The Song Remains The Same For The NFL

As another Sunday approaches for the NFL, one cannot help but recall certain themes that have transpired thus far. The days of parity appear to not be in play this season. With the St. Louis Rams, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns,Oakland Raiders, Tennessee Titans, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers all struggling, as well as the Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks, and  Carolina Panthers all with just two wins as well, it has become a case of the have and have-nots. The list of have-nots may be the deepest in recent memory for the league. Will things change after the new collective bargaining agreement on the horizon?  That is one tune waiting to be composed.

Was anyone really shocked to see Brett Favre fumble then throw away the game for the Vikings last week? It was about time if you ask me. We are talking about the NFL’s All-Time Turnover King. No player has thrown away the ball more in history than Favre and he is just three fumbles away from tying Warren Moon for the record of most fumbles ever. With 313 interceptions, 158 fumbles, and counting, the Steelers decided to just let Brett be Brett last week. When you do that, you will win more than lose to him. Just be ready for the inevitable mistake. With a career average of 1.7 turnovers for every game he has played, it is a sound strategy.

Watching Larry Johnson bubble over with frustration, you have to wonder what is the biggest deal is. Is it his homophobic remarks, his rant on his new head coach, or his bemoaning the loss of cash? Johnson, some may say, had his mind destroyed along with his body with all those carries several years ago. Some may recall former Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil calling his character into question once. Johnson, a coaches son, realizes his career is coming to an end and that he will never again command the salary he current makes. He stands to lose $600,000 this week, not exactly chump change. Though his comments were not politically correct, this still is America. Freedom of speech and expression is a right. Taking his money hurts, but watching his career end has to gouge him deeper. If he does latch on with another team next year, he will be a part-time back with a pay rate showing such a role.

On with the picks. I am now sporting an unimpressive 60-27 record after going 9-4 last week. Let us see if I can do better.

Denver Broncos @ Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens are approaching this game as a must win. They are at full health again with their offensive line, which will be critical in this match up. The Broncos have been and is the surprise of the league so far with a perfect record. Both teams have had two weeks to prepare for this, so expect a hard hitting game.

Ravens 27   Broncos 21

Houston Texans @ Buffalo Bills

Houston is a team who appears to have found their groove on both sides of the ball and could go on a winning streak if they are not side tracked by injuries. Buffalo is a team still trying to find their identity.

Texans 34  Bills 17

Cleveland Browns @ Chicago Bears

Cleveland heads into the Windy City at a tumultuous time. Bears fans are unhappy with their teams inconsistent play on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Chicago expects a win over the lowly Browns and Cleveland seems to have already packed it in for the season.

Bears 31  Browns 27

Seattle Seahawks @ Dallas Cowboys

Dallas came away with an impressive victory last week that was a much needed statement game as well. This game is critical in keeping the momentum going. Seattle is missing their best linebacker and their best running back is dinged up. They will need to pass to win, which isn’t easy against the Cowboys cornerbacks.

Cowboys 38  Seahawks 27

Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets

Miami stopped the Jets winning ways just three weeks ago. After dropping another two games, the Jets won big last week. Miami came off their bye week by blowing a big lead to the Saints last week. Miami needs to run well to win, while the Jets are hurting in the middle of their defense especially. It should be another close game between these two rivals.

Jets 24  Miami 21

San Francisco 49ers @ Indianapolis Colts

The 49ers lost last week, but quarterback Alex Smith may have won the confidence of his teammates. The Colts are undefeated and getting healthy. Even if Smith repeats last week performance, it will be hard for the 49ers secondary to stop the Colts passing attack all game.

Colts 34  49ers 23

New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles

Though the Eagles won last week, they did not look much sharper than the team that lost to Oakland two weeks ago. The lack of running game has proven to be this team’s Achilles Heel for years and it has been in the spotlight even more this year. The Giants realize they need to get back on track after two weeks of consecutive losses. Expect the Giants to pound the ball on the ground, while Philly tries to exploit a suspect Giants secondary.

Giants 23  Eagles 21

Saint Louis Rams @ Detroit Lions

It is too bad these teams cannot face each other more this season; they would win more if they did. Detroit appears ready to go with Culpepper at quarterback this week and possibly the entire season. Though both teams have veteran quarterbacks, I expect this game to be won on the ground. Steven Jackson will carry the Rams to one of their few victories this week.

Rams 28  Lions 24

Oakland Raiders @ San Diego Chargers

The Raiders have been as inconsistent as their young quarterback JaMarcus Russell. After controlling the Eagles two weeks ago, they were pulverized by the Jets last week. The Chargers are as inconsistent, mostly due to an underachieving defense and banged up offensive line. If the Bolts do not get it going this week, they may never get anywhere this year.

Chargers 48  Raiders 24

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tennessee Titans

The Titans are still without a win and owner Bud Adams has ordered coach Jeff Fisher to start Vince Young at quarterback over veteran Kerry Collins. Though Fisher realizes the problem isn’t just at quarterback, expect him to comply. The Jaguars handed the Titans a 20 point loss a month ago. They did it by pounding the ball down the Titan’s throats all game. Expect a similar strategy, but something tells me Fisher has a plan this time.

Titans 23  Jaguars 17

Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers

Game Of The Week

As I told you the first time these teams met a few weeks ago, this is the game to watch. Not only is it the return of a certain hypocrite to Lambeau Field for the first time as a visiting player, but both teams have developed their personalities more since the first meeting. The Packers have had trouble running the ball this year, even with Ryan Grant’s 148 yards versus Cleveland last week. The Vikings are excellent at stopping the run as well.

Expect the Packers to air it out against a depleted Vikings secondary, while the Vikings attack them with a balanced attack. Though the focus seems to be on quarterback in Minnesota, the main reason they win is by running the ball, controlling the clock, and field position. This game will be a prime example of that, assuming their quarterback doesn’t cough up the ball in victory as he did last week.

Vikings 34   Packers 31

Carolina Panthers @ Arizona Cardinals

The Panthers have been a disappointment so far. Their passing attack is nearly non- existent and their running game is not at full strength with Jon Stewart battling injuries. The Cardinals are trying to find their running game still, but they realize how good their passing game is. If the Panthers do not get to Kurt Warner, the Cardinals may score often.

Cardinals 38  Panthers 17

Atlanta Falcons @ New Orleans Saints

The Falcons are just not running the ball as well this season as opposed to last year. This causes their defense to stay on the field longer then that they would like and for their secondary to be exploited. The Saints are also trying to get their running game more consistent so they do not have to rely on Drew Brees arm so much. This is a game Brees can air it out to multiple receivers, while Atlanta will need to control the clock to keep that from happening.

Saints 41  Falcons 30

NFL Power Rankings

1. New Orleans Saints

2. Indianapolis Colts

3. Minnesota Vikings

4. Denver Broncos

5. New England Patriots

6. New York Giants

7. Cincinnati Bengals

8. Pittsburgh Steelers

9. Baltimore Ravens

10. Atlanta Falcons

11. Philadelphia Eagles

12. Houston Texans

13. Green Bay Packers

14. Dallas Cowboys

15. San Diego Chargers

16. Chicago Bears

17. Miami Dolphins

18. New York Jets

19. Arizona Cardinals

20. Jacksonville Jaguars

21. San Francisco 49ers

22. Seattle Seahawks

23. Buffalo Bills

24. Oakland Raiders

25. Carolina Panthers

26. Detroit Lions

27. Kansas City Chiefs

28. Washington Redskins

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

30. Cleveland Browns

31. Tennessee Titans

32. Saint Louis Rams

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The Browns and Titans Should Trade Quarterbacks

Earlier this week, the Tennessee Titans announced that Vince Young will once again be the starting quarterback. Ordinarily, you would expect Young to be excited to get the opportunity for a second chance. I am sure he is excited to a degree, but he also has to be a bit apprehensive due to the circumstances.

It is well noted that owner Bud Adams wanted Young to play. Jeff Fisher believes in Kerry Collins and one player even said that coaches hands were tied in this. In other words, Young will start not because the coach or teammates believe he is the right guy, but because the owner wants him in there.

Is that a good situation for him to be in? I think we all know the answer to that and more importantly we all know how this story will end.

In a way, I can’t blame Adams for his position. He has alot invested in Young and wants to see a return on his investment.

I also don’t think players should change their preparation regardless of who is playing quarterback. Players get a little too loyal to one guy and don’t want to give a younger guy a chance regardless of how bad the team is with the other quarterback at the helm.

Just north of Tennesse, there is a similar story. Brady Quinn was drafted a couple years back to be the quarterback of the Cleveland Browns. Unfortunately, Quinn has never really been given a fair chance to grow into the position.

It seems that whenever he goes in, he is constantly looking over his shoulder. Coaches and teammates can never wait for any reason to put Derek Anderson in whenever Quinn stubs. Anderson gets chance after chance no matter how poorly he plays.

There was speculation when Quinn got his first start, it was Randy Lerner’s decision and not Romeo Crennel’s. Now Eric Mangini is the coach and just doesn’t seem to like Quinn at all.

The reality is that neither Kerry Collins nor Derek Anderson are the long term answers for their respective teams. The players and coaches on both teams know that deep down.

At the same time, neither team seems to think the prospect on the bench is the answer. That is not totally the fault of either Vince young or Brady Quinn; both have made mistakes. Young wanted to quit last year and Quinn held out as a rookie. Those moves rubbed teammates the wrong way.

I would think that at some point the players on the Titans and Browns would let it go and understand that young guys make mistakes. They also need to understand that young quarterbacks need time to grow on the field. Neither Young nor Quinn have gotten that from their teammates.

A change of scenery seems needed for both of them. I think trading Young for Quinn would be a trade that would benefit both the Titans and Browns next season.

Why Brady Quinn would work in Tennessee

Brady Quinn is really more of a system quarterback. I mean that as a compliment even though it is often looked down upon. A system quarterback is actually a good thing. It is a guy who can take a system that is in place and can run it efficiently.

The Titans seem to have a pretty good system in place. They certainly have runners like Lendale White, Chris Johnson, and Javon Ringer that will help a young quarterback.

Quinn has also been better whenever he has a good tight end. With Bo Scaife and Alge Crumpler, he has two.

Quinn is also good at hitting quick slants in stride. Therefore the Titans would need receivers that are good running after the catch.

Why Vince Young would work in Cleveland

This one is quite simple. The Browns lack playmakers. Although Quinn is a pretty good scrambler, he would never be mistaken for Michael Vick.

Young on the other hand can take a scrambling play that most quarterbacks would gain 10 yards on and turn it into a 30 yard gain. With a poor offensive line, no running game, and no real playmakers in the passing game, Young may be exactly what the Browns need.

Although the trade deadline has passed, this is something the Titans and Browns should look at in the off season. The Titans have to remember that Quinn had a great game against them in the pre-season.

This trade would make sense because the Titans really need a guy that can run a system more so than another playmaker and the Browns have no system so a system quarterback won’t work;they need playmakers.

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What Has the NFL Turned Into the Past Few Years?

The media icon that is the NFL, seems to go from a league with players playing to win and get to the Super Bowl, to a league that’s been loaded with player conduct problems, divas, and players just in it for the money.

On August.8, 2006, Roger Goodell was selected to succeed retiring commissioner Paul Tagliabue, voted on by 31 NFL GMs (Oakland abstained from all voting).

Goodell officially became the acting commissioner on September 1st.

From the moment Goodell was named the commissioner, he has been severely cracking down on off and on the field player conduct/behavior.

In mid-2007, the off-field actions of NFL players Adam “Pacman” Jones and Chris Henry had become a major problem not only for their respective teams, but for the league and its commissioner.

Right before the start of the 2006 season, Goodell and the NFLPA came to an agreement on “conduct policy” which would “help control off-field behavior by its players and preserve the league’s public image.”

Following the new conduct policy, cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones and WR Chris Henry became the first two players to be suspended.

Jones was suspended for the entire 2007 season and Henry was suspended for the first eight games of the 2007 season.

Players to join Adam Jones (who was punished twice) and Chris Henry on the list were: DT “Tank” Johnson (10 games), QB Michael Vick (first four games of 2009), and the latest being WR Donte Stallworth (entire 2009 season).

So coming from a league with Paul Tagliabue that never seemed to be in the mainstream media for player conduct problems, the NFL has now turned into Roger Goodell’s zoo, where the majority want to play, but 10 to 20 percent of players would be considered divas/attention-seekers or just in it for the money.

This offseason, former Broncos quarterback Jay Cuter acted as if his parents took away his X-Box or his favorite toy when the Broncos fired head coach Mike Shanahan and replaced him with former Patriots offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels.

When McDaniels became the head coach, he became one of the youngest in NFL history.

Well, the saga between Cutler and McDaniels began and Cutler would always use the phrase “I’ve been betrayed” and no matter what would come out of his mouth it would always start with “I’ve” or “me.”

So Josh McDaniels decided to make a controversial move by trading the disgruntled QB to the Chicago Bears for backup QB Kyle Orton and three picks (two first-round picks, 2009 and 2010).

Cutler is now 3-3 in Chicago and Kyle Orton is 6-0 in Denver. At least Brandon Marshall learned from his suspension by McDaniels and now is back to playing his best football.

Speaking of quarterback antics-though this time it’s not even close to the ones pulled by Cutler—the legend under center, Brett Favre , was going back and forth deciding whether he wanted to or did not want to play this season.

He finally made up his mind and signed with the Minnesota Vikings right after training camp, which is just what Favre wanted.

The great thing about Favre is that he didn’t come back for the money; everyone knows that and he’s proved that this season.

Favre came back because he loves the game of football and he’ll play as long as he wants to or until someone straps him down and won’t let him play any longer.

If there is a team out there that Favre likes and that needs a QB, he’ll sign.

Two talented quarterbacks, one offseason. One made the right move because he represents what the NFL should be and for the majority is; and that’s a team player. The other represents a cry baby who was dropped as a kid and now he has to wish he was back in Denver.

So far I’ve talked about divas/cry babies and the legend himself, Brett Favre, who is neither a diva nor a cry baby.

Now, we have to look at another problem that’s not just in the NFL, but all sports and that is the idiotic nature of players using Twitter.

In the past week, Chiefs running back Larry Johnson has been in hot water over a few of his “tweets.”

Johnson used his Twitter account to lash out at his first-year head coach, Todd Haley, and to make a homophobic slur.

“My father got more credentials than most of these pro coaches…google my father!!!!!!!”

“My father played for the coach from ‘Remember The Titans.’ Our coach played golf. My father played for the Redskins briefly. Our coach. Nuthn”

I would expect commissioner Roger Goodell to suspended and/or fine the former star running back.

I always wonder what’s going through the heads of those selected players when they decide to spill their guts on Twitter.

Some players, like Matt Hasselbeck, Alex Rios, Ron Artest, Shaq, and many others use Twitter in the way it’s supposed to be used—sharing a side of their life that fans don’t get to see on the field or court.

However, there have been a growing number of players that are using Twitter without the thought of consequence or they do it because they know they will get caught, but they don’t care nor respect what the consequences could be.

Washington Redskins “nobody” Robert Henson is famous for being the biggest Twitter idiot to walk God’s green earth.

After the Redskins’ horrendous performance against the St. Louis Rams, the linebacker decided to speak his mind to the “wonderful” ‘Skins fans after the game.

“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!!”

Well, the only part that caught the media headlines was “dim wits.”

Now, not only was this a boneheaded move, but for the first two games—most notably the one against St. Louis—Henson was inactive.

The first tweet was uncalled for, but the one after that “dim wits” tweet is really what set many people off.

Henson also tweeted: “The question is who are you to say you know what’s best for the team and you work 9 to 5 at McDonalds.”

Really?

The only thing down about this is that ESPN’s Mike Greenberg already went off on this, stealing my thunder.

Greeny’s comments .

I will say one thing however, not only were you inactive, but you’re a rookie LB from TCU.

Your alma mater is playing better football than your current team.

Coupled with the fact that you haven’t even recorded one tackle in the NFL, what gives you the right to go on Twitter and “rip” the D.C. fans who could probably make a better linebacker than you will if you stay in the NFL that long?

So as the title asks: “What has the NFL turned into the past few years?”

Well, let’s sum this up.

1) The NFL is still a dominant league with some of the best athletes that this sport has ever seen (Peyton Manning , Tom Brady , Larry Fitzgerald, etc.).

2) For the most part, the NFL is still a respectable league and a professional league with a few slip-ups.

3) Roger Goodell has been a great commissioner, despite the suspensions, fines, and hard times the league has been through with the deaths of Sean Taylor and Steve McNair.

4) Larry Johnson, Mr. Nobody from TCU, Jay Cutler , Michael Crabtree , Brandon Marshall and as well as a few others, still don’t know how to be mature. Marshall is now off that list, but the Brandon Marshall of old was no adult.

5) It doesn’t pay to play in Oakland, Tampa Bay, St. Louis, or Washington.

6) The NFL rookie salaries have gone way out of line with some of the players not even deserving of the money they are issued.

7) I could go on and on about the good and the bad in the NFL, but overall, if someone asked me what the NFL has turned into the past few years, my response would be: A group of 1,480 men out of the estimated 1,500 work their ass off to play the game that they love and they love every bit of it. For everyone of those guys, there are a selected 20 who do not belong in the NFL because of their immature behavior

I would love to see Roger Goodell include in his conduct policy something about “a player’s actions on Twitter will be supervised and if deemed inappropriate, said player will be punished, depending on his exact actions.”

At least something along those lines.

So to the fans of the NFL, What has the NFL turned into the past few years for you?

Follow Lars on Twitter .

This article was originally posted on NFLtouchdown.com by Lars Hanson: http://www.nfltouchdown.com/what-has-the-nfl-turned-into-the-past-few-years/

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Penn State Makes History: Women’s Volleyball Team Breaks Record

John Wooden…Hollywood sign…Jack Nicholson…Bill Walton…You have company!

Actually, that’s not exactly true—the Penn State Women’s Volleyball team continues to kick ass and take names after posting their 88th straight victory (yes, you read that right!) after whipping the seventh ranked Minnesota Gopherettes (or whatever they are called) 3-0 in State College on Friday night.

That’s right—88. Eighty eight games without a loss. That’s seriously, seriously good.

It ties UCLA’s men’s basketball team of the 1971-74 years, and should have draws dropping around the nation. It won’t, because women’s volleyball doesn’t get the love of ‘bigger sports’, but the VFA knows what good is…..and PSU’s team is just that.

Next up in Stanford’s women tennis team, who posted 89 wins from 2003-07 and are third on the all-time list.

The top? North Carolina’s women’s soccer team (92 in the 1990-94 years) and then the ultimate: Miami’s men’s tennis team, which won an ungodly 137 matches from 1957-64.

Next up for the Nittany Lions is a trip to Mad-town to face Wisconsin, who they beat 3-0 at home. Jump around!

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Being a Loyal Oakland Raiders’ Fan

I recently did some thinking about loyalty in sports. 

Here’s what provoked the thoughts. 

I was completely irritated with another co-worker who is an alleged San Francisco 49ers’ fan. He has been a season ticket holder since he was young. In the fourth game of the 2009 season, the Niners were getting ready to play the Rams. I’d just discovered he was a big fan and ticket holder. I asked him his opinion on the Michael Crabtree hold out. His response, I kid you not, was “who?”  I said, “Michael Crabtree, your No. 1 draft pick.” He looked me dead in the face and said “I haven’t heard of him, who is he?” I stopped and recommended to him that he pull up one of the sports websites and take a read. I was flat out perplexed. How could he be a season ticket holder and never heard of Michael Crabtree? I wrote it off to he being a stereotypical Niners fan. Sad, just really sad considering how much winning history is in that franchise.

As I was walking away, another guy who’s a Steelers fan looked at me and said “what?” I shook my head and said “man you guys kill me.” He asked what I meant. I said “you front running fans.” I mean how hard is it to be a Steelers fan? He then went into this long story about Mean Joe Green and the Coke commercial. How Bradshaw was his idol blah, blah, blah. I asked him what he thought about Rocky Bleier and as a test. He got white as a ghost and didn’t answer. I knew I had him. “You don’t know who he is do you?” He shook his head in shame. I then asked him about Michael Cooper, Byron Scott, and Kurt Rambis being as I’ve seen him with Laker gear on. He knew Rambis and Scott, but had no idea about Cooper. I Just shook my head and laughed.

I get a lot of flak for being a Raiders fan. I have for a long time. People have made comments like “you could change teams and no one would blame you.” 

I met a guy who was a “huge” Tennessee Titans fan. He told me that he loved being Steve McNair on Madden and that helped him choose his new team. A video game, I can’t make this stuff up. He explained how he was once a Raiders fan but just couldn’t handle how the franchise was run now.

People are entitled to be fair weather or bandwagon fans. I don’t personally have a lot of respect for them. Liking a winning team is easy, sticking by a team can be much harder.

On Sept. 27, I was in the parking lot on the North side of the Oakland Coliseum wearing my Tim Brown jersey clanking beer bottles with fellow members of the Raider Nation.  We made fun of a couple guys that walked by in Broncos jerseys. We talked about how we love the Raiders and how we hoped this was the year they got it back on track.   

Needless to say it wasn’t that day. This year has been rough so far. There have been high points and low points. 

I don’t know when the Raiders will be back on track the way I want them to be. It may be this year, next year or another year. 

It hurts to lose and no one enjoys it. 

When the time comes and the Raiders are back to their winning ways I will be there, just like I am now. How do I know that? I’m a loyal fan through and through. If you have not experienced the lows you will never fully appreciate the highs.    

I was at the AFC Championship game against Tennessee in 2003.  It was one of the greatest feelings I’ve ever had as a sports fan.  The emptiness I feel now is nothing like the goodness I will feel when winning comes back to Oaktown and The Nation. Loyalty has a price but that price is pennies considering the reward.

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NFL Fantasy Football Week 8 Sit ‘Ems

Trick or Treat! Yes, folks the words spoken by children everywhere who are celebrating Halloween, hold relevance in the world of fantasy football. Essentially, each week when setting our lineups, we try to avoid those “Tricks” (players that are due for a bad week) and plug in those “Treats” (players that that are set to go off). In the scope of helping you do just that, the Bruno Boys proudly present the Fantasy Football Week 8 Sit Ems.

QUARTERBACKS – SIT ‘EM

Joe Flacco (Baltimore Ravens) vs. Denver

Flacco is posting a stellar sophomore season, racking up 1,674 passing yards and 11 TDs with just 5 INTs through six games. In fact, Flacco’s play is a large reason why the Ravens have been able to remain competitive this season despite the slow demise of their defense. In addition, he’s coming off a bye week, which means he and his supporting cast should be fresh. So, why are we down on a rock solid QB coming off the bye week? Simple, while Flacco has played himself into QB1 discussions for fantasy purposes, he’s not quite at the must play level, which means when a bad match-up presents itself, it’s best to avoid. This week Flacco and the Ravens host the Denver Broncos, a team that’s giving up just 6.5 fantasy points per game to opposing QBs. Yes, they did allow double digit fantasy points to the QB position in week 5 and week 6, but their opponents those two weeks were Tom Brady and the New England Patriots and Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers, and while both put up double digits, their point totals were just 14 and 12 respectively. If the Broncos can keep those two under wraps, they will do the same to Flacco.

Marc Bulger (St. Louis Rams) @ Detroit

While we’re advising you to avoid Flacco due to the match-up, that’s not the reason we suggest leaving Bulger on your bench. In fact, to many fantasy owners who own the likes of Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, or Carson Palmer, Bulger’s match-up has them thinking bye week fill in. But, we’re going to advise against that. Yes, Bulger does face a Detroit Lions’ secondary that is allowing opposing QBs to go for 21.5 fantasy points per game, the second most in the league, but the quarterback’s days of being a fantasy option are in the past. Bulger has posted just one double digit outing this season in the six games he has played in, and he just made it to the double digit plateau in that one with 10 fantasy points. The name and match-up could fool owners into using him, but the good news is since you’ve read this, you won’t be one of those poor owners cursing his name come Monday.

Eli Manning (New York Giants) @ Philadelphia

Manning started out the season with 8 TD passes and 64 fantasy football points over the first four games but since a Week 4 showing in which he had three TDs and 19 fantasy points he has been mediocre at best. Over the last two games, against tougher competition, Manning has completed just 48.5 percent of his passes and has started to get turnover happy, having thrown four INTs to just two TD passes. With the New York Giants taking on the Philadelphia Eagles in a crucial divisional game you would think Manning should play at a high level. However, if you combine his recent struggles with the fact that the Eagles’ pass defense allows just 190 passing yards per contest and is averaging two INTs per game, you have yourself a risky Week 8 play. The icing on the cake, Manning has failed to throw for 200 yards in four of his last five contests against the Eagles, and he has at least one interception in three of those games.

RUNNING BACKS – SIT ’ EM

Ryan Grant (Green Bay Packers) vs. Minnesota

Grant is coming off his best outing of the season as he ran for 148 yards and a score in Week 7 against the Cleveland Browns. Luckily for Grant’s owners, he took advantage of that match-up because this Week 8 one is not appealing. Brett Favre’s return to Lambeau means the Minnesota Vikings are in town, a rush defense that is giving up just 95.4 rushing yards per contest and that has allowed just two rushing TDs on the year. Grant did amass 10 fantasy points against the Vikings when these two teams met in Week 4, but he was saved that week by the five points he gained as a receiver due to 50 receiving yards. We don’t expect Grant to be such a big part of the team’s passing plans in this one, which means he could very well end the day in the four-to-seven fantasy point range if he fails to find pay dirt.

Knowshon Moreno (Denver Broncos) @ Baltimore

While it is true the Baltimore Raven’s defense is struggling in 2009 as mentioned in Joe Flacco’s write-up above, those struggles are due to their inability to stop the pass. The Ravens rank seventh in the league in rush defense, giving up just 91.2 rushing yards per game to go with three rushing TDs on the season. So, yes, when you see your running back matched up with them, like Moreno’s owners do this week, it’s best to look elsewhere for a RB play. Since Moreno posted back-to-back weeks of double digit fantasy points in weeks three and four, the runner has just 13 fantasy points in two games. His struggles continue in Week 8.

Felix Jones (Dallas Cowboys) vs. Seattle

Jones posted some big days prior to suffering an injury earlier this year, so fantasy owners are eager to get the running back back into their line-ups, especially since the larger role Tashard Choice was supposed to see, according to Jerry Jones, didn’t come to fruition. While it is true that Jones is the clear cut No. 2 RB in Dallas behind Marion Barber, it’s not clear whether his explosiveness is back on the field with him following the knee injury. Before using Jones again, we want the RB to post more than one fantasy point as he did in Week 7 and prove he is flex-option worthy.

WIDE RECEIVERS – SIT ’ EMS

Roy Williams (Dallas Cowboys) vs. Seattle

Can the torch be passed from one player to another if that first player never gets it lit? If it hasn’t happened before, but it’s happening in Dallas right now. Coming over to Big D from the Detroit Lions via a trade last season, Williams was supposed to be the future for the Cowboys at the wide receiver position—a belief further solidified by the fact that the Cowboys parted ways with the oft-troubled Terrell Owens this offseason. But, as the team’s “No. 1” Williams has just 230 receiving yards with one score on the year. Those are numbers that Miles Austin surpassed in one game as he tallied 250 yards and two scores against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 5. Following a bye, Austin exploded again in Week 7 for 171 yards and 2 TDs against the Atlanta Falcons. Austin is now the team’s No. 1, making Williams the No. 2 wide receiver. If he couldn’t get points as the go-to-guy, what makes you think he’ll do so as the second fiddle.

TIGHT ENDS – SIT ’ EMS

John Carlson (Seattle Seahawks) @ Dallas

After his 95 receiving yard, 2 TD and 21 fantasy football point performance in Week 1, Carlson has been just another tight end. The second year player out of Notre Dame has failed to score a TD since the season opener and has only been able to muster 17 fantasy points over the Seahawks’ last five games. The match-up against the 22nd ranked Dallas Cowboys pass defense looks good on paper, and Carlson did have 6 catches for 105 receiving yards in a 2008 meeting, but Dallas has been surprisingly good at defending the tight end position this year. Outside of Week 1 and Week 3 in which Dallas surrendered a TD (26 combined fantasy points) to the tight end position, Dallas has allowed just 10 fantasy points to opposing tight ends and until Carlson starts scoring touchdowns he will be nothing but a three-to-six point yardage play and not much more.

KICKERS – SIT ’ EMS

Neil Rackers (Arizona Cardinals) vs. Carolina

Racks started out the season on fire, having converted on three 40-plus yard FGs and scoring 22 fantasy points over the Cardinals’ first two games, but it’s been all downhill since. With Arizona starting to find the end zone at a consistent rate, Rackers has attempted just four FGs over the last four games and none of them have been outside of 38 yards. In comparison, Rackers has nailed all 10 of his extra point attempts since the Cardinals’ Week 4 bye week. Facing a stingy Carolina Panthers passing defense would make one think Rackers should see plenty of FG changes in this game, but the Panthers have allowed opponents to attempt just six FGs in six games. At the rate Arizona has been finding paydirt can you really rely on Rackers to have more than two FG chances? If you are looking for a safe four-to-six point play it’s Rackers, but beyond that look elsewhere.

DEFENSES – SIT ’ EMS

Green Bay Packers D/ST vs. Minnesota Vikings

Don’t let the recent success of the Packers defense fool you. Yes, they have allowed three points, forced five turnovers and racked up 35 fantasy points over the last two games but that was against the struggling Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns offenses. Facing a Minnesota Vikings offense that is third in the NFL in scoring (29.4 points per game) will be no easy task for a defense that had allowed 93 points over their first four games. In a Week 4 meeting against Minnesota, quarterback Brett Favre threw for three TDs in a 30-23 Minnesota route of Green Bay. In that game the Packers failed to sack Favre and if it wasn’t for an Adrian Peterson fumble that was returned for a TD their defense would have posted just two points in standard scoring league. With both of these teams offenses in high gear you can expect this game to be yet another high scoring NFC North match-up and if Green Bay fails to record sacks or force turnovers, like their last match-up, they have little fantasy value.

 

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NFL Week Eight Predictions

Last week’s record: 9-4

Overall record: 73-30

Lock of the Week: 5-for-7

Houston (4-3) @ Buffalo (3-4): Buffalo’s defense has looked great against the pass, but they’ve played against a shaky rookie and a veteran with no confidence. Matt Schaub has played better than both of those quarterbacks this year and his offense should be able to move the ball, especially on the ground. Buffalo’s offense will not be able to keep pace.

Houston wins, 27-16

Cleveland (1-6) @ Chicago (3-3): After looking as atrocious as the Bears looked last week, they need a good performance. They will be at home and against a really bad team, so expect them to go up big early. As always, the Browns’ offense will be stagnant, which means this will be over by halftime.

Chicago wins, 32-12

Seattle (2-4) @ Dallas (4-2): Dallas looked the best they’ve looked in a long time last week. This game should continue that trend. Seattle is once again riddled with injuries, especially on the defensive side of the ball. That doesn’t bode well for them against a very good rushing attack and a red-hot receiver. The Seahawks will have to put up a lot of points to have any chance.

Dallas wins, 34-21

St. Louis (0-7) @ Detroit (1-5): Will anybody watch this game? Detroit is bad and St. Louis is horrible. Matthew Stafford will probably be back for Detroit and he was playing well before his injury, which should give a boost to the Lions, who were actually looking like an NFL team before he got hurt. That will be enough to give the Lions the win.

Detroit wins 19-10

Minnesota (6-1) @ Green Bay (4-2): Stats, momentum, and all other numbers go out the window in a game like this. This will be pure emotion and determination. In the first game between these two this year, Minnesota’s front seven were all over Aaron Rodgers all game and Brett Favre played nearly flawless. Minnesota barely hung onto win that game. This is at Lambeau and there will be a playoff-like atmosphere. Green Bay needs this more in the standings and they will win it because they will want it more.

Green Bay wins, 30-27

San Francisco (3-3) @ Indianapolis (6-0): Alex Smith looked great last week in relief, but Indy is a bad opponent for him to have in his first start back. He’ll probably be playing from behind most of the game, which will cause Smith to force passes. Granted he was behind last week, but Indy will not let up like Houston did.

Indy wins, 33-18

Miami (2-4) @ New York Jets (4-3): If the Jets are going to win, they have to stop the Wildcat. They had a lot of trouble stopping it a few weeks ago in Miami and judging by how Rex Ryan reacted after the game, the defense focused solely on stopping it. That’s why Miami will have Chad Henne come out and throw the ball more than he normally does. If Ted Ginn, Jr. can hold onto the ball, it should throw the Jets off enough to get a big win.

Miami wins, 28-20

Denver (6-0) @ Baltimore (3-3): Baltimore really needs this game. Prior to their bye week, they lost three tough games against three pretty good teams. This will be a low-scoring game, but Denver now has a better defense than Baltimore, so they get the edge. If Baltimore can keep it close in the first half and somehow get seven to 10 points in the second half than they will have a very good chance. But Denver has not given up many second half points this season.

Denver wins, 26-16

Jacksonville (3-3) @ Tennessee (0-6): Vince Young will be back under center for the Titans in what will be a great opportunity for him and the team. Most will be watching the Green Bay-Minnesota game, so Young won’t be in the spotlight and Tennessee is getting an inconsistent Jaguars team. Tennessee will finally get a “W” and Young will play relatively well.

Tennessee wins, 19-13

Oakland (2-5) @ San Diego (3-3): Oakland played very well against the Chargers in Week One, but that game was in Oakland and the Raiders were playing off of the emotion of the crowd. Now we’re in Week Eight and JaMarcus Russell has weighed Oakland down. They don’t look anything like the Raiders from Week One. San Diego will continue their trend of looking great against bad teams in beating Oakland.

San Diego wins, 28-13

New York Giants (5-2) @ Philadelphia (4-2): Although it won’t be the most important game in Philly on Sunday, this is still very important in terms of the NFC East. The Giants looked great in their first five games against bad-to-mediocre teams, but flawed over the past two against good teams. Philly has been just as inconsistent.

This may come down to whether or not the Giants have fixed what’s wrong with them, which is a mystery to most. They need to go back to what they did in their first five games, but the home field advantage will be enough for the Eagles.

Philly wins, 23-20

Carolina (2-4) @ Arizona (4-2): As long as Jake Delhomme is under center for Carolina, no team will be intimidated by them. Teams are just loading up the box to stop Carolina’s running game and Delhomme is turning the ball over at a rapid pace. As a result, Steve Smith is being completely taken out of games. Arizona will use that exact formula to win the game easily.

Arizona wins, 24-8 (Lock of the Week)

Atlanta (4-2) @ New Orleans (6-0): Tony Romo found holes throughout Atlanta’s secondary last week. Imagine what Drew Brees will do. The Saints are clicking on all cylinders right now and while Atlanta will keep it close, the Saints will be too much for them.

New Orleans wins, 37-31

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Fantasy Football News & Notes (10/30)

After eight weeks of NFL action it is getting harder and harder to field a fantasy football team. Between bye weeks, injuries and suspensions there seems to be a ton of players who are either out or questionable for this week’s action.

As you try and prepare the best possible lineup for your fantasy football team this week, the Bruno Boys are once again here to bring you the latest NFL news and study the potential fantasy football impact for Week 8. This week we will take a look at a litany of injuries around the league and another suspension for Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson.

Andre Johnson suffers lung contusion Week 7, likely to play versus Buffalo

Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson suffered a lung contusion in the second quarter of the team’s Week 7 victory over the San Francisco 49ers after he was hit in the lower back. He remained in the game, but ended up coughing up blood after landing on the ball while making a catch in the fourth quarter. He stayed in the game for one more play before the Texans’ medical staff took him off the field.

Johnson ran with the team, but did not practice on Wednesday. However, he did practice on Thursday. He is listed as day-to-day and he is expected to play against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, unless he suffers a set-back. The Bills who have struggled this season are actually ranked No. 10 against the pass and pose a tough match-up, but if he plays he is a must-start fantasy football wide receiver. Keep an eye on this situation throughout the weekend, but it does appear Johnson will be ready to go this week.

Calvin Johnson still unable to practice Wednesday, limited Thursday, listed as questionable for Week 8

It is a bad week to own a wide receiver named Johnson, as Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson is also banged up and is questionable for the team’s showdown with the winless St. Louis Rams this week. Johnson is suffering from what is believed to be a sprained knee, which he injured during Detroit’s Week 5 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He missed the Lions’ game Week 6 against the Green Bay Packers.

The Lions’ had a bye last week and were hoping to get their top wide receiver back for this week’s game against the Rams. Johnson sounded optimistic earlier this week about being ready for the St. Louis game, but the fact that he hasn’t been able to practice at all this week has us concerned. Reports out of Detroit are that the Lions are being cautious with him, but if he doesn’t practice on Friday it would seem doubtful that he would be able to play Sunday. We will keep you updated on this situation throughout the week.

If he is able to play, he should be inserted into your starting lineup against the Rams’ who are ranked No. 25 against the pass this season and have given up 11 passing touchdowns.

Kansas Chiefs suspend running back Larry Johnson for two weeks

In what seems to have become an annual thing, the Kansas City Chiefs have suspended running back Larry Johnson for two weeks for conduct detrimental to the team. This time he has spouted off about his head coach Todd Haley and used homophobic slurs on his Twitter account and in the Kansas City media. The suspension means that he is not allowed to report to the team’s headquarters or participate in any team activities before November 9.

Fantasy owners were already going to be without Johnson this week as the Chiefs are on their bye, but they will also lose him for Kansas City’s Week 9 match-up with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He is the teams leading rusher this season with 132 carries for 358 yards, but he has not scored a touchdown and his is only averaging 2.7 yards per carry. Keep Johnson stashed away on your bench if possible, but it is questionable how much value he will have this season. Chiefs’ backup running back Jamaal Charles has some value now as a sleeper in deeper leagues for Week 9.

Brett Favre listed on injury report, expected to play this week at Green Bay

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre was limited in practice Wednesday with a hip injury. He is officially listed as questionable for the team’s game this week against the Green Bay Packers, but he is expected to play in what would be his first trip to Lambeau Field since being traded to the New York Jets in August of 2008.

He has been on the injury report several times this season with various ailments, but has yet to miss a game. Favre is coming off his second 300-yard passing performance of the season last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers and he should be considered a low-end QB1 this week. In the Vikings Week 4 match-up with the Packers, Favre had 271 yards passing with three touchdowns and he should be motivated to have an even better game this week in his homecoming in Green Bay where he played 16 seasons.

Aaron Rodgers has sprained foot, limited in Wednesday’s practice

Brett Favre’s replacement in Green Bay is also banged up and was limited in Wednesday’s practice. Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers is suffering from a sore foot due to a sprain and he did not participate in full with the team on Wednesday. He is listed as questionable on the injury report, but he is expected to start in the big game this week against the Minnesota Vikings.

Rodgers passed for 384 yards with two touchdowns and one interception Week 4 against the Vikings. He was blitzed often by Minnesota and was sacked eight times in the game. Look for another big game from Rodgers this week, as the Vikings are very good against the run and he should once again be forced to pass early and often. He should be used as a high-end No. 1 fantasy football quarterback this week.

Reggie Wayne sits out with a sore groin, expects to play against 49ers

Indianapolis Colts’ wide receiver Reggie Wayne suffered a pulled groin in the team’s Week 7 victory over the St. Louis Rams and he did not finish the game. He said that he “feels good,” but did not practice with the team on Wednesday. Colts’ head coach Jim Caldwell said, “We’re hoping he will progress throughout the week and we will increase his activity. We will see were he is come Friday or so.”

If you read between the lines, it sounds like Wayne will rest until Friday and then see how his groin feels. It appears he will be able to play on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, but he could very well be a game time decision. Keep an eye on this situation throughout the week and check in with us Sunday morning to make sure he is active for the game. If active, Wayne should be used as a WR1 this week in a good match-up against the 49ers.

Westbrook a game time decision after suffering a concussion Week 7

Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook was injured with a concussion early in the team’s Week 7 victory over the Washington Redskins. He was forced to leave the game and was unable to return. He will be a game time decision for the Eagles contest this week against the New York Giants.

Eagles head coach Andy Reid did say that he’s counting on Westbrook being there Sunday, but you should be cautious before inserting him into your starting lineup. Check back with us Sunday morning to see if he is active for the game or not. If active, he should be used as a low-end RB2 in the NFC East battle. If he is unable to play, rookie LeSean McCoy will get a bulk of the work load and could be used as a low-end RB2.

FOR MORE FANTASY FOOTBALL INSIGHT AND ADVICE, CLICK THE LINK BELOW…

BRUNO BOYS FANTASY FOOTBALL

THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOY LARRY JOSEPH.

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The Green Bay Fog: The Gunslinger Returns To Lambeau

Curly Lambeau coached his last game in 1949. He might still recognize the field the game is played on but the game on the field is so different than it was 60 years ago.

Could you imagine Lambeau dealing with the hype machine that is coming to town as the Gunslinger returns?

Brett Favre has played in two eras of the NFL. The NFC dominant years of the Cowboys, 49ers and Packers and the AFC dominant years of the Patriots and Colts. Favre could have also been on the first team that Curly Lambeau coached in 1921.

When the Packers went to Minnesota for their first meeting, the best player on the field was Jared Allen. The Packers contained Adrian Peterson and dared Brett Favre to beat them and that was what he did.

The Packers had some flaws in their gameplan that they can improve upon for the game on Sunday in Green Bay. Aaron Kampman was put into coverage far too often so he should be rushing the quarterback more. The Packer offensive line gave up eight sacks. The Packers were in the spread far too often and that exposed their mismatch against the Minnesota defensive line.

The Steelers slowed down Peterson and that forced Favre to throw the ball. He was strip sacked for one touchdown return and overthrew a screen pass by less than a foot for another defensive touchdown for Pittsburgh.

No one remembers how dangerous a screen pass can be until they see the back of a 250 pound linebacker in the middle of a bunch of other defensive players.

The Green Bay fog will lift after this game. The Packers will have finished playing their former icon. The fog will not return if the two meet in the playoffs for the playoffs are a dragon of a different scale.

The schedule was kind to the Packers as they went 4-2 through the fog left in the wake of Brett Favre’s return to the NFC North. The return of the Gunslinger to Lambeau will clear a lot of things up.

Minnesota can take control of the NFC North with a win. The Packers can pull to within a half-game of the Vikings with a win. That is the big picture. The small picture is fuzzy for all sorts of reasons that this game should put into focus.

Is the Packer offensive line playoff caliber?

How important is Antoine Winfield to the Minnesota secondary?

Can the Packers defense slow down Adrian Peterson for two games in a row?

Here are things that are not fuzzy to me. The Packers have the right quarterback in place. Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy made the right choice when Brett Favre first got that itch after his first retirement.

Brett Favre is now a legit game manager with the ability to make plays when needed. The NFL is so close from team to team that he has only had one bad quarter but that was enough to give them their first loss last week.

If the Packers can make Favre throw the ball enough then Charles Woodson or Al Harris will make a play.

The teams are even and it will come down to who has the ball last. Look for Aaron Rodgers to have the ball last in Lambeau Field.

Green Bay 24

Minnesota 23

 

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Five Reasons To Be Cautious About The Chargers Returning To the NFL’s Elite

1) The Schedule
After playing the Raiders this weekend, the Chargers travel to New York to play the Giants, host the Eagles and then play at the Broncos.  If they can get past that rough stretch with at least one win, the Chargers have a schedule that is favorable for a playoff run.  San Diego should be favored in five of its final six games. Those three games will be the key to the Chargers season.  If they lose all three, they could be in a hole they might not be able to get out of. 

The win over the Chiefs was their only complete game this season. In the previous two victories, they struggled. In wins over the Raiders and Dolphins, the Chargers weren’t able to put the game away until the fourth quarter. Against Oakland it took a Darren Sproles touchdown with 18 seconds remaining to win the game.

Although the Chargers dominated the Chiefs, a closer look reveals that San Diego’s struggles have remained the same all season. 

2) The Running Game
LaDainian Tomlinson has arguably been the best running back in the 21st century. His backups, Michael Turner and Darren Sproles have been two of the better reserve running backs during the same time frame. Since LT’s first season in 2002, the Chargers finished in the top ten in the NFL in rushing until 2007. 

Since their magical 14-2 2006 season the Chargers running game has been in steady decline.  San Diego fell from seventh in the league in rushing in 2007 to 20th last season and now 31st in 2009 (they were last before the game against the Chiefs).  Sunday represented the team’s first 100 yard rushing game of the season.  LT has gone 12 consecutive games without hitting the century mark on the ground.  They went from a team high 161.1 Rushing Yards per game in 2006 (2nd in the NFL) to only 70.5 RuYPG this season. 

3) Inability to Finish in the Red Zone
The decline of the running game has made it more difficult for the Chargers to finish drives.  They have one of the most prolific passing games in the NFL. The lack of a running game has clearly been a detriment in the Red Zone.  This is not a new problem for the Chargers.  In the 2007 AFC Championship game, the Chargers four scoring drives all finished with Field Goals.  They have had to settle for Field Goals this season as well.  In just six games in 2009, Nate Kaeding has nine field goals of less than 30 yards.

Earlier this season, in their loss to Baltimore, the Chargers were unable to convert on fourth and two late in the fourth quarter.  Ray Lewis dropped Sproles behind the line of scrimmage, ending any chance for a Charger victory. Four drives in the loss to Baltimore ended in Field Goals.

Even in their victory against the Chiefs, the Chargers failed to get in the end zone on three trips inside the five yard line.  Without an improved running game, the Chargers woes in the Red Zone will continue.

4) Lack of  A Pass Rush
When the Chargers dominated the NFL in 2006 and advanced to the AFC Championship game in 2007, big plays on defense were a huge part of their success. They led the NFL in sacks with 61 in 2006.  In 2007, their opportunistic defense led the NFL with 30 interceptions and finished fifth with 42 sacks.  The last two seasons, the Chargers defense has slipped to 22nd in sacks. Their ability to rush the passer was the key to their defense.

The ability of Sean Merriman and Shaun Phillips coming off the edge and Jamal Williams, Igor Olshansky (since departed as a free agent to Dallas) and Luis Castillo on the line was part of one of the best front sevens in the NFL. Their constant pressure on the opposing Quarterback allowed the San Diego secondary to take more chances. In Cromartie’s second year in the league in 2007, he led the NFL with ten interceptions.  He has had only two since.

Much of the downfall can be traced to Merriman’s torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament suffered during the Chargers’ 2007 playoff run. He chose to try and rehab the injury during the 2008 off season, instead of having surgery. 

Merriman hasn’t been the same player since suffering his injury.  He has no sacks this year after missing all of the 2008 season. From 2005-2007, his first three years in the league, Merriman terrorized opposing offenses with 39.5 sacks. The Chargers pass rush has clearly suffered because of Merriman’s injury.

5) Inability to Stay Healthy
Merriman, Tomlinson, Antonio Gates and Philip Rivers have all suffered Injuries in the past few years that have limited their effectiveness.  The Chargers haven’t played a game at full strength in a few years.

The loss of Nose Tackle Jamal Williams and Center Nick Hardwick have created huge holes in the middle of the line on both sides of the ball.

Williams suffered a torn triceps and was placed on Injured Reserve ending his season.  Hardwick had ankle surgery following the opener and was originally expected to miss eight weeks.  The running game on both sides of the ball have suffered as a result.

The offensive line misses Hardwick opening holes and Williams is considered one of the best run stuffers in the NFL.

Williams loss has allowed opponents the confidence to run between the tackles. This trickles down to the entire defense. Without Williams, Phillips and Merriman have to respect the inside running game more.  This takes away from the pass rush and the safeties also have to help out against the run. When the safeties move up, opponents are able to throw deep more often. This is another contributing factor to the Chargers decrease in interceptions.

Tomlinson missed the majority of the playoff snaps the last two seasons.  In 2008, LT was limited to five carries in their wild card win over Indianapolis because of an injured groin.  He missed the divisional round against Pittsburgh the next week.  During the 2007 playoff run, Tomlinson missed the majority of the last two playoff games with a knee injury.

Gates has played through his own injuries.  He finished with 13 catches for 146 yards in last year’s playoff run with a high ankle sprain.  During their 2007 playoff run, Gates was severely limited by a toe injury.  He wasn’t much more than a decoy.  Gates had six catches for 60 yards and no touchdowns during that playoff run. Rivers torn ACL limited his mobility against New England in the AFC Championship game.

Tomlinson has scored one touchdown in each of the last two post seasons. 

When the Chargers are at their best, Gates and LT are getting into the end zone.  In contrast to the post season, the two Charger perennial pro-bowlers combined for 47 touchdowns in 32 games during the 2007 and 2008 regular seasons.  In 2009, they have three combined touchdowns through six games.

As a result of the injuries in key positions, the Charges have been forced to draft players as insurance in those positions instead of improving their weaknesses.

Outside Linebacker Larry English was drafted in the first round to improve the Chargers pass rush.  The past five seasons have been one of the Chargers’ greatest eras.  The possibility exists that this could be the last year with the current core of players.  LT and/or Merriman could be replaced after this season.  Gates is in his seventh season and will turn 30 next off-season. 

With Rivers, Vincent Jackson and Malcolm Floyd, the Chargers passing game looks good for years to come.  The rest of the team is going to need to be rebuilt on the fly.  The Chargers should remain a good team over the next few seasons.  In order to return to the NFL’s elite, they are going to face some key personnel decisions over the next couple of off-seasons.

Rebuilding both lines and finding a running back will be the priorities in free agency and the draft.

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