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

Preseason All-NCAA Team

                                          My Pre-Season All-American Team 1st Team

Before every season, there comes a preseason team of all-stars to watch this season. Whether they are proven talent that will continue to improve their draft stock and lead their team to the NCAA tournament, or diamonds in the rough that the nation have yet to notice. Here is my preseason All-NCAA team.

G-Aaron Craft-Junior, Ohio State- Plays defense, puts in a lot of minutes, and can pass the ball. Will be a bigger part of the Buckeye offense this year with Sullinger and Buford gone. 19 of 39 games with 10+points will increase this year.

G-C.J. McCollum-Senior, Lehigh- Tremendous game game Duke, but consistent throughout the year. 4 games out of 35 he didn't score 15 or more points, 21 games with 20 or more points. You can't argue with his output and he's good at the charity stripe (over 80% all three years of playing).

F-C.J. Leslie-Junior, NSCST-

F-Mason Plumlee-Senior, Duke- Not a fan of Ohio State or Duke, but talent is talent. That is why Aaron Craft is on the list, and the same goes for Mason Plumlee. Averaging almost a double-double last year, as well as giving you defense is always a plus. He consistently notched one to three blocks a game for the Blue Devils, as well as shot over 57%. If he betters his free throw shot, he could be an even bigger talent.

C-Gorgui Dieng-Junior, Louisville- Why Gorgui Dieng? Why Dieng over Cody Zeller? Defense is the answer. Averaging nine points, nine rebounds, and three blocks a game, Dieng is my choice for in the center. He may not be a scorer like Zeller, but he plays defense in the middle and dominates the paint, as a center should. He can bang and get the stats, as well as play hard defense that a team needs.

Others to mention...

G-Matthew Dellavedova-Senior, St Marys- The West Coast Conference Player of The Year, Dellavedova played on the Australian Olympic team (youngest player to do so), and will be the focal point again to the Gales attack. 15.5 points and 6.4assists aren't bad for a guy who averaged 37.5 minutes a game last year. He doesn't turn the ball over and is good from the free throw line. If he sharpens his three-point shot, he'll be even better.

G-Trey Burke-Sophomore, Michigan- One of several outstanding freshmen in the Big Ten, Burke is back for another year with Michigan. In his first year, Burke averaged 148PPG, 4.6APG, and 3.5RPB. The Wolverines will lean on him and Tim Hardaway Jr. now that Zack Novak is gone. Burke and Dellavedova would be a secure backcourt on any team.

G/F-Shabazz Muhammad-Freshmen, UCLA- Best rated player in the incoming recruiting class, has unquestioned talent, the only question being asked is: is he eligible?

F-Anthony Bennett-Freshmen, UNLV- 6'8, can step out and hit three-pointers, move inside, bang with the big boys and throw down, who coach wouldn't want a power forward who is not only physical, but fast and a shooter? Don't know how UNLV got Anthony Bennett, but he is surrounded by an experienced team of players (led by Mike Moser). Returning two of their top three scorers, as well as acquiring Roscoe Smith from Connecticut, UNLV is poised to make their run.

F-Doug McDermott-Junior, Creighton- A shooter, plain and simple. This guy will jam a dagger in your heart if you are his opponent. 22.9PPG and 8.2RPG, the now junior took Creighton on his shoulders and brought them into the spotlight of the country. Not once last year did McDermott fail to score above 10 points. He scored over 20 points 24 times, over 30 points six times, and over 40 points once. Just over 60% shoot from the field, 48.6% from the 3-point line, and 78.9% from the free throw line, he must be included.

C- Cody Zeller-Sophomore, Indiana- Cody Zeller was an impressive freshmen. He converted six out of every 10 shots he took, didn't turn the ball over, and scored points. 15.6PPG and 6.6RPG are pretty good statistics for anyone, let alone a freshmen. Indiana has only gotten stronger and this is Zeller's team for sure now. Though only notching more than 10 rebounds in four games, only five games happened where Zeller didn't score more than 10 points. Decent from the free throw line, if Zeller can improve on his skills and secure more rebounds while adding to his defense, he'll be the big man in the Big Ten.

pictures from

Aaron Craft
C.J McCollum
C.J. Leslie
Mason Plumlee
Gorgui Dieng

Week 7 NFL Review

Seattle @ San Francisco- Defensive battle from one of the leagues best defenses, as well as a defense that is finding its strides. Frank Gore runs for 131 yards for San Francisco and they win another division game.

Better now- San Francisco
Better at the end of the year- San Francisco

Washington @ New York (Giants)- Eli outpasses RGIII, but the game remains close until the end. RGIII isn't able to pull off a comeback, and the Giants take a division game. Giants are a legit running attack away from being the best in the NFL. The NFC East is stacked (aside from Dallas).
Better now- Giants
Better at the end of the year- Giants


Arizona @ Minnesota- Skelton outpassed Ponder, but Ponder has a freak named Adrian Peterson as his running back. 23 carries for 153 yards and a touchdown, and a magical season for Peterson continues after a horrible injury at the end of last year.
Better now- Minnesota
Better at the end of the year- Minnesota


Dallas @ Carolina- Both teams need a lot of help, both teams have two RB each that could share running duties and take pressure off their QB's if the team would use them. Dallas gets back to .500, while Carolina continues to put it together.
Better now- Draw (they both aren't good at all at the moment)
Better at the end of the year- Dallas


New Orleans @ Tampa Bay- Another game with no defense! Brees with over 300 yards in the first half! Josh Freeman throws for 420 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, and at the end of an NFC South game that was back and forth from the start, New Orleans comes away with the win. What a game for everyone involved.
Better now- New Orleans (Tampa showing light though)
Better at the end of the year- New Orleans


Green Bay @ St. Louis- Aaron Rodgers continues to produce and lead his team. St. Louis had a few moments where you thought they may be able to seize control of the game, but never took hold of those moments. Packers look good.
Better now- Green Bay
Better at the end of the year- Green Bay


Baltimore @ Houston- Aaron Rodgers played angry last week, Matt Schaub played that way this week with the same result against one of the top teams in the league. Flaco can't throw the ball over 20 times in the first half and expect his team to win, it's not how they conduct business. Texans score on offense, defense, and special teams: a complete game for Houston
Better now- Houston
Better at the end of the year- Houston


Cleveland @ Indianapolis- Two rookie quarterbacks go at it. The game wasn't very entertaining, Weeden outpassed Luck, but the Colts get the win.
Better now- Indianapolis
Better at the end of the year- Indianapolis


Tennessee @ Buffalo- Forget about Buffalo having defense. Chris Johnson goes off for the first time in the year (must make him feel awesome). 18 carries for 195 yards and two touchdowns. Titans win by one in an absolutely wild game. Fitzpatrick throws three touchdowns, but it isn't enough. Hasselback hooks up to Nate Washington from 15 yards out with 1:05 left in the game. Tennessee steals one? No, they earned this one for sure.
Better now- Draw (both are the same record, and are very similar)
Better at the end of the year- Draw


New York (Jets) @ New England- A game of halves. New England dominates the first half, New York dominates the second half. New England was able to sneak a game-tying field goal in on the unsure leg of Stephen Gostkowski as time expired, and in overtime do it once more to eek out a win.
Better now- New England
Better at the end of the year- New England


Jacksonville @ Oakland- Both teams are bad, period. Sebastian Janikowski hits four of five field goals (his only miss being a 64 yard field goal at the end of regulation) in another game that went into overtime today, and Oakland overcomes a 14-point deficit to win...if you can even determine a winner here. Jaguars lost Maurice Jones-Drew on the opening drive to a left foot injury, then Blaine Gabbert in the second quarter to a left shoulder injury.
Better now- Draw
Better at the end of the year- Draw

Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati- Pittsburgh did just enough to beat Cincinnati, on a night where the Dalton to Green connection was out of sync. Jonathan Dwyer for the Steelers ran for 122 yards on 17 touches...yet another running back for Pittsburgh. Consistency in the running game isn't a focal point for them I guess.
Better now- Draw
Better at the end of the year- Pittsburgh (by a small margin)

Detroit @ Chicago-A low-scoring affair, where the two defenses combined for eight sacks (three for Detroit, five for Chicago) and Calvin Johnson only caught three passes. Chicago comes away with the win, even if it was an ugly one. Shout out to Titus Young for catching six for 81 yards (a favorite player of mine when he went to Boise State).
Better now- Detroit
Better at the end of the year- Detroit

Indiana A National Title Contender? Not So Fast

                                  Adding another banner will be tough...to say the least


I came across an article, telling me that the Indiana Hoosiers were a national title contender in the upcoming 2012-13 NCAA basketball season. Not so fast, I say.

Tom Crean has done a magnificent job since coming on as head coach after leaving Marquette. He didn't have Dwayne Wade or Steve Novak on Indiana, and Indiana was trying to rebuild their program after the Kelvin Sampson drama. Since becoming head coach, Crean built on a horrible first season (6-25) to an impressive last season (27-9). In the five years he's coached the Hoosiers, they have won more games each season since he began, and made it to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament last season (their first tournament appearance since 2007-08).

Now that introductions are done, the question remains: are they a national title contender? The coaches poll have given Indiana the #1 spot for the pre-season poll, this means very little. Cody Zeller can be as good, if not better than his brother Tyler, and if he stays the full four years (unlikely), he will be an amazing forward/center by then. At the moment, this sophomore has a lot of potential, and is quite good already. The top four scorers for Indiana are back, and they bring in four new players, all freshmen, including Yogi Ferrell (#24 prospect of 2012-13). Crean can motivate, and has been doing that for five years. They have returned several starters from last years roster, and are gathering new talent. So far, yes, they are a contender for the title.

Now comes the tricky part: Conference play. Indiana has few quality out of conference games: Butler and Georgia being the only ones, and both have to go to Assembly Hall. The Big Ten conference schedule will be the make or break for Indiana. Wisconsin has been good for years (Bo Ryan knows how to motivate like Crean, if not better), Michigan has two great players in Tim Hardaway Jr. and Trey Burke, and will be a threat. Ohio State still has Aaron Craft and Deshaun Thomas, and never count out Michigan State, no matter how their team looks, Tom Izzo equals success. Indiana, from February 2-10 play three games: vs Michigan, @ Illinois, @ Ohio State: make or break right there! A month later, another three-game stretch from hell: vs Iowa, vs Ohio State, @ Michigan to finish the year. Playing Michigan State and Wisconsin once this year, and at home each time, is a big advantage.

Is Indiana a national title contender? I don't think so, but many do. They have a talented team and a great coach. They have great fans, a tough place to play for visiting teams, and a player that is going to be in the NBA within the next year at the earliest. If they dominate the Big Ten, I will for sure change my opinion. Indiana's priorities should be first the Big Ten regular-season title. After that, the Big-Ten Conference Tournament. When they receive their seed for the NCAA Tournament (and they will), then the goal becomes the national title.

picture from http://artofthepalehose.mlblogs.com/2010/02/05/sox-wise-and-otherwise-5/

NFL Week 6 Review

Oakland @ Atlanta- Matt Ryan leads his Falcons again down the field, Matt Bryant nails a long field goal, stay undefeated, and avoid losing a bad loss to the Raiders. Raiders played better than anyone gave them a chance to.
Better right now- Falcons
Better at the end of the season- Falcons

Dallas @ Baltimore- Teams were evenly matched all day (that is a plus for Dallas). If Dallas can replicate this, they will have a better shot in the NFC East. Baltimore is still better though.
Better right now- Baltimore
Better at the end of the season- Baltimore


Cincinnati @ Cleveland- Battle of Ohio and...Cleveland wins?!? Well, every dog does have its day. Dalton throws three interceptions, fumbles once, and Sheldon Brown makes him pay for the third, scoring the game-winning touchdown on the INT return. Brandon Weeden and Cleveland won this game, Cincinnati didn't lose it.
Better right now- Cincinnati
Better at the end of the season- Cincinnati


Indianapolis @ New York (Jets)- This week it wasn't a necessity to win for Chuck. Shonne Green finally has the career day many (including myself) have known him capable of since his days at Iowa. Three touchdowns for him on 32 carries, 161 yards rushing. Four turnovers by Indianapolis doom them.
Better right now- New York
Better at the end of the season- New York


St. Louis @ Miami- That is the kind of game fans want, and expect out of Sam Bradford. 26 of 39, 315 yards, no touchdowns or interceptions thrown, one touchdown running. It wasn't enough though, Tannehill throws two touchdowns, and the Miami defense holds for nearly nine minutes to get the win.
Better right now- Miami
Better at the end of the season- Miami


Detroit @ Philadelphia- Offensive matchup against two possible playoff teams in the NFC. Interceptions by Vick (two) again are costly. Back and forth in an offensive fourth quarter, before Jason Hansen nails a game-tying field goal as time expired, sending it into overtime, then hit the game-winner. Maclin and Johnson each catch six receptions for over 130 yards (130 and 135 respectively).
Better right now- Draw
Better at the end of the season- Draw (Both teams are pretty well-balanced and alike)

Kansas City @ Tampa- Brady Quinn isn't much better as starting quarterback ( I wonder if the fans are regretting the cheering of Cassels's injury). Josh Freemen and a balanced Tampa offense play up to their potential, and win big. Ronde Barber's 78 interception return will hopefully be the start of a good Tampa defense.
Better right now- Tampa Bay
Better at the end of the season- Tampa Bay



New England @ Seattle- Not many can be down 10 or more in the forth quarter against New England and pull one out...but this is Seattle. The 12^th man strikes, and Quest Field is the sight of an upset. Russell Wilson hits Sidney Rice with a minute and six seconds left, for a 46 yard touchdown, and a HUGE win and statement: Seattle is for real. Wilson has been a leader since stepping onto the football field, and throwing three touchdowns and no interceptions is what he needed to do today. Never give up.
Better right now- New England (Seattle is better than good though)
Better at the end of the season- New England (Seattle will be good at the end as well)



Buffalo @ Arizona- Is Arizona dive-bombing? Are they coming back down to Earth? A loss to Buffalo will make them feel like it. Spiller and Jackson score a touchdown each, and the Buffalo defense comes alive with five sacks, a safety, hold Arizona to three field goals and a touchdown, and notch two interceptions.
Better right now- Cardinals (Buffalo beginning to find a groove?)
Better at the end of the season- Cardinals



New York (Giants) @ San Francisco- New York has to be called the best team in the NFC now. Beating down the only other team that could legitimately challenge them for the position, on the road, the Giants intercept Alex Smith three times, sack him six times, and lean on Lawrence Tynes leg for 14 of their points.
Better right now- Giants (San Francisco is 2nd)
Better at the end of the season- Draw (Giants will fall, they always do)



Minnesota @ Washington- RG III plays one week after taking a big hit to the head, and tries to do it all for Washington...it worked. Christen Ponder is looking like an up and coming quarterback, throwing for 352 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions. Percy Harvin continues to amaze, catching 11 receptions for 133 yards. RG III threw for 180, ran for 138, rushed for two touchdowns, threw for one, the only thing he didn't do was sell hotdogs. His 76 yard touchdown run at the end was icing on the cake for a Washington win. RG III in rookie of the year, and we're only nearly halfway done with the season.
Better right now- Washington (Minnesota is competitive)
Better at the end of the season- Washington

Green Bay @ Houston- The leagues best team got beaten at home by a team the league considered one of the best going into the season. Aaron Rodgers played angry, and looking at the numbers (24 of 37 for 338 yards and six touchdowns) he should play like that every week. Houston was outclassed in their own house.
Better right now- Draw
Better at the end of the season- Packers (by a slim margin)


Denver @ San Diego- A game of halves if there ever was one. San Diego dominates the first half, only allowing Peyton Manning and Denver to make the largest comeback in Monday Night Football history. Down 24-0, Manning throws three touchdowns, the defense snags two touchdowns off turnovers, and Denver steals a division win in San Diego. If San Diego wants to make the playoffs, Phillip Rivers needs to protect the football (four interceptions, two fumbles lost).
Better right now- Denver
Better at the end of the season- Denver

NFL Week 5 Review

Cardinals at Rams- The Cardinals didn't look for real, giving up nine sacks and scoring only three points on the Rams. Sam Bradford either isn't there yet as a QB, or he really REALLY needs more talent around him.
Better right now- Cardinals
Better at the end of the season- Cardinals


Falcons at Redskins- Tony Gonzalez looking like his old self, catching 13 receptions for 121 years and a touchdown. Falcons remain undefeated, RGIII takes a hit and leaves the game. Redskins were winning because of him, we'll see what happens if he has to sit a week or two.
Better right now- Falcons
Better at the end of the season- Falcons

Eagles at Steelers- Turnovers continue to be a trend in Philadelphia. Vick throws two touchdowns, fumbles and loses it twice, Steelers win on a last-second field goal. Mendenhall back for Pittsburgh will help, but they still have issues.
Better right now- Philadelphia
Better at the end of the season- Philadelphia

Packers at Colts- Defense compliments offense, both are needed to win. Field goal misses, missed or bad calls, it all boils down to the 60 minutes you play. Packers dominated, Colts came out in the second half, guns blazing. Emotional win for them, my best to their coach on progressing towards a speedy recovery through treatment.
Better right now- Packers (though the defense is a HUGE concern, Colts aren't bad either)
Better at the end of the season- Packers

Browns at Giants- Amad Bradshaw runs for 200 yards, Browns are still the Browns. Eli throws for three touchdowns, does he want the league MVP?
Better right now- Giants
Better at the end of the season- Giants

Titans at Vikings- Blair Walsh goes 3/3 on field goals, Ponder is alright, and Harvin does it all (eight receptions for 108 yards, one touchdown, two rushes for eight yards and a touchdown). Tennessee isn't in a good place, and Chris Johnson continues to allow people to ask if he is overrated (15 carries for 24 yards) If he reaches 1,000 yards this year, that will feel like 2,000.
Better right now- Vikings (The NFC North is going to be very interesting)
Better at the end of the season- Vikings

Dolphins at Bengals- Tannehill leads his team (despite not throwing a touchdown) to an impressive victory over a good Cincinnati team. Dalton and Green weren't enough today.
Better right now- Cincinnati (Dolphins aren't bad at all either)
Better at the end of the season- Cincinnati

Ravens at Chiefs- Defensive to the MAX! Ray Rice and Jamal Charles each rush for over 100 yards (Charles 30 carries, 140 yards, Rice 17 carries, 102 yards). Justin Tucker and Ryan Succop battle back and forth, scoring all the points of the game. Cassel goes down with a head injury and the home fans cheer? Someone may want to find a different location and let Brady Quinn handle the mess in Kansas City.
Better right now- Ravens
Better at the end of the season- Ravens

Seahawks at Panthers- Cam can't do it all, and Carolina should remember they have two talented running backs in Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams. Seahawks aren't doing it pretty, but they are 3-2. Seattle has a death row for the next three games (vs New England, @ San Francisco, @ Detroit).
Better right now- Seahawks
Better at the end of the season- Carolina (but both teams will be close)

Bears at Jaguars- Straight-up beatdown. Jacksonville is dead. Bears had no problem today.
Better right now- Bears
Better at the end of the season- Bears

Broncos at Patriots- Manning vs Brady. New England up big, lets it slip away, and then any more drama is robbed from every fan in the form of a fumble by Willis McGahee (the first run of the drive). Steven Ridley rushes for 151, while Manning outpasses Brady.
Better right now- New England (Denver is up there)
Better at the end of the season- New England

Bills at 49ers- 49ers are the best team in the NFC, period. A strong defense, a better offense than last year, they may be the complete package. Buffalo needs another year or two to mature and develop.
Better right now- 49ers
Better at the end of the season- 49ers

Chargers at Saints- An amazing game, back and forth. Drew Brees breaks Johnny Unitus's recored for most consecutive games with a touchdown pass, and the Saints score 10 in the fourth quarter to get their first win, couldn't get much better. Marques Colston catches nine balls for 131 yards and three touchdowns, wow!
Better right now- Chargers
Better at the end of the season- Chargers (but the Saints won't be going winless, not even close)

Texans at Jets- Houston still an elite team, the Jets are struggling with their injuries, but also are seeing several unknowns stepping up. If their offense doesn't get it together very soon, it won't matter who is at quarterback. Houston won by six, probably could've won by more than 10.
Better right now- Houston
Better at the end of the season- Houston

Flopping- League Still Too Soft On It

How the league will deal with potential “flopping” incidents during games has been announced, and I for one am not happy with their punishment policy. Reviewing possible flopping incidents after the game is fine (no one wants games to run longer than they do already), it is the punishments that get to me.

First offense-Warning

Second offense- $5,000

Third offense- $10,000

Fourth offense- $15,000

Fifth offense- $30,000

Six or more offenses- Further punishments or possible suspension

TOO SOFT!!! If “Flops have no place in our game -- they either fool referees into calling undeserved fouls or fool fans into thinking the referees missed a foul call,” as vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson said in a statement, the punishments would be harsher to halt flopping quicker than these punishments will.

Here's how it should be handled:

First offense- $10,000 fine

Second offense- $20,000 fine

Third offense- One game suspension (unable to be appealed)

Four or more- One game + however many flops have been committed by the player since their third offense (Fourth offense would equal a two-game suspension, fifth offense would equal a three-game suspension, etc.)

The punishment must be swift, harsh, and stop the trend in its tracks. This isn't soccer, it's the NBA.

Week 4 NFL Review

Browns @ Ravens- Ravens continue to move forward, while the Browns struggle again. Weeden looked good, he is that franchises hope.

Better right now- Ravens

Better @ the end of the season- Ravens

Patriots at Bills- The Bills needed to play the Patriots for four quarters, they only played them for two. Only the second time all-time where two running backs and two wide receivers gained 100 yards in the same game (Packer in 2008 the only other time).

Better right now- Patriots

Better @ the end of the season- Patriots



Titans at Texans- Titans season has been done, Locker left the game with an injury, the only plus was that Chris Jonson got more than 100+ yards this week for them. Texans run away with the AFC South

Better right now- Texans

Better @ the end of the season- Texans



Chargers at Chiefs- Both teams have problems, but San Diego has a proven quarterback. Interceptions will kill a team, and Cassel threw three of them.

Better right now- Chargers

Better @ the end of the season- Chargers



Vikings at Lions- Lions almost make the comeback, Vikings have put it together for two weeks in a row against two good teams.

Better right now- Lions (though the Vikings aren't bad at all)

Better @ the end of the season- Lions



Panthers at Falcons- Panthers had this game, they'd pinned the Falcons down on their own one yard line with less than a minute left, and no timeouts. Matt Ryan is one step from becoming a top-tier quarterback. Leads a drive, Bryant hits the game winning field goal.

Better right now- Atlanta

Better @ the end of the season- Atlanta



Seahawks at Rams- Wilson throws three interceptions (again, INT's will kill a team) in a game that wasn't pretty by any means. Two players carried their teams today: Marshawn Lynch for Seattle (gaining 118 rushing, 37 receiving, 1 touchdown) and Greg Zuerlein for St. Louis (four field goals out of four made, one from 60 yards).

Better right now- Seattle (by a little bit)

Better @ the end of the season- Seattle



49ers at Jets- 49ers were mad from last week's loss to the Vikings, and became the 49ers. Defense wins games, offense helps, they put it all-together.

Better right now- 49ers

Better @ the end of the season- 49ers



Dolphins at Cardinals- Andre Roberts has a come-out game at WR, six receptions for 118 yards and two touchdowns, Arizona takes over in the second half (trailing 13-0 at half), and win it in overtime on the foot of former one-year Dolphins kicker Jay Feely (2007). The Cardinals are for real? If they are, they can't give up 400+ passing yards while their offense can't rush for over 50 yards like they did today. Tannehill had a nice day, despite not coming away with the “W”.

Better right now- Arizona

Better @ the end of the season- Arizona



Raiders at Broncos- Looked like the Peyton Manning of old as he rips the Raiders defense for three touchdowns, 338 yards, and Denver makes certain that people know the Raiders aren't a contender for the AFC West this year.

Better right now- Broncos

Better @ the end of the season- Broncos



Bengals at Jaguars- AJ Green and Andy Dalton are a combo that will work in Cincinnati for as long as they are there. Jacksonville's season still flat line.

Better right now- Bengals

Better @ the end of the season- Bengals



Saints at Packers- Neither team has much defense, both teams have an offense, it came down to a field goal and the Saints missed, going to 0-4. Drew Brees ties Johnny Unitas for most consecutive regular-season games throwing at least one touchdown with 47 straight. Brees will try to break the record next week at San Diego (the team Unitas played his final year with).

Better right now- Packers

Better @ the end of the season- Packers



Redskins at Buccaneers- Tampa has yet to play up to their potential. When they put it together, they will earn some wins, but today was about RG III leading his team down for a field goal to win it. Billy Cundiff misses three field goals from 31, 41, and 57 yards (I don't blame him for the 57 yard miss), before making the game-winner from 41 yards. RG III continues a great season.

Better right now- Redskins

Better @ the end of the season- Redskins



Giants at Eagles- Two top teams in the NFC clash in a low-scoring game. Missed field goal, after a previous miss by Tynes for the Giants was waved off (Andy Reid had called time out). Vick & McCoy played well, Eli had another 300 yard passing game (Hixon & Cruz combining for 109 & 114 respectively of those yards).

Better right now- Philadelphia

Better @ the end of the season- Philadelphia

Bears at Cowboys- The Bears defense made the Cowboys know that they don't have the best defense in the league. Defense turned into offense, and the Bears had plenty of defense tonight. Cowboys have issues that need to be worked out in a hurry.

Better right now- Bears

Better @ the end of the season- Bears