Tag: Atlanta Falcons (Page 56 of 66)

      NFL Week 11 Primer

      November 16, 2008 /

      John HarbaughSunday’s Best: Ravens (6-3) at Giants (8-1), 1:00 PM ET
      Who would have thought this game would be the best matchup of the week with the Chargers playing the Steelers and Cowboys taking on the Redskins in the same weekend. The job first-year head coach John Harbaugh and his staff has done with rookie quarterback Joe Flacco has been amazing and the rest of the Baltimore players have really bought into the new regime’s system. They’ll get their biggest challenge this season on Sunday, however, as no team outside of the Titans is playing better than the Giants right now. There are a couple of great matchups within this game, but none bigger than New York’s power running game vs. the stingy Baltimore run defense. One advantage the Giants have is that this will be the Ravens’ fifth road game in six weeks and they might start to wear down. Flacco will face a ton of pressure from a quick Giants’ front seven, but getting Willis McGahee, Ray Rice and Le’Ron McClain going will help neutralize what New York does best defensively. This will be the most physical matchup of the weekend.

      Upset Watch: Rams (2-7) at 49ers (2-7), 4:05 PM ET
      Everyone is scrambling to be the first to predict the Jaguars to upset the Titans this weekend, but people have been waiting for Tennessee to fall for weeks and still they remain unbeaten. It’s hardly a huge upset to predict one 2-7 team will beat another, but after their strong showing on Monday night, football pundits might assume this game will be an easy victory for the Niners. While there’s nothing to like about the Rams following their abysmal performance last week against the Jets, this is a better team than what they’ve shown and San Fran is a bit dysfunctional right now after their debacle on Monday Night Football. Jim Haslett is still fighting for a head coaching job (as is Mike Singletary) and there’s no doubt he’ll have his team more prepared than they were last week in New York. Of course, a win for the Rams would mean that Marc Bulger has to get his head out of his ass and someone has to find Torry Holt. But as usual with my “Upset Watch”, I won’t predict an outright win for St. Louis, but I say they at least cover the 5.5-point spread.

      Tony RomIntriguing Matchup: Cowboys (5-4) at Redskins (6-3), 8:15 PM ET
      Tony Romo will be back in action this week, but will he need a game or two to shake off the rust? Unfortunately for him, Dallas can’t afford to lose any more ground in a stacked NFC East. The Redskins are also fighting to keep pace in the division and will look to avenge their ugly loss to the Steelers on Monday Night Football two weeks ago. They’ll have to do it without Clinton Portis, however, as he currently is sidelined with a MCL injury. Jason Campbell has been solid this season, but he’ll need to make plays without Portis in the backfield. If the Cowboys are going to walk away with a win, they’ll do so because of a strong defensive effort – not the play of Romo.

      Other Notable Games:
      Titans (9-0) at Jaguars (4-5), 4:15 PM ET
      As previously noted, everyone is waiting for the Titans to slip and this very well could be the weekend they do. But they don’t seem like the team that gets ahead of themselves and every one of their wins has been a dogfight. The Jaguars rebounded with an impressive win over the Lions last week, but let’s not forget that they lost to the Bengals and Browns in two games prior to that.

      Bears (5-4) at Packers (4-5), 1:00 PM ET
      This is a must win for both teams because the Vikings are right back in the division hunt again. If the Packers lose, they might be able to kiss the playoffs goodbye. Kyle Orton is expected to play for the Bears.

      Vikings (5-4) at Bucs (6-3), 1:00 PM ET
      We’ll find out a lot about Minnesota this Sunday and whether or not they’ve returned from the grave. A win over a solid Tampa team would go a long way in proving they’ve rebounded from earlier seasons struggles.

      Broncos (5-4) at Falcons (6-3), 1:00 PM ET
      The legend of Matt Ryan continues this week in the Georgia Dome. Ryan is 4-0 at home this year and will have plenty of opportunities to make big plays against a horrible Denver defense. But Jay Cutler as lit opposing defenses up this year and there could be a wild finish to this game in the making.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Five best and worst NFL offseason acquisitions from 2008

      November 10, 2008 /

      Michael TurnerThe 2008 NFL Season has entered its second half and while some teams are rejoicing over the moves they made this past summer in either signing or trading for players, others are wondering what the hell they were thinking.

      Below are five of the best acquisitions from the 2008 NFL offseason, as well as five of the worst. Granted, these moves might look differently at the end of the season or in a year or two, but for now, these are the best of the best and the worst of the worst from the 2008 offseason.

      Five Best Offseason Acquisitions:

      1. Michael Turner, RB, Atlanta Falcons
      The Falcons handed “The Burner” a six-year, $34.5 million contract in early March and while some pundits loved the move, others thought it was too much for the unproven Turner, who had spent his entire career backing up LaDainian Tomlinson. But the signing has paid huge dividends for a Falcons team that ranks second in the league in rushing thanks to his bruising running style. He’s formed a nice “Thunder and Lighting” combo with Jerious Norwood and more importantly, has taken a lot of pressure off rookie Matt Ryan by demanding opponents to focus on taking away the run. He hasn’t fared well against top defenses this season, which is a concern, but outside of that he’s been everything Atlanta had hoped for. He has rushed for 890 yards on 203 carries and has scored seven times.

      2. Asante Samuel, CB, Philadelphia Eagles
      There was a lot of talk last offseason that Samuel would never live up to the hype that surrounded him in New England. But through 10 games this season, it’s hard to argue that the former Patriot hasn’t lived up to his big play billing. Samuel has recorded three interceptions on the year and has fit into Jim Johnson’s defense better than most expected. He’s not a shutdown corner, but he plays well in zone and rarely gets burned deep. He has also helped the Eagles rank sixth in the league in pass defense and ninth overall in yardage allowed. He was pricey at just over $57 million for six years, but so far Samuel has been worth the money.

      Brett Favre3. Brett Favre, QB, New York Jets
      Brett has looked absolutely brutal at times this year, but what he’s meant to the Jets’ organization far exceeds his penchant for turning the ball over…and over, and over, and over, and…He’s given the team a bona fide playmaker at quarterback and while his horrible decision making was obviously earlier in the year as he learned the playbook, he has been hot of late leading the J.E.T.S. to five wins in the past six games. He’s also tied with Kurt Warner for the fourth-most touchdowns (16) and more importantly, his teammates have responded to his energy. They believe that they can win on Sundays and their quarterback won’t hold them back. No offense to Chad Pennington who is playing very well in Miami, but Favre has lifted the Jets this year and might just take them to a playoff berth if they can get past New England.

      4. Jared Allen, DE, Minnesota Vikings
      Allen has been everything the Vikings wanted since they parted with a first round pick to acquire him from Kansas City. He’s been a monster along Minnesota’s stout defensive line and has brought the true pass-rushing threat that the team has been dying for. He already has nine sacks on the season, including two multi-sack games against the Bears and Texans. Better yet, he’s stayed out of trouble off the field and has been a great motivator for a Vikings team that has leapt back into the playoff chase in the NFC.

      5. Alan Faneca, OG, New York Jets
      The Steelers didn’t want to pay huge money to an aging guard who could be on the downside of his career. But Faneca has spearheaded a Jets’ rushing attack that ranks ninth in the league and that, for the most part, has kept Brett Favre’s uniform relatively clean. Faneca might be 31, but his level of play hasn’t dropped off in the slightest and he continues to play at a high level. He has also motivated younger teammates D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold – two players that went through a sophomore slump, but who are now playing well again.

      Other worthy candidates: Shaun Rogers, DT, Cleveland; Benard Berrian, WR, Minnesota; Jonathan Vilma, LB, New Orleans; Justin Smith, LB/DE Cincinnati; Calvin Pace, LB, NY Jets.

      Five Worst Offseason Acquisitions:

      DeAngelo Hall1. DeAngelo Hall, CB, Oakland Raiders
      There’s no question that Hall was the biggest offseason bust this year, if not in the history of the NFL. The Raiders traded away multiple draft picks (including a second round pick this year) to acquire Hall from Atlanta, then handed him a seven-year, $70 million contract with $24.5 million in guarantees. What Oakland got out of Hall was eight games of lousy play before they eventually decided to waive him. The Raiders wanted someone to play opposite of Nnamdi Asomugha that could hold his own in man-to-man coverage. But Hall excelled in Atlanta playing in a zone scheme that allowed him to freelance. He’s a self-proclaimed “shutdown” corner, but the fact of the matter is that he’s one of the most overrated players in the entire league. That said, it’s still amazing that the Raiders waived him after only eight games. It just goes to show you how bad he really was.

      2. Derek Anderson, QB, Cleveland Browns
      Anderson wasn’t technically an acquisition since he never left the Browns, but he fits under the “offseason moves” category that I’m referring to. The Browns honored Anderson’s terrific 2008 season by giving him a three-year, $24 million contract in the offseason. But inconsistent play and a few hundred dropped passes by Braylon Edwards doomed Anderson to the bench as he was replaced in Week 10 by second year quarterback Brady Quinn. Romeo Crennel gave Anderson every opportunity to hang on to his job, but in the end he didn’t do enough to remain the starter. Again, it wasn’t all his fault as Edwards has taken a major step back after finally turning in a good season last year and Kellen Winslow Jr. has missed time once again due to injury. It’s hard to fault the Browns for re-signing Anderson in the offseason with how well he played last year and given Quinn’s inexperience, but the team will likely part ways with him next offseason without getting any compensation. That’s a tough pill to swallow considering at one point they were hoping to land multiple draft picks for him.

      3. Adam “Pacman” Jones, CB, Dallas Cowboys
      It hardly cost the Cowboys anything to acquire Pacman from Tennessee but they still got what they deserved. They used him as their sideshow clown in their freak circus this offseason during the taping of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” and therefore shouldn’t have been surprised when he eventually screwed up again and wound up in Roger Goodell’s doghouse. Again, it didn’t cost Dallas much to take a shot on Jones turning his career around, but ultimately it was a decision Jerry Jones is probably regretting, as his team has turned dysfunctional over the past month.

      Alge Crumpler4. Alge Crumpler, TE, Tennessee Titans
      The Falcons parted ways with Crumpler this offseason despite his vast leadership and popularity among teammates and fans. But clearly they knew what they were doing because Crumpler has failed to make a dent in the Titans’ offense, and has taken a backseat to Bo Scaife in the process. Highly regarded as the best free agent tight this summer, Crump was supposed to be completely healthy after struggling with knee and back problems over the past couple of years. But he has just 16 catches this year for 169 yards and one touchdown. Tennessee didn’t sign him to a huge contract (5 years, $5.25 million), but still, one would have thought Crumpler would have made more of an impact at this point in the season.

      5. Randall Gay, CB, New Orleans Saints
      This wasn’t a huge signing in the offseason, but it was one that was supposed to make an impact. The Saints have been searching for a cornerback to play opposite Mike McKenize for years and thought they finally found a solid player in the former New England Patriot. But Gay has been limited to this season due to a nagging hamstring injury and has yet to record an interception. Worse yet, New Orleans ranks near the bottom of the league in passing yards allowed and just lost McKenize for the season due to a knee injury. Maybe Gay will step up, but at this point, he’s largely been a bust since the Saints signed him to a three-year, $13.55 million contract.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Kerry Collins For MVP?

      November 10, 2008 /

      Kerry CollinsWhile I was at the gym this morning, I caught some NFL highlights on ESPN including some of the taped commentary from Chris Berman and Tom Jackson. For the record, no one recaps games better than those two guys, not even the 11 or 12 characters on NBC, who just keep trying to outwit each other. Anyway, Jackson said something really, really intriguing. Something to the effect of that while no one is saying it out loud, you can make a case for Titans’ quarterback Kerry Collins for NFL MVP after nine games.

      Now think about that for a minute. Yes, it’s a strange year in the NFL, and yes, the Titans are 9-0 and way out in front of the AFC pack. But when you first think about it, Collins in MVP conversations sounds ridiculous. He is somewhere toward the bottom of the pack in passing yards, with 1525 (169 per game in 8-plus games), with just 5 touchdown passes and 3 interceptions and a QB rating of just 78.8. But here’s the thing. Drew Brees is putting up Tom Brady/Peyton Manning type numbers, with 2985 yards, 17 TDs and 10 picks. But Brees’ Saints are 4-5 and bringing up the rear in the AFC South. Jay Cutler is second in passing yards with 2616, and his team is 5-4 (and leading a pathetic AFC West). In fact, in pure yardage, you have to scroll down to number 10 (Brett Favre) to find a QB with more than five wins. Eli Manning of the 8-1 Giants is 12th and has a QB rating of 88.8.

      So throw the stats aside, and think purely in terms of MVP for a minute. Manning and Brandon Jacobs deserve consideration, because they lead an 8-1 team in the NFL’s toughest division. But the Giants have a whole team of great players and the G-men would still be very competitive if either of those guys missed a game or two. The Panthers are 7-2, but have also had many contributors. And among the teams that are 6-3 (Jets, Pats, Steelers, Ravens, Redskins, Bucs and Falcons), you can make a case for a handful of players–Favre, Clinton Portis, and Matt Ryan. But even Ryan has had help from Michael Turner and Roddy White and John Abraham.

      Then look at the Titans themselves. Aside from Collins, you have LenDale White and Chris Johnson piling up yards behind a very underrated offensive line. You have Albert Haynesworth absolutely terrorizing offensive coordinators and Cortland Finnegan playing out of his mind. All of them Pro Bowl possibilities, but not really MVP material. Collins, though, stepped in for Vince Young and has been a steady hand leading a very talented team to an undefeated record so far. You can’t say the Titans would be better than maybe 5-4 with Young as the starter right now. 9-0 with the veteran Collins is the only number that should be mentioned in MVP talk at this point, and for that I have to say Tom Jackson is on to something.

      Bookmark this page for when the real talk begins, and don’t forget you heard it here second.

      Barstool Debates, Fantasy Football, NFL

      Matt Ryan has made the Falcons a contender

      November 9, 2008 /

      Matt RyanStop hesitating and say it: The Atlanta Falcons are a playoff contender. Their 6-3 record isn’t a fluke. They’re that good.

      Yes, three of their victories are against the Lions, Chiefs and Raiders. They’ve also gone into Lambeau and beaten the Packers, topped the Kyle Orton-led Bears and in their latest victory, crushed the Saints 34-20 on Sunday. (The only reason the score was that close is because New Orleans scored on a fluke “Hail Mary” pass as time expired.)

      Matt Ryan (16 of 23, 248 yards, 2 TDs) has lifted the Falcons to contender-status, but it’s not just him. Michael Turner was a fantastic free agent signing. Jerious Norwood can take one to the house every time he touches the ball. Roddy White has developed into a true No. 1 receiver. Michael Jenkins is finally living up to his first round status. And the defense has been much, much better than people expected.

      Speaking of the defense, they intercepted Drew Brees three times on Sunday and returned one of those picks for a touchdown. First-year head coach Mike Smith has completely turned Atlanta’s defense around and the players have bought into his philosophy of playing physical.

      As for the Saints, little is going right for them. Injuries have started to mount and at 4-5, they’re two-three games behind every team in a stacked NFC South. Frustration is starting to boil over, too, as cameras caught Drew Brees screaming at Jeremy Shockey on the sidelines on Sunday. Not that Brees was out of line – Shockey looks like he’s already given up. He’s not as involved in the offense as he thought he would be and it looks like he’s not even running full routes any more. There’s no question that Billy Miller is the Saints’ best tight end right now.

      These are two teams heading in vastly different directions.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Michael Turner may not be consistent, but at least he’s predictable

      November 5, 2008 /

      I’ve been beating this drum on our weekly fantasy football podcasts, but Michael Turner doesn’t run well against teams with good (or even mediocre) run defenses. That may seem intuitive, but he really doesn’t run well against good run defenses. Take a look at his first eight games. (The opposing team’s rank in average rush yards per game is in parenthesis.)

      Week 1 – DET (31st): 220 yards, 2 TD
      Week 2 – TB (13th): 42 yards
      Week 3 – KC (32nd): 104 yards, 3 TD
      Week 4 – CAR (14th): 56 yards
      Week 5 – GB (27th): 121 yards, TD
      Week 6 – CHI (6th): 54 yards
      Week 8 – PHI (8th): 58 yards
      Week 9 – OAK (30th): 139 yards

      So against the Lions, Chiefs, Packers and Raiders (average rank: 30th), Turner posted an average of 146 yards rushing (5.7 ypc) and 1.5 TD. Against the Bucs, Panthers, Bears and Eagles (average rank: 10th), he rushed for an average of 53 yards (2.8 ypc) and zero TD. (Home versus away doesn’t seem to be much of a factor because he has had big games on the road – GB and OAK – as well as at home.)

      What does this mean going forward? Well, here is Turner’s upcoming schedule:

      Week 10 – NO (18th)
      Week 11 – DEN (26th)
      Week 12 – CAR (14th)
      Week 13 – @ SD (16th)
      Week 14 – @ NO (18th)
      Week 15 – TB (13th)
      Week 16 – @ MIN (2nd)
      Week 17 – STL (29th)

      Turner has a great matchup in Week 11 against the Broncos, but that enticing matchup against the Rams in Week 17 doesn’t really help most fantasy owners since the playoffs generally wrap up in Week 16. The Panthers and Bucs have already proven they can shut him down, while the Minnesota matchup in Week 16 is especially worrisome assuming the Vikings don’t lose their stud defensive tackles to suspension. That leaves two games against the Saints and one game against the Chargers, two teams that are mediocre against the run. And Turner hasn’t done particularly well against mediocre run defenses.

      I just traded Turner away in one league because I’m not optimistic about his chances over the second half of the season. I packaged him with Larry Fitzgerald and Kellen Winslow for Marion Barber (whom I believe will get back on track once Tony Romo is back under center), Donald Driver and Antonio Gates. I feel like I’m getting an upgrade at RB and TE for a downgrade at WR. Since I also have Reggie Wayne, Dwayne Bowe, Wes Welker and DeSean Jackson at wideout, I feel like I can afford to lose Fitzgerald.

      Depending on your league’s trade deadline, you may want to think about selling high on Turner as well. He might post good numbers this week against the Saints and he’ll probably run wild against the Broncos in Week 11, so I think he’ll have his highest value after that game. Of course, that won’t help you if your trade deadline is before then.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      « Older posts Newer posts »

      © 2026 The Scores Report – The National Sports Blog

      Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑