Who you got GB rolling or Detroit Upset?
Holiday weekend 2011 began with Green Bay at Detroit where the major focus was Stafford was coming of a 5 TD game and upset on the cards, which was clearly over shadowed by Ndamukong Suh's stomp over GB Evan Dietrich-Smith. Clearly this kid needs some mentoring after the history of events that have happened. I always think there is a fine line between being a dirty player and a tough guy. This definitely crosses the line and puts him in the dirty player list. Again its very tough to look over such things in a course of game and just like others I am talking about Suh's stomp but indeed it should be how GB defense stepped up on the road and collected 3 picks from Stafford and how Aaron Rodgers is carving his mark in this league. I always have a feeling that Aaron Rodgers does not get the recognition he deserves just because he plays and represents the small market. Look at his numbers isn't he a clear favorite to win the MVP this season with a 11-0 start. I would be surprised if some one else picks these honors. I mean common 33 TD passes vs 4 INT with a 71.8% completion and a QB rating of 127.7 most of all I repeat a 11-0 start. Should I say something else that convinces that he is not the MVP this season, yeah may be I will hold off until the end of regular season and where he is.
Which Dallas Cowboys showed up?
Just so the game ended with GB beating Detroit 27 -15, I flipped over the channel to look at what Dallas has got against a surprising Miami Dolphins team who have been on fire over the last few weeks. Tony Sparano has been on the hot seat for over an year now. Just remember that the GM Jeff Ireland lost the race in landing John Harbaugh and so he let Tony Sparano slide for another year, after an 0-7 start a 3 game win streak will and never save a coach from facing the axe. Dallas is also in a season saving mode or rather call it must win situation with Giants right under their throat for the division lead and against a weak Miami team it is a must win situation for sure. As I said which Dallas team showed up on Thanksgiving, I say the good Dallas showed up on the day that they needed the most. Romo passed for 226 yrds and 2 TD and helped setup Dan Bailey's game winning FG in the closing moments to seal the fate of Tony Sparano and a W for the victory. The individual stats are not that great but it is a complete all round team effort that lifted the boys over the fins. Yes the game was very close 20-20 until the final seconds but it was not something like Dallas was going down for a missed FG or something like that. Sorry to not mention the Dallas D they did come up with key stops late in the game and over the last few weeks they did turn up and have served their due diligence.
Battle for Supremacy in the Harbaugh Family?
Heck no it was no battle for supremacy over the brothers. They still love each other and will keep loving each other, it's football not war. But for 60mins in the grid iron these brothers fought it like a war. Coming into the game Harbaugh from SF knew he had to shut down the run game of the Ravens and other Harbaugh from Baltimore knew how to blitz frequently enough to disrupt the momentum of the 49ers. Well to the matter of fact a franchise record of 9 sacks by Baltimore D completely shut down Alex Smith. Brothers knew they both had good running attack and so each other shut down each others run, but what I should take from this is no team so far has a rushing TD against the 49ers yes even the Ravens fail to get a rushing TD which is quite surprising as you think. Ray Rice a central offensive weapon just got 83yrds overall and in such a high defensive power game a single TD can change the course of things and Flacco delivered to seal a victory for Jim over John or should I say gatorade bath for Jim and hug for John.
Sunday NFL football is here!!!
Just so to begin the Sunday LSU and Alabama will be facing off in the BCS National Championship game as if I care who plays in that final bowl game of the year. I have been all in for a playoff pattern any way. Just to begin with what are the implications so far. Jets, Bills, Cincinnati, Pittsburg, San Diego, Denver, Houston, Tennessee, Philly are all the teams that require a W to have playoff hopes. Well but by the end of Sunday few teams in the list will have their season hopes shattered and some teams will still stay in hunt for a playoff berth. And so the match ups are also going to decide this week itself if Philly and San Diego can still hold on or go home.
The match ups Bills were at Jets, Denver was at San Diego, New England on the road in Philly, the Bengals hosted the Browns and Steeler nation travelled to the Cheifs.
Did I ever say that Mark Sanchez was an over rated QB well I might have definitely said that, but he always lives upto my words like whenever he gets those come back victories in the 4th quarters he seems like the guy that Jets are in for long haul but then again that lame performance against Denver last week writes everything off. Interesting analogy about the game is did Bills loose the game or Jets won the game. I say that because if Stevie Johnson had caught those two important passes when they needed the most Jets would be down 5-6 right where the Bills are today. But thanks to Jets D and Stevie Johnson's drops the bills are down 5-6 with a 4 game loosing streak which began against Jets and hope it ends with Jets. The stand out of the game is for sure 4 TD's from Mark Sanchez, followed by Dustin Keller, yeah I know where is the mention of Burress but I say have you looked at how Keller blocked and fended of his man opened up and caught passes a perfect TE role and so for sure he deserves credit here.
Tebow time...hurray....I had to wait until now to write this. I was dying to write this line I mean, I freaking hate Tebow seriously I hate Tim Tebow. But Mr. Tebow what is the magic around you that you have a 5-1 start. I think give credit to the defense of John Fox to earn those wins because they held Jets for 10points and the Chargers I mean the pass friendly Chargers to just 13 points. I think the run option offense got them to the FG range in OT and got that points needed for that victory. Tim Tebow might not be the guy at this moment to say he is the future but one complete off season training where he should get help from Elway and Fox about how to pass and read blitz and then he is not delivering still and wants to run the option offense only then I am with Elway until then lets see how much of Tebow magic is left this season.
The Chargers are definelty out of the playoff race. Not because of the record right now and the division they are in but because of their performance over the last few weeks. Where is the fake hand off passing plays, where are the break out passes in the deep, where is the connection, I know the days when Rivers and O-line reads the defense at the same time and adjusts accordingly and all happens through eye contact and teams were terrible defending it may be it is because of injuries we are not seeing the offense we are used to seeing, or is it time for a change at the top. Norv Turner is not looking too deep into his playbook and defenses know already what they are going to get. That is the key reasons they are in soup today. Hope that changes atleast in the due course of the season because they have nothing to loose or may be loose to get better draft picks.
Well finally to the Browns yes the Browns, Colt McCoy and the browns got a pass and sob story going on how harsh ex Offensive co ordinator Brian Daboll was? Hello Colt have you tried playing for Bill Belichek, instead of getting help from Favre ask Brady how it is even after winning 3 super bowls your coach is in your ear after a bad game or bad snap. This is pro football and not high school or college ball. Cincy hosted the Browns, Hillis was active and that reflected in the 1st half offense. The blocking improved and Colt McCoy got some time to throw to the receivers. End of 1st half 17-7 and somebody in the organization needs to tell the team that they play 2 halfs and 4 qtrs and not just 2. I give credit to the defense of Jauron who is making this team look better atleast one side of the ball but in key situations the team stills clearly reflects they are young and missing players to be better in that tough AFC North Division. For some reason I have a feeling this season we will have 3 AFC North teams making it to the playoffs and it wont be the Browns for sure.
Cincy got a good QB-WR, QB-TE combo going and a defense has stepped up as well. Andy Dalton continues to impress and A.J. Green is living up to the reputation of a top draft pick. The only difference in the game yesterday was A.J. Green caught the pass which was needed and Greg Little dropped the pass, oh yeah I forgot again a FG miss I mean common really one more what is wrong with the special teams out there...!!!
How did Caleb Hannie do in his 1st ever NFL start, dude get some information about the rules and how to spike the ball and stop clock. You have 4 secs and you are called for intentional grounding because you did not know how to spike the football, wow ..!!! When you are passing is terrible you have an excellent backfield combo and you refused to use it. Mike Martz have you lost hope on your run play because Cutler is injured?
So to end and wrap up the holiday weekend of football Pittsburgh escaped in Kansas City. Did they ever struggle against Romeo Crennel in his days as Cleveland Head Coach, ah..may be not there is something terribly wrong in the geography of Cleveland where sports success and city don't go hand in hand. Mike Wallace just had 17 receiving yards and Big Ben just had 1 TD pass, yeah Tyler had a key INT but if you look at that throw that was good stuff but bad on the part of receiver who called for it and did not go for the catch hence bad communication by both.
