Sunday, December 27, 2009

Saying Goodbye to the 2000's In Style

As the end of the decade draws near, so too does the end of a decade of football that will surely go down in NFL lore as one of the greatest in history. The New England Patriots carved out what was probably the first dynasty in the era of free agency, the Steelers reached the record mark of six Super Bowl victories to eclipse the records set by the San Francisco 49'ers and Dallas Cowboys. In a decade of miracle comebacks and amazing victories, I am counting down the most significant trends and events (to me) that have taken place over the past decade.



You Know When You Were An NFL Fan In the 2000's When

7. Two records for consecutive wins were set: The Indianapolis Colts have only last month set a new record for the longest consecutive regular season winning streak, which spanned over two years and 21 games. Indy broke that record against the Jacksonville Jaguars to stay undefeated this season, expanding on a 12 game winning streak started last year. But this week against the Jets they ended their quest for what only one team has managed in this decade: a perfect regular season. The 2007 Patriots made history as the first team to have an undefeated regular season in the history of the 16-game season (the '72 Dolphins undefeated record was still during the time of a 14-game season). In that season, Tom Brady also broke a record held by Peyton Manning, but I'll get to that later.

6. You witnessed the rise of the prima donna receiver: While prima donna receivers have always existed in the league and many arose in the 1990s (see Michael Irvin and Terrell Owens), the increased level of passing has given momentum to a new age of flashy, entertaining wideouts. The aforementioned T.O., the player formerly known as Chad Johnson, and Randy Moss have made their mark on this decade with controversy almost constantly in their wake, whether in their remarks (Owens and Johnson being the most notable repeat offenders) and their antics on or off the field (from Moss "mooning" Lambeau Field and T.O.'s popcorn stunt to Johnson's faux Hall of Fame jacket and customized cleats). The careers of these three receivers have ranged at varying points between good (T.O. before his mouth gets him in trouble and Randy Moss with the Vikings or the Patriots), bad (T.O. in Buffalo, Johnson when he has no Carson Palmer), and ugly (Moss's terrible time in Oakland and the accusations of taking plays off both there and elsewhere). The good news for these three is that they usually walk the walk as well as talk the talk.

5. Your punter is from Australia: Having a punter from down under is not quite a fad just yet, but their style of kicking (which consists of a drop punt that almost hits the nose of the ball) has been brought to national attention due to its undeniable effectiveness. The coffin corner punters of old have been all but wiped out (with Jeff Feagles of the New York Giants being the last such punter of renown) and the Aussies have provided the next breakthrough in punting. While the number of Australians actually in the NFL remains small at only three--Ben Graham of the Arizona Cardinals, Sav Rocca of the Philadelphia Eagles and Mat McBriar of the Dallas Cowboys--their kicking style has permeated throughout the NFL thanks to the efforts of Darren Bennett, a former San Diego Charger credited as the first Australian NFL punter and the first to use the drop kick. From Bennett, many American punters have also picked up the style, and many of them are counted among the best in the league: Mike Scifres of San Diego, Shane Lechler of Oakland, and Hunter Smith (who won a Super Bowl with Indianapolis) in Washington. This may well be on the same magnitude of change as the introduction of soccer-style placekicking, which changed the game in the 1970s and has now become an NFL regularity.

4. The Madden Curse brought misfortune to your favorite player: Ever since Garrison Hearst became the first player to appear on the cover of the Madden football simulation game in 1999, cover athletes for the game have been plagued by poor play or injuries. Thus the so-called "Madden curse" has become a cultural phenomenon over the past decade. In 2005, after Michael Vick's photo graced the cover of Madden, he suffered a fracture in his leg that caused him to miss the first eleven games of the season. Next year's cover athlete Donovan McNabb suffered a sports hernia and missed a large chuck of the season. Shaun Alexander, MVP of the 2006 season and the Madden 2007 featured athlete, suffered a rash of injuries the year after that essentially ended his career. Vince Young made the cover after winning Rookie of the Year honors, but was benched early in the next season for Kerry Collins. Brett Favre, found on the cover of the 2009 edition of the game, had a rough second half of the 2008-09 season after it was revealed that he had torn the biceps in his throwing arm. Even though he didn't miss a game, he ended the season with 23 interceptions (equaling his season total for touchdowns) and no playoff berth. The most recent installment of Madden featured two athletes--Cardinals wideout Larry Fitzgerald and Steelers safety Tryo Polamalu; while Polamalu has been injured for almost all this season, Fitzgerald has struggled to maintain his productivity with inconsistent play from Arizona's quarterback, whether it's been Kurt Warner or Matt Leinart. Thus the curse continues to pervade the league, and I feel for whatever poor soul is on it next year.


3. Your team kicked it to Devin Hester: Despite his removal from his customary role as a return man, Hester is still one of the most feared returners in the league. I don't think any Bears fan will forget his first two seasons in the league, in which he returned a combined twelve kickoffs and punts for scores (not even including the opening kickoff of the Super Bowl his rookie season). Keep in mind that the Bears drafted Hester in the second round specifically for his return ability, and he paid dividends instantly. His contribution was no clearer than during the infamous Monday Night game against the Arizona Cardinals, in which he returned a kickoff for a touchdown to spur the Bears to a 24-21 victory in which their offense scored no points. Let that sink in. Zero points from the epically up-and-down Rex Grossman. Imagine that. As if the game wasn't already a classic, it inspired on of the game's greatest sound-bytes in then Cards head coach Dennis Green's "They are who we thought they were," rant.


But while Hester may be the best punt returner in the league, he has some serious competition for the title of best kickoff returner. Cleveland Browns return man Joshua Cribbs recently set the record for the most career kickoff returns for touchdowns with eight, and continues to thrive while Hester has essentially been replaced on the Chicago special team by fellow standout Danieal Manning. But since there was a period where almost no one in the league kicked to Hester (except for Broncos punter Todd Sauerbrun, who paid for the same mistake twice), he gets the nod from me over Mr. Cribbs as the best overall returner. Congratulations to Cribbs, however, who is now in my opinion the best kickoff returner of the decade.


2. Brett Favre started every regular season game: Since Peyton Manning has also started every regular season game this decade, it would be unfair to not mention him here, but the spotlight deserves to go to Brett Favre, whose streak of consecutive starts remains unbroken in the realm of 285 consecutive games (in a very non-scientific equation, assuming Favre plays half of an hour long game, he has played a total of 5.8 days playing pro football). That's 140 hours of game play, not even counting the rest of the three-plus hour broadcast. That's nuts. After 20 years of pro football, Farve looks more like 60 than 40, and his persisting ability to play at such a high level is miraculous. With surgery to repair the torn bicep in his throwing arm that he suffered last year, Favre has continued his streak with great aplomb and led Minnesota to victory in their division. The Vikings may have lost three of their last four games, but Favre is still having one of his best seasons ever.

1. The record that could never be broken was broken...twice: When Dan Marino set the record for passing touchdowns and yardage in 1982, it was hailed as a record that would never be broken (to put it in perspective, Marino's 48 touchdowns that season equated to 3 a game on average which as any NFL fan should know are miraculous numbers). That was until two lock-in Hall of Fame quarterbacks--Peyton Manning and Tom Brady--came into the league. In 2003, Manning's Colts terrorized opposing defenses with a meticulous and seemingly unstoppable passing game; not only did Manning break Marino's touchdown record, he also snapped Steve Young's record for the highest season-long quarterback rating, which almong with his co-MVP status (shared with the late Steve McNair) proves his tremendous consistency through that season. Their season was ended by the Super Bowl bound Patriots in the AFC Championship game, and seems to have been a changing of the guard. While Manning, who had made his name on gaudy stats and big game meltdowns, won a championship in 2006, the blue-collar mentality was lost to Brady's Patriots, who became reliant on their quarterback's arm. Mr. Brady, who had been praised as the star quarterback with no weapons, had an offensive explosion in 2007 when the Pats decided to resuccitate Randy Moss from his Oakland doldrums. Moss repaid their faith with 23 receiving scores, almost half of Brady's record-breaking 50 touchdown passes. Once again, however, the season for the MVP ended in disappointment as New England fell to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl. Their performances also helped to define the explosion of the NFL passing game that has occured through the past few seasons.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

MVP Race Down to the Wire

In what will surely be remembered in NFL lore as the era of offensive explosion for quarterbacks, the last few years have signalled the NFL's encouragement of the passing game. This year, the ridiculous amount of passing has come to a head with three juggernauts of the modern game competing for MVP. In case you've been living under a rock for the past fourteen weeks, here's the lowdown on the race for Most Valuable Player (in order of their worthiness in my eyes):

1. Peyton Manning (QB, Indianapolis): No single player means more and does more for their team as an individual than Peyton Manning, whose religious studying habits, thorough football intelligence, and laser-accurate arm have guided them to their current undefeated status. Despite injuries to receiver Anthony Gonzalez, Peyton has made stars out of rookies Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie, who have 100 catches between them for 1332 yards and 11 scores through Week 15. Combined with the always potent tandem of Reggie Wayne and tight end Dallas Clark, Manning's high-octane offense has dominated despite being at the bottom of the league in rushing yards. The hallmark of a great player is the ability to execute even when every opponent knows what's coming, and everyone who plays the Colts knows that Peyton is going to get the ball. Most importantly of all, he is still undefeated.

2. Brett Favre (QB, Minnesota): I don't think anyone expected the Vikings to be as dominant as they have been this year, thanks in large part to the stunning play of Brett Favre. The former Green Bay Gunslinger has reformed himself into the Minnesota Miracle Man by taking care of the football and allowing Minnesota's plethora of talent to be unleashed. Sidney Rice and Visanthe Shiancoe have been turned into Pro Bowl players, and Favre's surprising health even at age 40 has defied all odds. And for all the talk of how he has revamped his style of play, Brett has still shown his ability to make the long, game-winning throws. His stats (27 scores and only 6 picks) are incredible, especially at the ripe old age of fourty. His only knocks are his record (they have 2 losses) and the exceptional talent of the Vikings offense; while he may be the biggest piece (with Adrian Peterson as a close second), Favre is still a cog in the Minnesota team.

3. Drew Brees (QB, New Orleans): It's hard to imagine that the man who was leading the league in touchdown passes coming into Week 15 being third on an MVP list, but I honestly think this is where Brees belongs. Sure, his team is undefeated, but the Saints' starting lineup is much less compromised than the Colts' and Brees lacks Brett Favre's argument for age (not only that, but Brees was already established in the Saints offense while Favre came out of his second retired stint just after the end of training camp). But give Mr. Brees some credit; he is a superb playmaker who has willed his team to many improbable and superb victories. But that being said, he's not my pick for MVP.

These three front-runners aside, other quarterbacks who have not even entered the MVP conversation are also playing extremely well. After a rocky start to the season with a terrible offenseive line, Favre's replacement Aaron Rodgers has finally begun to click with his line and is beginning to live up to the hype they established in the preseason. Philip Rivers may well by leading the hottest team in the NFL in the San Diego Chargers, who beat Dallas last week and continue to play inspired offense despite starting their third-string nose guard. All of these deserve whatever props come their way, and possibly more; in any other year, those two (or sensational tailback Chris Johnson, who needs only 125 more rushing yards in each of his next three games to reach the benchmark of 2000) could be the talk of the league.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Saints and Colts Stay Unbeaten...But It Won't Last

While the New England Patriots have lost two straight games for the first time in years and the Minnesota Vikings suffered their second loss of the season to Arizona, things are still looking peachy for Indy and New Orleans. Both are sitting on 12-0 records, both have MVP-caliber quarterbacks in Peyton Manning (who has already won 3) and Drew Brees (who was only a couple of completions shy of Dan Marino's passing yardage record last year) respectively, and both have defenses that come up big when it counts despite giving up pretty large chunks of points (the Saints are ranked 16th in points allowed this season, and while the Colts come in at 2nd in that category they have a tendency to fall behind early despite having the league's 4th ranked offensive attack).

The defenses aren't the only ones that are at their best in the clutch. Manning and the Colts have made fourth-quarter comebacks look easy this season (before last week's contest against the upstart Tennessee Titans they had had five straight come-from-behind victories). Not wanting to be left out, the Saints defeated Washington last week in a wild 33-30 overtime win. I was gunning for the 'Skins to win that game, but as luck would have it their tragic comedy of errors continued against the one team I hoped they would not make a mistake against (I could barely resist throwing something at my television when I saw Kareem Moore fumble the football after intercepting a pass and allow Saints receiver Robert Meachem, who was also the player who stripped Moore in the first place, to carry it 42 yards for a score).

These two teams have proved me wrong so far, but I said it weeks ago and I'll say it again: The Colts and Saints will NOT go undefeated. Sure, the Saints schedule is looking easier and easier from here on out, with the Cowboys as their only credible opponent remaining (I refuse to include the Atlanta Falcons while Matt Ryan is injured). Even so going undefeated is the most difficult to do in the NFL because the quest to perfection paints a large bullseye on the backs on those teams. The toughest part of the season for an undefeated team is at the end, when the talk of being perfect is at full volume. If you'll remember, the undefeated 2007 Patriots had some of their closest games in the final half of the season, against teams that they were expected to crush (including a Ravens group that went 5-11 that year). After pulling out wins against Baltimore and another nailbiter against Philly, the Pats closed out the regular season with a 38-35 victory against the New York Giants. While it cemented their perfect regular season, it was also a sign of things to come, and the once-dominant playoff Patriots were sunk 17-14 by those same Giants in the biggest game of the year. The one loss on their 18-1 mark that year came in the only game that really mattered: the Super Bowl.

While the Pats may have gone undefeated, I am still convinced that this year's contenders won't be so lucky. While the Saints may have avoided a loss by the skin of their teeth last week, the fact remains that the 'Skins have played some terrible football this season (their 3-9 record is evidence enough of that), and to put up such an inspired performance without their best player (Clinton Portis) is an omen of what awaits New Orleans down the stretch. Look for whoever beats them to not have many wins.

As for Indy, they have enough problems as it is without the talk of being perfect. They are dead last in the league in rushing with a dismal 87.7 yards per game, and without the arm of Peyton Manning this team could easily have a .500 record right now. With Bob Sanders sidelined for the season, the defense is far from impenetrable. It just helps when none of the teams in their division have a competent attack across the board. They host Denver next week, so look for the Broncos and their revitalized offense to give the Colts some trouble. After that, they have to go away to Jacksonville (who will more than likely solely be playing the role of spoilers) and then come back to Lucas Oil Stadium to play the Jets on Thursday Night Football. But the place (not necessarily the team) that I think may give the Colts the most problems is Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo, where temperatures are absolutely frigid in January.

The last thing we need is another team going undefeated, let alone two. As much as I love Peyton Manning, I will be praying that he plays great but the Colts lose, and then I'll just have to root for whoever plays the Saints.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Cardinals @ Bears Second Half & Recap: Late Bears Surge Shot Down By Arizona

The Cardinals scored enough points in the first half for an entire game, but weren't done. Worse news for the Bears: while Hunter Hillenmeyer returned to the game, cornerback Charles Tillman (who was victimized by Larry Fitzgerald in the first half of play) left the game with a shoulder injury late in the second quarter. Meanwhile the Chicago offense (who played reasonably well in the first half despite only calling four run plays) started the game off with a quick first down before sputtering. Swarmed by three Cardinals defenders, Cutler was sacked by Chike Okeafor for a loss of 11 yards, forcing the third Bears punt of the day.



Arizona didn't show any signs of a letdown at first as Fitzgerald made a miraculous diving catch off ato keep a drive alive. The Bears would rejoice, however, as they finally forced a Cardinals field goal (excluding the one in the closing seconds of the first half) after Arizona had gone eight for eight on third down through the first half and beginning of the second.



After burning their first time out of the half, the Bears sustained two straight false start penalties (on guard Josh Beekman and center Olin Kreutz), before Cutler gunned a pass to Earl Bennett for 29 yards and a first down. Four plays later, the Bears signal-caller was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct after an incomplete pass on fourth and four, which resulted in 15 yards for Arizona after the turnover (the first of the day for either team).



Three punts (by both teams) later, the Bears showed some life again as Cutler completed three straight passes (two to Hester, who appeared to be having his way with defensive back Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie) and then, after a single incomplete pass, two more before he found Greg Olsen on a 3-yard toss. Cutler hit four different receivers on the drive, including Matt Forte, who had a 28-yard gain after taking a short pass from Cutler.



Arizona put in backup quarterback and former Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart, whose first pass was ruled incomplete but negated due to a pass interference penalty on linebacker Nick Roach. After two runs by Beanie Wells to bring up third-and-short, the Cards committed their first turnover of the day when Leinart threw an interception to Bears cornerback Zack Bowman, who returned it 39 yards to the 33 yard line before being pushed out of bounds. With renewed vigor, Cutler promptly score another touchdown in three plays, finding Greg Olsen for a 20-yard score (the third of the day for both players).

Things kept looking up for Chicago as Hillenmeyer forced a Kurt Warner fumble, but offensive tackle Mike Gandy recovered it in a fortunate turn for Arizona. The glimmer of hope soon faded for the Windy City as the Cards punted and Cutler threw a pick to Matt Ware on the next drive, giving Warner a short field and, after four plays, his fifth TD of the day (a 4-yard pass to Steve Breaston).

Despite one more drive by Chicago, there was no epic comeback today. Chicago's home unbeaten streak has ended, and the score at the final whistle is 41-21.

Bears Verdict - Defense Reeling, Offense Struggles to Keep Up With Cards: Even as devastated as they are by injuries, there is no excuse to be made for the Bears defensive unit's poor play today. It seems to be a case of Murphy's law with them as the injuries mount, and Tommie Harris is almost definitely going to face further suspension by the league for punching Deuce Lutui. The Bears gave up seven yards per rush in the first quarter and 182 yards in all to the league's last-ranked rushing attack. Warner threw for 5 scores and no interceptions.

When a team is that deleted on defense, the offense needs to step up their game, but the Bears aren't yet polished enough to do that. The offensive line has played poorly, allowing 17 sacks of Jay Cutler; while they cannot take all the blame for this, they have not been consistent by any stretch of the imagination. The one interception aside, Cutler had a great game by the standards of most quarterbacks, completing 29 passes for 369 yards and three touchdowns.

How's this for inexperience on offense? Three of the Bears receivers (including Hester and Rashied Davis) came into the NFL as defensive backs, and their two top receivers (other than Hester), Earl Bennett and Johnny Knox, are a second year player and a rookie, respectively. Their best player today was tight end Greg Olsen, who caught 3 touchdowns. The gimmick plays are not working for the Bears, and the running game needs to get much better in order for them to have any hope of salvaging this season.

Cardinals Verdict - Boldin Sits Out, But Balance Prevails: The Cards didn't need Anquan Boldin to beat up on the Bears defense. Larry Fitzgerald caught 9 balls for 123 yards, and the 182 team rushing yards marked a season high. As mentioned before, Warner didn't turn the ball over (although he came perilously close when he fumbled the ball after being sackedby Hunter Hillenmeyer), making the Cards 5-0 when he doesn't turn the ball over. That being said, some problems still remain. Another fourth quarter collapse was just barely averted when Mike Gandy recovered Warner's fumble, which was the ending point in the game that essentially deflated the Bears. Like the Bears, however, Arizona needs to work on their consistency, expecially at home (where they are winless halfway through the season).

Cardinals @ Bears Halftime Report

In what was an unseasonably warm day at Soldier Field in Chicago (the gametime temperature was at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit), the opening action of the Bears-Cardinals game looked like more of what the Bears have seen this season. Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris was ejected from the game early with a completely unnecessary punch to the helmet of the prone Deuce Lutui. Linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer was injured two plays later and taken off the field, replaced by Nick Roach. The Cards capitalized on the 15-yard penalty on Harris (even though they had already been moving the ball effectively) with a short dump pass to Larry Fitzgerald byKurt Warner. Fitzgerald escaped the coverage by Charles Tillman and walked into the endzone for the opening score.

After a disappointing performance against lowly Cleveland last week, Jay Cutler and the Chicago offense came out fast. A 42-yard catch by Hester brought the Bears into Arizona territory, and a deep bomb to tight end Greg Olsen on 3rd and 9 on a deep post pattern finished a short drive for the Bears. While he appeared to be well-covered by safety Adrian Wilson, Olsen adjusted to the throw and opened up a yard of space across the field to catch Cutler's pass. Surprisingly, Chicago did not call one run play on their opening drive.

On Arizona's next possession, a diving catch by Fitzgerald looked suspect but was not challenged by Lovie Smith Two consecutive red zone runs with Hightower and Chris "Beanie" Wells softened up an already weakened Bears defence, and the 13th TD pass of season for Warner to Ben Patrick allowed Arizona to retake the lead. A Bears punt gave the ball back to Arizona, who gave the ball to Wells to break off their longest run of the season, an up-the-gut run that Wells took to the outside for a 26 yard gain. The Cardinals were clicking on all cylinders, and Kurt Warner's 11th straight completion found Larry Fitzgerald (again being covered alone by Tillman) for another touchdown.

The Cards surprised the usually solid Bears special team with a pop-up kick, but Chicago caught a break as referee Ed Hochuli ruled that possession did not belong to Arizona as it first appeared but in fact went to Jay Cutler and the Chicago offense. After a single first down, Cutler ran right into Darnell Docket and was sacked for a nine yard loss, which ended up forcing another punt by Brad Maynard. Once again, the Arizona offense was held to third down multiple times, but managed to convert two 3rd-and-5's as they moved the ball quickly and decisively. A 15-yard reception by Cardinals tight end Anthony Becht (his first of the season) marked Warner's fourth touchdown pass of the day.

Attempting to will his team back into the game, Cutler made more impressive throws. A laser between two defenders to second-year wideout Earl Bennet picked up a key first down, and was followed by a screen to running back Matt Forte. Set back by an offensive pass interference penalty on Greg Olsen, the Bears could only make up 10 yards out of the 20 that they needed. The Robbie Gould field goal was then blocked, and returned 59 yards by Antrell Rolle after falling short, allowing Arizona to tack on a last second field goal of their own to complete a dominant first half. The halftime score: 31-7 Arizona.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Vikings @ Packers Second Half & Recap

Starting off with a 14-point lead (the result of a 17-3 halftime deficit which marked the lowest amount of first half points by a Packers team for a decade), Brett Favre and the Vikings recieved to kick-off to start the second half. The Minnesota momentum was halted by a hard hit on Bernard Berrian by Packers safety Atari Bigby, but Favre zinged a 30-yard pass over the middle to Harvin, who took advantage of a collision between two Packers to sprint into the endzone for a 51-yard score and extend the Vikings' lead to 21.

Aaron Rodgers responded with a long drive down the field, but after he was stopped by Pat Williams on a design quarterback draw, he was consitently stuffed by the Vikings defensive line, and Mason Crosby ended up being called on for another field goal, a chip shot from 26 yards which indicates just how close Green Bay came to scoring.

They would get the ball back on the next kickoff as Crosby hit a squib kick that was fumbled by reserve defensive end Brian Robison, who was probably touching a game ball for the first time in his NFL career. Nevertheless, Green Bay took advatage of his mistake and scored with a short field on a 16-yard toss to tight end and three-way player Spencer Havner.

Brian Robison got back into the game to replace an injured Ray Edwards, and could not get any pressure on Rodgers as the Packers marched downfield. Havner scored again on a 5-yard reception to cap off another drive by an inspired Packer offense, bringing the Vikings' leading down to only 4 points.

That didn't last long, as Harvin's long return was swiftly turned into six points by Favre, who dumped the ball off on a checkdown to fullback Jeff Dugan. In what was shaping up to be another frantic fourth quarter, Rodgers answered with a toss to Greg Jennings, who managed to catch the ball despite being the target of two Vikings penalties (defensive holding and pass interference).

Chris Kluwe's punt was downed inside the 20, but Green Bay's pass offense once again proved prolific enough to match. A bad snap resulted in a fantastic catch by Donald Driver (who was hurt on the play) that was extended by a questionable roughing-the-passer penalty on Ray Edwards. Without Driver, the Pack could not advance any further, and the resulting Crosby kick was wide right.

Favre made his former team pay with his fourth touchdown pass of the day, a quick pass to Bernard Berrian who sat in the hole between two defenders before being thrown into the endzone. The pass set another record for Brett Favre, but I'll get to that. In the end, th final score was 38-24 in favor of the Minnesota Vikings, as Favre continued his winning ways in Lambeau.

Packers Verdict - Favre Proves To Be Greatest Enemy: The man who is regarded by many as Green Bay's most iconic player since the Lombardi era is now also their nemesis. Favre is 2-0 against his former team, having thrown for seven touchdowns and no interceptions. There is little to criticize about Green Bay's play tonight; they fought hard against a powerful Vikings team and fell short, at one time being only four points down. They still need to improve their run game and pass protection, but it's difficult to do that without their starting left tackle. Chad Clifton was active today but did not play, and hopefully he will be available for their next contest.

Vikings Verdict - Favre's Career Day Masks Defensive Deficiencies: I'm frankly tired of saying this, but the Vikings defense needs to play with more consistency quarter-to-quarter. They give up lots of fourth quarter points, and while those nail-biting fourth quarter heroics are good for adding to the legend of #4 they are not the greatest recipe for winning games. Favre's excellence is covering for the weaknesses in the Vikings team. For all the sacks produced by their dominant defensive front, their pass defense is rather weak in the clutch, as evinced by the close margins of their last few games (particularly when it came back to bite them against Pittsburgh). Unless they improve, the defense will end up being Minnesota's undoing when they reach the playoffs and play in elements that may not be quite as conducive to Favre's air-it-out style of play.

Meanwhile, Favre set yet another record today. He passed for four touchdowns for the twenty-first time in his career, breaking the record held by Dan Marino. In the last game against the Packers, he became the first player in NFL history to defeat all 32 teams in the NFL. How's that for Hall of Fame credentials?

Vikings @ Packers Halfime Report

As tired as I am of covering Vikings games, the content of this blog is undeniably affected by what games are broadcast on primetime television, and the excessive drama and attention surrounding Brett Favre (particularly this week, with his homecoming to Green Bay) make for good ratings on the tube (the broadcast even included a "Favre-cam" to stay on the grizzled quarterback for the entire game). Brett has such a taste for drama that when he retires (or perhaps I should say "if" he retires), he should seriously consider appearing on a soap opera.

After the high standards set by the late-game thriller at the Metrodome, Favre's return to Lambeau Field started slowly, with no points coming through the first possessions for either team. A miscue by Vikings center John Sullivan caused a Minnesota fumble that was recovered by the Packers, but Aaron Rodgers could not capitalize on a short field and Green Bay took a Mason Crosby field goal. Rodgers had been criticized by head coach Mike McCarthy for holding onto the ball too long in the last game against Minnesota, and the trend continued today. While they have yet to adequately replace Chad Clifton on the offensive line (and have given up the most sacks in the league as a result), Rodgers still has to be able to distribute better for Green Bay to be successful.

Percy Harvin, who already returned two kickoffs for scores this season, nearly had another one as he brought the next kick 77 yards down to the 15, but it took a headbutt penalty on Johnny Jolly and four Adrian Peterson runs for the Packers to punch the ball into the endzone.

After a Packers punt, Favre passed methodically down the field and found Visanthe Shiancoe on a shallow crossing route for his first touchdown pass of the day. Shiancoe, along with receivers Sidney Rice and Harvin, have developed into solid targets for Favre to accompany running back Adrian Peterson.

A sack on Rodgers by Jared Allen forced the Packers to punt yet again, giving them great field position. But after Peterson broke off a long run to get the Vikings into the red zone, the Packers managed to stand Minnesota up and stuff another 4th-down conversion.

The half ended on a tired note, with the Packers totally unable to move the ball and the Vikings in no hurry to do so. The key stat at the two-minute warning was the yardage for both teams: 100 for Minnesota, 7 for Green Bay.

Week 8 Storylines

New Yorks's Giant Skid Extends To Three Losses Against Eagles (40-17 PHI): The Giants probably raised more questions than they answered with a poor performance against the Philidelphia Eagles. The 40-17 loss marked the Giants' third consecutive loss, and came at a bad time as the now have two weeks to rue their missed chances during a bye week. Most of the problems that have plagued them through the last few weeks persisted; the G-Men were consistently vulnerable to the big play on defense, and DeSean Jackson (who is making big plays left and right this season) took advantage with a 55-yard touchdown reception. Philly later sealed their victory with a 66-yard run by LeSean McCoy, filling in for the injured Brian Westbrook. In addition, the New York offense didn't look quite the same as it did the first five weeks of the year. That's an understatement, given Eli Manning's poor play against New Orleans, Arizona, and now the Eagles. Maybe he needs some more tips from big brother Peyton.

Ravens Hand Denver First Loss of Season (30-7 BAL): Kyle Orton has shown this season that he is efficient, but not explosive. Give him the small stuff and let him complete passes; you can still keep the Broncos out of the endzone. The Ravens defence allowed him to complete 23 of 37 passes, but only allowed 152 yards through the air and, more importantly, seven points. Linebacker Jarret Johnson set the tone early by sacking Orton on the first play of the game and the defence recovered a Knowshon Moreno fumble before Lardarius Webb returned a kickoff 95 yards for a score to essentially put the game out of reach for the Broncos. The Ravens snapped a three-game losing streak as well as putting an end to Denver's hopes of an undefeated season. This will probably end up being good for Josh McDaniel's team, though; talk of going undefeated usually only puts unnecessary pressure on a team, and despite suffering their first loss the Broncos still have their division well in hand.

Slaton Benched As Texans Roll Over Bills (31-10 HOU): Houston won handily in Buffalo despite a poor outing for most of the familiar offensive stars. Tight end Owen Daniels sustained a knee injury that will require season-ending surgery, quarterback Matt Schaub threw two interceptions and no touchdowns, and running back Steve Slaton was benched after a fumble early in the game (his fifth of the season). Despite all that, the Texans scored 31 points. How did they do it? Ryan Moats, a 5th year tailback out of LA Tech, rushed for 126 yards on 23 carries, scoring three times. Three Kris Brown field goals (and one gratuitous two-point conversion from Schaub to Andre Johnson) finished the Bills, who have fallen flat on their faces after two years of hype and promises of improvement. Terrell Owens has been surprisingly quiet as far as talking to the media is concerned, but don't expect that to last too long if Buffalo continues to struggle.

Miami Edges Jets After Frantic Third Quarter (30-25 MIA): The Dolphins hardly even needed an offense to beat the Jets. Wideout Ted Ginn Jr., benched by head coach Tony Sparano, settled into his duties as the returner, tying an NFL record held by seven other players by returning two kickoffs for touchdowns (he is the only player in history to run back two kicks in the same game of 100 yards or more). This came after a dreary first half that featured a scoreless first quarter, and the only players who scored were the kickers. The offenses, not wanting to be left out, turned it on late. Two touchdown passes from Mark Sanchez to Braylon Edwards and Dustin Keller brought the Jets close, but two failed two-point conversions and a Dolphins TD put the game out of reach. This game certainly lived up the its hype, but it will be interesting to see how Rex Ryan reacts to it over the course of the week.

Da Bears Bounce Back Against Browns (30-6 CHI): After an embarassing loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, Chicago needed a win to keep their morale going. They got it against the other Ohio team. Cleveland is quite possibly the worst team in the NFL right now (although I would put the Raiders in over them), and it was the perfect feel-good game for the Bears to come back from as the defence forced five turnovers and Matt Forte scored two touchdowns. I think Chicago will still feel aggravated, though, that they could not do more against a poor Browns team. Forte only rushed for 90 yards (3.5 average) while Cutler threw 1 interception and no touchdowns. Meanwhile, things are looking worse for the beleaguered Browns, who are looking for the lesser of two evils in their potential starting quarterbacks. After what is shaping up to be another down year for Cleveland, I fully expect Eric Mangini to be gone.

St. Louis No Longer Winless, Beats Detroit (17-10 STL): After seven weeks of misery, the Rams finally have escaped the ranks of the winless teams by beating another terrible team in the Detroit Lions, who were missing half of their offensive star power in injured wide receiver Calvin Johnson. Steven Jackson's hard work still paid off, though. Despite coming into the game second in the league in all-purpose yardage and third in rushing, Jackson had not yet scored a touchdown this season. He broke that drought (the longest of his career) with a score against the Lions to cap off a stellar, 149-yard performance. Even if it came against another yearly loser in Detroit, a win is a win, and the Rams and head coach Steve Spagnuolo will be happy to have their first.

Manning, Colts Edge Out San Francisco (18-14 IND): Peyton Manning didn't throw a touchdown in this game, but he won't mind. It was the arm of running back Joseph Addai that gave the Colts the go-ahead score over the 49'ers. Having recieved the ball on a stretch option play (in which the running back has the choice to either run or pass), Addai hit a wide open Reggie Wayne with a lofted left-handed effort that Wayne still had to stretch out for. While Manning did not throw for a score, he restarted the streak that was broken three weeks ago by passing for 347 yards. Were it not for the Saints, the Colts would be the hottest team in football, with Manning showing off his best play since 2003 (that includes the Colts' Super Bowl run in 2006) and the defense looking rejuvenated with safety Bob Sanders (the 2007 Defensive Player of the Year) back in the lineup. As they move to 7-0, they will have to stay on their guard to avoid an upset by their division rivals: the upstart Houston Texans.

Carolina Upsets Arizona In Surprise of the Week (34-21 CAR): Sure, the Panthers won convincingly over what most people had billed as a superior Cardinals team, but don't give the credit to Jake Delhomme. In a dominant performance from both DeAngelo Williams and Johnathan Stewart, Delhomme only attempted 14 passes, completing 7 of them for 90 yards. I should put an asterisk next to that yardage total, as 50 of them came on a long after-the-catch run by Steve Smith. Fortunately for Delhomme (who is essentially in a caretaker role in the Panther offense), Williams and Stewart carried the load with a combined 40 rushes for 245 yards (Stewart also scored two touchdowns). The Panthers D did the rest, forcing six turnovers from Kurt Warner (five of them interceptions), including a leaping pick-six from defensive end Julius Peppers.

Dallas Pounds Seattle, Secure First Place Tie In Divison (38-17 DAL): With the Giants having fallen to the Eagles, Dallas need a win to keep their first place tie with Philly, and they got it in a convincing win over the underachieving Seawhawks. QB Tony Romo looked sharp for the third week in a row, while Patrick Crayton regained the coaches' confidence in his punt return skills with his second punt return for a score in as many games. After a slow start, things are looking up in Big D. The same cannot be said for their opponents, however. Even with the return of veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, the Seahawks are a shadow of the team they were in 2007 (when they were defeated by the Green Bay Packers in the NFC divisional playoffs), let alone the team that made the Super Bowl in 2005. They have one of the worst rush defenses in the league, and this last game made it painfully clear that their pass defense also needs work. Meanwhile, Hasselbeck is showing his wear-and-tear as he clutched his bad ribs after being sacked on Sunday. I think it's time Seattle started looking for another signal-caller, because it looks pretty cloudy as to how much gas Hasselbeck has left in the tank.

Chargers Beat Dismal Oakland For 13th Straight Win Over Raiders (24-17): It's just sad how awful the Oakland Raiders have been for the past four to five seasons. Between them and the equally lowly Kansas City Chiefs, they have a paltry three wins, and essentially make the AFC West the worst division in football (a title the Chargers and Broncos must unfortunately share by association). I think a telling stat is the difference in passing yardage between the Raiders' JaMarus Russel (109) and the Chargers' Philip Rivers (256), despite Rivers only completing two more passes (16 to 14). Oakland can't block, and as a result can't run or pass (the dreaded trifecta from hell). By the way, if the Chargers don't lose to Oakland for four more seasons (something I could definitely see happening) they will break the all time record for the most consecutive wins by one team over another (set at 20 by the Dolphins of the 60's and 70's, who had their way with the Buffalo Bills in that era).

Chris Johnson Drags Titans To First Win Over Jags (30-17 TEN): Despite the potential implications of the headline, Johnson was not the only player on the field for Tennessee, although he did rush for a franchise-record 228 yards on 24 carries (9.5 yards per rush). Quarterback Vince Young, who regained his starting spot after the benching of Kerry Collins, was efficient and mastake-free despite not putting up big numbers, completing 15 of only 18 passes for 125 yards and a score. With Johnson's performance, it's not like Young had to shine, but I think he did well enough to keep his job as the starter for another week (at least he won a game).

New Orleans Wins Again, But Falcons Keep It Close (35-27 NO): I know that the Saints defense can make plays when it counts (such as Jabari Greer's 48-yard interception return yesterday against the Falcons), but for all the talk about how much they have improved they have consistently given up lots of points. They are 20th in the league with 22 points per game scored against them; if it were not for their dominant offense, those numbers would be unforgivable and could be even worse. It has become a persistent problem for New Orleans over the past few years; the only difference is the Saints were losing games before and now they're winning. Despite their current win streak and the fact that they have the easiest remaining schedule in the NFL, I don't think New Orleans will go undefeated. Michael Turner (and Ricky Williams of the Dolphins) have shown that the Saints defense can be rattled if their opponent is effective at running the ball, and the strip-sack by Thomas Decoud (as well as the resulting score by defensive tackle Kroy Bierman) showed that Drew Brees is not as perfect as the Saints' record would suggest. If they don't fall to the New England Patriots (who they play in three weeks), they will likely at least receive a scare from one of the other teams like they did against Miami, and their seemingly blessed luck can't hold out forever.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Vikings @ Steelers Second Half & Recap: Minnesota Undone By Steelers D

The second half of this heated contest started much the same way as the first, with a 16-yard rush to the perimeter by Rashard Mendenhall, who made his fourth start replacing the injured Willy Parker. The Steelers followed it up with an end around to Mike Wallace, which was aided by a facemask penalty on defensive tackle Kevin Williams (incorrectly called on defensive back Karl Paymah). The Vikings gave more help in the form of a late hit by Benny Sapp, filling in for Pro Bowler Antoine Winfield, that gave Pittsburgh 15 more yards. But while the Vikes bent, they didn't break, holding Big Ben and the Steelers offense to another field goal.

Favre and Minnesota came back with a vengeance on their first second half drive, completing a fourth-down conversion to Sidney Rice for a big gain to get 1st-and-goal at the 2. The story of stingy defense continued, however, as the Pittsgurgh defense held the Vikings back, forcing a chip-shot field goal from kicker Ryan Longwell.

After a series of punts, things looked bright for the Steelers as Roethlisberger hit Holmes for long gain in which five or six Vikings missed tackles. But Mendenhall fumbled on the next play for the first turnover of the game. Favre moved the ball on the next drive, but his good throws were stymied by three consecutive penalties (including Steve Hutchinson's first penalty in 27 games). A miraculous tiptoe catch by SidneyRice preserved the drive, and after Adrian Peterson bulled his way down to the 10 the Vikings were set back again by a phantom tripping call that erased a Sidney Rice touchdown.



At 3rd-and-goal, the game was turned on its heels as Brett Favre was stripped and LaMarr Woodley took it back 77 yards for a score. Percy Harvin then reinvigorated Minnesota with a kickoff return for a touchdown, aided immensely by a horrible challenge from kicker Jeff Reed.

Roethlisberger was stripped by debutant Asher Allen, but the Vikes could not capitalize as the ball was fumbled out of bounds. On the next possession, Adrian Peterson created another highlight by crushing William Gay, but it proved all for naught as a Favre pass deflected off Chester Taylor's fingertips and was intercepted by linebacker Kieran Fox. In for Lawrence Timmons, Fox returned his first ever pick for six points and deflated the Vikings, who fall out of the ranks of the undefeated teams.


Vikings Verdict - Defense plays well, but needs consistency: The Minnesota defence has proved that they are legit by looking dominant often, but at times they don't look like it. They lack the killer instinct necessary to finish games, and too often allow opposing offenses to get back into the game. It showed against Baltimore last week and in the second half against the Steelers. That star-studded defense will need to step up their game, but most importantly, they need to stop playing Cover-2. For all its sacks, the vaunted Minnesota pass rush has had trouble gtting the quarterback when they rush only their four down linemen.

Meanwhile, Sidney Rice is looking like a Pro Bowl reciever. He finished the day with 11 catches for 136 yards, reaching the century mark in two consecutive games. He should have had more, as his touchdown pass was negated by a bogus tripping penalty, but no one can question the skill and athletic ability required to bring down his great catch on the sideline.

Steelers Verdict - Defense Saves Steelers, Preserves Win Streak: Two fourth-quarter TD's on interception returns lifted Pittsburgh over the Vikings to their fourth straight win, but there is still a great dea of room for improvement. Mike Wallace had a career day with several nice catches and two runs, but Hines Ward (who entered the game leading the league in receptions) had a measly one catch for three yards. Roethlisberger, who has completed 72% of his passes this season, was 14 for 26 for 175 yards and a lone score. Fortunately, he got it done when it counted, picking apart the Minnesota D on the one touchdown drive as well as those that ended in close field goals.

Vikings @ Steelers Halftime Report: Offenses Sputter Early, Few Points In Pittsburgh

In what has been labeled by most as a defensive struggle, the Vikings-Steelers matchup has lived up to its expectations. The offense was practically non-existent in the first half as both defenses dominated the line of scrimmage. Both offenses were mostly stifled throughout the first quarter, as Minnesota punted on all of their possessions in that span and the Steelers only come away with three points.

Despite starting the game with a first-down run by Rashard Mendenhall, the Steelers then turned to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who came into this game (his first ever against Brett Favre) leading the NFL is passing yardage.

The Steelers reached the red zone first following a failed challenge by Vikings head coach Brad Childress and a wide receiver reverse by Mike Wallace. A suspect offensive pass interference penalty on tight end Heath Miller negated a short touchdown reception by Santonio Holmes, and the sack on Roethlisberger that followed forced Pittsburgh to settle for a field goal.

Mostly unable to run with Adrian Peterson, Minnesota continued its effective use of the West Coast offense employed by Childress, using short, underneath passes to Bernard Berrian, Sidney Rice, and others. William Gay hesitated on a coverage, allowing Vikings wideout and first-round pick Percy Harvin to run up in sit in the hole, offering Favre an easy throwing lane for a 28-yard catch to put the Vikings in the red zone for the first time in the second quarter. After that, Peterson carried it the rest of the way as the Vikings pounded the ball into the endzone close to the goal line. That touchdown, which put the Vikings up 7-3, marked the largest margin any team has led the Steelers this season, which shows just how close all of Pittsburgh's games have been.

Minnesota seemed content to play for field position following the go-ahead TD as they punted with less than two minutes remaining and pinned Mike Tomlin's team down inside their own 10. While he moved the ball efficiently, Roethlisberger nearly threw two interceptions that were fortunately dropped by defenders Tyrell Johnson and E.J. Henderson. Immediately afterwards, he completed two straight passes over the middle to Mike Wallace, who came up big again and scored for Pittsburgh on a 40-yard reception to close out the half.

Minnesota only rushed four players on every play of Pittsburgh's final drive, playing a soft cover-2 defense that allowed Reoethlisberger to find his rhythm. It strongly resembled the last-minute collapse of the Vikings defense at the end of their last game against the Ravens. Something needs to be done about their lack of killer instinct on defense, for their winning streak looks perilously close to ending.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Sunday Storylines

G-Men Embarrassed By Saints (48-27 NO): There's no way to sugarcoat it; the New York Giants got steamrolled by Drew "Scarface" Brees and the Saints, spoiling Eli Manning's homecoming. This game essentially signalled a shift in my ranking of the top 5 teams. The 48-27 scoreline seemed somewhat flattering to the Giants offense, who scored a touchdown late against a Saints defense that looked like it had given up. New Orleans, meanwhile, had seven different players who scored.

Chiefs Pull Out First Win Against 'Skins (14-6 KC): Even at the risk of stroking my own ego, I have to point out that I picked Kansas City to win this game. To be fair, they had considerable help from an awful Washington team. Despite Clinton Portis averaging over 7 yards per carry on his way to a 109-yard performance on the ground, the Redskins offense could not score at all (to be honest, 78 of those yards came on a single run), and starting QB Jason Campbell was benched at halftime in favor of backup Todd Collins. You may remember that Collins led the Redskins to the playoffs several years ago, but don't expect that kind of a miracle this year. Washington is terrible, plain and simple. In the meantime, KC's attack was also anemic; Larry Johnson posted his season-high rushing performance with a paltry 78 yards (3.6 average), Matt Cassel was sacked five times, and most of their points came from Ryan Succop's four field goals.

Lions Fall To Packers In Division Clash (26-0 GB): The high from their first victory in almost two years (over the 'Skins, of course) has worn off, and the Lions are back to their losing ways. Without their two best players in Calvin Johnson and Matt Stafford, no one expected Detroit to stand a chance, but being shut out by Green Bay was still saddening. Backup QB Daunte Culpepper, filling in for Stafford, injured his hamstring and as replaced by Drew Stanton, who threw two picks as the Lions failed to produce a single point. The Packers looked anything but perfect, however; Aaron Rodgers was sacked five times by a lackluster Lions team, continuing Green Bay's woes (they came into the game allowing a league-high 20 sacks).

Panthers Run Over Bucs (28-21 CAR): Coming off a victory over the Redskins, the Carolina Panthers rushed all over the still-winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers, gaining 267 yards on the ground. DeAngelo Williams rushed thirty times for 152 yards and 2 touchdowns, shouldering the load for Carolina along with fellow running back Johnathan Stewart. The game also saw Panthers defensive back Dante Wesley get ejected for a late hit on Bucs punt returner Clifton Smith, and the scuffle that followed set the tone for a tough, physical football game.

Pats Dominate Hapless Titans (59-0 NE): Tom Brady threw five touchdowns in the second quarter (becoming the first quarterback to ever do so in NFL history) and 6 for the game as New England absolutely owned Tennessee. When it seemed things couldn't have gotten any worse for Tennessee, they did as they go into the bye week getting hammered by New England in heavy snow. The scoreline at the half says it all: 45-0. The half sent flashbacks through my mind of the 52-7 rout the 2007 Patriots laid on the Washington Redskins, but that result pales in comparison to the debacle that Tennessee put up. After Brady threw his sixth TD to start the second half, backup Brian Hoyer came in after the Titans committed their fourth turnover by failing a desperate fourth down conversion. Stick a fork in the Titans; they're done.

On a side note, I've really been ragging on Washington lately. I've mentioned them (in a negative light, no less) on almost every headline. But what do you expect when you have inconsistent play, poor coaching, and worse management from the ownership?

Ravens @ Vikings Second Half & Recap: Favre Heroics Prevent Shocker After Wild Fourth Quarter

Brad Childress must have said something to the Vikings offense at halftime. Minnesota had twice as many runs as passes on first drive, prompting some to think that they were getting back to their team identity as a run-first team. Their next possession quickly exposed that as bull when Favre hit Sidney Rice on a short slant for a huge gain after the catch. Despite having first and goal inside the five, the Vikings passed three times and couldn't get into the end zone, settling for a Ryan Longwell field goal. A 39-yard pass interference penalty got the Vikings to first and goal inside the 5 during the third quarter, and the trend continued with another TD pass to Shiancoe after two failed runs.

Despite getting down 30-17 and averaging 1.1 yards per rush, the Ravens refused to quit, setting up the run with the pass. Ray Rice rushed well in the second half behind Flacco's arm, scoring Baltimore's first touchdown on a short scamper and later having a long run to set up their third score. To cap it all off, Rice went untouched into the endzone for the game-tying, 43-yard score after Flacco brought it closer with a bombed pass to Mark Clayton.

Vikings Verdict - First nine minutes made the difference: Despite starting hot with TD's on their first two possessions, the Minnesota offense fizzled out for the remainder of the first quarter and didn't look anywhere near as potent for the rest of the game despite getting two more scores. Adrian Peterson faced more of the same against the Ravens D, grinding out a tough game after not reaching the 100-yard benchmark since he gashed the hopeless Cleveland Browns. Sobering news may be in store for Vikings fans, though, as Peterson was shaken up on a tackle by a Ravens defender and Percy Harvin appeared to reinjure his sore left shoulder.

In the end, it was Brett Favre who carried the day again, essentially assuring the win with a deep shot to Sidney Rice that set up Longwell's game-winning field goal. But Baltimore did expose chinks in the Vikings' armor as the Minnesota defence collapsed in the fourth quarter, giving up 24 points and the lead. If that persists, it seems unlikely that their winning streak will persist much longer, especially if Peterson and Harvin end up missing time.

Ravens Verdict - Missed chances and big plays ail underachieving Ravens: The Ravens run defence still looks stout despite having allowed a 100-yard rusher in three consecutive games. Led by Ray Lewis and their ferocious front seven, Baltimore slowed down Adrian Peterson as well as any NFL defense can hope to do for three quarters before he broke open a 58-yard run with minutes to go. But their weakness over the past few years comes against the pass, where they have been repeatedly exposed by New England, Cincinnati, and now the Vikings. Their secondary is not lacking in star power with Ed Reed, Dawan Landry and Fabian Washington, but they need to fix their problems against the pass if they hope to survive against the pass-happy playoff-bound teams such as the Colts and Saints.

On offense, the Ravens looked magnificent through the air, but their line looked overmatched at times by the dominating Vikings defensive front. Jared Allen and Pat and Kevin Williams made Joe Flacco's day miserable, knocking him down repeatedly and stepping on his foot several times (an experience that hurts like hell, especially when the guy stepping on you weighs more than 260 pounds). Even though he had some great passes, Flacco looks like he misses mammoth offensive tackle Jared Gaither, who sustained a neck injury against the Bengals and missed this game.

Ravens @ Vikings Halftime Report

Most NFL teams dream about moving the ball as easily as the Vikings did on their first two drives; after Adrian Peterson had a 26-yard run on the second play from scrimmage, Brett Favre carried them the rest of the way with a pass to Sidney Rice and the opening score to tight end Visanthe Shiancoe. Their next drive produced more of the same, ending in a TD pass to Bernard Berrian. Meanwhile, the Ravens passed early and often as their first two possessions ended in three-and-outs.

The first nine minutes aside, the biggest plays of the first half were the ones that didn't happen. Derrick Mason was within inches of what would have been an easy touchdown (he was at least ten yards wide open) from Joe Flacco on a pattern that went 60 yards downfield. Later in the second quarter, instant replay overturned an incorrectly called play that was initially judged by referee Mike Carey to be a fumble when Flacco's arm was clearly going forward while he had possession. The "fumble" was then returned for a touchdown by Vikings linebacker Erin Henderson, but was wisely challenged by Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and proved to be an incomplete pass.

The Baltimore showed signs of life when the Minnesota defence let up after the two minute warning, driving down the field on a penalty-ridden drive that brought them into the red zone. The half ended on a positive note for the Ravens with a Steve Hauschka field goal.

In the other matchup of the week between two NFC heavyweights, the New Orleans Saints are currently leading the New York Giants by a score of 27-14, bolstered by three Drew Brees touchdown passes.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Who's Hot & Who's Not

Many teams in the NFL could be presently labeled as "on fire", but there are two kinds of fire: there's the kind when your team appears to be the unstoppable force on their way to a title, and then there's the kind when your team is so bad you just wish the flames would swallow them up completely. Here's the lowdown on the 5 best and 5 worst teams in pro football (and their records through five weeks of play).

Runnin' Hot (ranked worst to best)

These teams are contenders. They have basically erased all doubts and firmly ensconced themselves amongst the NFL elite (at least for thi season). There are no also-rans here. They are the real deal, so it should come as little surprise that they are all undefeated.

5. Denver Broncos (5-0): Most probably had the Broncos written off before the season started (I know I did) due to the turbulent off-season they had. But the wind seems to have died in Denver, as rookie head coach Josh McDaniels has a firmer hold on the team than ever. They just upset McDaniels' former team and mentor in the Patriots and Bill Belichick, proving that they are not pretenders anymore. The Broncos are playing great defense in a 3-4 system despite not really having a dominant nose tackle, so credit goes to McDaniels and defensive coordinator Mike Nolan for assembling that team (particularly a defensive backfield that features Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins). In addition, Kyle Orton seems to have adopted the mantra of the Oakland Raiders ("Just win, baby" and not "Cheating is encouraged") and is now 18-2 at home in his career. His greatest asset is that he doesn't make mistakes, and his succinct management of the Denver offense seems very reminiscent of Brady and the Patriots during their Super Bowl victories in the last decade.

4. Minnesota Vikings (5-0): The Vikings can do most of the things that a Super Bowl caliber team can do. They can run the ball, stop the run and get after the quarterback. Their mammoth defensive line (featuring defensive tackles Pat and Kevin Williams) is playing stout defense as the two tackles are playing as stellar as ever, and former Pro Bowler Jared Allen is returning to the form that made him such a high-end signing when he came over from Kansas City. In addition to sporting arguably the best running back in football in Adrian Peterson, Minnesota finally have a quarterback who is used to high-pressure games. It seems to have rubbed off on the team, who played great in the heavily dramaticized Monday night game against the Packers.

3. Indianapolis Colts (5-0): The Colts may deserve a higher spot on this list (only the return of their key defensive starters will tell us that), but the fact is they live and die on the arm of Peyton Manning. As he rolled to his fifth straight 300-yard game (completing 36 of 44 passes for 309 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Titans), Manning proved that he is probably playing the best ball of his career and, in terms of importance to his team, already has my non-existent vote for MVP. The Colts might be even better now, as safety Bob Sanders and linebacker Gary Brackett practiced this week. The return of those two to the defense should make Indy even more formidable.

2. New Orleans Saints (4-0): The Saints must have most fantasy owners swooning by now. Drew Brees and the New Orleans offense have become the offensive juggernaut everyone thought they could be, and have shown in past weeks that they don't rely too heavily on their quarterback (putting them ahead of Peyton Manning and the Colts) as Mike Bell and others have ran them to victories. But the most important thing for the Saints is that the defense is finally doing their part instead of being a detriment to the team. New defensive coordinator Greg Williams and safety Darren Sharper (who already has five interceptions through four games) seem to have made the difference, and the Saints finally look they may be able to get over the playoff hump.

1. New York Giants (5-0): It's hard to argue with this pick. The G-Men are still playing fantastic football despite injuries to key players such as new acquisitions Chris Canty and Michael Boley. They have the deepest defensive line in all of football (sorry, Vikings) and a solid offense led by QB Eli Manning, who demonstrated his ability to play through the pain as he battled a heel injury. His performance is even more impressive given the young age of the receivers on the Giants roster, which include two rookies in Ramses Barden and first-round pick Hakeem Nicks (both of whom look set to replace Plaxico Burress in years to come).

I would love to see Super Bowl XXIV be a Manning Bowl; I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Crashed & Burning (ranked best to worst)

These teams are, in a word, bad. Just as the five best teams are all unbeaten, most (but not all) of the worst teams are winless. Here's the kicker: the Detroit Lions and St. Louis Rams are not on this list (they probably deserve to be, but they're old news).

5. Tennessee Titans (0-5): The Titans had the best record in the league last year at 13-3 before losing to the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional playoff, so their fall from grace was both swift and unexpected. Their only significant loss was defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth (who signed with the Redskins, who will be featured here as well), but their defense is a shadow of its former self. Admittedly, they're beaten up (Pro Bowler Cortland Finnegan missed another game as he sat out against the Colts), but their running game is not enough to get it done and needs some help from an anemic pass attack. Even so, QB Kerry Collins doesn't seem in danger of losing his job, which seems to point the finger at what has historically been the problem for Tennessee (the wide receivers).

4. Kansas City Chiefs (0-5): Unlike the rest of the teams that follow later in this list, I think I can see a glimmer of hope for the Chiefs. Yeah, sure, they're 0-5. But the nucleus of young talent necessary to build a good team is there. Personally, I don't think it was worth signing Matt Cassel to a $60 million contract this soon (it's too easy to look good in the Patriots offense), but he has showed flashes of the ability to be a franchise quarterback. The Chiefs also have a talented young defense that performed admirably against Dallas in spite of their stagnant offense, particularly their talent-laden defensive line that features 3 of their last 5 first round picks in Glenn Dorsey, Tamba Hali and Tyson Jackson. In short, it's not too late to give up on KC. They're a rebuilding team and they know it, which is more than can be said for the other teams on this list. Even so, with a running game that looks pitiful when Larry Johnson runs the ball, it will be rough going for the Chiefs to get their first win. Or perhaps not; Kansas City plays reeling Washington next week and, in a suprise upset, I pick the Chiefs to get their first win as long as they play with the effort and intensity that they showed against the Cowboys.

3. Washington Redskins (2-3): I smell something burning in D.C. I think it's Jim Zorn's seat as head coach. Record-wise, Washington is the best team on this list at 2-3, but they are still woeful both on and off the field. A loss to previously winless Carolina could probably spell doom for Zorn, but the real shocker was the loss to the Detroit Lions. How could you, Washington? You snapped Detroit's losing streak that was going on two years! Now you've given them hope, and you've given yourself the title of "The Team that Lost It" (at least as far as I'm concerned). Seriously, though, the one who has lost it is Redskins owner Daniel Snyder. How could anyone expect to win with a hastily assembled collection of veteran free agents from different backgrounds and different systems? All those free agent deals are basically the anchor weighing the 'Skins down, and now that they need draft picks to pick up some young guys, they don't have any. Mike Shanahan's shadow may be looming large over Washington, but so long as Snyder keeps running the draft for his team I don't see them getting better anytime soon.

2. Cleveland Browns (1-4): Oh, how the Browns try and try, but the fact remains that it's hard to turn around a perennial loser. Despite squeaking past the Buffalo Bills in what could be the lowest-scoring game of the season (the score at the final whistle was 6-3), the Browns remain in a state of disarray. They just traded their best offensive weapon (wideout Braylon Edwards) to the New York Jets for a 3rd-round pick, 5th-round pick and two special teamers, while their other #1 receiver (Donte Stallworth) is suspended without pay and serving house arrest for DUI manslaughter. "Man-Genius" hardly seems an appropriate moniker for head coach Eric Mangini (personally I think "Man-Jackass" might be more fitting), who has effectively alienated the team with his totalitarian regime, which included charging a player over $1700 for a $3 water bottle that was mistakenly not paid for. Worse yet, he is hardly a change from previous Browns coach Romeo Crennel (another former Patriots assistant for whom I had much more respect). At least Crennel was close with his players.

1. Oakland Raiders (1-4): How the hell did the Raiders beat Kansas City? The team that I saw get drubbed 44-7 by the New York Giants couldn't possibly have won a game. But it's true; the Raiders are 1-4 and, in my opinion (and I'm sure I'm not alone on this) the worst team in the league. You know a team is bad when their owner announces a fire sale of all but their top talent. Confused? That's basically what Al Davis has done. Reports say he has been making calls around the league offering to trade almost all but the Raiders' top young players. There are few ways to interpret this except as a sign that Oakland has given up on the season. The sad part is there isn't much talent to shop for in Oakland. Aside from rookie wide reciever Darrius Heyward-Bey (it's too early to let the hammer fall on him just yet) and running back Darren McFadden, the word is out on the Raiders. Jamarcus Russell looks bad, and by "bad" I mean awful. He doesn't seem to have much of a work ethic; he's consistently overweight and his footwork sucks, leading to missed throws and the lowest completion percentage of any quarterback in the NFL (and also the nickname "Off-the-Marcus", provided by ESPN writer Jason Whitlock). Basically, the Raiders have done too little, too late. While they are shopping their players for picks, they can reminisce about how they gave their first-round selection in 2011 for Patriots defensive lineman Richard Seymour, who probably won't want to return to the dismal Raiders after the one year on his contract expires. Oops.

Carolina and Tampa Bay narrowly avoided making this list. The Panthers beat the 'Skins yesterday so I felt their exclusion was warranted (although Jake Delhomme's ludicrous $42.5 million contract extension was most certainly not), while the Bucs are basically in the same boat as Kansas City and this blog only has room for one rebuilding franchise.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

The Quandary of College Football

There are so very many things to love about college football. The thrill of watching the game combined with a college atmosphere creates a unique experience that every football fan should treasure at least once. Not to mention, the games themselves are high-scoring, free-flowing, and dramatic, rampant with upsets and comebacks from every corner of the country. It is a break from the professionalism, discipline, and defense that marks the professional game and a delightful foray into the experience of college.

That being said, college football is far from the paradise of sport. The BCS ranking system is so muddled that Cincinnati Bearcats (currently ranked #8 in the country) is ranked ahead of a far more prestigous (and superior) school in the #9 Ohio State Buckeyes, not just traditionally but also presently. The Bucks are 4-1, their only loss coming to a USC team that has dominated the Big Ten (and college football in general) for decades. Don't get me wrong; Cincinnati are a great team (their dominant victory at Rutgers during the first week of the season proved as much), but to put them ahead of the Buckeyes because of a loss to USC when the Bearcats have yet to play a ranked opponent (their first such contest will be today against the University of South Florida) seems a mistake to me.

So befuddled are we by this system of college football rankings that President Barack Obama has proposed the installment of a national championship playoff. I personally love this idea, as it allows the broadcasters to get more big games between the best teams in the country (who otherwise would not likely get the opportunity to play one another) and allows all the teams an even shot at the National Championship instead of leaving it to voters to decide which team goes where.

Another problem exists in the college game that irrevocably set it apart from its professional counterpart: lack of parity. The NFL is steeped in collective bargaining agreements and regulations to keep control of its teams and players. No such restrictions are in place for the powerhouses of college football. Just like professional soccer in Europe, the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor. A school's program is only limited by what their athletic department is willing to spend. For schools like Ohio State and USC, the sky is the limit; for the not-so-wealthy schools, fielding a competitive team can be a seemingly insurmountable challenge.

But that makes the victory all the sweeter when the underdog team does rise to the top. And that is why we love college football.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Beginning of Week 4 Marked By High Scores

As Week 4 has gotten underway, it is becoming a week of high-scoring affairs as three teams broke the 30-point mark and three others came dreadfully close. After being tied 21-21 with the suddenly high-flying Lions (who are probably still celebrating the end of their 19-game losing streak), the Bears rallied behind their reinvigorated running game and Jay Cutler to send Detroit plummeting back to earth with a 48-24 victory.

More sobering news for the Tennessee Titans: they drop to 0-4 in another division clash after getting pounded 37-17 by the AFC South's traditionally underachieving Jacksonville Jaguars. David Garrard shredded Tennessee's defense, completing 27 of 37 passes for 323 yards and 3 TD's. Plus, Maurice Jones-Drew was barely featured, rushing only six times for 14 yards (he did manage to get in for a score, though). Things would appear to be going from bad to worse in Nashville, and despite his stellar record as head coach I wouldn't be surprised if Jeff Fisher feels his seat getting warm (assuming, of course, that the Titans don't get better fast).

Staying in the AFC South, the Indianapolis Colts continued to roll as the defeated the injury-plagued Seattle Seahawks. Peyton Manning passed for an average of 8.6 yards, double the yards-per-completion of opposing QB Seneca Wallace, who is still filling in for Matt Hasselbeck. Manning had another monster day, passing for 353 yards and two scores. At 3-0, Indy looks poised to make another playoff run in what looks to be a weak division as Tennessee, Jacksonville and Houston are all .500 or worse. Their star signal-caller also looks like he could easily win a record fourth (and second straight) MVP award. But even as Manning shined in the familiar spotlight, Colts defensive end Robert Mathis had a great performance, sacking Wallace 3 times and forcing two fumbles.

It seems fair to assume that a few other teams will continue the day's high-scoring ways, as the offensive juggernaut that is New Orleans has already put up 17 points against Rex Ryan's New York Jets (perhaps the Jets head coach has now bitten off more than he can chew). Other matchups in which to look for high scores could be the Cowboys and Broncos (look for Dallas to be putting up the points) and the Chargers against the Steelers (which I feel could easily be a shootout between two of the league's best passers in Philip Rivers and Ben Roethlisberger. We'll find out soon enough.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Bears Top Seahawks in Close Thriller

Week 3 of the 2009 NFL season saw the Detroit Lions pick up their first win since 2007, snapping a 19-game streak that allows them to avoid making history for the wrong reason a second time by breaking Tampa Bay's infamous record of 26 straight losses. The Cincinatti Bengals defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers to go 2-1, and if it wasn't for a freak play against the Denver Broncos they could easily be 3-0 (What!?).

But the game most of you probably didn't see took place on the West Coast between the Chicago Bears and the Seattle Seahawks, two teams that made it to the Super Bowl a few years back and seem to have taken on chronic cases of Super Bowl hangover, either failing to make the playoffs or facing an exit far too early for their liking (anyone who remembers Seattle's 42-20 drubbing at the hands of the 2007 Green Bay Packers knows what I'm talking about). Both teams entered the game banged up, the Bears on defense and the Seahawks on both sides of the ball, but most fantasy league owners were probably praying that Matt Forte would run away with the game. Alas, they would be disappointed as he carried 21 for only 66 yards against a Seattle defense lacking star linebacker Lofa Tatupu, but quarterback Jay Cutler made up for it with a stellar performance, completeing 21 0f 27 passes for 247 yards and three scores while only turning the ball over once.

Seahawks Verdict - Injuries = Losses: It's hard to get any more simple than that. Without Tatupu, the Seahawks defense performed valiantly in holding Forte to 66 rushing yards, but they also allowed their first points through the air of the season against the Bears, who are not yet known for their flashy pass attack. The injury that probably hurt the most was Matt Hasselbeck's; Seneca Wallace made too many mistakes in his absence, and the hole left by Hasselbeck is starting to show itself once again as the Seahawks struggled to move the ball when it counted, settling for Olindo Mare field goals and failing a last, desperate fourth down conversion.

Bears Verdict - Cutler going strong, Forte not so much: After a dismal Week 1 showing against the Green Bay Packers, the Bears QB has demonstrated an increased rapport with his recievers, particularly Devin Hester and Johnny Knox. Meanwhile, Matt Forte (who accounted for 36% of Chicago's offensive yardage last year) has continued to struggle, rushing for a poor 2.6 yards per carry through the first three games. While Cutler was able to carry them past Pittsburgh and Seattle, Lovie Smith has made it clear that he is not happy with the offense's lack of balance. When the cold weather comes to the NFC North, the Bears will need to pound the rock, and Forte's production must be better if they are going to sustain their success.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

"Da Bears" Off Defending Champion Steelers

On a day where Brett Favre broke the all-time NFL record for consecutive starts by a non-kicker, a potentially bigger story emerged as the Chicago Bears returned to Soldier Field for their home opener to play the Pittsburgh Steelers. With Jay Cutler's four interceptions against Green Bay and the news that star linebacker and defensive captain Brian Urlacher would miss the rest of the season on Injured Reserve after having surgery on a dislocated wrist, there wasn't too much to be excited about in the Windy City.

That being said, the Steelers were coming into town after a close and hardly convincing win over AFC rival Tennessee with problems on the offensive line and no Troy Polomalu. This setup brought about a clash of young ace quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger and Jay Cutler. At first, the Bears offense looked benign, going 3 and out on their first two possessions while Pittsburgh scored on their opening drive. But after cornerback Charles Tillman intercepted an underthrown Roethlisberger pass, Cutler reinvigorated the offense with a 97-yard drive to end the first half capped off by a 6 yard touchdown pass to tight end Kellen Davis. The game took on the appearance of a slugfest later on as the Steelers scored again and Chicago responded, but two missed field goals by Jeff Reed proved to be the difference as Chicago's kicker, former Pro Bowler Robbie Gould, hit a strike from 44 yards away.

Bears Verdict - Resilient defense ailing, but offense shows signs of life: The Bears injury woes continued as defensive end Alex Brown joined Urlacher and outside linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa on the list of Bears defenders to go down with injuries. On the bright side, however, Jay Cutler looked much more like the player Chicago knew he could be when they traded two first round picks to get him. The Bears also seem to have struck gold with seventh round pick Johnny Knox, a rookie out of Abeline Christian with blazing speed and good hands who led the Bears with 70 recieving yards and the second Chicago touchdown. Knox also showed off his speed on a 50 yard kickoff return that was called back for a holding penalty.

Steelers Verdict - Inconsistency badgers the defending champs: Last week, the Steelers capitalized on two misses by Titans kicker Rob Bironas, but this time it was Jeff Reed who felt the sting of cracking under pressure (it was hard not to feel sorry for him after seeing his expression on the sideline). Even so, the Steelers D performed admirably even without Troy Polomalu, producing an unforgettable highlight in the form of Tyrone Carter's bonecrunching hit on Bears tight end Greg Olsen. Their offensive line also showed flashes of their championship quality as Willy Parker rushed for more than twice as many yards as he did last week. Regrettably, his tally remained a paltry 47 yards as he was dogged by Bears defenders on multiple occasions.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Steelers Top Titans In Overtime Opener

While many may consider today to be the unveiling of the 2009 National Football League, the NFL season kicked off last Thursday with a narrow 13-10 contest as the Tennessee Titans took on the defend Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Defense ruled the day as the game went into overtime before a winner could be decided. Facing dominant defenses, both teams had trouble moving the ball downfield. But no one struggled more than Titans kicker Rob Bironas, who squandered his chances to win the game with two missed field goals (one of which was blocked by Pittsburgh). The Steelers paid for the blocked kick, however, as star safety Troy Polamalu left the game with what was later diagnosed as a sprained MCL, which will likely sideline him for anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks. All in all, the overtime battle between two of last year's best teams proved a dramatic and exciting way to start the season.

Titans Verdict: Albert who? The Tennessee defensive line looked impressive even without Pro Bowler Albert Haynesworth, who inked a $100 million free agent deal with the Washington Redskins. On the negative side, their schedule doesn't seem to get any easier as they host a Houston Texans team that looks to take their division by storm. The next three games, however, will likely seem to be a cake walk before they Titans must play Indianapolis and New England back to back.

Steelers Verdict: Pittsburgh looked like their old selves. This is both good and bad for Pittsburgh. While the defense looked in midseason form against a proven Tennessee team, their offensive line looks as shaky and inconsistent as they did last year. Ben Roethlisberger was hit hard several times, and the running game was sub par just like they were last season. While they might have won the Super Bowl last year, I do not see their chances of a repeat looking too bright if they continue to play as they did Thursday night, especially after the Madden curse struck again in the form of Polamalu's injury.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

He's Back!

After both he and the Minnesota Vikings released public statements allegedly condemning the possibility of a deal between them, Brett Favre is now a Minnesota Viking. His roller coaster of a career is once again on the move, and it is difficult to not question his motivation in this latest venture.

Personally, I do not believe that Favre would have joined up with Minnesota if he was not committed to playing for them in games. He wants to play in the games, and likely would not have signed with the Vikings if he had not been guaranteed the starting job. That being said, he stated that he did not want to stay in a dormitory (his excuse for skipping Vikings training camp) and his story describing the circumstances of his return remains doubtful at best. As tearful and compelling as it was, many fans appear to remain skeptical and unconvinced by Mr. Favre's explanation that he did not return to the NFL to get revenge against the Green Bay Packers.

While the circumstances of his second NFL comeback may be in question, the fact remains that he is now in Minnesota. After only spending a week in a Vikings uniform, Favre started their game against the Kansas City Chiefs and looked unimpressive, going 1 for 4 for 5 yards on two series as the Vikings won out. Despite #4's initial struggles, the Vikings look as poised for success as ever. Sporting one of the best running back tandems in the league in Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor as well as a tremendously stout defense, it appears that all Favre will have to do to win is take advantage of the 8-man fronts he will see due to the presence of Peterson. In addition, Favre should not have as much trouble adjusting to Minnesota as he did New York. He has played in the Vikings' division and offense for 16 years; once he is familiar with the personnel, the rest should take care of itself.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Brady Shines in First Preseason Game, Others Stumble

The Hall of Fame weekend kicked off the beginning of preseason football. For his part, Tom Brady played well in his first game since returning from injury. The same can be said of few others. Brady was 10 for 15 for 100 yards, 2 TD's and one interception; while not all of his passes were as razor sharp as they might have been during his 2007 MVP campaign, he looked almost like his old self again.

Many of the other high-profile quarterbacks struggled in their first action of the season. Drew Brees and Peyton Manning were both 1 for 2; while this could be attributed to them being held out by their respective teams, Manning didn't look comfortable against a dominant Minnesota defense that recorded three sacks in total. Brees had it easier, playing against a historically lackluster and once again unimpressive Cincinnati team.

Jay Cutler failed to make an impression in his Bears debut, throwing a pick on the first series and nearly throwing another that was fortunately dropped. Even more fortunate for Chicago was the recovery if a muffed punt on the very next play. Even with this advanced field position, Cutler could not get the Bears into the endzone.

But it will be hard to argue that any starting quarterback has a worse game than Kyle Orton, who threw three interceptions for the Denver Broncos before Josh McDaniels substituted him in a seemingly merciful gesture. McDaniels, meanwhile, continues to look the fool for facilitating the trade for Jay Cutler. It should be noted, however, that McDaniels' last protégé (Chiefs QB Matt Cassel, who was with McDaniels in New England last year) also struggled mightily in preseason before going on the throw for 3,600 yards and 21 touchdowns a year ago.

Long story short: anything can happen.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Hall of Fame Welcomes 2009 Class

As I'm sure most of the fans who were paying attention to the NFL this weekend, six new enshrinees were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last weekend in Canton, Ohio. In case you were not, here is a brief review of the Hall of Fame class of 2009 (in no particular order):

1. Ralph Wilson, Jr.: The founder and longtime owner of the Buffalo Bills, Ralph Wilson has been instrumental in creating the National Football League as we know it today. He was a founding member of the 8-team American Football League in 1959, and aided in the planning and execution of the merger between the AFL and the NFL. Years later, he would oversee the Bills' unprecedented run of four consecutive Super Bowls, which would feature the next person in the Class of 2009.

2. Bruce Smith: A perennial Pro Bowler and a 19-year veteran by the end of his career, Bruce Smith still holds the all-time career sack record in the NFL with a whopping 200, a figure that doesn't look likely to be broken anytime soon (the closest active player is Jason Taylor, who now appears to be languishing back in Miami still 78.5 sacks behind). Smith terrorized the edge as the familiar face of the Buffalo Bills franchise in the 80's and 90's, where he played as the key defensive end during the aforementioned Super Bowl run. Although he (and all the other Bills players in the Hall) never got a ring, his accomplishments should not be at all diminished.

3. Randall McDaniel: While undersized and awkward-looking (you may remember his peculiar three point stance with his left foot splayed out to the side), McDaniel is still regarded as one of the greatest, most versatile guards to play the game. In a world where there never seem to be any numbers for offensive linemen, try this: Randall McDaniel blocked for six 3,000-yard passers in his career, started 202 consecutive games in 14 seasons, and made 12 consecutive Pro Bowls (1989-2000) within the same span (still an NFL Record). Regardless of position, those are impressive, Hall of Fame quality stats.

4. Bob Hayes: Known to many as "the Bullet" and quite possibly the fastest man to ever play in the NFL, Hayes has the honor of being the only man to ever win both an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl ring. In ten seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, Hayes scored over 70 touchdowns and became the first player in the history of the Dallas Cowboys to catch for over 1000 yards. He was a key player in winning Dallas' first Super Bowl in 1972. Despite his reputation as a track man, Hayes was succinctly described by teammate and Hall of Fame presenter Roger Staubach as "a football player who also ran track, not a track star who played football". There is little doubt that Hayes changed the game with both his blazing speed and his prodigious talent.

5. Derrick Thomas: One of the best pass rushers of all-time, Derrick Thomas was voted to 8 Pro Bowls during his 11-year career with the Kansas City Chiefs, including his rookie season in 1989, when he became the first rookie Kansas City linebacker selected to a Pro Bowl since fellow Hall of Famer Bobby Bell in 1968. Thomas is ranked among another prestigious club; he is one of only 22 NFL players to reach the benchmark of 100 or more career sacks with 126.5 in total. Perhaps his crowning achievement is his record for the most sacks in a single game, when he officially recorded seven against the Seattle Seahawks in 1990.

6. Rod Woodson: Last but most certainly not least, Rod Woodson shined in a brilliant 20 year career with four teams, including 10 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Third on the list of all-time interceptions, Woodson was named to the NFL's 75th-anniversary team in only his seventh year in the league and made 3 Super Bowl appearances throughout his career (one each with the Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and Oakland Raiders), winning once. Woodson also holds the distinction of being the only first-ballot Hall of Famer in this year's class (meaning this was the first year he was eligible for Hall of Fame induction).

It goes without saying that all of these men deserve our utmost respect for their accomplishments both on and off the gridiron.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Favre Gone Too Far?

Brett Favre's impending decision on his return to the NFL for a 19th season has been drawing eyes from around the league, but particularly from the NFC North, where both the team that made him a legend (the Green Bay Packers) and the team that seeks to reenlist him into professional football (the Minnesota Vikings) reside. Despite Favre's dubious comments supporting the contrary ("Once you quit, you can never go back.") it seems quite likely that he will once again be under center for an NFL team.

Is it the right move for Favre? Probably. As far as he's concerned, if he wants to play and someone is willing to take him, what he does is his business. Despite his advancing age and ailing health (he's recovering from surgery on a partially torn muscle in his throwing arm), no one can question Favre's determination to play the game as long as he is able.

But the question of whether or not his return is the right move for the Vikings remains to be seen. Minnesota is on the cusp of being a Super Bowl team. But while they have a superb defense and punishing ground attack, they are lacking a quarterback who can guide them to the Super Bowl. Because of his long experience and natural arm strength, Favre seems the ideal candidate for the Vikings’ job. But what Minnesota needs is a game manager—someone who can instill enough fear with the pass to allow their run game to take over—not an archetypical gunslinger like Brett Favre who will sometimes throw as many interceptions as touchdowns.

With Percy Harvin, Bernard Berrian, and Sidney Rice as the Viking’s receivers (not to mention the running back tandem of Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor), the Vikings can make a compelling case for Favre to return, but last year’s ill-fated end with the Jets (and the up-and-down season preceding it) should have shown him that his days as the NFL’s iron man are numbered. With this next attempt at a comeback, could Favre do more harm than good. Favre has been known to only come back if he is promised the starting job, and is not well known for tutoring younger quarterbacks at his previous stops. This does not bode well for up-and-coming Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson, who displayed signs of promise at the end of last season despite a disappointing playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Obviously, the Vikings would not be making this move if they thought Jackson or fellow quarterback Sage Rosenfels could get them to the Super Bowl. This situation still remains a gamble of risk versus reward, a one year shot for the championship with Favre. This year, the whole league will watch Minnesota with keen interest.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Hundred Million Dollar Man Graces the Pitch, Not the Gridiron

Today I'll take a reprieve from the NFL to discuss what the rest of the world knows as "football." The Confederations Cup, regarded by many as the precursor to the World Cup, is well underway and the U.S. already eliminated. As saddened as I am by this, I can hardly say I am particularly surprised by the result.

Despite certain fanatical advocates who claim that Major League Soccer is on even footing with the top European teams, the general concensus remains that there is a clear desparity across the pond. And why shouldn't it be this way? In Europe, "football" is perhaps the most widespread commercial enterprise, attracting high-end attention from the likes of a former Italian Prime Minister (Silvio Berlusconi, owner of Serie A club AC Milan) and a Russian oil tycoon (Roman Abramovich, owner of English Premier League team Chelsea FC). In America, some wouldn't even consider it a sideshow to the Superbowl, the World Series, and the NBA Finals.

So what separates the two sides: the Americans and the Europeans? First of all, TV exposure and other such monetary opportunities ensure that only the big-time clubs compete against US club (imagine the Superbowl champs going to play against NFL Europa teams). This favor towards international giants is understandable given the appeal of such teams to the United States audience, but in the end it skews the results of such friendly matches. Such irregular competition is not the best formula to decide who has the competitive edge.

Differences in league rules are also a divisive force between the U.S. and Europe. The United States uses the draft system for nearly every sprt of any national acclaim, which is aimed towards increasing the competitiveness and parity of the participating teams. The idea of allowing the worst team to choose the best potential player is thoroughly American, for it is not often shared by the rest of the sports world.

European soccer (and generally the rest of the world's leagues as well) is based almost purely on capital: the club with the most money can get the best players, ideally translating into success. There is no draft process, making it more similar to college football than the NFL. The transfers of Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo and AC Milan midfielder Kaka (for $102 million and $92 million, respectively) exemplifies the idea that permeates the world of professional football: the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.

In addition, the leagues themselves affect the status of their clubs. The MLS, NFL, and MLB are all singular entities that represent all the franchises in their respective leagues. In Europe, each club is its own independent organization; while they are tied to a collective governing body in nation Football Associations and FIFA, the restrictions imposed upon these clubs are much less strict than those of American sports. The European transfer market is essentially unregulated, allowing any team with enough dough to buy as many players as they want. There is no salary cap because wage budgets are set by the individual owners, allowing clubs to pay players as much as is required to get their signature.

Since Major League Soccer lacks any such transfer market (and any deals from outside have to go through the MLS, which owns the rights to all player contracts), it is difficult to make a fitting analogy that will strike a chord with American readers who do not follow intercontinental soccer. To illustrate the dominance of wealth, imagine if one NFL team held the top four picks in the Draft. In addition, they can pay each player as much as they wish, with no restrictions on incentives or contracts. An epitome of parity and fairness? I think not.

So when the MLS is accused of being a weaker league, I think we should take pride in the fact that we have a system that fosters competition and the opportunity for success for all.