The Broncos fell to 3-8 after a 36-33 loss at home to St.Louis on Sunday. Denver raced out to a 10-0 and 13-7 early lead, but the Rams, behind rookie QB Sam Bradford, stormed back to go on a 26-0 run and take a 33-13 lead midway through the third quarter. Denver stormed back late on the back of three Kyle Orton TD passes- two to Brandon Lloyd and one to Eddie Royal. Denver cut the game to 36-33 and forced the Rams to punt late in the fourth. Denver took over at their own 34 with 1:04 left and only needing a field goal. However, a sack and three straight incompletions finished off the Broncos. It was a disapointing loss but the reality is that Denver got beat by a better team. The Rams are improved and Sam Bradford looks like the real deal. The Broncos once again started off hot, but faltered after that. They did show some guts and pride by getting back into the game when they were down by 20. All in all the Broncos defense failed them once again, turnovers and penalties killed drives, and Kyle Orton couldn't come through in the clutch. Here are my thoughts on the game and events taking place in Dove Valley....
1) The Broncos defense is just as bad as it was two years ago. They couldn't get any pressure on Sam Bradford and he made them pay. He cut them up in the secondary and Broncos had no answers. They also got beat for a touchdown on the same play that the Raiders scored on earlier in the year. That is bad defense and bad coaching. The Broncos simply have bad personnel on their defensive unit.
2) Typical Kyle Orton on Sunday. He plays great in the beginning, doesn't do anything for two quarters, and then plays well with his team down 20 points late in the third quarter. Orton has to go, and he is just not a big time player. He is the "Greatest Meaningless Stats" QB of all time.
3) The Broncos defense is so bad that their offense has to score a touchdown on basically every possession. Their offense isn't good enough to do that, so you are not going to win a lot of games down the stretch.
4) I think Josh McDaniels calls a good game, but he really does abandon the running game too often. He needs to push the running game more, and Knowshon Moreno has played well the last few games.
5) As far as Spygate II goes, I have to believe McDaniels is not that dumb to order someone to videotape the 49ers. I believe the NFL would have found out more on McD's actions, and would have really went after him if really was guilty of everything. You have to believe that McDaniels didn't look at the tape either. Either way, McDaniels made a mistake by not reporting it right away. He made a mistake and that is it. He really did more, then the NFL would have gotten him for it, so there is no sense playing the what if game and second guessing it.
6) The Spygate incident is just another negative point on McDaniels' Broncos resume. He has a lot of people against him, not only in Denver, but all over the country and in the media and in the league. I have defended him on a lot of occasions, but it is hard to defend him on the whole Spygate issue. It is a black eye and a bad situation for the Broncos organization. If McDaniels were to get fired at the end of the season, they you could easily see why. If he doesn't get fired, then he has to win and work hard to get back in the good graces of Denver fans.
7) I think Pat Bowlen is lost. On Monday, an AOL Fanhouse report has Bowlen quoted saying that McDaniels will be back in 2011, he has confidence he can turn it around, and he isn't interested in changing coaches. Then later that night, the Denver Post has a statement from Bowlen saying that he is monitoring McDaniels situation and will wait till the end of the season to make a decision on his future. What the fuck is wrong with Bowlen? He seems confused, lost and completely out of touch with what is going on. Maybe Bowlen hasn't lost it completely, but he seems to be unsure and very undecisive about anything that is going on with his team and franchise. Pat needs to step up and look in the mirror and make a decision at the end of the year. If he stays with McD, then evaluate the organization and make some changes internally. If he fires McD, then he must find the right head coach and still change the way the organization is run.
8) The Broncos head to KC on Sunday. Hopefully, the Broncos can play spoiler and screw up the Chiefs hopes for a division, and maybe we are getting closer and closer to Tebow Time in Denver.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
We have hit the Thanksgiving holiday already, and this post will be a big, long extravaganza. We'll delve into Josh McDaniels status, Tim Tebow's debut, and how to deal with the remainder to this clunker of a Broncos season. Let's start with Josh McDaniels situation in Denver. I'm on record saying that I think McDaniels should get another year in Denver. I believe that you need to give him at least a third season to turn this team around. If the Broncos continue to lose and get blown out a lot their last six games, then I can understand if Pat Bowlen makes a move. If the Broncos do change coaches, then who would they pick? Here is my list of who would be the right candidates and who I would select:
5) John Fox: Fox will probably leave Carolina after this year, and with a good organization around him, he could be a very successful head coach. For the most part, he has won in Carolina, and he certainly could turn the Broncos defense around.
4) Unexpected Head Coach Who Got Fired Unexpectedly: A great example of this would be if someone like Tony Sparano got fired. He would definitely be a guy who could run my franchise. He is a solid coach and could get things going in a hurry in Denver just like he did in Miami.
3) John Harbaugh: He will be a hot coaching candidate from the college ranks. You have to be impressed by the job he did at Stanford. He has NFL coaching experience, and seems to be a real rising star who could adapt to the pro game.
2) Bill Cowher: He is arguably a Hall of Fame coach. He brings instant credibility and a no nonsense approach. He also knows defense, and he could definitely turn around the Broncos defensive flaws.
1) Jon Gruden: To me he is the best choice. He comes with a lot of credibility. He is a star, and he is the flashy name that the Broncos could use. He has coached in the AFC West already, and he loved Tim Tebow and worked with him when Tebow was getting ready for the Draft. Gruden would be my choice in Denver is McDaniels get canned.
With Denver at 3-7, their season is basically over and Broncos fans are stuck watching meaningless games for the next seven weeks. Here is a survival guide to watching the Broncos play out the string.........
1) You still must watch all the games. There are only six games left, and you still need to watch and support your team. The pressure is off, so don't get too upset if they play badly. Just have some beers and try to enjoy the remainder of their games.
2) The debut of Tim Tebow as a starter. This is the main reason to watch their remaining games. I'm thinking that he starts the December 26th game at home vs. Houston. If he starts any earlier, then that would be great, but look for that game.
3) Pick a team to win the AFC West and root against the others. My pick: San Diego. Why not? I wouldn't mind seeing SD steal the West and send the Raiders and Chiefs packing after promising starts for both.
4) Hope the Broncos can play spoiler. We have had our seasons burned by teams playing out the string, so maybe the Broncos can do the same to someone else.
5) Pick a few teams to root for and a few teams to root against and watch it all play out. I'm going to be rooting for New England, Pittsburgh, and Indy to play well and make the playoffs in the AFC. In the NFC, I'm rooting for the Giants, Packers, and Falcons, I am openly rooting against the Jets and Ravens in the AFC and the Bucs, Saints, and Bears in the NFC.
So there you go that is your survival guide to the rest of the NFL season.
Let's get to the picks for Week 12............
Last Week's Record: 6-9-1
Overall Record: 89-67-6
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
New England (-5) over DETROIT: The Pats will find a way to get the job done on a short week on Thanskgiving. The game will be closer then expected, and the Lions will play well, but the Pats get to 9-2.
New Orleans (-3) over DALLAS: The Cowboys have won two in a row. The Saints come in at 7-3. I think that the Saints will win this game, but it will be tough for awhile. New Orleans wins 24-19.
NY JETS (-7) over Cincy: The Bengals have mailed it in. That loss last week to Buffalo was mindboggling and ridiculous. The Jets are winning all these close games and might be the luckiest team in the league. They are due for a blowout and this Thanksgiving night they get it.
Minnesota (+2) over WASHINGTON: The Brad Childress Era is over in Minnesota, and the Vikings might actually show up this week. The Redskins are an enigma, and you can't trust them. I'll bet that the Vikings show up and win on the road.
Pittsburgh (-5) over BUFFALO: Everyone is going to take the Bills because they have played so hard each week. The Steelers come in off of a big win, and they will bury the Bills in Buffalo this week.
HOUSTON (-5) over Tennessee: I can't believe how the season has turned on the Titans. At 5-5, they are turning to Rusty Smith this week. The Texans are a joke defensively, and Gary Kubiak is a disaster as a head coach, but I'll take the Texans this week only based on the fact that the Titans are such a mess right now.
NY GIANTS (-6) over Jacksonville: The Jags are coming in at 6-4 and firmly in the wild card hunt. The G-Men have lost two in a row and are all banged up on offense. These moments are when the Giants respond, and they will this week.
CLEVELAND (-9) over Carolina: The Browns are a good 3-7 team. They will take out their frustrations at home this week over the Panthers.
Tampa Bay (+8) over BALTIMORE: I'm finally going to take the Bucs, which means that they will probably screw me and get blown out in Baltimore. Let's see what happens, but I have a feeling this game will be close.
Philly (-2) over CHICAGO: This a big game for two 7-3 teams. The Bears defense is playing great, but can they stop Michael Vick? We'll find out, but I'm taking the Eagles because of Vick and their defense is going to capitalize on Jay Cutler's turnovers.
Green Bay (+3) over ATLANTA: Great matchup of two NFC contenders. Everyone will take the Falcons because they are at home, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Packers pull off the upset in the Dome. This game could go either way. I'll take the Packers in a thriller.
Miami (+3) over OAKLAND: A lot of people jumped on the Raiders bandwagon last week, but everyone forgot that Jason Campbell is the Raiders QB. Don't count out the Dolphins just yet.
SEATTLE (+2) over Kansas City: The Chiefs know the Chargers are coming and there is nothing they can do about it. They will stumble this week at Seattle. The Seahawks get to 6-5.
INDY (-3) over San Diego: The Chargers are making their run, but this is a tough game for them. Peyton Manning gets it done at home in a really fun matchup.
ARIZONA (+1) over San Francisco: What a disappoint the 49ers have been this year. The Cards get it done at home.
St.Louis (+4) over DENVER: The Broncos season is over, and the Rams will present problems for them. The Broncos will move the ball, but so will the Rams. I expect Sam Bradford to have a big day, and look for the Rams to put this game away late in the fourth.
Final Score: St.Louis-27 Denver-20.
5) John Fox: Fox will probably leave Carolina after this year, and with a good organization around him, he could be a very successful head coach. For the most part, he has won in Carolina, and he certainly could turn the Broncos defense around.
4) Unexpected Head Coach Who Got Fired Unexpectedly: A great example of this would be if someone like Tony Sparano got fired. He would definitely be a guy who could run my franchise. He is a solid coach and could get things going in a hurry in Denver just like he did in Miami.
3) John Harbaugh: He will be a hot coaching candidate from the college ranks. You have to be impressed by the job he did at Stanford. He has NFL coaching experience, and seems to be a real rising star who could adapt to the pro game.
2) Bill Cowher: He is arguably a Hall of Fame coach. He brings instant credibility and a no nonsense approach. He also knows defense, and he could definitely turn around the Broncos defensive flaws.
1) Jon Gruden: To me he is the best choice. He comes with a lot of credibility. He is a star, and he is the flashy name that the Broncos could use. He has coached in the AFC West already, and he loved Tim Tebow and worked with him when Tebow was getting ready for the Draft. Gruden would be my choice in Denver is McDaniels get canned.
With Denver at 3-7, their season is basically over and Broncos fans are stuck watching meaningless games for the next seven weeks. Here is a survival guide to watching the Broncos play out the string.........
1) You still must watch all the games. There are only six games left, and you still need to watch and support your team. The pressure is off, so don't get too upset if they play badly. Just have some beers and try to enjoy the remainder of their games.
2) The debut of Tim Tebow as a starter. This is the main reason to watch their remaining games. I'm thinking that he starts the December 26th game at home vs. Houston. If he starts any earlier, then that would be great, but look for that game.
3) Pick a team to win the AFC West and root against the others. My pick: San Diego. Why not? I wouldn't mind seeing SD steal the West and send the Raiders and Chiefs packing after promising starts for both.
4) Hope the Broncos can play spoiler. We have had our seasons burned by teams playing out the string, so maybe the Broncos can do the same to someone else.
5) Pick a few teams to root for and a few teams to root against and watch it all play out. I'm going to be rooting for New England, Pittsburgh, and Indy to play well and make the playoffs in the AFC. In the NFC, I'm rooting for the Giants, Packers, and Falcons, I am openly rooting against the Jets and Ravens in the AFC and the Bucs, Saints, and Bears in the NFC.
So there you go that is your survival guide to the rest of the NFL season.
Let's get to the picks for Week 12............
Last Week's Record: 6-9-1
Overall Record: 89-67-6
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
New England (-5) over DETROIT: The Pats will find a way to get the job done on a short week on Thanskgiving. The game will be closer then expected, and the Lions will play well, but the Pats get to 9-2.
New Orleans (-3) over DALLAS: The Cowboys have won two in a row. The Saints come in at 7-3. I think that the Saints will win this game, but it will be tough for awhile. New Orleans wins 24-19.
NY JETS (-7) over Cincy: The Bengals have mailed it in. That loss last week to Buffalo was mindboggling and ridiculous. The Jets are winning all these close games and might be the luckiest team in the league. They are due for a blowout and this Thanksgiving night they get it.
Minnesota (+2) over WASHINGTON: The Brad Childress Era is over in Minnesota, and the Vikings might actually show up this week. The Redskins are an enigma, and you can't trust them. I'll bet that the Vikings show up and win on the road.
Pittsburgh (-5) over BUFFALO: Everyone is going to take the Bills because they have played so hard each week. The Steelers come in off of a big win, and they will bury the Bills in Buffalo this week.
HOUSTON (-5) over Tennessee: I can't believe how the season has turned on the Titans. At 5-5, they are turning to Rusty Smith this week. The Texans are a joke defensively, and Gary Kubiak is a disaster as a head coach, but I'll take the Texans this week only based on the fact that the Titans are such a mess right now.
NY GIANTS (-6) over Jacksonville: The Jags are coming in at 6-4 and firmly in the wild card hunt. The G-Men have lost two in a row and are all banged up on offense. These moments are when the Giants respond, and they will this week.
CLEVELAND (-9) over Carolina: The Browns are a good 3-7 team. They will take out their frustrations at home this week over the Panthers.
Tampa Bay (+8) over BALTIMORE: I'm finally going to take the Bucs, which means that they will probably screw me and get blown out in Baltimore. Let's see what happens, but I have a feeling this game will be close.
Philly (-2) over CHICAGO: This a big game for two 7-3 teams. The Bears defense is playing great, but can they stop Michael Vick? We'll find out, but I'm taking the Eagles because of Vick and their defense is going to capitalize on Jay Cutler's turnovers.
Green Bay (+3) over ATLANTA: Great matchup of two NFC contenders. Everyone will take the Falcons because they are at home, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Packers pull off the upset in the Dome. This game could go either way. I'll take the Packers in a thriller.
Miami (+3) over OAKLAND: A lot of people jumped on the Raiders bandwagon last week, but everyone forgot that Jason Campbell is the Raiders QB. Don't count out the Dolphins just yet.
SEATTLE (+2) over Kansas City: The Chiefs know the Chargers are coming and there is nothing they can do about it. They will stumble this week at Seattle. The Seahawks get to 6-5.
INDY (-3) over San Diego: The Chargers are making their run, but this is a tough game for them. Peyton Manning gets it done at home in a really fun matchup.
ARIZONA (+1) over San Francisco: What a disappoint the 49ers have been this year. The Cards get it done at home.
St.Louis (+4) over DENVER: The Broncos season is over, and the Rams will present problems for them. The Broncos will move the ball, but so will the Rams. I expect Sam Bradford to have a big day, and look for the Rams to put this game away late in the fourth.
Final Score: St.Louis-27 Denver-20.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Broncos Go Quielty Into the Night
Well, that was a fun 2010 season. The Broncos 2010 campaign unofficially ended last night at the hands of the San Diego Chargers. The Chargers whipped the Broncos 35-14 at Qualcomm Stadium and sent the Broncos to a 3-7 record-good for last place in the AFC West. The Broncos jumped out to a 7-0 lead after a quick and efficient opening drive. Knowshon Moreno capped it off with a touchdown run. The Broncos defense forced a three and out, but Denver followed with a three and out of its own. After forcing the Chargers into a punting situation, the Broncos gave up a fake punt on fourth and 14. The Chargers followed that with a Phillip Rivers touchdown pass and it was tied a 7. The Chargers defense then took control of the game from there. A Mike Tolbert touchdown run and a touchdown pass from Philip Rivers to Patrick Crayton made it 21-7 at the half. The Chargers got the ball first and put the game away on a Rivers to Darren Sproles catch and run that made it 28-7. The Chargers go to 5-5 and any hopes Denver had of making anything of this season have evaporated. Here are my quick thoughts on the game.........
1) I will keep saying it until someone listens: Kyle Orton is not the guy to lead a franchise. Last night was a perfect example. He starts off well and guides Denver to an early touchdown. After that, he throws a brutal pick with the game tied at 7. He then can't avoid any kind of rush when SD turned up the heat. He can't win big games on the road, and he is 5-15 in his last 20 starts. Forget about the fantasy numbers, we will not win big and make the playoffs with Kyle Orton.
2) This defense is old and a disgrace. We need playmakers at every level. Brian Dawkins looks old and slow. He played awful last night. DJ Williams is inconsistent, and Champ Bailey looks like he wants to find a new team already. We have no pass rush, and I'm still not sold on Don Martindale as a DC. We need to add at least 2 new players in the secondary, 2 more linebackers, and about 3 more linemen.
3) This team seems to unravel when things aren't going their way. They commit so many dumb and timely penalties. Whenever they get down two scores, they seem to lose it. That's a sign of a bad team.
4) How many times are teams going to run fake punts and have it work against us? I haven't been impressed with our special teams since last year.
5) 5-15 in our last 20 games is the worst stretch since the 1971 and 1972 seasons. This is by far the lowest point I have ever witnessed in my life of being a Bronco fan (Born in 1979 started following in 1985).
6) Demaryius Thomas is frail and seems like he will always get hurt his entire career. The guy has shaky hands and is made of glass.
7) The Chargers are going to win the AFC West. They are 5-5 and only one game back. Their schedule is very favorable at the end. Watch out, here comes San Diego.
8) I can't wait for Tim Tebow to take over the reigns. It might be the final two home games of the season. They won't go to Tebow on the road at KC, at Arizona, or at Oakland. Maybe December 26th at home vs. Houston.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Week 11 Picks!
As we get closer towards Thanksgiving, the playoff picture seems to take more shape. If you look at it now the AFC and NFC playoff pictures are pretty similar. In both conferences, the AFC West and NFC West winners will each take one spot. It doesn't matter who wins the West divisions(Kansas City, Oakland, or San Diego in the AFC/St. Louis or Seattle in the NFC) because they will take away one spot from someone. That leaves 5 spots for about 6 legitmate playoff teams. You have NE and the Jets in the East, Baltimore and the Steelers in the North, Indy and the Titans in the South. I'm leaving out Jacksonville, and of course someone could sneak up and snag a spot, but it looks like those 6 will fight for 5 spots. In the NFC, you have Philly and the Giants in the East, Green Bay and Chicago in the North, and New Orleans and Atlanta in the South. I'm leaving out Tampa Bay because I don't think they are a legit playoff team. 12 good teams and only 10 spots. There will be a few good teams that are going to miss the playoffs this year, and this month will start to fit those pieces into the playoff puzzle. Onto the picks for Week 11.........
Last Week's Record: 7-6-1
Overall Record: 83-58-5
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
Oakland (+7) over PITTSBURGH: The Steelers' loss to the Pats on Sunday Night really bothered me. I was high on the Steelers, but it seems like they have too many injuries right now, and they might be leveling off. The Steelers will make the playoffs this year, but this might be a rough stretch for them the next few weeks. The Raiders make a statement and run the ball just enough to pull the upset.
Houston (+7) over NY JETS: The Jets have survived three road games in a row. They should have lost to Denver, Detroit, and Cleveland. The Jets looked like they were dead in all three games, but somehow they were able to pull the game out. I would expect the Jets to win this game, but maybe the Texans make it close. Houston is always dangerous when everyone counts them out. I'll take a chance on the Texans this week.
Baltimore (-10) over CAROLINA: The Panthers are down to Brian St. Pierre at QB, so there is no way you can pick. The Ravens have had 10 days to prepare, and they will get to 7-3 with a big win over Carolina.
TENNESSEE (-7) over Washington: The Titans are a good team, and they will get back on track after two losses in a row. I don't think Washington is dead, but I don't think this is a good week for them. The Titans will get revenge on Albert Haynesworth and get the W.
Detroit (+7) over DALLAS: I'm not going to just think that the Cowboys are going to start playing lights out all of a sudden. Yes, they played great against the Giants last week, but that game was classic NFL. The Lions are still playing hard and tough, and they will give the Cowboys some problems this week.
Green Bay (-3) over MINNESOTA: I don't know what to make of Minnesota anymore. I thought they would win last week and win this week to get them really in the mix. They lost at Chicago to fall to 3-6 and they are basically playing out the string. I'm not sold on the Packers just yet, but maybe the football gods give the Packers the ultimate revenge, and Green Bay throttles the Vikings and sends off Brett Favre with a giant middle finger.
CINCY (-4) over Buffalo: The Bills finally won their first game last week, and the Bengals are falling apart. At 2-7, I wouldn't trust the Bengals, but they will get their third win at home vs. Buffalo.
Cleveland (+2) over JACKSONVILLE: The Jags won on a hail mary last week, so you really can't buy them as a legitimate playoff team at 5-4. The Browns are 3-6 and lost a heartbreaker to the Jets in OT. The last few years, every time you felt that Jacksonville would take the next step, they would lose a game like this. The Browns will play well on the road and beat the Jags in Jacksonville.
KANSAS CITY (-7) over Arizona: The Cards are the worst 3-6 team in football history. Their passing offense is so bad, and it won't help them that they have to travel to Arrowhead this week. You have to be able to throw the ball to have any chance on the road. The Chiefs have lost two in a row, but this game is tailor made for them. The Chiefs are good at home, and they get to 6-4 after burying the Cardinals this week.
Seattle (+12) over NEW ORLEANS: A 12 point spread for the Saints over Seattle!! Really? I love the Seahawks in this matchup. Don't just give New Orleans the thumbs up just yet. The Saints should win this game, but the Seahawks will make it close. Seattle isn't good on the road, but they will give the Saints some trouble.
Atlanta (-3) over ST.LOUIS: If this line was higher, then I would pick the Rams at home. This game could get tricky for the Falcons, but I still see them as the 1 seed in NFC. Matt Ryan might have made the leap last week against the Ravens, and they will win a gutty game against a gutty team in St. Louis.
SAN FRANCISCO (-3) over Tampa Bay: The Bucs are the worst 6-3 team in the history of the NFL. Troy Smith is getting his chance and he is making the most out of it. The Niners get to 4-6 at home with a win over the Bucs.
NEW ENGLAND (-3) over Indy: The best rivalry in the NFL gets going again this week. Pats-Colts is by far the best rivalry in the NFL right now and for the past decade. The Pats rank first in wins since 2000, and the Colts rank second. The Colts rank first in playoff appearances since 2000, and the Pats rank second. It is the NFL's version of Alabama-Auburn, Michigan-Ohio State, and Texas-Oklahoma. Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady is such an attractive matchup. This is a big game of course in the AFC, but with all the injuries to the Colts, then I have to give the edge to the Pats. The Colts will play well and Manning will play great, but this year the Pats and Brady knock the Colts off.
PHILLY (-3) over NY Giants: Michael Vick is playing lights out right now. He is the X-Factor in the NFL right now. He could take the Eagles on his back right now, and he could help them make a run this year. You have to think that Vick will have a bad game sooner or later, but this week I can't bet against him. The G-Men will play well, and even if they lose this week, they should still make a playoff run. This is a tough spot for the Giants, and the Eagles take it at home.
Denver (+10) over SAN DIEGO: Fuck it I'm taking the Broncos this week on the road in the Whale's Vagina. The Broncos looked good last week, but I know that the NFL is a week to week league. This look's like an impossible situation for the Broncos. On the road, with a bad defense, at San Deigo with Philip Rivers coming off a bye week. All signs point to a blowout win by the Chargers and they have owned Denver the past four years. With all that said, I'll take Denver. Why not? They are 3-6, and they aren't going anywhere this season. Everyone expects the Chargers to make their annual run to win the AFC West. Maybe this is the year is doesn't happen. The Broncos pull the shocker in San Diego
Final Score: Denver-27 San Diego-26
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Thursday Night Football Pick!
NFL Network's Thursday Night Football package got off to a good start last week. Host Atlanta defeated Baltimore late in 26-21 win. It was a good start to the weekly TNF games, but there are a few things about the NFL Network broadcast that drives me nuts. First, if you have Rich Eisen, Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders and two sideline reporters at the site of the game, then why do you need to have four broadcasters also doing coverage from back at the NFL network studios in Los Angeles? Secondly, I enjoy the quality of the NFL Network broadcast. They have cool graphics, do a nice job with all the different camera angles, but they should do more on the field, pre-game exclusives. Also, they should be able to have cameras and microphones inside the locker room and get access that no other network should get while doing NFL games. Third, I love Bob Papa as the play-by-play guy, and he works well with Matt Millen. Why did the NFLN add a third person to the booth? If you were going to add a third person, WHY IN THE HELL WOULD YOU ADD JOE THEISMANN????? Anyway, onto the pick for this week's TNF game on NFLN...........
MIAMI (-1) over Chicago: Everyone might jump back on the Bears bandwagon after they knocked off Minnesota last week, but I'm not going to. Has there ever been a more flawed 6-3 team in the history of the NFL? Classic Jay Cutler last week: Up 20-13, deep in Minnesota territory, and the Bears have a third and goal. Cutler rolls right throws back across his body into a group of defenders in the endzone and gets picked off. That play simply sums up Jay Cutler's NFL career so far. Everyone will look at the fact that the Bears have won two in a row, and Miami is starting third string QB Tyler Thigpen. Thigpen can play, and he will be effective. I like the Dolphins in this rematch of the 1985 classic Monday Night game. Fish win it 22-16
MIAMI (-1) over Chicago: Everyone might jump back on the Bears bandwagon after they knocked off Minnesota last week, but I'm not going to. Has there ever been a more flawed 6-3 team in the history of the NFL? Classic Jay Cutler last week: Up 20-13, deep in Minnesota territory, and the Bears have a third and goal. Cutler rolls right throws back across his body into a group of defenders in the endzone and gets picked off. That play simply sums up Jay Cutler's NFL career so far. Everyone will look at the fact that the Bears have won two in a row, and Miami is starting third string QB Tyler Thigpen. Thigpen can play, and he will be effective. I like the Dolphins in this rematch of the 1985 classic Monday Night game. Fish win it 22-16
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Broncos Blitz Chiefs 49-29!
Where the hell was that team all season long? That was the question I kept asking as I watched the Broncos dismantle the Chiefs 49-29 on Sunday at Invesco Field. The Broncos jumped out to a 21-0 first quarter lead, with Kyle Orton throwing three touchdown passes. From there, the Broncos capitalized on a KC missed field goal, and Tim Tebow added another touchdown run to give the Broncos a 28-0 lead. Denver made it 35-0 when Jason Hunter picked up a Matt Cassel fumble and returned it 75 yards for a touchdown. With the score 35-10 in the third quarter, Tim Tebow threw his first NFL pass, a two yard touchdown pass, to give Denver a 42-10 lead. Brandon Lloyd added a sensational fingertip and toe catch in the corner of the endzone to give Denver a 49-17 fourth quarter advantage. The Chiefs tacked on two meaningless touchdowns and the final score ended up 49-29. It was a great day for the Broncos and their fans. Here are my quick thoughts about the win over KC:
1) The Broncos started the game with an offensive onslaught, and the Chiefs could not recover. That start reminded me of how past Broncos teams would start games at home. Even in the post-Elway era, the Broncos always seemed to jump out to a big lead early in the first quarter or first half, and the crowd would take over and the game would be out of reach. 21-0 after the first quarter was fantastic and something we have not seen a lot in the McDaniels Era.
2) Kyle Orton was sensational. I'm very critical of Orton, and I am not the biggest fan, but he played lights out on Sunday. 22-34 for 296 yards and 4 touchdowns is a great day, and Orton's throws were all crisp and right on the money. Now, he has to follow this up with a good game on the road next week.
3) Josh McDaniels did a great job game planning and calling plays. Part of the reason for the success in the first half was how McD called the offensive plays. He kept KC off balance and he mixed in plenty of running and play action passes. It was one of the better games McD has called all season.
4) The Broncos defense came to play and showed up. They were flying around to the football, they played fast and aggressive and shut down the Chiefs number one running attack. They even got four sacks and returned a fumble for a touchdown. It looked completely different then what we saw against the Raiders. I'm not happy about giving up 29 points, but let's face it, the Broncos were in soft coverage the entire second half, and they were protecting a big lead. The way you play defense changes when you have a huge lead.
5) The Broncos just looked crisp, sharp, and quicker then the Chiefs. Maybe it was the bye week or maybe it was playing at home, but Denver just looked flat out good on Sunday. If they play to this level every week, they could be win any game left on their schedule.
6) I'm all for the orange jerseys becoming our dominant jersey for home games. I love the orange alternates. I'm a fan of the blue too, but the orange jersey just looks good, and it feels like the Broncos should be wearing them. Here is what my plan would be: Wear the orange as the main home jersey for six games. For two games wear the blue jerseys. If the Broncos are playing at home on SNF, MNF, or TNF, then wear the blue jerseys and the blue pants. In any event, bring back the orange for good.
7) I'd like to welcome Todd Haley to the All-Douchebag Team. What a disgrace by Haley on Sunday! I can't believe he didn't shake McDaniels' hand after the game was over. I'm sorry by McDaniels didn't do anything in the game that could be perceived as cheap, bush league, or running up the score. Haley is a whiny coach, and his persona is that of someone who can't control his emotions. I didn't like Haley in Arizona, and now it is on. I can't stand him. I think Haley was just pissed at how his first place team got completely dominated by the last place Broncos. I think he was embarrased and was taking his frustrations out on McDaniels. I don't care what happens in the game, it is the NFL. After the game, walk over to midfield and shake the other coaches hand.
8) I'm not going to put too much stock in this game but it was a great win. The Broncos and their fans needed that. It was one of those games where everything went the Broncos way. It was simply their day. They find themselves at 3-6 and only two games out of the lead in the AFC West with seven games to play. The Broncos travel to San Diego this week for a huge game on Monday Night against the 4-5 Chargers. It will be a very tough test and hard task for Denver on the road, but at least we have another week to stay alive and fight.
1) The Broncos started the game with an offensive onslaught, and the Chiefs could not recover. That start reminded me of how past Broncos teams would start games at home. Even in the post-Elway era, the Broncos always seemed to jump out to a big lead early in the first quarter or first half, and the crowd would take over and the game would be out of reach. 21-0 after the first quarter was fantastic and something we have not seen a lot in the McDaniels Era.
2) Kyle Orton was sensational. I'm very critical of Orton, and I am not the biggest fan, but he played lights out on Sunday. 22-34 for 296 yards and 4 touchdowns is a great day, and Orton's throws were all crisp and right on the money. Now, he has to follow this up with a good game on the road next week.
3) Josh McDaniels did a great job game planning and calling plays. Part of the reason for the success in the first half was how McD called the offensive plays. He kept KC off balance and he mixed in plenty of running and play action passes. It was one of the better games McD has called all season.
4) The Broncos defense came to play and showed up. They were flying around to the football, they played fast and aggressive and shut down the Chiefs number one running attack. They even got four sacks and returned a fumble for a touchdown. It looked completely different then what we saw against the Raiders. I'm not happy about giving up 29 points, but let's face it, the Broncos were in soft coverage the entire second half, and they were protecting a big lead. The way you play defense changes when you have a huge lead.
5) The Broncos just looked crisp, sharp, and quicker then the Chiefs. Maybe it was the bye week or maybe it was playing at home, but Denver just looked flat out good on Sunday. If they play to this level every week, they could be win any game left on their schedule.
6) I'm all for the orange jerseys becoming our dominant jersey for home games. I love the orange alternates. I'm a fan of the blue too, but the orange jersey just looks good, and it feels like the Broncos should be wearing them. Here is what my plan would be: Wear the orange as the main home jersey for six games. For two games wear the blue jerseys. If the Broncos are playing at home on SNF, MNF, or TNF, then wear the blue jerseys and the blue pants. In any event, bring back the orange for good.
7) I'd like to welcome Todd Haley to the All-Douchebag Team. What a disgrace by Haley on Sunday! I can't believe he didn't shake McDaniels' hand after the game was over. I'm sorry by McDaniels didn't do anything in the game that could be perceived as cheap, bush league, or running up the score. Haley is a whiny coach, and his persona is that of someone who can't control his emotions. I didn't like Haley in Arizona, and now it is on. I can't stand him. I think Haley was just pissed at how his first place team got completely dominated by the last place Broncos. I think he was embarrased and was taking his frustrations out on McDaniels. I don't care what happens in the game, it is the NFL. After the game, walk over to midfield and shake the other coaches hand.
8) I'm not going to put too much stock in this game but it was a great win. The Broncos and their fans needed that. It was one of those games where everything went the Broncos way. It was simply their day. They find themselves at 3-6 and only two games out of the lead in the AFC West with seven games to play. The Broncos travel to San Diego this week for a huge game on Monday Night against the 4-5 Chargers. It will be a very tough test and hard task for Denver on the road, but at least we have another week to stay alive and fight.
Friday, November 12, 2010
NFL Week 10 Picks!
In my last post, I referenced how every year teams that hit the midway point at 6-2 can hit a bad stretch, fall apart, and end up out of the playoffs. In addition, teams that are at 4-4 or in some cases 3-5 get on a hot streak and come out of nowhere to make the playoffs. With that said, here are this year's darkhorse candidates at the midway point:
AFC
1-Miami (4-4)
2-Cleveland (3-5)
3-San Diego (4-5) *Started 3-5
4-Oakland (5-4) *Started 4-4
5-Jacksonville (4-4)
6-Houston (4-4)
NFC
1-Washington (4-4)
2-Minnesota (3-5)
3-St.Louis (4-4)
4-Seattle (4-4)
5-Arizona (3-5)
Out of that group, the AFC has a lot more teams that could make a run. Easily, San Diego and Miami could jump up and snag a playoff spot. The Raiders now can make a case, as can Houston. Jacksonville looks like they won't make a run, but the real darkhorse could be Cleveland. They will probably fall short, but they could make things very interesting.
The NFC will have at least one team make a run and someone has to win the NFC West. Minnesota has the most talent, and they would be the most likely team out of the NFC group to make a run. Washington could do it, but all the Shanahan-McNabb controversy could kill any chance. Look out for the Vikings.
Here is the list of 6-2 teams that might fall apart in the second half:
AFC
1-Pittsburgh (6-2)
2-Baltimore (6-3)
3-NY Jets (6-2)
4-New England (6-2)
NFC
1-Atlanta (6-2)
2-NY Giants (6-2)
One of those teams could struggle down the stretch and miss the playoffs. Out of that group, you would have to think that the Jets would be the team most likely to have trouble in the second half. If I'm a Jet fan, then I am still worried about how my team has played and what could take place in the second half of the season.
Onto the picks.................
Last Week's Record (4-8-1)
This Week's Record (1-0-0)
Overall Record (76-52-4)
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
Cincy (+7) over INDY: The Colts will win this game at home, but I just see it being closer than expected. The Colts will find a way to win their division, but with all their injuries, each week could be a stuggle. Look for a late win by Peyton and company.
Houston (+2) over JACKSONVILLE: I can't really figure these two teams out. I'm not ready to bury the Texans just yet, but you can't trust them. I'm going to go with them this week, but if they lose, then I'm done with the Texans. Big game for both franchises.
MIAMI (+3) over Tennessee: The Dolphins go back to Chad Pennington this week. Chad Henne was struggling and the Fish have trouble scoring touchdowns. I still believe Miami is a good team, and they will take care of business at home this week. It will be a good game to watch, and it will interesting to see how Randy Moss helps the Titans. Call this Miami-23 Tennessee-20.
BUFFALO (-2) over Detroit: This is the week the Bills finally pop their cherry. They get backup Shaun Hill starting in place of injured Matt Stafford, and the Lions aren't very good on the road. The Bills have been playing well, and they get their first win this week.
CLEVELAND (+3) over NY Jets: The upset of the week might not really be an upset. The Browns have played great the last three weeks, and they dismantled the Pats at home. The Jets haven't played well their last three games. The Jets are the better team, but I like the running game that I see out of the Browns. The Dawg Pound will be rocking again as the Browns pull off the stunner.
Carolina (+8) over TAMPA BAY: I know the Panthers stink, but the Bucs shouldn't be favored this much over anyone. The Bucs will win the game, but the Panthers will play hard and keep it tight.
St.Louis (+6) over SAN FRANCISCO: Now that the World Series is over, the SF fans can get back to watching the disgraceful Niners. Why would anyone assume that the 49ers are going to win this game easily? Sam Bradford pulls one out on the road to get the Rams to 5-4.
Seattle (+3) over ARIZONA: The Cards are just awful on offense. The Seahawks aren't very good on defense. This is a classic crappy cheap NFC West matchup. I'll take Seattle on the road.
Dallas (+14) over NY GIANTS: Classic trap game for the G-Men. Dallas will play with some spirit this week after Wade Phillips got canned. The Giants will win, but I see this game being a lot closer than expected. The Cowboys will put up a fight, but the Giants will get to 7-2.
PITTSBURGH (-3) over New England: Here is why I like the Steelers: 1) They are at home on Sunday Night. 2) Their offense will give the Pats defense problems. 3) The Pats are really good, but they aren't ready for the big-time. The Pats are going to play better this season when no one expects to. This game is a great SNF matchup, but it will be tough for the Pats to win it. Steelers win by a touchdown.
Philly (-3) over WASHINGTON: The Eagles could be a team that just takes off in the second half of the season. The Michael Vick situation just makes them a fun team to watch. The Eagles will go into DC and knock off the Redskins this week. The McNabb and Shanahan situation has thrown me off on what to expect from the Skins this year.
Minnesota (-1) over CHICAGO: Look, the Bears aren't any good, but they are still somehow 5-3. I could see the Bears winning this game at home, but the Vikings have more talent and they are the better team. I also picking Minnesota because at 3-5, they can't afford to lose another game, and it will be fun to have them fighting for playoff survival every week.
Kansas City (-1) over DENVER: Anyone who has watched football this year should know that this line is a joke. The Broncos simply aren't any good this year, and they don't matchup well with the Chiefs at all. The Chiefs are going to stuff it down Denver's throat with Jamal Charles and Thomas Jones. The Broncos don't have anyone to matchup with Tony Moeaki and Dexter McCluster. The Broncos homefield advantage doesn't matter anymore. When you are a bad team, it doesn't matter if you play at home. Bad teams struggle no matter where the game is played. This is a matchup nightmare for Denver. KC comes in a whips the Broncos.
Final Score: KC-27 Denver-13
AFC
1-Miami (4-4)
2-Cleveland (3-5)
3-San Diego (4-5) *Started 3-5
4-Oakland (5-4) *Started 4-4
5-Jacksonville (4-4)
6-Houston (4-4)
NFC
1-Washington (4-4)
2-Minnesota (3-5)
3-St.Louis (4-4)
4-Seattle (4-4)
5-Arizona (3-5)
Out of that group, the AFC has a lot more teams that could make a run. Easily, San Diego and Miami could jump up and snag a playoff spot. The Raiders now can make a case, as can Houston. Jacksonville looks like they won't make a run, but the real darkhorse could be Cleveland. They will probably fall short, but they could make things very interesting.
The NFC will have at least one team make a run and someone has to win the NFC West. Minnesota has the most talent, and they would be the most likely team out of the NFC group to make a run. Washington could do it, but all the Shanahan-McNabb controversy could kill any chance. Look out for the Vikings.
Here is the list of 6-2 teams that might fall apart in the second half:
AFC
1-Pittsburgh (6-2)
2-Baltimore (6-3)
3-NY Jets (6-2)
4-New England (6-2)
NFC
1-Atlanta (6-2)
2-NY Giants (6-2)
One of those teams could struggle down the stretch and miss the playoffs. Out of that group, you would have to think that the Jets would be the team most likely to have trouble in the second half. If I'm a Jet fan, then I am still worried about how my team has played and what could take place in the second half of the season.
Onto the picks.................
Last Week's Record (4-8-1)
This Week's Record (1-0-0)
Overall Record (76-52-4)
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
Cincy (+7) over INDY: The Colts will win this game at home, but I just see it being closer than expected. The Colts will find a way to win their division, but with all their injuries, each week could be a stuggle. Look for a late win by Peyton and company.
Houston (+2) over JACKSONVILLE: I can't really figure these two teams out. I'm not ready to bury the Texans just yet, but you can't trust them. I'm going to go with them this week, but if they lose, then I'm done with the Texans. Big game for both franchises.
MIAMI (+3) over Tennessee: The Dolphins go back to Chad Pennington this week. Chad Henne was struggling and the Fish have trouble scoring touchdowns. I still believe Miami is a good team, and they will take care of business at home this week. It will be a good game to watch, and it will interesting to see how Randy Moss helps the Titans. Call this Miami-23 Tennessee-20.
BUFFALO (-2) over Detroit: This is the week the Bills finally pop their cherry. They get backup Shaun Hill starting in place of injured Matt Stafford, and the Lions aren't very good on the road. The Bills have been playing well, and they get their first win this week.
CLEVELAND (+3) over NY Jets: The upset of the week might not really be an upset. The Browns have played great the last three weeks, and they dismantled the Pats at home. The Jets haven't played well their last three games. The Jets are the better team, but I like the running game that I see out of the Browns. The Dawg Pound will be rocking again as the Browns pull off the stunner.
Carolina (+8) over TAMPA BAY: I know the Panthers stink, but the Bucs shouldn't be favored this much over anyone. The Bucs will win the game, but the Panthers will play hard and keep it tight.
St.Louis (+6) over SAN FRANCISCO: Now that the World Series is over, the SF fans can get back to watching the disgraceful Niners. Why would anyone assume that the 49ers are going to win this game easily? Sam Bradford pulls one out on the road to get the Rams to 5-4.
Seattle (+3) over ARIZONA: The Cards are just awful on offense. The Seahawks aren't very good on defense. This is a classic crappy cheap NFC West matchup. I'll take Seattle on the road.
Dallas (+14) over NY GIANTS: Classic trap game for the G-Men. Dallas will play with some spirit this week after Wade Phillips got canned. The Giants will win, but I see this game being a lot closer than expected. The Cowboys will put up a fight, but the Giants will get to 7-2.
PITTSBURGH (-3) over New England: Here is why I like the Steelers: 1) They are at home on Sunday Night. 2) Their offense will give the Pats defense problems. 3) The Pats are really good, but they aren't ready for the big-time. The Pats are going to play better this season when no one expects to. This game is a great SNF matchup, but it will be tough for the Pats to win it. Steelers win by a touchdown.
Philly (-3) over WASHINGTON: The Eagles could be a team that just takes off in the second half of the season. The Michael Vick situation just makes them a fun team to watch. The Eagles will go into DC and knock off the Redskins this week. The McNabb and Shanahan situation has thrown me off on what to expect from the Skins this year.
Minnesota (-1) over CHICAGO: Look, the Bears aren't any good, but they are still somehow 5-3. I could see the Bears winning this game at home, but the Vikings have more talent and they are the better team. I also picking Minnesota because at 3-5, they can't afford to lose another game, and it will be fun to have them fighting for playoff survival every week.
Kansas City (-1) over DENVER: Anyone who has watched football this year should know that this line is a joke. The Broncos simply aren't any good this year, and they don't matchup well with the Chiefs at all. The Chiefs are going to stuff it down Denver's throat with Jamal Charles and Thomas Jones. The Broncos don't have anyone to matchup with Tony Moeaki and Dexter McCluster. The Broncos homefield advantage doesn't matter anymore. When you are a bad team, it doesn't matter if you play at home. Bad teams struggle no matter where the game is played. This is a matchup nightmare for Denver. KC comes in a whips the Broncos.
Final Score: KC-27 Denver-13
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
The Horse Race That Is the NFL Season
There are certain trends that go unnoticed during an NFL season. One of the trends that has become a factor is so much can change in the standings after the halfway point of the season. Let's be honest the really good teams we continue to play well all year long, unless they get ravaged by a major injury. The Pats, Steelers, Ravens, and Colts will all probably play well the rest of the way, but someone will make a run from the back of the pack. I started noticing this when in the past I would always draw out the playoff pairings at the halfway point. Every year, it seems like teams have really bad second halves and some random team comes out of nowhere, gets hot and makes the playoffs. A team that is 6-2 just collapses down the stretch, and a team at 4-4 or 3-5 makes a run and sneaks in the playoffs, while everyone is scratching their heads and saying to themselves: How did that happen? Take a look at these facts going back to 2002 when this current realignment and playoff format (4 Division winners+ 2 Wildcards):
2009:
-Started 6-2 and failed to make the playoffs:
Denver and Pittsburgh
-Started 4-4 and made the playoffs:
Jets and Baltimore
2008:
-Started 6-2 and failed to make the playoffs:
Washington
-Started 4-4 and made the playoffs:
Miami
-Started 3-5 and made the playoffs:
San Diego
2007:
-Started 6-2 and failed to make the playoffs:
Detroit
-Started 4-4 and made the playoffs:
San Diego, Tampa Bay, and Seattle
2006:
-Started 6-2 and failed to make the playoffs:
Denver
-Started 4-4 and made the playoffs:
Jets and Dallas
2005:
-Started 6-2 and failed to make the playoffs:
Atlanta
-Started 4-4 and made the playoffs:
New England
2004:
-Started 6-3 and failed to make the playoffs:
Baltimore and Jacksonville
-Started 4-4 and made the playoffs:
Green Bay and St.Louis
2003:
-Started 6-2 and failed to make the playoffs:
Minnesota
-Started 4-4 and made the playoffs:
Green Bay
2002:
-Started 6-2 and failed to make the playoffs:
Denver, San Diego, and New Orleans
-Started 4-4 and made the playoffs:
Indianapolis, Tennessee, Oakland, and New York Giants
-Started 3-5 and made the playoffs:
New York Jets
My overall point is that the NFL season is like a horse race: Teams jump out in front and take the lead, other teams kind of trot in the middle of the pack at the halfway point, those teams in front start to run out of gas, and those teams in the middle come up and take over the race down the stretch. It will be fun to see which teams could potentially fall apart and which teams will make their move.
Thursday Night Pick!
Last week, I went 4-8-1 for my first really bad week of the year. That brings my 75-52-4 this year, so I am still 23 games over .500. This week we start the Thursday Night games on NFL Network. I actually love the NFL Network Thursday Night games. I love how it starts in November, and the weather starts to turn into real football weather. I love turning on the fireplace, pouring some beers and watching the Thursday game. It has become a staple of the second half of the season, and something that I look forward to now. This year's slate of games on Thursday Night is shaping up to be really good. Baltimore and Atlanta is great matchup for the first Thursday of the year.
Thursday Night Game:
ATLANTA (-1) over Baltimore: This game is a toss up, and I'm only picking the Falcons because the Falcons are a really good home team. Matt Ryan is like 16-1 as a starter at the Georgia Dome, and I will take the Falcons at home on a short week.
NFL 2010: At the Halfway Point!
We have reached the halfway point of the NFL season. Let's take a look out our breakdown of where each team in each conference stands at this point. Here is our listing eight games down and eight games to go......
LEGIT SUPER BOWL CONTENDERS:
1-Pittsburgh (6-2)
2-New England (6-2)
3-Baltimore (6-2)
4-New York Jets (6-2)
5-Indianapolis (5-3)
LEGIT PLAYOFF TEAMS
6-Miami (4-4)
7-Tennessee (5-3)
8-Kansas City (5-3)
LEGIT PLAYOFF TEAMS
6-Miami (4-4)
7-Tennessee (5-3)
8-Kansas City (5-3)
9-San Diego (4-5)
ON THE BUBBLE
10-Oakland (5-4)
ON THE BUBBLE
10-Oakland (5-4)
11-Cleveland (3-5)
PLAYOFF PRETENDERS
12-Jacksonville (4-4)
PLAYOFF PRETENDERS
12-Jacksonville (4-4)
13-Houston (4-4)
ON THE CLOCK
ON THE CLOCK
14-Cincinnati (2-6)
15-Denver (2-6)
16-Buffalo (0-8)
15-Denver (2-6)
16-Buffalo (0-8)
NFC
LEGIT SUPER BOWL TEAMS
1-New York Giants (6-2)
2-Atlanta (6-2)
LEGIT PLAYOFF TEAMS
3-Green Bay (6-3)
4-Philadelphia (5-3)
5-New Orleans (6-3)
ON THE BUBBLE
7-Chicago (5-3)
8-Minnesota (3-5)
LEGIT SUPER BOWL TEAMS
1-New York Giants (6-2)
2-Atlanta (6-2)
LEGIT PLAYOFF TEAMS
3-Green Bay (6-3)
4-Philadelphia (5-3)
5-New Orleans (6-3)
ON THE BUBBLE
7-Chicago (5-3)
8-Minnesota (3-5)
9-Seattle (4-4)
10-St. Louis (4-4)
PLAYOFF PRETENDERS
11-Tampa Bay (5-3)
12-Washington (4-4)
ON THE CLOCK
13-Detroit (2-6)
14-Arizona (3-5)
PLAYOFF PRETENDERS
11-Tampa Bay (5-3)
12-Washington (4-4)
ON THE CLOCK
13-Detroit (2-6)
14-Arizona (3-5)
15-Dallas (1-7)
16-Carolina (1-7)
16-Carolina (1-7)
Thursday, November 4, 2010
NFL Week 9 Picks!
We hit November in the NFL, and that means that teams start to separate from the pack. Teams that got off to hot start, will start to fade (Chicago and Tampa Bay) and teams that are struggling can start to get hot and make a run (San Diego and maybe Minnesota). Also, caught up in all the hoopla regarding the demise of the Broncos is the fact that I went 10-3 last week and I am standing at 71-44-3 for the season. That puts me at 24 games over .500 as we head into November. Let's see if I can keep my streak of picking games going. Onto the picks for Week 9..........
Last Week's Record: 10-3
Overall Record: 71-44-3
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
BUFFALO (+3) over Chicago (In Toronto): The Bills are playing hard every week and almost won the last two games at Baltimore and KC. They get stuck with their traditional Toronto game, which completely takes away any homefield advantage that they would have. The Bears come in limping 4-3, and their offense is a mess. This might be the week that the Bills get their first win, and the Bears continue their freefall.
HOUSTON (+3) over San Diego: This is the toughest game for me to pick this week. I think San Diego is still a good team, eventhough they shoot themselves in the foot every game. The Texans' defense is not good at all, but their offense can score points. This could be a shootout, but I will take the Texans at home in a nailbiter. This looks like a 34-31 Houston win.
CAROLINA (+7) over New Orleans: The Panthers always play the Saints tough. They almost beat them in New Orleans in the beginning of the year. The Saints beat the Steelers last week, but I'm still not sold that they cured all of their problems. This game will come down to the wire.
MINNESOTA (-7) over Arizona: Is Minnesota done? Do they have life? We will find out this week. I still think they can make a run at 9-7 and that might get them in the wild card slot. They should take care of business over a weak and struggling Cardinals team.
ATLANTA (-7) over Tampa Bay: The Bucs are the "Not Ready for Primetime Players" of the 2010 NFL season. The Falcons are really good at home. They will run the ball and force the Bucs offense into turnovers. This has 31-10 Falcons written all over it.
DETROIT (+4) over New York Jets: Two things that are going to kill the Jets Super Bowl aspirations: Rex Ryan's game management and Mark Sanchez. Rex is lost sometimes in these close games, and if the offense is sputtering or not in rhythm, then Sanchez has a rough time out there. Look out for the Lions. They are getting better every week. This is my hunch game of the week. Lions-22 Jets-20
Miami (+5) over BALTIMORE: I think the Ravens will win the game, but I see this being another close game. This game is huge and will have major implications on the AFC playoff picture down the road. This game will factor in the tiebreakers for the wild card hunt. The Ravens win a close one at home.
New England (-4) over CLEVELAND: Belichick vs. Mangini again! The Browns have played well the last few games, but this line is too low. The Pats will play this close to the vest, but they will get the job done on the road. The Pats go to 7-1 and my preseason pick of them winning the Super Bowl doesn't look so bad right now.
SEATTLE (+7) over New York Giants: The G-Men are the best team in the NFC, but they will go down at Seattle this week. The Seahawks are a different team at home, and they are the favorites to win the West. Qwest Field is a house of horrors for the Giants (See 2205 and 2006), and their problems will continue this week.
OAKLAND (-2) over Kansas City: The last time the Chiefs and Raiders played a meaningful game against each other was 2002. The Raiders ground game has looked great the last two weeks, and you have to think they will be able to run the ball this week. The Chiefs have played well on the road, but my gut says to go with the Raiders this week. Look for Oakland to grind out a close victory at home.
PHILLY(-3) over Indy: The Michael Vick show returns and look for the Eagles to win an entertaining game at home. The Eagles will bottle up Peyton Manning just enough to win this game. Vick makes a play or two at the end to seal it.
GREEN BAY (-7) over Dallas: The Cowboys lost Tony Romo and they have lost their way. The Packers got a huge victory last week at the Jets, and now look to beat up on the defenseless Cowboys, and they will on SNF in Lambeau.
Pittsburgh (-4) over CINCY: No way the Steelers lose back to back games, and Pittsburgh got swept by Cincy last year. They will talking about that all week long in Pittsburgh. The Bengals are falling fast and the question in Cincy will be: What are we going to do with Carson Palmer?
BYE WEEK (-7) over Denver: The Broncos have a bye this week, so they can't lose. The way they are playing their defense couldn't stop anyone even if they weren't playing anyone. At 2-6, I'm stuck waiting for Kyle Orton to break his arm, so I can finally see the Tim Tebow Era begin.
Last Week's Record: 10-3
Overall Record: 71-44-3
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
BUFFALO (+3) over Chicago (In Toronto): The Bills are playing hard every week and almost won the last two games at Baltimore and KC. They get stuck with their traditional Toronto game, which completely takes away any homefield advantage that they would have. The Bears come in limping 4-3, and their offense is a mess. This might be the week that the Bills get their first win, and the Bears continue their freefall.
HOUSTON (+3) over San Diego: This is the toughest game for me to pick this week. I think San Diego is still a good team, eventhough they shoot themselves in the foot every game. The Texans' defense is not good at all, but their offense can score points. This could be a shootout, but I will take the Texans at home in a nailbiter. This looks like a 34-31 Houston win.
CAROLINA (+7) over New Orleans: The Panthers always play the Saints tough. They almost beat them in New Orleans in the beginning of the year. The Saints beat the Steelers last week, but I'm still not sold that they cured all of their problems. This game will come down to the wire.
MINNESOTA (-7) over Arizona: Is Minnesota done? Do they have life? We will find out this week. I still think they can make a run at 9-7 and that might get them in the wild card slot. They should take care of business over a weak and struggling Cardinals team.
ATLANTA (-7) over Tampa Bay: The Bucs are the "Not Ready for Primetime Players" of the 2010 NFL season. The Falcons are really good at home. They will run the ball and force the Bucs offense into turnovers. This has 31-10 Falcons written all over it.
DETROIT (+4) over New York Jets: Two things that are going to kill the Jets Super Bowl aspirations: Rex Ryan's game management and Mark Sanchez. Rex is lost sometimes in these close games, and if the offense is sputtering or not in rhythm, then Sanchez has a rough time out there. Look out for the Lions. They are getting better every week. This is my hunch game of the week. Lions-22 Jets-20
Miami (+5) over BALTIMORE: I think the Ravens will win the game, but I see this being another close game. This game is huge and will have major implications on the AFC playoff picture down the road. This game will factor in the tiebreakers for the wild card hunt. The Ravens win a close one at home.
New England (-4) over CLEVELAND: Belichick vs. Mangini again! The Browns have played well the last few games, but this line is too low. The Pats will play this close to the vest, but they will get the job done on the road. The Pats go to 7-1 and my preseason pick of them winning the Super Bowl doesn't look so bad right now.
SEATTLE (+7) over New York Giants: The G-Men are the best team in the NFC, but they will go down at Seattle this week. The Seahawks are a different team at home, and they are the favorites to win the West. Qwest Field is a house of horrors for the Giants (See 2205 and 2006), and their problems will continue this week.
OAKLAND (-2) over Kansas City: The last time the Chiefs and Raiders played a meaningful game against each other was 2002. The Raiders ground game has looked great the last two weeks, and you have to think they will be able to run the ball this week. The Chiefs have played well on the road, but my gut says to go with the Raiders this week. Look for Oakland to grind out a close victory at home.
PHILLY(-3) over Indy: The Michael Vick show returns and look for the Eagles to win an entertaining game at home. The Eagles will bottle up Peyton Manning just enough to win this game. Vick makes a play or two at the end to seal it.
GREEN BAY (-7) over Dallas: The Cowboys lost Tony Romo and they have lost their way. The Packers got a huge victory last week at the Jets, and now look to beat up on the defenseless Cowboys, and they will on SNF in Lambeau.
Pittsburgh (-4) over CINCY: No way the Steelers lose back to back games, and Pittsburgh got swept by Cincy last year. They will talking about that all week long in Pittsburgh. The Bengals are falling fast and the question in Cincy will be: What are we going to do with Carson Palmer?
BYE WEEK (-7) over Denver: The Broncos have a bye this week, so they can't lose. The way they are playing their defense couldn't stop anyone even if they weren't playing anyone. At 2-6, I'm stuck waiting for Kyle Orton to break his arm, so I can finally see the Tim Tebow Era begin.
Broncos Midseason Mailbag Part 2
Let's continue with the questions and answers on the Broncos at the midway point........
Will Josh McDaniels get fired after this season?
I don't think Pat Bowlen will fire McD after this year. Obviously, if Denver finished 2-14 or 3-13 things could get a little dicey and the discussion will be more heated about it, but I think Mr. B keeps McDaniels around for year three. I don't think Bowlen wants to pay McDaniels salary, part of Mike Shanahan's and then a new coach's salary. Plus, I don't think Bowlen wants to deal with the uncertainty of a coaching change in the midst of the looming lockout and labor issues. McDaniels will survive this season in my estimation.
Do you think McDaniels should be fired?
I would give McDaniels another year personally. I think you need to let this process play out. Look, a lot of McDaniels' moves have been controversial and a lot of them have not worked out, but you need to give him at least three years, three drafts, and three offseasons to see if his plan is going to work out. If the Broncos struggle and miss the playoffs in 2011, then by all means get rid of the guy. I think you let him ride it out, and hopefully McDaniels will build a playoff caliber team. Forget about the moves with Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall, the other moves that McDaniels made are coming up: Trading Tony Scheffler and Peyton Hillis, giving up on Alphonso Smith, not addressing the front seven in the draft the last two years, trading up for Richard Quinn, and not drafting a TE in the 2010 draft. Those are the moves that really have irked me and some Bronco fans. The other reason why he shouldn't get fired is because he still has to play the Tebow Card. When McDaniels decides to go to Tebow, he will be given some leeway to develop what he feels would be a the franchise quarterback. If Tebow succeeds, then McDaniels will get the Broncos turned around. If Tebow fails, then McDaniels can start to pack his bags.
Will Josh McDaniels get fired after this season?
I don't think Pat Bowlen will fire McD after this year. Obviously, if Denver finished 2-14 or 3-13 things could get a little dicey and the discussion will be more heated about it, but I think Mr. B keeps McDaniels around for year three. I don't think Bowlen wants to pay McDaniels salary, part of Mike Shanahan's and then a new coach's salary. Plus, I don't think Bowlen wants to deal with the uncertainty of a coaching change in the midst of the looming lockout and labor issues. McDaniels will survive this season in my estimation.
Do you think McDaniels should be fired?
I would give McDaniels another year personally. I think you need to let this process play out. Look, a lot of McDaniels' moves have been controversial and a lot of them have not worked out, but you need to give him at least three years, three drafts, and three offseasons to see if his plan is going to work out. If the Broncos struggle and miss the playoffs in 2011, then by all means get rid of the guy. I think you let him ride it out, and hopefully McDaniels will build a playoff caliber team. Forget about the moves with Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall, the other moves that McDaniels made are coming up: Trading Tony Scheffler and Peyton Hillis, giving up on Alphonso Smith, not addressing the front seven in the draft the last two years, trading up for Richard Quinn, and not drafting a TE in the 2010 draft. Those are the moves that really have irked me and some Bronco fans. The other reason why he shouldn't get fired is because he still has to play the Tebow Card. When McDaniels decides to go to Tebow, he will be given some leeway to develop what he feels would be a the franchise quarterback. If Tebow succeeds, then McDaniels will get the Broncos turned around. If Tebow fails, then McDaniels can start to pack his bags.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Denver Dreadful Season Gets Worse in London
Thanks for coming down 2010 Denver Broncos! The Broncos dropped their fourth in a row on Sunday in London as they were defeated by the San Francisco 49ers 24-16. The Broncos had their chances late, Eddie Royal had a punt return called back because of a penalty, but Kyle Orton throw another late game killer interception and Broncos now fall to 2-6 and find themselves in dead last in the AFC West. I'm not going to spend too much time recapping the game in London, but I'm going to give you a two-part mailbag discussing all things Broncos at the midway point. Here we go.................
How did this season fall apart so quickly? This season began to fall apart actually in April. When Ryan Clady injured his knee while playing basketball, that was a bad omen for the season. Clady hasn't played up to his potential all season long. Also, the injuries in preseason to Knowshon Moreno, Correll Buckhalter, Ryan Harris and Elvis Dumervil really hurt the Broncos coming out of the gate. Still, Denver was sitting there at 2-2 coming off a huge road win in Tennessee. They got buried at Baltimore and basically put their entire season on the line at home against the Jets. They should have beat the Jets, but they didn't. At 2-4, you thought Denver could still get things turned around, but the injuries to Robert Ayers, Wesley Woodyard, Andre Goodman, Brian Dawkins, Perrish Cox, Darcel McBath and Kevin Vickerson caught up to the Broncos, and they got buried by the Raiders at home and fumbled and stumbled their way to a loss against the Niners. The combination of injuries, lack of depth, and mistakes have killed the Broncos all season long.
Can this defense stop anyone? Forget about stopping people because this Broncos defense can't do that. This defense should focus on limiting points. They have zero pass rush and the loss of Elvis Dumervil doomed this defense from the get go. Also, with no pass rush to use, their secondary gets picked apart because QBs have all day to throw. Their front seven is old, slow and soft and they can't stop anyone from running the ball. This defense might get as bad as it was in 2007 and 2008. The signings of Jamal Williams and Justin Banaan worked in the beginning of the season, but now they are wearing down and not making any type of impact. Losing Robert Ayers to a foot fracture has really hurt them in the run game as well. This is simply a really poor defensive team.
Will the Broncos be able to run the ball at all this year? In one word: No.The offensive line is young and beat up. Clady is not playing like he normally does, Harris is banged up and not producing, so he has been in and out of the lineup. J.D. Walton and Zane Beadles are starting as rookies, and Chris Kuper has been bothered by injuries and he hasn't played that well. Russ Hochstein is coming off a knee injury, and he looks too old to be any good anymore. Their O-Line is a mess right now, mainly because of injuries, but their running backs are banged up too. Moreno will be hampered by a hamstring injury all year, and Buckhalter and Laurence Maroney give the run game no boost at all. Forget about schemes and systems, everything that you need to have an effective run game is dampened by nagging injuries to the linemen and the running backs. It doesn't look like Denver is going to get the ground game going at all this season.
Have you seen enough of Kyle Orton? YES. I am done with Orton. I know he puts up nice numbers, but here is how you judge a QB: Wins, Points, and Turnovers. He is under 10-14 as a starter in Denver, so he isn't winning. He has only helped Denver score 30 or more points in 3 out of 24 games as a starter, so he is not putting points on the board. He doesn't throw that many picks, but he throws killer interceptions late in the game or at critical moments of the game. Orton is simply not the man in Denver, and he is not the type of guy to lead this group to the playoffs. He needs a great running game and a great defense to help him put a team in the playoffs. He might put up nice numbers, but he isn't the guy to get the team to the ultimate goal. Thanks Kyle for busting your butt and being a good teammate, but it is time for you to move on.
Is it Tebow Time in Denver? Without a doubt, it is time to make Tim Tebow the Broncos starting QB. At 2-6, this season is over. The playoffs are done, and it is time to see what you have for the future. The only hope the Broncos fans have right now is #15. It is time to start the development of Tim Tebow. Who cares if he struggles? Let him get the experience now. Start the process of getting ready for the 2011 season by getting Tebow some work. It will spark the fans, the team and the entire organization. I guarantee Tebow will play much better then people expect, and he will a game or two for the Broncos that they normally wouldn't have won with Orton. It is time to play the kid. The Tebow Era must begin now in Denver.
Part 2 of the Mailbag Tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!
How did this season fall apart so quickly? This season began to fall apart actually in April. When Ryan Clady injured his knee while playing basketball, that was a bad omen for the season. Clady hasn't played up to his potential all season long. Also, the injuries in preseason to Knowshon Moreno, Correll Buckhalter, Ryan Harris and Elvis Dumervil really hurt the Broncos coming out of the gate. Still, Denver was sitting there at 2-2 coming off a huge road win in Tennessee. They got buried at Baltimore and basically put their entire season on the line at home against the Jets. They should have beat the Jets, but they didn't. At 2-4, you thought Denver could still get things turned around, but the injuries to Robert Ayers, Wesley Woodyard, Andre Goodman, Brian Dawkins, Perrish Cox, Darcel McBath and Kevin Vickerson caught up to the Broncos, and they got buried by the Raiders at home and fumbled and stumbled their way to a loss against the Niners. The combination of injuries, lack of depth, and mistakes have killed the Broncos all season long.
Can this defense stop anyone? Forget about stopping people because this Broncos defense can't do that. This defense should focus on limiting points. They have zero pass rush and the loss of Elvis Dumervil doomed this defense from the get go. Also, with no pass rush to use, their secondary gets picked apart because QBs have all day to throw. Their front seven is old, slow and soft and they can't stop anyone from running the ball. This defense might get as bad as it was in 2007 and 2008. The signings of Jamal Williams and Justin Banaan worked in the beginning of the season, but now they are wearing down and not making any type of impact. Losing Robert Ayers to a foot fracture has really hurt them in the run game as well. This is simply a really poor defensive team.
Will the Broncos be able to run the ball at all this year? In one word: No.The offensive line is young and beat up. Clady is not playing like he normally does, Harris is banged up and not producing, so he has been in and out of the lineup. J.D. Walton and Zane Beadles are starting as rookies, and Chris Kuper has been bothered by injuries and he hasn't played that well. Russ Hochstein is coming off a knee injury, and he looks too old to be any good anymore. Their O-Line is a mess right now, mainly because of injuries, but their running backs are banged up too. Moreno will be hampered by a hamstring injury all year, and Buckhalter and Laurence Maroney give the run game no boost at all. Forget about schemes and systems, everything that you need to have an effective run game is dampened by nagging injuries to the linemen and the running backs. It doesn't look like Denver is going to get the ground game going at all this season.
Have you seen enough of Kyle Orton? YES. I am done with Orton. I know he puts up nice numbers, but here is how you judge a QB: Wins, Points, and Turnovers. He is under 10-14 as a starter in Denver, so he isn't winning. He has only helped Denver score 30 or more points in 3 out of 24 games as a starter, so he is not putting points on the board. He doesn't throw that many picks, but he throws killer interceptions late in the game or at critical moments of the game. Orton is simply not the man in Denver, and he is not the type of guy to lead this group to the playoffs. He needs a great running game and a great defense to help him put a team in the playoffs. He might put up nice numbers, but he isn't the guy to get the team to the ultimate goal. Thanks Kyle for busting your butt and being a good teammate, but it is time for you to move on.
Is it Tebow Time in Denver? Without a doubt, it is time to make Tim Tebow the Broncos starting QB. At 2-6, this season is over. The playoffs are done, and it is time to see what you have for the future. The only hope the Broncos fans have right now is #15. It is time to start the development of Tim Tebow. Who cares if he struggles? Let him get the experience now. Start the process of getting ready for the 2011 season by getting Tebow some work. It will spark the fans, the team and the entire organization. I guarantee Tebow will play much better then people expect, and he will a game or two for the Broncos that they normally wouldn't have won with Orton. It is time to play the kid. The Tebow Era must begin now in Denver.
Part 2 of the Mailbag Tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!
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