We’re halfway through the season and I felt compelled to try my hand
again at a weekly piece. What I plan to do here is to list off my top
five NFL teams heading into this weekend. I’ll give you my reasoning
and my general feeling about the team’s.
Then I’ll list off the top five NFL teams from the following sources:
Peter Schrager, Foxsports.com; Mike McAllister, ESPN.com; Jonathan Comey, ColdHardFootballFacts.com; and Dr. Z, SI.com.
Then I’ll combine all our rankings and develop consensus rankings.
After that I’ll probably tack on some notes with additional thoughts.
Hope you enjoy and feel free to comment.
1. New England Patriots (9-0)
The reason should be obvious. Not only are they sole remaining
undefeated team in the league they have simply been dominating in their
victories. Besides the Colts game the Patriots haven’t faced a
challenge all season. Even in Dallas once they got halfway through the
third quarter the game was over.
The Patriots have a cake schedule the rest of the way and run the
risk of going undefeated. Based on Bill Belichick’s tactics late in
games that have already be won, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Brady,
Moss, Welker, etc. playing extensively in the last several games of the
season. While that may be the right way to go undefeated if Tom Brady
gets hurt in one of those unnecessary games then the Patriots historic
season will be brought to an abrupt halt.
2. Indianapolis Colts (7-1)
The Colts had the game against the Patriots. Even without Marvin
Harrison, the Colts’ offense put up enough points to over come the
league’s highest scoring team. However, Marvin Harrison’s absence ended
up costing the Colts the game. Several times the Colts came within
striking distance but could not score a TD. On play in particular, a
Gonzalez dropped ended a promising drive.
The next time these two teams meet Peyton Manning should have his
favorite weapon. If that’s the case then the Colts could easily win
that game. But they didn’t win this past Sunday and that drops them to
a very solid number 2 (really, more like 1.b.).
3. Dallas Cowboys (7-1)
The Cowboys crushed the Eagles this weekend to assert their
dominance in the NFC East. Of course, they’ve got a far greater
challenge when they travel to Giants stadium to take on the resurgent
New York Giants. This will be the battle for number one and could have
implications of home field advantage in the playoffs.
Dallas is cruising. They seem to be curing their first quarter
scoring woes and that does not bode well for opponents. Their defense
is also coming on and it appears they will finally have both starting
corners in the lineup soon. The Cowboys seem to be improving
week-to-week and they will be awfully hard to beat.
4. Green Bay Packers (7-1)
The Pack have a tough match up this week against the Vikings. Adrian
Peterson is simply ripping the league a new one and will test the young
Packers defense. On the other side of the ball the Pack are running
more but nothing that you could call a legit run game has developed.
That’s going to be a problem (or so they’ve been saying for about 5
weeks now).
As much as I love Brett Favre it seems that he’s a ticking time
bomb. As the level of competition increases the Pack will have to
answer with a running game. If they can’t then Brett could easily slip
into “Bad Favre” and the Packers season might end before the playoffs
begin. However, they certainly seem on track for the playoffs and have
a stellar defense. If they can get their run game going then they could
beat the Cowboys later this month and supplant them as the NFC’s team
to beat.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)
Ben Roethlisberger threw for 5 touchdowns in the first half of last
weeks game against the Baltimore Ravens. The Pittsburgh Steelers
defense is still one of the toughest in the league. The combination of
a much stronger offense and an ever powerful defense will spell trouble
for Steelers opponents.
The Steelers appear to be the only legitimate threat left against
the Patriots in the regular season. Ben Roethlisberger is playing at
high level right now and has opened up this offense. If the defense can
attack Brady I believe that the Steelers offense can score on the Pats.
I also trust AFC teams much more than NFC teams so the Steelers get the
nod over the Giants.
- This discussion of the asterisks to be placed next to the Patriots
record if they go undefeated is ridiculous. It should be a foregone
conclusion. If we’re going to consider placing an asterisks next to
Barry Bonds’ record because we think he cheated then we must place an asterisks next to the Patriots’ (read Belichick’s) record because we know they (he) cheated.
- The best way for NBC to go green is to eliminate all the extras
around their football broadcasts. I mean, have Al Michaels do
play-by-play alone. John Madden produces enough Carbon Dioxide by
himself to melt a small ice berg, he will not be missed. Bob Costas is
an embarrassment to studio hosts everywhere and Cris Collinsworth has
to be one of the worst analysts/commentators I’ve ever heard. If NBC
just got rid of all these extras, they would reduce NBC’s carbon
footprint significantly.
The Good: Michael Vick sued for 63 billion and outed as Al-Qaeda
Michael Vick has been through a lot. After denying he knew the house
he purchased in Virginia (his home state) was being used for dog
fighting he has now opted to plead guilty and face anywhere from 12-months to five years in prison.
One place he will not spend that time, however, is in Williamsburg
Federal Correctional Facility which is located in South Carolina. That
is because an inmate there is suing him and calling for a temporary restraining order.
The plaintiff, Jonathan Lee Riches, claims that Mike Vick stole his
copyrighted name and his pit bulls. His name was used to open up credit
cards and accounts at pet food marts while his dogs were used for, you
guessed it, dog fighting. They were then sold on eBay and the cash Vick
got he used to buy missiles for Iran.
That's because, according to the lawsuit, Mike Vick joined Al-Qaeda.
I assume, the theory goes he will use those missiles to attack the
United States in an act of Jihad.
If you don't believe this is real, the hand written claim is right here in pdf format.
The man also is seeking 63 million dollars to recover from the
damages Mike Vick has done to him and wants Vick to "stop physically
hurting my feelings and dashing my hopes." He wants the money to be
delivered to the gates of the prison through UPS, which he incorrectly
identifies as the United States Parcel Service, in gold and silver.
What's truly great about this is that the court accepted this. That
means, a judge will actually have to look at this document. Mike Vick
will also have to hire a lawyer to draft a response. Then the court
will have to take the time and resources necessary to throw the case
out.
But, this could answer several questions some people have had. Some
have questioned the involvement of the Feds in this case and the use of
resources. Perhaps they weren't digging for dogs on that property after
all. Maybe they were looking for those missiles. Maybe the NSA picked
up a phone call between Vick and some Al-Qaeda operatives or maybe they
observed the him transporting the missiles.
Regardless, this is awesome and I love the fact that Vick's going to
have to deal with it. This is far more interesting than the ongoing
Vick saga and brings some brevity to this sad situation.
The Bad: JaMarcus Russel is Still Holding Out
So the number one overall pick is still holding out. This makes a
strong case for the Texans move last year of working out a deal before
the draft. The Raiders scooped up Russel from the NCAA championship
game and have yet to see if he'll shine like he did at the Sugar Bowl.
With Russel still holding out the Raiders went ahead and signed
Daunte Culpepper. This gives them some leverage against Russel but it's
still a bad situation. According to reports, even after missing all of
the training camp, the Raiders and Russel are still far apart on terms.
This is ridiculous bordering on idiotic. First of all, Russel has
done absolutely nothing in the NFL (obviously). For all we know, he
will be a complete failure as a QB in the NFL, another Tim Couch or
Ryan Leaf. Plenty of people will say he's no Ryan Leaf but I'll believe
in him when I see him in the NFL.
While I'm all for trying to get as much money as you can, you
shouldn't ruin your shot by being a complete ####. Take the ten or
twenty or whatever million dollar signing bonus and the five year deal.
Maybe workout a way to become a restricted free agent after three or
four years. If you're really that great then work your contract out to
get a lot of money now and have options fairly quickly.
JaMarcus Russel really needs to get on the field. His value will
never be higher than it is right now (especially since I expect him to
flame out) and he should cash in while he can. If the worst case
scenario plays out no one will sign him after this season (at least for
anything near what he's looking at now). Russel should just come to
terms with the Raiders and seeing if he can beat out Daunte for the
starting job, if he wants to be a franchise QB he'll have to get to
work fast.
The Ugly: Battle of the Giants
So Eli Manning doesn't like the fact that Tiki Barber questioned his leadership skills.
This little tiff erupted after Tiki made some less than flattering
remarks about Eli's leadership abilities, something I'm sure every NFL
fan is guilty of doing.
Apparently Tiki really upset the young
Manning by saying things like his attempts to lead team meetings were
comical. While I feel that could easily apply to his attempts to lead
the team on the field, Eli got upset.
Eli responded by saying he could've called out Barber when he questioned Tom Coughlin's coaching ability. Ouch.
Eli
may finally be standing up and showing us he can put the "man" in
Manning. But probably not. I mean, Tiki Barber is only saying what we
all believe, Giants fans included. He's just confirming that Eli's more
of a follower than a leader like we suspected.
Yet, the New York
media, notorious for how hard they are on athletes, have given Eli a
free pass. Some have questioned Eli but not like they have A-Rod who
has done much more for the Yankees than Manning has for the Giants.
Hell, Chad Pennington has done more for the Jets than Manning ever has
for the Giants and the media's much harder on Chad than they ever have
been been on Eli.
Now, they're flaming Barber like he was
blaspheming by suggestion Eli Manning is not the leader the Giant's
were hoping for. Tiki Barber was 100% accurate in his comments on the
awkward Eli and his inability to handle his responsibility and the new
York media should be in his corner instead of stabbing him in the back.
Eli Manning's half the man Tiki Barber is and everybody knows it.
Free-Agent Line Backer LaVar Arrington Could Land in Dallas
I've said it before and I'll say it again: The Cowboys should sign LaVar Arrington.
The Giants released him and I think Arrington is still a good line backer. He hurt his Achilles in a game against the Cowboys in which he was doing pretty well. The Cowboys Line Backing Corps is solid but could always use a Pro Bowl addition.
I doubt Lance Briggs will be allowed to hit the market so Arrington may well be the best line backer out there. If the Cowboys could sign him they'd have a solid rotation of: DeMarcus Ware, Bradie James, LaVar Arrington, Bobby Carpenter, Akin Ayodele, and Kevin Burnett. They also have a solid up and comer in Ryan Fowler to throw in there and they'd have a great goup. Since Line Backers thrive so much in a Wade Phillips D, then this could be a perfect fit for Arrington.
Luke Pettigout/Leonard Davis to Anchor O-Line?
The Cowboys offensive line was a major concern this season. Even after signing veteran Marco Rivera and locking up Flozell Adams to a long term deal the offensive line has consistently struggled. Rivera hasn't lived up to promise and the Right Tackle position has resembled a revolving door.
Marc Colombo did a fair job on the right side but he still may need some development. The Cowboys may choose to let him go but I think they'll keep him. However, they feel their in a position to win now and need a solid O-Line immediately so they may try to get a veteran for at least the next couple seasons.
The big name being tossed around is Leonard Davis of the Arizona Cardinals. However, with the Giants cutting Pettigout I think he could be brought into the mix of players the Cowboys might try to use to anchor their line. With Adams aging and also not playing quite like he used to the Cowboys may sign one of them anyhow to provide competition and help shore up the line.
What to do With Drew
Drew Bledsoe has said repeatedly that he refuses to be a backup quarterback. He's clearly going to be a backup on the Cowboys next season so the Cowboys have got to get rid of him. His poor attitude impacts his preperation, whether he says so or not, so the Cowboys don't want him to be their backup.
The question is, will they be able to get anything for him or just have to cut him outright? There are a few teams with quarterback woes. The Raiders, Bucs, and Bears come to mind. The Raiders won't do it because they're going to draft Russell and already signed Aaron Brooks to a large contract last year.
The Bucs won't do it because Jon Gruden wants to get younger not older. He's not sold on either of his young QB's and will probably try to find another young guy to throw in the mix. I could see him pursuing Matt Schaub hard in an attempt to secure a true "franchise quarterback."
The Bears...the Bears...there's a huge question as to their future at the position. There has been talk about them trying to David Carr. The Texans would have to ensure their QB potition was secure (can you imagine a worse QB behind center in Houston than the Drew Bledsoe?). Chicago could be a good destination for Drew. He still has one of the most powerful arms in the NFL and the Bears O-Line is solid. This could be the one place where Drew Bledsoe could succeed.
In the end though, the Cowboys are going to have to cut him. They'll get nothing for him but two years of typical Drew, shining when it doesn't matter and then collapsing when it does.
It's like it was yesterday, the 2004 NFL Draft and the hype leading up to it. Peyton Manning, the great starting Quarter Back of the Indianapolis Colts, was preparing to welcome another member of his family into the ranks of the National Football League.
Turns out Archie had sired two prolific Quarter Backs for the league and his youngest, Eli, was the shinning star of college football. He was the obvious choice for the first pick in the draft and the Manning's were beaming with pride in their boy.
There was one tiny problem. A wrinkle in an otherwise perfect dream. That wrinkle was that the San Diego Chargers owned the first pick in the 2004 Draft. Now, to many that wouldn't be a problem. They had LaDanian Tomlinson, who even then was considered one of the best backs in the league. They had Antonio Gates who it was said, was possibly the best Tight End in the league. The weather in San Diego is lovely and Disney Land is only an hour and a half away.
But none of this mattered to Archie's boy. He wasn't playing in some damn second rate market like San Diego. That may have been good enough for Peyton, but that was before people knew just how freaking prolific Archie's heirs are. No, Eli would not sign with the lowly Chargers whose powder blue uniforms display their softness for the world to see.
And so Draft day came and Eli's name was called as the first overall selection. He strode up the stage dutifully (absorbing chants of "Eli sucks!" from the San Diego faithful) and then refused to wear the Chargers' cap whilst his picture was taken. He snubbed San Diego to the end and probably would've entered an extended holdout had the Chargers hung on to him.
But much to the Manning's delight, the Chargers found a new home for Eli. One more suitable for his stature. He was after all Archie's son and Peyton's younger brother, those two had paved the way (by playing for the Saints and Colts respectively) so Eli wouldn't have to suffer the same kind of "small-market" nonesense. Instead, the Chargers traded Eli to the New York "Football" Giants for their pick, some kid named Philip Rivers (also a Quarter Back), the Giants' first and fifth round picks in the '05 draft, and the a third round selection in the 2004 draft.
Eli was happy. He wasn't just going to a big market. He was going to the Big Market, the Big Apple. He was going to the home of the Giants, New Jersey (but so close to New York, you'd never know!)! The Chargers and the city of San Diego had been successfully snubbed and Eli was on his way to the big time. After all the Giants only had a bad run, the Chargers were much farther away from the playoffs.
Enter the 2006 season. The Giants were slated to win the NFC, again, and Eli was being hailed as finally arriving. The media had handled him with baby gloves, citing the fact that he was Archie's son, brother of the ever-great Peyton Manning. They "knew" he would come along. And 2006 would prove it.
Meanwhile, the Chargers have been in the playoff hunt ever since that day. Not because of Rivers but because the team has improved. Those draft picks given by the Giants resulted in Shawne Merriman (primarily) and Nate Kaeding. Then this past offseason the Bolts let QB Drew Brees leave for New Orleans and elevated Philip Rivers into the starting role.
Now, the Chargers stand poised to do something truly special. They have perhaps the best running back in the history of the game (LaDanian Tomlinson), a great Tight End (Antonio Gates), and solid a (allbeit inconsistent) Defense. Meanwhile, the Giants have a team that seems to simply be giving up. Eli has looked sloppy since the first four games of the season and seems to be getting worse, not better.
I remember thinking Eli was being an arrogant #### when he was drafted. I remember smiling wide I saw him get absolutely crushed by a Falcon Defensive Lineman. And as this season progresses I'm happy every time I see Eli struggle and Rivers succeed.
It has nothing to do with a personal dislike of the Giants (I love Tiki, who don't love Tiki?) or a love for the Chargers (I think Merriman's an ####). It has everything to do with a personal dislike of Eli and his attitude leading up to the draft. Eli Manning was the next great QB and San Diego just wasn't good enough for him. No, the Manning's wanted him in New York and that's exactly what they got. Now Eli's sinking, and dragging the Giants down with him. Unless somebody steps up on that team to lift him up or unless he manages to turn himself around and prove he truly is the next great QB then the Giants are sunk.
Rivers is poised to lead the Chargers to the Super Bowl, Eli's poised to bounce the Giants right out of the playoffs. I guess it's just an example for the old warning: Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it.
As a follow up to my AFC Top Five I present to you the NFC Top Five. Most them are obvious, while doing this it's very clear the AFC is still the deeper Conference. This one was much more difficult to do because so many of the NFC teams are schizophrenic. Without further ado:
Here's the NFC.
NFC 1. Chicago Bears (7-0)
Just like the Colts in the AFC, until they lose they've got to be top dog. Though they were perhaps exposed by the Cardinals they still came out of the desert with a "W." The Bears have been scary. Their offense is averaging 31.6 points a game and their defense is only allowing 9.9 points a game.
A quick look at their schedule, however, reveals the only some what good team they've played is Seattle. You could also say that maybe Minnesota was a tough opponent but I think they've been a bit over inflated. The Bears are going to face the hapless Dolphins this week Then they face the Giants, have a bye (I mean play the Jets), then the Patriots. We'll see after that game in New England if the Bears are legit or if they've benefited from an easy schedule.
2. New York Giants (5-2)
The Giants have been playing fairly well this season. For all the talk of how poor the Giants pass defense is, it doesn't really matter when the Quarter Back isn't given time to find his receivers or is flat on his back. The Giants pass rush is their key on D. With Umenyiora and Strahan on the edges, teams are having a problem keeping them out of the back field.
They looked like they were going to lose a few games only to have the offense finally start clicking in the fourth quarter and pick up a victory. While that's certainly admirable if it keeps up they may be going home early. I have no doubt they'll make the playoffs but coming from behind late in the game is a dangerous game in the post season. They'll be playing powerful defenses that will be harder to come back against and sooner or later the numbers will catch up to them and they won't be able to come back. For now, though, the Giants are clearly the second best team in the NFC (after they play the Bears perhaps the number one).
3. Atlanta Falcons (5-2)
The Falcons. They always start out so hot, then slow down as the season wears on. That's what happens when you rely on a couple players to carry your team. Their defense is good but traditionally Mike Vick is asked to do too much and breaks down in the playoffs. However, if he truly has figured out the Quarter Back is much more effective passing the ball (while maintaing the threat of a run) they could go deep. They land at number three right now and could over take the Giants if they keep playing like they are now.
4. New Orleans Saints (5-2)
The Saints lost at home, finally. It was bound to happen eventually. While the Saints are certainly improved over the past several seasons, they aren't that good. They face a couple other struggling teams (Cincinnati, Pittsburgh) in the coming weeks and could right the ship. However, if they lose to the Bucs this week then they'll show they really are going full speed in reverse and may drop out of the top five.
The Saints schedule gets more difficult in the second half and they have a chance to show if they've really turned the corner. Do they really have a shot at going to Miami? I don't think they're that good, but I think they could pull off a win in the post season.
5. St. Louis Rams (4-3)
Oh snap! The Rams?!?
Calm yourself. I'll explain. It's true, the St. Louis Rams did lose to the Seahawks a couple weeks ago. Yes, it's true they did lose to San Diego this past week. But this is a real demonstration of how weak the NFC is. The real difference between the Seahawks and the Rams is the direction they're going in. Sure, the Rams lost to the Chargers, but San Diego is a potential Super Bowl team.
The Rams offense is putting up big numbers. Their D is giving up too many points but if they can tighten things up (and I think they've underperformed thus far) they could be scary. I also feel like the Seahawks are headed in the wrong direction. Hasselback's importance to the Seahawks is under valued (not only his ability but his leadership) and he'll be missed. While Alexander's set to return soon, it could be too late to resurrect the Seahawks season. And so I think the Rams will end up winning the West and the Seahawks may well miss the playoffs entirely.
Sleeper: Minnesota Vikings (4-3)
The sexy pick is probably the Dallas Cowboys. And as much as I'd love to throw them in here I can't. I just don't know about Tony Romo. Their defense has been underachieving as has their offense and it will take a couple more weeks until I'm convinced about Romo (if they beat the Colts in Dallas, or even keep it close then I'll believe).
With that said, I'm forced to pick the Vikings. The Vikings have a very easy second half, with only the Bears and Rams being real tests. I think the Vikings could sneak into the playoffs behind the Bears but I wouldn't hold my breath for them to do anything. They displayed an ability to lose to even the worst teams when they lost to the Bills and will probably crack under the pressure of the post season. For now, the Vikings appear the most poised to make the playoffs but don't be surprised if another NFC team (like the Cowboys or Eagles) knocks them off.
Note: Wow, this was harder than I thought. I have a serious lack of faith in the NFC. I fully expect the AFC team to take another Super Bowl. Hopefully in the coming seasons the playing field will flatten a little more and NFC teams can become serious contenders for the Lombardi Trophy.
So I've heard some talk about why the Cowboys won't win the NFC East. Therefore, I've decided to write to a blog as to why they will win the NFC East.
Offensive Line
Last year the Dallas Cowboys showcased a rather pourous offensive line. Drew Bledsoe was the second most sacked Quarterback in the NFL, behind only David Carr (who I think deserves a moment of silence every Sunday). This wasn't too surprising since Drew Bledsoe is about as mobile as a block of granite.
But it wasn't always thus. In fact, for the first six games he was rarely (relatively speaking) sacked. Spending an unsual amount of time on his feet he was able to put together an average QB rating of 101.5 through those first six games.
This was quite the accomlishment when you consider a rookie named Rob Pettiti was playing right tackle. The Cowboys had been able to mask his inexperience by leaving a Tight End (usually Dan Campbell) to help him. By doing this the Cowboys were able to stop most pass rushes and effecitvely picked up a majority of blitzes. Then in Game 6 against the Giants, a game in which the Cowboys had been faultering all day, Left Tackle Flozell Adams went down with what was called "a knee sprain." That "sprain" turned out to be a torn ACL and sidelined him for the rest of the season.
Then all hell broke loose. Torrin Tucker (who had never started in the NFL) replaced Adams on the line. This left rookies on either end of the line and several handicaped the Cowboys offense. While Bledsoe still finished with an 83.7 QB rating he was on his back a lot more and never seemed as comfortable as through those first six games.
Now, Flozell Adams is back. He's not completely healed from that ACL injury but should be ready to go when the season starts. The Cowboys cut the aging but still strong Left Guard Larry Allen. To replace him they signed fifth year man Kyle Koiser from Detriot. Koiser is impressing the Cowboys coaches and is also very versatile, starting every spot on the line except center.
The Cowboys also signed veteran Jason Fabini when the Jets were forced to waive him. The Cowboys retained Andre Gurode as a possible backup center or guard. Rob Pettiti has apparently bulked up and after a year of starting experience is slated as the starter. They also have Marc Colombo who was a first round pick by the Bears in 2002 but has been plagued by injuries. Allegedly he's healed and is impressing. Regardless, the Cowboys now have much more depth and should be better able to cope with the rigors of the season.
Kicker
The Cowboys had a horrible kicking situation last season. Billy Cundiff was set to come back for a fourth season (the first Cowboys kicker to do so in more than a decade) and Jose Cortez was brought in to give him a little competition. But Cundiff was injured in camp and the Cowboys chose not to keep him on the roster. So they retained Cortez and let Cundiff go.
Cortez was inconsistent from the start. But from the beginning it seemed like he was simply adjusting to playing again and that perhaps it was the Cowboys rookie deep snapper or even Tony Romo (holder) causing some of the problems.
But soon it became clear that Cortez should've gone with the XFL. So, the Cowboys brought back Billy Cundiff after he healed and cleared waivers. He preceded to set a Cowboys record in his first game back by hitting a 56-yard field goal. He missed a 27-yard field goal against the Broncos on Turkey Day (arguably costing the Cowboys the game) and had less than stellar days after that. The Cowboys ended the season with rookie Shaun Suisham as their starting kicker.
The off season provided a very big opportunity for the Cowboys. For the first time the Cowboys appeared ready to spend big bucks on a kicker. The name Adam Vinatieri was floated and got this Cowboys fan very excited (as a New England based Cowboys fan). Alas, the Indianapolis Colts signed Vinatieri to part ways with the "#### Kicker" Mike Vanderjagt.
Soon there after the Cowboys scooped up the NFL's most accurate kicker. Vanderjagt hits about the same number of kicks indoors or outdoors but he has that one kick in the playoffs hanging over his head like a one ton weight. However, Vanderjagt is a considerable upgrade over the Cowboys kickers last season.
Defense
Last year the Cowboys made the switch from a 4-3 defense to the 3-4. Many of the experts said it would be a tough transition. To me, the biggest struggle was with youth. The Cowboys normally played well for the first three quarters then had a strange lapse in the fourth quarter (Redskins, Giants, Broncos).
They certainly have the tools. They have Terence Newman, Anthony Henry, and Aaron Glenn at corner. Then they have Roy Williams and Keith Davis as their safeties. There lies their biggest deffensive liability. Williams struggles when coverging the deep ball while Davis is inexperienced. However, Davis now has a year of starting under his belt and is a special teams standout. He has competition from Marcus Coleman (who also adds depth at corner), Justin Beriault, Willie Pile, and Pat Watkins.
Then they have Demarcus Ware, Bradie James, Akin Ayodele, and Bobby Carptener at Line Backer. They also have veteran Al Singleton and second year player Kevin Burnett (who turned heads before his injury). Then they have Marcus Spears, Jason Ferguson, and Chris Canty on the line. They also still have Greg Ellis who tied Ware for sacks last year.
After playing a year in the 3-4 this young defense should be better prepared for the 2006 season. Those fourth quarter lapses shouldn't occur and now they'll be able to maintain solid play for an entire game. An already good defense got better. I believe this defense will be their key to winning the East.
Terrell Owens
T.O. is not going to single handedly lift this team into the playoffs. But the team around him will. Owens' will not be what he was in Philadelphia. With the Eagles Owens was McNabb's number one option, number two was to scramble, and number three was to toss it to Westbrook. The other receivers were almost non-existent in Philly.
In Dallas Owens will be option number one, followed by Terry Glenn, then down to Jason Witten, then Patrick Crayton, then down to TE Anthony Fasano, then back to Owens, then throw the ball away. Beldsoe is not going to scramble like McNabb did. But you knew that.
T.O. will force teams to double cover him. After that teams will have tough choice as to how they plan to cover Terry Glenn and Jason Witten. They would like to double cover both of them as well but they can't. So many defenders will be focused on covering those three it'll open up the middle for Patrick Crayton and Anthony Fasano. This should also help create some space for Julius Jones.
Owens biggest contribution to this team will not be catching 80 balls and scoring 15 touchdowns (don't get all pissy, I just threw those numbers out there). It's going to be the worry he places on opposing defenses. In Philly teams could double cover Owens and clog the middle. You can't do that with the weapons the Cowboys have.
Cowboys Triumphant
Yes, every team in the NFC East has improved. The Eagles will be back this year. They have a major chip on their shoulder to prove they can win without T.O. and they will. But who's McNabb going to throw to? And I seriously question their mental fortitude. The Giants are a year older, a year wiser. They got Arrington away from the 'Skins but their downfield coverage is still weak. Tiki is an amazing running back but Eli is simply overrated. The Redskins did what they do, forget the draft, sign big vets. They got Randle-El and Brandon Lloyd to compliment Santana Moss. Then they got Adam Achuleta to play along side Sean Taylor.
But of everybody I think the Cowboys have the most options. They had another solid draft and some key Free Agent pick ups (like Akin Ayodele, Jason Fabini, Mike Vanderjagt, and Terrell Owens). The Cowboys will surprise the teams that face them. They won't be able to stop the Cowboys offense and will struggle against their defense. The Cowboys have improved more than their division opponents and that's why they will win the NFC East.
Now that the Cowboys have eliminated themselves from the playoffs it's time for me to examine the teams that made it and decide who I feel will win in the upcoming matchups. I don't get all the NFL games and only have cable so I get mostly Pats games (I live in New England) and a few others. Therefore, I can only go on what I've heard and seen on highlight shows. That being said, here are my early playoff picks (applicable to change as I watch the game and seek to always be right!).
NFC
Washington Redskins vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I could use a cliche like "The Redskins can win if they put the breaks on Cadillac" but I won't. Just remeber, Defense Wins Championships and both these teams have great defenses. The last time these two teams met the Redskins should've won, Alstot did not make it (trust I'm glad the refs got it wrong I hate the 'Skins!). If the Redskins can just limit the Bucs rushing attack then they can put serious pressure on young Chris Simms and cause him to make mistakes.
Redskins 20, Tampa Bay 13
New York Giants vs Caronlina Panthers
This should be a great game. Both teams have been fairly inconsistent all year so who knows what we're going to get. I hope the good version of both teams show up and this game comes down to the wire. If the Panthers could've got it done against the Cowboys then they wouldn't be playing in the Meadowlands but they are. Therefore, the Giants look like they're going to win this game.
New York Giants 21, Carolina Panthers 20
AFC
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cincinnati Bengals
The Steelers were surging while the Bengals were resting. Carson Palmer signed a huge contract extension and it's time to "Fear the Tigers." The Bungles and Men of Steel will meet at Cincinnati for the rights to represent the AFC North in the playoffs. They're playing in Ohio and the Bengals are looking to prove the best team in that state is the Buckeyes. I think the Steelers are a better team than they played like the last time against the Bengals and will upset the Cats on their homefield. It's ok, though Carson's got a long time to get that ring.
Pittsburgh Steelers 23, Cincinatti Bengals 20
New England Patriots vs Jacksonville Jaguars
The Patriots are rolling again. They've got their defensive front back to normal and that's been their conerstone for years. They're getting to the quarterback and containing the run which is masking their secondary problems. Their offense is scoring more points than normal and that combined with their "D" is making them look scary. Finally, the Patriots don't lose at home or in the cold in the playoffs. Well, the game's at Foxboro and it's sure to be chilly. No worries, the Jags will have plenty of time off to warm up in Florida.
New England Patriots 21, Jacksonville Jaguars 20
LaVar Arrington has stated he feels he will not be playing in Washington. Ok, so he back tracked and said he can't predict the future but he initially said he'll either be traded or cut. He went on to say that he's never wanted to play anywhere but in the nation's capital and may just retire if the 'Skins get rid of him. Now that he's said that the Redskins will have even more trouble trying to trade him. So he feels their next move will be to simply cut him. If they did this and he stayed where would he go?
The one place he would have to go would be Dallas. What a place for a smitten former Redskin to go than to Dallas. Bill Parcells has a history of calming disgruntled players and could hope LaVar play within the scheme. The 'Boys will probably be looking for a linebacker because it looks like Dat Nguyen may retire and they'll probably let go one or two of their other linebackers. LaVar could go to Big D and restart his career with a star on his helmet. What a great way to stick it to Joe Gibbs. If the Cowboys were able to pick up LaVar Arrington that my convince the Tuna to finish out his contract. LaVar is Bill Parcells' kind of linebacker and would solidfy a great linebacking core in Dallas (Demarcus Ware, Al Singleton, LaVar Arrington, Kevin Burnett).
LaVar could bring some leadership to anotherwise young defense. He could help anchor what could be one of the league's best defenses next season. This would also help bring back some of that heat to the Cowboys-Redskins rivalry. Will this happen? Probably not. LaVar's said he doesn't want to play for anybody else except the Redskins. But Johnny Damon also said he would never play for the Yankees.
It's pretty much decided (though not quite in the books) that the Colts will represent the AFC in Superbowl XL. The only real challenge they'll face in the playoffs will be the Broncos in the Championship game. But the question on everybody's mind is "who's gonna lose to them?"
Contenders:
Seahawks (9-2): The NFC West champs are getting absolutely no love. They have maybe the number two running back in the league (LT's #1). They have a receiving core that can finally catch the ball. They have a defense that plays adequately and has big play ability. Right now they are the best NFC team but haven't exactly beaten other good teams convincingly.
Bears (8-3): Maybe the only reason the Bears are 8-3 is because they play in the NFC North and their opponents outside of it include the Ravens, Niners, and Saints. But the past two weeks they've beaten the Panthers and Bucs. They may be too one dimensional to win in the playoffs but you can't argue with success.
Falcons (7-4): DVD. Mike Vick has proven in recent weeks he's capable of throwing for good yardage. The Falcons have also been able to maintain a strong running attack. Their defense is underperforming, however, and tomorrow's game against Carolina will go a long way to deciding the division. If their defense can turn things around they could do some things in the NFC.
Pretenders:
Carolina (8-3): Carolina's a good team. Just not one that will win the Championship game. They're far too inconsistent. Yes they've won 8 games but they almost lost to Arizona andDetroit and lost to Miami and New Orleans. They seem to play down to their competition and that kills teams in the playoffs.
Dallas (7-4): As a Cowboys fan it pains me to say this, but they're not good enough to win the Championship game. They beat a reeling Philadelphia and blew out some bad teams (Arizona, Detroit) but they've lost their only game against a true NFC contender (Seattle). The Cowboys are a year away from the big game but next year they may be a monster team.
New York (7-4): The Giants too are at least a year away. They play well and fight hard for games but they're not good enough to win road, playoff games. They've gotten all the parts they just need one more year to get them working together. They may play in the Championship game but they won't win it.
Tampa Bay (7-4): The Bucs are a wildcard team today but they're going in the wrong direction. They "beat" Washington but that's another team in reverse. The season may have been a bit to tumultuous for Chucky and the gang. Consistency is going to kill this team and of all the teams I've mentioned I think they're the most likely to miss the playoffs outright.
The most questionable is putting in the Falcons and Bears as true contenders and leaving the Panthers out. I just think Carolina doesn't have enough of a complete game to be seriously considered as a Super Bowl team. The Falcons have enough power to give themselves a shot and if they're defense plays up to their potential I'm fully confident they can get to Detroit. The Bears are the reverse. If they're offense heats up and their defense keeps playing as it is they will be formidable team. As of right now you have to say Seattle will be in it but you can't really tell in this close race. I picked Atlanta at the beginning of the season and if they heat up I still think they can get there.
I am a FOX sports blogger because I like to talk and have opinions about pretty much anything and everything. I like pretty much any sport but I love football (basketball's a close second). The NFL is the only major sport I watch all season but I watch the others sporadically. My favorite teams are the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Red Wings, Atlanta Braves, and Boston Red Sox.
