Seattle Seahawks Sign Ex-University of Washington RB Louis Rankin

The Seattle Seahawks have signed former University of Washington running back Louis Rankin to their practice squad, according to the team’s website.

Rankin, who rushed for over 1,000 yards during his senior year at UW in 2007, has spent the past two seasons with the Oakland Raiders.

The 6′1″, 205-pound tailback was on Oakland’s active roster for two games this season, acting as the team’s kick returner early on.

Rankin was released prior to last Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos. There was some speculation that the Raiders were attempting to sign Rankin to their own practice squad, were he able to sneak through waivers.

 

Instead, it was the Seahawks who made a move, and now Rankin appears destined to at least put some heat on second-year tailback Justin Forsett in practice.

Forsett has been largely ineffective as the third-string tailback this season. His stint as kick and punt returner has been modest, but far from impressive.

To make room for Rankin on the practice squad, the Hawks cut wide receiver Devin Moore and linebacker Thomas Williams. With Rankin’s addition, there is still currently one open slot on the practice roster.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

We Can’t Work It Out: Why The Cleveland Browns Should Trade QB Brady Quinn

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Bears-Lions: Chicago Must Keep the Lions Tame

After yet another fourth quarter comeback last week against the banged up Seattle Seahawks, the Bears look to much easier prey in the coming week.

The Detroit Lions are a team that over the past year or so has experienced what many NFL franchises only find in the darkest nightmares—a winless season.

Not only was 2008 a winless season in Detroit, but ranging from 2007 to their win last week against the Washington Redskins, they were 0-19.

It stands to reason then that the Bears should be licking their chops when thinking about this week’s upcoming game at Soldier Field. After all, one win won’t translate into any more than that…will it?

No, of course it won’t.

I am sure there are more people around than just myself that think this could be a trap game.

The Lions just had their first taste of victory in almost two years, which will surely lead to a more inspired football team—perhaps even more inspired than we observed on Sunday against the Redskins since the Bears are their division rivals.

However, as much as fans might worry about the prospect of falling to the lowly Lions, there is no way that the Bears team that won the past two weeks will lose to such a team.

Now, that is not to say that a different, less enthused Bears team might show up and get beat, but it is to say that a team that can beat Pittsburgh and Seattle in comeback fashion—a team that plays for 60 minutes all out—will surely not fail.

 

Defense

Looking at the defense first, we see the two playmakers on the Lions’ offense in Calvin Johnson and Kevin Smith.

Smith is coming off a game wherein he rushed for over 100 yards, but failed to finish the contest due to a knee injury.

This should bode well for the Bears because it will allow them to dominate the line of scrimmage early and often, stuffing the run, and forcing a rookie quarterback in Matt Stafford to make rushed decisions.

Expect Ogunleye and Brown to have a sack or two before the game is over.

Johnson is a monster, plain and simple, and while he is not putting up quite the same numbers as he put up last year, he is a still a huge playmaker that will burn you on any given play.

Expect Lovie to stick Tillman on him all day and likely double team him at times with either Payne or Afalava.

This will leave it up to Zach Bowman to cover the other receiver who is making a name for himself—Bryant Johnson. He has eight receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown, so by no means do the Bears have to concern themselves with CJ alone.

I realize that the stats don’t look that impressive when the season is almost a quarter over, but I am trying to find something that might give the Lions a chance…

 

Offense

The Lions come into this game with the No. 27 defense in the NFL. They have five sacks and two interceptions on the season and have received good play from ex-Steeler Larry Foote.

Fortunately for the Bears, the Lions rank 30th in pass defense. This stat alone should have Jay Cutler excited.

While their run defense is 16th in the league, this should not cause Lovie to diverge from his “run first” mentality. I will say, though, that the Bears had little success running last week against a Seahawks’ defense that is ranked 25th in the league.

Overall, it should be another good day for Cutler as he slings the ball around, making fans forget about the misery of Grossman and Orton. I expect another three-TD day for him at least. I also expect the defense to have a good showing despite the potential loss of Hillenmeyer.

Final Verdict: Bears 33, Lions 10.

Last note: Look for a postgame article from me afterward breaking down what went on and how you, as Bears fans, should feel about the game.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Brady Quinn Is a Product of a System That Squanders Most of Its Talent

The word “bust” is a word that has been with the Cleveland Browns for the last decade since their rebirth into the NFL.

Since 1999, the Browns have had more than their share of “busts” including: Courtney Brown, Gerrard Warren, and Charlie Frye to name a few.

If we were to list all the names it would probably take up almost an entire page.

Going into week four the the 2009 NFL season, one thing has been proven about the Browns, they still do not know how to grow and cultivate future talent as made in the example of Eric Mangini naming Derek Anderson as the starting quarterback versus the Cincinnati Bengals.

Whether it is a fail in upper management for not fully scouting players, which leads to picking the wrong guy, a fail by the coaching staff for not grooming the player properly, a fail by the coaching staff by not letting a player play soon enough, or a fail in the player by not fully adapting to the NFL level.

Regardless of what the situation may be, the Browns cannot develop their talent and therefore fail at it.

Brady Quinn is the latest example of the Browns squandering talent from the very beginning.

For some reason, the NFL has programmed some for its members into a certain way of doing things because it worked out that way for another team.

For the current Quinn situation, we have to blame the San Diego Chargers who had two quarterbacks in Drew Brees and Philip Rivers. Rivers sat while Brees played so he could “learn on the bench.” Which may have actually worked out for him because when Brees was shipped out, Rivers stepped in and has performed better than expected as a starter.

Now this example could have been a product of Rivers’ talent outweighing the NFL learning curve, but bottom line, he has found success and won many games at the NFL level.

Back to the point, Quinn was drafted No. 22 overall in 2007, and immediately the Browns should have named Quinn the starting quarterback, which might have also prevented his two week hold out in training camp.

Or at the very least, Quinn should have been able to partake in the quarterback competition between Derek Anderson and Charlie Frye during that training camp.

Look at what happened with Mark Sanchez this year. He was drafted No. 5 and the Jets did not name him the starter, but instead he participated in their quarterback competition and won it. Now he has that swagger and has lead his team to a 3-0 record.

Quinn had that swagger too when he came out of college but has obviously lost it now, and that swagger he once had could have helped in his development two years ago.

Now he has to find his swagger again and he is having a tough time doing that.

Whether or not Eric Mangini has handcuffs on Quinn, it appears that Quinn will have a tough time regaining his swagger as long a Mangini is playing mind games by benching him and not naming a quarterback for week four immediately.

It’s sad to say this, but Quinn right out of college would have been a better quarterback than Quinn is right now.

Another talent the Browns may have ruined, who Mangini doesn’t seem to like anyway, and Quinn may be on another team next year as a result.

The Browns seems like that place were a lot of promising rookies and young talent go to disappear or get released and move on to another team to become a much better player while not wearing an orange and brown uniform.

 

(Article originally posted on Dawg Scooper)

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Mark Sanchez Shines, Matt Stafford Joins the Party

Three weeks into the season, and I think we have a clear cut leader for Fantasy Football Rookie of the Year and a bunch of others chasing him.

Rookies around the league are getting more opportunities to contribute and they are performing well. No one is performing better than this week’s leader, however.

 

1. Mark Sanchez, QB, Jets

Sanchez was winning the first two weeks and now he is putting up big fantasy numbers. Sanchez had three touchdowns versus the Titans defense, generally considered one of the better defenses in the NFL.

Sanchez is this year’s Matt Ryan and will continue to lead all rookies if he continues to put up numbers like he did against the Titans.

 

2. Percy Harvin, WR, Vikings

Harvin did not have huge numbers through the air this week with only 51 yards receiving, but he proved the can contribute in other ways. Harvin entered the scoring department this week by returning a kickoff for a touchdown.

Harvin is valuable to a fantasy and NFL team because he can contribute in a variety of ways.

 

3. Knowshon Moreno, RB, Broncos

Moreno still is losing carries to Correll Buckhalter, but he still managed 90 yards and a touchdown. Moreno is the future of the Broncos and if the team starts losing expect to see Moreno to get the bulk of the carries.

Until that time it looks to be a 60-40 split.

 

4. Matt Stafford, QB, Lions

Stafford easily had his best game as quarterback for the Lions. Stafford finished with 241 yards passing with one touchdown. Most importantly Stafford had zero turnovers.

Stafford looks to be grasping the offense better which, combined with Calvin Johnson, could be scary for NFC North opponents going forward

 

5. Louis Murphy, WR, Raiders

Murphy gets this spot by default because there was a lack of production from other rookies. Murphy finished with two catches for 25 yards. He will only be able to live on the production from the first game of the season for so long.

 

Thank you for reading the latest post from The Hazean. Please visit our website for more great fantasy content!

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Derek Anderson To Start Sunday For Cleveland Browns

Derek Anderson replaced Brady Quinn in the second half of last weekend’s game against Baltimore, and he has replaced him moving forward as well.

Eric Mangini, as promised, announced his decision on the Browns’ starting quarterback position today. His decision: Derek Anderson will start in hopes of sparking a moribund offense that has scored one touchdown in the last…year?

Decade?

Century?

How long and how bad has it been?

Anyway, it’s possible that this is the most inconsequential QB announcement ever.

The Browns’ offensive woes run far deeper than just the QB. But at least the Browns did move the ball a little bit with D.A. in there last Sunday.

If nothing else, having Anderson in there makes Braylon Edwards a deep threat again and forces defenses to respect the Browns’ ability to stretch the field. That, if nothing else, should open up a few more holes for the running backs and make defenses play the Browns a little more honestly.

The downside, of course, is that there is now an exponential increase in the possibility of Anderson throwing the ball to the team wearing the wrong jersey.

But at least Mangini didn’t drag this out until Sunday. Now we know, Derek is starting.

The question is: will it make a difference?

We’ll see.

The only source of optimism I can find right now is this box score from 2007, which harkens us all back to a time when the Browns seemed like a team on the rise, rather than on the verge of utter collapse. Yes, there was a time when the Browns’ QB threw for five TDs in a single game.

At the rate they’re at right now, the Browns be lucky to see five TD passes all season.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

2009 Pittsburgh Steelers: Where Are The Standards For Their Veterans?

Standards are good. They define our goals and prove to us that we have excelled or conversely fallen short.

Coach Mike Tomlin has made it clear over the last week that he has set rigid standards for his new players and, as a result, he has separated the men from the boys.

Rookie receiver Mike Wallace has clearly taken to heart the fact that he has an opportunity to play for a great football team. He has delivered with poise and grace by catching and securing nearly every pass that has been thrown his way. 

At the other end of the spectrum, Limas Sweed has dropped the ball and will not be given further opportunity to play barring a rash of injuries to the receiving corps.

The standards are high for the young guys trying to secure a spot on the Steelers roster. Why then are standards so lax for the veterans, when they are the ones who are supposed to be leading the youth?  

Watching Brett Favre go in and win the game for the Vikings in the final seconds on Sunday, I do understand that certain veterans can step in with limited preparation and lead.  

The Super Bowl champion Steelers however, are playing like they have no real goals for the 2009 season.

After hearing portions of coach Tomlin’s press conference that was held yesterday, a couple of comments that he made stood out to me.

When discussing his decision to relegate Rashard Mendenhall to limited play on special teams because he slacked in his preparation, he mentioned that, “It’s a little different when a veteran football player potentially makes mistakes in preparation for a game. If Hines Ward misses an assignment on a Thursday, you kind of ‘hmm’ and you move on.”

His attitude stands in sharp contrast to that of former Steelers coach Chuck Noll, who was able to achieve back-to-back Super Bowl victories on two separate occasions.

I read an account of a time when Noll cut a player who had been voted Steelers MVP by his team the previous year.  

The player in question ignored a team curfew, feeling that he had earned the right for a little special consideration. Coach Noll promptly cut the player, sending a message to the rest of his team that his standard stood for the whole team, proven veterans and green rookies alike.

With the 2006 season beginning to loom ominously in the rear view mirror, there is still time to look back not only at what has been muffed, but at what has been accomplished.

Just a short 10 months ago, we were all feeling the pain of the Steelers loss to the Colts in Heinz Field last November.

That game featured a classic example of the Steelers giving away a game that they had won in the first half. At the end of the game, however, coach Tomlin gave a bit of an ultimatum to our quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger.

He told the injured star that the team rules applied even to him and that if he was unable to practice in the upcoming week, he would also be unable to play.

At the time, Tomlin’s tact and professionalism in handling that matter with a minimum of drama impressed me.  

The following week against the tough San Diego Chargers, our team prevailed despite colossal issues, like our inability to score a single touchdown inside of the red zone.

I don’t have to remind anyone of what a difference that Troy Polamalu made in that game. His absence since the first quarter of week one has been enormous.  

I am now beginning to wonder if the Steelers miss more than just his ability because it appears now that the other veterans are also missing playing alongside a guy who places high standards upon himself.

Polamalu is a special player with a talent that cannot be defined by numbers, but Troy looks to no one but himself to set his goals.

I feel that Troy’s goals were clear as he played his heart out at the start of the season opener.

At the end of the game, who would have thought that rookie Mike Wallace would be the one to put us in position to win the game after Hines Ward had almost put us in position to lose.

I have a lot of respect for coach Tomlin and I haven’t missed the fact that I am a karaoke journalist and he is the reigning Super Bowl champion, not to mention coach of the year.

But I do have this in common with Tomlin—I like to look to history when I am figuring out how to navigate the future.

Numerous accounts retold by our celebrated Steelers of the 1970’s spoke of how these hall of fame veteran players had to elevate their game just to stay in the running, never mind pull ahead.

Starting 1-2 in 2009 reminds us nothing of those Steelers, it echoes the record that the Steelers notched up in 2006.

There is still time to work to prevent the loss to the Chargers which dug them into a 1-3 hole just like in ’06.

The 2006 season was littered with games that either slipped away, or that were given away though picks, fumbles, and mistakes.

In order to prevent groundhog season from occurring in ’09, we have to get to work.

The standards need to be solid and they need to be sky high in order to stop us from suffering two humiliating losses to the Ravens, the second of which occurred in a Christmas game at Heinz Field, and officially kissed the season goodbye.

They need to be solid so that we do not lose games that we could only imagine winning, like the mortifying ’06 loss to Oakland. 

We have time but not much time. Christmas is coming and so are the Ravens.  

Our veterans are the key.  

If they play the way that players who have high expectations upon them play, we will thank our seasoned squad as we turn the corner into January.  

If they fall short and play half-hearted football for the balance of the year, they will simply be remembered as tired old men who couldn’t take the pace.

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy DC’s Week Three: Buy/Sell Report

Santana Moss WAS, WR
10 receptions, 178 yards, 1 TD

Jon Dove—Sell—Some fantasy owners are so worried about filling a need that they will overlook a player’s true production. Moss can be that trading chip that gets you that missing piece. Moss will be productive but I will stay with my strategy of staying away from players on bad teams.

Bill Smith—Sell—Moss is a very streaky player. He didn’t do anything the first two weeks of the season and his numbers are inflated by his huge day against the Lions. On top of all that, Jason Campbell is one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL.

 

Vernon Davis SF, TE
7 receptions, 96 yards, 2 TDs

Jon Dove—Sell—I don’t trust anyone on the 49ers offense. Except for Gore’s big game last week they struggled to put up impressive points. Teams know they want to run the ball so that should open things up for Davis. However, I can’t forget that scene last year when Coach Singletary kicked Davis off the field. I want to see if Davis could keep his attitude in check before I completely trust him.

Bill Smith—Buy—The 49ers are for real. With Shaun Hill running the show, look for San Francisco to run the ball and make safe passes to Davis.

 

Joe Flacco BAL, QB
342 yards, 1 TD

Jon Dove—Buy—It is very unlikely that Flacco is a team’s main quarterback so you might be able to pry him away for cheap. If you own Flacco you could move your other quarterback and pick up some extra pieces.

Bill Smith—Buy—Flacco is fourth in the league in TD passes and the Ravens (!) are second in the league in scoring. Most fantasy owners probably have Flacco on their bench, so if you are in need of a QB then he would be a great pick up.

 

Kevin Walter HOU, WR
7 receptions, 96 yards, 1 TD

Jon Dove—Hold—I agree with Bill that Walter will benefit from having Johnson opposite from him but this team worries me. I want to see Schaub stay healthy because if Dan Orlovsky is the quarterback I am selling all Texans.

Bill Smith—Buy—The Texans are going to throw the ball a lot. Andre Johnson is going to get all the attention leaving Walter with more one-on-one coverage.

 

Jerricho Cotchery NYJ, WR
8 receptions, 108 yards, 1 TD

Jon Dove—Buy—I am buying Cotchery and the J-E-T-S. Mark Sanchez has shown he is capable of making all the throws and you have to love that defense. I expect that the defense will cause tons of turnovers giving more opportunites to Cotchery and the offense.

Bill Smith—Sell—Cotchery is Mark Sanchez’s most dependable receiver and is having a really good year. However, he is going to start drawing double teams, and more pressure is going to be put on Sanchez (who I will talk about more in a moment.) This might very well be Cotchery’s high point.

 

Devin Hester CHI, WR
5 receptions, 76 yards, 1 TD

Jon Dove—Sell—I would move Hester ASAP. He will put up some good fantasy numbers but I think other fantasy owners will over pay for Hester. I will stress that I would only move Hester if I was offered a very good deal.

Bill Smith—Hold—Hester has a lot of name value and has solid numbers to this point. However, Hester is getting most of his yardage off screen passes. Look for defenses to start jamming Hester at the line and forcing him to get open deep. That might prove to be something very difficult for a guy playing his second year at wide out.

 

Mark Sanchez NYJ, QB
171 yards, 2 TDs, 10 rushing yards, 1 TD

Jon Dove—Hold—I am not really sure how much trade value Sanchez will have. He is a good bye week option but I would give up more than a third string running back for him. Sanchez could have more value if a big time quarterback gets injured.

Bill Smith—Sell—Sanchez is going to have to start throwing more and is getting a lot of hype with the Jets’ fast start. Sanchez owners should capitalize on the hype and sell before Sanchez gets exposed.

….

Read Complete Article & More

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Philadelphia Eagles Are Finally Finding Ways To Win Again Before the Bye Week

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid has one of the most impressive resumes in the NFL (even though he’s still waiting to add Super Bowl Champion to it).

A 99-66-1 career record in his 11th season. A 10-7 record in the postseason. Five trips to the NFC Championship game in eight years (including four straight from 2001-2004). An appearance in Super Bowl XXXIX.

When his time comes to an end with the Eagles, there’s a good chance Reid may go down as one of the best head coaches in franchise history.

However, even the best coaches may have a certain weakness. In Reid’s case, one of his weaknesses throughout his career has been his history of losing games prior to the bye week.

Wait, what history of losing before the bye week during the Andy Reid era?

Here’s a Philadelphia Eagles trivia question for the readers out there: How many games has Andy Reid won before the bye week during his 11-year tenure with the team?

Five games.

Before anyone says anything, there is an explanation behind Reid’s five games he’s won. I’m aware, five games won in 11 seasons isn’t a bad statistic at all and this writer is erroneous on all accounts. However, it’s the number of games won by Reid between his first and last two seasons with the Eagles that is the focus of this article.

Here is a list of the 11 games Reid has coached prior to the bye week over his 11-year career:

1999: Eagles 24 Patriots 9

2000: Eagles 35 Browns 24

2001: Eagles 20 Cardinals 21

2002: Eagles 25 Jaguars 28

2003: Eagles 10 Patriots 31

2004: Eagles 19 Bears 9

2005: Eagles 10 Cowboys 33

2006: Eagles 6 Jaguars 13

2007: Eagles 3 Giants 16

2008: Eagles 40 49ers 26

2009: Eagles 34 Chiefs 14

Before the last two wins against the Chiefs and 49ers, the Eagles had lost seven of their last eight games prior to the bye week with Reid as their head coach. Even with all of the successful seasons by the Eagles this decade, how could one team struggle in such a category?

There really is no explanation behind the Eagles unsuccessful performances heading into the bye week. Maybe some of the players were rested a week early to gain two weeks of recovery instead of one. Maybe the team was worn out and the bye week was needed for rest.

No matter how many excuses are made about the Eagles performance prior to the bye week, the only real explanation that makes sense is this statistic is nothing more than a coincidence. However, this so-called “coincidence” may be over considering their success the last two seasons against the 49ers and Chiefs.

Despite playing without quarterback Donovan McNabb and running back Brian Westbrook, the Philadelphia Eagles had no trouble getting past Matt Cassel and the Kansas City Chiefs in a 34-14 win last Sunday.

However, the thought of the team’s history of struggles was in still fresh in the minds of players and fans. Remember, on any given Sunday, any team has the potential to pull the unthinkable and win.

Lucky for the Eagles, the “Any Given Sunday” theory did not apply towards them in their win against the Chiefs. Out of all 32 teams in the NFL, they may have needed the bye week more than anyone considering how much they need McNabb and Westbrook to recover from their injuries and get healthy.

Congratulations to the Philadelphia Eagles. They have won before the bye week two seasons in a row.

Does this mean the struggles before the bye week are over?

It’s still too early to tell considering it may be a few years before we find out, but at least the Eagles appear to be on the right track.

Here’s to a 2-1 record and the hope of the bye week paying off for their players to rest up and get ready for a Week Five matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Dan Parzych Is the Eagles Fan Voice for NFLTouchdown.com

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

The AFC After Week Three

It’s only week three, and the NFL has already provided plenty of great moments and stories.

You have the Jets emerging as a threat with rookie QB Mark Sanchez and the Ravens rolling right along with second-year QB Joe Flacco, but you also have the duds and the disappointments.

Let’s have a look at all 16 AFC teams.

 

AFC EAST

1. New York Jets 3-0

It has been a great story for the Jets this season. Mark Sanchez has quieted the doubters and has this team on its way to a playoff spot.

But not all the credit goes to Sanchez.

The defense has played phenomenally, giving up only 11 points a game, good for second in the league. The run defense is ninth in the league, and the pass defense is fifth.

With a defense like that, and Sanchez consistently hitting Jerricho Cotchery, this Jets team could take the division title.

 

2. New England Patriots 2-1

With the return of Tom Brady, many thought the Patriots would be back to their dominant selves again, but New England has shown some vulnerability.

Sure, their record is decent enough, and their ranks in the team stats are solid, but if you look at the games they have played, New England has had some uncharacteristic trouble beating the opponent.

Case in point: week one, when they almost lost to Buffalo, a team that is struggling on offense. This has me thinking it’s the defense that is holding the Patriots back.

Both Randy Moss and Wes Welker are dealing with nagging injuries, which could hinder the Patriots if they continue to linger. The Patriots will have a winning record, but they are not the 18-1 team they were in 2007.

 

3. Buffalo Bills 1-2

This was supposed to be a bounce-back year for the optimistic Bills, but it has been the opposite.

The defense is playing terribly, T.O. has only 98 yards receiving in three games, and the team does not have a rushing TD. Buffalo is going to have to step it up both offensively and defensively if they want to have a chance in this division.

 

4. Miami Dolphins 0-3

Probably the biggest letdown in the AFC so far.

After posting an 11-5 record in 2008 the team looked rejuvenated. This year, however, they are playing like the 1-15 team they were in 2007. 

Now that Chad Pennington is out for the rest of the year, the team has picked up former Chiefs QB Tyler Thigpen. Will Thigpen be the answer? I don’t see it happening.

Miami has dug itself in a huge hole in arguably the best division in the AFC. It will be a long season for the Dolphins and their fans.

 

AFC NORTH

1. Baltimore Ravens 3-0

This team is proving that last year wasn’t a fluke.

Joe Flacco is the real deal. He has driven this offense rather than just managing the game, something that makes me think this team could win the Super Bowl this year.

The defense is still the same dominant force, but now the Ravens don’t have to solely rely on their defense to make the big plays. Flacco has developed a solid rapport with veteran Derrick Mason, and if Flacco can continuously find Mason, watch out.

 

2. Cincinnati Bengals 2-1

Kind of a surprise to me that this team has a 2-1 record, but Cincinnati has a knack for laying low and surprising you.

Carson Palmer isn’t having a spectacular year, but he is healthy, and that’s really what the team needs. Cedric Benson has been a sleeper this year, and Chad Ochocinco is back to playing well.

The schedule has them playing some tough teams, but if everything continues we could see Cincy in the playoffs.

 

3. Pittsburgh Steelers 1-2

Pittsburgh probably didn’t see themselves being 1-2 after week three and in third place, but that’s the way it has gone for the previous Super Bowl champs.

Their current 1-2 record is deceiving and should improve with their next three games coming against San Diego, Detroit, and Cleveland. I don’t see the Steelers failing to recover and not making the playoffs.

Big Ben Roethlisberger is looking sharp, and Willie Parker has finally found his footing in the running game. Look for the Steelers to win three weeks straight and get back on track.

 

4. Cleveland Browns 0-3

I don’t mean to diss on the Browns, but there are so many problems with this team right now, most noticeably the QB problem. Neither Brady Quinn nor Derek Anderson has shown himself to be the answer, but you can’t just blame them.

The Browns’ O-line is nonexistent, the WRs seem like they are not even on the field, and the defense is just awful. All of this makes the Browns the worst team in the NFL as of week three. This looks to be another disappointing year for the Browns.

 

AFC SOUTH

1. Indianapolis Colts 3-0

The Colts find themselves at the top of the division. Not much of a surprise there.

Peyton Manning really runs this team, something that he has been doing for years. The Colts are a dominant force in the league, and I like their chances of making it deep into the playoffs.

The rout of the Cardinals Monday night was a sign that the Colts are finally hitting their marks. Watch out NFL.

 

2. Jacksonville Jaguars 1-2

Jacksonville is a perfect example of a mediocre team that just needs some more talent to become a good-to-great team. They are once again showing signs of being a .500 team, but I think it’s possible for the Jaguars to be a 9-7 team. 10-6 would be pushing it a little.

Just a little more talent and this team could make a name for itself.

 

3. Houston Texans 1-2

Houston is a great example of an up-and-coming team.

With the duo of Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson, Houston can be dominating on offense. What’s killing them is their running game and their defense. Steve Slaton has yet to find his footing, and the defense is in the bottom four in three out of the four primary defensive stats.

Like Jacksonville, Houston is a team that just needs a little more talent. They have the offensive weapons, but they desperately need the defensive weapons.

 

4. Tennessee Titans 0-3

The biggest shocker in the NFL is that the Titans are 0-3. I didn’t expect them to post better numbers than last year, but I never expected to see them in last place and 0-3.

They are in a desperate place right now.

The Titans’ pass defense is ranked 29th, which could be the source of the problems. They are giving up 23 points a game, a little too high if this team wants to succeed.

They better find a cure fast before they dig themselves too deep into a hole.

 

AFC WEST

1. Denver Broncos 3-0

Denver has found its way back to the top of their division even after losing their star QB and having to deal with Brandon Marshall’s antics. Yet the Broncos have overcome those offseason problems.

The only problem the Broncos have is trying to sustain their current lead. Last year they blew their division lead, and I hope they are trying something different so that it does not happen again.

Kyle Orton is doing what he does best: winning football games. As long as they keep playing consistently and don’t suffer any major injuries, the Broncos could easily win the AFC West title.

 

2. San Diego Chargers 2-1

San Diego has a great QB in Philip Rivers, but LT has yet to come back to his old ways.

LT is on the “DL” right now, and the Chargers have yet to find a good replacement for him, which has led to the Chargers being second to last in rushing yards. Their inability to run the ball has been the main cause of the Chargers not making it deep into the playoffs the past couple of years.

The defense remains steady, but far from great.

The Chargers need their running game back, or there is little hope for this team to make the playoffs.

 

3. Oakland Raiders 1-2

The Raiders do have a win, but don’t expect many more.

This team couldn’t score if the players’ lives depended on it. JaMarcus Russell seems like another first pick bust. Darrius Heyward-Bey has only one catch this year. These players just prove that the Raiders draft the worst possible guys.

Something is wrong with this organization. It needs to be revamped, and it needs to be done now.

 

4. Kansas City Chiefs 0-3

I wanted to believe in this team, and I wanted them to succeed, but all they have shown is that they are still way behind.

They made the worst move in trading Tony Gonzalez, who is the greatest TE to ever play. He was also their entire offense. Once he left, so did the offense.

Dwayne Bowe is showing promise, and Matt Cassel…well…we will just have to wait and see. Their O-line is just terrible, so it’s no wonder Cassel can’t score. The defense is always on top of him.  

The Chiefs were hoping to compete this year, but that’s not going to be possible this year. All I can say is wait ’til next year.

 

Stay tuned for the follow-up article about the NFC.

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