Category: NFL (Page 1188 of 1282)

Well, after seven weeks of NFL action, I’m totally confused – is anybody else?

Here is a look at the class and trash with nothing in between:

1. Chicago Bears (6-0)
Previous Rank: 1
We’ll see this weekend if the Bears almost-mishap in Arizona last Monday Night was a sign of bad things to come when San Francisco comes to town this Sunday…or maybe not.

2. Indianapolis Colts (6-0)
Previous Rank: 4
Okay Indy, you have my attention again. After a few weeks down in the gully of the top five, you’ve proven to me that you can stop the run. What? The Colts still can’t stop the run? Ahh well, this #2 slot has become the kiss of death anyway (i.e. San Diego last week).

3. New England Patriots (5-1)
Previous Rank: 3
Tried and true – New England just keeps plucking away. Boring as they are.

4. Denver Broncos (5-1)
Previous Rank: 4
Speaking of boring – what a boring offense, but what a playmaking defense the Broncos have. I suppose I should rank the Broncos ahead of the Patriots since they beat New England on its home turf early this season. I’ll tell you what Denver – you beat Indy at home this weekend and I’ll reserve the #2 spot for you and your terrible quarterback next week.

5. New Orleans Saints (5-1)
Previous Rank: Unranked
Much like the #2 spot, the #5 ranking has been like a revolving door. I put Seattle here last week and totally forgot about the Mega Ultimo Curse (that’s what I call the Madden Cover Jinx and NFC Champion Jinx rolled into one) that the Seahawks are battling. I’d put the Chargers here, but after the loss of Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips (bad weekend for anybody with the name Shawne, Shaun, Sean or Shawn) I think they’re in for some dark days. So, why not New Orleans? Who’s going to argue with America’s team ranked #5?

28. Cleveland Browns (1-5)
Previous Rank: Unranked
This group has been decimated by injuries – probably the worst in the NFL. Good news might have arrived for Browns fans though: Offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon and his totally useless brand of offense were shown the door on Tuesday.

29. Detroit Lions (1-6)
Previous Rank: 29
This is the most upbeat set of losers I’ve ever seen. Seriously, have you heard the Lions players after losses? “We’re right there.” “We’re building something good here.” “We believe in what the coaching staff is trying to accomplish.” At 1-6, good for them, no joke…

30. Arizona Cardinals (1-6)
Previous Rank: 28
Dennis Green is going to personally run this decent group of talent right into hell – I’m completely sold on it.

31. Miami Dolphins (1-5)
Previous Rank: 30
What’s left to say about this Mega Ultimo Bust (that’s what I call a team that many had making the playoffs and are now 1-5 with its only win coming against the Texans)?

32. Oakland Raiders (1-5)
Previous Rank: 32
Here’s the scary thing: the Raiders lost somewhat close games to the Browns, 49ers and Broncos before notching their first win over Arizona. The 4-2 Oakland Raiders? Unthinkable…

So much for the hyped-up NFC East clash. The Giants dominated in every phase of their 36-22 win over the Cowboys. However, New York likely lost starting line backer LaVar Arrington for the rest of the season with an Achilles tear.

Well, the official Tony Romo era has started in Dallas. What a scene too – Romo is announced as starter for the second half and on his first attempt, he’s picked off on a pass deflection that sets up a Giants touchdown. Welcome to the NFL, son. Romo would go on to throw three touchdown passes in the contest. Although one of them was to Giants’ defensive back Kevin Dockery, who returned the Romo gift 96 yards for New York’s final score of the night. Romo did connect with Terrell Owens on a touchdown pass. Although many across the nation could be heard laughing when T.O. was lit up by Antonio Pierce on a tackle in the first half and then when he dropped a fourth and two pass right in his gut while Dallas was trying to get back into the game.

I thought Eli Manning played pretty well and the touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress on the Giants first possession was a perfect throw. While Burress did go up and make a splendid catch, it helped that Cowboys safety Roy Williams was knocked to the ground by the back judge who couldn’t get out of his own way. And once again, Tiki Barber has another solid night (27 carries, 114 yards) only to give his touchdown chances to human bowling ball Brandon Jacobs. Jacobs, by the way, runs like a man possessed. He had two runs in which he carried Dallas tacklers for a good five yards before finally being brought down. New York can’t like the fact that it will have to say goodbye to Barber at the end of the season, but this kid Jacobs looks like the real deal.

Random thoughts from the day that was…Week 7 in the NFL:

– Congratulations on that incredible 62-yard game winning field goal Matt Bryant. Double or nothing says that you can’t do it again though, bro.

– Dennis Green should fire himself.

– Although he amended this in his latest column, SI.com’s Peter King wrote last week in a fantasy football column that he would rather play Frank Gifford over Larry Johnson (132 yards, two touchdowns) against the Chargers.

This is why sports columnist should stay out of fantasy football discussions if they have never played an ounce of fantasy football.

– Okay Colts, we’re listening again.

– Pittsburgh owner Dan Rooney after the referees called a false start penalty that cost the Steelers a chance at a game winning field goal in regulation on Sunday:

“These officials should be ashamed of themselves,” Steelers chairman Dan Rooney said. “That last call, you don’t call that kind of call.”

Uh, the officials should be ashamed of themselves for calling a false start penalty? Come on Mr. Rooney, after what happened at the Super Bowl last year, you shouldn’t criticize anything the officials do…ever.

– How unpredictable are the Kansas City Chiefs this year? One week after getting destroyed by the Steelers, KC bounces back and beats a darn good Chargers team on a last second field goal.

– The Chargers lost their best overall defensive player (LB Shawne Merriman out four weeks for a steroids suspension) and their sack leader (LB Shaun Phillips expected to miss six weeks with calf injury) all in one week. Ouch.

– Why does Hines Ward continually get overlooked as far as being called elite? Is it the way he always finds the back of the end zone for touchdowns or the way he relentlessness run blocks for his backs that turns people off?

– Philadelphia might want to try getting a lead on somebody and holding on to it after two straight weeks of getting burned by last second field goals.

– Michael Vick needs to take his performance against the Steelers (18 of 30 for 232 yards and four touchdowns) in stride. Nice game, now come back out and be consistent next week, Mikey.

– Is Carolina’s offense inconsistent or what?

– What a season so far for Chester Taylor. So many doubts about him and the Vikings coming into the season – so many of those doubts disappearing with Taylor and Minnesota now laughing its way to a nice 4-2 record.

– Here’s a fantasy nightmare for Chris Chambers-owners: Joey Harrington completed 33 passes in the Dolphins loss to the Packers on Sunday – only two of them were to Chambers.

– If Washington doesn’t name Jason Campbell its starter soon (like in the next two hours), the Redskins are telling the rest of the free world that they have no interest in their future.

– Finally! The Texans and David Carr aren’t wasting Andre Johnson’s talent anymore!

– The Madden Cover jinx and the NFC Champion jinx have come together to form some kind of mega curse on the Seattle Seahawks. Possibly lining up in the Seattle backfield for the next few weeks: Seneca Wallace and Maurice Morris.

– Cleveland, give your fans something to cheer for or else everybody is going to stay at home and watch replays of Ohio State games from now on.