NFL Postseason Preview & Predictions

AFC

The #1 seed Colts and #2 seed Chargers are rewarded with a first round bye.

#6 Ravens @ #3 Patriots

The Ravens have the advantage on the defensive side of the ball, but this years’ defense isn’t nearly as dominant as years past. The Patriots lost Wes Welker, their most consistent wide-receiver to injury (torn ACL & MCL) in week 17 and will be without him for the postseason. I think even without Welker, the Patriots still have too much on offense for the Ravens to keep up with. I look for it to be a good game, but in the end the Patriots will be advancing into the divisional round.

Prediction – Patriots

#5 Jets @ #4 Bengals

The Jets absolutely demolished the Bengals in the Meadowlands in their week 17 matchup. The Jets ran all over the Bengals injury plagued defensive line. Their effectiveness on the ground allowed for only 15 pass attempts for Mark Sanchez which limits the chance of turnovers and greatly increases the Jets’ chances for a victory. With that being said, I think the Bengals have the advantage in the playoffs. Chad Ochocinco is questionable with a left knee injury, but Cedric Benson will be back along with many key players on the defensive line. The Bengals have to be able to move the ball through the air and stop the run in order to defeat the Jets. They must force the Jets to throw the ball with rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez. If the Bengals can execute their game plan than they have a chance to win, if not then we might see a repeat of their week 17 matchup.

Prediction – Bengals

NFC

The #1 seed Saints and #2 seed Vikings are rewarded with a first round bye.

#6 Eagles @ #3 Cowboys

The Cowboys and Eagles are familiar with each other to say the least. The ‘Boys have beaten the Eagles both times they have played them this season and have shown that they can win with both stout defense and an offensive explosion. With that being said, the Eagles are a veteran team with a lot of weapons on offense and a defense that is superb at creating turnovers. I think that the Eagles’ experience coupled with the Cowboys’ lack of performing under pressure are the main factors that will ultimately send the Eagles into the next round.

Prediction - Eagles

#5 Packers @ #4 Cardinals

The Packers versus Cardinals is one of the most intriguing matchups in the wild-card round. Both teams have explosive offenses with big-time play-makers at the wide-receiver position. So this game will come down to two things: who can run the ball and who can get the big stops on defense? The Packers and Cardinals have both shown the potential to sustain a consistent running game, but neither team has totally committed to the run game. Therefore, I think that the team with the most consistent defense will ultimately prevail with the win and the Packers are that team. The Packers have veterans in the secondary like Charles Woodson who create turnovers and young, athletic linebackers like A.J. Hawk, Clay Matthews, and Nick Barnett who fly to the ball.

Prediction  - Packers                                                                

No Longer On Top?

Coming into the season the Patriots and Steelers were seen as hands down legitimate Super Bowl contenders, but after week 13 they are both in a battle just to get into the playoffs. Have the Steelers’ and Patriots’ dynasties ended? Can we no longer call them “elite?”

Patriots

At 7-5 overall and 1-5 on the road this season, the Patriots do not look to have their usual swagger and aura surrounding them as in years past. Tom Brady and the offense look to have things looking pretty much normal, but the defense is what has let them down time and time again this season. The once bend but don’t break, get the stops when you need them defense of old has lost some key veterans like Teddy Bruschi, Richard Seymour, Asante Samuel, Rodney Harrison, Mike Vrabel, and others that had a nack for key plays in big moments. The Patriots defense is ranked 11th in total yards per game allowing 322 yards. They also rank 14th in pass defense allowing 214 yards per game and 15th in rush defense allowing 108 yards per game and 4.3 yards per carry. The most surprising stat is that the usually opportunistic Patriot defense is only towards the middle of the pack in the NFL in terms of takeaways with 22. If the Patriots can’t find a way to develop their young defense and have them playing in true form on a consistent basis then we might be witnessing the end of Bill Belichick’s and the Patriots’ dynasty and thus their “elite” stature.

                                                                      

Steelers

The defending Super Bowl champion Steelers have dropped 4 straight, the latest loss coming courtesy of the now 4-8 Raiders and a touchdown pass from Bruce Gradkowski to Louis Murphy with 9 seconds remaining in the game. The Steelers seemed to have lost their killer instinct and have had a huge amount of trouble putting teams away and holding onto the lead, especially in the 4th quarter. The 6-6 Steelers are in danger of missing the playoffs after winning 2 Super Bowls in the last 4 seasons. The Steelers have struggled within their own division, compiling a 1-4 record against division foes with their only win coming against the horrendous Browns. The Steelers offense hasn’t been the problem as they rank in the top half in every major offensive statistical category, rather it has been the struggles in the defensive secondary. The Steelers pass defense ranks 17th in the NFL allowing 220 passing yards per game. They have also allowed 15 passing touchdowns already this season and have only 8 interceptions. This comes in contrary to last years Super Bowl winning team that was ranked 1st in passing defense, gave up only 12 touchdowns through the air the entire season, and had 20 interceptions. The Steelers have to win their last 4 games in order to potentially put themselves in the playoff picture, but the first thing they have to attend to is finding a way to get that nasty, confident attitude back. If they can find their swagger then they have a chance, but for now they look to be just another average team, and their “intimidation factor” is rapidly dwindling week after week.

NFL Power Rankings (Week 13)

1)  Saints (11-0) – LW 2

The Saints showed they’re the real deal after a Monday Night thrashing of the Patriots.

2)  Colts (11-0) – LW 1

The Colts have looked human the past couple of weeks, so watch out for the streaking Titans next week.

3)  Vikings (10-1) – LW 3

The Vikings have been overshadowed by the Colts and Saints so far, but they are a solid, deep team that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

4)  Chargers (8-3) – LW 5

The Chargers are on a 6 game win streak. Have they finally learned how to play up to their potential for a whole season?

5)  Bengals (8-3) – LW 7

Solid defense and a strong running game are essential for a playoff run and the Bengals have both.

6)  Cardinals (7-4) – LW 6

Leinart held his own last week, but the Cardinals need Warner back for the passing game to get back to true form.

7)  Patriots (7-4) – LW 4

The Patriots have some serious issues on defense.

8)  Cowboys (8-3) – LW 8

Yet another Thanksgiving Day win for the Boys.

9)  Eagles (7-4) – LW 10

We all know that Maclin and Jackson are dangerous deep threats, but Jason Avant has emerged as the big third down possession receiver for the Eagles.

10)  Packers (7-4) – LW 12

The Packers have won 3 straight and look to have their offensive line problems fixed.

11)  Steelers (6-5) – LW 9

The Steelers have lost 3 straight and desperately need Roethlisberger back next week.

12)  Broncos (7-4) – LW 13

A convincing win over the Giants may get them back to original form.

13)  Ravens (6-5) – LW 15

Although they have been somewhat of a letdown so far this season, they still have a great shot at a wild-card spot.

14)  Giants (6-5) – LW 11

The Giants have no room for error as their schedule gets tougher with the Cowboys and Eagles coming into the Meadowlands the next 2 weeks.

15)  Titans (5-6) – LW 19

The Titans are riding their 5 game win streak into Indy to face the undefeated Colts.

16)  Falcons (6-5) – LW 16

Without Matt Ryan the Falcon’s chances of beating the Eagles and staying alive for a playoff spot seem slim.

17)  Jaguars ( 6-5) – LW 14

The inconsistent Jaguars floundered last week against the 49ers.

18)  Texans (5-6) – LW 18

After losing 3 straight and blowing another game to the Colts the under-achieving Texans look to be all but finished.

19)  Dolphins (5-6) – LW 17

Chad Henne finally looked like a rookie last week, throwing 3 interceptions in the fourth quarter.

20)  49ers (5-6) – LW 21

With a win against the Seahawks the 49ers can get back to .500 and continue their undefeated streak within the division.

21)  Jets (5-6) – LW 22

Good win for the Jets at home last week, but it might be too little too late.

22)  Panthers (4-7) – LW 20 

More turnovers by Jake Delhomme last week and he capped off his dreadful outing against the Jets by suffering a broken finger.

23)  Bears (4-7) – LW 23

It’s not a good sign when your quarterback has 20 interceptions and your most reliable receiver is running back Matt Forte.

24)  Bills (4-7) – LW 27

The Bills showed some life through the air for their new interim head coach.

25)  Seahawks (4-7) – LW 25

A struggling running game doesn’t help Hasselbeck feel any more comfortable as opposing defenses pin their ears back and come after him on almost every down.

26)  Chiefs (3-8) – LW 24

Just when you thought the Chiefs were making strides to get better they get blown out by 29 points to the Chargers.

27)  Redskins (3-8) – LW 26

The Redskins have too many injuries to withstand any form of consistent football.

28)  Raiders (3-8) – LW 28

I say it’s time to clean house in Oakland, and that includes Al Davis stepping down as owner.

29)  Lions (2-9) – LW 29

Another poor showing by the Lions on Thanksgiving.

30)  Bucs (1-10) – LW 30

At least it looks like they have a quarterback to build around for the future in Josh Freeman.

31)  Rams (1-10) – LW 31

Not a good first season for new coach Steve Spagnoulo.

32)  Browns (1-10) – LW 32

After their offensive explosion against the Lions the Browns came back to Earth last week against the Bengals.

The Demise and Rise of the Titans

                                                                                                 

Many people, including me, thought the Tennessee Titan’s season was over after a shocking and unpredictable 0-6 start. After 3 close losses to the Steelers, Texans, and Jets followed by 3 blowout losses to the Jaguars, Colts, and Patriots the reeling Titans went into their week 7 bye surrounded by questions and searching for answers. The solution was simply Vince Young. Yes, the same Vince Young who last year had questions swirling about his desire and his mental health, but also the same Vince Young that is a proven winner as a starter in the NFL (23-11 career record as a starter). Young has the Titans on a 5 game winning streak and is poised to make it 6 when the Titans face the Colts in week 12 (which I think is a reasonable possibility). During the 5 game winning streak Young has thrown for 4 touchdowns and ran for another while only accounting for 3 turnovers, but he has received some help from the defense and especially from MVP candidate Chris Johnson (more about Johnson soon). Young’s brightest moment in his NFL career was his game winning 99 yard drive against the Cardinals last week. Young marched down the field, spraying the ball around to many receivers and finally capped off the drive with a touchdown pass to Kenny Britt on fourth down and no time remaining on the clock. Young and the Titans look to ride their new found momentum into next week’s showdown against the Colts.   

I think the Titans have a legitimate chance at another 10 game win streak (remember they had one last year). Their last 5 games consist of 3 teams that currently have losing records and a Colts team that has looked human of late and a Chargers team that is the best example of Jekyll and Hyde. Call me crazy, but come this postseason the Titans will be lurking. 

Now, my case for who I think should be MVP, Chris Johnson. Other than the obvious things like CJ’s combination of speed and power and his great blocking ability for a guy his size, very few if anyone in the NFL means more to their team than Chris Johnson. He does it all. Here are the stats to support my argument:

• 1396 rushing yards (1st in the NFL)
• 294 receiving yards (4th among running backs in the AFC)
• 9 rushing touchdowns (2nd among running backs in the AFC)
• 10 total touchdowns (3rd among running backs in the AFC)

The stats speak for themselves.

NFL Power Rankings (Week 12)

1)  Colts (10-0) – LW 1

They haven’t played particularly well of late, but they keep finding ways to win.

2)  Saints (10-0) – LW 2

The Saints high-octane offense might meet its match next week against the Patriots and Tom Brady.

3)  Vikings (9-1) – LW 3

The old gunslinger isn’t playing like a 40-year-old.

4)  Patriots (7-3) – LW 6

The Pats hope to crush the Saints quest for an undefeated season.

5)  Chargers (7-3) – LW 8

The Chargers lead their division and are playing solid, complete football.

6)  Cardinals (7-3) – LW 7

At 7-3 the Cardinals have a healthy 3 game lead in their division.

7)  Bengals (7-3) – LW 4

Bad loss in Oakland last week, but they can get back on track as they face the Browns.

8)  Cowboys (7-3) – LW 10

Ugly win against the Redskins last week, but they are still in first place in the NFC East.

9)  Steelers (6-4) – LW 5

Bad loss at home against KC and Roethlisberger’s status is uncertain.

10)  Eagles (6-4) – LW 11

They won a close game and kept pace in the tight NFC East.

11)  Giants (6-4) – LW 16

They snapped their 4 game losing streak at home against Atlanta last week.

12)  Packers (6-4) – LW 14

The defense has played better of late, but the Packer’s success lies in the hands of the offensive line.

13)  Broncos (6-4) – LW 9

After a 6-0 start the Broncos have lost their last 4 games.

14)  Jaguars (6-4) – LW 17

They’ll get a test next week on the road against the 49ers.

15)  Ravens (5-5) – LW 12

A tough schedule and an inability to win close games has the preseason Super Bowl contenders at a mediocre 5-5.

16)  Falcons (5-5) – LW 15

Another tough loss for the Falcons, this time to the Giants in overtime.

17)  Dolphins (5-5) – LW 18

With Ronnie Brown out for the rest of the season, Ricky Williams has to step up and play like he did in his first 4 years in the NFL.

18)  Texans (5-5) – LW 13

They have to learn how to close out games.

19)  Titans (4-6) – LW 21

The combination of the reemergence of Vince Young and the MVP candidate Chris Johnson have the Titans on a 4 game winning streak.

20)  Panthers (4-6) – LW 19

The ground game has been carrying them this season, but in order to win Delhomme has to show that he can stretch the defense.

21)  49ers (4-6) – LW 20

Alex Smith and Vernon Davis have shown great chemistry, but they have to start scoring sooner rather than later.

22)  Jets (4-6) – LW 22

Too many turnovers have put the defense in a position to fail.

23)  Bears (4-6) – LW 23

The Bears have lost 5 of their last 6 games and look to be spiraling downward.

24)  Chiefs (3-7) – LW 27

They get better and better every week and they showed their progress with a win against Pittsburgh last week.

25)  Seahawks (3-7) – LW 24

They get a great chance at win number 4 against the Rams next week.

26)  Redskins (3-7) – LW 25

With Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts injured it’s hard to picture a late Redskins run at a playoff position.

27)  Bills (3-7) – LW 26

They’re searching for a new head coach and Mike Shanahan is a very appealing option.

28)  Raiders (3-7) – LW 29

Bruce Gradkowski got the Raiders a much-needed win against a very good Bengals team. Is this the end for JaMarcus Russel?

29)  Lions (2-8) – LW 30

Matt Stafford exploited the porous Browns defense to the tune of 400+ passing yards and 5 tds including the game winner with no time left on the clock.

30)  Bucs (1-9) – LW 28

First they fire the offensive coordinator 10 days after hiring him, now they fire the defensive coordinator 10 weeks into the season.

31)  Rams (1-9) – LW 31

With Marc Bulger out at least 3 weeks, Kyle Boller will start for the Rams who will be searching for their next franchise qb.

32)  Browns (1-9) – LW 32

A pass interference call in the end zone gave the Lions a chance to win and they capitalized on the Brown’s mistakes.

NFL Power Rankings (Week 11)

1)  Colts (9-0) – LW 2

Although they are still undefeated they have to work out their running problems in order to go deep into the playoffs.

2)  Saints (9-0) – LW 1

Drew Brees has come down to earth in his past four games and so have the Saints.

3)  Vikings (8-1) – LW 4

Favre and Sidney Rice look to be in sync on the deep ball.

4)  Bengals (7-2) – LW 5

The good, they swept the Steelers. The bad, they lost Cedric Benson to injury for at least a week. The ugly, they signed Larry Johnson. 

5)  Steelers (6-3) – LW 3

They can get right back on track after a loss to the Bengals with a win next week against the struggling Chiefs.

6)  Patriots (6-3) – LW 6

What was Belichick thinking?

7)  Cardinals (6-3) – LW 8

The Cardinals are quietly putting together another potential playoff season, and they play the Rams next week for a chance to go 7-3.

8)  Chargers (6-3) – LW 11

A win at Denver next week will put them in prime position to win the division.

9)  Broncos (6-3) – LW 7

If Orton can’t play next week the Broncos are in big trouble.

10)  Cowboys (6-3) – LW 9

The Cowboys looked like they were for real, but a bad performance against the Packers last week showed that they are just a middle of the pack team.

11)  Eagles (5-4) – LW 12

With Brian Westbrook expected to be out for at least a couple of weeks, rookie LeSean McCoy has to fill in for the crucial playoff run.

12)  Ravens (5-4) – LW 14

The offense isn’t playing up to their potential and the defense doesn’t look like the top 3 defense we are used to seeing.

13)  Texans (5-4) – LW 13

They get a chance to show the world that they are much improved as they play on MNF next week against the Titans.

14)  Packers (5-4) – LW 16

A much-needed win against the Cowboys after a disaster in Tampa last week.

15)  Falcons (5-4) – LW 10

The defense is young and inexperienced and Matt Ryan and Michael Turner don’t look to be the same all-stars we saw last season.

16)  Giants (5-4) – LW 15

They got lucky with the both the Eagles and Cowboys losing last week.

17)  Jaguars (5-4) – LW 21

MJD ran all over the Bills. Watch out for the dangerous Jags.

18)  Dolphins (4-5) – LW 17

They escaped with a win against the Bucs, but it came at a cost as Ronnie Brown was placed on the IR, ending his season.

19)  Panthers (4-5) – LW 22

Is this the same team we saw in the beginning of the season?

20)  49ers (4-5) – LW 20

Their trying to build on a solid defensive performance and a win last week against the Bears.

21)  Titans (3-6) – LW 23

Vince Young has played well, but Chris Johnson looks like a favorite for MVP this season.

22)  Jets (4-5) – LW 18

A rematch against the Patriots next week in the Meadowlands, but I don’t expect the same result as earlier in the season.

23)  Bears (4-5) – LW 19

They have lost four of their last five games, largely in part by turnovers by Cutler, especially in the red-zone.

24)  Seahawks (3-6) – LW 24

Under-achieving on offense and their defense can’t rush the passer.

25)  Redskins (3-6) – LW 26

They finally scored over 20 points and got an impressive win against a good Broncos team. 

26)  Bills (3-6) – LW 25

Head Coach Dick Jauron was fired and T.O. will certainly voice his opinions for the rest of the season.  

27)  Chiefs (2-7) – LW 27

Cutting Larry Johnson was the first step in their attempt to regain some respect.

28)  Bucs (1-8) – LW 29

Josh Freeman has played extremely well in his first two games as a starter. He has the Bucs somewhat interesting again.

29)  Raiders (2-7) – LW 28

They have no weapons on offense and they seemingly get worse and worse every week.

30)  Lions (1-8) – LW 30

One positive piece of news for the Lions, they play the Browns next week.

31)  Rams (1-8) – LW 31

The Rams have one of the best running backs in the league and a great defensive mind as their head coach so there is plenty of upside ahead. 

32)  Browns (1-8) – LW 32

I thought scoring zero points and not coming any where near field goal range against the Ravens was pretty bad, but Brady Quinn throwing two Hail Mary passes out of bounds is just pathetic.

NFL Power Rankings (Week 10)

1)  Saints (8-0) – LW 1

They have to avoid a letdown against the dismal Rams next week, but I think they’ll jump on the Rams early.

2)  Colts (8-0) – LW 2

Colts vs Pats next week, I can’t wait.

3)  Steelers (6-2) – LW 7

They’re looking to even up the season series against the hated Bengals.

4)  Vikings (7-1) – LW 3

I suspect no rust coming off their bye week.

5)  Bengals (6-2) – LW 5

The Bengals are looking to sweep the Steelers next week.

6)  Patriots (6-2) – LW 6

They’re back in first place in the AFC East and playing better every week.

7)  Broncos (6-2) – LW 4

Their defense has been consistently solid, but their offense has less than stellar at times.

8)  Cardinals (5-3) – LW 14

The Cardinals are 1-3 at home this year, but 4-0 at home.

9)  Cowboys (6-2) – LW 9

Same talented Cowboys except this time it looks like they are more focused and have less distractions.

10)  Falcons (5-3) – LW 11

Despite not beating their big-time opponents the Falcons are still in a great position to win the wild-card.

11)  Chargers (5-3) – LW 16

Philip Rivers led a late fourth quarter game winning drive against the Giants. Lets see if this momentum can help the Chargers finally play up to their potential and sustain it.

12)  Eagles (5-3) – LW 8

Tough loss against the Cowboys last week. They need a healthy Westbrook to overtake first place in the NFC East.

13)  Texans (5-4) – LW 13

Mistakes at crucial times have killed them, exhibit A was last week folly against Indy.

14)  Ravens (4-4) – LW 10

Cedric Benson ran for 100+ yards in both games against the Raven’s defense. What happened to their heralded run-stopping defense?

15)  Giants (5-4) – LW 15

They have to start showing some sense of urgency if they want to stay in the race for the NFC East.

16)  Packers (4-4) – LW 12

Absolutely horrendous loss in Tampa Bay. There’s nothing more to say.

17)  Dolphins (3-5) – LW 18

Their schedule is rough, and they are a better team than their record insists.

18)  Jets (4-4) – LW 19

Their defense needs to get “nasty” again.

19)  Bears (4-4) – LW 17

The Cardinals had their way with a porous Bears defense, scoring on every possession in the first half.

20)  49ers (3-5) – LW 20

They lost 4 in a row but I wouldn’t panic yet, mainly because of their weak division.

21)  Jaguars (4-4) – LW 22

If their defense limits the damage, they can be dangerous because of their playmakers on offense.

22)  Panthers (3-5) – LW 23

If (this is a huge if) Delhomme can avoid turnovers then the Panthers can turn it around and contend for a playoff spot.

23)  Titans (2-6) – LW 26

Vince Young is playing well, but they’re winning because Chris Johnson is running out of his mind and the defense is playing much better.

24)  Seahawks (3-5) – LW 24

Must win against the Cardinals next week.

25)  Bills (3-5) – LW 21

Fitzpatrick has filled in admirably. Is there a qb controversy?

26)  Redskins (2-6) – LW 25 

Once again the Redskins talent doesn’t live up to their potential.

27)  Chiefs (1-7) – LW 28

A poor offensive line and a quarterback that holds on to the ball until the last possible second aren’t a good combination.

28)  Raiders (2-6) – LW 27

Let’s see if the bye week gave them time to regroup, I doubt it.

29)  Bucs (1-7) – LW 32 

Josh Freeman looked GREAT in his debut.

30)  Lions (1-7) – LW 29

Calvin Johnson comes back next week, that’s positive, I guess.

31)  Rams (1-7) – LW 30

They play the Saints next week, it keeps getting worse.

32)  Browns (1-7) – LW 31

Uh, really, I’m speechless.

LW=Last Week

NFL Power Rankings (Week 3)

Week 3

1)   New York Giants (2-0)

Plaxico Burress who? Mario Manningham and Steve Smith have played like pro-bowlers so far.

2)  Baltimore Ravens (2-0)

Their offense has drastically improved and their defense is always stingey.

3)  Atlanta Falcons (2-0)

“Matty Ice” has picked up where he left off last season and his new toy Tony Gonzalez has been a difference maker. 

4)  Minnesota Vikings (2-0)

 Adrian Peterson is a straight beast and their defense is solid, but I want to see what happens when Brett Favre has to air it out. 

5)  Indianapolis Colts (2-0)

Vintage Peyton Manning against the Dolphins, but they have to find a way to sustain drives and get their defense off the field.

6)  Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1)

Parker and Mendenhall have to get back on track if the Steelers want to repeat. 

7)  New York Jets (2-0)

Their defense is for real and don’t sleep on Sanchez, he looks very comfortable early on in the season. 

8)  New Orleans Saints (2-0)

Drew Brees has the Saints’ offense looking virtually unstoppable. If the defense gets better, watch out for the Saints.

9)  San Diego Chargers (1-1)

 LT’s hurt and defense has key injuries, but Philip Rivers can chuck the pigskin.

10) San Francisco 49ers (2-0)

Mike Singletary has the 49ers playing smash-mouth football and say what you want about Shaun Hill, but he’s 9-3 as the starter.

11) New England Patriots (1-1)

Brady and Belichick don’t look to be on the same page so far and the defense has lost most of its leaders. 

12) Philadelphia Eagles (1-1)

They need McNabb to come back quickly if they want to compete for the top spot in the NFC East.

13) Chicago Bears (1-1)

Jay Cutler has to be more consistent in order for the Bears to make some noise.

14) Dallas Cowboys (1-1)

Their defense gives up too many big plays and Romo needs to limit the turnovers, especially in big spots.

15) Buffalo Bills (1-1)

 Trent Edwards and Fred Jackson have been impressive so far and they could easily be 2-0.

 

J-E-T-S…Jets, Jets, Jets

Mark Sanchez

Finally, a team who talked a lot of smack before a game and backed up the talk with a hard fought victory. Too many times teams of all sports talk smack in the days leading up to a big game and then eventually get absolutely destroyed and embarassed at the hands of the usually better opponent (most recent case of this was the Tennessee vs. Florida game, although Tennessee surprisingly held their own).  The revamped and passionate Jets defense under Rex Ryan played like one of Rex’s former defenses, the 2005 Ravens. The Jets defense baffled Brady and the Patriots offense with their unorthodox formations and unpredictable blitz packages, making the 3 time Super Bowl Champ and 2 time Super Bowl MVP look like a rookie quarterback playing in his first NFL game. Rex Ryan has done a remarkable job so far, turning a middle of the pack at best Jets defense last year into a formidable top 3 defense in the league this year. Oh, and lets not forget Mark Sanchez’s big time touchdown pass to Dustin Keller two minutes into the 3rd quarter which gave the Jets the lead for good. Sanchez reminded me a lot of last year’s Joe Flacco, managing the game and letting his above average running game and top notch defense do most of the work. All in all, I think it was a great win for the Jets and a big stepping stone for the future. As always, your thoughts and comments are encouraged and welcome.

Pats Vs. Bills MNF

Bills vs.Pats

First, I’m going to start by saying “what a great game.” Vintage Tom Brady in the fourth quarter. Except this time he led two scoring drives within the last two minutes of the fourth quarter (granted the second score was basically handed to him by the poor judgement on the part of Leodis McKelvin). Moving on to the Bills, you have to feel bad for Trent Edwards. He played a great game and outperformed Tom Brady for 58 of the 60 minutes. The one knock on Edwards that i have is that he played a little too conservative. He only completed one pass over 25 yards and it was an intermediate crossing route to T.O. who took care of the other 15 or so yards. He needed to try to stretch the field more and use the speed of, in my opinion, one of the most underrated WRs in the league in Lee Evans. Especially since T.O. should get most of the attention from opposing defenses. Edwards checked down too many times to Jackson and his TEs for my liking. All in all, the Bills let an extremely good chance to knock off theinfamous Patriots slip through their hands.