Month: November 2006 (Page 5 of 29)

No one is going to blame Edgerrin James for taking the boatload of cash that the Arizona Cardinals threw at him over the offseason. No one should blame the Colts for letting their once star running back leave either, especially after Joseph Addai’s performance in Indy’s 45-21 win Sunday night over the Eagles.

Addai rushed for 171 yards on 24 carries and four touchdowns against a once proud Philadelphia run defense. Addai has simply become in one season what James was for so many years in Indianapolis. Don’t get me wrong, James was phenomenal and often underrated in what he did for the Colts, but the drafting of Addai has once again proven what a great organization Indianapolis is. While it’s true that without Peyton Manning (14 of 20 for 183 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) this franchise would probably struggle for nine wins, the Colts continue to draft well and show class every season.

On a day where Michael Vick gives the one-fingered salute to Falcon fans in Atlanta, Tony Dungy continues to trot out the very best every week. And I’m not solely referring to wins and losses either.

Observations from the late games:

– I can’t decide what NFL meltdown is most (or should I say least?) impressive: The Atlanta Falcons four-game losing streak after starting 5-2 or the NY Giants three-game losing streak after winning five straight. What a collapse the G-Men had in Tennessee. After jumping out to a 21-0 halftime lead, the Titans rallied for 24 points in the fourth quarter and pulled out a 24-21 last second victory. Vince Young threw two touchdown passes and ran another in, while Adam “Pacman” Jones intercepted an Eli Manning pass in the final minutes of the game to set up the game winning field goal. Manning’s confidence looks absolutely shot and so do the Giants playoff hopes.

– Nine turnovers in the Bears-Patriots game? Nine? Rex Grossman threw three picks. Tom Brady tossed two. Either way, New England found a way to win this mistake fest and came away with a 17-13 victory. What had to be maddening for Chicago was the way they ran the ball extremely well and Grossman did his part to muck things up. While the Bears can’t panic, Chicago has proven that it can’t win in the playoffs without a consistent offense. Right now, Grossman is far from consistent and that must really concern the Bear faithful.

– After watching the Chargers nudge out the Raiders 21-14, how can anyway seriously win money gambling on the NFL these days? There sits San Diego, at home, winners of four straight against the pathetic Oakland Raiders. And the Chargers have to come from behind twice to win by seven. Every week must be looked at as a new week in the NFL. And every week LaDainain Tomlinson (109 yards, two touchdowns) continues to prove how he’s the best player in the NFL.

Observations from the early games:

-Drew Brees continued his M.V.P surge in a 31-13 victory over the hapless Falcons. Brees threw for 349 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Of course, if Brees was throwing against a real NFL secondary, I could give him more credit. Atlanta is terrible. It’s like shooting fish in a barrel against that team. Jim Mora and company should be issued out of Atlanta in the offseason. Mora rarely has his team ready to play and his coordinators’ game plans are an absolute joke. Mora’s father has called Michael Vick a “coach killer”. Well, let me be the first to call Mora and Greg Knapp a “Vick Killer” and the Falcons are lucky that Vick makes enough plays to keep everybody employed in Atlanta.

– What a funny team the Carolina Panthers are. Just when you want to crown them “back”, they choke something mightily against a less-superior team. Sunday it was the three-win Redskins that knocked off the Panthers 17-13. Memo to Jake Delhomme, it’s not always your offensive line, coaches or receivers fault. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Delhomme is nothing without Steve Smith. Congratulations to Jason Campbell, who won his first NFL game as a starter. Campbell didn’t have a huge impact, but he did more than Mark Brunell ever did this season. It’s a shame that Joe Gibbs sat on this kid for so long.

– It’s ironic how the Panthers and Jaguars came into the league together, because they’re like the same team. Just when you’re ready to crown them a good football team, the Jags blow a chance to prove you right. Jacksonville lost to the suddenly hot Buffalo Bills 27-24. J.P. Losman went 21 of 28 for 169 yards and a pick, but led a late charge to secure a win. Jacksonville’s defense, which has been good, better stop its yo-yo performances week to week if this team is going to go anywhere.

– I think the Steelers played in Baltimore Sunday. I say, “think” because I’m not entirely sure given that 30-0 score the Ravens hung on Pittsburgh. Welcome back to earth Ben Roethlisberger

– See above for the Bengals 30-0 victory over the Browns. Who pissed off Chad Johnson the past two weeks?

– Chad Pennington wanted to end his recent slump against the Texans this Sunday and I think he did that in the Jets 26-11 victory. Pennington was 24 of 31 for 286 yards and a touchdown. Pennington did all of that while getting just 27 yards from the rushing department.

– Minnesota hung on to a 31-26 victory…over Arizona. Not that this is college football and you have to blow everybody out, but no Dennis Green-led team should every come within six points of a somewhat decent squad. What a massive day for the quarterbacks in this game. Rookie Matt Leinart passed for over 400 yards and Brad “Elbow Pads” Johnson threw for three touchdowns. Chester Taylor had a good game as well in rushing for 136 yards and a score.

– I’ve got to hand it to the 49ers. Unlike some other teams in the NFL, San Fran gives it all it has for four quarters. The Rams topped the Niners 20-17, but there is nothing to suggest that this team isn’t a playoff team in the near future. The defense has played better and the offense is young and explosive. Frank Gore had another great week in rushing for 134 yards and a touchdown while Steven Jackson rushed for 121 yards and a score. Jackson also had nine receptions for 71 yards.