Yes, I realize that this feels eerily similar to the 2007-2008 season, where the Giants defeated the Patriots in the Super Bowl. But the result will be different this time around, and let me tell you why by disproving some fallacies of this years rematch.

Statement: How can you pick against Eli Manning? In 2012 it’s pretty simple, you can’t spell elite without Eli.

Rebuttal: It is true that Eli Manning has had a great season that resembles his older brother. But that doesn’t change the fact that he is the second best quarterback in this game. On the season, Tom Brady has thrown for eight more touchdowns despite playing in one game less. Not only has Brady had a better 2011-2012 season, his past achievements (Three Super Bowls) speak for themselves.

Statement: The Giants have the best trio of wide receivers in the NFL. Even if you like Brady more than Manning, the Giants receiving core is good enough to overcome the difference.

Rebuttal: By definition the Giants have a great receiving core, but I’m more worried about pass catchers. Statistically speaking, the combination of Rob Gronkowski, Wes Welker, and Aaron Hernandez has been superior compared to Victor Cruz, Mario Manningham, and Hakeem Nicks. The Patriots combined for 3,806 yards and 33 touchdowns and 16 regular season games, while the Giants accounted for 3,261 yards and 20 scores.

Statement: Rob Gronkowski certainly had a great year, but that was at full strength. The All Pro tight end has missed practice the last two weeks with a high ankle sprain and cannot possibly be the same force he has been all season.

Rebuttal: Valid point but Gronk isn’t like most. The physical specimen brings back memories of Terrell Owens in 2004 when playing with a fractured fibula. TO received a cortisone shot and was the best receiver on the field as he caught nine balls for 122 yards. This injury may keep Gronkowski from being 100% , however, if the past has taught us anything, doctors have the ability to ‘hide’ an injury in a one game season.  Brady will continue to look for Gronkowski and he should have a TO-esque game on Sunday.

Statement: The Giants are streaking right now, reminiscent of the Packers 2010-2011 run. They struggled early in the season but have been unbeatable in the last six weeks.

Rebuttal: I’ve got two issues with this train of thought. First, the Patriots had won 18 straight games previous to being defeated by these Giants in the 2007 Super Bowl. No team has ever been hotter than 18 consecutive wins in the history of the NFL. Second, the Patriots could be considered the hotter of the two teams heading into Sunday’s game. They have rattled off ten consecutive wins and while the Giants have recorded more style points, this isn’t the BCS and that doesn’t help.

Statement: Julian Eldeman played quarterback in college and receiver first few years in NFL; What is he doing playing defensive back for the Patriots? One of the Giants studs will create a mismatch and exploit this weakness all night.

Rebuttal: Eldeman guarding receivers is far from ideal and obviously not how Bill Belichick drew it up. But I trust “The Hoodie” to put his utility man in a position to succeed as a result of two weeks of preparation. Recall, that the Patriots won Super Bowls with Troy Brown playing on both sides of the ball. Plain and simple Belichick doesn’t get out-coached and will find a way to make the Eldeman experiment work.

Silly Stat: Make sure to watch the coin toss this year as the NFC has won 14 straight. If this trend continues, the Patriots are in an even better position to win, as the AFC has won nine of those 14 Super Bowls.

Soppe Score: The Brady/Belichick era earns a fourth ring with a 34-24 victory.

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.

Courtesy of kcchiefs.com

By TLarner

The first week of the 2010 NFL season is in the books. There were many exciting performances, as well as upsets, disappointments, and controversy. As we continue the rollercoaster ride to the Super Bowl, lets prepare ourselves for Week 2.

New & Notes

Bear’s defensive end Julius Peppers was fined $5,000 for a hit on Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford. Peppers was penalized for hitting Stafford in the helmet.

San Diego receiver Vincent Jackson has an opportunity to have his six game suspension reduced to four games. Jackson is still holding out from the Chargers, but if he is traded to a new team by next Wednesday, the three game suspension for being on the roster exempt list can be lowered. He is also facing a three game suspesion for violating the substance-abuse policy. Jackson pleaded guilty to a DUI in February.

Green Bay center Scott Wells will be wearing a microphone this Sunday during the game against Buffalo. This is so television networks can hear the sounds on the field. The umpire used to wear a microphone, but since his position has been changed to the offensive backfield, many thought they wouldn’t be able to pick up as much sound. Wells fears that this will allow other teams to pick up quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ play calls.

Injury Report

Browns’ quarterback Jake Delhomme missed practice again on Thursday. He has been wearing a walking boot since injuring his right ankle against Tampa Bay. Delhomme may be a game time decision, with Seneca Wallace taking all the snaps in practice this week.

Our new favorite defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth has been limited in practice all week with an ankle injury. In a related story, Coach Shanahan has been suffering from more headaches.

Courtesy of philadelphiaeagles.com

Kevin Kolb and linebacker Stewart Bradley both failed to pass their concussion tests on Wednesday. Michael Vick has been named the starter for this weekend’s game against Detroit.

Green Bay running back Ryan Grant will miss the rest of the season with an injured ankle. Brandon Jackson and John Kuhn will replace Grant. The team also signed Dimitri Nance off of Atlanta’s practice squad.

New York Jets’ defensive tackle Kris Jenkins was placed on injured reserve. Jenkins tore his ACL in his left knee during the loss to Baltimore. He missed most of last season with the same injury. Linebacker Calvin Pace is also out with a broken foot.

Percy Harvin’s status is uncertain for this week’s contest against Miami. The Vikings’ receiver was placed on the injury report, citing a hip injury as the problem. Harvin also missed significant time in the preseason due to migraine headaches.

Indianapolis Colt safety Bob Sanders may miss the remainder of the season. What else is new? Sanders had surgery on a torn biceps muscle this week. He had the same operation his other arm last year. Sanders has played in 48 games in his seven years with the Colts, and has missed 49. He signed a five-year, $37.5 million contract after being named the 2007 Defensive Player of the Year, but has been more of a liability since signing the deal.

Game of the Week: New York at Indianapolis

My Week 2 Game of the Week is the “Manning Bowl”. The New York Giants travel to Indianapolis for this Sunday’s late game. Older brother Peyton defeated Eli in their first meeting in September of 2006. In the Colts’ 26-21 victory, Peyton threw for 276 yards, a touchdown, and a pick. Eli had 247 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception in a losing effort.

Courtesy of colts.com

Indianapolis is coming off a stunning loss to the Texans in Week 1. Houston ran all over the Colts defense. Arian Foster exploded out of the gates with 231 yards and three touchdowns. Peyton had an amazing game, but was unable to lead his team to another victory as we have seen him do plenty of times before. He completed 40 passes for over 430 yards and three scores.

In Eli’s first game of 2010, he was able to lead the Giants to a 31-18 win over Carolina. He threw for 263 yards and three touchdowns, all to Hakeem Nicks. However, the box score also says he threw three interceptions. Yes, the Panthers caught three of Eli’s passes, but all were off of dropped passes by his receivers.

Key Matchup: Joseph Addai vs. Ahmad Bradshaw

Last week, well, all of last year, the Colts’ rushing offense was far from great. While Peyton has won many games with his arm alone, a more balanced offensive attack may have been what Indy needed to beat Houston. Joseph Addai ran for only 44 yards on 10 carries against Houston. And for the Colts’ defense, stopping the run should be a big priority this week during practice. They gave up 257 yards on the ground, with the majority gained by Foster.

The Giants named Ahmad Bradshaw the starter over Brandon Jacobs this offseason. Bradshaw had 20 carries for 76 yards and a touchdown against Carolina. I expect the Giants will start the game with a heavy dose of Bradshaw to expose the Colts’ weakness. If the Colts are again unable to halt the opposing running backs, Eli may be able to tie the series.

Prediction

The Indianapolis Colts are in danger of falling to a dismal 0-2 to start 2010. On the other hand, the Giants have a chance to take a two game lead over Dallas and Philadelphia in the NFC East. New York has a ground game that can once again give the Colts’ defense nightmares. However, I believe Indianapolis will have done enough work in practice to solve their problems with the rushing defense. Peyton may not complete 40 passes this week, but we’ll see enough of his arm to once again beat his little brother. Both teams will end Week 2 with a 1-1 record.

Best of the Rest

Here are my predictions for the rest of Week 2 (Home team in italics):

Green Bay over Buffalo

Minnesota over Miami

Kansas City over Cleveland

Dallas over Chicago

Atlanta over Arizona

Carolina over Tampa Bay

Philadelphia over Detroit

Cincinnati over Baltimore

Tennessee over Pittsburgh

Seattle over Denver

Oakland over St. Louis

Houston over Washington

New England over New York Jets

San Diego over Jacksonville

New Orleans over San Francisco

Last week’s results: 8-8

Have any NFL Splinters? Share them here.

Courtesy of philadelphiaeagles.com

By TLarner 

Now that we’ve finished previewing the AFC, let’s take a look at the NFC, beginning with the East.

“If it was easy, soccer players would be doing it!”

Dallas Cowboys

Strength-While it hurts me to admit it, the Cowboys have become one of the top teams in the NFC. Their offense has matured into a serious threat behind quarterback Tony Romo and his plethora of weapons. In 2009, Dallas was second in the league in total offense with 399.4 yards per game. Romo had career highs in pass attempts, completions, yards, and a career low in picks last year. He was tied for first with Aaron Rodgers and Donovan McNabb with 17 passes of over 40 yards. The ground game was led by Marion Barber. He posted 932 yards and seven touchdowns. Felix Jones managed to hold a 5.9 yard per carry average with 685 yards. Don’t forget Tashard Choice, Dallas’ third option in the backfield. Receiver Miles Austin had a breakout year in ’09. He led the NFC with 1,320 yards receiving. Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten was second on the team with 1,030 receiving yards. Along with receivers Roy Williams, Patrick Crayton, and first round draft pick Dez Bryant, Dallas will have a potent set of small skill playmakers in 2010.

Weakness-While their skill position players may be among the best in the NFC, their offensive line may rate among the bottom feeders in the conference. First of all, two of Dallas’ starting linemen have gone down with knee injuries. Right tackle Marc Colombo just underwent surgery to remove loose particles in his knee. He’s expected to be out until the season opener. Left guard Kyle Kosier recently tore is MCL. He’ll miss at least a month to six weeks, meaning he may miss the first couple regular season games. Center Andre Gurode and right guard Leonard Davis return after starting all 16 games last season. Gurode is 32, and Davis will be 32 after Week 1. At left tackle, the Cowboys released Flozell Adams, who started 178 games for them since 1998. In an attempt to get younger on the line, 26 year old Doug Free will get the starts at Romo’s blindside. Former Ram Alex Barron was expected to compete with Free, but has shown very little to the coaches so far at camp. Dallas has one of the largest lines in the league, but they may be cut short by age, injury, and inexperience. In 2009, Romo was sacked a career high 34 times, and hopes he can find better protection this year.

Biggest Question- Can the Cowboys’ defense create more turnovers in 2010? Dallas finished ’09 with a +2 turnover differential. This means they forced two more turnovers than they lost. The secondary only picked off 11 passes, which was tied for the fifth fewest in the league. Along with 10 fumble recoveries, Dallas had 21 forced turnovers. Compare that to Green Bay, who led the league with 40 turnovers. Luckily, Romo only threw nine interceptions, his lowest as the Cowboys’ QB. Corner Mike Jenkins led the Dallas defense with five interceptions last season, and Terence Newman followed with three. If the defense wants to do any favors for the offense, the front seven will strip the ball more, and the secondary will take a few more passes away from opposing quarterbacks.

 New York Giants

Strength- Unlike their foes from Texas, the Giants have had a strong and consistent line. The same five guys have been the starters for the past couple years now. Having a line with such continuity is vital in the NFL. Starting at left tackle for every regular season game since 2003, David Diehl anchors Eli Manning’s blindside. Left guard Rich Seubert has only missed two starts since 2007. Center Shaun O’Hara has only missed five games since taking over the job for New York in 2004. Chris Snee has proven he is among the best linemen in the NFL. He is 80 for 80 in games started since 2005. Right tackle Kareem McKenzie has missed seven starts since becoming a full time starter for New York (2002-’04 for the Jets, ’05-Present for Giants). These giant Giants have plowed through defenses together for years, and look to do so again in 2010.

Weakness-The New York Giants’ defense was rather porous last season. The 427 points they allowed was 30th in the league (26.7 points per game). They allowed 21 rush touchdowns, and another 31 through the air. If they want to return to the Super Bowl, improving the red zone defense is a must. In their final two regular season games in 2009, New York was outscored 85 to 16 (41-9 loss against Carolina & 44-7 loss at Minnesota). All star end Justin Tuck only recorded six sacks last season, half his 2008 total. Former captain Antonio Pierce retired this offseason after missing seven games with a neck injury. He would have needed surgery to continue playing. To replace him, the Giants signed 10 year pro Keith Bulluck, formerly of Tennessee. Bulluck started every game for the Titans since 2002, and made over 1,000 tackles, 18 sacks, 19 interceptions, and 14 forced fumbles. The addition of safety Antrel Rolle should improve the secondary. Rolle had four picks in ’09 with Arizona. Rookie defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul looks to add another dimension to the pass rush.

Biggest Question- Will Eli Manning continue to improve in 2010? Peyton’s younger brother will forever live in the shadows of his future Hall of Fame sibling. However, he made a name for himself with his improbable victory over New England in Super Bowl XLII. Manning’s numbers were a lot better in 2009 than 2007. He had career highs with a 93.1 passer rating, 27 scores, 4,021 yards, and a 62% completion rate. The area I would like to see Eli improve the most is his accuracy. His career 57% completion rate is far below where a all-star QB should be. With better accuracy, naturally his interception numbers will fall. Manning has started 87 games since 2004, and has thrown 88 picks. Receiver Steve Smith (not the Steve Smith from Carolina) had his first season with over 1,200 receiving yards, and second year pro Hakeem Nicks is coming off a solid rookie campaign, giving Manning two reliable targets.

Philadelphia Eagles

Strength- Donovan McNabb will start for Washington this year. Without him, the Eagles offense is surprisingly young and still loaded with talent. Kevin Kolb is the man under center now. In his two starts last season while McNabb was injured, Kolb threw for 741 yards, four touchdowns, and completed 64% of his passes. He’s actually the first QB to throw for over 300 yards in his first two career starts. Second year running back LeSean McCoy should take over the majority of the carries this year. He ran for 637 yards and four touchdowns in 2009. “Action” DeSean Jackson will continue to make big plays at wide receiver. He has caught 2,068 yards and 11 touchdowns in his first two seasons. Tight end Brent Celek tripled his 2008 total in catches and yards. He finished ’09 with 76 catches for 971 yards and eight grabs in the end zone. One of Philadelphia’s best lineman is left tackle Jason Peters, acquired in a trade last offseason from Buffalo. In a lineman camp I attended put on by former Bills’ line coach Jim McNally, he said Peters was the best lineman he’d coached since Anthony Munoz in Cincinnati. The oldest of the athletes mentioned is Peters, who is currently 28 years old.

Weakness-The Eagles secondary may be questionable going into 2010. At one corner is pro Bowler Asante Samuel, who led the team with nine interceptions in ’09. He can match with some of the bests receiver’s in the league. However, the other starting corner, and former Pro Bowler himself, Sheldon Brown was traded to Cleveland. Ellis Hobbs will replace Brown. Hobbs did start all 16 games for New England in 2007-’08, but only played in eight games last season. Philadelphia has struggled to find a replacement for Brian Dawkins at free safety. Now in Denver, Dawkins was the team’s defensive leader and had knockout power as a tackler. The Eagles signed defensive back Marlin Jackson this offseason, but the injury plagued Indianapolis Colt is now on Philly’s injured reserve list with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Rookie Nate Allen, taken in the second round, now will get the start at free safety. Veteran Quintin Mikell also returns at strong safety.

Biggest Question- How well will the Eagles’ two quarterbacks play this year? The previously mentioned Kevin Kolb will be the full time starter, with Michael Vick coming off the bench in some wildcat-type plays. I believe Kolb showed a lot in his first two starts last year. Had he been given an entire offseason to work with the starters, he probably wouldn’t have thrown the three picks in the loss to New Orleans (he did throw for 391 yards against the would be Champs). He came back strong against Kansas City with two scores and no turnovers. Head Coach Andy Reid hopes to see Kolb enter the West Coast offense with no problems. Vick threw a few passes last season, his first back from suspension. His big game came at Atlanta when he went 2 for 2 with 48 yards and a touchdown. He also added 95 yards and two touchdowns on the ground in 2009. Vick has another offseason of work under his belt, and may see an expanded role in the offense.

Washington Redskins

Strength- One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. In the case of the Washington Redskins, Donovan McNabb is that treasure. While McNabb’s numbers haven’t declined in recent years, Philadelphia went in a new direction with Kevin Kolb, and McNabb was traded for two draft picks, one being the second round pick used on safety Nate Allen. In 2009 with the Eagles, McNabb had a 92.8 passer rating. He threw for 22 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and 3,553 yards. In his career, he has totaled 32,873 yards with 216 TD’s. While he ran often early in his career, age and injuries have slowed McNabb down, but he still flashes signs off his youth given a chance. So far in his 11 seasons, he has ran for 3,249 yards and found the end zone 28 times. He is one of only four players to have 30,000 yards passing, 200 touchdowns and 3,000 rushing with 20 touchdowns (John Elway, Fran Tarkenton, Steve Young). Among Eagles franchise records, he holds career wins with 92, and is all-time leader is completions, yards, and scores.

Weakness-McNabb has some weapons to throw to, including Santana Moss and Chris Cooley. However, he might not have a quality back to hand off too. The Redskins’ ground attack last year was a group effort. Clinton Portis led the group with 494 yards and one touchdown, only the second time in his eight years he ran for under 1,200 yards (523 yards in 2006). New to the group this year are Larry Johnson and Willie Parker. Johnson had career years in 2005 and ’06, but only ran for 581 yards in Cincinnati last season. He had a miserable 3.2 yards per carry and no scores. Parker has also seen his stats decline greatly. After rushing for just under 5,000 yards in his first five seasons with the Steelers, Parker only managed 389 yards in 2009. Some teams like having two or three good running backs, but not having all three coming off career lows. New Head Coach Mike Shanahan was able to produce some great runners in his time with the Denver Broncos. Portis ran for over 1,500 yards and had 29 touchdowns in his first two years in Denver before coming to Washington.

Biggest Question-Can Donovan McNabb take this team to the playoffs before his window of opportunity closes? McNabb was able to do that a lot with the Eagles. He led them to five NFC Championships and one Super Bowl. Many times, he did it without having good receivers or running backs. The weapons McNabb has around him now in Washington are as good if not better than the Todd Pinkston’s and Freddie Mitchell’s in Philly. He also has a good line in front of him, including former Saint Jammal Brown and first round pick Trent Williams at the tackle positions. It’s not the line or receivers I’m worried about, it’s Donovan. How many more years can he put up over 3,500 yards and over 20 touchdowns? He is 33 years old now, and will be 34 in November. With the injuries he has suffered in recent seasons, McNabb has shown he is no Brett Favre. If Washington wants to win, they have about three seasons left before they’ll be searching for a new franchise quarterback.

Division Prediction-­The teams I pick to win these Division Predictions are the teams I feel have a better chance of making the playoffs, not the teams I personally like. That’s why it hurts me to make this year’s NFC East prediction. This will be the first season in a long time I’m unable to pick Philadelphia as an outright winner, mainly because of the uncertainty of the Kolb era. New York has a good team, but I don’t think they have quite what it takes to win the division, maybe a small chance at a wildcard spot. Washington, with McNabb, has improved greatly, but are still a few pieces away. To all you Dallas fans, I hope this is the only season I have to say the Cowboys will win the NFC East.

Joseph Addai (29) celebrates with wide receiver Reggie Wayne (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

By Paul Gotham

Addai’s pass keeps Colts perfect

If a sign of a good team is that they win when playing poorly, then the Indianapolis Colts are a good team (okay, so I realize the previous statement makes me the master of the obvious). Not much of Indy’s win over San Francisco looked like their previous six triumphs. Not much came easy either. Sure, Peyton Manning threw for 347 yards on 31-48 passing. But Manning did not throw for a touchdown. The Colts didn’t even score a touchdown for the first three quarters. At half, San Fran led Indy, 14-9. Matt Stover put one through the uprights to draw the Colts closer, 14-12. When all else failed, Indy turned to the half back option, and Joseph Addai connected with Reggie Wayne on a 22-yard pass to put the Colts up, 18-14.

Suddenly, the Colts have some signs of vulnerability, and the Houston Texas at 5-3 are looming. Indy hosts Houton next weekend before the two meet again deep in the heart of Texas on November 29th.

Denver came crashing back to earth. Baltimore manhandled the Broncos, 30-7. Entering Sunday’s game, Denver had allowed 10 second-half points. The Ravens scored 24 after the break. The Broncos host the Steelers next week and still have the Chargers, Colts, Eagles, and Giants remaining.

Baltimore QB, Joe Flacco, had another efficient day – 20-25 for 175 yards and a touchdown.

You want to throw to the white shirts.

Somewhere in the swamps of Jersey…

…there is a football team that started the season 5-0. Since then, the Giants have dropped three. Now it looks like the G-Men are caught in the middle. There is a distinct difference between the haves of the NFL (Indy, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, and Denver) and the have-nots ( St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Cleveland, and Kansas City). The Giants seemed stuck in the quagmire between the two. Things looked good when Eli Manning hit Kevin Boss with 1:54 remaining in the half. Despite playing poorly, New York pulled to within16-7. Momentum was theirs. Then Eli suffered from colorblindness. Momentum turned into a 30-7 deficit. The second stanza didn’t look any better for Big Blue.

“Hold on tight. Stay up all night. ‘Cause Rosy I’m comin’ on strong.”

Trivia Time

How do you score 21 consecutive points without your offense ever touching the field? Easy. Let Ted Ginn Jr. receive two kickoffs.

How do you score 30 points while only accumulating 104 yards of total offense? Easy. Let Ted Ginn Jr. receive two kickoffs.

Miami pulled off the feat yesterday. Ginn had 299 returning to lead the Dolphins past the Jets, 30-25. Between Ginn’s returns, Jason Taylor picked up a fumble and returned it 48 yards for the score.

The Jets had a chance late in the game. With the faithful watching a “fairy tale so tragic,” Mark Sanchez almost proved he was the “prince to break the spell.” With New York “countin’ on a miracle,” Sanchez led the Jets down field only to come up short on fourth and goal.

Free as a Byrd

Buffalo rookie Jairus Byrd had two more interceptions yesterday. That makes seven on the season. Byrd is one of the few positives Buffalo can take into the bye week. The Bills lost to Houston, 31 -10. This after leading 10-6 at half. Buffalo had a two-game winning streak going. Now, talk will resume about head coach, Dick Jauron’s job. Jauron might want to start weighing his options for life after Buffalo. Maybe Jauron should consider a relaxing stint as a driver of a beer truck.

Third a charm?

Josh Freeman gets the start at QB for Tampa Bay next week. Freeman is the third to go under center for the winless Bucs. At least Freeman won’t have to concern himself with lofty expectations.

MNF

Atlanta visits New Orleans tonight. Oooh yeah, something’s happenin’.

Got any NFL splinters? Share them here.

AP Photo//Michael Conroy

By Paul Gotham

Tougher than the rest

Indianapolis, Denver, Minnesota, and the New York Giants continue on without defeat (New Orleans enjoyed the bye week also undefeated).

Minnesota’s decision to sign Brett Favre parted the waters. For right now, it looks like those in agreement were right. Of course there is much football to be played yet this season.  It is hard to imagine that Favre has never opened a season 5-0, yet that is the case.  Adrian Peterson scored two touchdowns as the Vikes topped the hapless Rams, 38-10.  Viking DE, Jared Allen recovered two fumbles – one he returned 52 yards for a touchdown.

AP Photo/Chris Schneider

What looked like an impending train wreck has become a runaway train in Denver. Josh McDaniels came to town an quickly showed quarterback, Jay Cutler, the door.  Then a rift with Brandon Marshall appeared to spell doom for the rookie coach. Those are all distant memories as the Broncos outlasted Tom ‘Terrific’ and the New England Patriots in OT, 20-17. Kyle Orton went 35-48 for 330 yards while Brady finished 19-33 for 215. Didn’t Orton struggle in Chicago? After key wins over the Pats and Dallas Cowboys, Denver’s gauntlet of a schedule continues with a Monday night affair at San Diego. After a bye week, the Broncos travel to Baltimore before hosting Pittsburgh.

Another week and another 300 yards for Peyton Manning. Another week and another six receivers pulling in passes. Joseph Addai led the way with 10 catches. Addai also rushed for a touchdown.  Manning joined Steve Young and Kurt Warner as the only quarterbacks to open the season with five consecutive 300 yard games.

The G-Men rolled over Oakland 44-7….yaaawwwwwwnnnnn. The season makes an abrupt shift for Eli and the boys when they travel to N’awlins next week. Philly, San Diego, Atlanta, and Denver loom in the distance.

Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for 110 yards and one touchdown.

Sniffing the scum from the pond

Tennessee, Kansas City, Tampa Bay, and St. Louis have all fallen to 0-5. KC and TB come as no surprise – rebuilding was a pre-season theme for those two organizations.  It seems like just yesterday we were singing the praises of  ”The Greatest Show On Turf.” That is long gone. The Titans just keep adding to Albert Haynesworth’s value.

6-3: Cleveland takes the battle of the inept

If someone were to quickly look at the box score for this game and see that Cleveland completed a mere two passes and was  out gained 288-193, one would have to think the Bills played a good game. Right?  Guess again. There is no way to describe this game other than U-G-L-Y…and there was no alibi.  Not even watching this game in the Anchor Bar on Main Street in Buffalo could make it look better. But the wings sure were good.

Dick Jauron can look on the bright side. If his hands get cold, he can sit on them. He won’t find a warmer seat.

Time to take notice

The Cincinnati Bengals racked up 403 yards of offense en route to a come-from-behind 17-14 victory over Baltimore.  The Ravens committed three penalties on the Bengals’ final drive. With the win, Cincinnati takes the top spot in the AFC North at 4-1. Baltimore falls into a tie with Pittsburgh at 3-2. Carson Palmer threw for 271 yards. Chad Johnson made nine receptions.

Monday Night Fight

If the New York Jets are to stay on top of the AFC East they will have to do it on the sod of Pro Player …errr….Landshark Stadium. Rex Ryan’s defense will need to slow a Miami ground attack that’s getting 183 yards per game. A Miami win will put three teams within one game in the division.

Mark Sanchez won’t need to “drive that dusty road from Monroe to Angilene.” But he will have to “Prove It All Night.”

Got any NFL Splinters? Share them here.

AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

By Paul Gotham

Contenders,  Chrissie Hynde, and The Promised Land

Three weeks in the books, and seven teams have yet to lose: the NY Jets, Indianapolis Colts, Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings.

It comes as no surprise to see the Colts, Ravens, Giants, Saints, and Vikings on this list. Indy showed last week that time of possession can be overrated. This week the Arizona Cardinals’ defense actually made some tackles (as opposed to the Dolphins grabbing at air last week). Peyton and company put together some sustained drives en route to a 31-10 drubbing of last year’s Super Bowl participant. 15 minutes of possession equalled 27 points versus Miami. 31 and change = four touchdowns and a field goal in the desert. Manning used six different receivers – five of whom caught more than one pass. Four different Colts caught passes and went to the house – Reggie Wayne, Joseph Addai, Dallas Clark, and Pierre Garcon.   The Colts play at home against Seattle in week 4. The Seahawks should leave the neon jerseys at home. Quoting the better half: “Uh…ewwwwww.” Okay, so she has had better ones.

Kinda tough catching anybody by surprise when you are wearing a neon sign.

Some picked Baltimore  to represent the AFC in this year’s Super Bowl. The Ravens are doing their best to make those pundits look good. Bear in mind,  Baltimore has feasted on the Chiefs and Browns. It’s a little surprising KC put a 24-spot on the board. Then again, it was week 1. The Browns offered little resistance this weekend.  Brady did not look  like ‘The Mighty’ Quinn.  Challenges lie ahead. Tom ‘Terrific’ (Gag!) and the Patriots host the Ravens next weekend, and the resurgent Bengals (oxymoron alert?) pay a visit in week 5.

New Orleans showed yesterday they can also play defense.  The Saints, averaging 46 per game, touted the highest scoring offense in the league coming into the game with the Buffalo Bills. For 50 minutes yesterday, Drew Brees and company managed to put just 10 points on the scoreboard at Ralph Wilson Stadium.  The Saints D held the Bills to 7; check that the Saints D held the Bills offense to 0. Buffalo used some chicanery with a fake field goal.  The New orleans offense exploded for 17 points in the final ten minutes.

Old man Favre still has the touch.#4 found Greg Lewis in the back of the end zone with :02 remaining, and the Vikings remained undefeated. Let’s see…Green Bay at Minnesota next week. That should be interesting. Throw in there the possibility of the Detroit Tigers having to play at Minnesota against the Twins for the AL Central crown and next Monday could be a wild one.

The G-Men haven’t lost. Of course, I have seen wet rags put up a better fight than the Buccaneers did yesterday. Check this one out – Tampa Bay managed 86 yards of total offense. The Bucs failed to convert on third down…ALL DAY.   Eli completed passes to five different receivers while Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs combined for over 200 yards on the ground. Derrick Ward, on the other hand, who used to play for the Giants but now wears a Bucs jersey? He rushed for two yards. Not so easy when you don’t have the Giant line opening holes.

How much longer before we find out if  Denver really has ‘brass in pocket?’  Sure, the Broncos are 3-0. Their wins? Cleveland, Oakland, and Cincinnati. The crazy thing is the Broncos have held their opponents to 16 points. Yeah, you read that right 16 points!!! The next closest total is the Jets with 33 points. In fact, Denver has allowed just one touchdown all season.  Tony Romo and the Cowpokes visit Denver next week, and then Tom ‘Terrific’ pays a visit. Ya know what? maybe, I should have put Martin Chambers as the sub-title.  That band would have been nothing without him on the skins.

AP Photo/Tim Larsen

Mark Sanchez is showing he’s not a boy; he might just be a man, and he has Jets fans dreaming of the Promised Land.  With the Pats in week 2 and the Titans in week 3, many had the Jets opening the season at 1-2. And rightly so. Rex Ryan would have been happy with 2-1. 3-0 and Rexy has to be giddy.  Giving up 33 points in three games and one of those games against the Pats – the Jets might be for real. Since they play home games in Jersey, Bruce can offer a little more advice: “Blow away the dreams that tear you apart - Blow away the dreams that break your heart -Blow away the lies that leave you nothing but lost and brokenhearted.”

In case you’re wondering – I am not a Jets fan. The Bruce stuff just worked with them.

Bob Geldof understands the Bills

Before there was Live Aid, and before he shaved his eyebrows, Bob Geldof fronted the Boomtown Rats. The Rats had this catchy little tune called – ‘Tell Me Why I Don’t Like Mondays.’  Dick Jauron might change those lyrics to: Tell me why I don’t like fourth quarters…I wanna shoo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oot the whole quarter down.  In their two losses, the Bills have given up 32 points in the fourth quarter. In the other six quarters of their two losses? 20 points. Ouch!

The T.O. effect is a real thing. Terrell Owens throwing temper tantrums in Dallas and Philly was amusing.  As yesterday’s game entered the fourth, T.O. hadn’t caught a ball. The tension was palpable. Like a bomb ready to blow just sixty miles west on the thruway. Not that I know anything about football, but for the love of God, can we get him some touches. Let’s try something short. Maybe a quick slant in or an out pattern. Everything to Owens yesterday was 15-20 yards down the field. Oh, and another thing – if you are going to run the hurry up, then do it.  None of this – getting to the line, looking over at the sidelines for  five seconds, checking the wrist band, and then going. Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of the hurry up?

D3 Power

Garcon (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Remember the name Pierre Garcon. The second-year receiver has 7 receptions for 136 yards and two touchdowns for the Colts. Garcon’s college? Mount Union. Who is Mt. Union you ask? Ask any member of the St. John Fisher Cardinals. The Purple Raiders of Mt. Union have dominated D3 football for the last decade.

Got any NFL Splinters? Share them here.

After January made us shiver
The Frozen Tundra we remember
Bad news on the doorstep
Could the Pats take one more step

We all remember how T.O. cried
When he tried to cover his QB’s hide
But no one could have even tried
To suggest perfection would die

But bye-bye to those perfect dreams
Gone awash in a storm of Spagnuolo’s schemes
With good ol’ Osi comin’ round the end
Leaving Kawika to fill the middle
Scarnecchia couldn’t solve the riddle

Do you believe in Arlen Specter
Or do you have faith in Belichik
As Bob Ryan told us so
Did you buy into Plaxico
That Big Blue would save his mortal soul
As Justin Tuck would do the dance real slow

Well I know Shockey knocked a couple back
As Strahan went for another sack
Some thing Coughlin knows
Tiki’s turn to eat some crow

Jacobs ran like a broncin’ buck
And Bradshaw waited to drive the truck
Eli showed that he could duck
The day perfection died

I started singin
bye-bye to those perfect dreams
Gone awash in a storm of Spagnuolo’s schemes
And good ol’ Osi comin’ round the end
Leaving Kawika to fill the middle
Scarnecchia couldn’t solve the riddle

Oh, and there we were all in one place
The Patriots marching without any haste
Leaving little time to start again
Come on: Wes be nimble, Wes be quick
Moss scored on a Webster slip
And Brady is Belichik’s only friend

Oh and Seymour had Eli in his grasp
Until Manning rolled right as time elapsed
Tyree and the helmet catch
Steve Smith with one last dash

And while Brady was looking down
Giselle was glancing all around
She couldn’t believe her eyes
Would a Manning get another prize
And while Peyton seemed so concerned
Bob Kraft readied himself for another turn
Eli took a knee
The day perfection died

It’s the end of the world as we know it.
It’s the end of the world as we know it.
It’s the end of the world as we know it.
And I feel fine.

Six o’clock tv hour don’t miss Atlantic Coast power
Terrapins and Blue Devil spin with a top 20 flair.
Tigers outlast Zags. Drake’s in for one more bag
Every motive escalate. Huggins sure to detonate.
Goaltending. Goaltending. Ewing. Ewing.
Watch the Heels crush now that they’ve been crushed
Not Quite!
This means no fear of Cavaliers
Virginia Tech’s a steerin’ clear
A tournament, a tournament, a tournament looms
Offer me solutions, offer me alternatives and I decline.

It’s the end of the world as we know it.
It’s the end of the world as we know it.
It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine.

OJ front row.
Tim Floyd and Melo.
Tiki’s chewing crow.
ELI MANNING!
Plaxico Burress, Tonio Pierce, and Corey Webster.
Super Bowl, half time, jelly bean. Boom.
You Patriots can’t forget Hixon right? Right!

It’s the end of the world as we know it.
It’s the end of the world as we know it.
It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel
fine…fine…
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=zeo0_3gN190&feature=related]

With linemen Shaun O’Hara, Chris Snee, and Rich Seubert opening gaping holes, Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for a combined 291 yards and three touchdowns. Not since 1959, when Big Blue ran for 351 against the ‘Skins, have the G-Men gained as much on the ground.

Begs the question: Is it the backs? Line? Scheme? Or a combination of all? Whatever it certainly could diminish the accomplishments of a recent Giant back who embarked on a melodramatic farewell tour, only to use the platform as a means of throwing various teammates and coaches under the bus, then backing up the bus, only to reenact the previous throwing under the bus, and thus earning the dishonor of having his name forever stricken from the text of the Clipboard.

Then there’s Eli. Don’t know if it was the weather or the continuing influence of Kevin Gilbride, but Eli seems incapable of removing the ‘deer-in-the-headlights’ visage that continues plagues his career and cause every God-fearing Giant fan to lose any last vestige of hope that he can fulfill his draft choice ranking and/or pedigree.Thankfully the Giant defense picked off three Trent Edwards’s passes. Kawika Mitchell and Corey Webster both returned interceptions for touchdowns.

Hats off to a spirited Bills’ team. For the second week in a row they earned the dubious distinction of playing in the game most-affected-by-the-weather. Last weekend’s battle in Cleveland marked the first occasion that a televised broadcast needed a yardage marker graphic. As snow off Lake Erie blanketed the field, CBS added sideline numbers on the screen to help announcers find the yard markings. This week wind gusts of 40 mph and all the possible forms of precipitation had robust, sideline reporter, Tony Siragusa, doing his finest Bob Dylan and ‘seeking shelter from the storm’ in the broadcast booth(yeah, yeah, yeah, I know it’s gimme shelter from the storm. Gimme a little license wouldja?)

Many questioned the Bills when they drafted Marshawn Lynch and Trent Edwards. Dissenters expressed concern thatthe two California natives would not be able to handle December games in western New York. The two rookies give reason for hope to legions of Bills’ fans.

Great to see Kevin Everett make his return to Buffalo.Continued prayers go out as he continues to recover from a spinal cord injury.

The Giants’ victory creates a little irony. At one time people questioned if the New England Patriots would go for 16 and 0, or if they would rest their starters for the final game. Now it’s the Giants who will probably rest some players for the playoffs, and the Pats with an impending first-round bye will probably use the game as a tune-up. If yesterday’s first half vs. the Fish is any indication, the Pats have plenty of motivation to finish undefeated.

On that note: what makes for a greater team? Undefeated season but not winning the Super Bowl? Or one loss but winning it all?

EPL Yakety-Yak: Christiano Ronaldo continues to build his resume as the finest player in the world. The Man U wing tallied twice yesterday as the Reds halted Everton’s thirteen game unbeaten streak. Love ya Thrilla XOXOXO!

Recent NY Times article questions Joe Torre’s involvement in the steroid allegations brought out in the Mitchell Report. With the high number of players mentioned in the report, the writer suggested Torre’s hall-of-fame status needs review. Regular readers of the Clipboard know that I have nothing but respect for Torre and his accomplishments. I would hate to think he had knowledge of such activity. If any coach’s status requires examination, Tony LaRussa would have to top the list. He was at the helm when the ‘Bash Brothers’ were peaked and in St. Louis when McGwire basked in the nation’s hoodwinked glow.

All in all the recent allegations bring to light a clubhouse culture of baseball that many of us either didn’t know about or didn’t want to know about. Brian McNamee’s stories about players and body parts used for injection, offers newmeaning to idea of flying by the seatof one’s pants.

Casey’s Christmas day schedule will include the 5pm matchup between the Suns and Lakers. Lovin’ the resurgence of Grant Hill. The guy has endured his share of injuries and is still playing. His acceptance of a barely-above-league-minimum $1.8 mill per year contract shows his love for the game. Now if the Suns could only find someone to defend Tim Duncan in the playoffs.

Giving some context to Kobe’s 20,000 points. Yeah, he’s the youngest to ever do it, but can we please keep in mind he entered the out of high school and played for a Laker team that needed him to shoot thirty times a night. MJ played three years of college ball and was often injured early in his NBA career. Not to mention that Bulls’ GM Jerry Krause plotted to limit his playing time early in his career. Yeah you read that right. The GM tried to limit his star’s playing time.

Sad to see Scott Skiles getting fired. He’s a lunch pail guy who is worthy of respect. Not sure if he is to blame for the Bulls’ struggles, but he is definitely the fall guy.

Get well soon – in a letter to his fans Dick Vitale explained that he will be off the air for a couple of months. I for one will miss Dickie V.’s commentary. While there is no arguing he can be over the top, Vitale’s analysis is usually on the mark.

Merry Christmas!