I finally had my first good week in Pick Em last week going 10-3, with the only picks I missed being the Bucs (0 previous wins), Titans (1 previous win), and the Chargers (Giants bias). I'm feeling pretty good about myself, and it continued with me picking the 49ers on Thursday night. Let's see if I can keep the momentum going.
Chicago Bears (4-4) vs. San Francisco 49ers (3-5)
I correctly predicted this game prior to the Thursday night kickoff, and it was not an easy decision to make. I have absolutely no faith in Alex Smith, and while Jay Cutler has a history of being much better, there's not much reason to have faith in him or that Bears team right now either. The 49ers had lost four in a row, including to the Titans last week, but the Bears were 1-3 in the past four with just a win against the Browns. In the end I had more faith in Frank Gore than Matt Forte against a slightly tougher 49ers defense, plus home field advantage, so I reluctantly went with San Francisco. Thank you, Jay Cutler.
Detroit Lions (1-7) vs. Minnesota Vikings (7-1)
I don't think I need to say much else about this one.
Denver Broncos (6-2) vs. Washington Redskins (2-6)
The Broncos will look to rebound against a Redskins team that is just looking to do something this year. The Redskins didn't look any better last week coming out of the bye, and now they are without Clinton Portis. The Broncos will take it to them.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-7) vs. Miami Dolphins (3-5)
The Buccaneers were able to pull off a surprise win at home against the Packers, but the Dolphins running game will be too much for them to handle in Miami this week.
Buffalo Bills (3-5) vs. Tennessee Titans (2-6)
The Titans' two game winning streak has not made me a believer out of them yet, but they can certainly get it done against the Bills. As long as Chris Johnson goes crazy on that horrible Bills run defense like he should, and Vince Young keeps doing what he's been doing, the Titans should have this one.
New Orleans Saints (8-0) vs. St. Louis Rams (1-7)
I don't think I need to say anything about this one either.
Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4) vs. New York Jets (4-4)
I am certainly worried about Maurice Jones-Drew against a Kris Jenkins-less Jets defense, but the Jets have a much better overall team (although that's not saying much). The weather will not be too bad for a New Jersey November, but it should still be a big home field advantage for the Jets.
Atlanta Falcons (5-3) vs. Carolina Panthers (3-5)
I thought for a split second about taking the Panthers in the upset here. These NFC South games are always played very tough, and it's usually smart to just side with the home team. But I remembered how much better of a team the Falcons are.
Cincinnati Bengals (6-2) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)
Once again, I'm just going to keep sticking with the Steelers, especially at home. They can beat anyone right now. The Bengals are a very good team, and may probably be even more fired up for the game than the Steelers, but in the end, the black and gold will hold strong in this battle for the AFC North.
Kansas City Chiefs (1-7) vs. Oakland Raiders (2-6)
The Chiefs couldn't even manage to beat the Raiders in Kansas City earlier this season. The Raiders expect to get Darren McFadden back this week as well, so we can see a bit of a better Raiders team than recent weeks.
Dallas Cowboys (6-2) vs. Green Bay Packers (4-4)
The Cowboys are as hot as anyone right now, beating the Eagles last week in Philadelphia to take the NFC East. Meanwhile, the Packers must be losing confidence as they have been underperforming this season, complete with a loss to the winless Bucs last week. The only reason to pick the Packers here would be home field advantage, but I trusted Dallas on the road last week, and I'll trust them again this week.
Philadelphia Eagles (5-3) vs. San Diego Chargers (5-3)
The Eagles must put out a better effort than their last trip to the West Coast, but they are facing the Chargers who are a much better team than the Raiders (again, not saying much). The Chargers have gone on a three game winning streak since losing at home to the Broncos in what I figured would kill their chances at the division, but two straight losses by the Broncos have put the Chargers just one game behind in the race. Both teams are fighting hard for their respective divisions right now, but I cannot trust the Eagles out west.
Seattle Seahawks (3-5) vs. Arizona Cardinals (5-3)
Kurt Warner doesn't have to be as good as he was last week, just at least somewhere in the middle of his last two performances. This Seahawks team will go nowhere in Arizona; the Cardinals crushed them in Seattle earlier.
New England Patriots (6-2) vs. Indianapolis Colts (8-0)
This is the big pick of the week. Admittedly, I have much bias influencing this pick. However, the Colts have looked very troubling of late, and the Patriots offense can pick apart the Colts defense. Tom Brady still needs to pick up his game, but I will keep the faith in the Patriots.
Baltimore Ravens (4-4) vs. Cleveland Browns (1-7)
I can make my own jokes about how this is possibly a "marquee" Monday Night Football primetime game, but by the time this game is over, I'm sure you will have heard enough.
Last Week: 10-3
Season: 84-45
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
NFL Week 10 Power Rankings
The last of the winless teams put a 1 in the win column last week as the Buccaneers pulled off the upset against the Packers. Meanwhile, the two undefeateds remain, but the Colts nearly went down for the second week in a row, and now face the Patriots this week. The Giants have lost five straight, the Broncos have lost a pair in a row, and the Titans are on a two game win streak. Let's see how things are shaking up.
1. New Orleans Saints (8-0) [1] - The Panthers have been pretty bad this year, but these NFC South games are always tough battles, so a win for the Saints last week is another positive step. They shouldn't have to worry about losing this week, facing the Rams.
2. Indianapolis Colts (8-0) [2] - Their defense got crippled by injuries over the course of the past week, but they still came out on top against the surging Texans. It was not a convincing victory though, and you have to wonder how much longer Peyton Manning can carry this team. They face a big test this week when the Patriots come in though.
3. Minnesota Vikings (7-1) [3] - I was very close to putting the Steelers ahead of them this week after Pittsburgh's big win, and the fact that the Steelers beat the Vikings earlier at Heinz Field, but I hate to drop them down following their bye week. One shouldn't be so quick to forget how impressive the Vikings have been this season in all aspects. They could be in trouble though if the Steelers pull off another big win this week; the Vikings won't prove much of anything facing the Lions.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) [5] - After a very shaky start, the Steelers have now won five straight, including victories over the Vikings and Broncos. They will carry this momentum into a huge home game this week against the division-leading (with tiebreaker) Bengals. Ben Roethlisberger looked in a bit of trouble early in the game; a more solid effort could have vaulted the Steelers to #3. But this defense is still very good, and Rashard Mendenhall (155 yards rushing against what has been a very good Broncos rush defense) has solidified the running game.
5. Cincinnati Bengals (6-2) [6] - The Bengals defeated the Ravens for the second time this season and have earned a spot in the Top 5. Cedric Benson once again had a big rushing day with 117 yards on the ground (120 in the previous matchup). They go into Heinz Field this week for a huge divisional game though.
6. New England Patriots (6-2) [7] - Like the Steelers, the Patriots have bounced back and are looking impressive after a rough start, scoring a divisional win last week against the Dolphins. However, they face currently 8-0 teams on the road in two of the next three weeks, starting with the Colts this week. Some people are still skeptical in this team, so this stretch of games will show their true colors either way.
7. Dallas Cowboys (6-2) [10] - The Cowboys continue to maintain momentum and swagger since inserting Miles Austin into the starting lineup. He only had one catch last week, but it was for a big touchdown as they beat the Eagles 20-16 in Philadelphia to take hold of the NFC East.
8. Denver Broncos (6-2) [4] - The Broncos have now lost two in a row, and although they were both against strong AFC North teams, they were outscored 58-17 in the losses and have seemed far from the team that got off to a 6-0 start.
9. Philadelphia Eagles (5-3) [8] - It was disappointing losing the home matchup against the Cowboys who they were tied for in the NFC East, and they will have to rebound on the West Coast against a Chargers team that is much better than the Raiders that beat the Eagles earlier.
10. Baltimore Ravens (4-4) [9] - The Ravens have faced a rough schedule so far. They are a better team than their record indicates. But at some point you have to start winning some of these big games. Cleveland should be no problem this week, then they host the Colts and Steelers.
11. Atlanta Falcons (5-3) [11] - Michael Turner had a huge day last week as the Falcons easily beat the Redskins. Matt Ryan didn't do much but he didn't have to, as the game was won quite early on.
12. Arizona Cardinals (5-3) [14] - After an embarrassing loss against the Panthers, Kurt Warner turned a five interception game into a five touchdown game with no interceptions last week in blowing out the Bears. This team can potentially be very good, but there needs to be better consistency.
13. Houston Texans (5-4) [15] - Ryan Moats is not the answer in Houston. Slaton did not start but still scored a touchdown last week in a close loss to the Colts. This is a team to be feared right now, they just need to solidify the running game.
14. San Diego Chargers (5-3) [16] - This team seems up and down every week. They escaped New Jersey with a one-point win last week despite LaDainian Tomlinson leading the team with 22 rushing yards.
15. New York Giants (5-4) [12] - The Giants have now lost four in a row as they spiral down. However, there is still reason to remain optimistic. They are only a half game behind in the Wildcard, and will use their much-needed bye week to get their defense healthy. Linebacker Michael Boley and cornerback Aaron Ross should be ready for full action in Week 11.
16. Green Bay Packers (4-4) [13] - 16 seems a bit generous for them as they have been very shaky all year, culminating in a loss to the Buccaneers last week. They still have a lot of talent on that team though.
17. Miami Dolphins (3-5) [18] - The Wildcat was not enough to beat the Patriots this time around, but that offense is still very dangerous. The Patriots were also able to keep Ted Ginn quiet in the return game. They have a lot of winnable games left this season, and they are playing at home against the three teams left that are actually decent.
18. New York Jets (4-4) [19] - Hopefully the Jets got things figured out in their bye week, because they have been going in the wrong direction lately, and could face a hard time against Maurice Jones-Drew this week without Kris Jenkins.
19. Chicago Bears (4-4) [17] - The Bears were dominated last week against the Cardinals, and they have failed every kind of challenge this year. Their record is deceiving, with wins over the Seahawks, Lions, and Browns; the win over the Steelers in Week 2 is looking more and more like a fluke every week.
20. Tennessee Titans (2-6) [27] - Vince Young hasn't done much of anything in his two starts this season, but the fact is the Titans are now 2-0 with him as a starter. Most of it has to do with Chris Johnson, as well as the defense finally turning things around.
21. Carolina Panthers (3-5) [22] - DeAngelo Williams is continuing to show how dangerous he can be, adding 149 yards rushing with two touchdowns in a 10 point loss to the Saints, in which Carolina lead 14-0 after the first quarter. This team is still far from good though.
22. San Francisco 49ers (3-5) [20] - I have absolutely no faith in Alex Smith at quarterback, and the 49ers are now losers of four straight games. What looked like a very promising start is now far from memory.
23. Buffalo Bills (3-5) [23] - Trent Edwards returns following the bye week, although that is not necessarily a good thing.
24. Seattle Seahawks (3-5) [21] - The Seahawks are happy with a win, albeit against the Lions. They were almost embarrassed after falling behind 17-0 in the first quarter, but ended up winning 32-20.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4) [24] - Congratulations to beating the Chiefs at home last week by a whole three points.
26. Washington Redskins (2-6) [25] - It was another rough day for the Redskins, losing big to the Falcons, and losing Clinton Portis for some time due to a concussion. Ladell Betts could surprise in replacing Portis, but he won't be good enough to turn this team around.
27. Oakland Raiders (2-6) [29] - Darren McFadden may be set to return, which could make this team slightly better, but in the end, they will still be the Raiders.
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-7) [32] - The Buccaneers have gotten a win! Unlike the Rams, who beat a Calvin Johnson-less Lions, and the Browns, who won a 6-3 "battle" against the Bills, the Bucs actually beat a decent opponent in the Packers. Could Josh Freeman be the answer?
29. Kansas City Chiefs (1-7) [26] - With the Larry Johnson fiasco now behind them, the Kansas City Chiefs are still losers.
30. Detroit Lions (1-7) [28] - After going up 17-0 in the first quarter against the Seahawks, they completely disappeared as they were outscored 32-3 the rest of the way.
31. St. Louis Rams (1-7) [30] - I don't suppose the Rams were able to develop a good enough game plan during their bye to stop the Saints this week.
32. Cleveland Browns (1-7) [31] - And with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers being a winner of a football game this season, I can finally put the Browns where they belong! They return to Brady Quinn at quarterback this week, but the fact that it took them this long to do so says a lot about the faith in Quinn right now.
1. New Orleans Saints (8-0) [1] - The Panthers have been pretty bad this year, but these NFC South games are always tough battles, so a win for the Saints last week is another positive step. They shouldn't have to worry about losing this week, facing the Rams.
2. Indianapolis Colts (8-0) [2] - Their defense got crippled by injuries over the course of the past week, but they still came out on top against the surging Texans. It was not a convincing victory though, and you have to wonder how much longer Peyton Manning can carry this team. They face a big test this week when the Patriots come in though.
3. Minnesota Vikings (7-1) [3] - I was very close to putting the Steelers ahead of them this week after Pittsburgh's big win, and the fact that the Steelers beat the Vikings earlier at Heinz Field, but I hate to drop them down following their bye week. One shouldn't be so quick to forget how impressive the Vikings have been this season in all aspects. They could be in trouble though if the Steelers pull off another big win this week; the Vikings won't prove much of anything facing the Lions.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) [5] - After a very shaky start, the Steelers have now won five straight, including victories over the Vikings and Broncos. They will carry this momentum into a huge home game this week against the division-leading (with tiebreaker) Bengals. Ben Roethlisberger looked in a bit of trouble early in the game; a more solid effort could have vaulted the Steelers to #3. But this defense is still very good, and Rashard Mendenhall (155 yards rushing against what has been a very good Broncos rush defense) has solidified the running game.
5. Cincinnati Bengals (6-2) [6] - The Bengals defeated the Ravens for the second time this season and have earned a spot in the Top 5. Cedric Benson once again had a big rushing day with 117 yards on the ground (120 in the previous matchup). They go into Heinz Field this week for a huge divisional game though.
6. New England Patriots (6-2) [7] - Like the Steelers, the Patriots have bounced back and are looking impressive after a rough start, scoring a divisional win last week against the Dolphins. However, they face currently 8-0 teams on the road in two of the next three weeks, starting with the Colts this week. Some people are still skeptical in this team, so this stretch of games will show their true colors either way.
7. Dallas Cowboys (6-2) [10] - The Cowboys continue to maintain momentum and swagger since inserting Miles Austin into the starting lineup. He only had one catch last week, but it was for a big touchdown as they beat the Eagles 20-16 in Philadelphia to take hold of the NFC East.
8. Denver Broncos (6-2) [4] - The Broncos have now lost two in a row, and although they were both against strong AFC North teams, they were outscored 58-17 in the losses and have seemed far from the team that got off to a 6-0 start.
9. Philadelphia Eagles (5-3) [8] - It was disappointing losing the home matchup against the Cowboys who they were tied for in the NFC East, and they will have to rebound on the West Coast against a Chargers team that is much better than the Raiders that beat the Eagles earlier.
10. Baltimore Ravens (4-4) [9] - The Ravens have faced a rough schedule so far. They are a better team than their record indicates. But at some point you have to start winning some of these big games. Cleveland should be no problem this week, then they host the Colts and Steelers.
11. Atlanta Falcons (5-3) [11] - Michael Turner had a huge day last week as the Falcons easily beat the Redskins. Matt Ryan didn't do much but he didn't have to, as the game was won quite early on.
12. Arizona Cardinals (5-3) [14] - After an embarrassing loss against the Panthers, Kurt Warner turned a five interception game into a five touchdown game with no interceptions last week in blowing out the Bears. This team can potentially be very good, but there needs to be better consistency.
13. Houston Texans (5-4) [15] - Ryan Moats is not the answer in Houston. Slaton did not start but still scored a touchdown last week in a close loss to the Colts. This is a team to be feared right now, they just need to solidify the running game.
14. San Diego Chargers (5-3) [16] - This team seems up and down every week. They escaped New Jersey with a one-point win last week despite LaDainian Tomlinson leading the team with 22 rushing yards.
15. New York Giants (5-4) [12] - The Giants have now lost four in a row as they spiral down. However, there is still reason to remain optimistic. They are only a half game behind in the Wildcard, and will use their much-needed bye week to get their defense healthy. Linebacker Michael Boley and cornerback Aaron Ross should be ready for full action in Week 11.
16. Green Bay Packers (4-4) [13] - 16 seems a bit generous for them as they have been very shaky all year, culminating in a loss to the Buccaneers last week. They still have a lot of talent on that team though.
17. Miami Dolphins (3-5) [18] - The Wildcat was not enough to beat the Patriots this time around, but that offense is still very dangerous. The Patriots were also able to keep Ted Ginn quiet in the return game. They have a lot of winnable games left this season, and they are playing at home against the three teams left that are actually decent.
18. New York Jets (4-4) [19] - Hopefully the Jets got things figured out in their bye week, because they have been going in the wrong direction lately, and could face a hard time against Maurice Jones-Drew this week without Kris Jenkins.
19. Chicago Bears (4-4) [17] - The Bears were dominated last week against the Cardinals, and they have failed every kind of challenge this year. Their record is deceiving, with wins over the Seahawks, Lions, and Browns; the win over the Steelers in Week 2 is looking more and more like a fluke every week.
20. Tennessee Titans (2-6) [27] - Vince Young hasn't done much of anything in his two starts this season, but the fact is the Titans are now 2-0 with him as a starter. Most of it has to do with Chris Johnson, as well as the defense finally turning things around.
21. Carolina Panthers (3-5) [22] - DeAngelo Williams is continuing to show how dangerous he can be, adding 149 yards rushing with two touchdowns in a 10 point loss to the Saints, in which Carolina lead 14-0 after the first quarter. This team is still far from good though.
22. San Francisco 49ers (3-5) [20] - I have absolutely no faith in Alex Smith at quarterback, and the 49ers are now losers of four straight games. What looked like a very promising start is now far from memory.
23. Buffalo Bills (3-5) [23] - Trent Edwards returns following the bye week, although that is not necessarily a good thing.
24. Seattle Seahawks (3-5) [21] - The Seahawks are happy with a win, albeit against the Lions. They were almost embarrassed after falling behind 17-0 in the first quarter, but ended up winning 32-20.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4) [24] - Congratulations to beating the Chiefs at home last week by a whole three points.
26. Washington Redskins (2-6) [25] - It was another rough day for the Redskins, losing big to the Falcons, and losing Clinton Portis for some time due to a concussion. Ladell Betts could surprise in replacing Portis, but he won't be good enough to turn this team around.
27. Oakland Raiders (2-6) [29] - Darren McFadden may be set to return, which could make this team slightly better, but in the end, they will still be the Raiders.
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-7) [32] - The Buccaneers have gotten a win! Unlike the Rams, who beat a Calvin Johnson-less Lions, and the Browns, who won a 6-3 "battle" against the Bills, the Bucs actually beat a decent opponent in the Packers. Could Josh Freeman be the answer?
29. Kansas City Chiefs (1-7) [26] - With the Larry Johnson fiasco now behind them, the Kansas City Chiefs are still losers.
30. Detroit Lions (1-7) [28] - After going up 17-0 in the first quarter against the Seahawks, they completely disappeared as they were outscored 32-3 the rest of the way.
31. St. Louis Rams (1-7) [30] - I don't suppose the Rams were able to develop a good enough game plan during their bye to stop the Saints this week.
32. Cleveland Browns (1-7) [31] - And with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers being a winner of a football game this season, I can finally put the Browns where they belong! They return to Brady Quinn at quarterback this week, but the fact that it took them this long to do so says a lot about the faith in Quinn right now.
Friday, November 6, 2009
NFL Week 9 Picks
I should just give up by now, but I'm determined to turn this around and start doing half decently.
Baltimore Ravens (4-3) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2)
Perhaps the experts know a bit more than me. The Bengals have been the hotter team this year, they are coming off a bye, and they beat the Ravens in Baltimore earlier in the season, yet the Ravens are favored in this game? I don't know.
Miami Dolphins (3-4) vs. New England Patriots (5-2)
The Dolphins have been impressive, and it wouldn't surprise me if they kept it close, but the Patriots should have enough firepower to win this game.
Arizona Cardinals (4-3) vs. Chicago Bears (4-3)
The Cardinals are coming off an uncharacteristically bad loss after starting to look like one of the better teams in the league, and will be looking to rebound. The Bears have been middle of the pack all season, and got embarrassed by the Bengals two weeks ago. I have more faith in the Cardinals in this game.
Washington Redskins (2-5) vs. Atlanta Falcons (4-3)
The Redskins have yet to give any reason to pick them against anyone but the worst few teams in the league. After a bye with their new playcaller, things can be different, but they're going to have to prove it to me first, and beating the Falcons will be no easy task.
Green Bay Packers (4-3) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-7)
With the Rams and Titans out of the picture, the Buccaneers become the lone team without a win, and it could stay that way for quite a while.
Houston Texans (5-3) vs. Indianapolis Colts (7-0)
The Texans are pretty hot right now, while the Colts narrowly defeated the 49ers last week. However, I have to keep the trust in Peyton Manning to get the job done in this pivotal divisional game. A win here for the Colts would go a long way in wrapping up the AFC South. Donald Brown should return this week after Joseph Addai struggled last week without him backing him up.
Kansas City Chiefs (1-6) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4)
This is a game where Maurice Jones-Drew should single-handedly win it for the Jaguars. They have not done much lately, but they are facing a Chiefs team in the midst of a controversy and a running back change.
Carolina Panthers (3-4) vs. New Orleans Saints (7-0)
The Panthers stole a game last week against the Cardinals, but Drew Brees will not give them the same opportunity that Kurt Warner afforded them.
Detroit Lions (1-6) vs. Seattle Seahawks (2-5)
It's a little hard to believe the Seahawks are still stuck back at two wins. Matt Hasselbeck should help propel them to three this week against the Lions. Calvin Johnson will return for the Lions, but they may need more than he is physically ready to give them.
Tennessee Titans (1-6) vs. San Francisco 49ers (3-4)
Chris Johnson tore through the Jaguars' defense last week for 228 yards and two touchdowns to give the Titans their first win, but he will not have that same success against the 49ers. Although there is not much confidence to be had in Alex Smith, Vince Young has to show me more before I can gain any confidence in him as well.
San Diego Chargers (4-3) vs. New York Giants (5-3)
This cannot continue for the Giants. They know the key to their success on defense is to pressure the quarterback, and they have not been able to recently. They must be making changes in how they go about getting their defensive pressure. If Michael Boley can play this week, he should be a big help. The Chargers' running game can be slowed. Giants safety C.C. Brown doesn't deserve to be on a football field right now, and he has been benched this week; I don't know how much faith to put into replacement Aaron Rouse, but he can't possibly be worse.
Dallas Cowboys (5-2) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (5-2)
It is tough to pick against the home team here, but this will definitely be a close game, and I think the Cowboys are a bit of a hotter team right now. Brian Westbrook will return for the Eagles, but you can continue to question how healthy he is.
Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) vs. Denver Broncos (6-1)
I'm not sure what happened to Kyle Orton and the Broncos last week, but the Ravens figured them out and played great defensively. I should expect the Steelers defense to be even tougher for them this week, especially coming out of the bye.
Last Week: 7-6
Season: 74-42
Baltimore Ravens (4-3) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2)
Perhaps the experts know a bit more than me. The Bengals have been the hotter team this year, they are coming off a bye, and they beat the Ravens in Baltimore earlier in the season, yet the Ravens are favored in this game? I don't know.
Miami Dolphins (3-4) vs. New England Patriots (5-2)
The Dolphins have been impressive, and it wouldn't surprise me if they kept it close, but the Patriots should have enough firepower to win this game.
Arizona Cardinals (4-3) vs. Chicago Bears (4-3)
The Cardinals are coming off an uncharacteristically bad loss after starting to look like one of the better teams in the league, and will be looking to rebound. The Bears have been middle of the pack all season, and got embarrassed by the Bengals two weeks ago. I have more faith in the Cardinals in this game.
Washington Redskins (2-5) vs. Atlanta Falcons (4-3)
The Redskins have yet to give any reason to pick them against anyone but the worst few teams in the league. After a bye with their new playcaller, things can be different, but they're going to have to prove it to me first, and beating the Falcons will be no easy task.
Green Bay Packers (4-3) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-7)
With the Rams and Titans out of the picture, the Buccaneers become the lone team without a win, and it could stay that way for quite a while.
Houston Texans (5-3) vs. Indianapolis Colts (7-0)
The Texans are pretty hot right now, while the Colts narrowly defeated the 49ers last week. However, I have to keep the trust in Peyton Manning to get the job done in this pivotal divisional game. A win here for the Colts would go a long way in wrapping up the AFC South. Donald Brown should return this week after Joseph Addai struggled last week without him backing him up.
Kansas City Chiefs (1-6) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4)
This is a game where Maurice Jones-Drew should single-handedly win it for the Jaguars. They have not done much lately, but they are facing a Chiefs team in the midst of a controversy and a running back change.
Carolina Panthers (3-4) vs. New Orleans Saints (7-0)
The Panthers stole a game last week against the Cardinals, but Drew Brees will not give them the same opportunity that Kurt Warner afforded them.
Detroit Lions (1-6) vs. Seattle Seahawks (2-5)
It's a little hard to believe the Seahawks are still stuck back at two wins. Matt Hasselbeck should help propel them to three this week against the Lions. Calvin Johnson will return for the Lions, but they may need more than he is physically ready to give them.
Tennessee Titans (1-6) vs. San Francisco 49ers (3-4)
Chris Johnson tore through the Jaguars' defense last week for 228 yards and two touchdowns to give the Titans their first win, but he will not have that same success against the 49ers. Although there is not much confidence to be had in Alex Smith, Vince Young has to show me more before I can gain any confidence in him as well.
San Diego Chargers (4-3) vs. New York Giants (5-3)
This cannot continue for the Giants. They know the key to their success on defense is to pressure the quarterback, and they have not been able to recently. They must be making changes in how they go about getting their defensive pressure. If Michael Boley can play this week, he should be a big help. The Chargers' running game can be slowed. Giants safety C.C. Brown doesn't deserve to be on a football field right now, and he has been benched this week; I don't know how much faith to put into replacement Aaron Rouse, but he can't possibly be worse.
Dallas Cowboys (5-2) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (5-2)
It is tough to pick against the home team here, but this will definitely be a close game, and I think the Cowboys are a bit of a hotter team right now. Brian Westbrook will return for the Eagles, but you can continue to question how healthy he is.
Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) vs. Denver Broncos (6-1)
I'm not sure what happened to Kyle Orton and the Broncos last week, but the Ravens figured them out and played great defensively. I should expect the Steelers defense to be even tougher for them this week, especially coming out of the bye.
Last Week: 7-6
Season: 74-42
Thursday, November 5, 2009
The 2009 MLB season is over
Well, that is a wonderful thing to say.
Congratulations are in order for the Yankees. Say what you want about their players, front office, financial advantage, and their fans, but this was their year. Everything was clicking for them this season, and this championship started to become apparent by about July. Personally, I would have loved to see it, but a loss this year would have been heartbreaking for Yankee fans.
I do get a small sense of satisfaction for correctly predicting the Yankees to win in 6 games, but I would have preferred to be wrong.
The main thing I am taking from this World Series result right now is a growing desire to see the Mets win it all. My Facebook feed was flooded with friends' status updates cheering for Mariano Rivera entering the game, counting down the outs, and eventually the full on celebration (note: I hope this is the only time I ever mention Facebook in my blog). I have mentioned before how Yankee fans constantly rub their superiority in the faces of fans of other teams throughout the season, but at this moment, it is pure happiness that their team has won the World Series, and I can't wait for that moment to come for me.
I experienced the pure happiness with the Giants in Super Bowl XLII, but I care more deeply for the Mets, and there is more suffering to endure being a Mets fan, and my life as a diehard sports fan will not be complete until I see them celebrating a World Series championship.
Of course, the Mets still have plenty of issues to fix, which I will continue to discuss in the couple weeks before the Hot Stove season officially starts. Unfortunately, I will likely have a pretty pessimistic view through all of it, as I believe the front office thinks the team is better than they actually are and therefore will do a poor job in trying to fix the team. This will then lead to low expectations for the team as the season begins.
But one thing I know for sure is that it cannot possibly get worse than 2009. Right?
Please be right.
Congratulations are in order for the Yankees. Say what you want about their players, front office, financial advantage, and their fans, but this was their year. Everything was clicking for them this season, and this championship started to become apparent by about July. Personally, I would have loved to see it, but a loss this year would have been heartbreaking for Yankee fans.
I do get a small sense of satisfaction for correctly predicting the Yankees to win in 6 games, but I would have preferred to be wrong.
The main thing I am taking from this World Series result right now is a growing desire to see the Mets win it all. My Facebook feed was flooded with friends' status updates cheering for Mariano Rivera entering the game, counting down the outs, and eventually the full on celebration (note: I hope this is the only time I ever mention Facebook in my blog). I have mentioned before how Yankee fans constantly rub their superiority in the faces of fans of other teams throughout the season, but at this moment, it is pure happiness that their team has won the World Series, and I can't wait for that moment to come for me.
I experienced the pure happiness with the Giants in Super Bowl XLII, but I care more deeply for the Mets, and there is more suffering to endure being a Mets fan, and my life as a diehard sports fan will not be complete until I see them celebrating a World Series championship.
Of course, the Mets still have plenty of issues to fix, which I will continue to discuss in the couple weeks before the Hot Stove season officially starts. Unfortunately, I will likely have a pretty pessimistic view through all of it, as I believe the front office thinks the team is better than they actually are and therefore will do a poor job in trying to fix the team. This will then lead to low expectations for the team as the season begins.
But one thing I know for sure is that it cannot possibly get worse than 2009. Right?
Please be right.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
NFL Week 9 Power Rankings
One team got its first loss of the season. Two got their first wins of the season. The Giants have fallen to third in the NFC East. Three top ten teams and three bottom ten teams made up the list of six on bye last week. My head is going to spin figuring out these rankings, but here we go.
1. New Orleans Saints (7-0) [1] - The Saints continue to roll with a big divisional win against the Falcons. Drew Brees and Pierre Thomas both had solid games, and the defense recorded three interceptions for a league-leading 16, including yet another interception returned for a touchdown. This team can beat you in so many different ways.
2. Indianapolis Colts (7-0) [2] - The Colts remain undefeated, but it was not pretty with an 18-14 home victory over the 49ers. They were unable to find the end zone until the fourth quarter, and it was on a pass from running back Joseph Addai to Reggie Wayne. You can be disappointed about Peyton Manning throwing no touchdown passes, but he still had a great day with 347 yards and no interceptions. With Donald Brown injured, Addai took 20 of the 21 handoffs, rushing for a 3.1 yards per carry average. I don't think the loss of Brown makes that much of a difference; every great team has their stumbles.
3. Minnesota Vikings (7-1) [4] - With the Broncos losing, the Vikings return to #3 as the best team with a loss after winning in Green Bay. You can hate him all you want for his inability to decide what to do with his career, and for the ridiculous over-coverage of him in the media, but Brett Favre is having a remarkable season.
4. Denver Broncos (6-1) [3] - Eventually, somebody had to beat this team. At least it was to a very good Ravens team desperate for a win after three straight losses, but still, I would have liked to see a bit more fight from the Broncos. Their offense sputtered against a Ravens defense that has been shaky this year.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) [5] - Huge win over the Vikings in their last game, and will now face the Broncos in another huge game coming out of the bye. They will not have the advantage of being at Heinz Field though, but they still have a good chance of pulling off the win.
6. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2) [8] - It is hard to believe that Cedric Benson's 102.9 rushing yards per game is second in the NFL, behind just Chris Johnson. The Bengals are certainly enjoying Carson Palmer's return to good health, I had begun to forget what that was like.
7. New England Patriots (5-2) [6] - The Patriots face a grueling five game stretch out of their bye starting and ending with the Dolphins, with the Colts, Jets, and Saints in between. Will they be ready for the test?
8. Philadelphia Eagles (5-2) [9] - It was a dominating win for the Eagles, with Donovan McNabb easily finding the gaping holes in the Giants defense while Eli Manning overthrew seemingly every pass to Giants receivers. They have the big play ability, but I'm still not seeing the team that was projected as an elite team before the seasons started.
9. Baltimore Ravens (4-3) [10] - After three tough losses to very good teams, the Ravens came out of their bye and dominated the previously undefeated Broncos to break the losing streak. I still need to see some consistency from their defense.
10. Dallas Cowboys (5-2) [12] - The Cowboys have stormed out of the bye with two very convincing victories, although the Seahawks are not the same calibur as the Falcons. They could be feeling as much momentum as anyone right now, and they will need it to carry over into Phiadelphia where they face an Eagles team who they are tied with atop the NFC East.
11. Atlanta Falcons (4-3) [13] - The Falcons move up despite a loss, although that has more to do with teams in front of them needing to be moved down. They did put up a decent fight though against the Saints.
12. New York Giants (5-3) [7] - The Giants could potentially be lower after three straight horrible losses, but I have faith in their defense once Michael Boley returns from injury. Eli Manning, however, needs to be better. He looked like an elite quarterback in the early parts of the season, but at one point last game I half-jokingly said Derek Anderson was better. He was absolutely awful against the Eagles, with more overthrows than I've ever seen. I was honestly surprised to look at the box score and see that he completed more than half of his passes (20/39).
13. Green Bay Packers (4-3) [14] - There is disappointment after losing to the Vikings again, especially at Lambeau Field this time, but there are still a lot of quality players on this team. However, I did a double-take seeing Ahman Green doing kick returns. I love that the Packers re-signed him, but there has to be a better option at kick returner than the 32-year-old Green. His 20.1 yard return average is not going to cut it.
14. Arizona Cardinals (4-3) [11] - I expected the Cardinals to blow out the Panthers last week, instead it turned out to be the other way around. Kurt Warner's six turnovers helped lead to a 34-21 loss against a horrible Carolina team. I expect better from them in the future, but it is at least a reality check for the Cardinals who were beginning to soar towards the top.
15. Houstan Texans (5-3) [15] - After a slow start, the Texans roared back for a dominating victory in Buffalo. Don't let Ryan Moats' line fool you, that Buffalo defense is terrible against the run. He will not be a better option than Steve Slaton, assuming Slaton can hold onto the ball, but that has not been the case this year. They have big weapons at the wide receiver position with Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter, but they suffered a big loss of tight end Owen Daniels for the season.
16. San Diego Chargers (4-3) [19] - LaDainian Tomlinson tripled his touchdown total for the season. The Chargers have a great passing game, but unless they get better production in the running game and their defense, I don't have much faith in them. So far they have beat the Raiders twice, the Chiefs, and the Dolphins when they knocked out Chad Pennington for the season.
17. Chicago Bears (4-3) [17] - Like the Chargers, this team has the weapons, but has been disappointing in their running game and defense. Also, Jay Cutler was less than stellar against a terrible Browns team last week after struggling the last two weeks. This team is far from the team that beat the Steelers in Week 2 (or more likely, the current Steelers are far from what they were then), and have just beaten the Seahawks, Lions, and Browns since.
18. Miami Dolphins (3-4) [18] - The offense was hardly a factor last week for the Dolphins, who managed just 104 yards, but they got the job done with a Jason Taylor fumble recovery for touchdown and two 100+ yard kickoff return touchdowns by Ted Ginn.
19. New York Jets (4-4) [16] - The Jets took another step backward last week with the loss at home against the Dolphins. Jerricho Cotchery returned with a decent effort, and Braylon Edwards had a great catch and fight for the touchdown, but the Jets still came up short.
20. San Francisco 49ers (3-4) [20] - He may not be making the team worse, but Alex Smith starting at quarterback does not make the 49ers any better. He is still and always will be a poor quarterback. The 49ers kept it close with the Colts thanks to their run defense and a huge touchdown run from Frank Gore. Michael Crabtree had six catches for 81 yards, but also lost a fumble.
21. Seattle Seahawks (2-5) [21] - There is a big dropoff from #20 to #21, and the Seahawks stay here because they were the least disappointing of the ones directly below them. At least it was the Cowboys they lost badly to.
22. Carolina Panthers (3-4) [24] - Hard to imagine the Panthers winning 34-21 with Jake Delhomme throwing 7/14 for 90 yards, with 50 of them coming on one touchdown pass to Steve Smith. What is even funnier is that was good for his highest passer rating of the season. At least he didn't throw any interceptions for the first time all year, as the Panthers won the turnover battle 6-0 to give them the victory over the Cardinals. DeAngelo Williams rushed for 158 yards, while Jonathan Stewart added 87 yards and two touchdowns. But they can't expect to win many games that aren't handed to them when their quarterback is throwing for 90 yards.
23. Buffalo Bills (3-5) [23] - The Bills lead the AFC with 15 interceptions, but that may be the only thing going for them right now. They led the Texans 10-9 through three quarters with two interceptions off Matt Schaub, but they let Ryan Moats run all over them as Houston exploded for 22 unanswered points in the fourth.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4) [22] - Despite 177 yards on eight carries for Maurice Jones-Drew, including touchdown runs of 80 and 79 yards, the Jaguars still got blown out 30-13 by the winless Titans.
25. Washington Redskins (2-5) [26] - It will be interesting to see how the Redskins respond coming out of the bye week with new offensive playcaller Sherman Lewis. I don't know if I should have the blind faith to flip them with the Chiefs with both on bye, but this is a talented offense that just needs to find a way to click. If there's even a slight chance of that happening now, they could be on their way up.
26. Kansas City Chiefs (1-5) [25] - As if horrible performance wasn't reason enough, the Chiefs are finally pushing Larry Johnson out at running back. He will be suspended for this week's game, but it remains to be seen what kind of role he will have the rest of the way, if any. Jamaal Charles may not be much, but anything must be better than Johnson at this point.
27. Tennessee Titans (1-6) [29] - Vince Young is 1-0 since taking over as starter, which is one more win than Kerry Collins had in six games. Of course, it helps when Chris Johnson runs for 228 yards and two touchdowns (197/2 apparently wasn't enough when they faced the Texans in Week 2). Young finished 15/18 for 125 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions, with 30 rushing yards; not exactly a jaw-dropping line.
28. Detroit Lions (1-6) [26] - After fighting to earn the slightest bit of respect following an 0-16 season, the Lions just lost to the Rams at home. I will give them a slight break though as they were still without Calvin Johnson, but this hurts.
29. Oakland Raiders (2-6) [28] - I still don't understand how this team has two wins right now. Darren McFadden is on the verge of returning, which could give some more life to the offense, but this team is still far from being worth anything.
30. St. Louis Rams (1-7) [32] - Congratulations to Steve Spagnuolo on his first victory as a head coach. I expected it to come sooner though as he had been such a great defensive coordinator for the Giants, but you can only do so much with the talent handed to you.
31. Cleveland Browns (1-7) [30] - This team is going absolutely nowhere. Derek Anderson had another steller performance last week: 6/17, 76 yards, and two interceptions for a 10.5 passer rating. He doesn't cease to amaze me. Luckily for the Browns, they still have the Lions, Chiefs, Raiders, and Jaguars on their schedule, but that doesn't necessarily mean their win total will increase any. I wish I could put them last, but there's still one more team....
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-7) [31] - I would love to see the Buccaneers win a game so I can put the Browns last, but I'm not sure if they ever will. Seriously, look at their schedule and tell me when they will win. Their only opportunity at home is the Jets, who have struggled at times but should easily find a way to beat the Bucs. Their chances on the road are in Carolina, who beat the Bucs in Tampa already, and Seattle in a cross-country team to Qwest Field, arguably the place with the biggest home field advantage in the NFL. Of course, surprises are always possible, and as their quarterback carousel turns to it's third man, Josh Freeman, a spark can possibly be lit. But you have to have serious doubts about this team winning a football game this year.
1. New Orleans Saints (7-0) [1] - The Saints continue to roll with a big divisional win against the Falcons. Drew Brees and Pierre Thomas both had solid games, and the defense recorded three interceptions for a league-leading 16, including yet another interception returned for a touchdown. This team can beat you in so many different ways.
2. Indianapolis Colts (7-0) [2] - The Colts remain undefeated, but it was not pretty with an 18-14 home victory over the 49ers. They were unable to find the end zone until the fourth quarter, and it was on a pass from running back Joseph Addai to Reggie Wayne. You can be disappointed about Peyton Manning throwing no touchdown passes, but he still had a great day with 347 yards and no interceptions. With Donald Brown injured, Addai took 20 of the 21 handoffs, rushing for a 3.1 yards per carry average. I don't think the loss of Brown makes that much of a difference; every great team has their stumbles.
3. Minnesota Vikings (7-1) [4] - With the Broncos losing, the Vikings return to #3 as the best team with a loss after winning in Green Bay. You can hate him all you want for his inability to decide what to do with his career, and for the ridiculous over-coverage of him in the media, but Brett Favre is having a remarkable season.
4. Denver Broncos (6-1) [3] - Eventually, somebody had to beat this team. At least it was to a very good Ravens team desperate for a win after three straight losses, but still, I would have liked to see a bit more fight from the Broncos. Their offense sputtered against a Ravens defense that has been shaky this year.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) [5] - Huge win over the Vikings in their last game, and will now face the Broncos in another huge game coming out of the bye. They will not have the advantage of being at Heinz Field though, but they still have a good chance of pulling off the win.
6. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2) [8] - It is hard to believe that Cedric Benson's 102.9 rushing yards per game is second in the NFL, behind just Chris Johnson. The Bengals are certainly enjoying Carson Palmer's return to good health, I had begun to forget what that was like.
7. New England Patriots (5-2) [6] - The Patriots face a grueling five game stretch out of their bye starting and ending with the Dolphins, with the Colts, Jets, and Saints in between. Will they be ready for the test?
8. Philadelphia Eagles (5-2) [9] - It was a dominating win for the Eagles, with Donovan McNabb easily finding the gaping holes in the Giants defense while Eli Manning overthrew seemingly every pass to Giants receivers. They have the big play ability, but I'm still not seeing the team that was projected as an elite team before the seasons started.
9. Baltimore Ravens (4-3) [10] - After three tough losses to very good teams, the Ravens came out of their bye and dominated the previously undefeated Broncos to break the losing streak. I still need to see some consistency from their defense.
10. Dallas Cowboys (5-2) [12] - The Cowboys have stormed out of the bye with two very convincing victories, although the Seahawks are not the same calibur as the Falcons. They could be feeling as much momentum as anyone right now, and they will need it to carry over into Phiadelphia where they face an Eagles team who they are tied with atop the NFC East.
11. Atlanta Falcons (4-3) [13] - The Falcons move up despite a loss, although that has more to do with teams in front of them needing to be moved down. They did put up a decent fight though against the Saints.
12. New York Giants (5-3) [7] - The Giants could potentially be lower after three straight horrible losses, but I have faith in their defense once Michael Boley returns from injury. Eli Manning, however, needs to be better. He looked like an elite quarterback in the early parts of the season, but at one point last game I half-jokingly said Derek Anderson was better. He was absolutely awful against the Eagles, with more overthrows than I've ever seen. I was honestly surprised to look at the box score and see that he completed more than half of his passes (20/39).
13. Green Bay Packers (4-3) [14] - There is disappointment after losing to the Vikings again, especially at Lambeau Field this time, but there are still a lot of quality players on this team. However, I did a double-take seeing Ahman Green doing kick returns. I love that the Packers re-signed him, but there has to be a better option at kick returner than the 32-year-old Green. His 20.1 yard return average is not going to cut it.
14. Arizona Cardinals (4-3) [11] - I expected the Cardinals to blow out the Panthers last week, instead it turned out to be the other way around. Kurt Warner's six turnovers helped lead to a 34-21 loss against a horrible Carolina team. I expect better from them in the future, but it is at least a reality check for the Cardinals who were beginning to soar towards the top.
15. Houstan Texans (5-3) [15] - After a slow start, the Texans roared back for a dominating victory in Buffalo. Don't let Ryan Moats' line fool you, that Buffalo defense is terrible against the run. He will not be a better option than Steve Slaton, assuming Slaton can hold onto the ball, but that has not been the case this year. They have big weapons at the wide receiver position with Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter, but they suffered a big loss of tight end Owen Daniels for the season.
16. San Diego Chargers (4-3) [19] - LaDainian Tomlinson tripled his touchdown total for the season. The Chargers have a great passing game, but unless they get better production in the running game and their defense, I don't have much faith in them. So far they have beat the Raiders twice, the Chiefs, and the Dolphins when they knocked out Chad Pennington for the season.
17. Chicago Bears (4-3) [17] - Like the Chargers, this team has the weapons, but has been disappointing in their running game and defense. Also, Jay Cutler was less than stellar against a terrible Browns team last week after struggling the last two weeks. This team is far from the team that beat the Steelers in Week 2 (or more likely, the current Steelers are far from what they were then), and have just beaten the Seahawks, Lions, and Browns since.
18. Miami Dolphins (3-4) [18] - The offense was hardly a factor last week for the Dolphins, who managed just 104 yards, but they got the job done with a Jason Taylor fumble recovery for touchdown and two 100+ yard kickoff return touchdowns by Ted Ginn.
19. New York Jets (4-4) [16] - The Jets took another step backward last week with the loss at home against the Dolphins. Jerricho Cotchery returned with a decent effort, and Braylon Edwards had a great catch and fight for the touchdown, but the Jets still came up short.
20. San Francisco 49ers (3-4) [20] - He may not be making the team worse, but Alex Smith starting at quarterback does not make the 49ers any better. He is still and always will be a poor quarterback. The 49ers kept it close with the Colts thanks to their run defense and a huge touchdown run from Frank Gore. Michael Crabtree had six catches for 81 yards, but also lost a fumble.
21. Seattle Seahawks (2-5) [21] - There is a big dropoff from #20 to #21, and the Seahawks stay here because they were the least disappointing of the ones directly below them. At least it was the Cowboys they lost badly to.
22. Carolina Panthers (3-4) [24] - Hard to imagine the Panthers winning 34-21 with Jake Delhomme throwing 7/14 for 90 yards, with 50 of them coming on one touchdown pass to Steve Smith. What is even funnier is that was good for his highest passer rating of the season. At least he didn't throw any interceptions for the first time all year, as the Panthers won the turnover battle 6-0 to give them the victory over the Cardinals. DeAngelo Williams rushed for 158 yards, while Jonathan Stewart added 87 yards and two touchdowns. But they can't expect to win many games that aren't handed to them when their quarterback is throwing for 90 yards.
23. Buffalo Bills (3-5) [23] - The Bills lead the AFC with 15 interceptions, but that may be the only thing going for them right now. They led the Texans 10-9 through three quarters with two interceptions off Matt Schaub, but they let Ryan Moats run all over them as Houston exploded for 22 unanswered points in the fourth.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4) [22] - Despite 177 yards on eight carries for Maurice Jones-Drew, including touchdown runs of 80 and 79 yards, the Jaguars still got blown out 30-13 by the winless Titans.
25. Washington Redskins (2-5) [26] - It will be interesting to see how the Redskins respond coming out of the bye week with new offensive playcaller Sherman Lewis. I don't know if I should have the blind faith to flip them with the Chiefs with both on bye, but this is a talented offense that just needs to find a way to click. If there's even a slight chance of that happening now, they could be on their way up.
26. Kansas City Chiefs (1-5) [25] - As if horrible performance wasn't reason enough, the Chiefs are finally pushing Larry Johnson out at running back. He will be suspended for this week's game, but it remains to be seen what kind of role he will have the rest of the way, if any. Jamaal Charles may not be much, but anything must be better than Johnson at this point.
27. Tennessee Titans (1-6) [29] - Vince Young is 1-0 since taking over as starter, which is one more win than Kerry Collins had in six games. Of course, it helps when Chris Johnson runs for 228 yards and two touchdowns (197/2 apparently wasn't enough when they faced the Texans in Week 2). Young finished 15/18 for 125 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions, with 30 rushing yards; not exactly a jaw-dropping line.
28. Detroit Lions (1-6) [26] - After fighting to earn the slightest bit of respect following an 0-16 season, the Lions just lost to the Rams at home. I will give them a slight break though as they were still without Calvin Johnson, but this hurts.
29. Oakland Raiders (2-6) [28] - I still don't understand how this team has two wins right now. Darren McFadden is on the verge of returning, which could give some more life to the offense, but this team is still far from being worth anything.
30. St. Louis Rams (1-7) [32] - Congratulations to Steve Spagnuolo on his first victory as a head coach. I expected it to come sooner though as he had been such a great defensive coordinator for the Giants, but you can only do so much with the talent handed to you.
31. Cleveland Browns (1-7) [30] - This team is going absolutely nowhere. Derek Anderson had another steller performance last week: 6/17, 76 yards, and two interceptions for a 10.5 passer rating. He doesn't cease to amaze me. Luckily for the Browns, they still have the Lions, Chiefs, Raiders, and Jaguars on their schedule, but that doesn't necessarily mean their win total will increase any. I wish I could put them last, but there's still one more team....
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-7) [31] - I would love to see the Buccaneers win a game so I can put the Browns last, but I'm not sure if they ever will. Seriously, look at their schedule and tell me when they will win. Their only opportunity at home is the Jets, who have struggled at times but should easily find a way to beat the Bucs. Their chances on the road are in Carolina, who beat the Bucs in Tampa already, and Seattle in a cross-country team to Qwest Field, arguably the place with the biggest home field advantage in the NFL. Of course, surprises are always possible, and as their quarterback carousel turns to it's third man, Josh Freeman, a spark can possibly be lit. But you have to have serious doubts about this team winning a football game this year.
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