Chasing History: Who Is the NFL MVP from 200 Down to One (Part Two)

Another season is coming to an end, and yet again Peyton Manning is at the forefront of MVP talk.

That much we’re used to, but the competition he’s sure to receive from Drew Brees and Philip Rivers, amongst others, will have us all wondering who will be the NFL’s best when voting time comes around.

Jim Caldwell didn’t help by benching Manning in the 3rd of quarter of a game which the Colts were winning at the time.

Anyone else think that Caldwell didn’t want the attention that comes with an undefeated season, just to potentially end up like the 2007 New England Patriots?

It’s either that or he and Rex Ryan had an under-the-table deal to help Ryan’s Jets make the postseason.

With a decade of scathing sports scandals, I wouldn’t bet my life against it.

Seriously, the playoffs come with pressure anyway, so why try and turn down heat on your team that they will undoubtedly face by making them lose?

It just doesn’t make sense. It’s counterproductive.

Imagine going into an auto race and decelerating when you are in first place with two laps to go, simply because if you win everyone will expect you to win the championship.

What do you think is going to happen when you’ve won 14 races in a row and the racing playoffs are coming up soon? You’re in first place, so you’ll be expected to win anyway.

So why not just keep your feet on the gas and run past all competition you have in front of you? Isn’t that what sports is about?

Bill Belichick didn’t think twice about going for 16-0, and although his Pats lost in the Super Bowl in the biggest upset of the decade and possibly history, don’t we still consider the Pats to be one of the best teams ever?

Maybe that thinking is why the Patriots have three rings to the Colts one.

Meanwhile, the MVP race is in full-force and in this part two of the MVP from 200 down to one, we countdown from 14 to one.

Can Manning make history and win his 4th despite his coaches benching, or will the pride of New Orleans, Drew Brees win his 1st?

 

14. The Cincinnati Bengals

This franchise has been through so much in a short period of time. They once were considered the most unlawful team in the league with multiple arrests.

Their franchise QB Carson Palmer had a debilitating knee injury, their misunderstood star Chad Johnson (I will NEVER call him that other crap) caused a stir when he demanded a trade.

Defensive Coordinator Mike Zimmer’s wife passed away unexpectedly. WR Chris Henry also passed away unexpectedly. In the same season.

Despite these extremely tough events, the Bengals have been able to dig deep in themselves and win the AFC North and return to the playoffs. Best story in the league.

13. Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams

I feel so sorry for this guy that I will personally travel to St. Louis and lobby for him to be traded. To anyone. Please.

He has been the lone star in St. Louis for a while now and does nothing but go out every Sunday and give his body to that team, and get battered week in and out just to know he’s going to lose.

Man that can’t feel good. I know he gets a nice paycheck, but money can’t buy W’s on Sunday’s.

Could you imagine if this guy wore #39 for the Pats instead of Laurence Maroney? Gives me fits to think about. Another great season for Jackson in ’09.

12. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars

MJD again has been the MVP of the struggling Jaguars, whose inconsistency on both sides of the ball will likely make them miss the playoffs.

Jones-Drew has rushed for over 1300 yards and has 15 TD’s so far in 2009.

Yet another player in need of a new team or better players around him. Jack Del Rio should be on the hot seat, but nobody’s talking about it.

Nevertheless, MJD continues to rack up successful seasons and give defenders hell. With his diminutive stature, we’ll see how long he can keep it up.

11. Tom Brady, Randy Moss, and Wes Walker, New England Patriots

These guys just keep doing the same thing to opposing teams: throwing and catching the ball all over the green and winning the AFC East.

Besides the Miami Dolphins fluke win of the AFC East last season, the Patriots have won it six out of seven years and have won it again in 2009.

Welker is a reception machine and Brady’s security blanket when Moss either:

A. Doesn’t want to play, or

B. Brady doesn’t have time to wait for him to beat double-coverage, which he can do when he wants

Despite that fact Welker continues to get open and Moss keeps catching TD’s. In other words, Welker does the work to get down the field and Moss gets the scores.

Don’t believe me? Moss has 13 TD’s, Welker has 4. Welker has 122 catches, Moss has 78. ‘Nuff said.

10. Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos

Denver surprised us all starting the season 6-0 and an amazing victory against coach Josh McDaniels former boss, Bill Belichick. Well, let’s just say a couple of wheels have fell off of the wagon since.

None of that has stopped Marshall from having another great season, even with the departure of Jay Cutler.

Cutler seems to be the one who was made by Marshall, as Cutler’s play has fallen significantly but Marshall has 1,120 yards with a career high 10 TD’s.

Marshall also broke Terrell Owens record for receptions in one game with 21. Brandon has cemented himself as one of the league’s best.

Will he cause problems in the off-season again? If the Broncs miss the postseason, watch out.

9. DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles

Mr. Jackson has been a complete nightmare for any defense he’s faced this season.

He has 8 plays of over 50 yards or more, 60 catches for 1,120 yards, 9 TD’s, 131 yards rushing with 1 TD, 432 punt return yards and 2 TD’s.

Whoa.

His Eagles behind a youth movement of he, Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy are 11-4 and riding a wave into the playoffs.

Jackson’s signature “Jerk” dance after he scores has become a staple as we’ve saw him there often. Jackson has been the biggest deep threat in 2009.

And to think the Eagles drafted him to be a punt returner.

8. Tony Romo and Miles Austin, Dallas Cowboys

The week that Austin emerged with over 200 yards receiving and the game-winning score against the Kansas City Chiefs can now be seen as a season-saver.

Dallas is officially back in the playoffs, proof that they did not need Terrell Owens and Romo is the real deal at QB.

All of the talk about Romo not being able to win in December are silenced (2-2, win over previously undefeated Saints, playoff berth).

Austin and Romo have far more chemistry than Romo and Owens ever had without the weekly panic over what’s going to be said, and Dallas has a chance to win the NFC East.

So much for America’s Team being done and finished. Now only if Roy E. Williams can hold on to the ball.

7. Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub, Houston Texans

Many people expected the Texans to contend for a playoff spot. Had it not been for close losses to the Titans, Colts and Jaguars they would already have one.

They can attribute their success to the Schaub-Johnson combination. Schaub has passed for 4,467 yards and 27 TD’s. Johnson has caught 95 balls for 1,504 yards and 9 TD’s.

The prolific combo has the Texans at 8-7 and looking at a potential winning season.

At some point, though, this team is going to have to win double-digit games to keep coach Gary Kubiak’s job.

6. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts

We give Peyton Manning lots of credit for the Colts consistent winning ways and deservedly so, but often Wayne is left out to dry.

He has been Manning’s favorite target since Marvin Harrison declined and then was released, and was just as good when Harrison was there.

Wayne has another 1200-yard season, his 3rd in four years. He also has 10 TD’s for the third time in his career.

If the Colts are to win another championship, Wayne will be instrumental to it.

5. Chris Johnson and Vince Young, Tennessee Titans

Even though Young laid a major Easter egg in a loss to the San Diego Chargers on Christmas Day, he still deserves a mound of credit for bringing the Titans through the ashes.

Combined with the NFL’s leading rusher and eventual rushing champion Johnson, the Titans won seven out of nine games and put themselves squarely in playoff talk after starting 0-6.

I know Jeff Fisher is somewhere playing Sudoku and wondering what the Hell took him so long. Had he started Vince in Week Four against the Jags, things may be different.

Woulda, coulda, shoulda. Oh well, at least Johnson may crack 2,000 yards rushing. Something to build on for 2010.

4. Brett Favre and Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings

Favre has shut us all up with his “I’m tired of everyone calling me old so I’m going to do my best Jay-Z impression and make fools out of every last one of you” impression.

He also has buried the “Favre just needs to hand the ball to Peterson and get out of the way” notion, by passing for 3,565 yards and 27 TD’s to just 7 INT’s.

Peterson in fact has had his least season through 14 games in his career, but does have 14 TD’s and 1,235 yards which isn’t shabby.

These two have made the Vikings a Super Bowl contender and will be a tough out for anyone in the playoffs.

All I have to say is if Aaron Rodgers has to come to Minnesota in January, watch out.

3. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers

Rivers is finally in the elite of NFL quarterbacks, somewhere he always knew he would end up, but believed he was there too early.

Vincent Jackson has emerged as a true #1 receiver and Rivers has made the right decisions and kept his emotions under control.

The way he has thrown the ball all season has been great to watch, and even with an inconsistent running game he still has managed to pass for over 4,000 yards with only 9 INT in 471 pass attempts.

His play has made the Charger offense downright fearful, and Rivers seems to just be hitting his stride.

If he continues his impressive play and keeps spinning and whipping his way around pass rushers, watch for him in February. (Sorry, Peyton)

2. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Another huge year for the pride of New Orleans.

The Saints picking Brees up was the single most influential roster move of the decade, and he has continued to make beautiful, accurate throws which has become a staple with Brees.

He doesn’t have as much yards as he did a year ago, but still has managed to pass for 4,388 yards and a league-leading 34 TD’s.

His Saints rocked the NFL by starting 13-0, only to lose to the Cowboys and the Bucs at home to be 13-2.

Brees has played well throughout, and if his Saints would’ve went undefeated I wonder if Brees would’ve been a lock for MVP honors.

1. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts- MVP of 2009

Manning has to win a record fourth MVP award. He has to have something clear over Tom Brady, right?

No, really Brady has more titles and post-season wins, and for that reason there is a contingent of people that believe Brady is better.

Despite the fact Manning has far more and better stats in virtually every category and more regular season wins.

If Manning wins this award which he should, he’ll be the only NFL player to have won it four times.

His Colts started the season 14-0, may have been 15-0 had Caldwell not benched the starters in the third quarter, Manning has 33 TD’s and has looked in control all year.

Unless the voters suddenly see black and gold at the last minute, or the Chargers wow them and wear the powder blues to end the season, Manning should be your MVP.

Once again.

 

That does it, folks. Peyton Manning is your MVP, everyone can go home now. As for for your Super Bowl champion….

 

 

 

 

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NFL All-Decade Team: Part One—Offense

We are counting down the last of 2009, the end of an exciting decade of football highlights.

We’ve been fortunate enough to watch amazing Superstars develop and make the NFL a league filled with parity and unexpected upsets, while watching brilliant coaches and schemes make every week suspenseful.

In preparation for a new decade to dawn on us in about two weeks, I’ve compiled my all-decade team for the 2000’s.

Who were the best players at each position offensively for 2000-2009? In creating this list, I put the guys with the best statistics that made the most impact on their teams and the league itself.

There is a multitude of players to choose from, but you can’t put them all on here. In other words, a player with a gazillion Pro-Bowl appearances doesn’t mean he is part of this team.

There will be one offensive lineman chose for each position, two quarterbacks chosen, two wide receivers, one tight end, one running back and fullback for a total of 12.

I know that’s one more than a regular offense, but there’s too many good QB’s to just choose one.

Begin Slideshow

Chasing History: Who Is the NFL MVP from 200 Down to One (Part One)

Peyton Manning’s consistency is scary.

Has a quarterback, or any player for that matter, been so good at beating defenses for so long? There’s been many exceptional players throughout the history of the league, but of Manning’s caliber?

I’m not so sure.

It would be feasible to argue that Manning is one of the top-10 players of all-time at any position. His Indianapolis Colts have been the most consistent winning team of the decade.

If it weren’t for those Tom Brady and Bill Belichick guys, Manning would have more than one Super Bowl ring.

Brady is an amazing player, but Manning has him beat and I will argue this until my face turns as blue as the Coors Light mountains on the bottle when it’s cold.

Brady has more championships and post-season wins. That’s where his edge on Peyton stops.

Manning has more MVP awards, a better winning percentage in the regular season and his statistics are off of the charts.

Not to mention, Brady had the support of a strong defense while Manning’s defense didn’t become potent until the championship season of 2007.

Here is a look into the decades two best QB’s statistics:

Manning: 190 games, 4,204/6,492, 64.8 pct., 49,841 yards, 366 TD, 180 INT, 95.3 passer rating, 131 regular-season wins, 7 post-season

Brady: 127 games, 2,632/4,166, 63.2 pct., 30,391 yards, 221 TD, 98 INT, 93.0 passer rating, 110 regular season wins, 14 post-season

We can argue who’s better or more influential out of these two for eons, but we have a 2009 NFL MVP race to get to.

In a system that I’ve used to rate the NBA’s MVP in the past, we’re going to look at the NFL MVP from 200 down to one.

In other words, from the worst of the league to the best.

Who’s this year’s Least Valuable Player? Let’s get it started.

 

200. Derek Anderson, Cleveland Browns—LVP of 2009

Man how fast things can hit the ceiling fan and spin out of control in the NFL. Anderson went from a nobody to a Pro Bowl caliber QB, then back to a nobody in a short time.

In relief of struggling starting QB Brady Quinn, here are the numbers Anderson posted in 2009:

6 games, 66/154, 43 pct., 681 YDS, 2 TD, 9 INT, 36.2 QB Rating

In a league where GM’s pull the trigger on extensions far too quickly (see: Childress, Brad) Anderson cashed in on his good fortune, and has promptly crapped it back in his now fired GM’s face.

Good luck Mike Holmgren. Mr. Anderson, you are the Least Valuable Player for 2009.

 

197. Trent Edwards, Buffalo Bills

Buffalo has managed to be the franchise with the most dimmed hopes of the decade. After a desperate move in signing morale-eating WR Terrell Owens backfired on Buffalo, a losing record and another year of failed expectations is all they have to show for it.

Who suffers the most from roster-move backlash? You guessed it, the QB and the coach.

Dick Jauron was canned, and so was Edwards. Trent was never given the protection he needed with a retooled inexperienced O-line, but his inability to stretch the field with Lee Evans and Owens is a joke.

Even Harvard brainiac Ryan Fitzpatrick managed to do that. Trent, you were out-shadowed by Ryan frickin’ Fitzpatrick. Next.

 

190. Willie Parker, Pittsburgh Steelers

I know players get injured in the NFL, but c’mon man. Parker hasn’t regained form at all and it just seems that his best days as a NFL running back are over.

There’s no way Mike Tomlin starts Rashard Mendenhall over Parker if he was the same player he used to be. Turf toe can be a debilitating injury, but Parker just doesn’t have the “it” factor anymore.

Mendenhall has nearly 1000 yards on the ground, and Parker is watching from the bench. He probably won’t be a Steeler next season and will get his opportunity elsewhere.

For now “Fast Willie” can be known as “Fast-Declined Willie.”

 

179. Kerry Collins, Tennessee Titans

I have to concede Kerry, you fooled us, bro. Big time.

After a stellar season in 2008, Collins dropped a huge bomb on Jeff Fisher and the Titans in ’09, eventually losing the starting job to Vince Young out of desperation.

That move may have saved Fisher’s job, and Young has done nothing but lead the Titans to a 7-1 record since starting 0-6.

Collins threw eight picks to six TD’s losing two fumbles and posting a 65.5 rating while losing every game he started in 2009.

Can you say someone’s career is over?

 

167. JaMarcus Russell, Oakland Raiders

In the same breath I said that Peyton Manning is the most consistent player of the decade, Russell has been the most inconsistent since his inception as Raiders QB of the future.

He can make some good throws from time to time, but will manage to turn the ball over in the worst way and sometimes cannot sustain drives.

Russell can help you win a tight one as he did in relief in a win over the Denver Broncos, but help you get blown out by inept play and decision making.

He lost his job to Bruce Gradkowski this season, and was actually being outplayed by him until Gradkowski was injured Sunday. Russell may be in-line to be the next Gino Torretta.

 

140. Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle-El, Washington Redskins

Everyone wants to blame Jason Campbell and Jim Zorn for Washington’s failures, the token reaction to a losing team, but those guys are being shafted in the worst way.

How about Randle-El and Moss dropping passes, not playing to potential or helping Campbell out?

Here are their numbers combined for 2009:

94 REC, 1164 YDS, 3 TD

By contrast, Reggie Wayne has 92 catches for 1210 yards and 10 TD’s, Wes Welker has 109 catches for 1198 yards and four TD’s and Mike Wallace has five TD’s alone.

I can go on. Bottom line, Moss and Randle-El haven’t been able to get separation from DB’s and Campbell has nobody to throw to. Sad.

 

119. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs

I was one of the people who believed this guy would become a star for Matt Cassel and the Chiefs.

As it stands, Chris Chambers has played two less games in KC than Bowe and has the same amount of TD’s and only 28 yards less.

Cassel is being labeled as overrated, but it’s hard to tell when your receivers aren’t playing to potential. Just as Jay Cutler in Chicago, no matter how good a QB is he needs talented receivers to throw to.

With Bowe as a No. 1 receiver, your career will be dead in the water like a traveling bullet.

 

101. Larry Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs/Cincinnati Bengals

This guy is ridiculous. Kansas City finally cut their losses, and his plodding running style got him a 100-yard game with Cincy his first time out.

That will be it. It goes to show what egoism and narcissism can do to someone. Good riddance, Larry. Dick Vermeil should get an award from Nostradamus when he called you a crybaby.

Greatest coach name-call/prediction ever. You’re still a crybaby.

 

86. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears

All of the off-season drama that gave Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen something to do between Josh McDaniels and Cutler has come down to this.

Denver is in the playoff hunt and Chicago is licking their losing season wounds with Cutler at the helm.

It almost feels like when James Brown left Fox for CBS and was replaced by Curt Menefee. You hoped that the franchise anchorman Brown would do great but wished that he never left.

Menefee has done a respectable job and Brown has meshed well with Marino and the guys.

Well, Cutler hasn’t. Fox still isn’t the same and neither is Cutler.

 

68. Daunte Culpepper, Detroit Lions

He’s overshadowed by a rookie, overweight and has to watch Randy Moss catch passes from Brady to the tune of another 1,000 yard season.

Biggest fall from the NFL superstar fraternity ever.

 

51. Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles

Vick has been successful in my eyes. He fought the dogfighting machine that threatened to protest every game, said all of the right things and showed flashes of the 2006 Super-Vick.

Now that his test-run in Philly is nearly over, we can sit back and wait for who picks him up for 2010.

Will it be St. Louis? Buffalo? Washington? Seattle? Oakland? Who knows, but No. 7 will be starting for someone next season.

 

40. Kyle Orton, Denver Broncos

Orton was a throw-in when Cutler was traded to Chicago from Denver. Let’s just say he hasn’t looked like it.

Orton has played better than Cutler and has helped lead the Broncos to a 8-6 record and part of the playoff discussion while Cutler leads the league in picks and has a 5-9 record.

Cutler lost security blanket Brandon Marshall and looks like a lost child in Chicago. He may be responsible for ending the careers of two long-tenured coaches in a small time.

 

28. Sidney Rice, Minnesota Vikings

When Brett Favre reported to Minnesota to play yet another season, nobody was happy as Sidney Rice.

His career has been resurrected, and Favre has the gunslinger mentality Rice needs from a QB to succeed.

He doesn’t have Tarvaris Jackson tossing the ball, a guy who proved to become gun-shy not wanting to make the big mistake.

If Favre can keep up his surprising play and the O-line can keep him standing, Rice may be a bigger surprise in the postseason.

 

15. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Mr. Rodgers has finally made Lambeau his neighborhood, and the Packers are knocking at the door of a playoff spot.

If it weren’t for two competitive losses to the Vikings and a close, but inexcusable loss to the Bucs, Green Bay would have locked up a playoff spot already.

Everyone wondered if Rodgers had what it took to be Favre’s successor, and he has resoundingly proved that he does.

Aaron is knocking on the door of a 4,000 yard season and has 28 TD’s to only seven INT’s. Rodgers has the skills to be a great player for a long time, and has made the Packers’ front office look like geniuses.

 

This concludes part one of the two-part MVP series, with 14 down to one being revealed next time.

Until then, enjoy the hopeful upset of the New York Giants at the hands of the Washington Redskins tonight on Monday Night Football.

Stay thirsty, my…oh what the hell, drink a beer and cheer!

 

 

 

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Are Randy Moss and Terrell Owens The Last of the “Diva” Receivers?

Let’s face it: Randy Moss and Terrell Owens are two of the best wide receivers in the history of the National Football League. That is a fact that no football fan could debate.

In the same breath, Moss and Owens are two of the most mercurial, unpredictable, and self-servient players to ever grace the field.

Why would players with such talent and outstanding ability go out of their way to make themselves the center of attention for the wrong reasons?

Doesn’t the talent of such potent stars do more talking than anything that comes out of their lips could do?

Try convincing them of that.

Wide receiver has always been a position that has had the “diva” title follow behind it like a lurking shadow.

Receivers are responsible for making quarterbacks look good by running excellent routes, communicating without speaking, and obviously catching the football.

Receivers also are expected to stretch the field, command double-coverage, and score touchdowns. Maybe it’s those responsibilities that make them feel more important than other positions.

Past receivers such as Michael Irvin, Joe Horn, and Keyshawn Johnson often made selfish remarks, demanded the ball, and looked to bring attention to themselves.

While talented and productive, their behavior brought tension to teammates and coaches, sometimes overshadowing their on-field production.

When Terrell Owens, a virtually unknown player out of Tennessee-Chattanooga, arrived in the NFL, nobody knew that he would become one of the most productive receivers of all-time.

Conversely, no one knew that he would help to usher in an era of receivers that let their selfishness and ego speak for them.

Owens destroyed the morale of any team in his wake on a rampage that has lasted much of his career.

Starting his career in San Francisco, Owens became known as a big play receiver who commanded double-coverage, but periodically dropped easy passes.

Owens would blame his quarterback for any issue that arose. Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb, Tony Romo, and even Trent Edwards, felt the burn of the flame that is Terrell Eldorado Owens.

His production remained top in the league every season, but so did his childlike-attitude and morale-killing ego-driven behaviors.

While playing for the Philadelphia Eagles, coach Andy Reid suspended Owens for four games and deactivated him for the season for his continued disparaging remarks about the team and namely QB Donovan McNabb.

Even as a seasoned veteran, Owens made more interesting comments about his current team, the Buffalo Bills.

In a terrible attempt to keep the media from “attacking” him as he accused, Owens responded after a loss earlier this season to every question by saying, “I went with the plays that were called.”

Another seemingly under-handed attempt to demoralize his team.

Randy Moss, contrary to Owens,arrived in the NFL from Marshall University and was a highly-touted receiver who slipped to 21st in the NFL draft because of character concerns.

Those concerns turned out to be well-documented, as Moss wasted little time getting into trouble with the law and his team.

Moss squirted an official in the face with a water bottle, played when he felt like it, something he would later partially admit, smoked marijuana, and ran his car into law-enforcement.

In other words, the NFL was Moss’ world and everyone else just lived in it.

Moss was quoted as saying, “Maybe because I’m unhappy and I’m not too much excited about what’s going on, so, my concentration and focus level tend to go down sometimes when I’m in a bad mood.”

What?

An NFL player, much-less a superstar making a comment like that? What kind of message does that send to up and coming athletes and children?

You quit when you don’t have your way?

This issue was raised again recently with Moss receiving allegations from fellow players that he “shut it down” Sunday against the Panthers, a game that followed he and three other players being sent home earlier in the week.

Adalius Thomas, among the players sent home was deactivated for Sunday’s game for making comments detrimental to the team.

After recent average play, Bill Belichick looked to motivate his team and sent Moss, Thomas, and two others home for arriving to practice late.

Moss showed his frustrations Sunday, appearing dejected and uninterested catching one ball for 16 yards, a ball that he would later fumble and be recovered by Carolina.

Why are we so surprised that this guy quit during a game with his past of the same behavior?

It is inexcusable as a professional to quit when you get upset, especially a future Hall-Of-Fame one like Moss.

In the same breath, it is just as ridiculous to feel like you’re bigger than the team and can attack anyone whenever you deem it necessary.

Fortunately for fans, a new era of receiver has been ushered in for our enjoyment. Receivers who leave it all on the field and do and say the right things off of it.

Guys like Andre Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, and Reggie Wayne have made careers just doing the right things, catching the ball, and not taking shots at teammates in the media.

They’ve been a fresh breath of air compared to guys like Moss, Owens, and Steve Smith. We’ve enjoyed the talents of those guys for over a decade, but have had enough of the silly antics and false pride.

Hopefully, we don’t have to witness another half-hearted effort from Moss in the future. With his history, he’ll come back with a great game to showcase his amazing talents.

Maybe he’ll surprise himself, but don’t bet your weekly earnings on it.

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NFC Curtain Call: Which Teams Will Be Home Come January?

If you are a true sports fan who eats, drinks and dreams about great sports games and cold beer, then their is no better time of year than now.

College football is heading into the bowl season, college basketball is heating up, the NBA is in full swing and the NFL playoff push has teams literally fighting for their post-season lives.

Grab the 12-pack of Labatt Blue Light. Matter of fact, make that an 18 with a compliment of succulent Buffalo wings.

Dick Jauron had his last wing as the coach of the Buffalo Bills after being fired last week to the tune of Bills fans chanting, “Shanahan, Shanahan!”

That chant may be short-lived, but the Bills seem in good hands for now with interim coach Perry Fewell finally stretching the field the way Bills fans hoped they would when T.O arrived.

We know who the best team in the AFC is at this point (hint: their QB wears the #18, I wonder who that is?).

But do we know who the best team in the NFC is?

I’ll pay anyone a milli if they can make a no-holes, convincing argument for any of the top two teams in the NFC, the Vikings and the Saints.

I’ve heard the analysts say time-and-time again that the Vikings are clearly the best team in the NFC, but they have a loss.

The New Orleans Saints don’t, but the Saints QB Drew Brees’ achilles heel has always been a lackluster defense. However, they’ve bent but not broken this season and have been turnover magnets.

Minnesota has a budding defense with Jared Allen sacking anything moving, Kevin and Pat Williams stuffing the run like a Thanksgiving turkey and guys like Chad Greenway exceeding expectations.

And speaking of exceeding expectations, anyone notice slick #4, Mr. Retirement Brett Favre?

I have to take my toes out of my mouth for what I said about him coming into this season about being old and unable to lead a winning ballclub. Let’s forget about all of that, shall we?

Favre has been remarkable, and all of that mess about handing the ball off to human robot Adrian Peterson being his only key to success seems long gone like Byron Leftwich’ career.

What does all of this mean?

It means that NFC supremacy may have to be determined come playoff time.

If the Saints can obtain homefield advantage throughout the playoffs, they may be the highest scoring Super Bowl team of all time.

Something tells me that homefield is of the utmost importance for New Orleans, and their passionate fans make them play at an unbelievably high-level.

We know the Vikings and Saints are the cash-crops of the NFC, but what happens after that?

Who will join them in the playoffs this year? Here’s a look at their contenders and the chance they have of making the post-season by percentage.

This should be fun.

Dallas Cowboys (7-3, 1st in NFC East)

Remaining Games: OAK, at NYG, SD, at NO, at WAS, PHI

Dallas has proven to be one of the most inconsistent teams in the league. That isn’t a big surprise, and it must change if the Cowboys want to play in the playoffs in January.

Tony Romo has been the engine running the show, and Marion Barber has been the transmission. Romo’s improvisational skills have been good enough to land him on a reunion episode of Who’s Line Is It Anyway?

Unfortunately for the Cowboys, injuries and shifty offense may do them in come Week 18.

With games against the Giants, Chargers, Saints and Eagles in the coming weeks, if their offense doesn’t get it together they will be home along with their former compatriot, Mr. Terrell Owens.

Playoff Chance: 50%

 

Philadelphia Eagles (6-4, 2nd in NFC East)

Remaining Games: WAS, at ATL, at NYG, SF, DEN, at DAL

Coming into this season, the acquisition of Michael Vick was supposed to propel the Eagles atop the NFC. That experiment hasn’t worked so far, and the Eagles are 6-4.

Vick hasn’t been on the field much, and Kevin Kolb filled in well for Donovan McNabb when he was injured in Week 1.

Andy Reid has historically been a pass first coach, and that hasn’t changed a lot this season. Brian Westbrook has been gone most of the year with concussion issues, but rookie LeSean McCoy has done well in his place.

Defensively the Eagles have been respectable, allowing over 20 points just twice this season.

The problem is the Eagles don’t have an offensive identity. McCoy has ran for 452 yards for 3 scores and also catches well out of the backfield, but McNabb has thrown the ball 250 times despite missing two games.

If Philly wants to earn a division title or Wild Card, they need to run the football more and concentrate on offensive balance.

Playoff Chance: 49.5%

 

New York Giants (6-4, 3rd in NFC East)

Remaining Games: at DEN, DAL, PHI, at WAS, CAR, at MIN

And, we have the New York Giants.

A team that started the season 5-0, then lost four of their next five games to rest at 6-4.

Who knows which Eli Manning and Giants team we will get. This makes them extremely difficult to gauge, more than any other NFC team.

“Bad Eli” has shown its’ face more than Giants fans want to see, but “Good Eli” has been as good as anyone.

This  team needs to play more consistent and cohesive as units.

Defensively, the Giants are 24th in total points per game but 2nd in yards per game.

Offensively, the Giants are in the top-10 in most categories, but turn the ball over too much and have 4 losses. If the Giants want to be a playoff team Manning B must limit his turnovers.

Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw must get healthy to help Eli by establishing the run, and the secondary must stop the pass.

Playoff Chance: 55.2%

 

Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons (GB 6-4, 2nd in NFC North, ATL 5-5, 2nd in NFC South)

GB Remaining Games: at DET, BAL, at CHI, at PIT, SEA, at ARI

ATL Remaining Games: TB, PHI, NO, at NYJ, BUF, at TB

Green Bay was a perennial wild-card choice for many fans entering this season, but nobody could account for the lack of protection the offensive line has given QB Aaron Rodgers.

Rodgers has been as good as any QB in the league when given time, and RB Ryan Grant is on pace for a 1200 yard season.

Wins against the Cowboys and Bears made the Packers look great, but a horrible loss against the Bucs makes them a head-scratcher.

Similarly, the Falcons entered the season with lots of promise after last season’s playoff run, and some were thinking Super Bowl (including me).

QB Matt Ryan has been good, but has turned the ball over far too much and injuries to the secondary and RB Michael Turner have hurt the teams’ fluidity on both sides of the ball.

Green Bay’s potential to make the post-season lies on one simple concept: protect Aaron Rodgers. If they can do that, all should come together barring any huge injury.

Atlanta, well they have a little more work to do. They cannot rush Turner back because he has to be healthy for them to have a chance.

That play-action style of offense will get much better when he returns, and Ryan needs to make better decisions in the pocket. As for the Falcon defense, there’s no help for them other than intervention.

They’d better pray.

Falcons Playoff Chance: 35%

Packers Playoff Chance: 40%

 

 

 

 

 

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Monday Morning Hangover: What Offense Just Plain Offended Fans?

Somebody should be asking Buffalo Bills coach Dick Jauron, “It’s Monday morning. Do you know where your offense is?”

Soon they may be asking him, “What do you believe led to your firing as Bills head coach?”

I’ve never saw an offense so putrid for so long in an NFL season that I could remember. What’s more disappointing about it is the Bills defense is actually playing well despite key injuries.

Houston was held to just six points at the half of Sunday’s game, and the Bills held a 10-6 advantage.

That was short-lived as Matt Schaub and second-string RB Ryan Moats, a cast away from Philadelphia who was only playing on the strength of Steve Slaton’s fumble issues, went up and down the field scoring 25 points in the second half.

How many points did Buffalo score in the second half: zero.

With a high-powered offense featuring Schaub, Andre Johnson, and apparently Moats, the Bills defense finally fell apart.

It was reminiscent of the same meltdown the Bills D suffered in a loss to Drew Brees’ New Orleans Saints, with the running game driving the Saints to victory, and not Brees’ arm.

Only this time No. 14 was under center, and not No. 5. It wouldn’t have mattered, as both QBs seem like carbon copies of one another.

Trent Edwards hasn’t looked like he should be starting for the USC Trojans over Matt Barkley, let alone an NFL team. Neither has Ryan Fitzpatrick.

I bet Pete Carroll would take Barkley over them both.

What’s really nauseating about the Bills’ situation is that they actually have lots of talent on both sides of the ball.

Lee Evans, T.O, Josh Reed, Marshawn Lynch, and Fred Jackson are all good players, but without a threat at the QB position, their talents can’t be maximized.

If Peyton Manning or even an Aaron Rodgers were donning Bills blue and red, Buffalo would be a perennial playoff team, and maybe AFC champion.

Unfortunately the franchise has put their stock on college-level QB’s, and the Bills won’t go anywhere until the regime of Jauron and Edwards comes to a close.

For now, the Bills have to settle for giving their fans a distasteful offensive display that will breed yet another losing season for Upstate New York.

If Ralph Wilson doesn’t make moves now, then maybe Toronto will forever hold their peace, and his.

What other stories were especially attention-snatching on Sunday?

 

Brett Favre Tosses 4 TD’s In His Lambeau Homecoming—For the Vikes

I must be honest, I’ve never received such a huge STFU in the form of an NFL player sticking it to me and my opinions.

I was one of the detractors that suggested Favre stay on his tractor and out of an NFL stadium as a player when he announced coming out of retirement—again.

I always loved Brett as a player, but this retirement blues was beginning to seem like a terrible joke that always had a new twist instead of having a concluding punchline.

Upon waiting for his season to slowly implode a la Jets last year, Favre has seemed to get better as the season has progressed.

He hasn’t needed Adrian Peterson to run for 125 yards and two scores every week to win, and he hasn’t turned it over in “what the Hell was he looking at, the cheerleaders?” fashion.

In his two victories over his former team including Sunday, here is Favre’s stats:

41-for-59, 515 yards, 7 TD, 0 INT, 131.9 Passer Rating

Unbelievable. Aaron Rodgers has played exceptionally well too, but the Vikings are a more complete team and it has showed so far this season.

Kudos to Favre for returning in such a big way, especially after his turnover caused defeat against the world champs last week.

 

Eagles Blow Out Giants in Philly 40-17 To Take Share of NFC East Lead

When the Eagles signed QB Michael Vick, it was widely believed that they just received the wrapped gift they needed to win a Super Bowl.

So far it has been the crafty vet leading the charge and not the ex-con who obviously doesn’t have his legs or mind under him yet.

Donovan McNabb has again proven that he is the man in green and black, something that he shouldn’t have to prove anymore. Vick is just an accessory, and in McNabb’s absence it was Kevin Kolb who picked up the slack.

The point is, Vick wasn’t the start or finish to a hopeful Super Bowl berth in Philly. It always has been and still is No. 5.

The New York Giants visited Sunday and were given a little parting gift in the form of a lopsided loss that landed them in third place behind the Cowboys and Eagles, both 5-2.

Eli Manning has looked lost in the past few weeks after a 5-0 start and the Giants prized running attack has looked minimal at best.

With Ahmad Bradshaw banged up and Brandon Jacobs carrying too much, don’t the Giants miss RB Derrick Ward who jumped ship for Tampa Bay, a move I’m sure he regrets?

“Bad Eli” has seemed to drink the same juice Favre did as he finished last season in New York, as Manning B is turning the ball over far too much and has the demeanor he did in Tiki Barber’s final season.

New York A and Manning B better get it together, as the infamous arm-fold of Tom Coughlin may become permanent if the Giants completely fall apart and lose the East.

 

Who Is the NFL’s Worst QB Right Now?

I have to poll and ask everyone, who is the worst of too many bad QB’s right now?

There seems to be too many bad quarterbacks and watching them play is like slowly picking every nail off of your body while being wide awake.

Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn, Jake Delhomme, JaMarcus Russell, David Garrard, Kerry Collins, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Trent Edwards are just terrible.

This group has combined for 27 TDs and 55 INTs and are all on currently losing teams.

Statistically, the worst of them all is Jake Delhomme, but the worst record is the Cleveland Browns with Quinn and Anderson, and the only game Cleveland won was that ridiculous 6-3 game in which Anderson was 2-for-17.

None of them won yesterday with the exception of the Titans, but that win was picked up by Vince Young in relief of Collins, who was benched.

It just reiterates that the QB position is the most important, and although they can’t be blamed for everything and are often criticized unfairly, when QB’s perform bad, chances are you lose.

As for my Monday morning hangover, hopefully the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons are just the remedy. Oh, and a Yankee Doodle World Series title.

 

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Monday Headlines: Did Tennessee Quit On Jeff Fisher Sunday?

While watching the Buffalo Bills-New York Jets game yesterday which turned out to be very good, James Brown kept interrupting the game for his infamous Game Breaks, highlights and scores from other games.

At first he showed the Patriots put up a couple of scores against the Titans. Cool, Tom Brady is performing at his highest level again. Expected it.

Brown’s next game break wasn’t even fathomable. Or so I thought.

Brady and the Pats had put up 35 points in the second quarter. Halftime score was 45-0. No, please tell me that’s a misread. Maybe Brown said it wrong.

Tennessee wouldn’t go out like that, would they? Jeff Fisher is one of the most consistent coaches in the NFL if not the most consistent.

Is this the same Titan team that went 13-3 last season? It was as improbable as it can get. Brown was right on point. 45-0, halftime.

There’s no reason an NFL team should be losing by that much of a margin. Hollywood couldn’t make a movie that would make us believe that is possible.

In today’s parity-dominated league, even bad teams can put up fights and knock off the best teams (see Oakland over Philadelphia).

How can a team of 53-men lose by nearly 60-points to another team of men and they’re both professionals? There’s only one-way: they quit.

That’s it. Period. Those guys quit on Fisher Sunday, and the ensuing embarrassment is all they have to show for it.

There’s nothing else that kind of ineptitude can be attributed to. The weather? Not an excuse, because both teams have to play in it, and all of those guys have played in inclement weather before.

Score three points. At least hit the scoreboard. Man, at least have a quarterback on your team pass for over 15 yards. I thought Vince Young’s stat-line was especially funny:

0/2, 0 yards, INT

Wow, really?

I thought maybe this was a bad episode of Friday Night Lights . Unfortunately, it was all real. Just ask Fisher. His guys quit on him.

With the way Tennessee looked, they don’t deserve to win a game this season. I thought the Browns-Bills offering was the worst football I’d ever seen. Well, maybe for just one week.

What other stories are burning up the headlines in the NFL today?

Giants give up 48 points to Saints in loss

This was supposed to be an epic battle of the undefeated’s. It turned out to just be a one-sided performance of epic proportions.

Drew Brees threw the ball all up and through the Giants pass coverage en route to a 369-yard, four TD performance.

It seemed that Brees could do no wrong as he continuously completed passes to a plethora of receivers. Heck, even Reggie Bush ran one in for a score.

New York A looked like a 1-4 team, and not one who came in undefeated. Eli Manning looked like “Bad-Eli,” a name he earned by being so inconsistent in his past.

Can the Giants come back from this?

Of course they can, especially in the once mighty NFC East. But this one had to hurt a little, and put that ounce of fear back into Giants fans hearts about the appearance of “Bad Eli.”

Brett Favre and the Vikings stay undefeated with a win over Baltimore

Maybe I shouldn’t be so surprised at what Favre is doing considering how well he started the season in New York last year, but I am.

I expected to see Favre throwing more picks and less TD’s, but that simply hasn’t happened yet.

He and Adrian Peterson were a deadly combination again Sunday, as Favre threw for 278 yards with three TD’s and Peterson ran for 143 yards on 22 carries.

I’m more surprised that Baltimore is only playing .500 ball. With Joe Flacco in his second season, and that always good defense, I would’ve bet on Baltimore coming in and leaving this game unblemished.

For now it’s Mr. Comeback leading the charge for a Vikes team that is giving Brad Childress gray hair to fill his bald spots with these last second wins.

Eagles lose to Raiders, 13-9

Soon as everyone became comfortable in lambasting the Raiders for their usual sad-to-watch offense, JaMarcus Russell slightly woke-up and the Raiders D was sensational in a stunning defeat of Philadelphia.

Much as everyone would love to pin this loss on the left side of Donovan McNabb’s chest, they can’t get away with it. At least not logically.

McNabb completed 22 passes for 269 yards. Yes he passed at under a 50 percent clip, but you can blame Andy Reid for that.

Everyone knows that Reid is a pass-happy coach that can’t seem to rely on his running game to give his offense more freedom. Maybe he’s used to the oft-injured Brian Westbrook not being around.

Isn’t that why they drafted Pitt RB LeSean McCoy?

I don’t know why they drafted him, but with Reid’s current game-plan nobody will be injured but the WR’s and McNabb from being hit so much.

Maybe Sundays loss to the Silver and Black will be enough for the clipboard to slap Reid in the face and wake him up.

Who am I kidding?

 

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Tuesday NFL Hangover: Five Best and Worst Of Week Five

I must admit, I didn’t see this one coming. Not at all. I feel like a drunk guy who talked to a woman and obtained her phone number, only to realize the next day that she looked more like Marion Berry than Halle Berry.

I never thought a guy could have this stat line:

2/17, 23 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 15.1 passer rating…

and actually win the game. I felt like somebody was playing some weird trick on me and decided to go all Criss Angel and make things look like other things.

This was actually a football game. With the MLB Playoffs currently going on, I felt like I was watching Manny Ramirez instead of Trent Edwards. Seriously, what is this garbage?

On a Sunday that featured everything a football fan could ask for, and maybe ask not to see, the fan in me wanted to see an entertaining 1 p.m. game after being less than intrigued by a Giants-Chiefs matchup that had little chance of being competitive.

The best part of that game was that Eli Manning was still throwing good, catch-able balls despite an apparent heel injury—like the back of a woman’s stiletto suddenly breaking in two.

I got what I asked for in the Cowboys-Chiefs game, which should’ve been an easy win for Dallas. But what’s easy for them nowadays?

Denver was supposed to be easy for them too, but, well, we know how that one ended.

If the Cowboys had lost to Kansas City, I could see Jerry Jones making the whole team, including Wade Phillips, watch Matt Cassel’s TD pass to Dwayne Bowe late in the fourth quarter on new Texas Stadium’s ridiculous video screen over and over until they keeled over.

Thanks to Miles Austin, the city of Austin and the rest of Texas can wipe the sweat from its foreheads.

What were the five best performances in Week Five? I can assure you that the Titans aren’t one of them.

 

5. Bengals Stun Ravens, 17-14, Improve to 4-1

“Hard Knocks” is finally seeming to validate it’s inclusion on television. Cincinnati is 4-1, and really should be 5-0 after the much heralded luck of the draw for Denver in the form of a Brandon Stokley score.

Carson Palmer is looking like the Carson before knee surgery, Chad Johnson (I refuse to call him that other name) is playing well, and Cedric Benson isn’t a bust after all.

If Palmer can limit his turnovers and the defense continues to play well, the Bengals will be a surprise playoff team.

 

4. Miles Austin Goes for 250 Yards in Cowboys Win Over Chiefs

Dallas up-ending the Chiefs by an overtime touchdown isn’t impressive at all. The guy who caught that TD is.

Austin, who hasn’t been a big factor in Dallas’ offense, decided he wanted to come out and play Sunday.

Everyone has blamed the Cowboys inadequacies on Tony Romo, but he and Austin showed Sunday what they’re capable of. Dallas is far from a good team right now, but Austin isn’t nearly as far from being a really good receiver.

 

3. Jake Delhomme Leads Carolina to First Win This Season

After Steve Smith lambasted Delhomme to his face a few weeks back in a clip played on YouTube has since been removed, Delhomme has had an about-face and has turned it around.

Delhomme has thrown four picks in the last three weeks, compared to nine in two games dating back to the 2008 playoffs.

Carolina finally looked like a team Sunday after defeating the Redskins 20-17. The Redskins are bad too, so that doesn’t tell us much.

Delhomme playing much better and not beating himself does.

 

2. Falcons Blowout Niners, 45-10

That headline speaks for itself. All the talk about Mike Singletary and the job he’s doing was silenced by Matt Ryan and a potent offensive attack.

Roddy White decided to be the Pro-Bowl receiver he was last season, and the rest was history.

The Falcons are a force to be reckoned with, and Singletary’s 49ers are dizzy and still spinning after that whippin’. We’ll see how they respond next week.

 

1. Josh McDaniels and the Broncos Down Former Boss, Patriots 20-17

This was absolutely, hands-down the best game this week and completely lived up to the hype.

If anyone—and I do mean anyone—lies and says they expected this from Denver, they should stop watching sports and cover their growing nose right now.

The Broncos are easily the most polarizing story so far in 2009, and with the way they matched Belichick’s Patriots will-for-will, play-for-play on Sunday, they may be the biggest surprise playoff team in recent memory. 

Kyle Orton is playing the best football of his career. Brandon Marshall is just ridiculous. What a beast. I’m thoroughly impressed.

 

Week Five’s Worst

 

5. Tom Brady’s Mishaps

Yes, I said it. Tom Brady screwed up on Sunday, not once, but twice.

I’m not used to Brady screwing up. I cannot and will not take anything away from Brady, and he is the second best QB of the millennium. I like the guy, and love watching him play.

But he missed Randy Moss and Wes Welker badly. Not on first-down receptions, but TDs. And I do mean sure-fire TD’s. Needless to say, Brady isn’t quite himself.

As Rocky Balboa’s trainer said on Rocky IV about Ivan Drago, “He’s Not A Machine!!! He’s A Man!!!”

So is Tom Brady.

 

4. The Buccaneers Pass Defense

Isn’t this the team that made the “Tampa Two” defense popular? What has happened to these guys?

Age and rebuilding has happened. Tampa Bay has some talented defenders, but they are not a cohesive unit and don’t play well together.

Romo blasted them, Trent Frickin’ Edwards killed them, Eli Manning did them dirty, they lost to the Redskins, and Donovan McNabb came back and played Madden with their defense.

Wow.

 

3. The Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns

I just have to mention this again. If this isn’t the worst football game I’ve ever watched, then Brett Favre isn’t a first ballot hall-of-famer. In other words, there’s no debate there.

Everybody and everything associated with this game was bad. Everything. Jamal Lewis ran well, but that just means the Bills defense couldn’t tackle him.

And the penalties? There were more penalties than points! Combined!

 

2. Jaguars Lose to the Seahawks, 41-0

What a way to follow up a big win: get shut out by six possessions.

Jacksonville didn’t do anything well in this game. Nothing at all. They weren’t even there. Didn’t show up. Left all 53 players at home in Florida.

There is no excuse for losing a game in this fashion as an NFL team. Nothing you could tell the fans to make them understand this. No disrespect to Matt Hasselbeck who’s a good QB, but this wasn’t even Manning-Wayne, Brady-Moss, or Favre-Peterson.

It was Hasselbeck-Burleson. As a teenager would say in a text message, “LMAO!”

 

1. ‘Dre Bly’s Celebration

This was despicable. Mike Singletary has made a name as a disciplinarian after what he did to TE Vernon Davis last season. If there was ever a time he needed to discipline anyone, this is it.

After intercepting Falcons QB Matt Ryan, Bly was heading down the sideline trying to score for his team, which was getting their arses handed to them on a platter.

He inexplicably began to showboat as if he were Neon Deion Sanders, and was stripped of the ball from behind by the trailing Roddy White.

Atlanta recovered the fumble, and went down to score again, making the score 42-10. You celebrate a pick like you’re some great corner. But your dropped pick let Brett Favre and Minnesota beat you two weeks ago, and you’re losing 35-10 this week?

As Singletary once said, “Can’t play with ’em. Can’t win with ’em. Can’t do it.”

Can’t win with a defender making those types of asinine plays. Bly better humble up fast, cause Singletary won’t have that type of behavior, and neither will the 49ers win column if they want to increase it.

Until next week everyone, enjoy the MLB playoffs. That Alex Rodriguez is somethin’, ain’t he?

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

NFL: Best and Worst Of Week Five

I must admit, I didn’t see this one coming. Not at all. I feel like a drunk guy who talked to a woman and obtained her phone number, only to realize the next day that she looked more like Marion Berry than Halle Berry.

I never thought a guy could have this stat line:

2/17, 23 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 15.1 passer rating…

and actually win the game. I felt like somebody was playing some weird trick on me and decided to go all Criss Angel and make things look like other things.

Like this was actually a football game. With the MLB Playoffs currently going on, I felt like I was watching Manny Ramirez instead of Derek Anderson. Seriously, what is this garbage?

On a Sunday that featured everything a football fan could ask for, and maybe ask not to see, the fan in me wanted to see an entertaining 1 p.m. game after being less than intrigued by a Giants-Chiefs matchup that had little chance of being competitive.

The best part of that game was that Eli Manning was still capable throwing good, catchable balls despite an apparent heel injury—like the back of a woman’s stiletto suddenly breaking in two.

I got what I asked for in the Cowboys-Chiefs game, which should’ve been an easy win for Dallas, but what’s easy for them nowadays?

Denver was supposed to be easy for them too, but, well, we know how that one ended.

If the Cowboys had lost to Kansas City, I could see Jerry Jones making the whole team including Wade Phillips watch Matt Cassel’s TD pass to Dwayne Bowe late in the fourth quarter on new Texas Stadium’s ridiculous video screen over and over until they keeled over.

Thanks to Miles Austin, the city of Austin and the rest of Texas can wipe the sweat from its foreheads.

What were the five best performances in Week Five? I can assure you that the Titans aren’t one of them.

 

5. Bengals Stun Ravens, 17-14, Improve to 4-1

“Hard Knocks” is finally seeming to validate it’s inclusion on television. Cincinnati is 4-1, and really should be 5-0 after the much heralded luck of the draw for Denver in the form of a Brandon Stokley score.

Carson Palmer is looking like the Carson before knee surgery, Chad Johnson(I refuse to call him that other name) is playing well and Cedric Benson isn’t a bust after all.

If Palmer can limit his turnovers and the defense continues to play well, the Bengals will be a surprise playoff team.

 

4. Miles Austin Goes for 250 Yards in Cowboys Win Over Chiefs

Dallas up-ending the Chiefs by an overtime touchdown isn’t impressive at all. The guy who caught that TD is.

Austin, who hasn’t been a big factor in Dallas’ offense, decided he wanted to come out and play Sunday.

Everyone has blamed the Cowboys inadequacies on Tony Romo, but he and Austin showed Sunday what they’re capable of. Dallas is far from a good team right now, but Austin isn’t nearly as far from being a really good receiver.

 

3. Jake Delhomme Leads Carolina to First Win This Season

After Steve Smith lambasted Delhomme to his face a few weeks back in a clip played on YouTube and has since been removed, Delhomme has had an about-face and has turned it around.

Delhomme has thrown four picks in the last three weeks, compared to nine in two games dating back to the 2008 playoffs.

Carolina finally looked like a team Sunday after defeating the Redskins 20-17. The Redskins are bad too so that doesn’t tell us much.

Delhomme playing much better and not beating himself.

 

2. Falcons Blowout Niners, 45-10

That headline speaks for itself. All the talk about Mike Singletary and the job he’s doing silenced by Matt Ryan and a potent offensive attack.

Roddy White decided to be the Pro-Bowl receiver he was last season, and the rest was history.

The Falcons are a force to be reckoned with, and Singletary’s 49ers are dizzy and still spinning after that whippin’. We’ll see how they respond next week.

 

1. Josh McDaniels and the Broncos Down Former Boss, Patriots 20-17

This was absolutely, hands-down the best game this week and completely lived up to the hype.

If anyone and I do mean anyone lies and says they expected this from Denver, they should stop watching sports and cover their growing nose right now.

The Broncos are easily the most polarizing story so far in 2009, and with the way they matched Belichick’s Patriots will-for-will, play-for-play on Sunday, they may be the biggest surprise playoff team in recent memory. 

Kyle Orton is playing the best football of his career. Brandon Marshall is just ridiculous. What a beast. I’m thoroughly impressed.

 

Week Five’s Worst:

 

5. Tom Brady’s Mishaps

Yes, I said it. Tom Brady screwed up on Sunday, not once, but twice.

I’m not used to Brady screwing up. I cannot and will not take anything away from Brady, and he is the second best QB of the millennium. I like the guy, and love watching him play.

But he missed Randy Moss and Wes Welker badly. Not on first-down receptions, but TDs. And I do mean sure-fire TD’s. Needless to say, Brady isn’t quite himself.

As Rocky Balboa’s trainer said on Rocky IV about Ivan Drago, “He’s Not A Machine!!! He’s A Man!!!”

So is Tom Brady.

 

4. The Buccaneers Pass Defense

Isn’t this the team that made the “Tampa Two” defense popular? What has happened to these guys?

Age and rebuilding has happened. Tampa Bay has some talented defenders, but they are not a cohesive unit and don’t play well together.

Romo blasted them, Trent Frickin’ Edwards killed them, Eli Manning did them dirty, they lost to the Redskins and Donovan McNabb came back and played Madden with their defense.

Wow.

 

3. The Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns

I just have to mention this again. If this isn’t the worst football game I’ve ever watched, then Brett Favre isn’t a first ballot hall-of-famer. In other words, there’s no debate there.

Everybody and everything associated with this game was bad. Everything. Jamal Lewis ran well, but that just means the Bills defense couldn’t tackle him.

And the penalties? There were more penalties than points! Combined!

 

2. Jaguars Lose to the Seahawks, 41-0

What a way to follow up a big win: get shut-out by six possessions.

Jacksonville didn’t do anything well in this game. Nothing at all. They weren’t even there. Didn’t show up. Left all 53 players at home in Florida.

There is no excuse for losing a game in this fashion as a NFL team. Nothing you could tell the fans to make them understand this. No disrespect to Matt Hasselbeck who’s a good QB, but this wasn’t even Manning-Wayne, Brady-Moss or Favre-Peterson.

It was Hasselbeck-Burleson. As a teenager would say in a text message, “LMAO!”

 

1. ‘Dre Bly’s Celebration

This was despicable. Mike Singletary has made a name as a disciplinarian after what he did to TE Vernon Davis last season. If there was ever a time he needed to discipline anyone, this is it.

After intercepting Falcons QB Matt Ryan, Bly was heading down the sideline trying to score for his team which was getting their arse’s handed to them in a platter.

He inexplicably began to showboat as if he were Neon-Deion Sanders, and was stripped of the ball from behind by the trailing Roddy White.

Atlanta recovered the fumble, and went down to score again, making the score 42-10. You celebrate a pick like you’re some great corner as your dropped pick let Brett Favre and Minnesota beat you two weeks ago and you’re losing 35-10 this week?

As Singletary once said, “Can’t play with ’em. Can’t win with ’em. Can’t do it.”

Can’t win with a defender making those types of asinine plays. Bly better humble-up fast, cause Singletary won’t have that type of behavior, and neither will the 49ers win column if they want to increase it.

Until next week everyone, enjoy the MLB playoffs. That Alex Rodriguez is somethin’, ain’t he?

 

 

 

 

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

10 Random Sports Thoughts To Free My Mind Of Clutter

As I rose out of my bed on this great Wednesday morning that featured cloudy skies and rain, my mind felt cluttered with sports thoughts.

It was almost like that Bing commercial when the guy is lying down for bed, and as his wife asks him questions, he keeps answering with these random thoughts that he saw as he searched the Internet.

They called it, “search overload.” I call it, “sports overload.”

Here is what my bing commercial would be like:

Girlfriend: “Hunny, did you search for that hotel information in New York?”

Me: “New York. Where dreams happen. Find Facebook friends in the New York area. Mark Sanchez is the best rookie QB of 2009. Rex Ryan is in control of that team. Look at Eli Manning.”

Girlfriend: “What the Hell is wrong with you?”

Me: “Click here to read what Reggie Bush and Kim Kardashian are doing. Kanye West apologizes to Taylor Swift. Read what Terrell Owens said about the media. Watch Tony Reali on Around the Horn. How beautiful is Erin Andrews?”

Girlfriend: “Who is ERIN ANDREWS!!!”

Yeah, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. So what does sports overload mean for you?

It means that you get to read about my random thoughts today and take a tour through my sports brain, which I’m sure is over 50 percent of it.

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