Cincinnati Bengals Sleepwalk Into the Playoffs

In a regular season that they began by earning the moniker of the “Cardiac Cats,” the Cincinnati Bengals ended the year without a pulse.

The Bengals sleepwalked through a 37-0 thrashing at the hands of the New York Jets in the final game of the regular season, setting up a rematch with New York next Sunday in the first round of the AFC playoffs.

Playing without running back Cedric Benson on offense and safety Chris Crocker, defensive tackle Domata Peko and linebacker Rey Maualuga on defense, the Bengals that did show up looked disinterested and distracted from the outset.

The drop off to the second team reared its ugly head on the first drive of the game, when the Jets lined up in the Wildcat formation and Bengals rookie safety Tom Nelson over-pursued the play, allowing Jets quarterback Brad Smith to run 67 yards to set up a touchdown.

The quick punch did not refocus the Bengals, as they continued to subject themselves to mouthpiece-jarring blocks, blown assignments, and missed tackles.

The most egregious error came on a six yard touchdown throw by Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez to Jericho Cotchery with 37 seconds left in the first half, in which the Bengals simply did not recognize Cotchery out of their goal line defense and left him uncovered in the man-to-man scheme.

A Bengals rush defense that had been giving up 89 yards per game ended up surrendering a season-high 257 yards on the ground, as the Jets offensive line routinely got a two or three yard push off the line of scrimmage. The problem only became worse after Cincinnati defensive tackle Pat Sims ended his season with a broken right forearm.

Meanwhile, the Cincinnati offense was faring no better, picking up only five first downs on the night, getting poor production from their usually reliable offensive line.

Two of Cincinnati’s first 10 plays went for negative yardage after tackle Dennis Roland whiffed on a pair of head-up blocks leading to instant penetration.

As the Bengals turn the page to another match-up with the Jets in the playoffs, they face the prospect of getting beaten up by the league’s best defense and a running game that averages 172.3 yards per game.

Cincinnati will likely continue to eight defenders in the box to force Sanchez to throw against Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph’s single coverage on the outside. Flooding the box against the Jets’ six or seven man lines will also mean that the Bengals’ safeties will be forced to make one-on-one tackles in the open field against New York’s running backs or Smith in the Wildcat.

It will be those open field tackles, head-up blocks, single-coverage defensive plays—the ones that have carried Cincinnati to a No. 4 seed in the AFC—that the Bengals will have to make to earn their first playoff win in 19 years.

They did not make them on Sunday, though. Instead they hit the snooze button.

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Ma”Cheese”Mo: Mike McCarthy Relishes Momentum

In a week that saw plenty of Curtis Painter and Brian Hoyer, Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy shook the dice on a potential severe injury to any of his key players and let his starters play a majority of the game in the Packers’ 33-7 rout of the Arizona Cardinals.

Starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers played into the second half, as did most of the defense. With the exception of what appears to be a minor injury to Pro Bowl cornerback Charles Woodson, the team escaped today’s game free of any severe injuries to key players.

Why would McCarthy take such a risk? One word: momentum.  McCarthy understands that momentum is everything going into the playoffs, perhaps even more than where your team is seeded.  McCarthy would know this better than most as his Packers lost a heartbreaker in the NFC Championship two years ago to a red-hot New York Giants team that went on to win Super Bowl XLII.

While McCarthy was indeed playing with fire, it was a move that could ultimately end up paying off in a big way.  Take a look back at what happened to the Indianapolis Colts in 2005.  They rested their starters the final week and got knocked out of the playoffs by a Steelers team that had played its starters in all regular season games.  The Colts tried it the other way the following season and won Super Bowl XLI.

Another important factor in McCarthy’s decision that should not be overlooked is that he has the youngest team in the NFL.  Despite the team’s success this season, the more experience this group can get the better off they will be.  This is especially true for an offensive line that struggled early this year but has since made strides in keeping Rodgers upright.

When teams lock up home field advantage or a first round bye, some people view the extra rest as a reward for players’ performances during the regular season.  McCarthy doesn’t subscribe to that theory.  What McCarthy likely did tell his squad was that while making the playoffs is a significant milestone, no rings or trophies are given just for making the tournament. 

McCarthy probably wanted to remind his players of the difficult journey ahead in that they still have four more games of increasing difficulty to win, and that they should not be happy until they are hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy in Miami.

With most of the NFC struggling, the Packers really can think “why not us?” and do so with a straight face.  The Packers are the hottest team in the conference right now. Look at the rest of the NFC field.

Philadelphia looked putrid with the NFC East on the line, the Packers took it to the Cardinals’ starters early in the game, the Vikings lost two in a row before handily beating a Giants team that looked like it packed it in, the Saints have lost three in a row, and the Packers already beat the Cowboys (albeit a potential second matchup would be in Dallas where the Packers have struggled).

Combine that along with the fact that McCarthy chose momentum over rest and the Packers are arguably in much better shape than the 2007 squad was to make a title run, and the ’07 Packers even had a first round bye. That season, McCarthy chose to pull Brett Favre and other starters right before halftime.  The result in the divisional round? The Packers fell behind 14-0 early before rallying for a 42-20 win.

When you also consider that the past four Super Bowls have featured at least one team that played a game on wild card weekend, then history favors the Packers as well. Then again, it also favors the other three teams playing that weekend as well.

It has been an exciting season so far for Cheeseheads, and thanks to McCarthy’s gamble it has the potential to be even more thrilling.

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Welcome to January: Predictions for the 2009 NFL Playoffs (Part Two-AFC)

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

And now, for the AFC. 

AFC

Indianapolis Colts

Heading into Week 15, it appeared as if two NFL teams would finish the 2009 season with an undefeated record. The Saints and the Colts were red-hot and had soft schedules in the final few weeks of the ’09 campaign.

Neither team managed to accomplish the feat.

But while the Saints fell victim to poor play down the stretch, the Indianapolis Colts were defeated due to a controversial decision in their Week 16 game versus the New York Jets. First year Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell benched MVP quarterback Peyton Manning and a large majority of their starters for the second half, and the Colts dropped their first game of the 2009 season.

But while the Colts have played a curious number of close games this season, Indy has managed to squeak out every single one of them that Manning has been apart of.

The pinpoint accuracy and uncanny instincts of the veteran quarterback strike fear into opposing defenses across the league, and as long as the Colts have Peyton they will always be dangerous. Combine the stellar play of Manning with a seventh ranked scoring defense and an offensive line that allowed just 13 sacks in 2009, and the Colts are the clear AFC Favorites.

New England Patriots

It seems like it was decades ago when a Tom Brady-led team was not the AFC favorite. The former MVP quarterback has come back strong after his 2008 campaign was destroyed by a knee injury, but this is clearly not your older brother’s Patriots.        

Even as Tom Brady was torching opposing secondaries, the core of the New England dynasty was an outstanding defense. But most of the names that filled the top of the Patriots’ defensive depth-chart have departed in the past 24 months.  Dynasty staples such as Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel, Rodney Harrison, and Richard Seymour have either been traded or have since retired. Replacing them is a bevy of young talent.

The influx of youth has filled in very nicely, posting the league’s 11th ranked rushing defense and seventh ranked pass defense. But they are not the dominant force that they were just a few years ago. Combine the depleted defense with a devastating injury to superstar slot receiver Wes Welker, and the Patriots may struggle to make it deep into the postseason—even with Brady at the helm.

Cincinnati Bengals

Every Cincinnati Bengals game seems like a struggle to the finish. Although the surprising Bengals finished the season 10-6, they failed to win a single game by more than 10 points, even as they played five games against teams that were a combined 19-44.

The fact is that Cincy does not have one “signature” win this entire year. On paper, they have beaten playoff teams like Baltimore and Green Bay. But neither team was playing their best football when they went up against the Bengals. Their only two games against hot teams, Week 14 at Minnesota and Week 15 at San Diego, have resulted in losses.

That’s why, that despite a fifth ranked defense and the salvation of Cedric Benson, it’s difficult to see them advancing far into the postseason. When a team plays the Raiders, Browns, Chiefs, and Lions closely, how can they expect to beat the Patriots, Colts, and Chargers?

San Diego Chargers

Under Norv Turner, the San Diego Chargers have been a notoriously slow-starting team. In both 2007 and 2008, the much-maligned head coach led his team to a 2-3 record in the first five weeks of the season. This year was no different.

In ’09 the Chargers stumbled out of the gate, losing three out of their first five games. But since then, the Bolts have been on a ferocious tear, winning 11 straight games to close out the season.

The turn around can surely be attributed to MVP candidate Philip Rivers and his plethora of offensive weapons, but can also be traced to a revitalized defense that has not allowed more than 25 points in a game since Week six.

The red-hot Chargers have the ability to make some serious noise in the 2009 postseason, but in the AFC, all roads lead through Indianapolis.

Baltimore Ravens

  It has been thought that in recent years, the Ravens reputation has surpassed them. Supposedly, their aging defense is not the same dominant unit that it was when Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Chris McCallister, and Adalius Thomas were all four years younger and in their primes.

Yet upon closer look, this is not the case. Baltimore posted the leagues third ranked scoring defense in 2009. Even their much-maligned secondary netted 21 interceptions.

So, it probably won’t be the Ravens defense that brings them down in January. It will almost certainly be the streaky play of second-year quarterback Joe Flacco, who has come back down to earth from a stellar rookie campaign.

While the Ravens defense is still great, it is unclear if it is “our-QB-throws-three-picks-and-we-still-win” great. The Ravens are going to need extreme consistency out of their quarterback to make a run at the Super Bowl, something that has been out of reach this season.

New York Jets

The Jets are in the postseason with Mark Sanchez and his nearly 1:2 touchdown-interception ratio.

Surprising, huh?

But when one takes a closer look at the stats, Sanchez is really the only reason the Jets shouldn’t be in the playoffs—besides the fact that they needed four teams to lose and two teams to bench their starters to get there.

But, as I said earlier, a explosive running game and a potent defense are what ultimately wins in January. And the Jets do have the top-ranked scoring defense and top-ranked rushing attack.

The way the Jets have won this year is to take the ball out of Mark Sanchez’s hand and put it in the arms of running backs Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene. But in January, you can’t be one-dimensional. Opposing teams are going to stack the box against the Jets and throw relentless blitzes at the rookie quarterback. The Jets will be forced to throw, and that hasn’t worked in their favor (against a full strength team) since early on in the season.

AFC Predictions

Wild-Card Round

Cincinnati Bengals defeat New York Jets

Gang Green rushes for 150 yards but Mark Sanchez throws two picks, including one that Leon Hall takes back for six points. Cincy takes it 21-17.

New England Patriots defeat Baltimore Ravens

Even without Wes Welker, Tom Brady passes for 300 yards and three scores, while Joe Flacco throws a key interception late in the game. The Pats beat Baltimore 33-17.

Divisional Round

San Diego Chargers defeat New England Patriots

Philip Rivers and company stay red-hot, with the loss of Wes Welker really coming back to hurt the Pats. Bolts win 27-17.

Indianapolis Colts defeat Cincinnati Bengals

Peyton Manning sits in the pocket all day and passes for over 300 yards on the Bengals’ defense. Indy blows out Cincy 38-17.

Conference Round

Indianapolis Colts defeat San Diego Chargers

The prowess of the Colts’ offensive line keeps jumping out at me. In their first loss in over three months, Peyton torches the San Diego secondary. Rivers doesn’t have a bad day either. Colts win 33-30.

SUPER BOWL

Indianapolis Colts defeat Philadelphia Eagles

If any team has the secondary and blitzing schemes to beat Peyton Manning and his line, it’s the Eagles. In yet another classic Super Bowl, the Colts get a late field goal from Adam Vinatieri. Crown ‘em. Colts receive the Lombardi Trophy for the second time in four seasons with a 30-27 victory.

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

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Saying It Again: Why Chris Johnson Is the NFL MVP

I previously wrote a short article in which I stated that I think halfback Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans is the MVP of the NFL.

I said that in belief that Johnson would pass 2,000 rushing yards, which he has just done against the Seattle Seahawks.

Not only that, but Johnson also broke the NFL record for yards from scrimmage set by Marshall Faulk for the St. Louis Rams in 1999.

Faulk would win the award for MVP in 2000, not 1999, but clearly Johnson has put himself on the same level as a former NFL MVP.

Not only that, but Faulk was a member of a loaded offense, while Johnson seems to have done more with less. 

That is not to diminish Vince Young’s comeback, but Johnson succeeded even without Young, when the Titans still relied on Kerry Collins at quarterback.

A quarterback, I should add, who had been overrated in 2008 because of Tennessee’s running game and defense.

Had Young played from day one, the Titans would likely be in the postseason.  I don’t see why Johnson should be punished for the fact that Collins was inordinately bad at quarterback.

I say inordinately bad, because often times when a quarterback wins MVP, it was not without a good halfback.  Any backfield needs balance to succeed.

Even Drew Brees had 17 touchdowns from the New Orleans running backs.  I point that out because I think fans often give credit where credit is not due.  Some fans like to give the quarterback the credit for rushing touchdowns.

I don’t.  Because the offensive equation can “run” both ways.  Sometimes the passing game helps the running game, and other times the running game helps the passing game.

I think there are times when you can say the quarterback’s touchdowns resulted from the running game.  The halfbacks collect first downs and “slash” down field, only for the quarterback to collect a touchdown in the red zone.

Just ask Kerry Collins. 

Or Trent Dilfer, who handed off to former 2,000-yard rusher Jamal Lewis in 2000 en route to the Baltimore Ravens’ Super Bowl victory over the Collins-led New York Giants.  Well, I figure I should mention that even then Collins had a “Smash and Dash” type combo with Tiki Barber and Ron Dayne.

Moreover, if the running back is merely a product of the passing game, why is it that the supposed greatest passer of all-time, Dan Marino, never had a running back?  You would think that if the halfback were the product of the quarterback, that logically, Marino would have created a running back.  And yet, he never did.  Thus, that axiom is false.

In the race for MVP, the three other names that stand out are Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Brett Favre.

I eliminated Favre because of Adrian Peterson.  The Vikings won 10 in 2008 without Favre, and mostly on the legs of Peterson.  The addition of Favre has given the Vikes a two game boost. That is not enough for me to believe that Favre is the MVP of the Vikings.

I eliminated Brees, because I think the New Orleans offense has some smoke-and-mirrors to it.  That being the fact, most fans would not give all the credit to Brees if they realized that three different halfbacks had five or more rushing touchdowns. 

Here is an example of giving credit where credit is not due: Some would say that those touchdowns resulted from Brees, while I would say that those touchdowns resulted from three different players.  One of them is Reggie Bush, a halfback that was supposed to play the way Johnson has done for the Titans.

I eliminated Manning, partially because: How many times does Manning need to hear that he’s the MVP?  Manning already has three MVP trophies, and frankly, I think it would be redundant to do it again. When a player such as Johnson has done something incredible he should be recognized with more than just the consolation prize of Offensive Player of the Year.

There you have it.  Regardless of whether you agree with my conclusion, at least you know how I came to that conclusion.

 

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Playoff Bound! New York Jets Take Care Of Business and Humiliate Bengals, 37-0!

Taking care of business, everyday.

Taking care of business, every way.

Taking care of business is exactly what the New York Jets did as they shutdown the Cincinnati Bengals 37-0 in the swirling winds of the Meadowlands Sunday evening,  as the curtain came down one last time on this 34-year old facility.

The Jets closed Giants Stadium in a way the New York Giants could not. They continued their December hot streak by providing constant pressure on Carson Palmer while Darrelle Revis shutdown Chad Ochocinco in an impressive  destruction of the AFC North champions!

The victory clinched the final playoff berth on the final day of the last game of the 2009 NFL season. This is fifth time the New York Jets would clinch a playoff berth on the last day of the regular season in this decade.

The scenario was simple.

Win and advance to the AFC playoffs and Wildcard weekend.

They did exactly that.

It was so easy, it was scary.

For the New York Jets, it’s been a season of ups and downs. The Jets begin the year with a 3-0 start but then fall under .500, only to roar back in December with a 3-1 record and finish 9-7 for the second consecutive season.But unlike last year, the Jets in finished with their fifth  playoff berth since 2001.

The New York Jets dominated the first quarter while keeping the Bengals offense off the field by refusing to give up a first down while Carson Palmer started the game 0 for 6.

The Jet faithful were pumped and loud as they got behind this defense that has progressed throughout the year.

Trash-talking wideout Brad Ochocinco was irrelevant all evening as the wind was just as much a factor as anything else swirling about the Meadowlands!

For the Jets, it was a historic night for a nomadic franchise that’s never had a true home of its own.

A team originally known as the New York Titans that played in the old Polo Grounds until they built Shea Stadium. Even at Shea, the newly named Jets were essentially tenants of the New York Mets. The baseball club prevented the Jets from playing home games until after baseball season was over. This situation and a new building across the Hudson known as Giants Stadium lured Gang Green to New Jersey to a facility built exclusively for football.

But with the exception of a few seasons, the Jets were second fiddle to the New York Giants, who won two Super Bowls and three NFC conference championships.  During that period, the Jets were only able to muster a third appearance in an AFC championship game under the guidance of a former Giant coach named Bill Parcells with a 12-4 record in 1998.

But tonight, the Jets owned the Meadowlands.

The dominant Monsters of the Meadowlands defense, led by Darrelle Revis and Bart Scott, kept Palmer and the Bengals under check in this unusual circumstance of having to face each other next week based on tonight’s victory.

With a  commitment to the run and the emergence of Brad Smith as the gadget player they miss with the loss of Leon Washington, the Jet offense has successfully lessened the burden on a rookie quarterback for the most part who played mistake free football since the 10-7 embarrassment to the Atlanta Falcons two weeks ago.

The Jets all but sealed the fate of the Bengals when Brad Smith ran the Wildcat to perfection with a 32-yard scamper to the end zone which extended the lead to 17-0. The touchdown brought a high-five from Head Coach Rex Ryan to embattled Offensive Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, who many believe leaned way too hard on Mark Sanchez to keep the offense moving when not necessary.

Since the questionable play calling of the Atlanta loss, the Jets have stayed true to their strength as the offense has been anchored by the running of Thomas Jones and the quick strike capability of Brad Smith as both an offensive and special teams weapon. There is no doubt that Smith’s contributions to the Jet surge are a reason this team has extended the season to a 17th game and an opportunity to play in the AFC tournament.

The Jets played with a pride and sense of urgency that simply stampeded the Bengals into oblivion. The loss has to shake the Bengals’ confidence regardless of the fact they’ll have Rex Ryan’s Express at home in Cincinnati.

With a 24-0 lead, the Jets forced a Carson Palmer interception that lead to yet another Jet score that had the game out-of-control at 27-0 as Jay Feely nailed a 39-yard field goal at the 14:58 mark of the second quarter.

The Jets rolled up 250 yards in the first half wrecking of the Bengals who managed just 7 total yards while the Jets controlled the football for over 24 minutes! If the New York Jets are hitting their stride, they picked the perfect time as they prepare for what looks like a legitimate playoff run!

Things got no better in the second half as the Jet faithful could begin to leave for the heat of an outside fire in the parking lot or the warm confines of a heater as the Jets extended the lead to 30-0 with another Feely field goal.

The game got so out-of-hand that Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth did an interview with Texan quarterback Matt Schaub, who secured their first 9-7 season with a win earlier in the day with the hope that a Bengal win tonight would give the franchise its first playoff berth.

It was not to be.

With Palmer pulled from the game late in the third quarter, the only question was whether the Jets would shutout the Bengals. The only bright spot offensively Bengal fans could root for was a great one-handed grab by ex-Jet Laveranues Coles, who left the team after two stints to play with Cincinnati.

For the Jets, the team amassed over 2,700 yards on the ground this season which eclipsed the old record held by the 1979 squad.

So as incredible as it may be, the 2009 version of the New York Jets finish 9-7 are the fifth seed in the AFC playoffs.

A cocky rookie head coach and a talented rookie prone to the interception have turned this season around in about as dramatic fashion as possible.

The Jets win four of the last five and go 3-1 in December and 1-0 in January.

In a season where the talk was about undefeated squads, the Jets have had their ticket punched for a trip to the Queen City on the river and we’ll see just how far they can go with a defense that seems ready for a serious postseason run.

 

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

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

The 2009 NFL season started with a bang.

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

It never came.

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

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

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

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

NFC 

New Orleans Saints

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

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

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

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

Minnesota Vikings

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

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

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

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

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

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

Philadelphia Eagles

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

Too bad the Eagles came out flat.

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

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

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

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

Dallas Cowboys

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

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

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

I’ll believe it when I see it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Green Bay Packers 

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

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

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

Even their special teams have been solid.

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

Arizona Cardinals

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

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

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

I’m not betting on it.  

NFC PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS 

Wild Card Round 

Philadelphia Eagles defeat Dallas Cowboys

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

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

Divisional Round 

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

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

Conference Round

Philadelphia Eagles defeat Minnesota Vikings

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Only time will tell.

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

Can’t ask for much more than that.

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

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

Excellent. Let those two offenses tire each other out.

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

But answers you shall receive.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So it seems…

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

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

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

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

Except for the Packers.

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

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

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

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

Just…no.

Get them away.

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

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

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

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Houston Texans’ First Winning Season: Reason To Celebrate?

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

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

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

Should we celebrate the team’s first winning season? 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Where Have You Been, Devin Aromashadou?

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

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NFL Power Rankings: Bring on The Playoffs

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

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

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

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

 

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

At least the disappointing season ended with two divisional wins.

 

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

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

 

Follow me on Twitter at JordanHarrison.

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

Jordan can be reached at jordanschwartz2003@yahoo.com

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