FRIDAY FOOTBALL FIXX

December 31st, 2010 Friday

Friday’s Football Fixx

Legendary Career Coming To An End
With quarterback Brett Favre failing another post-concussion test earlier this week it is starting to look more and more like not only will he not play Sunday, but his legendary career is coming to a close. After a magical ride just a year ago that ended with an NFC Championship appearance, the NFL Icon returned for the 20th season of his historic career. Unlike the 2009 season, this year has been plagued with injuries (ankle, shoulder, head) and marred with inconsistent and at times poor play. Favre (19 interceptions in 2010) has struggled through this, his 20th campaign, seeing his consecutive games started streak end at 297 games. Favre has battled through many injuries throughout his career, but in 2010 all of that caught up to him; he has been knocked out of two games this season and forced to sit out two others (this Sunday will make three). This was not the story-book ending fans had hoped to see for the golden boy from Mississippi, but after 20 long and enduring seasons and at the age of 41 it was likely the more probable. Favre has given fans plenty to remember over the past two decades, but this will likely be the one season he’ll like to soon forget.

Falcons Still Control Their Own Destiny
The Falcons enter Sunday still hot on the heels of their first NFC South division title since 2004 and with a win on Sunday they can accomplish just that. The Falcons started the 2010 season on a dubious note with an opening day loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Since then the Falcons have won 12 of their next 14 and are just one game away from a division title and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Matty “Ice” (Ryan) has been brilliant in his third year as the team’s starter throwing 26 touchdowns and just nine interceptions. The Falcons will wrap up things this Sunday at the Georgia Dome with their season finale against the Panthers. In three seasons Ryan is 19-2 as the Falcons’ starter at home and he has won both of his previous meetings against the Panthers at the Georgia Dome; the prospects of a win and title look good.

Rams Trying to Return to the Post Season
The Rams have not been in the playoffs since 2004 and are seeking their first division title since the 2003 season. Just a year ago the Rams had won just one game and now this weekend they have an opportunity to win their eighth game of the season and the division. The Rams are a much improved ball club this season with more consistent play under center. The Rams rookie quarterback Sam Bradford (3,357 yards passing this season) has been impressive this season, not missing a start and playing at a high level; his 335 completions this season are an NFL record for a rookie. Bradford will need to be at his best this Sunday when the Rams travel to Seattle, a place that has not been kind to the Rams in the past; the Rams have lost their last five meeting in the Northwest, including being outscored 88-23 in the last three.

Injury News and Updates
With the final week of regular season play scheduled for Sunday, there are going to be several key players missing from some of the key games with playoff implications;

…the Jaguars are going to be without not only running back Maurice Jones-Drew (knee) who has been officially declared out for Sunday, but they will also not have quarterback David Garrard (finger). Garrard was officially placed on the injured reserve following surgery on his throwing hand. With Garrard out, back-up quarterback Trent Edwards will get the start on Sunday for the Jaguars who still need a win and some help to make the playoffs.

…the Vikings have not ruled quarterback Brett Favre (concussion) out for Sunday, but having not practiced all week his status is very much in doubt. Quarterback Joe Webb is expected to make his second start this season.

…the Bronco’s running back Knowshon Moreno (ribs) has been listed as questionable all week for Sunday, but reports indicate he is expected to start at San Diego in week 17. Moreno may start, but since it appears he is still not 100 percent he could end up sharing carries with back-ups Correll Buckhalter and Lance Ball.

Just my views.

By David Ortega

MY POWER RANKINGS (WEEK 16)

December 31st, 2010, Friday

MY NFL Team Power Rankings
(Thru Week sixteen)

The 2010 Playoff picture is starting to come together, but there are still many pieces left out of place as we enter the final weekend of the regular season. Through 16 weeks several teams have managed to stay in the hunt, but last weekend ended the hopes of a couple of teams that were preseason favorites to make the playoffs. The Chargers week 16 meltdown in Cincinnati will keep them home this post season and the Niners’ loss to the Rams will have them looking in from the outside (and searching for a new head coach).

With four division titles still up for grabs, there are several matchups this weekend that have significant playoff implications. The Bears-Packers, Rams-Seahawks, and Saints-Buccaneers are just a few of the games that will not only impact the playoff picture, but will undoubtedly shake up this season’s final rankings. Even games like the Raiders-Chiefs will shape who will face who in the playoffs; if the Chiefs win they can earn a number three seed (wouldn’t play the Patriots until the AFC Championship).

With all 16 games scheduled for Sunday, it figures to not only be a busy day of football, but an interesting one as well.

Here are the team rankings heading into Sunday….

Top 10

1. New England Patriots (13-2): With Home field advantage locked up throughout the playoffs, it appears the road to the Super Bowl will go through Foxboro. Quarterback Tom Brady and the Patriots are a perfect 7-0 at home this season.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4): The Steelers make the jump to number two being the only one AFC team having defeated the Falcons this season. The Steelers will take their 6-1 road record this season to Cleveland and try to wrap up the North and number two seed in the AFC.
3. Atlanta Falcons (12-3): The Falcons dropped their key matchup on Monday night with the Saints, but they can still win the South with a home win over the Panthers (2-13) this Sunday. Even with their loss to the Saints the Falcons have been near perfect at home (6-1), a win Sunday means the division and a number one seed throughout the playoffs.
4. Baltimore Ravens (11-4): The Ravens are still in the hunt for a division title, but they’ll need a little help with a Steelers’ loss. Baltimore is riding a three game winning streak and will be home this weekend where they play very well; the Ravens are 6-1 this season.
5. New Orleans Saints (11-4): The Saints did what they had to do Monday night with a big road win over Atlanta Monday night, but they need some help if they hope to win back-to-back NFC South titles. With a win and Falcon loss, the Saints would also have a chance at the number one seed.
6. Chicago Bears (11-4): The Bears have the division locked up and with a win or loss against the Packers on Sunday they have the number two seed already sewn up. A win on Sunday however, and they could still have a shot at the number one seed (if Atlanta losses). The Bears won their earlier meeting with Green Bay 20-17 back in week 3.
7. Philadelphia Eagles (10-5): The Eagles missed their chance last weekend at securing a top seed in the NFC. With little to play for this weekend, the team is expected to rest some key players like Michael Vick. The Eagles (4-3 at home in 2010) are home this weekend and will face their division rivals, the Dallas Cowboys (3-4 on the road).
8. Kansas City Chiefs (10-5): The Chiefs have been a surprise story in 2010. They firmly took their seat at the top of the AFC West in week one with their Monday night win over the Chargers and have not vacated since. The Chiefs have the division, but need a win to lock down the number three seed. The Chiefs are 7-0 at home this season and will face the Raiders at Arrowhead this Sunday; the Raiders won the first meeting this season 23-20 back in week 9.
9. New York Jets (10-5): The Jets have clinched the playoffs and appear satisfied with that at the moment. They can’t catch the Patriots or change their seeding position, so it sounds like they may use this time to give some players much needed rest. Among those that could rest, quarterback Mark Sanchez is expected start, but will likely be limited (early exit) on Sunday.
10. Green Bay Packers (9-6): The Packers bounced back with a huge win last Sunday, but still need a win over the Bears to clinch a playoff berth. The Packers are home this Sunday where they have won 6 of 7 games, including their last four. In their last four games at home the Packers have scored an average of 38 points.

The Rest of the league

• Indianapolis Colts (9-6)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-6)
• New York Giants (9-6)
• San Diego Chargers (8-7)
• Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7)
• St. Louis Rams (7-8)
• Oakland Raiders (7-8)
• Miami Dolphins (7-8)
• Minnesota Vikings (6-9)
• Washington Redskins (6-9)
• Tennessee Titans (6-9)
• Seattle Seahawks (6-9)
• Arizona Cardinals (6-9)
• Detroit Lions (5-10)
• Cleveland Browns (5-10)
• Dallas Cowboys (5-10)
• San Francisco 49ers (5-10)
• Houston Texans (5-10)
• Buffalo Bills (4-11)
• Denver Broncos (4-11)
• Cincinnati Bengals (4-11)
• Carolina Panthers (2-13)

TUESDAY FOOTBALL NOTES

December 28th, 2010 Tuesday

Tuesday Football notes

The Underrated Chiefs Take the West
While no one was talking about the chances of Kansas City winning the West, but rather focused and enamored with the Chargers chances the Chiefs went ahead and ended all speculation by wrapping up the division (of course the Bolts did not do themselves a favor losing in Cincinnati). The Chiefs did it in the style that has worked for them all season; a solid ground attack and a quarterback who limits his mistakes. On Sunday Matt Cassel continued his error-free play passing for over 300 yards and throwing three touchdowns with no turnovers. The Chiefs lead the NFL in rushing this season averaging 167 yards per game, while quarterback Matt Cassel has thrown 27 touchdowns this season with only five interceptions. Not a lot of people are talking about the chiefs chances, but they seem to have a very good formula that could get them very deep into the playoffs.

Brady and Patriots Seal Home Field
It was just another Sunday for the Patriots and business as usual for quarterback Tom Brady and his bunch. Facing the Buffalo Bills in week 16, their opponents were no match for the Patriots explosive offense on Sunday. The Patriots posted another 30-point effort (34 on Sunday), it was their 10th time this season scoring 30 or more points in a game and the seventh straight time. Tom Brady was brilliant once again throwing three more touchdowns in the win on Sunday to bring his league-leading season total to 34. With just four interceptions all year long Brady has been near perfect and if his defense starts to get on a roll (just three points allowed and seven turnovers on Sunday) the Patriots could be invincible.

Niners End Singletary Run in Frisco
It seemed before he even stepped off the plane coming home from St. Louis, the Niner’s head coach Mike Singletary was out of a job. After a disappointing road loss to the Rams in a game that was filled with miscues, insubordination, and more of what has put what should have been a playoff team on the outside looking in, Singletary was relieved as the head coach. It was always going to be a difficult position to hold when you consider the rich history of this organization. Singletary inherited a team that was a long way away from being what they once were and in his short tenure they just not make any significant strides closer to being what they had hoped they could be. Singletary was 18-22 as the head coach and perhaps his biggest mistake was most evident down the stretch; he stayed with Alex Smith longer than he should and in the most important game of the season he went to a well (A. Smith) that had dried up long ago.

The Notable Injuries from Week 16

Perhaps the biggest injury news coming out of week 16 has to be the limping Michael Vick against the Minnesota Vikings in the first Tuesday football game since the 1940’s. Down the stretch of the Eagles week 16 loss, Vick was seen limping noticeably as he tried to lead the Eagles back late in the 4th quarter. His status remains in the air for week 17 since the Eagles have the division all locked up.

The Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (ankle) could miss practice all week according to some reports. Johnson has by far been the team’s biggest threat in the passing game all season and with the team riding a three-game winning streak there’s no question they would like him available on Sunday. The “no practice all week” move could just be a more cautious approach or if it’s because of the severity of the ankle injury his availability could very much be in question. His status will be better known later in the week as more reports surface.

In Monday night’s tussle with the Atlanta Falcons the Saints running back Reggie Bush left the game early with a shoulder injury. X-rays on Bush’s collarbone taken on Tuesday revealed a strained SC joint, something that it is believed he would be able to play with according to the NFL Network. With the number one seed still within grasp, it would be hard to imagine Bush not being out there on Sunday, if he’s healthy enough.

By David Ortega

KEYS 2 SUNDAY

December 26th, 2010, Sunday

Keys 2 Sunday

Week 16 Previews & Picks
(just a few)

New England Patriots @ Buffalo Bills
….even with the playoffs clinched the Patriots still have a lot on the line entering Sunday’s matchup with the Bills. What a win means for the Pats; a division title and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Patriots have been riding the arm of quarterback Tom Brady (31 passing touchdowns this season) and there’s no reason to believe that they won’t stick with what works. In Week 14 Brady already proved he is more than capable of handling the element; passed for 369 yards with two touchdowns against Bears in a winter-wonderland-like setting. Brady has won twelve straight starts against the Bills, including their earlier matchup this season at Foxboro in week 3. In their first meeting Brady passed for 252 yards with three touchdowns. These two teams maybe very familiar with each other, but no question the key for New England starts and ends with their quarterback.
(My Pick; Patriots 33, Bills 24)

New York Jets @ Chicago Bears
….the Jets are coming off a big win, to sustain their new found momentum on the road this week, they will need to pressure Bears’ quarterback Jay Cutler. If they can get pressure in his face, they just may be able to force a few errant throws. Rex Ryan knows it’s going to be tough grinding out the yards on the ground with both Tomlinson and Greene, so he’ll need his young quarterback (Mark Sanchez) to be able to make a few downfield throws to both of his talented receivers; Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards. Sanchez will also need to find his tight end over the middle.
(My Pick; Jets 21, Bears 13)

San Francisco 49ers @ St.Louis Rams
….this one by no means has showdown written all over it, but it is a critical divisional matchup that could very well decide the division. The Rams offense has struggled the past several weeks, so the Niners will need to bring lots of pressure and run blitzes to keep the Rams offense out of rhythm. Head coach Mike Singletary has decided to Troy Smith under center; Smith has better mobility, a stronger arm, and gives the Niners offense a lift they will need on Sunday. Singletary will try to run with Westbrook and Dixon, but Smith is going to have to stretch the field and find his tight end (Vernon Davis) today if they are to win.
(My Pick; 49ers 27, Rams 17)

San Diego Chargers @ Cincinnati Bengals
….there is no easy Sunday and even when facing the 3-11 Bengals, the Chargers will not have an easy task. The biggest element they could face will be the elements; snow and cold. The Bengals are going to try and run the ball, so the Bolts will need to shut down Benson and force Palmer to beat them today (without TO and with a limited Ochocinco). Rivers on the other side will have to rely on his strong arm getting the ball to his playmakers downfield; Vincent Jackson, Legedu Naanee, and Randy McMichael. Mike Tolbert and Ryan Mathews will need to anchor the ground game against the leagues 22nd ranked run defense.
(My Pick; Chargers 31, Bengals 23)

A few more picks...

Baltimore @ Cleveland….
…the Ravens will use their smothering defense to corral and slow down running back Peyton Hillis trying to force rookie quarterback Colt McCoy to beat them through the air. Running back Ray Rice will be the key to the Ravens offense; it will be important to utilize him in both the ground and air attack.
(My Pick; Ravens 23, Browns 16)

Washington @ Jacksonville
….without Maurice Jones-Drew, the Jaguars offense will take a huge hit in the run game. The Redskins should be able to keep the Jags in long passing situations and put more pressure on quarterback David Garrard. Offensively expect to see a lot of Ryan Torain early, but don’t be surprised to see quarterback Rex Grossman attack the Jaguars 29th ranked pass defense downfield.
(My Pick; Redskins 28, Jaguars 20)

FRIDAY FOOTBALL FIXX

December 24th, 2010 Friday

Friday’s Football Fixx

Niner’ Still Hanging On By A Wing And A Prayer
Even at 5-9 this season, the Niners’ still find themselves in the most improbable position; a chance to win the NFC West Division. This Sunday head coach Mike Singletary will bring his club into the Edward Jones Dome trailing the division leaders (Rams) by just a single game. With a shot at possibly taking control of the division this weekend, Singletary has announced he will roll the dice with quarterback Troy Smith. Smith is only completing 52 percent of his passes this season and has just four touchdowns in five starts. He does give the Niners the best chance at winning and the team is 3-2 with him as the starter.

Jets Will Need a Healthy Sanchez
Last Sunday Rex Ryan and his Jets bounced back with a big road win over the Steelers. This week presents no less of a challenge for “Gang Green”, as they travel to Soldier Field. Quarterback Mark Sanchez has been nursing a sore shoulder this past week, but despite looking questionable for week 16 the New York Daily News is reporting he will start against the Bears on Sunday. Sanchez has had his struggles this season, but last week against the Steelers he rebounded with a solid performance; 19 of 29 passing for 170 yards and one rushing touchdown. Sanchez has started all 14 games this season and there’s no question he gives the Jets their best chance to win. With the Patriots out front by two games, the Jets will need a healthy Sanchez on Sunday if they hope to keep pace.

Colts Ready for Next Hurdle
Last Sunday’s win over the Jaguars was just the first step for quarterback Peyton Manning and company. This week the Colts will travel way out west to meet the Oakland Raiders and with their playoff hopes still hanging in the balance, they will be hoping to escape the Black Hole unscathed. Manning appears to be out of his funk; 4 touchdowns and not turnovers in his last two starts. On Sunday Manning will tested again by the league’s 5th ranked pass defense, but with a less than 100 percent Nnamdi Asomugha that could be enough for Manning to take advantage. The Colts are tied with Jacksonville at 8-6 for the division lead and may own the tie-breaker, with two games left and no chance at a wild card they can’t afford to fall just one step (game) behind.

Saints and Falcons Headed For Monday Night Showdown
The Saints took a small tumble on the road a week ago against the Ravens falling 30-24. Even with the loss, they are still in the hunt for a consecutive NFC South division title. With two games left and trailing the division leading Atlanta Falcons, the first step at repeating as division champs will start Monday night when the Saints travel to the Georgia Dome. This will be no easy undertaking for the defending Super Bowl Champions. This season the Falcons have been unbeatable at home (6-0) winning by an average of 28-19. In their first meeting the Falcons defeated the Saints at the Superdome by a score of 27-24. While the odds do look stacked against the Saints repeating, before their loss to the Falcons earlier this season they had won three straight matchups; including their only meeting at the Georgia Dome a year ago.

Just my take.

By David Ortega

MY POWER RANKINGS (WEEK 15)

December 22nd, 2010, Wednesday

MY NFL Team Power Rankings
(Thru Week Fifteen)

Last week saw no significant changes at the top, although Sunday night the Packers did their best to try and knock off the league’s top dawgs (Patriots). Led by back-up quarterback Matt Flynn, the Packers fought the good fight, but fell short. With our top teams holding service in week 15, the Eagles made a big jump to the number three spot with a big win at the Meadowlands.

The Ravens and Saints did some trading of positions last weekend, with the Ravens inching upward and the Saints sliding a bit. There was some jockeying of positions amongst the top 10 teams, but not much more as most of them continue their battle to lock down a playoff spot in week 16.

The Bears made the biggest noise winning their division and moving a step closer to locking down the number two seed in the NFC. With the Chargers nipping at their heels, the Chiefs posted a much needed win last Sunday and moved into our top 10 this week.

With week 16 set to kickoff tonight, here’s how I rank them thru 15 weeks….

Top 10

1. New England Patriots (12-2): Tom Brady continues his MVP-like play and inch the Patriots a little closer to locking Homefield Advantage throughout the playoffs. A win at Buffalo on Sunday and the Pats won’t have to leave Foxboro throughout the playoffs, except for the Super Bowl.
2. Atlanta Falcons (12-2): Matt Ryan and the Falcons took a huge step closer to locking down Homefield Advantage in the NFC with their win over the Seahawks. A win Monday night over the Saints will not only lock down Homefield, the Falcons will also win their first division title since the 2004 season when Vick was under center.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (10-4): Michael Vick (8-2 as a starter) is playing like an MVP this season and has the Eagles on the verge of winning an NFC East division title (last one in 2006). It would be Vick’s first division title since 2004 when he was a Falcon.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4): The Steelers were missing the heart and soul of their Steel Curtain defense, Troy Polamalu on Sunday losing to the Jets. They will likely be without him Thursday night, but should be able to hold service at home.
5. Baltimore Ravens (10-4): The Ravens came up with a big win over the defending champs (Saints) on Sunday to pull into a tie with the Steelers. Having split their series with Pittsburgh, the Ravens still trail in the division because of the Steelers better divisional record.
6. New Orleans Saints (10-4): The Saints lost on the road Sunday to a good Ravens team. And while their chances of winning the division keep slipping away (trail Falcons by two games now) the Saints very much look like a playoff team that is still very dangerous. They still have a shot at the NFC South Crown and it starts with a huge meeting with Atlanta Monday night.
7. New York Jets (10-4): The Jets bounced back on Sunday with a much needed and impressive win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Jets were coming off two consecutive losses that suddenly had their playoff life in question. A win on Sunday at Chicago gets them in.
8. Chicago Bears (10-4): The Bears took care of business Monday night knocking off the Vikings and locking down their first division title since 2006. The Bears are still chasing the number two seed in the NFC, a win in their last two with an Eagles loss will lock it down or if the Monsters of the Midway win both of their remaining games they can seal the deal.
9. New York Giants (9-5): The Giants completely melted down in the fourth quarter last Sunday giving up four touchdowns to the Eagles in their 38-31 loss. The Giants will now need help if they still have any aspirations of winning the division; the Eagles swept the series and own that tie-breaker.
10. Kansas City Chiefs (9-5): The Chiefs make their first appearance in the top 10 in several weeks. With the return of Cassel, order was restored and the Chiefs notched down their ninth win of the season. With two games left, the Chiefs need only win out (last two games at home) or hope the Chargers drop one of their last two to win the West. The Chiefs last won the AFC West in 2003, they were 8-0 at home. The Chiefs are 6-0 at home this season.

The Rest of the league

• Green Bay Packers (8-6)
• San Diego Chargers (8-6)
• Indianapolis Colts (8-6)
• Jacksonville Jaguars (8-6)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)
• Oakland Raiders (7-7)
• Miami Dolphins (7-7)
• Tennessee Titans (6-8)
• St. Louis Rams (6-8)
• Seattle Seahawks (6-8)
• Minnesota Vikings (5-9)
• Cleveland Browns (5-9)
• Dallas Cowboys (5-9)
• Washington Redskins (5-9)
• San Francisco 49ers (5-9)
• Houston Texans (5-9)
• Arizona Cardinals (5-9)
• Buffalo Bills (4-10)
• Detroit Lions (4-10)
• Denver Broncos (3-11)
• Cincinnati Bengals (3-11)
• Carolina Panthers (2-12)

TUESDAY FOOTBALL NOTES

December 21st, 2010 Tuesday

Tuesday Football notes

Monsters of the Midway Rule the North
The Chicago Bears knew exactly what was at stake Monday night when they took the field against their purple rivals. With the division title well within their grasp, they were not about to let the magical Brett Favre steal the show, in classic Bear’s fashion the Monsters of the Midway took control early and quickly deposited Favre exit stage left. The 41 year old veteran was knocked out of the contest in the first half when he was sacked by the Bears rookie defensive lineman Corey Wooten. Favre would suffer a concussion and not return. The score at the time of his exit was 10-7 in favor of the Bears, but even had Favre remained in the game this game had the look and feel of all Bears. Cutler was sharp making nifty throws through the cold air with his rocket arm; he completed 14 of 24 for 194 yards and three touchdowns. Not only was the offense hitting on big plays, but the special teams stepped up led by Devin Hester. The Bears “very special” kick returner ran one kickoff back 79 yards to set up a Bears field goal, then later in the 3rd quarter lightning struck when he took a punt back 64 yards for the score. It was Hester’s 14th return for touchdown setting an NFL record and making him arguably the greatest return man this game has ever seen (and at 28 years of age, we have not see it all yet). The Bears would cruise on the night winning by a final score of 40-14 and with the win they clinched the North division title. More importantly for the Bears, at 10-4 they are tied with the Eagles, but since they own the tie-breaker they are currently the number two seed in the NFC playoff picture.

Rodgers Cleared To Play Sunday
After missing just one game, Sunday’s matchup with the Patriots, the Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers was cleared on Tuesday and will be expected to start Sunday against the Giants. The good news could not come any sooner for the Packers who now trail the division leading Bears by two games. Even if they manage a tie the Packers can’t win the division. They will have to count on earning a wild-card berth which makes Rodgers return that much more important. They have the Giants (2nd ranked pass defense with 42 sacks) on Sunday and finish the season with the Bears on January 2nd. The Packers will need both games, but what makes Sunday’s matchup even more critical; the Giants (Sunday’s opponent) sit in the final playoff spot. Win and you take control, lose and you stay home.

The Injured Reserve List Grows

No Matter what precautions are taking, in such a violent sport as American football is there is now way of getting around the injury bug. It only makes sense in such a collision style game, where the players keep getting bigger, faster, and stronger. This weeks’ list of inductees to the injured reserve club include the Bengal’s wide receiver Terrell Owens (983 yards receiving, 9 touchdowns) who tore his MCL and had surgery Monday. The Cowboys also placed quarterback Tony Romo (1,605 yards passing, 11 touchdowns) on IR ending his attempt to return to action this season; the Cowboys will stick with Jon Kitna (15 touchdown passes) the rest of the way. Vikings’ starting left guard Steve Hutchinson was also added to the list on Monday.

Some notables that almost made this list and are listed as questionable at the moment include; the Colts Austin Collie may have never been in jeopardy of making it to the IR, but after three concussions this season it may be difficult for him to return this season. The always incredible Mr. Brett Favre seems to be always defying the odds, after his latest injury (concussion) he won’t see the IR, but can he really make it back to action? Head Coach Leslie Frazier has not ruled out the impossible, where Favre seems to reside from time to time. One last notable, the Steelers’ playmaking safety Troy Palomalu is expected to miss Thursday’s game with the Panthers, but the IR does not look like an option for him. This is great news for the Steelers defense; they need their playmaker.

By David Ortega

MONDAY NIGHT HEADLINES

December 20th, 2010 Monday

Monday’s Headlines

Favre Makes a Final MNF Appearance
It was short lived, but future hall of fame quarterback Brett Favre tried his best to give fans one last hurrah. Only yesterday was Favre being ruled out of Monday Night’s matchup with the Bears, but then earlier today his status was upgraded to “questionable.” As if any of this should surprise anyone, this is Brett Favre and in the true spirit of the legendary number four, just before the start of the game it was announced he would start. And start he did, but unlike some of those more memorable Monday night finishes, this would be one without the Mr. Favre. The Vikings quarterback gave it the old college try, but a hard sack in the first half knocked him out of the game with a concussion. It has been a fun ride through 20 seasons and 297 straight starts, but at 41 years of age this was likely the last time we’ve seen Favre play; where have we heard that before?

Cassel Makes Timely Return
Just when his team needed him most, Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel made his return to action on Sunday and led his team to a much needed win on the road. Cassel had missed week 4 due to the appendectomy he had suffered, but the time off did him good as well as his team. Against the Rams on Sunday, the Chiefs offense was a much different group than what fans saw only a week earlier (0 points & 67 total net yards). Yesterday with Cassel under center, the Chiefs offense churned out 383 yards of offense and 27 points and easily handled their foes. With Cassel back the Chiefs look ripe to take the division, but they will still have to face an upstart Titan’s team next week and their old adversaries (the Raiders) in the season finale.

Tebow Earns Another Start
It wasn’t all pretty on Sunday, but apparently the young rookie (Tim Tebow) showed enough grit to warrant a second look. Against the Raiders, the Broncos’ quarterback made plays with his legs as well as his arm. Tebow only threw 16 passes on the day, but completed 8 for 138 yards and a 33 yard touchdown pass to Brandon Lloyd. Tebow was a duel threat on the afternoon, scrambling at times and running at others on his way to 78 yards, including a 40 yard quarterback keeper for a touchdown. Some of his throws looked more wild and errant than precise, but there was a few that he looked poised and delivered on time. Tebow did add some spark to the offense on Sunday, but clearly his game plan package was scaled down greatly. If the Broncos are going to get a good look at the kid, they will need to open up the playbook more; and Texan’s (32nd ranked pass defense) arrival to Denver could not be timelier.

Patriots Keep On Winning
It was a lot closer than many had expected, but the Patriots notched their 12 win of the season with a 31-27 victory over the visiting Green Bay Packers. The Packers keep it close and stay competitive Sunday night, but when you come to Foxboro if you expect to win you had better bring your best game. It was safe to say, the Packers did not have their best (missing quarterback Aaron Rodgers), but they did give it their best shot taking this one down to the wire. With less than 30 seconds left in the game this one was still in the air, but that’s as close as it would get. Despite missing Rodgers, the Packers played a good game, but it just wasn’t enough to overcome quarterback Tom Brady and the Patriots. Brady and the Patriots passing game started the evening slow, but both finished strong as the league’s top vote-getter finished with 163 yards passing and two touchdowns. Brady raised his season and league leading passing touchdown total to 31 against just four picks. His four interceptions are also the lowest for any NFL quarterback with a minimum of 200 passes; how do you spell MVP, B-R-A-D-Y.

Colts Take Back the South
It was probably the first time in quite a number of seasons that the Colts have had to battle for a playoff berth this late in the season. On Sunday Peyton Manning and company actually took the field trailing the division leaders (Jaguars) by one game and desperately needed the win or they would be watching the playoffs from home this season. It typical Manning fashion, he and the Colts saved their best for home. Yesterday the Colts faced the Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium before a capacity crowd and the home team did not disappoint. The Colts came out fast and caught their opponents flat footed. Manning carved up the defense mixing up his play calls and leading the offense to an opening drive touchdown. It was enough to put the Colts in front where they would remain throughout the afternoon. The Jaguars fought the good fight and even got this won close, but the loss leaves them in a most precarious situation. With only two games left in the season; if the Colts win out, they will take the South and the Jaguars will be left with nothing more than a “what if.”

By David Ortega

KEYS 2 SUNDAY

December 19th, 2010, Sunday

Keys 2 Sunday

Week 15 Previews

Kansas City Chiefs @ St. Louis Rams

Just one week ago the Chiefs battled the Chargers in what was considered a do or die game for the boys from San Diego. It’s not quite the same this week for the Chiefs, but in many ways it could be considered close. With the Chargers nipping at their heels, the Chiefs can ill-afford to lose anymore ground.

As the team heads to St. Louis, they face what could be a daunting task without their starting quarterback Matt Cassel. There have been no updates this morning (yet), but if Cassel is not available today this will open the door for the Rams to steal this one away.

One of the big keys for the Rams defensively will be to stack the line. Last week without Cassel the Chiefs offense was only able to muster 40 yards passing. There are not likely to struggle to the same degree, but certainly if the Rams can put 8-9 men in the box and slow down the leagues number one rushing offense and force them into 3rd and long passing situations they can take advantage. The Rams 20th ranked pass defense has a lot of youth up front, but this group has managed to do a good job of bringing pressure; they have 36 sacks (ranked 6th) this season.

Offensively the Rams will rely on their workhorse, running back Steven Jackson (1,081 yards rushing this season). Jackson has been very effective this season carrying the ball and recently he has been running hard; 73 carries in his last three starts. A big key for the Rams offense to have success against the Chiefs will be to use Jackson early to set the tone and set up play action.

Rookie quarterback Sam Bradford has done a good job lately taking care of the ball; which will be key today. Bradford has only turned the ball over five times in his last 8 starts. Bradford lacks the playmakers on the outside to really attack the Chiefs secondary deep, but a ball control offense and ball security will afford the kid to take his shots from time to time. The Chiefs 22nd ranked pass defense is very young and aggressive; their 20 touchdowns allowed would indicate they can be had.

My Pick; Rams 23, Chiefs 13

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Indianapolis Colts

There is nothing new to this story, other than the fact this is a meaningful divisional game with playoff implications riding on the outcome. What you have is a dome team built on finesse and speed, taking on a smash-mouth blue-collar team that likes to grind it out in the trenches. Usually home field dictates this matchup, but with these two you never know.

Perhaps this big story here is the Colts entering this game needing the win. The Jags currently reside in first place and have the luxury of an early season victory over the Colts. With that in mind, this game becomes a very critical matchup for Indy and Peyton Manning, if they have any aspirations of playing in January.

When the Colts have the ball today, they will be relying heavily on Manning and his throwing arm. Manning will have wide receiver Austin Collie back in the lineup to go with his regular arsenal of receivers; Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, Jacob Tamme, and he will need them. Over the past month or so, the Colts running back has been very suspect and inconsistent.

There’s no question today success on offense will have to come from the air and for Manning and company the good news is, there is success to be had. The Jaguars rank (28th) near the bottom of the league against the pass and have allowed 24 touchdowns and 50 pass plays of 20 yards or more this season; expect Manning to attack early and often throughout the game.

Defensively the Colts defense is going to have its’ work cut out for it today; Indy’s defense ranks 29th against the run allowing 4.8 yards per carry. The Jaguars are the leagues 2nd best rushing offense and will undoubtedly pound the ball; their 432 attempts also ranks second. If the Colts are going to slow down Jacksonville and their running back Maurice Jones-Drew, they will have to sell out against the run with 8-9 man fronts all day.

If the Colts have any success slowing down the run and forcing the Jags into more passing situations, this will give their pass rushers, Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis an opportunity to disrupt the Jaguars 29th ranked passing offense. Quarterback David Garrard has struggled in the pocket this season with 16 turnovers.

The Jags will stick with the run as long as they can, so the Colts must do a good job of clogging lanes, sealing the edge and wrapping up MJD if they hope to have any success defensively. Even one dimensional, Manning and company will pose a lot of problems for the Jaguars defense. If the Colts can do a great job today protecting Manning (14 sacks allowed this season), he should have lots of success moving the ball and attacking the defense.

This is a big game which you like to give the edge to a player like Peyton manning and that may be the biggest difference and biggest key for the Colts to win this one.

My Pick; Colts 28, Jaguars 27

THAT'S MY TAKE

December 18th, 2010 Saturday

THAT’S MY TAKE

San Diego Chargers: They Could Be The Most Feared Team in the Playoffs

Sure that’s a loaded statement at best as well it should be seeing as how the Chargers are currently outside the playoff bubble looking in, but as it so often does the December moon and stars could once again be re-aligning for another late season miracle. Slow starter’s they may be, but it seems the Chargers always find a way to kick it in at the right time and this season appears to be no different than any other in the past.

Just two weeks ago, the Chargers dropped an important divisional matchup with the Raiders that left them two games behind the division leading Chiefs. It was also the first time since 2005 that the Chargers had dropped a game in the month of December. Sitting at 6-6, coming off an embarrassing 28-13 loss to the Raiders, the Chargers entered their critical week 14 matchup with the Chiefs barely hanging on to football life support; a loss would leave them three games back with three to play and no chance at winning a tie-breaker.

Well that was nearly two weeks ago and my “how things can suddenly change!”

The Chargers responded with their typical holiday cheer in week 14 with a dominant performance over there divisional rivals (Chiefs) winning by a score of 31-0. The visiting Chiefs were without their starting quarterback Matt Cassel (suffered appendectomy earlier in the week), and like sharks in the water the Bolts smelled the blood and feasted on their visitors.

Continuing with their regular seasons greetings the Bolts bombed the visiting 49ers on Thursday night 34-7. The win marked their second in the month of December this season and gave them 21 wins out of their last 22 meetings in the jovial month.

Could it be once again the Chargers are doing just what they do; a slow start and strong finish? It certainly seems like everything is now setting up for this to happen. The win over the Chiefs moved the Bolts to a game back and their early win this week (on Thursday) now puts the Chargers just a ½ game behind the division leaders. With Cassel’s health still in question, there’s a chance the Chiefs may have to play without him this week on the road in St. Louis; no easy task for a team that is 2-5 traveling this season.

So, what if the Chiefs do lose this Sunday to the Rams, in the scheme of all things post season related what would this really mean? If Chiefs do lose and both teams (Chiefs and Chargers) win out finishing tied at 10-6, the Chargers would get the divisional title by virtue of a better conference record.

And this is not what the rest of the league wants to hear or see come to fruition.

As it has been, the way of the Bolts for the past several seasons; slow starters, turn it on late, what they have been doing lately and will likely need to do to reach the post season is also likely to put a very big scare in the rest of the league (in particular their AFC counterparts).

When the 2010 season began, there were a lot of folks that pegged this San Diego team as one of few that would still be playing in late January. And like they have done in the past, their slow start was a cause for concern for a lot of the same folks that had them going deep into the playoffs. Injuries, inconsistent and poor play on specials teams had really sabotaged this team’s chances at making a serious run early. Now that we have reached the latter part of the season, the Chiefs had their opportunity less than two weeks ago (in week 14) to put the Chargers away, but just when they had them down and nearly out the Bolts have come back!

The Chargers have managed to clean up some of that sloppy special teams play, but what has really been the secret to their success and that has been working well; their explosive offense ranked 3rd in scoring (27.7-points/game) and ranked 2nd in passing (397-yards/game). Not to be overshadowed by their offensive counterparts, the Bolts number one ranked defense can’t be overlooked as one of the big reasons for the team’s success as well.

On Thursday night in week 15 the defense was impressive, limiting their opponents to just 192 total net yards and sacking the opposing quarterback six times. This was just a sample of what the defense has been doing all season; number one pass defense (170-yards/game), number four run defense (89-yards/game), and 44 sacks that lead the league.

With their defense playing this well (7 points allowed in their last two games), you would think that would be enough to have to worry about. If you managed to catch a glimpse of the Thursday night contest, you may have noticed an unfamiliar number roaming all over the field playing catch with quarterback Philip Rivers and scoring touchdowns.

His number is only unfamiliar because of the time he has missed (hold out and suspension), but the San Diego faithful surely recognized number 83, wide receiver Vincent Jackson. As well they should, he was just doing was fans had become accustomed to seeing him do; big plays and big catches.

Facing a talented and playmaking defense (three touchdowns this season) like the Chargers is enough to put a little fear in most opponents, but add an offense like one the Bolts can boast; and it becomes a nightmare.

Tom Brady may be the most feared quarterback in the league at the moment, but I can tell you no team in this league is going to want to face Philip Rivers ( 4,141 yards, 29 touchdowns) and the San Diego Chargers in January, especially with them playing this well and how much more healthier they may be in the post season.

With the 6’5” Vincent Jackson (three touchdowns Thursday night) back in the lineup and apparently ready to take on the world with Rivers, the Chargers offense (65 points scored in their last two games) looks awesome. With 10 days between their next game the Chargers now have time to get even healthier. The Bolts were minus their 6’5” wide receiver Malcom Floyd and receiver Patrick Crayton, who both look on track to be back for week 16.

As the Bolts get healthy and you look at their finishing schedule with the Bengals (2-11) and the Broncos (3-10), they do look like money to win out. The big question will come down to, can the Chiefs keep pace; they finish this week at St. Louis (6-7), home against Tennessee (5-8) in week 16, and their season finale at home with the Raiders (6-7). No matter how you look at it, the stars just keep lining up for the Chargers and another December run.

Rivers leads all quarterbacks with over 4,000 yards passing and 29 touchdowns (tied with Brady) this season and he has done this with a patch work of receivers. Now that his best weapons are getting healthy and he has his best one back, we could be seeing the rebirth of “Air Coryell.”

The Chargers tight end Antonio Gates has yet to mentioned, because he is nursing a foot injury that will likely keep him sidelined until the post season (should the Chargers make it). And then there is that for opponents to worry about too; even that is enough to worry the Brady Bunch in Foxboro.

A healthy Chargers lineup in the post season could look like this; Rivers under center, Jackson (already 3 touchdowns) and Floyd (6 touchdowns) at the receiver’s spots, Gates (10 touchdowns) at tight end, Mike Tolbert (11 rushing touchdowns) lining up in the backfield. How do you stop that? Can you stop that?

The likely opponents in the post season that are going to have all kinds of matchup problems with San Diego could include; the Patriots (ranked 31st against the pass), the Steelers (ranked 23rd), the Jaguars (ranked 28th), the Ravens (ranked 14th), and the Jets (ranked 9th). The problem too for most of these teams, only the Steelers (39 sacks in 2010) do a great job of bringing pressure.

The Chargers have had their problems with protection (32 sacks allowed this season), but in their last two games the offensive line has only allowed three sacks. With time Rivers has been able to complete better than 75 percent of his passes (in his last two starts).

On paper alone the Chargers boast a very scary looking “village of the (well over 6’) giants” line up. On the gridiron, they pose a more surreal nightmare for opposing defenses with their size and playmakers. With the accurate arm of Rivers and the sheer size of his targets, the Charger’s offense will present a lot of problems for opposing defenses and undoubtedly will do a lot of damage as well.

No matter how you look at this, the Chargers look like a complete team starting to fire on all cylinders (top rated offense, number one defense). They are in many ways like a fast approaching giant tsunami; your only hope to survive is to get out of the way.

They may be only 8-6 in the standings, but the rest of the league knows the best way to handle this on coming disaster is to avoid it all together. You can bet there are going to be a lot more Chiefs fans outside the Missouri area rooting for a win in St. Louis on Sunday.

If this thing goes the Chargers way and they make the post season, there are going to be a lot of folks once again singing the praises of the team (Chargers) they picked to win the Super Bowl way back in September; and who could argue?

Just my take.

By David Ortega