Week 12 Picks

I've been very busy this week, so I missed the Power Rankings article.  Hope every one had a Happy Thanksgiving, and a safe Black Friday.  Here are my picks without the spread for Week 12 NFL games.  Look for my Week 13 Power Rankings on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Green By @ Atlanta 1 pm- Packers

Pittsburgh @ Buffalo 1pm - Steelers

Carolina @ Cleveland 1 pm- Browns

Jacksonville @ New York 1pm- Giants

Minnesota @ Washington 1 pm- Vikings

Tennessee @ Houston 1 pm- Texans

Kansas City @ Seattle 4 pm- Chiefs

Miami @ Oakland 4 pm- Dolphins

St. Louis @ Denver 4 pm- Rams

Philadelphia @ Chicago 4 pm- Bears

Tampa Bay @ Baltimore 4 pm- Ravens

San Diego @ Indianapolis 815 pm- Chargers

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

San Francisco @ Arizona 830 pm- 49ers

Giants Fumble Away Top Spot in NFC East

 

I hate Monday mornings when the Giants lose.  It's natural for any fan to hate the first day of the work week and having to take the abuse by some random Eagle fan at work....you know who you are (Frank).... and keep on hearing it until the next Sunday.  This time, it was a little different for me.  Sure the Giants lost.  Sure it was a Monday.  But after hearing the Michael Vick Bandwagon grow exponentially over the sports radio airwaves since MNF against the Redskins, the Giants must have the best defense in the league, if you believe even half of the stuff that has been said about Vick.  Do not get me wrong.  I think the revival of Michael Vick's life, personally and professionally, is a great story.  But he is not the best quarterback in the league as countless callers have declared on WFAN and ESPN radio.  He had a game for the books on Monday last.  He actually played like the Michael Vick plays in NFL 2K3.  But people!  It was one game.  Has he had a great season?  Absolutely.  He hasn't even thrown an interception yet.  But I remember a quarterback who only threw three interceptions in the regular season a few years ago only to follow up that season with two consecutive mediocre campaigns.  He's having himself quite a revival this year as well.  And that quarterback is David Garrard.  Not even a guy who is discussed when a top ten quarterback conversation is started.  Michael Vick is a dangerous player, yes, but the Giants defense actually contained him pretty well.  They even sacked the "best" quarterback in the league 3 times, causing one fumble.  So, after I got over my anger at the outcome of the game, I clicked over to ESPN to watch the Sunday night highlights.  And what I saw, when they came to the Eagles-Giants match, was that the Eagles did not beat the Giants.  The Giants beat the Giants.  I know it a cliche, but this time it's actually true.  

TURNOVERS

Sorry there is no secret.  The title gives it away.  The Giants could not overcome the 5 turnovers that they committed on Sunday night.  New York was -4 in turnover ratio at the end of this game.  That is unacceptable.  And it starts with the quarterback.  Eli Manning was accountable for 4 of those turnovers.  Three interceptions and a fumble from your signal caller will spell doom for almost any team.  The fact that the Giants only lost by ten points is a miracle.  Most of Manning's interceptions this year have actually not been his fault.  You can't say that in this game with the exception of one.  Asante Samuel jumped a route against Hakeem Nicks on a short slant.  That one I won't blame on Manning, it was just a very nice play by a very good player.  But these other turnovers, I don't have excuses for.  Forget the interceptions.  I've learned to live with them.  What I cannot live with is the fact that my quarterback might be the worst scrambler in the league and doesn't know how to slide.  The Giants, statistically, have one of the best offenses in the league.  Rushing and, this year, passing as well.  A dynamic receiver in Hakeem Nicks, a bruising tight end in Kevin Boss, a shifty half back in Amhad Bradshaw, a power back in Brandon Jacobs, and an accurate passer in Eli Manning.  All in all:  The Giants can move the ball.  The Giants can put up some points.  New York scores an average of 25 points per game.  The problem is that they also average about 3 turnovers per game.  Manning wasn't the only one to blame.  Amhad Bradshaw put the ball on the carpet for a league leading 6th time.  He's lost 5 of those fumbles.  Someone call Tiki Barber and ask him what righted that wrong for him. While you're still by the phone, call Joe Girardi and ask him if he can spare a Yankee to teach Eli how to slide.  Thanks.

               

Looking Ahead

 Looking ahead, I feel confident that the Giants, if they can control the turnover issues, can still make a serious run for a championship.  Their resurgent defense is playing well.  Their offense hasn't been this promising in.......ever.  Their special teams needs a total rehauling, but that can wait until the off season.  The offensive line has played well, despite missing Shaun O'Hara and David Diehl for a while now.  Steve Smith needs to come back, especially since the news of Hakeem Nicks missing about three weeks.  The Giants next test is a home game against the last AFC South opponent they will play this year.  The Jaguars have gotten mighty lucky this year.  From 60 yard game winning field goals to last second game winning Hail Mary heaves, the Jaguars are not as good as their record, but you can't overlook their running game.  MJD is one of the best down field backs in the game, and the Giants need to treat him as such.  Stop the run, control the clock, hold the ball.  Three ingredients to a win next Sunday for the Giants.  

Power Rankings Week 11

Okay, a trend is settling in.  This week, the top three teams in this fan's power rankings lost.  The number one slot finally goes to an NFC team.  Matt Ryan and the Falcons are almost unbeatable at home, and Roddy White could be in serious contention for the MVP as a wide out.  

Cream of the Crop

1. Atlanta Falcons (7-2):  Beat last week's number one ranked team in the Baltimore Ravens.  Highly deserving of the top spot.

2. New England Patriots (7-2):  Tom Brady and the Bunch came off of last week's loss to Cleveland strong against a good Steelers defense.  The next four weeks are not easy as they are home against the Colts, Jets, and Packers, and visit the Lions for Thanksgiving.

3. New York Jets (7-2): Gotta credit Mark Sanchez, who is showing he is money late in the game and in overtime.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3):  Looked flat early against the Pats, came back nicely, but still fell short.

5. Baltimore Ravens (6-3):  Almost beat Matt Ryan and the Falcons on the road.  But Matt Ryan is 18-1 at the Georgia Dome.

6. Philadelphia Eagles (6-3):  Video game Vick played out of his mind against the Redskins on Monday night.  Did they leave any points for Sunday's match up with the Giants?

7. Green Bay Packers (6-3):  Well rested and primed to shut the door on Minnesota, and possibly Brad Childress' career with the Vikings.

8. New York Giants (6-3):  The power was shut down at New Meadowlands Stadium.  The pass rush was shutdown by the Cowboys O-line.  Sunday's game should tell us a lot about the NFC East.

9. New Orleans Saints (6-3): New Orleans is gaining a head of steam.  Look out for a blowout of the Seahawks.

10. Indianapolis Colts (6-3):  Need to get some of their stars back on the field.  I don't think this year's Brady Manning game will be as good as past years.

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3):  This team will find itself in the high teens in a couple of weeks after they play SF, Balt, and ATL.

Best of the Rest

12. Chicago Bears (6-3): I hate ranking this team so high.  I just don't buy their offense at all.  The defense is good though.

13. Miami Dolphins (5-4): Tyler Thigpen is underrated, and maybe now that the two best QBs are out, they can right the running game.

14. Oakland Raiders (5-4): 1st place in the AFC West after being idle, and a KC loss.  I still think they'll finish near the bottom of this division.

15. San Diego Chargers (4-5): Another team gaining a head of steam.  Getting healthier.  Vincent Jackson should be back soon, as should injured Malcom Floyd which is only good news for Phillip Rivers.

16. Tennessee Titans (5-4): Is it possible to knock out two quarterbacks in one game, and still lose?

17. Houston Texans (4-5): This was supposed to be the year for the Houston Texans.  The year they finally made it over the playoff hump.  I see this team at 4-6 after a trip to NY to face the Jets.

18. Seattle Seahawks (5-4): Pete Carroll may make the playoffs in his first year in Seattle, but this team will not make it past the first round.  

19. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4): An unbelievable finish against the Texans last week.  Something tells me that Cleveland might pull off another upset.

20. Kansas City Chiefs (5-4): I can't believe this team has fallen this far.  But what can I do after they throw up a bomb like that against the lowly Broncos.

21. Cleveland Browns (3-6):  Love the way this team has played in the last three weeks.  Almost pulled off another upset against the Jets last week, and I think they will this week against the Jags.

22. St. Louis Rams (4-5):  Tough OT loss to division rival San Francisco last week.  On the plus side, Stephen Jackson looked healthier.

Mediocrity and Messes

23. Washington Redskins (4-5): The only Redskin that had a good week was Donovan McNabb, who got a $78 Million contract extension.  Really, Dan Snyder?

24. Minnesota Vikings (3-6): Brad Childress is squarely on the hot seat.  

25. Denver Broncos (3-6): Dropped 49 points on what I thought was a very good defense in the Kansas City Chiefs.  I guess not.

26. San Francisco 49ers (3-6):  Don't look now.  The 49ers probably have the best team in the NFC West.  They just don't have the record to prove it.

27. Dallas Cowboys (2-7): Jason Garret got a win in his head coaching debut, but Dallas isn't going anywhere this year.  

28. Detroit Lions (2-7): Bad way to lose a game last week, but I kind of believe in this young team.  They can throw some wrenches into the playoff picture. 

29. Cincinnati Bengals (2-7).  Things looked good for Cincy after week 3 when they were 2-1.  They now reside at 2-7.  I still don't know why.

30. Arizona Cardinals (3-6): The defense is horrendous.  The offense, aside from Larry Fitzgerald, is equally as bad.

31. Buffalo Bills (1-8):  Hooray for Buffalo.  They came so close in winning against three first place teams, and finally got it done against a cellar dweller.

32. Carolina Panthers (1-8): I feel bad for Jimmy Clausen, who has to learn from Matt Moore.  The defense, though, isn't half bad.  They are ranked 5th in opponent's passing yards.

Odds and Ends

Lock of the Week: Baltimore Ravens over the Carolina Panthers

If I were a Betting Man: New Orleans Saints and the Over

Upset of the Week: Arizona Cardinals over the Kansas City Chiefs(-8)   

Mid Season Playoff Picture- AFC East

If 2010 was the year of the pitcher in Major League Baseball, then it is the year of the equalizers in the National Football League.  Even the Detroit Lions are competing.  They played competitive games against the Eagles, the Giants, and the Jets, even if they did end up as losses.  The Chiefs and Raiders are not only competitive, they are 1,2 in the AFC West.  One year removed from a 1-win season, the St. Louis Rams have 4 wins, and quite possibly can represent the NFC West in the post season.  Such improvement from perennially bad teams indicate that the talent gap between the top tier and bottom tier is shrinking faster than the middle class.  Normally, by week 10, most analyst can distinguish which teams are playoff locks, which are in the hunt, and the teams who are packing it in early.  This year is not as clear as others.  Here's a look at the playoff picture division by division.  Today, I'll break down the AFC East, excluding the Bills, because let's face it, they have no shot at the playoffs.

AFC East

The New York Jets and New England Patriots are tied atop the AFC East at 6-2.  Neither team looked impressive in Week 9.  The Jets beat the Lions in overtime on a game winning field goal by Nick Folk.  The Patriots got blown out by Peyton Hillis and the Browns.  The Jets own the tie breaker over the Patriots for now.  The Dolphins are 4-4 and winless at home, but are an impressive 4-1 on the road.  Chad Henne has been less than stellar this year.  His best stat is his completion percentage which resides at 63.5, but he has thrown 10 picks compared to only 8 touchdowns.  Head Coach Tony Sparano slated Chad Pennington in the starter role this weekend against the Titans.  The Buffalo Bills are the best winless team around.  They nearly beat three first place teams in the past month, and sooner or later they are going to book their first win of 2010.  Here's a closer look at the division.

Rex Ryan has a lot to learn about head coaching, but for the most part has done a nice job in guiding the Jets.  Mark Sanchez started the year on a tear, but of late has been very inconsistent.  He has thrown five interceptions in the past three games, barely escaping the Broncos, being shutout by the Packers, and winning a nail biter in Detroit by way of a field goal in overtime.

Offense- Santonio Holmes is settling in nicely.  Braylon Edwards is having a nice season.  Dustin Keller was great early on, but has since quieted down.  The real story from the offensive side of the ball has to be LaDainian Tomlinson.  After two disappointing seasons, Tomlinson came to New York with hope of a rebirth of sorts.  He found one.  He found a good offensive line and big holes to punch through.  Tomlinson is averaging nearly 5 yards per carry, with 5 runs of 20+ yards, and 5 TDs.  Tomlinson is also still dangerous as a receiver.  He has 30 receptions for 191 yards.  Shonn Greene hasn't been used as much, but that should change soon.  The Jets should start giving Greene some more touches to rest Tomlinson.  You want Tomlinson healthy and rested if the Jets are going to make a playoff push.  John Conner has been very impressive in his rookie season under the tutelage of Tony Richardson.

Defense- The Jets are kind of weak on the pass rush side, but their cornerbacks and rush stuffers make up for that.  Kyle Wilson has been very disappointing, as has Drew Coleman and Brodney Poole.  Antonio Cromartie has been the shutdown corner Revis was expected to be the whole year, but Revis struggled early with a few injuries.  Darelle Revis looked like the Defensive Player of the Year last week, and that's a good sign that his injury is in the past.  The line backers are a strong group, and perhaps the best part of this team.  David Harris has been great stuffing the run and he has a great ability to get to the ball.   Calvin Pace has only played in half the games but has more sacks than any other starting line backer.

Playoff Picture- I'd rank the Jets as the 3rd or 4th best team in the AFC, so the outlook of making the playoffs is looking up.  Judging by their schedule they have a shot at a first round bye as well.  If they make the playoffs, Mark Sanchez is going to have to play like he did in the first 4 games of the season.  The safeties and 2nd string corners need to play like Cromartie has and how Revis will.    

Brady and the bunch looked miserable on the field Sunday versus the Cleveland Browns.  Peyton Hillis made New England's young defense look like amateurs, and Colt McCoy has already beaten two Super Bowl MVPs this year.  But if there's one thing I know about the New England Patriots, it's this:  Tom Brady gives his team the best shot at winning every Sunday.  They will be there at the end of the year.  The New England Patriots losing to the Cleveland Brown just proves my opening line of this article.  It's not so much of a changing of the guard.  It's that there is no guard anymore.  

Offense- It seems like Wes Welker isn't the same receiver without Randy Moss on the field.  BenJarvus Green-Ellis has put together a nice season, save for last Sunday.  He has rushed for 385 yards on 94 carries.  Danny Woodhead has been better, although in a smaller role.  Woodhead has 232 yards on 45 carries, and he's a nice threat as a receiver out of the backfield.  Aaron Hernandez is putting together a very productive rookie campaign leading the team in receiving yards with 436 on only 34 receptions.  Deion Branch was a great acquisition from Seattle.  He's not the tall, deep threat that Randy Moss was, but he's a great route runner, and he and Brady made magic before Moss came along.  

Defense- The Patriots defense should make any Pats fan nervous.  They are ranked 29th in pass defense and 21st in rush defense.  In the past  couple years, they either traded or released good veteran leaders on their defensive squad.  Guys like Richard Seymour, Mike Vrabel, Junior Seau, and Asante Samuel are all figures of the past.  Jerod Mayo is having a solid season, but there are few players helping out.  Patrick Chung looks to be a promising young safety.  Tom Brady can bail out the defense only so many times.  The Browns offense made the New England defense look young and inexperienced.  And they are.

Playoff Picture- New England has some problems, but in my estimation they are the the 4th or 5th best team in AFC.  They have a shot at winning the divison, and an outside shot at a first round bye.  They're neck and neck with the Jets, and need to win their last game against New York in Foxboro.  Tom Brady makes this team a Super Bowl contender, although their defense needs to get better if that is the real goal.  

 Out of their last 8 games, 5 of those will be played at home in Miami.  That would sound like a good thing for any team in the league, but the reality of the situation is that the Dolphins have not won at home in 2010.  Miami is 4-1 on the road, a record most teams would salivate for.  That lone loss came at Baltimore too.  Their 4 wins on the road came at Buffalo, at Minnesota, at Green Bay, and at Cincinnati.  Miami needs to get on track and win their first home game of the season to get in the hunt as a serious contender.  A win against Tennessee would put them firmly in the wild card hunt.  

Offense- This team is middle of the pack statistically on offense, but they have great weapons.  Davone Bess is having a nice break out season.  He is the replacement to Wes Welker that the Dolphins have been looking for.  He's got 44 catches for 451 yards and 3 TDs.  Chad Henne will be benched tomorrow in favor of Chad Pennington.  I do not think that Pennington is the answer, but maybe Tony Sparano is sending a message to Henne, becuase he does need to be better than he has been.  The real trouble for this offense is that the running game is not what is has been in the last couple of years.  Maybe the Wildcat was more good scheming than trick play.  Either way, Miami needs to get Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams going.....and soon if they want to make some noise in the second half of the season.

Defense- This team is middle of the pack statistically on defense.  At cornerback, Jason Allen has been mediocre, even with his 3 picks.  Now he's been released by the Dolphins and picked up by a desperate Texans team.  Karlos Dansby has been great for the Dolphins.  Dansby leads the team in tackles with 60, and he has two forced fumbles.  He's very good at stuffing the run and passable in coverage.  Cameron Wake is by far your defensive MVP for this team.  He's racked up 31 tackles, but more importantly has 8.5 sacks to lead the AFC.  Channing Crowder rounds out this strong line backer squad, and he's only played in parts of 4 games.  Once he gets going, the LBs are a very scary group.  

Playoff Picture- Right now, the Dolphins would be outside looking in, but things can change very fast in the NFL.  The first thing Miami must do is win.  Duh.  Win and worry about stuff later.  But I'm not the Dolphins, so let's play 'what if' a little.  What if the Jets lose to the Browns and the Pats lose to the Steelers?  This all entirely possible, especially the Patriots.  Well, then the Dolphins would only be a game out of the division, and they'd have 7 more games to pull neck and neck.  The Dolphins definitely have some talent on both sides of the ball, but they need to start winning at home, before they can think about the playoffs.

 My Weekly Picks


Tennessee @ Miami: Dolphins
New York Jets @ Cleveland: Jets
New England @ Pittsburgh: Steelers
Detroit @ Buffalo: Bills
Minnesota @ Chicago: Vikings
Cincinnati @ Indianapolis: Colts
Carolina @ Tampa Bay: Buccaneers
Houston @ Jacksonville: Jaguars
Kansas City @ Denver: Chiefs
Dallas @ New York Giants: Giants
Seattle @ Arizona: Cardinals
St. Louis @ San Francisco: 49ers
Philadelphia @ Washington: Redskins

Power Rankings Week 10

My top two ranked teams from week 9 lost this week.  The Patriots were blown out by Mangini's Browns, and the Eagles defeated the Colts.  So that means a pretty big shakeup in the Power Rankings.  Let's get started.

Cream of the Crop

1. Baltimore Ravens (6-2):The Baltimore Ravens are playing some of the best football in the league.  Undefeated at home.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2): The Steelers are 3-1 with and without Ben Roethlisberger.  This team is talented offensively, and dominant defensively.

3. New York Giants (6-2): The Giants are the best balanced team offensively.  2nd ranked defense to boot.  I was tempted to rank them at #1.

4. Atlanta Falcons (6-2): Some tough games in the next few weeks.  Can the Falcons stay ahead of the Saints?

5. Green Bay Packers (6-3): Young defense is coming together.  We'll see Rodgers and company in week 11.

6. New York Jets (6-2): Barely escaped the Lions on Sunday.  The Jets have the upstart Browns next.  Expect Mangini to be looking for blood.

7. New England Patriots (6-2): Thoroughly embarrassed by the Cleveland Browns.  Next up? The #2 Pittsburgh Steelers.

8. New Orleans Saints (6-3): Took care of business in Carolina on Sunday.  Finally a break for the defending champs, just in time to take a run at the Falcons.

9. Tennessee Titans (5-3): When will Randy Moss wear out his welcome in Tennessee.  It's quite possible that Jeff Fisher can rein in Moss.

10. Philadelphia Eagles (5-3): Michael Vick was impressive in his return.  He had to be to beat the Colts.

11. Indianapolis Colts (5-3): Colts need a week off.  And they get that with the lack luster Bengals. 

12. Kansas City Chiefs (5-3): Leaders of the AFC West.  Look out for the surging Chargers and the surprising Raiders.

Best of the Rest

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-3): Lost a close game to the Atlanta Falcons.  Still aren't the best teams in the NFC, as head coach Raheem Morris claims.

14. Oakland Raiders (5-4): Still don't buy this team as a contender.  Oakland might boast the best corners in the game.

15. San Diego Chargers (4-5): The SuperChargers are staging their annual comeback.  Is there still time.  In the weak West, you never know.

16. Miami Dolphins (4-4): The Dolphins might need to rebirth the Wildcat.  No production from Ronnie Brown or Ricky Williams.

17. Houston Texans (4-4): Jacksonville's David Garrard should look like a superstar again on the field against this terrible secondary. 

18.  Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4): Tied for 2nd/Last in the AFC South.  If they get a divisional win against Houston, they could make a playoff run.

19. Chicago Bears (5-3): The question is not 'Will they drop out of playoff contention'.....it's a question of when.  Barely escaped the winless Bills on Sunday.

20. Washington Redskins (4-4): Donovan McNabb looks to rebound from a benching on Monday Night Football against his old team.

21. St. Louis Rams (4-4): It says something about the NFC West that it took me this long to get one of its teams on the board.  With a win in San Francisco this week, the Rams might be able to make a push for the playoffs.

22. Cleveland Browns (3-5): Colt McCoy has beaten two top 5 quarterbacks.  In a row.  Look out Jets.

Mediocrity and Messes

23. Minnesota Vikings (3-5): Adrian Peterson is having quite the season.  If Brett Favre can build on Sundays performance, the Vikes might be able to right this ship.  No pun intended.

24. Seattle Seahawks (4-4): Simply owned by the Giants on Sunday.  Arizona's situation is worse, and they should rebound nicely.

25. Arizona Cardinals (3-5): The only offensive weapon they have these days is Larry Fitzgerald.  They should beg Kurt Warner to come back.  

26. Detroit Lions (2-6): Someone needs to teach Jim Schwartz the philosophy of clock management.

27. Cincinnati Bengals (2-6): Made it a close game against the Steelers late on Monday night.  Tough division + tougher conference = end of season.

28. San Francisco 49ers (2-6): I wonder if Mike Singletary still believes that the 49ers can make the playoffs.  Becasue I do.

29. Denver Broncos (2-6): Tough match up coming up against the Chiefs defense.  The Broncos offense is not awful.  Look for an upset.

30. Carolina Panthers (1-7): John Fox might be out as head coach after the year is over, but he might land in another mess: Dallas

31. Dallas Cowboys (1-7): The Giants opened up a 13 1/2 point spread today.  Vegas might wanna take that down before Sunday's game.

32. Buffalo Bills (0-8): This team doesn't deserve to be winless. In the last month, this team nearly beat three first place teams.

Odds and Ends

Game of the Week: Thursday night football is back!  And it's the best game on the schedule.  Baltimore Ravens @ Atlanta Falcons.

Lock of the Week: New York Giants over the Dallas Cowboys

If I were a Betting Man: Tampa Bay and the Under vs Carolina

Upset(s) of the Week: Denver Broncos over the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Washington Redskins over the Philadelphia Eagles.     

New York Stock Exchange Week 10

The Jets and Giants share the same record.  They both own first place in their respective divisions, Giants outright and Jets by tie-breaker.  But they are in very different positions.  While the Giants seem to be clicking on both sides of the ball, the Jets struggle at times to move the ball down the field, and they play the best "bend, don't break" defense.  While not giving up many points per game, the Jets give up large chunks of offense, but capitalize on plus-minus turnovers. 

The New York Jets 6-2 1st Place AFC East

Rex Ryan should be very nervous.  His Jets played sloppy and penalty prone for 55 minutes in Sunday's overtime victory over the lowly, however much improved, Detroit Lions.  It's necessary to point out that the Jets won because of an injury to Detroit place kicker, Jason Hanson.  If not for that injury the Jets would be 5-3, and one game behind the Patriots, who played worse than the Jets on Sunday.  But, hey.  A win is a win is a win.  So let's give credit where it is due. 

On the Plus Side....
Darelle Revis looks like he is completely healed and definitely played like it.  Revis shut down one of the most dangerous wide outs in the game on Sunday.  Calvin Johnson, who was shadowed by Revis all game, had one catch for 13 yards.  He broke up 2 passes out of four targets.  He set the tone for Johnson's game on the very first play of the game, when Matthew Stafford went deep to Johnson, and Revis knocked it away.  Mark Sanchez threw lots of passes over the heads of his receivers, but when crunch time came around, he zoned in.  He ran a very efficient two minute drill in over time, using the no huddle, and connected with Santonio Homes on a big 52 yard pass play that setup the game winning field goal.  While LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for a mediocre 3.7 yards per carry, Shonn Greene is coming around.  Greene had 46 yards on 10 carries. 

On the Other Hand....
The Jets were flagged 11 times for 99 yards.  This team is more disciplined than that.  Rex Ryan was kicking and screaming on the sidelines at the sloppy play.  The Jets are usually on the positive side of the turnover battle, but not on Sunday.  Mark Sanchez threw an interception,  and also fumbled 3 times, although he didn't lose one of those.  Braylon Edwards lost a fumble, making the Jets -2 for the game.  The Jets put the ball on the carpet a total of 5 times, but only lost it once.  They should still be concerned about that stat though.  Although Calvin Johnson was shut down by Revis, Nate Burrelson had himself quite a game.  Burrelson had 113 yards on 7 catches with a touchdown.  Early on, the Jets were playing man to man, but zoned off the field, and still couldn't contain Burrelson.   

The Road Ahead....
@ Cleveland- Last two games- Beat the Saints and Patriots.  Don't underestimate this team.
vs. Houston- Dangerous team offensively.
vs. Cincinnati- Talented offensively, but are not performing to their capabilities.
@ New England- Tom Brady hasn't lost a game in New England in forever.
vs. Miami- Have only lost once to the Jets in last 5 meetings.
@ Pittsburgh- Top 5 team in the NFL.
@ Chicago- Should handle this team with ease.
vs. Buffalo- Their record speaks for itself, though they are getting closer each week to their first win.

Buy or Sell....
This team was one of the preseason favorites to go to the Superbowl.  The Jets do not look like a Super Bowl team right now.  Sell.


New York Giants 6-2 1st Place NFC East

The New York Giants are playing some of the best football in the league.  Perry Fewell has this defense playing like they did in '08.  The defense didn't record a sack in Sunday's blowout victory over the Seattle Seahawks, but they didn't blitz all game.  The defensive scheme called for the linebackers to drop into coverage and let the running game beat them.  The running game never got started because the Seahawks fell behind 21-0 in the first quarter, forcing Seattle to pass all game.  They boast the best balanced offensive team in the league.  With weapons like Nicks, Smith, and Bradshaw, the Giants have the 7th best passing game and the 3rd best rush attack.  

On the Plus Side....
Amhad Bradshaw is third in the NFL in rushing yards.  Eli Manning is the 8th ranked quarterback in the league.  He is third in the league with 17 TD passes.  Hakeem Nicks is tied for first with 9 TDs, and 6th in yards with 653.  Brandon Jacobs is one of the best complementary backs in the league, averaging 5.3 yards per carry.  The offensive line protects Manning as well as any other line in the league.  

 Osi Umenyiora is third in the league with 8.0 sacks, and far and away first in the NFL with 7 forced fumbles.  The Giants are the 2nd ranked rush defense in the league, allowing 80.9 yards per game.  Their pass defense is just as good, also ranked 2nd.  The secondary is allowing 170 yards through the air per game.  While not as talented as Revis and Cromartie, Corey Webster and Terrel Thomas have put together very nice seasons.  Webster made an outstanding interception on Sunday on a pass intended for Mike Williams.  

On Sunday, the Giants outgained Seattle 487 yards to 162.  New York held the ball for a staggering 42 minutes and 34 seconds.  The defense held Seattle to 1/8 on third downs.  The biggest stat to me is this.  In 2006, the Giants were called for 11 false starts in Seattle.  On Sunday, the Giants weren't flagged once for a false start, and limited their total penalties to 5 for 40 yards.  Webster limited Mike Williams to 2 catches in 8 targets for 25 yards.  

On the Other Hand....
There wasn't much to criticize the Giants performance on Sunday.  But once again, there is the special teams that needs to be addressed.  Although the special teams squad did force a fumble, they still frequently give up big chunks on kick off and punt returns.  Leon Washington almost broke one for a touchdown, but got tackled from behind on a nice pursuit from Duke Calhoun.  

The Road Ahead....
vs. Dallas- Dallas might play for a new coach.  Don't sleep during week 10.
@ Philadelphia- The Eagles play well with Vick under center.  By far the the Giants biggest competition in the NFC East.
vs. Jacksonville- Beware of a rejuvenated David Garrard.
vs. Washington-  The Giants should handle this team with ease.
@ Minnesota- Depending on their record, this game could mean a lot to the Vikes. 
vs. Phiadelphia- See above.
@ Green bay- Top 5 NFC team.  Depending on record, this game could mean a lot to the Pack.
@ Washington- The Redskins should be out of it by the last week of the season, but the Giants may be looking for a better seed, or at worst, a wild card berth.

Buy or Sell....
At the beginning of the season, many things needed to go the Giants way to be where they are right now.  Two things have happened.  The defense is playing a fierce game under Perry Fewell, and the Giants are rushing the ball better than last season, when they were ranked 17th.  They might not be the best team in the NFL, but they are the class of the NFC right now.  Buy, Buy, Buy      

 

Week 9 NFL Power Rankings

Week 9 featured quite a few snoozes, but it was plenty made up for by a couple of upsets and a furious rally by the Buccaneers, who now feature a very dangerous quarterback.  The Patriots separated themselves from the Jets and the rest of the AFC.  The Seahawks had a chance to separate themselves from the NFC West but show they are just as mediocre as the rest of that division.  The Redskins could have made up ground in the NFC East but were upset by the Lions thanks to a questionable coaching decision.  So, with another week in the books......the Week 9 Power Rankings:

Cream of the Crop

1. New England Patriots (6-1): The Patriots don't seem to miss Randy Moss, although it's entirely possible he could return to New England.  The Patriots seem to be on a collision course with the Colts in the AFC Championship.
2. Indianapolis Colts (5-2): The Colts handled the Texans with ease in the first half, and stuck it out in the second half for the win.  Decimated by injuries on both sides of the ball, the Colts keep on truckin'.
3. Baltimore Ravens (5-2): Fresh off their bye week, they have a tough match up with the Dolphins.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2): The Steelers looked overwhelmed by the Saints pass rush this week.  Next up: The Bengals Monday night.  Sounds like an easy W, but Cincy plays the AFC North tough.
5. New York Giants (5-2): Best record in the NFC with the tie breaker.  New York doesn't fare well in Seattle, but the Seahawks aren't the team they used to be.
6. Atlanta Falcons (5-2): The Falcons have a tough schedule ahead with TB, BAL, StL, GB, TB all coming off wins.
7. New York Jets (5-2): Looked unimpressive in a 9-0 loss to the Packers.  Two road games upcoming against teams that should be easily beaten by the Jets.
8. Kansas City Chiefs (5-2): Barely outlasted the tough-luck Bills on a last second overtime field goal.  The defense is definitely for real.
9. Green Bay Packers (5-3): Packers' Clay Matthews leads the league in sacks.  The defense was impressive in NY.
10. New Orleans Saints (5-3): Pass rush and depleted secondary looked suffocating in 20-10 victory over Pittsburgh.  Brees made some nice throws in a good bounce back effort.
11. Tennessee Titans (5-3): Vince Young was hurt in Sunday's loss to the Chargers.  Defense was exposed often on third downs.

Best of the Rest

12. Houston Texans (4-3): Texans split the season series with the Colts.  That's the upside.  The downside?  Houston's young defense is not looking good.
13. Philadelphia Eagles (4-3): Vick will be back under center for the Eagles.  Can he propel them to the playoffs?
14. Miami Dolphins (4-3): Dolphins are still perfect on the road.  Henne showed nice poise on the game winning drive, but Carpenter won't be 5/5 every week in field goals.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2):  Still don't buy this team as a contender.  But Josh Freeman is doing everything he can to prove me wrong.
16. San Diego Chargers (3-5): Needed a win against a tough team, and they got one against the Titans.
17. Chicago Bears (4-3): Not a Cutler fan.  Especially when he doesn't have a top tier receiver like he did in Denver.
18. Oakland Raiders (4-4): Don't look now.  Tom Cable has the Raiders playing well!  Jason Campbell is having a better season than Donovan McNabb.  Don't tell Dan Snyder.
19. St. Louis Rams (4-4): Sam Bradford quite possibly could carry this team into the playoffs.  Stephen Jackson needs to get healthy.
20. Washington Redskins (4-4): Donovan McNabb lost this game for the Redski.....wait no he didn't.  Shannahan lost this game for the Redskins by benching McNabb in favor of wait for it............Rex Grossman?
21. Seattle Seahawks (4-3): Shutdown by the Oakland Raiders defense.  Blown out by the Oakland Raiders offense.
22. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4): MJD ran the ball well.  Garrard threw the ball well.  But it was against the Cowboys who seem to have given up.

Mediocrity and Messes

23. Arizona Cardinals (3-4): Lost on a late rally by Josh Freeman and the Buccaneers.  Max Hall and Derek Anderson are not the answers for this team.
24. Minnesota Vikings (2-5): Favre has a broken ankle and now 8 stitches on his face.  When will he not care about his record and start caring about the Vikings record.
25. Detroit Lions (2-5): Dangerous team offensively.  Contenders beware.
26. Cincinnati Bengals (2-5): One of the biggest disappointments of the year.  With talent all over the field on offense, this team should be at least 4-3.
27. San Francisco 49ers (2-6): Troy Smith might have won himself a job in London.
28. Cleveland Browns (2-5): Can they take that energy they had in New Orleans back to Cleveland against the Patriots.  No.
29. Denver Broncos (2-6):  Kyle Orton has played well this year, but the defense has let the Broncos down.
30. Dallas Cowboys (1-6): Looks like this team has thrown in the towel.  And in the face of Wade Phillips.  Time for Jerry Jones to make a change.
31. Carolina Panthers (1-6): Matt Moore is just brutal to watch.  Jimmy Clausen should not be learning from this guy.
32. Buffalo Bills (0-7): Made the Chiefs squirm, but for the second week in a row, they lost in heartbreaking fashion.

Cowboys in Turmoil, Redskins Create QB Controversy

Wade Phillips and the Cowboys are looking down a long, dreary road.  With Tony Romo out for 6-8 weeks, and Jon Kitna behind center, Dallas looks towards 2011.  The season began with hopes of playing a Super Bowl in their new home.  Now, it seems like a bad joke. 

Mike Shanahan pulled Donovan McNabb late in the game at Detroit after a bad interception, claiming that Rex Grossman gave Washington the better chance of winning the game at that point.  His decision resulted in 17 points for the Lions in about 2 minutes and ultimately a loss.  At 4-4, Washingtion is still in the hunt, but Shannahan's decison could prove costly for the psyche of his star QB, McNabb, and the Redskins' hope of returning to the playoffs.

Jaguars 35 Cowboys 17

On Sunday versus the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Cowboys were embarrassed defensively, making David Garrard look like an all pro.  Garrard was 17/21 for 260 yards, while throwing 4 touchdowns.  Mike Sims-Walker ran roguhshod over the Cowboys secondary, catching 8 passes for 153 yards and a score.  The Jaguars not only were effective through the air, but on the ground as well, as MJD averaged 5 yards per carry, running for a total of 135 yards on 27 carries.  For the second week in a row, Big D's "D" couldn't stop anything. 

On the other side of the ball, Dallas' talented wide recieving corp tipped and dropped too many passes from Jon Kitna, causing at least two of his four interceptions.  The running game, as it has been all season, was anemic.  Barber rushed 9 times for a total of 16 yards.  Felix Jones didn't fare much better, carrying the ball 8 times for 22 yards.  The Cowboys, once again, don't commit to running the football, and thus do not control the game.  Dallas ran more plays than Jacksonville, while also gaining more yards.  But the time of possession was won by the Jags and their stout running game.  Combine that with the fact that Dallas turned the ball over four times, and only caused one, it adds up to the 'Boys fourth straight loss, and their worst start since 1989.  At 1-6 they are last in the NFC East, and bound to stay there all season. 

Redskins 25 Lions 37

The NFC's best offense dropped 37 points against the NFL's 25th ranked defense.  Detroit seems to be getting better on both sides of the ball, and in a few years, may be a team to be reckoned with.  But for now, the Lions will take their upset wins as they come.  Strangely enough, this game was played as if two solid defenses were going at it for three quarters.  In the 4th, however, both teams exploded for 35 points.  Martin Mayhew, Detroits general manager, has made Matt Millen look like the fool we all know him to be.  His two recent draft picks, Matt Stafford and Ndamukong Suh, have paid their dividends so far.  Stafford was 26/45 for 212 yards, 4 scores and an interception.  Suh had two sacks with a fumble recovery and a touchdown.

The real story in this game stems from a controversial benching of Donovan McNabb and the insertion of backup Rex Grossman in the final two drives for Washington.  After a lousy pass was intercepted from McNabb by Alphonso Smith, Shanahan decided to go with Grossman because he felt that Grossman gave the Redskins offense the best chance to win in his West Coast style two minute scheme.  Yes, this is the same Mike Shanahan that preached to his team, for all of training camp, to get behind Donovan McNabb as their starting quarterback.  If mixed signals was what Shanahan was looking to convey, then he did just that on Sunday.  McNabb has struggled in his first season in Shanahan's West Coast offense, but there is no way that Rex Grossman gives you better options, as seen in first snap.  McNabb's QB rating has been below 80 in every game, except the shootout versus the Texans.  But Grossman's career QB rating is below 70.  The last time Rex Grossman started an NFL game was for the Bears on November 9, 2008.  Surprise.....the Bears lost.  Washington brought McNabb here, because he's a winner.  Let him show you that. 

The Week Ahead

SUNDAY NOV 7
NYG @ SEA
DAL @ GB
IND @ PHI
TB @ ATL
NO @ CAR
ARI @ MIN
CHI @ BUF
NYJ @ DET
NE @ CLE
MIA @ BAL
SD @ HOU
KC @ OAK

MON NOV 8
PIT @ CIN

BYES
DEN, TEN, StL, WAS, SF, JAC