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      While everyone focuses on Patriots, Falcons quietly make it eight straight

      December 19, 2010 /
      CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 12: Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons against the Carolina Panthers during their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 12, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

      Ask the casual fan who the best team is in the NFC and you’ll probably hear a response similar to this: “Well, I know the Falcons have the best record, buuuuuuuuuuuuuuut…”

      People would rather spend a naked night in Alaska then definitively say the Falcons are the best team in their conference. They don’t blow anyone out, they don’t rack up big passing numbers and they don’t have that nasty Baltimore/Chicago/Pittsburgh-style defense that holds opponents to 13 points every game.

      They’re boring. They’re the anti-Philadelphia Eagle (which is ironic when you think about it). They’re simple. They’re plain-Jane.

      And if they win one more game they’re going to have home field advantage throughout the rest of the playoffs.

      Does anyone realize this team has the longest active winning streak in the NFL? With their 34-18 win over the Seahawks on Sunday, they improved to 12-2 on the year and have now won eight straight. That’s three more than everyone’s beloved Patriots (who, as of this writing have not played the Packers yet on Sunday night football) and five more than the thrilling Philadelphia Eagles.

      They also just went on the road three-straight weeks and finished 3-0, all while averaging 31 points per game and holding opponents to just 17.3 PPG.

      Granted, their last two wins came against the Panthers and Seahawks, but 1) it’s never easy to beat the Hawks in Seattle and 2) it’s never easy to fly cross-country and win after two-straight road wins the previous two weeks. But the Falcons did it and now have the chance to prove to a national audience that they deserve to be mentioned with the Patriots in terms of elite.

      That’s because they’ll host the Saints in Atlanta next Monday night. They’ve already clinched a playoff spot thanks to their win over the Seahawks, but the Falcons still don’t have the top seed wrapped up in the NFC. A win against New Orleans would allow them to accomplish that feat and don’t think for a second the Falcons wouldn’t love to make a statement on national television against the defending champs.

      Of course, even if they win, chances are they’ll still be a forgotten team in the NFC. And with the way things have gone this season, why would they want it any other way?

      External Sports, NFL

      Mike Shanahan: See, I told you that Grossman kid can play

      December 19, 2010 /
      ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 19: Quarterback Rex Grossman of the Washington Redskins during play against the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

      Boy, do I have egg on my face. Silly me for thinking Rex Grossman would go out and completely make an ass of himself as Donovan McNabb sits on the sidelines for no reason. Turns out Grossman is super, super awesome.

      All right, so maybe not. But he was good on Sunday in Dallas.

      Grossman completed 25-of-43 passes for 322 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions in the Skins’ 33-30 loss to the Cowboys, but he was far from perfect. He put his team behind the 8-ball with a poorly thrown interception in the first quarter and he showed some rust after not playing in a couple years. He was also facing a Dallas secondary that was comprised of three scarecrows and a turned-over bucket, so it probably wasn’t difficult for him to move the ball with regularity.

      That said, nobody can deny that he performed better than McNabb did at any point this season. Considering Grossman threw for four touchdowns with the same group that McNabb has been working with all season, it shows you how bad the former Eagle has struggled this season. The Skins’ 30 points was a season high for them and regardless of who they were playing, it’s impressive that Grossman was the one who led them to their highest scoring output of the year.

      Grossman now gets two more games to prove that he can compete in Mike and Kyle Shanahan’s offense next season. While it’s imperative that the Redskins draft a quarterback for the future, if Grossman continues to play well at least they’ll have a veteran on the roster that’s comfortable running the offense. It wouldn’t surprise anyone if Grossman was a disaster over these next two weeks, but kudos to him for rising up on Sunday when everyone thought he would fail miserably. He gave the Skins a chance to win and that’s all Shanahan could ask for.

      External Sports, NFL

      The Ravens expose the Saints’ run defense

      December 19, 2010 /
      Baltimore Ravens' Ray Rice runs past the New Orleans Saints defense during the first quarter at M&T Banks Stadium in Baltimore on December 19, 2010. UPI/Kevin Dietsch Photo via Newscom

      The Saints pride themselves on creating turnovers but when the opposing team can rack up 208 yards on the ground, it makes it awfully difficult to be opportunistic.

      New Orleans made it a focal point all week to slow Ray Rice and Baltimore’s running game, but the only thing they forgot to do was……………slow Ray Rice and Baltimore’s running game. Rice rushed for 153 yards on 31 carries while Willis McGahee chipped in 53 yards on seven carries as the Ravens beat the Saints 30-24 on Sunday.

      Rice also caught five passes for 80 yards and a touchdown on a day when quarterback Joe Flacco only completed 10 of his 20 pass attempts for 172 yards. The Saints failed to wrap up on several occasions and the Ravens didn’t hesitate to stick with what was working (i.e. ramming the ball down the Saints’ throat).

      The road ahead doesn’t get any easier for New Orleans either. They’ll face Michael Turner and the Falcons’ running game next Monday night before hosting LeGarrette Blount and the Bucs in two weeks. It’s becoming more likely that they’ll be on the road for the postseason, which could be a problem given the way their defense has played away from the Superdome of late.

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      Giants choke, practically hand the NFC East to the Eagles

      December 19, 2010 /
      EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 19: Michael Vick of the Philadelphia Eagles stands by the huddle against the New York Giants at New Meadowlands Stadium on December 19, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

      Here are six quick-hit observations from the Eagles’ shocking 38-31 come-from-behind victory over the Giants on Sunday.

      1. This is the biggest choke-job of the season.
      There’s just no other way to put it: the Giants choked. They were up 24-3 at halftime and 31-10 with 8:17 left in the fourth quarter and they still found a way to blow it. After Andy Reid didn’t challenge that DeSean Jackson fumble in the fourth quarter that led to an 8-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Boss, the game should have been over. But one Michael Vick 65-yard touchdown pass, a successful onsides kick, a 35-yard Vick scramble, a couple of Giants’ stalled drives and a 65-yard Jackson punt return later and the Eagles emerged victorious. Absolutely amazing. In a game the Giants had to have if they wanted to keep pace in the NFC East, they blew a 21-point lead in eight minutes. This was the worst collapse of the year given the magnitude of the game.

      2. Why, why, WHY Matt Dodge?
      Seriously, Matt Dodge? Your instructions were to kick the ball out of bounds so you boom a line drive right at Jackson, who is easily one of the most feared return men in the game? What the hell were you thinking? The Giants didn’t solely lose this game because of Dodge’s ho-ho horrendous punt with 14 seconds remaining and for Tom Coughlin’s sake, why didn’t anyone tackle Jackson after he spent a minute kicking the ball around the turf? But what terrible timing to have a brain fart. That kick should have been six rows up in the stands and instead Dodge did the only thing he absolutely couldn’t do, which was send a pea-rocket right at Jackson so that he had a chance to return it. I wouldn’t want to be Dodge in the film room when that play comes on the screen come Monday.

      3. I’m thoroughly convinced coaches have no idea when to use the challenge flag.
      Andy Reid blew it in the fourth quarter by not challenging Jackson’s fumble, which would have allowed the Eagles to keep possession in a crucial point in the game. Jackson coughed up the ball but replays showed that he was touched on the way to the ground, which would have meant the Eagles would have maintained possession…had Reid challenged, that is. But he didn’t, and the Giants wound up scoring a touchdown on their next possession. How many times do we see a head coach challenge a play that he clearly has no business challenging? How many times do we see a head coach challenge the spot of the ball even though everyone and their cousin knows it’s useless (Pete Carroll did this against the Falcons on Sunday and lost and I’m sure there were other coaches who attempted it, too)? But yet, Reid stuffs the red flag in his pocket on a play like Jackson’s. Amazing.

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      Colts beat Jaguars, are in control of their playoff destiny

      December 19, 2010 /
      INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 28: Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts watches his teammates before the NFL game against the San Diego Chargers at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 28, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

      Here are six quick-hit observations of the Colts’ huge 34-24 win over the Jaguars on Sunday.

      1. Colts are now in the driver’s seat.
      Congratulations Jaguars, you just put Peyton Manning in control of the Colts’ playoff destiny. With their win on Sunday, Indy needs to win its final two games and the Colts will win thier 97th straight (numbers exact) AFC South crown. Not that beating Manning on his home turf was going to be easy, but the Jags had a golden opportunity to put the Colts away for good and couldn’t do it. Now it’s a footrace from here on out, as the Colts travel to Oakland in Week 16 and Jacksonville hosts the Redskins.

      2. Seriously, Josh Scobee?
      When I think of horrendous onsides kick attempts, I think of Josh Scobee’s feeble try late in the fourth quarter. After the Jaguars had stolen a lot of the momentum back with a touchdown to get within three at 27-24, Scobee dribbled a kick about five yards in front of himself and Tyjuan Hagler returned the gift 41 yards for a touchdown. Recovering an onsides kick is tough enough. It’s even tougher when your kicker rolls one right to a defender so he can return it for an easy touchdown.

      3. Why is Sean Considine still in the league?
      How Sean Considine still has a job after proving he couldn’t start all those years up in Philadelphia is beyond me. The Colts knew the Jaguars’ weakness was the play of their safeties and Manning attacked them early and often. Considine, specifically, had issues with both the run and the pass. The Colts, who usually struggle running the football, rushed for 155 yards against a Jacksonville run defense that had been stout. Donald Brown had a breakout performance, rushing for 129 yards on 14 carries and one score. Of course, he was aided by the fact that Considine’s head didn’t stop spinning from the opening kickoff to the final whistle.

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