Brees is chasing Dan Marino's all time yardage record, and faces a Suh-less Detroit

By Kyle Soppe

Perfection and imperfecti0n remain hot topics of discussion. No way we could see both happen, right? This week poses a challenge for the Packers, but the Colts head to Foxborough as 20 point underdogs! The Lions face a machine in Drew Brees without Suh, putting them at a severe disadvantage. Tim Tebow faces a run stuffing oriented team in the Vikings, will the play book open up a little bit? Let’s get your thoughts on my picks for week 13.

Thursday

Philadelphia (-30 @ Seattle – Eagles 24-17
Sunday

Tenenessee (+1.5) @ Buffalo – Titans 24-20

Kansas City @ Chicago (-7) – Bears 27-17

Oakland (+3) @ Miami – Raiders 23-20

Cincinnati (+6.5) @ Pittsburgh – Steelers 24-20

Baltimore (-6.5) @ Cleveland – Ravens 31-13

New York Jets (-3) @ Washington – Jets 16-10

Atlanta (-3) @ Houston – Falcons 27-20

Carolina @ Tampa Bay (-3) – Bucs 28-21

Detroit (+8.5) @ New Orleans – Saints 34-27

Denver (pk) @ Minnesota – Broncos 24-23

St. Louis @ San Francisco (-13) – 49ers 31-14

Dallas (-4) @ Arizona – Cowboys 34-20

Green Bay (-7) @ New York Giants – Packers 35-24

Indianapolis (+20) @ New England – Patriots 40-21

San Diego (-2.5) @ Jacksonville – Chargers 20-17

Courtesy of nfl.com

By TLarner

Monday’s Results

New Orleans squeaked out a victory in a close battle with the San Francisco 49ers. With little over a minute left in the game, Saints’ kicker Garrett Hartley connected on a 37-yard field goal to give New Orleans a 25-22 lead. Drew Brees threw two touchdown passes. Pierre Thomas ran for 46 yards, and added 57 receiving yards. 49ers’ QB Alex Smith threw for 275 yards, one score, and two picks. Frank Gore ran for 112 yards and a touchdown while adding 56 yards receiving and another score. Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Willis had a game high eight tackles and a sack for San Fran. The Saints enter Week 3 undefeated, while the 49ers dropped to 0-2. Also on Monday night, the 49ers retired Jerry Rice’s No. 80 at halftime.

News & Notes

Denver Broncos wide receiver Kenny McKinley was found dead at his home on Monday. Investigators believe he took his own life. Reports say that McKinley was depressed after suffering a season ending knee injury. Our thoughts and prayers go out to McKinley’s family and the Broncos organization.

Jets’ receiver Braylon Edwards was charged with a DWI earlier this week. His blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit when he was stopped. Left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson and defensive end Vernon Gholston were also with Edwards. If found guilty, the drunk driving charge would violate the probation Edwards is currently facing after getting in a fight in Cleveland last year, and he could face jail time. Due to the collective bargaining agreement, New York cannot deactivate Edwards for this Sunday’s game in Miami without facing violations. Coach Rex Ryan has said Edwards will play, but not start. Expect a heavy punishment from NFL Commissioner Rodger Goodell soon.

Kevin Kolb was named the starter for Week 3 on Monday by Philadelphia Head Coach Andy Reid. A few days later, he changed his mind. Michael Vick has been named the Eagles’ starting quarterback. Vick has resurrected his career in the past two weeks while Kolb recovered from a concussion. He threw for 459 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for another 140 yards. Reports say teams have contacted the Eagles about acquiring Kolb.

The Oakland Raiders are letting Jason Campbell watch the game from the bench this week. Backup Bruce Gradkowski will start Sunday against Arizona. Last season, Gradkowski started 4 games in place of JaMarcus Russell, and threw for over 1,000 yards, six touchdown, and finished with a 80.6 passer rating before suffering a season ending injury.

The Ravens and their top draft pick Sergio Kindle have agreed to a one-year deal. Kindle, a second round pick, fractured his skull after falling down two flights of stairs only days before training camp began. Kindle won’t play this year, and will be placed on injured reserve.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Tanard Jackson was suspended until the 2011 season after violating the substance-abuse policy. The four year pro from Syracuse was also suspended the first four games last season for violating the same policy. Jackson was a key piece of the improved Buccaneer defense that has helped the team to a surprising 2-0 start. In 12 starts in 2009, he recorded five interceptions and returned two for touchdowns. Rookie Cody Grimm, son of Hall of Famer Russ Grimm, will replace Jackson.

Injury Report

Arizona Cardinals running back Beanie Wells will play this weekend after missing the first two weeks with a bruised knee. Wells has participated in practice all week and reportedly feels much better than in previous weeks. Wells led the Cardinals in rushing yards last season as a rookie.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Jake Delhomme will miss his second consecutive game due to a high ankle sprain suffered in Week 1. Delhomme has yet to be cleared to practice, and is still wearing a walking boot. Seneca Wallace will make another start this week.

Percy Harvin returned to practice Thursday after suffering from another migraine headache earlier in the week. Harvin said it had been nearly six weeks since his last migraine, which plagued him throughout the preseason. Harvin is also recovering from a strained hip. To help out a depleted receiving group, the Minnesota Vikings signed former Eagle Hank Baskett.

Courtesy of nfl.com

Saints’ star Reggie Bush will miss at least six weeks with a broken leg. Bush suffered the injury in the Monday night win over San Francisco. Ladell Betts was signed this week to strengthen the New Orleans’ backfield in Bush’s absence.

San Diego Chargers’ running back Ryan Mathews will most likely sit out this Sunday. Mathews sprained his right ankle last week against Jacksonville, and has missed significant practice time this week. Mike Tolbert is expected to start. Last week, Tolbert ran for 82 yards and two touchdowns in relief of Mathews.

The Steelers will start quarterback Charlie Batch this weekend due to injuries to their other two quarterbacks. Bryon Leftwich is recovering from a knee injury he suffered during the final preseason game, and may be ready to return within the next week. Dennis Dixon underwent knee surgery on Wednesday. Dixon has a torn meniscus and could miss the rest of the season.

Game of the Week: Green Bay at Chicago

 The Week 3 Game of the Week is a battle between two undefeated teams on Monday Night Football. NFC North rivals Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears will fight to for the number one spot in the division. The Packers, led by Aaron Rodgers, have been dominating just as expected. However, the Bears are one of the surprise teams three weeks into the season.

Courtesy of nfl.com

Green Bay was a preseason favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. Last week, they dominated the Buffalo Bills in a 34-7 win. Strong defense has been a big reason for the team’s success in the past few years. So far in 2010, the Packers defense ranks third in the league in yards allowed per game (253.0) and first in sacks (10). Outside linebacker Clay Matthews leads the league with six sacks. The offense was dealt a significant blow when starting running back Ryan Grant was placed on injured reserve with an injured right ankle. Grant, who had surgery on Tuesday, had rushed for at least 1,200 yards in each of the past two seasons. Brandon Jackson has stepped in for Grant, while John Kuhn has also earned some time in the backfield.

Chicago’s 2-0 start has shocked many. After finishing last season 7-9, the Bears are off to their best start since 2006 when they went to the Super Bowl. Offensive coordinator Mike Martz has worked wonders with an offense that was little more than horrible in 2009. Quarterback Jay Cutler, who led the NFL in interceptions last season, has completed 68.8% of his passes for 649 yards and five touchdowns in the first two weeks of 2010. His 121.2 passer rating is currently the best in the league. Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Urlacher, who suffered a season ending wrist injury in Week 1 in 2009, appears to be back to full strength. His defense has allowed a mere 28 yards per game on the ground. Defensive end Julius Peppers, Chicago’s big offseason acquisition, recorded his first sack as a Bear in Week 1 against Detroit.

Key Matchup: Aaron Rodgers vs. Jay Cutler

This game is all about the two starting quarterbacks. Neither team has done a great job on the ground, so this game will most likely be decided through the air. Aaron Rodgers has proved he was the right man to replace Brett Favre in Green Bay. In the past two seasons, he has thrown for over 8,400 yards and 58 touchdowns. He is off to another good start in 2010 with 443 yards and four touchdowns. He also has a rushing touchdown. While Chicago is 27th in passing yards allowed, they have only allowed one touchdown compared to three picks.

Jay Cutler struggled mightily in 2009. He led the NFL with 26 interceptions after two good years in Denver. In his second year in Chicago, he looks like a whole new man. His completion percentage is up eight percent, and he has only one interception so far. His 649 yards ranks third in the league. Cutler has spread the ball around well, too. All seven players who have been targeted have at least five catches. Cutler has a tough challenge ahead of him this week. The Green Bay defense has allowed on 116.5 passing yards per game. Opposing quarterbacks average a 67.9 passer rating.

Prediction

As anticipated, Green Bay has started off the 2010 season on the right foot. The Bears have done a great job exceeding expectations so far. However, their luck runs out this Monday night. The Packers have done a great job getting after the oppositions quarterback. Chicago has questions at left tackle with Chris Williams nursing a hamstring injury. If Clay Mathews can get to Cutler, it will be a long day for the Bears. Aaron Rodgers should have another good game as usual. I don’t expect a high scoring affair as both teams have been playing good defense this year, but Green Bay will leave Chicago 3-0.

Best of the Rest (Home team in italics)

New York Giants over Tennessee

Cincinnati over Carolina

Tampa Bay over Pittsburgh

New England over Buffalo

Baltimore over Cleveland

San Francisco over Kansas City

Houston over Dallas

Minnesota over Detroit

New Orleans over Atlanta

Washington over St. Louis

Philadelphia over Jacksonville

Indianapolis over  Denver

Arizona over Oakland

San Diego over Seattle

New York Jets over Miami

Last week’s results: 10-6

Have any NFL Splinters? Share them here.

Courtesy of philadelphiaeagles.com

By TLarner

The season keeps on rolling as Week 2 is almost in the books. We saw many stars shine, and many more fade on Sunday. Tonight’s game is sure to keep us on the edge of our couches and recliners.

Quarterback Controversy in Philly

Kevin Kolb was out this weekend while recovering from last week’s concussion. Michael Vick looked great in relief of Kolb last week, and started his first game since 2006 yesterday. And it looked like he hadn’t missed a step. Detroit also had to use their reserves as backup QB Shaun Hill got the start for the injured Matthew Stafford. Vick began an offensive showdown with the Lions by connecting with receiver DeSean Jackson for a 45-yard score. Lions’ rookie running back Jahvid Best answered with a rushing touchdown in the first quarter. Best got the best of the Eagles’ defense by then taking a 75-yard screen pass to the house, making the score 17-7 Detroit. Then, the Eagles took charge with four unanswered touchdowns. Vick showed his elusiveness throughout the game that made him a threat in Atlanta. He was able to shake multiple pass rushes, and found Jeremy Maclin for a score before the half. Eagles’ running back LeSean McCoy had three rushing touchdowns, including a 46-yarder in the fourth quarter. Detroit made it interesting in the end, as Best, who is one letter away from being a “Beast”, found the end zone again. Hill later hit Calvin Johnson for a touchdown, narrowing the deficit to three as the Lions trailed 35-32. Detroit then recovered an onside kick with less than two minutes remaining. Fortunately for Head Coach Andy Reid, the Philadelphia defense shutdown Hill on fourth down to end the threat. Vick finished with 284 yards and the two touchdown passes. Now all the buzz around Philadelphia is who should Coach Reid start next week, Kolb, the future of the franchise, or Vick, who has been on fire in the past two games?

How ’bout Them Cowboys?

The Dallas Cowboys fell to an 0-2 start after their loss to Chicago on Sunday. Quarterback Tony Romo had another disappointing game as the Bears won 27-20. Romo finished with 2 interceptions, while Jay Cutler is looking hot in his second game, going 21-29 with three touchdowns. Also note that neither team was able to effectively run the ball. Chicago’s defense made an early statement when corner Charles Tillman jarred the ball loose from receiver Miles Austin, and D.J. Moore was able to pluck the ball out of the air before it hit the ground. However, Dallas answered with a 62 yard punt return by rookie first round pick Dez Bryant to take a 7-3 lead. After Cutler threw a touchdown to Greg Olsen, Dallas took 14-10 lead when another rookie, Chris Gronkowski, caught a one-yard TD pass from Romo. Devin Hester made a beautiful one-handed grab in the corner of the end zone, and the Bears went up 20-14. Cutler, who ran Mike Martz’s offense to perfection, then found Matt Forte for another touchdown. With a 27-17 lead, the Chicago defense strips Dallas receiver Roy Williams to end a must score drive.

Jets’ Offense Ready for Takeoff

The New York Jets recovered from a one point loss to Baltimore by easily handling their division rival New England. While Mark Sanchez looked rather awful last week, he shined against the Patriots. Sanchez threw for 220 yards and three touchdowns. Braylon Edwards, Dustin Keller, and Jerricho Cotchery each caught a touchdown. Ladainian Tomlinson lead the ground game with 76 yards and Shonn Green added 52 yards. Tom Brady looked good early, hitting Randy Moss and Wes Welker for touchdowns in the first half. Following Moss’s one-handed touchdown catch, Jets’ corner Darrelle Revis left the game with a hamstring injury, and is expected to miss a week or two. In the second half, Brady was picked off by Antonio Cromartie and Brodney Pool. In the fourth quarter, Jason Taylor sacked Brady, forcing a fumble, which was scooped up by linebacker David Harris, sealing the Patriots’ fate. While Sanchez was sharp in Week 2, the New England defense is considerably weaker than that of the Ravens. I’m looking forward to see if he can continue this level of play against a stronger opponent.

Game of the Week Results

Courtesy of colts.com

My Week 2 Game of the Week ended just the way I had expected. There was no looking back for Indianapolis as they defeated the New York Giants 38-14. Did anyone really expect the Colts to fall to 0-2 to start the 2010 season? Not with Peyton Manning calling the shots. Even as adults, little brother Eli is still getting beaten up by his older brother.

In my Key Match-up, I stated the team who ran the ball better would win the game. In their Week 1 meeting with Houston, not only did the Texans gash the Colts’ defense on the ground, Indy couldn’t run the ball. Last night, Joseph Addai and Donald Brown sparked the ground game with a combined 161 yards and a touchdown on 36 carries. Compare those numbers to the loss against Houston, when Addai had only 44 yards on 10 carries. Peyton was his typical self, completing 20 of his 26 passes for 255 yards and three touchdowns. He spread the ball around as Austin Collie, Dallas Clark, and Reggie Wayne all caught a touchdown pass.

Eli was smothered by the pass rush of Indianapolis. Star defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis each had two sacks. Each also forced Eli to fumble the ball on a sack. Defensive tackle Fili Moala recovered Freeney’s forced fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. Eli was able to find Mario Manningham in the third quarter and Hakeem Nicks with less than 10 seconds left in the game for touchdowns. Ahmad Bradshaw ran for 89 yards, but Brandon Jacobs only had eight yards on four carries. In his frustration, he threw his helmet, which ended up about 10 rows in the stands. Peyton is now 2-0 against Eli and both teams end Week 2 at 1-1.

Remaining Scores from Sunday

• Buffalo-7
• Green Bay-34

• Miami-14
• Minnesota-10

• Kansas City-16
• Cleveland-14

• Arizona-7
• Atlanta-41

• Tampa Bay-20
• Carolina-7

• Baltimore-10
• Cincinnati-15

• Pittsburgh-19
• Tennessee-11

• Seattle-14
• Denver-31

• St. Louis-14
• Oakland-16

• Houston-30
• Washington-27

• Jacksonville-13
• San Diego-38

Courtesy of neworleanssaints.com

Monday Night Football

Tonight, the New Orleans Saints travel west to face the San Francisco 49ers. The Saints were able to sneak past the Vikings last week in the first game of the 2010 season. The 49ers were preseason favorites to win the NFC West, but were manhandled by the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1. San Fran Coach Mike Singletary has been vocal about his belief that his 49ers can take down the Super Bowl Champions.

Drew Brees and his offense was quiet against Minnesota. If the 49ers’ defense plays like they did last week, expect Brees, Reggie Bush, and Marques Colstonto light up the scoreboard. However, linebacker Patrick Willis of San Francisco is arguably the best defender in the NFL, and he won’t give up without a fight. Running back Frank Gore is looking to get the ground game running on all cylinders.

I expect a rather easy victory for the Saints. Offensively, they have too many weapons for the 49ers’ defense to cover. Bush, Colston, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem, and Jeremy Shockey are all big time threats for Brees to connect with. Pierre Thomas was effective on the ground last week, too. The Saints’ defense, which specializes as causing turnovers, will give opposing quarterback Alex Smith headaches. “Who Dat?”

Have NFL Splinters? Share them here.

By TLarner

Are you ready for some football? After a thrilling Saturday of college ball, the 2010 NFL regular season begins September 12th with a full slate of hard-hitting action.

Ragin’ Cajun

We all got a taste of the grid iron on Thursday with the Saints topping Brett’s Vikings at the Superdome 14-9. Favre went 15-27 for 171 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. I said the Vikings would need a big game from Adrian Peterson if they wanted to win, and while Peterson had a game high 87 yards rushing, he was held out of the end zone. Without his top wide out Sidney Rice, tight end Visanthe Shiancoe stepped up as Favre’s number one target with four grabs for 76 yards and a touchdown. Favre’s pick came on a poor throw while being tackled by Saints’ safety Roman Harper. New Orleans’ defense looks to have improved from last season, as they held Minnesota to only 253 total yards. Jonathan Vilma came away with the interception, and Sedrick Ellis recorded his first sack of the year. Drew Brees threw for 237 yards and a score to Devery Henderson in the first quarter to take an early lead. Pierre Thomas finished with 71 yards and a rushing touchdown after seeing very few carries in the first half. Marques Colston had five catches for 62 yards, and Reggie Bush added 47 total yards. Kicker Garrett Hartley missed two field goals that could have padded the Saints’ lead.

Notes from around the league

Cincinnati defensive end Antwan Odom will play Sunday against the Patriots. Odom tested positive for a banned substance, but says the substance is in a prescription medication. No suspension is expected to be handed down.

After getting in an accident early Thursday morning, Tom Brady will have plenty of extra cash for a fleet of new cars. The New England quarterback just signed a four-year, $72 million extension, making him the highest paid player in the NFL. He was also elected a team captain.

49ers tight end Vernon Davis also signed a contract extension. The Pro Bowler agreed to a five-year deal worth $37 million.

Seattle Seahawk’s sixth overall pick Russell Okung will miss at least the first week with a high ankle sprain he suffered during the preseason.

Offensive lineman Kevin Mawae announced his retirement Friday. The 16-year veteran was unable to find a team to play for after his contract with the Titans ended this offseason. Mawae helped pave the way for Chris Johnson to rush for 2,006 yards in 2009. He also blocked for former Jets star running back Curtis Marin while in New York. Mawae was elected to eight Pro Bowls. He is also the President of the NFL Players Association. He turns 40 in January.

Game of the Week: Dallas at Washington

My Game of the Week for the start of the regular season is the Dallas Cowboys at the Washington Redskins. First off, it’s a game between NFC East division rivals. Washington Head Coach Mike Shanahan makes his return to the NFL. Redskin’s quarterback Donovan McNabb makes his first start since being traded to Washington from division opponent Philadelphia. Dallas wants to make an early statement, proving they are the favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. Receiver Miles Austin, who has just given a six-year, $54 million contract extension, looks to build off his breakout season in 2009.

Key Matchup: Andre Carter & Brian Orakpo vs. Alex Barron & Doug Free

Dallas has suffered from some injuries along their offensive line. Left guard Kyle Kosier and right tackle Marc Colombo will both be out on Sunday. Alex Barron will replace Colombo, and Montrae Holland will fill in for Kosier. Barron was signed from St. Louis, and was expected to compete with Free for the starting left tackle job, but quickly proved to be a disappointment at training camp. I’m interested in seeing how Barron and Free can handle the pass rush of Washington’s two outside linebackers, Carter and Orakpo. As the Redskins switch to a 3-4, I expect this duo will cause more havoc for opposing QB’s. Each had 11 sacks last season, Carter as an end and Orakpo at linebacker. Tony Romo may find himself using his feet to escape the pressure, which he has proven he can do.

Best of the Rest

Looking at the rest of this weekend’s games, here is a list of my predictions (team in italics is home):

• Tampa Bay over Cleveland
• Miami over Buffalo
• Cincinnati over New England
• Colts over Houston
• Jacksonville over Denver
• Atlanta over the Steelers
• Titans over Oakland
• NY Giants over Carolina
• Chicago over Detroit
• Arizona over St. Louis
• Philadelphia over Green Bay
• 49ers over Seattle

Monday’s games:

• NY Jets over Baltimore
• San Diego over the Chiefs

Got any NFL Splinters? Share them here.

Courtesy of neworleanssaints.com

By TLarner

Here’s a look at the home of the Super Bowl Champion Saints, the NFC South.

“Play Like A Champion Today”

Atlanta Falcons

Strength- The Falcons have an offense with plenty of playmakers. Former Boston College star Matt Ryan enters his third year as Atlanta’s starting quarterback. After being named the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2008, Ryan avoided the “sophomore slump” by throwing for nearly 3,000 yards and 22 touchdowns in only 14 starts. Ryan’s longest pass came in Week 5 against San Francisco when Roddy White broke a tackle on a short curl route, and went 90 yards for a score. White has established himself as one of the best receivers in the NFL. Since 2007, he has caught 256 balls for 3,737 yards and 24 touchdowns. Running back Michael “The Burner” Turner looks to rebound after an injury-plagued 2009. Turner was held to 11 games, and ran for 871 yards and 10 touchdowns. The final piece to an all-star puzzle is tight end Tony Gonzalez. The future Hall of Famer is playing in his 14th season (2nd with Atlanta). While with Kansas City, Gonzalez had over 10,000 receiving yards and 76 TD’s. In search of a Super Bowl ring, he was traded to the Falcons in 2009.

Weakness- Atlanta’s passing defense was terrible in 2009. Ranked 28th overall, they gave up 241.9 yards per game. Opposing quarterbacks had an average 89.5 passer rating. The Falcons were also tied for 26th with only 28 sacks. Corner Brent Grimes led the team with six interceptions. He started eight games at corner, and was fifth on the team with 66 tackles. Chris Owens came on late into his rookie year, and started the final six games. Chevis Jackson is another young corner who looks to improve in 2010. Jackson played in the nickel role his rookie year, taking a pick back 95 yards for a score in 2008. However, he failed to produce in ’09. Brian Williams was signed as a free agent from Jacksonville last season, but tore an ACL in Week 6. His veteran leadership is valuable to this young group of athletes. Atlanta’s free agent splash this year was corner Dunta Robinson, formerly of the Texans. Robinson recorded 393 tackles and 13 interceptions in his six seasons in Houston. Add to the mix rookie Dominique Franks, and Atlanta hopes the defense can solidify and lead them back to the playoffs.

Biggest Question- Who will be Atlanta’s kicker in the 2010 season? I see no questions with any offensive or defensive playmakers, and the Falcons have had trouble in recent memory with the kicking game. Jason Elam struggled mightily in 2009. He had a 62% success rate, and missed many short range kicks and field goals that would have changed the course of a few games. In the middle of the season, Atlanta held a kicking tryout after releasing Elam. Currently, the traveled veteran Matt Bryant is the only kicker on the roster, but the team has its concerns. Bryant went 7 of 10 last season after Elam left. This preseason, Bryant has missed kicks of 47 and 50 yards, and an extra point. Extra points should be automatic for NFL kickers. The Falcons cut Steve Hauschka in August, but may be looking for someone after teams make cuts for the final 53 man roster. We’ve seen too many teams rise and fall on the foot of a field goal kicker (2002, ’03, and ’04 Super Bowls were all won by New England by three points).

Carolina Panthers

Strength- Last season, there was no greater duo of running backs than that of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. The Panthers were third in the league with 2,498 total rushing yards. Williams was taken in the first round of the 2006 draft, and Stewart in the first round of the 2008 draft. Both have lived up to their hype. Williams ran for 1,117 yards and seven touchdowns with a 5.1 yard per carry average in 2009. Stewart followed up with 1,133 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also averaged 5.1 yards per carry. In 2008, the pair combined for 2,351 yards and 28 touchdowns. Don’t expect any less from the Panthers this season. Star linemen Jordan Gross, Ryan Kalil, and Jeff Otah will lead the way.  Carolina is going need a heavy dose of the ground game to protect Matt Moore, who takes over as the starting QB. Moore started seven games last season and has shown many signs of brilliance. Yes, Jimmy Clausen was drafted out of Notre Dame this year, but do not anticipate seeing him on the field this year. He’ll be on the bench, learning the offense, and watching Williams and Stewart tear up defenses.

Weakness- This offseason, the Panthers lost Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers. He was publicly frustrated with the Panthers organization, and signed with Chicago this year. Without Peppers, Carolina does not have much of a pass rush. Everette Brown was taken in the second round of the draft last season. As a rookie, he made 22 tackles with two and a half sacks. Charles Johnson enters his fourth year with the team. Last season, he recorded 25 tackles and four sacks. Tyler Brayton is the veteran end in Carolina. Brayton spent five years in Oakland before joining the Panthers in 2008. He recorded five sacks, starting 15 games opposite Peppers. While these defenders have potential, they will miss having Peppers at the other end. Now, opposing offenses will not have to use a double team to stop one guy, and can focus on both ends equally. The Panthers are also very young at the tackle position. Starters from last year Damione Lewis and Hollis Thomas are no longer with the team.

Biggest Question- Is Matt Moore the right man for the quarterback position? Moore has made eight starts in his three years. In rookie season, he started the final three games, and won two. Last season, Moore started the final five games, and was very impressive. He went 4-1, beating Tampa Bay, Minnesota, the Giants, and New Orleans. He threw for 990 yards and eight touchdowns, and only one pick. He takes over his first season as the full time starter in 2010. If he can play as well as he did last season, Carolina may be a formidable opponent, and could improve from being a .500 team to making a wildcard bid. As previously mentioned, this team has a run-first offense, as do many teams with young quarterbacks. However, there are some people who want to see rookie Jimmy Clausen on the field. Clausen figures to be the most NFL ready QB in this year’s draft. In Notre Dame, Charlie Weis ran a pro-style offense, very similar to the Panthers. I believe he is better off with the headset on the sideline for at least the first year. Many quarterbacks with high expectations have been thrusted into a starting role too early, and have failed miserably. It will be interesting to see who is taking the snaps for Carolina at the end of the season.

New Orleans Saints

Strength- What would the NFL look like if the Miami Dolphins signed Drew Brees instead of Dante Culpepper in 2006? The Saints would not have won the Super Bowl, I can guarantee that. Brees has exceeded many expectations in his career, and last season was no different. Many said he was too short. San Diego let him go because of the multiple shoulder surgeries he had. They felt his arm wouldn’t be strong enough. In the past two seasons alone, Brees has thrown for over 9,500 yards and 68 touchdowns. In the 2009 regular season, he had 34 touchdown passes, a 70.6% completion rate, and a 109.6 passer rating, all first in the league. Don’t forget the Super Bowl ring. Against Indianapolis, he went 32 of 39 (82%) for 288 yards and 2 scores. He is arguably the second most valuable quarterback to his team (I would argue Peyton Manning is #1). He has turned Marques Colston, who was three picks away from being Mr. Irrelevant, into a top level receiver. Brees is also considered one of the best fantasy players for this year. If you need a QB, take this guy.

Weakness- The Saints’ offense was strong enough to overcome their poor defense last season. Surprisingly, the Super Bowl winning defense gave up 357.8 yards per game, ranked 25th overall. On the ground, they gave up 122.2 yards per game, 21st in the league. They were tied for fourth worst with the Buffalo Bills with 19 rushing touchdowns surrendered. This could be a problem in a division full of good running backs. In Week 8 against Atlanta, Michael Turner ran for 151 yards and a touchdown. DeAngelo Williams rushed for 149 yards and two scores in Week 9 against the Panthers. The Buccaneers’ Cadillac Williams had 129 yards and a touchdown in a Week 16 victory over the Saints. In the final game, Carolina’s other star running back, Jonathan Stewart, rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown. While the New Orleans defense gave up a lot of yards through the air, they were third in the league with 26 interceptions. Safety Darren Sharper led the way with nine of those picks. Sharper has recently been placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list, meaning he’ll have to miss the first six games this year. If the Saints are going to repeat as winners of the Lombardi Trophy, their defense will need to improve.

Biggest Question- How many weeks can the Saints go undefeated this year? New Orleans is a huge favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl this season. Last season, the Saints went 13-3, with those 13 wins coming in a bid for an undefeated regular season as they began 13-0. With Drew Brees leading the high powered offense, many penciled in the Saints next to New England, who went 16-0 in 2007. As many teams do, the Saints rested their starters at the end, giving up a shot at history. This did almost hurt them, as the Vikings were one Favre interception away from going to the Super Bowl. In 2010, I expect the offense to continue to play efficiently, and Greg Williams will tighten up that defense. The big question in Louisiana is whether or not the Saints can be the first team to repeat as World Champions since New England did in 2003 and ’04.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Strength- Let’s face it, Tampa Bay was downright terrible last season. They are in the infamous rebuilding stage. While these players are not immediate Pro Bowlers, they are the future of the franchise. Second year quarterback Josh Freeman hopes his struggles are behind him. Freeman started the second half of last season as a rookie. He threw for 1,855 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions. Of course, there always is a significant learning curve as a rookie QB, and Freeman should be more comfortable in the pocket. Kellen Winslow will be a big target for the young Freeman. The tight end had over 1,100 yards receiving and five touchdowns grabs in 2007 with the Cleveland Browns. After battling back from staph infection, he managed to gain 884 yards and five TD’s in his first season with Tampa Bay in 2009. A big play tight end is always a novice quarterback’s best friend.  On defense, middle linebacker Barrett Ruud led the team in tackles for the third straight season. Rookie tackle Gerald McCoy has drawn many comparisons to Warren Sapp. He’ll be an anchor in the front seven for years to come. Safety Tanard Jackson should continue to improve. He returned two of his five picks for touchdowns in 2009.

Weakness- The biggest obstacle in Tampa Bay is overcoming inexperience. As a rebuilding franchise, they will endure many hardships while these young players develop. Freeman threw 18 picks last season. That’s a number that must come down. He doesn’t have a strong group of receivers to throw too. Rookie Mike Williams has earned a job as a starting receiver, along with Maurice Stovall. Stovall only had 24 catches for 366 yards last season. Another rookie receiver, Arrelious Benn, will start the season as a backup. Defensively, the Bucs finished 2009 ranked 27th overall in total defense. They allowed 365.6 yards per game. Their run defense finished dead last. Two more rookies, tackles McCoy and Brian Price, are making people nervous about the defense in the future. Their ability to stop the run is very important in the NFC South. Tampa Bay has many more playmakers who have only a couple years experience or less in the NFL.

Biggest Question- Can Cadillac Williams return to his old self? Williams was the 2005 Offensive Rookie of the Year. He started his career hot, becoming the first running back in the NFL to run for over 100 yards in his first three career games. He finished that year with 1,178 yards and six touchdowns. Since then, the Cadillac has had some engine problems. He played in only 10 games between 2007-’08, making five starts as he suffered injuries to both knees. He may be back, healthy and ready to rumble. In 2009, he started 15 games and ran for 823 yards and four touchdowns. He also recorded career highs with 217 receiving yards and three touchdown catches. If he can break the 1,000 yard barrier this season, he may finally prove he’s rejuvenated his career. If he has another lackluster year, the Cadillac may be headed off up the highway.

Division Prediction- Tampa Bay should improve some from the three wins they had in 2009, but honestly, six wins may be a good year for them. They will probably beat New Orleans once, in Week 17 when Brees is on the bench, resting for the playoffs. Carolina will be another middle of the road team. Their ground game is great, but they lack any weapons for Matt Moore (or Jimmy Clausen) to throw too, and defensively they may have some struggles. Atlanta will be in the run for a wildcard spot. Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, and Roddy White make a dangerous trio on offense. And seeing that White is my top fantasy receiver, let’s hope he and Ryan break some records. The Saints are going to be on top of the South again. How far will they make it? We’ll have to wait and see.

By Paul Gotham

Two weeks of hype behind us. The pre-game activities concluded just in time: “America The Beautiful” performed as was “The Star Spangled Banner.” The fly-over occurred. Walter Payton award given. Coin toss convention took place. Then, before anyone forgot why we congregated, the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts took the field.

Now for a look at the Super Bowl through the lens of rock ‘n’ roll.

Running to stand still

Indianapolis leading 10-0 at the end of the first created some surprise. That the Colts  held the Saints scoreless seemed somewhat out of the ordinary.

The fact that Indy’s longest play from scrimmage was a run. Now that was a surprise. The Colts finished the regular season ranked dead last in rushing yards per game with at 80.9. In comparison, the Jets led the NFL with 172.2 yards per game.

Nonetheless, Joseph Addai busted through line for 26 yards. Three plays later Peyton Manning connected with Pierre Garcon for a 19-yard strike and the double-digit lead.

Fans thought of Super Bowls past (think San Fran 55 Denver 10 or Washington 42 Denver 10 or Giants 39 Denver 20 – Wow! I’m not really trying to pick on the Broncos or anything. It’s just that those are the games that come to mind. What the heck, I’ll throw in Chicago 46 New England 10. You get the picture). Few realized at the time that Indy was getting what New Orleans was giving, and the Saints would only give the Colts seven points in the remaining 45 minutes.

By the end of the quarter, Indy passed the ball 13 times and rushed it on six occasions. Three of the rushing plays resulted in 10 yards or more (16,11,26).  Three passes gained 10 or more yards (18,14,11). The Saints were dictating how the Colts would get their yards.

As an omen of things to come, Indy’s first drive stalled at the New Orleans 20.

On a side note – either the Saints made a trade no one knew about, or Marques Colston let his inner Braylen Edwards out. That was quite a case of the dropsies.

By the end of the quarter, the Colts were ahead but by unfamiliar means, and the Saints were only beginning to take away their opponent’s options.

“Sweet the sin. Bitter the taste in my mouth. I see seven towers, but I only see one way out.”

Clampdown

In the playoffs, Indy has owned the last two minutes of the first half. Against the Baltimore Ravens, Manning and the Colts got the ball with 1:26 remaining in the half. They promptly drove 64 yards for a touchdown. The divisional playoff game went from close to out of reach quicker than a Brett Favre retirement.

Oh yeah, and Baltimore’s defense was ranked…let me see…third this year.

Mark Sanchez and the Jets appeared to “pulling out of here to win.” They had a 17-6 lead when Manning went under center with 2:11 to go before the break. Fifty eight seconds and four plays later and Rex Ryan was sweating like a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

Almost forgot…and the Jets had the number one defense this year.

So on third and one with :51 seconds remaining, what does Sean Payton do? Considering the last couple of games, no one would have blamed Payton had he left well enough alone.

Instead he called a timeout. I know the ball was at the Indy ten, and they had 90 yards to go, but calling a timeout? There is a chair in Vegas waiting for Payton.

Indy chose to run. Was anyone else a tad confused at this point? Maybe, the Colts were starting to show signs of confusion.

New Orleans took over, drove 26 yards, and Garrett Hartley split the uprights.

10-6. Not exactly the offensive display many expected.

Oh yeah, Pierre Garcon did his best to keep the spirit of Braylen Edwards alive in the second quarter. Here’s a thought – the only way Chad John…errr…Ochocinco is going to the Super Bowl is as a news network.  And the only way Braylen Edwards will get mentioned is if someone else drops a pass.

“Let the fury have the hour, anger can be power. D’you know that you can use it.”

Roll of the dice

After the way New Orleans closed out the half, should anyone really have been surprised they opened the second with The Onside Kick. Did Sean Payton change the face of football forever? Will we be seeing more onside kicks in the future?

Giving Peyton Manning a short field calls one’s sanity into question. Just ask Bill BeliCHICK. Giving Peyton Manning a short field to start the second half? Wait, giving Peyton Manning a short field, to start the second half when trailing by four points?

On second thought, casino owners might want to pay Payton to stay away from their joints…at least until he loses his mojo.

Wonder if BeliCHICK has already called Payton. Speaking of BeliCHICK, with yesterday’s win that makes…let me see…three Bill Parcells assistants who have gone on to win the Super Bowl.

After the onside kick and subsequent touchdown, it did not matter that Indy took the lead back. The Saints cracked the armor.

Won’t get fooled again

Peyton Manning led seven, count them – 1…2…3…4…5…6…7, fourth quarter comebacks this year. But none of those come-from-behind wins came against the Saint defense that slowly tightened the vise.  That vise came into effect whenever the Colts needed to operate in Saint territory.

The Colts ran 17 offensive plays in the fourth quarter. The Saints ran 12. Manning connected for one touchdown  in the quarter…to Tracy Porter. New Orleans outscored Indy 15-0.

“I’ll tip my hat to the new constitution. Take a bow for a new revolution.”

Midnight Special

It was well before the hour of twelve, but the Saint special teams kept them in the game early.

Courtney Roby made two important plays on the punt coverage – one a tackle for no gain and then downing the ball inside the Colt five.

Hartley kicked three field goals outside the 40 – a first in Super Bowl history. Don’t overlook that Hartley accomplished that outside on grass. He spent his season kicking on turf.

I’m Gumby Dammit!

There is no other way to describe the way Lance Moore contorted his body to get that two-point conversion.

Pinball Wizard

Did anyone keep track of how many yards Pierre Thomas gained AFTER contact. He did a great job of  “feeling all them bumpers and always playing it clean.”

Hall of fame

In three playoff games, Drew Brees threw eight touchdowns and ZERO interceptions. He outdid Kurt Warner, Brett Favre, and Peyton Manning. Those three each have an eventual date in Canton.

Wild Billy’s Circus Story

Thoughts on everything else surrounding the game events.

Is it just me or does Tim Tebow’s mom look like Adrienne Barbeau?

Is Bud Light trying to contribute to the ‘vanillazation’ of our society. I realize I am alienating some friends who drink that amber colored water. But really? How do you describe the taste of a Bud Light? I know there are not many out there that enjoy Genesee Beer and/ or Cream Ale. I know. It’s an acquired taste. I realize that. BUT AT LEAST GENNY HAS TASTE!

Stevie Wonder getting in the punch, and Tracy Morgan’s subsequent response was my commercial highlight of the night.

I will trade all the Victoria’s Secret commercials ever, so I do not have to see another underwear commercial. It is as if some female rights groups got together and decided they are going to turn the tables on males everywhere. Fine. I’ll make the trade. Just don’t make me watch another one of those ads.

Props to either Brett Favre or his agent. The self-effacing humor works.

Got any NFL/ Super Bowl splinters? Share them here.

By Paul Gotham

Trading Places

In November, the Indianapolis Colts won four consecutive games by a combined total of 10 points. Meanwhile, the New Orleans Saints have lit up scoreboards to the tune of 407 points while limiting opponents to 221. For one day, at least, the two undefeated teams changed roles. Indy sprinted to a 21-3 lead, and its defense held serve as they downed the Tennessee Titans, 27-17. New Orleans needed overtime to best the Washington Redskins,  33-30.

Peyton Manning and the Colts added a couple more milestones to their resume notching their 12th victory of the season.  Indy has reached a dozen triumphs in seven consecutive seasons – adding to their own record. The win was the 113th of the decade, tying the San Francisco 49ers of the 1990s for the most wins in a decade.  The Colts also tied the Pats for the most consecutive regular season wins with 21.

Tennessee came in riding a five-game win streak and was the last team to beat the Colts in the regular season – October 27, 2008. The Titans could not manage the same result yesterday.

Joseph Addai rushed for two touchdowns. Manning completed 24 of 37 for 270. Pierre Garcon had a career day with six receptions for 136 yards. But the Indy defense made the difference. Clint Session led the defense with 12 unassisted tackles and a forced fumble. The Colts defense stiffened with a pair of goal-line stands and two fourth down stops.

For the seventh game in a row, Tennessee’s Chris Johnson rushed for over 1oo yards tying a franchise record set by Earl Campbell.

New Orleans found the elixir for their Monday night hangover just in time. Less than a week after causing the New England Patriots to surrender, the Saints pulled out all the stops to beat the 3-8 Washington Redskins.  When Washington’s Shaun Suisham missed a 23-yard field goal with 1:52 to play, Drew Brees and company got a second life. Instead of trailing by 10, the Saints needed just a touchdown to tie. A 53-yard strike to Robert Meachem tied the score. Garrett Hartley nailed the winning field goal in overtime.

But that is half of the story. New Orleans took advantage of a series of strange plays. A shanked punt turned into a 29-yard gain when Washington’s Kevin Barnes, lying on his back, was hit with the ball and the Saints recovered.  Four plays later, Washington appeared to have recovered when Kareem Moore intercepted a Brees pass. Inexplicably, Meachem grabbed the ball right out of Moore’s hands and returned it for 44-yard score.

Washington has now lost three consecutive games when leading in the fourth quarter.

Muh, muh mediocre

Is Charlie available?

Two weeks into the season, the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers stood at 1-1. Many thought the two AFC powerhouses had their wakeup calls. Maybe they hit the snooze alarm.

Pittsburgh and New England have combined to lose 7 of their last 8.

The Pats have a clear case of homesickness. Other than a win over Tampa Bay in London, the Pats have a big Ofer on the road. The Pats “got it bad so bad” that the Dolphins abandoned their running attack.  Miami, the kings of the Wildcat, rushed the ball 27 times while throwing 52 passes. Can we revisit Belichick’s decision to go for it on fourth down against the Colts. Do you think he knew something about his team that we didn’t – well, at least at the time? The Pats can not defend the pass. Wonder if Belichick plays euchre because he sure has shown everyone his hand.

Even New England fans are calling the Patriots mediocre.

The Super Bowl champion Steelers had fourth quarter leads of 17-13 and 24-20 before succumbing to Oakland Free Academy.  Gradowski and Janikowski sealed the victory. Gradowski found Louis Murphy in the end zone with :11 remaining. Janikowski split the uprights as the Raiders won, 27-24.  If the playoffs started next weekend, the Steelers would be watching.

19th Nervous Breakdown

The final month of the year is becoming a favorite of the Eagles, Giants, and Redskins and all their fans. The Cowpokes just can’t get out of their own way during the season of yuletide. Anyone else getting pleasure out of watching Jerry Jones squirm as the ‘Pokes implode? Hey Jerra! Good luck against the Chargers next week…and the Saints the week after that…and the Eagles two weeks after that. Maybe you should tell wonder boy Jason Garrett to run the ball a little more. 23 rushes for 45 yards? Ouch! What happened to that All Pro line?

“Oh, who’s to blame. That girl’s just insane. Nothing I do don’t seem to work. It only seems to make matters worse.”

8th on the list

LaDanian Tomlinson passed hall-of famer, Jim Brown on the all-time rushing list. Tomlinson had 20 for 64 yards and a touchdown as San Diego downed Cleveland, 30-23. Tomlinson’s touchdown was the 150th of his career – he reached that plateau faster than anyone in the history of the NFL – 137 games.

Three of the top eight rushers of all time played college football outside the major six conferences: Walter Payton (Jackson State), Eric Dickerson (SMU), and Tomlinson (TCU).

Hungry Heart

After his rookie quarterback was injured while lunging for a first down, New York Jets coach, Rex Ryan, openly criticized Mark Sanchez. C’mon coach! He was just taking one for the team. Ya know, he was willing to “lay down his money and play his part…everybody’s got a hu-hu-hungaree heart…oh oh oh.”

Monday night lights

The forecast is calling for a wintry mix. Mr. Rodgers meet Mr. Flacco. Actually, it might be more appropriate to say – Mr. Flacco meet Mr. Woodson.  GBay needs the win to keep pace with the Eagles for the final wild card spot. Baltimore needs the win keep within sniffing distance of the AFC wild card.

Got any NFL splinters? Share them here.

"I am the nothing man." AP Photo/Darron Cummings

No lead is safe…

At least when New Orleans and Indianapolis is involved, opponents can not score enough.  The Saints and Colts continued walking a thin, thin line en route to their undefeated marks. New Orleans erased an 11-point halftime deficit to defeat the Panthers 30-20. Carolina’s defense held New Orleans to just 84 yards on the ground, but the Saints have been figuring out a way to win all year. Drew Brees completed 24 of 35 for 330 yards. Robert Meachem led the way with 98 receiving yards on 5 catches.

For those keeping track at home, ‘Pomme’ DelHomme forgot to bring the dessert. The Carolina QB went an entire game without any turnovers.

The Chinchillas - "walking on a thin line"

Indy also performed their own escape routine. After Steve Slaton scored on a one-yard run , the Houston Texans led the Colts 17-13 in the fourth. Jospeh Addai answered seven minutes later with his own end zone plunge. Indy needed a little divine intervention. The Texans missed a field goal from 42 yards away as time expired.

Indy head coach, Jim Caldwell, might be considered the nothing man because “around here everybody acts the same; around here everybody acts like nothing’s changed.” Fans would be hard-pressed to remember a coach who has more quietly led his team to an 8-0 start.

Welcome to the working week

Tom ‘Terrific’ and his Pats have had plenty of pictures in the paper ‘being rhythmically admired,’  but Bill Belichick’s crew will need to ‘do it till their through it, so they better get to it.’ New England travels to Indy for a Sunday night show down with the Colts next week. After that those pesky Jets come to town. If that isn’t bad enough, the Pats geaux to N’Awlins for a Monday night soiree with the Saints.

For all those fans keeping track at home

Heisman trophy winner, Matt Leinart got into the game yesterday. He threw one pass. Leinart completed that pass…to THE WRONG TEAM. Yeah, Matt. Life is grand. “And I say this at the risk of falling from favor.”

Spirit in the night

Mark Sanchez and the Jets enjoyed a bye week. It’s been rumored that Mark “picked up Hazy Davy and Killer Joe” and headed out “to where the gypsy angels go.”

Does All State cover Green Bay

Aaron Rodgers might want to consider some insurance. The lowly Tampa Bay Buccaneers sacked the Packer QB six times yesterday. At this rate Rodgers will kiss the turf 74 times this season. Ouch! Tampa Bay in those lovely creamsicle colored jerseys scored 21 fourth quarter points to win 38 -28. Tampa Bay has scored 37 combined points in the fourth quarter this year.

Cincinnati in first

Holy Kenny Anderson is it true? The Bengals clipped the Ravens 17-7 yesterday sweeping the season series from the divisional foe. The Bengals haven’t done that since 1997. Next up – the Steelers. Considering the Steelers have the Monday night game, can the Bengals take advantage?

Free falling G-Men

A clear-thinking Giant fan.

A recent article by Chas sums up my sentiments toward the Giants. In the back of my mind is always the possibility that the Giants could implode at any moment. Yesterday’s debacle could make any clear-thinking Big Blue fan scream. First and goal, and the Giants managed a field goal. Followed by the defense playing matador to Philip Rivers and the Chargers.Not that Rivers had any motivation to beat the Giants or anything.

MNF

Pittsburgh at Denver. Hey Broncos! “Is it you baby, or just a brilliant disguise?”

Got any NFL Splinters? Share them here.

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

By Paul Gotham

One less makes it makes it three

Denver, Indianapolis, and New Orleans maintained their unblemished records. Denver’s stayed intact by virtue of the bye week. Indy did what Indy does. The Saints took strides to legitimacy.

The St. Louis Rams figured out how to keep Peyton Manning under 300 yards passing for the game. That was small consolation considering the Colts trounced the Rams 42-6.  Manning finished the afternoon 23/34 for 234 and tds. The passing total marked the first time this season under 300 yards for the 12-year veteran. Manning completed 7 of 10 for for 118 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter. Indy has won 15 consecutive regular season contests. St. Louis has lost 17 in a row. Indy’s challenge will be to maintain their efficiency when they host the 49ers next week. Could be a difficult task considering the Rams must have seemed slow yesterday. After a date with the Texans, Indy hosts New England before traveling to Baltimore.

Any rumors of the Saints demise were proven untrue. After spotting the Dolphins a 24-3 lead, Drew Brees and the Saints showed they are contenders. Despite being intercepted early, Brees responded to lead the Saints past a resilient Dolphin squad in Miami. New Orleans closed to within 21-10 before half. Then the teams traded scores in the third. Miami led entering the fourth, 34-24 before the Saints rattled off 24 unanswered points. Marcus Colston made five catches and one td. Brees only threw for one td, but the Saint qb rushed for two others.

With Ben Roethlisberger coming into the weekend as the #1 rated quarterback in the NFL, fans wondered if the Steelers defensive identity had become a thing of the past.  Two defensive touchdowns and a goal line stand should reassure Steel Town it is “same as it ever was.” Minnesota gained 386 yards of total offense. But when it mattered, the Steeler defense made the plays.  On five trips to the red zone, Minnesota scored just one touchdown. The Vikings had a first and goal inside the one, and the Steelers stuffed three run attempts before the Vikings settled for a field goal. Adrian Peterson entered the day averaging 161 yards rushing per game. The Steelers held the star running back to 69 yards on the ground. The Steeler defense converted two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. LaMarr Woodley returned a fumble 77 yards for six points. Keyaron Fox returned an interception 82 yards for another score.

Pittsburgh gets a bye week before traveling to Denver. The Broncos travel to Baltimore next week. Minnesota at Green Bay next week. Isn’t there some discussion about an appropriate greeting for #4?

London Calling

“Yes, I was there too. And you know what they said? Well, some of it was true.”

I am all for Commissioner Goodell’s attempts to clean up the league. The hard line Goodell has taken with behavioral infractions is commendable. I admired Goodell when he lowered playoff ticket prices as an attempt to help fans through tough economic times. This whole foray over seas? I am not on board. First, we have exhibition games in England. Then, we lose a regular season game. I hear talk of an NFL franchise in London. That will work as well as the Red Bulls in the EPL. Now, I hear mention that Goodell is considering a future Super Bowl in London? This only works with me if he is considering relegation at some point. A Super Bowl in London? Maybe I shouldn’t be so concerned. It’s not like I can rub enough nickels together to ever attend that soiree.

Seriously, how does this help the product of the league?  New England crushed Tampa Bay yesterday at Wembley. Will jet lag affect the Patriots at all with the upcoming game against the Colts?

Of course, the league office is going to refer to how the Giants won the Super Bowl when they played the Dolphins on the old sod.

On another note, the Patriots have won their last two games by a combined score of 94-7. Gulp. Was it something I said?

How ’bout them Buffalo Bills?!?

I can hear the cheers now: U-G-L-Y – you ain’t got no alibi; you ugly. It does not matter how you win as long as you win. The Panthers out-gained the Bills 425-167. The Bills outscored Carolina 20-9. Jake Delhomme’s nickname needs to be apple, because he has all the makings of a good turnover. ‘Apple’ threw three more picks yesterday. Delhomme now has 13 ints this year to 4tds. How did the trading deadline pass without the Panthers making a deal for Brady Quinn?

Parity goes bonk!

A lot of good that salary cap is doing. So much for the favorable scheduling. Six of yesterday’s games were decided by 20 or more points.  What is the name of the bridge connecting the haves and have nots of the NFL?

Sanchez handles his Badlands

After limping through three losses, Mark Sanchez “spit in the face of these Badlands” and led the Jets to a 38-0 drubbing of Oakland H.S.. Sanchez went 9 of 15 for for 143 yards and one touchdown. Okay, so the game plan didn’t take many chances. At least the Jets coaching staff showed Sanchez can do an efficient job of handing off the pigskin.

Got any NFL splinters? Share them here.

AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

By Paul Gotham

Saints and Vikings march on

Both New Orleans and Minnesota put their unbeaten records on the line yesterday. Both remained undefeated. The similarities end there.

The Saints rolled up 493 yards of total offense and left no doubt in trouncing the formerly undefeated New York Giants, 48-27. Brett Favre tossed three touchdowns, but it almost wasn’t enough as the Minnesota walked a thin line in defeating Baltimore, 33-31.

New Orleans took advantage of a home game after a bye week and fired on all cylinders. Seven different Saints marched into the end zone, Drew Brees threw four touchdowns giving him 101 with the Saints, and the New Orleans defense played stingy. Marques Colston (Hofstra) made 8 receptions for 166 yards including one touchdown.

Eli Manning completed just 14 passes while being intercepted once. The Giant offense lacked timing all day. That tends to happen when a team feasts on the likes of the Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, and Washington Redskins.  New Orleans brought an entirely different pace than the aforementioned sisters of the poor.

New York hosts an Arizona team that resembled their Super Bowl participant selves in beating Seattle 27-3. New Orleans travels to Miami for an interesting date with wildcat offense of the Dolphins. Saint defense coordinator, Gregg Williams has developed schemes to disrupt passing attacks. Will the Saints figure out the rushing attack of the fish?

AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid

Six games played, and Brett Favre remains off the injury report. Whew! I am still reeling from Bill’s description of Favre’s pending downfall.   Favre completed 21-29 for 278 yards along with a 58-yard strike to Sidney Rice to set up the eventual winning field goal.  Minnesota unleashed a balanced attack. Are the Ravens still considered a vaunted defense? Adrian Peterson rushed for 143 yards. Despite the impressive numbers, Favre could only watch as Steve Hauschka’s field goal attempt sailed wide sealing the Minnesota victory.

The Vikes travel to Pittsburgh next week before heading to Green Bay – time to walk like men.

Not to be lost in the mix is the performance by Baltimore QB, Joe Flacco, who threw for 385 yards going 28 for 43.

Denver puts their unblemished record on the line tonight in San Diego. The Broncos have a bye next week before embarking on a gauntlet that will see rookie coach Josh McDaniels prepare his surprise crew for the Ravens, Steelers, Chargers, and Giants over five weeks.

Peyton Manning had the chance to rest his arm this week. Anyone want to take a guess as to Manning’s numbers next week in St. Louis? Wonder if he’ll get pulled at half if he hasn’t thrown for 300 yards.

Curse or Coincidence?

Not that I believe in voodoo or anything (or maybe I do since I am a Boston Red Sox fan), but it just seems very strange that the last time the Tennessee Titans won a game was …oh…let’s see…last year! And when I say last year, I don’t mean last season. I mean the last calendar year. Considering that the department stores are breaking out Christmas decorations, this streak of infamy is taking on a length of time.

Last December, the 21st to be exact, the Titans downed the Steelers, 31-14. That was the day LenDale White, Javon Kearse, and Keith Bulluck decided to do a little dance and make a little flub with ‘The Terrible Towel.’ The next week Tennessee lost 23-0, followed by a first-round playoff loss at home. The Titans are 0-6 this season. Which wouldn’t be so bad, except that they lost 59-0 yesterday. Is Jeff Fisher’s seat getting hot?

Oh yeah, in case you’re keeping track. Last week, the Lions’ mascot decided to stomp on the ‘Towel’ while the Lions were driving for a potential game-tying touchdown. You guessed it. The Lions didn’t tie the game, and this week they fell 26-0 to the Pack. Does Detroit need anymore misery?

One Step Up

…and two steps back. Mark Sanchez welcome to winter north of the Mason-Dixon line. Hey Kid! You’re not in SoCal anymore. We have varying weather conditions in these parts, and ya best get used to it.

Oh my, not sure if the Jets rookie “woke up this morning to a cold house,” but he sure has “been given some hard lessons lately.” Let’s put it this way – the Buffalo Bills defense had more catches yesterday than Terrell Owens. Munch on that one for a minute. T.O. made three catches yesterday. The Buffalo defense? They had six interceptions (five off Sanchez) as the Bills won in OT, 16-13. At times, the Jets rookie looked bothered by the wind in Giants Stadium. Oh boy, it’s gonna be a long season if that continues.

By the way, is there a new sheriff in Buffalo…uh…maybe deputy would be more appropriate…actually, sergeant sounds more fitting (no offense intended to those who wear the uniform)? Ryan Fitzpatrick came off the bench to replace the injured …what’s his name?…and threw for 116 yards. Not to mention a 40-yard attempt that was ruled incomplete…barely.

Got any NFL Splinters? Share them here.