Three key Vikings' defenders went down on Sunday's loss to the Carolina Panthers. Xavier Rhodes went down with an ankle injury, Harrison Smith said he had turf toe, and Desmond Bishop had pain in his knee. All three underwent MRI's for their injuries recently, and the news is promising for two but devastating for one.
The MRI's for Rhodes and Smith both came back negative, so neither has a serious injury and all likelihood will see the field sooner rather than later. This is extremely relieving news for the Vikings as losing either one of the two young bright spots in their secondary would have been almost unbearable at this point, since the team already is one of the worst in the NFL at defending the pass.
The news for Desmond Bishop isn't as pleasing. Bishop suffered a torn ACL Sunday, meaning his season is likely over and quite possibly, his career. Bishop signed a one year deal this offseason with the Vikings in the hope of getting through a year healthy and playing his way to a better contract, but it doesn't look like that's in the cards for him. The Vikings will most likely be forced to release Bishop, who just this Sunday had his first career start for the Vikings at the weakside linebacker position. In his absence, Marvin Mitchell will take control of the starting role once again, even though the weakside position doesn't see the field very often because it comes off the field in the Vikings' nickel packages, which they run most of the time. Bishop will most likely try to rehab and hope a team takes one last chance on his this offseason, but with his injury history it's very possible that Bishop may be forced to hang up his pads for good.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
NFL Week 6 Tuesday Whip-Around: Brady, Brady, Brady, Light my Way
Well Sean Payton, that's the last time you'll underestimate Tom Brady. Isn't it absolutely ridiculous that somehow, a Super Bowl winning head coach somehow got it into his brain that he could allow Tom Brady three chances at a game winning drive and not expect the worst? More so than that, the coach was Sean Payton, the supposed gambler of New Orleans, whose ever-aggressive attack had led his team to five straight victories before Sunday. Remember when Payton had the guts to onside kick in the Super Bowl? Where was that guy? It's easy to criticize Payton now for his decisions, even though most people were about ready to pile up on Bill Belichick for his curious decision to go for it on 4th and 6 in his own territory late in the game until Brady did his usual late game magic. Winning silences all critics in the NFL, and Payton has done enough of that in the Big Easy that soon this loss is going to be swept under the rug, provided Payton doesn't make the same mistake again.
Bears 27, Giants 21
- Brandon Jacobs likes being back with the Giants, as he carried the load for this team in their most successful rushing performance to date this year, taking 22 carries for 106 yards
- The Bears have to be worried about the interior of their defensive line after losing Henry Melton for the year as well as his backup Nate Collins. Teams are going to start running right at them, and if even Brandon Jacobs can find success against their front other teams are going to start coming right at them with the running game.
- The Giants didn't give up 30 points for the first time this year! Positives....
Packers 19, Ravens 17
- Both James Jones and Randall Cobb went down with injuries in this game (and Cobb's will keep him out at least 8 weeks), meaning Eddie Lacy is going to become even more crucial to this offense. He held up his end of the bargain this week, taking 23 carries for 120 yards against a good Raven defense.
- The Packers defense was exceptional without Clay Matthews at the helm. Their best moment of the day was a big goal line stand in the first half that kept Green Bay in the lead.
- Ray Rice has only topped 40 rushing yards once this season. Something is seriously wrong with the Baltimore running game.
Bengals 27, Bills 24 (OT)
- The Bengals get their first road win of the season, but they still refuse to play up to their talent, surrendering a 14 point fourth quarter lead and letting the Bills force overtime.
- Giovanni Bernard is unbelievable when given space. This kid can move.
- The Bills can bring in Thad Lewis off of their practice squad and still be extremely fun to watch the next week. Doug Marrone has already done a great job bringing excitement back to this franchise.
Lions 31, Browns 17
- Who is Joseph Fauria? All this undrafted rookie tight end does is catch touchdowns. Literally.
- Reggie Bush likes having Calvin Johnson back in games, even if it's mainly as a decoy, because he went off Sunday with 132 yards on 22 touches.
- Are you sure Jason Campbell doesn't deserve a start, Rob Chudzinski?
Rams 38, Texans 13
- Well, we got a look at TJ Yates after Matt Schaub went down with an ankle injury (and by the way, shame on the fans who cheered the injury). It wasn't pretty.
- Good news for the Texans: Arian Foster looks back to form.
- This is the Rams team that seemed set up to surprise this season. Hopefully they don't let up in any phase of their game, as they were able to score a touchdown Sunday on offense, defense and special teams.
Chiefs 24, Raiders 7
- Both teams had big offensive line issues during the day, as not even Terrelle Pryor's legs could prevent him from being sacked a whopping ten times.
- The Chiefs' defense was absolutely lethal Sunday, though of course it helps when your stadium is able to set a new noise record.
- The Raiders managed to put themselves into a 3rd and 48. That's pretty impressive!
Steelers 19, Jets 6
- And bad Geno Smith is back! The roller coaster rookie season continues.
- The Steeler defense finally got its first takeaway of the season, and surprisingly, the team got its first win at the same time. Coincidence? I think not.
- Heath Miller looks a lot healthier coming out of the bye week, catching six passes for 84 yards. Big Ben is going to need him, so I'm sure he's ecstatic that his favorite target is starting to get back in stride.
Eagles 31, Buccaneers 20
- Has the quarterback controversy in Philly resurfaced? So far, Nick Foles has been nothing short of outstanding under center, and it looks like he'll get another shot against Dallas to show Chip Kelly he's the guy going forward.
- Mike Glennon looked a lot better in his second NFL start, as he found chemistry with Vincent Jackson, and the only interception he threw was on the receiver, not him.
- This Tampa defense was supposed to be a lot tougher with Darrelle Revis. Schiano is not sitting pretty letting the $16 million man get off to an 0-5 start.
Broncos 35, Jaguars 19
- The Jaguars pressured Peyton more than any team has all year. Gus Bradley is at least making these guys play hard for him, regardless of the result.
- Justin Blackmon took over the Jacksonville offense, catching 14 passes for 190 yards.
- Welcome back from suspension Von Miller! The team did okay without you.
Seahawks 20, Titans 13
- What a memorable end to the first half! Instead of going up 10-3 at the half, the Seahawks' backup holder and their punter screw up the field goal attempt and Tennesee takes it back for a touchdown to go ahead 10-7. Ouch.
- The Seahawks haven't been dominant for the most part, but they're still waiting on a lot of players to come back to them and they're still off to a 5-1 start. Oh, and the 12th man was issued a challenge. That'll go over well.
- Ryan Fitzpatrick is not doing the Titans any favors, even though he thinks he's good enough to challenge Richard Sherman one on one on the outside. The result: Sherman interception.
Patriots 30, Saints 27
- New England's offensive line had a great game, as Tom Brady was often virtually unpressed early on.
- Two big catches by rookie wideouts were the big highlights from this game, as Kenny Stills made a huge grab to give the Saints the lead, but with five seconds left to go he was topped by Kenbrell Thompkin's game wining catch.
- Giving Tom Brady three chances at the end of the game? You're better than that, Sean Payton.
- Injuries took their toll on both sides, as the Patriots lost Danny Amendola and Aquib Talib (who was having a phenomenal game covering Jimmy Graham) and the Saints lost Jimmy Graham near the end.
49ers 32, Cardinals 20
- Vernon Davis dominated the first half and most of the day for the 49ers' offense. His 180 receiving yards were 152 more than the next closest 49er receiver.
- Eric Reid continued a great rookie campaign, recording his third interception and recovering a fumble for his team.
- Carson Palmer has yet to not throw the ball to the other team during a game. Right now, it's clear that Bruce Arian's system might not be working for him, so either the system or the quarterback needs to change at some point.
Cowboys 31, Redskins 16
- RGIII had more pep in his step off the bye, but his arm didn't look normal as he was off target and didn't have a lot of zip on his throws.
- The Cowboys defensive line depth played fantastic when called upon due to injury, but the team might have to rely on this depth long term, which could be an issue as soon as next week when they play the Eagles.
- The Cowboys also lost DeMarco Murray during this game, and with him went their running game.
Chargers 19, Colts 9
- Philip Rivers and this offense were patient Monday night and it worked. They controlled the ball for over 38 and a half minutes.
- Too many negative plays for the Colts, as plenty of passes that were on the money were dropped, and sacks and pressure were able to kill drives.
- Pep Hamilton's ultra-conservative attack might be wearing out its welcome in Indy. Certainly, it was a very puzzling decision to punt on 4th and short late in the game when your defense hadn't been able to get off the field and your offense is led by Andrew Luck.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Nightmare Flashbacks to 2011: Panthers pummel Vikings
Ouch. The Vikings were thoroughly beaten on both sides of the ball by the Carolina Panthers Sunday, ending the day with a 35-10 loss that somehow makes the game seem closer than it really was. Those of us on the Matt Cassel bandwagon are going to have to slow their roll, as it would be shocking if Josh Freeman wasn't put into the lineup next week against the 0-6 New York Giants. No matter who is under center though, the Vikings have bigger issues on the defensive side of the ball, as the Panthers were able to get into a groove just a week after they had half as many interceptions as points. To add injury to insult, the Vikings had three key players go down during the game with injuries, and it remains to be seen what the full extent of the damage is to Harrison Smith, Xavier Rhodes and Desmond Bishop. The bottom line was that neither side of the ball played well for the Vikings, who dropped a key game coming off of their bye at home. This team was supposed to build on what they did in 2012. Instead, it seems like they've gone back an extra year and are much closer to the team from 2011. As always, below are the grades for all the positional units for the Vikings. Spoiler alert: they aren't pretty.
Offense: D
The Vikings had their worst offensive performance of the season thus far against the Panthers, as they only scored 10 points, but seven of those came late in the fourth quarter with only a minute left, when the game was well out of reach. The Vikings were only able to muster 290 net yards on the day, and for most of the game they were unable to respond to any of Carolina's scoring drives, which helped make for a lopsided gap in time of possession (36 and a half minutes for the Panthers to 23 and a half for the Vikings). The Vikings had to abandon their run game because they were down significantly in the game in the second half, which is just not how this offense stays successful. The Vikings also turned the ball over twice after holding onto the football against the Steelers, and both turnovers were unforced and led to Panther touchdowns.
Quarterback: D-
A bad Steeler defense that dropped three turnovers may have disguised Matt Cassel's true ability as a quarterback. That is, he's not very good. Cassel finished the game 32/44 for 241 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions, and the number of passing attempts he had shows how much he was asked to do for the Vikings today. The results weren't pretty, as Cassel looked a lot like another starter for the Vikings this year, unable to create big plays in the passing game and scrambling early a few times. Under Cassel, the offense was completely lifeless for almost all of the first half, only scoring a field goal in the two minute drill. Cassel failed to identify blitzes for much of the day too, as three different times he was sacked on a blitz, sometimes when holding onto the ball, meaning he most likely hadn't adjusted his protection correctly.
Running Backs: A
Adrian Peterson would have received this grade regardless of his stats today, as the man overcame plenty of emotion and showed up today, and played with the same heart and determination Vikings' fans have come to expect. Adrian took his ten carries for 62 yards, but his production was limited overall as the Vikings got in an early hole and were unable to come out of it. Regardless of his numbers, Adrian did nothing but earn respect today.
Receivers/Tight Ends: B
Even though overall the Vikings put out a putrid offensive performance, the blame does not fall on the receivers and the tight ends. Nine different Vikings recorded a reception during the game, as seemingly every target on their roster was able to create opportunities in the passing game. The most noteworthy was Kyle Rudolph, who had been having a quiet season overall but recorded nine catches for 97 yards and a touchdown Sunday against the Panthers. The touchdown was in garbage time, but Rudolph still showed plenty of effort on the play, breaking Panther tackles on his way to the end zone. The receiver group had some solid grabs on the day, Greg Jennings had a nice one handed catch in the fourth quarter, but their quarterback simply didn't put them in great places to succeed today.
Offensive Line: C-
The offensive lineup had a tough match-up this week against a good Carolina front, and for the most part Sunday they were unable to properly contain the rush of the Panthers. Adrian Peterson had few good rushing lanes on the day, and half of his yardage total on the day came on one big run in the second half. The line allowed three sacks on Matt Cassel even though overall they look decent (not awful, not great) in pass protection on the day, but three Panther blitzes weren't picked up and got home to the quarterback. The blitzes came from three seperate locations on the defense, and the Vikings did not look at all prepared to block all the different looks up.
Defense: F
The Vikings defense was steamrolled Sunday, surrendering 35 points and 367 total yards. The defense could not find a way off the field, allowing the Panthers to convert on 58% of their third downs and two out of two fourth down attempts. The defense also made the struggling offense's day worse because they forced no turnovers on the day to get their offense back on the field. The defense was unable to stop both the passing game and the running game, as the Panthers were able to find a healthy offensive balance that was hard for them to stop.
Defensive Line: D
After a solid game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the defensive line had a letdown performance against the Panthers, even though Cam Newton was sacked seven times last week against the Cardinals. The defensive line was only able to reach Newton once all game, and outside of that sack they rarely touched him. The line gave up 131 total rushing yards on the ground to the Panthers, 63 of those just in the first quarter, which let the Panthers establish an offensive balance for the rest of the game that kept the defense on their heels.
Linebackers: D
The Vikings' linebackers were worked over by offensive coordinator Mike Shula, as screens and outside runs were called frequently to test the speed of the Vikings linebackers. While the linebackers were able to come up and cause a few negetive plays for the Panthers, there were also times they were late getting to their spot or they were there and got simply run over. The linebackers did nothing to take the Panthers' offense out of their game plan, and they made no big plays to try to turn the game around.
Secondary: F
I recently said it was arguable as to whether Josh Robinson was the worst cornerback in the NFL today. I was wrong, he is the worst. Robinson once again showed almost no coverage skills against the Panthers, being picked on once again, this time for two touchdowns. One of those touchdowns came on a 3rd and long and went for 79 yards, when Robinson inexplicably stopped running with receiver Brandon LaFell even though the call was man coverage. Over players struggled too against the Panthers, as Jamarcus Sanford dropped a Cam Newton interception early in the game. Newton had only six incompletions all game, even though he threw three interceptions just last week. With the front four unable to pressure Newton, he was able to torch their weak secondary through the air.
Coaching: F
This game just goes in the category of "really?" The Vikings were coming off a bye week with a week of rest. You were at home. Your opponent was coming off a big loss and was reeling. The Panthers organization has already been looking into head coaches. You cannot afford to drop this game if you want to be competitive this season. But they did. There was just no energy or emotion emanating form the Vikings' sideline Sunday, and the level of quit in the players was pretty high. This was the team that didn't quit last year, but here they were at week six of the NFL season and already they looked like they just all wanted to go home. This is the kind of game that loses coaches jobs, not just because of the final score, but because of the effort showed by the players in defeat.
Offense: D
The Vikings had their worst offensive performance of the season thus far against the Panthers, as they only scored 10 points, but seven of those came late in the fourth quarter with only a minute left, when the game was well out of reach. The Vikings were only able to muster 290 net yards on the day, and for most of the game they were unable to respond to any of Carolina's scoring drives, which helped make for a lopsided gap in time of possession (36 and a half minutes for the Panthers to 23 and a half for the Vikings). The Vikings had to abandon their run game because they were down significantly in the game in the second half, which is just not how this offense stays successful. The Vikings also turned the ball over twice after holding onto the football against the Steelers, and both turnovers were unforced and led to Panther touchdowns.
Quarterback: D-
A bad Steeler defense that dropped three turnovers may have disguised Matt Cassel's true ability as a quarterback. That is, he's not very good. Cassel finished the game 32/44 for 241 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions, and the number of passing attempts he had shows how much he was asked to do for the Vikings today. The results weren't pretty, as Cassel looked a lot like another starter for the Vikings this year, unable to create big plays in the passing game and scrambling early a few times. Under Cassel, the offense was completely lifeless for almost all of the first half, only scoring a field goal in the two minute drill. Cassel failed to identify blitzes for much of the day too, as three different times he was sacked on a blitz, sometimes when holding onto the ball, meaning he most likely hadn't adjusted his protection correctly.
Running Backs: A
Adrian Peterson would have received this grade regardless of his stats today, as the man overcame plenty of emotion and showed up today, and played with the same heart and determination Vikings' fans have come to expect. Adrian took his ten carries for 62 yards, but his production was limited overall as the Vikings got in an early hole and were unable to come out of it. Regardless of his numbers, Adrian did nothing but earn respect today.
Receivers/Tight Ends: B
Even though overall the Vikings put out a putrid offensive performance, the blame does not fall on the receivers and the tight ends. Nine different Vikings recorded a reception during the game, as seemingly every target on their roster was able to create opportunities in the passing game. The most noteworthy was Kyle Rudolph, who had been having a quiet season overall but recorded nine catches for 97 yards and a touchdown Sunday against the Panthers. The touchdown was in garbage time, but Rudolph still showed plenty of effort on the play, breaking Panther tackles on his way to the end zone. The receiver group had some solid grabs on the day, Greg Jennings had a nice one handed catch in the fourth quarter, but their quarterback simply didn't put them in great places to succeed today.
Offensive Line: C-
The offensive lineup had a tough match-up this week against a good Carolina front, and for the most part Sunday they were unable to properly contain the rush of the Panthers. Adrian Peterson had few good rushing lanes on the day, and half of his yardage total on the day came on one big run in the second half. The line allowed three sacks on Matt Cassel even though overall they look decent (not awful, not great) in pass protection on the day, but three Panther blitzes weren't picked up and got home to the quarterback. The blitzes came from three seperate locations on the defense, and the Vikings did not look at all prepared to block all the different looks up.
Defense: F
The Vikings defense was steamrolled Sunday, surrendering 35 points and 367 total yards. The defense could not find a way off the field, allowing the Panthers to convert on 58% of their third downs and two out of two fourth down attempts. The defense also made the struggling offense's day worse because they forced no turnovers on the day to get their offense back on the field. The defense was unable to stop both the passing game and the running game, as the Panthers were able to find a healthy offensive balance that was hard for them to stop.
Defensive Line: D
After a solid game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the defensive line had a letdown performance against the Panthers, even though Cam Newton was sacked seven times last week against the Cardinals. The defensive line was only able to reach Newton once all game, and outside of that sack they rarely touched him. The line gave up 131 total rushing yards on the ground to the Panthers, 63 of those just in the first quarter, which let the Panthers establish an offensive balance for the rest of the game that kept the defense on their heels.
Linebackers: D
The Vikings' linebackers were worked over by offensive coordinator Mike Shula, as screens and outside runs were called frequently to test the speed of the Vikings linebackers. While the linebackers were able to come up and cause a few negetive plays for the Panthers, there were also times they were late getting to their spot or they were there and got simply run over. The linebackers did nothing to take the Panthers' offense out of their game plan, and they made no big plays to try to turn the game around.
Secondary: F
I recently said it was arguable as to whether Josh Robinson was the worst cornerback in the NFL today. I was wrong, he is the worst. Robinson once again showed almost no coverage skills against the Panthers, being picked on once again, this time for two touchdowns. One of those touchdowns came on a 3rd and long and went for 79 yards, when Robinson inexplicably stopped running with receiver Brandon LaFell even though the call was man coverage. Over players struggled too against the Panthers, as Jamarcus Sanford dropped a Cam Newton interception early in the game. Newton had only six incompletions all game, even though he threw three interceptions just last week. With the front four unable to pressure Newton, he was able to torch their weak secondary through the air.
Coaching: F
This game just goes in the category of "really?" The Vikings were coming off a bye week with a week of rest. You were at home. Your opponent was coming off a big loss and was reeling. The Panthers organization has already been looking into head coaches. You cannot afford to drop this game if you want to be competitive this season. But they did. There was just no energy or emotion emanating form the Vikings' sideline Sunday, and the level of quit in the players was pretty high. This was the team that didn't quit last year, but here they were at week six of the NFL season and already they looked like they just all wanted to go home. This is the kind of game that loses coaches jobs, not just because of the final score, but because of the effort showed by the players in defeat.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Vikings Week 6 Preview: Cassel's last Stand?
Hot off their bye week, the Vikings return to NFL action this week to face the Carolina Panthers at home. Both teams currently have 1-3 records, and neither team is where they hoped to be at this point in time, and both coaches are now on the hot seat with their respective organizations. For the Vikings, Matt Cassel will get another opportunity to prove his value as the starter for this team, with Josh Freeman right on his heels. Freeman will be inactive during his first game as a Viking, as he is still learning the offensive playbook and the coaching staff doesn't think he's ready for game action yet. The Vikings' defense is looking for its first great game of the season, as it has been a big disappointment this year so far, but this Panther offense may be just what the doctor ordered because Cam Newton and his offense have largely failed to get in rhythm this year. This is a game the Vikings need to have in order to keep their faint playoff dreams alive, as they need all the momentum they can muster if they want to get back into the NFC North race. As always, here's the major questions surrounding this team as they start the second quarter of their season:
Offense
What we're not talking about: Adrian Peterson
Adrian Peterson suffered an unimaginable tragedy yesterday when one of his sons died after suffering abuse at the hands of the mother's current partner. Our thoughts and prayers are with Adrian and his family at this time. Adrian will be playing Sunday, but now is not the time to discuss football. Some things in life take precedence over football, and losing a child is one of them.
Will the offensive line be able to handle Carolina's front seven?
The Vikings' offensive line has had its struggles early on, but they need to be on the top of their game if they want to slow down the scary Carolina front. The interior of the Vikings' line will face the steepest task, as their guards have been their weak link these past two years, and new rookie defensie tackle Star Lotulelei has been a monster both against the run and at pressuring the quarterback. The weakness of the Carolina offense is its secondary, so if the Vikings' offensive line is able to give Matt Cassel ample time this offense should be able to succeed.
Will Cassel make the front office's job harder?
Matt Cassel will be getting the starting nod for the Vikings Sunday, as new addition Josh Freeman still needs time to learn the Vikings' playbook. Cassel performed admirably in his first start for the Vikings against the Steelers, leading them to their first win of the season with a 123 passer rating and zero turnovers. Now that Freeman has been added to the team, Cassel's days as the starter might be numbered, unless he can change the brass' mind Sunday. If Cassel can play turnover free football again and lead the Vikings to another win, it's safe to say Leslie Fraizer may have trouble pulling Cassel off the field. Cassel seems to have the support of several of his teammates already, and we'll see Sunday if he can make that support extend to the front office, too.
Defense
Will the defensive line rise up like in London?
The Vikings' defensive line was pretty quiet throughout the first three weeks of the season, but they stepped up their game during week four of the season to sack Ben Roethlisberger four times. The Panthers' front has proven to be vulnerable, as just last week they surrendered three sacks to the Cardinals. After a week of rest, the Vikings defensive line should hopefully be recharged and healthy, and ready to take it to the Panthers' offensive line. Defensive end Brian Robison was given a new contract during the bye week, and now the rest of his teammates will have to start competing to be the next one with a new deal.
How will a now healthy secondary come back together?
The Vikings' secondary was depleted for most of their last two games, but cornerback Chris Cook and safety Jamarcus Sanford will be suiting up against the Panthers. The Vikings' secondary has been just about the worst unit in the league, as the Vikings' rank 30th in passing yards per game in the NFL, and were 32nd before the bye week. If there was ever a game for this unit to perform, it would be this one, as Cam Newton has struggled with his accuracy this year and the Panthers lack a consistent threat in the passing game. Is this the game where a Vikings' cornerback finally records an interception? For the sake of the team, they better hope so.
Can the defense keep Cam Newton in the pocket?
This is the first time this year the Vikings are facing a "read-option" quarterback, as Cam Newton has proven to be deadly both with his legs and with his arm. Newton is in a new offensive scheme this year that is trying to mold him into a pocket passer, but so far the results have been poor, to say at best, as the Panthers only win has come when Newton was allowed to run. If the Vikings are able to contain Newton in the pocket and limit his ability to run, they should be able to limit the offensive success of the Panthers and lead the charge for the Vikings' second win.
Coaching
Can Leslie Fraizer keep this team believing?
When the Vikings started 0-3, the despondency in the locker room was there for all to see. Now, there's still hope for the Vikings as their next two games are very winnable, facing the 1-3 Panthers this week and the 0-6 New York Giants the week after that. Next, they will have an opportunity to face the Green Bay Packers at home, which could be their chance to take control of the NFC North. None of the teams in the division have pulled ahead so far, and so even after their rough start the Vikings can still get back in the playoff hunt if they keep believing. Leslie Fraizer kept this team's morale high last year when they were on the brink, let's see if he can do it again.
Offense
What we're not talking about: Adrian Peterson
Adrian Peterson suffered an unimaginable tragedy yesterday when one of his sons died after suffering abuse at the hands of the mother's current partner. Our thoughts and prayers are with Adrian and his family at this time. Adrian will be playing Sunday, but now is not the time to discuss football. Some things in life take precedence over football, and losing a child is one of them.
Will the offensive line be able to handle Carolina's front seven?
The Vikings' offensive line has had its struggles early on, but they need to be on the top of their game if they want to slow down the scary Carolina front. The interior of the Vikings' line will face the steepest task, as their guards have been their weak link these past two years, and new rookie defensie tackle Star Lotulelei has been a monster both against the run and at pressuring the quarterback. The weakness of the Carolina offense is its secondary, so if the Vikings' offensive line is able to give Matt Cassel ample time this offense should be able to succeed.
Will Cassel make the front office's job harder?
Matt Cassel will be getting the starting nod for the Vikings Sunday, as new addition Josh Freeman still needs time to learn the Vikings' playbook. Cassel performed admirably in his first start for the Vikings against the Steelers, leading them to their first win of the season with a 123 passer rating and zero turnovers. Now that Freeman has been added to the team, Cassel's days as the starter might be numbered, unless he can change the brass' mind Sunday. If Cassel can play turnover free football again and lead the Vikings to another win, it's safe to say Leslie Fraizer may have trouble pulling Cassel off the field. Cassel seems to have the support of several of his teammates already, and we'll see Sunday if he can make that support extend to the front office, too.
Defense
Will the defensive line rise up like in London?
The Vikings' defensive line was pretty quiet throughout the first three weeks of the season, but they stepped up their game during week four of the season to sack Ben Roethlisberger four times. The Panthers' front has proven to be vulnerable, as just last week they surrendered three sacks to the Cardinals. After a week of rest, the Vikings defensive line should hopefully be recharged and healthy, and ready to take it to the Panthers' offensive line. Defensive end Brian Robison was given a new contract during the bye week, and now the rest of his teammates will have to start competing to be the next one with a new deal.
How will a now healthy secondary come back together?
The Vikings' secondary was depleted for most of their last two games, but cornerback Chris Cook and safety Jamarcus Sanford will be suiting up against the Panthers. The Vikings' secondary has been just about the worst unit in the league, as the Vikings' rank 30th in passing yards per game in the NFL, and were 32nd before the bye week. If there was ever a game for this unit to perform, it would be this one, as Cam Newton has struggled with his accuracy this year and the Panthers lack a consistent threat in the passing game. Is this the game where a Vikings' cornerback finally records an interception? For the sake of the team, they better hope so.
Can the defense keep Cam Newton in the pocket?
This is the first time this year the Vikings are facing a "read-option" quarterback, as Cam Newton has proven to be deadly both with his legs and with his arm. Newton is in a new offensive scheme this year that is trying to mold him into a pocket passer, but so far the results have been poor, to say at best, as the Panthers only win has come when Newton was allowed to run. If the Vikings are able to contain Newton in the pocket and limit his ability to run, they should be able to limit the offensive success of the Panthers and lead the charge for the Vikings' second win.
Coaching
Can Leslie Fraizer keep this team believing?
When the Vikings started 0-3, the despondency in the locker room was there for all to see. Now, there's still hope for the Vikings as their next two games are very winnable, facing the 1-3 Panthers this week and the 0-6 New York Giants the week after that. Next, they will have an opportunity to face the Green Bay Packers at home, which could be their chance to take control of the NFC North. None of the teams in the division have pulled ahead so far, and so even after their rough start the Vikings can still get back in the playoff hunt if they keep believing. Leslie Fraizer kept this team's morale high last year when they were on the brink, let's see if he can do it again.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Quick NFL Game Picks: Week 6
This week's edition of my game picks will be shortened slightly this week, as I've been extremely busy the last couple days and don't have time to write up a full report for each match-up. Last week, my picks went 8-6, giving me a total record of 43-34 on the year (still needs some work). I would however, like to point out, that my faith in Andrew Luck at home paid off, because I managed to predict that win correctly, while completely underestimating the Jets and the Raiders. You can't win them all!
Giants at Bears
27-21 Giants
Bengals at Bills
17-7 Bengals
Lions at Browns
21-10 Lions
Packers at Ravens
28-20 Packers
Raiders at Chiefs
24-13 Chiefs
Rams at Texans
20-14 Texans
Panthers at Vikings
30-27 Vikings
Steelers at Jets
27-20 Jets
Eagles at Buccaneers
24-17 Eagles
Jaguars at Broncos
35-13 Broncos
Titans at Seahawks
31-14 Seahawks
Saints at Patriots
28-27 Saints
Cardinals at 49ers
20-7 49ers
Redskins at Cowboys
33-28 Cowboys
Colts at Chargers
30-24 Colts
Sorry for leaving out the explanations, it's just been a busy week!!
Giants at Bears
27-21 Giants
Bengals at Bills
17-7 Bengals
Lions at Browns
21-10 Lions
Packers at Ravens
28-20 Packers
Raiders at Chiefs
24-13 Chiefs
Rams at Texans
20-14 Texans
Panthers at Vikings
30-27 Vikings
Steelers at Jets
27-20 Jets
Eagles at Buccaneers
24-17 Eagles
Jaguars at Broncos
35-13 Broncos
Titans at Seahawks
31-14 Seahawks
Saints at Patriots
28-27 Saints
Cardinals at 49ers
20-7 49ers
Redskins at Cowboys
33-28 Cowboys
Colts at Chargers
30-24 Colts
Sorry for leaving out the explanations, it's just been a busy week!!
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
NFL Power Rankings: Post-Week 5
Ranking these teams gets harder and harder as each week of the season goes on, as the reality is there's really not that much separating the good teams in the NFL from the mediocre ones. The top and bottom teams are more certain than ever, but right now the middle of the pecking order could be arranged in about twenty different ways. And there would almost be no way to argue with any of those arrangements. That closeness created some weird shifting in the power rankings this week, as some teams moved up simply for looking less bad in defeat. Style points aren't supposed to count in the NFL but right now that's all you can use to differentiate some teams right now.
1. Denver Broncos: 5-0 (2)
One thing not in dispute in the Bronco's place on these rankings until they drop a game. Denver has been the most dominant team in the NFL this season, and pulling off that win in Dallas was huge for this team's momentum going forward. Denver has now been pushed to the brink and still found the resilience to come out on top, and it's tough to imagine anyone else getting as close to a win as Dallas did. The defense was almost nonexistent during the Dallas game, but now the only thing standing between the Broncos and the return of Von Miller is the Jaguars. Looks likes the Broncos are going to make it out of that suspension ok.
2. New Orleans Saints: 5-0 (3)
The Saints comeback story this year has been nothing short to remarkable, as almost every week they've made victory look easy by playing well on both sides of the ball. The team has two strong MVP candidates in Drew Brees and Jimmy Graham, and if not for some guy named Peyton Manning and his targets those two would be the most hyped combo in the NFL. The Saints now already hold at least a four game lead on every other team in their division, so it looks like their short vacation from division dominance is now over.
3. Kansas City Chiefs: 5-0 (5)
Speaking of great turnarounds, the Chiefs are now the first team to start 5-0 after winning only two games the previous season. This team has not dominated opponents like the Broncos or the Saints have, but Andy Reid's squad has been able to find a way to win each week of the season thus far, and that's what puts them above all other teams not named the Broncos in the AFC. The main test still to come for the Chiefs will be how they respond if teams start scoring on their defense, as Alex Smith has got to prove he can keep up with opposing offenses if need be.
4. Seattle Seahawks: 4-1 (1)
The Seahawks lost their first game of the season to the team that seems to be the NFC West's kryptonite, the Indianapolis Colts. The Seahawks just aren't the same team on the road as they are at home, and if they can't secure the top seed in the playoffs that will be a small concern come January. This time it was not the offense that had a poor outing on the road, but the team's secondary, who didn't nearly play up to their reputation. The power of the 12th man still keeps the Seahawks ahead of their opponents this week, as there's no question that the Seahawks could dominate any of the below teams at home, but they have yet to find that same spark away from home.
5. Indianapolis Colts: 4-1 (7)
Even though they were the ones to blemish the Seahawks' perfect record, the Colts stay behind the Seahawks simply because the power of the 12th man still looms in Seattle, and I don't think the Colts would have won if the game was away from Lucas Oil Stadium. That being said, the Colts were extremely impressive knocking off the Seahawks from the top spot of these rankings, as Andrew Luck led his ninth game winning drive of his career. At this point, he'll hold the record for game winning drives before he's even halfway through with his career. Luck was able to produce big plays out of what most people consider the best secondary in the NFL, and at home the Colts' own secondary was the one that played like the "Legion of Boom." The trade for Trent Richardson was a big factor as well, as Trent was able to help the Colts close out the game with a big third down run that led to a Colt field goal that put the team up by six late. The Colts may already be back to being an AFC power, and this team still has plenty of room to grow.
6. Green Bay Packers: 2-2 (6)
While not a totally impressive showing, the Packers were able to hand the Detroit Lions their first in-division loss, which should serve as a signal to the rest of the NFC North that the road to the division crown still goes through Lambeau. The Packers are not without flaws, however, as the loss of Clay Matthews for a month is going to hard to overcome, especially since Aaron Rodgers and the passing game aren't quite clicking on the level they were last year, especially when it comes to the red zone. Eddie Lacy looks like he's finally going to give this offense balance, but now Mike McCarthy needs to turn that balance into six points.
7. San Francisco 49ers: 3-2 (8)
The 49ers are now ironically in the position they were almost a year ago: a great defense and running game, with no dynamic passing game or quarterback play to speak of. Frank Gore has been leading the charge for this offense, Colin Kaepernick only completed six of 15 passes Sunday night, and if not for a long strike to Vernon Davis after a Texan defeat was all but certain, Kaepernick would have passed for under 50 yards on the night. That's a sobering statistic for a quarterback who was so highly touted coming into this year, as the explosive element Kaepernick brought to this offense is no longer there. Somewhere in Kansas City, Alex Smith is laughing right about now.
8. Cincinnati Bengals: 3-2 (10)
Well, the Bengals look just about unbeatable at home, where they're 3-0 to start the season, as their defense absolutely crushed Tom Brady and caused the man to have one of the worst games of his career. Mike Zimmer had all the answers to the future Hall of Famer, doing what no defensive coordinator could do for 52 consecutive games: stop Brady from throwing a touchdown pass. Andy Dalton and this offense still have work to do, which is sad, because with the way the defense is playing these games shouldn't even be close.
9. New England Patriots: 4-1 (4)
Just when you think Tom Brady and his receivers are starting to come together, it all comes crashing down again. It may just be that Atlanta's defense is bad enough that it can hide the flaws in opposing offenses, as Geno Smith looked like a good MVP candidate with the way he played against that defense. It sounds like Rob Gronkowski is now very close to finally making his first appearance on the field, which should hopefully put this offense back together again.
10. Baltimore Ravens: 3-2 (12)
The Ravens' defense is really starting to look scary, as Terrelle Suggs seems all the way back to defensive player of the year form, sacking Ryan Tanehill three times Sunday afternoon. New tackle Eugene Monroe will probably be seen this week, which will be good, because right now the Ravens are still struggling to run the ball. Ray Rice had a hard time finding room to run against the Dolphins, averaging less than three yards a carry even though he was fed the ball 27 times. Torrey Smith has quietly become the man in this offense, as he already has over 550 yards on the season and is averaging over 20 yards a catch.
11. Chicago Bears: 3-2 (9)
The winds of momentum have died down in the Windy City, as two straight losses has sent the Bears from a great comeback story like the Saints to just another mid-level NFL team, who is going to need to fight hard to have a shot at making the playoffs. The defense has not been forcing turnovers these past two games, and when they don't their age shows and they get marched all over. Alshon Jeffery had a big day against the Saints, and if he can force teams to not always double cover Brandon Marshall then options are going to open up for Marc Trestman's offense and the Bears might get back in business.
12. Dallas Cowboys: 2-3 (16)
The Cowboys do move up this week, even though their team only achieved a "moral victory," mainly because there weren't many moral victories to speak of for some of the teams ranked close to them. Despite Romo's bad pick this offense still looked great in the loss to Denver, and if rookie Terrance Williams can produce like he did Sunday the Cowboys won't be missing Miles Austin anytime soon. The defense was embarrassed by Peyton, but Peyton does that to a lot of team, and he was familiar with Monte Kiffin's system from his days under Tony Dungy with the Colts. Point being, even in defeat there were plenty of positives for the offense and the defense won't look that bad every week, so the Cowboys are still top dog in their division (even though that may not be saying much).
13. Miami Dolphins: 3-2 (11)
Ryan Tannehill's protection has gone from a flaw to a glaring weakness, as he was sacked six times Sudnay, and this team will struggle if he keeps taking hits. Of course, it was hard to decide whether Tannehill was more annoyed by his lack of protection of the drops by his receivers against the Ravens, as he put plenty of throws on the money that wound up on the turf. Tannehill is part of the problem too, as he holds onto the ball too long sometimes which means he's asking his lineman to hold their blocks for too long. Something needs to be devised on offense to keep Tannehill upright, no matter what it is, because right now Tannehill is spending too much time of the ground.
14. Detroit Lions: 3-2 (13)
With Calvin Johnson out and Reggie Bush limited, the Lion's offense was given a big test to show whether they can keep moving even without their two biggest names. The results were not promising. The Lions only put up nine points, never finding the end zone, on a mediocre defense, and their offensive performance was just thoroughly underwhelming. The defense tried to give this offense a chance by only allowing the Packers to reach the end zone once, but without his best receiver Matthew Stafford just didn't know who to throw the football to.
15. Tennessee Titans: 3-2 (18)
Like the Cowboys, the Titans move up despite a loss because they at least looked good in defeat, and overall they fought hard against a good Chiefs team, even without their starting quarterback. The Titans still look like a team no one should underestimate, but things aren't quite the same with Ryan Fitzpatrick under center. These Titans have plenty of spirit, and they're going to need all of it if they want to keep their season afloat while Locker tries to rehab his hip.
16. New York Jets: 3-2 (24)
Geno Smith showed some great signs of improvement Monday night against the Falcons, pushing himself into the discussion for rookie of the year, and removing any discussion on whether he should be his team's starter moving forward. Geno confidently threw the ball up and down the field, and he out iced Matty Ice for a big game winning drive that ended with a field goal as time expired. Rex Ryan's defense had a little bit of trouble taking down the Falcon offense, but a key turnover in the game led to a Jets score and the defense was able to prevent points by stuffing the Falcons on 4th and one as time expired in the first half. If either one of those things doesn't happen, the Jets probably are out of this game.
17. Cleveland Browns: 3-2 (20)
Cleveland will get to enjoy their brief moment in the sun here, as starting next week things are going ot get hairy for the average Browns' fan. Brian Hoyer is out for the year, and Brandon Weeden is back in at starter even though most people thought he may never see the field again for this team. There's going to be a lot more pressure of Weeden now that his running back is gone, but with his chemistry with receiver Josh Gordon looking still intact, it's possible he can still guide this team to an average record the rest of the season.
18. Arizona Cardinals: 3-2 (23)
Through five games, the Arizona Cardinals have a winning record and are tied for second place in their division. That's something you don't expect to hear every day. This defense has continued to be outstanding even without defensive coordinator Ray Horton, dismantling Cam Newton and the Carolina attack Sunday. Offensive problems continue to persist though, as Carson Palmer has thrown an interception in every regular season game so far. Palmer is looking how plenty of us thought he would look: like a veteran stopgag who is in no way Arizona's future at the position.
19. San Diego Chargers: 2-3 (14)
The Chargers played late Sunday night because of baseball playoffs, but while you were sleeping they managed to lose on the road to the Raiders. Philip Rivers had another prolific passing day, going for over 400 yards, but this time those yards were accompanied by turnovers, as Rivers was picked three different times. The game also featured some curious decision making by the coaches, as they tried running on the goal line with Danny Woodhead, but predictably the small back got nowhere near the end zone. Don't over think it next time, Mike McCoy.
20. Houston Texans: 2-3 (17)
The Texans suffered a full on offensive meltdown Sunday night, courtesy of quarterback Matt Schaub's lack of confidence in himself, which is causing him to over think the simplest of routes. The Texans' defense is still a powerful unit, but the quarterback play clearly brought the rest of the team down as the team didn't show much faith in Schaub's abilities. Whether Schaub will remain the starter on this team for very long remains to be seen, but if he doesn't bounce back someone should be able to take hold of his job. The talent on this team is too good to not be able to.
21. Atlanta Falcons: 1-4 (15)
It's been a rough year at the Georgia Dome already, and the fun has only started. Dates with the Packers, Saints, 49ers and Seahawks still loom for this team, and the playoffs are starting to look like a pipe dream. Julio Jones is now lost for the season, and Roddy White is going to start missing time for injuries too, meaning Tony Gonzalez is the only one of the four big pieces around Matt Ryan that remain intact (the other being Steven Jackson). Without those guys, this offense isn't bad, but it isn't any great shakes either. The defense, on the other hand, has been atrocious so far this season, as teams have been having no problem moving down the field. Before the season started you would take the Falcons in a shootout over just about any team. Now they're in a shootout every week but lack the firepower to deal a winning blow.
22. Oakland Raiders: 2-3 (31)
Just when you thought the Terrelle Pryor train might be hitting the brakes in Oakland, the guy goes out and lights it up, and Josh Freeman goes to look for work somewhere else. The difference in ability from Pryor to Matt Flynn was paramount Sunday night, as this team knows which guy gives them a better chance to win. Future Hall of Famer Charles Woodson was out showing why he chose to return to Oakland during the offseason, scoring the 13th defensive touchdown of his career and leading a unit that has been very underrated through the first weeks of the season. It's nothing great, but the Raiders are far from the dumpster fire many people (like me) were expecting.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: 2-3 (27)
Michael Vick out, Nick Foles in, at least for now. Foles obviously doesn't bring the legs Vick does to the equation, but if Foles can make quick decisions and avoid turnovers this offense is going to like having him under center, just like they seemed to when he was in the Giants' game. Despite all of this team's struggles they are now at the top of this division with Dallas, and if Chip Kelly can figure out a way to go Peyton on Big D's defense with his offense the Eagles may still have a shot at pulling in front of the NFC East. Chip Kelly might stick around this league yet.
24. St. Louis Rams: 2-3 (25)
The Rams move up one spot this week for beating the Jaguars, not exactly flashy, but a win's a win. The defense for this team is still underperforming expectations though, as teams have been able to run right up the middle on this front for good chunks of yards. Tavon Austin has not looked worth of the 8th overall pick so far either, as he's finding it difficult to separate from defenders at the NFL level. It's tough to say what exactly happened over in St. Louis, but plenty of the talent has just not developed as expected, and changes to the coaching staff may have to come soon.
25. Minnesota Vikings: 1-3 (22)
The Vikings drop a few spots even though they were on a bye week, simply because some teams below them had some great games and the teams that fell didn't fall hard enough to land behind them. The big question for this team going forward is how Josh Freeman is going to end up falling into the organization's plans, whether he ends up being just a one year rental or the long term guy at the position. Of course, how he plays this year might not even matter because of how porous the defense has been, but if Leslie Fraizer was able to rally the troops during the bye the Vikings should be able to go on a run coming up on an easy part of their schedule.
26. Washington Redskins: 1-3 (26)
The Redskins also had some time off this past week, and now they're going to be pressed back into action just in time for a match-up with their big rival, the Dallas Cowboys. Redskins' fans have to be hoping that a week of extra rest has helped out RGIII's knee, as he's going to need to be on top of his game if he wants to go point for point with Tony Romo. The Redskins' secondary hasn't stopped anyone so far this year, but they're going to need to step it up if Washington wants to take back this division. If only they could intercept the Cowboys near the end of the game...but like that ever happens.
27. Buffalo Bills: 2-3 (21)
The Bills take a pretty steep drop in the rankings because of the injury to their young quarterback, EJ Manuel, who now may be out six to eight weeks of the regular season. Behind him, the Bills have almost no depth, and they may be forced to start a guy who was on their practice squad for almost half of the season. Optimism was once so high for a team that had been stuck in a rut for over a decade, but this latest setback could lead to another lost season up in Buffalo.
28. Carolina Panthers: 1-3 (19)
The Panthers used to be near the bottom of these rankings, but then they came alive against the Giants. After that, they took their bye, and this offense lost all of the momentum it had gained from the win. Cam Newton has been inaccurate and mistake prone, but he's also been under pretty heavy pressure and has few weapons to work with. There's little to like about this offense, plain and simple. The defense is still pretty good, except in the secondary, but Ron Rivera might actually be relieved to be forced out of a job here, because it doesn't look like this team is going anywhere soon.
29. Pittsburgh Steelers: 0-4 (28)
The Steelers took their week off after their voyage to London, and with the age on that defense, some of their players may have already needed a break. Rest should help key pieces of the offense like Heath Miller and Leveon Bell heal up, but in the end, you can't heal bad talent, and that's exactly what the Steelers have on their offensive line. The defense still has no takeaways, and at this point that entire side of the ball might need an overhaul, or at least a few young bodies to liven things up.
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 0-4 (30)
Well Greg Schiano, you got your wish, Josh Freeman has flown the coup. So now what? Well, I guess Mike Glennon is going to start, but if I'm in that locker room I have no idea what he does that we didn't already have in Freeman, you know, that guy you ran out of town. I have a good feeling Schiano's going to be back in college before Freeman loses a starting job in the NFL. Karma hurts sometimes.
31. New York Giants: 0-5 (29)
Hey, remember that team that won the Super Bowl two years ago? How did they disappear so fast! The coaching staff is the same, almost all of the key players are the same, so how did everything nosedive so fast? The pass rush, once the pride of the organization, can't get to anybody anymore, as they have only five sacks the entire season. Osi Umenyiora, the guy they let go in free agency, has four already by himself with the Falcons. This offensive line and running game are still doing nothing, and Eli is taking it upon himself to be the hero and go big with deep passes....that just wind up in the hands of the other team. By next offseason, I have a feeling "fix Eli Manning," is going to be the new catchphrase.
32. Jacksonville Jaguars: 0-5 (32)
Can you really be mad at Denver for putting up stats on twitter, Jaguars? The Broncos post wasn't the classiest move, but it was accurate. If you want to complain, first take a look at the mess of an organization you've got running right now, and then try to tell the record breaking Denver Broncos that you demand their respect. Go on, try it!
1. Denver Broncos: 5-0 (2)
One thing not in dispute in the Bronco's place on these rankings until they drop a game. Denver has been the most dominant team in the NFL this season, and pulling off that win in Dallas was huge for this team's momentum going forward. Denver has now been pushed to the brink and still found the resilience to come out on top, and it's tough to imagine anyone else getting as close to a win as Dallas did. The defense was almost nonexistent during the Dallas game, but now the only thing standing between the Broncos and the return of Von Miller is the Jaguars. Looks likes the Broncos are going to make it out of that suspension ok.
2. New Orleans Saints: 5-0 (3)
The Saints comeback story this year has been nothing short to remarkable, as almost every week they've made victory look easy by playing well on both sides of the ball. The team has two strong MVP candidates in Drew Brees and Jimmy Graham, and if not for some guy named Peyton Manning and his targets those two would be the most hyped combo in the NFL. The Saints now already hold at least a four game lead on every other team in their division, so it looks like their short vacation from division dominance is now over.
3. Kansas City Chiefs: 5-0 (5)
Speaking of great turnarounds, the Chiefs are now the first team to start 5-0 after winning only two games the previous season. This team has not dominated opponents like the Broncos or the Saints have, but Andy Reid's squad has been able to find a way to win each week of the season thus far, and that's what puts them above all other teams not named the Broncos in the AFC. The main test still to come for the Chiefs will be how they respond if teams start scoring on their defense, as Alex Smith has got to prove he can keep up with opposing offenses if need be.
4. Seattle Seahawks: 4-1 (1)
The Seahawks lost their first game of the season to the team that seems to be the NFC West's kryptonite, the Indianapolis Colts. The Seahawks just aren't the same team on the road as they are at home, and if they can't secure the top seed in the playoffs that will be a small concern come January. This time it was not the offense that had a poor outing on the road, but the team's secondary, who didn't nearly play up to their reputation. The power of the 12th man still keeps the Seahawks ahead of their opponents this week, as there's no question that the Seahawks could dominate any of the below teams at home, but they have yet to find that same spark away from home.
5. Indianapolis Colts: 4-1 (7)
Even though they were the ones to blemish the Seahawks' perfect record, the Colts stay behind the Seahawks simply because the power of the 12th man still looms in Seattle, and I don't think the Colts would have won if the game was away from Lucas Oil Stadium. That being said, the Colts were extremely impressive knocking off the Seahawks from the top spot of these rankings, as Andrew Luck led his ninth game winning drive of his career. At this point, he'll hold the record for game winning drives before he's even halfway through with his career. Luck was able to produce big plays out of what most people consider the best secondary in the NFL, and at home the Colts' own secondary was the one that played like the "Legion of Boom." The trade for Trent Richardson was a big factor as well, as Trent was able to help the Colts close out the game with a big third down run that led to a Colt field goal that put the team up by six late. The Colts may already be back to being an AFC power, and this team still has plenty of room to grow.
6. Green Bay Packers: 2-2 (6)
While not a totally impressive showing, the Packers were able to hand the Detroit Lions their first in-division loss, which should serve as a signal to the rest of the NFC North that the road to the division crown still goes through Lambeau. The Packers are not without flaws, however, as the loss of Clay Matthews for a month is going to hard to overcome, especially since Aaron Rodgers and the passing game aren't quite clicking on the level they were last year, especially when it comes to the red zone. Eddie Lacy looks like he's finally going to give this offense balance, but now Mike McCarthy needs to turn that balance into six points.
7. San Francisco 49ers: 3-2 (8)
The 49ers are now ironically in the position they were almost a year ago: a great defense and running game, with no dynamic passing game or quarterback play to speak of. Frank Gore has been leading the charge for this offense, Colin Kaepernick only completed six of 15 passes Sunday night, and if not for a long strike to Vernon Davis after a Texan defeat was all but certain, Kaepernick would have passed for under 50 yards on the night. That's a sobering statistic for a quarterback who was so highly touted coming into this year, as the explosive element Kaepernick brought to this offense is no longer there. Somewhere in Kansas City, Alex Smith is laughing right about now.
8. Cincinnati Bengals: 3-2 (10)
Well, the Bengals look just about unbeatable at home, where they're 3-0 to start the season, as their defense absolutely crushed Tom Brady and caused the man to have one of the worst games of his career. Mike Zimmer had all the answers to the future Hall of Famer, doing what no defensive coordinator could do for 52 consecutive games: stop Brady from throwing a touchdown pass. Andy Dalton and this offense still have work to do, which is sad, because with the way the defense is playing these games shouldn't even be close.
9. New England Patriots: 4-1 (4)
Just when you think Tom Brady and his receivers are starting to come together, it all comes crashing down again. It may just be that Atlanta's defense is bad enough that it can hide the flaws in opposing offenses, as Geno Smith looked like a good MVP candidate with the way he played against that defense. It sounds like Rob Gronkowski is now very close to finally making his first appearance on the field, which should hopefully put this offense back together again.
10. Baltimore Ravens: 3-2 (12)
The Ravens' defense is really starting to look scary, as Terrelle Suggs seems all the way back to defensive player of the year form, sacking Ryan Tanehill three times Sunday afternoon. New tackle Eugene Monroe will probably be seen this week, which will be good, because right now the Ravens are still struggling to run the ball. Ray Rice had a hard time finding room to run against the Dolphins, averaging less than three yards a carry even though he was fed the ball 27 times. Torrey Smith has quietly become the man in this offense, as he already has over 550 yards on the season and is averaging over 20 yards a catch.
11. Chicago Bears: 3-2 (9)
The winds of momentum have died down in the Windy City, as two straight losses has sent the Bears from a great comeback story like the Saints to just another mid-level NFL team, who is going to need to fight hard to have a shot at making the playoffs. The defense has not been forcing turnovers these past two games, and when they don't their age shows and they get marched all over. Alshon Jeffery had a big day against the Saints, and if he can force teams to not always double cover Brandon Marshall then options are going to open up for Marc Trestman's offense and the Bears might get back in business.
12. Dallas Cowboys: 2-3 (16)
The Cowboys do move up this week, even though their team only achieved a "moral victory," mainly because there weren't many moral victories to speak of for some of the teams ranked close to them. Despite Romo's bad pick this offense still looked great in the loss to Denver, and if rookie Terrance Williams can produce like he did Sunday the Cowboys won't be missing Miles Austin anytime soon. The defense was embarrassed by Peyton, but Peyton does that to a lot of team, and he was familiar with Monte Kiffin's system from his days under Tony Dungy with the Colts. Point being, even in defeat there were plenty of positives for the offense and the defense won't look that bad every week, so the Cowboys are still top dog in their division (even though that may not be saying much).
13. Miami Dolphins: 3-2 (11)
Ryan Tannehill's protection has gone from a flaw to a glaring weakness, as he was sacked six times Sudnay, and this team will struggle if he keeps taking hits. Of course, it was hard to decide whether Tannehill was more annoyed by his lack of protection of the drops by his receivers against the Ravens, as he put plenty of throws on the money that wound up on the turf. Tannehill is part of the problem too, as he holds onto the ball too long sometimes which means he's asking his lineman to hold their blocks for too long. Something needs to be devised on offense to keep Tannehill upright, no matter what it is, because right now Tannehill is spending too much time of the ground.
14. Detroit Lions: 3-2 (13)
With Calvin Johnson out and Reggie Bush limited, the Lion's offense was given a big test to show whether they can keep moving even without their two biggest names. The results were not promising. The Lions only put up nine points, never finding the end zone, on a mediocre defense, and their offensive performance was just thoroughly underwhelming. The defense tried to give this offense a chance by only allowing the Packers to reach the end zone once, but without his best receiver Matthew Stafford just didn't know who to throw the football to.
15. Tennessee Titans: 3-2 (18)
Like the Cowboys, the Titans move up despite a loss because they at least looked good in defeat, and overall they fought hard against a good Chiefs team, even without their starting quarterback. The Titans still look like a team no one should underestimate, but things aren't quite the same with Ryan Fitzpatrick under center. These Titans have plenty of spirit, and they're going to need all of it if they want to keep their season afloat while Locker tries to rehab his hip.
16. New York Jets: 3-2 (24)
Geno Smith showed some great signs of improvement Monday night against the Falcons, pushing himself into the discussion for rookie of the year, and removing any discussion on whether he should be his team's starter moving forward. Geno confidently threw the ball up and down the field, and he out iced Matty Ice for a big game winning drive that ended with a field goal as time expired. Rex Ryan's defense had a little bit of trouble taking down the Falcon offense, but a key turnover in the game led to a Jets score and the defense was able to prevent points by stuffing the Falcons on 4th and one as time expired in the first half. If either one of those things doesn't happen, the Jets probably are out of this game.
17. Cleveland Browns: 3-2 (20)
Cleveland will get to enjoy their brief moment in the sun here, as starting next week things are going ot get hairy for the average Browns' fan. Brian Hoyer is out for the year, and Brandon Weeden is back in at starter even though most people thought he may never see the field again for this team. There's going to be a lot more pressure of Weeden now that his running back is gone, but with his chemistry with receiver Josh Gordon looking still intact, it's possible he can still guide this team to an average record the rest of the season.
18. Arizona Cardinals: 3-2 (23)
Through five games, the Arizona Cardinals have a winning record and are tied for second place in their division. That's something you don't expect to hear every day. This defense has continued to be outstanding even without defensive coordinator Ray Horton, dismantling Cam Newton and the Carolina attack Sunday. Offensive problems continue to persist though, as Carson Palmer has thrown an interception in every regular season game so far. Palmer is looking how plenty of us thought he would look: like a veteran stopgag who is in no way Arizona's future at the position.
19. San Diego Chargers: 2-3 (14)
The Chargers played late Sunday night because of baseball playoffs, but while you were sleeping they managed to lose on the road to the Raiders. Philip Rivers had another prolific passing day, going for over 400 yards, but this time those yards were accompanied by turnovers, as Rivers was picked three different times. The game also featured some curious decision making by the coaches, as they tried running on the goal line with Danny Woodhead, but predictably the small back got nowhere near the end zone. Don't over think it next time, Mike McCoy.
20. Houston Texans: 2-3 (17)
The Texans suffered a full on offensive meltdown Sunday night, courtesy of quarterback Matt Schaub's lack of confidence in himself, which is causing him to over think the simplest of routes. The Texans' defense is still a powerful unit, but the quarterback play clearly brought the rest of the team down as the team didn't show much faith in Schaub's abilities. Whether Schaub will remain the starter on this team for very long remains to be seen, but if he doesn't bounce back someone should be able to take hold of his job. The talent on this team is too good to not be able to.
21. Atlanta Falcons: 1-4 (15)
It's been a rough year at the Georgia Dome already, and the fun has only started. Dates with the Packers, Saints, 49ers and Seahawks still loom for this team, and the playoffs are starting to look like a pipe dream. Julio Jones is now lost for the season, and Roddy White is going to start missing time for injuries too, meaning Tony Gonzalez is the only one of the four big pieces around Matt Ryan that remain intact (the other being Steven Jackson). Without those guys, this offense isn't bad, but it isn't any great shakes either. The defense, on the other hand, has been atrocious so far this season, as teams have been having no problem moving down the field. Before the season started you would take the Falcons in a shootout over just about any team. Now they're in a shootout every week but lack the firepower to deal a winning blow.
22. Oakland Raiders: 2-3 (31)
Just when you thought the Terrelle Pryor train might be hitting the brakes in Oakland, the guy goes out and lights it up, and Josh Freeman goes to look for work somewhere else. The difference in ability from Pryor to Matt Flynn was paramount Sunday night, as this team knows which guy gives them a better chance to win. Future Hall of Famer Charles Woodson was out showing why he chose to return to Oakland during the offseason, scoring the 13th defensive touchdown of his career and leading a unit that has been very underrated through the first weeks of the season. It's nothing great, but the Raiders are far from the dumpster fire many people (like me) were expecting.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: 2-3 (27)
Michael Vick out, Nick Foles in, at least for now. Foles obviously doesn't bring the legs Vick does to the equation, but if Foles can make quick decisions and avoid turnovers this offense is going to like having him under center, just like they seemed to when he was in the Giants' game. Despite all of this team's struggles they are now at the top of this division with Dallas, and if Chip Kelly can figure out a way to go Peyton on Big D's defense with his offense the Eagles may still have a shot at pulling in front of the NFC East. Chip Kelly might stick around this league yet.
24. St. Louis Rams: 2-3 (25)
The Rams move up one spot this week for beating the Jaguars, not exactly flashy, but a win's a win. The defense for this team is still underperforming expectations though, as teams have been able to run right up the middle on this front for good chunks of yards. Tavon Austin has not looked worth of the 8th overall pick so far either, as he's finding it difficult to separate from defenders at the NFL level. It's tough to say what exactly happened over in St. Louis, but plenty of the talent has just not developed as expected, and changes to the coaching staff may have to come soon.
25. Minnesota Vikings: 1-3 (22)
The Vikings drop a few spots even though they were on a bye week, simply because some teams below them had some great games and the teams that fell didn't fall hard enough to land behind them. The big question for this team going forward is how Josh Freeman is going to end up falling into the organization's plans, whether he ends up being just a one year rental or the long term guy at the position. Of course, how he plays this year might not even matter because of how porous the defense has been, but if Leslie Fraizer was able to rally the troops during the bye the Vikings should be able to go on a run coming up on an easy part of their schedule.
26. Washington Redskins: 1-3 (26)
The Redskins also had some time off this past week, and now they're going to be pressed back into action just in time for a match-up with their big rival, the Dallas Cowboys. Redskins' fans have to be hoping that a week of extra rest has helped out RGIII's knee, as he's going to need to be on top of his game if he wants to go point for point with Tony Romo. The Redskins' secondary hasn't stopped anyone so far this year, but they're going to need to step it up if Washington wants to take back this division. If only they could intercept the Cowboys near the end of the game...but like that ever happens.
27. Buffalo Bills: 2-3 (21)
The Bills take a pretty steep drop in the rankings because of the injury to their young quarterback, EJ Manuel, who now may be out six to eight weeks of the regular season. Behind him, the Bills have almost no depth, and they may be forced to start a guy who was on their practice squad for almost half of the season. Optimism was once so high for a team that had been stuck in a rut for over a decade, but this latest setback could lead to another lost season up in Buffalo.
28. Carolina Panthers: 1-3 (19)
The Panthers used to be near the bottom of these rankings, but then they came alive against the Giants. After that, they took their bye, and this offense lost all of the momentum it had gained from the win. Cam Newton has been inaccurate and mistake prone, but he's also been under pretty heavy pressure and has few weapons to work with. There's little to like about this offense, plain and simple. The defense is still pretty good, except in the secondary, but Ron Rivera might actually be relieved to be forced out of a job here, because it doesn't look like this team is going anywhere soon.
29. Pittsburgh Steelers: 0-4 (28)
The Steelers took their week off after their voyage to London, and with the age on that defense, some of their players may have already needed a break. Rest should help key pieces of the offense like Heath Miller and Leveon Bell heal up, but in the end, you can't heal bad talent, and that's exactly what the Steelers have on their offensive line. The defense still has no takeaways, and at this point that entire side of the ball might need an overhaul, or at least a few young bodies to liven things up.
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 0-4 (30)
Well Greg Schiano, you got your wish, Josh Freeman has flown the coup. So now what? Well, I guess Mike Glennon is going to start, but if I'm in that locker room I have no idea what he does that we didn't already have in Freeman, you know, that guy you ran out of town. I have a good feeling Schiano's going to be back in college before Freeman loses a starting job in the NFL. Karma hurts sometimes.
31. New York Giants: 0-5 (29)
Hey, remember that team that won the Super Bowl two years ago? How did they disappear so fast! The coaching staff is the same, almost all of the key players are the same, so how did everything nosedive so fast? The pass rush, once the pride of the organization, can't get to anybody anymore, as they have only five sacks the entire season. Osi Umenyiora, the guy they let go in free agency, has four already by himself with the Falcons. This offensive line and running game are still doing nothing, and Eli is taking it upon himself to be the hero and go big with deep passes....that just wind up in the hands of the other team. By next offseason, I have a feeling "fix Eli Manning," is going to be the new catchphrase.
32. Jacksonville Jaguars: 0-5 (32)
Can you really be mad at Denver for putting up stats on twitter, Jaguars? The Broncos post wasn't the classiest move, but it was accurate. If you want to complain, first take a look at the mess of an organization you've got running right now, and then try to tell the record breaking Denver Broncos that you demand their respect. Go on, try it!
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
NFL Week 5 Tuesday Whip-Around: Tony Romo needs a hug
Even though the Vikings weren't playing this week, there was plenty to see week 5 in the NFL, most notably a Texas shootout between Peyton Manning and Tony Romo. The crazy thing, Romo won the battle with Peyton, but his team lost the war, and the game. Romo's numbers were better than Peyton's, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise, as he threw for over 500 yards on just 36 attempts and 25 completions (so an average of over 20 yards per completion). Romo's usual naysayers will point to the fact that he threw a late interception, as seems to be his norm in close games, but Peyton threw an interception earlier in the game (his first of the year, proving he's still semi-human) that Romo took back for a score. Peyton is still the MVP through week five, but Romo has to be one of the top runner ups right now.
Browns 37, Bills 24
Saints 26, Bears 18
Bengals 13, Patriots 6
Packers 22, Lions 9
Colts 34, Seahawks 28
Ravens 26, Dolphins 23
Eagles 36, Giants 21
Rams 34, Jaguars 20
Chiefs 26, Titans 17
Cardinals 22, Panthers 6
Broncos 51, Cowboys 48
49ers 34, Texans 3
Raiders 27, Chargers 17
Browns 37, Bills 24
- Both starting quarterbacks suffered knee injuries while scrambling Thrusday, though EJ Manuel was luckier in that he won't be missing the rest of the season. Get out of bounds folks, it's the only way.
- Wide receiver Josh Gordon's return from suspension has been a big a lift to the Browns' offense as Brian Hoyer starting. With Hoyer out the rest of the year, it's going to need to stay that way.
- Undrafted rookie Jeff Tuel was pressed into surface after Manuel went down, and performed like an undrafted rookie. Now Buffalo is activating someone from their practice squad to start for them. You let Travaris Jackson go in the offseason Buffalo, any regrets?
Saints 26, Bears 18
- Rob Ryan blitzed the Bears into submission, as there were plenty of looks the Bears' young offensive line just wasn't ready for.
- Jimmy Graham might be an even bigger MVP candidate than his quarterback, Drew Brees. Graham has been simply uncoverable for five weeks now.
- The Bears' have to excited with what they're seeing from Alshon Jeffery and his development. On a day when the Saints bracketed Brandon Marshall most of the time, Jeffery took advantage for 10 catches and 218 yards.
Bengals 13, Patriots 6
- A big step back for this offense and Brady, who was so close to breaking Drew Brees' record of consecutive games with a touchdown pass. Brady hasn't received nearly the amount of publicity he should have for that streak, as like Brees he broke Unitas' record of 47 straight games, which was thought to be one of the most unbreakable records in the NFL.
- The Bengals' defensive line shut down any sort of Patriot attack, putting the offense on its back and carrying it to the W.
- Andy Dalton was much better this week, but a bad interception thrown across his body will do nothing to silence his critics.
Packers 22, Lions 9
- The Lions' offense without Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush isn't pretty. In fact, it's pretty darn ugly.
- The Packers chose an interesting offensive strategy by trying to win up front against the Lions' tough defensive line, running Eddie Lacy 23 times.
- The offensive balance that Packers achieved helped open things up for Aaron Rodgers, who found some big openings in the second half.
Colts 34, Seahawks 28
- Andrew Luck has done it again, getting game winning drive number nine of his career against the NFL's best secondary.
- Receiver TY Hilton feasted on cornerback Richard Sherman of all people, catching two beautiful deep balls for touchdowns in the middle of a five catch, 140 yard day.
- The Seahawks had their ground game churning, as Russel Wilson and Marshawn Lynch each had 102 yards, but their passing game isn't quite clicking yet (Wilson completed only 15 of 31 passes).
Ravens 26, Dolphins 23
- Rough day for Ryan Tannehill. He was sacked six times and his receivers were letting balls go right through their hands. The young quarterback had to be frustrated.
- Terrelle Suggs was in on three sacks of Tanehill. His body has clearly healed from the Achilles tear he suffered last year, even if his brain may need some work (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1keH8KNKTM).
- Instead of giving him only five carries like last week, the Ravens decided to overcompensate and give Ray Rice 27 carries. Rice is still dealing with a hip injury and a bad offensive line, so all those carries only went for 74 yards (2.7 yards per carry).
Eagles 36, Giants 21
- Michael Vick was injured in this game, to the surprise of nobody, meaning Nick Foles may have a chance to prove he's the better (and safer) option for Chip Kelly.
- Eli Manning was having a good day coming into the 4th quarter, but then one thing went wrong and everything collapsed. It's frightening how inept this team has been this year.
- The Eagles and now in first place in the NFC East with a losing record. It's very possible that we could see a division winner here with a losing record, like the 2010 7-9 Seahawks.
Rams 34, Jaguars 20
- The loss of left tackle Luke Joeckel is huge for the Jaguars, right after they traded Eugene Monroe to the Ravens. Does Ozzie do take-backs?
- Blaine Gabbert may finally be done in Jacksonville after play horribly and getting injured. It's amazing Gabbert was a starter in this league longer than Christian Ponder.
- The Rams can't get that excited over the win (it is the Jaguars, after all) but new starting running back Zac Stacy did have a nice day, taking 14 carries for 78 yards.
Chiefs 26, Titans 17
- Ryan Fitzpatrick just isn't Jake Locker (or at least, 2013 Jake Locker), as he wasn't able to bring this team back in this game late.
- Alex Smith wasn't exactly impressive in this game either, as he continues to have a low numbers of yards per attempt and relies a lot on his defense to put him in favorable spots.
- The Chiefs are the 1st team to only win two games one year and then start 5-0 the next. The Chiefs are on a roll, and outside on facing Denver twice, their schedule isn't getting any tougher.
Cardinals 22, Panthers 6
- Carolina is already checking out potential head coaches, so don't let the door hit you on the way out, Ron Rivera.
- When the Panthers get a new coach, will that coach want Cam Newton as their starting quarterback? Newton has plenty of talent but he can turn in clunkers like this game and he still isn't producing wins.
- This win belongs to the Cardinal defense. With seven sacks, three interceptions and a safety, the defense on this team is why they have a winning record.
Broncos 51, Cowboys 48
- WHAT. A. GAME. Good luck topping this one, other NFL teams.
- Tony Romo needs a hug right now. The man had the best game of his NFL career and put had one of the best quarterback performances of my lifetime, but it'll all get swept away by that late pick.
- What record won't Peyton Manning break this season?
49ers 34, Texans 3
- Speaking of people who need hugs: Matt Schaub. Schaub is at the lowest of lows right now, but TJ Yates isn't a better option.
- Colin Kaepernick completed only six passes Sunday, so while the 49ers have been winning their passing game still has no life.
- Was the 49ers defense that good or was Matt Schaub that bad? Probably more the latter, but still a good showing for them without Patrick Willis or Aldon Smith.
Raiders 27, Chargers 17
- Running with Danny Woodhead on the goal line? You're better than this, Mike McCoy.
- Charles Woodson still knows how to ball, scoring his 13th defensive score (tied for an NFL record) and picking off Philip Rivers to seal the game.
- Josh Freeman was reportedly considering signing with Oakland Sunday night to compete with Terrelle Pryor for the starting job there. Think what he saw from Pryor Sunday caused him to choose the Vikings?
Jets 30, Falcons 28
- Monday night was GOOD Geno Smith. He went 16/20 for 199 yards and three touchdowns, but most importantly, he didn't turn the ball over for the first time in his career.
- This Falcon defense is bad....so bad. No one can cover and Osi Umenyiora is the only one applying pressure right now.
- Sheldon Richardson is Kiko Alonso's main competition for Defensive Rookie of the Year, as he's been extremely disruptive in Rex Ryan's front, and even came in as an extra blocker on one of Geno's touchdowns.
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