The 2012 Denver Broncos won't play their first regular season game until Sunday night September 9th, but the season will officially kick off the season this Thursday with the beginning of training camp. As we head into another season, let's take a look at all the key facts surrounding the Broncos as they are about to embark on their 2012 campaign.
Where We Left Off: The last time we saw the Broncos in action it was a chilly night in Foxboro as the Patriots were putting the finishing touches on a 45-10 blowout of the Broncos in an AFC Divisional Playoff game. Tom Brady sliced and diced the Broncos secondary on the way to throwing six touchdown passes, and the Broncos offense was completely manhandled by the Patriots defense. As the game got out of hand-it was over by halftime- there wasn't a complete sense of doom and gloom. The Broncos had their playoff moment with a stunning 29-23 overtime victory over the heavily favored Pittsburgh Steelers the week before in the AFC Wild Card round in Denver. Although Denver got embarrassed by the Pats, there was a sense of accomplishment for a team that went from 4-12 to the playoffs in one year under new head coach John Fox. Tim Tebow's story gripped the football world, and the Broncos were headed in the right direction. The feeling from that game was that the Broncos were on the right track, and the major question leaving Boston that night was how much was Tim Tebow going to progress in year two of his career as the Broncos starter. It is hard to believe that game was the last time Tebow would don a Broncos uniform.
What Happened Since? Well, after that night took place, the Broncos went through one of the craziest offseasons in franchise history. Everything changed the day that Peyton Manning was released by the Colts on March 7th. From that point, Manning targeted the Broncos as one of his potential playing destinations, and the Broncos went "all in" to get him. Just a few days after his release from Indy, Manning was on Pat Bowlen's private jet, and John Elway and John Fox were recruiting Manning to come to the Mile High city. Denver was the favorite to land Manning from that first visit, and two weeks later Manning signed a five year $90 million dollar contract with the Broncos. The Broncos had landed the biggest free agent in NFL history, and now the question was: What are they going to do with Tim Tebow? That question was answered a day later when the Broncos shipped Tebow to the Jets for a fourth and sixth round pick. It was a whirlwind of events that saw the Broncos sign one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time and trade their most beloved player since John Elway. The move to get Manning will define the franchise in the coming years, but it is also puts the Broncos back at the forefront for another Super Bowl title. After all of the Manning and Tebow drama died down, the Broncos got back to business of reshaping their roster. The Broncos signed tight ends Joel Dreessen and Jacob Tamme and wide receivers Brandon Stokley and Andre Caldwell. The Broncos added some help on the defensive side of the ball with the signing of cornerbacks Tracy Porter and Drayton Florence. Denver also added defensive tackle Justin Bannan, who started for the Broncos back in 2010. Unfortunately, the Broncos lost some key players to free agency. The biggest hits were the losses of DT Broderick Bunkley, who was their best run defender last year and the explosive Eddie Royal, who was a fan favorite on offense and in the return game. In the draft, the Broncos traded out of the first round and selected Derek Wolfe from Cincinnati in the second round. Wolfe can play both DT and DE, and he should be able to find his way into the rotation right away. Denver added QB Brock Osweiler and RB Ronnie Hillman in the second and third rounds respectively. CB Omar Bolden was also a key pickup in round four.
Position Battles in Camp: If there is any position to watch this upcoming training camp, then you should focus on two areas: Linebacker and defensive line. The Broncos need to get better at stopping the run, and their front seven is still a big question mark. On the defensive line, you need to see who steps up at defensive tackle. Kevin Vickerson is coming back from missing 13 games last season, and Ty Warren is coming back after missing all of 2011 with a triceps injury. If you add the return of Bannan, and the addition of Derek Wolfe, then you have to think those guys will be fighting it out for the starting jobs on the interior of the defensive line. At linebacker, look for someone to step in for D.J. Williams. Williams will miss the first six games due to a suspension for PEDs. Wesley Woodyard will certainly play a role in filling that spot, but look for a guy like Nate Irving to get his chance to step up and fight for that other linebacker spot as well.
Surprise Roster Cuts: There are always surprise cuts around the NFL during training camp, and the Broncos might have a couple in store for us. The first one could be D.J. Williams. Williams is already suspended the first six games, and if anyone really steps up and takes his job and plays well, then there could be an option for the Broncos to go ahead and make that move. Another name that could be on the chopping block come cut time is Knowshon Moreno. The Broncos added another running back in draft with the selection of Ronnie Hillman, and Willis McGahee looks like he will continue to be the featured back in that backfield. Lance Ball and Moreno might be fighting for one of the last spots on the roster, and Moreno is coming off an ACL injury he suffered last November. It would no shock me at all if Moreno got moved in a trade at some point in camp or if he got released outright. He is going to have to fight very hard to make sure he is on the roster come cut down day.
Out of Nowhere Players: The Broncos have had some good luck with finding some quality players in the undrafted market. Keep an eye on LB Steven Johnson from Kansas. He is a guy who might benefit from a position in doubt and get himself on the roster. Also, Mario Fannin, an undrafted player from 2011, will make a strong push to make the roster as a running back. Fannin was considered one of the brightest young players in camp last year until he got injured before the season started, and he spent the entire year on the injured reserve list. The sentimental favorite to make the team will be defensive lineman Ben Garland. Garland is a product of the Air Force Academy and spent last year fulfilling his military obligations.
Biggest Questions that Need to be Answered: Forget about the defensive line and front seven for a moment. The biggest question this training camp will be about one man: Peyton Manning. How does Peyton Manning look? That is the biggest question in camp this year. It will be interesting to see how Peyton does at practice everyday, and as long as he is healthy, he should look pretty sharp. You just want to hear good things about Manning everyday, and you don't want to hear that he looks too rusty or too old. I'll bet that Manning will look sharp through most of camp, and that his health won't be an issue. The 2012 Denver Broncos will be about Peyton Manning. Training camp will provide a real glimpse into what is in store for both Manning and the Broncos. Everyday you hope to hear that Manning looks good and the team is healthy. If those two aspects are going, then the 2012 season will be off to great start before one real game is even played yet.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Broncos Pre-Training Camp Mailbag
As the Broncos are now under 10 days from reporting to training camp, it feels like a good time to play a little question and answer game to catch up with what is going on in Broncos Country. There have been a few interesting developments as the summer has progressed. Let's see where the Broncos stand as two-a-days (Oops! sorry) as one-a-day walkthroughs are about to start in Dove Valley.
What are the possible ramifications involving Elvis Dumervil's arrest last weekend?
The worst thing to read or hear about this time of the year in the NFL is when a player on your team gets arrested. It usually pops up out of nowhere, and you just hope that the crime or incident is not as bad as it possibly could be. The arrest bug hit Denver when Dumervil was arrested for aggravated assault last Saturday in Miami. Apparently, it was a dispute over a traffic incident. Doom has said that the allegations are not true, and his lawyers are stating that once the facts are laid out, there won't be any charges filed. Regardless, Dumervil has had some run-ins with the law in the past few years, and although he hasn't been jailed or charged with anything recently, this latest arrest could summon him to the league office and a meeting with Commissioner Roger Goodell. Even if the charges are dropped, there is a chance that Elvis could face some type of suspension from the league office. It is not the type of news that you want to hear as the Broncos are about to start training camp, but there still is a lot that has to be determined regarding this incident. If the charges are dropped, but Goodell feels that he needs to discipline Dumervil with a suspension, you would think you might see a one or two game suspension with the possibility of a reduction based on actions that Dumervil could take to reduce it. In any event, a player of Dumervil's character has to stay out of trouble and any missed time, would be a big blow to the Broncos and their defense. Not a good weekend for Broncos fans overall with this latest development. At least we have Peyton Manning as our starting quarterback heading into the 2012 season.
The real big issue here is how many NFL players continually get themselves in trouble with the law during the offseason. Just last weekend, Marshawn Lynch and Dez Bryant also were arrested, and the list goes on and on of NFL players who were arrested this offseason, and when stars like Adrian Peterson get arrested it surely is detrimental to the league's image. One of the big issues for players during last year's lockout was the fact that the NFLPA wanted their players to have more of an offseason, and they wanted to have more time away from the facility during the non-playing months. Ultimately, the players won that bargaining chip, and the NFL offseason was drastically cut in half, and the players were given more time off. How the hell can we justify these new offseason provisions when all of these players are getting arrested and involved in off the field situations? If anything this new CBA has taught us it is this: The players need to be at the facility more, they need to be part of a longer, structured offseason, and they need to been "watched" as much as possible. Mike Shanahan used to have minicamps in late June and early July during his tenure as Broncos head coach. Why did he do that? Because Shanny wanted to keep his players closer to the facility and within his watchful eye. The more free time they had, the more Shanny worried that they would get out of shape, lose focus on the upcoming season, and possibly get themselves in trouble. It might have looked like he was a total control freak, but I think he was on to something. The NFL and NFLPA should look into this and maybe give the teams and the coaches more of an opportunity to keep the players occupied and at bay during the offseason.
Do you think the Broncos did the right thing by signing Matt Prater to a long term contract?
I have no problem with the Broncos slapping the franchise tag on Prater this offseason, and the Broncos eventually agreed to a four year contract worth about $13 million. As long as this move doesn't hamper the Broncos moves down the road (Ryan Clady's contract), then this move makes sense to me. Prater has a big leg, so kickoffs have been automatic touchbacks in Denver. Plus, you need a kicker with a big leg in Denver. With the altitude as a factor, having a kicker like Prater can make a huge difference. Although he can be erratic from mid-range, he was so clutch last year, that you have to have confidence in him making a big kick late in a game this year.
What are your opinions of D.J. Williams apparent multiple drug test failures?
We knew back in March that Williams was going to be suspended six games for failing a performance enhancing drug test, but the story that was leaked out was both disturbing and embarrassing. Apparently, Williams failed a second test for non-human urine, and he tried to avoid failing a third, but fumbled and then kicked some urine sample that was hidden in a bottle. It is another chapter in the off the field adventures of D.J. Williams, and it makes you start to think about his future with this team. He is already suspended for the first six games of the season, and now you have to wonder if the Broncos will try to find a way to move on without him come training camp. It would not surprise me if the Broncos cut ties with him before the season opener. If Denver starts off really fast, then there might even be a way that they rid themselves of Williams once the season gets going. Let's hope the younger linebackers on the roster step up, and maybe they will make the decision for the Broncos front office a lot easier. I always like Williams as a player, but he seemed to play hot and cold. One week he would look fantastic, then there would be some weeks where he would be lost. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in training camp, but it wouldn't make me sad if we finally parted ways with the mercurial linebacker.
As training camp approaches, what is the general consensus of the Broncos chances heading into the season?
It all depends on who you talk to. There have been experts like Cris Carter who think that the Broncos are legitimate Super Bowl contenders now that they have Peyton Manning. There is also a group of "experts" who feel that the Broncos won't even make the playoffs this year. The overall, general feeling about the Broncos nationally seems to be that Denver has the look of a 9-7 type of team. Anyone who is picking them to make playoffs is not giving them more than 10 wins on the year. There are a lot of 9-7 predictions out there as well. It seems that everyone wants to wait and see how Manning looks in training camp and in the preseason. It seems that no one wants to go out on a limb and predict Denver to win 12 or 13 games and make a Super Bowl run. In my opinion, this plays perfectly into the Broncos hands. It is nice that they don't have a lot of bandwagon hype that crippled teams like the Eagles last year. Everyone still keeps touting the Ravens, Patriots, Steelers, and everyone's Super Bowl pick the Texans. The Broncos are getting little hype outside of the Las Vegas sportsbooks, and that is the perfect scenario for Manning and the Broncos as they head towards training camp.
What are the possible ramifications involving Elvis Dumervil's arrest last weekend?
The worst thing to read or hear about this time of the year in the NFL is when a player on your team gets arrested. It usually pops up out of nowhere, and you just hope that the crime or incident is not as bad as it possibly could be. The arrest bug hit Denver when Dumervil was arrested for aggravated assault last Saturday in Miami. Apparently, it was a dispute over a traffic incident. Doom has said that the allegations are not true, and his lawyers are stating that once the facts are laid out, there won't be any charges filed. Regardless, Dumervil has had some run-ins with the law in the past few years, and although he hasn't been jailed or charged with anything recently, this latest arrest could summon him to the league office and a meeting with Commissioner Roger Goodell. Even if the charges are dropped, there is a chance that Elvis could face some type of suspension from the league office. It is not the type of news that you want to hear as the Broncos are about to start training camp, but there still is a lot that has to be determined regarding this incident. If the charges are dropped, but Goodell feels that he needs to discipline Dumervil with a suspension, you would think you might see a one or two game suspension with the possibility of a reduction based on actions that Dumervil could take to reduce it. In any event, a player of Dumervil's character has to stay out of trouble and any missed time, would be a big blow to the Broncos and their defense. Not a good weekend for Broncos fans overall with this latest development. At least we have Peyton Manning as our starting quarterback heading into the 2012 season.
The real big issue here is how many NFL players continually get themselves in trouble with the law during the offseason. Just last weekend, Marshawn Lynch and Dez Bryant also were arrested, and the list goes on and on of NFL players who were arrested this offseason, and when stars like Adrian Peterson get arrested it surely is detrimental to the league's image. One of the big issues for players during last year's lockout was the fact that the NFLPA wanted their players to have more of an offseason, and they wanted to have more time away from the facility during the non-playing months. Ultimately, the players won that bargaining chip, and the NFL offseason was drastically cut in half, and the players were given more time off. How the hell can we justify these new offseason provisions when all of these players are getting arrested and involved in off the field situations? If anything this new CBA has taught us it is this: The players need to be at the facility more, they need to be part of a longer, structured offseason, and they need to been "watched" as much as possible. Mike Shanahan used to have minicamps in late June and early July during his tenure as Broncos head coach. Why did he do that? Because Shanny wanted to keep his players closer to the facility and within his watchful eye. The more free time they had, the more Shanny worried that they would get out of shape, lose focus on the upcoming season, and possibly get themselves in trouble. It might have looked like he was a total control freak, but I think he was on to something. The NFL and NFLPA should look into this and maybe give the teams and the coaches more of an opportunity to keep the players occupied and at bay during the offseason.
Do you think the Broncos did the right thing by signing Matt Prater to a long term contract?
I have no problem with the Broncos slapping the franchise tag on Prater this offseason, and the Broncos eventually agreed to a four year contract worth about $13 million. As long as this move doesn't hamper the Broncos moves down the road (Ryan Clady's contract), then this move makes sense to me. Prater has a big leg, so kickoffs have been automatic touchbacks in Denver. Plus, you need a kicker with a big leg in Denver. With the altitude as a factor, having a kicker like Prater can make a huge difference. Although he can be erratic from mid-range, he was so clutch last year, that you have to have confidence in him making a big kick late in a game this year.
What are your opinions of D.J. Williams apparent multiple drug test failures?
We knew back in March that Williams was going to be suspended six games for failing a performance enhancing drug test, but the story that was leaked out was both disturbing and embarrassing. Apparently, Williams failed a second test for non-human urine, and he tried to avoid failing a third, but fumbled and then kicked some urine sample that was hidden in a bottle. It is another chapter in the off the field adventures of D.J. Williams, and it makes you start to think about his future with this team. He is already suspended for the first six games of the season, and now you have to wonder if the Broncos will try to find a way to move on without him come training camp. It would not surprise me if the Broncos cut ties with him before the season opener. If Denver starts off really fast, then there might even be a way that they rid themselves of Williams once the season gets going. Let's hope the younger linebackers on the roster step up, and maybe they will make the decision for the Broncos front office a lot easier. I always like Williams as a player, but he seemed to play hot and cold. One week he would look fantastic, then there would be some weeks where he would be lost. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in training camp, but it wouldn't make me sad if we finally parted ways with the mercurial linebacker.
As training camp approaches, what is the general consensus of the Broncos chances heading into the season?
It all depends on who you talk to. There have been experts like Cris Carter who think that the Broncos are legitimate Super Bowl contenders now that they have Peyton Manning. There is also a group of "experts" who feel that the Broncos won't even make the playoffs this year. The overall, general feeling about the Broncos nationally seems to be that Denver has the look of a 9-7 type of team. Anyone who is picking them to make playoffs is not giving them more than 10 wins on the year. There are a lot of 9-7 predictions out there as well. It seems that everyone wants to wait and see how Manning looks in training camp and in the preseason. It seems that no one wants to go out on a limb and predict Denver to win 12 or 13 games and make a Super Bowl run. In my opinion, this plays perfectly into the Broncos hands. It is nice that they don't have a lot of bandwagon hype that crippled teams like the Eagles last year. Everyone still keeps touting the Ravens, Patriots, Steelers, and everyone's Super Bowl pick the Texans. The Broncos are getting little hype outside of the Las Vegas sportsbooks, and that is the perfect scenario for Manning and the Broncos as they head towards training camp.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Roger Federer, Peyton Manning and Redemption
One of the cool aspects of tennis is the fact that there is always a top player who rules the sport for a period of time until another player comes along and takes that title away from him or her. This is how the sport plays out. You had Borg-McEnroe, Sampras-Agassi, Roddick-Federer, Federer-Nadal, and Nadal-Djokovic. Those are just a few of the famous examples that showcase the "Top Dog" trying to fend off the up and coming "Young Gun." When Roger Federer was number one in the world from 2004-2008, he was the most dominating force in tennis history. You can see that this guy was going to go down as one of the greatest athletes of our generation. Naturally, you could also see the rise of Rafael Nadal, and how Nadal was gaining ground on Federer, and you knew that at some point Nadal was going to overtake Roger for the number one spot. In 2008, it finally happened at their epic Wimbeldon final won by Rafa in five sets. Federer was able to gain back the number one spot and add some more Grand Slams to his resume in 2009 and in the beginning of 2010, but it lasted only briefly because Nadal came back from injuries to reclaim the top spot once again. After a few crushing defeats at the hands of Novak Djokovic, it looked like Fed was entrenched at the number three spot, and it looked like Roger was never going to win another major title, never get back to number one in the world, and he was heading for the downside of his career. All that changed last week at the 2012 Wimbledon Championships. Federer buried Djokovic in the semifinals, and blistered Andy Murray in the final to claim his seventh Wimbledon title, his 17th Grand Slam, and that elusive number one ranking in the world. Federer was back on top, and once again he displayed how great he is. Forget the sport, Roger Federer is one of the greatest athletes we have ever seen at any time.
What does this have to do with Peyton Manning? Like Federer, Manning is going to go down as one of the greatest athletes in our time. He is near the top of every major passing category, his won-loss record is remarkable, he is a four-time NFL MVP, and a Super Bowl on his resume. Both of them are artists of their sport. When you watch each man perform, you really get an appreciation for their greatness. Every time I watch a Federer match the announcers will marvel a shot that he pulls off. Every time I watch Peyton Manning play, the announcers will marvel about a throw or a play that he made. They truly are a pleasure to watch, and they make you want to stand up and start clapping in appreciation in your living room.
Quarterbacks can have the same type of "throne" mentality as the best tennis players have. Among the great ones in the game, each is defined by the championships that they have won. There is always the veterans who are iconic in their sport, but there are always a group of newer QBs coming up through the ranks trying to make their own legacy and take down the icons along the way. In this era of tennis you have Federer, Djokovic and Nadal. In the NFL, you have Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees. Like the "Big 3" in tennis, Manning, Brady, and Brees each have countless passing records, MVPs, and each have at least one Super Bowl. The "Big Three" also have competition from a new group of emerging stars like Aaron Rodgers, Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and perhaps even Matthew Stafford and Cam Newton. In a few years, those names will top the list and the Manning-Brady-Brees trio will be history. Like Federer, Manning has become the doubted one of the NFL's list of legends. He sat out all of 2011 with a neck injury. He was let go by the Colts, and has to restart his career with the Broncos, but many people questioned if Manning will ever get back to his level pre-2011. Federer wasn't beset by an injury, but age was a factor in determining if he would ever get back to the level he enjoyed from 2004-2009. Fed answered all of those questions and slammed down his critics with his wonderful performance at Wimbledon. He put to rest all of the doubts about his career and his legacy, and he basically made the statement that he was still here, still great, and not going anywhere anytime soon. Manning has that same opportunity in 2012 with Denver. Federer was overshadowed by Nadal and Djokovic the past two years, and it seemed like he was the forgotten man. Manning has been overshadowed by Brady and Brees and in some ways by his own brother. People are kind of sleeping on Manning just like they did with Federer. I couldn't help but think about Manning as Fed was hoisting the Wimbledon trophy. Manning will love nothing more than to prove those critics wrong, and he has a chance at redemption this year just like Federer this past week. It will be interesting to see how Manning plays this year, and if Federer's performance is any indication, then Peyton will be able to show that if you are truly great, then those same abilities that made you legendary won't fade away so easily.
What does this have to do with Peyton Manning? Like Federer, Manning is going to go down as one of the greatest athletes in our time. He is near the top of every major passing category, his won-loss record is remarkable, he is a four-time NFL MVP, and a Super Bowl on his resume. Both of them are artists of their sport. When you watch each man perform, you really get an appreciation for their greatness. Every time I watch a Federer match the announcers will marvel a shot that he pulls off. Every time I watch Peyton Manning play, the announcers will marvel about a throw or a play that he made. They truly are a pleasure to watch, and they make you want to stand up and start clapping in appreciation in your living room.
Quarterbacks can have the same type of "throne" mentality as the best tennis players have. Among the great ones in the game, each is defined by the championships that they have won. There is always the veterans who are iconic in their sport, but there are always a group of newer QBs coming up through the ranks trying to make their own legacy and take down the icons along the way. In this era of tennis you have Federer, Djokovic and Nadal. In the NFL, you have Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees. Like the "Big 3" in tennis, Manning, Brady, and Brees each have countless passing records, MVPs, and each have at least one Super Bowl. The "Big Three" also have competition from a new group of emerging stars like Aaron Rodgers, Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and perhaps even Matthew Stafford and Cam Newton. In a few years, those names will top the list and the Manning-Brady-Brees trio will be history. Like Federer, Manning has become the doubted one of the NFL's list of legends. He sat out all of 2011 with a neck injury. He was let go by the Colts, and has to restart his career with the Broncos, but many people questioned if Manning will ever get back to his level pre-2011. Federer wasn't beset by an injury, but age was a factor in determining if he would ever get back to the level he enjoyed from 2004-2009. Fed answered all of those questions and slammed down his critics with his wonderful performance at Wimbledon. He put to rest all of the doubts about his career and his legacy, and he basically made the statement that he was still here, still great, and not going anywhere anytime soon. Manning has that same opportunity in 2012 with Denver. Federer was overshadowed by Nadal and Djokovic the past two years, and it seemed like he was the forgotten man. Manning has been overshadowed by Brady and Brees and in some ways by his own brother. People are kind of sleeping on Manning just like they did with Federer. I couldn't help but think about Manning as Fed was hoisting the Wimbledon trophy. Manning will love nothing more than to prove those critics wrong, and he has a chance at redemption this year just like Federer this past week. It will be interesting to see how Manning plays this year, and if Federer's performance is any indication, then Peyton will be able to show that if you are truly great, then those same abilities that made you legendary won't fade away so easily.
Friday, July 6, 2012
2012 Sleeper Report
As July 4th passed, the dog days of summer have arrived. Training camp commences around the NFL by the end of the month, so the focus of looking ahead to a new season has begun. One of the best storylines heading into any training camp is the concept of picking a "Sleeper" team for the upcoming season. Before ESPN got a hold of this concept, it was always fun to look ahead and try to pick out the one team that is going to shock everyone and make the playoffs. There is also a criteria to picking a sleeper team.
The most important rule for picking a sleeper is that the team in question had to have lost at least 10 games the year before. 8-8 teams can surprise people, but those teams are on the cusp anyway, so to find a true sleeper you have to find a team that lost 10 or more games the year before. Let's go back to the first year I started this blog in 2008. Here are the teams that lost 10 games the year before and made the playoffs the following year:
*The team's record the prior year is in parentheses
2008
-Atlanta (4-12)
-Miami (1-15)
-Baltimore (5-11)
2009
-Cincinnati (4-11-1)
-Green Bay (6-10)
2010
-Kansas City (4-12)
-Seattle (5-11)
2011
-Houston (6-10)
-Detroit (6-10)
-San Francisco (6-10)
-Cincinnati (4-12)
-Denver (4-12)
There weren't many people picking the Bengals or Broncos to make the playoffs last year. The Chiefs weren't generating a lot of buzz in 2010. No one saw Cincy coming back in 2009, and certainly no one thought the Dolphins or Falcons would rebound from horrific seasons in 2007 to make the playoffs in '08. The true sleeper is a team that really comes out of nowhere. Here is the list of the 2012 Sleeper Candidates. Remember that at least one of these following teams is going to make the playoffs in 2012.
Washington (5-11)
Minnesota (3-13)
Carolina (6-10)
Tampa Bay (4-12)
St. Louis (2-14)
Miami (6-10)
Buffalo (6-10)
Cleveland (4-12)
Jacksonville (5-11)
Indianapolis (2-14)
Which of these teams will make the playoffs next season? If you had to rank them in order, with number 10 being the longest shot and number one have the best shot, then this is how I see it:
10) Jacksonville: They have new head coach and a new owner, but their QB situation is still the same. Blaine Gabbert might be out of a job by the time October rolls around.
9) Minnesota: They seem to be a few years away, and Leslie Frazier is on the hot seat. Plus, how are they going to get past Detroit, Chicago, and Green Bay in their own division?
8) Cleveland: It seems like the Browns are on this list every year. I'm not sold on Mike Holmgren overseeing the football operations, I'm not sold on Pat Shurmur as a head coach, and I'm not sold in Brandon Weeden becoming the franchise savior at quarterback.
7) Miami: I'm not sold on Jeff Ireland as a general manager, I'm not sold on Joe Philbin as a head coach, and I'm certainly not sold on the trio of David Garrard, Matt Moore and Ryan Tannehill at the QB position.
6) Indianapolis: I was intrigued by the Colts early this offseason because you have to think that Andrew Luck is the next big thing at quarterback, but I looked at their current roster, and there are some real question marks in there. They are a year away.
5) St. Louis: You would be surprised to think that the Rams are this high on the sleeper list, but they have good, young quarterback in Sam Bradford, and they have a quality head coach in Jeff Fisher. Also, their division stinks so don't be surprised in the Rams really improve their win total in 2012. They too are probably a year away.
4) Tampa Bay: They are a really interesting team as a sleeper. New head coach Greg Schiano looks like he might be able to turn things around quickly in Tampa. Josh Freeman should have a bounce back year, and they added Vincent Jackson and Carl Nicks in free agency. This team could be one to keep your eye on.
3) Carolina Panthers: If Cam Newton continues to dazzle every Sunday, then the Panthers will be a major playoff contender for years to come. It is very enticing to pick them as the 2012 sleeper, but it will all boil down to Newton. If he has a sophomore slump, then the Panthers are in trouble.
2) Washington Redskins: Mike Shanahan has to get things turned around soon in D.C. If Robert Griffin III can come in and produce like they think he can, then this team will be very dangerous. Their one big knock is that they play in the NFC East, which figures to be brutal once again this season.
1) Buffalo Bills: Last year, they were 5-2 and looked like a lock for the playoffs. Injuries killed their season and they finished 6-10. They could be very dangerous this year, and the signing of Mario Williams could really have altered this franchise. They are the perfect candidate for the 2012 Sleeper Team.
The most important rule for picking a sleeper is that the team in question had to have lost at least 10 games the year before. 8-8 teams can surprise people, but those teams are on the cusp anyway, so to find a true sleeper you have to find a team that lost 10 or more games the year before. Let's go back to the first year I started this blog in 2008. Here are the teams that lost 10 games the year before and made the playoffs the following year:
*The team's record the prior year is in parentheses
2008
-Atlanta (4-12)
-Miami (1-15)
-Baltimore (5-11)
2009
-Cincinnati (4-11-1)
-Green Bay (6-10)
2010
-Kansas City (4-12)
-Seattle (5-11)
2011
-Houston (6-10)
-Detroit (6-10)
-San Francisco (6-10)
-Cincinnati (4-12)
-Denver (4-12)
There weren't many people picking the Bengals or Broncos to make the playoffs last year. The Chiefs weren't generating a lot of buzz in 2010. No one saw Cincy coming back in 2009, and certainly no one thought the Dolphins or Falcons would rebound from horrific seasons in 2007 to make the playoffs in '08. The true sleeper is a team that really comes out of nowhere. Here is the list of the 2012 Sleeper Candidates. Remember that at least one of these following teams is going to make the playoffs in 2012.
Washington (5-11)
Minnesota (3-13)
Carolina (6-10)
Tampa Bay (4-12)
St. Louis (2-14)
Miami (6-10)
Buffalo (6-10)
Cleveland (4-12)
Jacksonville (5-11)
Indianapolis (2-14)
Which of these teams will make the playoffs next season? If you had to rank them in order, with number 10 being the longest shot and number one have the best shot, then this is how I see it:
10) Jacksonville: They have new head coach and a new owner, but their QB situation is still the same. Blaine Gabbert might be out of a job by the time October rolls around.
9) Minnesota: They seem to be a few years away, and Leslie Frazier is on the hot seat. Plus, how are they going to get past Detroit, Chicago, and Green Bay in their own division?
8) Cleveland: It seems like the Browns are on this list every year. I'm not sold on Mike Holmgren overseeing the football operations, I'm not sold on Pat Shurmur as a head coach, and I'm not sold in Brandon Weeden becoming the franchise savior at quarterback.
7) Miami: I'm not sold on Jeff Ireland as a general manager, I'm not sold on Joe Philbin as a head coach, and I'm certainly not sold on the trio of David Garrard, Matt Moore and Ryan Tannehill at the QB position.
6) Indianapolis: I was intrigued by the Colts early this offseason because you have to think that Andrew Luck is the next big thing at quarterback, but I looked at their current roster, and there are some real question marks in there. They are a year away.
5) St. Louis: You would be surprised to think that the Rams are this high on the sleeper list, but they have good, young quarterback in Sam Bradford, and they have a quality head coach in Jeff Fisher. Also, their division stinks so don't be surprised in the Rams really improve their win total in 2012. They too are probably a year away.
4) Tampa Bay: They are a really interesting team as a sleeper. New head coach Greg Schiano looks like he might be able to turn things around quickly in Tampa. Josh Freeman should have a bounce back year, and they added Vincent Jackson and Carl Nicks in free agency. This team could be one to keep your eye on.
3) Carolina Panthers: If Cam Newton continues to dazzle every Sunday, then the Panthers will be a major playoff contender for years to come. It is very enticing to pick them as the 2012 sleeper, but it will all boil down to Newton. If he has a sophomore slump, then the Panthers are in trouble.
2) Washington Redskins: Mike Shanahan has to get things turned around soon in D.C. If Robert Griffin III can come in and produce like they think he can, then this team will be very dangerous. Their one big knock is that they play in the NFC East, which figures to be brutal once again this season.
1) Buffalo Bills: Last year, they were 5-2 and looked like a lock for the playoffs. Injuries killed their season and they finished 6-10. They could be very dangerous this year, and the signing of Mario Williams could really have altered this franchise. They are the perfect candidate for the 2012 Sleeper Team.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
2012 Thursday Night Football Analysis
One of the rumors of the past year or so was the expanding of the Thursday Night Football package on NFL Network. The TNF package had originally been set up to start on Thanksgiving and continue all the way to the end of the season. NFL Network even had some Saturday Night primetime games sprinkled in there as well. A number of years ago, the league scrapped pretty much all of the Saturday Night games, with the exception of one, and added a few more weeks onto the TNF package with games starting in early November. There was a thought during the lockout negotiations that the owners and players were going to look to add more TNF games to increase revenue in hopes to make a better deal for both sides during last year's collective bargaining process. The lockout ended, a 10-year labor deal was announced, but there was no mention of the expansion of the TNF slate of games on NFL Network. This past fall the NFL announced that it was going to add more weeks to the NFL Network Thursday Night Football series, and the games would start as early as Week 2. Also, the league stated that every team will be given a chance to be on primetime this year, so teams that missed out on being selected for Monday Night and Sunday Night Football will get their chance on the Thursday Night circuit. At first glance, it seems that adding more games to the TNF package could be a little overkill, but I think Thursday Night has proven to be a great spot for games in the NFL weekend. It gives you something to look forward to as you head into the NFL weekend. Monday Night Football is the last chance for football that week, but it also signals the start of another long week leading up to the next set of games. A full season of Thursday Night Football gives a chance to get that football fix heading into the weekend. Let's take a look at the 2012 Thursday Night Football Schedule.....
Week 2- 9/13/12
Chicago at Green Bay
Analysis: Great way to start the Thursday Night Football schedule. A highly anticipated battle between two longtime rivals from Lambeau Field. You can't ask for a better start to Week 2 than this one.
Week 3- 9/20/12
New York Giants at Carolina
Analysis: A really intriguing matchup for the second week of TNF. The defending champs head into Carolina to take on Cam Newton and the upstart Panthers. This is going to be a really fun game to watch, and NFL Network has really good games back to back.
Week 4- 9/27/12
Cleveland at Baltimore
Analysis: You knew to expect some divisional matchups on TNF, but this one is going to be a tough sell. Hopefully, the Browns can get off to a decent start, so this game might have some juice, but this game isn't on par with the first two games of TNF.
Week 5- 10/4/12
Arizona at St. Louis
Analysis: Awful, awful game for NFL Network. I know they have to get every team involved in a primetime game, but this NFC West matchup is simply brutal. Do yourself a favor and check out the college football game on ESPN that night.
Week 6- 10/11/12
Pittsburgh at Tennessee
Analysis: After two rough weeks, NFL Network bounces back with a solid Thursday nighter. I like this matchup a lot, and this game will be a really hard-nosed game featuring two teams that play similar styles. Good game to start Week 6.
Week 7- 10/18/12
Seattle at San Francisco
Analysis: Two NFC West games in three weeks on TNF. That is pretty bad in my opinion. At least this game features a team that should be in contention for the NFC Title against a team that is scrappy and competitive.
Week 8- 10/25/12
Tampa Bay at Minnesota
Analysis: The hits just keep on coming for NFL Network. A game featuring two teams that had a combined record of 7-25 last year are battling out on primetime. At least have the Buccaneers take on NFC South rivals Atlanta, New Orleans, or Carolina in this spot. The least they could have done with the Vikings is pit them against their longtime enemies the Packers, Bears or Lions in a Thursday night game. What was the thought process in putting this game on the TNF schedule?
Week 9- 11/1/12
Kansas City at San Diego
Analysis: The Thursday Night Football package might be the landing ground for divisional matchups. Both of these teams should be contenders in the AFC West this year, so this game has some juice to it. It stops the bleeding from the prior two weeks as well.
Week 10- 11/8/12
Indianapolis at Jacksonville
Analysis: With the exception of last year, these two teams usually have really entertaining games. The Andrew Luck factor will give this game some pop, and hopefully the teams are exceeding their preseason expectations by the time this one rolls around.
Week 11- 11/15/12
Miami at Buffalo
Analysis: On paper this game looks pretty bad, but when you peel back the layers, there are some interesting elements to this matchup. I think the Bills will surprise some people, and maybe the Fish aren't going to be as bad as many people think. Plus, this game is a primetime game in Buffalo, so you know that the crowd is going to be fired up and in a frenzy for kickoff. This game could be pretty decent.
Week 13- 11/29/12
New Orleans at Atlanta
Analysis: This one will be a very interesting game. How far will these two teams have fallen by the time this get gets played? Will both teams continue to dominate the NFC South like in years past? Will they both be playoff contenders? These are some of the questions that will surround this game. On the surface this looks like a really good matchup for late November.
Week 14- 12/6/12
Denver at Oakland
Analysis: Obviously, I love this game because it involves the Broncos, but the scene is always crazy in the Black Hole for a primetime game. It is a huge divisional matchup with two longtime rivals going at it. Also, did I mention Peyton Manning is involved?
Week 15- 12/13/12
Cincinnati at Philadelphia
Analysis: Not exactly the way you would want to end up the TNF package. It will be hard for the Bengals to meet their results from last year, and this AFC-NFC matchup doesn't provide too much sizzle for a critical late season game.
Week 2- 9/13/12
Chicago at Green Bay
Analysis: Great way to start the Thursday Night Football schedule. A highly anticipated battle between two longtime rivals from Lambeau Field. You can't ask for a better start to Week 2 than this one.
Week 3- 9/20/12
New York Giants at Carolina
Analysis: A really intriguing matchup for the second week of TNF. The defending champs head into Carolina to take on Cam Newton and the upstart Panthers. This is going to be a really fun game to watch, and NFL Network has really good games back to back.
Week 4- 9/27/12
Cleveland at Baltimore
Analysis: You knew to expect some divisional matchups on TNF, but this one is going to be a tough sell. Hopefully, the Browns can get off to a decent start, so this game might have some juice, but this game isn't on par with the first two games of TNF.
Week 5- 10/4/12
Arizona at St. Louis
Analysis: Awful, awful game for NFL Network. I know they have to get every team involved in a primetime game, but this NFC West matchup is simply brutal. Do yourself a favor and check out the college football game on ESPN that night.
Week 6- 10/11/12
Pittsburgh at Tennessee
Analysis: After two rough weeks, NFL Network bounces back with a solid Thursday nighter. I like this matchup a lot, and this game will be a really hard-nosed game featuring two teams that play similar styles. Good game to start Week 6.
Week 7- 10/18/12
Seattle at San Francisco
Analysis: Two NFC West games in three weeks on TNF. That is pretty bad in my opinion. At least this game features a team that should be in contention for the NFC Title against a team that is scrappy and competitive.
Week 8- 10/25/12
Tampa Bay at Minnesota
Analysis: The hits just keep on coming for NFL Network. A game featuring two teams that had a combined record of 7-25 last year are battling out on primetime. At least have the Buccaneers take on NFC South rivals Atlanta, New Orleans, or Carolina in this spot. The least they could have done with the Vikings is pit them against their longtime enemies the Packers, Bears or Lions in a Thursday night game. What was the thought process in putting this game on the TNF schedule?
Week 9- 11/1/12
Kansas City at San Diego
Analysis: The Thursday Night Football package might be the landing ground for divisional matchups. Both of these teams should be contenders in the AFC West this year, so this game has some juice to it. It stops the bleeding from the prior two weeks as well.
Week 10- 11/8/12
Indianapolis at Jacksonville
Analysis: With the exception of last year, these two teams usually have really entertaining games. The Andrew Luck factor will give this game some pop, and hopefully the teams are exceeding their preseason expectations by the time this one rolls around.
Week 11- 11/15/12
Miami at Buffalo
Analysis: On paper this game looks pretty bad, but when you peel back the layers, there are some interesting elements to this matchup. I think the Bills will surprise some people, and maybe the Fish aren't going to be as bad as many people think. Plus, this game is a primetime game in Buffalo, so you know that the crowd is going to be fired up and in a frenzy for kickoff. This game could be pretty decent.
Week 13- 11/29/12
New Orleans at Atlanta
Analysis: This one will be a very interesting game. How far will these two teams have fallen by the time this get gets played? Will both teams continue to dominate the NFC South like in years past? Will they both be playoff contenders? These are some of the questions that will surround this game. On the surface this looks like a really good matchup for late November.
Week 14- 12/6/12
Denver at Oakland
Analysis: Obviously, I love this game because it involves the Broncos, but the scene is always crazy in the Black Hole for a primetime game. It is a huge divisional matchup with two longtime rivals going at it. Also, did I mention Peyton Manning is involved?
Week 15- 12/13/12
Cincinnati at Philadelphia
Analysis: Not exactly the way you would want to end up the TNF package. It will be hard for the Bengals to meet their results from last year, and this AFC-NFC matchup doesn't provide too much sizzle for a critical late season game.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
2012 Monday Night Football Schedule Analysis
For a generation of NFL fans Monday Night Football was the premium primetime game of the weekend. With the advent of NBC's Sunday Night Football, in particular Flex Scheduling, ESPN's version of Monday Night Football has definitely taken a backseat. With no ability to flex out of a bad game, ESPN gets screwed sometimes because they are stuck with some really lousy matchups late in the season. One good thing about the shift in the primetime football heirarchy is that at least ESPN tries to showcase different teams each week. Let's take a look at this year's ESPN Monday Night Football schedule for 2012:
Week 1- 9/10/12
Cincinnati at Baltimore
Analysis: This is the first half of the season opening doubleheader on ESPN. Let's put it this way: This wasn't the game I would have picked for the season opener for MNF. ESPN needed to come out of the gate with a really attractive game, but this is not the one. This game is more suited for an early start on CBS in Week 1 and certainly not the season opening primetime game on ESPN. I'm surprised this game is in this spot.
Week 1- 9/10/12
San Diego at Oakland
Analysis: The Chargers and the Raiders meet in the classic "cheap" AFC West late game on ESPN. This is also the traditional spot for the Raiders who have been in this window every year except one. Throw in the fact that Chris Berman is going to be doing the play-by-play, and there is every reason in the world to go to bed early and catch the highlights of this game the next morning. It is an interesting matchup in the AFC West for Week 1 though.
Week 2- 9/17/12
Denver at Atlanta
Analysis: ESPN gets Peyton Manning and the Broncos early in the season like NBC did in Week 1. It is an interesting matchup because if the Broncos fall at home to the Steelers in the first game, then Denver and Manning are staring at a possible 0-2 start.
Week 3- 9/24/12
Green Bay at Seattle
Analysis: I like the fact that you have the Packers on MNF early in the year, but this isn't the most attractive matchup. Seattle going to be competitive, but matching the Packers up with the Lions would have made more sense here, especially with NFL Network getting Packers-Bears in Week 2.
Week 4- 10/1/12
Chicago at Dallas
Analysis: Great game and matchup for ESPN. I thought for sure that this game would be on NBC, but give credit to ESPN for getting this one. An early October meeting between the Bears and Cowboys is a homerun.
Week 5- 10/8/12
Houston at New York Jets
Analysis: Can't you see the executives at ESPN praying that the Jets get off to 1-3 or 2-2 start, and Mark Sanchez plays horribly the first month of the season? Any combination of those events will lead to endless shots of Tim Tebow standing on the sidelines waiting for his turn to be inserted into the lineup as the starting quarterback and not just the wildcat player. This is a solid game for MNF football because the Jets will create some sort of buzz no matter what they do this season, and the Texans are going to go into 2012 as the "sexy" pick to win the AFC, so this game will become a measuring stick for both teams.
Week 6- 10/15/12
Denver at San Diego
Analysis: ESPN gets Peyton Manning for the second time in a month, and once again the Broncos are on the road for a quality opponent. Manning will be one of the main stories all season long, so pairing him up with a team like the Chargers makes a lot of sense, and this game has appeal nationally as well.
Week 7-10/22/12
Detroit at Chicago
Analysis: The Lions and Bears figure to be in the mix in the NFC this year, but this game could be a real interesting one at this point in the season. This might be a make or break game for one of these two teams, but it definitely is a solid game for MNF. Another solid matchup for the folks at ESPN.
Week 8- 10/29/12
San Francisco at Arizona
Analysis: The first real stinker since Week 1 for the ESPN MNF package. I just can't get into this game, and even if the Cardinals are in the hunt in the NFC West, this game has no juice for a Monday Night Football matchup. Use this night to reconnect with your wife, girlfriend, family or friends.
Week 9- 11/5/12
Philadelphia at New Orleans
Analysis: After a bad week, MNF comes back with a solid game for early November. The Eagles should be a major factor in the NFC this year, and the Saints will be a story no matter what happens to them as a result of all their offseason troubles. This could be a really big game in the NFC.
Week 10- 11/12/12
Kansas City at Pittsburgh
Analysis: This game has Steelers 13-10 written all over it. On paper this might be a good game, but it doesn't have the juice that translates into a must watch Monday Night Football event. The Chiefs are going to be good this year, so this game could be very important, but Kansas City isn't a team that is moving the meter all that often.
Week 11- 11/19/12
Chicago at San Francisco
Analysis: This game is one of those games you look at every year before the season starts and say "Wow! This game is going to be huge." Well, a lot of times those particular games don't live up to that preseason hype, and this game could fit the bill. The Niners are going to be huge favorites to win the NFC West and come out of the NFC this year, but I find it hard to believe that they will replicate their 13-3 season from 2011. The Bears look like one of those up and coming teams that will be very dangerous in the NFC this season. One team's season could be on the way up, and one team's season could be on the way down when these two teams meet. Hopefully, it is a colossal game for MNF, but the more likely scenario is that it won't be.
Week 12- 11/26/12
Carolina at Philadelphia
Analysis: It's not too difficult to see the angle that ESPN is going to ride with this game. This matchup will be all about Michael Vick and Cam Newton. You might as well forget about even listing the other players in the lineup when the game starts. Stuart Scott will talk about Vick and Newton the entire pregame show, and there will be about 5,000 features on each of them leading up to the game. It will get pretty bad pretty quick. Let's just hope the Panthers are improved enough that this game has some sort of value to it.
Week 13- 12/3/12
New York Giants at Washington
Analysis: Any time you get in the NFC East late in the season, you have to be happy. This is another really good game for ESPN. If RG III can provide some spark to the Redskins, then this game will do a monster rating. Another good week for Monday Night Football.
Week 14- 12/10/12
Houston at New England
Analysis: This game could have the potential of deciding homefield advantage in the AFC. You know the Patriots will be in contention at this point in the season, the question will be on the Texans. Can they live up to their preseason expectations? If they can, then this game will be a huge showdown for AFC supremacy.
Week 15- 12/17/12
New York Jets at Tennessee
Analysis: This game should have some playoff implications. Both teams figure to be in the AFC playoff hunt this year, so this game should matter for at least one of them. I love the games leading up Christmas, and there is nothing better than having a beer, putting on the fireplace, lighting up the Christmas tree, and watching an important game late in the NFL season. Hopefully, this game will be meaningful enough to keep everyone's interest.
Week 16- Saturday 12/22/12
Atlanta at Detroit.
Analysis: Thank God the NFL decided to scrap the last Monday Night Football game of the season, and add that game somewhere else on the schedule. In this scenario, the NFL avoiding giving ESPN this game on Christmas Eve, and they slotted in the Saturday spot right before the holiday. Great move by the league, and ESPN gets a game to finish off their package, and adds a little extra spice to the football weekend.
Week 1- 9/10/12
Cincinnati at Baltimore
Analysis: This is the first half of the season opening doubleheader on ESPN. Let's put it this way: This wasn't the game I would have picked for the season opener for MNF. ESPN needed to come out of the gate with a really attractive game, but this is not the one. This game is more suited for an early start on CBS in Week 1 and certainly not the season opening primetime game on ESPN. I'm surprised this game is in this spot.
Week 1- 9/10/12
San Diego at Oakland
Analysis: The Chargers and the Raiders meet in the classic "cheap" AFC West late game on ESPN. This is also the traditional spot for the Raiders who have been in this window every year except one. Throw in the fact that Chris Berman is going to be doing the play-by-play, and there is every reason in the world to go to bed early and catch the highlights of this game the next morning. It is an interesting matchup in the AFC West for Week 1 though.
Week 2- 9/17/12
Denver at Atlanta
Analysis: ESPN gets Peyton Manning and the Broncos early in the season like NBC did in Week 1. It is an interesting matchup because if the Broncos fall at home to the Steelers in the first game, then Denver and Manning are staring at a possible 0-2 start.
Week 3- 9/24/12
Green Bay at Seattle
Analysis: I like the fact that you have the Packers on MNF early in the year, but this isn't the most attractive matchup. Seattle going to be competitive, but matching the Packers up with the Lions would have made more sense here, especially with NFL Network getting Packers-Bears in Week 2.
Week 4- 10/1/12
Chicago at Dallas
Analysis: Great game and matchup for ESPN. I thought for sure that this game would be on NBC, but give credit to ESPN for getting this one. An early October meeting between the Bears and Cowboys is a homerun.
Week 5- 10/8/12
Houston at New York Jets
Analysis: Can't you see the executives at ESPN praying that the Jets get off to 1-3 or 2-2 start, and Mark Sanchez plays horribly the first month of the season? Any combination of those events will lead to endless shots of Tim Tebow standing on the sidelines waiting for his turn to be inserted into the lineup as the starting quarterback and not just the wildcat player. This is a solid game for MNF football because the Jets will create some sort of buzz no matter what they do this season, and the Texans are going to go into 2012 as the "sexy" pick to win the AFC, so this game will become a measuring stick for both teams.
Week 6- 10/15/12
Denver at San Diego
Analysis: ESPN gets Peyton Manning for the second time in a month, and once again the Broncos are on the road for a quality opponent. Manning will be one of the main stories all season long, so pairing him up with a team like the Chargers makes a lot of sense, and this game has appeal nationally as well.
Week 7-10/22/12
Detroit at Chicago
Analysis: The Lions and Bears figure to be in the mix in the NFC this year, but this game could be a real interesting one at this point in the season. This might be a make or break game for one of these two teams, but it definitely is a solid game for MNF. Another solid matchup for the folks at ESPN.
Week 8- 10/29/12
San Francisco at Arizona
Analysis: The first real stinker since Week 1 for the ESPN MNF package. I just can't get into this game, and even if the Cardinals are in the hunt in the NFC West, this game has no juice for a Monday Night Football matchup. Use this night to reconnect with your wife, girlfriend, family or friends.
Week 9- 11/5/12
Philadelphia at New Orleans
Analysis: After a bad week, MNF comes back with a solid game for early November. The Eagles should be a major factor in the NFC this year, and the Saints will be a story no matter what happens to them as a result of all their offseason troubles. This could be a really big game in the NFC.
Week 10- 11/12/12
Kansas City at Pittsburgh
Analysis: This game has Steelers 13-10 written all over it. On paper this might be a good game, but it doesn't have the juice that translates into a must watch Monday Night Football event. The Chiefs are going to be good this year, so this game could be very important, but Kansas City isn't a team that is moving the meter all that often.
Week 11- 11/19/12
Chicago at San Francisco
Analysis: This game is one of those games you look at every year before the season starts and say "Wow! This game is going to be huge." Well, a lot of times those particular games don't live up to that preseason hype, and this game could fit the bill. The Niners are going to be huge favorites to win the NFC West and come out of the NFC this year, but I find it hard to believe that they will replicate their 13-3 season from 2011. The Bears look like one of those up and coming teams that will be very dangerous in the NFC this season. One team's season could be on the way up, and one team's season could be on the way down when these two teams meet. Hopefully, it is a colossal game for MNF, but the more likely scenario is that it won't be.
Week 12- 11/26/12
Carolina at Philadelphia
Analysis: It's not too difficult to see the angle that ESPN is going to ride with this game. This matchup will be all about Michael Vick and Cam Newton. You might as well forget about even listing the other players in the lineup when the game starts. Stuart Scott will talk about Vick and Newton the entire pregame show, and there will be about 5,000 features on each of them leading up to the game. It will get pretty bad pretty quick. Let's just hope the Panthers are improved enough that this game has some sort of value to it.
Week 13- 12/3/12
New York Giants at Washington
Analysis: Any time you get in the NFC East late in the season, you have to be happy. This is another really good game for ESPN. If RG III can provide some spark to the Redskins, then this game will do a monster rating. Another good week for Monday Night Football.
Week 14- 12/10/12
Houston at New England
Analysis: This game could have the potential of deciding homefield advantage in the AFC. You know the Patriots will be in contention at this point in the season, the question will be on the Texans. Can they live up to their preseason expectations? If they can, then this game will be a huge showdown for AFC supremacy.
Week 15- 12/17/12
New York Jets at Tennessee
Analysis: This game should have some playoff implications. Both teams figure to be in the AFC playoff hunt this year, so this game should matter for at least one of them. I love the games leading up Christmas, and there is nothing better than having a beer, putting on the fireplace, lighting up the Christmas tree, and watching an important game late in the NFL season. Hopefully, this game will be meaningful enough to keep everyone's interest.
Week 16- Saturday 12/22/12
Atlanta at Detroit.
Analysis: Thank God the NFL decided to scrap the last Monday Night Football game of the season, and add that game somewhere else on the schedule. In this scenario, the NFL avoiding giving ESPN this game on Christmas Eve, and they slotted in the Saturday spot right before the holiday. Great move by the league, and ESPN gets a game to finish off their package, and adds a little extra spice to the football weekend.
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