Patriot Games: Is New England’s Most Important Weapon Wes Welker or Randy Moss?

Since 2007, whether the title has been warranted or not, the New England Patriots offense has been declared one of, if not the, most prolific offensive units in the NFL.

And ever since the recognition came about, Patriots fans and others alike have always asked the question: Who’s more important to the offense, Randy Moss, the prolific deep threat, or Wes Welker, the under-appreciated slot man that can turn a five-yard catch into a 12-yard gain with regularity?

Both Moss and Welker were acquired by Bill Belichick prior to the 2007 season. Moss came to New England in a trade with Oakland, and Welker was shipped north from Miami in a trade as well.

So far, both have proved to be invaluable to the New England offense, with Moss providing the awe-inspiring fireworks, and Welker acting as the reliable safety valve that quarterbacks Tom Brady and Matt Cassel (who filled in for Brady in 2008 when the star QB went down with a season ending knee injury in Week One) can consistently rely on.

In short, they are both critical to the overall success and production of the New England offense.

But who’s more important?

Before any argument is laid out for either player, it is important to recognize that neither one would be experiencing the success that they have had in New England if it wasn’t for their counterpart.

If Welker remained in South Florida, Moss would be consistently double teamed over the top, reducing his number of opportunities to catch deep balls. In 2007, he likely wouldn’t have set the NFL single-season record for touchdown receptions.

Likewise, if Moss was still stuck in Oakland, Welker would likely still be an average slot receiver. Moss spreads the field, drawing defenders deep with him, as the defense always has to be concerned about the deep ball that Moss generally catches so well.

This opens up the middle of the field for Welker to roam around, and provides him with a lot of single coverage by linebackers and nickel backs, matchups that he can usually exploit.

Because of this, some people may deem this argument one that is nearly impossible to sort out, as these two players essentially need one another.

However, based on the offensive production the Patriots have had the past couple of weeks, it has become clearer which one of these talented receivers has more of an impact on the offense.

The slot man, Wes Welker, has proved that he is indeed the most important offensive weapon on the field for Brady to throw to.

Ironically, Welker, who has been hobbled by a knee injury so far this season and missed the Week Two showdown with the New York Jets, didn’t even have to be on the field to make his case. His absence from the field last week exposed just how much Brady and the Patriots offense need his presence to succeed.

Moss will always have more highlights, touchdowns, and total yardage than Welker. That’s just the nature of Moss’ job description. Primarily, Moss needs to get downfield, create matchup problems for the defense, and catch deep balls, using his speed and jumping ability to snag balls out of the sky.

This is very important to the offense. Moss, when he is healthy and going at full speed, is a nightmare for defenses to game plan for, as he is very difficult to defend one on one (although Darrell Revis this past week proved that it is not impossible).

However, without Welker, the New England offense just doesn’t click.

This fact was on display during Week Two against the Jets, as Brady struggled mightily to connect with his receivers on multiple occasions, mostly due to the Jets pass rush and some timing issues that Brady is currently experiencing due to a combination of him recovering from his knee injury and trying to acclimate himself with several new receivers.

When a play breaks down, Welker is the guy that Brady immediately looks to for a bail-out.

This past week, Brady did not have that bail out. Granted, for a rookie who is trying to learn a new position, wideout Julian Edelman played well in his first regular season NFL game. But it was still clear that Brady needed Welker. The timing with Edelman just isn’t there yet.

One area of concern with the Patriots’ offense lies on the offensive line, where tackles Nick Kaczur and Matt Light routinely struggle with speed rushers off the edge and speedy linebackers blitzing from the outside.

The Jets brought some heavy pressure throughout the game last week, and they were getting to Brady.

When an issue like this occurs, Welker becomes even more indispensable.

When Brady doesn’t have time to stand in the pocket and wait for Moss or Joey Galloway (another receiver he seems to be having difficulty getting in sync with) to get down field and get open, he will immediately look for Welker.

Without Welker in the fold last week, and with a talented yet very inexperienced receiver acting in his place, Brady was forced to rush throws countless times. Edelman performed well, snagging eight balls for 98 yards.

However, had Welker been in the game and playing at full speed, those numbers for the slot receiver likely would have been higher.

Welker’s value to the offense was also on display last season, after Brady went down with that knee injury and the inexperienced and raw Cassel was forced to step in and play for Brady immediately.

Cassel, a quarterback who had not started a game since his senior year in high school, needed as much help as he could get, particularly in the beginning of the season when he was trying to get acclimated to the offense and the speed of an NFL game.

For a majority of the first half of the season, it was clear who Cassel trusted most and relied on to move the ball down the field.

Through his first 11 games in the 2008 season, Welker recorded at least six receptions, which broke Jimmy Smith’s record of eight games with the Jacksonville Jaguars back in 2001. Through Week Eight, he was averaging seven receptions per game.

Cassel could have looked Moss’ way on multiple occasions, however, it was clear that Welker was his safety valve and Cassel was looking Welker’s way on most plays, particularly early in the season, when he needed the most help.

As the season progressed, Cassel continued to grow in the offense, and Moss began to get more touches as Cassel became more comfortable throwing the deep ball. However, Welker still got his touches.

Again, this is not to say that Welker is more talented than Moss. There are few players that are as physically gifted as Randy Moss. In addition, Welker would probably not be able to have the impact that he has had without Moss stretching the field.

However, when push comes to shove and the Patriots need a quick reception to get a first down or to avoid a sack, which receiver does quarterback Tom Brady look for?

It’s not Moss, despite his immense talent.

Without Welker, the New England Patriots offense sputters. It was on clear display this past week, and if Welker is not able to shake his knee issues, Patriots fans everywhere should be concerned about the state of New England’s offense and its ability to put points up on the board.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Can The Sports World Control Twitter?

It was about a year ago that I first learned about Twitter and started my own personal Twitter account (dhprguy). At the time I was working for a public relations firm and it was pretty obvious that gaining an understanding of the power of social networks was essential for people in the public relations field.

As a networking tool, I’m still not sold on Twitter. Most of the people that follow you and that you follow on Twitter are complete strangers and interactions seem to be a bit forced and trivial.

When you are following thousands of people, as many people do, and have thousands following you, I don’t see how you can expect to have a meaningful conversation or personal engagement with someone.

However, as a tool for disseminating information there is no question that Twitter has a ton of power.

Many companies are using Twitter to inform customers and potential customers about their products. It also is a great place for bloggers like myself to announce our latest post or share a great site or blog that we saw somewhere else on the web.

Many celebrities have figured out that putting something on Twitter before formally announcing it to the media helps ensure that the points they want to make can be told (140 characters at a time).

When Paula Abdul announced that she was leaving American Idol she didn’t do it on The Oprah Winfrey Show or in People Magazine, she announced it on Twitter.

Twitter has also been where coaching changes, roster cuts and player moves have been shared by players with the general public before the media could get their hands on the information.

Of course, this ability to release information without a formal media announcement has ticked off the media and makes them skeptical of Twitter and other social Media outlets.

For a while, ESPN seemed to be encouraging their personalities to create a presence on Twitter, but once they realized that Twitter was much harder to control than TV or radio they began putting restrictions on how ESPN employees could use Twitter.

One flaw with Twitter is that it is very hard to verify the true identity of the user.

My Sports Then and Now account (sportsthen_now) is currently being followed by someone claiming to be NHL President Gary Bettman (Gary_Bettman). However, since most of the posts seem to be making fun of Bettman and the NHL, I am pretty sure that it is not really the NHL boss.

For a while, someone was posting as Shaquille O’Neal. Once Shaq heard about it, he began his own Twitter account (THE_REAL_SHAQ) and has nearly 2.3 million followers.

The NFL seems to be terrified of the power of Twitter.

Of course I think that much like ESPN, the NFL is terrified of anything it can’t tightly control, so it should be no surprise that Twitter has quickly gained the attention of Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Using Twitter was originally banned for players and team personnel before a game and during halftime, but after players such as Chad Ochocinco (OGOchoCinco) were starting to tweet almost instantaneously with the conclusion of the game and before talking with the media, they quickly extended the ban until after players completed formal media interviews.  

After the actions this past weekend of rookie Washington Redskins linebacker Robert Henson the NFL might think about trying to ban Twitter use by players from the time they sign a contract until the time they are eligible for Canton.

After the Redskins were booed by frustrated fans during their lackluster performance in a 9-7 victory over the St. Louis Rams, Henson posted the following on his Twitter page:

“All you fake half hearted Skins fan can..I won’t go there but I dislike you very strongly, don’t come to Fed Ex to boo dim wits!!”

The sixth round pick out of TCU also wrote: “The question is who are you to say you know what’s best for the team and you work 9 to 5 at Mcdonalds.”

Now I know that being booed by their home fans is frustrating for athletes, but in today’s world where athletes are pampered beyond belief, they need to suck it up, especially in situations like this where it is deserved.

After all, there is historically no more loyal fan base than Washington Redskins fans and over the last 15 years they have had to withstand escalating ticket prices at the same time the results on the field have declined.

The Redskins did win their game over the Rams, but the performance was anything but stellar. Besides, the Rams won two games a year ago. If the Skins can’t beat them by more than two points in their home opener, they deserve to be booed.

The problem with all social media is that it is instantaneous. The moment you press “send,” whatever you have written is out in cyberspace and no matter how hard you try there is no taking it back.

Henson tried to apologize and backtrack, but the damage was done. Whether really deserved or not, he has become the latest poster child illustrating the spoiled nature of today’s professional athletes.

The NFL has also tried to ban use of Twitter during the game by members of the media to try and protect their own content rights holders, but that seems almost impossible.

As Shelley Palmer asks, just exactly who is the media today? Is it only media sitting in the press box at the game or would it also spread to me and any other blogger who is watching the game on TV?

How about the fan sitting in section 325 and tweeting during the game via an iPhone or Blackberry?

Social media has changed the access to information and to providing information.

While anyone over the age of 30 can remember a time without the Internet, anyone under the age of 21 can’t remember a time without text messages and soon won’t remember a time without Facebook, Twitter and iPhones.

Consider that YouTube is now the second largest search engine in the world with 100,000,000 videos. Heck, just about every cell phone in the world is now a video camera and within seconds your pictures and videos can be on YouTube or some other site and accessible to the world.

How exactly does the NFL, ESPN, the NCAA or anyone else think they can control that?

The sports world will continue to try and figure out how to gain control, but social media is an ever changing and growing medium that is like an out of control locomotive and will be harder for the NFL to control than even the egos of Chad Ochocinco or Terrell Owens.

This article is an original story from Sports Then and Now, which was created to give passionate sports fans a place where they can analyze and discuss current sports topics while also remembering some of the great athletes, moments, teams and games in sports history all at one site. If you haven’t been there yet, check it out today.

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Ted Thompson and Packers Flying With No Safety Net

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Mike Bell Speculation

 

The Times-Picayune is reporting that New Orleans Saints RB Mike Bell could miss three to four weeks with his sprained knee.  Mike Bell, the Saints, and team doctors have not commented on Bell’s status for this weekend’s game, let alone his status a month from now.

The timetable is roughly that of Pierre Thomas.  The problem, though, is you’re not comparing apples to apples.  First of all, everyone recovers at a different pace.  Second, the extent of the injuries likely isn’t the same.

It’s all speculation at this point.  Take the Cowboys for example.  Marion Barber was slated to miss a week or two and he participates in practice the next two days.  What’s worse is you can’t even count on the injury report because team’s can list someone on the report every week (ahem Tom Brady) or they can choose not to list them (ahem Brett Favre).

The odds of Bell playing this weekend are slim.  Looking any further gets hazy.  We’ll have to see if he can practice.  Unless you are a game-changer like Brian Westbrook, practice is required to play.  Mike Bell is solid, but Westy he is not.  The Saints have an explosive passing game and Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush have shown they are capable of getting the job done out of the backfield.  The Saints are so confident in their system that Lynell Hamilton could be called upon this weekend.

I urge you not to overreact and drop Mike Bell until further information is revealed.  You can pick up Hamilton if have someone expendable, but check on Thomas’ status before you decide to plug him in on Sunday.  The same goes for the Cowboys situation.  You can plug in Felix Jones since he should produce whether MB3 plays or not, but do not use Tashard Choice, even in a flex spot, if Barber is going to play.  They don’t go until Monday so you’ll have to make that decision on Sunday.  When in doubt, I would lean towards using another option.

Going forward you’re likely to hear more injury timetables without the proper verification.  I’m not saying they are wrong, but I just caution you to make any rash decisions until all of the facts are revealed.

Originally published at LestersLegends.com.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

For Head Coach Tom Cable, The Season Just Got More Interesting

It’s probably not the way Cable wanted to start off his new gig. It’s certainly not the way he envisioned his first few weeks in office.

Suspect offensive play calling, a team that raises more questions and concerns than a healthcare town hall meeting, and the cherry on top of the cake; a police investigation hanging over his head.

Two games in and the fun is just starting

According to the Napa Valley Register, Cables involvement in an August 5th altercation with assistant Randy Hanson during training camp, will heat up again as police seek Cable out for questioning.

The Raiders organization can’t be too happy about this right now. Al Davis cant be to comfortable about this hire.

Furthermore, do we or the players really need to be reminded of this incident again? It’s a major distraction to an otherwise focused team.

Although I am quick to assess the incident as nothing more than stupid, I do understand, as should we all,  that the story has not been disclosed fully and is still under investigation.

Nobody knows exactly why he sucker punched his assistant, if he in fact did punch him which he vehemently denies, see http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4405681.

There have been numerous reports of what happened the aforementioned link features eye witnesses telling there account of the incident, one thing seems to be certain though, it was just a disagreement between two testosterone filled men. I’ll buy that, heck I’ve had plenty of brotherly fights with my siblings, some ugly.

Difference between Cable and me, nobody ended up in the hospital.

Cut him so slack though Raider nation. Truth be told, coaching is a very stressful job. Couple that with the added pressure of reviving a once proud franchise in a city starving for something great, and were talking about a guy who probably has to pop pills to make it through the day.

Still, this isn’t the UFC and now he has extra pressure, weather he asked for it or not.

Not only will he be judged by how many wins he can generate over the season, but now his credibility will be called into question. How many free agents do you think will want to be coached up by him knowing that he’s being probed for assault?

It also begs the question, what will happen to Cable if he is in fact convicted, will this  affect the chemistry of the team?

convicted of this incident, Tom Cable could face felony charges, of which he could receive jail time. The NFL will most surely fine him or suspend him.

Maybe the NFL should start having mandatory stress relieving classes Perhaps this will teach hot head coaches how to channel there frustration into productivity on the field.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Week 2 NFL Power Rankings

In honor of Bruce Springsteen’s 60th birthday this week, I am going to use a Springsteen lyric to describe each team, as they stand after week 2…

 

Current		Team		Previous
	1	Atlanta Falcons (2-0)		4
	“Well, my feet they finally took root in the earth but I got me a nice little place in the stars And I swear I found the key to the universe in the engine of an old parked car” Growin’ Up  Next:  vs. New England (1-1)
	2	Indianapolis Colts (2-0)	6
	“Aim your gun, son, and shoot your shot, Everybody wants to be the Man at the Top” Man at the Top  Next:  @ Arizona (1-1)
	3	New York Giants (2-0)	3
	“Climb in back, heaven’s waiting on down the tracks…”  Thunder Road   Next:  @ Tampa Bay (0-2)
	4	Baltimore Ravens (2-0)	10
	“Hell, all day they’re busting you up on the outside, But tonight you’re gonna break out on through to the inside, And it’ll be right, it’ll be right and it’ll be tonight!”  Night  Next: vs Cleveland (0-2)
	5	Minnesota Vikings (2-0)	15
	“Just wrap your legs round these velvet rims and strap your hands across my engines.  Together we could break this trap, We’ll run till we drop, baby we’ll never go back,” Born To Run  Next:  vs San Francisco (2-0)
	6	Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1)	1
	“You say your momma’s going to meet you when the morning comes.  And your papa’s gonna beat you ‘cause he knows you are out on the run.  I’m gonna live a life of love and tonight you’re the one.  The highway is alive tonight, so do not be frightened.  There’s something about a pretty girl on a sweet summer night that gets this boy excited.”  Seaside Bar Song  Next:  @ Cincinnati (1-1)
	7	New York Jets (2-0)	23
	“Sunrise come. I climb the ladder, The new day breaks and I’m working on a dream.”  Working on a Dream  Next:  vs Tennessee (0-2)
	8	Philadelphia Eagles (1-1)	5
	“Seen a man standin’ over a dead dog lyin’ by a highway in a ditch, he’s looking kinda puzzled pokin’ that dog with a stick.  Got his car door flung open he’s standing out on Highway 31.  Like if he stood there long enough, that’d dog get up and run.  Struck me kinda funny, seem kinda funny sir to me.  Still at the end of every hard earned day people find some reason to believe.”  Reason to Believe  Next:  vs.  Kansas City (0-2)
	9	New England Patriots (1-1)	2
	“I wanna read your mind to know just what I’ve got in this new thing I found, so tell me what I see when I look in your eyes, Is that you baby, or just a brilliant disguise?” Brilliant Disguise  Next:  @ Atlanta (2-0)
	10	New Orleans Saints (2-0)	16
	“Well now, I don’t want to be greedy.  But when it comes to love their ain’t no doubt, you just ain’t gonna get what you want, with one foot in bed and one foot out, You got to give it all, or nothin’ at all”  All or Nothin’ At All  Next:  @ Buffalo (1-1)
	11	San Francisco 49ers (2-0)	19
	“And the kids down here look like shadows, always quiet holding hands.  From the churches to the jails tonight all is silence in the world, as we take our stand, down in Jungleland.  Next:  @ Minnesota (2-0)
	12	Green Bay Packers (1-1)	14
	“Hey little girlie with the jeans so tight, drivin’ alone through the Wisconsin night, you’re my last love baby you’re my last chance, don’t let ‘em take me to the Cadillac Ranch.” Cadillac Ranch  Next:  @ St. Louis (0-2)
	13	Chicago Bears (1-1)	20
	“Oh heartbreak and despair got nothing but boring so I grabbed you baby like a wild pitch.  It takes a leap of faith to get things going, it takes a leap of faith you gotta show some guts.”  Next:  @ Seattle (1-1)
	14	Tennessee Titans (0-2)	8
	“Everybody’s got a hunger, a hunger they can’t resist.  There’s so much that you want, you deserve much more then this, But if dreams came true, oh wouldn’t that be nice.  But this ain’t no dream we’ve been living through tonight”  Prove It All Night  Next:  @ NY Jets (2-0)
	15	Washington Redskins (1-1)	13
	“I’m a thief in the house of love and I can’t be trusted.  Well I’ll be making my heist In just another roll of the dice.  Move on up, come on seven, roll me baby, in this fool’s heaven.”  Roll of the Dice  Next:  @ Detroit (0-2)
	16	Arizona Cardinals (1-1)	11
	“You been hurt and you’re all cried out you say, you walk down the street, pushin’ people out of your way, you packed your bags and all alone you wanna ride, you don’t want nothin’, don’t need no one by your side, you’re walkin’ tough baby, but you’re walkin’ blind to the ties that bind.”  The Ties That Bind  Next:  vs. Indianapolis (2-0)
	17	Miami Dolphins (0-2)	17
	“I remember back when we started, my kisses you used to turn you inside out, I used to drive you to work in the morning, Friday night I’d drive you all around, you used to love to drive me wild, but lately girl you get your kicks from just driving me down”  I’m Goin’ Down  Next:  @ San Diego (1-1)
	18	Houston Texans (1-1)	18
	“Well I’m a little down under, but I’m feeling OK.  I got a little lost along the way.  I’m just around the corner to the light of day.”  Light of Day  Next:  vs Jacksonville (0-2)
	19	Dallas Cowboys (1-1)	12
	“Now I think I’m going down to the well tonight and I’m going to drink until I get my fill.  And I hope when I get old I don’t sit around thinking about it, but I probably will.  Yeah, just sitting back trying to recapture a little of the glory of, well time slips away and leaves you with nothing mister but boring stories of glory days.”  Glory Days  Next:  vs. Carolina (1-1)
	20	Washington Redskins (1-1)	13
	“I’m a thief in the house of love and I can’t be trusted.  Well I’ll be making my heist In just another roll of the dice.  Move on up, come on seven, roll me baby, in this fool’s heaven.”  Roll of the Dice  Next:  @ Detroit (0-2)
	21	Cincinnati Bengals (1-1)	21
	“No one here knows how it started, suddenly everything was just so out of control, now I want some answers, mister, I need to know, I hear all the talk but I don’t know what you’re sayin, but I think I got a good idea the game that you’re playin.’” Roulette  Next:  vs. Pittsburgh (1-1)
	22	Denver Broncos (2-0)	25
	“Well, surprise, surprise, surprise, Yea, surprise, surprise, surprise.  Well, surprise, surprise, surprise, C’mon open your eyes and let your love shine down.”  Surprise, Surprise, Surprise  Next:  @ Oakland (1-1)
	23	Carolina Panthers (1-1)	9
	“Well big limousine shiny and black, you don’t look ahead and you don’t look back, how many times can you get up after you’ve been hit?  Well I swear if I could spare the spit, I’d lay one on your shiny chrome and send you on your way back home.”  Seeds  Next:  @ Dallas (1-1)
	24	Buffalo Bills (1-1)	24
	“And everybody’s wrecked on Main Street from drinking unholy blood.  Sticker smiles sweet as gunner breathes deep, his ankles caked in mud.  And I said “Hey gunner man that’s quicksand, that ain’t mud, have you thrown you senses to the war or did you lose them in the flood?”  Lost in the Flood  Next:  vs.  New Orleans (2-0)
	25	Oakland Raiders (1-1)	32
	“I’m coming to liberate you, confiscate you, I want to be your man.  Someday we’ll look back on this and it will all seem funny.”  Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)  Next:  vs Denver (2-0)
	26	Seattle Seahawks (1-1)	26
	“It’s been a long drought baby, tonight the rain’s pourin’ down on our roof, looking for a little bit of God’s mercy, I found living proof.”  Living Proof  Next:  vs.  Chicago (1-1)
	27	Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2)	22
	“I watch the sun as it rises and sets, I watch the moon trace its arc with no regrets, My jacket around your shoulders, the falling leaves, the wet grass on our backs as the autumn breeze drifts through the trees.” Kingdom of Days  Next:  @ Houston (1-1)
	28	Kansas City Chiefs (0-2)	31
	“You’re born with nothing and better off that way, soon as you’ve got something they send someone to try and take it away, you can ride this road ‘til dawn, without another human being in sight, just kids wasted on something in the night.”  Something in the Night  Next:  @ Philadelphia (1-1)
	29	Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-2)	27
	“How beautiful the river flows and the birds they sing, but you and I we’re messier things.  There ain’t no one leavin’ this world buddy without their shirttail dirty or their hands bloody.””  Big Muddy  Next:  vs NY Giants (2-0)
	30	St. Louis Rams (0-2)	28
	“You’re born into this life paying for the sins of somebody else’s past; Daddy worked his whole life for nothing but the pain.  Now he walks his whole life for nothing but the pain. Now he walks this empty rooms looking for something to blame, you inherit the sins, you inherit the flames” Adam Raised a Cain  Next:  vs. Green Bay (1-1)
	31	Cleveland Browns (0-2)	29
	“Mister Trouble come walkin’ this way, Year gone by feels like one long day..”  Real World  Next:  @ Baltimore (2-0)
	32	Detroit Lions (0-2)	30
	“Well, my soul checked out missing as I sat listening, to the hours and minutes tickin’ away.  Yeah, just sittin’ around waitin’ for my life to begin, while it was all just slippin’ away.”  Better Days  Next:  Vs. Washington (1-1)

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

NFL Power 10: Could We Be Heading for a Super Bowl XXXV Rematch?

In Philadelphia, Green Bay, New England, and San Diego, fans are jumping over themselves to hit their respective panic buttons.

Their teams are 1-1.

Their teams have the same record as both Super Bowl teams from last season.

Their teams are only two games into the season.

But, trust me, they’re hitting the panic button.

Here’s a rule I try to live my sports life by: Your team must be at least two games below .500 before you can hit the panic button.

Which means Carolina, feel free to start panicking.

1 (10) Ravens (1-0-0)

It’s not often that I agree with Peter King. For example, I’m a huge fan of Dunkin Donuts coffee and he prefers to spend his millions on Starbucks drinks that take 15 minutes just to order. But on this point we agree: The Baltimore Ravens, right now, going into week three of the NFL season, are the best team in the NFL.

We’ve been saying for a long time that if the Ravens ever developed an offense to compliment that defense, they’d be scary. That offense just put up 69 points in two games.

I’m officially scared.

2 (2) Giants (2-0-0)

I’m not a Giants fan. I’m not an Eli Manning fan. I’m still bitter about that whole Super Bowl thing. But ruining the opening of Jerry Jones’ new man-cave in Dallas this week almost won me over.

Eli Manning was impressive, completing 25 of 38 passes (65.8 percent) for 330 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, and a 110.6 passer rating. Maybe all it takes to get a quarterback to play like one of the best in the game is to pay him like one of the best in the game?

The Panthers should try that with Jake Delhomme.

3 (6) Falcons (2-0-0)

Matt Ryan and company can make a huge statement by knocking off the Patriots in Foxboro this weekend. Tony Gonzalez could have a huge game, as the Patriots are known to have issues dealing with opposing tight ends. His addition to this offense has given them an unstoppable compliment to Roddy White and Michael Turner, especially in the red zone.

The Falcons are really, really good.

4 (9) Saints (2-0-0)

Speaking of really, really good, the Saints offense is absolutely insane. 93 points in two games? Seriously? They’re on pace to score 744 points. To put that in perspective, the 2007 Patriots scored 589 points.

Their offense might just be good enough that their pathetic defense won’t matter.

5 (8) Colts (2-0-0)

Speaking of pathetic defenses, how awful were the Colts on Monday night? They allowed the Dolphins to hang on to the ball for 45:07. They allowed the Dolphins to convert 15 of 21 third down chances. They gave up 239 rushing yards, and 27 first downs.

But they WON the game!?!?!

Peyton Manning had the ball for less than 15 minutes, yet managed to put up 27 points. The dude is pretty good.

6 (7) Vikings (2-0-0)

For reasons unknown to even the most knowledgeable football minds, the Vikings have trouble with the Detroit Lions. For reasons known to everyone who’s ever watched the Detroit Lions, that trouble never seems to result in a loss.

Adrian Peterson is reportedly nursing a sore back this week, which is worth watching. With Peterson, this is one of the best teams in the NFL. Without Peterson, they’re the Carolina Panthers.

7 (-) Broncos (2-0-0)

OK, so the Broncos have played the Bengals and the Browns, and it took a miracle for them to defeat the Bengals, but I really like the way the Broncos are playing. Plus, as Cold Hard Football Facts has noted, Kyle Orton is the luckiest quarterback in the history of football.

And I’m not one to go against luck.

8 (-) Jets (2-0-0)

The Jets have gone two games against pretty decent offenses without giving up a single rushing or passing touchdown. Their rookie quarterback is playing twice as well as the 2008 version of Brett Favre played. Their offensive line has been dominant.

I predicted six wins for this team. I may have been a little off…

9 (1) Steelers (1-1-0)

I’m not ready to completely jump off the Steelers bandwagon just because they lost to the Chicago Bears. I’m awfully close to jumping off, I may be hanging out the door, but I’m still on the ride. For now.

Fact is, they need to get that offensive line straightened out. When they made their Super Bowl run last season, the line morphed into a decent-but-not-great unit. This season, they’ve regressed into a pathetic-and-going-to-get-Big-Ben-killed unit.

10 (-) 49ers (2-0-0)

I put the 49ers here for two reasons:

1) They’re undefeated, and nobody else who hasn’t already been listed is undefeated.

2) They may never make the list again this season, so I figured I’d throw them a bone.

Dropped Out:

(3) Eagles (1-1-0)

I still think the Eagles are going to be OK, they just need to tread water until McNabb comes back. Michael Vick is eligible to play this week, which should be interesting…even though he’s completely useless as a quarterback.

(4) Patriots (1-1-0)

Tom Brady says he’s not 100 percent happy with his throwing mechanics so far this season. I’d say it’s hard to have good mechanics when your offensive line is allowing opposing defenders to take free shots at you all game long.

(5) Packers (1-1-0)

You can’t lose to the Bengals if you want to be in the Power-10. It’s a rule.

Bottom Three:

30 (31) Lions (0-2-0)

Someday, somehow, the Lions will win a football game. Nobody’s sure when, and God knows we can’t figure out how, but it will eventually happen.

I think.

31 (30) Browns (0-2-0)

Brady Quinn is proof of Charlie Weis’ genius. Not because he was able to win games at Notre Dame with an obviously deficient quarterback, but because he was able to convince NFL scouts that Quinn was a first round quarterback.

32 (-) Panthers (0-2-0)

Too hard on the Panthers this week? They’re last in the NFL with a -36 net points, they’re 26th in the NFL in points for, and they’re 30th in the NFL in points against.

Frankly, I’m being too kind…

You can read more articles like this one on Sean’s Examiner.com page, which is located here: http://www.examiner.com/x-1324-New-England-Patriots-Examiner

Follow the Patriots Examiner on Twitter: http://twitter.com/PatsExaminer

Become a fan of the Patriots Examiner on Facebook: PatsExaminer on Facebook

Questions? Comments? Insults? You can email them to Sean Crowe at scrowe@gmail.com.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Classic Rewind: When Baltimore Vs. Cleveland Meant Colts Vs. Browns

Each week during the 2009 NFL season, Sports Then and Now will pick one NFL matchup and look through the history books to find an intriguing past meeting between the two teams.

We will recap the game and hopefully help reintroduce (or introduce for you younger readers) you to some of the greats (and in some cases not so greats) from the history of professional football.

Thanks to the decision in 1995 by Art Modell to move the beloved Cleveland Browns to Baltimore a decade after the Colts left in the middle of the night for Indianapolis, Cleveland and Baltimore are forever linked. More than a decade later, there is still resentment and anger among some long-time Cleveland fans.

This week, as the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns are preparing to do battle, we look at a game between the two predecessor franchises in those two cities. The Baltimore Colts and original Cleveland Browns had some classic confrontations during the 1950s and 1960s.

But their regular season meeting during the 1968 season is one of the most noteworthy.

The Matchup: Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Colts

Series Record: Between 1956 and 1983 the Browns and Colts met 15 times with Cleveland holding a 10-5 series advantage, including wins in their final five meetings. The two teams met in the playoffs three times, with Baltimore holding a 2-1 edge.

However, Cleveland defeated the Colts 27-0 to win the 1964 NFL Championship. There were some other memorable moments in the series including a 38-31 Cleveland victory in 1959 in which Jim Brown rushed for five touchdowns and Johnny Unitas passed for four scores.

In 1978, veteran running back Calvin Hill caught three touchdown passes to lift the Browns to a 45-24 victory. Two years later, Bert Jones led the Colts on a furious fourth quarter comeback that fell just short in a 28-27 Cleveland victory.

However, of all the meetings, the 1968 matchup is the most interesting and worthy of a Classic Rewind.

The Game: October 20, 1968, Memorial Stadium, Baltimore Maryland

Team Records: Cleveland Browns 2-3, Baltimore Colts 5-0

Overview: The Cleveland Browns came to Memorial Stadium in need of a spark after a surprising loss to the St. Louis Cardinals dropped their record to 2-3. On the other hand, a year after going 11-1-2 and missing the playoffs, the Colts were a team on a mission.

They entered this contest with a 5-0 record and had outscored their first five opponents by more than 21 points per game.

With veteran quarterback Johnny Unitas sidelined by an injury, journeyman Earl Morrall had seized the reigns and was having an MVP-type season. Running back Leroy Kelly was the offensive star for the Browns while quarterback Bill Nelsen was under center.

Coaches: Cleveland Browns – Blanton Collier (6th year); Baltimore Colts – Don Shula (6th year)

Notable Browns: Bill Nelsen (qb), Paul Warfield (wr), Leroy Kelly (rb), Eppie Barney (fl), Milt Morin (te), Gene Hickerson (ol), Bill Glass (de), Don Cockroft (k), Ben Davis (db), Bob Matheson (lb)

Notable Colts:  Earl Morrall (qb), Johnny Unitas (qb), Tom Matte (rb), John Mackey (te), Jerry Hill (rb), Jimmy Orr (wr), Willie Richardson (wr), Rick Volk (db), Bubba Smith (dl), Mike Curtis (lb)

Interesting Notes: Colts head coach Don Shula had been a player for both teams, having spent two years as a player under legendary head coach Paul Brown with the Cleveland Browns while also spending four seasons (1953-1956) with the Baltimore Colts.

Two key performers for the Browns would go on to become key players for Shula during his tenure with the Miami Dolphins. Wide receiver Paul Warfield was traded to Miami in 1970 and became the deep threat that complimented the dominant running game. The famous Miami 53 defense was named after Matheson, who wore number 53.

Matheson played with the Browns from 1967-1970 and then with the Dolphins from 1971-1979. One of Shula’s assistant coaches with the Baltimore Colts in 1968 was Chuck Noll, who would become the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers the following season and lead them to four Super Bowl victories.

The Game: The Browns landed the first blow in this struggle between two marquee squads when Bill Nelsen tossed the first of his three touchdown passes to Leroy Kelly in the first period.

Baltimore soon answered with a 23-yard dash by running back Tom Matte. For the game, Matte finished with 64 yards rushing on 13 carries and also caught two passes for 37 yards.

The Browns quickly responded as Nelson’s second touchdown toss, this one to Paul Warfield, gave Cleveland a 14-7 halftime edge.

Nelsen’s third touchdown pass came early in the third quarter and was a two-yard toss to Eppie Barney. None of Nelsen’s three touchdowns passes went for more than six yards. He finished the day completing 15 of 23 passes for 137 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

While Earl Morrall started for the Colts, with the offense sputtering Shula turned to Johnny Unitas and gave him his second action of the season. Unfortunately, an elbow injury that would hamper him throughout the season made him only a shell of his Hall of Fame self.

In one of the worst performances of his career, Unitas completed only one of 12 passes with three interceptions. When in the game, Morrall was only marginally better as he connected on 10 of 18 passes for 130 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

The Colts boasted one of the best receiving corps in the league, but they were held in check by the Cleveland secondary. John Mackey had three catches for 41 yards and Jimmie Orr added three receptions for 38 yards. Willie Richardson did not catch a pass until late in the contest and finished with only one reception for eight yards.

In the third period, the Colts were able to keep the game close as pair of Lou Michaels field goals made the score 21-13.

As the game entered the final quarter, Kelly increased the lead for Cleveland with a four-yard touchdown run. On his way to his second straight NFL rushing title, Kelly rushed for a season-high 130 yards on 30 carries.

The extra point attempt by Don Cockroft failed to keep the game within two scores at 27-13. However, after another failed Baltimore possession, Cockroft connected on an 11-yard field goal to make the score 30-13.

The Colts completed the scoring with a touchdown toss from Morrall to Richardson to make the final margin 30-20.

For the game, the Browns out-gained Baltimore 305 yards to 212. The Colts finished the season with the third-best rushing defense in the NFL, but surrendered 179 yards on the ground to Kelly and company.

Turnovers also proved to be a key in the game as Baltimore threw four interceptions and lost a fumble. The Browns had only one lost fumble in the contest.

Post Script: The victory proved to be just the spark that Cleveland needed. They went on to win eight straight games before dropping their regular season finale. They won the NFL Century Division and then defeated the Dallas Cowboys in the opening round of the playoffs.

Baltimore recovered from their disappointing performance to go the rest of the regular season without losing. They won the NFL Coastal Division with a 13-1 record and defeated the Minnesota Vikings in the opening round of the playoffs to set up a rematch with the Browns.

This time the Colts were prepared for Kelly and company. They held Kelly to 28 yards rushing and Cleveland gained only 173 total yards. Conversely, Baltimore and NFL MVP Earl Morrall gained 353 yards of offense in a 34-0 domination to claim the NFL Championship.

Of course, the dominating performance led just about everyone to expect that Baltimore would steamroll past the New York Jets and win Super Bowl III.

Much like in the loss to the Browns, the Colts were unable to stop the running game of the Jets, turned the ball over at key moments, and were unable to turn opportunities into touchdowns as the Jets pulled the greatest upset in Super Bowl history with a 16-7 victory.

Shula left the Colts following the 1969 season to become the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. After coming close to posting an undefeated season with the Colts in both 1967 and 1968, Shula led the Dolphins to a perfect 17-0 mark and a Super Bowl title in 1972.

Blanton Collier retired as coach of the Browns following the 1970 season due to continuing struggles with hearing loss. In eight seasons leading the Browns, Collier led them to double-digit victory seasons five times and posted a 76-34-2 overall record.

The Colts played in Baltimore through the 1983 season before owner Bob Irsay snaked them off to Indianapolis in the middle of the night.

Baltimore was without NFL football until Art Modell, owner of the Browns, announced late in the 1995 season that he would be moving the Browns to Baltimore in 1996.

After an outcry from loyal Cleveland fans, the NFL agreed to the move, but kept the Browns records, logo and colors in Cleveland. A new Cleveland Browns entered the NFL in 1999.

During the first 10 seasons of the new Browns, Cleveland has registered only two winning seasons and one playoff appearance.

Since beginning play in 1996, the Baltimore Ravens have a wining record and are annually a playoff contender. Since 1999, they have had winning records in six of 10 seasons and made five playoff appearances.

The Ravens defeated the New York Giants 34-7 in Super Bowl XXXV to give the city of Baltimore their first football championship since Super Bowl V.

This article is an original story from Sports Then and Now, which was created to give passionate sports fans a place where they can analyze and discuss current sports topics while also remembering some of the great athletes, moments, teams and games in sports history all at one site. If you haven’t been there yet, check it out today.

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

NFL Week Three: Five Things to Watch For

(Will Favre finally get to air it out?)

The first two weeks of the NFL season have been nothing short of exciting and informative, both from a fantasy and “real-life” spectrum.

We’ve seen a ton of close games, prime-time performances worthy of being shown under the lights, and enough stud fantasy production to make us feel “okay” about how we drafted before the season began.

On the other hand, we still have some uneasy feelings, even as we approach week three.

First we can’t be completely certain about the futures of some of the leagues undefeated teams. Are they truly division, playoff, and/or Super Bowl contenders? Or are they just getting off to 2008 Buffalo Bills-type fast starts?

Are the Patriots going to continue being this sluggish? Is this really a new and improved San Francisco team? And, quite naturally we think to ourselves, is this Mark Sanchez kid for real?

Those are just a few of the questions meandering in our thoughts as we make our bets, picks and set our weekly fantasy line-ups. Unfortunately, however, none of those questions can be answered in one week.

For the things to watch for, or the things that can actually be answered in week three, continue reading:

5. Will the Browns Finally Score an Offensive Touchdown?

Not only will the Browns not score an offensive touchdown, but I’m fairly confident that they can go another two or three games without doing so.

Brady Quinn looks flustered almost all the time, their running game is virtually non-existent, and Braylon Edwards is their only real threat on offense, and he can’t even catch the ball.

Believe me, the trade talks are heating up in Cleveland, and Eric Mangini wants a Leon Washington like Whitney Houston wants her voice back. Oh, too soon?

But seriously, it’s already really bad in Cleveland, as their main offensive threat has been Phil Dawson. Considering his off-season contractual issues, do you think this guy finally has leverage to get a new deal?

The worst part is actually the fact that Cleveland has to take its woeful rushing offense and run defense up against the Baltimore Ravens, a team that can run the ball at will, and can fall asleep while punishing running backs into submission.

Just ask Darren Sproles how it felt last week. Or Larry Johnson in week one.

You truly won’t know how happy Jamal Lewis is that he has a bad hammy until after you watch this game.

Fantasy Perspective: Outside of Joe Flacco getting another crack at 300 yards and Ray Rice and Willis McGahee running wild, is there one? Not for Cleveland, there isn’t.

Your only “safe” bets are Brady Quinn (33 attempts per game), and hope he doesn’t throw 33 interceptions, and Braylon Edwards (six catches last week), and hope he doesn’t go back to his one reception performance of week one. That’s way too much hoping for my liking.

4. Can the Giants Ground Attack Get Back on Track?

The Giants are 2-0, appear to be the best team in football, and are loving every minute of Eli Manning and his chemistry with his new top receivers.

Oh, and their defensive front four is making opposing quarterbacks cry. Constantly.

Even with Justin Tuck (shoulder) expected out for 1-2 weeks, they’re expected to not miss a beat. Sorry, Steve Spagnuolo, but apparently you aren’t going to be that missed.

Regardless of all the great things happening in New York, for what seems to be the third consecutive year now, there is still some ground that needs to be made-up. Quite literally, actually.

While the Giants rush attack of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw hasn’t been non-existent, it has still been very under-whelming.

However, with a nice match-up with Tampa Bay’s soft run defense and spotty secondary, it figures to be a beautiful day for both backs in the Giants backfield, and also could figure to be a cakewalk for Eli Manning and the receivers, too.

Nothing like finally getting your entire offense clicking on all levels on your way to a 3-0 start.

Fantasy Perspective: The Buccaneers gave-up 160 rushing yards to Fred Jackson, and watched “Team Obliterator” (T.O.-thank you, Skip Bayless) obliterate them. Well, sort of.

It’s a safe bet that the Giants as a whole are better than the Bills on every level, so don’t be shy: Manning, Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, Brandon Jacobs, and Ahmad Bradshaw all make solid plays in week three.

3. Will Brett Favre and the Vikings Finally Air it Out?

In one completely unnecessary and made-up word: Abso-freaking-lutely.

It’s arguably been all about Adrian Peterson for the first two weeks, as Minnesota’s solid defense has allowed only two offensive touchdowns, and then sitting back and relaxing while the man nicknamed “All-Day” has waltzed his way to over 270 rushing yards.

But against a much better San Francisco defense, it will surely take more than Peterson to put up more than the 25.5 points they’ve been averaging. However, maybe not too much more.

While the 49ers have been solid on defense through the first two weeks, they, like Minnesota, haven’t been truly tested, as they beat up a struggling Cardinals team that couldn’t run the ball, and ran all over a Seahawks team that lost Matt Hasselbeck mid-way through the game.

Something tells me Brett Favre and the rest of the offense aren’t about two lay an egg at home after winning two straight on the road.

Fantasy Perspective: Even if Adrian Peterson doesn’t figure to crack 150 and ramble for 2 or more scores, you still leave him in your line-up. He’s Adrian Peterson.

On a lighter note, this may be the week where it’s finally time for Brad Childress to see just what he has in Brett Favre. Prepare for some fireworks.

Want the final two things to watch for? Head over to TRZR to check them out, as well as get a good dose of NFL and Fantasy Football news.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Who is The Most Important Player on the Chicago Bears Defense?

During one of the biggest offseasons in their history, the Chicago Bears elected to part ways with long time (and admittedly oft injured) free safety Mike Brown. While we can debate the merits of that decision forever, it left the Bears with a hole to fill, both in terms of safety play and in on-the-field leadership.

While the Bears have been working with Daneial Manning and Kevin Payne at the free safety spot, the on-field leadership was supposed to fall all on star middle linebacker Brian Urlacher.

Urlacher however suffered a season ending wrist injury in the first half of the opening week’s game against the Green Bay Packers.

That left an even larger hole that one, or more likely, several players will have to take over.

Lance Briggs was made the defensive captain in place of Urlacher, and while he is fully capable of shouldering that load, the defense still needs that emotional leader that was lost when Mike Brown was let go.

To put it simply, Mike Brown was the catalyst for the Bears defense. When he would make a play, it was like giving the entire defense a shot of adrenaline.

Alex Brown has that same quality.

The Steelers were dominating the game up until Brown got a hit on Big Ben, which led directly to a Charles Tillman interception. From there on out, Pittsburgh had trouble moving the ball. Brown added two more sacks in that game.

He had four sacks in a primetime game against the New York Giants in 2004. He blocked a Green Bay Packers field goal to keep the Bears alive in a game they eventually won at the end of the 2008 season. That victory kept the Bears in the playoff race, albeit briefly.

What is more, he has dealt with adversity like a champion. In 2007, Alex Brown lost his starting spot to second year player Mark Anderson. While there was denying that Anderson had a terrific season the year before, Brown was demoted after suffering an injury. 

When he returned, the starting position had been handed to Anderson without any real chance for competition, which is the normal rule of thumb.

As it turned out, Brown worked hard and kept at it and won his starting spot back after outperforming Anderson that year.

He is a clutch, steady performer who has continued to improve every year.

He suffered an injury near the end of the Steeler game but is still expected to play this weekend. The time has come for him to step up and be a leader for the team, both on and off the field. 

If Alex Brown succeeds, then the defense does also.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

« Previous Page — Next Page »

NFL Sport Channel Latest

• Just How Far Would You Go?
• Sorry Rex, But It Isn’t Happening
• Super Bowl Predictions: Five Stat-Free Reasons Why the Eagles Will Reach The Super Bowl
• Seahawks Attempt to Turn Corner With Heavy Pursuit of Pete Carroll
• Bill Cowher Unlikely to Coach in 2010