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Category: NFL (Page 1192 of 1282)
Well, after six 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
The only good thing I’ll say about how bad the Bears were getting hammered Monday night in Arizona is this – they were getting physically beat on both sides of the ball. Chicago wasn’t out coached; it wasn’t a scheme thing or a lack of talent. They were just getting beat and on more Sunday’s than not, the Bears won’t find themselves in that situation too often. To score 24 points and win when your offensive doesn’t score one touchdown and turns the ball over six times is flat out amazing.
2. San Diego Chargers (4-1)
Previous Rank: Unranked
Last week I struggled in trying to determine who the second best team in the NFL was. Not this week – it’s clear to me that the Chargers are the class of the AFC after watching them dismantle the 49ers. They have the best running back in the league, an emerging young quarterback and an absolutely nasty defense.
3. New England Patriots (4-1)
Previous Rank: 2
The Patriots shouldn’t impress anyone right now, but that’s exactly when New England is most dangerous. They don’t have the talent on defense to be as good as they are – yet all they do is win.
4. Denver Broncos (4-1)
Previous Rank: 3
Something doesn’t sit right with me about this team. But when you have a defense that has only given up one touchdown in five games, you deserve to be ranked in the top five.
4. Indianapolis Colts (5-0)
Previous Rank: 5
It’s time for the Colts to start showing that they can stop the run on defense. This week might not serve as much of a challenge as Washington comes to town. But next week the Colts travel to Denver – then we’ll see how good the Peyton Manning’s are.
5. Seattle Seahawks (4-1)
Previous Rank: Unranked
What impresses me about the Seahawks win in St. Louis is not the fact that they won without Shawn Alexander. What impresses me is that Seattle is starting to win on the road – something it has struggled with for a few seasons now. While the defense is stingy against the run, the secondary has major problems, so the Seahawks won’t be here for long if that unit can’t improve.
28. Arizona Cardinals (1-5)
Previous Rank: Unranked
Matt Leinart makes this team better and the defense has been excellent at least in the turnover category. However, whether it’s a missed field goal, unbelievable conservative play calling or turnovers late in the ballgame – much like the Lions, this team will always find a way to try and lose the game in the end.
29. Detroit Lions (1-5)
Previous Rank: 28
I don’t know how they did it, but the Lions finally hung on to a victory against a decent Buffalo team. I guess letting Kevin Jones get involved in the offense is a pretty good idea, huh Mike Martz?
30. Houston Texans (1-4)
Previous Rank: 28
The Texans are starting to lose ugly again. After a few games of so-so ball, the defense is reminding everybody how bad they really are and David Carr is starting to see reality charging hard in the rearview mirror.
31. Miami Dolphins (1-4)
Previous Rank: 30
What amazes me about Daunte Culpepper is that earlier last week he told the media that he supported Nick Saban’s decision to start Joey Harrington. If I were a Miami fan, I don’t know how happy I would be to hear that.
32. Oakland Raiders (0-5)
Previous Rank: 32
The Raiders are going to shock somebody – I guarantee it. The defense has a whole is pretty fast – they just don’t have much talent.
This was an unbelievable game in the most unlikely of scenarios.
I’ll set the mood for everybody who didn’t see the entire game. The Cardinals were dominating the Bears on both sides of the ball the entire contest. Arizona’s defense was playing out of their minds – the unit was intercepting, sacking, and stripping Chicago QB Rex Grossman left and right all night long to the tune of six turnovers. At one point in the third quarter, the Cards build a 23-3 lead and are shocking the Bears on Monday night.
Then, like a friggen pixy dust-spreader, Chicago calls on lady luck for a quarter and a half to help the Bears pull off one of the biggest comebacks I’ve ever witnessed:
– With the game at 23-3 Arizona, QB Matt Leinart (who had an other wise excellent game) fumbles the ball on Arizona’s six-yard line with 50 seconds left in the third quarter. Bears safety Mike Brown scoops up the live ball and takes it the short distance for Chicago score, which cuts the Cards lead to 23-10.
– Then with just under six minutes to play and Arizona trying to run out the clock, Brian Urlacher strips the ball from Edgerrin James. Chicago DB Charles Tillman recovers the loose ball and takes it 40 yards to cut the lead down to 23-17.
– With just over three minutes left to play in the game, Arizona can’t convert on third down and has to settle for a punt – which then gets taken back 83 yards for a touchdown by rookie Devin Hester to give Chicago its first lead of the ballgame, 24-23.
– Fear not Cardinals fans, because despite giving up a massive lead, Leinart takes Arizona all the way down the field with timely passes and short dump offs. Leinart gets the Cards down to the Bears 23 yard line before having to settle for a Neil Rackers 40 yard field goal…
And as Tony Kornheiser spreads the jinx across the entire land, he utters: “Rackers hasn’t missed from inside 50 yards all season.”
Rackers’ boot misses just left of the upright and Chicago hangs on to the victory and seals a 6-0 start.
I’ve got three takeaways from this amazing game:
1) Chicago pulled a horseshoe so far out of its ass tonight that it won’t be able to sit right for weeks.
2) To go along with #1, good teams make their own breaks, so I won’t take anything away from the Bears win tonight. Chicago earned the victory tonight, bottom line.
3) After seeing this team lose the way did tonight I don’t think the Arizona Cardinals franchise will ever break out of its morbid funk…with or without Matt Leinart.
QUARTERBACKS
Here is a list of players that may be available on your league’s waiver wire, in order of relative value: 1. Jon Kitna, 2. Matt Leinart, 3. Chad Pennington, 4. Alex Smith, 5. Rex Grossman, 6. David Carr, 7. Phillip Rivers, 8. Charlie Frye, 9. Brad Johnson, 10. Mark Brunell. 11. J.P. Losman, 12. Bruce Gradkowski, 13. Vince Young, 14. Joey Harrington, 15. Kyle Boller
Chad Pennington bounced back from a miserable performance in Jacksonville to throw two touchdowns against the Dolphins, and has a favorable schedule going forward…The Chargers seem to be opening up the playbook for Phillip Rivers, who has shown that he can throw a good ball…J.P. Losman has improved his decision-making and the Bills have a fairly easy schedule the rest of the way, making him a decent spot-starter, given a good matchup…Kyle Boller came in for an injured Steve McNair and played well, throwing for three scores against Carolina…If Trent Green is on your waiver wire, this would be a good time to add him. He may start practicing this week.
RUNNING BACKS
1. Travis Henry 2. Maurice Jones-Drew, 3. Cedric Benson, 4. Leon Washington 5. Maurice Morris 6. Jerious Norwood, 7. Michael Turner, 8. Brandon Jacobs, 9. Najeh Davenport
The Jets split the carries between Kevan Barlow and Leon Washington, but Washington’s production means that his role should continue to grow…With his outburst the last two weeks, Travis Henry should have established himself as the Titans’ starter for the foreseeable future. He is now a solid #2 option until Jeff Fisher says otherwise…Najeh Davenport rumbled for 78 yards on 12 carries, and his value would explode if Willie Parker were to get injured…When Kevin Jones went briefly to the sideline against the Bills, Brian Calhoun took his place, rushing twice for five yards. It appears that Calhoun is now KJ’s backup, not Shawn Bryson.
WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Marques Colston, 2. Reggie Williams, 3. Mark Clayton, 4. Bernard Berrian, 5. Jerricho Cotchery, 6. Doug Gabriel, 7. Mike Furrey, 8. Wes Welker, 9. Bryant Johnson, 10. Eric Parker
Mark Clayton has been more productive than Derrick Mason, and that trend will definitely continue if Steve McNair misses any time due to the concussion he suffered on Sunday… Eric Parker has gone over the 80-yard mark each of the last two weeks. He’s the third option in the passing game right now (after Antonio Gates and LaDainian Tomlinson), but he has sure hands and has been able to get open, building a nice rapport with Phillip Rivers in the process.
TIGHT ENDS
1. Chris Cooley, 2. Desmond Clark, 3. Alex Smith, 4. Eric Johnson, 5. Jerramy Stevens
Jerramy Stevens was supposed to return this week but didn’t play because during warm-ups his knee felt “odd.” Keep an eye on his status this week. He’s capable of putting up Top 10 numbers when healthy.
The Tigers are waiting for the winner of the NLCS, which continues this week. Da Bears – maybe the best team in the NFL right now – takes their show on the road tonight against the Cardinals. Be sure to tune in Friday night to see #4 West Virginia take on Connecticut. Not so much for the competition, but who knew UConn had a football team?
MLB
Mon, 8:05 PM: NY Mets @ St. Louis – FOX
Wed, 8 PM: St. Louis @ NY Mets – FOX
Thurs, 8 PM: St. Louis @ NY Mets – FOX
NFL
Mon, 8:30 PM: Chicago @ Arizona – ESPN
CFB
Thurs, 7:30 PM: North Carolina @ Virginia – ESPN
Fri, 8 PM: (4) West Virginia @ Connecticut – ESPN
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