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      The best team in the NFL routs Giants

      October 18, 2009 /

      The New Orleans Saints are the best team in the NFL. Not just the NFC, but in the entire league. And if you disagree, then make sure you watch the highlights of the Saints’ beat down of the Giants on Sunday.

      In what was supposed to be a battle of the two best teams in the NFC, the Saints absolutely guerrilla-smacked the Giants 48-27 at the Superdome. Soon-to-be MVP winner Drew Brees was brilliant, completing 23 of his 30 passing attempts for 369 yards and four touchdowns. He finished with a QB rating of 156.8.

      The Giants turned the ball over twice and had nine penalties that totaled 110 yards, but this wasn’t a matter of New York shooting itself in the foot. New Orleans was just flat out better in all facets of the game. The stepped on the Giants’ throats and kept it there for four quarters.

      For years, the one thing that had been missing for this Saints team was a stellar defense to go along with their explosive offense. Now now they have one under new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and we’re finally seeing what this team is capable of. New Orleans limited the Giants to only 84 rushing yards, 241 passing and as previously noted, they also caused two turnovers and sacked Eli Manning twice.

      Speaking of sacks, the Giants’ explosive pass-rush was limited to just one today. ONE. The Saints have one of the more underrated offensive lines in the league, which is something that is often overlooked when pundits gush about Brees and Sean Payton’s offense. One of the keys for the Giants today was being able to generate pressure on Brees and they couldn’t. New Orleans’ offensive line was that good and it doesn’t even have Pro Bowl left tackle Jammal Brown, who was placed on injured reserve in late September after he had to have sports hernia surgery.

      As for the Giants, they saw today just how behind they are to the best team in the league. They certainly don’t have to go back to the drawing board, but they tried to match wits with another elite team and got their asses handed to them. They better get healthy defensively and figure out how to wake up Brandon Jacobs or else they won’t last in the postseason. Today was certainly a wake up call for the G-Men.

      I don’t think any NFC team can beat the Saints in the Superdome. If they earn the top seed in the NFC, they will be on the fast track to the Super Bowl.

      NFL

      Favre once again saves Vikings from second half collapse

      October 18, 2009 /

      Forget the fickleness, the wavering and the constant stroking of his ego – Brett Favre was worth it for the Minnesota Vikings.

      The Vikings remained undefeated in 2009 following their thrilling 33-31 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. For all intents and purposes, the Vikings should have won by double-digit points but they blew leads as large as 14-0 in the first quarter and 27-10 in the fourth.

      It was Favre that once again stepped up when Minnesota needed it most. After Baltimore shocked the Metrodome crowd by taking its first lead of the game at 31-30 with just over three minutes remaining, Favre found Sidney Rice on a 58-yard reception that got Minnesota down to Baltimore’s 18-yard line. Head coach Brad Childress then decided to play for the field goal by calling three consecutive running plays and setting up a Ryan Longwell 31-yard field goal to give the Vikings the lead back at 33-31. Favre and Minneosta then had to hold their collective breaths as Ravens kicker Steven Hauschka missed a potential game-winning 44-yard field goal as time expired.

      Putting aside Minnesota’s near-collapse for a second, Favre and Adrian Peterson were incredible. Favre completed 21 of 29 passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns, while Peterson rushed for 143 yards on 22 carries. I don’t know if Peterson is opening things up for Favre, Favre is opening things up for Peterson or if it’s just a perfect mix of both, but it’s working for the Vikings.

      But while I hate to pop the Favre-magic balloon, this was the second time this year that the Vikings got lucky inside the Metrodome. The first time was against the 49ers when Favre found Greg Lewis in the back of the end zone on an improbable touchdown pass. Had San Fran been in a normal defense, Minnesota would have suffered its first loss of the season. And had Hauschka made the field goal today, the Vikings would have lost again. It certainly wasn’t a chip-shot, but that’s a field goal Hauschka has to make while kicking inside a dome.

      That said, sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. While the Vikings aren’t a perfect football team (the Ravens did whatever they wanted in the second half offensively, exposing some of the Vikings’ defensive issues), they have a perfect record and that’s the only thing that matters at this point.

      Oh, and having No. 4 under center certain helps too.

      NFL

      Connecticut football player stabbed to death after game

      October 18, 2009 /

      Jasper Howard, a cornerback for the University of Connecticut, was stabbed to death after an on-campus dance reports Yahoo! Sports. The dance took place just hours after the team’s victory over Louisville.

      UConn police said one of their officers was approached on Hillside Road around 12:33 a.m. and told that a stabbing had occurred. Police found Howard and another person with stab wounds, university police said in a statement. The name of the second person was not immediately released.

      Both were taken by ambulance to Windham Community Memorial Hospital. Howard was later airlifted by Lifestar helicopter to St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, where he died from his injuries, police said. The second person was treated and released from Windham hospital.

      Howard made a key move in Saturday’s game, forcing a fumble just as Louisville was about to score. The Huskies were up 21-13 at the time. They later won 38-25. Following the game, Howard, who led the Big East in punt returns last season, talked to the AP about the play.

      You wonder why someone would feel the need to stab two people following a dance, especially a couple of kids.

      College Football

      A-Rod redemption

      October 18, 2009 /

      It’s been a surreal year for Alex Rodriguez. It began with disgrace, as he joined the club of major league players implicated in the never-ending steroids scandal. He was never a fan favorites in New York, and now he had sunk to a new low. His reputation would be forever tarnished.

      Yet after watching A-Rod’s postseason performance so far, this may be the best thing that ever happened to him. Last night, A-Rod rose to the occasion again to provide a dramatic home run to save the day for the Yankees in Game 2.

      • To be honest, for all his remarkable numbers, A-Rod has never inspired legend quite like a Williams or Ruth, a Bonds or a Mantle. Yet through five postseason games, he now has three home runs that have either tied or put the Yankees ahead. One off Joe Nathan and another off Brian Fuentes, two pretty darn good closers, too. Here’s the reaction from The LoHud Yankees Blog:

      • His story of exorcising October demons has almost become old hat. Four times he has been asked the same questions and four times he has continued to repeat what he said in St. Pete. “I know you guys are probably looking for something profound. I’m just in a good place. I’m seeing the ball and I’m hitting it. That’s about it.” Rodriguez now has an RBI in each of the first five postseason games, setting a new Yankee record. Here’s audio from Rodriguez:

      • Burnett said he, Phil Hughes, Phil Coke and Joba Chamberlain were in the clubhouse watching the 11th inning unfold. People would never believe the scene they made after Rodriguez hit the tying homer. “We were like little kids,” Burnett said, “jumping around and hugging.”

      • In the dugout, Mark Teixeira couldn’t fathom that Rodriguez had done it. Again. “I just kept yelling, ‘He did it again! He did it again!” Teixeira said. “I just couldn’t believe it.”

      It’s amazing what a great athlete can do when he just focuses on the job at hand. A-Rod has admitted to being so self-absorbed that he put tremendous pressure on himself. The scandal seems to have forced A-Rod to grow up and develop a more mature approach to the game. If he keeps this up and the Yankees win the World Series, this will be one of the fastest and most dramatic image turnarounds we’ve ever seen in sports.

      MLB

      Fantasy Q&A Question of the Week: Week 6

      October 18, 2009 /

      We’re starting a new feature this week, picking the best/funniest/dumbest question of the week from our Q&A thread and posting it on Sunday morning. This week’s question comes from RJR, who wants to use his RB depth to trade for a WR but is having trouble finding someone willing to trade with him:

      “Also, a little worried about WR situation but nobody seems to want to make a legitimate trade – starting Burleson but need 2 more: Nicks, Holmes, or TO. I have too many good RBs, and although many teams in my league need RBs they are not willing to give up anything for them. Which 2 should I start: Turner, Moreno, Bradshaw, Rice.”

      My answer: In terms of trade, maybe you should try to use one of your RBs to upgrade from TO or Holmes. So offer a RB + WR for a stud WR. That way, the other team will be more likely to bite. Moreno plus Holmes should nab you Fitzgerald, AJ or Wayne, especially if this is a non-PPR league.

      Whenever you’re in a situation like RJR is — great depth at one position (RB) while having serviceable starters at the position (WR) you want to shore up — it’s best to approach an owner that needs what you have (RB) and has a guy or two that you want at the other position (WR). Usually, offering two for one will give you an advantage. He may want to get a starter at RB, but he’s not willing to give up his WR stud straight up to get one. So you offer him a decent starter with upside — in this case, Santonio Holmes or Terrell Owens — along with a starting RB. He may be willing to downgrade from a guy like Wayne, AJ, Fitzgerald, Roddy White, Steve Smith, etc. to Holmes or T.O. to get a guy like Rice or Moreno. (By the way, I’d be much more willing to part with T.O. than Holmes, but don’t let the other owner know that!)

      Since RJR has Rice and Moreno, two productive, but not “big name” backs, he may instead want to dangle Michael Turner out there. Turner is coming off a great game against San Francisco but has otherwise been pretty disappointing this season. Turner, by name alone, might garner a stud WR (especially in a non-PPR league, where WRs simply aren’t as valuable as RBs). In order to pull this kind of a trade, fantasy owners need to look for a trade partner that has a big need at RB but can also absorb a loss of a stud WR. In this case, I’d try to package Turner and T.O. for a stud WR.

      If you’re still debating your lineup this week, be sure to check out our Love ‘Em & Leave ‘Em post. If you’re looking for a defensive team to start, our weekly DTBWW post should be able to help. Good luck!

      Fantasy Football, NFL

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