Week 17 NFL Review

Jets at Bills- Two teams that will be doing some movement during the off-season fight for pride. Buffalo has more pride than the Jets do. Sanchez gone, Tebow gone, Rex Ryan gone? At this point the Buffalo Bills look better than the NY Jets, they known who their QB is, they have growing talent, and will certainly aim to acquire more in the off-season. The Jets killed their QB's confidence (though he is weak mentally in my opinion if he his confidence was broken so easily), Tebow wastes a year of his life in a place he didn't belong, and the Jets can't even carry any positives into the off-season.

Dolphins at Patriots- New England needed to win to make sure they didn't fall in the playoff standings, and they did just that: win. Shutting out the Dolphins hardly gets them ready for the playoffs, but they are clicking. The Patriots snag the #2 seed and will get a week off, while Houston has to play.

Ravens at Bengals- Both teams sit their main talent as neither felt the need to try and win this game. The backups make the most of their chances, Bernard Pierce, Tyrod Taylor show off what they have to offer (though Taylor threw an interception that sealed the game for the Bengals) and the fans got to see some young talent on both sides. A good game on the last week of the year and both teams are in the playoffs.

Browns at Steelers- Steelers finish out a disappointing year hampered by injuries and bad playing. This team didn't deserve to reach the playoffs. Cleveland has some young talent, but needs a little more to get going in the right direction.

Texans at Colts- Colts finish strong while the Texans fall once again. Three loses in their last four games. Weeks ago this team was poised to get home-field advantage, now they are the #3 seed and playing next Saturday. The rookie RB for Indy, Vick Ballard put in work, running 27 times for 78 yards and a touchdown, with several of those yards eating up the 4^th quarter clock. Great year for Indianapolis, Chuck Strong and from 2-14 to 11-5, keep it going!

Jaguars at Titans- Another game showcasing two teams with a lot of work to be done in the off-season. Tennessee does something that has never been done in the NFL: return two interceptions and two punts for touchdowns in a single game. Major ups to Zach Brown and Darius Reynaud, Brown returning two interceptions (79 & 30 yards) and Reynaud returning two punts (69 & 81 yards) for touchdowns.

Eagles at Giants- Giants win in a landslide, but are eliminated early on by the Bears winning. Andy Reid loses his job tomorrow, Vick may be gone, Philadelphia is a mess. Eli throws for five touchdowns, but it's against the Eagles...take it for what it's worth at this point in the season.

Bears at Lions- Bears do what they needed to do and that was win. They aren't in the playoffs, but that wasn't because of what they did today. Calvin Johnson comes up short of 2,000 receiving yards, but still has the season record.

Packers at Vikings- AP puts another monster game on his stat sheet, running 34 times (career high) for 199 yards and a touchdown. Sadly, he comes 9 yards short of the record, but sets up the game-winning field goal by Blair Walsh. Walsh is perfect on the year from 50+ (10 of 10). Vikings go to Green Bay to play next Saturday. For the Packers, this isn't the way they intended to start the new year.

,
Buccaneers at Falcons- Falcons don't rest their players, and the outcome isn't as promising as they probably hoped. Freeman throws for four touchdowns, Doug Martin rushes for 142 yards, the Bucs finish their season with a division win and Atlanta may have some doubt as they wait to see who they play in the Georgia Dome.

Panthers at Saints- DeAngelo Williams finally gets the attention he's desired, and makes the most of it! 210 yards on 21 carries is huge for the back out of Memphis. Carolina wins in a shootout and New Orleans year of turmoil and disappointment finally comes to an end. They have their coach back though, and I'm sure next season the Saints will be back in the playoff hunt. Count on it.

Chiefs at Broncos- Win, and home-field is yours. That was exactly what Denver did. Manning throws for 304 and three touchdowns, Kansas City only scores three points. Denver is rolling, having won 11-straight games and now the AFC Playoffs go through the Mile High city.

Raiders at Chargers- Norv Turner may lose his job tomorrow, but his team continues to play for him. The Raiders are one of the many teams that are an internal mess going into the off-season. Chargers hold on to win by three following a late surge by Oakland.

Cardinals at 49ers- With Green Bay losing their game, the 49ers made sure not to leave anything to chance. Michael Crabtree catches eight passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns, responsible for the bulk of Kaepernick's 276 yards passing. The 49ers, who were slated to get the #3 seed, now get a week off as they are the #2 seed once again.

Rams at Seahawks- Russell Wilson finishes his first regular season by tying the rookie touchdown record (Peyton Manning), the Seahawks get a seven-point win over the feisty Rams, and Seattle locks down the #5 seed because the 49ers won. Had the 49ers lost, Seattle would be the #2 seed, which would really cast a hard look at that Monday Night Football miracle in Green Bay.

Cowboys at Redskins- A limping RGIII, backed by the amazing Alfred Morris (3rd all-time most rushing yards in a season by a rookie) are NFC East champions on the final game of the regular season. Defense helped win this game, as Tony Romo throws a critical interception with less than 4 minutes remaining in regulation again. Morris caps a stellar season with the game-clinching touchdown and the Cowboys are eliminated from the playoffs.

As Expected...So Far

The UConn Huskies have completed their out of conference schedule, and as they prepare themselves to enter Big East play for the final time, the Huskies so far have had the kind of season I expected them to have.

Record: 10-2 isn't bad at all. A win against top 20 ranked Michigan State in Germany to start the year, certainly good. The Huskies lost in the Paradise Jam final to New Mexico, and lost to N.C. State during the Big East/ACC Challenge. Both teams were ranked in the top 20 and both games were single-digit loses, neither a bad loss. Connecticut beat the out of conference teams they were expected to beat, lost to teams they were the underdog in, and scored a top 20 win, again, the record is pretty good.

Team Play: UConn has been playing better than they did all of last year. The necessity to get everyone involved, a new coach, and only themselves to play for (banned from post season play due to academic qualifications not reached), the Huskies have laid the building blocks already for next year. Four players averaging more than 10 points per game (Napier, Boatright, Calhoun, Daniels) this early in the season is translating into success. DeAndre Daniels and Enosch Wolf are playing more minutes than they saw last season, are contributing to the team, and are realizing their potential.

Offense: Going into the season, with the singing of Phil Nolan and the transfer of R.J. Evans, the Huskies had to decide with a new coach how to run their offense. From what has been seen so far, it seems that the Huskies are content running an athletic, fast-paced, but small lineup of four guards and a small forward. R.J. Evans, Omar Calhoun, Ryan Boatright, Shabazz Napier, and DeAndre Daniels has been a dominant lineup for the Huskies offense, but with conference play coming up that may not be the wisest of lineups. The lineup is small and will have a hard time dealing with the size the Big East typically brings. UConn has been out-rebounded in both losses, as well as in seven of their wins (one game out-rebounded by one rebound). Rebounding is a key stat in Big East play, and is parallel to a team's success. The two biggest players on the team need to be more aggressive on the glass and secure more rebounds. Wolf has wanted his time, practiced hard and has earned his shot, Nolan may only be a Freshmen, but he has the size to be the man securing rebounds. Wolf and Nolan sitting at eighth and ninth respectively on the Huskies stat sheet for total rebounds cannot continue.

Streaky Behavior: A trend that has almost cost UConn more than just its two losses, is the habit of going cold during a game. It is unavoidable that a team will go a few minutes without making a basket, no matter who the team is. When this begins to happen, a team must realize that it is happening, remain calm, and make a smart shot. The Huskies have gone on cold streaks that allow an opponent to get back into the game in almost every game this season. This type of trend will be taken advantage of in the Big East, where it, combined with inside presence other teams will have on the small Husky team, could cause the Huskies to feel debilitated. If running the four-guard lineup, Ollie is putting it all on those shooters, conceding the rebounding stat almost entirely. The Huskies still grab rebounds, but in the Big East that lineup will grab far less rebounds.

Know The Killing Blow: A lot of times a killing blow doesn't need to be a 3-pointer or a slam dunk, it doesn't have to be flashy. Staying even with a team for a period of time as they try to climb back into a game is just as effective, and it also uses up the clock. Utilizing the clock, staying with the opponent, and making smart decisions above all else is the way to kill an opponent. I'm all for a showtime dunk on a breakway, go for it if it's open to you, but if a team makes a two, don't think that you need to make a three to compensate.

The Rest of the Season: UConn has 18 games left in their season (9 home, 9 away). This is how I believe their season will shape out:

Jan 1	@Marquette	Win
Jan 8	DePaul	Win
Jan 12	@Notre Dame	Loss
Jan 14	Louisville	Loss
Jan 19	@Pittsburgh	Loss
Jan 27	Rutgers	Win
Jan 31	@Providence	Win
Feb 3	South Florida	Win
Feb 6	@St. John´s (N.Y.)	Win
Feb 10	@Seton Hall	Win
Feb 13	Syracuse	Loss
Feb 16	Villanova	Win
Feb 21	Cincinnati	Win
Feb 23	@DePaul	Win
Feb 27	Georgetown	Loss
Mar 2	@Cincinnati	Loss
Mar 6	@South Florida	Win
Mar 9	Providence	Win

12 wins in 18 games in the Big East would be an amazing accomplishment for this team. The stretch of @ Providence, home against South Florida, @ St. John's, and @ Seton Hall in 11 days is a stretch the Huskies can come away with four wins or at the very least 3-1. If they were to split I would consider the stretch a failure. Anything can happen, and the game isn't settled until the final buzzer sounds, but some games look too impossible to win. Going to South Bend, where the Fighting Irish have lost one game in the last 43 is one of them. If UConn takes that game, it is a monumental win for the program. As would be the case if they were to beat either Lousiville or Syracuse when either of those two visit Storrs. Both of those teams have experience, size, depth, and toughness. Can UConn beat them, of course, will they? Probably not. Cincinnati is another tough team, but I think the Huskies can trade with them on home courts. Ten wins would be an accomplishment as well, spotting the Huskies two bad loses here and there, but I'm hoping the rest of the season goes according to what I've predicted.

Final Thought: So far so good for the Huskies. A Paradise Jam title would've been a great accomplishment for their season, but I can't fault having not lost a bad game yet through nearly half the season. The real season begins now, and it is up to Kevin Ollie and his pack to decide how they will finish out. If everyone returns next season, the Huskies could make a run to the NCAA Tournament when their suspension ends. Until then, Husky Nation will stand by, take it one game at a time, and hope and cheer for the best. GO HUSKY NATION!

Afterthought: Congratulations to Kevin Ollie for receiving a 5-year extension on his contact. I don't know why they did it now of all times (maybe a belated Christmas gift), but this may be the spark the Huskies need. They aren't playing for their coaches job anymore, everyone can relax.

Week 16 NFL Review

Falcons at Lions- Falcons clinch home-field, but Calvin Johnson attains a slew of records, including Jerry Rice's receiving record for a single season. Can Atlanta carry the sudden momentum into the playoffs? Time will tell

Better right now-Falcons

Better @ the end of the season-Falcons



Titans at Packers- Packers left nothing to chance in this one, and is that really a surprise? 55-7 is a surprise, but if you can't stop the offense this will happen. Rodgers throws for three touchdowns and runs one in, now they wait to see what the 49ers do.

Better right now-Green Bay

Better @ the end of the season-Green Bay



Raiders at Panthers- How bad is Oakland? Both teams aren't that great, but at least put up a fight! Cam Newton leads the team in rushing (which can't continue) and scores both touchdowns in the 17-6 win.

Better right now-Draw

Better @ the end of the season-Draw



Bills at Dolphins-Miami can outplay Buffalo, but not many other teams. Tannehill to Bush may be a new combination in the NFL as the two hook up twice today. C.J. Spiller puts in work, running for 138 on 2 carries, but with Fitzpatrick not throwing any touchdowns the Bills can't keep up. 24-10 in a meaningless AFC East game.

Better right now-Miami

Better @ the end of the season-Miami



Bengals at Steelers- Cincy is in the playoffs and Pitt is eliminated. Eliminate a division rival and earn a playoff birth at the same time? Awesome. AJ Green was the only one of the “Cincinnati Three” to perform great, catching 10 balls for 116 yards. Josh Brown kicks the game winner with four seconds left. Enjoy the long off-season Pittsburgh.

Better right now-Bengals

Better @ the end of the season-Bengals



Patriots at Jaguars-Jags gave the Pats an actual game, how many saw that? Henne throws for 348 yards, but three interceptions which factor into New Englands win. The Pats need to play much better, Brady throwing two interceptions and being sacked three times.

Better right now-Patriots

Better @ the end of the season-Patriots



Colts at Chiefs-Chiefs imitate the Jags and give Indianapolis a game. Jamaal Charles, one of the few gems Kansas City has, runs for 226 yards and a touchdown in the close loss. Hillis also goes for 101 yards, Colts have to tighten up majorly on their run defense. Luck throws a touchdown strike to Wayne with under five minutes left in the game and the Colts are in the playoffs...didn't see that coming at the start of the season.

Better right now-Colts

Better @ the end of the season-Colts



Saints at Cowboys-Cowboys fighting for their playoff lives host an offensive showcase with one of the best QB's in the NFL...not a smart way to increase your playoff chances. Both Romo and Brees throw for over 400 yards (446 to 416 in favor of Brees) and over three touchdowns a piece (4 to 3 in favor of Romo). Dez Bryant catches nine passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns, Colston catches 10 for 153, Sproles caught seven for 104 yards, and Romo hooks up with 19 seconds left to Miles Austin to tie the game! Garrett Hartley sends the Dallas faithful home sad for the holidays with a 20 yard game-winner in OT.

Better right now-Draw

Better @ the end of the season-Draw



Redskins at Eagles-RGIII maybe shouldn't have played this week. His stats were bland in comparison to the rest of the season. Foles throws it all over the field, totaling 345 yards, but throws only one touchdown (paired with an interception). Today's win is on the Skins defense, grabbing one interception, five sacks, and forcing one fumble (Foles). Andy Reid is employed for one more week unless Santa brings him a coaching job for Christmas.

Better right now-Redskins

Better @ the end of the season-Redskins



Rams at Buccaneers-Things continue to go back for Tampa Bay. Four interceptions thrown by Josh Freeman dooms the Bucs while St. Louis does enough to win.

Better right now-Draw

Better @ the end of the season-Draw



Vikings at Texans- Peterson vs Foster wasn't what everyone wanted. Neither RB was on the top of their game, but Peterson wins the battle, and the Vikings hault Houston's quest for home-field until the final week of the year. Go Peterson, run as hard as you can towards the record!

Better right now-Houston

Better @ the end of the season-Houston



Chargers at Jets-Tebow is out and going to the team he should have been on (Jacksonville) and the Jets start McElroy. This season has been a series of bad choices and PR moves for New York and if they could do it all again they probably wouldn't make the same choices. Shonn Greene runs for two touchdowns and 38 yards, McElroy throws for 185 yards and throws a pick. San Diego is playing for Norv, Rivers passing for two touchdowns in the win. Todays win for San Diego was on their defense, welcoming McElroy to the QB starting spot with 11 sacks! Now if only every team they faced could play like the Jets did maybe the Chargers would be in the playoffs. Both coaches have had nightmare seasons.

Better right now-Draw

Better @ the end of the season-Draw


Browns at Broncos-Manning and the Broncos have no problem with the Browns in Denver. 34-12 Denver, and the Broncos are close to a first-round bye. 339 yards and three touchdowns are added to an amazing year Payton Manning is having. The race for Comeback Player of The Year and MVP is a tight one.

Better right now-Broncos

Better @ the end of the season-Broncos



Bears at Cardinals- The Bears keep pushing towards the playoffs while the Cardinals continue to fall. When you don't have a proven, consistent quarterback, things can turn from worse to a nightmare every week. Larry Fitzgerald isn't in a great situation in “Zona”, while the Bears defense is clicking again even without the face of their defense (Urlacher). 28-13 Bears win in a game that wasn't close.

Better right now-Bears

Better @ the end of the season-Bears



Giants at Ravens- Flacco gets the offense going and it doesn't stop until the clock hits zero. Throwing for 309 and two touchdowns, Flacco didn't turn the ball over, Pierce and Rice both rush for over 100 yards (Pierce with 123, Rice 107) and the Ravens clinch a division title. The Giants are almost out of the playoffs. They need a miracle, and this time that miracle may be too incredible to hope for.

Better right now-Even

Better @ the end of the season-Even



49ers at Seahawks-The Seattle Seahawks may be the most dangerous team in the NFL. No team wants to play at Quest, and if they do, they lose. Russell Wilson throws four touchdowns and 171 yards against a defense that was without Aldon Smith. Lynch rushed for 111 yards on 26 carries, scoring once in a 42-13 beatdown. Seattle clinches a playoff birth, and San Francisco can lose their #2 seed next week if the Packers win.

Better right now-Seattle

Better @ the end of the season-Seattle

Week 15 NFL Review

Bengals @ Eagles- Andy Reid is gone at the end of the year, but a loss against Cincy didn't make things worse. Five turnovers help Cincinnati drop 24 unanswered points on the Eagles and win 34-13. “The Cincinnati Three” each score a touchdown, including Dalton running one in.

Better right now- Cincinnati

Better @ the end of the season- Cincinnati

Giants @ Falcons- If the Falcons are trying to be consistent, now is a good time to start. Shutting out the arguable “best” team in the NFC is a great way to do it. Matt Ryan throws 3 touchdowns, Falcons are close to home-field.

Better right now- Falcons

Better @ the end of the season- Falcons

Broncos @ Ravens- The Broncos all-around offense shows off its talent. The Ravens can't get anything rolling, their defense looks suspect, and their playoff lives are in danger. Denver is moving on and looking for home field perhaps.

Better right now- Broncos

Better @ the end of the season- Broncos

Packers @ Bears- Packers wrap up the division title, now they have their eyes on a bye. The Bears chances of a playoff spot are hurt, nothing got rolling for the Bears today. James Jones scores all three of Green Bay's touchdowns. The Packers need a running game though if they want to win in the playoffs.

Better right now- Packers

Better @ the end of the season- Packers

Redskins @ Browns- Kirk Cousins doesn't blow his start. Throwing for over 300 yards and two touchdowns, Washington isn't out of the playoffs yet.

Better right now- Redskins

Better @ the end of the season- Redskins

Colts @ Texans- Texans lock up the AFC South and now can focus on home-field advantage. Foster runs for 165 yards, Johnson catches 11 for 151 yards and a touchdown. Both teams looked good, no real mistakes on either side, Houston was just too strong.

Better right now- Houston

Better @ the end of the season- Houston

Jaguars @ Dolphins- The battle For Florida between two teams that aren't relevant this year. A field goal is all Jacksonville can muster before Miami drops 24 on them.

Better right now- Miami

Better @ the end of the season- Miami

Buccaneers @ Saints- If the Saints could have played like this all year they would be in contention for the playoffs. Tampa doesn't have a very good day at all. Freeman throws four interceptions and fumbles once, Brees throws four touchdowns in the 41-0 thumping.

Better right now- Saints

Better @ the end of the season- Saints

Vikings @ Rams- AP is MVP. For the second week in a row Peterson runs for over 200 yards. He now has to average just below 150 yards per game in the final two weeks (Texans, Packers) to break the single-season record. GO PETERSON GO!

Better right now- Vikings

Better @ the end of the season- Vikings

Lions @ Cardinals- Arizona returns to what they were in the first four weeks. Beanie Wells runs for three touchdowns, doing the bulk of the offensive work. Two interceptions for the Cardinals (one of 102 yards) seals a 38-10 beat down of the Lions.

Better right now- Even

Better @ the end of the season- Even

Seahawks @ Bills- Seattle is not looking back, they are using the full head of steam they have and going all out every game. 50-17! Wow! Even against the Bills, Seattle is putting the pedal to the metal. Russell Wilson throws one, runs for thee, Lynch runs for over 100 and scores once, and Earl Thomas rubs it in with a 57 yard touchdown interception. The Seahawks are flying high.

Better right now- Seattle

Better @ the end of the season- Seattle

Chargers @ Panthers- Neither team has any playoff chance, but the Chargers have their coaches job on the line...guess they want him gone. Losing 31-7 against Carolina doesn't look good on a season that hasn't gone the least bit your way. Tolbert scores two, Cam throws two, Norv is probably gone at the end of the year.

Better right now- Even

Better @ the end of the season- Even

Steelers @ Cowboys- Both teams can make the playoffs, whoever lost this game would have less of a chance. Cowboys take this one in OT, Pittsburgh's chances in the stacked AFC are weakened. I don't think either team will make the playoffs, but both after today are still in the race.

Better right now- Even

Better @ the end of the season- Even

Chiefs @ Raiders- Another matchup of two down-and-out teams on a day where there were many matchups with winning teams (The most this late in the season ever). Raiders shutout the Chiefs, Sebastian Janikowski makes five of six field goals (20, 50, 57, 30, 47). Jamaal Charles only touches the ball nine times, as the main offensive spark for the Kansas City team, he needs the ball at least 20 times.

Better right now- Draw

Better @ the end of the season- Draw

49ers @ Patriots- What a game! Back and forth, the Patriots go down big, only to come back big in a game that was affected just enough by the weather. A whole lot of turnovers and fumbles in the first half give way to a slew of scoring in the second half. After the mud and grass stopped flying, it's San Francisco coming out on top and all but sealing their 2^nd seed in the NFC playoffs.

Better right now- Draw

Better @ the end of the season- Draw

Jets @ Titans- The Jets looked lost in a game they NEEDED to win to keep any hope of playoffs alive. Sanchez threw four interceptions, the offense was out of sync, and no one could protect the QB. Chris Johnson ripped a 94-yard touchdown run, but only totaled 28 more yards on 20 attempts. This game was terrible, people knew it would be. 

Better right now- Draw

Better @ the end of the season- Draw

Madhadder Nutrition

Introduction

Getting in better shape isn't as hard as most people may think. It's not easy by any means, there is no “magic pill” or machine, or easy answers. The fist thing, before doing any type of exercise or change in eating habits, is you must ask yourself “Do I want to do this?” Be honest with yourself, do you have the mental toughness, determination, and the desire to see your plans through to the end? Do you want it? From deep within the pit of your heart, do you want it? If the answer is “no”, don't be ashamed, you're being honest, and it isn't for you. If the answer is “yes” then lets get down to business.

Week 14 NFL Review

Broncos at Raiders- Peyton throws for 310, but the Broncos don't blow our Oakland like everyone thought they would. They have to stay sharp and progress forward. The teams in the playoffs will be much better, mistakes need to be corrected.
Better right now- Broncos
Better at the end of the season- Broncos



Ravens at Redskins- RGIII avoids an ACL tear that would've ended a spectacular season, but does leave the game. Kirk Cousins finishes what he started, and Washington wins in overtime.
Better right now- Baltimore
Better at the end of the season- Baltimore



Chiefs at Browns- Two teams whose seasons have been over for a while. Jamaal Charles rushes for 165 yards in a losing effort. He needs to get on a better team where his talent will translate into wins. The Chiefs need a lot of work, almost as much as the Jaguars.
Better right now- Browns
Better at the end of the season- Browns



Chargers at Steelers- Where have these Chargers been all year!? Big Ben's return is spoiled in a big way. Danario Alexander catches two touchdowns, a fumble recovery in the end zone, and two field goals (one from 51 yards) by Novak help San Diego win.
Better right now- Steelers
Better at the end of the season- Steelers



Titans at Colts- Andrew Luck struggles to get yards against a division opponent that he should have lit up. Chuck was in the box, it's good to see him back around a familiar area, and the Colts win. Luck is with Indianapolis and they are heading towards the playoffs.
Better right now- Colts
Better at the end of the season- Colts


Jets at Jaguars- An ugly game for most of the way before some scoring occurred. The Jags can't buy a win, and the Jets can't look good in one even against Jacksonville. Sanchez throwing for 111 against the Jags probably won't save his job.
Better right now- Jets
Better at the end of the season- Jets



Bears at Vikings- Adrian Peterson continues his march towards history, Comeback Player of The Year, and MVP. 1600 yards on the season and counting. The Vikings beat the Bears and Chicago is losing steam. The runner-up in the NFC North isn't guaranteed a playoff spot.
Better right now- Draw
Better at the end of the season- Bears by a little



Falcons at Panthers- With a chance to clinch home-field advantage through the playoffs, the Falcons lay an egg early and lose to Carolina. They will get home-field, but I don't think that matters, no team is afraid of them in the NFC.
Better right now- Falcons
Better at the end of the season- Falcons



Eagles at Buccaneers- Nick Foles drives down the field and throws the game-winning touchdown as time expires. Philadelphia and Tampa Bay are similar in many ways, including the similarity that neither makes the playoffs.
Better right now- Even
Better at the end of the season- Even



Rams at Bills- For one week Greg Zuerlein is not needed to keep the Rams in a game. Bradford throws a touchdown (with 48 seconds left in the game), Jackson runs one, and St. Louis beats the Bills in a close one. Each team will need to continue to rebuild if either wants to compete for a playoff spot during the season.
Better right now- Draw
Better at the end of the season- Draw



Cowboys at Bengals- Cowboys win on the road with a last-second field goal. The Bengals are still the better team and will be in the playoffs. For the second week there is a death in the NFL where a player is taken before his time, this has to stop. Forget about safety on the kickoffs (or taking them away all-together, which is a dumb idea), focus on off the field issues.
Better right now- Bengals
Better at the end of the season- Bengals




Dolphins at 49ers- Kaepernick isn't bad in another start, throwing for 185, but no touchdowns passing. He runs for 53 yards and a touchdown (making up 50 of the 53). San Francisco wins, but they weren't as dominant as they were earlier in the season.
Better right now- 49ers
Better at the end of the season- 49ers



Saints at Giants- Drew Brees continues to struggle while Eli Manning has a field day with the Saints defense. Manning threw for four touchdowns and 259 yards. Despite the score, it was very entertaining, showcasing touchdowns on all sides of the ball. The Giants have a return specialist now in David Wilson.
Better right now- Giants
Better at the end of the season- Giants



Cardinals at Seahawks- This was a beat down in Seattle. The Cardinals in the early part of the season looked good, but now they are just dead birds. Seattle is getting better as the season progresses to its end, and that is what a playoff teams wants. Lynch runs for three touchdowns, two touchdowns by the Seattle defense, and a few field goals translate into the most points in Seattle's history: 58-0.
Better right now- Seahawks
Better at the end of the season- Seahawks



Lions at Packers- The Packers have problems with Detroit, and the weather didn't make it easy on either team. Both teams find a running game, but the Packers prevail in the end.
Better right now- Packers
Better at the end of the season- Packers

Week 13 NFL Review

Saints at Falcons- The Falcons defense takes down one of the best passers in the league, intercepting Brees five times (a six called back due to encroachment). Despite this defensive performance, The Falcons offense struggled, and they still remain suspect regarding how far they could go in the playoffs.

Better right now-Falcons
Better at the end of the year- Falcons

Seahawks at Bears- Seattle takes the Bears into overtime and win a hard-fought touchdown, take one from the Bears and hurt their chances of a division crown.

Better right now-Bears (by a little)
Better at the end of the year- Bears (by a little)

Vikings at Packers- They didn't look impressive, but the Packers bounced back from the beatdown last week, winning a division game against a rival. Better right now- Packers
Better at the end of the year- Packers

49ers at Rams- This game almost was a tie AGAIN! A second tie would have been the first in NFL history where a team tied the same team twice in one season. Zuerlein kicks two 50+ yard field goals and St. Louis gives the 49ers a painful loss Better right now- 49ers
Better at the end of the year- 49ers

Cardinals at Jets- A terrible game, but Greg McElory enjoyed it. Shonne Greene runs for 104 is a bad game, but a win for the J-E-T-S. Better right now- Jets
Better at the end of the year- Jets

Panthers at Chiefs- Not even going to into the drama that has overtaken Kansas City, a win for the Chiefs is a good win for them, that's all. Better right now- Draw
Better at the end of the year- Panthers

Colts at Lions- Andrew Luck makes his name true and pulls one out at the gun, throwing instead of running it like he could have. The Lions lose a heartbreaker, and one they could have used at home.Better right now- Colts (by a little bit)
Better at the end of the year- Colts

Jaguars at Bills- This may have been Buffalos few wins left on their schedule, and they needed to make sure it was a win. Chad Henne got brought back down to reality, but at least he's starting. Better right now- Buffalo
Better at the end of the year- Buffalo

Patriots at Dolphins- The Dolphins always seem to give the Patriots trouble each year at least once. New England wins their division though, even if it wasn't by double-digits. Welker catches 12 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown.Better right now- New England
Better at the end of the year- New England

Texans at Titans- There wasn't much question who would win this game, was there? Houston tunes up for their Monday night showdown with New England. Tennessee's woes continue. Better right now- Houston
Better at the end of the year- Houston

Buccaneers at Broncos- Denver clinches the AFC West, though it felt like they'd done that weeks ago. Payton throws three touchdowns again, and even without a good rushing attack the Broncos are guaranteed a playoffs spot. Better right now- Denver
Better at the end of the year- Denver

Steelers at Ravens- Charlie Batch wins against the Ravens!? How is that possible? Field goal at the gun equals a division win for the Steelers, but if they want to continue to win they need to get healthy. Baltimore needs to tighten up on defense (never thought I'd have to say that). Better right now- Ravens
Better at the end of the year- Ravens

Browns at Raiders- Both quarterbacks throw for over 300 yards, but it's the Browns and Trent Richardson who win a game that is all but meaningless. Better right now- Browns
Better at the end of the year- Browns

Bengals at Chargers- It took 10 points in the fourth quarter, but the Bengals pulled it out against a Chargers team that needs some coaching changes at the end of the season. Better right now- Bengals
Better at the end of the year- Bengals

Eagles at Cowboys- A high scoring affair between two teams that have no defense and suspect offense. Bryce Brown for Philadelphia runs for 169 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries, but Romo didn't throw an interception, threw three touchdowns, and keeps Dallas's playoff dreams alive for another game.

Better right now- Dallas
Better at the end of the year- Dallas

Giants at Redskins- First Monday Night Football game for RGIII. Even when he fumbles he turns it into something good (a touchdown in this case). A low-scoring affair between two teams that should have their offenses in gear by this point of the year.  That being said, Washington takes this one by a point, RGIII continues his amazing season, and Washington is still within the playoff hunt. New York is within the time of the year where they slack, will it cost them this year?
Better right now- Giants
Better at the end of the year- Giants

Week 12 NFL Review

Texans at Lions-A back and forth shootout in the first game on Turkey Day is the way to start the football week. Four touchdowns in the second quarter (two for each team) and a pair of touchdowns in the final minutes of the fourth quarter give us an overtime game. Two missed field goals in overtime and a slew of possessions ends with Shane Graham making his next attempt and winning it. Better now-Houston
Better @ the end of the year-Houston

Redskins at Cowboys-RGIII in his first Thanksgiving Day game throws four touchdowns (three in the second quarter) and the Redskins win a shootout in Dallas. Dallas's defense isn't living up to their potential, Romo loses in November for the first time ever, and Dallas's playoff hopes are fading fast.Better now-Washington
Better @ the end of the year-Washington

Patriots at Jets-Now is it Tebow time yet? The Pats put a major hurt on the Jets on Thanksgiving, all but sealing the AFC East up. Five turnovers for New York didn't help, but at this point in the season (4-7) why not phone it in and call on Tebow?

Better now-Patriots

Better @ the end of the year-Patriots



Raiders at Bengals-The “Cincinnati Three” have a great day feasting on the Oakland defense. Dalton throws three touchdowns, Green-Ellis runs for 129 yards and a touchdown, and A.J. Green catches three passes for 111 yards.
Better now-Cincinnati
Better @ the end of the year-Cincinnati


Steelers at Browns-Who expected the Steelers to win? Even against the Browns, Charlie Batch is out of date as a quarterback. If it were Charlie Batch from 10 years ago, maybe he could've led them to a victory. It's not all on him though, great teams find ways to win, and Pittsburgh isn't great. Congrats to Cleveland.
Better now-Steelers
Better @ the end of the year-Steelers



Bills at Colts-”Chuck Strong”, that is what Indianapolis is. This season was going to be about toughing out close games no matter the opponent, and that's what they did. A punt return in the first quarter, two field goals from Vinatieri, and Luck's only touchdown throw coming in the third to T.J. Hilton (who had the 75 yard punt return in the first). Buffalo struggles, Colts keep moving forward.
Better now-Colts
Better @ the end of the year-Colts



Titans at Jaguars-Chad Henne comes to play. Henne throws for 261 yards and two touchdowns, and the Jags win their second of the year. It may not seem like a lot, but it is down in Jacksonville. Chris Johnson only runs for 80 yards for the Titans, while Cecil Shorts and Justin Blackmon for Jacksonville each notch a touchdown on the stat sheet.
Better now-Titans (by a little bit)
Better @ the end of the year-Titans (by a little bit)



Broncos at Chiefs-An odd game to say the least. Denver's offense doesn't get going, but because it's Kansas City, they aren't punished for it. Denver wins, but it wasn't very pretty.
Better now-Broncos
Better @ the end of the year-Broncos



Vikings at Bears-Peterson gains 100+ yards again, but fumbles, as does Christen Ponder, and the Bears keep the pressure on in an NFC North matchup. Stiff defense and Michael Bush running for two touchdowns means the Bears win a division game.

Better now-Bears

Better @ the end of the year-Bears



Falcons at Buccaneers-Falcons tough one out against Tampa Bay. Doug Martin doesn't gain a ton of yards, but scores twice on a day that Freeman couldn't find the end zone. Tampa didn't make mistakes, the Falcons were just better today. Atlanta needs to focus and get better, otherwise they won't last long in the playoffs.
Better now-Atlanta
Better @ the end of the year-Atlanta



Seahawks at Dolphins-17 points in the fourth quarter for the Dolphins, capped by a Dan Carpenter field goal as time expired and Miami takes one away from a good Seattle team. This is a good win for Miami, and a bad bad loss for Seattle.
Better now-Seattle
Better @ the end of the year-Seattle

Ravens at Chargers-Torrey Smith has another big game, catching seven passes for 144 yards. Baltimore makes a comeback, scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter, and Justin Tucker kicks them to victory with one at the gun, then one in overtime.
Better now-Baltimore

Better @ the end of the year-Baltimore

49ers at Saints-Colin Kaepernick continues to impress. It wasn't as impressive as last week, but throwing one touchdown, running one, and two interception returns by the 49ers defense powers them to a victory. The Saints didn't look bad at all, and even with this loss, they still have a better shot at the playoffs than Dallas.
Better now-49ers
Better @ the end of the year-49ers



Rams at Cardinals-Ryan Lindley has a terrible day at the helm, throwing four interceptions, while Sam Bradford throws two touchdowns and St. Louis continues to add to Arizona's fall.
Better now-Cardinals
Better @ the end of the year-Cardinals



Packers at Giants-The Giants came to play, while Green Bay didn't. A rush offense, combined with defense, equals a win for a top team in the NFC. The Packers may be only as good as the teams they play. They've lost to the top two teams in the NFC (Giants and 49ers), both teams they'd play in the playoffs...not good.

Better now-Giants

Better @ the end of the year-Giants (but either team can still go the opposite way they're going)

Panthers @ Eagles- The Eagles year is over for sure now. Cam Newton plays a big game in his first Monday Night Football appearance, looked better than he has in recent games, and Carolina takes one from a team that is really hurting.
Better now-Draw
Better @ the end of the year-Draw

Week 11 NFL Review

Dolphins at Bills- Ryan Lindell wins this game for Buffalo. He kicks four field goals, makes all of them, and an extra point on a punt return for a touchdown, accounting for 13 of the 19 Buffalo points. Tannehill is starting to lose steam, but that isn't shocking for a rookie to do.
Better right now- Even
Better at the end of the season- Even


Eagles at Redskins- RGIII incompleted one pass, threw four touchdowns, and propelled the Redskins to victory. RGIII finished with 200 yards passing and 84 yards rushing (led team). Washington needs a running attack, while the hell season for the Eagles continues.
Better right now- Redskins
Better at the end of the season- Redskins



Packers at Lions- Packers score 10 points in the forth quarter and steal a game from the Lions. Randall Cobb makes up for some questionable calls in returning, by scoring the game-winning touchdown as Rodgers threads the seam near the end of the game. The NFC North is getting tight.
Better right now- Packers
Better at the end of the season- Packers



Cardinals at Falcons- Atlanta gives Arizona every opportunity to win the game (six tournovers), and Atlanta still is able to edge it out. Winners find a way to win. Ryan can't throw five interceptions from here on out though.
Better right now- Atlanta
Better at the end of the season- Atlanta



Buccaneers at Panthers- Cam and the Panthers celebrate too early, while Josh Freeman connects with Doug Martin for the game-tying touchdown. In OT, Freeman hits Dallas Clark in the left side of the end zone and win the game. Martin finished with 138 rushing yards, he continues to impress.
Better right now- Buccaneers
Better at the end of the season- Buccaneers



Browns at Cowboys- I was cheering for the Browns to win this one. They had the Cowboys for a half, but Dallas ties the game and wins it in OT with a field goal. Dallas still isn't good.
Better right now- Dallas
Better at the end of the season- Dallas



Jets at Rams- The Jets can beat the Rams, and they did handily. No impressive stats, just straight-up keep scoring and limiting the other team. No Tebow time in the near future I guess.
Better right now- Jets
Better at the end of the season- Jets



Jaguars at Texans- Jacksonville gives Houston FAR more than what they expected. The Jaguars almost steal one and shock the NFL. Each team makes a field goal in OT, and Houston gets it done in the end with Andre Johnson. Chad Henne throws four touchdowns, no interceptions, and 354 yards for the Jags in the loss, while Schaub records the 2nd-most pass yards in a game all-time: 527. Justin Blackmon catches seven receptions for 236 yards, Andre Johnson catches 14 for 273 yards, each scoring one touchdown. GAME OF THE YEAR?
Better right now- Texans
Better at the end of the season- Texans



Bengals at Chiefs- Cincy has everything clicking against a bad KC team, the Bengals three stars (Dalton, Green, Green-Ellis) each record great numbers, while Jamal Charles continues to suffer in Kansas City. Dalton passed for 230 yards, Green catches six receptions for 91 yards and one touchdown, and Green-Ellis runs for 101 yards on 25 attempts with a touchdown.
Better right now- Bengals
Better at the end of the season- Bengals

 
Colts at Patriots- The veteran shows the rookie hows it's done. Luck makes some bad choices (resulting in two interceptions being taken back for touchdowns), while Brady is himself, throwing three touchdowns and 331 yards. Luck throws three interceptions, two touchdowns, and 334 yards. New England's defense steps up, but needs to tighten up on how many yards they surrender.
Better right now- Patriots
Better at the end of the season- Patriots



Saints at Raiders- The Raiders could have pulled a Jacksonville and battled hard, but that wasn't in the cards for them. Brees passes for three touchdowns and 219 yards, outpassed in yards by Carson Palmer, but the game goes easily to New Orleans.
Better right now- Saints
Better at the end of the season- Saints



Chargers at Broncos- Peyton Manning shakes off early mistiming and leads Denver to another division win. Phil Rivers becomes shaken, can't move his offense, and San Diego's season is almost done. Denver has the AFC West in the bag. Manning throws three touchdowns and 269 yards, connecting with three different receivers for touchdowns.
Better right now- Broncos
Better at the end of the season- Broncos



Ravens at Steelers- These two teams will play each other in two weeks, and it will be the Steelers looking for revenge. Neither team played great football. Byron Leftwich didn't do too bad for a quarterback that has less than 10 snaps this season. Leftwich passed for 201 yards and one interception. Both defenses held and it was on the leg of Justin Tucker to score tonight. Jacoby Jones scored on a 63 yard punt return as well.
Better right now- Ravens
Better at the end of the season- Ravens


Bears at 49ers- The 49ers, led by backup Colin Kaepernick, put a hurtin on Chicago. Kaepernick threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns, looking the part of an experienced quarterback for the entire first half. Everything worked tonight for San Francisco, while it was a nightmare for the Bears defense.

Better right now- 49ers
Better at the end of the season- 49ers

Week 10 NFL Review

Colts @ Jaguars-The Colts continue to get better, while the Jaguars continue to lose. Andrew Luck may lead Indianapolis to the playoffs sooner than most thought.

Better now-Colts
Better at the end of the season-Colts

Broncos @ Panthers-Manning continues his remarkable season, while Cam Newton can't get any protection today. Almost every play he was hurried or hit, the Broncos defense was amazing.
Better now-Broncos
Better at the end of the season-Broncos



Chargers @ Buccaneers-Two teams that have had a sketchy season. San Diego shows offensive life, but no defense, Tampa Bay has a defense, but it has holes, and their offense can run it one week, but pass the next. Consistency is desperately needed in both cities. Josh Freeman throws two touchdowns and 210 yards for the Bucs, Rivers throws three touchdowns, but two picks, one of them returned by Leonard Johnson 83 yards for the game-winning score.
Better now-Buccaneers
Better at the end of the season-Bucaneers



Titans @ Dolphins-Who was playing for the Titans today? Because it sure wasn't the Titans the NFL has seen this season. Tannehill throws three interceptions in a game that was more like a nightmare for those in Flordia.
Better now-Dolphins by a small margin
Better at the end of the season-Dolphins



Bills @ Patriots-The Bills fight until the very end, but the Patriots have their number today. Both quarterbacks led their teams very well. C.J. Spiller will be key to the Bills success for years.
Better now-Patriots
Better @ the end of the season-Patriots



Raiders at Ravens-NO MERCY! Oakland must have done something to John Harbaugh or his family, or they owed the Ravens money. 105 yard kick return by Jacoby Jones, a fake field goal turned into a touchdown. Combine those two with Ray Rice and Flacco on his game, no chance for the Raiders. Torrey Smith with another great receiving day: 67 yards on two catches, both touchdowns.
Better now-Ravens
Better at the end of the season-Ravens



Giants @ Bengals-Friend said the Giants would win, I chose not to take them on ESPN Streak For The Cash because I knew better. Bengals aren't a bad team and they proved that today. Andy Dalton throws four touchdowns to four different receivers, while Eli can't find the end zone and throws two interceptions.
Better now-Giants
Better at the end of the season-Giants



Falcons @ Saints-And then there were none. The Falcons go down to the New Orleans Saints, a team that had a great shot to beat them. Saints are riding high now and improving every week. Ryan and Brees throw for three touchdowns, Ryan for over 400 yards, but in the end, the Saints win.
Better now-Falcons, but the Saints are rising
Better at the end of the season-Falcons, by a little bit



Lions @ Vikings-Adrian Peterson may be a machine in the body of a man. MVP? Comeback of The Year? Both are possible as he goes for 171 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries. Calvin Johnson found the end zone once, and had 207 yards on 12 receptions, but the Lions hadn't answered Minnesota enough times to make it close.
Better now-Draw
Better at the end of the season-Draw



Jets @ Seahawks-Tebow time may be on its way within the next two weeks. The Seahawks continue to win with Russell Wilson at the helm. Wilson threw two touchdowns, 188 yards, and ran for 34 yards, while Marshawn Lynch runs 27 times for 124 yards. The defense makes certain that Wilson feels comfortable on offense, sacking Sanchez three times and picking him off once.
Better now-Seahawks
Better at the end of the season-Seahawks


Cowboys @ Eagles-Both teams came in with their seasons in the danger zone. Cowboys escape with a victory, even if both teams probably won't make the playoffs and are both flawed in many ways. Andy Reid will lose his job at the end of the year.
Better now-Draw
Better at the end of the season-Draw



Rams @ 49ers-A Draw?!? Haven't seen one of those in years. These things happen when division rivals go at it. 49ers are still the better team though, but the Rams are capable of building a good season.
Better now-49ers
Better at the end of the season-49ers



Texans @ Bears-The weather dampens a high-profile game. I think it would've been higher scoring otherwise. Schaub and Foster are stronger than Forte and Cutler tonight and the Texans continue to roll.
Better now-Texans
Better at the end of the season-Draw

UConn vs Michigan State

Congratulations to my UConn Huskies! First game under a new coach, sanctions preventing them from the postseason, missing several players from last year, and facing the #14 ranked team in the country in Michigan State @ Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Didn't like that all the players didn't get to play (Leon Tolksdorf of German residence, Phil Nolan, Brendan Allen). The team led by as much as 16 during the game, and looks far better than last year. Sure, they had lots of talent, but no chemistry, they weren't a team. Now, with a new coach to play for, as well as everything except post season births, UConn can reach their true potential. Congrats to my Huskies, GO HUSKY NATION!!!!

Shabazz Napier-25 points
DeAndre Daniels-12 points, 8 rebounds
Ryan Boatright-13 points
Tyler Olander-4 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists

Week 9 NFL Review

Chiefs at Chargers-Chargers shake off their recent woes, but still aren't close to what they once were. The struggles continue in Kansas City.

Better now-Chargers
Better at the end of the year-Chargers


Panthers at Redskins-RGIII gets stopped by...the Carolina Panthers defense!? First time for everything I guess. Carolina gets the win, but they still aren't better than the Redskins.
Better now-Redskins
Better at the end of the year-Redskins



Cardinals at Packers- Aaron Rodgers is Aaron Rodgers. The Packers win, and finish 3-0 in the last three games they should have won. Skelton passes for over 300 yards, which for the Packers defense (giving up 300 yards passing to Jacksonville last week) isn't good.
Better now-Packers
Better at the end of the year-Packers



Lions at Jaguars-Mikel Leshoure and Joique Bell combine for 143 rushing yards and four touchdowns in a game that Detroit wins without a passing touchdown. Even against Jacksonville that's impressive for team that does passing better than running. Megatron (Calvin Johnson) catches seven passes for 129 yards.
Better now-Lions
Better at the end of the year-Lions



Bears at Titans- Bears beat the Titans like they stole something. Five takeaways, four by Charles Tillman, one taken back on a punt block for a touchdown, and one interception taken back for a touchdown by Urlacher. The only positive for the Titans today was that Chris Johnson ran for 141 yards and a touchdown (80 of that off of one run).
Better now-Bears
Better at the end of the year-Bears



Broncos at Bengals-Peyton Manning again. Three touchdowns today help lead the Broncos past a good Cincinnati team. Trindon Holliday, all five and half feet of him returns the longest kick return (105 yards) in Denver history. Doing it for the small guys!
Better now-Broncos
Better at the end of the year-Broncos


Ravens at Browns-Five field goals by Phil Dawson isn't enough to carry Cleveland to a win over their division rivals. An ugly game, but one Baltimore comes away with.
Better now-Ravens
Better at the end of the year-Ravens


Bills at Texans-Defensive game all-around, not much scoring for either team (though Buffalo is used to not scoring this year). Andre Johnson goes for 118 yards on eight catches in the 21-9 win.
Better now-Texans
Better at the end of the year-Texans


Dolphins at Colts-Andrew Luck breaks the single-game rookie record for passing yards. The Colts may be better than everyone gave them credit for. Adam Vinatieri makes three kicks, including the game winner with about six minutes left.
Better now-Even
Better at the end of the year-Even


Vikings at Seahawks-Two teams with potential and up-and-coming quarterbacks clash, and only one succeeded. Russell Wilson passes for three touchdowns, Marshawn Lynch runs for 124 yards and a touchdown in the win. Adrian Peterson continues his incredible year, running for 182 off of 17 attempts, scoring two touchdowns.
Better now-Draw
Better at the end of the year-Draw


Buccaneers at Raiders-Doug Martin again PLAYING OUT OF HIS MIND! 25 carries for 251 yards, four touchdowns in the Tampa Bay win. If Tampa wants to get to the playoffs though, they need to tighten their defense up. Giving up 32 to Oakland won't cut it.
Better now-Buccaneers
Better at the end of the year-Buccaneers


Steelers at Giants-Giants get some calls their way from the refs, but it isn't enough to get them the win. Pittsburgh may have a solidified running game in the near future Issac Redman ran for 147 yards on 26 attempts and one touchdown.
Better now-Giants
Better at the end of the year-Giants


Cowboys at Falcons-Matt Bryant provides most of the scoring for the Falcons, while Dallas can't find their offense. Dallas has a pretty good defense, as does Atlanta, but only one of these teams has a consistent offense, and it's the one that's undefeated.
Better now-Falcons
Better at the end of the year-Falcons

Eagles at Saints-Eagles struggles continue, while New Orleans capitalizes on them. Both quarterbacks played equally good, and Philadelphia has a good RB in LeShan McCoy (rushed for 119 yards on 19 attempts), they just couldn't put stuff together (flee-flicker on the kickoff rightfully called a forward-lateral, but executed perfectly and creatively otherwise). Andy Reid is having a very very bad 2012.

Better now-New Orleans

Better at the end of the year-New Orleans

Week 8 NFL Review

Buccaneers @ Vikings- Doug Martin plays out of his mind on Thursday night, running for 135 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries, while catching three passes for 79 yards and another touchdown (touchdown being a 64 yard catch). Adrian Peterson continues a great season, rushing for 123 yards and a touchdown off of 15 carries, but fumbling once. Buccaneers win a high-scoring affair, maybe things are coming together for them? Better now- Vikings (by a small margin)
Better at the end of the year- Draw

Jaguars @ Packers- Packers looked bad against a bad team. Jacksonville has some heart to go up to Green Bay and stay in it until the end. Packers need to sharpen up.
Better now- Packers
Better at the end of the year- Packers


Dolphins @ Jets- Special teams is often forgotten in an offensive-driven league, but it does still matter. Miami reminded everyone that as they block a field goal and punt (returning the latter for a touchdown). Matt Moore comes in after Tannehill gets injured, and goes 11 for 19, for 131 yards and throws a touchdown. Sanchez can't throw 50+ times a game (54 today) and hope to lead his team to victory. He has Shonn Greene in the backfield, use him. Tebow may be starting soon.
Better now- Draw
Better at the end of the year- Draw


Chargers @ Browns- It is official: the Chargers are terrible. Held to only two field goals by the Cleveland Browns. No lightning strikes in torrential rain, Trent Richardson did it on the ground, running for 122 yards on 24 carries, with a 26-yard touchdown in the first quarter that turned into the game-winning score.
Better now- San Diego (but they aren't very good)
Better at the end of the year- San Diego (will have to get their stuff together)


Colts @ Titans- Not the greatest game for both teams. Andrew Luck leads his team on a game-tying drive, Delone Carter running it in from a yard out with 3:24 left in the game, before Vick Ballard hits a field goal in overtime for the win. Chris Johnson comes one yard short of 100.
Better now- Indianapolis
Better at the end of the year- Indianapolis


Patriots @ Rams- London is the sight of a slaughter. New England is too much for St. Louis, period.
Better now- Patriots
Better at the end of the year- Patriots


Falcons @ Eagles- Matt Ryan made sure no one had any questions which bird was the best in the NFC: Falcons. The Eagles are becoming what they were last year, while Atlanta looks focused, determined, and under confident leadership. The Falcons are moving up the charts in the NFC, now behind San Francisco and New York for the best team in the conference.
Better now- Atlanta
Better at the end of the year- Atlanta


Panthers @ Bears- Justin Medlock kicks five field goals, making all of them for Carolina, while Robbie Gould misses a 33 yard field goal in the forth quarter, but nails the game-winner from 41 yards to give the Bears the win.
Better now- Bears
Better at the end of the year- Bears


Seahawks @ Lions- Back and forth in an offensive game, Matt Stafford outpasses Wilson, but Marshawn Lynch is too good on the ground, 77 of his 105 yards coming on his one touchdown run. Titus Young has taken the reigns as the go-to guy for Stafford (nine receptions for 100 yards, two touchdowns). Calvin Johnson not getting the passes the offense needs him to get. Detroit needs to develop a running game as well.
Better now- Seahawks
Better at the end of the year- Seahawks


Redskins @ Steelers- No defense for Washington, Ben Roethlisberger passing for three touchdowns and 222 yards. RGIII held under 200 yards passing (177), and can only run it six times for eight yards. Jonathan Dwyer gains 107 yards, going over 100 yards again. Could he be the answer to a Pittsburgh running game that hasn't had consistency?
Better now- Steelers
Better at the end of the year- Steelers


Raiders @ Chiefs- Both teams need some help on both sides of the ball, Oakland has better talent at this point...but only by a little bit. Oakland wins, but the AFC West belongs to Denver at this point.
Better now- Draw
Better at the end of the year- Draw


Giants @ Cowboys- Giants go up 23 points, only to let it slip away, giving up 24 points. Giants take the lead again, and Dez Bryant gives it all he's got and catches the game-winning touch- no, he landed hard out-of-bounds, and it's all for naught for Dallas.
Better now- Giants
Better at the end of the year- Giants

Saints @ Broncos- Peyton Manning is leading the Broncos towards the playoffs mid-way through the season. 22/30, 308 yards and three touchdowns, McGahee running great, 122 yards and a touchdown off of 23 touches, Denver looks great. New Orleans needs help at 2-5. Though they hit Manning, they couldn't bring him down, recording no sacks, no interceptions, and no answer to Denver's offense.
Better now- Broncos
Better at the end of the year- Broncos 

49ers @ Cardinals- Cardinals are who we thought they were, not an above-average team. The 49ers are who we thought they were. Alex Smith was near perfect, completing 18 of 19 throws, Randy Moss sighting in the desert, and the defense shows why the 49ers are one of the top teams in the league.
Better now-49ers
Better at the end of the year- 49ers
 

10 Early-season Games I'll Be Watching

The college basketball season is upon us, and with it, countless games that will become must-watch games. At the moment, here are 10 games I am looking forward to before the season tips off. (Most of these games are not conference games because those games tend to be watchable already)

November 13: Duke vs Kentucky- Names mean everything, and Duke and Kentucky are two of the biggest. This game will tip off in the finale of the marathon, 30 minutes after Kansas and Michigan State (more than enough time for fans to process through the refractory period). Nerlens Noel, Alex Poythress & Archie Goodwin (all in the top 20 the 2012 recruiting class) take the court against Duke, who, though not throwing any top 10 recruits onto the court (Rasheed Sulaimon and Amile Jefferson are #12 & #25 respectively) have the ACC Player of The Year front-runner in Mason Plumlee leading the team. Coach K is happy he didn't leave, add Seth Curry into the mix, and this game should be exciting.

November 13: Kansas vs Michigan State- Second-last game in the ESPN Tip-Off Marathon, Champions Classic in the Georgia Dome. Both teams are very alike: Tom Izzo always puts together a good team, and has proven over the past decade that he should not be overlooked come tournament time. Draymond Green isn't there anymore, so it will be interesting to see what Michigan State will do without such a focal piece of their team. The same can be said about Bill Self and Kansas. Thomas Robinson and Tyshawn Taylor are off in the NBA. First game of the year, and both teams are unsure about their teams offense and leadership.

November 28- Ohio St. @ Duke- ACC vs Big 10 Challenge, two big name teams, NCAA tournament resume-building game, what more is there to like? All-Americans leading both teams? Yes! Aaron Craft versus Seth Curry will be interesting, while Deshaun Thomas will have even more trouble with Mason Plumlee. Not much more to say about this game, except, can't wait for this one.

December 15- Louisville @ Memphis- A different border battle, but equally as good. Memphis may be missing Will Burton, but they still are a fast, dangerous team, who will most likely win the Conference USA regular season and conference tournament championships in their final year as a member. Tarik Black and Joe Jackson are back, leading a home-grown group of talent against Big East favorite, Louisville. Peyton Siva and Gorgui Dieng are the reasons why the Cardinals are picked to win the Big East this year, and Siva's leadership, along with Dieng's presence in the middle will be key to the teams success. If Memphis wants to make a statement, this is the game to do it.

December 15: Florida @ Arizona- Experience vs Youth. Arizona has the third best recruiting classes this year (four ESPN Top 100 players: Kaleb Tarczewski #4, Grant Jerrett #9, Brandon Ashley #16, Gabe York #65) vs a Florida team that, even with losing two of their top three scorers (Bradley Beal and Erving Walker), Florida returns top scorer Kenny Boynton, as well as throw a lineup out there that has seven players of junior class or higher (four which contributed 20 minutes or more per game last year). It will be interesting to see how such a young team deals with an experience and well-coached team. This may come down to the coaches decisions regarding strategy and matchups. It's not just Experience vs Youth on the court, it's also on the sidelines.

December 22- Kansas @ Ohio St- Ohio State doesn't want to make their out of conference schedule easy. Even in Columbus, this game will resemble the Duke versus Ohio State game nearly one month earlier. Jeff Withey, the 7-0 senior center for Kansas will need to be a go-to player this year if Kansas is going to go for another Big 12 title. Ohio State should isolate him from the offense and force a Kansas team without Thomas Robinson and Tyshawn Taylor to facilitate offense. Bill Self can motivate though.

December 29- UNLV @ North Carolina- This is an interesting game. UNLV has a ton of hype, Anthony Bennett, the #7 prospect in the draft class, and an experienced team led by Mike Moser. North Carolina is in a rebuilding year (losing four starters to the NBA), but this wouldn't be the first time Roy Williams makes names out of nameless players. More interested to see how UNLV handles Chapel Hill.

January 9- UNLV @ New Mexico- This is one of three conference games on my top 10 that I am excited to watch. UNLV will be 11 days removed from Chapel Hill, and may be undefeated when they start conference play against New Mexico. The Lobos will be coming off games at Cincinnati and St. Louis, before coming home to play UNLV. Three of the top four scorers for New Mexico are back, trying to duplicate the success they had last year. Should be fun in the dessert.

January 10- Saint Marys @ Gonzaga- Another conference game that has the potential to be something special. These teams have ruled the West Coast Conference for over the past decade. Five of the last six years they've played in the conference final. St. Mary's won the regular season championship outright last year, the first time since the 1999-2000 season Gonzaga didn't have at least a share of the title. Matthew Dellavedova is the defending WCC Player of The Year, an All-American, and the Gales center of offense. His success in his final year will determine how far they go.

March 9- Florida @ Kentucky- Last regular season game of the year, can't hold anything back for sure. NCAA tournament ramifications, recruiting possibilities, regular season conference championship may be up for grabs, excitement! A month before these two meet in Gainesville, so it will be interesting to see what may change since then. Kenny Boynton (last years leading scorer) and Erik Murphy will need to use their senior leadership to overpower a young, talented, and hyped Kentucky team, led by incoming #1 prospect Nerlens Noel (future one and done).

Other games that could be great

Nov 22- VCU vs Memphis- Battle 4 Atlantis

Dec 28- Missouri @ UCLA

Dec- 18 Long Beach St. @ UCLA

Nov 29- Marquette @ Florida

Feb 19- Florida @ Missouri

Nov 29- Kentucky @ Notre Dame

Jan 19 Gonzaga @ Butler

Paradise Jam- Could have UConn vs New Mexico

Nov 19- Marquette vs Butler-Maui Invitational

Battle 4 Atlantis- Possible Duke vs Memphis, Louisville vs Missouri semi-final matches