Up
1. The New England Patriots - They clinched the AFC East title and home field advantage throughout the playoffs, where Brady has only lost once since '06 (playoffs vs. Balt last year). Oh yeah, Tom Brady has the longest streak ever without an interception. Can you say Superbowl favorites?
2. LeGarrette Blount - This kid has come a long way since he was suspended for punching a Boise State player at the end of their season opening game in 2009. After going undrafted (which I will never understand), he now has 941 rushing yards in his rookie season after dropping a cool 164 today. And if you watch him play, he's even that much more impressive. Blount will eclipse the 1,000 yard barrier next week, a fantastic accomplishment for a rookie, and should be a big time back in this league for years. The Bucs got themselves a steal with this guy. And hey, how about his teammate...
3. Josh Freeman - Two Buccaneers make this list on a day they probably lost any chance to make the playoffs, but the accolades are deserved. Freeman threw for 5 TD's today... 5. His TD-Int ratio is now 23-6 as a second year QB. With Matt Stafford making himself cozy on the trainer's table the past two years and Mark Sanchez's inconsistencies, it's looking like the guy who was drafted third of this group may just be the best of the bunch. Kid has a CANNON for an arm and now we're seeing there's a smart head on his shoulders too.
4. Aaron Rodgers - He put the concussion issues aside to get the Packer's back on the brink of making the playoffs in a big home win vs. the New York Giants. And I bet no other playoff team in the NFC wanted to see the Packers win today. They are going to be a tough out in the playoffs even as a road team. With superstars Woodson and Matthews on the same side of the ball as the suddenly spectacular duo of BJ Raji and Tramon Williams, who are playing at All-Pro levels, and Rodgers at QB, this team could easily be headed to Dallas.
5. The Kansas City Chiefs - Congratulations Todd Haley. No one picked the Chiefs to take beat the Chargers for the AFC West this year and I have to give credit where it's due. Matt Cassel is a top 10 Quarterback in the NFL. Despite missing a game with an appendectomy, his TD-Int ratio is 27-5 after today's stomping of the Titans. Jamal Charles and Dwayne Bowe are as dynamic as anyone at their respective positions, and Romeo Crennel has the defensive playing inspired. As a Jets fan, I'm not looking forward to my team going into Arrowhead in the Wildcard Round because these Chiefs are for real.
Honorable mention: Tim Tebow - If Denver didn't win only its 4th game of the season today, Tebow would probably have made the top 5. But if you asked me before today if I ever thought Tebow would pass for 300 yards in his career, I would have laughed at you. Well it only took two career starts for him to reach that milestone, and I, for one, am quite impressed. The way he lead the Bronco's back from a 17-0 halftime deficit today was admirable, and maybe... just maybe... Tim Tebow could be a decent NFL QB (but I still doubt it).
Down
1. Rex Ryan - You wanted to lead the league in fucking wins, and after 11 weeks it seemed possible, but now the Jets are lucky to just be limping into the playoffs. With a tough road ahead of them, if they want to back up the Superbowl talk we've heard all year Rex is going to have to figure some things out... and quickly. It'd be one thing if the Jets were losing well played games, and yes, their offense today exceeded everyone's expectations by scoring 34 points on a very good Bears D, but how can you let your "vaunted" defense allow 38 points to Jay Cutler & Co. in late December at Solider Field? The Bears Jets game today had the lowest Over/Under total of any week 16 game according to Vegas (36), and the Bears alone were able to cover that number. Don't let the zero interceptions fool you, Darrelle Revis is the best defensive player in the NFL again this year, but the embarrassing pass rush that the Jets demonstrate every week looks like it will hold them back from achieving their ultimate goal of a championship unless Rex can work his magic (feet) on this team. Here's a stat that will make Jets fans cringe. Last year, the defense let up 8 passing TD's all season. This year, they've already allowed 24.
2. Chad Henne - Chad Henne is not the future of the Miami Dolphins. Henne's numbers are often decent in the box score, and he has over 3,000 yards already despite missing a few games, but the consistently poor decision making is too much to overcome. Today was the prime example of this. With under 4 minutes left, the Dolphins lead 27-24 and had the ball inside their own 20. On 3rd and short, with a chance to essentially ice the game with a first down, Henne was told to pass (questionable call by Sporano to begin with, but they were going for the dagger vs. the Lions) and he threw an ugly interception. YOU CAN'T DO THAT! If no one is open in that situation, cut your losses, throw it away, have your punter boot it, and play defense. So the Lions took over and kicked the game tying field goal with 2:49 left. After kicking the ball back to Miami, Henne and company took over on their own 20 with a chance for the QB to redeem himself with a late game winning drive. To no one's surprise (except maybe idealistic Dolphin's fans), on the third play of the drive Henne threw ANOTHER interception, and this time Deandre Levy took it back 30 yards to paydirt for the score and the Lions lead 34-27. As if that weren't enough, Henne had yet another chance to bring his team back and tie the game. After a series of decent plays, the 'Phins were on the Lions 28 yard line with 19 seconds left and no time outs, so what does Chad Henne do? Take a shot in the end zone maybe? No. He throws a pass in the center of the field to Ronnie Brown for no gain, and the clock ticked away to zero as the Lions celebrated a great comeback win. Chad Henne, I have one thing to say to you. YEAH RIGHT!!!
3. Tom Coughlin - Can you say fired? Going into the fourth quarter one week ago, Coughlin looked like a genius. They were up 31-10 against the bitter rival Eagles and headed for an NFC East Championship. Fastforward one week and all the screws have come lose as the Giants seem destined to fall short of the playoffs. Trust me, I am the first person to blame Eli Manning for everything bad that happens to the Giants and Eli certainly played poorly today, but the big problem with the G-men right now is their attitude, and that comes from the Head Coach. The Packer's are a tough team to beat, especially at Lambeau, but you'd think that with the season on the line in essentially a playoff game, the Giants could have done a little better than 45-17. Well they didn't and Coughlin looks like he will take the blame in the form of losing his job. Is it Cowher time for NYG?
4. Norv Turner - Another coach who may have sealed his fate on Sunday, Turner and his Chargers laid an egg in Cincinnati en route to ending any playoff hopes they had yet. The Bengals, a team that no one fears this year, took a lead on the Chargers early and never looked back. I'll tell you what, the Chargers have one of the most talented rosters in the NFL and Phil Rivers is as good as any QB in this league, but they cannot afford to get off to 1-5 starts every season and live to tell about it. Last year they got away with it, this year... not so much. And now Norv Turner will have to wait his turn in the unemployment line because he doesn't realize the season starts before November.
5. Anyone in Philly who had tickets to watch their team clinch the NFC East tonight and now can't make it to the game on Tuesday - So I thought the NFL still played games in the snow? I guess not. According to the NFL, they were concerned that 70,000 fans and 3,000 stadium employees would be stranded in the stadium after the game was over. I doubt this would have happened, but hey, I'm no meteorologist. Now the NFL has the first game on a Tuesday since the New York Giants played the Boston Yanks in 1946, but more importantly my fantasy football championship won't be settled for two more days. These extra 48 hours will without a doubt be excruciating. Thanks Mr. Goodell!
No comments:
Post a Comment