Put Up Or Shut Up!!!

AFC Wildcard Playoff

New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts

Saturday, January 8th, 2011 - Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN

Time for Ryan, Jets to put up or shut up!

Rex Ryan and the New York Jets can't do anymore talking now.  Saturday is coming and the final word is what the final score says.  You're not gonna get a win using bravado and braggadocio in this game; not against Peyton Manning.  The Jets (11-5) have to stick to the gameplan -- run the ball affectively on offense and make Manning uncomfortable in the pocket on defense -- because they had Indy on the ropes in last year's AFC Championship game before getting picked apart by the Colts offense.  It's a new year but don't let the un-Colt-like 10-6 record fool you, this is still a strong team.  They struggled because of the lack of a running game.  In the last game the Colts lost -- a 38-35 OT loss to the Dallas Cowboys, in which Manning threw 4 INTs for the second week in a row -- the leading rusher for Indy was Javarris James, who had 18 yards on six carries.  The Colts as a team only attempted 17 rushes.  In the last four games of the season -- wins against the Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Oakland Raiders -- Indy averaged 30 rush attempts per game.  Those weren't the best teams but it was a solid effort by backup running backs Donald Brown, Dominick Rhodes, and James; and now starter Joseph Addai is healthy.  The Jets and Ryan will have to bring their 'A' game if they want all that talk to amount to a victory Saturday.

Pick:  Colts, 31-24
Key to game for Jets:  Don't let Mark Sanchez get in a shootout with Manning if (or when) the Colts score quickly; be patient and run the offense.
Key to game for Colts:  Take the air out of the Jets defense by attacking corners Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie early and often, much like the New England Patriots did in Week 13.

NFC Wildcard Playoff
New Orleans Saints at Seattle Seahawks
Saturday, January 8th, 2011 - Qwest Field, Seattle, WA

New Orleans won't need Ivory against Seattle

Safety Malcolm Jenkins (knee), tight end Jimmy Graham (ankle), linebacker Danny Clark (hamstring) and defensive tackle Anthony Hargrove (knee) have all been declared out by the New Orleans Saints (11-5) for Saturday's NFC Wildcard Playoff against the Seattle Seahawks.  Running backs Chris Ivory (led team with 716 yards rushing) and Pierre Thomas (team's 2nd leading rusher) were both put on injured reserve, making them inactive for the remainder of the postseason.  On the other hand, Matt Hasselbeck is returning as starting quarterback for Seattle (7-9) after missing the last three games. The Saints and Seahawks have played already this season; back in Week 11.  Hasselbeck had his best game of the year, throwing for 366 yards and a touchdown. . . Seattle lost 34-19.  Despite the injuries, don't expect much to change.

Pick: Saints, 37-16
Key to game for Seahawks:  Take chances on defense.  A positive turnover margin will balance the playing field for the home-dogs.
Key to game for Saints:  Be ready to play from kickoff.  Seattle will be confident on their home field if its still a close game late.

AFC Wildcard Playoff
Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday, January 9th, 2011 - Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO

Bowe led the NFL with 15 TD rec.

I really like the young talent that the Kansas City Chiefs have on the roster.  Matt Cassel (27 TDs, 7 INTs), Jamaal Charles (91.7 rush ypg, 2nd in NFL), Dwayne Bowe (led NFl with 15 TD receptions), Dexter McCluster (1,009 all-purpose yards), tight end Tony Moeaki, linebacker Derrick Johnson, and safety Eric Berry are all 28 or younger.  But the NFL playoffs aren't about youth.  It takes a battle tested team to move on and the Chiefs regular season schedule this year was softer than tissue paper.   K.C. (10-6)  has only played two teams that are in the current playoff picture -- Indy and Seattle -- and are 1-1.  And you already know which one of those teams the win came against.  Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens (12-4), led by league O.G. Ray Lewis, have defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets, and defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints this year.

Pick:  Ravens, 24-10
Key to game for Chiefs:  Slowing down Ravens running back Ray Rice, who is averaging 107.3 rush ypg over the last three games.
Key to game for Ravens:  Put 8 in the box and force Cassel to throw, see if  Ed Reed (8 INTs, 1st in NFL) can't get to a few.

NFC Wildcard Playoff
Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles
Sunday, January 9th, 2011 - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA

Matthews will try to contain Vick.

Probably the most pivotal moment in the long journey back to the NFL for Mike Vick was the 2010 season opener for the Philadelphia Eagles against the Green Bay Packers. Starting quarterback Kevin Kolb went down at halftime and Vick took over.  He electrified the Philly fans with ankle-breaking runs and bullet passes -- the same way he used to do in the ATL for the Falcons fans -- even though the Eagles lost the game, 27-20.  Coach Andy Reid announced that Vick would remain the starter even when Kolb (concussion) was healthy.  Vick missed four games due to injury since taking over that day but has remained the man since Week 9, leading Philly to a 6-2 record as a starter, compiling monster stats (3,018 passing yards, 676 rushing yards, 21 TDs passing to only 6 INTs, 9 TDs rushing), and has put himself in the discussion along with Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for NFL MVP.  Vick has been banged up though and teams are learning how to control him.  In losses against NFC North Division opponents Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings, Vick was sacked four times and six times, respectively, while attempting a season high 44 passes against the Bears and almost equalled that (43 attempts) against the Pack.(stats).  The Green Bay Packers, also of the NFC North, will look to copy that formula with players on defense like potential 2010 Defensive Player of the Year lineback Clay Matthews and 2009 Defensive P.O.Y. cornerback Charles Woodson.  Aaron Rodgers has put up big numbers in the playoffs before but has yet to win a game.  Despite all that Vick has been through, he may be the hungriest player on the field.

Pick: Eagles, 44-38
Key to game for Packers:  Containg Vick and running back LeSean McCoy.  The more effective McCoy is the more dangerous Vick becomes.
Key to game for Eagles:  Don't give up the big play.  Rodgers and his talented slew of receivers can strike in a hurry.

The Year of the Quarterback: The Good, Bad, and Ugly

The hit heard 'round the world

The 2010 baseball season was deemed as the Year of the Pitcher because of the amount of dominant individual pithching performances that seemingly occured on weekly basis throughout the season.  This year in pro football, the headline stories have been dominated by quarterback play; but not always because of dominant performances.  We have witnessed the entire spectrum: from normally great quarterbacks playing awful to guys flat-out playing out of their minds.  These are the top stories.

Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings.  With Favre almost leading the Vikes to the Super Bowl last season, and in the process having a career year, Vikings fans had plenty of optimism for the 2010 season.   But things started to go sour when Favre's performance wasn't stellar early on (wide receivers Percy Harvin and Sidney Rice missed significant playing time) and then-coach Brad Childress and Favre began to butt heads.  Next thing you know, some chic named Jenn Sterger

Favre couldn't resist. Could you?

comes out talking about dirty text messages Favre sent her and the league taking action.  The 41-year-old took things in stride and continued to play, even with the short-lived experience with the disgruntled Randy Moss, and the subsequent firing of Childress.  But the injuries got too much for the NFL's iron man to handle and his record consecutive games played streak ended at 297.  I'm not counting on Favre retiring just yet, but if he does, he would have to part ways with his career in a year when he had one of the ugliest seasons ever for a pro quarterback.                                                         

Peyton Manning, Indianappolis Colts.  The juggernaut that is the Colts offense, coming off a tough loss in the Super Bowl, was expected to continue rolling with almost every key part returning.  In addition, the oft-injured Bob Sanders would be healthy again and add more talent and depth to the defensive secondary.  But the injury bug came along and guys started dropping like flies.  Sanders got hurt again and to date has not played in any game.  Wide receivers Anthony Gonzalez and Austin Collie have missed significant time, as well as Peyton's favorite target over the years, All-Pro tight end Dallas Clark.  The running game took a hit too with starting back Joseph Addai sidelined with a pinched nerve in his shoulder.  Manning was forced to throw the ball alot with the running game being non-existent and it led to a stretch where he threw 11 interceptions in three games against the Patriots, Chargers, and Cowboys with four of those picks going back for touchdowns.  If not for Peyton rallying the Colts against the Jaguars last week to regain control of the AFC south, he would be graded as ugly.  Because if they hold on and earn a spot in the playoffs any thing can happen and the bad could turn into very good.

VY has issues.

Vince Young, Tennessee Titans.  The Titans were terrible (0-6) last year until Vince Young took over for Kerry Collins as starting quarterback midway through the season.  VY finished out the season with an 8-2 record and almost carrying the team to a playoff berth.  The Sporting News named him 2009 Comeback Player of the Year.  Things were looking up for Vince until he got into an altercation at a Dallas strip club during the offseason.  Bad Start.  The Titans were doing o.k. to start this season until Young injured his thumb in Week 11 against the Redskins and had to come out of the game.  Vince wanted to go back in, but coach Jeff Fisher kept him on the sidelines.  VY responded by throwing a hissy-fit, leading to Fisher placing Young on season-ending IR.  Titans owner Bud Adams still supports having Vince as the starting qb once he's healthy but the feeling is that Fisher has had it with him.  Something's gotta give in this ugly situation.
Tom Brady, New England Patriots.   Brady had a good year last year and was having another good year this year, but things didn't start to turn until Randy Moss was traded to Minnesota, and the Patriots acquired a former Brady favorite, wide receiver Deoin Branch, from the Seattle Seahawks.  All Brady has done this year is lead New England (13-2) as the top scoring team in the NFL, averaging 33 pts per game, and setting the all-time single season record for most pass attempts without an interception (319 and counting).  Even coach Bill Belichik might say that Brady has been pretty good this year (but I wouldn't hold my breath).

Brady vs. Vick - Who ya got fa MVP?

Mike Vick, Philadelphia Eagles.  Vick has come a long way from his days as the #1 overall pick for the Atlanta Falcons coming out of college.  After that prison stint for the dogfighting ring, the Eagles were willing to give Vick a shot last year, but he was basically the 3rd string quarterback behind Donovan McNabb and Kevin Kolb.  After McNabb was traded in the offseason, Vick got moved up to the backup position as coach Andy Reid named Kolb the starter.  When Kolb went down with an injury, Vick finally got his chance to be a starting quarterback in the league again and did he ever take advantage of it.  He played good enough that Reid said even when Kolb was healthy, Vick would remain the guy.  All the guy has done is lead Philly to a 10-4 record, including monster wins over the Redskins and Falcons, and the legendary fourth quarter comeback against the Giants at the new Meadowlands.  I don't think anyone could have imagined Vick coming out of prison and being this good.
Donovan McNabb, Washington Redskins.  The Eagles look pretty smart right now by trading away McNabb when they did.  Not to say that Donovan doesn't still have it in him to be a Pro Bowl type quarterback, but Redskins coach Mike Shanahan atleast sure doesn't think so.  After a disappointing year for McNabb (14TDs, 15 INTs, 77.1 passer rating) his coach utterly disrespected him by benching him for Rex Grossman (37 TDs, 38 INTs, 70.6 passer rating career) and designating John Beck (1 career TD pass) as the backup.  No love for D-Mac in D.C.?  Straight up ugly.

Honorable mention GOOD: Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers. Matt Cassell, Kansas City Chiefs. Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints. Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Honorable mention BAD:  Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions. Chad Henne, Miami Dolphins. Jake Delhomme, Cleveland Browns. Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers. Rusty Smith, Tennessee Titans.

Too UGLY to mention:  Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys. Carson Palmer, Cincinatti Bengals. Derek Anderson, Arizona Cardinals. Brian St. Pierre, Matt Moore, and Jimmy Clausen, Carolina Panthers.

Ballin' Outta Control



On tha ground, or in tha air, Peppers delivers.

 
Julius Peppers is a beast.  The man ain't no ordinary defensive end; he's an all around athlete with the agility of a free safety and the body frame of Frankenstein. We've seen Julius on the gridiron, a steam engine, plowing through offensive lineman en route to the quarterback. But have you ever seen him on the hardwood, running the floor on the break and skying above the rim to catch and throwdown alley-oops?  Yeah, Peppers was big man on campus at North Carolina for the Tar Heels in the early 2000s, playing in the NCAA Tournament twice in his career.  He's not the only guy in the NFL though that could hoop in college.  Donovan McNabb played for Jim Boeheim at Syracuse long before Melo did and Antonio Gates didn't even put on pads while at Kent State; he was too busy averaging 17-and-8 for the Golden Flashes basketball team.  There's alotta guys in the NFL that I think would've been nice at ball too, even thought they didn't play in college . . .

The Johnson Brothers

5.  Andre Johnson, WR, Houston Texans, 6-3 225.  I can picture this smooth route runner pushing the rock in transition and going in for a Jason Richardson-like tomahawk dunk or pulling up for the outside 'J' like, say, Joe Johnson . . . they kinda look alike anyway.

4.  Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots, 6-4 225.  He's not quick but tell me he wouldn't be the smartest player on the floor!?!?  I can see Tom Terrific being  a combination of Larry Bird and Steve Nash.  Bird for the court vision, pinpoint passing and anticipation, and knack for coming up big when it matters the most.  Nash because of the haircut. (I can see Brady tucking his hair back behind his ears while standing at the free-throw line  and waiting for the ref to hand him the ball, bending his knees while repeating his follow through, then blowing a kiss to Giselle in the stands.)

The Greatest Boston Athlete Ever

3.  Chad Ochocinco, WR, Cincinnati Bengals, 6-1 192.  The only player in the league with a big enough ego to compete with LeBron's.  The antics would be so hilarious that David Stern would hate him immediately.  (How about the Black Mamba vs. The Black Mexican?)He'd be like A.I., the Glove, Rodman, and Shaq rolled into one.  He'd be the biggest trash-talker on the court: "You think anyone in tha league could guard me????, CHILD PLEASE."

2.  Brian Urlacher, LB, Chicago Bears, 6-4 258.  I'd bring him in off the bench as a defender and enforcer; ya know, throw around his weight and rough up Kobe.

1.  Mike Vick, QB, Philadelphia Eagles, 6-0 215.  A throwback floor general in the mold of Isaiah Thomas. Outside of Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo, no one in the league would be faster with the ball in their hands than Vick.  If you don't think so just watch his NFL highlight reel and witness the ridiculous ability to change direction and just flat out make people look stupid.  Nuff said.