Oakland Raiders 2003-2009: Not Perfect, but “in Progress”

As a teacher of a reasonably new curricular effort called Development Mathematics, students who failed to demonstrate proficiency were sometimes given a grade “IP” which stands for “In Progress.”

Applying this idea to the Oakland Raiders would give us a little more discernment of the performance behavior of our beloved team. The Oakland Raiders get a grade of “IP” for the period spanning 2003 to present.

Here are charts to show the win-loss facts for each season we have targeted:

A graph of seasonal win-loss patterns for 2008 and 2007 is given. Oakland improved if we view the chart in 2007 (the second chart) and then compare the one for 2008.

The 2008 chart has more fluctuations, indicating more wins and a sequence of consecutive losses. During weeks three, four, and five, there were three consecutive losses.

In weeks seven, eight, nine, and 10 (2008), there were four consecutive losses.

And in weeks 12, 13, and 14 (2008), the same pattern of three consecutive losses. Note, however, that Oakland won the last two games of the 2008 season.

Here are charts for 2006 and 2005. It was a very challenging season in 2006, showing a flatline from weeks eight through 16. Only two peaks for wins in weeks six and seven, but overall the season was dominated by losses. There was a drop in performance from 2005 to 2006. From 2005 to 2006, there was a digression, not a progression upward.

The graphs for 2004 and 2003 have more fluctuations. There are game-loss-gaps of five consecutive games for 2003 and 2004. During the last three games of the 2003 and 2004, the pattern is W-L-L for both years.

Now let’s look at 2009. As you can see there are more fluctuations or oscillations which means, to me, the team has become more effective, active and somewhat more efficient in winning games. The Oakland Raiders are “in progress.”

The behavior in 2009 is much improved over 2006, when the Oakland Raiders had a “flatline” at the end of the 2006 season, with nine consecutive losses.

Another observation is the string of losses in 2004 and 2007. Five consecutive losses during mid-season must have been hard to digest for the Raider Nation. In 2009, the longest game-loss-gap has length three, which is much improved when compared to 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Now let’s look at a chart for the games played immediately following “Bye Week.”

 

Bye Week Number (2009 to 2003)	Game after
9	L
5	L
5	L
3	L
5	L
10	L
8	L

If the purpose of Bye Week is to allow the team to re-group, rest, study tapes and train, then for the Oakland Raiders it has not worked because since 2003, the Raiders have not won one single game immediately after Bye Week. Even if the Bye Week occurred early in the season, there was no difference in performance in this category.

Here is our chart for 2009. Will the Raiders end the year on a high note, or a loss. In other words, will we have a W-L-W rather than a W-L-L?

Whatever the case may be, we certainly know that the Oakland Raiders are in progress and they are not perfect, but some growth is detected. 

Conclusion

Using a weighted average, we see the following from a numerical standpoint.

1. 1.56  2008
2. 1.25  2007
3. 0.65  2006
4. 1.25  2005
5. 1.56  2004
6. 1.25  2003

Using the tally of wins and losses, I weighted the wins (five points), and losses (zero points). Then I added, and divided by 16, which is the total number of games. This method yielded the following information:

 

The slope of the curve is positive on the interval representing 2006 to 2008. The Oakland Raiders are definitely in a developmental stage and continuity is absolutely necessary in order to not disturb the upward movement of the curve.

What’s more, the Oakland Raiders, according to this analysis of slices of the data, is “In Progress.” The team is not fine-tuned, yet, but they are definitely headed in the right direction.

The Oakland Raiders are not perfect, but they are definitely “in progress.”

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Oakland Raiders 2003-2009: Not Perfect, but “in Progress”

As a teacher of a reasonably new curricular effort called Development Mathematics, students who failed to demonstrate proficiency were sometimes given a grade “IP” which stands for “In Progress.”

Applying this idea to the Oakland Raiders would give us a little more discernment of the performance behavior of our beloved team. The Oakland Raiders get a grade of “IP” for the period spanning 2003 to present.

Here are charts to show the win-loss facts for each season we have targeted:

A graph of seasonal win-loss patterns for 2008 and 2007 is given. Oakland improved if we view the chart in 2007 (the second chart) and then compare the one for 2008.

The 2008 chart has more fluctuations, indicating more wins and a sequence of consecutive losses. During weeks three, four, and five, there were three consecutive losses.

In weeks seven, eight, nine, and 10 (2008), there were four consecutive losses.

And in weeks 12, 13, and 14 (2008), the same pattern of three consecutive losses. Note, however, that Oakland won the last two games of the 2008 season.

Here are charts for 2006 and 2005. It was a very challenging season in 2006, showing a flatline from weeks eight through 16. Only two peaks for wins in weeks six and seven, but overall the season was dominated by losses. There was a drop in performance from 2005 to 2006. From 2005 to 2006, there was a digression, not a progression upward.

The graphs for 2004 and 2003 have more fluctuations. There are game-loss-gaps of five consecutive games for 2003 and 2004. During the last three games of the 2003 and 2004, the pattern is W-L-L for both years.

Now let’s look at 2009. As you can see there are more fluctuations or oscillations which means, to me, the team has become more effective, active and somewhat more efficient in winning games. The Oakland Raiders are “in progress.”

The behavior in 2009 is much improved over 2006, when the Oakland Raiders had a “flatline” at the end of the 2006 season, with nine consecutive losses.

Another observation is the string of losses in 2004 and 2007. Five consecutive losses during mid-season must have been hard to digest for the Raider Nation. In 2009, the longest game-loss-gap has length three, which is much improved when compared to 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Now let’s look at a chart for the games played immediately following “Bye Week.”

 

Bye Week Number (2009 to 2003)	Game after
9	L
5	L
5	L
3	L
5	L
10	L
8	L

If the purpose of Bye Week is to allow the team to re-group, rest, study tapes and train, then for the Oakland Raiders it has not worked because since 2003, the Raiders have not won one single game immediately after Bye Week. Even if the Bye Week occurred early in the season, there was no difference in performance in this category.

Here is our chart for 2009. Will the Raiders end the year on a high note, or a loss. In other words, will we have a W-L-W rather than a W-L-L?

Whatever the case may be, we certainly know that the Oakland Raiders are in progress and they are not perfect, but some growth is detected. 

Conclusion

Using a weighted average, we see the following from a numerical standpoint.

1. 1.56  2008
2. 1.25  2007
3. 0.65  2006
4. 1.25  2005
5. 1.56  2004
6. 1.25  2003

Using the tally of wins and losses, I weighted the wins (five points), and losses (zero points). Then I added, and divided by 16, which is the total number of games. This method yielded the following information:

 

The slope of the curve is positive on the interval representing 2006 to 2008. The Oakland Raiders are definitely in a developmental stage and continuity is absolutely necessary in order to not disturb the upward movement of the curve.

What’s more, the Oakland Raiders, according to this analysis of slices of the data, is “In Progress.” The team is not fine-tuned, yet, but they are definitely headed in the right direction.

The Oakland Raiders are not perfect, but they are definitely “in progress.”

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Pittsburgh Steelers Sitting Back Causes Setback

As the Steelers approach the final week of the season many fans find themselves surprised with the situation the team is in. Following a season of defensive dominance and offensive adequacy that lead to a record sixth Super Bowl ring, the Steelers find themselves on the verge of missing the playoffs altogether.

The game is in a constant state of change, and in recent months so to are the Steelers.

The ability to dictate their own game offensively and adapt to the ever-changing offensive climate of the NFL defensively has allowed them to be the most consistent franchise in the NFL for decades. Relentlessness has always been the forte of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

They have not always had the best team, the biggest stars or the most prolific numbers, but they have always refused to quit attacking their opponents until they buckle under the pressure.  

But like so many have already proudly proclaimed; “these are not your parents Steelers”.

The Steelers have run into some serious issues this season that have lead to mind boggling losses at the hands of some of the leagues worst teams. The problems have had little to do with the pass happy offense, or the less aggressive defense, or even the injuries that have plagued this team since training camp.

The difference between this season and seasons past can be summed up in a single word:

DESIRE.

The Steelers have looked flat-footed and anything but relentless this season, only showing sparkles of things past. The once Steely demeanor of their Head Coach that was solidified by the fire in his eyes, has slowly become a stone-faced stare with lifeless eyes behind it.

Sadly enough the team has followed suit. The team’s locker room leaders have spent more time bickering this season than they have with the ball in the fourth quarter, and the break in unity has been a perfect depiction of their deteriorating mental toughness.

Major whispers of changes concerning the Pittsburgh Steelers have become plain talk, and the results this season demand that the talking becomes action.

So what actions need to be taken to insure that the Steelers’ woes are for the short term?

While the Steelers have been in a state of change there are certain things that should never change about the Pittsburgh Steelers. While you can change an offensive philosophy, players and even the uniforms, the Steelers are a reflection of a legacy that runs as deep as the franchise has been in existence.

The Steelers have always been mentally tough, close-lipped and had the desire to win even when they didn’t have the tools to do so.

In order to regain that mentality some things are going to have to change within the organization, and it all starts with the leadership.

If the Steelers have ever been noted for anything it is the quality of the organization and the type of players and coaches they allow to represent them. Over the course of this season the state of leadership within the team’s makeup has virtually evaporated. Not only from a coaching standpoint, but also from a players perspective as well, the Steelers have become a group of individuals rather than a team.

I dare say it starts at the head, and it is going to be the head that gets cut off if he does not take his place and command his team. The time for passive aggressive tactics and nonchalant personas has come and gone.

The Steelers have come to a place in the season and the state of the organization where the tough questions need to be asked of the right people and the answers to those questions need to be demanded. Mike Tomlin is the man that needs to begin to ask those questions of himself and his team.

While everyone loves to talk about Tomlin coming from the Dungy lineage of coaching there is a major difference between the two. No one could ever mistake Dungy’s quiet, mild mannered disposition as apathetic. Nor could they ever question his ability to command and control the attitude and intensity of his team under adversity.

Is it possible to ask those questions of Tomlin’s approach to the current situation in Pittsburgh? I would say it is not only fair, but he needs to ask them of himself. Tomlin’s team has played with what seems to be an apathetic, lifeless disposition that oozes from the platform of every press conference their coach does.

After the look inside it might behoove Miximus to “unleash hell” in the locker room before they can ever do so on the field. His team’s captains and leadership have not only led poorly they have caused division within their own squad.

A “calling to the carpet” so to speak of every player and issue needs to take place, and it is with this type of accountability and aggressiveness that Tomlin can bring his team back to life. When the tone is set that the finger pointing is only acceptable when the finger is pointed in the mirror then and only then will the team become a team once again.

With that said Tomlin is going to need to clean house when it comes to assistant and positional coaches.

Bruce Arians has taken part in the development of Peyton Manning and done a great job as a positional coach, but the aptitude for play calling tends to escape him. His predictability has not only become a weakness for the Steelers, but it has caused them to virtually disappear inside the redzone this season.

If you continue to scour the offensive side of the ball the buck has got to stop with the offensive line. This is like beating a dead horse, but hey what’s one more whack to a dead horse anyway?

If I can be so bold I would dare to say that neither Alan Faneca nor Marvel Smith are the biggest losses the Steelers have had along the offensive line in the last five years. On the contrary Russ Grimm’s presence as the offensive line coach has left this team with a void that has yet to be filled since his departure for Arizona.

The performance of young talent may have taken the biggest hit as the teaching and mentorship of a hall of famer can rarely be replaced. Larry Zierlein certainly has proven that he was not the man for the job as we have watched players digress from previous levels of play while none of the younger players in the organization have stepped up either.

The Steelers have some needs to address this off-season, and while the offensive line is definitely the most glaring hole, the cornerback position simply cannot be ignored any longer. 

William Gay has looked more like a matador this season than the promising young athlete that we saw filling in for injuries and in nickel and dime packages last season.

With Ike Taylor looking susceptible and Deshea Townsend’s increasing age the team needs to find a way to upgrade the cornerback position in the offseason. If like be a lady the Steelers will find a way to move up in the draft and snag one of the elite defensive backs available in this year’s crop.

Couple the choice with the firing of defensive backs coach Ray Horton, and the Steelers secondary will be in much better shape come spring drills.

Overall the difference in this year’s Steelers team can be seen in their play and their current situation going into the game today.  They have sat back and let other teams come to them this season and it has cost them dearly.

Now the Steelers are going to have to do the same and rest the fate of a meager season on the intentions of other teams in order to make the post season. Not only will they have to beat the Miami Dolphins, but they are going to need to see losses from a combination of the Jets, Ravens, Texans, and Broncos.

The days of sitting back and letting things play out has got to end today for the Pittsburgh Steelers. What the team does today will set the tone for the offseason and effect them greatly concerning next season as well. It will be up to them to take destiny into their own hands and begin to change the culture amongst the team that they have let slip this season. It’s all going to come down to desire. 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Pittsburgh Steelers Sitting Back Causes Setback

As the Steelers approach the final week of the season many fans find themselves surprised with the situation the team is in. Following a season of defensive dominance and offensive adequacy that lead to a record sixth Super Bowl ring, the Steelers find themselves on the verge of missing the playoffs altogether.

The game is in a constant state of change, and in recent months so to are the Steelers.

The ability to dictate their own game offensively and adapt to the ever-changing offensive climate of the NFL defensively has allowed them to be the most consistent franchise in the NFL for decades. Relentlessness has always been the forte of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

They have not always had the best team, the biggest stars or the most prolific numbers, but they have always refused to quit attacking their opponents until they buckle under the pressure.  

But like so many have already proudly proclaimed; “these are not your parents Steelers”.

The Steelers have run into some serious issues this season that have lead to mind boggling losses at the hands of some of the leagues worst teams. The problems have had little to do with the pass happy offense, or the less aggressive defense, or even the injuries that have plagued this team since training camp.

The difference between this season and seasons past can be summed up in a single word:

DESIRE.

The Steelers have looked flat-footed and anything but relentless this season, only showing sparkles of things past. The once Steely demeanor of their Head Coach that was solidified by the fire in his eyes, has slowly become a stone-faced stare with lifeless eyes behind it.

Sadly enough the team has followed suit. The team’s locker room leaders have spent more time bickering this season than they have with the ball in the fourth quarter, and the break in unity has been a perfect depiction of their deteriorating mental toughness.

Major whispers of changes concerning the Pittsburgh Steelers have become plain talk, and the results this season demand that the talking becomes action.

So what actions need to be taken to insure that the Steelers’ woes are for the short term?

While the Steelers have been in a state of change there are certain things that should never change about the Pittsburgh Steelers. While you can change an offensive philosophy, players and even the uniforms, the Steelers are a reflection of a legacy that runs as deep as the franchise has been in existence.

The Steelers have always been mentally tough, close-lipped and had the desire to win even when they didn’t have the tools to do so.

In order to regain that mentality some things are going to have to change within the organization, and it all starts with the leadership.

If the Steelers have ever been noted for anything it is the quality of the organization and the type of players and coaches they allow to represent them. Over the course of this season the state of leadership within the team’s makeup has virtually evaporated. Not only from a coaching standpoint, but also from a players perspective as well, the Steelers have become a group of individuals rather than a team.

I dare say it starts at the head, and it is going to be the head that gets cut off if he does not take his place and command his team. The time for passive aggressive tactics and nonchalant personas has come and gone.

The Steelers have come to a place in the season and the state of the organization where the tough questions need to be asked of the right people and the answers to those questions need to be demanded. Mike Tomlin is the man that needs to begin to ask those questions of himself and his team.

While everyone loves to talk about Tomlin coming from the Dungy lineage of coaching there is a major difference between the two. No one could ever mistake Dungy’s quiet, mild mannered disposition as apathetic. Nor could they ever question his ability to command and control the attitude and intensity of his team under adversity.

Is it possible to ask those questions of Tomlin’s approach to the current situation in Pittsburgh? I would say it is not only fair, but he needs to ask them of himself. Tomlin’s team has played with what seems to be an apathetic, lifeless disposition that oozes from the platform of every press conference their coach does.

After the look inside it might behoove Miximus to “unleash hell” in the locker room before they can ever do so on the field. His team’s captains and leadership have not only led poorly they have caused division within their own squad.

A “calling to the carpet” so to speak of every player and issue needs to take place, and it is with this type of accountability and aggressiveness that Tomlin can bring his team back to life. When the tone is set that the finger pointing is only acceptable when the finger is pointed in the mirror then and only then will the team become a team once again.

With that said Tomlin is going to need to clean house when it comes to assistant and positional coaches.

Bruce Arians has taken part in the development of Peyton Manning and done a great job as a positional coach, but the aptitude for play calling tends to escape him. His predictability has not only become a weakness for the Steelers, but it has caused them to virtually disappear inside the redzone this season.

If you continue to scour the offensive side of the ball the buck has got to stop with the offensive line. This is like beating a dead horse, but hey what’s one more whack to a dead horse anyway?

If I can be so bold I would dare to say that neither Alan Faneca nor Marvel Smith are the biggest losses the Steelers have had along the offensive line in the last five years. On the contrary Russ Grimm’s presence as the offensive line coach has left this team with a void that has yet to be filled since his departure for Arizona.

The performance of young talent may have taken the biggest hit as the teaching and mentorship of a hall of famer can rarely be replaced. Larry Zierlein certainly has proven that he was not the man for the job as we have watched players digress from previous levels of play while none of the younger players in the organization have stepped up either.

The Steelers have some needs to address this off-season, and while the offensive line is definitely the most glaring hole, the cornerback position simply cannot be ignored any longer. 

William Gay has looked more like a matador this season than the promising young athlete that we saw filling in for injuries and in nickel and dime packages last season.

With Ike Taylor looking susceptible and Deshea Townsend’s increasing age the team needs to find a way to upgrade the cornerback position in the offseason. If like be a lady the Steelers will find a way to move up in the draft and snag one of the elite defensive backs available in this year’s crop.

Couple the choice with the firing of defensive backs coach Ray Horton, and the Steelers secondary will be in much better shape come spring drills.

Overall the difference in this year’s Steelers team can be seen in their play and their current situation going into the game today.  They have sat back and let other teams come to them this season and it has cost them dearly.

Now the Steelers are going to have to do the same and rest the fate of a meager season on the intentions of other teams in order to make the post season. Not only will they have to beat the Miami Dolphins, but they are going to need to see losses from a combination of the Jets, Ravens, Texans, and Broncos.

The days of sitting back and letting things play out has got to end today for the Pittsburgh Steelers. What the team does today will set the tone for the offseason and effect them greatly concerning next season as well. It will be up to them to take destiny into their own hands and begin to change the culture amongst the team that they have let slip this season. It’s all going to come down to desire. 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

NFL Mikee’s Final Fantasy Adventure and Standings In Seven Leagues

Tom Brady was my man as Team two, the TWO Wreckers won their league.

Brady was a high scorer in many weeks, along with teammates Randy Moss, Adrian Peterson, LaDanian Tomlinson, Hines Ward, Heath Miller, Kevin Smith, the Steeler defense, and Nate Kaeding.

Team one, NFL Mikee’s Molemen, lost in the championship week and finished second in that league.

This team consisted of Kurt Warner or Brett Favre, Andre Johnson, Steve Smith of the Giants, Sidney Rice, Frank Gore, Rashard Mendenhall, Heath Miller, David Akers, and the Philadelphia defense.

NFL Mikee’s Maulers on a Fox league, finished third, after a second round playoff loss. This team had Drew Brees, who carried the load week after week.

Also on this team were Kurt Warner, Darren Sproles, Ryan Grant, Steve Smith, Wes Welker, Vernon Davis, Tim Hightower, Brian Westbrook, and Brent Celek.

Team four, the South Florida Tarpons, an auto drafted team was the worst of all teams at 5-8. This team was under a constant struggle at quarterback, and other positions.

This team had Matt Cassell mostly with Josh Freeman in desperation in the end. Also in this not so great lineup were DeAngelo Williams, Matt Forte, Hines Ward, Reggie Bush, John Carlson, and Frank Gore.

Team five is in the Championship round today with a 36 point lead in the two week ESPN playoff format. These are your Fort Myers Mustangs.

Starting and a probable winner of the playoffs and this league will be Donovan McNabb, Rashard Mendenhall, Jerome Harrison, Randy Moss, Anquan Boldin, Roddy White, Heath Miller, the 49ers defense, and Nate Kaeding.

Team six lost last week and will finish third in their league. The LaBelle Cowboys had in their lineup to end the season Matt Schaub, Rashard Mendenhall, Darren Sproles, Steve Smith, Larry Fitzgerald, Hines Ward, Brent Celek, the Cardinals defense, and Matt Prater.

The North Fort Myers Warlocks, team seven, also lost last week and finished third with a nice 11-2 record, but got killed by a couple of guys in the playoffs. This team had Roelthlisberger or Warner, Frank Gore, Wes Welker, Thomas Jones, Larry Fitzgerald, Hines Ward, Brent Celek, and Heath Miller.

It’s been a fun fantasy season, and I would like to be in a prize/money kind of league or two next season. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Thomas[ NFL Mikee ]Moreland

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Philadelphia Eagles’ Week 17 Playoff Scenarios

I believe they will end up with the No. 2 seed. They control their own destiny, and with the division title at stake, they will come out firing on Sunday.

Remember, last year the Birds snuck into the sixth spot with a 44-6 thrashing of Dallas.

Will it happen again?

If it does, the Birds will have a week off.

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Buffalo Bills: New Decade Starts With Lots Of Excitement

When the Buffalo Bills hired Buddy Nix as their General Manager, the press conference that followed Nix’s introduction included sessions with Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas. That Nix had sought out Kelly and Thomas for their opinion is a sign that this new regime seeks to take advantage of all the assets the Bills have at their disposal.

On Monday, Nix will begin interviewing candidates in earnest, starting with Perry Fewell. There was some type of meeting held with Bill Cowher this past week that included Ralph Wilson and Russ Brandon.

Brian Billick is on the slate for an interview this coming week. The Bills have approached San Diego for permission to interview Ron Rivera, meaning that he has to interview this week due to the Chargers playoff schedule having a bye for the upcoming week.

So for starters, we are looking at names like Bill Cowher, Perry Fewell, Brian Billick, and Ron Rivera coming out of the gate. Is the answer to the Bills woes found within that quartet?

Nix sighted at his press conference that they will put together a priority list of their favorite candidates. They will sit down with each candidate starting at the head of the list (Cowher?) and move down the list from there. Once they have confirmed that there is mutual interest, and they have two or three finalists, they will go to Ralph Wilson for the ultimate stamp of approval.

Nix is not wasting any time. He wants to make things happen. The Bills have players to evaluate, a coaching staff to put together, coordinators to fire and hire, and a team that needs to be examined from top to bottom to figure out who stays, who goes, and who is brought back to compete for a roster spot.

Now that the I.R. list has crossed the 20-man mark, there will be lots of bodies coming in to training camp in 2010 that have some degree of figuring in to the Bills new coaching staff’s plans. Nix is strong in scouting, so expect a strong haul from the draft this year, as his reputation for netting top talent is unquestioned.

I am looking forward to the start of this next decade and hope that this can be looked back to as the starting point of something big that is starting to build in Orchard Park.

 

 

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Chris J. Nelson’s Week 17 NFL Game Predictions

I went a solid 11-5 on picks last week, giving me exactly two-thirds of the game this season correct. This week looks to be much harder, however, as some teams will be resting starters and not all the best teams are going to win.

Last week’s record: 11-5
Season record: 160-80 (66.7 percent)

Bills over Colts—I think the only thing that would upset Colts fans more than pulling starters at 14-0 would be not pulling starters at 14-1. I don’t see the Colts’ stars playing much, so I like the Bills in frigid Buffalo.

Jaguars over Browns—In what looks to be the last hurrah for Eric Mangini, I don’t see the Browns playing spoiler.

Bears over Lions—Chicago has been a major disappointment this season, but I see Jay Cutler capping the season off with a big performance against the lowly Lions.

49ers over Rams—The Niners’ young playmakers in Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree are emerging, and they’re going to put up too many points for whatever quarterback St. Louis runs out there to match.

Steelers over Dolphins—Both teams have something to play for, but the Dolphins are a long shot to make the playoffs and I think they’ll fall short this year. Pittsburgh is the better team and I expect Ben Roethlisberger to lead the Steelers to victory.

Vikings over Giants—New York fell flat on its face with a blowout loss to the Panthers in Week 16, so I expect them to be deflated against a better Vikings team.

Falcons over Buccaneers—Raheem Morris might be on his way out, and I see Tampa Bay losing this week despite an upset win over the Saints last week.

Panthers over Saints—Drew Brees will serve a the emergency third-string quarterback for New Orleans today, so I like the Panthers in a game gift-wrapped by a New Orleans team playing it safe.

Texans over Patriots—This has the potential for a very good game, but New England has wrapped up the division and I might pick Houston anyway given their recent offensive play.

Cowboys over Eagles—Dallas is finally finding its stride, and I’m taking them at home in this great division rivalry.

Broncos over Chiefs—The Broncos will be without some of their offensive weapons in a crucial game after benching Brandon Marshall and Tony Scheffler, but I still like their chances against Kansas City.

Ravens over Raiders—Oakland’s quarterback situation is a mess right now, and I expect Baltimore to win this one no matter who they do or do not play.

Packers over Cardinals—Both teams have a playoff spot locked up, so I’m going with the home team in Arizona.

Chargers over Redskins—Jim Zorn is a sitting duck, and I don’t like his chances for one final win as Washington’s head coach.

Titans over Seahawks—Is there any reason to ever pick Seattle? I don’t think so.

Jets over Bengals—New York desperately needs a win, and I say they get it against a Bengals team that doesn’t have as much at stake this week.

 

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Which NFL Team Will Be the Team of the Teens?

Who will be The Team of the Teens? By that, I do not mean the team of kids between 12 and 19. I mean the team that will outshine all others in the 2010—2019 decade. The team that will record multiple Super Bowl victories. The team everyone else will hate and emulate at the same time. The team that will define the decade.

In every decade, the NFL has unofficially declared one team the premier team. In the 1960s, it was the Green Bay Packers, with their hard-charging, single-minded head coach Vince Lombardi. The ’70s belonged to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Terry Bradshaw, as they claimed four Super Bowl trophies to outshine the Dallas Cowboys, who made a remarkable five trips to the Super Bowl in that 10-year span, winning two.

The 1980s were all about The San Francisco 49ers; the emergence of the West Coast offense, the brainchild of their genius head coach Bill Walsh; and that skinny quarterback with the steely nerves and the indomitable will, Joe Montana.

The ’90s belonged to the lip-smacking, never-a-hair-out-of-place Jimmy Johnson; the brash new face of the NFL, Jerry Jones; the fair-haired, golden-armed Oklahoma kid from California, Troy Aikman; and the Dallas Cowboys in general. They won three Super Bowls in four years, the first time that had ever been done.

The first decade in the new century brought us Bill Belichick with his cut up sweatshirts and his unbelievable sixth round find, Tom Brady. The Brady Bunch won three consecutive Super Bowls. They then posted the first-ever perfect 16-0 regular season mark (the Dolphins’ perfect season was in the 14-game era), blew through the AFC playoffs, and then lost a heart-breaker to the upstart New York Giants.

So, who is next? Which team is poised to claim its very own decade and become part of that “greatest team ever” argument? To ascertain the likeliest candidates, it is first necessary to contemplate the formula. History suggests there is a predictor—a formula that seems too consistent to ignore.

Every team of the decade had a couple things in common: A relatively young coach coming into his own and establishing himself as a great leader/technician/motivator; a young superstar quarterback; a dominating (or at least very difficult to deal with) defense.

Consider…

• The 1960s Packers had Vince Lombardi, whose influence on the game was so significant they named the Super Bowl trophy after him, and Bart Starr. Now, Starr was not a sensational quarterback, but he was a great field general who understood and executed his coach’s offense to perfection.
• The 1970s Steelers had Chuck Knoll, who began a coaching tradition like no other there in the Steel City. They also had Terry Bradshaw and the Steel Curtain. The honorable mention Dallas Cowboys had a fellow named Tom Landry and a quarterback named Roger Staubach, not to mention DoomsDay I & II.
• The 1980s 49ers had Bill Walsh forever changing the game with his X’s and O’s and Joe Montana making his case for best quarterback ever. They had a salty defense led by the likes or Ronnie Lott, too.
• The 1990s Cowboys were lead by Jimmy Johnson, the first coach ever to win both a NCAA championship and a Super Bowl. They were led on the field by the unflappable Troy Aikman. And, they had a defense that was quick, nasty, and sometimes downright dominating.
• The 2000s Patriots. Belichick. Brady. Bruschi. What more need we say?

So, if we assume this formula works and is a pretty good indicator of things to come, which team currently stands poised to climb Mount Domination in the 2010s? Here are my top six candidates, beginning with No. 6:

No. 6: Cincinnati Bengals

I know. Carson Palmer is already a six-year veteran. The Bengals are good defensively, but not dominating. Marvin Lewis is not on many people’s “next coaching genius” list. Let’s not forget, however, that Lewis did help construct that Baltimore Ravens’ defense.

He did spend valuable time on that Pittsburgh Steelers’ coaching staff. Carson Palmer is a strong-armed quarterback with more than sufficient skills to get the job done. Chad Ochocinco is no slouch. The running game has found its legs.

Most importantly, this beleaguered franchise has the taste of victory fresh in its mouth.

 

No. 5: Arizona Cardinals

The biggest missing piece here is the young quarterback. What they have at QB right now is pure greatness. Kurt Warner is also nearing Methuselah’s age. The other pieces are in place, though.

Coach Whisenhunt has already made his mark on the team, getting them into last year’s Super Bowl, and coming within a Roethlisberger drive of winning it. The defense can be stingy and opportunistic. The receiving corps is as good as any in football.

And…the team finally believes it can.

 

No. 4: Baltimore Ravens

Joe Flacco is the X-factor here. Will he become more than a game manager? Will he be a play-maker? John Harbaugh, like his brother, appears to be the real deal. He could be the kind of young coach that makes his mark on the league. The defensive tradition in Baltimore is already well established and must simply be replenished.

 

No. 3: Green Bay Packers

The long shadow of Brett Favre is withering as the traitorous legend leads the Packers’ arch enemy into the playoffs. It is withering because of the play of  their Pro Bowl quarterback Aaron Rodgers. It is withering because the Packers’ defense ranks ninth in points allowed and second in yardage yielded. It is withering because Head Coach Mike McCarthy has his team poised and focused on the future, rather than dwelling on the past.

Could that future include another “team of the decade” for the citizens of the diminutive city of champions to cherish? It could.

 

No. 2: Dallas Cowboys

OK. Call me a homer, but I like where this team sits right now. The unknown quotient is a biggie: namely, who will be the coach going forward? The quarterback Tony Romo, however, I believe, is poised to become one of the league’s best. He has already set a number of team records in just his third full year as a starter.

This is no small thing when you consider he holds the position held by guys named Meredith, Staubach, White, and Aikman.

The defense, under the guidance of current coach Wade Phillips has begun to assert itself, keeping some of the league’s most potent offensive attacks in check. Most of the defense is young. In fact, apart from the aging offensive line, most of the team is fairly young.

The Cowboys could be set to do that every-other-decade thing they do. It all depends on Jerry and the choice he makes at head coach.

 

No. 1: New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees and Sean Payton have proved a lethal duo. This team hangs basketball-like numbers on opponents with a good deal of regularity. And now, they have Gregg Williams running the defense.

The Saints have already come within a game of the Super Bowl a couple seasons ago. They have gotten the home-field advantage for themselves in the current playoffs. They are young, hungry, and poised to become a force for the next eight to 10 years.

Of course, plenty of other teams could have something to say about this. The Redskins may finally be headed in the right direction with the changes in front office leadership. The Colts and Patriots are still quality, well-oiled machines with quarterbacks whose names are already legendary and will be forever in any argument about the best to ever play the game. I like where the Texans are. The 49ers have the right coach in place, I believe.

My honorable mention team, however, is Norv Turner’s San Diego Chargers. Phillip Rivers and Company are—and should continue to be—a force with which to be reckoned.

It is conceivable that this will be the decade dominated by parity, that no team will assert itself. The magic wand may pass from hand to hand, team to team, city to city. History, however, suggests some team somewhere will emerge as the team to beat.

It could be yours.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Which NFL Team Will Be the Team of the Teens?

Who will be The Team of the Teens? By that, I do not mean the team of kids between 12 and 19. I mean the team that will outshine all others in the 2010—2019 decade. The team that will record multiple Super Bowl victories. The team everyone else will hate and emulate at the same time. The team that will define the decade.

In every decade, the NFL has unofficially declared one team the premier team. In the 1960s, it was the Green Bay Packers, with their hard-charging, single-minded head coach Vince Lombardi. The ’70s belonged to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Terry Bradshaw, as they claimed four Super Bowl trophies to outshine the Dallas Cowboys, who made a remarkable five trips to the Super Bowl in that 10-year span, winning two.

The 1980s were all about The San Francisco 49ers; the emergence of the West Coast offense, the brainchild of their genius head coach Bill Walsh; and that skinny quarterback with the steely nerves and the indomitable will, Joe Montana.

The ’90s belonged to the lip-smacking, never-a-hair-out-of-place Jimmy Johnson; the brash new face of the NFL, Jerry Jones; the fair-haired, golden-armed Oklahoma kid from California, Troy Aikman; and the Dallas Cowboys in general. They won three Super Bowls in four years, the first time that had ever been done.

The first decade in the new century brought us Bill Belichick with his cut up sweatshirts and his unbelievable sixth round find, Tom Brady. The Brady Bunch won three consecutive Super Bowls. They then posted the first-ever perfect 16-0 regular season mark (the Dolphins’ perfect season was in the 14-game era), blew through the AFC playoffs, and then lost a heart-breaker to the upstart New York Giants.

So, who is next? Which team is poised to claim its very own decade and become part of that “greatest team ever” argument? To ascertain the likeliest candidates, it is first necessary to contemplate the formula. History suggests there is a predictor—a formula that seems too consistent to ignore.

Every team of the decade had a couple things in common: A relatively young coach coming into his own and establishing himself as a great leader/technician/motivator; a young superstar quarterback; a dominating (or at least very difficult to deal with) defense.

Consider…

• The 1960s Packers had Vince Lombardi, whose influence on the game was so significant they named the Super Bowl trophy after him, and Bart Starr. Now, Starr was not a sensational quarterback, but he was a great field general who understood and executed his coach’s offense to perfection.
• The 1970s Steelers had Chuck Knoll, who began a coaching tradition like no other there in the Steel City. They also had Terry Bradshaw and the Steel Curtain. The honorable mention Dallas Cowboys had a fellow named Tom Landry and a quarterback named Roger Staubach, not to mention DoomsDay I & II.
• The 1980s 49ers had Bill Walsh forever changing the game with his X’s and O’s and Joe Montana making his case for best quarterback ever. They had a salty defense led by the likes or Ronnie Lott, too.
• The 1990s Cowboys were lead by Jimmy Johnson, the first coach ever to win both a NCAA championship and a Super Bowl. They were led on the field by the unflappable Troy Aikman. And, they had a defense that was quick, nasty, and sometimes downright dominating.
• The 2000s Patriots. Belichick. Brady. Bruschi. What more need we say?

So, if we assume this formula works and is a pretty good indicator of things to come, which team currently stands poised to climb Mount Domination in the 2010s? Here are my top six candidates, beginning with No. 6:

No. 6: Cincinnati Bengals

I know. Carson Palmer is already a six-year veteran. The Bengals are good defensively, but not dominating. Marvin Lewis is not on many people’s “next coaching genius” list. Let’s not forget, however, that Lewis did help construct that Baltimore Ravens’ defense.

He did spend valuable time on that Pittsburgh Steelers’ coaching staff. Carson Palmer is a strong-armed quarterback with more than sufficient skills to get the job done. Chad Ochocinco is no slouch. The running game has found its legs.

Most importantly, this beleaguered franchise has the taste of victory fresh in its mouth.

 

No. 5: Arizona Cardinals

The biggest missing piece here is the young quarterback. What they have at QB right now is pure greatness. Kurt Warner is also nearing Methuselah’s age. The other pieces are in place, though.

Coach Whisenhunt has already made his mark on the team, getting them into last year’s Super Bowl, and coming within a Roethlisberger drive of winning it. The defense can be stingy and opportunistic. The receiving corps is as good as any in football.

And…the team finally believes it can.

 

No. 4: Baltimore Ravens

Joe Flacco is the X-factor here. Will he become more than a game manager? Will he be a play-maker? John Harbaugh, like his brother, appears to be the real deal. He could be the kind of young coach that makes his mark on the league. The defensive tradition in Baltimore is already well established and must simply be replenished.

 

No. 3: Green Bay Packers

The long shadow of Brett Favre is withering as the traitorous legend leads the Packers’ arch enemy into the playoffs. It is withering because of the play of  their Pro Bowl quarterback Aaron Rodgers. It is withering because the Packers’ defense ranks ninth in points allowed and second in yardage yielded. It is withering because Head Coach Mike McCarthy has his team poised and focused on the future, rather than dwelling on the past.

Could that future include another “team of the decade” for the citizens of the diminutive city of champions to cherish? It could.

 

No. 2: Dallas Cowboys

OK. Call me a homer, but I like where this team sits right now. The unknown quotient is a biggie: namely, who will be the coach going forward? The quarterback Tony Romo, however, I believe, is poised to become one of the league’s best. He has already set a number of team records in just his third full year as a starter.

This is no small thing when you consider he holds the position held by guys named Meredith, Staubach, White, and Aikman.

The defense, under the guidance of current coach Wade Phillips has begun to assert itself, keeping some of the league’s most potent offensive attacks in check. Most of the defense is young. In fact, apart from the aging offensive line, most of the team is fairly young.

The Cowboys could be set to do that every-other-decade thing they do. It all depends on Jerry and the choice he makes at head coach.

 

No. 1: New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees and Sean Payton have proved a lethal duo. This team hangs basketball-like numbers on opponents with a good deal of regularity. And now, they have Gregg Williams running the defense.

The Saints have already come within a game of the Super Bowl a couple seasons ago. They have gotten the home-field advantage for themselves in the current playoffs. They are young, hungry, and poised to become a force for the next eight to 10 years.

Of course, plenty of other teams could have something to say about this. The Redskins may finally be headed in the right direction with the changes in front office leadership. The Colts and Patriots are still quality, well-oiled machines with quarterbacks whose names are already legendary and will be forever in any argument about the best to ever play the game. I like where the Texans are. The 49ers have the right coach in place, I believe.

My honorable mention team, however, is Norv Turner’s San Diego Chargers. Phillip Rivers and Company are—and should continue to be—a force with which to be reckoned.

It is conceivable that this will be the decade dominated by parity, that no team will assert itself. The magic wand may pass from hand to hand, team to team, city to city. History, however, suggests some team somewhere will emerge as the team to beat.

It could be yours.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

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