Category: NFL (Page 859 of 1282)

      NFL Week 15 Speed Read: Talkin’ Colts, Dolphins, Herm Edwards and more

      December 14, 2008 /

      Here are some quick-hit thoughts from the early games in Week 15:

      Peyton Manning– The Indianapolis Colts might be the most dangerous team in the AFC right now and nobody is talking about them. They’re 10-4, have won seven in a row after beating the lowly Lions on Sunday, and Peyton Manning has thrown four touchdowns to zero interceptions the last two games. That said, they need to get healthier on defense – and fast. They won’t go very far in the postseason without Bob Sanders, especially considering they’ll be playing on the road the entire time.

      – Not that they’ve played any explosive offenses of late, but how good has the Miami Dolphins’ defense been the past three weeks? They’ve allowed just 24 total points in their last three games and haven’t allowed a touchdown in 12 consecutive quarters. That’s impressive, I don’t care who they’ve played during that stretch.

      – Herman Edwards should take his own advice. You play the game to win, Herm? How about going for it on one of the multiple fourth and one’s your team faced on Sunday? Seriously your team is 2-12 – grow some nuggets and take some chances.

      – I know they did it against the Chiefs, but the Chargers come-from-behind win on Sunday was amazing. Even though San Diego’s season has been a massive disappointment, that’s one game you look back on as a fan and just say, “Damn that was fun to watch.”

      – Stick a fork in the Redskins – they’re done. You can’t be considered a legitimate playoff threat when you lose to a previously two-win Bengals team. What’s amazing is that this team was once 6-2 and everyone couldn’t help but to look ahead and see that they had a very manageable rest of the season. So much for that as they’ve now lost five of their last six games.

      – Does anyone else think Seneca Wallace can start in this league? I for one think Matt Hasselbeck still has some game left in him, but Wallace has been pretty good after getting the opportunity to play more regularly this year. He has eight touchdown passes and only one interception this season. Maybe he deserves a shot to be a full-time starter next year.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      J.P. Losman single handily keeps Jets in first place

      December 14, 2008 /

      J.P. LosmanI realize Trent Edwards is hurt and the Bills aren’t playing for much these days, but how is J.P. Losman still starting in the NFL? I certainly don’t have the talent to play one of the toughest leagues in the world, but after watching him over the past three weeks, I struggle to fathom how this guy was ever a first round pick. And not only that, how he’s still getting the opportunity to start. A moist towelette might be more productive under center than Losman is.

      Losman gift-wrapped a 31-27 victory for the Jets on Sunday by throwing three interceptions (only two were his fault) and losing a fumble after being stripped deep in New York territory. Defensive end Shaun Ellis returned the fumble for a touchdown with less than two minutes remaining in the game, which essentially gave the Jets’ their game-winning score.

      Losman wasn’t a complete waste – he did run for a touchdown and threw for a score on a nice slant pass to Steve Johnson right before half – but I can’t see how the Bills don’t rid themselves of this guy after the season. He’s just bad. And just like Joey Harrington, what makes him even more nauseating is that once in a while he’ll show you something to make you believe he can play (only to make you puke the next week).

      This was a huge win for the Jets because it keeps them in first place in the AFC East on a day when both the Dolphins and Patriots also won. But this wasn’t a very impressive performance, especially considering the Losman-led Bills had scored a total of just six points the past two weeks. Regardless, a win is a win and at this point in the season, it doesn’t matter how a team gets them.

      The Jets still control their own destiny from here on out, although they have to travel to the West Coast again next week (they’re 0-3 out West this season) to play the Seahawks and then host divisional rival Miami in their season finale.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Who the hell are these Houston Texans?

      December 14, 2008 /

      Steve SlatonThe Tennessee Titans might have the AFC’s best record, but they’re currently not the hottest team in the conference. That title can be bestowed on the Houston Texans, who have now won four straight games after beating the Titans 13-12 on Sunday.

      Many NFL purists (some of which write for ESPN the Magazine) expected the Texans to be one of the surprises in the AFC this season. But after getting out to a dismal 0-4 start, it appeared as though nothing had changed for the Texans.

      Granted at 7-7 they still won’t make the playoffs, but at least they have a lot to build off of heading into next season. They found a great young running back in rookie Steve Slaton, their defense has the makings of maturing unit and as long as he can avoid injury and be more consistent, quarterback Matt Schaub is starting to come around.

      This wasn’t a critical loss for the Titans because they clinched the AFC South last week, but building momentum heading into the playoffs is vital. And considering they have two tough games left in the Steelers and Colts, it would have been nice to see them throttle a team in the Texans that they’re superior to – especially with the Steelers and Colts still left on the schedule. Either way, no harm, no foul. But this loss to Houston leaves a little to be desired.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Is Michael Turner the Falcons’ true MVP this season?

      December 14, 2008 /

      Michael TurnerRookie Matt Ryan has been everything the Atlanta Falcons dreamed of having in a quarterback when they drafted him third overall in April’s NFL Draft. But has running back Michael Turner been the key reason for the Falcons impressive turnaround this season?

      Turner rushed for 152 yards on 32 carries and scored the Falcons’ lone touchdown in their crucial 13-10 overtime victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. On a day when Ryan threw two uncharacteristic interceptions that kept Tampa in the ballgame, Turner gashed the Bucs’ suddenly poor run defense and was the key in keeping the Falcons’ playoff hopes alive.

      Turner has carried the ball 300 times this season for 1,269 yards and 14 touchdowns, which set a Falcon single-season record. He’s also forced opposing defenses to jam the box in efforts to stop Atlanta’s dynamic rushing game, which has allowed Ryan to find open receivers all season. For as good as Ryan has been (and rookie or not he’s been absolutely fantastic), Turner has allowed him to make an easy transition from the college level to the pro. Of course, one could say that Ryan has also helped Turner excel seeing as though he hasn’t made the mistakes that usually doom a rookie.

      One more note on Atlanta – how good has defensive end John Abraham been this year? He added three sacks to his amazing season total of 15.5. For as good as Ryan and Turner have been on offense, Abraham has taken games over this year for the Falcons and he certainly did so again on Sunday while producing huge plays – none bigger than a sack on third down in overtime to force the Bucs to punt.

      For Tampa, this was a huge blow. They’ve now lost back-to-back divisional games, although they’re still in great shape because they host the Chargers and Raiders in their final two games. But their run defense has been gashed the last two weeks and they continue to have issues putting the ball in the end zone when they’ve moved into opponents’ territory. Barring a collapse over the next two weeks, the Bucs should still make the playoffs. But this has looked like a weary group the last two games.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Owens, Witten exchanged words, had to be separated during team meeting

      December 13, 2008 /

      According to a report by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Cowboys’ wide receiver Terrell Owens and tight end Jason Witten had to be separated after getting into a heated debate during a team meeting on Friday.

      Tony Romo & Terrell Owens“It’s a dead issue,” receiver Patrick Crayton said.

      It might be, but it didn’t come without a near altercation Friday between Owens and tight end Jason Witten in the Cowboys’ locker room. According to two sources, the two exchanged words before being separated. Both players acted as if everything was fine when the media was allowed in the locker room. But Owens was still clearly miffed.

      Which is why it’s not a dead issue and won’t be unless the Cowboys can pull together and not only beat the Giants but make a playoff run.

      Despite the best efforts of all those involved to dismiss, deny or downplay any and everything, it’s become apparent the loose semblance of control has unbuckled at Valley Ranch, and the fragility of a team of which so much is expected continues to crack. A season that should be about what happens on the field continues to be more about everything but.

      No. 1: Owens denied an ESPN report that he is envious of the relationship between Witten and Tony Romo.

      “What do I have to be jealous of?” Owens said. “Look at me, I’m … Anything that goes on, I am going to be the scapegoat. I’m handsome as hell. trying to figure out how I make the headlines and I don’t even say anything.”

      Asked if he was cool with Witten and Romo, Owens said: “I’m cool with everybody. We addressed everything. Coach addressed everything. Everything is everything.”

      Said Witten of having priority with Romo: “I don’t want people thinking that. Obviously I have a lot of respect for Terrell and I think it’s the same way. He’s a hell of a player.”

      No. 2: The meeting Crayton, Owens and Roy Williams had with offensive coordinator Jason Garrett about trying to get the ball more, and the alleged tunnel vision Romo has for Witten.
      The official line Friday was that meetings take place all the time; it’s no big deal.

      The unofficial line is those players were irritated at not being thrown the ball late in the Cowboys’ 20-13 loss Sunday in Pittsburgh. They want the ball. Period.

      No. 3: Cornerback Terence Newman’s phone interview with ESPNFirst Take on Friday morning, when he said there is not enough accountability by players, as well as the coaching staff.

      One of two things usually happens when internal bickering starts to take over a team: 1) Players will band together and rise above it or 2) The team will implode on the field and frustrations will boil over. Considering the Cowboys have a brutal three-game stretch ahead of them, it’ll be interesting to see if the players unite or tear each other apart at the seems. Either way, it’s been an interesting week at Valley Ranch.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

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