Chasing History: Why the Saints and Colts Should Try to Go Undefeated

The current NFL season has brought us a scenario never seen before in the history of American football.

 

Two undefeated teams from two different conferences, with an MVP-caliber player at each quarterback position.

 

Oh, not to mention that one of these undefeated team’ coaches is in his first year as the head man.

 

The Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints are the first pair of undefeated teams which have each gone 13-0 in the 90-year existence of the National Football League. It’s sort of ironic as well when considering that both teams won their thirteenth game on the 13th day of December. And I thought 13 was an unlucky number.

 

This is nothing new for the Colts, though. Peyton Manning and company have been in this position before, and their win over the Broncos Sunday set an NFL record with 22 straight regular season victories. They are also on the verge of achieving more victories in one decade of play than any other team.

 

On the other side of the spectrum, the Saints have never achieved such great success. It wasn’t until Drew Brees signed with New Orleans that the entire franchise turned around, becoming a contender year in and year out. With an offense that can score at will and an opportunistic defense, the Saints could very well represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

 

But at this point in the season, questions begin to surround undefeated teams. Will the coach rest the players? Do they talk about going undefeated? Does it mean anything to them if they go undefeated during the regular season and lose in the playoffs?

 

The Saints have partially addressed the topic in terms of responding to media inquiries. They seem more inclined to keep playing their stars and winning each and every game, even if they do wrap up home-field advantage and the NFC has to go through the Big Easy in the postseason.

 

The Colts are being quite a bit more hesitant. First-year coach Jim Caldwell seems to be following the lead of his predecessor, Tony Dungy, and wants to rest players down the line. He recently said that “healthy” players will play, although how long each player will be on the field is uncertain. Hmm, sounds like he’s not all about achieving history.

 

But should he be? I say yes, to a degree.

 

Let’s go back to the last few seasons. The Colts have had hot starts under former coach Tony Dungy, winning 10 games year in and year out. However, once the team had locked up its playoff spot, Dungy started resting big-time players like Manning and Dwight Freeney. And you could only guess what happened next-the Colts lost their first playoff game after a lengthy layoff.

 

It’s interesting to look at how the Saints are handling being in this unique position as opposed to the Colts, but such reactions are expected. Indianapolis has been here before and has had the same core of players for years now, while players like Brees and Reggie Bush are still relative unknowns to the postseason picture.

 

When it all comes down to it, the Colts and Saints should go all out and play to stay unbeaten.

 

I say this because it’s no easy feat to win every game in the NFL, a league of unpredictable parity and amazing talent across all positions. Imagine if both teams won out and ended up 16-0; the league would be presenting a situation never before seen in decades of competition, while fans across the country would be see up close and personal a feat which very well may never happen again.

 

I’m not saying Manning should play a full game if his team is winning by 14 or that Bush is better off playing every snap in a meaningless game against Tampa Bay. What I am saying is that keeping players fresh is what translates into postseason success.

 

Sure, rest after a long season is warranted, but both of these teams will have first-round byes anyway. And if you think back to the league’s last undefeated regular season squad—the New England Patriots—they took it easy against a New York Giants team that they eventually met in the Super Bowl. We all know what happened in that monumental game.

 

Point is, if a team gets the opportunity to enjoy a season of limited injuries, great play and some lucky draws, why not continue to play the same way once the playoffs roll around?

 

The 1972 Miami Dolphins enjoyed an undefeated regular season and won the Super Bowl, but it wasn’t 19-0. The Colts or Saints could end up going 19-0, becoming one of the best teams not only in NFL history but in sports. That’s got to mean something to historians of the game like Manning or top-caliber players like Brees.

 

The only thing better than one of these teams playing for a chance to go 19-0 is if they wind up facing each other in the Super Bowl. Such a contest could drive television sets to implode with record-setting ratings.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Déjà Vu: Indianapolis Colts Stymie Houston Texans on the Road Again

Is it just me, or do you expect the Indianapolis Colts to always come back from big deficits?

 

Whether you do or you don’t, it always seems to happen. Sunday’s contest between the still-undefeated Colts and Houston Texans was even more entertaining to watch than last year’s game.

 

You remember last year’s game in Houston, don’t you?

 

The Colts were down 17 points in the second half and seemed to be on the edge of losing to their young AFC South rivals. But Peyton Manning threw a touchdown, Robert Mathis forced a fumble on then-quarterback Sage Rosenfels and Gary Brackett ran back a Rosenfels fumble caused by a helicopter-like hit in mid-air.

 

It was a near-epic collapse…until now.

 

The Colts came out Sunday as if they were sleepwalking, going through the motions and making Matt Schaub look like the next Fran Tarkenton. The defense was struggling as well, giving up more points in the first quarter (14) than they usually give up in entire games.

 

The Colts fell down 20-7, making people in Houston and all around the country wonder whether this would be the day in which Indianapolis was going to lose their first game of the season.

 

And then something funny happened in the second half–an almost identical recreation of last season’s game between both teams.

 

Manning charged back by firing a touchdown pass to his favorite receiver, Reggie Wayne. Manning then found Dallas Clark on a short pass to make it 21-20 game.

And with Houston still with a chance to redeem itself and take back the game, Clint Session stepped in front of a Shaub pass and took it the house. Pick-six, eight point game and hopes and dreams shattered.

 

The Colts’ Craig Simpson even added insult to injury, shedding a group of tacklers and scampering for a touchdown. Simpson’s effort made it a 35-3 run and sealed the Colts’ 11th consecutive victory.

 

Still undefeated and still finding ways to win, it was almost as if Martin Scorcese himself was writing the script. The only question which remains is how long Indy can continue to come out of its periodic slumps and still win games.

 

They did it against New England, and now they have done it to Houston for the second straight year. A team with a no-panic coach and a veteran quarterback continue to defy the odds.

 

This is nothing new for a franchise which has won at least 11 games for an NFL record-seven straight years, and good teams know how to win close games.

 

And as long as Manning is at the helm, the Colts will never be counted out.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Have the Oakland Raiders Forgotten About Darren McFadden?

Earlier in the NFL season I wrote a piece about how JaMarcus Russell will end up as one of the biggest busts in history, and some readers maligned me for it. Everybody has their own opinion, and Russell’s performance thus far has only been in my favor (the guy was benched against the Chiefs today…yes, the Chiefs ).

 

But now I want to look at another Oakland Raider who has fallen on hard times: Darren McFadden. And before I get into it, I want to reiterate that I am not a Raider hater or am not picking on Oakland players. This article just came to me as I was watching the game today.

 

Anyway, back to McFadden. Remember how great the guy was at Arkansas? He had a lean body with great speed and unheralded strength. And while many forget his fellow running back was the Dallas Cowboys’ Felix Jones, he was the star of the team and an obvious Heisman Trophy finalist.

 

McFadden did not win the Heisman after the 2006 and 2007 seasons (he was a runner-up both years), but he was acknowledged as the nation’s top college football player in 2007. He also received plenty of attention from NFL scouts and numerous teams when he declared for the draft, and it was all warranted. You don’t get drafted fourth overall if you are a complete hack.

 

The guy was a beast, plain and simple. And he still is.

 

But playing in an ever-changing Raiders offense and splitting carries with Michael Bush and Justin Fargas has had an impact on McFadden’s contributions-not to mention missing a significant chunk of games due to injury.

 

This begs the question: will McFadden ever be the featured tailback in Oakland? Can he remain healthy long enough to assume the role? Will he be a Raider for life?

 

It may be considered premature to ask such questions in McFadden’s second season, but most of us realize the different shelf-life of running backs as compared to other offensive positions. One day you could be the starter, the next you are holding the clipboard or being released.

 

Look at Larry Johnson. He came off a 1700-yard plus season in 2007 and was on the verge of surpassing Priest Holmes for the Chiefs’ all-time rushing mark, but he has gotten a couple years older and seems to have lost some of his burst. Alas, he made some stupid mistakes recently which have impacted his career in a negative way, but if a guy can play in the NFL then many teams will grab him.

 

McFadden so far has not made any gay slurs or ridiculed his coach in his short career. He has, however, been utilized in a less-than-stellar fashion. His injuries have given players like Bush and Fargas more time to prove their worth, and they have delivered.

 

Look at today’s game against Kansas City. Russell gets yanked for Bruce Gradkowski, and McFadden only receives four carries for a measly 11 yards. At the same time, Bush and Fargas had a combined 24 carries for 160 yards—119 yards by Bush alone.

 

Maybe Bush was showing the most promise on this given Sunday, but giving only four carries to an athlete like McFadden makes me scratch my head. If he is healthy he should be more involved, and if he is hurt there should be no risk of injuring him even more.

 

All I know is that the Raiders really need to look in a mirror in the off-season and ask themselves how they can better their most skilled offensive players, especially Russell, McFadden, and Bush. If they waste any more time, they are equally wasting away precious years on McFadden’s career.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Can Mark Sanchez Lead the Jets into the Playoffs?

The New York Jets were on top of the world a few weeks ago. The team was undefeated, got a big win over the Patriots, and the defense looked impenetrable. New head coach Rex Ryan and rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez looked like veterans in each of their positions.

 

Now, after winning their first three games, the Jets have dropped three in a row. Sanchez has looked very much like a rookie lately, and the defense has lost its swagger as the season has continued.

 

The worst loss was probably this past Sunday, a 16-13 overtime defeat at the hands of the lowly Buffalo Bills at the Meadowlands. The Bills were reeling, last in the division, and their starting quarterback, Trent Edwards, was knocked out early and deemed too concussed to return.

 

It was an opportunity for the Jets to stop the bleeding and get a victory to get the train back on the tracks.

 

Instead, Sanchez threw five interceptions and the team folded down the stretch. When facing active defenses like those of the Saints and Dolphins, Sanchez has had trouble making reads and getting big plays on offense. The Jets traded up and drafted him so high because he has the ability to make big plays, but he is hitting that proverbial rookie wall.

 

You can’t put all the blame on a kid right out of college, though. The running game has done its best to keep the team in recent games, but the defense has been struggling as of late. Ryan was brought in to make the defense one of the best units in the league, just as he had done in Baltimore, but big stops have been hard to come by.

 

The Jets allowed a total of 33 points in their first three games, all victories. In the last three contests, however, the team has given up 71 points—more than double the amount—in what turned out to be three losses.

 

Some semi-good news for the Jets is their schedule. They play the Raiders, Panthers, Buccaneers, and Jaguars down the stretch, which are all very winnable games. They still have to play one more game against each team in their division, too.

 

Not having a bye until Week Nine may leave Sanchez a little overwhelmed, but the team will have some good opportunities to get right back into the thick of the AFC race. It’s been tough for the young QB from California who has not had much experience losing games, but like the old adage says, “You’ve got to lose to know how to win.”

 

He should ask the quarterback who plays for the other team from New York.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Jekyll and Hyde: What happened to the Tennessee Titans?

At this time last year, the Tennessee Titans looked like a poor-man’s equivalent to the ’85 Bears- stingy defense, a quarterback that managed the game, and a long-tenured, well-respected coach. They had not lost a game and looked like an AFC powerhouse.

 

That was until they ended up losing in the divisional round of the postseason- and since that day- the team has not been the same.

 

Nor, have they won a game.

 

Sunday’s drubbing at the hands of the New England Patriots was just another loss in a shocking season for the Titans.

 

A team picked by many to go deep into the playoffs has started 0-6, all after achieving a 13-3 record last season. In fact, a 31-14 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 21, 2008, was the last time the Titans put a ‘W’ in the column. That was also the game in which the Titans playfully stomped all over the Steelers’ “Terrible towel.”

 

Bad karma? Perhaps.

 

But stepping on a piece of cloth is the least of the Titans’ worries right now. The defense is atrocious, and an obscenely crazy stat caught my eye: The Titans are ranked 32nd in the NFL in points allowed, where as by the end of last season, the team was ranked second (only behind the Steelers).

 

And even though the defense has had trouble stopping anyone [Randy Moss looked like he was running routes in practice], the offense has to take some of the blame as well.

 

Coach Jeff Fisher has stuck with the grizzled veteran, Kerry Collins, through the thick and the thin. You can’t blame Fisher, though; Collins was a great team manager last season, and leading a team to 13 victories is impressive in itself.

 

But Collins has not gotten the same type of help this year.

 

The offensive line has been mediocre at best, the running game inconsistent and plays are just not being made. Combine all those factors with Vince Young planting himself at the end of the bench and Jevon Kearse being a healthy cut, and what you’ve got is a team in disarray.

 

Some have questioned whether Collins is the source of the problem, but not Fisher. He says he will continue to stick with the more experienced QB and give him the opportunity to get the team back on track, making people wonder whether the former Longhorns superstar will ever get another shot in the NFL (or at least for the Titans).

 

Speaking of Fisher, I don’t believe he is the main contributor to the season his team is having. Fisher is currently the most-tenured coach and has done very well ever since he started coaching Tennessee.

 

The real problem is the players out on the field, not seeming to give 100 percent every down. It was evident in Sunday’s massacre in the New England snow, and may show up again this year.

 

The Titans have to go out, play 60 minutes and perform to their capabilities. If they don’t want to salvage this already embarrassing year, the players could at least give their all for Fisher.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

JaMarcus Russell Will Be One of The Biggest Busts of All Time

JaMarcus Russell, the first overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, will go down in NFL lore as one of the biggest busts in NFL history.

 

Could you call such a statement premature? Yes, I suppose. I mean, Drew Brees was an average quarterback at best when he was leading the Chargers a few seasons ago, but we all know what he has become since.

 

And even when Brees was in San Diego, he was never that bad as Russell seems like to look right now.

 

To begin with, Russell’s career never got off to the right start. He held out during training camp of his rookie year, eventually getting a boatload of cash but missing significant time to further his progression. It was almost a bad omen to hold out, especially as the top overall pick.

 

But maybe an even more important question to ask is whether Russell should have been selected as the number one pick in the first place.

 

He had a couple good years at LSU, put up some nice numbers and showcased his strong arm. And although he led his team to a BCS bowl game victory and led his Tigers to some come-from-behind victories, there just seemed to be something missing from his game.

 

Russell lacked a fiery side to his play, something which seems to have transferred to the NFL. You don’t see him get angry when he throws a bad interception, nor do you see him acting as a leader and directing his offense to the right spots. It almost looks like his mentality is, “Hey, I’m just glad to be here and get paid.”

 

Quarterbacks are said to reach a certain level of expertise in their third season. Coaches either give rookie quarterbacks the clipboard their first year or two, or they just throw them in off the bat. It worked for Peyton Manning, but it has not panned out in the least for Russell.

 

Russell’s Raiders got trounced once again, losing to the Giants on Sunday by a score of 44-7. Yes, you read that right. And giving up that many points is not Russell’s fault, but did he do anything to help calm the situation? Well, he completed 8 of 13 passes, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. It doesn’t even tell half the story.

 

He got sacked six times and fumbled three times, focusing on his receivers as if he could not physically look at anybody else.

 

Is this the progression the Raiders expected when they drafted Russell two years ago? Of course not. But maybe, just maybe, he will somehow turn things around and miraculously become a somewhat decent signal-caller.

 

I wouldn’t hold your breath.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

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