What’s More Likely: 16-0 or 0-16?

By Ryan of The Sportmeisters

In 2007, the NFL saw the New England Patriots run the table in the regular season, going 16-0. In 2008, the Detroit Lions set their own record, becoming the first team in NFL history to go 0-16. Two straight years, two different achievements. With the NFL season beginning the second half, three teams have the chance to follow in those famous (or infamous) steps. Both the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints hold perfect records at 7-0, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sit on the other end at 0-7. But which team has the best shot at fame or infamy?

The Indianapolis Colts very quickly could have been 0-2 at the start of the season, but squeaked by Jacksonville and Miami, respectively. Then they went on a run that has given rookie head coach Jim Caldwell the best start for a rookie head coach since the AFL-NFL merger. While they recently came upon a scare against San Francisco, behind the arm of Peyton Manning (2227 yards, 15 TDs, six 300+ yard passing performances), and a stifling defense (13.0 ppg average leads league, ninth in yards allowed per game at 292.1), Indianapolis has the talent to run the table.

Their schedule proves to be a little more challenging to allow them a perfect season. Two games against the resurgent Houston Texans, along with matchups against Baltimore, Denver, the New York Jets (playoff potential matchup for NY), and of course, the annual faceoff against New England. Both Baltimore and Houston are away games, which can bring a hostile crowd. But, with Peyton Manning behind Center, Indianapolis always has a shot, but I’d put them second in the race to 16-0.

The New Orleans Saints are having a year no one expected, unless you are a Saints fan. Outside of an eight point win against Atlanta last week, the Saints have destroyed the opposition. With the NFL’s highest scoring offense (39 ppg), and the leader in offense (428.7 ypg), the Saints put the ball up, and score at will, despite a defense that ranks in the bottom half of most categories.

The offense will win the games, but the defense will need to step up, especially with matchups at New England and Atlanta still looming. However, they still have five matchups left against NFC South foes, and the Dallas Cowboys are still on the schedule. While I won’t give the Saints the title outright, they are the odds on favorite to go 16-0.

On the other end, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and their first year coach Raheem Morris, are taking the term “rebuilding year” to a whole new level. They are in the bottom half of the key offensive and defense statistical categories, and outside of a close game against Washington, have lost by at least a touchdown in all their other games. There only bright spot is newcomer TE Kellen Winslow, with 295 yards and four touchdowns, leads the team. They have more or less thrown in the towel, moving to rookie QB Josh Freeman as the starter.

Can Freeman snap the slump? Tampa does not hold the easiest second half schedule. Atlanta and New Orleans twice each head up the toughest portion. However, two games come to mind as possibly winnable. Carolina only beat Tampa by a score, and their offense has been dysfunctional at best. Seattle has had injuries to deal with and could be looking to the future, making this a possible win, and keeping Tampa from being the second team to go 0-16. However, with the way Tampa is playing, they have the strongest odds at a zero in their record.

Looking at the three teams and there schedule, I would bet Tampa has the better chance to go 0-16 before New Orleans and Indianapolis go 16-0.

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What We Learned: NFL Week 8

The NFL season has hit the halfway mark. What are the big stories of the week, and who is in prime position heading down the stretch?

 

Giant Disappointment

One again, the New York Giants are the top story and, once again, it’s because of another loss. This time, it was at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles, 40-17.

For the Eagles, the result marked two straight divisional wins, putting them in a spot to take total control of the NFC East should they win against Dallas next weekend.

The Giants, on the other hand, have some soul-searching to do.

Since starting the season 5-0, they have lost three straight to playoff-quality teams. Eli Manning has thrown four interceptions and completed a mere 31 percent of his passes. Watching the game, it looks like the plantar fasciitis that he suffered earlier in the season is affecting him.

The Giants have a game against San Diego this weekend before going on a bye.

 

As Young As You Feel

Let’s look at two “young” quarterbacks at different points in their career; Vince Young and Brett Favre.

With the Tennessee Titans fading fast, and owner Bud Adams bringing the heat, coach Jeff Fisher decided to give the embattled Young another shot.

What became of it was the Titans’ first victory in 2009, a 30-13 thrashing of Jacksonville Jaguars. Don’t give too much credit to Young. He managed the game, going 15-of-18 for 125 yards and a touchdown. But he gave them the spark they needed, and will most likely stay in the role until he shows he is not able to handle it.

As far as the other “young” quarterback in the NFL, Brett Favre is still slinging the ball around at 40. Wearing Purple for the first time at Lambeau Field, Favre showed his former fans that he still has the magic.

He threw four touchdowns for the 21st time, tying the NFL record held by Dan Marino.

Simply put, Favre is doing well in Minnesota. And with a dome over his head, he shouldn’t suffer too much of those nasty northern winters that affected him before. That, and he has two weapons in Adrian Peterson and Percy Harvin.

 

Mid-Season Award Winners

Granted, these aren’t all the awards, but here are a few of my mid-season picks.

MVP: Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis Colts. With apologies to Drew Brees and Brett Favre, it’s hard to argue against Manning. He has thrown for over 2,000 yards and 15 touchdowns already, including over 300 yards in six of his seven performances. He has Indy running on all cylinders right now.

AFC Rookie Of The Year: Brian Cushing, LB, Houston: Cushing is in a league of his own right now, and not one rookie can hold a candle to him. With 66 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles in just half a season, Cushing has the bar set high for rookies.

NFC Rookie Of The Year: Percy Harvin, WR, Minnesota: Harvin has quickly become Brett Favre’s favorite target in Minnesota, and it shows. He has 28 catches for 369 yards and three touchdowns already, not to mention his ability to return a punt or kickoff back with relative ease.

Coach Of The Year: Jim Caldwell, Indianapolis Colts: The first rookie head coach to start 7-0, Caldwell has kept the synergy and efficiency brought on by his predecessor, Tony Dungy. While it’s easy to win with Peyton Manning, Caldwell deserves his fair share of praise.

When the season winds down, look for a complete list of all my winners.

 

Contenders and Pretenders

Midway through, whose sun is shining and whose sky is cloudy?

The Dallas Cowboys have quietly won three straight, putting them in a tie for first in the NFC East. An interesting matchup against Philadelphia for sole control of first is on the line this weekend.

The Houston Texans have also won three straight to bring them to a 5-3 record. With Indianapolis on the forefront, Houston will need to play perfect games if they want to take the AFC South.

While some teams are perfect, others are perfectly inept.

The New York Giants are struggling, and unless they win this weekend, panic-time might set in during the bye week.

The Cleveland Browns’ descent into mediocrity is moving right along. They now sit at 1-7, thanks to a 30-6 drubbing at the hands of Chicago.

 

By Ryan of The Sportmeisters

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What We Learned: NFL Week Seven

By Ryan of The Sportmeisters

 

One undefeated falls, one team is winless on two continents, and other tales from Week Seven:

 

“Steel” Curtains for the Vikings

When the Minnesota Vikings rolled into Pittsburgh for their matchup against the Steelers, it was hard not to pick them for the victory. After all, they were undefeated, led by Brett Favre’s magical resurgence and a stifling defense. The Steelers, even at 4-2, were a shell of their former self, with their defense showing cracks in losses to Cincinnati and Chicago, and even in a few wins.

Well, Pittsburgh found themselves behind LaMarr Woodley’s 77-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown and Keyaron Fox’s 82-yard interception return for a touchdown. Despite allowing Favre to throw for a season high 334 yards, the Steelers managed to keep him out of the end zone for the first time all year.

It wasn’t all bad for the Purple People Eaters, as Percy Harvin had another kickoff returned for a touchdown, but their mistakes did them in, as they now prepare for the hoopla of a visit to Green Bay next week.

 

The Same Old New England

The NFL’s reach to our overseas neighbors in London had their latest matchup, pinning the New England Patriots, fresh off a blowout of Tennessee, against the winless Tampa Bay.

If this was the United States, I doubt all 84,000 that showed up at Wembley Stadium would have been present, but the fans got a treat in watching Tom Brady and company handily demolish the Buccaneers 35-7.

Brady once again threw for 300 yards, with Wes Welker having another 100-yard receiving performance, and Brandon Meriweather returned a 39-yard interception for a touchdown. The Patriots are finding their stride at the right time, winning their last two games by a combined score of 94-7, and maintaining control in the AFC East.

Tampa Bay has now lost 11 in a row, their longest losing streak since they went 0-26 in their first two seasons. Now would be the right time to throw rookie Josh Freeman in at QB, because let’s face it, they have nothing else to lose.

 

Miles Ahead of the Competition

Finding an undrafted gem is a rare accomplishment for a team. Finding two, well that’s just near impossible.

But the Dallas Cowboys, after raking in gold with QB Tony Romo, might have found the next big thing in WR Miles Austin.

In his fourth season, and only his second start, he met the high expectations following his first start with six catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns. Over the past two games, Austin has 16 catches for 421 yards and four touchdowns.

For comparison’s sake, Dallas’ acquisition of Roy Williams, in which they gave up their 2009 first round pick, and signed Williams to a $45 million extension, has a mere 12 catches for 230 yards and a touchdown for the season.

 

Contenders and Pretenders

As midseason approaches, which team is meeting (or exceeding) those expectations?

A week after crushing the New York Giants, the New Orleans Saints needed a half of perfect football to come back and defeat the Miami Dolphins. The Saints are still on an offensive tear, and their 7-0 record is proof.

The Cincinnati Bengals kept control of the AFC North, riding the revenge game performance of Cedric Benson (189 yards and a touchdown) against the Chicago Bears.

We can all say Jim Caldwell deserves to be the fifth coach since 1970 to start 6-0, but with Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne in your offense, have you really done anything? Nevertheless, Indianapolis rides to another victory, keeping their perfect season intact.

Pretenders come in all shapes and sizes:

The New York Giants started out hot, but have quickly fizzled, losing two in a row, the latest one a mistake-filled performance against the Arizona Cardinals. The Giants are still in control of the NFC East, but at the rate they are going, they won’t stay up there for long.

 

The Carolina Panthers sold the farm in next year’s draft for this season, but maybe they should be looking for a way back in. Right now, they might need a new quarterback because Jake Delhomme is not getting it done. Delhomme threw three more interceptions, giving him 13 for the year, in a 20-9 loss to Buffalo.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

NFL Week 5: What We Learned

Some surprises highlight the NFL season (Denver at 5-0), while others are to be expected (Kansas City 0-5). Let’s look at what another week in the NFL brought us.

 

The Student Is The Teacher

The Denver Broncos had been having a season few thought possible: undefeated at 4-0.

Many expected the run to end when coach Josh McDaniels took on his old boss and mentor, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots.

Instead, thanks to new quarterback Kyle Orton, who is surpassing his own expectations, the Broncos beat the Patriots 20-17, putting them at 5-0 for the first time since 1998, the last time they won the Super Bowl.

In the case of New England, who fell to 3-2, many are questioning whether quarterback Tom Brady can return to his 2007 form. The age of the offensive line and a lack of a potent running game is also affecting this team. It’s hard to maintain success for so long, but if it is possible, Brady and company can do it.

 

A Hard Knocks Victory

Three straight weeks, three straight fourth-quarter drives, three straight wins…by three points.

Three must be the magic number for the Cincinnati Bengals, who downed the Baltimore Ravens 17-14 to take control of the AFC North.

Running back Cedric Benson rushed for 120 yards, becoming the first player to rush for over 100 yards against Baltimore since 2006. The defense also stepped up, holding the Ravens offense to only one touchdown.

The game was an emotional one for the Bengals. They played their hearts out in honor of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, whose wife passed away on Thursday.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Zimmer family and friends.

 

The Coaching Seat Is Getting Warmer

Five weeks in, and it seems like some coaches already need to concern themselves with a possible firing at the end of the season.

Buffalo Bills head coach Dick Jauron just watched his team, behind offensive powers Marshawn Lynch and Terrell Owens, muster only three points in a 6-3 loss to the Cleveland Browns.

The Bills are now 1-4 and look nothing like the team that almost beat New England in Week 1.

Washington Redskins coach Jim Zorn also should be reading the classified section.

After taking a 17-2 lead into the third quarter, 18 unanswered points by the Carolina Panthers doomed the Redskins, who lost 20-17.

Zorn has now lost three games against previously winless teams and has to be feeling the heat.

Dallas head coach Wade Phillips was able to squeak a victory out against Kansas City, but has to develop a stronger offensive presence if he doesn’t want to be on the streets in 2010.

 

Contenders and Pretenders

Five weeks in, and some teams still want to win more than others.

Despite a hobbled Eli Manning, the New York Giants crushed the hapless Raiders, winning 44-7 and setting up an undefeated showdown next week against New Orleans. This is the Giants’ best start since 1990, when they won the Super Bowl.

He may be 40, but he’s playing like he’s 38. Brett Favre led the Minnesota Vikings to their fifth straight victory over the St. Louis Rams 38-10. Adrian Peterson scored two touchdowns and Jared Allen had his second-straight dominant performance, running a fumble back 52 yards for a score. This is the first time Brett Favre has ever been 5-0.

With a New England loss, the New York Jets can take a one-game lead (two if you count the victory over the Patriots) in the AFC East. First, they need to get through the Miami Dolphins and their trick-sleeved offense.

While some teams are perfect, others are perfectly inept:

The St. Louis Rams thought a new coach would be the trick. Maybe they need a new offense. They have amassed only 34 points this season, less than seven points per game.

The Kansas City Chiefs tried a new coach and a new quarterback. Though they got close Sunday, they too dwell in the basement at 0-5.

The Tennessee Titans were supposed to challenge for the AFC South title. Instead, they’re challenging for the worst record. Another loss dropped them to 0-5, a far cry from last year’s squad.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy Football Week Four: Winners, Losers, and Waiver Wire Wonders

By Derek of The Sportmeisters

Week Four of the season is in the books. Here are my winners, losers, and waiver wire wonders from the week. Let’s go!

 

Winners

QB Brett Favre—Minnesota Vikings:  24 Completions, 31 Attempts, 271 Yards, 3 TD, 0 INT

The Legend Continues! Favre became the first QB to defeat all 32 NFL teams this past Monday, defeating his former team, the Green Bay Packers.

He played much better then anyone expected, throwing for 271 yards and three touchdowns against a good defensive unit.

Favre has now thrown for 837 yards and eight touchdowns to just one interception in four games. He looks to be a safe fantasy play going into this weekend against St. Louis.

 

QB Ben Roethlisberger–Pittsburgh Steelers: 26 Completions, 33 Attempts, 333 Yards, 2 TD, 0 INT

With no running game so far this season, the Steelers have had to rely on Big Ben and his arm. Last week, he delivered a masterful performance against San Diego, throwing for 333 yards and two touchdowns.

He has thrown for 1,193 yards and five touchdowns in four games, but has also thrown four interceptions. He has a monster matchup this weekend against Detroit.

 

QB David Garrard—Jacksonville Jaguars:  27 Completions, 37 Attempts, 323 Yards, 3 TD, 0 INT, 1 FUM

So much for Tennessee having a tough defense. Garrard torched the worst pass defense in the NFL for 323 yards and three touchdowns.

He has thrown for 941 yards and five touchdowns to just one interception this year. He has a decent matchup this weekend against Seattle.

 

RB Rashard Mendenhall–Pittsburgh Steelers: 29 Carries, 165 Yards, 2 TD, 2 Receptions, 26 Yards

The Steelers finally got a running game! With Willie Parker out with an injury, Mendenhall finally got his chance to shine, and shine he did.

He ran for 165 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries and looks to have placed himself in a position to continue to receive his share of the carries even when Parker returns. He has a super matchup this weekend against Detroit.

 

RB Matt Forte–Chicago Bears: 12 Carries, 121 Yards, 1 TD, 2 Receptions, 19 Yards

Forte was bothered by knee and hamstring injuries this past week against Detroit but still managed to run for 121 yards and a touchdown.

He has rushed for 271 yards and a touchdown and has caught 13 passes for 92 yards in the first four games. He has a bye this week, but should bounce back strong in week six against Atlanta.

 

RB  Ronnie Brown–Miami Dolphins: 20 Carries, 115 Yards, 2 TD

Brown was exceptional last week against Buffalo, rushing for 115 yards and two touchdowns.

He has now raised his season totals to 369 yards rushing with four touchdowns and 50 yards receiving on six receptions. He has a very tough matchup this weekend against the Jets.

 

WR  Steve Smith–New York Giants: 11 Receptions, 134 Yards, 2 TD

Smith proves week in and week out that he can be a No. 1 receiver in the NFL.

He caught 11 balls for 134 yards and two touchdowns against Kansas City and now has a league-leading 34 receptions for a league-leading 411 yards and a league leading four touchdowns.

He has yet another great matchup this weekend against Oakland.

 

WR  Mohammed Massaquoi–Cleveland Browns: 8 Receptions, 148 Yards

The rookie finally made an impact in that anemic offense in Cleveland by catching eight balls for 148 yards this past week against Cincinnati.

He has just 10 receptions for 179 yards on the season, but should see many more balls thrown his way as a starter with the trade of Braylon Edwards. He has a good matchup this weekend against Buffalo.

 

WR  Mike Sims-Walker–Jacksonville Jaguars: 7 Receptions, 91 Yards, 2 TD

Who is this guy? Walker has come almost out of nowhere this year to become Jacksonville’s No. 1 receiver.

He caught seven balls for 91 yards and two touchdowns last week against Tennessee and now has 19 receptions for 278 yards and three touchdowns for the season. He faces a decent matchup this weekend against Seattle.

 

TE  Antonio Gates–San Diego Chargers: 9 Receptions, 124 Yards, 2 TD

It took four games for Gates to finally reach the end zone and when he did, he did it twice.

He caught nine balls for 124 yards and two touchdowns against Pittsburgh and now has 24 receptions for 349 yards and those two touchdowns on the season. San Diego is on a bye this week, but Gates remains an every week must start after that.

 

TE Jermichael Finley–Green Bay Packers: 6 Receptions, 128 Yards, 1 TD

Finley was a sleeper pick at the TE position coming into the season and he showed why this past week against Minnesota. He caught six passes for 128 yards and a touchdown and now has 11 receptions for 190 yards and a touchdown for the season.

He looks to be establishing himself as a favorite target of Aaron Rodgers and should resume his role after the bye week.

 

Losers

QB  Tony Romo–Dallas Cowboys: 25 Completions, 42 Attempts, 255 Yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 1 FUM

This is Romo’s second time on this list in just four weeks. He wasn’t terrible last week, but wasn’t great, either. He threw another interception, lost a fumble, and failed to throw a touchdown for the second straight week.

He has now thrown for 990 yards, but has just four touchdowns and also four interceptions. He should bounce back this week with a great matchup against Kansas City.

 

QB  Trent Edwards–Buffalo Bills: 14 Completions, 26 Attempts, 192 Yards, 1 TD, 3 INT

Edwards started out great in the first two weeks, but has been less than stellar the past two. In the past two weeks, he has thrown just one touchdown to four interceptions.

He looks way out of sync with his receivers and doesn’t look to be the best fantasy start right now. However, he has a pretty enticing matchup against Cleveland this week.

 

QB Mark Sanchez–New York Jets: 14 Completions, 27 Attempts, 138 Yards, 0 TD, 3 INT, 1 FUM

Sanchez was never a great fantasy option, but this past week he was especially bad. He threw three interceptions against New Orleans and had the first bad game of his young career.

He has thrown for 744 yards and four touchdowns, but has now thrown five interceptions. He has a nice matchup against Miami this week, but shouldn’t be anything but your bye-week backup.

 

QB Jason Campbell–Washington Redskins: 12 Completions, 22 Attempts, 170 Yards, 2 TD, 3 INT, 1 FUM

Campbell has yet to really break out this season. He has thrown for 963 yards, but has an equal amount of touchdowns and interceptions with five, and its not like he has played really good teams either.

He has played St. Louis, Detroit, and Tampa Bay and has thrown four touchdowns and four interceptions in those three games. He has a tough matchup this week against Carolina and should not be your starting fantasy QB.

 

RB  Darren McFadden–Oakland Raiders: 6 Carries, -2 Yards, 1 Reception, 5 Yards

McFadden was awful last week against Houston and now he will be out at least two weeks after knee surgery. Obviously, he should not be in your lineup, but you can go ahead and stash him away on the bench or IR for the next few weeks until he returns.

 

RB Earnest Graham–Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5 Carries, 8 Yards, 2 Receptions, 9 Yards

How the mighty have fallen. Graham was supposed to be splitting carries with Derrick Ward this year, but that all changed when Cadillac Williams became healthy and Raheem Morris’ favorite running back.

Now, Graham has been hurt and inactive and has just eight carries for 25 yards. He is absolutely not fantasy relevant at this point.

 

RB  LaDainian Tomlinson–San Diego Chargers: 7 Carries, 15 Yards, 1 Reception, -1 Yards

So, he came back from a two-game absence and did absolutely nothing. Granted, he was facing the Pittsburgh Steelers, but still, I expected a bit more than 15 yards on seven carries.

LDT has a bye week this week to heal up, but after that comes back to being an every-week start as he will resume his duty as the No. 1 back in San Diego.

 

RB  Michael Bush–Oakland Raiders: 3 Carries, 10 Yards, 1 Reception, 4 Yards, 1 FUM

With McFadden hurting, Bush was supposed to carry the load. However, he had just as bad a game against Houston as McFadden did.

Bush had just 10 yards and fumbled the ball. McFadden will be sidelined for a few weeks and that means more carries for Bush, but I wouldn’t pick him up just yet.

 

RB  Justin Fargas–Oakland Raiders: 10 Carries, 24 Yards, 1 Reception, 14 Yards

With McFadden hurting, Fargas was supposed to carry the load. However, he had just as bad a game against Houston as McFadden did.

Fargas had just 24 yards on 10 carries. McFadden will be sidelined for a few weeks and that means more carries for Fargas, but I wouldn’t pick him up just yet.

 

WR  Ted Ginn Jr–Miami Dolphins: 1 Reception, 4 Yards, 1 Carry, 22 Yards

Ginn has been nowhere near as effective as he was expected to be. He has just 14 catches for 138 yards and three carries for 31 yards and no touchdowns.

Now, he has a second-year QB at the helm and the Dolphins offense is centered around the running game and the Wildcat. Ginn has a tough matchup against the Jets this week and shouldn’t be started until he starts getting the ball.

 

WR  Dwayne Bowe–Kansas City Chiefs: 1 Reception, 11 Yards

So much for the offensive revolution in Kansas City. Todd Haley and Matt Cassel haven’t brought Bowe much success so far this season as he has just 10 receptions for 107 yards and two touchdowns.

While that offense is so bad, you should keep Bowe on the bench, but watch for him and Cassel to eventually get on the same page and that could mean good things.

 

WR  Eddie Royal–Denver Broncos: 2 Receptions, 16 Yards

This is a very surprising Loser. Royal was expected to fill a Wes Welker-type role in Josh McDaniels’ offense. However, he has just eight receptions for 58 yards in four games. Look for him to eventually snap out of it, but for now, stash him away on the bench.

 

TE  Zach Miller–Oakland Raiders: 3 Receptions, 33 Yards

Miller is stuck on this list because his QB hasn’t been able to get him the ball. The offense in Oakland has been terrible and Russell hasn’t connected with Miller nearly as much as expected.

Miller has just 11 catches for 146 yards and no touchdowns in four games. Until the offense starts producing, keep him on the bench.

 

TE  Kellen Winslow–Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 2 Receptions, 21 Yards

Winslow started out well with Byron Leftwich at QB, but now with Josh Johnson at the helm, temper your expectations a little. He has just five receptions for 35 yards in his last two games and I don’t expect much more.

If you own him, you have to start him, but if you have someone that has a better matchup, go with them instead until Winslow gets back on track.

 

Waiver Wire Wonders

 

WR  Johnny Knox–Chicago Bears: 5 Receptions, 31 Yards, 102 Yard Kickoff Return TD

Knox came out of nowhere to start the season with 14 receptions for 190 yards and two touchdowns. Plus, he had a 102 yard kickoff return for a touchdown last week.

He looks to have Jay Cutler’s trust and is available to grab, only being owned in 55.2 percent of ESPN leagues and 63 percent of Yahoo leagues. Grab him even though he is on a bye week.

 

WR  Pierre Garcon–Indianapolis Colts: 3 Receptions, 71 Yards

Garcon has filled in nicely for the injured Anthony Gonzalez, catching 10 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns.

He will continue to be the No. 2 receiver (not including TE Dallas Clark) for Peyton Manning and is available, only being owned in 37.5 percent of ESPN leagues and 68 percent of Yahoo leagues. Did I mention his QB is Peyton Manning?

 

RB  Glenn Coffee–San Francisco 49ers: 24 Carries, 74 Yards

Coffee was a very sought-after pickup this past week. He had a terrific matchup vs. St. Louis and was the starter while Frank Gore was out with an injury.

He will continue to be the starter while Gore is hurt and faces Atlanta this week. He is starting to go fast, as he is owned in 57.5 percent of ESPN leagues, and 65 percent of Yahoo leagues. Grab him if you can.

 

RB  Tashard Choice–Dallas Cowboys: 14 Carries, 33 Yards, 5 Receptions, 47 Yards

First, it was Marion Barber that got hurt and now that barber is back, Felix Jones has gone down. Either way, that means more carries for Choice.

He has a supreme matchup this week against Kansas City and is only owned in 41.3 percent of ESPN leagues and 47 percent of Yahoo leagues. Grab him while you can.

 

That’s all for now sports fans. Any questions or concerns, email me at Derek@Sportmeisters.com.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

What We Learned: NFL Week 4.

One quarter of the NFL season is down, and as the bye weeks begin and the injuries mount, who can sustain the momentum as the heart of the NFL season is upon us.

Off-Broadway Mark

Rookie QB Mark Sanchez, a year removed from his only starting season at USC, was turning heads being the first rookie quarterback under center for the New York Jets to start the season.

On Sunday, all the heads were turning at the site of S Darren Sharper’s interception being returned for a touchdown, as the Jets suffered their first loss under Sanchez and Rex Ryan, losing 24-10 to the New Orleans Saints.

Sanchez was very humbled throughout the day, throwing for only 138 yards with three interceptions and no touchdowns. I don’t think this performance was indicative of Sanchez’s ability as a quarterback, but he will have to watch the tape and learn from the varieties of pressure he faced all day.

Drinking The New Coach Kool-Air

For the Denver Broncos, this off-season was one of the most tumultuous ones ever.

A new coach in Josh McDaniels was brought in, which quickly saw franchise QB Jay Cutler wanting out. Cutler was traded to Chicago for Kyle Orton. After that, WR Brandon Marshall wanted out. Marshall ended up staying, and he should be glad he did.

For the first time since 2003, the Denver Broncos are 4-0.

Sure, game one came on a good tipped ball, and yesterday required a huge defensive stand on fourth and goal, but Denver is showing they are for real in an easily winnable AFC West.

Enough Is Enough, And It Might Be Time For A QB Change

Four weeks down, and already, the Tennessee Titans have lost more games than they did all last year.

This team is tumbling downhill, and the loss of DT Albert Haynesworth to free agency and Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz to the Lions seem to have made a bigger impact than expected. But all the problems aren’t just the defensive changes.

QB Kerry Collins has had a struggle to find the black magic that worked so well for his squad last season; and grumblings for Vince Young to get back in are starting to creep.

Catching the 4-0 Indianapolis Colts might seem impossible, but Tennessee needs to get on the winning ways before they can look to catch anything.

A “Reunion” Of Sorts

Tonight, on Monday Night Football, QB Brett Favre and the Packers suit up. Only this time, Favre has a purple uniform on, as a member of the conference rivals Minnesota Vikings.

There is much hype on this game, as Packer fans and teammates alike never once thought they would be facing a man who was the face of the franchise.

Tonight’s game is in the friendly confines of the Metrodome, but I can guarantee many of Favre’s old friends will be looking to show him he’s on the wrong team.

Contenders and Pretenders

New England spent 2007 without a loss, and so have these teams:

The New York Giants have had two straight easy matchup’s since the comebacke against Dallas, helping to give them a 4-0 record. The Giants face Oakland this week, which should give them a 5-0 record heading into a showdown with the New Orleans Saints.

Speaking of the Saints, they head into their bye week with their first 4-0 record since 1993. Despite QB Drew Brees not having thrown a touchdown for the second straight week, a revamped defense and committed running game ensures no one is saying “Who Dat” about the Saints.

Tony Dungy who? Marvin Harrison who?

The Indianapolis Colts are not playing like a team with a new head coach and wide receiving corps, but don’t tell them that. With a rookie WR and a second-year pro WR in the formation, the Colts are playing like a hungry young team. QB Peyton Manning has thrown four straight 300 yard games, the third time that has happened since 1970.

Of course, for every winner, there is a loser:

With the addition of WR Terrell Owens, Buffalo was supposed to be a high-octane offense in 2009. After coming up short against New England in week one, the Bills have fallen flat, living in the bottom of the AFC East at 1-3.

For their big gamble, Owens has only eight catches and 158 yards with no touchdowns.

Could the Oakland Raiders ever get out of pretender status?

The entire team is regressing, and it clearly shows in their 0-4 record.

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Talking About My Generation: Who Is the Greatest of Our Time?

By Ryan of The Sportmeisters

While over here in Afghanistan, a few of us got to discussing about the athletes that shape our generation, and considering most of my co-workers are older than me, the names they brought up were people that I could only read about or watch in old highlight films. 

Start like Reggie Jackson, Hank Aaron, Jim Brown, Terry Bradshaw, Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, and Bobby Orr, to name  a few, defined  their respective sports with their play and achievements. 

So I got to wondering, when I have a kid, and he/she becomes old enough to who wonder who the stars in different sports, who will I tell him about, and how do I tell him?

My focus will be mainly on athletic achievement. I’m looking at mainly current athletes, especially those in their current prime or getting close to it, who have years left, but by the time I have kids, and they start grasping and understanding sports, these players will either have retired, or are on the way out.

Finally, I don’t feel hockey has had that one player who defined my generation, and all the current players are way too young to make that choice about.

As a disclaimer, I’m 25, born in 1983, and I’m basing these on the fact that I didn’t start truly grasping and understanding sports until at least my pre-teen years.

Without further ado, my picks for the athletes that shape my generation:

 

MLB

Alex Rodriguez:  He still has plenty years to go (currently in his 16th season, and only 33), and at 578 home runs, he could clearly end his career with the career home run title.  A lifetime .305 hitter, A-Rod is also a 11-time All-Star through 2008 as well as a 9-time Silver Slugger and a three time MVP. 

He is one of the most popular players in sports, and despite his admitted performance enhancer drug use and post-season struggles, he still has plenty of time to grab his first World Series ring (possibly this season?), and earn a handful of more awards. 

With the DH option available as well, and in the first year of a new contract, I would imagine a good 6-7 more years out of A-Rod before hanging up the cleats.

 

NFL

Tom Brady:  No player screams excellence and perfection quite like Tom Brady.  A mere 32 years old, he already has garnered achievements some players never reach in their career. He is a four-time Pro-Bowler, a first team All-Pro in 2007, and the 2007 Offensive Player of the Year and MVP. 

He currently holds three Super Bowl rings to go along with two Super Bowl MVP awards.  The current holder for most touchdowns in a single season (50), he also holds numerous post-season records as well.  

Despite coming back from season-ending surgery in 2008, Tom Brady has started off 2009 with a bang, and will be a fixture in the NFL’s post-season for at least the next four or five years, before I believe time will begin to catch up on him.

 

NBA

Tim Duncan: A man who was chosen with the first pick in the draft, and lived up to the hype.  When the San Antonio Spurs grabbed Duncan, to them it was a perfect complement, and eventual transition from David Robinson. 

Duncan started hot, taking home Rookie of the Year honors in his first season, and hasn’t looked back. He’s a two-time MVP, a three-time NBA Finals MVP, a 11 time All-Star (to include ten straight appearances), and has been named on the All-NBA and All-Defensive team every year since 1997-98 (his rookie season). 

To top it all off, Duncan already has four rings, and he’s hungry for four more, easy.  He’s going to be 33 years old heading into 2009, and has a double-double career average (21.4 ppg and 11.7 rpg).

Duncan could easily play another four or five years, make the playoffs each year, and field a competitive Spurs team that could potentially win one or two more titles before he makes his exit.

Got a gripe or a complaint? Let me hear it at ryan@sportmeisters.com.  These are my picks, but I’d like to hear yours.

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What We Learned: NFL Week 2

By Ryan of The Sportmeisters

Week two of the NFL season saw some early surprises, as teams race out to early division leads. Let’s go back and look at some of the big stories.

Brady’s Not Back

With the exception of his masterful two touchdown comeback in the fourth quarter against Buffalo last week, New England QB Tom Brady looks like a shell of his 2007 record-setting self, and it showed against the New York Jets in week two.

Playing a team that has not beaten Brady’s Patriots in The Meadowlands in nearly a decade, the Jets held Brady in check as he went 23 of 47 for 216 yards and an interception. Even with the game on the line in the fourth quarter, when New England shines, Brady stumbled, getting his pass knocked down on fourth down. While it is still early in the season, and Brady was without favorite target WR Wes Welker, the Patriots are now a game behind the Jets in the AFC East. They need to find some answers, quick.

What Sophomore Slump?

Last week, we talked about rookies shining in the NFL, bucking the waiting trend. Well, the twin brother of a rookie sensation is the sophomore slump.

However, Atlanta QB Matt Ryan and Baltimore QB Joe Flacco didn’t get the memo, as both have led their teams to 2-0 records thus far.

Ryan has come out throwing in 2009, thanks to newly acquired TE Tony Gonzalez, giving him a solid crutch to lean on. So far, he has thrown for 449 yards with five touchdowns, second most in the NFL. After playing the role last season of game manager, deferring to the run, Ryan is giving defenses another concern to worry about, as he is clearly showing he can beat teams through the air.

Flacco came into a Baltimore team looking for offensive identity, and they still were searching until the latter part of the 2008 season. Well, so far, in 2009, a Baltimore team well-known for their defense, has the offense earning most of the praise. Much of that credit can go to Flacco, who has thrown for 497 yards and five touchdowns, also second most in the NFL. If these two can continue their success, we could be talking about the QB class of 2008 the same way we talk about 1983 and 2004 real soon.

The Saint Of Air

In 1999, the St. Louis Rams had an offensive game dubbed “The Greatest Show On Turf”. Ten years later, the New Orleans Saints high-scoring affair might take that title. A week after putting 45 points on Detroit, QB Drew Brees and company decided, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it, and put 48 on the Philadelphia Eagles.

For the season, Brees has nine touchdowns, almost double the next closest competitor. At this rate, Brees will finish with 72 touchdowns, obliterating the previous mark. While it may not be likely he’ll finish with that grandeur figure, Brees did come within a few yards of shattering the single season passing yard record last year, and if he keeps up this pace, that record will definitely fall in 2009.

Welcome Home

With fanfare usually reserved for bigger events, Jerry Jones put on quite a show in revealing his $1 billion plus new Texas Stadium. Over 105,000 joined him in his latest crowning achievement.

However, it doesn’t matter how much you spend on the stadium, if the product inside doesn’t win.

The Cowboys had the victory with a few minutes left in the game, but the New York Giants marched down the field behind Eli Manning’s 330 yards passing, and a game-winning field goal spoiled the Cowboys’ first home game in their new digs, 33-31.

For the record, no punts hit the enormous jumbotron hanging 90 feet above the field. Tony Romo threw three interceptions to offset solid rushing performances by Marion Barber and Felix Jones. The Cowboys still have seven more home games this season, and should win most of them, provided they cut down the mistakes. Then again, if I saw myself 90 feet above the air, I’d drop the ball, too.

Contenders and Pretenders

Some teams are undefeated, others still winless. Who continued to separate themselves from the competition after week two?

The Jets have gone two straight games without giving up an offensive touchdown. That shows the mark coach Rex Ryan has on this squad, as they jump out to a 2-0 start.

Jay who? Kyle Orton and Josh McDaniels have everyone in Denver saying that, as they didn’t need to rely on any lucky breaks to beat Cleveland and be at 2-0 and leading the AFC West.

San Francisco is making some headway in a very weak NFC West, using the running game to dominate Seattle 23-10 and be 2-0, with both wins coming in the NFC West.

As always, there are teams struggling to live up to the hype early on this season as well.

Detroit is getting dangerously close to the 0-26 mark set by Tampa Bay in 1976. They are making progress, even leading Minnesota at one point, but they need to do a better job minimizing the mistakes if a win is to come soon.

Despite the win, the Washington Redskins played like a team deserving to be 0-2, barely sneaking by the rebuilding St. Louis Rams, 9-7. The NFC East is a tough division, and Washington will have to step it up in order to be competitive.

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Texans-Titans: Optimism Still Remains For A Texans Fan

As a native Houstonian and former Titans (henceforth known as the Oilers, like they truly are!) fan, this week’s Texans-Oilers matchup is another blood-boiling showdown.

After last week’s performance, the Texans need to step up in a big way if they hope to achieve our first winning season and playoff berth. After seeing Dunta “D-Rob” Robinson’s “Pay Me, Rick” shoe-a-gram, the Texans still seem to lack the true desire, the will or the know-how to win.  

If they are to meet expectations, the “me-athons” must come to an end. Successful players on successful teams are those who receive the big contracts (e.g. Asante Samuels and Albert Haynesworth) rather than good players on mediocre teams (D-Rob).

Texans players (especially the D) need to realize that to be successful this year, they need to go out and play with the confidence that they can and will win any game (e.g. Patriots, Chargers and Steelers last week). Let’s take a look at each team’s chances heading into their Week Two showdown.

 

Why The Titans (Oilers) Will Win

Last week, the Texanss offense was inept against a restructured Jets defense. Granted, defenses morph faster than offenses and head coach Rex Ryan’s defensive scheme is hectic and disruptive for any offense, but the Texans (with all their offensive weapons) should not have looked that lackluster.  

This week, they face an even more grueling and battle-tested Oilers defense. In Nashville last year, the Oilers defense (mainly Haynesworth) raised havoc on Schaub and forced him to make pivotal turnovers. Don’t be shocked to see that same M.O. this week.

Offensively, the Oilers will attack one of the Texans’ biggest weaknesses: run defense. Like past Oilers teams, Coach Fisher will dole out large doses of smash-mouth, grind-it-out football. Historically, these types of games have been bad news for the Texans.

By attacking the Texans’ offense and keeping it out of sync for another week—coupled with keeping the ball on the ground and controlling the clock—the Oilers can again win another tough, hard-nosed game.

 

Why The Texans Will Win

No Albert Haynesworth and an embarrassing opening-week fiasco should be motivation enough. Schaub’s biggest boogie man is finally gone, but the heat will still come.  

Look for the Texans’ offense to snap out of their Week One slump and seek redemption against a bitter division rival. If Schaub and Andre Johnson get into a rhythm early and often this week, the pass will spread the Oilers’ stingy defense and open the run game for Steve Slaton.  

The Texans must be able to exhaust the Oilers’ defense and keep it guessing. Don’t be surprised to see backup Rex Grossman enter the game if Schaub begins to flame out (physically or mentally). Realize that, at some point this season, Grossman could snatch the starting job. Also, he never had the offensive weapons with the Bears the Texans do with Johnson, Owen Daniels and Slaton.

Defensively, the Texans have to slow down the Oilers’ run game and force Kerry Collins to beat them with his arm. Should he slip up, it would be even better if Vince Young enters the game. In order to get the O back on the field and in-sync, the Texans defense must force the Oilers into early three-and-outs.

To be successful this week and get their groove back, the offense must score a touchdown on their first possession and get points (whether seven or three) on at least two more possessions before the half.  In order to force the Oilers from their comfort zone and dictate the pace, the Texans’ offense will need to score early and often with long drives to help keep their defense off the field.

Two division rivals face off, and only one will walk out of Week Two with their first win of the 2009 NFL season.

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Talking Sports In The War Zone: The Passion Of The Fans

By Ryan of The Sportmeisters

Ryan, founder and contributor to The Sportmeisters, is currently deployed to Afghanistan as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom. While there, he is writing about his experiences as a sports fan. This is his latest update.

One of the biggest concerns I had (besides my wife and my safety), was whether or not I was going to be able to follow my favorite teams. Turns out, there are plenty of opportunities, even when I’m eight and a half hours ahead of EST.

The catch to those opportunities is some early wake up calls. That became the most prevalent with the kickoff of College Football. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love all sports, and enjoy catching my Yankees after my morning workout.

But with the NFL and College Football, the shortened schedule makes every game meaningful. This holds even more true in College Football, with the lack of a playoff system (an argument for another time.)

My first experience involving an early wake-up came thanks to the Labor Day showdown between my alma mater Florida State University and our rivals from Miami. An 8pm kickoff meant a 4.30am wakeup.

Now, I’ve watched FSU games from a variety of places. I went to all but one home game during my four years of college, and even traveled to a couple games. I’ve seen games on TV, and listened to them on the radio.

I even caught one while stuck at work, and another one during a military exercise. Let me tell you, it’s difficult to cheer in a gas mask.

Nothing could have prepared me for this early wakeup. Instead of tailgating, drinking beers and throwing down burgers, I was trying to force myself to stay awake enough to turn on the TV and my computer, so I could webchat with my wife (also an FSU alumni).

In what messed up world do I live in that I can’t even wakeup before kickoff?

The great thing though, after I traveled into work much later in the day, is that I know my passion is felt alone. I work with an eclectic group of sports fans, those who root for the Georgia Bulldogs, USC Trojans, and Texas Longhorns for College Football, and the Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, and Cleveland Browns of the NFL. Heck, the Browns fan is so passionate, he gets up at 330AM to catch a pre-season game!

Maybe it’s because he doesn’t think the Browns will win much else, but regardless, he considers himself to be such a fan, that he ensures he is rooting for his team during all parts of the season.

The guys at work understand the passion that I exhibit, because they do so themselves. They willingly risk a few extra hours of sleep, to live and die by the success and failure of their favorite squad.

I commiserated with my co-worker who is a UGA fan, getting up before dawn only to watch his team lose. Yet, he told me, he’d do it again in a heartbeat, and with UGA back on TV here next week, he’d gladly be up early to watch again.

So, I too, took the plunge into early wakeup and joined my fellow Seminoles, ready for a great game. Unfortunately, the early rise was for naught, as FSU lost a valiant battle to the hated Hurricanes.

Yet after my head hurt and I was tired to the point that it reminded me of a bad hangover, I told myself, even knowing the outcome, I’d be up that early again in a heartbeat.

Every fan measures their passion in a different way. For some, its baring everything and painting their entire body head to toe in team colors. Others choose to spend ungodly amounts of money in memorabilia.

For myself and the other sports fans deployed here in Afghanistan, our passion is derived from the three hours in darkness, huddled around a small television, rooting our teams to glory.

Those three hours mean a lot to us, as it allows us to get lost in a game and leave the situation we are brought here to handle for a short while. Eventually, the game ends, but we know, in just a week’s time, win or lose, we’ll be up rooting for our team.

My New York Giants play Sunday at 12.30AM here in Afghanistan. It may not be in high-definition, and I won’t have a beer nearby, and I’ll be dead tired, but believe me when I say, that’s how deep my passion runs, all the way to the war zone.

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