Category: NFL (Page 1171 of 1282)

It didn’t take Shaun Alexander long to hit is stride did it? In Seattle’s 34-24 win over Green Bay on Monday night, Alexander carried the ball 35 times for 193 yards. That’s pretty impressive for any NFL back, not too mention a guy coming off a broken bone in his foot. Matt Hasselback looked great in the second half in throwing for three touchdowns, but also showed major signs of rust. While battling snowy conditions on a bum knee, Hasselback tossed three interceptions, including one on the second play of the game, and also lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown.

Seattle is now 6-4 and in the NFC, that’s almost like being 10-0. After watching Alexander completely destroy a decent Packer run defense, it looks like the Bears and Cowboys will have some company at the top of the NFC pyramid. Seattle still has a ways to go with its defense, however, and if the Seahawks want to be serious contenders they’ll have to stop giving up big plays. Too many times this season the safeties will bite on a quarterback play-fake and lose a receiver down one of the seams or take poor angles in trying to tackle ball carriers. Brett Favre was able to quick-throw Donald Driver for a 48-yard touchdown pass in the second half after the Seattle secondary did a terrible job of keeping Driver contained. The run defense has been below average as well.

One more negative for the Seahawks is the atrocious play of tight end Jerramy Stevens. If he’s not dodging well-deserved knees to the groin, he’s spending most of his time dropping passes.

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.