Undoubtebly the Raiders have quite a few holes to fill. Whether they be on the roster, the coaching staff or even the front office. There is no denying they are there.
Could these holes be filled by former Raiders? I’m not suggesting giving Art Shell a third chance, hiring Warren Sapp as defensive coordinator and Bill Romanowski as JaMarcus Russells’ nutritionist .
I’m suggesting something much better.
The biggest holes on the coaching staff are on Offense: Offensive coordinator, Wide Receivers Coach and maybe QB coach.
So what about Marc Trestman, Tim Brown and Rich Gannon. Three integral parts to the last success the Raiders had.
Marc Trestman is the current head coach of the Champion CFL Montreal Alouettes. And was the offensive coordinator of the 2003 AFC Champion Raiders.
Some would say all doors of him coming to the NFL are closed as he just signed a contract extension with the Alouettes. But his website and blog acknowledges the fact that NFL teams are interested in him. Would he void his new contract to come back to the NFL? Sure, maybe not the Raiders but what about other teams?
Then there is Rich Gannon. Could he be an offensive coordinator, or replace his former mentor as the Raiders QB coach.
Earlier this off-season he offered a detailed report on JaMarcus Russell’s problems. Then went on to say Russells problems could be fixed with coaching and that he has the ability to become a great NFL QB… He just has to want it.
Then in more recent weeks Gannon has been running his mouth on Sirius Radio. Claiming that he has been reaching out to JaMarcus Russell, to no avail, offering to tutor the young QB free of charge on his own time. Gannon says that he can help Russell, who hasn’t even responded to Gannons’ offers.
Only a few problems: First the Raiders already have a QB coach named Paul Hacket. Who Rich Gannon praised for being a “premier QB coach” specializing in foot work and fundamentals. Funny aren’t those the same problems Gannons’ detailed report pointed out?
Second, Gannon and Al Davis have a documented grudge. As Gannon tends to speak negatively about the Raiders organization prior to every Chiefs game prompting the Raiders to try and ban him from the facility two years in a row.
Could Gannon and Davis put their differences aside for the better of the Silver and Black?
Who knows.
But according to one of Rich Gannons’ former receivers , outside of his playing abilities, none of Gannons’ team-mates ever thought very highly of him.
“Gannon wasn’t a very well-like player his whole time with the Raiders. In fact he was downright hated.”
But hey he got the job done. He was here to win games not make friends.
According to that same former Raider receiver Rich Gannon hated the Raiders when he came to Oakland, while he was in Oakland, and still does to this day. That pretty much slams the door shut on Gannon ever helping Russell.
Sure some would say the opinion of one of Gannons’ former receivers holds little water. Except for the fact that former receiver is Mr. Raider, Tim Brown. One of the best receivers of all time and quite possibly the best ever to don the silver and black.
Tim Brown would be an awesome candidate to work in the front office, or replace Sanjay Lal as the receiver coach, or maybe even as GM.
When asked about working under Al Davis, Brown had this to say:
“It would take me about two seconds to make that decision. At some point, home is home, and even though I reside in Dallas, Dallas is not home for me when it comes to the NFL. The love I get when I’m in Oakland, that’s home for me. I realize that, and if the Raiders ever asked me to do anything in the front office, certainly I would jump at the opportunity because I do think, not just my presence in Oakland, but in some of the decision making as far as what’s happening with coaches and players that come in, I think I could be very instrumental in helping in that area.”
Could some of these guys help the Raiders coaching staff? Absolutely.
But will they? Probably, not but it’s still nice to dream.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
The Cincinnati Bengals will play the New York Jets on Sunday (Game set for 8:20pm) but winning for the Bengals is not all that important since they have already clinched a playoff birth. The Jets, with a win, would hold on to a wild card spot and (ironically) play the Bengals again in the first round of the playoffs. If I were the Bengals, I would rest my players and lose to the Jets. Marvin Lewis has been the Bengals coach for years and should have the power and trust in his players to do so.
Although I am a Jets fan (you can stop reading now or hear me out), I am writing as if I were Bengals fan. This game has much more meaning for the Jets since it is not only a playoff-deciding game, but it is also the last game at the Meadowlands. These two factors will have the Jets pumped up and ready to (at the very least) leave everything on the field, since it is a win or go home situation.
If I am Marvin Lewis, I do not want to risk Carson Palmer, Chad Ochocinco and other impact players to injuries, just for pride. Lewis could allow OchoCinco to score a touchdown and do his celebrations before sitting him. As I said, the Jets are going to be playing hard and their defense is one of the fiercest, most physical defenses in the league. Yes, the Bengals would play the Jets in the playoffs but the other teams that could make the playoffs instead of the Jets (Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Denver and Texans) have strong defenses and stronger offenses.
If I were Marvin Lewis, I would let the Jets win for the simple fact that it gives them the ability to relax. They would not have to have scouting reports for the Jets, Denver, Texans, Ravens or Pittsburgh if they lost. They could have already started scouting the Jets and would have two weeks to scout them. The Jets would be playing all their starters and the Bengals would be able to study the Jets during the game. Also, the fact that it’s home for the Jets makes it easier for Lewis to bench his starters. Hey, if Jim Caldwell (first year coach) can bench his starters at home , Marvin Lewis can bench his starters away .
If Marvin Lewis goes for the win, it would be a huge risk to the team. If Lewis decides to leave his starters in for the game and they lose, the loss would jeopardize the players confidence. The Bengals would not be nearly as confident against the Jets if they lost the past week with their starters in the game. Losing gives the Bengals the ability to rest, more time to scout the Jets and an excuse to lose. Excuses never justify the case fully but losing with your starters is more meaningful than losing without them. This goes to another level since the Bengals would be playing the Jets again.
This might be wishful thinking but I believe I have a point. If the Jets talent level was immensely larger than the other teams that could make the playoffs, I would not suggest resting their starters and losing the game. The Jets were in a similar situation against the Raiders in 2001, where the Jets beat the Raiders to clinch a playoff birth, then lost to them in a rematch in the first round.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
Following is the definitive offensive team of the decade for the years 2000-2009. In some cases I name two players when it is a particularly close call and the second player deserved a prominent mention on the team.
Mostly I name one player for each position.
I only use statistics where needed when players are fairly close and it helps differentiate between contenders for key spots.
Fact checking was done using the following: NFL.com, 2009 NFL Record and Fact Book, Pro-Football-Reference.com, and Wikipedia.com.
Begin Slideshow
(Originally posted on 4SportBoston.com )
Well it’s New Year’s Day, and it’s time to make some resolutions. For many of us we’ll be resolving to lose weight, exercise more, eat better, make more time for family, booze less, and pay off debt.
In the NFL, the resolutions are different and depending on the franchise—equally as unlikely to happen as our own resolutions.
So what do these teams need to change this year as some others start a playoff run? Some teams will be watching bowl games hoping to land themselves Ndamukong Suh, Eric Berry, or Jimmy Clausen in this year’s draft, and hoping their franchise players don’t have off-season killing injuries in the final game of the season.
By the way, why isn’t Freddie Barnes, the kid from Bowling Green who has 155 catches and 19 touchdowns even ranked by ESPN? He had 17 catches for over 200 yards and 2 TD’s in the Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl against Idaho.
The first resolution is for the NFL Owners and Players Union to come to terms on a new contract. Facing the potential of an uncapped year in 2010 and possibly even a lockout in 2011, a deal has to get done to keep the NFL rolling and the fans happy.
Not sure if you knew this NFL, but the fans are your customers. I don’t think the NFL will tank the way the NHL did when they locked out, but it’s been a long road to recovery for the NHL, and if you ask anyone at 4SportBoston (besides Chaz), not a single one of us could tell you players names or cite rule changes since the lockout. I’m still pretty sure Adam Oates plays for the Bruins.
On to the individual teams…
Indianapolis +8.5 over Buffalo
I know the Colts are throwing away the rest of their season, but to lose by 8.5 points playing Buffalo’s starters who are probably about the same skill level as the Colts’ backups is absurd. The Bills are out of the playoff picture too, so there’s nothing really to be won or lost in this game.
In fact, if the Bills lose, it helps their draft position. No team will admit to that, but the GM’s and the scouts are definitely thinking it in the back of their minds.
Colts Resolution: Get your starters back on the field for at least a half of football this week. You have a bye week next week to rest up, and you don’t want to be rusty. You’ve lost in past playoff tries with this strategy of resting your players, and I know you’re trying to keep guys from getting hurt, but it’s going to hurt your playoff run.
Bills Resolution: Lose this game. You’re sitting at the ninth overall pick in the draft right now. If the cards fall right for you this weekend, you could be picking as high as fifth. You need a new quarterback and Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford projects somewhere between fourth and ninth overall.
Jacksonville +1.5 over Cleveland
Cleveland has won three in a row putting them out of contention for the top pick in the draft. Jacksonville controlled their own destiny a few weeks ago, and now needs a truckload of luck to get into the playoffs.
Browns Resolution: Win this one at home. You’ve just hired a new GM, Mike Holmgren, so at this point everyone is playing for their job. Mike can make a good pick no matter where he is on the draft board, so it’s more important to go into this off season with a four game win streak and a mindset towards continuing that streak in 2010.
Jaguars Resolution: You have to win this one, but don’t expect much as a result. Face it coach JackDel Rio, this season is blown. Go hide for a few months, hope you don’t get fired, make some good free agent changes (see: cornerback, add one) and enjoy the golfing season.
Chicago over Detroit +3
Yes, we’re going with Chicago here. Matthew Stafford is gone, Kevin Smith is gone. It should be a no brainer.
Bears Resolution: Offensive line. You have to bulk up your offensive line. You’ll get Brian Urlacher back next year, and we all knew your season was hosed the minute he went down in Week One (much the way Pats fans knew our season was done when Tom Brady went down in Week One in 2008). You can easily find offensive line help in free agency. If you can’t run the ball in the windy city, you can’t win games. That’s why you’re not in the playoff picture this year.
Lions Resolution: Lose this one and you’ve got the second overall pick locked up. Stafford will be back next year, and you know you’ve got a kid who can win some games for you there. Help out your defense. Either Nebraska’s DT Suh or Oklahoma’s DT Gerald McCoy will be available, and both are projected to go top three. You need to stop the run in a division with Adrian Peterson if you ever hope to become relevant.
San Francisco over St. Louis +7
The Niners are out of the playoff picture, but I don’t see them handing the final game away. That is un-Mike Singletary like. The Rams just aren’t good enough.
49ers Resolution: Is Alex Smith really the solution here? Singletary, pick an offense. Are you run first, or are you working out of spread formations? There’s a lot of decisions that need to be made in San Francisco before this team can hope to knock out the Cardinals as division champs. Make them and stick to your guns.
Rams Resolution: Congratulations St. Louis, you have the number one pick! Take Suh. The man is a beast. Look for a quarterback with your pick in the second round… Or offensive line… Or more defense. Let’s face it, you’ve got holes all over the field and no realistic plan to replace Steven Jackson. Take Suh though, the man is a beast.
Miami +3 over Pittsburgh
I don’t know why I like Miami here. I just do. Both teams have outside shots at getting into the playoffs. One of them definitely won’t make it, and I think it’s the Steelers.
Dolphins Resolution: Win this game and go into the off season on a good note. Ronnie Brown will be back, and with Ricky Williams you’ve got a dynamo running core. I like Chad Henne too, he could turn into a winner in this league. He needs weapons in the passing game though. Ted Ginn Jr is not a reliable receiver, no matter how explosive he may be in the return game. Devone Bess is a good underneath option, but he hasn’t broken a big play all year. Receiver Dez Bryant is available through the draft, and there could be a few options in free agency, but the Fins need to address that position.
Steelers Resolution:
Dear Ben,
Please stop taking sacks.
Love,
Steelers Fans.
Yes he extends plays and turns them into big gainers, but he needs to work on the clock in his head. Throw the ball away once in a while, you’ll find you won’t need as many of those big gainers when it’s not second and 18.
NYG +9 over Minnesota
The Vikes will win this one, but not by nine points. The Giants really have nothing to play for, and are ready for this season to be over. It’s been an up and down battle for them all year, with only themselves to blame for not making a run this year.
Giants Resolution: Replace Antonio Pierce. He’s not the every down linebacker he used to be, and proved this season he could be subject to breakdown. It’s easier said than done, obviously, but it’s a requirement to have a middle linebacker who can quarterback your defense.
Vikings Resolution: Win this game and hope for an Eagles loss. To me, you need the bye week more than any other team in the NFC. Your defense is floundering without EJ Henderson and you need a week off to get your act together.
As a more long term goal, you need to put Adrian Peterson in a room alone with Tiki Barber for six months. His fumbling problems need to be addressed. That issue alone cost the Vikings home-field advantage and possibly even the bye week and if it continues, could cost them a Super Bowl.
Atlanta over Tampa Bay +2.5
Atlanta has Matt Ryan back, and that means a whole lot for this team’s chances. His mid season turf toe injury, combined with Michael Turner’s high ankle sprain, cost the Falcons a playoff run. They should win this game.
Falcons Resolution: Make sure you go into 2010 with a spell back for Michael Turner, and work on that defensive secondary. You’re in good shape though, a playoff run in 2010 is in the cards.
Bucs Resolution: If Josh Freeman is your answer, give him some weapons. He needs wide receivers. With the third overall pick though, a more reasonable selection would be Tennessee safety Eric Berry. The Bucs haven’t had an impact player at that position since John Lynch left, and he could be the anchor this defense needs.
New Orleans over Carolina (off)
New Orleans needs this win and Steve Smith has a broken arm.
Saints Resolution: Defense, Defense, Defense. That’s the mantra for the Saints in the playoffs. They’ve lost two in a row after starting 13-0. It’s time to get back on track, and make the run to the Super Bowl.
Panthers Resolution: Matt Moore has shown he can lead this team to victory, and may be the replacement for Jake Delhomme in 2010. If not Matt Moore, it needs to be someone though. Delhomme is inconsistent and the position needs to be addressed in the off season.
New England +8 over Houston
This game doesn’t mean a whole lot to the Pats for the playoff picture, but the Pats never lay down deliberately. It’s just not the Belichick way. Houston needs some help to get into the playoffs, but I expect a Pats win, so good luck next year.
Patriots Resolution: Get back to the basics. Embrace the field goal as a viable scoring method, they make the difference. There’s no reason to go for it on fourth and two from the six yard line. It’s okay to punt too, play for field position. That’s how you win in the playoffs, so do it. They can beat any team on any week, so play like it.
Texans Resolution: The three headed monster of Steve Slaton, Ryan Moats, and Chris Brown at running back has been ineffective at best this season. I’m not sure if it’s the offensive line or the guys with the ball, but it needs to be figured out. This team is on the verge, and if they can figure out how to beat the Colts, of making the next step as a franchise.
Philadelphia +3 over Dallas
This could be the biggest game of the week in terms of playoff position. The winner takes the NFC East and gets home-field advantage in the first round. If the Eagles win, they have next week off and home-field advantage in the divisional round as well.
Eagles Resolution: Win in Big D and take a week off to prepare for round two. The road still goes through New Orleans though, but with the way Minnesota and New Orleans have played of late, the door is wide open in the NFC.
Cowboys Resolution: The Cowboys need this win too, and in order to do it, DeMarcus Ware needs a big day rushing Donovan McNabb. Michael Jenkins is turning into a good cornerback, but the Eagles deep passing game is too good for the ‘Boys if they don’t get pressure on Donovan. If they lose, they have to go to Minnesota next week, and I don’t think anybody wants to go there. Their biggest resolution is to win in the playoffs though. At some point, the finger will have to be pointed at Wade Phillips and Tony Romo if they can’t get a win.
Kansas City +13 over Denver
Okay, so I don’t think KC will win, but 13 is too large a spread against a Denver team without Brandon Marshall, who will be sitting on Sunday with a nagging hamstring.
Chiefs Resolution: Win this game and spoil the Broncos playoff bid. After that, get some help for your offensive line. ESPN’s Todd McShay projects you taking OK State’s OT Russell Okung, and I can’t disagree with your need for a stud left tackle. There was a time when the Chiefs had a dominant O-line, and if they want to compete with the Broncos and Chargers again, they need to get back there. Matt Cassel needs to be protected.
Broncos Resolution: I’m really quite surprised Marshall won’t be playing Sunday. Maybe it’s part of his plan to let the Broncos know how much he’s worth in the event of a Denver loss here. Conspiracy theories aside, they should win either way, and are next in line to make the playoffs in the event of a Ravens or Jets loss. In the off-season, they have the Bears’ first round pick, which means an early round pick. At this point, look for a play-maker on offense or defense, a difference maker that can turn games in your direction.
Oakland +10.5 over Baltimore
This could be our upset of playoff teams that control their own destiny. Oakland can win this game at home, and send the Ravens home for the season. In fact, I just called that.
Raiders Resolution: Re-sign Richard Seymour somehow. Otherwise, your 2011 first overall pick goes for nought, and you have to spend your 2010 first round pick to replace him with Florida DE Carlos Dunlap. Apparently he’s got questionable work ethic and a DUI, so he’ll fit right in with the silver and black. The most important advice I can give to Al Davis is to let go. Hire someone to run the team for you or you won’t see another winner before you take the infinite dirt nap.
Ravens Resolution: Baltimore needs a wide receiver. They got lucky that Desmond Mason decided to play another season. I’m certainly not sure he’ll make the same move in 2010, and in that event Joe Flacco will have no options in the passing game. Mark Clayton is not a number one receiver. Available Wide Receivers in the draft are Dez Bryant, Golden Tate, and Mardy Gilyard.
Green Bay +3.5 over Arizona
This game doesn’t mean much to either team, but depending on the outcome of the weekends games, these teams could be facing each other again next week. Both teams should try to avoid that scenario.
Packers Resolution: You’ve done a good job adapting to a new 3-4 defensive scheme this year, and if I’m you, I stay on that track. Look for a cornerback to help out aging Charles Woodson and Al Harris. In the meantime, focus on winning playoff games. They’ve got as good a chance as any other NFC team to go the distance, and I think they’d like another shot at Minnesota.
Cardinals Resolution: In position to make it back to the Super Bowl, that is the Cardinals goal. Keep Kurt Warner on his feet and in the pocket and they can do that. In the off season, re-sign Darnell Dockett. He’s not a happy man when it comes to his contract, but needs to be because he’s a force on the Arizona defensive line.
San Diego over Washington +4
San Diego is good enough to win this game with LaDanian Tomlinson on the bench, and will do just that.
Chargers Resolution: The talk around town is that this is the Chargers year. They certainly look like the team to beat in the AFC, as questions about the Colts dedication to excellence surface. Although, the Chargers haven’t gotten it done in the playoffs in recent years with this group, led by LDT. Play like they have in the second half of the season, and they could be the AFC representative in the big game.
Redskins Resolution: Is the Jason Campbell experiment over yet in Washington? Certainly the Jim Zorn experiment is over. There will be changes in Washington, and Mike Shanahan as the head coach could be the best off season move the Skins could make.
Tennessee +4 over Seattle
The Titans should win this game and still have an outside shot of going to the playoffs.
Titans Resolution: Playoffs or no Playoffs, this season was a success for Jeff Fischer and company. Though they started 0-6, they turned it around with vigor and rediscovered that Vince Young is a starting QB in the NFL and Chris Johnson established himself as possibly the most complete young running back in the league. WR Kenny Britt has also done well in his debut season, and should develop into a solid number two receiver or low end number one. In the off season, they should look for a true number one receiver if they can find one, and get younger in the defensive front seven.
Seahawks Resolution: Look for a Matt Hasselback replacement. He’s 35 and apparently prone to injury, and Seneca Wallace is not the answer. They have the Broncos first round pick, along with their own pick. Perhaps a reach on Bradford or Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen with one of those picks is in order.
Cincinnati +10 over NYJ
I’m not sure I could turn down a spread this large. Everyone is saying the Bengals will lay down like the Colts did last week, but I’m not so sure that’s true. If the Bengals lose to the Jets this week, they have to play them again next week. That’s not a good scenario for Cincy.
Bengals Resolution: Beat the Jets. This is Round One of the playoffs for Cincy. Then find some offense to go with their defense, otherwise they’re not going to go far in the playoffs. In the off season, look for a Tight End to compliment Chad Ochocinco andLaveranues Coles. If this team is going to run an offense like this, they need a Todd Heap/Heath Miller type of player in their offense.
Jets Resolution: Obviously start with a win on Sunday, then lose next week. I hate the Jets. They need to strengthen their offensive line in the off season.
So those are the resolutions, we’ll see how many of these teams follow through.
See you next week for the playoffs!
I failed to fill out my Yahoo! Picks multiple times this year, so I’m going to have to do some heavy analysis to figure out how many I got right this year. I’ll let you know the final tally next week, so you can decide if it’s worth it to listen to me next year.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
We’re down to Week 17 and there are several playoff scenarios remaining to be sorted out in each conference during the final games.
Unlike
previous weeks , I’m going to do two separate previews, so that I can properly sort out the key games in each conference and how they effect the playoffs.
Read my AFC picks here.
The NFC Playoff Picture
In the NFC, things are settled as to which teams are in, but there is still a pretty good amount of uncertainty about which teams will end up seeded where.
Everything comes down to three games, which will decide the second through sixth seeds, with New Orleans having clinched the home-field advantage already. In addition, regardless of what happens, Green Bay will end up with the No. 5 seed.
The easiest of the NFL scenarios also involves what might potentially be the best game of the season featuring the Philadelphia Eagles against the Dallas Cowboys, who are arguably the two best teams in the NFC right now.
It’s not very complicated math here; the winner is the NFC East champion, the loser ends up the No. 6 seed. Additionally, the Eagles will be the No. 2 seed if they win, while the Cowboys could end up anywhere from the No. 2 to No. 4 spot if they win, depending on whether the Vikings and Cardinals win their respective games.
Most likely, a Dallas win means a rematch in the first round of the playoffs
This game can easily go either way and I could see either team winning. Having said that, I’m picking the Eagles here. Dallas beat them the first time in Week Nine, but it was one of the worst games for the Eagles offense and they were still adjusting to being without Brian Westbrook.
Not only is Westbrook back, but they have had time to adjust to life without him and his presence is an asset rather than a necessity at this point. Philadelphia has scored 31 points a game during their six-game win streak, which began two weeks after that first game.
There are, however, two things that could point to trouble for the Eagles.
One is their defense’s propensity to forget about tackling in favor of going for the big play. While this has resulted in a fair amount of turnovers during the season, it has also turned what should be a routine play into a big play for the other team many times.
Another potential problem for the Eagles is the loss of starting center Jamaal Jackson for the season last week against Denver. This could potentially be a big loss, since the Cowboys had four sacks last time they played.
The other big game in the NFC involves the Arizona Cardinals vs. the Green Bay Packers in Arizona.
For the Cardinals winning this game could put them into position to be the No. 2 seed (if the Vikings and Eagles both lose) or the No. 3 seed (if the Eagles win and Vikings lose).
If the Packers should win, more than likely the Cards and Pack will play again in the first round of the playoffs. However, if the Eagles and Giants also win, they would instead play the Vikings for the third time this season.
Obviously, another rematch against Brett Favre’s new team would be huge, but in order for that to happen the New York Giants would have to upset the Minnesota Vikings.
With the way the Vikings have played the past month, that’s not out of the realm of possibility. In fact, if the Giants weren’t such a mess right now, I would pick them to beat the Vikings.
I still wouldn’t be surprised if New York did win, but they have been less than impressive lately. You just never know which team is going to show up anymore.
Last week they couldn’t even keep the game competitive against the Carolina Panthers when they needed a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. I don’t have a lot of faith that things are going to go much different this week.
Other Games of Interest
Some other games have the possibility to be interesting games even though they don’t actually effect the playoff situation.
New Orleans plays Carolina in a game that essentially means nothing, but could have some significance in light of the fact that the Saints have lost two straight games.
There is some speculation that they will rest their starters, but I expect them to play all out to try to go into the playoffs on a positive note.
After losing to Tampa Bay last week, I actually wouldn’t be surprised to see them lose, however I think the difference in the game will be the loss of Steve Smith for the Panthers last week.
The other game that has some interest in spite of not involving the playoffs is the Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The reason it is relevant is because the Falcons will be trying to finish with a winning record in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history. Luckily for them, they are playing the Buccaneers and should be able to pull it off.
Last week, I ended up with a 9-7 record straight up and only 5-11 against the spread. Which leaves me with a season record of 147-90 straight up and 118-118-3 against the spread.
My Picks for the 2009 Week Seventeen NFC Games
Click edit above to add content to this empty capsule.
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Sun, Jan 3
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10:00 AM (PST)
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11:00 AM (MST)
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12:00 PM (CST)
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1:00 PM (EST)
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Favorite
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Underdog
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Point Spread
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Straight Up
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Against the Spread
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Chicago
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@Detroit
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3.0
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Chicago
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Chicago
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San Francisco
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@St. Louis
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7.0
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San Francisco
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St. Louis
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@Minnesota
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New York Giants
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9.0
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New York Giants
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New York Giants
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Atlanta
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@Tampa Bay
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2.5
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Atlanta
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Atlanta
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@Carolina
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New Orleans
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7.5
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New Orleans
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Carolina
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Sun, Jan 3
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1:00 PM (PST)
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2:00 PM (MST)
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3:00 PM (CST)
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4:00 PM (EST)
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@Dallas
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Philadelphia
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3.0
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Philadelphia
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Philadelphia
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@Arizona
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Green Bay
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3.5
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Arizona
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Green Bay
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@San Diego
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Washington
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4.0
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San Diego
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San Diego
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Tennessee
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@Seattle
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4.0
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Tennessee
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Tennessee
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Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
When the Buffalo Bills new General Manager was introduced I was perplexed like many fans.
Now that Buddy (…no not the Will Farrel elf) is in charge of personnel decisions at One Bills Drive, my attention didn’t immediately turn to who the next head coach would be.
Instead, I thought who’s this new general manager bringing in and perhaps more importantly, who’s out the door.
The first player that came to mind, and is expendable, is former first-round pick Marshawn Lynch.
It’s really incredible if you think about it. In his rookie campaign in 2007, he rushed for 1,115 yards, averaging four yards per attempt on 280 touches.
In 2008 his role diminished slightly, carrying for fewer yards (1,036) and carries (250).
And 2009 is by far his worst output on the field as a pro. He’s failed to gain 500 yards, and has only 119 attempts since Fred Jackson has solidified the feature back role.
Undoubtedly, Lynch’s three-game suspension at the beginning of the season hampered his chance to get off to a roaring start, but his off the field immaturity coupled with his average production this season leaves Buddy Nix with a decision.
In my eyes, Lynch is perfect trade bait for three reasons. Number one is that he is an average back. Second, he’s had problems off the field. Third, Lynch resembles a player from a regime Bills’ fans want to forget.
I’ll admit, I had high hopes for this Bill after his rookie season. He has a contagious personality. He’s hilarious and a good sound byte.
But it’s time for Buddy to dangle Lynch as a trading pong in the off season, maybe even the draft.
More so than a new head coach, the path towards rebuilding this inept franchise begins with weeding out the average football players.
Buddy can start with No. 23.
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More often than not, teams that rise to greatness use adversity as a springboard at some point before their ascent.
The 2003 Patriots jettisoned franchise mainstay Lawyer Milloy a week before the season opener at Buffalo. Milloy ended up with the Bills and played a significant role in Buffalo’s 31-0 Week one pasting of the Patriots. It was a stunning and brisk series of events that culminated with ESPN’s Tom Jackson proclaiming “they hate their coach.” New England proceeded to win 34 of its next 37 games and back-to-back Super Bowls.
The 2007 Giants, an exceptionally talented yet wildly inconsistent outfit, took the Patriots’ quest for a perfect season as an affront to their manhood, and spilled blood in a meaningless Week 17 defeat. The first ever moral victory in football galvanized the fragmented G-Men, and spurred them on to the biggest upset in the history of the game.
Most recently, the 2008 Cardinals were eviscerated by New England in late December. The 47-7 humiliation left them at 8-7 and returned the franchise to its familiar place atop the dubious list of gridiron laughingstocks. Somehow, less than six weeks later those same Cardinals found themselves leading Super Bowl XLIII with less than a minute to go. They may have lost the title game, but suffice to say they wouldn’t have seen the light of the second round had they not banded together after being so nearly torn apart.
Is it a coincidence that the three most stirring tales of teams overcoming adversity this decade directly involved the Patriots? I say not; the Patriots have been the gatekeepers and headline-grabbers of the NFL since 2001. They have had as much reason to hate the universe as the universe has had to hate them.
Love em or hate em, from Pats-Rams to Pats-Giants to Steelers-Cardinals—not to mention everything Brady-Manning—this decade has been the most riveting and divisive in league history. And it’s principally because of Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots.
Isn’t it fitting then, that in the final year of the 00’s (or aughts or whatever you want to call them), things have seemingly come full circle for the Pats?
Touted as a redux of the ‘07 juggernaut (by yours truly, among quite a few others), these Patriots have struggled—to say the least—uncharacteristically showing themselves to be starters and not finishers; able to throw the first punch, but not take the last. Blown second-half leads accounted for four of their five losses. The word “rebuilding” was associated with the franchise for the first time since Belichick took over in 2000.
Then the hammer dropped. After a stinging 22-21 loss to the Dolphins, the Coach preached renewed commitment and dedication to his players, a tenor undoubtedly echoed by the Quarterback. When three of those players showed up a few minutes late to a team meeting the following week because of a snowstorm, he sent them home.
Adalius Thomas pulled the proverbial twisting-of-the-knife by sounding off to the media. Randy Moss, meanwhile, remained silent but despondent. The seams weren’t just fraying, they were ripping apart.
Not surprisingly, postmortems of the ‘09 Patriots got written, Thomas was deactivated for the game vs. Carolina, and Moss submitted such an atrocious and listless performance that the team probably had to check the standings for confirmation of its “victory”.
Oh, how times can change on the fly in the NFL. Less than three weeks removed from that New England win wrapped in a moral loss, the Panthers are suddenly looking like the team that went 12-4 a year ago, this after croaking the Vikings and Giants by a combined 51 points.
Simultaneously, the Patriots have been busy notching their first true road victory of the year in Buffalo and dominating Jacksonville in what was unquestionably their most complete effort of the season. The defense, which made big play after big play against the Jags, has been solidified by the returns of James Sanders and Shawn Springs to the starting lineup.
The New England secondary, for so long its Achilles heel, now boasts a formidable combination of veteran leadership (Sanders, Springs, Leigh Bodden), explosiveness (Brandon Meriweather), and depth (Brandon McGowan, Jonathan Wilhite, Pat Chung). The unit has a whole has allowed nine points per game over the last three.
On the other side of the ball, Brady is no longer being counted on to throw the ball 40 times a game; during the win streak, the Patriots have run the ball 58 percent of the time (110 rush plays/81 pass plays) for an average of 163 yards per contest. Fred Taylor’s return has certainly helped the running game. Through the air, Brady has started to find his tight ends again while Wes Welker continues to be the steadiest presence in the game.
And there’s Moss. The man so many believed would pack it in and call it quits—he who is averse to adversity—has been recharged, reinvigorated, reborn…whatever you want to call it. All that’s necessary to know is he snagged three touchdown passes last Sunday, had this exchange with the same fans who booed him two weeks ago, and gave an impassioned postgame speech that anyone who watched “Inside the NFL” was lucky enough to see and hear.
Does all this mean the Patriots are poised to capture their fourth Super Bowl as the final bell tolls on the aughts? Time shall tell, but for now it’s clear the Patriots are not the same team they were in mid-December. They met their darkest hour head on and emerged from it stronger, healthier and more balanced.
Contrary to what you may have heard, the Coach did not lose the team. The Quarterback rediscovered a bit of that mojo. The Receiver has a whole new look in his eyes. The mission is back on.
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Prior to New England’s meaningless but important game against the Houston Texans on Sunday, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick discussed what every guaranteed playoff team has been discussing this week. Should they rest their starters or not?
As far as Bill is concerned, the answer is no.
Quarterback Tom Brady claims he has spoken to Patriots head coach Bill Belichick today about his desire to play this Sunday.
“You’ll play, don’t worry about that. You’ll be playing,” said Belichick to Brady.
“As players, we obviously don’t factor into any of those decisions that coach Belichick makes. It’s our job to prepare to play and I certainly am. I’m out there doing all my regular practice stuff,” replied Brady.
New England is already a lock for the playoffs this year. Houston is still clinging to a possible chance, or rather a miracle, of making it in. For Houston to appear in the postseason, they need to not only beat the Patriots, they also need a ton of other teams to lose to help their chances.
Brady summed it up nicely afterward.
“I want to play and I want to do great. I want to have a great game against a team that is fighting for their playoff lives, and has a lot of great players and really challenges you in some different ways. It’s a meaningful game for us, it’s a meaningful game for them, too. It would be great for us to go win on the road in a real tough environment against a damn good team.”
Whether or not Brady plays the entire game is a different question. If New England takes a big lead early in the game, expect Bill to go back on his word and take Brady out.
As for other New England players, it is also questionable. The sensible thing to do would be to start everyone at the beginning of the game. If things get out of hand either way, rest them. A win or a loss isn’t worth the injury risk.
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They know all about the uproar and the anger.
They can hear the booing that echoed inside Lucas Oil Stadium in Week 16. They also expect that the next two weeks will be filled with speculation about how one unpopular decision will affect their future. But here’s what you should realize about the Indianapolis Colts: One week of controversy might be the best thing that ever happened to this team.
We all know the story by now. The Colts had a chance to improve their record to 15-0 against the New York Jets and opted to rest their starters for most of the second half. It was a decision that didn’t merely lead to the Colts’ first loss of the season and the end of their NFL-record 23-game regular-season winning streak. It also turned team president Bill Polian and head coach Jim Caldwell into unlikely villains.
Colts fans blasted the move for days. Many ripped into Polian on his weekly radio show. The vibe inside the Colts’ locker room, however, was far more predictable Wednesday afternoon. Those same players who felt frustrated by having to sit were concerned only with what lies ahead.
“I’ll admit it wasn’t a pleasant experience, but we can be better for it,” quarterback Peyton Manning said. “There can be an edge [to the team]. We can have a chip [on our shoulder]. But we do need to move forward.”
Manning’s comments speak to a critical dynamic that average fans sometimes miss about football teams. Players often benefit from unforeseeable situations. They can take negative experiences and use them as fuel for whatever goals they’re about to pursue.
Even in a moment like Sunday—when a previously undefeated team turned into a target of discontent—a spark may have been lit under the Colts, one that could take them all the way to the Super Bowl in Miami.
What the Colts players had to realize after the loss is that they have more reasons than ever to stay focused on winning a championship. They can’t get caught up in the white noise around them. They can’t be deflated by what could have been a shot at joining the Miami Dolphins as the only undefeated teams in league history. All they can do is steady themselves and figure out how to be at their best when the postseason begins.
As much as people harp on how the Colts threw away an opportunity to make history, the only history that truly matters is who ends up hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in February.
They don’t give out rings for records. And as much as people lament the dangers of losing momentum at this time of year by “laying off the gas,” there is no guarantee that keeping players in meaningless games leads to more success in the postseason. If that were the case, we wouldn’t be seeing so many teams resting starters this week.
Momentum actually is a vastly overrated predictor of how a team will do in the postseason.
The Arizona Cardinals didn’t have it when they entered last year’s playoffs, and they eventually won the NFC title. The New York Giants weren’t exciting anybody at the end of the 2007 regular season, but they ultimately stormed to a title. Even the 2006 Colts surprised some people.
That year’s Super Bowl champions lost four of their last seven games before taking off in the postseason.
If you want to get a better feel for which teams have a shot at advancing in the postseason, think about the ones that have gone through some adversity. When you look at the teams just mentioned—or other Super Bowl champions such as the 2000 Baltimore Ravens or the 2001 New England Patriots—you see squads that had to fight through something to fulfill their dreams.
The Colts already had key injuries to deal with, including the season-ending loss of the Pro Bowl safety Bob Sanders. But this latest controversy could be added incentive for them to sharpen their focus.
Now that doesn’t mean Caldwell and Polian saw this as a potential benefit of their decision. It does mean that a team that already had outstanding chemistry should have even more resolve moving forward.
“We haven’t had a lot of tough Mondays or Wednesdays around here, but it’s all about how you respond to it,” Manning said. “It’s about channeling that frustration into a better place so we can be a better team.”
That, ultimately, is what every championship contender has to do. Though the Colts aren’t saying it, they know their fans will be with them. They’ve given the people of Indianapolis too many reasons to be happy over the last decade. In fact, the mere notion that fans would be so outraged by a decision that had plenty of merit still defies logic. It’s as if they’ve forgotten what it was like when that team stank.
Those same fans need to remember that a 14-1 team would be treasured in places like Detroit and St. Louis. They also have to understand that championships can be attained through all types of routes. For the first 14 weeks of the season, the Colts were a team that found all sorts of ways to stay perfect. But now that they’ve chosen a path of imperfection—and dealt with a week as strange as this—they seem more dangerous than ever as the regular season winds to a close.
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Every season in the world of fantasy football, there are players who surprise everyone and come out of nowhere and sometimes can lead your team to championship glory.
But for every diamond in the rough there is inevitably a group of high profile players that fail miserably to live up to expectations. This season has been no different, as many players drafted in the first two rounds of your fantasy drafts have likely led your fantasy teams to the bottom of the standings rather than the playoffs.
Here is a list 2009’s biggest fantasy disappointments; highlighted by five running backs who likely went in the first round of your draft, a couple of quarterbacks that were supposed to take their teams deep into the playoffs, and three wide receivers who were set to be the focal point of offenses on bad teams.
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