After a week long hiatus, power rankings are back, and there's been a bit of a rethink and a reshuffle. We're loath to be the reactionaries that you see on some websites (For example, do you think the Broncos are the fourth best team in football, or is it merely because they've won 3 games?), but even we might have to rethink the Texans.
Anyway: A condensed, one liners-style Power Rankings:
The best:
1) Dallas Cowboys - Beat the team that would have occupied this slot last week.
2) San Diego Chargers - Weak division and weak conference now that the other AFC teams have started to struggle.
3) Green Bay Packers - A loss to Dallas is nothing to dwell on, there was nothing exposed as a huge weakness, though Harris's loss could have an impact.
4) New England Patriots - Yes they're human, but they needed this loss. Been complacent this season, need to get that ruthless streak back.
5) Philadelphia Eagles - Did it against a contender (Pittsburgh), and thus leapfrog a lot of other teams who've had easy starts to the season.
6) New York Giants - See above, only in reverse. This team is vulnerable and could struggle in the middle of the season.
7) Indianapolis Colts - Two close games, and a possibly contentious loss. The Colts could be (this will sound odd) dark horses in the AFC.
8) Pittsburgh Steelers - A bad loss against the Eagles, and some key injuries. A lot will depend on the health of Ben Roethlisberger.
9) Jacksonville Jaguars - The running game will gain confidence, which is all this team needs to become the contender we thought they could be.
10) Tennessee Titans - The defence is there, it's all about whether the offence can keep them ahead inc lose games. So far, so good.
11) Buffalo Bills - A weak schedule disguises the flaws, but to be fair to the Bills, they are still winning, and that is what counts. St. Louis next up...
12) New Orleans Saints - Frustratingly poor on the road, if they play to their potential they can be playoff-bound, if not, they will likely fall behind the Panthers.
13) Washington Redskins - Inconsistent, but Jim Zorn is a good coach, and there is a gut feeling that momentum could build in the capital.
14) Carolina Panthers - They have a chance. Need the running game back on track though, and will be disappointed to lose to a fellow wild-card prospect in Minnesota last week.
15) Denver Broncos - Will probably contrive to lose at Kansas City, such is their unpredictable nature. Jay Cutler is as good a QB in the league right now, but this team needs to prove it can get it done over time, not just it's first three games.
16) Arizona Cardinals Dizzy heights for the Cards, but a loss in Washington is nothing to panic about. In a weak division, the Cards find themselves playoff bound by default. With the Seahawks on a Bye, this week is a big chance to take a 2 game lead in the NFC West.
The rest:
17) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
18) Baltimore Ravens
19) Cleveland Browns
20) Chicago Bears
21) New York Jets
22) Minnesota Vikings
23) Seattle Seahawks
24) Atlanta Falcons
25) Houston Texans
26) Miami Dolphins
27) Cincinnati Bengals
28) Detroit Lions
29) Oakland Raiders
30) San Francisco 49ers
31) Kansas City Chiefs
32) St. Louis Rams
Thursday 25 September 2008
Saturday 20 September 2008
Fantasy team of the week - Week three
Last week we had mixed success with team of the week. The Raiders D, for example, that we picked in our 'under the radar' section, was the second highest scoring Defensive unit, behind only the Giants. The difference? You can pick the Oakland D up on waivers in most leagues.
On the other hand, we got Greg Olsen and Joey Galloway wrong. Olsen - much to our embarrassment - fumbled twice, thus rendering him with negative points in many leagues. Similarly, Galloway was innefective and will not even play this week because of the injury sustained in week two.
So, moving onto this weekend, we'll give you two options at each position:
QB1: Aaron Rodgers, GBP vs DAL
QB2: Carson Palmer, CIN @ NYG
RB1: Frank Gore, SFO vs DET
RB2: Clinton Portis, WAS vs ARI
WR1: Steve Smith, CAR @ MIN
WR2: Calvin Johnson, DET @ SFO
TE1: Tony Gonzalez, KCC @ ATL
TE2: Kellen Winslow, CLE @ BAL
K1: Jason Elam, ATL vs KCC
K2: Joe Nedney, SFO vs DET
DEF1: Chicago, vs TBB
DEF2: New York Jets @ SDC
On the other hand, we got Greg Olsen and Joey Galloway wrong. Olsen - much to our embarrassment - fumbled twice, thus rendering him with negative points in many leagues. Similarly, Galloway was innefective and will not even play this week because of the injury sustained in week two.
So, moving onto this weekend, we'll give you two options at each position:
QB1: Aaron Rodgers, GBP vs DAL
QB2: Carson Palmer, CIN @ NYG
RB1: Frank Gore, SFO vs DET
RB2: Clinton Portis, WAS vs ARI
WR1: Steve Smith, CAR @ MIN
WR2: Calvin Johnson, DET @ SFO
TE1: Tony Gonzalez, KCC @ ATL
TE2: Kellen Winslow, CLE @ BAL
K1: Jason Elam, ATL vs KCC
K2: Joe Nedney, SFO vs DET
DEF1: Chicago, vs TBB
DEF2: New York Jets @ SDC
Week Three Predictions
Apologies for the lack of a power rankings this weekend. We could easily knock them up quickly, but it's not fair to you lot if we don't put as much thought into them as we usually do. The good news is that next week is our own 'bye week', and therefore there'll be more midweek content than usual.
Today though, we're concentrating on predictions. Last weekend we were 11 of 15, and could have been even better had the Seahawks not lost in Overtime to San Francisco, and Ed Hochuli had his glasses on.
Anyway, here's our calls this week:
Kansas City @ Atlanta
As we said last week, the Falcons are some way from being consistently as good as their week one performance showed. On the other hand, the Chiefs look like a team struggling to gel, and last weekend's outburst from Larry Johnson - arguably the team's best offensive weapon - was indicative of the battle that Herm Edwards faces keeping veterans happy in a youthful team. Atlanta at least have that unity, and should take advantage on the ground. Are people now firmly aboard our 'Jerious Norwood Bandwagon'? They should be.
Oakland @ Buffalo
Let's not get carried away - the Bills are not contenders just yet. Two wins against teams that were heavily tipped in preseason (Seattle and Jacksonville) have flattered the Bills somewhat, but that is not to say they are a bad team. You can only beat the team that comes and plays on a Sunday, and that has left the Bills with a great stretch of winnable games, with Oakland, St, Louis, and Arizona next up before the Bye week. Oakland's ground game took a hit when Justin Fargas was lost for this game at least, and it's hard to imagine JaMarcus Russell tearing apart a relatively strong Bills Defence after his abysmal effort last week against a lacklustre Chiefs D.
Tampa Bay @ Chicago
Tipping the Bears for the first time this season has made us think about how good they really are. Are they who we thought they were? No, so we'll let them off the hook. We could do that joke every week.
In all seriousness, a beat-up Bucs team will struggle against a Defence that just oozes 'playmaker' from every pore. If it's Defensive plays you're looking for, then watch the Bears any week, as they are guaranteed to score in a relatively humorous manner. The X-factor here could be Bucs QB Brian Griese, who spent the last two years in Chicago and knows the Defence inside out.
Carolina @ Minnesota
The news that Adrian Peterson could be out on Sunday had no real bearing on this pick. The Panthers have started strongly and are playoff contenders, and that was without Steve Smith. Smith is a clutch player who regularly comes up trumps when the expectation level is high - as it is tomorrow. The Vikings will have Gus Frerrote under centre. That is all that you need to know about how much trouble this team is in.
Miami @ New England
Look, the Pats will probably win this, but get on the Dolphins to beat the spread! We got +12.5, and thinking about it, that's a bargain. Miami are nowhere near as bad as that makes out, and this could even be a relatively close game if the Pats start slowly. Dare we say the 'fins could win? Yeah, we do. This is no gimme by any stretch of the imagination, and it's only the strong Patriots defence that stops us taking Miami.
Yeah, we said that.
Cincinnati @ New York Giants
Like Miami, Cincinnati could beat the spread, but realistically, the Giants should get another win on Sunday. We've asked it before, but is Marvin Lewis serious putting that defence on the field every week? Perhaps the team would stand a better chance if he replaced the Cornerbacks and Safeties with Traffic Cones, and the D-line with some sandbags. Whatever happens, they'll struggle to tackle Brandon Jacobs, who will relish the prospect of taking on such a poor linebacking corps. It's a great pity that Carson Palmer is tied to this team, as talent-wise, he is in the upper echelon of passers in the league. Sadly, he might be remembered as the guy who had just one winning season in his career with the team.
Houston @ Tennessee
Really? Ok, we like Tennessee, but we REALLY like Houston. People can say that the team struggled in week one against Pittsburgh, but plenty of teams will do that. One thing that makes us doubt Tennessee is that Kerry Collins is not a starting Quarterback in this league anymore. That has been proved over time, and he has only ever shown flashes of his talent when called upon recently. Pressure from a strong Houston defensive line could expose him after what amounted to a flag-football contest against the Bengals last week.
Arizona @ Washington
This is a difficult matchup to predict. The Cards have started well, but against weak opposition. The 'skins have been patchy, but managed a good win against a strong team last week against the Saints. What does it mean? Probably a high scoring affair that one team will just edge. We'll plump for the home team and Jason Campbell, though Kurt Warner's early form is something to behold. The Matt Leinart era is a speck on the horizon as things stand. of course, Warner is one of those 'things' and he is not renowned for his ability to 'stand' for a 16 game season.
Do you see what we did?
New Orleans @ Denver
We were wrong about the Broncos. Nothing makes a team more likable than gutsy, maverick calls in the final seconds of a game. Going for two points last week against the Chargers exposed not just Shanahan's confidence in his players, but their confidence in themselves. Jay Cutler looked like a man who genuinely wanted the chance to win, not someone who was afraid of losing.
Unfortunately, we'll stick with the Saints, who - despite looking patchy this season - have a player who Cutler aspires to be, in Drew Brees. A big question mark for this offence is the loss of Marques Colston, but somehow this team always manages to find a big play from one of the other receivers in what is an underrated group.
St. Louis @ Seattle
This is a horror show. The Rams are far and away the worst team in the NFL, but the Seahawks have struggled to score points without their three top receivers. Can the Rams get going? Unlikely against a strong D in Seattle, and they will not relish this game after an opening to the season that sees Scott Linehan treading on thin ice. It would be no surprise to see him axed after this game. One potential situation we would love to see? Ex-Seattle Kicker Josh Brown faced with the game winner in OT. Unless the score is 0-0, that is unlikely.
Detroit @ San Francisco
This could be a shootout. Mike Martz's new offence against the team that he galvanised offensively in the previous two seasons. The 49ers have the stronger Defence, but the Lions can lay claim to having one of the best passing games in the league. It's really a question of which team cracks first. Two things we'd say are certainties are that Frank Gore should make mincemeat of the Lions Defence, and that Calvin Johnson will dominate the 49ers secondary.
Cleveland @ Baltimore
A divisional matchup that is tricky to call after the Ravens missed a week following Hurricane Ike. Joe Flacco showed promise in week one, but then so did Matt Ryan, and look how that turned out for Atlanta in his second game. Altogether, a lot of people are quick to forget that this is essentially a 'strength vs strength' matchup, as the Cleveland Offensive steam train crashes into the buffers of a Baltimore defence that proves itself week in-week out as one of the truly great units of the modern era. Did we mention we're still picking the Browns?
Jacksonville @ Indianapolis
Nightmare pick. Neither team has looked strong, but the Colts edged a tight game last week, something that they needed to get truly back into the swing of things. The Jags are horrendous without their offensive line, and again, it's hard to see where the yards will come from on the ground. That same thing could be said for either team, but the Colts have an air attack that should be rejuvenated with TE Dallas Clark back in the lineup.
Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia
All aboard the Steelers bandwagon. I'll be honest, and say from a personal perspective, the Steelers have always been one of the teams that annoyed me. God knows what it was - probably Bill Cowher - but they were one of the teams it was always hard to like unless you were a fully paid-up terrible towel-wielding lunatic. Ben Roethisberger is an underrated player though, probably the third best Quarterback to play since the turn of the millennium. His ability to keep a seemingly dead play alive could hurt the Eagles.
To be fair to Philly, they have tried to veer away from shouldering Brian Westbrook with their entire offensive load, and it has shown in the emergence of DeSean Jackson as a major weapon. This is one of the best matchups in week three, and we expect a tight, low scoring engagement.
Dallas @ Green Bay
If we'd have completed our Power Rankings this week, the Packers would have jumped to number one, even with the Cowboys winning a difficult game against the Eagles last Monday. Put simply, the Packers have a team that is dangerous in all three phases of the game, and Aaron Rodgers proved that he has the physical and psychological toughness to pull a result out, even when momentum seems to be with his opponents. Not only that, but when the team needed a defensive stand, the team responded.
This week is a big early test of the Superbowl credentials of these two teams. Don't bet against this being the NFC conference finals matchup either, as both teams have a great chance to secure home field advantage in January. This week, we prefer the hot hand of Rodgers, but it'll be close.
New York Jets @ San Diego
Will L.T. play? It's certainly not looking good if you go by the noises coming from the Chargers camp, and even if he did play, will we see a replay of last week, when he was forced to leave the game early? As we write, he is pencilled in to start week three, but it would be a surprise if he was as effective as the L.T. we have known in recent years. All of this gives the Jets a huge psychological boost heading into Monday Night, and at the very least, if you're a betting man, get on them now to beat the 8.5pt spread. Like the Bills, the Jets have flattered to deceive lately, but that should not detract from the improvements made in the offseason. Brett Favre is a game winner, and has the balls to win any game he plays in.
Today though, we're concentrating on predictions. Last weekend we were 11 of 15, and could have been even better had the Seahawks not lost in Overtime to San Francisco, and Ed Hochuli had his glasses on.
Anyway, here's our calls this week:
Kansas City @ Atlanta
As we said last week, the Falcons are some way from being consistently as good as their week one performance showed. On the other hand, the Chiefs look like a team struggling to gel, and last weekend's outburst from Larry Johnson - arguably the team's best offensive weapon - was indicative of the battle that Herm Edwards faces keeping veterans happy in a youthful team. Atlanta at least have that unity, and should take advantage on the ground. Are people now firmly aboard our 'Jerious Norwood Bandwagon'? They should be.
Oakland @ Buffalo
Let's not get carried away - the Bills are not contenders just yet. Two wins against teams that were heavily tipped in preseason (Seattle and Jacksonville) have flattered the Bills somewhat, but that is not to say they are a bad team. You can only beat the team that comes and plays on a Sunday, and that has left the Bills with a great stretch of winnable games, with Oakland, St, Louis, and Arizona next up before the Bye week. Oakland's ground game took a hit when Justin Fargas was lost for this game at least, and it's hard to imagine JaMarcus Russell tearing apart a relatively strong Bills Defence after his abysmal effort last week against a lacklustre Chiefs D.
Tampa Bay @ Chicago
Tipping the Bears for the first time this season has made us think about how good they really are. Are they who we thought they were? No, so we'll let them off the hook. We could do that joke every week.
In all seriousness, a beat-up Bucs team will struggle against a Defence that just oozes 'playmaker' from every pore. If it's Defensive plays you're looking for, then watch the Bears any week, as they are guaranteed to score in a relatively humorous manner. The X-factor here could be Bucs QB Brian Griese, who spent the last two years in Chicago and knows the Defence inside out.
Carolina @ Minnesota
The news that Adrian Peterson could be out on Sunday had no real bearing on this pick. The Panthers have started strongly and are playoff contenders, and that was without Steve Smith. Smith is a clutch player who regularly comes up trumps when the expectation level is high - as it is tomorrow. The Vikings will have Gus Frerrote under centre. That is all that you need to know about how much trouble this team is in.
Miami @ New England
Look, the Pats will probably win this, but get on the Dolphins to beat the spread! We got +12.5, and thinking about it, that's a bargain. Miami are nowhere near as bad as that makes out, and this could even be a relatively close game if the Pats start slowly. Dare we say the 'fins could win? Yeah, we do. This is no gimme by any stretch of the imagination, and it's only the strong Patriots defence that stops us taking Miami.
Yeah, we said that.
Cincinnati @ New York Giants
Like Miami, Cincinnati could beat the spread, but realistically, the Giants should get another win on Sunday. We've asked it before, but is Marvin Lewis serious putting that defence on the field every week? Perhaps the team would stand a better chance if he replaced the Cornerbacks and Safeties with Traffic Cones, and the D-line with some sandbags. Whatever happens, they'll struggle to tackle Brandon Jacobs, who will relish the prospect of taking on such a poor linebacking corps. It's a great pity that Carson Palmer is tied to this team, as talent-wise, he is in the upper echelon of passers in the league. Sadly, he might be remembered as the guy who had just one winning season in his career with the team.
Houston @ Tennessee
Really? Ok, we like Tennessee, but we REALLY like Houston. People can say that the team struggled in week one against Pittsburgh, but plenty of teams will do that. One thing that makes us doubt Tennessee is that Kerry Collins is not a starting Quarterback in this league anymore. That has been proved over time, and he has only ever shown flashes of his talent when called upon recently. Pressure from a strong Houston defensive line could expose him after what amounted to a flag-football contest against the Bengals last week.
Arizona @ Washington
This is a difficult matchup to predict. The Cards have started well, but against weak opposition. The 'skins have been patchy, but managed a good win against a strong team last week against the Saints. What does it mean? Probably a high scoring affair that one team will just edge. We'll plump for the home team and Jason Campbell, though Kurt Warner's early form is something to behold. The Matt Leinart era is a speck on the horizon as things stand. of course, Warner is one of those 'things' and he is not renowned for his ability to 'stand' for a 16 game season.
Do you see what we did?
New Orleans @ Denver
We were wrong about the Broncos. Nothing makes a team more likable than gutsy, maverick calls in the final seconds of a game. Going for two points last week against the Chargers exposed not just Shanahan's confidence in his players, but their confidence in themselves. Jay Cutler looked like a man who genuinely wanted the chance to win, not someone who was afraid of losing.
Unfortunately, we'll stick with the Saints, who - despite looking patchy this season - have a player who Cutler aspires to be, in Drew Brees. A big question mark for this offence is the loss of Marques Colston, but somehow this team always manages to find a big play from one of the other receivers in what is an underrated group.
St. Louis @ Seattle
This is a horror show. The Rams are far and away the worst team in the NFL, but the Seahawks have struggled to score points without their three top receivers. Can the Rams get going? Unlikely against a strong D in Seattle, and they will not relish this game after an opening to the season that sees Scott Linehan treading on thin ice. It would be no surprise to see him axed after this game. One potential situation we would love to see? Ex-Seattle Kicker Josh Brown faced with the game winner in OT. Unless the score is 0-0, that is unlikely.
Detroit @ San Francisco
This could be a shootout. Mike Martz's new offence against the team that he galvanised offensively in the previous two seasons. The 49ers have the stronger Defence, but the Lions can lay claim to having one of the best passing games in the league. It's really a question of which team cracks first. Two things we'd say are certainties are that Frank Gore should make mincemeat of the Lions Defence, and that Calvin Johnson will dominate the 49ers secondary.
Cleveland @ Baltimore
A divisional matchup that is tricky to call after the Ravens missed a week following Hurricane Ike. Joe Flacco showed promise in week one, but then so did Matt Ryan, and look how that turned out for Atlanta in his second game. Altogether, a lot of people are quick to forget that this is essentially a 'strength vs strength' matchup, as the Cleveland Offensive steam train crashes into the buffers of a Baltimore defence that proves itself week in-week out as one of the truly great units of the modern era. Did we mention we're still picking the Browns?
Jacksonville @ Indianapolis
Nightmare pick. Neither team has looked strong, but the Colts edged a tight game last week, something that they needed to get truly back into the swing of things. The Jags are horrendous without their offensive line, and again, it's hard to see where the yards will come from on the ground. That same thing could be said for either team, but the Colts have an air attack that should be rejuvenated with TE Dallas Clark back in the lineup.
Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia
All aboard the Steelers bandwagon. I'll be honest, and say from a personal perspective, the Steelers have always been one of the teams that annoyed me. God knows what it was - probably Bill Cowher - but they were one of the teams it was always hard to like unless you were a fully paid-up terrible towel-wielding lunatic. Ben Roethisberger is an underrated player though, probably the third best Quarterback to play since the turn of the millennium. His ability to keep a seemingly dead play alive could hurt the Eagles.
To be fair to Philly, they have tried to veer away from shouldering Brian Westbrook with their entire offensive load, and it has shown in the emergence of DeSean Jackson as a major weapon. This is one of the best matchups in week three, and we expect a tight, low scoring engagement.
Dallas @ Green Bay
If we'd have completed our Power Rankings this week, the Packers would have jumped to number one, even with the Cowboys winning a difficult game against the Eagles last Monday. Put simply, the Packers have a team that is dangerous in all three phases of the game, and Aaron Rodgers proved that he has the physical and psychological toughness to pull a result out, even when momentum seems to be with his opponents. Not only that, but when the team needed a defensive stand, the team responded.
This week is a big early test of the Superbowl credentials of these two teams. Don't bet against this being the NFC conference finals matchup either, as both teams have a great chance to secure home field advantage in January. This week, we prefer the hot hand of Rodgers, but it'll be close.
New York Jets @ San Diego
Will L.T. play? It's certainly not looking good if you go by the noises coming from the Chargers camp, and even if he did play, will we see a replay of last week, when he was forced to leave the game early? As we write, he is pencilled in to start week three, but it would be a surprise if he was as effective as the L.T. we have known in recent years. All of this gives the Jets a huge psychological boost heading into Monday Night, and at the very least, if you're a betting man, get on them now to beat the 8.5pt spread. Like the Bills, the Jets have flattered to deceive lately, but that should not detract from the improvements made in the offseason. Brett Favre is a game winner, and has the balls to win any game he plays in.
Sunday 14 September 2008
Wide-Right Fantasy Team Of The Week.
QB: Ben Roethisberger
RB1: LaDainian Tomlinson
RB2: Brandon Jacobs
WR1: Hines Ward
WR2: Donald Driver
WR3: Joey Galloway
Flex: Adrian Peterson
TE: Greg Olsen
DEF: Seattle
Under the radar picks:
David Martin (TE, MIA)
Vincent jackson (WR, SDC)
Kerry Collins (QB, TEN)
Dwayne Jarrett (WR, CAR)
Oakland Defence
RB1: LaDainian Tomlinson
RB2: Brandon Jacobs
WR1: Hines Ward
WR2: Donald Driver
WR3: Joey Galloway
Flex: Adrian Peterson
TE: Greg Olsen
DEF: Seattle
Under the radar picks:
David Martin (TE, MIA)
Vincent jackson (WR, SDC)
Kerry Collins (QB, TEN)
Dwayne Jarrett (WR, CAR)
Oakland Defence
2008 Week Two Preview
Tennessee at Cincinnati
Titans too strong, even without Young. Bengals D is a travesty. Could all be very different if the Cinci passing attack gets going, as the Titans lack the playmakers to chase a game.
Green Bay at Detroit
Even though Detroit are better than their loss last week to Atlanta, they are no match for a Packers team that has not missed a beat since Aaron Rodgers took over.
Oakland at Kansas City
A strong rushing attack is Herm Edwards' worst nightmare. Fortunately, that uis all Oakland has. It should still be too strong for the Chiefs, but we like them a lot better with Damon huard under centre.
NY Giants at St. Louis
The Rams are one of the few teams that have little home advantage, and facing a strong road team in the Giants is not their ideal start to the season.
Indianapolis at Minnesota
Both teams struggled in week one, but the Colts have a strong passing game that can take advantage of the 32nd ranked team against the pass last season. Dallas Clark's loss is a blow, but expect the team to utilise 3 WR sets, as Jacob Tamme - Clark's understudy - is also out.
New Orleans at Washington
The Saints march on Washington with a big advantage in confidence. Both teams faced tough divisional matchups in week one, but the big difference was that the Saints managed to find a groove, whereas the 'skins didn't trouble the Giants one bit. It will be interesting to see Reggie Bush try to build on a strong opening week.
Chicago at Carolina
Both teams upset strong AFC challengers on the road in week one, but the Panthers hold a big edge offensively. Jake Delhomme looked sharper than we gave him credit for, and whilst Kyle Orton is certainly not as bad as people make out, he is not the kind of guy that can break down Defences if the team falls behind.
Buffalo at Jacksonville
Upset? Perhaps not. the Jags O-line could struggle mightily against a player - in Marcus Stroud - who knows their weaknesses. Coupled with a strong offensive showing in week one, and it could be another long day for Jags fans.
San Francisco at Seattle
The Seahawks still look far better than the 49ers despite last week's loss to the Bills, and the 49ers stumbling offence should struggle against what we still consider to be the best Defence in the league. Yes, even after last week.
Atlanta at Tampa Bay
Let's not get carried away - the Falcons are about as good as we thought. They have the chance to win a few games like last week's game against Detroit, but they are still a long way from the finished article. The Bucs could struggle on offence with Brian Griese under centre, but overall, they should do a far better job of stopping the run than Detroit. One interesting side-story: Warrick Dunn's return to Atlanta.
New England at NY Jets
Contentious? You bet. The Jets could argue they have a stronger team right now, and we may agree. On the other hand, the nucleus of the great New England dynasty runs through the heart of this team, and Matt Cassel could surprise a few people - despite not starting a game since High School.
Miami at Arizona
To some this will look like an upset, but after seeing the Dolphins last week, they are one or two big performances at key positions away from winning games. Chad Pennington has revitalised the passing game, and if the Defence gets the hang of Boldin and Fitzgerald (no mean feat), then we think the Dolphins will have the edge.
San Diego at Denver
People are jumping on the Broncos bandwagon, but as we said last week, Jay Cutler is not the issue, the issue is whether the team can stop strong, balanced teams such as the Chargers. LaDainian Tomlinson's status is probable, but he will be good to go. Barring a miracle, the Chargers should slice through the Broncos front seven.
Pittsburgh at Cleveland
Two great games to finish the weekend, and the first is by far the closest. Cleveland are still contenders in the AFC North, but teh STeelers set out their stall last week as one of the strongest teams in the NFL. Can the Browns stop them? Yes. Of that there is no doubt, but they need to get Braylon Edwards involved very early for a shot. last week we said the same thing - they didn't. The result was a heavy defeat to the Cowboys, something that they will hopefully learn from.
Philadelphia at Dallas
Both teams were impressive last week, but the class of opposition was completely different. We don't think the Eagles are bad - far from it - but we do believe they are still slightly behind the Giants in the race for second in the NFC East. Neither team is particularly strong at Receiver, but we like what we've seen of Felix Jones, who should be a big play threat whenever he touches the ball.
Titans too strong, even without Young. Bengals D is a travesty. Could all be very different if the Cinci passing attack gets going, as the Titans lack the playmakers to chase a game.
Green Bay at Detroit
Even though Detroit are better than their loss last week to Atlanta, they are no match for a Packers team that has not missed a beat since Aaron Rodgers took over.
Oakland at Kansas City
A strong rushing attack is Herm Edwards' worst nightmare. Fortunately, that uis all Oakland has. It should still be too strong for the Chiefs, but we like them a lot better with Damon huard under centre.
NY Giants at St. Louis
The Rams are one of the few teams that have little home advantage, and facing a strong road team in the Giants is not their ideal start to the season.
Indianapolis at Minnesota
Both teams struggled in week one, but the Colts have a strong passing game that can take advantage of the 32nd ranked team against the pass last season. Dallas Clark's loss is a blow, but expect the team to utilise 3 WR sets, as Jacob Tamme - Clark's understudy - is also out.
New Orleans at Washington
The Saints march on Washington with a big advantage in confidence. Both teams faced tough divisional matchups in week one, but the big difference was that the Saints managed to find a groove, whereas the 'skins didn't trouble the Giants one bit. It will be interesting to see Reggie Bush try to build on a strong opening week.
Chicago at Carolina
Both teams upset strong AFC challengers on the road in week one, but the Panthers hold a big edge offensively. Jake Delhomme looked sharper than we gave him credit for, and whilst Kyle Orton is certainly not as bad as people make out, he is not the kind of guy that can break down Defences if the team falls behind.
Buffalo at Jacksonville
Upset? Perhaps not. the Jags O-line could struggle mightily against a player - in Marcus Stroud - who knows their weaknesses. Coupled with a strong offensive showing in week one, and it could be another long day for Jags fans.
San Francisco at Seattle
The Seahawks still look far better than the 49ers despite last week's loss to the Bills, and the 49ers stumbling offence should struggle against what we still consider to be the best Defence in the league. Yes, even after last week.
Atlanta at Tampa Bay
Let's not get carried away - the Falcons are about as good as we thought. They have the chance to win a few games like last week's game against Detroit, but they are still a long way from the finished article. The Bucs could struggle on offence with Brian Griese under centre, but overall, they should do a far better job of stopping the run than Detroit. One interesting side-story: Warrick Dunn's return to Atlanta.
New England at NY Jets
Contentious? You bet. The Jets could argue they have a stronger team right now, and we may agree. On the other hand, the nucleus of the great New England dynasty runs through the heart of this team, and Matt Cassel could surprise a few people - despite not starting a game since High School.
Miami at Arizona
To some this will look like an upset, but after seeing the Dolphins last week, they are one or two big performances at key positions away from winning games. Chad Pennington has revitalised the passing game, and if the Defence gets the hang of Boldin and Fitzgerald (no mean feat), then we think the Dolphins will have the edge.
San Diego at Denver
People are jumping on the Broncos bandwagon, but as we said last week, Jay Cutler is not the issue, the issue is whether the team can stop strong, balanced teams such as the Chargers. LaDainian Tomlinson's status is probable, but he will be good to go. Barring a miracle, the Chargers should slice through the Broncos front seven.
Pittsburgh at Cleveland
Two great games to finish the weekend, and the first is by far the closest. Cleveland are still contenders in the AFC North, but teh STeelers set out their stall last week as one of the strongest teams in the NFL. Can the Browns stop them? Yes. Of that there is no doubt, but they need to get Braylon Edwards involved very early for a shot. last week we said the same thing - they didn't. The result was a heavy defeat to the Cowboys, something that they will hopefully learn from.
Philadelphia at Dallas
Both teams were impressive last week, but the class of opposition was completely different. We don't think the Eagles are bad - far from it - but we do believe they are still slightly behind the Giants in the race for second in the NFC East. Neither team is particularly strong at Receiver, but we like what we've seen of Felix Jones, who should be a big play threat whenever he touches the ball.
Friday 12 September 2008
Week Two Power Rankings
1: Dallas Cowboys
While looking dominant against Cleveland, the Cowboys will be even happier that they completed victory without any major injury concerns. Felix Jones looked like the player that Dallas fans are hoping for, and as we've said before, this team is one Receiver away from a shot at the Superbowl.
2: New England Patriots
Tom Brady's injury is quite simply a devastating blow fir a team that has thrived on the stability that he has brought to the position over the last 7 years. We still believe the Pats to be better than a one man team - remember that they won 3 superbowls without asking too much of Brady - and the sight of Matt Cassel looking a great deal more comfortable than most would have expected will cheer everyone concerned with the franchise.
3: Pittsburgh Steelers
A Crushing performance against the Texans catapults the Steelers up the rankings. We said last week that the Steelers are dark horses this season, and a convincing victory over the unpredictable Texans seems to back up that theory. The team will lose games, but they have a good mix of playmakers on both sides of the ball. Ben Roethisberger's health is key to any success this team will have.
4: San Diego Chargers
Whilst the loss to Carolina threw up some big question marks about this team, and Shawne Merriman's season ending surgery being announced earlier today, it would be easy to press the panic button in San Diego. What people should not forget is that the Defence is still capable of playing good football without Merriman, and that if it were not for a last minute fairytale ending for Jake Delhomme and the Panthers, the Chargers would probably be considered as favourites to claim New England's AFC crown.
5: Indianapolis Colts
Again, the loss to a mediocre team (Chicago) will have people worried, but remember that if there was one game that the Bears would be up for, it was this one. Peyton Manning's injury is still clearly limiting him, and Dallas Clark's loss for any length of time would be a blow, but the Colts look like they'll get going in the next few weeks.
6: Green Bay Packers
It would take a cold-hearted man to begrudge Aaron Rodgers anything in Green Bay this year, In our opinion he was shoddily treated by the media, and monday night's game could easily be classed as revenge on the hacks that lined up to criticise the team's decision to stick with Rodgers over Brett Favre. We admit we got it wrong, and didn't foresee him lighting up the game numbers-wise. On the other hand, long may he continue to prove the doubters wrong. Oh, and the rest of the team is pretty damn good too - including the best group of receivers in the NFL.
7: New Orleans Saints
Can the team win without Marques Colston? Yes, most likely they can, and their peripheral receivers such as David Patten, Deverey Henderson and Terrance Copper have shown enough ability to suggest that Drew Brees can rely on them during the next month while Colston recuperates. The Saints were marginally better than the Bucs, but in reality this team has another couple of gears to run through.
8: Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jags stay realatively high in the rankings by virtue of their solid overall roster, but there has to be a huge question mark over the team's offensive capabilities after the loss of both starting Guards for the season. If the ground game falters, then so will the Jags, as they proved this week.
9: New York Giants
The Giants fall one place even after winning against the 'skins, but that's mainly as a result of the Packers having a good week than the Giants being poor. No news is good news on the injury front, and getting big games from key players such as Burress and Jacobs in week one should answer a few lingering doubts about the Offence. We still hate the secondary of this team, but for now, they are still a contender in the NFC.
10: Cleveland Browns
We can't read too much into the Brownies stalling against Dallas. They'll be hoping to get Braylon Edwards more involved next week though, especially against their main contenders for the AFC North crown, Pittsburgh. Cleveland need momentum to build sooner rather than later, as the race for an AFC wild card spot could be wide open this season.
11: Houston Texans
Again, no panic for the Texans, who are a better team than their result against Pittsburgh suggests. Matt Schaub had a terrible start to the game, but finished strongly and will take some confidence into the rescheduled MNF game against Baltimore. Importantly, receivers Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter had good games, though the running game is still - after 6 years - not fixed. With Ahman Green likely out Monday, it is Steve Slaton's opportunity to make a statement as the starter in Houston.
12: Philadelphia Eagles
Whilst it's never good when you're agreeing with Pacman, he has a point. The Eagles beat a weak team in the Rams, probably the worst in the entire league, and with their best player lacking practice time. You could argue that a weak receiving lineup was even more depleted for the St. Louis game, but even so, it will be interesting to see how the Eagles fare against top level opposition in Dallas on Monday.
13: Washington Redskins
Next week is crucial for the 'skins. A game against the Saints is rarely easy, but this team faces the prospect of being 0-2 in a strong division. In the NFC East, it's never a good thing to fall away from the playoff contenders, so victory is paramount on Sunday. It's certainly not time to panic though, and if Campbell exploits the Saints leaky secondary, the Redskins should stay in the hunt for a wild card spot.
14: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs are still a force, but the general air of confusion regarding Jeff Garcia's status - he says he's fit enough to play, Jon Gruden is still going with Brian Griese at QB on Sunday - has cast a pall over West Florida. If the Bucs can steady the ship with a win against Atlanta, the team are still there or thereabouts. If not, a freefall could yet again affect the team who won the NFC South the previous year.
15: Buffalo Bills
A great result against the Seahwks sees the Bills leapfrog Seattle in our rankings, but it shouldn't be forgotten that the 'hawks are notoriously poor travellers, and have had particular issues on the east coast. The Bills can build momentum for a playoff run against Jacksonville on Sunday, but again, it's important to stress that finishing second, even to a Brady-less Patriots team, is no disgrace.
16: Seattle Seahawks
Oh the fall. The 'hawks can really not be considered a playoff threat until they sort out their woes on the road. Qwest field is like an extra man, but away from the Pacific time zone, the Seahawks have been abysmal in the last few years. They'll make the playoffs, of course, but only by virtue of sharing a division with St. Louis, San Francisco, and Arizona. Huge questions over the WR situation, with the returns of Deion Branch and Bobby Engram even more critical since news broke of Nate Burleson's season ending injury.
17: New York Jets
Yes, Jets fans can rest easy, they aren't quite ignored. Of course, this weekend is their big moment, as they have easily their best chance to establish themselves ahead of the Patriots in some time. Can they do it? Yes. Will they? It's always going to be a maybe when they play each other. The Jets looked solid in Miami last week, though they may be concerned that the Dolphins effectively had a shot to win heading into the dying seconds. A more ruthless team may not let them off the hook.
18: Tennessee Titans
The Titans win against the Jags may have statistically set them apart from the other three teams in the AFC South, but there are still deeper issues on this team than the result suggests. First of all, the victory came at a cost, as QB Vince Young was lost for a minimum of two weeks - but likely a month. The Defence is as strong as any in the AFC, but offensively, the team relies heavily on a running game that has shown a tendency to falter at crucial points of the last few seasons. LenDale White is the most important part of this offence going forward, and it's likely that the team will roll as he does. Fortunately for them, they travel to Cincinnati this weekend.
19: Arizona Cardinals
Can the Cards topple the Seahawks in the NFC West? Week one saw the Cards look decidedly unconvincing against one of the worst teams in the league. How the team fares against Miami this week will be a better indication of whether they can become what is effectively the winner of a 'best of the worst' contest. On the plus side, Rookie RB Tim Hightower has shown enough that - if he can cut out the fumblitis - he may be the successor to Edgerrin James at tailback.
20: Carolina Panthers
We stayed away from the Cats' game against San Diego last week as far as betting was concerned. In week one, anything can happen, and it was not a huge surprise to see Jake Delhomme come up big in the final quarter. On the other hand, one win doth not a team maketh, and there are still big questions at receiver. We like the Panthers though, and they have an outside shot at a wild card spot as things stand.
21: Minnesota Vikings
We told you. This team is so far from a contender it's not even funny. People have disagreed with us on this one all week, but the fact remains: The Vikes have not addressed crucial positions via the draft or free agency, and whilst they ignore their passing game, will rely primarily on the big play ability of Adrian Peterson to win games. That just won't cut it against many teams in this league. It says more about AP that they are this high in the rankings after a woeful performance - against a team they should really be hoping to beat this season - on Monday night.
22: Detroit Lions
Oh dear. What happened Lions? The Defence collapsed like we said it would, but the offence took two quarters to get warmed up, by which point the game was lost. The passing game was brilliant, but every other phase looked slightly underwhelming. Ernie Sims getting injured for any considerable amount of time would leave this team floundering. Well, floundering even more than they currently are. A game against Green Bay is not what this team needs right now.
23: Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens came good against a week Cincinnati team, but may find the going tougher in Houston this week (Another one for 'sentences you never thought you'd say') as they face a Texans Defence that is composed of, you know... Pro athletes? At the same time, Joe Flacco looked composed at Quarterback, and Willis McGahee will be looking to emulate the Steelers successful run attack if he returns on Monday night.
24: Atlanta Falcons
Are Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood the best RB combination in the league? No, in fact they may not even be the best combination in their division, but we have to say, it's one in the eye for the idiot at ESPN.com who rated the Falcons a lowly 26th best rushing in the league this offseason. With the team heading to Tampa at just the right time, don't be surprised to see the Falcons grow in stature as the season progresses. We've said it before, and we'll say it again. With Matt Ryan at QB, this team has begun it's ascendancy.
25: Miami Dolphins
A loss against the Jets is always difficult for a team in the AFC East, considering the likelihood that the Patriots will continue their monopoly at the top of the division. This year of course, things are different, and really there were as many good points to take from the game as bad. At receiver the team has clear issues, and Ted Ginn needs to become the focal point of this offence quickly. He has the ability, but the team lacks a possession receiver to compliment him in the passing game. Chad Pennington looked rejuvenated too, though frankly even an average Pennington is better than some of the other options available to the team currently.
26: Chicago Bears
A win against the Colts and still just 26th? Look, Peyton Manning - despite anything they say - was clearly hampered by injury. He struggled on counter plays to actually get the ball into his tailback's hands, which is never a good sign. Tom Moore's shortened Offesive gameplan did not help, and played into an aggressive Defence's hands. Where the Bears may come unstuck is against teams that are willing to attack them and take a risk. Offensively, Matt Forte showed a great deal of promise, and every carry helps to erase the memories of the Cedric Benson experiment.
27: Denver Broncos
We took flak for this on various forums and messageboards, and we'll admit now: The Broncos are NOT who we thought they were! And we let them off the hook! Not really. We still think that eventually, the Defence will be the downfall of this team. It was nice to see Jay Cutler have one of those breakout games though, something he thoroughly deserves. Interestingly, though people criticise Mike Shanahan's admittedly hit and miss drafting record, Eddie Royal showed why he can still pick up the odd gem in later rounds. If Royal emerges to compliment 4th round pick in 2006 Brandon Marshall, Shanahan may have a better defence for his record. Certainly he'll have a better defence than he currently has on the football field...
28: Oakland Raiders
This is why the Vikings are not a contender yet. Young, unproven QB? Check. Overpriced and innefective Wide Receivers? Check. Strong Defence that still struggles against the pass? Check. Completely one-dimensional on Offence?... you get the picture. The Raiders will be particularly embarrassed by DeAngelo Hall's failings at Corner. He was targetted by the Broncos all night on Monday, something that could worry the team that paid big money to play 'the other guy' to Nnamdi Asomugha. Luckily for the Raiders, the team has an excellent chance to redeem itself against the Chiefs this week.
29: Cincinnati Bengals
The biggest losers from this week are the Bungles. Losing to the Ravens is not a good sign, but the manner of their capitulation was disturbing. 154 total yards is not enough for a team as weak on Defence as the Bengals, and Chris Perry's days as a starting RB look numbered, as he continually fails to live up to his draft stock, and this weekend against Tennessee will likely not be pretty for anyone involved with Cincinnati.
30: Kansas City Chiefs
Encouragingly, the Chiefs had a shot to tie the game up in New England in week one, and never looked completely outclassed by what was still a strong team without Tom Brady. The injury to Brodie Croyle could be a blessing in disguise, as this team needs the veteran leadership of Damon Huard to avoid becoming the league's whipping boys. Oakland are next up, and if the team has any aspiration of surprising us, they'll at least need to put up a strong showing in this one.
31: San Francisco 49ers
J.T. O'Sullivan: Not the worst passer in the league, but losing fumbles and interceptions is a fast track to the bench, even if your main competition (Alex Smith) is out for the season with a shoulder injury. One bright spot was Justin Smith, who looks to be another good addition to an already decent Defence. The team frustrates observers, with talented players such as Frank Gore and Vernon Davis, but in reality, until this team has a game-breaking receiver, the 49ers will remain firmly towards the bottom of the league.
32: St. Louis Rams
Fortunately for the 49ers, they aren't even the worst team in their division, let alone the NFL. That honour goes to a team that took until the 4th quarter to register it's only points of week one - a field goal with 9mins left. The most impressive player on the team was punter Donnie Jones, who can be proud of his 48.5yd average over 10 (TEN!) punts. As we predicted, Steven Jackson is not ready to play right now. Unfortunately for the Rams, their options at tailback are so weak that he has no choice but to regain his form 'on the job' so to speak.
Frankly, the Rams are the worst team in the league by a mile, and Scott Linehan will be out of a job at the end of the season unless he can pull off a miracle.
While looking dominant against Cleveland, the Cowboys will be even happier that they completed victory without any major injury concerns. Felix Jones looked like the player that Dallas fans are hoping for, and as we've said before, this team is one Receiver away from a shot at the Superbowl.
2: New England Patriots
Tom Brady's injury is quite simply a devastating blow fir a team that has thrived on the stability that he has brought to the position over the last 7 years. We still believe the Pats to be better than a one man team - remember that they won 3 superbowls without asking too much of Brady - and the sight of Matt Cassel looking a great deal more comfortable than most would have expected will cheer everyone concerned with the franchise.
3: Pittsburgh Steelers
A Crushing performance against the Texans catapults the Steelers up the rankings. We said last week that the Steelers are dark horses this season, and a convincing victory over the unpredictable Texans seems to back up that theory. The team will lose games, but they have a good mix of playmakers on both sides of the ball. Ben Roethisberger's health is key to any success this team will have.
4: San Diego Chargers
Whilst the loss to Carolina threw up some big question marks about this team, and Shawne Merriman's season ending surgery being announced earlier today, it would be easy to press the panic button in San Diego. What people should not forget is that the Defence is still capable of playing good football without Merriman, and that if it were not for a last minute fairytale ending for Jake Delhomme and the Panthers, the Chargers would probably be considered as favourites to claim New England's AFC crown.
5: Indianapolis Colts
Again, the loss to a mediocre team (Chicago) will have people worried, but remember that if there was one game that the Bears would be up for, it was this one. Peyton Manning's injury is still clearly limiting him, and Dallas Clark's loss for any length of time would be a blow, but the Colts look like they'll get going in the next few weeks.
6: Green Bay Packers
It would take a cold-hearted man to begrudge Aaron Rodgers anything in Green Bay this year, In our opinion he was shoddily treated by the media, and monday night's game could easily be classed as revenge on the hacks that lined up to criticise the team's decision to stick with Rodgers over Brett Favre. We admit we got it wrong, and didn't foresee him lighting up the game numbers-wise. On the other hand, long may he continue to prove the doubters wrong. Oh, and the rest of the team is pretty damn good too - including the best group of receivers in the NFL.
7: New Orleans Saints
Can the team win without Marques Colston? Yes, most likely they can, and their peripheral receivers such as David Patten, Deverey Henderson and Terrance Copper have shown enough ability to suggest that Drew Brees can rely on them during the next month while Colston recuperates. The Saints were marginally better than the Bucs, but in reality this team has another couple of gears to run through.
8: Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jags stay realatively high in the rankings by virtue of their solid overall roster, but there has to be a huge question mark over the team's offensive capabilities after the loss of both starting Guards for the season. If the ground game falters, then so will the Jags, as they proved this week.
9: New York Giants
The Giants fall one place even after winning against the 'skins, but that's mainly as a result of the Packers having a good week than the Giants being poor. No news is good news on the injury front, and getting big games from key players such as Burress and Jacobs in week one should answer a few lingering doubts about the Offence. We still hate the secondary of this team, but for now, they are still a contender in the NFC.
10: Cleveland Browns
We can't read too much into the Brownies stalling against Dallas. They'll be hoping to get Braylon Edwards more involved next week though, especially against their main contenders for the AFC North crown, Pittsburgh. Cleveland need momentum to build sooner rather than later, as the race for an AFC wild card spot could be wide open this season.
11: Houston Texans
Again, no panic for the Texans, who are a better team than their result against Pittsburgh suggests. Matt Schaub had a terrible start to the game, but finished strongly and will take some confidence into the rescheduled MNF game against Baltimore. Importantly, receivers Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter had good games, though the running game is still - after 6 years - not fixed. With Ahman Green likely out Monday, it is Steve Slaton's opportunity to make a statement as the starter in Houston.
12: Philadelphia Eagles
Whilst it's never good when you're agreeing with Pacman, he has a point. The Eagles beat a weak team in the Rams, probably the worst in the entire league, and with their best player lacking practice time. You could argue that a weak receiving lineup was even more depleted for the St. Louis game, but even so, it will be interesting to see how the Eagles fare against top level opposition in Dallas on Monday.
13: Washington Redskins
Next week is crucial for the 'skins. A game against the Saints is rarely easy, but this team faces the prospect of being 0-2 in a strong division. In the NFC East, it's never a good thing to fall away from the playoff contenders, so victory is paramount on Sunday. It's certainly not time to panic though, and if Campbell exploits the Saints leaky secondary, the Redskins should stay in the hunt for a wild card spot.
14: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs are still a force, but the general air of confusion regarding Jeff Garcia's status - he says he's fit enough to play, Jon Gruden is still going with Brian Griese at QB on Sunday - has cast a pall over West Florida. If the Bucs can steady the ship with a win against Atlanta, the team are still there or thereabouts. If not, a freefall could yet again affect the team who won the NFC South the previous year.
15: Buffalo Bills
A great result against the Seahwks sees the Bills leapfrog Seattle in our rankings, but it shouldn't be forgotten that the 'hawks are notoriously poor travellers, and have had particular issues on the east coast. The Bills can build momentum for a playoff run against Jacksonville on Sunday, but again, it's important to stress that finishing second, even to a Brady-less Patriots team, is no disgrace.
16: Seattle Seahawks
Oh the fall. The 'hawks can really not be considered a playoff threat until they sort out their woes on the road. Qwest field is like an extra man, but away from the Pacific time zone, the Seahawks have been abysmal in the last few years. They'll make the playoffs, of course, but only by virtue of sharing a division with St. Louis, San Francisco, and Arizona. Huge questions over the WR situation, with the returns of Deion Branch and Bobby Engram even more critical since news broke of Nate Burleson's season ending injury.
17: New York Jets
Yes, Jets fans can rest easy, they aren't quite ignored. Of course, this weekend is their big moment, as they have easily their best chance to establish themselves ahead of the Patriots in some time. Can they do it? Yes. Will they? It's always going to be a maybe when they play each other. The Jets looked solid in Miami last week, though they may be concerned that the Dolphins effectively had a shot to win heading into the dying seconds. A more ruthless team may not let them off the hook.
18: Tennessee Titans
The Titans win against the Jags may have statistically set them apart from the other three teams in the AFC South, but there are still deeper issues on this team than the result suggests. First of all, the victory came at a cost, as QB Vince Young was lost for a minimum of two weeks - but likely a month. The Defence is as strong as any in the AFC, but offensively, the team relies heavily on a running game that has shown a tendency to falter at crucial points of the last few seasons. LenDale White is the most important part of this offence going forward, and it's likely that the team will roll as he does. Fortunately for them, they travel to Cincinnati this weekend.
19: Arizona Cardinals
Can the Cards topple the Seahawks in the NFC West? Week one saw the Cards look decidedly unconvincing against one of the worst teams in the league. How the team fares against Miami this week will be a better indication of whether they can become what is effectively the winner of a 'best of the worst' contest. On the plus side, Rookie RB Tim Hightower has shown enough that - if he can cut out the fumblitis - he may be the successor to Edgerrin James at tailback.
20: Carolina Panthers
We stayed away from the Cats' game against San Diego last week as far as betting was concerned. In week one, anything can happen, and it was not a huge surprise to see Jake Delhomme come up big in the final quarter. On the other hand, one win doth not a team maketh, and there are still big questions at receiver. We like the Panthers though, and they have an outside shot at a wild card spot as things stand.
21: Minnesota Vikings
We told you. This team is so far from a contender it's not even funny. People have disagreed with us on this one all week, but the fact remains: The Vikes have not addressed crucial positions via the draft or free agency, and whilst they ignore their passing game, will rely primarily on the big play ability of Adrian Peterson to win games. That just won't cut it against many teams in this league. It says more about AP that they are this high in the rankings after a woeful performance - against a team they should really be hoping to beat this season - on Monday night.
22: Detroit Lions
Oh dear. What happened Lions? The Defence collapsed like we said it would, but the offence took two quarters to get warmed up, by which point the game was lost. The passing game was brilliant, but every other phase looked slightly underwhelming. Ernie Sims getting injured for any considerable amount of time would leave this team floundering. Well, floundering even more than they currently are. A game against Green Bay is not what this team needs right now.
23: Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens came good against a week Cincinnati team, but may find the going tougher in Houston this week (Another one for 'sentences you never thought you'd say') as they face a Texans Defence that is composed of, you know... Pro athletes? At the same time, Joe Flacco looked composed at Quarterback, and Willis McGahee will be looking to emulate the Steelers successful run attack if he returns on Monday night.
24: Atlanta Falcons
Are Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood the best RB combination in the league? No, in fact they may not even be the best combination in their division, but we have to say, it's one in the eye for the idiot at ESPN.com who rated the Falcons a lowly 26th best rushing in the league this offseason. With the team heading to Tampa at just the right time, don't be surprised to see the Falcons grow in stature as the season progresses. We've said it before, and we'll say it again. With Matt Ryan at QB, this team has begun it's ascendancy.
25: Miami Dolphins
A loss against the Jets is always difficult for a team in the AFC East, considering the likelihood that the Patriots will continue their monopoly at the top of the division. This year of course, things are different, and really there were as many good points to take from the game as bad. At receiver the team has clear issues, and Ted Ginn needs to become the focal point of this offence quickly. He has the ability, but the team lacks a possession receiver to compliment him in the passing game. Chad Pennington looked rejuvenated too, though frankly even an average Pennington is better than some of the other options available to the team currently.
26: Chicago Bears
A win against the Colts and still just 26th? Look, Peyton Manning - despite anything they say - was clearly hampered by injury. He struggled on counter plays to actually get the ball into his tailback's hands, which is never a good sign. Tom Moore's shortened Offesive gameplan did not help, and played into an aggressive Defence's hands. Where the Bears may come unstuck is against teams that are willing to attack them and take a risk. Offensively, Matt Forte showed a great deal of promise, and every carry helps to erase the memories of the Cedric Benson experiment.
27: Denver Broncos
We took flak for this on various forums and messageboards, and we'll admit now: The Broncos are NOT who we thought they were! And we let them off the hook! Not really. We still think that eventually, the Defence will be the downfall of this team. It was nice to see Jay Cutler have one of those breakout games though, something he thoroughly deserves. Interestingly, though people criticise Mike Shanahan's admittedly hit and miss drafting record, Eddie Royal showed why he can still pick up the odd gem in later rounds. If Royal emerges to compliment 4th round pick in 2006 Brandon Marshall, Shanahan may have a better defence for his record. Certainly he'll have a better defence than he currently has on the football field...
28: Oakland Raiders
This is why the Vikings are not a contender yet. Young, unproven QB? Check. Overpriced and innefective Wide Receivers? Check. Strong Defence that still struggles against the pass? Check. Completely one-dimensional on Offence?... you get the picture. The Raiders will be particularly embarrassed by DeAngelo Hall's failings at Corner. He was targetted by the Broncos all night on Monday, something that could worry the team that paid big money to play 'the other guy' to Nnamdi Asomugha. Luckily for the Raiders, the team has an excellent chance to redeem itself against the Chiefs this week.
29: Cincinnati Bengals
The biggest losers from this week are the Bungles. Losing to the Ravens is not a good sign, but the manner of their capitulation was disturbing. 154 total yards is not enough for a team as weak on Defence as the Bengals, and Chris Perry's days as a starting RB look numbered, as he continually fails to live up to his draft stock, and this weekend against Tennessee will likely not be pretty for anyone involved with Cincinnati.
30: Kansas City Chiefs
Encouragingly, the Chiefs had a shot to tie the game up in New England in week one, and never looked completely outclassed by what was still a strong team without Tom Brady. The injury to Brodie Croyle could be a blessing in disguise, as this team needs the veteran leadership of Damon Huard to avoid becoming the league's whipping boys. Oakland are next up, and if the team has any aspiration of surprising us, they'll at least need to put up a strong showing in this one.
31: San Francisco 49ers
J.T. O'Sullivan: Not the worst passer in the league, but losing fumbles and interceptions is a fast track to the bench, even if your main competition (Alex Smith) is out for the season with a shoulder injury. One bright spot was Justin Smith, who looks to be another good addition to an already decent Defence. The team frustrates observers, with talented players such as Frank Gore and Vernon Davis, but in reality, until this team has a game-breaking receiver, the 49ers will remain firmly towards the bottom of the league.
32: St. Louis Rams
Fortunately for the 49ers, they aren't even the worst team in their division, let alone the NFL. That honour goes to a team that took until the 4th quarter to register it's only points of week one - a field goal with 9mins left. The most impressive player on the team was punter Donnie Jones, who can be proud of his 48.5yd average over 10 (TEN!) punts. As we predicted, Steven Jackson is not ready to play right now. Unfortunately for the Rams, their options at tailback are so weak that he has no choice but to regain his form 'on the job' so to speak.
Frankly, the Rams are the worst team in the league by a mile, and Scott Linehan will be out of a job at the end of the season unless he can pull off a miracle.
Disgruntled Garcia
It's all kicking off in Tampa. Brian Griese has been confirmed as the Buccaneers starter for this Sunday's home opener against the Falcons, because of Jeff Garcia's ankle injury. According to the Bucs themselves at least. Garcia himself claims he is on the trading block, and the Bucs will take anything for him - the question that needs answering is why he wasn't shipped in the pre-season? Whilst Griese and McCown both received starters reps throughout training camp due to Garcia's niggling injuries, the disruption cannot be welcomed.
Green Bay are looking for a veteran backup.. That said, how about the Bears? (Yes, every available QB will be linked to a Chicago move, even after their shock win over the Colts.
Green Bay are looking for a veteran backup.. That said, how about the Bears? (Yes, every available QB will be linked to a Chicago move, even after their shock win over the Colts.
Ravens @ Texans game now Monday Night
As a result of the oncoming Hurricane Ike towards the Gulf Coast, the previously scheduled Ravens - Texans game has been moved to Monday night at a 8:30pm ET (2:30am BST) - the same time as the Eagles @ Cowboys game.
Tuesday 9 September 2008
Week One Injury Update Part Two
Here's a more compact version of the injury report, with some of the less high-profile names that got banged up this weekend.
Nate Burleson
The Seahawks Receiver is done for the season after tearing his ACL on Sunday against the Bills. It's a huge blow both for Burleson and the Seahawks, with No.1 Receiver Deion Branch and no.2 Booby Engram both currently struggling to get fit for week two, leaving the Sehawks depth chart bereft of established receivers. Interestingly, we tipped Burleson for big things this season, and he was actually turning out a solid performance, with 5 catches for 60yds and a TD.
It will be interesting to see who - if anyone the Seahwaks bring in for a visit this week. One option is Chad Jackson, who - in true slapstick style - we also predicted would have a breakout year, the day before he was cut by the Patriots.
Vince Manuwai and Maurice Williams
The Jags O-line is down to the bare bones after losing two more starters on Sunday. Manuwai has torn both his ACL and his MCL, and is headed to Injured Reserve. It's likely that fellow starting Guard Williams will join him after tearing his biceps. A torn biceps or triceps is usually the end of a Lineman's season, and we can't imagine there is much chance of Williams even coming back for the playoffs.
It's bad news for the team and it's running game, which is one of the strongest in the league. Both Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew could struggle to match their big numbers from last year, and QB David Garrard could also feel the heat. For all the investment in the Defensive Line in the offseason, it's a reminder of the fickle nature of this game that the team could see it's playoff hopes dashed by a series of injuries to the Offensive Line.
Mike Nugent
The Jets kicker looks unlikely to play again this season after injuring his thigh during the victory in Miami. It goes without saying that an injury to a kicker's leg is... pretty bad. The Jets signed Jay Feely, who was released by the Dolphins earlier this season. Feely has experience of kicking in Giants Stadium/The Meadowlands from his time with the Giants, so it's hard to imagine a huge issue with kicking in NYC.
Jeff Garcia
Garcia looked off colour during the Bucs loss to New Orleans on Sunday, and it was no surprise to see him listed as questionable for week two. The apparent cause of the problem is an ankle injury, though to what degree it is likely to affect Garcia's performance should he play is another matter. Garcia regularly plays banged up, and there is even more need for him to get some solid time under centre now, after missing all of the preseason in a contract holdout.
Nate Burleson
The Seahawks Receiver is done for the season after tearing his ACL on Sunday against the Bills. It's a huge blow both for Burleson and the Seahawks, with No.1 Receiver Deion Branch and no.2 Booby Engram both currently struggling to get fit for week two, leaving the Sehawks depth chart bereft of established receivers. Interestingly, we tipped Burleson for big things this season, and he was actually turning out a solid performance, with 5 catches for 60yds and a TD.
It will be interesting to see who - if anyone the Seahwaks bring in for a visit this week. One option is Chad Jackson, who - in true slapstick style - we also predicted would have a breakout year, the day before he was cut by the Patriots.
Vince Manuwai and Maurice Williams
The Jags O-line is down to the bare bones after losing two more starters on Sunday. Manuwai has torn both his ACL and his MCL, and is headed to Injured Reserve. It's likely that fellow starting Guard Williams will join him after tearing his biceps. A torn biceps or triceps is usually the end of a Lineman's season, and we can't imagine there is much chance of Williams even coming back for the playoffs.
It's bad news for the team and it's running game, which is one of the strongest in the league. Both Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew could struggle to match their big numbers from last year, and QB David Garrard could also feel the heat. For all the investment in the Defensive Line in the offseason, it's a reminder of the fickle nature of this game that the team could see it's playoff hopes dashed by a series of injuries to the Offensive Line.
Mike Nugent
The Jets kicker looks unlikely to play again this season after injuring his thigh during the victory in Miami. It goes without saying that an injury to a kicker's leg is... pretty bad. The Jets signed Jay Feely, who was released by the Dolphins earlier this season. Feely has experience of kicking in Giants Stadium/The Meadowlands from his time with the Giants, so it's hard to imagine a huge issue with kicking in NYC.
Jeff Garcia
Garcia looked off colour during the Bucs loss to New Orleans on Sunday, and it was no surprise to see him listed as questionable for week two. The apparent cause of the problem is an ankle injury, though to what degree it is likely to affect Garcia's performance should he play is another matter. Garcia regularly plays banged up, and there is even more need for him to get some solid time under centre now, after missing all of the preseason in a contract holdout.
Monday 8 September 2008
Week One Injury Update
Well, Peyton Manning made it through last night's encounter with the Bears with his body - if not his dignity - intact, so it's time to give a brief rundown of the key injuries suffered around the league, and their impact on their teams:
Tom Brady
The New England QB was placed on IR this morning, officially ending his 2008 season. The extent of Brady's injury is still unknown, exept that it requires surgery and is clearly a tear of some kind of knee ligament. It's easy to say that it's his ACL, but until the Pats confirm it, specualtion as to Brady's status next season is useless. On the other hand, we'll attempt it anyway, because that's how we roll.
Someone asked me earlier today if Brady could return and play at his pre-injury level. The simple answer, for any pocket QB of Brady's ilk, is yes. Unlike Daunte Culpepper - who's knee injury completely undermined his style of play - Brady does not rely on his mobility a great deal. It's not an ideal situation, but his athleticism has never been his strong point, so in essence, his main obstacle to overcome will be regaining trust in the knee.
The Pats will stick with Matt Cassel this week. If he struggles, expect the team to intensify efforts to bring in a veteran backup. Further to our report on the matter last night, Former Buc Chris Simms has indeed been brought in for a workout, along with career backup Tim Rattay. Simms's addition would signify genuine competition at the position, and as a proven commodity, it's unlikely that the fans in Boston would be enamoured with the idea of Simms merely being Cassel's backup.
Vince Young
There is some debate in the media today as to whether Young's 'injury' was somehow a result of his reluctance to take the field during the Titans win against Jacksonville on Sunday. From a neutral perspective, it certainly did not seem that Young was eager to get back into the game following his second interception in the game, and the fact that coach Jeff Fisher clearly was unaware of Young's 'injury' is extroadinary. Young claims to have felt tightness from his hamstring, just minutes before Jags linebacker Daryl Smith caught Young accidentally on the knee, at which point he was replaced by Kerry Collins. The team has since called the injury a 'sprained MCL', and said that Young will miss 2-4 weeks.
Could the Titans be covering for Young's clear psychological issues, by using a 'sham' injury to give him a few weeks to sort out his head? It's a possibility. Fisher could not have done a worse job covering up the sideline spat after the game, and his assertion that it was a simple 'communication issue' is laughable. The coach of an NFL franchise was unaware that his Star Quarterback was injured, even slightly? That's straight out of the 'Mike Nolan School of Quarterback Health'.
Whatever happens regarding Young, it seems that Collins is now back as starter for the next few weeks. He's been a relatibvely reliable backup when replacing Young over the last few years, and it wouldn't surprise us if a few veterans (Kevin Mawae, for one) are secretly relieved to play with a Quarterback who has already famously beaten his personal demons.
Brodie Croyle
Croyle is likely to miss at least two weeks after suffering a shoulder injury during the same Chiefs-Patriots matchup that caused so much uproar around the league. Unfortunately for Croyle, this latest injury could spell the end of his tenure as starter in Kansas City. Despite the lack of serious competition from within the Chiefs' current roster, Croyle's durability is so suspect that it is inevitable that the team will look to go in another direction now that the decision has been taken ouut of their hands.
Damon Huard should start, and if he can have a solid two weeks, it's hard to see Croyle regaining the starting gig this season. For all that Croyle has in that rocket arm, his inability to stay healthy will likely mean his days as a Starter in the NFL are over.
Marion Barber
Barber left the game in Cleveland with 'bruised ribs', and will likely start next week's Monday Night game against the Eagles. His loss would be a sore blow to the Cowboys, but as it is working out, this could simply make it easier to get rookie Felix Jones more involved after his explosive performance on Sunday.
It's unlikely that Barber will miss any time with the injury, though he will likely be in some discomfort for a few days. Don't be shocked if he misses practice at least once this week, but all sources - including the man himself - say that he will start week two.
Dallas Clark
The Colts TE left the game against the Bears last night with a knee injury and did not return in pads. An MRI on Monday indicated that Clark will be 'ok' according to coach Tony Dungy, but we've seen this before with a guy who rarely goes a full season without some kind of injury. It would be no surprise to see Clark sit out week two, and if he does, the Colts will revert back to the 3 WR formations that had mixed results last night.
On another note, Peyton Manning's injury has affected him, regardless of what John Madden and Al Michaels say. He looked stiff when throwing, and seemed lacking in confidence where his mechanics were concerned. The conservative playcalling of Tom Moore seemed to frustrate Manning, but even when given the chance to cut loose, he looked far from the Quarterback that has dominated the league for so long. No matter what spin the team have put on recent events, it is clear that Manning needs at least 2-3 more weeks of rehab before he returns to his old self.
Tom Brady
The New England QB was placed on IR this morning, officially ending his 2008 season. The extent of Brady's injury is still unknown, exept that it requires surgery and is clearly a tear of some kind of knee ligament. It's easy to say that it's his ACL, but until the Pats confirm it, specualtion as to Brady's status next season is useless. On the other hand, we'll attempt it anyway, because that's how we roll.
Someone asked me earlier today if Brady could return and play at his pre-injury level. The simple answer, for any pocket QB of Brady's ilk, is yes. Unlike Daunte Culpepper - who's knee injury completely undermined his style of play - Brady does not rely on his mobility a great deal. It's not an ideal situation, but his athleticism has never been his strong point, so in essence, his main obstacle to overcome will be regaining trust in the knee.
The Pats will stick with Matt Cassel this week. If he struggles, expect the team to intensify efforts to bring in a veteran backup. Further to our report on the matter last night, Former Buc Chris Simms has indeed been brought in for a workout, along with career backup Tim Rattay. Simms's addition would signify genuine competition at the position, and as a proven commodity, it's unlikely that the fans in Boston would be enamoured with the idea of Simms merely being Cassel's backup.
Vince Young
There is some debate in the media today as to whether Young's 'injury' was somehow a result of his reluctance to take the field during the Titans win against Jacksonville on Sunday. From a neutral perspective, it certainly did not seem that Young was eager to get back into the game following his second interception in the game, and the fact that coach Jeff Fisher clearly was unaware of Young's 'injury' is extroadinary. Young claims to have felt tightness from his hamstring, just minutes before Jags linebacker Daryl Smith caught Young accidentally on the knee, at which point he was replaced by Kerry Collins. The team has since called the injury a 'sprained MCL', and said that Young will miss 2-4 weeks.
Could the Titans be covering for Young's clear psychological issues, by using a 'sham' injury to give him a few weeks to sort out his head? It's a possibility. Fisher could not have done a worse job covering up the sideline spat after the game, and his assertion that it was a simple 'communication issue' is laughable. The coach of an NFL franchise was unaware that his Star Quarterback was injured, even slightly? That's straight out of the 'Mike Nolan School of Quarterback Health'.
Whatever happens regarding Young, it seems that Collins is now back as starter for the next few weeks. He's been a relatibvely reliable backup when replacing Young over the last few years, and it wouldn't surprise us if a few veterans (Kevin Mawae, for one) are secretly relieved to play with a Quarterback who has already famously beaten his personal demons.
Brodie Croyle
Croyle is likely to miss at least two weeks after suffering a shoulder injury during the same Chiefs-Patriots matchup that caused so much uproar around the league. Unfortunately for Croyle, this latest injury could spell the end of his tenure as starter in Kansas City. Despite the lack of serious competition from within the Chiefs' current roster, Croyle's durability is so suspect that it is inevitable that the team will look to go in another direction now that the decision has been taken ouut of their hands.
Damon Huard should start, and if he can have a solid two weeks, it's hard to see Croyle regaining the starting gig this season. For all that Croyle has in that rocket arm, his inability to stay healthy will likely mean his days as a Starter in the NFL are over.
Marion Barber
Barber left the game in Cleveland with 'bruised ribs', and will likely start next week's Monday Night game against the Eagles. His loss would be a sore blow to the Cowboys, but as it is working out, this could simply make it easier to get rookie Felix Jones more involved after his explosive performance on Sunday.
It's unlikely that Barber will miss any time with the injury, though he will likely be in some discomfort for a few days. Don't be shocked if he misses practice at least once this week, but all sources - including the man himself - say that he will start week two.
Dallas Clark
The Colts TE left the game against the Bears last night with a knee injury and did not return in pads. An MRI on Monday indicated that Clark will be 'ok' according to coach Tony Dungy, but we've seen this before with a guy who rarely goes a full season without some kind of injury. It would be no surprise to see Clark sit out week two, and if he does, the Colts will revert back to the 3 WR formations that had mixed results last night.
On another note, Peyton Manning's injury has affected him, regardless of what John Madden and Al Michaels say. He looked stiff when throwing, and seemed lacking in confidence where his mechanics were concerned. The conservative playcalling of Tom Moore seemed to frustrate Manning, but even when given the chance to cut loose, he looked far from the Quarterback that has dominated the league for so long. No matter what spin the team have put on recent events, it is clear that Manning needs at least 2-3 more weeks of rehab before he returns to his old self.
Peyton Manning's Injury
Call it a hunch - and it really is nothing more than that - but after watching Peyton Manning for the first quarter against Chicago tonight, we'd not be surprised if he didn't finish this game without aggravating his knee injury.
Manning doesn't look comfortable at all, and even Al Michaels and John Madden commented that in the ninety minuted before kickoff, he seemed unsure of himself.
As we say, just a hunch, and it would hardly be a shock of epic proportions, but it would complete a wild day for the favourites in the AFC, with Tom Brady injured, and the Chargers and Jaguars losing against opposition they would hope to beat.
Manning doesn't look comfortable at all, and even Al Michaels and John Madden commented that in the ninety minuted before kickoff, he seemed unsure of himself.
As we say, just a hunch, and it would hardly be a shock of epic proportions, but it would complete a wild day for the favourites in the AFC, with Tom Brady injured, and the Chargers and Jaguars losing against opposition they would hope to beat.
Tom Brady Out For Season With Torn ACL
If you're a Patriots fan, you may want to look away now.
Tom Brady is expected to miss the entire 2008 Season following an ACL tear to his left knee, according to Michael Silver of Yahoo! Sports. The report is not a huge surprise given Brady's inability to even return to the sidelines following his departure from the field during the team's 10-17 victory over the Chiefs on Sunday.
Any injury to Brady has to be considered the worst case scenario for the Pats, though they will be cheered by backup Matt Cassel's performance in leading the team to victory over the Chiefs after a mediocre preseason in which he was lucky to hold onto the backup job. It remains to be seen if the team will bring in an experienced backup. Would Daunte Culpepper consider 'un-retiring' for the Pats? Is Chris Simms an upgrade over Cassel?
One person who may look on with some chagrin will be Jets QB Brett Favre, who turned down the option that the Packers offered him of waiting until the beginning of the season for just such an eventuality. The Packers preferred that option, but Favre wanted to end the media circus that regarded his future.
Of course, he couldn't have known that it would come to arguably the league's best player, on a team that could easily fulfil his ambitions of playing in the superbowl and with WR Randy Moss, but even so, we imagine that at some point, Favre will be asked the question by someone in the media of whether he regrets not waiting. We'll be waiting with interest for his answer.
In the meantime, the AFC title race just blew wide open. The Jets and Bills must feel better about their own playoff chances, but realistically, the Colts and Chargers will hope to capitalise on any downturn in results that the Patriots have. Of course, one thing that strikes us is this: If Cassel can get the job done to a reasonable level, the Patriots are still at the very least playoff contenders, by virtue of having a better overall team than their divisional rivals. On the other hand if Cassel shows an inability to take care of the football, it won't matter how good the rest of the team is.
The whole issue has so many permeatations that anything written is just pure speculation at this point. Realistically, our first indication of how the Patriots feel about Cassel will likely be who they bring in as a backup. If Culpepper or another veteran who can still play is brought in, then it's an indication that they'd like a competition of sorts. If they brought in Vinny Testaverde however, you'd have to feel that they were simply insuring themselves against an injury to Cassel.
Finally, one point: The AFC East has seen so much Quarterback upheaval over the last year, that it's amazing we didn't see this coming. The Bills replaced J.P. Losman with Trent Edwards, the Jets shipped Chad Pennington to Miami to make room for Favre, and now Tom Brady will miss his first substantial time with injury since his first season as starter in 2001.
Yeah, it's going to be an interesting year, no doubt...
Tom Brady is expected to miss the entire 2008 Season following an ACL tear to his left knee, according to Michael Silver of Yahoo! Sports. The report is not a huge surprise given Brady's inability to even return to the sidelines following his departure from the field during the team's 10-17 victory over the Chiefs on Sunday.
Any injury to Brady has to be considered the worst case scenario for the Pats, though they will be cheered by backup Matt Cassel's performance in leading the team to victory over the Chiefs after a mediocre preseason in which he was lucky to hold onto the backup job. It remains to be seen if the team will bring in an experienced backup. Would Daunte Culpepper consider 'un-retiring' for the Pats? Is Chris Simms an upgrade over Cassel?
One person who may look on with some chagrin will be Jets QB Brett Favre, who turned down the option that the Packers offered him of waiting until the beginning of the season for just such an eventuality. The Packers preferred that option, but Favre wanted to end the media circus that regarded his future.
Of course, he couldn't have known that it would come to arguably the league's best player, on a team that could easily fulfil his ambitions of playing in the superbowl and with WR Randy Moss, but even so, we imagine that at some point, Favre will be asked the question by someone in the media of whether he regrets not waiting. We'll be waiting with interest for his answer.
In the meantime, the AFC title race just blew wide open. The Jets and Bills must feel better about their own playoff chances, but realistically, the Colts and Chargers will hope to capitalise on any downturn in results that the Patriots have. Of course, one thing that strikes us is this: If Cassel can get the job done to a reasonable level, the Patriots are still at the very least playoff contenders, by virtue of having a better overall team than their divisional rivals. On the other hand if Cassel shows an inability to take care of the football, it won't matter how good the rest of the team is.
The whole issue has so many permeatations that anything written is just pure speculation at this point. Realistically, our first indication of how the Patriots feel about Cassel will likely be who they bring in as a backup. If Culpepper or another veteran who can still play is brought in, then it's an indication that they'd like a competition of sorts. If they brought in Vinny Testaverde however, you'd have to feel that they were simply insuring themselves against an injury to Cassel.
Finally, one point: The AFC East has seen so much Quarterback upheaval over the last year, that it's amazing we didn't see this coming. The Bills replaced J.P. Losman with Trent Edwards, the Jets shipped Chad Pennington to Miami to make room for Favre, and now Tom Brady will miss his first substantial time with injury since his first season as starter in 2001.
Yeah, it's going to be an interesting year, no doubt...
Sunday 7 September 2008
Brady leaves Kansas City game with knee injury
Patriots QB Tom Brady has left his team's opener against the Chiefs with a knee injury that our observer described very simply as: 'his knee went the wrong way'
The Chiefs currently have the ball, so we don't know if it's bad enough that Matt Cassel will need to go in the next series. If it's bad, it is the one thing that could seriously scupper the Pats' season.
We'll have more as and when we can give you the full information as regards the extent of the injury.
UPDATE
As we type, Matt Cassel is 5/6 for 73yds and a TD to Randy Moss. That's pretty good for someone who was considered a liability by some fans as the Patriots Quarterback.
UPDATE 2
Brady is reported to be out for the season with a torn ACL of the left knee.
A MRI of the knee is expected to be taken on Monday morning.
The Chiefs currently have the ball, so we don't know if it's bad enough that Matt Cassel will need to go in the next series. If it's bad, it is the one thing that could seriously scupper the Pats' season.
We'll have more as and when we can give you the full information as regards the extent of the injury.
UPDATE
As we type, Matt Cassel is 5/6 for 73yds and a TD to Randy Moss. That's pretty good for someone who was considered a liability by some fans as the Patriots Quarterback.
UPDATE 2
Brady is reported to be out for the season with a torn ACL of the left knee.
A MRI of the knee is expected to be taken on Monday morning.
Saturday 6 September 2008
Week One Predictions in a nutshell:
Here's the condensed Wide-Right predictions for Week One:
Detroit at Atlanta
Seattle at Buffalo
Jacksonville at Tennessee
New York Jets at Miami Dolphins
Kansas City at New England
Tampa Bay at New Orleans
St. Louis at Philadelphia
Houston at Pittsburgh
Cincinnati at Baltimore
Carolina at San Diego
Arizona at San Francisco
Dallas at Cleveland
Chicago at Indianapolis
Minnesota at Green Bay
Denver at Oakland
Fantasy Picks:
QB:
Brett Favre NYJ
Drew Brees NOS
Ben Roethlisberger PIT
Kurt Warner ARI
Matt Schaub HOU
Carson Palmer CIN
Tony Romo DAL
Peyton Manning IND
RB:
Brian Westbrook PHI
Jerious Norwood ATL
DeAngelo Williams CAR
Jamal Lewis CLE
Adrian Peterson MIN
Chester Taylor MIN
Justin Fargas OAK
Darren McFadden OAK
WR:
Roy Williams DET
Calvin Johnson DET
Matt Jones JAX
Ted Ginn Jnr. MIA
Laveraneus Coles NYJ
Jerricho Cotchery NYJ
Dexter Jackson TBB
DeSean Jackson PHI
Santonio Holmes PIT
Hines Ward PIT
Andre Johnson HOU
Kevin WalterHOU
Chad Ochocinco CIN
T.J. Houshmanzadeh CIN
Vincent Jackson SDC
Braylon Edwards CLE
Josh Cribbs CLE
Donte Stallworth CLE
Terrell Owens DAL
Reggie Wayne IND
Devin Hester CHI
Greg Jennings GBP
Donald Driver GBP
TE:
Tony Gonzalez KCC
L.J. Smith PHI
Donald Lee GBP
Dallas Clark IND
Antonio Gates SDC
Team D/ST:
Buccaneers Defence
Tennnessee Defence
Seattle Defence
Baltimore Defence
Bears Defence
Oakland Defence
K:
Robbie Gould CHI
IDP's:
Patrick Willis SFO
Manny Lawson SFO
Justin Smith SFO
Drops:
QB:
Jake Delhomme CAR
Joe Flacco BAL
Jeff Garcia TBB
Marc Bulger STL
Kyle Orton CHI
Jay Cutler DEN
Aaron Rodgers GBP
Tarvaris Jackson MIN
J.T. O'Sullivan SFO
RB:
Julius Jones SEA
T.J. Duckett SEA
Maurice Morris SEA
Fred Taylor JAX
Maurice Jones-Drew JAX
Ricky Williams MIA
Ronnie Brown MIA
Laurence Maroney NEP
Earnest Graham TBB
Reggie Bush NOS
Steven Jackson STL
Steve Slaton HOU
Ahman Green HOU
Rashard Mendenhall PIT
Willis McGahee BAL
Chris Perry CIN
Edgerrin James ARI
Kevin Jones CHI
Matt Forte CHI
Ryan Grant GBP
WR:
Joey Galloway TBB
Sidney Rice MIN
Bernard Berrian MIN
Team D/ST:
Lions Defence
New York Jets Defence
Cowboys Defence
Denver Defence
K:
Adam Vinateri IND
Each week we'll assess each game and how our predictions stacked up against what happened as we progress through the week. For now though, keep an eye on injury reports, and good luck in your fantasy games.
Detroit at Atlanta
Seattle at Buffalo
Jacksonville at Tennessee
New York Jets at Miami Dolphins
Kansas City at New England
Tampa Bay at New Orleans
St. Louis at Philadelphia
Houston at Pittsburgh
Cincinnati at Baltimore
Carolina at San Diego
Arizona at San Francisco
Dallas at Cleveland
Chicago at Indianapolis
Minnesota at Green Bay
Denver at Oakland
Fantasy Picks:
QB:
Brett Favre NYJ
Drew Brees NOS
Ben Roethlisberger PIT
Kurt Warner ARI
Matt Schaub HOU
Carson Palmer CIN
Tony Romo DAL
Peyton Manning IND
RB:
Brian Westbrook PHI
Jerious Norwood ATL
DeAngelo Williams CAR
Jamal Lewis CLE
Adrian Peterson MIN
Chester Taylor MIN
Justin Fargas OAK
Darren McFadden OAK
WR:
Roy Williams DET
Calvin Johnson DET
Matt Jones JAX
Ted Ginn Jnr. MIA
Laveraneus Coles NYJ
Jerricho Cotchery NYJ
Dexter Jackson TBB
DeSean Jackson PHI
Santonio Holmes PIT
Hines Ward PIT
Andre Johnson HOU
Kevin WalterHOU
Chad Ochocinco CIN
T.J. Houshmanzadeh CIN
Vincent Jackson SDC
Braylon Edwards CLE
Josh Cribbs CLE
Donte Stallworth CLE
Terrell Owens DAL
Reggie Wayne IND
Devin Hester CHI
Greg Jennings GBP
Donald Driver GBP
TE:
Tony Gonzalez KCC
L.J. Smith PHI
Donald Lee GBP
Dallas Clark IND
Antonio Gates SDC
Team D/ST:
Buccaneers Defence
Tennnessee Defence
Seattle Defence
Baltimore Defence
Bears Defence
Oakland Defence
K:
Robbie Gould CHI
IDP's:
Patrick Willis SFO
Manny Lawson SFO
Justin Smith SFO
Drops:
QB:
Jake Delhomme CAR
Joe Flacco BAL
Jeff Garcia TBB
Marc Bulger STL
Kyle Orton CHI
Jay Cutler DEN
Aaron Rodgers GBP
Tarvaris Jackson MIN
J.T. O'Sullivan SFO
RB:
Julius Jones SEA
T.J. Duckett SEA
Maurice Morris SEA
Fred Taylor JAX
Maurice Jones-Drew JAX
Ricky Williams MIA
Ronnie Brown MIA
Laurence Maroney NEP
Earnest Graham TBB
Reggie Bush NOS
Steven Jackson STL
Steve Slaton HOU
Ahman Green HOU
Rashard Mendenhall PIT
Willis McGahee BAL
Chris Perry CIN
Edgerrin James ARI
Kevin Jones CHI
Matt Forte CHI
Ryan Grant GBP
WR:
Joey Galloway TBB
Sidney Rice MIN
Bernard Berrian MIN
Team D/ST:
Lions Defence
New York Jets Defence
Cowboys Defence
Denver Defence
K:
Adam Vinateri IND
Each week we'll assess each game and how our predictions stacked up against what happened as we progress through the week. For now though, keep an eye on injury reports, and good luck in your fantasy games.
2008 Week One Preview - Part Three
The final part of our
Sunday, 4:15pm EST (cont)
Arizona at San Francisco
The easy-to-mock NFC West throws up yet another classic matchup. Sarcasm aside, this could be an interesting litmus test for two veteran Quarterbacks who have beaten out high first round draft picks during Training Camp. Arizona's Kurt Warner holds the advantage in terms of experience, and it will likely be that and the weapons at his disposal (Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin) which makes the difference. Neither Defence is particularly good in coverage, so expect a shootout if the Mike Martz offence takes off as it has done in St. Louis and Detroit.
Fantasy Pick:Warner is the kind of guy who can throw for 400yds, 5 TD's, 6 INT's and lose four fumbles after being sacked. We think that adds up to positive totals in most leagues, and he could even get away with some of his more rubbish throws tommorow against the 49ers hit-and-miss secondary. We also like the 49ers Defence for IDP leagues. Patrick Willis, Manny Lawson, Justin Smith et al should bring the heat and rack up an impressive number of tackles.
Fantasy Drop: For similar reasons, we can't see Edgerrin James having too big a day against a decent front-seven. If Rookie Tim Hightower is getting goal line carries too, Edge's fantasy value plummets. O'Sullivan is a risky play, though if he gets going, he could put up good numbers in the Martz offence. We'd give it a few weeks before making that call though, and we will, because the idiot writing this has O'Sullivan as his backup QB in his 16 team dynasty league.
Dallas at Cleveland
A horrendous matchup that we'd really avoid if you're into the old gambling. On the one hand, the Cowboys have a great all-round roster, and a Defence that is amongst the top five in the league. What makes us pick the Browns? Playmakers. Sure T.O is great, and so is Jason Witten, but past that, what proven playmakers do the Cowboys have? The Browns have Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow jnr., Donte Stallworth, and Josh Cribbs. All four are viable receiving targets that can open up rushing lanes for Jamal Lewis and a highly talented O-line.
Fantasy Pick: Lewis is a safe fantasy pick, as neither Jason Wright or Jerome Harrison is a threat to carry much. Any Cleveland receiver should be played, especially Edwards, who we predict could lead the league in receiving yards this season. For the Cowboys, Owens is the only obvious play, though QB Tony Romo could have a good day if another receiver steps up to the plate.
Fantasy Drop: We'll be bold here: Don't pick the Cowboys Defence this week. If any team has the chance to surprise the Cowboys early, it's Cleveland, and they have a well rounded offence that can really put up huge numbers, even if they lose. We'll wager the 'boys D counts for less than 10pts in most fantasy formats this weekend.
Sunday, 8:15pm EST
Chicago at Indianapolis
Here's what we think: The Bears Offence should be demoted to the Arena Football League until they learn how to play properly. Let's be honest though, if there was a Defence that Peyton Manning wouldn't want to face in his first game back from injury, it'd be the Bears. In the end the scoreline will be less relevant than whether Manning escapes without any after effects following the inevitable sacks he will take. Despite that pressure, the Bears Offence is honestly just too bad to take advantage of anything it is given.
Fantasy Pick: If you're lucky enough to own them, Peyton Manning, Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne are obvious starters, and if you needed us to tell you that, it's best that you give up now, because you will not win your league this year. Actually that's not true, you probably will, but it will be a hollow victory built on luck. Think of us with J.T O'Sullivan when you nonchalantly select Manning every week. For the Bears, apart from the Defence, Devin Hester is worth a look, as any points will likely be generated through him, and of course, Kicker Robbie Gould will finish off most drives after they stall.
Fantasy Drop: Kyle Orton is not a viable starter until he shakes the 'game manager' tag. We expect him to be slightly looser than when he started in 2005, but still very much a backup in both real life and fantasy football. Similarly, Matt Forte and Kevin Jones both have issues that will need addressing before we find out how valuable they'll be this year. For now, assume them to be projects until one or the other breaks out. One player who could make this list every week is Colts kicker Adam Vinateri, who's main jobs in life are 'kicking extra points' and 'missing field goals'.
Monday, 7pm EST
Minnesota at Green Bay
We've gone for Green Bay on Monday, despite Aaron Rodgers making his first regular season start for the Packers. Put simply, there are still more question marks over Tarvaris Jackson than Rodgers, and the Packers Defence is one of the most under-appreciated units in the league. Of course, Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor are still rushing threats for the Vikings, but when your offence is that one-dimensional, its hard to establish a running game.
Fantasy Pick: Greg Jennings will likely overtake Donald Driver as the Pack's best receiving threat, but both are good plays this week. Also likely to see extensive work is TE Donald Lee, as Rodgers adjusts to his starting role and leans on his Tight End slightly more than usual. For the Vikings, either Peterson or Taylor is a decent option in most leagues. It will be interesting to see how that dynamic develops over the course of the season, however.
Fantasy Drop: Neither Aaron Rodgers or Tarvaris Jackson can be considered safe QB plays. Rodgers should be slightly better, but both could easily throw as many picks as Touchdowns. We also don't like either Sidney Rice or Bernard Berrian until Jackson shows what he's made of. Ryan Grant is a slight injury worry for the Pack, so keep an eye out for his status come game time. Packers coach Mike McCarthy did a lot of shuffling in the backfield last year, so Grant isn't that great an option even when healthy.
Monday, 10:15pm EST
Denver at Oakland
The final game of the week, and it's on at a particularly stupid hour. If this game is deciding your fantasy matchup, then we feel sorry for you, mainly because it means you must be tied to one of these terrible teams in some way. The Raiders have a decent enough rushing attack, however, and the porous Broncos run defence should give ample opportunity for them to put up big numbers on the ground. Denver are without Receiver Brandon Marshall, who is suspended, and Rookie Running Back Ryan Torain, who is injured. Overall, that just adds up to a big handicap to overcome.
Fantasy Pick: Any Oakland Running Back. Justin Fargas will start, but Darren McFadden will likely see extended playing time, so both are relatively safe picks. The Oakland Defence will likely never have an easier day than Sunday, so if they're available in your league, consider them if you're facing an unfavourable matchup.
Fantasy Drop: If you own the Denver Broncos Defence, you seriously need to have a quiet word with yourself and ask 'is fantasy football the game for me?', because they are an atrocious unit in all facets of the game. Also on dicey territory this week is Broncos QB Jay Cutler, who quite simply has nobody to throw to. We like Cutler long term, and feel like he is alreayd the best QB of the '06 class, ahead of Matt Leinart and Vince Young, but he is not a fantasy stud yet, and needs a stable running game to keep defences honest.
That's our full preview of week one. To help you make your picks, we'll condense all the pertinent information into one handy list for you. Don't say we never do anything for you.
Sunday, 4:15pm EST (cont)
Arizona at San Francisco
The easy-to-mock NFC West throws up yet another classic matchup. Sarcasm aside, this could be an interesting litmus test for two veteran Quarterbacks who have beaten out high first round draft picks during Training Camp. Arizona's Kurt Warner holds the advantage in terms of experience, and it will likely be that and the weapons at his disposal (Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin) which makes the difference. Neither Defence is particularly good in coverage, so expect a shootout if the Mike Martz offence takes off as it has done in St. Louis and Detroit.
Fantasy Pick:Warner is the kind of guy who can throw for 400yds, 5 TD's, 6 INT's and lose four fumbles after being sacked. We think that adds up to positive totals in most leagues, and he could even get away with some of his more rubbish throws tommorow against the 49ers hit-and-miss secondary. We also like the 49ers Defence for IDP leagues. Patrick Willis, Manny Lawson, Justin Smith et al should bring the heat and rack up an impressive number of tackles.
Fantasy Drop: For similar reasons, we can't see Edgerrin James having too big a day against a decent front-seven. If Rookie Tim Hightower is getting goal line carries too, Edge's fantasy value plummets. O'Sullivan is a risky play, though if he gets going, he could put up good numbers in the Martz offence. We'd give it a few weeks before making that call though, and we will, because the idiot writing this has O'Sullivan as his backup QB in his 16 team dynasty league.
Dallas at Cleveland
A horrendous matchup that we'd really avoid if you're into the old gambling. On the one hand, the Cowboys have a great all-round roster, and a Defence that is amongst the top five in the league. What makes us pick the Browns? Playmakers. Sure T.O is great, and so is Jason Witten, but past that, what proven playmakers do the Cowboys have? The Browns have Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow jnr., Donte Stallworth, and Josh Cribbs. All four are viable receiving targets that can open up rushing lanes for Jamal Lewis and a highly talented O-line.
Fantasy Pick: Lewis is a safe fantasy pick, as neither Jason Wright or Jerome Harrison is a threat to carry much. Any Cleveland receiver should be played, especially Edwards, who we predict could lead the league in receiving yards this season. For the Cowboys, Owens is the only obvious play, though QB Tony Romo could have a good day if another receiver steps up to the plate.
Fantasy Drop: We'll be bold here: Don't pick the Cowboys Defence this week. If any team has the chance to surprise the Cowboys early, it's Cleveland, and they have a well rounded offence that can really put up huge numbers, even if they lose. We'll wager the 'boys D counts for less than 10pts in most fantasy formats this weekend.
Sunday, 8:15pm EST
Chicago at Indianapolis
Here's what we think: The Bears Offence should be demoted to the Arena Football League until they learn how to play properly. Let's be honest though, if there was a Defence that Peyton Manning wouldn't want to face in his first game back from injury, it'd be the Bears. In the end the scoreline will be less relevant than whether Manning escapes without any after effects following the inevitable sacks he will take. Despite that pressure, the Bears Offence is honestly just too bad to take advantage of anything it is given.
Fantasy Pick: If you're lucky enough to own them, Peyton Manning, Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne are obvious starters, and if you needed us to tell you that, it's best that you give up now, because you will not win your league this year. Actually that's not true, you probably will, but it will be a hollow victory built on luck. Think of us with J.T O'Sullivan when you nonchalantly select Manning every week. For the Bears, apart from the Defence, Devin Hester is worth a look, as any points will likely be generated through him, and of course, Kicker Robbie Gould will finish off most drives after they stall.
Fantasy Drop: Kyle Orton is not a viable starter until he shakes the 'game manager' tag. We expect him to be slightly looser than when he started in 2005, but still very much a backup in both real life and fantasy football. Similarly, Matt Forte and Kevin Jones both have issues that will need addressing before we find out how valuable they'll be this year. For now, assume them to be projects until one or the other breaks out. One player who could make this list every week is Colts kicker Adam Vinateri, who's main jobs in life are 'kicking extra points' and 'missing field goals'.
Monday, 7pm EST
Minnesota at Green Bay
We've gone for Green Bay on Monday, despite Aaron Rodgers making his first regular season start for the Packers. Put simply, there are still more question marks over Tarvaris Jackson than Rodgers, and the Packers Defence is one of the most under-appreciated units in the league. Of course, Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor are still rushing threats for the Vikings, but when your offence is that one-dimensional, its hard to establish a running game.
Fantasy Pick: Greg Jennings will likely overtake Donald Driver as the Pack's best receiving threat, but both are good plays this week. Also likely to see extensive work is TE Donald Lee, as Rodgers adjusts to his starting role and leans on his Tight End slightly more than usual. For the Vikings, either Peterson or Taylor is a decent option in most leagues. It will be interesting to see how that dynamic develops over the course of the season, however.
Fantasy Drop: Neither Aaron Rodgers or Tarvaris Jackson can be considered safe QB plays. Rodgers should be slightly better, but both could easily throw as many picks as Touchdowns. We also don't like either Sidney Rice or Bernard Berrian until Jackson shows what he's made of. Ryan Grant is a slight injury worry for the Pack, so keep an eye out for his status come game time. Packers coach Mike McCarthy did a lot of shuffling in the backfield last year, so Grant isn't that great an option even when healthy.
Monday, 10:15pm EST
Denver at Oakland
The final game of the week, and it's on at a particularly stupid hour. If this game is deciding your fantasy matchup, then we feel sorry for you, mainly because it means you must be tied to one of these terrible teams in some way. The Raiders have a decent enough rushing attack, however, and the porous Broncos run defence should give ample opportunity for them to put up big numbers on the ground. Denver are without Receiver Brandon Marshall, who is suspended, and Rookie Running Back Ryan Torain, who is injured. Overall, that just adds up to a big handicap to overcome.
Fantasy Pick: Any Oakland Running Back. Justin Fargas will start, but Darren McFadden will likely see extended playing time, so both are relatively safe picks. The Oakland Defence will likely never have an easier day than Sunday, so if they're available in your league, consider them if you're facing an unfavourable matchup.
Fantasy Drop: If you own the Denver Broncos Defence, you seriously need to have a quiet word with yourself and ask 'is fantasy football the game for me?', because they are an atrocious unit in all facets of the game. Also on dicey territory this week is Broncos QB Jay Cutler, who quite simply has nobody to throw to. We like Cutler long term, and feel like he is alreayd the best QB of the '06 class, ahead of Matt Leinart and Vince Young, but he is not a fantasy stud yet, and needs a stable running game to keep defences honest.
That's our full preview of week one. To help you make your picks, we'll condense all the pertinent information into one handy list for you. Don't say we never do anything for you.
2008 Week One Preview - Part Two
Continuing on from last night's preview, we'll be posting the other two thirds today. Here's Part two for you:
Sunday 1pm EST (cont.)
Tampa Bay at New Orleans
This is far from an easy pick. The Saints' passing attack has fired well in preseason, but the ground game will be critical against a strong Bucs secondary. The Bucs Defence will have to be on top form to keep Drew Brees from dissecting them, but more important is how fit Jeff Garcia is. The 38yr old QB is limited by a finger injury sustained this week in practice, and without him, the Bucs odds lengthen dramatically.
Fantasy Pick: Drew Brees should be your starter if you own him anyway, but in case you weren't starting him: DO IT. Bucs receiver Dexter Jackson would not usually get a namecheck, but in leagues that count return yards, he comes up against a weak Saints coverage unit. He's worth a shot if you are struggling for a flex play. It goes without saying that the Bucs Defence should always be in any lineup.
Fantasy Drop: Where to begin? The backfield dynamic for both teams is so questionable that you won't find out for a couple of weeks who is a fantasy starter. In the meantime, avoid Earnest Graham and Reggie Bush if you have other options. Joey Galloway will suffer from both his and Jeff Garcia's injuries, which makes both players borderline fantasy picks.
St. Louis at Philadelphia
Like Kansas City, St. Louis will be lucky to get any respite outside of Missouri. The Eagles though, have question marks at Receiver which could severely affect the spread, so if you can get -10pts or more, take St. Louis to beat it. The Rams could actually push the Eagles close if they can establish a lead, but don't count on the Defence stopping many Eagles drives.
Fantasy Pick: Brian Westbrook will profit from the receiver issues, as well as being Donovan McNabb's favourite checkdown option. For the same reason, L.J. Smith could have a surprisingly good game. None of the Eagles backups are worth a play, but DeSean Jackson is a worthwhile pickup, especially as he also returns kicks. For the Rams, just don't pick anyone.
Fantasy Drop: Any Rams player, but especially Steven Jackson. Don't be surprised to see him get limited action in the first 2-3 weeks of the season, much like Larry Johnson last year after his own preseason holdout. The Rams will roll as their O-line rolls, but Marc Bulger is likely to be sacked enough that he is not worth a pick this week.
Houston at Pittsburgh
It pains us to say it, but the Texans probably can't win this. Houston aren't our favourite team (the pain of being impartial), but it's hard not to want them to do well after 6 years of absolutely abysmal play. Even after getting back on an upward trajectory last year, the Texans will still struggle to beat one of the better AFC teams. Having said that, the spread we've seen (-6-7pts) seems generous, and we think at that price, it's worth a punt.
Fantasy Pick: Ben Roethlisberger is fantasy gold, and so is Santonio Holmes, who could even overtake Hines Ward as Big Ben's favourite target this season. Ward is still a viable pick though, and sorely underrated around the league. As we've made clear, the Matt Schaub-Andre Johnson-Kevin Walter passing attack seems to be firing if preseason is anything to go by.
Fantasy Drop: Steve Slaton has all the potential to emerge as the starter in Houston, but while Ahman Green is still in the mix, and the team allegedly even considers bringing Tatum Bell in for a visit, you have to think that Slaton won't get enough carries to be a viable fantasy proposition. Rashard Mendenhall is in a similiar position in Pittsburgh. Basically be careful of any RB in this game.
Cincinnati at Baltimore
This epic clash of the titans could decide who represents the AFC in the Superb... nah, we can't do it. Neither team has any shot at winning much this year, and realistically it's coin-toss time, as the two teams are strong in opposite areas. The Bengals will bring an incredibly powerful attack against one of the best D's in the league, wheras the Ravens have pretty much never had any kind of Offence. The key factor could be whether Ravens Safety Ed Reed plays after suffering a nerve injury during preseason. Reed is not just a great player, he is one of the most intelligent football players in the league, and his absence would leave the team missing one of it's key components.
Fantasy Pick: Er... Pick someone else. No, seriously, if you have to pick someone, pick the Bengals passing attack of Carson Palmer, Chad Ochocinco, and T.J. Houshmanzadeh or the Ravens Defence. They can't all have bad games. We actually like Bengals RB Kenny Watson this year, but he'd be a desperation play this week.
We think...
Fantasy Drop: Joe Flacco may be the starter, but he'll need time to bed in before he's considered a safe fantasy bet. Avoid Willis McGahee too, who is hampered by injury and may not see as much action as normal. Any Bengals RB is a risk, but Chris Perry is a shambles at the best of times, let alone against the strong Ravens Defence.
Sunday, 4:15pm EST
Carolina at San Diego
No question that the Chargers are the better team on paper here. With the Panthers missing talismanic WR Steve Smith, they'll be relying on the injured D.J. Hackett, the ancient Muhsin Muhhamed, and the just plain bad Dwayne Jarrett to carry the load. That won't cut it against a relatively strong secondary, and as if that wasn't enough, this is the first true test of Panthers QB Jake Delhomme's surgically repaired elbow. None of this bodes well for Carolina.
Fantasy Pick: We still think DeAngelo Williams will be the beneficiary of Jonathan Stewart's selcetion in the draft this year. He has the speed to capitalise on weary Defences, and the Chargers D is almost constantly banged up. One player we do like is Chargers WR Vincent Jackson, who could finally be used as something other than a blocker for TE Antonio Gates - who is still the best TE in fantasy terms, in case you were wondering.
Fantasy Drop: Jake Delhomme may be a solid enough QB, but against the Chargers, in San Diego, with a distinct lack of playmakers at his disposal? We'd rather start Daunte Culpepper, who would at least guarantee that you wouldn't end up with negative points this week from your Quarterbacks.
The final part of our week one predictions will be up by the end of the day. We promise. Ok we don't promise, but if it's crime for a man to ignore his girlfriend in favour of an evening spent writing about men who beat the crap out of each other, then Warden, chain me the hell up, because we're as guilty as O.J. in a hardware store trying on childrens gloves.
Sunday 1pm EST (cont.)
Tampa Bay at New Orleans
This is far from an easy pick. The Saints' passing attack has fired well in preseason, but the ground game will be critical against a strong Bucs secondary. The Bucs Defence will have to be on top form to keep Drew Brees from dissecting them, but more important is how fit Jeff Garcia is. The 38yr old QB is limited by a finger injury sustained this week in practice, and without him, the Bucs odds lengthen dramatically.
Fantasy Pick: Drew Brees should be your starter if you own him anyway, but in case you weren't starting him: DO IT. Bucs receiver Dexter Jackson would not usually get a namecheck, but in leagues that count return yards, he comes up against a weak Saints coverage unit. He's worth a shot if you are struggling for a flex play. It goes without saying that the Bucs Defence should always be in any lineup.
Fantasy Drop: Where to begin? The backfield dynamic for both teams is so questionable that you won't find out for a couple of weeks who is a fantasy starter. In the meantime, avoid Earnest Graham and Reggie Bush if you have other options. Joey Galloway will suffer from both his and Jeff Garcia's injuries, which makes both players borderline fantasy picks.
St. Louis at Philadelphia
Like Kansas City, St. Louis will be lucky to get any respite outside of Missouri. The Eagles though, have question marks at Receiver which could severely affect the spread, so if you can get -10pts or more, take St. Louis to beat it. The Rams could actually push the Eagles close if they can establish a lead, but don't count on the Defence stopping many Eagles drives.
Fantasy Pick: Brian Westbrook will profit from the receiver issues, as well as being Donovan McNabb's favourite checkdown option. For the same reason, L.J. Smith could have a surprisingly good game. None of the Eagles backups are worth a play, but DeSean Jackson is a worthwhile pickup, especially as he also returns kicks. For the Rams, just don't pick anyone.
Fantasy Drop: Any Rams player, but especially Steven Jackson. Don't be surprised to see him get limited action in the first 2-3 weeks of the season, much like Larry Johnson last year after his own preseason holdout. The Rams will roll as their O-line rolls, but Marc Bulger is likely to be sacked enough that he is not worth a pick this week.
Houston at Pittsburgh
It pains us to say it, but the Texans probably can't win this. Houston aren't our favourite team (the pain of being impartial), but it's hard not to want them to do well after 6 years of absolutely abysmal play. Even after getting back on an upward trajectory last year, the Texans will still struggle to beat one of the better AFC teams. Having said that, the spread we've seen (-6-7pts) seems generous, and we think at that price, it's worth a punt.
Fantasy Pick: Ben Roethlisberger is fantasy gold, and so is Santonio Holmes, who could even overtake Hines Ward as Big Ben's favourite target this season. Ward is still a viable pick though, and sorely underrated around the league. As we've made clear, the Matt Schaub-Andre Johnson-Kevin Walter passing attack seems to be firing if preseason is anything to go by.
Fantasy Drop: Steve Slaton has all the potential to emerge as the starter in Houston, but while Ahman Green is still in the mix, and the team allegedly even considers bringing Tatum Bell in for a visit, you have to think that Slaton won't get enough carries to be a viable fantasy proposition. Rashard Mendenhall is in a similiar position in Pittsburgh. Basically be careful of any RB in this game.
Cincinnati at Baltimore
This epic clash of the titans could decide who represents the AFC in the Superb... nah, we can't do it. Neither team has any shot at winning much this year, and realistically it's coin-toss time, as the two teams are strong in opposite areas. The Bengals will bring an incredibly powerful attack against one of the best D's in the league, wheras the Ravens have pretty much never had any kind of Offence. The key factor could be whether Ravens Safety Ed Reed plays after suffering a nerve injury during preseason. Reed is not just a great player, he is one of the most intelligent football players in the league, and his absence would leave the team missing one of it's key components.
Fantasy Pick: Er... Pick someone else. No, seriously, if you have to pick someone, pick the Bengals passing attack of Carson Palmer, Chad Ochocinco, and T.J. Houshmanzadeh or the Ravens Defence. They can't all have bad games. We actually like Bengals RB Kenny Watson this year, but he'd be a desperation play this week.
We think...
Fantasy Drop: Joe Flacco may be the starter, but he'll need time to bed in before he's considered a safe fantasy bet. Avoid Willis McGahee too, who is hampered by injury and may not see as much action as normal. Any Bengals RB is a risk, but Chris Perry is a shambles at the best of times, let alone against the strong Ravens Defence.
Sunday, 4:15pm EST
Carolina at San Diego
No question that the Chargers are the better team on paper here. With the Panthers missing talismanic WR Steve Smith, they'll be relying on the injured D.J. Hackett, the ancient Muhsin Muhhamed, and the just plain bad Dwayne Jarrett to carry the load. That won't cut it against a relatively strong secondary, and as if that wasn't enough, this is the first true test of Panthers QB Jake Delhomme's surgically repaired elbow. None of this bodes well for Carolina.
Fantasy Pick: We still think DeAngelo Williams will be the beneficiary of Jonathan Stewart's selcetion in the draft this year. He has the speed to capitalise on weary Defences, and the Chargers D is almost constantly banged up. One player we do like is Chargers WR Vincent Jackson, who could finally be used as something other than a blocker for TE Antonio Gates - who is still the best TE in fantasy terms, in case you were wondering.
Fantasy Drop: Jake Delhomme may be a solid enough QB, but against the Chargers, in San Diego, with a distinct lack of playmakers at his disposal? We'd rather start Daunte Culpepper, who would at least guarantee that you wouldn't end up with negative points this week from your Quarterbacks.
The final part of our week one predictions will be up by the end of the day. We promise. Ok we don't promise, but if it's crime for a man to ignore his girlfriend in favour of an evening spent writing about men who beat the crap out of each other, then Warden, chain me the hell up, because we're as guilty as O.J. in a hardware store trying on childrens gloves.
Friday 5 September 2008
2008 Week One preview - Part one
Here's part one (of three) of our predictions for week one of the NFL season. Of course, the Giants, we had them to win. Cough. Actually we did, and our entirely-legal-in-international-territory accumulator is still on. In every match up we will post fantasy picks, fantasy drops, and of course, our prediction for the winning team is the bold team in the title.
Sunday September 7th, 1pm EST
Detroit at Atlanta
The Lions hold a big edge over the Falcons, mainly in that their high powered passing game is in direct contrast to the inexperience of the Atlanta secondary. Expect Jon Kitna to torment the Atlanta Defence, and for the Falcons to lean heavily on the running game.
Fantasy Pick: Lions WR's Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson should dominate the youthful Chris Houston and Brent Grimes. Also consider Falcons RB Jerious Norwood, who will return kicks and share carries with Michael Turner.
Fantasy Drop: The Lions Defence is not a bad unit as a whole, but could struggle against teams that rely heavily on the run. Let's be honest, if you own the Lions D, you aren't going to win your league this year.
Seattle at Buffalo
The Seahawks should edge what could be a close encounter. A lot will rely on how the Seattle receivers get going early in the game. If they establish a passing attack, it could in turn set up the backfield committee of Julius Jones, TJ Duckett, and Maurice Morris. For the Bills, their best chance is to get a lead and force the Seahawks to rely too heavily on QB Matt Hasselbeck as they chase the game. The Seahwaks are notoriously poor when playing on the east coast however,
Fantasy Pick: The Seattle Defence are (in our opinion) the best all-round unit in the league, and should be able to stifle a young Bills Offence that lacks depth.
Fantasy Drop: Any Seattle Running Back. Jones, Duckett and Morris will all split carrries. Only Jones is a last ditch starter, whilst the other two could have a great game, but will likely not.
Jacksonville at Tennessee
This is not a foregone conclusion, but in all honesty, the Jags are a safe bet to turn over the Titans in Nashville. The Titans are strong on Defence, and will need to hope that Jacksonville crumble under the pressure of being the 'sleeper' Superbowl pick this season.
Fantasy Pick: The Titans Defence gave up just 96yds per game on the ground last season, and were actually a surprisingly strong fantasy option. For some reason, we think Matt Jones could figure heavily for the Jags, and is definately worth a look if you are short at WR.
Fantasy Drop: Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew will not only split carries, but also come up against a team that can stop them running the ball. Jones-Drew has slightly better value for his return ability, but avoid Taylor, who is also coming off an arrest last weekend.
New York Jets at Miami Dolphins
We don't like this one bit. The Dolphins have the potential to upset the Jets in Miami, so if you're a betting person, it's worth a flyer for the odds you will get. Chad Pennington could easily gain revenge on the franchise that dumped him, but Brett Favre, who replaced him in New York, is as good as they come. Sunday is the litmus test for Favre, and it will be interesting to see his link up with WR Laveraneus Coles after the very public spat between Coles and the Jets over Pennington's treatment.
Fantasy Pick: Ted Ginn Jnr has looked sharper since Pennington arrived, and should be the main beneficiary of the new-found stability at the Quarterback position. Brett Favre may not throw against a weaker secondary in his career, which in turn means that Jerricho Cotchery and Laveraneus Coles are both good options this week.
Fantasy Drop: Either Defence is a complete non-starter, though in IDP leagues try the Jets Linebackers. Ricky Williams is a marginal play after Head Coach Tony Sparano praised Ronnie Brown's recent efforts in practice. Neither is a particularly safe bet, though of the two, Brown has the bigger upside.
Kansas City at New England
A Chiefs victory would pretty much be the biggest upset ever, but with the spread currently +16.5 to the Pats, don't be shy of a flutter on Kansas City, who could easily push them harder than most people imagine. At the very least, it's unlikely that any team will be firing on all cylinders in week one, not least an offence that has been without it's starting QB all preseason.
Fantasy Pick: Tony Gonzalez should be the main man for Brodie Croyle, but don't expect Croyle to put up big numbers himself. The Patriots are fantasy studs all round, except for one position...
Fantasy Drop: Laurence Maroney was considered a first round pick in some leagues last year. Sadly for those who may have drafted him as high as pick 8 in their Dynasty league (cough), he was a disaster, splitting time with Sammy Morris (who outperformed him in the first six weeks of the season) and never becoming a reliable starter in fantasy games. Until he rectifies that, stay away.
We'll have parts 2 and 3 tommorow.
Sunday September 7th, 1pm EST
Detroit at Atlanta
The Lions hold a big edge over the Falcons, mainly in that their high powered passing game is in direct contrast to the inexperience of the Atlanta secondary. Expect Jon Kitna to torment the Atlanta Defence, and for the Falcons to lean heavily on the running game.
Fantasy Pick: Lions WR's Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson should dominate the youthful Chris Houston and Brent Grimes. Also consider Falcons RB Jerious Norwood, who will return kicks and share carries with Michael Turner.
Fantasy Drop: The Lions Defence is not a bad unit as a whole, but could struggle against teams that rely heavily on the run. Let's be honest, if you own the Lions D, you aren't going to win your league this year.
Seattle at Buffalo
The Seahawks should edge what could be a close encounter. A lot will rely on how the Seattle receivers get going early in the game. If they establish a passing attack, it could in turn set up the backfield committee of Julius Jones, TJ Duckett, and Maurice Morris. For the Bills, their best chance is to get a lead and force the Seahawks to rely too heavily on QB Matt Hasselbeck as they chase the game. The Seahwaks are notoriously poor when playing on the east coast however,
Fantasy Pick: The Seattle Defence are (in our opinion) the best all-round unit in the league, and should be able to stifle a young Bills Offence that lacks depth.
Fantasy Drop: Any Seattle Running Back. Jones, Duckett and Morris will all split carrries. Only Jones is a last ditch starter, whilst the other two could have a great game, but will likely not.
Jacksonville at Tennessee
This is not a foregone conclusion, but in all honesty, the Jags are a safe bet to turn over the Titans in Nashville. The Titans are strong on Defence, and will need to hope that Jacksonville crumble under the pressure of being the 'sleeper' Superbowl pick this season.
Fantasy Pick: The Titans Defence gave up just 96yds per game on the ground last season, and were actually a surprisingly strong fantasy option. For some reason, we think Matt Jones could figure heavily for the Jags, and is definately worth a look if you are short at WR.
Fantasy Drop: Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew will not only split carries, but also come up against a team that can stop them running the ball. Jones-Drew has slightly better value for his return ability, but avoid Taylor, who is also coming off an arrest last weekend.
New York Jets at Miami Dolphins
We don't like this one bit. The Dolphins have the potential to upset the Jets in Miami, so if you're a betting person, it's worth a flyer for the odds you will get. Chad Pennington could easily gain revenge on the franchise that dumped him, but Brett Favre, who replaced him in New York, is as good as they come. Sunday is the litmus test for Favre, and it will be interesting to see his link up with WR Laveraneus Coles after the very public spat between Coles and the Jets over Pennington's treatment.
Fantasy Pick: Ted Ginn Jnr has looked sharper since Pennington arrived, and should be the main beneficiary of the new-found stability at the Quarterback position. Brett Favre may not throw against a weaker secondary in his career, which in turn means that Jerricho Cotchery and Laveraneus Coles are both good options this week.
Fantasy Drop: Either Defence is a complete non-starter, though in IDP leagues try the Jets Linebackers. Ricky Williams is a marginal play after Head Coach Tony Sparano praised Ronnie Brown's recent efforts in practice. Neither is a particularly safe bet, though of the two, Brown has the bigger upside.
Kansas City at New England
A Chiefs victory would pretty much be the biggest upset ever, but with the spread currently +16.5 to the Pats, don't be shy of a flutter on Kansas City, who could easily push them harder than most people imagine. At the very least, it's unlikely that any team will be firing on all cylinders in week one, not least an offence that has been without it's starting QB all preseason.
Fantasy Pick: Tony Gonzalez should be the main man for Brodie Croyle, but don't expect Croyle to put up big numbers himself. The Patriots are fantasy studs all round, except for one position...
Fantasy Drop: Laurence Maroney was considered a first round pick in some leagues last year. Sadly for those who may have drafted him as high as pick 8 in their Dynasty league (cough), he was a disaster, splitting time with Sammy Morris (who outperformed him in the first six weeks of the season) and never becoming a reliable starter in fantasy games. Until he rectifies that, stay away.
We'll have parts 2 and 3 tommorow.
Washington torched by Giants, Burress
For those of you who live in a cave, the Giants overcame the Redskins 7-16 last night in New York. Neither team scored in the second half at all, and the Redskins only got on the board with seconds to go in the first half.
Standout performers were Plaxico Burress (10 catches for 133yds), Brandon Jacobs (21 carries, 116yds) and bizarrely, Antwaan Randle El, who finished with 7 catches for 73 yards. As always, this will trigger Randle El's acquisition around fantasy leagues today, but he has a habit of tailing off after big games, so we'll hold judgement for now.
Tonight we'll break down some key fantasy picks for you. We're also still intent on bringing you our 16 player Dynasty league this season so that you can see what goes on in the deeper format of fantasy football.
Anyway, that's later this afternoon, so check back.
Standout performers were Plaxico Burress (10 catches for 133yds), Brandon Jacobs (21 carries, 116yds) and bizarrely, Antwaan Randle El, who finished with 7 catches for 73 yards. As always, this will trigger Randle El's acquisition around fantasy leagues today, but he has a habit of tailing off after big games, so we'll hold judgement for now.
Tonight we'll break down some key fantasy picks for you. We're also still intent on bringing you our 16 player Dynasty league this season so that you can see what goes on in the deeper format of fantasy football.
Anyway, that's later this afternoon, so check back.
Thursday 4 September 2008
The Wide-Right Power rankings: 2008 season
As promised, our ranking of each team in the league. It'll be updated weekly.
1: New England Patriots
Still the team to beat. A healthy Tom Brady is crucial, but as a unit, they've improved where they needed to, and managed to retain their core group on Offence. Defensively, the secondary is the only question, after losing such a quantity of players in Asante Samuel, Randall Gay, and Eugene Wilson. It's still impossible, however, to consider anyone ready to challenge the Pats. The Superbowl - again - is theirs to lose.
2: Dallas Cowboys
It says more about the question marks of others that the Cowboys are the number two team in our rankings. Perhaps on paper the team is the strongest in the NFL though, and if they can find a receiver to join T.O and Jason Witten, Dallas will be there or thereabouts come January.
3: San Diego Chargers
With a healthy Shawne Merriman, the Chargers would leapfrog the Cowboys. Unfortunately, Merriman is the key component to a formidable Defence, and his nagging knee injury could put paid to his own - and the Chargers' - hopes of a Superbowl. Apart from that, the Chargers are the Dallas of the AFC - Great on paper, but lacking that crucial edge come the post-season.
4: Indianapolis Colts
The Colts are clinging to their position at the top of the AFC South by the skin of their teeth. Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison are both questionable heading into the season, and though Harrison is replaceable, Manning is not. This team will not go if Manning doesn't, but all signs point to him at least starting the season. Whether he finishes it is another matter.
5: Jacksonville Jaguars
The tragic shooting of Richard Collier limits Jack Del Rio's options as he looks to improve his Offensive Line's play. Collier was pushing incumbent RT Khalif Barnes all the way in Camp, so his loss is a huge blow to morale in Jacksonville as his teammates enter the window that is marked 'Superbowl'. Yes, the Jags are legit. If they struggle early, however, their competitive division will make it harder to rebound.
6: Pittsburgh Steelers
Overlooked for much of the offseason, the team is still solid, and the young core that brought a Superbowl ring three years ago is still mainly together. The addition of Rashard Mendenhall in the draft will give Willie Parker a chance to rest, but the loss of Guard Alan Faneca is one of the worst personnel decisions this offseason. Still, with a solid running game, the Steelers can still make the Superbowl.
7: New Orleans Saints
Either the Secondary finally shows up, and the Saints win the NFC, or they struggle, in which case Drew Brees and the high powered offence may be able to carry them as far as the playoffs. Question marks over the Running game too, with Deuce Mcallister still struggling due to injury, and Reggie Bush well... just struggling full stop. Bush needs this season to go well, or his days in New Orleans could well be numbered.
8: New York Giants
The Giants do well to make it to 8th after the loss of their two biggest players in the Superbowl winning team of 2007. With Michael Strahan retiring, and Osi Umenyiora's season ending injury, the mantle falls to Justin Tuck to lead the line that cause such havoc for the Patriots in February. Jeremy Shockey's trade to New Orleans could be a case of 'addition by subtraction', and the Offence is actually one place that the Giants have less concern.
Also, don't get us started on how bad this team's secondary is. Like so many of the teams in the upper echelon of the NFL, they have major question marks heading into 2008 at Defensive Back. It's a pattern that has developed towards the top of the tree, with only the Cowboys and Chargers particularly outstanding in that area.
9: Cleveland Browns
Ignore the preseason: The Browns have a chance this year. Playing in the AFC North is traditionally a struggle, but with both Bengals and Ravens struggling as we head into week one, it's a straight fight between the Browns and Steelers for the Division crown. At the moment the Steelers just edge it - having been there and done that - but if the Browns fire on all cylinders, they can go deep into the playoffs.
10: Seattle Seahawks
The best Defence in the NFL will be as reliable as it has been for the last few years, but the potentially brilliant Offence is hampered by injuries and confusion over the Running game. If Deion Branch is fit, he is an elite receiver who gives the Seahawks a legitimate passing attack. When he is not, the team previously relied on Shaun Alexander. With Alexander's release, the team will ask one of Julius Jones, T.J. Duckett, or Maurice Morris to step up and claim the number one job.
11: Houston Texans
Do not adjust your monitor. Yes, the Houston texans are playoff contenders, and here's why: A passing attack that features one of the league's best receivers (Andre Johnson) and a solid Quarterback for the first time in their short history (Matt Schaub). The Defence has future stars in Fred Bennett, Mario Williams, and DeMeco Ryans, all of whom can move into the upper echelon of players at their respective positions. We think the Texans have a shot at the Playoffs, and we aren't afraid to say so. The fact is however, that even being ranked 11th in the NFL, they're still the third best team in the AFC South. In the end, their fate could well be decided by their performances against the Jags and Colts.
12: Green Bay Packers
Let's not mention the F-word. Yes, Brett Favre retired, but this team is still a playoff contender, not least because of a Defence that receives less hype than it's divisional counterparts, yet is consistently amongst the best performing units in the NFL. The biggest question is over Aaron Rodgers, who needs a good start to build momentum and win over sceptics - mainly amongst the team's own fans.
13: Washington Redskins
A poor preseason should not detract from the what has been a refreshing summer of change for the Redskins. New coach Jim Zorn should help the development of Quarterback Jason Campbell, who enters the crucial season in his career. The talent is there, but the team needs Campbell to be more consistent, and most importantly, to stay healthy through the course of 16 games. As a team, the Skins need to avoid the slow start they are renowned for. Tonight's game at New York could easily set the tone for the whole season.
14: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs are underrated even now, but perhaps they have been overshadowed by the re-emergence of the Saints as the dominant force in the NFC South. Quarterback Jeff Garcia is the master of making something out of a bad situation, and his 'backyard football' style of play should help the team more than his 'handle with care' durability hinders it. On Defence, the team needs Tanard Jackson and Barret Ruud to continue their brand of hard hitting football that could see both make the pro-bowl this year.
15: Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles are right on the borderline as far as the Playoffs are concerned. Again, like so many teams, their entire season could hinge on whether their Quarterback is still around by week 12. Donovan McNabb needs to shed the stigma of a brittle Quarterback fast if he wants to remain in Philly after this year. Brian Westbrook can not carry the team on his back - as he has done for the last two years - for much longer, and realistically, this could be both players' last shot at a Superbowl in an Eagles uniform.
16: Buffalo Bills
The Bills? Yeah, that's right. Just look who's after them if you want another shock. Yeah, we'd class the Bills as the second best team in the AFC North, even after seeing the Jets invest big money this offseason. The core group of players is there for the team to build with, especially on Defence. Realistically, it's hard to imagine a Buffalo fan that wouldn't be happy with second place in their division right now.
17: Detroit Lions
We went there alright. Sure, the Lions have question marks all over the field, but they have two of the NFL's best receivers in Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams, and a solid enough QB in Jon Kitna. A lot will hinge on if Rudi Johnson and Kevin Smith provide a backfield tandem capable of taking on a division stacked with brilliant Defences. The Lions are no exception, and again, we can't state Linebacker Ernie Sims's potential highly enough.
18: New York Jets
A crucial season for the Jets, especially their management. Can Brett Favre deliver a playoff place? If he can't there's going to be yet another offseason of 'umming and arring' in Mississippi for the veteran QB. The team is in good shape all round, but perhaps expecting Favre to help the team supplant New England is a stretch. They should be in the hunt for a wild card spot, however. On Defence, all eyes will be on 6th overall pick Vernon Gholston, but it will also be interesting to see how ILB David Harris fares over the course of a whole season.
19: Arizona Cardinals
The Cards are still in the hunt, but the fact that the team still has Quarterback issues heading into this season tells it's own story. Realistically, this team is still struggling to overcome their tag of 'perennial losers', and the fact that they have put 38yr old Kurt Warner back in charge - 3 years after he lost the QB gig - does not indicate good progress. Despite all of that, the weakness of the NFC West could save them from a poor season. Expect 8-8 or one game either side.
20: Minnesota Vikings
Why so low? Simple: They have question marks at crucial positions, and whilst they made inroads with the acquisition of Bernard Berrian at Receiver, Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson enters the season after an offseason of injury and speculation over his future. If he can pull off a winning season, Jackson will deserve all the plaudits he gets, but again, expect the team to rely too heavily on the league's best Running Back tandem - Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor - for Jackson to find a rhythm.
21: Carolina Panthers
Carolina should, in theory, be challenging New Orleans and Tampa Bay for the NFC South title, but a combination of team disharmony and a reliance on players that have a propensity to blow hot and cold (Julius Peppers, Jake Delhomme, Steve Smith), means that the team's final record could lead to either a playoff place or a top five pick next year. Smith should count for a few big plays, but he is sorely in need of help at wideout, as he finds himself the focus of any defence he faces. Delhomme too, despite a strong start last year, needs to rebound from serious elbow surgery strongly, or his long term future could be at stake.
22: Tennessee Titans
Vince Young is a good football player. With the ball in his hands he is dangerous and a threat to score with his feet and his arm, but he is hampered by a complete lack of weapons with which to make the best of his abilities. TE Alge Crumpler is a half decent addition, but Bo Scaife was already a serviceable guy at the position. Yet again, the Titans may have an outside shot at surprising some teams, but in the toughest division in the NFL, it's hard to see them making the playoffs this season.
23: Cincinnati Bengals
The Bungles? Not quite, but the disastrous last few months could have irreparably damaged their season before it has even begun. With one thing or another, the team has been through the mill so many times that it's almost surprising that Chad Johnson's name is a refreshing distraction for the team. Bad personnel decisions are still following this team around, and sooner or later, Marvin Lewis will have to take responsibility for that. This team is better than Baltimore on paper, but as a unit? When the going gets tough, this team disintegrates.
24: Oakland Raiders
As we descend the ladder, most of these teams have no hope of making the playoffs. The Raiders are, however, a classic example of a team that has managed to find it's 'rock bottom', and could be poised to break out of the mire that they have found themselves in over the last few years. QB JaMarcus Russell carries a lot of weight on his shoulders... yes, we know. He also carries expectation, but with some luck and a bit of time to adjust, he should develop into a fine player. The team's biggest asset is it's running game, which could well help the team scuttle some weak divisional rivals.
25: Miami Dolphins
Again. the Dolphins have hit their low point, and with the Parcells-Sparano combination, have a chance to surprise people. In a tough division, they could struggle, but they should certainly be better than 1-15. The key? A steady Defence. Too often the Dolphins lost on late scores, or gave up huge gains at crucial times last year. While all of the focus is on Chad Pennington at Quarterback, perhaps most important is how they cope with the loss of their two stalwart defensive players, Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas.
26: Atlanta Falcons
It may surprise some to see the Falcons so high, but this team is young, and coach Mike Smith has made some astute moves during the offseason. The drafting of Matt Ryan is a masterstroke, and without wishing to jinx anything, Ryan will be a superstar. I've never seen a Quarterback ooze 'Hall of Fame' from every pore on draft day in the last ten years. Don't forget that the team has a trio of potentially great receivers in Roddy White, Laurent Robinson, and Michael Jenkins. Add young Linebacker Curtis Lofton, and this team can win games. It will be a long road, but at least the foundations are in place for a recovery.
27: Baltimore Ravens
Unfortunately for the Ravens, the Quarterback position is the most important one on the field. Whilst Ryan earned his starting job in Atlanta based on his attitude and ability, Flacco has fallen into the Starters job perhaps slightly sooner than anticipated by many. That's not a knock on a guy who has great physical skills, but Baltimore is a Signal-Caller graveyard. If Flacco wants confirmation, he can ask Kyle Boller, on IR and probably on his way out of the door, despite being drafted in a similiar manner to Flacco in 2003. The team lives and dies on it's Defence. If they are lucky, the Ravens might get a shot at third place in their division - no higher.
28: Chicago Bears
And when we talk about a team that is carried by it's Defense... The Bears have no offence. None. Nada. Zilch. Their Quarterback is a third stringer who is in the job by default because he is not Rex Grossman, and their running game consists of a second round rookie out of Tulane (Matt Forte), and a guy coming back from two bouts of major surgery in the last two years (Kevin Jones). Finally, their best receiving threat is a converted Defensive Back-cum-Return specialist who has managed to become the team's number one receiver, such is the lack of talent on the roster. One thing we guarantee, it'll be a long season in Chicago. They'll win the odd game in inspiring fashion, playing the kind of Defence that wins championships, but they'll also lose just as many playing offence that would disgrace a high school team.
29: Denver Broncos
Contentious? No. The team can't play Defence. Champ Bailey is tremendous, an asset in every sense, but he is alone, an island in a sea of mediocrity. The team will give up huge rushing totals this year, and unfortunately, their Offence is pretty much dependent on their potentially-quite-good playmaker, WR Brandon Marshall, living up to his promise. QB Jay Cutler is one of the better players in the league, but like Bailey, he is going to spend long periods of 2008 feeling that his hard work is in vain. Thankfully, both players can book holidays for January, as they won't be needing their pads in the offseason.
30: Kansas City Chiefs
A team in rebuilding mode, but unlike the Falcons, Raiders and Dolphins, a team that could easily spend this year without a win. This team could either be great in the future, or the fans at Arrowhead could lament the 'class of 2008' in years to come. Either way, it's too soon to judge them, and the team's youth will be a big factor in many losses they experience this season. Although too soon to write off, it's best if many of the players book psychological counselling now, to avoid the rush once the season begins in Kansas City.
31: St. Louis Rams
Wow, it really isn't a good year to be in Missouri. The Rams are somehow worse than last season. Chris Long, a DE, is helping at a position of need, but realistically, St. Louis needs an Offensive line that can take the pounding of a 16 game season. Orlando Pace, Alex Barron, Rich Incognito. If you follow football, you may be familiar with these names, and likewise, if you follow injury reports, you may be familiar with these names. Marc Bulger has become re-acquainted with the St. Louis turf so often he probably shuns his wife and sleeps on the sofa, purely because the thought of spending all night lying down with someone prostrated on top of you just doesn't appeal when it is also your day job. The Rams have players who should in - theory - make this team good. Steven Jackson for example, but his holdout will set this team back 4-5 weeks, and by that time, this season is over for the Rams.
32: San Francisco 49ers
The worst team in the NFL. That's the San Francisco 49ers. Where to start? The third string QB? The 'upgraded' receiver corps of a 35yr old ex-Ram and a mediocre ex Cardinal? The addition of DeShaun Foster, a man who I wouldn't trust with the ball if his hand was covered in tar, or finally the decimated Defensive and Offensive lines? This team is shambolic, and the buck stops with coach Mike Nolan.
Nolan is a personable and friendly guy, but he has made some terrible decisions since his tenure began, and his decision to effectively give up on Alex Smith, the first overall pick just three years ago, shows that no matter what happens this year, he is unlikely to accept that he is the problem. Smith deserved better, and at least a shot at the Mike Martz offence this season. Instead, J.T. O'Sullivan will call the shots. Possibly the only bright spot is the continued ascendency of Patrick Willis, the Linebacker who is set to become one of the league's biggest stars. Indeed, the LB class of 2007, with Willis, Carolina's Jon Beason, and the Jets' David Harris, could well be one of the best in recent NFL history.
Which is certainly the only time that sentence will be used in the same paragraph as the 49ers in 2008.
1: New England Patriots
Still the team to beat. A healthy Tom Brady is crucial, but as a unit, they've improved where they needed to, and managed to retain their core group on Offence. Defensively, the secondary is the only question, after losing such a quantity of players in Asante Samuel, Randall Gay, and Eugene Wilson. It's still impossible, however, to consider anyone ready to challenge the Pats. The Superbowl - again - is theirs to lose.
2: Dallas Cowboys
It says more about the question marks of others that the Cowboys are the number two team in our rankings. Perhaps on paper the team is the strongest in the NFL though, and if they can find a receiver to join T.O and Jason Witten, Dallas will be there or thereabouts come January.
3: San Diego Chargers
With a healthy Shawne Merriman, the Chargers would leapfrog the Cowboys. Unfortunately, Merriman is the key component to a formidable Defence, and his nagging knee injury could put paid to his own - and the Chargers' - hopes of a Superbowl. Apart from that, the Chargers are the Dallas of the AFC - Great on paper, but lacking that crucial edge come the post-season.
4: Indianapolis Colts
The Colts are clinging to their position at the top of the AFC South by the skin of their teeth. Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison are both questionable heading into the season, and though Harrison is replaceable, Manning is not. This team will not go if Manning doesn't, but all signs point to him at least starting the season. Whether he finishes it is another matter.
5: Jacksonville Jaguars
The tragic shooting of Richard Collier limits Jack Del Rio's options as he looks to improve his Offensive Line's play. Collier was pushing incumbent RT Khalif Barnes all the way in Camp, so his loss is a huge blow to morale in Jacksonville as his teammates enter the window that is marked 'Superbowl'. Yes, the Jags are legit. If they struggle early, however, their competitive division will make it harder to rebound.
6: Pittsburgh Steelers
Overlooked for much of the offseason, the team is still solid, and the young core that brought a Superbowl ring three years ago is still mainly together. The addition of Rashard Mendenhall in the draft will give Willie Parker a chance to rest, but the loss of Guard Alan Faneca is one of the worst personnel decisions this offseason. Still, with a solid running game, the Steelers can still make the Superbowl.
7: New Orleans Saints
Either the Secondary finally shows up, and the Saints win the NFC, or they struggle, in which case Drew Brees and the high powered offence may be able to carry them as far as the playoffs. Question marks over the Running game too, with Deuce Mcallister still struggling due to injury, and Reggie Bush well... just struggling full stop. Bush needs this season to go well, or his days in New Orleans could well be numbered.
8: New York Giants
The Giants do well to make it to 8th after the loss of their two biggest players in the Superbowl winning team of 2007. With Michael Strahan retiring, and Osi Umenyiora's season ending injury, the mantle falls to Justin Tuck to lead the line that cause such havoc for the Patriots in February. Jeremy Shockey's trade to New Orleans could be a case of 'addition by subtraction', and the Offence is actually one place that the Giants have less concern.
Also, don't get us started on how bad this team's secondary is. Like so many of the teams in the upper echelon of the NFL, they have major question marks heading into 2008 at Defensive Back. It's a pattern that has developed towards the top of the tree, with only the Cowboys and Chargers particularly outstanding in that area.
9: Cleveland Browns
Ignore the preseason: The Browns have a chance this year. Playing in the AFC North is traditionally a struggle, but with both Bengals and Ravens struggling as we head into week one, it's a straight fight between the Browns and Steelers for the Division crown. At the moment the Steelers just edge it - having been there and done that - but if the Browns fire on all cylinders, they can go deep into the playoffs.
10: Seattle Seahawks
The best Defence in the NFL will be as reliable as it has been for the last few years, but the potentially brilliant Offence is hampered by injuries and confusion over the Running game. If Deion Branch is fit, he is an elite receiver who gives the Seahawks a legitimate passing attack. When he is not, the team previously relied on Shaun Alexander. With Alexander's release, the team will ask one of Julius Jones, T.J. Duckett, or Maurice Morris to step up and claim the number one job.
11: Houston Texans
Do not adjust your monitor. Yes, the Houston texans are playoff contenders, and here's why: A passing attack that features one of the league's best receivers (Andre Johnson) and a solid Quarterback for the first time in their short history (Matt Schaub). The Defence has future stars in Fred Bennett, Mario Williams, and DeMeco Ryans, all of whom can move into the upper echelon of players at their respective positions. We think the Texans have a shot at the Playoffs, and we aren't afraid to say so. The fact is however, that even being ranked 11th in the NFL, they're still the third best team in the AFC South. In the end, their fate could well be decided by their performances against the Jags and Colts.
12: Green Bay Packers
Let's not mention the F-word. Yes, Brett Favre retired, but this team is still a playoff contender, not least because of a Defence that receives less hype than it's divisional counterparts, yet is consistently amongst the best performing units in the NFL. The biggest question is over Aaron Rodgers, who needs a good start to build momentum and win over sceptics - mainly amongst the team's own fans.
13: Washington Redskins
A poor preseason should not detract from the what has been a refreshing summer of change for the Redskins. New coach Jim Zorn should help the development of Quarterback Jason Campbell, who enters the crucial season in his career. The talent is there, but the team needs Campbell to be more consistent, and most importantly, to stay healthy through the course of 16 games. As a team, the Skins need to avoid the slow start they are renowned for. Tonight's game at New York could easily set the tone for the whole season.
14: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs are underrated even now, but perhaps they have been overshadowed by the re-emergence of the Saints as the dominant force in the NFC South. Quarterback Jeff Garcia is the master of making something out of a bad situation, and his 'backyard football' style of play should help the team more than his 'handle with care' durability hinders it. On Defence, the team needs Tanard Jackson and Barret Ruud to continue their brand of hard hitting football that could see both make the pro-bowl this year.
15: Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles are right on the borderline as far as the Playoffs are concerned. Again, like so many teams, their entire season could hinge on whether their Quarterback is still around by week 12. Donovan McNabb needs to shed the stigma of a brittle Quarterback fast if he wants to remain in Philly after this year. Brian Westbrook can not carry the team on his back - as he has done for the last two years - for much longer, and realistically, this could be both players' last shot at a Superbowl in an Eagles uniform.
16: Buffalo Bills
The Bills? Yeah, that's right. Just look who's after them if you want another shock. Yeah, we'd class the Bills as the second best team in the AFC North, even after seeing the Jets invest big money this offseason. The core group of players is there for the team to build with, especially on Defence. Realistically, it's hard to imagine a Buffalo fan that wouldn't be happy with second place in their division right now.
17: Detroit Lions
We went there alright. Sure, the Lions have question marks all over the field, but they have two of the NFL's best receivers in Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams, and a solid enough QB in Jon Kitna. A lot will hinge on if Rudi Johnson and Kevin Smith provide a backfield tandem capable of taking on a division stacked with brilliant Defences. The Lions are no exception, and again, we can't state Linebacker Ernie Sims's potential highly enough.
18: New York Jets
A crucial season for the Jets, especially their management. Can Brett Favre deliver a playoff place? If he can't there's going to be yet another offseason of 'umming and arring' in Mississippi for the veteran QB. The team is in good shape all round, but perhaps expecting Favre to help the team supplant New England is a stretch. They should be in the hunt for a wild card spot, however. On Defence, all eyes will be on 6th overall pick Vernon Gholston, but it will also be interesting to see how ILB David Harris fares over the course of a whole season.
19: Arizona Cardinals
The Cards are still in the hunt, but the fact that the team still has Quarterback issues heading into this season tells it's own story. Realistically, this team is still struggling to overcome their tag of 'perennial losers', and the fact that they have put 38yr old Kurt Warner back in charge - 3 years after he lost the QB gig - does not indicate good progress. Despite all of that, the weakness of the NFC West could save them from a poor season. Expect 8-8 or one game either side.
20: Minnesota Vikings
Why so low? Simple: They have question marks at crucial positions, and whilst they made inroads with the acquisition of Bernard Berrian at Receiver, Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson enters the season after an offseason of injury and speculation over his future. If he can pull off a winning season, Jackson will deserve all the plaudits he gets, but again, expect the team to rely too heavily on the league's best Running Back tandem - Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor - for Jackson to find a rhythm.
21: Carolina Panthers
Carolina should, in theory, be challenging New Orleans and Tampa Bay for the NFC South title, but a combination of team disharmony and a reliance on players that have a propensity to blow hot and cold (Julius Peppers, Jake Delhomme, Steve Smith), means that the team's final record could lead to either a playoff place or a top five pick next year. Smith should count for a few big plays, but he is sorely in need of help at wideout, as he finds himself the focus of any defence he faces. Delhomme too, despite a strong start last year, needs to rebound from serious elbow surgery strongly, or his long term future could be at stake.
22: Tennessee Titans
Vince Young is a good football player. With the ball in his hands he is dangerous and a threat to score with his feet and his arm, but he is hampered by a complete lack of weapons with which to make the best of his abilities. TE Alge Crumpler is a half decent addition, but Bo Scaife was already a serviceable guy at the position. Yet again, the Titans may have an outside shot at surprising some teams, but in the toughest division in the NFL, it's hard to see them making the playoffs this season.
23: Cincinnati Bengals
The Bungles? Not quite, but the disastrous last few months could have irreparably damaged their season before it has even begun. With one thing or another, the team has been through the mill so many times that it's almost surprising that Chad Johnson's name is a refreshing distraction for the team. Bad personnel decisions are still following this team around, and sooner or later, Marvin Lewis will have to take responsibility for that. This team is better than Baltimore on paper, but as a unit? When the going gets tough, this team disintegrates.
24: Oakland Raiders
As we descend the ladder, most of these teams have no hope of making the playoffs. The Raiders are, however, a classic example of a team that has managed to find it's 'rock bottom', and could be poised to break out of the mire that they have found themselves in over the last few years. QB JaMarcus Russell carries a lot of weight on his shoulders... yes, we know. He also carries expectation, but with some luck and a bit of time to adjust, he should develop into a fine player. The team's biggest asset is it's running game, which could well help the team scuttle some weak divisional rivals.
25: Miami Dolphins
Again. the Dolphins have hit their low point, and with the Parcells-Sparano combination, have a chance to surprise people. In a tough division, they could struggle, but they should certainly be better than 1-15. The key? A steady Defence. Too often the Dolphins lost on late scores, or gave up huge gains at crucial times last year. While all of the focus is on Chad Pennington at Quarterback, perhaps most important is how they cope with the loss of their two stalwart defensive players, Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas.
26: Atlanta Falcons
It may surprise some to see the Falcons so high, but this team is young, and coach Mike Smith has made some astute moves during the offseason. The drafting of Matt Ryan is a masterstroke, and without wishing to jinx anything, Ryan will be a superstar. I've never seen a Quarterback ooze 'Hall of Fame' from every pore on draft day in the last ten years. Don't forget that the team has a trio of potentially great receivers in Roddy White, Laurent Robinson, and Michael Jenkins. Add young Linebacker Curtis Lofton, and this team can win games. It will be a long road, but at least the foundations are in place for a recovery.
27: Baltimore Ravens
Unfortunately for the Ravens, the Quarterback position is the most important one on the field. Whilst Ryan earned his starting job in Atlanta based on his attitude and ability, Flacco has fallen into the Starters job perhaps slightly sooner than anticipated by many. That's not a knock on a guy who has great physical skills, but Baltimore is a Signal-Caller graveyard. If Flacco wants confirmation, he can ask Kyle Boller, on IR and probably on his way out of the door, despite being drafted in a similiar manner to Flacco in 2003. The team lives and dies on it's Defence. If they are lucky, the Ravens might get a shot at third place in their division - no higher.
28: Chicago Bears
And when we talk about a team that is carried by it's Defense... The Bears have no offence. None. Nada. Zilch. Their Quarterback is a third stringer who is in the job by default because he is not Rex Grossman, and their running game consists of a second round rookie out of Tulane (Matt Forte), and a guy coming back from two bouts of major surgery in the last two years (Kevin Jones). Finally, their best receiving threat is a converted Defensive Back-cum-Return specialist who has managed to become the team's number one receiver, such is the lack of talent on the roster. One thing we guarantee, it'll be a long season in Chicago. They'll win the odd game in inspiring fashion, playing the kind of Defence that wins championships, but they'll also lose just as many playing offence that would disgrace a high school team.
29: Denver Broncos
Contentious? No. The team can't play Defence. Champ Bailey is tremendous, an asset in every sense, but he is alone, an island in a sea of mediocrity. The team will give up huge rushing totals this year, and unfortunately, their Offence is pretty much dependent on their potentially-quite-good playmaker, WR Brandon Marshall, living up to his promise. QB Jay Cutler is one of the better players in the league, but like Bailey, he is going to spend long periods of 2008 feeling that his hard work is in vain. Thankfully, both players can book holidays for January, as they won't be needing their pads in the offseason.
30: Kansas City Chiefs
A team in rebuilding mode, but unlike the Falcons, Raiders and Dolphins, a team that could easily spend this year without a win. This team could either be great in the future, or the fans at Arrowhead could lament the 'class of 2008' in years to come. Either way, it's too soon to judge them, and the team's youth will be a big factor in many losses they experience this season. Although too soon to write off, it's best if many of the players book psychological counselling now, to avoid the rush once the season begins in Kansas City.
31: St. Louis Rams
Wow, it really isn't a good year to be in Missouri. The Rams are somehow worse than last season. Chris Long, a DE, is helping at a position of need, but realistically, St. Louis needs an Offensive line that can take the pounding of a 16 game season. Orlando Pace, Alex Barron, Rich Incognito. If you follow football, you may be familiar with these names, and likewise, if you follow injury reports, you may be familiar with these names. Marc Bulger has become re-acquainted with the St. Louis turf so often he probably shuns his wife and sleeps on the sofa, purely because the thought of spending all night lying down with someone prostrated on top of you just doesn't appeal when it is also your day job. The Rams have players who should in - theory - make this team good. Steven Jackson for example, but his holdout will set this team back 4-5 weeks, and by that time, this season is over for the Rams.
32: San Francisco 49ers
The worst team in the NFL. That's the San Francisco 49ers. Where to start? The third string QB? The 'upgraded' receiver corps of a 35yr old ex-Ram and a mediocre ex Cardinal? The addition of DeShaun Foster, a man who I wouldn't trust with the ball if his hand was covered in tar, or finally the decimated Defensive and Offensive lines? This team is shambolic, and the buck stops with coach Mike Nolan.
Nolan is a personable and friendly guy, but he has made some terrible decisions since his tenure began, and his decision to effectively give up on Alex Smith, the first overall pick just three years ago, shows that no matter what happens this year, he is unlikely to accept that he is the problem. Smith deserved better, and at least a shot at the Mike Martz offence this season. Instead, J.T. O'Sullivan will call the shots. Possibly the only bright spot is the continued ascendency of Patrick Willis, the Linebacker who is set to become one of the league's biggest stars. Indeed, the LB class of 2007, with Willis, Carolina's Jon Beason, and the Jets' David Harris, could well be one of the best in recent NFL history.
Which is certainly the only time that sentence will be used in the same paragraph as the 49ers in 2008.
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