Welcome to January: Predictions for the 2009 NFL Playoffs (Part One-NFC)

(To see Part Two of this article, click here )

The 2009 NFL season started with a bang.

The Denver Broncos trailed the Cincinnati Bengals with just a few seconds remaining. In what could only be labeled as a miracle, newly acquired Denver quarterback Kyle Orton heaved a pass down the left sideline. Enveloped in a sea of orange jerseys, Cincinnati cornerback Leon Hall deflected the pass up in the air, and the game appeared to be over. Millions of fans awaited the final whistle.

It never came.

The ball landed into the welcoming arms of Denver slot receiver Brandon Stokley who proceeded to giddily race towards the endzone for a touchdown that would result in one of the most unexpected endings to a game in NFL history

With such an incredible moment so early in the season, it was only fitting that Stokley’s touchdown would prove to be the peak moment of a relatively mundane season.

After a season devoid of a large number of classic games, awe-inspiring plays, or eye-drawing playoff races, one can only hope that the 2009 Playoffs will prove to be much more exciting.   

While it may be hard to top Super Bowls 42 and 43, two of the greatest in history, a plethora of championship-worthy teams may provide one of the best all-around playoffs in recent history. But before the action begins with the Wild Card round on Saturday, January 9, let us examine all 12 contenders.

NFC 

New Orleans Saints

Just five weeks ago the Saints would have been the clear, odds-on favorite to win the NFC. But following a near-loss to the lowly Redskins and consecutive defeats at the hands of Dallas, Tampa Bay, and Carolina; New Orleans no longer appears to be invincible.

While the offense is still explosive, the once dominant-defense has come back down to earth. Susceptible to the big play, New Orleans gave up 30 points to Jason Campbell and Washington, followed by 24 to Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys. A group that was praised earlier in the season is now the NFL’s 19th ranked scoring defense. 

While this team may be the best NFC team on paper, their weaknesses at defensive and offensive tackle have been exposed. Left tackle Jamal Bushrod has been a liability in recent weeks, and could be torched in the playoffs by top pass-rushers such as Philadelphia’s Trent Cole and Minnesota’s Jared Allen. 

If the New Orleans team from the first 13 weeks of the season shows up in the playoffs, the Saints could be headed to their first ever Super Bowl victory. If not, it could be an early exit for Drew Brees and his fellow teammates.

Minnesota Vikings

It has been said that a stifling defense and a strong running game are the best building blocks for a championship team. If it was Week 10, no team may have fit this mold more perfectly than the Minnesota Vikings.

Following a tumultuous summer in which the team did not know its starting quarterback until the beginning of preseason play, the Vikings posted a 10-1 record through the first 11 weeks of the season.                                         

However, the Vikings quickly unraveled. A tenuous relationship between 40-year-old quarterback Brett Favre and Head Coach Brad Childress, as well as, poor play from Adrian Peterson led to the Vikings losing three games down the stretch.

One constant for the Vikings, however, has been their outstanding defense. Led by Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen and defensive tackles Pat and Kevin Williams, the Vikings amassed 48 sacks, first in the NFL, while posting the league’s fourth ranked rushing defense.

But for the Vikings to make some noise in the playoffs, they will need superstar running back Adrian Peterson to return to top-form. The once prolific rusher failed to reach 100 yards rushing or 4.0 yards-per-carry in the final seven weeks of the season.  

With a suffocating defense and strong play from Adrian Peterson, the Vikings may be well on their way to the NFC title game and a potential Super Bowl appearance. But even with their torching of the Giants in Week 17, the reemergence of Peterson is far from guaranteed. 

Philadelphia Eagles

Going ino Week 17, the Eagles may have been the hottest team in football. Winners of six straight, the Eagles were on a collision course towards a game with the Dallas Cowboys that would decide the NFC East champion.

Too bad the Eagles came out flat.

In what was easily their worst game of the season, Philadelphia was massacred by rival Dallas 24-0. But I’m convinced the Eagles’ best football may still be ahead of them. Right now, they are a team with out a glaring weakness. Armed with a surplus of weapons, Donovan McNabb has posted a stellar 2009 campaign. Despite missing three games, the veteran QB had 22 touchdowns against just 10 interceptions, while accruing the third best passer rating of career.

The loss of former Pro Bowl running back Brian Westbrook has done little to slow down the Eagles, as rookie running back LeSean McCoy and fullback Leonard Weaver have combined to form one of the league’s premier rushing attacks.

The other side of the ball has been impressive as well. The Eagles’ ball-hawking secondary, led by Pro Bowlers Asante Samuel and Sheldon Brown, is fourth in the league in interceptions. More importantly, the additions of linebackers Will Witherspoon and Jeremiah Trotter have solidified the once porous run defense.

The Eagles have all the tools to survive into February. If they can put the loss at Dallas behind them, I believe they will do just that. 

Dallas Cowboys

Anyone who has even a passing interest in the NFL knows of Dallas’ well-documented struggles in December and January. And when Tony Romo and the Cowboys lost to the rival New York Giants at the Meadowlands in early December, it appeared that the team would be playing golf come playoff time.

There’s no doubt that Dallas is an extremely talented team. Combining a top-ranked rushing attack with the progression of quarterback Tony Romo, Dallas is as capable a team as any on paper. But this group of Dallas players— and coaches— has not yet been able to string together wins at the end of the season.

But in many people’s eyes, the Cowboys have turned it around. Following victories versus the Saints, Redskins, and Eagles; Dallas’ late-season struggles seem like they may be a thing of the past.

I’ll believe it when I see it.

The Cowboys stunning upset of undefeated New Orleans in Week 15 is not nearly impressive as it was just a few weeks ago. New Orleans, who has since lost to lowly Tampa Bay, has played poorly in five straight games and seems to be vulnerable.

The Cowboys also smothered the rival Redskins in Week 16. But let’s face it: Washington sucks.

However, Dallas’ recent win against the Eagles was a most impressive affair. The ‘Boys thoroughly dominated both sides of the ball en route to a 24-0 victory.

Ultimately, whether these wins are impressive or not may not matter. Late-season struggles are usually psychological, and if Dallas believes they can win in January, they just might be able to do it.

But for the Cowboys to execute in the postseason, I believe it to be absolutely necessary that Dallas gets off to a hot start early in their first playoff game. If their opponent marches down the field on their opening drive, or if Dallas goes three-and-out early on, they will assuredly be reminded of past struggles.  It might serve Offensive Coordinator Jason Garret to take some shots down the field early on the Philly defense, to try and fire up his players and eliminate the threat of psychological collapse.

The Dallas Cowboys have not won a playoff game since 1995. I’m going to bet that the streak lasts one more year. 

Green Bay Packers 

Perhaps no NFL team is as well-rounded as the Green Bay Packers.

Green Bay and Aaron Rodgers boast a top-ranked passing attack, two standout receivers, and a young running back in Ryan Grant who has been hot in the final four weeks of the season.

On the other side of the ball , they are the owners of one of the favorites for the Defensive Player of the Year Award (Charles Woodson), and one of the favorites for the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award (Clay Matthews).

Even their special teams have been solid.

The bottom line is that Green Bay is an extremely talented football team. But with their low seed, they may struggle the make it deep into the postseason.

Arizona Cardinals

Just like last year, the Arizona Cardinals are an extremely difficult team to assess.

They allow around 19 points per game, but give up nearly 350 yards. Their quarterback, Kurt Warner, has had eight games with a QB rating of 100.0 or more,  and six games where hes been under 80.0. And while their running game has been much improved over last season, they are still not a threat in that category.     

And while the Cardinals obviously have two Pro Bowl caliber receivers in Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, one wonders whether their passing attack, running game, and defense will all come together at once to make a push towards a second straight Super Bowl appearance.

I’m not betting on it.  

NFC PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS 

Wild Card Round 

Philadelphia Eagles defeat Dallas Cowboys

I honestly believe Philadelphia is a much better football team than Dallas, and I think that they will turn it around with an impressive performance in the first round. Philly wins 24-20.

Green Bay Packers  defeat Arizona Cardinals I think this one will be a romp. The Pack takes it 31-10.

Divisional Round 

Philadelphia Eagles defeat New Orleans Saints 3 losses in a row + Week off = Rust and an early playoff exit. Philly beats slumping N’awlins 28-21.

Minnesota Vikings defeat Green Bay Packers Vikings defense proves too much for Aaron Rodgers, sacking him at least 4 times. The Vikes win 24-14.

Conference Round

Philadelphia Eagles defeat Minnesota Vikings

In what will be a classic Conference Championship Game, Asante Samuel picks off Favre late in the game. The Birds win 23-20.

(To see the AFC Predictions, as well as the Super Bowl pick, click here )

 

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Who Do The Vikings Want to Play in the Second Round?

Someone send some champagne to the Cowboys, will ya? Some fancy stuff, twenty bucks ought to cover it. Thank the Giants for leaving their hearts in New York, too.

While there is justified bliss over Sunday’s results, and everyone should celebrate in one way or another (be it donkey-punching a friend or drinking paint thinner until tomorrow’s sun goes down), it is hard to dissect a hollow win over a Giants team that abandoned their season weeks ago.

Has the offense worked through the kinks to get back to the midseason juggernaut that rolled downfield? Has the defense solved the problems in the back end?

Only time will tell.

But those are the aesthetic, superficial questions and worries. Fact is the Vikings are in the playoffs, they got the bye, and will have at least one home playoff game. 

Can’t ask for much more than that.

Now the playoffs are upon us and the question is: Who do the Vikings want to see in the Metrodome in two weeks?

One good thing: The Vikings can’t play Philadelphia in the second round, as the Eagles would automatically go to New Orleans if they won their first round game (due to being the sixth and last seed in the playoffs).

Excellent. Let those two offenses tire each other out.

As for the rest, it is like choosing between beef with roach poison, chicken with rat poison, or pad thai—there is no good answer.

But answers you shall receive.

The number one choice is probably the Dallas Cowboys—a team that just happens to have the best defense in the NFC currently, a team that went into New Orleans and gave the Saints their first loss, and just shut out an Eagle offense that had looked like the best in football the past few weeks. Yeah, that would be the team the Vikings most want to play.

These NFC playoffs will be a gauntlet in hell for all parties.

The Cowboys are a team that plays (somewhat) into Minnesota’s strengths, though. Their offense relies on the run more than any other team in the conference, and the Vikings still have one of the most imposing rush defenses in the game. If Dallas can’t run the ball, and Romo is forced to throw more often, mistakes could follow.

And for all the yards the Cowboys piled up on offense this year (second most in the NFL), they were only the 14th highest scoring team in the league. Basically, they have trouble putting the ball in the end zone; the Cowboys have not scored more than 24 points in nine straight games.

That can be okay when you have a defense that has played as successful as Dallas has. The Cowboys have given up the second least points in the NFL and have not given up any points in their last two games.

DeMarcus Ware could give Bryant McKinnie a bad Julius Peppers flashback. Mike Jenkins could shut down one side of the field. Keith Brooking and Bradie James could control the gaps and Adrian Peterson.

But it stands to reason that the Cowboys would have more trouble scoring on a Vikings defense that has had a pretty good year (tenth least points allowed, most sacks in the NFL, and ten less yards allowed per game than Dallas) than the Vikings (second most points in the NFL) would have scoring on Dallas.

So it seems…

Next on the list would be the Arizona Cardinals, a team that embarrassed the Vikings earlier in the season and possesses a plethora of match-up nightmares for Minnesota.

Kurt Warner’s ability to pick apart a blitz or zone; Larry Fitzgerald; how Anquan Boldin can out-muscle anyone in the Vikings secondary; Steve Breaston’s speed; one of the most talented secondaries in the league; an iron-willed defensive line; Karlos Dansby, etc.

Though the Cardinals do have some problems of their own, right now. Boldin is always injured and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was carted off the field Sunday. Arizona beat the Vikings in Arizona, as well; the change in venue would assuredly have an impact on any outcome.

Still, with their passing game and fast, physical defense, Arizona is the last team the Vikings want to play.

Except for the Packers.

Oh, dear sweet Lord in Heaven, do the Vikings not want to play the Packers a third time this season.

Not the way Aaron Rodgers has been playing, or with that much, much improved offensive line. Or with Charles Woodson, Clay Matthews, and that entire defense playing at a level only slightly behind Dallas right now.

And no Vikings fan can trot out the “beat them twice in the regular season, can do it again” line. Everyone knows this Green Bay is thoroughly different now, like night and day. Everyone knows how difficult it is to beat a team three times in one season. 

A loss to the Packers, this year, in these playoffs, after that regular season, and those regular season games—and of course, that whole Favre thing—would just…be…devastating.

Just…no.

Get them away.

There you have it: The Vikings don’t want to play any of these teams, really. Sure, they can beat any of these teams, and playing in the Metrodome can’t hurt.

But they can just as easily lose to any of these teams.

Can we just skip ahead to the NFC Championship game? And can the Saints win their game while Drew Brees breaks a patella?

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Houston Texans’ First Winning Season: Reason To Celebrate?

Before we get started, let me ask you to excuse my lack of writing recently.  I started a new job and had my wisdom teeth pulled. 

These were both very positive changes in my life, but didn’t leave me much time to write about our beloved Houston Texans.

With that being said, let’s get back to business. 

Should we celebrate the team’s first winning season? 

Absolutely, we should!  This is a team who has never been more than 8-8.  One game above that, while it ends short of the playoffs, is a 9-7 season worth celebrating. 

In the spirit of the New Year and the team’s (relative) success, let’s take a moment to look at the positives that came out of this season.

Matt Schaub was able to play a full season and led the NFL in passing yards.  This is (hopefully) a major development for Schaub.  He is emerging as a leader for this young team and his stats certainly back up a claim that is among the elite in the game.

Andre Johnson continues to amaze.  If Andre isn’t the best receiver in the NFL, he’s on a very short list.  I suppose cases could be made for Larry Fitzgerald or Randy Moss, but I’m partial to AJ.

Arian Foster emerged late in the season as a viable option in the backfield.  Is he a franchise back?  No.  He could be part of an effective rotation with Steve Slaton, however.  More on Slaton later.

The team was able to survive the loss of Owen Daniels.  Joel Dreessen stepped up, as did Kevin Walter, Jacoby Jones and David Anderson.  Daniels should be locked up long term but the Texans proved they can move the ball without him.  He certainly makes them better, but his absence is not crippling.

On the other side of the ball, rookie Brian Cushing showed why he was taken so early in the draft.  I don’t need to list his stats to prove his worth to the team.  He brings an attitude and toughness to a team that needs more of both. Simply put, if he’s not Defensive Rookie of the Year, the award becomes as big a joke as the Heisman Trophy to me.

DeMeco Ryans was re-energized by Cushing’s emergence.  Along with Zac Diles, the Texans have a trio of young and talented linebackers to lead the defense well into the next decade.

Bernard Pollard, claimed on waivers, was nothing short of a miracle.  He also brought toughness and tenacity to the Texans.  Without a doubt, Pollard is the best safety the Texans have ever had.  He must be locked up for the future.

Finally, Gary Kubiak demonstrated he deserves another season at the helm for the Texans.  I’m still not convinced he’s the best coach for the team, but he deserves another year to show what he can do. 

His offensive scheming is top notch (in the first half at least and unless he takes his foot off the gas).  He still makes errors in time management and challenges, but I’m no longer at the forefront of the “Fire Gary Kubiak” chant.  He can and must do better and should be allowed another season to show his mettle.

While there was plenty to be happy about, there were some, well, less than stellar developments this season.

Kicker Kris Brown, a life long Texan, is simply lost.  He led the NFL in missed kicks and is no longer reliable.  Hell, he even shanked a PAT in Week 17’s victory over New England.  A replacement kicker must be brought in.  I don’t have to tell you about missed opportunities in the kicking game.

Running backs Chris Brown and Ryan Moats are not NFL caliber players.  If somebody tells you differently, immediately question their knowledge of football.  Sure, they’ve shown flashes (brief flashes), but they cannot be counted on to hang onto the ball and score touchdowns.  This is not debatable.

Dunta Robinson is a shell of the player he once was.  He used to be aggressive in run support and as close to a lock down corner could exist in today’s NFL.  Today, he flails at run support and can’t cover any decent receivers. 

It’s too bad.  Dunta was once the heart and soul of the defense.  Now, he’s the appendix.  He brings nothing to the table and must be removed.  It’s honestly sad but true.

On defense, a top notch corner must be brought in to shore up the pass defense and a space eating defensive tackle must be acquired to help in the running game in the off season.  On the other side of the ball, more talent and size in the interior offensive line and at running back must be found.  

Finally, the most important lesson that the Texans must learn is to take care of business. 

They can’t lose five out of eight home games. They can’t lose four division games in a row. 

They can’t show up flat. They have to play four quarters.

My grandfather always told me that the best help is self help.  While his intention was to teach me to be self-motivated, the Texans must take lesson to heart.

The Texans can’t place blame on the Bengals for keeping them out of the playoffs. 

Take care of business and don’t rely on anyone else to help you get to the dance.  That’s what the most important lesson must be. 

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Where Have You Been, Devin Aromashadou?

Jay Cutler looks for his new favorite target, Devin Aromashadou.

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NFL Power Rankings: Bring on The Playoffs

The Eagles better figure out a way to get their running game going against Dallas.  In their two meetings with the Cowboys this season, Philly has gained a grand total of just 125 yards on the ground.

 

6. (6) Minnesota Vikings (12-4)

The stumbling Vikes got just what they needed heading into the playoffs: a momentum builder against The Team Formerly Known as the New York Giants.

 

7. (7) Cincinnati Bengals (10-6)

I don’t blame the Bengals for tanking the game at the Jets.  Now, Cincinnati gets to host New York in a rematch this weekend, instead of facing division rival Baltimore for the third time this season.

 

8. (8) Green Bay Packers (11-5)

The Packers’ defense will decide the team’s fate this postseason.  Green Bay finished the year 11-0 when giving up less than 30 points and 0-5 when yielding more than that.

 

9. (9) Arizona Cardinals (10-6)

 

10. (10) New England Patriots (10-6)

If Bill Belichick didn’t start Wes Welker and then the receiver didn’t play well this weekend leading to a playoff loss, everyone would’ve been on the coach for not getting his guys ready to play in the postseason.

If Welker’s injury had come in the fourth quarter, then I think Patriots fans would have something to complain about, but you have to get your starters some real game action heading into the Wild Card round.  The receiver was hurt in the opening minutes of the first quarter, so I think you chalk this up to bad luck, not bad coaching.

 

11. (13) Baltimore Ravens (9-7)

Ray Rice and Willis McGahee form the best running back combo among the six AFC playoff participants.

 

16. (18) Houston Texans (9-7)

Since Week One, the Texans have either won or lost by eight or fewer points.  An unfortunate end to the season for a very underrated team.

 

17. (19) Miami Dolphins (7-9)

In a season tarnished by injuries (Chad Pennington, Ronnie Brown), it was fitting that the Dolphins’ year ended with a game in which two of their quarterbacks were hurt.

 

18. (20) Carolina Panthers (8-8)

21. (22) San Francisco 49ers (8-8)

The Niners finished at .500 for the first time in seven years and won my friend, Brad, a bunch of money in his survivor pool.

 

22. (23) Chicago Bears (7-9)

At least the disappointing season ended with two divisional wins.

 

23. (17) Jacksonville Jaguars (7-9)

The Jags’ four-game losing streak to end the season ended their season.

 

24. (24) Buffalo Bills (6-10)

If the Colts win the Super Bowl, at least the Bills can look back on this season and say they beat the champs—sort of.

 

25. (25) Seattle Seahawks (5-11)

The Seahawks finish the season 5-11 and Mike Holmgren is returning with the Browns.  At least the Mariners will be better this year.

 

26. (26) Cleveland Browns (5-11)

 

30. (30) Washington Redskins (4-12)

The Redskins couldn’t even beat a team with nothing to play for.

 

31. (31) St. Louis Rams (1-15)

If this trend continues, the Rams won’t win a single game next season.

 

32. (32) Detroit Lions (2-14)

With just two wins and a home loss to the Rams, I can’t rank the Lions anywhere but last for the second straight season.

 

Follow me on Twitter at JordanHarrison.

Jordan Schwartz is Bleacher Report’s New York Yankees Community Leader. His book  “Memoirs of the Unaccomplished Man” is available at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and authorhouse.com.

Jordan can be reached at jordanschwartz2003@yahoo.com

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Steelers/Week 17: End of Season, End of Era?

Here’s my take on the Steelers’ 27-24 victory against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday afternoon:

1. Rejoice, Steelers World, you can tell your grandkids that you witnessed the biggest letdown season in franchise history!

Well, name a bigger one then.

In 2006, the Steelers tanked as the defending Super Bowl champions, but this season ranks worse than that one. A lot worse.

The ‘06 team opened the season with a lame-duck head coach (Bill Cowher) and a quarterback (Ben Roethlisberger) with physical issues. The ’09 team started the season with no such problems, unless you count Big Ben’s legal controversy, which appeared to have no effect on the field.

Not only that, but this team had a bunch of Twinkies and Ho Hos on its schedule.

The 1995, 2001 and 2004 teams are on the short list, but for as many hearts as they broke, at least they advanced to the postseason. What did this one accomplish except a lot of anger and frustration and lousy football?  

I mean, this season was so godawful that Steelers World was forced to root for the Oakland Raiders on the final day of the regular season.

Yuck.

2. Sorry, but I don’t see any quick fixes here, either.  Like the ‘Burgh itself, the Steelers organization is slow and methodical, not quick and aggressive, salary cap or no salary cap.

This is an ancient team whose best days are behind it. I’ll be surprised if it finishes better than 8-8 next season.

3. I hold general manager Kevin Colbert responsible for this nightmare of a season.

Colbert also brought back the same nucleus for a year ago. Bad idea. Championship teams don’t repeat with the same guys nowadays, especially ones that have a bunch of 30-somethings on their rosters.

If course, the one guy he should have brought back, cornerback Bryant McFadden, he allowed to walk out the free-agent door.  

4. I hold Mike Tomlin responsible for what happened this season.

When a plane is on autopilot like the Steelers were last season, it’s easy to navigate. But when it hits turbulence, it takes experience and know-how to steer clear of trouble. Clearly, Tomlin didn’t have the experience and know-how to handle the kind of problems that confronted his team this season.

The head coach talked a good game, anyway.

5. I hold the players responsible for what happened this season.

This team had too many fat cats at the start of the season. (Yeah, that includes you, LaMarr Woodley.) There’s no excuse to lack motivation, especially when you’re the defending champs.

6. Can’t say enough good things about Roethlisberger, the one guy who held up his part of the deal throughout the season. When he drove the team to a late field goal despite a limp right arm, I thought that John Wayne had made a comeback.

Forget talent level. If everyone displayed the grit and determination that Big Ben did this season, then this team would be headed to the playoffs right now.

7. Why anyone outside of family, friends and opponents would want linebacker James Farrior and cornerback Deshea Townsend on the field in obvious pass situations beats the hell out of me. They killed the defense on third down time after time after time.

I mean, if you’re gonna get toasted, better to get toasted with young guys who at least will gain experience from it.

8. The company line was that Willie Parker had lost a step because of injuries, but in what may have been his final game in black and gold, Fast Willie put up 91 yards in 12 carries and didn’t look slow to me.

Parker and Tomlin had a personality clash, but ego shouldn’t interfere with the best interests of the team. Parker should have touched the ball a half-dozen times every game. Minimum.

9. I understand the urgency to get Rashard Mendenhall more involved, but the kid was handed the third-down job even though he wasn’t ready for it.

In the last two games, Mendenhall dropped one sure TD pass and botched another because he wasn’t aware of the sideline.

Meanwhile, the guy who would have been ideal for the role sat and watched the entire season. Stefan Logan is his name.

10. Congrats to shoulda-been Steelers head coach Ken Whisenhunt, who guided the Arizona Cardinals to the playoffs for the second time in as many seasons.

History says that one of the Super Bowl teams fail to make the playoffs the next year, but who would have thunk that the Steelers would be it?

(For the final Steelers grades and analysis, see Paul Ladewski’s story in Bleacher Report on Tuesday.)

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Detroit Lions Best Draft Might Not Include Ndamukong Suh

With all due respect to Ndamukong Suh, the Detroit Lions might be better off if he is a St. Louis Ram in April of 2010.

No one is debating his talent level. The boy named Suh deserves to be the number one pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. In fact, if he “fell” to number two overall, the Detroit Lions would be foolish not to take him.

However, if the Rams select Suh, the Detroit Lions might be better off.

At the top of the 2010 NFL Draft order, Cleveland, Washington, Seattle, and Buffalo are in possible need of a quarterback. San Francisco sits in the middle of the first with two picks. Any of those teams could want to move ahead of the pack.

If the Detroit Lions can come out of the 2010 Draft with two first round picks or a first round pick in 2011—not to mention numerous middle to late round picks—the Lions would be in a much better situation.

Consider this…the Detroit Lions are able to trade the number two pick to San Francisco for both first rounders.

Would the Lions be better off with only Gerald McCoy or Terrence Cody and Carlos Dunlap? (*insert mid-first round picks of your choosing*)

Would the Lions be better off with only Russell Okung or Joe Haden and Greg Hardy?

Both Russell Okung and Gerald McCoy are solid prospects and worthy of top picks but neither is worth two quality starters at much needed positions. Add in an extra possible third or fourth rounder and the Lions could be talking three starters on a talent starved team instead of one.

At worst case scenario—for those most cynical Lions fans out there—Detroit has three chances to make a solid pick instead of one gigantic bust.

So, Lions fans, between now and April, salivate over Ndamukong Suh. The Lions would be well off with him starting in the middle of the defense for the next 12 years.

But, in the back of your mind, remember that the best possible scenario might be Suh dominating the NFC West for those twelve years and the Lions front office taking advantage.

The 2010 NFL Draft will not fix the Detroit Lions…one player, even Ndamukong Suh, will not fix the Detroit Lions.

For the 2010 NFL Draft to benefit the Detroit Lions the most, Ndamukong Suh will end up a member of the St. Louis Rams.

Michael Schottey is a Detroit Lions Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and the producer and host of The Average Joe Sports Show on 860AM KNUJ (New Ulm, MN). He is also an NFL Analyst and Senior Writer for DraftTek.com. Follow Him on Twitter.

 

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No Title Defense For Pittsburgh Steelers Despite Victory Over Dolphins

The Pittsburgh Steelers went into Miami and did what they needed to do Sunday afternoon: overcoming lackluster play by their defense, the Steelers eeked out a six-point win against the Dolphins in their quest to wrap up a postseason berth and defend their Super Bowl title.

Unfortunately it wasn’t enough; the help they needed didn’t pan out, and Pittsburgh found itself in the unenviable position of having to watch the Lombardi Trophy go to someone else without getting an opportunity to claim it themselves.

Pittsburgh’s best shot was a win over Miami plus losses by Houston and the Jets. Before they even finished their own game, it was apparent that the best-case scenario wasn’t an option: the Texans were able to prevail over the somewhat substandard performance of Bill Belichump’s Patriots, and Pittsburgh’s position became that much more perilous.

Needing losses by Denver, Baltimore, and the Jets, the Steelers hopes were dashed when the Ravens prevailed 21-13 over the Oakland Raiders, a team that defeated Pittsburgh earlier in the year.

Conspiracy theorists and hotheads will look to the Indianapolis and New England games and claim that these teams laid down purposely to keep the Steelers out of the playoffs.

Other will blame the NFL for flexing the Cincinnati game to Sunday night and changing the dynamic of the matchups to give a New York team the best possible shot at making the postseason (since the Giants blew their shot last week, the Jets got the nod). 

Still others will blame the refs for bad calls in the New England game that gave Houston the win.

And regardless of whether the arguments are valid, they truly don’t admit to a hill of beans.

The truth of the matter is, Pittsburgh has no one to blame but themselves.

Are you listening, LaMarr Woodley? It is PITTSBURGH’S fault that they aren’t in the playoffs.

Consider this: Pittsburgh opened the season 6-2, and looked to be well on their way to making a run at their third Super Bowl appearance in five years. They then embarked on a five-game losing streak that is one of the most inexplicable in recent memory.

Two of the losses, while hard to swallow, at least are somewhat justifiable: Pittsburgh lost to Cincinnati, who admittedly was playing some inspired ball—the Bengals had earned the nickname “Cardiac Cats” for late-game heroics all season, and the Steelers game was no exception— and Baltimore, who always play Pittsburgh hard regardless of the stakes.

But those two losses aren’t the issue. It’s the other three that cast doubt on the Steelers tenacity.

After losing to the Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh fell to Kansas City. A nearly 400-yard effort by Ben Roethlisberger made no difference; the Steelers defense surrendered a 10-point lead at the half, getting outscored 17-7 and allowing the Chiefs to force overtime. Beleaguered cornerback William Gay gave up a 62-yard bomb that put the Chiefs in field goal range, and that was that. 

Following the loss a week later to the Baltimore Ravens, Coach Mike Tomlin implied in a press conference that the silliness was over; the Steelers were addressing their issues and would shortly “unleash hell” in December to finish the season.

They unleashed hell, alright, they just forgot to harness it and use it for themselves.

The next week Pittsburgh faced of with the Oakland Raiders, a rival of the Steelers during Pittsburgh’s previous dynasty in the ’70’s. Oakland, with their league-worst offense, was able to rally for 21—yes, you read that right, 21—points in the first quarter to beat the Steelers at Heinz Field, a place that until this year was a hard stadium to visit and win.

The very next week, Pittsburgh squared off against inter-divisional rival Cleveland in a game they were sure to win. The Browns had managed just two wins while dropping 11 this season. No way were the Steelers going to drop this one.

Except they did. Five games, five losses, and suddenly the Steelers were 6-7 and in danger of being eliminated from playoff contention.

If Pittsburgh had taken care of business in just one of those five games, they would be sitting as the fifth seed in the playoffs. Worse yet, three of the losses came against teams that ended the season with a combined record of 14-32. Heads-up play against any of those teams and the Steelers are 10-6.  

As it is now, the only trophy Pittsburgh gets to hoist this year is one they already have in their trophy case.

It’s not Woodley’s fault for spouting off at the mouth, as much as conspiracy theorists wold like to believe. Although it is emotionally satisfying to have a reason to impugn the reputation and ethics of Bill Belichickie, New England has no culpability in the Steelers demise.

The NFL did not execute some dastardly plan to make Pittsbugh’s chances slimmer than they already were, even though it is no secret that a New York-area team in the playoffs means big money for the league.

It can’t even be blamed on the absence of Troy Polamalu; he went down early enough in the season for the defensive backfield to adjust to his not being on the field (although Tyrone Carter was most assuredly exposed for the mediocre safety that he is, and William Gay, Ike Taylor, and Deshea Townsend should be smacked for continuing to expect Carter to provide help over the top).

No, the only people who hold any blame for the Steelers absence from the postseason are the guys who strapped up and stepped between the white lines. When you get right down to it, that’s where the meat of the matter is: 51 players played 16 games. They and they alone held the key to their postseason opportunities.

When all is said and done, all 51 of them didn’t execute. The price that must be paid for that is an early off-season. 

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The New York Jets Are Handed a No. 5 Seed in the Playoffs

Most NFL players will tell you that it is a great accomplishment to make it to the playoffs, as thirty-two different teams are fighting it out for twelve spots.

And it usually only gets harder as the season comes to a close.

Ask any member of the New York Jets and they may tell you an entirely different story.

Two weeks in a row the New York Jets have been practically handed a win, needing only to beat second and third string players.

It was almost laughable watching the Jets celebrate with every score knowing that my high school team could have done the same thing. 

The New York Jets have certainly received the best Christmas present of any team in the league, a No. 5 seed in the AFC playoffs, while many other teams got lumps of coal.

Lets see what the Jets can do with this opportunity. I, for one, don’t think they will do anything at all with it.

But wouldn’t it be nice to watch all the teams that folded this week lose in the next?

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Josh McDaniels Needs to Learn What Accountability REALLY Means

Apparently it is possible to see a mirage in the Rockies.

Earlier this season after the Broncos started 3-0, I wrote that the Broncos and their fans were buying into what Josh McDaniels was doing with the team and, to steal a line from McDonald’s, I said they were “lovin’ it.”

Well, 13 games later, I think it is safe to say both the team and its fans are “hatin’ it.”  Even yours truly admits he was dead wrong. In a season of low expectations, the Broncos took advantage of no one taking them seriously and surged to a 6-0 start. 

Then the wheels came off and the Broncos finished a putrid 2-8 and becoming only the third team since the AFL-NFL merger to miss the postseason after starting the season 6-0. This collapse is worse than the three-game losing streak the Broncos had to end the 2008 campaign, due to that they played poorly for ten games versus three.

Mike Shanahan got fired for that three-game collapse last season, so logic dictates McDaniels should suffer the same fate. Will it happen?  Probably not this year. That said, Bowlen has even more just cause to fire McDaniels than he had to fire Shanahan.

First, as can be seen in the 44-24 thumping they took at home to the 3-12 Chiefs, McDaniels has lost control of this team. Just when fans thought it couldn’t get any worse than being beaten by JaMarcus Russell at the last second, it does. 

For example, McDaniels had the gall to make a more boneheaded move than Shanahan ever did by benching two of his best three pass catchers for “attitude problems,” for a game that had playoff implications. Anyone who saw today’s game would have been able to see that Marshall’s height and Scheffler’s hands would have helped the Broncos.

Marshall’s case is sketchy at best, but as a former problem child who had been on his best behavior all season it makes McDaniels’ move that much more puzzling.

On top of that, McDaniels has proven himself to be such a big liar that it would make Bill Belichick cringe. Case in point, McDaniels said today that Marshall’s benching had nothing to do with the Pro Bowl receiver missing a treat session for his purported injured hamstring. However, earlier in the week the head coach told Ed Werder of ESPN that missing a session was a primary reason for Marshall’s benching.

Which one is it coach? I understand that coaches mislead members of the media a lot with statements that aren’t necessarily true yet not entirely false, but this was an out and out lie that wouldn’t have been such a big deal had McDaniels told it one way or the other.

Such an outright lack of integrity even has me questioning how much of what McDaniels said about the falling out with Jay Cutler is true, but as they say “there is no use in crying over spilled milk.” We likely will never know what really happened there, but recent events should cause some Broncos fans to re-examine who the real villain in that situation really was.

Owner Pat Bowlen is learning what Cleveland (times two with Romeo Crennel and Eric Mangini) and Notre Dame have come to terms with recently: the “Patriot way” of running an NFL works nowhere outside of Foxboro and even there, Belichick’s methods are starting to show signs of strain. Fudging on injury reports is no longer tolerated and Belichick’s monotone press conferences are beginning to become the laughingstock of the NFL. 

Players and fans alike want to see their teams run with integrity and class, a way in which the Broncos were run just one year ago. Taking out shortcomings on defense and struggles to finish off seasons, no one can say that the Shanahan regime wasn’t classy.  Shanahan’s final press conference is an example of that. He didn’t get it done and openly admitted it.

What does McDaniels do? He throws two of his best offensive players under the bus. If you have an issue with some players’ attitudes, that’s fine. McDaniels said the word of the week was accountability, and he held Marshall and Scheffler accountable. 

Now, following another embarrassing defeat, does the coach hold himself accountable? McDaniels said after the game, “Obviously, something is wrong and it needs to be fixed.”  Look in the mirror, coach.  McDaniels went on a power trip this past week and now he needs to learn the true meaning of the word “accountability.”

Mr. Bowlen, for the sake of your franchise, please fire this man. You don’t have to (and shouldn’t) bring back Shanahan, but please hire a proven winner.

Bill Cowher would be a good start.

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