NFL FanHouse http://nfl.fanhouse.com NFL FanHouse http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif NFL FanHouse http://nfl.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Orton's Return Opens NFL's Stretch Runhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/23/ortons-return-opens-nfls-stretch-run/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/23/ortons-return-opens-nfls-stretch-run/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/23/ortons-return-opens-nfls-stretch-run/#commentsFiled under: ,

The NFL season officially hit the homestretch late in the second quarter in Denver on Sunday when Josh McDaniels, his Broncos trailing San Diego 13-3, inserted gimpy starting quarterback Kyle Orton for struggling backup Chris Simms.

Denver lost, 32-3, although the offense did get better with Orton leading it.

But that's not the point. The point is that McDaniels, whose team had lost three in a row coming in, felt Sunday's game was so critical that he needed to insert Orton and risk further injury to the ligaments in the QB's ankle, even with another game coming up in four days. It's like George Allen's old slogan for the Redskins of the 70s: "The future is now.'' Except that Allen's slogan worked a lot better than Orton worked for the Broncos -- he certainly was better than Simms, but it didn't matter much.

Regardless, the start of the stretch run came on a strange day, one in which the best game was the one that mattered least: Detroit's 38-37 last-play win over Cleveland after an end-zone pass interference call on a Hail Mary that kept the game alive. It's a call that's almost never made -- the officiating department has quietly made known to the zebras that they are to call interference on a desperation pass only when it's flagrant.

In this case, the replays showed it was pretty flagrant and two officials threw flags. And it capped a game that a lot of people expected to end 3-2 (hey, there was one safety), instead of the way it did. In fact, Cleveland's four offensive touchdowns were only one less than it had scored in its last 15 games combined. Yes, back to last season.

In any case, this is the way things look going into the final six games:

In the NFC, it probably will be a surprise if anyone but New Orleans and Minnesota play in the conference title game. Although upsets happen in the playoffs and teams that seem to be locks (the '07 Cowboys, for example) often aren't.

But both teams just seem better than everyone else. Yes, Arizona is reminding people that it's the defending conference champion. And if the Cowboys, Giants and Eagles get people healthy and/or figure out why they're stumbling around, they have enough talent to cause problems in the playoffs And, of course, there's always the injury factor -- scratch Drew Brees and/or especially 40-year-old Brett Favre, and the Saints and Vikings come back to the pretty mediocre pack.

But that's always true for any team. So put Arizona and one of the East teams in and assume the other East teams will battle with Green Bay and Carolina for a wild card. But this probably isn't an upset season.

The AFC is a little trickier, although with Pittsburgh losing games on special teams and with Ben Roethlisberger going down with a head injury, this looks like another down post-Super Bowl season for the Steelers. That leaves the three usual suspects for most of this decade: Indianapolis, New England and San Diego.

Throw in Cincinnati, which will win the North despite its stumble in Oakland on Sunday -- all four teams in the AFC North lost on Saturday, two of them to awful AFC West teams. That Bengals' loss was almost predictable given the potential letdown after a win in Pittsburgh and they still are 5-0 in the division. But they don't have the playoff experience to make the kind of run at the Colts, Patriots and Chargers.

Which gets us back to the Broncos, their 6-0 start now turned into 6-4. Given their division, they can regroup late and make the playoffs as a wild-card entry, but probably not much more.

And first ....

Let's see how Orton's ankle is on three days' rest.

Orton's Return Opens NFL's Stretch Run originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>ben roethlisbergerbrett favredrew breesjosh mcdanielskyle ortonDave GoldbergMon, 23 Nov 2009 02:00:00 EST No Tears, Just Dismal Truth for Jetshttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/no-tears-just-dismal-truth-for-jets/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/no-tears-just-dismal-truth-for-jets/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/no-tears-just-dismal-truth-for-jets/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Mark SanchezFOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- It was a what-else-can-go-wrong game for the Jets that revealed their warts and showcased the Patriots' muscle. Everything about this 31-14 Patriots victory here on Sunday essentially pointed to one fact: the Jets are frauds.

They talked a big game before the first snap of the season and more smack when they toppled the Patriots 16-9 back in Week 2. They were throwing a rookie quarterback sensation at opponents, combined with a defense designed to growl and intimidate.

They sped to three straight victories -- but have since lost six of seven games. And those six losses have come in a pair of three-game losing skids, including the current one. They are a 4-6 team steamrolling to a 7-9 or 6-10 season.

Rex Ryan cried last week before his team while trying to convince them how much he still believed in them. Here on Sunday, he had no tears to shed and no fingers to point.

But the culprits were inescapable.

The rookie quarterback, Mark Sanchez, was awful (four interceptions, one lost fumble, just 8 of 21 passes completed for 136 yards).

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And the play-calling by offensive coordinator Brian Schotteheimer was haphazard. Sanchez was given far too much freedom to make far too many mistakes that killed the Jets, beginning with his pick returned 53 yards for a touchdown by Patriots cornerback Leigh Bodden with nearly six minutes left in the first quarter. Those were the game's first points. This after the Jets' defense had stopped the Patriots' offense cold on their first two possessions, with the Jets forcing a fumble and the recovering it on that second possession. Four plays later, Sanchez hit Bodden going the other way. The Patriots would never trail.

The Jets on offense were too frisky, too fancy with Sanchez. After the game they reminded everyone he is a rookie quarterback. Someone should remind them of that before games -- they keep dialing plays and putting him in positions to make tough throws against crafty defenses that are baiting him.

The Patriots smothered Sanchez. They pushed his touchdown/interception differential to a weak 10/16 this season.

It was easy to see which team is 7-3 and leads the AFC East. And which team has crashed.

"We kept the pressure on him, which is what you do to a rookie quarterback," Bodden said of his three picks and of Sanchez's 37.1 quarterback rating for the game. "I know after they beat us the first time back in New York, nobody was saying how much of a rookie he was. After that second game of the season, they were living it up. Hey, it was only the second game of a long season. We are in it for the long haul."

The Jets?

Ryan has said all year that his team is a "good" team. A couple of times after this latest disaster, he was saying it was a "decent" team and that "we've got to look at what we're asking him [Sanchez] to do."


Excellent idea. Less is more. New York running back Thomas Jones had a game-high 103 yards rushing and averaged 4.9 yards per carry. The Jets ran it 21 times and threw it 21 times. But even that proved too much of a burden for Sanchez in this game.

The Jets have long been seduced by the unique plays he can execute, and they simply keep calling for more and more, when the rookie is not ready for consistent greatness. It was a miserable experience for Sanchez. For all of the Jets.

There is no way the veteran players in the Jets locker room do not see how the young quarterback is being given too much, too soon to solve. There is no way the head coach is not beginning to see that. To ask about that. To ponder changing that.

Of course, the Patriots have no such problems

They have 10-year veteran Tom Brady. He was a ho-hum (for him) 28 of 41 for 310 yards and a touchdown pass. He helped make sure the Patriots scored in every quarter but the third. And he kept finding receiver Wes Welker.

Welker burned the Jets for career-highs in catches (15) and receiving yards (192). Late in the first quarter, Welker let the Jets know that it was going to be about him all day. Already ahead 7-0 after Bodden's big scoring return off Sanchez, the Patriots made it 14-0 as time expired in the first quarter on a Brady 4-yard touchdown pass to Randy Moss. But on that 76-yard scoring drive, Welker caught passes of 17, 15 and 19 yards and added a run of 11 yards. It was a special spree of one-man domination for the Patriots. It was embarrassing for the Jets.

The Jets were supposed to re-route him, keep a hand on him at the line of scrimmage, jolt him, knock him off his feet. Welker turned that plan into a joke. He out-maneuvered all of the Jets. He outplayed them. He was a slippery headache.

Welker set Patriots' franchise records for most catches in a non-overtime game and most receiving yards in a home game.

"When you're in the slot," said Brady of Welker's positions, "you have the whole field to work. You can go short inside, short outside, long outside, long inside, you can stop at any point and you're typically on the third DB [defensive back] that comes on the field. You've got to see things very quickly. Wes is able to use his quickness to get open over the middle, in the flat, down the field. Wes really took advantage of it."

The Patriots have put that sour loss at Indianapolis behind them. They mauled the Jets. Now the Patriots travel to play at the undefeated New Orleans Saints next Monday, and then they play at AFC East rival Miami. New England feels perfectly suited for both tasks.

For the Jets -- well, who really believe that, with games against the Panthers, Falcons and Bengals and at Buffalo, Tampa Bay and Indianapolis, that they can finish with a winning record, let alone a with a playoff berth? It is unclear if the Jets even think it possible.

"We are a desperate football team now," Jets linebacker Bart Scott said.

With no magic remedy, he added.

Here's a start-up solution -- rely more on your defense, running game and special teams, and less on your rookie quarterback. Let him be a complement for now, not the axis. That time will come.

The Patriots are happy to be above and beyond all of that.

"I think you have to give all the credit in the world to the players," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "The Jets are a tough football team, but I was really proud of the way our guys stepped up and played all the way through."

Belichick said he saw this coming from a high-energy team practice on Wednesday.

But we've heard and seen for much longer the bottom coming for the Jets, with their big mouths and their bungled use of Sanchez.

No Tears, Just Dismal Truth for Jets originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Leigh BoddenMark SanchezThomas JonesTom BradyThomas GeorgeSun, 22 Nov 2009 23:30:00 EST Despite Win, Giants Are Still in Troublehttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/win-shmin-giants-are-still-in-trouble/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/win-shmin-giants-are-still-in-trouble/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/win-shmin-giants-are-still-in-trouble/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Eli Manning and the Giants' offense did everything it could to win the game, even as the defense tried to give it away.EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Man, you really gotta love that NFC East. Up here in the swamps of Jersey on Sunday, the Giants played as little fourth-quarter defense as possible but still pulled out a 34-31 overtime victory over a Falcons team that refused to play any defense all day. Meanwhile, back in Texas, the Cowboys waited until the last possible second to show up and beat the Redskins. Some kind of inspiring day for the teams at the top of a division that was supposed to rank among the NFL's best. And while the Giants' players and coaches said all the right things here (a win is a win, after all, and they hadn't had one in a month and a half), the most insightful thing anybody said came out of the mouth of defensive end Justin Tuck.

"We got the win and that's great," Tuck said. "But I don't like how we finished this game at all."

Technically, they finished it fine. They won the OT coin flip, marched down the field against the black-and-red tissue paper the Falcons are using for a defense and kicked the winning field goal. But Tuck was referring to the way the Giants' defense finished the fourth quarter, with Atlanta scoring two touchdowns in the final 6:07 of regulation to tie the game and send it to overtime. That's the part of the game that should alarm Giants fans as they size up the season's final six weeks.

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"I am concerned," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said when asked about his defense. "I think we are capable of playing better. The first half and into the third quarter was fine and then they seemed to be able to move the ball in the air against whatever we were in. We've just got to keep working."

As Coughlin said, the Giants did a nifty job against Atlanta QB Matt Ryan and tight end Tony Gonzalez for the first three quarters. They got good pressure on Ryan and ran all kinds of looks to neutralize Gonzalez, more than once dropping Tuck or another defensive lineman into coverage against him. But when it came time to stop the Falcons from moving the ball down the field, a Giants defense that couldn't stop anybody during the four-game losing streak that led into last week's bye looked woeful.

"We knew, when it was a one-touchdown difference (with 6:07 to go), we had to keep the ball on offense," Coughlin said. "We didn't."

But that's kind of harsh, Coach, to put that on the offense. The Giants outgained the Falcons 456-352 in total yards in this game. On that final series, Brandon Jacobs was out of the game with a knee injury (he said afterwards he was fine and could have re-entered the game in OT if necessary) and the Giants did still move the ball 27 yards and run 2:01 off the clock before punting the ball back to Ryan. Hanging Atlanta's game-tying drive on the offense for giving them back the ball makes it sound like you're giving short shrift to Eli Manning and his 384 passing yards.

That wasn't it, though. Coughlin actually had high praise for Manning, saying, "When he is playing with that kind of confidence, the whole team really rides right along." What Coughlin was really saying when he said the offense had to keep the ball (whether he meant it or not) was that he didn't trust his defense to get the stop. And that's a problem.

"It's something we've definitely got to rectify," defensive tackle Barry Cofield said. "The last two games, that's happened to us on the most important drive of the game -- against San Diego to lose the game and (Sunday) to tie it up."

Which is why everybody was watching that overtime coin flip so closely.

"Once we won the toss," linebacker Michael Boley said, "I had no doubt in my mind Eli and our offense were going to take the ball down the field and score."

Problem is, if Atlanta had won the toss and elected to receive, the Falcons would have been fully justified in having the same exact feeling.

Now look. The Giants did win the game. They are 6-4 and a game behind Dallas in the East. The Cowboys obviously have their own problems, and the Eagles theirs. Heck, if the Redskins had held on against Dallas, they'd only be two games out of first in the supposedly big, bad NFC East. The Giants are by no means in a place from which they can't come back and make the playoffs.

But I say the emperor has no clothes. They're not going to face a roll-over defense like Atlanta's every week. They go to Denver on Thursday night, where the Broncos are going to need a win badly. Then the two weeks after that feature tough divisional games against the Cowboys (who ran for 250 yards against them in a Week 2 loss) and the Eagles (who own them and know it). The Giants are going to have to figure out a way to stop somebody somewhere in the next month, or they are going to find their season in serious trouble.

It's not going to be easy. They still haven't replaced injured safety Kenny Phillips (hence the defensive ends in pass coverage, etc.), and to hear the players in the locker room talk they're very concerned about how they're going to replace injured linebacker Antonio Pierce.

For a day, the Giants got to feel like winners, which they badly needed. ("It's been miserable around here for a month," Coughlin said.) But with a defense like the one they're running out there on a weekly basis, that's a feeling they're going to have a hard time finding again for much of the rest of 2009.
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Despite Win, Giants Are Still in Trouble originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>antonio pierceatlanta falconseli manningjustin tucknew york giantstom coughlintony gonzalezDan GrazianoSun, 22 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST NFL Week 11 Live Tweethttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/nfl-week-11-live-tweet/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/nfl-week-11-live-tweet/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/nfl-week-11-live-tweet/#commentsFiled under:

It's Week 11 of the 2009 NFL season and we've got some big games ahead of us this afternoon: Colts vs. Ravens, Redskins vs. Cowboys, Falcons vs. Giants, Jets vs. Patriots and Chargers vs. Broncos are among the big games of the day.

I'll be watching all of those (and even some Browns vs. Lions) on my three-TV home office, with my wife at my side and DirecTV's NFL Sunday Ticket keeping me constantly informed, and I'll be tweeting about all of it. So if you want to know what's going on today in the NFL, follow along below or follow me on Twitter @MichaelDavSmith.

Twitter Updates on NFL Week 11

NFL Week 11 Live Tweet originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:47:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Michael David SmithSun, 22 Nov 2009 12:47:00 EST Thursday-and-Long: It's Rex Ryan's Party, He Can Cry If He Wants Tohttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/19/thursday-and-long-its-rexs-party-he-can-cry-if-he-wants-to/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/19/thursday-and-long-its-rexs-party-he-can-cry-if-he-wants-to/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/19/thursday-and-long-its-rexs-party-he-can-cry-if-he-wants-to/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Don't listen to them tell you how to act, Rex Ryan. You'll do us all a favor if you keep being yourself.Could we all please stop telling Rex Ryan how to live his life? I mean, I think we should stop telling everybody how to live their lives, but we can start with Rex. Poor guy has coached nine games in the NFL and has already been called everything from a breath of fresh air to a blowhard to a crybaby. Yeah, in case you haven't heard the last thing on the Jets' head coach is that he cried during a team meeting Monday morning. The New York Post broke the story, and it became a big deal in New York. Ryan, to his credit, brought of box of tissues to his Wednesday news conference, joked that he'd just scored a sponsorship deal with Kleenex and said, "I'm man enough to be me."

"I'll be true to myself," Ryan said. "I'm always going to be, and I said that from day one. If I don't fit the stereotype of coach-speak or anything else, so be it. I'm always going to be myself."

Can I say I hope Ryan is reading this when I type, "Thank goodness?"

I mean, god forbid anybody in the NFL act a little different from everybody else in the NFL, right? Somebody new comes along, been dreaming of this job his whole life and decides he's going to do it the way he always imagined he'd do it instead of the way everybody thinks he should, and just because his team hits the midseason skids we're supposed to take him for some kind of jerk? He kids around about Bill Belichick's rings or get into a long-distance insult match with Channing Crowder, and he's supposed to button up until he's won something? He encourages his players to talk trash, and we're supposed to believe that's the reason they're losing?

If Mark Sanchez were still throwing the ball the way he did in September, and Leon Washington were still scatting and dancing in and out of the backfield, and Kris Jenkins were still clogging up things in the middle on defense, would this even be an issue? (Well, Ryan might not be crying, but you get the point.) And is it ridiculous to imagine that what Ryan says and does is a reflection of what he truly thinks and feels, as opposed to some kind of motivational or misdirection ploy?

The popular doctrine states that Ryan's act is "refreshing" only if the Jets win. What a bunch of simple-minded hogwash. First off, Ryan's players adore him, so it shouldn't really matter what the establishment thinks. And secondly, are we all so conditioned now to think that winning is the only important thing that we forget that what we're watching is supposed to have some entertainment value? Rex Ryan has entertainment value win or lose. Win or lose, sincerity, humor, emotion and perspective-infused intensity are refreshing in an NFL increasingly populated with scowling, hoodie-wearing clones.

Let's all stop judging Ryan on every word that comes out of his mouth and every tear that drops from his eyes. Let's take a step back and ponder whether the measure of this guy as a head coach might come down to more than the first nine games. Let's all chill out and let the man be himself. If we do that, we might all realize that he's actually fun to listen to. That maybe he's an actual person, maybe even a good guy. Maybe even somebody we can admire and learn something from. Even if he doesn't make the playoffs.

Isn't that a bizarre concept?

Ground Control Update

I've been trying to track a stat for which I don't yet have a name (but am still taking suggestions). It's designed to measure how teams control the run game on both sides of the ball, and it's a simple calculation. You take a team's yards-per-carry on offense and subtract the yards-per-carry it allows on defense. For instance, the best teams in the league at this are the Titans (5.5 ypc offense, 4.4 ypc against on defense) and the 49ers (4.4 on offense, 3.3 against on defense), who both score a +1.1.

I'm going to run a picture of Chris Johnson in this spot every week until somebody holds him under 200 total yards.As you can see, these teams get to the number quite differently. Tennessee and curve-buster Chris Johnson (yes, I'm going to run a photo of him in this spot every week until somebody holds him under 200 total yards) are a more prolific run team than San Francisco by more than a yard per carry, but San Francisco is much better at stopping the run. But in a ground-acquisition game, total net yards are a worthwhile metric, so to me both Tennessee (which is already out of it) and San Francisco are candidates for strong finishes if they can control to control their run games and those of their opponents so well.

The only other team currently scoring at least a +1 is the Dallas Cowboys, which makes the fact that they called 14 run plays and 39 pass plays in Sunday's loss to the Packers seem even more idiotic than it does on its face. The Cowboys, as has been written here and elsewhere before, must lean on running backs Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice if they are to be consistent and successful. They can love Tony Romo all they want, but the three backs are what give them an edge on their NFC rivals. The trick is, they have to actually use them.

There are four teams -- Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Green Bay and Miami -- that score a +0.9 on this scale. Those Ravens aren't done yet, I tell ya...

At the other end, it's the Houston Texans who do the worst, averaging a league-worst 3.3 yards per carry on offense and allowing opponents 4.7 yards per carry on defense for an eye-poppingly rotten -1.4. They're in scary company, too. The -1.0 teams are Kansas City, Buffalo and Cleveland. And while San Diego checks in at -0.9, the four teams in front of them are Detroit and Tampa Bay (both -0.8) and Oakland and Seattle (both at -0.5).

As brilliant as Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson may be, it doesn't bode well for the Texans to make a playoff run if they can't control the running game at all. We'd say the same about San Diego, but as long as the Broncos keep tailspinning, they can win the AFC West without calling another run play all year.

Hat Tip of the Week -- LaTorsha Tomlinson.

Leaving a positive pregnancy test in husband LaDanian's locker before the game inspired the all-time-great Chargers' RB to a vintage performance against the Eagles on Sunday. The couple had struggled to get pregnant and endured a 2005 miscarriage, and LaDanian was emotional when he revealed after the game what his wife had done. We live in a society that places impossible demands on its sports heroes, and we all forget sometimes that they're human beings who can have bad days/weeks/months at work for the same reasons the rest of us do. What a touching and uplifting reminder of that the Tomlinsons' story was.

Three for the Road -- After two very strong weeks, Three for the Road went a pitiful 0-3 last week, losing with the Cowboys in Green Bay, the Eagles in San Diego and yes, the Patriots in Indianapolis. Really felt like I had that last one. And I wish I'd had the guts to pick the Bengals in Pittsburgh, but I didn't.

For those unfamiliar, road teams in the NFL are a combined 62-82 this year -- a winning percentage of just .431. But that doesn't stop me from using this spot each week to pick three road teams I think will win. Thanks to last week's tumble, I'm now 5-4 since I started doing this. Here are this week's three road teams I like:

1. Miami over Carolina. No, the short week has not been kind to the Dolphins, who got the news Wednesday that star running back Ronnie Brown is out for the year. But Miami is the toughest, scrappiest, hard-fightingest team in the league, and I have a hunch Ricky Williams and the defense step up with a big one tonight against a Panthers team that thinks (mistakenly) that it's back in the playoff hunt.

2. San Diego over Denver. The Chargers have burned us all before, and could lay an egg in Denver the way the Cowboys did last week in Green Bay. But Kyle Orton is hobbling and the Broncos are hurtling back toward earth with the speed and grace of a mortally wounded goose. The Chargers were supposed to be the class of the AFC West, and this is the week that reminds us of that.

3. Tennessee over Houston. Just have this feeling that Chris "Sonic the Hedgehog" Johnson and Monday Night Football were made for each other.

It's Just a Fantasy -- Three guys I wish I had on my fantasy team this week :

1. Ricky Williams vs. Carolina. Not because of the opponent, but because of the upgrade in situation. Williams has been scoring like a starting RB all year, and with the Brown injury he now gets to be one. Sure, he's 32, but he took enough time off that his body hasn't absorbed the pounding most RBs take by 32. He can be the Dolphins' No. 1 RB, their wildcat QB, whatever they need, and I see a big finish.

2. Andre Johnson vs. Tennessee. Talk about guys who are in for a big finish. With Owen Daniels out and Houston's schedule soft against the pass, Big Andre is in line for even more targets and even more jaw-dropping plays over the season's final seven weeks.

3. Anquan Boldin vs. St. Louis. What can I tell you? My team is light on WRs. Boldin is getting healthier, Arizona's schedule is getting easier and it doesn't get a whole lot easier than the Rams.

(Not) Traveling Man

This week I'm staying close to home, making the 20-minute drive down Route 17 to the Meadowlands to see the Falcons play the Giants. Did you know this is the fourth time this year the Falcons have played a team that was coming off its bye week? Impressively, they were 2-1 in the first three, beating the Bears in Week 6 and the Redskins in Week 9 while losing to the Cowboys in Week 7. I say the Giants drop that record to 2-2. They seem like they're in a decent place mentally in spite of the four-game losing streak. Danny Ware being healthy enough to take his place in the running back rotation will actually help Brandon Jacobs be more comfortable. And the Atlanta defense is a mess, particularly at cornerback, where Eli Manning should be able to pick them apart. There are just too many reasons to like the Giants here, in a game where the loser will drop to 5-5 and into big playoff-picture trouble.

Thursday-and-Long: It's Rex Ryan's Party, He Can Cry If He Wants To originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>andre johnsonanquan boldinbaltimore ravensbill belichickchris johnsondallas cowboyshouston texansladanian tomlinsonmiami dolphinsnew york jetsrex ryanricky williamssan diego chargerssan francisco 49erstennessee titansDan GrazianoThu, 19 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST How Might Miami Replace Ronnie Brown?http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/19/how-will-miami-replace-ronnie-brown/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/19/how-will-miami-replace-ronnie-brown/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/19/how-will-miami-replace-ronnie-brown/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ronnie BrownThe Dolphins announced Wednesday that leading running back Ronnie Brown had been placed on injured reserve with a right foot injury, ending his 2009 season. Brown had accumulated 648 yards rushing and eight touchdowns, plus a passing touchdown, and stepped in at the "quarterback" spot in Miami's Wildcat offense.

Miami may be as equipped as any team in the NFL to lose its No. 1 back and still run a consistent offense. Ricky Williams will take over as the team's starter, with guys like Ted Ginn, Jr., and rookie quarterback Pat White capable of picking up extra Wildcat duties. Still, Miami's offense puts a lot of pressure on the running back position -- behind Williams now is second-year guy Lex Hilliard, who has zero NFL carries.

But there are lots of recognizable free agents available, should Miami go that route. A look at some of the possibilities:

- Edgerrin James: At 31 years old, James doesn't look like he has much left in the tank. Arizona cut him way back in April, then Seattle did the same after James played seven games in a Seahawks uniform, rushing for 125 yards on 46 carries -- a measly 2.7 yards per carry (ypc) average. He's certainly not the James of old, and he wouldn't really fit in anywhere in the Wildcat. Still, he's got an extreme experience advantage over Hilliard or Smith, and might take a backup role in hopes of somehow reviving his career.

- T.J. Duckett: Another guy that the Seahawks decided they'd be better off without -- and another guy that doesn't really fit with the Wildcat -- Duckett could still serve a role as a short-yardage guy who spells Williams for 8-10 carries a game. He had just a 2.8 ypc mark in 16 games with Seattle last season, but did find the end zone eight times.

- Dominic Rhodes: It's a bit surprising Rhodes hasn't found a home somewhere -- though he can blame Buffalo for some of that, after the Bills signed him in the offseason, then cut him prior to September. He had 22 starts between 2006-08, including holding down the fort as Indianapolis' No. 1 back through the entire '06 year. Is he a superstar? No, and he never was, but he's a guy that you can count on for some decent stats.

- Tatum Bell/Michael Pittman: Why are they together? Because they're playing on the same UFL team, the Florida Tuskers. And both played for Denver in 2008 -- with Bell averaging almost six yards per rush, and Pittman topping four. Either guy would be a serviceable second back, with Pittman able to do some blocking as well.

- Noah Herron: Another UFL guy (New York Sentinels), Herron could be intriguing to the Dolphins because he has versatility -- and that's something extremely coveted for the Wildcat and all of head coach Tony Sparano's sets. Herron's spent time on the Steelers, Packers and Bucs, but his 2006 season in Green Bay best showed off his assets. That season, he rushed 37 times for 150 yards, while also catching 29 passes for 211 yards.

- Warrick Dunn: Longtime vet with ties to the state of Florida returning for one last hurrah? It's an extreme longshot, but Dunn's ability to run and catch might make sense.

There are a few other random names out there -- Najeh Davenport, Selvin Young and Maurice Hicks, to name a couple.

Chances are, though, that the Dolphins will try to ride it out with what they have, at least initially. Sparano said that Hilliard would get an opportunity to help ease the burden, and it's hard to argue that any of the available free agents out there are that much of an upgrade.

Hilliard is a solidly built back -- he doesn't have spectacular speed, but had a knack during his college days at Montana for picking up yards up the middle, and he graded out well as a pass-catcher prior to the 2008 draft. Miami may also give a few more carries to fullback Lousaka Polite.

None of the options behind Williams on Miami's roster are even in the same ballpark as Brown -- but, then again, neither are the free agent RBs lingering on the market.

How Might Miami Replace Ronnie Brown? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Dominic RhodesEdgerrin JamesRicky WilliamsRonnie BrownTJ DuckettChris BurkeThu, 19 Nov 2009 00:20:00 EST Steelers Kick Coverage Team May Break Records ... In a Bad Wayhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/18/steelers-kick-coverage-woes-may-break-records-in-a-bad-way/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/18/steelers-kick-coverage-woes-may-break-records-in-a-bad-way/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/18/steelers-kick-coverage-woes-may-break-records-in-a-bad-way/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Jeff ReedIf you're a Steelers fan, you know that the Steelers kick coverage has been putrid, but considering how bad the Steelers coverage teams over the years have been, it's easy to not realize just how rank this year's special teams are. Thankfully, the Football Outsiders are able to give it some perspective.

In the 15 years of stats the FO guys now have data foor, the Steelers are coming up on a very dubious record. The 1995 Bills have the record for the worst kick coverage unit of all time--they are so bad that the difference between them and the second worst team is as much as the difference between the second worst and the 53rd worst unit.
But now the Steelers are not far behind the 1995 Bills for putridity. And it's not just the kick coverage. Jeff Reed's kickoffs have been the worst in the league -- significantly worse than anyone else, which is another argument (besides his run-ins with towel dispensers) why Pittsburgh should be OK with bringing in another kicker next year.

Football Outsiders ranks the kick coverage units by points. The Falcons are the best in kick coverage at 11.1 points. The Lions are second worst at -12.8. Pittsburgh is sitting at -26.2. Only three teams in those 15 years have finished worse than -20 with the Bills' -31 easily the worst since 1994.

It's unlikely that the Steelers will catch the '95 Bills -- it's hard to keep being as bad as they've been in recent weeks, but it is a good reminder that this unit isn't just a group that's having a couple of problems -- it's a group that is one of the worst kick coverage units you'll ever see.

Steelers Kick Coverage Team May Break Records ... In a Bad Way originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Jeff ReedJJ CooperWed, 18 Nov 2009 22:32:00 EST Dirty Dozen: The Mysteries of Rankingshttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/18/dirty-dozen-the-mysteries-of-rankings/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/18/dirty-dozen-the-mysteries-of-rankings/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/18/dirty-dozen-the-mysteries-of-rankings/#commentsFiled under:

Carson Palmer"Why does the subjective rating of one NFL team compared to another move folks to anger?'' a fan named Aron Galonsky tweeted to Bob Glauber of Newsday this week after another fan had complained vociferously about Bob's rating of New England over Cincinnati.

"I do not know,'' Bob tweeted back.

Very good question and a very good answer. It's an exchange that makes me wonder why we bother to rate teams every week when the NFL, unlike major college football, has playoffs and a Super Bowl. Actually, I sort of know the answer because when I started in the business, an editor told me "people love lists,'' something I've learned on my own over the years.

Which gets me to this week's top and bottom six and, coincidentally, why I might rate New England higher than Cincinnati this week. (I'm still thinking about it as I write this.)

I don't want to spend much time on Bill Belichick's call. I thought it was the wrong one at the time, but I understand why B.B. thought asking Tom Brady to get him two yards might be safer than giving the ball to Peyton Manning against his defense. That's it. End of debate.

But beyond that, what I saw was a New England team on the road that, for 58 minutes, was better than Indianapolis.

It's a team that will go into that dome in the playoffs knowing it's as good as the Colts, no matter what the records turn out to be. Even Dwight Freeney acknowledged that the Patriots handled him quite easily with their rookie left tackle from Germany, Sebastian Vollmer, who is the first European-born and raised player other than a kicker ever to make a real contribution in the NFL.

Does anyone think New England won't win the AFC East? Yes, it will probably spend the playoffs (or most of them) on the road, but that's not as daunting a task as it used to be -- the Giants did it two years ago and the Steelers did it four years ago and won a title despite it.

But (and I've reached my conclusion) I don't think the Patriots are better than the Bengals right now. Cincinnati went into Pittsburgh and beat up the Super Bowl champions the way the Steelers usually beat up other teams -- by pounding them with defense. Pittsburgh's final offensive play in the 18-12 Cincy win said it all -- Ben Roethlisberger, under pressure from both ends, throwing a desperation fourth-down pass as he was falling backwards.

So I won't risk the ire of the fan who went after Glauber. Cincinnati one spot over New England.

Top 6

1. New Orleans (9-0): Maybe a narrow win over St. Louis is the Saints' bad game for this year. I think they'll lose down the line somewhere, but the Saints are a solid No. 1.

2. Indianapolis (9-0): Colts fans are rather placid, so i don't think they'll come after me for ranking them second after a good win. If they do, it's fair. No. 2 because the Saints defense is better -- or at least healthier.

3. Minnesota (8-1): Another example of the ranking silliness because this could be the best team in the league -- in part because Sidney Rice is playing like Jerry, who is said to be a distant cousin. Also an example of the silliness of the Pro Bowl voting -- are 10 Vikings really the best at their positions in the NFC? Stuff those ballot boxes and make the game even more meaningless than it already is.

4. Cincinnati (7-2): Despite all-timers at QB on the above three teams -- and the one below -- you still win with running and defense. The Bengals have running and defense. And, come to think of it, they also have a pretty good QB.

5. New England (6-3): Brady is back in top form. And the young defense will be better by playoff time. Do any of the teams above the Patriots NOT worry about playing them in the postseason.

6. San Diego (6-3): The Chargers caught Denver a lot earlier this season than they did in '08. If LaDainian Tomlinson (the only "LT" is Lawrence Taylor) can run as he did last week, they are a legitimate threat.


Bottom 6

27. Kansas City (2-7): Larry Johnson may well help the Bengals, but he was counterproductive on a rebuilding team.

28. St. Louis (1-8): At least the Rams are trying.

29. Oakland (2-7): JaMarcus Russell and Darrius Heyward-Bey -- two examples of a series of bad picks that make this the decade's worst franchise, despite a Super Bowl appearance.

30. Tampa Bay (1-8): At least the Bucs are becoming competitive.

31. Detroit (1-8): How close are we to 0-25 over the last two seasons?

32, Cleveland (1-8): I don't want any arguments from fans of other awful teams. Any coach who thinks he can score 16 points on the final play of a game and gets his best player hurt trying it should be fired on the spot. When the Browns start again from scratch next season, how many "fresh'' starts will that be since they re-entered the league 10 years ago?

Dirty Dozen: The Mysteries of Rankings originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Ben RoethlisbergerCarson PalmerDwight FreeneySidney RiceDave GoldbergWed, 18 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST Dick Jauron the Latest Example of Damage a Bad Quarterback Can Dohttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/17/dick-jauron-the-latest-example-of-damage-a-bad-qb-can-do/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/17/dick-jauron-the-latest-example-of-damage-a-bad-qb-can-do/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/17/dick-jauron-the-latest-example-of-damage-a-bad-qb-can-do/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Dick Jauron became the latest to learn than an NFL head coach is only as good as his quarterback situation.So Dick Jauron is available to paint your house this weekend if you need somebody. The Buffalo Bills have relieved Jauron of his job as their head coach, effective immediately. And while there's nothing on Jauron's resume that's going to cause anybody to mix him up with Vince Lombardi, the other Bills news of the day makes me wonder if the man really ever had a chance.

The news of Jauron's firing comes on the same day the Bills apparently decided to give Ryan Fitzpatrick the starting quarterback job over Trent Edwards (presumably because neither Rob Johnson nor J.P. Losman answered his phone). And while we all certainly wish Fitzpatrick well, let's get real. This quarterback decision is that of a team that has no real quarterback. And when you don't have a real quarterback -- a reliable, stud, franchise-type quarterback -- well, that's when people's careers end.

Again, the Bills had a teetering Jenga tower of reasons to fire Jauron. He was 27-39 overall and 3-6 this year as Buffalo seems well on its way to extending its streak of missed postseasons to 10 in a row. He constantly seemed confused on the sidelines. His personality is not the kind that inspires men to greatness. When he fired his offensive coordinator a week and a half before the season, the guy said the reason he got canned was because Jauron was too simple-minded to understand real NFL schemes. Any of these reasons on its own is enough to heat a coach's seat. All of them together constitute a real good case for firing him.

But don't you wonder what might have been, if Trent Edwards had turned out to be what the Bills believed he would be? And looking at it now, don't we have to take this firing as the latest example of how important the quarterback position is in the NFL?

Put simply, this is the reason Matthew Stafford's agents could walk into the Detroit Lions offices this past April and ask for $41 million guaranteed. Once the Lions decided they wanted Stafford with the No. 1 overall pick, they were effectively telling him and the rest of the world they were betting on him to be a franchise QB. And if they really believe that's what he's going to be, then they should be willing to pay him almost anything he wants.

It's a risky bet, but it carries the price tag it carries because it's the bet that determines the fate of your franchise. This is not an overstatement. If you get the quarterback position right, you are set up for a decade. If you pick Peyton Manning or Eli Manning or Ben Roethlisberger or Tom Brady, you're basically making yourself a playoff team -- or at least a playoff contender -- every year. And if you're in the playoffs, you're making millions of extra gate, concession and TV dollars you wouldn't otherwise be making.

Conversely, if you miss on quarterback, you're more or less doomed. If you pick JaMarcus Russell or Brady Quinn or Tim Couch (that's right -- same team) or Ryan Leaf, you're going to spend that next decade finishing in last place and trying to dig out of that hole.

You think it's because of chance or luck or geography that the Colts thrive in a new stadium in Indianapolis while the Bills wither in Buffalo? Indianapolis isn't L.A. It's not New York. It's not even Dallas. If that team stunk every year, if it gave its town's citizens no reason to go see its games, if it hadn't won the Super Bowl three years ago and looked almost every year for the past seven years like a team that could, it could very well be the one playing most of its home games in a decrepit old money pit and a couple each year in Canada.

But it's not, and that's because this right here is the list of every quarterback who's started a game for the Bills for the past 12 seasons:

Doug Flutie
Rob Johnson
Alex Van Pelt
Drew Bledsoe
J.P. Losman
Kelly Holcomb
Trent Edwards
Ryan Fitzpatrick

And here's the same list for the Colts:

Peyton Manning

Sure, sure, the Colts do a lot of things better than the Bills do. And there's Tony Dungy and Marvin Harrison and Bill Polian and all kinds of other people who deserve credit for what they've built there. But don't you think it helps that, since 1998, they haven't had to worry for one second about the quarterback position? At all? EVER???

People, it is no coincidence that the Bills are tied with the Lions for the longest current streak by an NFL team of years without making the playoffs. It's no coincidence that their last postseason experience was the Music City Miracle. It's all tied to the quarterback position, as it is with every NFL team. And that's why Perry Fewell or Bobby April or whoever the guy is who replaces Jauron had better hope that Ryan Fitzpatrick is the next Tom Brady. Because if he's not, it's going to be real hard to stay head coach for very long.

Dick Jauron the Latest Example of Damage a Bad Quarterback Can Do originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:54:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>buffalo billsdick jaurondick jauron firedindianapolis coltspeyton manningryan fitzpatricktrent edwardsDan GrazianoTue, 17 Nov 2009 15:54:00 EST Dwayne Bowe Suspended Four Gameshttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/17/dwayne-bowe-suspended-4-games-for-violation-of-league-ped-policy/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/17/dwayne-bowe-suspended-4-games-for-violation-of-league-ped-policy/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/17/dwayne-bowe-suspended-4-games-for-violation-of-league-ped-policy/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Dwayne Bowe Suspended Four GamesDwayne Bowe has been suspended four games by the NFL for violation of the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances, according to the Kansas City Star's Kent Babb.

The suspension was announced by NFL spokesperson Corry Rush and then confirmed by the Chiefs, although they have yet (and may not) comment further on the matter.

Adam Schefter is reporting on Twitter (although the "Whoa" response is my favorite) that Bowe's suspension is a result of a diuretic used to lose weight. Bowe reported to camp approximately 30 pounds heavier than he should have, and that he and the Chiefs learned about the suspension a month ago, but decided not to appeal it.

This also explains why the Chiefs claimed Chris Chambers off of waivers. What it does not do -- in all likelihood -- is ease the nerves of Chiefs fans who just went through a rough ordeal with former running back Larry Johnson.

Fantasy Spin: Pick up Chambers. Like, quickly. Even though the Chiefs aren't that high-powered, he's the No. 1 option now. Bowe becomes a nice target in trades because he'll miss four games, but he'll be back just in time for the fantasy playoffs. If an owner is fringe on making the postseason, they might be willing to part with Bowe cheaply. Matt Cassel's fantasy value takes a huge hit, naturally.
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Dwayne Bowe Suspended Four Games originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Dwayne BoweWill BrinsonTue, 17 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST Studs and Duds, Week 10: No Apologies Necessary Herehttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/17/studs-and-duds-week-10-no-apologies-necessary-mjd/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/17/studs-and-duds-week-10-no-apologies-necessary-mjd/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/17/studs-and-duds-week-10-no-apologies-necessary-mjd/#commentsFiled under:

Maurice Jones-DrewEach week in the NFL, there are players that impress and players that distress. One week a certain quarterback might toss four touchdowns and run around pointing skyward, while the next he's laying on his back, holding his facemask as the other team returns one of his three interceptions for the game-winning score. With that in mind, here's Studs and Duds.

Studs

Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jacksonville (24 carries, 123 yards, 1 TD): Coaches always talk about wanting players who have "football smarts." MJD certainly fits the bill, and he proved it Sunday against the Jets. With less than two minutes left in the game and the Jags down one, Jones-Drew broke clear for what looked like an easy score -- but, instead, he took a knee at the Jets 1-yard line, allowing his team to run out the clock and kick a game-winning field goal on the final play.

Even better was that MJD then used his postgame press conference to apologize to fantasy owners for not scoring the TD. That probably didn't make all the people out there who lost by less than six points feel that much better, but hey, it's the thought that counts. Jones-Drew has averaged 132.5 yards rushing per game in Jacksonville's last four outings, helping the Jags to a 3-1 record in that span.

Reggie Wayne, WR, Indianapolis (10 catches, 126 yards, 2 TDs): So you want to skewer Bill Belichick for his baffling decision late Sunday night, and give credit to Peyton Manning for making him pay? That's fine, but Manning gave credit to Wayne.

During an NBC interview right after the Colts' dramatic 35-34 win, Manning said that Wayne called Indianapolis' final scoring play because he'd been setting it up all game. Wayne then backed that impromptu play call with a stellar catch -- his second TD of the night -- to give Indy a win in one of the most memorable regular-season games in years.

Hunter Smith, P, Washington (1 of 1 passing for 38 yards and 1 TD, 4 punts for 38-yard average): After 10 weeks of the NFL season, it's not Tom Brady or Brett Favre with the best passer rating in the NFL. It's Smith, who holds a perfect 158.3 rating (along with four other non-QBs, including Buffalo punter Brian Moorman, who are 1 of 1 passing with a TD), thanks to his timely fake-FG bomb Sunday. Smith hasn't thrown near enough passes to actually qualify for the lead in statistical categories, but why would we take it away from him?

With Washington trailing Denver 14-7, the Redskins lined up for a long field goal, shifted to a modified punt formation, then rolled Smith to the right and let him air it out. Smith found a wide-open Mike Sellers downfield for a 35-yard score. The Redskins went on for a 27-17 win, their first in five games.

Duds

Tony Romo, QB, Dallas (24 of 39, 251 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1 lost fumble): Don't let the relatively decent stats fool you -- Romo had an awful day in Dallas' 17-7 loss at Green Bay, bumping up his passing numbers in the fourth quarter as the Cowboys tried a frantic comeback. But even there, Romo stumbled, throwing a pick on the goal line when the score was still 17-0.

In Romo's defense, the Cowboys' offensive line was terrible. They allowed five sacks and paved the way for just 61 rushing yards by Dallas -- 16 of which came from Romo as he scrambled for his life.

Thursday Night and Monday Night Football (Chicago at San Francisco, Baltimore at Cleveland): Not every nationally-televised game can be a gem, but sweet fancy Moses, were there a couple duds this week. The Sunday night New England-Indianapolis classic offset some of the pain -- but definitely not all of it.

On Thursday, the Niners downed the Bears, 10-6, with Chicago QB Jay Cutler throwing five interceptions. On Monday, the Ravens and Browns played to a 0-0 halftime tie -- the first scoreless half of football this season, mind you -- before Baltimore scored 16 unanswered in the second half. Cleveland could have taken a knee on every play, and its offense would have been equally entertaining. But, hey, at least the Monday nighter had Ron Jaworski and Jon Gruden screaming for three-plus hours to make things worse.

Pittsburgh's red-zone offense (Four trips, four Jeff Reed field goals): The Steelers had every opportunity to take charge in the AFC North showdown between themselves and the Bengals. But Pittsburgh just could not get the ball in the end zone. Four times Pittsburgh drove inside the Cincinnati red zone, and four times the Steelers came away with field goals.

The result: a big 18-12 loss. It was a very un-Pittsburgh-like effort down deep, given the team's bevy of offensive weapons and a ground game that, until struggling on Sunday, had started to roll.

Studs and Duds, Week 10: No Apologies Necessary Here originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Hunter Smithmaurice jones-drewReggie wayneTony RomoChris BurkeTue, 17 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST Nothing Wrong With Belichick's Gamblehttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/16/nothing-wrong-with-belichicks-gamble/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/16/nothing-wrong-with-belichicks-gamble/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/16/nothing-wrong-with-belichicks-gamble/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Bill BelichickAccording to Internet polls, phone surveys, insulted ex-players and media analysts, Bill Belichick just sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees.

His decision to go for it on fourth down against the Colts was the dumbest move in Boston, if not world history.

"Belichick Gaffe Unrivaled" declared the Boston Globe.

Call me stupid, but I'd still rank it below the Red Sox selling Ruth to the Yankees for $125,000. And with all due respect to those who think Belichick should be involuntarily committed, I wouldn't even call what he Sunday night did a gaffe.

It was the right move for the simplest of reasons.
Mariotti: Belichick Goes From 'Spygate' to 'Stupidgate'
More: Roundtable Discussion | Precedent for Belichick Blunder

"I do what I think is best for our football team to win," Belichick said Monday.

That has proven quite hard for Tedy Bruschi and plenty of others to comprehend. To them the call wasn't merely controversial, it was indefensible.

"The decision to go for it would be enough to make my blood boil for weeks," said Bruschi, the Pats' linebacker legend now retired to ESPN.

You'd think Belichick just traded Tom Brady for JaMarcus Russell. No doubt, it was surprising to watch Brady line up in the shotgun on fourth-and-two with a little more than two minutes left Sunday night. In case you haven't seen one of the 24,693 replays, Kevin Faulk bobbled the catch and the play gained approximately 1.99 yards.

"Bill Belichick sent a message to his defense," Bruschi said. "He felt that his chances were better to go for it on his own 28-yard line than to punt it away and make Peyton Manning have to drive the majority of the field to win the game."

You know why Belichick felt his chances were better, Tedy?

They were.

A conversion on 4th-and-2 is successful 60 percent of the time. A team needing a touchdown to win or tie in final two minutes gets it 53 percent of the time. Going for it gave the Patriots a 79 percent probability of winning. That was higher than any other option Belichick had with 2:08 remaining and a 34-28 lead.

Belichick feared the Colts would score if they got the ball anywhere. That may offend the sensibilities of his current and former defensive players, but you know what? Tough.
 I failed high school Algebra, so please don't ask me to extrapolate further. I got this from a New York Times statistical analysis, and I still have enough faith in the Times to get such things right.

I know what you're saying. Math Schmath!

The more turf between Manning and the end zone, the better. But the way the game was going, it wouldn't have mattered if the Colts got the ball on New England's 28 or in the Lucas Oil Stadium parking lot.

The Patriots' defense was on fumes, and Indy had plenty of time and timeouts. The best way to lock up the win was to keep the ball away from Manning.

The odds said New England's fourth-down play should have done that. The fact it didn't does not make Belichick a self-absorbed ignoramus.

"Hubris" was the operative phrase with the Monday Morning QBs. The fact is Belichick truly is the smartest guy in the NFL room. That's irritating to those of us who don't particularly like grumps who look like they sleep under a bridge, but I've learned to channel my resentment toward Randy Moss.

Belichick's made plenty of unorthodox decisions over his career. Some have worked, others haven't. But on balance, who would you rather have making the calls for your team?

"As a former defender on that team, I would've cared less about the result of that fourth-down attempt," Bruschi said. "I would look at this decision as a lack of confidence in our ability as a defensive unit to come up with a big play to win the game."

Rodney Harrison chimed in on NBC that it was "the worst coaching decision I've ever seen Bill Belichick make."

But after a slow start, Manning had just torched the Patriots with two quick 79-yard drives. His biggest concern after getting the ball was scoring too soon and leaving Brady enough time to win.

One last Bruschi Blast: "Right now, every member of the defense is wishing they had the chance to stop Manning and the Colts."

Hey Tedy, they did.

You could make the argument that Belichick showed more faith in his defense by going for it. The Colts still needed 29 yards to win, and he figured his defense was up to the task.

You could make that argument, but you'd be wrong. Belichick feared the Colts would score if they got the ball anywhere. That may offend the sensibilities of his current and former defensive players, but you know what?

Tough.

If guys like Bruschi and Harrison hadn't gotten old and retired, Belichick probably would have punted.

"Everyone's entitled to their opinion out there," he said.

Should Belichick be second-guessed?

Of course.

Would most other coaches have done it?

No way.

Would he do it again?

"You only get one chance," Belichick said.

And he took the right one, even if it turned out wrong.

Nothing Wrong With Belichick's Gamble originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>bill belichickDavid WhitleyMon, 16 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST Charles Woodson's Inspired Performance Paces Packers' Defensehttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/16/charles-woodson-dominates-to-lead-packers-d/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/16/charles-woodson-dominates-to-lead-packers-d/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/16/charles-woodson-dominates-to-lead-packers-d/#commentsFiled under: ,

Veteran DB Charles Woodson helped make sure the Packers didn't drop to 4-5 against the Cowboys on Sunday.GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Nobody had to tell Charles Woodson the Packers needed this game. The team didn't have to call any meetings or make any fiery pregame speeches about protecting houses and separating backs from walls. When they showed up for work Sunday morning, the Packers were 4-4 and reeling from an inexplicable loss to the Buccaneers the week before. The mission couldn't have been clearer if it had been tattooed on the insides of their eyelids.

"I don't think anything needed to be said, " Woodson said when it was all over. "But me, I believe in self-motivation."

So Woodson motivated himself into a frothing frenzy and completely took over Sunday's game. He blanketed Dallas tight end Jason Witten. He forced fumbles, made a critical interception and basically made sure he was everywhere he needed to be -- even if that meant being everywhere at once. If there's one player who's the reason the Packers are 5-4 instead of 4-5, it's their still-hungry 33-year-old cornerback.

More Coverage: Cowboys Lay Egg at Lambeau

"Best game I've seen him place since I've been here," Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said at his Monday afternoon news conference. "Very impressive. You're impressed when you're walking off the field, and then you're very impressed watching it on film. Very, very impressive body of work from him yesterday."

Woodson's main assignment in Dom Capers' scheme Sunday was Witten. Because Capers decided to go high-pressure against the Cowboys, continually blitzing the middle with linebackers, it was important to Capers that Dallas QB Tony Romo couldn't count on his short-yardage safety valve. So Woodson was assigned to make sure Witten wasn't open. And he was not.

"They put Woodson on me," Witten said by way of explanation for his pedestrian five-catch, 47-yard day. "And I couldn't get him off of me."

The only problem with Woodson focusing on Witten was that big, speedy Roy Williams was matched up against a smaller Green Bay defensive back on most plays. So when Romo had time to throw, he was able to find Williams, who finished with 105 yards and a touchdown on his five catches.

But Williams, as we all know, is a bonehead who can be counted on to make mistakes even when he's not covered. He had a crucial second-half drop that the Packers were happy to accept as a gift. And earlier in the game, Williams cost the Cowboys with a fumble that came at the hands of...guess who. Charles Woodson. After Williams made a potentially game-altering 42-yard catch down the left sideline, Woodson got a hand on the ball and forced it out. Clay Mathews recovered, and the Packers had their critical turnover in a still-scoreless game.

"I wasn't going to be able to tackle him, so I took a shot that I might be able to punch the ball out," Woodson said. "Anybody who's played against me knows I'm going to go for the ball."

This is Woodson's 12th year in the NFL, and the former Michigan Heisman Trophy winner has a well-earned reputation as the kind of defensive secondary player with a "nose for the ball."

"I'm sure a lot of coaches would like to take credit for Charles' instincts," McCarthy said. "But he's a very instinctive player, a very smart and attentive player, and he has the physical skill sets to go along with that and make good on it."

Once the Packers had a lead to protect, Woodson dialed his game up to 11. He came unblocked on a blitz and forced a fourth-quarter Tony Romo fumble (on the play that turned out not to be reviewable, or else Dallas likely would have ended up with the ball instead of Green Bay). And later, after a pass interference call set up Tomo and the Cowboys with a first-and-goal at the one-yard line, Woodson jumped in front of Witten for the interception that sealed the game.

"One of the best games I've seen a defensive player play," Capers said after the game.

And the timing of it couldn't have been better. Of course, Woodson knew that.

"This is no time to get frustrated about anything that's gone on," Woodson said. "(Sunday), we went out there with a lot of fire and a lot of passion that lasted right up until the end of the game. This is how it should look."

If this is how Woodson and the Packers defense is going to look every week, then this team isn't done yet.

Charles Woodson's Inspired Performance Paces Packers' Defense originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>charles woodsondallas cowboysgreen bay packersroy williamstony romoDan GrazianoMon, 16 Nov 2009 14:32:00 EST Bozo the Coach, Andy Reid and the Belichick Precedenthttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/16/bozo-the-coach-andy-reid-and-the-belichick-precedent/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/16/bozo-the-coach-andy-reid-and-the-belichick-precedent/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/16/bozo-the-coach-andy-reid-and-the-belichick-precedent/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

What Bill Belichick did Sunday night has happened before. It justifiably earned Barry Switzer the nickname "Bozo The Coach'' for failing TWICE on fourth down in the late stages of a tie game. And the Eagles' Andy Reid did the opposite of the New England coach on Sunday, eschewing fourth-and-short twice to kick field goals in what turned out to be an eight-point loss.

Switzer's mistake didn't prevent Dallas from winning its third Super Bowl in four seasons in the early '90s, but it left Switzer at the top of the oft-debated list of worst coaches to win a title.

On Nov. 15, 1995, the Cowboys were playing in Philadelphia and faced a fourth down and 1 on their own 29 with the game tied 17-17 and just over two minutes left. Switzer decided to go for it and sent Emmitt Smith left over the massive Nate Newton.
Jay Mariotti: Spygate to Stupidgate: Belichick Blunders

He was stopped but it didn't count. The officials blew the whistle for the two-minute warning. No problem. The Cowboys tried again. Same play. Stuffed again. Three plays later, Gary Anderson kicked a 42-yard field goal that gave the Eagles a 20-17 win.

Headline in the New York Post the next day: "Bozo The Coach.''

The result brought the Eagles to within a game of the Cowboys in the NFC East with two games to play. But Dallas won its next two games, won the division, won both its playoff games and beat Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl -- the one in which Larry Brown ended up as the MVP on a team that featured Smith, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Deion Sanders.

But it was the end of an era. The Cowboys beat the Vikings in a wild-card game the next season, then lost next week to second-year expansion team Carolina. That win over Minnesota was the last postseason victory they've had.

Reid?

In Sunday's 31-23 loss in San Diego, the Philadelphia coach decided to kick a field goal trailing 14-0 in the second quarter with the ball perhaps six inches away from the Chargers' goal. In the third quarter, trailing 21-6, he had fourth and one at the San Diego 7 and had David Akers kick again. The Eagles lost, 31-23.

"There was too much time," Reid said of his decision on the first, the most obvious. "I thought it was important to come out of there with points."

That was four points. The second fourth-and-one kick was four points.

The Eagles lost by eight.

Bozo the Coach, Andy Reid and the Belichick Precedent originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:57:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>andy reidAndyReidbarry switzerBarrySwitzerbill belichickBillBelichickemmitt smithEmmittSmithDave GoldbergMon, 16 Nov 2009 10:57:00 EST Brett Favre Breaks Record for Most Wins By 40-Plus Quarterbackhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/16/favres-breaks-record-for-most-wins-by-a-40-year-old/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/16/favres-breaks-record-for-most-wins-by-a-40-year-old/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/16/favres-breaks-record-for-most-wins-by-a-40-year-old/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Brett FavreI'll admit, I was wrong. During the offseason, I wrote here at FanHouse that the Vikings' pursuit of Brett Favre was foolhardy. Between his age and the poor finish to his 2008 season in New York, it seemed too risky to put the Vikings' season in the hands of a 40-year-old quarterback.

Brad Childress' gamble has paid off big-time. Favre is one of the key reasons that Minnesota is battling New Orleans for home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs, and he is the reason Childress is talking contract extension instead of worrying about his job security.

Obviously, Brett Favre isn't the average 40-year-old quarterback. He's having the best season a 40-year-old QB has ever had in the NFL and it's not even close.

In NFL history, there have only been 13 seasons where a quarterback 40 or older has thrown 100 attempts. Among those, Favre's 2009 season stands out as easily the best ever.

Just nine games into the season, Favre already has won more games this season than any 40-year-old has ever won (he's got two more than Warren Moon's seven wins in 1997). His 17 touchdowns are tied for the second most for a quarterback 40 years or older (and he'll catch Moon's record of 25 shortly). But most importantly, barring a collapse that would set records, he'll become the first starting quarterback to lead a team to the playoffs after his 40th birthday.

And considering how we'll he's playing, it's hard to believe he couldn't play as a 41-year-old as well, which means we're likely looking at another offseason of wall-to-wall coverage of Favre's will-he-or-won't-he waffling. While most NFL fans may cringe at the idea of another offseason of Rachel Nichols reporting daily from Mississippi, Vikings fans won't complain.

Brett Favre Breaks Record for Most Wins By 40-Plus Quarterback originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:22:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Brett FavreWarren MoonJJ CooperMon, 16 Nov 2009 09:22:00 EST Bengals Are Dysfunctional No Longer http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/16/bengals-are-dysfunctional-no-longer/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/16/bengals-are-dysfunctional-no-longer/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/16/bengals-are-dysfunctional-no-longer/#commentsFiled under:

Cincinnati BengalsThe Cincinnati Bengals have just one scout in their employ, one of the reasons given (beyond their various off-field malfeasances) why they have been consistently dismal for two decades. .

Someone's doing something right in that department these days.

The hero of the Sunday's 18-12 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers that gave Cincinnati control of the AFC North was Bernard Scott, a 25-year-old rookie from Abilene Christian who was one of their sixth-round draft picks. He returned a kickoff 96 yards in the first quarter for the game's only touchdown and took over the running back duties when Cedric Benson went out with a hip injury. He had just 33 yards on 13 carries (it was that kind of smash-mouth defensive game) but he also had a 21-yard reception that set up a third-quarter field goal in a game in which every field goal was like a piece of gold.

But Scott was just one of a bunch of picks and pickups who are part of Cincinnati's turnaround. This year's draft class that harkens back to the one the Giants had in 2007 in which eight rookies played a role on a Super Bowl winner. (No, we're not advancing the Bengals that far. Yet. Nor is Carson Palmer. "We're not good enough to win the Super Bowl right now. We have a long way to go,'' the Bengals' QB said.).

The one most people know is Rey Maualuga, the All-American linebacker who fell to the Bengals in the second round and became an instant starter on the strongside of a defense that looks now like one of the league's best. The third-rounder was Michael Johnson, at one point a potential first-round pick who slid but has all sorts of potential -- he was in Ben Roethlisberger's face several times on Sunday. Fifth-round pick Kevin Huber is the punter and another sixth-rounder, Morgan Trent, is doing well as the nickel back.

In fact, the only dud might be Andre Smith, the first-rounder and sixth overall pick in the draft, who's been in trouble since the combine . The Bengals still took him sixth overall, he held out longer than anyone but Michael Crabtree and then broke his foot on Sept.. 2, two days after he signed. So while the other rookies thrive, he sits although if he loses weight, gets healthy and works as he should, he'll be a starter on the OL for a decade.

But right now, the Bengals are a defensive power and defense wins.

The defense started to come together last season, but no one noticed because they were losing --Palmer was hurt and Ryan Fitzpatrick was the quarterback. The defense ranked 12th in the NFL, hard to do with an offense that ranked last and was leaving it on the field all the time.

Given the lack of a scouting department, credit coach Marvin Lewis, who also is the de facto general manager, the boss of Greg Seamon, the lonely scout (the former Colts and Bears personnel director Bill Tobin and former Ohio State coach John Cooper are "consultants.") It's not only the rookies, it's former good draft picks, too -- Jonathan Joseph and Leon Hall, the No. 1 picks in 2006 and 2007, may be the best cornerback tandem in the league.

And it's some unsung pickups, like Laveranues Coles, Brian Leonard and Dhani Jones.

Coles can be troublesome -- he got himself traded from the Jets to the Redskins and then traded back with contract problems. But he's 31 now, more mature and plays the complimentary role to Chad Ochocinco that T.J. Houshmandzadeh played for all those years.

Jones is a journeyman linebacker in his tenth season who is starting the middle. He was quite ordinary on the outside with the Giants and Eagles in his first six seasons but a lot better than that with the Bengals, especially the last two years. He's also a high-character guy and leader for the youngsters and remaining malfeasors. Plus a first-rate pianist (who played on the NFL Network set at a Super Bowl. But that's another story.

Leonard is a third-down back who made a fourth-down play that helped the Bengals beat the Steelers the first-time they met. He's another character guy -- a back who was being pushed for the Heisman at Rutgers when Ray Rice showed up. So he abdicated his high-profile role to become a receiver and blocker. He was picked up in the offseason in a minor trade with the Rams and, like Jones, is another example as of a selfless team player.

Yes, they still have some dubious characters.

They brought back Chris Henry, who's now out for the season, signed Tank Johnson and still have Frostee Rucker, who had an interception on a deflected pass Sunday. But Rucker's never done anything nasty in the NFL -- the Bengals, already saddled with so many troublesome characters, took a hit for drafting him after he got into trouble at Southern Cal. The injury Sunday to Benson, who carried the offense after failing with the Bears, has set off rumors they might sign Larry Johnson, who never was the best guy in the Kansas City locker room.

But locker-room troubles go away when you win.

All of a sudden, the wrong guys are being overshadowed by the right guys -- the rookies they drafted and the veterans they acquired.

And they're proving you can do it with just one scout.

Bengals Are Dysfunctional No Longer originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>bernard scottCedric BensonDave GoldbergMon, 16 Nov 2009 07:00:00 EST Cowboys Lay an Egg at Lambeauhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/15/cowboys-lay-an-egg-at-lambeau/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/15/cowboys-lay-an-egg-at-lambeau/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/15/cowboys-lay-an-egg-at-lambeau/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Tony Romo and the Cowboys know they blew a big chance to claim a spot among the NFC's elite teams.GREEN BAY, Wis. -- You could smell this game as far away as Madison, and the part of it that stunk the worst was the Dallas Cowboys offense. On an afternoon in which everybody -- the officials, the head coaches, the offensive lines...everybody -- seemed to be conspiring to set the game of football back 40 years, it was the Cowboys who came up the smallest, committing 10 penalties and converting just 3 of 12 third downs in a 17-7 loss to the Packers at Lambeau Field.

"This was an impressive win for Green Bay," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. "But it was unimpressive the way we didn't execute, especially early, when we still had a chance to get the game going the way we wanted it to go."

But the most disappointing part for the Cowboys was that, by losing this game, they blew a very real chance to get the season going the way they wanted it to go.
More: Check Box Score | Cards Get Big Win | Chiefs Outlast Raiders

Dallas came in having won four in a row and claiming first place in the NFC East, a division nobody seems to want. Lining up against the Packers, who'd allowed a league-high 37 sacks and just last week became the first team this year to lose to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Cowboys appeared poised to continue their roll and move to 7-2. With the Eagles losing in San Diego, they'd have had a full two-game division lead and could have made a case for themselves among the NFC's elite, along with Minnesota and New Orleans.

Instead, they slipped on a penalty flag or eight and fell right back to the parity pack.

"You've got to play better than that," Dallas tight end Jason Witten said. "Our defense actually played pretty well, but as an offense, we let them down. How many plays did we have in the first half? Twenty-five? That's not enough."

If you somehow managed to stay awake through the first half Sunday, didn't know anything about the two teams but what you'd seen in that brutal first 30 minutes, and somebody had asked you, "Which of these teams lost to previously winless Tampa Bay last week?", you'd probably have said the team with the stars on their helmets. The Cowboys were awful. They were 0 of 5 on third downs in the first half, possessing the ball for just 11:10 and running a mere 21 plays (sorry, Jason) to Green Bay's 36.


And it's not as if the Packers were setting the world on fire during this time. Green Bay committed seven penalties and was just 2-for-8 on third down in the first half, and only a last-second Mason Crosby field goal prevented what would have been a perfectly justified scoreless halftime tie. The Packers' offensive line was as Camembert-soft as advertised, and the Cowboys' defenders harassed Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers all day. There was more than enough incompetence to go around, including a cornucopia of it by Jeff Triplette and an officiating crew that called phantom penalties and couldn't figure out when the Cowboys and Packers were and weren't allowed to use their replay challenges.

But Dallas couldn't rise above the morass of mediocrity. On the rare occasions when Dallas actually possessed the ball, the Cowboys' own line wasn't able to keep Tony Romo from getting flattened. The most astounding stat of the game may be that the Cowboys yielded more sacks (5) than did the Packers (4).

"We let our defense stay out there and stay out there and stay out there," Jones said. "It was very disappointing, and a reminder to everyone that all these teams have very good athletes and very good players."

The Cowboys are still a good team, of course. They remain in first place, and as we begin to size up the playoff picture, there are reasons to like them better than teams like the Eagles, Giants, Falcons and even the Packers. But what they lost Sunday, in addition to a game, was the chance to puff out their chests and feel like they were somehow above that 5-4 fray. A win here, on the not-yet-frozen tundra, would have given the league reason to view them as a clear Super Bowl contender -- the kind of team that plans to play home games on those crucial January weekends.

And while they may yet be that, after losing this particular game, the Cowboys can consider themselves no better than one of many very similar NFC contenders.

"Just a minor hiccup," Cowboys linebacker Keith Brooking said confidently. "That's the way we have to look at it. We've bounced back from our losses in a very positive way this year, and hopefully that's what we do this week coming up."

Oh, it's there for them if they want it. Their upcoming schedule is fertile ground for a recovery -- home games against the Redskins (just three games back!!) and the Raiders before a road game against the reeling Giants. The Cowboys still have a chance to get back on the horse they rode into Lambeau Field on Sunday morning. They need to tighten up their line play, remember how good their running backs are and keep finding ways to minimize the damage the all-or-(usually)-nothing Roy Williams does with his dropped passes and sloppy route-running. They need to play with the confidence they showed over the previous four weeks -- the confidence of a team that knows it's good and dares those stuck in the middle of the pack to try and stop it. They can do it.

It's just that, if they'd actually won this game Sunday -- which they very well could and should have -- that would have been a whole lot easier for them.

Cowboys Lay an Egg at Lambeau originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>dallas cowboysDallasCowboysgreen bay packersGreenBayPackersjason wittenJasonWittenjerry jonesJerryJonesroy williamsRoyWilliamstony romoTonyRomoDan GrazianoSun, 15 Nov 2009 21:45:00 EST Bengals Batter, Bloody Stunned Steelershttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/15/bengals-batter-bloody-stunned-steelers/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/15/bengals-batter-bloody-stunned-steelers/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/15/bengals-batter-bloody-stunned-steelers/#commentsFiled under: , ,

PITTSBURGH -- When you go to a Pittsburgh Steelers game, you absorb the vibe. You live it. You expect a day of face-stomping, mouth-smashing and butt-kicking, and you walk away with the satisfying feeling that you've just beaten someone up. It's all about identity.

So it was a little disturbing to see 65,000 people leave Heinz Field Sunday all limping, hunched over, bleeding and holding their arms to their sides. The Steelers are supposed to be the team providing the stomping, smashing and kicking, not the face, the mouth and the butt.

And the last team you would expect to be pummeling the defending Super Bowl champs? Not just beating them, but pounding them? The Cincinnati Bengals.
More: Polamalu Reinjures Left Knee | Updated Standings

But that's what happened, as the Bengals won 18-12 Sunday -- a game that looked like it was played in black and white, the way old-timers say it should be played.

"That was the most physical, grinding football game I've ever been on the sideline to experience,'' Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "Our guys did a good job of grinding blow for blow, back and forth.''

This was a big moment for the Bengals, who were already tied for first with the Steelers, and had already beaten them this year. Pittsburgh is the measuring stick for the Bengals, the rival that gets everything, wins in the end. The Bengals are the the little brother always trying to catch up. It's their identity.

Now, they're 7-2 and are going to win this division.

And confirmation is not just about this year, but also about an organization that just a few years ago was the most dysfunctional, most embarrassing in the NFL.

What is the Bengals' identity? It's not easy to just get past all those arrests from a couple years ago. They brought back Chris Henry, who had a bunch of those arrests. And they brought in Cedric Benson and Tank Johnson, who had had their own troubles with the law before arriving.

So I don't know if they just got rid of enough problem players, or if some of them grew up or what.

But the Bengals have been losers for years, patsies to the Steelers, threats to society. And a year like this, a game like this, a moment like this can start to redefine them.

"It's not changing yet; it's not,'' said Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco, whose over-the-top, look-at-me show strikes me more as a good time than anything. "We've got to keep going. The name [Bengals] does not ring a bell the way it should.''

And what does this do to the Steelers and their identity?

Nothing.

Their identity is not based on the Bengals. To them, the Bengals are more of a welcome mat.

And last week, the Steelers looked fantastic at Denver, as if they are about to repeat. They have mixed in a running game with Rashard Mendenhall, who apparently has gotten around to learning the playbook. The defense was together with strong safety Troy Polamalu, who left this Sunday's game early after hurting his left knee again. That could be a big problem; an MRI is coming.

And of course, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is always ready to do his best in the toughest moments, winning games with last-minute heroics.

The Steelers are still in position to do big things. But this day was about the Bengals.

Imagine this: Just under 2 minutes left. Cincinnati up 6. Pittsburgh gets the ball at its 33.

You just know what's going to happen, right, Bengals fans? Roethlisberger drives down for the win, right?

Zero. That's how many yards that drive went. Roethlisberger threw four incomplete passes, under pressure on two of them, and that was it.

The Bengals have a tough defense, a mean line and glue for cornerbacks. Lewis is getting through to the them about identity. You could hear it in the words of quarterback Carson Palmer.

"It's about field position,'' he said. "At the end of the day, it's better to take the check down and dink the ball down the field ...

"We don't go into a game saying we have to score 35. We've done that in the past.''

The Bengals did not score one offensive touchdown Sunday. This out-of-control, free-spirited offensive mindset was gone. The game's only touchdown came on rookie Bernard Scott's 96-yard kickoff return.

On top of that, the Bengals played most of the game without Benson, who has been among the league's leading rushers all year. He hurt his hip in what's thought to be a minor injury.

Roethlisberger was sacked four times and the Steelers' running game was held to just 80 yards.

"Physical,'' Palmer said. "If there's one word you're going to describe us with, it's physical.''

Trying to define that identity, Palmer said the Bengals aren't ready to win a Super Bowl or have a dominant playoff run. But they have a real opportunity here. They thought they had one in 2005, when they won the division behind a young Palmer. That still stands as their only winning season since 1990.

Then they went to the playoffs and Palmer hurt his knee. Guess who they were playing, which team ruined everything?

The Steelers, of course. And the moment was gone.

Now, they have another shot, though nine games aren't enough to change everything. Palmer noted that "we don't ever play on national television.''

Well, stomping, smashing and kicking in a game, as opposed to on the streets in society, is a good start.

Email me at gregcouch09@aol.com

Bengals Batter, Bloody Stunned Steelers originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Greg CouchSun, 15 Nov 2009 20:45:00 EST Between the Lines: Sacks Allowed Sorted By Teamhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/13/between-the-lines-sacks-allowed-sorted-by-team/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/13/between-the-lines-sacks-allowed-sorted-by-team/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/13/between-the-lines-sacks-allowed-sorted-by-team/#commentsFiled under:

We ran the listing of individual sacks allowed ranked by sacks allowed, but for fans who just want to check out their team, here's the table sorted team-by-team.
SACKS ALLOWED, TEAM BY TEAM
Player Team Sacks Allowed Median Time Player Team Sacks Allowed Median Time
Levi Brown ARI 6 2.8 Ronnie Brown MIA 2 2.65
Mike Gandy ARI 5 2.5 Donald Thomas MIA 2 2.8
Tim Hightower ARI 1 2.7 Anthony Fasano MIA 1.5 2.5
Reggie Wells ARI 1 3.1 Justin Smiley MIA 1 3
Deuce Lutui ARI 1 3.3 Bryant McKinnie MIN 4 3.5
Sam Baker ATL 4 3.25 Phil Loadholt MIN 3 3.5
Harvey Dahl ATL 3 2.6 Naufahu Tahi MIN 2 2.5
Tyson Clabo ATL 1 2.6 John Sullivan MIN 2 2.6
Chris Chester BAL 4 2.7 Chester Taylor MIN 1 2.1
Michael Oher BAL 3 2.2 Steve Hutchinson MIN 1 2.7
Jared Gaither BAL 2 3 Nick Kaczur NE 2 2.55
Matt Birk BAL 1.5 3.3 Stephen Neal NE 2 3.05
Ben Grubbs BAL 1 2.8 Todd Light NE 2 3.15
Omar Gaither BAL 1 2.8 Logan Mankins NE 1.5 2.9
Ray Rice BAL 1 3.5 Dan Koppen NE 1.5 3.1
Demetrius Bell BUF 4 2.55 Sebastian Vollmer NE 1 3.7
Jonathan Scott BUF 3.5 2.7 Jermon Bushrod NO 4.5 2.6
Eric Wood BUF 3 2.9 Jon Stinchcomb NO 3.5 3
Kirk Chambers BUF 2.5 2.55 Reggie Bush NO 1 2.2
Fred Jackson BUF 2 3 Jahri Evans NO 1 2.3
Geoff Hangartner BUF 1.5 2.4 Carl Nicks NO 1 3.3
Brad Butler BUF 1 3.3 Kareem McKenzie NYG 3 3.3
Derek Fine BUF 0.5 2.3 David Diehl NYG 2 2.7
Jordan Gross CAR 7 2.6 Rich Seubert NYG 2 3
Jeff Otah CAR 3 2.9 Chris Snee NYG 1.5 2.8
Travelle Wharton CAR 3 3.1 Shaun O'Hara NYG 0.5 2.7
Keydrick Vincent CAR 1 2.3 Alan Faneca NYJ 4 2.9
Ryan Kalil CAR 1 3.5 D'Brikishaw Ferguson NYJ 1.5 3.1
Chris Williams CHI 3.5 3.6 Damien Woody NYJ 1 2.6
Greg Olsen CHI 2 2.9 Tony Richardson NYJ 1 4
Garrett Wolfe CHI 2 3.3 Mario Henderson OAK 4.5 2.7
Orlando Pace CHI 2 3.6 Erik Pears OAK 4 2.4
Matt Forte CHI 1 2.4 Cooper Carlisle OAK 3 2.8
Roberto Garza CHI 1 2.8 Chris Morris OAK 2 2.55
Frank Omiyale CHI 0.5 3.6 Khalif Barnes OAK 2 3.45
Anthony Collins CIN 3 2.3 Zach Miller OAK 1 2.2
Andrew Whitworth CIN 3 3.6 Michael Bush OAK 1 2.8
Dennis Roland CIN 2 3.2 Cornell Green OAK 1 3.2
Cedric Benson CIN 1 1.9 Gary Russell OAK 1 3.3
Kyle Cook CIN 1 3.2 Tony Stewart OAK 1 3.3
Joe Thomas CLE 4 3 Justin Fargas OAK 0.5 2.7
Floyd Womack CLE 3.5 2.7 Jason Peters PHI 4 2.4
John St. Clair CLE 3.5 2.7 Stacy Andrews PHI 3 3.1
Kyle Williams CLE 3 2.5 Winston Justice PHI 3 3.7
Jerome Harrison CLE 1.5 1.9 Jamaal Jackson PHI 1.5 2.1
Hank Fraley CLE 1 2 Brent Celek PHI 1 2.6
Flozell Adams DAL 4 3.05 Max Jean-Gilles PHI 1 2.6
Leonard Davis DAL 2 2.3 King Dunlap PHI 1 2.8
Deon Anderson DAL 2 3.15 LeSean McCoy PHI 1 3.1
Felix Jones DAL 1 2.2 Todd Herremans PHI 1 3.2
Kyle Kozier DAL 1 2.4 Nick Cole PHI 0.5 3.3
Marc Colombo DAL 1 2.4 Max Starks PIT 4.5 3.7
Jason Witten DAL 1 3.1 Chris Kemoeatu PIT 3.5 2.7
Ben Hamilton DEN 2.5 3.4 Rashard Mendenhall PIT 3 3.3
Ryan Harris DEN 2.4 3.35 Justin Hartwig PIT 2.5 2.7
Chris Kuper DEN 2 2.35 Trai Essex PIT 2 3.05
Ryan Clady DEN 2 3 Heath Miller PIT 1.5 4.2
Knowshown Moreno DEN 1 1.9 Matt Spaeth PIT 1 2.6
Corell Buckhalter DEN 1 2.4 Jeromey Clary SD 4.5 2.8
Russ Hochstein DEN 1 2.8 Marcus McNeil SD 4 2.55
Casey Wiegmann DEN 1 3.8 Louis Vasquez SD 1.5 2.3
Jeff Backus DET 4.5 2.5 Brandon Manumaleuna SD 1 2.2
Gosder Cherilus DET 4 2.85 Scott Mruckowski SD 1 2.4
Dominic Raiola DET 2 3.25 Brandyn Dombroski SD 1 2.7
Will Heller DET 2 3.25 Kris Dielman SD 1 3.4
Daniel Loper DET 2 3.4 LaDainian Tomlinson SD 0.5 3
Jon Jansen DET 1.5 3.9 Nick Hardwick SD 0.5 3.8
Stephen Peterman DET 1 2.3 Julius Jones SEA 4 2
Aaron Brown DET 1 2.7 Ray Willis SEA 3 2.9
Kevin Smith DET 1 2.7 Brandon Frye SEA 2 2.35
Brandon Pettigrew DET 1 3 Damion McIntosh SEA 1 2
Allen Barbre GB 7 2.6 Steve Vallos SEA 1 2.3
Daryn Colledge GB 7 2.9 Max Unger SEA 1 2.8
T.J. Lang GB 5 2.4 Chris Spencer SEA 1 3.9
Chad Clifton GB 2.5 3 Adam Snyder SF 7 2.6
Scott Wells GB 2 2.65 Chilo Rachal SF 3 2.1
Jason Spitz GB 2 2.95 Joe Staley SF 3 2.6
Donald Lee GB 1.5 3.1 Tony Pashos SF 3 2.6
Korey Hall GB 1 3.2 Frank Gore SF 2 2.75
Ryan Grant GB 1 4.2 Eric Heitmann SF 2 3.3
Duane Brown HOU 7 3.6 Vernon Davis SF 1 2.3
Kasey Studdard HOU 2 4 David Bass SF 1 2.8
Chester Pitts HOU 1 1.6 Richie Incognito STL 2.5 2.3
Eric Winston HOU 1 2.7 Jason Smith STL 2 2.05
Kevin Walter HOU 1 3.1 Steven Jackson STL 2 2.35
Mike Brisiel HOU 1 4 Alex Barron STL 2 3.05
Charlie Johnson IND 2 2.65 Jason Brown STL 1.5 2.3
Mike Pollack IND 2 2.65 Kenneth Darby STL 1 1.9
Joseph Addai IND 1 2.2 Adam Goldberg STL 1 2.6
Ryan Lilja IND 1 2.3 Jacob Bell STL 1 3
Jeff Saturday IND 1 3.8 Jeremy Trueblood TB 3 2.7
Eugene Monroe JAX 4 2.5 Donald Penn TB 3 3.1
Eben Britton JAX 4 3.05 Davin Joseph TB 2 3.6
Tra Thomas JAX 3 2.5 Cadillac Williams TB 1 1.8
Maurice Williams JAX 1 2.9 Jeremy Zuttah TB 1 2.4
Jordan Black JAX 1 3.2 John Gilmore TB 1 2.4
Vince Manuwai JAX 1 3.2 Jeff Faine TB 1 2.5
Greg Jones JAX 0.5 2.6 Michael Roos TEN 3 2.6
Maurice Jones-Drew JAX 0.5 2.6 Chris Johnson TEN 1 2.7
Sean Ryan KC 5 2.6 Jake Scott TEN 0.5 3
Wade Smith KC 4 2.65 Stephon Heyer WAS 6.5 2.8
Branden Albert KC 3.5 2.8 Mike Sellers WAS 3 2.6
Larry Johnson KC 3 2.3 Mike Williams WAS 2.5 2.5
Mike Goff KC 3 2.5 Chris Samuels WAS 2.5 3.4
Ryan O'Callagahan KC 2 2.6 Fred Davis WAS 2 2.55
Andy Alleman KC 1 2.9 D'Anthony Batiste WAS 1 2.2
Jake O'Connell KC 1 3.1 Ladell Betts WAS 1 2.2
Brian Waters KC 0.5 3 Mark Mason WAS 1 2.4
Lousaka Polite MIA 4 2.2 Casey Rabach WAS 1 2.5
Jake Long MIA 4 3 Chad Rinehart WAS 1 3
Vernon Carey MIA 2 2.15 Derrick Dockery WAS 0.5 2.3

Between the Lines: Sacks Allowed Sorted By Team originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:22:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>JJ CooperFri, 13 Nov 2009 11:22:00 EST Between the Lines: Who's Allowing the Most Sacks?http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/13/between-the-lines-whos-allowing-the-most-sacks/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/13/between-the-lines-whos-allowing-the-most-sacks/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/13/between-the-lines-whos-allowing-the-most-sacks/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Daryn ColledgeEvery week FanHouse looks at some aspect of NFL line play for the weekly Between The Lines feature.

Because of bye weeks, most teams are halfway through their season even as we're getting ready to watch Week 10. The halfway point seems like as good a time as any to roll out complete sacks allowed stats.

These stats were culled by watching each and every sack that has occurred in the NFL this season (with the exception of a couple of minutes of a Redskins-Chiefs game that was lost because of a broadcasting problem). In going back and watching every sack, I timed the time from the snap to the initial hit on the quarterback (then rewound it and timed it a couple of more times to confirm the time) and tried to assign blame to the person responsible for giving up the sack.

I'll be the first to admit that I'm sure a couple of these sacks are assigned to the wrong person. Assigning blame for sacks isn't as cut and dried as adding up rushing yardage--sometimes a blitzer may appear to be one lineman's man, but because of the blitz pickup rules on that particular play, he was actually someone else's assignment. But I do believe those are few and far between, and on most sacks it's pretty easy to figure out who's to blame--he's the offensive lineman shaking his head after the play after his man beat him head-to-head.

If you take the time to add all these sacks up, you'll notice that this list is missing more than 120 sacks. Those are sacks that were blamed on the play call or the quarterback. If a team keeps five in to block against a seven-man blitz and one of those unblocked blitzers hits the quarterback, blame the QB for not getting the ball out or blame the offensive coordinator, but there was nothing the line could do. Also, when a quarterback takes off to try to run after dropping back to pass, it's still charged as a sack if he doesn't get back to the line of scrimmage, but an offensive tackle did his job if he walled off his man, only to see him turn around and run the other way to tackle the QB at the line of scrimmage -- that goes on the quarterback. The same can be said for the rare times that a quarterback just runs out of bounds instead of throwing the ball away (well it's rare for everyone but Seattle's Seneca Wallace, who seems to make it a habit of his).

As you will notice and probably not be surprised to see, a pair of Packers rank among the league's worst. It's worth noting that Green Bay's Allen Barbre lost his starting right tackle job while Daryn Colledge's experiment as the team's fill-in left tackle has also been quickly ended and he was moved inside to the less demanding guard position. San Francisco's Adam Snyder has also lost his job at right tackle although like Colledge he was moved inside to guard.

I've included the median time of each sack to demonstrate that all sacks are not created equal. With seven sacks allowed, Duane Brown seems to be having a bad year for the Texans, but Matt Schaub is not doing him any favors. On five of Brown's sacks, Schaub had 3.5 seconds or more to throw, but his tendency to hold the ball meant that Brown's man eventually got the sack. With Peyton Manning at quarterback, Brown would likely have two sacks allowed at most this year. Carolina's Jordan Gross, on the other hand, wins the award for the big-name offensive lineman having the most problems in pass protection.

See List of Sacks Allowed Sorted by Team

SACKS ALLOWED BY PLAYER
Player Team Sacks Allowed Median Time Player Team Sacks Allowed Median Time
Adam Snyder SF 7 2.6 Jerome Harrison CLE 1.5 1.9
Allen Barbre GB 7 2.6 Jamaal Jackson PHI 1.5 2.1
Jordan Gross CAR 7 2.6 Jason Brown STL 1.5 2.3
Daryn Colledge GB 7 2.9 Louis Vasquez SD 1.5 2.3
Duane Brown HOU 7 3.6 Geoff Hangartner BUF 1.5 2.4
Stephon Heyer WAS 6.5 2.8 Anthony Fasano MIA 1.5 2.5
Levi Brown ARI 6 2.8 Chris Snee NYG 1.5 2.8
T.J. Lang GB 5 2.4 Logan Mankins NE 1.5 2.9
Mike Gandy ARI 5 2.5 D'Brikishaw Ferguson NYJ 1.5 3.1
Sean Ryan KC 5 2.6 Dan Koppen NE 1.5 3.1
Jeff Backus DET 4.5 2.5 Donald Lee GB 1.5 3.1
Jermon Bushrod NO 4.5 2.6 Matt Birk BAL 1.5 3.3
Mario Henderson OAK 4.5 2.7 Jon Jansen DET 1.5 3.9
Jeromey Clary SD 4.5 2.8 Heath Miller PIT 1.5 4.2
Max Starks PIT 4.5 3.7 Chester Pitts HOU 1 1.6
Julius Jones SEA 4 2 Cadillac Williams TB 1 1.8
Lousaka Polite MIA 4 2.2 Cedric Benson CIN 1 1.9
Erik Pears OAK 4 2.4 Kenneth Darby STL 1 1.9
Jason Peters PHI 4 2.4 Knowshown Moreno DEN 1 1.9
Eugene Monroe JAX 4 2.5 Damion McIntosh SEA 1 2
Demetrius Bell BUF 4 2.55 Hank Fraley CLE 1 2
Marcus McNeil SD 4 2.55 Chester Taylor MIN 1 2.1
Wade Smith KC 4 2.65 Brandon Manumaleuna SD 1 2.2
Chris Chester BAL 4 2.7 D'Anthony Batiste WAS 1 2.2
Gosder Cherilus DET 4 2.85 Felix Jones DAL 1 2.2
Alan Faneca NYJ 4 2.9 Joseph Addai IND 1 2.2
Jake Long MIA 4 3 Ladell Betts WAS 1 2.2
Joe Thomas CLE 4 3 Reggie Bush NO 1 2.2
Eben Britton JAX 4 3.05 Zach Miller OAK 1 2.2
Flozell Adams DAL 4 3.05 Jahri Evans NO 1 2.3
Sam Baker ATL 4 3.25 Keydrick Vincent CAR 1 2.3
Bryant McKinnie MIN 4 3.5 Ryan Lilja IND 1 2.3
Chris Kemoeatu PIT 3.5 2.7 Stephen Peterman DET 1 2.3
Floyd Womack CLE 3.5 2.7 Steve Vallos SEA 1 2.3
John St. Clair CLE 3.5 2.7 Vernon Davis SF 1 2.3
Jonathan Scott BUF 3.5 2.7 Corell Buckhalter DEN 1 2.4
Branden Albert KC 3.5 2.8 Jeremy Zuttah TB 1 2.4
Chris Williams CHI 3.5 3.6 John Gilmore TB 1 2.4
Chilo Rachal SF 3 2.1 Kyle Kozier DAL 1 2.4
Michael Oher BAL 3 2.2 Marc Colombo DAL 1 2.4
Anthony Collins CIN 3 2.3 Mark Mason WAS 1 2.4
Larry Johnson KC 3 2.3 Matt Forte CHI 1 2.4
Kyle Williams CLE 3 2.5 Matt Stinchcomb NO 1 2.4
Mike Goff KC 3 2.5 Scott Mruckowski SD 1 2.4
Tra Thomas JAX 3 2.5 Casey Rabach WAS 1 2.5
Harvey Dahl ATL 3 2.6 Jeff Faine TB 1 2.5
Joe Staley SF 3 2.6 Adam Goldberg STL 1 2.6
Michael Roos TEN 3 2.6 Brent Celek PHI 1 2.6
Mike Sellers WAS 3 2.6 Damien Woody NYJ 1 2.6
Tony Pashos SF 3 2.6 Matt Spaeth PIT 1 2.6
Jeremy Trueblood TB 3 2.7 Max Jean-Gilles PHI 1 2.6
Cooper Carlisle OAK 3 2.8 Tyson Clabo ATL 1 2.6
Eric Wood BUF 3 2.9 Aaron Brown DET 1 2.7
Jeff Otah CAR 3 2.9 Brandyn Dombroski SD 1 2.7
Ray Willis SEA 3 2.9 Chris Johnson TEN 1 2.7
Donald Penn TB 3 3.1 Eric Winston HOU 1 2.7
Stacy Andrews PHI 3 3.1 Kevin Smith DET 1 2.7
Travelle Wharton CAR 3 3.1 Steve Hutchinson MIN 1 2.7
Kareem McKenzie NYG 3 3.3 Tim Hightower ARI 1 2.7
Rashard Mendenhall PIT 3 3.3 Ben Grubbs BAL 1 2.8
Phil Loadholt MIN 3 3.5 David Bass SF 1 2.8
Andrew Whitworth CIN 3 3.6 King Dunlap PHI 1 2.8
Winston Justice PHI 3 3.7 Max Unger SEA 1 2.8
Richie Incognito STL 2.5 2.3 Michael Bush OAK 1 2.8
Mike Williams WAS 2.5 2.5 Omar Gaither BAL 1 2.8
Kirk Chambers BUF 2.5 2.55 Roberto Garza CHI 1 2.8
Justin Hartwig PIT 2.5 2.7 Russ Hochstein DEN 1 2.8
Chad Clifton GB 2.5 3 Andy Alleman KC 1 2.9
Jon Stinchcomb NO 2.5 3.2 Maurice Williams JAX 1 2.9
Ben Hamilton DEN 2.5 3.4 Brandon Pettigrew DET 1 3
Chris Samuels WAS 2.5 3.4 Chad Rinehart WAS 1 3
Ryan Harris DEN 2.4 3.35 Jacob Bell STL 1 3
Jason Smith STL 2 2.05 Justin Smiley MIA 1 3
Vernon Carey MIA 2 2.15 Jake O'Connell KC 1 3.1
Leonard Davis DAL 2 2.3 Jason Witten DAL 1 3.1
Brandon Frye SEA 2 2.35 Kevin Walter HOU 1 3.1
Chris Kuper DEN 2 2.35 LeSean McCoy PHI 1 3.1
Steven Jackson STL 2 2.35 Reggie Wells ARI 1 3.1
Naufahu Tahi MIN 2 2.5 Cornell Green OAK 1 3.2
Chris Morris OAK 2 2.55 Jordan Black JAX 1 3.2
Fred Davis WAS 2 2.55 Korey Hall GB 1 3.2
Nick Kaczur NE 2 2.55 Kyle Cook CIN 1 3.2
John Sullivan MIN 2 2.6 Todd Herremans PHI 1 3.2
Ryan O'Callagahan KC 2 2.6 Vince Manuwai JAX 1 3.2
Charlie Johnson IND 2 2.65 Brad Butler BUF 1 3.3
Ronnie Brown MIA 2 2.65 Carl Nicks NO 1 3.3
Mike Pollack IND 2 2.65 Deuce Lutui ARI 1 3.3
Scott Wells GB 2 2.65 Gary Russell OAK 1 3.3
David Diehl NYG 2 2.7 Tony Stewart OAK 1 3.3
Frank Gore SF 2 2.75 Kris Dielman SD 1 3.4
Donald Thomas MIA 2 2.8 Ray Rice BAL 1 3.5
Greg Olsen CHI 2 2.9 Ryan Kalil CAR 1 3.5
Jason Spitz GB 2 2.95 Sebastian Vollmer NE 1 3.7
Fred Jackson BUF 2 3 Casey Wiegmann DEN 1 3.8
Jared Gaither BAL 2 3 Jeff Saturday IND 1 3.8
Rich Seubert NYG 2 3 Chris Spencer SEA 1 3.9
Ryan Clady DEN 2 3 Mike Brisiel HOU 1 4
Alex Barron STL 2 3.05 Tony Richardson NYJ 1 4
Stephen Neal NE 2 3.05 Ryan Grant GB 1 4.2
Trai Essex PIT 2 3.05 Derek Fine BUF 0.5 2.3
Deon Anderson DAL 2 3.15 Derrick Dockery WAS 0.5 2.3
Todd Light NE 2 3.15 Greg Jones JAX 0.5 2.6
Dennis Roland CIN 2 3.2 Maurice Jones-Drew JAX 0.5 2.6
Dominic Raiola DET 2 3.25 Justin Fargas OAK 0.5 2.7
Will Heller DET 2 3.25 Shaun O'Hara NYG 0.5 2.7
Eric Heitmann SF 2 3.3 Brian Waters KC 0.5 3
Garrett Wolfe CHI 2 3.3 Jake Scott TEN 0.5 3
Daniel Loper DET 2 3.4 LaDainian Tomlinson SD 0.5 3
Khalif Barnes OAK 2 3.45 Nick Cole PHI 0.5 3.3
Davin Joseph TB 2 3.6 Frank Omiyale CHI 0.5 3.6
Orlando Pace CHI 2 3.6 Nick Hardwick SD 0.5 3.8
Kasey Studdard HOU 2 4

Between the Lines: Who's Allowing the Most Sacks? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>JJ CooperFri, 13 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST