Week Two-First Victory In The Book For The Browns

Can one person make that much difference in a way a team succeeds? If your name is Peyton Manning, apparently it does. The Browns were able to get on the road of victory after taking advantage of that fact. The Steelers beat up on a what-a-difference-a-year-makes 0-2 Seahawks. The Lions and Bills happily maintain their winning ways. New England, Green Bay, and New Orleans continue to offend or is it, continue to be offensive. There were some blowouts and there were some close ones. All-in-all it was a good weekend of football.

In one recent article by a certain sports website, the Browns were referred to as a "below-average team". Well, the below-average Browns walked away from Indy with a win with the help of Peyton Hillis. Hillis ran for 94 solid yards and two touchdowns. Colt McCoy had just an ok day throwing for 211 yards and one touchdown. The Brown's defense was more alert for this one and it was Reggie Wayne who got caught taking a nap on a third down interception by Usama Young.

On the negative side, the Browns had a serious case of the muffs, but fortunately only lost one of them. The offense is still missing that crucial piece of the puzzle called a premier wide receiver. I am still at a loss as to why Joshua Cribbs is not being used more as a wide receiver. Are they afraid he might get hurt or something?

Going against Miami this weekend, the Browns can prove they are more than just a below-average team. Colt McCoy has an opportunity here to have a greater impact with a Miami defense that is 30th against the pass, but that rating may be slightly deceiving since New England racked up huge passing yardage against them in the first game. No doubt the Browns will also try to test the waters of a weak-on-the-run Miami defense and establish the run game early with Hillis. It is definately a plus the Browns are playing at home on top of it.

All this having been said, Miami will not be a push over after losing their first two games. Chad Henne was superb against New England, but abysmal against Houston. It depends on what Henne will show up.

Week 1 of 2011-12 NFL Season Is Set To Kickoff

What did the final preseason game for the Browns reveal? Absolutely nothing. Now, it's showtime. The Browns will open the season against the Bengals, a division rival. It's an opportunity for Cleveland to make a statement, that they are here to play and here to stay. This weeks opening schedule to kickoff the season matches up teams who will be hotly contesting rivals. It almost looks like the playoffs are already beginning. You have New Orleans at Green Bay, Pittsburgh at Baltimore, Indianapolis at Houston, Minnestoa at San Diego, and Dallas at NY Jets. Well, maybe alittle like the playoffs.

No Brett Favre and no Peyton Manning to open the season. It just won't be the same. Indianapolis will be without Manning for the first time in 13 years. Kerry Collins will be taking the snaps against division rival Houston, who by the way are heavily favored to be the AFC South winners. Peyton Manning, being the competitive person he is, relishes that revelation like a horse fly on a fishing trip that just won't leave you alone and you can't get rid of, unless you kill it. If Collins is unable to pull off a Manning, Houston should take this one.

Green Bay and New Orleans are also heavily favored to take there divisions, and going a step further, popular choices to be facing each other in the Stuper Bowl. By the way, that is not a typo. Alot can happen between now and then and NFL predictions are like hurricane forecasts, they have an idea where it may go, but until it goes there, its anybody's guess. Green Bay should top out New Orleans in the opener.

Now we come to Pittsburgh at Baltimore. It's getting pretty tiresome seeing these two teams in the playoffs year after year and the predictions aren't helping any. Hopefully, in this season opener, the two of them will knock each other seriously silly so neither of them will be able to recover to their full senses in time for the seasons ending. Since that is highly unlikely, Cleveland and Colt McCoy are going to have to help us with this one and that would be a welcome change. I am giving the edge to Baltimore, only because it is a home game.

San Diego, no hands down, is picked to be the winner of their division, but like so many times before, that is where it ends for them. Minnesota doesn't figure into the final analysis even though Donavan McNabb is taking the snaps for them this year. They still look like last years team, just different quarterbacks. Philip Rivers and the Chargers should win the opener.

The teams that may surprise this year are the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions. Just a footnote out of history: They were the two teams that took their divisions with a losing record in the strike shortened season of 1982. Well, there was a strike this year, but happily all parties settled and the NFL is ready to play a complete schedule. Let us flip flop that idea. Maybe, these two teams will take their divisions with a losing record in a full season. Why not, Seattle did it last year. The Browns need a wide receiver, like Joshua Cribbs for example, to step up and they will be complete. Honest, I am not drinking any achoholic beverages as I am writing this piece. I am going to throw the Buffalo Bills in for good measure.

Finally, these are only some of the predictions found on Fox Sports. Other commentators heavily favor the New England Patriots as the Super Bowl Champions when all is said and done and that probably makes alot of people wish for a strike. No-Show Cinco and Bill Belichick are an unlikely fit in my books and if Moss decides to join the Patriots, watch out, No-show will be acting like an out of control brat if he doesn't get all the attention.

Week 13 NFL Picks-The Best Is Yet To Come

What a week in NFL football. One player should have kept on running into the stadium tunnel and out the gates and one official should have lost himself in the crowd. The player was Buffalo Bills wide receiver Steve Johnson verses the Steelers. A perfectly executed pass in overtime landed right into his hands in the end zone and he dropped it. One of those defining moments when a thin line separates you from being a  hero or a goat. As quickly as the ball slipped through his hands so to the game for the Bills. An official missed an obvious pass interference on Reggie Wayne that ended up with Wayne on the ground and Eric Weddle of the Chargers running 41 yards with a pick into the end zone. Mistakes like that by officials definately impact the final outcome of a game. Alright, you could argue Indy was being manhandled by the Chargers, but at that juncture in the game it was still only 19-14 and who knows what could have happened with the proper call and the Colts having a fresh set of downs at midfield.

Week 12 is now in the books and I was 9-7. New Orleans is at Cincinnati and an easy call, unless the Bengals finally play to the potential that was expected of them. Roll on Big O's, Cincinnati's stars of Follywood. Chicago is firing on all cylinders. Detroits spark plugs are a bit fouled causing them to stall out at crucial moments. Still, the Bears can't allow themselves to get caught napping at the wheel because the Lions could suddenly surge unexpectedly. Buffalo is visiting Minnesota. The Bills are the hard luck team of the season. The dropped pass in the end against the Steelers in overtime epitomized that foregone conclusion. I give the edge to the Vikings only because it is a home game.

There are quite a few games of interest this week. Washington is at NY Giants. The Giants need a win to stay in contention with Philadelphia. The Giants defense is up to the challenge, but their offense needs to avoid making the game altering mistakes it has been prone to commit. Dallas is at Indianapolis. Dallas has vastly improved themselves and Indianapolis has been trying to overcome critical injuries in their running and passing attack. The frustration is written all over Manning's face. It's a must win for the Colts. Pittsburgh is at Baltimore. The Steelers showed their vulnerability against Buffalo. This game will be a fierce battle for the number one spot in the AFC North. The NY Jets at New England game will be a fight for dominance in the AFC East. The Jets have been fortunate for a good part of the season. They will need a heavy dose of fortunate against the Patriots because they are outmatched by the Brady machine. The Patriots defense will need to keep Ladanian Tomlinson in check and cover Santonio Holmes like a blanket in the final minutes.

Finally, Cleveland travels to Miami. Jake Delhomme will start for the Browns. Delhomme looked steady in the first half against the Panthers last week and then briefly lost it at the start of the second. Jake does not have a pass with alot of zip. He needs to stay away from trying to slip passes into close coverage or lofting it towards the sidelines. Peyton Hillis should get the ball often giving Cleveland a balanced attack and opening up opportunities for Jake to take advantage of. Miami is not the Panthers and are a formidable foe. The Jets strong spot, pass defense, will be matched against the Browns weak spot, pass offense. The Jets key to victory will be controlling Hillis. Good luck with that one Miami and hope to see more of Joshua Cribbs.

 

THU, DEC 2 TIME (ET)

Houston 20 at Philadelphia 28 8:20 PM NFL W 

Lincoln Financial Field

SUN, DEC 5 TIME (ET)

New Orleans 27 at Cincinnati 18 1:00 PM FOX W

Paul Brown Stadium

Chicago 24 at Detroit 23 1:00 PM FOX W 

Ford Field

San Francisco 17 at Green Bay 24 1:00 PM FOX W 

Travel Lambeau Field

Jacksonville 23 at Tennessee 15 1:00 PM CBS W

LP Field

Denver 20 at Kansas City 23 1:00 PM CBS W

Arrowhead Stadium

Cleveland 27 at Miami 24 1:00 PM CBS W 

Sun Life Stadium

Buffalo 20 at Minnesota 21 1:00 PM CBS W

Travel Mall of America Field

Washington 24 at NY Giants 27 1:00 PM FOX W

New Meadowlands Stadium

Oakland 21 at San Diego 28 4:05 PM CBS L 

Qualcomm Stadium

Carolina 18 at Seattle 24 4:15 PM FOX W 

Qwest Field

Atlanta 24 at Tampa Bay 20 4:15 PM FOX W 

Raymond James Stadium

St. Louis 20 at Arizona 23 4:15 PM FOX L

U of Phoenix Stadium

Dallas 20 at Indianapolis 34 4:15 PM FOX L

Lucas Oil Stadium

Pittsburgh 23 at Baltimore 24 8:20 PM NBC L 

M&T Bank Stadium

MON, DEC 6 TIME (ET)

NY Jets 20 at New England 33 8:30 PM W 

Gillette Stadium

Superbowl XLIV-And The Winner Is?

It is time to make the final pick of the NFL season. The scene is Miami, the place-Sun Life Stadium, the event-Superbowl XLIV, the opponents-Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints. Whodat you say? Yah, that's right, and unless your living under a tree in a remote jungle I'm not informing you about something you don't already know. Not alot can be said about tomorrow's game that hasn't already been said. The statistical configurations have all been calculated and the comparisons have been assessed. What's left now neither calculators nor stat sheets can measure. All that matters is what comes from inside, gives this happening breath and life, causes the pulse to quicken and the adrenalin to flow. The thing that causes individuals to reach beyond their physical boundaries and fly.

Peyton Manning possesses it. All you need to do is observe Manning in action. His demeanor, his expressions all exude this thing I am talking about. When he approaches the line of scrimmage after breaking the huddle you can see the determination in his body language as he reads the defense. As a commander he makes the necessary adjustments and positions his troops. There is no hesitation once he is set and without pause zeros in on his target. You know how things are going because you see it in his face. You see the disappointment when he fails to execute a third down, the dissatisfaction when the offense settles for a field goal, and when in a dog fight the complete focus on matching blow for blow until an edge can be exploited. When on the sidelines waiting for his next shot, the wheels continue to turn in his mind, never breaking his concentration.

Drew Brees possesses it. Brees has quietly gone about his business for years now and finally, deservedly reached the goal. He has piled up the yardage and has one of the best pass completion percentages of quarterbacks. His presence on the field inspires his teammates and the fans. When things break down on the line and the pressure is felt, his determination to find an open receiver is relentless and more times than not he will find that one receiver. His exibits the quiet, patient kind of reflection as he sits on the sidelines waiting his turn with the ball, kind of like a cat waiting and at the right moment springing into action onto its prey.

The Indianapolis Colts have already been to the Superbowl, so their fans know what they want to see. This is the first time for the New Orleans Saints and their fans emotions equal their expectations. Based on that perspective, I would give the edge to the Saints, but that won't be enough. Peyton Manning is a proven winner with a heart to match. Drew Brees is an equal in many ways. It is a tough call. I give the edge to Peyton Manning in that he is a consistent winner, always has been, and will be considered in the books and in hearts one of the best quarterbacks to have played the game.

 

SUN, FEB 7 TIME (ET) 6:25 PM CBS

New Orleans 25 at Indianapolis 30 Tickets

Sun Life Stadium

Indianapolis Colts-An Offense Built For The Superbowl

Superbowl XLIV is nearly upon us. There are high hopes it will be an entertaining Superbowl. Whether it will match last years down to the last minute, edge of your seat excitement remains to be seen. This years opponents, the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints with their high octane offenses, have that potential. It is the Saints first trip to the big event, for Manning and company it is old hat.

Peyton Manning is a dying breed of quarterbacks. He is the quarterback's quarterback whose sole job is to manage the offense, hand the ball off when planned, and drop back to methodically pick the opposing teams secondary apart by pre-arranged schemes, but at the same time be capable of improvising while dodging 300 pound-plus missiles when it becomes necessary. He is part of a group of quarterbacks who can be compared to the dinosaurs, an extinct creature who has seen its day, but fascinates us when we see them brought to life in the movies through our modern technology. The future of quarterbacks is in transition. This year we saw more teams utilize the running back in the quarterback position with the option to run or pass, but you don't see any of those teams in the Superbowl do you. This Sunday you will be watching a living dinosaur at the apex of his supremacy.

That being said, Manning has a great supporting cast. He has a line that is not equaled by any other. Manning is the most protected quarterback in the game. The Colts offensive line have done their duty well in protecting the most valuable asset on the field and without complaint. When a game is done and victory is in hand do the cameras and microphones hurry over to congragulate them and ask them about the defining moments of the game? Do they get to bask in the glory and receive the accolades? Perhaps, that is the way they prefer it, a group of men who go about their business unpretentiously.

Manning also has a core of receivers perfectly matched to his talents. Dallas Clark is a bulldog who punishes a secondary after the catch and also possesses the finesse to find the open spot where a pass can be dropped into. The name Peyton Manning cannot be spoken without Reggie Wayne being in there somewhere. They have been a tandem for a long time and are like a well rehearsed, perfectly blended symphony. Garcon and Collie are the newest kids on the block. They have gotten a fair share of the 33 touchdowns Manning has thrown this year. Joseph Addai had only 3 reception touchdowns, but all successful offenses are complimented by a good running attack and Addai supplies that necessary element.

Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts are made for the Superbowl. They have proven their worthiness to participate in the finale of the 2010 NFL football season with a 14-2 record and two playoff games won. The question now remains whether the New Orleans Saints defense will be up to the task of facing off with one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL.

Superbowl XLIV-The Final Week Leading Up To The Big Game

The long awaited prestigious football event of the season is just a week away, but the real pulse elevating excitement will not begin until we are past the Pro Bowl tomorrow. The Pro Bowl interestingly is being played at the same stadium as the Superbowl, Sun Life Stadium in South Florida. In my opinion and it is just my opinion, the Pro Bowl means more to the players than it does to football fans who patiently wait out the two week interim between the Conference Championships and Superbowl. A mild distraction from all the hype and hoopla that will finally reach a climax at 6:00 pm, Feb. 7th. This is just my take on things and the way it is for me. You may or may not agree.

Plans are no doubt already in place for the big game. Gathering places have been selected, invitations have gone out, party favorites and beverages have been decided upon. The usual pre-game banter and smack has already started with a few high fives thrown in. As the coming final week passes your mind will be massaged and manipulated by all the videos and football talk. You will get into a few friendly disagreements with friends, co-workers, and even family as to who is the best.

Sunday morning finally arrives. The pre-game warmups begin. Everyone who is someone will give their analysis on what to expect from their point of view. A mountain of statistics will be spilled out onto the table, some of which will leave you bewildered and wondering about its relevance, such as Peyton Manning throws more touchdown passes in afternoon games than night games or Dallas Clark catches more passes when he stands on the sidelines as opposed to sitting on the bench. Well, you get the picture. The afternoon will drag on until 6:00 PM finally arrives, more talk.

Already you are somewhat weary of all the talk and now comes the introductions of the teams and players, more talk. The captains of each team stroll out onto the field and the coin toss takes place, more talk. The official shows them the coin and tosses it into the air, more talk. Who will receive the ball first is decided upon and the two teams take their positions, more talk. Finally, the kick and the game is underway. Give me another beer and pass me the potato chips.

I'm not going to throw a bunch of statistics at you because after it is all said and done they are worthless. Just look at the past Minnesota Viking and New Orleans Saints game. The Vikings dominated statistically in everyway possible and it all came down to one tiny split second decision by Brett Favre to throw the ball into the flow of the defense instead of running with it. We call that the human factor. It is what personlizes the game for us and why we love it.

They are advertising this game to be a high scoring shootout and with Peyton Manning and Drew Brees the opposing quarterbacks the potential is certainly in the mix. Hopefully it will be the case because people lose interest in the Superbowl real fast when it isn't. Maybe something will get exposed in the halftime extravaganza to peek people's interest if the first half is a sleeper. That's when the play by play announcers will try some misdirect to keep themselves from yawning. All the pizza is gone. Just give me another beer. What dvd's do you own or do you have any new video games? Who's going to clean up this mess? Superbowl XLIV, will it live up to the expectations?

Indianapolis Shines-New Orleans Survives-Move on to Superbowl XLIV

The way it started out in Indy it looked like the Jets were going to make it a challenge. The Jets were making big offensive plays and pressuring Manning, but it wasn't sustained. Peyton Manning and company weathered the brief onslaught and were superb. The final blow, a high pass from Sanchez was tipped by the receiver into the awaiting arms of the Colts secondary with about a little over two minutes left. Lights out for the Jets, Colts win 30-17. In a game that was everything you expected it to be the Vikings and Saints battled it out hit for hit, point for point. Brett Favre was battered relentlessly and the Vikings offense developed slippery fingers. Despite Minnesota dominating the second half it ended in overtime with several booth reviews and a field goal by Hartley. Saints won over Vikings 31-28.

Peyton Manning picked the highly touted Jet secondary apart. He had 377 total passing yards on 26 completions out of 39 attempts. Three of those completions were for touchdowns. Garcon and Collie were Manning's primary targets and between the two they had 274 of those yards and a touchdown a piece. Dallas Clark caught a 15 yd reception for the third touchdown. Joseph Addai contributed nicely with 80 rushing yds on 16 carries. It could've been worse for the Jets with Indy in the redzone a total of six times and settling for three Matt Stover field goals in three of those redzone visits.

Mark Sanchez was a bit of a surprise in the second quarter when he hooked up with Braylon Edwards for an 80 yd touchdown. Then he connected for 9 yds to Dustin Keller and a score. The Jets coasted into half time with a 17-14 lead, but that is where it ended. Sanchez had 257 yds on 17 completions. The Jet offense was shut out in the second half by Indy's defense and their balloon was finally popped with the only pick of the day by Indy's Kelvin Hayden. Jones and Greene combined for 83 yds and did not have much of an impact on the up-for-the-challenge Indy defense. The Jets were only in the redzone one time.

Brett Favre was in the fight of his football life. He was driven into the ground, helped off the field limping, and came back time after time. He then made a costly interception in the final minute letting a opportunity to win slip by. Favre out gunned Drew Brees with 310 yds on 28 completions out of 46 attempts and one touchdown. Adrian Peterson ran for 122 yds and had three touchdowns. Their defense hung in their time after time and controlled the Saints passing attack, but after all was said and done, the 5 turnovers was the Vikings demise.

The Saints had 257 total yds on offense and still, and I say luckily, pulled it out. Drew Brees only had 197 yds on 17 completions, but made the most of those completions with three touchdowns. Pierre Thomas had 61 yds on 14 carries with one touchdown running and one receiving. Obviously, the difference was not the Saint's offense, but the ball-hawking of the their defense who forced the Vikings to put the ball on the ground five times and gathering in two interceptions.

Vikings and Saints was a wild one to say the least. One has to feel sorry for Brett Favre who took such a pounding and remained determined not to let it rattle him. Unfortunately, the interception will no doubt haunt him as he considers his future. The Jets and Colts ended the way I expected it to. Peyton Manning and company continues to steamroll over their opponents. Now it is on to Superbowl XLIV.

Saints and Colts Move on to the Championships

Mad Louisiana Superdome, two teams enter, one team moves on. The New Orleans Saints move on in the playoffs after dismantling the Arizona Cardinals both offensively and defensively. Ater Hightower took the first play of the first series 70 yds for a touchdown, the Saints answered with a touchdown of their own, and there was no looking back. The Cardinals were looking at the backs of the Saints runners and receivers as they crossed the goal line. The final score was Saints over the Cardinals 45-14.

Where do you begin with the Saints. It was a full team effort. No one player stood out statistically. If you were to pick out the player of the game, it would be Reggie Bush. Bush put out an outstanding rushing effort with 84 yds on 5 carries and a touchdown, but it was his 83 yd punt return for a touchdown that made him the standout player of the game. Drew Brees did not rack up the yardage as he usually does in the passing department, but he was very efficient with the 247 yds he spread around the field to his various receivers. Colston, Henderson, and Shockey were all recipients of Brees passes for touchdowns.

The Saints defense shut down the could-have-been potent Cardinal offense as they harassed Kurt Warner and  stifled the running game after the Hightower run. The defense only had one sack and three quarterback hits, but with superb pass coverage, they disrupted Warner and his receivers enough to keep them off balance.

Indianapolis defeated Baltimore 20-3 in the night game. There were no real individual standouts in this game. Peyton Manning had 246 yards on 30 completions out of 44 attempts and two touchdowns. Manning spread his passes among seven different receivers. Joseph Addai had only 23 yds on 11 carries. Wayne and Collie each had a touchdown off Peyton passes. A fairly decent effort for the Colt offense.

The Colts defense kept the Ravens offense in check. Joe Flacco had only 189 yds on 23 completions and was picked off two times by the Colts secondary. Ray Rice had 67 yds on 13 carries and 60 yds on 9 receptions, but was unable to cross the goal line. The Colts defense shut out the Ravens in two red zone attempts and went away with one field goal for their efforts.

Saints and Colts move on to the next level in the Playoffs and it looks like the road to the Superbowl is running through New Orleans and Indianapolis at this point. We will see what happens today in the Dallas at Minnesota and NY Jets at San Diego games. I am not yet fully convinced Dallas has what it takes to get past the Vikings and San Diego has to get over the mountain of falling short in the Playoffs after they beat the Jets, who have not matured enough for this level of play

Picture: No doubt that Reggie Wayne crossed the plain of the goal line.