Open Letter to The Cincinnati Bengals

Dear Mike, Marvin, and Our Bengals;

In 1988, behind exuberance and determination, the Bengals broke through the barrier rising above Warren Moon’s Oilers, Bernie Kosar’s Cleveland Browns, and the irrelevant Pittsburgh Steelers.  We battled Joe Montana, with Stanford Jennings returned a kickoff for a touchdown, and Tim Krumrie refused to leave the stadium despite a severely fractured leg to stay with his team.  The 1988 Bengals battled, bled, and lost with pride.

The 2009 season has been a grinding trial by slow, blunt force trauma – on and off the field.  The cardiac cats squeezed through the first few weeks of the season, pulling out multiple last second wins.  Vicki Zimmer – beloved wife of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer – suddenly passed away, but you battled back.  Chris Henry went down with a broken wrist in his turn around season, and then lost his life just as it was turning around – yet you went on.

This impassioned plea asks you to dig deep again and know that Bengal nation is behind you, in front of you, and all around you. You make Cincinnati a better, happy place when you win.  In our times of financial trouble you are the inspiring source of comfort of the underdog, dismissed time and again battling back to win – win for our city and ourselves.

This week is your week and our week – do not feel the pressure to win but the thirst to succeed.

Good luck, God bless.

With Love, Respect, and Admiration;

Your Fans

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Denver Broncos: The Beginning of a New Era, Or The Beginning of the End?

WHOA! Maybe to clarify, this isn’t a picture of the future, but just a reminder of how truly awful the first uniforms were. And if on the 75th or the 100th anniversary of the AFL, they must promise not to bring these monstrosities back.

As to the title of this article, I have read and wrote on where this franchise lies at the moment. And it does seem to be an either/or thing with most fans and followers of the Broncos: Either you are with the new regime or you are against it.

So, to bring some balance, let’s review where the Broncos have been, where they are, and maybe take a glimpse at where they might be going.

Begin Slideshow

An Emotional Rollercoaster for the Steelers and Fans

Some Steeler fans may blame New England for blowing a lead in the fourth quarter, allowing Houston to score 21 unanswered points and win 32-27.

Some may curse the Raiders for losing to Baltimore after they defeated the Steelers and the Bengals earlier in the season.

Other fans are bitter at Cincinnati for playing their scrubs in the loss against the Jets to get them in the playoffs.

Many Steeler fans complain there is a conspiracy in keeping the Steelers out of the playoffs this season.

Whether you believe any of this or not it’s on you.

But there is one thing that does hold true, the Pittsburgh Steelers lost five games in a row, three to the worst teams in the NFL, and got themselves eliminated from the playoffs.

If kicker Jeff Reed made the two field goals in Chicago, the Steelers qualify.

If Limas Sweed held onto the ball in the back of the end-zone against Cincinnati, the Steelers make the playoff.

If corner Joe Burnett held on a sure interception against Oakland, the Steelers are in the top six.

If special teams had covered a couple of kickoff returns in Cleveland, the Steelers are given the chance to defend their Super Bowl title.

Instead, the 9-7 Steelers, ranked third in the AFC North division, were eliminated from the playoffs for the second time in four years after winning a Super Bowl. The last time was in 2006 after winning Super Bowl XL. But when you lose to Cleveland, Oakland and Kansas City, they deserve their own fate.

For the first time in Steeler history, the offense can boast a 4,000-plus yard passer who in one game threw for 503 yards, two 1,000-plus yard receivers who including the tight end caught 75-plus passes, and a 1,000-plus yard rusher.

During his postgame interview, Roethlisberger defended offensive coordinator Bruce Arians and his play-calling. He described the offense as the most dynamic and potent offense in the league because of Arians.

2007 was considered a banner year for Roethlisberger’s career as a quarterback under Arians with 3,154 yards passing, 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. It was that years’ performance that made many sports pundits sit up and take notice of Roethlisberger as an elite quarterback instead of just a care-taker.

But this season he finished with another banner year, passing for 4,328 yards, 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

So with such incredible statistics, and an offense so dynamic, so potent, why is there a drop in touchdowns? Most importantly, if the offense was so dynamic, so potent why didn’t they score enough to make the playoffs? At least in 2007, they made the playoffs.

Then there is the offensive line. They were much maligned last year and yet they won a Super Bowl.

You would think that after a year of playing together, they would act more like a Super Bowl-caliber unit. Instead, they couldn’t run-block, and allowed Roethlisberger to be sacked 50 times (two more than last year). Individual members complained of not being prepared when faced with a 4-3 defense or were confused by defensive line changes.

And yet through all of that, the Steelers have a 1,000-yard rusher in Rashard Mendenhall. Can you imagine what he could do if the line could block? How about a 2,000-yard rusher?

What happened to the No. 1 ranked defense of 2008? The lack of production cannot be due solely to the absence of SS Troy Polamalu and DE Aaron Smith (although by some it was). And yet the absence to these two individuals made the defense look horrible.

They couldn’t stop anyone in the running game. Ravens RB Ray Rice ran for 141 yards to end the Steelers 33-game streak of not allowing a 100-yard rusher.

The defensive backs were torched repeatedly. In fact they may have helped some journeyman quarterbacks (Bruce Gradkowski, Matt Cassel) get new contracts next season because of how bad they played them in the fourth quarter. Needless to say, the defense was less than mediocre.

Finally, there is special teams. This is a head scratcher. For years, even under Cowher, special teams has been a challenge.

Being in attendance at Tomlin’s first training camp, I witnessed for the first time in my five years’ of going to training camp, special teams workout. I felt excited about the attention to special teams’ which was not a priority under Cowher.

Last year the coverage team improved dramatically. After allowing three kickoffs of 90-plus yards and a half-dozen 44-plus in 2007, the 2008 season saw the special teams allow one return for approximately 44 yards reducing the opposition’s average from 30 yards per carry in 2007 to 26.4 yards per carry. 

This year the hope was for the return game. Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert drafted two big-time college return men and signed one free-agent. A couple of return guys for kickoff and punt return will link special teams’ into a dynamic unit.

Although the return game wasn’t half bad, the coverage team was horrible. The coverage unit allowed an NFL-high four kickoff-return touchdowns in five games this season. That’s two more than in 2007.

This has been a nightmare of a season and I for one am glad its over. A new 53-man roster will be formed and new coordinators will replaced those how failed. It has already been announced that line coach Larry Zierlein has been fired. In addition, Bruce Arians stays as offensive coordinator.

Here’s to a new season and the climb to that dream to acquire the seventh Lombardi in 2010”.

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Pittsburgh Steelers 2009 Season Review, Part One: Defense

In Miami last weekend, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2009 season came to a fitting conclusion in the waning moments of the final regular season game—Ike Taylor intercepted a pass.

 

It was his first interception since Dec. 7, 2008, and, amazingly, the first pick of 2009 from a Steelers starting cornerback.  (I’m not counting Deshea Townsend’s earlier pick, because he wasn’t a regular starter.)  Sure, there were only 36 seconds left in the season, but they finally got one. 

 

It was a proper microcosm for the 2009 season; someone made a play when it ultimately didn’t matter.  It was too little, too late.

 

But it was something else about Taylor that struck me, something I noticed a few weeks ago, before he shaved his hair into whatever pattern that was.  During the Baltimore game, the camera gave a wide shot of the Steelers sideline, and Taylor was standing facing the field with his helmet off.

 

On the middle of the back of his head was a tiny but noticeable bald spot.

 

And that is the real story behind the 2009 season.  Suddenly, dramatically, and with devastating results, the Pittsburgh Steelers defense got old.

 

Though his hairline says otherwise, Taylor, at 28, is a relative youngster on a defensive unit that features half a dozen starters who are now into their 30s.  The age of the defense was a primary factor in several losses this season, including all the blown fourth quarter leads.  Even in Miami, where the defense played one of its best all-around games of the season, they nearly collapsed one last time, giving up two touchdowns in three minutes of the final quarter to an offense headed by none other than Tyler Thigpen.

 

With 2009 now in the rear-view mirror, the organization must take a hard look at a group that was for many years the strength of the team.  The defense still put up respectable statistics and certainly doesn’t lack playmakers.  A healthy Troy Polamalu in 2010 would go a long way towards repairing what happened in ’09.

 

Here’s what happened—several dependable and reliable players suffered a noticeable decline or were hampered by injuries.  How much age has to do with this is anyone’s guess.  But it didn’t take a football savant to see that, on plays that mattered most, the defense was juuust a step too slow.  Too little, too late.

 

The principal offenders were Townsend and James Farrior, a pair of 34-year-olds who seemed to have lost a step or three overnight.  On the front line, Brett Keisel was productive but battled injuries and fatigue, while Aaron Smith’s season was over before it really got started.

 

James Harrison had another strong season (10 sacks) but seemed to wear down, initially after Smith got hurt and then again late in the year.  Ryan Clark, usually so steady at safety, was on the wrong end of several big plays.  Of course, you could say that about almost every player on the back seven.

 

A strange thing about the defense was that many young players failed to get a chance to perform, even as those playing in front of them were floundering.  This may be because the defense is difficult to learn—rookies don’t often crack the defensive lineup—but I thought several players deserved at least a shot at more playing time.  Guys like Ryan Mundy, Keyaron Fox, Joe Burnett, and Ziggy Hood weren’t on the field enough.

 

With depth being a major question at several positions, including cornerback, safety, and defensive tackle, the team may be in a precarious position this offseason due to some curious signings the previous two summers.

 

Before the 2008 season, they gave Farrior, who was 32 at the time, a five-year extension.  Before this season, the Steelers gave James Harrison, who is now 31, a similar five-year extension.  Both moves had good merit; Farrior was a key figure and leader in the locker room, and Harrison, after all, was the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

 

But the moves seem like head-scratchers when looking at how the franchise typically handles situations like that, when defensive players are getting older or declining.  That is, they are rarely, if ever, signed to long-term deals. 

 

The team let Joey Porter walk in 2006 when he was 29.  All-time sack leader Jason Gildon was 31 in 2003, his last season as a Steeler.  Clark Haggans was out of Pittsburgh by age 30; 28-year-old Larry Foote was not re-signed last year. Levon Kirkland was gone at 31, Greg Lloyd at 32.

 

Some think the Steelers are cheap because of the way these players were cast off.  But many of those moves were prescient.  Few, if any, of those players made an impact after leaving Pittsburgh (with Porter being a notable exception).

 

Another recurring theme in ‘09 was that untested and unproven players failed to step up.  This was a digression from past seasons, where special-team guys and up-and-comers routinely stepped into the starting lineup without missing a beat.  This past season was a different story.

 

There’s a reason Tyrone Carter has been a back-up safety for 10 seasons, and the Steelers found out the hard way. 

 

Pressed into starting duty, Carter was frequently caught out of position and became a huge liability in pass coverage.  He did have one huge game (Denver) but that was overshadowed by his poor play in most of the other 10 games he started.  He also affected the play of Clark, who was forced to cover more ground from sideline to sideline.

 

William Gay looked sharp early in the season but his play declined steadily the rest of the way.  He didn’t have a single interception despite getting thrown at almost twice as much as Taylor.  Gay didn’t provide much run support either.  He raised eyebrows only when he was trucked by Adrian Peterson in the Minnesota game.

 

That brings us to an interesting final point: Gay ascended to the starting position because former cornerback Bryant McFadden—for whom fans were positively pining this season—was not re-signed.  Was it because McFadden was a “Cowher guy” and Gay is a “Tomlin guy”?

 

No one can say for sure, but it’s clear that the team, as a whole, seems to be stuck in a transition phase. The offense has taken on a completely new identity under Tomlin, while the defense still has the same characteristics it had during the Age of Cowher.

 

Except—you guessed it—the players are all older.  A key free agent this offseason, one who’s already generating some buzz to either be re-signed or franchised, is nose tackle Casey Hampton.

 

His age?  32. 

 

Yikes.

 

 

Check back early next week for Part Two, which will include a review of the offense and the recent coaching staff shake-up.

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Tebow: A Good Fit For Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills are a team that is in desperate need of a starting quarterback, and Tim Tebow could be the future.

The Bills have not had consistent play from the quarterback position since the days of Jim Kelly. Tebow’s physical features reminds me of Kelly, and he plays the game the way Kelly did: tough and physical. Kelly is 6’3″ 226 pounds and Tebow is 6’3″ 245 pounds. Kelly and Tebow’s greatest assets are that both are big tough physical quarterbacks and that’s what the Bills need again.

Even Jim Kelly himself believes that the Bills should draft Tebow. Kelly was quoted as saying, “If I’m the owner, that’s what I’m thinking. Whether it’s Tim Tebow, whether they’ll have a shot at him when draft time comes…you have to look at the top three quarterbacks in the draft, really study them. And you look for a guy with good character, good leadership ability and good arm strengthened a guy who doesn’t come from California.” Kelly does make a valid point about assessing quarterbacks and bringing in a guy like Tebow.

Many people would probably argue that Tebow wouldn’t make a good NFL quarterback and that he should play halfback or fullback, or even just be slotted in the wildcat formation. Tebow has proven throughout his college career that he is capable of being a starting quarterback and that can translate to the NFL as well.

He’s lead his team the Florida Gators to four bowl games including two BCS National Championships in which they won three out of the four bowl games including winning two national championships. He has proven that he can play in the big time games and be successful and hopefully that success will prepare him for the NFL. Some of is career passing statistics include passing for 9,285 yards and 88 touchdown passes.

Not only do the Bills need Tebow’s physical attributes, but they need his mental toughness as well. The kid has a huge heart and he shows it every time he goes out ob the field. He is a leader and that’s something that they Bills need—a voice for the team. He may be young but he is a heck of a leader for his age.

Tebow is not the only answer to the Bills needs on offense. They need to get a stable offensive line together, injuries didn’t help the cause for the Bills last season. With a good healthy offensive line with the right quarterback and the right play caller the Bills may be able to do good things on the field on Sundays next season.

People shouldn’t be so critical about Tebow, for all that he has done in his college career the kid deserves a chance to start in the NFL.

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NFL 2009 Week 17 Wrap-Up

Finally, after the last game of the season, the playoff field is set. A lot of players have a lot to prove in the second season and some started proving it in Week 17 with stellar performances.

Buffalo (6-10) def. Indianapolis (14-2), 30-7: Most expected Indy to rest their starters and Buffalo took advantage in administering this beatdown.

However, it bothered me that Indy’s starters were basically in just to get Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark to 100 catches, yet Bill Polian said the organization didn’t feel like the undefeated season was a “historic achievement.” That’s ridiculous by itself, but it’s made even worse by the fact that they obviously think 100 catches is more important.

Cleveland (5-11) def. Jacksonville (7-9), 23-17: The Cleveland Browns ended the regular season on a four-game winning streak.

The Cleveland Browns ended the season on a four-game winning streak.

I still can’t wrap my head around that.

Dallas (11-5) def. Philadelphia (11-5), 24-0: I didn’t see this coming at all. Dallas dominated throughout the entire game, making it look easy at times. Tony Romo continues to prove doubters wrong and the defense was great. Philly will have to fix a lot of things if they’re going to beat Dallas on Saturday.

Chicago (7-9) def. Detroit (2-14), 37-23: As with most games last weekend that had no impact on the playoffs, this game was fairly uneventful. Jay Cutler played well, but it was too little and far too late.

San Francisco (8-8) def. St. Louis (1-15), 28-6: For a little while, it looked like the Rams might play themselves out of the first pick of the draft. Then the real Rams showed up and order was restored.

Pittsburgh (9-7) def. Miami (7-9), 30-24: This game was almost a microcosm of the Steelers’ season. They built up a big lead and then almost let it evaporate. They got the win, but it wasn’t enough as Baltimore would eliminate them three hours later.

Minnesota (12-4) def. New York Giants (8-8), 44-7: Pathetic, pathetic performance by the Giants. The Vikings had their way with them and never let up. This is exactly how Minnesota needed to go into the playoffs after a shaky December.

Atlanta (9-7) def. Tampa Bay (3-13), 20-10: This game had no impact on the playoffs, but it was historic because it gave the Falcons their second straight winning season, a first in the franchise’s history. A team playing hard with nothing to play for? Other teams can learn from them.

Carolina (8-8) def. New Orleans (13-3), 23-10: Speaking of teams with nothing to play for playing hard, Carolina has quietly rebounded from their bad start. They should think about at least letting Matt Moore compete for the starting quarterback job this summer.

New Orleans is looking pretty bad right now. Yes, they played their reserves, but going into the playoffs (especially with a bye) on a three-game losing streak is not ideal.

Houston (9-7) def. New England (10-6), 34-27: First of all, I love how the Pats played this game. Yes, the Wes Welker injury is horrible, but that could’ve happened anywhere. They got a good amount of work in for the starters and got Brian Hoyer, who actually played very well, and some other reserves into the game.

When New England took a 14-point lead, it looked like the Texans were going to choke again. However, they came up big and, if only for a few hours, kept their playoff hopes alive. They will be very dangerous next season.

Kansas City (4-12) def. Denver (8-8), 44-24: This was pretty much all about Jamaal Charles shredding Denver’s defense in what should have been a much closer game than it was. This loss also cemented another Denver collapse.

Baltimore (9-7) def. Oakland (5-11), 21-13: For a while, Oakland was giving hope to Pittsburgh and Houston. Baltimore was never able to deliver the knockout shot to the Raiders (excluding this from Willis McGahee), letting them hang on until the end.

Green Bay (11-5) def. Arizona (10-6), 33-7: Obviously, this will be a different game in the playoffs with Kurt Warner playing, but this game was all Packers. However, they need to get healthy before the game.

San Diego (13-3) def. Washington (4-12), 23-20: Even against San Diego’s reserves, the ‘Skins couldn’t get the job done. Mike Shanahan has a lot of work ahead of him.

Tennessee (8-8) def. Seattle (5-11), 17-13: Getting to 2,000 yards in one season is a great accomplishment for Chris Johnson. Although he didn’t pass Eric Dickerson, he did pass the great Marshall Faulk for most yards from the line of scrimmage in a season. I’d say that’s a pretty good day at the office.

New York Jets (9-7) def. Cincinnati (10-6), 37-0: I don’t know how much anyone can take out of this game going into the rematch, but it’s definitely not meaningless. Cincy, once an offensive power, set offensive football back about six decades. The Jets feasted on them all game long.

Top 12 Teams (Last week’s ranking)

1. San Diego Chargers (1): No team enters the playoffs hotter than the Chargers. They are probably the favorites to win it all. Next week: N/A
2. Indianapolis Colts (2): There is no reason to drop them after they took it easy in Buffalo. Next week: N/A
3. Dallas Cowboys (4): They’ve looked great in their last three games. They will be a tough out. Next week: vs. Philadelphia (11-5)
4. Philadelphia Eagles (3): They looked pretty pathetic in Dallas, but one bad performance shouldn’t undo the string of very good ones before it. Next week: at Dallas (11-5)
5. Minnesota Vikings (7): The dominating performance they put on was exactly the way they needed to go into their bye after all of December’s drama and bad play. Next week: N/A
6. New Orleans Saints (5): Has a No. 1 seed ever looked more vulnerable than the Saints do? Next week: N/A
7. Arizona Cardinals (6): They really shouldn’t have dropped a spot, but I’m not sure they can beat New Orleans or Minnesota on the road. Next week: vs. Green Bay (11-5)
8. Green Bay Packers (9): They have been pretty dominant over the last month or so. Nobody wants to play them right now. Next week: at Cardinals (10-6)
9. New England Patriots (8): I loved how they played in Houston, but the Wes Welker injury is crippling to their Super Bowl chances. Next week: vs. Baltimore (9-7)
10. Cincinnati Bengals (10): Cincy wanted a primetime game all year to prove doubters wrong. After their first one, they’ve got more doubters than ever. Next week: vs. New York Jets (9-7)
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (11): Bad play-calling and fourth quarter collapses killed them all season long and they have no one to blame for missing the playoffs but themselves. Next week: N/A
12. Tennessee Titans (12): I see no reason to drop them after a win and more specifically after the way they played in the second half of the season. Next week: N/A

The end of the regular season is usually a depressing time for fans, but at least we don’t have to sit through anymore AFC and NFC West games! I’ll have my playoff picks up sometime before the end of the week.

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Miami Dolphins Sign CFL Fullback Rolly Lumbala

For the second year in a row, the Miami Dolphins have kicked off the offseason by signing a player from the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League.

Nearly one year after signing linebacker Cameron Wake, the Dolphins have signed Lions fullback Rolly Lumbala to a two-year contract.

Contract details were not disclosed, though Lumbala received no signing bonus and almost certainly has base salaries for the league minimum.

This is not Lumbala’s first encounter with the Dolphins, as he originally tried out for the team as an undrafted rookie out of Idaho in a May 2008 minicamp.

Background

Born in Gabon and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Lumbala attended the University of Idaho, where he was a four-year letterman for the Vandals’ football team.

Lumbala experienced his best collegiate season as a freshman in 2004, rushing for 614 yard and six touchdowns. He added 472 yards and a touchdown on the ground the following season, while setting career highs with 22 receptions for 217 yards and two touchdowns in 2005.

Lumbala began to take on more of a blocking role later in his career, carrying the ball on 22 times over his final two seasons, including only once as a senior in 2007.

Undrafted in the 2008 NFL Draft, Lumbala tried out for the Miami Dolphins as a three-day May minicamp, but was unsigned. He was, however, drafted by the BC Lions in the second round (ninth overall) of 2008 CFL Draft.

Lumbala appeared in 18 games for the Lions as a rookie, carrying the ball 12 times for 28 yards and two touchdowns while recording nine special teams tackles.

This past season, Lumbala served as the Lions’ starting fullback and lead blocker, helping rookie running back Martell Mallett rank fourth in the league with 1,240 yards on the ground.

Lumbala was also productive in his own right, catching five passes for 45 yards while recording 22 tackles on special teams.

With the CFL’s option-year signing period going from Jan. 4 to Feb. 15, Lumbala worked out for the Dolphins prior to Christmas after his agent set up the audition.

Lumbala worked out for the Pittsburgh Steelers and fielded a nearly-identical offer from the team, though he chose the Dolphins because he deemed them a better fit.

Lumbala’s signing gives the Dolphins 59 players on the active roster (excluding impending free agents) and makes him the only fullback after starter Lousaka Polite.

Coincidentally, Lumbala wore Polite’s No. 36 when he tried out for the Dolphins in May 2008.

Analysis

Lumbala has some ability as a lead blocker, but Miami certainly doesn’t need help in that department.

Lousaka Polite was the best blocking fullback in the NFL this season and was wisely signed to a two-year extension in the last offseason.

The Dolphins also prefer to only keep one fullback, so if Lumbala is to make the roster, he’ll have to make his mark elsewhere.

Lumbala was a standout special teams player for the Lions, finishing second on the team in special teams tackles with 22 in 2009.

The Dolphins’ special teams coverage units have been shaky at best under coordinator John Bonamego, and the team’s leading tackler in that department from 2009—cornerback Nathan Jones—is an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Lumbala will have a battle on his hands to make the roster, and doesn’t have the advantage of being needed or really able to contribute on offense or defense like some of the team’s other top special teams players, such as Jason Allen, Lex Hilliard, Tyrone Culver and Cameron Wake.

He has to be considered a long shot to make the roster at this time, but he’ll certainly be an intriguing prospect to keep an eye on this offseason.

 

 

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Seven Things the Cowboys Must Do to Change Playoff History

The last time the Dallas Cowboys won a playoff game was the NFC Wild Card match with Minnesota on December 28, 1996. Since then, the team has played in six playoff games with no success.

In probably one of the toughest games in this playoff drought, Tony Romo was nabbed on the two-yard line by a shoestring tackle following a botched field goal set up. In the press conference following the game, the Big Tuna—clearly deflated—looked like he sniffed something foul. Romo said, “I don’t know if I have ever felt this low,” while owner Jerry Jones added: “I feel empty.”

To help fans move forward and change team playoff history 13 years in the making, the Cowboys must do seven things on Saturday against the Philadelphia Eagles. If they fail to do just one of these, it’s over.

1. Punish the Eagles for the Blitz

Whether Romo utilizes a quick snap count, a draw or screen to Marion Barber, a slant to Miles Austin, or a quick shot up the middle to Jason Witten, the Cowboys must find a way to kill the Eagles for each and every blitz.

Otherwise, the risks are out of this world. Romo gets beat up, the line gets jumpy, and large losses mount, making it tough to regain the first down advantage without the throw. The offense loses rhythm, and the defense spends too much time on the field.

Worse yet, just one successful blitz—imagine Romo getting blind-sided while holding the ball out like a loaf of bread—could erase even an awesome 99-yard drive.

A blitz can be a game changer. Dallas must punish Philly every time they bring it.  Without fail.

2. Stop the Big DeSean Jackson Play

He’s young. He’s fast. He’s tough. He’s tweeting trash. And he has the ability to make a monstrous, momentum-changing play. During the regular season, DeSean Jackson caught 63 passes for nine touchdowns and a total of 1,167 yards. He averages over 18 yards a catch and ran two punts home for six.

Versus the Cowboys in two regular season games, Jackson has a goose egg for touchdown statisticly and a total of five catches for 76 yards. It’s nothing to brag about, but things could change on a moment’s notice.

Remember Week 17 when Jackson got behind everyone and McNabb overthrew the ball.  Don’t expect that to happen in the playoffs.

Jackson’s speed is unmatched, and in fact, a botched big play is the exception to the rule for this player. Jackson has at least 10 plays for over 40 yards and eight touchdowns on 50-plus yard plays. If America’s Team expects to advance in the playoffs, they have to hold this guy down as they have in the first two meetings.

3. Get Good Yardage Out of Early Down Cowboy Runs

The Cowboys earned nearly 75 per cent of their first downs on either first or second down. Maybe it was a long pass. Maybe it was a good run. In any event, the team rests the defense and, for the most part, moves the ball when it’s not looking down the barrel of frequent third-down situations.

When it comes to third and some change, Dallas has about a 40 per cent chance of moving the chains. And, stating the obvious, converting is harder in long situations. Not to mention, the defense has a better idea of what’s coming.

Therefore, it’s critical to keep third down short. The offense has to avoid penalties like the plague and Romo can’t cough up gains by getting sacked in a collapsed pocket.  Most importantly, Jason Garrett has to find a way to unleash Marion Barber and Felix Jones on first and second down.

Let Barber steam roll some guys with a few punishing seven-yard gains. Eventually, he’ll open it up. If the run won’t work, take a few shots to the seams and then go back to it. 

Also, find a way to involve Felix Jones in another 90-yard, one-touchdown performance.  If the backs combine for early down gains, short or long, other opportunities will open up and the Eagles won’t be able to contain this team.

4. Push The Eagles Out of Field Goal Range

In basketball, when a player goes cold, it’s common to give up on the jumper and take it to the hole. That way, the player either gets a high percentage shot or goes to the free throw line. After a few freebies from the line, some flow comes back and the player may just hit some clutch threes.

In football, when you get shut out one week, a good coach will want to end the drought as soon as possible by putting some points on the board. The Eagles blanked Week 17, but don’t expect that to continue with the first playoff match. 

If the Cowboys stop Philly short of the red zone, expect David Akers to go for three, even if it’s a 50-yard field goal.

This may seem like a statement of the obvious, but allowing a couple early field goals keeps the Eagles in the game. It gives them flow, and Akers is pretty much money in the bank.

He hit 32 of 37 field goals this year. One of the five misses was blocked. The nation saw the other miss on television the other day. That thing had some wicked action—after floating left, it came back right a touch, and then the god that blessed Texas carried it left of the upright. Don’t expect that to happen this week.

The kicker is 8-of-9 from 30-plus yards and 11-of-13 from the 40-plus yards. He’ll even hit a third of what you give him beyond the 50.

Dallas needs to keep this guy away from the goal posts. Three points is about half a touchdown, and one swing of the leg is enough to make the difference in the momentum and conclusion of a game.

5. Help Tony Romo Protect the Ball

Early in the season, when the Cowboys and Giants played, Romo had a pick six and two interceptions that resulted in touchdowns. It was a horrible game. Two games later, the once-formidable Denver defense sacked Romo five times and forced one interception and a fumble.

Had eBay been selling Tony Romo voodoo dolls, sales would have been through the roof. 

But Romo’s been doing better these days. In the last two shutout games by the Cowboys, Romo threw an interception in each. Luckily, the defense mitigated that damage and prevented the Redskins and Eagles from scoring.

Similarly, on Saturday, if Romo throws an interception, the Cowboy defense has to equalize it with a defensive stop. It sounds simple, but this has to happen.

Also, the players have to protect Romo’s backside. The guy, for whatever reason, has an internal sensor that doesn’t seem to recognize trouble from the back. If protection requires a couple holds or penalties, fine. 10 yards is better than giving up the ball in good field position. Nothing short of an entire team effort will be required to help Romo protect the ball on Saturday.

6. Pressure Donovan McNabb in the Pocket

Donovan McNabb is by no means infallible. Just this year, the player bobbled the ball 10 times (three times for a loss) and threw 10 interceptions. Moreover, with all his running, he only has two rushing touchdowns. 

However, McNabb has thrown for 22 touchdowns.  Keep in mind that nine of these went to DeSean Jackson; hence, my second point. If you shut down DeSean Jackson, you shut down half of McNabb, too. 

But the thing about this 11-year veteran is he tends to make some plays on the fly.  Part of this is his receivers find a way to get open. The other part of this is McNabb can improvise well.

On Saturday, Dallas needs to enclose McNabb with pressure. Philadelphia is clearly better at passing than rushing, so expect McNabb to drop back quite often. When he does, Keith Brooking, Jay Ratliff, Anthony Spencer, and DeMarcus Ware have to pound him while in the pocket.

7. Block Out the Wins and the History

To be sure, the Cowboys probably enjoyed winning the NFC East. Congrats, Big D. But McNabb, after the loss to the Cowboys, had it right when he said, “You know, when it comes down to it, if you don’t win this game, I don’t think too many people are going to remember who won the NFC East.”

Not to mention, all this talk about the Eagles goldbricking the last game of the year to save their best stuff for the playoff rematch. If the Cowboys start thinking about that, it’s over. Block it out.

The Cowboys not only have to block out the two prior wins against Philadelphia, but they also have to block out at least 13 years of playoff history. Otherwise, when the going gets tough, players get tight and choke and the drought continues for all involved.
It’s easier said than done, but the best of the best find a way to do it.  If the Cowboys can do these seven things, we will all witness a new history for America’s Team.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Brown Out? Cribbs Says He Is Unlikely to Play Another Game For Cleveland

The Associated Press is reporting that Josh Cribbs has said he is unlikely to play another game with the Cleveland Browns. He came to this conclusion after being “insulted” by the Browns latest contract offer.

After claiming to be hurt by the offer, Cribbs headed to the Browns facility to clean out his locker, and stated that “he don’t want to play for nobody else”.

Josh Cribbs signed a six-year contract worth $6.77 million three years ago, leaving three seasons on his current deal. Cribbs’ frustration is understandable because players in the NFL generally have short “life-spans” in the terms of their careers. 

However, Cribbs did sign a six-year contract. This isn’t the NBA; he doesn’t have a player option. His only options are to show up for work, or to not show up for work. If he chooses to not exercise his right to show up for work, he will not be paid. If the Browns want to be the bad guys here, they could technically force him to sit out three years before his return to the NFL.

That said, the Browns need to do the right thing and pay Cribbs his worth in Browns gold. Josh epitomizes everything Cleveland. 

He signed as an undrafted free agent out of local Kent State University and has worked hard to transform his game from an athletic quarterback to one of the most dynamic players in the game of football today. He is not Devin Hester. He’s better.  Hester was paid for being a kick returner. Shortly after, he transformed to a wide receiver and is attempting to stand out in the Bears’ offense. 

Cribbs stands out when you look at the schedule. Teams have to create a separate game plan just to contain the guy. Whether it is angling kicks differently, spying Cribbs when he is in the game on offense, or double covering him when he is behind center; Josh Cribbs changes the way a team has to prepare during the week.

Another thing people have to realize about Josh Cribbs is that he has only one gear; go-hard. This guy hits holes with reckless abandon. He doesn’t care about his body, he plays hard for the team and fans that he loves. So why shouldn’t he feel betrayed about not being given a better contract for himself and his family?

With the injuries that can occur on any given play, it is not hard to understand that Cribbs is just looking out for his future. He plays the game harder than anyone else, whether it’s on the kickoff or in the wildcat formation.

The front office knows this, the fans know this, and Cribbs definitely knows this. This is why he is asking for more money now.

However, one thing he fails to realize is that the Browns DON’T have to pay him. If they pay him, it is because they recognize his value to the team, the city, and to the organization as a whole. They will be showing the rest of the players on the team that they reward hard work, they don’t punish it.

It is sad to see the Josh Cribbs situation come to this. No. 16 in your program, but number one in all Browns’ fans hearts deserves a pay raise. He deserves the opportunity to provide for his family in case something bad happens. 

Cribbs means more to this organization than any other player on the roster. His actions inspire teammates to be better. This situation can either send a positive sign to Browns players, or can have a disastrous effect on the entire team.

The Browns have only one chance to get this situation right, even though they don’t have to.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Is This NFL Playoffs the Year of the Wild Card?

Thanks to the NFL’s playoff format, with the top two seeds getting a bye in the first round, it is not uncommon for a wild-card team to advance deep into January.

Last year’s playoffs saw a 50-50 split with Philadelphia and Baltimore (No. 6 seeds) advancing. In 2007, the Giants and Jaguars also earned wild-card teams a .500 record.

This season, however, might just be the first year for all wild-card teams to advance.  No divisional team (especially within the third and fourth seeds) appears dominant at this point in the year, and several of the wild-card teams have a momentum advantage over their division-winning matchups.

As the wild-card team “most likely to succeed”, Green Bay faces an Arizona team that has been Jekyll and Hyde all year. Green Bay is possibly the most dangerous team in the NFC with New Orleans and Minnesota both showing cracks in the armor across the final quarter of the season.

The Packers boast the NFC’s top defense (and are the only top-five defense in the NFC) along with a powerful passing game led by Aaron Rodgers. Arizona has proven to be up for a challenge before, dominating Minnesota on both sides of the ball in Week 13, but overall they have a softer defense (20th overall) and a limited running game.

If Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald don’t have another transcendent playoffs, this team could easily bow out to a hot Packers team that has only lost one game across the entire second half of the year. That lone loss came by only one point to a resurgent Pittsburgh Steelers that could easily have made the playoffs had they sharpened their game a week earlier.

The Eagles have a slightly more daunting task as the NFC’s other wild-card game. The Dallas Cowboys swept Philly in the regular season and are riding a three-game winning streak entering into the playoffs.

Aside from momentum, what Dallas also has is pressure, having not won a playoff game since 1996. With obtrusive owner Jerry Jones eager to remind Cowboys players of their duty, this team could easily enter the playoffs tight and nervous. Philadelphia will have to strike early to get Dallas thinking of their troublesome history late in the year.

The Eagles are also looking to avenge the Week 17 drubbing that allowed Dallas to overtake them to win the division. Until that point, the Eagles had been the NFC East leader and were not thinking of themselves as a wild-card team at all. 

Andy Reid’s team has given McNabb the most offensive weapons he has ever had to work with, and the Eagles have spent much of the year as a trendy pick to upset Minnesota or New Orleans in the NFC Championship.

In the AFC, neither wild-card team put up the impressive 11-5 records of the NFC wild-cards, but both have momentum on their side going up against the third and fourth seeds—the Patriots and Bengals, respectively

New York fares as the most likely of the two AFC wild-card teams to see some postseason success. They hold the playoff tested formula of a strong running game and superior defense (first in the NFL by almost 30 yards per game). The weakness of rookie Mark Sanchez—and his 20 interceptions—is tempered by the playoff opponent they’ll face on Saturday.

Cincinnati comes into the playoffs playing its worst football of the year. A 7-2 start has cooled to a 10-6 overall record that included three losses in its last four games. It mimics New York in its physical defense and strong running game, but falls short of the Jets on both fronts.

The one chief advantage of Cincinnati, veteran quarterbacking from Carson Palmer, will be limited by a slowed Chad Johnson (injured but likely to play) and the tragic loss of deep threat wideout Chris Henry. Palmer has a strong past resumé, but essentially put up game manager numbers (barely over 3,000 yards in a pass-happy year) this season. 

If New York’s top ranked pass defense can keep the Bengals one dimensional, then the Jets should be able to come out of Cincinnati with an upset. If Week 17’s 37-0 drubbing was any indicator, the Jets should be able to handle the Bengals in the playoffs.

The final wild-card matchup is quite interesting. In Week 16, this would have weighed much stronger in New England’s favor. The Baltimore Ravens hold the sixth seed, but have not established any particular momentum entering the playoffs (winning against a 5-11 Raiders team in the season finale after falling to Pittsburgh the week before).

The Ravens, however, boast consistency, having not been dominant in any one area but playing the run game strong (both fifth in rushing offense and defense), while putting up respectable numbers in the passing game.

Their one defensive liability, defending the pass, will be helped considerably by the unexpected self-destruction of Wes Welker’s leg. This injury changes the entire dynamic of a Patriots offense that burned teams underneath and across the middle with Welker’s fearless receiving out of the slot.

New England is battle-tested and helmed by one of the best clutch players in Tom Brady, but also has to be disheartened by the loss of Welker, and nervous about an underwhelming defense that had been one of the Patriots’ greatest assets. 

The NFL has always prided itself on the ability for “anything can happen on any given Sunday” across the years.  This year could easily prove to be a prime example of this, where little really separates the four wild-card teams from their division-winning counterparts. 

With chinks in each division champ’s armor, it would not be at all surprising for all four of these wild-card teams to make it out of the opening round of the playoffs, and potentially drive all the way to a Super Bowl. The 2009 NFL season may just prove to be the “Year of the Wild Card.”

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

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