The Elevator: Panthers Stutter Into Bye Week After Loss To Cowboys

The Carolina Panthers continued their depressing start to the 2009 season by losing their third consecutive game on Monday Night Football in Dallas.

The Cowboys overcame a shaky first half to score 21 unanswered points in the second half and beat a Panthers team that is nosediving quickly less than a quarter of the way through the season.

For Panthers fans, Monday night’s loss was likely the most disconcerting of the young season to date as the team played uninspired football in the second half against a Cowboys team who was begging to be beat.

The numbers are startling from any angle you choose to look at them. 

Let’s get right into ‘The Elevator’ and try to figure out just what in the world is wrong with this team.

Going Up…

/\  Dante Rosario. Rosario leads all Panthers receivers with two touchdowns on the season. The catch? They are the only two that Jake Delhomme has thrown compared to his seven interceptions.

/\  DeAngelo Williams. DeAngelo averaged 5.8 yards per carry on 11 carries against the Cowboys. It’s a shame he didn’t have any more than 11 carries against the weak Cowboys run defense. Williams, one of the league’s elite running backs, can’t be impressed with the effort put forth thus far by the Panthers.

/\  Jon Beason. Beason had 11 total tackles and a sack on Monday Night, but is still a shell of his old self after a knee injury in the preseason. The bye week will help him get back to full speed.

Going Down… (hope you have a minute)

\/  John Fox. There is absolutely no reason why the Panthers ran only six rushing plays in the second half. After the Panthers allowed Dallas’ first touchdown to make it 13-7, there was one rushing play in the next two drives for a one yard loss.

There comes a time when a losing team loses faith in the head coach and turns a deaf ear to the strategy and motivation he is trying to relay to the team. That time has apparently come in Carolina.

\/  Receivers. All of them. Muhsin Muhammad gave up on Delhomme’s first interception and gave an unnecessary push in the back on a play that would have been at least a first down, if not the touchdown that was called back.

Steve Smith spent most of his time on the sideline jawing at Delhomme instead of trying to find a way to solve a simple Cowboys defense. When it was his turn to make a play, he took matters into his own hands and ran the wrong route trying to turn nothing into something, leading to Terrence Newman’s game-clinching interception return for a touchdown.

Dwayne Jarrett still hasn’t gotten off of the team bus, much less the line of scrimmage.  Kenny Moore is the only receiver who did anything commendable, catching both passes thrown to him for a grand total of 19 yards.

You can knock on Delhomme all you want but when his receivers aren’t attempting to catch the balls he’s throwing, or are unwilling to bail him out on bad throws, he’s in a position that will not allow him to succeed.

\/  Offensive line. Delhomme has taken a beating so far this year, and the line simply isn’t creating the holes it did last year to allow the Panthers to establish their running game. If the Panthers are going to call more passing plays per game in a close contest than rushing plays, the offensive line has to give Delhomme some protection.

\/  Charles Godfrey. Charles, your jockstrap is still on the field in Dallas.

\/  Ability to score points. The Panthers have scored 37 points in their first three games-one point shy of the total that Philadelphia put on the Bank of America Stadium scoreboard on opening day.

\/  Effort. Can you remember the last time a team took a 7-0 lead into the half, made no adjustments and came out for the second frame like they had already lost the game?

\/  Julius Peppers. Stay tuned.

\/  Cheering for this team. Make no mistake about it, I’m one of the biggest Panthers fans you will ever come across. I eat, sleep, breathe, drink, and live for this team.  From Sunday to Sunday I chomp at the bit for the chance to watch this team, my hometown team that I have grown up watching since I figured out what a football was.

As embarrassing as it is right now to admit the above, its true. I watched all 16 games of the 1-15 season in 2001 and never once reached this level of frustration and anger.  At least that team acted like they cared.

At least they fought during most games and lost at the bitter end. Sure, Seifert sucked in his last year here, but there was never a point in that season when I wished that any one of the other 31 teams was my team.

Now? I’m not so sure. My allegiance to the Panthers has been pledged and will never change, no matter what, but right now it is downright painful to sport the black, blue, and silver that I and many others were proud to display.

The bye week in the NFL is normally a time for teams to take a bit of a mini vacation in the middle of the season.  The players spend some time with their families or in the community, practices are light, and injuries are allowed some time to heal.

For the Panthers, they will lick their wounds and endure a relentless flurry of anger and disgust from both the local media and the fans.

Beason should heal up some, Chris Harris should be ready to go after the bye, and perhaps some soul searching for a week will do this team good.  The only chance that the Panthers have, realistically, is to win their first three games out of the bye.

They face Washington, Tampa Bay, and Buffalo in those three before the schedule kicks into fifth gear and they spend the rest of their season in a street fight. 

The good news for Panthers fans is that I can guarantee the team won’t lose this weekend. The bad news just keeps coming.

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The Ledger: NFL Week 3

Welcome to The Ledger. I didn’t have a stellar showing in week three, but I am not afraid to acknowledge my mistakes when I make them. This week, there were plenty of mistakes to look back on, so without further ado…

 

Sunday (record vs. spread in parentheses)

 

Jets 24, Titans 17 (Tennessee, +2.5)

At some point, “good” teams win games, and I’m beginning to wonder if the Titans are a “good” team. Tennessee committed four turnovers in this one. Kerry Collins is a journeyman quarterback, after all, and his 55.2% completion percentage this year is in line with his career numbers (55.7%). Chris Johnson, as great as he’s been in his young career, can only do so much on offense.

Meanwhile, the Jets beat a soft team on the road (Houston) and beat two quality opponents at home (New England, Tennessee). I’m not ready to proclaim them as a top-five team in the league, but they’re better than I expected. I was surprised by this result, but perhaps I shouldn’t have been. (0-1)

 

Jaguars 31, Texans 24 (Houston, -4)

At least I got something right: I did say that Maurice Jones-Drew would have a big day for the Jaguars. Of course, that’s not saying much, because the Texans’ run defense is putrid.

The Jaguars don’t have much to brag about themselves though. Were it not for an offensive pass interference call against Houston’s Kevin Walter, the result could have been different. Of course, Houston probably wouldn’t have covered either way, so they can lose for all I care. (0-2)

 

Eagles 34, Chiefs 14 (Philadelphia, -9)

Much of the focus in this game was the fact that Michael Vick’s production didn’t match the hype surrounding his return to the NFL. However, Kevin Kolb topped 300 yards passing for a second straight game and has proven he is capable of guiding an NFL offense. While it’s unlikely he gets that opportunity on a regular basis in Philadelphia, he may have played himself into being the Matt Schaub of 2010. (1-2)

 

Ravens 34, Browns 3 (Baltimore, -13.5)

The Ravens are pretty good; the Browns are pretty bad. That about sums it up.

I was off by a touchdown in my prediction (34-10), so there’s no surprise in this result. The question now: Is the Browns’ coach still a Man-Genius? (2-2)

 

Giants 24, Buccaneers 0 (NY, -6.5)

The Giants were efficient and dominant at the same time in this one, holding the ball for over 40 minutes of game action and limiting the Bucs to 86 yards of total offense. As Eli Manning’s receiving options develop, the Giants become that much better. Right now, they appear to be the team that will win the Super Bowl. (3-2)

 

Lions 19, Redskins 14 (Washington, -6.5)

Last week, I said I wouldn’t bet on the Lions until they showed more than flashes of talent. Against the Redskins, they ran the ball well, and Matthew Stafford played mistake-free football.

Meanwhile, the Redskins failed to run the ball effectively and post-game comments were of the “not everyone wants it” variety. The Jim Zorn Watch is on and, not surprisingly, the Mike Shanahan Watch is on as well. (3-3)

 

Packers 36, Rams 17 (St. Louis, +6.5)

So much for my Upset Special. The first quarter went like this:

–Rams drive into field goal range, field goal is blocked and recovered by Packers. Packers eventually convert into field goal of their own.

–Rams receive kick off. Marc Bulger is sacked on 3rd play of drive, fumbles, and Packers recover deep in Rams’ territory. Packers convert turnover into field goal.

–Rams receive kick off. First play following kick off, Stephen Jackson runs to the left for three yards, fumbles, and Packers recover deep in Rams’ territory. Packers convert turnover into field goal.

Green Bay ran the score to 16-0 before the Rams knew what hit them. Boy, did I miss on this one. (3-4)

 

Vikings 27, 49ers 24 (Minnesota, -7)

I was wrong about the pick, but right about the Vikings opening things up a bit in the passing game and using their speed more on the turf. Percy Harvin’s kick return for a TD was Exhibit A of the Vikings’ turf being a factor for their fast players.

It would have been interesting to see how the 49ers would have fared with Frank Gore healthy for the whole game, instead of losing him early in the game. Gore’s injury is a significant one of course, but the 49ers nearly had this game won without him. There may be more to the 49ers than I originally thought. (3-5)

 

Patriots 26, Falcons 10 (New England, -4)

It was the bad weather that did in the Falcons, some are saying. The reports of the Patriots’ demise were premature, say others.

Me? I say the Falcons are average on defense and can be exploited, and the Patriots’ offense kept the Falcons’ offense off the field with their short passing game and a solid running attack, led by Fred Taylor. How the Falcons adjust based on this game could tell the story of their season.

Meanwhile, the Patriots will continue to get better on offense as Tom Brady continues to rediscover his rhythm in the pocket (4-5).

 

Bears 25, Seahawks 19 (Chicago, -2.5)

Jay Cutler did a nice job leading the Bears to a comeback win on the road. Moving forward though, I wonder if the Bears can effectively run the ball. If not, they will have to rely on Cutler’s decision-making and a shaky receiving corps to put points on the board.

With Brian Urlacher out for the year, the offense may have to win some ballgames without a stellar defensive effort week-in and week-out. Cutler had better options in Denver, and we all know how that turned out. (5-5)

 

Saints 27, Bills 7 (Buffalo, +6)

The Saints’ defense stepped up and shut down the Bills’ offense. Either that, or the Bills’ offense that was on display in the first two weeks of the season was a mirage, and the Saints’ defense had a field day against a mediocre team.

Most impressive stat of the day: the Saints gashed the Bills for 222 yards on the ground, averaging a healthy 5.8 yards per carry. (5-6)

 

Chargers 23, Dolphins 13 (Miami, +5.5)

With the score in this game tied at 3-3 at halftime, I thought for sure the Dolphins would slog their way to a win. Then, Chad Pennington left the game with an injury that will sideline him for the season. Enter Chad Henne, exit Miami’s chances at covering the spread or winning the game. Oh well.

I still contend the Chargers are an overrated bunch. They beat teams quarterbacked by JaMarcus Russell and Chad Henne. They don’t run the ball well, their defense isn’t what it used to be, and they miss Jamal Williams to boot. On the surface, they remain the favorites in the AFC West to many, but I don’t believe it. (5-7)

 

Bengals 23, Steelers 20 (Cincinnati, +4)

It’s amazing how a last-second play can change the fortunes of two teams. Led by Carson Palmer, the Bengals scored a touchdown with 14 seconds left and, with that score, Cincinnati is thought of as up-and-coming, instead of “The Same Old Bengals.”

Meanwhile, the Steelers are a reeling defending champion with a boatload of issues. Of course, I’m simplifying when I say the Steelers have a boatload of issues. The truth is, all three of their games have been decided late, and they could be anywhere from 3-0 and “looking good,” down to 0-3 and “being in real trouble.” (6-7)

 

Broncos 23, Raiders 3 (Denver, -1.5)

The Broncos dominated the Raiders. The defense held Oakland’s ground game in check and forced three turnovers. On offense, the Broncos relied heavily on the run, gaining 215 yards on 45 carries. I know the opposition hasn’t been impressive, but the Broncos have been, there’s no denying that. (7-7)

 

Colts 31, Cardinals 10 (Arizona, -2.5)

Arizona had their chances in this game before halftime. Tim Hightower’s fumble inside Indy’s 10 yard-line killed a scoring chance for Arizona, and the Colts capitalized on the turnover by starting a scoring drive of their own. Then, trailing 21-3, Arizona QB Kurt Warner drove the Cardinals down the field right before the end of the half, but he threw and interception in the end zone with 29 seconds left in the half. A momentum-building scoring drive died right there.

After that, the Colts pressured Warner into a lot of bad throws and the game was pretty much in hand. (7-8)

 

Monday Night

Cowboys 21, Panthers 7 (Carolina, +8.5)

I was surprised at how little the Panthers ran the ball against the Cowboys in this one. Carolina led 7-0 at the half and were facing an average run defense. Running the ball is their strength. However, once the Cowboys surged ahead 10-7 in the third quarter, the Panthers pretty much abandoned the run, and that was all she wrote.

Terrence Newman’s interception return for a touchdown with five minutes-and-change left in the game sealed the Dallas win, and spoiled bettors’ hopes of a Carolina cover. (7-9)

 

Final Analysis

As far as bad weeks go, 7-9 isn’t terrible. With weeks one and three a wash, I am eight games over .500 on the season (28-20) against the spread. Stay tuned for week four picks on Friday here on the site. Thanks for your readership.

For more, follow to my blog, Master Procrastinator:

http://masterprocrastinator.wordpress.com/

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NFL Quick Hits (Sep. 30th)

(The quarterback musical chairs continues.)

Marion Barber Expected to Face Denver

Considering how badly he wanted to play on Monday night, this isn’t very surprising. Throw in the fact that Felix Jones is hurt, and it’s downright predictable.

ESPN’s Michael Smith reports that Barber may be “eased” back in, and may not actually start Sunday’s contest with the Broncos, but he’s a good bet to get 10-15 carries.

Keep your eye on the situation, and keep Tashard Choice handy whether or not you’re a Barber owner.

Derek Anderson to Replace Brady Quin as Cleveland’s Starter

Yeah, because he did better than Quinn last week, right?

Anderson’s three first-half interceptions should have been a good indication that he’s not the guy for the job, but after two and a half dismal offensive performances, Eric Mangini figures it’s time for a change.

After all, if he doesn’t correct things quickly, he will be the change.

The upside here is Anderson has a better connection with “star” receiver Braylon Edwards, and Mangini is banking on the two re-connecting against a defense a little less over-whelming than the Baltimore Ravens. We’ll see.

Glen Coffee to Be “Every Down” Back While Frank Gore is Out

This just goes to show you the trust the 49ers have in Coffee, and quite possibly the lack of trust they have in his back-up, Michael Robinson.

Coffee showed great vision and athleticism throughout the preseason, and fought hard for 50+ yards on 25 carries against a stout Minnesota front line.

Expect a solid day with Coffee and the 49ers looking for revenge against the lowly Rams.

Saints Tackle Jammal Brown Out For Season

This could potentially impact the running game in the long-run, but probably has more to do with Drew Brees future in 2009, than anything else.

Brown never recovered from multiple surgeries, and was only a good bet to start playing by mid-season, anyways.

While the loss hurts the Saints have been doing just fine without him up until now.

Felix Jones Definitely Out Against Denver

His knee sprain is bad enough that Dallas won’t rush him back. After all, if they weren’t rushing back Marion Barber, why rush back his back-up?

Tashard Choice showed he still has game after scoring a touchdown and running for almost as many yards as Jones against Carolina on Monday night.

Choice is a strong bet to get 10-15 touches against the Broncos this Sunday with Barber still “iffy”.

Chad Pennington Officially Put on IR

Pennington’s season was officially ended after the acquisition of Tyler Thigpen demanded a roster spot.

At 33, and with a history of shoulder injuries, it’s quite possible Pennington’s career could be over. He will wait to get a second opinion, but will ultimately need surgery down the road.

If he ever does make it back as a starter somewhere else, however, he could be a candidate for an unprecedented third “Comeback Player of the Year” award. Here’s top hoping, Chad.

For all the rest of your fantasy news and advice, go here.

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Detroit Lions Need to Improve, Not Win, in Chicago

I hate to take the junior football Punt, Pass, and Kick competition approach to the Lions season.

 

This is the NFL after all. But, simply said, winning is not what matters for Detroit this season.

 

Yes, the Lions needed A WIN to relieve the pressures of a potential record setting losing streak. But expectations for the win-loss column are still low, as they should be. This team does not need to win—it needs to improve.

 

The Lions are in a rebuilding process. Fans will be quick to point out that the team has been “rebuilding” since the 1999 NFC Wild Card loss to the Washington Redskins. True, but this particular rebuilding process has just begun.

 

Detroit has a rookie quarterback, again, a new head coach, again, a new general manager, again, and is in the process of rebuilding the organization from the bottom up…again. It will take time.

 

This Sunday’s game at Chicago is about progress. All that matters for the Lions is that they do not take a step back.

 

A loss on the road to the Bears is not a bad thing. Not now, not for this Detroit team. The Lions simply do not get enough actual victories to proclaim that moral victories don’t matter. They do matter. Right now, for this Detroit team.

 

If Detroit is competitive against the Bears in the Windy City, it will be a moral victory. If the Lions are able to stay healthy, and Matthew Stafford continues to develop, that too will be a moral victory.

 

Winning four games this season is an acceptable outcome for Jim Schwartz, considering what he has to work with. A 5-11 record at season’s end would be a smashing success.

 

The Lions neighbors across Brush Street in downtown Detroit were in a similar position a few years ago. The 2003 Tigers are comparable to the current Detroit Lions. The Tigers nearly set the record for most losses in a season that year. Yet, they were playing in the World Series in 2006.

 

A step forward, no matter how small, is a step in the right direction. This weekend in Chicago is about staying on path, not rushing ahead to turn the corner.

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Week Three: What We Learned About the Chicago Bears

Bears fans really shouldn’t be too excited over this win. Yes, it was another nice showing by Jay Cutler to bring the Bears back from a deficit, but who did they beat?

They beat a bad Seahawks team wearing bad jerseys missing their best offensive player, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, and their best defensive player, linebacker Lofa Tatupu…barely, I may add.

 

Cutler Was Fantastic

Cutler completed 21 of 27 passes for 247 yards with three TDs, one interception, and a 126.4 passer rating. Besides the one interception inside the Seahawks’ 20 and one fumble, which really wasn’t his fault, Cutler was perfect.

Cutler also spread the ball out. Earl Bennett had four receptions for 80 yards, Devin Hester had five for 76 including a TD, Greg Olsen had five for 44 including a TD, Matt Forte had six for 40, and Johnny Knox had one for a seven-yard touchdown. The receivers, including Olsen and Forte, had a great game, giving Cutler different weapons to throw to.

 

Going to the Strip Club Usually Creates Regret

Charles Tillman is a great cornerback. He is a great cornerback because of his coverage, not because of his ability to strip the ball. Causing lots of fumbles means you allow a lot of receptions. As a cornerback, you’re not supposed to allow receptions, hence my hatred of this dependence on stripping the ball.  

We saw that in what went from being a punt situation to giving the Seahawks a field goal try to handing the Seahawks a touchdown on Tillman’s missed tackle on Julius Jones, which turned into a 39-yard touchdown screen pass. 

Nothing is more annoying than missed tackles. Wrap up, Bears.  

 

Forte Was Better, but Not Great

Forte finished with 66 yards on the ground—unfortunately on 21 carries, so the average is still not there—and 40 yards receiving. This was his best game of the year, but still not that great. If that fumble in the red zone was not overturned, there is a good chance Forte’s confidence would be completely shot. It was an extremely close call that went the Bears’ way.

The offensive line continues to look bad, and adding three false starts to their résumé doesn’t help.  

 

The Defense Stepped Up in the Second Half

The Bears had only caused one turnover in their first two-and-a-half games but forced two in the second half in Seahawks territory and, more importantly, only allowed six second-half points.

Danieal Manning stripped the ball from T.J. Houshmandzadeh, recovered by Adewale Ogunleye, which led to a Bears touchdown. Lance Briggs also had a diving interception, which led to a Bears field goal.  

The defense proved they could make adjustments just as they did against the Steelers. Seneca Wallace and the Seahawks offense seemed to do whatever they wanted in the first half, but the Bears clearly made some changes and got to them in the second half.

Hunter Hillenmeyer looked awful. He was all over the place, and the Seahawks had the middle open all game. Nick Roach stepped up big after Hillenmeyer went down with a rib injury, forcing a Wallace interception from his own end zone and making the final defensive stop of the game on a pass to Jones on 4th-and-2.

 

The Bears Are Not Scoring Early

The Bears once again failed to score in the first quarter, which is leading to many heart attacks for Bears fans, seeing as they are usually in an early hole. The Bears can’t rely on late scoring forever.  

 

I Jinxed Robbie Gould

After claiming I never think Robbie Gould is going to miss a field goal, Gould missed a field goal. I failed to mention the stipulation that I never think he is going to miss inside 50 yards. Outside 50 yards is not good as Gould territory, so I don’t hold missing a 53-yarder against him. I’ll take the blame for that one.    

 

Saved By the Foot…Again

Olindo Mare missed two makeable field goals, a 43-yarder and a 34-yarder. These points proved to be huge seeing as the Bears won by six.

 

Overall, yes, it’s a win for the Bears, which is nice, but being the pessimistic Chicago fan (who knew there was such a thing?) I am, I have to bring up a couple notes about the Bears so far this year.

Can the Bears continually expect kickers on opposing teams to miss huge field goals? No.

Can the Bears routinely expect late-game comebacks? No.

Can the Bears keep winning with no run game? No.

Can the Bears hope to face better-looking jerseys? Hopefully yes. 

Sitting at 2-1 is better than 0-3, but the Bears still have a lot of proving to do if we are to take them seriously as Super Bowl contenders.

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Hock’s Take: NFL Power Rankings For Week Three

1. New York Giants
Last Week: 1
They had the game so well in hand that David Carr played. Let me reiterate that. David Carr took snaps this week. That’s a team that’s riding high.

2. Baltimore Ravens
Last Week 2
Ray Rice broke his consecutive games without a touchdown streak this week, finally breaking through the end zone. Join us in three years when he does it again.

3. New Orleans Saints
Last Week: 3
It was bound to happen some time, the Saints offense got completely derailed this week, though they ended up winning the game. I’d just like to take the time to blame it on Kim Kardashian.

4. Indianapolis Colts
Last Week: 5
Peyton Manning put on another show, but Adam Vinatieri’s struggles are concerning. The guy has been clutch when it counts, but eventually they’re going to need him to score at the beginning and middle of the games too.

5. New York Jets
Last Week: 6
The New York Titans defeated the Houston Oilers this week, in a really sloppy game. Still, it’s easy to see why Jets fans are excited about Mark Sanchez.

6. Minnesota Vikings
Last Week: 7
Favre really Favred that one. By all rights, the game shouldn’t have been that close. The Vikings receivers dropped way too many balls, and the defense was apathetic, but that’s nothing new. They came through when it really mattered, though.

7. Philadelphia Eagles
Last Week: 11
Kevin Kolb performed at a remarkably high level…against the Kansas City Chiefs. So, let’s temper our enthusiasm a little bit. And hey, Michael Vick.

8. San Francisco 49ers
Last Week: 8
They’re going to be without Frank Gore for a while, but Mike Singletary has this team built to fight. They put themselves in a position to beat a playoff team, and in a year or two, they’ll win those games.

9. New England Patriots
Last Week: 10
A bit of a bounce back, including the discovery of a running game. But it’s still clear that they’re not quite back up to the level that they have been the past few seasons.

10. Atlanta Falcons
Last Week: 4
Every team’s going to have some bad games, and in the end, the Falcons will be fine. The biggest concern is all the penalties that drove them out of contention.

11. Pittsburgh Steelers
Last Week: 9
I didn’t think they’d miss Troy Polamalu *this* much. They’ve lost two winnable games in a row, but with the exception of a few winnable games down the stretch, the schedule only gets tougher from here on out.

12. Dallas Cowboys
Last Week: 12
The Cowboys got lucky, taking a win from the suddenly hapless Panthers, after a first half where they couldn’t do anything. The defense looked better, at least.

13. Green Bay Packers
Last Week: 14
Let’s face it. It was just the Rams, but the Packers still did what they had to do to improve. Their offensive line is going to need to be a lot better if they want to beat Jared Allen and the Vikings.

14. Denver Broncos
Last Week: 15
They might very well be the worst 3-0 team in NFL history, but they’re sitting in pretty damn good position to win their division. Maybe Josh McDaniels isn’t such a bad coach after all.

15. Chicago Bears
Last Week: 16
Chicago’s win over Seattle was barely noticed on Sunday, but they’re a steadily improving team. But one that’s going to have to open up the running game for Matt Forte sooner rather than later.

16. San Diego Chargers
Last Week: 22
It’s a little difficult to feel safe about the Chargers in any game. But Rivers is moving the ball well, and developing a good rhythm with Vincent Jackson.

17. Seattle Seahawks
Last Week: 13
Seneca Wallace is a fine stopgap, but the Seahawks aren’t going anywhere without Hasselbeck back in the lineup. They’re also not going anywhere with those lime jerseys. Leave that for the Oregon Ducks, guys.

18. Buffalo Bills
Last Week: 17
Those who had Week Three in the “T.O. Suddenly Realizes He’s in Buffalo Playing with Trent Edwards” pool: Step forward and claim your prize.

19. Cincinnati Bengals
Last Week: 23
Little by little, they’re recapturing 60-70 percent of that magic they had a few years ago. We’ll see if Ochocinco’s hot pink accessories help him get some targets to go along with his fines next week.

20. Houston Texans
Last Week: 18
In coverage, they’re still sloppy, and no messages written on their shoes can help that. And their run defense? Actually managed to be worse.

21. Tennessee Titans
Last Week: 19
How the mighty have fallen. The Titans, who ripped off ten straight to open last season, haven’t found a way to win this year. And Kerry Collins is starting to look his age.

22. Arizona Cardinals
Last Week: 20
Speaking of looking their age, a couple more weeks like this and Kurt Warner is going to bitching about his weird beard in a rocking chair with Emmitt Smith. If only he could throw against his own defense.

23. Oakland Raiders
Last Week: 21
There is some talk about letting Robert Gallery’s beard start at quarterback for the Raiders at some point this season. And I have to admit, I think the beard would have a lot more touch than Jamarcus Russell.

24. Miami Dolphins
Last Week: 24
It’s nice to see the Dolphins reverting to form this year. I can’t wait to see that intense Chad Henne/Tyler Thigpen battle over who gets to start for a UFL expansion franchise next season.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars
Last Week: 27
The Jags actually won a game! And I bet they win at least one more before a lineman steps on Maurice Jones-Drew, and they have to rely on the arm of David Garrard to win games.

26. Detroit Lions
Last Week: 31
THEY DID IT! THEY DID IT! THE LIONS HAVE WON A GAME! Leave it to Washington to bail out the Fords.

27. Carolina Panthers
Last Week: 28
Jake Delhomme’s statlines are starting to look a lot better, but the guy has clearly given up mentally. He and Julius Peppers should take naps together during TV time outs.

28. Kansas City Chiefs
Last Week: 29
There was a rumor going around this week that the Chief’s entire playbook has been junked a few times already, and that neither Brodie Croyle nor Tyler Thigpen has any idea what’s going on week to week. Which sums up the offensive Juggernaut that is that Kansas City Chiefs pretty well.

29. Washington Redskins
Last Week: 26
This has to be the most embarrassing loss any of these players have experienced in their careers. The thought of failing to keep up with the second losingest team in NFL history was so bad, Albert Haynesworth’s ass gave out on him.

30. Cleveland Browns
Last Week: 30
So…I guess Derek Anderson isn’t the answer at quarterback either? What about letting Josh Cribbs take some snaps? I’m only half kidding there.

31. Saint Louis Rams
Last Week: 32
They hung in with Green Bay for most of the game, which is way more than I thought they’d do. Credit where credit is due: They’re fighting harder than any team that will end up 2-14 would normally do.

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Last Week: 25
I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt. After all, they almost made the playoffs last year. But the Bucs are just terrible. Looking down their schedule for the rest of the season I don’t see a game I think they’ll win, no matter who their quarterback is.

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Some Packers Fans Okay with Aaron Rodgers

Another day, another video to share with you that I found on Hot Clicks.

The video below features a song by the band The Replicates and chronicles the inspiring tale of a jilted fan base that has had to move on from the most beloved object of its affection and learn how to love someone new.

The fan base in question is the Green Bay Packers, the beloved object of its affection now gone is, of course, Brett Favre, and the man they are moving onto is none other than Scott Stapp Aaron Rogers.

It’s a pretty clever video (after the jump), although they certainly don’t think much of the Packers’ defense.  

 

Here you go:

 

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10 Random Sports Thoughts To Free My Mind Of Clutter

As I rose out of my bed on this great Wednesday morning that featured cloudy skies and rain, my mind felt cluttered with sports thoughts.

It was almost like that Bing commercial when the guy is lying down for bed, and as his wife asks him questions, he keeps answering with these random thoughts that he saw as he searched the Internet.

They called it, “search overload.” I call it, “sports overload.”

Here is what my bing commercial would be like:

Girlfriend: “Hunny, did you search for that hotel information in New York?”

Me: “New York. Where dreams happen. Find Facebook friends in the New York area. Mark Sanchez is the best rookie QB of 2009. Rex Ryan is in control of that team. Look at Eli Manning.”

Girlfriend: “What the Hell is wrong with you?”

Me: “Click here to read what Reggie Bush and Kim Kardashian are doing. Kanye West apologizes to Taylor Swift. Read what Terrell Owens said about the media. Watch Tony Reali on Around the Horn. How beautiful is Erin Andrews?”

Girlfriend: “Who is ERIN ANDREWS!!!”

Yeah, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. So what does sports overload mean for you?

It means that you get to read about my random thoughts today and take a tour through my sports brain, which I’m sure is over 50 percent of it.

Begin Slideshow

Morris Failing To Follow Dungy’s Example

Recently, Tampa Bay head coach Raheem Morris has reminisced a lot on the 1996 Tampa Bay Buccaneers squad.

That was Tony Dungy’s first year as the head coach of the Buccaneers and things started terribly for the future Hall of Famer. Dungy came into a hornet’s nest.

The Buccaneers were purchased by the Glazer family the year before and were mired in one of the most notorious losing streaks in football history. Thirteen consecutive losing seasons, twelve of which had double digit losses.

Pressure came from both the community and the ownership group.

The Community Investment tax was a major hot button issue in Tampa Bay and it also held the future of the Buccaneers in the city. Included along with schools, roads and other infrastructure was funding for a new stadium for the Buccaneers.

With the cities of Baltimore and Los Angeles eager to return to the NFL, the new ownership group had many suitors for locations for their franchise.

With support lackluster for the one percent tax increase, many believed it would take a good performance by Dungy’s Bucs in their season home opener to win over the undecided.

But in the opener, the Bucs lived up to expectations and lost to the Green Bay Packers 34-3.

Amazingly, the tax passed anyway and the stadium would be built, but Dungy’s Bucs went on to lose their first five games that season. In addition to the Green Bay debacle, the Bucs were beaten soundly by the Lions 21-6, and had a pair of close losses to Denver and Seattle before being shut out by the Lions (again) 27-0.

The one thing Tony Dungy held to steadfastly was belief in his system; his way of doing things.

Dungy practiced the team the same way; the coaches called plays the same way; executed their system the same way; and held their players in accountable in same manner. Eventually, the players bought in finishing the season winning five of their last seven games.

It would set the stage for six straight years of playoff contention and eventually a Super Bowl victory for the 2002 team led by Jon Gruden.

It’s been said that insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

Well, Dungy may have had a little insanity to stick to his guns. It was his belief in what he was doing that led to one of the most remarkable turnarounds in league history. Certainly, he might have tweaked the system here and there, but the core beliefs stood strong.

If only Raheem Morris could learn from the man and the team he says he’s emulating.

Morris has been erratic since taking over the reigns from Jon Gruden. He dumped many of the veterans on the team, fired much of the coaching staff, hiring, then firing his offensive coordinator, seeing one player get suspended by the league and another arrested.

He took an extended period of time deciding his quarterback, then shipped off the loser, called one of his young players “a career backup,” only to elevate that player to starting QB after one crummy outing by the winner of the starting QB competition.

Meanwhile, a once proud defense that hasn’t ranked worse than 17th since 1995 and has been in the top ten in defense 11 of the last 12 seasons, is currently ranked 31st.

With his team looking desperately for leadership, Morris has shown indecision and confusion. With them looking to believe in what he’s doing, Morris announced he’s changing starting players and practice habits.

It all smacks of panic from a young coach that is perhaps in over his head and doesn’t know how to get his team to respond.

Morris needs to look himself in the mirror and ask himself, “Do you believe in what you’re doing?” If you don’t, your team won’t. If you do, then making all these seemingly panic inspired moves and changes aren’t the way to prove that to your team.

The Buccaneers are trying to establish their identity, as they did 13 years ago. Dungy established “Buc Ball” – doing things the right way, the consistent way. Playing solid defense, running the football, and protecting the ball.

Dungy took rinse and repeat to another level. He pounded his way of doing things through training camp, throughout the ’96 season. As the losses mounted early on, Dungy gave an answer that frustrated reporters and confounded fans, “We just need to execute better.”

Eventually, the players got it.

When the mighty San Francisco 49ers rolled into town for the 1997 season opener, they didn’t know what hit them.

Bucs fans accepted that this may be a rebuilding year. They accepted that unlike Dungy, Raheem Morris wasn’t left with a Warren Sapp, John Lynch, and Derrick Brooks to build a defense around.

It also helped that Dungy toiled as a coordinator for years, biding his time for an opportunity to be a head coach in the NFL. Morris’ quick elevation did not afford him that type of experience.

Most understood that to take a few steps forward, you sometimes need to take a step back.

The 1995 Buccaneers was the first Tampa Bay team in 12 years to not lose 10 or more games. The ’96 Bucs finished 6-10. It was a step back, but it was to go forward.

That 1996 team got better and better as the weeks went on. This 2009 team of Raheem Morris is getting worse.

One non-credible message board rumor even said that in a fit of desperation, the Glazer family has called Tony Dungy to see if he was available in some capacity to help Morris and the team.

While that’s highly improbable (and possibly tampering), it wouldn’t be surprising if it were true.

After all, Dungy has been through this before while Morris looks like a babe in the woods with the wolves closing in.

To Coach Morris I say this: The time is now Raheem; your team needs you to believe in what your doing. Show them your resolve and the dedication before you lose them forever.

Stand by your decisions and your beliefs.

If you don’t, who will?

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BREAKING NEWS: Derek Anderson Named Browns’ Starter for Sunday Against Bengals

Browns coach Eric Mangini has named Derek Anderson the starter for Sunday’s game against the Bengals.

“Giving Derek the opportunity is something I think will help us offensively,” Mangini said in his press conference this morning. “Anderson’s performance on third down Sunday in Baltimore, including 3-of-4 on a field goal drive, helped him clinch the job.”

Mangini also admitted, “I’m not saying it’s all Brady [Quinn]. Derek did some things that were positive, and that’s what it’s based on.”

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