Showing posts with label playoffs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label playoffs. Show all posts
  • In Case You Missed It! In case you were either living in a hole or your significant other made you do something else, here are the highlights from the best playoff game of the weekend.
    By best, I mean action packed. So calm down Cowboy fans, I know its been a long time.

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  • MVP HONORS NFThis year’s MVP talk boils down to two players, Peyton Manning & Chris Johnson. Philip Rivers & Drew Brees are certainly in the conversation. Philip Rivers led the S.D. Chargers to a division title & first round bye in the playoffs. Rivers engineered the Chargers unit in eleven consecutive victories. Manning, Brady, & Brees club anyone? Rivers is knocking at the door. Next year may be his time? Then there is Drew Brees. He led the Saints to an impressive 13-3 record. What hurts Brees’ chances is the way the N.O. Saints have played of late. They haven’t looked all that impressive since their week 12 (38-17) spanking of the Patriots. The Saints have dropped their last three games. Brees should be a shoe in for the running again next season.

    The crowning of Peyton Manning is the logical choice. Peyton was on the verge of inscribing the Colts as the third team in NFL history to go undefeated in the regular season. But, the organization had decided to bench their starters in favor of a playoff run.

    The Colts had two major offseason changes. Both came in the form of retirement. On January 12th 2009 seven year head coach Tony Dungy called it quits. In came first year head coach Jim Caldwell & question marks arose. But, it turned out to be a smooth transition. Then on May 6th 2009, Hall of Famer, & eleven year teammate Marvin Harrison followed suit. The two hold a number of QB-WR tandem records. Most completions (career): 953; most completions in a season: 143(2002); most passing/receiving yards (career): 12,756; & most passing/receiving TDs (career): 112. Peyton still had pro bowl receiver Reggie Wayne, one of the finest in the business, & pro bowl tight end Dallas Clark, also one of the best at his respective position. It didn’t take long for Peyton & incoming rookie WR’s Pierre Garcon & Austin Collie to click. What they accomplished over the course of the season was an exhibition of Peyton’s playmaking brilliance. The Colts defense had their share of adjustments due to injuries, placing more pressure on the offense. Peyton has led the Colts to a league leading (7) fourth-quarter comebacks, more than any team since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. Peyton was the best player on the planet for the 2009-’10 season.

    There is also cause for an argument that Chris Johnson deserves the crown. The second year running back out of East Carolina torched defenses on a weekly basis. Johnson was able to do it running for an abysmal Tennessee Titan offense. His numbers are incredibly impressive, considering opposing defensive coordinators identified Johnson as Tennessee’s offensive jugular. Neutralize him, & you have a stagnant Titan offense. How he was able to rack up 2,006 rushing yards is amazing. He is the 6th player in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards. Johnson finished the season with 11 consecutive 100+ rushing yard games. He was able to rush for 150+ yards in four games. In week 8 he racked up 228 rushing yards vs. the Jaguars. His most impressive performance came in week 2; he had TD runs of 50+, 60+, & 91+ yards, becoming the first player to ever do this. Johnson also had three runs of 85 yards or more this season. No NFL player has ever done that in their entire career. Johnson also broke Marshall Faulk’s record of 2,429 yards from scrimmage in a single season, with 2,509 yards. Johnson totaled 503 yards receiving. The only 2,000 back to come close to that was Barry Sanders, in 1997, when he had 305 yards receiving. There’s also the holding penalty Ed Hochuli called, it negated a 62 yard TD run by Johnson with 11:53 to go in the 4th quarter in week 17. It was a terrible call. Those 62 yards would have given Johnson 2,060 yards at that point, only 46 yards away from breaking Dickerson’s single season record of 2,105 yards. It may not matter anyway. It is unlikely Johnson will be given the MVP. The reason being, the Titans aren’t playing in the postseason. Barry Sanders won the MVP award in 1997 when he had his 2,000 yard season. But, the Detroit Lions went on to the playoffs. Chris Johnson had as fine a season as any running back has ever had. Johnson was also the best player on the planet this year.

    Comparing these two players is absurd. They both had a phenomenal season in different situations, playing different positions. Giving the MVP award to one & not the other is ridiculous. It is comparable to one having to choose the Brazilian or French beauty for his queen. They both get the crown. Chris Johnson & Peyton Manning should be co-MVP’s!

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  • CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHUP! Larry Johnson had his best game of the season in week 12. He ran for 107 yards on 22 carries. Even though he was running against a terrible Cleveland Browns defense, this performance displayed the Cincinnati Bengals offensive line has been effectively run blocking all season.

    Cedric Benson was able to gain 120 yards on the ground in facing a stout Baltimore Ravens defense in week 5. At that juncture the Ravens defense had only allowed three 100 yard performances in their prior 40 games. He ran for 141 yards in week 2, playing an impressive Green Bay Packer defense. His most productive game came against his former team, the Chicago Bears. He had 189 yards on 37 carries.

    Larry Johnson’s fantasy value should be high moving forward. Rookie running back Bernard Scott is listed as having turf toe. It’s an injury that hinders a running backs ability to cut. LaDainian Tomlinson had that same injury last year. It severely hampered his production. Cedric Benson is coming back from a hip injury. Will his body be able to handle his bruising running style? This could potentially become Larry Johnson’s backfield very soon. Let’s assume Cedric Benson remains healthy and the #1 back in Cincinnati. Come week 16 the Kansas City Chiefs travel to Cincinnati. Championship weekend for most fantasy leagues! Larry Johnson is going to be salivating at the opportunity to make a statement in this game. I’m going to bet the Bengals will give him the majority of carries that weekend. This matchup should have fantasy owners drooling.

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  • Under The Hoodie - There Is No Doubt It Was The Right Choice There has been an inordinate amount of piling on the Patriots coasch over the last few days since Bill Belichick went for for it on fourth down on his own 28 against the Colts. It is very easy to question this call, and it makes great sports radio and blog fodder. However let's not pile on, but think about why, and talk about how a calculated risk is not such a bad move.

    No doubt the Patriots were in control of this game. Also no doubt that the New England Defense was on for the first three quarters. Another no doubt is that this is not even an issue if Maroney doesn't fumble in the Red Zone.

    There was no doubt that the Colts made an adjustment. There is also no doubt that Manning can score quickly and efficiently at any time. There was no doubt that the Patriots defense was tired from fighting out the first three quarters.

    Most would agree that Tom Brady and the offense could get 2 yards. You and I both would bet on it, over them not making it, any day of the week. The Patriots were going to have to play defense no matter what. A long field with a tired defense could create an easy big play for the Colts and Manning. We all know that the Red Zone shortens the field and makes it more difficult for any offense. No doubt Belichick thought of this and gambled. It's not that he didn't trust his defense, he chose the gamble of putting them on a shorter field and thinking they had to stop the Colts anyway.

    Brady passed to Faulk, executed the play, the ball was bobbled, and in the NFL that is enough time to not make the first down. Was it a crazy gamble? For any other team yes, but not Patriots. Belichick felt his best chance to win the game was with his offense. The idea that his defense is upset over the call is silly. The NFL is not high school, it is professional football. His gamble did not work, oh well. Sometimes your gut is what you have to trust. It has gotten Belichick to the top and is a necessary tool for a great coach. I would rather have a coach that takes a chance on what he feels is his best chance to win, than just going with conventional wisdom. That's why most teams are average, they take no chances and have no balls.

    There is a ton of season left. No one knows where or how this game will affect the Patriots. No matter who you are, you do not want to play the Patriots in the playoffs at home or on the road.

    They will get another chance at the Colts.

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  • Brett Favre: The Green Bay Hangover There was a great shot on MNF when Brett Favre walked up to his center and surveyed the Green Bay Defense. Mike Tirico aptly called it surreal. Packer fans were excited and apprehensive prior to the game. Vikings fans, well they were just jacked up.
    Favre, Monday Night Football, Green Bay Minnesota. Huge game for Packer fans, Viking fans, and NFL fans in general.

    Favre brought enough to win the game. Had a couple of great throws, had enough Adrian Peterson to get him into scoring range, and had enough Jared Allen on the other side of the ball to put Aaron Rodgers on his back 4&1/2 times.

    You had a feeling that the Vikings were going to win and maybe win big.
    However with all they had going for them did they really play that well? If they want to make their run to the Bowl, they are going to have to step up higher than what we saw last night.
    Few things that could have made last night a bit more interesting and thoughts on where the Vikings really are:

    Massive penalties against Green Bay hurt the Packers offensive attack
    Ryan Grant ran the ball pretty well against that front 4
    A really bad call on a great play by Charles Woodson caused a 14 point swing and really was the difference in the game
    Peterson put the ball on the ground again

    This should have been a blow out. The Green Bay line is awful. They really have no run attack, and they are still figuring out a new defensive scheme. I have to think that if the Vikings are going to go all the way they should be destroying teams like Green Bay, especially at home.

    Last weeks' Favre heroics, saved a game for them that they should have lost to an OK 49er team. Favre always gets up for Monday Night games, and you knew he was going to be up for this one. It was an experience for Green Bay fans to move past the legend and move on, and a way for Vikings fans to stick it to their arch rivals I am sure the Vikings fans are buying their Superbowl tickets as I write this!

    It was not a playoff game, Green Bay is mediocre at best, and the Vikings have alot of work to do. They seem a long way from beating the Saints, the Giants, or a Philly team with McNabb at the helm.

    Enjoy your victory Viking fans, if your real star Adrian Peterson keeps rolling all will be fine, but if defenses can stuff your run game, look out. As the weather gets colder, the schedule gets a little tougher, and you run into games that do not have the emotional attachment for Favre like last night, the interceptions and forced play will rear its ugly head. Don't celebrate too much too early, the hangover could get rough in December.

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