried using their intimidating style of beating teams into submission. Most division games are hard fought and usually come down to the end. But for the Ravens they’re not used to losing to the Bengals, especially when they play their best defense. However, there’s something special about this Bengals team. They are reminiscent of the 2005 team that went into the playoffs, and if not for the loss of quarterback Carson Palmer on a devastating hit to his knee, were on their way to making history for the franchise. Currently, both teams showcase quarterbacks who are playing good football and punishing defenses. The surprise of course is the emergence of the Bengal defense that can counter the hard hits from the Ravens with some punishing blows of their own.
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