Tuesday Morning Running Back, Week 16: Return Of The Bungles

I’d be willing to wager that soon after the New York Jets 37-0 drubbing of the Cincinnati Bengals, NBC executives began to panic.

It’s bad enough that this game lacked drama, flare, suspense, and bravado.

It’s even worse that these two teams are going to meet in the playoffs this Saturday afternoon.

How is NBC going to promote a game that people outside of New York and Cincinnati will likely shun in fear of the exact same outcome?

Well, for one thing, the Bengals will be the home team, and they’ll be no Fireman Ed to lead the cheers.

Maybe Cedric Benson will average better than the pitiful 1.8 yards per carry he did on Sunday night.

Maybe the Bengals will gain more than seven yards of total offense in the first half.

Maybe “Ochostinko” will stop talking smack on Twitter , and learn to be a competent receiver again.

Most importantly, maybe the Bengals will regain whatever it was that led them to a division title and only their second winning season since 1991.

A friend of mine complained on my Facebook page that I didn’t give the Jets credit in beating the Colts last week, and that no one gives them enough credit.

Putting my hatred of gang green aside, allow me to praise the Jets in two areas.

1. Rex Ryan was brought in to improve the defense. To me, he didn’t just improve it, he made it the best unit in the league.

And,

2. If I had a vote for NFL defensive player of the year, Darelle Revis gets it without question. I’ve never seen a cornerback consistently shut down top receivers like him.

That good enough for you Greg?tr

The bottom line here is that the Jets have to keep it up and the Bengals have to go back to the drawing board.

Hey, at the very least this game should intrigue you.

Elsewhere in the final week of the regular season:

• What were the odds that one year later it would be the Eagles reeling from a terrible loss to the Cowboys heading into the playoffs since the shoe was on the other foot last year?
• The Giants defensive effort in the last two weeks was absolutely disgraceful. I’m not surprised at all Bill Sheridan was given his walking papers.
• The key for the Vikings in two weeks is to keep the momentum going.
• The Colts and Saints learned valuable lessons this week, they’re nothing without their leaders.
• As disappointing as this year was for the Steelers, you can at least be thankful that they finished with a strong defensive effort and were in the playoff picture till the end,
• The Jim Zorn era came to a fitting end since the Redskins couldn’t even beat the Charger backups.
• ESPN reported yesterday that Mike Shanahan was seen getting into a car at the DC airport that was sent by Daniel Snyder. To me, he can’t get there fast enough.
• The Broncos season ended just like last season did, with a big collapse leaving them searching for answers.
• I like Julian Edelman, but he’s no Wes Welker. The Patriots running game needs to step it up if they want to win.
• Chris Johnson has officially passed Adrian Peterson as the number one running back in fantasy football. Now what will buy his offensive line?
• You know a four-game wining streak is a big deal in Cleveland when the coach gets a Gatorade bath after the game.
• It wasn’t a pretty road to the postseason for the Ravens, but a strong performance by Willis McGahee got them in.
•  Rest assured Packer fans that the Cardinals you saw this week won’t be the same Cardinals you see next week.
• It’s great that Jay Cutler played to his potential by tossing four touchdown passes, but for the Bears, this was a season of missed opportunity.
• Even though he finished 1-15, I still think Steve Spagnuolo will be a good coach if he coaches to his strength. Therefore, that Suh kid from Nebraska should be the Rams first priority in the draft.
• Falcons coach Mike Smith said after his teams win on Sunday that the only way to be relevant in the league is to be in the playoff picture year in and year out. I guess someone forget to tell him that he’s the only coach in team history with consecutive winning seasons. That should make them relevant enough.
• Please note that next week’s column will be written on Monday instead of Tuesday since they’re are fewer games to cover. So look for it then.

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Tuesday Moring Running Back Week 16: Colts Pass On Perfection

If you’re crazy for the Colts, I can understand if you feel cheated.

At least on paper the odds were in your favor to see your team run the table in the regular season.

When the first string offense was in, it looked as though the Colts would at least hold on to defeat the Jets, and then push over a patsy team like the Bills next week.

However, when the second stringers came in, everything unraveled.

Rookie Curtis Painter visibly struggled, completing only 11 passes for 44 yards and turning the ball over twice.

In short, the Jets stout defense had a field day with him.

So you still think you got cheated out of a perfect season?

Why don’t we look at this from the Colts perspective?

The answer as to why Jim Caldwell did what he did is quite simple really.

He had nothing left to prove

The Colts have already locked up home field advantage throughout the playoffs and coasted to a division title.

Most importantly, you don’t win any special award for having a perfect regular season.

Thus, it is more important to have a fresh team ready to go in the playoffs than it is to try for a perfect regular season.

Put another way, a championship season with any record is more valuable than running the regular season table and coming up short in the playoffs.

Just ask the Patriots.

And for all you Texans, Steelers, and Dolphins fan out there, stop complaining.

There is no loyalty to other teams in the NFL.

Yes the Colts could have helped you out with a win and kept the Jets out of the party, but they chose not to, because it didn’t directly impact them, and they’d rather be rested for the playoffs.

So sorry if you feel shafted, your teams are likely home bound after next Sunday.

Quite simply, I agree with Coach Caldwell’s decision, and I’m thankful that Mercury Morris can go back into hiding.

Elsewhere in week 16 action:

• Add the Broncos to the list of teams who could eventually feel the effects of the Colts loss. They blew their chance to control their destiny too.
• If the Broncos don’t end up making the postseason, the name Jeremy Maclin may be cursed in Denver forever. That was a great catch.
• If anything, the final Giants game at Giants Stadium will be remembered for a horrific effort. by the defense line. The Panthers basically ran the Giants out of the stadium and the playoff picture.
• Thank you Dallas, your domination of the Redskins has made your tilt with the Eagles a lot more interesting to the casual fan.
• I hope Santa didn’t put a pink slip in Jim Zorn’s stocking Thursday night.
• Memo to the Steelers: The recent fourth quarter mojo you’ve gotten should have been used sooner.
• It was a  bittersweet victory for the Bengals. They made the playoffs, but it was obvious the memory of Chris Henry was still fresh in their minds.
• Kudos to the Packers for shrugging off a bad season last year and overcoming a mediocre start this year to make the playoffs.
• The Saints should finish the season with a win to erase the stigma of the last two losses and gain momentum for the playoffs.
• Call me crazy, but the Patriots thrashing of the Jaguars was the best all around game they’ve had all year.
• I’ll be honest with you, the Texans offense is ready for the playoffs, but their defense is extremely suspect, especially because almost blow a 27-point lead to Miami.
• Who would have ever thought the Kurt Warner would still be good enough to throw 100 touchdown passes for two teams even a year ago?
• Frank Gore is an under appreciated running back in the NFL. He’s compiled four straight 1000-yard season while playing on a losing team.
• Congratulations Eric Mangini, your current three-game winning streak may have saved your hide if you know what I mean.
• Have a fun New Year’s weekend, but stay safe. I’ll talk to you next week.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Tuesday Morning Running Back Week 15: Dallas Dooms Hopes For Perfection

Nobody gave the Dallas Cowboys much of a chance.

On paper, they seemed like they were in over their heads.

After all, they haven’t won in December in ages, and they were about to go into New Orleans against a high-powered offense in the unfriendly confines of the Superdome.

The story of this game wasn’t necessarily the Saints kissing their perfect season goodbye.

It was DeMarcus Ware’s courageous effort.

This, mind you, is the same DeMarcus Ware who was carried off the field on a stretcher just one week ago.

As early as Saturday afternoon, he was doubtful to play, and it seemed like the Cowboys would have to contain Drew Brees without their best pass rusher.

But Ware toughed it out, and turned in one heck of a stellar performance.

Two sacks, along with two forced fumbles, one of which ended the Saints final drive, made Ware the unquestionable star of this tilt.

It was enough to make a rabid pro-Saints crowd leave in stunned silence.

There were other stars too. Tony Romo threw for 312 yards, and Marion Barber turned in a solid performance with two scores.

As for the Saints, they’ll be defined by Drew Brees’ lackluster effort, getting sacked four times, losing a fumble, and throwing a pick.

It is important to point out that the number-one seed in the NFC has meant nothing over the past two seasons, as both teams who held that seed lost their first playoff game.

But like the city they play in, the Saints have the ability to bounce back and finish strong.

I just wouldn’t punch their ticket to Miami quite yet.

Elsewhere in Week 15 action:

• Give the Jaguars credit, they hung in there and made their loss to the Colts an entertaining game.
• Brad Childress had good intentions in wanting to bench Brett Favre to protect his body. Favre, however, is too much of a competitor to want to take a seat. Even at his advanced age.
• If only the Jets offense could have found a pulse, then they’d still be breathing down the Patriots necks.
• Give Phillip Rivers a lot of credit too; Driving a team down the field in 51 seconds to set up a game-winning field goal is no small feat.
• My prayers and sympathy go out to the Bengals, their fans, and the Henry family for the unfortunate tragedy that occurred last week.
• While it was true that Randy Moss bounced back, his self-righteous discourse in comparing himself to Atlas by saying he could carry the world on his shoulders, was a bit much for my taste.
• Talk about a turnaround! It may not be enough to land them in the playoffs, but the Titans getting back to .500 after a horrid start is something.
• The Steelers Mike Wallace did a great impression of teammate Santonio Holmes by making a great catch with no time left on the clock to win the game.
• No defense puts their offense in a position to score points better than the Baltimore Ravens. Evidence of that is that they scored 24 of their 31 points off six Bears turnovers.
• How do you celebrate a playoff birth if you’re an Eagles fan? Easy, throw snow on your fellow fan.
• The Cardinals saved themselves the embarrassment of blowing a 17 point lead to the Lions, and clinched their second straight NFC West title.
• Forget that Josh Freeman has thrown nine interceptions in two games. The important thing is his team won by taking advantage of a battered Seahawks’ defense and the careless passing of Matt Hasselbeck.
• Imagine how bad the Texans would be if they didn’t have Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson, who probably won the game by themselves.
• At the very least, Mike Holmgren should find skilled players to build the Browns offense around the explosive talents of Joshua Cribbs and Jerome Harrison. Both had a field day with the Chiefs in the Browns victory.
• JaMarcus Russell may be remembered as a draft bust when all is said and done. However, he did rally the Raiders to a victory over the Broncos. So maybe Silver and Black supporters should consider that their Christmas gift from the team.
• What will define Jim Zorn’s coaching legacy with the Redskins? That he was inexperienced for the job, or the absolutely ridiculous fake field goal he called out of desperation last night to end the first half?
• I’d like to wish a fan of my mine, Zander Freund, nothing but the best in his future endeavors. The mere fact that a co-founder of this website approved of my work enough to become a fan of mine meant a lot to me. Best of luck to you Zander!
• As for you, may you have a very merry Christmas and get everything you want.

 

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Tuesday Morning Running Back Week 14: Colts Gallop to Top Seed in AFC.

It was a day just like any other in Indianapolis, Indiana for their beloved football team.

Sure they had a few speedbumps along the way, but the important thing is that they defended their home turf yet again.

But this victory was unlike any other regular season victory, for there was so much more at stake.

Not only could the Colts clinch the AFC’s top seed, but they could also set NFL records for the most consecutive regular season victories in league history, and the most victories ever in a decade by one team.

It wasn’t pretty, the Colts almost blew a 21-point lead and had no answer for Brandon Marshall on defense.

But Gary Brackett’s 10 unassisted tackles and a key interception by Tim Jennings allowed the Colts to hold on and accomplish everything outlined above.

There was little pomp and circumstance after the game, Peyton Manning and his teammates remained humble.

They continue to favor a business as usual approach as they strive for perfection.

But as the pressure mounts, they must ask themselves what’s more important, a perfect season or a title?

Perfection is great, but as the Patriots learned two years ago, you won’t be fondly remembered if you don’t go all the way.

Though I’m fairly certain if you asked Peyton Manning which of those options he prefers, he’d say he’d rather take it one game at a time.

He would’n’t have it any other way.

Elsewhere in Week 14 action:

• Losing to the Browns just cements how awful a season it’s been for the Steelers. I don’t even think the Steel Curtain defense could help them now.
• The Cowboys must have a December curse. Marion Barber was stopped three times at the Charger one-yard line, Nick Folk continues to miss field goals, and DeMarcus Ware got carted off on a stretcher. What’s next, Tony Romo breaking his pinkie?
• The Giants certainly had the offense in sync on Sunday night, but their inability to stop DeSean Jackson put a dent in their playoff hopes.
• A devastating blow to the Saints would have been to lose to a Falcons team that was missing Matt Ryan and Michael Turner. However. Jonathan Vilma’s bone-crushing hit on Jason Snelling avoided a disaster.
• An inspired effort by the Minnesota defense allowed them to move within one game of clinching the NFC North despite Brett Favre’s sub-par day.
• Kellen Clemens wasn’t great, but he was adequate at the very least in filling in for the injured Mark Sanchez. It was really Thomas Jones who carried the Jets’ offense to victory.
• Here’s a surprising fact, did you know the Dolphins have never lost a game in December under Tony Sporano? That streak continued Sunday with a strong team effort against the Jaguars.
• As a fantasy owner, it’s so nice to have a guy that’s not having a good season reward your faith in him. Ryan Grant finally did that for me.
• Ray Rice is an unheralded back in the NFL. The defense gets all the love in Baltimore, but Rice’s 166-yard effort should not be overlooked in a beating against the Lions.
• I know people have been calling for Gary Kubiak’s head in Houston, but when his offense is on point, it’s difficult to stop. Just ask the Seahawks secondary.
• It’s rare to see the Bills get a big play, but hats off to them for forcing two turnovers in the final 2:11 to seal a victory.
• Randy Moss is in a funk, and he better snap out of it before the Patriots get even more dysfunctional than they are now.
• I applaud the Titans for fighting to the finish line, but the sad truth is, they need a lot of help to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
• Redskins fans had learned learned to dread the fourth quarter before Sunday since they had blown three straight game in it. But this Sunday was different, as they exploded on the poor Raiders and turned a close game into a blowout.
• Turnover ratio is a key statistic in the NFL. Unfortunately for the Cardinals I can’t think of a team that has ever turned the ball over seven times in a game and still won.
• Can the Cowboys finally win in December? Will the Chargers finally lose in December? And will the NFL Network finally show a good game? We’ll find out the answers to these and other questions next week. Have a good one.

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Tuesday Morning Running Back Week 13: Saints Continue Marching On Gifts

Yeah, I know it’s Wednesday, but when you’re in the midst of finals, sometimes things take priority.

But at least I didn’t forget you my loyal fans.

Now then, the Saints had no business winning that game last Sunday.

I mean they got lucky on a couple of fluke plays, and when they needed to get lucky, the opposing team’s kicker missed a gimme field goal.

Perhaps even more shocking, is that replay reversal helped them get into field goal range to steal an improbable victory over the Washington Redskins.

I guess we shouldn’t be that surprised. After all, New Orleans seems like their a team of destiny, with their perfect record and high octane offense it is no wonder they are being compared to the 2007 Patriots.

It is my belief that every team with destiny on their side has a watershed moment that makes you believe that the team can reach the pinnacle.

The Colts had their watershed moment three weeks ago versus the Patriots, when they erased a seventeen-point deficit and used some stupidity by Bill Belichick to steal a victory when all seemed lost.

For the Saints, it was Sunday, when Drew Brees lead an eighty-yard drive in under a minute to tie the game.

But Brees didn’t do it all himself as teammate Robert Meacham took advantage of a fumble off a Brees interception to keep the Saints in the game.

Add to that the missed field goal by Redskins kicker Shawn Suisham, and you’ve got a recipe for a fate induced miracle victory.

But should we really be surprised?

And so, the Saints march on towards perfection.

Now all that’s left is to see if they actually get there.

Elsewhere in week 13 action:

• I truly believe time of possession in an underrated statistic in today’s game. For the most part, if you control the ball you control the game. That’s why the Colts won on Sunday.
• I’s about time Brandon Jacobs broke out, he used his hatred of the boys from Dallas as motivation to break out and have a big day. In the process, the Giants proved that they still have life.
• You want to know why the Patriots lost to the Dolphins? Their secondary stinks.
• If the Patriots win the AFC East that’s just a testament to how poor a division it truly is.
• One last shot at my hometown team: If you look up the word ripoff in the dictionary, you’ll see Adalius Thomas’s picture.
• Another sure indicator of a loss is red zone inefficiency. The Buccaneers were in the red zone eight times on Sunday and only scored six points. The five turnovers didn’t help either.
• I certainly learned a lot about the Vikings Sunday night. If you stop Adrian Peterson, you stop the offense. Peterson was held to only 19 yards, and the Cardinals used a big night from Anquan Boldin to ride to victory.
• The story line of the Eagles/Falcons game was the return of Michael Vick. While he did not disappoint, the real story in my book is that the Falcons are that bad without Matt Ryan or Michael Turner.
• The Jaguars were helped by two costly fumbles by the Texan’s Chris Brown in getting a win. Sounds to me like one team got an early Christmas present.
• Hey Kyle Orton, don’t worry man. So what if you threw three picks? The ground game bailed you out big time and you got a win. It’s all good.
• Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought the Steelers would lose four in a row and lose to the Raiders at home in the same season.
• The good times keep rolling for the city of Cincinnati. The Bearcats won a thrilling game over Pit on Saturday, and the Bengals have assured themselves of a winning record for only the second time in 19 years.
• Add the 49er’s to the list of teams that were bitten by the turnover bug on Sunday. It ended up costing them big.
• The Bears started strong, but then Devin Hester went down with a calf injury, and they relied too much on the ground game. It’s a good thing you can afford to do that when you’re facing a team as bad as the Rams.
• It was a good day all around for the Chargers. LaDainian Tomlinson passed Jim Brown on the all time rushing list, the team itself has one seven straight, and thirteen in a row in the month of December. Now if they can only find a way to win in the playoffs.
• Seven combined turnovers and 23 combined penalties, only one word describes the Packers/Ravens tilt, ugly.
• Quick little plug for a close friend and new bleacher creature. My pal Ben Krantz has begun writing a series of articles on forgotten baseball Hall of Famers that you should definitely check out. But then again, I taught him everything he needed to know.
• See you next week for more Tuesday Morning Running Back. Jimmy Football says it’s Bleacher Report tested Bleacher Report approved!

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Tuesday Morning Running Back Week 11: Ten Things I’m Thankful For.

If you’re a longtime reader of this column, then you know that during Thanksgiving week  I usually use the space reserved for the big story of the week to list ten things I’m thankful for in regards to the current NFL season.

So without any further ado, here’s this year’s list.

1. I’m thankful for electrifying rookies like the Vikings’ Percy Harvin. They make the most out of their abilities and contribute to their teams right away.

2. I’m thankful for success stories like the Bengals and the Saints. Their emergences always make the game fun to watch and less predictable.

3. I’m thankful for Drew Brees and Chris Johnson, since they both are carrying my fantasy team at the moment.

4. I’m thankful to be a Patriots fan, they’re always a mark of consistency.

5. I’m thankful that the Broncos finally bought into Josh McDaniels’ system after a summer of discontent. Although they’re struggling now, I still think they’ve exceeded expectations.

6. I’m grateful for ageless quarterbacks like Kurt Warner and Brett Favre. They’re still able to be effective leaders at an advanced age.

7. I’m thankful that Terrell Owens was such a bad teammate in Dallas that he got what he deserved by getting traded to Buffalo and is having a miserable season.

8. I’m thankful that Eric Mangini is proving himself to be a total fraud and the “Mangenius” tag is now a distant memory. The lesson is simple: Don’t mess with Belichick.

9. I’m thankful that this column has taught me some valuable lessons over the years, such as don’t mess with Raider fans, and Johnny Mathis is still a popular singer.

10. Most of all, I’m thankful to NBC’s Football Night in America and Sporting News Today for helping me write this column every week, and to you for reading it.

And now, my thoughts on Week 11 action.

• I just praised him, but now I’m going to have to rip him. Josh McDaniels made a rookie mistake in telling a couple of Charger linebackers “We own you” before Sunday’s game. Not surprisingly, the poor choice of words gave San Diego all the motivation they needed to use a power running game to thrash the Broncos. 
• I’m convinced the football gods are watching out for Peyton Manning. He could barely score against the Ravens defense, yet his defense forced three turnovers and as usual, the Colts were able to escape with a narrow victory.
•  My game ball this week goes to the Eagles’ Antonio Dixon, who blocked a field goal that set up a game-winning touchdown to defeat the Bears.
• The Bears started 3-1, but have now lost five of six. I wonder if they’re starting to get buyer’s remorse about Jay Cutler.
• On the flipside, the Giants finally snapped their long losing skid by overcoming the losses of a fourteen-point lead and Brandon Jacobs to beat Atlanta in overtime.
• I was fearing the worst when my Patriots were carrying a 31-14 lead into the third quarter and couldn’t score in the second half. But I need not have worried, since Mark Sanchez is no Peyton Manning and the defense harassed him all day.
• Well TO finally had the kind of day the Bills had expected from him all along. It wasn’t enough, though, as David Garrard led a game-winning drive for the second week in a row.
• Who knew that all Brett Favre needed was a strong offense and his close friend Darryl Bevall calling his plays? He threw four touchdowns against the Seahawks and is having the most efficient season of his career.
• A blow to the head sidelined Kurt Warner for the second half, but the Cardinals were still able to take comfort in the fact that even Matt Lienart can beat the Rams.
• I feel for the Redskins. How do you allow Tony Romo to still beat you when he’s in pain and has difficulty throwing? That late missed field goal really hurt.
• The important thing to remember is that the Packers won the game, although they almost blew a 20-point lead and lost both Al Harris and Aaron Kampman to injury.
• And while we’re on the subject of pain, the Steelers sure suffered a lot of it in losing to the pitiful Chiefs and allowing them to snap a 10-game home losing streak.
• If there is a Silver lining for the Raiders this year, it’s that they were able to snag an improbable victory away from the Bengals with two late scores.
• Only the Browns would be stupid enough to lose a game on a desperate Hail Mary in which they got called for pass interference. Better yet, the Lions took advantage of the gift penalty.
• How do you know you’re playing with confidence? The Saints are 10-0 and Drew Brees doesn’t think his team has peaked offensively. He’ll get a good test Monday night against the Pats.
• Ricky Williams will never be the player he was projected to be, although you got to hand it to him since he’s been able to stay in the league so long and was a huge reason why the Dolphins beat the Panthers.
• The Titans/Texans game came down to a battle of field goal kickers. Rob Bironas won out, while Kris Brown has missed key field goals that would have tied the game in two of the last three weeks.
• Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving. See you next week.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Tuesday Morning Running Back Week Seven: Saints Steal One in South Beach

Picture if you will the sight of the NFL’s marquee offensive quarterback bruised and battered with cuts on both his chin and eyes heading into the locker room at halftime.

Did I mention he was down 21 points to the Dolphins at the time?

Those of us who have watched the Saints in action this year are aware of one undeniable truth. Their offense can score at will.

Therefore, when Drew Brees scored on a quarterback keeper at the end of first half, I as well as several other football fans refused to count them out of the game.

Our premonitions came true in the second half.

Behind the confident leadership of Brees, the Saints scored 36 points in the second half, including 22 in the fourth quarter alone, to lead an improbable 46-34 win in Miami.

This is the kind of win that defines a season. A team with a never say die attitude and an explosive offense always believes in themselves.

Now the Saints stand at 6-0 for the first time since 1991, and are the only undefeated team left in the NFC.

LSU football is no longer all that matters in the bayou at this time of the year. The pro team isn’t the Aints anymore.

In other NFL action:

• The Cowboys always seem to have a knack for backups who get starts and make the most of their opportunity such as Clint Longley and Tony Romo. Sunday, Myles Austin got his chance and quickly established himself as Romo’s go to guy, catching six passes for 171 yard and two scores.
• Bengals RB Cedric Benson had a grin from ear-to-ear on his face as he greeted his former Bears teammates after the game. He had good reason to wear that smile since he torched them for 189 yards and a touchdown in a romp victory.
• Usually the Cardinals offense helps them win games. Sunday night, it was the defense who won the game as they forced four Giant turnovers and blitzed Eli Manning at will.
• Arizona’s all time record at Giants Stadium may be 3-15, but they’ll always have that victory to remember it by.
• So what if the Steelers defense gave up 386 yards to the Vikings? What will be remembered is their uncanny ability to get the big play when it matters. Keyaron Fox’s fumble return for six to seal the victory is a prime example of that.
• How did Aaron Rodgers respond to getting his helmet ripped off and a punch in the face on the game’s first play? Try three touchdown passes and a power running game as the Pack pushed around the Browns.
• Give the Bucs credit, at least they were able to intercept Tom Brady twice. But they have a lot of work to do on offense if they want to succeed, particularly on offense.
• We already have enough bad teams in the states. Why would we want to put one in London? If they agree to put a cricket team here, then maybe I’ll consider putting a football team there.
• Why is everyone making a big deal out of Mark Sanchez eating a hot dog on the sidelines as the Jets were taking it to the Raiders? If the man was hungry, let him eat!
• Give a game ball to the Texans Eugene Wilson. His late pick of Alex Smith saved Houston the embarrassment of blowing a 21-0 lead at home.
• If anyone thought the Rams/Colts game was going to be close, they probably think the moon is made of cheese.
• The Rams have now lost 17 straight, which begs the question, can Albert Pujols play quarterback?
• I think the Chargers Vincent Jackson is a very underrated receiver. He’s very athletic and can catch the deep ball. He’s also a big reason why the Chargers blew out the Chiefs.
• The Bills game plan seems to be to create turnovers. Even though the Panthers out-gained them and they had only nine first downs, the defense forced four turnovers, and the Bills got a win.
• So much for Sherman Lewis making a difference for the Redskins. Jason Campbell still fumbled the ball four times and was the beneficiary of six sacks by the Eagle defense.
• Next week, I’ll recap Brett Favre’s return to Green Bay. Be on the lookout also for my piece on the role of the designated hitter in baseball that should be up by the end of the week. See you soon.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Tuesday Morning Running Back Week Seven: Saints Steal One in South Beach

Picture if you will the sight of the NFL’s marquee offensive quarterback bruised and battered with cuts on both his chin and eyes heading into the locker room at halftime.

Did I mention he was down 21 points to the Dolphins at the time?

Those of us who have watched the Saints in action this year are aware of one undeniable truth. Their offense can score at will.

Therefore, when Drew Brees scored on a quarterback keeper at the end of first half, I as well as several other football fans refused to count them out of the game.

Our premonitions came true in the second half.

Behind the confident leadership of Brees, the Saints scored 36 points in the second half, including 22 in the fourth quarter alone, to lead an improbable 46-34 win in Miami.

This is the kind of win that defines a season. A team with a never say die attitude and an explosive offense always believes in themselves.

Now the Saints stand at 6-0 for the first time since 1991, and are the only undefeated team left in the NFC.

LSU football is no longer all that matters in the bayou at this time of the year. The pro team isn’t the Aints anymore.

In other NFL action:

• The Cowboys always seem to have a knack for backups who get starts and make the most of their opportunity such as Clint Longley and Tony Romo. Sunday, Myles Austin got his chance and quickly established himself as Romo’s go to guy, catching six passes for 171 yard and two scores.
• Bengals RB Cedric Benson had a grin from ear-to-ear on his face as he greeted his former Bears teammates after the game. He had good reason to wear that smile since he torched them for 189 yards and a touchdown in a romp victory.
• Usually the Cardinals offense helps them win games. Sunday night, it was the defense who won the game as they forced four Giant turnovers and blitzed Eli Manning at will.
• Arizona’s all time record at Giants Stadium may be 3-15, but they’ll always have that victory to remember it by.
• So what if the Steelers defense gave up 386 yards to the Vikings? What will be remembered is their uncanny ability to get the big play when it matters. Keyaron Fox’s fumble return for six to seal the victory is a prime example of that.
• How did Aaron Rodgers respond to getting his helmet ripped off and a punch in the face on the game’s first play? Try three touchdown passes and a power running game as the Pack pushed around the Browns.
• Give the Bucs credit, at least they were able to intercept Tom Brady twice. But they have a lot of work to do on offense if they want to succeed, particularly on offense.
• We already have enough bad teams in the states. Why would we want to put one in London? If they agree to put a cricket team here, then maybe I’ll consider putting a football team there.
• Why is everyone making a big deal out of Mark Sanchez eating a hot dog on the sidelines as the Jets were taking it to the Raiders? If the man was hungry, let him eat!
• Give a game ball to the Texans Eugene Wilson. His late pick of Alex Smith saved Houston the embarrassment of blowing a 21-0 lead at home.
• If anyone thought the Rams/Colts game was going to be close, they probably think the moon is made of cheese.
• The Rams have now lost 17 straight, which begs the question, can Albert Pujols play quarterback?
• I think the Chargers Vincent Jackson is a very underrated receiver. He’s very athletic and can catch the deep ball. He’s also a big reason why the Chargers blew out the Chiefs.
• The Bills game plan seems to be to create turnovers. Even though the Panthers out-gained them and they had only nine first downs, the defense forced four turnovers, and the Bills got a win.
• So much for Sherman Lewis making a difference for the Redskins. Jason Campbell still fumbled the ball four times and was the beneficiary of six sacks by the Eagle defense.
• Next week, I’ll recap Brett Favre’s return to Green Bay. Be on the lookout also for my piece on the role of the designated hitter in baseball that should be up by the end of the week. See you soon.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Tuesday Morning Running Back Week Seven: Saints Steal One in South Beach

Picture if you will the sight of the NFL’s marquee offensive quarterback bruised and battered with cuts on both his chin and eyes heading into the locker room at halftime.

Did I mention he was down 21 points to the Dolphins at the time?

Those of us who have watched the Saints in action this year are aware of one undeniable truth. Their offense can score at will.

Therefore, when Drew Brees scored on a quarterback keeper at the end of first half, I as well as several other football fans refused to count them out of the game.

Our premonitions came true in the second half.

Behind the confident leadership of Brees, the Saints scored 36 points in the second half, including 22 in the fourth quarter alone, to lead an improbable 46-34 win in Miami.

This is the kind of win that defines a season. A team with a never say die attitude and an explosive offense always believes in themselves.

Now the Saints stand at 6-0 for the first time since 1991, and are the only undefeated team left in the NFC.

LSU football is no longer all that matters in the bayou at this time of the year. The pro team isn’t the Aints anymore.

In other NFL action:

• The Cowboys always seem to have a knack for backups who get starts and make the most of their opportunity such as Clint Longley and Tony Romo. Sunday, Myles Austin got his chance and quickly established himself as Romo’s go to guy, catching six passes for 171 yard and two scores.
• Bengals RB Cedric Benson had a grin from ear-to-ear on his face as he greeted his former Bears teammates after the game. He had good reason to wear that smile since he torched them for 189 yards and a touchdown in a romp victory.
• Usually the Cardinals offense helps them win games. Sunday night, it was the defense who won the game as they forced four Giant turnovers and blitzed Eli Manning at will.
• Arizona’s all time record at Giants Stadium may be 3-15, but they’ll always have that victory to remember it by.
• So what if the Steelers defense gave up 386 yards to the Vikings? What will be remembered is their uncanny ability to get the big play when it matters. Keyaron Fox’s fumble return for six to seal the victory is a prime example of that.
• How did Aaron Rodgers respond to getting his helmet ripped off and a punch in the face on the game’s first play? Try three touchdown passes and a power running game as the Pack pushed around the Browns.
• Give the Bucs credit, at least they were able to intercept Tom Brady twice. But they have a lot of work to do on offense if they want to succeed, particularly on offense.
• We already have enough bad teams in the states. Why would we want to put one in London? If they agree to put a cricket team here, then maybe I’ll consider putting a football team there.
• Why is everyone making a big deal out of Mark Sanchez eating a hot dog on the sidelines as the Jets were taking it to the Raiders? If the man was hungry, let him eat!
• Give a game ball to the Texans Eugene Wilson. His late pick of Alex Smith saved Houston the embarrassment of blowing a 21-0 lead at home.
• If anyone thought the Rams/Colts game was going to be close, they probably think the moon is made of cheese.
• The Rams have now lost 17 straight, which begs the question, can Albert Pujols play quarterback?
• I think the Chargers Vincent Jackson is a very underrated receiver. He’s very athletic and can catch the deep ball. He’s also a big reason why the Chargers blew out the Chiefs.
• The Bills game plan seems to be to create turnovers. Even though the Panthers out-gained them and they had only nine first downs, the defense forced four turnovers, and the Bills got a win.
• So much for Sherman Lewis making a difference for the Redskins. Jason Campbell still fumbled the ball four times and was the beneficiary of six sacks by the Eagle defense.
• Next week, I’ll recap Brett Favre’s return to Green Bay. Be on the lookout also for my piece on the role of the designated hitter in baseball that should be up by the end of the week. See you soon.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Tuesday Morning Runnng Back Week Four: Brett Favre Sparkles in MNF Spotlight

It was an image we’d thought we thought we’d never see in our lifetimes.

The man that is considered by many from Kenosa to Green Bay as the man who returned football to prominence in Cheeseland, was now playing against them.

Better yet, he was under center for a hated rival.

Hence, the drama was understood, and the atmosphere electric, as Brett Favre went out went out to prove he still has it to both the world and his former team.

He did just that.

It was as if he stepped into a time machine, his passes were on target, his arm was strong, and he trusted the speed of his receivers to go get the ball.

When it was over, the Vikings had a 30-23 win, and Favre threw three touchdown passes and no interceptions, with a passer rating of 135.3 that would make Drew Brees blush.

Favre’s almost perfect night on a national stage even managed to steal some limelight away from his own teammate. Jared Allen recorded 4.5 sacks, the most ever by a defensive player on Monday Night Football.

But it was clearly No. 4’s night, as he proved you can teach an old dog new tricks.

How does he do it?

It must be the Wranglers.

Elsewhere in week four action:

• I always love to see players who get the message when they’re benched that there is no margin for error. Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall turned his punishment into a positive as he rushed for 165 yards and two touchdown in their win over San Diego.
• Ravens WR Mark Clayton is the clear goat of the week as he dropped a easy touchdown that allowed the Patriots to get away with a win. 
• Mark Sanchez finally got his welcome to the NFL moment as he was sacked four times and the offensive turned the ball over four times in a sloppy game for the Jets.
• It’s amazing that Drew Brees has not thrown a touchdown pass in two weeks but yet the Saints are still 4-0 for the first time since 1993.
• Memo to Tony Romo, with the game on the line and one second left, it isn’t a good idea to throw the ball in Champ Bailey’s direction.
• I know their secondary is depleted, but any good defensive team that allows themselves to be picked apart by an average QB like David Garrard deserves to lose. It’s a shame the Titans can’t find any answers.
• Maybe Chad Henne will be the Matt Cassell of 2009, but then again he was sacked six times and helped out by his running game.
• The Bills have now lost eight consecutive games in their division, and have also been outscored 65-17. It’s time to bring out the paper bags Bills fans.
• It was nice to see that the Redskins rebounded for a victory after a putrid start in which they allowed two sacks and lost a fumble.
• The slow exhaling you hear is that of every Giants fan after they learned Eli Manning was only going to be out day-to-day.
• So much for the Lions carrying any momentum into week four as they allowed 48 points to the Bears.
• If you have a 4th-and-11 in overtime with a minute and four seconds left at your opponents’ 41, why wouldn’t you go for it? Thankfully, Marvin Lewis came to his senses and it all worked out for the better.
• The Texans only gave up 165 yards of total offense on Sunday, the lowest total in their history. But then again, it was the Raiders,.
• You saw a vintage Peyton Manning on Sunday as he led the Colts to touchdowns on their first five drives, and tied Fran Tarkenton for third on the all time TD passing list in a win over the Seahawks.
• Mike Singletary’s positive approach and motivational pep talks have certainly inspired the 49er’s, as they now occupy first place in the NFC West.
• I’ll leave you with this parting thought, The Saints and Broncos are both 4-0 and the Bengals and 49er’s are both 3-1. Are we living in a bizarre world or what?

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Next Page »

NFL Sport Channel Latest

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