Vikings-Giants: Five Keys to a Minnesota Vikings Victory

So here we are: the last game, home field, and the playoffs looming.

Questions have been aplenty the past four weeks, with nervous fans scratching heads over a team that seems lost.

Fortunately for the Vikings, they are already guaranteed a playoff spot, and the pressure isn’t about winning, but winning in convincing fashion.  The Vikings have a golden opportunity to capitalize on a broken team in the former Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

This game isn’t about Favre’s revenge from the last time he faced them; it’s worth more than that. It’s about reining in his horses and leading them into the playoffs with confidence.

Despite their recent struggles, the Vikings have worked on the overall approach to their game, drilled the offensive line, and took the necessary steps to enter the playoffs in the right mental state.

For today’s game, it comes down to the ability to forget the last few games and focus on winning, and here are the five keys to that victory.

First , the most important phase of this game relies on protection and the offensive line’s ability to create adequate running lanes for Adrian Peterson. 

This must-win battle has the team’s longevity in its hands, for if they fail today, the damage may be too profound to get out of their heads.

If they move the line and keep the blitz in check, Favre will be able to see his options downfield and strike.  One thing about Brett is: if he doesn’t have the confidence in his protection, he will rush and force things to happen.

This is paramount, and if the offensive line can find themselves, then New York will be in for a long day.

Second , the wide receivers must create separation and run crisp routes against the Giants’ secondary.  Switching formations and play-action passing is sure to keep the secondary guessing, and the Vikings should rely heavily on the No. 3 receiver to step up and contribute if they want to keep things honest.

Third is the special teams; namely, the punt and kickoff coverage.  The Vikings cannot afford to give the Giants a short field, and in turn must keep the average starting position around the 25-yard line or less. 

The benefit here is there is no weather to adversely affect the kicking game; however, there must be a solid effort on personnel to commit to a goal and keep the Giants pinned as far back as they can.

Fourth , the Vikings’ secondary must play with pressure coverage, fluster the receivers off the line, and disrupt their rhythm.  The Vikings’ corners must communicate and take calculated risks when the opportunity is there.

Lastly , the Vikings must pressure the QB, and make him think he has to get rid of the ball quickly.  Disguised blitzing and a heavy dose of linebacker pressure should bring this to fruition.

Overall, the Vikings have the talent to easily handle the Giants, but if they get too comfortable, they will again be snake-bitten and head into the playoffs damaged.

The Vikings have a golden opportunity to right the ship today; the question is, which team will show up?

My prediction: Vikings 35, Giants 17

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Denver Broncos Playoff Hopes Hinge on Exploiting Chiefs Rush Defense

The last time the Chiefs and Broncos played, Denver’s offense ran up and down the Arrowhead Stadium turf like it was their own backyard. In that game, six different Broncos ran the ball 45 times for 245 yards, leading the Broncos to a dominant 44-13 victory over the Chiefs.

Needless to say, the Broncos will be putting their playoff hopes in the hands of their rushing offense again this Sunday at Invesco Field at Mile High. Rookie Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels, already down one playmaking wide receiver in Eddie Royal, has benched Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall and tight end Tony Scheffler for Sunday’s game.

So if the Broncos are to make the playoffs, they’re going to have to do it with defense and their running game. That means if the Chiefs are going to play spoiler, they’ll need a much better performance on Sunday from their defensive front seven than they turned in back on December 6th in Kansas City.

The Chiefs rush defense has been the single most disappointing thing about the team all season. Only the Buffalo Bills defense has allowed more rushing yards this season than the Chiefs’ 2,420, which equates to over 161 yards allowed per game. By contrast, the Chiefs offense is only averaging 107.5 yards per game.

Sunday also marks the last opportunity for players like defensive tackle Ron Edwards and linebackers Corey Mays and Derrick Johnson to make a case for being members of this team next season.

The line of Edwards, rookie end Tyson Jackson, and second-year end Glenn Dorsey has struggled to keep opposing offensive linemen off the Chiefs linebackers. As a result, players like Mays and veteran Demorrio Williams often get swallowed up by lead blocking guards and fullbacks, springing opposing running backs for big gains.

Additionally, in the passing game, the Chiefs front three has yet to produce a single sack this season. In fact, the Chiefs sport the only defensive line in the entire NFL without a single sack by one of its starting defensive lineman.

And since the Broncos won’t likely be throwing much on Sunday, there’s a good chance the group of Jackson, Edwards, and Dorsey will end the season with a goose egg in the sack column. 

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Sitting And Starting: Whose In and Whose Out

At the moment the NFL is in a bit of a frenzy.  Players and coaches are having squabbles over who should sit and who should start, and at the same time are trying to motivate their team to have momentum going into the playoffs.

Numerous shoe in teams for the postseason have listed who they are going to start and who is going to have the week off.

So far the standouts are as follows.

Drew Brees

Coach Sean Payton has decided to let number nine take the week off.  He may play for a few snaps during their upcoming fixture against the Panthers, but there is no need for him to play the entire game. 

For all the Saints fans out there, they should take this as good news.  If the inevitable happens and the Saints do lose to the Panthers this weekend, they can at least rest assured knowing that their prized quarterback is fit and healthy.

Michael Vick

Although the Eagles are looking like they are going to play the majority of their starters, Eagles fans will be glad to know that Michael Vick is set to backup McNabb in their away game next week against Dallas. 

Andy Reid is a smart coach.  Don’t be surprised if he takes McNabb out for at least a play in every drive to give Vick some decent playing time.  If the Eagles get blown out early, expect Reid and Offensive Coordinator Marty Mornhinweg to take a precautionary measure and sit McNabb out. 

Just like Drew Brees, there is no need to risk anything.  Michael Vick is a great backup to have, and I think I speak for Eagles when saying that the game could still be won quite easily with Vick under centre.

Troy Polamalu

This decision is still on the cards.  The Steelers have spoken about resting Polamalu for  their final game of the season against the Dolphins next week.  Troy is still not 100%, and has barely practiced all week.

This shouldn’t hurt the Steelers chances however.  They’ve done well enough without him all season, and the Dolphins are lacking the explosive gene they once had in their offense.  Another bonus that Steeler fans should count their blessing for is the fact that Dolphins running back Ricky Williams is listed questionable for the game.  Without Williams, the loss of Polamalu is not such a big deal.

Adam Vinatieri

Out with a knee injury, Adam Vinatieri is doubted to play next week in Buffalo.  With the plane already left well and truly for Ralph Wilson Stadium, Vinatieri and six other Colts players are staying home. 

Not a meaningful loss at all for Indianapolis.  Although they could have their hands full with the Bills, as they are struggling to fill the required number of players to play on Sunday. 

The Bills have something to prove next week, and will no doubt be going hard out in doing so.  Without a great kicker like Vinatieri in the lineup, the Bills may just steal one.  We’ll have to wait and see though.

Matt Willis

I wouldn’t blame you if you haven’t heard of him.  I hadn’t at first either.  With the big story still brewing with Brandon Marshall in Denver, Eddie Royal is also unlikely to play on Sunday.

The Broncos therefore called up Matt Willis from their practice squad to fill the void.  Tight end Tony Scheffler has also been benched by Josh McDaniels along with Brandon Marshall, so the Broncos are definitely short in terms of receivers this Sunday.

Matt Willis catches his big break amongst all the chaos.  Let’s see if he can make a statement.

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Pittsburgh Steelers: Playoffs or Not, Reality Check Needed

As we all settle in for what will possibly be the last hurrah for the reigning Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, it’s time to start looking ahead.

The playoff hopes that the team and its fans are clinging to are slim, with the Steelers needing to win and then get help from several other teams to sneak in as the sixth seed.

Whether or not the Steelers pull off an improbable comeback from five consecutive losses, mostly to teams of lesser talent, and return to the postseason, is immaterial.

The fact that the roster and staff need a reality check before 2010 is much more important.

Here’s a look inside to address what needs to be done.

Offensive Coaches

Bruce Arians has taken his lumps for poor play-calls, particularly in crucial situations.  Does he deserve to keep his job? That’s very debatable. Does he keep it thanks to a good relationship with his quarterback? Possibly. Does that mean he can keep on trotting out his poor game plans? Absolutely not.

Arians is living on borrowed time. Had the Steelers not won Super Bowl XLIII, it’s highly possible he would have been fired. Now, he’s riding a good relationship with his players and hoping that it’s enough to hang on to his job.

Arians isn’t a bad coach. He’s actually a good position coach. I just don’t think he’s the ideal coordinator, especially for a team with such diverse weapons. Arians runs a very basic system that depends on balance and sound fundamentals.

So what’s the problem with that?

Well, to start, Arians has a quarterback who, while very sound mechanically, does not play what anyone would describe as a fundamentally-sound game. Ben Roethlisberger routinely holds onto the ball too long, takes unnecessary hits, and scrambles madly out of the pocket.

You can’t change that, however. Roethlisberger is an elite quarterback because he does those things. He’s a playmaker, and one of the best at his position simply because he never quits and knows how to deal with less-than-ideal situations and broken plays.

Another problem with running a basic system is that Arians has the weapons at his disposal to do so much more.

The team has two upper-echelon receivers (Mike Wallace and Santonio Holmes) when it comes to speed, yet the team rarely runs reverses.

He has a college quarterback (Hines Ward) and a backup quarterback (Dennis Dixon) who would be adept at running trick plays, yet the team has never used Dixon unless Roethlisberger and regular backup Charlie Batch were hurt. No wide receiver has attempted a pass in the last two years either.

So, if I say that it’s time to make a change at the offensive coordinator position, it’s not because I want to blame 2009 on Bruce Arians. It is instead because I think there are other coaches in the NFL who could use the Steelers’ players more effectively.

For Mike Tomlin, who preaches execution and effectiveness, it’s time to make the change.

I’m not a fan of Larry Zierlein, either. In this case, I point the finger directly at him for not developing the talent that the team has put at his disposal.

Tony Hills and Kraig Urbik mid-round draft choices the last two years have yet to show enough consistency to crack the lineup.

Max Starks has regressed this year, and has often been the biggest liability along the offensive line.

Willie Colon is still a major offender on what I categorize as stupid penalties (false starts, particularly at home, and not lining up correctly).

Chris Kemoeatu has developed nicely this season, but he still has lapses that aren’t addressed, particularly when it comes to defending against blitzing defenders.

Position coaches bear more blame, at least in my opinion, for failures of individual players or positional units than do coordinators. It is the responsibility of Larry Zierlein to coach the offensive linemen.

I’m not talking about sacks, because I think most of Ben Roethlisberger’s sacks are due to his propensity to try to make a play. I’m talking about the line’s failure to consistently protect him in the pocket and also their inability to consistently open holes for the team’s running backs.

The failures of the line this year are not due to the scheme. Arians’ basic scheme should, if nothing else, help the linemen. The failure is with the players themselves.

 

Offensive Personnel

Offensively, there are not a lot of holes when it comes to roster depth or starting players. The Steelers are very sound.

Could they use some help? Sure, but how many teams in the league couldn’t use a little help somewhere on both sides of the football?

They need to face a few realities, however.

At some point, they are going to have to replace Hines Ward. Hines is wrapping up his 12th season in the NFL and, while he’s not slowing down, he’s certainly become slightly more injury-prone.

Ward rarely comes down with a major injury, but he has been getting banged up more often in recent years with hamstring tweaks and other minor dings. With the way he plays the game, Steelers fans should consider themselves fortunate that Ward has never suffered a major injury.

But eventually, even the best players age and retire. It would be prudent to bring in a wide receiver through the draft, perhaps in the third round, who could eventually replace Hines Ward.

Mike Wallace is a good player, but I don’t see him as being a future No. 1 or No. 2. He’s best suited to playing in the slot where he can use his speed to get past linebackers or split deep coverage.

Also, it would be prudent to use a first or second-round pick on an offensive lineman who could start right away. I would look for a tackle to replace either Starks or Colon. They are the weak links in the line.

It wouldn’t hurt to get a guard, too, although Trai Essex seems to have stabilized the right guard spot for the time being. I’m not sold on him or Darnell Stapleton, whom he replaced before the season, however.

Outside of those areas, the Steelers are in good shape offensively. The biggest changes to the depth chart next year might simply be the departure of the disappointing Limas Sweed and the permanent promotion of Dennis Dixon to the No. 2 spot on the quarterback chart.

 

Defensive Coaching

Anyone want to fire Dick LeBeau? I’ve heard some people whispering about how it’s time that he retired, and also about how he failed to overcome the loss of Troy Polamalu, one of the most dynamic players in the NFL.

Okay, I understand the frustration of fans. I wasn’t exactly pleased with the defense either this year, but I’m not going to suggest firing one of the league’s best assistant coaches.

LeBeau should take heed of the warnings that 2009 presented, however. He did not adjust well to losing Polamalu and too often pulled back from blitzing because he did not have that great playmaker in the lineup.

The Steelers are at their best when they blitz and create pressure. They’ve never really had a great secondary in the last decade, so they count on their front seven to disrupt the momentum and rhythm of opposing offenses.

When they don’t blitz, bad things have happened. The world found out just how valuable Bryant McFadden was when William Gay turned in one of the worst seasons ever by a cornerback.

Part of the problem is schematic. The Steelers have one of the best linebacking corps in the NFL. They should be blitzing on virtually every down. Lamarr Woodley and James Harrison are great at collapsing the pocket. Lawrence Timmons and James Farrior are good at slashing through the middle of opposing offensive lines.

The other schematic problem is allowing the Steelers’ cornerbacks to play zone defense. Ike Taylor and William Gay are not good in pursuit, but are at least passable in man and press coverage. When they are asked to cover a zone, they get burned.

Now, let’s talk about position coaching again.

Ray Horton, defensive backs coach, please turn in your keys.

Horton replaced the respected Darren Perry when Mike Tomlin arrived. Since Perry left, Ike Taylor has regressed from his status as a solid cover corner, now supplementing his atrocious hands with poor speed and pursuit.

Let’s not even mention Gay. Everyone knows he’s the weakest link in a weak secondary. Gay was Horton’s to develop and he hasn’t developed at all.

Like Zierlein, if you cannot develop players, you aren’t doing your job. More than the coordinator, the position coach is responsible for the failure of this unit. He needs to go.

 

Defensive Personnel

More than anything, the Steelers need to overhaul their defense and face some serious realities.

First, the reality of aging. Aaron Smith isn’t getting any younger. Neither is Travis Kirschke or Casey Hampton.

Kirschke and Smith are going to start sliding down the slippery slope soon. Smith’s replacement is already on board in Ziggy Hood, who proved against Baltimore that he could be every bit as dominant as Smith.

Smith probably has a few years left, but he’s lost two of the last three years to injury. That’s possibly the start of a bad trend. It’s probably a good idea that Hood begins platooning with him next season, thus extending his career while keeping one of the team’s best players on the field.

Kirschke might be a backup, but he’s part of an important rotation around the line that keeps the starters fresh. He also makes some good plays and is not a liability when he’s called upon.

Hampton’s weight is likely to shorten his career and lessen his effectiveness as he ages. He may not even be re-signed. He’s not a workout warrior and, as he ages, that will start to cause injuries to pile up. He’s already lost a year to an ACL injury, which could creep up again if he isn’t careful.

I wouldn’t be sorry to see the team bid Hampton farewell if they had a replacement, but they don’t. They also have more pressing needs than nose tackle in the draft. Perhaps this is where they will look to spend some money in free agency (if free agency is even a viable option with the CBA in question).

That pressing need, and where I believe the team is best suited to spend its first-round draft choice, is at cornerback.

Ike Taylor is either aging or falling back into the lackadaisical routine that got him benched by Bill Cowher a few years back.

William Gay is not a starting corner and is possibly not an NFL corner at all. The backups, Joe Burnett and Keenan Lewis, don’t inspire much confidence either, but could be successful with better coaching.

The reality is that the team could use a true shutdown corner, which they have lacked since Rod Woodson packed up in the late 1990s. Deshea Townsend is no longer an option to step in and start, so its time to spend the money and a high draft pick on improving the position.

Depth-wise, the team would be wise to address the inside linebacker position to have someone ready for when James Farrior hangs up his cleats. He’s a tremendous player and is still playing at a high level, but like Smith, his clock is ticking, too. It’s never too early to start grooming a replacement.

 

Special Teams Coaching

It’s no big secret that, whenever and wherever this season concludes for the Steelers, Bob Ligashesky will likely be sent packing.

The Steelers allowed way too many yards on kickoff and punt returns this season and far too many scores.

The problems range from poor tackling to poor coverage schemes. There isn’t just one problem. That’s when the coordinator has to be looked at as a problem. Ligashesky hasn’t been able to succeed regardless of the players he’s been given. They’ve been okay in recent weeks, but they are still giving teams good average starting field position.

There’s only the assistant coach, Amos Jones, to blame besides Ligashesky. It’s possible that both could go, depending on how they break down the responsibility for the special teams units.

 

Special Teams Personnel

Playing starters might be the only quick fix Mike Tomlin has when it comes to changing the personnel on his coverage units. While many teams do it, it’s not ideal because of the increased likelihood of injury and the increased strain on players.

The team would do well to retain Anthony Madison. He proved again that he is a great coverage man, and I’d be worried if they once again let him go.

There really isn’t much to be done. Special teams players are, in many cases, a dime a dozen. The best thing to do is to fix the scheme and preach sure tackling and a better approach to returners. It’s the best and likely easiest way to fix what hurts the team most.

 

Final Thoughts

Pittsburgh has the talent to be a champion every year. They are one of the few teams, along with Indianapolis and New England, that have continually weathered the rigors of free agency to avoid salary cap hell and remain threats to win every season.

The problem is that the Steelers often defeat themselves. This season has been the perfect example, with the Steelers losing six of their seven games after holding a lead in the fourth quarter, and the other by only six points.

The defense collapses too often, the offense can’t score consistently from inside the 20 yard line, and the special teams units can’t cover or tackle opposing returners. That’s a recipe for disaster and also a warning that changes are necessary.

Winning a Super Bowl is great. Following that up with a mostly-complacent season in which the team took a step back is not. Now it’s time to react, regardless of how the Steelers finish 2009.

 

 

 

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Dr. Grant, My Dear Dr. Sattler, Welcome to the New England Patriots Week 17

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Oakland Raiders Must Find Their Inner Ray Lewis

If the score is not close in Oakland and the Raiders get beat down on their home turf Sunday, I will not be a bit surprised. If they come out and go toe to toe with the Ravens trying to take something positive into their offseason and give the Ravens early seats on the couch this year, I will not be surprised.

The thing that I would most like for the Raiders to do is look inside of themselves as a team and find out where their emotional leader is.

Ray Lewis is an explosive player for the Baltimore Ravens.

What do I mean by that?

Ray brings high energy to the game of football. Ray Lewis is a game changing player, whether it be with his stuff of LaDainian Tomlinson on fourth down in the Chargers game earlier this year, or whether it be by creating an opportunity for his defensive teammates to make a big play.

Ray Lewis is one of the most respected players on the field in every game that he plays in. Ray is the type of guy who gives 110 percent on every play in practice. When you play on a team with Ray Lewis, not giving your full effort is not acceptable.

But Ray Lewis is more than that. He is the Ravens voice, heart, and soul.

The Oakland Raiders have talent. They have players who can make big plays, or help their teammates make them. The have players who give maximum effort game in and game out. However, you would be hard pressed to look at their roster and find a player that can be the heart, soul, and voice of the team.

Perhaps Bruce Gradkowski could be that player for them. Bruce brought an extra bit of energy to the field when he was playing. He changed the atmosphere. He got in peoples faces. He played showing his full emotions.

Unfortunatly, he was hurt before we got a chance to see how much of a real impact he could be on a more regular basis.

Nnamdi Asomugha is the voice of the team right now. He is a player who other players look to for advice. He is a guy who the media seeks out to let Raider Nation what is going on with the players behind the scenes.

Nnamdi brings a high energy level with his play. He is widely considered one of the few shutdown cornerbacks left in the league these days. But his energy and emotion does not show through enough to rub off on his teammates. In order to be that guy, he has got to be more aggressive towards his teammates.

I don’t want to see Asomugha go out and punch anybody in the face, but I would like to see him get fired up when his teammates make a big play. I wanna see Asomugha jump on their backs, push them in the chest, do a special handshake with them, something !

The Raiders have a roster that should be included, in terms of talents, with the best teams in the NFL. What they are lacking is the emotion. They don’t have that Ray Lewis who is going to get mad and start shouting for better play when they are down. They need that.

They need to watch how Ray Lewis plays on Sunday on their home field, and somebody needs to step up and be that Ray Lewis type of player for the Oakland Raiders. They need somebody who says, “WE MUST PROTECT THIS HOUSE!”

And now some quotes with regards to Lewis:

“You understand the Pro Bowl—it’s all of the top guys. You don’t think in terms of a captain on the team,” Nnamdi Asomugha said. “All through the week guys are shooting the bull during practice. Nobody cared about anything. We’re getting ready to play and guys are cracking jokes.

“Ray Lewis calls everyone up, commands a group huddle in the locker room, and gives probably the greatest pregame speech I’ve heard in my life. For the Pro Bowl! [Even] Peyton Manning is standing at attention. It doesn’t matter who it is.

“Everyone’s stone-faced, standing up straight. When he finished, everyone was going crazy and excited, and I thought, ‘He’s got the most respect of anyone in this room.'”

‘When you have a guy like that, you don’t want to let him down,” linebacker Kirk Morrison said.

“You see the amount of passion he has, what he puts into it. He’s been doing it for a long time and you develop that respect where you have the Pro Bowls, the accolades. Everyone knows you’ve been there, and you demand it from everybody else. If you’re not playing to the best of your abilities, you’re going to have to deal with him.”

“There’s a different vibe about him,” Charlie Frye said. “Different than anyone else I’ve played against. At the end of the day, you want someone like that on your team.”

“My message to the team this week is Brotherhood is found thru our struggles, But now we have overcame, it is our time. Take it upon yourself to be better everyday. It was really just talking about adversity. We’ve been through adversity, dealing with all these injuries, all the ups and downs, and my message is very simple: that stuff pulls champions together.

“When you go through things like that and you have to fight through it. Once you learn how to deal with those things and you know how to fit people in like ‘next man up,’ the next thing to do is keep moving.

“Now it’s time for us to grab momentum because the scariest thing ever is when you add confidence and camaraderie with talent. And that’s one thing that we have and probably makes us one of the best in the business right now. When you add that together, we’ll get on the right road.” -From Ray Lewis on Yardbarker.com blog October 2009

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NFL Picks on the Last Week of Jim Zorn as a Washington Redskin

Indianapolis Colts @ Buffalo Bills

The Colts are playing it safe heading into the playoffs, but they need to try to get a little work in on a Buffalo team looking to head home at the final gun.

Colts 27   Bills 13

New York Giants @ Minnesota Vikings

The Giants are embarrassed right now, so they either show pride or get ready for an offseason of hell in the Big Apple. The Vikings are flat, and are getting pushed around in the trenches. I expect the Giants to win here.

Giants 31   Vikings 23

Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Both teams have their vacation plans set as soon as this game ends, but the Falcons want to end theirs with a winning record.

Falcons 34   Buccaneers 17

San Francisco 49ers @ Saint Louis Rams

The Niners should beat up the Rams with the run, hopefully proving Saint Louis needs to use the first pick of the draft on Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

49ers 31   Rams 10

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Miami Dolphins

Plain and simple: Pittsburgh needs to win to keep their faint playoff hopes alive.

Steelers 30   Dolphins 20

New Orleans Saints @ Carolina Panthers

The Saints have lost their mojo, while the Panthers are showing us much too late why some thought they once had playoff aspirations this season.

Saints 27    Panthers 23

Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions

Both teams have little to play for, except the Bears need to show why Lovie Smith deserves to retain his job as head coach.

Bears 38    Lions 16

New England Patriots @ Houston Texans

The experienced Patriots are quietly rolling into the playoffs with momentum, while Houston will be playing out of desperation to stay alive in the playoff hunt.

Patriots 34    Texans 30

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Cleveland Browns

Two teams with no plans after this game, except for maybe a change of head coaches in Cleveland.

Jaguars 26    Browns 17

Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys

Both teams need to treat this game as a measuring stick for their Super Bowl hopes. Dallas runs the ball really well. Marion Barber averages 4.2 yards per carry, while Felix Jones and Tashard Choice average well over five yards per attempt. Philadelphia, on the other hand, struggles to run the ball consistently. If the passing game isn’t clicking in Philly, they are beatable.

Cowboys 31   Eagles 30

Tennessee Titans @ Seattle Seahawks

The only reason to watch this game is to watch Titans running back Chris Johnson set the NFL record for all purpose yards in a season, and hope he can gain 225 rushing yards to break the NFL record of 2,105 rushing yards in a season.

Titans 28   Seahawks 14

Washington Redskins @ San Diego Chargers

The best thing about this game for Washington fans is it is the last for head coach Jim Zorn as part of their team. The Bolts will roll on as the hottest team in the NFL right now, and Norv Turner can give Zorn a hug of recognizable pity for being a failed head coach under Redskins owner Dan Snyder.

Chargers 37    Redskins 17

Baltimore Ravens @ Oakland Raiders

The Ravens need this if they want to keep playing. The Raiders are the most unpredictable team in the NFL, so the good version could show up and destroy Baltimore’s dreams.

Ravens 34    Raiders 19

Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos

Denver is fighting for the playoffs, and they will try to take their frustrations out on a pesky Chiefs team who has shown marked improvement each week.

Broncos 27    Chiefs 23

Green Bay Packers @ Arizona Cardinals

Game Of The Week

If you like passing offense, then tune into this game. Green Bay’s quarterback Aaron Rodgers has 4,199 yards and 29 touchdowns passing, while Arizona’s Kurt Warner has tossed for 3,722 yards and 26 touchdowns so far. Both teams are headed to the playoffs, so they might have some fun chucking the ball all over the gridiron while trying to stay healthy.

Packers 45  Cardinals 38

Cincinnati Bengals @ New York Jets

The Jets still have playoff hopes, though they may be null and void by the time kickoff comes.The Bengals have already won their first division title since 2005, and second since 1990. I’m thinking the Jets show some heart in their last game in the Meadowlands. Maybe they can finally look for Jimmy Hoffa’s remains now?

Jets 30     Bengals 24

Power Rankings

1. Indianapolis Colts

2. New Orleans Saints

3. San Diego Chargers

4. Philadelphia Eagles

5. New England Patriots

6. Green Bay Packers

7. Dallas Cowboys

8. Cincinnati Bengals

9. Minnesota Vikings

10. Denver Broncos

11. Baltimore Ravens

12. Arizona Cardinals

13. Pittsburgh Steelers

14. New York Jets

15. New York Giants

16. Miami Dolphins

17. Tennessee Titans

18. Jacksonville Jaguars

19. Atlanta Falcons

20. San Francisco 49ers

21. Houston Texans

22. Carolina Panthers

23. Chicago Bears

24. Cleveland Browns

25. Buffalo Bills

26. Oakland Raiders

27. Seattle Seahawks

28. Detroit Lions

29. Kansas City Chiefs

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

31. Washington Redskins

32. Saint Louis Rams

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Charged Up | Chargers-Redskins: Bolts Look To Keep Momentum Going for Playoffs

That bandwagon is getting a little creaky, as folks from Riverside to San Ysidro continue to pile on.

For five of the last six seasons, Charger fans find themselves in a familiar position: geared for the playoffs.

The AFC’s version of the Philadelphia Eagles this decade (Last decade? The ’00s? The noughties?), the Bolts have yet to parlay their sustained excellence into a Super Bowl victory.

Furthermore, heartbreaking losses, hard-luck injuries, and questionable coaching calls have been the hallmarks for San Diego in the postseason.

Hey, you—jumping off the bandwagon, where do you think you’re going?

They say momentum is everything, and when I say “they,” I mean every single jock holding a job as a color commentator or analyst on any one of the big networks, both cable and non-cable.

Normally, you’d doubt guys like Buck Bicep or Randall Roid to impart any type of life lesson, but I’m afraid I have to side with them on this one.

The Chargers have won 10 games in a row, and have supplanted the Saints and the Vikings momentarily on the list of “it” teams in the NFL.

The reason is simple. It’s not how you start; it’s how you finish.

In December, Brett Favre’s body falls apart faster than a snowman in Bermuda, and the Vikings have taken a toll.

The Saints scored 38 points in Week 12, 33 in Week 13, 26 in Week 14, and then 17 in Weeks 15 and 16.

Guess which two games they lost?

Huh.

So, the Saints can’t win unless they outgun everyone on offense? Weird.

Meanwhile, the Bolts are doing it their way.

With a defensive unit nothing short of amazing, considering they have more field casualties than the French army at Waterloo, a resurgent running game, and Philip Rivers featuring They Might Be Giants at WR.

Let’s not forget the coaching.

Ron Rivera chose the worst year to re-gain national relevance with Mike Shanahan, Bill Cowher, et al on the prowl for coaching jobs.

Norv Turner’s play-calling has experienced a renaissance, and his mastery of trick plays evokes Henry Winkler’s playbook in The Waterboy .

Or Don Coryell. Whatever.

With the Redskins rolling into town on Sunday and nothing to play for, the question is, of course: Do we dare mess with the big mo?

The last time the Chargers had a first-round bye, Marlon McCree fumbled a Tom Brady interception and Nate Kaeding missed a last-second field goal, effectively knocking the Bolts out of the playoffs.

If Norv Turner decides to give his starters the game off, that will mean a potential gap of 23 days between the win at Tennessee and the AFC Divisional Playoffs.

My suggestion? Give them at least a half. Except for guys coming back from injuries (paging Shawne Merriman to the article), everyone should approach this game as another day at the office.

That way there’s no accumulation of rust, the fans get what they paid for, and no obnoxious media types put pressure on you by saying you played one meaningful game in the past 23 days.

Oops.

Meanwhile, around the league…

You know what I find funny? How everyone agrees that the Raiders will be better off when a certain senile owner bites the dust.

Even mainstream publications are latching on to this idea. The guy is so stubborn (and don’t forget old) that this is seemingly the only way he’ll ever relent control.

…unless he has his brain secretly implanted into Randy Hanson ‘s body when he dies.

Wade Phillips was all but fired just two weeks ago from the Dallas Cowboys. Now he’s on the cusp of being renewed.

By this logic, expect ol’ Wade to run for Congress and win this year.

So, Mike Holmgren took over the Browns. When Holmgren was the GM and coach of the Seahawks, they were awful.

Seriously, from 1999 to 2002, he was the GM. Their record during that span? 31-33.

From 2002 to 2008, he was solely the head coach—62-41 and a Super Bowl berth.

What’s changed? Did he magically learn how to run a team? Congratulations, Cleveland. You’re the new Detroit and Mike is the new Matt (Millen).

The Steelers think that teams are going to lay down this week to keep them from the playoffs.

Yeah, you guys are scary and no one wants to play you. You know, unless you’re the Browns, Chiefs, Raiders, or Bears.

Those are real juggernauts.

Eli Manning was named the fourth best New York athlete this decade by the New York Post .

The Giants are out of the playoffs.

That recognition was also a huge boost for one-hit wonders all over the world.

In related news, A-Ha’s Take on Me was named the fourth best song in the history of music.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

NFL Week 17 Point Spread Winners: Unusual Undertakings In Vegas-Land

The Colts are (gulp!) underdogs this week, as they play Buffalo. The Bills are favored by 8.5.  Somehow, I still like the Colts to cover 8.5.

Minnesota has the Giants at home and the Vikings are favored by nine. I like the Giants to cover in this game for a number of reasons.

The Saints rest Drew Brees this week, so you have to take Carolina in this one. It will be hard to get a bet on this game, as there is no line as of Saturday night.

Pittsburgh will beat Miami but needs a huge amount of help to get in the playoffs, namely the Jets losing to Cincinnati and Oakland beating the Ravens. Not too likely. The Steelers cover the three points.

New England has Houston at home  Houston is desperate and also needs help to reach the postseason. Houston is favored by eight. Take Houston as New England will rest starters.

Chicago is in Detroit and will cover the three points.

Atlanta hosts Tampa Bay and will reach 8-8 with a win over the Bucs. This is a strong play with Atlanta only giving 2.5 points. Take the Falcons.

The division title is up for grabs as Dallas has Philadelphia in Jerry’s house. I like the Eagles to win the division, and play Dallas again next week. The Cowboys are favored by three at home. I ‘ll take the visiting Eagles.

The 49ers will cover at home against the still-hated Rams. The 49ers must win by seven, and they will.

Jacksonville can finish at 8-8, an improvement over last season, with a victory over Cleveland. Cleveland had improved also. Cleveland is favored by 1.5. I like the Jags at home.

Here’s a contrversial game, especially in the NFL moving the time up: The Bengals have nothing to play for, perhaps, while the Jets win and are in.

I think Cincinnati will play in this game, however. The Jets are favored by 10. Take the Bengals with that many points.

San Diego has Washington, and should win this game also, in a tune up for the playoffs. Give the four points and take the Chargers.

Baltimore must win to make the playoffs, so take them in this game to get it done. Baltimore by 10.5 .

Denver is probably out of the playoffs, but should handle Kansas City by two touchdowns this week.

Arizona will probably lose to Green Bay as they feel this team out and take notes. Arizona is favored by 3.5, but I think Green Bay wins this week. They play again next week.

Tennessee finishes up at 8-8 for the season as they destroy Seattle in Tennessee.

That’s about it. Have a great weekend and I ‘ll pick some playoff winners for you next week.

Thomas [NFL Mikee] Moreland

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Pittsburgh Steelers Playoff Hopes Rest on “Criminal Element”

Back in the 1970s the Raiders and Steelers rivalry was about as intense as it can get. There were cheapshots, trashtalk and lawsuits aplenty. The Raiders in general and George Atkinson specifically were labeled the “Criminal Element ” by Steelers coach Chuck Noll. 

Now more than 30 years later the Steelers playoff hopes may rest on a Raiders victory against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. In part because of their own inability to beat the Raiders themselves.

I wonder if Lynn Swann will be cheering for the Raiders on Sunday. I saw a video on youtube (type in Oakland Raiders feud) where he once said he felt his life was in danger when playing the Raiders! George Atkinson’s humorous response was that Lynn Swann was SOFT! That was a different era and I wonder if players like Atkinson, Tatum, Blount, or Lambert could even play in the league today.

As a Raiders fan I’ve never liked the Steelers but I’ve always respected them. They have a good owner, passionate but not completely annoying fans and have always played a hard-nosed physical style of football. The kind of football I love.

That’s why I hope we can help them out this Sunday. That and my disdain for the Colts and Patriots.

When the Colts let the Jets win Sunday they hurt the Steelers. When New England lays down for Houston that will hurt the Steelers. If the Steelers miss the playoffs that means the AFC will more than likely be represented by the Colts, Chargers, or Pats; three teams capable of losing to Pittsburgh with a healthy Polamalu. Does anyone really want to see that?

So I hope even Lynn Swann joins Raider Nation this Sunday, with all the other Steel Curtain faithful and helps cheer us on to victory. Then after the game I’ll be looking for a few Steeler fans at my local sports bar to pick up my extensive bar tab. I will thank them and wish them well… until the next time we play them in a meaningful game and then I’ll hate them again. SOFT!

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

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