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thoughts and observations |
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WEEK NINE REVIEW
Riddle me this. If opposing players continue to complain, and the league keeps fining them, how long will it take before there is an overall crackdown on the Broncos offensive line? Right guard Dan Neil just got hit with his second fine. A whopping $52,941 for two leg whips in the game against the Raiders last week. This follows his $15,000 fine for ending Brian Cox's season. That follows a $15,000 fine to Matt Lepsis for a cut block. Oh, and I forgot to mention left guard was fined $12,500 for leg whips, too. The grand total is $127,529 to Broncos linemen this year.
There have been numerous fines over the last several years, and some missed ones as well. The one that really still bothers me, though, is the Broncos-Jaguars playoff game in January 1998. Early in the game, Jaguars defenders were complaining of the Broncos linemen having a slippery substance on their jerseys. The officials checked, and sure enough, there was. They made the players go to the sidelines and wipe off their jerseys. Isn't the damage done? Isn't the substance already soaked in? At the least, they should have made them change jerseys. At the most, they should have been ejected. It's illegal!
The continuous problems with Broncos linemen needs to be addressed. While the recent fine to Neil was the largest of its kind, its not the first of its type. Nor is it the first fine to a Broncos lineman. It's an ongoing problem, and if the league can dole out fines for dress code so easily, shouldn't the crime fit the punishment? Suspensions need to start being the fine. It won't happen, and I'm ranting here, but to watch players go down to injury because of out right cheating, something's wrong. Maybe the size of the last fine is indicating there's a problem there. We'll see.
I did like the quote from Neil's agent. "He has never been fined before this rash of fines," Marvin Demoff stated, "I can't imagine he's playing any differently than he had in the previous four years." Hey, Marvin, it's because he's never been caught.
A look around...
Beaten, Battered And Just Plain...Well, Battered
Did you see the interview with Peyton Manning after the Dolphins game? Holy cow, why was he even bothering talking to the media? Ugh! Now, that was not a pretty site. Manning went from looking like a deer in headlights to one that got hit. Not only did he take the shot, but the loss is probably going to be enough for the Colts to have trouble through the remainder of the season. The defense is breaking down, and Edgerrin James may be done for the year. They're not done, by any stretch, but it's going to be tough.
Better Than Good?
How good are the best teams? La Machine is back on track, and as long as they don't kill themselves, they will go far. However, several teams are leaving questions in my mind. The Raiders defense was exposed Sunday against Seattle. The Saints just didn't play against the 49ers as well as I thought they could. That seemed at times to be glaring, like the Kevan Barlow catch-and-run. For some reason, both the Bears and Packers looked a bit flat, although playing each other could have a lot to do with that. While Pittsburgh had their hands fairly full with the Browns, they also had lost some scores on screw-ups. Overall, I still think the Steelers could be the best team in the AFC. It's too bad they don't square off with the Raiders. It's just funny that, after nine weeks, it's still hard to tell who the cream of the crop is.
More Hassel and a Back
I wonder if Seahawks fans are feeling a little easier about Matt Hasselback. He looked like he's starting to get into the swing of things now. That's not real hard to do though, considering the way Shaun Alexander is capable of playing. It's too bad Alexander didn't get a better shot at the single game record, but the win was more crucial. If Hasselback can continue to play the way he did against the Raiders, things will really be looking up on the Pacific Northwest.
No One Lives With No Defense Forever
The next Bond movie, starring Dennis Green as the guy who didn't care enough about defense. For the past several years, the Vikings have concentrated on their offense, while virtually ignoring the defense, which is annually a low-ranked unit. Now, with the offense struggling, there is no where to turn. The defense is not capable of keeping low scoring games close, and the offense is helping keep their games low scoring on that side. If any offseason has been interesting in Minnesota during Green's regime, it will not hold a candle to the upcoming one.
Smoke And Mirrors
Where are the Jets coming from? I thought prior to the season that they could be a good team, but the way the started, and the way they have played in some games, I thought they may not be going anywhere. Then, I turn around, and they're 5-3, and had beaten teams like the Dolphins and Saints. Still, the rest of their wins were against lesser competition for the most part. There was a narrow loss to the 49ers. Still, they are playing good enough, and with the dip by the Colts looming large, this could be a wild card team. I still don't know how they're doing it, but I do know Herm Edwards deserves a lot of credit.
Brown Nose
K Kris Brown is officially off the snide. Last week had to be brutal on him after missing four field goals and being largely responsible for a loss. He came back, though. Even though he did miss a kick that would have saved overtime, he was largely responsible for the team's win. Let's just hope he doesn't have more personalities than Cybil, or Alonzo Spellman...whoever you relate to most.
My Picks Last Week
Let's face it, this season I couldn't pick the winner between the tortoise and the hare. Okay, bad analogy. How about the chicken or the egg? Nevermind. I'm not picking well, that's all. I'm above .500, but not by much. You get so upset minded, you start making bad picks. Don't worry, I'm going to keep trying. If I quit it would leave a big void in my article, now wouldn't it? And obviosly I'm not the only one making some bad picks, as evidence by the lack of lines on this week's games. Alright, there's reasons there's no lines yet. Give me a break. I'll try to do better.
MIKE LIKES
Week Nine (Bye: Kansas City):
Atlanta at Cleveland (No Line) Note: Was supposed to be Atlanta at Green Bay (I screwed up)
The Browns played much better than I thought against the Steelers after the devastating loss to the Bears prior to that. They still didn't play great, but they had a chance, and seem to be a resilient team. The Falcons could give them a game, but I don't see them upsetting the Browns at home.
Pick: Browns
Cleveland at Baltimore (No Line)
This could be a pretty good game. There are a lot of teams not coming off their Monday night game well (see Oakland, Pittsburgh). The Browns took the first one in dramatic fashion, but this ones at Baltimore, and it will be no easy chore. The Browns could do it, but I doubt it.
Pick: Ravens
Indianapolis at New Orleans (No Line)
Peyton Manning is supposed to be able to play. Still, you know the Saints front four will want to beat on him. The Saints are not where they need to be though, and I like the firepower for the Colts. Plus, the Saints don't play as well at home.
Pick: Colts
New York Jets at Miami (-6)
The Dolphins struggle against the Jets, and I see no reason that they will not have their hands full again. This is a big division match. On paper, you would believe the Dolphins should take it to them, but in reality they just don't get it done. I still like the paper look.
Pick: Dolphins
Philadelphia (-7) at Dallas
Here's a big one. The Eagles have too much for the Cowboys, and it will show early and often. Ryan Leaf probably won't enjoy being a Cowboy either after this game.
Pick: Eagles
San Francisco at Carolina (No Line)
The 49ers won't lay the wood to the Panthers the same way the Rams did, but the game could still get away from the Panthers real fast. The Panthers usually play well against the Niners, but this team is just too far down right now.
Pick: 49ers
Seattle at Buffalo (No Line)
New hopes, goals and dreams abound for the Seahawks, and the Bills are not one of the best run defenses in the league. This should be another good game for Shaun Alexander, and another needed win for the Hawks.
Pick: Seahawks
Tennessee at Cincinnati (No Line)
Something tells me that the Bengals can win this game. Then again, something has told me to make a lot of bad picks this year. The Titans still have enough to win this game, and will give it all they have and forget prior records.
Pick: Titans
San Diego at Oakland (No Line)
The Chargers can make a game out of this, but it seems the team is not the same as the one that started so strong. And the Raiders know they need to come back out and make a statement.
Pick: Raiders
Jacksonville at Pittsburgh (-5.5)
The Jags still have an offense, and can put up some points on the Steelers early, but as the game progresses so will the Steelers. Look for it to be close early, and then the force of the Steelers to emerge.
Pick: Steelers
Chicago at Tampa Bay (-4.5)
This is a big test for both teams. The Bears lost a tough one against the Packers, and the Bucs barely snuck past the lowly Lions. You have to look at whose offense has a chance to fair better, and everything here makes me go with large furry animals.
Pick: Bears
Detroit at Arizona (-2.5)
Finally, a chance for the Lions to be a better team in a game. They really are not, but the Cards can blow any game. It's going to be tough, but I have to go with the team that has the most playmakers, which makes it a 1-0 score.
Pick: Cardinals
Washington at Denver (-9)
Remember last year, when the Bengals came to town and ran down the Broncos throats? It's that time of year again. If Stephen Davis is successful early, the Broncos are going to have their hands full. And Marty Schottenheimer knows a few things about playing the Broncos.
Pick: Redskins
St. Louis at New England (No Line)
The Rams shouldn't take this game lightly, and probably won't. It should be a standard march through for the Rams, but if they go in too cocky they could have a fight on their hands. That probably will not happen.
Pick: Rams
New York Giants at Minnesota (-2)
The Vikings are in too much disarray to believe they will put up a big effort against the Giants. The Giants blew them out in the NFC Championship, and while that won't happen again, it may not be too far off.
Pick: Giants
Moving on...
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THINGS I KNOW:
The Saints should convert their receiver to defensive backs, since they rarely catch passes.
Shaun Alexander is one of the best backs in the league and will get better.
Meeting Jon Gruden in a dark place in a bad mood would be scary.
It's more than safe to say that Garrison Hearst is back in a big way.
The ghost of Bill Parcells is alive and well around Giants stadium. Remember, the Jets play there, too.
THINGS I CAN PREDICT:
Cris Carter will start dropping passes due to pointing his finger too long.
The Lions will make an amazing turnaround and finish the season at...drumroll please...2-14.
The Rams will clinch home field after week fourteen.
The Rams will run the ball more than early in the season, because they want to.
Terrell Owens will not be with the 49ers after this season, and the Steve Mariucci bashing will have to be covered in a series of articles so the papers don't have to waste money on an extra section in the regular editions.
Mike owns and publishes SkillPositions.Com, along with a big, expensive, and talented staff. Don't use this work without permission in writing. Mike has been known as the world's only living heart donor. He also thinks morals are paintings on walls, and scruples are money in Russia.
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