No More Quaterback Controversy And Looking To Next Season-Maybe

I think Browns fans everywhere are pretty much fed up with the start all over again routine that has been ongoing since the new Browns inception. Now it is being said Holmgren won't be quick to get rid of Shurmur if Shurmur struggles early. He'll probably give him more than the two years Mangini got. Are the fans being set up again with the "few more years before any real improvement
kicks in" scenario?

One area going into the next season that looks to be solid is the quarterback position. The quarterback controversy that has plagued the Browns these past many years is confidently a thing of the past. It is the one area that shows some promise. Now it is up to Colt McCoy to continue building on his abilities. But for any real success going forward means management needs to give him a receiving core to match. One with a deep threat. Add to that a solid line affording him a reasonable amount of time to deliver the ball. We don't want him to end up with rubber bands on his thumbs and knee braces to help him steady his legs.

This year's draft has yielded Greg Little at wide receiver and Jordan Cameron at tight end. The take on little is he has the talent to be an impact player with a knack for making the difficult catch in traffic, but not fast enough to be a big play threat. Cameron as a big target is a threat to get vertical up the seam and can rise up for the tough catch, but needs a lot of development as a route-runner on short-to-intermediate patterns and while locating softspots in the zones.

The question is will the Brown's turn Colt McCoy loose or will they rely heavily on a run offense limiting the long ball threat, which has been sadly missing? Another question is will the Brown's incorporate Joshua Cribbs more into the passing attack?

Maybe the Browns will surprise us and come out a legitimate contender this year and, maybe it won't snow on the east side of Cleveland this winter in the snow belt. I am getting tired of seeing the Steelers going to the playoffs year after year. It is time to bring back the old contentious rivalry between the Browns and Steelers of days gone past and kick some Baltimore butt. As for the Bengals, they are looking more like the Browns used to look. Yep, I said, used to look. Is this a forecast of the future?

Anyone who has lived in the Cleveland area knows when it comes to the weather you are better off just sticking your head out your door for an accurate update. Forecasting with any accuracy for one day is precarious enough let alone five days ahead. So it goes with their football team.

Superbowl XLV-Green Bay Packers Take The Trophy

Green Bay looked as though they were going to coast through this game, jumping out to a big lead in the first half 21-10. A dropped pass by Jones on the first set of plays starting the second half and a bad facemask call on the ensuing punt turned the tide of the game in favor of the Steelers, who scored shortly after on a Mendenhall run. Then a fumble by Mendenhall took the steam out of the Steelers surge and the Packers scored a touchdown on a Rodgers to Jennings hookup in the end zone. The Steelers made a quick recovery capping off a drive with Wallace taking in a reception for a touchdown and a successful execution of a two point conversion making it only a three point deficit. Green Bay converted a crucial third down play to extend their next drive that ended with a Crosby field goal. Pittsburgh fell short on their last ditch effort and Green Bay walked away with a 31 to 25 victory and the trophy.

The Steelers played their usual type of game, falling behind early, but never out of it. Considering the Steelers committed three turnovers, they still made it hard on the Packers to walk away with the victory. Ben Roethlisberger committed the majority of the mistakes, throwing two picks. One of them returned for a touchdown. Rashard Mendenhall had some decent runs and scored a touchdown. Mike Wallace was controlled for most of the game, but still managed to take the top spot with 89 yards and a touchdown. Hines Ward was next with 78 yards and one touchdown.

From beginning to end the Packers were committed to the pass. The Steeler defense roughed up Aaron Rodgers, but he prevailed through the adversity with some good numbers. Rodgers threw for 304 yards and was 24-39. Three of his passes were for touchdowns, two of them to Greg Jennings and one to Jordy Nelson. Rodgers numbers would've been even better if it wasn't for the fact that his receivers were plagued with a case of the muffs. Jordy Nelson was Rodgers prime target gathering in 9 catches for 140 yards. Greg Jennings had 4 catches for 64 yards and James Jones had 5 for 50 yards. Green Bay's offense was mistake free and their defense was opportunistic, taking advantage of Roethlisberger's mistakes and forcing a fumble.

Overall it was an entertaining Superbowl. The Green Bay Packers were a sixth seed team that looked like a number one seed and prevailed over everyone else week to week through the playoffs. Either team was worthy of winning, but it was the Packers time and they were not going to be denied their rightful place. By the way, the unforseen occurrence played a significant part and it was wearing the green and gold colors in this one.

Superbowl XLV-Who Will Walk Away With The Trophy

All this week will be dedicated to building anticipation for the upcoming Superbowl. Everyone is weighing in on how they think things will play out when the Packers meet the Steelers in Dallas. We know what each player is capable of doing and how each team matches up in perspective categories. As I said in my previous article it is often the unforeseen occurrence that determines the fate of the game. This game will be no acception when it comes to this happenstance phenomenon.

The Steelers are a proven winner when it comes to the big game. They have six Superbowls to their credit. Their last appearance was in Superbowl XLIII where they won. For the Packers it has been a long dry spell. The Packers have three Superbowl trophies and their last visit was Superbowl XXXII where they lost.

It is a tough pick to make a decision on. Emotionally you have a favorite, but pragmatically things may be different. If you were to add up all their ratings from offense and defense, the Steelers win hands down 38 to Packers 52. The Steelers are tough on the run with a rating of one and the Packers are tough on the pass with a rating of five.

Considering the Packers have been a predominantly passing offense with Rodgers at the helm, the Steelers will be preparing with emphasis on controlling him. The Packers can counter with the screen pass to Starks to keep the Steelers leery of putting the heat on Rodgers, which they will try frequently. The Steelers have more of a running threat with Mendenhall, so the Packers will be looking to shore up their run defense. There will be an opportunity here for the Steelers to utilize Heath Miller strategically to their advantage.

Well, here it is, my final thoughts and pick. It would be an easy choice if I were a Steeler fan. Alas, I am from Northeast Ohio and therefore a Browns fan. But one could counter and say the Steelers and the Browns are in the same AFC division. I am obviously stonewalling my decision.

I think the Packers passing attack will be to much for the Steelers to handle for the whole four quarters barring any unforeseen injury, like a concussion, to Rodgers. He just has to many choices when it comes to quality receivers and Polamalu is not omnipresent. The key for the Steelers will be how well they blitz Rodgers to offset that.

 

My cousin, who is a Steeler fan, will not like what's coming next. I am taking the Packers to win by a touchdown. Then again, the unforeseen occurrence will be suited up and we will have to wait to see whose colors it will be wearing on Sunday.

Steelers Versus Packers- Who Comes Out On Top

You can make all kinds of comparisons and evaluations when it comes to Steelers versus Packers, but as in any given game the unforeseen occurrence often determines its fate. Case in point, the famous Immaculate Reception by Franco Harris in the AFC divisional playoff game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Oakland Raiders at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on December 23, 1972. Harris snagged a deflected pass just before it hit the ground, and ran in for a touchdown that won the game.

You can execute a play perfectly on both sides of the ball, but often the ball has a mind of its own. I have seen fumbles bounce back into the hands of the person who fumbled it. Hail Marys get blocked by the defending team only to have it fall into the arms of the opposing team for a score. That being said, Pittsburgh and Green Bay execute plays better than most teams.

Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers are a good matchup for the upcoming Superbowl. Season statistics give Rodgers the edge, but only because Roethlisberger missed four games. By comparison, Rodgers is the more accurate passer and a greater threat if he gets past the line on the run, but Roethlisberger has the uncanny ability to slip out of potential sacks and adjust himself to find an open receiver. Rodgers chews up large chunks of realestate with each pass and utilizes the quick slant. Roethlisberger just frustrates a defense into making mistakes because a defense can't keep track of his receivers when he is on the loose.

Rodgers has a diverse receiving squad that can add yards to the initial reception. Greg Jennings, James Jones, and Donald Driver will prove to be handful for the Steeler secondary. The key for the Steeler defense will be to keep Rodgers from getting comfortable in the pocket and prevent him from getting outside. Mike Wallace for the Steelers is always a potential threat for the long ball and Hines Ward has a nose for the goal line. Tightend Heath Miller gives the Steeler offense versatility and Roethlisberger another option when he is on the loose.

The Steelers have an advantage in the running game with Rashard Mendenhall and the Packers defense has shown weakness in that area. The Steelers offense is going to come out firing to soften the secondary and then test the waters for the running game. James Starks for the Packers has shown promise as of late, but the Steelers are tops in defending against the run. The screen pass to Starks will be used frequently to keep the Steeler pass rush honest.

Each team's defense has their standouts. Clay Matthews, Charles Wodson, and Tramon Williams for the Packers. For the Steelers Troy Polamalu, James Harrison, and Lawrence Timmons. Both will do what they do best and that is blitz, blitz, and more blitz.

This is no surprise. The team that executes its plan will win, maybe. With all the bell ringing, pad smacking, helmet hitting contact that will be going on, the unforeseen occurrence may have something to say about the games final outcome. Just follow the bouncing ball.

Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers Are Going To Dallas

Aaron Rodgers came out firing off completions and before the smoke could settle Green Bay was up 14-0. The Bears stalled the onslaught before it got out of hand, but when Cutler went out with a knee injury, so did all hope for a Bear recovery. So you would have thought. The Bears proceeded to play shuffle the quarterbacks after two near picks by Todd Collins, who was quickly replaced by Caleb Hanie-Who. The Bears defense hung tough while Hanie seemed to breathe some life back into the offense, until a devastating interception close to their goal line ended up in the end zone for a Packer score and seemed to knock the wind out of the Bears, temporarily. Hanie came back with a quick score to make it 21-14. With a little over two minutes to play and one last shot to tie it up, the Bear offense moved down the field to within striking distance, but it was a pick by Shields that ended the Bears season and a bid for a spot in the Superbowl.

Ben Roethlisberger and Rashard Mendenhall ran for touchdowns during the first two quarters against the Jets. Pittsburgh's defense dominated and delivered a devastating blow when Ike Taylor sacked Mark Sanchez, forcing a fumble that William Gay ran 22 yards for another score. Shaun Suisham added a field goal and at the half time it was 24-3. The second half saw a resurgence by the Jets, only bcause the Steeler's defense, who was basking in a comfortable lead, backed off and soften their coverage giving the Jets some breathing room to move the ball, which they took advantage of. Mark Sanchez hooked up with Santonio Holmes for a 45 yard score. The Jets made it even more interesting when they sacked Roethlisberger in the end zone. Four minutes later Jerricho Cotchery caught a pass for a 4 yard touchdown and it was 24-19. The tide of the game seemed to be shifting in the Jets favor, but the Steelers executed a couple of first downs on their final possession and the clock ran out on the Jets. The Piper got his payment.

Both games were eerily similiar. Both winning teams jumped out to an early lead. The winning teams both scored all their offensive points in the first half. Both winning team's quarterbacks did not throw for a touchdown, but each ran for a touchdown. Both winning team's quarterbacks threw two interceptions. Both winning team's defense scored a touchdown. Both losing teams scored all their touchdowns in the second half. I'm sure their are other similarities, but these stood out the most. I picked both the Packers and the Steelers to win. It will be a good Superbowl XLV.

There is talk Jay Cutler's injury wasn't severe enough for him to remove himself from the game. True, everyone was surprised when they saw Todd collins come out onto the field and Cutler standing on the sideline with a supposed knee injury. I can only speak from experience. I suffered a knee injury in a game that turned out to be a severely sprained ACL. When the injury first occurred I got up and tried to walk it out, flexing my knee and bending it. At first it looked as if it was only temporary, but as time passed it got stiffer and stiffer, until I couldn't even walk on it. I had to sit the rest of the game out. Later I found out it was an injury to the ACL. It would have been stupid for Cutler to continue playing, jeapordizing himself and his team. It was the right call.

NFL Conference Championships-Who Will Go To The Big Show?

This Sunday it will be decided who will go to the "Big Show" February 6 at Cowboys Stadium. New England and Atlanta, both the top seeded teams, have been eliminated by Wild Card teams NY Jets and Green Bay Packers. What happened? The old adage, "Anything thing can happen on any given Sunday in the NFL", rings true. You have one shot and one shot only when it comes to the playoffs. Lose and you are out. The Patriots had all the advantages going in, but the Jets disrupted Brady and Company just enough to edge them out. The Packers, they outright annihilated the Falcons, but with the way Rodgers has been playing of late, you kind of expected it. The Steelers, they plain and simple know how to win playoff games. The Bears, they will be facing an old rival.

Steelers showed once again in their game with the Ravens there is no quit in them. They will just keep coming at you until you buckle under the pressure. Mark Sanchez better be on his toes this Sunday because the Steelers defense is going to be attacking at every opportunity. If Sanchez sits in the pocket for any length of time he is going to get stuffed and the potential for a game breaking turnover will increase. The Steelers defense is number one against the run. If they succeed at doing what they do best, they will be zeroing in on Sanchez. Ben Roethlisberger and his receivers can burn you at any given moment as was seen in this past Sunday's game. Wallace is Roethlisberger's deep threat, but new comers Brown and Sanders are now on his radar. Hines Ward, he will grin at you like Davy Crockett grinned at the bear and proceed to knock out your lights with a big play.

The Jets have an all around good defense and they are going to need it against Big Ben, who has an uncanny way of eluding sacks and leveraging his way out of tight situations. If the Steelers get anywhere close to the goal line, the Jets will have to contend with the straight ahead power of Mendenhall. I have already mentioned the Steelers will be attacking with an array of blitzes, so the Jets will need to keep Sanchez moving, looking for the quick dump off to the backs and releases to the wide receivers on quick slant patterns. Any kind of mistakes by the Jets will prove to be their undoing with an opportunistic Steeler team.

Aaron Rodgers appears unstoppable. He is passing with accuracy and running for touchdowns when the openings present themselves. He will be facing a tougher Bears defense in this one. It will be difficult for the Packers to establish a run game because the Bears are ranked number two against the run. The Packers will need to come out shooting in the beginning to throw the Bears into confusion and soften up their linebackers, then test the waters for the running game. The Packer defense will be putting pressure on Cutler to raddle him with hopes of forcing a mistake, but will have to be careful of the Bears superior running game.

Jay Cutler is coming off one of his best performances. Like Rodgers, he is passing and running well. Greg Olsen appears to be his main target along with Matt Forte. Cutler will be doing much the same as he did last week, screen passes and quick hits, but will have to watch out for Clay Matthews. Forte will need to play a huge part if the Bears are to succeed, especially in establishing a running attack to assist Cutler. The Bears defense is tough on the run, but unfortunately are weak in the one area they need toughness, the passing game. All I got to say is good luck with that Bears.

In conclusion, every week I have said the Jets have used up their nine lives and are living on borrowed time. Well, this week they will be paying the Piper. When it comes to making mistakes, I see the Jets and Bears as being more proned. It's looking like a Steelers-Packers Superbowl, but in the Bizzaro World of NFL it will be Jets-Bears.

 

Playoffs - Conference Championships

SUN, JAN 23 TIME (ET)

Green Bay 24 at Chicago 20 3:00 PM FOX

Soldier Field

NY Jets 21 at Pittsburgh 27 6:30 PM CBS

Heinz Field

Patriots Are Denied and Seahawks Are Sent Packin'

Number One New England Patriots mounted a second half surge, but were denied a trip to the AFC Championship by a stubborn NY Jets, who just won't go away. Tom Brady couldn't get into his usual rythmn due to an annoying Jets defense and was sacked five times plus hit another seven. Mark Sanchez didn't make any mistakes, which was necessary for the Jets to even have a chance in this one. The Jets running game was superior to the Patriots. All the way around the Patriots were out finessed by the Jets ending 28-21.

Tom Brady threw for more yardage than Sanchez. Brady accumulated more passing first downs with 19-8. Time of possession was as equally imbalanced, with the Patriots holding the ball almost ten minutes longer. Obviously Brady and company were not as productive with the ball. Brady threw for 299 yards, but had the one looming mistake in the beginning that set the tone. The Patriots even had more rushing first downs. Five different rushers combined for 113 yards. All-in-all just too many passes fell to the wayside.

The Jets made the most of the time they had the ball. Mark Sanchez had a 194 total passing yards with three touchdowns. He went 16-25. Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson combined for 119 yards of rushing with one touchdown each. Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards accounted for the other two reception touchdowns, but Jerico Cotchery was Sanchez main target hauling in 5 passes for 96 yards. Offensive job done. The Jets defense did their part in making sure the Patriots were miserable and frustrated. As already mentioned, they sacked Brady 5 times, 3 of them in the Patriots disastrous first half. Jets move on to play the Steelers in the AFC Championship.

Seattle made it fun and interesting, but you had to know it wasn't going to last. Jay Cutler was just too much for the Seattle defense to handle, who had a great game. He became the second quarterback in NFL history to throw for two touchdowns and run for two others in a playoff game. Seattle made a valiant effort in the fourth quarter to narrow the point difference, but it was not enough. Chicago won 35-24.

Jay Cutler passed and ran like a man on a mission. The mission was to win, and that is what he did. Cutler threw for 274 yards and two touchdowns. Greg Olsen made some big catches for him scoring one touchdown with 113 yards. The big one was a 58 yard touchdown on the Bears first possession. Chicago dominated the ground game with Matt Forte pounding out 80 yards. Chester Taylor ran for another 44 yards and Cutler scrambled for 43 yards. The Bears defense did their job keeping the Seahawks out of the end zone for three quarters. Bears move on to face the daunting Packers in the NFC Championship.

Seattle could not get anything going for three quarters, their guns were silent. If it wasn't for the fourth quarter there wouldn't be anything to talk about as far as Seattle's offense was concerned. You figure by then Chicago was in prevent mode being so far ahead with the score at 28-3. Matt Hasselbeck threw three touchdowns, all in fourth quarter. Mike williams caught two of the three in that last ditch effort-less ending. Brandon Stokely caught the third and through the game mounted 85 yards. That's pretty much it, the fairy tale season is over for the Seahawks.