Week 12--The Heat is On

Like Glenn Frye said, the heat is on. (Yes, you should click the hyperlink and listen to it while reading.....go ahead.....I'll wait.....) In Week 12, we further separate the men from the boys in the NFL. Let's get to it....

San Francisco 49ers (7-2-1) at New Orleans Saints (5-5), 4:25 p.m. on FOX  

1.  Alex Smith (Utah) definitely had a woe-is-me Wednesday this week when head coach and Ken-doll look-alike Jon Harbaugh informed him that he was giving the start to ink man, Colin Kaepernick (Nevada-Reno).  

2.  There is talk of trading Smith, the number one overall pick in 2004, to the New York Jets, seeing as how the two pretty boys just can't get it done in Gotham. Smith is currently in a 3-year, $24-million deal with SF.

3.  The Saints D STILL can't stop anyone, so we don't look for them to do it today against San Francisco, who rose to 3rd in the NFL power rankings after thumping Chicago last Monday night.

Atlanta Falcons (9-1) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-4), 
1:00 p.m. on FOX

1.  It's hard to start strong and STAY strong in the NFL. The Falcons ARE winning, but 6 of their last 9 wins have come by 7 points or less.  

2.  QB Matt Ryan (Boston College) just threw 5 INTs in a narrow win over Arizona last week. Confidence shaker? We'll see.

3.  Tampa is rolling, coming in to this week's NFC South matchup with a record of 5-1 in their last 6 games. 

Green Bay Packers (7-3) at New York Giants (6-4), 8:20 p.m., NBC

1.  After cruising through the first half of the season with a 93.4 passer rating, Eli Manning has fallen to a paltry 62.9 for the last four games. Some blame his O-line, but it's hard to say. When the QB is hot, you win.  When he's not....

2.  TE Martellus Bennett (Texas A&M) has been a key pickup for the Giants this season. Keep your eye on number 85.

3. With the Pack still missing Thor-ish Clay Matthews on defense, a win will be a tall order on the road today in New York.   
   

In other news:

• Officials to decide soon as to whether or not they will rescind the punitive rule of NOT reviewing a scoring play if a head coach errantly throws the red challenge flag, as Lions coach Jim Schwarz did on Thursday against Houston. Decision could go into effect for the playoffs.
• In spite of Palmer having over 3,000 yards passing, the Raiders have given up the most points in the NFL so far this season.
• Lions defenseman N. Suh just doesn't get it.  With a decision coming down from on high Monday, he could be facing a three game suspension.  His latest insult?  Kicking Texans QB Matt Schaub in the business on THIS play last week.  Geez.

Week 11--Thrills and Chills!

It's that time of the year in the NFL when we start looking to the playoff race, and with 10 teams at 6-4/6-3, it's a parity-fueled fight to the finish ... just the way we like it.

Philadelphia Eagles (3-6) at Washington Redskins (3-6) 1pm EST on FOX

This game is only interesting, really, because we get to see what Philly rookie Nick Foles has under the hood. Anything is better than watching Michael Vick struggle week after week ... karma, anyone?? And, hello ... Foles is a dead wringer for Ryan Gosling!

1.  Vick went out of last week's game with a concussion.  

2.  Foles (Arizona) threw his first NFL touchdown pass to Jeremy Maclin (Missouri) last week in a loss against the Cowboys. Foles was 22 for 32 with 219 yds passing, 1 TD and 1 INT. He looks promising, and the defense won't know what to do with him this week except to blitz.  A lot.

3.  Redskin QB RGIII was named team captain this week.  It took them 10 weeks to figure that out?  With all the commercials he's starring in, I feel like he's running for office, and I shall call him "Proposition 10".

New York Jets (3-6) at St. Louis Rams (3-5-1) 
1pm EST on CBS

The Rams TIED the 49ers last week (which thrilled the 6-4 Seahawks to no end), an NFL first since 2008. The Ram defense is T-U-F tough, and looks to frazzle pretty boy QB Mark Sanchez who has struggled mightily. Tebow wished him luck but secretly had his fingers crossed behind his back.

1.  Rams offensive coordinator, Brian Schottenheimer (son of former Chiefs and Chargers head coach, Marty Schottenheimer) was the OC for the Jets the past six seasons and got his start in 1997 in St. Louis under Dick Vermeil. Keep up the trick plays!

2.  The Rams pass defense is an underrated 13th best in a league with some crazy good defenses this year, and the front 4 should give Sanchez fits.  Look for them to hurry the harried QB.  

3.  Jets players were "anonymously" quoted this week as saying that Tim Tebow is "terrible" and that they don't trust him or want him at QB.  Ouch.

4.  Rams QB Sammy Bradford is dating model, Karlie Kloss, a St. Louis native.  Of course he is.  *sigh*

Chicago Bears (7-2) at San Francisco 49ers (6-2-1) 
8:20pm EST Monday on ESPN

This is the game of the week and we shall call it "The Battle of the Replacements".  Both Jay Cutler (Vandy) and Alex Smith (Utah) were knocked out of last week's games with concussions.  Cutler is officially out for Monday's game, but Smith is listed as questionable and has been taking the first team snaps in practice, albeit with a black "no contact" jersey on.  If he takes a shot early, look for Colin Kaepernick to step in.  

49ers Backup QB Colin Kaepernick

 1.  Kaepernick (Nevada) looked impressive against the Rams last week.  The 6'5"er was a star pitcher in high school and was offered numerous scholarships to play baseball, but opted for the QB position at Nevada instead. Kaepernick is the only quarterback in the history of Division I FBS college football to have passed for over 10,000 yards and rushed for over 4,000 yards in a collegiate career. 

2.  The Bears will start former Raider Jason Campbell (Auburn) at QB for the concussed Cutler. Campbell is a solid, if not dazzling QB.  

3.  The Bears D is in great shape and looks to unnerve a young Kaepernick if he sees playing time, and they will NO DOUBT be gunning for Alex Smith, if he gets the start.   

4.  49ers coach Jim Harbaugh underwent a cardioversion on Thursday to address an irregular heartbeat.  He is back on the sidelines, and we wish him well.  

5.  Wide Receiver Alshon Jefferey is probable for the Bears after participating in practice on Saturday. 

Happy Pigskinning!!

  

Week 10---Sunday Night in Chicago: Where the Elites Meet

Houston Texans (7-1) at Chicago Bears (7-1) 8:20 pm EST on NBC

This is about as much anticipation for a mid-season game as you're going to get.  When you pair two 7-1 teams, you're going to get a lot of "bests" and "mosts".  Let's get to it...

Da Bears:

Rudyard Kipling once said, "I have struck a city---a real city---and they call it 'Chicago'.  Having seen it, I urgently desire never to see it again.  It is inhabited by savages."  

If he was referring to the beloved duo of Lance Briggs (Arizona) and Brian Urlacher (New Mexico), he wasn't far off.  Urlacher could run for mayor....and win.  In his 12th season as a Bear, he is leading the 6th-ranked defense in the league.  That being said, this D is a mystery wrapped in an enigma and is strangely vulnerable to being picked apart by an elite team, for they are nothing if not generous, allowing 4.3 yards per carry.  So how do they win?  

1.  A defense that has scored touchdowns 7 times off 17 interceptions....17.  That's a lot.
2.  A defense that gives its offense a short field to work with
3.  A defense that has somehow made a slow-starting offense the 3rd best in the league
 

Speaking of enigmas, Bears QB, Jay Cutler, (Vanderbilt) is a beautiful disaster.  His QB rating through the first three quarters of each of the 8 games played is 68.6, but he explodes with a 135.0 fourth-quarter passer rating.  Can you trail the entire game against Arian Foster and the Houston Texans offense and get away with a win yet again?  I wouldn't advise it anymore than I would advise marrying Kristin Cavallari. 




Da Texans:

How does the league's number two offense win?  Two words:  Arian.  Foster.  

The 26-year old self-proclaimed vegan (who eats meat) is known for a few key things:

1.  10 rushing TDs (leads the league) with ZERO fumbles
2.  24 rushes per game average (leads the league)
3.  His brand new $43.5 million 5 year contract and his Under Armour endorsement deal
4.  and....the South's answer to "Tebowing"........"Fostering", his very own Namaste pose that he says is his way of paying respect to the game of football.  

This Texan team takes care of the football with only 6 turnovers the entire season, the lowest in the NFL.  QB Matt Schaub (Virginia) enjoys a hugely productive play-action option while opposing defenses keep their eyes on number 23.  And be sure to watch the best defensive player in football, JJ Watts (Wisconsin).  He is the league leader in tipped passes, has 10.5 sacks and 28 tackles for a loss.  Ouch. 

Although the Bears home field advantage helps give them a one point edge in Vegas-land, I think this game is what we call dead even.  It's going to be a great night. 

Week 9 - All-Saints Woes, a Touch of Hollywood and Heisman twins

So, what's the haps this weekend??  Well, you'll lose one hour to recover from your Saturday college football madness hangover (set those clocks back!)  Meanwhile, around the league....

Philadelphia Eagles (3-4) at New Orleans Saints (2-5) Monday, 8:30 pm EST on ESPN 
The Saints face a do-or-die situation Monday night.  The absence of suspended coach, Sean Payton, looms large on the Saints' sideline and locker room.  For those who think a coach is only symbolic or administrative, think again.  The best quarterback in the league can't seem to get it together without his think tank intact, and having one of the worst defenses in the NFL isn't helping matters.  Look for the Saints to play their damndest against the hapless but tough Eagles.  If they don't turn it around soon, the season is all but gone.  This could be a messy night.

Dallas Cowboys (3-4) at Atlanta Falcons (7-0) Sunday, 8:20 pm EST on NBC
The pic of Tony Romo (E. Illinois) and Coach Jason Garrett I chose is pretty symbolic of the whole season for "America's Team".  What the heck is going on in Big D?  Considering that team owner, Jerry Jones, likes to change head coaches the way most people change the oil in their car, Garrett could be a free agent himself very soon.  The front office defends the Hollywoodish Romo (married to a beauty queen after traipsing through the likes of Jessica Simpson and Carrie Underwood), attempting to offer him a sweetheart 10-year deal to finish his career in the white and blue.  Romo--the same guy who has turned the ball over 15 times in 7 weeks.  15 times.  He and the staff have basically blamed the players around him for his woes, one of them being Dez Bryant (Oklahoma State).  The talented and perennial troublemaker has been stripped of his punt and kickoff return duties after a scary game against the Giants.  He has been accused of domestic violence for allegedly slapping his mother.  Hmm.  The undefeated Falcons SHOULD handle the troubled Cowboys at home.   

Carolina Panthers (1-6) at Washington Redskins (3-5) Sunday, 1 pm on FOX 
This is the matchup of the two most recent Heisman Trophy winners who have shown brightly at turns in the NFL.  Cam Newton (Auburn) for the Panthers set 8 rookie records last season in an amazing performance.  However, the self-declared "entertainer and icon" (cringe) is experiencing the classic Sophomore slump at QB, while RGIII (Baylor) looks to be on pace to be the Rookie of the Year this year.  These two fellas have been able to pull off a college-style option attack like few others ever have.  The Panthers and Redskins rank first and second in option rush attempts and yards for 2012.  Will this game look like a college shootout??  I sure hope so.  Newton needs something to remind himself where he hid those numbers from last year.

NFL Week 8: Midseason Melange, Melees & Matchups

Greetings, Sports Fans!  (and fakers--no judgement here.)

We've reached the (gulp) midway point of the 2012 NFL season.  I can't believe it's halfway over already!  With many teams looking forward to their BYE week already (see GTK),  it's crunch time for all....to come together or fall apart for the rest of the season.  Here are Week 8's key matchups.

New England (4-3) vs St. Louis (3-4)  
1 pm EST on CBS, played in London!

The NFL has played one game every year since 2007 in London, billed as "The International Series".  The game is played at Wembley Stadium, historic home of more Beatles, U2 and Queen concerts than you can shake a drumstick at.  Tickets are in demand, with more than 500,000 bidders clamoring for the 80,000 available seats each year.

1.  Even with team records only a game apart, the Patriots seem to be the favorite in every darn matchup they face, as they are here, favored by 7 points.

2.  Tom Brady is super hot and super amazing.  Damn, you Tom!  I still haven't forgiven you for 2003!!!  But thank you for being born.

3.  The Rams Top 10 defense has been HUGE this season.  Many of their draft picks have been spent on the D the last few years, and it's paying off.  This year's cornerback tandem of Jenkins (N. Alabama) and Finnegan (Samford) will be a huge obstacle for Wes Welker (Texas Tech) and the Patriot receiving corps.  NE is weak at Left Tackle (Blind Side) and the Rams' Quinn is an ANIMAL.  Watch for him to get after ol' blue eyes.


4.  Bill Belichick is one of the most respected and most hated coaches in football.  He's been cited for a signal-stealing scandal and is often ribbed for his less than inspired choice of attire on the sidelines.  He wears a hoodie with the sleeves cut off to EVERY SINGLE GAME.  Ugh.  But his teams win.  A lot. 

Atlanta (6-0) at Philadelphia (3-3) 
1pm EST on FOX

1.  Sports pundits are WAY more focused on the fact that Philly head coach and human/walrus hybrid, Andy Reid, is 13-0 after a BYE week than on the accomplishments of the leagues last undefeated team.  Hmmm....11 of those wins have also been home games in a very less-than-friendly atmosphere for visiting teams. 

2.  Michael Vick, aka "The Dog Fighting Don", has fallen from grace ON the field lately, throwing INTs and turning the ball over at an alarming rate.  They will run the ball OFTEN against a not-so-great Atlanta run defense, their potential Achilles heel. 

New Orleans (2-4) at Denver (3-3) 
1 pm EST on FOX

1.  Two of the NFL's most celebrated quarterbacks with some of the best numbers we've ever seen.  Ever:  The Saints' Drew Brees and Denver's Peyton Manning.  Manning is on his comeback tour with the Broncos after neck surgery saw him miss the entirety of the 2011 season in Indianapolis, and he is hitting his stride in Denver. He could exploit the Saints' glaring weakness on defense.

2.  The Saints NEED this one.  Bad.  But their defense is nogoodterribleverybad, allowing a league-high 465.5 yards per game.  (The 49ers are only allowing 272.3 yards per game.)  Yikes, Saints.  They've allowed 2,793 yards in the first six games....a dismal NFL record.

3.  The good news for the Saints?  Brees is back, doubling his numbers in all the right places in his last three games.  And that's good, seeing as how he'll need to score big in order to overcome that abysmal defense. 

Week 7 At a Glance

This week, we'll look at a key Divisional matchup and a game that illustrates the importance of the defense.  Why?  Because even though every game counts, toward the middle of the season, we start to see which teams are for real, whose injuries are going to thwart a team's success, and which defenses are getting the job done.  Games within your division mostly determine who goes to the postseason.  And Defense typically wins games for you late in the season.

Washington Redskins (3-3) @ New York Giants (4-2)  1 pm EST on FOX

The weekend's big matchup to watch.  Here's why:

1.  1st place in the NFC East is at stake.  

2.  RGIII (the 'Skins QB from Baylor) is 3rd in Passer Rating in the NFL with 100.5 (see GTK Corner above) AND he also has 379 yards rushing with 6 rushing TDs

3.  Both teams have scored exactly 178 points this season, but the Redskins make too many mistakes, and their defense is giving up 328 passing yards per game....WAY too many, especially against an elite passer like Eli Manning (Ole Miss).  

4.  Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw (Marshall) is not likely to play due to a foot injury.

Green Bay Packers (3-3) @ St. Louis Rams (3-3) 1 pm EST on FOX

1.  Green Bay is starting to look like its old self (15-1 last season), coming off of a 42-24 DE-STROY of the previously undefeated Houston Texans last week.  (Atlanta is the only remaining undefeated team)

2.  Packers have the NFC sack leader in Fathead commercial star, Clay Matthews (look for the flowing blonde locks pouring out of his helmet), so the Rams' offensive line will be tested.  Hard.  If Sam Bradford ends up on the ground too many times, this game will get lopsided in a hurry.  The Rams are missing their veteran at Left Tackle, Roger Saffold.  (think Sandra Bullock and the movie "The Blind Side")  This position is the heart of the offensive line and is key in protecting the QB.  He'll likely return in Week 10.

3.  The Rams defense is awesome.  Quinn and Long (Howie Long's son) have 10 sacks between them, and the team is only allowing an average of 18.5 points per game.  This may be their only hope in slowing down Aaron Rodgers (Berkeley) and the Pack.  Defense CAN win games, but this one will be tough to say the least.

TALKING TIDBITS:

• A New Orleans fan filed a $5M class action lawsuit against the NFL this week, claiming that the player suspensions after the Bountygate scandal amount to diminished value of their season tickets.  Good luck with that.....the NFL almost never loses anything.  

• The NFC is statistically better than the AFC at this point in the season for the first time in what seems like FOREVER.  The tide she is a turnin'.  Let's see if they keep it up.

• John Skelton in IN at QB in Arizona.  Kevin Kolb is out due to injury.  Look for AZ's early season offensive show to slow down considerably as a result. 

• Terry Bradshaw (famous former Steelers QB and FOX broadcaster) had a 0.0 passer rating in 3 separate games.  Aaron Rodgers posted an average 122.5 passer rating for the 2011 season, an all-time record in what was the Year of the Passer.

Seahawks at 49ers Tonight!

Hot List for a "new" classic NFC Matchup:

1.  The 49ers are banged up at the WR position, and QB Alex Smith has an injured third finger.  While this isn't as bad as Kurt Warner's carrer-changing pinkie injury many moons back, it MAY have been a factor in his three INTs last week against the Giants.  (and that killer Giants defense)

2.  The Seahawks defense is second best in the NFL for yards per carry allowed.

3.  49ers running back Frank Gore needs only three rushing touchdowns to tie the all-time team record of 50 set by Roger Craig and Joe Perry.

4.  Seahawks kickoff an punt return man, Leon Washington, is averaging 31.7 yards per carry.  That's good for second best in the NFL.

5.  The Niners are favored by 7 points with an over/under of 37.5.  I'd take that Over!