Category: NFL (Page 568 of 1282)

      Could the Titans actually make the playoffs?

      November 29, 2009 /

      Seven weeks ago, the Titans resembled a rotting carcass on the side of the road. At that time, they had just been run over (might as well stick with the road kill them) by the Patriots in a 59-0 rout and fans wanted Jeff Fisher’s head on a stake.

      Then Fisher made the decision to bench the highly ineffective Kerry Collins and replace him with Vince Young, who had gone from franchise quarterback to draft blunder in a matter of a season. What happened next was shocking, as Young led the Titans beat the Jaguars after the team’s bye week, then the 49ers, then the Bills, and then the Texans on Monday night.

      On Sunday, Young orchestrated an 18 play, 99-yard scoring drive with just under three minutes remaining to lift Tennessee to a 20-17 win over the Matt Leinart-led Cardinals. The drive was capped off by a 4th and 10 play in which Young hit rookie Kenny Britt in the back of the end zone for the game-winning score. Both the game-winning catch and the game-winning drive were remarkable, just like the Titans’ latest five-game winning streak.

      At 5-6, the Titans are very much still on the outside looking in when it comes to the postseason. They’re currently behind the Steelers, Ravens (depending on the outcome of tonight’s game), Jaguars and Broncos in the Wild Card hunt, and are tied with the Dolphins, Jets and Texans.

      But what if they ran the table? Outside of games against the undefeated Colts and the surging Chargers, they have winnable games against the Rams, Dolphins and Seahawks in the final month of the season. Wins over Indy and San Diego seem unlikely for the Titans, but so did their five-game winning streak after their disastrous start. Young has the hot hand, Chris Johnson (who finished with 154 rushing yards and also had an 84 yard TD scamper) is a touchdown waiting to happen on every play and they’re defense is playing better than it did earlier in the year – what’s stopping them from making a run?

      If they lose to the Colts next week, then the Titans’ slim playoff hopes will likely vanish. But winning is contagious and if they can beat Indy next week, there’s no reason to write Tennessee off.

      NFL

      Vikings crush Bears, Favre showing zero signs of fatigue

      November 29, 2009 /

      If Brett Favre is wearing down, then he has everybody fooled because the guy is playing like a freaking maniac.

      Favre completed 32-of-48 passes for 392 yards with three touchdowns and no inceptions in the Vikings’ 36-10 win over the Bears in Week 12. Minnesota attacked Chicago repeatedly through the air, throwing the ball 31 times to just 12 rushes in the first half. When the dust settled, the Vikings had a 24-7 halftime lead and the game was never in doubt from that point forward.

      Minnesota is now 10-1 and will be rooting hard for New England to beat New Orleans on Monday night. The Vikes have the inside track on a first round bye, but they’ll have their eye on earning the top seed in the playoffs entering the final month of the season.

      As for the Bears, their disastrous season continues. All of their defensive problems were on full display today as Favre and the Vikings went up and down the field with the greatest of ease. Chicago was out gained in first downs (31 to eight) and total yardage (537 to 169).

      It was the same story today as it has been all season: They were outplayed in the trenches, they couldn’t run the ball and Jay Cutler turned the ball over multiple times. Nothing has changed about this team in over a month.

      NFL

      Hines Ward calls out Ben Roethlisberger for not playing

      November 29, 2009 /

      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      I just watched Hines Ward on the NBC pregame show and was pretty shocked to hear him discuss the Ben Roethlisberger situation. Roethlisberger won’t play against the Ravens tonight due to a concussion that he suffered last week, leaving the Steelers with third-string quarterback Dennis Dixon, who will make his first NFL start.

      Hines was surprisingly candid, as he acknowledged that the Steeler locker room was basically split as to whether Roethlisberger should play. He never came out and clearly said he supported the decision to have Big Ben sit, and Bob Costas tried his best to get Ward to acknowledge that head injuries like concussions should be treated differently.

      In his defense, Ward was trying to explain the mentality of players who want to be on the field if they can walk. Frankly, it’s that mentality that necessitates a new policy on concussions, particularly in college and high school where this has become a real problem.

      NFL

      Eagles benefit from non-call, Redskins’ conservative approach in victory

      November 29, 2009 /

      The Eagles kept their playoff aspirations very much alive with a 27-24 win over the Redskins in Week 12, but they were also fortunate that Juqua Parker wasn’t flagged for a 15-yard personal foul in the game’s waning moments.

      Trailing 27-24 with less than two minutes remaining, the Redskins faced a 4th and 1 at their own 25-yard line. On the play, Jason Campbell threw an incomplete pass but was slammed to the ground by Parker, who could have easily been flagged (defenders have certainly be flagged for less this season). Instead of having a chance to continue their drive and possibly get into field goal range to tie the game, the Redskins lost the ball on a change of possession and the Eagles held on for the win.

      Granted, there’s no guarantee that the Redskins would have gotten into field goal range even if a flag were thrown. Plus, if Washington didn’t get so conservative early in the fourth quarter when they had a 21-16 lead, then the Skins would have never been in that position to have to come back in the first place.

      But I digress.

      For the Eagles, this win allows them to stay in playoff contention in the NFC. Donovan McNabb completed 21-of-35 passes for 260 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also threw a two-point conversion on a shovel pass to LeSean McCoy and overcame multiple drops by tight end Brent Celek.

      On the injury front for Philadelphia, receiver DeSean Jackson suffered a concussion after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit by London Fletcher. The injury doesn’t appear to be too serious, but the Eagles will certainly take plenty of precaution with Jackson given Brian Westbrook’s history of concussions.

      NFL

      Larry Johnson rushes for 107 yards in Bengals’ win

      November 29, 2009 /

      It didn’t take long for Larry Johnson to make an impact for the Bengals.

      Just two weeks after Cincinnati signed the troubled running back, Johnson rushed for 107 yards on 22 carries to help the Bengals beat the Browns 16-7 in Week 12.

      Johnson started by splitting carries with Bernard Scott, but after rushing for 42 yards on his first four carries, Marvin Lewis gave him more opportunities throughout the game. Then after Scott was injured in the third quarter, Johnson took over as the team’s primary back and helped the Bengals earn an unimpressive win.

      Johnson won’t unseat Cedric Benson as Cincinnati’s top back, but it never hurts when a contender has two capable runners come playoff time. KC fans will want to throw up when they read this, but LJ gave his best effort of the year, which is huge given Benson’s injury.

      With this win, the Bengals completed a season sweep of the entire AFC North and at 8-3, Cincy is right in contention for a first round bye.

      NFL

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